Dreams & Visions Pt 2

In today’s post we will expand more on dreams and visions. There seems to be a lack of understanding in the body of Christ when it comes to dreams and visions. There are many people today who dream and simply regard them as dreams instead of messages from the Lord. Not all dreams are messages but when you spend time with the Lord you will start to see they are indeed messages to the person who receives them. Sometimes they are a message specifically for the individual or it is a message to prepare others, as well.

There is no denying we are living in the last days of the end times. The Lord is definitely speaking to His followers to warn of His return. This also means He wants us to be prepared. We have personally met many Christians who shrug off the signs that Jesus is returning soon. This is noted in the Bible too. If you look at the parable of the virgins this is the perfect example of the church. There are some who are prepared for His return and others who say it is not time yet. We will certainly find out in a short time and a short time can be less than 8 years. In a previous post we pointed out a few people who received messages from the Lord in dreams. Let us review a few more men of God who received divine messages.

* Joel *

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. Joel 2:28-29 KJV

Joel prophesied in the Old Testament that God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh and because of this, men will dream dreams, young men will see visions and not only men but women would experience the outpouring of His Spirit. We know this prophecy was fulfilled during Pentecost. So now, we know there are many people who are affected by this outpouring. These dreams and visions are a type of prophecy, according to the Bible. They show us things or events that will happen and when a person pays attention they often do come to pass. Some can be in the immediate future and others can be a few years into the future. Either way, they tell us to prepare. 

* Jacob *

Jacob in the Old Testament received some dreams from the Lord. The Lord later changed his name to Israel. Israel’s family also became the nation of Israel. 

And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; Genesis 28:12-13 KJV

This scenario has often been referred to as “Jacob’s ladder” because he saw the ladder to heaven and the angels descended and ascended from this ladder. It can be that the Lord gave him a glimpse into the spiritual realm to show him what is actually happening between the natural and the spiritual realm.

* Daniel *

Daniel is another person the Lord spoke to in the Old Testament. He is very popular these days because He had dreams regarding the last days of Israel and was also able to interpret dreams for the king of Babylon, who would be considered as a non believer. 

And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. Daniel 2:1 KJV

As we read in the scripture, we see Nebuchadnezzar had a dream but no one could interpret the dream. Only a person with the guidance of the Lord could in that situation and we know Daniel received revelation from the Lord to explain what the dream meant.

It seems Daniel was in similar circumstances as Joseph before him. He was in the presence of the king of a foreign country. In this particular case, Daniel was serving the king who conquered the Israelites and he was a servant in the presence of four kings during his lifetime. He served Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius and Cyrus. These four men were kings of a foreign country. 

These four kingdoms are also symbolic in the end time, meaning before the Lord returns. There have been 3 kingdoms that have tried to overcome the Israelites and when the fourth attempt comes along to try to annihilate God’s chosen people there will be a temporary victory. But this will only be temporary as the Lord prepares the remnant of God in those last days. 

Daniel had several other dreams that came to pass but we also know these dreams also apply to the future events of Israel. Many people have a hard time accepting these prophetic dreams also apply to future events. They believe if they have been completed then that is it. But as long as the devil is still around these prophecies can occur again. One pastor stated same demons, different era. Demons don’t die because they are spirits and this is why we can see occasions or events which seem to repeat.

* Joseph of the New Testament *

There was also a Joseph in the New Testament that received a dream from the Lord. We know him as the husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 1:20 KJV

As we know the story of Mary, we remember she was pregnant before she was married to Joseph. But the Lord comforted his heart in a dream telling him the child Mary had in her womb was from the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit. 

* The Three Wisemen *

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. Matthew 2:12 KJV

After the three wisemen came to visit Jesus and presented him with gifts they also received direction from God to not return the same way they came. They were directed to go home using another route that would avoid seeing King Herod again.

* Joseph *

And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. Matthew 2:13 KJV

Then, we see the Lord warned Joseph again because King Herod was out to find them to kill Jesus. They packed up their things and went to Egypt.

But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Matthew 2:19 KJV

When King Herod was dead Joseph received another dream guiding him to return to Israel from Egypt. They stayed there for about 3.45 months. We find this bit of information in Revelation 12:6 through a vision given to the apostle John. He was on the isle of Patmos when he was giving a historical recount.

But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: Matthew 2:22 KJV

Once again Joseph receives a dream and he was warned that although King Herod passed away, his son was ruling in his place. So Joseph, Mary and Jesus turned to the city of Galilee. 

* Pilot’s Wife * 

When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. Matthew 27:19 KJV

It is interesting that Pilot’s wife received a dream regarding Jesus. She warned Pilot to not have anything to do with Jesus. She states she suffered many things in the dream. Who knows if this was a dream that may have caused her to be saved. We will only know this once we are reunited with Jesus. 

If we analyze the words that were used, she called Jesus “a just man.” She understood that Jesus had not done anything wrong. He was blameless. She says she suffered many things this day in a dream. Have you ever been curious what she would have dreamed? Her comment seems very similar to the comment Peter made about Jesus not getting crucified and then Jesus had to rebuked him.

From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.  Matthew 16:21-23 KJV

Jesus rebuked Peter because he did not want to see Jesus crucified but it had to be done. This was a temptation the Lord overcame. The temptation was to avoid the cross all together. 

I show you these scriptures because not every dream is from the Lord. The Lord does not torment us in dreams. Those types of dreams would be considered nightmares. One thing we know for sure is the enemy is the accuser. He is the one that makes a person feel guilty for wrong doing.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1 KJV

The Bible tells us there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. A person can be a believer and yet have a nightmare. This may have been what she had, a nightmare. The guilt she felt towards Jesus tormented her and she did not want to have anything to do with Him. But these feelings could have come from the devil or her own guilt but it more than likely did not come from God. God’s plan was to crucify Jesus to redeem all the people. If she was having a dream to tell Pontius to stay away from Jesus this does not sound like it would come from God. God would have needed Pilot to do his part, which we know he did. 

In conclusion, we can see dreams can come from the Lord but we also have to be aware that some are not. We can rightly divide dreams using the Bible too. If it is from God it should have 3 characteristics. It should comfort, exhort and edify. 

But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 1 Corinthians 14:3 KJV

Dreams are considered prophetic and when we try to distinguish if it is from God or not we can try to use the characteristics to help us know if it is. The Lord can show us something that encourages us, builds us up or comforts us. The only draw back is that there may be a challenging time in between before you reach the end point He is showing you. If you can hold on to the dream you will get there if you don’t faint, grow weary or give up. If you recall Joseph of Egypt, he did reach the destination God showed him in the dream. It took him 17 years but take heart, that doesn’t always mean it takes that long for everyone. 

We hope when you have a dream you can begin to understand what comes from God and what is just a plain dream. Remember not all dreams are a message from God. They can simply be dreams. 

Thanks for stopping by and we hope you come back again for more insights in the Word!