God and Dreams

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Mayflower

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So how do you know which dreams are from God, which are your subconscious working things out and nonsense dreams, and which are from the Enemy.

I have had apocolyptic dreams lately, but I have had end times on my mind a lot. Like the golden gate bridge collapsing...and Bibles being replaced with universal ones. Weird ones.

The big thing I question is who does the dream glorify and the purpose of God dreams. Id say God dreams are to edify the church/warn the church. While enemy dreams are to confuse/create fear.

I try to take dreams like a grain of salt, but I do pray for interpretation and discernment.
 

marks

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Hi Mayflower,

My basic thought is that God is capable to speak to us in ways we will recognize and understand.

Dreams come in much business, it's how we are. I trust that the one that comes from God comes with His Spirit to confirm it to me, and that I would know the meaning.

Much love!
Mark
 
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Pearl

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So how do you know which dreams are from God, which are your subconscious working things out and nonsense dreams, and which are from the Enemy.

I have had apocolyptic dreams lately, but I have had end times on my mind a lot. Like the golden gate bridge collapsing...and Bibles being replaced with universal ones. Weird ones.

The big thing I question is who does the dream glorify and the purpose of God dreams. Id say God dreams are to edify the church/warn the church. While enemy dreams are to confuse/create fear.

I try to take dreams like a grain of salt, but I do pray for interpretation and discernment.
Ever since shortly after I became a Christian forty years ago I have had what I call 'God dreams'. I recognise them as that because they don't disappear after I wake up. Even after all this time they are still clear in my mind and also I seem to know even before I wake when God is showing me something or teaching me something in a dream. And then I pray and ask to show me the meaning of the dream and he always has.

Usually the God dreams I have are for my own benefit, to teach me what I call a 'life lesson', but because most of them are based on simple godly truths I often share them with others. I have started a thread called 'Life Lessons' and you can read about some of my God dreams and life lessons if you'd like. I am about to share another so look out for it.
 

Mayflower

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Ever since shortly after I became a Christian forty years ago I have had what I call 'God dreams'. I recognise them as that because they don't disappear after I wake up. Even after all this time they are still clear in my mind and also I seem to know even before I wake when God is showing me something or teaching me something in a dream. And then I pray and ask to show me the meaning of the dream and he always has.

Usually the God dreams I have are for my own benefit, to teach me what I call a 'life lesson', but because most of them are based on simple godly truths I often share them with others. I have started a thread called 'Life Lessons' and you can read about some of my God dreams and life lessons if you'd like. I am about to share another so look out for it.

Dreams seem to be on my mind a lot. And I believe I have had some from God. But I do not interpret. And Ive prayed and googled, and dream journaled to a friend. Im continuing to pray on the subject, because the Enemy does use my anxiety and obsession of things as a stumbling block. But Id like to know what to do with my dreams. And instead of going back and reading 900 or so pages, talking through this subject in a new convo here would be nice. No dreams/interpretations or debates on if dreams are or are not... But like a Bible study of where dreams are in the Bible like with Joseph and in Daniel... And how these great dreamers and interpretors did. Because pharaoh himself had a dream from God and Joseph had to interpret.
 
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Mayflower

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Maybe write a Bible study. My questions here and what I'm learning. A discovery of sorts. I know how. I just go to do it and cant. Accountability is just helpful and anyone who is knowledgeable on this subject can contribute...
 

Mayflower

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Here are the questions on my mind on dreams and from the Bible to organize my thoughts on dreams. And @Pearl definitely want to read your thread too and go back and read Chris's. But this is something on my mind a lot. I think I need to dig into this some...

Questions:

1. Was there criteria/similarities of those who had dreams/visions in the Bible.

2. What criteria is there for those who have dreams/visions today.

3. A list/look at those who have had visions/dreams from God in the Bible.

4. How to know if something is from the Enemy.

5. How to know if something is from God

I'm sure more will come up as I study. I'll have to Google and pray to know where to start, but I know Joseph, Daniel, Mary, Joseph, Pharaoh, Jacob, Paul...
 

Mayflower

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Thought Journal #1 Abram

After Terah died, God spoke to Abram telling him where to go with his family and that if he did God would make him a great nation.

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
GENESIS 12:1‭-‬4 NASB


Thoughts:
1. Abram was obedient to God.
2. In the lineage of Christ.
3. All the families of the earth would be blessed.
4. God spoke to Abram for guidance and was using him as a vessel to bless others and generations after him.
5. Question: It says God spoke to Abram, so was this a vision/dream, or was this just pre-Moses where God did speak to men directly.
6. And I doubt this makes a difference, but just noting his age was 75. Samuel was just a boy when God spoke to him, so I don't believe age is a criteria. But I do note that Abram is a believer. I believe dreams come to believers or unbelievers to bring them to God.

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.” And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.” It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:
GENESIS 15:1‭, ‬5‭-‬5‭, ‬12‭-‬18 NASB

Thoughts:

1. Question: why did God tell Abram what was to come after he died. Was he supposed to pass this on? I know God's ways are not our ways, but what was the purpose of telling Abram about the Israelites. Was it for us to read now and believe... To see it came to pass as God said it would? Was this book written way before the events happened with Moses?

2. Without a doubt Abram knew this was from God. There is no doubt even reading this it is from God. Of course it is God's Word too. :D

3. Terror and great darkness fell on Abram, so fear can come with a God dream...I also notice he was in a deep sleep. Not like a daytime nap.

4. Covenant/promise was made with Abram.

Any thoughts welcome on these verses...Ill just focus on Abram/Abraham for now. Just like a through the Bible study on dreams/visions. Might be better in Bible study section...
 
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Enoch111

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1. Question: why did God tell Abram what was to come after he died. Was he supposed to pass this on? I know God's ways are not our ways, but what was the purpose of telling Abram about the Israelites. Was it for us to read now and believe... To see it came to pass as God said it would? Was this book written way before thee events happened with Moses?
1. Let's start at the end of that paragraph. It is Moses who recorded everything concerning Abraham by divine inspiration, even though Moses lived about 500 years after Abraham. So everything in Genesis is by divine revelation. And Abram would become Abraham because a part of this covenant would make him the "father of many nations".

2. What is recorded here is called the Abrahamic Covenant, and this covenant would be expanded and repeated to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So Abraham was in fact expected to pass it on. It also overlaps with the Davidic Covenant made to David regarding his eternal throne on earth.

3. The Israelites (the 12 tribes of Israel from the 12 sons of Jacob/Israel) were a very significant part of the Abrahamic Covenant. So when you see "thy seed" in all the related passages, there are actually three entities who would be descendants of Abraham: (1) the twelve tribes of Israel for eternity, (2) Christ Himself as the seed through whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed, and (3) all believers in Christ who would be metaphorical and spiritual descendants of Abraham because of their faith.

4. Yes God wanted all Christians to read and believe what He said to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, since this covenant has an eternal impact. After the second coming of Christ, redeemed and restored Israel will be settled in Greater Israel stretching from the Nile to the Euphrates (as you have quoted). This has never been fulfilled.

5. Replacement Theology was introduced by the Catholic Church and adopted by the Protestant churches to falsely teach Christians that God was *through* with Israel, and these promises would apply allegorically to the Church. But since the eternal home of the Church is the New Jerusalem, we know that God has a plan and purpose for redeemed and restored Israel on earth after the Second Coming of Christ. Study Ezekiel and all the prophets in the OT.
 
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Mayflower

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1. Let's start at the end of that paragraph. It is Moses who recorded everything concerning Abraham by divine inspiration, even though Moses lived about 500 years after Abraham. So everything in Genesis is by divine revelation. And Abram would become Abraham because a part of this covenant would make him the "father of many nations".

2. What is recorded here is called the Abrahamic Covenant, and this covenant would be expanded and repeated to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So Abraham was in fact expected to pass it on. It also overlaps with the Davidic Covenant made to David regarding his eternal throne on earth.

3. The Israelites (the 12 tribes of Israel from the 12 sons of Jacob/Israel) were a very significant part of the Abrahamic Covenant. So when you see "thy seed" in all the related passages, there are actually three entities who would be descendants of Abraham: (1) the twelve tribes of Israel for eternity, (2) Christ Himself as the seed through whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed, and (3) all believers in Christ who would be metaphorical and spiritual descendants of Abraham because of their faith.

4. Yes God wanted all Christians to read and believe what He said to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, since this covenant has an eternal impact. After the second coming of Christ, redeemed and restored Israel will be settled in Greater Israel stretching from the Nile to the Euphrates (as you have quoted). This has never been fulfilled.

5. Replacement Theology was introduced by the Catholic Church and adopted by the Protestant churches to falsely teach Christians that God was *through* with Israel, and these promises would apply allegorically to the Church. But since the eternal home of the Church is the New Jerusalem, we know that God has a plan and purpose for redeemed and restored Israel on earth after the Second Coming of Christ. Study Ezekiel and all the prophets in the OT.

Yessss....this is definitely a good idea. Numbered makes it easier to go back to digest points too... So what I glean here about dreams...

1. Abram's dream was to be passed on and told to others.
2. Just hit me: the Israelites held onto the hope of this promise. So his dream edified/brought hope to God's people of deliverance.

Thank you for your thoughts...I remember now about how important and central these covenants are...I hope this is a start to deeper subject studies...like the Abrahamic Covenant through the Bible...not digging deep enough may be why I have lost interest in much Bible devotions. Me centered instead of God centered...
 
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Pearl

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Dreams seem to be on my mind a lot. And I believe I have had some from God. But I do not interpret. And Ive prayed and googled, and dream journaled to a friend. Im continuing to pray on the subject, because the Enemy does use my anxiety and obsession of things as a stumbling block. But Id like to know what to do with my dreams. And instead of going back and reading 900 or so pages, talking through this subject in a new convo here would be nice. No dreams/interpretations or debates on if dreams are or are not... But like a Bible study of where dreams are in the Bible like with Joseph and in Daniel... And how these great dreamers and interpretors did. Because pharaoh himself had a dream from God and Joseph had to interpret.
Joseph himself dreamed dreams, remember the seven fat cows followed by the seven thin ones and also the one about the sheaves of corn bowing down.
 
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Mayflower

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Joseph himself dreamed dreams, remember the seven fat cows followed by the seven thin ones and also the one about the sheaves of corn bowing down.

My daughter and I watch the animated movie a lot. Lol.
 

Mayflower

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Thought Journal #2- Eliphaz the Temanite

“Now a word was brought to me stealthily, And my ear received a whisper of it. Amid disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falls on men, Dread came upon me, and trembling, And made all my bones shake. Then a spirit passed by my face; The hair of my flesh bristled up. It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; A form was before my eyes; There was silence, then I heard a voice:
JOB 4:12‭-‬16 NASB

I have more questions really concerning this.

1) Is this vision from God or the Enemy? Job's friends had to repent except for Zophar, and ask Job to pray for them....


2) dread/bones shaking. Disquieting thoughts

3) a spirit that its appearance could not be discerned. A form...

4) word came stealthily in a deep sleep

Yeh, I'll have to study more on this today. I think this was an Enemy dream...
 

Mayflower

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I should have kept going. Lol.

It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; A form was before my eyes; There was silence, then I heard a voice: ‘Can mankind be just before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker? He puts no trust even in His servants; And against His angels He charges error. How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who are crushed before the moth! Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces; Unobserved, they perish forever. Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, yet without wisdom.’
JOB 4:16‭-‬21 NASB

Thoughts...

1) okay...so maybe this was from God. Because when God spoke to Job, He was conveying the same message...bones shaking and dread is interesting...

2. What was the purpose of revealing this to Eliphaz...was this to start helping Job think about this message...This message would be to teach Job and his friends...