Spiritual Review of  "The Visitation"

Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher

"The Visitation" (2006)

Picture Source: http://www.imdb.com

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, violence/terror and disturbing images.


Based on the novel by Frank Peretti

Main Cast:
Martin Donovan - Travis Jordan
Edward Furlong - Brandon Nichols
Kelly Lynch - Morgan Elliot
Randy Travis - Kyle Sherman
Richard Tyson - Sheriff Brett Henchle
Ellen Greer - Mrs. Macon
Joe Unger - Matt Kiley
Priscilla Barnes - Dee Henchle

SPOILER 1:
There are visitors who heal people in the City of Antioch and then tell them to spread the message that “He is coming”. We are not told who “He is coming” refers to but the people of the town assume it to be Jesus. Then a person conducted a revival claims to be Jesus showing the scars on his hands. There are believers and unbelievers who do not believe he is Jesus.

Those who do not believe the guy claiming to be Jesus have a strong argument to stand on from Biblical Scripture.

“Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.” (Matthew 24:4-5, NIV)

“And many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.” (Matthew 24:11, NIV)

“At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time.” (Matthew 24:23-25, NIV)

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:36-37, NIV)

SPOILER 2:
A minister resigns from the church after his wife is brutally murdered. He loses all faith and tells another minister that, “Miracles like faith are psychosomatic. My last shred of faith and significance died this morning.”

The minister makes this statement because of what happened to his wife and dog. His whole faith in the Lord and being in ministry was predicated on bad things not happening in his life. Once a terrible tragedy happened in his life, he gave up his faith.

At one point a minister asks him, “Do you blame God?” The resigned minister’s response is, “Not anymore! You can’t blame him if you don’t believe in Him.”

What happened to his wife was a tragedy and he blamed God for not intervening. When reading a passage at his wife’s funeral, he could not take it anymore and dropped the Bible asking the congregation, “You do not believe any of this do you?” and left.

Jesus knew there would be those who professed to believe in Him and do His works who could become faithless depending on the circumstances in their lives.

“Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.” (John 2:23-25, NIV)

SPOILER 3:
People in the town who were being healed started to develop whatever ailment they used to have. They thought they were healed but what happened to them was they were being possessed. Once they started rejecting the person’s teachings the demons could not reside anymore taking them back to the condition they were in. A minister discovered this and acted on it.

The visitors wanted the people to give them their allegiance but few would not who knew there was a sinister plan brewing.

A minister intervenes stating, “Demons cannot stay where they are not welcome and cannot come in where they are not allowed.” Then the minister casts out demons in the name of Jesus quoting Scripture.

For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!" (Mark 5:8, NIV)

SPOILER 4:

As the climax of the movie is shown, there is a battle between good and evil. Demons want a human sacrifice specifically the blood of a human. The minister who lost his faith tries his best to stop the sacrifice. Whatever he does fails until he throws a Holy Bible towards the evil which causes the demons to come out and also saves the woman’s life.

This reminded me of a Bible verse in Hebrews.

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:12-13, NIV)

SPOILER 5:
This incident causes the minister to come back to the faith He gave up when his wife was brutally murdered. The knife the killer used did not touch the woman but went through the Bible and put a big hole in it. It is the Word of God that saved the woman and the minister who had given up his faith.

 “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16, NIV)

SPOILER 6:
We come to learn that Brandon Nichols is actually Justin Cantwell, the son of Rev. Cantwell who was accused of abusing his son. Justin is tortured by his dad when he finds out that Justin went to another minister to share his problem. Justin receives help from the dark side which destroys him. Ministers are supposed to shepherd the flock and not abuse them.

"Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD. Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: "Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done," declares the LORD.” (Jeremiah 23:2-3, NIV)

“To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” (1 Peter 5:1-3, NIV)

SPOILER 7:
Towards the last scene of the movie, we see the minister restored to his faith in the Lord Jesus and reading from James 1 which deals with trials and tribulations.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4, NIV)

Questions to Ponder:

Why do some people blame God when things go bad in their life?

What does it tell us about human beings when a minister loses his faith?

What is faith to you and how do you keep it?

How do you fight demonic possessions?

What do you do when you realize there is abuse of a child?

What role do you give Jesus in your life?

What role do you give the Bible in your life?

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