"And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance: And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me." (Acts 22:17-18) "And He said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hense unto the Gentiles." (Acts 22:21)
"And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us." (Acts 16:0) Paul immediately went to Macedonia believing God wanted him to go there.
Three days after Jesus had been crucified and buried the women came to the tomb and Jesus Had risen and was not there. Instead of finding Jesus angels appeared to them and told them that Jesus was alive so they went back to tell His disciples what they had seen and heard. "And when they found not His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that He was alive." (Luke 24:23) This vision was given to inform them that Jesus had actually risen from the dead so there would be no question of what happened to His body and what they were to do.
I love when God gives the same visions to different people as it varifies and confirms, giving more credibility to them. When we look at Ezekiel and the vision he was given by the Chebar river and the vision given to the apostle John where they both describe the throne of God and the creatures around it we have to marvel. Ezekiel verses 1 and 2 of the old testament and Revelation 4 of the new testament is so descriptive and confirms God is real and there is a heaven. They both describe the firmament around the throne of God as beautiful clear crystal. They tell of the appearance of a man above the throne which has the appearance of fire and that the colors of the rainbow are around it. Ezekiel 1:28 states that "As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD." This is such a wonderful confirmation and description of God and heaven and that it really does exist.
Under the topic Sometimes God speaks internally or with a still small voice, I told how God called me to Israel. I was in the Upper Room in Jerusalem. I was standing in the middle of the room waiting for our leader and as I closed my eyes I saw Jesus standing and the apostles sitting around the table. I then noticed on of them moving back and forth. It was the third one from the left. I then realized that the one moving was me. (Nothing was said to me. I just knew or you might say it was impressed upon me that the person was me.) Later while on the bus I asked God why I was the only one moving. He told me because all the others are with Him and can't do His work here on earth and He asked me to be His Apostle. I said yes, to God and told Him that He would have to do it through me because I did not know how or what to do. God made it clear that I could no longer be passive just because something wasn't affecting me. I f it was wrong I would have to speak up and try to save their soul. (Journal 1, pg. 15-16) God gently reminded me of a young man who was homosexual and who would often come over to talk to me. He respected me and would probably have listened to me. I had every opportunity to witness to him but did not. That young man had passed away from pneomonia. It was too late now to help him but not others.
About a year later I was standing in front of my house and looked down at the small lake and I saw Jesus standing down there. He was dressed in a white gown and His hands were stretched upward and He looked like He was blessing the lake. (Journal 2, pg. 22) I knew that a statue was to be erected where I had seen Jesus and it was to look like the vision. I purchased a statue after a substantial search and installed it. The pouring ot the foundation and the healing that took place were described unter the topic of God Speaks Through Dreams.
One thing is certain when God wants you to receive a vision, dream, word, etc. you can not control it. You must see, hear or feel it. You know without a doubt that it is from God while it is happening. Satan may try to steal it afterward by putting doubt in your mind like the third example given under God Speaks Through His Holy Word or the following example.
On my second trip to Israel, with a group of pastors and ministers, a young lady was given a vision on the bus while on our way to Megido. She saw light, felt the Holy Spirit move within her and was prompted to go to her Bible and read Luke 10. This was confirmed in me because God had given me a vision of a vineyard with no laborers and a path coming to the vineyard and there was no one waiting to come in for the harvest. That is what Luke 10 is about. She said God shared with her that He was preparing His people to pour out His Word as He poured out His Spirit upon us. As the others toured the site I stayed behind as I felt God calling me to be alone with Him. I stayed in the garden area and prayed and when I had got on the bus there were about six others. I asked the young lady more about the vision and as we were talking the others overheard and gathered around listening to our conversation. I told her "don't let anyone steal that fire from you." Just then one of our bus leaders who had less than an hour earlier given a wonderful presentation on trying to go beyond the natural started to walk down the aisle toward us rebuking her. He stated she was only a child, had to study the word more and that we didn't know where that came from, etc. (Journal 32, pg. 12) You see how Satan wanted to steal these wonderful God given gifts.
If we pay attention, believe, stand firm and act upon what God gives us and do not harden our hearts but seek God, pray and listen we will maintain our blessing. We are to love and encourage others to receive and move in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. God says "Therefore behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord that steal my words, every one from his neighbor." (Jer. 23:30) We should not let others discourage us and should always look to God, the highest authority, praying that God will give us confirmation and discernment. His word says: "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near" (Is 55:6) Seek Him, listen, hold on to His vision and be vicorious."