Joyner
calls us to “open our own hearts and minds to realms we do not
now even know exist” and tells us that “This is what Satan
is attempting to counterfeit through the New Age Movement,” (p.127).
However, if we do not presently know that these realms exist via Bible
revelation, then we are courting danger by seeking what God has chosen
not to reveal, either for His own good reasons or more likely because
it is occult and not of Him. The spirituality depicted in scripture
is nothing like what’s described in his book. The reason that
Joyner’s experiences appear, even to him, similar to the New
Age is because they are New Age. Joyner has opened to deceptions from
an occult anointing. We have already seen in Chapter 5 how Joyner’s
side engage in a manipulative form of spiritual warfare against other
Christians that is identical to witchcraft. His side also receive
prophetic messages, healing and empowerment from the spirits of dead/deceased
saints, (the great white eagles), which is spiritualism. The full
version of Chapter 6 looks at other signs of occult spirituality that
Joyner has become embroiled in. There is no mention anywhere in “The
Final Quest,” for example, of Joyner ever being led by the Holy
Spirit. Instead his side rely on making their own decisions throughout
most of the battle. They even decide which new spiritual weapons to
acquire, how to use them and what or who to target with them. The
whole ascent up the spiritual mountain of revelation reflects the
occult view of acquiring spiritual knowledge. As in Freemasonry greater
revelations and power are found as they ascend up to the higher levels.
According to the bible, however, God determines which spiritual gifts
and revelations are released to which people. This is done according
to God’s grace alone not on the basis of mans desire, efforts
or will, (see 1 Cor 12: 7 - 23). However Joyner states that, “I
was stunned that we had made another decision of such importance just
by thinking and briefly discussing it,” (p.32), “We passed
levels of truth very fast. On most of them we did not even bother
to look around if there was not a weapon apparent that would work,” (p.
34). Similarly the new spiritual weapons and gifts that Joyner’s
side discover are nothing like what is described in the bible. Furthermore
Joyner’s spiritual experiences are all self centred, with Joyner
himself being exalted within every one of them. When he believes he
is in heaven, for example, Joyner states, “This really is heaven
I blurted out… Immediately the entire host of heaven seemed
to stand at attention, and I knew that I was the centre of their attention,” (p.110), “I
had become so familiar with the spiritual realms that I hardly noticed
angels anymore,” (p. 72). Joyner even believes that these “angels
all bowed in salute,” (p.68), to him instead of to God alone.
There is very little glory given to God anywhere in “The Final
Quest,” instead everything revolves around Joyner. This is all
evidence of the self centred, delusional, sinful nature based form
of spirituality that typifies the occult.
“Test all things, hold fast what is good,” (1 Thess 5;
21,22).
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