Attack from the Invisible Realm

A STUDY was made some years ago of 25,000 people in various countries to find out if, “while they were awake and in a good state of health, they had at any time heard a voice, seen a form, or felt any touch which could not be explained by material means.” The results of this widespread inquiry were regarded as amazing, since the proportion of mentally sound people who, in England alone, had received such clear-cut impressions was one in ten.¹

Was this attack from the invisible realm? “Nonsense,” say many of today’s psychologists, who like to use the word “hallucination.” On the other hand, psychical researchers, the parapsychologists, are not so skeptical; they have found too much that science cannot explain, such as extrasensory perception.

Moreover, many are the reported attacks from the invisible realm. Often there are reliable witnesses. Furthermore, the worldly psychologist who puts no faith in God’s Word, the Holy Bible, is a most dubious authority for Christians. Those who read their Bible know that the inspired Scriptures tell of the existence of wicked spirit creatures and “woe for the earth” in our day. Why? Because “the one called Devil and Satan . . . was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him.” Thus man must face up to the fact that the Devil and his angels are invisible forces confined to the vicinity of the earth and whose existence means “woe.” No product of the imagination are the “wicked one’s burning missiles.”—Rev. 12:9, 12; Eph. 6:16.

One of the many ways Satan’s invisible forces bring woe to mankind is by harassing persons while they are trying to sleep. Individuals sometimes report invisible hands pulling at the bedcovers, harassing them also by touches that keep them awake. The bed may even be lifted, shaken or moved about. A skeptic, a British artist, heard of such a disturbance and went to live in a house at Poling at Sussex. He is no longer a skeptic. He reported: “I had not been asleep in the room long when I awoke with a start, feeling that someone had lifted up my bed beneath me. I thought it might be someone who had hidden there to frighten me. I made a search but found nothing. Later my bed was violently shaken and I was twisted around like a top. When I had time to collect my wits I found that I was lying crosswise on the bed and most of the bed clothes were on the floor.”²

One of the most impressive cases said to have come to the attention of parapsychologist J. B. Rhine was that of a fourteen-year-old boy, often assaulted in the bedroom. When the boy went to a minister’s home to sleep, the bed shook so violently he had to get up and try to sleep in a heavy armchair. While the clergyman stood over him, the heavy chair tilted to one side and fell over, throwing the boy to the floor. The minister, trying the same posture in the armchair, could not even tilt it.³

In another case, in Runcorn, Cheshire, England, the newspaper told how invisible hands “kept throwing a boy out of bed at night.”⁴ Clergymen who have witnessed and reported such assaults have often failed to stop them, and even get attacked themselves. In fact, the spirit in the Runcorn case, according to the Spiritualistic publication The Psychic News, badly treated Methodist cleric W. H. Stevens by hurling a Bible at him.⁵

The assaults thus are often of such a nature that it is utterly impossible to attribute them to dreams or imagination. For instance, a London newspaper tells of a man and wife at Epsom, in which the wife experienced bedroom disturbances. It was not the wife’s imagination, since the husband stated:

“One night Betty was sitting up in bed when something began pulling at her shoulders. It dragged her towards the window. It lifted her body so that only her legs and thighs were touching the bed. She cried for help. I grabbed her by the legs. But whatever it was had great strength. At first I couldn’t hold it. I felt myself going towards the window too. Then quite suddenly it seemed to lose its power and Betty fell.”⁶

From all over the world come reports of these harmful assaults. The Panama City Herald! told of an eighteen-year-old girl harassed by spirits. While in the presence of city officials and a doctor she was attacked. “Clarita’s hand was bitten while I was holding it,” said a city official. Explained the doctor: “I always thought of this world as a visible thing, but here is something unknown, a force unseen yet felt.”⁷ A group of houses in a Malay kapong in Jelutong, Penang, was the scene of attacks on children. Said a Singapore newspaper: “The spirit is said to have attacked young girls and children, sometimes stripping them naked, and often causing them to groan in agony.”⁸ Such assaults are similar to those made on the hapless exorcists of which the Bible says the man in whom the wicked spirit was “leaped upon them, got the mastery of one after the other, and prevailed against them, so that they fled naked and wounded out of that house.”—Acts 19:16.

A recent book, Evidence of Satan in the Modern World,⁹ tells of many factual accounts, not only of demon assaults, but also of angry conversations between attempting exorcists and the wicked spirits.

In many cases the demons harass people by talking to them; such persons report hearing “voices.” This is called “clairaudience” in spiritistic circles, and spiritists have written a number of books at the dictation of demon voices. But these voices harass many persons, inducing them to violence, murder and suicide. A Singapore man heard a spirit voice for four days telling him to commit suicide. He did. His wife said that her husband had told her of the spirit’s commands, but she treated it as a huge joke.¹⁰

Scores of examples of harmful attacks from the invisible realm are given in the booklet, published by the Watch Tower Society and now out of print, called “Can the Living Talk with the Dead?” For example, it reported:

“The Chicago News made an investigation of spirit phenomena and reached the following conclusions: ‘As to the voices that so many are bending ear to catch, I have learned that they are more likely to suggest evil than good. . . . Once a communication is established it takes a positive thought to fight off these “voices” or forces of evil. . . . It is never safe to yield your will, your soul or individuality, into the keeping of these unearthly powers. . . . I found one woman who was led by the “voices” to kill her little girl by drowning her in a bath tub. . . . I found a man who said the voices told him to strike a young man that he met coming out of a restaurant. He did so. . . . There are hundreds of similar instances.’”

Before the flood of Noah’s day “the earth became filled with violence” because of demon activity. (Gen. 6:1-11) Today much violence is stirred up by the demons who induce men to attack other men. Much “woe,” then, is the result of attack from the invisible realm. Christians must be prepared for spiritual warfare, realizing they are a special target of the “wicked one’s burning missiles.”

REFERENCES

¹ Phantasms of the Living, E. Gurney.

² Ghosts over England, R. Thurston Hopkins.

³ Philadelphia News, August 27, 1949.

⁴ Victoria (Canada) Daily Colonist, May 14, 1953.

⁵ New York Journal American, October 15, 1953.

⁶ London Daily Mail, July 17, 1950.

⁷ Panama City Herald, May 19, 1953.

⁸ Sunday Times, August 30, 1953.

⁹ Léon Christiani, Macmillan, 1962.

¹⁰ The Straits Times, December 15, 1953.

Resisting Wicked Spirit Forces

What should one do who is harassed by demon assaults? What is the key to victory?

GOD’S Word emphasizes the need for Christians to resist the demon powers that are harassing and misleading mankind. Counsels the Christian apostle Paul: “We have a fight, not against blood and flesh, but . . . against the world rulers of this darkness, against the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places.” This means that every Christian must “take up the complete suit of armor from God, that [he] may be able to resist in the wicked day.”—Eph. 6:11-13.

In these wicked days of the “time of the end” the demons appear to be intensifying their attacks against Christians and against those who are just beginning to learn God’s truth. What, then, if a person who wants to do God’s will finds that demon powers are pressing an attack against him, trying to wear him down physically and mentally by disturbing his sleep? What if one is hearing “voices” that pretend to be “good spirits”? What if “voices” try to turn one away from God’s kingdom and his Kingdom witnesses?

When wicked spirits assault one, the sedatives and tranquilizers and drugs that are useful in nervous and mental disorders are not able to bring relief, since the cause of the trouble is attack from demon powers. Only God provides the remedy for resisting successfully in this wicked day. This is “the complete suit of armor from God.” Hence the “fine soldier of Christ Jesus” will put on this armor and fight, resisting demon forces in this wicked day.—2 Tim. 2:3.

SHUNNING SPIRITISM, OMENS AND “VOICES”

Any person who believes that he is under attack from wicked spirit forces should calmly, not in hysteria, prepare for a counteroffensive. First, one might scrutinize all his practices, to make certain that he is free from all forms of spiritism, which is demonism. One can hardly resist demon forces if he is dabbling in occult and magical practices.

What one should do, then, is make a searching examination of all his activities. Does one, for instance, use a ouija board or planchette or even have such an instrument in the house? Is one giving in to hypnotism in any degree? Is one going into any self-induced trance, perhaps through so-called concentration exercises and postures peculiar to demon religion? Is one, in his desire to be free of some illness, going to a practitioner that is using psychic or clairvoyant diagnosing and healing methods?

The demons sometimes ensnare persons by inducing them to become interested in dreams or in omens, so that one seeks omens for guidance in life. A person so deceived may then look at a bird or animal or object as an omen, indicating some course he should pursue. Reject such suggestions! Refuse to look for omens. Rely on God’s Word for guidance, keeping in mind that Almighty God condemns “anyone who looks for omens.”

One should likewise be certain he is free of any kind of divination, whether it be for lost objects, water, minerals or anything else, perhaps with the use of a pendulum or a divining rod. One should also be certain he is not consulting professional foretellers of events, whether they be crystal-ball gazers, astrologers (and their horoscopes) or extrasensory perceivers.—Deut. 18:10, 11.

One of the most common ways demons both ensnare and harass persons is by “voices.” The invisible voices pretend to be departed relatives or good spirits, spirits sent from God. But this is falsehood, deception! No matter what the “voices” claim to be, they are wicked spirits, misleading men under the guise of being good spirits. God’s Word foretold for our day that some men “will fall away from the faith, paying attention to misleading inspired utterances and teachings of demons.” (1 Tim. 4:1) So shun any thoughts that God is dealing with one in a special way, giving such a person direct counsel from a spirit. Jehovah is dealing with his people through his Word and his organization. (Matt. 24:45-47) Beware, then, of any “voice” or “voices” pretending to be sent by God. The demons are misleading, lying spirits, masters at deception. They are responsible for what the Bible calls “lying signs and portents.” (2 Thess. 2:9) Give no ear to voices from the invisible realm. Resist every suggestion, appealing to God to give you victory over the deceptive spirits.

SURROUNDINGS AND ASSOCIATION

Suppose a person is being harassed by “voices” or by unexplainable bedroom disturbances, such as movements that keep one from sleeping. If such a person has scrutinized his activities and found them free from spiritism of any kind, then he should next examine his surroundings and associations. It may be that the person is living in a house with someone who is a medium for the demons, such as a voodooist, ouija-board or psychic medium. Is there any mystic or practitioner of occult things in the dwelling in which the afflicted person lives? If so, a wise measure would be to find living quarters free from close proximity of any spiritist.

Serious thought should also be given to one’s associates. It may be that the harassed person is associating with someone under demon influence who is acting as a medium in some way. This associate may be dabbling in black magic, witchcraft, sorcery or be trying to attain so-called “self-realization” by cultivating psychic powers. It is often true that there is some individual in close contact with the afflicted person whom the demons use. This sometimes unknown, unsuspected individual may be used as a medium by which the demons prey upon the body of the victim. Therefore, break off bad associations, heeding the divine warning that “bad associations spoil useful habits.” (1 Cor. 15:33) Seek friends and associates among true Christians.

One troubled by demon attacks should also be aware of objects or articles that may have been given him about the time such attacks began. Practitioners of witchcraft sometimes cast spells on persons by having an object or article brought into the victim’s presence. This brings the victim into contact with the demons. In one case a garment was sent by a voodooist to a victim, and as long as the victim had that garment and wore it, it resulted in demon attacks and movements, especially at night. The removal of this garment resulted in relief. Hence, there may be some article or some individual who is in close contact with the oppressed person, one whom such a person would have to detect as being the channel through whom the demons are trying to take control of him, by reducing him to a state of exhaustion, nervously, mentally and physically.

Hence, it would be most appropriate for one troubled with demon harassment to make an investigation of his surroundings and his local contacts or associates, asking for divine guidance as he does so.

PUTTING ON THE SUIT OF ARMOR FROM GOD

Positive action must also be taken to make certain that one is living according to God’s Word. Since the Christian’s warfare is not against flesh and blood but against wicked spirit forces, successful resistance calls for putting on the “complete suit of armor from God.” The apostle Paul at Ephesians 6:11-18 describes the pieces of this armor, such as the girdle of truth and “the breastplate of righteousness.” When one denies God’s truth, indulges in unrighteousness and disobeys Jehovah, he is depriving himself of the protection of such spiritual armor. Keep in mind Samuel’s words to King Saul: “To obey is better than a sacrifice, to pay attention than the fat of rams; for rebelliousness is the same as the sin of divination, and pushing ahead presumptuously the same as using uncanny power.” (1 Sam. 15:22, 23) Because King Saul disobeyed Jehovah, holy spirit was removed from him, and the demons were able to move in and fill the vacancy. King Saul’s case shows that if one’s life is not filled with Jehovah’s spirit, it is likely to be taken over by a demon spirit.

Obedience to God, then, is of paramount importance in resisting wicked spirits. One who rebels against Jehovah’s commandments is depriving himself of holy spirit and divine protection. One professing Christian married an unbeliever, in defiance of 1 Corinthians 7:39 and; 2 Corinthians 6:14, which clearly state God’s will about a Christian’s not yoking himself to an unbeliever. This person’s unbelieving marriage mate had a close relative that practiced demonism and who cast a spell on the professing Christian, with lamentable physical damage.

By rebelling against Jehovah’s commandments and by pushing ahead out of self-will, one is ignoring the power of Jehovah God and is in God’s eyes like one “using uncanny power” supplied by the demons; hence, in effect, such a person is not resisting demons but is cooperating with wicked spirits and with spiritists. How, then, could such a rebellious one expect divine protection? Obedience to God is vital for resisting in this wicked day.

If a professing Christian, then, comes under demon attack, it may be that he is not using all the spiritual armor God has provided. The command is to “accept the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, that is, God’s word.” One may not be building up his Christian hope by Bible study, thus he may leave his mind open to attack. Read and study God’s Word regularly; use the Bible-study aids that Jehovah has so bountifully provided to fortify one’s mind against demon assault. One harassed by demons may not only be neglecting Bible study but he may also be filling his mind with that which is contrary to divine principles, contrary to the rule stated by the apostle Paul: “Whatever things are true, whatever things are of serious concern, whatever things are righteous, whatever things are chaste, whatever things are lovable, whatever things are well spoken of, whatever virtue there is and whatever praiseworthy thing there is, continue considering these things.”—Eph. 6:17; Phil. 4:8, 9.

God also provides equipment for one’s feet—”the good news of peace.” (Eph. 6:15) So use the “sword of the spirit, that is, God’s word,” to bring to others the good news of God’s kingdom, which brings true peace of mind. When one is beginning to learn God’s truth or is abandoning some form of spiritism, the demons often assault this person to turn him back to false worship. Reject, then, any “voices” that turn one away from Jehovah’s kingdom and his Kingdom witnesses. The demons sometimes like to wear one down physically by keeping him awake all night so that the next day he might feel too weary to use his feet to preach the “good news of peace.” No matter how weary one might become fighting wicked spirit forces, he should never give up his Christian ministry. Resist by preaching the Kingdom good news, the truth, which Jesus said “will set you free,” and this will aid in overcoming demon assaults.—John 8:32.

FAITH AND PRAYER

Moreover, “take up the large shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the wicked one’s burning missiles.” (Eph. 6:16) Put real faith in Jehovah God. It would be a lack of faith for one to go to agents of the Devil, spiritists, to get relief from assaults of wicked spirits. Such a course would make one indebted to the Devil for relief and would bring Jehovah’s disfavor. Look to Jehovah God for help, trusting that he is able to break the power of demons, as he has done in innumerable cases. Put fear aside. Have faith that Jehovah is the Protector of his servants against demonism. Keep in mind what the Scriptures encouragingly say regarding God’s people, namely: “There is no unlucky spell against Jacob, nor any divination against Israel.”—Num. 23:23.

So by having real faith, by keeping busy in God’s service and by unceasing prayer one can break the enemy’s power and fortify oneself to resist further assaults. Yes, use God’s Word, study it, “while with every form of prayer and supplication you carry on prayer on every occasion in spirit.” When under demon assault pray to God, using his divine name, since “the name of Jehovah is a strong tower. Into it the righteous runs and is given protection.” If demon voices harass you, pray to Jehovah out loud, relying on Him for help, “and the peace of God that excels all thought will guard your hearts and your mental powers.”—Eph. 6:18; Prov. 18:10; Phil. 4:7.

If demon assault comes at night, light may be helpful. Under no circumstances give way to hysteria and panic, which might induce a nervous breakdown—just what the demons want to bring about. Pray. Study God’s Word, such as Psalm 119. Realize that Job and Jesus Christ were under assault from the Devil; they resisted successfully, and so can you.

Furthermore, do not try to fight the battle against wicked spirit forces alone. Do not be a Don Quixote or an isolationist. Christians need the help of fellow soldiers of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul, though fully armed spiritually, asked for the prayers of his brothers. (Eph. 6:19, 20) So elicit the prayers, help and guidance that mature Christians can provide, and stick close to God’s people, not missing meetings.

If wicked spirit forces assault, realize that the key to victory is to resist; yes, RESIST! Never tire of resisting. Keep on fighting, never for a moment relinquishing your Christian privileges under demon pressure. “Oppose the Devil, and he will flee from you.” (Jas. 4:7) Keep on opposing the Devil by seeking Jehovah, and he will deliver all those whose hearts are pure and clean and complete toward him with unselfish devotion and an undivided fear toward him. Keep your heart and mind upon the Word, will and work of Jehovah God. Keep on your spiritual armor, “that you may be able to stand firm against the machinations of the Devil,” resisting successfully till God’s kingdom stands triumphant over all wicked spirit forces.—Eph. 6:11.

Catholics Recommend Witnesses’ Zeal

THE apostle Paul said that Christians should “be aglow with the spirit,” and ‘do the work of evangelizers, fully accomplishing their ministry.’ (Rom. 12:11; 2 Tim. 4:5) Catholic priests and laymen have observed that the zealous ministerial activity of Jehovah’s witnesses is in keeping with Scriptural example. Albert Muller wrote in the Catholic magazine America recently (June 24, 1961) that “the Witnesses can truly boast of their intense activity.” “Their enormous zeal,” he said, “is their great strength.”

“It is the rare American who is unaware of a group of people commonly called Jehovah’s Witnesses,” observed Catholic priest J. S. Kennedy in the June 3, 1962, issue of Our Sunday Visitor. “In cities and towns up and down the land, some of them are regularly seen selling the publications of their peculiar religious sect. Their door-to-door canvass in pursuit of converts is intensive and never stops. . . . their zeal and self-sacrifice should give us pause.”

In answer to the question, “Why would a Catholic turn to this sect?” Kennedy pointed to the “bulletin of a Catholic church in Paris [which] gave the following answer, ‘Three factors contribute—the discovery of warm and brotherly communities; the discovery of the Bible; the discovery of lively preaching, easily understood. If they had found these things here, they would not have looked elsewhere.’”

Catholic priest John A. O’Brien recommended to some 200 priests at St. Joseph’s Seminary in New York in 1961 the apostolic house-to-house preaching method employed by Jehovah’s witnesses. “In recruiting converts and reclaiming lapsed members, nothing beats personal contact,” he said. “This is achieved by the tactful, courteous, well trained doorbell apostle. The secret of the phenomenal success of St. Paul was his tireless use of the house-to-house method of recruiting converts. It is ironic that this apostolic method is now used by non-Catholic sects, especially Jehovah’s Witnesses, whose numerous converts put us Catholics to shame.”

In the May 6, 1962, Canadian issue of Our Sunday Visitor Catholic priest Richard Griffin pointed to Jehovah’s witnesses as one of the world’s fastest-growing religions, while noting that “too many Catholic laymen seem to be half-ashamed of the fact that they are Catholics.” Griffin asked whether the Witnesses make “this fantastic progress by adopting the ‘let George do it’ attitude of so many Catholics.” “I think not,” he answered. “On an average each Witness will log 10 to 12 hours a month going from door to door distributing literature to interest prospective converts. Last year the sect reported one convert for each nine members; in the U.S.A. it took 279 Catholics to win one convert to the Church.”

“This alarming disparity is due in no small measure to the apathy of ‘Mr. and Mrs. Average Catholic’ right back at the parish level,” Griffin asserted. “You cannot win the world for Christ or even save your own soul by sitting back in front of your TV and leaving