OTHER MEANS OF REVELATION1
Dr. Paul Manuel—2015
When God wants to communicate with man, He uses a variety of ways.2 The most common method is verbal, as when He speaks to His people through an angel or a prophet.3 In addition to what is then recorded in scripture, God employs other means of revelation,4 both natural and supernatural.
I. Natural means of revelation
II. Supernatural means of revelation
Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.”
Mic 4:4 Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken.
1 Kgs 3:5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
Dan 2:28b Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you lay on your bed are these: …31 You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance.
Matt 2:19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”
Matt 2:12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. 13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said…. 19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20a and said, “Get up…” …22b Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee,
II. Pictorial dreams
Dan 4:5a I had a dream that made me afraid…. 10a These are the visions I saw while lying in my bed…. 11 The tree grew large and strong…. 13 "In the visions I saw while lying in my bed…there before me was a messenger…. 14 He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree….’ 17 The decision is announced by messengers…so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men ….”
III. Informative dreams
Acts 18:9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking…. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you….”
As with other modes of revelation, dreams are subject to counterfeiting, against which God both cautions and condemns.
Deut 13:1 If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, 2 and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, “Let us follow other gods…and let us worship them,” 3a you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer…. 5 That prophet or dreamer must be put to death…. You must purge the evil from among you.
IV. Deceptive dreams
Jer 27:9 So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums or your sorcerers who tell you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’ 8 Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have.
Zech 10:2 The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd.
Revelatory dreams are not a common occurrence in scripture. Does God still employ dreams as a means of revelation? While He certainly may, He will do so to a greater extent toward the culmination of the divine program.
I. Natural means of revelation
A. Stellar creation5Rom 1:20 …since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
B. Human conscienceRom 2:15 …they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.
II. Supernatural means of revelation
A. Angelic visitation6Gen 19:15 With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.”
Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.”
B. Prophetic inspirationIsa 7:7 Yet this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “‘It will not take place, it will not happen,’”
Mic 4:4 Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken.
C. Telepathic perception
1. Dream (unconscious)
Gen 20:3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.”a. Verbal
1 Kgs 3:5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
Gen 28:12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.b. Pictorial
Dan 2:28b Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you lay on your bed are these: …31 You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance.
Matt 1:20 …an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”c. Both
Matt 2:19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”
A dream may convey two kinds of revelatory information, verbal or pictorial,[7] with some dreams combining both elements.[8] The recipient can be an actor or only an observer. Moreover, the meaning of a dream may be immediately clear, may need interpretation,[9] or may not become clear until much later. A vision is both verbal and pictorial and may occur when the recipient is asleep (embedded in a dream)[10] or awake.2. Vision (conscious)
Ezek 8:3 He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance to the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to jealousy stood. 4 And there before me was the glory of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain.The text does not always distinguish between these two forms of revelation (dream and vision). One form may be part of (or indistinguishable from) another.
Dan 2:19a During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision…. 28c Your dream and the visions…as you lay on your bed are these: ….45….“The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true….”
Dan 4:5 I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in my bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me.
Dan 7:1a …Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying on his bed.Whereas dreams happen only at night (when an individual is asleep), visions alone usually happen during the day (when an individual is awake). Those identifiable as such generally convey information that is personal or familial versus national or global.
Acts 10:3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
Acts 16:9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
Rev 1:10a On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit…. 9:17a The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like thisThere may also be some loss of (mental?) control with a trance.
Acts 10:10b …he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners…. 17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you.”
Acts 11:5a I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision.I. Verbal dreams
A. Interactive types
Gen 20:3a But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him…. 4a Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he said…. 6 Then God said to him in the dream….1. Abimelech
1 Kgs 3:6a Solomon answered…. 11a So God said to him…., 15a Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.2. Solomon
Acts 9:10b The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11a The Lord told him….3. Ananias
B. Non-interactive types
Gen 31:24 Then God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”1. Laban
Job 4:13 Amid disquieting dreams in the night, when deep sleep falls on men,2. Eliphaz
Matt 1:20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said….3. Joseph
Matt 2:12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. 13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said…. 19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20a and said, “Get up…” …22b Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee,
II. Pictorial dreams
A. Interactive types
Gen 31:10a …I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw…. 11a The angel of God said to me in the dream….1. Jacob
Dan 7:1a …Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying on his bed…. 2 Daniel said: "In my vision…. 3 Four great beasts…came up out of the sea…. 9 As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat…. 13a "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven…. 16 I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this. "So he…gave me the interpretation….2. Daniel
B. Non-interactive types
Gen 28:12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth…and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13a There above it stood the LORD, and he said….1. Jacob
Gen 37:6a …“Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain…while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.” …9 Then he had another dream…. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”2. Joseph
Gen 40:9 So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, “In my dream I saw a vine in front of me….3. Cupbearer
Gen 40:16 When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he said to Joseph, “I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets of bread.”4. Baker
Gen 41:1 …Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile…. 5 He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain…were growing on a single stalk…. 7b Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream…. 32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God….5. Pharaoh
Judg 7:13a Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.” 14 His friend responded…. “God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.”6. Midianite
Dan 2:31 "You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue…. 36 "This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king…. 45c The dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy."7. Nebuchadnezzar
Dan 4:5a I had a dream that made me afraid…. 10a These are the visions I saw while lying in my bed…. 11 The tree grew large and strong…. 13 "In the visions I saw while lying in my bed…there before me was a messenger…. 14 He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree….’ 17 The decision is announced by messengers…so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men ….”
III. Informative dreams
- Unspecified types
Matt 2:12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.1. Magi
Matt 27:19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “…I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”2. Pilate’s wife
Acts 10:3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4b …“What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.3. Cornelius
Acts 10:9 About noon the following day…Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10b …he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth…. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” …19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you.”…28b God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.4. Peter
Acts 16:9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia…begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.5. Paul
Acts 18:9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking…. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you….”
As with other modes of revelation, dreams are subject to counterfeiting, against which God both cautions and condemns.
Deut 13:1 If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, 2 and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, “Let us follow other gods…and let us worship them,” 3a you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer…. 5 That prophet or dreamer must be put to death…. You must purge the evil from among you.
IV. Deceptive dreams
- Unspecified type (interactive or non-interactive)
Jer 23:25 “I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ …27 They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name…. 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the LORD. “They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares the LORD.
- False prophets
Jer 27:9 So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums or your sorcerers who tell you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’ 8 Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have.
Zech 10:2 The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd.
Revelatory dreams are not a common occurrence in scripture. Does God still employ dreams as a means of revelation? While He certainly may, He will do so to a greater extent toward the culmination of the divine program.
Joel 2:28 …I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. [= Acts 2:17]At that point, these other means of revelation may be necessary to keep pace with the acceleration of events as Jesus’ return draws nigh.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
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Jim Skaggs