How do Bible writers know that, when God communicated to them, it wasn't just a dream?

Question

The Bible says that God communicated to man, who then wrote the Bible, hence "All Scripture is God-breathed." How did those people back then know that it wasn't just a dream or illusion? I mean, there are hundreds of people today who claim that they are messengers, prophets, etc. who received "messages from God" and clearly they are disillusioned and have been mentally afflicted. For example, the Jehovah Witnesses said that Christ would return in 1873. But when it failed of course, they changed it to 1874.

I'm really stuck with this question and it would be wonderful if you guys (just anyone with views) could help me. Thanx

Answer 1

When God tells you something, you have absolutely no doubt about it being God. When you think you may have heard from God, you didnt, you will be sure.God saw to it that His word was recorded and complete and true, then He protected it from being destroyed. There is no doubt that the bible is the word of God and true.

Answer 2

The answer is best shown by time. From the first Genesis. God spoke to Moses in person
so there is Genesis thru Deuteronomy next from
There through the new testament was hundreds
of years ( and no librarys) and the number of writers from different times and locations all
flow together and agree with each other, the New Testament is mostly written by people who
walked with and were taught by Jesus who told
them that when returned to His Father God
would send the Holy spirit (teacher) so that they
would know all that was taught to them and so that they could pass the Good New on to others.
The Bible has been the most studied book ever
writen and no errors have been found factually or historically, It has been used by more archelogists and found to be the most correct
in its contents and facts. Remember too all the
prophets were spoken to by God. America
is 230 years old and our history has been
rewritten over the past 50 years so much that
what was written if it does not pleast the mind set of "scholars" today they simply change it.
People today present the books of Judas and
Thomas as factual. But study shows they were written 300 years after Christ by Agnostics
who to this day do not believe Jesus to be the
Son of God.

Answer 3

First to straighten your misinformation, Jehovah's Witnesses thought Jesus was coming in 1975 and when nothing happened that year many were dissappointed and left that religion. At that point in time there wasn't a clear understanding of what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 24 verse 36, "concerning that day and hour, nobody knows, neither the angels of heaven nor the son, but only the Father." Here Jesus was saying that his Father was the only one who knew the appointed time of the end of the system of things. You are right. 1Tim 3:16 says, "all scripture is inspired of God and beneficial". To answer your question, Galatians 4:6 explains how a person knows he's annointed with God's holy spirit and has a special relationship with him. Also, in the book of 1st Corinthians chapter 13, Paul explains that after the writing of the Bible was complete, gifts of prophesying would be done away with. 1Cor 13:8-10 For more detailed information please don't be afraid to contact Jehovah's Witnesses. They will help you find the answers to your questions according to the scriptures. Call your local Kingdom Hall. They are listed in your local phone book under "churches."

Answer 4

I think true prophets are given the common sense to know the difference between schizophrenia related hallucinations, dreams or real prophecy. Most telling I suppose is the fact that many of these prophecies have happened exactly as foretold by the prophets, which basically shows us they weren't just eating the wrong mushrooms. Mushroom induced hallucinations wouldn't have shown the Messiah being born of a virgin for example, or that the Messiah would end up crucified, etc..

And yes, Jehovah Witnesses are notorious for their constantly changing end time predictions, hence the fact that they fit exactly the term "false prophet". According to the bible, a prophet from God will NEVER be wrong. One wrong prophecy, and he/she is no prophet.

Answer 5

The Bible writers were INSPIRED by means of God's Holy Spirit, or active force. It was only years after the writing of each bible book that it became clear that it had been inspired and was an authentic part of the bible canon because of its consistency with the theme of the bible (God's Kingdom).

It would be a mistake to compare any other writings or teachings with those of the Holy Scriptures. While the Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God, the same cannot be true of anything else.


Incidentally, Jehovah's Witnesses have worked hard to teach that message about reliance on the Scriptures rather than human wisdom. While faithful and discreet servants of God have performed much good in the century-plus since Jehovah's Witnesses began publishing and teaching, they have never once claimed to be either infallible or divinely inspired.

Clearly, true worshippers should be far more concerned with the Word of God than with even the best of bible study aids. As an illustration, consider that a stylish pair of precision eyeglasses are still no comparison with the miracle of the beautiful human eye!

The larger issue of God's Kingdom has always been of primary concern to modern Jehovah's Witnesses. The Kingdom preaching work today is not distracted by worries over long-past mistakes of Moses, King David, Apostle Peter, or magazine writers a hundred years ago.

Perhaps it should be noted that Jehovah's Witnesses are NOT trying to preach themselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord.
(2 Corinthians 4:4-6) For we are preaching, not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake.

Jehovah's Witnesses remain unaware of any infallible earthly group who also is performing a global preaching campaign in obedience to Christ Jesus himself:
(Matthew 28:19,20) Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And, look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.

Read for yourself the clarity and wisdom in the publications of Jehovah's Witnesses:
http://watchtower.org

Answer 6

A) The original authors of Scripture weren't as hung up about inspiration as today's Christians. After all, they weren't stuck with Martin Luther's Sola Scritura dictum.

B) They were interested in affirming their faith in the existence of God, of their belief in what KIND of a God God is and in assisting others to come to and live by that faith.

C) It is only much later, that scholars; first Jewish, then Christian, started looking at these books through the eyes of faith and went, "Well, I'll be! Ya know what, Herschel? This stuff looks like God wrote it just fer l'il ol' us. Now that's what I call inspired! And damn decent of Him too, doncha think?" And Herschel said, "Yep." And they decided to put it all together and call it Holy.

Later, the bishops of the Catholic Church sat down and did pretty much the same thing for the New Testament. They thought about going through the Old Testament and reworking it, but decided that it was too much trouble and besides, the Jewish scholars who'd put it all there in the first place probably knew what they were doing, so they let the Old Testament stand. Until Luther had a "better" idea. But that's another story.

If you want a test to go by, try the one Jesus told us to use. If it does NOT contradict either Testament, AND if it DOES enlighten us on unclear aspects of either Testament, AND if it does NOT go against what Christ himself taught concerning morals and ethics, AND if it DOES agree with His law of love, then give it lebensraum. Otherwise, shun it.

Answer 7

The Bible is the true and undisputed word of God. The first five books of the Old Testament written by Moses, recount the creation of the Earth, everything in it, and the creation of Mankind. It records how we fell short of God's desires for us, and as a result for our sinful ways, death would be our punishment. God’s original plan for us was that we would live forever. Remember, we were created in His image… an exact likeness of Himself, but because we had sinned, we could no longer live forever in a sinful body. These books were not the accounts of one man's delusions, they were recordings of events that happened and were witnessed by thousands, even millions of people. They are a recording of history that actually happened.

The books that followed Deuteronomy as the children of Israel were about to go into the Promised Land, records how we continued to disobey God’s laws. They record the trials and tribulations we suffered as a result for our disobedience. When you read the Old Testament, it reads like a great novel. God told Great Prophets of things that were going to happen, and these prophecies were recorded. And all through the Old Testament, each book reveals the fulfillment of the old Prophets as they all lead up to the birth of the son of God, Jesus Christ. All the books of the Old Testament were careful to keep track of the genealogy. It began with Adam, down through Noah, on to Abraham-Isaac-Jacob, through King David, which lead up to the birth of Christ. All the books of the Old Testament prophesize about the coming of the Messiah, and the New Testament record the fulfillment of these great prophesies. They all support each other.

In old days, if a prophet made a mistake and his prophecy didn’t come true, he was put to death. A true prophet of God is right 100% of the time. It’s important to understand, there are no more new books of the Bible. Any writings of today by so called prophets, if they deviate from the true word of God, are his prophesies and his alone… Jesus said, “It is finished,” and I believe Him. Jesus was born, He was crucified, and He rose from the dead. He said He would return again and that’s what I am living and looking for. From the beginning to the end of the Bible, it’s all about the fulfillment of prophecy.

I hope this helps a little.

Answer 8

you just do. when God speaks to you through the Holly Spirit YOU JUST KNOW IT.

it's like the little voice that tells you "nope dont do that dont do that and you feel scared ..." thats when God talks to people through the HOlly Spirit. But bcareful for Satan also does that too.

God breathed means that God sent his msg as a veil of air A SPIRITUAL VEIL OF AIR IF YOU CAN SEE it THA way.. that was put in to and through your mind and soul to knw , grasp and pass to humankind.
like when a child is born and he takes his first breathe
that's what they mean by God Breathed, he put life into us through his breathe
he can put knowledge into you through his breathe

the matter most used was through dreams and very very few had direct contact...MOSES. Moses body was never found, God had promised him to deliver His people out of bondage and He would be taken directly into the kingdom of God. With God. Moses died and his body was never ever found. It is said that he rose as Christ resurrwected into Heaven and went to God . What an honor!


the Holly Spirit brought a very special gift to the particular prophet and infiltrated the answer or statement or warning etc into the dream so that such man /prophet would undertand it and get the msg out for the world to b saved.

Answer 9

A prophetic dream is more vivid and intense than a normal dream, more like "real-life", colors, sounds, objects, people in dream are clearer.
The dreamer can tell the difference.
The prophetic dream contains a specific message, this is the theme of the dream.

Answer 10

Because everything God spoke came to pass. Everything hasn't is still in the making, and was confirmed. For example, no prophet (anyone for that matter) can prophesy something to you that God hasn't already spoken to you first. He confirms what he speaks through others, dreams, events, circumstances, etc., whatever he deems necessary to confirm what was spoken.