The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Northeast India continues to expand geographically and in intensity. If you haven’t yet read the recent reports we’ve published from my friend, Reuben Pradhan (http://torestoration.googlepages.com/), I recommend them to you. I actually recommend that you read the reports from "How it all Started" onward.

One of the things I love to hear is of children receiving visions of the Lord Jesus and heaven, and seeing angels. I’ve recently been reminiscing over the impact stories of children seeing such things had on my heart when I was a child. May the Lord similarly use these accounts in the lives of little children today. May our children see further fulfillment of of the Old Testament prophecy (Joel 2:28) later quoted by the apostle Peter (Acts 2:17): "And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions."

The following report was just sent to me by Barkos Warjri, from Bangalore, India. His friends and relatives in Northeast India are keeping him posted on what they’re experiencing. These reports read like further chapters in the book of Acts. Here’s what Barkos wrote today:

Dear Jonathan,

I received a message yesterday (20 October 2006) at 2208hrs (10:08 pm). The message from K..., an old college mate. It was short and curt, asking me to call back in about twenty minutes. I knew he was involved with a lot of Bible Studies, counselling, and praying for people during the current revival. I knew it could only mean one thing. There was some important news.

An SMS from my sister came. "Any news?" she asked, as if she was also sensing something. There was nothing yet, I told her. I phoned K… after twenty-two minutes, but his mobile phone was switched off. I waited, thinking that he was likely talking or praying with people. His phone was still in that position even after 45 minutes. I decided to call my wife’s cousin, where I thought I could catch him. He had just left.

She decided not to keep me in suspense any longer. "Angels," she said. "Angels appeared in Smit, but please get the full details from K… who was there."

I phoned K… this morning and got the story. Two nights ago (Thursday, 19 October 2006), he had gone to Smit [in the East Khasi Hills of India’s state of Meghalaya] to give a Bible Study. A young girl from Sohra area who had been seeing miraculous visions had come to meet him that day. She went along with him to the Bible study. Bible studies are no longer small group meetings in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills these days. They are more like crusades.

The church building was full and so were the church lawns. The young girl with visions had given her testimony, and had said that God would do wonderful things that night. God had been doing so many wonderful things that people were somewhat expectant. What happened that night, however, was far beyond the expectations of the visions and miracles that have become somewhat ordinarily wonderful among them. It was more than simply a response to God’s word or miraculous visions they are becoming used to (which are usually poured out on dozens of children nowadays). That night the heavens opened!

Toward the end of the meeting, at about 9 pm, the congregation was singing a song that has become very popular during this revival, "The Angels Sing." Suddenly there was a noise and commotion outside. The young girl with many visions said, "Let’s go out. God is going to show something to you." The people outside had seen a bright light like lightning. The heavens towards the north seem to part and all saw what looked like hills, and then a rainbow (it was dark–9 pm at night). Then there were screams and shouts like, "Here, here," "There, on the right," "Look there on the left." There were angels all around! People fell down in fear and shock. Some walking on the road dropped to their knees (some bottles of liquor were found the next morning).

My friend K…, who had come out of the church building, took out his mobile phone and switched on the video camera. A big angel swooped down right in the path of the lens. My cousins, who saw the picture on the screen last night, were still shaken even two hours after seeing it. They could see the wings and the clear shape of the body. Angels are something we read about and hear of–not beings we actually expect to see. The people stunned by the appearance could only scream, bow down, or cry, while those inside continued singing. All this was captured on K’s mobile phone video.

There was only one big angel–the one caught on K...’s camera. There were, however, a host of small angels flashing in and out of view. It sounded, to me, like the story of the herald angels announcing to the shepherds, the coming of Jesus.

In the meantime the northern sky continued to play like the side stage. A bright sword appeared, and then a bright cross.

My aunt’s husband, a senior pastor who had been skeptical during the initial periods of the revival, was one of those who went out of the building and saw the angels. Today when I talked with him, I ventured, "What do you think of this?" He replied, "Think of what? I saw it with my own eyes! I saw the northern sky towards the Himalayas, and there was this bright cross, clear and bright up there. I was not alone! Several of us saw. Then I saw another cross, closer."

It seemed to me he had changed his perspective from when I had recently had a long conversation with him when I visited Shillong. I could not resist probing a little more. Knowing him to be a thinking pastor, and an intelligent and bright student, I asked how this corresponded to his theology. He responded, "Do you remember what Joel said? What is written there is happening. These are miracles. When God does miracles how can we explain? These are beyond human explanations. I have seen and I believe."

I remembered those who do not see and yet believe.

I have now spoken with three credible eyewitnesses [including a high-ranking government official who was present]. They are excited! Despite their maturity, how can they avoid being excited when God seems to be literally pouring out His Spirit all around?

This same pastor reported that two weeks ago he met a young boy of seven in a remote village. The boy had become unconscious that day, and had a vision. When he woke up the pastor asked him what happened. He said he had been to heaven, and as with many children who had visions of heaven or Jesus, he said that he did not want to return. Jesus had told him that he had to return for now and the boy had reluctantly found himself in the company of ordinary humans like this pastor. When asked if he had anything to say to anyone, he simply said, "Read Matthew 3.2." Seven-year-old children don’t typically think of such verses–certainly not ones who can hardly read.

Stories of God calling people to Himself are abounding in this region. Here is one that is telling in its simplicity. National Highway 44 connects the states of Mizoram, Tripura, and the plains of Cachar to the rest of the country through the Jaintia Hills and Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. An empty refrigerated truck was returning after delivering its load of fish from Andhra Pradesh, in Silchar. The driver, also from Andhra, stopped one evening at Bapung, in Jaintia Hills, and heard singing from the Bapung Presbyterian Church. Something about the singing drew him to the church. He went in and even took part in the singing though he didn’t know the language. He left after praying with some of the counsellors from the church. God is drawing souls to Himself.

Yet another account impresses the listener with the same message, which God seems to be drumming into our ears (the time is near). A deacon from the Iewrynghep Presbyterian Church (near Mawlyngngot, in East Khasi Hills) received a vision in his bedroom one night. He saw a big angel about to blow the trumpet, but something made him pause and he dropped his arm. Almost all the children having visions repeat this same message–the door is about to be locked, or the book is about to be closed.

Barkos Warjri

We obviously must base our beliefs on scripture rather than reports of people’s experiences. But to the degree that such reports confirm what the Lord has shown us in His written word, they can be greatly encouraging–producing joy in the Lord and zeal for others to know Him.

I don’t know what to make of these reports. I am seeking confirmation. But they certainly capture my imagination. May the Lord fully have His way among His people. May He pour out His Spirit on the whole earth.

***

Subsequent to my preparing this report, Barkos responded to my request to name corroborating witnesses. In response to questions he wrote, "I spoke first with secondary witnesses and then spoke to the three eyewitnesses. After confirming with them I wrote [the report I sent you]." 

He continued, "K... then mentioned the name of the pastor [Rev. Watsing Warbah], who being married to my aunt is also related to me. His reaction was unexpected. When I made the customary introductions and asked him how he was and how were things around, he said, ‘Nowadays the only thing I talk about is the revival.’ I was taken aback, as from past experience I had reasonably expected him to be very reserved in his reactions. Indeed I would not have been surprised if he had written off the whole story. My father has great regard for him as one of the thinking pastors of the Presbyterian Church of India, and the church hardly talks of the gifts of the Spirit or visions. I never heard of such things until my Christian circle enlarged. Even clapping in the church was a strict 'No No,’ let alone movements which would in any way resemble dancing. Here he was excited! He was also thrilled that he had broken out of his box and asked me to meet him immediately. When I told him I was calling from Bangalore he asked me when I would be visiting Shillong, as he wanted me to write out his stories for him. He especailly wants friends and colleagues in Wales, USA, and in some other countries to know what God was doing in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills."

A little later on he reiterated, "Rev. Watsing Warbah will not mind being named as he believes his friends and acquaintances in theological and church circles will be interested when they see his name and it lend credibility at least to them."

He then noted, "It was Rev. Warbah who told me to speak to Mr. Wahlang. Wahlang and I joined the civil service of the Govt. of India and were trained together in the academy... I spoke to him. He does not mind you mentioning his name if it adds credibility. Interestingly, he heads the State Commission on Right to Information of the government of Meghalaya. This is an agency to protect citizens’ rights to obtain information from government bodies. It reminds me of the sea of glass of Revelation where all is transparent. The new law which this commission enforces is a law which will ensure, as Jesus says, ‘that which is hidden will be revealed.’ Mr Wahlang was inside the church when all this happened and could not see with his own eyes but was witness to the excitement."

As a side-note, Barkos continued, "Mind you, people are not perturbed by many of theses things now as they have happened so often. If someone falls down unconscious they only attend to the person if they see signs of violence. A peaceful person is left unattended. There are so many having manifestations that observers cannot even ask them what their experience was except in small groups or one to one. Some of these stories then emerge from these groups or individuals. When I spoke to K... he was talking about many things and when I asked him about the angels he said. "Oh! That one, yes I saw the angels." I had to prod him and got the details bit by bit. His mind was occupied with so many other things, like people asking for prayer, people telling their problems and so on.

I asked Barkos, "Is there any way you could get a copy of these pictures [of angels] (either video or still shots) and send them to me? I'm not super-technical, but I understand there is a way to send photos taken on mobile phones to other phones or e-mail addresses. I would love to see (and publish, with your friend's permission) these pictures. I know others who read the report will have the same impulse. Without being able to see the pictures, just hearing about them could arouse skepticism."

He responded, "Dear Jonathan, Yes I realize that. I know the picture, taken on a mobile phone camera, will not be very clear. But I will find a way to send it to you when I get it. You may like to edit the report accordingly. I will try some other videos too.

I can’t promise, but based on Barkos’ response, I hope to have the photos and video to share in a future report. Stay tuned.

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