1. D R E A M S In the Bible and Today
God used dreams and visions to convey His will to men in Bible times. He may still use them today, but not for the same reasons or in same way because He has completed the revelation of His will to men. It is important for us to have a higher regard for God and His word than for anything we may have seen in a dream.
D R E A M S
In the Bible and Today

2. Dreams and Visions in the Old Testament
God used dreams and visions to reveal His will and further His plan.
“Visons” and “dreams” may be used as synonyms. (Acts 2:17; Numbers 24:4; Ezekiel 40:2; Rev. 9:17)
An absence of visions in a given time period indicated that God was not revealing His word (1 Samuel 3:1)
Important Old Testament dreams and visions were given to Abraham, Abimelech, Jacob, Joseph, Samuel, Solomon, and Daniel (Genesis 15:1; 20:1-7; 28:10-17; 37:1-11; 40-41; 1 Samuel 3; Judges 7:12; 1 Kings 3:5; Daniel 2:19-45)
Dreams were misused by false prophets to deceive (Jeremiah 23:25-32)

3. Dreams and Visions in the New Testament
Important New Testament dreams and visions were given to Zacharias, Joseph, Pilate’s wife, Ananias, Cornelius, Peter, Paul, and John. (Matthew 1:20; 2:13; 27:29; Acts 9:10; 10:1-6, ; 16:9-10; 18:9-11; Revelation)

4. Dreams and Visions Today
Does Acts 2:17 promise miraculous dreams and visions today?
The dreams in this passage relate to prophesying.
Dreams and visions were used by God to reveal His will to His prophets.
God said that prophecies would come to an end (1 Corinthians 13:8)
God revealed ALL of His will through inspired men in Scripture (John 16:13; Jude 3; Timothy 3:16-17)

5. Dreams and Visions Today
God may use dreams as one means to urge men to live righteously (Job 33:14-30)
We are to respect God’s word, not our dreams!
Remember that in the Old Testament, false prophets used dreams to lead God’s people astray! (Jer. 23)
Dreams are often just a reflection of what is going on in our lives (Ecclesiastes 5:3).
We should fear and respect God and His word; not our dreams!
“For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.” (Ecclesiastes 5:7)