Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” (Revelation 6:15-17)
So, hours after the evening’s visitor had left with my shutting the door to his returning to tell me more about Jesus, that night’s second visitor was far more challenging – this time it is life or death – MINE!!
THE HEAVENLY VISITOR
On 14th September 1989 I go back four decades in a MOST unusual dream to a house not visited since my dear mother’s funeral 12 years earlier. A dream so lucid it remains vividly etched within me. So it must be exceptionally significant.
Come back 37 years with me as, in standard dream-recall practice, I put it into present tense (dream content in blue typeface, my comments in black).:
I am in my childhood home and standing in front of the large casement window in one corner of the lounge (opposite corner to the doorway). 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 absolutely convincing 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 in mother’s Missal that impressed me as a child – the return of Jesus Christ:
Later I understand that my dream’s terror had been ‘the fear of God’ brought through the Holy Spirit convicting me of my own sinfulness (ie. wrongdoing) and, thus, preparing me to receive God’s grace (ie. undeserved favour).
Also, what happened after my reaching out for Jesus proves He’s closely acquainted with the private details of my thoughts as a little 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 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 resolved to reconsider my New Age and occultic notions. Meditational and mystical exercises had resulted in my having some unusual, ‘psychic’ dreams, but absolutely none whatsoever like this one.
The only remotely similar dream was that of an ‘altered’ state of consciousness known as ‘nirvana’, or bliss, where I’d been taken behind its alluring golden light. Ecstasy turned to abject terror as the light I was in got swept aside like a curtain to reveal a hideous, devouring beast of utter blackness approaching me – ‘The Devourer’ – far worse than any nightmare!
I wasn’t into drugs and was ignorant of the scripture ‘satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light‘ (2 Cor 11:14). Upon reading that verse a few years later I realised its truth had been dramatically demonstrated in reverse to me as a non-Christian!
But in this new dream terrifying fear had been overcome by Jesus Christ in person and His wonderful mercy and love.
INCREDIBLE TIMING OF FRESH CONFIRMATION
[Written October 2013] Later we will consider how that dream-vision was validated as being real. But for now I want to draw your attention to a remarkable revelatory word given two days before I’m due to give a brief account of my journey into freedom at a breakfast.
Before having that dream I don’t think I’d heard of Jesus being in charge of angels for I was unfamiliar with the Bible. Eventually, I learned the pre-incarnate Christ appeared to Joshua outside Jericho as ‘Commander of the LORD’s army’ (‘Chief of the host of Yahweh’ in original Hebrew at Joshua 5:14-15).
However, in weekly sessions of subsequent solid Biblical instruction at churches, I don’t recall hearing any in-depth teaching on Jesus’ role as the captain of the angelic hosts. That is, until last Sunday!
The timing of this fresh confirmation was the second of three clear references on three successive days to the content of a brief outline of my testimony, which had already been prepared for delivery on the 4th day!
Revd John Kilpatrick changed his sermon to bring a word the Lord had given him in the early hours of Saturday at 2hrs 22. We were listening live as part of the regular online congregation and the timing impacted my spirit because 22 is not only the date of my birthday but also and particularly because there are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet. (I’ve previously had occasion to note the personal relevance of two in 2.12.2012.)
Far more importantly in this word, the Lord of Hosts draws attention to the angelic hosts and their present and imminent activity. It reminded me of the above Visitation – AND it is notable that John focused upon the same scripture that’s precisely relevant to my dream, as will be explained in forthcoming instalments of my journey.
For now, however, Revd K’s mighty revelatory word deserves reverent consideration and reflection, and should you wish to read it before proceeding click here.
Next, I recount a most surprising TRIPLE validation of this life-changing Visitation >> (Continue reading).
[Bible quotations are by courtesy of BibleGateway.com.]
Richard's Watch 