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Christ's Appearance in Dreams and Visions in Scripture

The Bible records numerous instances where God communicates with individuals through dreams and visions, often revealing divine will, future events, or offering guidance [2, 5, 7]. While both are forms of divine revelation, there are distinctions in how they are presented and understood within Scripture.

Dreams are typically understood as visions experienced during sleep [7, 14]. The Scripture indicates that God's Spirit can influence a person's thoughts even while they sleep [1]. Many significant biblical figures received divine messages in dreams. For example, Jacob had a dream of a ladder reaching to heaven with angels ascending and descending [2, 9, 15]. Laban, Joseph, Gideon, and Solomon also received divine communications through dreams [2]. Pharaoh's dreams, interpreted by Joseph, foretold years of plenty and famine [2]. Nebuchadnezzar's dreams, interpreted by Daniel, revealed future kingdoms [2, 10]. The wise men from the East were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, and Pilate's wife also experienced a significant dream concerning Jesus [2]. John Gill notes that the prophecy in Jeremiah 31 and 32 was delivered to Jeremiah in a dream, which he describes as a "sweet" experience due to the gracious promises and glorious prophecies revealed [12]. Adam Clarke, commenting on Job 33:15, acknowledges that many have received salutary warnings through dreams, cautioning against dismissing all such experiences simply because some dreams are vain [14].

Visions, on the other hand, are often described as vivid apparitions that occur while a person is awake or in a trance, where the understanding plays a more active role than in dreams [1, 6, 14]. The prophet Daniel, for instance, describes seeing visions "in the visions of my head on my bed" [4, 10]. God frequently made known His will through visions, especially to prophets [5]. These visions could involve a representation of the divine person or glory, an audible voice from heaven, or the appearance of angels or human beings [5]. Examples include Abraham's vision where God spoke to him [5], and the vision of Zacharias in the temple [5]. Visions could be perplexing to those who received them, as seen with Daniel and Peter [5]. They were often communicated at night, in a trance, or during slumber [5, 14].

The New Testament distinguishes between dreams and visions, particularly in the context of revelation. While the Old Testament frequently records God speaking through dreams, the New Testament emphasizes visions and trances as vehicles of divine revelation, with dreams being less frequently mentioned in this capacity under the Christian dispensation [1]. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 14:15, suggests that dreams, where the understanding is asleep, are of a lower order than prophetic visions, where the understanding is engaged [1].

Regarding Christ's appearance in dreams and visions, the New Testament provides several notable instances, particularly after His resurrection. The resurrection of Christ is a foundational doctrine of Christianity, and the New Testament revelation rests on it as an historical fact [3]. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples multiple times, confirming His victory over death [3].

One significant instance of Christ appearing in a vision is to the Apostle Paul (then Saul) on the road to Damascus. This encounter, though not explicitly called a dream, was a profound visual and auditory experience that led to Paul's conversion and commissioning [Acts 9:3-9]. Later, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Paul in a vision at night, instructing him not to be afraid and to continue speaking in Corinth, assuring him of divine protection [Acts 18:9-10]. John Gill interprets this as the Lord Jesus Christ appearing to Paul in a dream, speaking to him [11]. This vision provided Paul with encouragement and direction during a time when he might have felt his life was in danger [11].

The book of Revelation, attributed to the Apostle John, is largely a record of visions he received, which are described as a "great wonder in heaven" [13]. While these visions are not explicitly stated as dreams, they are profound supernatural experiences through which Christ reveals future events and communicates messages to the churches [Revelation 1:1-2]. John Gill notes that this vision in Revelation 12:1 begins a new account of things, representing the church through various historical periods [13].

The Jewish tradition also discusses the nature of divine communication through dreams and visions. Ramban (Nachmanides), commenting on Numbers 12:6, distinguishes between God making Himself known in a vision and appearing in a vision. He suggests that in a vision, God makes Himself known through a "Great Name," but the prophet does not fully comprehend Him by that Name, similar to how God appeared to the patriarchs as "God Almighty" but was not fully known by His Name "the Eternal" [16]. Sirach 34:3 describes the vision of dreams as a resemblance, like a reflection of one thing to another [8].

Sources

  1. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Dreams — The Scripture declares that the influence of the Spirit of God upon the soul extends to its sleeping as well as its waking thoughts. But, in accordance with the principle enunciated by St. Paul in (1 Corinthians 14:15) dreams, in which the understanding is asleep, are placed below the visions of prophecy, in which the understanding plays its part. Under the Christian dispensation, while we read frequently of trances and vision, dreams are never referred to as vehicles of divine revelation. In exact accordance with this principle are the actual records of the ”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Dream — God has frequently made use of dreams in communicating his will to men. The most remarkable instances of this are recorded in the history of Jacob (Gen. 28:12; 31:10), Laban (31:24), Joseph (37:9-11), Gideon (Judg. 7), and Solomon (1 Kings 3:5). Other significant dreams are also recorded, such as those of Abimelech (Gen. 20:3-7), Pharaoh's chief butler and baker (40:5), Pharaoh (41:1-8), the Midianites (Judg. 7:13), Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 2:1; 4:10, 18), the wise men from the east (Matt. 2:12), and Pilate's wife (27:19). To Joseph "the Lord appeared in a dream,”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Resurrection of Christ — One of the cardinal facts and doctrines of the gospel. If Christ be not risen, our faith is vain (1 Cor. 15:14). The whole of the New Testament revelation rests on this as an historical fact. On the day of Pentecost Peter argued the necessity of Christ's resurrection from the prediction in Ps. 16 (Acts 2:24-28). In his own discourses, also, our Lord clearly intimates his resurrection (Matt. 20:19; Mark 9:9; 14:28; Luke 18:33; John 2:19-22). The evangelists give circumstantial accounts of the facts connected with that event, and the apostles, ”
  4. Daniel “I saw in the visions of my head on my bed, and behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from the sky. -- Daniel 4:13”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Visions — God often made known his will by -- Ps 89:19. God especially made himself known to prophets by -- Nu 12:6. Often accompanied A representative of the divine person and glory. -- Isa 6:1. An audible voice from heaven. -- Ge 15:1; 1Sa 3:4,5. An appearance of angels. -- Lu 1:22,11; 24:23; Ac 10:3. An appearance of human beings. -- Ac 9:12; 16:9. Frequently difficult and perplexing to those who received them -- Da 7:15; 8:15; Ac 10:17. Often communicated In the night season. -- Ge 46:2; Da 2:19. In a trance. -- Nu 24:16; Ac 11:5. Often recorded for the benefit o”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Vision — (Luke 1:22), a vivid apparition, not a dream (comp. Luke 24:23; Acts 26:19; 2 Cor. 12:1).”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Dreams — Visions in sleep -- Job 33:15; Da 2:28. Often by imaginary -- Job 20:8; Isa 29:8. Excess of business frequently leads to -- Ec 5:3. God's will often revealed in -- Nu 12:6; Job 33:15. False prophets Pretended to. -- Jer 23:25-28; 29:8. Not to be regarded in. -- De 13:1-3; Jer 27:9. Condemned for pretending to. -- Jer 23:32. Vanity of trusting to natural -- Ec 5:7. The ancients Put great faith in. -- Jdj 7:15. Often perplexed by. -- Ge 40:6; 41:8; Job 7:14; Da 2:1; 4:5. Anxious to have, explained. -- Ge 40:8; Da 2:3. Consulting magicians on. -- Ge 41:8; Da 2:”
  8. Sirach “Sirach 34:3 (DRC) — The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another: as when a man's likeness is before the face of a man.”
  9. Genesis “He dreamed. Behold, a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it. -- Genesis 28:12”
  10. Daniel “but there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has made known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head on your bed, are these: -- Daniel 2:28”
  11. Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 18:9: Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision,.... On a certain night as he was asleep, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him in a dream, and spake after this manner to him: be not afraid; it is very likely that after the baptism of Crispus and his family, and of many of the Corinthians, that both the Jews and the Gentiles were exasperated against the apostle; and his life might seem to be in danger, and he might be thinking of removing from hence for his preservation and safety; and might be advised to it by his friends, or at least that he should be incognito”
  12. Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 31:26: Upon this I awakened, and beheld,.... When or after he beheld or had seen the vision and prophecy concerning the incarnation of Christ, and the glory and happiness of his church and people in the latter day, he awoke; for it seems the prophecy contained in this and the preceding chapter was delivered to Jeremiah in a dream; who, when he had seen the vision, and upon the last words being spoken to him, awoke out of it: and my sleep was sweet unto me; as it must needs be, to have so many gracious promises, and glorious prophecies, delivered to him in it. Some under”
  13. Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 12:1: And there appeared a great wonder in heaven,.... This vision begins a new account of things, and represents the church in the apostles' times, and purer ages of Christianity, and under the Heathen and Arian persecutions; after which an account is given of the beast, mentioned in Rev 11:7, of his rise, power, and reign, and then of the victories of the saints over him and of the vials of God's wrath upon him, and of his utter ruin and destruction; when comes on the marriage of the Lamb, and after that the first resurrection, and the thousand years' reign; and the w”
  14. Job (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Job 33:15: I. In a Dream In a Dream - when deep sleep falleth upon men - Many, by such means, have had the most salutary warnings; and to decry all such, because there are many vain dreams, would be nearly as much wisdom as to deny the Bible, because there are many foolish books, the authors of which supposed they were under a Divine influence while composing them. II. In a Vision In a Vision of the night - in slumberings upon the bed - Visions or images presented in the imagination during slumber, when men are betwixt sleeping and waking, or when, awake and in bed, they are wra”
  15. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 2 (Gen 24-50), section 5.10: obnoxious to every kind of injury from earth and heaven, and found nowhere any help or solace? But when he was thus reduced to the last necessity, the Lord suddenly stretches out his hand to him, and wonderfully alleviates his trouble by a remarkable oracle. As, therefore, Jacob’s invincible perseverance had before shone forth, so now the Lord gives a memorable example of his paternal care towards the faithful. Three things are here to be noticed in their order; first, that the Lord appeared unto Jacob in a dream; secondly, the n”
  16. Sefaria (Jewish (Kabbalistic/Philosophical)) “Ramban (Nachmanides) on Numbers 12:6: IN A VISION I DO MAKE MYSELF KNOWN TO HIM. Scripture does not say: “I will appear to him in a vision,” but it says ‘I will make Myself known.’ This verse is then similar to the one which states, And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as G-d Almighty , 288 Exodus 6:3. [the verse here] stating that the Great Name appears in a vision and through it He becomes known to the prophet, but [the prophet does not know Him] 289 Abusaula. by His Great Name, just as He said, but by My Name the Eternal I made Me not known to them . 288 Exodus 6:3. And ”
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