Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 2011 A Biblical Model Testing Visions And Dreams In Christian Ministry In The Bahamas Wilfred T. Adderley Sr. Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Adderley, Wilfred T. Sr., "A Biblical Model Testing Visions And Dreams In Christian Ministry In The Bahamas" (2011). Dissertation Projects DMin. 387. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/387 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertation Projects DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. Thanks for your cooperation. ABSTRACT A BIBLICAL MODEL TESTING VISIONS AND DREAMS IN CHRISTIAN MINISTRY IN THE BAHAMAS by Wilfred T. Adderley Sr. Adviser: Bruce L. Bauer ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Project Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: A BIBLICAL MODEL TESTING VISIONS AND DREAMS IN CHRISTIAN MINISTRY IN THE BAHAMAS Name of researcher: Wilfred T. Adderley Sr. Name and degree of faculty adviser: Bruce L. Bauer, DMiss Date completed: August 2011 Problem A survey conducted in Nassau, Bahamas, between December 2004 and January 2005, showed that of those surveyed, 80 percent believed in visions and dreams. This supports the idea that culturally, the majority of Bahamians accept most visions and dreams as divine in nature. However, many pastors show fear and doubt toward church members who are having such experiences which are viewed as wholly psychosomatic. Method The task of this dissertation is to develop and implement a biblical model for testing present-day visions and dreams. The model will be based on Bible principles and will be evaluated to determine its value among pastors and church members in Christian ministry in the Bahamas primarily, and in other fields of the Christian church. Results The results of the field-study indicated that in three different surveys conducted the biblical model was evaluated as: (1) ‘very helpful’ by 86% of the conference workers including, administrators and pastors; (2) ‘helpful’ by 93% of persons from mixed cultures, that is, North America, Africa, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico; and (3) ‘very helpful’ by 40% and ‘helpful’ by 28% of persons who responded in a random survey. Pastors are open to seminars and the use of the model within their churches. Conclusions Among the seven church groups surveyed it was unanimous that present-day visions and dreams are to be tested according to the Bible (Deut 13:1-5; 18:15-22; Jer 28:9, 32; Matt 7:15-22; and 1 John 4:1-3) in order to ascertain the true from the false. Testing visionary manifestations will affirm that God continues to speak to humans today by these means of communication in fulfillment of Joel 2:28-32. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary A BIBLICAL MODEL TESTING VISIONS AND DREAMS IN CHRISTIAN MINISTRY IN THE BAHAMAS A Project Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Wilfred T. Adderley Sr. © Copyright by Wilfred T. Adderley Sr. 2011 All Rights Reserved A BIBLICAL MODEL TESTING VISIONS AND DREAMS IN CHRISTIAN MINISTRY IN THE BAHAMAS A project dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by Wilfred T. Adderley Sr. APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: _________________________________ ________________________________ Adviser, Director, DMin Program Bruce l. Bauer Skip Bell _________________________________ ________________________________ Martin F. Hanna Dean, SDA Theological Seminary Denis Fortin ________________________________ ________________________________ Bruce Moyer Date approved DEDICATION To the memory of my parents Pastor Roger G. Adderley and Corlesta E. A. Adderley To my wife Sheila for her Total support, love, interest, and encouragement to the end To my sons Wilfred Jr. and Matthew To all of my siblings: Maxine, Kenneth, Richard, Gladstone, Miriam, Anthony, Philip, Hilda Ruth and Martha (deceased) To all of my nieces and nephews Their husbands, wives, and children Also to all the grandchildren to the third and fourth generation Family Church Nation iii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................... vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................................................... viii Chapter I. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 1 Purpose for the Dissertation ..................................................................... 1 Statement of the Task ............................................................................... 2 Justification for the Dissertation ............................................................... 2 Definition of Terms .................................................................................. 3 Limitations of the Dissertation ................................................................. 4 Methodology ............................................................................................ 5 Project Outline .......................................................................................... 5 II. A BIBLICAL FOUNDATION FOR VISIONS AND DREAMS ................... 7 The Continuity of the Gift of Visions and Dreams .................................. 7 How God Communicated Before Sin ................................................. 7 Face-to-Face Communication ..................................................... 8 Angelic Mediums of Communication ......................................... 9 How God Communicated After Sin ................................................... 9 Through the Prophetic office ...................................................... 10 Through Visions and Dreams ..................................................... 12 Selected Biblical Narratives of Visions, Dreams, and Angelic Appearances ....................................................................................... 14 Old Testament Narratives ................................................................... 15 Patriarchs..................................................................................... 16 Prophet and Prophetess ............................................................... 29 Kings ........................................................................................... 35 Common Citizens........................................................................ 42 New Testament Models ............................................................................ 48 During the Time of Christ .................................................................. 49 Zacharias’s Vision of an Angel (Luke 1:11-20) ......................... 50 The Dream of the Three Wise Men (Matt 2:12) ......................... 53 Pilate’s Wife’s Dream of Christ (Matt 27:19) ............................ 55 During the Time After Christ’s Ascension ......................................... 58 Cornelius’ Vision of an Angel (Acts 10:3-7) .............................. 60 iv Ananias’ Vision of Christ and Saul (Acts 9:10-17) .................... 63 Additional Biblical Characteristics of True Visions and Dreams ...... 65 Personal Messages in Visions and Dreams ................................. 67 Mission and Call to Ministry in Visions and Dreams ................. 67 Ministry—Roles of Christ in Visions and Dreams ..................... 68 Characteristics of True and False Visions and Dreams ............................ 68 Characteristics From the Fall of Humans ........................................... 69 Characteristics From King Saul’s Encounter ..................................... 70 Characteristics From Jeremiah’s Encounter ....................................... 71 III. HISTORICAL EXAMPLES AND EVALUATIONS OF VISIONS AND DREAMS ................................................................................................. 73 During the Ante-Nicene Fathers ............................................................... 73 Replacing the Prophetical Office ....................................................... 73 Reaffirming the Prophetical Gift ........................................................ 74 During the Reformation ............................................................................ 75 Martin Luther’s Vision of God’s Voice in Rome ............................... 75 John Wesley’s Account of: A Vision of the Judgment ...................... 78 During the Advent Awakening ................................................................ 81 William Miller’s Vision Encounter .................................................... 82 Ellen White’s Vision of the True Sabbath .......................................... 86 Conflicting Visionary Experiences Among Early Adventists ............ 89 During Early and Pre-Modern Civilizations: Dream Theories ................ 94 Dream Theories Historical Survey: