TRINITY LIFE CHURCH LEICESTER – SMITH WIGGLESWORTH FALSE REVIVAL

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

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

SMITH WIGGLESWORTH MAN OF GOD?

Smith Wigglesworth

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"THE GREAT REVIVAL

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

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

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

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

— Smith Wigglesworth, 1947

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Who should we believe – Smith Wigglesworth or JESUS CHRIST?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PETITION FOR A PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO WOOTTON PARK SCHOOL - ADAM SIMMONDS PCC NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

https://www.change.org/p/keith-vaz-mp-chair-of-home-affairs-select-committee-public-inquiry-into-wootton-park-school-the-northampton-free-school-trust#share

PLEASE SIGN THE ABOVE PETITION  It is very important that the circumstances surrounding Adam Simmonds PCC for Northamtponshire dealings over Wootton Park School are investigated.

Simmonds is also Director of Trinity Life Church in Leicester and had two of my posts removed from Blogger earlier this year - an action which I believe was illegal. This matter is currently under investigation by the Local Government Ombudsman.

Justin Brown:

"This is a copy of a press release I put out to all local newspaper editors and the BBC last Friday:

Retired Policeman calls for public inquiry into OPCC and Wootton Park School.

Retired Northants Policeman Justin Brown has called for a public inquiry in relation to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and the creation of Wootton Park School.

The proposed School, set to replace the existing county Police headquarters at Wootton Hall received approval by the Department for Education earlier this week.

Mr Brown had earlier questioned the Police and Crime Commissioner Adam Simmonds regarding his suspected involvement with the trust behind the School at a Police and Crime panel meeting in March this year.

Mr Brown has also provided written evidence regarding the matter to the home affairs select committee which conducted a public inquiry into the progress of Police and crime commissioners nationally during the summer. His evidence was accepted by the inquiry chaired by Keith Vaz MP and published as part of the final report. As part of the conclusion by this committee Keith Vaz stated PCC's were 'on probation'.

Mr Brown said " I had referred my concerns initially to the independent police complaints commission, as I believe the PCC has abused the public trust, they declined to deal with the matter and the complaint was heard recently by the local Police and Crime scrutiny panel, who also decided the PCC had already satisfactorily answered my concerns at the meeting in March"

"Of course I contest the local decision as I believe the PCC has misled the public regarding both his own and his office involvement with the creation of both the trust and School. I remain very concerned and suspicious that the PCC arrived in office with a prepared agenda for the Police headquarters, I don't believe its sale or intended use is either to help create a more efficient Police service or is justified as part of a wider crime tackling plan."

"Ex colleagues and fellow Political party allies of the PCC feature heavily in this proposed School, both in the trust behind it and the actual School itself, freedom of information act requests show that staff from the OPCC have been personally involved in the direction of the School and that includes putting public money towards its creation"

Mr Brown has prepared a report containing his concerns for Keith Vaz MP in his capacity as chair of the home affairs select committee urging for a public inquiry to be held.

Mr Brown added:

" I believe that only a public inquiry can get to the truth of the matter, the people of our county, especially the officers, staff of Northants Police and the folk who actually live on the park itself need answers as to why so much effort and public expenditure has gone into the creation of the School by the PCC"

Ends"

For further information please visit the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/justintelligence?fref=nf

Councillor Danielle Stone (Lab, Abington and Phippsville), Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Member for Education at Northamptonshire County Council: “Free schools are supposed to be driven by parents, but this school is being driven by the Police and Crime Commissioner who is more interested in empire building than the needs of ordinary local people." http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/local/breaking-news-new-school-at-northampton-s-wootton-hall-police-headquarters-given-go-ahead-by-department-for-education-1-6329575

Simmonds plans for closer collaboration between police and fire services in Northamptonshire has received strong criticism by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) for being undemocratic:

“The FBU is fundamentally opposed to police and crime commissioners taking over the governance of local fire and rescue services. PCCs have no democratic mandate to administer the fire and rescue service, nor the expertise or resources to improve our service.”

http://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/top-stories/union-criticises-northamptonshire-police-commissioner-s-blue-light-plans-1-6320944

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

DECEIVER BILLY GRAHAM EXPOSED!!!

Unbiblical statements about the second coming of Jesus Christ from Billy and Franklin Graham should serve as a huge red flag to true believers of Jesus Christ. Both these men are currently heralding the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth. These statements are utterly false and have no biblical foundation whatsoever. The Bible tells us that Christ will NOT return to the earth until the end of the Great Tribulation!!!! Certain end-time events must take place before Jesus Christ returns to the earth (2 Thessalonians 2/4; Matthew 24/4-30; Revelation chapters 6–19).

We would have to be biblically illiterate to believe anything coming out of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thesalonians 2/3-4)

Franklin Graham in a recent interview with of all people apostate TBN Co-Founder Jan Crouch: “We feel that we’re on the edge, that the lord Jesus Christ could come back at any moment.”

The BGEA places the rapture and the second coming of Jesus Christ to the earth as simultaneous events…..this raises some very serious issues:

Billy Graham: “ …..the rapture will not be secret, since it will be part of Christ’s visible and triumphant return to end this present evil age (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).” http://billygraham.org/answer/what-is-the-rapture/

“Graham showed the evangelical flame still burned brightly within him by claiming that the time was ripe for the second coming of God on Earth. In the Bible this is called the Rapture - but it spells Armageddon for human civilisation.” http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/billy-graham-hope-christ-rapture-prediction-516248

“America is suffering from a ‘sea of immorality,’ he (Billy Graham) said, adding that in his opinion, the second coming of Jesus Christ is imminent.” http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/7/rev-billy-graham-americas-drowning-sea-immorality/

Franklin Graham: “As I read the news, I can’t help but wonder if we are in the last hours before our Lord Jesus Christ returns to rescue His church and God pours out His wrath on the world for the rejection of His Son….. I don’t know if we have hours, days, months, or years…..”
http://www.refiningtruth.com/billy-graham-wonders-hours-christ/

It is important to differentiate between the rapture (the harpázō of the ekklésia - the snatching away of the true church) and the second coming of Jesus Christ. The rapture is described in 1 Thessalonians 4/13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15/50-54. The second coming of Jesus Christ to the earth is described in Revelation 19/11-16.

The timing of the rapture is not specified in the scriptures ….. no one knows the day or the hour (Matthew 25/13), whereas the second coming of Christ to the earth follows a definite sequence of events and will occur after the great tribulation. In both Daniel and Revelation we have a period of three and a half lunar years, described variously as 42 months, 1260 days, or a time, times and half a time (Daniel 7/25; 12/7; Revelation 11/2; 12/6; 12/14; 13/5). In Daniel 12/11-12 the period is extended to 1290 and 1335 days (Daniel 12/11-12).

And he (the Antichrist) shall make a strong covenant with many for one week (seven years – each day is one year), and for half of the week (three and a half years) he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator. (Daniel 9/27)

Concerning the rapture, some people take the pre-tribulation view, some the mid tribulation view and some the post tribulation view. It does concern me that those who teach a definitive pre-tribulation position are taking liberties with God’s word and I am not convinced by their arguments (Proverbs 30/6; Revelation 22/18). Good Fight Ministries and others are now beginning to warn about the dangers of pre-tribulation position.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9iRT91_pyo

My own thoughts are that if the rapture and the second coming are simultaneous, believers will have to go through the whole period of the great tribulation and suffer the wrath of God (1 Thessalonians 5/9; Revelation 3/10; 6/12-17). I therefore very tentatively take a pre-wrath rather than a pre-tribulation view at this point in time for the following reasons:

The rapture will be an instantaneous event (1 Corinthians 15/52), whereas the second coming will be visible to all people and Christ’s millennial reign on the earth will begin (Revelation 1/7).

At the rapture, Christ comes for His own - believers will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4/13-18; John 14/3). The elect will be rescued just as Lot was rescued from Sodom (Luke 17/28-29). This is what is referred to as the “secret” rapture.

In contrast, the second coming is Christ’s visible return to the earth ----every eye shall see him---- (Revelation 1/7; Matthew 24/29-30; Acts 1/11). His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14/2-4)). Jesus Christ will come to the earth with His own following the great tribulation period of three and a half years (1 Thessalonians 3/13; Jude 1/14; Revelation 19/4,14). At the end of the age, the angels will gather all stumbling blocks and those who commit lawlessness (Matthew 13/40-42, 47-50) The wicked will be blotted out as in the days of Noah (Genesis 7/23; Matthew 24/39).

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24/31; Mark 13/27) 

There seems to be a very short period of time between the rapture and the second coming in the above passage. Nevertheless it is not the same event.

To sum up, the Christians are taken from the earth at the rapture and the wicked are left, whereas the wicked are taken away at the second coming and the Christians remain on the earth with Christ.

What are we to think about Billy and Franklin Graham? Are they so arrogant that they think that they can say anything and be believed? Unfortunately there are people who have made the catastrophic mistake of gambling with their eternal destiny by putting Billy Graham on a pedestal above the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word. We should seriously take note of the Berean Jews and test men’s words against the scriptures (Acts 17/11). No man’s reputation should come above Jesus Christ and His gospel!

These men are false prophets and false teachers. As I have written in previous posts, they have a proven track record of apostasy and compromise. The whole Graham family are ecumenical including Anne Graham Lotz. They have a form of godliness, but they deny the power of the true gospel (2 Timothy 3/5). The true gospel preached by the power of the Holy Spirit is the power of God for salvation – this is incompatible with ecumenism (Romans 1/16). These men empty the cross of Christ of its power (1 Corinthians 1/17).

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1/8)

Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea. (Revelation 12/17)

The love of the Lord is directly connected to making disciples NOT converts. Any person preaching the gospel has a responsibility to do everything possible to ensure that those who respond are given sound teaching and follow up.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs (Greek = little lambs).” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21/15-17)

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit….. (Matthew 28/19)

Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. (Acts 20/28)

The BGEA quite literally throw the lambs to the wolves by sending them directly into the “care” of the Luciferian Roman Catholic Church!!!

 

I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. (Acts20/29)

Billy Graham and Franklin Graham are actually aiding demons in snatching away the gospel from mens hearts:

When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.” (Matthew 13/3-4, 19)

"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? (Ezekiel 34/2)

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19/6-10)

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

WELSH OUTPOURING: RICHARD TAYLOR AND ANDREW PARSONS FINALLY EXPOSED AS FAKES AND LIARS!!!

The scandals at Victory Church in Cwmbran are now unravelling dramatically, with the exposure of seediness, sexual scandal and financial wrongdoing. Richard Taylor, long rumoured to be having multiple extra marital affairs, has now “resigned” from both Victory Church and Victory Outreach UK (VO UK) after inappropriate sexual behaviour involving a woman in the congregation was discovered. Richard Taylor and Andrew Parsons have also been suspected of shady financial dealings involving Victory Church and VO UK. This matter also seems to be coming to light with the “resignation” of Andrew Parsons from Victory Church. Sadly he still has his claws into VO UK but hopefully not for very much longer.

Jesus Christ warned us:

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

These two scam artists perverted the words of the living God (Jeremiah 23/36) and they managed to deceive a great number of people with their fake "Welsh Outpouring". People travelled from all over the UK to see the unholy spectacle, and it was spreading like gangrene to other churches, both in Wales and other parts of the UK.

None of the alleged healings and miracles were ever verified and all the claims made by Taylor et al were hot air and hype. Furthermore, Taylor and Parsons qualifications for the ministry were suspect. There were many tell-tale signs that these two men were false, and yet people continued to believe in them – preferring to believe a lie.

If these two clowns managed to deceive many so called “Christians”, what will be the outcome when the Antichrist appears?  This man will be an evil genius indwelt by Satan himself who will come with wicked deception along with lying sins and wonders. He will make Taylor and Parsons look like mere infants in comparison. God will send judgement - and that judgement will be a strong delusion upon those who reject the truth and prefer to believe what is false.

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2/8-12)

Those true Christians who were genuinely fooled by the farce known as the "Welsh Outpouring" do need to take stock now and learn a vital lesson. We cannot afford to simply accept any old rubbish that comes along in the guise of Christianity – OUR ETERNAL DESTINY DEPENDS ON ACCEPTING TRUTH AND REJECTING ERROR. 

JESUS CHRIST IS THE TRUTH AND HIS WORD IS TRUTH (John 17/17).

The Bible tells us to test the spirits:

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. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (1 John 4/1-6)

You may say that Taylor and his cohorts did confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh…. Yes they did didn’t they? This is why the whole counsel of God is so very important:

The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. (Psalm 119/160)

Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55/6-9)

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. (Revelation 21/8)

UPDATE 

On the 12th October 2014 the VCTeam released a "special announcement" concerning the future of Victory Church:

http://victorychurch.co.uk/news/special-announcement

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

DECEIVER BILLY GRAHAM IS SETTING PEOPLE UP FOR THE ANTICHRIST!

Billy Graham aka "Mr Facing Two Ways" has been described by more than a few people as: “The greatest deceiver of this century” due to his inclusivist ecumenical beliefs. Many discerning Christians have seen through Billy Graham and have distanced themselves from him after realising what he really is, including fundamentalist leaders Bob Jones Senior and Junior, James Bennett, Dr John R Rice, Dr Charles Woodridge, Jack Wyrtzen and Dr Robert Ketcham etc.

President Truman called Graham “a counterfeit”.

Graham is now promoting his new film “The Cross” to be released in November. This film will be shown worldwide. In the UK, the Assemblies of God Pentecostal denomination are now promoting the film and will be showing it free of charge in their churches. http://www.aog.org.uk/news/my-hope

BILLY GRAHAM: "The return of Christ is near."

November 2013 - Billy Graham: “And those signs (of the end of the age) in my judgement are converging now for the first time since Jesus made those predictions.” Graham also said that he has a burden for sounding the alarm for humanity to repent and turn from their sin just like Noah did in ancient days. Though some of what Graham says sounds plausible, his whole ministry is tainted by the ecumenical spirit of antichrist –
BILLY GRAHAM IS NO NOAH!

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) does not believe in the “secret” rapture of the church. Billy Graham has stated that the rapture is concurrent with Christ’s second coming:

Billy Graham: “ …..the rapture will not be secret, since it will be part of Christ’s visible and triumphant return to end this present evil age (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).” http://billygraham.org/answer/what-is-the-rapture/

“Graham showed the evangelical flame still burned brightly within him by claiming that the time was ripe for the second coming of God on Earth. In the Bible this is called the Rapture - but it spells Armageddon for human civilisation.” http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/billy-graham-hope-christ-rapture-prediction-516248

The above statements are very dangerous contradictions of the Bible - they are confusing and deceptive. They are so deceptive that I believe Billy Graham will be instrumental in fooling people into accepting the Antichrist!

The “rapture” so called (the harpázō of the ekklésia– the snatching away of the true church) is when Jesus Christ will meet believers in the air:

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4/16-17)

The actual timing of the rapture is the subject of much debate, some take the pre-tribulation position, some the mid tribulation position and some the post tribulation position. It is not my intention to go into the timing of the rapture here apart from stating that it is a separate event prior to the second coming of Jesus Christ to the earth.

Franklin Graham wonders if we are only hours away, not days from the rapture.
http://matthew714ministries.wordpress.com/2014/09/05/franklin-graham-on-the-rapture/

If the rapture is concurrent with the second coming, then what Graham says about Christ's imminent return is biblically impossible! The second coming of Christ to the earth cannot happen for at least seven years!!!! The problem is that the Antichrist is going to come as a “christ” figure prior to the second coming of Jesus Christ to the earth, and I believe that it is this deception that Billy Graham et al are promoting. The term "antichrist" denotes “in place of Christ” as well as "against Christ".

The period of time generally referred to as “the tribulation” will begin when the Antichrist signs a seven-year covenant with many (Israel) (Daniel 9 /24-27). It is this event that starts Daniel’s 70th week. The Antichrist will break the covenant in the middle of the seven years. Once the Antichrist sets up the abomination of desolation there will be a period three and a half lunar years, described variously as 42 months, 1260 days, or a time, times and half a time (Daniel 7/25; 12/7; Revelation 11/2; 12/6; 12/14; 13/5). This is the period referred to by Jesus Christ as “Great Tribulation” (Matthew 24/21). This event signals that there are only three and a half years remaining before Jesus Christ returns to earth to set up his earthly kingdom.

And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week (seven years – each day is one year), and for half of the week (three and a half years) he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator. (Daniel 9/27)

And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. (Daniel 12/11)

During the Great Tribulation, Satan will deceive the entire world into worshipping him in the form of the end time Antichrist (Revelation 13/1-4). Eventually he will gather all the armies of the world to fight against the returning Jesus Christ (Revelation 16/12,14)

But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Matthew 24/36-42)

Noah entered the ark seven days prior to the flood (Genesis 7/10) - this is a type of the rapture (the flood being a type of the tribulation when God's judgement falls on a wicked world).

Revelation 19/14: And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. Those returning to the earth with Christ are armies (plural), they are not only angels (Matthew 25/31), they also comprise the totality of the saints - they wear white and pure fine linen (býssos) which is the righteousness of saints (Revelation 3/4; 7/14; 19/8). At some point in time prior to the second coming believers are removed from the earth.

The rapture is NOT the second coming of Christ to the earth.

Christ will NOT return to the earth when the true church is raptured.

I can only conclude that Billy Graham along with his son Franklin Graham are either biblically illiterate or intentional deceivers!

Graham’s rhetoric about immorality and repentance sounds wonderful doesn’t it?

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Graham-evangelist-final-message/2013/10/05/id/529474/

Yes people should repent and turn to Jesus Christ – the real Jesus Christ that is. It is imperative for people to be aware that there will be a great deceiver, the Antichrist who will be empowered and indwelt by Satan himself coming with mighty miracles and signs performed by his sidekick the False Prophet. He will deceive many for a period of seven years prior to the return of Jesus Christ. Why isn’t Billy Graham warning about this?

DO NOT BELIEVE BILLY GRAHAM - HE IS A FALSE TEACHER AND A COMPROMISER

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)

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (Matthew 7/15-19)

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

The Vatican do not bother to hide the fact that they worship Lucifer:

http://ephesians511blog.net/2014/08/10/billy-graham-evangelistic-association-assisting-people-back to-roman-catholic-skull-cap-human-heart-and-mummy-worship-august-15-17-2014/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Jones_University

http://www.texemarrs.com/051998/deceive.htm
http://www.christiandoctrine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=903:billy-graham-apostate&catid=184:science&Itemid=560
http://wmcgrew.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/billy-graham-walks-talks-and-looks-like.html
http://www.wayoflife.org/database/graham_was_warned_many_times.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

DAVID HIND TRINITY LIFE CHURCH LEICESTER - SEVEN YEAR VISION OR RELIGIOUS CLAPTRAP?

BILLY GRAHAM, THE POPE, BENNY HINN OR THE MORMONS - TAKE YOUR PICK!

David Hind links the foundation of the apostles with apostate traitor of Jesus Christ Billy Graham!!! What hope for any kind of vision from God based on faulty theology and false teachers? http://trinitylifechurch.org.uk/messages/

Will someone please tell David Hind that Billy Graham has publicly denied Jesus Christ!

GRAHAM: “…I think everybody that loves Christ, or knows Christ, whether they’re conscious of it or not, they’re members of the Body of Christ…Whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world, or the non-believing world, they are members of the body of Christ because they've been called by God. THEY MAY NOT EVEN KNOW THE NAME OF JESUS…and I think that they are saved, and that they’re going to be with us in heaven."  

Question: When Billy Graham prayed with Mormon presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who were these prayers directed to - the Mormon god i.e. the spirit brother of Satan, or the true Saviour Jesus Christ?

Question: Why did The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association remove language on its website calling Mormonism a cult?

Billy Graham has consistently flouted the command of Jesus Christ to make disciples rather than converts
(Matthew 28/19). Graham has been sending converts

to the apostate Roman Catholic Church for years and years..... As such he is responsible for leading vulnerable new believers into unbiblical doctrines of demons like lambs to the slaughter!!! He has shared platforms with Roman Catholics and has visited the Pope.
http://ephesians511blog.net/2014/08/10/billy-graham-evangelistic-association-assisting-people-back-to-roman-catholic-skull-cap-human-heart-and-mummy-worship-august-15-17-2014/
http://www.soulrefuge.org/?p=2979

Like father like son, Franklin Graham (son of Billy Graham) allowed a Roman Catholic Bishop to pray at his Pittsburgh evangelistic revival this year!
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=15966#.U_88YgnhKtc.facebook 

http://www.soulrefuge.org/?p=9865
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQKm69gGbTg

The Vatican do not bother to hide the fact that they worship Lucifer:

It has been rumoured for years that Billy Graham is a Freemason, another Luciferian"religion". Graham has had Freemasons on his staff and is friends with many prominent Freemasons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-cD-1HhZFc
http://ephesians511blog.net/2014/02/02/the-freemason-doctrine-of-billy-graham-exposed-2/

At a luncheon at the Conservative Baptist Association's Convention in Milwaukee in August 1948 Graham was asked, "Billy what do you expect the World Council of Churches to do in August?" Graham's reply, "I believe that they are going to nominate the Antichrist." At the Lausanne Congress in 1974 Graham stated: "I have nothing but the warmest of relations with the World Council of Churches."  Billy Graham is full of these contradictions!

William Randolph Hearst is a very interesting character! He was a powerful newspaper magnate, 33rd degree Freemason and founding member of the infamous Bohemian Grove. He gave the order for his newspapers to “puff Graham” in 1949 and financed the first three years of Billy Graham’s crusades making him a national celebrity. Hearst’s mansion (now a museum) is a tribute to the occult and plays host to the occult elite. Avon Publishing (one of Hearst's companies) published The Satanic Bible in 1969 by Anton LaVey, founder of The Church of Satan. Hearst Avon published The Satanic Rituals by LaVey in 1972. Now why would such a man as William Randolf Hearst support Billy Graham? Perhaps a more pertinent question is: Why would a man of God (supposedly) agree to be sponsored by such a person? The Rockefellers, Witneys, and Vanderbilts have also funded Billy Graham’s crusades.

Consider these heretical statements made by Billy Graham:

• “I respect other paths to God.” (Billy Graham, Parade Magazine, October 20th 1996)
• "I have nothing but the warmest of relations with the World Council of Churches." (Billy Graham, 1974, Lausanne Congress).
• “Mao Tse-Tung’s eight precepts are basically the same as the Ten Commandments. In fact if we can’t have the Ten Commandments read in the schools I’ll settle for Mao’s precepts.'” (May 28th 1978 in the Japanese newspaper ‘Mainichi Daily News’ from Plains Baptist Challenger, July 1977).
• “While I most certainly believe that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, I do not find anywhere in the New Testament that this particular belief is necessary for personal salvation.” (United Church of Observer, July 1, 1966).
• “I believe the Bible is the inspired, authoritative word of God but I don’t use the word ‘inerrant’ because it’s become a brittle divisive word.” (Billy Graham, Newsweek Magazine, April 26, 1982)
• “World travel and getting to know clergy of all denominations has helped mold me into an ecumenical being. We’re separated by theology and, in some instances, culture and race, but all that means nothing to me any more.” (U.S. News & World Report, December 19, 1988)
• “Sodomites are born sodomites, it is in their genes.” ( Larry King Live, December 1994)

A WARNING:

The Cross, a new film by Billy Graham will be released in November this year. The Assemblies of God in the UK are now promoting this film. Billy Graham: "It is a great privilege to work with Assemblies of God churches and pastors across the whole of the United Kingdom." Satan's agenda for a one world ecumencial church is gaining momentum.
http://www.aog.org.uk/news/my-hope

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5/8)

David Hind has nailed his colours to the mast yet again by endorsing Billy Graham. He also endorsed necromancer Benny Hinn in January and met with ecumenical apostates at Churches Together Breakfast on the 10th of May.

David Hind’s new friends at ChurchesTogether will approve of his endorsement of Billy Graham no doubt.

Two attendees of Churches Together Breakfast on the 10th of May: 

• David Monteith of Leicester Cathedral: "David Monteith wrote the Radio 4 service broadcast in the aftermath of 9/11 involving a rabbi, an imam and a priest preaching together." http://www.stphilipscentre.co.uk/home/our-trustees/ 

• Rachel Parkinson Leicester North Methodist Circuit: http://www.lnc-methodist.org.uk/about-us/what-we-believe/ “It is central to Christian belief that when anyone in the world, no matter what their circumstances or religion, cries out to God, he hears and responds. It is also true that three of the world’s major religions – Christianity, Judaism (Jews) and Islam (Muslims) – all worship the God whom Abraham worshipped approximately four thousand years ago. In that respect it is absolutely certain that no faithful adherent of any religion has put himself or herself beyond the reach of God.” http://www.christianity.org.uk/index.php/are-all-religions-worshipping-the-same-god.php

Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. (1 John 2/22-23)

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4/12)

Qur’an 1:68 “They say, ‘God has begotten a son.’ God forbid! Self-sufficient is He. His is all that the heavens and the earth contain. Surely for this you have no sanction. Would you say of God what you know not?!'" 

The Jews regard Jesus as a false messiah. The Jerusalem Talmud (Ta’anit 2:1) states explicitly: “If a man claims to be God, he is a liar.”

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8/31-32)

The Assemblies of God and Mormonism

Assemblies of God CEO George Wood has formed ties of faith with the LDS!!
http://moriel.org/MorielArchive/index.php/discernment/mormonism/assembly-of-god-ceo-forms-ties-of-faith-with-church-of-lds

Question: Where does Trinity Life Church in Leicester stand on Mormonism and Roman Catholicism?

Question: If David Hind endorses the foundation of the apostles - then why does he embrace the ecumenical spirit of Antichrist?

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1/8)

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to 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 11/3-4)

LINKS:

http://wmcgrew.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/billy-graham-walks-talks-and-looks-like.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPhAVnbeOuo
http://www.despatch.cth.com.au/Misc/Graham3.htm
http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/preachers-of-compromise-franklin-graham.html
http://standfirminthelord.wordpress.com/2014/11/28/the-trouble-with-adam-simmonds-pcc-northamptonshire/

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

IAN MCCORMACK: THE FIVEFOLD MINISTRY DECEPTION

The fivefold ministry has been promoted in recent years by the New Apostolic Reformation movement (NAR) lead by self-proclaimed "apostle” C Peter Wagner. The claim of those associated with NAR movement is that God is restoring the so called “five-fold ministry” to the church. Ian McCormack’s teaching about the fivefold ministry and his statement that God is restoring foundational apostles and prophets in these days puts him in broad agreement with the NAR movement on this issue.

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.

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)

If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11/3)

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:

Below: "An in-depth discussion on the erroneous teachings from the NAR: C. Peter Wagner, Mike Bickle from IHOP, William Branham, Bill Johnson, John Dawson who started YWAM, Paul Cain and more. Their false teachings of Dominionism, and the fact that by and large, that WHOLE NAR movement stems straight from Gnosticism."

Another so called "apostle" is Rick Joyner who claims a higher level of inspiration than the apostles:

http://www.morningstarministries.org/about/questions-and-answers/knights-malta-rick-joyner

http://www.apostasynow.com/reviews/finalquest.html

I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.… (Acts 20/29-30)

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.
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

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