What are prophetic dreams? Does God give prophetic dreams to people today?

what does the bible say?

Prophetic dreams are visions or dreams through which God can reveal truth, provide guidance, or foretell future events. The Bible provides multiple examples of this divine communication. In the Old Testament, prophets like Daniel and ordinary people such as Abimelech received dreams from God that carried messages or warnings, sometimes requiring interpretation. In the New Testament, Joseph received direct instructions through dreams that protected Jesus (Matthew 1:20-21; 2:13, 19-20). While God can still use prophetic dreams today, every dream must be tested against Scripture to ensure it aligns with God’s truth (1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:21). Even if we experience dreams that guide or warn, we must patiently seek God’s wisdom (James 1:5) and never act impulsively. God will reveal His purposes in His timing. Prophetic dreams are meant to be listened to with discernment and tested against God’s Word. Also, just because God is able to use prophetic dreams does not mean that He regularly uses the miraculous to communicate to us. We should never replace what we do know and have-God’s Word, His Spirit, prayer, and more-with miraculous signs such as prophetic dreams.

from the old testament

• The prophet Daniel had prophetic dreams (Daniel 7:1), but so did the evil King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2). In this case, King Nebuchadnezzar needed to have his dream interpreted by the prophet Daniel. When Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, he was intentional about giving praise to God, the one who provides the wisdom to interpret dreams (Daniel 2:20-23, 26-30).
• God also spoke to ordinary people through dreams, and no interpretation was required. This was the case in Genesis 20:3-7 where God revealed Abraham’s lie to King Abimelech. Abraham had told the king that Sarah was his sister, when in reality, she was his wife. And God revealed this to Abimelech in a dream.

from the new testament

• In Acts 2:17-18 (quoting Joel), Peter explains that in the last days God will pour out His Spirit, and “your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” God can still use dreams and visions to reveal truth or guidance.
• Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, received multiple dreams from God instructing him on how to protect and care for Jesus (Matthew 1:20-21; 2:13, 19-20).
• The New Testament repeatedly emphasizes testing spiritual messages (1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:21). Even if a dream seems divine, it must be tested against the Bible; it will never contradict Scripture.

implications for today

Does God give prophetic dreams today? Since He is the same God yesterday, today, and forever, He can still provide people with prophetic dreams today (Hebrews 13:8). He may use dreams to guide people to salvation, and plenty of people have had dreams where Jesus appeared to them and shared that He is the path to salvation. These examples are anecdotal, so, of course, there is no way to prove that they were prophetic dreams. However, they are in line with the revealed truth of Scripture and have produced good fruit. But we must be alert to the danger that deceptive voices try to sneak in, as well. If you believe you may have had a prophetic dream or if someone else claims that they have had one, it would be wise to compare the contents of the dream with the truths contained in Scripture. If the dream contradicts the truth the Bible contains, it is not of God. God will not contradict His Word. It is wise to ask God for wisdom in these situations (James 1:5) and trust that He will reveal the truth or prophetic elements of a dream in His way and in His timing. Don’t rush to action. We need to wait on Him if we are not sure He is the one who has spoken. Further, we have other sure ways of God communicating to us, mainly His Word and the guidance of His Spirit through prayer and discernment. Prophetic dreams, while possible, are supplementary and should never replace Scripture, the Spirit, or wise counsel as the foundation for our decisions. Knowing and holding on to God’s revealed truth can help us recognize genuine guidance, avoid deception, and respond faithfully to His leading.

Recap

understand

• Prophetic dreams are God-given visions revealing truth, guidance, or future events.
• God can still give prophetic dreams today, but they are not how He mainly communicates.
• Prophetic dreams, while possible, should never replace God’s sure communication to us.

reflect

• How would you discern whether a dream or vision you experienced aligns with God’s truth?
• How does relying on God’s Word and Spirit help you avoid being misled by a dream or vision?
• How do you cultivate listening to God in a biblical way?

engage

• How do we balance the possibility of God giving prophetic dreams today with the priority of the Bible as our ultimate authority?
• How has the Bible shaped your understanding of God’s communication?
• What steps can we take to test spiritual messages or dreams against Scripture to avoid deception?