A Dead Person in a dream

Biblical meaning from Hearing God's Voice in Dreams by Apostle Nicholas V. Mbanjwa

Also: Deceased person in a dream, A late relative, Someone who has passed away

What it means

A familiar spirit — a demon that has closely observed a family or individual and, after death, mimics the deceased in dreams.

These demons fall under the rank called 'powers' in Ephesians 6:12.

Families that struggle in a specific area (marriage, divorce, premature death, stagnancy) often have familiar spirits responsible for that pattern.

The dead 'know not anything...neither have they any more a portion in all that is done under the sun.' (Ecclesiastes 9:5b-6)

⚠ When it is a warning

A familiar spirit — a demon mimicking the deceased
A demonic agreement — hugging, kissing, walking with, or eating food from a deceased person in a dream is the enemy's trick to bring you into agreement with a familiar spirit
Generational familiar spirits responsible for recurring family patterns (divorce, premature death, stagnancy)

How to tell the difference

On waking, command such spirits to flee — once, in Jesus' Name. Be specific: name the spirits (e.g. 'You two familiar spirits revealed in my dream...'). Command once only — commanding twice steps outside faith into unbelief. The author shares a personal testimony of his deceased mother appearing in dreams and his experience with heart contractions afterward, which he overcame through Scripture.

Scripture

“‘Don’t turn to those who are mediums, nor to the wizards. Don’t seek them out, to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 19:31 (WEB)

“‘The person that turns to those who are mediums and wizards, to play the prostitute after them, I will even set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people.
Leviticus 20:6 (WEB)

or a charmer, or someone who consults with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
Deuteronomy 18:11 (WEB)

When they tell you, “Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter,” shouldn’t a people consult with their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?
Isaiah 8:19 (WEB)

⁵For the living know that they will die, but the dead don’t know anything, neither do they have any more a reward; for their memory is forgotten. ⁶Also their love, their hatred, and their envy has perished long ago; neither do they any longer have a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 (WEB)