Vision of Peter Was About Men, NOT Food

The “vision of Peter” was about whether MEN were clean, or unclean. It NEVER ONCE refers to DIETARY REGULATIONS – they have not changed from the Old Testament.

PORK IS STILL UNCLEAN (and downright harmful to eat)!!

Acts 10:13–15, Peter’s vision. In Peter’s vision of the sheet covered with unclean animals, the voice from heaven commanded him three times to kill and eat these unclean animals. Peter was confused by the meaning of this vision since being a Torah-law abiding Jew he knew that eating unclean meat was forbidden and in good conscience he could not do that which was contrary to YHVH’s Torah-law, for to do so was sin (sin is the violation of the law, 1 John 3:4).

Visions are often metaphorical in nature and not literal. There are numerous examples in the Scriptures of people having metaphorical visions. For example, the books of Daniel and Revelation. Peter’s vision was no exception. As soon as the vision ended, three Gentile men appeared at his door seeking the gospel message. The Spirit of the Lord bade Peter to get and to meet them. Peter then realized the interpretation of his vision. He realized we should not call any man common or unclean. The gospel message is for all people regardless of their ethnic background (verse 28). In Peter’s case, the Bible itself interprets his vision. The issue is not about permission to eat non-kosher meat. No, Peter’s vision was of Jesus directing the apostles to begin taking the gospel to the Gentiles. At that time, according to Jewish standards, non-Jews were considered common and unclean (verse 28).

Something to consider. If Jesus had meant to say in Matthew 15:11 and Mark 7:18–19 that it was now permissible to eat all foods including those meats that the Torah prohibits (pork, shellfish), PETER WOULD HAVE KNOWN IT.  Peter certainly would have known this, since he was standing there when Jesus made the statement (see Matt 15:15). If Peter knew that Jesus had given the go ahead for his disciples to now eat unclean meat, why then did Peter object so strongly when the voice from heaven commanded him to eat the unclean animals in the vision (Acts 10:13–14)? Obviously, Peter had not changed his opinion about eating unclean meat or not, since Jesus never annulled the Old Testament command forbidding the eating of unclean meats, at all. Ever.

Here is another point to consider with regard to Peter’s vision. In the Old Testament, unclean animals or beasts of the field was a Hebrew metaphor for the people of the nations (goyim), or Gentiles. Peter knew well the meaning of this metaphor once the angel explained to him that the unclean animals he had seen in his vision was a reference to Gentiles, not biblical dietary laws. Moreover, in the Jewish religious tradition of the day, orthodox Jews DID NOT interaction with Gentiles. To do so made one un-kosher or unclean. This is not a biblical concept, the nation of Israel was to be a light to the nations and to bring them to The Lord.

Furthermore, the Torah is inclusive with regard to allowing Gentiles to sojourn with the Israelites as long as they would accept the Lord and his laws and turn from their heathen ways. Torah-law was to be one and the same for both the native born Israelite and the Gentile that was grafted into Israel. There are also several examples in the Old Testament of Gentiles converting to the religion of the Israelites’ and being fully accepted (e.g. Ruth and Rahab). Once the angel explained the meaning of his dream, it would have been clear to Peter that Jesus was expressing His disapproval of the Jewish view of Gentiles. Peter now realized that this vision was a mandate from from His Father to evangelize the Gentiles. Moreover, a Gentile who converted and is brought into Israel is made spiritually clean. The Scriptures never considered unclean animals kosher, and has never made any provision for unclean animals to be made kosher – may it never be!

I ONLY SPEAK IN PARABLES

Acts 10:13–15, Rise…kill and eat…Not so, Lord. On occasion, YHVH gave his servants a dream or vision that on the surface seems outrageous or even anti-Bible, as was the case with Peter’s dream. It appeared that YHVH was asking Peter to violate his own Commands by inviting to eat unclean meats. This is how the modern church has interpreted this vision – giving themselves license to their yummy bacon, and ham, and pork chops, etc. Todays church is ALL SOUL AND NO SPIRIT. Today’s church go’ers do not have a spiritual bone in their bodies, now that the hog wash, man’s stories are passed on as truth. Today’s church is so dumbed down that the surface meaning is the only one taught, while de-emphasizing or forgetting entirely about its metaphorical meaning.

Why do you think Elohim uses such methods at times to get our attention? Surely, he’d never ask his people to go against his Written Commands. This is impossible. Going forward, if someone receives a dream or vision, that they believe is from the Lord, it would be best to stop and ask a couple of questions, before assuming. If the dream seems to be asking them do something contrary to Scripture, as was the case with Peter’s vision, then HUGE RED FLAGS!!!. You need to really dig into the Bible, and your own heart, to identify the true sender and motivation for this vision. Was it truly from the Lord, or could it be from my own soulish desires? Or maybe it was a fiery dart, target at them from Satan? Or is the dream to interpreted metaphorically? Is YHVH simply using hyperbole or strong symbolic imagery to grab our attention? This is the case with Peter’s vision – to strongly convey to us a particular direction he wants us to go in.

The prophet Nathan found out how dicey Interpreting dreams and visions can be. He misinterpreted the vision he received from The Lord pertaining to David. YHVH wanted to build up the house of David as a dynasty, but Nathan (mis)interpreted the vision as David building a house (a temple) for Elohim. It is most likely that both Nathan’s and David’s passion for wanting to build a temple was forefront in their mind’s and heart’s. Another reason why their judgement was screwed up, and may have helped cause their erroneous interpretation of the dream, was the aging and derelict Tabernacle of Moses. At this time, it was way past it’s prime and due to be replaced. This is why it’s important to seriously ponder any dreams or visions we receive from our Father Jesus, to ensure that we’re interpreting His message correctly.

Examples of righteous saints pondering over dreams, visions and angelic visitations include Joseph. After receiving the message from the angel, about the birth of Jesus, he considered it very carefully. He waited for confirmation from heaven before acting and keeping Mary as his wife (Matt 1:19–20). Similarly, Jacob publicly rebuked his son Joseph, in response to his seemingly preposterous and impertinent dream. All of Joseph’s brothers mocked him and were skeptical of his dream. Yet afterward, Jacob pondered this matter in his heart (Gen 37:11).

Ask your Daddy, Father Jesus to decipher His words to you, as you listen to Him always with your heart.

Russell Dibird