Dreams and Visions

Monday, July 22, 2013

Paul Schneider

Dear Friend,

INTRO

Many people have dreams and they try to interpret those dreams and thereby derive some sort of meaning from their dream. There were many dreams recorded in the Bible and visions as well and God Himself was the One who gave the dream or vision and also provided an accurate interpretation to the dream or vision. Both the prophet Daniel and the Apostle John were given visions of future happenings, some of which have already been fulfilled and much that awaits fulfillment. How valid are the dreams that people have today? Stay tuned!

JOSEPH'S DREAM

Joseph was a type of Jesus, although not without sin. Genesis 37:3-8, "Now Israel (Jacob) loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a coat of many colors. Vs 4 His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms." Jesus brethren, the Jewish people, also hated Him (read Isaiah 53). Vs. 5, "Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, and they hated him even more." Vs. 6, "He said to them, Please listen to this dream which I have had; Vs. 7 For behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf. Vs. 8, Then his brothers said to him, Are you actually going to reign over us? So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words." Later on, they sold him to the Ishmaelites, who carried him to Egypt, where, through circumstances orchestrated by the sovereign God, He was appointed by Pharaoh as second ruler in Egypt.

PHARAOH'S DREAM

Genesis 41 tells of Pharaoh's dream: Seven fat cows and seven thin cows devoured the fat cows and seven fat plump ears devoured by seven thin ears. Pharaoh asked all the wise men of Egypt to interpret this dream for him but they couldn't and then it was brought to his attention that Joseph had accurately interpreted two men's dreams. Pharaoh sent for him and related the dreams to Joseph, and Joseph, in dependence on God, gave him the interpretation. The seven fat cows and ears were to be seven years of abundance -- good crops and beef production and then would follow seven years of famine which would devour the stored crops. The famine engulfed the land of Caanan, where Joseph's father and brothers lived. When they ran out of food for their livestock, Joseph's brothers came down to Egypt to buy grain. In the 12 years since they had sold Joseph, Joseph had grown from a youth of 17 or 18 to 30 years of age and they did not recognize him, but Joseph recognized them and revealed himself to them on their second visit and caused them great consternation and fear, just as the Jewish people will be when Jesus returns on His second visit. During the Tribulation, He will destroy their enemies, who came to destroy them and at His return, they will finally accept Him as their Messiah (Savior), just as Joseph's brothers accepted him and his provision of the most fertile land in all of Egypt for them to live in -- the land of Goshen. When Jesus returns, the entire earth will produce crops so prolifically, that "The plowman will overtake the reaper." Amos 9:13

NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S FIRST DREAM

Daniel 2:1-6 "Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him. Vs. 2 Then the king gave orders to call in the magicians, the conjurers, the sorcerers and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. Vs. 3 The king said to them, "I had a dream and my spirit is anxious to understand the dream." Vs. 4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic: O king, live forever! (flattery) Tell the dream to your servants, and we will declare the interpretation." Vs. 5 The king replied to the Chaldeans, "The command from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream AND it's interpretation, you will be torn limb from limb and your houses will be made a rubbish heap ((no doubt that had them "shakin in their boots)." Vs. 6 But if you declare the dream and it's interpretation, you will receive from me gifts and a reward and great honor; therefore declare to me the dream and its interpretation." When it became apparent to the king they couldn't grant his request, he ordered all of them killed.

DANIEL

SUMMONED

VS. 24 "Therefore, Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and spoke to him as follows: "Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon! Take me into the kings presence, and I will declare the interpretation to the king. Vs. 25 Then Arioch hurriedly brought Daniel into the king's presence and spoke to him as follows: "I have found a man among the exiles of Judah who can make the interpretation known to the king!"

THE

INTERPRETATION

Vs. 27 "Daniel answered before the king and said, As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians, magicians nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. Vs. 28 However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known what will take place in the LATTER DAYS. This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed." Vs. 29, As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would take place IN THE FUTURE and He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what will take place. Vs. 30, But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me for any wisdom residing in me more than any other living man, but for the purpose of making the interpretation known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind." The rest of the chapter identifies the whole panorama of the future, including the end times in which we live and next week we will take it up. As you can see these dreams had a SUPERNATURAL ORIGIN. The future is an open book to God. Are our dreams valid today? May I refer you to Jeremiah 23:25-40?

To access this article on the web and share it with others, go to http://sites.google.com/site/lookingforhiscominng