Upon awaking 32 years ago (14th September 1989), I was utterly happy to find I’m still alive after having had such a very close call with death in the night!

The previous evening in Pangbourne, Berkshire, I’d firmly shut the door to hearing any more about God’s Good News! But that night had been spent at my childhood home at 212 E___ Rd, Stockport, Cheshire, to undergo a life-changing event.

In a most unusual dream I went back in time and place. A dream so lucid that even three decades later it remains vividly etched within me. Here’s what had happened (copied from original, explanatory comments in italics).:

A HEAVENLY VISITOR
‘I am in my childhood home and standing in front of the very tall casement window in one corner of the lounge. I look up into the inky, dark night sky outside.
‘A small flotilla of large, wingless aircraft drifts slowly across from left to right at high altitude and I groan, “Oh…not that flying saucer nonsense. I must be dreaming!”
‘I’m sceptical about the existence of UFO’s, but now another ‘fleet’ of some sort appears from the right and heads towards the first.
(The dream now changes gear by going up a level from the usual mix of mental material to that of absolute lucidity…)
‘The ‘light goes on’! In my ‘knower’, I realise the first fleet is demonic and the second is masses of angels under the command of Jesus Christ. (I did not believe in them, and regarded Jesus as one of many world teachers. Here, I see no individuals but inwardly know the situation.)
‘I think I’m about to watch an amazing heavenly battle…but…OH NO! Somehow, I now know Jesus has espied me far down below and is coming down directly towards me!
‘All I see is a distant bright light very rapidly getting brighter and larger as it drops down to my location, just like an airliner approaching a runway to land at night.
‘Instantly, I realise my life has been one of sin that contrasts starkly against Jesus’ own holiness. Right away I realise what’s claimed about the Judgement is true – but mine is about to happen right now!
Beyond any doubt whatsoever I suddenly realise my involvement in the occult was most definitely wrong. Consequently, I deserve the undesirable abode!
‘Groaning “My number’s up!” I inwardly tremble in fearful knowledge I’m about to die at any moment. An invisible trapdoor I’m standing on will drop me straight into Hell.
‘Utmost mortal terror strikes! I dive under the drop-leaf table by the wall to the left of the window so I can hide from Jesus. But he knows I’m hiding there and swoops down straight through the wall on the other side of the corner window. He’s standing in the room and right beside the table!
‘Cowering below the table with my back turned towards him, I glance over my shoulder and see him from the knees down, his body and face out of sight above the table.
‘Most unexpectedly, somehow I have the courage to reach my hand out backwards to grab at the hem of Jesus’ robe…
‘As I tug, the event goes into yet another level of revelation regarding my childhood…Then I awake! Thoroughly alert, further sleep eludes me!’

The dream reminds me of an evocative small picture that strongly impressed me when a child – the return of Jesus Christ:

Later I understand that my terror had been ‘the fear of God’ brought by Holy Spirit’s convicting me of my personal wrongdoing and, thus, preparing me to receive God’s grace (ie. undeserved favour).

Also, what happened after reaching for Jesus, and which I’ve yet to tell, proves He’s so closely acquainted with my intimate thoughts when a boy. The dream’s conclusion shows He’s going to topple those childish concepts and replace them with a sure knowledge of His true identity.

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love” (Psalm 111). Mercifully, He plucked me from the domain of darkness to bring me into His own kingdom and receive its blessings. I deserved none of that. Truly, Amazing Grace – how awesome and wonderful..!

As a result of the most remarkable dream I’d ever had, I was left with no choice but to seriously reconsider all my New Age and occult notions. Meditational and mystical exercises had resulted in my having some unusual, ‘psychic’ dreams, but none whatsoever like this one.

The only one remotely similar was that of being in an ‘altered’ state of consciousness known as ‘nirvana’, or bliss, but where I’d been taken behind its alluring golden light. Sheer ecstasy turned to abject terror as the light I was in got swept aside like a curtain being removed to reveal a hideous, devouring beast of utter blackness approaching me – far, far worse than any nightmare!

I wasn’t into drugs but was ignorant of the scripture ‘satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light‘ (2 Cor 11:14). Upon reading that verse years later, I realised its truth had been dramatically demonstrated to me as a non-Christian!

But in this new dream my terrifying fear had been overcome by Jesus Christ Himself and His wonderful mercy and love. He ‘arrested’ me in my sin only to rescue me from falling into the pit of Hell.

In this stunning night the Truth I’d been searching for since a teenager turned up in Person – thank You Lord. And lots more Truth was to come as I began to open the door to His Good News!

Moreover, this amazing encounter was yet to be validated on three occasions!!!

So, if you don’t yet know Jesus Christ and have a personal relationship with Him, you may wish to know more and consider this vital matter at Do You Know Jesus?