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The Abiding Gift of Prophecy

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    God’s Plan Designates Visions

    Back in the patriarchal age, this method of communication between the Lord and the human family was known to the patriarch Job, who said:AGP 29.3

    “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 openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, that He may withdraw man from his purpose, and his pride from man.” Job 33:14-17.AGP 29.4

    Much has been written by students of the Scriptures about prophetic visions and dreams,—what they were, how they came to the prophets, how they were treated by the people, and how they were tested as to their verity and genuineness. One writer says:AGP 29.5

    “The visions recorded in the Bible stand alone, in the history of religions, for purity and righteousness. They were never vain; never meaningless vagaries or lying wonders. They always have a clearly discernible moral and didactic content. They were often predictive, upon which fulfillment has set the seal of truth. They belong to an age of revelation and came to men who in manifold manner proved themselves to be vehicles of revelation.” “A Dictionary of the Bible,” John D. Davis, art., “Visions,” p. 766. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1903.

    Just what distinction exists or should be drawn between visions and dreams is not very clear. Thus:AGP 29.6

    “It does not seem possible to draw any very precise distinction between the prophetic ‘dream’ and the prophetic ‘vision.’ In the case of Abraham (Genesis 15:1) and of Daniel (Daniel 7:1), they seem to melt into each other.”—“Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature,” McClintock and Strong, Vol. VIII, art., “Prophet,” p. 646. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1896.

    Regarding the action of the mind of the prophets when in vision, this writer says further:AGP 30.1

    “In the case of visions the scenery passed before their mind, something like a panoramic view of a landscape, gradually unfolding, in symbolical imagery, forms of glory or of gloom; accompanied with actions of a corresponding character, not infrequently exhibiting, as in actual occurrence, the future and distant events.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 648.

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