Vision

A striking image, classically distinguished from an ordinary dream.

A vision in the Bible is an image someone is shown by God, often while awake, sometimes at night. The difference from a dream is not always sharp: the Bible speaks of night visions and of dreams and visions in one breath. In Hebrew the word chazon is often used, in Greek horama or optasia.

Prophets such as Isaiah, Ezekiel and Daniel received visions. Isaiah sees the Lord on a high throne, with seraphim calling: holy, holy, holy. Ezekiel sees a valley full of dry bones that come back to life. In the New Testament Peter sees a sheet with animals descending from heaven, and understands that the gospel is also for non-Jews. Paul sees in a night vision a Macedonian asking him to come over, and travels to Europe. John receives the visions of Revelation.

At Pentecost Peter quotes the prophet Joel: your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams. That is why many Christians, especially in Pentecostal and charismatic churches, take visions and dreams seriously as possible ways in which God speaks.

At the same time the tradition calls for discernment. A vision is tested against Scripture, against the fruit it bears, such as love and peace, and against the judgement of the church. Paul writes: test everything and hold fast what is good.

Beyond the Bible, Christian history also knows famous visions, such as those of Hildegard of Bingen and Julian of Norwich, which the church has always received with a mixture of awe and caution.

On Dreamkin Christian readings mention that possibility with restraint: we do not establish that a dream is a vision.