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Understanding Symbolism

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In a previous chapter, you read about dreams and visions containing mysteries and hidden meanings embedded in dream symbolism—and that it is our privilege, our honor, to search them out. All through Scripture we can see that God speaks in symbolism. And because dreams are very often an expression of our own emotions, much symbolism is involved. As children of God, we are each on a journey to discover the interpretations of our dreams, first through Scripture and then from the backdrop of our own lives.

Now it is time to get down to some basic understanding of how to interpret dream symbolism. First and foremost in this effort is a principle we get from Scripture, the “law of first mention.” It is foundational to biblical interpretation, and it simply means that how a word, image or symbol was used in its very first appearance in Scripture is a key to how it should be interpreted today. A symbol and its interpretation can change from dream to dream, yet the law of first mention is a consistency in symbolic language that cannot ever be overlooked.

The Lord brought me a great victory through this law, using a revelation about the meaning of the number seven. Seven is often a symbol of God’s completeness. If we study the seventh day of creation in Genesis, we notice that God rested on that day. The completion of His work of creation resulted in rest, and the number seven in Scripture is many times a symbol of rest and completion. But, reader, hang in there with me—there is more! This revelation will empower you.

Hebrews 3:11 reveals that what the children of Israel were seeking in their Promised Land was rest. Their entrance into the place of promise foreshadowed our entering into the rest provided in Christ’s finished work at the cross. If we study the four gospels combined, we notice that Jesus declared seven times, “It is finished!” Therefore, the idea of rest—symbolized in the number seven—is connected to God’s completion of something . . . ultimately the finished work of Christ at the cross.

This means a lot for dream interpretation. If we dream of the number seven, God might be telling us to cease from the works of the flesh, to stop striving and accept the righteous standing that Christ accomplished on our behalf. To me, this revelation was huge! I was a performer, a people pleaser, and I believed (falsely) that I had to be righteous in my own strength and merit. When I received this revelation—that only through Christ’s accomplishments at the cross was I righteous—it set me free from all religious performance!

I have had many dreams of seven beds. That is all. Just seven beds in a large room. Before I understood dream symbolism, I thought the beds meant that I needed bed rest. This is because I had a premature death assignment from the enemy, and he has targeted me often with deadly viruses. It took some time for me to press past my fears of death. The dreams of seven beds were given to me several times until I finally understood that the Lord had a Sabbath rest for me. I was a perfectionist to the max. My testimony is about me trying to be good enough or perfect enough so God would deliver me from death assignments and equip me to walk in total freedom from fear and anxiety. Over a season, I learned that He alone is my land of rest. God has promised me a Promised Land—that is true. But ultimately, I had to rest in the fact that He had already accomplished all I needed at the cross. I have had to learn to rest in His completed work.

There is also a law of first mention to you! Whenever God begins to speak revelation to you, He will introduce first words, symbols or images, which become a pattern or foundation on which to build for future interpretation. Once these are introduced into your spiritual vocabulary, they will have consistent meanings for you. Let’s say you dream about your pet, and you discern the Holy Spirit is speaking to you about “precious things.” After all, many of us have pets that are precious to our hearts. Once the image of your pet has entered into your spiritual vocabulary as a symbol for precious things, you can be more confident in interpretation: The dream has something to do with things that are precious to you. Most of the time God is very consistent with His revelatory symbolism; keep in mind, though, that nothing is always in dream interpretation. Be ready to discover more even when you encounter a familiar symbol in the dream.

Tools for Dream Interpretation

Simply by journaling, asking yourself the right questions and remembering details of the dream before they are forgotten, you will have most of what you need to interpret dreams. The following steps will help you lay out the framework of your dream to help clarify its meaning.

1. Keep It Simple

I always encourage my dream interpretation students to keep it simple. To start with, we must try to reduce every dream (and vision) to its simplest form and use that as a foundation on which to build. Therefore, when you write your dream, try to make it simple and try to keep the main thing the main thing. Sometimes dreams have a lot of detail, but much of the detail is not necessary in dream interpretation. In fact, too many details will muddy the interpretation.

2. Consider the Context

We need to prayerfully consider the context of the dream. Determine what the dream is mainly about; once you have finalized its content, you will be able to discern which direction is required for interpretation. This is important because words and images can have several different meanings. The lion, for example, is used symbolically in the Bible in different ways. Jesus is referred to as the Lion of the tribe of Judah in Revelation 5:5. When the context of a dream points in this direction, you should consider the attributes of royalty, strength, kingship, courage and boldness. Because you are created in His image, perhaps God is reminding you that you have these same qualities. (See Revelation 5:5; Judges 14:18; 2 Samuel 1:23;17:10; Genesis 49:9; Numbers 24:9; Hosea 13:8.) That would be an awesome dream!

On the other hand, a lion can represent an evil person or demonic assignment. In 1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV), Peter describes the devil as a “roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” If, in a dream, the lion appears to be evil, one might interpret it as a time to be vigilant and on the lookout for a demonic attack. The overall context will help you determine which way to pray.

3. Determine if a Dream Is Recurring

We discussed recurring themes in dreams earlier, but allow me to elaborate on both repeated dreams and recurring dreams. A repeated dream is given for several reasons:

Dreams that recur are repeated more than twice over a period of time. These often indicate an issue that needs to be resolved:

Sometimes you may have the same dream multiple times in the same night. You will often notice that it is actually the same dream in a different format. This means there are several ways to look at the context, but all have the same conclusion. If you have repetitive dreams, continue to look for a central theme or a common thread when seeking interpretation. Once a repetitive dream is properly acted on, you will probably notice the dream will discontinue. This is a good sign that you have heard from the Lord and you have yielded yourself to His directives.

4. Evaluate the Full Picture

You must take some time to evaluate the full picture—this is key in dream interpretation. Ask yourself, Am I the main person in the dream, or am I observing? If you are observing in the overall setting, most likely the dream is not primarily about you. It is probably about someone else or even another place or event. If you are an observer, then you are “witnessing” an occurrence that God desires a witness for. You might think this a little odd if you have never been told to examine your dreams this way. This is because we have thought that all dreams are primarily about us. This is not so. God shows us things concerning others at times, and I feel this is healthy, as we are to pray for each other and not be overly self-focused and introspective.

In several Scriptures God teaches us about the need for two or three witnesses. One is in Matthew 18:16, which instructs us to take two or three witnesses when approaching someone who needs truth spoken but refuses to hear. In a case like this, you may be a witness and called to pray and/or intercede for someone God is trying to reach. Another Scripture is Matthew 18:20, in which Jesus describes the power of agreement. He states that whenever two or three are gathered together in His name, He is in their midst! Therefore, in your dream, you may be a witness called to agree with something being revealed in the dream. That is exciting! You are being used to witness and agree with the will of God . . . in a dream!

5. Determine Your Role

If you are not merely observing, are you a participant in the dream? Your participation may reflect your love, concern and desire to be a part of a person’s life who is in the dream. If so, that could be a prayer assignment. If you are still not the main focus, however, the dream is most likely not about you.

6. Determine the Focus

Are you the main focus in the dream? Are all the people in the dream talking to you, centered on your needs and focused on you? If so, try to recall where you were in the dream. A kitchen, a bedroom, outside in a garden, in the bathroom? These will help determine the message in the dream.

7. Pay Attention to Emotions

I cannot say this enough: Try to recall your thoughts, feelings and emotions in the dream. Were you fearful, happy, remorseful? You will need to make note of emotions such as anger, resentment and/or emotional pain. Did you talk in the dream, and, if so, what words were exchanged? Did you awake from the dream with dread and fear or joy and excitement? God will often highlight a particular emotion so that it can be addressed. You will know by your discernment and intuition what the most important emotions are, so do not worry or fret over it. The Lord knows how to redirect us if our interpretations are not correct.

Ways to Keep Interpretation Simple

When heaven touches the dream world, it is a most exciting journey. Hearing God’s voice, directives and, yes, correctives never ceases to excite me! This is because I, like you, long to know His heart for my life and to make a shift in that direction. Understanding and interpreting the myriad of symbols within a dream, however, is a complex and at times confusing process. Therefore, I want to take a moment to review what you have learned to this point so that the interpretation process appears more precise and simple:

  1. Not all dreams are from God.
  2. Most dreams are not to be taken literally and need interpretation.
  3. The Holy Spirit is the ultimate guide and teacher of proper interpretation.
  4. Dreams are always to be considered on a personal basis first, rather than assuming the dream is about someone else.
  5. God will often speak in familiar terms. He will even use your own phrases and jokes.
  6. Always write down your dream upon awakening. A dream journal gives a central place for recording. Give the dream a title and a date.
  7. Take time to ponder your dream and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you. Do not rush the interpretation.
  8. Reduce your dream to the simplest form—keep the main thing the main thing! Ask yourself if there is a central theme. Is a main thought, issue or particular word mentioned several times?
  9. Take note of how you felt when you awoke—angry, fearful, excited?
  10. Note if you had a nightmare or awoke to an evil presence in the room. This could have been a demonic dream.
  11. Awakening from a dream to a heavenly atmosphere often indicates that an angel brought a dream to you and the angelic presence is still abiding.
  12. Consecutive dreams often connect similar meanings. God frequently speaks the same message in different ways and with different symbolism.
  13. Note the colors in the dream. Is the dream completely in black and white or in vivid colors, such as green and red? Note the main color throughout the dream.
  14. Is there more than one theme in the dream? Quite often God will give several themes in one dream.
  15. Many dreams are for the future and can only be understood as they unfold over a period of time. Again, do not rush the interpretation. Patience is a virtue in dream interpretation.
  16. Dreams may be for you personally or to guide you in prayer and intercession for church, city, national and international issues.
  17. Ask! Ask! And ask again! Dream interpretation comes from asking God for answers.

Sources for Symbolic Interpretations

Because we see in part and know in part, we will always need to look beyond ourselves for help in interpreting messages from heaven, whether dreams or visions. God gives revelation to many of His children, so you should be aware that you will need to pull from several sources when interpreting dreams.

When we have a heavenly encounter and need to seek the interpretation, the very first place to look is always (I cannot stress this enough!) in Scripture. The Bible is full of symbolism in parables and allegories (as well as documented dreams and visions) from which we can draw types, shadows and symbols. Bread, for example, is often a metaphor for life, but it also points to Jesus Christ, as He is the Bread of Life. A door is another metaphor for Jesus Christ, as He is the door. A lamb can represent Jesus Christ, a sacrifice or even the need to follow the Shepherd. The mustard seed is a metaphor for faith . . . and on and on. As treasure hunters, we will need a long time to get to the end of all the symbols in the Bible!

In chapter 9 I have provided an A–Z dictionary of symbols that have become my personal revelation; when you need a quick reference, I believe this dictionary will empower you. It is not, however, and never will be intended to replace Scripture. Please do not allow any book, list or teaching to become your only guide to understanding something so vast as God’s heavenly language! It can be dangerous for us to use any one source to interpret dreams—other than the Bible, of course. Because so many aspects of modern life are not found in the Bible, however, many teachers, authors and ministers have had to seek the Holy Spirit to understand modern symbolism. My dictionary, for example, includes symbols such as automobiles and airplanes.

A favorite book of mine for learning symbols and types—one that is completely scripturally based—is written by Kevin J. Conner: Interpreting the Symbols and Types (Bible Temple Publishing, 1992). Other sources for symbolic interpretation are dictionaries, encyclopedias, the Internet, books of names with Scripture references—and do not forget about prayer! Do not hesitate to use various types of resources whenever you are considering interpretations. Remember, God at one time spoke through a donkey!

Interpreting Symbols in Dreams

Now that we have laid a good foundation, let’s turn our attention to how to interpret specific symbols that appear in dreams. Again, the categories that appear in the next sections are not all-inclusive, but they will serve as a starting point as you get used to recognizing images in dreams as symbols and determining how to interpret them.

Colors

I have read in many different books and heard seminar speakers say that if someone dreams in black and white, it is always a demonic dream. But—as I am sure you have noticed—I strongly believe that nothing is always. I have had many godly dreams in black and white. Because I am a bottom-line, black-and-white person (meaning I am truth oriented, so I tell it like I see it), I have many dreams for which, upon awakening, I remember no colors at all. Yet I knew the dreams were from God. Also, I am very prophetic. To a degree, prophetic people are black-and-white, bottom-line people by nature. When I have colorless dreams, they are usually prophetic. Keep in mind that the context of the dream is the key, not necessarily the colors that appear. Still, colors in dreams are very important. I have provided an entire section in chapter 9 that includes my personal revelation concerning colors, as well as a biblical understanding.

Numbers

We have already discussed the significance of the number seven, but there is much more to understanding number symbolism in dreams. Yet another section of numerical interpretations, both biblical and numerical, appears in chapter 9. You will want to refer to this list often as you continue to interpret dreams and visions. Numbers are both factual and fascinating; they have always proven to be keys to unlocking much interpretation.

That is why it is very important, upon awakening, not only to try to remember if there were specific numbers in the dream but also to jot down the time you awoke. Many times I have awoken and looked at the clock to see the time was 3:33. I know from previous experience that when the Lord speaks to me in the form of three 3s, He is probably speaking to me about Jeremiah 33:3: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” That is confirmation that if I ask the Lord the meaning to my dream, He desires to reveal it to me! Yes, He truly loves it when we go on a treasure hunt with Him.

When you awake, notice the time, jot it down and then search your dream for other numbers; then pray and ask the Holy Spirit for the interpretation. Next, look through Scripture for biblical references with that number combination (such as Jeremiah 33:3 and Psalm 3:33). Keep in mind that combinations of numbers could be interpreted various ways—3:33 could indicate 3 plus 3 plus 3, which equals 9, meaning the number 9 is what God wants you to study more thoroughly. Then seek out other reference materials concerning biblical numerology for guidance in interpretation. You could also search the other references that I mentioned . . . but, most importantly, ask the Holy Spirit for guidance.

The number six is also full of symbolism; six is the number for man, for on the sixth day of creation, God created man. I believe it is also safe to conclude that day six is the day of man. Now, if we go from Genesis all the way to the last book of the Bible, we find that the number 666 is identified as the number of a man (see Revelation 13:18). Most believers are aware that 666 is also identified as the mark of the Beast, the Antichrist. Notice the three sixes? Three is the number that signifies the Trinity. Because 666 is the number for mankind, then, it represents a false trinity—the exaltation of man, mankind and humanism. Quite often six symbolizes the curse that came upon mankind in the Garden, as well. So the number six can represent a curse, a generational curse or mankind and the flesh.

Dreams about People

In chapter 5 we touched on dreams concerning our generations and dreams about past relationships. Since people are often symbols in our dreams, the subject deserves more discussion.

People that we know and love during our lifetimes play major roles in our dreams. God will also use the generations that came before us to reveal areas of demonic strongholds, blind spots, and maybe areas of sin that need repentance. To better understand what these people symbolize in your dreams, ask yourself these questions:

  1. Do I know this person? How well?
  2. What does this person do in life (occupation, parent, pastor, etc.)?
  3. What is the person’s name? Look up the meaning of the name in a names book with scriptural references and/or search for the meaning on the Internet.
  4. What does this person symbolize to me (love, success, failure, control, manipulation, jealousy, competition, anger, etc.)?
  5. What emotions rise up when I think about this person?
  6. Are you in authority over this person, or is he/she in authority over you?
  7. Using adjectives, how would you describe this person?
  8. In the dream, was this person actually “acting out” how you would describe her/him?
  9. Do you desire to have a specific relationship with this person? If so, describe.

God Gives Us Dreams of Hope

As I wrote earlier, one of the most significant reasons that I personally believe God gives us dreams and visions is for us to be edified, exhorted and comforted. Many times God will encourage us and give hope so that we can endure the race. When symbolism is meant to give us hope from God, the dream can be full of images such as doors opening, new paths being taken or boats and anchors, since Christ is our “anchor” of hope (see Hebrews 6:19).

Sometimes a dream confirms that we are on the right path and exhorts us to fight the good fight of faith. Other times, He may be revealing that someone besides you needs to be encouraged. Keep in mind that the complete revelation of a dream will come with time. It may take years for a full interpretation to come forth, but God will give you just enough to offer hope.

As you know, I have almost died several times in my life. Even after recovery from anorexia, I continued to battle the spirit of death. Part of the sickness that I dealt with included digestive disorders. The thought of returning to an old pattern of sickness and disease was frightening, and I asked the Lord to reveal what was happening to my body.

I fell asleep, and the Lord gave a dream that involved much symbolism that pointed the way to hope: I was searching for rock treasures in an open field. I realized that I had stepped on something because my foot began to sting, followed by a painful ache in my heel. Upon observing my foot, I realized a snake’s head was smashed into my heel, with its fangs stuck in the bottom of my foot. (Obviously, I had stepped on the serpent’s head!) I called for my husband to remove the snake’s head, and we noticed that the head was so crushed into my heel the only way to remove it was to “peel” it away.

My heel began to have a dull pain, and I remembered that I had been through this experience before. The memory of that previous battle for my life was too fresh; it engulfed me like a shroud. In my dream I was cringing, thinking about having to go through this again. As my husband pulled back the fangs, I remembered this assignment of death, and I wondered if I would soon die because of the venom that was already in my system.

Suddenly, a medical journal flashed before my eyes. The journal opened to a specific chapter and page, which read, “This is a medical journal on how to treat a snake bite. This particular bite causes digestive disorders.” The dream ended.

Clearly, I had my answer from the Lord! All of the physical and emotional discomfort I was experiencing was the result of a demonic assignment. It was not the result of poor eating habits or stress, and I was not going to die! Hallelujah! My faith arose within me, along with a fresh determination to fight the good fight of faith.

The Lord revealed this dream for encouragement. I was to continue looking for the treasures of His Kingdom, knowing He was protecting me. If I had not been given the dream, I would have attempted to change my diet or take various medications. The Lord was instructing me that I was to rise up in faith and fight the enemy.

In situations of uncertainty, we often need confirmation from the Lord. Confirmation brings us comfort, like a lamp unto our feet when we are blinded in the darkness.

Why Will God Not Speak Plainly?

Some of you may be asking why it appears so difficult to hear God’s voice through dreams and visions. After all, God could simply send an angel to direct us, just as He did in the Old and New Testaments.

In this age of doubt and unbelief, I am not entirely positive that even an angel would get our attention. Our culture and false belief systems are contaminated with mindsets that inhibit supernatural manifestations. I have come to the understanding that God gives us dreams because He has to bypass our minds to speak to our spirits. If we consider the biblical account of Zacharias, we find that even when an angel visits a priest to give him the Word of the Lord, he may still doubt! Take a moment to read Luke 1:15–18, the biblical account of the angel Gabriel announcing to Zacharias that he would have a son who would bring revival to the sons of Israel. Keep in mind that this was a visitation from God that probably came in the form of a vision . . . and Zacharias basically argues with the messenger!

Dear one, it is time to listen once more! Due to his doubt and unbelief, Zacharias was struck dumb and was unable to speak until the day John the Baptist was circumcised. It is quite clear that, at times, God may have to shut our mouths to halt our negativity. So why does God not speak to us in plain speech? Because even an angelic visit that communicates the Word of the Lord may not be enough to keep us from questioning Him. Let me repeat this for significance: He may yet bypass our minds and speak to our spirits in a dream or vision, or else we might argue with Him and contaminate the prophesied seeds of revelation. And, knowing my history of doubt, I am glad He does!

Saints, we do not have control over what we dream. God simply “pops” a dream into our spirits, very similar to inserting a DVD into a DVD player. Sometimes He reveals areas that we do not want to see about ourselves and the future. Many of us, myself included, have “blind spots,” things we are blinded to. God reveals hidden areas of our hearts, the inner motives that we would rather not see. He also reveals how we feel toward others in our hearts—jealousy, envy, competition and the like. By bypassing the mind, God goes right to the spirit. He speaks Spirit to spirit because He does not desire negative influences to override our faith. When we awake from dreams, we cannot arise and proclaim, “I made myself dream about this.” We cannot make ourselves dream anything. This is one area over which we have no control, and this is probably why God chooses to use it!

You are doing great! Thank you for continuing this journey with me. Now let’s discuss simple ways to document your dreams and a few keys to consider as you interpret them.