Had a very upsetting dream

[David_james]

I was waiting for Jesus to return with a bunch of people. We all knew he would be coming in a few minutes. Sure enough, he came. We gathered around him and had started speaking. He filled the area with blood and cast rings onto people who would be going to hell. One fell on me! I was shocked. I thought there must a mistake but it wasn't. I was in hell and in pain. I thought I was dreaming but couldn't wake up. I still wanted to sing about Jesus but singing wasn't allowed. As punishment I had my fingers cut off but woke up before they cut them.

I know that dreams are usually just our brains working overtime but I can't shake it. I know have salvation and am secured but that dream scared me.

[David_james]

interesting that I should get this this morning

 FULL ASSURANCE
by Cornelius R. Stam
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It is wonderful to have the full assurance of salvation, and it is God's will that every one of us enjoy this assurance. Toward the close of his life the Apostle John wrote by divine inspiration:

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life..." (I John 5:13).

There are three bases upon which believers in Christ may enjoy the full assurance of salvation: First, God urges every true believer: "Let us draw near, with a sincere heart, in full assurance of faith..." (Heb. 10:22). This is the full assurance that results from simply believing God; much as a child implicitly believes what his father has said and is absolutely sure that it is true. God says: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life" (John 3:36). We may simply -- and with good reason -- believe His Word and enjoy the full assurance of faith.

Second, we may enjoy what Heb. 6:11 calls "the full assurance of hope." The hope of the Bible, however, must not be confused with wishing. The Christian's "hope" is "an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast" (Ver. 19). It comes from having proved God. Thus the full assurance of hope is the confidence that results from having accepted God's Word.

But third, and best of all, is what Col. 2:2 calls "riches of the full assurance of understanding." This full assurance is God's reward to Christians who study His Word and His purposes, beginning with His plan of salvation as revealed in "the gospel of the grace of God." When one not only believes God's Word, but begins to understand it he cannot but be gripped by its sublime reasonableness, its powerful logic, and its provision for his deepest needs, and thus he comes to enjoy "all [the] riches of the full assurance of understanding."

[Soldier4Christ]

It is only normal that we, in our earthly selves, may have doubts and fears even in our dreams. It is even better though to have the assurance that the scriptures speak of that is given in the devotional that you posted. "The full assurance of hope" that we are indeed the children of God through Jesus Christ. It is a hope most wonderful. We can be assured that through His love for us and our love for Him that we no longer have need to fear, that fear is removed as we are made perfect in love.

[nChrist]

AMEN!

Brother David, this is a beautiful thread, and I'm glad that you posted it. I agree 100% with the devotion from Pastor Stam, and I also agree 100% with what Pastor Roger told you.

Brother David, I'd like to suggest that you read your Bible and pray before you go to sleep. Many Christians do this and it makes good sense. It's good to have the things of GOD on your mind when you want to rest. As a contrast, you wouldn't want to watch a horror movie before trying to go to sleep. You might also consider reading some good devotional material before going to bed. I sent you one of my favorite devotional series not to long ago:  The Faithful Promiser by John MacDuff. Here's a sample:
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PARDONING GRACE
by John MacDuff, 1849

        "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." —Isaiah 1:18

        My soul! your God summons you to His audience chamber! Infinite purity seeks to reason with infinite vileness! Deity stoops to speak to dust! Dread not the meeting. It is the most gracious, as well as most wondrous of all conferences. Jehovah himself breaks silence! He utters the best tidings a lost soul or a lost world can hear—"God is in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing unto men their trespasses." What! Scarlet sins, and crimson sins! and these all to be forgiven and forgotten! The just God "justifying" the unjust!—the mightiest of all beings, the kindest of all!

        Oh! what is there in you to merit such love as this? You might have known your God only as the "consuming fire," and had nothing before you except "a fearful looking for of vengeance!" This gracious conference bids you dispel your fears! It tells you it is no longer a "fearful," but a blessed thing to fall into His hands! Have you closed with these His overtures? Until you are at peace with Him, happiness must be a stranger to your bosom. Though you have all else beside, bereft of God you must be "bereft indeed." Lord! I come! As your pardoning grace is freely tendered, so shall I freely accept it. May it be mine, even now, to listen to the gladdening accents, "Son! Daughter! be of good cheer! your sins, which are many are all forgiven you."
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Brother David, I know this is old, but I consider it to be quite beautiful. I can think of many other examples. If you would like me to send you some more material, just tell me. In the meantime, please do consider trying to fill your mind with the goodness of GOD before you go to bed.

Love in Christ,
Tom

Ephesians 2:1-7 ASV  1  And you did he make alive, when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins, 2 wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience; 3 among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest:
4 but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved), 6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus: 7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus: