Vision of The Monk and The Dark Men

The Monk and The Dark Men

This vision is the very first vision I received.  It occurred soon after my Clear Warning, and the night before I was to meet my pastor to tell him about my experience on the road and to find out if he had any insight into what it all meant.  This vision seems to be an examination of sorts at the request of a monk.  

This and the next several visions are out of order by date from the ones I previously posted here.  I have no excuse for that except I did not want to scare you off too soon.   Like the others, this is a true recounting of something that will be with me forever – if you have a vision, it is not like a dream, it is permanent and can be recalled in detail at any time.  Dreams fade, but the word of God does not.

Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.  Ps. 17:3 (NIV) 

Wednesday,  January 8, 1997

Early in the morning of my appointment with my pastor to discuss my “Clear Warning” and my promise to God, I had my first vision. 

I had begun to pray daily.  In fact, I had begun to pray in almost any situation, and I had developed a desire to never go to bed without praying first.

I was still nervous about praying where my wife could see me and I had tried to find various chairs, couches, and corners of the house where I could be comfortable and not be discovered in my newfound pleasure of talking to God through prayer.

I finally settled in on the upstairs bedroom that once had been our youngest daughter’s bedroom.  She is now married and away from home, so it sits empty and unused unless we have guests. 

The bed is comfortable and familiar since it was the bed Connie and I shared for many years before we moved into this house and bought a new one.  Susan had inherited our old one which was moved to her upstairs bedroom.

The monk.

It was just after midnight, about 12:30 A.M.   I was sitting on the side of that spare bed that I had begun to use as a regular prayer station.   I had been praying for at least 30 minutes, mostly praising God for His various creations and for what He had given us in our lives. 

As was my new custom, when I finished praying, I just sat on the side of the bed and meditated, waiting for Him, in case He would want to speak or give me inspiration.  God had become very real and personal to me, and I prayed with the expectation that He was always listening, and I should pause at least occasionally, and give Him a chance to speak.

I suddenly noticed a Monk standing to my left.  He was well illuminated, and in living color, standing against a completely black background, as if in a spotlight.

He was the classic Monk you see in the movies ‑ neat brown robe, wide belt-like sash, sandals, a white man with rounded face, and big brows.  He was partially bald, with hair all around the bald spot.  He didn’t speak.

Initially, he was facing me, but he soon turned his upper body to his own left, away from me, and at the same time, he reached down further to the left, as if to touch someone or something with his partially open, outstretched hand, or possibly pointing to something below him to his left. 

I didn’t see whatever he touched or pointed to, but it was very low, or on the ground behind him.

The examination.

Just as he reached back, and while he was still poised in that downward pointing turn, I noticed a number of dark‑robed figures, with hooded heads, standing more to the center of my view.  There were several of them, lined up single file, and all facing the Monk to my left.  About that time, the Monk disappeared, but my attention was now on the dark figures.  I was trying to see who or what they were, so I did not see him leave. 

The first dark‑robed man turned in my direction and approached me.  He stopped just in front of me, very close to my chest.  I recall that I was not afraid, just fascinated, and I recall that I was concerned that I would lose what I was seeing if I did not pay attention.  The first dark man bent very close to my face as if looking into my eyes. 

After a few moments, he turned and walked out of my sight to my right.  As he did so, the next figure advanced toward where the Monk had been, and turned in my direction as he came in front of me.  He also leaned in to peer into my eyes.  

One by one, each figure advanced, turned, moved in my direction and stopped to lean forward.  Then each figure turned again and walked out of sight to my right. 

I could not see their faces, but when they were closest, looking into my eyes, they appeared slightly bigger than  a normal human.   When they stopped within inches of my face, their hoods were clearly outlined.   

One by one they turned, approached me, looked at me intently in the eyes, then turned again and disappeared to my right.  After four or five had looked into my face, the vision ended.

I had no idea what the significance of the Monk is in my vision, but I did have the impression, at the time, that the dark figures were examining my inner thoughts, my true beliefs, possibly my very soul to see if I was sincere.  I think that I passed the test, because they have not been back!

At the time I thought it was a dream, because I didn’t believe in visions.  When I started a journal a few days later, I recorded it in my journal as a dream.  I have since learned the difference between dreams and visions and I now accept this as my first vision. 

Dreams and Visions.

Dreams occur when you are asleep and those few that are remembered usually fade very quickly.  Visions occur when you are awake, and never fade. 

Unlike my dreams, my visions have always been silent, but I often registered clear thoughts of understanding.   (Comment:  This later changed as a few visions opened up the sound effects!)

Others that I have talked to report that they have sound in their visions, even spoken words, but I have not.  Most of the visions recorded in the Bible have spoken words as well, so I cannot say that visions never have sound.  With one brief exception, mine have always been silent.

One common denominator with everyone that I have talked to is that visions never fade.  When God gives you a message, He means for you to remember it forever!  This first encounter with a vision is as real today as it was that night.  I can see it as clearly right now as when it happened, and replay it in my mind at any time!  Everyone that I have talked to report the same thing – visions simply do not fade away like dreams do. 

This first vision was followed soon after by a vision I call “The Vision of the Moving Hills,” coming Next.  It was to have one of the most dramatic openings for a vision that I have had to date.  It was also the beginning of a series of scriptural based and prophetic visions that began to come true.