8/11/2023 I have started this project several times where I am working towards recapping about the topic of dreams and dream interpretation. Dreams in general have always been mysterious to the public, as strange as the thought is that one could go to sleep, and see a world filled with colors (though I’ve heard some have had dreams in black and white), people, stories, warnings, prophecies, etc. There are many phrases like “The man of my dreams” or “what is your “dream” job, or “A dream is a wish your heart makes, when you’re fast asleep (Cinderella Story of Disney)”. Though its nice to think about those things, and about a “dream” you may have from a young age, like travelling around the world – that’s not exactly the entire meaning of the word “dream”. No, not by a long shot! I have also heard the word “vision” used similarly, in a very general sense and not in the sense of having “visions” literally, which are kind of like dreams, but your eyes are not closed in slumber. Visions are not limited to day, but dreams are limited to sleep. Visions are most likely daytime events, probably. Since I believe God is the originator of dreams and that holy dreams are to lead us into righteousness, lead us always to His Son Jesus, I like this Bible verse: (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” (NIV). In regards to having a “dream” of accomplishing something in your heart or a “vision” to cast to have a goal for the future, this verse in not in regards to those things. This verse Joel 2:28 like other verses in the Bible, speaks directly to the idea of an occurance of a dream (in the night), and vision (Pic from God in the day), as subjects in regards to prophesy. Through the old testament, prohets and even kings (King Abimalech), Jeremiah, Isaiah, Amos, Jacob who became Israel – and then in the new testament: Joseph (Jesus’ Dad), Pilate’s wife – were both given warnings, prophecies of coming evnts, judgments to pronounce, telling of blessings, in dreams. It is through dreams that God all throughout th rtimeline of the Bible until now has spoken warnings to help His people. A warning doesn’t feel like a help at the time, but rather a terrifying thing, and also a delight in a dream, that is in a holy dream, could be a promise. I think too, that even though good and holy and promising dreams from the Lord, still are given to us sometimes because what God has for us in the Lord doesn’t come right away. He knows we need encouragement. So, even still its as though Jesus said about a good many thing, “Behold, I have told you in advance” (Matthew 24:25). Dreams are not something to take lightly, or to even assume automatically that because a dream occurs, that it implies the dream is from God. These things like all messages perceived to have come from God must be tested and tried, as much as any form of prophecy. I have experienced personally and have read in the Bible about dreams being directly attached to the the idea of ministering messages to the church.
Dreams And OTHER Prophetic Gifts
The book of 1 Corinthians in the New testament, and chapters 12 thru 14 is the best place to read about prophecy in the New Testament, the New covenant. We may think of prophecy limited to dreams and visions, but there are also tongues, the performing of miracles, gifts of healing, miraculous (NOT MAGICAL!) powers, gifts of hospitality, interpreting tongues, (see 1 Corinthians 12:8-11). Because a person receives a prophetic gift (dream or vision or otherwise) doesn’t make them more holy than the person who hasn’t yet, and I would say too, that a Christian should not get comfortable assuming that they would be limited to only having one gift or even no gift. “All these (prophetic forms of gifts) are the work of the one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines” (1 Corinthians 12:11). I don’t mean to digress here, but just to show that God gives dreams, visions, and lots of ways of communicating to His people from thousands of years ago, and providing always a voice to His church.
There is an article, weblink that is great for a quick review of dreams in the Bible and I hope to use some of their pics here: https://www.openbible.info/topics/dreams
Dreams As Occuring In The Bible
As you can see from the infographic, The Bible is relays at least 21 accounts of dreams occurring in the Bible. Some of the most well known stories of dreams are probably the account of Jacob’s dreams where he saw “angels ascending and descending as on a ladder into heaven”, Joseph’s (Joseph of Israel) dreams of the years of famine predicted in Egypt, and the occurrance of symbols in those dreams like Joseph’s sheaves of corn/wheat bowing down to Joseph, the cows shriveled, the numbers 7 and 3 (branches/baskets) and 11, and the sun and moon and stars bowing to him. Now, he may not have anticipated sharing these dreams to his brothers would end him up as being sold by them and then imprisoned, we see the gift of the dreams did come with a great price. He surely pondered on all the dreams while in prison, and he got better at interpreting dreams while in prison, even saving a man’s life. Daniel, from the book fo Daniel is almost considered most-blessed in regards to dreams. He interprets King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and so precisely, too, interpreting them for the king so correctly, by God’s majestic power and glorious demonstration of superiority to all the “king’s magicians, enchanters, or diviners”. They couldn’t hold a candle to that revelation Daniel recited and told the king several times that they simply could not, it was too difficult a mystery! But not too difficult for our God – so, as they say, “that’ll preach”! Daniel 2:24-27 is the opening of dream section of Scripture, and the telling of the issue of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream being a mystery that bothered him so that he absolutely needed to obtain the meaning! Daniel 2:28-35 is where Daniel proclaims God as the ruler of the mystery and and Daniel is boldy and unashamedly willing to deliver this message (though it could easily have cost him his life). Then Daniel speaks of king Nebuchezzar laying down and dreaming (definitely very clear that this is a sleepy-time dream), and so Daniel reveals the entire dream that troubled the king. Daniel 2:36-47 is the total interpretation of the dream Daniel very clearly told to the king, and that probably made all other gods and deities blush with embarassment! The amazing thing is the integrity Daniel has in deliverying the dream and interpretation by giving glory to God before the dream revelation, showing God acknowledging Nebuchadnezzar as having some power, and Daniel again giving glory to God at the end of the dream, Glory to the God of Heaven! Daniel was a dreamer, diplomat and prophet. In another place: “And he (the Lord in a pillar of cloud) said, Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream” (Numbers 12:6).
Personal Experience With Dreams
When I was in college, and around the season of being born-again, I had a vivid dream that was very alarming, woke me up in trembling fear, but I could not accept that it were demonic. There were some biblical symbols, and true elements of things going on my life with the school softball team, elements and scenes from the book of Joel, a warning to “wash my hands as sinners, and purify my heart as double-minded”, and a Greek-looking message chewed into my arm by locusts. When I awoke I had red markings on my arm (Like in the dream) and for several minutes, and I was so terrified for like over an hour, all I could do was shake! I had such little experience before with dreams that though I didn’t understand many things, I did know immediately somehow that I HAD TO WRITE IT DOWN. My journals were special to me in the Lord, as I was just beginning to see the spiritual kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33, John 3:3), and time spent with the Lord was honored with that dream. I did not realize that there were books in the Christian world about understanding Biblical symbols, or that I should consider the know-how to read about how people in the Bible handled dreams – all I knew then was I was overwhelmed, thankful, terrified, and that simply I MUST WRITE THIS DOWN. I will admit I did research locusts (grasshoppers) in the bible, because I had remember from my own reading the Bible that there were locusts in the book of Joel. I was so alarmed that day and still am that I cannot even type this without trembling. I WOULD HIGHLY SUGGEST IN ALL SERIOUSNESS THAT BELIEVERS WRITE DOWN THOSE TIMES WHEN THEY FEEL THEY HAVE A GENUINE EXPERIENCE, from a (valid) spiritual dream or other means…
And this was in the beginnings of me being able to hear from God, and (in serious consideration) help pray for people about mysteries revealed in dreams, having my sins revealed in dreams so that I can get clean of them, having then been attacked in dreams and learning to learn on God thru that, and so many innumerable I was blessed times in dreams, where God will simply show me that he sees me and see different parts of my day, and that He would observe that was and is so precious to me! But we simply cannot for one second think that all dreams come from God, more lie that many and I would say most of them will be used by the devil twisting an experience you have, making it look like you have a thought that you would never have towards a person, giving a horrible picture, a spirit of fear to terrify – like a dream of hell, false prophecies like telling you you’re about to die, or that someone else is about to. You may wake up scared, crying, shaking, afraid, embarassed, ashamed, but God is present always and with you, and that is why you are attacked, for as you threatened the devil’s kingdom, you can expect backlash. So, just take it as a compliment! The devil will have a field day, and so you must be very careful to write them down, but more careful to write down those dreams which reasonably and truly came from God, for not all spirits come from God, and we are always supposed to test the spirits (1 John 1:4). It does take a hot minute to figure some of this stuff out! That means we have to run to the bible, to good teaching, to learning from past dream experiences, to other books like Ira Milligan’s Understanding the Dreams You Dream (old orange version w a fish on it is the best), where Ira M. – who is on facebook too, does take the symbols and align from Scripture to those symbols based on his plentitude of dreams, clear Scriptural teaching, and look to buy it used, best $3 dollars you’ll ever spend! And there are symbols you’ll have to figure out yourself – stick with the Scriptures. I conclude for myself its better to be too strict and “miss out” on something in a dream, than to hold to something false, even if I wanted it, and caused unrest. By heeding God’s warnings, receiving His Spiritual enouragement in dreams, proving faithful with the little I understand, and be willing to be rebuked if something is not in line with sound doctrine, I too, have had a plentitude of dreams. I praise God for that! It has saved me from harm, sin, and temptation many times. Dreams have shown me some of the paths of righteousness when I really needed direction (Psalms 23:2).
Encouragement in Dreams And Warnings About Sharing Them
The kingdom of God is full of mysteries, and we HAVE TO remember “many people have longed to look to see the things were have and have not seen them, or to hear the things we have and have not heard them” (Matthew 13:17). It is a spiritual kingdom, not of this world. When I had that “Locust” dream in college, it got my attention in a way that nothing else could have. I was so alarmed and no one could ever take that dream away from me, no one saw those pictures with me but the God of the Bible, the God of Abraham Isaac Jacob and the prophets, and the God who sent the Son Jesus. I think it takes time to process messages – it just does! And we need to be sensitive that God still does give dreams to old men and visions to young men, and though we receive it clumsily – Yes, he even gives some of these things to women! “Your sons and daughters will prophesy” (Acts 2:17). “He (Jesus) answered and said unto them (his disciples), “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them (the people) it is not given ” (Matthew 13:11). Disclaimer: I have not scripture for the idea but feel its important to communicate this, that, you should NOT share your dreams with people of less maturity in the Lord than you. Not always will your dreams be well received. And definitely sometimes, nothing supernatural that you are trying to explain will be received either! “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces” (Matthew 7:6). Even more mature people in the Lord may not be appropriate sometimes, and I would dare say only tell your dreams to your mate when appropriate and tell your Lord your concerns, and then maybe perhaps in a tactful way, speak rightly a warning or help to a friend (of the same sex) in the Lord who the dream pertains to, because God always helps to take care and encourage His people. Don’t share dreams that put you in a vulnerable position. Let your guide, your husband, the Holy SPirit critique your dreams. You will only get better at discerning them and get better dreams! Even during the 400 years or so between the “silence” to God’s people in the Old Testament the law and the arrival of John the Baptist, I believe God still spoke to people by means of dreams and visions.
How Can I Get Dreams From Heaven?
The best way I know to get dreams, is to write them down from the start!! I would say this from experience (because I did not always have them). In fact, I went for about a year or more after the dream with the locusts before I had another one memorable enough to write down. However, I did have a friend prophesy over me – that’s when you’re in a place of prayer, and a prophetess or a prophet gets a word from the Lord and starts to pray over you words that only God Himself could have revealed. So there are other ways to hear from God, but dreams are such a pleasant way. So in saying that, if you ever feel that a valid experience from God has happened where He spoke to you – you should write it down, to reference, to study, to pray through, to be encouraged with. After I arrived at UNC Pembroke and met John, John said, “you should start to keep a journal of dreams, and you will get more of them”! He was right, of course! and He was getting dreams and testing them WAYYYYYY better and with more holier rules/standards. A good spiriutal guide will be one that has discipline, rules, and reflections of Scripture in their guidance for discerning dreams. It is VITAL that the dreams lead you to the Scriptures, and then you will find in your dreams that you could even have bible verses, references to Scripture statements, pictures of Jesus or saints, references to holy books, pictures of the cross, revealing of sins to confess and get clean of (1 John 1:9), etc. God loves you enough to send Jesus, to create flowers and animals, to make fruits and vegetables grow for us, to keep you healthy, to provide for your needs, and to watch over you while you sleep (Psalms 91:4; Psalms 127:2; )! I daresay He may just communicate something to you. How much more pleasant it is to hear from Him in the night :). What an encouraging God! His peace is the goal, so that “when you lie down, you will not be afraid” (Proverbs 3:24).
Here are some good verses on dreams – 100 or so, I think:
https://www.openbible.info/topics/dreams
I am learning that there is still much to learn.
There will be another article on this soon, dreams AND A VIDEO SERIES, I HOPE – interpretations of dreams, pitfalls in dreams, good authors to reference on the subject and bad authors to avoid on the subject of dreams, dreams about career paths,how many figures in history have had dreams leading to inventions, discoveries in physics, invention of the sewing machine, etc.
Rebekah's Reflections 