Results 1 - 2 of 2
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Seeing things? | Bible general Archive 4 | Val | 200071 | ||
She says it was a vision; didn't give any details. She also confesses Christ as Lord. She says she is a speaker at different churches and groups. I am just wondering how I would approach her to say this is outside the norm. I like your scripture that Christ is seated but he is also everywhere also since he is omnipresent, right? Blessings, Val | ||||||
2 | Seeing things? | Bible general Archive 4 | DocTrinsograce | 200077 | ||
Dear Val, The problem with this sort of thing is that the ignorant masses deem such experiences as carrying greater weight than the Word of God. Of course, we do not live by visions or dreams and visions, we live by every word of God. Imagine what Peter saw on the Mount of Transfiguration: And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. (Matthew 17:1-6 ESV) Talk about seeing things! This wasn't a dream or vision, it was real life! None of this dead "family member" stuff. Peter saw two of the greatest prophets of all time (v3). More than that, he saw Christ transfigured before his very eyes (v2). Then, as if that wouldn't have been blessing enough, he actually heard the audible voice of God Himself (v5)! Peter even suggested in the heat of the moment, that they could build three tabernacles (v4). No seminars or lecture series needed to draw people! Everyone would come flocking to this place! If you and I had had this experience, you must agree that it would have been the single most incredible event of our lives! Nevertheless, how does Peter talk about this experience near the end of his life? For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. (2 Peter 1:16-18 ESV) First he emphasizes that this wasn't just a vision, but a first hand experience for which he offers testimony. That's at the roots of Christianity -- the belief in the witness of the "great cloud of witness" to the things done by God. Not visions and dreams. Rather, real life happenings. Many of us might well envy Peter for such an experience. However, Peter follows this description with a very interesting statement: And we have something MORE SURE [certain, dependable, steadfast, firm], the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place. (2 Peter 1:19a ESV, emphasis mine) Peter is saying, in essence, "Sure, I had this incredible experience, and I'm here to tell you about it. But you know what? Scripture is far more dependable than even the things you see and here!" Another thought: Notice that the supernatural experiences in Scripture all draw attention to God. They always served to bring glory to the Lord, focusing entirely on Him. It sounds to me that this woman you know is using her experience to draw attention to herself. That may be an overstatement. However, the vision certainly does not focus on God. Indeed, there appears to be more of a focus on family. Which brings me to my final point: Cults, heresies, and all manner of false doctrine abound when people attempt to garner eternal truth from some other source than Scriptures. Here is how I look at my own dreams: If they confirm the Scripture, they are redundant and superfluous. If they contradict the Scripture, they are to be rejected outright. If they are about something the Scripture does not discuss, they are unnecessary. There is nothing more personal, pertinent, practical, necessary, immediate, certain, and sufficient than the Word of God. Everything God wants me to know He will communicate through the Scriptures by the illumination of the Holy Spirit. In Him, Doc |
||||||