Escape from Prison with Angelic Assistance – Circa AD 1965 – Alberto Rivera

GUATEMALA 1965

“HOW CAN I PREACH LIFE TO YOU WHEN I AM DEAD, AND THE SYSTEM I SERVE SMELLS OF DEATH FROM THE CONFESSIONALS, TO MARY TO PURGATORY, TO MASS AND TO THE PRIESTHOOD WHICH ALL DENY THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST?”

“HOW CAN I SPEAK OF LIFE, WHEN I’VE LIED TO YOU, INFILTRATED AND DESTROYED YOUR CHURCHES? YOU THINK THIS ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT MEANS LOVE AND UNITY, BUT IN REALITY IT WILL BRING ABOUT YOUR DEATH… BECAUSE I AM NOT YOUR BROTHER!”

“RIVERA MUST BE STOPPED!”

“HOW DO WE SHUT HIM UP?”

AFTER THE MEETING THEY FLEW ME BACK TO PANAMA. FROM THERE I WAS SHIPPED TO SPAIN.

“RIVERA IS ASLEEP!”

“HE’LL PAY FOR WHAT HE DID!”

THIS WAS TO BE THE DARKEST TIME OF MY LIFE. THROUGH SEVERE DISCIPLINE THEY TRIED TO CHANGE MY MIND.

BARCELONA, SPAIN

AFTER MONTHS OF FAILTURE THIS WAS THEIR LAST RESORT.

“WHAT IS THIS PLACE?”

“IT’S A SECRET PLACE FOR PRIESTS WHO HAVE GONE INSANE!”

“O MY GOD!”

THE HOLY OFFICE HAD JUDGED ME GUILTY OF HERESY THROUGH INSANITY.

“RECANT, RIVERA AND MAKE PUBLIC YOUR CONFESSIONS! THERE IS ONLY ONE CHURCH!... THE HOLY MOTHER ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH!

“I HATE THEM ALL! I HATE EVERYTHING!”

I WAS IN A PADDED CELL FOR DAYS WITHOUT WATER OR FOOD. I HAD TO SIGN HUNDREDS OF *DOCUMENTS AND ANSWER PSYCHOLOGICAL QUESTIONS.

(*PAPERS AND FORMS)

AT NIGHT I WAS SO HEAVILY DRUGGED, I COULDN’T SLEEP. I WAS SICK AND TOTALLY WORN OUT.

AFTER 2 WEEKS OF BRUTAL QUESTIONING I LOST HOPE. I SAID TO MY TORMENTORS…

“WHEN ALL THOSE CATHOLICS DIE WHO WE’VE LIED TO… AND THEY GO TO HELL, WHAT DO WE SAY TO THEM? THAT PIECE OF STONE CANNOT SAVE THEM. MARY HERSELF SAID, ‘WHATEVER HE (JESUS) SAYS, DO!’ WHAT WE’VE SAID ABOUT HER IS LIES… THE BIBLE PROVES THAT!

“SHUT UP, RIVERA. YOU’RE TALKING LIKE A PROTESTANT!”

“YOU’RE THE ONLY DEVIL HERE! YOU ARE TRYING TO DESTROY OUR FAITH IN OUR BLESSED MOTHER, THE VIRGIN MARY! I COULD CUT YOUR @!!” THROAT RIVERA!”

“YOU THINK YOU’RE KILLING FOR GOD… BUT YOU’RE DOING IT FOR THE DEVIL. BECAUSE YOU ARE THE CHILDREN OF SATAN!”

I WAS GIVEN SHOCK TREATMENTS AND HEAVY DRUGS. AFTER TWO MONTHS MY BLADDER WAS INFECTED. ALL MY SENSES WERE GOING.

BY THE THIRD MONTH, MY BREATHING STOPPED. I WAS PLACED IN AN IRON LUNG. I SAW MY MOTHER’S DEATH ALL OVER AGAIN, AND I KNEW I WAS IN THE SAME POSITION. I WAS CONFUSED WITH FEAR. I KNEW I WAS GOING TO HELL.

IN THE BLACKEST HOUR, THE LORD JESUS CAME TO ME, AND WITH THIS SCRIPTURE HE GAVE ME LIFE…

“THEN SAID JESUS TO THE JEWS WHICH BELIEVED ON HIM. IF YE CONTINUE IN MY WORD, THEN ARE YE MY DISCIPLES INDEED; AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.” JOHN 8:31,32

I ASKED JESUS TO FORGIVE ME. IMMEDIATELY LIFE FLOODED THROUGH MY BODY. HE SAVED ME AND HEALED ME AT THE SAME INSTANT. I WAS FREE AT LAST!

GOD’S LOVE HIT ME FULL FORCE WHEN I REALIZED THAT JESUS CHRIST IS JEHOVAH, THE *CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE. HE IS GOD ALMIGHTY AND ISRAEL’S MESSIAH.

*JOHN 1:10, HEBREWS 1:1,2

BECAUSE OF HIS OBEDIENCE TO HIS HEAVENLY FATHER HE WENT TO THE CROSS AND SHED HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD TO WASH AWAY OUR SINS… HE PAID A TERRIBLE PRICE.

For God (the Father) so loved the world (that’s you), that He gave His only begotten Son (God the Son, Jesus), that whosoever believeth (clings to or trusts) in Him should not perish (in the lake of fire), but have everlasting life (in heaven). John 3:16

NO ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST COULD EVER CALL JESUS CHRIST FROM HEAVEN TO REPEAT THIS HORRIBLE ACT OF SUFFERING AS THEY CLAIM THROUGH THE MASS.

THE BIBLE CLEARLY TELLS US, “BUT THIS MAN (CHRIST), AFTER HE HAD OFFERED ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOREVER, SAT DOWN ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD (IN HEAVEN).” HEB. 10:12

WE NO LONGER NEED PRIESTS OR CONFESSIONALS BECAUSE THE BIBLE SAYS:

14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16

The Bible says:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

So we can go straight to Jesus. Thank God!

I CLIMBED OUT OF THE IRON LUNG AND REMOVED THE TUBES FROM MY BODY.

“WHO TOOK YOU OUT OF THE IRON LUNG?”

“JESUS DID! HE’S GIVEN ME NEW LIFE!”

“I’LL GET A STRAIGHT JACKET!”

ONE WEEK LATER I WAS RELEASED. I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT. I WAS SENT TO MADRID BY MYSELF.

“FATHER RIVERA?”

“YES!”

WAITING FOR ME WAS A JESUIT PRIEST WHO WAS A WATCHDOG FROM THE VATICAN… THEIR MOST TRUSTED MAN. HE HATED THE GROUND I WALKED ON.

HE WORKED ON ME FOR DAYS USING EVERY JESUIT METHOD HE COULD TO PULL ME BACK TO SERVE THE POPE. I KEPT TELLING HIM HOW I GOT SAVED, AND SHOWED HIM THE TRUTH IN THE BIBLE.

THE WORD OF GOD TOUCHED HIS HEART.

TO MY SHOCK HE GAVE ME MY PASSPORT AND THE PAPERS* I NEEDED TO LEAVE SPAIN.

*(SEE P.27)

“ALBERTO, LEAVE THIS PRISON AT ONCE AND DON’T EVER COME BACK! I BELIEVE CHRIST HAS LIGHTED YOUR PATH. FOLLOW HIM, ALBERTO! PRAY FOR ME… DON’T WRITE. JUST PRAY FOR ME.”

THAT NIGHT I FLEW OUT OF SPAIN WITH ABOUT 40 CENTS IN MY POCKET. I HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM THE SYSTEM.

THE VATICAN WAS STUNED. THEY COULDN’T BELIEVE THAT I ESCAPED FROM THEM. AND NOW MY LIFE WAS TOTALLY CHANGED TO SERVE THE LORD.

Above excerpt taken from “Alberto (Based on a True Story)” which can be read online at http://www.chick.com/reading/comics/0112/0112_fourpages.asp?PG=29

Toledo, Spain Cathedral image from http://homepages.nyu.edu

Escape from Prison with Angelic Assistance, AD 1997 – Bro. Yun

It was just before eight o’clock in the morning of 5 May 1997. To the natural mind, this time of day was the worst possible time to try to escape! There was normally so much activity throughout the prison, with all the guards at their posts.

I shuffled out of my cell and walked towards the locked iron gate in the hallway. My mind was solely focused on obeying God. I looked straight ahead and prayed beneath my breath with every step I took.

A guard who pushed a button when he wanted the gate to open and close sat at the top of the third-floor stairwell. It was impossible to see to the other side because the gate was made of iron and the small windows were covered with black cloth. At the exact moment I reached the gate, another servant of the Lord, Brother Musheng, was returning to his cell and the gate was opened for him. That morning he had been ordered to sweep the prison courtyard. As Musheng passed me I told him, “Wait! Don’t close the gate.” I walked through without even breaking my stride! The Lord’s timing was perfect!

As we passed, Musheng asked in a whisper, “Are you leaving, Brother Yun? Are you not afraid to die?” Then, with an astonished look on his face, he returned to his cell.

There had been a guard accompanying Musheng back to his cell, but at the exact moment he opened the gate for Musheng, a telephone rang in an office down the hallway and the guard turned and ran to answer it.

I noticed a broom leaning against the wall in the stairwell. I picked it up and continued walking with it down the stairs to the second floor. An armed guard was positioned at his desk facing the second iron gate. That gate was sometimes left open. Because an on-duty guard was assigned to watch the gate day and night, it wasn’t considered a risk to leave it unlocked. At that moment the Holy Spirit poke to me, “Go now! The God of Peter is your God!”

Somehow the Lord seemed to blind that guard. He was staring directly at me, yet his eyes didn’t acknowledge my presence at all. I expected him to say something, but he just looked through me as if I was invisible!

He didn’t say a word.

I continued past him and didn’t look back. I knew I could be shot in the back at any moment. I continued to silently ask the Lord to be ready to receive my spirit, thinking these moments were to be my last in this world.

I continued walking down the stairs, but nobody stopped me and none of the guards said a word to me!

When I arrived at the main iron gate leading out to the courtyard I discovered it was already open! This was strange, as it was usually the most secure gate of all. There were normally two guards stationed at the first-floor gate, one on the inside and one on the outside, but for some reason neither of the guards was present and the gate was open!

I discarded the broom I had carried with me from the third floor and walked out into the courtyard. The bright morning light made me wince. I walked past several guards in the yard but nobody said a word to me. I then strolled through the main gate of the prison, which for some strange reason was also standing ajar!

My heart was pounding! I was now standing on the street out side the Zhengzhou Number One Maximum Security Prison! I was told later nobody had ever escaped from that prison before.

Immediately a small yellow taxi-van pulled up next to me, and the driver – a man in his late 20s – opened the passenger door. He asked, “Where are you heading?”

I got in and replied, “I need to go to my office as quickly as possible, so please drive fast.” I gave the driver the address of a Christian family I knew in Zhengzhou and we drove away from the prison. I told him that if we came to a traffic jam to drive around it, and not to stop for any reason.

All of the events seemed to happen in just a few moments. It was like a daydream. I was unsure if the whole thing had really happened or if I was dreaming. I don’t know how the Lord did it or why all those iron gates, usually so tightly locked, were standing open for me. All I knew was I was sitting in a taxi and we were heading to the home of my friends.

When we arrived I asked the driver to wait while I went to borrow some money to pay the fare.

….

After we prayed together, I was given a bicycle and one of the family members rode on the back, directing me to my hiding place, traveling down small alleyways to avoide the roadblocks being set up on the main streets because of my escape.

The moment I started to pedal the bicycle was the first time I realized the Lord had healed my feet and legs! My mind had been so focused on obeying the Lord and preparing to be shot that I never even noticed that God had healed me. I never felt any healing power. From the time my legs were smashed with a baton until the day I escaped, my legs had remained completely black and unusable. I couldn’t even stand up, let alone walk. The most I could do was crawl a short distance by grabbing hold of the wall

Brother Musheng told me later that when he passed me on the third floor I was walking normally, so it seems the Lord must have healed my legs while I was still in the prison cell. As I rode along on the bicycle I was reminded of God’s Word, “ Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” Hebrews 12:13.

As soon as we arrived at the hiding place the heavens opened. Torrential rain blanketed the whole of Zhengzhou City and a howling wind rattled windows and blew bicycles over. I was a huge storm. Although it was still morning time, the sky turned black.

I entered the hiding place and was left alone. This dear family treated me like an angel from heaven. They placed a family member outside my door day and night to guard me.

Later, Christian friends told me they had seen a report on the television news on the evening of my escape. The Security Police, the Public Security Bureau and soldiers from the People’s liberation Army had been mobilized to find me. They searched every house in Zhengzhou from door to door. They set up roadblocks at all the major intersections and searched every vehicle. Officers were dispatched to every bus station, train station and to the airport.

I was told trained police sniffer-dogs were used in a bid to pick up my scent, but their efforts were all in vain. I was safe in the secret hiding place of the Lord. The storm had hampered the authorities and washed away all traces of me.

God reminded me how thirteen years earlier, during my 74-day fast in prison, he had given me a powerful vision of a series of iron gates opening, one after another.

Now, all these years later, his promise had come true. I marveled at God’s goodness and faithfulness to me. To this day I consider my escape from prison the most amazing experience of my life.

That night I slept like a content newborn baby in the arms of my Lord.

Excerpt from "The Heavenly Man," (The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun) by Paul Hattaway, OMF Literature Inc., Philippines, 2003. pp.255-260.

Great Wall of China image from http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/

Recent photo of Bro. Yun from www.churchinperth.com Info on his present ministry BTJ – Back to Jerusalem – is also found there.

Escape from Prison with Angelic Assistance, AD 1920’s – Sundar Singh

Sundar believed in angels. However skeptical or cautious his friends from the West might be, affected as they were by the Higher Criticism of that period, he had not the slightest doubt about either the existence of these spiritual beings, or of their having come to his aid in times of danger. On his return from some of his journeys in the Himalayas he quite naturally related experiences of deliverances which he attributed to angels who appeared in the form of men…

The most remarkable instance of angelic succour and deliverance that he related happened when he had reached a town in Tibet called Rasa. Here he was arrested for having entered the country to preach a foreign religion. He was brought before the head lama who passed sentence on him – a sentence which amounted to death…

The method chosen in Sundar’s case was to cast him into the well. He was hustled there, the iron cover unlocked and removed, and he was pushed over the edge, down into a pit so foul that his very soul recoiled. The bottom of it was covered with dead men’s bones and rotting flesh, and the stench was almost overwhelming. Then what little light had penetrated was shut out as the cover of the well was replaced and he was left in darkness.

It was far worse than anything he had ever experienced before. No one had accompanied him on this trip; he was in a country where he was unknown, and he realized that humanly speaking his situation was hopeless. There was no possibility of help from any human source, and this time the inner joy he had known in times of persecution was missing.

“My God, my God… why have you forsaken me?” The words of Jesus on the cross came to mind but without the comfort of conscious fellowship. Why, oh why had God brought him to this place of horror and left him there?

Hours passed – how many he had no means of knowing. His arm had been wrenched as he was cast into the well, but the physical pain was as nothing compared with the anguish of his soul. In relating the story years later he said he was in that well for two days and nights, and on the third night he heard a sound above. The cover of the well was being removed and then a rope was let down and a voice told him to take hold of it. Summoning what strengths remained in him he slipped the snooze under his arms and was slowly drawn up, to sink on the ground, conscious only that he was gulping in fresh air at last. Weak as he was from hunger and thirst, it was air his body craved more than anything. As he breathed it in he felt himself strangely revived and the pain in his wrenched arm had gone. But he was alone. There was no sign of his rescuer.

… How had he escape, the head lama demanded, but all Sundar could tell him was what had happened, and that he had seen no one. Furiously the lama asserted that someone must have stolen the key to the well, and ordered that a search be made for it. No one was more taken aback than he when it was eventually found on his own girdle.

Excerpt taken from “Sadhu Sundar Singh” by Phyllis Thompson, Armour Publishing Pte Ltd, Singapore, 2005. pp. 73,75,76

"Strange Clouds" photo from www.science.nasa.gov.

Escape from Prison with Angelic Assistance (1^st C AD) - Peter

Acts 12, NIV, The Bible

1It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 4After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

6The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists.

8Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. 9Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

11Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating."

12When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!"

15"You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel."

16But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the brothers about this," he said, and then he left for another place.

18In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.

"Penitent Apostle Peter" by Van Dyke from www.jesuswalk.com

"Sea of Galilee" from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Galilee