Scared!

[BluesPicker]

Yes, there are people that have relationships with familiar spirits and the chief characterization of this type of possession is communication. People who describe themselves as “channeling” archangels; and such, often integrate and entwine these evil spirits into their personality. The evil spirit will take and take, eventually leaving it’s victim alone and separated. Even though Deliverance is made available, for fear of being alone, the victims often refuse help from the Church. Here is when we have to realize that we are not Jesus Christ because only He can save such people. So we have to pray, do penance, and make sacrifices that Jesus Christ will Bless these people and send the Grace of Repentance to penetrate the darkness that they are trapped in.

St. Paul demands that we test the spirit. There are evil spirits that commonly take the form of and call themselves Jesus; but not, Jesus Christ. Satan and his crew of fallen angels fell because they rejected some aspect of Jesus Christ. Satan rejected our Blessed Mother, the Immaculate Virgin Mary. This is why Satan often manifests as a beautiful woman and even takes the form of our Blessed Mother. This happens often and is the chief reason we are cautioned not to follow unapproved apparitions/private revelations.

It is a mortal sin to communicate with spirits other than those from Heaven. So dangerous the threat of communication with evil spirits is one exorcist writes:

[/indent]
"Immediately reject any and all types of unnatural insights whether they occur in a dream or while in a waking state. Such insights commonly originate in the occult and are of satanic origin. Such insights may refer to a past, present of future event. They are intended to seem worthy with resultant enhancement of self-esteem. Eventually the evil spirits giving these insights, feelings, or seeing of auroras will seek full control over a captivated persons being. Such possessions or manifestations frequently occur to those who have used or participated in the following:

Ouija boards, Seances, Magic 8 balls, Palm reading (even as a game), Tea leaf reading, Fortune telling, Potions, Incantations, Yoga (even as exercise), Martial Arts (in most cases), Dungeons and Dragons, Harry Potter Books, Eastern Mysticism, Tarrot Cards, etc.

When one begins honestly trying to live the Christian life, one MUST break with all Satanic influences that one has accepted in one’s life. This would include all organized occultic behavior. Many of these things are presented as games or midway attractions at a county fair, but they’re actually portals of access for the attack of one or devils. It may have been years since one was involved but until it is recognized as sin, confessed, and absolved with proper penance, the doors remain open for Satan’s entry.

Many people never know that the games they were involved with as children are mortal sins that will send them to hell without proper repentance.

It is not enough to say that you never did it yourself. To be aware that any of these things are being done and not to say something against it is to give tacit approval by your presence. Such failure jeopardizes your own soul.

Avoid other conditions and associations that breed satanic influence concerning one’s spiritual life.

Sadly many will not accept this advice nor submit themselves in obedience to the Church Jesus Christ founded in Jerusalem with Power & Authority.​

 

[Blossoming]

“Jesus told her that his mother has no idea that people are worshiping her, or praying to her on earth or calling on her for help on earth.”

Since reading this, I’ve been to Mass - a great place for discernment! This ‘being of light’ that so many identify as Jesus may be a different kind of spirit altogether - definitely was here. This pseudo-jesus told 2 lies.

1. Mary does not know that people are worshiping her - Catholics do NOT worship Mary. If some misguided people do, she knows about it. (see lie 2!)
2. Mary does not know that people pray to her or ask her help - The Bible clearly teaches in several places that those in heaven know what happens on earth; and are very interested - see Heb. 12:1 for just one - this is what convinced me when I was still a Protestant. The "cloud of witnesses’ is described in Chapter 11 - the saints. There are not two Churches - one on earth and one in heaven - but only one. Jesus did not say “I will build my Churches”. I suspect some anti-Catholic bias at work - certainly not Jesus speaking.

Yep, I think you are correct that proper discernment comes from the very exact teachings of the Church, not from internet posters. And as another poster pointed out, all opinions on the internet are not equal. For example, someone might make a youtube which states the earth is flat, while others might describe the earth as an orb. Now one of those statements is true, one is false. The validity of the statement has to do with the credibility of the person saying it in real life, not a role on the internet. There are places on the internet which you can assume things to be true, research foundations, science sites, educational learning centers. Then there is the rest of the net.

You have to grain of salt anything on the internet because there are many who choose to live illusionary lives on the net because of dissatisfaction in their own lives. It’s a wonderful medium for fantasy, sadly, because one would have hoped this incredible technology would have been a great boon to real people reaching out to other real people.

In some cases that occurs, and yet overall I think what the internet has done is allow very ill people to escape a real world in which those around them geographically in real life can see the actual person and avoid them, to becoming a place where the truly ill can find their own kind to enable them from across the globe and form ill pseudo-relationships which keep all of those who engage in such from actually making their own real lives better.

It’s is unfortunate and a great disservice to themselves.

On NDE, there are actually considerable scientific studies from hospitals on the subject. There is no way to know if people who have medically been dead and brought back by doctors are seeing anything real, but of all the studies conducted in any kind of realistic manner, what people do see is remarkably consistent and almost always good - relatives welcoming them, a shining light, God’s love.

If what they are seeing has any validity, it seems to consistently imply a great peace. I think there is only one recorded case from real studies that a man indicated anything like hell.

Youtube is youtube. I think the thing to take from youtube is the chance to listen to good music, mostly.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Bob Crowley;8508213:

I’ve got good reason for believing in hell, as my own father turned up in my room the night he died. He started with an apology, we argued and conversed, and then he disappeared. However just before he disappeared, he gave this absolutely terrifying scream that was so frightening that I started to scream, and all I could see was him. I didn’t see what was coming for him, but from the way he was standing, his actions, and the sheer terror, it obviously wasn’t very pleasant."

I strongly believe in hell; and just as strongly don’t want to go there. But please don’t put such confidence in this apparition. The Church has NEVER said that anyone was in hell. But the Bible warns against ‘familiar spirits’. These are demons who are so ‘familiar’ with a life that they will convincingly imitate that person. The devil’s job description is deception. You may have had an encounter with one of these. The purpose - to stop you from praying for your father. Both my parents deserved hell (so do I for that matter) but I pray for them; and entrust them to the mercy of God. Don’t let the enemy disturb you. These apparitions can seem so real; as can some phony apparitions of Jesus and our Blessed mother. I will pray for you today.

Sorry, but I think in this particular instance it was my father. For one thing he made certain predictions, some of which have come true. For example, he said “You’ll meet a pastor. You’ll think he’s great, but all he’ll do is discourage you even more.” I met the pastor about 4 years later (one Rev. Robert Missenden, then Presbyterian, but Methodist by training). I learnt a great deal from him and often quote him in relevant posts. However he did discourage me.

Like you, he had concerns about where this apparition came from. But when around 1990/91 he himself stated, “I owe you an apology. You needed encouragement, but all I’ve done is to discourage you even more!” I pointed out to him then that he had just quoted my father back to me almost word for word, yet my father had died about 13 years earlier. He blurted out, “You really did see your father that night!”

Likewise my Catholic psychiatrist, who is quite spiritual, also believes I saw him that night.

I am well aware of “familiar spirits”, and have used the term myself on various posts. But not every apparition is necessarily a “familiar spirit” either.

For these things to reveal their origin, it takes time. You might be right about not wanting to pray for my father, but then when I did well in school and got the equivalent of 8 A’s when I was about 15, he stuck his head around the door and snarled, "Robert, you’re not getting away with this! I’ll make sure you don’t succeed!’ And that was his deliberate attitude for 20 years. It was this deliberate destructive attitude for 20 years to destroy my confidence that I find hard to forgive - not the fact he appeared in my room.

As my old pastor said, “it’s almost as though he thought his mission in life was to wreck yours”. And the night he died, also admitted, “I did it deliberately”. That’s why I find him hard to forgive, not merely the fact he turned up and apologised, and for all I know, he could have been told to apologise. In fact, I think he was.

 

[coco2]

I’ve got good reason for believing in hell, as my own father turned up in my room the night he died. He started with an apology, we argued and conversed, and then he disappeared. However just before he disappeared, he gave this absolutely terrifying scream that was so frightening that I started to scream, and all I could see was him. I didn’t see what was coming for him, but from the way he was standing, his actions, and the sheer terror, it obviously wasn’t very pleasant.

On the other hand, I wouldn’t take any notice of this South American lady if I were you. The person you “can’t metion” was allegedly Pope JPII, and as soon as she said that, I knew she was lying. In her case I think she and her mother cooked up the whole thing to make a name for themselves.

One thing that always gets to me about all these hellish experiences is how political a lot of them are. And I’d make the same comment about some Marian visions. There is supposed to be a visionary in Conyers, Georgia, but whenever I read the alleged condemnation of some US presidents for example, the first thing that comes to mind is that she’s a Republican in spiritual drag.

The other thing that I find hard to take is the detail of conversations that a lot of them go into. When I see that, I get a bit cynical.

Oh, don’t get me wrong. I have a strong conviction that hell exists, reinforced by what happened the night my father died. But I also take a lot of these “testimonies” with a grain of salt. I know it is to be feared - my father really screamed.

That doesn’t mean you’re going there. If you’re worried enough about it to want to do something to avoid it, you probably won’t go there. It’s a paradox, but the better the person the more they worry about things like this. The worse the person, the less they worry about it. A hit man for example wouldn’t even consider it, since his entire world would revolves around him, and nothing else. He’s one dimensional.

But Hell does exist. I believe my own father is there for example.

Oh my goodness, I am sorry about your father. I would have a hard time getting up every morning if I witnessed such a thing. Was your father a believer in Christ?

 

[coco2]

Yes, there are people that have relationships with familiar spirits and the chief characterization of this type of possession is communication. People who describe themselves as “channeling” archangels; and such, often integrate and entwine these evil spirits into their personality. The evil spirit will take and take, eventually leaving it’s victim alone and separated. Even though Deliverance is made available, for fear of being alone, the victims often refuse help from the Church. Here is when we have to realize that we are not Jesus Christ because only He can save such people. So we have to pray, do penance, and make sacrifices that Jesus Christ will Bless these people and send the Grace of Repentance to penetrate the darkness that they are trapped in.

St. Paul demands that we test the spirit. There are evil spirits that commonly take the form of and call themselves Jesus; but not, Jesus Christ. Satan and his crew of fallen angels fell because they rejected some aspect of Jesus Christ. Satan rejected our Blessed Mother, the Immaculate Virgin Mary. This is why Satan often manifests as a beautiful woman and even takes the form of our Blessed Mother. This happens often and is the chief reason we are cautioned not to follow unapproved apparitions/private revelations.

It is a mortal sin to communicate with spirits other than those from Heaven. So dangerous the threat of communication with evil spirits is one exorcist writes:

[/indent]
"Immediately reject any and all types of unnatural insights whether they occur in a dream or while in a waking state. Such insights commonly originate in the occult and are of satanic origin. Such insights may refer to a past, present of future event. They are intended to seem worthy with resultant enhancement of self-esteem. Eventually the evil spirits giving these insights, feelings, or seeing of auroras will seek full control over a captivated persons being. Such possessions or manifestations frequently occur to those who have used or participated in the following:

Ouija boards, Seances, Magic 8 balls, Palm reading (even as a game), Tea leaf reading, Fortune telling, Potions, Incantations, Yoga (even as exercise), Martial Arts (in most cases), Dungeons and Dragons, Harry Potter Books, Eastern Mysticism, Tarrot Cards, etc.

When one begins honestly trying to live the Christian life, one MUST break with all Satanic influences that one has accepted in one’s life. This would include all organized occultic behavior. Many of these things are presented as games or midway attractions at a county fair, but they’re actually portals of access for the attack of one or devils. It may have been years since one was involved but until it is recognized as sin, confessed, and absolved with proper penance, the doors remain open for Satan’s entry.

Many people never know that the games they were involved with as children are mortal sins that will send them to hell without proper repentance.

It is not enough to say that you never did it yourself. To be aware that any of these things are being done and not to say something against it is to give tacit approval by your presence. Such failure jeopardizes your own soul.

Avoid other conditions and associations that breed satanic influence concerning one’s spiritual life.

Sadly many will not accept this advice nor submit themselves in obedience to the Church Jesus Christ founded in Jerusalem with Power & Authority.
​

Uh…Magic 8 balls are evil? If we held one, read the ridiculous thing it said and laughed, we are going to hell? And once again, the Harry Potter books on the chopping block. I agree with many of the things you mention, particularly Seances, but in order for a mortal sin to be a mortal sin, we have to recognize it as such, and choose to do it anyway. If a child reads a Harry Potter book ( which is FICTION, by the way), or shakes an Magic 8 ball, how could they possibly go to hell for this?​

 

[BaileyJoe]

I do believe that some of the near death experiences are real. Some do scare me. What I do is pray a lot and try very hard to live my life as if I were dying at any minute. If I do fail in my Christian walk, I ask God to forgive me. My mother had a near death experience and when my dad died, he died with a smile on his face talking to his dead father. I believe my dad saw his father. Since you are scared try to live your life in such a way that you would not be ashamed to stand before Our Lord.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Oh my goodness, I am sorry about your father. I would have a hard time getting up every morning if I witnessed such a thing. Was your father a believer in Christ?

No, he was an atheist. He was Catholic by baptism, but had long abandoned his faith.

We spoke very little about religion. I remember his being scathing about God being powerless in the Second World War, in which he fought, with his comment about the concentration camps for example - “If anybody knew what was going on, God supposedly did, and he didn’t do a thing.” And in one sense he was right - the Second World War was almost irreligious with Anglican Britain with her Protestant anglo-colonies, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand along with Buddhist Gurkhas, Hindu Indians, Confucian and Communist Chinese, along with the atheist Soviet Union and the Protestant USA, fighting Lutheran Germany, Shinto Japan and Catholic Italy; with and one of the chief sufferers being the Jews.

His other comment was “If God doesn’t exist, then it’s not going to make any difference, and if He does, then it doesn’t matter, because Christ has done it all anyway.”

It was this last little bit where he went wrong. Christ calls us to follow Him, and if we are “ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of us”.

In one way we were a microcosm of the modern West - my father was lapsed Catholic, my mother was lapsed Anglican, I was baptised Presbyterian, and my sister wasn’t baptised at all, although she had herself baptised later as an adult I believe. Even my baptism as a Presbyterian was an act of rebellion by my father. And as my old pastor commented, the splitting up of the family Christian allegiance was “stupid!” And in fact, one of the things my father said the night he died was, “I can’t believe how cruel and stupid I’ve been”.

And to again quote my old pastor, with his ex-Methodist background, my father probably chose the worst church he could for me ie. Presbyterian. And the pastor said that despite being “Presbyterian” at the time himself. The only advantage that came to me from that was the fact I met the old pastor himself. He might have been discouraging, but he was wise, and he was prophetic, so I learnt a lot from him.

Or to use Church terminology - I’d say my father had a fair number of mortal sins he hadn’t atoned for, and had never confessed. I still remember at the funeral (and I was an atheist myself at the time) the priest seemed to have this sardonic look coupled with contempt on his face. I have no idea who he was, since my father’s sisters arranged most of the funeral and burial details, but I suspect he thought he was just going through the motions.

His sisters kept their faith incidentally. But he didn’t.

I think he’s in hell, and I still remember the scream, and that was nearly 33 years ago now. I mean if Church teaching on unconfessed mortal sins is definitive, then a lot of people must end up there.

It was Christ Himself who said, (Matthew 7:13-14 - NIV) - “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

He wouldn’t be the only one. Not by a long shot.

 

[GregBussey]

I can’t speak for anyone else but I know my near-death-experience/vision/dream/ecstacy/trance/encounter/whatever was an authentic gift of mercy from God. God was just beyond my sight so I never saw him, but I knew he was there on his throne because of the light and love he radiated. He was powerul beyond imagination. He didn’t speak in words, but he imparted into my mind an awareness of my selfishness, immaturity and irreverence. I knew for the first time that I was not the “good person” I always thought I was. I hadn’t lived every second of my life for him. I felt ashamed and sad. I saw that I had wasted my life. He told me (without words) that I was dead now and would no longer have any opportunity to repent. It was too late. This was the end, my end. Then I started to descend further away from God’s radiance, down into a dark pit, which I understood was hell. I was powerless to stop the descent. I didn’t see satan or demons or fire. I didn’t fear the just torment that surely awaited me. I could only grieve for the loss of God’s presence. I couldn’t bear to be apart from Love permanently. Words cannot describe my remorse. He “told” me that in a minute, after descending just a few inches lower, I wouldn’t even have any memory of him any more. It was terrifying. I knew it was too late to beg for more mercy, but I called out in my anguish that I wanted him and needed him and I was so, so sorry. Then, instantly, I was no longer there in the pit; I was back on earth. I don’t know today if I was ever actually dead but I believed I was dead when it was happening. Regardless, my attitude changed that day from “worldly hedonist” to “obedient servant of God.” I am a completely different person now, not just in attitude but in action. It happened 20 years ago. Yes, it was scary, but that was a good thing. I don’t blame God for scaring me; I thank him for saving me from the pit.

 

[Monica4316]

To avoid hell, try to simply repent of all your sins and pray the Divine Mercy chaplet and the Rosary, this could give more peace… receive the Sacraments regularly and pray for final perseverance and repentance. I would also stick to more - approved Catholic private revelations…we don’t know about the other ones.

God bless

 

[Teelynn]

No, he was an atheist. He was Catholic by baptism, but had long abandoned his faith.

We spoke very little about religion. I remember his being scathing about God being powerless in the Second World War, in which he fought, with his comment about the concentration camps for example - “If anybody knew what was going on, God supposedly did, and he didn’t do a thing.” And in one sense he was right - the Second World War was almost irreligious with Anglican Britain with her Protestant anglo-colonies, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand along with Buddhist Gurkhas, Hindu Indians, Confucian and Communist Chinese, along with the atheist Soviet Union and the Protestant USA, fighting Lutheran Germany, Shinto Japan and Catholic Italy; with and one of the chief sufferers being the Jews.

His other comment was “If God doesn’t exist, then it’s not going to make any difference, and if He does, then it doesn’t matter, because Christ has done it all anyway.”

It was this last little bit where he went wrong. Christ calls us to follow Him, and if we are “ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of us”.

In one way we were a microcosm of the modern West - my father was lapsed Catholic, my mother was lapsed Anglican, I was baptised Presbyterian, and my sister wasn’t baptised at all, although she had herself baptised later as an adult I believe. Even my baptism as a Presbyterian was an act of rebellion by my father. And as my old pastor commented, the splitting up of the family Christian allegiance was “stupid!” And in fact, one of the things my father said the night he died was, “I can’t believe how cruel and stupid I’ve been”.

And to again quote my old pastor, with his ex-Methodist background, my father probably chose the worst church he could for me ie. Presbyterian. And the pastor said that despite being “Presbyterian” at the time himself. The only advantage that came to me from that was the fact I met the old pastor himself. He might have been discouraging, but he was wise, and he was prophetic, so I learnt a lot from him.

Or to use Church terminology - I’d say my father had a fair number of mortal sins he hadn’t atoned for, and had never confessed. I still remember at the funeral (and I was an atheist myself at the time) the priest seemed to have this sardonic look coupled with contempt on his face. I have no idea who he was, since my father’s sisters arranged most of the funeral and burial details, but I suspect he thought he was just going through the motions.

His sisters kept their faith incidentally. But he didn’t.

I think he’s in hell, and I still remember the scream, and that was nearly 33 years ago now. I mean if Church teaching on unconfessed mortal sins is definitive, then a lot of people must end up there.

It was Christ Himself who said, (Matthew 7:13-14 - NIV) - “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

He wouldn’t be the only one. Not by a long shot.

Thus enter: The Divine Mercy Chaplet…Very powerful…Jesus himself said that to pray the Chaplet for the dying that He Himself would stand between that soul and His Father in heaven. Yes, God is a God of Justice, but ALSO a God of great Mercy.

Also just another comfort…God is not confined by time. He is outside of time. Therefore, He could apply our prayers for our deceased relatives after the fact that could benefit them greatly…might even be the factor that gets them “in the door.” Yes purgatory would be a long haul, but hey, it won’t be forever! Anyone that gets to purgatory will make it eventually.

 

[GEddie]

Do you remember when Paul was taken up to the “third heaven” and he said, “whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows?” I’m not sure how this works, I also agree that there is no complete severing of body and soul in these experiences, but I do believe the experiences of many are quite real, whatever “real” means here.

The “soul” or mind can experience part of the new life without leaving the human body, through the pneumatikon soma, if it be the will of God. This would be the human version of an “aborted takeoff.”

ICXC NIKA

 

[RobertaMichaela]

Dear Scared, When you read through these many sites written by people who wish to undermine the Catholic Faith, you will find many errors. The site you speak of forgets that Our Lord respects free will. He never forced even the Saints against their will to do what He knew would bring many people to Him. He always asked gently and lovingly. Learn more about your faith by reading the Bible and the CCC - you will find peace. God is Love and Love is gentle, kind, considerate, protective. Love does not leave us to die. Love gives us life, hope, faith and trust. Love leads us through darkess. Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you as you read the messages placed online. Remember that all you read is not truth! [BIBLEDRB][/BIBLEDRB]God Bless You. Rob

 

[BluesPicker]

Dear Scared, When you read through these many sites written by people who wish to undermine the Catholic Faith, you will find many errors. The site you speak of forgets that Our Lord respects free will. He never forced even the Saints against their will to do what He knew would bring many people to Him. He always asked gently and lovingly. Learn more about your faith by reading the Bible and the CCC - you will find peace. God is Love and Love is gentle, kind, considerate, protective. Love does not leave us to die. Love gives us life, hope, faith and trust. Love leads us through darkess. Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you as you read the messages placed online. Remember that all you read is not truth! [BIBLEDRB][/BIBLEDRB]God Bless You. Rob

 Amen!   These videos only serve to confuse, scare and all sorts of negative emotions. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of sobriety. 2 Timothy 1:7."    Those videos on Youtube well frankly,  although some are very good,  one has to use discernment.

           There are crazy things even by people who purport to be of the Church and from the Church,  who  are a likened to  Sirens  calling to people to dash themselves against the rocks of  fear and doubt.   Listen to Rob's advice.

BP

 

[GregBussey]

Prv 9:10 The beginning of wisdom is fear of the LORD, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Prv 1:7 Fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Jb 28:28 And to mortals he said: See: the fear of the Lord is wisdom; and avoiding evil is understanding.

Sir 1:16 The crown of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, flowering with peace and perfect health.

 

[Chiltepin]

On the other hand, I wouldn’t take any notice of this South American lady if I were you. The person you “can’t metion” was allegedly Pope JPII, and as soon as she said that, I knew she was lying.

Can someone please direct me to a written testimony or video where she makes this claim? Someone whom I respect, who has been very influential in my faith formation has become caught up in her tales and has met her. I know that if he heard her make that claim his devotion to Blessed John Paul II would give him the strength and conviction not to be taken in by this.

 

[coco2]

I found it on youtube. I typed in “near death hell experiences” Several come up, but this was a younger girl. I’ll see if I can find it and send you a link.

 

[coco2]

Can someone please direct me to a written testimony or video where she makes this claim? Someone whom I respect, who has been very influential in my faith formation has become caught up in her tales and has met her. I know that if he heard her make that claim his devotion to Blessed John Paul II would give him the strength and conviction not to be taken in by this.

Here it is, there are three parts to the testimony, this is the first part:

youtube.com/watch?v=71VdRD5RhZ0&feature=related

 

[Chiltepin]

Thanks guys. I think I must have misunderstood. Gloria Polo does not make those claims, Jennifer Perez does. I’m a little relieved.