I have previously written separately about Ian McCormack and Revelation TV in some depth. Revelation TV seem intent on deceiving their viewers with false teachers such as Jesse Duplantis, John Hagee, Joyce Meyer, Pat Robertson, Ellel Ministries etc..... the list is endless. The cost of promoting things contrary to sound doctrine will be very high indeed (1 Timothy 1:3-11; Revelation 21:8). Both Howard and Leslie Conder have both admitted airing "iffy" teachers for financial gain. By blatantly putting their own interests ahead of the word of God and the eternal destiny of their hearers, the Conders are committing great wickedness. We should remember that after betraying Jesus Christ, Judas Iscariot was unable to return the money to the chief priests and elders, he could not undo what he had done (Matthew 27:3-4).
Ian McCormack is one of the more plausible false teachers around today, possibly because he seems very genuine and full of "love". However, love and truth are inseparable, love is not real love without truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10).
http://www.revelationtv.com/programmes/episode/ian-mccormack747176
The above programme was aired originally on RTV on the 24th of June 2015. The doctrines of demons being taught by Ian McCormack are currently being repeated by RTV at regular intervals.
Ian McCormack describes what he calls "the problem of variance" or "the disintegration of unity" within the universal church. He blames the problem of disunity on non-cooperation between churches and the intransigence of individual ministries. Ian McCormack starts from the false premise that the "fivefold ministry" should be foundational and that the "new wineskin" should be operational universally. From the very beginning of this programme there are major issues with his teaching.
Ian McCormack: "The existing wineskin only provides pastoral positions." !!!!!
Wineskins are specifically linked to the new birth, NOT TO A MINISTRY. The gospel is signified by wine, and the new wineskins are those whom the Holy Spirit regenerates (Matthew 9:17).
Ian McCormack: "Jesus said 'The blood of the prophets is all over the church.'" !!!!!
This is completely false. Jesus Christ was referring to the Old Testament prophets; he was addressing the Scribes and Pharisees, NOT THE CHURCH (Matthew 23:29-31).
Ian McCormack: "Barnabas was an apostle." !!!!!
Barnabas is described as an "apostle" in Acts 14:14. However, in context, the Greek word "apostolos" simply means "messenger". Barnabas was an important pioneering missionary or "messenger", but he was not an "Apostle" in the sense that Ian McCormack would have us believe. Luke made clear distinctions between Barnabas and the Twelve apostles (Acts 4:36; 9:27; 15:2, 22). These verses and others demonstrate that Luke consistently used the term "Apostle" to refer only to the Twelve. There are four lists of the Twelve in the New Testament, one in each of the three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 10:1-4; Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16) and one in Acts 1:13 which omits Judas Iscariot. In fact Matthias was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot; Barnabus was not even a candidate for the position (Acts 1:12-26)!
Ian McCormack: "If you don't have Salvation, Pastoral Care,
Teaching, Deliverance, Apostolic, Prophetic........ then you don't have
the full gospel....the full gospel is the whole pack." !!!!!
God has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) without the distortions and additions of people like Ian McCormack. We already have the apostolic i.e. the apostles teaching, and we already have the
prophets. Modern prophecy must be tested and should line up with the
scriptures (1 John 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:16). Furthermore, the fallacy that redeemed Christians need "deliverance"
is extremely dangerous. Deliverance of redeemed Christians
is not taught anywhere in the scriptures; this is yet another denial of
the cross of Christ from people who add to the word of God (Deuteronomy
4:2; Proverbs 30:6). http://eliora.hubpages.com/hub/THE-BIBLE-AND-INNER-HEALING-A-FOCUS-ON-ELLEL-MINISTRIES
The Key to Success: Proper Additions To Faith:
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For
whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind,
having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:5-11)
Ian McCormack’s unbiblical teaching that God is restoring foundational apostles and prophets in these days
puts him in broad agreement with the New Apostolic Reformation. He and other deceivers base their "fivefold" teaching on a single verse of scripture:
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers….. (Ephesians 4:11)
In exactly what way can these new "apostles and prophets" be foundational?
The original apostles were unique, they knew Jesus Christ personally during his earthly ministry:
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have
seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our
hands, concerning the word of life— (1 John 1:1)
The office of "Apostle" was conditional:
"So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning
from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one
of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” (Acts 1: 21-22)
Ian McCormack and others who promote the "fivefold ministry" actually contradict Jesus Christ and destroy the foundation. Biblically Jesus Christ and the original apostles and prophets have
(past tense) laid the foundation in defining the canon of scripture.
These present day "apostles and prophets" as they refer to themselves, are usurpers, they seek to alter that foundation.
The apostles writings were infallibly inspired as
the written word of God (John 14:26; 16:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:13
Ephesians 3:5). The scriptures tell us that the church is built on the
foundation of the original apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the
cornerstone (Ephesians 2/20). There is no evidence to support any succession to the original apostles and prophets, and there is nothing further to add to the canon of scripture as these false apostles and prophets claim. These so called "apostles" are self appointed and do things by their own authority. What Ian McCormack is doing is called revisionism, he revises the scriptures to suit his own agenda.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord… (Ephesians 2:19-21) The grammar is what we should pay particular attention to: "having been" + aorist passive participle (ἐποικοδομηθέντες) "built upon" - in other words, the foundation laid by Jesus Christ and the prophets is a completed past event.
For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
(1 Corinthians 3:11)
If we
are not building on the foundation laid by Christ and the apostles,
then we are not in Christ.
For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we
proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you
received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted,
you put up with it readily enough. (2 Corinthians 11:4)
..... knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1: 20-21)
The Apostle Paul had a similar dilemma with those who called themselves apostles - there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).
And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the
claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission
they work on the same terms as we do. 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 11:12-15)
I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you
cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call
themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. (Revelation 2:2)
The apostle Paul gives the example of Jannes and Jambres opposition to Moses in order to warn the church:
.....having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the
truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. (2 Timothy 3: 5, 8-9)
"..... in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:9)
One of the so called "apostles" Ian McCormack approves of is "gravesucker" Bill Johnson of Bethel Church, Redding CA. Johnson is one of the "apostles" who prophesied over Todd Bentley along with other false "apostles and prophets" at the "Toronto Blessing" in Florida. What these people stand for is inconsistent with the teaching and practice of Jesus Christ and the authentic apostles.
Ian McCormack: "I am up to here with hearing the bitterness, the anger, the unforgiveness and resentment because of the problem." My response: The "problem" is that the foundations laid by Jesus Christ and the apostles are being destroyed by wolves in sheep's clothing like Ian McCormack and the hirelings who give them a platform. If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalm 11:3) No true Christian can possibly remain within the apostate church, i.e. Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations. (Revelation 17:5, 18:2 see also Hebrews 13:13).
The Bible bears witness that there will be massive deception in the last days. This is what is referred to as the "falling away" i.e. apostasy (2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1Timothy 4:1; 2 Peter 2:1-3; Acts 20:29).
Ian McCormack promotes an unholy unity within the "universal church". However, God commands his faithful people to do the diametric opposite:
Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my
people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues....." (Revelation 18:4)
"Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith (faithfulness) on earth?” (Luke 18:8)
Ian McCormack's supposed numerous visits to the third heaven and his claim to a free right of access to heaven at any time is highly alarming. Some of the false teachers he has shared a platform with are Jill Austin, Heidi Baker, Bill Johnson and Todd Bentley: http://www.aglimpseofeternity.org/calendar/event.php?event=384
Further Reading:
http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/ian-mccormack-open-heaven-or-spiritual.html
http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/ian-mccormack-third-heaven-spiritual.html
http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/ian-mccormack-fivefold-ministry.html
http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/revelation-tv-apostasy-and-occult-logo.html
http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/grave-sucker-bill-johnson-to-join.html
Showing posts with label Ian McCormack aglimpseofeternity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ian McCormack aglimpseofeternity. Show all posts
Friday, 21 August 2015
Wednesday, 4 March 2015
ian mccormack open heaven spiritual deception part 2
This is my second post about the "third heaven" experience promoted by Assemblies of God pastor Ian McCormack. I am adding some further information as a general response to some of the comments I have received, and also as a result of having done some further research.
Ian McCormack's multiple trips to heaven follow his initial experience in
Mauritius in 1982 when he claims to have died and gone first to hell,
and then to heaven. He claims that the experience of "open heaven" is available and even normative for every Christian. He is currently promoting his film "The Perfect Wave" which was released last year. Ian's full testimony can be found on his website: http://www.aglimpseofeternity.org/
What I am going to challenge primarily is Ian McCormacks flawed "discussion" about the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:20-31) on his website: http://www.aglimpseofeternity.org/ians-testimony/faqs/answers/
LUKE 16:19-31:
There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
Ian's first error is that he says that both Lazarus and the rich man talk to each other - this is actually NOT the case, the conversation is between the rich man and Abraham! This is important because Ian claims that if this is a literal account, then people in heaven and hell can see each other and those in heaven observe those tormented in hell. It is critically important not to read something into the text that it does not say, and yet this is precisely what Ian McCormack does. Nowhere in the biblical text does it say that Lazarus can actually see, hear, or have any interaction with the rich man, or that he is even aware of the conversation! The interaction is solely between the rich man and Abraham. Verse 22 - The rich man saw Abraham far off and Lazarus by his side - "Abraham's side" is a translation of "Abraham's bosom" (κόλπος) which is a synonym for paradise (Luke 23:43). The same Greek word is used in verse 22 - Lazarus was carried by the angels to Abraham's side/bosom (κόλπος). Deceased believers are now present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23); the scriptures do not tell us their level of cognizance beyond that. Ian's second error is that the rich man does not plead with Abraham to send "some one" back from the dead, he pleads specifically for Abraham to send Lazarus.
Ian McCormack: "In the story both men talk to each and the rich man pleads with Abraham to send some one back from the dead to warn his family lest they end up in Hell. Abraham tells the rich man that they have Moses & the prophets let them hear them and that even if some one was to come back from the dead they still wouldn't believe.
For if this story was a real/literal one as some believe and that Abrahams Bosom is heaven then it seems very strange to me that people in Hades / Hell can talk to people in Heaven and that they can see each other and watch the torment. If this was so then this would actually be hell as how could you as a Christian be able to see your lost friends and neighbors being tormented."
Ian McCormack argues that theologians use this parable to nullify his testimony because Abraham said there is a great chasm set between Abraham's Bosom and Hades and that no one can pass over from Hades/Hell into heaven. He then goes on to argue that because Jesus Christ crossed over this impassible chasm, then it is also possible for others to do so.
"Of course Jesus himself went from the cross to hell and from hell to heaven. So He crossed over this so called chasm himself. Going firstly to hell { Hades } then into Heaven.
The scriptures tell us that Jesus himself spent 3 days & 3 nights into Hades { Matt 12: 40 } and He now has the keys of Death & Hades { Rev 1 : 18 }" http://www.aglimpseofeternity.org/ians-testimony/faqs/answers/
Most commentators agree that ἔσται … ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ τῆς γῆς, (in the heart of the earth) is Hades. The parable speaks about "those who would pass" meaning departed spirits. Jesus Christ was unique, he was not in the category of a departed spirit in the context of this parable. Christ was 100% human and 100% divine. 1 Peter 3:18-20 tells us that after his crucifixion, Jesus went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. The meaning of these verses in 1 Peter 3 is much disputed, but it appears that Jesus did go into Hades. However, we should also note that Jesus said to the thief ".....today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). The parable in Luke 16 tells us that none may cross from there to us. If Jesus Christ did cross the impassible chasm as some claim, he was the only One who was able to do so: "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades." (Revelation 1:17-18) The audacious claim to have passed the chasm between hell and heaven "because Jesus did", is not only unbibical but highly presumptuous.
In any event, Jesus Christ says that human testimony of returning from the dead is not only forbidden (none may cross), it will definitely not produce true faith. Why then would Ian McCormack be the exception to this rule in contradiction to God's Word? This is a further instance of Ian McCormack in some sense making an inappropriate comparison between himself and Jesus Christ. Notice that Abraham said that they should hear Moses and the Prophets. Similarly today, faith comes through hearing the word of Christ, it does not come by believing a mere man who claims to have risen from the dead and other fantastic claims:
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)
Why does Ian McCormack have such poor biblical exegesis? If he were so very close to God, then his exegesis would be spot on surely!
The short video below shows Ian McCormack's take on experiencing heaven:
Ian McCormack attempts to validate "third heaven experiences" by citing the apostle Paul and John's encounter of heaven in the scriptures. As already discussed in my previous post, Paul was forbidden to speak of the things he saw and heard. Paul's experience was a very rare event, it happened only once in fourteen years. John's Apocalyptic vision on Patmos was fearful (Revelation 1:17). His terrifying vision is definitely not an example of an ecstatic spiritual experience. I reiterate that these two events were exceptional occurrences, they are definitely not described by the apostles as normative for Christians. http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/ian-mccormack-open-heaven-or-spiritual.html
In contrast to the Apostle Paul and John, Ian McCormack claims to have open access to the Shekinah i.e. the dwelling or setting of the divine presence of God in a very personal intimate way: " I am seeing the Lord, its all the senses, the mind the emotions the heart the senses the touch the sight; its like seeing, feeling, hearing, tasting, smelling - all of the senses are activated. It is like you are meeting a person." Ian McCormack says that his initial encounter in 1982 was the "entry point" into the glory realm when he met Jesus Christ tangibly face to face. "I knew the tangible presence, the manifest presence of God physically on me." After this initial encounter he claims that God told him:"You can have the kingdom of heaven here on earth."
But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? (2 Corinthians 5:7)
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. (1 Corinthians 13:12)
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)
Ian McCormack is not content with the fact that the Bible tells him that God loves him, it is all about the experience: "I found the living Word made flesh and beheld his glory, which is what the apostles talked about.... 'We beheld the word made flesh and beheld his glory.'" Ian McCormack has a habit of mis-quoting the scriptures and only using parts of verses; what he is referring to are the following verses:
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. (1 John 1:1-4)
In fact the exact opposite of Ian's experience was true of the apostles - they beheld the glory of the living Word, the Messiah, Jesus Christ in the flesh i.e. - they saw, heard and touched Jesus Christ while he was on the earth, not in the heavenly realm. The reason John was writing these things was because the apostles were eye witnesses - these things were written for the benefit of those who had not seen, not touched, not heard etc. so that they might believe. Do you think that if later believers received ecstatic experiences directly from God they would need the eyewitness testimony of the apostles? These claimed "third heaven" experiences actually displace the Word of God and negate faith. .....for we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)
..... just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, (Luke 1:2)
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2 Peter 1:16).
In fact there is a blessing for believers who have not actually seen: Jesus said to him (Thomas), “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory..... (1 Peter 1:8)
Finally I would draw your attention to a video recorded back in 1993 where Ian McCormack speaks to an audience in Christian Family Church, Johannesburg, South Africa. If you watch from about 51 minutes in and you will hear hysterical laughter reminiscent of the fake Toronto/Pensacola outpourings.
http://vimeo.com/22104255
In fact Ian McCormack endorses John and Carol Arnott, the false pastors of Catch The Fire Toronto (formerly Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship). The Arnotts along with Kenneth Copeland and James Robison are amongst the traitors of Jesus Christ who met Pope Francis last year. Bill Johnson is another false teacher/prophet who gets Ian McCormacks endorsement along with Heidi Baker, John Wimber and convicted fraudster David Yonggi Cho.
Ian McCormack comes across as a genuine guy and he appears to have a lot of knowledge about spiritual things. In many instances false teachers do not come to us with horns or two heads, they often come across as really "nice" people in my experience which can be disconcerting. Beware: Satan masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). We are exhorted to test everything by scripture (1 John 4:1) and Ian McCormack's teaching fails that test. I do warn believers to avoid these dangerous teachings and to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
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)
.....while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13)
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)
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. (John 14:23-24)
Ian McCormack's multiple trips to heaven follow his initial experience in
Mauritius in 1982 when he claims to have died and gone first to hell,
and then to heaven. He claims that the experience of "open heaven" is available and even normative for every Christian. He is currently promoting his film "The Perfect Wave" which was released last year. Ian's full testimony can be found on his website: http://www.aglimpseofeternity.org/What I am going to challenge primarily is Ian McCormacks flawed "discussion" about the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:20-31) on his website: http://www.aglimpseofeternity.org/ians-testimony/faqs/answers/
LUKE 16:19-31:
There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
Ian's first error is that he says that both Lazarus and the rich man talk to each other - this is actually NOT the case, the conversation is between the rich man and Abraham! This is important because Ian claims that if this is a literal account, then people in heaven and hell can see each other and those in heaven observe those tormented in hell. It is critically important not to read something into the text that it does not say, and yet this is precisely what Ian McCormack does. Nowhere in the biblical text does it say that Lazarus can actually see, hear, or have any interaction with the rich man, or that he is even aware of the conversation! The interaction is solely between the rich man and Abraham. Verse 22 - The rich man saw Abraham far off and Lazarus by his side - "Abraham's side" is a translation of "Abraham's bosom" (κόλπος) which is a synonym for paradise (Luke 23:43). The same Greek word is used in verse 22 - Lazarus was carried by the angels to Abraham's side/bosom (κόλπος). Deceased believers are now present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23); the scriptures do not tell us their level of cognizance beyond that. Ian's second error is that the rich man does not plead with Abraham to send "some one" back from the dead, he pleads specifically for Abraham to send Lazarus.
Ian McCormack: "In the story both men talk to each and the rich man pleads with Abraham to send some one back from the dead to warn his family lest they end up in Hell. Abraham tells the rich man that they have Moses & the prophets let them hear them and that even if some one was to come back from the dead they still wouldn't believe.
For if this story was a real/literal one as some believe and that Abrahams Bosom is heaven then it seems very strange to me that people in Hades / Hell can talk to people in Heaven and that they can see each other and watch the torment. If this was so then this would actually be hell as how could you as a Christian be able to see your lost friends and neighbors being tormented."
Ian McCormack argues that theologians use this parable to nullify his testimony because Abraham said there is a great chasm set between Abraham's Bosom and Hades and that no one can pass over from Hades/Hell into heaven. He then goes on to argue that because Jesus Christ crossed over this impassible chasm, then it is also possible for others to do so.
"Of course Jesus himself went from the cross to hell and from hell to heaven. So He crossed over this so called chasm himself. Going firstly to hell { Hades } then into Heaven.
The scriptures tell us that Jesus himself spent 3 days & 3 nights into Hades { Matt 12: 40 } and He now has the keys of Death & Hades { Rev 1 : 18 }" http://www.aglimpseofeternity.org/ians-testimony/faqs/answers/
Most commentators agree that ἔσται … ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ τῆς γῆς, (in the heart of the earth) is Hades. The parable speaks about "those who would pass" meaning departed spirits. Jesus Christ was unique, he was not in the category of a departed spirit in the context of this parable. Christ was 100% human and 100% divine. 1 Peter 3:18-20 tells us that after his crucifixion, Jesus went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. The meaning of these verses in 1 Peter 3 is much disputed, but it appears that Jesus did go into Hades. However, we should also note that Jesus said to the thief ".....today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). The parable in Luke 16 tells us that none may cross from there to us. If Jesus Christ did cross the impassible chasm as some claim, he was the only One who was able to do so: "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades." (Revelation 1:17-18) The audacious claim to have passed the chasm between hell and heaven "because Jesus did", is not only unbibical but highly presumptuous.
In any event, Jesus Christ says that human testimony of returning from the dead is not only forbidden (none may cross), it will definitely not produce true faith. Why then would Ian McCormack be the exception to this rule in contradiction to God's Word? This is a further instance of Ian McCormack in some sense making an inappropriate comparison between himself and Jesus Christ. Notice that Abraham said that they should hear Moses and the Prophets. Similarly today, faith comes through hearing the word of Christ, it does not come by believing a mere man who claims to have risen from the dead and other fantastic claims:
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)
Why does Ian McCormack have such poor biblical exegesis? If he were so very close to God, then his exegesis would be spot on surely!
The short video below shows Ian McCormack's take on experiencing heaven:
Ian McCormack attempts to validate "third heaven experiences" by citing the apostle Paul and John's encounter of heaven in the scriptures. As already discussed in my previous post, Paul was forbidden to speak of the things he saw and heard. Paul's experience was a very rare event, it happened only once in fourteen years. John's Apocalyptic vision on Patmos was fearful (Revelation 1:17). His terrifying vision is definitely not an example of an ecstatic spiritual experience. I reiterate that these two events were exceptional occurrences, they are definitely not described by the apostles as normative for Christians. http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/ian-mccormack-open-heaven-or-spiritual.html
In contrast to the Apostle Paul and John, Ian McCormack claims to have open access to the Shekinah i.e. the dwelling or setting of the divine presence of God in a very personal intimate way: " I am seeing the Lord, its all the senses, the mind the emotions the heart the senses the touch the sight; its like seeing, feeling, hearing, tasting, smelling - all of the senses are activated. It is like you are meeting a person." Ian McCormack says that his initial encounter in 1982 was the "entry point" into the glory realm when he met Jesus Christ tangibly face to face. "I knew the tangible presence, the manifest presence of God physically on me." After this initial encounter he claims that God told him:"You can have the kingdom of heaven here on earth."
But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? (2 Corinthians 5:7)
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. (1 Corinthians 13:12)
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)
Ian McCormack is not content with the fact that the Bible tells him that God loves him, it is all about the experience: "I found the living Word made flesh and beheld his glory, which is what the apostles talked about.... 'We beheld the word made flesh and beheld his glory.'" Ian McCormack has a habit of mis-quoting the scriptures and only using parts of verses; what he is referring to are the following verses:
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. (1 John 1:1-4)
In fact the exact opposite of Ian's experience was true of the apostles - they beheld the glory of the living Word, the Messiah, Jesus Christ in the flesh i.e. - they saw, heard and touched Jesus Christ while he was on the earth, not in the heavenly realm. The reason John was writing these things was because the apostles were eye witnesses - these things were written for the benefit of those who had not seen, not touched, not heard etc. so that they might believe. Do you think that if later believers received ecstatic experiences directly from God they would need the eyewitness testimony of the apostles? These claimed "third heaven" experiences actually displace the Word of God and negate faith. .....for we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)
..... just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, (Luke 1:2)
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2 Peter 1:16).
In fact there is a blessing for believers who have not actually seen: Jesus said to him (Thomas), “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory..... (1 Peter 1:8)
Finally I would draw your attention to a video recorded back in 1993 where Ian McCormack speaks to an audience in Christian Family Church, Johannesburg, South Africa. If you watch from about 51 minutes in and you will hear hysterical laughter reminiscent of the fake Toronto/Pensacola outpourings.
http://vimeo.com/22104255
In fact Ian McCormack endorses John and Carol Arnott, the false pastors of Catch The Fire Toronto (formerly Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship). The Arnotts along with Kenneth Copeland and James Robison are amongst the traitors of Jesus Christ who met Pope Francis last year. Bill Johnson is another false teacher/prophet who gets Ian McCormacks endorsement along with Heidi Baker, John Wimber and convicted fraudster David Yonggi Cho.
Ian McCormack comes across as a genuine guy and he appears to have a lot of knowledge about spiritual things. In many instances false teachers do not come to us with horns or two heads, they often come across as really "nice" people in my experience which can be disconcerting. Beware: Satan masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). We are exhorted to test everything by scripture (1 John 4:1) and Ian McCormack's teaching fails that test. I do warn believers to avoid these dangerous teachings and to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
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)
.....while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13)
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)
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. (John 14:23-24)
Saturday, 6 September 2014
IAN MCCORMACK: THE FIVEFOLD MINISTRY DECEPTION
The fivefold ministry teaching is predicated on just one verse in the Bible:
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers….. (Ephesians 4/11)
We should never isolate a single verse of scripture to promote a teaching. This is in fact precisely the tactic that Satan used when he tempted Jesus Christ – when he used single verses from the scriptures Jesus response was: “it is also written….”. We always need two or more witnesses to establish a matter (Numbers 35/30; Deuteronomy 17/6, 19/15, Matthew 18/16; John 8/17). The whole counsel of God is so important:
The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. (Psalm 119/60)
I have based this post on Ian McCormack’s teaching on his own website and at New Bern Church:
http://www.aglimpseofeternity.org/teaching/ian-preaching-video/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qj7RPzeIuA
Ian McCormack’s opening remarks at New Bern Church are very concerning. Firstly his statement that teachers are not that good at pastoring is a direct contradiction of scripture. What is referred to as “the fivefold ministry” is actually fourfold! Ian McCormack and others separate pastors (shepherds) and teachers, but this is actually one office! The original Greek for this verse contains the definite article as does the ESV. To separate pastor and teacher is to separate something that God has put together! How can anyone be a pastor if he cannot teach? This is not a good start. Those promoting the so called “fivefold ministry” cannot even interpret the only verse they say validates their position! This hardly generates confidence in anything else they have to say.
The title of pastor is used as a noun only once in the New Testament and it refers to an elder or overseer of the church. The primary qualification of an elder (pastor) is that he should be able to teach! Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach….. (1 Timothy 3/2).
The apostle Paul lists the qualifications of overseers and deacons (1 Timothy 3/1-7 [2 Timothy 2/24; Titus 1/7]), but he never once lists the qualifications of an apostle. For such an important role in the church, why would he miss this out? No man can fulfil the office of an apostle in the sense of the original apostles, since no man can fulfils the criteria of the twelve plus Paul. The apostles are unique in that they are the foundational authorities of Christian doctrine through their canonical writings. The apostles writings were infallibly inspired as the written word of God (John 14/26; 16/13; 1 Thessalonians 2/13 Ephesians 3/5). The scriptures tell us that the church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone (Ephesians 2/20). The apostles received their teaching directly from Jesus Christ in person. No man has the authority to set the scriptures today as the twelve apostles and Paul did, therefore the original apostles can have no successors.
Jesus Christ made a distinction between the twelve and the seventy two; both the timing and the manner of their appointment was different (ἕτερος):
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others (ἕτερος) and sent (ἀπέστειλεν) them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send (ἀποστέλλω) out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. (Luke 10/1-3,17)
Strong’s 2087 ἕτερος héteros – another (of a different kind). 2087 /héteros ("another but distinct in kind") stands in contrast to 243 /állos ("another of the same kind"). 2087 /héteros ("another of a different quality") emphasizes it is qualitatively different from its counterpart (comparison). http://biblehub.com/greek/2087.htm
ἀπόστολος (apostolos-apostle) a messenger, envoy, delegate, one commissioned by another to represent him in some way, especially a man sent out by Jesus Christ Himself to preach the Gospel; an apostle. http://biblehub.com/greek/652.htm
The seventy two were not “apostles” in the sense of the original twelve. They were sent out by Jesus Christ as pioneers, but they did not share the unique authority of the twelve. Likewise these days there are church planters who are not apostles in the sense of the original twelve.
In the New Testament there are two instances where apostolos is not translated “apostle” but rather “messenger” or “representative” (2 Corinthians 8/23; Philippians 2/25).
Ian McCormack speaks of Christ being the cornerstone of the church and of these modern day apostles and prophets being the foundation of the church. He gives us no exegesis, but what he continually asserts is that God has told him these things personally. He equates the role of a prophet with ecstatic experiences: “.....open heaven, angels, revelation, throne room supernatural encounters, dreams and vision, transformation glory realm and spiritual warfare”. This statement is enough to entirely dismiss his ministry.
Ian McCormack’s opening remarks at New Bern Church are very concerning. Firstly his statement that teachers are not that good at pastoring is a direct contradiction of scripture. What is referred to as “the fivefold ministry” is actually fourfold! Ian McCormack and others separate pastors (shepherds) and teachers, but this is actually one office! The original Greek for this verse contains the definite article as does the ESV. To separate pastor and teacher is to separate something that God has put together! How can anyone be a pastor if he cannot teach? This is not a good start. Those promoting the so called “fivefold ministry” cannot even interpret the only verse they say validates their position! This hardly generates confidence in anything else they have to say.
The title of pastor is used as a noun only once in the New Testament and it refers to an elder or overseer of the church. The primary qualification of an elder (pastor) is that he should be able to teach! Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach….. (1 Timothy 3/2).
The apostle Paul lists the qualifications of overseers and deacons (1 Timothy 3/1-7 [2 Timothy 2/24; Titus 1/7]), but he never once lists the qualifications of an apostle. For such an important role in the church, why would he miss this out? No man can fulfil the office of an apostle in the sense of the original apostles, since no man can fulfils the criteria of the twelve plus Paul. The apostles are unique in that they are the foundational authorities of Christian doctrine through their canonical writings. The apostles writings were infallibly inspired as the written word of God (John 14/26; 16/13; 1 Thessalonians 2/13 Ephesians 3/5). The scriptures tell us that the church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone (Ephesians 2/20). The apostles received their teaching directly from Jesus Christ in person. No man has the authority to set the scriptures today as the twelve apostles and Paul did, therefore the original apostles can have no successors.
Jesus Christ made a distinction between the twelve and the seventy two; both the timing and the manner of their appointment was different (ἕτερος):
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others (ἕτερος) and sent (ἀπέστειλεν) them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send (ἀποστέλλω) out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. (Luke 10/1-3,17)
Strong’s 2087 ἕτερος héteros – another (of a different kind). 2087 /héteros ("another but distinct in kind") stands in contrast to 243 /állos ("another of the same kind"). 2087 /héteros ("another of a different quality") emphasizes it is qualitatively different from its counterpart (comparison). http://biblehub.com/greek/2087.htm
ἀπόστολος (apostolos-apostle) a messenger, envoy, delegate, one commissioned by another to represent him in some way, especially a man sent out by Jesus Christ Himself to preach the Gospel; an apostle. http://biblehub.com/greek/652.htm
The seventy two were not “apostles” in the sense of the original twelve. They were sent out by Jesus Christ as pioneers, but they did not share the unique authority of the twelve. Likewise these days there are church planters who are not apostles in the sense of the original twelve.
In the New Testament there are two instances where apostolos is not translated “apostle” but rather “messenger” or “representative” (2 Corinthians 8/23; Philippians 2/25).
Ian McCormack speaks of Christ being the cornerstone of the church and of these modern day apostles and prophets being the foundation of the church. He gives us no exegesis, but what he continually asserts is that God has told him these things personally. He equates the role of a prophet with ecstatic experiences: “.....open heaven, angels, revelation, throne room supernatural encounters, dreams and vision, transformation glory realm and spiritual warfare”. This statement is enough to entirely dismiss his ministry.
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)
Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. (1 Thessalonians 5/20-21,see also Isaiah 8/20; Acts 17/11; 1 Corinthians 14/29 Galatians 1/8)
The call to interpret Ephesians 4/11 as a restoration of the office of the original apostles and prophets is not only wrong exegesis, it denies the sufficiency of the Bible (2 Timothy 3/16).
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Hebrews 1/1-2)
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. (1 Corinthians 3/10)
The scriptures tell us that we shall know false prophets by their fruit (Matthew 7/16). What exactly is the fruit of those who claim to be modern day apostles and prophets? Well it is fairly obvious when we watch the sickening antics of these false prophets in action:
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)
Ian McCormack's endorsements and associations:
Links:
Bill Johnson - Bethel Church in Redding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYA7ZkkutPw
Iris Ministries - the interdenominational mission of Rolland and Heidi Baker in Mozambique:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScRO7sa4uXs
http://www.dayspring.com.au - the website of DaySpring Church Sydney Australia.Links:
Bill Johnson - Bethel Church in Redding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYA7ZkkutPw
Iris Ministries - the interdenominational mission of Rolland and Heidi Baker in Mozambique:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScRO7sa4uXs
www.masterpotter.com - the website of Jill Austin.
Endorsements:
David Yonggi Cho: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8208sgtIsZU
John Wimber: http://www.inplainsite.org/html/vineyard_john_wimber.html
David Yonggi Cho: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8208sgtIsZU
John Wimber: http://www.inplainsite.org/html/vineyard_john_wimber.html
Reinhard Bonnke - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEqMD02ztJw
Ian McCormack has appeared on the 700 Club quite recently promoting his new film "The Perfect Wave" http://www.inplainsite.org/html/pat_robertson.html
Ian McCormack has shared platforms with false prophet Bobby Conner and spiritualist JoAnn McFatter.
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
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
Sunday, 10 August 2014
ian mccormack open heaven spiritual deception part 1
I first came across the ministry of Ian McCormack many years ago when he visited my home town of Leicester in the UK. Ian's testimony touched me very deeply; there seemed to be all the right elements present – God’s Word i.e. the Lord’s Prayer, conviction of sin, repentance, forgiveness, acceptance and Ian's experience of God’s overwhelming love. As a new Christian at that time, I had no doubt that his experience was authentic. However I have recently looked into Ian’s teaching in more depth and I have now come to an entirely different conclusion.
Ian McCormack was stung by five box jellyfish whilst diving on the island of Mauritius and eventually ended up in the hospital where he died for approximately fifteen minutes and found himself in hell. He was then lifted out of hell by a brilliant beam of pure white light and he had a very powerful experience of love, peace, joy and forgiveness of sins. He believes that he encountered Jesus and saw a perfect creation - “the New Earth & New Heavens” - but he chose to return to earth because he saw a vision of his family and thousands and thousands of other people. “I asked God who all these people were, and He told me that if I didn't return then many of these people would not get a chance to hear about Him….”
Although he tells us that he is not trying to tell anyone what to believe, Ian's testimony is very persuasive and he has widely promoted it in the past. He is promoting it this year through a new film “The Perfect Wave” http://www.theperfectwave.co.za/ Having seen Ian McCormack for myself on three occasions, I do not think he is a deliberate deceiver; clearly something spiritual did happen to him in Mauritius. What I do now doubt is whether this spiritual experience was truly from the Lord or whether it was from a counterfeit spirit. There are a number of reasons for this.
Ian McCormack: "When you come to church you have a psalm and hymn a spiritual song a word, a revelation." Ian is quoting 1 Corinthians 14:26 here which is actually: When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Ian: "When you have had a revelation of God you have a testimony that you can testify to, and it is the thing that can open up doors for healing, for encounter…. and when He encounters you, you are changed….. When the Spirit of God fills a man it can become contagious. The fire of God can just jump – the electricity of heaven can literally just jump and ignite - the light that is within you starts to ignite others it gives them hope that they too can enter that heavenly realm.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-seR4z2ZL4
For Ian McCormack "revelation" is an open heaven experience - he puts the testimony of "open heaven" on a par with martyrdom and the blood of Jesus: "Testimonies are very powerful, because it says that: 'We overcome Satan by the word of our testimony - the blood of the Lamb and we do not love our life even unto death.' So Jesus puts our testimony (of open heaven) up with martyrdom and the blood of Jesus" Notice how Ian puts "testimony" before the blood of the Lamb in his version of Revelation 12:11. The actual verse is:
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. (Revelation 12:11).
Revelation 12:11 in context refers to martyrdom - the word of their testimony is the faithful preaching of the gospel – the testimony of Jesus, the Word of God (Revelation 12:17; 19:10). The Greek word for "revelation" is apokalupsis which means unveiling, uncovering, revealing, revelation (1 Corinthians 14:26). Paul was exceptional in that he received the gospel by "revelation" directly from Jesus Christ and not from any human source (Galatians 1:12; Ephesians 3:3). Further visions of Paul are recorded in Acts 16:19 22:17; 26:12-19; 27:23 and Galatians 2:2. Ananias also had a vision (Acts 9:10), and Peter (Acts 10:17). These visions or "revelations" were not experiences of "open heaven". God may indeed disclose or reveal something specific to an individual - but this is subject to testing (1 John 4:1; 1 Corinthians 14:19). Considering that Ian has a Bible in front of him, why doesn't he quote the scriptures correctly? Concerning changing anything in the Book of Revelation:
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19)
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)
The Parable of Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)
The testimony of being raised from the dead is spurious. When the rich man found himself in Hades, he pleaded with Abraham to return from the dead to warn his family to repent. Abraham corrects this error however:
‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’” (Luke 16:27-31)
Ian McCormack: “Over the years some people have questioned my experience & so I would like to reiterate this scripture { 2 Cor 12: 2 - 4 } 'I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago - whether in his body I do not know, or out of his body I do not know, God knows - such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man - whether in his body or apart from his body I do not know, God knows - was caught up into Paradise.'" http://www.aglimpseofeternity.org/ians-testimony/
Ian McCormack does not complete the above reading to verse 7 which is inexplicable! Paul continues to say that there was nothing to gain by boasting about this event. He was forbidden to speak of the things he saw and heard. Paul was caught up into the Third Heaven - "caught up" in the Greek is harpazo, which means to seize or to forcibly snatch away, in other words the event was totally initiated by God. Paul's experience was a very rare event, it happened only once in fourteen years. Furthermore, Paul was given a thorn in the flesh to keep him from becoming conceited about this experience:
Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter......................So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. (2 Corinthians 2:2-4,7)
The sphere that Paul was caught up to was paradise (2 Corinthians 12:3).
www.masterpotter.com - the website of Jill Austin.
FOLLOW UP POST: IAN MCCORMACK - THIRD HEAVEN SPIRITUAL DECEPTION
http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/ian-mccormack-third-heaven-spiritual.html
IAN MCCORMACK'S TESTIMONY
I have condensed Ian McCormack’s story here; his full testimony can be found on his website: http://www.aglimpseofeternity.org/ians-testimony/english/
I have condensed Ian McCormack’s story here; his full testimony can be found on his website: http://www.aglimpseofeternity.org/ians-testimony/english/
Ian McCormack was stung by five box jellyfish whilst diving on the island of Mauritius and eventually ended up in the hospital where he died for approximately fifteen minutes and found himself in hell. He was then lifted out of hell by a brilliant beam of pure white light and he had a very powerful experience of love, peace, joy and forgiveness of sins. He believes that he encountered Jesus and saw a perfect creation - “the New Earth & New Heavens” - but he chose to return to earth because he saw a vision of his family and thousands and thousands of other people. “I asked God who all these people were, and He told me that if I didn't return then many of these people would not get a chance to hear about Him….”
Although he tells us that he is not trying to tell anyone what to believe, Ian's testimony is very persuasive and he has widely promoted it in the past. He is promoting it this year through a new film “The Perfect Wave” http://www.theperfectwave.co.za/ Having seen Ian McCormack for myself on three occasions, I do not think he is a deliberate deceiver; clearly something spiritual did happen to him in Mauritius. What I do now doubt is whether this spiritual experience was truly from the Lord or whether it was from a counterfeit spirit. There are a number of reasons for this.
Ian McCormack: "When you come to church you have a psalm and hymn a spiritual song a word, a revelation." Ian is quoting 1 Corinthians 14:26 here which is actually: When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Ian: "When you have had a revelation of God you have a testimony that you can testify to, and it is the thing that can open up doors for healing, for encounter…. and when He encounters you, you are changed….. When the Spirit of God fills a man it can become contagious. The fire of God can just jump – the electricity of heaven can literally just jump and ignite - the light that is within you starts to ignite others it gives them hope that they too can enter that heavenly realm.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-seR4z2ZL4
For Ian McCormack "revelation" is an open heaven experience - he puts the testimony of "open heaven" on a par with martyrdom and the blood of Jesus: "Testimonies are very powerful, because it says that: 'We overcome Satan by the word of our testimony - the blood of the Lamb and we do not love our life even unto death.' So Jesus puts our testimony (of open heaven) up with martyrdom and the blood of Jesus" Notice how Ian puts "testimony" before the blood of the Lamb in his version of Revelation 12:11. The actual verse is:
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. (Revelation 12:11).
Revelation 12:11 in context refers to martyrdom - the word of their testimony is the faithful preaching of the gospel – the testimony of Jesus, the Word of God (Revelation 12:17; 19:10). The Greek word for "revelation" is apokalupsis which means unveiling, uncovering, revealing, revelation (1 Corinthians 14:26). Paul was exceptional in that he received the gospel by "revelation" directly from Jesus Christ and not from any human source (Galatians 1:12; Ephesians 3:3). Further visions of Paul are recorded in Acts 16:19 22:17; 26:12-19; 27:23 and Galatians 2:2. Ananias also had a vision (Acts 9:10), and Peter (Acts 10:17). These visions or "revelations" were not experiences of "open heaven". God may indeed disclose or reveal something specific to an individual - but this is subject to testing (1 John 4:1; 1 Corinthians 14:19). Considering that Ian has a Bible in front of him, why doesn't he quote the scriptures correctly? Concerning changing anything in the Book of Revelation:
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19)
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)
The Parable of Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)
The testimony of being raised from the dead is spurious. When the rich man found himself in Hades, he pleaded with Abraham to return from the dead to warn his family to repent. Abraham corrects this error however:
‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’” (Luke 16:27-31)
Ian McCormack: “Over the years some people have questioned my experience & so I would like to reiterate this scripture { 2 Cor 12: 2 - 4 } 'I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago - whether in his body I do not know, or out of his body I do not know, God knows - such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man - whether in his body or apart from his body I do not know, God knows - was caught up into Paradise.'" http://www.aglimpseofeternity.org/ians-testimony/
Ian McCormack does not complete the above reading to verse 7 which is inexplicable! Paul continues to say that there was nothing to gain by boasting about this event. He was forbidden to speak of the things he saw and heard. Paul was caught up into the Third Heaven - "caught up" in the Greek is harpazo, which means to seize or to forcibly snatch away, in other words the event was totally initiated by God. Paul's experience was a very rare event, it happened only once in fourteen years. Furthermore, Paul was given a thorn in the flesh to keep him from becoming conceited about this experience:
Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter......................So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. (2 Corinthians 2:2-4,7)
The sphere that Paul was caught up to was paradise (2 Corinthians 12:3).
The book of Revelation tells us that access to paradise is conditional and future - only those who conquer will have access to this place:
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ (Revelation 2:7) This is an allusion to Genesis 2:9 and Genesis 3:22. Other references to the tree of life are found in Revelation 22:2, 14.
The word "paradise" occurs three times in the New Testament (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:4). It is the dwelling place of God and the resting place of departed saints (Luke 23:43). The word “paradise” is often used as a synonym for the Garden of Eden - this is consistent with Paul’s testimony and also with Revelation 2:7 as the location of the tree of life.
After Adam’s expulsion from paradise God took deliberate and extreme measures to ensure that he could not return:
And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:22-24)
Ian McCormack: “Some people may not accept this is what happened which is totally fine. I am not trying to tell you what to believe. You may believe it was just a dream or a hallucination. But one thing I do know, is that after following Jesus since 1982, I can't wait to see Him again and step through into the New Heavens & New Earth { Rev 21: 1 - 7 } { 2 Peter 3 : 10 - 18 }. My prayer is that my experience will help you to come to know Jesus Christ as your Personal Lord & Saviour. { Romans 10 : 8 - 13 }. Jesus wishes that none would perish but all would come to know eternal life in Him { 2 Peter 3 : 10 - 18 }” http://www.aglimpseofeternity.org/ians-testimony/
Ian McCormack: “I personally believe I died & was taken out of my body into the New Earth & New Heavens. That I had what is termed a 'life after death experience '. I believe I stood before the Risen Lord Jesus Christ in His Glorified form { Rev 1 : 13 - 18 }." http://www.aglimpseofeternity.org/ians-testimony/
Ian McCormack claims to have had “open heaven” experiences many times since his initial experience in Mauritius, and he tells us that we can and should have open heaven. On the Youtube video at The Church@New Bern he speaks about people getting covered in gold, a woman with oil pouring out of her hands who was anointed for healing, experiences of diving into the river and breathing in “living water” etc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-seR4z2ZL4
Ian McCormack: “The scriptures are full of that. We find that in the Old Testament. We have Jacob going up and seeing the ladder into heaven in a dream. He sees the angels of the Lord ascending the (????) of Bethel meeting with God. We see Moses meeting God face to face............. Ezekiel saw one, wheels within wheels, open heaven and he said there was like a fire in him..... … Daniel said 'I saw the ancient of days, his vesture was white like wool like snow......' Isaiah saw the holiness of God.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-seR4z2ZL4
Certain people were given visions of heaven in the Bible, but relatively speaking they were very rare and they were given for specific reasons. The first time we hear of it in the New Testament is when Jesus Christ was baptised: And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10 says: he saw heaven being torn open)
Ian McCormack: “I have access to the kingdom of heaven, I have a passport to heaven and a free right to go up there – any time!”
The word "paradise" occurs three times in the New Testament (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:4). It is the dwelling place of God and the resting place of departed saints (Luke 23:43). The word “paradise” is often used as a synonym for the Garden of Eden - this is consistent with Paul’s testimony and also with Revelation 2:7 as the location of the tree of life.
After Adam’s expulsion from paradise God took deliberate and extreme measures to ensure that he could not return:
And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:22-24)
Ian McCormack: “Some people may not accept this is what happened which is totally fine. I am not trying to tell you what to believe. You may believe it was just a dream or a hallucination. But one thing I do know, is that after following Jesus since 1982, I can't wait to see Him again and step through into the New Heavens & New Earth { Rev 21: 1 - 7 } { 2 Peter 3 : 10 - 18 }. My prayer is that my experience will help you to come to know Jesus Christ as your Personal Lord & Saviour. { Romans 10 : 8 - 13 }. Jesus wishes that none would perish but all would come to know eternal life in Him { 2 Peter 3 : 10 - 18 }” http://www.aglimpseofeternity.org/ians-testimony/
Ian McCormack: “I personally believe I died & was taken out of my body into the New Earth & New Heavens. That I had what is termed a 'life after death experience '. I believe I stood before the Risen Lord Jesus Christ in His Glorified form { Rev 1 : 13 - 18 }." http://www.aglimpseofeternity.org/ians-testimony/
Ian McCormack claims to have had “open heaven” experiences many times since his initial experience in Mauritius, and he tells us that we can and should have open heaven. On the Youtube video at The Church@New Bern he speaks about people getting covered in gold, a woman with oil pouring out of her hands who was anointed for healing, experiences of diving into the river and breathing in “living water” etc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-seR4z2ZL4
Ian McCormack: “The scriptures are full of that. We find that in the Old Testament. We have Jacob going up and seeing the ladder into heaven in a dream. He sees the angels of the Lord ascending the (????) of Bethel meeting with God. We see Moses meeting God face to face............. Ezekiel saw one, wheels within wheels, open heaven and he said there was like a fire in him..... … Daniel said 'I saw the ancient of days, his vesture was white like wool like snow......' Isaiah saw the holiness of God.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-seR4z2ZL4
Certain people were given visions of heaven in the Bible, but relatively speaking they were very rare and they were given for specific reasons. The first time we hear of it in the New Testament is when Jesus Christ was baptised: And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10 says: he saw heaven being torn open)
Ian McCormack: “I have access to the kingdom of heaven, I have a passport to heaven and a free right to go up there – any time!”
“It is possible to see what John saw on Patmos.”
“The revelation (open heaven) comes out of the wellsprings of your relationship and love for Him.”
“.....you have access continually to come in..... to dive into the core of who He is....”
Ian gives the analogy of surfing and “positioning yourself to catch the wave of the spirit” – catching the presence God and having “the ride of your life”.
This really does not match up to what we read in the Bible. I hear no warnings or judgements being pronounced by Ian McCormack, it is all about the experience, not about God's intentions and actions as was the case with the prophets. We see John and Daniel overwhelmed with awe and dread, struggling to find words and descriptions.
DANIEL: The whole book of Daniel focuses on God's judgement. Daniel's name means “God is my judge”. Daniel was given a vision which referred to the appointed time of the end (chapter 8 v 17, 19). The vision was not pleasant, it shocked and terrified him and it made him very ill. And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king’s business, but I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it. (chapter 8:27)
JOHN: And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. (Revelation 1:17) John saw the end time judgements (Daniel and Revelation are counterparts of each other).
EZEKIEL: - Three themes are present in the book of Ezekiel: (1) judgment on Israel (chapters 1–24); (2) judgment on the nations (chapters 25–32); (3) and future blessings for Israel (chapters 33–48). Ezekiel: Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face......... (Ezekiel 1:28)
ISAIAH: Warnings of judgement and promises of subsequent restoration for Jerusalem, Judah and the nations (chapters 1-33). Judgement has already taken place and restoration is at hand (chapters 34–66). Isaiah feared that his unclean lips would ruin him, but was cleansed at the altar. (Isaiah 6:5)
MOSES: And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” (Acts 7:32-33)
MICAIAH: And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; and the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ And the LORD said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’ Now therefore behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the LORD has declared disaster for you.” (1 Kings 22:19-23)
STEPHEN: Stephen saw the glory of God moments before his death: But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:56) This happened immediately after he delivered his prophetic speech against the unbelieving Jews: “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it..... (Acts 7:1-53)
PAUL: - As discussed, we don't know what Paul saw - though he did warn repeatedly about apostasy and the coming judgement.
Does the above sound like these prophets were surfing to catch the wave of the Spirit to have the ride of their life?
OPEN HEAVEN REPLACES FAITH:
We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:6-7)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? (Romans 8:24)
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)
Ian's son Michael’s encounter in 2011 when he was ten years old: Michael (read by Ian): “….. light shone on me and that light had an overflowing love. It lifted me up into heaven in this white light. I saw angels coming around me surround me as I went up. They were clothed in white robes and their faces were shining and they had wings. They were floating around me like they were hovering. Their wings were fully opened and were moving quite slowly……” Ian McCormack: " ……he was sovereignly taken up...... his heart was ready and God just went ‘now’” Michael: "…….he smiled at me and I felt loved…… He showed me heavens gate, it was golden and a massive palace in town behind the gates…… Michael claims to have seen “the old earth that people destroyed…..” This does not add up. Actually it is God who destroys the earth; partial destruction will occur through the first four trumpet judgements in Revelation 8. Finally, the earth and its works will be burned up by fire at the end of the millennium (2 Peter 3:7-13).
Michael: “I really want to speak and tell people, and I hope that half the church is full of non Christians so that they can get saved.” Bear in mind that the gospel was not preached at all at this meeting. How can anyone get saved without hearing the gospel? It is very concerning that Michael has been so influenced that he too has had an “open heaven” experience.
Ian McCormack: “The renewing of the mind is not the same as healing the broken heart – they are two different things……… We must come to God as a small child…... The simplicity that he loves you is the opening door because it is the eyes of your heart to be opened to revelation. The revelation comes out of the wellsprings of your relationship and love for Him. It is a very simple yet a very deep thing to know that God looks across the earth for people’s hearts that are wholly devoted to Him. The heart needs to be healed because the heart can be very broken, the heart can be divided the heart can be in many different places. The Lord is looking for a whole heart……….that is why He wants to heal the broken hearts. That is why he wants to bind up their wounds, the heart needs to be healed….”
Ian McCormack talks about the “open heaven” experience as being transformational rather than the Word of God. This very subtly puts “revelation” i.e. subjective experience in the place of Christ – this is the spirit of antichrist. Romans 12:2 tells us unequivocally that Christians are transformed by the renewal of the mind.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
I think there is some confusion amongst Christians about what "brokenhearted" actually means in the context of Luke 4:18 (Isaiah 61:1; Psalm 147). We should note that in the Bible “brokenhearted” is linked to contrition, i.e. one is crushed due to the recognition of sin.
Psalm 34:18: The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed (contrite) in spirit.
Psalm 51:17: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
When we understand brokenhearted as extreme sorrow due to sin, we can understand Luke 4:18 in context:
The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed…. (Luke 4:8) The King James Bible and some other versions say: to set at liberty them that are bruised. The Douay-Rheims Bible says: he hath sent me to heal the contrite of heart….. Some other versions say brokenhearted. The Greek word is thraúō – break in pieces (shatter). In Isaiah 61:1 and Psalm 147 the Hebrew word has the same meaning. http://biblehub.com/greek/2352.htm
The reason I am going into so much detail about the word “brokenhearted” is that this issue was dealt with on the cross – Jesus Christ sets the repentant sinner free who is brokenhearted and contrite because of personal sin. If Christians have a “divided heart” after the new birth, the answer is repentance. We should not confuse brokenhearted with emotional distress which we all suffer from at times (including the prophets who had open heaven experiences). The miracle of new birth has taken place and Christians are in the process of being transformed (2 Corinthians 3:18).
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)
Christians have a responsibility to make sure that their mind comes into alignment with the new birth - this is a great battleground and something which Ian did not mention. Prior to the new birth, we have no relationship or love for God: …..the carnal mind is enmity against God. (Romans 8:7). The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)
“The revelation (open heaven) comes out of the wellsprings of your relationship and love for Him.”
“.....you have access continually to come in..... to dive into the core of who He is....”
Ian gives the analogy of surfing and “positioning yourself to catch the wave of the spirit” – catching the presence God and having “the ride of your life”.
This really does not match up to what we read in the Bible. I hear no warnings or judgements being pronounced by Ian McCormack, it is all about the experience, not about God's intentions and actions as was the case with the prophets. We see John and Daniel overwhelmed with awe and dread, struggling to find words and descriptions.
DANIEL: The whole book of Daniel focuses on God's judgement. Daniel's name means “God is my judge”. Daniel was given a vision which referred to the appointed time of the end (chapter 8 v 17, 19). The vision was not pleasant, it shocked and terrified him and it made him very ill. And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king’s business, but I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it. (chapter 8:27)
JOHN: And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. (Revelation 1:17) John saw the end time judgements (Daniel and Revelation are counterparts of each other).
EZEKIEL: - Three themes are present in the book of Ezekiel: (1) judgment on Israel (chapters 1–24); (2) judgment on the nations (chapters 25–32); (3) and future blessings for Israel (chapters 33–48). Ezekiel: Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face......... (Ezekiel 1:28)
ISAIAH: Warnings of judgement and promises of subsequent restoration for Jerusalem, Judah and the nations (chapters 1-33). Judgement has already taken place and restoration is at hand (chapters 34–66). Isaiah feared that his unclean lips would ruin him, but was cleansed at the altar. (Isaiah 6:5)
MOSES: And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” (Acts 7:32-33)
MICAIAH: And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; and the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ And the LORD said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’ Now therefore behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the LORD has declared disaster for you.” (1 Kings 22:19-23)
STEPHEN: Stephen saw the glory of God moments before his death: But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:56) This happened immediately after he delivered his prophetic speech against the unbelieving Jews: “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it..... (Acts 7:1-53)
PAUL: - As discussed, we don't know what Paul saw - though he did warn repeatedly about apostasy and the coming judgement.
Does the above sound like these prophets were surfing to catch the wave of the Spirit to have the ride of their life?
OPEN HEAVEN REPLACES FAITH:
We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:6-7)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? (Romans 8:24)
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)
Ian's son Michael’s encounter in 2011 when he was ten years old: Michael (read by Ian): “….. light shone on me and that light had an overflowing love. It lifted me up into heaven in this white light. I saw angels coming around me surround me as I went up. They were clothed in white robes and their faces were shining and they had wings. They were floating around me like they were hovering. Their wings were fully opened and were moving quite slowly……” Ian McCormack: " ……he was sovereignly taken up...... his heart was ready and God just went ‘now’” Michael: "…….he smiled at me and I felt loved…… He showed me heavens gate, it was golden and a massive palace in town behind the gates…… Michael claims to have seen “the old earth that people destroyed…..” This does not add up. Actually it is God who destroys the earth; partial destruction will occur through the first four trumpet judgements in Revelation 8. Finally, the earth and its works will be burned up by fire at the end of the millennium (2 Peter 3:7-13).
Michael: “I really want to speak and tell people, and I hope that half the church is full of non Christians so that they can get saved.” Bear in mind that the gospel was not preached at all at this meeting. How can anyone get saved without hearing the gospel? It is very concerning that Michael has been so influenced that he too has had an “open heaven” experience.
Ian McCormack: “The renewing of the mind is not the same as healing the broken heart – they are two different things……… We must come to God as a small child…... The simplicity that he loves you is the opening door because it is the eyes of your heart to be opened to revelation. The revelation comes out of the wellsprings of your relationship and love for Him. It is a very simple yet a very deep thing to know that God looks across the earth for people’s hearts that are wholly devoted to Him. The heart needs to be healed because the heart can be very broken, the heart can be divided the heart can be in many different places. The Lord is looking for a whole heart……….that is why He wants to heal the broken hearts. That is why he wants to bind up their wounds, the heart needs to be healed….”
Ian McCormack talks about the “open heaven” experience as being transformational rather than the Word of God. This very subtly puts “revelation” i.e. subjective experience in the place of Christ – this is the spirit of antichrist. Romans 12:2 tells us unequivocally that Christians are transformed by the renewal of the mind.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
I think there is some confusion amongst Christians about what "brokenhearted" actually means in the context of Luke 4:18 (Isaiah 61:1; Psalm 147). We should note that in the Bible “brokenhearted” is linked to contrition, i.e. one is crushed due to the recognition of sin.
Psalm 34:18: The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed (contrite) in spirit.
Psalm 51:17: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
When we understand brokenhearted as extreme sorrow due to sin, we can understand Luke 4:18 in context:
The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed…. (Luke 4:8) The King James Bible and some other versions say: to set at liberty them that are bruised. The Douay-Rheims Bible says: he hath sent me to heal the contrite of heart….. Some other versions say brokenhearted. The Greek word is thraúō – break in pieces (shatter). In Isaiah 61:1 and Psalm 147 the Hebrew word has the same meaning. http://biblehub.com/greek/2352.htm
The reason I am going into so much detail about the word “brokenhearted” is that this issue was dealt with on the cross – Jesus Christ sets the repentant sinner free who is brokenhearted and contrite because of personal sin. If Christians have a “divided heart” after the new birth, the answer is repentance. We should not confuse brokenhearted with emotional distress which we all suffer from at times (including the prophets who had open heaven experiences). The miracle of new birth has taken place and Christians are in the process of being transformed (2 Corinthians 3:18).
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)
Christians have a responsibility to make sure that their mind comes into alignment with the new birth - this is a great battleground and something which Ian did not mention. Prior to the new birth, we have no relationship or love for God: …..the carnal mind is enmity against God. (Romans 8:7). The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)
All this rhetoric about broken hearts makes people dwell on the past, the old man and not the new creation. We can go around forever seeking “inner healing”, but this is not the broken and contrite heart spoken of in the Bible. If we are true Christians then we need to live in the truth that the old has passed away. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32)
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (liberty). (2 Corinthians 3:17)
I notice that these experiences of open heaven seem to be very addictive and all consuming. Ian talks about waiting for the “next wave” or the "super wave". As Christians it is natural to want to experience the love of God and heaven in much fuller ways than we are now able to, but there are no shortcuts to heaven. We should be very careful that we do not aspire to receiving an illegitimate revelation from an angel of light.
Ian McCormack: .....there are huge numbers of (people) who have had genuine experiences with the love of God. They just haven’t been able to reference who that being of light is. And you find that the scripture of the Bible is so clear and so accurate in the understanding that God is love, and forgiving, and compassionate. http://www.skeptiko.com/255-ian-mccomacks-exclusively-christian-near-death-expeience/
If these people have not been able to reference who that being of light is, then there is something very wrong (2 Corinthians 11:14). Jesus Christ does not leave people in the dark - he reveals his identity to those who truly encounter Him (Acts 9:5; John 4:6; John 11:25; Revelation 1:8 etc.)
And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 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 11:12-15)
IAN MCCORMACK'S PROOF TEXT FOR OPEN HEAVEN
“Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:51)
This verse is difficult, but we should not read something into it that it doesn't say. There is no record that Nathanael actually saw this vision in his lifetime and there is no instance where it is recorded that the disciples witnessed literal ministering angels.
The verse refers to the Son of Man - Jesus Christ replacing the ladder in Jacob's dream and becoming the only mediator between God and man (Genesis 28:12; 1 Timothy 2:5). Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” (Genesis 28:16-17). Jacob did not know that God was in that place – it was not apparent to him until God revealed it to him. God tells us that he is near and with us – whether we experience it or not we should take it as fact, and notice once again that Jacob was afraid after the dream. Jesus becomes the ladder/staircase, door, gate– the way to and from heaven. Scholars have contrasted Jacob's ladder, God's outreach from heaven to earth, with the Tower of Babel, man's grasping from earth toward heaven – if we are trying to manipulate an “open heaven” experience then we have drifted into mysticism/occultism.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32)
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (liberty). (2 Corinthians 3:17)
I notice that these experiences of open heaven seem to be very addictive and all consuming. Ian talks about waiting for the “next wave” or the "super wave". As Christians it is natural to want to experience the love of God and heaven in much fuller ways than we are now able to, but there are no shortcuts to heaven. We should be very careful that we do not aspire to receiving an illegitimate revelation from an angel of light.
Ian McCormack: .....there are huge numbers of (people) who have had genuine experiences with the love of God. They just haven’t been able to reference who that being of light is. And you find that the scripture of the Bible is so clear and so accurate in the understanding that God is love, and forgiving, and compassionate. http://www.skeptiko.com/255-ian-mccomacks-exclusively-christian-near-death-expeience/
If these people have not been able to reference who that being of light is, then there is something very wrong (2 Corinthians 11:14). Jesus Christ does not leave people in the dark - he reveals his identity to those who truly encounter Him (Acts 9:5; John 4:6; John 11:25; Revelation 1:8 etc.)
And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 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 11:12-15)
IAN MCCORMACK'S PROOF TEXT FOR OPEN HEAVEN
“Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:51)
This verse is difficult, but we should not read something into it that it doesn't say. There is no record that Nathanael actually saw this vision in his lifetime and there is no instance where it is recorded that the disciples witnessed literal ministering angels.
The verse refers to the Son of Man - Jesus Christ replacing the ladder in Jacob's dream and becoming the only mediator between God and man (Genesis 28:12; 1 Timothy 2:5). Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” (Genesis 28:16-17). Jacob did not know that God was in that place – it was not apparent to him until God revealed it to him. God tells us that he is near and with us – whether we experience it or not we should take it as fact, and notice once again that Jacob was afraid after the dream. Jesus becomes the ladder/staircase, door, gate– the way to and from heaven. Scholars have contrasted Jacob's ladder, God's outreach from heaven to earth, with the Tower of Babel, man's grasping from earth toward heaven – if we are trying to manipulate an “open heaven” experience then we have drifted into mysticism/occultism.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) We draw near to the throne of grace through faith in Jesus Christ – we cannot draw near by some mystical experience.
In 2008, Ian McCormack prophesied a great revival which would come out of London and spread over the UK and beyond. I must say that this put me in mind of my early experiences of the Charismatic movement when certain people were constantly prophesying that revival was just around the corner. What I have observed since that time is the very reverse of the promised revival. We have had fake revivals infecting the church like Toronto, Pensacola and Florida, and more recently the fake Welsh Outpouring in the UK. Ian's prophecy is not time specific, but it was six years ago and as far as I can see the church has continued to degenerate into an appalling state of apostasy by and large.
ASSOCIATIONS
Ian McCormack endorses of some very dubious "ministries" and has some very questionable associations:
Links:
Bill Johnson - Bethel Church in Redding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYA7ZkkutPw
Iris Ministries - the interdenominational mission of Rolland and Heidi Baker in Mozambique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScRO7sa4uXs
http://www.dayspring.com.au - the website of DaySpring Church Sydney Australia.In 2008, Ian McCormack prophesied a great revival which would come out of London and spread over the UK and beyond. I must say that this put me in mind of my early experiences of the Charismatic movement when certain people were constantly prophesying that revival was just around the corner. What I have observed since that time is the very reverse of the promised revival. We have had fake revivals infecting the church like Toronto, Pensacola and Florida, and more recently the fake Welsh Outpouring in the UK. Ian's prophecy is not time specific, but it was six years ago and as far as I can see the church has continued to degenerate into an appalling state of apostasy by and large.
ASSOCIATIONS
Ian McCormack endorses of some very dubious "ministries" and has some very questionable associations:
Links:
Bill Johnson - Bethel Church in Redding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYA7ZkkutPw
Iris Ministries - the interdenominational mission of Rolland and Heidi Baker in Mozambique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScRO7sa4uXs
www.masterpotter.com - the website of Jill Austin.
Endorsements:
David Yonggi Cho: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8208sgtIsZU
John Wimber: http://www.inplainsite.org/html/vineyard_john_wimber.html
David Yonggi Cho: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8208sgtIsZU
John Wimber: http://www.inplainsite.org/html/vineyard_john_wimber.html
Ian has appeared on the 700 Club quite recently promoting his new film "The Perfect Wave" http://www.inplainsite.org/html/pat_robertson.html
Ian has shared platforms with false prophet Bobby Conner and spiritualist JoAnn McFatter.
I recommend that anyone interested in these kind of experiences watch the following video about Ayahuasca from 2:40. I have no doubt this girls experience was genuine and in some respects it reminded me of Ian McCormack's experience. It demonstrates how deceptive Satan can be:
I recommend that anyone interested in these kind of experiences watch the following video about Ayahuasca from 2:40. I have no doubt this girls experience was genuine and in some respects it reminded me of Ian McCormack's experience. It demonstrates how deceptive Satan can be:
FOLLOW UP POST: IAN MCCORMACK - THIRD HEAVEN SPIRITUAL DECEPTION
http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/ian-mccormack-third-heaven-spiritual.html
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