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Vision

Biblical visions are supernatural revelations from God given to His people to communicate His will, guidance, and purposes. While visions were prominent in Scripture, discernment is essential to distinguish genuine divine visions from false ones.

Overview

Throughout Scripture, God communicated with His people through visions—divinely given experiences where recipients saw spiritual truths and received God's direction. Visions often came to prophets and leaders during prayer, sleep, or heightened spiritual awareness. The Bible emphasizes both the reality of genuine visions from God and the danger of false visions from human imagination or deception.

Key Scriptures

"And he said, 'Hear now my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision'" (Numbers 12:6, ESV).

"Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law" (Proverbs 29:18, ESV).

"And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions" (Acts 2:17, ESV).

Application

Test all claimed visions against Scripture, seeking confirmation through God's Word and wise counsel from mature believers.

Scripture References 40

Numbers 12:6 1 Samuel 3:1 2 Chronicles 26:5 Psalms 89:19 Proverbs 29:18 Jeremiah 14:14 Jeremiah 23:16 Daniel 1:17 Hosea 12:10 Joel 2:28 Obadiah 1:1 Habakkuk 2:2 Acts 2:17 Genesis 15:1 Genesis 15:2 Genesis 15:3 Genesis 15:4 Genesis 15:5 Genesis 15:6 Genesis 15:7 Genesis 15:8 Genesis 15:9 Genesis 15:10 Genesis 15:11 Genesis 15:12 Genesis 15:13 Genesis 15:14 Genesis 15:15 Genesis 15:16 Genesis 15:17 Acts 9:10 Acts 9:11 Acts 9:12 Acts 10:3 1 Chronicles 21:15 1 Chronicles 21:16 1 Chronicles 21:17 1 Chronicles 21:18 2 Kings 2:11 2 Kings 6:17

Full Topical Reference List 116 total — Nave's Topical Bible

A mode of revelation

1 Samuel 3:1 2 Chronicles 26:5 Acts 2:17 Daniel 1:17 Habakkuk 2:2 Hosea 12:10 Jeremiah 14:14 Jeremiah 23:16 Joel 2:28 Numbers 12:6 Obadiah 1:1 Proverbs 29:18 Psalms 89:19

Of Abraham, concerning his descendants

Genesis 15:1 Genesis 15:2 Genesis 15:3 Genesis 15:4 Genesis 15:5 Genesis 15:6 Genesis 15:7 Genesis 15:8 Genesis 15:9 Genesis 15:10 Genesis 15:11 Genesis 15:12 Genesis 15:13 Genesis 15:14 Genesis 15:15 Genesis 15:16 Genesis 15:17

Of Ananias, of Christ

Acts 9:10 Acts 9:11 Acts 9:12

Of Cornelius, the centurion, of an angel

Acts 10:3

Of David, of the angel of the Lord by the threshing floor of Ornan

1 Chronicles 21:15 1 Chronicles 21:16 1 Chronicles 21:17 1 Chronicles 21:18

Of Elisha, at the translation of Elijah

2 Kings 2:11

Of Elisha's servant, of the chariots of the Lord

2 Kings 6:17

Of Job, of a spirit

Job 4:12 Job 4:13 Job 4:14 Job 4:15 Job 4:16

Of John the Baptist, at the baptism of Jesus

John 1:32 John 1:33 John 1:34 Luke 3:22 Mark 1:10 Matthew 3:16

Of Joshua, of the captain of the Lord's host

Joshua 5:13 Joshua 5:14 Joshua 5:15

Of Micaiah, of the defeat of the Israelites; of the Lord on His throne; and of a lying spirit

1 Kings 22:17 1 Kings 22:18 1 Kings 22:19 1 Kings 22:20 1 Kings 22:21 1 Kings 22:22 1 Kings 22:23 2 Chronicles 18:16 2 Chronicles 18:17 2 Chronicles 18:18 2 Chronicles 18:19 2 Chronicles 18:20 2 Chronicles 18:21 2 Chronicles 18:22

Of Peter, of the sheet let down from heaven

Acts 10:9 Acts 10:10 Acts 10:11 Acts 10:12 Acts 10:13 Acts 10:14 Acts 10:15 Acts 10:16 Acts 10:17 Acts 10:18

Of Stephen, of Christ

Acts 7:55 Acts 7:56

Of the Israelites, of the manifestation of the glory of God

Exodus 24:10 Exodus 24:17 Hebrews 12:18 Hebrews 12:19 Hebrews 12:20 Hebrews 12:21

Of the people, of the tongues of fire at Pentecost

Acts 2:2 Acts 2:3

Of Zacharias, in the temple

Luke 1:13 Luke 1:14 Luke 1:15 Luke 1:16 Luke 1:17 Luke 1:18 Luke 1:19 Luke 1:20 Luke 1:21 Luke 1:22

Peter, James, and John, of the transfiguration of Jesus and the appearance of Moses and Elijah

Luke 9:28 Luke 9:29 Luke 9:30 Luke 9:31 Luke 9:32 Luke 9:33 Luke 9:34 Luke 9:35 Luke 9:36 Matthew 17:1 Matthew 17:2 Matthew 17:3 Matthew 17:4 Matthew 17:5 Matthew 17:6 Matthew 17:7 Matthew 17:8 Matthew 17:9

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