Dreams and Visions
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions” (Joel 2:28).
How did God communicate with individuals whom He called to the prophetic office? Gen. 15:1, Num. 12:6–8, Dan. 7:1.
In Scripture we learn that God used primarily dreams and visions to communicate with His messengers. Prophetic dreams played an important role in the time of the patriarchs (Gen. 20–41), in the ministry of Daniel (Dan. 1–7), and in the Nativity narratives (Matt. 1:20; 2:12, 19, 22). Visions frequently are mentioned in the writings of the prophets (Isa. 1:1, Ezek. 1:1, Dan. 8:1, Obad. 1:1, Nah. 1:1) and in the book of Acts (9:10, 10:3, 11:5, 16:9, 18:9).
During her seventy-year ministry (1844-1915) Ellen White received an estimated two thousand visions and prophetic dreams. “At times I am carried far ahead into the future and shown what is to take place. Then again I am shown things as they have occurred in the past. After I come out of vision I do not at once remember all that I have seen, and the matter is not so clear before me until I write, then the scene rises before me as was presented in vision, and I can write with freedom.”—Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 1, p. 36.
Often her visions were given while she was in the presence of others, who observed certain physical phenomena—she did not breathe, she had supernatural strength (no one could move her limbs), and she was unconscious of her surroundings. Adventists and non-Adventists have testified to the supernatural character of her visions. At the General Conference session in 1893 J. N. Loughborough said: “I have seen Sister White in vision about fifty times. She has been examined while in vision by skillful physicians, and we have testimonials from them which declare that the phenomena of her visions are beyond their comprehension.”—General Conference Daily Bulletin, January 29, 1893.
| What’s been your experience with Ellen White’s writings? In what ways have they impacted your spiritual life? Put aside any preconceived notions that you might have about her published works, and just read some of them. What can they tell you about the author? |
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