Vision

Scripture uses the term to refer to both the physical act of seeing, and also the gift of spiritual insight. All things, physical and spiritual, are seen by God.

God's vision

God views all life on earth

2 Chronicles 16:9; Psalm 11:4 See also Genesis 6:11; Exodus 3:9; Psalm 31:22, Psalm 34:15, Psalm 139:16; Zechariah 4:10

For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”

The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His heavenly throne. His eyes are watching closely; they examine the sons of men.

God sees the hearts and thoughts of people

Genesis 6:5 See also 1 Samuel 2:3; Psalm 139:1–4, Psalm 139:23–24; Proverbs 15:11; Jeremiah 20:12; Matthew 6:8, Matthew 6:18; Luke 16:15; Hebrews 4:13; 1 John 3:20

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time.

The physical vision of human beings

It is given and can be taken by God

Exodus 4:11; Psalm 146:8 See also Leviticus 26:16; Proverbs 29:13; Acts 9:8–9 parallel Acts 22:11

And the LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, the sighted or the blind? Is it not I, the LORD?

the LORD opens the eyes of the blind, the LORD lifts those who are weighed down, the LORD loves the righteous.

Jesus Christ restores the sight of the blind

Luke 4:18 See also Matthew 9:30; John 9:7; Acts 9:17–18 parallel Acts 22:13

“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,

Physical sight diminishes with age

Genesis 27:1, Genesis 48:10; 1 Samuel 3:2, 1 Samuel 4:15; 1 Kings 14:4; Ecclesiastes 12:3 Ecclesiastes 12:2–5 is an allegory on ageing. It gives a graphic description of a person's progressive deterioration.

Physical vision has its dangers

It can create fear

Job 41:9; Joel 2:6; Matthew 28:3–4 parallels Mark 16:5, Luke 24:4–5; Revelation 1:17

It gives rise to temptation

1 John 2:16 See also Genesis 3:6; Joshua 7:21; 2 Samuel 11:2–4; Job 31:1; Psalm 119:37; Matthew 5:28–29

For all that is in the world — the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not from the Father but from the world.

Christians are to live by faith rather than by sight

Hebrews 11:1 See also Romans 8:24; 2 Corinthians 4:18, 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:27

Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.

Visions of God

Examples of those who saw God

Genesis 32:30; Exodus 33:18–23; Job 42:5; Isaiah 6:1, Isaiah 6:5; Revelation 1:12–18

God's people will see him

Matthew 5:8; 1 John 3:2 See also Psalm 17:15; John 17:24; 1 Corinthians 13:12; Revelation 22:4

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.

Spiritual vision

Seeing used metaphorically for spiritual insight

2 Kings 6:17 See also Proverbs 29:18; Isaiah 22:1 Jerusalem was called “the Valley of Vision”, possibly ironically, for although God spoke through his prophets and dwelt there, its inhabitants lacked insight; Isaiah 29:10; Mark 8:17–21; Luke 24:31; John 9:39; Acts 26:17–18

Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Spiritual insight given in dreams or visions

Acts 2:17 See also Joel 2:28; Genesis 15:1; Numbers 12:6; Daniel 1:17, Daniel 2:19, Daniel 4:5, Daniel 7:1 Daniel's dream of four beasts; Daniel 8:1, Daniel 10:7–8 Daniel's vision of a man; Acts 9:12, Acts 10:9–17 parallel Acts 11:4–10 Peter's vision; Acts 16:9–10 Paul's vision of the man of Macedonia; Acts 26:19; 2 Corinthians 12:1

‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

The OT prophets had visions from God

1 Samuel 3:15; Isaiah 1:1; Jeremiah 24:1; Ezekiel 1:1, Ezekiel 8:3–4, Ezekiel 11:24, Ezekiel 40:2–3; Hosea 12:10; Obadiah 1:1; Nahum 1:1

False prophets in the OT lacked true vision

Jeremiah 14:14, Jeremiah 23:16; Lamentations 2:14; Ezekiel 7:26, Ezekiel 13:1–12