You have probably heard recent reports
from the USA that a “new move of God” has started centring
around IHOP’s meetings, promoted on the God Channel, and Todd Bentleys
return to ministry, promoted on Rick Joyner’s online T.V station,
(Bentley is the man who was found to be having an adulterous affair during
his 2008 “revival” and failed to produce any evidence to
support his claims that over 30 people had been raised from the dead
during those three months). I felt led to compile some of the background
facts surrounding this “new move” to enable others to quickly
locate the relevant information online so they can test this for themselves.
This can otherwise take a lot of time. I have also included this
link to a prophecy by David Noakes which may be relevant.
I Thess 5; 21“test all things”.
Introduction: Briefly, all the ministries involved so far, i.e. Mike
Bickle of IHOP, Todd Bentley and Rick Joyner have all been influenced
by the strange spirituality of Bob Jones Jones who claims that he goes
to heaven "three times every day as part of his rapture exercises”,
as well as the ministry of William Branham who whilst alive claimed that
the zodiac and pyramids had as much spiritual authority as the bible.
We therefore need to urgently test this latest “move of God”,
its leaders and its spirituality, with discernment and against scripture.
1 Jn 4; 1 “do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits,
whether they are of God”.
Todd Bentleys return to ministry: His promoter, Rick Joyner, has claimed
that Bentley has received a new more powerful anointing with signs following,
after being prayed for by Bob Jones. Jones claimed he was led to do this
during a powerful encounter with God. However Bentley has failed to provide
any evidence to support his claims that over thirty people had been raised
from the dead as coffins were placed in front of TV sets screening his
meetings live through the God Channel in 2008. Just before Bentley’s
adultery was about to be publically exposed then he told his online audience
that God wanted them to donate $1 MILL to him. Then instead of repenting
right away he abandoned his ministry and ran off to live with his mistress
until he was able to divorce his wife and remarry. So is God really using
him to lead a “revival move” just seventeen months later?
If not then what are these reports of spiritual manifestations; could
Bentley have been deceived into moving in another spirit? Link
to video.
As Satan can also anoint surely we must consider all eventualities including
the possible relevance of verses such as this occurring;
2 Thess 2; 9 - 11 “the working of Satan, with all power, signs,
and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception… strong delusion”
Bob Jones is now the main Kansas City Prophet. He had the prophecy that
led to IHOP being set up as well as the prayer behind Bentleys return
to ministry. However both Jones and Bentley claim to go to the third
heaven, at will, whenever they want, (view
video). Bentley’s promoter,
Rick Joyner, also claims to visit heaven often too. They also call upon
the spirits of the dead to return to earth to minister to them. But
is this not spiritualism? In the early 1990’s, Jones was forced to
step down from public ministry after he admitted using his spiritual
gifts to solicit sexual favours from women in his congregation. So why
would God anoint them more than other Christians, and does this scriptures
apply, Matt 7; 16 “You will know them by their fruits”?
Advancing Branham’s beliefs: Is Rick Joyner promoting Bentley
because he advances the same strange spiritual beliefs as himself? Joyner,
Bentley, Bob Jones, Paul Cain and Mike Bickle, (leader of IHOP and the
Kansas City Prophets group), have all been greatly influenced by the
ministry of William Brahman and his strange belief in being led by angels
etc. From the 1930’s to 60s Branham claimed his miracles came through “his
angel” whilst all the other well known healing evangelists operated
directly from Gods Holy Spirit. Similarly, in an online video, Todd Bentley
claimed that God had told him to focus his preaching on “the angel” instead
of on Jesus. And in “The Final Quest” Rick Joyner is constantly
referring to angels without mentioning the Holy Spirit or testing his
experiences against scripture at all. Branham himself had little regard
for scripture and said that "God wrote three Bibles, the zodiac,
the great pyramid and the Holy Bible, which all had equal spiritual authority”.
Branham even suggested that he was himself the angel sent to the end
time’s church spoken of in the Book of Revelation. After Branham
died his family refused to bury him for four months because they had
been led to believe that he would be raised from the dead, which suggests
he had some sort of messianic complex. So was Branham really moving in
Gods Spirit, just confused, ill, or one of the false prophets the bible
warns us about? And why are these other ministers so drawn to angels?
Col 2.18, “Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and
the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes
into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs
him up with idle notions”. v. 19, He has lost connection with the
head”.
The God Channel: Although well intentioned the Alecs have displayed
an unwillingness to take responsibility for their reporting errors and
lack of discernment concerning Bentley in 2008. I believe this “turning
a blind eye” leaves them even more open to deception in the future
and that the God Channel has become an “Achilles heel” for
the church, an organisation that Satan can now use to advance the most
deceived ministries. They appear to have neglected seeking after and
testing things against scripture and with the gift of “discerning
of spirits” (1 Cor 12; 10).
IHOP, (the international House of Prayer), is being promoted extensively
by the God Channel which also promoted Todd Bentley’s “Florida
Outpouring” in 2008. It is run by Mike Bickle who is also leader
of the controversial “Kansas City Prophets”. IHOP was set
up after a specific prophecy from Bob Jones, (now the leading Kansas
City prophet). Before this Augustine Alcala, (often spelt Acolla online),
had a general prophecy for Bickle predicting that he would be used to
raise up a mighty work in the earth. Others have raised questions about
Alcala’s sexual
morality and prophetic gifting. It
appears likely that Bickle’s church, the Kansas City Prophets group
and IHOP, (which all have very suspect roots), are all founded on false
prophecies. Originally Bickle even thought Jones was moving in the power
of a demon but later allowed this activity in his own church. Later both
Jones and Bickle claimed that they had been visited by the Arch Angel
Gabriel at the same time. In mid Nov 2009 Bickle claimed that IHOP had
moved into revival but I could see no evidence of this myself. Since
being promoted on the God Channel though people have been flocking to
IHOP just as they did to Bentley in 08. Most know very little about IHOP’s
roots. Former members have complained about excessive control and cult
like practices. Would God start a revival within a group so open to deception
and strange unscriptural ministries?
Matt 24; 24 warns us that Satan will “deceive, if possible, even
the elect”.
Mike Bickle is being presented on the God Channel as a conventional
bible teacher and does appear to have more respect for scripture than
the others, I actually agree with many of his end time’s views.
However he has some very strange interpretations of what happens after
the return of Christ (see his 2nd Coming and Armageddon transcripts on
mikebickle.org). He teaches that Jesus will engage in a carnal style
war against Israel’s enemies, literally fighting as King David
did, getting drenched in the blood of those He kills, and that this is
why His robes will be coloured crimson and dipped in blood. But the bible
tells us that God would not allow King David to build Him a temple because
he had killed people in war. Bickle’s view of Jesus seems nothing
like the Jesus described in the gospels. I also wonder where his willingness
to create new doctrine could lead him in the future. Whilst claiming
to test everything against scripture he can’t be doing this concerning
the spiritual experiences of those in his Kansas City Prophets group
or he would realise their spiritual experiences differ massively to those
of the Apostles in the N/T. Should we be watching out for the following;
2 Cor 11:4 “if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have
not preached, or if you receive a different spirit… or a different
gospel…”
Rick Joyner claims that one day he will be given authority to command
spirits into warfare to force all other Christians to accept his own
unusual beliefs and spiritual practices which he describes as liberating
them from their present shame* and describes how angels bow to him when
he visits heaven*. He also claims to have had a long conversation with
the Apostle Paul. During one of his heavenly visitations in which “St
Paul” told him that none of the scriptures could be trusted for
foundational teaching except the gospels alone*. Despite this the God
Channel regularly promotes Joyner as a reliable bible teacher and expert
on the end times but have they considered this possibility?
2 Cor 11; 13; “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,
transforming themselves into apostles of Christ”.
The God Channel’s history of such
errors: The Alec’s are
nice well intentioned people but they surely lack discernment, so can
we trust them in 2010? Before believing Bentleys claims in 2008 Wendy
Alec chose Paul Cain (then the leading Kansas City Prophet) as her spiritual
adviser and even had him write the introduction to her own book of prophecies.
It later emerged that Cain had been living a secret active life of active
homosexuality, using narcotics and was an alcoholic during that time.
The Alecs now have very close links with Joyner and Bickle and in 2009
said they would be moving their base to Kansas USA where Bickle’s
fellowship, his IHOP group and the Kansas City Prophets, including Bob
Jones, are all based – is this a coincidence?
1 Tim 4; 1 warns us that many will start “giving heed to deceiving
spirits and doctrines of demons",
Angels or Fallen Angels: Reports of strange angelic encounters are already
on the increase but why would this be centred on the lukewarm church
of the western world? If Satan can appear as an angel of light could
other fallen angels be doing the same in order to deceive? The angelic
experiences of the above mentioned ministries appear nothing like those
described in the bible. I feel led to also warn of Patricia King who
seems particularly gullible and open to promote many suspect angelic
encounters as well as other odd unscriptural spiritual manifestations
such as jewels and gold dust appearing. Are these all con tricks or is
a New Age spirit sometimes causing such things to occur?
2 Cor 11; 14, “Satan...
transforms himself into an angel of light”
Summary: Are all these proclaimed “prophets”, Bob Jones,
Todd Bentley, Mike Bickle, Rick Joyner and Patricia King really moving
in Gods Spirit or another spirit by mistake? Are the related groups of
IHOP and God Channel going to promote what could become a counterfeit
revival based on another spirit? The God Channel is often saying that
we are heading into the end times, very likely true, but if so they are
failing to warn people that these would be times of great deception when;
Matt 24; 24, “false prophets will rise and show great signs and
wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect”.
So is Satan promoting the most deceived ministries in advance of a wave
of deception of the type David Noakes’ prophecy warns us about?
And if so how are we to view these ministries as anyone of us can get
deceived. The saying “but for the grace of God go I” should
surely be borne in mind.
May God bless you as you endeavour to weigh up and test these things.
*From pages 35, 56 and 131–136 of the 1996 edition of “The
Final Quest” by Rick Joyner.
For more details on this try www.wordconnect.org/page_article5.php
Email: info@wordconnect.org , For prophecies try www.propheciesfortoday.uk.com
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