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Spiritual Manifestation at Oberlin High School: Holy Spirit or Unclean spirit?

by Joel Grant

"And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird." Revelation 18:2 KJV

"A belief in spiritual manifestations opens the door to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and thus the influence of evil angels will be felt in the churches." The Great Controvery page 605

Jamaica is among the most spiritual and religious countries in the world with its populace having strong spiritual inclinations; some are regular church attendants & others who do not beleve in Jesus Christ use a spiritual medium & sorcery to achieve their ends. Another fact is reflected by the statistics from the Guiness Book of World Record that Jamaica has the most churches per square mile. Its is also recognized that in the early years of Jamaica's development a large number of schools established are shared between Catholics & Protestants. Denominational influences include: the Jesuit-Catholic Institutions, Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Anglican & others. As a result, the operation of these schools would also carry some religious aspects to them though delivering mainly a secular cirriculum. While these churches vary in doctrine the schools they support or started, at minimum, have devotions some mornings with the students. A commendable act in a Godless age. However, we are now faced with the recent and widely publicised news of the spiritual manifestation during devotional exercise at the Oberlin High School this past wednesday morning. It was reported that that students lost control of themselves; falling to the ground, shaking with contorting bodies, uttering loud noises, eyes rolling over to a white, lying breathless on the ground and others screaming to repent. Students in a normal but shocked state stood in amazement at the dramatic scene involving the weird display of their colleagues that they were so powerless to assist. The predominant and inevitable question now to be asked is- what caused this? Was it an act of the Holy Spirit or the Devil?

To get an understanding of the reason we can start at the reports given by the local news papers and actual tesimonies from students present.  

The Gleaner gave the following report:

The Star also reported:

The same report mentioned:

Listen & watch the video below, it is an actual video footage of the wild behaviour of students during the incident. The video overlays an actual interview with a witnessing student. This will point out the common factors that opened the door to the spiritual manifestation.

Youtube Video Footage Credits: Soulchat Tv & Jayden Chase

The common denominator for triggering the spiritual manifestation in all these reports is speaking in tongues. This is believed by all christians to be a gift from God and is an indication of the working of the Holy Spirit however, the difference begins to show up with an understanding of how the Holy Spirit works and the interpretation of how the gift of tongues is actually demonstrated. Remember that some of these schools have there foundation in different religious groups and therefore doctrines relating to their beliefs can be expected to be exemplified in these institutions. The high school in question has the United Churches of Jamaica & Cayman Islands beneath its name. These churches are likely to believe these types of spiritual manifestations through speaking in tongues as a sign of the Holy Spirit. The accompanying conduct of this manifestation is most appalling and does not recommend itself to intelligent or sensible persons. Does the presence of the Holy Spirit cause one to behave in such an erratic manner? 

The experience of the Prophet of God on Mount Carmel standing up against idolatry against the prophets of Baal illustrates two different conducts during prayer or devotional exercise that is to be noted & compared to the spiritualistic manifestation at Oberlin High. 

 "...O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.  And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them..." 1 Kings 18:26-28 KJV

The Testimonies outlines in vivid detail their conduct:

"....then begin their incantations, their chanting and bawling, characteristics of pagan worship. Their shrill cries re-echo through forests and mountains: “O Baal, hear us.” The priests gather in an army about their altars, and with leaping, and writhing, and screaming, and stamping, and with unnatural gestures, and tearing their hair, and cutting their flesh, they manifest apparent sincerity. { 3T 281.2}

They have become tired of the exhibitions of demonism, of pagan idolatry; and they feel earnest and anxious to hear what Elijah will speak. { 3T 283.1} 

The Principal at Oberlin High School Antoinette Gray in her own words understood what happened to the students as them being "overpowered by the anointing.."

The video below is a reflection of the principals perspective as is done in some churches who are seeking for the anointing.

 Video above illustrating what is taught to be the working of the Holy Spirit.

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 1 Cor 14:33 KJV

How The Holy Spirit Works

These demonstrations misrepresent the character of Jesus Christ as the scriptures in John 14 identifies the Holy Spirit as the representative of Jesus and Jesus in a courteous manner when seeking to reach men to influence them states: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20 KJV. Another indication of how impactful the Holy Spirit operates without force is through the gradual changes brought about in man - "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." John 3:8KJV  The change is not a forceful and imposing takeover but a reasonable encounter that leads one to tears and confession.

The scriptures lists the Holy Spirit's work and role:

There therefore remains no account in the scriptures where the Spirit of God or the Holy Spirit has caused any disciple or believer to behave in such an erratic uncontrollable and forceful manner. Upon deeper consideration this was the conduct of the possessed son in Mark 9:18,22

"And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. 

And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him:..." 

It is clear that the demons like to cast people or persons to the floor which was a feature at Oberlin High School. 

Some persons may point to the fact that the demons speaking through the students were calling on others to repent but this is no sign of God's involvement. The purpose of demons is to decieve using even things that are true, the purpose of this is to gain the trust of those persons who already believe that such manifestations is of the Spirit of God. The scriptures in 2 Cor. 11:14 KJV states "And no marvel: for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.." It is the duty of the angels of light but the devil does this to cover his deception. Satan and his angels already have their destiny sealed in the lake of fire. Matt 25:41 KJV

Remember, it was the devils who confessed Jesus as the Son of God in Mark 1:24 KJV but the same one that moved upon the pharisees & people to crucify Jesus on the cross hence the scriptures states:

"Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." Revelation 12:12 KJV

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