The Bible frequently discusses visions, but what are they? Visions are often viewed as the mysterious and miraculous way in which God reveals His will to people. Another perspective is that visions offer clear, accurate images of a future God desires, given to His chosen servants and interpreted through a correct understanding of God, themselves, and their circumstances.
Old Testament Visions: In the Old Testament, several key figures received visions from God to guide them in fulfilling His will. For instance:
• Isaiah received visions of the suffering Messiah and the future restoration of Jerusalem (Isaiah 53-54).
• Daniel experienced visions through dreams, such as those of the four beasts, the ram and the goat, and the seventy weeks, which provided insights into future events (Daniel 7-9).
• Ezekiel had visions of dry bones coming to life and a detailed vision of the future temple, illustrating God’s plans for restoration (Ezekiel 37; 40-48). New Testament Visions: Although visions were less frequent in the New Testament, they remained just as monumental.
• Cornelius had a vision of an angel instructing him to send for Peter, leading to a pivotal moment in the early church’s understanding of salvation for the Gentiles (Acts 10:1-48).
• Paul, also known as Saul, had a vision of the man of Macedonia asking for help. He understood this as God opening the door for the Gospel in Europe, so he began seeking a way to travel there (Acts 16:9-10).
• The Apostle John was given numerous visions regarding the end times and God’s ultimate plan for humanity (Revelation 1).
The Role of Visions Today: With the completion of the New Testament, the Bible became the primary source of God’s guidance. As such, any visions received must be examined to ensure they align with the teachings of Scripture. Just as Jeremiah warned: “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD'” (Jeremiah 23:16).
