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Dreams & visions - how do Christians discern between genuine dreams & visions from God and false dreams & visions from a different source (flesh, enemy)?

Are there any denominations that teach how to tell the difference between the two?


Relevant passages:

16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

(Acts 2:16-21 ESV)​

45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.” (Daniel 2:45 ESV)

10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Acts 16:10 ESV)

1 Answer 1

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I'll offer a Latter-day Saint's perspective.


That which persuades one to believe in Christ comes from God

The prophet Mormon specifically addressed how to know what comes from God, and what does not, in a sermon that was recorded by his son Moroni. He offers the standard that things which persuade to believe in Christ and to love God come from God.

(Note that he is speaking to an audience that already has a working understanding of the role & identity of Christ as well as His Gospel--this standard would obviously be less useful if one lacked this)

13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.

14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.

15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.

16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him. (Moroni 7:13-17)

Latter-day Saints understand the "spirit of Christ" referenced here, as defined elsewhere in scripture, to be the "light of Christ" or conscience that is granted to every person. This is distinct from the power or the gift of the Holy Ghost. Everyone has a conscience to provide a basic inclination of good vs. evil (though one can certainly dull one's conscience by ignoring it long enough).

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Honest vs. dishonest messengers

The prophet Joseph Smith taught the following, intriguing standard for determining if the appearance of a spiritual messenger comes from God or not (this may indirectly address part of the OP's question about visions):

4 When a messenger comes saying he has a message from God, offer him your hand and request him to shake hands with you.

5 If he be an angel he will do so, and you will feel his hand.

6 If he be the spirit of a just man made perfect [i.e. a good person who hasn't been resurrected yet] he will come in his glory; for that is the only way he can appear—

7 Ask him to shake hands with you, but he will not move, because it is contrary to the order of heaven for a just man to deceive; but he will still deliver his message.

8 If it be the devil as an angel of light, when you ask him to shake hands he will offer you his hand, and you will not feel anything; you may therefore detect him. (Doctrine & Covenants 129:4-8)

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To recognize the fake, you have to know the real thing

How could we possibly expect to recognize a counterfeit (anything) if we are unfamiliar with the real thing? God is willing to teach us to recognize the Holy Ghost, and to communicate to us in a manner that we can understand:

For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding. (2 Nephi 31:3)

He also predicates revelation upon our asking with a sincere heart & real intent (see Moroni 10:4), and does not give us more than we are ready to handle (see John 16:12, Doctrine & Covenants 82:3). Rather, He teaches line upon line, precept upon precept (see Isaiah 28:10, 2 Nephi 28:30).

The Pearl of Great Price relates an account of Moses, after beholding a glorious vision from God, being approached by Satan who sought to deceive him. Because Moses had received clear, glorious revelation from God, he readily recognized that was Satan was offering was a fraud (see Moses 1:4-15).

King Benjamin offered a great key to coming to know Christ:

For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart? (Mosiah 5:13)

In the same chapter he teaches that if we will make the covenants God requests of us, take upon ourselves the name of Christ, and keep Him in our remembrance and focus, we will come to know His voice (see Mosiah 5:8-12)

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Conclusion

  • That which persuades one to believe in Christ comes from God; the devil will never try to persuade us to believe in Christ. As we grow in our knowledge of Christ and His Gospel, this metric becomes more and more useful
  • Ministrants from God will not seek to deceive
  • We need to do the spiritual work to come to recognize the voice & inspiration of God; in so doing, we will know a counterfeit when we see it

As with everything in our eternal journey, it's a process:

24 That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day. (Doctrine & Covenants 50:24)

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