Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical narrative, visions are frequently accompanied by the appearance of angels, serving as divine messengers and agents of God's will. These supernatural encounters often convey significant revelations, guidance, or prophetic messages to individuals chosen by God. The presence of angels in visions underscores the heavenly origin and authority of the message being delivered.Old Testament Instances 1. Jacob's Vision at Bethel: In Genesis 28:12, Jacob dreams of a ladder reaching to heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it. This vision signifies God's covenant with Jacob and His ongoing presence and protection: "And he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it" . 2. Daniel's Visions: The Book of Daniel contains several visions involving angels. In Daniel 8:15-16, the angel Gabriel appears to Daniel to interpret a vision: "While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai calling, 'Gabriel, explain the vision to this man'" . New Testament Instances 1. Zechariah's Vision: In Luke 1:11-13, the angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah in the temple, announcing the birth of John the Baptist: "Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome with fear. But the angel said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John'" . 2. Mary's Annunciation: The angel Gabriel also appears to Mary in a vision, announcing the birth of Jesus Christ. Luke 1:26-28 records this encounter: "In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel appeared to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you'" . 3. The Shepherds' Vision: In Luke 2:9-10, an angel appears to shepherds in the fields, announcing the birth of the Savior: "And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people'" . 4. Peter's Vision: In Acts 10:3, Cornelius, a centurion, receives a vision of an angel instructing him to send for Peter: "About the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who came to him and said, 'Cornelius!'" . Role and Significance The appearance of angels in visions serves multiple purposes. They act as divine messengers, providing clarity and understanding of God's will. Angels also offer reassurance and encouragement, often beginning their messages with "Do not be afraid," as seen in the accounts of Zechariah, Mary, and the shepherds. Their presence authenticates the divine origin of the vision, emphasizing the importance and urgency of the message being conveyed. Throughout Scripture, these angelic appearances in visions highlight the intersection of the heavenly and earthly realms, demonstrating God's active involvement in human history and His desire to communicate with His people. Torrey's Topical Textbook Luke 1:22,11And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned to them, and remained speechless. Torrey's Topical Textbook Luke 24:23 Acts 10:3 Library Visions, Revelations, and Locutions. Other Graces Bestowed on the Saint. The Promises of Our Lord to ... Christ's Birth The Purification of Mary The Immaculate Conception Marriage of the Blessed virgin to Joseph The Presentation of the Blessed virgin in the Temple The Holy Family in Bethlehem after the Departure of the Kings. The Shadow of Death Enthusiasm. 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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