Acts 18:9 English Standard Version (ESV) And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent,

Was Paul asleep when he had this vision? If so why not call it a dream? Dreams are the product of the human mind and visions are the product of the spirit. Dreams are unreliable and visions from God are reliable.

We have heard stories coming out of Islamic countries where Muslims are converting to Christianity because of their dreams. These are being reported as dreams but are they really visions?

How would a Muslim know that their vision was from our Lord Jesus Christ? I would suspect that the Lord made himself known in the same manner that the vision was given. Strong visions carry with them a sense of reality that defies reason.

Acts 2:17 English Standard Version (ESV) “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;

I am an old man, a Christian of some maturity, so why is it that I would have dreams and not visions?

1 Corinthians 2:16 English Standard Version (ESV) “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

When our minds become more Christ like then the mind can dream dreams in agreement with the will of God. All that we know about our God and Savior is available to keep our dreams in line with the bible and these truths.

With this increase of young men coming to Jesus by strong visions in the night, is it a sign that God’s spirit is being poured out upon the last days? One thing that must be noted is the term “on all flesh”. While I am sure that those chosen by God to be called to His Son will respond, I do not know how those that are not chosen will act.