The Second World War Miracles Part 4

Dr Victor Pearce

'Arise, shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See darkness is on the land and deep darkness on the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.' We live in days when this scripture is beginning to be fulfilled. But the time of darkness and light together, will bring about a greater time of 'spiritual warfare' and will necessitate a deeper call to prayer. To help us get a sense of the power of prayer and the revealing of God during warfare we need look no further than WWI and WWII. These were extraordinary days in our nation to live through. Dr Victor Pearce (now 94) lived in both wars and chronicled the amazing stories of the revealing of the power of prayer and the intervention of the Lord during warfare. This is the fifth in a series of articles revealing these stories. I think you will be moved and inspired, and I pray the Spirit of God will speak into your spirit through what you read - Jonathan Bellamy, Cross Rhythms CEO.

The Impact Of Public Prayer And Faith Of Leaders

In the 1914-18 war the ding-dong struggle went on backwards and forwards. People have said, 'It seems as though God was withholding success from us, yet keeping us from disaster.' Until, that is, an official government move to authorise the National Day of Prayer. The churches were praying all the time of course, but God was waiting for a national commitment. It was not until July 1st, 1918, that a decision was taken by the Government to issue such a call. Immediately that decision was taken, a remarkable change came over the situation . . . there was a series of brilliant victories which led up to the Armistice.

It might be asked, 'Did Germany not have any official prayers?'

The answer is that they did not. Moreover, Hitler contradicted Christ's words. He said, 'Jesus taught love your enemies as yourself and be kind to those who insult you. But I say, hate your enemies and destroy them. Let the German Master-Race dominate!'

He was following the teaching of Nietzsche, the demented son of a Lutheran pastor, and none of Hitler's youth movement was allowed to be a Christian.

It was very different with Dobbie and with others like him. As the Dorset Daily Echo reported, 'He made a confession of faith' as they called it:

At the age of fourteen years I came to know Jesus Christ, before that I only knew him in my head, but at half-term holiday at Blackheath ... I then and there accepted Jesus Christ as my Saviour, on the grounds that he had settled my debt of sin once and for all, and that therefore I went free. Having taken that step, my first reaction was one of intense relief. The heavy burden was lifted for good and all. I could face the past, present and future with confidence.

What is very significant was the eagerness of the commanders-in-chief of all the three military services that all ranks should possess and read The New Testament. At the back of that little khaki Testament each commander-in-chief of the Navy, Army and Air Force had added his signature to the words: 'We commend the Gospel of Christ our Saviour to every member of His Majesty's Forces.'

One of many stories told tells of a dying soldier. He lay face down and under his hand lay an open khaki New Testament. His finger was stuck to the page and the print came off as they lifted him up. He was buried with these words to which he had been pointing, transferred to his finger:

Jesus said, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, although he were dead, yet shall he live.'

Lt General Sir Frederick Morgan was head of the British and American Planning Staff that made plans for the invasion, that led to the surrender of Nazi Germany. He wrote two years after the surrender and end of hostilities. 'Miracles happen still,' he wrote. 'How many of them have we not seen enacted before our eyes in these past few years?' Then he lists a few and adds others:

1. There was Dunkirk and its flat calm sea. Who planned that? We saw no way out barring a miracle. Then came the miracle.
2. Two years later, the British and American military convoy was sailing in order to land in North Africa. All the enemy submarines were on the lookout. A breathtaking moment was when a U-boat caught sight of the tall ship of one convoy, the rest being obscured by a squall that seemed to be travelling with our ships and providing cover. The Nazi observer thought that what he saw was merely worthy of routine report.
3. Then just as General Patton was due to land on the Casablanca beaches, open to the full Atlantic swell, just as it seemed inevitable that the whole affair must be called off, the wind changed from on-shore to offshore and let the small craft in successfully. There was surely more than human planning here too!
4. The history of other theatres of war tell many similar happenings, but I doubt if any will compare with the miracle of D-Day in 1944.

He goes on to explain that had that been delayed, the enemy could have held up operations in time to perfect secret weapons which we now know were in the making. General Morgan ends by asking to whom do we owe these miracles?

Prayer and the Angels

What goes on behind the scenes concerning prayers in wartime and the angels? There are a number of passages in the Bible, which indicate that behind the earthly conflicts there exists a conflict between spiritual powers of good and evil, and earnest prayer can influence the outcome which becomes reflected on earth.

The prophecies of Daniel reveal some of what goes on. The relationship between prayer and the angelic powers is partly revealed in that mystical chapter ten of the book of Daniel. Here it is in verse four:

'Then one day early in April,' Daniel says, 'as I was standing by, before me stood a person robed in linen garments, with a belt of purest gold around his waist. His skin had a lustrous glow, and from his face came blinding flashes like lightning.'

First published in Miracles & Angels, Dr E K Victor Pearce.