THE VATICAN AND THE NEW APOSTOLIC REFORMATION: WHAT'S THE DEAL?

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. (1 Corinthians 3:11-13).

The meetings between the Pope and various New Apostolic Reformation leaders in 2016 is contradictory in many ways, not least because both parties claim the exclusive right to apostolic authority.

The glaring contradiction between "inclusivism" and the Council of Trent. 

Protestantism teaches "exclusivism", namely the biblical view that salvation necessitates personal and explicit faith in Jesus Christ. The official doctrine adopted by the RCC since Vatican II is "inclusivism", the outrageous teaching that non-Christians can be saved by Jesus Christ without faith! (Hebrews 11:6). Confusingly, "inclusivism" stands in opposition to the RC profession that it is the "sole Church of Christ" i.e. "One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church", as defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. ALL non-Catholics were anathematized by the Council of Trent during the Counter Reformation (1545-1563). {1} Since RC anathemas are immutable and can never be rescinded, all Protestants remain officially excommunicated. The ex cathedra position held by the RCC is that it continues to condemn as heresy the Protestant tenet of justification by faith alone (sola fide) apart from works, a position confirmed by Vatican I and II. {2} 

Apostolic succession is the assertion that RC bishops represent the only direct uninterrupted line of continuity from the original apostles:

"The principle underlying the Roman claim is contained in the idea of succession. "To succeed" is to be the successor of, especially to be the heir of, or to occupy an official position just after, as Victoria succeeded William IV. Now the Roman Pontiffs come immediately after, occupy the position, and perform the functions of  St. Peter; they are, therefore, his successors. We must prove that St. Peter came to Rome, and ended there his pontificate; that the Bishops of Rome who came after him held his official position in the Church." {3}

Problematically for the RCC, the claim that the apostle Peter had supremacy among the twelve apostles, and that he became the first bishop of Rome cannot be proved. No evidence exists that Peter ever went to Rome. As a consequence of this tenuous claim, the so called "separate churches" are officially judged by Trent to be entirely invalid. More than that, their own warped criteria necessitate that it is impossible for the NAR to have any claim to apostolic succession or prophetic authority. How is it conceivable that the Pope has acknowledged NAR "prophets" as genuine and given them his approbation? According to NAR "prophet" Kris Valloten, the Pope's opening comment at their 2016 meeting was: “We must invite the prophets back into the church and welcome them with open arms.” {4)

The NAR is a Protestant coalition consisting of neo Pentecostals and charismatics. NAR leaders claim that the second apostolic age is upon us on the authority of their now deceased "Presiding Apostle" C. Peter Wagner. Wagner announced the beginning of the "second apostolic age", claiming that the lost offices of prophet and apostle were restored in 2001. {5} The NAR is hyper-authoritarian and pyramidal in its hierarchical structure, with the guru "apostle" at the pinnacle.. very similar in fact to the structure of the RCC. NAR cults are the fastest growing sects of Christianity. An estimated 369 million people are a part of this movement worldwide. {6} The NAR have other things in common with the RCC, in particular ecumenism and their plan to infiltrate and dominate all sectors of society via their "seven mountain mandate". If we are to believe the Jesuit Extreme Oath, their aim is to do their uttermost to secretly infiltrate Protestant churches and to ".. extirpate the heretical Protestants or Liberals' doctrines and to destroy all their pretended powers, regal or otherwise." {7}

In reality, the New Apostolic Reformation aka Dominionism/Kingdom Now/Replacement Theology is a dangerous heretical movement consisting of proven false teachers such as Bill Johnson, Rick Joyner, Mike Bickle, Todd Bentley, Lou Engle, Cindy Jacobs, Rick Joyner, John and Carol Arnott and many more. {8} The NAR are very fuzzy on doctrine and rely heavily on extra-biblical revelations from their so called "prophets" and "apostles". These wolves have put themselves beyond accountability, since they make themselves the final authority. (Acts 17:10-11). According to the NAR, the church must submit to the authority of their own so called "apostles" in order for their dominionist objective to succeed i.e to transform nations for Christ in order to "establish the Kingdom of God on earth". {9} Wagner established the International Coalition of Apostlic Leaders (ICAL) and the Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders whose mission it is to "..effectively accelerate the advancement of the Kingdom of God into every sphere of society." {10} The NAR dominionist agenda entirely contradicts the scriptures. Rather than Christians establishing dominion, the scriptures indicate the diametric opposite scenario of increasing godlessness and global hostility against Jesus Christ in the last days. (Revelation 19:19 cf. John 18:36; 2 Timothy 3:1-5).

How does the Vatican square its claim to apostolic succession and the Pope's meeting with NAR "apostles" and "prophets" and vice versa? Surely there is a theological impasse, or are they closer than we are led to believe? Certainly Rick Joyner makes no secret of the fact that he is a Knight of Malta (Order of Malta), an RC lay religious order. {11} The bizarre "knighting ceremony" for graduates of Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (Bethel Church Redding), apparently resonates with the Order of Malta ceremony. {12} Lou Engle, founder of The Call, who claims the "mantle" of ecumenist Billy Graham, actually participated in a sickening act of mutual prostration with RC leader Matteo Calisi in 2016 at LA event Asusa Now. {13} Calisi proposed a covenant between Engle and themselves stating: "..division is a diabolical sin.. Jesus doesn't care about our differences.. for our doctrines, for our traditions.." These statements from Calisi stand in direct contradiction to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the real apostles! The rejection of the scriptures concerning doctrine is the rejection of Christianity itself! (1 Timothy 4:3,16; Titus 2:1, 9). More up to date is the full Catholic Mass held by RCC clergy at the mega-ecumenical Hillsong Alpha Conference in February 2018. {14} Hillsong was founded on New Order of the Latter Rain (NOLR) principles and is also Kingdom Now/NAR.

NARWatchIsrael describe the NAR as a "cuckoo in the nest". They continue: "Years ago this movement set out to ‘infiltrate and pervert the course of the true Church, in order to plant a whole new understanding of God, the Holy Spirit, the Coming, the Endtimes – and almost everything else’, and it is very close to achieving that -worldwide. So much so, that one of its senior proponents boasted: ‘The NAR, in fact, is the 21st century's mainstream Christianity.’" {15} 

In 2000, the Assemblies of God (AG), the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world, issued a statement warning against Dominion theology, a warning that many individual Assemblies of God churches have wilfully ignored!

This statement was adopted by the General Presbytery of the Assemblies of God on August 11, 2000:

"Kingdom Now or Dominion theology. The thought that God’s kingdom can come on earth with a little help from humankind is intriguing to those who advocate this approach to impacting society. Rather than scoffing at the promise of Christ’s imminent return (2 Peter 3:3,4), this errant theology says that Jesus will not return until the Church takes dominion of the earth back from Satan and his followers. By taking control, through whatever means possible, of political, ecclesiastical, educational, economic, and other structures, Christians supposedly can make the world a worthy place for Christ to return and rule over.6 This unscriptural triumphalism generates other related variant teachings." {16} 

The RCC And The NAR Claim To Apostolic Authority Is False!

The idea of "apostolic succession" is not found in the scriptures. Rather apostolic authority is passed on through the teaching of the original apostles, not through apostolic succession. The inerrant scriptures are the benchmark by which we test all things. (1 Thessalonians 5:21; 1 John 4:1Acts 20:32; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Acts 17:11). False apostles and prophets would have us abandon the authority of the Word of God in favour of their own unverifiable extra biblical revelations and feigned authority.

Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (2 John 1:9).

No direct lineage between the RCC and any of the apostles can be established. Critically, deviation from the apostles foundational teaching automatically disqualifies the RCC as the "one true church" and "apostolic succession". The present Pope aka the "supreme Pontiff" has supremacy over the RC church as the "vicar of Christ "(Latin vicarious Christi) from vicarious, meaning...." acting or done for another". This title effectively identifies the succession of popes as antichrists. (1 John 2:18). Antichrist both opposes and stands in place of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 24:5, 24 cf. Matthew 23:9).

These days we should use the title "Apostle" with extreme caution. The term can be loosely applied to a church planter, a missionary or a pioneer, but nothing more. It is imperative that we understand that those who claim to be "apostles", do not have the authority of Jesus' original apostles and they cannot supersede the apostles teaching. (Acts 2:42). 

The RCC is full of contradictions, and is at odds not only with the scriptures, but also within itself and its previous catechisms. Similarly the NAR is a contradictory confusing movement, continually changing the goalposts, and claiming authority on the precepts of men. (Matthew 15:9). God is not the author of confusion. (1 Corinthians 14:33).

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (Titus 1:5-9).

{1} http://heritagebiblechurch.com/PDFs/Facts/Trent.pdf
{2} http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/YOF/Sacrosanctum-Concilium.pdf
{3} http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01641a.htm
{4) https://krisvallotton.com/pope-francis/
id=fVYgSOvy6HEC&pg=PA12&lpg=PA12&dq=c+peter+wagner+office+of+apostle+restored+in+2001&source=bl&ots=hUi7zKaITy&sig=69OqEteZx805By1VcmSAOlZpX0E&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiRoPSQmq3aAhWMN8AKHfgVBZw4FBDoAQhAMAQ#v=onepage&q=c%20peter%20wagner%20office%20of%20apostle%20restored%20in%202001&f=false
{5} https://books.google.co.uk/books?
{6} https://forum.culteducation.com/read.php?12,136116
{7} http://www.reformation.org/jesuit-oath.html
{8} http://www.so4j.com/new-apostolic-reforma:tion-latter-rain
{9} https://www.icaleaders.com/about-ical/statement-of-faith
{10} https://www.icaleaders.com/about-ical/
{11} https://www.morningstarministries.org/about/questions-and-answers/knights-malta-rick-joyner#.WtS-s0xFzIU
{12} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acEJ78_3ym4
{13} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOMY6jLNTw0
{14} https://emergentwatch.com/2018/02/15/hillsong-sponsoring-contemplative-alpha-allows-catholic-mass-at-conference/
{15} http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/NARWatchIsrael.pdf 

{16} https://ag.org/Beliefs/Topics-Index/Revival-Endtime-Revival--Spirit-Led-and-Spirit-Controlled