In Ezekiel’s vision, he viewed the sights as he was lifted, or carried away, while in the spirit. 

Ezek 8:2-3 NKJV

Then I looked, and there was a likeness, like the appearance of fire — from the appearance of His waist and downward, fire; and from His waist and upward, like the appearance of brightness, like the color of amber. He stretched out the form of a hand, and took me by a lock of my hair; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the north gate of the inner court

 Ezek 43:5 NKJV

The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple.

This is similar to the experience of “flying”  in one’s dreams at night.  It is a state where you feel as light and free as a feather, carried by the wings of angels, all the while gazing at the sight around you.  An example of this is a dream where I was sent overseas on an intercession assignment.  I was cognizant of an angel carrying me, and all the while we were flying low so I was able to see the ocean underneath me and see the islands coming up.  Another time, after I had been taken to see certain things, I was flying towards earth and I could see the earth first as a little ball, then it got bigger and bigger as we approached.  I realized I was being carried by an angel, as I could see our shadows.

Paul spoke of himself in 2 Corinthians:

“... I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago — whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows — such a one was caught up to the third heaven.  And I know such a man — whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows — how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words...” (vs 1-4 NKJV). 

Whether he knew how Paul at least knew he had been carried away!

Another kind of picture is with the eyes opened through the actual eye.  For me, this vision is not vivid.  It is very hazy and happens so fast that when I notice it’s there, I have enough time to blink my eyes to check out what I am seeing and then it’s gone.  When I say the word hazy, it is because my eyes are not actively pursuing focus.  In fact, once my natural eye tries to focus on what it sees, it disappears.   The best way to describe it is, it is seen in the Spirit although it is seen through the natural eye. 

Like the others, it is always a surprise, and if I’m not in a place of reception, it can be missed.  Once, in church, I literally saw an associate pastor as a liberty bell!  I was so surprised I blinked and it disappeared.  (Right after that he announced his message was going to be on bondage and freedom from captivity.  The Lord has such a sense of humor and is so delightful!)

A close friend of mine was in the bathroom gazing at her apricot towels. Suddenly the word PRESS appeared on the towel.  That coupled with other confirmations was the Lord’s encouragement this book would be printed.

There are times He literally opens our senses.  We encounter the “real”  hearing in our flesh.  Elisha prayed for the Lord to open his servant's literal eyes so he might see the real issue of what was taking place with the angelic hosts.    

2 Kings 6:15-17 NKJV

 And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?"  So he answered,"Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

In daily living, man is not usually gifted to have the eyes to see the angels at work.  Elisha obviously knew what it meant to have the Lord actually open his eyes so he might see. 

I heard a funny story about a man who was ministering Words to an audience.  He said something like, “No I don’t know.  No, I don’t know!  I tell you I don’t know!”  It turned out that he had seen an angel standing in the back of the room, pointing to a lady.  The minister asked the angel what the lady’s name was.  Every time he asked, he heard the angel say, “You know.”  So he consequently said, “No, I don’t know.”  Finally, the angel spelled with his finger in the air, Uno.  Her name was Uno, pronounced “You know!” 

“...Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.  Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance...” (Acts 10:9-10 NKJV)

Peter fell into a trance and saw the same vision three times about the Gentiles.  (Acts 10:10-16)  Obviously, God wanted to get Peter’s attention.  Peter had a preconceived opinion about the Gentiles that God wanted to be changed.  It is recorded again in Acts 11:5-10.  Also, Paul had this kind of trance vision while in prayer in Acts 22:17-21.

I have noticed several things when the Lord gives me this type of vision.  First, even if it is an experience happening TO me, at no time has it gone against my will.  At any time I am free to have the vision close down or stop (although it being Him, I don’t want Him to stop.)  It is not something that takes possession of me and I lose control over my choice or will.  In fact, the liberty and freedom of my will are such, and the Holy Spirit being so gentle, that at the slightest hesitation He will stop.  He desires our absolute childlike faith in a Heavenly Father Who is our Daddy.  It is the enemy who binds, hinders, numbs, and chains up our wills. “Gifts” from the enemy are without freedom and liberty.

Secondly, these visions have a lovely common denominator.  In some form or another, He knocks at my door, and I either hear His voice, recognize His Spirit, or know His Presence.  After I recognize Him, I invite Him and receive Him.  The recognition and invitation are within my heart.  My soul and spirit “leaps” when He is so near, and I either call His Name or recognize that it is Him.  The recognition of the Lord gives great joy, perfect peace, and invokes a strong drawing and longing for Him.  It’s like His Presence is a giant magnet and I instantly respond to Him.

I have never received Him without my state of spirit, mind, will, and body being completely yielded.  It’s as though His mere Presence gives me the desire to yield my every fiber to Him to do with as He wills.  Always, it is in complete childlike faith in a Father Who is a Perfect Daddy.   He knows me and I have no other need.  He is EVERYTHING.  Yielding to HIM has always been the focus of every experience in these kinds of visions.

Another detail has to do with the eyes.  It is as though the scales are peeled away and I see with absolute gazing clarity.  The sight is so real, so vivid, so clear!  It is like no sight we see on earth.  It makes 20/20 vision seem dull.  Emphasis should be on the word “gaze.”  Webster’s defines gaze: “to fix the eyes in a steady and intent look...fixed and prolonged attention...stare.”  Peter, in Acts 11:6 mentions he fastened his eyes on the sight.  That is a characteristic of this kind of vision.  It is an absolute fixed focus on what He is showing.  The concentration of the eyes is absolute and does not waver, it’s like describing a staring contest.  Balak mentioned he saw a vision and used the phrase, “having his eyes opened.”  (Numbers  24:4 and 16 KJ)

Visions of gazing wonder are different from picture visions.  I cannot remember receiving a picture vision when I had time to stare.  They happen too quickly.  Wonder visions occur by gazing or staring at the sight for a period of time.  Picture visions do not have the extreme clarity of reality.  Wonder visions are very clear and the sight is three-dimensional as if one is there, but it actually looks more “real”  than real life.         

The following is a vision of gazing wonder the Lord gave me as quoted from my journal:  “When I went to sleep on November 14, 1985, I had a strong yearning for Jesus.  As I slept, He came to me and opened my eyes.  I saw a huge, gigantic banner unfolding across the sky.  It said, “THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.”  Suddenly, I found myself in heaven looking down upon a vast desert.  It was dry, brown, flat, and immense.  As I gazed upon the lifeless desert, someone was standing above and behind me declaring the scroll of Isaiah 35: 

“The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.  It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and sing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, the excellency of our God.  Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.  Say to them of a fearful heart, be strong, fear not: behold your God will come with vengeance; He will come and save you.  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.  Then shall the lame leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.  And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water...” (Isaiah 35 KJ)

After Isaiah 35 had been announced, I heard the Lord say, “And the desert shall blossom as a rose.  It shall happen all at once, and it shall happen suddenly.” Immediately I saw the desert come to life.  The sight was astounding and oh so beautiful!  Everywhere blossoms emerged: this dry, lifeless region became a spacious garden of color and beauty.  Then I came out of the gazing vision.  As I woke, I was still in awe of what I’d seen, because it was so beautiful.  I knew the Lord was speaking a promise of what He would be doing to our dry desert like lives.  He was going to rain His Presence upon us and we would emerge with life and beautiful blossoms.”