This conclusion summarises the various deceptions contained
within “The Final Quest” and the way in which they are likely
to impact the body of Christ in the future. The separate visions, dreams,
trances and other spiritual experiences in this book are all merged together
and presented as one continuous experience, without any mention of where
one ends and another starts. This distracts the reader and hinders them
from weighing these up against scripture as prophetic. It gives the book
a continuous story like quality that reminded me in places of Tolkien’s
fantasy novel “The Lord of the Rings.” This encourages the reader
to go quickly through the book, reading it as if it were a novel. Joyner
informs us in the introduction, however, that these visionary experiences
were ministered to him separately from one another and at different times.
The shear length of the book, (158 pages), will also deter many readers
from weighing these “prophecies” up as they should. Most of
the main messages are also obscured in the text by the vast array of symbolic
imagery, little of which is given any down to earth interpretation by Joyner.
There are a many different types of demonic entities described, secret passages,
spiritual doors, spiritual stones, ascending levels up a mystical mountain
and new spiritual weapons that are not recorded anywhere in scripture. Most
of this is accompanied by scant, if any, explanation as to how it relates
to the real world. As a result it is not at all obvious to the casual reader
what Joyner actually believes. Instead many readers will be inclined to
impose their own interpretation on to this symbolism and mistakenly assume
that they agree with Joyner as a result when in most cases this will not
be the case. The fact that Joyner’s side are accompanied by angels
and the opposing Christians depicted with demons riding on their backs produces
the same effect. I believe this is the main reason this book was able to
become so popular in the 1990’s - because most of its Christian readers
did not recognise what it was actually teaching. When the first dream is
examined in detail though, and understood , most readers will find that
they are part of what Joyner calls “the terrible horde from hell,” (p.
16). They will therefore be the targets of Joyner’s side’s spiritual
warfare, those whom he believes he needs to rescue, over time, from deception
and convert to his alternative spiritual beliefs. When time is taken to
establish what exactly Joyner’s main messages are, and to weigh these
with discernment and against scripture, it becomes clear that none of these
can be of God. Instead it transpires that all of Joyner’s spiritual
experiences, in this book, are counterfeit and have come from the occult
realms. Joyner is himself, the victim of a massive degree of deception,
orchestrated by demonic spirits for a specific purpose.
Joyner calls
for his readers to focus on fighting a “Christian Civil
War”, (p. 22), against other believers in the end times. This is in
direct contradiction to Jesus prayer for unity in Jn 17; 20, 21. His side
aim is to gain control of the entire church and then lead it as prophet judges
in the age to come. Joyner claims that his side will also bind up Satan themselves
and go on to rule the entire world, including all unbelievers, on Gods behalf.
He makes no mention of Jesus’ return to earth at His Second Coming in
any of this. Joyner’s new revelations are clearly not scriptural.
The
nature of the spiritual warfare Joyner advocates is to project his side’s
new “revelations” onto other Christian’s in a bid to influence
them, secretly, against their will. This spiritual practice is extremely controlling
and identical to the way in which unbelievers involved in witchcraft send
their spells onto others in a bid to influence them in like manner. Neither
Jesus nor any saint in scripture ever engaged in such a practice. Joyner’s
spiritual warfare is not biblical but is in fact witchcraft and of the occult.
It is not surprising that Joyner observes that, contrary to what he originally
hoped, his sides spiritual warfare will prove unsuccessful in converting most
of the opposing Christians. Instead he states that in his dream his side “did
wound many of our own brethren”, (p.129). Joyner continues with this
harmful spiritual warfare against other Christians because, in his dream,
this is linked with him advancing on to greater revelations and finding and
learning how to use more powerful spiritual weapons which he discovers as
he continues to climb higher up the spiritual mountain. Joyner describes a
whole series of failed spiritual warfare strategies of a witchcraft nature
that his side pursue in their bid to gain control the body of Christ. This
is despite the harm Joyner is aware these will do to the Christians targeted.
It is only when Joyner reaches the very top of the spiritual mountain that
he discovers a strategy that works. This, however, involves him calling upon
the spirits of deceased people, those who have died, to return to earth as
great white eagles. He alone then commands these spirits into the battle on
his side’s behalf. It is this strategy that final secures the victory
for Joyner’s side and gives them control of the entire church as judges
in his dream. Calling upon the dead for spiritual help in this world, however,
is spiritualism, of the occult and forbidden by the bible. Unless the reader
studies the text carefully most will not notice that these white eagles are
the spirits of deceased people, instead most will mistakenly assume they are
angels but this is not the case according to Joyner’s own text. It is
likely that Joyner has been engaging in this type of spiritualism as well
as witchcraft spiritual warfare, secretly, since at least as far back as 1995
when he was directed to do so by his deceptive dream. Joyner aim is that this
warfare will send the spiritual influences he has opened himself up to onto
other Christians and the parts of the church that he targets. This is likely
to happen but these influences will be occult in nature and not of God as
Joyner mistakenly believes. Deceptive visions from demonic spirits have therefore
led Joyner into New Age teachings and an occult form of spirituality that
bears little resemblance to anything recorded in the bible. He is unwittingly
sending curses onto other Christians by targeting them with this practice
and influence from another spirit. This explains why Joyner’s own dream
prepares him to continue with this practice despite the harm he witnesses
it doing these other believers in his dream.
Joyner’s side are also guided
by the spirits of deceased/dead people, (the white eagles), instead of Gods
Holy Spirit, (I could not find a single
mention of Joyner’s side being led by the Holy Spirit anywhere within
this book). These spirits of people provide his side with increased prophetic
vision in much the same way as spirit guides assist New Agers. In both cases
these are really demons which imitate deceased people, they are not really
the people themselves. Joyner believes that most of his other prophetic messages
in the book were also received from people who have died. One of the main
messages comes from a spirit claiming to be St Paul which informs Joyner that
he cannot trust two thirds of the New Testament for teaching. This was obviously
a deceptive spirit and not the real St Paul. The same spirit tells Joyner
that St Paul and all the New Testament Apostles were failures in their ministries
and that he should seek new revelations to add to and replace their teachings
in scripture. Since the original Apostles did not experience the same type
of New Age spirituality that Joyner is advocating the message from this spirit
is simply reinforcing Joyner’s belief in deceptions he had already received.
Joyner’s visionary experiences promote the false prophetic teachings
of the main Kansas City Prophets that he was closely linked to in 1995, (the
leading one being Paul Cain whose Mother, Grandmother and Great-grandmother
had all been gifted occult psychics). Their spirituality is reflected by Joyner
claim that we should “open our own hearts and minds to realms we do
not now even know exist. This is what Satan is attempting to counterfeit through
the New Age Movement,” (p.127). These errors are presented in a vivid
visionary form in Joyner’s book which has been specifically designed
by deceiving spirits to impress a Christian audience. Many people appear to
have been taken in by its use of Christian terminology. At the same time these
visions are obscure enough to have avoided most of the biblical criticism
that had already exposed these same errors amongst this same group of Kansas “prophets” in
the early 1990’s. The “Manifest Sons of God” false teaching
is an example. It is as if the devil has used “The Final Quest” to
keep these deceptive messages alive in a more subtle and obscure form after
the main Kansas City Prophets Movement had fallen into disrepute back in the
early 1990’s.
The parallel between the events that happened to these
Kansas based “prophets” at
that time and the events described at the start of Joyner’s dream in
1995 is uncanny. Although Joyner doesn’t mention them by name the evidence
suggests that he identifies his fellow Kansas Prophets as the few outnumbered “dreaded
champions” (p. 58), on his side in the start of his dream. They are
seen as heroes in Joyner’s visions. In the real world though most of
their predictions failed to come to pass, their new revelation based teachings
contradicted scripture, they promoted many of the errors of William Branham
and the 1930’s Latter Day Rain Movement, and manifest the bad fruit
of much sexual immorality amongst them. To Joyner no doubt sees them as heroes
because they promote the same form of spirituality that he advocates. In 2008
we saw how Joyner help quick track Todd Bentley back into ministry even after
it emerged that he had been having an affair during his healing crusade and
had lied about more thirty people being raised from the dead through his ministry.
Bentley holds to all the same wayward spiritual beliefs as Joyner.
The Kansas
City Prophets came under sustained biblical criticism from other leaders in
the real world from 1990 onwards as their ministries grew in influence
and attracted more attention. This was part of what led to the demise of their
group at that time. In Joyner’s dream this is paralleled by the few
warriors on his side coming under a torrent of arrows fired from the opposing
Christians side. In the real world these “prophets” then went
largely underground with their new “revelations” due to their
inability to win their case biblically through public debate. This is also
paralleled within the dream when Joyner is led to use his spiritual warfare
to influence other Christians from then on, instead of openly dialoguing with
others about his new “revelations.” Since that time the popularity
of “The Final Quest” has helped promote Joyner’s ministry
and he has gained a large following online and increasing trust amongst many
Christians as a result. Many mistakenly believe him to be a mainstream charismatic
when nothing could be further from the truth.
In recent decades deception
has increased rapidly within the church of the western world with an increasing
number of ministries now experiencing the
same types of New Age spiritual experience as Joyner. The ranks of those who
appear to be willing to follow Joyner and other ministries like his have swelled
as a result just as his occult visions and dreams predicted they would. It
is surely only a matter of time before Joyner and his compatriots feel secure
enough to present their form of spiritualism more openly to the Christian
public. This is likely to coincide with a great wave of deception impacting
the church of the western world. Many are likely to fall away due to disillusionment
when they realise exactly how deceptive the type of spirituality that Joyner
and others actually is.
Joyner appears to be preparing his online Christian
audience for this form of spiritualism already. Every year he holds a conference
to honour the deceased
healing ministers from the last century. He claims that this is the way to
receive these deceased ministers healing anointing’s and birth a healing
revival in our day. This however is idolatry as the anointing only comes according
to Gods will as we honour Him not any person, no matter how great their ministry
may have been whilst they were alive. Such a practice could open Christians
up to a counterfeit, false anointing. This could contain New Age, occult power
with the potential to impress and lead many astray just as the bible has warned
will happen in the end times, (see 2 Thess 2; 9).
Joyner’s visions depict
these white eagle spirits with healing in their wings which is surely no coincidence.
Who else can these eagle spirits be
apart from the deceased Christian healing ministers that Joyner already honour’s
each year at his conventions? Joyner claims that both the eagles in his dream
and these deceased revivalists are key to the birthing a healing revival today.
When the time is ripe Joyner is likely to invite his Christian audience to
join him in calling upon these deceased healing ministers to return to earth
in line with the instructions he received in his deceptive dream.
For many
years now Joyner’s companions, Todd Bentley and Bob Jones,
have been calling upon the spirit of deceased healing revivalist, Sundar Singh,
to return to earth to minister to them. They also experience an angel named
Emma who Jones credits with starting the Kansas City Prophets Movement. Bentley
claims that this “angel” looks exactly like Kathryn Kuhlman in
those old videos, (link article). Kathryn Kuhlman was, of course, a major
healing revivalist in the last century. Since Joyner has never spoken out
against his associates spiritual practice this suggests that he probably agrees
with them. The subtle way in which “The Final Quest” is written
indicates that Joyner is probably just being more cautious than they are when
it comes to revealing these beliefs in public. There can be no doubt though
that both Joyner and his companions have already opened themselves up to a
considerable amount of spiritualism and witchcraft. This recording of Bentley
suggests that when they feel that the time is ripe they will attempt to introduce
this to the wider body of Christ. Today there is a plethora of other ministers
becoming popular online who also believe that deceased Christian ministers
from the past will return to earth as angelic type figures. This parallels
Joyner’s descriptions of the white eagle spirits. It is not difficult
to find evidence of their beliefs by studying their teachings and statements
online. Unfortunately most Christians who follow these ministers so not appear
to take the time to test these things and instead simply accept their own
testimonies about themselves.
During one of his supposed visits to “heaven” Joyner
is shown a minister seated on a great throne in a position of high honour.
This is
despite the fact that even Joyner admits that this minister fell into deception
whilst he ministered on earth. From the long detailed description this can
be none other than William Branham. Branham, of course, was also a healing
revivalist from the last century. People still debate whether or not Branham’s
healing gift was of God or counterfeit. However, most Christians today recognise
that he was extremely deceived. Branham even claimed that the pyramids and
signs of the zodiac carried as much spiritual authority as the bible. Like
Joyner Branham believed that his many visions superseded scripture. A “Christian” loosely
associated cult grew around him with his followers becoming known as “Branhamite’s” or “The
Messengers.” They believe Branham to be a great prophet who will return
to earth as an angelic type being in the end times. This sounds identical
to Joyner’s descriptions of a great white eagle. Furthermore, as we
saw in Chapter 7, Joyner claims that he followed this man’s teachings
and ministry when he was a child, long before he found “faith” in
Christ. Joyner also informs us in a video on his Morning Star website, (the “Featured
Video of the Week” Oct 10th 2012), that one of the first things he believes
the Lord told him after he was saved as a young man, was that he should find
and assists “The Messengers.” Joyner would have known that this
term referred to the Branhamite’s. It appears; therefore, that Joyner
is a Branhamite of sorts himself. Paralleling Joyner’s associate Kansas
City Prophets drew heavily from the errors of the “Latter Day Rain Movement” whose
leading figure was Branham. Paul Cain also claims to have ministered with
Branham when he was younger, and has said that Branham was the greatest prophet
since bible times. Another of these “prophets,” Todd Bentley,
also harks back to Branham and claims that seeking after his angel is the
key to birthing revival in our day. It would appear that Joyner not only expects
Branham to return to earth as a great white eagle spirit in the end times
but that many of the other deceased healing revivalists will return with him
as eagles as well. Honouring Branham and other deceased healing revivalists,
seeking ministry from the deceased and an intention to call upon the dead
to return to earth as angelic eagle spirits in the future are all common beliefs
amongst these ministers. An undercurrent of spiritualism is clearly flowing
through the church of the western world today.
Bad fruit accompanies most
of the main “prophets” linked to Joyner
which should also set our alarm bells ringing. In 1994 Bob Jones had to step
down from ministry after he admitted using his spiritual gifts to manipulate
and solicit sexual favours from women in his congregation. In 2006 Paul Cain
was exposed as an alcoholic drunk, illicit drug user and active homosexual.
In 2008 Bentleys was found to be having an affair with a woman who shared
the platform with him during his revival crusades. He also lied about dozens
of people being raised from the dead during those three months of his ministry.
Joyner does not appear to have been involved in any such sexual sin. However,
the self centred nature of his visions and dreams, in which he alone stars
in the central, glorified role throughout, is evidence of the flesh and another
indication of deception.
Joyner believes he has visited heaven on multiple
occasions eclipsing the rare times that St Paul and John did so according
to the bible. The encounters
of Joyner and his companions sound more like the astral projection experiences
that New Agers have than anything biblical. His close associate “prophet,” Bob
Jones, even claims to visit heaven, at will, several times every day which
obviously can’t be of God, (video
link). Patricia King was taken in
by these rather fickle descriptions of heavenly visits in this video. During
one of his own “heavenly” visitations Joyner is told by some rather
depressed saints that they had been sent to the fires of hell for a period
of torment before being allowed into the outskirts of heaven. This was despite
them all having had good reputations whilst on earth. Joyner claims that there
is a great multitude of Christians in heaven today who were tormented in hell
fire for a season like this. This appears to reflect Joyner’s disdain
for more ordinary bible based forms of Christianity. It appears that ordinary
Pentecostals and charismatic’s Christians who stick with the bibles
teaching on the spiritual gifts and other manifestations of the Holy Spirit
would be included amongst these “foolish virgins” as Joyner describes
them. Chapter 10 looks at some of the quotes Joyner has made about himself
in his book and these reveal a similar disdain for Christian’s who will
not move on into his own deceptive forms of spirituality. These are the Christians
who become the targets within Joyner’s descriptions of a spiritual civil
war. Joyner’s belief concerning hell also appears very similar to the
Catholic view of purgatory. Historically the Catholic has also had little
tolerance for those believers who will not accept their leadership and authority.
Joyner
claims that the eagle spirits of the dead will also give his side control
of the entire church. This is likely to coincide with the emergence
of a full
blown, counterfeit, pseudo “Christian” Movement in the end times,
a twisted fulfillment of Joyner’s prediction that his side will emerge
as judges over the entire world. Joyner has already emerged as a leading figure
within the very powerful Catholic Order of the Knights of Malta and in so
doing has sworn allegiance to the Pope and promised to promote the aims of
the Catholic Church. I believe that the Lord has shown me that the Catholic
hierarchy will submit to the antichrist in the very end times, (see this article, “The
Coming One World Religion"). Joyner’s deceptive visions therefore
appear to line him up with Satan’s plans for the end times not the Lords.
There are also signs that Joyner is willing to engage in the persecution of
other
Christians which is also something the Catholic Church engaged in historically.
Joyner believes that Jesus has said of St Paul, “It
was because of my grace that I allowed him to persecute My church,” (p.
138), as if Jesus
agreed with this persecution. The biblical account, in Acts 9; 4, reveals
something very different with Jesus claiming that He was being persecuted
by Paul in this. The scriptures are constantly being twisted in ways like
this throughout Joyner’s book.
There is a lot of evidence to suggest
that, at the highest levels, the Catholic hierarchy already adhere to interfaith
beliefs and will accept other religions
as ways to God so long as the Pope gains authority over this. 1 minute 30
seconds into the following video shows scenes of a major Catholic meeting,
overseen by the Pope John Paul II, involving leaders of Buddhist and pagan
religions, including witch doctors, (video
link). There are also many indications
in “The Final Quest” that Joyner is a Unitarian and probably already
adheres to the belief that there are many ways to God which should perhaps
not surprise us. It is somewhat odd that that someone masquerading as a protestant
charismatic prophet would also become a leading figure within the Catholic
Church.
Joyner believes that he and the judges will go on to bind up Satan
themselves and then govern the entire world at the end of this age without
any mention
of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and His physical return to earth. This
reflects the deceptive Manifest Sons of God teaching, (which is based on a
very crude misreading of Romans 8), that was propagated by the same Kansas
City Prophets group back in the 1980’s. The danger is that these false
teachings are already lining Joyner and his followers up with Satan’s
plans for the end times. According to the bible, it is the antichrist and
his beast empire which will rule the world at the end of this age not the
church as Joyner believes, (see Rev 13).
Joyner believes he is doing God’s
will but it is likely that he has always been off beam and has never really
accepted the authority of scripture
despite what he claims in his book's introduction. His deceptive spiritual
experiences are a reflection of the way in which the occult and spiritualism
are infiltrating parts of the church today. This is bound to lead many into
apostasy as the end times approach. Many of the predictions contained within
Joyner's book will appear to come to pass to those who going astray but these
will be warped occult fulfilments of his visions. Ironically, because of this,
a close study of "The Final Quest" can give us a rough idea of what
Satan is planning for the coming season with particular reference to the church
of the western world, (see chapter 5 of these notes). As it pertains to be
prophetic “The Final Quest” should not, therefore, be treated
lightly or read as if it were merely an entertaining Christian fantasy novel.
Instead it will probably prove to be one of the most deceptive and dangerous
Christian books of the modern era.
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