Desires can typically fascinate believers. From the visions Daniel skilled within the Previous Testomony (Daniel 7) to Peter’s dream about clear and unclean animals (Acts 10:9-16) it appears as if desires lace virtually all of the books of Scripture.
Even within the fashionable context, it appears as if many believers have come to Christ by way of seeing Jesus in a dream (see an article about such encounters right here).
What are some examples of desires all through Scripture? What does the Bible must say about desires explicitly and does God nonetheless communicate to us by way of desires? And the way a lot inventory ought to Christians place in desires as we speak?
Biblical Examples of God Speaking by way of Desires
In fact, this text can not dive into each occasion of desires in Scripture. Nonetheless, it’ll spotlight a number of cases of desires and why the matter:
- Joseph (Previous Testomony): You can’t talk about Joseph from Genesis with out diving into desires. Granted, more often than not he spent decoding desires (Genesis 41), however he did have a dream of his personal earlier than he entered Egypt (Genesis 37). These desires hinted that Joseph’s household would “bow to him” sooner or later. This involves fruition after they come to him for meals throughout an excellent famine. In essence, the dream had a goal to predict the longer term.
- Daniel (Previous Testomony): Like Joseph, he typically interprets desires somewhat than has them, however in Daniel 7 he witnesses a terrifying dream of 4 beasts. Theologians have attributed every beast to a sure kingdom (Babylon, Medo-Persians, Greeks, and Romans/Finish Occasions Kingdom). The desires served to point out occasions and kingdoms to return.
- Joseph (New Testomony):Joseph, Jesus’ father, sees an angel in a dream who warns him to flee to Egypt earlier than Herod can take the lifetime of his son (Matthew 2:13). This dream served as a warning.
- Pontius Pilate’s spouse (New Testomony):When Jesus stands at trial with Pontius Pilate, his spouse warns Pilate towards having something to do with him, as a result of she is aware of of his innocence (Matthew 27:19). The dream knowledgeable her in regards to the true nature of Jesus.
This text reveals all of the desires in Scripture and the which means behind them. Desires typically make use of symbolism to show a lesson, expose components of the longer term, or assist us uncover extra about God.
What Scripture says about Desires for Us
Though most dream references in Scripture check with sure desires God has given to a sure individual (see above), Scripture does point out a number of issues about desires:
- Acts 2:17: Within the Finish Occasions, many believers will see desires. Though it doesn’t specify what precisely they’d see, one can infer it is likely to be a imaginative and prescient of Heaven, Christ, or of the longer term.
- Ecclesiastes 5:7: This verse appears to warn towards putting an excessive amount of hope in desires. “A lot dreaming . . . (is) meaningless.” Due to this fact, we shouldn’t dwell an excessive amount of on desires, and as a substitute, flip to Scripture to listen to God’s messages to us.
- Jeremiah 29:8: This verse warns us towards putting our religion within the desires of others. Generally false prophets will talk about desires that didn’t happen to sway God’s individuals. Christians must watch out each time anybody speaks a few dream and may check every little thing mentioned about that dream towards Scripture.
How A lot Inventory Ought to Christians Place in Desires?
Christians ought to seek the advice of Scripture any time they encounter a vivid dream that appears to have a which means or authority higher than the common desires most of us expertise every night time.
Within the article above which talks about Muslims who’ve seen Jesus in desires, these desires happen as a result of they principally would not have entry to God’s phrase or haven’t learn Scripture for themselves. Desires kind a short lived bridge for them to come across God.
Should you check out the frequency of desires within the Bible, most happen within the Previous Testomony. Since most who lived within the Previous Testomony had restricted entry to God’s phrase, or within the case of those that lived earlier than the time of Moses, God used desires and visions as a method to talk His messages to individuals.
Though visions and desires have been identified to happen after the Previous Testomony and after the New Testomony, we do must needless to say our major foundation for what God has to say to Christians is within the canon of Scripture.
The Bible does point out believers having desires within the final days, however these desires ought to by no means usurp Scripture when it comes to authority.
God could place a dream in a Christian’s life to warn them a few future occasion, present a logo that’s necessary for that believer’s life, or to convey a sure message. Each time a Christian encounters such a dream, they need to check the spirits by opening the Bible and studying what it has to say in regards to the topic of that dream.
Moreover, though desires could fascinate us, Christians shouldn’t envy different Christians who’ve desires. Desires don’t have a higher authority than Scripture, and most believers have God’s phrases proper at their fingertips.
Why Does This Matter?
If persons are experiencing visions and desires as we speak, it could fulfill what Scripture says about this occurring extra steadily within the Final Days.
Nonetheless, in the end, it reveals us God continues to be chatting with these unreached by Scripture.
Associated Useful resource: When Atheists Have Visions: 9 Stunning Encounters
What occurs when atheists who count on nothing after dying report vivid visions of an afterlife? Dr. Steve Miller returns to unpack stunning instances of near-death experiences, deathbed visions, and different phenomena that problem a purely naturalistic worldview. He talks about how these encounters unfold, what they describe, and the way they reconcile them with their beliefs. Are these experiences simply mind chemistry or one thing extra? Need extra solutions to your greatest questions on God, morality and up to date tradition? You’ll want to comply with The Sean McDowell Present on Apple or Spotify so that you by no means miss an episode!
Photograph credit score: ©Getty Photos/Prostock-Studio
Initially printed November 11, 2025.
