Pestaño ‘revelation’ not really strange

This refers to Ceres Doyo’s Jan. 19 column titled “Pestaño appeared to healing priest.” (Inquirer, 1/19/11) Such phenomenon may be strange in this cynical world. But I affirm her account, which many may see as weird.

From the Scriptures, we read the writings of Paul in the Corinthians. The Holy Spirit dispenses various spiritual manifestational gifts such as discernment, faith, miracles and the list goes on.

What the minister of God had regarding the “dream” or “vision” about the death of Philip Pestaño is the gift of the Word of Knowledge—the  supernatural means of having information coming from the Holy One. Angels of God can manifest in the form of departed persons to convey messages.

In like manner, the adversary—the devil—can demonstrate similar powers. But such powers are counterfeit power. The devil can likewise manifest in the form of the persons appearing to be sending out the message. We call them “familiar spirits,” since these demonic spirits is familiar with the individual they impersonate. The “mal-spirit’s” purpose or action is not to speak for truth, but to deceive.

The Scripture does give out warnings about counterfeits. Discernment is needed to determine whether the appearance comes from the Holy One or from the adversary—the counterfeit.

The Genesis’ account of how Moses battled the magicians of the Pharoah is the classic story of the clashes between the spirit of truth and light and the forces of darkness.

—BOB GABUNA,

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