Should believers expect visions to be a part of their Christian experience?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

God occasionally used visions to reveal His truth as He did with Peter (Acts 10:9-16) and Paul (Acts 16:9-10), but they were never His primary means of communication. Since the completion of the Bible, God now speaks to us through His written Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16-17; John 16:13). While God may still use visions in rare circumstances, especially in unreached regions,we must rely on what we do know and have, like God’s Word, for the foundation of our faith (Psalm 119:105; Romans 10:17). Visions must align with Scripture, and those that contradict Scripture must be rejected, as deception can come through false teachings, emotions, or even demonic influence (Galatians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 11:14). Believers are called to test everything against the truth of Scripture, which remains our sure and sufficient guide (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Ezekiel describes the vision God gave him in 1:1-3: “In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the LORD was upon him there.”
• Daniel had numerous visions, one of which begins in 7:1 “In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. Daniel declared, ‘I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another.’”
• Many people still claim to receive visions from God, but if those visions contradict Scripture, they cannot be from God (Deuteronomy 13:1-5).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Peter received a message from the Lord in a vision in Acts chapter 10 which changed the course of history for the Gentiles.
• Once the Bible was completed, it became less necessary for God to speak through visions. Hebrews 1:1-2 explains that "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…." Since the Word of God (John 1:1) has been revealed, we do not need visions as we once did.
• The apostle Paul said, "even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8). Any claims of visions from God must align with Scripture.
• We must "test the spirits to see whether they are from God" (1 John 4:1). We have been given the Spirit of truth (John 16:13), and we are promised wisdom when we ask for it (James 1:5).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Not all visions are from God. Visions can be real and really false at the same time. Buddhism was heavily informed by a vision Siddhartha Gautama had while sitting in a trance. In the time since the Bible was compiled, many visions have directly contradicted Scripture. The false teachings of Islam, Mormonism, and the Unification Church were all begun by people who had visions. To discern a vision's origin, believers must prayerfully evaluate it using the Bible as the standard, seek counsel from spiritually mature believers, and examine the vision’s message for fruit that reflects the Holy Spirit—such as truth, peace, humility, and the glorification of Christ (Galatians 5:22–23; John 16:13–14).

If a vision isn't from God, where does it come from? There are several possibilities. It could just be a lie, concocted by a charlatan to serve his own purposes. It could be a case of lucid dreaming/false awakening, where a sleeping person feels awake and can control his dreams to some extent. Or it could be drug-induced; hallucinogenic drugs are often taken for the specific purpose of experiencing visions. And, of course, a person may have a vision he thinks is from God but is actually demonic in origin (1 Timothy 4:1). Satan wears masks (2 Corinthians 11:14).Is it possible God could still give visions? Of course. Does He? Perhaps, but not to the degree He once did. Scripture is complete. Visions were generally given when Scripture was incomplete. Today, most of the authentic visions occur in areas that have not yet been exposed to Christianity or where the Bible is suppressed.We must be wary when someone claims to have received a vision from God. Modern-day prophets are easily deceived by the "delusions of their own minds" (Jeremiah 14:14 NIV), and we are not to follow false teaching (Jeremiah 23:16). Any vision that contradicts Scripture should be immediately rejected.

UNDERSTAND

• God used visions in the Bible, but even then, they were not common.
• God can still use visions to communicate, but God’s Word and prayer are the main ways that God speaks.
• Believers should test all visions through Scripture, prayer, and wise counsel.

REFLECT

• How do you respond when someone shares a vision they believe came from God? Do you feel more drawn to it or more cautious, and why?
• When was the last time you tested a spiritual message or experience against Scripture, and what did that process look like?
• How does your trust in God’s written Word affect the way you seek guidance or confirmation in your spiritual life?

ENGAGE

• What role did visions play in biblical times, and how should that shape how we view them today?
• How can modern Christians discern whether a vision or message truly honors God?
• How can we as believers support one another in remaining grounded in Scripture while still being open to the Holy Spirit’s work?