UNRAVELLING THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD PRE-TRIB RAPTURE STATEMENT

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5).

The following statement in blue is the report of the Assemblies of God committee to study the rapture of the Church. The report was adopted by the Assemblies of God General Presbytery, August 14, 1979.{1}

I have highlighted many flaws in their statement, and I have stated the scriptural position at the relevant points. The repeated warnings from both Jesus Christ and the apostle Paul that believers should not be deceived in these matters is testimony of the criticality of understanding the timing of the rapture and the second coming, and that we should rightly handle the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15).

AOG: “The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51,52).”

..waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing (epiphaneia) of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.. (Titus 2:13).

In context, "the blessed hope" in Titus 2:13 is synonymous with "the appearing of the glory". Technically, the rapture (harpazo), should be distinguished from the blessed hope since believers are to be caught up in the clouds prior to that event. (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Titus 2:13 refers to the second coming of Christ in glory i.e. Jesus Christ's epiphany/epiphaneia .. his appearing, manifestation., glorious display... conspicuous appearing.(2) Epiphaneia appears six times in the New Testament, and each time it refers to the visible appearance of Christ in glory at his second coming. (2 Thessalonians 2:8; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 1:10; 2 Timothy 4:1, 8). 

AOG: Jesus taught that He will return to earth. He was careful to warn His disciples to be constantly prepared for this (Matthew 24:42-51; 25:1-13; Mark 13:37; Luke 12:37).

They understood that the present age will end with His coming (Matthew 24:3). The assurance of His return was one of the truths with which He comforted His followers before His death (John 14:2, 3).
At the time of Christ’s ascension two angels came to the group of watching disciples to repeat the promise that He will return. They declared it would be in the same manner as He went away (Acts 1:11). This clearly means His second coming will be literal, physical, and visible.

The New Testament Epistles refer often to the Second Coming, and the theme of imminence runs through all the passages of Scripture dealing with this subject.

*Imminence is the doctrine that no specific events must take place before the rapture can occur aka any moment rapture. This is a false doctrine. Paul explicitly places the rapture (gathering together) after the rebellion (apostasia) and the manifestation of the man of lawlessness i.e. the Antichrist:

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 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 2:1-3 ),

Further examples in the scriptures defy imminence, e.g. John 21:17-19;2 Peter 1:12-15; Acts 23:10-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-9; Luke 21:24.

AOG: Though there would be a period of time between the first and second comings (Luke 19:11), the whole body of teaching concerning the return of the Lord emphasizes that it will happen suddenly without warning; that believers should be in a state of continual readiness (Philippians 4:5; Hebrews 10:37; James 5:8, 9; Revelation 22:10). 

Philippians 4:5: Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
The Lord is at hand or near i.e. the Lord is omnipresent. In context with the passage, the Lord sees and observes the conduct of his people.

Hebrews 10:37: For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay;
Paul utilises the OT prophets:
Isaiah 26:20: He that cometh will come and will not tarry.
Habakkuk 2:3: For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

(1) the certainty, notwithstanding delay, of the fulfillment of the Divine promise;
(2) the necessity meanwhile of continuance in faith and perseverance..{3}

James 5:8-9: You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

James 5:8 ..the coming of the Lord is at hand..

The context of James 5:7-9 is The Parousia! The Parousia is the particular term used for the epiphany i.e. the second coming of Christ at the end of the age.{4} Since the pre-trib view dislocates the rapture from the Parousia by a period of seven years, the AOG argument is nonsensical. The AOG would have to place the rapture and the Parousia synonymously if they want to use this verse as a proof text, but this then destroys pretribulationism. They cannot have it both ways! See also 1 Peter 4:7: The end of all things is at hand. cf. Matthew 4:17). The specific context of James 5:7-9 is the analogy of the natural progression following the early and late rains leading to fruit (Parousia). (James 5:7). This reflects Jesus teaching in the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24. In other words, certain things must happen before the Lord returns. The Greek word eggizó = near/at hand never means imminent, it means to come near or to approach, as also in Matthew 24:32.{5} 

..behold, the Judge is standing at the door. ..before a door (thera) is the literal translation..  thera does not preclude events before Jesus return. Compare Matthew 24:32: So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. (at the door). Revelation 3:20: Behold, I stand at the door and knock.

Revelation 22:10: And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.

The same argument applies to "near" (eggus). Revelation 22:12: "I am coming soon"..  as the judge.

Believers in the early days of the Church lived in this state of expectancy (1 Corinthians 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 1:9, 10). Paul’s “we” in 1 Corinthians 15:51 and 1Thessalonians 4:17 shows that he maintained the hope he would be alive when Jesus comes back.

Expectancy is not imminence. It is possible for the Parousia to occur in any given generation when the circumstances of Matthew 24 and 2 Thessalonians 2 allow. Early believers, including Paul, appear to have expected Jesus' return during their own lifetime, and yet other scriptures indicate something else.

The Thessalonian church expressed confusion about the timing of the Parousia/rapture. Paul explained to them that both these events would not happen until the Antichrist was revealed (2 Thessalonians 1-3). Since the Antichrist has not yet been revealed, the return of Christ and the rapture cannot be imminent.

2 Peter specifically warns about scoffers in the last days who will question the slowness of Jesus' coming: But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:1-13).

 
A comparison of passages of Scripture relating to the Second Coming shows that some speak of a visible event seen by all mankind and involving the judgment of sinners. Others describe a coming known only to believers and resulting in their deliverance from earth.

The latter is referred to among evangelicals as the Rapture. This word is not in the English Bible, but has been used so widely that one of the definitions of “rapture” in Webster’s Third New International Dictionary Unabridged is: “Christ’s raising up of His true church and its members to a realm above the earth where the whole company will enjoy celestial bliss with its Lord.” The word raptured could well be used to translate the expression “caught up” of 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Jesus said His coming will result in one individual being taken from a location while another is left. This indicates a sudden removal of believers from the earth with unbelievers left to face tribulation (Matthew 24:36-42).

Jesus spoke of His return as a time when the nations of the earth shall mourn as they see Him (Matthew 24:30). The apostle Paul spoke of the Lord’s return as a time of judgment and wrath upon the wicked (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).

Matthew 24:36-42 does not concern the tribulation, it follows it! These verses speak of the second coming of Christ to the earth (Parousia). Matthew 24 moves chronologically through the events leading up to the second coming of Christ. The "elect" are "gathered together" (episunagó) by the angels at the end of the age! 

Matthew 24:29:“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.. 
cf. Revelation 6:12-17; 8:6-13.

Matthew 24:36: But concerning that day and hour no one knows..

AOG: In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, he considered a different aspect of the Second Coming. This brief passage is the most direct and clear teaching on the Rapture in the New Testament. It speaks only of believers, living and dead. Nothing is said about the wicked seeing Christ at this time. Paul described Jesus as coming in the air, but nothing is said about His feet touching the earth, as we are told elsewhere they will at His return (Zechariah 14:4). It is the moment when 1 John 3:2 will be fulfilled, and we shall be like Him.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18: But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming (Parousia) of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

This passage concerns those who are alive, who are left until the coming (Parousia)
of the Lord. One must completely disregard Matthew 24 in order to fit parousia into a pre-trib rapture!

As 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 (parousia) and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3). See also Matthew 24:27, 37, 39.

AOG: The same Greek word used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 for “caught up” is used in Acts 8:39 to describe Philip’s being “caught away” after baptizing the Ethiopian. The latter verse states that the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away—identifying the source of the power that will remove believers from earth at the Rapture.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:1 Paul called the Rapture “our gathering together unto him.” The Greek word for “gathering” is the same as the one used for “assembling” in Hebrews 10:25, referring to the assembling of Christians for worship. It is a picture of the saints congregating around Christ at His coming for them.

The supernatural removal of godly individuals from earth is not unknown in Scripture. The outstanding event in the life of Enoch was his miraculous disappearance from earth after years of walking with God (Genesis 5:21-24). The author of Hebrews called this experience a translation, bypassing death (Hebrews 11:5).

Although some aspects of Elijah’s translation differed from Enoch’s, it also involved the sudden removal of a believer from the world without experiencing death (2 Kings 2:1-13).

First Corinthians 15:51-54 deals with the same event as 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Here also Paul spoke of the changes that will take place in both living and dead believers at the Rapture. He called this a mystery (1 Corinthians 15:51), a truth previously unrevealed but made known to him by the Holy Spirit.

In Philippians 3:21 Paul connected the Lord’s coming to the time when “our vile body” will be changed—another reference to the Rapture.

Passages which pertain to the Rapture describe the coming of the Lord for His people. Passages which refer to the revelation of Christ describe the coming of the Lord with His saints. Colossians 3:4 speaks of believers appearing with Christ at His coming. Jude 14 also foresees the Lord’s return with His people to execute the judgment referred to in many other passages relating to His public appearing.   

1 Thessalonians 3:13 refers to Jesus' Parousia with all his holy ones (hagios). Revelation 19:14,19: ..it granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. Scripturally the rapture does occur prior to the Parousia in order for the saints to return with Christ. However, the claim that the last trumpet of 1 Corinthians 51:51-54 is blown before the great tribulation is insupportable!

AOG: Since Scripture does not contradict itself, it seems reasonable to conclude that the passages describing Christ’s coming for the saints and with the saints indicate two phases of His coming. We believe it is scripturally correct to assume that the intervening period between the two is the time when the world will experience the Great Tribulation, involving the reign of Antichrist and the outpouring of God’s wrath on the wicked (Daniel 12:1, 2, 10-13; Matthew 24:15-31; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12).

Although God’s people may endure severe trials before the Lord comes, the Church will be raptured before the period called the Great Tribulation.

In 2 Thessalonians 2 Paul indicated certain things must take place before the Day of the Lord (of which the Great Tribulation is a part) can begin. An individual called the man of sin (Antichrist) will appear. The mystery of iniquity has been at work since Paul’s time but is being restrained by the power of the Spirit working through the true Church. Only when the Church is removed from earth by the Rapture can this man come forward publicly.

The Day of the Lord is distinguished from the Great Tribulation both by Jesus Christ and Paul. I refer again to Matthew 24:29 immediately after the tribulation of those days..   

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 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, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).

Paul explicitly places the Parousia and the rapture together above. The great tribulation does not occur before the man of lawlessness takes his seat in the third temple at the mid point of the 70th week of Daniel. That day.. i.e. the day of the Lord and the rapture both follow the great tribulation. Paul warns about the possibility of believers being deceived about this subject. (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

AOG: In 1 Thessalonians 5, following the passage on the Rapture in chapter 4, Paul taught about the Day of the Lord. He warned of the destruction it will bring to the wicked (vv. 2, 3). He was quick to assure Christians that those who abide in Christ will not be overtaken by it (v. 4).

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (2 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

The above passage is a further warning from Paul that believers should not be ignorant about eschatological events. Paul clearly places believers as being alive at the Parousia.

AOG: Still speaking of the Day of the Lord Paul wrote: “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 9). It seems clear that he meant the deliverance of believers from the judgments of the Day of the Lord, including the Great Tribulation.

The scriptures clearly distinguish wrath (orge) from tribulation (thlipsis). The persecution of the Antichrist is not the wrath of God. As explained above, the Great Tribulation it is not the Day of the Lord.

AOG: Christians are told repeatedly in the New Testament to be watchful for the Lord’s appearing. Never are they taught to watch for the Great Tribulation or the appearance of Antichrist. To expect that such things must happen before the Rapture destroys the teaching of imminence with which the New Testament is replete.

Believers are told to wait “for his Son from heaven,” not the Great Tribulation (1 Thessalonians 1:10). When the signs of the end of the age are evident, they are to look up and lift up their heads in expectation of their redemption, not the Great Tribulation (Luke 21:28).

The Day of the Lord will come unexpectedly like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2). However it will come as no surprise to believers, precisely because they will recognise the signs preceding it: But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. (1 Thessalonians 5:4). This is an illogical statement if pre-trib is correct. Why would believers "not be surprised" if they are not here? This verse directly follows Paul's statement that believers will be alive at the Parousia. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Jesus Christ and Paul went to great lengths to explain the specific signs in detail.. we ignore them at our peril if we are to avoid the tragic consequences of false hope. (Matthew 24:10; cf. 2 Corinthians 11:14).

The signs of the Lord’s coming will be fulfilled before His public appearing, but they do not have to be fulfilled before the Rapture. Any teaching that certain events must transpire before the Rapture is out of harmony with the doctrine of imminence.*

It is consistent with God’s dealings with His people in the Old Testament to believe that the Church will be removed from the world before the Great Tribulation. God did not send the Flood until Noah and his family were safe in the ark. He did not destroy Sodom until Lot was taken out.
The weight of Scripture supports a pre-Tribulation Rapture. Wherever teaching about the Second Coming occurs in the New Testament, imminence is underscored. To interpose other events before the Rapture does violence to such teaching.

The events of Sodom and Gomorrah was the wrath of God being poured out upon the ungodly.. it was not tribulation. Similarly Noah and his family were preserved through the flood, God's judgement upon the ungodly.. again this was not tribulation.

While Christians are looking forward to the coming of the Lord, it is well to remind themselves of Paul’s words to Titus: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:11-14).
https://ag.org/Beliefs/Topics-Index/The-Rapture-of-the-Church

In conclusion, the AOG  statement consistently and incorrectly identifies "the blessed hope" as the rapture. However, the scriptures identify the blessed hope as the Parousia or the Epiphany, and the rapture as gathering together (episuningage)/caught up (harpazo). Scripturally the Parousia and the rapture are synonymous, or almost synonymous events, and so the AOG argument simply falls apart.

{1} https://bible.org/seriespage/15-second-coming-christ-and-millennial-kingdom
{2} http://biblehub.com/greek/2015.htm  
{3} http://biblehub.com/hebrews/10-37.htm
{4} https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Parousia
{5} http://biblehub.com/greek/1448.htm

GEORGE O WOOD: ASSEMBLIES OF GOD ECUMENICAL CORRUPTION NOW REACHING CRITICALITY!!!

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23)

Dr. George O Wood, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God (AG) Pentecostal denomination is said to be as important to the AOG as the Pope is to Roman Catholicism. The Assemblies of God was formed out of the Pentecostal revival of the early 20th century, and was characterised by supposed manifestations of the Holy Spirit. Many people may have come to genuine saving faith through the Assemblies of God churches since its formation. However, there have been major problems associated with a number of AG "ministries" and their dubious practices. The AG have spawned many false prophets and questionable TV evangelists, including Benny Hinn, Morris Cerullo, Jim Bakker, Paul Crouch and Jimmy Swaggart to name but a few. Derek Prince who played a major role in the disastrous Shepherding Movement and taught the false doctrine that Christians are subject to generational curses was AG.{1} The infamous Hillsong is affiliated with Australian Christian Churches (AG in Australia). The counterfeit Toronto Blessing (Laughing Revival) at Toronto Airport Vineyard was a direct result of John Arnott's visit to Argentina in November 1993 where Claudio Freidzon, an Assemblies of God evangelist, prayed the "anointing" over him. The Toronto movement was also heavily infuenced by Benny Hinn. The counterfeit Brownsville Revival was the long running "outpouring" at Brownsville Assemblies of God in Pensacola, Florida. Both these so called "revivals" were blighted by a wide range of unscriptural practices. The progressive corruption of the AG plainly indicates that true revival will not come from that quarter.

The AG has grown to over 67 million members worldwide and is the largest Pentecostal Fellowship in the world.{2} That is 67 million souls who are at direct risk of spiritual deception through the ecumenical spirit of Antichrist! George O Wood showed his true ecumenical colours in July of last year when he attended Together 2016, an event endorsed by the Pope in Washington DC. This event was specifically engineered to unite Roman Catholics and various so called "Christian" denominations. Together 2016 formed part of the false unity amongst ecumenicals "Great Awakening", a phrase stolen from the series of revivals among Protestants in the American colonies during the 1700's. The ecumenical counterfeit "awakening" puts darkness for light and evil for good. (Isaiah 5:20). Speakers and performers included Francis Chan, Ravi Zacharias, Lou Engle, Christine Caine, Southern Baptist Convention President Ronnie Floyd, Michael W. Smith, Hillsong United, Lecrae, Jeremy Camp, Lauren Daigle, Casting Crowns and Kirk Franklin, amongst others.{3} Wood's promotion of contemplative New Age guru Ruth Haley Barton raised a red flag in 2013.{4}

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is the largest Lutheran denomination in the US. The Reformation was of course a single and divisive historical event based on scriptural principles. The ELCA have been progressively hurtling towards spiritual disaster for a number of years. The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification was agreed and hailed as a “breakthrough” between the Roman Catholics and the Lutheran Church in 1999. The process of betraying the gospel of Jesus Christ and undoing everything that Luther and the Reformers achieved is now reaching its final stage, the Reformation having been watered down to "a 500 year shared journey".{5} The Lutheran World Federation and The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity have released a joint document titled “From Conflict to Communion" in order to facilitate the Lutheran-Catholic Common Commemoration of the Reformation.{6} 

"NEW ORLEANS (Aug.10, 2016) – The 2016 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly took several significant steps Wednesday moving forward the mission of this church as a church for the sake of the world."   (emphasis mine-John 18:36!!!)
"By a vote of 931 to 9, the assembly overwhelmingly accepted the "Declaration on the Way," a unique ecumenical document that marks a path toward greater unity between Catholics and Lutherans. Following the vote, an emotional assembly stood to applaud the momentous decision. At the heart of the document are 32 "Statements of Agreement" that state where Lutherans and Catholics do not have church-dividing differences on topics about church, ministry and the Eucharist. More tentatively, the document also explores differences that remain."{7}

What has been achieved by the Reformation and the blood of the martyrs is being destroyed by worthless leaders, hirelings who do not care for the flock (John 10:13). Luther would be horrified by these ecumenical developments! Wood now seems set to steer the AG onto an irreversible course towards criticality. He is scheduled to join an international gathering of Christian leaders at The Wittenberg Summit in Germany in October/November this year, Luther 2017, the event that celebrates the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses to the door of All Saints Church.{8} Wood will be sharing a platform with co-host Leonard Sweet. Sweet is a significant player in the emerging church/New Spirituality movement and is a New Age sympathiser. Social gospel promoter, Dr. Jo Anne Lyon, General Superintendent of the Wesleyan Church will also be attending the event. In 2015 Lyon was appointed by Barack Obama to serve on the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.{9} "She also has signed many documents with the usual suspects and their names on it – Rick Warren, Bill and Lynn Hybels, Tony Campolo, Jim Wallis, Ron Sider, and the like."{10}

The Roman Catholic Church maintains that the Council of Trent still remains authoritative, binding dogma, and thus their position remains exactly the same as it always has i.e. faith obtained through the sacraments and not the biblical principles upheld by Luther: 

• Sola Fide, by faith alone.
• Sola Scriptura, by Scripture alone.
• Solus Christus, through Christ alone.
• Sola Gratia, by grace alone.
• Soli Deo Gloria, glory to God alone.

In complete contradiction to the scriptures, the Roman Catholic Church violates and comes between true faith and Jesus Christ, the only mediator between God and man. (1 Timothy 2:5).

The Council of Trent Is The Roman Catholic Catechism
The General Council of Trent (1545 -1563) is said to be the embodiment of the Counter Reformation: The Council of Trent made pronouncements on justification, the seven sacraments, the Catholic Eucharist, the nature of the Latin Mass, Transubstantiation, the sacraments of Catholic Penance, Extreme Unction, Marriage and Holy Orders, and numerous other topics of doctrine and discipline.

Canon IX: If anyone says that the ungodly is justified by faith alone in such a way that he understands that nothing else is required which cooperates toward obtaining the grace of justification . . . let him be condemned.
Canon XII: If anyone says that justifying faith is nothing else than trust in divine mercy, which remits sin for Christ’s sake, or that it is this trust alone by which we are justified, let him be condemned.
Canon XIV: If anyone says that a man is absolved and justified because . . . he confidently believes that he is absolved and justified . . . and that through this faith alone absolution and justification is effected, let him be condemned.

George O Wood "Shares his (worthless) thoughts" in a short video made in 2012: 
https://player.vimeo.com/video/64909891
*Wood trots out the lie that six different groups calling themselves "Christian" are all true representations of Christianity: ".....The Greek Orthodox, the Roman Catholics, the Assyrian, the Coptic, the Ethiopian and the Armenian, and they cannot agree amongst themselves....." Whilst it is possible that there may be some true born again believers amongst these denominations, the denominations themselves do not represent the truth as found in the scriptures. Wood therefore bases his whole argument on a false premise!
*Wood quotes an Orthodox Jew who observed: "You Christians cannot get your message across because you have so many differences. Your Jesus is the only one who has said 'Love your enemies' , but you don't follow your Jesus....."  Scripturally those who do not follow Jesus are not his disciples: Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:27).  
*Wood condemns divisions in the church, but the scriptures say that there must be divisions:
.....for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognised. (1 Corinthians 11:19).  
*Wood comes against free expression on the Internet, the minority who "air their views" in opposition to the course that he and other ecumenicals have determined. In other words, he seeks to diminish the credibility of those who maintain the scriptural position. Wood exalts himself above those who speak the Word of God.. there is nothing new under the sun. (Matthew 23:8-12; Ecclesiastes 1:9) 
*Wood continues in his folly and trots out a scripture out of context:  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35). The inclusivism that Wood talks about is not found in the scriptures. The differences between true believers and the Roman Catholic Church and other false denominations are core differences and anything but minor as Wood would have us believe! To embrace the Roman Catholic Church is to deny the gospel of Jesus Christ - it is that serious:  .....what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14).   
*Wood "forgets" to remind us of some critical truths about "vicious wolves":
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 20:29-30)
*Wood also "forgets" to point out that love and truth are inseparable. (2 John 1:1; John 8:32). Unity depends upon truth... without truth there is no real love, just wishy washy emotional doctrineless ecumenism.

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ..... (2 Corinthians 10:5)

To summarise, George O Wood makes a very pretty sounding little speech, but it is devoid of spiritual wisdom.

By engaging in spiritual formation, Wood goes specifically against the AOG Statement of Faith:

".....salvation is received through repentance towards God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ."  {11}

"The scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21)." {11}

Pope Francis assures atheists: "You don’t have to believe in God to go to heaven." {12}

The Roman Catholic Church gives authority to the scriptures, the pope, the church, and certain traditions of the church: "Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honoured with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence.^"{13}

Although the AG pose as an authentic "Christian" denomination, it is extremely doubtful whether the birth of Pentecostalism and the Charismatic Movement resulted from a genuine move of the Holy Spirit. The Church of God in Christ, The Assemblies of God, The United Pentecostal Church (UPCI) and The Pentecostal Church of God all have their roots in the problematic Azusa Street Revival: 

"There is no question, Azusa street meetings had spiritualist mediums, hypnotists, and others who were interested in the occult.  It was known that Parham who taught Seymour rejected several of the central tenets of the Christian faith." {14} 

I am convinced that the AG is completely riddled with leaven. (Galatians 5:9). The very heart of the Reformation has received a blow from which it is unlikely to recover. The vital teachings of Jesus Christ have been set aside and biblical faith is crumbling before our very eyes. George O Wood is the man who will be held responsible by God for the Pentecostal betrayal. (2 Peter 2:1-3).

My local AG branch, Trinity Life Church Leicester UK, operates under the ungodly stranglehold of Hind family and their sycophants who care nothing for the scriptures. (Galatians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:4). Trinity Life Church is a striking example of how not to oversee a church.{15} Already suffering from spiritual blindness due to a progression of serious departures from the scriptures, incredibly, TLC have now gone one better; they blatantly display the number of the beast 666! (John 3:20){16} You could not make this stuff up!

Jesus' warning continues to ring out against Babylon the Great, the woman dressed in purple and scarlet. (Revelation 17:4): 

“Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues;
for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds;
mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.
As she glorified herself and lived in luxury so give her a like measure of torment and mourning,
since in her heart she says,‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.’
For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine,
and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”
(Revelation 18:4-8) 



{1}   http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/the-curse-of-derek-prince.html 
{2}   http://ag.org/top/press/organization.cfm
{3}   https://reset2016.com/confirmed/.{4}   http://ratherexposethem.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/contemplative-ruth-haley-barton.html
{5}   http://religionnews.com/2016/01/13/catholics-lutherans-worship-together-reformation-anniversary/
{6}   https://www.lutheranworld.org/sites/default/files/From%20Conflict%20to%20Communion.pdf
{7}   http://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/7848  
{8}   https://cruxnow.com/rns/2016/08/16/us-lutherans-approve-agreement-catholic-church/  
{9}   https://cruxnow.com/rns/2016/08/16/us-lutherans-approve-agreement-catholic-church/ 
{10} https://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=18459
{11} http://agchurches.org/Sitefiles/Default/RSS/AG.org%20TOP/Beliefs/SFT_2011.pdf
{12} http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pope-francis-assures-atheists-you-don-t-have-to-believe-in-god-to-go-to-heaven-8810062.html
{13} http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p1s1c2a2.htm
{14} http://letusreason.org/Pent57.htm
{15}  http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/trinity-life-church-leicester-downhill.html  
{16} http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/trinity-life-church-leicester-satanism.html

Further Links:
http://www.ukapologetics.net/09/cerullo.htm 
http://www.wayoflife.org/database/recent_pentecostal_scandals.html 
http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-circus-comes-to-town-false-prophet.html
https://truedsicernment.com/2008/07/12/david-wilkersons-warning-for-the-assembly-of-god-sadly-unheeded/ 
http://www.bible.ca/tongues-pentecostal-errors.htm 

a question for adam simmonds pcc northamptonshire

Does Adam Simmonds believe that other religions are a valid means of salvation and access to God? 

For the benefit those who may not be aware, there is a vast difference between ecumenical Christianity and what is known as the remnant i.e. the true church; those faithful Christians who believe the Bible is the Word of God, and who accept the Son of God Jesus Christ to be the ONLY Messiah (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 John 4:15). The scriptural mandate for Christians who believe the Bible and the exclusivity of Jesus Christ is to maintain unity with one another (Ephesians 4:3-4; John 17:22). The Ecumenical Movement is completely at odds with this mandate, since it actively seeks syncretism between Protestants, Roman Catholics, and non-Christian religions. Modern ecumenical leaders promote "interfaith dialogue" with Mormons, Islamists, Hindus, Buddhists, Wiccans, Universalists, and a variety of New Age belief systems. This is what the Bible calls spiritual prostitution (Revelation 14:8). Scripturally, it is anathema for true Bible believing Christians to embrace the Ecumenical Movement, it is considered apostasy (James 4:4; 2 Corinthians 6:14-16). Religious pluralism promotes the validity of all religions and philosophies, and the Ecumenical Movement is rapidly moving in the direction which will eventually lead to the Antichrist, the One World Religion and the New World Order.

Adam Simmonds is Director and Trustee of Trinity Life Church in Leicester, which is an Assemblies of God (AOG) fundamental Pentecostal denomination.* If you refer to their web site, the AOG DO NOT accept non-Christian religions as valid means of salvation and access to God.

"The Assemblies of God aligns readily with evangelical Christianity in declaring that only in Christ is there salvation. No apology need be made for this exclusive claim for Christ. For this reason the Assemblies of God disavows universalism and the toleration of worldviews that do not require entering the kingdom of God through the narrow gate of the God-man, Jesus Christ."
http://ag.org/top/beliefs/topics/gendoct_16_religions.cfm
http://www.aog.org.uk/about-us/what-we-believe

Furthermore, the AOG IS NOT affiliated with ANY ecumenical organisations. 
"The Assemblies of God is not affiliated with either the World Council of Churches or the National Council of Churches."
http://ag.org/top/about/affiliations.cfm

Requirements for Assemblies of God Deacons and Trustees:
"The deacon/trustee is proper in doctrine, keeping “hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience” (1 Timothy 3:9), fully subscribing to the tenets of faith of the Assemblies of God."
http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_downloads/pp_4171_deacons.pdf

Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. (1 Timothy 3:8-10)

Apart from his other questionable activities such as cronyism and overspending, there is grave dissonance between Simmonds political aspirations and his so called "faith".  If Simmonds really does hold onto the deep truths of the faith, then there is an inexplicable conflict between the biblical beliefs required as a Trustee of the AOG and his overt ecumenical activities. The so called Christian "faith groups" Simmonds dishes out money to such as Corby Street Pastors, Perspective Trust, Crime2Christ are all ecumenical. This is why I question whether Adam Simmonds faith is in fact the genuine article.

Simmonds creation of the Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives (OFBCI), his involvement with Churches Together in Northampton, the Faith Covenant for Engagement Signing Event (APPG), Interfaith Festival of Color Basti Ram and the Woolf Institute which specialises in the study of relations between Jews, Christians and Muslims from a multidisciplinary perspective etc. are completely at odds with his so called beliefs as a "committed Christian". Furthermore they certainly are not consistent in any way with Assemblies of God principles or rules for Trustees. In my view, these activities disqualify Simmonds from holding the position of Trustee and Director at any AOG church. Individual AOG churches are run autonomously, and as I have previously written,Trinity Life Church in Leicester is sadly wanting in respect of its biblical principles, probably due to compromised leadership, bad theology and the influence of Simmonds and his ilk.

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Matthew 6:24) 

Equally no one can serve God and selfish ambition (James 3:14-16; Philippians 1:17).


http://www.aog.org.uk/about-us/what-we-believe
https://www.facebook.com/No-more-Simmonds-397104093748026/timeline/
http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/who-is-god-of-adam-simmonds-pcc.html
http://ofbci.com/event/faith-covenant/

Petition: Vote of no confidence in Adam Simmonds PCC for Northamptonshire:
https://www.change.org/p/police-crime-panel-northamptonshire-vote-of-no-confidence-in-adam-simmonds-pcc-for-northamptonshire?recruiter=13124123&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

UPDATE 

* It appears that Simmonds is no longer a Director or Trustee of Trinity Life Church in Leicester:

"In answer to your question regarding whether or not Mr Simmonds is a Director or Trustee at the Trinity Life Church, I can confirm that the current published register of interest accurately reflects the fact the Mr Simmonds no longer holds any such role at this, or indeed any other organisation."

From John Neilson 
Active Chief Executive
Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commissioner
Dated 15th February 2016