Dream is an activity that occurs during sleep, a unique state of consciousness with its own series of thoughts, images, emotion, and sensations. A narrative succession of fragmented scenes, which are distinct from that of wakefulness.
They hold significant importance as a means through which God communicates with people. God used dreams to impart guidance, messages, warnings, and prophecies. Also a channel by means of God revealing HIS will.
To dream, you must first be blessed with the gift of sleep. It is sleep that refreshes and revitalizes our mind and body. Sleep state leads to dream state; we sleep so that dreams are possible, and it gives our body rest from exertion and relief from weariness. Sleep is a crucial component of rest and a valued gift from God.
After awakening from sleep our bodies naturally purge toxins and impurities, do as we were created to do, upon spiritually awakening, undertake conscious effort to eliminate negative people and influences from your life.
Dreams are rarely remembered; the ones that you do are the Divine, like parables that understanding is needed to figure out. Even our enemies appear in our dreams, prompting us of an imminent event or danger. Not much separate dreams from nightmares these days. Nightmares are frightening dreams that have the dreamer unsettled upon waking, they evoke strong negative emotions. Can you imagine awakening from sleep to find your nightmare beside you?
Dreams and visions are distinct, dreams refer to experiences that occur during sleep and visions are spiritual, they can occur while awake. Visions are vivid, involving perceiving something that transcends ordinary sensory perception.
Prophecy does not only come in dreams, God communicates prophetic messages through direct spoken words, visions, angelic encounters, or through supernatural signs and wonders. Prophets are chosen vessels through whom these messages are delivered, conveyed to those with a heightened spiritual awareness, so that they can covey to others.
In (Genesis 28:12) Jacob, who was dreaming and sees a ladder that connects the earth to heaven. This dream serves as a Divine revelation that foreshadowed Jacob’s future relationship with God; it provides him assurance and guidance for his journey ahead.
Pharaoh and King Nebuchadnezzar had dreams, Saul and Ezekiel the Prophet, had visions. The Word of God give us understanding of dreams and visions.
Genesis 28:12
New International Version
12 “He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.”
Genesis 28:12
King James Version
12 “And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.”
Genesis 28:12
Living Bible
12 “and dreamed that a staircase reached from earth to heaven, and he saw the angels of God going up and down upon it.”