Last month I shared my experience of visiting the Valdese mountains in Italy, where the Waldensian people were in hiding when they were persecuted and killed for their faith by the Catholic church.
After I returned I found myself having a week where I kept receiving negative emails. One was some random hate mail, because I’d written an article months ago about why I don’t watch the Chosen. Another was getting into a weird debate with a film PR who swore at me and used block capitals. There were a few more negative instances, and it all seemed to be happening at once.
I suddenly remembered a friend having a lot of spiritual warfare when she visited the region the year before. This friend was actually meant to go on the trip with me this year, but some unforeseen events ended up preventing her from coming.
I realised what was going on.
I got in touch with another friend who visits the area yearly, (experiencing heightened spiritual warfare each time) and she explained her perspective on it. Land is important to God. Important historical events took place in this area where the Waldensian people studied the word of God, and memorised scripture and went out into the world to share the Gospel with those who were receptive to it.
Amidst the mass killing of over a thousand people, God moved mightily. He sent a fog to confuse the army that were hunting them down. One man had a hiding place in his house which enabled him to survive and to this day, his descendents are still alive.
To go there and learn about it is so encouraging because it heightens the belief, that God is real, that he works in amazing ways, and there is a real, spiritual war against those who serve him.
The enemy is not happy that Christans go there and get to learn about it.
From the testimony of ex Satanist John Ramirez I learnt how demons ‘rule’ certain principalities around the world. There is land that the devil has a level of power over.
In an area where so much bloodshed took place, where there is now so much poverty, and struggles, it could appear that the devil thinks he’s won.
And yet there’s power in Christians going there, gathering there, praying there, and talking about the history. (I found this free online book if you are interested in knowing more.)
I was reminded of all this this morning, when I was reflecting on something I’d learnt while listening to a James Delingpole video the other day. (it could of been this conversation, I can’t remember for sure) There is archaeological evidence that the first church was started in Glastonbury in the UK. It is thought that Joseph of Arimathea, Mary’s Uncle, who paid for Jesus’s burial, travelled there to start it.
It suddenly struck me; oh, could that be why Glastonbury is one of the most new agey towns in the UK? Because the enemy is trying to gain a stronghold there, to create it’s own mythology about a place where the church in the UK began?
When I was in the new age I always thought Glastonbury would be a great place to live, and then when I became a Christian I thought against it.
And yet, beneath the surface veneer is the truth, that while God allows Satan a certain level of freedom, ultimately, it’s his land, his history, his might power, and the way his followers work to share the Gospel, fearlessly amidst much persecution.
In a world where Christianity is getting less and less popular, in a world where we are hated more and more, it is good to remember the ultimate truth, that God create this world, and while he allows us all freedom, including Satan, there will be a time when it all comes to an end, when Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead.
On that day everyone will know the truth; that this is all God’s land.
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the Lord, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness. -Psalm 96 - 11-13