In the Spirit (?)

[sbbqb7n16]

I was reading through Revelation, and John said that while he "was in the Spirit"

What does that mean?
How does one get to be there?
How does one know when they are there?

Any help greatly appreciated! Have a great day!

[Live4Jesus]

Ezekiel 8:3 -And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.


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As in Ezekial above, I think John means simply that he was with God. John knew Jesus real well and was in exile at the time. He had suffered much. Personally sbbqb7n16, I am not real sure these are things you want to seek after, rather lay it to heart that you are available for Jesus to work with and teach, and remain honest so He can trust you.

Too much seeking of signs seems to be leading many to too easily accept what may be false signs... may make you easy prey for the devil if you get my drift.

God speaks clearly, He will comes to where you are, no need to ever go anyplace but your own heart to find Him... Ask him to search your heart maybe, and help you get closer to walking perfectly with Him.

He's right there with you already....

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Ezekiel 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

[Apologist]

Originally posted by sbbqb7n16
I was reading through Revelation, and John said that while he "was in the Spirit"

What does that mean?

Any help greatly appreciated! Have a great day!

From the Bible Knowledge Commentary:

“In the Spirit” could also be rendered“in [my] spirit”(cf.Rev. 4:2; 17:3; 21:10). That is, he was projected forward in his inner self in a vision, not bodily, to that future day of the Lord when God will pour out His judgments on the earth."


How does one get to be there?

You don't get to be there brother. That is a special vision God only gave to a select few of the prophets of old to show what was to be in the future.
:)

God Bless

[sbbqb7n16]

Originally posted by Live4Jesus
As in Ezekial above, I think John means simply that he was with God. John knew Jesus real well and was in exile at the time. He had suffered much. Personally sbbqb7n16, I am not real sure these are things you want to seek after...

Why do you think that I should not be seeking out being with God and knowing Jesus well? Those were your main statements of why that happened to John... :scratch: :confused:

 

And Apologist... John was an Apostle not a prophet... nonetheless... what about the prophets of today? Are visions no more? :scratch: :confused:

 

I'm honestly just seeking to know what it was, and if it was for the great men of God, then how we should grow to be able to do the same. Personally, I would love to be with Jesus in a vision telling what would happen in the future (although I don't think that there is that much time left). Just thoughts and questions from a curious mind. Have a great day!

[Apologist]

Originally posted by sbbqb7n16

And Apologist... John was an Apostle not a prophet... nonetheless... what about the prophets of today? Are visions no more? :scratch: :confused:



Yes John was an Apostle but he was also a prophet in that Jesus showed him the future. :)

The so-called prophets today are not the same as the prophets in the bible.

The canon of scripture is complete and we have the full word of God so any visions that tell of future events are not biblical in most theologians opinions and I would agree. Can God give a vision for a purpose? Sure He could if He wanted to, but it would be very unusual and not normative at all. When you hear of people that had a vision it is usually something God has already stated in scripture, which makes me wonder why He would do that, or it is completely unbiblical such as the so-called "vision" in Mary Baxter's "Divine Revelation of Hell" which is simply rediculous.

[Andrew]

in the Spirit simply means that you are moving according to the Spirit. for example, if the Spirit moves you to minister to a beggar on the street, if you obey and carry out the task, then you are 'in the Spirit'. that is just one 'manifestation' of being in the Spirit.

Other more 'amazing' manifestations are like when a person prays in tongues, suddenly he is transported to another far away place to do something eg. lay hands on a sick person to heal the person. their body is still physically present in the same spot but they are in the Spirit.

[Live4Jesus]

Originally posted by sbbqb7n16
Why do you think that I should not be seeking out being with God and knowing Jesus well? Those were your main statements of why that happened to John... :scratch: :confused:

 

And Apologist... John was an Apostle not a prophet... nonetheless... what about the prophets of today? Are visions no more? :scratch: :confused:

 

I'm honestly just seeking to know what it was, and if it was for the great men of God, then how we should grow to be able to do the same. Personally, I would love to be with Jesus in a vision telling what would happen in the future (although I don't think that there is that much time left). Just thoughts and questions from a curious mind. Have a great day!

I didn't say you shouldn't seek him, I said he's probably a lot closer than you seem to think at the moment...

You should most definitely seek Him, generally what works for me is David's line, 'Lord seek my heart' which is why I told you that... in doing that He will show you things that are holding you back from the relationship you seek with him... pay attention.

Have faith. I am sure He's there.

As for visions and stuff, He will tell you what you need to know in ways that you can understand, don't try to pre-formulate the way you think God should be or should communicate with you..., let God be God.

Give Him full reign.

And again have faith!

blessings!

[Blade]

To me I believe God was showing John something and at times its like your not sure if your really there. Everthing is so real. Like Paul said that he was not sure if it was in the spirit or not. To get there well I believe, that (to get there) only comes from God. I don't believe we can ever make it happen. If its from God you will know.

[4Jesus]

Originally posted by Apologist
From the Bible Knowledge Commentary:

“In the Spirit” could also be rendered“in [my] spirit”(cf.Rev. 4:2; 17:3; 21:10). That is, he was projected forward in his inner self in a vision, not bodily, to that future day of the Lord when God will pour out His judgments on the earth."




You don't get to be there brother. That is a special vision God only gave to a select few of the prophets of old to show what was to be in the future.
:)

God Bless

I agree with Apologist. In the mid 80's there was a group known as the "Kansas City Prophets". In the more controversial of these movements, including the Toronto Blessing and other movements based largely on Latter Rain theology, many teachers incorrectly considered themselves to occupy the office of "prophet," with the authority ascribed to that office in scripture, in the process, sharing their own insights, fantasies and other messages not inspired or condoned by God by introducing abherrant and/or heretical teachings.

4Jesus 

[SUNSTONE]

To me it means that your in God's presence, like when God walked around in the garden of Eden with Adam and Eve.

When you recieve a revelation in your life, it is when your in the spirit. When God talks to your heart, your in the spirit. When you recieved the Holy Spirit, you were in the spirit big time.

[4Jesus]

sunstone,

I think you have the right attitude. I too believe that the Spirit ministers to me and how to carry out my walk of faith. I don't think that there is revelation for the church as a whole anymore, it ended with the Revelation to John. I hold to the belief that we are to perform the Great Commission Matt.28:19, preach the gospel.

But there are groups that hold to the theology that Jesus can not return unless and until "the Church" subdues and rules the earth, this is known as "Kingdom Now theology" and violence can be employed in achieving this

And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Thess.1:7,8 

I believe it will ultimately be Jesus that subdues the earth not humanity. 

 
4Jesus

[FaithtoFaith]

God said He would pour out His spirit upon us in the last days and we would dream dreams, and have visions and prophesy.

At my old church, once in a while my pastor would be given a special anointing and he would individually give us a word from the Lord. This happened about two or three times in about seven years. Afterwards, if you went back to talk with him about what he had told you from the Lord, he couldn't remember. It was as if he was there, but not there. I know for a fact he was speaking from the Lord because of the words I had prayed in my heart before I stood before him, God responded to those very requests when I got there and many things that was spoken have already come to pass.

[SpiritPsalmist]

Today at 12:10 PM FaithtoFaith said this in Post #12 (http://www.christianforums.com/showthread.php?postid=679386#post679386)

God said He would pour out His spirit upon us in the last days and we would dream dreams, and have visions and prophesy.

At my old church, once in a while my pastor would be given a special anointing and he would individually give us a word from the Lord. This happened about two or three times in about seven years. Afterwards, if you went back to talk with him about what he had told you from the Lord, he couldn't remember. It was as if he was there, but not there. I know for a fact he was speaking from the Lord because of the words I had prayed in my heart before I stood before him, God responded to those very requests when I got there and many things that was spoken have already come to pass.



This happens in my church too FaithtoFaith.  God has even used me to deliver such words.

It is a difficult thing to describe . . .like said, you're there but you're not there.  And it's really a blessing when what the Lord says through me is confirming through me, information only that person and God would know. 

In such cases the words are flowing out faster than I could possibly make them up.   I had someone just this morning ask me about something I prayed over them.  In the conversation of the prayer to God I had prayed the very thing that person was seeking God for, but he had not told me any of it before hand.  I barely even remember praying for him, but he remembers and was incouraged and uplifted in his faith.

This is an awesome gift that IS still very active.  It's not for us to get all pumped up over, it's for those we come in contact with.  God speaking through us in love and reaching out to a lost world. 

Quaffer