INTERPRETATION OF DREAMS & VISIONS

The Scriptures give accounts in both the Old and New Testaments of dreams and visions from the Lord. And according to Joel 2:28-32 and as quoted on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2:16-21, “It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:...”

As one who researches the Scripture concerning the subject of Dreams or Visions (See previous studies on these subjects), he can see examples and principles about interpreting dreams and visions that will give discernment in determining the meaning. These guidelines can be summarized as follows:
 

1. When a dream or vision is from God, one can know it even as those in the Scriptures knew the spiritual significance of theirs. Even when a dream or vision has a fearful message, because it was of the Lord, fear did not accompany it with the one receiving it.

2. When the dream or vision is from God, either the one receiving it immediately understood the significance or someone was available within a brief time to give them the interpretation.

3. When the dream or vision is from God, it foretold, warned or instructed. Spiritual dreams in the Bible then either gave instruction, foretold an event or warned of some future event.