Kingdom / Dominion Theologies

Orthodoxy or Heresy
 When I first became a believer in Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit came upon me in a very vivid way saying:
                           “All revelation takes you deeper into the Word of God, never outside of the Word of God ”

I understood “the Word of God” to be Scripture. In subsequent years I received only one more carefully worded instruction from the Holy Ghost that I compare to a computer print-out. The message also lay well within the boundary of Scripture. I've had nudges, guidance, as well as the still small voice of the Holy Spirit saying go here, not there. I have been used in a small way in the gifts of the Spirit. But God's voice was always clearest while reading His Bible. Nothing can replace His word for just sheer richness. With His Word would come illumination, comfort, or warning.

One of the most striking features of Christianity is that unlike all other religions, one experiences it before full understanding comes. Christianity is experience grounded in the Word. The great men of the Bible had singular and supernatural experiences. However, one of the reasons for this essay is to question the hyper-experiences of the new prophetic/apostolic movements.
 

In the last thirty or so years we have seen the emergence of Kingdom Now or Dominion Theology with its companion—the Apostolic/Prophetic. This movement says that God is restoring to the church the five fold ministries which have long been dormant. And that the apostle and the prophet are only now taking their rightful
In my view, the prophets and apostles have always functioned among us. True, traditional, charismatic and evangelical churches have not given titles to these men. They may not have even acknowledged their existence, but they were there just the same. A title is not necessarily the same as a function. For example, Richard Wurmbrand was surely an apostle to the underground church of Romania ministering to his Russian torturers and fellow prisoners. He had no title but like the Apostle Paul, fits the profile of the abased apostles:

"Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; And labor, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat; we are made as the filth of this world, and are the off-scouring of all things unto this day" (AV, 1 Cor. 4. 11-13).  

Prophets fared no better. They were scorned and alienated for their unique calling. Death was their sure reward. Isaiah was sawn in two; Jeremiah was nearly buried alive by his own king. The Babylonians actually treated him better. Above all, they blazed with accuracy! How do today's prophets and apostles line up with their biblical counterparts? I compare them to Nostradamus for clarity and accuracy.

We must consider the possibility that modern prophets and apostles wear titles that come from self-promotion. A book or a TV appearance easily opens the door of that office, but the genuine calling may be missing. Unlike their biblical examples, modern prophets and apostles enjoy enormous popularity. We want to bask in their glory. We hanker for a word for ourselves and for their the latest “thus saith the Lord” because they seem to enjoy greater light and greater intimacy with God .

In short, they seem to have reached the stars. So, ordinary believers desire what these men appear to have—a more powerful relationship—a more thrilling connection to God. We don't seem to realize that the same Holy Spirit resides within us and that the Bible contains thousands of words for us—and for our future. Titles may seem to elevate these men above the flock, but the flock must always remember that the Lord is their shepherd.

The word relationship has become the new buzz word. It needs redefining. Does having a relationship now imply something much greater than knowing Jesus as Lord and loving Him? The new prophets have hyper-supernatural experiences that we may envy. They may have regular visions, visitations by angels, or even by Jesus, himself. So far, so biblical. I question their experiences less than their moral responsibility to their followers.

Modern prophets may have recognizable names or just be ordinary people who believe in the superiority of their own revelations. One man on You Tube, Final Call, says that Jesus comes into his room every night and talks to him. Now Final Call's Bible is in second position. Final Call's Jesus is harsh and punishing. If you don't have a relationship, if you have sin in your life, you are going to hell says his Jesus. Final Call says that Jesus is the Word, not Scripture, and so say the new revelators. I had several conversations with him on Skype and can assure you of his complete sincerity. I was so taken with his intimacy with Jesus that I almost fell for his legalistic doctrine. I hear that he now calls the Bible a Satanic deception. He is clearly spinning out of control.

  Books such as The God Chasers by Tommy Tenney and, more recently The Shack by Bill Young illustrate enviable relationships with God. These books and others like them may imply that relationship is more important than doctrine. Their message sounds very spiritual and enviable. So we don't see the little leaven in the mix.

After all, didn't Jesus die on the cross to take down the wall of separation between sinful man and God so that we could come boldly to the throne of God to find grace to help in time of need? What could be wrong with a zeal to see God move in new and dynamic ways? I thought, nothing; I was mistaken.

If the Prophetic/Apostolic/Kingdom movements replace the foundations of Scripture then something is wrong. If we rely on another's cloudy lens to view the Bible, then something is wrong. If we do not learn to rightly divide the Word for ourselves, something is wrong. If someone implies that revelation and relationship are superior to the Bible, something is wrong.

So be careful. A dangerous leaven is cross-pollinating the entire body of Christ, and a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. The Dominionists urge us to cultivate experiencing God and to cultivate hearing his voice which is most Christians' deepest desire. They tell us that we may access all the fullness of heaven now without having to wait for Jesus' return. When we press in to get similar supernatural adventures, we just end up counting dust motes in our prayer closets.

 The question has always been how? How is He reached, and so formulas abound. Also meetings.
Just keep going to the conferences; get a hold of it, they urge! Try try try! So the Bride of Christ becomes the maid of all work.

I remember reading Myles Munroe's book on prayer. Every chapter outlined detailed formulas of how to pray correctly to get our prayers answered. I took copious notes believing I had tapped into the secret of the universe. But the time I reached the end, I was defeated. Truly the devil was in the details. I just couldn't remember all of the steps.

We have an earnest on our inheritance now, true. But our complete inheritance will only come with the restoration of all things. Paul says “That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him” (Eph, 1.10-14). Jesus' first coming was the earnest—the down payment on glory, and Jesus' second coming—the fullness of our inheritance.

Here is what I see happening. The prophetic movement with its streams of revelation:
has trumped the plain sense of Scripture;
 has replaced event driven prophecy with symbols or allegory interpreted at whim;
has subtly done away with the judgments promised in the Word;
has become the statue of Daniel 2 with man as the head instead of Christ.
Going by various names: Kingdom Now or Dominion Theology, with its emphasis on the five-fold ministry and the restoration of prophets and apostles may be a dangerous infection in the body of Christ: a movement where the zeal for God, the zeal for intimacy replaces the Truth.
Some prophetic ministries have many fine qualities, many inspiring messages, many powerful worshipers. But could the combination of these good qualities blind the ordinary believer? Will he know if he is being seduced by the light? Are the prophets becoming Lords over us rather than Servants of all? Are they doing away with the plain sense of Scripture? Kingdom prophets claim to have messages that are updates from God. Perhaps even the prophets don't realize how far they have strayed from Scripture.

Familiar names are: Bishop Paulk, Rick Joyner, Mike Bickle, Paul Cain, Chuck Pierce, John Paul Jackson, Todd Bentley, Ryan Wyatt, Myles Munroe, Lynn Hiles etc. There are scores of unfamiliar names of similar persuasion. They are dream weavers; I can feel myself being carried on the wave of their messages. I understand how many believers can fall into lock step. Does submitting to these prophets, then, open our doors for potential domination or even Spiritual abuse? At what cost comes unity?

We must ask this question: If the prophetic utterances from this new wave of the apostolic does not line up with Scripture, what is it? Wouldn't we have to call it heresy or even the apostasy that Paul tells Timothy will come in the last days? Are we in the apostasy now?
Paul says: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;  And they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables”(NKJB, 2 Tim.4.3-4).
What is Kingdom Now and Dominion theology?
 Essentially, Kingdom Now says that it is the job of the church to establish the Kingdom of God on earth and until this is done, Jesus cannot return to earth to rule and reign. And, there has to be a restoration of the law and rule of God globally. The new wave of manifest sons of God will accomplish this task. God is dependent on the church to make the earth ready to receive Jesus. Therefore, all end time events are put on hold until the church reigns supreme.

The encyclopedia definition of Kingdom Now says:
 “When Christians have caused the earth to reach a certain state of  perfection, the return of Christ will then occur . . . . the doctrine rejects the doctrine of the Rapture, which states that Christ will return to remove the church from the earth. Rather thanbeing "rescued" by Christ, the role of the Church is to usher in Christ”(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_theology; February 2010).

 

Earl Paulk, one of its original proponents says:
“The Church has been foreordained of God to become that people who will become so
  glorified that we can bring Christ back to the earth. This glorified church must make the earth God's footstool before Jesus can come again”
 (From The Wounded Body of Christ qtd. by Sandy Simpson in Dominion-ism Exposed. 2/02/2006. Simpson quotes from Van derMerwe's Joel's Army).

Rick Joyner from Kansas City Prophets/Latter Rain/NAR writes:"What is about to come upon the earth is not just a revival, or another awakening, it is a veritable revolution. The vision was given in order to begin to awaken those who are destined to radically change the course, and even the very definition of Christianity" ( The Harvest. Morning Star Publications: 1989).

Ryan Wyatt says that “Jesus is retained in the heavens until there is a restoration of things on the earth. Jesus will put the church in the center of the world stage” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq4sX0RQN4M) Feb. 2010). He has extrapolated a thread from Acts 3.19 which has a very different sense to me: the urgency of Peter's message to the Jews to receive Jesus as Messiah prior to his return. There is nothing in the verses of Acts three that would indicate the church being center stage. So, do the above quotes reflect Scripture? And, why does the very definition of Christianity need changing?
 
What does the Jesus say?
 One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God begin?” Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God isn't ushered in with visible signs. You won't be able to say, 'It has begun here in this place or there in that part of the country.' For the kingdom of God is within you”
(The Book, Tyndale 1971, Luke 17.20-21).
Jesus refutes the theology that says His kingdom will be “ushered in.” A close reading of the phrase The Kingdom of God indicates that Jesus spoke of it in one of two ways.
The kingdom of God is the spiritual presence of the power of God carried into situations to meet the needs of hurting people. “The kingdom of God comes unto you.” This power invades evil and changes circumstances.

The Kingdom of God, in its second most frequent use, is a reference to the end of the age when Jesus establishes his own material reign on earth that will only begin when he plants his feet on the Mount of Olives establishing his millennial kingdom.
 

 Definition one is illustrated in Matthew 12.28.   Here Jesus, under the power of the Holy Spirit, casts a demon out of a man who was both blind and mute enabling him to see and speak. When the religious leaders accuse Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebub, Jesus answered:  “If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then surely the Kingdom of God has come unto you” (AV).  Jesus' use of the term Kingdom of God in this instance refers to carrying the healing and deliverance of the Holy Spirit into a situation where it is needed.

The authority of the Believer
Let us examine the first use of the term more carefully. Though some evangelicals and apologists make some good arguments against the Dominion theologies, they often confuse dominion with authority. Jesus clearly gave his disciples authority over the realm of evil spirits. Some anti-dominionists are fond of tossing out the supernatural as well as the authority of the believer.

  In Luke 10.19 Jesus says, “Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the works of the enemy, and Behold, nothing shall by any means hurt you.” He gives this authority to the twelve and later to the seventy. The Centurion of Matthew chapter eight had one of the best understandings of this transfer of authority. Jesus commended him on his great faith.

  And, finally, in Matthew 28.17, Jesus tells his disciples that “all authority has been given unto him” and to make disciples of all nations “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Implied here is a transfer of His authority. New disciples may exercise authority like the original twelve under the empowering leading of the Holy Spirit. See Mark 16. “these signs shall follow those who believe . . . .”     

Jesus' final command to his disciples was to tarry in Jerusalem until they be endued with power from on high to be His witnesses throughout the earth. These witnesses must go where Jesus himself would go and do what He would do (Matt. 10.1).  

However, this delegated authority is only over the works of evil and not over the will of men, or over nations, or over political regimes. We must remember that Jesus says His Kingdom is not of this world. That we render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are  God's. The Kingdom folks have it backward. They want to render unto Caesar the things that are God's.

Global Dominion
A Kingdom Now objective is not only to win the world for Christ but to achieve global unity. Globalization is also a goal of One World Government. It is also the goal of Islam that wishes to usher in the Mahdi. And is also the goal of the New Age movement that wishes to usher in Maitreya who will bring universal peace. I seem to remember Jesus saying that he came to bring division, not unity.

  If everything is getting better and better until the entire globe is one in unity enabled by the manifest sons of God, then apostasy and tribulation and final judgment can be done away with and replaced by a mealy sort of universalism (I've heard that hiss in the garden before). Its global thrust does away with the boundaries of Nations so important to the work of God and merges curiously with other New Age movements.

  Dominionists stake their rights to the globe from Genesis. The cross has won back Adam's dominion from Satan, they say. Where he failed, they will succeed. A closer look at Genesis says that God's injunction to Adam was to keep Eden and to have dominion over creeping things, beasts of the field and birds of the air. Any time man tries to exert his will over our free will, he is practicing control and domination, a kind of witchcraft. The new prophets and apostles are fond of exercising their authority over others. Jesus says:
The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors'. But not so among you [disciples]; on the contrary, he who is   greatest among you, let him be as the younger,  and he who governs as he who serves. . . .I am among you as One who serves (Luke 22.25-27). 

Beware of these experts in religion, for they love to parade in dignified robes and to be bowed to
by the people as they walk along the street. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and at religious festivals! But even while they are praying long prayers with great outward piety, they are planning schemes to cheat widows out of their property. Therefore God's heaviest sentence awaits these men. (The Book, Luke 20.45-47).
 One finds similar issues within the new prophetic ministries. They are God's oracle. Now comes the love of power, the love of money, the love of public admiration, the love of having a TV audience, the love of having the name of prophet or apostle. And soon, they no longer need to line up with the Word of God because they have become a law unto themselves. Situations become rife with the possibility of abusing and fleecing the flock.

 The central question is: Will the the new kingdom church be needed to usher in the Kingdom of God?  The Bible says No! God is sovereign and his end will not come with a global taking of the world's institutions but when God's cup of wrath is full and spills over.  And, the church will never be able to so control the nations and so sweep the law (theonomy) of the Bible into the world to make a world fit for Jesus. That thinking is delusional. For the world will not get better and better. Jesus didn't say that a big revival will occur before he returns, but rather a big apostasy. There will be so much evil in the world that the angels will come to reap out the tares and throw them into a burning furnace (Matt. 13.36-43). Jesus is wondering if He will even “find faith on earth” when He returns (Luke 18.8).

The Second Coming
When I return the world will be [as indifferent to the things of God] as the people were in Noah's day. They ate and drank and married—everything just as usual right up to the day when Noah went into the ark and the flood came and destroyed them all.  And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot: people went about their daily business —eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building—until the morning that Lot left Sodom. Then fire and brimstone rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
 (Luke 17.26-28)
 The end times will resemble the days of Lot and Noah. Judgment will occur! There will be some who have managed to survive the tribulation who still don't get it, who still ignore the strong warnings of wars, earthquakes, and terrors in the heavens; who will still refuse to recognize Him as Lord. He will come at last to his brothers, the Jews, who are in natural Israel, calling out for their Messiah.

 He will descend upon the Mount of Olives with ten thousands of his Saints, Jude says. Anybody see a world wide revival here or a earth won for the Lord? Only the kingdom prophets who must rip away many parts of the Bible to allow for their the dominion of their glorious church.  Even in the parables Jesus is saying: be ready, watch and pray, judgment is coming upon the whole earth. Most books of the Bible speak of the terrible day of the Lord when Jesus actually steps back into history with his supernatural armies to fight boldly against the enemies of God. This will be a day of the separation of the wheat and the tares. The bodies will pile up and where the bodies are, there will be the vultures (Matt.24.28; Luke 17.37). 

 For Jesus says, “For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled” ( AV, Luke 21.22). Jesus prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem and then goes on to prophesy the End. He doesn't view his prophecies as symbols. Days mean days. The destruction of the temple happened exactly as he said in 70AD. So will the rest of his prophecy.  He says “this will be a “snare upon all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth” (Luke 21.35). Would Jesus give such a warning for the sake of symbols? He is not underhanded! I personally think the believer won't be dwelling on the earth for Jesus says:

  “ . . . pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21.36). How the Kingdom Now preachers scoff at the word “escape.” Why should the believer “escape?” There is no rapture, they say, and we are cowards for wanting to “escape.” Well, Jesus said we could. There is always that ark of safety for the believer, the Bride of Christ. We are hid until the great day of the Lord. I personally think that chamber is in heaven because he says we stand before him. 

Isaiah 26.20-21 tells us of this time: "Come my people, enter our chambers and shut the door behind you, hide yourself as it were, for a little moment until the indignation is past. For behold the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity." (See also my Bible study on the Jewish wedding as a type of the rapture:   http://www.friendlyarts.net/IsraelPerspective/jewishwedding.htm 

 

In the Olivet discourse Jesus explains just what events must occur just prior to and during the tribulation. He validates the prophet Daniel who also speaks of this period. John goes into exquisite detail of what awaits those who are caught in the outpouring of God's wrath. Where is this beautiful global world restored to the theonomy of God? It is not in the Bible. Revelation has trumped Scripture. Zeal has replaced truth. And new visions refute the words of Matthew 24.

Paul says that we “wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Th.1.10). Paul says that we will be “caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with he Lord”(1 Th.4.17). These are words of comfort, “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Th.5.9). What's coming? Apostasy and Wrath and that great and terrible day of the Lord.   Is God waiting for the church to do something special before He can enter history? No, only to be ready to escape the wrath to come! Are the last days to be interpreted as something OTHER than events?

 Listen to these words of Jesus: 

 “. . . Notice the fig tree or any other tree. When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near. In the same way, when you see the events taking place that I've described you can be just as sure that the King of God is near” (The Book, Luke 21-25).
More radical prophets have eliminated natural Israel for a lie called replacement theology. The Kingdom theologies may remove Israel, the rapture of the church and, in some cases, even the Second Coming of Jesus. I have treated one such replacement writer, Lynn Hiles, in a separte document. He says that the events Jesus outlines have already transpired. He also claims that natural Israel was eliminated at Pentecost.
“The apocalyptic language of Acts 2 is not meant to be taken literally but as a prophetic proclamation to all those hearing it. Peter's message at the Feast of Pentecost is that it is lightsout for natural Israel as a nation, a people who have crucified the King of Glory” (Lynn Hiles).

 Still analyzing Peter's sermon at Pentecost, Hiles says the“Day of the Lord” is the finished work of Jesus Christ,” If the Day of the Lord is the finished work of Jesus on the cross then there is no judgment for sin and for those who have rejected Jesus. It is Universalism, a heresy that says all mankind will be saved. There is no “narrow way” in universalism. 

What about Natural Israel?

If I forget thee O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
          If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth;
   If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. (AV, Psalm 137.5-6).

 Israel's contribution to the world is unique. Without Israel there would be no Prophets, Apostles, Messiah, Salvation, and no Bible . Furthermore, another unique fact is that their entire history as a nation was foretold in advance through prophetic utterance, plainly and specifically and exactly fulfilled, not metaphorically. Here is a partial list of sixteen prophecies. Thirteen are fulfilled and three remain to be fulfilled. These prophecies are repeated more than once and may be found in as many as sixty or more places in the Bible. I am deeply indebted to Derek Prince who compiled this list in an address that he gave on “Israel in Prophecy” in his discussion on the book of Romans.
Gen.15.13 Abraham was told that Israel would be slaves in Egypt.
 
Gen.15.14  They would be led out with great wealth.

 Gen.15.18-20 They would posses the land of Canaan.

 Due.32.15-21—To Moses: They would turn to idolatry in the land.

 Due.12.5-6 (and in many other places) They would establish a center of worship in Jerusalem.

 Amos.5.27; 6.14; 7.17 The Northern Kingdom would be captured.

 Jer. 21.10; Jer. 16.13; Jer. 32.3-5 (also in other places). Jeremiah correctly predicts the Southern Kingdom's captivity by Babylon.

 2 Ch.7.19-22 to Solomon regarding the destruction of the first temple.

 Zec. 4.6-10 regarding the rebuilding of the second temple.

 Is. 6.11-13; Is. 48.20 (perhaps not as plain as the rest). Plainer: Zec.2.6-7. Jer. 2.15 a remnant of the Jews would return from Babylon.

 Matt. 4.2; Luke 19.43-44 The destruction of the 2nd Temple which happened exactly in 70ad.

Lev. 6. 33-34; Eze.12.15 and in many other places. The Jews would be scattered among many nations (known as the great diaspora). Yet, they would not lose their national identity.         

       Lev.16.36-39 They would be subjected to persecution among the Gentiles.     
      
Zec.10.9-10; Zec.8.7-8; Jer. 1.10 and in many other places: The regathering of all of Israel from all nations back to their land (continues to happen to this day from as many far off places as Brazil and Ethiopia). 

 Jer. 31.23 The amazing resurrection of the Hebrew language after their re-gathering.
 Jer. 32.44; Jer. 1.27; . Jer.35.1-2 (and in other places) the replanting and rebuilding of cities even in waste places like Samaria and Judea         (now called the West Bank) and the  flowering of the deserts.

 Now three prophecies remain to be fulfilled. Couldn't a logical person infer that these prophecies would also take place just as exactly?

    1. The gathering of all nations against Israel: Zec.2.2-3; 14.12; Zec. .8-9. “whoever touches you Jerusalem touches the apple of my eye.”

    2.  The supernatural revelation of the identity of the Messiah predicted vividly: Zec.12.10-14; Zec.13.6.
    3. The coming of Messiah in power & glory to establish his kingdom on earth: Zec.4.3-5;  Micah 4.1-2, Is.55.11-12 and in other places! 

Now, I think enough proof has been presented that natural Israel is alive and well and still very much a factor in the ongoing plan of God.

Contending for the Faith

Jude 1.3 tells us to contend earnestly for he faith “which was once and for all passed onto God's people” (CJB).
 
“Every word of God is tested . . . . Do not add to   His words, Lest He reprove you,
and you be found a liar” (AV, Pro. 30. 5-6).

 Jesus says that whoever hears these “words of mine” may be compared to the wise man who built his church upon the rock (Matt. 7.24-27). Jesus is the Word made flesh and He is the rock that all must be built upon. Everything else is shifting sand.
"You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor diminish ought from it . . . . .” ( Deu. 4:2).

Are the doctrines of Restoration, Kingdom /Dominion and Replacement theologies adding to the Word of God? Are they diminishing the impact of judgment? That is what each reader must decide.

 One of the most difficult tasks regarding these new movements is to decide: so they believe such and such; so what! How much leniency should ministers have to peel the onion of the rich text of God? Each man must weigh whether or not there is error and, if so, what is its significance? You have to keep asking: Is it biblical; Is it biblical? Paul warned against receiving another Jesus, Gospel or Spirit.

“. . . . be warned of false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; or Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light (2 Cor. 11.4; 11.13).  And finally, watch for red flags that may indicate another Gospel, Jesus, or Spirit.

Red Flag #1: a redefinition of familiar terms
For example “sons of God” is an important description of the believer. John says “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (St. John 1.12) To be a son of God means that you have believed in Jesus as savior. You are no longer a son of Adam in a state of condemnation.

 However when we get to manifest sons of God, we have something quite different. That glorified body we look forward to may be “manifested” now before His return. Powers may be accessed now that are on hold till the resurrection. Abilities of the resurrected body may be accessed now. Mike Bickle says:
 “God intends us to be like gods, he intends us to be like the Son of God. ... God has conceived in His heart of a plan to make a race of men that would live like gods on the Earth. He has conceived in His heart to have Sons that would live like His Son, the Lord Jesus lived... That weere to be on earth the extension and manifestation of God's life in heaven” (“Dominion and Sonship.” Cassette Tape. qtd. in“The Way of Cain.” http://www.apologeticsindex.org/r06a02.html. p8).

 John says: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John.3.2). The emphasis is on “when he shall appear.” The biblical application is that when Jesus comes back we will see him glorified and we also will be glorified. But, in Kingdom theology, when he shall appear may have a slight twist of meaning such as a spiritual appearing in the heart, a not so kosher redefinition of a phrase. The upshot? Resurrection abilities may be accessed sooner rather than later. 

Bishop Paulk implies that the manifest sons of God may achieve immortality prior to death:
Jesus Christ as the first fruit of the kingdom began the work of conquering death on an individual  basis, but we, as His church will be the one to complete the task... 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!'' . . . . '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!'' (Earl Paulk. The Proper Function of the Church.  qtd. in“The Way of Cain”).


 Paul Cain has something equally extraordinary in mind:
'There will be a manifestation of the sons of God. And it won't be this baloney that we've heard
of in the past. . . . I'm talking about a true manifested son of God; if anyone walks through this
wall, over here, they're not going to tell you about it, I mean, they're just going to do it. And sons
of God don't tell you they're sons of God, they'll just show you! Amen!''
 (“The New Breed.” qtd. in“The Way of Cain”).

 I find it interesting that even Jesus didn't walk through a wall until in his resurrected body, but the Manifest Sons of God expect us to have such ability now well before our glorified bodies.
Red Flag # 2: Look for greater mystical experiences 

 These experiences may include an emphasis on the senses and increased sensual experiences defined as spiritual. Of course the Bible says that we may hear God's audible voice, have dreams, visions, tongues, prophecies, words of wisdom, words of knowledge, healings and miracles. However, the new prophets want something that may be more in keeping with the New Age.

William Branham received his messages from an angel while in a trance like state.
Joseph Smith received the Book of Mormon with the assistance of a Peep Stone.
Todd Bentley received a prophetic Spirit from an angel named Emma. (Buhdism has a being called Amma, a transliteration from Sanskrit, very popular with New Agers. The Satanic Bible lists Emma-0 as the Japanese ruler of hell (Satanic Bible 32 ).
Jesus, dripping with oil came into Ryan Wyatt's room with a message for the manifest sons of God. 

Are these experiences counterfeit? A counterfeit is no less real. Anymore than a counterfeit bill is less material than a real one! I am not pretending to judge these matters. I just see red flags waving.   

The Toronto Blessing and Rodney Howard Brown introduced Holy laughter. There is significant biblical evidence for the experience (Job 8.21; Ps 126.2). But when someone barks like a dog, I begin to wonder. Can he not control this or does he just prefer to bark when he gets happy? Other ministries are experiencing gold dust and the manifestation of jewels. I have seen the gold dust manifest on Joshua Mills hair and shoulders until it sprinkled the floor, but I did not hear him say anything about Jesus. The meeting seemed to be more about Joshua Mills and what happened to him. What happened was real and material. The question is what does it mean? Are these men tapping into dimensions of glory or something else?

I have not seen the jewels. The jewels are reported to be taken to a jeweler, always, and they are found to be more perfect than anything that can be mined, always. But I have never heard of a jeweler buying one and a poor man helped out of his poverty. All the interesting things seem to be reported rather than observed. It always happens at another meeting or in another conference. Here are reports of it raining inside but not outside (supposedly proof of the outpouring of the latter rain); there are reports of resurrections from the dead (biblical)! But the most interesting manifestations do not occur in my presence. I truly have no explanation for these things. One must carefully weigh all experience and not be carried about by every wind of doctrine.

I recall a former student I had from Nigeria in the 70's. He shared with me some of his beliefs which I now recognize to be witchcraft and told a curious story. One evening back in Africa he performed a ceremony to win the love of a particular girl. Then he wished and wished while holding out his fists. He felt something in his hand; when he opened his fist he saw a large uncut diamond. I had forgotten that story until now. I believe the Lord has brought it to my remembrance for a reason.

I have heard about Pipestone, Minnesota where a house has been dedicated to these great outpourings of God. People go there who want greater spiritual experiences. Different rooms feature differing special effects. One room might have a cloud; in another room people drink nectar from the angel who walked in with vials; in another people may be fighting principalities with play swords. Either they are having experiences that are truly supernatural or everyone is admiring the emperor's new clothes.

What I find most striking is that today's revivals are all so incestuous. During the Great Awakening or during Finney's revivals, entire barrooms would be emptied out. People weeping and repenting would run from the saloon to the churches, crying out to be saved.

God is a God of experience but what often accompanies unusual manifestations is a respect of persons. Look what happened to so and so? He must be more spiritually evolved, have a deeper progression into the things of God, the hallmark of the New Age. I am also hearing of the manifest sons of God claiming to be able to access the mysteries of Quantum Physics. Certainly Franklin Hall thought it possible.

Franklin Hall, one of the earliest proponents of the Kingdom Now doctrines, advocated not only fasting but said that without fasting, one's prayers will not be answered. He also wrote a book on how to become immortal through stages of spiritual growth where one would also learn from UFO's how to exercise control over gravity. Clearly his teachings were New Age and occult and many of the foundations of the Latter Rain Movements were based on his books (Franklin Hall. “The Return of Immortality.” Phoenix Hall Deliverance Foundation, 1976 pp 2-3. Cited by Apologetics Index).
 

Red Flag # 3. The emphasis on dialogue with God.

 Rick Joyner writes:
''In the near future we will not be looking back at the early church with envy because of the great exploits of those days, but all will be saying that He certainly did save His best wine for last. The most glorious times in all of history have not come upon us. You, who have dreamed of one day being able to talk with Peter, John and Paul, are going to be surprised to find that they have all been waiting to talk to you'' (The Harvest. Morning Star. 1989).

Jesus said that his sheep hear his voice (John 10). God does talk to us in many ways. But will our supernatural dialogue become so developed that we will be chatting back and forth with the great cloud of witnesses? I know the disciples heard specific direction from the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit would say You will be imprisoned if you return to Jerusalem or Don't go to Troas, go to Macedonia, etc. But life, death and the gospel were at stake!

What I have begun to observe is an increase of what I call “the chat.” I am speaking of people who seem to dialogue with God at will but without significance. I was caught in the crossfire of such dialogue. One day visiting a friend, two Christians were at the table sharing Scriptures. When I was about to add my thoughts to the discussion, one man said, “Not yet. God said, “Not yet!” Later, when I dared share a couple of comments. He said to me: “God told me you would do it anyway.” The brother was using his running dialogue as a means to control. There was no real purpose for this nonsense other than one up-man-ship. They were also able to see angels that I couldn't see. I was clearly a spiritual inferior.

Another situation found me traveling with a Christian who also seemed to develop this dialogue to a high degree. After consulting the voice, he would then say, “No” or “Yes” we can or can't do this or that. I said, “How do you do that?” I was told that all of my dedication had to be to God and when he could finally trust me, I would also be able to dialogue with Him. What was interesting was when we were lost for a couple of hours, the voice was mute!

Red Flag # 4 Abuse and Control:

When the sheep are under a prophet who claims to have superior revelation and light; who claims to hear from God, then the potential for abuse is present. Leaders may use tactics of fear and guilt to get their followers to conform to their message. We must remember that Scripture is of no private interpretation. Watch for the following characteristics: claims to superior knowledge, attempts to control or manipulate, picking on people, humiliating people, bossiness, respect of persons, domination instead of servant-hood, any other exercise of entitlement.

< style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);"> I am sure any thinking person reading the subsequent recitations should be able to see spiritual abuse. A couple of situations close to me must be reiterated. A church I was going to had a big visit from the big Apostle. This Apostle received from the leadership a list of who should be named the new prophets, apostles, and teachers (in other words, who was in the in-group). This selection was  arbitrary—not based upon a particular gifting in any area—not based upon how one functioned in the past—but more or less taking out a pointer and proclaiming, you, you, and you! Most, including myself, were excluded. The apostle had meetings that we were not allowed to go to because they were only for those with greater understanding and responsibility. Those who were chosen felt special and those who were left out, felt inferior. Any kind of elitism is a power grab..

In a way, I was once again blessed to be on the outside with my nose pressed against the window. This apostle gave me the creeps with his long, pointed, polished nails. My hackles went up. It turns out that he and the pastor tried to lead the local body into Kingdom Now doctrines. The church split as the result with the pastor leaving for greener pastures to trample and clearer waters to muddy.

The following is all a part of the public record. Some big ministers of the kingdom movement have fallen: Bishop Paulk—many allegations child abuse, adultery, fathering an illegitimate child with his brother's wife; Paul Cain--homosexuality; Ted Haggart--homosexuality; William Branham--misogyny and abuse of women; Todd Bentley--adultery (prior incarcerations for child abuse and battery before becoming famous). After achieving fame, Bentley discarded his wife for another. Within months he was called restored by Rick Joyner. And, the FOTM, Fellowship of the Martyrs, an off shoot of Bentley, received revelations that they could have serial spiritual marriages, so the self-appointed leaders went into serial adultery.

Peter warns:

 “But among the people there were also false prophets, just as there will be false teachers among you. Under false pretenses they will introduce destructive heresies . . . and thus bring on themselves swift destruction. Many will follow their debaucheries; and because of them the true Way will be maligned. In their greed they will exploit you with fabricated stories”  (CJB, 2 Peter 2.1-3).


 He continues:
Presumptuous and self-willed, these false teachers . . . . [act] without thinking, like animals without reason. When they are destroyed, their destruction will be total--they will be paid back  <>harm as wages for the harm they are doing. Their idea of pleasure is carousing in broad daylight; they are spots and defects reveling in their deceptions as they share meals with you—for they have eyes always on the lookout for a woman who will commit adultery, eyes that never stop sinning; and they have a heart that has exercised itself in greed; so that they seduce  unstable people. What a cursed brood”
(2 Peter 2.11-14).

Another situation that I was involved in was with a pastor of a Morning Star group who had a church in a small town near me. It all began rather innocently but it wasn't long before he had a special group of the prophets who met with him at his house. I was excluded. Another underling was allowed at the meetings but could only take notes. He couldn't prophesy. It wasn't long before the pastor said that I could come to church but I must never pray for anyone (he heard that from the Lord). So, I elected to not come at all anymore. In only a few months, the pastor, a former alcoholic, went back to alcohol abuse. It took awhile before the other members were extricated.

 Another group I am aware of has a very controlling spiritual leader. New members are not encouraged (or maybe just those who think for themselves). And present members are forbidden to go elsewhere. A lot of fear is generated. The leader told one lady that she was not allowed to go the nursing home to minister as she was “not ready yet.” Abuse does not have to involve bad doctrine. But often bad doctrine and controlling methods go hand in hand. Whenever the leader's “thus saith the Lord” is the end all and be all, watch out. Other methods of control are shunning and humiliation.

A couple with an apostolic calling sought to set up new churches in our region. The lady pastor stayed at my home and I was basically ordered to wait on her. It was irrelevant that I had a full time job and children in the house. I must have the foods she wanted prepared, have certain things on hand for her, and, even though busy in the kitchen, I had to have my face in her direction. “When I'm talking to you, you look at me,” she would order! Never mind that I might be putting her chicken in the oven. I enjoyed her as a person, but she felt entitled to boss me around because of her elite status. When I heard her say “If people come against (she named herself and her husband), God will kill them,” I had had quite enough. You can imagine the fear and resulting control statements like that can generate.

 Finally, I wish to expose a very rigid Kingdom Now group that is gaining momentum. Dear friends were members of a church under a very decent, insightful pastor. But soon the church came under a different “covering.” (See Who is Your Covering by Frank Viola). Their new master was Steve Schultz of Preparing the Way Network an extension of Noel Woodruff from World Breakthrough Network (WBN), Trinidad.

Soon began the extensive indoctrination (Kingdom Now). They had pages and pages of overhead notes to take. Only to have to hear it all again. Members began to be ranked. Some who dared to question the teachings were accused of not being submissive and later dis-fellowshiped. The ministry goal was to prepare a church that was pure and uncontaminated and as such they had to bring the membership in line with their ideas of kingdom community in which all members were to be in unity and to walk in the same revelation. They were required to listen to those who had the “greater light.” One person heard the preacher say: “Your safety and  security lies 1st in WBN/ 2nd in Preparing the Way/and 3rd in this church.” Where was Jesus mentioned in all of this safety and security?

Many left the church. The absence of those who left was explained away. Those rascals had “unteachable spirits; they were “unwilling to go further in God.” Soon the church acquired a new name, the epitome of pride, (deliberately omitted here to protect some members). Later reports came back of remaining members having to stand up and confess sins that were already under the blood. Rumors circulated that an elder had been given the role to police the group to make sure they were lining up. Humiliation and control are typical of cult leaders.

WBN has become the passion of many bloggers. T. Brown, one blogger, said the following:

“Yeah, I'm in a church that's recently connected with WBN or Congress WBN as they're changing their name to... i'm in the process of challenging them (via my church leader) as I've been finding various things that don't seem quite right.

Their arrogance as apostles
Their self centered teaching
Their teaching that paul would say is there to "tickle our ears" (II Timothy). Their teaching on "The Elijah Dimention" is a new concept that glorifies us by moving us to a "higher spiritual place" such that we can "conquer over the rules of this physical place", i'm feeling my ears being tickled!!!!

They don't seem to have any evangelistic focus, their aim seems to be to spread WBN across the globe, not the gospel.

It's suspicious ground, i've not made a decision on whether i'm sticking with my church, but it's not looking hopeful. I'd warn anyone who's looking like they're going to be involved with this network to weigh up EVERYTHING they hear, and check it with the ultimate plumb line... The Bible.” http://www.factnet.org/discus/messages/3/2554.html?1188990730

I have pasted the blog just as I have found it. It is important that those who are under the dominion heresy or under the domination of self-serving prophets understand the subtleties of spiritual abuse as well as the subtleties of false doctrine. All that I have questioned is not just about theology but about the very plain matter of human morals and moral responsibility.

Jesus is the head of his church. Kingdom/Dominion Theology with all its attendant beliefs and practices is simply another picture of the statue in Daniel chapter two. Man is the self declared head of the body, not God. Look at the statue; the head is gold indicating absolute rule and majesty. The head is a man who has elevated himself over all the people in the kingdom. His rule is absolute. His terror is felt. Is this the picture that we want for the church? In an attempt to get a “bride without spot or wrinkle” some bad things are happening. We need to remember that Jesus is the head. We are to call no man Master; we are to humble ourselves, and if we lead, we are to be servant of all. Our righteousness is because of what he has done, because of His passion on the cross, not our passion to evolve into spiritual giants. Beware the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.

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Afterward

 

It was with some reluctance that I attempted to discuss the Kingdom Now/Prophetic-Apostolic movements. I am not an apologist. But, a culmination of recent experiences, including reading Lynn Hiles E-book on Revelation, spurred me to write. I have friends that are or have been involved in some way with the Kingdom movement. I know they want nothing more than to be used by God and to live as fully in his will as possible. I know they love God! This paper is not to offend them but to search for truth as did the Bereans. I want to say once more that I believe God speaks to us today in the same way that he spoke to men of old. I do believe that there are prophets and apostles in the body of Christ. I believe that the gifts of the Spirit are for today as taught by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12. I believe that God reveals himself in several ways. But revelation never should overwrite Scripture. We must be Sola Scriptura!
 

Mary Pinkney Parnell

March 12, 2010