Colossians 2:18

Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,

-Colossians 2:18

Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud,

-Colossians 2:18 (NLT)

Let no one defraud you of your prize [your freedom in Christ and your salvation] by insisting on mock humility and the worship of angels, going into detail about visions [he claims] he has seen [to justify his authority], puffed up [in conceit] by his unspiritual mind,

-Colossians 2:18 (AMP)

These people who insist on "asceticism and worship of angels" are apparently "going on in detail about visions".  At first reading, this seems a bit weird.  However, after thinking about it, it's not that weird.  People go on about visions all the time, especially in the Charismatic circle.  Now, I'm not saying that they're all wrong and I don't think that Paul says that either.  In fact, isn't it Paul who goes on about a man who is caught up into paradise in 2 Corinthians 12?  Yes, he says "I know a man in Christ", but others have concluded that he is actually talking about himself, so I'll go with that for now.  Looking back at our passage, we see a little more explained about these people and their visions.  First of all, NLT says "saying they have had visions about these things".  This implies that they are using these visions to justify what they are saying.  It's like people who tell you that God told them in a dream that you should always raise your hands in worship and if you don't then you're not a real Christian.  Okay, that was a bit extreme, but these kinds of things happen.  In fact, AMP doesn't necessarily acknowledge these visions, saying "he claims" with regards to the visions.  Also, AMP also specifies the reason for these visions "to justify his authority".  The last mark that we read about here is their pride.  We need to beware of proud people who use these visions that disqualify you, insisting on things that steal our freedom in Christ and salvation by things like worship of angels.  These few things may be the specifics, but the heart may be the part about defrauding of our prize.  If something is against our freedom in Christ and salvation, it is not of God, even if they claim to be a vision from God.  Beware.  More importantly, be rooted in him and walk in him.