Journal: Southern Baptist Journal of Theology
Volume: SBJT 23:3 (Fall 2019)
Article: The Dreamer Of Dreams: Dreams, Visions, And The Doctrine Of Revelation
Author: Justin D. Compton

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The Dreamer Of Dreams: Dreams, Visions, And The Doctrine Of Revelation

Justin D. Compton

Justin D. Compton is Lead Pastor of Redemption Hill Baptist Church, Fisherville, Kentucky. He is also a PhD student at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky. Justin is currently researching for his doctoral dissertation the theological implications of dreams and visions that contribute to Muslim conversions to Christianity.

After years of discussing the validity of Christianity and Islam with his Christian friend, Nabeel Qureshi, a devout Muslim, reached a point of spiritual crisis. He longed to know the truth and follow the true religion but was now uncertain which religion was the true one. He prayed to Allah and Jesus. He read the Qur’an and the Bible. He specifically asked God to send him a dream or vision to guide him to the truth. As a Muslim, he was taught to carefully consider his dreams because, according to Muhammad, the faithful receive prophetic dreams. God answered his prayer and sent him a series of visionary experiences. He discussed his experiences with his Muslim mother and his Christian friend, David. He even sought interpretations from an ancient Muslim dream interpretation book. All of it led him to Jesus and to the gospel message David had shared with him many times. In August 2005, he believed upon Jesus and was converted to Christianity.1 Qureshi’s experience, though remarkable, is not an isolated incident. Thousands of Muslims background believers have reported dream and vision experiences that directed them toward Christian conversion.2 Such experiences are not a new phenomenon for one can find other instances recorded throughout church history.3 The Bible—both Old Testament (OT) and New Testament

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(NT)—are filled with dream and vision accounts. So, what should we make of these dreams and visions? Placing these experiences within a biblically orthodox understanding of revelation is the key theological task. Should we dismiss them or affirm that God sends them and uses them? Should they always be considered revelation or, more specifically, special revelation?

I propose the following answer to these questions: In the OT covenants and the beginning days of the New Covenant, God used dreams and visions to relay special covenant messages and as special providential acts and they were special revelation; today, God only uses dreams and visions as special providential acts4 and t...