VISIONS A MODE OF DIVINE REVELATION. Num. xii, 6. And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. 1 Sam. ill. 1. And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days: there was no open vision. 2 Chron. xxvi, 5. And he Bought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper. Ps. lxxxix. 19. Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one. Prov. xxix, 18. Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. the word of the LORD came unto JACOB. Gen. xlvl, 2. And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. MOSES. Exod. ill, 2. And the Angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, Deut. xxxiv, 10-12. And there knew face to face; In all the signs SAMUEL. Jer. xiv, 14. Then the LORD sald unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto 1 Sam. III, 1, 4, 7, 15. And the them: they prophesy unto you a child Samuel ministered unto the false vision and divination, and a LORD before Eli. And the word thing of nought, and the deceit of of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. The LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel their heart. Jer. xxiii, 16. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. Dan. i, 17. As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions dreams. and feared to show Eli the vision. NATHAN. 2 Sam. vii, 4, 17. And it came to pass that night, that the word of thereof: an Image was before mine eyes; there was silence, and I heard a voice. ISAIAH. Isa. vi, 1. In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. EZEKIEL. Ezek. i, 4. And I looked, and, the north, a great cloud, and a behold, a whirlwind came out of re infolding itself, and a bright ness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. Ezek. viii, 4. And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain. Ezek. x, 1. Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubim there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. Ezek. xi, 24, 25. Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the cap tivity: so the vision that I had seen went up from me. Then I spake unto them of the captivity all the things that the LORD had showed me. (See under IDOLATRY AND SPIRITS.) NEBUCHADNEZZAR. Dan. ii, 28. But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in maketh known to the king the latter days. Thy dream, and Hosea xli, 10. I have also the LORD came unto Nathan, say- the visions of thy head upon thy spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets. Hab. ii, 2. And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. ing, According to all these words, ELIPHAZ. Job iv, 12-16. Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof. In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: It stood still, Gen. xv, 1. After these things but I could not discern the form 720 VISIONS MENTIONED IN TO ABRAHAM. bed, are these. Dan. iv, 5. I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed, and the visions of my head, troubled me. DANIEL. Dan. ii, 19. Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Dan. vii, 1. In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions of his head upon his bed; then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. Dan. vii, 28. Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart. Dan. viti, 1, 2, 8. 9. 15, 16 26 27. In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me,even unto me Daniel, after thatwhich appeared unto me at the first. And I saw in a vision; and it Came to pass, when I saw, that I casat Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai. The he-goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones, toward the four winds of hea ven. And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, bad seen the vision, and sought for Acts xxil, 18. And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. 2 Cor. xii, 1-4. It is not expedient tinne a short space. And the beast that was and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. THE DISCIPLES. Matth. xvii, 2, 3. And was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Luke ix, 32, 33. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, the meaning, then, behold, there for me donbtless to glory: I will and the two men that stood with stood before me as the appearance of a man. And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days. And I Daniel fainted,and was sick certain days: afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it. Dan. x, 1, 7-9. In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long; and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves, Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I In a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground. Амов. Amos ix, 1. I saw the LORD standing upon the altar; and he Baid, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. JOHN. Rev. vi, 1. And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. Rev. xvii, 7-14. And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the beast that carrieth her, which mystery of the woman, and of the hath the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, (whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world.) when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must con him. And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. NIGHT AND SLEEP. 1 Sam. ix, 6. And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can show us our way that we should go. not the king sleep; and he comEsther vi, 1. On that night could manded to bring the book of records of the Chronicles; and they were read before the king. Ps. iii, 5. I laid me down and slept, I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. Ps. iv, 8. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. Ps. lxxvi, 5. The stout-hearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep; and none of the men of might have found their hands. Prov. i, 24. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid; Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Prov. iv, 16. For they sleep not except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away un less they cause some to fall. Eccles. v, 12. The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether beat little or mu h; but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. Cant. ii, 7. I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please. Cant lii, 1, 2. By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. Cant. viii, 4. I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please. Jer. xxxi, 26. Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me. Jer. 11. 39. In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the Lord. Dan. vi, 19. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in Laste unto the den of lions. DREAMS. NATURAL AND SUPERNATURAL. Job vii, 13, 14. When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint; Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions. Job xxxiii, 14-17. For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed: Then he openetli the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. 18a. xxix, 7, 8. And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night-vision. It shall dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; even be as when an hungry man but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite...... ANXIETY TO INTERPRET THEM, BUT OFTEN in the morning,that his [Pharaoh's] Pharaoh. shall be mado a dunghill: But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards, and great honoar: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof. They answered again, and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it. The Eing answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. But if ye dream, there is but one decree for will not make known unto me the you; for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof. The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. And it is a rare thing that the king requireth; and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain, Daniel iv, 6, 7. Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. Then came in the magicians, the soothsayers: and I told the dream astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof. THE TRUE INTERPRETA TION FROM GOD. Gen. xli, 15, 16. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace. Daniel ii, 2-13. Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. Then spake the ChalDaniel i, 17. As for these four deans to the king in Syriack, O children, God gave them knowking, live for ever: tell thy ser-ledge and skill in all learning and vants the dream, and we will wisdom: and Daniel had undershew the interpretation. The standing in all visions and dreams. king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses Daniel ii, 14-16, 24--30, 36. Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: He answered and said to Arloch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation. Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him, Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation. Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah that will make known unto the king the interpretation. The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed what should come to pass hereafter; and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart. This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. Dan. iv, 8, 9. But at the last Daniel came in before me, (whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods,) and before him I told the dream, saying, O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof. Dan. v, 11-14, 16, 17. There is a man in thy kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and, in the days of thy father, light and understanding, and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the reached to heaven; and behold Gen. xxxi, 10, 11. And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ring-straked, speckled, and grisled. And the angel of God spake unto me in a. dream, saying, Jacob. And I said, Here am I. LABAN. JOSEPH. Gen. xxxvii, 5-10. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round INSTANCES IN SCRIPTURE. about, and made obeisance to my ABIMELECH. Gen. xx, 3-8. But God came to and said to him, Behold, thou art Abimelech in a dream by night, but a dead man, for the woman a man's wife. But Abimelech had which thou hast taken; for she is not come near her: and he said, LORD, wilt thou slay also a righteShe is my sister? and she, even ous nation? Said he not unto me, she herself said, He is my brother. In the integrity of my heart, and innocency of my hands, have I done this. And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou and all that are thine. Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid. JACOB. Gen. xxviii, 12, 15. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it sheaf. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed they hated him yet the more for have dominion over us? And his dreams, and for his words. dream, and told it his brethren, And he dreamed yet another and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the stars, made obeisance to me. And sun, and the moon, and the eleven he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I, and thy mother, and thy brethren, indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? THE CHIEF BUTLER. Gen. xl, 9--18. And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, be hold, a vine was before me; And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: Aud Pharaoh's cup. was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand. And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days. Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place; and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. THE CHIEF BAKER. Gen. xl, 16-19. When the chief baker saw that the Interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also as in my dreain, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head. And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bake-meats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head. And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days. Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee. Gen. xl, 21, 22. And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup Into Pharaoh's band: But he hang ed the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. Gen. xli, 11-13. And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he: we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream. And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams: to each man according to his dream he did interpret. And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged. PHARAOH. Gen. xli, 1-7 17--32. And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoli dreamed; and, behold, he stood by the river. And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well-favoured kine, and fat-fleshed; and they fed in a meadow. And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill-favoured and lean-fleshed; and stood by the other kine, upon the brink of the river. And the ill-favoured and lean-fleshed kine did eat up the Beven well-favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. And he slept, and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. And, behold, seven thin ears, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them. And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, be- terpretation thereof, that he wor shipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian. SOLOMON. 1 Kings ill, 58--15. In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Salomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an unple, that I may discern between derstanding beart to judge thy peogood and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing and hast not asked for thyself long cians; but there was none that the dream is one. And the seven MIDIANITE SOLDIER. hyself, nor hast asked the life of thine en mies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern according to thy words: lo, I have judgment; Behold, I have done given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked both riches and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. NEBUCHADNEZZAR. Dan. 11, 1, 31-45. And in the second year of the reign of NeNebuchadnezzar buchadnezzar, dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Jud. vil, 13-15. And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake Thou sawest till that of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a a stone was cut out without tent, and smote it that it fell, and hand, which smote the image overturned it, that the tent lay upon his et that were of iron along. And his fellow answered and clay, and brake them to and said, This is nothing else save pieces. Then was the iron, the the sword of Gideon the son of clay, the brass, the zilver, and the Joash, a man of Israel: for into gold, broken to pieces together, his hand hath God delivered an I became like the chaff of the Midlan, and all the host. And it summer thrashing-floors; and the was so, when Gideon heard the wind carried them away, that no telling of the dream, and the in-place was found for them: and |