Listen to this articleThis teaching is meant to give a basic understanding of how visions and dreams work in relation to their interpretation. A lot of prophets have become discouraged and others have been labeled false prophets simply because they lacked an understanding of a few principles.
I have broken visions into two dimensional, Absolute Prophecy and Dynamic Prophecy. We will look at how each of these visions work, their purpose and how to distinguish between them as a prophet or recipient of a prophecy.
Before we start, we need to acknowledge one absolute rule: We all prophesy in part.
1 Corinthians 13:9 New International Version (NIV)
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
A simple acknowledgement of this very basic reality will help a lot of prophets. You only get to know, or see a part of the full picture. The other parts may be given to other brethren, and there are some things that God keeps to himself. Let’s get into the teaching.
1. ABSOLUTE PROPHECY
There are certain things that God has set as absolute. When these things are seen in visions, they can not be changed because they’re fulfilment is dependent on God alone. What I’ve noticed is that these kind of prophecies tend to focus on God’s overall destiny for his people. I have also noticed that Jesus and Satan have very specific absolute prophecies surrounding them because Satan will never change and Christ will never change.
Mark 14:27-30 New International Version (NIV)
27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:
“‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.’
28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”
30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”
There was nothing that Peter could do to change this. It was God’s purpose that Christ must die for mankind and that he must do it alone. If the sharpened is down, then the sheep can not shepherd themselves. The devil devil had already been given permission by God to scatter the sheep, so there was nothing anyone could do to change it.
The Book of Truth
Daniel is given a revelation of things that are written in what God calls the Book Of Truth. Everything that he was told from there was absolute and unchangeable. It is events that shall happen based on God’s sovereignty as creator and as the one who knows all things before they happen.
Daniel 10:21 New International Version (NIV)
21 but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.
Daniel 11 New International Version (NIV)
1 And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)
2 “Now then, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece. 3 Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases. 4 After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.
Some of these absolute prophecies are what form the basis of eschatology.
2. DYNAMIC PROPHECY
Certain prophecies are dynamic. They can change depending on the decisions that a person makes. However when God shows you these prophecies, he does not always tell you that this is a conditional prophecy. Let’s look at the case of Elijah and Ahab. Ahab is recorded as the most wicked king to arise in Israel. Think of a wicked king. Ahab was worse.
1 Kings 21:25 New International Version (NIV)
_25 (There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife._
………..
Ahab went to the extend of hunting down and killing all the prophets of God in order to establish the prophets of Baal. God finally gave him his judgement.
1 Kings 21:19 New King James Version (NKJV)
19 You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Have you murdered and also taken possession?” ’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours.”
21 ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your posterity, and will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both bond and free. 22 I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and made Israel sin.’
Needless to say, this prophecy was never fulfilled because against expectation, Ahab repented and God forgave him and changed his mind concerning his future.
1 Kings 21:27-29 New King James Version (NKJV)
27 So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning.
28 And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 “See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. In the days of his son I will bring the calamity on his house.”
This is the nature of judgement prophecies. They are dynamic. God’s mercy will always triumph over judgement. So if a prophecy is related to judgement for one’s action, it can change if the person changes their actions.
Hypothetically
Now imagine a hypothetical situation. Imagine there was one of the 700 prophets hidden in the cave who had also received the same message from God. He had seen a vision of Ahab’s dead body being eaten by dogs and starts telling the other prophets in the cave, “Do not worry, God has shown me that our persecutor Ahab is going to die soon and you shall all see his body being eaten by dogs in the street.” Eventually this prophecy never comes to pass and everyone labels him a false prophet, simply because he did not understand how God works, and the message was not meant for the people of Israel, it was meant for Ahab.
Notes of Wisdom
Note that Elijah did not go around telling everyone this prophecy, he told Ahab. If he had told the Israelites, when God later came with a different word, people would have said, “Ah look this false prophet is now shifting goals.” This was wisdom on Elijah’s part.
The second piece of wisdom is to know that God did not always speak to Elijah in extreme ways like fire, earthquakes and storms, God sometimes spoke in a still small voice. The challenge with a still small voice is that you can only hear it when you are at peace internally. If you are too emotionally invested, you will not hear the still small voice of God. If Elijah , who had been a victim of Ahab had a personal grudge against the king, it would have been impossible for him to clearly hear God when God was now saying that Ahab will not die like that.
A lot of prophets nowadays become too emotionally involved.
The last piece of wisdom from this is that the prophet must always remain in touch with the Lord concerning any judgement prophecy, to see whether anything has changed.
Calling and Rewards
The counterpart of the judgement prophecy is the reward prophecy. This is when God shows you the things that he wants to do for your life. The gifts that he has in store for you. These plans are only fulfilled if you remain walking in the path of life. If you remain walking in the purpose and calling he has called you.
An example is the throne of Judas.
*Matthew 19:28 New King James Version (NKJV)*
28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Luke 22:29-30 New King James Version (NKJV)
29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me,30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Judas had been listed among the twelve and he must have also celebrated to hear Jesus promising the thrones. However when Judas left the path of life, he also forfeited the benefits that would come from Christ. This is also what happens when people receive visions in relation to a person’s calling, they will see it as God intend it to be.
Matthew 22:14 New King James Version (NKJV)
14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
When you are being called, God will sometimes show you the greatness of his plans for the particular office you are called to. For example, God is calling you to be an evangelist, you will see your self preaching to millions. Whether or not you actually preach to millions will depend on how you will respond to the calling.
Matthew 19:21-22 New King James Version (NKJV)
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
If this was a vision, this young man would have seen Jesus in heaven calling him, and sees himself walking in the midst of gold and diamonds etc. It would be a calling vision, showing him what awaits him if he follows Christ.
Some people like this young rich man, reject their calling, others like Judas walk for a while and then fall away before reaching the fullness of their calling. Barnabas and Paul were called together, yet Paul excelled more than everyone because he worked more than everyone.
Hypothetical
Imagine there is an election. And you see a vision of a certain candidate flying in the city and everyone calling him president. This does not mean that the person is definitely going to win the elections. It may simply mean that a lot of people consider him to be the president. It may mean that he simply has a leadership calling upon his life. Or he may win. Or it may be that when he loses, people will demonstrate in the city saying he is the rightful president. You need to go back to God and get clarity. Sometimes clarity only comes after the things have happened. Some visions are given for you not to understand at that time, but that when the things happen, you may give glory to God and appreciate that he is in control.
Some prophets will take that vision and start saying, God has shown me that so and so shall be president.
God will use dreams and visions to communicate different messages: Sometimes to show you his absolute plan of coming events. Sometimes to reveal the destination of your current path, if you do not change. Sometimes to show you the potential of the office he has called you into, if you serve it to the fullest. Sometimes to show you the plans of the enemy, so you can pray against them.
Notes of Wisdom
Let’s say you get a vision where you see the president being shot dead on the 10th of June. Don’t rush to announce to the people that the president will die on the 10th of June. God is probably just showing you what the enemy is planning to do on the 10th. It may be preventable. So you first ask God… “Can this thing be prevented?” If he says No.. iT can’t be prevented.. then you can announce with certainty, if you have to. If he says Yes, you ask, How? then you give the necessary wisdom. If the Lord does not answer you, “You rather say, there are people who are planning to assassinate the president. I don’t know if they will succeed or not”
