Regardless how dark my dreams may appear, I rarely wake up disturbed or anxious. This dream was different. I felt like Daniel when he had a dream and was “troubled in spirit” (Daniel 7:15-16).

Every dream should be left in the Lord’s hands to interpret. Especially when it’s a dream that wakes you up unsettled. Such was the case on this particular morning.

Jesus spoke in riddles and parables and because this dream appears dark, I felt it was important to emphasize even dark dreams have a beautiful message. It’s a modern-day story found in scripture that I hope you’ll recognize by the time you get to the end. I have no doubt the enemy tried to cause fear in the night and God stepped in and got the final Word.

Satan Disguised as an Angel of Light Dream

I was on vacation with family and friends and we were looking for a specific resort. We had a printout of a hotel that was black and white with a beautiful garden in the middle courtyard. We found the hotel and walked around the trees in the garden.

A worker walked up and told us we had to be a member to enter. I told them I was a member. I let the group know that I had hotel points for a free night, but they probably required more than I had.

The scene changed slightly and we didn’t want to be seen. We hopped on a large boat and quickly walked through the narrow passageway trying to remain unseen. While we were on the boat I told the group that I felt sick and needed a doctor.

We stepped out of the boat and into a parking garage. There were three cars up against the wall to our right. Still hiding, we scurried to the car.

I reminded the group I needed to go to the doctor because my head and ears were plugged. “If they see you, just tell them you went to the doctor.” my friends told me. I didn’t want to lie. I continued thinking, “I really am sick.”

We arrived at my childhood home. My brothers were there and we went to bed for the night. I went into my bedroom and my head was still hurting. I stood up and thought, “Yes, something is in there. I hope it’s not a snake.”

I felt a bump on the right, outside of my nose. I pushed it from the outside to get it down. I grabbed it from the inside and began pulling; still cringing by the sight of what was happening. As I slid it out of my nose, there seemed to be no end to what I was extracting. I continued thinking, “This better not be a snake or a poisonous snake.”

I pulled the long, slimy thing out of my nose and my worst fear came true. It was a snake!

It had two heads with large teeth. Their heads looked more like an alligator.

Three times I said, “They’re dead” and that’s when I noticed the heads were different colors and the body of the snake was glistening like crystal.

The closer I looked I could see they were fake and made of cheap plastic.

Scene Changed:

I was back with my friends. “I told you I needed to go to the doctor. I will take a picture and send it to the doctor.” I said.

I began to trace where we had come from and it was then I realized the boat was the hospital.

The group finally recognized my need to go to the doctor and said, “You have to go.”

I entered the hospital. The entire room was white. There was a man standing to my left in front of a glass cage. I looked in and there was a stark white snake, glistening; glowing with crystals.

“The snake just shed its skin in front of me.” the man said.

“Were you able to capture it on video?” I asked. 

End of dream

Interpretation:

I don’t know if you recognized this, but the scene of the black and white hotel, the garden in the middle, and running and hiding is a modern-day version of the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:1-24

The scene with the snake coming out of my head and body was what caused alarm when I woke up. I was unsettled and wondered what unconfessed sin was lurking in me. God showed me had the snake been alive there probably was something I have not dealt with. In this case, however, the snake was dead and though Satan tried to cause fear, God revealed a beautiful picture of His love and forgiveness. Revelation 12:10; 2 Corinthians 10:5

There’s a lot to this dream and I’ll provide some overall takeaways as to what God revealed.

· Vacation can represent a time of rest, leisure, and fun. In this case, it’s a warning, “don’t be caught off guard.” This is represented by what follows in the dream (darkness and the snake). Depending on the activities taking place in a dream, vacation can be a positive, uplifting message.

Black and white color hotel and the garden in the middle (Garden of Eden, good and evil). Genesis 2

·Our “membership” is free. Christ already paid the price for our freedom and welcomes us into the kingdom of God. I Corinthians 12:12

·The hotel represents what is temporary. It also reinforces a place of rest, highlighting a positive message from the enemies attack. We aren’t meant to continue walking in sin. We must seek God’s forgiveness. We didn’t want to be exposed. Like Adam and Eve, we tried to hide. John 3:20 There is no place we can hide from God. Psalm 139:12

·I didn’t recognize I was already in the hospital (God’s cleansing and healing is readily available). I could have been healed sooner had I not run away.

·I kept focusing on the illness without doing anything about it. I listened to others and didn’t go to the source for my healing – God.

·My friends wanted me to lie and be deceitful. Satan is the “father of lies.” John 8:44

·The snake was fake and cheap. This has a positive and negative message:

Positive: When we ask for forgiveness, God extracts the sin and makes us “white as snow.” What I pulled it out it was dead and because I’m a new creation, the old is gone. 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Negative: Satan wants to cheapen me, but my worth is in Christ Jesus. If I can’t forgive myself I will remain in bondage. There is a part of the enemy that will cling to me if I don't forgive myself. I must believe that God saved me from my sin and the enemy cannot condemn me or make me feel less than. Hebrews 2:7

“But you aren’t like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.” I Peter 2:9. Psalm 8:5

·Childhood home representing the past. For me, this symbolizes and reinforces past sin. It’s in the past, gone. I have nothing to be ashamed of. ·When I accepted the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, I became whole, clean, and free. I never have to look back!

·The white snake: The devil disguises himself as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14 A white snake also represents a religious spirit. There’s no such thing as a good snake. It’s a pretender, pretending to be holy.

·Snake skin: A beautiful picture that we can see the enemy for who he is – a deceiver who causes confusion, fear, and anxiety. Pray about all things and know when the enemy is near. Philippians 4:6

·Pray for discernment. Psalm 119:66

·Satan is caged and locked up. What a beautiful ending to this dream. Satan roams the earth, but he cannot take away my salvation or my peace. Jesus holds the keys to life and death, not Satan. Revelation 1:18

·Photograph/Video: Twice in this dream, I wanted to capture a photo of the snake. I feel this reinforces the importance to know that photos are a memory, something from the past. It captures a moment in time. A picture can represent the Word of God, which is our reminder who Satan is and what he tries to do. Don't forget what God has done for us. "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Write all the words which I have spoken to you in a book." Jeremiah 30:2

The Bible reinforces who we are in Christ and because Christ has all authority, we as Christians have all authority. We need not fear what the enemy tries to do to us. Take a “picture” - know what the Word of God says.

Don’t forget how small and insignificant the enemy is. We don’t fight flesh and blood, but "greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.” I John 4:4

Additional thoughts that may interest you. 

·God convicts, Satan condemns.

·Don’t let Satan outsmart you. 2 Corinthians 2:11

·This is an alarming dream, but look at the big picture. Just like Adam and Eve, God reveals His love for all humanity. His love, grace, and forgiveness is for all. Don’t listen to Satan, listen to God. See Satan the way God revealed in this dream– in a cage! He’s not in control. God is.

“It’s important to know that God doesn’t send dreams to embarrass, condemn, or confuse us” (J. Ibojie. “Illustrated Dictionary of Dream Symbols.” iBooks. https://itun.es/us/6_VNC.l

God is light:

Psalm 139 "To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you."