Word Of Faith, Manifest Sons of God, End Time Revival Heresy

Endtime Revival, Is It Biblical

A comparision between modern day revelations and scripture:

Lately I've encountered some very enlightend people walking around; talking about a new kind of outpouring of biblical revelation; revelation so powerful that all the old thinking has got to go. Empty your mind they say, and just let God move.

Now, I'm for deeper insights into the word and all. I'm always looking for an extra tidbit of knowledge or a verse I've never seen before that just seems to jump off the page. I'm all for that, but you can't be too careful when you hear a new thing, you've got to check it out and see if what you think you see is really there. I've been let down many times. I wanted to jump into a thing only to find on closer examination that it didn't line up.

Some of these things have been very nice sounding and very plausible, and I've had to give them up, but I'm used to that. I'm a programmer and before that I was thinking of becoming a scientist, and in science there have been some very lovely theories that really would have made the Universe a nice place, if only they had been true. But science never gives up. Oh well, "back to the drawing board" as they say.

Why? Because an invalid theory isn't very useful, it's a dead end. Oh, you might get results, but they'd be totally unpredictable, because you still have a limited understanding of what your dealing with, so you scrap the current theory in search of a better one. It's a process of testing and refinement and when you do come up with a theory that's not only good sounding but actually describes reality, then you've got something. Not only do you have a new theory but you have a deeper understanding of whatever it was you were studying in the first place. You can even make predictions and then use those to further test you're theory.

All and good you say, but what does this have to do with the bible? Well, a theory not only has to match up with things you can test in a lab, it also has to line up with past observations. What good is it if it doesn't explain anything that's ever been observed before. If it can't be used to verify the past, how can it possible be used to predict anything that might be observed in the future.

There's similiar processes and thinking that goes on in programming. You can't debug a program unless you have some idea as to why it's failing, and no matter how many logical explanations you come up with, you're never going to know which one is correct until you test them. No matter how plausible. And if the explanation doesn't fit the list of symptoms already observed, then you've got more bugs to fix.

Why seek beyond a current theory? To get a better theory. We'll never find truth if we don't test to see if we already have it or not. A new truth can be more encompassing, sometimes it can not only account for past events, but it can predict startling new ones. But if it can't explain the past, it is by definition unrelated to the past, and hence it is totally unrelated to the object of study.

So why am I saying all this?

(NIV) Hebrews 13:8: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
(NIV) James 1:17: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Sounds like some criteria to me. Sounds like God is telling us that what he reveals will not come into conflict with what has already been revealed.

(NASB) I Corinthians 14:29,32-33: Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment...; and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

And that includes every prophet that ever was. Notice that Jesus' lives by this principle:

(NIV) Luke 24:27: And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

He didn't just rush in saying, "take my word for it, I have an annoiting and have had more experiences with God then you" or exhort them to "shut off their mind" and enter into the Spirit. He certainly could have did that, but he respected the authority of the Bible.

He was showing us a pattern. That things should line up with scripture. He did not expect people to just recieve him through some sort of mystical experience, or extra biblical revelation. What was indeed the purpose of revealing anything to his prophets if he was going to act that way.

(NIV) Amos 3:7: Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

He didn't say, "just forget everything you've learned". He expected people to hold his claims up to the word. He wasn't the least bit afraid to have his words weighed up against everything that had ever been said. His word is there to guard us. If the Lord himself didn't expect people to accept him or his message on blind faith; as a new revelation; how presumptious it is of modern evangelicals to think that their words somehow carry more weight.

If he is indeed our "pattern man", should we not follow his example.

There are many out there saying that the word is dead; that it's old revelation and not effectual for our day, but:

(KJV) John 6:63: It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
(KJV) Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Not even Paul minded having his words subjected to the test of scripture, in fact the book of Acts commmended people for it.

(KJV) Acts 17:11: These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

and what was the result:

(KJV) Acts 17:12: Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

Why all this concern about lining up teaching with the word? Because in the Apostles time there were many false teachers running around.

(NIV) Galatians 1:6-8: I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!
(NIV) Galatians 5:9-10: "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be.
(NIV) Acts 20:29-31: I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

A far cry from what is being spouted in evangelical circles today:

"Most Christians have more confidence in Satan's ability to deceive us, then in the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us into the truth." (Marc Dupont)

I do trust God, according to the Word. I trust the God who told us that in the latter times there would be a massive deception on a scale never known before! Does it have to be fear, when people have a healthy respect for the warnings Jesus gave us?

(KJV) Matthew 24:11: And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
(NIV) Matthew 24:24-25: For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect - if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time.

One of the surest guarantees of deception is the assurance that you can't possibly ever be deceived.

True humility on the part of any person should prompt recognition of his vulnerability and raising of safeguards.

Let God judge men's hearts, but each of us is responsible to judge what we are asked to believe.

(KJV) 1 Peter 5:8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

People are so easily fooled by a suit and a tie, by someone who uses a lot of Bible terminology and holds a bible in their hand. God saw this coming, it wasn't a new trick.

(KJV) Matthew 7:15: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
(KJV) 2 Corinthians 11:13-15: For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed 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.

The devil ain't gonna come to you in a cloud of fiery smoke with heavy metal music playing, he's gonna come to you in the most deceitful way imaginable. He's gonna look like a true minister. The only way you're gonna be able to tell where he's coming from is by whether or not his words line up with the word of God or not. Jesus and the Apostles would demand nothing less.

God has not left you defenseless. He's given you a mind, his word, and plenty of warnings about not being deceived. When Jesus was in the wilderness, the devil quoted a lot of scripture to him, but Jesus saw Satan's words for what they were. Jesus quoted scripture right back to him. Scripture that lined up with the whole word of God and didn't follow the twisted perverted meanings Satan was attributing to them. He didn't need any revelation beyond the bible to resist the devil.

He is indeed our pattern to follow, by showing us how Satan uses scripture to wrestle meanings out of context, and how we should counter with verses that express the true context. He wouldn't have gotten anywhere if he'd been accepting Satan's interpretation of the scriptures.

Satan's interpretations were very convincing and plausible, the only way to know if they were genuine or not was to line them up against the rest of scripture and see if they fit. The enemy knew the scripture very well. I wonder how many people in today's church would even bother to check for themselves in a similiar situation. It seems as if as long as someone can quote a lot of the scripture, they must be of God.

Was Satan of God?

Jesus was using discernment.

There it was right there, an encounter with the Devil and how did he deal with it? He rebuked him with the word. That same word that today's evangelicals are calling "old revelation". They are telling us to follow Jesus' example out of one side of their mouth and then chastising us out the other side for actually doing it.

(KJV) James 1:8: A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Actually there is an explanation though. They want us to follow their Jesus.

"The Bible says that He has left us an example that we should follow His steps. That's the reason why I drive a Rolls Royce. I'm following Jesus' steps." (Frederick Price)

"Get the spirit-man renewed...when he's strong, he'll hold of sickness...you want to prosper? Money will be falling on you from left, right and center. God will begin to prosper you, for money always follows righteousness." (Benny Hinn)

(NIV) 1 Timothy 6:3-5: If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing.; He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

Test The Hypothesis:

And now I want to take a survey of the various "theories" being bandied about and see if they line up with the verses. Test if there are any discrepancies.

Godly Prosperity?

"God desires His children to be wealthy...He [also] wants His children to eat the best, He wants them to wear the best clothing, He wants them to drive the best cars, and He wants them to have the best of everything." (Kenneth Hagin)

"Poverty is from the devil and that God wants all Christians prosperous." (Benny Hinn)

(NIV) Matthew 19:21: Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
(NIV) Matthew 13:22: The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.
(NASB) Matthew 6:19-24: Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.
(NIV) James 2:5: Listen my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
(NIV) 1 Timothy 6:6-9: But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
(NIV) Hebrews 13:5: Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Noah's Revival?

"Paul Cain has seen in the Spirit, a last days revival so powerful that hospitals will literally be emptied and people kneeling in public places to receive Christ will become commonplace!" (Paul Crouch)

"In the near future we will not be looking back at the early church with envy because of the great exploits of those days, but all will be saying that He certainly did save the best wine for last. The most glorious times in all of history have not come upon us. You, who have dreamed of one day being able to talk with Peter, John and Paul, are going to be surprised to find that they have all been waiting to talk to you." (Rick Joyner)

"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 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'" (Kenneth Copeland)

Did God indeed supernaturally empower Israel to take dominion over the Egyptians or did God deliver them himself? Which scenario is a closer picture of the book of Revelation.

(NIV) Matthew 24:9-11: Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
(NASB) Daniel 7:25: 'He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
(NIV) Revelation 13:5-7: And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.; And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.; And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

And of the two witnesses, who really are prophets.

(NIV) Revelation11:7-10: Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.; For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

(KJV) 2 Thess 2:3: Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
(NIV) Matthew 24:24: For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible.
(NIV) 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11: The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing.; They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie.
(NIV) Revelation 13:11-14: Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed.; And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth.
(NIV) Matthew 24:37: As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Will the church judge the Earth?

"The man-child group of the sons of God will be required "to rule the nations, with a rod of iron" 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)

"We are the ones who will choose if the next move of God will be a day of salvation or a day of judgement - for those who reject it...will have a more severe judgement - This next wave (of the Spirit) will not be stopped, and the opposition will soon be forgotten...the past no longer exists and those who try to live in it cease to be a part of what God is doing today." (Paul Cain)

"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.'" (Bill Hammon)

"God will gather righteous people together to raise up a witness of Jesus Christ and judge the kingdoms of this world." (Earl Paulk)

(NASB) Matthew 7:21-23: Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.; Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'; And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

(NIV) Isaiah 63:3: "I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing.
(NIV) John 5:22: Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,

We are told to WAIT.

(NIV) Revelation 13:7-10: He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.; All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.; He who has an ear, let him hear If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.

Last time someone tried to "help" God was when Israel tried to overthrow the Romans by themselves in 70 AD. Israel didn't exist as a nation again until 1948.

(NIV) Revelation 3:10-11: Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

Is the bible a dead letter?

"I'm afraid that we have satiated our hunger for Him by reading old love letters from Him to the churches in the Epistles of the New Testament" (Tommy Tenny)

"A true God chaser is not happy with just past truth. He must have present truth. God chasers don't want to just study from the moldy pages of what God has done" (Tommy Tenny)

"We've been eating old, maggot infested, dried out bread and we say this is revelation" (Marc Dupont)

"We all need to read and study God's Word daily, but we don't need to worship past revelation to the exclusion of all new revelation." (Tommy Tenny)

But need we necessarily worship new revelation to the exclusion of past revelation?

(NIV) John 14:26: But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Why would he remind us of "old revelation" if we were to follow only new?

(NIV) 2 Timothy 3:16-17: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Jesus was tortued in hell?

"He [Jesus] allowed the devil to drag Him into the depths of hell....He allowed Himself to come under Satan's control...every demon in hell came down on Him to annihilate Him....They tortured Him beyond anything anybody had ever conceived. For three days He suffered everything there is to suffer." (Kenneth Copeland)

(NIV) Luke 23:43,46: Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."; Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Jesus did not commit his soul to Satan.

Jesus defeated at the Cross?

"Satan conquered Jesus on the Cross and took His spirit to the dark regions of hell" (Kenneth Copeland)

(NIV) Colossians 2:13-15: He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Jesus blood was insufficient?

"Christ's physical death on the cross was not enough to save us." (Kenneth Hagin)

"Now it wasn't the physical death on the cross that paid the price for sin , because if it had of been any prophet of God that had died for the last couple of thousand years before that could have paid that price. It wasn't physical death anybody could do that." (Kenneth Copeland)

(NIV) Romans 5:9: Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!
(NIV) Ephesians 1:7: In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
(NIV) Hebrews 13:11-12: The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.
(NIV) Acts 20:28: Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

God not sovereign?

"God had no avenue of lasting faith or moving in the earth. He had to have covenant with somebody. . . . He had to be invited in, in other words, or He couldn't come. God is on the outside looking in. In order to have any say so in the earth, He's gonna have to be in agreement with a man here." (Kenneth Copeland)

"God's on the outside looking in. He doesn't have any legal entree into the earth. The thing don't belong to Him." (Kenneth Copeland)

(KJV) Psalm 24:1: The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
(KJV) Psalm 89:11: The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.

Why is Satan having to ask, if God's on the outside looking in?

(NIV) Job 2:6: The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life."
(NIV) Luke 22:31: Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.

(NIV) Isaiah 46:10: I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.

Does the Old Testament even exist to these guys?

"God has never used sickness to discipline His children" (Kenneth Copeland)

(NIV) Leviticus 26:14-16: " 'But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, then I will do this to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and drain away your life. You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it.
(NIV) Numbers 12:1,9-10: Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite.; The anger of the LORD burned against them, and he left them. When the cloud lifted from above the Tent, there stood Miriam-leprous, like snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had leprosy;

Were Adam and Eve gods?

"And Adam is as much like God as you could get. Just the same as Jesus when he came into the Earth...he said "if you've seen me you've seen the Father." He wasn't a lot like God. He's God manifested in the flesh. And I want you to know something: Adam in the Garden of Eden was God manifested in the flesh." (Kenneth Copeland)

"You see Adam was walking as a god. Adam walked into God's class. Adam did things in the class of gods. Hallelujah. What he said went. What he did counted. " (Kenneth Copeland)

"[Man] was created on terms of equality with God, and he could stand in God's presence without any consciousness of inferiority...God made us as much like Himself as possible...He made us the same class of being that He is Himself...Man lived in the realm of God. He lived on terms equal with God" (Kenneth Hagin)

"God's reason for creating Adam was his desire to reproduce himself. I mean a reproduction of himself. And in the Garden of Eden he did that. He was not a little like God. He was not almost like God. He was not subordinate to God, even." (Kenneth Copeland)

(KJV) Genesis 3:4-5: "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

How could she be tempted to be like God if she already was?

Are we God?

"This spirit-man within me is a God-man. Say after me, he's born of heaven, he's a super-being...Say I'm born of heaven - God-man. I'm a God-man. I'm a sample of Jesus. I'm a super being. Say it! Say it! Who's a super being? I walk in the realm of the supernatural. (Benny Hinn)

"When I read in the Bible where He says I AM, I just smile and say, 'Yes, I AM too.'" (Kenneth Copeland)

"Did you know that from the beginning of time the whole purpose of God was to reproduce Himself?...And when we stand up here, brother, you're not looking at Morris Cerullo; you're looking at God. You're looking at Jesus" (Morris Cerullo)

"You're all God. You don't have a God living in you; you are one!" (Kenneth Copeland)

(NIV) Isaiah 46:9: Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.
(NIV) Isaiah 43:11: "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD , "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior.
(NIV) Revelation 22:13: I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
(NIV) Isaiah 44:6: "This is what the LORD says- Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.

Jesus wasn't God?

Copeland prophesied, As Jesus is speaking through him at three day victory camp in Dallas Tx.

"Don't be disturbed when people accuse you of thinking you're God. Don't be disturbed when people accuse you of a fanatical way of life. Don't be disturbed when people put you down and speak harshly and roughly of you. They spoke that way of me, should they not speak that way of you?

The more you get to be like me, the more they're going to think that way of you. They crucified me for claiming I was God. But I didn't claim I was God; I just claimed I walked with him and he was in me."

(NIV) John 8:58-59: "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
(NIV) John 14:9: Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
(NIV) John 20:27-28: Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
(NIV) Isaiah 9:6-7: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.; Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Elitism:

Rick Joyner sees "visions" of a "Civil War" within the church

"Like the American Civil War, the coming spiritual civil war will also be between the Blue and the Gray. In dreams and visions blue often represents heavenly mindedness - the sky is blue - and gray speaks of thos who live by the power of their own minds - the brain is often called gray matter - this will be a conflict between those who may be genuine Christians, but who live mostly according to their natural minds and human wisdom, and those who follow the Holy Spirit." (Rick Joyner)

"The man-child company will have dominion of this planet first. Those who possess a house may decide who shall occupy it. In the same manner, as a group from the church take up their authority and rulership of the planet that God gave them, they will likewise be able to choose whom they will, to occupy it." (Franklin Hall)

"...The greatest decision that the church is going to have to make in these days ahead (and especially the ministries in the body of Christ) is to have to face that there are apostles of God, and that they must submit to that foundation as though it was Jesus Christ, and whoever will not submit to that authority shall be destroyed from among the people." (Royal Cronquist)

"People ask me if I am afraid to go through the tribulation or if thinking about it makes me gloomy or sad. The exact opposite is true. I am excited about going through the tribulation, as a bondslave of God. I am excited about getting His seal on my forehead and being protected against Satan, because we know that the victory is ours in Jesus Christ." (James McKeever)

Christian beware--pride, arrogance, self-importance and a feeling of infallibility opens the door for major delusion.

Arrogance, vanity and pride reveals a carnal, unregenerated heart.

(NIV) Luke 18:9-14: To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:; "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'; "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'; "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
(KJV) Matthew 18:4: Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
(KJV) Psalm 37:11: But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
(KJV) Matthew 5:5: Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
(NASB) 1 Peter 5:5: You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.
(NASB) Isaiah 65:5: "Who say, 'Keep to yourself, do not come near me, For I am holier than you!' These are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day."
(NASB) Mark 9:34-35: But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."
(NKJV) Luke 9:53-56: But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?"; But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." And they went to another village.

Humility?

"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." (Benny Hinn -- Sept. 13, 1999 TBN)

Despite what Jesus commands

(NIV) Romans 12:14: Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Of course, he was only speaking to those who would dare question his teaching.

Summary

(NIV) Deuteronomy 18:21-22: You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD ?" If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.

As you have seen, we've looked at many theories that at first seemed pretty plausible; espoused and believed by millions, but on closer examination don't hold with the facts. They don't correspond to anything and thus aren't an accurate model of what they are trying to represent.

In debugging a program, we'd still have a buggy program. If it were an airplane, I wouldn't be getting on it.

These guys are only teaching theories. When you go to hear them, you will only be getting a deeper understanding of their theory and not the gospel; as they try to wrestle the verses to fit the theory rather then the theory to fit the verses.

Until they have an accurate model that fully takes into account all observed phenomenon, I wouldn't be catching the "new wave" just yet.

(KJV) Timothy 2:15: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
(NIV) Ephesians 4:13-14: ...become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
(NIV) 2 Thessalonians 2:15: So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
(NIV) Titus 1:9: He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
(NASB) 2 Timothy 1:13-14: Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.

Considering what you've read today, I think in these last days, no other verses could be more relevant.

(NIV) 1 Timothy 4:1: The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
(NIV) 2 Peter 1:1-3: But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.; Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

Despite all these stern warnings.

(NIV) Ezekiel 13:3: Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
(NIV) Jeremiah 23:32: Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.
(NIV) Jeremiah 5:30-31: A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so; and what will ye do in the end thereof?

The time has come when theology and disciplined study of scripture is being held up as the antithesis of true spirituality and "unlearnedness" is being boasted of.

Sheep or cattle?

(KJV) John 10:4-5: And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Sheep are lead, cattle are driven.

One of the telltale signs of a hireling shepherd is that the people begin to lose their "freedom to follow". Instead, they are subtly "herded" into a conformity mentality under the guise of "unity".

Because critical thinking is belittled and scoffed at, they quickly turn off their brains and run with the herd.

True prophets do not seek a following.

John the Baptist declared "He must increase, but I must decrease." The secret to John's greatness was his humility and submission to Christ.

Many of today's preachers and prophets, demand to be honored, feared and obeyed without question.

Who is being lifted up?

(NIV) 2 Timothy 4:2-4: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

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