If people would only read their Bible — especially the OT prophets and The Book of Revelation — they’d quickly discover that God's Word speaks of a mysterious "mirror" universe…an “alternate reality” to our world; a “Second Heaven”…where an innumerable number of angels (both good and bad) have been engaged in intense warfare, ever since the archangel Lucifer (AKA Satan) was kicked out of Heaven, and took one-third of all the other fallen angels with him. (Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:12-15, Revelation 12:3-4)
For me, over the years, I've had more than a few opportunities to “rub up against” this "mirror" universe…the first time, only two weeks into my freshman year at college, when I encountered a fellow student one night, possessed with a demonic entity.
And yet, even after that episode, I don't believe I became completely “woke” to the power of these dark deities until many years later, in my 50’s…when I first undertook an exhaustive study of The Book of Daniel. It was there, while studying Chapter 9, that I read how the angel Gabriel was delayed in visiting the aged prophet, for the simple reason that he was too busy battling other angels, in another dimension. In the case of Gabriel, this powerful angel had to battle satanic leaders in both Persia (Iran) and Greece; demonic entities so strong, even the mightiest angel in all of the Heavens — the archangel Michael, the protector of Israel — had difficulty defeating them; and thus, requested Gabriel's assistance.
But seriously, how often do we ever think about the angelic wars that take place OUTSIDE our realm — on the other side of the veil — in the "second" heaven? Probably never. And yet, it's only been a short 2,500 years since Gabriel visited Daniel…so we know these dark angelic forces obviously still exist, and still control men; powerful men, and most likely all world leaders.
One such deity is Gog the demon, mentioned more than once in the Bible, and always associated with Russia (AKA Magog, Scythia) to the north. From Ezekiel 38 & 39, we know this demonic entity Gog is still alive and well and poised to attack Israel in the infamous Gog & Magog War, during the Great Tribulation. Mentioned again 600 years later, in the Book of Revelation, this deity Gog likely controls (even possesses) Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The prophet Ezekiel said that God will one day soon "...put his hooks in the mouth...” of Gog (Ezekiel 38:4), then direct him to unite a coalition (including Russia, Iran, Turkey and other nations) in a long-awaited attack against Israel.
So, now that we’ve established that these demonic characters from Daniel’s day are still around, what about this Second Heaven…does it exist? And if so, where is the proof?
For starters, I would maintain the proof of an alternative "heaven" — populated by an innumerable amount of angels — lies in the fact that hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people on this earth have supposedly “witnessed” alien beings and flying saucers…and yet, we have not one shred of evidence to substantiate those claims. I believe this can be explained by the fact that these sightings are not actually “little green men from outer space”, but in fact, angelic beings — both good and bad — who can appear and disappear at will, as they do throughout the entire Bible.
I mean, come on...have you read Chapter 1 of The Book of Ezekiel? Have you read the prophet’s jaw-dropping description of the Cherubim — God’s uber-angels — and their “spaceship” —hovering in the sky — this wild whirligig-of-a-thing, floating high above the prophet, with all these wheels moving within wheels? Seriously…WHAT IS THAT THING? Can you imagine if a UFO like that showed itself today…maybe landing on the White House lawn? Well, Ezekiel saw it and described it; and keep in mind...this was only 2,500 years ago!
Secondly, many people — like myself — have never seen an actual alien…but as I said, I sure as heck have witnessed a demonically-possessed person, up close and personal — two weeks into my freshman year at college — and I can tell you with 100% certainty that not only are these demonic entities VERY real, but they are absolutely terrifying beyond your wildest imagination. Imagine waking up at 2:00 am to find a demonically-possessed classmate, with the strength of 20 men, speaking in a voice that likely lived millions of years ago. It's almost comical — thinking back to a couple days after all this happened — when my mom called me, to check in…then asks me, ”So, honey, tell me about your first few days at Olivet. Meet anyone interesting?“
Yet, the most terrifying element to all of this is NOT these past stories of angels and men — no matter how freaky-deaky they seem — but instead, the events coming up in the not-too-distant FUTURE — first in Revelation 9 — when an angel tells the apostle John that there will come a time — during the Day of the Lord — when God unleashes four demons, so bad, so evil, He’s had them locked up in a pit for thousands of years. Upon their release, Christ allows a portal to be ripped open (between their dimension and ours), thus unleashing a plague of demonic locust/scorpions on the entire world…commanded to sting but not kill. This is the first of THREE WOES. (Revelation 9:12)
Even worst is the second WOE: an army of demons, on horseback — led by the fallen Angel, Apollyon — pouring through a portal from the netherworld, tormenting and killing anyone who has taken the Mark of the Beast — as God makes one last-ditch effort to coerce mankind into repentance and salvation…albeit through the severest tribulation sinful mankind has ever endured. (Revelation 13:16-18)
One interesting note about the Satanic entity, Apollyon…to the Jews, he’s known as Abaddon; to others, he is known as Shiva the Destroyer. Right now, if you visit CERN — the European Organization for Nuclear Research — you'll find a monument out front, dedicated to thus demonic entity. (See photo.)
Speaking of CERN — headquartered high up in the Swiss Alps, and home to the world's largest superconductor — they are currently attempting to reach other dimensions through a portal; and may have actually succeeded, since — a few years ago — they supposedly lost several scientists through a breach...men who have never returned.
But what about events closer to home? Back in the late 70's — as a teenager — I was in the basement of my church, when I suddenly felt a very powerful demonic presence. After that, I never went back down there. Years later, though, in 2013, the five of us in my family were driving to a friend’s 80th Birthday party, when we began talking on the subject and I confessed what had happened. Immediately, my sister Wendy gasped out loud, then told us she had felt the same demonic presence…IN THE EXACT LOCATION.
Scary stuff? Absolutely. And yet, as we witness this world so meticulously following the Bible’s apocalyptic doomsday script to the letter, we must understand that all of these strange goings on — this ever-increasing TRIBULATION — is God’s ONLY way of somehow bringing Salvation to a sinful, disinterested world...a world that can expect, very soon, for the demons of Revelation 9 to come pouring out of a portal at CERN, with Shiva the Destroyer leading the way. How bad will it get? Revelation 9:15-16 says there are 200 million of them, that have “…been prepared for the hour and day and month and year…”, and they will ultimately kill one-third of the entire population on earth at that time.
Still not convinced? Just a few moments ago, I saw on Twitter where a proud mother displayed this very disturbing depiction (below) of Abaddon — Shiva, the DESTROYER — drawn by her 11-year old son.
So, am I scaring the hell out of you, yet? Oh, if you are unsaved...I surely hope so.
The good news? If anyone puts their faith in Jesus NOW, they will avoid all these future terrifying events, as well as all the other WOES that will soon reek havoc on non-Believers. If not — if people continue to avoid God’s Grace — unfortunately, they will soon experience the type of horrors one can only find in their worst nightmares.
Of course, even after reading this, most people will scoff and laugh — especially at all the fantastical stories of demons and such — and refuse to research it for themselves, in the pages of God’s Word and on the Internet. But then, later tonight, those same people will grab a highball, stroll outside onto their back deck, and stare up into the night sky...hoping against hope to catch site of an Unidentified Flying Object...or better yet, a cute cuddly Extra-Terrestrial.
Trust me...from the horrors I’ve witnessed, they may want to rethink what they hope for.