Can the Devil Give You a Vision Tempting You From God?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Can the devil give you a vision tempting you from God, and can God intervene in the vision?
In the Bible, a vision was a miraculous event that prophets experienced when God took control of the prophet’s visual experience and showed them something beyond the physical world. Usually, a vision concerned heavenly activities that God wanted the prophet to know about and report on to those in the world. Some examples of visions are found in 1 Kings 23, Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 1-3, Daniel 7, and Revelation 4-22. These visions are detailed and specific. God used them to appoint prophets, establish their credibility, communicate heavenly events, condemn present evils, and reveal the future. God used miraculous prophetic visions frequently to communicate His will. We do not have any examples in the Bible of the devil giving visions of this quality to people.
On the other hand, the Bible teaches that the devil can distort and twist one’s beliefs in a deceitful and evil way. Second Corinthians 11:14 says that Satan can transform himself into an angel of light. He can make evil look like good and good look like evil. He has tremendous powers of deception. We should always been watching against his evil activities. First Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” The Bible teaches that the devil is the adversary of mankind and is involved in tempting mankind to do evil.
Matthew records Jesus’ being tempted of the devil (Matthew 4:1-11). In this series of temptations, the devil appears to give Jesus visions. It is not a vision like God gives the prophets, but visions of things the devil wants Jesus to desire. In one, Jesus is standing on the pinnacle of the temple. In another one Jesus is on a high mountain looking at all the kingdoms of the world. With these visions, the devil specifically tempts Jesus to 1) throw himself off the temple, and 2) worship devil. Jesus refuses both temptations.
The questioner asks about visions today. First, God does not give miraculous visions today. Those miracles ended after the time of the apostles. First Corinthians 13:8-10 says, “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect (complete) has come, then that which is in part will be done away.” Today, the complete word of God has been revealed by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Prophecies, tongues, knowledge, and other miracles were “in part.” The knowledge that comes through the revealed, written word of God is complete. So, those miraculous powers have ended. With the ending of those powers came the ending of prophetic visions. God has also limited Satan’s powers; He has bound him (Revelation 20:2). So, neither God nor the devil are going to be giving miraculous visions today.
Some, however, claim to have visions today. Many times, these so-called visions are used to justify preaching something different than what is in the word of God. We should remember the warning of Galatians 1:8-9, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” We must listen to what the word of God says, not what people claiming to have visions say. First John 4:1 says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Having said that, people can have very vivid dreams about many things. One could even dream about being tempted by the devil and being saved by God. This is not miraculous, but normal. Dreams reveal to us something about ourselves, our concerns, desires, and problems.