Visions?

[RoyalWing]

Hello~

Ah, I'm sorry, I didn't know how to ask this or to someone, so I just thought making a thread would be better? If anyone wants to lock it please do. ^-^;;

I heard of something called 'visions'. I would please like to know definitions of what they are. How do people get them? Why? How are they? Did anyone here get one? What was it like? Is there a difference between a vision and a dream/daydream?

Thank you for all your help!

[Fsiphskilm]

be extrememly carefull.

[uc pseudonym]

This is a thread that is extremely borderline; hence, my position is what I personally feel regarding this thread. I will allow it to stay, for the purposes of answering the question. It is a legitimate question, but closely related to denominational issues.

However, the first instant anyone begins arguing, thread closed.

[ShiroiHikari]

I believe the kind of "vision" you're asking about, RoyalWing, is what some Christians believe to be a prophetic thing. I personally have never had this experience and haven't known anyone who has. but, it doesn't necessarily mean it can't happen. some people might have the gift of prophecy. God might choose to speak to some people through dreams.

I think Revelation would probably be a good example of a vision.

does anyone else have any input?

edit: also, there was plenty of prophecy going on in the Old Testament.

[agasfas]

I believe there is a story about King Joseph and how he could interpret peoples dreams.
That aside, I do believe God can give certain people the ablility for prophetic visions because like ShiroiHikari explained theres a ton of examples in the Old Testament and of course the book of Revelations. And of course God can lead you to take action against or for something through divine intervention. I could say that may count. Anything is possible especially through God.

[Fsiphskilm]

Silly VOlt... I forgot to me

[RoyalWing]

Thank you uc pseudonym.

As SOON as i woke up my eyes automaticly looked at the 3 sets of numbers on my CD player/Alarm clock... it made out to a date, month day year, but i had a feeling that the day/month/year could be switched, so really it's a combination of dates, maybe that's when one of my Games will be released, or that's when something important's going to happen in my life. Either way I'm not putting all my time and concentration on that one vision, but I am keeping it in mind.

That is interesting! But that was such a frightening dream too.. Did you write down the date?

Thank you for your input!

believe there is a story about King Joseph and how he could interpret peoples dreams.
That aside, I do believe God can give certain people the ablility for prophetic visions because like ShiroiHikari explained theres a ton of examples in the Old Testament and of course the book of Revelations. And of course God can lead you to take action against or for something through divine intervention. I could say that may count. Anything is possible especially through God.

I'm very sorry I didn't make it clear. What I meant as vision is.. not your dreams or wishes, but the ones I heard, they are more like having a dream (the ones when you are sleeping) except you are awake. The ones I heard of about something of the present (like... showing you something that you usually can't see) but more often something that will happen of the future.

^-^;; I'm very sorry..

[Kat Walker]

I believe prophecy is in the chapter regarding spiritual gifts, but I for one do not mind exercising a little bit of healthy skepticism in this day and age of false spirituality running rampant. I do find myself often dreaming or noticing signs that seem somehow relevant to later occurences, but that could just as easily mean that I have really good intuition.

Acts 2:16-21 seems to really confirm these kinds of things will happen in the latter days by the working of the Holy Spirit:

16 This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17" 'In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

The basic litmus test for understanding whether a prophet is legitimate would be whether they glorify God in their words and deeds, as well as if they do not obviously contradict the Bible or any of God's laws. I think any believer, especially in our day and age, is subject to these occurences should the Spirit choose them.

Now I have never experienced what anyone would call a true 'prophetic vision', and therefore cannot explain what one would be like. However, if a believer were to recieve something directly from God, I'm sure there would be no doubt in their mind where it came from.

[Technomancer]

I wouldn't put much stock in dreams or other kinds of visions, it is far more likely that they are simply reflections of your own mind and its anxieties or experiences.

[V8Tsunami]

I'd like to add that there are ways to tell if it is from God or the devil.

---If the vision goes against the bible, then it is not from god.
---If the vision doesn't come true, then it's not of God.

I've had more than one occasion when I thought something was going to happen, and it worried me. When the events didn't transpire, I was alot more at ease.

[EireWolf]

I have had one experience that I would call a vision, I suppose. I won't describe it here because it was very personal, but I will try to give you an idea of what it was like. It happened a long time ago, while I was praying (basically on my face before God). A simple image entered my mind -- an image of myself doing something in the sometime-future. God said, "This is what I want for you." It wasn't an audible voice, but a very strong "impression," for lack of a better word. I know it was from God, because the image was one of total devotion to Him, and because... well, I suppose I "knew His voice."

I have had a couple of dreams that I would also classify as visions, or at least they were from God. Both of them are described in this thread (click to read). (See the first and last posts on the first page of that thread.)

It's important, though, not to rely on dreams and visions only. They are very rare. God speaks in other ways more often. (There's a thread about that somewhere, if you want to do a search on it.)

[Tenshi no Ai]

I have had one experience that I would call a vision, I suppose. I won't describe it here because it was very personal, but I will try to give you an idea of what it was like. It happened a long time ago, while I was praying

I had something similar happen. It was odd...

I was praying on night in bed and sometimes mymind wanders off since I get so tired. This time, my mind didn't wander or anything and I did NOT fall asleep. It happened instantly. I tried to explain it to two people: an agnostic and a fellow Christian. I told the first person because they don't really understand a lot of Christian stuff and used to try and interpret dreams. They couldn't figure this one out! I told my Christian friend and he made a little sense out of it and I looked up some stuff on my own and it made even more sense. Well, there were a few things on what it could mean, and they were all good. Anyhow, after I experienced this VERY life-like vision (I know I've had realistic lucid dreams before, but it was like... I was THERE!) but this was different. My mind was chattering on as normal and thought that it meant something bad at first, but no. Vision ended when a bright light opened up and I quickly opened my eyes. I didn't wake up either I just sort of... came out of the "trance". I remember being somewhat frightened by the light when I "came out of it".

So yeah... not to mention it was a day that I was spiritually refreshed since I missed a lot of youth groups and Sundays :/ For reasons like that, I'm pretty much convinced that it was more than some run-of-the-mill dream... especially because the symbolic things made sense somewhat. Not sure EXACTLY what it means, but meh.

[Fsiphskilm]

[quote="Technomancer"]th

[Tenshi no Ai]

I wouldn't say that...a lot of psycoes kill innoscent people and say "Jesus told me to..."

But like the above quote, that would be against the Bible, therefore it was an imposter posing as God (I wonder who...). Like the guy on the news a few months ago that randomly jumped into a lion cage and got mauled cause "God said so". If it really was from God, then it would be like Daniel when he was in with the lions. Even then it's different. A random command to do something like that helps benefit no one!

[Sephiroth]

I've never had any, but as per the Word of God i believe they are valid, the gift of Prophecy is also more than just being able to see visions etc. it is the gift of Interpreting them correctly as well, prophets in scripture have interpreted other peoples dreams and visions (from God) e.g. Daniel

[Simon]

Very interesting topic, I was hoping to share some things I learned about dreams and visions but really didn't know where to post it. Can anyone tell me where?

[Ashley]

I think this should really be moved to the Christian Growth forums. As for things you've learned Simon, this thread would be fine. I just ask everyone continue the open, constructive attitudes.

Even though this isn't a formal bible study, this is the best place for this.

[RoyalWing]

Thank you Ashley.

Thank you to everyone who has put their input in. I think now, I understand better. I am so happy that some of you shared of your experiences too! Thanks so much. ^-^