More than forty years ago, having publicly confessed Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Mt. 10:32) I knew I was saved (Rom. 10:9-13), born again (John 3:3-4; 20:31).
One night while wondering what to do next, I was suddenly out of my body and went to what I thought was third heaven.
Then a book I could not read appeared, written in symbols strange characters.
“Drink from this cup so your eyes will be opened.” But the gold goblet was filled with dark liquid, the blackest black.
I recoiled in fear, I sensed it was evil.
The angel became stern, foreboding. A feeling I was blaspheming became so strong I could barely think.
But it was then the Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance the scripture, God’s command we “test the spirits”.
Suddenly the angel became hideous, its disguise dropped (2 Cor. 11:14) and I sensed demonic hate and evil directed at me.
Then something yanked me out as if by the collar of my jacket. I awoke in my room, whether from sleep I do not know. I couldn’t sleep at all after that.
There are Three Tests, use them all.
When asked if they confess “Jesus Christ came in the flesh” their disguise will vanish and their demonic identity will be revealed.
2) Demon spirits cannot say Jesus is (their) LORD.
Regardless whether the evil spirit is speaking through a medium (prophet, necromancer, etc) or directly in a vision or dream, when asked to confess Jesus is their LORD, its disguise will vanish and its evil identity will be revealed.
God the Holy Spirit cannot speak of the LORD JESUS in anything but loving, admiring, honoring terms. Anything negative about the Person or character of Christ or His Work or Sacrifice, its not the “Spirit of God” who is speaking.
These three objective tests work when faithfully done (John 17:17).
The early church were not spiritualists. They are testing “the many false prophets who have gone out into the world” claiming to speak by the Holy Spirit (1 John 4:1). They don’t hold seances and try to communicate with spirits.
Infinite God the Holy Spirit is not like finite spirits in any way, in nature or the way they speak through a prophet (Isa. 46:5). The test reveals only if it is the “spirit of truth” or the “spirit of error” that is speaking (1 John 4:6). Identity, not nature or method.
If the “prophet” lies about speaking by a spirit, the tests will not work. Humans can lie and say anything they want. Indeed, a con artist knowing this verse might add it to his act knowing it would make his lies convincing.
Spirits can appear in voices, dreams, visions, which Satan has modernized as “alien abductions”.
Everyone on earth has been victimized by evil spirits to some degree (1 John 5:19). Telepathic suggestion (Mark 4:15. 2 Cor. 4:3-4. Jam. 1:13) and dreams tempt to evil. You can test those who appear in your dreams precisely as John suggested. Ask anyone who approaches in a dream to confess “Jesus came in the flesh.” If you think about doing this, its likely you will when asleep. Friends, loved ones, recently departed, Bible personalities, beautiful women” whoever appears, ask them if Jesus came in the flesh. If it is “the spirit of error” in disguise, that disguise will vanish and you their evil will appear. Sometimes they attack the tester after being discovered. See End Note  if that happens to you.
I almost failed to Obey God. The feeling I dared not test was powerful, I almost heeded it rather than the command of God in Holy Scripture. Therefore, it was a test of me also (1 Jn. 4:6) whether I truly was of God (Dt. 8:2; Ps. 17:3; 66:10; Job 23:10-12).
After the demon’s identity was revealed, it felt like God snatched me out of there and I woke up still in my room, the “virtual reality being downloaded telepathically” was stopped.
Its not optional, we are commanded to test.
Failure to test is not loving the truth, and then one falls under the “energy of Satan” (2 Thess. 2:9) the “energy creating the delusion” (2 Thess. 2:11) that supernatural experiences can modify, change or overrule the Holy Scripture, God’s Word of Truth.
In saying that they had been “led astray to dumb idols,” Paul implies that the Corinthians had experienced the effects of evil spirits in their former pagan worship.-Mare, W. H. (1976). 1 Corinthians. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Romans through Galatians (Vol. 10, p. 261). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
QUESTION—What is the function of the clause ὠς ἂν ἤγεσθε ‘however you were led’ appended to ἀπαγόμενοι ‘being led away’?
It functions to emphasize the notion that the act of following was rather senseless and almost unconscious [ICC]. It carries the idea that they are being controlled by something that they could neither understand nor resist [Ho]. The idea of being helplessly led by others at any time is expressed [Lns].”-Trail, R. (2008). An Exegetical Summary of 1 Corinthians 10–16 (2nd ed., pp. 117–118). Dallas, TX: SIL International.
The “energy of error” “led them” wherever the evil spirits wanted them to go. The precise experience they mistook for “God’s leading” wasn’t revealed, likely because its different for different people. A survey of the occult reveals a variety of “fleshly experiences” ranging from heat or coldness or electrical shock to euphoria, a feeling of well-being or of a spiritual presence. It can mimic a person’s own “inner voice” and convince them the lie is true (Mt. 13:19. 2 Cor. 11:3-4).
“Signs and wonders of falsehood” meaning “signs and wonders that serve the lie” (2 Th. 2:9 NIV). Its a deluding influence that subverts critical discernment.
Yes, this really happened, once. Never again out of the body. But another vision happened while following the (very bad) advice of my Foursquare pastor. I was “trying to prompt the gift of tongues.” Satan appeared circling me like a lion. He appeared to have a cylindrical shape, about 18 inches tall one foot in diameter, rounded on top. On bottom was energy folding in on itself as he moved. Colored off white with swirling dark streaks of energy. I could feel the Holy Spirit pushing him away as he circled. It was a vision, likely not his actual appearance. For forty years now, nothing like these visions happened again.
Sola Scriptura. The only reliable revelation is found in the Word of God. All scripture was inspired so it fulfill that purpose (2Tim. 3:16-17), not feelings dreams or voices. I urge everyone learn sound principles of interpretation, as scripture is the ultimate authority (Acts 5:29. Isaiah 8:19-20. Jeremiah 23:28). Also, always consult Bible Believing teachers God has gifted to the church (1 Cor. 12:28) because it is written “in the multitude of counsellors there is safety” (Prov. 11:14).
Demonic suggestion is subtle, can be disguised as one’s own “inner voice” as is the case with those “who hear” and then the Devil comes and “takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved” (Lk. 8:12). Satanic telepathic temptation can masquerade as “light” (2 Cor. 11:14) and some believed it was God’s leading (James 1:13). It is impossible darkness come from God (James 1:16-17). Such temptation can inflame our bodies to desire what is evil (James 1:13-15) and the entire world is being led into sin just that way (Eph. 2:2-3. 1 John 5:19). Some believing God was leading them by such means, perish from the delusion (Isaiah 8:19-22).
Early in my Christian walk I learned Satanic threats are a bluff, “greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). There is no divination against God’s People Israel (Num. 23:23). Satan cannot harm us, only lack of faith in God gives him any opportunity to deceive. A juju man learned that lesson when his curse upon me returned to plague him. He fled in fear the next time I saw him, but not fear of me. Fear of Christ in me.
Another time, angry homosexuals living in the same building as I sought to harm me as I soundly slept. Evidently it wasn’t my time to die. They wandered like blind men unable to see the open window to my room on that floor. I slept soundly through the night. The next morning more civil gay neighbors told me they never saw anything like it. They were amazed. As I never put God to the test (Lk. 4:12), I relocated.
There is nothing new under the sun. Satan’s deception always involves misdirection, distracting attention from the Word of God, to something he suggests just as he did to Eve (Gen. 3:1-6). For more on the “mystery of lawlessness” click here.
Although I have no first-hand experience on abductions, a google search reveals these can be stopped by calling on the name of Jesus. If it happened to me I would rely on one of the tests discussed in this blog. I’d ask them to confess “Jesus came in the flesh” (1 John 4:3) or that “Jesus is their LORD” (1 Corinthians 12:3). I am certain that would end any close encounter, visionary or real.
These tests work whether the Tester believes in Jesus or not. Satan and demons may react violently when discovered.
If you are born of God, remember “greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world” (1Jn. 4:4), “and that wicked one toucheth him not”. (1 Jn. 5:18 KJV) See End Note 1 above.
If you aren’t a believer, demons can destroy you (1Cor. 5:5. Heb. 2:14. Rev. 9:4). They do not want their activity revealed (Eph. 2:2-3. 1Jn. 5:19). Repent and be converted (Ac. 3:19) before its too late.
There is no divination spell that protects from evil spirits. That is a delusion they create for their own purposes.
A non-Christian friend asked me how to stop the nightmares that plagued him, after he did the test. He was unwilling to go to Christ for salvation. I warned him there is no other name under heaven that saves (Acts 4:12. Rom. 10:9-13; 14:11. Phil. 2:10). Don’t recall what became of him after that last discussion.