Seeing in the Spirit
Welcome to Living Word Cast!
I’m Pastor Michael Chilcott, coming to you from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This podcast exists to proclaim, teach, and explore the Word of God together. Our goal is to provide sound theological and biblical guidance on all things Scripture, helping you grow deeper in your understanding of the Bible and your relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Whether you’re seeking answers, encouragement, or a closer walk with God, this podcast is here to help you stay firmly rooted in the truth of God’s Word.
Seeing in the Spirit — Is It a Real Gift?
In this episode, we’re going to discuss a topic that has stirred a lot of debate and curiosity among Christians: ‘Seeing in the Spirit’ and claims of visiting heaven or hell. Are these real gifts or experiences from God? Or are they exaggerations, fabrications, or even deceptions meant to gain fame or fortune?
As always, our goal here is to measure these ideas against the Word of God, which is the ultimate authority for truth. Let’s dive into scripture and see what the Bible has to say about these claims.
Let’s begin with the first question: ‘Is seeing in the spirit a real gift from the Holy Spirit?’ Many Christians today claim they have the ability to see into the spiritual realm, perceiving angels, demons, or other supernatural realities. But is this supported by scripture?
To answer this, we need to break it down into three parts: biblical examples of spiritual sight, whether it is described as a gift, and warnings about false claims or abuses.
1. Biblical Examples of Spiritual Sight
There are indeed instances in scripture where people were granted the ability to see into the spiritual realm. Let’s look at a few examples:
Elisha and His Servant (2 Kings 6:17):“When Elisha and his servant were surrounded by an enemy army, the servant was terrified. Elisha prayed, ‘O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.’ And the Lord opened his eyes to see the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire.
This was not an ongoing ability for the servant—it was a one-time event, granted by God for His purposes. Elisha’s prayer acknowledged that this was something only God could enable.
Stephen’s Vision of Heaven (Acts 7:55-56):“When Stephen was being stoned, scripture says: ‘But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.’
Again, this vision was not something Stephen sought or claimed to control. It was given by God in a specific moment to encourage Stephen and glorify Christ.
John’s Revelation (Revelation 1:10-11):“The apostle John was shown visions of heaven, the future, and spiritual realities, which he recorded in the Book of Revelation. These visions were initiated by God and served a prophetic purpose for the Church.”
