These notes were handed out along with
David Noakes prophecy, (link), in 2008, prior to Bentley having to step
down from ministry.
Basic background notes by S. Dobbs.
So why is D. Noakes’ prophecy now so relevant? Well, I was being
prepared by the Lord to hand out David Noakes’ prophecy way back
in 2007; Clifford Hill will be able to confirm this. Since then, in April
2008, Todd Bentley has become a central figure in a healing revival from
Florida, USA, which is already influencing many believers around the
world via the God Channel. Bentley himself makes it clear himself that
he has close links with, and has been greatly influenced by, the Kansas
City prophets. He shares all their unusual beliefs and spiritual practices
having become one of these prophets himself. This is the very same group
that David Noakes’ was praying about when he received the previous
prophetic warning. As the bible instructs us to “test all things” (1
Thess 5. 21), we are simply obeying God by doing this. [I’ve added
this in brackets in Aug: Although it appears that the Bentley revival
is now faltering I think that an examination of it is still vital if
this will help us understand and discern future influences and ministries,
be they good, bad or a mixture of truth and error.]
Other links with the Kansas City prophets: Bob Jones, who used to be
the leading prophet amongst this Kansas City group, recently had the
same prophecy on the same day as Bentley, and this is the word that is
said to have heralded this new revival. Bob Jones has appeared on stage
with Bentley and is repeatedly honoured by him and others from the stage.
Paul Cain, another Kansas City prophet, has also appeared on stage with
Bentley and has been honoured by him for having a word which predicted
this revival some time ago. So this is very much a Kansas City prophet’s
influenced revival - pointing us to them.
The healing revival: The main focus of the meetings is on healing,
although Toronto type manifestations seem to be on the increase too.
There has
been no preaching of the gospel and therefore only a very small number
of unbelievers getting saved, with hardly any emphasis on this. Whilst
Jesus name is proclaimed there doesn’t seem to be any focus on
His death on the cross for our sins or calls for repentance as has been
central to other revivals throughout history. It appears that this revival
is centred on meeting the desires of Christians for spiritual phenomena
rather than on helping unbelievers find salvation. So is this really
a revival? 1 Cor14; 29 says “Let
two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge”. Is anyone
in Florida weighing up and judging this revival? Does it contain a wave
of deception as Noakes' prophecy
warns?
The pass it on anointing: Todd Bentley tries to make a point of laying
hands on everyone present at these meetings so they can receive an impartation
of a “pass it on anointing“ which people can then take back
to their own churches. Whilst his intensions may be fine no one there
appears to be weighing up exactly what spirit is being imparted in this
way. 1 Jn 4;1 tells us to “test the spirits, whether they are of
God”. It would be reckless to just assume that this is the
Holy Spirit. This question also arises; if God is omnipresent then why
would
He need us to come and collect His Spirit and carry Him back with us
in this way? Surely God can anoint anyone, anywhere, anytime. And why
is it that anyone who attends Bentleys meetings can become catalysts
for this revival? Surely historically God has chosen those who are most
submitted to Him not necessarily those who attend certain meetings? This
isn't the way the Holy Spirit moved on the day of Pentecost, (see Acts
Ch 2), or in any major revivals that have impacted our societies since
then.
The Christian media: Todd Bentley has been holding similar types of meetings,
displaying the same type of phenomena, including healings, for years.
This recent move seems to be having a much greater impact due to the
extensive coverage given it on Wendy Alecs “God Channel” and
Steve Shultz’ “Elijah List” and “Prophetic TV”,
both of which have large Christian audiences, and are proclaiming this
to be the start of a great revival. However we have to question the spiritual
discernment of Wendy Alecs and Steve Shultz. Although no doubt well intentioned,
they both chose Paul Cain as their prophetic adviser at a time when Cain
was immersed in a secret lifestyle of homosexuality and recreational
drug use and neither noticed a thing. How then can we trust them to be
able to discern the source of this revivals spiritual phenomenon? They
do not appear to have availed themselves of either the scriptures or
the gift of “discerning of spirits”, (1
Cor 12; 10),which
the Lord has given us for testing such things as the bible directs us
to.
Unscriptural doctrines: Those closely affiliated with this Kansas City
group of prophets, including Todd Bentley, are certainly not ordinary
Pentecostal/charismatic believers. They have some very strange doctrine’s,
(you can study this for yourself in more detail on-line). They believe
that they have acquired these new doctrines from visionary experiences.
Most of them give more authority to their visions than to the bible.
Many of their new teachings also contradict scripture. Bob Jones emerged
as this groups leading prophet. Mike Bickle, Jones pastor, originally
thought that a demon was giving Jones these experiences but later changed
his mind about this. Bickle reports how Jones often received five or
ten visions a night. As “Satan... transforms himself into an angel
of light”, (2 Cor 11; 14), we cannot just assume though that all
other Christians are moving in the Holy Spirit, there will always be
some who will get deceived, as has happened throughout history.
Todd Bentleys Teaching: In a video of Todd Bentley’s preaching
during the first week of this revival, he tells the audience that he
pushes himself ever further in gaining what at first appeared to be words
of knowledge. But he then goes on to say “I don’t move in
the gifts of the Spirit… the gifts have to be initiated by the
Holy Spirit…I move in the seven spirits of God…this gives
you the whole council of God”, (this is an obscure, out of context,
ref to Rev 1; 4, 3; 1). He then goes on to tell his audience “don’t
seek after the word of knowledge” encouraging them to seek after
this other form of spirituality instead. This isn’t scriptural.
Such an error can open a person up to the wrong spirit, they can end
up moving in the same New Age/occult anointing as the psychics and mediums.
A Strange spirituality: All of these men, Todd Bentley, Bob Jones, Paul
Cain, Mike Bickle, (and also Rick Joyner), have all had numerous visionary
experiences of visiting heaven where they believe they have talked with
the spirits of people who have died. They also claim to have had long
conversations with the spirit of the Apostle Paul from the New Testament.
They all believe that they have gained new revelations from these encounters
which they then pass onto the rest of us as prophetic teachings. A different
form of spirituality seems to be at work here, one that does not appear
to be in the bible.
Spiritualism: Bob Jones has claimed that the spirit
of a deceased Indian monk, Sundar Singh, has appeared and ministered
to him. Bob Jones has
also introduced Todd Bentley to a female Angel named Emma. Bentley says
in his 2003 article “Angelic Hosts”, that, quote, “Bob...told
me that Emma was the angel that helped birth and start the whole prophetic
movement in Kansas City in the 1980’s...she floated a couple of
inches off the floor. It was almost like Kathryn Kuhlman in those old
videos”. Todd Bentley now receives ministry from these spirits.
I’m only referring briefly here to things they themselves have
claimed, which you can then examine for yourself in detail online. 1
Jn 4; 1 tells us “do not believe
every spirit, but test the spirits”. It seems likely that
a spirit of divination and spiritualism is at work here. It is possible
therefore that this may also be the source of the healings as well. It
would be highly irresponsible to receive such anointing without testing
it.
Another spirit: Most of us are aware that there is an alternative spirituality
to Gods Holy Spirit. Those involved in the New Age/occult frequently
move in knowledge, predictions and healings too. An O/T e.g. were Pharaohs
magicians who performed great miracles in Ex
7; 11. An N/T e.g. was Simon
who “practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people....to
whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This
man is the great power of God”, (Acts
8; 9, 10). If the Kansas
prophets have received the wrong spirit they could spread this to others
via an impure or counterfeit revival, especially through the laying on
of hands; in a wave of deception as predicted by Noakes. To act responsibly
we should at least prayerfully consider this as a very real possibility.
The Healings: The bible tells us that healings and other signs often
follow the preaching of the gospel; “confirming the word through
the accompanying signs”, (Mark
16; 20). In this revival though
there is very little preaching of the gospel and the signs themselves
have become central instead. If there is a genuine healing gift operating
here it is attracting people to leaders who are imbedded in false teaching
and a strange form of spirituality. But why would God confirm false teachings
with such signs? We have to consider the likelihood therefore that some
of the healings themselves are coming from a New Age/occult anointing
as well. 2 Thess 2; 9, tells us that sometime before Christ return “power,
signs, and lying wonders” will occur (accompanied by “all
unrighteous deception”, v.10), “ that will deceive many believers
and lead them astray into “giving heed to deceiving spirits and
doctrines of demons“, ( 1 Tim 4; 1). If you research Bentley’s
beliefs and doctrines I think you will agree that they are extremely
dodgy to say the least.
Sexual sin: John Wimber took the Kansas City prophets
under his wing shortly before his UK tour in 1991. These prophets had
many predictions
of revival breaking out from these meetings, this proved to be false
and nothing happened. Not long after these meetings Wimber had to discipline
members of this group who were found to be involved in sexual immorality.
Their leading prophet, Bob Jones, admitted using his spiritual gifts
to manipulate and solicit sexual favours from two women in his congregation.
More recently, (in 2006/7), it emerged that Paul Cain has been living
a secret lifestyle of homosexuality and recreational drug use for quite
some time whilst masquerading as a major Christian prophet. According
to Wendy Alecs’ own website Cain had even refused to repent of
this sin until others had threatened to publicly expose it anyway. Little
more than a year later he has appeared on stage with Todd Bentley being
honoured at the centre of this revival. God forgives but the bible also
states that “You will know them by their
fruits” (Matt
7; 16). So are these the people God has really chosen to birth
a major revival or are they being used by the enemy?
Conclusion: Each person must decide for themselves. As D. Noakes’ prophecy
warns us of a wave of deception though, concerning these same Kansas
affiliated prophet’s, we surely need to consider Matt
24:24. This
tells us that “false prophets will rise and show great signs and
wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect”, so are they now
starting to emerge from amongst us? Concerning this 1
Jn 2; 19 says “They
went out from us, but they were not of us”. So has this process
of some departing from the truth already started? We at least need to
pray about this possibility and test everything against scripture. Or
perhaps we should also be praying for these leaders themselves as anyone
can get deceived. The saying “but for the grace of God there go
I” is always very poignant.
May God bless you as you endever to, test these things for yourself.
S. Dobbs, June 2008, N.K.J.V used. Please feel free to copy and distribute
this as you see fit.
For
other relevant prophecies see website: www.propheciesfortoday.uk.com
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