Pray For Protection
October 25, 2007
By Ernie Knoll
[The following is partly a dream and partly reality. Please be aware that this may not be appropriate for young or sensitive children.]
My wife, Becky, and I are at a motel during a trip to share the dreams. It is sometime in the early morning hours. In my dream I am being tortured. I am in excruciating pain. I awake and find that my arms are being held down behind my head and my legs are held down at my thighs and ankles. It feels as if a hand is placed down my throat so that I cannot speak. However, I am able to breathe through my nose. I now feel as if there is enormous pressure on my chest, making it more difficult to breathe. I am still in pain and want to scream, “Jesus, help me!” but am not able to. My body begins shaking hard all over from the extreme pain I am experiencing. I am thinking that I will not live through this. After a short time, Becky wakes up and asks, “What is going on? Why is the bed shaking? Are you okay? Do you need me to call out the name of Jesus?” I am able to speak now and tell her that I wished she had woken up sooner so she could have saved me. I tell her to go back to sleep and I lie awake for quite some time.
When daylight came, I explained the incident to Becky. We both realized the importance of asking not just for God’s angels to protect us but to keep the evil angels away each night and day. We now sleep better than we have in a long time. We also realized that “The ABC” dream, from the night before, showed the Spirit of Prophecy book, The Great Controversy. We understand how much Satan hates this book and the messages of the dreams the Lord is sharing. Following is the story of how Satan attacked Ellen White before she began writing The Great Controversy.
Selected Messages, Book 3, pp. 99-100.
Satan’s Attack. Monday we commenced our journey homeward. . . . While riding in the cars we arranged our plans for writing and publishing the book called the Great Controversy, immediately on our return home. I was then as well as usual. On the arrival of the train at Jackson, we went to Bro. Palmer’s. We had been in the house but a short time, when, as I was conversing with Sr. P., my tongue refused to utter what I wished to say, and seemed large and numb. A strange, cold sensation struck my heart, passed over my head, and down my right side. For a while I was insensible; but was aroused by the voice of earnest prayer. I tried to use my left arm and limb, but they were perfectly useless. For a short time I did not expect to live. For several weeks I could not feel the pressure of the hand, nor the coldest water poured upon my head. In rising to walk, I often staggered, and sometimes fell to the floor. In this condition I commenced to write the Great Controversy. I could write at first but one page a day, then rest three; but as I progressed, my strength increased. The numbness in my head did not seem to becloud my mind, and before I closed that work the effect of the shock had entirely left me.
Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Review and Herald, September 11, 1913.
God cannot use men who in time of peril, when the strength, courage, and influence of all are needed, are afraid to take a firm stand for the right. He calls for men who will do faithful battle against wrong, warring against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. It is to such as these that he will speak the words: “Well done, good and faithful servant; . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
