BILL JOHNSON: EUROPEAN LEADERS ALLIANCE BRADFORD JULY 2019

European Leaders Alliance - 29-31 July 2019
https://www.europeanleadersalliance.org/#speakers

The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is a controversial movement that is historically associated with Pentecostalism and the Charismatic movement, having its roots in the Pentecostal movement of the 1900s and the Charismatic movements of the 1960s and 1980s. {1} Though there is some overlap, the NAR is a movement that seeks to establish a fifth branch within Christendom, as distinct from Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy. The NAR seeks to reinstate what they term as the "lost offices" of apostles and prophets to church governance. The rapid global expansion of the NAR is mainly due to covert infiltration and assimilation of various unsuspecting congregations. Bill Johnson is a leading figure within this counterfeit movement and is widely touted as an Apostle. Johnson will be the speaking at the above event along with "apostolic couple" Tim and Sue Eldridge, and "Prophet" Graham Cooke.

Bill Johnson's Questionable Relationship With Truth

In 2016 Bill Johnson distanced himself from the NAR, stating that Bethel church "..does not have any official ties to the NAR.. I'm not completely clear on what it is.” {2}

Johnson's statement above is typical of the duplicity demonstrated by the leadership of Bethel Church in Redding CA - his involvement within this movement is undeniable. Johnson was recognised as an "Apostle" by NAR founder and "Super-Apostle" C Peter Wagner (2 Corinthians 11:5, 12:11). Furthermore Johnson embraces core NAR teachings and has close ties with various other NAR false teachers.

In an interview, Bill Johnson claimed that neither he nor Bethel encourages the occult practice known as "grave sucking" aka "grave soaking", i.e. the practice of lying on the grave of a deceased "Christian" leader in order to "soak up" their anointing. Nevertheless Johnson's wife Beni and members of Bethel's affiliate Jesus Culture openly practice this particular form of necrophilia. In fact Johnson himself visited the grave of Smith Wigglesworth in England with a group of Bethel students a few years ago. Beni Johnson is more forthcoming: "Grave-sucking is what I do". {3}

When they are not busy opening portals, conjuring angel orbs, attempting to walk through walls, making fire tunnels etc. {4} students of the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, dubbed “Christian Hogwarts”, visit the graves of various heretics such as:

Smith Wigglesworth
John Alexander Dowie
John G. Lake
Kathryn Kulhman
Charles C. Finney
Aimee Semple McPherson
C.S. Lewis

Johnson: "There are anointings, mantles, revelations and mysteries that have lain unclaimed, literally where they were left, because the generation that walked in them never passed them on. I believe it’s possible for us to recover realms of anointing, realms of insight, realms of God that have been untended for decades simply by choosing to reclaim them and perpetuate them for future generations."  {5}

The only requirement necessary in the New Testament is for believers to receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:22; Acts 8:15). It is the Holy Spirit who distributes various gifts and ministries: All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (1 Corinthians 12:11). The New Testament does not support grave sucking or the supposed anointing of deceased believers. (1 Corinthians 4:6). Mediums and necromancers are equally condemned in the Old Testament. (Leviticus 20:27).

Bethel's Senior Associate Leader, Kris Vallotton, originally condemned Christalignment Destiny Cards aka Christian tarot cards as "insane". {6} However, Vallotton rapidly withdrew his criticism and issued the following statement: "Christalignment is not formally affiliated with Bethel. We do, however, have a value for what they are seeking to accomplish." {7}  Not "formally affiliated" perhaps, but Christalignment is in fact Bethel approved, and despite their conflicting statements, the dots connect. Ben Fitzgerald is the leader of Awakening Europe and GODfest Ministries. {8} He is also the Director of Awakening Austrialia of which Christalignment is a supporting ministry. {9} In 2018, Awakening Australia featured Bill Johnson as a speaker. {10} Fitzgerald is actually the son of Christalignment leaders Ken and Jen Hodge. Ben Fitzgerald was "knighted" by Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton at one of their bizarre occult rites. {11}

Awakening Europe, put on by GODfest, is honestly going to release a shaking throughout all over Europe. These guys carry such a strong, but practical evangelistic anointing. I believe these events are going to be life changing, not just for those who attend, but honestly shaking the entire continent of Europe.

- Bill Johnson
Senior Pastor, Bethel Church - Author When Heaven Invades Earth
Redding, California  {12}

The following statement from Bethel's website encapsulates Dominion Theology, the lethal eschatological error of the NAR:

"A Glorious Bride
Christ is returning for a glorious overcoming bride - His Church. We are sons and daughters of the King, more than “sinners saved by grace.” We aim to fulfill the Great Commission and steward revival to the next generation. We embrace the biblical government of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers." {13}

The false premise that present-day apostles and prophets must hold formal offices of governance in the church, ahead of pastors and elders, is antithetical to the scriptures. NAR leaders claim that their apostles and prophets have extraordinary authority, on a par with New Testament apostles and Old Testament prophets. However, they will not be held to the same accountability since they allow for prophetic inaccuracies. (Deuteronomy 18:20-22; Jeremiah 28:9; Ezekiel 33:33). The NT makes no mention of the formal office of Apostle or Prophet, rather, an apostle is simply a missionary or a church planter, and the gift of prophecy is one of various gifts Paul listed for the common good. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). The insistence that local pastors and elders must submit to the extraordinary authority of NAR apostles and prophets is completely out of sync with the New Testament. Within the NAR, individual "apostles" claiming to act on behalf of the "global church", have authority over their own network of churches and ministries, sometimes numbering into the hundreds. This contradicts the biblical model of church structure as laid down in the NT. Paul instructed Titus to ..appoint elders in every town as I directed you. (Titus 1:5; cf. Acts 14:23). In the New Testament, individual churches are autonomous congregations with their own local overseers directing their specific affairs. In fact NAR apostles and prophets literally hijack churches and overrule pastors/elders because of their presumptuous claims to receive direct revelation from God, albeit that those revelations are frequently inaccurate.

Johnson: “None of us has a full grasp of Scripture, but we all have the Holy Spirit. He is our common denominator who will always lead us into truth. But to follow Him, we must be willing to follow off the map—to go beyond what we know.” {14}

Johnson: “Jesus did not say, ‘My sheep will know my book.’ It is His voice that we are to know. Why the distinction? Because anyone can know the Bible as a book – the devil himself knows and quotes the Scriptures. But only those whose lives are dependent on the person of the Holy Spirit will consistently recognize His voice. This is not to say that the Bible has little or no importance. Quite the opposite is true. The Bible is the Word of God, and scripture will always confirm His voice. That voice gives impact to what is in print.." {15}

The above statement is a contradiction in terms. If the scriptures "always confirm His voice", then why are NAR apostles and prophets at variance with biblical eschatology and prophecy? The scriptures know nothing of Dominion Theology, in fact they teach the exact opposite:

3As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9“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. 10And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.. 21For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. (Matthew 24:3-21; cf. Luke 21:10-11).

Johnson describes the scriptures on their own as dead words, and he makes the distinction between the written word (logos), and a spoken word (rhema). However, rhema and logos are synonymous in the scriptures. For instance when discussing spiritual gifts, the Apostle Paul used logos to describe the utterance of wisdom, and the utterance of knowledge. (1 Corinthians 12:8). If a so called "rhema word" conflicts with the written word, then it must be dismissed as false. (1 John 4:1). It may be that many unregenerate people can and do know the scriptures objectively. However His sheep are believers who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and recognise the scriptures as His inspired Word. (John 10:14). The Word of God and the Holy Spirit are never contradictory, and yet all too frequently NAR apostles and prophets do contradict the scriptures and go beyond what is written. (1 Corinthians 4:6).

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12).

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Apostolic_Reformation#Beliefs
2. https://churchwatchcentral.com/2018/07/30/nar-recognize-bill-johnson-randy-clark-as-their-own-apostles-part-2/

3. https://churchwatchcentral.com/2018/09/16/charisma-magazine-reports-on-why-bill-johnson-didnt-immediately-shut-down-grave-sucking/

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY6AJOEWdcQ
5. The Physics of Heaven
6. http://www.piratechristian.com/museum-of-idolatry/2019/2/christalignment-bethel-fortune-telling-new-age-naked-with-jesus-extravaganza
7. https://www.bethel.com/about/christalignment/
8. https://www.awakeningeurope.com/godfest-team/ben-fitzgerald
9. https://www.awakeningaustralia.org/supporting-ministries
10. https://www.awakeningaustralia.org/#program
11. https://ratherexposethem.blogspot.com/2017_12_17_archive.html
12. https://www.awakeningeurope.com/about

13. http://bethelredding.com/about/our-mission

14. Bill Johnson, When Heaven Invades Earth-A Practical Guide to a Life of Miracles

15. Bill Johnson, When Heaven Invades Earth-Destiny Image, 2003, p. 84