My question is in regards to a vision… or what I think was a vision.  July 2007, I began dating a guy who was once a believer, says he loves God, and will get right again someday.  By December 2007, God began speaking to me, and I believe gave me a vision.  I found out he had been diagnosed with AIDS in 2006 and almost died.  However, God spared him, and he now has no trace of even HIV.  So, shortly after finding this out, I was talking to his sister on the phone.  It seems like it was all in the blink of an eye, but I remember so much color, feeling, etc.  I remember more details of that split second than any dream I've ever had.  I rarely dream, so it was odd to have gotten that much so fast.  It was like I was a third person.  I could see the back of what was me (even though I couldn't see my face, I knew it was me), and he was standing at a pulpit with a microphone.  He was in front of a large church, and I remember the lights were so bright, the church reminded me of my own (only larger), and I can recall the color of the carpet, what he was wearing, what I was wearing, and that there were other people around us.  All he said was, "My wife stuck beside me even though it could have cost her her life." Then he looked at me, and it was done.  God also began to tell me “2-3 months”, and I knew that He meant we would be apart for a time.  God told me that I needed to work on me and just be an example to him. I've known and heard this since December 2007.  We are at that point now, and now I am questioning whether that was a vision from God and whether I really heard “2-3 months” all this time.  I just can't help but question it and am having a hard time with my faith now because I don't know if it was a vision or my imagination.  Any insight would be much appreciated.  Thank you so much!

Sincerely, Minding My Mind

Dear Minding My Mind,

God doesn’t give us visions and prophecies today. What you had, though vivid, was purely from your own mind. The whole purpose of prophecies and visions was to bring God’s teachings to mankind (Heb 1:2). Today, we have all of God’s teachings (Jude 3, 2 Pet 1:3).

There was a time when prophecy and other miraculous abilities were necessary. As the New Testament was being completed, congregations needed prophets to tell them what had not yet been written down, but when the New Testament was completed, there was no longer a need for those miracles. Paul explained this concept to the Corinthians in 1 Cor 13:8-10. Prophecy (and visions, which are a form of prophecy) was a temporary thing until ‘the perfect’, the complete Word of God, came.

Think of it this way, if God has given us everything that we need to know in His Word – what would be the point of another vision? A vision would either alter what God had already said, which God says will never happen (Gal 1:8), or it will only repeat a teaching you can already find in the Bible! I have no doubt that your waking dream was exceptionally vivid and impressive to you, but it wasn’t from God.

How can I prove to someone that the kingdom is fulfilled?  I understand the kingdom is the church, and the person I am talking with believes that also, but for some reason, they don’t think the church is completely fulfilled; therefore, they believe in visions and miracles.  Are there any verses that specifically say that the kingdom has been fulfilled?

Sincerely,
Loyal Subject

Dear Loyal Subject,

The kingdom isn’t done with its work… but that doesn’t mean you can’t prove that visions and miracles have ceased.  The work of the kingdom won’t be entirely fulfilled until the Great Day of Judgment (Jude 1:6) when Christ will hand the kingdom over to the Father (1 Cor 15:24).

Visions and miracles have ceased because the kingdom doesn’t need them anymore.  Paul said that prophecies would stop when ‘the perfect’ comes (1 Cor 13:8-10).  The ‘perfect’ isn’t the end of time; it is the completed Bible.  The Bible is called “the perfect law of liberty” (Jas 1:25).  When the final book of the Bible, the book of Revelation, was completed, we no longer needed prophecy in order to understand God’s Will.  Jude said that we have God’s law handed down to us “once and for all, delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).  Since God provides all knowledge and wisdom in His Bible (everything that pertains to life and godliness – 2 Pet 1:3)… what would be the purpose of visions and prophecy continuing?  The church (i.e. the kingdom) still has work left to do here on this planet, but visions are no longer necessary to fulfill that work.  We recommend reading “I Dreamed A Dream” and “Three Cheers For Miracles” for more on this subject.

On one occasion shortly after I prayed to Jesus, in the darkness of my eyes (STILL closed), I could clearly see the word "Grace" light up like a white neon-light sign, and it was hovering over a body of water.  After this picture faded away, I opened my eyes and wondered: was it a vision?  What does this mean?  Can you answer this for me?

Sincerely,
Floating Grace

Dear Floating Grace,

No, it was not a vision.  Prophets have visions, and there are no more prophets since we have the perfect and complete Word of God (1 Cor 13:8-10).  The human mind is a complex and wondrous thing (Ps 139:14).  It is perfectly normal for our mind to make mental connections as we pray, study, sleep, etc.  Those mental images aren’t visions; they are just your own thoughts as your mind meditates upon what you have said, read, or heard.

We recommend you read “I Dreamed A Dream” for more information.