What does the Bible say about visions?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that visions may reveal God’s purposes, but they must be tested by His written Word and never treated as a substitute for it. Joel 2:28 foretells the Spirit’s outpouring, including dreams and visions, fulfilled in the gospel age. Daniel 7:13-14 records a heavenly vision of the Son of Man receiving an everlasting kingdom, pointing to Christ’s sovereign reign. Habakkuk 2:2 shows that God’s revelation was to be plainly recorded, while Revelation 11:2 portrays God’s rule and preservation amid judgment. Because false spiritual claims exist, 1 John 4:1 commands believers to test every spirit by the apostolic gospel.
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- 1 John 4:1
Beloved, don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- Daniel 7:13-14
[13] I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. [14] There was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
- Joel 2:28
"It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; And your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.
- Habakkuk 2:2
Yahweh answered me, "Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.
- Revelation 11:2
Leave out the court which is outside of the temple, and don't measure it, for it has been given to the gentiles. They will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months.
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- God often made known his will by Psalms 89:19
- God especially made himself known to prophets by Numbers 12:6
- Often accompanied
- A representative of the divine person and glory Isaiah 6:1
- An audible voice from heaven Genesis 15:1; 1 Samuel 3:4; 1 Samuel 3:5
- An appearance of angels Luke 1:22; Luke 1:11; Luke 24:23; Acts 10:3
- An appearance of human beings Acts 9:12; Acts 16:9
- Frequently difficult and perplexing to those who received them Daniel 7:15; Daniel 8:15; Acts 10:17
- Often communicated
- In the night season Genesis 46:2; Daniel 2:19
- In a trance Numbers 24:16; Acts 11:5
- Often recorded for the benefit of the people Habakkuk 2:2
- Often multiplied for the benefit of the people Hosea 12:10
- Mentioned in scripture
- To Abraham Genesis 15:1
- To Jacob Genesis 46:2
- To Moses Exodus 3:2; Exodus 3:3; Acts 7:30-32
- To Samuel 1 Samuel 3:2-15
- To Nathan 2 Samuel 7:4; 2 Samuel 7:17
- To Eliphaz Job 4:13-16
- To Isaiah Isaiah 6:1-8
- To Ezekiel (See chapters 10, 40-48 of Ezekiel) Ezekiel 1:4-14; Ezekiel 8:2-14; Ezekiel 11:24; Ezekiel 11:25; Ezekiel 37:1-10
- To Nebuchadnezzar Daniel 2:28; Daniel 4:5
- To Daniel (See chapters 7, 8, and 10 of Daniel) Daniel 2:19
- To Amos Amos 7:1-9; Amos 8:1-6; Amos 9:1
- To Zechariah Zechariah 1:8; Zechariah 3:1; Zechariah 4:2; Zechariah 5:2; Zechariah 6:1
- To Paul Acts 9:3; Acts 9:6; Acts 16:9; Acts 18:9; Acts 22:18; Acts 27:23; 2 Chronicles 12:1-4
- To Ananias Acts 9:10; Acts 9:11
- To Cornelius Acts 10:3
- To Peter Acts 10:9-17
- To John (See also Rev chapters 4 - 22) Revelation 1:12
- Sometimes withheld for a long season 1 Samuel 3:1
- The withholding of a great calamity Proverbs 29:18; Lamentations 2:9
- False prophets pretended to have seen Jeremiah 14:14; Jeremiah 23:16
- The prophets of God skilled in interpreting 2 Chronicles 26:5; Daniel 1:17
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