TRINITY LIFE CHURCH LEICESTER – SMITH WIGGLESWORTH FALSE REVIVAL

What follows is a biblical critique of Smith Wigglesworth’s healing ministry and his prophecy of  a great end-time revival. This gives a very different picture to that given by Brian Niblock on the 19th of October 2014.

Brian Niblock Map and Compass : http://trinitylifechurch.org.uk/messages/

SMITH WIGGLESWORTH MAN OF GOD?

Smith Wigglesworth

Smith Wigglesworth, far from being a man of God was the cause of much consternation and concern amongst his critics. Many sick people were afraid to go forward for prayer at his meetings because of his violent and bullying behaviour! His methods involved hitting, slapping or punching the afflicted part of the body. Proven false prophet Lester Sumrall was responsible for circulating many of the stories of the so called feats of Wigglesworth.

“1987 to 2000: Lester Sumrall, in his 1987 book ‘I Predict 2000 AD’ predicted that Jerusalem would be the richest city on Earth, that the Common Market would rule Europe, and that there would be a nuclear war involving Russia and perhaps the U.S. Also, he prophesized that the greatest Christian revival in the history of the church would happen: all during the last 13 years of the 20th century. All of the predictions failed.” http://www.sounddoctrine.net/Nick/topical/false_prophets.htm

Sumrall recounts Wigglesworth punching corpses until restored to life and repeatedly punching cancer tumour victims until they died and then raising them from the dead. Wigglesworth is credited with creative miracles where missing limbs were formed. He is reported to have kicked a dead baby off the platform which later came back to life!!! It has been said that the legend of Smith Wigglesworth is one of the greatest lies and fabrications ever developed within the Pentecostal movement. Not one account of Wigglesworth’s raising the dead was ever authentically documented.

“On a number of occasions his approach to persons suffering from stomach complaints was to punch them in the stomach, sometimes with such force that it propelled them across the room. When challenged on this, his response was "I don't hit them, I hit the devil". Responding to criticism over his method of praying for the sick, Wigglesworth stated: "You might think by the way I went about praying for the sick that I was sometimes unloving and rough, but oh, friends, you have no idea what I see behind the sickness and the one who is afflicted. I am not dealing with the person; I am dealing with the satanic forces that are binding the afflicted…..” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_Wigglesworth

“On another typical occasion, a man came forward for prayer for stomach pain, and, commanding the pain to be gone, Wigglesworth punched the man in the stomach so hard that he was sent half-way across the room (completely healed)! This kind of thing happened more than once. Wigglesworth believed in COMMANDING the sick to be healed in Jesus' name. His was an aggressive, holy faith. He was a ‘violent’ man, taking ground from the devil by force. And yet he was also a man of great compassion, as well as of great authority. The devil certainly felt it when Smith Wigglesworth hit town!" http://www.deanbergministries.org/smith_wigglesworth2.htm

Did Jesus Christ or the apostles ever use violence to heal anyone?

I can only imagine that the devil was having a good laugh at this base and ignorant man.

Wigglesworth believed that physical healing is included within the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice as part of the atonement. He taught against the use of all medicine and believed that all sickness was of the devil. The concept of guaranteed healing brings with it very serious problems. The Bible tells us that NOT ALL sickness is of the devil. Paul the apostle was unable to heal Timothy’s frequent ailments (1 Timothy 5/23); Paul left Trophimus sick in Miletus (2 Timothy 4/20). Sickness can be caused by sin of course (John 5/14). 1 Corinthians 15/42-44 and 2 Corinthians 4/16 tells us that our outer man is decaying. Only in the resurrected state will believers be completely free from illness and pain. Wigglesworth commenced each one of his meetings by standing up on the platform and arrogantly declaring, "Whoever gets up here first will be healed of whatever disease they have got!"

"On one occasion Wigglesworth declared to the sick ‘I'll only pray for you once, to pray twice is unbelief.’ The second night, a man approached the altar to receive prayer again and Wigglesworth, recognizing him, said ‘Didn't I pray for you last night? You are full of unbelief, get off this platform!’” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_Wigglesworth

To top it all off, Wigglesworth himself and his own family were critically impacted by sickness. Wigglesworth suffered for years with gallstones and later with sciatica. His daughter Alice, who assisted at his meetings, was never healed of deafness. His wife Polly was not healed of the sickness that took her life as a young woman in 1913, and his son died two years later from the sickness that took him away in childhood. Mary Boddy, the woman who laid hands on Wigglesworth in 1907 when he was allegedly “baptized in the Spirit”, spent the last sixteen years of her life as an invalid. All this really speaks for itself.

I’m sorry if this offends Smith Wigglesworth fans, but I find that his attitude was disgusting in the extreme and about as far away from God as you can get! Wigglesworth set a precedent for false healers like Todd Bentley to go around punching and kicking the sick! It is all very well being unorthodox in one’s methods, but Wigglesworth was a violent and crude man! I personally do believe in healing and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but we should never abuse the body of Christ by dishing out crass unbiblical answers to people who are suffering, and we cannot attribute all sickness to the activity of demons!

In addition to his blatantly unscriptural teaching about healing, Wigglesworth was a forerunner of the erroneous Word-Faith Movement due to his teaching that Christians can command (speak) things into being. He also taught a form of sinless perfection. There are many other problems with Wigglesworth’s theology too numerous to mention here.

SMITH WIGGLESWORTH WAS A FRAUD AND A LIABILITY!!!!!

As Brian Niblock rightly says, Wigglesworth did prophesy a great end-time revival. In 1936 he gave a prophecy to ecumenist David DuPlessis that God would pour out the Pentecostal experience to sweep the world, and that DuPlessis would play a significant role in this movement. The non-fulfilment of this prophecy proves that it was not of God. The ecumenical/charismatic “renewal” can be credited with facilitating the false end-time one-world ecumenical church of the book of Revelation AKA Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and Abominations of the Earth (Revelation 17/5).

Below is the text of the Smith Wigglesworth prophecy published by Adrian Warnock:

"THE GREAT REVIVAL

During the next few decades there will be two distinct moves of the Holy Spirit across the Church in Great Britain. The first move will affect every church that is open to receive it and will be

The second move of the Holy Spirit will result in people leaving historic churches and planting new churches.

In the duration of each of these moves, the people who are involved will say, ‘This is the great revival.’ But the Lord says, ‘No, neither is this the great revival, but both are steps towards it.’

When the new church phase is on the wane, there will be evidenced in the churches something that has not been seen before: a coming together of those with an emphasis on the Word and those with an emphasis on the Spirit. When the Word and the Spirit come together, there will be the biggest movement of the Holy Spirit that the nation, and indeed, the world, has ever seen. It will mark the beginning of a revival that will eclipse anything that has been witnessed within these shores, even the Wesleyan and the Welsh revivals of former years. The outpouring of God’s Spirit will flow over from the United Kingdom to the mainland of Europe, and from there, will begin a missionary move to the ends of the earth.”

— Smith Wigglesworth, 1947

What does the Bible say about the end-times and revival?

Many passages in the Bible say that there will be a massive end-time falling away, NOT a revival:

Jesus Christ did not speak about a great end-time revival, in fact he taught the polar opposite - in the Olivet Discourse his very first statement was: “See that no-one leads you astray.” (Matthew 24/4)

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24/9-14)

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24/24)

Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.(Luke 17/26; Matthew 24/3 ) This is an emphatic statement in the Greek meaning exactly as it was in the days of Noah.

The days of Noah don’t look like revival to me! The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6/5).

…..because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. (1 Peter 3/20)

Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. (Luke 17/28-30) Only Lot, his wife and two daughters were rescued from Sodom.

Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD. (Genesis 13/13; 18/20; 19/4)

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons….. (1 Timothy 4/1)

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Timothy 4/3-4)

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction….. (2 Thessalonians 2/3)

For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7/14)

Who should we believe – Smith Wigglesworth or JESUS CHRIST?

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119/105)

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4/1)

Much more could be said about Smith Wigglesworth, but I will let readers investigate the links in this post for themselves if they are interested. Paul the apostle advised Christians to have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths (1 Timothy 4/7) and that is precisely what all this Wigglesworth nonsense really is. If you attend TLC, please do your research and do not just take on board what these leaders are telling you (Acts 17/11).

Brian Niblock et al can talk about the Bible and the Holy Spirit as much as they like, but the church needs to put its house in order before the Lord will work in anyone’s life! I have already listed multiple problems at TLC in previous posts, the latest of these being David Hind’s ecumenical leanings and his misplaced admiration for apostate Billy Graham who also talks about an end-time revival i.e. "a great spiritual awakening"!

The Bible warns us AGAIN AND AGAIN that there will be a massive deception in the end-times and that demonic forces will perform astounding miracles - lying signs and wonders. (Daniel 8/25; 2 Thessalonians 2/10-12; Revelation 13/14; Revelation 16/13-14).

My challenge to the leaders of TLC is to provide BIBLICAL EVIDENCE for an end-time revival. Please contact me if you come up with any such evidence.

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. (Acts 20/28-30)

…..if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7/14)

 

The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, who are prophesying, and say to those who prophesy from their own hearts: ‘Hear the word of the LORD!’ Thus says the Lord GOD, Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! Your prophets have been like jackals among ruins, O Israel. You have not gone up into the breaches, or built up a wall for the house of Israel, that it might stand in battle in the day of the LORD. They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘Declares the LORD,’ when the LORD has not sent them, and yet they expect him to fulfil their word. Have you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination, whenever you have said, ‘Declares the LORD,’ although I have not spoken?”Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Because you have uttered falsehood and seen lying visions, therefore behold, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD. My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who give lying divinations. They shall not be in the council of my people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord GOD. Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash, say to those who smear it with whitewash that it shall fall! There will be a deluge of rain, and you, O great hailstones, will fall, and a stormy wind break out. And when the wall falls, will it not be said to you, ‘Where is the coating with which you smeared it?’ Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I will make a stormy wind break out in my wrath, and there shall be a deluge of rain in my anger, and great hailstones in wrath to make a full end. And I will break down the wall that you have smeared with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you shall perish in the midst of it, and you shall know that I am the LORD. Thus will I spend my wrath upon the wall and upon those who have smeared it with whitewash, and I will say to you, The wall is no more, nor those who smeared it, the prophets of Israel who prophesied concerning Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her, when there was no peace, declares the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 13/1-15)

http://taministries.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Smith-Wigglesworth-The-Facts-v3.5.pdf

http://www.smithwigglesworth.com/pensketches/prophecy.html

http://ianvincent.wordpress.com/2014/04/21/smith-wigglesworth/

https://www.facebook.com/watchmandownunder/posts/552629761474242

http://www.bibleprophecyblog.com/2009/11/last-days-apostasy-of-church-part-1.html#

http://standfirminthelord.wordpress.com/2014/11/28/the-trouble-with-adam-simmonds-pcc-northamptonshire/

Dear Reader – Do you have questions about Jesus Christ and how to be truly saved? If so, then please read my post: GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/gods-plan-of-salvation-through-jesus.html