VISIONS AND DREAMS by David Arnold

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 28, 1856

VISIONS AND DREAMS.

By David Arnold

THEIR ORIGIN, NATURE, AND UTILITY.

We discover from the infinite variety and adaptation of the Creator's works, that he possesses intelligence in its highest state of perfection. And from the description he has given of his own personal form, and the record of man's creation, we learn that he formed man physically in his own image; thus endowing him with capabilities for attaining to a state of intelligence far superior to any other earthly being.

From these reflections, the reasonable conclusion is, that the design of God was that man should be an intimate associate of his Creator. This conclusion is confirmed by the record of their mutual intimacy before man's sin and expulsion from the garden, and the presence of God, and we have nothing to warrant us in the divine record that Adam ever saw the face of God after his alienation by sin.

Since the fall, man has been too unholy to behold the face of a holy God and live; and even his voice caused the children of Israel to exclaim, "If we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, then we shall die." See Deut. v, 25, and its connection. Under these fearful circumstances, what shall be done for poor fallen man, the noblest of all the Creator's works, yet by sin too vile, too unholy to hold personal and visible communion with his Maker and live? Shall he be left to grope his way by the dim light of nature, having no communication with the great Source of wisdom and knowledge? This would wholly subvert and destroy the great plan of the all-wise Creator, whose original design was as before stated that man should be his associate. For proof that this design will be accomplished we refer you to Rev. xxi, 3, and its context.

For the furtherance and accomplishment of this design we find that God after man's apostasy, instituted means and modes whereby man could receive direct communication from his Maker, without his visible presence. These modes were three:

1. Personally. In this plan of communicating there was a manifestation of his presence, yet his real person was not openly manifest. He also under this mode, frequently communicated by proxy or the substitution of another, as in the case of the communication made to Abraham concerning the destruction of the cities of the plain. Here the record states that "the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre;" yet the sequel shows that three men or angels were all that appeared to Abraham. But in the interview between them and Abraham there are some points worthy of note. On all points touching their mission to Abraham the address assumes the individual form as, "My Lord," and, "The Lord said unto Abraham." But in matters of their personal convenience and accommodation, the address is in the plural, as "rest yourselves under the tree." "And they said, So do as thou hast said."

From this the fair conclusion is that Abraham considered the communications direct from God, although they were through the mission of angels.

Many are the instances on record of similar communications from God to man, to which we might cite your minds, but we pass to notice,

2. Visions. This is another form or mode which God has instituted to communicate his will and purposes to fallen man. Its nature and mode of operation differs from the personal, and is more confined to mental or spiritual and less to natural vision. The external organs of sense being closed by the power of the Holy Ghost to surrounding objects, scenes, figures and communications, by the same power are made to pass before the mental perceptions, thus conveying instruction from God to the individual as a medium of communication to others. Such were the visions of the Patriarchs, Prophets and Apostles, by which a great share of the important truths of inspiration have passed from the great Fountain of light and truth to us. Isaiah in vision saw the scenes of "the last days," when their land should be full of silver and gold, no end to their treasures, full of horses, no end to their chariots, land full of idols, worshiping the work of their hands, and that which their own fingers have made. He also saw the scenes of earth's desolation and restitution, the earth made new where Jerusalem shall be a rejoicing and her people a joy, and where the wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and nothing shall hurt or destroy in all that holy mountain. Ezekiel saw the heavens opened and "saw visions of God." Daniel in vision also saw many things of deep and thrilling interest to those living in the "last days."

Through this mode of communication, Peter, James, and John, on the mount of transfiguration, saw the coming kingdom of the Son of David, which was represented to them by the King in his beauty and glory as he will then appear, and Elijah, representing the translated saints which shall not sleep but be alive and remain, and the resurrected saints represented by Moses who saw death. Such was

the nature and manner of the communication to Paul when he knew not whether he was in the body or out; when he seemed "caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words which it is not possible for a man to utter."

But of all the communications made to man through visions none exceed in grandeur and sublimity the revelations to John on the isle of Patmos, while in solitary banishment, showing a consecutive course of events from the first Advent down through the reign of the great red dragon, the falling away of the apostolic Church, the rise, persecuting reign, and overthrow of the Papal supremacy, the rise, and progress of the two horned beast, the signs and scenes of the last days, the coming of Christ on the white cloud, the desolation of the earth, by the seven last plagues and the messages which precede it, the resurrection and translation of the saints, the one thousand years of earth's desolation, Satan's bondage and the day of Judgment, the release of Satan, the resurrection, deception and destruction of all the wicked in the lake of fire, the earth made new, possessing all the loveliness of its pristine perfection, bearing upon its uncursed, hallowed bosom the glorious city, the New Jerusalem, the habitation of the living God, and the perfected, everlasting kingdom of the Prince of Peace.

These are some of the many glorious truths bearing the impress of divine revelation, disclosed to us and our children through this mode of communication.

3. Dreams. This mode differs from visions in this respect: the external organs of sense are closed to surrounding objects and influences by natural sleep, or dormancy, instead of the direct operation of the Spirit or power of God. In this state, as in visions, scenes, figures and communications are made to pass before the mental perceptions, which are brought into action without the mutual co-operation of the external senses.

Dreams are produced from three sources:

First, by the power of the Holy Ghost moving upon the mental faculties, stamping upon the perceptions and memory by figures or otherwise the intelligence God designs to give. Such was the dream of Pharaoh of the seven fat and lean kine by which God communicated the knowledge of the approaching famine; also, Nebuchadnezzar's notable dream of the Metallic Image.

Second, by the power of Satan; as in the dreams of which Job speaks in chap. vii, 14: "Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions."

Third, through a multiplicity of business. During the labors, cares, and excitements of the day the mental organs become surcharged with thoughts and do not sink to rest as soon as the external organs; consequently the thoughts are more or less active and real as the faculties one by one sink away to rest. To this source may be charged a great share of the entire mass of dreams.

Here the reader will perceive that dreams and visions widely differ as a source of reliable communication. In visions the whole person, mental and physical, is under the entire control of a higher power; therefore what is then communicated is really from the being holding this control over the person. In dreams we are more liable to be swayed by our thoughts through the day and the external circumstances and influences around us; therefore from their nature and varied source we cannot rely upon them with that certainty that we can upon visions, and should be very cautious how we use our dreams to measure the faith or actions of others; yet when given of God they bear the impress of divine wisdom and are as really communications from God as visions.

There are also two sources from which visions originate; two beings and two only who have power to hold this entire control over the physical and mental powers of man; one independent of all control or influence; the other by permission. One exercises this power for the special good of fallen man; the other as a counterfeiter and deceiver for man's destruction.

Here the inquiry may arise, How shall we know the true from the counterfeit? Christ said "By their fruits ye shall know them." But where shall we look for the fruit? "Do men gather grapes of thorns? or figs of thistles?" Shall we look for true visions from God among those who are not walking in the light of revealed truth? This would truly be looking for grapes on thorns and for figs on thistles. Wisdom would point us to the source to look for the counterfeit, but truly we here find "the working of Satan with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved."

Thus clairvoyant and mesmeric influence, are nothing less than the power of Satan, holding control over the mental and physical powers of human beings, producing false visions.

And why all this display of the counterfeit, if there is none of the genuine among us? Truly the day has come in the which God said, "I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams." Satan (more wise than his adherents) knows all this, and is working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness to make the counterfeit pass as genuine.

But where amidst such a display of the counterfeit, shall we look for the true; for if there was not a true, there would surely be no counterfeit? Not among thorns or thistles, which are nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned; not among the lovers of this world who are laying up treasures on earth; not among cold hearted professors, who put far away the evil day, and are saying in their heart, My Lord delayeth his coming, and whose candlestick has been removed out of his place; not among professed Adventists who have perhaps received the First and Second Angels Messages, but have ceased to "follow on to know the Lord" by keeping the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus; nor even among those who profess to receive the Third Angels Message, and yet deny the existence of true visions in these "last days."

Among all these it were hopeless to expect a display of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, producing true visions. Would not such jewels, by all these, be trodden under foot? Where then should we constantly look for the manifestation of this product of the Holy Spirit in these "last days?" The record says, "And on my servants and on my hand-maidens I will pour out, in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy." How did they prophesy anciently? Mostly by a revelation through visions, and dreams produced by the outpouring of the Spirit.

Then reason would dictate that we are to look for and expect to find these Gifts manifested in that church who have come out from the world and proclaimed the hour of God's judgment come, and that Babylon is fallen, and have left her ranks, and are now "following on to know the Lord" by "keeping the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus;" that church who are striving to live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God; not yet perfect, but feeling after God, if haply they may find him; striving for the victory over every earthly propensity, endeavoring to walk in all the ordinances of the Lord blameless; looking for and loving the appearing of Jesus; believing in, expecting and praying for, the bestowment of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit for the perfecting of the saints, that they may appear without spot or wrinkle in the day of Christ's coming. To such a church, and among such a people, God will manifest himself as he does not unto the world.

Some may have vainly supposed that God would not choose an imperfect church, or especially an imperfect individual, for the bestowment of such an important gift. Then would he have to send angels to bear the Gifts of the church; for none here are perfect, and those whom he chose anciently, as mediums of communication were subject to like passions with us; yet they were generally persons who were striving to walk with God in all holy living. But these Gifts are pearls too precious to be bestowed upon those who will trample them under foot.

Having shown the origin and nature of these manifestations of divine compassion and mercy for fallen man, also the time and place of their more visible outpouring, we will now inquire concerning their utility. On this point little need be said, were it not that an opinion has almost universally obtained that since the days of the Revelation given to John, God has not thus manifested himself to the church; consequently to those holding this opinion all such manifestations are spurious and vain; therefore it becomes necessary that a vast amount of prejudice should be removed before such can see the benefits to be derived from these Gifts.

Let us reflect for a moment that we are truly and emphatically in the "last days," in the which evil men and seducers are waxing worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. Lo here, and Lo there, is cried in every direction. The spirits of devils are working miracles. Satan is working with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, trying if possible to deceive the very elect. Churches and church organizations have multiplied until mystery Babylon presents her six hundred and sixty-six varied phases, yet all professedly based upon the sure Word. Avarice, lust, pride, self-will, bigotry, and covetousness, are fastening their iron grasp deep in the hearts of the children of men. The signs of the times on every hand present unmistakable evidence that the great day of the Lord hasteth greatly. The nations are preparing and rushing to the last great onset, and the time is near when the Mighty Conqueror will dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. In these last days, these perilous times, when the land is barren of faith, and the great mass of professed Christians are putting far away the evil day, and almost everything pertaining to Bible faith, or in other words the so-called Orthodox faith of the day appears heterodox, and contradictory, where shall we look for light amid such an array of mist and darkness? We answer in the words of the Psalmist, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."

But how shall we know, says one, amidst such a multiplicity of opinions and sentiments, what is the true light the Scriptures were intended to convey? He who "saw the end from the beginning," and well knew the conflicts and perils of his people, and what they would have to contend with in the last days, has provided a way and means whereby his people may be brought to "see eye to eye," and into the unity of the faith, that they may no more be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine; a means whereby those who err from Bible truth may receive timely correction, and thus have their loins girt about with truth, their lamps brightly burning, and themselves be waiting for their Lord's return from the wedding.

In the midst of these last-day scenes and perils, God is purifying to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works, which are to stand with the Lamb on mount Zion, having the Father's name written in their foreheads; a people who are to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth; redeemed (not from the grave, but) from among men. For the special work of fitting up this people for their high and holy vocation, God hath purposed in the counsel of his wisdom, and revealed the same to us through his prophets, that in the "last days" he will pour out of his Spirit on his servants and hand-maidens, causing them to see visions and dream dreams; thus preparing them to stand as daysmen or prophets to his people. Such is the plan of him whose wisdom is infinite, and who adapts all his plans to the purposes intended.

Thus the utility or usefulness of this plan and mode of communication may be seen at a glance, when we reflect for a moment upon the extreme dangers and perils of those who are honestly seeking for those Bible truths through which they are to be sanctified and fitted to escape the plagues that are coming on the earth, and to stand before the Son of man, when he appears clad in the garments of vengeance.

And now with this view of the subject before us, who is prepared to reject these Gifts to the Church, as having no part in the all-wise plan of salvation for the remnant of God's people in these perilous times, which are now daily growing more and more perilous.

Dear Reader, are you willing thus to close your eyes against the clear light of truth, and put yourself beyond the reach of benefit from this plan of the Creator for the special instruction of his children? Or be intreated by one who from eight years' experience and close observation of this mode of teaching, believes it to be from God, to be careful how you reject these Gifts of the Church, lest haply you be found fighting against God.

DAVID ARNOLD. Fulton N. Y., Feb. 6th, 1856.