Kingdom Theology (Part One)
CONTENTS:
INTRODUCTION
OVERVIEW
- The Vulnerability of Pentecostalism
KINGDOM THEOLOGY DEFINED:
- the participants
- teachings
- no rapture
- the church has failed
- the cloud of witnesses
- some differences
- some terminology
THE LATTER RAIN MOVT.
FRANKLIN HALL
- spreading the word
- occult influences
- (including his teachings on manifestations of silver
and gold)
WILLIAM BRANHAM
- the serpent's seed teachings
- supernatural manifestations
- difficulties with the brethren
- eulogies
THE SHARON BRETHREN
GEORGE WARNOCK
THE LATTER RAIN CONTINUES
NOTES
INTRODUCTION
In every Christian's life there comes a genuine challenge
to their intellectual honesty and, more importantly, to their
commitment to God's truth. Such a challenge is all the greater
when prompted by the realization that men and women whom we've
held in high regard are inadvertently or even knowingly leading
us astray.
It isn't too difficult to accept the truth about the aberrant
teachings and dangerous practices of non-Christian cults; Christian
bookstores are replete with publications on cult belief systems
and activities. But the same bookstores sell materials containing
false doctrines under the guise of "deep truths" and "new revelations."
Many of these teachings are gaining acceptance among a growing
number of evangelical Christians, and are increasingly finding
expression in the Christian Media. Because this report strikes
at the false teachings (often undiscerned) within the heart
of the Christian Church, it has been with a great deal of pain
and personal soul-searching that it was written.
Certainly this report will have an impact upon those propagating
these false teachings, as well as upon those who learn from
the teachers. Certainly it will cause loyalties to be broken.
On the other hand, I'm well aware that it may cause loyalties
to this ministry to be broken. So be it; if any loyalty to
this or any other ministry takes precedence over loyalty to
God and His truth as revealed in Scripture, then that loyalty
should be broken.
Jesus taught this very thing when He said, "He that loveth
father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that
loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me" (Matthew
10:37).
In Luke 14:26 He goes even further, saying that if we love
even our own lives more than we love Him we are not worthy
of Him. If we are expected to hold allegiance to Jesus whom
we have not seen, even above allegiance to our own families
and our very lives, how much more should we be loyal to Him
above others, no matter how they impress us with their knowledge
and eloquent oratory.
Are those who teach us humble? Jesus is more humble. Are they
wise? Jesus is more wise. Do they love us? Jesus loves us more.
Whatever virtues they possess, the greatest teachers in the
Church are in poverty compared to Jesus. When He trod this
earth as a man, having relinquished all privileges of His eternal
Godhood, Jesus was approached by one who addressed Him as "Good
Master." His response should humble all who hold themselves
or others in high regard: "Why callest thou me good? there
is none good but one, that is, God" (Matthew 9:16-17).
Though the words I bring you may be hard to bear, I implore
all who read them to pray that God will illuminate their minds,
and also for His protection from the enemy who would distort
the truth of these matters as well as my motive for bringing
them to light. This is written with full awareness of my own
vulnerability. For I admit that the things I have witnessed
from those whose teachings I question herein have caused me
to wonder whether they might not be from God.
It is a fearful thing to contemplate the thought that I might
in all sincerity cast aspersion upon true men of God whose
work I may not understand. But I am convinced that what I present
to you is the truth, given with a heavy heart for those who,
by necessity, must be named for their errors.
I urge you therefore to lay aside prejudices and personal
preferences for teachers and teachings. Receive this message
in the spirit in which it is written, not as an attempt to
sow discord among the brethren (of this I am sure to be accused),
but as a humble attempt to shed the light of God's truth upon
the darkness caused by teachings contrary to His Word. I encourage
you to put this writing to the test. But no less do I encourage
you to put to the test those teachings with which it deals.
Let God judge men's hearts; that is not my intention. But
each of us is responsible to judge what we are asked to believe.
OVERVIEW
With every move of God comes a countermove of Satan to snatch
the seed of truth from those who desire to glorify God with
their lives. From the very start of the Church Age Satan has
attempted to destroy the work of God and bring liberated souls
back into bondage to man-made religion.
Yet in spite of the awesome power Satan's emissaries in the
spirit realm display, the gates of hell have not prevailed
against the Church - nor will they ever. It may seem at times
that the Church has been subdued. But even during the twelve-hundred
years of oppressive rule by the Roman papacy under the claim
of apostolic authority, there were faithful saints who kept
their relationship with God pure - even if at times perfect
understanding may have been withheld from them. Certainly we
cannot say that God's grace was nullified during that time.
Even the Reformers of the sixteenth century and after sorely
lacked the full understanding that would have allowed them
to lead their followers into paths of complete harmony with
God's Word. Yet line upon line, precept upon precept, here
a little, there a little, God has shed more understanding upon
His Word.
The Azusa Street (Los Angeles) revival of 1906 marked the
beginning of today's Pentecostalism. During the outbreak of
that revival the Baptism with the Holy Spirit became widely
experienced and many Christians spoke in foreign languages
with interpretations, extolling the glories of God. Out of
this move of God came the establishment of large churches that
broke from the formalism of a stagnant Protestantism.
Various Pentecostal denominations such as the Assemblies of
God, and the Church of God, were born virtually overnight,
and found great success as memberships burgeoned. Many independent
Pentecostal churches sprang up as well. The Church as a whole
realized a new surge of vitality and enthusiasm for God. And
if people were healed of sickness and delivered from demons
in the process, so much the better.
But with this move of God came a counterattack by Satan's
forces. Recognizing that people were hungry for demonstrations
of God's power, and that in their enthusiasm many had neglected
to ground themselves in the Scriptures for protection against
deception, Satan, as an angel of light, began to manifest his
own demonstrations of power. By this means he sought to beguile
Christians away from their Lord, and focus their attention
on the benefits they could derive from personal "experiences"
- in Jesus' name, of course.
I believe the Pentecostal explosion that occurred in 1906
was a mighty move of God to prepare His Church for the unique
challenges that the twentieth century has presented, and to
demonstrate to the world that Jesus is not dead, but alive
for evermore.
The manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit are as valid
for us today as they were for the first-century Church. If
anything, they are more needed today than ever. We must jealously
guard the gifts, and not misuse them as has been the custom
of many who, overcome with zeal, have thwarted the work of
God in their lives.
Signs and wonders, miracles and healings are good when they
originate with God. The problem lies in our inability sometimes
to distinguish whether they are from God or Satan. For Scripture
gives us ample proof that Satan, as well as God, can perform
marvelous miracles (Exodus 7:8-15; Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22;
II Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:11-18).
It's not a question of counterfeit versus real; Satan's miracles
are not counterfeits any more than foreign currency is a counterfeit
of our own currency. Counterfeit "miracles" are those feats
of legerdemain performed by professional magicians, and charlatans
who create ruses to bilk people out of money. A miracle from
the spirit realm is genuine, whether from God or Satan. Satan's
healings are not illusory; they are real. That's what makes
them dangerous.
The reason people believe teachings when they are accompanied
by signs and wonders is that they don't believe Satan or his
demons can perform genuine miracles. Therefore they think that
any teaching accompanied by signs and wonders must be from
God.
The Vulnerability of Pentecostalism
There are inherent problems in every system of theological
expression. Fundamentalism is often fraught with a legalism
unintended by God and unsupported by Scripture. The Reformed
churches have given us, among other things, "Liberation Theology"
- a "social gospel" that bears little resemblance to the dynamic
of true Christianity.
These have sprung up to a large extent because orthodox Christianity
has been content for centuries to cling to a formalism that
denies the power of godliness. In short, every discipline within
the Church has allowed deception to enter in.
What makes Pentecostalism vulnerable to deception is the emotionalism
that has become attendant to it. Not that Pentecostals don't
love Jesus and desire to keep their doctrine true. But unless
they test all teachings by the Word of God and recognize that
experience must be secondary to truth, deception has an open
door.
I remind the reader of Paul's warning to the Corinthian Church
in speaking of false apostles and deceitful workers transforming
themselves into the apostles of Christ: "...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"(II
Corinthians 11:15-15).
Satan's ministers will preach righteousness, morality, and
family life. They will preach against pornography, crime, homosexuality,
abortion, and the corruption of the world system. While these
are legitimate issues of vital importance, they are irrelevant
in determining whether the voice is from God or from Satan.
Many cults stress righteousness and morality. The only means
we have to test the spirits is rightly dividing the Word of
Truth. Even the preaching of Christ crucified and resurrected
is no longer a means of determining if the spirit speaking
is of God or Satan.
Many cults call Jesus "Lord and Savior," and "the only Way
to the Father." Mormons believe in the Lord's bodily Resurrection.
They and Jehovah's Witnesses testify that they are saved by
grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But these declarations
are nullified by deeper teachings to which adherents are gradually
indoctrinated. Satan uses this same tactic through various
"new revelations" within the Church itself.
The tares are truly among the wheat. For this reason, today
more than ever, Christians must learn to distinguish between
the words of a teacher, and the spirit behind those words.
Often the purity and simplicity of the Gospel will be encroached
upon by other teachings that, in aggregate, nullify the Gospel
and lead the hearer astray into doctrines of demons (I Timothy
4:1).
True humility on the part of any person should prompt recognition
of his vulnerability and raising of safeguards. This should
be especially true of Pentecostals and others who believe in
God's continual working through supernatural means. Because
we are more receptive to supernatural input we should recognize
our vulnerability to the spirit realm - both God's working
and Satan's. God's Word tells us that "a little leaven leavens
the whole lump" (I Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9).
All the wonderful preaching and spiritual insight a man brings
is nullified if he has the leaven of false doctrine sprinkled
among ninety-nine percent truth. That's not to say that every
man is unsaved who has succumbed to deception and, overcome
by its "spirituality," spreads it to others. No man has all
truth, and all are tempted to make Scripture fit their personal
biases and pet theories.
However, greater is the condemnation upon those who teach
if they lead others astray, even in the name of righteousness
(James 3:1). Many desire to be teachers, but they do not know
what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm:
(I Timothy 1:7 NIV). This is why Jesus commended the Ephesian
Church for trying the words of those who call themselves apostles
(Revelation 2:2).
These truths must be kept in mind as we study this phenomenon
called "Kingdom Theology" and its impact upon the Church.
KINGDOM THEOLOGY DEFINED
Within the "Kingdom Theology" camp are several movements whose
teachings are remarkably similar over all, yet divergent on
some points. These movements - though to a greater or lesser
degree disavowing association with each other - are sufficiently
homogenous in their eschatalogical and theological viewpoints
to place them all under a common banner: what I refer to as
"Kingdom Theology."
These movements are built upon the same foundation: the neo-
Pentecostalism of the mid-twentieth century. They draw from
one another the support needed to develop their strategy for
gaining preeminence among Christians. All zealously propagate
their "new revelations" which allegedly are to prepare the
Church for "the next move of God," bringing us closer to the
Kingdom Age (the rule of God on earth).
The most prominent of these movements are:
Latter Rain
Identity
Manifest Sons of God
Restoration
Reconstruction
Charismatic Renewal
Shepherding/Discipleship
Kingdom Message
Positive Confession
Throughout the course of this study we'll be examining these
movements and their major proponents. But first it's important
that I give a general outline of Kingdom Theology itself
and its dynamic.
The Teachings
The basic premise of Kingdom Theology is that man lost dominion
over the earth when Adam and Eve succumbed to Satan's temptation
in the Garden of Eden.
God "lost control" of the earth to Satan at that time, and
has since been looking for a "covenant people" who will be
His "extension," or "expression," in the earth and take dominion
back from Satan. This is to be accomplished through certain
"overcomers" who, by yielding themselves to the authority
of God's apostles and prophets for the Kingdom Age, will
take control of the kingdoms of this world.
These kingdoms are defined as all social institutions, such
as the "kingdom" of education, the "kingdom" of science,
the "kingdom" of the arts, and so on. Most especially there
is the "kingdom" of politics or government.
This naturally implies the concentration of military and
police power in the hands of those in control during the
Kingdom Age. They are referred to as the "many-membered man
child," whom Kingdom Theology adherents believe will be the
fulfillment of Revelation 12:1-5: "And there appeared a great
wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon
under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars....And
she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations
with a rod of iron."
Those who hold to Kingdom Theology assume that the Church
(some believe only a small group within the Church, called
"overcomers"), under submission to the latter day apostles
and prophets, is that man child, and that it has the responsibility
to put down all rebellion and establish righteousness. This
necessitates the utilization of supernatural power and the
full implementation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
This theory is based upon the idea that all authority in
heaven and on the earth has been given to Jesus. Since believers
are indwelt by the same Holy Spirit that indwelt Jesus, we
have all authority in heaven and on the earth; we have the
power to believe for and speak into existence things that
are not, and thus we can bring about the Kingdom Age.
The many-membered man child must take control of the earth
before Jesus can return. Necessary to the Kingdom Age is
"the Restoration of the Tabernacle of David,"defined as the
completion of perfection of the Bride of Christ - a Church
without spot or wrinkle.
During the Kingdom Age (or after all else is subdued during
that time) Satan and all enemies of God will be put under
the feet of the many-membered man child. This will be the
fulfillment of I Corinthians 15:25-26: "For he (Christ) must
reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last
enemy that shall be destroyed is death."
The rationale that the many-membered man child will put
God's enemies under 'its' feet is that Jesus is the head
of Christ and the Church is the body of Christ. And where
are the feet but in the body? Many in the Kingdom Theology
movements insist that when this Scripture refers to Christ
it is really referring to the Church who is the Body of Christ.
Therefore it is necessary for them to establish within the
minds of Christians the idea that, as the Body of Christ,
we are Christ.
In other words, we have His divine nature. Notice that this
idea, similar to that of mind science and other false religions,
separates the anointing of "Christ" from Jesus and bestows
it upon all who come into a place of certain knowledge and
spiritual attainment. This is a heresy that is as old as
the Church. It is rooted in the Greek school of philosophy
known as Gnosticism.
No Rapture
Critical to hard-core Kingdom Theology is the denial of
"the Rapture" - the teaching that the Church will one day
be caught up to meet the Lord in the air so that we will
be with Him in Heaven when God's wrath is poured out upon
the earth.
This event is explained away as a feeling of rapture or
excitement when the Lord returns to receive the Kingdom from
our hands. In other words, everyone will be "caught up" emotionally
when He returns. This explanation ignores the fact that such
an application of the term "caught up" is strictly an idiomatic
expression peculiar to English, not Greek.
"I was all 'caught up' in the movie" (or other excitement)
is not the equivalent of 'harpazo' in I Thessalonians 4:17,
II Corinthians 12:2-4, and Revelation 12:5, used to describe
the catching up bodily into Heaven, and Acts 8:39 where Phillip
is bodily "caught away" by the Spirit to another location.
Consequently, since there will be no bodily catching away
- or "Rapture" - of the Church (some say not until the Church
has taken dominion in the face of adversity), there will
beno restoration of the nation of Israel.
The proponents of Kingdom Theology are correct when they
say that the Church is spiritual Israel, but they fail to
acknowledge that God has promised to restore national Israel
and deal with her during the coming seventieth week of Daniel.
All prophecies regarding future Israel - both in the Old
and New Testaments - are made to apply to the Church.
The restoration of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1-11 is said
to be the Restoration of the Church out of Babylon (denominationalism)
into perfect unity. All believers will possess the same mind,
same thoughts, and same goals delineated by the apostles
and prophets of the Kingdom Age through new revelations.
The Church Has Failed
Another eschatological viewpoint of Kingdom Theology is
that the Great Tribulation is seen not as a time when anti-Christ
will reign and war against God's people, but rather a time
of tribulation for the world brought about by God's judgment
through His people.
Anti-Christ, in fact, is considered by some not to be a
person, or even a system of government, but a spirit of rebellion
against God's constituted authority - the coming of Jesus
in the flesh of the apostles and prophets, according to their
interpretation of I John 4:2 and II John 7.
Since there will be no "Rapture," and no Second Coming of
Jesus until the Kingdom has been established by the Church
under the direction of the apostles and prophets, most Kingdom
Theology adherents are mid- or post-millennialists: Jesus
will come back after the millenium has begun or after it
has been completed.
Some are amillennialists, believing He will never come back
personally, or that He already came back to His own generation,
leaving the Church to take dominion over the earth. Thus
they see the Church as having failed in what they consider
its commissionto take dominion over the kingdoms of the earth.
The reason the Church has failed is because it has not understood
what Jesus meant when He told His disciples that they would
be witnesses of Him throughout the earth.
To be a witness means to demonstrate the Kingdom on earth:
to take dominion, bringing all things into obedience to Christ.
In order to demonstrate the Kingdom, the Church must not
only be united under the apostles and prophets, but must
be prosperous, having taken control of all the material wealth
of the earth.
Since "The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof;
the world, and they that dwell therein"(Psalm 24:1), the
world is ours as joint heirs with Christ. This sounds good,
but without Jesus here to establish the dominion, we are
left at the mercy of men who, according to their thinking,
will have "overcome" all faults and will be operating according
to the perfect will of God.
Since all enemies, including death, will be put under the
feet of the "overcomers," it is therefore necessary that
dominion include "immortalization" (or at least living in
"divine health" as well as "divine prosperity").
The Cloud Of Witnesses
To accomplish the great task of taking dominion over a rebellious
world, the Church must have supernatural help not only from
God, but from angelsand from the "great cloud of witnessess"
(the dead in Christ) who have preceded us.
A unity between their spirits and our spirits will create
a communications link by which revelations will be conveyed
that will guide the Church in its mission.
The apostles and prophets especially will have contact into
the spirit realm through appearances of Jesus, angels, and
departed saints. In fact, such contacts have already been
reported in the Christian media.
Essentially then, Kingdom Theology sees the Second Coming
of Jesus in two stages:
- first through the flesh of the believers (and in particular
the flesh of today's apostles and prophets), and then
- in person to take over the Kingdom handed to Him by
those who have been victorious (the "overcomers").
In some circles it is believed that the overcomers will
have become immortal - they will have attained what is called
"resurrection life."
Whether immortal or not, it is generally agreed in Kingdom
Theology that the overcomers must purge the earth of all
evil influences. "Evildoers" must be converted or they will
be punished and/or "destroyed from off the face of the earth."
"Evildoers" have been variously described as drug pushers,
murderers, child molesters, thieves, prostitutes, and other
such "scum" that Jesus died for. It will interest the reader
to learn, however, that for many who teach Kingdom Theology,
the term "evildoer" applies to anyone who refuses to submit
to God's authority(the latter day apostles and prophets).
Those who do submit will be sealed with the "mark of God"
in their foreheads, and will escape the coming judgment.
Some Differences
As we deal with these teachings individually in successive
chapters, keep in mind that some movements are more extreme
than others, and each is somewhat unique in its approach
to the basic tenets of Kingdom Theology.
In fact, not everyone within each movement is necessarily
in agreement with each other, let alone with those in the
other movements. Still, each movement has teachings that
are sufficiently aberrant as to warrant careful testing by
the Word of God. Each in its own way has its part in propagating
some or all of the elements of Kingdom Theology.
Other teachings not detailed here are quite bizarre, and
add to the overall occult flavor of Kingdom Theology. We'll
be dealing with them as we progress.
It's important to understand that not everyone in the various
movements mentioned believe all Kingdom Theology teachings.
Many are innocently fraternizing with those whose doctrines
would horrify them if they were aware of them.
Yet while the adage "guilt by association" does not always
hold true, a consistent pattern of fraternization and support
are sufficient grounds to at least question whether one holds
the views of those he supports and with whom he seeks unity.
Some Terminology
As in all fraternities, there is certain terminology peculiar
to Kingdom Theology. Knowledge of that terminology can alert
us to the possibility that we are hearing from an adherent
to those teachings.
A few occasions of word usage prove nothing, of course.
But a pattern of usage and dependence upon terminology peculiar
to Kingdom Theology is reason for concern and further investigation
of a teacher's doctrines. Many will hide their true beliefs
to all but those within their inner circle lest they be prematurely
exposed to the Body of Christ at large.
Once you become familiar with their terminology I urge you
not to judge arbitrarily, but to seek further knowledge of
the teacher's true beliefs (Acts 17:11).
Meanwhile, be cautious until you do know what he or she
believes. The following Kingdom terminology should be cause
for concern even though much will be defended as "scriptural"
by those who use them:
- Dominion
- Overcomer(s)
- Word-Faith
- Spoken Word
- Five-fold ministry
- Latter Rain
- Tabernacle of David
- Feast of Tabernacles
- Many-membered man child
- Manifestation of the Kingdom
- Manifestation of the Sons of God
- Ongoing Incarnation
- Birthing in the Spirit
- Get this into your spirit
- Unity (of the Body)
- Serpent's Seed or Seed of the Serpent
- Faith in faith
- God's faith
- God-like faith
- Kingdom language
- Kingdom principles
- Christ principles
- Elijah Company
- Bride Company
- The Christ
- Ecclesias
I wish to reiterate that the use of some of these words
- at least moderately - is not grounds for judging harshly
the speaker or writer (see John 7:24). I stress this because
I know I'll be accused of jumping to conclusions and lumping
everyone together. I urge caution in accepting or rejecting
anyone on the basis of their terminology alone.
By the time you've read through this report, however, I'm
certain you'll see why these terms are good indicators of
the teacher's beliefs. At the end of the final installment
you'll find a sample questionnaire which you can use to test
any teacher's position relative to Kingdom Theology. This
may be used as a precaution against erroneously prejudging
anyone - teacher or disciple.
This said, we will examine now the roots and the effects
of Kingdom Theology and its various movements.
THE LATTER RAIN MOVEMENT
It becomes apparent through study that Kingdom Theology
had its beginning in the teachings of the more prominent
leaders of the mid-twentieth-century phenomenon known as
"The Latter Rain Movement."
These teachers blended Pentecostal fervor with supernatural
manifestations which, when examined, are found to have been
heavily influenced by occult activity. The unwary believers
of that time, whose lives were touched by these supernatural
phenomena, were unversed in the occult sciences and accepted
these manifestations of power as from God.
Now we are seeing at the same time within Pentecostalism,
both the true manifestations of the Holy Spirit and the occult
manifestations of Satan. To determine which are of God and
which from the adversary, it helps to know the history of
this movement called the Latter Rain.
Therefore I have endeavored to lay out in a semblance of
chronological order the various influences the teachers of
that period had upon each other, and how those influences
are affecting the Church today.
FRANKLIN HALL
In the fall of 1946, a "major fasting and prayer daily revival
center" was established in San Diego, California. Under the
leadership of Franklin Hall (assisted by Jack Walker, father
of child evangelist "Little David" Walker), the teaching
of fasting as a means of bringing about revival and the "restoration"
of the Church spread throughout the Pentecostal world.(1)
Other ministers who helped establish the fasting and prayer
center were: Dr. Waltrip (Kathryn Kuhlman's husband); Stanley
Comstock; Earl Ivy; Tommy Baird; Myrtle Page; and Franklin
Hall's brothers, Delbert, Harold, and Virgil. (Delbert Hall
and his wife, Florence, were pastors.) (2)
According to the Summer, 1985, issue of Franklin Hall's
newsletter, 'Miracle World,' in which is revealed some of
the early history of his ministry, "A fasting chain came
about. Several were on major fasts around the clock. Many
were fasting for not only days but weeks at a time. One lady,
Sister Mary Sommerville, fasted without food for eighty-three
days. She was so strong on this notable fast that she ran
and danced all over the place, being drunk on both the inner
and outer filling of the precious Holy Spirit." (3)
Hall claims more than one thousand converts during the first
year of the center's existence, with scores being healed
of diseases, through fasting and prayer. Alleged appearances
of the Holy Ghost in fire and smoke are also related in Hall's
newsletter:
"Once or twice the Fire department was briefed by folk seeing
the Holy Smoke and Fire through the windows upstairs. They
came running up the steps with the hoses to put out the fire.
Some of the firemen, seeing that it was not a natural fire,
sat down in the large revival center hall and worshipped
the Lord getting saved." (4)
Spreading The Word
Hall and his wife, Helen, sold off some assets and borrowed
against their home to finance the printing of "millions of
pieces of literature" to send to people all over the world.5
The Hall's claim this mail campaign resulted in the great
healing revivals of the late forties and early fifties.
It was during this time (1946) that Franklin Hall wrote
his book, 'Atomic Power With God Through Fasting and Prayer,'
which was to have a significant impact upon the world of
Pentecostalism.
Many people, little known at that time, were greatly influenced
by Hall's literature. Gordon Lindsay's publication, 'Voice
of Healing,' helped spread the fasting message, as well as
did Thomas and Evelyn Wyatt's worldwide radio broadcasts.
Hall's newsletter records how others received his message:"Rev.
Walter Frederick, former Assembly superintendent in Canada,
sent Brother Hall's literature to every Pentecostal preacher
in Canada....A few of the others (not too well-known then)
ministers [sic] who had major fasting experiences by our
writings in the 1946, 1947 to 1950 fasting era and who also
became famous are:
- Wm. Freeman
- Gordon Lindsay
- A.A. Allen
- O.L. Jaggers
- Gayle Jackson
- Oral Roberts
- David Nunn
- Wm. Branham
- W.V. Grant
- Wm. Hagen
- Dale Hanson
- Tommy Hicks.(6)
Hall's writings on fasting and diet as a means to spiritual
restoration might easily be seen as the primitive beginnings
of today's "Christian holism."
Occult Influences
As evidence of God's favor upon those who fast, Hall points
out that even the prayers of pagans will be answered by God
if they are accompanied by fasting:"Many, if not all, the
American Indian tribes sought revelation of the Great Spirit
through Prayer and Fasting. When they had famines, food shortages,
lack of rain, etc., the Great Spirit was sought through prayer
and fasting, and their prayers were answered." (7)
Hall uses this as an example of how fasting is necessary
to have our prayers answered. In fact, he states that "Without
fasting, prayer becomes ineffectual." (8)
In other words, those who pray to demons will have their
prayers answered if they fast, but Christians will not have
their prayers answered if they don't fast. At the least,
it would seem, they would be hindered greatly.
This is a good example of how a person can extoll a faith
in Christ while negating all the effects of that faith and
the relationship with God it entails. By giving credit for
answered prayer to the demon gods of pagan religions, Hall
displays a mindset characteristic of occult science.
That there is a definite occult influence on Hall's career
is evident in other writings. His book, 'The Return of Immortality',
suggests that Christians can learn how to become immortal
through stages of spiritual growth. This involves experiences
with "UFO's, and the UIO gravitational and levitation control."
(9)
His teachings on attaining immortality in this life through
psycho-spiritual exercises and righteous living were the
foundation upon which many in the Latter Rain and subsequent
movements based their immortalization theories. Hall's main
point in his immortalization theory is that "the sleeping,
so called, unfoundationally built church"must awaken to "a
real cause and calling, that when God's word is completely
acted upon and complied with, will result in bringing about
the real gushers and torrents of the long, past due, RAIN
OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, a rain of IMMORTALITY UPON THE EARTH that
so many prophets have written about and portrayed in their
prophesies". (10) (emphasis Hall's).
Hall's premise is not, however, predicated upon God's promise
of immortality for the faithful after their resurrection.
This is evidenced by his following words: "Permanent, lasting
freedoms from all sickness, harmful accident things and defeat
will come about. Freedom from the imprisonment of all gravitational
forces will also be brought upon the whole man. This study
teaches one the power and secrets of space flight. Space
floatation [sic] and hovering ability. It gives the Bible
formula for weightlessness, the 'raising up' power of those
who come to immortality." (Jn.6 chapter and Rom.2:7)."(11)
In his book, Hall gives "evidence" of his already having
attained a degree of "immortality" (which allegedly affects
everything that comes in contact with the immortal person's
body): "Brother Hall's light colored jacket is seven years
old and has never been pressed or cleaned or aireated in
7 years, since new, yet it has been worn repeatedly in many
overseas countries and regularly in all crusades everywhere
(excepting one). It has been on more than 200 airlines in
travels. It has no spots, stains, discoloration or body odors
anywhere on it or inside it - similar to the children of
Israel's clothes under the Glory, Immortality Cloud of Fire
Power." (12)
The attainment of "Immortality blessings" are alleged by
Hall to be more successfully attained through open-eye prayer.
"Coming with closed eyes," he stated, "destroys faith." (13)
Hall claims that there is an"Immortal Substance" that comes
upon the believer who feeds upon it "from within Christ's
now body" - the "FIRE - IMMORTAL - PACKED - BODY"(Emphasis
Hall's).
This "Immortal Substance" is claimed to be seen on those
who attend Hall's meetings, as a fine gold and silver, sparkling
material that emanates from sometimes visible "Immortal Heavenly
Objects" (IHO's), "Unusual Heavenly Objects" (UHO's), and
"Unidentified Flying Objects" (UFO's).
In Hall's words, "The sparkling shining FINE GOLD and SILVER
are seen upon their SKIN, brought about through the faith-power
of impartation. The polished brass, the beryl stone appearances
are even now manifested today."
He challenges the reader to see and behold these phenomena
by attending "the International Holy Ghost and Fire Seminars
of Brother and Sister Franklin Hall." (14)
This sparkling material Hall calls, "The shiny metal like,
Jesus' substance."(15) While Hall has many excellent things
to say about fasting from the standpoint of good health,
when it comes to spiritual matters he often transcends sensibility
and delves into areas of the occult.
The book upon which many healers of the Latter Rain period
publicly acknowledged their dependence,'Atomic Power With
God Through Fasting and Prayer,'is evidence: "In the zodiacal
sign, 'Scorpio,' which is the eighth sign of the Zodiac,
we have a picture of a scorpion with its stinger lifted ready
to strike. This is the sign of death, and is supposed to
govern the sex area. Just before this sign in the heavens,
there is a sign of the Judge, Jesus, who is the giver of
LIFE. Jesus proceeds toward death and pulls the STING OUT
OF DEATH. 'O, death where is thy sting? O, grave, where is
thy victory?" (16)
There is today a growing acceptance of the idea that the
Zodiac is a representation of the Gospel. More will be said
about this when we examine the teachings of some current
Kingdom Theology proponents. But I feel that I should a least
point out at this time that the Zodiac is an arbitrary assignment
of images to certain stars by the priests of the Babylonian
mystery religion. No matter how one tries to make it fit
Scripture by claiming Genesis 1:4, there is no scriptural
evidence that the "signs and seasons" spoken of in God's
Word have any relation to the astrologists' Zodiac.
We have the more sure written Word of God for guidance;
we tread on dangerous ground when we try to accommodate His
Word to occult science, or try to make the two equal. Hall's
penchant for a form of "Christian astrology" is evidenced
further in his statement that, "In 1848 A.D. the Aquarian
Age was introduced to the world." (17)
Those familiar with the New Age Movement, will recognize
the Aquarian Age as the "Golden Age" of enlightenment when
mankind will take a quantum leap in his evolutionary stages,
to immortalization. The Aquarian Age will not be completely
entered into until around the year 2000 A.D. Hall's writings
are replete with strange, even weird statements difficult
to decipher. The following, though a bit lengthy and poorly
written, are examples:
.
"So much has been said about the travels of the astronauts,
about conquering space and even going to Venus or Mars,
about the power behind the saucers. The overcoming saints,
however, are hundreds of years ahead of our scientists.
These heaven projected saints will be so clothed and covered
with the Immortality, supernatural, ZOOMING sparkling Substance,
that it will be no more trouble at all for them to take
off.
"Where will they go?
"They will fly right into the Glory Cloud residence of
our Lord and Savior, Heaven in Him. Into His Cloud Fire
Body. (Rev.12:5)
"What distance will they go?
"The distance, at first, may not be very far away, however,
as the 8th church from out of the 7 churches of revelation,
called the 'overcomers,' become more and more adjusted
and acclimated to Holy Ghost Space flight, great distances
taken, will seem like no distance at all.
"Jesus taught a small, but precious group of His followers
- those who were able to bear it, that gravity would be
completely loosed from them, in the last days, when they
learned how to train their appetites into a different channel.
We must learn to labor for the meal that endures unto everlasting
(IMMORTAL) life. The meat that draws us away from gravity
holding things. Jn.6:27.
"The 'not-perisheth' menu is the menu of Immortality,
weight releasing power. The 'endureth unto everlasting
life' menu.
"...The quickening power of the Holy Spirit brings about
Immortality REVERSE ENERGY EMPOWERMENT." (18)
"Gravity-freed, great people will run up walls, not break
rank, and if they fall on a sword, the Immortality power
from Jesus' body, on them, will protect them. It appears
that, they also can walk or run upside down. See Joel 2:3-11."19
(emphasis Hall's in all quotes).
.
In an ad for another of his books, 'Formula for Raising
the Dead,' Hall cautions the potential purchaser, "This volume
is only for very advanced Holy Ghost people. Do not order
unless you are open to an apostolic teaching and have read
four other books by Bro. Franklin Hall." (20)
I would not question Hall's sincerity and desire to attain
spiritual enlightenment. But the heavy flavor of occultism
in his teachings should have been sufficient warning even
back in 1946. Yet many prominent teachers credit the empowerment
for their ministries (especially healing ministries) on his
book on fasting and prayer. It's clear that Hall's teachings
are a blend of occultism with Christianity. And since his
teachings formed the basis of those that came after, and
since the influence of those teachings upon neo-Pentecostalism
is so great, close scrutiny of every ministry they touched
is necessary.
WILLIAM BRANHAM
Inscribed on a pyramid-shaped tombstone in a Jeffersonville,
Indiana cemetery, are the names of the seven churches of
Revelation, "Ephesian" at the base representing the beginning
of the Church Age, "Laodicean" near the top the end of the
Church Age. On the opposite face are the names of seven men
whose impact on the Church throughout its history has been
significant.
Were the two faces of the pyramid juxtaposed one over the
other, we would see the names of the churches superimposed
over the men's names in the following order, from bottom
to top:
- Ephesian - Paul
- Smyrnean - Ireneaus
- Pergamean - Martin
- Thyatirean - Columba
- Sardisean - Luther
- Philadelphian - Wesley
- Laodicean - Branham
Among most major proponents of Kingdom Theology these men
are considered the great reformers of the various stages
of Church history.
To many Kingdom Theology proponents William Branham was
perhaps the greatest "prophet" for the Church's final age.
In 1948, Branham, a Baptist preacher turned Pentecostal,
and influenced by Franklin Hall, gained notoriety for his
teachings on what he called, "God's Seventh Church Age" (supposedly
the final move of God before the manifestation of His Kingdom
on earth).
Branham based this teaching primarily on Joel 2:23 and Revelation
1:20-3:22, the latter recording Jesus' messages to the seven
churches in Asia Minor. Branham claimed that the angels (messengers)
to the churches were men who appeared at various times throughout
Church history to usher in revelations that would lead the
Church in new directions according to the purpose of God.
As indicated on his tombstone, Branham was thought to be
the angel to the Church of Laodicea - the end-time Church.
In his teachings on Joel 2:23, Branham defined the "latter
rain" as the Pentecostal Movement of his day. God's promise
to restore what the locust, cankerworm, caterpillar, and
palmerworm had eaten, he defined as the "restoration" of
the Church out of denominationalism (which he equated with
"the Mark of the Beast").
Although denying he was a believer in the "oneness" doctrine,
Branham had his own form of "oneness" teaching that defined
God as one person who manifested Himself as three different
"attributes": the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, rather
than three Persons comprising one Godhead.(21) He believed
the doctrine of the Trinity was the "Babylonian Foundation"
of the denominations, inherited from Roman Catholicism.(22)
Branham also believed that the Word of God was given in three
forms: the Zodiac, the Egyptian pyramids, and the written
Scriptures. (23)
The Zodiac theory was not new, having been put forth by
Franklin Hall previously, and as early as 1893 by historian
E.W. Bullinger in his book, 'The Witness of the Stars.' The
idea that the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt was constructed
by God (possibly through Enoch) is at least as old as the
Zodiac theory, and is popular with the Dawn Bible Students,
an offshoot of the Jehovah's Witnesses.
It can be said of Branham that he had a simplicity and apparent
humility which attracted many followers. "Gordon Lindsay
told of how he impressed audiences with his utter and complete
consecration." (24)
The Serpent's Seed
In spite of his apparent humility and consecration, Branham
had great difficulty controlling a strident, hateful attitude
toward women. In his own poor English, transcribed from a
sermon, Branham stated, "But I remember when my father's
still up there running, I had to be out there with water
and stuff, see young ladies that wasn't over seventeen, eighteen
years, up there with a man my age now, drunk. And they'd
have to sober them up and give them black coffee, to get
them home to cook their husband's supper. Oh, something like
that, I said, 'I...This was my remarked [sic] then, THEY'RE
NOT WORTH A GOOD CLEAN BULLET TO KILL THEM WITH IT.' That's
right. And I hated women. That's right. And I just have to
watch every move now, to keep from still thinking the same
thing."(25)
This attitude toward women may have played a part in the
development of Branham's bizarre "Serpent Seed" teaching.
This was based on a twisted interpretation of Genesis 3:13,
where Eve is recorded as saying, "The serpent beguiled me,
and I did eat." The word "beguiled" Branham defined as "seduced
sexually." He claimed that Satan and Eve engaged in an adulterous
affair out of which Cain was born. Since that time evil has
passed from generation to generation through women, who keep
the seed of the serpent alive.(26)
He seemed to think that women are responsible for the evil
in the world because of their enticements. The "Serpent's
Seed" teaching obviously indicated that Branham didn't take
the Scriptures literally, where we read, "And Adam knew Eve
his wife; and she conceived and bare Cain..." (Genesis 4:1).
His animosity toward women led to the preaching of a rigid
moral code that lambasted them on their manner of dress,
and may have been responsible for his "revelation" that allowed
for divorce.(27)
Supernatural Manifestations
From the time of his infancy it was evident to his parents
that William's life had upon it the touch of the supernatural.
Born in 1909 in a mountain cabin near Berksville, Kentucky,
William Marrion Branham's childhood was spent in extreme
poverty. His father was only eighteen years of age, and his
mother fifteen when he came into the world weighing a scant
five pounds, the first of nine boys and one girl. (28)
The following account may be legend or fact, but it was
part of Branham's testimony from the start: On the day of
his birth, after being washed, he was placed in his mother's
arms by the midwife who then went to a window to open the
shutter. (There was no glass in the Branham house in those
days.) As dawn broke sending a few rays of light into the
room, there was seen a small circular halo about a foot in
diameter, above the bed where little William lay in his mother's
arms.(29)
Thousands of people have supposedly seen this halo, which
is ostensibly revealed in a photograph taken in Houston,
Texas, during a January, 1950, campaign. (The best we've
been able to obtain is a photostatic copy of a copy which,
though poorly reproduced here, will allow the reader to see
what has been taken for a "halo."
Whether this is a halo or a flaw in the negative - whether
it is a manifestation from God or Satan or poor photography,
we will leave to the reader's judgment.) When he was three
years of age, Branham experienced for the first time what
he called "the Voice." At age seven "the Voice" commanded
him, "Don't you never drink, smoke, or defile your body in
any way. There'll be work for you to do when you get older."(30)
This "Voice" accompanied Branham throughout his lifetime,
and eventually made itself known as an "angel" that directed
him in every aspect of his personal life.(31)
During healing services Branham would often fall into a
trance during which his angel would work through him. Asked
once if the healings were done by the Holy Spirit, Branham
replied, "No, my angel does it." (32)
Branham was one of the foremost proponents of the theory
of healing and imparting the Holy Spirit through the "laying
on of hands." He would often feel a heat in his hand as he
touched affected parts, and exhibited a remarkable clairvoyancy
in knowing intimate details of the lives of people he had
never seen before. No doubt this was due to the angel's possession
of his mind.
Difficulties With The Brethren
Branham's unorthodox methods of healing and allegedly imparting
the Holy Spirit by the laying on of his hands came under
severe criticism by the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada.
These practices became major sources of controversy between
the Latter Rain Movement and the established Pentecostal
denominations who held to their belief that one must "tarry"
in prayer for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In spite of his bizarre healing methods and aberrant doctrines,
Branham enjoyed remarkable popularity among many Pentecostals,
and was warmly received by such notables as Demos Shakarian
(founder of the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International),
Oral Roberts, W.V. Grant, A.A. Allen, Gordon Lindsay (founder
of Christ for the Nations), O.L. Jaggers, George Warnock,
and Franklin Hall. Although many Pentecostals were willing
to embrace Branham as an "apostle" and "prophet" while overlooking
his aberrant teachings, his popularity declined in the late
1950's after his numerous bold proclamations of "thus saith
the Lord" to establish his doctrines. Many Pentecostal churches
became reluctant to allow him to speak. (33)
No one conversant with Pentecostalism will deny that, for
better or for worse, William Branham had a tremendous effect
on the neo-Pentecostalism of his time. From all accounts,
he did exhibit remarkable healing powers which no doubt played
a significant part in giving credibility to his teachings.
Branham was warmly welcomed by Pentecostal churches and organizations
such as the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International.
This organization in particular provided his most reliable
support. In 1961, the editor of FGBMFI's magazine, 'Voice,'
wrote, "In Bible Days, there were men of God who were Prophets
and Seers. But in all the Sacred Records, none of these had
a greater ministry than that of William Branham." (34)
It should be noted that often what Branham taught as a guest
speaker differed from what he taught at his own church, Branham
Tabernacle, where he felt freer to disclose his more aberrant
teachings. Toward the end of his career, however, Branham's
public espousal of his strange doctrines became even more
controversial and he was used less and less by the FGBMFI,
though for several years his speaking engagements were underwritten
by local chapters. For years he had been a frequent speaker
at regional and national conventions.
Eulogies
Branham's life ended abruptly. While on a trip to Arizona,
his car was hit head-on by one driven by a drunken driver.
For six days he lay in a coma and, on Christmas Eve, 1965,
he passed away. The entire Pentecostal world was shaken by
the tragedy. "A number of old friends - Oral Roberts, Demos
Shakarian, T.L. Osborn - telephoned their concern."35
When Branham died, Demos Shakarian wrote, "Rev. Branham
often made the statement that the only Fellowship to which
he belonged was FGBMFI. Often, when called upon to speak
at various conventions and chapter meetings, he has traveled
long distances to keep those engagements. His spirit of service
was an inspiration."36
Many of Branham's followers believed that he had truly come
in the spirit of Elijah; some believed him to be God, born
of a virgin. (37)
They fully expected him to rise from the dead and come back
to them at the end of three days. Five days after his passing,
William Branham was buried, and his grave was soon marked
by the pyramid-shaped tombstone. To date, William Branham's
body is still in the grave. But his occult approach to healing
was picked up by hundreds of pastors and teachers who have
traded on it to a greater or lesser degree.
THE SHARON BRETHREN
In the fall of 1947, two former pastors for the Pentecostal
Assemblies of Canada, George Hawtin and Percy G. Hunt, joined
with Herrick Holt, a pastor of the North Battleford, Saskatchewan,
Church of the Foursquare Gospel, in an independent work.
That work - Sharon Orphanage and Schools which Holt had originally
started in a large residence in North Battleford - had come
to occupy about one thousand acres of farmland about ten
miles distant from the city limits.
With Hawtin and Hunt came seventy students from Bethel Bible
Institute where both had formerly taught before Hawtin was
asked to resign for lack of cooperation, and Hunt resigned
out of sympathy.
George Hawtin's brother-in- law, Milford Kirkpatrick, and
Ernest Hawtin, George's brother, soon joined in ministry
at Sharon.38 Herrick Holt had been preaching that God was
going to be doing a "new thing" in accordance with the prophecy
of Isaiah 43:18-19:
"Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the
things of old. Behold I will do a new thing; Now it shall
spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way
in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."
Of great influence upon the work at Sharon were the teachings
of William Branham. Several of the school's brethren visited
one of his campaigns shortly after George Hawtin and P.G.
Hunt had come on staff.
With renewed fervor, the brethren took Branham's teachings
back to Sharon, unaware that the supernatural power bestowed
upon them by Branham would make their ministry the focal
point of the Latter Rain Movement for several years to come.
(39)
Another influence, on the Hawtin brothers in particular,
was J.E. Stile's book, 'The Gift of the Holy Spirit,' which
asserted that if one were truly repentant, and believed on
the Lord Jesus Christ, all that was necessary for him to
receive the Holy Spirit was for another believer to lay hands
on him (40)
Franklin Hall's book was especially utilized at Sharon.
Ernest Hawtin wrote: "The truth of fasting was one great
contributing factor to the revival. One year before this
we had read Franklin Hall's book, entitled 'Atomic Power
With God Through Fasting and Prayer.' We immediately began
to practise [sic] fasting. Previously we had not understood
the possibility of long fasts. The revival would never have
been possible without the restoration of this great truth
through our good brother Hall." (41)
On February 11, 1948, a young woman at the Bible school
prophesied that a great revival was about to break out. The
next day, according to Ern Hawtin, the Holy Spirit fell with
great power. "Day after day the Glory and Power of God came
among us. Great repentance, humbling, fasting and prayer
prevailed in everyone."(42)
Because of the manifestation of power at North Battleford,
news of the outbreak spread, and soon people were coming
from everywhere to receive that power. They believed that
the long drought was over for Pentecostals, whose use of
the gifts had gradually declined since the advent of Pentecostalism
at the turn of the century.(43)
A striking characteristic of the Sharon revival was the
effort to avoid the establishment of another denomination
as had happened during the earlier Pentecostal Movement.
George Hawtin was especially adamant about this and labored
to instruct those who were touched by his ministry not to
fall into that trap. He felt that the unity of the Church
was essential to bring about its restoration, and therefore
encouraged the establishment of autonomous, local congregations.
It became a hallmark of the Latter Rain Movement that innumerable
independent churches sprang up with no denominational affiliation.
This did not set well with the Pentecostal denominations,
who lost many members to this "new thing."
A major point of controversy between the North Battleford
brethren and some Pentecostal denominations was the teaching
by the former that there are present-day apostles and prophets
for the Church. (44)
And though George Hawtin wrote in the June, 1948, issue
of 'The Sharon Star' (the school's newsletter) that "no church
exercises or has any right to exercise authority of jurisdiction
over another church, its pastors or members," the travelling
"presbytery" from Sharon, of which he was a part, did indeed
exercise authority over people in other congregations through
personal "directive prophecy." (45)
In spite of the Sharon group's insistence upon autonomy,
they eventually became sectarian to the extreme, holding
to the notions that no teaching was valid unless it originated
with them, no fellowship was to be engaged in with anyone
outside their own confines, and they alone were the purveyors
of God's truth.
If anyone would be an "overcomer," it must be through obedience
to their authority. Even some who were endorsed as apostles
and prophets by the Sharon group eventually became disillusioned
and broke ties from Sharon.
Among these was Reg Layzell who wrote: "At the first camp
meeting you were made a member of the Body of Christ by the
Spirit of God. And even if you said you were not in the Body
you still were. No man could put you in or take you out.
Now the error: they claim you are only put in by them and
can be put out by them."46
A significant event in the history of Sharon Orphanage and
School was its July 7-18, 1948 Camp Meeting, during which
thousands of people from Canada and the United States flocked
in hopes of receiving something special from God. Residents
from at least twenty states attended, and the great Latter
Rain Movement burst upon the world. From that time the movement
spread rapidly and Sharon shortly became just one of many
centers of teaching for the Latter Rain Movement.
In his thesis on this movement, Richard Riss states:"It
should be noted however, that prior to the revival, these
practices [laying on of hands and acceptance of apostles
and prophets] were already commonplace in some places, including
Elim Bible Institute, which was at that time in Hornell,
N.Y., and which, until the revival, had not had contact with
North Battleford." (47)
"It should also be noted...that prophecy was a major distinguishing
mark of the Latter Rain Movement, whereas, in the case of
the healing evangelists, healing was more prominent, and
in the case of the early pentecostal revival, tongues had
prominence." (48)
Elim Bible Institute was for years prior to the outbreak
of the Latter Rain Movement a center for neo-Pentecostal
teachings. Although it was Sharon Orphanage that gave real
impetus to these teachings, it is Elim Bible Institute that
has continued even to this day with its influence, while
the Sharon group has largely been relegated to obscurity.
GEORGE WARNOCK
Among those present at the Sharon Camp Meeting in July,
1948, was George Warnock who at one time had been personal
secretary to Ern Baxter (an associate with William Branham's
healing ministry).(49)
At this meeting one of the teachers, James Watt, made a
passing remark that the third of Israel's feasts, the Feast
of Tabernacles, was yet to be fulfilled.(50) This struck
Warnock and he began to associate it with the end-time ministry
of the Church, and the concept of restoration. In the fall
of 1949 Warnock took up residence at Sharon, "assisting in
the office work, and helping in the Bible School and in the
local church." (51)
In 1951 Warnock wrote his book, 'The Feast of Tabernacles,'
in which he layed out a specific doctrine for the Latter
Rain Movement, and those who came after. He taught that the
Church was about to usher in the completion of God's feasts
for Israel, through perfection of the saints and their dominion
over the earth.
Essentially, this Latter Rain teaching implies that the
three great annual feasts of the Lord in Israel's worship
(Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles) pre-figure and typify
the whole Church Age, beginning with the death of Jesus on
the cross, and consummating in "the manifestation of the
Sons of God" - the "overcomers" who will step into immortality
and establish the Kingdom of God on earth. (52)
Warnock teaches that this will be accomplished through the
restoration of the Church in unity and, once done, the saints
will "eat the Lord's Supper in reality." (53) (as if we are
not doing so now).
"Unity" as defined by Kingdom Theology entails the putting
on of "the mind of Christ" so that we all think, say, believe,
and confess the same things. (54) What we will think, say,
believe, and confess will be told to us by the apostles and
prophets. Unity without regard to "doctrine" (except the
doctrine of those imposing the unity) is the great cry among
those today who think that the Body of Christ has thus far
failed in its commission.
We will deal with these teachings in more detail later.
THE LATTER RAIN CONTINUES
Many teachings of the Latter Rain Movement have been retained
in the Church through the influence of various men and women,
many of whom are still alive, and active in groups that spun
off from the Latter Rain Movement.
Although the Latter Rain Movement has had lasting effects
upon Pentecostalism in general, its effects upon the major
Pentecostal denominations was minimal after the mid-1950's.
This was due in part to the role the Assemblies of God played
in confronting the Latter Rain extremes. That denomination,
as well as others, lost many pastors and members to the Latter
Rain as a consequence of their opposition.
Today, the influence of the Latter Rain Movement upon traditional
as well as Pentecostal denominations is growing. And although
by all appearances the name has died out, the Latter Rain
Movement has surfaced under other names and is held together
by a network of teachers and organizations which are finding
new acceptance on a wide scale in the Christian media.
(Continued in Part 2) (click link to
go direct to part two)
NOTES
- Franklin Hall, "Miracle Word" (Phoenix; Hall Deliverance
Foundation, Inc., Summer, 1985) p.10.
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
- Ibid, p.9.
- Ibid.
- Franklin Hall, 'Atomic Power With God Through Fasting and
Prayer' (Phoenix: Hall Deliverance Foundation, Inc., 5th
Ed., 1975), p.19.
- Ibid., p.9.
- Franklin Hall, Catalogue of Publications (Phoenix: Hall
Deliverance Foundation, 1986).
- Franklin Hall, 'The Return of Immortality' (Phoenix: Hall
Deliverance Foundation, Inc., 1976), pp.2-3.
- Ibid., p.3.
- Ibid., Inside Front Cover.
- Ibid., p.10.
- Ibid., p.48.
- Ibid., p.20.
- 'Atomic Power With God Through Fasting and Prayer', pp.29,31.
- Ibid., p.7.
- . Ibid., p.53
- Ibid., p.55.
- Catalogue of Publications.
- William M. Branham, 'Adoption' (Jeffersonville, IN: Spoken
Word Publications, 1960), p.21.
- W.illiam M. Branham, 'The Serpent's Seed', taped sermon,
undated.
- 'Adoption', pp.31,104.
- David E. Harrell, Jr., 'All Things Are Possible' (Bloomington:
Indiana University Press, 1976), p.162.
- William M. Branham, 'My Life Story' (Spoken Word Publications,
undated), p.27.
- 'The Serpent's Seed'.
- 'All Things Are Possible', p.162.
- 'Brother Branham' (Jeffersonville, IN: Spoken Word Publications,
undated), p.19.
- 'My Life Story', p.21.
- Ibid., p.24.
- Kurt Koch, 'Occult Bondage and Deliverance' (Grand Rapids:
Kregel, 1972), p.50.
- Ibid.
- 'All Things Are Possible', p.159.
- Ibid., p.161.
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
- Ibid., p.164.
- Richard Riss, 'The Latter Rain Movement of 1948 and the
Mid-twentieth Century Evangelical Awakening' (Vancouver,
B.C.: Thesis), p.79.
- Ibid., p.80-81.
- Ibid., p.83-84.
- Ibid., p.86.
- Ibid., p.89.
- Ibid., p.89-90.
- Ibid., p.101.
- Ibid., p.102.
- Ibid., p.154.
- Ibid., p.108.
- Ibid., p.116.
- Ibid., p.104.
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
- George Warnock, 'The Feast of Tabernacles' (Cranbrook,
B.C.: George Warnock, 1951), p.14-20.
- Ibid., p.22.
- Ibid., p.23.
|
Kingdom Theology (Part Two)
CONTENTS:
INTRODUCTION
THE ETERNAL BATTLE
- deity of christ
- virgin birth
- atonement
- resurrection
- second coming
- an esoteric statement of faith
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE HERESY
TODAY'S MOVEMENTS:
- Identity
- Charismatic Renewal
- Manifested Sons of God
- Restoration
- Reconstruction
- Postiive Confession
- Shepherding/Discipleship
USING AN INHERENT FEAR OF GUILT
NOTES
INTRODUCTION
In Part I we examined the roots of today's Kingdom Theology,
and defined the movement in terms of its theological and eschatological
doctrines as well as some of its historic proponents.
We delineated the basic premise of the movement which, simply
stated, is that before Jesus can return, the Church must establish
the Kingdom of God on earth by taking control over every aspect
of life through the establishment of a theocratic government.
Before we proceed further, I feel it necessary to point out
that there is a legitimate "Kingdom Theology" based upon proper
exegesis of Scriptural prophecy.
Jesus will return at the end of this age to establish God's
authority over the nations of the earth. Until then, the Kingdom
of God continues to operate through the administration of the
Holy Spirit resident in the hearts of God's people. The Kingdom
of God already exists therefore, and will one day be manifested
throughout the earth during Jesus' millennial reign.
To differentiate between God's legitimate "Kingdom Theology"
and man's attempt to bring it into existence through his own
efforts before Jesus' Second Coming, we'll call man's attempt
"Kingdom Now Theology," or "Dominion Theology" (using these
terms interchangeably). This will help us separate the error
from the truth.
To accomplish the monumental task of taking dominion, a significant
number in the Church must come into "unity" of thought and
purpose to that end. While the goal of the Kingdom builders
is total unity, they realize that partial unity may be all
they can attain. Whatever the case, the realization of any
significant degree of unity necessitates a single voice of
authority: a hierarchical structure through which individual
believers will receive the necessary pronouncements to exercise
dominion.
The voice of authority, it is believed, will reside in certain
latter-day apostles and prophetsoperating in conformity to
their own peculiar interpretation of Ephesians 4:11-12: "And
he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists;
and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints,
for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body
of Christ."
In order for the saints to be perfected (made sinless) there
must be a restoration of the offices of apostles and prophets.
It is a major prerequisite, therefore, that the apostles and
prophets be recognized by the Church at large. (It's interesting
that we are currently seeing certain well-known Christian leaders
referring to one another as "apostles" and "prophets".)
Once they are acknowledged, these apostles and prophets will
bring forth new revelations from God, which will be the guiding
principles in establishing the Kingdom. These revelations will
be given to the Church through the evangelists, pastors, and
teachers who accept the hierarchy's authority.
One manner in which the apostles and prophets will receive
these new revelations will be throughcommunication with heavenly
beings (angels and departed saints), as well as with God -
and specifically Jesus. It's expected that many of these "new
revelations" will be authenticated through demonstrations of
power in the working of miracles, signs and wonders.
Some also believe that for dominion to be effected, the world's
wealth must be under the control of the Church. Hence the emphasis
on prosperity and "divine health" as well as the ability to
speak into existence things that are not as though they are
(God-likeness).
After the Church has taken dominion, its task will be to purge
the earth of evil,which is defined as lawlessness against God's
moral laws and against the established authority of the apostles
and prophets. This accomplished, the earth will be ready to
be turned over to Jesus when He returns (some say 'if' He returns).
We will find as we continue our study that at the heart of
Dominion Theology is the belief that man is a godand, as such,
must exercise his godhood through dominion. The current teaching
that man is a god is essentially a theosophic concept which
can be traced to the beginning of man's history.
THE ETERNAL BATTLE
The conflict of the ages upon which the spiritual battle for
men's souls resides is founded upon this single truth: that
God is supreme and His creation must be subject to Him.
In his rebellion, Satan ("Lucifer") originated the scheme
to establish oneself as an equal to God (Isaiah 14:12-15).
This was the nature of his temptation of Eve: "...ye shall
be gods, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:5). Satan's lie
is not just that man 'is' God, as espoused in Eastern mysticism,
but that he could become 'like' God through acquisition of
certain knowledge. In essence, man is, or could become, a god
himself.
This appeal to man's pride comprises the essence of the esoteric
religions which seek, by initiation, to bring certain chosen
individuals to perfection through obedience to an unseen spiritual
hierarchy. This hierarchy - known as "Ascended Masters," among
other titles - is allegedly comprised of highly evolved men
existing in the spirit realm who are leading mankind through
stages of evolution to higher planes of consciousness which
will eventually result in the attainment of godhood.
Throughout history the ancient mystery religions have taken
many forms, from paganism and witchcraft to humanism and some
elements of psychology. Today they may be classified under
the general name of "theosophy" - the blending of science and
religion to create a universal brotherhood of man under a one-world
utopian state. The term "theosophy" (lit. "Divine Wisdom" or
"Wisdom of the Gods") (55) has several synonyms, some of the
more common being "the Esoteric Philosophy," "the Wisdom-Religion,"
"the Secret Doctrine," "the Ancient Wisdom," and "the Esoteric
Tradition." (56)
The esoteric ("hidden," "secret") religions have many expressions
throughout the world, and include such notable movements as
Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, and Jewish Kabbalism, among others.
The basic beliefs of esotericism, as well as the Eastern religions,
form the basis for what has come to be known as the "New Age
Movement" - today's vulgar expression for the masses of the
"higher" mysteries. The essence of esoteric religion is that
man can attain godhood through knowledge and positive living.
From time immemorial man has fallen for this delusion, and
has sought spiritual power through mastery of so-called "immutable
laws" of Nature operative in the spiritual realm. The learning
and mastering of these laws allegedly work for man's purposes
and "validate" his position as a god.
Though modern theosophy, in all its forms, makes certain teachings
of the ancient mysteries available to the masses, these are
only the exoteric teachings. The deeper esoteric mysteries
are reserved for those initiated through secret rites, sworn
to secrecy under penalty of death.
Those teachings permitted for the masses have found their
way into the Church. They have developed into a form of "Christian"
theosophy which has affected many otherwise uncompromising
Christians who, if they would keep their heads about them,
would suffer death to maintain the inviolable position that
deity is an attribute of God alone.
There is a reason for Satan's emissaries infecting the Church
with the damnable heresy that we are or can become gods.
To the esotericist, bent upon establishing 'men' as gods,
all monotheistic religions are anathema and their adherents
must be converted or at least subjugated to the spiritual hierarchy
(the spirit beings guiding mankind). Since the Church alone
has the power of God to resist the deceptions of Satan, it
'must' be made to believe his lies. If the Church can be corrupted
or neutralized Satan will have a clear path toward uniting
the world against God. Thus any opposition to deception in
the Church must be stifled under the pretense that such opposition
sows discord among the brethren and hinders unity.
Satan's lies have found fertile ground in the Church not only
because many Christians lack knowledge, but because they lack
the necessary humility that can protect them against deception.
Seeking their own wills above God's will, they are easy prey
for deceivers who exalt men and/or the Church to the status
of godhood and promote Satan's lies within the Church, lies
characterized by the following teachings:
- Men are gods;
- Men may become gods;
- Men may become like God;
- Faith is a "law" or "force" that may be activated by anyone
- believer or not;
- The ability to perform miracles, signs, and wonders is
latent within all; we need but learn the techniques that
activate the spiritual laws upon which faith is based;
- God is bound by these spiritual laws, and must respond
to anyone - even His worst enemies - who exercises knowledge
of them;
- as "gods" ("divine beings") we have the "divine right"
to health and prosperity'
- Jesus is our "Elder Brother" who mastered the spiritual
laws of Nature, and is therefore our example to do the same;
- Men may become perfected spiritually and physically by
mastering these spiritual laws;
- The Kingdom of God will be established on earth when a
sufficient number of people have been perfected.
No doubt many who teach these things would deny they are theosophists.
In all probability they think of themselves as true Christians
who have received special revelations from God. But whether
they adhere to theosophical doctrines consciously or are merely
pawns in the battle of the ages is immaterial. A child playing
with matches needn't have knowledge of the damage he can cause.
It's evident from the recent emergence of these aberrant teachings
within the Church that - through schooling and/or personal
association - theosophy is having a significant impact upon
some of today's prominent teachers.
I believe some of these teachers, though sincere in their
profession of faith in Jesus, are themselves victims of esotericists
who knew how to use biblical and Christian terminology to gain
their confidence, or they learned from others who were victims.
Esotericists have made special efforts to merge their secret
teachings with the basic tenets of the Christian faith, resulting
in some rather interesting esoteric interpretations of Scripture.
The major Christian doctrines - the deity of Christ; His Virgin
Birth, His sacrifice for sin, His Resurrection, and His Second
Coming - can be made to fit perfectly well into the theosophical
model of religion. But their aberrant interpretations of these
basic doctrines, unless openly stated, will escape the average
Christian and deceive him into placing his trust where he ought
not.
As we look at these doctrines from the standpoint of theosophy
as opposed to that of Scripture, some may find our expositions
of interest; others will no doubt find them tedious and may
wish to pass over them. I've included them for purposes of
documentation, and to demonstrate how esotericists might use
certain terminology to convince Christians - even Christian
teachers - that they are brethren in Christ, specially "anointed"
to teach new revelations.
I should add that it is not these interpretations of essential
doctrines with which I am concerned (any mature Christian would
reject them at the outset), but the inroads into the Church
of other teachings based on these interpretations.
Though there are few in the Church proper who would agree
with these interpretations, many have bought the rest of the
package which is bringing many in the Church into damnable
heresies. These are offered as a warning to learn as much as
possible what a teacher believes before accepting what he says.
The Deity Of Christ
Theosophists would agree that Jesus is divine. But then so
are all men, if not actually at least potentially. It is therefore
not inconsistent for theosophists to speak of Jesus as "Son
of God," "God in the flesh," "truly God and truly man," and
use similar "Christian-sounding" phrases implying His deity.
Nevertheless, whereas Christians believe that God became man
(exclusively in the person of Jesus), theosophists believe
that a man named Jesus became a god. To most theosophists,
Jesus was one of many men who displayed an exceptional expression
of the divine nature. They include Him among such notables
as Confucius, Buddha, and Mohammed. To some, however, Jesus
was unique among all men in His expression of the divine nature;
they would say that no one has ever attained His status of
spiritual enlightenment.
However, they also believe that all men and women have the
potential to reach that same degree of spiritual enlightenment,
i.e., to be equal with Jesus.
Some even go so far as to say that, theoretically at least,
we have the potential to be greater than He, by further mastering
the spiritual laws of Nature to do good for mankind. Jesus'
uniqueness, to them, lies not in His person as the Word of
God incarnate, but in His particular anointing as "the Christ"
to bring enlightenment and truth for His time in history, just
as Buddha and Mohammed did for their eras.
Though it is believed that there are exceptional "Christs"
for different stages of man's evolutionary journey, we may
all become expressions of the "Christ principle" and thus achieve
divinity.
Theosophists, therefore, have no problem with calling Jesus
the "Son of God." As John H. Dewey, the leading apostle of
"Christian" Theosophy during the previous turn of the century
stated:
"The law of FAITH as announced by Jesus and exemplified
in his life, is the supreme law and method of all divine
realization for man."57 "That he was fully and absolutely
human, the veritable "Son of man," no sane mind will deny.
That he was also fully and absolutely divine, the veritable
"Son of God," we with equal positiveness claim and affirm."
(58)
On the basis of these statements alone Dewey might easily
have been accepted into Christian fellowship. But further on
we find that he qualifies his remarks:
"This incarnation of the Divine in Jesus, however, but reveals
and demonstrates the innate capacity of our common humanity
as the offspring of God, for receiving into its unfolding
life the full Spirit of the Father, and becoming divine,
as illustrated in the life of our great Exemplar [Jesus]."
(59)
"The manifestation of God in one man [Jesus], demonstrates
the possibility of a like demonstration in all men." (60)
Were these teachings confined to the inner sanctums of the
Masonic, Rosicrucian, and Mormon temples - were they bandied
about only among theosophists seated around their tables of
discussion - they would pose no genuine threat to the Church.
But we are now hearing from prominent teachers in the Christian
media that man was created with a divine nature which was lost
due to the introduction of sin. By being born again by the
Spirit of God we lose our sin nature and regain our divine
nature. (61)
There is no such teaching in Scripture. Rather, it is based
upon a theosophical interpretation of II Peter 1:4 which, properly
understood, tells us no more than that the believer in Jesus
Christ is a partaker of the divine nature through the indwelling
of the Holy Spirit. But it is the divine nature of the Holy
Spirit, not ourselves, to which Peter was referring. The quality
of divinity belongs exclusively to God, the Creator of the
heavens and the earth.
As the Word of God incarnate, Jesus is divine, as is the Holy
Spirit through whom God accomplishes His purposes. The First
Commandment of God is, "I am the Lord thy God....Thou shalt
have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:2-3).
Some may beg the question by stating that the word "before"
qualifies the statement to mean only that Jehovah is the God
who must come first. But the historically accepted meaning
from the context is that we are to have no other gods in His
presence: none are to be before His face. Yet many Christians
today have bought the lie that they themselves are gods, and
perfectly legitimate ones at that, whereas God has stated that
there are no other gods besides Himself (Deuteronomy 4:35).
Therefore, whenever the Scriptures speak of other gods, they
are speaking of false gods: demons, idols or men (Christian
or non-Christian) who attempt to usurp the rightful position
of Jehovah.
The Virgin Birth
The various schools of theosophy generally deny the doctrine
of the Virgin Birth of Jesus.
However, in an attempt to spiritualize what the Scriptures
plainly state as applicable to the physical - i.e., that Jesus
was born of a virgin woman by the power of the Holy Spirit
- there are those who might say they accept the idea of the
virgin birth. But their affirmation would be qualified within
their minds in the following manner:
"...[Jesus' virgin birth] was originally a highly mystical
and philosophical teaching, which became in time a theologic
dogma and legend....It is a mystical or symbolic tenet referring
to the birth of the Christ in man from the virgin-part of
one's being, i.e., from the spiritual or highest portions
of man's constitution. It also has a cosmical significance
- the Virgin-Mother of Space giving birth through the Child,
the Cosmic Logos, to her multitudes of children of various
kinds. There are thus two aspects of this mystical or symbolical
doctrine: there is, first, the Cosmical Virgin, and, second,
there is the mystical 'virgin-birth' of an initiate. An initiate
is one 'reborn,' or, as the saying goes, 'born a second time.'
He is not born of course in initiation from a physical father
and mother, for his body is born in the usual manner, but
in initiation, the 'new man,' the inner man, theChrist-man,
is born 'from himself' because of his bringing out or unfolding
into active manifestation the divinity within him and over-enlightening
him; and his 'Virgin-Mother' is that part of himself which
is the root of his being, the spiritual soul in its spotless
and unstained purity. From the Virgin or Spiritual Soul is
born the human Christ or the human Buddha, without admixture
of extrinsic elements of any kind, and without other means
than the man's own yearnings and strivings to become the
god within himself.
"The Christian Church has interpreted these very mystical
doctrines physically and thus has largely lost the far nobler
and really profound symbolic sense...." (62)
Such esoteric interpretations of Scripture are difficult to
recognize without careful scrutiny.
One may say he believes in the virgin birth of Christ, but
hold an entirely different view from that of Christianity -
in this case applying an occult analogy to the Scriptures.
This ploy of esoteric religion is becoming increasingly evident
in some circles of Christianity, most notably among charismatics.
The current penchant of some teachers to cloud the simple
truth of the Gospel with teachings that impress the unlearned
with man's wisdom is evidence of a new Gnosticism based on
salvation through knowledge springing up in our midst.
Paul warned of such in II Corinthians 11:3: "But I fear, lest
by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty,
so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that
is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus,
whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit,
which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have
not accepted, ye might well bear [agree] with him."
In light of today's deceptions, we would be wise to see that
the meanings applied by teachers to the doctrines of the Church
are clearly stated, and backed up by the whole of Scripture.
Atonement
As in many other Christian doctrines, Jesus' death as atonement
for sin is given an entirely different meaning by esotericists
from that stated in Scripture. As Christians we believe that
Jesus' blood is the element that cleanses us from sin, provided
we come to God in faith and allow Him to apply that blood to
our own lives. As God incarnate and sinless - the only begotten
Son of God - only Jesus could pay the price for our sins. No
one else's suffering and/or death as a vicarious sacrifice
has any merit with God. The esotericist, however, holds a different
view:
"If a man loves another greatly, can he not save his friend
from future sorrow by taking upon himself his friend's karman
[consequences of actions destined to follow from reincarnation
to reincarnation]? The question is purely academic in a way,
because when the last word is said, the karman of the friend
is the friend himself, and therefore the answer in general
is comprised of an emphatic negative; nevertheless, there
is a possibility, not indeed of taking upon oneself the friend's
karman, but of shouldering by means of a powerful will and
a high intelligence directed to that end, a certain portion,
be it large or small, of the consequences which in the normal
course of Nature, with heavy and perhaps crushing effect,
would fall upon the friend. The secret in such a situation
lies in allying one's own life intimately with the life of
the one whose heavy karman it is thus hoped to aid in carrying
or exhausting...
"In those cases where such noble and altruistic action be
taken for the benefit of all that lives or for the results
which it is hoped will benefit a large portion of mankind,
it is a Buddha-like thing to do, it is a Christ-like thing."(63)
The esoteric view of atonement does make room for Jesus' sacrifice
for mankind, but only to a point. Any person whose motives
are pure can take upon himself the consequences of the sins
of another through altruistic acts of piety and self-denial.
So the theosophist and other esotericists can say they accept
Jesus' death on the cross as atonement for "sin," but their
doctrine is faulty, and Christians who lack understanding of
this fact can be misled into thinking they are on the same
spiritual level.
The efficacious sacrifice of Jesus which provides for the
taking away of sins for all who come to Him by faith is actually
denied by all schools of esotericism:
"This doctrine of vicarious substitution, both in form and
spirit, is diametrically opposed to the positive teachings
of Jesus, which makes righteousness itself salvation, obedience
to the righteous law of God in the doing of the Father's
will in the personal and social life....
"These authoritative words of the Christ, with the whole
Sermon on the Mount, from which they are taken, and the full
tenor of all his teaching most unmistakably emphasize the
'doing' of the Father's will, and unity with him in a righteous
life, as the only salvation possible or desirable for mankind,
while not a precept or parable of his can be brought to sustain
in the slightest degree this doctrine of substitution; as
though it were possible for the absolute justice and goodness
of the All-Father to demand or accept the punishment of the
innocent for the guilty, or could impute the righteousness
of the sinless to the sinner, or accept any as righteous
who are not really so. But as righteousness of life is secured
only through personal obedience to the law of right, no man
can become righteous before God, except by his own act of
obedience. If this were possible in the economy of God, then
the very idea of justice would be a delusion and a sham,
and the thought and talk of a changeless moral order a pitiable
and unmeaning farce.
"Surely salvation from sin in this life, by lifting man
above the power of temptation, as promised by the Christ,
and exemplified in his own life, would prevent all consequences
of sin in this world or any other. And this is the only salvation
worthy of the name.
"How is this to be accomplished but by the perfection of
human life itself, through the unfolding and bringing forth
of the divine or spiritual nature in that life."(64)
Through the clever manipulation of the word 'atonement,' esotericists
have devised the doctrine of "at-one-ment," which states in
effect that once a person has attained mastery over his physical
nature he becomes "at-one with the Divine," and may exercise
mental influence over the physical realm for the effecting
of healing and other manifestations of psychic power:
"The casting out of devils and reforming the vicious, the
reclaiming of drunkards and restoration of the insane to
soberness and reason, giving strength to the weak and courage
to the lowly and disheartened, and working "not after the
law of a carnal commandment but after the power of an endless
life," for the universal emancipation, enlightenment and
uplifting of mankind, become the easy and true work of life.
"Man then becomes one in spirit and purpose with the divine,
and is led, governed and crowned with wisdom, sympathy and
power. It is the Christ or God-anointed life; the true at-one-ment
of man with God, the human with the Divine, Christianity
as Christ taught and lived it." (65)
"...when man has thus learned to specifically direct the
force of life in the control of the elements in his own organism,
he may then accumulate power within himself to master and
control the elements and forces of the world outside himself;
but as this is to be acquired through cooperation with divine
power, he can attain absolute control over himself and that
which is below only by first becoming at-one with the Divine,
which is within and above him." (66)
This esoteric view of "at-one-ment" - coming into the expression
of godhood in order to control the elements of nature - is
a major tenet of mind science. Though expressed in different
terms, it has crept into the Church through the Positive Confession
teachings which declare that man is a god, and "faith is a
force" that God used to create the universe, and that anyone
can use for his own purposes. (67)
The Resurrection
The Resurrection of Jesus following His death as sacrifice
for our sins is a primary focus of the Christian faith. For
if He had not been resurrected we would still be lost in our
sins (I Corinthians 15:12-26).
The esotericist does not believe in resurrection, but in reincarnation
- the evolutionary process by which souls are allegedly perfected
by working out their karmic consequences from one lifetime
to another. Yet the term "resurrection" does find its way into
esoteric philosophy, specifically in relation to reincarnation,
and its use can be misleading:
"No sane man, it is to be supposed, today can or does believe
that the physical body, as regards its physical elements
- or rather when once its elements have been returned to
earth - shall be gathered together again into one component
and perfect whole at some future period which Christians
call the Judgment Day; when the 'last trump' shall be sounded,
according to the quaint imagery of older times....Yet back
of this idea of the 'resurrection of the body' there actually
is a most beautiful truth or fact of Nature. This truth may
be expressed in two forms; or, as the mathematicians say,
it is expressible in both a general and in a special case.
"This special case involves a mystery - a teaching of the
ancient Mysteries; but hinted at, it might be phrased thus:
When a man has received his final degree of initiation he
is said to be 'raised' to Masterhood in the same physical
body. This point need not be elaborated further here.
"The general case, however, is to be explained by the reassembling
of the life-atoms in the manner described in preceding paragraphs.
These life-atoms are man's own offspring, at least most of
those which build man's constitution are; inbuilt into his
body during the physical life which he leads on Earth, although
they are not derivative from outside but spring forth from
within himself. Therefore they are psycho-magnetically attracted
back to the Reimbodying Ego on its return journey to the
new earth-life, and the Reimbodying Ego can no more avoid
or escape receiving these life-atoms again into itself than
it can avoid or escape being itself. To it they are again
drawn because out from it they formerly went. They too, these
life-atoms, during the Reimbodying Ego's term of devachanic
rest and peace, have had their own wonderful adventures -
adventures in the different spheres and on the different
planes of the seven globes of the planetary chain; and thus
when the 'descending' individual or Reimbodying Ego reaches
the grades of our physical plane, and the baby-body is finally
born, its growth thereafter is assured by and through and
because of the aforesaid magnetic attractions and repulsions,
and by the body's receiving into it and expulsion from it
of these its former life-atoms. These are continuously attracted
to and built into the physical body, as it passes from babyhood
into childhood into youth, and from youth into manhood -
the very life-atoms which had made the Reimbodying Ego's
physical body on Earth in the last earth-life. Thus it is
that the body of the former earth-life is resurrected - is
'arisen.'"(68)
This fanciful account of reincarnation has no basis for proof
and is in direct opposition to God's Word: "It is appointed
unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: For Christ
was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that
look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto
salvation" (Hebrews 9:27-28). Jesus died only once; and we
will die only once. There is no reincarnation by which we may
eventually attain spiritual perfection through works of our
righteousness. It is only the precious blood of Jesus that
cleanses us from sin and provides for our salvation if we trust
in Him by faith.
The Second Coming
On April 25, 1982, many were surprised by the appearance of
full-page ads in some twenty major newspapers worldwide, proclaiming
that "THE CHRIST IS NOW HERE." (69)
These ads, placed by a New Age organization known as Tara
Center, declared that the Christ had come to lead mankind into
an era of peace and brotherhood. The Christ, according to these
ads, is Lord Maitreya, an Ascended Master whose message of
hope was, and still is, conveyed by an Englishman named Benjamin
Creme (Krehm). Creme contends that Maitreya had embodied himself
somewhere in the Himalayas, and is currently living in London
awaiting the opportune moment to emerge and be recognized by
the population of the world as the Christ for the New Age.(70)
Maitreya is said to be the embodiment of the aspirations of
the world's major religions. According to the newspaper ads,
"He is known to Christians as 'the Christ,' to Hindus as 'Krishna,'
to Jews as 'the Messiah,' to Moslems as 'Imam Mahdi,' and to
Buddhists as 'the fifth Buddha.'"
The Christ for the New Age is not Jesus. Jesus, it seems,
has been reincarnated and will stand with Lord Maitreya to
convince Christians that they, along with the rest of humanity,
must follow their new spiritual leader.71
While Maitreya waits in the wings for the consciousness of
humanity to be sufficiently raised to make us worthy to receive
him, the resultant media exposure has fanned an interest among
many who are expectantly awaiting a "man of peace" to come
along and solve the world's ills. Creme claims that the emergence
of Maitreya as "the Christ" will be validated by demonstrations
of miracles, signs, and wonders.72
In Matthew 24:24 Jesus warned of such demonstrations of power
by God's enemies: "For there shall arise false Christs, and
false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch
that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."
Whether or not Maitreya really exists no one can say at this
time, but we can learn from this that when the esotericist
speaks of the Second Coming, it is certain that he is not speaking
of Jesus' Second Coming. He is speakig of the coming of "the
Christ" for the New Age. According to Creme and other New Agers,
Jesus was the Christ for the age of Pisces, and Maitreya is
the Christ for our age, the age of Aquarius.73
This is to be the "Golden Age" of utopian bliss to begin around
the turn of the century. It is the New Agers' version of the
millennium - the Kingdom Age - run by men who have attained
godhood. Since the office of "Christ" is not considered by
esotericists to be exclusive to Jesus, they do not affirm 'His'
Second Coming. Rather, they make mention of the "Coming of
Christ," or even "Second Coming of Christ."
This is because they separate the "Christ 'principle'" from
the 'person' of Jesus, and apply it to all men. In the broad
sense, therefore, they teach that the "Second Coming" of "Christ"
will take place through the raising of humanity's consciousness
to the point where a significant number will believe that 'they'
are the embodiment of the Second Coming. Then the world will
be prepared to receive the "Christ" who will lead the nations
into the New Age of peace and brotherhood.
The central figure of the "Spiritual Hierarchy" (the "Ascended
Masters") will represent the full manifestation of the office
of Christ for that age. In Dominion Theology, this teaching
has a parallel which states that the Church is the "ongoing
incarnation" of God. Yes, Jesus is Christ, but so is the Church
as the body of Christ. Therefore, the Church is Christ.74
An Esoteric 'Statement of Faith'
A clear definition of terms is essential for a proper understanding
of the theological stance of those who teach us.
Though holding erroneous interpretations of any or all the
doctrines represented, one may make a declaration of faith
like this: "I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, true God
and true man, God incarnate, virgin born, that His death was
an atonement for my sins, that he has been resurrected, and
that Christ is coming again." And on the basis of this confession,
that person may gain the confidence of Christians to fill their
minds with other teachings that will sway them from the truth
essential to their salvation.
The teachers with which we deal in this study might not be
theosophists on these important points of doctrine, but there
is sufficient evidence to suggest that they have been infected
by esoteric philosophies, possibly by having been exposed to
wolves in sheep's clothing themselves. The various schools
of theosophy that grew out of the Gnostic traditions and other
apostate "Christian" sects have found their way into the Christian
media, greatly diluting the strength of the true Gospel and
polluting the thinking of many in the Church. Some Christians,
perceiving themselves spiritually-minded, have fallen for the
lie that they can become gods. But this is not spiritual-mindedness;
it is carnal-mindedness, demonstrating a lack of understanding
of the basic premise upon which the battle between God and
Satan rages.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE HERESY
Scripture chronicles man's attempts at godhood: the rebelliousness
that led to the flood and the tower of Babel, and the sorcery
and witchcraft that dominated not only pagan cultures, but
God's chosen people Israel. Jewish Kabbalism, thought by some
to be a phenomenon of the Middle Ages, is really a blending
of apostate Judaism with the Egyptian mystery religion learned
while in captivity.
The resultant paganism of Israel was the source of revolt
against God's prophets. When the Church was established, the
same spirit of rebellion was immediately at work to destroy
the simplicity and purity of the Gospel. Heretics led many
away from the truth into errors which either demeaned the person
of Christ or exalted the position of the believer - or both.
During the Church's early years the Gnostic "gospels" and
Essene teachings mixed the ancient mystery traditions with
Christian teaching, and provided esoteric interpretations of
Scripture that remain with us today. One of the earliest heresies
declared that the resurrection of the saints had already taken
place. Paul wrote to Timothy that this teaching was overthrowing
the faith of some (II Timothy 2:18).
Consider that, if the resurrection had already occured, then
there was no hope that Jesus would return to establish His
Kingdom on earth. It follows, therefore, that that task would
have to fall to the Church. This was essentially the first
postmillenial teaching. Kingdom Now proponents are correct
in stating that postmillenialism is a teaching as old as the
Church. But that doesn't make it a true doctrine.
It was just one heresy among many that found acceptance among
some in the early Church. The age of a teaching is not a criterion
for its truth. Only its conformity to the strict and clear
Word of God validates it. The Roman Catholic Church is an example
of one of the earliest attempts within the Church to establish
the Kingdom of God on earth by human effort. With the Reformation
came not only freedom for many from the bondage of Rome, but
there also arose attempts by some radical sects to establish
themselves as the "only true Church," destined to overcome
sin and usher in the Kingdom.
The history of the Church, though obscure in many areas regarding
its early stages, demonstrates how religious men, not content
with God's rule over them, dissatisfied that they may die before
the Kingdom of God was manifested on earth, chose to believe
the lie that they could become immortal and establish the Kingdom
themselves.
This dissatisfaction continues among today's Dominion proponents.
I suspect that such are really afraid of death. Lacking the
faith necessary to trust God, they wish to work their way to
immortality rather than pass through the valley of the shadow
of death.
Recent history has seen the rise of certain cults out of Christianity
which purport to teach the true "gospel of the Kingdom": Mormonism,
Jehovah's Witnesses, Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church (Moonies),
the late Herbert W. Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God (not
to be confused with The Church of God), and other, lesser-known
groups, are seeking to establish themselves as the only true
Church, destined to reign over earth's governments and people.
A premise upon which some build their case is that there are
two gospels: the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Gospel of
the Kingdom.
They maintain that no one has preached the Gospel of the Kingdom
before they themselves came on the scene to proclaim that their
church (not Jesus) will usher in the Kingdom of God. Paul tells
us there is only one Gospel, and he delineates it in I Corinthians
1:5. The entire chapter is a retelling of the complete Gospel
through the Second Coming of Jesus.
Nowhere does Paul separate the Gospel of Christ from the Gospel
of the Kingdom. Nor does he indicate that the church will institute
the Kingdom of God on earth before Jesus returns. The teachings
with which we deal in this study are, therefore, not new, but
centuries old, most traceable to certain groups that sprang
from the Radical Reformation as opposed to the Reformation
proper; some go further back to primitive Christianity's early
heretical groups, and even to the dawn of man's history. All
these teachings reside in man's prideful refusal to accept
his station in life in humble obedience to his Creator. Yes,
those who remain true to Christ will one day be glorified;
we will be exalted to rule with Him. But if we will be glorified
- if we will be exalted - let God glorify us; let Him exalt
us. We must glorify and exalt only Him. And if we are to boast
in anything, let it not be in our 'position' in Christ, but
in Christ himself.
TODAY'S MOVEMENTS
There are many ways by which men within the Church are attempting
to establish the Kindgom of God on earth. They are not always
in agreement on the methods to attain that end; nor are they
necessarily in agreement as to the philosophical direction
that should be taken to accomplish their purpose.
One area in which most if not all are in agreement is that
the Church must be united in a dominion mindset. Of a certainty,
some branches of the Kingdom Now Movement are more militant
in their stance, and/or more zealous in the propagation of
their particular brand of Dominion Theology. As we outline
the more prominent of these movements we'll see how they work
together, often without conscious collaboration, to establish
the dominion mindset within the Church. Some have even attained
cult status among many Christians. Whether one ascribes to
the radical element or the passive, or rests somewhere between
the two, is not as important as the overall threat to the Church
that these movements present through their aberrant teachings.
Yet in spite of these dangers, I'm convinced that there are
many true and sincere Christians who have become involved in
these movements because they are fed up with the increase of
the sinful actions and perverse attitudes of society. They
long for a world with a more sane and moral social structure,
and are easily led to believe that if Christians can only take
control, God's righteousness will reign on earth. How His righteousness
will be implemented - whether by legislation, coercion, example,
or by a miraculous move of the Holy Spirit upon the hearts
of all men - is not fully agreed upon even among the leaders
in the Kingdom Now movements.
Nevertheless, close scrutiny reveals that all hold certain
elements in common, making it difficult to discern one from
the other. For example, some Manifested Sons of God teachings
are indistinguishable from some of the teachings of Restorationism.
We are more concerned, therefore, with the teachings themselves
and the men who promote them, than we are with the movements,
which are little more than a networking of various individuals
and groups. Yet it is important to this study that we briefly
outline these movements and deal with some of their peculiarities.
Identity
The Identity Movement teaches that the Anglo-Saxon race and
their kin (Scandinavians, Irish, Welsh, Scottish, etc.) are
the "lost tribes" of Israel, who are destined as God's chosen
people to rule the world. The full name of Identity is "Anglo-Israel-Identity
Movement." (75)
It is believed that, as God's chosen people whose king (or
queen) sits on the throne of David (the British throne), and
whose lineage can be traced back through the Jewish patriarchs
to Adam, the Anglo-Saxon race has special favor with God. (76)
"Israel-America" (comprised of Anglo and related descendants
in the United States) (77) has a special anointing. The nation
of Israel that exists today in the Middle East is considered
a pretender to the name of Israel, being allegedly comprised
of certain Asian peoples known as "Kazars." Thus any biblical
references to God's prophesied dealings with Israel in the
last days are believed to have been fulfilled. Daniel's seventieth
week has come and gone, as has anti-Christ, and now we must
look forward to the establishment of Yahweh's Kingdom on earth.
This is to be administered through the Anglo-Saxon Christians
who have come to recognize their unique destiny.
Though Identity is overtly anti-Semitic, its proponents claim
that those who are against them are the true anti-Semites.
But there is a deeper reason for the anti-Israel stance taken
not only by Identity, but by other dominion-oriented movements.
Should national Israel remain established, the belief that
God is going to save a remnant of Jews to be a witness for
Jesus in the last days would be validated.
Hence, the Church will have to be taken out of the world before
Jesus sets His feet upon the earth, and before God's wrath
is poured out upon rebellious mankind (Matthew 24; Mark 13;
Revelation 6 & 7).
If this is true, then the dominion theory falls apart: the
Kingdom of God will not be establ- ished on earth until Jesus
returns with His saints to destroy the anti-Christ's kingdom.
While we who are outside the Kingdom Now Movement understand
that Jews, like all men, are lost until they come by faith
to recognize Jesus as their Messiah, we also recognize that
the nation of Israel does have a purpose in God's plans for
the last days.
Identity's hatred is not limited to Jews, however. Blacks
and other non-whites are looked upon as inferior beings who
may be allowed to enjoy the benefits of the kingdom as long
as they remain subject to their Anglo-Saxon superiors. They
cannot hold positions of significant authority, however, because
the promises to Israel belong only to the "true" Israelites:
the Anglo-Saxon believers.
The snag in Identity's plans for America is the tremendous
influx of non-white immigrants whom they see as parasitical
and detrimental to the establishment of God's white-dominated
world government. The fewer non-whites that are left to enter
the Kingdom, the better, as far as Identity is concerned.
As a side note, there is a black counter to Identity known
as the Yahweh sect. This cult believes that American blacks
are the true descendants of the biblical tribe of Judah, living
in the land of the "white devil." (78)
Maybe the black Yahweh sect and white Identity are both right.
Perhaps they're related and don't know it. In view of Identity's
racial policy, it isn't surprising that radical racist groups
such as the neo-Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan have joined. (79)
For all their error and their attacks against non-whites,
these groups are zealously moralistic (by their convoluted
standards). Although Identity's members consider themselves
Christians their ideology is more akin to salvation by race
than salvation by grace. They welcome Aryan pagans into fellowship
while mounting hate campaigns against Christian Jews, blacks,
and other non-whites.
This isn't to say that all Identity People are overtly racist,
but their philosophy reflects a dangerous mindset that threatens
to exacerbate an already tense situation between races. Their
para-militarism and rebellion against constituted authority
combine to create a volatile situation that could someday erupt
into fullscale racial warfare.
Even older than the Latter Rain Movement, Identity found fertile
ground to propagate its own brand of Kingdom Theology among
the neo-Pentecostals of the mid-twentieth century. Seeing the
opportunity to cloak itself with the respectability of the
Church, Identity has aligned with neo-Pentecostalism, and today
presents the Anglo-Israel-Identity Movement as "just as much
a result of the work of the Holy Spirit as the Charismatic
renewal." (80)
Not all who believe in British-Israelism are part of Identity.
But on the basis of little more than conjecture and hearsay,
British-Israelism has found credibility in the eyes of many
otherwise sensible Christians.
Yet even if true, the very nature of British-Israelism and
the strife it engenders is contrary to the warning of Scripture
that we not be concerned with endless geneologies (I Timothy
1:4; Titus 3:9).
True Israel consists of all who have come to God by faith
in Jesus Christ, whether Jew or Gentile (Romans 2:28-29). To
God no one has any standing except by His grace. In Christ
there is neither Jew nor Greek, rich nor poor, bond nor free,
male nor female, but we are all one in Him (Galatians 3:26-29).
As Jesus said, God is able to turn stones into children of
Abraham (Matthew 4:9), so who is anyone to boast of his ancestry,
especially an ancestry built on little more than fanciful conjecture?
Charismatic Renewal
One must be careful when including the Charismatic Renewal
in the list of Kingdom Now movements, simply because a significant
number of charismatics do not have a definitive understanding
of any such eschatological viewpoint. In fact, many charismatics
see the return of Jesus as imminent. They believe in the "Rapture,"
whether pre-, mid-, or post-Tribulation, and would reject the
notion that the Church must establish a theocratic rule before
Jesus can return.
Yet if there is any distinction between the charismatism of
the mid- to late-twentieth century and the pentecostalism that
preceded it, it's that charismatics tend to lean more heavily
on supernatural manifestations as conclusive evidence that
God is at work. They are also actively seeking unity wihin
the Body of Christ on the basis of those manifestations, many
times at the expense of biblical truth.
The charismatic ideal seems to have developed into this: in
the interest of unity we must overlook differences in doctrineas
long as those with whom we seek unity confess the name of Jesus
and appear to exhibit the gifts of the Spirit - particularly
speaking in tongues.
It's on these points that Roman Catholic priests have been
given platforms to teach on Christian TV, and that Mormons
have been welcomed into fellowship among some charismatics.
(And what could find more compatibility between Mormonism and
Kingdom Now Theology than the idea that men are gods?)
If there is any reason or rhyme to this it is that many charismatics,
having come out of denominationalism, have lacked sufficient
grounding in the Word of God to be able to separate the true
work of the Holy Spirit from that of Satan. Having had little
or no experience with supernatural power in their denominations,
they are sorely lacking in discernment in that area. Still,
many of today's most prominent leaders in charismatism hail
from pentecostal backgrounds. So whether traditional or pentecostal,
when one attaches more importance to experience than to the
rightly-divided Word of Truth, the chance for error is greatly
increased.
Due to its interdenominational thrust, charismatism presents
especially fertile ground for the propagation of Dominion Theology.
The saying, "All roads lead to Rome," isn't limited to the
heyday of the Caesars or to the papacy's former domination
of western culture.
It's through the charismatic movement that Roman Catholicism
has regained much of its credibility among Protestants and
other non-Catholics, capitalizing on that credibility to make
overtures for unity.
Because some Roman Catholics speak in tongues and exhibit
an attitude of acceptance toward non-Catholic charismatics,
it's been stated that Roman Catholicism is changing - that
there is now an opportunity to bring about a unity which has
been lacking since the Reformation.
Besides the issue of tongues, ecumenical charismatics point
to the use of Christian hymns sung at "charismatic masses"
to the accompaniment of modern musical instruments as evidence
that differences are minimal. This naivete is being exploited
by Catholic clergy who, though professing "love" and "unity"
toward non-Catholic Christians, refuse them the elements of
communion on the basis that non-Catholics do not recognize
the pope as their spiritual head.
Though some Roman Catholics, even among the clergy, have undoubtedly
been touched by the Holy Spirit and are coming into a greater
understanding of what it means to have a personal relationship
with God, Roman Catholicism itself has not changed. It is still
as strong a political system as ever, ruled by a hierarchy
whose intent has been from its inception (and remains) to establish
the Kingdom of God on earth under the headship of the pope.
The danger to the purity of the Faith is a genuine reality.
The Charismatic Renewal has opened doors which it may find
difficult to shut when Satan's demonstrations of signs and
wonders increase to the point where spiritual life or death
hang on the basis of one's discernment.
Manifested Sons Of God
One of the most militant movements attempting to establish
the Kingdom of God on earth is the Manifested Sons of God.
This aberration came out of the Latter Rain Movement under
the "apostleship" of John Robert Stevens, a William Branham
disciple whose church in Redondo Beach, California, operated
for a number of years as the headquarters for the movement.
The Manifested Sons of God teachings are perhaps the most
definitive among Kingdom Now doctrines. They have all the elements
of classical dominion theory: immortalization, restoration
of the offices of apostles and prophets, absolute authoritarianism,
attainment of godhood - you name it, the Manifested Sons of
God have it.
The Manifested Sons of God Movement suffered massive dissipation
as the result of many scandals that attended the extreme cult
status to which it had attained. Nevertheless, its devotees,
fervent in their beliefs, covertly continue to spread its doctrines
to other churches.
Because association with the Manifested Sons of God Movement
has proven a source of extreme embarrassment, there are few
today who would admit they are Manifested Sons of God devotees.
Much as a communist would deny his affiliation with the party
because he doesn't carry a card, Manifested Sons of God adherents
deny they are what they are. The test is what they believe
and teach, however, not whether they are "officially" members
of a Manifested Sons of God church.
Central to Manifested Sons of God doctrine is the idea that
sonship comes through higher revelation. The Christian life
is fragmented into stages of maturity: the first step is that
of servant of God; the next step is to become a friend of God;
following this is to become a son of God and, ultimately, gods
ourselves.
Yet the Scriptures demonstrate that we are already all three:
servants (Galatians 3:10), friends (John 15:14-15), and sons
(I John 3:1). Yet there is nothing in Scripture to support
the idea that Paul or any apostle or prophet ever put aside
his servanthood to attain sonship (many epistles begin with
the salutation by the apostle identifying himself as a servant
of God), or that they ever believed they would become gods
themselves.
Apart from John Robert Stevens's disciples, there are many
whose teachings would qualify them as Manifested Sons of God,
the essential ingredient being a peculiar interpretation of
Romans 8:19-23:
"For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for
the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was
made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him
who hath subjected the same hope,Because the creature itself
also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into
the glorious liberty of the children of God.
"For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth
in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves
also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves
groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit,
the redemption of our body."
As a doctrine crucial to the Manifested Sons of God, perfection
(success in living sinlessly) will result in incorruptibility.
This will qualify those who "overcome" as worthy to rule in
the Kingdom of God.
Whether Jesus will return at the beginning, during, or after
the Millennium is open to conjecture. Some who have been touched
by the Manifested Sons of God influence even believe He will
not return physically, but rather that Christ and the Church
are becoming one in nature and essence, and that the Church,
as the incarnation of God, will manifest Christ on earth.
There are even those who believe that they have already attained
perfection and, as a result, will never die. They have attained
a higher degree of spiritual evolution, so to speak.
For all the elaborate surmisings with which these people have
deluded themselves, a careful reading of Romans 8:19 will show
that the "manifestation of the sons of God" alluding to the
redemption of our bodies (verse 23) cannot be properly understood
apart from I Corinthians 15:51-52, which states that we shall
all be changed, "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at
the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall
be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
From these verses it is clear that the "manifestation of the
sons of God" - immortality - will take place at the last trump.
First Thessalonians 4:15 makes it even clearer that this will
not occur before the resurrection of the dead at the coming
of Christ:
"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that
we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord
shall not prevent [go before] them which are asleep.
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:
and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and
so shall we ever be with the Lord."
The teachings of most Kingdom Now groups can be traced to
the Manifested Sons of God. And not only do they come from
the Manifested Sons of God, they must ultimately return to
the "pure" Manifested Sons of God doctrine: man need not die;
by taking hold of secret knowledge he can become like God.
Whether or not the Manifested Sons of God will ever make a
comeback as an organized segment of the Christian community
only the Lord knows. But their influence has been more far-reaching
through undercover proselytizing than it would have had there
been no breakup. And they continue to affect more and more
Christians who are sufficiently naive to think they can become
immortal by acting spiritual.
The grandiose promise of ruling over the world as implementers
of God's righteousness holds special appeal for the prideful,
"god-consciousness" persons who perceive authority as rulership
rather than servanthood.
Restoration
Inherent to all Kingdom Now Theology is the idea of "Restoration."
The premise of Restoration is that since the first century,
the Church has not functioned as God planned, and must therefore
be "restored" to its original purpose of achieving dominion.
This involves the "restoration" of the offices of apostles
and prophets, the "restoration" of the Tabernacle of David
(signified by the restoration of worship and praise), and the
"restoration" of power (signs and wonders).
As a less cultic form of Manifested Sons of God, the Restoration
Movement believes in immortalization through perfection. Thus
Restoration's emphasis on purifying the Church through repentance
and holy living.
Certainly no one can find fault with repentance and holy living.
But at the heart of Restoration is the goal of establishing
the Kingdom of God on earth in the physical absence of Jesus.
Holy living, forgiveness, and unity of the Body of Christ are
essential to the attainment of that purpose.
Restoration preachers appear to be among the humblest of God's
servants, confessing their own sins before the people and presenting
themselves as examples of how Christians should examine their
own hearts. One of the Scriptures most often quoted by Restoration
preachers is Matthew 7:1:"Judge not, that ye be not judged."
In their view, it is especially imperative that the people
not judge teachers, regardless of doctrine. We are to let the
Holy Spirit judge them. I believe many Restoration proponents
are truly humble men who have unwittingly opened themselves
to error.
But so, too, many of those who cry "Touch not God's anointed,"
or "Judge not," do so out of fear that their own doctrines
might come under close scrutiny. They totally ignore the context
of Matthew 7:1, which implies hypocritical judgment, not the
judgment necessary to preserve the purity of the Faith.
We are often exhorted in Scripture to judge, not those outside
the Body of Christ, but those in the Body of Christ (I Corinthians
5:12, 6:5; John 7:24). In Romans 14:10-13, one of the strongest
Scriptures about judging, we find that the context reveals
we are not to judge a brother for what he eats or drinks. But
we are to judge stumbling blocks that others put before the
brethren.
Certainly false doctrine would fall into that category. We
are not to judge men's hearts, but we are to judge actions
and teachings that lead others away from God's truth. Why those
who cry against judgment propagate error, and why, contrary
to their own teachings, they condemn those who judge those
errors is between them and the Lord.
Again, there is nothing wrong in holy living, or in unity
with brothers in Christ. These we should desire. But what Restoration
and Dominion Theology in general seek is not so much unity
of the faith as uniformity of the dictates of self-proclaimed
apostles and prophets.
Reconstruction
More than any other movement, Reconstruction is the intellectual
arm of Dominion Theology.
Offering articulate and intelligent arguments for the Church
to establish theocratic rule by taking dominion over politics,
economics, science, the arts, and every other expression of
human social structure, Reconstruction attracts thinking people
who see God's laws as the only answer to the present chaos.
No right-thinking Christian would deny that this is true.
However, unless Jesus is present to administer the affairs
of that theocracy, human fallibility, no matter how well-intentioned,
would ultimately result in religious totalitarianism.
Now, I'm one who believes that Christians should become involved
in politics and in every other area of civic life in order
to be a light to the world and salt to the earth. If we are
to win souls and influence people for Christ, we cannot cloister
ourselves from the world. But we are deluding ourselves if
we think we can establish any man or religious group of men
as saviors of the world.
Reconstruction's noble ideas of bringing about a transformation
of society through which righteousness will be manifested are
doomed to failure. But that does not mean we cannot use the
information on politics and other fields of human endeavor
that notable Reconstructionists provide.
Their analyses of world affairs from a Scriptureal perspective
are often intelligent and well-documented, and can be of significant
help to Christians who wish to be informed on current events.
(Just beware the leaven.) Nor does it mean we shouldn't continue
to wage spiritual warfare and take authority wherever God grants
it to us.
But a theocracy administered without the benefit of Jesus'
physical presence begs for subjective reasoning based on the
intellectual whims of man's faulty wisdom. Yes, the Holy Spirit
can keep such a theocratic rule in line. But He won't if it
exists apart from the will of God. And based on His Word, no
such theocracy will be established by God without Jesus present.
Should any such theocracy be established, it would not be a
true theocracy, but a totalitarian state of man's own making.
God's Word is clear that before Jesus returns tremendous evil
will encompass the governments of the world (Matthew 24, Mark
14, Revelation 6 & 7). We might not like that prospect, but
God's Word is without error. The question is whether Reconstruction
seeks to impose the will of man in the name of God. This, I
believe, is the direction in which Reconstruction, like all
Dominion movements, is headed.
Positive Confession
If there is one teaching of Dominion Theology that has come
to characterize the Positive Confession Movement of late, it
is the deification of man. While most of the aforementioned
movements employ this theme, Positive Confession is coming
to the forefront.
This is a paradox of sorts because there are many in Positive
Confession who are not consciously linked to Dominion Theology,
looking instead for the imminent return of Jesus, whether pre-,
mid-, or post-Tribulation, and do not see man's efforts as
the answer to anything. They would reject the idea that they
are or can be gods, even though in their acting out the Positive
Confession scenario they are acting out the role of God. This
by their insistence that they can speak into existence things
that aren't as if they are.
But it isn't the conscious adherence to Kingdom Now Theology
that makes Positive Confession so compatible (though there
are many who do adhere consciously to Kingdom Now Theology).
It's the strong dominion mindset and the increasingly prevalent
teachings on the believer's alleged "god-likeness" that will
eventually draw a great bulk of Positive Confession people
into the Kingdom Now camp.
Reconstructionist Gary North, in his book 'Unholy Spirits,'
demonstrates how the reconstructionists have influenced the
charismatics and, most specifically, the Positive Confession
Movement, without their being aware of the historicity of Dominion
Theology:
"Some of the charismatic groups believe in tightly knit
church convenants. The reconstructionists have been the major
theologians of the biblical convenant. Other charismatics
have preached personal financial victory and health through
prayer and by obeying God's 'principles.' The reconstructionists
have been the major defenders of the continuing legitimacy
of God's law in New Testament times. Some of these 'positive
confession' charismatics (also called 'word of faith') have
begun to preach that the optimism which God offers to individuals
also applies to God's other convenanted associations: families,
churches, and civil governments. This represents a major
break with the traditional pessimistic eschatology of fundamentalism,
called dispensationalism. These charismatic leaders have
not self-consciously made the break from premillenialism
to postmillenial optimism, but the term 'dominion' implies
it. Again, the reconstructionists are the only Protestant
theologians to have forthrightly preached postmillenialism
after 1965. (R.J. Rushdoony was the pioneer here.) Thus,
the ideas of the reconstructionists have penetrated into
Protestant circles that for the most part are unaware of
the original source of the theological ideas that are beginning
to transform them." (81)
The concept of dominion fits the Positive Confession mold.
If all that's necessary for the Church to take dominion is
to speak and act "in faith," then the only problem is to get
enough Christians to do so. Positive Confession's belief in
faith as a "force" into which anyone can tap is a tenet of
witchcraft. It places God at the disposal of anyone who can
learn the formulas (or "principles") of "faith," and tries
to force Him to work on their behalf regardless of His will.
Positive confession is not prayer; it's not communication
with God. Rather, it's mental affirmation of what the person
"confessing" wants accomplished with little or no practical
consideration of what God's will might be. While Positive Confession
has no definitive eschatology, it has established certain teachings
that prepare Christians to accept Dominion Theology.
Shepherding-Discipleship
The Shepherding-Discipleship Movement which attained its greatest
impetus during the 1960s and 70s exemplifies the extreme authoritarianism
which would probably be necessary to implement and sustain
any attempted theocracy.
In spite of extreme abuses against personal freedom in Christ,
the thought control that characterized that movement continues
to rear its ugly head among Kingdom Now groups. Former leaders
of that movement have gained new respectability among other
leaders within charismatism.
They have much to offer in the way of instruction on how to
bend the wills of others to their own - a talent vital to any
human attempt to set up the Kingdom of God.
There is no doubt that a great need exists within the Church
for 'scripturally-based' discipleship and authority. Such must
be founded on the concept of authority as servanthood, ministered
in love and humility by those mature in the faith. Shepherding-Discipleship
as the movement it became, however, is nothing less than spiritual
child-abuse. Through intimidation by the instilling of fear
and unfounded guilt, it bludgeons babes in Christ into obedience
to the wills of the "shepherds" in authority. And not only
babes, but many "mature" Christians have fallen prey to this
evil due to the misuse of Scripture to establish "coverings"
over every member.
Ephesians 5:11-14 is used to convince the unwary that in order
to be perfected they must submit to those in authority, regardless
of what that authority requires of them. Thus, abuses are rampant
in Shepherding-Discipleship.
In extreme Shepherding-Discipleship many are compelled to
live a communal lifestyle in total obedience to their "shepherds."
They may not marry, work, minister, buy or sell, or exercise
their own wills in any matter without their shepherd's approval.
They live in strict conformity to religious and temporal duties
within their communal society. Disobedience, and even weariness
common to such a stringent lifestyle, meet with strong disciplinary
action. There have even been reports of physical abuse to keep
the "sheep" in line.
In such a scenario the individual's personal relationship
to God is subordinated to the corporate structure of their
religious society. One is not allowed to hear from God directly,
because God only speaks to them through their shepherd. Should
a person leave the "covering" of his shepherd to pursue his
freedom in Christ, he is threatened wth reprisals from the
hand of God: loss of salvation, sickness, divorce, financial
ruin. He is shunned by the community of which he was a part,
and spoken of as a servant of Satan or in some other derogatory
way.
Even the marriage relationship is subordinate to the relationship
of the shepherd with his disciple. Broken homes and divorces
are not uncommon among those marriages where one spouse develops
a stronger bond to the shepherd than to his or her mate.
All these abuses exceed the parameters of disciple- ship intended
by Jesus, and establish the babes in Christ as disciples of
men rather than disciples of Christ.
The Shepherding-Discipleship mentality is such that self-prideful
humanity finds it appealing. Those disciples who obey are rewarded
by being made shepherds over others. Thus is propagated a brutal
and demeaning society governed by fear and guilt. Though these
are the extreme abuses of Shepherding-Discipleship, the mentality
is the same throughout the movement. Such a mentality is critical
to Kingdom Now Theology.
For how can a significant portion of mankind be made to conform
to the dictates of the apostles and prophets except through
the instilling of fear and guilt? No one wants to miss out
on what appears to be a move of God. Ignorance on the part
of those who are unsure of their relationship to God breeds
indecision which, in turn, results in acquiesence to authority
at the expense of their personal relationship to Christ.
Inherent Fear And Guilt
The use of fear and guilt to bring people into line with the
dictates of self-appointed authority is not the exclusive property
of Shepherding-Discipleship. Were we to analyze each movement
germain to Kingdom Now Theology we would find strong elements
of such fear and guilt at the core of their structures. They
all subordinate the individual's relationship to Christ to
the dictates of the religious leaders.
To illustrate, let's take the other movements with which we've
already dealt and briefly see how fear and guilt play a part.
Identity: Fear and guilt are essential ingredients inany
racist, authoritarian structure - especially where the use
of para-militarism is utilized to foment hatred and threaten
bloodshed.
Manifested Sons of God: Extreme fear and guilt forthosewho
do not move forward to perfection in order that the Kingdom
of God may be established.
Restoration: A strong condemnation of utilizingjudgment
breeds guilt in those who question the teachings of others,
resulting in fear that God's displeasure will be the consequence.
This applies even to the righteous judgment of sin and doctrinal
error.
Reconstruction: Guilt results from not becominginvolved
in attempting to establish the Kingdom of God through politics
and other societal strategies.
Charismatic Renewal: Guilt is instilled in those whobalk
at attempts to meld them into unity with others whose doctrines
are seriously in conflict with Scripture. This results in
a fear of God's displeasure for hampering unity, and fear
of men's reprisals for speaking out against error.
Positive Confession: Fear that if one doesn't act andspeakin
a prescribed manner God will not answer. Guilt that one's
faith is deficient should his prayers not be answered to
his satisfaction.
These are sketchy but accurate assessments of how religion
based on fear and guilt has encroached upon the modern Church.
The individual relationship of the Christian with his Savior
is a sacred trust to be nurtured and strengthened by the teaching
and counsel of the elders in his church.
While the corporate expression of faith is vital to the life
of the Church, that life is only as strong as the strength
of the individual links in the corporate chain. The subordination
of the individual to the corporate body at the expense of individuality
actually weakens the Church in its ability to stand against
deception and, ultimately, even against the overt evil influences
of the world.
Coming Up in PART THREE:
In our next installment we'll detail the various teachings
within Kingdom Now Theology, quote those who hold those teachings,
and name the particular movement or movements with which they
are associated. Hold on to your hats.
NOTES
- G.dePurucker, 'The Esoteric Tradition,' 2 Vols.(Point
Loma, CA: Theosophical University Press, 1935),p.24.
- Ibid.,p.29.
- John H. Dewey, 'Christian Theosophy'(New York: J.H. Dewey
Publishing Company, 1888),p.vi.
- Ibid.,p.ix.
- Ibid.
- Ibid.,p.xi.
- Randy Shankle, Video Tape of Trinity Broadcasting Network
"Praise the Lord" program, c.August, 1986.
- 'The Esoteric Tradition,' pp.1104-1105.
- Ibid.,pp.513-514.
- 'Christian Theosophy,'pp.28-30.
- Ibid.,p.291.
- Ibid.,p.135.
- Ken Copeland, Trinity Broadcasting Network,"Praise the
Lord" program, c.September, 1985.
- 'The Esoteric Tradition,'pp.788-791.
- Los Angeles Times, Part 1,p.31.
- Benjamin Creme, press conference at The Ambassador Hotel,
Los Angeles, CA, May 14, 1982.
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
- Earl Paulk, video tape of church service in which he refers
to the Church as "the ongoing incarnation of God," c.October,
1986.
- Curtis Clair Ewing, Tract: "For the Benefit of Our Pentecostal
and Charismatic Brethren!" (Waynesville, NC: New Beginnings,
undated),p.1.
- 'Time,' October 20,1986,p.74.
- Ibid.
- Orange County 'Register,' Orange County, CA, October 30,
1986,p.A23.
- 'Time.'
- "For the Benefit of Our Pentecostal and Charismatic Brethren,"
p.1.
- Gary North, 'Unholy Spirits,' (Fort Worth: Dominion Press,
1986), pp.374-375
|
Kingdom Theology (Part Three)
CONTENTS:
INTRODUCTION
THE DOMINION CONCEPT
-
Earl Paulk
-
Gary North
-
David Chilton
-
Pat Robertson
FIVE-FOLD MINISTRIES
PURGING THE EARTH
-
Franklin Hall
-
Royal Cronquist
-
Earl Paulk
-
James McKeever
IMMORTALIZATION
-
Earl Paulk
-
David Ebaugh
-
Sam Fife
INTRODUCTION
This segment of our treatise on "Kingdom Now" or "Dominion"
Theology has been the most difficult to complete, both in terms
of assimilating the contents and in presenting them in a manner
that would not be inflammatory or denigrating to any individual's
character.
Just getting from the research to the writing has been extremely
difficult and time-consuming in view of the mounds of documentation
that I've had to read and reread, or listen to on audio and
video tapes over and over in order to avoid the mistake of
judging erroneously or taking statements out of context.
The importance of the subject matter warranted extreme caution.
I hope the reader will understand my struggle to get this written.
And I thank for their patience those who have waited so long
for this third installment.
Looking Back
In our previous installments we traced today's Dominion Theology
back to the neo-Pentecostalism of the mid-twentieth century,
and what became known as "The Latter Rain Movement."
We discussed the influence of occult methodology upon the
two principal innovators of that movement: Franklin Hall and
William Branham. Their influence at that time upon certain
pastors and leaders resulted in widespread acceptance of teachings
centered on the supposed "restoration" of the Church.
Perhaps more than anyone else, it was William Branham's influence
that paved the way for this new theology based on the exaltation
of the believer. This engendered a new hope unknown to Scripture:
that as certain "overcomers" in the Church attained a state
of perfection, or sinlessness, they would become immortal even
while in their present bodies. This, then, became the basis
for the belief that, through the perfecting of the overcomers
by obedience to the latter day "apostles" and "prophets," the
Church will take dominion over the governments and social institutions
of the world. Thus the earth will be prepared for Christ's
return.
These teachings found their greatest expression in theManifested
Sons of Godand related movements. They have lately become more
widespread so that many in the Church today believe it is not
possible for Jesus to return until the Church has made the
earth 'its' footstool.
In addressing these aberrant teachings we also explored other
doctrines peculiar to Kingdom Now Theology, and we saw how
each has its own place in the attempt to establish God's Kingdom
on earth before Jesus' return. We also examined the various
movements that hold many or all of the Kingdom Now doctrines.
In this, Part 3, we'll detail some of the key teachings of
Dominion Theology, and we'll quote some of those who teach
them.
It is beyond the scope of this writing to quote everyone who
holds each doctrine, but we will offer a sampling from a few
teachers whose statements typically reflect these doctrines.
Wherever possible we will identify the movements to which these
teachers belong, although many do not overtly identify themselves
with any particular group.
The reader should keep in mind that Dominion Theology is not
an easily delineated segment within the Church, but rather
a loose networking of autonomous sub-movements that have different
approaches to their attempts at establishing the Kingdom of
God.
The central doctrine of all, however, is that Jesus cannot
or will not return to the earth until the Church has taken
control of at least a significant portion of human government
and social institutions.Whether this incorporates belief in
a worldwide theocracy, or theonomy, or the subjugation of individual
secular states to the authority of the Church depends upon
the particular brand of Dominion Theology one holds.
Whether the Lord will return immediately after the Church
has taken control or after it has been in control for some
time up to and including the end of the Millennium, is likewise
dependent upon individual beliefs.
Again, not all who espouse these teachings overtly identify
themselves with any segment within Dominion Theology. Yet each
of these teachings is peculiar to Dominion Theology and contrary
to sound, biblical exegesis. So, while some dominion teachers
stress some teachings over others, they are all propagating
errors that are leaving the Body of Christ open to great deception.
Whether or not these teachers propagate the full gamut of
Dominion Theology is not as important as the fact that they
have adopted these unscriptural beliefs and are spreading them
throughout the Church by way of the mass communications media
and special pastors' conferences which subtly educate Christian
leaders to the heretical doctrines of Dominion Theology. We
should therefore be cautious of what we hear from these people.
Does It Really Matter?
Some might question if it's really important whether someone
believes that Jesus will not return until the Church has taken
dominion over the earth. This is a legitimate question to which
I must respond that, in terms of salvation and spiritual growth
overall, it isn't important.
I have friends who hold a post-millennialist viewpoint and
I count them as brethren in Christ. I welcome fellowship with
them and we engage in honest (and spirited) dialogue in a spirit
of love. Perhaps the reason we get along so well is that we
are willing to listen to each others' viewpoints and recognize
that there are strong and weak arguments on all sides of the
issues.
A postmillennialist stance doesn't necessarily mean a desire
for world domination. And they are not so closed-minded to
the possibility that the world cannot survive much longer unless
the Lord does intervene with His personal presence. No, the
problem doesn't lie in the basic tenets of the faith.
We will find that many dominion proponents agree with us on
the essential doctrines involving the natures of God, man,
and Satan, as well as salvation through the shed blood of Jesus,
etc.
It does appear, however, that some - particularly in the "Word-faith
Movement" among charismatics - are straying from sound doctrine
in some of these areas of late. The basic problems with dominion
teaching lie more in the realm of Church life and the authoritarian
structure necessary to implement and maintain a dominion mindset.
This is evidenced by cultish tendencies that rob individual
believers of a true understanding of their personal relationship
with the Father. It requires that nothing of a spiritual (and
often material) nature be undertaken without the approval of
one's "covering." There are also dangers in the elitist mentality
that naturally progresses from the idea that somehow, due to
God's grace or one's own sense of righteousness, human life
apart from those numbered among the elite becomes cheap.
An additional problem is that followers of Dominion Theology
are easy prey for political extremists. There are those who
play upon the concerns of all Christians who naturally desire
to see eradicated such evils as abortion, pornography, child
abuse, drug dealing, and crime in general.
The fact that many in the "Christian right" are already united
with Sun Myung Moon and the Mormon Church, is sufficient reason
to suspect that, in the long run, no theocentric form of government
will reflect the true biblical pattern for society.
Morality and righteousness are wonderful traits when manifested
as a result of Spirit-filled living. When manifested as a result
of religious fervor (the "good" portion of the tree of knowledge
of good and evil), these traits become precursors to a totalitarian
state.
We would do well to take a lesson from history and remember
that Hitler made his plea for acceptance of Nazism based upon
a platform of anti-communism, anti-homosexuality, patriotism,
amd morality. Many German Christians rejoiced when he assumed
power. In light of these dangers we must identify the sources
of Domnion Theology so that the Body of Christ may at least
be cautious of involvement.
Naturally, if someone desires to believe in Dominion Theology
that is their business. When they teach it publicly, it becomes
everybody's business and they should be willing to have their
teachings exposed to testing by the Word of God.
Now, in order to do justice to this very complex subject,
it is necessary that we name names. Some will find this distasteful
and will perceive it as a personal attack against men and women
of God with whom I disagree. On the contrary, it is my position
that we must be careful not to condemn those who are caught
up in this modern heresy, but we should lift them in prayer,
recognizing that God's grace is extended to all.
Some dominion proponents may be deceivers engaged in a power
struggle for personal gain. Some may also have designs on leading
the Church into areas of compromise with political extremists
on the right. But I believe some are brethren in Christ who
sincerely perceive that they have a biblical mandate to bring
the world systems under the control of the Church. It would
be a mistake to look upon all such people as our enemies just
because they hold a different eschatological viewpoint.
Granted, the dominion viewpoint is dangerous in many of its
implications. But let's not think there is nothing we can learn
from them. As with all spiritual matters the truth lies somewhere
between two extremes. There are problems with the dispensationalist
point of view that the Church has ignored for too long, thus
creating an atmosphere of credibility for Kingom Now Theology.
If, in our zeal to "expose" those in error, we obtain a certain
amount of glee in discovering their feet of clay, we'd best
take heed to ourselves and question whether our motive is really
based upon love. We may rightly quote Jude 3 as justification
for earnestly contending for the faith, but if we forget I
Corinthians 13 we are no more free from error than those whose
errors we expose.
THE DOMINION CONCEPT
The concept of "dominion" as it applies to Kingdom Now Theology
holds that Jesus cannot or will not return until the Church
has taken control of the earth's governments and social institutions.
The following are among the more visible proponents of that
belief:
EARL PAULK (Pastor of Chapel Hill Harvester Church in Atlanta,
Georgia):
In Paulk's own publication he is touted as a "prophet" of
today's Kingdom Message:
"If there is a prophet today who speaks the truth God wants
His Church to hear, it is Earl Paulk. He is the leading voice
today in preaching the message of the Kingdom of God...a
man driven compulsively to show this generation that God
is waiting for us to do something that will bring Christ
back to earth." (1 )
Paulk, himself has stated:
"Christ in us must take dominion over the earth...The next
move of God cannot occur until Christ in us takes dominion."
(2 )"The next move of God will unite His Son in marriage.
The marriage supper of the Lamb, the completion of establishing
the Kingdom, the eternal rule of God, will finally take place."
(3 )
We see that Paulk believes the Marriage Supper of the Lamb
cannot take place until after the Church ("Christ in us") has
taken dominion. But does Paulk mean that Jesus will already
have returned and been with us in order for us to have taken
dominion? No he doesn't. Otherwise he would not have used the
term "Christ in us."
In its proper biblical context that is a valid term. But in
this case its use implies that Jesus will take dominion through
the Church while He remains in Heaven. The office of Christ
cannot be separated from the person of Jesus. He is the 'only'
Christ of God. It is Jesus, when He returns, who must take
dominion and establish the visible Kigdom of God on earth,
not "Christ in us."
But does Paulk understand this, or are his statements nothing
more than poor choices of words? Let's see what else he has
to say:
"Christ was one person, limited to ministry in only one
place at a time. In order to minister as an omnipresent Spirit,
Jesus relinquished His fleshly dimension with its limitations
of time and place. He entered a higher realm of restoration
and love by becoming an indwelling Spirit." (4 )
Either Paulk's Christology has taken an aberrant turn, or
he's had a mental lapse.
Now, I've often heard people, in one breath, address their
prayers to the Father, and, without breaking continuity, address
Jesus as if He and the Father are the same person - a "Jesus
only" mental glitch. I can understand that mistake.
However, when someone 'publishes' a statement that equates
Jesus with the Holy Spirit, I would think that takes more mental
affirmation. It isn't that Christ 'was' one person, He 'is'
one person - Jesus.
When the Scripture says, "Christ in you, the hope of glory"
(Colossians 1:27), it in essence affirms that we are united
with Him by the Spirit of God. He is "in us," and we are "in
Him." It does not mean that He relinquished His fleshly dimension
to become "an indwelling Spirit." He is, and always will be,
"flesh and bones" (Luke 24:39). He is in a specific location,
Heaven, seated at the right hand of the Father. (Yes, I'm sure
He gets up and moves about.) He is in His resurrected 'body,'
limited to place if not to time.
The Holy Spirit - the Third Person of the Trinity - is omnipresent.
It is 'He,' not the person of Jesus, who is the indwelling
Spirit of all who truly believe in Jesus. This is more relevant
to our study than may first appear. For without a proper Christology
one cannot have a proper eschatology.
In this case, Paulk sees Jesus as "an indwelling Spirit."
On this basis he claims that the Church is the "ongoing incarnation
of Christ." In that case, the church is now Christ, and all
Scriptures pertaining to Christ's ruling on earth are really
referring to the Church.
We'll deal with this in more detail in another chapter. For
now, let's consider Paulk's views on dominion.
"When the apostles asked Jesus if He would now restore the
political kingdom, He said, 'It's not for you to know the
times or the seasons. But I will tell you what will take
place in your life, and when you have received what I'll
tell you about, you will be able to bring in the Kingdom
of God.' "How will the Kingdom of God be ushered in? In Acts
1:8, Jesus said, 'But ye shall receive power, after that
the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses
unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria,
and unto the uttermost part of the Earth.'" (5 )
Notice how Paulk puts words in Jesus' mouth by having Him
say, "you will be able to bring in the [political] Kingdom
of God." Nowhere in Scripture is such a statement found. Evidently
the first-century Church did not have enough "faith" or maturity
to accomplish this feat, so it is up to today's Christians
to do the job.
"What are we waiting for? Why is Jesus waiting in heaven
at the right hand of the Father? Who is He waiting for? He
is waiting for you and me to become mature, for the Bride
of Christ to become mature, so that He can come again. Did
you know that God has done everything He can do? If anything
else is going to be done, we're going to do it." (6 ) "In
Matthew 24:14, Jesus clearly says that He cannot return for
His Bride until she has demonstrated the Gospel of the Kingdom
to all the nations of the earth. Until the church can demonstrate
the alternative Kingdom, Jesus cannot come again. God no
longer has the authority to send Christ back to earth, because
He will not circumvent His eternal plan. While no man knows
the day or the hour, I can say with the authority of God
that CHRIST CANNOT AND WILL NOT COME BACK UNTIL WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED
THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. That
task demands a mature church, which will have become an alternative
to the kingdoms of the world. THAT IS WHAT THE CHURCH IS
ALL ABOUT AND JESUS CHRIST'S RETURN IS UP TO US."7 [Emphasis
Paulk's.]
If we read Paulk's statement closely, we'll see that he believes
God no longer has the authority to send Christ back to earth,
but that "Christ's return is up to us."
So, God has taken control out of His own hands and placed
it into ours. Now, it's true that "He will not circumvent His
eternal plan."
But He has revealed in His Word the manner in which He will
accomplish His eternal plan. Contrary to Paulk, God's eternal
plan is not that the Church will take dominion on its own,
but merely that the earth will be redeemed.
Many of the details of that redemption have not been revealed,
but in order for the dominion concept to apply, one must spiritualize
what he believes the Word says rather than take it literally.
What it does say is that God's plan of redemption includes
Jesus' return to establish the visible Kingdom before the creation
of the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 20:2-21:5).
Paulk has misread God's eternal plan by spiritualizing Matthew
24:14, which simply states, "And this gospel of the kingdom
shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations;
and then shall the end come."
It's one thing to preach the gospel of the kingdom; it's quite
another thing to institute - or demonstrate - the kingdom.
There is only one Gospel: the Gospel of salvation through faith
in Jesus Christ. Within that Gospel is the "gospel" (good news)
that Christ is coming again to establish His visible earthly
reign. That is the "gospel of the kingdom" we are commanded
to preach, not this counterfeit Dominion Theology which exalts
man above what God intended.
GARY NORTH (Reconstructionist author and publisher):
"The eschatology of dominion has once again revived, as
it has not since the period of the American Revolution....This
is not the end of the world. The Church is not about to be
raptured. The humanists, occultists, and New Agers are about
to see their world ruptured. This process could be delayed
by God's external judgment on the West, but it cannot be
delayed until Christ's return in final judgment. It will
happen long before Christ returns in glory." (8)
North is among the most visible Reconstructionists and is,
in his words, "one of the two primary publishers of dominion
theology" (9) (Dominion Press, Tyler Texas). It is North's
belief that David Chilton's 'Paradise Restored' is the most
definitive, virtually irrefutable, book on dominion eschatology".
"Dominion theology is the wave of the future. David Chilton
has written the two primary eschatological manifestos of
dominion theology. Whoever comes after him will inevitably
be labeled a 'me, too' postmillennialist. Chilton has established
the terms of the debate over eschatology for the next hundred
years, at the very least." (10)
This is quite a claim. Obviously North is convinced that no
one will be able to challenge Chilton's dominion eschatology
in our lifetime. But the question is, if it can be challenged
at all - one hundred years, or one thousand years from now
- why must we accept it today? Had North said that Chilton
has established the terms of the debate once and for all, I'd
be impressed. Better for his position had he not qualified
it. As much as some don't like to admit it, there is a debate
going on.
The Reconstructionists comprise the intellectual arm of Dominion
Theology, being more grounded in the study of theology than
are their charismatic counterparts. As such, the Reconstructionists'
arguments are the most viable. And since one of the major publishers
of Dominion Theology has established that David Chilton is
'the' voice for dominion eschatology, this writing would be
incomplete without noting Chilton's position on dominion.
DAVID CHILTON (Reconstructionist author):
Quoting Matthew 5:13-16, Chilton says:
"This is nothing less than a mandate for the complete social
transformation of the entire world. And what Jesus condemns
is 'ineffectiveness', failing to change the society around
us. We are commanded to live in such a way that someday all
men will glorify God - that they will become converted to
the Christian faith. The point is that if the Church is obedient,
the people and nations of the world will be discipled to
Christianity. We all know that everyone 'should' be a Christian,
that the laws and institutions of all nations 'should' follow
the Bible's blueprints. But the Bible tells us more than
that. The Bible tells us that these commands are the shape
of the future. We 'must' change the world; and what is more,
we 'shall' change the world." (11)
Matthew 5:13-16 is hardly "a mandate for the complete social
transformation of the entire world." It is a mandate, yes,
but it is a mandate that requires no more than that all Christians
exhibit in their lives the reality of their faith in Christ.
As a result of our witness many will be saved and brought
into the Kingdom of God. But there is no mention of the social
transformation of any nation let alone the entire world. Scripture
tells us that, when Christ returns the nations will be arrayed
against Him, not waiting to welcome Him (Revelation 16:14;
19:19).
Whether anti-Christ is a man or a system (as proposed by dominion
teachers), the fact remains that, when Jesus returns, the world
will be under the rule of anti-Christ, not under the rule of
the Church.
What Chilton has done in spiritualizing Matthew 5:13-16 is
hardly academically honest. In waxing eloquent for his eschatological
bias he often makes a point of accusing those with whom he
disagrees of making Scripture say what they want it to say.
Has he not done the same?
In quoting Matthew 28:19-20, Chilton goes against another
of his own rules in assuming that nations, not just people,
are to be discipled:
"The Great Commission to the Church does not end with simply
'witnessing' to the nations. Christ's command is that we
'disciple' the nations - 'all' the nations. The kingdoms
of the world are to become the kingdoms of Christ. They are
to be discipled, made obedient to the faith. This means that
every aspect of life throughout the world is to be brought
under the lordship of Jesus Christ: families, individuals,
business, science, agriculture, the arts, law, education,
economics, phychology, philosophy, and every other sphere
of human activity. Nothing may be left out. Christ 'must
reign, until He has put all enemies under His feet' (I Cor.15:25).
We have been given the responsibility of converting the entire
world." (12)
One point Chilton makes over and again in his book is that
literalism is secondary to consistent biblical imagery. In
this instance he goes against his own rule. To "disciple all
the nations," or, "make disciples of [out of] all the nations,"
does not mean that every nation as a whole is one day going
to sit at the feet of the Reconstructionist gurus and learn
the ways of Truth.
The Great Commission requires us to go into all the nations
and disciple "whosoever will" be saved. Using Chilton's exegetical
rule, if this "mandate" encompasses all the nations as saved
entities, it must encompass all believers as missionaries to
foreign lands. After all, is the Lord not speaking to each
of us as individuals? If Chilton's reasoning is good for Matthew
28:19-20, it must be good for Matthew 24:9: "...ye shall be
hated of all nations for my name's sake."
Therefore, everyone in every nation will hate all Christians.
Ergo, no one will ever be converted. At least Chilton does
see the need for the Church to clean its own house before attempting
so grand a task as discipling the entire world.
"...Our goal is world dominion under Christ's lordship,
a 'world takeover' if you will; but our strategy begins with
the reformation and reconstruction of the Church. From that
will flow social and political reconstruction, indeed a flowering
of Christian civilization (Hag.1:1-15; 2:6-10, 18-23." (13)
Chilton correctly points out that postmillennialism has been
a dominant theme in Church history. But it is not Scripture
he uses to support that eschatological viewpoint as much as
he uses the writings of the early Church "fathers" (Augustine,
Athanasius, etc.), and some recent sources such as C.H. Spurgeon.
But what Chilton fails to recognize is that those early Church
"fathers" were products of a religious system already sliding
into apostasy.
It was the Roman Catholic Church that first attempted to take
dominion over the governments of the earth. It succeeded to
some degree, in that Western civilization came under its control.
But in order to establish and maintain control the Roman Church
had to acquiesce to pagan cultures. The result was that, although
the Gospel (as much as was allowed under Romanism) did bring
a measure of enlightenment, the Church itself suffered corruption
and became paganized. This affected not only its liturgy but
its doctrinal postion in some crucial areas.
Yet even to achieve the modicum of success it enjoyed in establishing
its compromising rule, the Roman Church had to resort to bloodshed
not only through the fomenting of wars, but through pogroms
against dissenters such as took place in the Inquisitions.
Failing to learn from history, Chilton (an alleged historian)
has also failed to understand that there are varying points
of view even among premillennialists. He lumps all under the
mantel of "dispensationalism," and accuses of being a defeatist
anyone who doesn't hold the postmillennialist viewpoint:
"The eschatological issue centers on one fundamental point:
Will the gospel succeed in its mission, or not? Regardless
of their numerous individual differences, the various defeatist
schools of thought are solidly lined up together on one major
point: 'The gospel of Jesus Christ will fail.' Christianity
will not be successful in its worldwide task. Christ's Great
Commission to disciple the nations will not be carried out."(14)
"...A good deal of modern Rapturism should be recognized
for what it really is: a dangerous error that is teaching
God's people to expect defeat instead of victory."(15)
I take umbrage at Chilton's lack of intellectual integrity.
It is patently ridiculous to accuse any Christian of believing
that "the gospel of Jesus Christ will fail."
Every premillennialist I know expects victory, including Hal
Lindsey (whom Chilton takes special delight in denigrating).
I don't agree with Lindsey on several points, but no one can
accuse him - or myself for that matter - of having a defeatist
attitude. Were that true, Hal would not be writing books with
evangelistic themes, and Media Spotlight would not exist.
The trouble with Reconstructionists (indeed the entire dominion
mindset) is that they don't do their homework. Otherwise they
wouldn't lump all premillenialists into one grab-bag of escapism.
Another problem is that they see as defeat anything less than
domination of the world system before Jesus returns. This is
not spiritual-mindedness, but carnal-mindedness, even when
based on the assumption that the transformation of society
will result from the changing of men's hearts through the Gospel.
We are not called to "win the world for Christ." We are called
to be witnesses for Him. It is the Holy Spirit that draws men
to God as we share the Word about Christ (Romans 10:17). To
think that the Church or the Holy Spirit will have failed bacause
the whole world isn't converted would be the same as to think
we've failed because every person who hears the Gospel doesn't
fall on his or her face in repentance.
What's the difference if not everyone at a given moment is
converted, or anyone throughout history is not converted.
Somewhere, according to Dominion Theology, the Holy Spirit
has failed, or the Church has failed. "But," some would say,
"we don't expect every person to be converted; we just want
to make sure their lives are conformed to Christian principles."
Well, if not every person is converted, we will have less than
total dominion, even if we can control their activities. The
Holy Spirit will have failed just as He has "failed" to convert
everyone who has ever lived.
And as long as there are unconverted souls, the privilege
to run society will be challenged. Ultimately there will be
confrontation and the need to apply force to maintain control.
Bloodshed and corruption (yes, even among "Christians") will
be an ongoing result of religious domination.
Even if we were to succeed in converting every soul and ruling
society under God's spiritual direction, within two generations
at the most, the rebellious nature of those to be born will
manifest itself.
Without the visible, tangible presence of Jesus and His 'resurrected'
saints administering the Kingdom of God on earth, the world
will be at the mercy of arrogant, religious autocrats whose
own peculiar understanding of "God's will" will keep us under
bondage.
PAT ROBERTSON (Founder and President of CBN:
Pat Robertson is careful about revealing his belief in Dominion
Theology. Robertson believes in a literal rapture of the saints,
but not until there has been a great revival that will result
in a godly society run by the Church. In his keynote address
to the Dallas '84 convention for Maranatha Campus Ministries,
Robertson made reference to the late John Lennon's song, 'Imagine,'
in which Lennon imagined a world of peace wherein there was
no religion to engender strife. Paraphrasing Lennon, Robertson
said:
"Imagine a world when no more little babies are slaughtered
in the womb.
"Imagine a world where there are no more homes torn apart
because of alcoholism.
"Imagine a world where there are no more young men and young
women spaced out and glassy-eyed on account of drugs.
"Imagine a world when there are no more crime lords selling
prostitutes, selling pornography, selling gambling devices,
selling drugs, and stealing from legitimate business.
"Imagine a world where nobody hates anybody any longer, where
there is no more fighting and no more killing.
"Imagine a world where you can walk down the streets of the
city - or any city - safely at any hour of the day or night
wihout fear of your life.
"Imagine a world where there are no more dead bolts, and
chains, and locks, and bars over windows.
"Imagine a world where there are no more prisons - where
there's no more violence.
"Imagine a world where men and women [are] married in holiness
and godliness, and women were not being used as cheap, exploitive
[sic], devices to satisfy the lust of men. And imagine a
world where there was no more perversion, and homosexuality,
and lesbianism, but men and women functioned as God made
them, where they brought up their children together in love,
where there was no more divorce, and where little children
knew who their mothers and fathers were.
"Imagine a world where the Word of God was honored and people
said, 'This is the answer to life's problems.' Hallelujah!
"And Imagine a world where those who brought that book, and
those who had the message of Jesus, were the honored representatives
of society where men and women said, 'Welcome into our community;
you have come with the Word of God.'
"Now you say, 'That sounds like the Millennium.' Well maybe
some of it does, but some of it we're going to see." (16)
What Robertson described is a utopian society based on peace
and love. He evidently fails to understand that no such society
can exist as long as men live in corruptible flesh. By saying
that "some of it we're going to see," he infers that some,
if not all, of these scenarios are possible in present society.
Yet there is not a single one that is possible given mankind's
sin nature - unless ninety-eight percent of the human population
were wiped out, leaving only conscientious Christians and some
moral unbelievers, or there was instituted a police state of
greater magnitude than that of the Soviet Union.
Even during the Millennium, with Jesus reigning in person,
there will be those who rebel against His laws. That is why
He must rule them with a rod of iron (Revelation 2:27). There
cannot be, nor will there be, anything like a perfect society
until only the saints of God in their resurrected bodies occupy
the earth. That will take place after the Millennium and during
eternity in the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21).
If Scripture does not promise any such society before then,
what hope is there that, under the fallible rule of supposed
"overcomers," even a substantial portion of sinful humanity
will live righteously, voluntarily or otherwise?
Robertson's error lies in his applying to the Church certain
Old Testament Scriptures that promise the restoration of Israel
out of captivity. He also believes that there is a raising
of human consciousness toward righteousness in Christ.
That belief, based upon a Gallup Poll commissioned by CBN,
reveals a lamentable naivete for one some believe astute enough
to hold the highest office in the land:
"George Gallup discovered that something happened in America
about four or five years ago. Because we said, 'We want you
to go back and survey people and find out the difference
of their attitudes today versus 1979 about religious matters.'
"George Gallup went to the campuses of America. He surveyed
with extremely accurate testing methods the attitudes of
college students on the campuses of America. Fifty percent
of those on the college campuses said, 'We are more religious
today than we were five years ago.'
"Of the general population, sixty percent of the people
in America said, 'We are more willing to accept religious
solutions to life than we were five years ago; we are more
religiously inclined than we were five years ago; we are
looking for answers from God more than we were five years
ago; we are turning away from science, from humanism, from
materialism, and we're saying, 'God, you've got to have an
answer'."
"Now that's what America told Gallup and he in turn told
us. Now what does that mean? Well what it means is we are
on the verge of one of the greatest spiritual explosions
in the United States that this world has ever known. That's
what it means. "It means that millions and millions of people
are open to Jesus Christ." (17)
All Gallup's poll really means is that people in the United
States are becoming more religious. What does religiosity have
to do with Jesus? In fact, the religious entities enjoying
the largest surge of interest are those commonly associated
with the New Age Movement. These include the entire spectrum
of occultism from witchcraft to the human potential programs
of EST, TM, Eckankar, and Summit, to the eastern religions
of Buddhism and Hinduism, and even most schools of modern psychology.
While a later poll by Gallup found that there definitely is
an inrease in the number of people in the United States who
profess to be "born again," their answers to questions about
their lifestyles revealed that their values are just as worldly
as the rest of society.(18)
This is borne out by Pat Robertson's own attitude about how
his CBN Bible, 'The Book,' was advertised when it first came
out in 1984:
"At the end of September we're going to start perhaps the
biggest advertising blitz for this particular product that's
ever been put behind any book in history. And we've even
got guys like Bubba Smith to stand there and say, 'I read
'The Book'!'...And Donna Summers, and a couple of the stars
from 'Dallas,' and one of them from 'Dynasty,' and all these
are going to say, 'We read 'The Book'!' "And reading the
Bible, in America, may get to be one of the most 'in,' important
things people do."(19)
It seems not a little incongruous that people who represent
some of the most ungodly media productions are used by Robertson
to sell Bibles in the interest of converting society from ungodliness.
Robertson also believes that, in this present age, the wealth
of the world will be turned over to God's people, along with
the responsibility of ruling society:
"Somebody has got to sew some tents together, and sew some
nets together, and get the literature together, and all the
things that are needed to handle 400 million to a billion
souls that are going to be saved in the next few years! I
mean, it's a staggering task and God's going to give it to
us! Someone has got to train the future leaders of this world,
because God is going to put us in positions of responsibility.
"Let me ask you this question: Assume that the Lord took
away from the governments of this city, this state, other
states, the nation, all the ungodly and the sinners. Assume
they were just taken away. What would happen then if He said
to His people, 'Go in; it's yours'? "I don't know how to
run a sewage system - do you? How do you run these things?
What do you do with a tax policy? What's the foreign policy
of the United States, or of a state? How do you handle the
various taxes and imports and duties? How do you run the
various social welfare and social service operations? What
about the welfare of great numbers of people? What about
the major educational programs? "And you could go on, and
on, and on, and on. God's people have got to be ready for
what He's going to do. It's one thing to sit here and say,
'Hallelujah! There's going to be a revival!' But what are
you going to do when it comes?
"...There has to be preparation; there has got to be training.
There has to be a teacher corps ready to train young converts
in the Lord. If you want to concentrate on something while
your're here, concentrate on the plan you're going to have
for the next five years. What's going to happen when all
these things that we talk about take place? We will see them
happen!" (20)
You mean there are going to be taxes in the utopian society?
And social welfare? Obviously Pat wasn't talking about the
Millennium. So the question arises as to how God is going to
remove the "ungodly and the sinners" to the point where we
will have a perfect society before Jesus returns.
It should be of concern that anyone would believe that a godly
society could be established among unregenerate mankind to
the degree that there would not even be a need for prisons.
Will human nature change? Not likely. Evil is not only manifested
outwardly through crime and immorality; it is primarily manifested
inwardly through the thoughts and intents of the heart (Jeremiah
17:9).
Robertson believes that revival will change the hearts of
mankind to the degree that godliness will prevail upon the
whole earth. Scripture tells us that toward the end of this
age the love of many will grow cold because sin will abound
(Matthew 24:12).
While we know that "the wealth of the sinner is laid up for
the just" (Proverbs 13:22), it is not a given that we will
take over the world before Jesus returns. Though we may point
to isolated testimonies of inheritance from sinners, we will
not inherit the earth in its totality until after we stand
before Jesus to receive our rewards for deeds done in the flesh
(Romans 2:6; II Corinthians 5:10).
Yet Robertson believes that Jesus will not return until after
the Church has taken control of society and judgment has come
upon the ungodly. In the meantime, we are to prepare ourselves
to take dominion:
"...Now what do you do? What do I do? What do all of us
do? We get ready to take dominion! We get ready to take dominion!
It is all going to be ours - I'm talking about all of it.
Everything that you would say is a good part of the secular
world. Every means of communication, the news, the television,
the radio, the cinema, the arts, the government, the finance
- it's going to be ours! God's going to give it to His people.
We should prepare to reign and rule with Jesus Christ." (21)
At this point Pat called for preparation to begin with prayer,
after which he led the Maranatha Campus Ministries Convention
in a prayer for revival as a prelude to taking dominion.
Obviously Pat wasn't talking about the new heaven and the
new earth when he said everything that is "a good part of the
secular world" would be ours. He was speaking of taking dominion
before Christ returns.
This is borne out by his reference to the "good" part of the
secular world. There will be no secular world in the new earth.
Nor, for all practical purposes, will there be a secular world
during the Millennium, at least in terms of government, since
the government will be administered under the direct, visible
kingship of Jesus.
Why, if the Church is going to have dominion, Jesus would
catch us up to meet Him in the air, is unclear. Are we just
going to go up for a moment and come right back down? That
would fit the scenario of some dominion teachings. If not,
what will happen to society while we're absent during our celestial
vacation? Would it be turned back over to some remnant of the
ungodly that remains?
The inconsistencies in Robertson's eschatology are even recognized
by Gary North, one of the leading advocates of Dominion Theology.
Referring to the effect of David Chilton's 'Paradise Restored'
upon television ministers, North says of Pat Robertson,
"Pat Robertson was so concerned that his evangelist peers
might think that he had switched to Chilton's version of
postmillennialism that he wrote a personal letter to many
of them (including one to me) in the summer of 1986 that
stated that he had not adopted Chilton's theology. He mentioned
'Paradise Restored' specifically. Then he outlined his own
views, in which, as a premillennialist, he somehow completely
neglected to mention the Great Tribulation. That a doctrine
so crucial to premillennial dispensationalism as the Great
Tribulation could disappear from his theology indicates the
effect that Chilton (or someone) has had on his thinking....
"...The change in Pat Robertson's thinking (and the thinking
of many premillennialists) had begun several years before
'Paradise Restored' appeared. Rev. Jimmy Swaggart begins
a highly critical article against 'kingdom now' theology,
including Pat Robertson's version, with a lengthy excerpt
from a speech given by Rev. Robertson on Robert Tilton's
Satellite Network Seminar on December 9-12, 1984. This was
several months before I handed Rev. Robertson a copy of 'Paradise
Restored,' and about a month before the first edition of
the book was published. He had already made the switch away
from traditional dispensationalism."22 "Pat Robertson has
presented a message so completely postmillennial in its tone
that it is difficult to understand why he continues to insist
that he is still a premillennialist. I have never seen a
public pronouncement of any postmillennialist that is more
detailed in its description of a coming era of external blessings.
I know of none who thinks it is coming in the next few years,
but Pat Robertson did, in late 1984." (23)
I have no doubt that those who believe the scenario set forth
by Robertson are sincere in their desire to see God's righteousness
prevail on earth. But danger lies in expecting more than God's
Word promises. Jesus said that in this world we would have
tribulation; yet we are to be of good cheer because He has
already overcome the world (John 16:33). Eventually, when God
ordains it, the earth will be ours as joint heirs with Christ.
Until then we should not try to take for ourselves what He
has not ordained for us to take. God allows evil to exist in
the world, and it will continue to exist, if for no other reason
than to test the hearts of men. He is the final arbiter of
when evil will be done away with once and for all.
FIVE-FOLD MINSTRY
Those whose teachings center on or are substantially concerned
with the five-fold ministries (Ephesians 2:20; 4:11) as the
foundation for our faith are convinced that there can be no
unity in the Body of Christ until all Christians, or at least
a vast majority of us, submit to the authority of the present-day
"apostles" and "prophets" without questioning.
There is to be no judging of doctrine, or of personal lifestyles,
or of fund-raising methods. There is to be no attempt to understand
the Word of God apart from the teachings of the apostles and
prophets.
The "five-fold Ministries" teaching as it is interpreted within
Dominion Theology is specifically a Manifested Sons of God
teaching. It states that the apostles, prophets, evangelists,
pastors, and teachers (not Jesus) comprise the foundation of
the Church. It is affirmed that Jesus is the foundation of
creation, but not of the Church.
Before we examine the Dominion Theology position on this subject,
we should put Ephesians 2:20 within the context it was written
in order to rightly divide the Word of Truth.
"Wherefore remember, that ye being time past Gentiles in
the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is
called Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
"That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from
the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants
of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
"But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are
made nigh by the blood of Christ.
"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken
down the middle wall of partition between us;
"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of
commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself
of twain one new man, so making peace;
"And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by
the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
"And came and preached peace to you which were afar off,
and to them that were nigh.
"For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the
Father.
"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners but
fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of
God;
"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
"In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto
an holy temple in the Lord:
"In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of
God through The Spirit" (Ephesians 2:11-22).
Hearing Ephesians 2:20 taken out of context, one might fall
prey to the teaching that the "five-fold ministries" as enumerated
in Ephesians 4:11 comprise the foundation of the Church.
But let's examine exactly what Paul was saying in Ephesians
2:11-22.
In the first place, we see that it is not the so-called "five-fold"
ministries to which Paul assigned the status of "foundation,"
but rather the offices of apostle and prophet only. Because
these offices are mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 in connection
with those of evangelists, and pastor-teachers (the latter
being one, not two distinct offices), doesn't necessarily mean
that the evangelists and pastor-teachers are numbered in the
foundation.
In the second place, if we put Ephesians 2:2 in the context
of the thought expressed in verses 11 through 22, we see that
Paul was specifically addressing the Gentiles at Ephesus regarding
their being joined in one body with the Jews through whom came
the revelation of God's Truth. Having been grafted into the
true faith (Christianity) which is the continuation of God's
revelation through the prophets who preceded Christ, not something
distinct from it, the Gentiles were built upon the foundation
of the apostles (New Testament) and prophets (Old Testament)
combined.
In other words, the teachings of the apostles and prophets,
the Spirit and the Law, comprise the foundation through which
the believing Gentiles (the Uncircumcision) are joined with
the believing Jews (the Circumcision). As the Cornerstone of
that foundation of teachings, Jesus is the element that holds
all truth together, and to whom we look for all guidance through
the Holy Spirit.
To take a single verse out of Scripture and build a doctrine
as serious in its consequences as that of the "five-fold ministries"
of Dominion Theology is contrary to even the most basic principles
of biblical exegesis.
This error is compounded by the suggestion that today's so-called
apostles and prophets are the foundation for the Church. If
anything, the Lord's apostles would be the ones spoken of since
it was through them that He gave His revelation contained in
the written Scriptures known as the New Testament.
By equating today's teachers with the early apostles, we open
ourselves up to their new revelations, many of which are not
based on God's Word, but are totally subjective. Certainly
such subjective teachings can be recognized by the fact that
they are learned from certain people and propagated apart from
independent study of the Bible.
The "five-fold ministries" doctrine is one such that is parroted
by dominion teachers who have not learned it from Scripture,
but from others who have learned it from others, ad infinitum.
We have been able to trace it back to Franklin Hall, but that's
not to say that it doesn't go back to an earlier teacher.
We will look now at a few who propagate this particular doctrine
to see how it fits into the overall scheme of Dominion Theology.
EARL PAULK:
"That's what we're doing as the five-fold ministry - the
apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers -
is equipping the saints, maturing the Body of Christ. But
see, even that frightens us because we say we've got pastors,
we've got evangelists - we talk about apostles and prophets,
we get afraid. And yet they've got to come back with authority
and power.
"Ephesians 2:20 says the Church is built not on Jesus (a
lot of folk don't know that), but it's built on the apostles
and prophets, and Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone.
He's the cornerstone, but the apostles and the ministry of
the prophets is [sic] the foundation.
"What God is doing today is raising up prophets. I don't
have any doubt in my mind that Oral Roberts is a prophet
to the Church to bring us back to the healings. "Many of
them - Branham and many others - I believe that the Hagins
and the Copelands, we have varying doctrines here, but I
believe they brought us back to understanding the power in
God's Word. They were apostles toward that. I believe there
are other apostles and prophets God is raising up." (24)
If we apply any formula for consistency to Paulk's words,
we would have to assume that Jesus has taken a minor role in
the governing of His Church. The following statement, taken
with the understanding that Paulk considers not Jesus, but
the apostles and prophets, to be the foundation of the Church,
removes Jesus from the position of the Rock upon which the
Church is built (Matthew 16:18), and assigns that position
to the five-fold ministries.
"THE FOURTH ISSUE AT STAKE IS THE TRUE UNITY WITHIN THE
BODY OF CHRIST. To build upon anything less than the true
Rock, the only lasting foundation, would be only to see the
entire building fall. Paul made it clear that the Cornerstone
had been 'rejected by the builders.' The only solution was
to bring forth new builders - whom Paul defined as apostles,
prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers - to build up
a people fitly joined together whose head is Jesus Christ
Himself. We are further given the warnings as to how we build
on this foundation. To talk of unity without truth is to
build with wood, hay and stubble (I Corithians 3)." (25)
[Emphasis Paulk's.]
Some logical, deductive reasoning would assume that Paulk
is calling the five-fold ministries the Rock of our salvation:
Jesus is not the foundation, He is the Cornerstone; the five-fold
ministries comprise the foundation; the Rock is the only lasting
foundation; ergo, the Rock is the five-fold ministries. In
all fairness to Paulk, I don't believe he has fully thought
out the implications of his statements. They reflect a carelessness
in the bandying about of terms that cause confusion.
During a 'Praise The Lord' program on TBN in July, 1987, Paulk
was callenged by Hal Lindsey regarding some serious errors
in his teachings. Paulk denied believing what was written in
his own books. He suggested that Hal wasn't able to perceive
the true meanings of those writings because people who do not
have the Spirit of God (i.e., non-charismatics) cannot understand
the things that can only be spiritually discerned.
In other words, Paulk placed his own writings on a level equal
to Scripture, while limiting spiritual understanding of his
esoteric teachings to charismatics. Such statements hinder
greatly our attempts to bring unity to the Body of Christ.
ROYAL CRONQUIST
(Former apostle of John Robert Steven's Living Word Church,
headquarters for the Manifested Sons of God):
Cronquist, though having left the covering of John Robert
Stevens, continues to maintain most of the Manifested Sons
of God doctrines. His interpretation of Ephesians 2:20 is classical
manifested Sons of God:
"...Who is the foundation? The apostles and prophets. Is
Jesus Christ the foundation? No. He is the foundation of
all things, but literally, to the church, He is the cornerstone,
and upon Him come the foundation of the apostles and prophets
to put the foundation of all doctrine, of all revelation,
of all experience, of all truth, of all anointing, of all
authority, of all power, not only upon, but under all the
people of God." (26)
Cronquist does say that upon Jesus "come the foundation of
the apostles and prophets." Certainly we can find no fault
with that order. As is the case with dominion teachers, however,
he assigns to the latter-day apostles and prophets powers beyond
those assigned by God's Word. He believes that the apostles
and prophets are not only the foundation of our very lives,
he also believes that they create God's will for our lives:
"...The whole purpose of the foundational ministry, and
especially the foundational ministry, is to equip you in
a very private, particular way to inform, to undergird, to
strengthen, to encourage, to qualify, to create the will
of God for your life. Can you imagine how the body of Christ
is still in the baby infancy stage, because they have really
denied the foundation that is to their lives, and if they
deny the foundation of their life, there is no way that the
foundation can be built within them." (27)
Cronquist errs in suggesting that the five-fold ministry is
"the foundation of their life." Those in whom God has placed
responsibility to build up the saints and bring them to maturity
are to be honored and obeyed insofar as they teach and practice
truth. But Jesus is the only foundation of not only our spiritual
lives, but it is to Him that we owe our very being and substance
(Acts 17:28).
And how can the apostles and prophets "create the will of
God" for our lives? Only through total submission of our minds
and wills to theirs will we be made to believe that they are
ordained by God to direct our every move.
While submission to authority in the Body of Christ is of
great importance, it is within the local body that that submission
must take place, and only to the degree that that authority
operates in conformity to God's Word.
It is only in the local body that anyone ministering the prophetic
gifts or administering authority can know enough about the
believer to guide him. But the dominion people want us to believe
that there are apostles and prophets at large who are coming
on the scene with new revelations to which every believer must
adhere without question.
There is no accountability of these apostles and prophets
to the Church, but only to one another. This very subjective
authority must be taken on faith by the individual at the risk
of his being deceived.
"...And so we are going to have to be willing to let our
mind be changed by the Holy Spirit in the way that we think
and the way we under- stand. He did promise that 'albeit
when He, the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into
all truth.' In 2,000 years no one has ever been guided into
all truth. Why? The only thing I can think of - and I don't
know everything yet because I haven't yet become glorified,
but I believe that God is now beginning to remove the seals
from the secrets that have been hid from the foundation of
the world. I believe that He is now going to begin to reveal
unto the holy apostles and prophets the foundation of the
kingdom that will unfold the truths of God to His people
so that they can literally become the very divine substance
of Jesus Christ in their spirit, soul, heart, mind, and body."
(28)
According to Cronquist the Holy Spirit did not guide the
writers of the Scriptures into all the truth necessary for
the maturing of the saints. Evidently God planned that, for
2,000 years, the Church would walk in dark- ness, unable to
grasp the truths necessary to conform them into the image of
Christ. But what do the Scriptures say?
"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn
among many brethren.
"Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called,
and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified,
them he also glorified.
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us,
who can be against us?
"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for
us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all
things?
"Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It
is God that justifieth" (Romans 8:29-33). "But evil men and
seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being
deceived.
"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned
and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou has learned
them;
"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures,
which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith
which is in Christ Jesus.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness:
"That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished
unto all good works" (II Timothy 3:13-17).
It is not the apostles and prophets who are going to perfect
us (bring us to maturity). The Word of God, working on our
hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit, will bring us
to maturity as we submit ourselves in love to God.
All any apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher can
legiti mately do is point us to the Word of God and encourage
us to follow its directives with pure motives. There are no
new revelations by which we must be saved or grow to maturity.
Now, however, we are asked to believe that men who cannot
rightly divide the Word of Truth where its meaning is obvious
even to the babe in Christ, are going to give us "new truths"
by which they will direct our paths toward perfection.
What Cronquist means by saying we will become "the very divine
substance of Jesus Christ" is not clear. But this statement
fits the theory of the deification of man held by many dominion
proponents. How will we achieve this? Cronquist says,
"...You therefore shall be complete, even as your heavenly
Father is complete. How do you suppose that is going to be
done? It's going to be done by holy apostles, prophets, evangelists,
pastors, and teachers who become the experience themselves,
who equip you with the experience that they have, who give
you the rules, the laws, the ways, and the how-tos to literally
cooperate with God's Holy Spirit so that it again can be
performed." (29)
The rules and laws by which we exercise our faith are already
established in God's Word (Revelation 22:18-19). Those who
would today burden the Church with new, man-made rules and
laws according to their own experiences are legalists of whom
Paul warned:
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain
deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of
the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all
the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in
him, which is the head of all principality and power" (Colossians
2:8-10).
How are we to recognize who the apostles and prophets are?
Cronquist says our hearts will know:
"The knowledge of a person as a prophet or apostle of God
must be a heart revelation....I could come to you and tell
you that I am an apostle, but that doesn't mean a thing.
Someone else could tell you they are an apostle; that doesn't
mean a thing, but I will only be an apostle to you when you
have heard from God's Holy Spirit that I am an apostle of
God, and if you believe I am a false prophet, to you I would
be a false prophet whether I am or not. As a man thinks in
his heart, so is he." (30)
Roman Catholics believe in their hearts that the Pope is an
apostle of God; Mormons believe their apostles are from God,
as do Jehovah's Witnesses, the Moonies, and every cult that
lays claim to apostles. Our hearts are deceitful above all
things (Jeremiah 17:9). We will believe what we want to believe
unless we have an objective standard of truth to which we are
willing to submit ourselves. The only standard given to us
by God is His Word. And the tests for prophets are found in
Deuteronomy 13:1-5 and 18:22, and in Galatians 1:8.
Who Are The Apostles And Prophets?
Since the late 70s and early 80s there have been increasing
but still vague references within the dominion camp to certain
men as "apostles" or "prophets."
Yet there has been no definitive list from any authoritative
source within that camp as to who currently comprise that august
body.
Nevertheless, there are certain leaders who are increasingly
supportive of each other, and referring to one another as "prophet,"
or "apostle."
Although some are more visible than others, these same leaders
are showing up on the same platforms in varying numbers and
orders. They are on a constant circuit, conducting "leadership
conferences" for pastors from all over the world.
At these leadership conferences the pastors and teachers in
attendance are instructed in the latest methods on how to make
their churches grow, how to take dominion over their cities,
how to institute proper worship and praise in order to move
God, how to work miracles, signs, and wonders, and other things
related to church ministry and administration.
The most comprehensive organization conducting these leadership
conferences is Charismatic Bible Ministries, founded in 1986
by Oral Roberts.
This organization is a coalition of the most visible leaders
in the Charismatic Movement, a large segment of whom fall into
the dominion camp. Although not all the members of Charismatic
Bible Ministries have overtly stated belief in Dominion Theology,
there is certainly no hiding from them the teachings of those
who have.
The officers and trustees of Charismatic Bible Ministries
at the time of this writing are:
Oral Roberts* - Chairman
Ken Copeland* - Secretary
Jack Hayford* - Vice Chmn.
Billy Joe Daugherty* - Treas.
Paul Yonggi Cho - International Honorary Chairman
Charles Green - Executive Committee Member
Marilyn Hickey* - Executive Committee Member
Karl Strader* - Executive Committee Member Trustees:
Jim Ammerman
Freda Lindsay*
Tommy Barnett*
Francis MacNutt
Charles Blair
Ralph Mahoney
Jamie Buckingham*
John Meares*
James Buskirk*
Mike Murdock*
Happy Caldwell*
Charles Nieman
Charles Capps
John Osteen*
Morris Cerullo
Paul E. Paino
Ed Cole
Earl Paulk*
Paul Crouch
Carlton Pearson
Gerald Derstine
Fred Price
Richard Dortch
Tommy Reid*
Ed Dufresne
Evelyn Roberts*
Quentin Edwards
Richard Roberts*
Mike Evans
Roy Sapp
Kenny Foreman
Jerry Savelle*
Gerald Fry
Charles Simpson
John Gimenez*
Carlton Spencer
Kenneth Hagin, Sr.*
Stephen Strang*
Ronald Halvorson
Lester Sumrall*
Buddy Harrison*
Hilton Sutton*
James N. Haynes
Vinson Synan*
Wallace Hickey
Robert Tilton*
Roy Hicks
Larry Tomczak
Benny Hinn
Casey Treat
Charles Hunter
Ron Tucker
Frances Hunter
Tommy Tyson
Dick Iverson
Jeff Walker
Vicki Jamison-Peterson
Paul Walker
G.L. Johnson
Bob Weiner
James E.'Johnny' Johnson
Austin Wilkerson
Larry Lea
Ralph Wilkerson
*Founding Trustees (31)
I cannot stress enough the fact that not everyone involved
with CBM is an advocate of Dominion Theology. If the reader
wants to know where any of these people stand on the subject
I advise that he write and ask them directly.
Of great significance, however, is the fact that fully half
of the founding trustees of Charismatic Bible Ministries openly
profess belief in major aspects of Dominion Theology, as does
approximately the same percentage of the overall members.
In addition, some among them espouse other question- able
doctrines such as the "Jesus died spiritually" heresy. Specifically,
Kenneth Hagin and Kenneth Copeland teach that Jesus died spiritually,
and had to be born again in hell by subjecting Himself to torment
by Satan and his demons. Copeland has gone so far as to say
that we are not saved spiritually by Jesus' death on the cross;
otherwise any righteous man could have died for our sins.(32)
This teaching will be covered in an upcoming Special Report.
I pray that those who espouse it are not consciously aware
that this teaching effectively denies the blood of Christ as
payment for their sins. Several members of CBM have been approached
with information regarding the heretical beliefs of many in
this organization, but none have acknowledged the need to take
a stand for sound doctrine. "Unity at the cost of truth" is
the mindset of many of today's "leaders" in the Church.
PURGING THE EARTH
A sure sign of religious authoritarianism is a zealousness
to rid the world of opposition to its peculiar tenets. In the
minds of many dominion teachers the authority of the apostles
and prophets must not be questioned.
The Kingdom of God (as they understand it) must be free from
dissension. Therefore it will be necessary that those who challenge
their authority be removed. There are differences of opinion
among dominion teachers as to how those dissenters will be
removed, but there are essentially five ways in which that
may occur:
- God will supernaturally strike dead those who oppose His
apostles and prophets;
- God will send, or allow satanic forces to send, plagues
upon those opposers;
- The Church (or certain "overcomers") will pronounce God's
judgment upon their enemies, thus moving God to destroy them;
- The Church will, out of "necessity," use physical force
by which it will judge, sentence, and execute penalties (including
death) upon the opposers;
- All or any combination of the above may take place. According
to some dominion teachers, in order to effect this purging
of the earth the overcomers must attain immortalization,
thus becoming immune to any physical resistance to their
program. Becoming immortal, and thus impervious to death
and injury, will result from having attained spiritual perfection
through obedience to the apostles and prophets. We will deal
with the teachings on immortalization in the next chapter.
The subject matter at hand is the purging by the overcomers
of not only the earth, but of the Church as well.
FRANKLIN HALL
(Pioneer of the Latter Rain Movement): In his book, 'Subdue
the Earth, Rule the Nations,' Hall quotes Revelation 12:5,
and states that the man child of the sun-clothed woman represents
the overcomers of the Church: (32)
"The man-child company will have dominion of this planet
first. Those who possess a house may decide who shall occupy
it. In the same manner, as a group from the church take up
their authority and rulership of the planet that God gave
them, they will likewise be able to choose whom they will,
to occupy it." (33)
"The man-child group of the sons of God will be required
'to rule all nations with a rod of iron' (Revelation 12:5).
To those not accepting this invitation into the Holy Ghost
Light of fire, there is but one alternative: the opposite
to light is DARKNESS. The Light of Life will be to them a
blinding and consuming fire of destruction!" (34)
Hall's fanciful interpretation of Revelation 12:5 is not consistent
with Scripture. While the symbolism of the man child is open
to interpretation (whether he is Jesus, Israel, the Church,
certain overcomers, etc.), the fact remains that the man child
is caught up to Heaven while the woman who gave him birth is
driven into the wilderness.
If the man child is in Heaven while the earth is being purged,
then he cannot rule with a rod of iron until after he returns
to the earth. He cannot exercise dominion prior to his return
which, if he is the Church, will be with Jesus at His return
(Jude 14-15).
ROYAL CRONQUIST:
"...The greatest decision that the church is going to have
to make in these days ahead (and especially the ministries
in the body of Christ) is to have to face that there are
apostles of God, and that they must submit to that foundation
as though it was Jesus Christ, and whoever will not submit
to that authority shall be destroyed from among the people."35
"...Jesus cannot, will not return, until there literally
exists this kind of church, body of Christ. This Church (remnant)
is to be...executing deliverance and judgment, in all authority
and power, to all the people of the earth, first to and in
the Church, then to all the nations of the earth."36
"...The kingdom of God is now ready to appear, now ready
to be literally established in all its fullness within the
earth. The first-fruits people will be counted worthy to
escape the things that are to come to pass upon the earth.
They will have absolute immunity to destruction and death
in any form. Even vengeance and wrath which is about to come,
will not touch them, but they themselves will be the execution
of this vengeance and wrath."37
All I can say is, if some religious attempt to execute God's
vengeance and wrath is to take place, those doing the executing
had better be under the absolute control of the Holy Spirit.
The problem with Cronquist's scenario is that the premise
upon which it is built (immortalization prior to Jesus' return)
is unscriptural. I shudder at the possibilities.
EARL PAULK:
In his book, 'Thrust in the Sickle and Reap,' Paulk quotes
Matthew 13:40-43:
"Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire,
so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will
send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom
all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,
and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be
wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine
forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has
ears to hear, let him hear!"
Applying his own interpretation that the angels who will
accomplish this task are ministers of the Church, rather than
the angels of heaven, Paulk calls upon God's people to rise
up and judge the kingdoms of this world:
"The book of Revelation makes it clear that John wrote his
letters to the angels of the Church. Who are the angels that
God will use? they are ministers called by God to boldly
proclaim the Word of God. They will sound the trumpet. One
should never separate prophecy of the New Testament from
prophetic Old Testament scriptures. The trumpet sounded in
the Old Testament as a warning. Today the trumpet sounds
from the angels of the Church, God's ministers who cry out,
'It is harvest time!' Witnesses to God's power will shine
as never before. God will gather righteous people together
to raise up a witness of Jesus Christ and judge the kingdoms
of this world." (38)
Paulk goes on immediately to say that the first sign of the
time of harvest is an answer to Jesus' prayer in John 17, "that
they all may be one just as We are one."
Unity aside, the chilling aspect of Paulk's reasoning in these
passages of his book is the realization that he is looking
forward to the day when the "angels" (i.e., ministers of the
Church) will gather out of God's kingdom "all things that offend,
and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into
the furnace of fire." I hope I'm misreading his intentions.
JAMES McKEEVER
(Editor and publisher of 'Endtimes News Digest,' author,
lecturer, and financial consultant):
In an article entitled, "When Is The Rapture?" McKeever states
that the Great Tribulation will be a time when God's people
will supernaturally destroy their enemies:
"God is raising up an end-time army of overcomers (bondslaves).
God never raised up an army that ran. So, we need to take
a look at why God is raising up that end-time army.
"Most people do not realize why there is going to be the
great tribulation at the end of this age. Let me see if I
can help you understand. If Christ came back tomorrow morning
to rule and reign on the earth for a thousand years of peace
and joy, what is the first thing He would have to do? He
would have to get rid of all government buildings and employees,
because He is going to be the government. He would have to
get rid of all armies, weapons and factories that build weapons,
because there is not going to be any war while He is here
on the earth during the millennium. He would have to get
rid of the people who do gross evil on the earth, such as
dope pushers and murderers....
"This would be a messy way to begin a thousand-year reign
of peace and joy. Thus, the period of the great tribulation
is when God gets rid of all governments, all armies, all
grossly evil people, and geologically plows up the earth,
so that it is a renewed, refreshed earth, ready for Jesus
Christ to come back to rule and reign for a thousand years....
"When the children of Israel went into the promised land,
God could have caused all the evil inhabitants of the land
to disappear. However, that is not God's pattern. He uses
His people as an army when He wants to get rid of evil people....
"People ask me if I am afraid to go through the tribulation
or if thinking about it makes me gloomy or sad. The exact
opposite is true. I am excited about going through the tribulation,
as a bondslave of God. I am excited about getting His seal
on my forehead and being protected against Satan, because
we know that the victory is ours in Jesus Christ." (39)
Before I comment on Jim's statements, let me make it clear
that I have a personal liking for him. I have in the past recommended
his newsletters and have quoted him in 'Media Spotlight.' He
has done me the same honor. And for the most part I agree with
his teachings.
They contain many useful facts and spiritual truths. Now,
it isn't just a matter of two brothers holding differing opinions
on some minor point. It is crucial to the Church's position
during these end times that it not be misled in its understanding
of the events which are soon to transpire.
In Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Revelation 6 and 7, we see separate
accounts of the same events relating to the Great Tribulation.
I agree with Jim that the Church will go through the Great
Tribulation, but as the first several verses in Revelation
7 point out, when God's wrath is poured out upon the earth,
we will already have been taken up with Jesus into heaven.
The error of most pre- and post-tribulationists is the equating
of God's wrath (the trumpet and vial judgments) with the Great
Tribulation period (the opening of the first six seals). The
Great Tribulation will be a time of chaos upon the earth during
which the Church will be persecuted, and many believers will
be slain for the witness of their testimony. It will be a time
of judgment not upon the earth as much as upon the Church,
which will result in the Church being purified from its spots
and wrinkles (Ephesians 5:27).
The Church, as an organism in which currently reside both
sheep and wolves, will be purged through persecution. Only
those who are truly God's people will stand, and will be driven
out of necessity toward maturity in faith and in deed.
The only servants of God who will be sealed in their foreheads
are the 144,000 members of the twelve tribes of Israel described
in Revelation 7:1. These will be restored when they see their
Messiah (on whom they have not believed until that time) return
in the clouds to receive His Church.
It is important to distinguish, however, that these 144,000
Jews are not necessarily part of national Israel. They will
be a remnant of natural Israel whom God will bless as a witness
of His power to preserve His integrity among those people,
and to honor His covenant with Abraham.
The only other seal to be placed on anyone's forehead will
be that ordered by the false prophet in conjunction with his
command for all men to worship the image of the Beast (Revelation
13).
It isn't my intention to be dogmatic on the subject in this
writing, but merely to point out that the dominion teachers'
interpretation of Revelation is a delusion which will leave
those who believe it unprepared for the troubles that lie ahead.
If, because we believe this error, we are looking forward to
receiving any mark in our foreheads, we may well be set up
for the strong delusion which, if it were possible, would deceive
the very elect (Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22).
IMMORTALIZATION
If the dominion overcomers are to be God's instruments of
destruction upon not only unbelievers, but believers who do
not submit to the authority of the apostles and prophets as
well, they will need immunity from reprisals.
It is an essential ingredient of Dominion Theology, therefore,
that these overcomers, through their perfect (sinless) living,
attain immortalization and become impervious to injury and
death. That's why it's such a tragedy for someone in the movement
to die - especially someone in a position of dominion leadership.
If God does not count such an one worthy to escape death,
then those close to him must make excuses such as equating
his death with some vicarious suffering for the Body of Christ.
Of the fringe movements in dominion teaching, Positive Confession
is most susceptible to this theory of immortalization. The
believe-it-and-receive-it mentality of Positive Confession
must inevitably result in the belief that if one can muster
enough "faith" to live in "divine health" (which has never
been sufficiently defined), he can also believe for immortality.
Of course, it is believed that this final state of physical
perfection will come about only through the attainment of spiritual
perfection. The reason is that death is the final enemy to
be conquered (I Corinthians 15:26).
EARL PAULK:
"THE FIFTH FUNCTION OF THE CHURCH IS TO CONQUER THE LAST
ENEMY, WHICH IS DEATH, AND TO BRING REDEMPTION TO THE BODY
OF CHRIST. When the Apostle Paul says that redemption has
not yet taken place, he speaks, I believe, of the redemption
of the individual body; yet in my spirit I perceive that
he speaks also of the redemption of the Body of Christ. [Boldface
Paulk's throughout.]
"Jesus Christ Himself overcame death individually, and WHEN
THE CHURCH BECOMES SO CONFORMED TO HIS IMAGE THAT THOSE WHO
DIE DO NOT PASS THROUGH THE GRAVE, BUT BECOME INSTEAD GLORIOUSLY
CHANGED IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, IT WILL BE THAT CHURCH
WHICH WILL BRING THE KINGDOM OF GOD TO PASS ON THE EARTH.
[Paulk then quotes Romans 8:18,22-23, and Ephesians 1:13-14.]
"We have received the earnest of the EXPECTATION through
the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but we must move on to the
POSSESSION, which is overcoming the last enemy, death. Sometimes
the interpretation has been made that Jesus Christ conquered
death, but if that were so, why would Paul's epistle to the
Corinthians, written at least ninety years later, say that
the last enemy that SHALL be destroyed is death (I Corinthians
15:26)? JESUS CHRIST CONQUERED DEATH INDIVIDUALLY, BUT IT
IS LEFT TO THE CHURCH TO CONQUER DEATH ON A CORPORATE BASIS..
"Is it possible that there will be a people who so possess
the authority of Almighty God, as Elijah did, that they,
as a group, will say to death, hell, and the spirit of Satan,
'We will NOT die. We will stay here and be changed, and we
will call Jesus Christ to return to this earth as King of
Kings and Lords of Lords'? Yes, that is what I believe the
church must do! But it will not be easy, because GOD IS LOOKING
FOR THE MANIFESTATION OF A MATURE CHURCH WHO CAN SPEAK WITH
THE AUTHORITY JESUS HAD WHEN HE STILLED THE WINDS AND CALLED
LAZARUS FORTH FROM THE GRAVE. "An exciting prospect? Oh,
yes! We are God's people, called to do the will of God in
the world today and to see the King of Glory return to establish
His Kingdom on earth! Jesus Christ had the authority to say
'No' to death on earth, and He is waiting for us to come
to that same authority He had so we can say, 'The last enemy
- death - has been conquered!' [Paulk then quotes I Corinthians
15:20-26.] "Jesus Christ, as the firstfruit of the Kingdom,
began the work of conquering death on an individual basis,
but we, as His church will be the ones to complete the task.
Jesus said (Matthew 28:18), 'All power is given unto me in
heaven and in earth,' and the church today has that same
power. Death will not be conquered by Jesus returning to
the earth. It will be conquered when the church stands up
boldly and says, 'We have dominion over the earth!' How else
will God be able to show Satan a people for whom death holds
no fear, over whom death no longer has any power? When God
can do that, Satan's hold on us will be broken forever!"
(40)
History shows that true believers don't need to be immortal
to be free from the fear of death. It is 'faith,' not immortality,
that removes fear. I suspect that those who so earnestly desire
immortality that they will twist Scripture to fit that desire
are the ones who really fear death.
So great is that fear that they have deluded themselves into
believing they can overcome death through their own works of
righteousness. This is why so many demonstrate such fervor
toward God. It isn't so much that they fear Him as much as
it is that they fear death and the consequences if they haven't
proven themselves worthy of eternal life.
At the root of much dominion thinking is a works-oriented
salvation rather than a faith-oriented salvation. When immortality
does come it will be after the dead in Christ rise (I Thessalonians
4:13-17; I Corinthians 15:50-55). This immortality unto eternal
life, the hope of our salvation, will occur suddenly and will
take effect throughout the Body of Christ, not just among a
select few "overcomers." It won't occur because we happen to
come to the realization that we can speak it into existence
because of our attainment to holiness through outward works
of righteousness. Such a notion is ridiculous and is contradicted
by Scripture.
Likewise the very Scriptures Paulk quotes contradict his belief
that the Church will destroy death. For verse 26 of I Corinthians
15 says, "For he [Jesus] must reign, till he hath put all enemies
under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."Jesus,
when He returns (not the Church prior to His return), is the
one who will put all enemies under His feet. He must reign
on earth until that is accomplished.
The context of these verses shows clearly that death will
be destroyed 'after' the Millennium, when Christ "shall have
delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father" (I Corinthians
15:24).
DAVID EBAUGH
(Leading apostle of the Identity Movement):
In a communication to his followers, Ebaugh reprinted a proclamation
by a Rev. Dean Gross entitled "Melchisedec Order Decree," and
offered it free on request to those who would write to his
organization, Word by Word Association. This decree, affirming
belief that the end-time overcomers will be a part of the Melchisedec
Order of priests, states in part:
"In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, through his blood,
fire, water, and Spirit, I receive glory, honor, and immortality
by imparting his now-blood, liquid streams of living light
into my blood. My whole spirit by faith, soul by works, body
by hope is now being preserved blameless until the coming
of the Lord. When I decree a thing, it is established unto
me; and your light shines upon my ways. I decree that the
full manifestation of the Kingdom of God from within me now
come forth. I decree that every atom within my earthly, physical
body bring forth health, light, life, and immortality. My
light is now coming forth as the morning, and my health is
springing forth speedily, and my righteousness goes before
me. Your glory is my rear guard. For I am made in the image
of Elohim, after Elohim's likeness. I have dominion over
the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over
the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping
thing that creepeth upon the earth. I am helping to bring
about the revelation and restoration of all things which
you have spoken by the mouth of all your holy prophets since
the world began." (41)
SAM FIFE
(A leading apostle of the Manifested Sons of God Movement):
In his book, 'One Corporate Man,' Fife states:
"Therefore let all men know, that in this dispensation of
the fulness of times, God is going to fulfill His purpose
to bring together into one, all things that are in Christ,
both in the earth and in heaven, and make of all the twos,
one new many-membered man, who lives after the order of Melchisedec.
When He has finished preparing this many-membered man, He
is going to purge the earth of every other man by His Judgment
Day, and there will come in a new age, and a new earth, with
a new man living in a new order, where every member is so
dead to self that he lives unto the rest of the Body, and
that order shall perpetuate eternal life." (42)
The more we study the Kingdom Now Movement, it becomes increasingly
evident that it's proponents have adopted a pattern of taking
Scriptures relating to entirely different time periods and
applying them to the present age. Much of what is said is true
if placed in proper context relative to the time period for
which it is meant. For that reason, they can quote Scripture
seemingly with authority to prove their hypotheses.
What the immortalization theory fails to explain is how, if
death is the 'final' enemy to be conquered, there will still
be other enemies left to be conquered by those who will have
conquered death? Of all the bizarre elements that make up the
total picture of Dominion Theology, immortalization caters
most to spiritual pride.
When one comes to the place where he believes he can say he
has no sin he will move into an amoral mindset whereby he can
justify any action in the name of God. Earl Paulk gives a clue
to such reasoning by suggesting that whether one sins is dependent
upon his motive.
"...The accusers said to Jesus, 'We have Moses as our father,
and Moses said, Thou shalt not commit adultery.' Jesus replied,
'I believe that too, but let me carry you to a heavenly dimension.
If you don't lust in your heart you cannot commit adultery.'
They said, 'The law says, Thou shalt not kill,' and Jesus
replied, 'I believe that too, but let me speak to your heart.
If you don't hate first, there is no possibility of murder.'
How wise Jesus was!" (43)
This is a perfect example of twisting the meaning of Jesus's
words. While motive does play a role in sin, there are objective
standards instituted by God and revealed in His Word which
cannot be abrogated simply on the basis of one's personal conviction.
If, as so carelessly stated by Paulk, "If you don't hate first,
there is no possibility of murder," then out of a motive of
purifying society, and with a "heavy heart," dominion overcomers
may put dissenters to death at will. Hit men for the mobs don't
necessarily hate their victims - for the most part they're
indifferent to them. Using Paulk's rationale, they are innocent
no matter how many people they kill.
This is a chilling statement that, without clarification,
could possibly cause some neurotics to get "trigger-happy."
There is a strange paradox revealed among some who, on the
one hand denounce the atrocities of Hitler, yet on the other
hand passionately look forward to the day they can "speak the
word" or pull the trigger that will destroy the "sinners" (and
unyielding Christians) they perceive as God's (i.e., their)
enemies.
Yet if the utopian society of the dominion teachers is to
be realized before Jesus returns, a holocaust worse than any
history has ever witnessed must take place. The "holy wars"
of early "Christianity" may yet be revived.
NOTES
- "Harvest Time" (Atlanta: Chapel Hill Harvester Church,
December, 1984), p.15.
- Earl Paulk, 'Held In The Heavens Until...' (Atlanta: K
Dimension Publishers, 1985), p.234.
- Ibid., p.235.
- Earl Paulk, 'Thrust in the Sickle and Reap' (Atlanta:
K Dimension Publishers, 1986), p.73.
- Earl Paulk, 'Form With Power' (Atlanta: K Dimension Publishers,
undated), p.5.
- Ibid., p.4.
- Earl Paulk, 'The Great Escape Theory' (Atlanta: K Dimension
Publishers, undated), p.14.
- Gary North, 'Unholy Spirits' (Fort Worth: Dominion Press,
1986), p.394.
- Gary North, 'Paradise Restored' (Fort Worth: Dominion
Press, 1985), p.339.
- Ibid., p.331.
- David Chilton, 'Paradise Restored,' p.12.
- Ibid., p.213.
- Ibid., p.214.
- Ibid., p.10.
- Ibid., p.53.
- Pat Robertson, speech at Dallas '84, Maranatha Campus
Ministries convention.
- Ibid.
- Orange County 'Register.'
- Pat Robertson, speech at Dallas '84.
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
- Gary North, 'Paradise Restored,' p.328.
- Ibid., p.329.
- Earl Paulk, guest appearance on "Praise The Lord," Trinity
Broadcasting Network, March 4, 1986.
- Earl Paulk, 'The Betrothed' (Atlanta: K Dimension Publishers,
1985), p.7.
- Royal Cronquist, "Your Daily Cross Is Giving Up The Throne
Of Self" (Spokane, WA: Love Ministries), p.3.
- Ibid., p.4.
- Ibid., p.7.
- Ibid., p.6.
- Ibid., p.4.
- Ad for Charismatic Bible Ministries, "Charisma," May,
1987, p.53.
- Franklin Hall, "Subdue The Earth, Rule The Nations" (Phoenix,
AZ: Franklin Hall Ministries, 1966), p.10.
- Ibid., p.11.
- Ibid., p.57.
- Royal Cronquist, p.4.
- Royal Cronquist, "Why the Feast of Tabernacles?", (Spokane,
WA: Love Ministries Newsletter, August, 1984).
- Ibid.
- Earl Paulk, "Thrust in the Sickle and Reap" (Atlanta:
K Dimension Publishers, 1986), p.103,104.
- James McKeever, "When Is The Rapture?", 'End-Times News
Digest,' Special Introductory Issue (Medford, OR: Omega Ministries,
1985), p.8.
- Earl Paulk, "The Proper Function of the Church" (Atlanta:
K Dimension Publishers, undated), p.13.
- Dean Gross, "Melchisedec Order Decree" (Chattanooga, TN:
Word by Word Association).
- Sam Fife, "One Corporate Man" (Miami: The Body of Christ),
p.22.
- Earl Paulk, "Harvest Time," July, 1984.
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