Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical narrative, visions are a significant means by which God communicated His divine will and revelation to His chosen prophets. These supernatural experiences often involved vivid imagery and symbolic representations, serving as a conduit for divine messages that were to be conveyed to the people of Israel and, by extension, to all of humanity.Old Testament Instances The Old Testament is replete with instances where God used visions to reveal His plans and purposes. One of the earliest examples is found in the life of Abraham. In Genesis 15:1 , it is recorded, "After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: 'Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.'" Here, God reassures Abram of His protection and promises, establishing a covenant relationship through a vision. The prophet Isaiah also experienced visions that were foundational to his prophetic ministry. Isaiah 1:1 states, "This is the vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah." Isaiah's visions were instrumental in conveying messages of judgment and hope, calling the nation to repentance and foretelling the coming of the Messiah. Ezekiel's ministry was marked by extraordinary visions, including the vision of the valley of dry bones, which symbolized the restoration of Israel (Ezekiel 37:1-14). In Ezekiel 1:1 , the prophet describes his inaugural vision: "In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God." These visions were characterized by complex imagery and served to communicate God's sovereignty and future plans for His people. New Testament Revelations In the New Testament, visions continued to play a crucial role in divine revelation. The apostle Peter experienced a vision that expanded the early church's understanding of God's inclusive plan for salvation. In Acts 10:9-16, Peter sees a vision of a sheet descending from heaven, filled with various animals, and hears a voice instructing him to "kill and eat." This vision led to the acceptance of Gentiles into the Christian community, as Peter realized that "God does not show favoritism" (Acts 10:34). The apostle Paul also received visions that guided his missionary endeavors and provided encouragement during times of trial. In Acts 16:9 , Paul receives a vision of a man from Macedonia pleading for help, which directs him to bring the gospel to Europe: "During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.'" The Book of Revelation, penned by the apostle John, is a culmination of apocalyptic visions that reveal the ultimate triumph of God over evil. Revelation 1:1 introduces the book as "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John." These visions provide a prophetic glimpse into the end times, offering hope and assurance to believers. Purpose and Significance Visions in the Bible served multiple purposes: they were a means of divine communication, a method of revealing God's character and intentions, and a way to provide guidance and encouragement to His people. Through visions, God disclosed His plans for redemption, judgment, and restoration, often using symbolic language that required interpretation by the prophets. These experiences underscored the intimate relationship between God and His messengers, highlighting the prophets' role as intermediaries who conveyed God's word to the people. The use of visions as a mode of divine revelation underscores the transcendence and immanence of God. While God is beyond human comprehension, He graciously chose to reveal Himself in ways that could be understood and communicated by His prophets, ensuring that His will and purposes were made known throughout history. Torrey's Topical Textbook Numbers 12:6And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known to him in a vision, and will speak to him in a dream. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library "The Prophets of God Helping Them" The New Testament view of the Old Testament "The Kingdom of God is at Hand" The Twelve Minor Prophets. The Doctrine of the Scriptures. Of the Universal Way of the Soul's Deliverance, which Porphyry did ... The Greater Prophets. The First Sayings of Jesus --His Ideas of a Divine Father and of a ... Sebastian Franck: an Apostle of Inward Religion Excerpts of Theodotus; Resources Does God still give visions to people today? | GotQuestions.orgHow did God use dreams and visions in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Is God giving people in closed countries dreams and visions to bring them to faith in Christ? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Visions: False Prophets Pretended to Have Seen Visions: Frequently Difficult and Perplexing to Those Who Received Visions: God Especially Made Himself Known to Prophets By Visions: God often Made Known his Will By Visions: Often Accompanied: A Representative of the Divine Person and Glory Visions: Often Accompanied: An Appearance of Angels Visions: Often Accompanied: An Appearance of Human Beings Visions: Often Accompanied: An Audible Voice from Heaven Visions: Often Communicated in a Trance Visions: Often Communicated in the Night Season Visions: Often Multiplied for the Benefit of the People Visions: Often Recorded for the Benefit of the People Visions: Sometimes Withheld for a Long Season Visions: The Prophets of God Skilled in Interpreting Visions: The Withholding of a Great Calamity Visions: To Daniel (See Chapters 7, 8, and 10 of Daniel) Visions: To Ezekiel (See Chapters 10, 40-48 of Ezekiel) Visions: To John (See Also Rev Chapters 4 - 22) Related Terms |
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