OpenAirExpositions

2011-04-24T14:07:00.000-07:00

Joel's Army

Remember the song that went, "Oh when the saints, come marchin' in, oh when the saints come marchin in, Lord I want to be in that number when the Saints come marchin' in." This is not the tune you'll find Joel's army sings because they are not looking to be brought up to Jesus but waiting for Christ (the anointing) to be brought down upon them to march through the land.

The church that once looked toward being taken away to heaven (Jn.14) has been taught by some to change her focus. In about the mid-70's a triumphalist post-millennial doctrine appeared. Instead of watching for the blessed coming of the Lord the goal became to establish the Kingdom on earth. Doctrines about the rapture, tribulation, an end time apostasy with a literal personal Antichrist were taught as deceptions. Without a tribulation ahead, there is no need to be vigilant, discerning or watchful. With no apostasy, there is no need to look for deception, only blessing. The desire for heavenly things has faded out, and Restorationist Christians no longer "look up". They look around them and consider how to transform the world and rule over it. When Christ comes back they will hand over a Christian earth.

"In all revolutions there are noisy and dangerous times as THE OLD ORDER Is replaced by the now ... after the dust settles. WE CAN PROCEED TO BUILD the beautiful kingdom that the Lord has purposed from the foundations of the World" - Vinson Synan, one of the leaders of A.D. 2000 (FULNESS, Jan - Feb. 1990. Vinson Synan. p. 24.)

Many believe Israel was replaced by the Church in prophecy despite it brought back into its land and the city of Jerusalem reclaimed in 1967. The focus of attention became the earth, rather than the eternal heavenly kingdom. The blessings of God are now, instead of rewards later. The nations and all people are to be Christianized. Taking the nations for God will be accomplished by becoming an army fighting a war against spiritual hosts of wickedness and driving them out of the land. With our newly discovered powers that are taught by the new leaders (apostles and prophets)we can now bind and loose the wicked ones and punish evil.

Ern Baxter said in 1975:.We have individual salvation - but in the nation we have corporate salvation...God’s people are going to start to exercise rule and they’re going to take dominion over the power of Satan. As the rod of his strength goes out of Zion, he will change legislation, he will chase the devil off the face of God’s earth and God’s people will bring about God’s purposes and God’s reign. (MacPherson "Can The Elect Be Deceived" 1986)

Deliverance is now throughout cities and nations as well as Christians. Despite there is no example or teaching that a Christian can be so inhabited some of the best selling books are all about this.(oppression is not the same as possession) Through their teaching, demonization in Christians was also birthed and deliverance ministries through exorcism by the laying on of hands.

Not all Dominionists, Charismatics and restorationists believe the same things, especially how it is to be accomplished. Few still believe in a rapture, but there are many variables. So I'm not addressing all but a certain group that has mainly been affiliated with the Vineyard and the prophet/apostle movement from Kansas City and the Latter Rain teachers.

The latter Rain is run on the rail of misinterpreted Scriptures and spiritualizing their context. Hosea 6:3 tells us the Lord will come as the Latter Rain, and James 5:7 speaks of the Latter Rain, but ties it together with the coming of the Lord. The "former and latter rain" refers to the agricultural calendar of the land of Israel although it has a spiritual truth. The latter rain was essential for bountiful crop harvest in Israel. This corresponds to the giving of the Spirit at

Pentecost as Peter proclaimed this is like that of Joel but was not the ultimate fulfillment. Joel 2:23 also speaks of a harvest of abundance. But the modern interpreters have given Joel's army new significance. Joel's army will purge the earth (the cleansing) of all wickedness and rebellion and even judge the apostate Church (which is those who do not join their fraternity of miracle workers). They will overcome death itself, they will redeem all creation, and restore the earth. The Church will inherit the earth, and rule the nations all before Christ comes back. When he (Jesus) does come we are to hand the kingdom over to him and he will say job well done, enter into the kingdom. The real Joel's army in Joel 2 does NO miracles and marches strictly through the land of Israel making destruction, there is no blessing from Joel's army marching. If one reads through about Joel's army they find that they will be destroyed in the end.

Because Joel's army is called God's army they think that they are his people. they may be doing Gods will but they certainly are not his Church or saints. In the same way Cyrus was called Gods shepherd Isa.44:28 he was given all the kingdoms of the earth Ezra 1:2, 2 chron.36:23, He was called Gods anointed Isa. 45:1"Thus says the LORD to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held-- to subdue nations before him and loose the armor of kings, to open before him the double doors, so that the gates will not be shut." Sounds familiar? Nebuchadnezzar was also called Gods servant Jer. 43:10"and say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Behold, I will send and bring Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will set his throne above these stones that I have hidden. And he will spread his royal pavilion over them."One must consider the actions of these men's teachings in light of what Joel is actually saying. So despite their new interpretation, the Bibles definition still stands. They may be called Gods army but they are not his people. Joel's army is the raising up of a devouring army of locusts, (destroyers) to bring judgement upon the land. Whether its Israel or the church, its not good.

Much of this is being preached from the pulpits big and small without the congregant's ever blinking. Without being able to identify phrases they don't know what they are ingesting. Many churches have turned into Latter Rain churches by default or influence, some knowingly and some not.

Benny Hinn shows his latter Rain ties with "The lord said this , this is where my people will rise up as an army and bring millions into the kingdom of God." (Benny Hinn Honolulu Blaisdale Jan.21 1999)
Jack Deere states "This army is unique…when this army comes , its large and mighty. it's so mighty that there has never been anything like it before. Not even when, Moses not even David, not even Paul . what's going to happen, now will transcend what Paul did, what David did what Moses did…

Rick Joyner teaches ""What is about to come upon the earth is not just a revival, or another awakening; it is a veritable revolution. The vision was given in order to begin to awaken those who are destined to radically change the course, and even the very definition of Christianity. The dismantling of organizations and disbanding of some works will be a positive and exhilarating experience for the Lord's faithful servants...the Lord will raise up a great company of prophets, teachers, pastors and apostles that will be of the spirit of Phinehas ... this "ministry of Phinehas" will save congregations, and at times, even whole nations. …Nations will tremble at the mention of their name..."(THE HARVEST, Rick Joyner)

Notice Its not the name of Jesus they will tremble at but THEIR NAME. All this from a vision to awaken the destined.
So if one does not involve themselves in this then they are not faithful servants. But our attention should be on the statement of changing the course and definition of Christianity. What person in all of history has ever said this? Certainly Martin Luther's contribution was to bring the Church back to its correct doctrine and purpose. Is this what Joyner and others mean? Certainly not, as we look at the following statements of explaining what they want it to be like.
"In the near future we will not be looking back at the early church with envy because of the great exploits of those days, but all will be saying that He certainly did save the best wine for last. The most glorious times in all of history have not come upon us. You, who have dreamed of one day being able to talk with Peter, John and Paul, are going to be surprised to find that they have all been waiting to talk to you." (Rick Joyner, The Harvest Morning Star, 9, 1990)

This means the apostles were not special in starting the Church and having divine miracles, we are. Think about the ramifications of this proposal. This means if the Church began with them and today's Church with its SUPER apostles and prophets will do greater things. Then the Church really begins all over again.

Nowhere does Scripture teach that the Church will do wonders like this in the end. Jesus actually WARNED that these signs and wonders at the end are to DECEIVE THE ELECT.(MT.24) Is anyone paying attention to the Scripture and the time we are living in?
Mormons are not the only ones who have false modern apostles. John a true apostle said the Church did. Rev.2:2 "And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;" Notice John says they have tested them. Paul said the Church did as well 2 Cor. 11:13 "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ." Notice Paul says they transform themselves to look like they do. How? By their teaching, authority and could very well have had manifestations of power.

" The early church was a firstfruits offering, truly this will be a harvest! It was said of the Apostle Paul that he was turning the world upside down; it will be said of the apostles soon to be anointed that they have turned an upside down world right side up." (Rick Joyner, The Harvest, 128-129) So from what I can gather Joyner says that they are going to reverse what the Apostle Paul did.

Peter Wagner has recently written a book called the New Apostolic Churches which explains the new Apostolic Spirit that is raising international leaders. It is from these Churches that the new Christianity will go forth and be implemented throughout the world.
We are not talking about those who plant churches or are leaders of movements or denominations, but those who claim Spiritual authority JUST LIKE the Apostles, by revelations and miracles. This boasting before the facts is a constant theme throughout these men's writings.
Joseph Smith of the Mormons in May 1844 proclaimed this: "I have more to boast of than any man ever had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a church together since the days of Adam.…Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I." While the boasting may be for slightly different reasons essentially, the end result is the same. Some will do what even the apostles were unable to do.

Jack Deere explains Joel 2 in the context of Ezekiel 9: "When this army comes, He says it’s large and it’s mighty. It’s so mighty that there’s never been anything like it before…‘begin the slaughter and begin it in the temple and begin it with the elders, the leaders of my people.’ And they walk through the land and they start and they begin to slaughter and you know it’s already started with the biggest names in His household? He has already started the slaughter…and it is coming now among the Church."( It Sounds Like the Mother of All Battles, Jack Deere, VMI, Joel’s Army, 1990, "Joel’s Army")
'' ...this army is totally unique. This army, there's never been one like it and there never will be one like it in ages to come. ...Its so mighty that there's never been anything like it before. Not even Moses, not even David, not even Paul. What's going to happen now will transcend what Paul did, what David did .. what Moses did, even though Moses parted the Red Sea ... there'll be a numerous company. . , Revelation hints at this when it talks about the 144,000 that follow the Lamb wherever He goes and no one, no one can harm that 144,000. See, that's a multiple of 12. What's 12? Twelve is the number of the Apostles, 12 is Apostolic government. And when you take an important number in the Bible and you multiply if, it means you intensify it. So, 12, 000 times 12, 000 = 144,000. That is the ultimate in Apostolic government. Revelation talks about that. Well, here Joel is talking about it now in different words, a powerful, a MIGHTY ARMY with many Paul's many Moses', many David's." ( VINEYARD MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL 1990.)

This is portraying an "elite" special group which is exactly what the Jehovah's Witnesses teach. The Jehovah's Witnesses claim that they are the 144,000 of Revelation 7 and 14. Both The JW's And Deere are wrong. The Bible means just what it says in this instance, they are Jews from the 12 tribes who are evangelists not an army and certainly not a destructive one as in Joel. This genuine Revival they are waiting for (as the main participants) is introduced by the sealing of the 144,000 Jewish Evangelists. Those who respond to their message will literally lose their head over it.

Terry Virgo, in "Restoration in the Church" says this is about God visiting the Church! It is treated as the coming of the GLORY of Christ, in the Latter Rain visitation, not the physical coming. And "the result of that visitation is that the poor misguided flock is UNITED and transformed into a majestic war-horse - a great vehicle of power and energy, a fearsome, awe-inspiring, effective tool of WAR. The sheep become "mighty men treading down the enemy in battle" … and the flock is TRANSFORMED CORPORATELY (they become the Corporate Christ).

As Jewel Grewe so clearly put it," The MANIFESTED SONS believe they are establishing a new and glorious Kingdom - led by a NEW BREED of men of women. The "Joel's Army" now individually manifest as Sons of God. would be revealed to the world as many "saviours" who would take dominion and execute judgment."

Jack Deere speak of an invincible army. He says, "...they won't be able to kill this army." John Wimber also stated, "those in this army will have the 'kind of anointing ... his kind of power ... anyone who wants to harm them must die".
Paul Cain says that out of this unity will come an army, Joel's Army, based on Joel 2: "I told you about ... this recurring [35 year-old] vision I had.... The angel of the Lord said, 'You're standing at the crossroads of life. What do you see?' And I saw a brilliantly lit billboard which reads, 'Joel's Army now in training.' . . . .I believe one day soon Joel's Army will be in training ... until it graduates into the stadium .... But a right understanding of the plan of God for this generation brings this tremendous inclusion.... God's offering to you, this present generation, a greater privilege than was ever offered any generation at any time from Adam clear down through the millennium."

"I had a vision of you people coming from . . . a circle of maybe a hundred miles and I saw people coming from every major city within that circumference and a great conclave was taking place, and it was the training of Joel's Army. . . . I believe that people are going to come together by the thousands and train for the Army of the Lord. Wouldn't that be wonderful? I mean, that's long overdue." (Grace Ministries tape)

Paul Cain has prophesied a day when sporting events throughout the world will be cancelled because the stadiums will be used for revival meetings. He says the Lord gave him this vision around the late fifties or early sixties ,and it his been repeated more than 100 times since then. This spectacular happening will see millions brought to Christ in a short period of time.
"I had a dream that became a recurring dream, and it was about all the stadiums - and we've told this hundreds and hundreds of time all across America, all over the world, in fact - and I saw these stadiums and football fields, soccer fields and sports arenas, all of them filled with thousands of people, sometimes over 100,000 in each place" (Christ Chapel, August 30, 1995). This is much more than what we have seen from Promise Keepers, in fact we may be only seeing the first of these gatherings .

I don't think everyone is in the same way involved but the statements seem uncannily the same. Coach McCartney wants unity and every church involved. In a Promise Keepers gathering in the Detroit Silver Dome stadium in April 1995, founder Bill McCartney, speaks of a great army like Cain and others, "We have a great army that we are assembling. They're the Christian men of this nation. However, our leadership, our clergy are not uniform. Our clergy are divided. . . . There's no unity of command. . . …We have to assume that responsibility. We have to say, 'Are we impacting our clergy in a way that's going to take them and make them all that they have to be in order to lead this army?' Because the shepherds are the ones God's chosen to lead us out of here" (Promise Keepers Meeting, April 29, 1995, Detroit Silver Dome).

The last time I read the Scripture it was Jesus who was the captain of the Lords army, and he was in charge then, as he is now in the Church. Who will be the leaders or leader of this Church army? We have no appointed Generals except self appointed ones today.God has made local church's as part of the universal Church, each is autonomous. None answer to a leadership that controls them all since they are to be called men in the pastorate listening to Gods direction for their communities as well as in the world.

'Why wouldn't you want to be a part of what God wants to do with His hand-picked leaders?' . . . I think Almighty God is going to rip open the hearts of our leaders. I think He's going to tear them open. And I think he's going to put them back together again as one. One leadership. We've got to have one leadership, one leadership only. We've got to have everybody hitting on all cylinders. There's only one race. It's the human race. There's only one culture. Its Christ before culture. Christ culture - that's all that there is." (Promise Keepers Meeting, April 29, 1995, Detroit Silver Dome).
Scripture verse for this? NONE

The bible says no such thing, it says the opposite. And it becomes a dangerous precedent when a few control the many, church or not! Jesus said the field is the world. The wheat and tares grow up together. And we had better be able to distinguish the difference in our day. This concept of unity was tried by the Catholic Church to integrate religion with the state and politics. And it became the downfall of a Church that was kept pure by persecution. We may yet see the "holy wars" like the early Holy Roman Empire revived to try and produce what only Christ can as the Prince of Peace.

Rick Joyner who seems to be a main promoter of an end time army wrote from his visions about "a bloody civil war" in the Church. (Latter Rain Revival, 1996) that the blues and the grays in his end-time war scenario in the church is that just likened to the American Civil war. He interprets this with "In dreams and visions blue often represents heavenly-mindedness – the sky is blue - and gray speaks of those who live by the power of their own minds – the brain is often called gray matter - This will be a conflict between those who may be genuine Christians, but who live mostly according to their natural minds and human wisdom, and those who follow the Holy Spirit." (Morningstar Prophetic Bulletin, 5/96 )

Spoken like a true Gnostic. First he has a dream of prophecy that is not biblical, then he himself interprets the meaning by the colors from dreams, which are from the view of his human understanding.
Joyner says, "I do not believe that this [prophecy] can now be stopped, or that the Lord wants it stopped" The main reason for the spiritual civil war is over the institution of spiritual slavery and " to drive the accuser out of the church, and for the church then to come into a unity that would otherwise be impossible." descriptions like 'this is the church's greatest victory, her finest hour, triumphantly marching, empowered for victory' are commonplace for those who want to assert Gods kingdom on earth now. But by this method the are exhibiting a master to slave relationship which operates on power. This is not the servitude that Christ said would be found in his followers.

Joyner contradicts himself by saying "Criticism is one of the ultimate manifestations of pride because, whenever we criticize someone else we are by that assuming that we are superior to them, Pride brings that which any rational human being should fear the most - God's resistance. We would be better off having all of the demons in hell resisting us than God!" (Epic Battles of The Last Days, p.23, Rick Joyner) That's exactly what Joel's army ends up to be, resisted by God and destroyed.

What I see in Joyner's writings is much criticism of the Church, but it is disguised as dreams and visions from the Lord for guidance. All one has to do is read his writings and it won't be long before they see certain Christians demonized in graphic detail. To be rational one must use their mind, something of which he has already drawn a line in the sand on his own imaginary battlefield as the enemy. As he has accused the brethren of not being spiritual, even to the point of identifying the "Antichrist" as the orthodox church. (Weighed and Found Wanting, Bill Randles, p. 64.) As far as I'm concerned, criticism does not have to be severe, it can be advantageous to ones growth if it presents the truth and is done with right motive's.
May we have the full armor of God on as Joel's army begins to march and challenges the historic view of Christianity. Yes, there just may be a civil war, but it certainly would not be necessary if those who aggressively want to change the Church and the world by power would get back to the literal interpretation of the Scriptures for its guidance, and let God be God.
http://www.letusreason.org/Latrain10.htm

Read more great articles on the Joel's Army Deception in the Church:
http://www.deceptionbytes.com/JoelsArmy
http://www.alternet.org/story/96945/theocratic_sect_prays_for_real_armageddon/?page=entire

“Why Manchild, Latter Rain and Dominion Theology is a Lie”

2011-01-12T13:19:00.000-08:00

The latter rain movement as it has come to be called actually began in 1948 from a Pentecostal Assemblies of God revival in a ministry school in Saskatchewan Canada.

The terms “New Order” and “Latter Rain” were coined from this movement. One of the main tenants of this new Latter Rain theology was the belief in the restoration of the ministry of the Apostle and Prophet to the modern day church. From that time on the idea that God was restoring these offices began to be disseminated first in the mainline Pentecostal churches and then in evangelical spirit filled churches as a whole.William Branham was connected to the revival in that the men who started the revival had been ministered to and spiritually affected by Branham’s ministry. In 1948-1950 some took the title of Prophet and set out preaching, teaching and prophesying. In so doing, they spread the seeds of this movement into mainline Pentecostal churches.

The following was taken from the website http://www.discernment.org/ “It is readily acknowledged by many charismatic leaders that Branham taught heresy but they still believe he was a true prophet. How can a person teach utter lies and nonsense on the one hand, yet hear so clearly and accurately from the Lord on the other? Branham was asked if the Holy Spirit did the supernatural works in his meetings. His response was, no his angel did these things! He denied the Trinity of God, believed in UFO’s, and gave out many predictive prophecies which were proved to be false. He thought he was one of the two witnesses found in the book of the Revelation.

At his death many Latter Rain ministers prayed for him to be raised from the dead for days (he is still dead). Branham had literally no education at all, not past the eight grade at most.”
Might I add here that Todd Bentley who touched off the Florida outpouring (also known as the Florida Healing Revival) holds William Branham in high regard. In fact Todd Bentley claims that he now has the angel of William Branham! This must be the same angel that Branham claims did all the supernatural works in his meeting. Did you catch that?
It is not the Holy Spirit who is responsible- it is an angel!
“Do not let anyone disqualify you by making you humiliate yourself and worship angels. Such people enter into visions, which fill them with foolish pride because of their human way of thinking. They do not hold tightly to Christ, the head. It is from him that all the parts of the body are cared for and held together. So it grows in the way God wants it to grow.” — Colossians 2:18-19, NCV.

The reason Paul wrote this scripture to the Colossian church was that it was being infiltrated with Gnostic teachings. The Gnostics valued what they experienced and what they learned from ‘angels” over Holy Scripture. (Is any of this sounding familiar?) These Gnostics claimed they believed in scripture but did not depend on it as their source!

The following explanation of modern Gnostics come from “Angel Worship” taken from http://www.bibletools.org/ and sums up Gnosticism beautifully. Modern Gnostics who believe in “progressive revelation” have also succumbed to this first of Satan’s ploys. While God does reveal things to us, the critical point is that what is revealed—if it truly comes from Him—will never contradict what He has already revealed in His Word. “God is not a man that He should lie” (Numbers 23:19).

Progressive revelation advocates believe that their revelations are more authoritative than the Bible, rather than complementing and harmonizing with it, making them ripe for satanic influence under the guise of God revealing something new to them. They may sincerely believe that God speaks to them, yet they simultaneously mistrust what He has already said in inspired Scripture. They tend to shy away from Bible study, concluding that they do not need it since God speaks directly to them, and if there is anything important, God will let them know.

Now remember this tactic of sowing seeds that God is untrustworthy, and that His Word is suspect, is not new! In fact, Satan’s very first words to Eve were, “Has God indeed said. . . The following excerpt was also extracted from the website Discernment.org Paul Cain was part of the healing revival of the mid 1940’s when he was 18 years old. During that time his fellow ministers were William Branham, Jack Coe, T.L. Osborne, and A.A. Allen, etc. He saw the excesses of that movement and backed away from it until 1987 when the Kansas City Fellowship’s leaders Mike Bickle and Bob Jones felt impressed to serve Paul Cain and his ministry in any way they could. Bob Jones said “the Lord named Paul Cain’s ministry, “The terror of the Lord.” Why this name? Paul Cain is reported to be able to reveal peoples hidden sins and details of their lives supernaturally. He predicted an earthquake and it happened! Also people report surges of electrical power that blow out circuits.

The following was taken from the website http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/ “Paul Cain cryptically has taught the Latter Rain teaching of the “Manifest Sons of God.” This teaching simply affirms that in the last days a “new breed” of believers would attain to immortality and conquer the last enemy of death. Latter-Rain prophets look forward to the appearance of an end-time glorification of a remnant church which will become perfected and thus qualify for immortality here upon the earth prior to Christ’s return. In fact, they believe, prior to the Lord’s physical return, Jesus comes again spiritually and invisibly to a corporate body of believers. God’s glory re-inhabits His temple, referring to the endtime new breed of believers. The prophetic movement teachers identify this great endtime company as the ”Man-child” of Revelation 12, which will rule and reign the nations with a rod of iron. This indestructible and immortal company becomes impregnated with the presence of the “Christ” and they will put all things under their feet.

These Manifested Sons of God, or Man-child Company then according to Cain is the really the “Man-child” of Revelation 12 which will rule the nations with a rod of iron. , they will receive divine gifts, including the ability to change their physical location, to speak in any language, and be able to perform miracles such as divine healing and the raising of the dead. According to proponents of this theology we are not to look for Jesus to come back physically but rather to come to his body corporately and invisibly through the glorification of these manifest sons of God who will be perfected here on earth.

This man-child company is also the prophetic fulfillment of the is commonly referred to as “Joel’s Army” in Joel 2 and Revelation 9. This army will put all things under its feet as it rides forth as Gods agent of judgment to rid the world of evil by overseeing drastic judgment on all who remains in the ‘old generation’. This latter rain, manifest sons of God, Man-child Company, also goes by other names, such as Dominion Theology and Kingdom Now. Latter Rain teachings include: Progressive Revelation, Revival/Harvest, Joel’s Army, Replacement Theology, Post-Millennial Eschatology, Signs and Wonders, Territorial Warfare, Ecumenism, Restoration of Apostles and Prophets, Jubilee/Feast of Tabernacles, the Post-denominational Church, and Kingdom Now/Dominion Theology.

According to Wikipedia, Kingdom Now proponents believe that God lost control over the world to Satan when Adam and Eve sinned. Since then, the theology goes, God has been trying to reestablish control over the world by seeking a special group of believers. Through these people — known as “covenant people,” “over comers” or “Joel’s army,” depending on the source — social institutions (including governments and laws) would be brought under God’s authority. These “covenant people” or “over comers” are “little gods” — God’s “extension” in the world to regain authority from the devil. The church, under the leadership of “restored” apostles and prophets, therefore must take over the world and put down all opposition to it before Christ can return. Anyone who rebels against the church, along with other “evildoers,” must convert or be punished. This is alarming to me personally because the only one world church mentioned in the Bible is certainly NOT God’s!

Now consider the source of the aberrant theology. Branham received his knowledge from Angels not the Holy Spirit and admitted this! Cain has stated that Branham was “The greatest prophet that ever lived in any of my generations or any of the generations of revival I’ve lived through.” (Paul Cain, Selections from the Kansas City Prophets) I have always found Paul Cain’s last name to be particularly intriguing. He called this end time company that he believes will rule the nations with a rod of Iron, the “man-child company”. He believes that Christ will impregnate them and they will put all things under their feet. In scripture, when Eve conceived Cain she said I have gotten a “man-child” with the help of the Lord. These men love double meaning. I believe Paul Cain is taking the “man-child” of revelation who is clearly Jesus Christ and substituting it for the “man-child” of Genesis who is the spirit of Cain. Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a man-child with the help of the LORD.” As you will recall Cain, a farmer, commited the first murder by killing his brother Abel, a shepherd, after God rejected Cain’s sacrifice but accepted Abel’s.

I am left to wonder who this end time man-child company really is. It most certainly is not God’s army. Lucifer the “Morningstar” is still speaking the same words he spoke to Eve all those centuries ago. Ye shall not surely die- Ye shall be like God. There is nothing new under the sun and Satan never changes his tactics. Isaiah 14 vs. 12-14: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning? How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High”.

Manifest Son's of God "The Doctrine"

2010-10-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

The Manifest Son's of God

The Latter Rain movement of the late 40's had given birth to numerous other sub-teachings. The Manifest Sons of God was divided into two major sects. The Walk, and the Body of Christ. The Walk came out of the Latter Rain Movement under the “apostleship” of John Robert Stevens, who like Paul Cain and others was a William Branham disciple. His was the Church of the Living Word in Redondo Beach, California.

The Charismatic Dominionism expressed in spiritual warfare and the current signs and wonders movement is largely an extension of the Manifest Sons of God doctrine. Manifest Sons teachings are Kingdom Dominionist: they believe in restoration of the Church, restoration of the 5 fold ministry with the offices of apostles and prophets, having authority through its leaders by strong shepherding and discipleship. A perfection of the saints, immortalization, and the attainment of being Christ as we become just like Christ in nature and ability.

The Manifest Sons of God doctrine has an eschatology of Dominionism through the perfecting of the saints under the leadership guidance of the latter-day prophets and apostles. They mostly deny a rapture in the classic sense. Some replace it with individual raptures, a collective transformation to immortality on earth, or none at all. This quote is representative of the teaching “the doctrine of the Rapture was a great and effective ruse of the enemy to implant in the Church a retreat mentality ... already this yoke has been cast off by the majority in the advancing church, and it will soon be cast off by all.” (Rick Joyner, THE HARVEST 1989 /1990 revised booklet on pg.121)

We are talking about the great and blessed hope of his return. In its place is triumphalism by installing a new leadership for the Church. If there is no rapture than there is no resurrection, they are simultaneous events!

Considering what Joyner first said he later changed it in his 1993 printing of the Harvest as it became the doctrine of the pre-tribulation rapture (p.201) In this he fares no better as he takes the position that the Church will endure through the tribulation. despite the Scriptures teaching that the saints will be overcome in the tribulation, and few will survive. Hardly a scenario that manifest sons of God can agree with. this becomes even more problematic when brought to its conclusion of the Church found ruling when Christ comes back. Certainly to look forward to the Lords coming as any time is not retreating but hopeful. One does not need to abandon everything to do this and wait on the top of a hill in white robes as some did over century ago.

The modern Spiritual warfare practice that is an attachment to the signs and wonders movement finds its roots in the Latter Rain as well. The revival will come by the Church being led by these leaders in defeating demonic spirits through spiritual warfare prayer, fasting. The spiritual warfare conducted through intense worship and praise, and by spiritual mapping, identifying strongholds, rebuking demonic powers and binding territorial spirits.

“God's people are going to start to exercise rule, and they're going to take dominion over the Power of Satan. They're going to bring diabolical princes down. The dark powers that hover over the Parliament buildings of the nations are going to be paralyzed by the corporate prayer of an authoritative community. As the rod of His strength goes out of Zion, He'll change legislation. He'll chase the devil off the face of God's earth, and God's people together, doing the will of God, will bring about God's purposes and Gods reign. “ (Ern Baxter, National Men's Shepherds Conference, Kansas City, Missouri, 1975)

The apostles will rule the Church through establishing independent churches, unaffiliated with the corrupt denominations (Branham's teaching). The exception which is currently underway, is that denominational churches would abandon being separate, join the movement coming under their leadership. It is essential to the Latter Rain movement for the church to be unified as one, under a central leadership. Otherwise Christ cannot be incarnated (manifested) in the Church and give his power to conquer the world for Christ.

That the world will be conquered through an elite group of overcomers who produce signs and wonders unlike anything ever seen, even in the early church by the apostles. This they believe will lead us to the greatest revival of history. An endtime harvest of billions of souls, where the majority of the world will be won to Christ and the kingdom would be established or ready to be received by Christ. “This harvest will be so great that no one will look back at the early church as a standard; all will be saying that the Lord has certainly saved His best wine for last. The early church was a firstfruits offering, truly this will be a harvest! It was said of the Apostle Paul that he was turning the world upside down; it will be said of the apostles soon to be anointed that they have turned an upside down world right side up. Nations will tremble at the mention of their name.” (Rick Joyner, Restoration, may/June 1988, the Harvest)

What does Joyner mean they will turn the world rightside up?Are they going to undo the work of the Apostle Paul, or maybe he means a new thing altogether.
“Angelic appearances will be common to the saints and a visible glory of the Lord will appear upon some for extended periods of time as power flows through them. There will be no plague, disease, or physical condition, including lost limbs, AIDS, poison gas, or radiation, which will resist the healing and miracle gifts working in the saints during this time. “ (Rick Joyner, The Harvest, 128-129)

The apostles and prophets would give blessings upon those whom bless, and curses upon those whom they curse. The power of their words would bring results. They will complete the conquest of the nations before Christ returns. The conquering will be done as “Joel's army “ a group of immortal beings that will bring judgment upon the ungodly and all who do not accept the authority of the NEW Apostles and prophets. The tribulation is replaced with manifestations of power executing Gods judgment through Joels army to cleanse the earth of the evil and bring order to establish his kingdom.

Those who go further into the different levels will achieve a certain degree of holiness under the direction of the apostles and prophets. They will overcome death, and will become immortal.

The manifestation of the Sons of God

Rom.8:19 “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope 21because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”

“The Earth and all of creation is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God, the time when they will come into their maturity and immortalization... When the Church receives its full inheritance and redemption then creation will be redeemed from its cursed condition of decay, change and death... the Church has a responsibility and ministry to the rest of creation. Earth and Its natural creation Is anxiously waiting for the Church to reach full maturity and come to full sonship. When the Church realizes its full sonship, its bodily redemption will cause a redemptive chain reaction throughout all of creation.” ( Bill Hamon p. 385 THE ETERNAL CHURCH) This is what is called in the new age the paradigm shift, while biblical terms are used it is identical in its process and affect .

“I see the great year of Jubilee, when we shall pass through the veil into the very Presence of the fullness of God, to be filled with this fullness and go forth proclaiming liberty to all of creation. Romans 8 calls this the “Manifestation of the Sons of God”, and Says the whole creation is groaning and crying for this day. ...This is the ultimate anointing! This is the fullness of the Spirit! This is the Spirit without measure that Jesus had, spoken of in John 3:34, reserved until the end time for His Brethren!”' (EAGLE SAINTS ARISE, Bill Britton)

This whole teaching is based on a distortion of Romans 8:19 which speaks of the “Manifestation of the Sons of God.” The belief is that some will obtain immortality by incarnating Christ before he returns. What is it that all creation is waiting for? According to orthodox Christianity, all creation awaits the removal of the “Curse of Futility”, sin placed upon it by God from the Fall of Adam. What they neglect is the context and the other passages that explain this event vs.22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.”
The adoption the redeeming of our body, when, how?
Phil. 3:20-21: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”
1Thess. 4:16-17: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
1 Cor.15:51-54: “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

After the Ascension, the angels told the Apostles who watched, Acts 1:11 “ This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” The Holy Spirit was sent soon after he ascended nearly 2,000 years age, there is no new sending of the spirit for the Church, nor any other way for Christ to come back but the Scriptural way. He comes back in the same body he left in, not in the church as the body. Anyone who says differently is denying what the revelation of the Scriptures say.
Heb.9:28: “so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” It is Christ who appears and changes us, not some event separate from this. We wait for him, we cannot accomplish this on our own. It his coming that is connected to this even, and whether one believes in a pre, mid, or post rapture does not change the connection of his coming for this to occur.
It has always been understood that Jesus Himself is the One Who would do the restoring of the kingdom. When he comes again at the second coming the curse on the earth will be lifted we would be changed and he would reverse the affects of the curse on the earth. But biblically it is not until after the millennium that the new heavens and earth replace the former and death will be no more(Rev.21:4).

But, those who espouse the Manifested Sons of God doctrine have a different take on this. To them, all creation eagerly awaits the time when the “true sons” of God will finally realize “who they are in Christ,” conquerors and overcomers, and will come into their true Glory and Power as the Sons of God. It is they who will be the ones who will remove the curse, overcome all of God's enemies, even death! The historic church has been waiting for God the son in the 2nd coming. They teach that God is waiting for you and I.

In Jewel Van der Merwe's book, Joel's Army, she quotes Earl Paulk a influential “Kingdom Now” pastor, he explains his application of Romans 8:19 “The last enemy to be conquered is death. Who will conquer it? A mature Church will come forth with the kind of authority and power that will be able to stand in the very face of Satan. When the Church reaches that level of maturity, God will be able to say, 'This generation of the Church does not need to die. She has reached a place of maturity. I will translate her because her maturity pleases Me.'“
“Not only will they not have diseases, they will also not die. They will have the kind of imperishable bodies that are talked about in the 15th chapter of Corinthians ... this army is invincible. If you have intimacy with God, they can't kill you.” ( Paul Cain, “Joel's Army,” 1990 p. 218) [For more on Paul Cain's revelation of Joels army> go here]

Jack Deere says, “ they won't be able to kill this army.” John Wimber as well said, “those in this army will have the 'kind of anointing ...his kind of power ... anyone who wants to harm them must die.” This is Joel's Army.

Bill Hamon writes, “The Church will gain victory over the last enemy, death. Victory speaks of a battle being fought. The last day saints will wage and win a warfare against death. The last generation saints will come to translating faith in preparation for participation in the translation.” (The Eternal Church, P.349)

“Yes, sin, sickness and disease, spiritual death, poverty, and everything else that's of the devil once ruled us. But now, bless God, we rule them -- for this is the Day of Dominion!” (Kenneth Hagin, “Rejoice! This Is the Day Which the Lord Hath Made!” The Word of Faith, Sept. 1996 )

“When the Sons of God are manifested. “The saints will take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever... the Sons of Yahweh, one like the Son of man - not the lonely and blessed Yahshua of Nazareth alone, but the complete body of sons - Yahweh's masterpiece of the ages, the body of Yahshua, the house not made with hands - My Father's house of many mansions, each one whether individually or collectively 'An habitation of Yahweh through the Spirit”...these sons of Yahweh are indeed the 'One like the Son of man.”'(NEW BEGINNINGS, George Hawtin )
Speaking on the feasts (Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles)”.... typify the whole Church Age, beginning with the death of Jesus on the cross, and consummating in “the manifestation of the Sons of God”-the “overcomers” who will become perfected and step into immortality in order to establish the Kingdom of God on earth.” (George Warnock, The Feast of Tabernacles, 1951, pp. 14-20)

Quite a difference from the saints inheriting the kingdom when Christ comes and being servants (co-heirs) in it, adopted as sons (Rev.20:6). This is not a kingdom operated by humility but of power and force. This is why the take it by force teaching , and the pulling down of strongholds. Never mind that neither Jesus or an apostle never taught this to others, because this is what God is doing now. Its new, word up its fresh!

The Central theme to Manifest Sons of God doctrine is the belief that sonship to God comes through higher revelation via apostles and prophets. The Christian life, has levels to go through, to reach maturity. The first level is that of servant of God, the next is that of friend of God, following this is to become a son of God and the realization of gods ourselves. much like the new age potential in man)

The Scriptures teach that we are servants (Galatians 3:10), friends (John 15:14-15), and sons (I John 3:1). There is no Scriptural support that Paul who was the least of the apostles, or any other apostle ever went beyond servanthood attaining sonship. Many epistles begin with the salutation by an apostle as a servant of God. There is no teaching from Paul or any of the other apostles believed they would go beyond these “levels” to become gods themselves.
This teaching today comes disguised in the word faith sector of the church where they teach we can speak things into existence just as God did ( Rom. 4:17)

Christ comes into the Church before he comes for the Church
Some believe that the second coming of Jesus is to be “in the Church,” before he comes for the Church. That the Church, his body will actually become Christ on earth, glorious and triumphant. They will go Conquer the land and then rule the nations with a rod of iron. Some believe that after the Church has taken dominion over the nations, she will hasten the day that will call Jesus back to earth and hand the nations over to Him.

This is nothing new and Charles Taze Russell actually taught this over 100 years ago. If you don't recognize his name he founded the Jehovah's Witnesses cult.

“Our high calling is so great, so much above the comprehension of men, that they feel that we are guilty of blasphemy when we speak of being 'new creatures'- not any longer human, but 'partakers of the divine nature.”“ .it is claiming that we are divine beings- hence all such are Gods,. Thus we have a family of God .... Now we appear like men, and all die naturally like men, but in the resurrection we will rise in our true character as Gods ... Then the whole family- head and body are addressed as one, as they will be under Christ, their head, saying: Arise 0 God, judge (rule, bless) the earth: for thou shaft inherit all nations. The Mighty God, and Everlasting Father of the nations is Christ whose members in particular we are.” (Watchtower, 10 & 11/1881, p. 10, Reprints, p. 301)

“ under him as our head constitute the whole body of Christ, the 'Mighty God' (El-powerful one) to rule and bless the nations- ... and therefore be members of that company which as a whole will be the Everlasting Father to the restored race.” (Watchtower, 10 & 11 / 1881, p. 10, Reprints P. 298)

As we can see this is well over 100 years old from a group that is a cult now, just as they were then. While this teaching may have changed in terms it has remained consistent. The JW's believe in an anointed 144,000 that the earthly class must relate to for receiving the benefits of the new covenant. Sound familiar? It should since this is exactly what is being taught by the apostle prophet movement. that we must come under their leadership and become an army to be victorious in the last days. This is just as cultic as the JW's view. There are no Apostles today as there were when the Lord hand picked the 12 and others who were apostolic legates under them. The simple reason is that no one has seen the risen Lord to qualify. All the visions and dreams do not to qualify someone for apostleship (see Acts 1)

But inside the Christian Church they taught no different. From Warnock's manifesto “Christ should visit the saints in the last great Feast, and minister His life 'In secret 'before He is openly manifested! Christians think it is a horrible thing that Christ's second Coming should be spoken of in this manner. When a Christian comes to that place where he really appreciates and understands and enjoys Spiritual things, then he can truly rejoice in the fact that Christ is coming back again to be manifested within. (THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES, George Warnock, Bill Britton 1951, p. 108). When he speaks of Christ he is meaning Christ being the anointing, not the person of Jesus.

William Branham “In them days it was God in a man, His Son, Jesus Christ. ...It was God In Christ, God, in a man, the fullness of the Godhead bodily In a man. God, in a man; now, it's God in men. See? The fullness of God in the Godhead bodily in His entire Church, manifesting Himself, fulfilling His Word. (THE MIGHTY GOD UNVEILED BEFORE US p.20) Here we have a the Manifest Sons of God teaching in embryo. Branham's misunderstanding of how God was in Christ and he paralleled this to God in the Church. The reason for this is, “ that God has always had skin on Him.” (ibid.21)

Earl Paul has been saying for years “We are on earth as extensions of God to finish the work He began. We are the essence of God, His on-going incarnation in the world.” (Earl Paulk, Held In The Heavens, 1985, p. 125).

The Church is not God nor the fullness of God, this denies the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son because it makes the Church on equality with him as many sons with the same nature.

“The completion of the incarnation of God in the world must be in His church...Jesus Christ is the firstfruit, but without the ongoing harvest, the incarnation will never be complete.” (Earl Paulk, The Wounded Body of Christ, p. 43).“The living Word of God, Jesus Christ, was conceived in the womb of a virgin. The Word became flesh in the God-Man Jesus Christ (John 1:1). Likewise, the Word of God must be made flesh in the Church in order for us to bear witness to the Kingdom which God has called us to demonstrate.” (Earl Paulk, Held In The Heavens, 1985, p.60)

I would think it is apparent that there is a vast difference between the word made flesh by God incarnating in Jesus and becoming man and his residing in his people, the Church.
“The living Word of God, Jesus Christ, was conceived in the womb of a virgin. The Word became flesh in the God-Man Jesus Christ (John 1:1). Likewise, the Word of God must be made flesh in the Church in order for us to bear witness to the Kingdom which God has called us to demonstrate.” (Earl Paulk, Held In The Heavens , 1985, p.60)

Frangipane agrees with Paulk as he says “When the Spirit of Christ comes into the physical world, He must enter through a physical body... When Christ first entered our world as a child, it was Mary whom God chose to give Christ birth. Mary's life symbolized the qualities the Church must possess to walk in the fullness of Christ ... [God is preparing us as He did Mary to give birth to the ministry of His Son. Even now, in the spiritual womb of the virgin church, the holy purpose of Christ is growing, awaiting maturity; ready to be born in power in the timing of God ... the virgin Church is “in labour and in pain to give birth” (Rev 12:1-2) ... even now, he trembles and the heavens watch in awe, for I say to you, once again, the virgin is with child. Before Jesus Himself returns, the last virgin Church shall become pregnant with the promise of God. Out of her travail, the Body of Christ shall come forth, raised to the full statute of its Head, the Lord Jesus. Corporately manifested in holiness, power and love, the Bride of Christ shall arise.” (Francis Frangipane, 'In the Presence of God” Now Wine Press, 1994.Chapter: “The Virgin Shall Be With Child)

This is manifest Sons of God doctrine, it may not be called this by the speakers some may not even know of its roots but most to believe are well aware of its implications.
Kenneth Hagin believes the same thing with only a slightly different angle “We [the church] are Christ.” (As Christ is -- So are we, (Tape #44H06)

“Every man who has been born again is an incarnation and Christianity is a miracle. The believer is as much an incarnation as was Jesus of Nazareth.” (Kenneth Hagin, “The Incarnation,” The Word of Faith, p.13, Dec. 1980).

Kenneth Copeland agrees with his mentor, “[Man] was created on terms of equality with God, and he could stand in God's presence without any consciousness of inferiority...God made us as much like Himself as possible...He made us the same class of being that He is Himself...Man lived in the realm of God. He lived on terms equal with God...[The] believer is called Christ...That's who we are; we're Christ” (Zoe: The God-Kind of Life, . pgs. 35-36, 41, 1989)

Copeland states “Jesus is no longer the only begotten Son of God.” (Now We Are In Christ Jesus, p.24,1980)
This means Christ was the pattern son, not unique, but only the first of a kind of many, many more.

Rod Parsley states, “In the old covenant we did not have Jesus in the flesh. In the next covenant we had Jesus manifest in the flesh. In the next covenant we had Jesus manifest in the flesh in a person but of many in a different form.” (Breakthrough 9/19/2000) Parsleys three covenants has the Church becoming what Jesus was exclusively. Yet he teaches now “For in him dwelt the fulness of the Godhead bodily that’s what it said the fullness of the Godhead bodily. .. Now it didn’t say anywhere that you wouldn’t have the same thing. Didn’t say anywhere that you couldn’t obtain unto the same thing.” “In Acts the matter is you’re an heir a joint heir with Jesus Christ. Jesus said don’t look at what I’m doin, brother what your gonna do is greater than what I’m gonna do. ” (Ibid.)

Morris Currello leading the unaware in a chant “Who are you? Come on, who are you? Come on, say it: ‘Sons of God!’ Come on, say it! And what does work inside us, brother, is that manifestation of the expression of all that God is and all that God has. And when we stand up here, brother, you’re not looking at Morris Cerullo; you’re looking at God. You’re looking at Jesus.” (Morris Cerullo, The Endtime Manifestation of the Sons of God World Evangelism tape 1)
Benny Hinn, When you say, 'I am a Christian,' you are saying, 'I am mashiach,' in the Hebrew. I am a little messiah walking on earth, in other words. That is a shocking revelation. ...May I say it like this? You are a little god on earth running around” (Praise-a-Thon, TBN, November 6,1990)

“Are you ready for some real revelation knowledge....you are god” (Benny Hinn, “Our Position In Christ”, tape AO31190-1)

This certainly is a revelation, to God.
Hagin, Copeland, Hinn and the much of the Word/Faith Movement all are saying basically the same thing. Why? Because they are coming from the same source, the Latter Rain teachings which are enjoying new growth unlike it ever did before. The new anointing that is being dispersed brings their followers to a “new knowledge” of the Scriptures.

D.R. McConnell writes about the new revelation knowledge “When these truths really gain the ascendancy in us, they will make us spiritual supermen, masters of demons and disease. It will be the end of weakness and failure. In the presence of these tremendous realities, we arise and take our place. We go out and live as supermen indwelt by God.” (A Different Gospel, P. 21, D.R. McConnell, 1988.)

Much of this has been birthed through the Vineyard Church via the signs and wonders movement, Bob Jones, “the Church is in no condition for the Lord to come today ... He's going to come for a church that is mature in righteousness... progressively going in this righteousness until you take on THE VERY DIVINE NATURE OF CHRIST HIMSELF and you begin to see Christ in the Church. Christ won't come for the church until you see Christ in the Church until the Church looks like Jesus. PAPA (God) planted Jesus, He sowed Him down here in this earth to have a whole nation of brothers and sisters that looked just like Jesus ... His Son was a ALPHA SON, your children are the OMEGA sons and daughters.” [Mike Bickle interjects here, “Jesus was the beginning, but our children and us, we're included in this ... we're the end of this thing.” (quoted in Discernment newsletter)

To put sinners saved by grace on an equality with Christ shows how deficient these so called “anointed ones” are in biblical understanding.
Today this movement comes in many names, the current and most popular cliché' is “the anointed,” Christ, they say they are “anointed” Christ, exactly what Jesus warned about in Mt.24. That they can do exactly what he did, dispense the anointing and do miracles. Welcome to the Church of the 21st century.
Manifest Sons of God doctrine-Let Us Reason Ministries

KINGDOM THEOLOGY the Doctrine

2010-10-10T17:25:00.000-07:00

KINGDOM THEOLOGY

KINGDOM THEOLOGY DEFINED
Within the "Kingdom Theology" camp are several movements whose teachings are remarkably similar over all, yet divergent on some points. These movements - though to a greater or lesser degree disavowing association with each other - are sufficiently homogenous in their eschatological and theological viewpoints to place them all under a common banner: what I refer to as "Kingdom Theology."

These movements are built upon the same foundation: the neo-Pentecostalism of the mid-twentieth century. They draw from one another the support needed to develop their strategy for gaining preeminence among Christians. All zealously propagate their "new revelations" which allegedly are to prepare the Church for "the next move of God," bringing us closer to the Kingdom Age (the rule of God on earth).

The most prominent of these movements are:
- Latter Rain - Identity - Manifest Sons of God - Restoration - Reconstruction - Charismatic Renewal - Shepherding/Discipleship - Kingdom Message - Positive Confession
Throughout the course of this study we'll be examining these movements and their major proponents. But first it's important that I give a general outline of Kingdom Theology itself and its dynamic.

The Teachings
The basic premise of Kingdom Theology is that man lost dominion over the earth when Adam and Eve succumbed to Satan's temptation in the Garden of Eden. God "lost control" of the earth to Satan at that time, and has since been looking for a "covenant people" who will be His "extension," or "expression," in the earth and take dominion back from Satan. This is to be accomplished through certain "overcomers" who, by yielding themselves to the authority of God's apostles and prophets for the Kingdom Age, will take control of the kingdoms of this world. These kingdoms are defined as all social institutions, such as the "kingdom" of education, the "kingdom" of science, the "kingdom" of the arts, and so on. Most especially there is the "kingdom" of politics or government. This naturally implies the concentration of military and police power in the hands of those in control during the Kingdom Age. They are referred to as the "many-membered man child," whom Kingdom Theology adherents believe will be the fulfillment of Revelation 12:1-5: "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars....And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron."

Those who hold to Kingdom Theology assume that the Church (some believe only a small group within the Church, called "overcomers"), under submission to the latter day apostles and prophets, is that man child, and that it has the responsibility to put down all rebellion and establish righteousness. This necessitates the utilization of supernatural power and the full implementation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This theory is based upon the idea that all authority in heaven and on the earth has been given to Jesus. Since believers are indwelt by the same Holy Spirit that indwelt Jesus, we have all authority in heaven and on the earth; we have the power to believe for and speak into existence things that are not, and thus we can bring about the Kingdom Age. The many-membered man child must take control of the earth before Jesus can return.

Necessary to the Kingdom Age is "the Restoration of the Tabernacle of David," defined as the completion of perfection of the Bride of Christ - a Church without spot or wrinkle. During the Kingdom Age (or after all else is subdued during that time) Satan and all enemies of God will be put under the feet of the many-membered man child. This will be the fulfillment of I Corinthians 15:25-26: "For he (Christ) must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."

The rationale that the many-membered man child will put God's enemies under 'its' feet is that Jesus is the head of Christ and the Church is the body of Christ. And where are the feet but in the body? Many in the Kingdom Theology movements insist that when this Scripture refers to Christ it is really referring to the Church who is the Body of Christ. Therefore it is necessary for them to establish within the minds of Christians the idea that, as the Body of Christ, we are Christ. In other words, we have His divine nature.

Notice that this idea, similar to that of mind science and other false religions, separates the anointing of "Christ" from Jesus and bestows it upon all who come into a place of certain knowledge and spiritual attainment. This is a heresy that is as old as the Church. It is rooted in the Greek school of philosophy known as Gnosticism.

No Rapture
Critical to hard-core Kingdom Theology is the denial of "the Rapture" - the teaching that the Church will one day be caught up to meet the Lord in the air so that we will be with Him in Heaven when God's wrath is poured out upon the earth. This event is explained away as a feeling of rapture or excitement when the Lord returns to receive the Kingdom from our hands. In other words, everyone will be "caught up" emotionally when He returns. This explanation ignores the fact that such an application of the term "caught up" is strictly an idiomatic expression peculiar to English, not Greek. "I was all 'caught up' in the movie" (or other excitement) is not the equivalent of 'harpazo' in I Thessalonians 4:17, II Corinthians 12:2-4, and Revelation 12:5, used to describe the catching up bodily into Heaven, and Acts 8:39 where Phillip is bodily "caught away" by the Spirit to another location.

Consequently, since there will be no bodily catching away - or "Rapture" - of the Church (some say not until the Church has taken dominion in the face of adversity), there will be no restoration of the nation of Israel. The proponents of Kingdom Theology are correct when they say that the Church is spiritual Israel, but they fail to acknowledge that God has promised to restore national Israel and deal with her during the coming seventieth week of Daniel.

All prophecies regarding future Israel - both in the Old and New Testaments - are made to apply to the Church. The restoration of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1-11 is said to be the Restoration of the Church out of Babylon (denominationalism) into perfect unity. All believers will possess the same mind, same thoughts, and same goals delineated by the apostles and prophets of the Kingdom Age through new revelations.

The Church Has Failed
Another eschatological viewpoint of Kingdom Theology is that the Great Tribulation is seen not as a time when anti-Christ will reign and war against God's people, but rather a time of tribulation for the world brought about by God's judgment through His people. Anti-Christ, in fact, is considered by some not to be a person, or even a system of government, but a spirit of rebellion against God's constituted authority - the coming of Jesus in the flesh of the apostles and prophets, according to their interpretation of I John 4:2 and II John 7.

Since there will be no "Rapture," and no Second Coming of Jesus until the Kingdom has been established by the Church under the direction of the apostles and prophets, most Kingdom Theology adherents are mid- or post-millennialists: Jesus will come back after the millennium has begun or after it has been completed. Some are amillennialists, believing He will never come back personally, or that He already came back to His own generation, leaving the Church to take dominion over the earth. Thus they see the Church as having failed in what they consider its commission to take dominion over the kingdoms of the earth.

The reason the Church has failed is because it has not understood what Jesus meant when He told His disciples that they would be witnesses of Him throughout the earth. To be a witness means to demonstrate the Kingdom on earth: to take dominion, bringing all things into obedience to Christ. In order to demonstrate the Kingdom, the Church must not only be united under the apostles and prophets, but must be prosperous, having taken control of all the material wealth of the earth. Since "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein" (Psalm 24:1), the world is ours as joint heirs with Christ. This sounds good, but without Jesus here to establish the dominion, we are left at the mercy of men who, according to their thinking, will have "overcome" all faults and will be operating according to the perfect will of God. Since all enemies, including death, will be put under the feet of the "overcomers," it is therefore necessary that dominion include "immortalization" (or at least living in "divine health" as well as "divine prosperity").

The Cloud Of Witnesses
To accomplish the great task of taking dominion over a rebellious world, the Church must have supernatural help not only from God, but from angels and from the "great cloud of witnesses" (the dead in Christ) who have preceded us. A unity between their spirits and our spirits will create a communications link by which revelations will be conveyed that will guide the Church in its mission. The apostles and prophets especially will have contact into the spirit realm through appearances of Jesus, angels, and departed saints. In fact, such contacts have already been reported in the Christian media.

Essentially then, Kingdom Theology sees the Second Coming of Jesus in two stages: first through the flesh of the believers (and in particular the flesh of today's apostles and prophets), and then in person to take over the Kingdom handed to Him by those who have been victorious (the "overcomers"). In some circles it is believed that the overcomers will have become immortal - they will have attained what is called "resurrection life."

Whether immortal or not, it is generally agreed in Kingdom Theology that the overcomers must purge the earth of all evil influences. "Evildoers" must be converted or they will be punished and/or "destroyed from off the face of the earth." "Evildoers" have been variously described as drug pushers, murderers, child molesters, thieves, prostitutes, and other such "scum" that Jesus died for. It will interest the reader to learn, however, that for many who teach Kingdom Theology, the term "evildoer" applies to anyone who refuses to submit to God's authority (the latter day apostles and prophets). Those who do submit will be sealed with the "mark of God" in their foreheads, and will escape the coming judgment.

Some Differences
As we deal with these teachings individually in successive chapters, keep in mind that some movements are more extreme than others, and each is somewhat unique in its approach to the basic tenets of Kingdom Theology. In fact, not everyone within each movement is necessarily in agreement with each other, let alone with those in the other movements. Still, each movement has teachings that are sufficiently aberrant as to warrant careful testing by the Word of God. Each in its own way has its part in propagating some or all of the elements of Kingdom Theology. Other teachings not detailed here are quite bizarre, and add to the overall occult flavor of Kingdom Theology. We'll be dealing with them as we progress.

It's important to understand that not everyone in the various movements mentioned believe all Kingdom Theology teachings. Many are innocently fraternizing with those whose doctrines would horrify them if they were aware of them. Yet while the adage "guilt by association" does not always hold true, a consistent pattern of fraternization and support are sufficient grounds to at least question whether one holds the views of those he supports and with whom he seeks unity.

Some Terminology
As in all fraternities, there is certain terminology peculiar to Kingdom Theology. Knowledge of that terminology can alert us to the possibility that we are hearing from an adherent to those teachings. A few occasions of word usage prove nothing, of course. But a pattern of usage and dependence upon terminology peculiar to Kingdom Theology is reason for concern and further investigation of a teacher's doctrines. Many will hide their true beliefs to all but those within their inner circle lest they be prematurely exposed to the Body of Christ at large. Once you become familiar with their terminology I urge you not to judge arbitrarily, but to seek further knowledge of the teacher's true beliefs (Acts 17:11). Meanwhile, be cautious until you do know what he or she believes. The following Kingdom terminology should be cause for concern even though much will be defended as "scriptural" by those who use them:
- Dominion - Overcomer(s) - Word-Faith - Spoken Word - Five-fold ministry - Latter Rain - Tabernacle of David - Feast of Tabernacles - Many-membered man child - Manifestation of the Kingdom - Manifestation of the Sons of God - Ongoing Incarnation - Birthing in the Spirit - Get this into your spirit - Unity (of the Body) - Serpent's Seed or Seed of the Serpent - Faith in faith - God's faith - God-like faith - Kingdom language - Kingdom principles - Christ principles - Elijah Company - Bride Company - The Christ - Ecclesias

I wish to reiterate that the use of some of these words - at least moderately - is not grounds for judging harshly the speaker or writer (see John 7:24). I stress this because I know I'll be accused of jumping to conclusions and lumping everyone together. I urge caution in accepting or rejecting anyone on the basis of their terminology alone. By the time you've read through this report, however, I'm certain you'll see why these terms are good indicators of the teacher's beliefs.

At the end of the final installment you'll find a sample questionnaire which you can use to test any teacher's position relative to Kingdom Theology. This may be used as a precaution against erroneously prejudging anyone - teacher or disciple. This said, we will examine now the roots and the effects of Kingdom Theology and its various movements.

THE LATTER RAIN MOVEMENT
It becomes apparent through study that Kingdom Theology had its beginning in the teachings of the more prominent leaders of the mid-twentieth-century phenomenon known as "The Latter Rain Movement." These teachers blended Pentecostal fervor with supernatural manifestations which, when examined, are found to have been heavily influenced by occult activity.

The unwary believers of that time, whose lives were touched by these supernatural phenomena, were unversed in the occult sciences and accepted these manifestations of power as from God. Now we are seeing at the same time within Pentecostalism, both the true manifestations of the Holy Spirit and the occult manifestations of Satan.

To determine which are of God and which from the adversary, it helps to know the history of this movement called the Latter Rain. Therefore I have endeavored to lay out in a semblance of chronological order the various influences the teachers of that period had upon each other, and how those influences are affecting the Church today.

FRANKLIN HALL
In the fall of 1946, a "major fasting and prayer daily revival center" was established in San Diego, California. Under the leadership of Franklin Hall (assisted by Jack Walker, father of child evangelist "Little David" Walker), the teaching of fasting as a means of bringing about revival and the "restoration" of the Church spread throughout the Pentecostal world.1 Other ministers who helped establish the fasting and prayer center were: Dr. Waltrip (Kathryn Kuhlman's husband); Stanley Comstock; Earl Ivy; Tommy Baird; Myrtle Page; and Franklin Hall's brothers, Delbert, Harold, and Virgil. (Delbert Hall and his wife, Florence, were pastors.)2
According to the Summer, 1985, issue of Franklin Hall's newsletter, 'Miracle World,' in which is revealed some of the early history of his ministry, "A fasting chain came about. Several were on major fasts around the clock. Many were fasting for not only days but weeks at a time. One lady, Sister Mary Sommerville, fasted without food for eighty-three days. She was so strong on this notable fast that she ran and danced all over the place, being drunk on both the inner and outer filling of the precious Holy Spirit."3

Hall claims more than one thousand converts during the first year of the center's existence, with scores being healed of diseases, through fasting and prayer.

Alleged appearances of the Holy Ghost in fire and smoke are also related in Hall's newsletter:
"Once or twice the Fire department was briefed by folk seeing the Holy Smoke and Fire through the windows upstairs. They came running up the steps with the hoses to put out the fire. Some of the firemen, seeing that it was not a natural fire, sat down in the large revival center hall and worshipped the Lord getting saved."4

Spreading The Word
Hall and his wife, Helen, sold off some assets and borrowed against their home to finance the printing of "millions of pieces of literature" to send to people all over the world.5 The Hall's claim this mail campaign resulted in the great healing revivals of the late forties and early fifties.
It was during this time (1946) that Franklin Hall wrote his book, 'Atomic Power With God Through Fasting and Prayer,' which was to have a significant impact upon the world of Pentecostalism. Many people, little known at that time, were greatly influenced by Hall's literature. Gordon Lindsay's publication, 'Voice of Healing,' helped spread the fasting message, as well as did Thomas and Evelyn Wyatt's worldwide radio broadcasts.

Hall's newsletter records how others received his message:
"Rev. Walter Frederick, former Assembly superintendent in Canada, sent Brother Hall's literature to every Pentecostal preacher in Canada....A few of the others (not too well-known then) ministers [sic] who had major fasting experiences by our writings in the 1946, 1947 to 1950 fasting era and who also became famous are:
Wm. Freeman Gordon Lindsay A.A. Allen O.L. Jaggers Gayle Jackson Oral Roberts David Nunn Wm. Branham W.V. Grant Wm. Hagen Dale Hanson Tommy Hicks."6
Hall's writings on fasting and diet as a means to spiritual restoration might easily be seen as the primitive beginnings of today's "Christian holism."

Occult Influences
As evidence of God's favor upon those who fast, Hall points out that even the prayers of pagans will be answered by God if they are accompanied by fasting: "Many, if not all, the American Indian tribes sought revelation of the Great Spirit through Prayer and Fasting. When they had famines, food shortages, lack of rain, etc., the Great Spirit was sought through prayer and fasting, and their prayers were answered."7

Hall uses this as an example of how fasting is necessary to have our prayers answered. In fact, he states that "Without fasting, prayer becomes ineffectual."8 In other words, those who pray to demons will have their prayers answered if they fast, but Christians will not have their prayers answered if they don't fast. At the least, it would seem, they would be hindered greatly. This is a good example of how a person can extol a faith in Christ while negating all the effects of that faith and the relationship with God it entails. By giving credit for answered prayer to the demon gods of pagan religions, Hall displays a mindset characteristic of occult science.
That there is a definite occult influence on Hall's career is evident in other writings. His book, 'The Return of Immortality,' suggests that Christians can learn how to become immortal through stages of spiritual growth. This involves experiences with "UFO's, and the UIO gravitational and levitation control."9 His teachings on attaining immortality in this life through psycho-spiritual exercises and righteous living were the foundation upon which many in the Latter Rain and subsequent movements based their immortalization theories.

Hall's main point in his immortalization theory is that "the sleeping, so called, unfoundationally built church" must awaken to "a real cause and calling, that when God's word is completely acted upon and complied with, will result in bringing about the real gushers and torrents of the long, past due, RAIN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. A rain of IMMORTALITY UPON THE EARTH that so many prophets have written about and portrayed in their prophesies"10 (emphasis Hall's).
Hall's premise is not, however, predicated upon God's promise of immortality for the faithful after their resurrection. This is evidenced by his following words: "Permanent, lasting Freedoms from all sickness, harmful accident things and defeat will come about. Freedom from the imprisonment of all gravitational forces will also be brought upon the whole man.

"This study teaches one the power and secrets of space flight. Space floatation [sic] and hovering ability. It gives the Bible formula for weightlessness, the 'raising up' power of those who come to immortality. (Jn.6 chapter and Rom.2:7)."11

In his book, Hall gives "evidence" of his already having attained a degree of "immortality" (which allegedly affects everything that comes in contact with the immortal person's body):
"Brother Hall's light colored jacket is seven years old and has never been pressed or cleaned or aerated in 7 years, since new, yet it has been worn repeatedly in many overseas countries and regularly in all crusades everywhere (excepting one). It has been on more than 200 airlines in travels. It has no spots, stains, discoloration or body odors anywhere on it or inside it - similar to the children of Israel's clothes under the Glory, Immortality Cloud of Fire Power."12
The attainment of "Immortality blessings" are alleged by Hall to be more successfully attained through open-eye prayer. "Coming with closed eyes," he stated, "destroys faith."13
Hall claims that there is an "Immortal Substance" that comes upon the believer who feeds upon it "from within Christ's now body" - the "FIRE - IMMORTAL - PACKED - BODY" (Emphasis Hall's). This "Immortal Substance" is claimed to be seen on those who attend Hall's meetings, as a fine gold and silver, sparkling material that emanates from sometimes visible "Immortal Heavenly Objects" (IHO's), "Unusual Heavenly Objects" (UHO's), and "Unidentified Flying Objects" (UFO's). In Hall's words, "The sparkling shining FINE GOLD and SILVER are seen upon their SKIN, brought about through the faith-power of impartation. The polished brass, the beryl stone appearances are even now manifested today." He challenges the reader to see and behold these phenomena by attending "the International Holy Ghost and Fire Seminars of Brother and Sister Franklin Hall."14 This sparkling material Hall calls, "The shiny metal like, Jesus' substance."15 While Hall has many excellent things to say about fasting from the standpoint of good health, when it comes to spiritual matters he often transcends sensibility and delves into areas of the occult. The book upon which many healers of the Latter Rain period publicly acknowledged their dependence, 'Atomic Power With God Through Fasting and Prayer,' is evidence:

"In the zodiacal sign, 'Scorpio,' which is the eighth sign of the Zodiac, we have a picture of a scorpion with its stinger lifted ready to strike. This is the sign of death, and is supposed to govern the sex area. Just before this sign in the heavens, there is a sign of the Judge, Jesus, who is the giver of LIFE. Jesus proceeds toward death and pulls the STING OUT OF DEATH. 'O, death where is thy sting? O, grave, where is thy victory?'"16
There is today a growing acceptance of the idea that the Zodiac is a representation of the Gospel. More will be said about this when we examine the teachings of some current Kingdom Theology proponents. But I feel that I should a least point out at this time that the Zodiac is an arbitrary assignment of images to certain stars by the priests of the Babylonian mystery religion. No matter how one tries to make it fit Scripture by claiming Genesis 1:4, there is no scriptural evidence that the "signs and seasons" spoken of in God's Word have any relation to the astrologists' Zodiac. We have the more sure written Word of God for guidance; we tread on dangerous ground when we try to accommodate His Word to occult science, or try to make the two equal.

Hall's penchant for a form of "Christian astrology" is evidenced further in his statement that, "In 1848 A.D. the Aquarian Age was introduced to the world."17 Those familiar with the New Age Movement, will recognize the Aquarian Age as the "Golden Age" of enlightenment when mankind will take a quantum leap in his evolutionary stages, to immortalization. The Aquarian Age will not be completely entered into until around the year 2000 A.D. Hall's writings are replete with strange, even weird statements difficult to decipher. The following, though a bit lengthy and poorly written, are examples:

"So much has been said about the travels of the astronauts, about conquering space and even going to Venus or Mars, about the power behind the saucers. The overcoming saints, however, are hundreds of years ahead of our scientists. These heaven projected saints will be so clothed and covered with the Immortality, supernatural, ZOOMING sparkling Substance, that it will be no more trouble at all for them to take off.

"Where will they go?
"They will fly right into the Glory Cloud residence of our Lord and Savior, Heaven in Him. Into His Cloud Fire Body. (Rev.12:5)

"What distance will they go?
"The distance, at first, may not be very far away, however, as the 8th church from out of the 7 churches of revelation, called the 'overcomers,' become more and more adjusted and acclimated to Holy Ghost Space flight, great distances taken, will seem like no distance at all.
"Jesus taught a small, but precious group of His followers - those who were able to bear it, that gravity would be completely loosed from them, in the last days, when they learned how to train their appetites into a different channel. We must learn to labor for the meal that endures unto everlasting (IMMORTAL) life. The meat that draws us away from gravity holding things. Jn.6:27.

"The 'not-perisheth' menu is the menu of Immortality, weight releasing power. The 'endureth unto everlasting life' menu.
"...The quickening power of the Holy Spirit brings about Immortality REVERSE ENERGY EMPOWERMENT."18
"Gravity-freed, great people will run up walls, not break rank, and if they fall on a sword, the Immortality power from Jesus' body, on them, will protect them. It appears that, they also can walk or run upside down. See Joel 2:3-11."19 (emphasis Hall's in all quotes).
In an ad for another of his books, 'Formula for Raising the Dead,' Hall cautions the potential purchaser, "This volume is only for very advanced Holy Ghost people. Do not order unless you are open to an apostolic teaching and have read four other books by Bro. Franklin Hall."20
I would not question Hall's sincerity and desire to attain spiritual enlightenment. But the heavy flavor of occultism in his teachings should have been sufficient warning even back in 1946. Yet many prominent teachers credit the empowerment for their ministries (especially healing ministries) on his book on fasting and prayer.

It's clear that Hall's teachings are a blend of occultism with Christianity. And since his teachings formed the basis of those that came after, and since the influence of those teachings upon neo-Pentecostalism is so great, close scrutiny of every ministry they touched is necessary.

INTRODUCTION
In Part I we examined the roots of today's Kingdom Theology, and defined the movement in terms of its theological and eschatological doctrines as well as some of its historic proponents. We delineated the basic premise of the movement which, simply stated, is that before Jesus can return, the Church must establish the Kingdom of God on earth by taking control over every aspect of life through the establishment of a theocratic government.

Before we proceed further, I feel it necessary to point out that there is a legitimate "Kingdom Theology" based upon proper exegesis of Scriptural prophecy. Jesus will return at the end of this age to establish God's authority over the nations of the earth. Until then, the Kingdom of God continues to operate through the administration of the Holy Spirit resident in the hearts of God's people. The Kingdom of God already exists therefore, and will one day be manifested throughout the earth during Jesus' millennial reign.

To differentiate between God's legitimate "Kingdom Theology" and man's attempt to bring it into existence through his own efforts before Jesus' Second Coming, we'll call man's attempt "Kingdom Now Theology," or "Dominion Theology" (using these terms interchangeably). This will help us separate the error from the truth.

To accomplish the monumental task of taking dominion, a significant number in the Church must come into "unity" of thought and purpose to that end. While the goal of the Kingdom builders is total unity, they realize that partial unity may be all they can attain. Whatever the case, the realization of any significant degree of unity necessitates a single voice of authority: a hierarchical structure through which individual believers will receive the necessary pronouncements to exercise dominion.

The voice of authority, it is believed, will reside in certain latter-day apostles and prophets operating in conformity to their own peculiar interpretation of Ephesians 4:11-12: "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." In order for the saints to be perfected (made sinless) there must be a restoration of the offices of apostles and prophets. It is a major prerequisite, therefore, that the apostles and prophets be recognized by the Church at large. (It's interesting that we are currently seeing certain well-known Christian leaders referring to one another as "apostles" and "prophets".)
Once they are acknowledged, these apostles and prophets will bring forth new revelations from God, which will be the guiding principles in establishing the Kingdom. These revelations will be given to the Church through the evangelists, pastors, and teachers who accept the hierarchy's authority.

One manner in which the apostles and prophets will receive these new revelations will be through communication with heavenly beings (angels and departed saints), as well as with God - and specifically Jesus. It's expected that many of these "new revelations" will be authenticated through demonstrations of power in the working of miracles, signs and wonders.
Some also believe that for dominion to be effected the world's wealth must be under the control of the Church. Hence the emphasis on prosperity and "divine health" as well as the ability to speak into existence things that are not as though they are (God-likeness).
After the Church has taken dominion, its task will be to purge the earth of evil, which is defined as lawlessness against God's moral laws and against the established authority of the apostles and prophets. This accomplished, the earth will be ready to be turned over to Jesus when He returns (some say 'if' He returns).

We will find as we continue our study that at the heart of Dominion Theology is the belief that man is a god and, as such, must exercise his godhood through dominion. The current teaching that man is a god is essentially a theosophic concept which can be traced to the beginning of man's history.

THE ETERNAL BATTLE
The conflict of the ages upon which the spiritual battle for men's souls resides is founded upon this single truth: that God is supreme and His creation must be subject to Him. In his rebellion, Satan ("Lucifer") originated the scheme to establish oneself as an equal to God (Isaiah 14:12-15). This was the nature of his temptation of Eve: "...ye shall be gods, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:5). Satan's lie is not just that man 'is' God, as espoused in Eastern mysticism, but that he could become 'like' God through acquisition of certain knowledge. In essence, man is, or could become, a god himself.

This appeal to man's pride comprises the essence of the esoteric religions which seek, by initiation, to bring certain chosen individuals to perfection through obedience to an unseen spiritual hierarchy. This hierarchy - known as "Ascended Masters," among other titles - is allegedly comprised of highly evolved men existing in the spirit realm who are leading mankind through stages of evolution to higher planes of consciousness which will eventually result in the attainment of godhood.

Throughout history the ancient mystery religions have taken many forms, from paganism and witchcraft to humanism and some elements of psychology. Today they may be classified under the general name of "theosophy" - the blending of science and religion to create a universal brotherhood of man under a one-world utopian state. The term "theosophy" (lit. "Divine Wisdom" or "Wisdom of the Gods")55 has several synonyms, some of the more common being "the Esoteric Philosophy," "the Wisdom-Religion," "the Secret Doctrine," "the Ancient Wisdom," and "the Esoteric Tradition."56

The esoteric ("hidden," "secret") religions have many expressions throughout the world, and include such notable movements as Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, and Jewish Kabbalism, among others. The basic beliefs of esotericism, as well as the Eastern religions, form the basis for what has come to be known as the "New Age Movement" - today's vulgar expression for the masses of the "higher" mysteries.

The essence of esoteric religion is that man can attain godhood through knowledge and positive living. From time immemorial man has fallen for this delusion, and has sought spiritual power through mastery of so-called "immutable laws" of Nature operative in the spiritual realm. The learning and mastering of these laws allegedly work for man's purposes and "validate" his position as a god. Though modern theosophy, in all its forms, makes certain teachings of the ancient mysteries available to the masses, these are only the exoteric teachings. The deeper esoteric mysteries are reserved for those initiated through secret rites, sworn to secrecy under penalty of death.

Those teachings permitted for the masses have found their way into the Church. They have developed into a form of "Christian" theosophy which has affected many otherwise uncompromising Christians who, if they would keep their heads about them, would suffer death to maintain the inviolable position that deity is an attribute of God alone.

There is a reason for Satan's emissaries infecting the Church with the damnable heresy that we are or can become gods. To the esotericist, bent upon establishing 'men' as gods, all monotheistic religions are anathema and their adherents must be converted or at least subjugated to the spiritual hierarchy (the spirit beings guiding mankind). Since the Church alone has the power of God to resist the deceptions of Satan, it 'must' be made to believe his lies. If the Church can be corrupted or neutralized Satan will have a clear path toward uniting the world against God. Thus any opposition to deception in the Church must be stifled under the pretense that such opposition sows discord among the brethren and hinders unity.

Satan's lies have found fertile ground in the Church not only because many Christians lack knowledge, but because they lack the necessary humility that can protect them against deception. Seeking their own wills above God's will, they are easy prey for deceivers who exalt men and/or the Church to the status of godhood and promote Satan's lies within the Church, lies characterized by the following teachings:
- Men are gods; - Men may become gods; - Men may become like God; - Faith is a "law" or "force" that may be activated by anyone - believer or not; - The ability to perform miracles, signs, and wonders is latent within all; we need but learn the techniques that activate the spiritual laws upon which faith is based; - God is bound by these spiritual laws, and must respond to anyone - even His worst enemies - who exercises knowledge of them; - as "gods" ("divine beings") we have the "divine right" to health and prosperity' - Jesus is our "Elder Brother" who mastered the spiritual laws of Nature, and is therefore our example to do the same; - Men may become perfected spiritually and physically by mastering these spiritual laws; - The Kingdom of God will be established on earth when a sufficient number of people have been perfected.

No doubt many who teach these things would deny they are theosophists. In all probability they think of themselves as true Christians who have received special revelations from God. But whether they adhere to theosophical doctrines consciously or are merely pawns in the battle of the ages is immaterial. A child playing with matches needn't have knowledge of the damage he can cause.

It's evident from the recent emergence of these aberrant teachings within the Church that - through schooling and/or personal association - theosophy is having a significant impact upon some of today's prominent teachers. I believe some of these teachers, though sincere in their profession of faith in Jesus, are themselves victims of esotericists who knew how to use biblical and Christian terminology to gain their confidence, or they learned from others who were victims.

Esotericists have made special efforts to merge their secret teachings with the basic tenets of the Christian faith, resulting in some rather interesting esoteric interpretations of Scripture.
The major Christian doctrines - the deity of Christ; His Virgin Birth, His sacrifice for sin, His Resurrection, and His Second Coming - can be made to fit perfectly well into the theosophical model of religion. But their aberrant interpretations of these basic doctrines, unless openly stated, will escape the average Christian and deceive him into placing his trust where he ought not.

As we look at these doctrines from the standpoint of theosophy as opposed to that of Scripture, some may find our expositions of interest; others will no doubt find them tedious and may wish to pass over them. I've included them for purposes of documentation, and to demonstrate how esotericists might use certain terminology to convince Christians - even Christian teachers - that they are brethren in Christ, specially "anointed" to teach new revelations. I should add that it is not these interpretations of essential doctrines with which I am concerned (any mature Christian would reject them at the outset), but the inroads into the Church of other teachings based on these interpretations. Though there are few in the Church proper who would agree with these interpretations, many have bought the rest of the package which is bringing many in the Church into damnable heresies. These are offered as a warning to learn as much as possible what a teacher believes before accepting what he says.

The Deity Of Christ
Theosophists would agree that Jesus is divine. But then so are all men, if not actually at least potentially. It is therefore not inconsistent for theosophists to speak of Jesus as "Son of God," "God in the flesh," "truly God and truly man," and use similar "Christian-sounding" phrases implying His deity. Nevertheless, whereas Christians believe that God became man (exclusively in the person of Jesus), theosophists believe that a man named Jesus became a god.
To most theosophists, Jesus was one of many men who displayed an exceptional expression of the divine nature. They include Him among such notables as Confucius, Buddha, and Mohammed. To some, however, Jesus was unique among all men in His expression of the divine nature; they would say that no one has ever attained His status of spiritual enlightenment. However, they also believe that all men and women have the potential to reach that same degree of spiritual enlightenment, i.e., to be equal with Jesus. Some even go so far as to say that, theoretically at least, we have the potential to be greater than He, by further mastering the spiritual laws of Nature to do good for mankind.

Jesus' uniqueness, to them, lies not in His person as the Word of God incarnate, but in His particular anointing as "the Christ" to bring enlightenment and truth for His time in history, just as Buddha and Mohammed did for their eras. Though it is believed that there are exceptional "Christs" for different stages of man's evolutionary journey, we may all become expressions of the "Christ principle" and thus achieve divinity. Theosophists, therefore, have no problem with calling Jesus the "Son of God." As John H. Dewey, the leading apostle of "Christian" Theosophy during the previous turn of the century stated:
"The law of FAITH as announced by Jesus and exemplified in his life, is the supreme law and method of all divine realization for man."57
"That he was fully and absolutely human, the veritable "Son of man," no sane mind will deny. That he was also fully and absolutely divine, the veritable "Son of God," we with equal positiveness claim and affirm."58

On the basis of these statements alone Dewey might easily have been accepted into Christian fellowship. But further on we find that he qualifies his remarks:
"This incarnation of the Divine in Jesus, however, but reveals and demonstrates the innate capacity of our common humanity as the offspring of God, for receiving into its unfolding life the full Spirit of the Father, and becoming divine, as illustrated in the life of our great Exemplar [Jesus]."59
"The manifestation of God in one man [Jesus], demonstrates the possibility of a like demonstration in all men."60

Were these teachings confined to the inner sanctums of the Masonic, Rosicrucian, and Mormon temples - were they bandied about only among theosophists seated around their tables of discussion - they would pose no genuine threat to the Church. But we are now hearing from prominent teachers in the Christian media that man was created with a divine nature which was lost due to the introduction of sin. By being born again by the Spirit of God we lose our sin nature and regain our divine nature.61

There is no such teaching in Scripture. Rather, it is based upon a theosophical interpretation of II Peter 1:4 which, properly understood, tells us no more than that the believer in Jesus Christ is a partaker of the divine nature through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. But it is the divine nature of the Holy Spirit, not ourselves, to which Peter was referring.
The quality of divinity belongs exclusively to God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. As the Word of God incarnate, Jesus is divine, as is the Holy Spirit through whom God accomplishes His purposes. The First Commandment of God is, "I am the Lord thy God....Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:2-3). Some may beg the question by stating that the word "before" qualifies the statement to mean only that Jehovah is the God who must come first. But the historically accepted meaning from the context is that we are to have no other gods in His presence: none are to be before His face.

Yet many Christians today have bought the lie that they themselves are gods, and perfectly legitimate ones at that, whereas God has stated that there are no other gods besides Himself (Deuteronomy 4:35). Therefore, whenever the Scriptures speak of other gods, they are speaking of false gods: demons, idols or men (Christian or non-Christian) who attempt to usurp the rightful position of Jehovah.

The Virgin Birth
The various schools of theosophy generally deny the doctrine of the Virgin Birth of Jesus. However, in an attempt to spiritualize what the Scriptures plainly state as applicable to the physical - i.e., that Jesus was born of a virgin woman by the power of the Holy Spirit - there are those who might say they accept the idea of the virgin birth. But their affirmation would be qualified within their minds in the following manner:
"...[Jesus' virgin birth] was originally a highly mystical and philosophical teaching, which became in time a theologic dogma and legend....It is a mystical or symbolic tenet referring to the birth of the Christ in man from the virgin-part of one's being, i.e., from the spiritual or highest portions of man's constitution. It also has a cosmical significance - the Virgin-Mother of Space giving birth through the Child, the Cosmic Logos, to her multitudes of children of various kinds. There are thus two aspects of this mystical or symbolical doctrine: there is, first, the Cosmical Virgin, and, second, there is the mystical 'virgin-birth' of an initiate. An initiate is one 'reborn,' or, as the saying goes, 'born a second time.' He is not born of course in initiation from a physical father and mother, for his body is born in the usual manner, but in initiation, the 'new man,' the inner man, the Christ-man, is born 'from himself' because of his bringing out or unfolding into active manifestation the divinity within him and over-enlightening him; and his 'Virgin-Mother' is that part of himself which is the root of his being, the spiritual soul in its spotless and unstained purity. From the Virgin or Spiritual Soul is born the human Christ or the human Buddha, without admixture of extrinsic elements of any kind, and without other means than the man's own yearnings and strivings to become the god within himself.

"The Christian Church has interpreted these very mystical doctrines physically and thus has largely lost the far nobler and really profound symbolic sense...."62
Such esoteric interpretations of Scripture are difficult to recognize without careful scrutiny. One may say he believes in the virgin birth of Christ, but hold an entirely different view from that of Christianity - in this case applying an occult analogy to the Scriptures.
This ploy of esoteric religion is becoming increasingly evident in some circles of Christianity, most notably among charismatics. The current penchant of some teachers to cloud the simple truth of the Gospel with teachings that impress the unlearned with man's wisdom is evidence of a new Gnosticism based on salvation through knowledge springing up in our midst. Paul warned of such in II Corinthians 11:3: "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear [agree] with him."

In light of today's deceptions, we would be wise to see that the meanings applied by teachers to the doctrines of the Church are clearly stated, and backed up by the whole of Scripture.

Atonement
As in many other Christian doctrines, Jesus' death as atonement for sin is given an entirely different meaning by esotericists from that stated in Scripture. As Christians we believe that Jesus' blood is the element that cleanses us from sin, provided we come to God in faith and allow Him to apply that blood to our own lives. As God incarnate and sinless - the only begotten Son of God - only Jesus could pay the price for our sins. No one else's suffering and/or death as a vicarious sacrifice has any merit with God. The esotericist, however, holds a different view:
"If a man loves another greatly, can he not save his friend from future sorrow by taking upon himself his friend's karman [consequences of actions destined to follow from reincarnation to reincarnation]? The question is purely academic in a way, because when the last word is said, the karman of the friend is the friend himself, and therefore the answer in general is comprised of an emphatic negative; nevertheless, there is a possibility, not indeed of taking upon oneself the friend's karman, but of shouldering by means of a powerful will and a high intelligence directed to that end, a certain portion, be it large or small, of the consequences which in the normal course of Nature, with heavy and perhaps crushing effect, would fall upon the friend. The secret in such a situation lies in allying one's own life intimately with the life of the one whose heavy karman it is thus hoped to aid in carrying or exhausting...

"In those cases where such noble and altruistic action be taken for the benefit of all that lives or for the results which it is hoped will benefit a large portion of mankind, it is a Buddha-like thing to do, it is a Christ-like thing."63

The esoteric view of atonement does make room for Jesus' sacrifice for mankind, but only to a point. Any person whose motives are pure can take upon himself the consequences of the sins of another through altruistic acts of piety and self-denial. So the theosophist and other esotericists can say they accept Jesus' death on the cross as atonement for "sin," but their doctrine is faulty, and Christians who lack understanding of this fact can be misled into thinking they are on the same spiritual level. The efficacious sacrifice of Jesus which provides for the taking away of sins for all who come to Him by faith is actually denied by all schools of esotericism:
"This doctrine of vicarious substitution, both in form and spirit, is diametrically opposed to the positive teachings of Jesus, which makes righteousness itself salvation, obedience to the righteous law of God in the doing of the Father's will in the personal and social life....
"These authoritative words of the Christ, with the whole Sermon on the Mount, from which they are taken, and the full tenor of all his teaching most unmistakably emphasize the 'doing' of the Father's will, and unity with him in a righteous life, as the only salvation possible or desirable for mankind, while not a precept or parable of his can be brought to sustain in the slightest degree this doctrine of substitution; as though it were possible for the absolute justice and goodness of the All-Father to demand or accept the punishment of the innocent for the guilty, or could impute the righteousness of the sinless to the sinner, or accept any as righteous who are not really so. But as righteousness of life is secured only through personal obedience to the law of right, no man can become righteous before God, except by his own act of obedience. If this were possible in the economy of God, then the very idea of justice would be a delusion and a sham, and the thought and talk of a changeless moral order a pitiable and unmeaning farce.

"Surely salvation from sin in this life, by lifting man above the power of temptation, as promised by the Christ, and exemplified in his own life, would prevent all consequences of sin in this world or any other. And this is the only salvation worthy of the name.
"How is this to be accomplished but by the perfection of human life itself, through the unfolding and bringing forth of the divine or spiritual nature in that life."64
Through the clever manipulation of the word 'atonement,' esotericists have devised the doctrine of "at-one-ment," which states in effect that once a person has attained mastery over his physical nature he becomes "at-one with the Divine," and may exercise mental influence over the physical realm for the effecting of healing and other manifestations of psychic power:
"The casting out of devils and reforming the vicious, the reclaiming of drunkards and restoration of the insane to soberness and reason, giving strength to the weak and courage to the lowly and disheartened, and working "not after the law of a carnal commandment but after the power of an endless life," for the universal emancipation, enlightenment and uplifting of mankind, become the easy and true work of life.

"Man then becomes one in spirit and purpose with the divine, and is led, governed and crowned with wisdom, sympathy and power. It is the Christ or God-anointed life; the true at-one-ment of man with God, the human with the Divine, Christianity as Christ taught and lived it."65
"...when man has thus learned to specifically direct the force of life in the control of the elements in his own organism, he may then accumulate power within himself to master and control the elements and forces of the world outside himself; but as this is to be acquired through cooperation with divine power, he can attain absolute control over himself and that which is below only by first becoming at-one with the Divine, which is within and above him."66
This esoteric view of "at-one-ment" - coming into the expression of godhood in order to control the elements of nature - is a major tenet of mind science. Though expressed in different terms, it has crept into the Church through the Positive Confession teachings which declare that man is a god, and "faith is a force" that God used to create the universe, and that anyone can use for his own purposes.67

The Resurrection
The Resurrection of Jesus following His death as sacrifice for our sins is a primary focus of the Christian faith. For if He had not been resurrected we would still be lost in our sins (I Corinthians 15:12-26).

The esotericist does not believe in resurrection, but in reincarnation - the evolutionary process by which souls are allegedly perfected by working out their karmic consequences from one lifetime to another. Yet the term "resurrection" does find its way into esoteric philosophy, specifically in relation to reincarnation, and its use can be misleading:
"No sane man, it is to be supposed, today can or does believe that the physical body, as regards its physical elements - or rather when once its elements have been returned to earth - shall be gathered together again into one component and perfect whole at some future period which Christians call the Judgment Day; when the 'last trump' shall be sounded, according to the quaint imagery of older times....Yet back of this idea of the 'resurrection of the body' there actually is a most beautiful truth or fact of Nature. This truth may be expressed in two forms; or, as the mathematicians say, it is expressible in both a general and in a special case.
"This special case involves a mystery - a teaching of the ancient Mysteries; but hinted at, it might be phrased thus: When a man has received his final degree of initiation he is said to be 'raised' to Masterhood in the same physical body. This point need not be elaborated further here.

"The general case, however, is to be explained by the reassembling of the life-atoms in the manner described in preceding paragraphs. These life-atoms are man's own offspring, at least most of those which build man's constitution are; inbuilt into his body during the physical life which he leads on Earth, although they are not derivative from outside but spring forth from within himself. Therefore they are psycho-magnetically attracted back to the Reimbodying Ego on its return journey to the new earth-life, and the Reimbodying Ego can no more avoid or escape receiving these life-atoms again into itself than it can avoid or escape being itself. To it they are again drawn because out from it they formerly went. They too, these life-atoms, during the Reimbodying Ego's term of devachanic rest and peace, have had their own wonderful adventures - adventures in the different spheres and on the different planes of the seven globes of the planetary chain; and thus when the 'descending' individual or Reimbodying Ego reaches the grades of our physical plane, and the baby-body is finally born, its growth thereafter is assured by and through and because of the aforesaid magnetic attractions and repulsions, and by the body's receiving into it and expulsion from it of these its former life-atoms. These are continuously attracted to and built into the physical body, as it passes from babyhood into childhood into youth, and from youth into manhood - the very life-atoms which had made the Reimbodying Ego's physical body on Earth in the last earth-life. Thus it is that the body of the former earth-life is resurrected - is 'arisen.'"68

This fanciful account of reincarnation has no basis for proof and is in direct opposition to God's Word: "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: For Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (Hebrews 9:27-28).
Jesus died only once; and we will die only once. There is no reincarnation by which we may eventually attain spiritual perfection through works of our righteousness. It is only the precious blood of Jesus that cleanses us from sin and provides for our salvation if we trust in Him by faith.
The Second Coming
On April 25, 1982, many were surprised by the appearance of full-page ads in some twenty major newspapers worldwide, proclaiming that "THE CHRIST IS NOW HERE."69 These ads, placed by a New Age organization known as Tara Center, declared that the Christ had come to lead mankind into an era of peace and brotherhood. The Christ, according to these ads, is Lord Maitreya, an Ascended Master whose message of hope was, and still is, conveyed by an Englishman named Benjamin Creme (Krehm). Creme contends that Maitreya had embodied himself somewhere in the Himalayas, and is currently living in London awaiting the opportune moment to emerge and be recognized by the population of the world as the Christ for the New Age.70

Maitreya is said to be the embodiment of the aspirations of the world's major religions. According to the newspaper ads, "He is known to Christians as 'the Christ,' to Hindus as 'Krishna,' to Jews as 'the Messiah,' to Moslems as 'Imam Mahdi,' and to Buddhists as 'the fifth Buddha.'" The Christ for the New Age is not Jesus. Jesus, it seems, has been reincarnated and will stand with Lord Maitreya to convince Christians that they, along with the rest of humanity, must follow their new spiritual leader.71

While Maitreya waits in the wings for the consciousness of humanity to be sufficiently raised to make us worthy to receive him, the resultant media exposure has fanned an interest among many who are expectantly awaiting a "man of peace" to come along and solve the world's ills.
Creme claims that the emergence of Maitreya as "the Christ" will be validated by demonstrations of miracles, signs, and wonders.72 In Matthew 24:24 Jesus warned of such demonstrations of power by God's enemies: "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

Whether or not Maitreya really exists no one can say at this time, but we can learn from this that when the esotericist speaks of the Second Coming, it is certain that he is not speaking of Jesus' Second Coming. He is speaking of the coming of "the Christ" for the New Age. According to Creme and other New Agers, Jesus was the Christ for the age of Pisces, and Maitreya is the Christ for our age, the age of Aquarius.73 This is to be the "Golden Age" of utopian bliss to begin around the turn of the century. It is the New Agers' version of the millennium - the Kingdom Age - run by men who have attained godhood.

Since the office of "Christ" is not considered by esotericists to be exclusive to Jesus, they do not affirm 'His' Second Coming. Rather, they make mention of the "Coming of Christ," or even "Second Coming of Christ." This is because they separate the "Christ 'principle'" from the 'person' of Jesus, and apply it to all men.

In the broad sense, therefore, they teach that the "Second Coming" of "Christ" will take place through the raising of humanity's consciousness to the point where a significant number will believe that 'they' are the embodiment of the Second Coming. Then the world will be prepared to receive the "Christ" who will lead the nations into the New Age of peace and brotherhood. The central figure of the "Spiritual Hierarchy" (the "Ascended Masters") will represent the full manifestation of the office of Christ for that age.

In Dominion Theology, this teaching has a parallel which states that the Church is the "ongoing incarnation" of God. Yes, Jesus is Christ, but so is the Church as the body of Christ. Therefore, the Church is Christ.74

An Esoteric 'Statement of Faith'
A clear definition of terms is essential for a proper understanding of the theological stance of those who teach us. Though holding erroneous interpretations of any or all the doctrines represented, one may make a declaration of faith like this: "I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, true God and true man, God incarnate, virgin born, that His death was an atonement for my sins, that he has been resurrected, and that Christ is coming again." And on the basis of this confession, that person may gain the confidence of Christians to fill their minds with other teachings that will sway them from the truth essential to their salvation. The teachers with which we deal in this study might not be theosophists on these important points of doctrine, but there is sufficient evidence to suggest that they have been infected by esoteric philosophies, possibly by having been exposed to wolves in sheep's clothing themselves.

The various schools of theosophy that grew out of the Gnostic traditions and other apostate "Christian" sects have found their way into the Christian media, greatly diluting the strength of the true Gospel and polluting the thinking of many in the Church. Some Christians, perceiving themselves spiritually-minded, have fallen for the lie that they can become gods. But this is not spiritual-mindedness; it is carnal-mindedness, demonstrating a lack of understanding of the basic premise upon which the battle between God and Satan rages.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE HERESY
Scripture chronicles man's attempts at godhood: the rebelliousness that led to the flood and the tower of Babel, and the sorcery and witchcraft that dominated not only pagan cultures, but God's chosen people Israel. Jewish Kabbalism, thought by some to be a phenomenon of the Middle Ages, is really a blending of apostate Judaism with the Egyptian mystery religion learned while in captivity. The resultant paganism of Israel was the source of revolt against God's prophets. When the Church was established, the same spirit of rebellion was immediately at work to destroy the simplicity and purity of the Gospel. Heretics led many away from the truth into errors which either demeaned the person of Christ or exalted the position of the believer - or both.

During the Church's early years the Gnostic "gospels" and Essene teachings mixed the ancient mystery traditions with Christian teaching, and provided esoteric interpretations of Scripture that remain with us today.

One of the earliest heresies declared that the resurrection of the saints had already taken place. Paul wrote to Timothy that this teaching was overthrowing the faith of some (II Timothy 2:18). Consider that, if the resurrection had already occurred, then there was no hope that Jesus would return to establish His Kingdom on earth. It follows, therefore, that that task would have to fall to the Church. This was essentially the first postmillenial teaching.

Kingdom Now proponents are correct in stating that postmillenialism is a teaching as old as the Church. But that doesn't make it a true doctrine. It was just one heresy among many that found acceptance among some in the early Church. The age of a teaching is not a criterion for its truth. Only its conformity to the strict and clear Word of God validates it.
The Roman Catholic Church is an example of one of the earliest attempts within the Church to establish the Kingdom of God on earth by human effort. With the Reformation came not only freedom for many from the bondage of Rome, but there also arose attempts by some radical sects to establish themselves as the "only true Church," destined to overcome sin and usher in the Kingdom.

The history of the Church, though obscure in many areas regarding its early stages, demonstrates how religious men, not content with God's rule over them, dissatisfied that they may die before the Kingdom of God was manifested on earth, chose to believe the lie that they could become immortal and establish the Kingdom themselves. This dissatisfaction continues among today's Dominion proponents. I suspect that such are really afraid of death. Lacking the faith necessary to trust God, they wish to work their way to immortality rather than pass through the valley of the shadow of death.

Recent history has seen the rise of certain cults out of Christianity which purport to teach the true "gospel of the Kingdom": Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church (Moonies), the late Herbert W. Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God (not to be confused with The Church of God), and other, lesser-known groups, are seeking to establish themselves as the only true Church, destined to reign over earth's governments and people.
A premise upon which some build their case is that there are two gospels: the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Gospel of the Kingdom. They maintain that no one has preached the Gospel of the Kingdom before they themselves came on the scene to proclaim that their church (not Jesus) will usher in the Kingdom of God.

Paul tells us there is only one Gospel, and he delineates it in I Corinthians 1:5. The entire chapter is a retelling of the complete Gospel through the Second Coming of Jesus. Nowhere does Paul separate the Gospel of Christ from the Gospel of the Kingdom. Nor does he indicate that the church will institute the Kingdom of God on earth before Jesus returns.

The teachings with which we deal in this study are, therefore, not new, but centuries old, most traceable to certain groups that sprang from the Radical Reformation as opposed to the Reformation proper; some go further back to primitive Christianity's early heretical groups, and even to the dawn of man's history.

All these teachings reside in man's prideful refusal to accept his station in life in humble obedience to his Creator.

Yes, those who remain true to Christ will one day be glorified; we will be exalted to rule with Him. But if we will be glorified - if we will be exalted - let God glorify us; let Him exalt us. We must glorify and exalt only Him.
And if we are to boast in anything, let it not be in our 'position' in Christ, but in Christ himself.

TODAY'S MOVEMENTS
There are many ways by which men within the Church are attempting to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. They are not always in agreement on the methods to attain that end; nor are they necessarily in agreement as to the philosophical direction that should be taken to accomplish their purpose. One area in which most if not all are in agreement is that the Church must be united in a dominion mindset.

Of a certainty, some branches of the Kingdom Now Movement are more militant in their stance, and/or more zealous in the propagation of their particular brand of Dominion Theology. As we outline the more prominent of these movements we'll see how they work together, often without conscious collaboration, to establish the dominion mindset within the Church. Some have even attained cult status among many Christians. Whether one ascribes to the radical element or the passive, or rests somewhere between the two, is not as important as the overall threat to the Church that these movements present through their aberrant teachings.
Yet in spite of these dangers, I'm convinced that there are many true and sincere Christians who have become involved in these movements because they are fed up with the increase of the sinful actions and perverse attitudes of society. They long for a world with a more sane and moral social structure, and are easily led to believe that if Christians can only take control, God's righteousness will reign on earth. How His righteousness will be implemented - whether by legislation, coercion, example, or by a miraculous move of the Holy Spirit upon the hearts of all men - is not fully agreed upon even among the leaders in the Kingdom Now movements.
Nevertheless, close scrutiny reveals that all hold certain elements in common, making it difficult to discern one from the other. For example, some Manifested Sons of God teachings are indistinguishable from some of the teachings of Restorationism.

We are more concerned, therefore, with the teachings themselves and the men who promote them, than we are with the movements, which are little more than a networking of various individuals and groups. Yet it is important to this study that we briefly outline these movements and deal with some of their peculiarities.

Identity
The Identity Movement teaches that the Anglo-Saxon race and their kin (Scandinavians, Irish, Welsh, Scottish, etc.) are the "lost tribes" of Israel, who are destined as God's chosen people to rule the world. The full name of Identity is "Anglo-Israel-Identity Movement."75
It is believed that, as God's chosen people whose king (or queen) sits on the throne of David (the British throne), and whose lineage can be traced back through the Jewish patriarchs to Adam, the Anglo-Saxon race has special favor with God.76

"Israel-America" (comprised of Anglo and related descendants in the United States)77 has a special anointing.

The nation of Israel that exists today in the Middle East is considered a pretender to the name of Israel, being allegedly comprised of certain Asian peoples known as "Kazars." Thus any biblical references to God's prophesied dealings with Israel in the last days are believed to have been fulfilled. Daniel's seventieth week has come and gone, as has anti-Christ, and now we must look forward to the establishment of Yahweh's Kingdom on earth. This is to be administered through the Anglo-Saxon Christians who have come to recognize their unique destiny.

Though Identity is overtly anti-Semitic, its proponents claim that those who are against them are the true anti-Semites. But there is a deeper reason for the anti-Israel stance taken not only by Identity, but by other dominion-oriented movements.

Should national Israel remain established, the belief that God is going to save a remnant of Jews to be a witness for Jesus in the last days would be validated. Hence, the Church will have to be taken out of the world before Jesus sets His feet upon the earth, and before God's wrath is poured out upon rebellious mankind (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Revelation 6 & 7). If this is true, then the dominion theory falls apart: the Kingdom of God will not be established on earth until Jesus returns with His saints to destroy the anti-Christ's kingdom. While we who are outside the Kingdom Now Movement understand that Jews, like all men, are lost until they come by faith to recognize Jesus as their Messiah, we also recognize that the nation of Israel does have a purpose in God's plans for the last days.

Identity's hatred is not limited to Jews, however. Blacks and other non-whites are looked upon as inferior beings who may be allowed to enjoy the benefits of the kingdom as long as they remain subject to their Anglo-Saxon superiors. They cannot hold positions of significant authority, however, because the promises to Israel belong only to the "true" Israelites: the Anglo-Saxon believers.

The snag in Identity's plans for America is the tremendous influx of non-white immigrants whom they see as parasitical and detrimental to the establishment of God's white-dominated world government. The fewer non-whites that are left to enter the Kingdom, the better, as far as Identity is concerned.

As a side note, there is a black counter to Identity known as the Yahweh sect. This cult believes that American blacks are the true descendants of the biblical tribe of Judah, living in the land of the "white devil."78 Maybe the black Yahweh sect and white Identity are both right. Perhaps they're related and don't know it.

In view of Identity's racial policy, it isn't surprising that radical racist groups such as the neo-Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan have joined.79 For all their error and their attacks against non-whites, these groups are zealously moralistic (by their convoluted standards). Although Identity's members consider themselves Christians their ideology is more akin to salvation by race than salvation by grace. They welcome Aryan pagans into fellowship while mounting hate campaigns against Christian Jews, blacks, and other non-whites.
This isn't to say that all Identity People are overtly racist, but their philosophy reflects a dangerous mindset that threatens to exacerbate an already tense situation between races. Their para-militarism and rebellion against constituted authority combine to create a volatile situation that could someday erupt into fullscale racial warfare.

KINGDOM THEOLOGY
Even older than the Latter Rain Movement, Identity found fertile ground to propagate its own brand of Kingdom Theology among the neo-Pentecostals of the mid-twentieth century. Seeing the opportunity to cloak itself with the respectability of the Church, Identity has aligned with neo-Pentecostalism, and today presents the Anglo-Israel-Identity Movement as "just as much a result of the work of the Holy Spirit as the Charismatic renewal."80

Not all who believe in British-Israelism are part of Identity. But on the basis of little more than conjecture and hearsay, British-Israelism has found credibility in the eyes of many otherwise sensible Christians.

Yet even if true, the very nature of British-Israelism and the strife it engenders is contrary to the warning of Scripture that we not be concerned with endless genealogies (I Timothy 1:4; Titus 3:9).

True Israel consists of all who have come to God by faith in Jesus Christ, whether Jew or Gentile (Romans 2:28-29). To God no one has any standing except by His grace. In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, rich nor poor, bond nor free, male nor female, but we are all one in Him (Galatians 3:26-29). As Jesus said, God is able to turn stones into children of Abraham (Matthew 4:9), so who is anyone to boast of his ancestry, especially an ancestry built on little more than fanciful conjecture?

Charismatic Renewal
One must be careful when including the Charismatic Renewal in the list of Kingdom Now movements, simply because a significant number of charismatics do not have a definitive understanding of any such eschatological viewpoint. In fact, many charismatics see the return of Jesus as imminent. They believe in the "Rapture," whether pre-, mid-, or post-Tribulation, and would reject the notion that the Church must establish a theocratic rule before Jesus can return.
Yet if there is any distinction between the charismatism of the mid- to late-twentieth century and the Pentecostalism that preceded it, it's that charismatics tend to lean more heavily on supernatural manifestations as conclusive evidence that God is at work. They are also actively seeking unity within the Body of Christ on the basis of those manifestations, many times at the expense of biblical truth. The charismatic ideal seems to have developed into this: in the interest of unity we must overlook differences in doctrine as long as those with whom we seek unity confess the name of Jesus and appear to exhibit the gifts of the Spirit - particularly speaking in tongues.

It's on these points that Roman Catholic priests have been given platforms to teach on Christian TV, and that Mormons have been welcomed into fellowship among some charismatics. (And what could find more compatibility between Mormonism and Kingdom Now Theology than the idea that men are gods?)

If there is any reason or rhyme to this it is that many charismatics, having come out of denominationalism, have lacked sufficient grounding in the Word of God to be able to separate the true work of the Holy Spirit from that of Satan. Having had little or no experience with supernatural power in their denominations, they are sorely lacking in discernment in that area. Still, many of today's most prominent leaders in charismatism hail from Pentecostal backgrounds. So whether traditional or Pentecostal, when one attaches more importance to experience than to the rightly-divided Word of Truth, the chance for error is greatly increased.
Due to its interdenominational thrust, charismatism presents especially fertile ground for the propagation of Dominion Theology. The saying, "All roads lead to Rome," isn't limited to the heyday of the Caesars or to the papacy's former domination of western culture. It's through the charismatic movement that Roman Catholicism has regained much of its credibility among Protestants and other non-Catholics, capitalizing on that credibility to make overtures for unity.
Because some Roman Catholics speak in tongues and exhibit an attitude of acceptance toward non-Catholic charismatics, it's been stated that Roman Catholicism is changing - that there is now an opportunity to bring about a unity which has been lacking since the Reformation.

Besides the issue of tongues, ecumenical charismatics point to the use of Christian hymns sung at "charismatic masses" to the accompaniment of modern musical instruments as evidence that differences are minimal. This naiveté is being exploited by Catholic clergy who, though professing "love" and "unity" toward non-Catholic Christians, refuse them the elements of communion on the basis that non-Catholics do not recognize the pope as their spiritual head.
Though some Roman Catholics, even among the clergy, have undoubtedly been touched by the Holy Spirit and are coming into a greater understanding of what it means to have a personal relationship with God, Roman Catholicism itself has not changed. It is still as strong a political system as ever, ruled by a hierarchy whose intent has been from its inception (and remains) to establish the Kingdom of God on earth under the headship of the pope.

The danger to the purity of the Faith is a genuine reality. The Charismatic Renewal has opened doors which it may find difficult to shut when Satan's demonstrations of signs and wonders increase to the point where spiritual life or death hang on the basis of one's discernment.

Manifested Sons Of God
One of the most militant movements attempting to establish the Kingdom of God on earth is the Manifested Sons of God. This aberration came out of the Latter Rain Movement under the "apostleship" of John Robert Stevens, a William Branham disciple whose church in Redondo Beach, California, operated for a number of years as the headquarters for the movement.
The Manifested Sons of God teachings are perhaps the most definitive among Kingdom Now doctrines. They have all the elements of classical dominion theory: immortalization, restoration of the offices of apostles and prophets, absolute authoritarianism, attainment of godhood - you name it, the Manifested Sons of God have it.

The Manifested Sons of God Movement suffered massive dissipation as the result of many scandals that attended the extreme cult status to which it had attained. Nevertheless, its devotees, fervent in their beliefs, covertly continue to spread its doctrines to other churches.
Because association with the Manifested Sons of God Movement has proven a source of extreme embarrassment, there are few today who would admit they are Manifested Sons of God devotees. Much as a communist would deny his affiliation with the party because he doesn't carry a card, Manifested Sons of God adherents deny they are what they are. The test is what they believe and teach, however, not whether they are "officially" members of a Manifested Sons of God church.

Central to Manifested Sons of God doctrine is the idea that sonship comes through higher revelation. The Christian life is fragmented into stages of maturity: the first step is that of servant of God; the next step is to become a friend of God; following this is to become a son of God and, ultimately, gods ourselves. Yet the Scriptures demonstrate that we are already all three: servants (Galatians 3:10), friends (John 15:14-15), and sons (I John 3:1). Yet there is nothing in Scripture to support the idea that Paul or any apostle or prophet ever put aside his servanthood to attain sonship (many epistles begin with the salutation by the apostle identifying himself as a servant of God), or that they ever believed they would become gods themselves.
Apart from John Robert Stevens's disciples, there are many whose teachings would qualify them as Manifested Sons of God, the essential ingredient being a peculiar interpretation of Romans 8:19-23:
"For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
"For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same hope,
"Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
"For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
"And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."
As a doctrine crucial to the Manifested Sons of God, perfection (success in living sinlessly) will result in incorruptibility. This will qualify those who "overcome" as worthy to rule in the Kingdom of God.

Whether Jesus will return at the beginning, during, or after the Millennium is open to conjecture. Some who have been touched by the Manifested Sons of God influence even believe He will not return physically, but rather that Christ and the Church are becoming one in nature and essence, and that the Church, as the incarnation of God, will manifest Christ on earth.
There are even those who believe that they have already attained perfection and, as a result, will never die. They have attained a higher degree of spiritual evolution, so to speak.
For all the elaborate surmisings with which these people have deluded themselves, a careful reading of Romans 8:19 will show that the "manifestation of the sons of God" alluding to the redemption of our bodies (verse 23) cannot be properly understood apart from I Corinthians 15:51-52, which states that we shall all be changed, "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

From these verses it is clear that the "manifestation of the sons of God" - immortality - will take place at the last trump. First Thessalonians 4:15 makes it even clearer that this will not occur before the resurrection of the dead at the coming of Christ:
"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [go before] them which are asleep.
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
The teachings of most Kingdom Now groups can be traced to the Manifested Sons of God. And not only do they come from the Manifested Sons of God, they must ultimately return to the "pure" Manifested Sons of God doctrine: man need not die; by taking hold of secret knowledge he can become like God.

Whether or not the Manifested Sons of God will ever make a comeback as an organized segment of the Christian community only the Lord knows. But their influence has been more far-reaching through undercover proselytizing than it would have had there been no breakup. And they continue to affect more and more Christians who are sufficiently naive to think they can become immortal by acting spiritual. The grandiose promise of ruling over the world as implementers of God's righteousness holds special appeal for the prideful, "god-consciousness" persons who perceive authority as rulership rather than servanthood.

Restoration
Inherent to all Kingdom Now Theology is the idea of "Restoration." The premise of Restoration is that since the first century, the Church has not functioned as God planned, and must therefore be "restored" to its original purpose of achieving dominion. This involves the "restoration" of the offices of apostles and prophets, the "restoration" of the Tabernacle of David (signified by the restoration of worship and praise), and the "restoration" of power (signs and wonders).
As a less cultic form of Manifested Sons of God, the Restoration Movement believes in immortalization through perfection. Thus Restoration's emphasis on purifying the Church through repentance and holy living.

Certainly no one can find fault with repentance and holy living. But at the heart of Restoration is the goal of establishing the Kingdom of God on earth in the physical absence of Jesus. Holy living, forgiveness, and unity of the Body of Christ are essential to the attainment of that purpose.
Restoration preachers appear to be among the humblest of God's servants, confessing their own sins before the people and presenting themselves as examples of how Christians should examine their own hearts.

One of the Scriptures most often quoted by Restoration preachers is Matthew 7:1: "Judge not, that ye be not judged." In their view, it is especially imperative that the people not judge teachers, regardless of doctrine. We are to let the Holy Spirit judge them.
I believe many Restoration proponents are truly humble men who have unwittingly opened themselves to error. But so, too, many of those who cry "Touch not God's anointed," or "Judge not," do so out of fear that their own doctrines might come under close scrutiny. They totally ignore the context of Matthew 7:1, which implies hypocritical judgment, not the judgment necessary to preserve the purity of the Faith. We are often exhorted in Scripture to judge, not those outside the Body of Christ, but those in the Body of Christ (I Corinthians 5:12, 6:5; John 7:24).

In Romans 14:10-13, one of the strongest Scriptures about judging, we find that the context reveals we are not to judge a brother for what he eats or drinks. But we are to judge stumbling blocks that others put before the brethren. Certainly false doctrine would fall into that category. We are not to judge men's hearts, but we are to judge actions and teachings that lead others away from God's truth. Why those who cry against judgment propagate error, and why, contrary to their own teachings, they condemn those who judge those errors is between them and the Lord.

Again, there is nothing wrong in holy living, or in unity with brothers in Christ. These we should desire. But what Restoration and Dominion Theology in general seek is not so much unity of the faith as uniformity of the dictates of self-proclaimed apostles and prophets.

Reconstruction
More than any other movement, Reconstruction is the intellectual arm of Dominion Theology. Offering articulate and intelligent arguments for the Church to establish theocratic rule by taking dominion over politics, economics, science, the arts, and every other expression of human social structure, Reconstruction attracts thinking people who see God's laws as the only answer to the present chaos. No right-thinking Christian would deny that this is true. However, unless Jesus is present to administer the affairs of that theocracy, human fallibility, no matter how well-intentioned, would ultimately result in religious totalitarianism.

Now, I'm one who believes that Christians should become involved in politics and in every other area of civic life in order to be a light to the world and salt to the earth. If we are to win souls and influence people for Christ, we cannot cloister ourselves from the world. But we are deluding ourselves if we think we can establish any man or religious group of men as saviors of the world.
Reconstruction's noble ideas of bringing about a transformation of society through which righteousness will be manifested are doomed to failure. But that does not mean we cannot use the information on politics and other fields of human endeavor that notable Reconstructionists provide. Their analyses of world affairs from a Scriptural perspective are often intelligent and well-documented, and can be of significant help to Christians who wish to be informed on current events. (Just beware the leaven.)

Nor does it mean we shouldn't continue to wage spiritual warfare and take authority wherever God grants it to us. But a theocracy administered without the benefit of Jesus' physical presence begs for subjective reasoning based on the intellectual whims of man's faulty wisdom.
Yes, the Holy Spirit can keep such a theocratic rule in line. But He won't if it exists apart from the will of God. And based on His Word, no such theocracy will be established by God without Jesus present. Should any such theocracy be established, it would not be a true theocracy, but a totalitarian state of man's own making.

God's Word is clear that before Jesus returns tremendous evil will encompass the governments of the world (Matthew 24, Mark 14, Revelation 6 & 7). We might not like that prospect, but God's Word is without error. The question is whether Reconstruction seeks to impose the will of man in the name of God. This, I believe, is the direction in which Reconstruction, like all Dominion movements, is headed.

Positive Confession
If there is one teaching of Dominion Theology that has come to characterize the Positive Confession Movement of late, it is the deification of man. While most of the aforementioned movements employ this theme, Positive Confession is coming to the forefront.
This is a paradox of sorts because there are many in Positive Confession who are not consciously linked to Dominion Theology, looking instead for the imminent return of Jesus, whether pre-, mid-, or post-Tribulation, and do not see man's efforts as the answer to anything. They would reject the idea that they are or can be gods, even though in their acting out the Positive Confession scenario they are acting out the role of God. This by their insistence that they can speak into existence things that aren't as if they are.

But it isn't the conscious adherence to Kingdom Now Theology that makes Positive Confession so compatible (though there are many who do adhere consciously to Kingdom Now Theology). It's the strong dominion mindset and the increasingly prevalent teachings on the believer's alleged "god-likeness" that will eventually draw a great bulk of Positive Confession people into the Kingdom Now camp.

Reconstructionist Gary North, in his book 'Unholy Spirits,' demonstrates how the reconstructionists have influenced the charismatics and, most specifically, the Positive Confession Movement, without their being aware of the historicity of Dominion Theology:
"Some of the charismatic groups believe in tightly knit church convenants. The reconstructionists have been the major theologians of the biblical convenant. Other charismatics have preached personal financial victory and health through prayer and by obeying God's 'principles.' The reconstructionists have been the major defenders of the continuing legitimacy of God's law in New Testament times. Some of these 'positive confession' charismatics (also called 'word of faith') have begun to preach that the optimism which God offers to individuals also applies to God's other convenanted associations: families, churches, and civil governments. This represents a major break with the traditional pessimistic eschatology of fundamentalism, called dispensationalism. These charismatic leaders have not self-consciously made the break from premillenialism to postmillenial optimism, but the term 'dominion' implies it. Again, the reconstructionists are the only Protestant theologians to have forthrightly preached postmillenialism after 1965. (R.J. Rushdoony was the pioneer here.) Thus, the ideas of the reconstructionists have penetrated into Protestant circles that for the most part are unaware of the original source of the theological ideas that are beginning to transform them."81
The concept of dominion fits the Positive Confession mold. If all that's necessary for the Church to take dominion is to speak and act "in faith," then the only problem is to get enough Christians to do so.

Positive Confession's belief in faith as a "force" into which anyone can tap is a tenet of witchcraft. It places God at the disposal of anyone who can learn the formulas (or "principles") of "faith," and tries to force Him to work on their behalf regardless of His will.
Positive confession is not prayer; it's not communication with God. Rather, it's mental affirmation of what the person "confessing" wants accomplished with little or no practical consideration of what God's will might be.

While Positive Confession has no definitive eschatology, it has established certain teachings that prepare Christians to accept Dominion Theology.

Shepherding-Discipleship
The Shepherding-Discipleship Movement which attained its greatest impetus during the 1960s and 70s exemplifies the extreme authoritarianism which would probably be necessary to implement and sustain any attempted theocracy. In spite of extreme abuses against personal freedom in Christ, the thought control that characterized that movement continues to rear its ugly head among Kingdom Now groups. Former leaders of that movement have gained new respectability among other leaders within charismatism. They have much to offer in the way of instruction on how to bend the wills of others to their own - a talent vital to any human attempt to set up the Kingdom of God.

There is no doubt that a great need exists within the Church for 'scripturally-based' discipleship and authority. Such must be founded on the concept of authority as servanthood, ministered in love and humility by those mature in the faith.
Shepherding-Discipleship as the movement it became, however, is nothing less than spiritual child-abuse. Through intimidation by the instilling of fear and unfounded guilt, it bludgeons babes in Christ into obedience to the wills of the "shepherds" in authority. And not only babes, but many "mature" Christians have fallen prey to this evil due to the misuse of Scripture to establish "coverings" over every member. Ephesians 5:11-14 is used to convince the unwary that in order to be perfected they must submit to those in authority, regardless of what that authority requires of them. Thus, abuses are rampant in Shepherding-Discipleship.
In extreme Shepherding-Discipleship many are compelled to live a communal lifestyle in total obedience to their "shepherds." They may not marry, work, minister, buy or sell, or exercise their own wills in any matter without their shepherd's approval. They live in strict conformity to religious and temporal duties within their communal society. Disobedience, and even weariness common to such a stringent lifestyle, meet with strong disciplinary action. There have even been reports of physical abuse to keep the "sheep" in line.

In such a scenario the individual's personal relationship to God is subordinated to the corporate structure of their religious society. One is not allowed to hear from God directly, because God only speaks to them through their shepherd. Should a person leave the "covering" of his shepherd to pursue his freedom in Christ, he is threatened with reprisals from the hand of God: loss of salvation, sickness, divorce, financial ruin. He is shunned by the community of which he was a part, and spoken of as a servant of Satan or in some other derogatory way.
Even the marriage relationship is subordinate to the relationship of the shepherd with his disciple. Broken homes and divorces are not uncommon among those marriages where one spouse develops a stronger bond to the shepherd than to his or her mate. All these abuses exceed the parameters of disciple- ship intended by Jesus, and establish the babes in Christ as disciples of men rather than disciples of Christ.

The Shepherding-Discipleship mentality is such that self-prideful humanity finds it appealing. Those disciples who obey are rewarded by being made shepherds over others. Thus is propagated a brutal and demeaning society governed by fear and guilt.
Though these are the extreme abuses of Shepherding-Discipleship, the mentality is the same throughout the movement. Such a mentality is critical to Kingdom Now Theology. For how can a significant portion of mankind be made to conform to the dictates of the apostles and prophets except through the instilling of fear and guilt? No one wants to miss out on what appears to be a move of God. Ignorance on the part of those who are unsure of their relationship to God breeds indecision which, in turn, results in acquiescence to authority at the expense of their personal relationship to Christ.

Inherent Fear And Guilt
The use of fear and guilt to bring people into line with the dictates of self-appointed authority is not the exclusive property of Shepherding-Discipleship. Were we to analyze each movement germane to Kingdom Now Theology we would find strong elements of such fear and guilt at the core of their structures. They all subordinate the individual's relationship to Christ to the dictates of the religious leaders. To illustrate, let's take the other movements with which we've already dealt and briefly see how fear and guilt play a part.

Identity: Fear and guilt are essential ingredients in any racist, authoritarian structure - especially where the use of para-militarism is utilized to foment hatred and threaten bloodshed.
Manifested Sons of God: Extreme fear and guilt for those who do not move forward to perfection in order that the Kingdom of God may be established.

Restoration: A strong condemnation of utilizing judgment breeds guilt in those who question the teachings of others, resulting in fear that God's displeasure will be the consequence. This applies even to the righteous judgment of sin and doctrinal error.
Reconstruction: Guilt results from not becoming involved in attempting to establish the Kingdom of God through politics and other societal strategies.

Charismatic Renewal: Guilt is instilled in those who balk at attempts to meld them into unity with others whose doctrines are seriously in conflict with Scripture. This results in a fear of God's displeasure for hampering unity, and fear of men's reprisals for speaking out against error.
Positive Confession: Fear that if one doesn't act and speak in a prescribed manner God will not answer. Guilt that one's faith is deficient should his prayers not be answered to his satisfaction.
These are sketchy but accurate assessments of how religion based on fear and guilt has encroached upon the modern Church. The individual relationship of the Christian with his Savior is a sacred trust to be nurtured and strengthened by the teaching and counsel of the elders in his church. While the corporate expression of faith is vital to the life of the Church, that life is only as strong as the strength of the individual links in the corporate chain.
The subordination of the individual to the corporate body at the expense of individuality actually weakens the Church in its ability to stand against deception and, ultimately, even against the overt evil influences of the world.

This segment of our treatise on "Kingdom Now" or "Dominion" Theology has been the most difficult to complete, both in terms of assimilating the contents and in presenting them in a manner that would not be inflammatory or denigrating to any individual's character. Just getting from the research to the writing has been extremely difficult and time-consuming in view of the mounds of documentation that I've had to read and reread, or listen to on audio and video tapes over and over in order to avoid the mistake of judging erroneously or taking statements out of context. The importance of the subject matter warranted extreme caution.

I hope the reader will understand my struggle to get this written. And I thank for their patience those who have waited so long for this third installment.

Looking Back
In our previous installments we traced today's Dominion Theology back to the neo-Pentecostalism of the mid-twentieth century, and what became known as "The Latter Rain Movement." We discussed the influence of occult methodology upon the two principal innovators of that movement: Franklin Hall and William Branham. Their influence at that time upon certain pastors and leaders resulted in widespread acceptance of teachings centered on the supposed "restoration" of the Church.

Perhaps more than anyone else, it was William Branham's influence that paved the way for this new theology based on the exaltation of the believer. This engendered a new hope unknown to Scripture: that as certain "overcomers" in the Church attained a state of perfection, or sinlessness, they would become immortal even while in their present bodies. This, then, became the basis for the belief that, through the perfecting of the overcomers by obedience to the latter day "apostles" and "prophets," the Church will take dominion over the governments and social institutions of the world. Thus the earth will be prepared for Christ's return.

These teachings found their greatest expression in the Manifested Sons of God and related movements. They have lately become more widespread so that many in the Church today believe it is not possible for Jesus to return until the Church has made the earth 'its' footstool.
In addressing these aberrant teachings we also explored other doctrines peculiar to Kingdom Now Theology, and we saw how each has its own place in the attempt to establish God's Kingdom on earth before Jesus' return. We also examined the various movements that hold many or all of the Kingdom Now doctrines.

In this, Part III, we'll detail some of the key teachings of Dominion Theology, and we'll quote some of those who teach them. It is beyond the scope of this writing to quote everyone who holds each doctrine, but we will offer a sampling from a few teachers whose statements typically reflect these doctrines. Wherever possible we will identify the movements to which these teachers belong, although many do not overtly identify themselves with any particular group.
The reader should keep in mind that Dominion Theology is not an easily delineated segment within the Church, but rather a loose networking of autonomous sub-movements that have different approaches to their attempts at establishing the Kingdom of God. The central doctrine of all, however, is that Jesus cannot or will not return to the earth until the Church has taken control of at least a significant portion of human government and social institutions.
Whether this incorporates belief in a worldwide theocracy, or theonomy, or the subjugation of individual secular states to the authority of the Church depends upon the particular brand of Dominion Theology one holds. Whether the Lord will return immediately after the Church has taken control or after it has been in control for some time up to and including the end of the Millennium, is likewise dependent upon individual beliefs.

Again, not all who espouse these teachings overtly identify themselves with any segment within Dominion Theology. Yet each of these teachings is peculiar to Dominion Theology and contrary to sound, biblical exegesis. So, while some dominion teachers stress some teachings over others, they are all propagating errors that are leaving the Body of Christ open to great deception.
Whether or not these teachers propagate the full gamut of Dominion Theology is not as important as the fact that they have adopted these unscriptural beliefs and are spreading them throughout the Church by way of the mass communications media and special pastors' conferences which subtly educate Christian leaders to the heretical doctrines of Dominion Theology. We should therefore be cautious of what we hear from these people.

Does It Really Matter?
Some might question if it's really important whether someone believes that Jesus will not return until the Church has taken dominion over the earth. This is a legitimate question to which I must respond that, in terms of salvation and spiritual growth overall, it isn't important. I have friends who hold a post-millennialist viewpoint and I count them as brethren in Christ. I welcome fellowship with them and we engage in honest (and spirited) dialogue in a spirit of love. Perhaps the reason we get along so well is that we are willing to listen to each others' viewpoints and recognize that there are strong and weak arguments on all sides of the issues. A postmillennialist stance doesn't necessarily mean a desire for world domination. And they are not so closed-minded to the possibility that the world cannot survive much longer unless the Lord does intervene with His personal presence.

No, the problem doesn't lie in the basic tenets of the faith. We will find that many dominion proponents agree with us on the essential doctrines involving the natures of God, man, and Satan, as well as salvation through the shed blood of Jesus, etc. It does appear, however, that some - particularly in the "Word-faith Movement" among charismatics - are straying from sound doctrine in some of these areas of late.

The basic problems with dominion teaching lie more in the realm of Church life and the authoritarian structure necessary to implement and maintain a dominion mindset. This is evidenced by cultish tendencies that rob individual believers of a true understanding of their personal relationship with the Father. It requires that nothing of a spiritual (and often material) nature be undertaken without the approval of one's "covering."

There are also dangers in the elitist mentality that naturally progresses from the idea that somehow, due to God's grace or one's own sense of righteousness, human life apart from those numbered among the elite becomes cheap.

An additional problem is that followers of Dominion Theology are easy prey for political extremists. There are those who play upon the concerns of all Christians who naturally desire to see eradicated such evils as abortion, pornography, child abuse, drug dealing, and crime in general. The fact that many in the "Christian right" are already united with Sun Myung Moon and the Mormon Church, is sufficient reason to suspect that, in the long run, no theocentric form of government will reflect the true biblical pattern for society.

Morality and righteousness are wonderful traits when manifested as a result of Spirit-filled living. When manifested as a result of religious fervor (the "good" portion of the tree of knowledge of good and evil), these traits become precursors to a totalitarian state. We would do well to take a lesson from history and remember that Hitler made his plea for acceptance of Nazism based upon a platform of anti-communism, anti-homosexuality, patriotism, and morality. Many German Christians rejoiced when he assumed power.

In light of these dangers we must identify the sources of Dominion Theology so that the Body of Christ may at least be cautious of involvement. Naturally, if someone desires to believe in Dominion Theology that is their business. When they teach it publicly, it becomes everybody's business and they should be willing to have their teachings exposed to testing by the Word of God.

Now, in order to do justice to this very complex subject, it is necessary that we name names. Some will find this distasteful and will perceive it as a personal attack against men and women of God with whom I disagree. On the contrary, it is my position that we must be careful not to condemn those who are caught up in this modern heresy, but we should lift them in prayer, recognizing that God's grace is extended to all.

Some dominion proponents may be deceivers engaged in a power struggle for personal gain. Some may also have designs on leading the Church into areas of compromise with political extremists on the right. But I believe some are brethren in Christ who sincerely perceive that they have a biblical mandate to bring the world systems under the control of the Church.
It would be a mistake to look upon all such people as our enemies just because they hold a different eschatological viewpoint. Granted, the dominion viewpoint is dangerous in many of its implications. But let's not think there is nothing we can learn from them. As with all spiritual matters the truth lies somewhere between two extremes. There are problems with the dispensationalist point of view that the Church has ignored for too long, thus creating an atmosphere of credibility for Kingdom Now Theology.

If, in our zeal to "expose" those in error, we obtain a certain amount of glee in discovering their feet of clay, we'd best take heed to ourselves and question whether our motive is really based upon love. We may rightly quote Jude 3 as justification for earnestly contending for the faith, but if we forget I Corinthians 13 we are no more free from error than those whose errors we expose.

THE DOMINION CONCEPT
The concept of "dominion" as it applies to Kingdom Now Theology holds that Jesus cannot or will not return until the Church has taken control of the earth's governments and social institutions. The following are among the more visible proponents of that belief:
EARL PAULK (Pastor of Chapel Hill Harvester Church in Atlanta, Georgia):
In Paulk's own publication he is touted as a "prophet" of today's Kingdom Message:
"If there is a prophet today who speaks the truth God wants His Church to hear, it is Earl Paulk. He is the leading voice today in preaching the message of the Kingdom of God...a man driven compulsively to show this generation that God is waiting for us to do something that will bring Christ back to earth."1
Paulk, himself has stated:
"Christ in us must take dominion over the earth...The next move of God cannot occur until Christ in us takes dominion."2
"The next move of God will unite His Son in marriage. The marriage supper of the Lamb, the completion of establishing the Kingdom, the eternal rule of God, will finally take place."3
We see that Paulk believes the Marriage Supper of the Lamb cannot take place until after the Church ("Christ in us") has taken dominion. But does Paulk mean that Jesus will already have returned and been with us in order for us to have taken dominion? No he doesn't. Otherwise he would not have used the term "Christ in us." In its proper biblical context that is a valid term. But in this case its use implies that Jesus will take dominion through the Church while He remains in Heaven.

The office of Christ cannot be separated from the person of Jesus. He is the 'only' Christ of God. It is Jesus, when He returns, who must take dominion and establish the visible kingdom of God on earth, not "Christ in us." But does Paulk understand this, or are his statements nothing more than poor choices of words? Let's see what else he has to say:
"Christ was one person, limited to ministry in only one place at a time. In order to minister as an omnipresent Spirit, Jesus relinquished His fleshly dimension with its limitations of time and place. He entered a higher realm of restoration and love by becoming an indwelling Spirit."4
Either Paulk's Christology has taken an aberrant turn, or he's had a mental lapse. Now, I've often heard people, in one breath, address their prayers to the Father, and, without breaking continuity, address Jesus as if He and the Father are the same person - a "Jesus only" mental glitch. I can understand that mistake. However, when someone 'publishes' a statement that equates Jesus with the Holy Spirit, I would think that takes more mental affirmation.
It isn't that Christ 'was' one person, He 'is' one person - Jesus. When the Scripture says, "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27), it in essence affirms that we are united with Him by the Spirit of God. He is "in us," and we are "in Him." It does not mean that He relinquished His fleshly dimension to become "an indwelling Spirit." He is, and always will be, "flesh and bones" (Luke 24:39). He is in a specific location, Heaven, seated at the right hand of the Father. (Yes, I'm sure He gets up and moves about.) He is in His resurrected 'body,' limited to place if not to time.

The Holy Spirit - the Third Person of the Trinity - is omnipresent. It is 'He,' not the person of Jesus, who is the indwelling Spirit of all who truly believe in Jesus.
This is more relevant to our study than may first appear. For without a proper Christology one cannot have a proper eschatology. In this case, Paulk sees Jesus as "an indwelling Spirit." On this basis he claims that the Church is the "ongoing incarnation of Christ." In that case, the church is now Christ, and all Scriptures pertaining to Christ's ruling on earth are really referring to the Church.

We'll deal with this in more detail in another chapter. For now, let's consider Paulk's views on dominion.
"When the apostles asked Jesus if He would now restore the political kingdom, He said, 'It's not for you to know the times or the seasons.
But I will tell you what will take place in your life, and when you have received what I'll tell you about, you will be able to bring in the Kingdom of God.'
"How will the Kingdom of God be ushered in? In Acts 1:8, Jesus said, 'But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the Earth.'"5
Notice how Paulk puts words in Jesus' mouth by having Him say, "you will be able to bring in the [political] Kingdom of God." Nowhere in Scripture is such a statement found.

Evidently the first-century Church did not have enough "faith" or maturity to accomplish this feat, so it is up to today's Christians to do the job.
"What are we waiting for? Why is Jesus waiting in heaven at the right hand of the Father? Who is He waiting for? He is waiting for you and me to become mature, for the Bride of Christ to become mature, so that He can come again. Did you know that God has done everything He can do? If anything else is going to be done, we're going to do it."6
"In Matthew 24:14, Jesus clearly says that He cannot return for His Bride until she has demonstrated the Gospel of the Kingdom to all the nations of the earth. Until the church can demonstrate the alternative Kingdom, Jesus cannot come again. God no longer has the authority to send Christ back to earth, because He will not circumvent His eternal plan. While no man knows the day or the hour, I can say with the authority of God that CHRIST CANNOT AND WILL NOT COME BACK UNTIL WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. That task demands a mature church, which will have become an alternative to the kingdoms of the world. THAT IS WHAT THE CHURCH IS ALL ABOUT AND JESUS CHRIST'S RETURN IS UP TO US."7 [Emphasis Paulk's.]
If we read Paulk's statement closely, we'll see that he believes God no longer has the authority to send Christ back to earth, but that "Christ's return is up to us." So, God has taken control out of His own hands and placed it into ours.

Now, it's true that "He will not circumvent His eternal plan." But He has revealed in His Word the manner in which He will accomplish His eternal plan. Contrary to Paulk, God's eternal plan is not that the Church will take dominion on its own, but merely that the earth will be redeemed. Many of the details of that redemption have not been revealed, but in order for the dominion concept to apply, one must spiritualize what he believes the Word says rather than take it literally. What it does say is that God's plan of redemption includes Jesus' return to establish the visible Kingdom before the creation of the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 20:2-21:5).
Paulk has misread God's eternal plan by spiritualizing Matthew 24:14, which simply states, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

It's one thing to preach the gospel of the kingdom; it's quite another thing to institute - or demonstrate - the kingdom. There is only one Gospel: the Gospel of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Within that Gospel is the "gospel" (good news) that Christ is coming again to establish His visible earthly reign. That is the "gospel of the kingdom" we are commanded to preach, not this counterfeit Dominion Theology which exalts man above what God intended.
GARY NORTH (Reconstructionist author and publisher):

"The eschatology of dominion has once again revived, as it has not since the period of the American Revolution....This is not the end of the world. The Church is not about to be raptured. The humanists, occultists, and New Agers are about to see their world ruptured. This process could be delayed by God's external judgment on the West, but it cannot be delayed until Christ's return in final judgment. It will happen long before Christ returns in glory."8
North is among the most visible Reconstructionists and is, in his words, "one of the two primary publishers of dominion theology"9 (Dominion Press, Tyler Texas). It is North's belief that David Chilton's 'Paradise Restored' is the most definitive, virtually irrefutable, book on dominion eschatology"

"Dominion theology is the wave of the future. David Chilton has written the two primary eschatological manifestos of dominion theology. Whoever comes after him will inevitably be labeled a 'me, too' postmillennialist. Chilton has established the terms of the debate over eschatology for the next hundred years, at the very least."10
This is quite a claim. Obviously North is convinced that no one will be able to challenge Chilton's dominion eschatology in our lifetime. But the question is, if it can be challenged at all - one hundred years, or one thousand years from now - why must we accept it today? Had North said that Chilton has established the terms of the debate once and for all, I'd be impressed. Better for his position had he not qualified it.

As much as some don't like to admit it, there is a debate going on. The Reconstructionists comprise the intellectual arm of Dominion Theology, being more grounded in the study of theology than are their charismatic counterparts. As such, the Reconstructionists' arguments are the most viable. And since one of the major publishers of Dominion Theology has established that David Chilton is 'the' voice for dominion eschatology, this writing would be incomplete without noting Chilton's position on dominion.
DAVID CHILTON (Reconstructionist author): Quoting Matthew 5:13-16, Chilton says:
"This is nothing less than a mandate for the complete social transformation of the entire world. And what Jesus condemns is 'ineffectiveness', failing to change the society around us. We are commanded to live in such a way that someday all men will glorify God - that they will become converted to the Christian faith. The point is that if the Church is obedient, the people and nations of the world will be discipled to Christianity. We all know that everyone 'should' be a Christian, that the laws and institutions of all nations 'should' follow the Bible's blueprints. But the Bible tells us more than that. The Bible tells us that these commands are the shape of the future. We 'must' change the world; and what is more, we 'shall' change the world." 11
Matthew 5:13-16 is hardly "a mandate for the complete social transformation of the entire world." It is a mandate, yes, but it is a mandate that requires no more than that all Christians exhibit in their lives the reality of their faith in Christ. As a result of our witness many will be saved and brought into the Kingdom of God. But there is no mention of the social transformation of any nation let alone the entire world. Scripture tells us that, when Christ returns the nations will be arrayed against Him, not waiting to welcome Him (Revelation 16:14; 19:19). Whether anti-Christ is a man or a system (as proposed by dominion teachers), the fact remains that, when Jesus returns, the world will be under the rule of anti-Christ, not under the rule of the Church.

What Chilton has done in spiritualizing Matthew 5:13-16 is hardly academically honest. In waxing eloquent for his eschatological bias he often makes a point of accusing those with whom he disagrees of making Scripture say what they want it to say. Has he not done the same?
In quoting Matthew 28:19-20, Chilton goes against another of his own rules in assuming that nations, not just people, are to be discipled:

"The Great Commission to the Church does not end with simply 'witnessing' to the nations. Christ's command is that we 'disciple' the nations - 'all' the nations. The kingdoms of the world are to become the kingdoms of Christ. They are to be discipled, made obedient to the faith. This means that every aspect of life throughout the world is to be brought under the lordship of Jesus Christ: families, individuals, business, science, agriculture, the arts, law, education, economics, psychology, philosophy, and every other sphere of human activity.

Nothing may be left out. Christ 'must reign, until He has put all enemies under His feet' (I Cor.15:25). We have been given the responsibility of converting the entire world."12
One point Chilton makes over and again in his book is that literalism is secondary to consistent biblical imagery. In this instance he goes against his own rule. To "disciple all the nations," or, "make disciples of [out of] all the nations," does not mean that every nation as a whole is one day going to sit at the feet of the Reconstructionist gurus and learn the ways of Truth. The Great Commission requires us to go into all the nations and disciple "whosoever will" be saved. Using Chilton's exegetical rule, if this "mandate" encompasses all the nations as saved entities, it must encompass all believers as missionaries to foreign lands. After all, is the Lord not speaking to each of us as individuals?

If Chilton's reasoning is good for Matthew 28:19-20, it must be good for Matthew 24:9: "...ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake." Therefore, everyone in every nation will hate all Christians. Ergo, no one will ever be converted.
At least Chilton does see the need for the Church to clean its own house before attempting so grand a task as discipling the entire world.
"...Our goal is world dominion under Christ's lordship, a 'world takeover' if you will; but our strategy begins with the reformation and reconstruction of the Church. From that will flow social and political reconstruction, indeed a flowering of Christian civilization (Hag.1:1-15; 2:6-10, 18-23."13
Chilton correctly points out that postmillennialism has been a dominant theme in Church history. But it is not Scripture he uses to support that eschatological viewpoint as much as he uses the writings of the early Church "fathers" (Augustine, Athanasius, etc.), and some recent sources such as C.H. Spurgeon. But what Chilton fails to recognize is that those early Church "fathers" were products of a religious system already sliding into apostasy. It was the Roman Catholic Church that first attempted to take dominion over the governments of the earth. It succeeded to some degree, in that Western civilization came under its control. But in order to establish and maintain control the Roman Church had to acquiesce to pagan cultures. The result was that, although the Gospel (as much as was allowed under Romanism) did bring a measure of enlightenment, the Church itself suffered corruption and became paganized. This affected not only its liturgy but its doctrinal position in some crucial areas.

Yet even to achieve the modicum of success it enjoyed in establishing its compromising rule, the Roman Church had to resort to bloodshed not only through the fomenting of wars, but through programs against dissenters such as took place in the Inquisitions.
Failing to learn from history, Chilton (an alleged historian) has also failed to understand that there are varying points of view even among premillennialists. He lumps all under the mantel of "dispensationalism," and accuses of being a defeatist anyone who doesn't hold the postmillennialist viewpoint:
"The eschatological issue centers on one fundamental point: Will the gospel succeed in its mission, or not? Regardless of their numerous individual differences, the various defeatist schools of thought are solidly lined up together on one major point: 'The gospel of Jesus Christ will fail.' Christianity will not be successful in its worldwide task. Christ's Great Commission to disciple the nations will not be carried out."14
"...A good deal of modern Rapturism should be recognized for what it really is: a dangerous error that is teaching God's people to expect defeat instead of victory."15
I take umbrage at Chilton's lack of intellectual integrity. It is patently ridiculous to accuse any Christian of believing that "the gospel of Jesus Christ will fail." Every premillennialist I know expects victory, including Hal Lindsey (whom Chilton takes special delight in denigrating). I don't agree with Lindsey on several points, but no one can accuse him - or myself for that matter - of having a defeatist attitude. Were that true, Hal would not be writing books with evangelistic themes, and Media Spotlight would not exist.

The trouble with Reconstructionists (indeed the entire dominion mindset) is that they don't do their homework. Otherwise they wouldn't lump all premillenialists into one grab-bag of escapism.

Another problem is that they see as defeat anything less than domination of the world system before Jesus returns. This is not spiritual-mindedness, but carnal-mindedness, even when based on the assumption that the transformation of society will result from the changing of men's hearts through the Gospel.

We are not called to "win the world for Christ." We are called to be witnesses for Him. It is the Holy Spirit that draws men to God as we share the Word about Christ (Romans 10:17). To think that the Church or the Holy Spirit will have failed because the whole world isn't converted would be the same as to think we've failed because every person who hears the Gospel doesn't fall on his or her face in repentance.

What's the difference if not everyone at a given moment is converted, or anyone throughout history is not converted. Somewhere, according to Dominion Theology, the Holy Spirit has failed, or the Church has failed.
"But," some would say, "we don't expect every person to be converted; we just want to make sure their lives are conformed to Christian principles." Well, if not every person is converted, we will have less than total dominion, even if we can control their activities. The Holy Spirit will have failed just as He has "failed" to convert everyone who has ever lived.
And as long as there are unconverted souls, the privilege to run society will be challenged. Ultimately there will be confrontation and the need to apply force to maintain control. Bloodshed and corruption (yes, even among "Christians") will be an ongoing result of religious domination.
Even if we were to succeed in converting every soul and ruling society under God's spiritual direction, within two generations at the most, the rebellious nature of those to be born will manifest itself.

Without the visible, tangible presence of Jesus and His 'resurrected' saints administering the Kingdom of God on earth, the world will be at the mercy of arrogant, religious autocrats whose own peculiar understanding of "God's will" will keep us under bondage.
PAT ROBERTSON (Founder and President of Christian Broadcasting Network): Pat Robertson is careful about revealing his belief in Dominion Theology. Robertson believes in a literal rapture of the saints, but not until there has been a great revival that will result in a godly society run by the Church. In his keynote address to the Dallas '84 convention for Maranatha Campus Ministries, Robertson made reference to the late John Lennon's song, 'Imagine,' in which Lennon imagined a world of peace wherein there was no religion to engender strife. Paraphrasing Lennon, Robertson said:
"Imagine a world when no more little babies are slaughtered in the womb.
"Imagine a world where there are no more homes torn apart because of alcoholism.
"Imagine a world where there are no more young men and young women spaced out and glassy-eyed on account of drugs.

"Imagine a world when there are no more crime lords selling prostitutes, selling pornography, selling gambling devices, selling drugs, and stealing from legitimate business.
"Imagine a world where nobody hates anybody any longer, where there is no more fighting and no more killing.

"Imagine a world where you can walk down the streets of the city - or any city - safely at any hour of the day or night without fear of your life.
"Imagine a world where there are no more dead bolts, and chains, and locks, and bars over windows.

"Imagine a world where there are no more prisons - where there's no more violence.
"Imagine a world where men and women [are] married in holiness and godliness, and women were not being used as cheap, exploitive [sic], devices to satisfy the lust of men. And imagine a world where there was no more perversion, and homosexuality, and lesbianism, but men and women functioned as God made them, where they brought up their children together in love, where there was no more divorce, and where little children knew who their mothers and fathers were.

"Imagine a world where the Word of God was honored and people said, 'This is the answer to life's problems.' Hallelujah!
"And Imagine a world where those who brought that book, and those who had the message of Jesus, were the honored representatives of society where men and women said, 'Welcome into our community; you have come with the Word of God.'
"Now you say, 'That sounds like the Millennium.' Well maybe some of it does, but some of it we're going to see."16

What Robertson described is a utopian society based on peace and love. He evidently fails to understand that no such society can exist as long as men live in corruptible flesh. By saying that "some of it we're going to see," he infers that some, if not all, of these scenarios are possible in present society. Yet there is not a single one that is possible given mankind's sin nature - unless ninety-eight percent of the human population were wiped out, leaving only conscientious Christians and some moral unbelievers, or there was instituted a police state of greater magnitude than that of the Soviet Union.

Even during the Millennium, with Jesus reigning in person, there will be those who rebel against His laws. That is why He must rule them with a rod of iron (Revelation 2:27).
There cannot be, nor will there be, anything like a perfect society until only the saints of God in their resurrected bodies occupy the earth. That will take place after the Millennium and during eternity in the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21).
If Scripture does not promise any such society before then, what hope is there that, under the fallible rule of supposed "overcomers," even a substantial portion of sinful humanity will live righteously, voluntarily or otherwise?

Robertson's error lies in his applying to the Church certain Old Testament Scriptures that promise the restoration of Israel out of captivity. He also believes that there is a raising of human consciousness toward righteousness in Christ. That belief, based upon a Gallup Poll commissioned by CBN, reveals a lamentable naiveté for one some believe astute enough to hold the highest office in the land:
"George Gallup discovered that something happened in America about four or five years ago. Because we said, 'We want you to go back and survey people and find out the difference of their attitudes today versus 1979 about religious matters.'
"George Gallup went to the campuses of America. He surveyed with extremely accurate testing methods the attitudes of college students on the campuses of America. Fifty percent of those on the college campuses said, 'We are more religious today than we were five years ago.'
"Of the general population, sixty percent of the people in America said, 'We are more willing to accept religious solutions to life than we were five years ago; we are more religiously inclined than we were five years ago; we are looking for answers from God more than we were five years ago; we are turning away from science, from humanism, from materialism, and we're saying, 'God, you've got to have an answer'."

"Now that's what America told Gallup and he in turn told us. Now what does that mean? Well what it means is we are on the verge of one of the greatest spiritual explosions in the United States that this world has ever known. That's what it means.
"It means that millions and millions of people are open to Jesus Christ."17
All Gallup's poll really means is that people in the United States are becoming more religious. What does religiosity have to do with Jesus? In fact, the religious entities enjoying the largest surge of interest are those commonly associated with the New Age Movement. These include the entire spectrum of occultism from witchcraft to the human potential programs of EST, TM, Eckankar, and Summit, to the eastern religions of Buddhism and Hinduism, and even most schools of modern psychology.

While a later poll by Gallup found that there definitely is an increase in the number of people in the United States who profess to be "born again," their answers to questions about their lifestyles revealed that their values are just as worldly as the rest of society.18
This is borne out by Pat Robertson's own attitude about how his CBN Bible, 'The Book,' was advertised when it first came out in 1984:
"At the end of September we're going to start perhaps the biggest advertising blitz for this particular product that's ever been put behind any book in history. And we've even got guys like Bubba Smith to stand there and say, 'I read 'The Book'!'...And Donna Summers, and a couple of the stars from 'Dallas,' and one of them from 'Dynasty,' and all these are going to say, 'We read 'The Book'!'
"And reading the Bible, in America, may get to be one of the most 'in,' important things people do."19

It seems not a little incongruous that people who represent some of the most ungodly media productions are used by Robertson to sell Bibles in the interest of converting society from ungodliness.
Robertson also believes that, in this present age, the wealth of the world will be turned over to God's people, along with the responsibility of ruling society:
"Somebody has got to sew some tents together, and sew some nets together, and get the literature together, and all the things that are needed to handle 400 million to a billion souls that are going to be saved in the next few years! I mean, it's a staggering task and God's going to give it to us! Someone has got to train the future leaders of this world, because God is going to put us in positions of responsibility.
"Let me ask you this question: Assume that the Lord took away from the governments of this city, this state, other states, the nation, all the ungodly and the sinners. Assume they were just taken away. What would happen then if He said to His people, 'Go in; it's yours'?
"I don't know how to run a sewage system - do you? How do you run these things? What do you do with a tax policy? What's the foreign policy of the United States, or of a state? How do you handle the various taxes and imports and duties? How do you run the various social welfare and social service operations? What about the welfare of great numbers of people? What about the major educational programs?

"And you could go on, and on, and on, and on. God's people have got to be ready for what He's going to do. It's one thing to sit here and say, 'Hallelujah! There's going to be a revival!' But what are you going to do when it comes?
"...There has to be preparation; there has got to be training. There has to be a teacher corps ready to train young converts in the Lord. If you want to concentrate on something while you're here, concentrate on the plan you're going to have for the next five years. What's going to happen when all these things that we talk about take place? We will see them happen!"20
You mean there are going to be taxes in the utopian society? And social welfare? Obviously Pat wasn't talking about the Millennium. So the question arises as to how God is going to remove the "ungodly and the sinners" to the point where we will have a perfect society before Jesus returns.
It should be of concern that anyone would believe that a godly society could be established among unregenerate mankind to the degree that there would not even be a need for prisons. Will human nature change? Not likely. Evil is not only manifested outwardly through crime and immorality; it is primarily manifested inwardly through the thoughts and intents of the heart (Jeremiah 17:9).
Robertson believes that revival will change the hearts of mankind to the degree that godliness will prevail upon the whole earth. Scripture tells us that toward the end of this age the love of many will grow cold because sin will abound (Matthew 24:12).
While we know that "the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just" (Proverbs 13:22), it is not a given that we will take over the world before Jesus returns. Though we may point to isolated testimonies of inheritance from sinners, we will not inherit the earth in its totality until after we stand before Jesus to receive our rewards for deeds done in the flesh (Romans 2:6; II Corinthians 5:10). Yet Robertson believes that Jesus will not return until after the Church has taken control of society and judgment has come upon the ungodly. In the meantime, we are to prepare ourselves to take dominion:
"...Now what do you do? What do I do? What do all of us do? We get ready to take dominion! We get ready to take dominion! It is all going to be ours - I'm talking about all of it. Everything that you would say is a good part of the secular world. Every means of communication, the news, the television, the radio, the cinema, the arts, the government, the finance - it's going to be ours! God's going to give it to His people. We should prepare to reign and rule with Jesus Christ."21
At this point Pat called for preparation to begin with prayer, after which he led the Maranatha Campus Ministries Convention in a prayer for revival as a prelude to taking dominion.
Obviously Pat wasn't talking about the new heaven and the new earth when he said everything that is "a good part of the secular world" would be ours. He was speaking of taking dominion before Christ returns. This is borne out by his reference to the "good" part of the secular world. There will be no secular world in the new earth. Nor, for all practical purposes, will there be a secular world during the Millennium, at least in terms of government, since the government will be administered under the direct, visible kingship of Jesus.

Why, if the Church is going to have dominion, Jesus would catch us up to meet Him in the air, is unclear. Are we just going to go up for a moment and come right back down? That would fit the scenario of some dominion teachings. If not, what will happen to society while we're absent during our celestial vacation? Would it be turned back over to some remnant of the ungodly that remains?

The inconsistencies in Robertson's eschatology are even recognized by Gary North, one of the leading advocates of Dominion Theology. Referring to the effect of David Chilton's 'Paradise Restored' upon television ministers, North says of Pat Robertson,
"Pat Robertson was so concerned that his evangelist peers might think that he had switched to Chilton's version of postmillennialism that he wrote a personal letter to many of them (including one to me) in the summer of 1986 that stated that he had not adopted Chilton's theology.
He mentioned 'Paradise Restored' specifically. Then he outlined his own views, in which, as a premillennialist, he somehow completely neglected to mention the Great Tribulation. That a doctrine so crucial to premillennial dispensationalism as the Great Tribulation could disappear from his theology indicates the effect that Chilton (or someone) has had on his thinking....
"...The change in Pat Robertson's thinking (and the thinking of many premillennialists) had begun several years before 'Paradise Restored' appeared. Rev. Jimmy Swaggart begins a highly critical article against 'kingdom now' theology, including Pat Robertson's version, with a lengthy excerpt from a speech given by Rev. Robertson on Robert Tilton's Satellite Network Seminar on December 9-12, 1984. This was several months before I handed Rev. Robertson a copy of 'Paradise Restored,' and about a month before the first edition of the book was published. He had already made the switch away from traditional dispensationalism."22

"Pat Robertson has presented a message so completely postmillennial in its tone that it is difficult to understand why he continues to insist that he is still a premillennialist. I have never seen a public pronouncement of any postmillennialist that is more detailed in its description of a coming era of external blessings. I know of none who thinks it is coming in the next few years, but Pat Robertson did, in late 1984."23

I have no doubt that those who believe the scenario set forth by Robertson are sincere in their desire to see God's righteousness prevail on earth. But danger lies in expecting more than God's Word promises. Jesus said that in this world we would have tribulation; yet we are to be of good cheer because He has already overcome the world (John 16:33). Eventually, when God ordains it, the earth will be ours as joint heirs with Christ. Until then we should not try to take for ourselves what He has not ordained for us to take. God allows evil to exist in the world, and it will continue to exist, if for no other reason than to test the hearts of men. He is the final arbiter of when evil will be done away with once and for all.

FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY
Those whose teachings center on or are substantially concerned with the five-fold ministries (Ephesians 2:20; 4:11) as the foundation for our faith are convinced that there can be no unity in the Body of Christ until all Christians, or at least a vast majority of us, submit to the authority of the present-day "apostles" and "prophets" without questioning. There is to be no judging of doctrine, or of personal lifestyles, or of fund-raising methods. There is to be no attempt to understand the Word of God apart from the teachings of the apostles and prophets.
The "five-fold Ministries" teaching as it is interpreted within Dominion Theology is specifically a Manifested Sons of God teaching. It states that the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (not Jesus) comprise the foundation of the Church. It is affirmed that Jesus is the foundation of creation, but not of the Church.

Before we examine the Dominion Theology position on this subject, we should put Ephesians 2:20 within the context it was written in order to rightly divide the Word of Truth.
"Wherefore remember, that ye being time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
"That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
"But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
"And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

"And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
"For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
"In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
"In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through The Spirit" (Ephesians 2:11-22).
Hearing Ephesians 2:20 taken out of context, one might fall prey to the teaching that the "five-fold ministries" as enumerated in Ephesians 4:11 comprise the foundation of the Church. But let's examine exactly what Paul was saying in Ephesians 2:11-22.
In the first place, we see that it is not the so-called "five-fold" ministries to which Paul assigned the status of "foundation," but rather the offices of apostle and prophet only. Because these offices are mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 in connection with those of evangelists, and pastor-teachers (the latter being one, not two distinct offices), doesn't necessarily mean that the evangelists and pastor-teachers are numbered in the foundation.

In the second place, if we put Ephesians 2:2 in the context of the thought expressed in verses 11 through 22, we see that Paul was specifically addressing the Gentiles at Ephesus regarding their being joined in one body with the Jews through whom came the revelation of God's Truth. Having been grafted into the true faith (Christianity) which is the continuation of God's revelation through the prophets who preceded Christ, not something distinct from it, the Gentiles were built upon the foundation of the apostles (New Testament) and prophets (Old Testament) combined. In other words, the teachings of the apostles and prophets, the Spirit and the Law, comprise the foundation through which the believing Gentiles (the Uncircumcision) are joined with the believing Jews (the Circumcision). As the Cornerstone of that foundation of teachings, Jesus is the element that holds all truth together, and to whom we look for all guidance through the Holy Spirit.

To take a single verse out of Scripture and build a doctrine as serious in its consequences as that of the "five-fold ministries" of Dominion Theology is contrary to even the most basic principles of biblical exegesis. This error is compounded by the suggestion that today's so-called apostles and prophets are the foundation for the Church. If anything, the Lord's apostles would be the ones spoken of since it was through them that He gave His revelation contained in the written Scriptures known as the New Testament. By equating today's teachers with the early apostles, we open ourselves up to their new revelations, many of which are not based on God's Word, but are totally subjective. Certainly such subjective teachings can be recognized by the fact that they are learned from certain people and propagated apart from independent study of the Bible. The "five-fold ministries" doctrine is one such that is parroted by dominion teachers who have not learned it from Scripture, but from others who have learned it from others, ad infinitum. We have been able to trace it back to Franklin Hall, but that's not to say that it doesn't go back to an earlier teacher.

We will look now at a few who propagate this particular doctrine to see how it fits into the overall scheme of Dominion Theology.
EARL PAULK:
"That's what we're doing as the five-fold ministry - the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers - is equipping the saints, maturing the Body of Christ. But see, even that frightens us because we say we've got pastors, we've got evangelists - we talk about apostles and prophets, we get afraid. And yet they've got to come back with authority and power.
"Ephesians 2:20 says the Church is built not on Jesus (a lot of folk don't know that), but it's built on the apostles and prophets, and Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. He's the cornerstone, but the apostles and the ministry of the prophets is [sic] the foundation.
"What God is doing today is raising up prophets. I don't have any doubt in my mind that Oral Roberts is a prophet to the Church to bring us back to the healings.
"Many of them - Branham and many others - I believe that the Hagins and the Copelands, we have varying doctrines here, but I believe they brought us back to understanding the power in God's Word. They were apostles toward that. I believe there are other apostles and prophets God is raising up."24

If we apply any formula for consistency to Paulk's words, we would have to assume that Jesus has taken a minor role in the governing of His Church. The following statement, taken with the understanding that Paulk considers not Jesus, but the apostles and prophets, to be the foundation of the Church, removes Jesus from the position of the Rock upon which the Church is built (Matthew 16:18), and assigns that position to the five-fold ministries.
"THE FOURTH ISSUE AT STAKE IS THE TRUE UNITY WITHIN THE BODY OF CHRIST. To build upon anything less than the true Rock, the only lasting foundation, would be only to see the entire building fall. Paul made it clear that the Cornerstone had been 'rejected by the builders.' The only solution was to bring forth new builders - whom Paul defined as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers - to build up a people fitly joined together whose head is Jesus Christ Himself. We are further given the warnings as to how we build on this foundation. To talk of unity without truth is to build with wood, hay and stubble (I Corinthians 3)."25 [Emphasis Paulk's.]

Some logical, deductive reasoning would assume that Paulk is calling the five-fold ministries the Rock of our salvation: Jesus is not the foundation, He is the Cornerstone; the five-fold ministries comprise the foundation; the Rock is the only lasting foundation; ergo, the Rock is the five-fold ministries.

In all fairness to Paulk, I don't believe he has fully thought out the implications of his statements. They reflect a carelessness in the bandying about of terms that cause confusion. During a 'Praise The Lord' program on TBN in July, 1987, Paulk was challenged by Hal Lindsey regarding some serious errors in his teachings. Paulk denied believing what was written in his own books. He suggested that Hal wasn't able to perceive the true meanings of those writings because people who do not have the Spirit of God (i.e., non-charismatics) cannot understand the things that can only be spiritually discerned. In other words, Paulk placed his own writings on a level equal to Scripture, while limiting spiritual understanding of his esoteric teachings to charismatics. Such statements hinder greatly our attempts to bring unity to the Body of Christ.
ROYAL CRONQUIST (Former apostle of John Robert Steven's Living Word Church, headquarters for the Manifested Sons of God): Cronquist, though having left the covering of John Robert Stevens, continues to maintain most of the Manifested Sons of God doctrines. His interpretation of Ephesians 2:20 is classical manifested Sons of God:
"...Who is the foundation? The apostles and prophets. Is Jesus Christ the foundation? No. He is the foundation of all things, but literally, to the church, He is the cornerstone, and upon Him come the foundation of the apostles and prophets to put the foundation of all doctrine, of all revelation, of all experience, of all truth, of all anointing, of all authority, of all power, not only upon, but under all the people of God."26
Cronquist does say that upon Jesus "come the foundation of the apostles and prophets." Certainly we can find no fault with that order. As is the case with dominion teachers, however, he assigns to the latter-day apostles and prophets powers beyond those assigned by God's Word. He believes that the apostles and prophets are not only the foundation of our very lives, he also believes that they create God's will for our lives:
"...The whole purpose of the foundational ministry, and especially the foundational ministry, is to equip you in a very private, particular way to inform, to undergird, to strengthen, to encourage, to qualify, to create the will of God for your life. Can you imagine how the body of Christ is still in the baby infancy stage, because they have really denied the foundation that is to their lives, and if they deny the foundation of their life, there is no way that the foundation can be built within them."27

Cronquist errs in suggesting that the five-fold ministry is "the foundation of their life." Those in whom God has placed responsibility to build up the saints and bring them to maturity are to be honored and obeyed insofar as they teach and practice truth. But Jesus is the only foundation of not only our spiritual lives, but it is to Him that we owe our very being and substance (Acts 17:28).

And how can the apostles and prophets "create the will of God" for our lives? Only through total submission of our minds and wills to theirs will we be made to believe that they are ordained by God to direct our every move.
While submission to authority in the Body of Christ is of great importance, it is within the local body that that submission must take place, and only to the degree that that authority operates in conformity to God's Word. It is only in the local body that anyone ministering the prophetic gifts or administering authority can know enough about the believer to guide him. But the dominion people want us to believe that there are apostles and prophets at large who are coming on the scene with new revelations to which every believer must adhere without question. There is no accountability of these apostles and prophets to the Church, but only to one another. This very subjective authority must be taken on faith by the individual at the risk of his being deceived.
"...And so we are going to have to be willing to let our mind be changed by the Holy Spirit in the way that we think and the way we under- stand. He did promise that 'albeit when He, the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into all truth.' In 2,000 years no one has ever been guided into all truth. Why? The only thing I can think of - and I don't know everything yet because I haven't yet become glorified, but I believe that God is now beginning to remove the seals from the secrets that have been hid from the foundation of the world. I believe that He is now going to begin to reveal unto the holy apostles and prophets the foundation of the kingdom that will unfold the truths of God to His people so that they can literally become the very divine substance of Jesus Christ in their spirit, soul, heart, mind, and body."28
According to Cronquist the Holy Spirit did not guide the writers of the Scriptures into all the truth necessary for the maturing of the saints. Evidently God planned that, for 2,000 years, the Church would walk in darkness, unable to grasp the truths necessary to conform them into the image of Christ. But what do the Scriptures say?
"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
"Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
"Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth" (Romans 8:29-33).
"But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou has learned them;
"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
"That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (II Timothy 3:13-17).
It is not the apostles and prophets who are going to perfect us (bring us to maturity). The Word of God, working on our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit, will bring us to maturity as we submit ourselves in love to God. All any apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher can legitimately do is point us to the Word of God and encourage us to follow its directives with pure motives. There are no new revelations by which we must be saved or grow to maturity.
Now, however, we are asked to believe that men who cannot rightly divide the Word of Truth where its meaning is obvious even to the babe in Christ, are going to give us "new truths" by which they will direct our paths toward perfection. What Cronquist means by saying we will become "the very divine substance of Jesus Christ" is not clear. But this statement fits the theory of the deification of man held by many dominion proponents. How will we achieve this? Cronquist says,
"...You therefore shall be complete, even as your heavenly Father is complete. How do you suppose that is going to be done? It's going to be done by holy apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers who become the experience themselves, who equip you with the experience that they have, who give you the rules, the laws, the ways, and the how-tos to literally cooperate with God's Holy Spirit so that it again can be performed."29
The rules and laws by which we exercise our faith are already established in God's Word (Revelation 22:18-19). Those who would today burden the Church with new, man-made rules and laws according to their own experiences are legalists of whom Paul warned:
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power" (Colossians 2:8-10).

How are we to recognize who the apostles and prophets are? Cronquist says our hearts will know:
"The knowledge of a person as a prophet or apostle of God must be a heart revelation....I could come to you and tell you that I am an apostle, but that doesn't mean a thing. Someone else could tell you they are an apostle; that doesn't mean a thing, but I will only be an apostle to you when you have heard from God's Holy Spirit that I am an apostle of God, and if you believe I am a false prophet, to you I would be a false prophet whether I am or not. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he."30
Roman Catholics believe in their hearts that the Pope is an apostle of God; Mormons believe their apostles are from God, as do Jehovah's Witnesses, the Moonies, and every cult that lays claim to apostles. Our hearts are deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9). We will believe what we want to believe unless we have an objective standard of truth to which we are willing to submit ourselves.

The only standard given to us by God is His Word. And the tests for prophets are found in Deuteronomy 13:1-5 and 18:22, and in Galatians 1:8.
Who Are The Apostles And Prophets?
Since the late 70s and early 80s there have been increasing but still vague references within the dominion camp to certain men as "apostles" or "prophets." Yet there has been no definitive list from any authoritative source within that camp as to who currently comprise that august body. Nevertheless, there are certain leaders who are increasingly supportive of each other, and referring to one another as "prophet," or "apostle." Although some are more visible than others, these same leaders are showing up on the same platforms in varying numbers and orders. They are on a constant circuit, conducting "leadership conferences" for pastors from all over the world.
At these leadership conferences the pastors and teachers in attendance are instructed in the latest methods on how to make their churches grow, how to take dominion over their cities, how to institute proper worship and praise in order to move God, how to work miracles, signs, and wonders, and other things related to church ministry and administration.
The most comprehensive organization conducting these leadership conferences is Charismatic Bible Ministries, founded in 1986 by Oral Roberts. This organization is a coalition of the most visible leaders in the Charismatic Movement, a large segment of whom fall into the dominion camp. Although not all the members of Charismatic Bible Ministries have overtly stated belief in Dominion Theology, there is certainly no hiding from them the teachings of those who have.
The officers and trustees of Charismatic Bible Ministries at the time of this writing are:
Oral Roberts* - Chairman Ken Copeland* - Secretary Jack Hayford* - Vice Chmn. Billy Joe Daugherty* - Treas. Paul Yonggi Cho - International Honorary Chairman Charles Green - Executive Committee Member Marilyn Hickey* - Executive Committee Member Karl Strader* - Executive Committee Member
Trustees:
Jim Ammerman Freda Lindsay* Tommy Barnett* Francis MacNutt Charles Blair Ralph Mahoney Jamie Buckingham* John Meares* James Buskirk* Mike Murdock* Happy Caldwell* Charles Nieman Charles Capps John Osteen* Morris Cerullo Paul E. Paino Ed Cole Earl Paulk* Paul Crouch Carlton Pearson Gerald Derstine Fred Price Richard Dortch Tommy Reid* Ed Dufresne Evelyn Roberts* Quentin Edwards Richard Roberts* Mike Evans Roy Sapp Kenny Foreman Jerry Savelle* Gerald Fry Charles Simpson John Gimenez* Carlton Spencer Kenneth Hagin, Sr.* Stephen Strang* Ronald Halvorson Lester Sumrall* Buddy Harrison* Hilton Sutton* James N. Haynes Vinson Synan* Wallace Hickey Robert Tilton* Roy Hicks Larry Tomczak Benny Hinn Casey Treat Charles Hunter Ron Tucker Frances Hunter Tommy Tyson Dick Iverson Jeff Walker Vicki Jamison-Peterson Paul Walker G.L. Johnson Bob Weiner James E.'Johnny' Johnson Austin Wilkerson Larry Lea Ralph Wilkerson
*Founding Trustees31

I cannot stress enough the fact that not everyone involved with CBM is an advocate of Dominion Theology. If the reader wants to know where any of these people stand on the subject I advise that he write and ask them directly. Of great significance, however, is the fact that fully half of the founding trustees of Charismatic Bible Ministries openly profess belief in major aspects of Dominion Theology, as does approximately the same percentage of the overall members. In addition, some among them espouse other questionable doctrines such as the "Jesus died spiritually" heresy. Specifically, Kenneth Hagin and Kenneth Copeland teach that Jesus died spiritually, and had to be born again in hell by subjecting Himself to torment by Satan and his demons. Copeland has gone so far as to say that we are not saved spiritually by Jesus' death on the cross; otherwise any righteous man could have died for our sins.32
This teaching will be covered in an upcoming Special Report. I pray that those who espouse it are not consciously aware that this teaching effectively denies the blood of Christ as payment for their sins.

Several members of CBM have been approached with information regarding the heretical beliefs of many in this organization, but none have acknowledged the need to take a stand for sound doctrine.
"Unity at the cost of truth" is the mindset of many of today's "leaders" in the Church.

PURGING THE EARTH
A sure sign of religious authoritarianism is a zealousness to rid the world of opposition to its peculiar tenets. In the minds of many dominion teachers the authority of the apostles and prophets must not be questioned. The Kingdom of God (as they understand it) must be free from dissension. Therefore it will be necessary that those who challenge their authority be removed.
There are differences of opinion among dominion teachers as to how those dissenters will be removed, but there are essentially five ways in which that may occur:
1) God will supernaturally strike dead those who oppose His apostles and prophets; 2) God will send, or allow satanic forces to send, plagues upon those opposers; 3) The Church (or certain "overcomers") will pronounce God's judgment upon their enemies, thus moving God to destroy them; 4) The Church will, out of "necessity," use physical force by which it will judge, sentence, and execute penalties (including death) upon the opposers; 5) All or any combination of the above may take place.

According to some dominion teachers, in order to effect this purging of the earth the overcomers must attain immortalization, thus becoming immune to any physical resistance to their program. Becoming immortal, and thus impervious to death and injury, will result from having attained spiritual perfection through obedience to the apostles and prophets.
We will deal with the teachings on immortalization in the next chapter. The subject matter at hand is the purging by the overcomers of not only the earth, but of the Church as well.
FRANKLIN HALL (Pioneer of the Latter Rain Movement):
In his book, 'Subdue the Earth, Rule the Nations,' Hall quotes Revelation 12:5, and states that the man child of the sun-clothed woman represents the overcomers of the Church:32
"The man-child company will have dominion of this planet first. Those who possess a house may decide who shall occupy it. In the same manner, as a group from the church take up their authority and rulership of the planet that God gave them, they will likewise be able to choose whom they will, to occupy it."33

"The man-child group of the sons of God will be required 'to rule all nations with a rod of iron' (Revelation 12:5). To those not accepting this invitation into the Holy Ghost Light of fire, there is but one alternative: the opposite to light is DARKNESS. The Light of Life will be to them a blinding and consuming fire of destruction!"34

Hall's fanciful interpretation of Revelation 12:5 is not consistent with Scripture. While the symbolism of the man child is open to interpretation (whether he is Jesus, Israel, the Church, certain overcomers, etc.), the fact remains that the man child is caught up to Heaven while the woman who gave him birth is driven into the wilderness. If the man child is in Heaven while the earth is being purged, then he cannot rule with a rod of iron until after he returns to the earth. He cannot exercise dominion prior to his return which, if he is the Church, will be with Jesus at His return (Jude 14-15).

ROYAL CRONQUIST:
"...The greatest decision that the church is going to have to make in these days ahead (and especially the ministries in the body of Christ) is to have to face that there are apostles of God, and that they must submit to that foundation as though it was Jesus Christ, and whoever will not submit to that authority shall be destroyed from among the people."35
"...Jesus cannot, will not return, until there literally exists this kind of church, body of Christ. This Church (remnant) is to be...executing deliverance and judgment, in all authority and power, to all the people of the earth, first to and in the Church, then to all the nations of the earth."36
"...The kingdom of God is now ready to appear, now ready to be literally established in all its fullness within the earth. The first-fruits people will be counted worthy to escape the things that are to come to pass upon the earth. They will have absolute immunity to destruction and death in any form. Even vengeance and wrath which is about to come, will not touch them, but they themselves will be the execution of this vengeance and wrath."37

All I can say is, if some religious attempt to execute God's vengeance and wrath is to take place, those doing the executing had better be under the absolute control of the Holy Spirit. The problem with Cronquist's scenario is that the premise upon which it is built (immortalization prior to Jesus' return) is unscriptural. I shudder at the possibilities.

EARL PAULK:
In his book, 'Thrust in the Sickle and Reap,' Paulk quotes Matthew 13:40-43:
"Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

Applying his own interpretation that the angels who will accomplish this task are ministers of the Church, rather than the angels of heaven, Paulk calls upon God's people to rise up and judge the kingdoms of this world:
"The book of Revelation makes it clear that John wrote his letters to the angels of the Church. Who are the angels that God will use? they are ministers called by God to boldly proclaim the Word of God. They will sound the trumpet. One should never separate prophecy of the New Testament from prophetic Old Testament scriptures. The trumpet sounded in the Old Testament as a warning. Today the trumpet sounds from the angels of the Church, God's ministers who cry out, 'It is harvest time!' Witnesses to God's power will shine as never before. God will gather righteous people together to raise up a witness of Jesus Christ and judge the kingdoms of this world."38

Paulk goes on immediately to say that the first sign of the time of harvest is an answer to Jesus' prayer in John 17, "that they all may be one just as We are one." Unity aside, the chilling aspect of Paulk's reasoning in these passages of his book is the realization that he is looking forward to the day when the "angels" (i.e., ministers of the Church) will gather out of God's kingdom "all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire." I hope I'm misreading his intentions.

JAMES McKEEVER (Editor and publisher of 'Endtimes News Digest,' author, lecturer, and financial consultant):
In an article entitled, "When Is The Rapture?" McKeever states that the Great Tribulation will be a time when God's people will supernaturally destroy their enemies:
"God is raising up an end-time army of overcomers (bondslaves). God never raised up an army that ran. So, we need to take a look at why God is raising up that end-time army.
"Most people do not realize why there is going to be the great tribulation at the end of this age. Let me see if I can help you understand. If Christ came back tomorrow morning to rule and reign on the earth for a thousand years of peace and joy, what is the first thing He would have to do? He would have to get rid of all government buildings and employees, because He is going to be the government. He would have to get rid of all armies, weapons and factories that build weapons, because there is not going to be any war while He is here on the earth during the millennium. He would have to get rid of the people who do gross evil on the earth, such as dope pushers and murderers....

"This would be a messy way to begin a thousand-year reign of peace and joy. Thus, the period of the great tribulation is when God gets rid of all governments, all armies, all grossly evil people, and geologically plows up the earth, so that it is a renewed, refreshed earth, ready for Jesus Christ to come back to rule and reign for a thousand years....
"When the children of Israel went into the promised land, God could have caused all the evil inhabitants of the land to disappear. However, that is not God's pattern. He uses His people as an army when He wants to get rid of evil people....
"People ask me if I am afraid to go through the tribulation or if thinking about it makes me gloomy or sad. The exact opposite is true. I am excited about going through the tribulation, as a bondslave of God. I am excited about getting His seal on my forehead and being protected against Satan, because we know that the victory is ours in Jesus Christ."39

Before I comment on Jim's statements, let me make it clear that I have a personal liking for him. I have in the past recommended his newsletters and have quoted him in 'Media Spotlight.' He has done me the same honor. And for the most part I agree with his teachings. They contain many useful facts and spiritual truths. Now, it isn't just a matter of two brothers holding differing opinions on some minor point. It is crucial to the Church's position during these end times that it not be misled in its understanding of the events which are soon to transpire.

In Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Revelation 6 and 7, we see separate accounts of the same events relating to the Great Tribulation. I agree with Jim that the Church will go through the Great Tribulation, but as the first several verses in Revelation 7 point out, when God's wrath is poured out upon the earth, we will already have been taken up with Jesus into heaven.

The error of most pre- and post-tribulationists is the equating of God's wrath (the trumpet and vial judgments) with the Great Tribulation period (the opening of the first six seals). The Great Tribulation will be a time of chaos upon the earth during which the Church will be persecuted, and many believers will be slain for the witness of their testimony. It will be a time of judgment not upon the earth as much as upon the Church, which will result in the Church being purified from its spots and wrinkles (Ephesians 5:27). The Church, as an organism in which currently reside both sheep and wolves, will be purged through persecution. Only those who are truly God's people will stand, and will be driven out of necessity toward maturity in faith and in deed.
The only servants of God who will be sealed in their foreheads are the 144,000 members of the twelve tribes of Israel described in Revelation 7:1. These will be restored when they see their Messiah (on whom they have not believed until that time) return in the clouds to receive His Church. It is important to distinguish, however, that these 144,000 Jews are not necessarily part of national Israel. They will be a remnant of natural Israel whom God will bless as a witness of His power to preserve His integrity among those people, and to honor His covenant with Abraham.

The only other seal to be placed on anyone's forehead will be that ordered by the false prophet in conjunction with his command for all men to worship the image of the Beast (Revelation 13).
It isn't my intention to be dogmatic on the subject in this writing, but merely to point out that the dominion teachers' interpretation of Revelation is a delusion which will leave those who believe it unprepared for the troubles that lie ahead. If, because we believe this error, we are looking forward to receiving any mark in our foreheads, we may well be set up for the strong delusion which, if it were possible, would deceive the very elect (Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22).

IMMORTALIZATION
If the dominion overcomers are to be God's instruments of destruction upon not only unbelievers, but believers who do not submit to the authority of the apostles and prophets as well, they will need immunity from reprisals. It is an essential ingredient of Dominion Theology, therefore, that these overcomers, through their perfect (sinless) living, attain immortalization and become impervious to injury and death. That's why it's such a tragedy for someone in the movement to die - especially someone in a position of dominion leadership. If God does not count such an one worthy to escape death, then those close to him must make excuses such as equating his death with some vicarious suffering for the Body of Christ.
Of the fringe movements in dominion teaching, Positive Confession is most susceptible to this theory of immortalization. The believe-it-and-receive-it mentality of Positive Confession must inevitably result in the belief that if one can muster enough "faith" to live in "divine health" (which has never been sufficiently defined), he can also believe for immortality.
Of course, it is believed that this final state of physical perfection will come about only through the attainment of spiritual perfection. The reason is that death is the final enemy to be conquered (I Corinthians 15:26).
EARL PAULK:
"THE FIFTH FUNCTION OF THE CHURCH IS TO CONQUER THE LAST ENEMY, WHICH IS DEATH, AND TO BRING REDEMPTION TO THE BODY OF CHRIST. When the Apostle Paul says that redemption has not yet taken place, he speaks, I believe, of the redemption of the individual body; yet in my spirit I perceive that he speaks also of the redemption of the Body of Christ. [Boldface Paulk's throughout.]
"Jesus Christ Himself overcame death individually, and WHEN THE CHURCH BECOMES SO CONFORMED TO HIS IMAGE THAT THOSE WHO DIE DO NOT PASS THROUGH THE GRAVE, BUT BECOME INSTEAD GLORIOUSLY CHANGED IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, IT WILL BE THAT CHURCH WHICH WILL BRING THE KINGDOM OF GOD TO PASS ON THE EARTH. [Paulk then quotes Romans 8:18,22-23, and Ephesians 1:13-14.]
"We have received the earnest of the EXPECTATION through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but we must move on to the POSSESSION, which is overcoming the last enemy, death.

Sometimes the interpretation has been made that Jesus Christ conquered death, but if that were so, why would Paul's epistle to the Corinthians, written at least ninety years later, say that the last enemy that SHALL be destroyed is death (I Corinthians 15:26)? JESUS CHRIST CONQUERED DEATH INDIVIDUALLY, BUT IT IS LEFT TO THE CHURCH TO CONQUER DEATH ON A CORPORATE BASIS..

"Is it possible that there will be a people who so possess the authority of Almighty God, as Elijah did, that they, as a group, will say to death, hell, and the spirit of Satan, 'We will NOT die. We will stay here and be changed, and we will call Jesus Christ to return to this earth as King of Kings and Lords of Lords'? Yes, that is what I believe the church must do! But it will not be easy, because GOD IS LOOKING FOR THE MANIFESTATION OF A MATURE CHURCH WHO CAN SPEAK WITH THE AUTHORITY JESUS HAD WHEN HE STILLED THE WINDS AND CALLED LAZARUS FORTH FROM THE GRAVE.
"An exciting prospect? Oh, yes! We are God's people, called to do the will of God in the world today and to see the King of Glory return to establish His Kingdom on earth! Jesus Christ had the authority to say 'No' to death on earth, and He is waiting for us to come to that same authority He had so we can say, 'The last enemy - death - has been conquered!' [Paulk then quotes I Corinthians 15:20-26.]
"Jesus Christ, as the firstfruit of the Kingdom, began the work of conquering death on an individual basis, but we, as His church will be the ones to complete the task. Jesus said (Matthew 28:18), 'All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth,' and the church today has that same power. Death will not be conquered by Jesus returning to the earth. It will be conquered when the church stands up boldly and says, 'We have dominion over the earth!' How else will God be able to show Satan a people for whom death holds no fear, over whom death no longer has any power? When God can do that, Satan's hold on us will be broken forever!"40
History shows that true believers don't need to be immortal to be free from the fear of death. It is 'faith,' not immortality, that removes fear. I suspect that those who so earnestly desire immortality that they will twist Scripture to fit that desire are the ones who really fear death. So great is that fear that they have deluded themselves into believing they can overcome death through their own works of righteousness. This is why so many demonstrate such fervor toward God. It isn't so much that they fear Him as much as it is that they fear death and the consequences if they haven't proven themselves worthy of eternal life. At the root of much dominion thinking is a works-oriented salvation rather than a faith-oriented salvation. When immortality does come it will be after the dead in Christ rise (I Thessalonians 4:13-17; I Corinthians 15:50-55).

This immortality unto eternal life, the hope of our salvation, will occur suddenly and will take effect throughout the Body of Christ, not just among a select few "overcomers." It won't occur because we happen to come to the realization that we can speak it into existence because of our attainment to holiness through outward works of righteousness. Such a notion is ridiculous and is contradicted by Scripture.

Likewise the very Scriptures Paulk quotes contradict his belief that the Church will destroy death. For verse 26 of I Corinthians 15 says, "For he [Jesus] must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." Jesus, when He returns (not the Church prior to His return), is the one who will put all enemies under His feet. He must reign on earth until that is accomplished. The context of these verses shows clearly that death will be destroyed 'after' the Millennium, when Christ "shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father" (I Corinthians 15:24).
DAVID EBAUGH (Leading apostle of the Identity Movement):
In a communication to his followers, Ebaugh reprinted a proclamation by a Rev. Dean Gross entitled "Melchisedec Order Decree," and offered it free on request to those who would write to his organization, Word by Word Association. This decree, affirming belief that the end-time overcomers will be a part of the Melchisedec Order of priests, states in part:
"In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, through his blood, fire, water, and Spirit, I receive glory, honor, and immortality by imparting his now-blood, liquid streams of living light into my blood. My whole spirit by faith, soul by works, body by hope is now being preserved blameless until the coming of the Lord. When I decree a thing, it is established unto me; and your light shines upon my ways. I decree that the full manifestation of the Kingdom of God from within me now come forth. I decree that every atom within my earthly, physical body bring forth health, light, life, and immortality. My light is now coming forth as the morning, and my health is springing forth speedily, and my righteousness goes before me. Your glory is my rear guard. For I am made in the image of Elohim, after Elohim's likeness. I have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. I am helping to bring about the revelation and restoration of all things which you have spoken by the mouth of all your holy prophets since the world began."41
SAM FIFE (A leading apostle of the Manifested Sons of God Movement):
In his book, 'One Corporate Man,' Fife states:
"Therefore let all men know, that in this dispensation of the fullness of times, God is going to fulfill His purpose to bring together into one, all things that are in Christ, both in the earth and in heaven, and make of all the twos, one new many-membered man, who lives after the order of Melchisedec. When He has finished preparing this many-membered man, He is going to purge the earth of every other man by His Judgment Day, and there will come in a new age, and a new earth, with a new man living in a new order, where every member is so dead to self that he lives unto the rest of the Body, and that order shall perpetuate eternal life."42

The more we study the Kingdom Now Movement, it becomes increasingly evident that it's proponents have adopted a pattern of taking Scriptures relating to entirely different time periods and applying them to the present age. Much of what is said is true if placed in proper context relative to the time period for which it is meant. For that reason, they can quote Scripture seemingly with authority to prove their hypotheses.

What the immortalization theory fails to explain is how, if death is the 'final' enemy to be conquered, there will still be other enemies left to be conquered by those who will have conquered death?

Of all the bizarre elements that make up the total picture of Dominion Theology, immortalization caters most to spiritual pride. When one comes to the place where he believes he can say he has no sin he will move into an amoral mindset whereby he can justify any action in the name of God. Earl Paulk gives a clue to such reasoning by suggesting that whether one sins is dependent upon his motive.
"...The accusers said to Jesus, 'We have Moses as our father, and Moses said, Thou shalt not commit adultery.' Jesus replied, 'I believe that too, but let me carry you to a heavenly dimension. If you don't lust in your heart you cannot commit adultery.' They said, 'The law says, Thou shalt not kill,' and Jesus replied, 'I believe that too, but let me speak to your heart. If you don't hate first, there is no possibility of murder.' How wise Jesus was!"43
This is a perfect example of twisting the meaning of Jesus's words. While motive does play a role in sin, there are objective standards instituted by God and revealed in His Word which cannot be abrogated simply on the basis of one's personal conviction. If, as so carelessly stated by Paulk, "If you don't hate first, there is no possibility of murder," then out of a motive of purifying society, and with a "heavy heart," dominion overcomers may put dissenters to death at will. Hit men for the mobs don't necessarily hate their victims - for the most part they're indifferent to them. Using Paulk's rationale, they are innocent no matter how many people they kill.
This is a chilling statement that, without clarification, could possibly cause some neurotics to get "trigger-happy." There is a strange paradox revealed among some who, on the one hand denounce the atrocities of Hitler, yet on the other hand passionately look forward to the day they can "speak the word" or pull the trigger that will destroy the "sinners" (and unyielding Christians) they perceive as God's (i.e., their) enemies. Yet if the utopian society of the dominion teachers is to be realized before Jesus returns, a holocaust worse than any history has ever witnessed must take place. The "holy wars" of early "Christianity" may yet be revived.

2010-08-03T15:53:00.001-07:00

George Warnock

Among those present at the Sharon Camp Meeting in July, 1948, was George Warnock who at one time had been personal secretary to Ern Baxter (an associate with William Branham's healing ministry).At this meeting one of the teachers, James Watt, made a passing remark that the third of Israel's feasts, the Feast of Tabernacles, was yet to be fulfilled. This struck Warnock and he began to associate it with the end-time ministry of the Church, and the concept of restoration.

In the fall of 1949 Warnock took up residence at Sharon, "assisting in the office work, and helping in the Bible School and in the local church."

In 1951 Warnock wrote his book, 'The Feast of Tabernacles,' in which he layed out a specific doctrine for the Latter Rain Movement, and those who came after. He taught that the Church was about to usher in the completion of God's feasts for Israel, through perfection of the saints and their dominion over the earth.

Essentially, this Latter Rain teaching implies that the three great annual feasts of the Lord in Israel's worship (Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles) pre-figure and typify the whole Church Age, beginning with the death of Jesus on the cross, and consummating in "the manifestation of the Sons of God" - the "overcomers" who will step into immortality and establish the Kingdom of God on earth.

Warnock teaches that this will be accomplished through the restoration of the Church in unity and, once done, the saints will "eat the Lord's Supper in reality."(as if we are not doing so now).

"Unity" as defined by Kingdom Theology entails the putting on of "the mind of Christ" so that we all think, say, believe, and confess the same things. What we will think, say, believe, and confess will be told to us by the apostles and prophets.

Unity without regard to "doctrine" (except the doctrine of those imposing the unity) is the great cry among those today who think that the Body of Christ has thus far failed in its commission.

The Latter Rain Continues
Many teachings of the Latter Rain Movement have been retained in the Church through the influence of various men and women, many of whom are still alive, and active in groups that spun off from the Latter Rain Movement.

Although the Latter Rain Movement has had lasting effects upon Pentecostalism in general, its effects upon the major Pentecostal denominations was minimal after the mid-1950's. This was due in part to the role the Assemblies of God played in confronting the Latter Rain extremes. That denomination, as well as others, lost many pastors and members to the Latter Rain as a consequence of their opposition.

Today, the influence of the Latter Rain Movement upon traditional as well as Pentecostal denominations is growing. And although by all appearances the name has died out, the Latter Rain Movement has surfaced under other names and is held together by a network of teachers and organizations which are finding new acceptance on a wide scale in the Christian media.

George Warnock took Branham's teachings on Apostolic Restoration of the Church and disseminated these teachings to 1,000's through their Bible School called Sharon in Canada. Sharon was the birthplace of the Latter Rain Doctrines

Latter Rain Doctrines
Doctrinal set that is the foundation of modern Pentecostalism
George Hawtin, Percy Hunt and George Warnock took Branham's teachings on Apostolic Restoration of the Church and disseminated these teachings to 1,000's through their Bible School called Sharon in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada

In 1948 a woman prophesied a great move of God coming from Sharon. At the next Sharon camp meeting Latter Rain Doctrines were formalized and disseminated. The result was 1,000's of Pentecostal believers left the 4 major Pentecostal denominations and joined independent Pentecostal organizations teaching these restored truths.

Latter Rain teachings are denounced by the Assemblies of God in 1950, but resurface in the charismatic movement of the early 1960's.

Latter Rain Doctrines include:
*The restoration of the office of the Apostle and Prophet to head the Church.

*The Pastor, Teacher and Evangelist all function under them.
*Restoration of all the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit - with an emphasis on prophets and prophecy.

*Prophecy meaning a direct revealed word from the heart of God through the mouth of His prophet or prophetess
*Women given equal roles in authority in the Church
*Casting out demons from Christians
*Rebuilding the physical Tabernacle of David, i.e. continual prophetic praise before the Lord
*The dominion of the world by The Church
*The defeat of physical death by ascended believers called Manifest Sons of God
*Unity of the Body, i.e. all churches submitting the Apostolic and Prophetic authority

Sharon Bible school
Birthplace of Latter Rain Doctrines
Located in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada

The Wolf Pack

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The Sharon Brethren

In the fall of 1947, two former pastors for the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, George Hawtin and Percy G. Hunt, joined with Herrick Holt, a pastor of the North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Church of the Foursquare Gospel, in an independent work. That work - Sharon Orphanage and Schools which Holt had originally started in a large residence in North Battleford - had come to occupy about one thousand acres of farmland about ten miles distant from the city limits.

With Hawtin and Hunt came seventy students from Bethel Bible Institute where both had formerly taught before Hawtin was asked to resign for lack of cooperation, and Hunt resigned out of sympathy. George Hawtin's brother-in- law, Milford Kirkpatrick, and Ernest Hawtin, George's brother, soon joined in ministry at Sharon.(38)

Herrick Holt had been preaching that God was going to be doing a "new thing" in accordance with the prophecy of Isaiah 43:18-19:
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold I will do a new thing; Now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Of great influence upon the work at Sharon were the teachings of William Branham. Several of the school's brethren visited one of his campaigns shortly after George Hawtin and P.G. Hunt had come on staff. With renewed fervor, the brethren took Branham's teachings back to Sharon, unaware that the supernatural power bestowed upon them by Branham would make their ministry the focal point of the Latter Rain Movement for several years to come.(39)

Another influence, on the Hawtin brothers in particular, was J.E. Stile's book, 'The Gift of the Holy Spirit,' which asserted that if one were truly repentant, and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, all that was necessary for him to receive the Holy Spirit was for another believer to lay hands on him.(40)

Franklin Hall's book was especially utilized at Sharon. Ernest Hawtin wrote:
The truth of fasting was one great contributing factor to the revival. One year before this we had read Franklin Hall's book, entitled 'Atomic Power With God Through Fasting and Prayer.' We immediately began to practise [sic] fasting. Previously we had not understood the possibility of long fasts. The revival would never have been possible without the restoration of this great truth through our good brother Hall. (41)

On February 11, 1948, a young woman at the Bible school prophesied that a great revival was about to break out. The next day, according to Ern Hawtin, the Holy Spirit fell with great power.
Day after day the Glory and Power of God came among us. Great repentance, humbling, fasting and prayer prevailed in everyone.(42)

Because of the manifestation of power at North Battleford, news of the outbreak spread, and soon people were coming from everywhere to receive that power. They believed that the long drought was over for Pentecostals, whose use of the gifts had gradually declined since the advent of Pentecostalism at the turn of the century.

A striking characteristic of the Sharon revival was the effort to avoid the establishment of another denomination as had happened during the earlier Pentecostal Movement. George Hawtin was especially adamant about this and labored to instruct those who were touched by his ministry not to fall into that trap. He felt that the unity of the Church was essential to bring about its restoration, and therefore encouraged the establishment of autonomous, local congregations.

It became a hallmark of the Latter Rain Movement that innumerable independent churches sprang up with no denominational affiliation. This did not sit well with the Pentecostal denominations, who lost many members to this "new thing."
A major point of controversy between the North Battleford brethren and some Pentecostal denominations was the teaching by the former that there are present-day apostles and prophets for the Church.(44) And though George Hawtin wrote in the June, 1948, issue of 'The Sharon Star' (the school's newsletter) that "no church exercises or has any right to exercise authority of jurisdiction over another church, its pastors or members," the traveling "presbytery" from Sharon, of which he was a part, did indeed exercise authority over people in other congregations through personal "directive prophecy."(45) [See also: Apostles, and Apostolic Teams]
In spite of the Sharon group's insistence upon autonomy, they eventually became sectarian to the extreme, holding to the notions that no teaching was valid unless it originated with them, no fellowship was to be engaged in with anyone outside their own confines, and they alone were the purveyors of God's truth. If anyone would be an "overcomer," it must be through obedience to their authority.

Even some who were endorsed as apostles and prophets by the Sharon group eventually became disillusioned and broke ties from Sharon. Among these was Reg Layzell who wrote:
At the first camp meeting you were made a member of the Body of Christ by the Spirit of God. And even if you said you were not in the Body you still were. No man could put you in or take you out. Now the error: they claim you are only put in by them and can be put out by them. (46)
A significant event in the history of Sharon Orphanage and School was its July 7-18, 1948 Camp Meeting, during which thousands of people from Canada and the United States flocked in hopes of receiving something special from God. Residents from at least twenty states attended, and the great Latter Rain Movement burst upon the world.

From that time the movement spread rapidly and Sharon shortly became just one of many centers of teaching for the Latter Rain Movement.

In his thesis on this movement, Richard Riss states: "It should be noted however, that prior to the revival, these practices [laying on of hands and acceptance of apostles and prophets] were already commonplace in some places, including Elim Bible Institute, which was at that time in Hornell, N.Y., and which, until the revival, had not had contact with North Battleford."(47)
It should also be noted...that prophecy was a major distinguishing mark of the Latter Rain Movement, whereas, in the case of the healing evangelists, healing was more prominent, and in the case of the early pentecostal revival, tongues had prominence. (48)

Elim Bible Institute was for years prior to the outbreak of the Latter Rain Movement a center for neo-Pentecostal teachings. Although it was Sharon Orphanage that gave real impetus to these teachings, it is Elim Bible Institute that has continued even to this day with its influence, while the Sharon group has largely been relegated to obscurity.
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/l08.html

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The GOSPEL According to PAULK:

A Critique of "Kingdom Theology"

If the content of my writing has been offensive to anyone - especially if they believed me to be in error - I should have been approached for reconciliation or correction according to Matthew 5:23,23. I have never refused to engage in dialogue with anyone who has sought to talk with me about my theological perspective. [1]
by Robert M. Bowman, Jr. with Craig S. Hawkins and Dan R. Schlesinger

The above statement was written by Bishop Earl Paulk and appeared in his church newspaper, Thy Kingdom Come, in November 1987. In four phone conversations in February 1988 with staff members of Paulk's church, researchers from Christian Research Institute expressed their desire to engage in dialogue with him concerning his theological views. [2] The last three of these conversations were with Tricia Weeks, Publication Editor and Public Relations officer for Bishop Paulk. Mrs. Weeks attempted to answer some of the researchers' questions and sent some written materials, but unanswered questions remained. Bishop Paulk has chosen not to dialogue. His new posture is well expressed in his February 1988 publication, Twenty Questions on Kingdom Teaching: "I prefer pouring my life into ministry to people rather than gearing my thoughts toward answering challenges from those who enjoy theological debate." [3]

Our idea of an enjoyable theological debate is a stimulating discussion among Christian friends of such issues as predestination and election or the nature of the Millennium. Such issues, however, are not the cause for concern in this case. The issues of controversy in Paulk's teaching have to do with such fundamental matters as the nature of God, man, Christ, and salvation. They are matters so serious that those who teach wrong doctrines about them must be regarded as false teachers or heretics.

Who is Bishop Paulk, and why is he the focus of such controversy? Paulk is the senior pastor of Chapel Hill Harvester Church in Atlanta, Georgia, a church of over 10,000 members. He is a bishop in the International Communion of Charismatic Churches (ICCC), a recently formed denomination which emphasizes the charisma (gifts of the Spirit) and traditional liturgy. [4]

Paulk is also the best known and most prolific writer (through Paulk's publishing house, K Dimension Publishers) of "kingdom theology," sometimes called "kingdom now." This controversial movement has been the subject of a number of highly critical articles and conference statements, many of them labeling it heretical. [5]

Paulk is widely regarded as a leader by those who hold to "kingdom theology" hereafter "KT"). His position in the movement is exemplified by the fact that in 1990 his church is scheduled to host an ICCC-sponsored World Congress on the Kingdom of God. [6] In this two-part article, then, we shall be examining not only the teachings of Earl Paulk, but also those of the fastgrowing and controversial movement he represents.

HERETICAL RED HERRINGS
Almost all of what has been written in criticism of KT has focused on relatively minor doctrinal issues and denounced as heretical doctrines which at worst are merely controversial and mistaken. In fact, KT has been criticized for teaching doctrines which are not at all unique to the KT movement, which have been believed by Christians of many traditions for centuries. These irrelevant criticisms (or "red herrings") have, understandably, been rejected by KT leaders such as Earl Paulk as divisive to the body of Christ.

In this study we wish to emphasize the difference between essentials of sound, orthodox Christian teaching, and those doctrinal issues on which Christians are free to disagree without needing to break fellowship. A teaching is truly heretical only if it errs by denying one or more of the essentials. It is aberrational, or aberrant, if it compromises or confuses the essentials, whatever it may teach on nonessentials. [7]

It is legitimate for critics of KT to voice their disagreement with it on matters of nonessentials. It is also legitimate for them to identify any serious errors which they may detect in its teaching on the essentials as either aberrant or heretical. But it is unfortunate when they confuse the two kinds of criticism.

Nonheretical though controversial aspects of the KT teaching include the following:
Identifying the church as the Israel of God, heir to the promises made originally to Israel;
Interpreting the book of Revelation symbolically;
Questioning or denying pretribulational premillennialism;
Believing that certain things must take place in the church before Christ returns;
Emphasizing the kingdom of God as a present reality;
Regarding the church as a manifestation of the kingdom of God;
Promoting unity among Christians of different traditions.

Some of these teachings will be contrary to the doctrines of dispensationalism, a theological system developed in the nineteenth century which insists on a "literal" method of biblical interpretation, teaches that the church and Israel are two separate covenant peoples of God, and looks for an any-moment rapture of the church before Christ's return, when He will set up His Millennial kingdom on the earth. [8] However, the issues raised here are ones on which Christians can have legitimate disagreements. Bishop Paulk's departure from dispensationalist doctrine, right or wrong, is not heretical or unorthodox. Indeed, it is not even unusual; from the standpoint of church history dispensationalism is the novel position (though, since Scripture is the only infallible authority in doctrine, the recent origin of dispensationalism does not prove it false). Therefore, it is a serious mistake to argue that KT is heretical on the basis of its views on these subjects.

It is also a mistake to regard KT with suspicion because of its emphasis on the kingdom of God as a present reality, or on the church as an agent of the kingdom in the world. Christ is king over all the earth now (Matt.28:19- 20; Heb.1:2-3; Eph.1:20-22; Col.1:13; etc.), and the church in its mission is advancing the cause of Christ's kingdom (Matt.28:19-20; Rom.14:17-18; etc.). This is true even if one holds that the Millennium will be a unique and more complete manifestation of the kingdom of God on the earth, as is held by premillennialists.

Nor is it wrong to believe that Christians should seek to bring godly influence to bear in political and social institutions. Responsible Christians of all centuries have sought to apply their Christian faith to all spheres of life. If KT is to be criticized in this area at all, it should be on the basis of the manner in which godly influence in the public arena is sought, or of the doctrinal foundation upon which that influence is to be based.

DODGING CRITICISM
If it is wrong to condemn KT on the basis of controversial teachings which do not affect the essentials of the faith, it is also wrong to reject all criticisms of KT as inherently divisive and improper. Earl Paulk scathingly dismisses all who would evaluate KT teachings as "pseudo-protectors of the Church." [9] His 1987 book THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW repeatedly criticizes all those who seek to evaluate the biblical soundness of Christian ministries:
At times it seems that voices warning of deception become the seducers themselves. They quote Scripture, write Christian books, speak on Christian radio and television programs, and their warnings confuse many Christians seeking truth in God's Word. They target warnings of error toward some of the most anointed, fruitful ministries in the Church today. [10]

In a letter responding to a critique of KT by William Griffin, Paulk writes:
Calling ministers "heretics" and "false prophets" cannot be tolerated, and certainly will not solve any problems of disagreement. Such labeling is totally irresponsible coming from men and women of God. [11]

While we agree that calling ORTHODOX ministers heretics and false prophets is irresponsible, we must insist that this does not invalidate identifying truly heretical ministers as such. The question here is not whether there are false prophets outside the church; Paulk would agree to that. The point of contention is whether there are false teachers-heretics-within the orthodox Christian community. the implication of the statement cited above, along with a host of similar statements in Paulk's books, is that such a suggestion is tolerable.

Yet, from a biblical perspective, the possibility of heretics within the orthodox community is sadly, undeniable. The Bible contains numerous warnings to the church to be on the watch for such false teachers (e.g., Acts 20:30; Rom.16:17; 2Cor.11:4-5, 13-15; Gal.1:6-9; 2Thess.2:1-2; 1Tim.4:1; 2Tim.2:17- 18; 4:14-15; Tit.3:10-11; 2Pet.2:1; 1John 4:1-2). Therefore, while it is wrong to label orthodox ministers as heretics, it is equally irresponsible to fail to identify heretics as such whether they represent themselves as Mormons, Catholics, Pentecostals, or Baptists. A heretic is simply someone who claims to be a Christian teacher but who teaches heretical doctrine, which, as we have said, is doctrine contrary to the essentials of Christian faith.
Paulk has put forth a number of arguments to discredit theological critiques of KT. Of these objections, two stand out: the appeal to authority, and the charge of bad fruit.

"WHERE'S YOUR COVERING?"
Repeatedly in THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW, Paulk criticizes critics of KT for not having the proper spiritual authority and calling from God "to bring admonishment to ministries." [12]
Pseudo-protectors must answer the question, "Under whose authority do your preach, teach and write?"...When people outside of God's structure of authority move as self-appointed judges or critics of ministries, they not only cause confusion in the body of Christ, but they open themselves to God's judgment....Correction of senior pastors over major ministries is proper only by designated spiritual elders to the general Church. [13] In more than one place Paulk refers to this authority the believer needs to be under as one's "covering." [14] The concept here is of a chain of command in the church in which authority flows strictly from the top down, protecting those below with a "covering" from above. Those who are below are not in a position to question the teaching of those who are above them in the chain of command. The account in the Gospels of the centurion who expressed faith in Jesus' authority to heal his servant without having to be physically present (Matt.8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10;) is typically cited as illustrative of this principle. [15]

There are a number of problems with this theory. First, it goes far beyond anything the Bible says about submission to church authority, which has to do with Christian conduct and ministry activities, not with doctrine. The prooftext passage about the centurion relates to Christ's authority, either over angels or simply over nature, but certainly has nothing to do with a hierarchical authority structure in the church.

Second, saying that we must submit to church authorities does not solve for us the problem of deciding who is, after all, in charge. Paulk holds to the view that only bishops ("spiritual elders to the general Church') have such authority. Even granting that claim for the sake of argument, which bishops are in charge? The Roman Catholic Bishops? The Eastern Orthodox bishops? The ICCC bishops? The Mormon bishops? Since Christians are faced with competing and conflicting claims to episcopal (or bishopric) authority, they have no recourse but to examine the claims of any and all such bishops, including Bishop Paulk, on the basis of scripture.
Third, the covering doctrine leaves no room for challenges of false doctrine taught by the top levels of the church. If Martin Luther, for example, had subscribed to Paulk's chain of command view of church authority, he could not in good conscience have challenged the bishop of Rome on the matter of indulgences and other abuses.

We conclude, then, that Paulk's dismissal of all criticisms of KT because the critics are not called to that ministry or do not have the proper authority is invalid. Certainly there are some people involved in the ministry of discerning cultic and heretical doctrine who are not truly discerning and who are causing division to the body of Christ, but this is simply not true of all those who are critical of KT.

"CHECK THE FRUIT"
The other major objection Paulk raises to critiques of KT is that such criticisms always produce bad fruit, whereas, he claims, KT teaching produces good fruit.
Books written on exposing ministries believed to be counterfeits hardly bring edification to Christians. What is the fruit of such probing? Suspicion. Fear. Doubt. Insecurity and mistrust of spiritual leadership. Could the source of teaching producing this fruit be from God?... Warnings against certain ministries have little effect on Christians who have experienced God's miraculous, anointed power and love in churches consistently teaching principles of the Kingdom of God...Causing divisions among believers is clearly "seduction" of Christianity.

[16]These warnings of bad fruit resulting from criticism against ministries presuppose the very thing in question, namely, whether or not the fruit of these ministries is good fruit. There is nothing wrong with "suspicion" or "doubt" or "mistrust" directed against heretical or aberrant ministries! If the ministries under criticism are orthodox, on the other hand, Paulk's criticism holds.

Part of the problem here is that Paulk seems to exclude doctrine as part of the "fruit" that must be tested. Such exclusion is unbiblical. The apostle John wrote that claims to the anointing of the Spirit should be tested by doctrine (1John 4:1-2). Moses warned that prophets whose predictions held true or who performed miracles should be rejected if they promoted a doctrine of different gods (Deut. 13:1-3).

Paulk also treats the divisions that result from criticism of ministries as the fault of the critics. This is true if the ministries are sound, but if they are not, the fault lies with the heretical or aberrant ministries, not with the critics. The apostle Paul taught that it was those who bring "doctrine contrary to what you have been taught" who create "dissensions," not those who urge Christians to "avoid them" (Rom. 16:17).

The claim that followers of KT teaching are experiencing "power" and "love" does little of itself to substantiate its orthodoxy. Nearly every heretical movement in Christian history has offered its followers such experiences. Discernment, from a biblical perspective, involves sorting out such claims on the basis of their adherence to the truth of God's word. If KT is orthodox, the power and love its followers experience is evidence that the movement is not merely "dead orthodoxy." intellectual assent to the truth apart from real faith. If, on the other hand, KT turns out to be less than orthodox, then, like the herectical movements before it, the experiences of its followers must be regarded as originating from a source other than the Holy Spirit.

FROM LATTER-RAIN TO KINGDOM NOW
To understand what KT is and why it is so important, it necessary to examine its historical development. KT did not arise in a vacuum, but is an outgrowth of a larger and somewhat diverse Pentecostal tradition known as the "The Latter-Rain" (LR) movement. This assertion might be challenged by some, and so will require some explanation and defense.
The term "later rain" (derived from James 5:7 and other biblical passages) has been used throughout the twentieth century by Pentecostals to refer to a final outpouring of the Holy Spirit to occur shortly before Christ's return, generally accompanied by specific supernatural manifestations. Originally it was used simply of the Pentecostal movement itself; and some Pentecostals still use the term in that sense. [17]

However, the term is also frequently used to refer to a movement which arose within Pentecostalism in the late 1940's. This movement originated in revival meetings held in 1948 by the Sharon Orphanage and Schools in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada, which was administered by Herrick Holt and George and Ern Hawtin. This revivalist movement soon spread throughout the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. By late 1949 the Assemblies of God found it necessary in its General Council to denounce the New Order of the Latter Rain, as it had come to be known. [18]

FRANKLIN HALL AND WILLIAM BRANHAM
The reason why the Assemblies of God took this action can best be seen in examining the teachings of the two men whose ideas brought about the 1948 movement: Franklin Hall and William Branham. As has been documented elsewhere, both of these men taught heretical versions of Christianity which combined Pentecostalism with occultism. [19]
Franklin Hall came into prominence in 1946 with his book ATOMIC POWER WITH GOD THROUGH FASTING AND PRAYER. Hall encouraged long fasts, with one disciple fasting for a reported 83 days. This "fasting message" was picked up by a number of now famous Pentecostal evangelists, including Oral Roberts. Hall, who developed his views using astrology and other pseudoscientific concepts, also claimed that men could attain immortality through UFOs and through applying a biblical "formula for weightlessness."

William Branham, also influenced by Hall, is generally credited by Pentecostal historians with leading the way, along with Oral Roberts, in bringing the "healing message" into Pentecostalism. According to this "message," Christians may not only pray for miracles of healing today, but may expect them automatically through faith. Branham taught a from of the Oneness doctrine, according to which Jesus was in some sense the Father and the Son [20] (though he avoided the terms "Oneness" and "Jesus only"), and adamantly condemned the Trinity as a doctrine from the devil. He also taught the doctrine of the "serpent seed," according to which Eve's sin in Eden was having sex with the serpent, resulting in a race of people living to this day whose biological father is Satan. Branham also claimed to be the Prophet to the "Laodicean" age, the supposed final period of church history. Branham's influence extended widely through his endorsement by the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International, a Pentecostal ministry which, though not overtly LR, has often promoted LR teachers.

The Pentecostals at Sharon Orphanage and Schools had read Hall's ATOMIC POWER and attended Branham's healing crusades, and were convinced that through these men they had learned of truths which God was "restoring" to the church in that day. Through the Sharon revivals the teachings of Hall and Branham quickly spread and took root in a number of ministries in North America. Some of the more embarrassing or peculiar theories of Hall and Branham - Hall's astrological references, Branham's "serpent's seed" theory, etc. - were weeded out, and most of the LR Pentecostals retained their belief in the Trinity (though a significant portion of the LR was and is either Oneness or leans in that direction). However, the basic theological system of LR teaching was developed directly from combining the distinctive emphases of Hall and Branham.

THE LATTER-RAIN
The theological system of the LR included the following elements:
RESTORATIONISM.
The doctrine that God has been progressively restoring truths to the Church since the Reformation. These "restored" truths usually include justification by faith (Martin Luther), water baptism by immersion (the Anabaptists), sanctification (John Wesley), divine healing (A.B. Simpson, who in 1881 founded a movement which became the Christian and Missionary Alliance), Spirit baptism (the Azusa Street revival of 1906), followed by the various "restored" truths (including those listed below) emerging from the 1948 revivals.

IMMORTALIZATION OF THE CHURCH.
The belief that the church will attain to immortality before Christ's return as a necessary aspect of its perfection and testimony to the world. While some in the LR tradition have dropped this teaching, for many it is key.

FAITH HEALING.
The belief that faith is a force that enables the believer (or, for some, the prophet, such as Branham) to create new realities out of nothing, just as God created the world out of nothing.

DISTINCTIVE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES.
Emphasized in the LR are the following disciplines or activities:
(1) Deliverance - the exorcism of demons from believers, often as a necessary step in their overcoming sinful habits of the flesh;
(2) Fasting - going without food for extended periods of time in order to attain supernatural power over the body;
(3) Laying on of hands - a ritual expressing the power of the "anointed" church leaders over the faithful; and
(4) Praise - an unrestrained form of worship calling upon God to perfect the church. (The place of praise in LR teaching was secured by George Warnock shortly after the 1948 revivals. Warnock was at time a secretary to Ern Baxter, who in turn had been William Branham's secretary.)

UNITY OF THE CHURCH.
The doctrine that the church, or (usually) a small remnant of the church, will attain mature unity of faith before Christ returns.
FIVEFOLD MINISTRY.The belief that the church today has all five offices of Ephesians 4:11, including apostles and prophets, through whom the church receives new doctrinal revelations and overall direction. Church unity comes through submission to the elders and through them to the fivefold ministry.

CHILDREN OF THE LATTER-RAIN
MANIFEST SONS OF GOD.
Among the many LR ministries which developed in the months following the LR revivals were several which subscribed to a set of doctrines which came to be known as Manifest Sons of God (MSG). Based on Hall's teachings concerning immortalization, MSG taught that the "manifestation of the sons of God" spoken of in Romans 8:19 was to occur as a result of the final shower of the Latter Rain just prior to Christ's return. These "sons of God" would be drawn from a remnant of the church, and would be individual extensions of the Incarnation or replicas of Christ, who was regarded as the "Pattern Son." Some, though not all, MSG teachers either leaned toward or fully embraced some form of Oneness or modalism (as a similar heresy in the early church is known) in which the Father became the Son, is becoming the church. Prominent MSG teachers from the early 1950's into the early 1980's included Bill Britton and John Robert Stevens; the latter was the founder of the Church of the Living Word, also know as the Walk. [21]

SHEPHERDING.
Two other movements stemming from the LR ought to be noted. The first is the "Shepherding" or "discipleship" movement. [22] Shepherding was a development in 1970 of the LR emphasis on the need for submission to spiritual leaders, and originated from the ministry of five teachers in the Fort Lauderdale area - Ern Baxter (Branham's former secretary,) Don Basham, Bob Mumford, Derek Prince, and Charles Simpson.

By the late 1970s the movement was receiving a great deal of bad press both within and outside the church. In the mid 1980s the terms "shepherding" and discipleship," along with some admitted abuses, were dropped by almost everyone connected with the teaching. However, many of the teachers of Shepherding, such as Bob Mumford, resolutely maintain the validity of the movement's basic principles [23] and seek to revive them in a new setting and under a new name (such as "covenant life" or "church life"). One organization which continued to practice Shepherding in some form in the 1980s was Maranatha Campus Ministries (MCM), founded by Bob Weiner. MCM was evaluated by a committee of cult researchers in 1983 and 1984 and found to be plagued with abuses in its exercise of authority. [24]

POSITIVE CONFESSION.
The other offspring movement of the LR was the "Positive Confession" (PC) or "word-faith" teaching, popularly known by the nickname "name it and claim it." This movement developed from an application of the basic theological system of E.W. Kenyon (who died about the same time as the LR movement was being born) to the LR concerns of healing and deliverance (as well as material prosperity). Kenyon, like Branham, taught that faith was a force which could be harnessed by anyone who employed its principles. By such faith God Himself had created the universe, and Jesus had overcome the devil after "dying spiritually" and going to hell, resulting in Jesus being "born again" as the "firstfruit" of a new species of humanity. According to the PC teaching, this new humanity has recovered its status as "little gods." Prominent teachers of PC (with some variations in each case) include such popular evangelists as Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Hagin, Charles Capps, and Robert Tilton. [25] The dependence of this movement on the LR, which is evident from their theological affinities, is illustrated by Kenneth Hagin's acknowledgement of Branham as a "prophet." [26]

THE KINGDOM MESSAGE
The "kingdom" message, or KT teaching, is essentially a synthesis of the various strands of LR teaching into a systematic doctrine focused around the concept of the "kingdom." The KT doctrine developed in the early 1980s as Pentecostals with no apparent direct ties to Hall or Branham sought to put forth a more comprehensive message incorporating all of the recently "restored" truths. As was the case with the MSG, Shepherding, and PC movements, no one individual appears to be solely responsible for the rise of KT, although certain individuals stand out - for example, Thomas F. Reid, Larry Lea, John Gimenez, and especially Earl Paulk.
All of the major themes of the LR - restorationism, immortalization of the church, healing, deliverance, fasting, laying on of hands, praise, unity of the church, and the fivefold ministry - are found in KT teaching. The MSG doctrine of the church as the ongoing Incarnation, the Shepherding theme of submission to one's "covering," and the PC emphasis on faith, prosperity, and Christians as "little gods," all find developed expression in KT.

The KT movement has particularly close affinity with the PC doctrine. In fact, it might be described as teaching a corporatization of Positive Confession. That is, KT takes the doctrines of PC, which focused on the individual, and applies them to the church as a corporate body. Whereas PC teaches that individual Christians should prosper, KT teaches that the church should prosper. In PC the believer is to "take dominion" over his personal life by exercising his godhood; in KT the church is to "take dominion" over human institutions by acting as the ongoing Incarnation in the world.

IT is this concept of "dominion" applied on the institutional level, in fact, which appears to be the major new ingredient in the KT synthesis. The origin of this facet of KT appears to be the teaching of another movement emphasizing the concept of "dominion," called Reconstructionism. Because this movement is often discussed alongside KT with little or no distinction between the two, something needs to be said about it.

RECONSTRUCTIONISM AND KINGDOM THEOLOGY
There are a least two major movements in contemporary American Christianity known by the general name of "dominion theology." KT is one of these; the other is better known as Reconstructionism. The latter movement, which arose within Reformed or Calvinistic Christianity, teaches the doctrine known as theonomy, according to which modern nations are responsible to God to enforce the civil sanctions of the Mosaic Law. Reconstructionists also generally teach postmillennialism, the view that the church will transform the world through evangelism, leading to a long age of earthly peace and prosperity before Christ returns. Thus, the theological roots of Reconstructionists and LR Pentecostals.

Most Reconstructionists, though, appear to resist being linked in any direct way with KT. It is unfortunate that almost every critique of KT has treated KT and Reconstructionism as two strands of the same teaching. While there is some overlap of terminology, ideas, and activities, the two movements are largely distinct. [27]

EARL PAULK AND THE KINGDOM
In his books Earl Paulk consistently praises the leading teachers of the movements emerging from the LR and takes a position of one building on their contributions. Oral Roberts, Kenneth Copeland and Kenneth Hagin are among the specific ministers whom Paulk defends as "anointed" messengers - in the case of Roberts, an "apostle" - to the church. [28]
It is true that Paulk attempts to dissociate himself somewhat from certain labels of LR doctrines which have suffered from "bad press." So, for instance, he rejects the "name it and claim it" label, affirming that he does not hold to that "extreme" view, and urges his readers to forget about the "theory" of MSG. However, he clearly adheres to the substance of both PC and MSG, as well as Shepherding, though wanting to distance himself from the "abuses" of these views. [29] Any differences between Paulk's teaching and those of the MSG, Shepherding, and PC movements appear to be refinements due to synthesis, much as the LR of the 1950s adopted Franklin Hall and William Branham's "restored truths" while refining out the more bizarre and incongruous elements.

The KT of Earl Paulk, then, is a system of doctrine developed directly out of the LR movement with some possible influence (of a nonheretical sort) by Reconstructionism. A direct line of theological influence (and not mere "association") can therefore be traced from the teachings of Franklin Hall and William Branham, both of whom were unquestionably heretics, to the teachings of Earl Paulk.

Check this out!
http://americanpentecost.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/archbishop-earl-paulk-dead/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Paulk

Thee Serpents Seed...

2010-03-28T10:08:00.000-07:00

William Branham

Ministry & Church
Founded Branham Tabernacle in Jeffersonville, Indiana after rejecting all denominations as being anti-christ. He also founded the Voice of God Recordings INC and the William Branham Evangelistic Association. Branham began his faith healing ministry in 1946.
Beliefs & Key Doctrines
*Oneness Pentecostal/Jesus Only/the heresy of Modalism also known as *Monarchianism and sabellianism
*Latter Rain/Manifest Sons of God
*Word of Faith
*The anti-semetic Serpents Seed Doctrine
Ministry Emphasis
*New Revelation/Extra Biblical Revelation
*False Prophecy
*Claimed Signs and Wonders
*Spiritism
*Clairvoyance (occult practice of seeing the supernatural through sight)
*Clairaudience (occult practice of hearing the supernatural eg audible voices)
*Occultic Faith Healer
Books Authored
An Exposition of the Seven Church Ages
Conduct Order Doctrine Of The Church – where Branham openly denies the trinity

Known Associates
Oral Roberts
Demos Shakarian (Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International)
Gordon Lindsay (Christ for the Nations)
T L Osborn
William Branham has influenced much of modern day Petecostalism and many of the modern day false teachers, including: Paul Cain, Marilyn Hickey, Earl Paulk, Oral Roberts, Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, Rodney Howard Brown, Benny Hinn etc.

Note:: Branham was Mentored by Franklin Hall

William Branham was a deluded heretic, who was heavily influenced and involved in the occult. He denied the fundamentals of the Christian faith and his ministry was built on a sordid foundation of extra biblical revelation and counterfeit signs and wonders. Branham was unable to understand scripture - his sermons are bizarre at best. He was a poorly educated man and from his birth he was plagued by occultic manifestations. Branham’s faith healing ministry appears to have been empowered by a fallen angel (demon) who remained with Branham throughout his healing ministry, revealing the satanic influence behind his ministry.

Branham was influenced by the teaching of the occultist Franklin Hall. William Branham was fascinated with the Zodiac and Egyptian occultism as was his mentor Franklin Hall. Branham’s obsession with the occult is evident even in his death: his grave is marked by an occultic pyramid tombstone.

Truth Watch: Assessment / Warning
William Branham was plagued by occult manifestations from birth. According to Branham in his “Life Story” his birth was accompanied by a supernatural manifestation. A light appeared above his head soon after his birth. This same manifestation appeared with Branham right throughout his life. This manifestation could apparently be seen by the congregation while Branham preached from the pulpit. This same light has also shown up in various photographs as a halo or flame around or over Branham’s head. These photographs still circulate among Branham’s followers who have accepted this as proof of Gods presence and approval of William Branham and his occultic faith healing ministry.

It seems evident that Branham acquired a familiar spirit from birth. This accounts for these manifestations of light that plagued him. Branham began to see visions of angelic beings from the age of three. At the age of seven Branham heard an audible voice telling him that he was not to defile his body in anyway as he had important work to do in the future. He went on to have many other visions and to hear audibly, voices that related information to him concerning future events. In 1946 William Branham’s ‘angel’ manifested to him once again and bestowed on him counterfeit gifts of healing and prophecy. He claimed to have received power from his angel, which enabled him to read the minds of people. Branham could not heal without his ‘angel of light’ being. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder as Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

William Branham manifested the occultic ‘gift’ of clairvoyance, which enabled him to see spirit entities (demons) who appeared to him as angels of light. He was able to hear spirit entities audibly because he manifested the false occultic ‘gift’ of clairaudience. Branham and his gifts were not from God as he and his followers claimed, but from Satan. Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to me on that day Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles. Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evil doers.

Satan can and does counterfeit spiritual gifts. He does perform lying signs and wonders and satanic healings with the intention to deceive the undiscerning. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. A good example of Satan’s counterfeit power at work is in Exodus. Pharaoh’s sorcerers/magicians were able to counterfeit the Lord’s miraculous sign’s and wonders by their secret arts (occult powers) but only to a certain point. The Lord has limited Satan’s power. This is shown in Exodus as the magicians could only counterfeit three of the Lords eleven miraculous signs: the snakes/blood/frogs. See Exodus 7-12.
We are never to judge a ministry by its manifestation of signs and wonders, but by it’s doctrine. William Branham’s teaching was clear heresy that blatantly contradicted scripture.
Galatians 1:8-9 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you another gospel other than what you accepted let him be eternally condemned!

2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there are false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who brought them-bringing swift destruction on themselves.
1 John 4:1 Dear friends do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
We must search scripture like the Bereans to see if what we are being taught is of God. Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Ephesians 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and the cunning craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
Cross references Further articles on William Branham:
http://www.watchman.org/profile/branpro.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branhamism

WILLIAM BRANHAM
continued

Inscribed on a pyramid-shaped tombstone in a Jeffersonville, Indiana cemetery, are the names of the seven churches of Revelation, "Ephesian" at the base representing the beginning of the Church Age, "Laodicean" near the top the end of the Church Age. On the opposite face are the names of seven men whose impact on the Church throughout its history has been significant.

Were the two faces of the pyramid juxtaposed one over the other, we would see the names of the churches superimposed over the men's names in the following order, from bottom to top:
Ephesian - Paul
Smyrnean - Ireneaus
Pergamean - Martin
Thyatirean - Columba
Sardisean - Luther
Philadelphian - Wesley
Laodicean - Branham

Among most major proponents of Kingdom Theology these men are considered the great reformers of the various stages of Church history. To many Kingdom Theology proponents William Branham was perhaps the greatest "prophet" for the Church's final age.

In 1948, Branham, a Baptist preacher turned Pentecostal, and influenced by Franklin Hall, gained notoriety for his teachings on what he called, "God's Seventh Church Age" (supposedly the final move of God before the manifestation of His Kingdom on earth). Branham based this teaching primarily on Joel 2:23 and Revelation 1:20-3:22, the latter recording Jesus' messages to the seven churches in Asia Minor.

Branham claimed that the angels (messengers) to the churches were men who appeared at various times throughout Church history to usher in revelations that would lead the Church in new directions according to the purpose of God. As indicated on his tombstone, Branham was thought to be the angel to the Church of Laodicea - the end-time Church.

In his teachings on Joel 2:23, Branham defined the "latter rain" as the Pentecostal movement of his day. God's promise to restore what the locust, cankerworm, caterpillar, and palmerworm had eaten, he defined as the "restoration" of the Church out of denominationalism (which he equated with "the Mark of the Beast").

Although denying he was a believer in the "oneness" doctrine, Branham had his own form of "oneness" teaching that defined God as one person who manifested Himself as three different "attributes": the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, rather than three Persons comprising one Godhead.21 He believed the doctrine of the Trinity was the "Babylonian Foundation" of the denominations, inherited from Roman Catholicism.22

Branham also believed that the Word of God was given in three forms: the Zodiac, the Egyptian pyramids, and the written Scriptures.23 The Zodiac theory was not new, having been put forth by Franklin Hall previously, and as early as 1893 by historian E.W. Bullinger in his book, 'The Witness of the Stars.' The idea that the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt was constructed by God (possibly through Enoch) is at least as old as the Zodiac theory, and is popular with the Dawn Bible Students, an offshoot of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

It can be said of Branham that he had a simplicity and apparent humility which attracted many followers. "Gordon Lindsay told of how he impressed audiences with his utter and complete consecration."24

The Serpent's Seed
In spite of his apparent humility and consecration, Branham had great difficulty controlling a strident, hateful attitude toward women. In his own poor English, transcribed from a sermon, Branham stated, "But I remember when my father's still up there running, I had to be out there with water and stuff, see young ladies that wasn't over seventeen, eighteen years, up there with a man my age now, drunk. And they'd have to sober them up and give them black coffee, to get them home to cook their husband's supper. Oh, something like that, I said, 'I...This was my remarked [sic] then, THEY'RE NOT WORTH A GOOD CLEAN BULLET TO KILL THEM WITH IT.' That's right. And I hated women. That's right. And I just have to watch every move now, to keep from still thinking the same thing."25

This attitude toward women may have played a part in the development of Branham's bizarre "Serpent Seed" teaching. This was based on a twisted interpretation of Genesis 3:13, where Eve is recorded as saying, "The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat." The word "beguiled" Branham defined as "seduced sexually." He claimed that Satan and Eve engaged in an adulterous affair out of which Cain was born. Since that time evil has passed from generation to generation through women, who keep the seed of the serpent alive.26 He seemed to think that women are responsible for the evil in the world because of their enticements.

The "Serpent's Seed" teaching obviously indicated that Branham didn't take the Scriptures literally, where we read, "And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived and bare Cain..." (Genesis 4:1).

His animosity toward women led to the preaching of a rigid moral code that lambasted them on their manner of dress, and may have been responsible for his "revelation" that allowed for divorce.27

Supernatural Manifestations
From the time of his infancy it was evident to his parents that William's life had upon it the touch of the supernatural. Born in 1909 in a mountain cabin near Berksville, Kentucky, William Marrion Branham's childhood was spent in extreme poverty. His father was only eighteen years of age, and his mother fifteen when he came into the world weighing a scant five pounds, the first of nine boys and one girl.28

The following account may be legend or fact, but it was part of Branham's testimony from the start: On the day of his birth, after being washed, he was placed in his mother's arms by the midwife who then went to a window to open the shutter. (There was no glass in the Branham house in those days.) As dawn broke sending a few rays of light into the room, there was seen a small circular halo about a foot in diameter, above the bed where little William lay in his mother's arms.29

Thousands of people have supposedly seen this halo, which is ostensibly revealed in a photograph taken in Houston, Texas, during a January, 1950, campaign. (The best we've been able to obtain is a photostatic copy of a copy which, though poorly reproduced here, will allow the reader to see what has been taken for a "halo." Whether this is a halo or a flaw in the negative - whether it is a manifestation from God or Satan or poor photography, we will leave to the reader's judgment.)

When he was three years of age, Branham experienced for the first time what he called "the Voice." At age seven "the Voice" commanded him, "Don't you never drink, smoke, or defile your body in any way. There'll be work for you to do when you get older."30

This "Voice" accompanied Branham throughout his lifetime, and eventually made itself known as an "angel" that directed him in every aspect of his personal life.31 During healing services Branham would often fall into a trance during which his angel would work through him. Asked once if the healings were done by the Holy Spirit, Branham replied, "No, my angel does it."32

Branham was one of the foremost proponents of the theory of healing and imparting the Holy Spirit through the "laying on of hands." He would often feel a heat in his hand as he touched affected parts, and exhibited a remarkable clairvoyancy in knowing intimate details of the lives of people he had never seen before. No doubt this was due to the angel's possession of his mind.

Difficulties With The Brethren
Branham's unorthodox methods of healing and allegedly imparting the Holy Spirit by the laying on of his hands came under severe criticism by the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. These practices became major sources of controversy between the Latter Rain Movement and the established Pentecostal denominations who held to their belief that one must "tarry" in prayer for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

No one conversant with Pentecostalism will deny that, for better or for worse, William Branham had a tremendous effect on the neo-Pentecostalism of his time. From all accounts, he did exhibit remarkable healing powers which no doubt played a significant part in giving credibility to his teachings.

Branham was warmly welcomed by Pentecostal churches and organizations such as the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International. This organization in particular provided his most reliable support. In 1961, the editor of FGBMFI's magazine, 'Voice,' wrote, "In Bible Days, there were men of God who were Prophets and Seers. But in all the Sacred Records, none of these had a greater ministry than that of William Branham."34
It should be noted that often what Branham taught as a guest speaker differed from what he taught at his own church, Branham Tabernacle, where he felt freer to disclose his more aberrant teachings.

Toward the end of his career, however, Branham's public espousal of his strange doctrines became even more controversial and he was used less and less by the FGBMFI, though for several years his speaking engagements were underwritten by local chapters. For years he had been a frequent speaker at regional and national conventions.

Eulogies
Branham's life ended abruptly. While on a trip to Arizona, his car was hit head-on by one driven by a drunken driver. For six days he lay in a coma and, on Christmas Eve, 1965, he passed away.
The entire Pentecostal world was shaken by the tragedy. "A number of old friends - Oral Roberts, Demos Shakarian, T.L. Osborn - telephoned their concern."35
When Branham died, Demos Shakarian wrote, "Rev. Branham often made the statement that the only Fellowship to which he belonged was FGBMFI. Often, when called upon to speak at various conventions and chapter meetings, he has traveled long distances to keep those engagements. His spirit of service was an inspiration."36

Many of Branham's followers believed that he had truly come in the spirit of Elijah; some believed him to be God, born of a virgin.37 They fully expected him to rise from the dead and come back to them at the end of three days.
Five days after his passing, William Branham was buried, and his grave was soon marked by the pyramid-shaped tombstone.

To date, William Branham's body is still in the grave. But his occult approach to healing was picked up by hundreds of pastors and teachers who have traded on it to a greater or lesser degree.

Favoring the supernatural by ignoring the heresy- Endorsing William Branham
I find it amazing that people can easily overlook or intentionally ignore obvious false teachings just so they can admire the supernaturalism of a man. I’m speaking about the flagrant admiration of William Branham by the mystically inclined false prophets of our day. Blinded by the pursuit of supernatural power they desire the same abilities as Branham, they consider him anointed beyond anyone of his time, so he is admired.

William Branham was THE main figure of the healing revivals of the late 40's and 50's that extended into the early 60’s until he was killed in a car accident. Nearly all charismatics give a thumbs up William Branham. Considering him a forerunner of many of the “healing evangelists” of today in that he would call out words of knowledge and prophesy.

They believe the message because they are convinced of the presence of the supernatural in his life. Branham’s followers see his "gifts" of prophecy and healing as vindication that his Message is true. Some excuse Branham as a teacher stating he was not called or equipped for that role, he was a prophet and a miracle worker. the bible has a lot to say about false doctrine and one may not be called to be a teacher but they must have right doctrine for God to work miracles through them or there is no true anointing.

Its not just purity of life when one has so many errors (i.e on core doctrine). Though Branham claimed "Don't you never drink, smoke, or defile your body in any way. There'll be a work for you to do when you get older” (William Branham, My Life Story p. 24). We find out that this audible voice Branham heard came from a tree where he first saw a whirlwind. He avoided going by the tree from then on. But this same voice accompanied him the rest of his life only he later understood it was an angel, the angel of the Lord.

The teachings of Branham speak for themselves. For those trained in the bible as the word of truth and are unwilling to go beyond its sacred pages Branham brought another spirit into the church. Besides warning of an angel coming with another message (gospel that changes the person, the spirit and the message of Christ). From his experiences of pillars of light, he waited for the angel to be near him in his services before he could do any miracles. He vehemently denied the Trinity. Branham believed in three Bibles; the Scripture, the Zodiac and the pyramids were other revelations of God. Branham mixed other teachings that were occultic in nature with the Bible and came to his own unique interpretations. “The first Bible was in the sky, called the zodiac. … in the zodiac is the virgin. The last thing in the zodiac is Leo the Lion: the first coming of Christ through the virgin; the second coming, Leo the Lion, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah” (The Spoken Word; p.10-12 ; William Marrion Branham; Blasphemous Names, November 4, 1962, Branham Tabernacle, Jefferson, Indiana Vol. 3 No. 21)

Branham eventually believed he was “the seventh angel from God, and that he was Elijah the prophet. It was not his followers that told them this, he told them. Denying that Eve ate the fruit from the tree God forbid them to, He arrived at the insidious serpent seed doctrine. Instead he spiritualized the event- Eve had sex with the devil which produced Cain. He Denied hell was eternal. And a host of other alterations that affected Scripture.

He taught that denominations were abominations, belonging to any denomination meant you had taken “the mark of the beast” which certainly is overlooked by his admirers today, though embraced by the New Apostolics that believe we are in the post denomination era and use it to promote their movement.

But it is the Latter Rain doctrine that he espoused that so many in the church took to. If one wants to find a source for the Pentecostal waywardness of you can certainly point to Branham for many of the problems in the church today.

It was the book, "A Man Sent From God" by Gordon Lindsay (founder of Christ for the Nations) that introduced many who were unfamiliar with Branham. He introduced Oral Roberts to Branham in April 1948 and Roberts then endorsed him. He commented Later “I think he learned some things” “There is a striking similarity between the manner in which God’s healing gifts work through Brother Branham and Brother Roberts. The power of healing works through Brother Roberts right hand while it works through Brother Branham’s left hand” (Oral Roberts an American Life by David Harrell jr. p.150)

Demos Shakarian Full Gospel Business Men wholeheartedly promoted him until he later learned the extent of his teachings. Ern Baxter, Marilyn Hickey, Earl Paulk, Oral Roberts, Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, Rodney Howard Brown, Morris Cerullo, and A. A. Allen, Robert Liardon, Benny Hinn, Paul Cain, Todd Bentley the list of promoters and admirers is ongoing. In fact you cannot be accepted as a prophet in most circles without giving kudos to Branham.

William Branham’s invited Baxter to join him and travel with him. “Branham asked to see me personally. He said that he had been in prayer and the angel of the Lord had spoken to him and told him that I was to be his companion in ministry. He invited me to join him.” He joined Branham in Ashland, Oregon 1947 and left about 1953-54.

The Latter Rain promoter Earl Paulk sums it up “What God is doing today is raising up prophets. I don't have any doubt in my mind that Oral Roberts is a prophet to the Church to bring us back to the healings. Many of them - Branham and many others - I believe that the Hagins and the Copelands, we have varying doctrines here, but I believe they brought us back to understanding the power in God's Word." (Earl Paulk, guest appearance on "Praise The Lord," Trinity Broadcasting Network, March 4, 1986.)

Laughter revivalist Rodney- Howard- Browne said of William Branham: "A true prophet of God.” He considers William Branham to be a "great man of God" ("The Coming Revival", written by Howard-Browne, p. 13)

Che Ahn whose been involved in the Latter Rain revivalism that came to the church as the “Toronto Blessing” told Todd Todd Bentley ‘There’s a Branham anointing on you, a double portion of it.’

Yet, it ended up to be double the sin as the outcome of bringing his supernatural circus to Florida. Bentley coveting an association with Branham led him down the road of deception and gave him acceptance to his “Latter rain” peers.

Bentley explains: “an angel appeared to me, the angel said, “I am the angel that has been assigned to your life. I am a healing angel . . . You are going to take miracles, signs and wonders around the world.” “I was with William Branham” (the Voice of Healing movement), the angel said. He told me about William Branham’s angelic encounter in 1946. (DISCERNING THE CALL OF GOD by Revivalist Todd Bentley - [as edited by Kathy Thorne] Part 2 of 2)
Bentley colorfully decorated himself with tattoos like generals with medals and was widely accepted to “near Jesus status” by leading the church to a new level like those (neo) Pentecostals before him, one which was constantly mentioned- Branham.

Some believed that Paul Cain has the same anointing as William Branham. John Wimber certainly was impressed. Paul Cain once called Branham, "The greatest prophet who ever lived." After all he traveled with Branham and was one of his disciples. Paul Cain is connected to Bob Jones who personally influenced Bentley (and others) to a great degree by his visits heaven. But it was Paul Cain who told Bentley that he was the new breed that they have all been waiting for.
Another friend of Bentley, Bill Johnson of Bethel Chuch says [while defending Todd Bentley]: “William Branham. If I mention the name, William Branham, in certain circles, I mean, they almost want to, you know, stone me, because William Branham is known for the heresy towards the end of his life. And yet there are few men that have ever lived, and perhaps no one that has ever lived that carried the anointing and the power that this particular man had.”

Carried the anointing? Lest we forget, Satan was the anointed Cherub as well, do they consider this? It is often said Branham’s heresy was at the end of his ministry, not so, it only became obvious at the end. It was there before he even claimed to know the Lord and be employed in his service.

We are told that a light, as halo shined on Branham at birth. Branham’s parents were not Christian and it has nbeen found they believed in fortunetelling, this of course meant that William Branham was raised in an environment that was exposed to the occult, which can often influence the next generation.

“When Branham met fortunetellers, they even told him that he was influenced by supernatural powers:
…one day my cousins and I was going down through a carnival ground, and we was just boys, walking along. So there was a little old fortuneteller sitting out there in one of those tents. ... She said, "Say, you, come here a minute!" And the three of us boys turned around. And she said, "You with the striped sweater" (that was me). ...
And I walked up, I said, "Yes, ma’am, what could I do for you?"
And she said, "Say, did you know there’s a Light that follows you? You were born under a certain sign."

I said, "What do you mean?" She said, "Well, you were born under a certain sign. There’s a Light that follows you. You were born for a Divine call." (William Branham: The Man and His Message, pp. 22-23.-- quoted from FOOTPRINTS ON THE SANDS OF TIME My life story" p.77)
"Not long after the commission as the forerunner of the second coming of Christ, Branham was visited by an angel. He was told that he was being given two ministry gifts. He would receive the gift of healing and the gift of the "word of knowledge." Branham came to believe that this angel was the source of all his visions. Branham inquired of the angel why he should believe he was an angel of God. The angel told him that the religious leaders of Christ's day had called Jesus a devil. He should not worry about the opposition from family and fellow ministers. Branham had been told by fortune-tellers in impromptu meetings that he had a special gift of God and was born under a sign. The angel assured him that even devils had confirmed that Jesus was the Christ and not to be concerned by the testimony of fortune-tellers" (Brother Branham, pp. 74, 75, 79)
This was the extent of Branham testing the spirits. Which was lacking greatly for what he was being led h into.

His sermons were at times interlaced with foreign teachings from the Bible: "...But now what if He comes...See, that was the days gone by, back in the Pentecostal days. We're living ahead of that now. We are beyond Pentecost, the same as we are Methodist and Lutheran. We're way on up to the coming of the Lord, where the ministry that Jesus Christ exercised, Himself, has to be exactly. Like the headstone on the pyramid, has to be honed till every stone fits perfectly. And the church has got to get in that condition to receive the Headstone, then take the whole thing in the resurrection, when the Body is raised up... " (The Spoken Word by William Marrion Branham, Phoenix Series 1964; Looking Unto Jesus 4, Vol.22 No.2; p. 25 )
Branham was killed in car accident and was buried under a pyramid shaped tombstone in Indiana showing his influence by occultism; that he continued to believe strongly in mixing occult concepts with the Bible till the end.

With discernment at nearly 0 level the church had accepted Branham. Why? The Charismatics motto is- By experience we will travel, by supernatural power we will be convinced.
The roots are what matter; error begets error; the Latter Rain action of laying of hands passes the spirit to others and as they willingly sit under Latter Rain teaching, they are convinced all the more.

Latter Rain teachings have progressive revelation, new revelation, Joel’s Army, Manchild doctrine, Replacement Theology, Post-Millennial Eschatology, Post-denominational Church, Signs and Wonders, Restoration of Apostles and Prophets, and Kingdom Now/Dominion Theology and a host of other unbiblical teachings.

Now we come to the main point – the Elijah List. Don’t let the name of a true prophet being used fool you, they have nothing to do with Elijah or true prophecy- they are a group of men and woman claiming to represent the Lord (as stated in Mt.24) attributing to the Lord anything that comes to their mind.

We live in the days of diminished discernment and the intimidation with fear to judge teaching. Now we have a group of prophets all desiring to be like Branham.
Steve Shultz Founder and Publisher The ElijahList & ElijahRain magazine has numerous of the prophets featured endorse Branham, considering that they call themselves prophets you wonder how they can be so blind to Branham’s departure of Scripture.
On his website- Prophetic TV, Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Do psychics have a prophetic gift from God?
After weak explanation by use of Scripture to prove we are born with spiritual gifts (this is not true one must be born again for them)
"...God's gifts and his call are irrevocable."

As you look around in society, you can see that there are people with many different giftings: in music, art, sports, politics, business, education, science, and many other areas of endeavor. Some of these people use their gifts for the glory of God, and some use their gifts for their own selfish, and even demonic, purposes.

We believe that it is quite likely that people who end up operating as psychics were born with a prophetic gifting from God, which has been turned to a wrong use which the Father did not intend.” http://www.prophetic.tv/faqs.php

This idea certainly opens up one to just about anything as being valid, so it is not surprising that they would accept Branham without any testing of doctrine. It is even more objectionable that these men claim to be prophets (last day prophets) and are unable to discern.
On his website Shultz introduces Paul Keith Davis: "William Branham: A Forerunner Ministry and Prototype of the Bridal Company” by Paul Keith Davis: Mar 6, 2009: WhiteDove Ministries-

From the desk of Steve Shultz:
“Paul Keith Davis takes us back in history to a time of William Branham, who was a minister during the earlier part of the 20th century. There is much to be learned from and sought after in this man's extraordinary prolific life with signs and wonders following him. As Paul Keith shares, we have much to look forward to in our present day generation:

"A divine presence distinguished Branham's life and ministry. He was given glimpses into the plan and destiny of Heaven for individuals and corporate bodies. His ministry was a forerunner model that foresaw the impact of a body of Believers who will emerge in our day and embody the living Word. The signs and wonders that follow will release a bridal revival that will be identified according to John 14:12—a 'greater works' generation."
Enough said, you'll have to read more for yourself...enjoy!
Here are also a couple of resources that will help you to supernaturalize and operate in the breakthrough anointing:

He then mentions “Operating in the Breakthrough- Forerunner Anointing by Dutch Sheets.

Paul Keith Davis:
"William Branham: A Forerunner Ministry and Prototype of the Bridal Company" During the early 1930s an extraordinarily gifted prophet began to emerge as a spiritual leader of a new ministry model. His name was William Branham. He was a very simple, uneducated man raised in the hills of Kentucky and ordained as a Baptist minister. Even so, God wonderfully graced this humble man with a revelatory gift and supernatural power not seen since the early Church. Not only were the miracles and healings that accompanied his ministry astounding, but he was also shown numerous future events with remarkable accuracy that now are a matter of historical record.

Following a series of evangelistic meetings, Branham held a baptismal service on June 11, 1933, for new converts. Some four thousand people lined the banks of the Ohio River to observe and celebrate the service. While baptizing the seventeenth person, a whirling amber light descended from Heaven and rested directly above Branham. Virtually all the witnesses present could see this supernatural sign. Many eyewitnesses ran in fear, while others fell to their knees and worshipped because they recognized this was God doing something truly extraordinary.”

“In this experience God gave William Branham a forerunner message for his life and ministry. I believe he was a token or prototype of an entire body of people who will emerge as Jesus' bridal company. By his own acknowledgment, Branham was a harbinger of something new and fresh the Lord planned for the last days. This supernatural dimension will be commonplace in end-time life and ministry.’
This commonplace is what is identified as the prophetic movement- better known by those more astute in the Bible as the apostasy.

“This public display of God's awesome power framed a heavenly intention. No design of Heaven is ever administered futilely. Every word and demonstration that proceeds from the mouth and hand of God will return fruitfully. A Kingdom message for today's Church was sent to that prior generation—and we are responsible for its consummation. The Living Word desires to rest in His Bride. Jesus wants to become flesh once more and demonstrate His Kingdom power and redemptive virtue.

This was what the prophets that were involved with Wimber said that changed the Vineyard church for the worse. Mike Bickle and others spoke of him incarnating in the church- in other words the latter rain teaching of the manifest sons of god. “... when the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us we beheld the glories of the only begotten of the Father and when YOU begin to become that Word, I want you to know the world will behold the glory of the Father and that's what we're waiting to see. I want you In now that we're going to have some channeling one of these days, but it's going to be channeled right out of the throne room of heaven" (VINEYARD Prophetic Conference. 1989, transcripts)

The Church IS Jesus Christ come in the flesh (as Early Paulk believed).
As does Benny Hinn “When I stand in Christ - I am one with Him; united to Him; one spirit with Him. I am not, hear me, I am not a part of Him, I am Him! The Word has become flesh in me!”(Benny Hinn The Anointing, p. 520)

The “Day of the Lord” is re-interpreted by the false prophets to mean that Christ will come to His Church and incarnate (become God in flesh) an army of believers” ( JOEL’S ARMYJewel Grewe DISCERNMENT MINISTRIES)

Like Branham that prophesied falsely: “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." And may it be again, Lord, that the Word will become flesh, It'll pour through Thy church and Thy people, to fulfill the promises of the hour” (A Paradox, Westward Ho Hotel, Phoenix, AZ, 1965)
Paul Keith Davis goes on bragging on Branham’s abilities. And descents into near idol worship--

Early Supernatural Models
“Branham had several supernatural experiences for which he had no frame of reference or ability to understand. Neither he nor those with whom he was in ministry relationship comprehended the revelatory realm of God. …very few people had personally experienced this supernatural dimension of God. …the Spirit showed him things that would occur in the future. He shared those encounters openly with those around him. To everyone's amazement, the events came to pass in precisely the manner he predicted. Tremendous healings frequently accompanied his revelatory experiences.

It wasn't until an angelic visitation on May 7, 1946, though, that Branham came to understand more fully the purpose and validity of the supernatural dimension into which he had been thrust. This minister of God was desperate to understand the spiritual realms he was witnessing or he would die trying. He set his intent on discovering whether his visions and trances were from God or from the enemy. He loved the Lord too much to allow deception to rule him.

Branham withdrew to a secluded wooded area in rural Indiana. There was no food, electricity, or other provision. All he did was lay before God in humility and sincerity. Wonderfully, the Lord answered the cry of His servant. An angel was sent to Branham and told him about his life and calling in a face to face encounter. This heavenly messenger came to impart spiritual understanding and a divine commission.
(Paul Keith and Wanda Davis WhiteDove Ministries)

These same words and concept were echoed by Mike Bickle "... and they (apostles, prophets) do things that you have no frame of reference for understanding because, believe me, what's going to be coming down in the next twenty years you and I have no frame of reference for understanding. It is going to be so unusual you are not going to be able to look at the word for every manifestation and find one there because the Spirit of the Lord has so many manifestations that you and I know nothing about." (Divine Appointment [Introduction], Mike Bickle, 3/29/89, cassette tape)

Where do the apostles teach to go into the Spiritual realm? God will occasionally give a vision or dream, if one looks carefully we find these were throughout the course of a lifetime and not lasting for days or months, nor were they consistent in the New Testament that is training believers to walk by the word in this dark world.

Many may not be aware of the similarities of Joseph Smith who also retreated into the woods asking God for wisdom and was approached by unearthly beings that he thought were either angels or Christ himself.

To understand white dove ministries is about one only needs to read their promotion of Branham and Latter Rain.
Paul Keith and Wanda Davis: "Special Bulletin from the Mount of Olives in Israel: Messengers of His Face Are Coming From Heaven"

And I believe, at least for our nation, there has been a curse on our land because of the lack of the honoring of the fathers. I believe we're to honor the fathers of the prior generation as well as the fathers of the apostolic age. …In our conference we honored many people like William Branham and A.A. Allan.

“A divine presence distinguished Branham's life and ministry. He was given glimpses into the plan and destiny of Heaven for individuals and corporate bodies. His ministry was a forerunner model that foresaw the impact of a body of Believers who will emerge in our day and embody the living Word. The signs and wonders that follow will release a bridal revival that will be identified according to John 14:12—a 'greater works' generation." (Paul Keith Davis: "William Branham: A Forerunner Ministry and Prototype of the Bridal Company" by Paul Keith Davis Mar 6, 2009)
What he left out were Branham's failed words, and a real examination of the words of an "angel" that he claimed was the angel of the Lord (who no longer appears to anyone after he became flesh in Jesus Christ who is now at the right hand of the Father). So as we can see we have a theological problem and a supernatural one. For if the angel is not who he said he is then everything done was a counterfeit of a great magnitude. The bridal revival is right out of the pages of the false Latter Rain as is a greater works generation. Jesus said this to all Christians. From the first century on that greater work has been done through gospel preaching that brings people into the kingdom and the Spirit immediately indwelling them.

Barbie Breathitt on the Elijahlist:“I could go on to talk about William J. Seymour, Maria Woodworth Etter, Alexander Campbell, Alexander Dowie, Smith Wigglesworth, Charles Finney, William Branham, AA Allen, Jack Coe, Charles Price, etc. etc.; all of whom impacted regions and nations for the glory of God.

“Church history has many great supernatural ministers like A.A. Allen, Jack Coe, William Branham and Katherine Kuhlman. They tuned their ears to hear and their hearts to perceive the angelic messengers sent to direct them into the Holy Spirit flow.”
Barbie Breathitt:"The Bride is Entering a New Cycle of Anointing - Releasing His Angels All Over the Globe")

“The time to receive mantles like Katherine Kuhlman, Aimee Semple McPherson, John G. Lake, Jack Coe, William Branham and others has come! Ask the Lord to take you to higher heights to receive these heavenly mantles. Barbie Breathitt: "New Winds, Keys and Doors: What He Opens No One Can Shut, and What He Shuts No One Can Open")

Where are we taught to receive mantles in the New Testament? Because it mentions it once with Elisha it now becomes the norm? no one else ever had a mantle passed on. This is how the Latter rain teachers operate, they take phrases or concepts and lift them out of their context, spiritualize them and make themselves sound spiritually insightful.

“On January 16,1956, during the height of the great tent revivals that swept America and the world, William Branham stood up in the church of Philadelphia in Chicago, Illinois, and prophesied that "America had turned down her opportunity with the Lord." Because William Branham was the forerunning prophetic voice of the day, the tent revivals and the move of the Holy Spirit literally stopped at this word. They were offered an incredible opportunity into the supernatural flow of the Holy Spirit at that critical juncture that would carry the body further down the road in revival. But America missed her opportunity--she refused God's offer! Then 50 years later On January 16, 2006, this 50 year destiny door was reopened and another opportunity had been offered to this generation. The number 50 is Jubilee!! The Lord called this door a "Golden Jubilee." This invitation must be understood and apprehended as we pass through the doors of destiny, and encounter the Lord in genuine and experiential ways” (Jeff Jansen: "THE GLORY REVIVAL AND THE NEW CIRCUIT RIDERS" By Jeff Jansen Feb 17, 2007).

This is the kind of teaching that takes place when one departs the word of God into another interpretation often by experience.

How is 2006 the jubilee (a golden Jubilee- Says who? Not God)
The exclusive offer for the opportunity into the supernatural flow of the Holy Spirit is now opened but was not before this? This even goes against the false prophets that through the 80’s, and 90’s that said it was taking place. The fact is God never stopped working and the Jesus revival of the 70’s in America counters this false accusation.

Glory Dates Leading Us to Glory

“After this experience that occurred on May 7, I realized that May 7, was another important date on God's calendar. William Branham had been commissioned to the healing ministry on that date by an angel in 1946.

This was also the date that Mike Bickle, and the Church in Kansas City, began a 21-day fast for revival in 1983. Bob Jones had declared that a comet would come on the day the fast began, which would be unpredicted by scientists, and be a sign that revival would surely come. The sign happened on May 7, just as he had foretold. They all thought revival would come immediately after the fast ended in 1983.

However, Bob had a dream on the last day of the fast and told Mike the following: "The Lord spoke to me in a dream last night, and told me He is not going to break loose in the revival in the way that we all thought. God never said that it would begin after the fast. We only assumed it would. The Lord says, 'No! There is an appointed time and appointed season for America, and when the Lord says it's time, it will not be one day late.'"Todd Bentley also had a visitation on Mother's Day, 2005. He was told that the healing ministry would begin that day. He was also told that the kingly anointing would begin on Mother's Day, and he understood that to be the apostolic ministry. He heard the Lord speak to him audibly "Acts 5:12 begins today." And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people, Acts 5:12.” (Kari Browning: "The Appointed Time Has Come" By Kari Browning Jun 9, 2006)
I would think a lot of people want a redo with what they said about Todd Bentley. And who would be those apostles be today? The very ones who are leading us away from the Scripture with supernatural doctrines that are made up, those who promote Branham. They cite Branham but yet Branham said the revival was over when he was alive.

Will the charismatics finally admit they are denying what is written and exalting ungodly supernatural experiences over the word? With mystic teachings like these is it any wonder the church is in such bad shape. People visit the Elijah list website day after day and actually believe that these people are prophets.

Let me leave you with this last quotation by Branham where A newspaper photographer asked permission to take a picture and the result was the famous so called Pillar of Fire seen resting on Brother Branham's 'right' shoulder.

“I've been convinced since that day He met me on the river! Hallelujah! I'm convinced that He's here now! I'm convinced that that Pillar of Fire is the same Pillar of Fire that was with Israel in the wilderness, is the same Pillar of Fire with the Church in this. Glory! I'm convinced It's right! I've give my life for It! I've left home and everything else; give everything for It! I'm convinced It's the Truth!

“That Angel met me up there and told me what he did. I stood before heathens by the thousands and tens of thousands. You say, "Aren't you afraid?" No, sir! I'm convinced that It come from God! I'm convinced because it was Scriptural! I'm convinced that It's the Angel of the Lord. I believe it with all that's in my heart. I'm convinced if we would ask God for anything, He'd give it to us. He's just here. Don't be scared. He's here.”

“I'm convinced that that very Spirit that you feel, the Holy Spirit that is moving in us, I'm convinced that that's Christ. Amen! I'm convinced that, right now, that This is what I'm looking at, this Circle of Light before me, I'm convinced that's the Holy Spirit! I'm convinced that vision is over my eyes! I know it is. Amen!...”

"I'm convinced that the same Angel that come down in the form of a Man and talked to Abraham with His back turned to the tent (yet knowing the thoughts in Sarah's heart), is the same One here tonight. He promised it would be. I believe that that same Angel anoints us, because It was God. Do you believe it?" (CONVINCED THAN CONCERNED, June 10, 1962).

No I don’t! What angel anoints? Could it be the cherub that was over God’s throne that comes as an angel of light. When the church is willing to believe what miracle men say without checking the Scripture.

“….Now, it's (Pillar of Fire) circling the building. The whole building's anointed, the whole place. I'm convinced that the Presence of Jesus Christ will heal every person here. Are you convinced the same? You convinced that I tell you the Truth, God vindicates I'm telling you the Truth?” (CONVINCED THAN CONCERNED, June 10, 1962).

Being convinced of something by experience does not mean it’s actually true, many people are convinced of many different things. Does this look like the same pillar that protected Israel in the wilderness as a fire at night and as a cloud in the day? Branham says the circle of light is the Holy Spirit? Biblically, this light was the Shekinah glory of God, when Saul on the Damascus road was stopped by its appearance he was converted. He said it appeared brighter than the sun in mid day. How can anyone believe this is the same glory?

The Angel of the Lord does not anoint us, he is no longer functioning. The New Testament does NOT mention THE angel of the LORD (but an angel of the lord sent to announce Jesus’ birth to the shepherds -Lk.2:9, an angel of the lord came to roll the stone away -Mt.28:2 and to free the apostles from jail when necessary.) When the Angel of the Lord shows up there was an awe and worship in the Old Testament. Because he is the pre-incarnate Christ, the Son of God. In Hebrew this angel is called Malach Yahweh, this is why his appearances in the Old Testament are called Theophanies. This Angel had God’s name attached to his title, his nature, He is even called the Lord himself- Exod.3.

This messenger called the Angel of the Lord (Yahweh) 50 times and the Angel of God (Elohim) 5 times is God's mediator for him. Jesus the Son, is this messenger, he appears as a man in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament He became a man, taking on human flesh permanently (unlike Branham who taught that God always had human flesh). Proof that the Angel of the Lord (Yahweh) in the Old Testament no Longer appears in the New Testament times--Because He became man. The Father who sent the Son in the Old Testament did the same in the New, there are no more Theophanies of the Son.

Branham was convinced it was all God without ever applying a true test by Scripture and he successfully convinced others. After reading just some of Branham’s teachings it is difficult to consider him a prophetic model for our generation. Yet, nearly unanimously, every person that is esteemed in the Charismatic/signs and wonders movement endorses Branham. Support of Branham shows a lack in discernment and how immature tone is in the word. Beware of those that promote him or this kind of ministry.

Websites that shed the true light on Branham
http://people.delphiforums.com/JohnK63/home.htm

Shuck and Jive

2010-03-26T21:32:00.001-07:00

E. W. Kenyon (1867–1948).

Who is this man? If your Pimp or Club Owner subscribes to the Word of Faith or Prosperity Theology then he is your “Spiritual Great Grand Daddy!” He is considered the father of the Word of Faith Prosperity Gospel Theology that is running wild in the church today.

Kenyon was Bible teacher, schoolmaster, and prolific writer, Kenyon authored eighteen books that are used still today by many who call themselves Word of Faith. One phrase he coined can still be heard in the movement today, “What I confess, I possess”.

Kenneth Hagin (1917-2003), of Tulsa, Oklahoma was heavily influenced by Kenyon’s writings. Hagin has been referred to as the “father” of the modern Word of Faith movement. He elaborated on Kenyon’s theology of confession, preaching a four-part formula for receiving God’s promises: “Say it; do it; receive it; tell it.” Sound familiar? that is the prevailing message of the Word of Faith and Prosperity Gospel message today.

Many Bible preachers and teachers have been influenced either directly or indirectly by Kenneth “Papa” Hagin and his “revelation”. The most recognized include Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer, Jerry Savelle, Bill Winston, Joel Osteen and Charles Nieman.

So you may ask what is wrong with the Word of Faith/Prosperity message?

The theology is heresy and is counter to the word of God. A review of any Christian book on apologetics would dismiss this doctrine as heresy. However I must give a big “hat tip” to my Brother over at IMSPEAKINGTRUTH for introducing me to a true crusader against the apostasy of the Word of Faith and Prosperity theologies Justin Peters. Justin Peters is a Mississippi-based minister who presents a seminar entitled “A Call For Discernment”.

In the seminar, Justin systematically breaks down the 3 major tenants of this heresy:

1. You can “speak those things that be not”
2. We are all “little gods” and can do what God does (This is dangerous)
3. Phony faith healers

Watch:: A Call for Discernment (part 1 of 4)

Your pimp or club owner does not want you to see this “Light” or the truth of what is being pushed. In some instances I don’t think many of them know better! Instead he wants you in the darkness of your own ignorance. Once the lights come on the “Club” it does not look the same. Darkness has no place with light.

God is light; in him there is no darkness at all 1 John 1:5 NIV.

Your pimp or Club owner needs to keep the revenue flowin’. But don’t be deceived by this heretic behavior. Draw to God and His word. Begin to not just read and study your bible begin to read about the TRUE nature of God. Begin to immerse yourself in Christian Apologetics (two good sites are http://www.carm.org/ and http://www.apologetics.org/). After further study see if your pimp or club owner’s doctrine can stand up to TRUE Christian Apologetic doctrine. In order to get free one must come into the “Light” of Christ and come out of the darkness!

The WoF movement did not start overnight, but began in the early 1900’s with a man named E.W. Kenyon.

Kenyon was greatly influenced by New Thought founder Phineas Quimby (his false teachings are the basis for the cult called Christian Science started by Mary Baker Eddy; early New Age beliefs). E.W. Kenyon went to Emerson College of Oratory in Boston which was a breeding ground at the time for the newly emerging New Thought cult. New Thought claimed to have discovered laws of faith, advancing a Christianized version of their occult teaching.
With these cultic/occultic teachings Kenyon would mix and blend it in with orthodox Christian doctrine to create the false, peculiar beliefs that became the WoF. So we see then cultic/occultic roots of WoF and now let’s look who brought into the present. The man who was most influential in spreading this heresy into the 20th and 21st century is Kenneth Hagin. And his disciples and devotees affectionately call him “Dad” Hagin. “Dad” Hagin died in 2003 but the heresy of the WoF keeps rolling on even stronger today.
New Thought was a movement that began after the death of Phineas P. Quimby (1802-66) when a number of his students came together to preserve his teaching. Quimby had developed an alternative system of healing through parapsychology after beginning a career as a mesmerist. Quimby taught that bodily sickness was caused when the mind believed false notions about health, and could be healed by correcting these beliefs in the mind. The movement that sprang from his protégé emphasised, not only health and healing, but also abundance, prosperity, wealth and happiness. The basic presuppositions of New Thought’s system of divine healing are, firstly, God is all reality and in God is no sickness; secondly, man is a part of God and therefore man’s sickness is not a reality; thirdly, healing occurs automatically when men believe the truth about reality. Quimby labelled his system the ‘science’ of Christ. From Quimby came M. B. Eddy who developed Christian Science as a movement separately from New Thought and founded the Church of Christ, Scientist. From Quimby also came a new generation of faith-healers in the Divine Healing movement, such as E. W. Kenyon, John G. Lake and William M. Branham, who carried the emphasis of Quimby and New Thought into their own Pentecostal healing ministries. The influence of New Thought E. W. Kenyon Essek William Kenyon (1867-1948) pastored several churches in New England and founded what was later known as Providence Bible Institute. Kenyon was a student of Emerson College of Oratory, a breeding ground for New Thought philosophical ideas. He was heavily influenced by the system of P. P Quimby but adapted the ideas of the New Thought movement as he merged them together with the teachings of Divine Healing that came out of the Holiness movement. Like Quimby, who taught that beliefs in the mind cause bodily conditions, E. W. Kenyon emphasised the combined power of belief and the tongue. He taught that the words of our mouths betray faith or fear in our minds, and the combined affect of positive or negative belief and words cause the positive or negative realities that come into existence. Kenyon’s focus on the “positive confession of the Word of God” earned the doctrine that sprang from his ministry the title, Positive Confession theology. Similar to E. O. Allen and A. B. Simpson before him, Kenyon taught prosperity as a “divine right.” Reminiscent of the laws formulated by C. G. Finney for spiritual success, Kenyon formulated laws of prosperity for daily rehearsal and recital to cultivate a mind of faith that would result in a life of complete health and material wealth. The New Thought movement of the late nineteenth century had a profound influence on a number of American leaders in the Divine Healing movement in the first half of the twentieth century who went on to become the fathers of the Positive Confession, or Faith-Formula theology of Pentecostalism

E. W. Kenyon

Essek William Kenyon (1867-1948) was an evangelist, pastor of the New Covenant Baptist Church, and president of a Bible Institute, Bethel Bible Institute in Spencer, Massachusetts, for twenty-five years. The school later moved to Providence, Rhode Island, and became Providence Bible Institute. It later became Barrington College, and in a fateful irony, merged with Gordon College, named after one of Kenyon's many mentors, A.J. Gordon.

Kenyon was born on April 24, 1867 in Hadley, New York. Though rarely attending church during his upbringing, he became a church member in his early 20s and preached his first sermon at a Methodist Church in Amsterdam, New York. Desiring to be an actor, Kenyon found a way to earn a living as a piano and organ salesman. During this period of time, Kenyon declared himself to be an agnostic. In an attempt to hone his acting skills, Kenyon attended the Emerson School of Oratory in Boston for one year in 1892.

Kenyon married his first wife, a divorcee nine years his senior named Evva Spurling. Like Kenyon, Spurling was also an agnostic. The two were married on May 8, 1893. Shortly afterword, Kenyon attended the services of Clarendon Street Church pastored by Adoniram Judson (A.J.) Gordon. Kenyon pronounced himself saved and his wife decided for the good of the marriage to remain with him. She also claimed to have had a born again experience.

Later that year, Kenyon joined the Free Will Baptists and pastored a small church in Elmira, New York.

Bible School
As mentioned earlier, Kenyon headed a bible school. It opened in 1898 and controversy surrounded the suicide of a student named Charles E.C. Marble. Kenyon was further wounded when Evva Kenyon left him in December 1902. Kenyon's Bethel Bible Institute remained in operatoin until 1923. Evva Kenyon returned to Essek in 1910. She died in 1914, and Kenyon married for the second time to Alice M. Whitney and they had a family of one son and one daughter.

The West Coast
In 1924, Kenyon moved to Oakland, California to continue his independent ministry. It was during this time he gave himself as "Dr. E.W. Kenyon of Massachusetts." Much like many modern Word of Faith teachers, Kenyon had no formal theological training and in his case his doctorate was self-instituted. Tragedy again struck Kenyon in 1930 when his wife, Alice, left him during the height of his popularity, accusing him of having affairs with other women. Kenyon fled to Seattle where he spent his last years as an evangelist and prolific writer, founding the Kenyon's Gospel Publishing Society that today is based in Kirkland, Washington.

Faith Controversy
Kenyon has become in death a controversial figure in the debate regarding the orthodoxy of the Word of Faith movement. Kenyon influenced many people during his lifetime including Tommy L. Osborn, F.F. Bosworth, and Kenneth Hagin. His influence is undeniable. The question seems to turn on whether Kenyon endorsed heretical doctrine or just a variation from traditional orthodoxy. The center of the storm seems to be Kenyon's attendance at Emerson College.

In 1979, Oral Roberts University President Charles Farah wrote "From the Pinnacle of the Temple," a declaration of war on the Faith movement. He traced Kenyon's roots to the metaphysical cults due to Kenyon's time at Emerson. One of Farah's students, Daniel Ray McConnell, wrote his Master's thesis built upon what has been called 'the Kenyon connection.'

This thesis was later edited and sold to the public in 1988 as "A Different Gospel." McConnell's basic argument was that Kenyon got his doctrine from the cults, Hagin got his doctrine from Kenyon by plagiarizing it, and thus the entire Faith movement was built on a cultic root. Christian Research Institute leader Hank Hannegraaff reiterated much of McConnell's thesis in 1993 in "Christianity In Crisis."

But information was also gleaned from other quarters. William DeArteaga, a charismatic based in Atlanta, argued that Kenyon did not teach heretical doctrines but did gain some hetereodox concepts from Emerson College. This argument was one of many DeArteaga presented in "Quenching The Spirit." A Norwegian scholar named Geir Lie then entered the fray with his 1994 thesis that was eventually released as "E.W. Kenyon: Evangelical Minister Or Cult Founder?" Lie argued that Kenyon's doctrine was pure but he may have been influenced to a certain degree by the metaphysical cults.

Perhaps the most scholarly argument was advanced in 1997 by Dr. Dale H. Simmons. Simmons was a classmate of McConnell's at ORU in the early 1980s. Simmons' research indicated that Kenyon drew influence from both the Higher Life movement of the late 1800s AND the cult of New Thought. Simmons' argument was that Kenyon may have been unaware of the degree of similarity between both systems.

In 1998, the first truly pro-Kenyon book was introduced by a Word of Faith pastor named Joe McIntyre. McIntyre's book, "E.W. Kenyon: The True Story," argued that Kenyon was IN NO WAY influenced by the cults but was completely and thoroughly orthodox in his doctrinal teachings. McIntyre took no pains to conceal the notion that his book was a 'rebuttal' to McConnell's argument. McIntyre, in fact, currently heads the Kenyon Gospel Publishing Society.

What is the truth? McConnell seems to represent one extreme while McIntyre represents the other. Both books have strengths and weaknesses that undercut each man's argument. The only (inarguable) truth seems to be that Kenyon - twice divorced and the overseer of the tragic suicide at Bethel - was no stranger to controversy either in his life or his death.

Death Controversy
Kenyon's death has even become a touching point of argument for both supporters and critics of the Faith movement. The first story was circulated by Kenneth Hagin in 1978 in his book, "The Name Of Jesus." Hagin claims that Kenyon 'went home the Bible way without sickness or disease' in his introduction endorsing Kenyon's book, "The Wonderful Name of Jesus." McIntyre argued that this story was true in his book by claiming that the origin of the story was none other than Kenyon's daughter, Ruth Houseworth. This would seem to settle the argument but for two nagging problems.

The first problem stems from Geir Lie's 1994 work about Kenyon. Lie researched this very problem and made two major conclusions. First, Hagin had lied about what he knew about Kenyon. Lie based this on the fact that Hagin admitted to him in a July 15, 1993, letter that he (Hagin) knew nothing regarding Kenyon's personal life. Lie, who it must be remembered is a Kenyon advocate, argued that Kenyon had died of a malignant tumor in his back. A death certificate produced by a British apologist in 1991 shows Kenyon as diagnosed with a tumor. This was the second problem that McIntyre dismissed casually in his polemic.

The second nagging problem is the fact that according to D.R. McConnell's book "A Different Gospel," Ruth Houseworth specifically told him that Kenyon had not died in a mystical and disease-free way. While McConnell does not say she told him Kenyon had cancer, she makes it clear that he did not 'choose his time to die' as a lot of Faith advocates believe.

Heretic?
The other controversy will live on concerning whether or not E.W. Kenyon preached heretical teachings. At least three of Kenyon's teachings - Jesus as a born again man, man as an incarnation of God, and the denial of God's sovereignty - qualify as heresy in the minds of many modern apologetics.

McConnell, whose work is cited frequently, argues that Kenyon DID NOT preach heretical doctrine INTENTIONALLY but that Kenyon taught teachings he sincerely believed were new albeit incorrect. McIntyre argues that Kenyon did not teach heresy at all and condemns what he calls 'heresy hunting.' Yet many of the examples McIntyre chooses to exonorate Kenyon are not the strongest case to be made against him.

Addition links http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._W._Kenyon

Deceptions and Occult Influences

2010-03-13T14:10:00.000-08:00

FRANKLIN HALL

In the fall of 1946, a "major fasting and prayer daily revival center" was established in San Diego, California. Under the leadership of Franklin Hall (assisted by Jack Walker, father of child evangelist "Little David" Walker), the teaching of fasting as a means of bringing about revival and the "restoration" of the Church spread throughout the Pentecostal world. Other ministers who helped establish the fasting and prayer center were: Dr. Waltrip (Kathryn Kuhlman's husband); Stanley Comstock; Earl Ivy; Tommy Baird; Myrtle Page; and Franklin Hall's brothers, Delbert, Harold, and Virgil. (Delbert Hall and his wife, Florence, were pastors.)

According to the Summer, 1985, issue of Franklin Hall's newsletter, 'Miracle World,' in which is revealed some of the early history of his ministry, "A fasting chain came about. Several were on major fasts around the clock. Many were fasting for not only days but weeks at a time. One lady, Sister Mary Sommerville, fasted without food for eighty-three days. She was so strong on this notable fast that she ran and danced all over the place, being drunk on both the inner and outer filling of the precious Holy Spirit.

Hall claims more than one thousand converts during the first year of the center's existence, with scores being healed of diseases, through fasting and prayer.

Alleged appearances of the Holy Ghost in fire and smoke are also related in Hall's newsletter:

Once or twice the Fire department was briefed by folk seeing the Holy Smoke and Fire through the windows upstairs. They came running up the steps with the hoses to put out the fire. Some of the firemen, seeing that it was not a natural fire, sat down in the large revival center hall and worshipped the Lord getting saved.

Spreading The Word

Hall and his wife, Helen, sold off some assets and borrowed against their home to finance the printing of "millions of pieces of literature" to send to people all over the world.5 The Hall's claim this mail campaign resulted in the great healing revivals of the late forties and early fifties.

It was during this time (1946) that Franklin Hall wrote his book, 'Atomic Power With God Through Fasting and Prayer,' which was to have a significant impact upon the world of Pentecostalism. Many people, little known at that time, were greatly influenced by Hall's literature. Gordon Lindsay's publication, 'Voice of Healing,' helped spread the fasting message, as well as did Thomas and Evelyn Wyatt's worldwide radio broadcasts.

Hall's newsletter records how others received his message:

Rev. Walter Frederick, former Assembly superintendent in Canada, sent Brother Hall's literature to every Pentecostal preacher in Canada....A few of the others (not too well-known then) ministers [sic] who had major fasting experiences by our writings in the 1946, 1947 to 1950 fasting era and who also became famous are:

Wm. Freeman Gordon Lindsay A.A. Allen O.L. Jaggers Gayle Jackson Oral Roberts David Nunn Wm. Branham W.V. Grant Wm. Hagen Dale Hanson Tommy Hicks.

Hall's writings on fasting and diet as a means to spiritual restoration might easily be seen as the primitive beginnings of today's "Christian holism."

Occult Influences

As evidence of God's favor upon those who fast, Hall points out that even the prayers of pagans will be answered by God if they are accompanied by fasting:

Many, if not all, the American Indian tribes sought revelation of the Great Spirit through Prayer and Fasting. When they had famines, food shortages, lack of rain, etc., the Great Spirit was sought through prayer and fasting, and their prayers were answered.

Hall uses this as an example of how fasting is necessary to have our prayers answered. In fact, he states that "Without fasting, prayer becomes ineffectual." In other words, those who pray to demons will have their prayers answered if they fast, but Christians will not have their prayers answered if they don't fast. At the least, it would seem, they would be hindered greatly. This is a good example of how a person can extol a faith in Christ while negating all the effects of that faith and the relationship with God it entails. By giving credit for answered prayer to the demon gods of pagan religions, Hall displays a mindset characteristic of occult science.

That there is a definite occult influence on Hall's career is evident in other writings. His book, 'The Return of Immortality,' suggests that Christians can learn how to become immortal through stages of spiritual growth. This involves experiences with "UFO's, and the UIO gravitational and levitation control."9 His teachings on attaining immortality in this life through psycho-spiritual exercises and righteous living were the foundation upon which many in the Latter Rain and subsequent movements based their immortalization theories.

Hall's main point in his immortalization theory is that "the sleeping, so called, unfoundationally built church" must awaken to a real cause and calling, that when God's word is completely acted upon and complied with, will result in bringing about the real gushers and torrents of the long, past due, RAIN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. A rain of IMMORTALITY UPON THE EARTH that so many prophets have written about and portrayed in their prophesies Emphasis Hall's

Hall's premise is not, however, predicated upon God's promise of immortality for the faithful after their resurrection. This is evidenced by his following words:

Permanent, lasting Freedoms from all sickness, harmful accident things and defeat will come about. Freedom from the imprisonment of all gravitational forces will also be brought upon the whole man.

This study teaches one the power and secrets of space flight. Space floatation [sic] and hovering ability. It gives the Bible formula for weightlessness, the 'raising up' power of those who come to immortality. (Jn.6 chapter and Rom.2:7).

In his book, Hall gives "evidence" of his already having attained a degree of "immortality" (which allegedly affects everything that comes in contact with the immortal person's body):
Brother Hall's light colored jacket is seven years old and has never been pressed or cleaned or aerated in 7 years, since new, yet it has been worn repeatedly in many overseas countries and regularly in all crusades everywhere (excepting one). It has been on more than 200 airlines in travels. It has no spots, stains, discoloration or body odors anywhere on it or inside it - similar to the children of Israel's clothes under the Glory, Immortality Cloud of Fire Power.

The attainment of "Immortality blessings" are alleged by Hall to be more successfully attained through open-eye prayer. "Coming with closed eyes," he stated, "destroys faith."

Hall claims that there is an "Immortal Substance" that comes upon the believer who feeds upon it "from within Christ's now body" - the "FIRE - IMMORTAL - PACKED - BODY" (Emphasis Hall's). This "Immortal Substance" is claimed to be seen on those who attend Hall's meetings, as a fine gold and silver, sparkling material that emanates from sometimes visible "Immortal Heavenly Objects" (IHO's), "Unusual Heavenly Objects" (UHO's), and "Unidentified Flying Objects" (UFO's). In Hall's words, "The sparkling shining FINE GOLD and SILVER are seen upon their SKIN, brought about through the faith-power of impartation. The polished brass, the beryl stone appearances are even now manifested today." He challenges the reader to see and behold these phenomena by attending "the International Holy Ghost and Fire Seminars of Brother and Sister Franklin Hall." This sparkling material Hall calls, "The shiny metal like, Jesus' substance."While Hall has many excellent things to say about fasting from the standpoint of good health, when it comes to spiritual matters he often transcends sensibility and delves into areas of the occult. The book upon which many healers of the Latter Rain period publicly acknowledged their dependence, 'Atomic Power With God Through Fasting and Prayer,' is evidence:

In the zodiacal sign, 'Scorpio,' which is the eighth sign of the Zodiac, we have a picture of a scorpion with its stinger lifted ready to strike. This is the sign of death, and is supposed to govern the sex area. Just before this sign in the heavens, there is a sign of the Judge, Jesus, who is the giver of LIFE. Jesus proceeds toward death and pulls the STING OUT OF DEATH. 'O, death where is thy sting? O, grave, where is thy victory?'

There is today a growing acceptance of the idea that the Zodiac is a representation of the Gospel. More will be said about this when we examine the teachings of some current Kingdom Theology proponents. But I feel that I should a least point out at this time that the Zodiac is an arbitrary assignment of images to certain stars by the priests of the Babylonian mystery religion. No matter how one tries to make it fit Scripture by claiming Genesis 1:4, there is no scriptural evidence that the "signs and seasons" spoken of in God's Word have any relation to the astrologists' Zodiac. We have the more sure written Word of God for guidance; we tread on dangerous ground when we try to accommodate His Word to occult science, or try to make the two equal.

Hall's penchant for a form of "Christian astrology" is evidenced further in his statement that, "In 1848 A.D. the Aquarian Age was introduced to the world." Those familiar with the New Age Movement, will recognize the Aquarian Age as the "Golden Age" of enlightenment when mankind will take a quantum leap in his evolutionary stages, to immortalization. The Aquarian Age will not be completely entered into until around the year 2000 A.D. Hall's writings are replete with strange, even weird statements difficult to decipher. The following, though a bit lengthy and poorly written, are examples:

So much has been said about the travels of the astronauts, about conquering space and even going to Venus or Mars, about the power behind the saucers. The overcoming saints, however, are hundreds of years ahead of our scientists. These heaven projected saints will be so clothed and covered with the Immortality, supernatural, ZOOMING sparkling Substance, that it will be no more trouble at all for them to take off.

Where will they go? They will fly right into the Glory Cloud residence of our Lord and Savior, Heaven in Him. Into His Cloud Fire Body. (Rev.12:5)

What distance will they go?The distance, at first, may not be very far away, however, as the 8th church from out of the 7 churches of revelation, called the 'overcomers,' become more and more adjusted and acclimated to Holy Ghost Space flight, great distances taken, will seem like no distance at all.

Jesus taught a small, but precious group of His followers - those who were able to bear it, that gravity would be completely loosed from them, in the last days, when they learned how to train their appetites into a different channel. We must learn to labor for the meal that endures unto everlasting (IMMORTAL) life. The meat that draws us away from gravity holding things. Jn.6:27.

The 'not-perisheth' menu is the menu of Immortality, weight releasing power. The 'endureth unto everlasting life' menu.

...The quickening power of the Holy Spirit brings about Immortality REVERSE ENERGY EMPOWERMENT.

Gravity-freed, great people will run up walls, not break rank, and if they fall on a sword, the Immortality power from Jesus' body, on them, will protect them. It appears that, they also can walk or run upside down. See Joel 2:3-11. Emphasis Hall's in all quotes

In an ad for another of his books, 'Formula for Raising the Dead,' Hall cautions the potential purchaser,

This volume is only for very advanced Holy Ghost people. Do not order unless you are open to an apostolic teaching and have read four other books by Bro. Franklin Hall.

I would not question Hall's sincerity and desire to attain spiritual enlightenment. But the heavy flavor of occultism in his teachings should have been sufficient warning even back in 1946. Yet many prominent teachers credit the empowerment for their ministries (especially healing ministries) on his book on fasting and prayer. It's clear that Hall's teachings are a blend of occultism with Christianity. And since his teachings formed the basis of those that came after, and since the influence of those teachings upon neo-Pentecostalism is so great, close scrutiny of every ministry they touched is necessary.

Alpha Roots ChartData TableFranklin Hall

PLEASE NOTE: The following is merely a limited collection of useful but essentially random facts on the subject in question. This document is not intended to be taken as in-depth, or exhaustive, or definitive treatment.

"In the fall of 1946, a 'major fasting and prayer daily revival center' was established in San Diego, California. Under the leadership of Franklin Hall (assisted by Jack Walker, father of child evangelist 'Little David' Walker), the teaching of fasting as a means of bringing about revival and the 'restoration' of the Church spread throughout the Pentecostal world. Other ministers who helped establish the fasting and prayer center were: Dr. Waltrip (Kathryn Kuhlman's husband); Stanley Comstock; Earl Ivy; Tommy Baird; Myrtle Page; and Franklin Hall's brothers, Delbert, Harold, and Virgil. (Delbert Hall and his wife, Florence, were pastors.) [www.apologeticsindex.org/l06.html].
-------------------

Toronto before TB

"According to the Summer, 1985, issue of Franklin Hall's newsletter, Miracle World, in which is revealed some of the early history of his ministry, 'A fasting chain came about. Several were on major fasts around the clock. Many were fasting for not only days but weeks at a time. One lady, Sister Mary Sommerville, fasted without food for eighty-three days. She was so strong on this notable fast that she ran and danced all over the place, being drunk on both the inner and outer filling of the precious Holy Spirit'" [www.apologeticsindex.org/106.html].
-----------------------------------

"In 1699, Jane Leade and the PS wrote a publicly distributed tract entitled: The Declaration of the Philadelphian Society of ENGLAND, Easter-Day, 1699. Addressed to the Catholick Church, Representative and Diffusive. I have the document and I am able to transcribe it all except one word, which I might call upon you to retrieve via a microfilm viewer.

The important part to remember about the PS is that everything they believed in and practiced seems to line up with the Rosicrucians. There are some web sites that state she was a Rosicrucian. I have no doubts that she was. Her life as well as the PS doctrines and practices may give us a rare insight as to how the Kabbala was used as an interpreter for the Bible. I am stating emphatically that the Kabbala was explained in the Theosophical Transactions of the Philadelphian Society as being a primary component of their esoteric beliefs.

This is stated openly so their is no mystery about this. Now, I want you to think of the ramifications here. I have proven that American NOLR leaders George Hurlburt Warnock and George Robert Hawtin both knew about Jane Leade and George Hawtin additionally wrote favorably about both Boehme and Leade in his newsletters which were eventually turned into journals. (Send for these if you can)

What this means is that the NOLR "Pentecostal Movement" as it says it paralleled the other Pentecostals was in reality a rebirthing of the very same "Enthusiasm" that the 17th century Behmenists were involved with. This includes MSOG/NOLR leaders like Bob Weiner and Rick Joyner mentioned and teaching in their writings (I have written proof) the very same prophetic declarations and foretellings as Jane Leade. Not only that, but I have come from a charismatic background for the majority of my life and I have been told that "God restored the gift of tongues in the 1909 Azuza Street Revival." Nothing could be further from the truth as proved through the writings of counter-cult apologists throughout the centuries!!

But beyond all that, even though I knew about the Kabbala connection well over two years ago, I along with another Sister who is helping me, discovered that the entire Manifest Sons of God doctrine stems directly from the concept of ADAM KADMON of the KABBALAH!!!!!!! They are one and the same!! And nobody that I have read has ever made this connection!!!

This fact of the "Divine Family" of the Androgynous "God" whose female half is Sophia created Adam Kadmon or "Adam" who himself was a co-equal. And why not I say! They came from the same family, right! So then, God expected Adam to give birth to other "Sons" from his side and increase the family, right? So, Adam became too preoccupied with the material world, fell to earth, and in the process was sheared or split into Adam and Eve!!

This story is found in the Kabbalah. It is also found in the writings of Jacob Boehme. It is also found as a Dissertation on Man's Fall by German behmenist Johann Conrad Beissel who preached Boehme's doctrines in the streets of Germany before he immigrated to Germantown, Pennsylvania in the early part of the 18th century. He formed the Ephrata Cloister and it was known as the "Woman in the Wilderness". This title has a direct inference to "Wisdom Sophia" whom the Ephratans waited for and whom Rick Joyner mentions he saw and spoke with in his book of visions like "Final Quest."

The Kabbalah and Adam Kadmon and Wisdom Sophia -- do a search on them and then compare the attributes of the MSOG and you will see they are one and the same!

Now we are getting somewhere as we now have pinpointed not only the theosophical roots of the NOLR to Boehme and Leade but we have also identified the origins of the MSOG doctrines as having theosophical roots in the Kabbalah. With that said, we now have a case for openly declaring that the entire NOLR does not and never did have a legitimate foundation and the entire premise that "God is restoring the office of apostles and prophets" was taken from a well known behmenist and Rosicrucian. In other words, we can now declare that the NOLR is, in fact, the occult!!" [Researcher in U.S., personal email on file].

Search Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabbalah
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~emcd/AlphaRoots_Hall.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Kadmon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosicrucianism
http://truthspeaker.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/roots-of-the-nar-and-nolr-jane-leade-the-philadelphian-society/
http://truthspeaker.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/encountering-nolr-new-order-of-latter-rain-sidewalk-dream-interpreters/

The Acid Rain Movement

2010-02-20T08:32:00.000-08:00

The enemy comes as a angel of light in a ministry of righteousness. God has warned us over and over to beware of false teachings, you know the scriptures. But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them. I believe these doctrines are these spoken of in scripture. It's roots are in the occult.

The Latter Rain doctrines roots are founded in the old heresy of Gnosticism, which teaches that an elite spiritual group possesses the “hidden knowledge” of the spiritual realm. Today they place their personal spirit revelations, experiences, and new interpretations of Scripture above the plain reading of God’s Word the Church has known and practiced.

The Latter Rain changed how to interpret the Bible. The hermeneutic principle is that typology and allegory were used to illustrate doctrine. Instead they took it literally, they would then spiritualized or interpreted literal doctrine into allegories so it no longer meant what it said in its context.

The NEW ORDER OF THE LATTER RAIN
Their history and legacy

There is nothing new under the sun said Solomon, this goes as well for the new “prophets /apostles movement that can be traced to late 1940's revival called The “New Order of the Latter Rain”. From the Latter Rain Movement brought birth to numerous teachings such as the Manifested Sons of God heresy. This movement which brought havoc and was renounced by the Assemblies of God in 1949. Although it was removed and faded, it has resurfaced with a face lift and these same teachings have come back with a vengeance taking on a life of their own.
David W. Myland In 1907 seems to have coined the term “Latter Rain Movement” first, in a book of songs entitled “Latter Rain Songs.” In 1910 Myland wrote his book “The Latter Rain Covenant” in which he tried to associate the rainfall in Israel, with the manifestations of the Holy Spirit that occurred at Azusa. He also wrote of the concept of deeper truth in the Scripture and different levels of interpretation.

The Latter Rain revival first began in Canada at Sharon Orphanage and School, a young woman at the Bible school prophesied that a great revival was about to come Ernest Hawtin tells that the very next day, it did just that as the Holy Spirit fell with great power. It was called “The Last Great Outpouring that was to consummate God's Plans on this Earth.”

They had been prepped by previously read Franklin Hall's book, “Atomic Power with God Through Fasting, and Prayer”, and began to practice his method of fasting. Hall believed the Church was hindered in power and answered prayer, he claimed that even the prayers of pagans would be answered if they fasted. His solution, by fasting for long periods, Christians can receive a powerful anointing that would be that they would never be sick and would lead certain “overcomers” to holiness by stages of spiritual transformation who would attain sinless perfection and immortality. That an immortal substance from Christ would come upon their bodies, a golden substance visible to all, (gold flakes and teeth?) that would glorify them and people would see and feel the fire of the Holy Spirit. He taught a BODY-FELT salvation - the fire of God, the glory, had to be applied to the body for thirty days and would purge out all sickness, tiredness and weakness of the flesh and bring them to immortalization. These Perfected believers would experience power over the forces of gravity, they could teleport to wherever they wished. And there were practical benefits to this spiritual state where their clothes would not wear out, they would have no body odour, so they would never need to wash.

Ernest Hawtin wrote: “The truth of fasting was one great contributing factor to the revival. One year before this we had read Franklin Hall's book, entitled 'Atomic Power With God Through Fasting and Prayer.' We immediately began to practise [sic] fasting. Previously we had not understood the possibility of long fasts. The revival would never have been possible without the restoration of this great truth through our good brother Hall.” Richard Riss, (The Latter Rain Movement of 1948 and the Mid-twentieth Century Evangelical Awakening, p.89)

Franklin Hall, had a tremendous influence on the key players in the Latter Rain movement. Hall's book on fasting and prayer was a major influence in the ministries of Oral Roberts, A. A. Allen, O. L. Jaggers, Gayle Jackson, David Nunn, Tommy Hicks, and W. V. Grant. Clearly influenced from Halls baptism of fire, O. L. Jagger established a whole church teaching around this as the true gospel. Where he made the Golden altar, the 24 elders and a three fold way to be born again, which if received will bring the promise of bodily immortality escaping death now. (see Hawaii Universal Church)

Richard Riss in his work The Healing and Latter Rain Movement A survey of 20th-Century Revival movements in North America States. Two of the earliest and most influential healing evangelists of the mid- twentieth century were William M. Branham and Oral Roberts. Other Important figures included T. L. Osborn, Jack Coe, William Freeman, David Nunn, and Gordon Lindsay, who had helped to bring the ministry of William Branham into widespread recognition, used his talents to supply the movement with a degree of cohesiveness. Many of these men are the key players in the Latter Rain movement of which Riss is sympathetic to.

During the fall of 1947 Gordon Lindsay arranged for Branham to hold a series of meetings in Vancouver, B.C.. At that time Ern Baxter was added to Branham’s team. The meetings in Vancouver were attended by a few pastors and teachers from North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Several of the school's teachers who went to a Branham's meeting had him lay hands on them for an impartation. They returned to Battleford with the impartation which began the “Latter Rain” movement. From there it exploded among the Pentecostals throughout North America and then throughout around the world. Many other new healing ministries had risen to prominence out of this, taking it to various parts of the world, Branham's continued to be one of the most widely known to the early 60's.

An excerpt taken from their newsletter that the Sharon Star recorded the Branham meeting: “All the great outpourings of the past have had their outstanding truths. Luthur's truth was Justification by Faith. Wesley's was Sanctification. The Baptists taught the premillenial coming of Christ. The Missionary Alliance taught Divine Healing. The Pentecostal outpouring has restored the Baptism of the Holy Ghost to its rightful place. But the next great outpouring is going to be marked by all these other truths plus such a demonstration of the nine gifts of the Spirit as the world, not even the Apostolic world, has ever witnessed before. This revival will be short and will be the last before the Rapture of the Church.”( Richard Riss, Latter Rain, Honeycomb Visual Productions, pg. 56-57)

This is exactly what Branham's message was, as he was taught by his personal angel that he was the Elijah before the 2nd coming. That he was the messenger of the last Church age Laodicea. Branham becomes a key figure in the Latter Rain scenario that many in the Pentecostal Church are operating in even today.
Out of this new thing came the doctrine of Restoration. Lost truths were supposedly being restored and God was revealing new revelation to the church. Signs and Wonders and moving in the Supernatural realm became the modus operandi.
A new emphasis began from the laying on of hands, “The movement was characterized by many healings and miraculous phenomena . . . There was an emphasis on spiritual gifts which, were to be received by the laying on of hands.” (DICTIONARY OF PENTECOSTAL AND CHARISMATIC MOVEMENTS )

Ern Baxter, ministered with Branham several months every year from 1947 until 1953. Whenever Em Baxter was given a card containing information on the individual's medical history, testified “that he never saw Branham's diagnosis miss once,” in every case he correctly diagnosed the disease without ever knowing what was on the card in his hand. One only needs to look at the psychic Edgar Cayce to see a similar gifting in operation. Cayce would diagnose someone's sickness he never met who were thousands of miles away at the time. While this article is to focus on the historical and doctrinal teachings of the Latter Rain something needs to be mentioned. Accuracy does not prove something is from God. The very same people who teach these doctrines today actually claim a low percentage of accuracy in prophecy and words of knowledge than their mentor Branham. That 60, 80, 90% is well accepted as they improve in their gifts with practice. While accuracy is not the final test of truth (Deut.13 God tells us this), inaccuracy certainly is a sure way to prove it is not from God, this is what they have fulfilled more often. God who is the author of prophecy and the word does not grade on a curve if one is 80% accurate they are 20% wrong. No one would fly in a plane with these chances explained beforehand and we certainly shouldn't be flying spiritually this way either.

Branham who was the main hub in the wheel did not attribute the supernatural works, miracles and words of knowledge he manifested to the Holy Spirit. He attributed them to his angel. Although once a Baptist he was influenced by Oneness Pentecostals which led him to deny the Trinity of God. He taught that Eve had sex with Satan to birth Cain, believed in pyramids and UFO's, and despite those who point to a flawless record he gave prophecies that were proven false. When he died in a car crash, many Latter Rain ministers (some of those who are still around today) prayed for him to be raised from the dead. His followers expected results in three days which never happened.

Is this Latter rain or acid rain? It has begun to fall all over again. The Latter Rain movement started in the 1948 influenced almost all Pentecostal churches and groups in the 1950’s. We can look back on this and see the revival was short but did not produce what they had hoped for. But today there is a whole new army to bring about what went dormant.

William Branham's Influence

Branham has left his mark despite his proven falsehood. He is revered by the new apostles and is referred to as great by Rodney Browne. “When the great healing Revival started in 1947 with great men of God”… along with AA.Allen, Jack Coe, T.L. Osborn and Oral Roberts (“The Coming Revival,” p. 13, by R.H. Browne). This becomes clear when Browne refers to drinking at Joel's place, or this is the first drops of rain falling, he is preaching the Latter Rain heresy. The Holy Ghost bartender is serving mickeys to those attending- as if there is such a thing.

Paul Cain considers William Branham as the greatest prophet in the 20th century. This was due not to Branham's doctrines but to “his gifting in the word of knowledge.” (Paul Cain, Armstrong in Michael Horton ed. Power Religion, 1992, p.67)

Marilyn Hickey promotes Branham saying “his influence continues today because of his teaching on prosperity and the power of the spoken Word.” Which shows that she believes he is part of the word faith connection.

Earl Paulk “I don't have any doubt in my mind that Oral Roberts is a prophet to the Church to bring us back to the healings. Many of them Branham and many others - … I believe there are other apostles and prophets God is raising up.” (Earl Paulk, “Praise The Lord,” TBN, March 4, 1986.)

Oral Roberts visited the Branham team in Kansas City, March 1949. His picture is next to Young Brown, Jack Moore, William Branham, Gordon Lindsay. (in “ All Things Are Possible” By David Edwin Harrell, Jr., )

Kenneth Hagin identifies Branham as a prophet as do many others, Copeland, Hinn, Browne, Crouch, etc.

Interpreting the Scripture.

At the First Coming of Jesus the religious leaders of His day rejected him and his claims because they were following extra biblical teachings (the tradition of the fathers) and did not take the Scriptures of the virgin conception or God coming as man literally. Today the same thing is happening all over but from a different slant. There is a movement to turn from the literal interpretation of Scripture and allegorize it or make it symbolic. Modern Gnostic revelators lead the way in belittling what Jesus commissioned as our lifeline to truth. Doctrines especially for the last days are changed. No more Rapture, or the revealing of Antichrist, the Tribulation and the pre-millennial coming of Jesus Christ. Instead in its place we have only victory and our conquering the earth and ruling until Christ comes. If you think about it if we can rule and reign who really needs Christ.

Instead of using the principle of hermeneutics for correct interpretation, they allegorize the Scriptures or by personal prophetic revelation as a Gnosis. Spiritual insights come frequently and lead them into this move of God. The new wave is Gnostic in their understanding of the person of Jesus Christ, in that they separate Jesus from 'the Christ” as a person. They will not say this outright but it is laced throughout their teachings. Kenneth Copeland seems to be clear voice on this revelation “Once you start re-translating the word Christ, as anointing you'll realize how the message of the anointing permeates the entire New Testament. (K Copeland, Voice of Victory: Vol. 23, No 4, April 1995)

Copeland goes far and wide to prove that the word Christ only means anointing. So when you come to the word Christ in the Bible correctly retranslated to the anointing. This means Jesus was a man who was “christed,” which is a early heresy in the church.

A letter in the archives of the Assembly of God written by George Hawtin, says this: “Soon we found that the familiar doctrines previously taught and the subjects studied had a strange sense of being removed from us, as though they had become past truth instead of present truth.” (quoted in Discernment Newsletter)

“The Lord did not say when He went away He was going to leave us a book to lead us into all truth, but that He was going to give us His Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. We should be very thankful for the priceless book that He left to us, but He never meant for it to take His place in our life. When it does, it is being misused ... we can elevate the written word above Him and make an idol out of the Scriptures, allowing them to supplant our relationship to Him, and remove the Holy Spirit from the church ... ( Rick Joyner, The Morning Star Journal, Vol. 3, No. 3.)
This is a subtle twist of what is meant. Has God said? We find that he has spoken. The Holy Spirit leads us into the truth which Jesus said were the words he spoke. Jesus is the word that became flesh, that all of Gods wisdom and reason is in Jesus. Jesus said we are to continue in his word if we love him. The word is the truth that the Spirit is to lead us into. The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of truth since he is the author of the word. So whatever the spirit may say today is not going to be different than the word he originally wrote, but agree. He will not contradict it nor add to it. Under the inspiration of the word he has said through the apostle Paul “do not go beyond what is written lest we become puffed up.” He will not lead us beyond the word but make us wise in it. This is not what is occurring from these man. (all one has to do is read Joyners book the Final Quest and see he has new “prophetic revelations,” many of them which go beyond the word and contradict the written word)

Anyone who asserts on our fellowship is to be based on sound doctrine are labeled as legalists or of the old order. The new order imposes unscriptural conditions by following them based on their dreams, visions and power displays. Despite they are contrary to the revealed word already delivered, their teaching 'authority as apostles and prophets are given equal authority with Scripture, which is not unlike the Roman Catholic Church's Magisterium.

George Warnock came to live at Sharon Orphanage in 1949. He had been a secretary to Ern Baxter (an associate of William Branham and later part of the “Fort Lauderdale Five” of Shepherding fame). In 1951, Warnock wrote a book which in was the evolutionary model of the church as seen by the Latter Rain adherents entitled: Feast of Tabernacles” a manual for Latter Rain Doctrines & Practices, in which he laid out a specific doctrine for the Latter Rain Movement. He taught that the Church was about to usher in the completion of God's feasts through perfection of the saints and their dominion over the earth. Three great annual feasts of the Lord in Israel's worship (Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles) typify the whole Church Age, beginning with the death of Jesus on the cross, and consummating in “the manifestation of the Sons of God”-the “overcomers” who will become perfected and step into immortality in order to establish the Kingdom of God on earth.. (George Warnock, The Feast of Tabernacles pp. 14-20, 1951)

In Warnock's 'The Feast of Tabernacles, he makes the feasts a pattern for church progression through time. Starting at Passover, which is Calvary, the church has been passing through the different feasts, over the years, to Pentecost. Warnock writes that we, the church, still have got to go through the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Trumpets, and come into the Feast of Tabernacles, where God will finally dwell within His people” three feasts (Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles) pre-figure and fulfill in type the whole Church Age, from the death of Jesus on the cross, and consummating in “the manifestation of the Sons of God” - the “overcomers” who will become immortal and establish the Kingdom of God on earth.

Biblically the feasts do show a fulfillment in the Messiah and a prophetic scenario. There is truth to what he states, however its how he changes the meanings and application that is twisted. 4 of the feasts were fulfilled by Jesus in his first coming within the 50 days from the time of his death to Pentecost just as they were in the Old Testament. Christ was our unleaven bread (sinless) our Passover lamb (his crucifixion). The first fruits (in his resurrection) and our Pentecost (sending the Holy Spirit). What is important is to understand he fulfilled it personally and will do the same for the last three feasts. The first 4 feasts correspond to the early rain season all held in spring. The last 3 all correspond to the Latter Rain in the fall season. The difference is Jesus fulfills these as well. The feast of trumpets, (the rapture and resurrection) day of atonement (the salvation of the Jewish nation Rom.11) and the feast of tabernacles which is his 2nd coming Christ (God) dwelling with man (not in man which he already is by the Holy Spirit by the new birth). He fulfills these by bringing his kingdom rule to earth. Warnock instead applied it to the Church. There was no Church until the Holy Spirit was sent at Pentecost (although some believe it was after the resurrection when Jesus breathed on the apostles the Holy Spirit). Either way the Church was not participants in all the feasts.

Trish Trillian points out in banner ministries (Looking beyond Toronto) what doctrines came from the Latter Rain
• Replacement theology: The Church is Israel.
•Rejection of pre-millennial doctrines, of the classic understanding of the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Second Coming and the Millennium.
•The wicked raptured, (ie taken in judgment) not the Church.
• The dominion mandate - the Body is to “possess the land” and rule on earth BEFORE the return of Christ.
• Spiritual warfare - the believers must topple the heavenly powers and take their place in order to rule over the earth.
• New revelation and Secret Doctrines that only the overcomers can understand,
• “Without spot or wrinkle” - The Church must be purged before Christ can indwell it. His indwelling will bring about the sinless perfection of the Church.
• Restoration of the Apostles and Prophets - The vital need of discipling in the Body and submission to Elders (Shepherding) to bring about the perfecting of the saints.
• Unity of all believers necessary and vital since Jesus cannot incarnate into an undivided Body.
• Manifestation of the Sons of God which is the fullness and glorification of the Church on the day that “Christ is formed in his people”. They are a mighty Army of the Lord (Joel's Army). This is various described as the Birth of the Manchild - i.e. those in the Body who are perfected by the work of the Apostles, Prophets and Teachers and brought (literally) to 'the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

I think we can trace the Latter Rain and the anointed class in its embryonic form even before this 1947 outbreak. If we go back to the teachings of C. T. Russell of the Jehovah's Witnesses cult who believed that the body of Christ would be become the mighty God corporately, they would be sinless and share in Christ's rule becoming part of is nature. C. T. Russell was a Mason.

“The Scriptures present that when we gave ourselves to the Lord and He gave us His Holy Spirit, we there passed through a transformation and became embryo spirit beings...' (Watchtower, 10/15/1913, p. 309)

“The New Creature does not need any imputation of merit,' for the New Creature is sinless ... The New Creature needs no justification because it does not sin ... Would the merit of Jesus be involved in the forgiving of the New Creature's trespasses? No! Jesus has nothing to do with atoning for sin on the part of New Creatures... There is no atonement for New Creatures.” (1916 Convention Report, p. 213) Who needs atonement if you are sinless.

“that they feel that we are guilty of blasphemy when we speak of being 'new creatures'- not any longer human, but 'partakers of the divine nature.' ' ..it is claiming that we are divine beings- hence all such are Gods,. Thus we have a family of God .... Now we appear like men, and all die naturally like men, but in the resurrection we will rise in our true character as Gods ... Then the whole family- head and body are addressed as one, as they will be under Christ, their head, saying: Arise 0 God, judge (rule, bless) the earth: for thou shaft inherit all nations. The Mighty God, and Everlasting Father of the nations is Christ whose members in particular we are.” (Watchtower, 10 & 11/1881, p. 10, Reprints, p. 301)

“… under him as our head constitute the whole body of Christ, the 'Mighty God' (El-powerful one) to rule and bless the nations- and the body with the head, shall share in the work of restoring the life lost in Adam, and therefore be members of that company which as a whole will be the Everlasting Father to the restored race.' (Watchtower, 10 & 11 / 1881, p. 10, Reprints P. 298)

Out of these teachings came the anointed 144,000 mediators that the earthly class must have a right relationship to receive the benefits of the new covenant.

Now lets look at a few quotes from those promoting this transformation that is founded on the Latter Rain teachings:

“And the Church that is raising up the government will be the head and the covering for them… “There is a ministry after the five-fold called the ministry of perfection - the Melchizedek Priesthood . . . your children will be moving into the ministries of Perfection . . . coming into that Divine Nature of Jesus Christ . . . they themselves will be that generation that's raised up to put death itself underneath their feet . . . because the Lord Jesus is worthy to be lifted up by a church that has reached the full maturity of the GOD-MAN!” (Bob Jones, Kansas City Fellowship tape from 1988)

Paul Cain tells it like it is. “I don't know what the Second Coming means to you, there's so many different returns of the Lord, or comings of the Lord, I don't know, we have a cardinal doctrine like that, but let me tell you he's coming to YOU. He's coming to his Church, he is coming to abide in you, to take up his abode in you.”

“I want you to know he's coming to the church before he comes FOR the church. He's gonna perfect the Church so the church can be the Image, and be him, and be his representation.” (Paul Cain: Nov 88, Tape: “My Father's House”)

“Before Jesus Himself returns, the last virgin Church shall become pregnant with the promise of God. Out of her travail, the Body of Christ shall come forth, raised to the full statute of its Head, the Lord Jesus. Corporately manifested in holiness, power and love, the Bride of Christ shall arise.” (Francis Frangipane, 'In the Presence of God” New Wine Press 1994. “The Virgin Shall Be With Child” pp. 153-157)

“Jesus will come back to earth and be given the Kingdom that has been won for Him by this "manchild company. “The Manifested Sons of God doctrine teaches that these sons will be equal to Jesus Christ: immortal, sinless, perfected sons who have partaken of the divine nature. They will have every right to be called gods and will be called gods.” (Prophets and the Prophetic Movement Bill Hamon).

Christ is our Melchizedek priest no one else qualifies, there is only one God/ man. The Church is not the God man collectively and never will be, these men are writing their own Bible, just as Charles Russell of the Jehovah's Witnesses was. It will take the resurrection/ rapture to change us all into the likeness of Jesus, but this still will not be an exact likeness since He is God we will never be God.

Omega point

It needs to be said that this model is typical of modern spiritual futurists who believe that the collective human race is moving toward its next stage of man's evolution (transitional leaps) birthing Godhood. This is called the omega point by new agers and those in the latter Rain. “Bob Jones says of PAPA [God],” His Son was a ALPHA SON, your children are the OMEGA sons and daughters. (prophecy, Session 7, Vineyard Ministries, 1989) (quoted in Discernment newsletter) Does this seem odd that a prophet would say the same as the new Agers, none of which is Scriptural.

Catholic Priest turned new ager Pierre Teilhard de Chardin finished one of his landmark works, The Phenomena of Man, which explored his vision of the Omega Point and the evolution of consciousness a cosmic union with God. “After what will soon be two thousand years, Christ must be born again, he must be reincarnated in a world that has become too different from that in which he lived. (Christianity and Evolution p. 95)

While many may not use the same term omega they certainly have the same philosophy Matthew Fox “There is a real sense in which the Cosmic Christ is not born yet. Even in Jesus the Cosmic Christ has yet to come to full birth, for those who say they believe in Jesus have scarcely brought forth the Cosmic Christ at all. (P.136) Indeed, the birthing of the Cosmic Christ is the purpose of the incarnation ... Divinity wants to birth the Cosmic Christ in each and every individual. (THE COSMIC CHRIST, P.122)

“This Cosmic Christ will lead the way to a ... deep worship; deep ecumenism and interaction among all religions of the planet. (ibid.p.8) Here is the new wave of the Spirit, the River runs deeper than anyone can be imagined. It will eventually converge into one big ocean that everyone can drown in.

Barbara Marx Hubbard “Finally, you start the transition. . . During the transition, millions of members of the body AWAKEN TO THEIR POWER to be natural Christ's, full humans in the model of the first person to manifest the next stage in the development of humanity. . .
Ms. Hubbard, states there will come a time when “the divisions of the religions would be over…We would each know that God is within us…If all who feel we are connected to each other, to nature and to God join in a planetary Pentecost, we shall be transformed in this lifetime. I believe in the peaceful second Coming”(Barbara Marx Hubbard and the Armageddon Alternative,” p. 49, Brooks Alexander, Vol. 19:2/3, 1995).

To the new age movement “any individual or group who denies the divinity of man” ... or is to be in opposition to “Christ in you”-the indwelling Christ …is anti Christ. We must question this latter day movement of deception inside the church and the men involved, since they appear to be saying the very same things only on slightly different terms.

2010-02-06T07:17:00.000-08:00

The Pentecostal spirit is satanic

We are living in the times where people are so much interested in searching for the spirit. Many are not geared towards the search for truth, but towards the search for powers and people who have it. People are looking for something supernatural
and many false teachers who are willing to give them what there itching ears want to hear. “Believers are encouraged to be seeker sensitive” 1, seeking for new gifts, powers and the Spirit
As a result people who seek the spirit eventually find the spirit but many times not the Spirit of God but the spirit of the evil one. Many pastors have resorted to using the spirit of Satan in disguise for the Holy Spirit directly or through other satanic channels like hypnosis which the “believers” call the “pouring of the spirit”
Pentecostals are always very eager to refer to them selves as people of the spirit, they consider them selves to be alive in the spirit while referring to other churches as “dead churches” without the Holy Spirit. However, many questions have been raised about the Pentecostal spirit especially concerning the source. Some wonder whether He is the real Holy Spirit, evil spirit, hypnotisms or just emotionalism and ecstasy. In this chapter, the mystery has been un covered.
Satan has also been watching attentively as people look for more power- power to heal and be healed, power to anoint and be anointed and power to work miracles, Satan the master of the evil spirit is very willing to use his evil spirit to mislead people, this is the reason why the Bible told us to test the spirit to see whether it comes from God (I John 4:1).
Lack of discernment and use of souls forces
Though many Pentecostals confess possessing the Holy Spirit, that is their main problem, it’s true they have the spirit but many lack the gift of discernment, other wise they would leave this movement . The Bible told us to test the spirit but Pentecostals have fallen short of that. Many of their leaders directly engage in activities of un holy spirits but their followers have failed to discern the spirit for their own good.
Many people have been led into occultic/hypnotic phenomenon such as spirit slaying and drunkenness and soothsaying (which they often call "the word of knowledge) as apostolic signs, due to their quest for more powers and favors by pastors who use soul forces and may exaggerate and prefabricate the alleged signs. They have found them selves in churches of spiritual confusion where the real Holy Spirit never exists.
The spirit of confusion
There are many strange things which take place when the Pentecostal movement Spirit comes down. Physical jerking, holy laughter, slain in the spirit, and animal sounds are some of the activities which characterize the movement. However among all the mentioned activities, there is none which stand for the truth since they are also heavily present in Satanism but sadly they are the major reason why people join the Pentecostal movement.
I watched a man who banged his head on the wall during worship and had to be taken to the hospital. If you can only see Pentecostals laughing in the spirit, groaning like animals, and swing their clothes high and low, you will not fail to conclude as the man who founded them called it “a case of spiritual power prostituted”. Parham also referred to the activities of the movement he began as “manifestations of the flesh, spiritualistic controls, and the practice of hypnotism”
It is a state of confusing a person mind into believing that the Holy Spirit has come when it just an influence of musical instrument through the use of very soft tones, hypnotism, pastors directions or nothing happening at all apart from declaring the holy spirit where it is not.
Is being slain in the spirit Godly?
Pentecostals always cherish the idea and activity of being slain in the spirit which they describe as a moment when he Holy Spirit is bringing back past painful memories to heal them, and the person is screaming out in agony or the Holy Spirit is blessing the individual so tremendously that, they are screaming out under his power or the moment when Holy Spirit is doing something prophetic in the person’s life.2
The only problem with their definitions is that, they use absolutely no scriptures to validate any of their points. The truth is that, they do not forget to quote them but there are absolutely no scriptures to support them.
Being slain in the spirit is a very old practice though it is foreign to the Bible; there is no where in the Bible where a person was slain in spirit like it is done in the Pentecostal movement. However the activity has been prevalent from shrines to occult and in direct Satanism.
I watched a young girl who had been possessed by a demon falling backward to the ground and rolling down on the floor; she could omit certain sounds and she lost her mental conscience. The very same scenario happens in the Pentecostal movement though in Pentecostalism, it is referred to as the Holy Spirit. As we have noted, there is no incidence in Bible where the Holy Spirit slay people like the way it is done in Pentecostalism, hypnotism, occultism and in direct Satanism.
Pentecostals have frequently quoted some Bible verses out of context so as to back up their arguments concerning being slain the spirit. These include; II Chronicles 5:11-14, Matthew 17:5-7, and Acts 9:3-4, If you carefully examine those Bible verses you will discover that they have some characteristics which are essential in discerning being slain by the Holy Spirit and being slain by the evil spirit. It seems many Pentecostals have never noticed them, these include:-
All people in the Bible fell forward and not backward like the Pentecostals do.
On the occasions people fell down, there was supernatural appearance of angles or God himself which never happens in the Pentecostal movement.
No one caught those who fell (there where no catchers).
The Holy Spirit did not make any one laugh.
There was no direct ministry of another person or intermediary like the way Pentecostals pastors do.
All the experiences where un expected.
People remained conscious
It is by no surprise that none of the Pentecostal reactions to the spirit fit in the biblical characteristics of people reaction to the coming of the spirit or God himself as outlined above. The Pentecostals un knowingly quote those verses forgetting that they are comparing two parallel and antagonistic things.
Invariably, Pentecostals fall when some one has laid hands on them or when some one has ordered them to do so. Nothing of the sort happened in the verses above. In the book of II Chronicles 5:11-14, we notice a temple dedication ceremony, Note also that, all priests fell down, there is no record of any Pentecostal service where all people fell down under God’s power simultaneously (including the pastor), In many cases, the pastor remain standing which is very different from what happened in the book of Chronicles.
There fore using II chronicles 5:11-14 is a grave mistake, the Pentecostals are attempting to compare the biblical with the unbiblical which is anti Christ and satanic.
Even when you take a closer look on Matthew 17:5-7, there is nothing which indicates that God slew the disciples in spirit, nor does it say that the Holy spirit knocked them to the ground. They fell because they were afraid and they remained conscious. It is also important to note that they fell on their face (forward). What happen on that day is an exact opposite of what happens in Pentecostal Churches.
Neither does Acts 9:3-4 fit into the Pentecostal explanations, the text can not legitimately be used to prove the manifestations taking place in Pentecostal Churches,
There is no one who laid hands on Paul and I wonder how many Pentecostals can be fooled by their leaders to such an extent. Paul also never lost conciseness, his mind and other faculties were very sharp, he was able to speak rationally and with a stable mind spoke to God. This does not happen in the Pentecostal experience.
John White3 used Daniel 10:9-10 to justify falling down under the Holy Spirit power. He forgot that unlike today, Daniel’s experience was totally un expected, In today’s Pentecostal worship services, people expect to be slain in the spirit, When Daniel was over come, the angel came and gave him strength. This is something we do not see in today’s services. Note that Daniel fell face forward, almost all Pentecostals who are slain in the spirit fall backward. There is simply no legitimate manner Daniel 10:9-10 can be used to support the Pentecostals way of being slain in the spirit.
If the Pentecostal experiences of being slain in the spirit is opposite to the Biblical accounts then what is it? There is no best answer to that than concluding that the Spirit which slays them is not the same as the Holy Spirit of the bible.

Written by Andrew Segawa
From: pentecostalsunmasked.blogspot.com