Category Archives: Angels
Book Review: The Veil by Blake Healy – A Look Behind the Scenes of the Unseen Realm
Amazon link
I recently finished reading The Veil by Blake K Healy. Blake is a good guy. He teaches at the Bethel Atlanta School of Supernatural Ministry. I’ve seen a lot of flaky stuff on the subject of the unseen realm – his book is not like that at all. It’s very real, very believable and very down to earth. I enjoyed reading it. He says he has been able to see clearly the unseen realm since he was a child. He never thought he was different – he thought everyone could see what he saw. Until he reached a certain age where it became obvious to him that he was “different”. I liked his book because he didn’t make me feel excluded because I don’t “see” like he sees. Many people who have special giftings tend to give you that impression. He didn’t put himself on a pedestal at all. In fact, instead he tries to make “seeing” or “perceiving” the unseen realm something anyone can do. He even includes “exercises” in the back of the book to help you get started. Very cool! 🙂
I used the exercise with a friend this weekend and lo and behold, she saw an angel! In my living room, no less. That was cool. But more on that later ….
Here’s some highlights from his book:
Demons have no authority over you unless you give it to them. A demonic entity has no right to act in your life without expressed agreement from you. (p. 37) Lies are the only power that demons have, and lies are only powerful if you believe them. … there is freedom in revealing deception to be deception. (p. 41) … the interesting thing about demonic influence [is] it feels so real when you’re in the middle of it, but the moment you see it clearly it’s no more threatening than a paper-mache bunny. (p.48)
I really like that – Lies are only powerful if you believe them. Wow – so if the only power that demons have is the power we give them by believing their lies, then it should be fairly simple to keep them from influencing us, right? In my life, I have found it very hard to discern the lies I believe – ’cause they don’t LOOK like lies. If I believe them, then I believe they are true, right? If I KNEW it was a lie, then I wouldn’t believe it. It’s kinda complicated, isn’t it?
I’m very glad I discovered this little heart “exercise” called the Lie Detector. That’s in a book called Freedom through Forgiveness by Sandy Walker. It’s on the Resources tab above. I’ll post about that book at another time. Anyway, that little exercise has been majorly helping me find the lies I believe and uprooting them. And as a result, I feel a LOT freer. I had no idea I believed so many lies!
Back to Blake’s book – he says he’s never met anyone who didn’t have a personal angel. That’s kind of cool, isn’t it? 🙂 He says about 30% of the personal angels look like the person they are with. Kind of explains why people told Rhoda it was “Peter’s angel” at the door when Peter was supernaturally released from prison by an angel (Acts 12) – maybe they had seen these look-alike angels before.
I like Blake’s stories – he very simply describes what he sees: in a coffeeshop, in a church service, at a party. It’s very cool. I also really appreciate that he emphasizes that “it’s not about the gift”. It’s about asking the Holy Spirit to teach you and show you what is all around you. Reading his stories gave me a little nudge to start paying attention more. His descriptions stretched my imagination. For instance, here’s one I thought was cool:
Sometimes people would come with cuts and bruises on their faces [in the unseen realm]. As each word was prophesied over them [in prayer ministry], liquid light would form in the air, repairing the cuts and clearing the bruises. (p. 66) [brackets added for clarity]
So, back to my friend seeing the angel in my living room. Blake says that if you want to become more aware of the unseen realm, then pay more attention to it. I knew my friend wanted to become more aware of this realm. We were sitting in my living room with some friends. I told her, “Close your eyes, ask the Holy Spirit where to look. Then open your eyes and ask Him to show you something.” (this is a very brief summary of Blake’s exercise). She did. She opened her eyes and pointed to an area near my bookshelves. She said, “There’s an angel there.” We both smiled.
Then I focused on the area and “saw” a rather large figure. Taller than the people who were there. Then I remembered the last part of Blake’s instruction – ask the Holy Spirit to explain to you what you are seeing. So I did. I got the impression that the angel was there for protection. He was certainly BIG enough. 🙂
Blake says there’s an impartation on his book – in other words, it stirs up your faith to open your heart and believe that you too can see/perceive the unseen realm. I think he’s right. It certainly stirred me up. So if this is an area you’d like to grow in, give his book a look.
Here’s the link to Amazon – you can preview some of the chapters before purchasing it.
Let me know if you decide to read it and what you thought. Or if you have another cool book you’d like to recommend, please let me know in the comments below. Thanks! 🙂
Update May 2024: Blake has a Patreon account where you can sign up for Live Discussions, Questions and Answers with Blake and Training Classes on Seeing in the Spirit. He also offers Activation Sessions and even some one-on-one coaching. Here’s the info: How to See – Training and Live Discussions
Video: Experiences of the Unseen Realm
Rating: Educational
I found this episode of “It’s Supernatural” by Sid Roth where he interviews Jonathan Welton about his experiences of seeing the unseen realm. What’s cool is that they illustrate what he describes with actors playing out each scene. That really helps me to understand what Jonathan says he can see.
It’s a nice episode. I think you’ll enjoy it. Be prepared – it’s kinda “out there”.
Jonathan Welton: Seeing in the Spirit
Here’s the original link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6je44kzcCgc
If you go to YouTube and watch the link, I’m sure you’ll find all kinds of other “related videos” too. 🙂
Spiritual Protection from Dark Forces & Evil Spirits
Rating: Educational
When I was new to the idea of confronting spiritual darkness, I met a couple who seemed to have a little more experience in this area. The wife could discern whether an object had a curse on it by holding it in her hand. The husband could discern spiritual activity (angels & demons) – he said he saw them like comic book characters.
When I met them (nearly 20 years ago), they reported having some experience in helping people get free of oppression from dark forces. I had very little experience so I listened to what they had to say. They seemed balanced – not flaky like other Christians I had known. They taught me some things that I still use to this day.
One of the principles they learned (from experience) was spiritual protection. They reported having really bad experiences of “backlash” after a ministry appointment unless they specifically prayed for spiritual protection. I have incorporated the prayer they taught me with other prayers the Holy Spirit has impressed on me from time to time.
Whenever you directly confront darkness or dark forces through prayer, intercession or in a ministry setting (i.e. praying for someone who is oppressed by evil), afterwards it is a good idea to pray something like this:
“I bind all Retaliation, Revenge, Retribution and Jealousy from off of me and everything associated with me. I cancel all witchcraft and any soulish prayers prayed concerning me or my family. I close every open door to the enemy’s realm and I seal them with the blood of Jesus. Thank you, Lord, for your protection. In Jesus name, Amen.”
Obviously, there is no set formula – you can adapt or revise this prayer to suit your own needs. I have added some parts to it over the years based on my own experience. My friends used to call this “binding the three Rs”. Later they learned that they should add Jealousy. The 3 Rs is still a shortened way to refer to this. My husband and I have also found it helpful to pray this on a regular basis, regardless of what kind of ministry we have been doing lately.
Sometimes when we leave a specific location and are on the way home, I will feel impressed to “cancel any trailing or lingering spirits”. Sometimes I will get a specific impression to “cut off all communication devices of the enemy” and I may also cancel “any watchers or listeners”. A friend of mine has seen watchers and listeners – they are creepy. Just like in a real war in the natural, you might have these elements, right? So it makes sense to me that you might need to pray specifically against these in the spiritual war we are in.
Another couple I know have a habit of praying a “golden dome of protection”. This is particularly helpful if you are in a setting where you feel uncomfortable in your spirit, but you do not want to leave. I have prayed this at a restaurant, for instance. I ask God to fill this dome with His presence around our table and remove anything that does not come from Him. Immediately I feel at peace and I feel comfortable staying at the restaurant. It feels like a personal “force field”. I have found this very helpful and have used it when needed.
How about you? Have you found any specific prayers of protection that have been helpful? If so, please comment below. It is good for us to learn from each other – we all get stronger that way.
Many people are not aware of the importance of spiritual protection against “backlash” and they suffer from lack of knowledge – would you please share this post in your favorite social media as a way to bring awareness to this issue? Thank you! 🙂
Elements of the Unseen Realm
Rating: Educational
So what’s in the Unseen Realm? There are quite a few things. Perceiving them varies depending on the situation and your ability to discern them. Obviously, we need to rely on the Holy Spirit to show us what is there and why.
Here’s what I think of when I think of the Unseen Realm.
Elements of the Unseen Realm
God the Father
Jesus
The Holy Spirit
Angels – guardian angels, warrior angels, worship angels, healing angels, etc.
Demons – evil spirits of every kind (i.e. unclean spirit, lying spirit, spirit of adultery, spirit of fear, etc.)
Powers – both good and evil ones
Principalities – both good and evil ones
Human spirits
Human souls
Soul-ties
Anointings, Giftings, Callings, Mantles, Spheres of authority
Blessings – current blessings or generational blessings
Curses or assignments – current curses (like a word curse) or generational curses from the past
Objects like listening devices, tracking devices, a sword, a scepter, a crown, armor or clothes, etc.
Structures like portals, doors, windows, etc from this realm to another one
Locations like Sheol, the Second Heaven, the Third Heaven, the Throne Room, etc.
Beings in heaven like the four living creatures, seraphim & cherubim, 24 elders, etc.
Other miscellaneous things like the Tree of Life, Living Water, the River of Life, etc.
I’m sure I’ve left something out – please feel free to add it in the comments below. There is so much in the Unseen Realm – people are often amazed to realize how much we are unaware of.
Spiritual Senses – Which one is your strongest?
Rating: Educational
When I began to perceive the spiritual realm, I wasn’t really sure how I “knew” the things I knew. Part of me was convinced that when I sensed something that it was really there and part of me tried to rationalize away the feeling and just dismiss it. We have all probably experienced that.
I learned from Arthur Burk in his series, Nurturing the Spirit, that our soul tends to rationalize away the impressions we get in our spirit because they don’t necessarily make logical sense. For instance, when I was a child and I sensed that there was something scary lurking at the end of the hall or under my bed, my natural eyes could turn on the light and see that there’s nothing there in the visible realm. “See, you’re just making things up!” my mind would tell me. Or as most children are told by adults, “There’s no boogey-man under the bed or in the closet. See?” They open the closet and look under the bed just to convince you. But as soon as they leave, what do you believe if you can still “feel” them in the room? Does it mean you are crazy?
Anyway, during my studies of trying to figure out how this “sensing” the unseen realm stuff works, I came across a book. I can’t recall the title, but the concept has stayed with me. The author suggested that since we have 5 senses in our physical body, perhaps we have 5 senses in our spiritual body. Since that time, I have met people who have experienced the unseen realm through their spiritual senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell or taste. Then there’s that “sixth sense” where you just have an inner knowing, but you can’t exactly explain why. Either your senses are picking something up and your brain comes to a conclusion so quickly that you are not conscious of it or perhaps the Holy Spirit gives you the information through a word of knowledge. Somehow you just know.
Some people who “see” in the spirit say they can see the unseen realm with their natural eyes just like they would look at you or me. Blake Healy in his book, The Veil, describes his sight that way. For me, I “see” things in my mind while my natural eyes are looking at the location where I sense a presence. It’s like I’m seeing in my mind the exact same picture I see with my natural eyes except there is an added element there, such as an angel. I learned this (or was strengthened in it) through Gary Oates’ teaching called “Open My Eyes, Lord”. Both of these materials are listed on the Resources tab above. In Blake’s book, he says he encourages people to increase their perception through whatever way they normally use to “hear” from God. Is it through pictures in their mind or a feeling or hearing words in their thoughts? Whichever way God speaks to them is a sense they have learned to trust, so he says that’s a good place to start when learning to sense the unseen realm. His book has exercises to help you “practice”.
I don’t often hear things, but I have met people who do. Touch is the one I guess I relate to the most – I “feel” things often, everywhere I go. I am also very sensitive to the presence of the Lord and often “feel” His presence. Taste and smell are the most unusual ones – not too many people mention these. I have smelled anointing oil in a service that was thick with the Presence of the Holy Spirit. I have read of people who get a bad “taste” in their mouth when certain demonic spirits are nearby. I’ve never experienced that one, have you?
One other thing I realized recently – I think we sense things differently in our spirit versus in our soul. For instance, my soul can easily detect anything that is evil or unclean. And it usually freaks me out – my soul doesn’t know what to do with the information. However, my spirit does know what to do – so I have to remember to consciously choose to connect with my spirit and then use my authority to remove anything evil that’s bothering me (in my home or near me in a public place).
I also have very sensitive discernment when it comes to dealing with people. That’s a gift in my spirit. When I look in someone’s eyes, 9 times out of 10 I can see their soul. My gift is emotional healing so I see clearly their soul wounds. I can often also see their gifting or original design from the Father. Sometimes I can also discern if there are evil spirits oppressing the person. As you can imagine, I have to be very cautious not to reveal all this information on my face when I’m introduced to someone I’ve never met. I get it all pretty quickly. Being in a party full of people can sometimes be pretty overwhelming to my senses, receiving all this information at once.
So, how do you sense the unseen realm? As I shared on another post, what helped me was finding someone who sensed things using a different method than I did. We would go places and share what we were each aware of. By comparing notes, we grew exponentially both in confidence and in accuracy in being able to identify what we were experiencing. So if you naturally “see” in the unseen realm, go find someone who “feels” and vice versa. You’ll be glad you did.
Caught by Angels
Rating: Pleasant
There was a short season in my life when I was fascinated with angels. I knew they were available to assist us – but I had never experienced that personally. I came across a couple of books by Roland Buck in the library at a YWAM base where I was in school. I also read a few other books on angels which I don’t recall the names of. All in all, I learned a few things about angels and their interaction with people.
One of the primary things that people reported were that angels did not make their presence known. Either the angel appeared as a regular human being and the person figured it out later, or they saw no one, but had supernatural help. In fact, I read many stories of people who were rescued by angels and saw no human being nearby. For instance, I remember a story of two children who were crossing a street and a bystander saw the children lifted up in the air and then placed on the opposite curb just as a car sped around the corner. Had the children still been in the street, they would have been killed. The bystander rushed to the children to make sure they were okay – the children had no idea what had just happened. They “blanked out” and had no memory other than starting to cross the street. They didn’t recall the speeding car or how they ended up on the other side of the street. (They didn’t “black out” or they would have fainted and fallen over. “Blanked out” means there’s simply a complete blank in your memory – you have no recall whatsoever.)
A few months after all this reading I did on angels, I had my own experience with them – or at least, I think I did. I had moved to another YWAM base and was living in a trailer. The back of the trailer had rickety wood steps that led up to a short porch which gave you access to the door near the kitchen. One morning as I was getting ready to leave for church, I decided to make two glasses of instant breakfast – the chocolate kind that you mix into a glass of milk. I walked out on that little porch with my purse over my shoulder and a full glass of milk in each hand.
My husband had gone ahead of me to warm up the car. I stood on the porch and looked out to see if he had pulled up yet. He was not there so I intended to carefully descend the steps and walk out to meet him. Except that I never made it. My last memory is of standing on the porch looking for him. The next thing I know I am lying in the grass, face down, with my head tilted to one side. Each hand was still wrapped around the glasses of milk on either side of me.
I opened my eyes and sat up. My pretty green dress was now covered with chocolate milk. My hair was also wet from the milk. I stood up, trying to get my bearings. I felt no pain. Just then, my husband pulled up in the car. I waved at him and turned and went up the stairs. I knew I needed to get cleaned up so we could leave for church.
I have replayed this scene in my mind many times trying to figure out what happened. If I had fallen, I expect I would have felt some pain in my body from the impact. The porch was at least 2-3 feet off the ground. If I had lost my balance trying to descend, then I would have put my hands out to catch myself from falling. It seems I would have dropped at least one of the glasses of milk. But I was completely unharmed and the milk glasses were still in my hands. They were made of glass and neither one was broken.
The only explanation I could find was that two angels must have caught me and laid me gently in the grass so that I wouldn’t get hurt. I have no memory of putting my foot on the first step – maybe that’s when they caught me, maybe I missed the step or the step tilted suddenly as it sometimes did and I would have fallen.
The fact that I had no pain at all is what convinced me I was helped by angels – and that I had no memory of how I got in the grass. That same “blanked out” experience that so many people reported.
Have you had a similar “unexplainable” experience that could only be explained by some kind of divine intervention? If so, feel free to share it below.
Early Experiences with the Unseen Realm
Rating: Creepy (mostly), Pleasant (at the end)
I am not sure how to start this blog so I will begin at the beginning. I trust that as I recall my early experiences with the unseen realm, it might stir your heart to do the same. When did you first become aware that there was more to this world than your eyes could see?
When I was about 7-8 years old, we moved into a new house. My parents had the house built on an empty acre of land out in the country. After we moved in, I recall being afraid to walk to the end of the hall if the light was not on at the end. The fear was very tangible – I had never felt this way in our previous homes.
The specific fear that I had was that the devil would appear to me and scare me to death. Now where does a little child get that kind of specific fearful thought? I have never heard of this concept in books or movies, have you? To this day, it amazes me that the devil was so cruel as to put that idea into my mind. Obviously, he was trying to prevent me from wanting to use the gift of discernment in the future so he made me terrified of “seeing” in the spirit before I was even a Christian. That mean ol’ devil – I hate him, don’t you?
I often saw visions in my mind in specific places in our house. The headboard of my bed had two cutouts on either side – it was carved wood, I believe. I could literally “see” in my mind’s eye, two scary looking hands come out above my head – one on each side. The arms and hands were covered with long hair, like an animal, but the hands were somewhat human and had claws or long nails – kind of like you’d see on a werewolf, I guess.
There were times I was afraid to go to sleep because the presence of these things felt so real to me. I know I avoided walking down the hall if the light was not on. And I slept with the hall light on and my door open at night, because of fear. The worst thing is to wake up in the middle of the night, feel a scary presence in your room and there’s no light. Can you relate? To this day, I always have some light in the room where I sleep and a flashlight next to the bed. It is unsettling enough to feel these things at night, but when the room is pitch black with no light – that makes it so much worse.
Anyway, I do recall one positive experience I had. One night I woke up and saw a man standing at the foot of my bed with his arms crossed. Since the hall light was on behind him, I could not see his face. But I felt safe and comforted – this was not a scary presence. In my sleepy brain, I thought maybe it was my dad. I called out to him, “Daddy?” but the figure never moved or responded. I watched him for awhile and then fell back to sleep. I think it was an angel.
How about you? What early memories of the unseen realm do you have?
Discernment of the Supernatural Realm 