Supernatural Biblical Guidance
Understanding Holy Spirit Inspired Visions & Guidance
Knowing the 3 Biblical Categories Is Essential
by Pastor John Hamel

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Live Table of Contents


Chapter 1: Understanding Visions

Chapter 2: Spiritual Visions

Chapter 3: A Personal Example

Chapter 3: Spiritual Trances

Chapter 3: A Personal Example & Visitation

Chapter 3: An Additional Personal Example

Chapter 3: The Vision Comes to Pass in Every Detail

Chapter 3: Astounding Supernatural Confirmation

Chapter 4: Open Visions

Chapter 4: A Personal Example

Chapter 4: Jesus Personally Commissioned Me
Chapter 4: Jesus, Peter, Paul & John: New Testament Seers

Chapter 4: Last Days Spiritual Visions, Trances & Open Visions

Chapter 4: Last Days Great Spiritual Awakening

Chapter 5: Additional Examples of Visions from the Bible

 

Note: For the complete JHM Guidance Series go to our Online Bible Training Centre Curriculum Guide

 
Chapter
1: Understanding Visions

"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: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.” (Joel 2:28,29)

In our last study we saw how the Holy Spirit frequently used dreams in the Old Testament as a means of guidance, warning and revelation.  He is still doing this today and will do so even more in the coming outpouring of His Spirit.  We saw how in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit did not limit Himself to dreams as the only form of guidance, but dreams were very common.

 

In the New Testament, beginning with the Day of Pentecost, the most significant events in Christianity have come about as a result of visions, rather than dreams.  We will cover that in this lesson.  It is important to understand that visions, like dreams, are also used for guidance, warning and revelation.  They are also a manifestation of either the Word of Wisdom or the Word of Knowledge, sometimes both.  However, they are always a manifestation of the Discerning of Spirits.  These three Gifts are known as the Revelation Gifts.

 

The primary difference between a dream and a vision is that with a dream you are asleep when the Holy Spirit is communicating with you.  With a vision you are not asleep, you are always awake.

 

With a vision, particularly when the vision comes in the form of a trance or an open vision, it is as if one is standing in the center of the vision as the vision unfolds around them or in front of them. 

 

I find it to be quite interesting that before the Holy Spirit came to indwell human beings, He would frequently wait for someone to fall asleep before communicating with them.  

 

However, since the Holy Spirit has come to indwell man, it appears that He is much more willing to communicate with him while he is still awake.  I do not claim to know the reason for this.  Possibly it is because a human being is less resistant when they are sleeping.  

 

What I do know is that the Holy Spirit has shown an amazing willingness to supernaturally communicate with human beings since Adam’s creation six thousand years ago.  

 

I also know that the Holy Spirit instructs us in the Scripture to be prepared for more communication from Him than we have ever had in the past. 

 

We will be studying the three types of visions that are laid out for us in the Gospels and in the Book of Acts.  The Holy Spirit deliberately had these recorded in order for us to understand them and to cooperate with them. 

 

The life and Ministry of Jesus Christ, combined with the Book of Acts, is actually a blueprint for the New Testament Church to build upon.

 

These three types of visions can occur in the life of any Born Again Believer in Jesus Christ. However, they will occur far more consistently in the life and Ministry of a Prophet, but they can and do indeed manifest occasionally in the life of anyone whom God wills.

"Verily, verily I say unto you, he that believeth on Me the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father." (John 14:12) 

 

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Chapter 2: Spiritual Visions

 

The first type of vision we will study is called a “spiritual vision.” 

 

A spiritual vision occurs when an individual is moved upon by the Holy Spirit to see something with the eyes of their spirit and not with their physical eyes.  During a spiritual vision your mind is not displaced.  Your physical senses are not suspended in any way.  You know who you are.  You know where you are.  You are simply seeing things within your spirit, on the inside of you. 

 

This is so much more than just human imagination and you will know when you are experiencing a spiritual vision.  Spiritual visions can be very simple or they can be very dramatic.  How simple or dramatic they are has nothing to do with how important they are.  If faces, places, events, ideas, etc., keep “popping up in your spirit,” you will want to ask the Holy Spirit to help you to not miss what He is revealing. 

 

Jesus saw Nathaniel under a fig tree with His spiritual eyes.  He saw this within Himself.  Nathaniel was amazed at Jesus’ spiritual keenness and gave glory to God. (John 1:47-49)  

 

It was not uncommon at all for Jesus to see things on the inside of Himself or through a trance or open vision before they actually occurred.  Jesus revealed that He would see Himself healing the sick, casting out demons, preaching, teaching, prophesying and ministering to individuals in His spirit or through a trance or open vision before He went out to actually do so.  He would then simply go and imitate outwardly what He had seen previously while He was in the Spirit and miracles would occur. 

 

"Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

 

"For the Father loveth the Son and sheweth Him all things that He Himself doeth: and He will show Him greater works than these, that ye may marvel." (John 5:19-20) 

 

Jesus said, “I only do what I see My Father do.”  

 

In essence, what He was saying was, “I only do what I see the Father doing through Me as I am praying or when I am in the Spirit.”  

 

Through spiritual visions, trances or open visions Jesus would see Himself performing specific miracles before they actually occurred.  He knew it would be the Father doing it through Him at the time of the miracles occurring, so Jesus was always careful at that time to give the Father all the glory.

 

"... the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works." (John 14:10)

 

I want to make this perfectly clear. There were times when Jesus would see Himself perform a certain miracle for a person or persons ahead of time either through an inward vision, a trance or an open vision.  Later, when He encountered that person or situation which He had seen supernaturally, He would simply act out what He had previously seen Himself doing in vision form.  As a result the supernatural would occur, even as He had seen, and He would give the glory to God because He knew it was really the Father doing it through Him.  

 

This is why Jesus said, “I only do what I see (in vision form) My Father do.”  

 

Fascinating, isn't it?

 

In the same way, the Holy Spirit wants to show you things before they occur so you can walk them out, minister in the miraculous and experience the supernatural while giving God the glory. (John 14:12; 16:13)  

 

Do not miss out on what the Holy Spirit wants to do through you just because it comes in the form of a simple, non-dramatic, inward spiritual vision as opposed to a more dramatic trance or open vision. They are all equally as supernatural. 

 

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A Personal Example of a Spiritual Vision

 

One day when I was first Born Again, my dump truck refused to start. It was a dry, sunny Autumn day in New England.  I said, “Father, what’s wrong with that truck?”  

 

Immediately, on the inside of my spirit, I saw a picture.  Now this was on the inside, not the outside.  It was almost the way one would use their imagination, but it was more than simple human imagination.  It was a spiritual vision coming out of my inner spirit man.  I saw the coil on my dump truck.  I could actually see right through it.  There was a bead of water inside of it which was hindering the proper flow of electricity. 

 

I went back outside and stuck the rolled up tip of a paper towel into the coil.  It became saturated, wicking the water up into it.  I jumped inside the truck, turned the key and the engine fired up immediately.  I was a baby Christian and that completely “blew my mind.”  You can believe that I shouted praises.  My dump truck mattered to God because my dump truck mattered to me and I matter to God.  Supernaturally through an inward spiritual vision God showed me what was wrong with my truck.

 

Keep in mind if people, places, things or events continue to be brought before you from the inside, you will want to pay very close attention.  You may be experiencing spiritual visions as God is attempting to direct you according to His plans and purposes for you.  

 

Remember, the Revelation Gifts frequently operate through spiritual visions within.

 

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Chapter 3: Spiritual Trances 

  

The Greek word for “trance” is “ekstasis.”  It means “the displacement of the mind.” 

 

This is an experience where your physical senses are suspended and you are unaware of your physical surroundings.  You do not know, for the moment, exactly where you are or sometimes even who you are. 

 

A Scriptural trance is unrelated to a hypnotic trance.  You cannot come out of a hypnotic trance if the hypnotist will not allow you to come out.  You can come out of a Scriptural trance if you choose to do so.  A hypnotic trance strips you of mastery over your God-given free will.  This is something the God of love would never do to you.

 

You can deliberately enter a hypnotic trance.  You cannot deliberately enter a supernatural Biblical trance.  A supernatural Biblical trance is always and only Holy Spirit induced.  Although your senses are overpowered, your free will is not.  That is the Spirit of Love.  Deliberately stripping a person of mastery over their free will is rooted in witchcraft and hatred.  Paul referred to this as the “Works of the Flesh” in Galatians chapter five. 

 

The word Paul used for “witchcraft” actually means “to control.”  A hypnotist takes “control” of an individual’s free will for his own good pleasure.  During this time demon spirits can easily enter into the hypnotist’s victim.  Demon spirits cannot just enter into anyone or they would enter into everyone.  A person must stop exercising mastery over their free will for demons to come into them.  Satan uses the hypnotist to bring the unsuspecting victim to this place of demonic entry. 

 

It is appalling that hypnotists have found their way from sleazy back alleys and carnival sideshows into the popular media, centers of Education, the halls of Congress and even the White House itself.  Even the best educated are now falling victim to this deceptive practice that does not have the best interest of humanity at heart. 

 

Hypnotic trances are not fun and they are not funny.  Neither are they “harmless.”  They force an individual to stop exercising mastery over their free will for as long as the hypnotist desires.  It is during the hypnotic trance that demonic powers are now able to freely enter into the submissive participant.  Once the “show” is over, the demons remain within their unknowing victim.  This is when Satan really has opportunity to reign and to rule.  Only the most foolish would knowingly submit to this dangerous, demonic practice, and pay hard earned money for the demonic experience.

 

The Apostle Peter experienced a Scriptural trance.  During this experience the Holy Spirit showed Peter symbolically that because of the Blood of Jesus, Gentiles were now as acceptable to God as Jews. (Acts 10:9-16) This was a tremendous revelation to Peter.  So we see that supernatural Biblical trances can bring revelation even as dreams and spiritual visions can bring revelation.

 

The Apostle Paul was warned of danger in a trance, while he was in Jerusalem praying.  Jesus actually appeared to Him in his trance, explaining that the Jews would not receive his testimony and would bring him great harm.  Jesus then explained to Paul that he was being called to minister the Gospel to the Gentiles.  So we see one supernatural Biblical trance in Paul’s life resulting not only in warning but also in guidance and revelation. (Acts 22:17-21)

 

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A Personal Example & Visitation
 

 

Many years ago I was making plans to attend a certain Bible school.  I was living in Las Vegas, Nevada, and my plan was to relocate to Tulsa, Oklahoma in a matter of weeks.  

 

A woman approached me offering $10,000.00 for this very purpose.  I immediately had unrest in my spirit about taking the money.  It was as if alarms were going off on the inside of me.  It was the inner witness of the Holy Spirit warning me.  Therefore, I explained to her that I could not take the money at the moment but that I would go and seek the Lord as to what His will was. 

 

As I went into prayer, I was instantly caught up in a supernatural Biblical trance.  My senses were suspended.  My mind was displaced.  I was unaware of my actual physical surroundings.  

 

Suddenly I was in another place I had never before seen.  I looked around and saw evidence of a tropical setting.  

 

Then I noticed Jesus was standing beside me to my right.  He was holding in His hands something similar to a small pad and pen.  It could even have been some sort of electronic handheld device and stylus.  After all, everything in Earth is just a replica of something better in Heaven. (Romans 1:20) 

 

Jesus and I were both facing the bow of a very large white, rusted ship sitting in dry dock.  There were men hanging in captain’s chairs all over the vessel scraping and painting.  Inwardly I knew the ship was being prepared for some sort of great journey. 

 

As I continued looking at it, I asked Jesus, regarding the rusty unprepared vessel, “What is it?”  

 

He answered, “It is [symbolic of] you.”  

 

I then asked, “When will it be ready?”  

 

Jesus answered me, “In nine months.”  

 

Standing there beside Him, I understood supernaturally, that like the large dry docked ship we were facing, there was much work to be done in me before I would be ready to go to that Bible School.  

 

I should have been disappointed but somehow disappointment just does not seem to be an option when you are in the presence of Jesus.  I felt pretty good standing there beside Him in the tropical sun, surrounded by palm trees, looking at that giant vessel symbolizing me in my rusty, unready condition.

 

Suddenly I returned from the tropical shipyard to my place of prayer.  The trance had ended.  I now knew where I was and my senses were no longer suspended.  

 

Kneeling there I knew that I was not to take the $10,000.00 and that I was to hold steady until the next school year.  I obeyed Him, declining the offer of the money.  The rust scraping and painting continued over the next nine months as He prepared me to go to Bible school.  

 

During my time at Bible School four families ultimately paid my tuition, housing, transportation and other expenses.  I never asked any of them for anything.  The Lord put it on their hearts to offer it to me.  

 

Had I gotten ahead of His timing and taken the $10,000.00, I would have been one sunk ship! 

 

I came to discover soon after this that the woman who had offered the $10,000.00 was wrongly motivated and looking to make inroads into my life.  I also discovered that she had been lying to my Pastor, attempting to turn him against me in an effort to make improper inroads into his life as well. 

 

This was a symbolic, supernatural Biblical trance of guidance similar to the Apostle Peter’s. (Acts 10:5-12)  

 

It was also a trance that contained warning even as the Apostle Paul’s. (Acts 22:17-21)  

 

This was also the Spiritual Gifts called the Word of Knowledge and the Word of Wisdom operating through a supernatural Biblical trance.

 

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An Additional Personal Example 

I was once in Massachusetts praying about an upcoming five-day Miracle Healing Revival I had agreed to conduct in Front Royal, Virginia.  It was approximately three o'clock in the morning. The Holy Spirit often awakens me at this time to pray in the Spirit

Suddenly, I was caught up in the Spirit even as the Apostle John was caught up in the Spirit on the Lord's Day. (Revelation 1:10-11)  I found myself in a trance like Peter went into a trance (Acts 10:5-12) and like Paul went into a trance. (Acts 22:17-21)  

In the trance I realized I was standing in the sanctuary of the very Church in Virginia in which I was to conduct the revival meetings.  I had never been there before.  I was standing in the pulpit looking out over hundreds of people in attendance.  

As I looked to my left, I noticed an angled aisle.  

I looked up the burgundy-carpeted aisle and noticed a woman sitting in the aisle seat exactly two rows from the back wall.  She was in her late forties or early fifties. She had brown hair with bangs.  She was wearing a red, ribbed-turtleneck sweater, a light jacket and either a denim skirt or jeans.  

As I looked at her sitting there, I heard the voice of the Lord speak from behind me, even as John the Apostle heard the voice of the Lord speak from behind him. (Revelation 1:10)  

The Lord said, "She is struggling and suffering terribly concerning her finances.  Tell her I said, 'It's over.'"  

I stood staring at her, pondering what the Lord had just revealed to me. I am not sure how long I stood looking at her when just as suddenly as I went into the Spirit, I came out of the Spirit and was back in my place of prayer in Massachusetts.   

Later that morning I shared the details of the vision with my wife. I told her, "When we arrive at the Virginia church she will be sitting where the Lord showed me she will be sitting, on the angled aisle two rows from the back. She will be wearing what the Lord showed me she will be wearing. I am going to call her out and tell her what the Lord told me to tell her. He will take on my obedience and confirm it to her. Somehow she will experience a miracle in her finances."

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The Vision Comes to Pass in Every Detail

Weeks later we arrived at the Church in Virginia and it was exactly as I had seen in the trance, right down to the angled aisle and the burgundy carpeting on the floor.  

As the service was beginning my wife and I were standing in the front row.  I looked back and I saw the woman with the brown hair, red ribbed-turtleneck, light jacket and denim skirt.  

She was seated on the angled aisle, two rows from the back and in the very seat which the Lord had shown me in the trance.  

I said, "There she is Lord, just like You showed me. I am going to obey You. I am going to call her out as You told me and You will confirm the vision."

When the worship service ended and I stepped into the pulpit I immediately called her out.  

I asked her if she knew me.  She answered, "No, not personally. Although I did know you were coming."  

I asked if we had ever spoken or even met before.  She answered, "No."  

I then asked if she had been struggling financially. She and her husband both publicly confirmed that she had been so burdened by financial trouble that she was actually physically sick.  

I told her, "The Lord showed you to me in a vision. He told me to tell you that your financial struggles are over.  He said to tell you, 'It's over.'"  

At the end of the service her husband was so thankful for what the Lord had revealed to me that he actually burst into tears and cried uncontrollably.  

They both later came to me individually asking if I knew how the Lord was going to bring the word to pass.  I told them that I did not know but that He would do it in a way that would bring great glory to Himself.  I reminded them that they didn't have to try to figure anything out, even as Moses didn't have to try to figure out how he was going to deliver Israel from Egypt.  

I said, "Moses didn't have to figure a thing out. If he tried to do so Moses would have messed it all up.  He just had to trust God to take him through the Exodus supernaturally, one step at a time.  You don't have to figure anything out either. If you try to do so you'll mess it all up. Trust the Lord to take you through this supernaturally, one step at a time.  Somehow He is going to supernaturally reverse your financial situation and glorify Himself in it. All I can tell you is I know what I saw in a vision before coming here.  Even as the vision has proved out here today, the fulfillment of the vision will prove out according to God's plan and purpose."

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Astounding Supernatural Confirmation
  

I spoke to the woman's husband on the telephone about two months after I had called her out during the service.  He called to relay the following.  "At the time of you calling her out, my wife was getting her house in order because she was planning her own suicide. That is how bad things were concerning our finances."  

"I want to thank you for obeying God, standing up there and giving her that word.  I don't know what I would do without her had she taken her life.  Once you gave her that word, everything changed in our lives. Everything. Our marriage relationship was under tremendous pressure but that has changed as well.  We are free to love one another again. We have peace in our home again. Everything has changed for the good. We were able to believe God again and to just trust Him as Moses trusted Him like you said."  

"Less than two weeks after you called her out from the pulpit and gave her that word from the Lord, someone who knew nothing at all of our situation gave her (a very, very substantial amount of money). Our whole lives have changed as of that word being given. Thank you, Pastor, thank you. I don't know how I could have lived without her."  

I reminded him that all the glory for what occurred belonged to the Lord, not to me, although I did indeed understand his thanking me.  

Before hanging up he said, "Oh, yes, Pastor, by the way.  My wife wanted me to tell you that as she was preparing her clothes for the service the day you gave her that word, she had a black turtleneck laid out to wear.  At the last minute she said to me, 'I think I need to wear my red turtleneck sweater and not my black one today.' I thought you might find that interesting. It really adds to the testimony, doesn't it?"

This man and his wife were greatly exhorted, edified and comforted by both the supernatural vision and word which the Lord had given me for them, as well as the supernatural fulfillment of the vision and word.  

Although I have had frequent manifestations of all the different types of visions in the Bible since I was first saved over 30 years ago, I cannot turn these Gifts on and off at will.  No one can.  

Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, not man.  The Gifts of the Spirit operate according to the will of God, not the will of man. (1 Corinthians 12:11) 

This is why it is absolutely wrong for a Prophet or any Minister, for that matter, to advertise that the Gifts of the Spirit will be in manifestation in their meetings.  If God chooses not to manifest through the Gifts of the Spirit in those meetings, the Minister could feel pressured to perform because of the advertisement in order to satisfy the people.  

This is when well-meaning but Bible-illiterate Ministers begin to yield to wrong spirits. 

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C
hapter 4: Open Visions

During an open vision your physical eyes are wide open, your physical senses are intact, your mind is not displaced and you know exactly where you are.  You are aware of your physical surroundings and you actually see spiritual beings, spiritual things or spiritual events with your physical eyes.  You are actually looking into the spirit realm with your physical eyes through the Discerning of Spirits.

 

Zaccharias, the father of John the Baptist, was in the Temple executing his priestly office, burning incense.  Suddenly an Angel appeared in the Temple and Zaccharias could see him with his physical eyes.  How do we know Zaccharias was seeing the Angel with his physical eyes?  Because the Scripture says that he saw the Angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.  He could not have been caught up in a trance because he was seeing his actual physical surroundings, including the altar of incense, at the same time he was seeing the Angel. 

 

During this open vision, the Angel revealed to Zaccharias that his wife, Elisabeth, would bear a son and his name would be John.  “John,” he explained, “was to be a forerunner of the Messiah.”  This open vision, therefore, was a vision of revelation. (Luke 1:11-17, 22)  It, too, was a vehicle for the Word of Wisdom, which reveals future events. 

 

Herod imprisoned Peter and was about to execute him to please the Jews.  While Peter was sleeping an Angel came into his prison cell to release him.  The Angel opened the gates supernaturally, leading Peter into the city before departing. (Acts 12:7-11)  This was not a spiritual vision or a trance.  This was an open vision where Peter saw the Angel with his physical eyes, even as he saw the prison gates opening as the Angel let him out.  This was not the first time Peter experienced an open vision. (Acts 5:19,20)  

 

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A Personal Example

 

In 1981 I was addicted to drugs and alcohol.  I asked Jesus to deliver me and He sent His Angel to visit me.  The Angel laid his hand upon my head three times and I fell out under the power of God for three days.  You may read my testimony on this website.

 

Within 24 hours of regaining consciousness from having been "slain in the Spirit" for those three days, I received the first of what have been multiple visitations of the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 12:1) 

 

In an open vision, my eyes wide open,  He came to me out of a literal, cloud-like whirlwind which suddenly appeared, coming down from the North, spinning before me as I was on my knees. (Ezekiel 1:4) 

 

Right there in my Massachusetts living room two white-winged Angels, dressed in white, appeared from out of that whirlwind cloud, pushing it  wide open from its spinning center point, like sliding, spinning doors. The Master, Jesus, clothed in a white linen robe, came out of the whirlwind appearing directly before me. 

 

The entire scene was very similar to the whirlwind and Angels described in Ezekiel's commissioning in Ezekiel chapters one through three, which I had never read before this visitation.  I did not even know the Book of Ezekiel existed. I had never read the Bible before this visitation. 

 

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Jesus Personally Commissioned Me

 

Jesus now stood before me and through an impartation from His right hand, He personally commissioned and appointed me to the Ministry Offices to which I am called.  

 

The very purpose of His appearing that day was to actually make me a Minister of the Gospel. His hand (anointing/power) came upon me for the very purpose of making me His Minister. (Ezekiel 1:3)

 

The Apostle Paul was also commissioned personally by Jesus at the time of his Damascus Road conversion experience.  Jesus appeared to Paul that day to make him a Minister of the Gospel.  Years later when testifying of this Divinely granted visitation to King Agrippa, Paul quoted Jesus as having told him, "...for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen and of those things in the which I will (again) appear unto thee." (Acts 26:16)

 

Of course, it has taken decades for me to develop into the Ministry Offices Jesus commissioned me to, even as it did Paul. (Acts 13:1-4; Galatians 1:15-2:2)  I will spend the rest of my life doing so.  No one just starts out in the Offices to which they are called, including me.  It takes years of tremendous discipline, endurance, faithfulness, sacrifice, prayer and study to properly develop in any of the 5-Fold Ministry Offices of Ephesians 4:8-11.  Tremendous persecution also accompanies some of those Offices, one in particular.  

 

However, Jesus Himself did personally commission me to those Offices, making me His Minister through an impartation from His outstretched right hand, at the time of this Divinely-granted visitation.  

 

In the Bible, whenever the Lord "stretches forth" His hand or His arm, it is to judge/deliver, perform the miraculous or call someone to the Ministry. (Deuteronomy 5:17; Acts 4:29-31; Proverbs 1:24) 

 

In my case it was for all three purposes. He judged my sin and its consequential addictions as having no further claim upon me. He miraculously set me free from all addictions after three days being slain in the Spirit. He personally called me & commissioned me to the Ministry.  

 

There are other things about that visitation that the Lord has not yet released me to share. Things which I myself am waiting for Him to further clarify to me. Nonetheless, Jesus did anoint me thru an impartation from His right hand, commissioning me to my specific Ministry Offices.

 

Having done so, Jesus and the two Angels then went back into the whirlwind from where they had come, Jesus first. The Angels then closed the opening in the spinning cloud behind them, like sliding doors, disappearing into it themselves and the whirlwind dissipated before my eyes.  I was left kneeling there, stunned and all alone. 

 

I began to know things supernaturally from that very day. 

 

For another dramatic example of a word of warning delivered to my wife and me through an open vision, see the JHM article "A Miraculous Sign in the Heavens. A Personal Warning from God."


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Jesus, Peter, Paul & John: New Testament Seers

Jesus said He would frequently see Himself first performing the miraculous in vision form before He would actually perform miraculously in the natural realm. Whether these visions were Spiritual Visions, Trances, Open Visions or a combination of them all is not stated. 

However, as you will read, Jesus would consistently see Himself perform the miraculous, in one vision form or another, before actually performing the miraculous or bringing forth a supernatural revelation. This is also a characteristic of the Prophet's Office today. This is why Prophets are often referred to as "Seers."

"Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." (John 5:19)

During times of prayer, meditation, ministry or "right out of the blue" as we would say, Jesus would often receive supernatural revelation or see Himself in vision form performing the miraculous. He would then walk out what He saw the Father doing through Him in the vision and supernatural things would occur.  

This is why He said, "The Son can do nothing but what He seeth the Father do."  Jesus was giving glory to the Father for all the things He would see the Father do through Him, first in vision form and then in the natural realm.

"...the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works (miracles & revelations)." (John 14:10)

Jesus was always very careful to give His Father the glory for all the things He would see the Father doing through Him during visions before He, Jesus, actually walked them out in the natural realm.

In a vision Jesus saw the location of the unridden colt He would use during His triumphant entry into Jerusalem.  He sent His disciples out to that exact location, even warning them ahead of time they would be questioned for taking the colt and telling them how to respond.  

The disciples went to that exact location, the colt was indeed there and the very questions Jesus warned His disciples would be asked were indeed asked.  The disciples answered precisely as Jesus had instructed and the colt was released into their custody. (Mark 11:1-6)

In a vision Jesus saw the location of where He was to celebrate His last Passover with His disciples. He told His disciples to go to the city and look for a man bearing a pitcher of water and follow him. That man would lead them to a guest chamber where they would celebrate their last Passover together. 

It would not be difficult for the disciples to locate the man carrying the pitcher of water because that would be an unusual sight indeed.  Women, not men, made all the water runs down to the local well and back. It was extremely unusual for a man to do so. Jesus' disciples did as they were instructed and it came to pass even as Jesus had foreseen in the vision. The man carrying the pitcher of water led them to the guest chamber and agreed to allow them to celebrate Passover there. (Mark 14:12-16)

In vision form Jesus first saw Himself interrupting the funeral procession at Nain, raising the dead man and restoring him to his widowed mother. He went and sat waiting for the funeral procession to pass by and then He did what He saw Himself do in the vision. The man was raised, there was much joy and great glory was given to the Father. (Luke 7:11-16)

When Jesus first met Simon Peter and before being introduced, Jesus supernaturally identified Peter by both his name and his father's name, even describing Peter's solid, rock-like personality to him. Jesus had seen and heard Himself doing this in a vision prior to meeting Peter. (John 1:40-42)

In a vision Jesus first saw Nathaniel under a fig tree and received revelation of Nathaniel's flawless character before He ever even met him. When they finally did meet, this revelation stunned Nathaniel causing him to believe that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. (John 1:45-51)

In vision form Jesus actually saw Himself encountering a woman at Jacob's Well in Sychar who had been married five times and who was presently living with a man outside of marriage. In the vision He saw and heard Himself tell her of her immoral history. 

Later, He went and sat by Jacob's Well waiting for the immoral woman to appear, which she did. He spoke to her supernaturally concerning her five marriages and present immoral living situation. 

This revelation caused her to repent and to give her life over to God. She even ran into town telling everyone to return to Jacob's Well with her for she had found the Christ. All of this Jesus first saw in a vision before He actually walked it out in the natural. (John 4:1-29)

In vision form Jesus first saw Himself heal the man at the Pool at Bethesda before later encountering the crippled man and actually performing the miracle of healing. (John 5:1-18)

In vision form Jesus saw Himself raise Lazarus from the dead long before it occurred in the natural. (John 11:1-45)

There are numerous examples in the Gospels of Jesus seeing Himself perform the miraculous or receive revelation first during a vision before actually walking it out in the natural.  John the Beloved said this happened so many times during Jesus' Ministry that it was simply impossible for them all to be recorded. (John 21:25)

Of course, these supernatural vision experiences did not occur in the life of Jesus simply because He was the Son of God. These things happened in Jesus' life because He was a Spirit-filled human being. None of these things occurred in Jesus' life that we know of until He was baptized with the Holy Spirit in the River Jordan at the same time He was being water baptized by John the Baptist. (Matthew 3:16,17) 

These things can occur in the life of any Born Again, Holy Spirit filled Believer in Jesus Christ. They will occur far more consistently in the life and Ministry of a Prophet, but they can and do indeed manifest occasionally in the life of anyone whom God wills.

"Verily, verily I say unto you, he that believeth on Me the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father." (John 14:12) 

It must also be stated here that no one will ever operate in these type of visions and Holy Spirit Gift manifestations as strongly and as powerfully as Jesus did, because Jesus had the Holy Spirit's anointing without measure. 

"For He Whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by  measure unto Him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand." (John 3:34-35)

The Apostle Peter had similar experiences with visions. (Acts 10:9-23)  

The Apostle Paul had similar experiences with visions. (Acts 22:17-21) 

The entire Book of Revelation was given to the Apostle John while he was in a vision, or "in the Spirit." (Revelation 1:10-20)

Still today, all true New Testament Prophets are often referred to as "Seers" because it is a regular part of their Ministry to see themselves performing the miraculous, to hear things supernaturally or to know things supernaturally before they actually walk those things out in the natural realm.

I have personally experienced these things many times in my own Ministry. (John 14:12)

"Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spoke, Come and let us go to the Seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer." (1Samuel 9:9)     

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Last Days Spiritual Visions, Trances & Open Visions

 

Spiritual visions, trances and open visions still occur today and will increase in volume and intensity according to the Prophet Joel. (Joel 2:28-29)  I myself, to date, have experienced the visitation of four Angels in the form of an open vision.  I saw them with my physical eyes, fully aware of my surroundings.  Another messenger Angel appeared to me in a dream with a message from Jesus concerning my Ministry to certain nations.  

 

I have both seen and smelled unclean spirits.  

 

I experienced multiple visitations of Jesus during trances, some of which I have shared.  

 

You have also read of my personal visitation of Jesus through an open vision.  This was not a spiritual vision or a trance.  It was an open vision where He actually came to me.  There were two Angels with Him who had something similar to wheels where their feet should have been. (Ezekiel 1:1-21) 

 

All of these experiences, whether through dreams, spiritual visions, trances or open visions, are actually manifestations of the Spiritual Gift known as Discerning of Spirits, as previously stated. 

 

In the Old Testament Elisha and Gehazi were surrounded by the Syrian army.  Gehazi was petrified figuring that it was all over now.  Elisha prayed that the Lord would open Gehazi’s eyes to see that those who were for them were far greater than those who were against them.  Gehazi’s physical eyes were supernaturally opened and he saw that the mountains were full of spiritual horses, Angels and chariots of fire.  Elisha, however, did not need a vision.  He knew they were there all the time. (2Kings 6:1-17) 

 

We do not need visions to believe the Bible either.  However, if the Holy Spirit should decide, you, too, will experience dreams and/or visions.  There are many other examples of the three types of visions throughout the Scripture.  The ones presented in this study should be enough to convince a reasonable Believer that these things do and will continue to occur.  

 

It is only human to desire direct and spectacular forms of supernatural guidance.  Man is created in the image and likeness of God, so it is only natural that he would be a power-seeker and a seeker of the supernatural.  But if you insist on ignoring the inner witness of the Holy Spirit as His primary form of guidance, demanding only spectacular forms of supernatural guidance, Satan himself will see to it that you get the counterfeit of what you are really looking for.  The end result will be very displeasing to you.

 

Keep in mind that manifestations of the Revelation Gifts, through the three different types of visions, occur much more frequently with the Office of the Prophet than they do amongst other Ministry Offices or the laity.

 

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Last Days Great Spiritual Awakening 

 

Peter quoted the Prophet Joel when he said, “In the last days saith God, I will pour out of My spirit upon all flesh…” 

 

God is presently pouring out His Spirit on Jehovah’s Witness flesh, Muslim flesh, denominational flesh and any flesh that is open to true revelations from God.  There are numerous accounts coming out of Muslim nations of Jesus Himself appearing to Muslims and preaching His Word of Salvation to them directly because they are presently unreachable by human Ministers.  

 

We are presently entering into the greatest spiritual awakening in the history of humanity. God is pouring His Spirit out upon unsaved flesh and saving them.  He is pouring His Spirit out upon saved flesh and delivering them from demonic harassment and oppression.  He is pouring His Spirit out within denominations worldwide and it seems to matter very little to Him that some of His Family doesn’t like it.  As for me, I’m running with God.  I’ve asked God to put my wife and me right in the middle of what He’s doing in the Earth, wherever He’s doing it and for whatever reason.

 

Prepare yourself now by learning God’s Word. (Psalm 138:2)  Prepare yourself by praying in the Spirit regularly. (Jude 20)  Build on the inner witness of the Holy Spirit as God’s primary form of supernatural Biblical guidance.  Be willing to have dreams and visions but do not pressure God for them.  You will motivate Satan. 

 

Keep yourself alert.  Be sober, faithful and mature.  When the supernatural occurs always check it against the Scripture.  The Holy Spirit will never do anything contrary to the written Word of God.  The Holy Spirit is always open to humble investigation.  After all, He is the One who commended the Bereans for searching the Scriptures daily, making sure the Apostle Paul was not filling them with unscriptural doctrine. (Acts 17:11)

 

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Chapter 5: Additional Examples of Visions from the Bible

The following is a listing of the many visions experienced by human beings in the Bible.  I have placed them here apart from the lesson for your further study.  You can decide which classification of vision each one is.

The Most High God covenanted with Abraham in a vision. (Genesis 15:1-21)  God spoke to Jacob in either a dream or a night vision. (Genesis 46:2-4)  Balaam experienced a vision of the Almighty. (Numbers 24:1-19)  Samuel experienced a vision as a child. (1Samuel 3:1-21)  Nathan experienced a night vision concerning King David. (2Samuel 7:4-17; 1Chronicles 17:15Iddo, the seer, received multiple visions concerning Jeroboam.  Exactly what his visions and writings were concerning is not stated in the Bible.  He did write genealogies and kept records of some of Israel’s Kings. (2Chronicles 9:29; 12:15)  

Job experienced both visions and dreams. (Job 7:14)  Jesus, the Messiah, received a vision of David from Almighty God before ever coming to the Earth. (Psalm 89:19-21)  Isaiah experienced a vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem. (Isaiah 1:1)  Isaiah also saw the Lord sitting upon a Throne in His Temple. (Isaiah 6:1-4)  Ezekiel experienced multiple visions. (Ezekiel 7:13; 8:1-4; 11:24)  Daniel apparently received both dreams and visions of the Lord. (Daniel 2:19; 8:1-27; 9:21-24)  Obadiah received a vision concerning Edom. (Obadiah 1:1-21)  Nahum received a vision of the destruction of Ninevah approximately one hundred years after Jonah preached there.  Apparently they had backslidden again and it was “time to pay the piper.” (Nahum 1:1-3:19)  Habakkuk had a vision of the Second Coming of Christ. (Habakkuk 2:2,3; Hebrews 10:37)  

Peter, James and John had a vision of Moses and Elisha while on the Mountain with Jesus. (Matthew 17:1-13)  Zacharias had a vision of the Angel of the Lord. (Luke 1:11-22)  Ananias had a vision of the Lord concerning Saul of Tarsus. (Acts 9:10-12)  Saul of Tarsus had a vision of Ananias coming to him to restore his eyesight. (Acts 9:12)  Cornelius had a vision of an Angel coming to him to reveal how he could hear the Gospel preached. (Acts 10:1-48)  Peter had a symbolic vision of the Gentiles being accepted into the Kingdom of God. (Acts 10:9-48)  Paul had either a vision or a dream of a Macedonian man beseeching him to come with the Gospel. (Acts 16:9,10)  The Lord appeared to Paul in either a dream or a vision bringing him encouragement and guidance. (Acts 18:9,10)  Paul experienced many visions in his lifetime. (2Corinthians 12:1) 

Paul was an Apostle and a Prophet (as well as a Pastor, Evangelist and Teacher).  Apostles and Prophets have consistent manifestations of visions and revelations in their Ministries. 

You, too, can experience visions and dreams of the Lord, according to His will, by walking uprightly before Him.

"Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on Me the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father." (John 14:12)

Be blessed … John and Barbara Hamel

 

 

How to Be Born Again (Receive Christ as Your Savior)

 

How to Receive The Holy Spirit & Power

 

 

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