Visions and Materializations

This transcript was generated automatically. Its accuracy may vary

Short Summary
The discourse examines the distinctions and purposes of biblical visions and materializations, emphasizing that materializations involve spirit beings temporarily assuming human form to teach divine lessons without changing their nature, while visions are primarily mental experiences revealing prophetic truths. It highlights key scriptural examples, such as Abraham’s encounter with angels, Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances, and Jacob’s ladder dream, explaining their instructional and faith-strengthening roles across different biblical eras. Ultimately, these phenomena serve to deepen believers’ understanding and faith in God’s plan, with their fulfillment anticipated in the coming kingdom where prophecy becomes reality.

Long Summary
Detailed Summary of the Discourse on Biblical Visions and Materializations

Introduction and Purpose of Study
– The discourse begins with a reflection on the numerous visions and materializations recorded in the Holy Scriptures.
– The speaker sought to understand the circumstances and divine purposes behind these supernatural events.
– Both visions and materializations serve as teaching tools used by God to impart important truths to prophets, apostles, and ultimately to believers.

Distinguishing Visions from Materializations
Similarities: Both are divine methods of teaching; both are temporary and instructive.
Differences:
– Visions are primarily mental or spiritual, involving images or messages presented to the mind of the visionary.
– Materializations involve spirit beings assuming a temporary physical, human-like body form that can interact physically with the environment.
– Materializations do not change a spirit being’s nature into a human nature; rather, a human form is assumed temporarily.

Nature of Jesus’ Changes of Nature (Referencing Brother Russell’s Writings):
– Jesus experienced two nature changes:
1. From spirit being (archangel) to human nature at birth.
2. From human nature to divine spirit nature at resurrection.
– There was no mixture of natures; one nature was given up for the other.
– Jesus’ materializations before birth and after resurrection did not involve a nature change, only assuming human form.
– Angels can assume human bodies without changing their spiritual nature.
– Humans become actual spirit beings only at resurrection, though reckoned as such when born of the Spirit.

Unauthorized Materialization and the Permission of Evil (Genesis 6:1-4):
– Early unauthorized materializations involved “sons of God” (fallen angels) taking human wives, producing the Nephilim (giants).
– These beings were violent and corrupt, leading to God’s destruction of that generation in the Flood.
– Fallen angels were forbidden further materialization (Jude 1:6).
– This event serves as a lesson on disobedience and the consequences of evil.

Materializations in Scripture – Examples and Purposes:
– Materializations were generally authorized by God for teaching or specific purposes and ended after the lesson was complete.
– Example: Genesis 18 (Lord appearing to Abraham with two angels)
– The Lord and angels materialized as men, visible and interactive.
– This materialization was not Jesus becoming human but a temporary body formed for communication.
– Purposes included announcing Isaac’s birth and warning Lot to flee Sodom.
– After resurrection, Jesus materialized to teach and strengthen the faith of the apostles (John 20:19-29).
– Jesus showed Thomas his scars, using a temporary, scarred human form, distinct from the dead body given for ransom.
– This visual aid helped overcome doubt and prepare apostles for their ministry and Pentecost.

Biblical Visions – Definition and Categories:
– Visions are pictorial, prophetic images given by God to reveal truths, often temporary and mental.
– Three subcategories:
1. Awake visions: Visionary fully conscious (e.g., Ezekiel’s extended visions, the Mount of Transfiguration – Matthew 17:1-9).
2. Dream visions: Visions received in sleep or trance (e.g., Jacob’s Ladder in Genesis 28:10-15).
3. Trance visions: Altered consciousness state with divine revelation (e.g., John’s vision in Revelation, Peter’s and Paul’s trance experiences in Acts 10:10; 22:17).

Examples and Significance of Visions:
Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9):
– Jesus’ glory revealed to Peter, James, and John with Moses and Elijah present.
– Affirmed Jesus as Messiah and illustrated the coming kingdom and its administration.
Jacob’s Ladder (Genesis 28:10-15):
– Jacob’s dream of a ladder connecting earth and heaven with angels ascending and descending.
– Symbolizes communication and fellowship between God and man, prefiguring Christ as the mediator (John 1:51).
– Encouraged Jacob’s faith on his journey and is a source of comfort for believers.
Dream visions in Joseph’s life (Genesis 37, 41) and Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams (Daniel 2):
– Dreams given to non-believers were interpreted by God’s people, showing divine control over revelations.
Trance visions:
– John’s Revelation was likely received in a trance state (Revelation 1:10), providing prophetic insight into the Christian age and kingdom.

General Principles Regarding Visions and Materializations:
– The key importance is not only their impact on the original recipients but their continuing spiritual benefit to believers who understand and apply the lessons through the Holy Spirit.
– These supernatural events were recorded for the “admonition” and strengthening of faith of the Christian age (1 Corinthians 10:11).
– Prophetic visions are to be written plainly and awaited in faith (Habakkuk 2:2-3).
– In the future kingdom, these visions will be fulfilled and manifest, eliminating the need for further visions or dreams (Joel 2:28; Ezekiel 12:21-25).

Closing Vision of the Kingdom (Revelation 21:1-5):
– John’s vision of a new heaven and earth, with God dwelling among men, no more death, sorrow, or pain.
– A promise of God making “all things new” and the ultimate fulfillment of the divine plan revealed through visions and materializations.

—

Key Bible Verses Cited:
– Genesis 6:1-4 (Nephilim and unauthorized materializations)
– Jude 1:6 (Fallen angels reserved in chains)
– Genesis 18:1-5 (Appearance to Abraham)
– John 1:14 (Jesus made flesh)
– John 20:19-29 (Jesus’ post-resurrection materialization to disciples and Thomas)
– Matthew 17:1-9 (Mount of Transfiguration)
– Genesis 28:10-15 (Jacob’s Ladder dream)
– John 1:51 (Jesus referencing Jacob’s vision)
– Jeremiah 23:28 (Value of God’s Word over dreams)
– Acts 9, 10, 22 (Paul’s and Peter’s visions and trances)
– 1 Corinthians 10:11 (Lessons from past experiences)
– Habakkuk 2:2-3 (Write the vision)
– Joel 2:28 (Spirit poured out, sons and daughters prophesy, old men dream dreams, young men see visions)
– Ezekiel 12:21-25 (Fulfillment of visions and end of false visions)
– Revelation 21:1-5 (New heaven and earth, God dwelling with men)

—

Summary of Key Concepts:
– Visions and materializations are divine tools for instruction, revelation, and strengthening faith.
– Materializations involve spirit beings temporarily assuming human form without a change in nature.
– Visions are mental or spiritual experiences, often symbolic or prophetic, and can occur awake, in dreams, or in trance states.
– The ultimate purpose is to prepare and strengthen God’s people for faithfulness and to reveal God’s plan culminating in the Kingdom.
– Biblical examples illustrate these principles and provide lessons relevant to believers today.

Transcript

And one day, not too long ago, I began to think of all the visions and materializations in the Holy Scriptures. I thought, what were the circumstances that gave rise to them? What was God’s purpose in presenting or permitting them? So I began a study of these scriptural visions and materializations and found them to be quite interesting.

We’ll be discussing a number of them that were documented in the Scriptures to better understand their purpose. But before we do, let’s clearly differentiate between visions and materializations. How are they the same and how are they different? They’re the same in that each one teaches us something. Our Heavenly Father had a specific teaching purpose for each vision and each materialization.

He used both to teach important truths to his prophets and apostles, which they then shared with us. But though visions and materializations are the same, and that they were both used to teach lessons to God’s people, they’re opposites in terms of what they are in reality.

Primarily, we want to understand that materialized spirit beings can perform actual physical functions.

A vision is primarily an operation of the mind.

From that major division, let’s further divide materializations and visions according to their characteristics, starting with materializations. To materialize means to assume a human body form. It does not mean to change a spirit nature or soul into a human nature or soul. These principles are explained in the first volume. In the Nature of Succinct chapter.

Brother Russell makes important statements while referring to the biblical record. Jesus did have two changes of nature, but neither of them had anything to do with the occasions where he materialized either before his human birth or after his resurrection to the divine nature. Before his human birth, he was always a spirit being. After his human death, he was always a divine spirit being.

First volume, page 180. Thus we see that in Jesus there was no mixture of natures, but that twice he experienced a change of nature. First from spirit to human, afterward from human to the highest order of spirit nature, the divine.

And in each case the one was given up for the other.

Page 182. We have no record of any being, either spirit or human, ever having been changed from one nature to another, except the Son of God, and this was an exceptional case for an exceptional purpose. Page 183. Angels can assume human bodies and appear as men.

Page 197. The birth of a new creature is in the resurrection, and the resurrection of this class is designated the first or choice resurrection. It should be remembered that that we are not actually spirit beings until the resurrection, though from the time we receive the Spirit of adoption we are Reckoned as such, when we become spirit beings, actually, that is, when we are born of the Spirit, we will no longer be fleshly beings, for that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

These references are clear that when Jesus was born of Mary, he was no longer a spirit being, but had become a perfect human being. When he died as a perfect human being and was resurrected, he became a divine spirit being. He would never again be a human being. There’s no mixing of natures either with Jesus or with us as new creatures. We conclude from these principles that materializations do not change a spirit being’s nature into a human nature, although to the physical human observer’s senses it may appear to be such a change.

Then what’s the general purpose of materializations in the Bible record? In thinking about scriptural materializations, we see that all of them, except for one particular materialization circumstance, they were authorized and designed by our God to teach us something of his divine plan, and the one circumstance that was unauthorized by God was an important part of the permission of evil permitted to test the angels, and even it was a vital instruction to every one of the evil results that follow. Disobedience to God what was that one circumstance?

We’re referring to the earliest materializations mentioned in scriptures in Genesis 6:1, 2 and 4, and it came to pass when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them. That the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were fair, and they took them wives, all of which they chose. There were giants in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

These men of renown we know to be the Nephilim, which were fallen angel and human offspring that God subsequently destroyed in the Great flood. They were giants physically and intellectually, and filled the earth with violence. God never authorized their existence, and so they had to be destroyed.

The fallen angels dematerialized, and God forbade them to materialize again, as Jude 1:6 explains, and the angels, which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he has reserved in everlasting chains, under darkness, under the judgment of the great day.

When a spirit being materializes, it can fully function. It can think, speak, take action, and affect change. It can be seen by all that come into contact with it. We just mentioned the materializations of the fallen angels. They were so functional.

They propagated children.

God allowed materializations to be both instructional and temporary. When the lesson of the materialization was complete, the materialization ended.

Now, in searching for the materializations in Scripture, we don’t get to just type the word materialization into the Harvest Truth database and find all the Scriptures with the words materialization or materialized. Why not?

Because these terms were not in use either in Bible times or even when the King James translation was published in AD 1611. Webster estimates that the first use of the word materialize was in AD 1710. We’re using this English word and applying it to Scriptures where the equivalent wording is quite different.

Jesus was involved in a number of materializations, as were the holy angels. Let’s explore some of these from the Scriptures to better understand them and what our God was trying to teach his people with these materializations. First of all, let’s examine the materialization in Genesis 18, starting with verses 1 to 5 and the Lord appeared appeared unto Abraham in the plains of Mamre, and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day, and he lifted up his eyes and looked and lose three men stood by him, and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door and bowed himself toward the ground and said, my Lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee from thy servant let a little water I pray you be fetched, and wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree, and I will fetch a morsel of bread and comfort ye your hearts. After that you shall pass on, or therefore are you come to your servant.

And they said, so do as thou hast said.

In these verses there is no explanation of how our Lord and the angels got there, and we certainly don’t know the mechanics of it ourselves. We just know that they were suddenly visible, walking and talking to Abraham in his own language like like nothing unusual was happening.

Now, if one isn’t careful, one could get confused about the meaning of this materialization. In all of the materializations in Scripture, we always want to keep the ransom doctrine clearly and firmly in mind. As clearly explained in reprint 3946, we are clearly to distinguish between our Lord’s appearance here as a man and the appearance of his two companions, the angels as men, and our Lord’s subsequent appearance in the world as the man Christ Jesus. The two were totally different. In the first case, the spirit nature was retained and a human body was merely created and used temporarily for a special purpose, just as our Lord, after His resurrection as a spirit being, appeared in various forms as a Man, but was not really a man.

When the due time came for the redemption of Adam and his race, it was necessary that our Lord should become a man, perfect, complete, as was Father Adam in his original creation. Holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners. When he thus became a man, or as another scripture expresses it, was made flesh in John 1:14. It meant the complete laying aside of the spirit nature before enjoyed a change or transmutation to another nature, the human. This was necessary because it was a man who had sinned and because the divine law required a man’s life for a man’s life as a ransom price.

But no such transmutation was necessary for the work mentioned in our lesson. The Lord and his two angelic companions could have appeared to Abraham as to Moses as a flame of fire in a burning bush, or as a bright angel appeared to Daniel, or as an angelic form with less glory and brightness. But God was dealing with Abraham according to faith. He wished him to learn to walk by faith and not by sight. Hence the angels appeared as strange men and were entertained as such.

And Abraham’s hospitality was demonstrated and became a lesson to all the children of God.

The point we want to emphasize is that before Jesus conception as a human being, he was the archangel, the highest angel. He had never before been a man. The materialization in Genesis 18 does not represent Jesus becoming a human soul. He was still a spirit soul. The primary purpose of Genesis 18 and 19, those materializations, was to inform Abraham and Sarah that they were to have a son in their old age, Isaac, the seed of promise.

The secondary purpose was to pull Lot and his family out of Sodom before it was destroyed. The narrative has also served to strengthen the faith of God’s people ever since.

So then, let’s fast forward a couple of thousand years from Abraham’s date to Jesus birth. After his human birth, Jesus was a perfect man, a human soul until his death. After his death and resurrection, he was a perfect spirit soul and never again a human soul. The materializations after his resurrection did not represent a change of spirit nature back to human nature. They were Jesus as a spirit being, assuming a human form to teach lessons to his disciples.

His materialized body was not the body that was given up for a ransom price. That body will never be revived. That would be taking back the ransom price.

This distinction may be difficult to understand. The trick is to not try to understand the materialization method, because as human beings, we don’t have the ability to change form, and so we can’t understand how it’s done by spirit beings. We just have to keep the ransom straight in our minds so that we learn the intended lesson from each biblical materialization. All of the materializations in Scripture involve spirit beings assuming human form, not humans assuming spirit form. Spirit beings are able to materialize and dematerialize.

Human beings do not have that ability.

One of the purposes of materializations is that they were for the assistance of those that were visual learners. I’m specifically thinking about how, after his resurrection, Jesus materialized and taught the disciples, and especially Thomas, of his resurrection in John 20:19, 2024, 29.

Then the same day at evening being the first day of the week when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst and said unto them, peace be unto you, and when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the lord. But Thomas, one of the 12 called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, we have seen the Lord.

But he said unto them, except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

And after eight days, again his disciples were within and Thomas with them. Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in their midst and said, peace be unto you.

Then he said to Thomas, reach hither thy finger and behold my hands, and reach hither my hand and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless but believing.

Thomas answered and said unto him, my Lord and my God.

Jesus saith unto him, thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed. Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed.

Here our Lord has always emphasized the importance of our eyes of faith over even what we see through our natural eyes.

This experience shows that Jesus was invisibly present when Thomas expressed his doubt, and so Jesus subsequently materialized to teach this visual lesson to Thomas, and we can think about our Lord’s love for Thomas. In that action.

Our Lord deemed it expedient to assist the faith of the apostles by materializing in human form, even showing the marks and scars of his crucifixion in the human body he had created for that purpose.

This was not the dead body that Jesus had given up for a ransom price, but merely a scarred body assumed temporarily for a specific lesson. See reprint 3376.

The Holy Spirit had not yet been given, so the apostles needed that visual assistance to their Faith. At that time, Jesus needed them to have strong faith, to preach his word and to gather the brethren in the upper room to receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. That was important.

Now that we’ve spent some time discussing materializations, let’s examine biblical visions.

When someone is called a visionary these days, it means someone that can give ideas that others can’t see.

It refers to a person with original imaginative ideas about what the future will be or could be. He is a visionary is something we’ve heard many times. Well of course Jesus was the most visionary of all time because he could see the future the most clearly.

But these are not the types of visions we’re talking about today, but rather the pictorial visions that were actually recorded in the scriptures for our edification. They weren’t just words and ideas in the visionary prophets minds, but rather images somehow projected into their minds representing truths God wanted them to know and to tell us so that we could also be blessed.

This is suggested by the Hebrew verb form of the word vision. Strong’s number 4236, derived from number 2372, defined as mentally to perceive or as vine states it, to see in a prophetic vision.

Like materializations, visions are also temporary. But unlike materializations, visions do not usually happen in reality. What we mean is that the person is really having the vision, but the vision itself is not reality. It’s usually only in the visionary’s mind and does not usually have lasting physical effects. An exception to this general rule would be that of Paul’s vision on the road to Damascus described in Acts chapter 9.

Paul calls it a heavenly vision when describing it to agrippa in Acts 26:19. But in this case, the supernatural light that Paul saw, shining brighter than the sun, temporarily blinded him. That part of the vision had a lasting physical impact on Paul, damaging his eyesight for the rest of his life.

Another exception that’s given us in 2 Kings 2:11, where Elijah and Elisha were parted by the chariot and horses of fire and Elijah was taken up by a whirlwind. It was a vision, but Elijah was taken away.

So those two visions were hybrid visions with real effects. We know that scriptural visions were given to ones that were either fully conscious or asleep. When visions were given to ones who were in a subconscious sleeping state, they’re called dreams in Scripture. Why God gave some visions to ones who were fully conscious and other visions to ones that were asleep or in a trance like state, we don’t know. We can be absolutely certain God knew what he was doing and chose the best approach each time.

So under the primary category of visions, there are three subcategories.

The first we’ll call awake visions. The second we’ll call dream visions. The third we’ll call trance visions.

So let’s define and give examples of each of these subcategories. Very simply, awake visions occur when the visionary is fully conscious. An awake vision is any Bible vision where the word dream or trance is not used or implied in the Scripture.

There are different types of awake visions. There are extended prophetic visions which can encompass a large part of a prophetic book. For instance, when Ezekiel gave his prophecy, much of it was given as a series of extended prophetic visions. Ezekiel 1:1 states, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. The Book of Revelation is another example, an extended vision that we’ll discuss later.

Then there are awake visions that are confined to a specific vision lasting or relatively short period of time. For instance, let’s examine the vision on the Mount of transfiguration.

Transfiguration means a complete change of form or appearance into a more beautiful or spiritual state.

Matthew 17:1 9 and after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John as brother, and brought them up into a high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them, and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as a light, and behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him. Then answered Peter and said unto Jesus, lord, it is good for us to be here, if thou wilt. Let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah, while he yet spoke.

Behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud, which said, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye him, and when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face and were sore afraid, and Jesus came and touched them and said, arise, and be not afraid.

And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man save Jesus only, and as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, tell the vision to no man until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

There were a number of reasons why this vision was given. Primarily, it was given to impress upon the minds of the apostles that Jesus is the Messiah.

But while it enlightened his chosen witnesses, the vision also comforted and strengthened our Lord. It was an illustration of God’s coming kingdom, a vision of Christ’s glory and dignity in the kingdom. Moses represented the ancient worthies, and Elijah represented the little flock overcomers of the Christian age. Jesus represented himself when glorified all of them together, representing the coming administration of Christ’s kingdom.

In his wisdom, our Heavenly Father knew that the vision would support Jesus during his ministry and all of his disciples throughout the Christian dispensation.

Now let’s discuss the second category of visions. Dream visions. Regarding dream visions, we won’t be talking about dreams we have when we sleep because these are not prophetic. We’ll be talking about dreams that our Heavenly Father gave to chosen ones during Bible times and that he then had recorded in the Holy Scriptures for the prophetic instruction of his people.

We are to remember that there was an appropriate necessity for dreams in the olden times, which does not exist at the present time because the Gospel church is expected to walk by faith and not by sight, is expected to listen to the voice behind them saying this is the way, rather than to expect a miracle or a dream to indicate the path of righteousness. The path beyond us is shown by the Divine Word, and we are to cultivate the ears of our hearts that we may have the proper direction. In harmony with this the Scriptures say, he that hath a dream, let him dream, but let him tell a dream but he that hath my word, let him speak my word. Jeremiah 23:28.

Here the Lord indicates that a dream might be told if we had nothing better to tell, nothing more direct, nothing more authoritative, but that the Lord’s Word, his revelation, his inspired testimony, is to be put far above all dreams of our own and others. If a dream therefore corroborates some plain statement of the Word of God, it may be used and appreciated in the same sense that we use and appreciate a type, not to teach a doctrine or duty, but to illustrate and call attention to the statements in the Bible. Visions and dreams are closely related. This is suggested by Vine’s definition of the English word dream Strong’s Greek 3677 as a vision and sleep, as distinguished from an awake vision. Strong’s Greek 1798 for dream is something seen in sleep, that is a dream, a vision in a dream.

In Genesis chapter 28, Jacob had his dream vision of what we now call Jacob’s Ladder. This is a very important dream vision, and we want to spend some time explaining this vision and God’s purpose in giving it. We recall that Isaac and Rebekah did not want Jacob to take a wife, the daughters of Canaan, as Esau had done, so they sent him to Laban, Rebekah’s brother in Haran where he could find a wife for the household of faith. Another reason Rebekah sent Jacob away was that Esau had threatened to kill Jacob because Jacob had won Isaac’s birthright blessing. So Jacob began his faith journey, perhaps somewhat apprehensive lest Esau would find him and exact his revenge.

This knowledge gives us more appreciation of the comforting faith strengthening dream vision that God gave to Jacob on the way.

In Genesis 28:3 Isaac Blessed Jacob and sent him on his way and El Shaddai bless thee and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people.

So Jacob began his faith journey. Genesis 28:10 15 ASV and Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran, and he lighted upon a certain place and tarried there all night because the sun was set, and he took one of the stones of the place and put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep, and he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

And behold, Jehovah stood above it and said, I am Jehovah, the God of Abraham, thy father, and the God of Isaac. The land wherein thou liest to thee will I give it, and to thy seed and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth and and thou shalt spread abroad to the west and to the east, and to the north and to the south and in thee and in thy sea shall all the families of the earth be blessed and behold, I am with thee.

And will keep thee whithersoever thou goest.

What a beautiful faith strengthening promise to Jacob and to us.

This dream vision had a profound effect upon Jacob. For the rest of his life he renamed the place Bethel, or House of God. He set up an altar there and made a vow unto his God.

But what was the prophetic meaning of Jacob’s dream vision?

To the extent that has been understood, it has had a profound effect upon all of God’s people down through the ages. It has become one of my favorite dream visions from the Scriptures because of its meaning regarding our communication regarding our communication and close personal relationship with the Father and the Son.

In a series of references, Brother Russell explains how the prophetic meaning of Jacob’s dream vision stretches across the patriarchal Jewish Gospel and millennial ages. Reprint 5199 the latter represents this thought of direct fellowship between heaven and earth, between God and man. The foot of this ladder was close to Jacob through his seed this great work of opening up relationship with God and men would be accomplished. The vision of God at the further end of his encouraging words were to stimulate Jacob to faithfulness, an appreciation of this great promise as a pearl of great value, worth much more than the mess of pottage which he gave for it, yea, worth much more than home and its comforts.

The dream had its intended effect. Jacob was encouraged not only for that time, but through the remainder of his days. More than this, that dream has been a comfort and refreshment to all of God’s people, made aware of it through the Bible.

Now the next two references refer to our Lord’s words in John 1:51.

And he saith unto him, verily, verily, I say unto you, hereafter ye shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.

Our Lord evidently by this expression, called the attention of his hearers and all of his followers back to the days of Jacob and the vision which he had at Bethel, in which he saw a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, on which angels of God were ascending and descending. Our Lord would have us understand that Jacob’s vision was a pictorial illustration of the methods of Divine grace, that our Lord himself was the ladder upon which communication between heaven and earth would be re established, and so, as our eyes of understanding open, we increasingly see this as the case. Upon this ladder, upon this connecting link between heaven and earth, between God and man, have descended to us the angels of divine favor, messages of love and mercy, forgiveness and adoption, and on this same ladder our messages return to the Father.

Our prayers. We are accepted in the Beloved. We enter into the holies by faith we receive the incoming and send back again the outgoing messages and messengers, and all of them upon the ladder, the connecting link, the Son of Man, our Lord and Master, through whom alone we have access and relationship to the Father, and receive from him the exceeding great and precious things, not only of this present life, but also of that which is to come.

Fourth volume, page 629, and we should expect the communication between the two phases or parts of the kingdom will be easy and direct, and thereby the supervision and instruction of mankind will be complete. The princes being the channels of divine communication. This seems to be the intimation of our Lord’s words to Nathanael. Hereafter ye shall see heaven opened, and the angels of God, the messengers of God, the princes of the new dispensation ascending to and descending from the Son of Man.

Was not Jacob’s dream of the ladder between heaven and earth, and the passing to and fro of messengers of prophecy, as well as a dream foreshadowing the coming close communication between the heavenly kingdom and the world in which work as one of the communicating messengers, Jacob himself Jacob himself was to have a share in the blessing of the world. We believe that it was so intended.

Reprint 3964 When Jacob awakened from this refreshing vision dream, he said, surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not. What a place of awe is this. It is none other than the house of God, the gate of heaven. He was awe inspired, and of the dream inspired the future patriarch with awe.

What should the knowledge of the reality bring to us who with the eyes of faith see Jesus as the ladder reaching from our humble fallen condition clear to the heights of the heavenly glory and presence? With what reverence should we look up and hear the Father’s voice coming to us through Him? How little, How little we should feel ourselves to be. How great.

But give her a very good and perfect gift. Surely, as Jacob said, the resting place of this ladder.

Must be the house of God, the place where we may meet with our Almighty Creator. It was this that was symbolized by the Tabernacle of old, which was called the Tent of Meeting, not because the Israelites entered it, but because Jehovah could enter and there meet with the people through their representative, the priest, the Lord’s presence being indicated by the light on the mercy seat, the Shekinah glory.

Similarly, the temple was a house or meeting place between God and his people and similarly now with spiritual Israel, Christ at the lower end of the Ladder is the meeting place between God and man. This meeting place for the present time is not a building made with hands, is not a temple, nor even a tent, but a house or household of faith. The house or church of God, wherever this may be, is Bethel. Wherever two or three of you are met, My name there am I in the midst there the Ladder at the upper end of which is the Father touches the earth, and every such assemblage is truly a gate of heaven. What wonder, then, that the Scriptures encourage the Lord’s people to meet in his name, to have fellowship with the Father through him, and to have their petitions borne upward to the Father, and the blessings to come down from the Father upon them?

After studying Jacob’s dream vision, we have a much greater appreciation of its prophetic meaning and of the love our Heavenly Father showed us in giving this dream vision to Jacob to build us up in our trust and love for the Father and the Son.

Other examples of dream visions are given in Genesis chapter 37 where Joseph had his dream visions of his future exaltation.

Usually it was God’s people that experienced dream visions, but not always. When dream visions were had by others, they were then interpreted by God’s people. For instance, In Genesis chapter 41, Pharaoh had his dream visions of the seven years of plenty and the seven years of famine. Pharaoh had the dream visions, but only one of God’s people, in this case Joseph, could correctly interpret them.

In Daniel chapter two, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed visions and and none of the Chaldean wise men could interpret them. But Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah prayed to God concerning the secret of the interpretation of the vision, and the secret was revealed unto Daniel, who then explained it to the king.

Now let’s consider the third category of visions, trance visions, along with some points to help us understand the concept of trans. The Bible.

A trance is a state of deep contemplation or altered consciousness. It often involves a divine revelation or vision from God. Notable biblical figures like Peter and Paul experience trances. See Acts 10:10 and Acts 22:17.

Trances can serve as a means for God to communicate important messages. They are sometimes associated with prophetic experiences or spiritual insights reflecting a heightened spiritual awareness. Smith’s Bible Dictionary in the only passages Numbers 24:4 and 24:16 in which this word trance occurs in the English of the Old Testament, italics show no corresponding word in Hebrew. It’s supplied by the translators. For instance, Numbers 24:16 from the prophecy of Balaam he hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the Most High, which saw the vision of El Shaddai falling into a trance, but having his eyes open.

In the New Testament we meet with the word trance three times. Acts 10, 10, 11:5 and 22:17. The Greek word strong 16:11 ecstasis at his trance is the state in which a man has passed out of the usual order of his life beyond the usual limits of consciousness.

Although ecstasis is not used in the Book of Revelation, in reprint 2826, Brother Russell suggests that Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day means that John received the vision of the Revelation while he was in a trance. He was on the isle of Patmos, a penal colony, his crime being that he had faithfully preached the message of our Lord Jesus. In reprint 3568, Brother Russell again calls the Book of Revelation a trance vision, stating that John represented a class who see with the eyes of their understanding the visions and revelations which John saw in symbols in a trance.

It seems to me that John on Patmos had prayed to his heavenly Father, had prepared himself mentally and spiritually on the first day of the week, Sunday to receive a message from our Lord Jesus, and was spiritually ready to receive that message. I like Revelation 1:10 as given by the Phillips translation. On the Lord’s day I knew myself inspired by the Spirit.

He was directed to record the vision to benefit the brethren throughout the age, although it would be the greatest benefit to the John class at the end of the age since they would be best able to understand the vision. Revelation 1:11 what thou seest, write in a book and send it unto the seven churches. John experienced the revelation through vivid symbolic visions. He faithfully wrote down for us what he saw in those prophetic visions which provided the history in advance of the Christian church all the way to the full establishment Christ’s kingdom.

So we see that God rarely used trances in the New Testament. When they were used, they usually transmitted a new and important revelation to one of the apostles, which they then shared with us.

Now we’ve provided a summary of the three categories of biblical visions. So now we want to generalize some additional important points regarding visions and materializations. Visions and materializations had more or less importance to the ones that experienced them in Bible times, but the real critical importance is to the ones that during the Christian age, through God’s Holy Spirit, fully understand and apply the intended lessons so they can be fully strengthened in faith and character. This is a spiritual benefit intended thousands of years ago when visions and materializations were experienced and written down. So we should feel the same gratitude to our Heavenly Father for providing these for our edification as we do for all the types and prophecies of the Holy Scriptures.

Think about it. Our Heavenly Father was showing his love for us way back then, just as Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 10:11 Weymouth all this kept happening to them with a figurative meaning, but it was put on record by way of admonition to us upon whom the ends of the ages have come. This is the primary purpose of the prophetic visions as spoken by Habakkuk in chapter two, verses two and three. I will stand upon my watch, and set my foot upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what answer I shall make to them that oppose me, and the Lord answered me and said, write the vision and make it plain upon tables that he may run that reads it absolutely love that Scripture, for the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lie.

Though it seem to tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry. The many visions of the kingdom given to us by our God have helped us to have the proper faith in God’s kingdom and our place in it. Then in the kingdom the world of mankind will see the fulfillment of the wonderful visions of ancient times. Joel 2:28.

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. Reprint 4467 now notice the expression, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. We prefer a different translation, which we believe gives the intended thought, namely, your young men will see the glorious visions of restitution blessings in process of fulfillment of which your ancient men dreamed the things respecting which they vaguely hoped and dimly understood and greatly longed for.

So here we see that during the mediatorial kingdom the visions of the ancient prophets will be fulfilled, and there will no longer be a need for the visions of ancient times. The visions of the past will become reality every day, everyone everywhere will see God’s miracles coming to pass and the glorious restitution blessings of God’s kingdom. Ezekiel 12:2125 ASV and the Word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Son of man, what is this proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, the days are prolonged, and every vision fails. Tell them, therefore, thus saith the Lord Jehovah, I will make this proverb to cease, And they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel. But say unto them, the days are at hand, and the fulfillment of every vision.

For there shall be no more any false vision, nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.

For I am Jehovah, I will speak and the word that I shall speak shall be performed, and it shall be no more deferred. For in your days, O rebellious house, will I speak the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord. Jehovah we’ll close with John’s vision of the Kingdom from Revelation 21:1 5 and I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea, and I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God, out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband, and I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them.

And they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away, and he that sat upon the throne said, behold, I make all things new.

May these glorious visions given by our Redeemer to us, the John class, inspire us to greater faithfulness day by day, and may the Lord add his blessing.

Click Here for the PDF transcript.