Dreams may come in three ways. First, "through the multitude of business." See Eccl. v, 3. Second, those who are in darkness, tempted and deceived by the enemy, may have dreams through his influence. See Deut. xiii, 1—5; Jer. xxiii, 25—28; xxvii, 9; xxix, 8; Zech. x, 2; Jude 8. And third, God has always taught, and still teaches his people more or less by dreams, which come through the agency of angels and the Holy Spirit.
God hath said, "If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream." Num. xii, 6. Said Jacob, "The angel of the Lord spake unto me in a dream." Gen. xxxi, 2. "And God came to Laban, the Syrian, in a dream by night." Gen. xxxi, 24. Read the dreams of Joseph, [Gen. xxxvii, 5—9,] and then the interesting story of their fulfillment in Egypt. The great important image of the second chapter of Daniel was given in a dream, also the four beasts, &c. of the seventh chapter. And when Herod sought to destroy the infant Saviour, Joseph was warned in a dream to flee into Egypt. Matt. ii, 13. This testimony is sufficient proof that God sometimes teaches his servants in dreams. The Prophet Joel has also declared that there should be dreams by the Spirit in the last days. We should expect them. We shall be unwise to reject any means that the Spirit may employ to enlighten us. Those who are ashamed to talk of the Lord giving dreams, may be ashamed of the Bible. We find dreams in almost every part of it.71
But we should be careful to place them where they belong, and make a good use of them. Like the gifts of the Spirit, they may prove the overthrow of some. It is said of dreams, [Ecclesiasticus xxxiv, 6, 7,] "If they be not sent from the Most High, in the time of thy visitation, set not thine heart upon them. For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put their trust in them." "The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord." Jer. xxiii, 28. God's word is an everlasting rock. On that we can stand with confidence at all times. Though the Lord gives dreams, designed generally for the individuals who have them, to comfort, correct, or to instruct in extreme trials or dangers, yet to suppose that he designs to guide in general duties by dreams, is unscriptural, and very dangerous. The Word and Spirit are given to guide us. If we look to be guided by dreams we shall be likely to fall into the deceptions of Satan. We say that we expect the Lord will give dreams; but the necessity of his children will be his opportunity to thus teach them, as in all past time.