From the many words in constant use the meaning of which we but faintly appreciate, "dream" might be selected as one of the most interesting to study from the metaphysical standpoint. The importance of this word and its derivatives may be judged from the fact that in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy uses it over seventy times, and employs it in many ways in ten chapters. It would not be giving undue importance to the word to say that many vital points in Christian Science could be gained by a careful study of it as used in our text-book. In Peter's impassioned address on the day of Pentecost he quotes the words of the prophet Joel: "Your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams,"—this in relation to a spiritual outpouring.
From the point of view of Christian Science it is easy to discern the twofold meaning of the word dream, namely, the ordinary interpretation, —the thought of a person in sleep,— and the metaphysical explanation given in Science and Health (p. 188), —"Mortal existence is a dream of pain and pleasure in matter, a dream of sin, sickness, and death." We can all dream,—we all do,—but few of us have sufficient understanding to construe aright the signification of the dream. The dream of sleep, even as the dream of life, can only be interpreted by spiritual understanding, which, looking through and beyond material experience, perceives, even if but faintly, the action of divine Principle at work.
Thus Joseph, because of his knowledge of God and trust in Him, was able to explain the dream of the king satisfactorily, and to those around him he appeared to possess miraculous power; but this power was simply the result of a spiritual perception beyond their understanding. So Daniel, aware of the mortal belief of mind in matter, the consciousness of power and glory in the waking dream of Nebuchadnezzar, could see shadowed forth in the monarch's sleeping dream the downfall of that human arrogance and pride.
