Blumhardt and the Exorcism of Gottliebin Dittus – 4
Help From the Heavenly Realms
Blumhardt sometimes saw his battle in the spirit realm gain help from there via a voice, external to Göttliebin, which would utter forth Biblical phrases such as Habakkuk 2:3-4: “There is still a vision for the appointed time. At the destined hour it will come in breathless haste, it will not fail. If it delays, wait for it; for when it comes will be no time to linger. The reckless will be unsure of himself, while the righteous will live by being faithful.” That same voice would also quote Jeremiah 3:25: “You have sinned against the Lord your God, both you and your fathers, from your youth till now, and you have not obeyed the Lord your God.” Blumhardt sensed that this particular being was on God’s side, there to encourage him, even if it was simply by being a presence alongside him.
Some of the spirits of the deceased would resist being delivered out of Göttliebin, even with threats and exhortations, desperately pleading with him to remain in her. He was suspicious of a diabolical plan to entrap him, but discerned that he should still help them.
Blumhardt’s Compassion for the Dead Widow
When the spirit of the widow with the dead child showed up in Göttliebin once more, Blumhardt wondered if this woman’s spirit may well be the root cause of the whole infestation.
This time, however, the spirit declared that she wanted to belong to Jesus and not the devil! Covering himself in prayer once more, he questioned where she was. She replied: ‘In the chasm’, before relating what changes had shifted in the spirit realm due to Blumhardt’s persistence in keeping entirely to using scriptural methods and prayer alone when dealing with Göttliebin and the possessing spirits. The widow explained she wanted to be free from her enslavement in the spirit realm, and to finally rest in peace.
Blumhardt knew the lady well whilst in the flesh and how she’d had a thirst for the Bible in life. When she asked him if she could leave Göttliebin and reside in his house, he declined the request. However, following the example of Jesus and Legion (Luke 8:26-39), he allowed her to take up residence in his church building after she requested that instead. His only caveat: ‘If Jesus permits it’. She then departed from Göttliebin’s body, leaving Göttliebin.
Some time later, Göttliebin was shocked several times when she saw the spirit of the woman at the church! Being in the possessed state, she’d apparently not been privy to the deal struck between Blumhardt and the widow’s spirit. No-one else attending the church perceived her presence, and over time she faded away and her presence was no longer felt by Göttliebin.
Permission Denied
There were subsequent exorcisms of Göttliebin which are of interest, one of which will now be described…
One spirit claimed to be that of a man who had made orphans homeless. He requesting to reside in the church too, which Blumhardt agreed ‘If Jesus permits it’. This spirit however returned to say he had not been permitted to enter the church. Thinking this might be a test of how much he was willing to sacrifice, Blumhardt said he could reside in his home – provided he disturbed no-one! This brought another voice from deep within Göttliebin which declared there would be no shelter for such a man who had behaved badly towards widows and orphans. In the end, the man’s spirit tearfully requested to be sent to Blumhardt’s garden, which he agreed to and seemed to work.
All Blumhardt’s ministry with these particular spirits that claimed to be human in origin were done ‘If Jesus permits it’.
The Final Battle – With A Non-Human Spirit
Shortly after this, Göttliebin’s brother, Hans, and sister, Katharina, became possessed as well. Hans was the first to be completely rid of his infestation, and joined Blumhardt in the attempt to exorcise Katharina on evening in December 1843. During this final battle Katharina remained conscious, though it seemed like thousands of voices were emanating from her. The chief of these claimed to be an angel of Satan himself, rather than a departed human spirit, and that if he was to be cast into the Abyss, he would make Katharina bleed to death. Eventually, after about fifteen minutes of prayer, she arched her backwards over the chair she was in, and the spirit left her with the cry: ‘Jesus is victor! Jesus is victor!’ Blumhardt had finally reached the end of Göttliebin’s possession after dealing with this non-human spirit which had manifested in Katharina.
This was the end of the two year exorcism process for Göttliebin, though the occasional mopping up of a re-infestation of Hans and Katharina were required; these were all low key and nothing like what had happened in the past.
Göttliebin experienced the occasional oppression of dark forces later on, but nothing gained re-entry into her. Her physical ailments all left her too, confirmed by physicians, bringing about complete healing in mind, body and spirit. So much did she change, that she was trusted with working in the new nursery which Blumhardt had established for one of the villages.
