What Happens After Death Part 7

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.

Visions not Enough

Have you felt you wanted to be alone after something shattering has just hit you? Paul was shattered when he met Jesus Christ. So he went away into the desert. In the Arabian desert Paul saw visions which gave him the full truth of the gospel, yet he gives a warning which makes us ask, Can Satan give visions as well as God? Paul is speaking about his experience. Galatians 1:8 says: 'There are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ, but even if we, or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed.'

Strong words aren't they? We ask, then, has Satan or a fallen angel given a twisted gospel or a false religion? History says yes. The Lord himself said there would be false prophets and false Christs, especially in the latter days. Paul said that Satan likes to appear as an angel of light. He even said that he would get false ministers of religion into the Church. That makes you think doesn't it! Read 2 Corinthians 11:3-15

What then is the real test? - not visions, but the Bible. What does the Bible say? - that's the test.

There have been instances down the centuries when a vision given by Satan has started a false religion or a false cult. How are you to judge whether it is false? Paul says, if it incites you to preach a gospel which is contrary to the gospel of Christ, it is a false gospel. It is false even though it would appear to be an angel from heaven who misleads you.

A vision to worship anyone else but Jesus Christ and God is a false gospel. A vision to worship a saint is a false gospel. John was about to in Revelation 22:8 but he was stopped. He fell down to worship at the feet of the angel, but was told, 'You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with those who keep the words of this book Revelation. Worship God only.'

In 1 Kings chapter 13 we read an extraordinary story of a prophet who was told to go straight home after he'd delivered God's word to a wicked king. On the way home a false prophet met him and said, 'I am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying bring him back with you into your house.' But he lied to him.

The prophet was deceived, so the word of the Lord came to him, 'Thus saith the Lord, you have disobeyed the word of the Lord and not kept the commandment which the Lord your God commanded you.'

On the way home a lion pounced on him and killed him.

Satan is depicted sometimes as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, but more often he prefers to appear as an angel of light. He finds it more effective to deny gospel truths through an unconverted minister of the Church. The worldling scoffs and ridicules when Satan causes a minister to parade his unbelief to the world. So don't let Satan deceive you.

Satan Unmasked

I had a letter from a man who said there was no such person as the devil. It was God who was blamed for all the suffering in the world.

That remark reveals why the devil wants to persuade people that he does not exist. It's to blame God - and he gets many to do it.