Blog : Kingdom Dominionism...3rd wave

6573 posts
11/23/2008 7:24 am

Kingdom Dominionism...3rd wave

This is some great information on the false teaching of Kingdom Dominionism from let us reason ministries

6389 posts
11/23/2008 7:26 am

Kingdom Triumphalism

The 3rd WAVE

Many Charismatic's and Pentecostals that espouse the Latter Rain teaching see a sequential restoration starting from Martin Luther's time continuing through our day. They see Luther as recovering the doctrine of justification by faith, Wesley had begun the holiness movement. Tongues were given at the Azusa Street revival and the Spirit is now restoring prophets and apostles to the church for a new government. This is supposedly to lead the Church into her ultimate triumph of having dominion on the earth. George Warnock who was influential in the Latter Rain movement had explained the prophetic plan of the feasts in his book. He wrote that Christ fulfilled Passover as our lamb, the outpouring of the Spirit was fulfilled at Pentecost by the church and eventually Tabernacles would find its fulfillment in the last days by the Church. The Church would rule over the enemy as she has received all power just as Jesus received All power from his Father in Mt. 28:18. “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. . . Christ is coming back again to be manifested within.” (The Feast of Tabernacles, George Warnock, Springfield, MO - Bill Britton, 1951, p. 10

According to some, this new thing came in waves. Paul Cain calls this the “Third Wave” (as do Peter Wagner and others). There are various definitions to the waves. “The first wave was known as the Pentecostal movement,(p.16) the second, the Charismatics (p.17), and now “I see the Third Wave distinct from, but at the same time similar to the first and second waves.”(p.1

Although Wagner says those in this new move have not chosen to be identified with the either group, they are joined with them. (C. Peter Wagner “The Third Wave of the Holy Spirit.”

Most of the participants agree it will “contain the good of all the previous moves (of God) and much more.” This will be all encompassing and will cross all barriers. When God “releases His mighty wave it's going to engulf everybody from the Baptists to the Episcopalians and from the Episcopalians to the Catholics and every denomination on the face of the earth” (Paul Cain, “God Speaking the Second Time,” Leadership Conference, Grace Ministry, 1990)

Rodney Browne, in his booklet “The Coming Revival” talks about revival waves and how you need to learn to read the waves; otherwise if you stay with the wrong one you and your board will end up smashed up on the sand.” (p.14) Cain says “Something's going to come so strong to you that you won't even know that there be any baptism of the Holy Ghost compared to the enormous baptism you're about to receive.” (Paul Cain, “Prophecy for the Vineyard,” Anaheim Vineyard, 2/1989). Something that is beyond God’s gift to the Church, which happens to be HIMSELF! What could replace the God of the Scriptures? What would be greater? What kind of a tidal wave is so massive that we are only seeing the first waves of its all encompassing affect?

The concept of a new move of God goes back further than the modern Toronto and Pensacola outbreaks. People have been taught to seek this “New Thing” since the Latter Rain teaching was presented in 1948. In remission for many years it was birthed again in the late 1980’s and early 90’s with a vengeance. Biblically what will happen in the future will be a replay of what happened on the real day of Pentecost. But what we are seeing today is not it! It will not be new in the sense of being different, but new to the people at the time. It may be greater in magnitude but not different in quality. It is to bring salvation to Israel in a very short period just as it did at the first Pentecost. It is for Israel, although others will be affected. Instead this latter rain is for the saved Church and it will clothe the participants with authority and power beyond anything ever thought of ... so they say.

Bill Britton, one of the early leaders of this movement, gives us the answer to what Paul Cain is teaching. Jesus our High Priest was anointed of the Spirit without measure - this same divine anointing of the fullness of the Spirit that came upon Jesus shall come upon the entire Body, until every enemy shall become his footstool. This anointing does not come upon babes in Christ as does the Baptism of the Spirit. This anointing comes at the time of the Adoption.” (Bill Britton, “The Pattern Son” p. 23) It is this premise of fullness and dominion that is now being promoted through numerous ministries today. A recurring theme is that the Church makes the earth Jesus’ footstool. Notice the baptism for the immature and the “new anointing” is something separate for the spiritually mature. The unbiblical distinction of baptism and adoption is the general foundation for the revivals we have all seen through the 90’s. Cain, who was formerly a Branham disciple, would be familiar with this and other teachings that came from this era. According to many Latter Rain teachers we can become everything that Jesus was. “Jesus was God in the flesh. We must be as He was in the world, even greater in volume and influence” (Earl Paulk, The Ultimate Kingdom,” 1986, p.121). The Bible says no servant is greater than his master. It becomes a completely different interpretation to make a believer who is to be a follower of Christ as a servant become more powerful than He.

In this new wave today's denominations are being enticed to come under the leadership of the new apostles and prophets for the church to enter this dominion stage. But if they refuse they are accused of rejecting the “five-fold ministry” mentioned in Eph. 4. The church in its infancy had God-appointed apostles to equip her and give doctrine that was taught from Jesus. Today many want the same positions as those Jesus personally picked and they make it necessary for the church’s survival.

In 1949 “George Hawtin and his colleagues maintained that much of the problem was rooted in unwillingness to recognize the validity of the ministry of apostles and prophets ... local churches (whose members presumably included apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists, and pastors) should set apart their workers, commission their own missionaries and discipline their own members.” (George Hawtin, Church Government, 1949.)

Today guilt is heaped on those who do not want be part of this new move. No one wants to be classified as being a traditionally dead part of the old thing. Stephen Hill, who is a key player in the new wave at Brownsville, states “The second mark of a God mocker is a fear of confrontation and change. They are so stuck in religious tradition that they are closed to new revelation.” (The God Mockers, chapter 1, 1997 Stephen Hill)

We are told that we must listen to the prophets for revelation of God, otherwise the Church will not be renewed and have the life of Christ in it. Glenn Foster stated, “I am sending a whole generation of prophets to you. I am about to release prophecy on the church as you have never seen it before... I have a secret plan, and that plan is being unfolded here a little, there a little. Listen to the prophets – the little prophets, the big prophets, listen to those who speak one line and to those who speak volumes” (Prophecy published by the Sweetwater Church of the Valley, Glenn Foster, Life for the Nations, Oct. 7, 1994). One can only wonder how we survived for almost 1900 years without apostles and prophets. But the new wave leaders demean the church through history saying it has failed its commission and God’s best is saved for the last, and we are it.

Those Christians who had come to believe that a period of lukewarmness and backsliding in the Church would be a sign of the nearness of Christ's return were wrong - the era of the apostle, not the day of apostasy was at hand” (Doing A New Thing? 1995 Brian Hewitt, introduction). It is this change of what the last days will be like that gives the apostolic Dominion Now movement its strength and validity. Instead of a falling away from the faith they believe the Church is empowered to a level unseen before in history, greater than its beginnings. I’m sorry, I just don’t see this in Scripture.

Peter Wagner has written a book called the New Apostolic Churches which explains the new Apostolic Spirit that is raising international leaders. Bill Hamon states “Christ is activating His Prophets in the 1980's and His Apostles in the 1990's. Jesus is thrilled at the thought that His prophets will soon be fully recognized by the church.” (Prophets and Personal Prophecy. Page 2

Fuller Seminary held a National Symposium on the Post-Denominational Church was convened by Dr. C. Peter Wagner, (May 21-23, 1996). Bill Hamon said that, “This was a historical occasion in God's annals of Church history. It was prophetically orchestrated by the Holy Spirit to fulfill God's progressive purposes of bringing His church to its ultimate destiny. . . the consensus of the panelists was that there are still apostles and prophets in the Church, and there is an emerging Apostolic Movement that will revolutionize the 21st Century Church.”

“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.” (Rick Joyner, The Harvest, “Joel’s Army.”

Does God want Christianity to change? Is this a good thing? Was it not God who gave us Christianity?

Joyner also says “It will be said of the apostles soon to be anointed that they have turned an upside down world right side up.” (Rick Joyner, May/June 1988 The Harvest). Rod Parsley agrees, “Don't look now but there's just about to be a revolution. Things are about to get turned right side up.” (Breakthrough Jan. 7, 2000). I don’t want to make too big a thing of this, but the Bible says that the people complained about the original apostles because they turned the world upside down, does this mean the new apostles are going to reverse what they did? (Just a thought).

The promoters of this “New Thing” neglect to see what the Holy Spirit is doing in the earth today is what He has been doing ever since Jesus left and went to heaven. As He told us, “He (the Holy Spirit) is sent to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.” One of the ways the Church can participate in his work is to preach the Word in its truthfulness to see the same ancient results. However this is not what is happening and it is certainly not where we are being led by the new leaders of this movement.

The Immortals rule as little Christ’s

Earl Paulk “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.” “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. p. 125) While there is no argument about the Church being God’s body on earth to fulfill his will, Paulk interprets this wrongly and goes much further than the Scripture does in attributing to the believer something that is unique in Jesus. He doe no t understand to incarnate means to be in flesh, and God came only once to be clothed in flesh- in Jesus Christ. We are not God in the flesh.

The rapture is mostly an unknown teaching in the Catholic Church today and many Protestants are taking the same route. It is losing its importance for evangelicals who become unbalanced in a earthly activism. The new focus is on an earthly inheritance for the church, further demeaning the hope of being taken to heaven. The land of promise is heaven which is our place of citizenship. It is the place Christ has gone ahead to prepare for HIS Church.

The 2nd coming is the great and blessed hope of the church, (Titus 2:13) however Peter says that at the end they will say: “That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own desires, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,” (2 Pet 3:2-5) Here are people familiar with the Scriptures they point to the fathers of the faith, then ignore the fact of a judgment. They are oblivious to it. If Jesus was coming why has it not happened already? This may be alluding to the Kingdom Now teaching we see today. He's not here, so we need to take over for him. Where is Jesus? It’s always been the same, we need to do something or we it will not happen.

Sam Fife, considered an apostle of the Manifest Sons of God, in his book One Corporate Man, stated: “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, … 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.” (Sam Fife, One Corporate Man (The Body of Christ), p. 22)

The similarities to those in the new age are striking. “Finally, you start the transition. . . During the transition, millions of members of the body AWAKEN TO THEIR POWER to be natural Christs, full humans in the model of the first person to manifest the next stage in the development of humanity. . . .”(New Ager Barbara Marx Hubbard)

According to some Dominionists, 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 injury or death, will be the result of having attained spiritual perfection through obedience to the apostles and prophets. (Al Dager “Vengeance is Ours” p.96-97) Sam Fife, a leading promoter of the Manifest Sons of God teaching, taught that the aging process had stopped for him and when asked his age, he would simply answer “I AM”. He assured people that he would never die but was in the process of being changed into a incorruptible life.

“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 and he will have it. His Son was a ALPHA SON, your children are the OMEGA sons and daughters.” (Bob Jones) The Bible teaches Jesus was not only the Alpha, there is only one Alpha and he is also the Omega, and we are certainly not Him. Jones cleverly switches the titles of Christ to us but they come with our growth process, teaching that maturity in the believers growth is what will bring Jesus back. The Bible says the opposite. We will not look like Jesus, until Jesus actually comes back.

“Each son becomes the expression and revelation of the Person of Deity. There is still only one Person of God, but He shall eternally indwell a many-membered body of like ones unto Himself, the extension and projection of His own Being. --- He says, “I will dwell IN THEM, and walk IN THEM... and ye shall be My sons and daughters” (2 Cor. 6:16-1

. What, then, are those clouds with which, and in which, the Christ comes again? Why, bless your heart, WE ARE!” (Preston Eby “Coming With Clouds”

Alice Bailey a new age apostle said, “If God is God, then His divinity will adapt itself to the emerging divinity of the sons of God.”

Contrary to what these people teach, immortality will come to those who are living at the same time the dead in Christ rise at the Lord's return to take His people from the earth to a place he has prepared. (I Thess. 4:13-17, Jn.14). Then from heaven, he will pour out his wrath upon the nations and many will repent. (The book of Revelation is about his judgment). This immortality, the hope of our salvation, will occur suddenly and will take effect throughout the Body of Christ, not just among a select few at individual times when they attain their spiritual perfection.

Earl Paulk has promoted the Latter Rain view for many years, “Jesus Christ, as the first-fruit 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.” “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. (Earl Paulk, “The Proper Function of the Church”

Paulk asks, “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!”

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 28:1

, “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 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!” [Earl Paulk, The Proper Function of the Church p. 13)

“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.” (Earl Paulk, “The Proper Function of the Church”

The Scriptures Paulk is citing actually contradicts his belief that the Church will conquer death and this is serious error. I Corinthians 15:26 says, “For he [Jesus] must reign, till He (Jesus) has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” It is from Jesus' return that his enemies will be put under His feet. He is the one who will soon crush Satan, not the Church prior to His return. He must reign on earth for this to be accomplished. The Scripture teaches that death will not be destroyed until after the Millennium, unsaved people will be born mortal in the Millennium and will die, but the believers who already had their resurrection will be immortal co-ruling and reigning WITH Christ. 1 Cor. 15:22-26 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the Kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.” This last enemy “death” is dealt with by Christ himself who in Rev. 20:14 are thrown in the Lake of Fire from his judgment at the white throne all taking place after the 1,000 year reign on earth.

The dominionist's take Scriptures pertaining to the 2nd coming and the Millennium and apply them to themselves in the present age. But the problem is they are like square pegs in a round hole, they just don't fit if one studies Scripture carefully. As Al Dager points out “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 have conquered death.” Think of it, they still need to conquer nations and unconverted people even after they are immortal. Yes a little logic certainly does split the clouds of confusion on this matter. James makes it clear 5

-8 “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

There are two conflicting and competing concepts. It is the new trend to think of the Church in a powerful way and this is not going away. Biblically the Church is not going to be triumphant over the world but individuals will be. God has promised individuals victory in their lives (to he who overcomes) but never collectively in the sense of ruling. There is a faithful remnant that stands for the truth and overcomes by their faith despite what the fallen world is throwing at them. None of this is surprising as Paulk was one of the first to espouse what the faith teachers say. “Just as dogs have puppies and cats have kittens, so God has little gods ....Until we comprehend that we are little gods and we begin to act like little gods, we cannot manifest the Kingdom of God.” (Earl Paulk “Satan unmasked”1984 pp. 96-97) I guess when you think of yourself as a little God you can change into an immortal anytime you want and take authority.

Waiting for What? Not the Return of Christ but for the Church to Rise up!

From this new move the focus of the church’s worship and service shifted from the words of Scripture to statements about the Church’s victory and power. We became all important for the initiating of the Kingdom, it depended on us. Instead of looking for our coming Savior we look to ourselves to solve the problems of planet earth. God’s glory now replaces the physical Son of God coming back.

The devil is too smart to influence the Church with an out and out lie. He will present a truth and have it out of context, such as wrong timing in this case. Imagine a teaching that could affect how people believe what will take place in the future and affect how they live today. This is what we have with the Kingdom Now teaching.

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 and he will have it. His Son was a ALPHA SON, your children are the OMEGA sons and daughters.” (Bob Jones). this represents the Latter rain beliefs of many of the false prophets promises to the church today. The Bible teaches there is only one Alpha and he is also the Omega, and we are certainly not Him. Jones cleverly switches the 2nd coming with our growth process, teaching that maturity in the believers growth is what will bring Jesus back. The Bible says the opposite that we will not look like Jesus until Jesus actually comes back.

Rod Parsley launches from the scripture to teach the cooperate Christ of the Latter Rain “Are you listening. In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, it's God in Christ”- no problem with that …, “how many of you believe that, it was God in Christ. But when you get to the book of Acts you take that great theological leap. (he does anyway) and its no longer God in Christ where you can’t get through the second chapter vs.4 until the God in Christ is now become the Christ in you. Now if Christ is in you and God is in Christ than the Christ in you is the God in Christ in you, and in you can dwell the fullness” (Breakthrough 9/19/2000). The conclusion if we have the fullness then who needs a return of a unique Son of God?

“Cast aside traditions and hear what the Spirit of God is trying to say to the Church.... Don't expect the rapture” to rescue you! ... If you want to bring Christ back to earth, YOU can do it ... WE CAN DO IT! ... Take the time to contact us. God is mobilizing His army” (“Harvest time” June 1984 p.2)

“The greatest task ever given to mankind-the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth” (Earl Paulk, “Thrust in the Sickle” p. 141.)

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.” (Earl Paulk “The Great Escape theory,” p. 14 )

Paulk says we bring Jesus back; it’s dependent on us. God's purposes are blamed on our failure to accomplish his mission. Paulk has stated: “Christ in us must take dominion over the earth.... The next move of God cannot occur until Christ in us takes dominion. (Earl Paulk, “Held in the Heavens Until... 1985, p. 234)

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.” (Earl Paulk, “Held in the Heavens Until” (Atlanta: K Dimension Publishers, 1985), p. 234, 235)

We see that Paulk believes the marriage supper of the Lamb cannot take place until after the Church (“Christ in us”

has been manifested and we take dominion on the earth. Paulk does not mean that Jesus will have already returned and will be with us in order for the church to take dominion under his leadership. Otherwise he would have said that the next move of God is for Jesus to come back and then for the Church to take dominion under His kingship. And he would not have used the term “Christ in us.” In his case he employs its use in that Jesus will take dominion through the Church while He remains in heaven. This is new age theology and is fast becoming the norm for a Church already operating under a new (fresh) anointing. One only needs to look at the Scripture to see that the marriage of the Lamb occurs in Rev 19

: “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” This happens just before the end of the Tribulation when the Lord comes with the saints from heaven to earth. This is not an accurate teaching to say it is the next move of God.

You can study books about going to heaven in a so-called “rapture” if that turns you on. We want to study the Bible to learn to live and love and bring heaven to earth. (David Ebaugh in Monarch. Oct./Nov. 1986, p. 3.) Can the world ever be transformed to be like heaven without the person of Christ the king of heaven here? What they are proposing is a Kingdom without its King but instead many prophets and apostles in his place.

“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 will soon be cast off by all.” (THE HARVEST, Rick Joyner) Want to advance, forget the rapture (which is the same event as the resurrection) that will change your body to immortality. Instead what is being offered in its place is that you can be immortal without it. The rapture becomes an object of scorn. We hear over and over again God is going to fill his temple (the Church) and we will be empowered as never before.

Some teach that the rapture is taking us into a higher realm, a spiritual realm; that it does not mean being taken to heaven at all. On p.147 in Al Dager's book “Vengeance is Ours” he quotes Linda Bonnville who expresses a rapture and change for individuals at different times, which is clearly Manifest Sons of God teaching that is foreign to the Scripture. “Now this is true. Only the Father knows when He'll send the Son of Man back to any individual person, And it's different for different people. I went through it in 1983; some people went through it in ‘84; some people went through it in '85; some went through it in '86; some are just now coming into it. All the Word has already happened. Its a matter of our faith-receiving for ourselves what's already been done as the Spirit of God reveals it to us . . . the whole Word of God has been done in and through people since 2,000 years ago-since His first coming. It's been made available. We just have to enter in at the time that the Father says it's your turn and sends the Son to you, or you hear the message and you say, I want the Second Coming of the Lord for me now.” (Linda Bonville video tape of small group meeting in hotel room Mar. 10, 1990, quoted in Vengeance is Ours by Al Dager)

Various other alternative interpretations are used in place of a literal taking of the Church. “But you say that we have already received that anointing when we received the glorious infilling or Baptism of the Holy Ghost. No, my friend, we only get the earnest of our inheritance. The anointing of the Two Witnesses is when the glory of God (Jesus) fills the entire Temple of God (Body of Christ, the Overcomer) ...suddenly He appears! Not to everyone but to those who are looking for him. And he appears unto full salvation...to anoint us and fill us with His glory and power and the fullness of his spirit. And by the act of his appearance this group of people are made into one body.” (Bill Britton, “The Pattern Son P.23)

Keri Jones writes, “We will see the church filled with glory in a greater way than anything seen previously. How can this be? Malachi prophesied “see, I will send my messenger who will prepare the way before me, Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple, the messenger of the covenant whom you desire, will come.” … the church as it lives out the word, will arise to conquer all its opposing forces: the world, the flesh and the devil.” (Covenant News newsletter) It appears that he interprets the Church as the temple that Jesus is coming to. However this was fulfilled in his first coming. The implication is that the Church will be filled with power to do what? Conquer anything that opposes it. (Joel's army etc.) This would include all that is operated from their influence as well. Hardly a biblical model without the King reigning here on earth.

Benny Hinn states Hab. 2:14: “for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. This is happening around the world today” (July 17, 2000) .This promise is to the King of Babylon and the Babylonians who built their city with blood. (Babylon is a type of the world who serve self and not God) One day this will all change when the Lord comes to set up his kingdom that he will be acknowledged by everyone. But Many are saying this is actually happening now through the gospel and the Church’s influence.

Some seem to think the thousand year reign has started already. Tommy Tenny says “God literally moves His throne from heaven. When this happens the church is building a chair, a seat, a place for God to come. ” (RiveWhen is the church going to arise and build a mercy seat according to the pattern of heaven? And He will literally set up His throne, and you will have a throne zone in the midst of the church and some group somewhere is going to build a seat for the glory of God, and the water that flows from that place will eventually cover the earth. The next wave of revival is not going to be like anything that you have ever seen. There will be nothing of man on it or God won't come to sit. He is tired of breaking chairs that we have built for Him. He is demanding now that we build a mercy seat.rmail Archives: Mar.-Apr.1999 -The Glory of God - Tommy Tenny)

Nowhere does the Bible teach we build him a mercy seat, God’s mercy seat was the cross. This is just bad teaching in its rawest form and will lead people to a misunderstanding of the last days and the 2nd coming. It is Christ coming physically that will fulfill what is being referred to by Tenny and others. Zech. 6:12-13: “Then speak to him, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying: “Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, and He shall build the temple of the LORD; Yes, He shall build the temple of the LORD. He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on His throne; so He shall be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” Jesus made this clear when this would occur “...in the regeneration, ( when things are restored) when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Mt 19:2

.

2 Thess. 1:8-10: “In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you.” This is a certain day and it is not happening in an extended time period. The majority are saying Gods glory is going to fill the Church first that we can receive this glory now, however it states in Col. 3: 4: “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Christ, the Son of Man must appear physically for the Church to have this glory, it is not to be separated from his 2nd coming. One must choose between the sure word of God, or the word of the new prophets.
Pt.2 Who has all authority?

Tropical_Man 68M

6389 posts
11/23/2008 7:26 am

Word - Faith teacher Fred Price affirms, “Jesus said, All authority... All of it.” How much is left out of the term all? Nothing. It’s an inclusive term. It leaves nothing out. He said, All authority in the heaven and in the earth is in My hands. It has been given to Me and what do you think the purpose of Almighty God giving Him the authority in the earth was for and He’s not here to use it? It’s because He gave that authority to the Church. In essence, He was saying, I’m going back to Heaven. I’ll take care of the authority in the heavenly realm but I’m leaving you here My body ..and I’m giving you, by delegation, My authority in the earth realm. Go forth and conquer. The way God has designed the system, we control. It’s up to us.” (Fred Price, Ever Increasing Faith Lesea [on audio]).

Since Christ’s ruling is invisible, people have always tried to transfer to themselves and the Church more authority than was actually given. This doctrine extends from one’s right to divine health and prosperity to ruling over the world as espoused in the Kingdom Now movement. There is no difference in the two camps of Word Faith and Latter Rain.

Many act and teach that we have all this authority. Robin Harfouche (who agrees with her husband Dr. Christian Harfouche) explained in a TV interview to Sid Roth in 1998 about when she went to heaven, Jesus told me “He said He gave us all power and authority over the work of darkness and he said if we would rebuke that spirit, say spirit of pain in the name of Jesus Christ go, it will have to leave you” (on Harfouche).

If this were true why does the world and even Christians suffer? Is there not enough rebuking going on to have us painless? All one has to do is turn on Christian TV to hear all the binding of diseases being spoken.Where does the Bible say we have all authority as Jesus does? It was Jesus who was given back the authority He put aside when He left heaven to become a servant (human) on earth. (Phil. 2:5-

He never gave this kind of authority to the Church. Is there no difference between Him and us? Of course we have a certain amount of authority under His headship, but not ALL authority as He has (after all He is God we are not). So why isn’t this actually working; except for the perceptions in these people’s minds.

Earl Paulk goes much further with this premise and changes Bible promises that have Jesus as the source, and instead attributes them to the Church. “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” (Earl Paulk The Great Escape theory, p. 14).

Doesn’t the Bible say we preach about the Kingdom of God to the people of the nations (Mt.28:1

? It’s not about demonstrating an alternative rulership so that Jesus is finally able to return. Does this mean the return of Christ is in the Church’s hands? Is this why he has not returned yet? We prepare people to be ready to enter the Kingdom by first having the new birth. This is done by the Gospel being taught and the people having the spiritual Kingdom born inside first. Not by installing a rulership of fallen men (though redeemed) over nations.

According to this new reformation a mature church can only be realized by coming under the leadership of the new apostles and prophets. It is impossible to be realized without this unity and leadership. This is what the Latter Rain tried to do in the 1950's but failed.

One of today’s prophets Dr. Bill Hamon explains, “The restoration of the Elijah Company of the prophets is so dear to the heart of Jesus, for it will be this company of the last day prophets that prepare the way for His Second Coming ... the prophets will also help restore and call forth Apostles of power and restoration for the Church unity and perfection...” This “Elijah Company” is a pseudonym that is just one of many for those who do not believe in the “rapture” of the church. In its place are plans of setting up the Kingdom here on the earth first, after this is accomplished they will invite Jesus back to sit on the throne when its ready. But if the Church can do this before He comes, then who needs Jesus to come back?

Paulk states, referring to our dominion: “When we first began to point out that the Church was. . . [foolishly] standing gazing into the heavens waiting for some dramatic escape from this earth, some began to scream “heresy”! ... The Word proves that the earth is the Lord's and dominion over it is the first task the Church must accomplish...”

Jesus said that all authority in heaven and earth were given to him in Mt. 28:18-19. This is also found in Dan 7:13-14: “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His Kingdom the One which shall not be destroyed.” Some seem to think this was transferred to the Church. Not according to the Scripture.

Speaking of the Lord Ps. 145:13: “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.”

Ps. 22:28: “For the kingdom is the LORD'S, and He rules over the nations.” As we can see the Church does not rule the nations but Jesus. We may co-rule and reign but it certainly will not happen without His being present.

How does this come about? Dan. 7:21-23: “I was watching; and the same horn (little horn) was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, “until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.” Thus he said: 'The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces.”

This fourth kingdom is unlike any other it rules through the little horn. It takes the ancient of days to come for the saints to possess the kingdom. The saints needed to be rescued, they were not ruling. Clearly there is no Church government ruling like this now, nor will it be in the future. (at least not Jesus’ Church) What I’m about to propose fits in perfectly with the Kingdom Now scenario promoted by the new wave. As it is, they want to set up a kingdom to rule over the nations without Christ. Can it be that they are the fourth kingdom? Notice it is not until Jesus comes that we possess the kingdom. This is not talking about his first coming but second as will be explained shortly. The Kingdom Now scenario has the kingdom set up in Christ’s name. Jesus tells us in Mt. 24 that many false prophets will arise, they will display wonders at the same time the elect is here. The purpose is to deceive the elect. Jesus said they will say to Him “Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy IN YOUR NAME,” etc. Just because someone has a logo “Jesus Is Lord” does not make it so. Just because someone invokes the name of Lord, or Jesus, does not make them a child of God. Just because they attribute the healing to Jesus does not make it so. Remember that Jesus said “I never knew you. Away from me you workers of lawlessness." It is by their fruit (doctrine) we will know them. I submit this as consideration for any who claim such positions and power promoting these doctrines.

Dan. 2:40-45: “And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others. “Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. “And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. “As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.” And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. “Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold-- the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”

We know from scripture that clay represents man (God is the potter we are the clay) yet Daniel states it does not mix. Daniel is speaking of a fourth kingdom with kings that will rule the earth unlike any other time. Considering the agenda of the New Age movement as well as Kingdom Now promoters in the third wave it is not that far fetched that they may have their way and rule as the Church on earth without Christ.

Ps. 2:1-3 “Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” Here we have God’s perspective of people united together without the Messiah. It is called a vain thing, empty. Likewise so is the dominionism of the Church without the Messiah present. For God says in Ps. 2:6-9: “Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.” “I will declare the decree: the LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'“ Christ is the inheritor of the nations not the Church. Yet so often we hear people praying that God would give them (the Church) the inheritance. Even as the Church co-rules and reigns in the Millennium, it is under His headship and He is present.

While the fourth kingdom was made of Iron with clay, Christ instead rules with a rod of iron (meaning an unbreakable rule in absolutes, disobedience will bring swift repercussions). Rev. 2:27: “ He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels'-- as I also have received from My Father.” Notice that those ruling the kingdom when He comes will be broken as clay vessels. Why? Because it is not HIS kingdom they set up, but their own. So this can't mean the church is ruling when Christ comes again for He comes back to break the ruling kingdom at this time(Dan.2:44).

Rev. 12:5: “She bore a male Child (Christ the Son) who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.” Jesus had to ascend first before he rules the nations. He also has to come back before this can take place. Rev. 19:15: “ Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron.”

The Kingdom of God arrived with Jesus’ incarnation. He said (Lk.17) the kingdom is within your midst-meaning he was present among them. The death and resurrection of Jesus brought the way in which people can enter his kingdom before it is fully implemented upon His return. As we read in Daniel chapter 7:22: “and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.” The dominion and the kingdom would be given to saints upon the return of Christ.

When the kingdom comes Christ is present and we serve Him, not the prophets or apostles. Dan. 7:27: “Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.”

Those who have ruling positions in the fourth kingdom we find deceived into working for the Devil, Rev. 17:12-13: “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.” These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.

Rev 17:17: “ For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.”

Why would the 4th kingdom be so different than the others- because it incorporates spirituality with political might, unlike any government in history! It will do things in God’s name and rule the earth. It will be more extensive than any other kingdom before in history.

The 10 kings give their allegiance to the beast and we find the beast is worshipped. Daniel also says it will be a revived Roman Empire. In Rome they had a single man Caesar who claimed to be God among the other gods. He would allow Christians to worship their God as long as they sacrificed to him and said he was God too. So it is possible for many different religions to co-exist in unity if they have the same goals, and put aside their differences.

Jesus said to his followers as long as you are in the world you will have tribulation- that the whole world lies in the power of the wicked one. We save people out of this but don’t rule over it! Why would anyone want to possess and rule the earth that is fallen and under judgment. It is for this reason we wait for Christ to come back and establish his rule and renew the earth.

Rev. 14:12-13: “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'“ “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” The Saints are not ruling, they are dying as the mark of the beast is instituted and the woman who is a counterfeit for the true Church, (the bride of Christ) kills the true saints. When John sees this woman he is awe struck as he describes in Rev. 17:6: I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.”

Rick Joyner writes of his visions of “a bloody civil war” that is to be inside the Church. (Latter Rain Revival, 1996) I submit for your consideration that the “blues” (the spiritual ones) and the “grays” (the intellectual ones) just may have a different significance than what he attributes to them. Consider what the book of Revelation states that the saints are killed by others who think they are doing God's work. One only has to see which is the side that has a militant tone to know the potential that is already there. He (the beast) will cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed (Rev 13

-15). Those who do worship the beast in his false unity and religion will survive and take a place of ruling for a short time in his kingdom.

Israel was called God's wife in the Old Testament, she became an adulterous wife as she went after other gods but one day in the future she will be reconciled. Paul said: “I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2). We find this woman amazes John because she is against the saints yet she claims to be for God.

Eph. 3 tells us we have already been raised up with Christ to heavenly places. Col. 3:1-3 says to set our mind on the things above where Christ is seated. This goes back to Jesus saying not to store up treasure on earth but heavenly treasure. We bring people into his spiritual kingdom and He will bring the kingdom to the earth when He comes. Jesus made it clear His kingdom is not of this world or His servants would fight (John 18:36). “But now My kingdom is not from here.” It becomes obvious that this fourth kingdom which will rule until Christ comes does so through the tribulation and is the one that does the Saints in. The Christ of the Kingdom Now, for the most part, returns not to take the church to heaven, but to reign over the earthly kingdom that the “overcomers” have prepared for Him.

To meet a “Christ” on earth who comes to reign over the kingdom they have established in his name is not the Christ of Scripture but unknowingly preparing the earth for the Anti-christ who will rule first before Christ comes to set up His Kingdom on earth? If one eliminates this crucial teaching they have no protection against this deception that will sweep the earth and trap its inhabitants.

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

We build the kingdom, I don’t think so! This is the essence of the Kingdom Now, take it by force (or by politics if possible) camp. Jesus told us to pray for his kingdom to come, not take it for him without his being here physically. If we build the kingdom who is going to rule it? Us? Not too comforting a thought. The Kingdom is fully coming into the church independent of the physical return of Christ? How wonderful! Jesus, stay home we’ll call you when we need your help.

Isa. 9:6 “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. V.7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.”

Today’s promoters of Dominion Kingdom theology have expanded the more primitive from of Reconstructionism to be neatly adapted to the Charismatic model and goals.

This Dominionist church fits perfectly into the Global Church that has been forming throughout this Century to bring us into a spiritual unity with all mankind and all religions. Ecumenism is the strategic answer for making the world a better place without the literal person of Christ present. We are told we have got the power and the know how. We can do it in Jesus’ name (God’s name whoever that may be).

The Dominionist view is that we will now conquer the whole world for Christ before He comes. They are establishing a superchurch in the name of Christ. Jesus is teaching the Church warfare. He appears as a ferocious Warrior. We are to march forward under His leadership toward “the land which I do give to them” (Joshua 1:2). We have to fight in order to enter the land of promise. “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.” (Joshua 1:3)

This is accomplished in several ways. By ‘speaking into the heavenlies’ the ‘things which are not’ and bringing in the kingdom. Binding the strongmen over the countries and cities. Music is an essential instrument in their model for spiritual warfare; it becomes an emphasis, replacing evangelism by preaching the word. We are told the kingdom is advancing violently referring to Mt. 11:12: “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” This is one of those Scriptures that has various interpretations. So how are we to understand this? When John came on the scene we find the religious leaders came against his message, they had the same resistance to Jesus. The kingdom of heaven suffered violence from those who wanted to force their way in. Jesus said one must become as a child, the meek and the humble gain entrance. They were to follow Him not go in the lead. Whether this is the exact meaning of the passage I cannot be sure since there so many various ways to consider it, but one thing I’m certain of, it does not mean what the Dominionist interpreters have it to mean. It was these same religious leaders who turned on Jesus when he would not be what they expected the Messiah to be like, to overthrow Rome and enforce the kingdom. Could the Kingdom Now movement be repeating the same mistake?

If we look at all the places that they have done this spiritual warfare, has crime, hatred, violence, murder, divorce, abortion been affected. It is Satan’s kingdom that advances violently and does violence. Just take a look at the news, have you heard of one nation that became Christian? Yet there are whole nations that are 99% Muslim, that have Islamic governments. So where are the results? Yet you hear them prophesy of many Muslims WILL come into the kingdom, sure!

Dominionism usually sees no prophetic purpose for Israel and the Jews because it believes the return of Christ depends upon the Church. We must conquer the whole world and set up the theocratic rule before He comes.

There also seems to be an anti-Semitic vein that runs through some in the Dominion camp. Rick Godwin is a popular speaker in the Christian media has removed the Israel of the Old covenant replacing it with the Church: “They [national Israel] are not chosen, they are cursed! They are not blessed, they are cursed! . . .Yes, and you hear Jerry Falwell and everybody else say the reason America's great is because America's blessed Israel. They sure have. Which Israel? The Israel--the church ...That's the Israel of God, not that garlic one over on the Mediterranean Sea!” (Rick Godwin, Metro Church; Edmund, Oklahoma; April 11, 1988; “Rick Godwin No. 2”, audio tape Quoted in Whatever happened to heaven Dave Hunt) Maybe he should read Paul’s warning found in Rom. 11. Paul did not mix the two groups, nor did he say one is replaced. This is reminiscent of what the Mormons say of the blacks being cursed because they didn’t obey God. Paul writes they (Israel) were broken off for a time but will be grafted in again. Rom. 11:28-29 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” They are temporarily enemies, but they are not cursed.

God promises in Jer. 31:35-37: “Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for a light by day, the ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, who disturbs the sea, and its waves roar (The LORD of hosts is His name): “If those ordinances depart from before Me, says the LORD, then the seed of Israel shall also cease from being a nation before Me forever. “Thus says the LORD: “If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done.” One would have a huge task of removing the sun and the moon and measure out the heavens before Israel the nation (which is whom God is speaking to then) would cease to exist or be cut off. They change the seed of Israel into a spiritual seed and apply it to the Church. Its wrong!

Earl Paulk, one of the leading promoters of this Kingdom Now teaching writes: “Some of the strongest fundamental churches still preach that Christ will return to gather national Israel unto Himself, and I say that is deception and will keep the Kingdom of God from coming to pass! In almost any Christian bookstore, about 99% of the books will say that “God's time-clock is Israel” and that “God's covenant is still with Israel.” . . . prophecies about Israel as a nation [are] now transferred to spiritual Israel, which is the people of God [i.e. the church] . . . (Earl Paulk, The Handwriting On The Wall, pp.17, 19-20)

Despite Paulk’s rejection to national Israel Luke records in Acts 1:6-8 “When they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.” At the time Israel was a nation and no place did the Lord change this. If the apostles had no part in restoring the literal kingdom on earth what Scripture would validate the new apostles for doing so?

It was days before the transfiguration Jesus said that the disciples would see the kingdom come in power. What they saw wasn't the kingdom “itself,” but a preview of what it would be like. What was seen on the Mount of Transfiguration showed that the OT saints were to be present as well as God’s glory being there with Jesus.

After Christ returns, after he rescues the nation of Israel, after Armageddon has occurred, then he separates the sheep from the goats in Matt 25:33-34 “And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’” So it is Jesus who personally gives the kingdom, we do not take it or set it up for Him. It is a total deception to think otherwise. The kingdom begins from Israel to the nations as Christ will rule from His homeland. 2 Tim 4:1: “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom#x201D; As we can see from Scripture His kingdom and appearing are simultaneous events and it comes with judgment as well as a blessing.

Pt.3 The cleansing for the Kingdom

Tropical_Man 68M

6389 posts
11/23/2008 7:27 am

A sure sign of religious authoritarianism is a zealousness to rid the world of its opposition. In the minds of many Charismatic Dominionists, the authority of the apostles and prophets cannot be questioned by anyone, friend or foe. Their placement of rulership in the Kingdom of God is to be free from dissenters or the new unity will be broken. Therefore it will be necessary that those who challenge their teachings and their authority to be removed. Of course many have been labeled as anti Christ or committing blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Paulk comments on not recognizing what is happening “Therefore, the spirit of antichrist refuses to recognize that GOD IS HERE IN THE FLESH.” (Earl Paulk “The Wounded Body of Christ”

. Paulk’s meaning of this is the body of Christ. The Bible says He (Jesus) came in the flesh not that he is here now in the flesh. Yes God dwells in his people as the Church corporately and individually, but we are not an incarnation. Christ took his incarnated body to heaven and this incarnation event is not to be repeated. To call those antichrist who do not subscribe to this is to accuse almost the whole church throughout all of its history as ignorant. Paulk either misunderstands the meaning of the incarnation or purposely changes what it means.

Biblically the spirit of antichrist is one that opposes the person of Christ, by denying he did come in the flesh. To change the incarnation of Christ to instead be his collective body would be more like the biblical warning of having the spirit of antichrist. Because it is denying that He alone came in the flesh, it is denying His unique incarnation. John’s point is to have the believers discern those who hold to the apostle’s doctrine of the single virgin birth of the savior, meaning God coming from heaven in a man. Both Hinn and Copeland believe Anti-Christ means anti-anointing. “It is the devil who is the one fighting what is anointed.” Translated in their terms, if you come against what they say, you are antichrist. (aka: Don’t touch God’s anointed). This why they can say the things they say, such as we are little messiahs and anointed just like Jesus. Because they are convinced of their mission being from God. But God can put in ones heart to fulfill his purposes and they would not be working for his kingdom at all. He does this with Joels army and he does with the 4th kingdom at the end of days.

One of the more concerning areas of this new thing is to PURGE THE EARTH of undesirables. This is the goal of the New Age movement, to change the Church first and bring peace and unity to mankind without the Prince of Peace being personally here. They know that the orthodox Church is against this world government by their apostles (ascended masters). How coincidental is it that these new prophets and apostles say the very same things? Those who do not go along with the five-fold model of ministry and obey the new Government that will be installed run by the “new” prophets and apostles will be taken out of the way.

The new age cleansing is to fall on those who refuse the light initiation of Lucifer which is a an experience of realizing everything is one. This will bring a crisis period for the earth to be cleansed and purified of those who do not want this unity. The Church cleansing seems too involve the new anointing and the leaders that dispense it.

Franklin Hall, a forerunner and promoter of the Latter Rain in the 40's stated: “The man-child group of the sons of God will be required “to rule the nations, with a rod of iron” (Revelation 12:5). To those not accepting this invitation into 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!” (Franklin Hall, “Subdue The Earth, Rule The Nations”, Franklin Hall Ministries, 1966, p. 57.)

“There are differences of opinion among Dominionists as to how 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 dissenters; 3) the Church (or certain “overcomers”

will pronounce God's judgment upon dissenters, thus moving God to destroy them; 4) the Church will, out of “necessity,” use physical force by which it will judge, sentence, and execute judgment (including death) upon dissenters; 5) all or any combination of the above may take place.” (Al Dager, Vengeance Is Ours, p.96-97)

If anyone can remember back to the June 9th, 1994 fiasco Hinkley on TBN clearly promoted a Kingdom Dominion prophecy where he said “evil will be ripped from the earth.” The kingdom was to come because evil was to be ripped from the earth. This is what we are hearing more and more these days.

Others seemed to have received the same message at that time “it is a time for judgment and cleansing. It must be done that my church will be ready...” “This is a cleansing that removes evil from the whole world and activates a worldwide spiritual revival with millions of people pouring into the church.” (Don Hackman, “THE EVANGELIST”

Many others such as David Griffis, director of the Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Colorado, had a vision in which he heard the Lord speak and saw a picture in his mind. “'June the 9th.' I saw the date in my mind and then described what would be attributed to a great disaster or even the tribulation.” Teri his wife put out a fleece to see if the date is correct and heard June the 9th IS CORRECT. (Quoted in Discernment newsletter) Those who are looking for this type of scenario seem to hear all too often what is the opposite of the Scripture writings. Not only was the date wrong, but the content is unbiblical without Christ’s coming. It is rare if anyone is corrected among themselves and so it continues within the Third Wave today at unprecedented proportions.

This kind of mistake often happens when someone is using a spiritualizing method of interpretation in prophecy instead of its literal meaning in context. This is why they can say the virgin (the Church) is with child again.

“The virgin Church is “in labour and in pain to give birth” (Rev 12:1-2) ... 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” 1994 Chapter: “The Virgin Shall Be With Child” pages 153-157). While he may be thinking the best for the Church, I would say that the bible makes it clear, he is getting a little ahead of Christ.

In the place of literal interpretation of prophecy we find Replacement Theology sometimes mixed with Manifest Sons of God teaching. Prophecies that are for the nation of future Israel are instead applied to the Church. Spiritualizing passages instead of finding its literal meaning is common place, the meaning is in the hand of the wielder.

An example is the dry bones that come back to life in Ezekiel 37:1-11. They are said to be the Restoration of the Church out of Babylon (denominationalism; which separates) into perfect unity (Branham taught this). Eventually all believers will possess the same mind, and same goals under the government of the apostles and prophets in their Kingdom Age.

Others are also speaking of this “cleansing action.” A prophecy by Glenn Foster reads: “I have been cleansing the Church. Now I am ready to begin cleansing the nations...The fire that falls first is upon the sacrifice on the altar that's my Church. Then the fire falls upon the false prophets - that's the government and leadership of the world that rules in cruelty in its own wisdom ... This is a special day - an appointed time...Behold, my Jehus are ready to receive a fresh anointing. Jehu will replace the rule of Ahab and Jezebel ... there is a prophetic word upon the lips of the Elijahs of this hour, which shall feed the flesh of Jezebel to the dogs. (FIELDS OF HONEY, A prophetic message spoken by Glen Foster July 11, 1994. quoted in Discernment Newsletter)

First we need to understand that this prophecy applies OT typology to the Church that the NT does not. We are not the Altar! Nor are there Jehus and many Elijahs, this man is prophesying by his own spirit, as his theological bent betrays his teaching influence. Of course to those who are trained to spiritualize scripture in this manner, this makes perfect sense. If you have a Gnostic approach to understanding holy writ then one is justified in using real characters in the OT and applying it to all kinds of individuals and movements today. Nowhere do we find an apostle saying that another apostle or church member is like Moses or has the spirit of Zechariah or many Elijahs. Certainly we can say use examples like Elijah but this is not the way they are stating it.

This kind of teaching certainly needs to be challenged, but when those who ask for a Biblical references for this position, they are demeaned and judged as unworthy.

A judgmental spirit is seen by the very ones who say not to judge and then they turn around and label others as having the spirit of anti-christ or committing blasphemy because they question their teachings as unbiblical. The promoters of the “new thing” like Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and many others are threatened by those who ask the people to test their teachings. Not only do they want to sit in judgment on the world but the Church as well. They put fear in people by making them feel that are coming against God’s healing and anointing if they say anything contrary.

Kenneth Copeland gives the admonishment “One of these days, you may just be talking to someone, asking them how things went at church last Sunday, and they may say, ‘Oh it was great! The glory of God was so strong it healed 16 cripples, opened the ears of thirty dead people, cured seven cases of cancer and killed Brother Bigmouth and Sister Strife‘“ (Voice of Victory” Oct. 94) When Peter dealt with Annanias and Sapphirra he did not look for this action to occur; it was an immediate instruction and judgment from the Lord on 2 people who gave their word and lied.

Rodney Howard-Browne: “I'm telling your right now,” he hissed, “you'll drop dead if you prohibit what God is doing!” Dramatically he gestured toward the crowd and warned them that those like me, who would dare to question that what he was doing was of God, had committed the unpardonable sin and would not be forgiven in this world or the next.” (Rodeny Boward-Browne, Melodyland Christian Center, Anaheim, CA, from Counterfeit Revival, Hank Hanegraaf, 1997, pg. 22)

Benny Hinn states “I place a curse on every man and woman that will stretch his hand against this anointing. I curse that man who dares to speak a word against this ministry.” (Sept. 13, 1999 TBN) This is not judgments spoken about the church to repent and going back to her first love but is spoken against those who speak personally about the new thing and his ministry. These men are obviously threatened by those who speak up about their teachings. Is God worried about anyone’s hand against His (person) anointing? This is ludicrous. Did any apostle threaten someone like this? We should consider James and John’s statement of wanting vengeance, such as wanting to call lightning down from heaven on their opposers and cleanse the earth of them. Jesus said they did not know what spirit they were of.

It is Jesus himself who comes and purges (wipes out all the enemies on the earth when he comes back). The Church does not help but is a bystander as his robe is stained with the blood of God’s enemies. The Lord states in the Scripture: “Vengeance is mine,” not the Church’s! To attack people’s character and label them without addressing the Biblical issues brought up is not the way God wants this handled! To claim to be a prophet and dismiss people’s inquiries and threaten them is certainly not exhibiting an anointing from God. People seem to forget that the Church from its beginnings called into question peoples teachings and dealt harshly with it if necessary. False teaching does not affect individuals any longer, it’s pumped over the radio, TV, in reading of books, and it affects millions. Therefore it needs to be exposed in a new ways and the internet is just one advantage among many.

The Latter Rain Dominion theology (Kingdom Now) is tied into Reconstructionism which rejects the pre-millennial view of history and eschatology and promotes the postmillennial view. Pre-millennialism teaches that Christ will return bodily to earth in His Second Coming before the Millennium. Reconstructionism affirms that Christ will not return bodily to earth in His Second Coming until after the Millennium has been fully developed on earth by the Church. The Pentecostal Latter Rain adopted this position going further in the interpretation by saying it is the supercharged Church that rules on the earth through the Millennium without the person of Christ through apostles and prophets.

“Dispensationalism” has always maintained a clear distinction between the Church and Israel after the ascension of Christ. Without this distinction the differences of the Church and Israel are blurred and ones eschatology becomes affected. “Kingdom Now” believes that since Jesus Christ’s ascension, He reigns as the king in heaven and the Church is reigning on earth by marching forward defeating His enemies, increasing the spread of the Kingdom of God, until the end of the future Millennium when the 2nd coming of Christ occurs. Most Reconstructionists believe they are already in the millennium, the Church is expected to progressively take greater dominion. “We are to pull down the ungodly strongholds of this world, and we are to erect godly institutions in their place.” (Tom Rose, “Christ's Kingdom: How Shall We Build?” in Journal of Christian Reconstruction, Summer 1981 Quoted in What ever happened to Heaven Dave Hunt.). Reconstruction author George Grant writes: “The army of God is to conquer the earth, to subdue it, to rule over it, to exercise dominion. Christians are called to war. And it is a war we are expected to win.” (George Grant, Bringing in the Sheaves (American Vision Press, 1985), p. 98.) David Chilton believes, “Our goal is world dominion under Christ’s lordship, a world takeover’ if you will. (Christ has) commissioned us to take over the world.” Gary North writes, “God wants Christians to control the earth on His behalf.” Y2K would have neatly fit into this plan (North being one of the main promoters of this ultimate disaster) if it had transpired as many thought it would, but it became the great disappointment for those who wanted the chance to rebuild things the right way.

The premise of today's Reconstructionism (Kingdom Theology) like its predecessor is to restore what man lost over the earth when Adam and Eve obeyed Satan's temptation in the Garden of Eden and fell. Man’s dominion was gone and God lost control of the earth to Satan, and since that time has been looking for a “covenant people” who will be His “extension,” or “expression,” in the earth and take dominion back from Satan.

This is a major part in the Word/Faith movement as well. As Fred Price states, “But God has to be given permission to work in this earth realm on behalf of man. You are in control! So if man has control, who no longer has it? God.....When God gave Adam dominion, that meant God no longer had dominion. So God cannot do anything in this earth unless we let Him. And the way we let Him or give Him permission is through prayer.” (Fred Price, “Prayer: Do You Know What Prayer Is...and How to Pray? “ (The Word Study Bible, 1990. p. 117

.

This is the basis of Kingdom Dominionism. Man is not taking the control. Although Price may push the envelope further than most it all has the same end. Man centered spirituality is how the “new” Christianity is to operate, but not the ancient faith. We need permission from God, not He from us. Prayer is for His will to be done not to have Him enforce ours.

Karen Wheaton who is a passionate and talented singer has sang on TBN telethons Benny Hinn crusades and now with Rod Parsley sings this catchy tune: “I'm taking back my stuff, I'm taking back what the Devil stole from me, I'm taking it back” (having the people sing along repeating it several times), taking back, my joy, health home, kids, etc. You name it its all coming back. (Louiville Kentucky crusade Freedom Hall, aired 7/24/2000 on Breakthrough)

This dominion of planet earth will be accomplished through the Church and more specifically by certain group of “overcomers” that yield themselves to the leadership of God's new apostles and prophets authority.

Ern Baxter said in 1975: “We are talking of man coming into the fullness of his self realization, into his ultimate destiny as the image of God. This beloved One came to become the Pattern Son to become the Ideal Man after which he would pattern a whole community of redeemed ones. What he was in his incarnate power and life, they become in their corporate power and life. God’s purpose is not to redeem a bunch of people to sit at a bus stop and wait for the bus to come along and get them out of the world’s mess. He came as King so that under their authority the redeemed community might become the means whereby he would establish God’s sovereign right in his own redeemed earth. 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)

Standard Reconstructionism teaches that Christ bound Satan and his demons in the past by his death, resurrection, and ascension. In the Pentecostal (Latter Rain) Reconstructionist view they bind Satan now and take over his goods and rule through spiritual warfare prayer. This is why we are hearing so often today to take it back from the Devil, or the Church needs to possess the goods to do its work. In this respect we have John Avanzini, Rod Parsley, Benny Hinn, R.W. Shambach and many others talk about the Jubilee and the Church receiving her freedom from debt. Rod Parsley states “Just before the return of Jesus Christ, God is going to restore to the Church everything the devil has stolen.” (Breakthrough Oct.3,1999)

Some give a greater significance to this event as a financial revival (is there such a thing in the bible?) But they all agree that the Church must have healing, gain control of the wealth to preach the gospel to all nations and have the kingdom come.

Rick Joyner: “I do believe you know wealth in a sense is like energy you can't destroy it, its just transferred and I believe in a great economic collapse the wealth of the world will not destroyed, it will be transferred and I believe a lot of it will be transferred to the believers.” (CBN, Jan 3, 2000)

Maxwell Whyte writes that we can be instantly healed of sickness by pleading the blood as well as receive the Holy Spirit by this method. (The Power of the Blood ch.7-8 Whyte). He also writes about (Ephesians 5:27) “The Bride must be perfected with no spiritual, mental or physical sickness when the Bridegroom comes for her” (Whyte, Christian Life, p. 39)

Creflo Dollar goes even further, in his position “God is coming back for a church without spot or blemish so he is not coming back to a church in debt this revival must take place before Jesus can come back He cannot come back for a broke church, he cannot come back for a sick church, he cannot come back for a church that is in debt that would be against his word. I'm coming back for a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle, so that means there's going to be some quick transference going on.” (LeSea network Mar. 27, 2000) Taking back the world's material wealth not having sickness is not the Bibles position for the last days. There are more warnings about this very thing than for it. (ie. James. 5:1-3;2 Tim. 3:1; Rev. 3:14).

Premillennialism teaches that after His Second Coming, Christ will establish the literal, earthly, political, Millennial Kingdom of God and will be physically present to rule this earth for a thousand years. In this view the Millennial Kingdom of God has not come.

In this new modified view of reconstruction held by certain leading Pentecostals an elite remnant army of overcomers will subdue all of Christ’s enemies, they will gain power and authority throughout the world through signs and wonders. Those who hold the view of triumphalism believe the nations governments will be upon their shoulders and when all the secular authorities, governments, rulers and kings have finally submitted to their rulership, Christ will then return and they will present the kingdom to Him. Hardly the scenario of Isa. 9:6-7. This theory is based upon the idea that all authority in heaven and on the earth has been given to Jesus, and since believers are indwelt by the same Holy Spirit that indwelt Jesus, we too have all authority on the earth as Jesus has in heaven; therefore we can do the miracles that He did. And with this power, restructure America first and then the rest of the world.

God’s right to rule in the affairs of men is not promoted by any government. The question we need to ask is would it be any different if there were a Christian form of government? In the OT God spoke to the prophet or the King for the people. This is what Dominionism wants us to go back to, except the king would not be Jesus physically on earth. So who would it be?

The United States government is no more corrupt than was the Roman government was in Christ’s day. Yet we see no instruction from Jesus to reform them, only to preach the message that would save their souls. Could we, now over 1900 years later do what the apostles and the early Church with all its power could not? Those who believe ruling in educational, political positions in government will change countries. This has been tried in history before, by the Catholic Church. So it should not be surprising to see many of these same people promoting this to be united with the Catholic Church, or have nothing to say about it. The agenda would be the same, it may even lead to mutual cooperation.

Nowhere does the Bible instruct us to reform this world. Examples from the bible of those who had this opportunity never did so. Joseph as second only to Pharaoh, Esther with King Ahasuerus, and Daniel did not change the society they lived in. God used these men to preserve His people, but not to restructure an anti-God culture into a godly one. Christ never attempted to reform the evil world of His day, neither did he give any instruction to the Apostles to do so. They “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6) by preaching the gospel, not by teaching or implementing morals on an evil society. This does not exclude us to be salt and light, but it does exclude us from changing the laws so the unsaved can live like the saved. Yes we are to save lives and yes we are to expose “the unfruitful works of darkness.” But the truth is to be exalted so that falsehood will fall dead in the streets. It is a matter of choice not implementing a rule over the majority of the people. It never worked before and it will only work when Christ comes to rule in perfect justice.

Any “reformation” of society has come when individuals were transformed through faith in Christ and their lives then became an influence for good in society. It cannot be transformed by implementing laws on others to live so they would have a form of godliness without the power.

“Have been foreordained of God to become that people who will become so glorified that we can bring Christ back to the earth. This glorified church must make the earth God's footstool before Jesus can come again.” (From The Wounded Body of Christ. Earl Paulk, quoted in Jewel Van der Merwe's book Joel's Army). The Bible teaches heaven is His throne the earth is (already) His footstool.

C. Peter Wagner states “I believe that the government of the church is finally coming into place and that is what the Scripture teaches in Eph. 2, that the foundation of the church is apostles and prophets. Previous to this decade of the 80's and the 90's we practically ignored prophets and apostles and now we’re seeing, what I believe is a major reason. We’re going to new levels in prayer. We’re going to new levels in the spiritual. We’re going to new levels in healing and miracles. We’re going to new levels in deliverance of demonic deliverance. And so this is the new era we are going into and I don't know if it is coincidental or what, but its just as we are moving into the new millennium.” (CBN interview Jan. 3, 2000)

What we have is too many chiefs and not enough servants. This appeals to the pride of man and the fallen nature to be special and powerful. The shepherding movement now has metamorphosed into the apostolic movement that wants to rule the Church and then the world.

The Church has failed but will now be successful under new leadership. John Arnott says “Yes, Lord, we're going to go for it, we're gonna try to do our part to bring the kingdom of God here...and wouldn't it be wonderful if the Lord would start to move in power and restore the church to its proper place and make us the head and not the tail?” (John Arnott, TACF, 10/19/94) First of all we need to understand Christ is the head of the Church so we were never the tail. If the Church is under Christ we are in the proper place already.

“For Jesus staked a claim over every piece of ground on this earth and I have arisen to fully possess it. This is the day when I will cast out the deceivers who have settled on land that rightfully belongs to Me. For this belongs to Christ and His heirs and we are about to dispossess the ones who have falsely possessed it. Come one and all for we must fight for our rights. Do, as I say and we shall surely reclaim our ground.” (prophecy to Jane Williams Christian fellowship church Columbia Apr. 7, 1996)

It is very questionable to think that Jesus is going to rid the squatters in this way

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. A Joel’s Army scenario that is not the biblical truth. Many seem to overlook that God is the source of judgment for the great tribulation on a unrepentant world. Anti-Christ is considered by some not to be a person, or even a system of government, but a spirit of rebellion against God's new authority represented by apostles and prophets. Some even teach that the antichrist is not a person but is anything that comes against or challenges the anointing of God. According to some interpretations of I John 4:2 and II John 7 the meaning of the coming of Jesus in the flesh is his deity manifesting in the church

Copeland states that God had his hands tied until now. “But I'm telling you all the restrictions that have been on God for 6,000 years will be off. All the restrictions that have been on the angels for 6,000 years will be off. All the deal is off, the bible says that god is going to rise like a man that has been in sleep he's going to rise. And really this is the Copeland translation he is going to rise up and start rippin’ and a tearin‘. He has been out of the loop gone enough, we gonna have some bottom settling here so you and I need to be in our place. “(TBN, Jesus Is Lord, Jan. 11, 2,000)

My Bible says He neither slumbers nor sleeps. He has not been on a vacation nor will he ever take one.

“The Church is the feet of Jesus. God promised Jesus 'I will train your feet, and use them to tread down and crush your enemies.'“ ( Francis Frangipane, in Charisma magazine July 1993 )

Satan and all enemies of God will be put under the feet of the corporate “man child” the new sons of God. 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.”

God the Father says to the Son in Heb 1:13: “But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool?”

Heb. 10:12-13: “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.” Who makes the enemies his footstool? God the Father, NOT the Church!”

Paulk gives people overconfidence that 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.”

Have we forgotten history “Foxe's Book of Martyrs” is filled with many stories of those that gave their life for Christ, even the apostles. Are we any different? The saints will always overcome evil and Satan, but not through taking dominion over the worlds institutions or creating a paradise or a Christian millennium. Scripture instead states that we the saints overcome through “the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony”, and do not “love their lives to the death.” (Rev. 12:11). My Bible says he overcomes the Saints during the tribulation, and that is what is coming on the world. Not a Christian society. But we are not to be dismayed because we do have the eventual victory.

Pt.4 Spiritual war-Joel's army marches today.

Tropical_Man 68M

6389 posts
11/23/2008 7:28 am

Much of the teaching with experience in this revival encourages military aggression. What is suppose to be Biblical prayer is instead directed AT people or things, principalities and powers, even Christians to set them free from demon invasion. Results are often expected to be immediate. They believe that Joel's end-time army is now marching putting Satan in his place. Eventually all will be submitted to the kingdom of God as the earth is reclaimed.

Prophecies have spanned from the inception of Latter Rain in the 40’s to our time period. “The Church is asleep, but when she gets woken up and joins together in an ARMY, there's not any power anyplace that can stop her, for she'll know nothing but victory when she joins hands and becomes one in purpose and that's to REVEAL THE KINGDOM ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.” (School for Prophecy, Session 7, Vineyard Ministries, 1989).

Tommy Hicks had a prophecy where he claimed to have seen in a vision on July 25, 1961, that there would be a great anointed miracle army about to burst on the scene, healing multitudes and invulnerable to bullets and death. This unstoppable army would be miraculously transported from place to place. This is clearly Manifest Sons of God teaching. Hick’s is making a rare occurrence with Philip a normal miracle for the Church. How does one get out of such a vision that has had not been fulfilled over the course of 40 years? The excuse is: It’s dependent on us, if it has not happened we are just not ready. The whole impetus of this movement is dependent on man and the Church to over come and enforce Christ’s rule on the world. And to call Him back when they are ready. (Ready or not He will come).

“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, September, 1975) No amount of unity or agreement in prayer can quicken Gods Word or will to happen before He allows it to, we are not in the driver’s seat. He is! It is in His timing when this will take place and nothing will hasten this to occur. The times and seasons are in the Fathers hands.

Bill Hamon says: “At that time the sons of God will be fully manifested on the earth. Widespread spiritual warfare will result with the Sons of God doing battle with Satan and company, the non-Christian nations of this world will also be defeated. Once the earth has been subdued, Jesus will come back to earth and be given the Kingdom that has been won for Him by this “manchild company.” (Prophets and the Prophetic Movement Bill Hamon).The Manifested Sons of God doctrine teaches that these immortal sons will be sinless, having partaken of the divine nature. They will have every right to be called gods and will be called gods.

As Copeland has said: “There is a god class of beings.” (Force of Love; Tape #02-002

, (Praise the Lord broadcast (TBN), 2/5/86).

Benny Hinn warns: “It tell you the anointing is so glorious Satan better not show up tonight or well tear him apart. And I warn the devil tonight. I warn every demon in this arena. You better get out before we kick you out.” (Honolulu Blaisedale Jan. 21 1999) He then said I am prophesying this. I’m not just preaching it. You must see this as surely as Jesus is Lord.” … “On that same day every demon that is deep in your house will run like a coward. No more demonic possession, no more witchcraft, no more witchcraft, no more devils in your house. Not only will there be healing in the church and salvation in the house, but every demon that has ever questioned back, every devil has been there harassing you from the day you were born again will literally be kicked out of that house by the Holy Ghost. Are you ready for that day? There is something glorious happening in America. God is about to kick the devil right out of here.” (ibid.)

This teaching from Benny Hinn shows a definite connection to the Latter Rain. Whether he is espousing it purposely or not, he is aware of it. Despite his noble gesture to kick the Devil out of his crusade our houses and our country. He and anyone else is unable to deliver this. Jesus will deal with the Devil and his kingdom when he comes until then we rescue people out of his kingdom of darkness through the proclamation of gospel. G. Warnock stated: “The very unseen powers of the heavenlies must be toppled from their thrones; yea, even now they are beginning to feel the impact of heaven-tremors as the sons of God begin to mount up with wings of an eagle to take to themselves their God-given authority in the Spirit. It is this wrestling with the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenlies that shall cause the very heavens to shake and Satan and his hosts to relinquish their kingdom into the hands of the Sons of God. Everything that can be shaken is going to quake and fall before the sons of God. And then into the very heavenlies they shall ascend, first of all in the Spirit, to take possession of the kingdom left vacant by the casting out of Satan and his evil hosts. Then they shall be in a position to administer peace and life and blessing to a Church and a world that are in bondage and under oppression.” (Warnock, “Feast of Tabernacles” page 97)

We cast Satan out of meetings cities and countries? The very thing that Jude warns about “railing against authorities” is practiced as normative spiritual warfare. Today this is all implemented through crusades that have the anointed lead followers into prayer or bind in prayer the strongmen over cities. Praise Marches in cities are to challenge the principalities ruling over the cities. (March for Jesus etc.)

Prayer walking is done by groups that walk the streets of their neighborhoods and school grounds binding demonic powers to set the people free for the gospel. Prayer for places that were targeted through spiritual mapping and words of knowledge to pray God's Kingdom to come in fullness. Prayer Expeditions, and prayer Teams travel from one geographical point to another to pull down strongholds in that area. Climbing mountains to reach strongholds, airplanes are even hired to fly over cities to take dominion of the air-waves. The names of these strongholds become longer than a large families grocery list. One has to learn a whole new concept with its spiritual intricacies to pray for victory in evangelism.

While it is good to walk and pray and to march to show that one stands for Jesus, their motivation is quite different. If one has to travel to a certain location to bind the principality or do research to find what demons are operating in the area, they need to check and see what the Bible says about any of this. Absolutely nothing! Noble gestures, that have enforced non- biblical teachings into practice. When Paul confronted the idols on Mars hill there was no binding. Paul didn't pray to bind Zeus, or Aphrodite or any other of the idols of their gods. Paul's weapons were the preaching of truth through the gospel. Paul destroyed this false belief by preaching on the resurrection the third point of the gospel. The people were controlled through philosophies, one of which was the Epicurean's. They believed the gods who created the world left it all to be governed by chance. To Live for today is all there is, there was no afterlife. In this he destroyed the demonic strongholds of thinking that held them captive to false Gods and worship.

We destroy strongholds this by learning of the people and their beliefs then we, remove the obstacles they have to faith in Jesus Christ by challenging their falsehood. It is a shunning of our responsibility to say we we just do warfare prayer and not confront the darkness with the light personally and openly. We are to give rational and biblical explanations of why the gods of this world are false and that through Christ they can turn to the one true God they do not know.

J. Preston Eby explains the result of the Latter Rain as, “the outpouring of the Holy Spirit ....which shall bring the FULNESS, a company of overcoming - Sons of God who have come to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, to actually dethrone Satan, casting him out of the heavenlies, and finally binding him in the earthlies, bringing hope of deliverance and life to all the families of the earth.” As Hinn states, “We are going to torment the Devil tonight.”(7/17/2000).

It is the same theme that runs through the old Latter rain to the new outpouring. Larry Randolf a leader from the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship (TACF) shows his influence from Kingdom Now theology, “ When God processes this thing and we come out the other end, we are going to be a people, one new man in the earth, that are going to exhibit and showcase the Kingdom of God in such a degree that the nations, kings are going to come to our feet and ask of us the things of God.” (Toronto church, November 18, 1994).

Kenneth Copeland speaks of incredible powers that will make people cringe. He says: “God intended for the Body of Christ to walk through this earth with such a manifestation of His presence in our lives that it would either scare people spitless ... or draw them into the Kingdom of God!” (Kenneth Copeland, “Believer's Voice of Victory” magazine, January 1998, in an article called “Expect The Glory”, p. 5-6)

“The Church is the feet of Jesus. God promised Jesus 'I will train your feet, and use them to tread down and crush your enemies.” (Francis Frangipane, Charisma magazine July 1993 )The Bible says that the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” (Rom. 16:20) We do not do this, Jesus does when He comes back.

Each restorational advancement of the Army of the Lord has established denominational forts that are given responsibility to maintain the purity and power of that truth... New recruits are now being drafted and trained and older soldiers and generals are being put through intensified training for the next advancement of the Church Army. A new government must be established, a now way of life for those millions of people. You are now ready to rule and reign on your overcomer's throne!” (Bill Hamon “The Eternal Church” 1981)

Ern Baxter “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)

Francis Frangipane: “All spiritual warfare is waged over one essential question: who will control reality on earth - heaven or hell? ... We must see that our prayers, attitudes and agreement with God as an integral Part of establishing the reality of the kingdom of God on earth!” (Mainstream. Spring 1994, p. 10.)

God is already in control and working history toward its final outcome. Its all a matter of how this will be implemented. Will it be through the Church or through Jesus Christ himself coming back. Certainly we work and cooperate with God to bring His kingdom on earth. But it will come suddenly from heaven not by a transition from the Church taking control and ruling.

After binding and loosing the church can have its restoration of everything we lost. Fred Price represents the teaching of: “Don’t blame God. But... He will let it happen if you do because He doesn’t control it...you do… Whatever you bind on earth is bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth its loosed in heaven.” Binding and loosing in terms of authority in Christ for whatever we ask comes from a misunderstanding of Matthew chapter 18. Matthew does not deal with taking spiritual dominion over a city, but with Apostolic authority being given to the disciples for Church discipline, which continues today. It does not mean we can pray and get what we want, nor bind up demons and send them to the pit. No matter how much we would like to see this happen.

The Apostles never taught or practiced these things. Furthermore God never put them in His word for us. Scripture teaches that there were demons so powerful that the Apostles could not cast them out, they did not have all authority. They had to sometimes ask in prayer, not take authority in prayer.

Rod Parsley states “Just before the return of Jesus Christ, God is going to restore to the Church everything the devil has stolen.” (Breakthrough Oct.3,99) Where in the word does it even hint of such a thing?

This of course means finances. “I'm talkin’ about your money you know one of the greatest things that is going to happen in the year 2,000 were about to see the church rise up with a revelation that only this generation has ever been given of Gods word concerning high finances in the kingdom of God and we are just about to see the greatest transfer of wealth out of the hand of the wicked into the hand of the just.” (Jan. 7, 2000 Breakthrough) This is surely a intended prophesy which is flat out non biblical. You can hear this kind of hype from just about anyone who is into the “new thing.” While the intention is that with this enormous wealth the Church can now preach the gospel everywhere and the end will come. There is a danger of having this much immediate wealth and power, it always has the potential to corrupt. The important question we need to ask is have we been preparing to send missionaries to go to far away places, are we willing to drop what we have to fulfill the great commission? God is not going to transfer huge amounts of monies into those unprepared in their hearts. And just who is all this money going to anyway? Remember the great commission means people with other people in personal contact to disciple them in Jesus' teachings.

The ultimate Healing

Benny Hinn: “After He, by one sweep of His power, things will begin happening...folks on wheelchairs will start jumping out of their wheelchairs The blind will begin to see, and the deaf will begin to hear, and the plague will begin to unhold on the church. That will be a day that we’ll never forget as long as we live...It’s going to hit every church in the world. “ (Benny Hinn Honolulu Blaisedale 1/21/99) He goes on to say what everyone wants to hear “That same day, that same glorious day, every lost loved one will be born again.” (Ibid.)

You could say Hinn” over promises” and certainly “under delivers.” He has been saying this for years “The day is coming, I tell you this, I knew it like I know my name, the day is coming there will not be one sick saint in the body of Christ. Nobody will be, nobody's gonna be, no one will be raptured out of a hospital bed. You're all gonna be healed before the rapture.” (Benny Hinn, “Praise the Lord,” 7/8/96) So who needs Christ to come if all this is going to happen without him.It is the rapture/resurrection that transforms us. Hinn has the right concept but wrong timing.

Promises come from every direction as peoples hopes are built up “all the sick are gonna be healed, the dead are gonna be raised and nations are gonna turn to God in a day.” (Bob Jones and Paul Cain, “Selections from the Kansas City Prophets,” audiotape)

Browne has said a number of years ago this revival is soon to have “Creative miracles will happen; eyeballs will form, legs and arms will grow out, people will leap out of wheelchairs.” (R.H.Browne, Coming Revival, 24-2

I recently watched Benny Hinn claim a creative miracle for a man who had his leg torn off in a terrible accident and had it sewn back on with a metal rod in it. (This is Your Day 7/17/2000) He couldn't feel or wiggle his toes, now he could. But the leg was not made new as he continued to limp. This was interpreted as a creative miracle by the healing ministry of Hinn. Is it? Its wonderful that this man can do something that he formerly was unable to but lets not call it something it is not.

As God’s glory is manifested without Christ’s coming Rod Parsley says: “They laid the sick the whole the lame the blind in the streets, Peter shadow caused strength to come back into their legs, some of you are going to be pushing the grocery cart between the frozen peas and carrots and somebody is going to jump out of a wheelchair over in the cereal aisle because of the glory of God that is coming upon you.” (Rod Parsley Breakthrough 1/ 7/ 2000). This is more hype than reality.

“were gonna get to the point that were not going to have to talk we just walk in and we show up God’s there and when we show up the presence is there. We’ve been in the outer court too long we got to take one more step, were goin in where the glory is.” (Breakthrough 9/19/2000). This is latter rain speak. “I’m talking about when we walk into the grocery store cancer starts falling off of peoples bodies I’m talking about the glory” (Breakthrough 9/19/2000)

Hinn has gone so far as to recently say about TBN “I see, I see quite something amazing. I see rows of umm, of caskets lining up in front of this TV set. And I see them bringing them closer to the TV set. And as people are coming closer, I see ahh, a, actually loved ones picking up the hands of the dead and letting them touch the screen, and people are, are getting raised as their hands are touching that screen. With just programs. I’m not talking about my program. I’m talking about programs, plain programs airing. The, the glory of God will be so on TBN that there’s gonna be divine resurrections happening as people bring their loved ones to the TV set.” (TBN Oct. 23, 99 ) One would think the kingdom of God is now on earth through a TV program from what Hinn says. He went further to say that to watch TBN is like seeing heaven. “TBN will no longer be just a television network. It will be an extension of heaven to earth... I’m getting connected to heaven through this TV tube and it will be heaven’s signal to the earth. It will be as though heaven is transmitting and earth is receiving through that set. So if you want to go to heaven, you want to see heaven, you want taste heaven, turn on that channel.” (ibid.).

Visions of paradise will never be known on this side of heaven.1 Cor. 2:9-10: “But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” Paul is saying that it is God's Spirit that understands the state of glory we will enjoy in the future world but we cannot comprehend it by seeing or hearing. The Holy Spirit has the knowledge of the hidden counsels and purposes of God's plans. He knows all his designs. The same truths are communicated through the same Spirit to all Christians through His word. Certainly Paul does not mean beyond the word that He and the other apostles wrote, because he has already told us not to go beyond what is written. The Spirit will have us understand what the word means, it does not mean we can apprehend all things nor the future promises now.

Hinn also promises “There will be no sickness for the saint of God” (Rise and Be Healed! 1991 p.14). “He promises to heal all- every one, any, any whatsoever, everything- all our diseases! That means not even a headache, sinus problem, not even a toothache- nothing! No sickness should come your way” (ibid. p.32) Hinn is not talking about the day of resurrection but today. “God's greatest desire for the church of Jesus Christ...is that we be in total and perfect health.” (ibid. p.65). “If your body belongs to God, it does not and cannot belong to sickness” (ibid. p.62).

His reasoning is that if “God healed all under the Law, how much more will he do it under grace. “ (Benny Hinn Honolulu Blaisedale Jan. 21, 1999) Grace means his favor, but despite what Hinn says healing is not a general promise to all, all the time. Certainly it is included in the atonement as is the resurrection, but neither one is at our disposal.

The idea of the transference of health by faith teachers is that the promised blessings of the covenant are for the Church, because we are not under the curse. God said he heals all our diseases. The writer of Hebrews tells us we have a new and better covenant. It is on this slant that some faith/prosperity preachers, like Hinn, believe since our covenant is better, shouldn’t it include health and prosperity? If the Jews were promised prosperity in this world, Why not us? They forget that the blessings for Israel were dependent on Israel's faithfulness, if they were obedient. It was a conditional covenant. The blessings of health and prosperity in the Mosaic Law were not for any individual, but for the nation Israel, corporately. One of the reasons the new covenant is better and superior is that it operates by grace for individuals.

So it becomes clear the current popular teachers do not encourage people to carry their cross, and live a crucified life, but in its place is prosperity, authority and power. A magnificent trade off indeed.

Much of what is promised is true “if it is after the tribulation and Christ the person has come,” but this is not what they mean. “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 p. 16, 7/96)

The Bible teaches that the kingdom is restored to Israel, not the Church, and it happens with the return of Christ, not before it. Any healings we have before the resurrection are simply the blessings of God representing just a foretaste of the immortal bodies we shall receive in the resurrection and when Jesus returns. Paul was sick and left others sick and did not heal all those who came to him in need of healing. He did not have a kingdom now theology.

Satan's healings and miracles are not always illusions, they can have real power which makes them all the more dangerous. The reason people believe the teachers when they are accompanied by signs and wonders is they have the predisposition that Satan’s demons cannot perform genuine miracles even inside a church by someone naming Christ. But this does not verify that it must be from God. Satan Himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (II Corinthians 11:15 ). But look at the previous vs. 13 “For such are false apostles deceitful workers transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.” What does he mean? They can do miracles, they have revelations just like the ORIGINAL APOSTLES who wrote this down as a warning.

D.R. McConnell points out “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.” (A Different Gospel, P. 21, D.R. McConnell, 1988.)

From the start to finish this Dominion movement has been empowered by pride. Though they may be well meaning in their efforts, but they are deceived. No more or less than the Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW's) who also have an anointed ruling class. Just as ones relationship to God depends on their relationship to the 144,000, there is no substantial difference with the Church in relationship to the “new” anointed prophets or apostles to be in his kingdom.

Yes, there is an ultimate healing coming, but not the way many think. The Millennium is not the final kingdom of God, but only temporary; it ends with a final battle with Christ vanquishing all His foes (Revelation 20

-9). The 1000 years of peace is disrupted as Satan is loosed at the end of his millennial confinement tries to deceive the nations one more time. It is then after he is overcome and judged that the eternal kingdom begins and the Millennium ends. The final judgment of Revelation 20:11-15 takes place with this present universe is consumed by fire and the creation of a new eternal one is made in its place (Revelation 21:1).

The religious leaders of Jesus day justified their rejection of Christ by not understanding the suffering-servant prophecies before He could rule. It didn’t fit into their scenario of the Messiah, since they only understood one coming. Today it is no different. Many cannot see Jesus is coming back to judge the world and to set up his kingdom. Instead they think that God’s plan is for the Church to take over the world and that we become triumphant so he can return. We have much too much confidence in ourselves and very little in God’s prophetic plan. We need to see it as it is written – that the world is getting worse and no sanctified government or Church will turn it around, no matter how good their intentions may be. This is why John wrote: “The Spirit and the Bride say Come!” Can we agree with this? Can we wholeheartedly say “Come quickly Lord Jesus.” I hope so.