He Who has Eyes to See

A brief exposition on seeing in the Spirit


As I begin, I think it wise to determine some of the ways that the visionary has been manifest in scripture. I’ll start with defining the difference between a physical manifestation of the spiritual, and an open vision. These two examples are not the only expressions of interaction with the spiritual realm visually, but they are certainly the most commonly realized, and further, the most widely confused with one another.

A physical manifestation of the spiritual realm is when some spiritual entity somehow manifests itself in the physical realm. This is not actually a ‘visionary’ experience at all, but it is something which can visually be seen. The first scriptural example of this (unless you believe the serpent in the Garden of Eden was actually a physical manifestation of Satan, which may or may not be so), is Genesis 6:1-4. This is a fairly controversial passage, which speaks of angels manifesting themselves in the earth and marrying women. Their offspring were the nephelim. Now there is a clear distinction between this instance and a vision, the angels actually had physical sexual relations with women; they did not simply became visually discernable. There are other manifestations similar to this throughout the old testament, where a spiritual being of some sort was physically present (Gen 32:24-30; Josh. 5:13-15). Even as Moses led the Israelites through the desert there was a physical cloud present (Ex 13:21&22). Then in the new testament we know of at least two accounts in the life of Jesus, one at the baptism of Jesus when the Spirit descended upon Him ‘bodily,’ (Luke 3:22) and then on the mount of transfiguration where Moses and Elijah stood physically before Jesus. In fact the birth and life of Jesus Christ itself is a physical manifestation of the spiritual realm, as God ‘became flesh and made His dwelling among us.’ (John 1:14)

An open vision on the other hand is an experience in which someone sees a vision of something that is happening in the spiritual realm with his or her physical eyes. This is different from a physical manifestation of the spiritual realm in that it is something not happening physically, but certainly is happening spiritually. Paul the Apostle, at his conversion saw an open vision of Jesus which is described in Acts 9:3-6.

We know it was an open vision and not a physical manifestation because in verse seven it states that: ‘The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.’ If Jesus were physically manifest, everyone would have seen him, just as they did before He ascended; all who stood in his presence then could see his physical body standing with them. Some other examples of an open vision can be found in Isaiah 6, all throughout the book of Ezekiel, and the entire book of Revelation beginning in chapter four. In an open vision a person may actually feel or believe he or she is physically experiencing something because it seems so real to them (and in fact it is really happening, yet within the spirit and not physically). For example Paul describes an experience that was PROBABLY an open vision in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4. He states that the experience was so real that he was unsure whether he was physically there or only spiritually present.

Dreams are another kind of visionary experience. Obviously not all dreams are visions, however prophetic dreams such as experienced by Israel’s son Joseph (the baker and cup bearer), and the Pharaoh (Genesis 37:5-7, 9 41:1-7) could certainly be considered visions. Dreams, however, take place in the mind, they are not seen with physical eyes like an open vision, but they are viewed on the ‘imagination screen’ so to speak. It is still ‘seeing in the spirit,’ only the venue through which it is seen is that of the mind rather than the eyes. A person’s imagination works in the same way that dreams do, simply images and pictures you see in your minds’ eye. Some people call this ‘seeing with the eyes of your spirit.’

One misconception that can be made about dreams is that they only come when we sleep. However in Genesis 31:10-13 Jacob says:
And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.11 And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred. KJV

This passage clearly states that Jacob had a visionary dream, while he was awake. The Hebrew word for ‘dream’ is quite distinct in this instance from the word for ‘vision,’ but it is clearly a prophetic visionary experience.

There are many accounts throughout the gospels that infer that Jesus saw things in the supernatural. One story early in the book of John, chronicles an account of Jesus spiritual perception.
John 1:45-49

Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote-Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
46 "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.
"Come and see," said Philip.
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."
48 "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you."
49 Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."

Jesus prophetically describes Nathanael’s personality to him as he approaches, declaring him to be a man of integrity. Nathanael then asks how Jesus would know this of him and Jesus replies that he saw him before Philip went and got him.

For the longest time I did not understand this passage. If Jesus saw Nathanael, why is it that Nathanael is so impressed that Jesus remembered him? Because he was able to ‘prophetically’ discern his integrity? Hardly; if he did see him physically, Jesus could have inquired about what people thought of ‘that man under the fig tree.’ The only reason that Nathanael would be impressed enough to declare that Jesus is the Son of God is if something about what He said in this passage was supernatural.

If Nathanael had been under a fig tree in a public place, and many people saw him there, there would be nothing surprising about what Jesus said. If, rather, Nathanael had been in the wilderness or outside of the city where no one could see him, he would therefore know that Jesus had never physically been at the place where he had been sitting. This would infer that Jesus had a vision of Nathanael sitting under a fig tree, and that vision was accompanied by a word of knowledge regarding the man’s integrity. Now that would be amazing! That would be something worth noting as a powerful supernatural experience.

From the context of the vision, it is probable that Jesus had a ‘dream’ in which he saw Nathanael under the fig tree. I say it was probably this kind of vision because what He saw in this case was not something that happened in the spiritual realm (since, remember, an ‘open vision’ is seeing something in the spiritual realm with your physical eyes), but something that had happened in the natural.

And Jesus follows up the conversation with a promise to Nathanael, beginning in verse fifty he says:
"You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." 51 He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

Essentially Christ is saying: ‘You believe I am the Son of God, simply because I had a vision of you before I met you? The visions that you will have shall be far more powerful and amazing than that!’

Jesus promised other believers that they would have visionary experiences when he proclaimed in Mark 9:1 "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power." Clearly this speaks of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which was at that time still yet to come, however the ‘seeing’ is also strongly implied here, and this did happen. For when the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, they saw cloven tongues: ‘like as of fire’ (KJV) come to rest on each of them.

And in John 14:19-21 Jesus declares to his disciples and to all believers: “Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” Indeed, the King James of this says: ‘will manifest myself to him.’

So, here in John we have a clear promise that we can see Jesus. But how?! Jesus will not be physically manifest in the earth again until the end of the age. So how do we see Him?

Matt 13:15 For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'

One of the biggest keys to opening your spiritual eyes is to open our hearts to Him. Does this mean that if someone doesn’t have a vision right away that their hearts are calloused before the Lord? Absolutely not, but to many of us the notion of seeing a dream or vision of God seems so far out of grasp that we would not presume to think ourselves worthy, but John 14:21 negates that; stating that Jesus will show himself to ANYONE who loves him, that is: any of His followers.

Jesus said that He only did what He could see His Father doing (John 5:19); if we are to be like Jesus, should we not spend time watching God with the eyes of our spirit so that we can see what He is doing, and so do it?

Another thing that seems to hinder us is that we frankly don’t know how to see in the spirit. Sometimes there are open visions, but these are generally sovereign acts, when God chooses to open our physical eyes to Him. However, even secular psychologists will tell you that you can control your dreams. Does this mean that you can control God in visions? Not at all, but to dream is a gift bestowed on all mankind, where an open vision, as I said, occurs at God’s sovereign choice. Everyone has a lens with which to see Jesus, or He’d have been lying when he said that He would show Himself to us. In any visionary experience, whether open vision or dream, our spiritual senses are heightened. The Word states in Ephesians 2:6 that we have already been raised with Christ and seated with Him in heavenly places. And this must be so because if we are one with Him in spirit (1Corinthians 6:17) our spirit must be united with Him wherever he is, while His spirit also is united with us wherever we are.

If you want to begin to open your spiritual eyes try this: turn on some worship music and spend some time seeking God in prayer; establish an atmosphere of worship, one that is inviting to the Holy Spirit. Then simply close your eyes and imagine God. See yourself standing before Him, think about what He looks like, and watch what He’s doing. If you find it helpful read some passages in Ezekiel or Revelation that describe God. If you see something you’re not sure of, pray about it, perhaps the Lord is showing you some characteristic about Himself, or revealing something about you. Spend time looking at Him; if it is good for no other purpose it can be a form of worship between yourself and Him. We cannot appreciate anything unless we perceive it.

Many of us have notions that our imagination is of the sinful nature, but it is a tool that God has given to every person who has ever lived. Is it not possible that this is because God wants to reveal Himself to His people?