As I approached this woman I stopped in front of her and said "Hi, my name's John, can I help you at all?" She looked up at me from the floor where she had dropped writhing in agony. She said, "Yes please help me" "Can I pray for you?" I asked, and reached out my hand to touch her head. As soon as I touched her head she let out a blood-curdling scream that seemed to shake the whole Church and she began vomiting blood. She ran backwards and out into the reception area outside the Bishop's office and cowered on the floor like a cat cornered by a vicious dog. She was clearly in pain and even though there was evil in her eyes they also seemed to now being showing fear as well. I had no idea what I was really dealing with and would only discover much later on the magnitude of evil in this small woman. This was the beginning of an epic battle and race against time to free an unwilling victim from the clutches of satan himself.

The early Christian writer Tertullian first applied the epithet "bride of Christ" to the uppity virgins of Carthage as a means of enforcing female obedience. Henceforth, the virgin as Christ's spouse was expected to manifest matronly modesty and due submission, hobbling virginity's ancient capacity to destabilize gender roles. In the early Middle Ages, the focus on virginity and the attendant anxiety over its possible loss reinforced the emphasis on claustration in female religious communities, while also profoundly disparaging the nonvirginal members of a given community. With the rising importance of intentionality in determining a person's spiritual profile in the high Middle Ages, the title of bride could be applied and appropriated to laywomen who were nonvirgins as well. Such instances of democratization coincided with the rise of bridal mysticism and a progressive somatization of female spirituality. These factors helped cultivate an increasingly literal and eroticized discourse: women began to undergo mystical enactments of their union with Christ, including ecstatic consummations and vivid phantom pregnancies. Female mystics also became increasingly intimate with their confessors and other clerical confidants, who were sometimes represented as stand-ins for the celestial bridegroom. The dramatic merging of the spiritual and physical in female expressions of religiosity made church authorities fearful, an anxiety that would coalesce around the figure of the witch and her carnal induction into the Sabbath.

Lauren Stratford's story is one that everyone needs to read, though it deals with a subject most of us would rather not discuss, a subject that for many is too horrendous even to believe. Lauren Stratford lived a life of unending nightmares. As a small child she was offered sexually to strange men. Soon after, she was forced into a torturous routine of pornography, was controlled by mind- and body-altering drugs, and constantly received threats to her life. Though she sought help several times from adults she thought could be trusted with her secrets, no one was willing to risk becoming involved. After years of suffering what many would call the ultimate evil of sexual abuse, Lauren was held captive in the even more appalling world of Satanism and ritual abuse. Forced to participate in some of the most evil satanic rituals imaginable, Lauren was witness to shocking crimes against children and others, all performed in the name of Satan. Tormented sexually and mentally by the cult members, Lauren survived the torture because of her strong faith in God and her belief that He would deliver her from the evil of which she had become a part. It is an undisputed fact that this type of abuse occurs in the world today. Through this shocking story, anyone who is caught in the trap of sexual or ritual abuse can learn that there is a way out--that with the help of God and others, victims like Lauren can break free. Parents, counselors, law-enforcement personnel, and anyone who may know of or suspect a case of abuse will find in this book invaluable advice. Discover how the veil of such horrible abuse can be lifted for all who suffer.

A Feature-length Documentary Hosted by Doug Batchelor The World's Most Mysterious and Controversial Book Is Now Unveiled! No other book in the Bible has been more misunderstood or misrepresented than Revelation. For ages, its mysterious symbols and ominous predictions have perplexed millions and sparked wild speculation. But now, that all changes with Revelation: The Bride, The Beast & Babylon! Going to the very heart of the Bible's most challenging book, this 90-minute documentary decodes the visions of Revelation 12 and 17 for everyone to understand. Journeying from the birth of Christ through the Christian era, this amazing video pulls aside the veil of hidden history to reveal the rise of Babylon, the persecution of the bride of Christ, and the real-world identity of the beast. Educational and inspiring, Revelation delivers the keys to understanding the epic conflict between Christ and Satan and what it means for your life today. Featuring ... Compelling interviews with respected theologians and historians Stunning footage from historic locations throughout Europe Vivid reenactments of biblical visions and events. Subtitled in: English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Russian, Hindi, Indonesian, and Korean Product Details: Author: Amazing Facts Format: DVD Publisher: Amazing Facts Runtime: 94 Minutes Publication Date: October 2013 ISBN: 9-781-58019-581-2

This series explains in detail the attempt of a rebellious cherub to overthrow God Almighty. The text answers questions about how sin originated in Lucifer, what happened before the fall, and more. (Practical Life)