False visions and divination are practices condemned in the Bible, often associated with misleading prophecies and the worship of false gods. These practices are seen as attempts to gain knowledge or insight apart from God’s revelation and are frequently linked to idolatry and rebellion against God.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, false visions and divination are explicitly prohibited. The Israelites were warned against engaging in these practices, as they were common among the pagan nations surrounding them. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 states, "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable things the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you."

Prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel spoke against false prophets who claimed to have visions from God but were actually speaking from their own imaginations. Jeremiah 14:14 says, "The LORD said to me, 'The prophets are prophesying lies in My name. I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, worthless divination, the deceit of their own minds.'"

Ezekiel also condemns false prophets, stating in Ezekiel 13:6-7 , "They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. Have you not seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken?"

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the emphasis shifts to the discernment of spirits and the testing of prophecies. Jesus warned about false prophets in Matthew 7:15 , "Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves."

The Apostle Paul also addressed the issue of false teachings and prophecies. In Acts 16:16-18 , Paul encounters a slave girl with a spirit of divination: "One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, 'These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.' She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, 'In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!' And it left her at that very moment."

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, false visions and divination are seen as direct challenges to the sovereignty and authority of God. They represent a reliance on human or demonic sources of power and knowledge rather than on God’s revealed Word. The Bible consistently calls believers to seek wisdom and guidance from God alone, emphasizing the sufficiency of Scripture and the work of the Holy Spirit in guiding the faithful.

Practical Considerations

For believers, the biblical injunctions against false visions and divination serve as a warning to remain vigilant against deceptive practices and teachings. Christians are encouraged to test all things against the truth of Scripture and to rely on prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit for discernment. The community of faith is called to uphold sound doctrine and to be wary of those who claim new revelations that contradict the established Word of God.