Visions

God communicates to us through visions, today, just like He did thousands of years ago.

Visions from God can be given to anyone—believers (Acts 16:8–9) and non-believers (Acts 9:3–6). But nearly all of the visions recorded in the Bible were given to God’s people. And all interpretations of puzzling visions were given by God (usually through an angel) and only to His people.

What is a Vision?

Easton’s Bible Dictionary definition of the word “vision” is: a vivid apparition, not a dream

Visions and dreams can seem very similar in that they both can: 

• Use symbolic and fantastic imagery
• Require an interpretation from God
• Reveal insight into a present situation
• Reveal the future
• Allow the person to see into the spiritual realm

But, one of the most notable differences between a vision and a dream is that a dream tends to be easily forgotten, whereas a vision remains in your spirit long afterwards with nearly the same freshness and complete recall as when the vision first occurred.

Another difference between a vision and dream is that a vision seems to penetrate and transform us whereas a dream is more like simply reading a message. This difference is similar to reading a brochure about a new, thrilling ride at the amusement park (a dream) and actually being on that ride (a vision). The brochure gives you descriptive and revealing information, but actually being on the ride gives you a penetrating experience to your mind and body.

God said in Joel 2:28, "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” I am firmly convinced that many of you who are reading these words have had at least one vision, yet did not recognize the experience as a vision.

Interpreting Visions

Some visions require no interpreting. In fact, they can be so simple and the message so obvious that anyone, saved or not saved, can understand the meaning.  

For example, the Apostle Paul had a vision of a man, standing and begging him to come over to his town (Acts 16:9). Simple enough!  

This particular kind of vision (easy to understand) indicates that the message is of extreme importance and needs immediate attention. It’s as though God is saying, “I need you to understand and act right away on what I’m showing you and there’s no time for you to ponder on a vision that contains a lot of symbolism.”

Other visions can be so difficult to understand that an interpretation from God, given by an angel is needed.  

Daniel had a vision that was complex and symbolic (Daniel 8). A ram with long, but different length horns and a goat with one long horn were running in different directions across the earth. The goat attacked the ram and shattered the ram’s horns. After conquering the ram, the goat became very powerful. At the height of his power, his horn broke off and in its place four horns grew to be very large. Out of one of those four horns grew another horn. That new horn grew in power to the south, east, and towards Israel. The vision continues, but at this point you probably realize that an interpretation is definitely needed!  

While Daniel was trying to understand the vision, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Daniel and gave him the interpretation. (God often uses angels to explain complex visions.) Note here that Daniel tried to understand the vision. Peter also tried to understand his vision (Acts 10:19). John wondered about the woman that was drunk with the blood of martyrs (Revelation 17:6). Receiving the interpretation first starts with the desire to understand the vision.  

And other visions can be so mysterious that the interpretation is not for the present. God gives visions that reveal the future, but sometimes He hides the interpretation until near or at the time that the events in the vision actually unfold in the physical realm. This is a glorious and wondrous example of the fact that God knows everything, from the beginning to the end.  

Daniel was given a vision that was so overwhelming and terrible that he became ill. Gabriel told him to “seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”

(This topic is discussed further in the Ears-2-Hear Teachings.)