Topical Bible: Wicked (People): Compared With: Visions of the Night

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In the biblical narrative, the term "wicked" is frequently used to describe individuals who live in opposition to God's commandments and moral order. The wicked are often characterized by their rebellion against divine authority, their pursuit of sinful desires, and their disregard for justice and righteousness. The Bible provides numerous accounts and descriptions of wicked people, illustrating their behaviors and the consequences of their actions.

Characteristics of the Wicked:

1. Rebellion Against God: The wicked are often depicted as those who reject God's authority and choose their own path. In Psalm 10:4, it is written, "In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God."

2. Pursuit of Sinful Desires: The wicked are described as indulging in sinful behaviors and desires. Proverbs 21:10 states, "The soul of the wicked craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes."

3. Injustice and Oppression: The wicked are frequently associated with acts of injustice and oppression. Isaiah 10:1-2 warns, "Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of justice and withhold the rights of the oppressed of My people."

4. Deceit and Falsehood: Deception is a common trait of the wicked. Psalm 36:3 notes, "The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and well-doing."

Consequences for the Wicked:

The Bible consistently warns of the dire consequences awaiting the wicked. Proverbs 11:21 assures, "Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape." The ultimate fate of the wicked is separation from God and eternal judgment, as depicted in passages like Matthew 25:46, "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Visions of the Night:

In contrast to the wicked, "visions of the night" often serve as divine revelations or warnings given to individuals during sleep. These visions are typically characterized by their clarity and purpose, providing guidance, insight, or forewarning from God.

1. Divine Revelation: Visions of the night are frequently used by God to reveal His will or future events. In Job 33:15-16, it is stated, "In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds, He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings."

2. Guidance and Instruction: These visions can offer guidance and instruction to the faithful. For example, in Genesis 46:2, God speaks to Jacob in a vision of the night, saying, "Jacob, Jacob! Here I am."

3. Warnings and Protection: Visions of the night can also serve as warnings to protect individuals from harm. In Matthew 2:13, an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, instructing him to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus to escape Herod's wrath.

Comparison:

While the wicked are characterized by their rejection of God and pursuit of evil, visions of the night represent divine communication and intervention. The wicked are often left to their own devices, leading to destruction, whereas visions of the night provide guidance, protection, and revelation to those who are receptive to God's voice. This contrast highlights the importance of seeking God's will and remaining open to His guidance, as opposed to following the path of the wicked, which leads to ruin.

In summary, the biblical portrayal of the wicked serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of living in opposition to God's ways, while visions of the night exemplify the blessings of divine communication and guidance for those who seek the Lord.

Nave's Topical Index

Job 20:8
He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yes, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Visions of the Sacred Humanity, and of the Glorified Bodies. ...
... in a bed of crystal, reflecting the rays of the sun, compared with most ... 19] The
contradiction of good people, which a wretched woman, weak, wicked, and timid ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/chapter xxviii visions of the.htm

Watch-Night Service
... compared with flesh; and vapours are rocks compared with life ... heart the wound of
the daughter of his people. ... as sinful and vile, and heinously wicked, who have ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/watch-night service.htm

This ChapterSpeaks of the Manner in which God Communicates with ...
... the time is but a moment compared to this ... However wicked an artist may be, we should
reverence ... Thirdly: when people strongly desire a thing, the imagination ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/chapter ix this chapter speaks.htm

The Cry of the Heathen
... to India (and are they not one or two, compared with their ... I dare say"to dare to
hint that some people have a ... Of course it will be very wicked if I dare to ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the cry of the heathen.htm

Ancestors of the Blessed virgin
... I saw them always living amongst other men who, compared to them ... about them: O where
can these good people find a ... are they to escape from those rough, wicked men ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/i ancestors of the blessed.htm

The Majestic Voice
... The most wicked of men have been obliged to ... yet are they but indistinct whispers,
compared with the ... so terribly in thunder, that the people requested that they ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the majestic voice.htm

The Shame and Spitting
... But the lash is nothing among us compared with what ... light before your eyes:"AS THE
SUBSTITUTE FOR HIS PEOPLE. ... as with a bridle while the wicked were before ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 25 1879/the shame and spitting.htm

The Bible
... not against flesh and blood, but against wicked spirits in the ... are taken up with
the history of that people. ... the imagination of Milton, are not to be compared. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/haldeman/christ christianity and the bible/the bible.htm

The Feast of the Lord
... the "rest that remaineth for the people of God." What good ... but a very few shillings
a week compared with our ... when he saw the prosperity of the wicked, and you ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the feast of the lord.htm

The Meaning
... it is well known that tribulations and distresses are compared to the ... for a short
space among the people; yet when ... we shall see that the most wicked spirit was ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the meaning 3.htm