Question: There seems to be an increase in the reporting among Christians of dreams and visions involving encounters with dead loved ones. What do you think of such stories?

March 1, 2008

TBC Staff

QUESTION: There seems to be an increase in the reporting among Christians of dreams and visions involving encounters with dead loved ones. Here's an excerpt from a recent story:

Last night while she was sleeping [her brother, David, killed in an accident] came to her in a dream and talked with her for a long time. This was not the first time he let her know that he was with her. Last night she asked David if there really was a heaven. He told her yes. She asked David to come to their mother. He replied that it was easier for him to come to her.

What do you think of such stories?

RESPONSE: First of all, she doesn't say that David appeared in a vision when she was awake but in a dream. There is a huge difference. There are examples in the Bible of God speaking both ways. Is God speaking to her through David? No.

It is not unusual for a grieving sister to dream about a dead brother. Yet there seems to be something that makes these "dreams" seem real. At least she sees them that way and wants to believe it. This is dangerous because "David" is posing as a special messenger to her, explaining what heaven is like. Shouldn't she rather look to the revelation God has given us in the Bible for answers to such questions?

The danger is that the "David" who appears apparently repeatedly in dreams will be looked up to as an oracle bringing truth she couldn't know any other way. These "dreams" have already become necromancy. She looks upon them as a means of communication with David, who is dead. This is absolutely forbidden.

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