Post by youretalkingtoeric on Jun 10, 2006 0:07:54 GMT -5
I had this incredible dream one night. The week prior to that night, I had been asking in my prayers for foresight, because I was afraid of what was to happen to my band. It was, I believe to be, a dream sent from God. I only say that because I have never woken from a dream weeping before, as I did this one. Never had my heart been filled with such joy to make me cry. My guitarist, who is studying to become a youth pastor, told me to write down what happened in my dream, because supposedly it helps you remember them. It's not like I'm going to forget this one anytime soon...
(If it's deserving of it, I'll offer some explanation and my interperetations.)
A twisted creature of sin and temptation writhing, serpentine, in agony. Its neck impaled with a steel rod, its lifeblood ebbing from the wound. Before me, this creature, clawing at my flesh, thirsting for my soul, lay defeated. In retreat, it dragged itself away from me, behind a monstrous door, forged of iron and laden with rust. The gate itself seemed to bear the weight of the world, covered in glowing runes, written in an ancient language. With a thunderous clamor, it shut itself, locking behind it the creature. Wiping the remaining entrails from my blood-spattered hands, I stood ready for the creature to emerge again. From behind me, familiar voices, “All the legions of Hell itself lay beyond this gate; they bring their Champions, just as we bring ours.” From the other side, we could hear the pounding of fists, the clattering of armor and weapons. In demonic tongues, they threatened us with tortures, unthinkable to the human mind. No longer was there the one creature I had faced earlier, but now, hundreds of thousands more who gathered to wage war on that battlefield that we had become so familiar with.
Suddenly the setting became clear to me. Surrounding me were my brothers, in a place we had waged spiritual war on many times before.
The gate seemed to be giving way, the weight of the demons were straining the iron bars holding it shut. We braced ourselves, for this time, it was not to be a battle, but a massacre.
The dissonant roaring of bent steel pierced the din of demonic cries, as the mammoth door fell. For a brief moment, we caught glimpse of their forces. For as far as the eye could see, flames not of this world spat forward demon after unholy demon, scores of legions lining up with weapons in hand. Shadows cast by the flames danced upon their twisted features, making them indiscernible from one another. Still, one could tell that each was the manifestation of every man’s sin, made “flesh” by the One who can destroy both body and soul in Hell.
They charged. From their deformed lips arose a cry that pierced the very soul, dug deep into our hearts to uproot our guilt and secrets. Wave after wave passed through that gate onto the mortal plane. Despite their ferociousness, many fell easily at our hands, but for every one we destroyed, a thousand more awaited to take its place. Slowly, we were driven back onto the risen platform from which we had witnessed from, many times before. The odds grew overwhelming, we could see no end to the flow of their armies, and our shoulders were weighed down by the thought of imminent defeat. The world around me began to slow down, as I watched my brothers hold their own against scores of these creatures.
I fell to my knees, in utter hopelessness, and called to the One who through all things are possible, who “even the demons know, and shudder” before. I cried out “In the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, I call upon all the forces of Heaven’s light.” Warmth enveloped me, and on my shoulder I could feel a hand comforting me. I suddenly felt at home, without care, without worry. From above, brilliant lights flashed down and from within those beams of light emerged hundreds of Azure guardians, adorned in golden plate armor, shining with all the brilliance of Heaven itself. The rest becomes unclear to me, as tears began to flow from my eyes, and my vision blurred. I could vaguely see the cobalt shapes driving the armies of demons back to the Hell from which they were born. They left behind them a wake of molten corpses, turning to ash from the Holy fire that burnt their flesh. A sweeping sense of joy overwhelmed me, and I wept, seemingly into the arms of Jesus himself. I could do nothing else but to call out the name of my Savior, and give thanks to Him; He who won that battle, and will win every War to come.
(If it's deserving of it, I'll offer some explanation and my interperetations.)
A twisted creature of sin and temptation writhing, serpentine, in agony. Its neck impaled with a steel rod, its lifeblood ebbing from the wound. Before me, this creature, clawing at my flesh, thirsting for my soul, lay defeated. In retreat, it dragged itself away from me, behind a monstrous door, forged of iron and laden with rust. The gate itself seemed to bear the weight of the world, covered in glowing runes, written in an ancient language. With a thunderous clamor, it shut itself, locking behind it the creature. Wiping the remaining entrails from my blood-spattered hands, I stood ready for the creature to emerge again. From behind me, familiar voices, “All the legions of Hell itself lay beyond this gate; they bring their Champions, just as we bring ours.” From the other side, we could hear the pounding of fists, the clattering of armor and weapons. In demonic tongues, they threatened us with tortures, unthinkable to the human mind. No longer was there the one creature I had faced earlier, but now, hundreds of thousands more who gathered to wage war on that battlefield that we had become so familiar with.
Suddenly the setting became clear to me. Surrounding me were my brothers, in a place we had waged spiritual war on many times before.
The gate seemed to be giving way, the weight of the demons were straining the iron bars holding it shut. We braced ourselves, for this time, it was not to be a battle, but a massacre.
The dissonant roaring of bent steel pierced the din of demonic cries, as the mammoth door fell. For a brief moment, we caught glimpse of their forces. For as far as the eye could see, flames not of this world spat forward demon after unholy demon, scores of legions lining up with weapons in hand. Shadows cast by the flames danced upon their twisted features, making them indiscernible from one another. Still, one could tell that each was the manifestation of every man’s sin, made “flesh” by the One who can destroy both body and soul in Hell.
They charged. From their deformed lips arose a cry that pierced the very soul, dug deep into our hearts to uproot our guilt and secrets. Wave after wave passed through that gate onto the mortal plane. Despite their ferociousness, many fell easily at our hands, but for every one we destroyed, a thousand more awaited to take its place. Slowly, we were driven back onto the risen platform from which we had witnessed from, many times before. The odds grew overwhelming, we could see no end to the flow of their armies, and our shoulders were weighed down by the thought of imminent defeat. The world around me began to slow down, as I watched my brothers hold their own against scores of these creatures.
I fell to my knees, in utter hopelessness, and called to the One who through all things are possible, who “even the demons know, and shudder” before. I cried out “In the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, I call upon all the forces of Heaven’s light.” Warmth enveloped me, and on my shoulder I could feel a hand comforting me. I suddenly felt at home, without care, without worry. From above, brilliant lights flashed down and from within those beams of light emerged hundreds of Azure guardians, adorned in golden plate armor, shining with all the brilliance of Heaven itself. The rest becomes unclear to me, as tears began to flow from my eyes, and my vision blurred. I could vaguely see the cobalt shapes driving the armies of demons back to the Hell from which they were born. They left behind them a wake of molten corpses, turning to ash from the Holy fire that burnt their flesh. A sweeping sense of joy overwhelmed me, and I wept, seemingly into the arms of Jesus himself. I could do nothing else but to call out the name of my Savior, and give thanks to Him; He who won that battle, and will win every War to come.