“Fleshly Dream Or Future Reality?”
By George J. Matranga
“For God speaks again and again, in dreams, in visions of the night when deep sleep falls on men as they lie on their beds. He opens their ears in times like that, and gives them wisdom and instruction, causing them to change their minds, and keeping them from pride, and warning them of the penalties of sin, and keeping them from falling into some trap.” Job 33:14-18 Living Bible
Introduction
I had a prophetic dream. The intensity of this dream was so strong that I had to record it on a micro-cassette tape. I dared to forget any detail. I believe the Lord was warning me…and I believe this warning is for every individual. The Lord is sending an alert so we can turn aside from the traps that the enemy — the prince of darkness — has set for us before His coming! “…being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee.” Matt. 2:22 KJV
The Dream
I was in a room filled with a massive amount of people. I am not sure if it was an auditorium, but this place was gigantic! It had the appearance and atmosphere of a theater. Everyone was assembled for a meeting. A superior leader was surrounded by other leaders whom all wore dark robes. These leaders stood throughout the entire assembly.
Though I was there, I felt like I was viewing the ordeal as if viewing scenes from a movie screen. The next scene focused on the leadership. As I watched, I became very disturbed that the name of Jesus was never mentioned. I was so upset that I began to search high and low for the leaders. People were just talking and musing nonchalantly as if they were waiting on something. It was similar to how people fellowship and stand around talking after a church service. All around me I could hear the sounds of people talking and milling around. But for me, I was bent on my quest to find out why Jesus’ name had not been mentioned. I will never forget feeling that I must be wrong as I was going through the crowd. I remember thinking that I was going to embarrass myself. I constantly thought, “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” Yet, while I was battling in my mind, my heart, telling me something was wrong, urged me on.
People were dressed in different kinds of garments. There were different groups there; it seemed to be different religious groups. I kept hearing references to: The Temple! The Temple! Whatever was being propagated, the people were embracing it wholeheartedly! Still, all I could think of was that the name of Jesus was never mentioned, proclaimed, or held in honor.
Finally, I came across a young man with a pony tail who was sitting. The top of his robe was hanging down to his waist. I sat with him, thinking he was part of the leadership or one of the ushers of the event. I began to question him. And I told him that I had never been in a service where the name of Jesus was never mentioned. He just looked at me kind of bewildered and had nothing really concrete to say. I turned to some other people that were around us. One person opened his mouth as if he was going to say something but could not.
I continued my inquisition with them. What do you all believe about the deity of Christ? Why is the name of Jesus not mentioned here? I began to question them on other issues to find out about the foundation of their doctrine. I asked about salvation? Not one of them could tell me how to be saved. I didn’t get one single answer from them. No one could explain anything to me.
Since I was getting no where with this group, I continued my pursuit of finding the leaders. I remember looking around for those robed mystics that had been on the platform. The place was packed, yet I stood alone. It seemed like I was the only one searching emphatically for the leadership to demand some answers. Everyone else seemed oblivious to the need for answers.
I came to an area that I knew in my spirit was a forbidden zone. I persisted in my pursuit and got through the roped barricade. I then found myself walking in an area where you were supposed to stand in line. I looked around and saw what seemed to be a game being played. It resembled a TV game show where you pick one of three doors for prizes. I then found myself coming out of the other side of the forbidden zone where there were only a few people. As I approached the safe area where the main body of people was gathered, I noticed a robed official coming toward me. He was obviously a security guard. He was carrying something strapped from his shoulder. It vaguely appeared like the silhouette of an A.K. 47 assault rifle. He looked like he was carrying its shadow rather than the real thing. Still it got my attention!
The robed guard had me singled out as he walked toward me. There was no mistaking that his intention was to get me out of the area. As he drew closer, he simply turned to escort me out of the forbidden zone. He was calm and in control. I needed not to resist. I remember saying, under my breath, that it was okay because I’m a security guard also (a security guard for Christ that is). His response was a smirk, a tongue-and-cheek kind of laugh. He didn’t take me serious. Oddly, as I was walking out, I was limping. I then came to an outside area which appeared to be the fringes of where the meeting was being held. I began thinking of all the inadequacies and sin struggles in my life. At the same time, I was troubled that the security guard didn’t take me serious. To him I was just like some star-struck kid that had sneaked backstage trying to get an autograph.
I knew that I would not rest until I found the leadership to answer my questions. (I want to emphasize that everyone seemed at peace…except for me!) I knew deep down that something was wrong, but by the way everyone was unequivocally embracing the entire event, I started to feel maybe it was just me. This made me feel even more left out! Ironically, I was feeling guilty for wanting to question them, for wanting some answers — sound doctrinal answers. Then, I awoke.
“And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.” Gen. 40:8 KJV
The Interpretation
I believe this dream is a prophetic picture of the spiritual condition of America before the second coming of Jesus Christ. It is a divinely inspired glimpse into the near future. We are living in a time of unprecedented growing apostasy — the falling away from Biblical truth. The religious “market” is wide open today for whatever seems spiritual. Most conclude that if it’s spiritual then it must be God! However, spiritual deception is running rampant in a world void of absolute truth. Godlessness is rapidly increasing, yet there’s a movement to find spiritual meaning to life’s problems. Jesus said, “Take heed that no man deceive you.” Matt. 24:4 KJV Many sincere and honest people are vulnerable, open targets to the growing number of cults and false teachers. This dream depicts a growing spiritual movement in America — growing away, that is, from the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And, we can be assured that if there is deception there will come persecution to those who hold to scriptural truth! “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” II Tim. 3:12-13 KJV
The room filled with a massive number of people represents the world in which we live. It’s a new “state” spirituality — a unified spirituality that the majority has rallied under. It was gigantic because it will also be global — a world-accepted religion. The theater atmosphere is indicative of today’s performance-driven society, conducive to pop culture and celebrity type personalities. Everyone was assembled because everyone was deceived by their own pet passions and fleshly appetites. It was a multi-meeting center for the god of this world — the god of self. The superior and other leaders wore the same dark robes. They were not clothed in Christ but were clothed in self-deception. They were standing because they stood in their own darkness and spiritual pride, unwilling to bow their knees to a Holy God. They were like the Pharisees — the religious leaders in Jesus’ day — who clothed themselves in their own empty religiosity and prided themselves in their own works. “Woe to you, Pharisees, and you religious leaders — hypocrites!…You try to look like saintly men, but underneath those pious robes of yours are hearts besmirched with every sort of hypocrisy and sin.” Matt. 23:25,28 LB
God gave me prophetic eyes to see through these false teachers that were leading others astray. I was disturbed because it was not the gospel of Jesus Christ that drew this mass quantity of people. It was “another” gospel. The reason why the name of Jesus Christ was never mentioned is because He was banned. This was not allowed. He was not welcome! My searching represented a remnant of true believers who, in the midst of spiritual deception, hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness. They love truth and have a deep desire for others to have a personal, saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. They are compelled by their love for Christ with an urgency to rescue others out of spiritual darkness. The huge crowd fellowshipping together: unaware of any danger; indifferent, confident, and care free; symbolizes a false peace! “And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot: people went about their daily business — eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building — until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and brimstone rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. Yes, it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the hour of my return.” Luke 17:28-30 LB
People wearing different kinds of garments represented the unity of ethnic diversities and multi-cultures coming under the banner of the new state spirituality. There was different religious groups, who for the sake of unity, dropped all their religious differences until there were no doctrines! This is a picture of the apostate church. The references to the Temple represent a universal language rather than a place of worship! This exemplified a new vocabulary with new standards of definition — a new common language used to promote a false unity. In their own enlightenment, they had come to embrace a false light. “And no marvel; for satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness…” II Cor. 11:14-15 KJV
The young man whom I came across sitting represents a whole new generation totally settled in complacency. They are detached from reality, self-satisfied and apathetic. They are the remnant of the “No Fear” generation — casual yet caustic! His appearance signifies that he was trendy, yet pseudo-spiritual. This generation had found its place in the mainstream spirituality while maintaining their own identity. They were the accepted counter-culture! The top of his robe that was hanging demonstrated their outward show of rebellion. When I questioned him he was bewildered with nothing concrete to say. Another opened his mouth but could not speak. Their lack of words represent their shallowness: a belief without basis, a faith without fundamentals. This perverse generation, though having a form of godliness, is totally clueless of Biblical answers. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind…without understanding…implacable…” Rom. 1:28,31 KJV
This young generation represents the aftermath of a society that has turned its back on the God of the Bible. They could not answer my questions on the deity of Christ because they believe in the deification of self. They have no sound doctrines because they are indoctrinated — imbued by self-deception. They have no foundation for life because they refuse to accept the Author of life. They could not explain salvation in Christ because they had exchanged the truth of God for a lie. They had become the children of a godless society — accommodated by false teachers! “For there is going to come a time when people won’t listen to the truth, but will go around looking for teachers who will tell them just what they want to hear. They won’t listen to what the Bible says but will blithely follow their own misguided ideas.” II Tim. 4:3-4 LB
The reason I was getting no where with this group is because they had been given over to divine justice. They could not understand because they were reprobate — they had refused to accept the Biblical revelation of truth. They were implacable — unable of being persuaded to enter into a true covenant with God through Jesus Christ. They had been given what they wanted…their own way! So they have been rejected only to receive the due penalty of their error…eternal destruction!
The robed mystics were masked rebels, wolves in sheep’s clothing. They depicted the “mystery of lawlessness” — that hidden rebellion against God’s sovereign authority. And, the superior was none other than the Anti-Christ — the man of sin that will be revealed at the end of the age. The feeling of standing alone, though the place was packed, refers to world-wide acceptance by the majority. True Christians will be the minority. Their obliviousness shows that they were recipients of mass mind reform: developed subjects/slaves of the new “state” spirituality — products of “Biblically sanitized” thought forms. “I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts.” Is. 65:2 KJV
The forbidden zone represents the secret motives and hidden agendas in the hearts of the new spiritual leaders. It was roped to prevent exposure of how they were playing games with peoples’ lives for the sake of personal gain and rewards. They are predators beguiling the unstable and unsuspecting while hiding their wicked practices! The line represents the blind leading the blind down a secret pathway to hell. How I found myself on the other side demonstrates God’s guidance and protection. Those who remain loyal to Christ are given eyes to see the spirit of error. The Holy Spirit will cause them to break through and follow the narrow road that leads to life; few find it! “Heaven can be entered only through the narrow gate! The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide enough for all the multitudes who choose its easy way. But the Gateway to Life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.” Matt. 7:13-14 LB
The “phantom” rifle, the robed guard was carrying, represents tyranny. Intimidation, indoctrination, and manipulation will be the means of control used to silence the adversaries of the new regime. These will be the weapons the new religious and political establishment use to squelch the resistance.
All dissenters and non-conformists who hold different life-views — views adhering to Biblical Christianity — will be persecuted.
The security guard’s disrespect shows disregard for those who profess true spiritual authority. His disdain represents a contempt for Bible believing Christians. He laughed because he viewed Christians as weak and unenlightened. To him they were not a serious threat. He had so easily used his official position uncontested…the law was on his side! Being outside on the fringes depicts Christians as outsiders with extremist views – parasites that need to be removed. My limping represents the distinction that those who humbly walk with Christ embrace the message of the cross. Those who are truly enlightened have received the revelation of God’s grace through His Son. They have an understanding of the sin principle inherent in every human being. They know that man cannot save himself…no matter how spiritually enlightened. They understand that sin can only be overcome by the shed blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. They’re troubled that the message of the true gospel is not taken seriously. Still they are burdened with compassion for those who are spiritually blind and lost in demonic deception, though their rivals only see them as star-struck fanatics. “Then Jesus told Him, ‘I have come into the world to give sight to those who are spiritually blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”’ John 9:39 LB
My restlessness represents the mandate of the church, the True Bride of Christ, in the last days. The church’s official position is to contend for the faith — the apostolic truth from the original teachings taught by Christ. My relentless pursuit of the leadership symbolizes the church’s commission to confront and expose error, false teaching, and apostasy. Everyone who names the name of Christ must position himself for a war of views and beliefs! The way I was feeling left out expresses how this fight is beyond human efforts. We must pray and act, laying down our lives for others. My feelings of guilt mirrors the need to be sober minded. We need to guard our hearts lest we fall prey and be lured to sleep by a false peace. My deep desire for sound doctrine represents the love of truth in spite of persecution and personal weaknesses. My awakening from the dream represents a “wake up call” for the church. It is not time for the church to sleep! “Wake up, for the coming of the Lord is nearer now than when we first believed.” Rom. 13:11 LB
Conclusion
Was this just a fleshly dream or a future reality?
Is this so far off that it cannot touch us? Is it far-fetched or have we become desensitized? Signs prove that we are preparing for it! Relentless efforts to root out Biblical Christianity are already under way in America. Most mainline denominational churches have defected from Biblical doctrine. With the rise of religious cults there is even talk of “religion control.” Yet, whatever is palatable to current appetites, with a spiritual twist, is popular and accepted. Currently, there is “another” Jesus being promulgated. He has been modified in order to be relative to the culture. “This Jesus” is loving, positive, non-judgmental, and tolerates aberrant lifestyles…but void of Biblical standards! The real Jesus — who will judge this world in righteousness — is coming soon. Are you ready to meet Him? “For the free gift of eternal salvation is now being offered to everyone; and along with this gift comes the realization that God wants us to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures and to live good, God-fearing lives day after day, looking forward to that wonderful time we’ve been expecting, when his glory shall be seen — the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:11-13 LB
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions…” Joel 2:28 KJV
Date of Dream: December 18, 1997