Divine Revelation vs. Satan's Trickery

[bennyboy]

Once when I was young and fasting a lot (read: poor and almost starving), I had nothing much to do but read a Gideon's bible in my hotel room. I read the Bible a LOT and it really started to fill my mind. After a couple weeks of this, I had a dream that I think would stand right up there with Revelations, both for the value of what it taught me, and its power-- I woke up covered in sweat, and both excited and frightened.

Some of the content was very clearly in accord with the Bible, but there were a couple things that most Christians probably wouldn't accept.

Other than the feeling of power that comes with the dream, how can I decide whether I've received a revelation from God, whether the Devil is trying to trick me, or whether a dream is just a dream?

 

[Danus]

Two things are 100% certain.

1 The devil is trying to trick you; all the time.

2. The essence of everything God has to say can be found in the Holy Bible.

 

[Mike]

As always, great post, Danus.

Benny, can you give examples of things you understood to be consistent with what you've read in the Bible and things that were not?

 

[Adullam]

Once when I was young and fasting a lot (read: poor and almost starving), I had nothing much to do but read a Gideon's bible in my hotel room. I read the Bible a LOT and it really started to fill my mind. After a couple weeks of this, I had a dream that I think would stand right up there with Revelations, both for the value of what it taught me, and its power-- I woke up covered in sweat, and both excited and frightened.

Some of the content was very clearly in accord with the Bible, but there were a couple things that most Christians probably wouldn't accept.

Other than the feeling of power that comes with the dream, how can I decide whether I've received a revelation from God, whether the Devil is trying to trick me, or whether a dream is just a dream?

Say on! God never gives a revelation to only one person. Check it out with the prophets both alive (the brethren) and in heaven (the bible).

 

[bennyboy]

Once when I was young and fasting a lot (read: poor and almost starving), I had nothing much to do but read a Gideon's bible in my hotel room. I read the Bible a LOT and it really started to fill my mind. After a couple weeks of this, I had a dream that I think would stand right up there with Revelations, both for the value of what it taught me, and its power-- I woke up covered in sweat, and both excited and frightened.

Some of the content was very clearly in accord with the Bible, but there were a couple things that most Christians probably wouldn't accept.

Other than the feeling of power that comes with the dream, how can I decide whether I've received a revelation from God, whether the Devil is trying to trick me, or whether a dream is just a dream?

Say on! God never gives a revelation to only one person. Check it out with the prophets both alive (the brethren) and in heaven (the bible).

Why would there be living prophets if all the Word of God that we need is contained in the Bible? Do you feel that God delivers new messages for new cultures as they develop?

 

[stranger]

Once when I was young and fasting a lot (read: poor and almost starving), I had nothing much to do but read a Gideon's bible in my hotel room. I read the Bible a LOT and it really started to fill my mind. After a couple weeks of this, I had a dream that I think would stand right up there with Revelations, both for the value of what it taught me, and its power-- I woke up covered in sweat, and both excited and frightened.

Some of the content was very clearly in accord with the Bible, but there were a couple things that most Christians probably wouldn't accept.

Other than the feeling of power that comes with the dream, how can I decide whether I've received a revelation from God, whether the Devil is trying to trick me, or whether a dream is just a dream?

Say on! God never gives a revelation to only one person. Check it out with the prophets both alive (the brethren) and in heaven (the bible).

Why would there be living prophets if all the Word of God that we need is contained in the Bible? Do you feel that God delivers new messages for new cultures as they develop?

Hi bennyboy,

The need is to to interpret scripture - as well as what is happening in the present day and age.

While it is popular to think that prophets only predict the future - and bring new revelation - what is overlooked is that the scriptures can be read and interpreted prophetically. That is way I believe the gift of prophesy and the office of prophet reemerges with every generation to bring a witness, dimensions and perspectives that cannot be brought forth by other means.

 

[Adullam]

Once when I was young and fasting a lot (read: poor and almost starving), I had nothing much to do but read a Gideon's bible in my hotel room. I read the Bible a LOT and it really started to fill my mind. After a couple weeks of this, I had a dream that I think would stand right up there with Revelations, both for the value of what it taught me, and its power-- I woke up covered in sweat, and both excited and frightened.

Some of the content was very clearly in accord with the Bible, but there were a couple things that most Christians probably wouldn't accept.

Other than the feeling of power that comes with the dream, how can I decide whether I've received a revelation from God, whether the Devil is trying to trick me, or whether a dream is just a dream?

Say on! God never gives a revelation to only one person. Check it out with the prophets both alive (the brethren) and in heaven (the bible).

Why would there be living prophets if all the Word of God that we need is contained in the Bible? Do you feel that God delivers new messages for new cultures as they develop?

Who is the one applying the scripture to the situation? Us? Doesn't even the devil use the scriptures to promote his temptations and distortions?

A prophet is one according to God's own heart. We are to live through the Holy Spirit and not through a written text that we choose our truth from. Unity and truth are from the Spirit...interpreting scriptures can go thousands of ways.

 

[Hawkins]

Once when I was young and fasting a lot (read: poor and almost starving), I had nothing much to do but read a Gideon's bible in my hotel room. I read the Bible a LOT and it really started to fill my mind. After a couple weeks of this, I had a dream that I think would stand right up there with Revelations, both for the value of what it taught me, and its power-- I woke up covered in sweat, and both excited and frightened.

Some of the content was very clearly in accord with the Bible, but there were a couple things that most Christians probably wouldn't accept.

Other than the feeling of power that comes with the dream, how can I decide whether I've received a revelation from God, whether the Devil is trying to trick me, or whether a dream is just a dream?

If you can't know how to distinguish, which means you are not a prophet of some kind. But still it is possible for usual Christians to dream dreams.

Acts 2:17
'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

You can thus share the contents of your dreams to alot other Christians to see whether useful information is contained in your dreams.

 

[ronniechoate34]

Once when I was young and fasting a lot (read: poor and almost starving), I had nothing much to do but read a Gideon's bible in my hotel room. I read the Bible a LOT and it really started to fill my mind. After a couple weeks of this, I had a dream that I think would stand right up there with Revelations, both for the value of what it taught me, and its power-- I woke up covered in sweat, and both excited and frightened.

Some of the content was very clearly in accord with the Bible, but there were a couple things that most Christians probably wouldn't accept.

Other than the feeling of power that comes with the dream, how can I decide whether I've received a revelation from God, whether the Devil is trying to trick me, or whether a dream is just a dream?

Bennyboy, God does speak to us through dreams.

I had a dream when I was a kid that's shaped how I feel today. And I've gotta tell you that I'm sure that we should prepare to meet our maker, because one day when we least expect it He's gonna tear the clouds apart and announce that He's come for His people.

 

[crusaderbard]

As I said in another post, here are the biblical standards for determining a true prophet;

"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!" ~Galatians 1:8 (NIV)

In the old Testament;

"You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD ?
If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him." ~Deuteronomy 18:21-22 (NIV)

Test the spirits! Also check 2 Corinthians 11:13 -15

 

[GodspromisesRyes]

Certainly God still speaks to His people! We still prophesy, dream dreams, have visions, word of knowledge and word of wisdom etc....We are just responsible to compair what we believe the Lord is telling us with the word of God to see if it is indeed the Lord!

The issue is not if God speaks to us, or If God still have prophets- but if we are willing to hear him when He speaks.- but since this topic is about dreams here is one thing the word tells us about that

Job 33:14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, [yet man] perceiveth it not.
Job 33:15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
Job 33:16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,
Job 33:17 That he may withdraw man [from his] purpose, and hide pride from man.
Job 33:18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

So benny why dont you share the dream so that we can look at it through the word of God and see if it is from God or the enemy?

Sometimes we get dreams from God that are very true but are spiritual or symbolic and we try to take them to literally and miss the understanding.- And sometimes the enemy tries to decieve us by showing us something literally which the spiritual aspect of it will reveal to be false.