ANANIAS’ VISION
The vision I will talk about is not mentioned very often, as people don’t see it as an important vision. But we know that everything that God does is all equally important.
I found two definitions for the word “vision.” The dictionary definition of a vision is: “An experience of seeing someone or something in a dream or trance, or as a supernatural apparition.” A biblical definition of a vision is found in Amos. “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but He revealeth his secret unto His servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7. Here we have two definitions of visions. The first definition is describing a vision as a dream or hallucination; the second is describing a vision more as a message sent from God.
Let us review the story of the vision given to Ananias. “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou Me?” Acts 9:1–4
This was the first part of the story. Paul, then known as Saul, was going to kill the followers of Jesus; and as we all know, Jesus Himself made an appearance to Saul, interrupting him and his party from carrying on with their mission.
To, continue let us read further. “And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.” Acts 9:7–9
We see here the physical state that Jesus left him in. The following is from a Christian website: “As Saul travels to Damascus at midday, he experiences the divine presence: a light from heaven flashing around him, and a voice addressing him. The descent from Mt. Hermon to Damascus in the plain goes through a region known for violent electrical storms. Though this flashing light may have had the effects of lightning, however, it was a supernatural midday phenomenon.”
“And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias, And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive sight.” Acts 9:10–12. Here is our first introduction to Ananias. Here we see the Lord commanding Ananias to go and heal Saul. But what was his reply to this?
“Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on Thy name.” Acts 9:13–14. Saul was well known for what he did and that was killing Christians. I am sure that we could all say that Ananias’ response was quite reasonable.
But, what was God’s response to this? “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Acts 9:15–16. This is where Ananias’ point of view was changed, and he realized that when the Lord commands you to do something, there is no protesting. And that is what happened, as we read, “And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightiest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.” Acts 9:17
Perhaps this is where Ananias’ vision comes to an end, but what about its purpose? “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” Acts 9:31. It was because of the vision that Ananias received that he was able to heal Paul, which turned out to be a blessing towards the Lord’s church.
It is my wish and prayer that we may have learned a little bit more of this story and put it into practice. Amen.
Mathew Romero
DANIEL’S VISION
Throughout history God has given visions to a chosen few, which have served many purposes to them, the people of God, and others. Some were warnings, others were promises, and some were visions of prophecy.
One of the most well-known visions in the Bible is of Daniel and his vision of the four great beasts.
“In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.” Daniel 7:1–3
So, here Daniel was, standing by the raging sea in his dream. All of a sudden something began to climb out of the water. It was a lion with eagle’s wings. And as Daniel kept watching the beast, the wind plucked its wings from it. The lion stood upon his feet like a man, and the Bible says, “a man’s heart was given to it.” But this was not to be the last beast. Daniel watched a second beast rise out of the waters. It was a bear with three ribs between its teeth, walking with a hunch on one side. The next beast was a four-headed leopard with four wings of a fowl, and, as the Bible says, “dominion was given to it.”
The fourth beast is best described in Daniel’s words. “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” Daniel 7:7–10
Now, here we have the four beasts. But what did they all mean? What did they represent? Well, each beast represented a world empire and also its period of power. The Babylonians, Medo-Persians, Greeks and the Romans are now only a piece of human history. But in Daniel’s time, that was the future. In these beasts, God gave Daniel a greater in-depth look at all the great empires that were to rise and fall. God wanted His servant to record it, so that one day, His people of this time might look back and see that God is true to His word, and that He is in control of everything on this world.
It is my wish and prayer that we may study the prophecies of Daniel, and learn more about God’s plan for us, and the events that have become history. Amen.
Cyrus Newby