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SUBJECT: Dreams and Visions
QUESTION: What does the Bible have to say about
dreams? What does it say about visions?
ANSWER:
Thank you for your question concerning visions or dreams.
The Bible reveals that in times past servants of God were
given visions and dreams for specific reasons and/or to
convey special messages. For example, Jesus gave a vision of
the future Kingdom on earth to Peter, James, and John, no
doubt as a witness and encouragement both to them and to us
(Matthew 17:1-9).
While God has used this means of communication in the past
and will do so again (Acts 2:17; Joel 2:28), we must realize
that He uses it only when the circumstances warrant. Even
then, such revelations are ordinarily directed to His
ministers and specially chosen servants such as Jacob,
Joseph, Nebuchadnezzar, and Daniel (see Amos 3:7).
Today God speaks to us through the Bible. Please notice the
following passage carefully: "God, who at various times and
in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the
prophets, has in these last days [today]
spoken to us by His Son" (Hebrews 1:1-2). Jesus Christ is
the living Word of God (John 1:1, 14), and the Bible is the
Word of God in written form. God the Father gave it to
Christ. Christ, in turn, inspired both the prophets and the
apostles, and they preserved it for us. Please see 2 Peter
1:21, Luke 1:70, and John 16:13. The Father's will,
commandments, and specific promises are revealed to us in
the Holy Scriptures. God, then, is actually speaking to us
through His Word, the Bible.
It is not always easy to determine the origin of a vision,
dream, or premonition which one might experience. Therefore,
we must be very careful about ascribing to God any such
communication -- even if it is supernatural! We are warned
to "test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many
false prophets have gone out into the world" (I John 4:1).
Here is the way we should test the spirits: "When they say
to you, 'Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper
and mutter,' should not a people seek their God? Should they
seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the
testimony [the Bible]!
If they do not speak according to this word, it is because
there is no light in them" (Isaiah 8:19-20). Unless a dream
or vision agrees completely with the Bible in its message
and content, we can know it is not of God.
Some visions and dreams may simply be caused by mental or
physical stress or the pressures of daily life. The Bible
reveals that dreams may result from an upset mind
(Ecclesiastes 5:3.) If one has had a very troubled or busy
day, he might be more likely to have vivid dreams that
night. Ill health or memories of unpleasant experiences may
also cause such dreams.
In situations where an unpleasant dream or
vision causes distress, fear, physical sickness, or any such
thing, we would advise seeking God's intervention and
healing. If Satan bothers us with bad dreams, we should ask
God to rebuke him (Jude 9). We should also stay close to God
in prayer and Bible study so that Satan cannot bother us
(James 4:7-8). God will grant us peace of mind if we walk
with Him each day (Philippians 4:4-9; Isaiah 26:3).
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