From James Goll:
The Diversity of Visionary States
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.—1 Corinthians 12:11
Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.—2 Corinthians 12:1
Therefore, prepare (gird) your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.—1 Peter 1:13
There is only one Holy Spirit, but He works in a multiplicity of ways. There are many spiritual gifts, but only one gift-giver: the Holy Spirit of God. The prophetic anointing manifests itself in many diverse ways, but they all derive from the same Spirit.
This same diversity by the one Spirit applies also to visionary states and experiences. In fact, the New Testament uses a variety of Greek words to express different visionary states. None of these states are “higher” or “better” than any of the others. They are simply different, and the Holy Spirit uses them with different people for different purposes. Let’s take a closer look at some of these visionary states.
Onar:
In Greek, onar is the common word for “dream.” It refers simply to the kind of dreaming we all do when we sleep. Everyday dreams are themselves visionary in nature because our minds generate images that we “see” while we are asleep. As the Bible makes clear, God can and does use these common dreams to communicate with ordinary people.
Enupnion:
Like onar, the word enupnion refers to a vision or dream received while asleep. The difference with enupnion is that it stresses a surprise quality that is contained in that dream.
Horama:
Horama is another general term for vision, meaning “that which is seen.” It carries the particular sense of a “spectacle, sight, or appearance.” New Testament examples commonly associate this word with waking visions. You can be a candidate for horama visions. Just tell the Lord of your desire to be a person who receives the spirit of revelation and sees visions. It is for today. It is there for the asking!
Horasis:
An horasis occurs when the Spirit who lives within us looks out through the “windows” of our eyes and allows us to see what He sees. Sometimes we are seeing in the natural or in the spiritual and sometimes it is both. When our spiritual eyes are open, sometimes our natural eyes can see into the spiritual realm. We may see dual images as visionary spiritual pictures are superimposed over the images we are seeing with our physical eyes.
Optasia:
Another visionary state found in the New Testament is denoted by the word optasia—literally meaning “visuality,” or in concrete form, “apparition.” Optasia has the very specific connotation of self-disclosure or of letting oneself be seen. The word always occurs in the context of someone seeing a divine or spiritual personage.
Ekstasis:
Ekstasis, from which our English word “ecstasy” is derived, means amazement, astonishment, or a trance. Literally, ekstasis means “a displacement of the mind,” or “bewilderment.” When translated as “trance,” ekstasis refers to one being caught up in the Spirit so as to receive those revelations that God intends.
Apokalupsis:
With apokalupsis, we come to the most frequently used word in the New Testament to describe a visionary state. Apokalupsis literally means “disclosure,” an “appearing” or “coming,” a “manifestation.” It carries specifically the sense of something hidden that has now been uncovered or revealed.
Egenomehn ehn pneumati:
The phrase egenomehn ehn pneumati literally means “to become in the Spirit,” a state in which one could see visions and be informed or spoken directly to by the Spirit of God. Therein lies the secret to how we get revelation. We do it by first getting in the Spirit. The more we are filled with the Spirit and walk in the Spirit, the more we become one with the Spirit, and the more our eyes will be opened to see in the Spirit. He will give us the perception to look into the spiritual realm.