https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUCCE3VJLaU&t=151s
In this video revisionist Charles Cooper redefines the scriptures in what appears to be a style almost identical to the Word-Faith heresy, where it is claimed that Christians can access the power of faith through proclamation. Cooper describes himself as "an author, lecturer, and Church consultant". He is also the founder and director of the Prewrath Resource Institute or Orlando, Florida. {1} This is very unfortunate, since Cooper's deviant theology is unhelpful to the prewrath position.
Several of Cooper's statements in this video are extremely questionable:
Cooper: "While many believers want to be used mightily by God, few experience anything remotely worth talking about their whole lives! This is so sad given God's purpose in saving us in the first place. Don't you want to wield Divine Prerogatives?"
"You are supposed to be a person of influence in this world... radical influence. You are supposed to be able to do things that are so beyond normal that people have to give you sway.. healing is a divine prerogative." (Matthew 5:23-34).
According to Cooper - "Going to heaven is not the most significant aspect of why God called you, drew you, and made you a member of his sovereign administration."
Cooper: "The sovereign administration of God is another way of saying the kingdom of God."
Cooper redefines the phrase "the kingdom of God/the kingdom of heaven", and shifts the focus away from the foundation of our faith i.e. the gospel of Jesus Christ, the hope of our salvation. (Colossians 1:23). Progression in the faith is dependent solely upon this foundation. (1 Corinthians 3:11). Cooper minimizes the message of the gospel and digresses into the area of what he calls "divine prerogatives", in other words the gift of healing and deliverance. The scriptures always give the gospel priority:
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, (1 Timothy 1:15).For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10).
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14).
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).
I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16).
Paul does not say.. Woe to me if I do not heal the sick.
Kingdom of God/Kingdom of heaven
"The phrases 'kingdom of God' and 'kingdom of heaven' have been supposed to have a considerable variety of meaning. Some have supposed that they refer to the state of things in heaven; others, to the personal reign of Christ on earth; others, that they mean the church, or the reign of Christ in the hearts of his people. There can be no doubt that there is reference in the words to the condition of things in heaven after this life. But the church of God is a preparatory state to that beyond the grave - a state in which Christ pre-eminently rules and reigns and there is no doubt that the phrases sometimes refer to the state of things in the church; and that they may refer, therefore, to the state of things which the Messiah was to set up his spiritual reign begun in the church on earth and completed in heaven." {2}
* And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid (δειλοί), O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. (Matthew 8:23-26).
Cooper: "Control of nature is a divine prerogative.. Jesus is disappointed that His disciples didn't seize the moment.. The Lord's response: 'Why are you cowards' (the word afraid actually means cowards) 'oh ye of little faith'. Jesus expected the twelve to respond very differently to this storm.. It is a divine prerogative ~ to be able to change the nature around you. Jesus seemingly expects us to know this and to handle it in a certain kind of way.. so that's a prerogative."
The Greek adjective δειλοί = cowardly, fearful (from deos), is found in three places in the NT: Matthew 8:26, Mark 4:40, and Revelation 21:8; and also once as a noun (deos) in Hebrews 12:28.
Word-Faith teachers Kenneth and Gloria Copeland claim the "divine prerogative" to control the weather in the name of God. {3} Copeland recently rebuked COVID-19 to no effect.
Cooper: "Resurrecting the dead is a divine prerogative. It is a divine prerogative to raise the dead, and those humans that he give the authority to do the same." (Matthew 9:18b-19; 23-26).
This deception is also taught by Bill Johnson and Bethel Church Redding. The much publicized failed attempt to raise two year old Olive Heiligenthal last year is a clear example of false teachers who bring the way of truth into disrepute. (2 Peter 2:2). In reality Bethel are part of the heretical New Apostolic Reformation (NAR).
Bill Johnson's justification for attempting to raise the dead is Jesus' instruction to the twelve: Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. (Matthew 10:8).
Church Watch Central: The result of Kalley’s request were thousands of decrees, declarations, and even commands for the child’s spirit to return to her body. In other words, instead of making their requests known to God, Bethelites & co responded in line with Bill Johnson’s little god theology by ‘activating their faith’, attempting to take dominion over death, and speak life into the body. This is pure word of faith and dominion theology – two heresies taught at Bethel. The activity has not ceased, Johnson stated that ‘Since that night, and at the continued request of the Heiligenthal family, Bethel Church has hosted prayer and worship gatherings which consist of singing and prayer (this is the first-ever public gathering of prayer for resurrection that Bethel has hosted).'” {4}
*Jesus Walks on the Water (Matthew 14:22-27)
But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified (ἐταράχθησαν), and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. (φόβου) (Matthew 14:26).
Cooper's response to this verse: "cowards, conduct of the cowards." (23:00 mark)
φόβος is not a synonym for δειλός (cowardly).
φόβος noun ~ be afraid, + exceedingly, fear, terror. {5} (Eng. phobia)
On this occasion Jesus did not rebuke them or call them cowards, rather he reassured them:
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid (φοβεῖσθε).” (Matthew 14:27).
Peter falters in his faith when he attempts to go to Jesus on the water:
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid (ἐφοβήθη), and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:30-31).
Cooper: "Walking on water is a divine prerogative.. it is what God does, and those to whom God gives authority to do the same." Jesus gave Peter the supernatural ability to walk on water, but to say that he had the authority to do this is Cooper's eisegesis.
Kingdom of God/Kingdom of heaven
"The phrases 'kingdom of God' and 'kingdom of heaven' have been supposed to have a considerable variety of meaning. Some have supposed that they refer to the state of things in heaven; others, to the personal reign of Christ on earth; others, that they mean the church, or the reign of Christ in the hearts of his people. There can be no doubt that there is reference in the words to the condition of things in heaven after this life. But the church of God is a preparatory state to that beyond the grave - a state in which Christ pre-eminently rules and reigns and there is no doubt that the phrases sometimes refer to the state of things in the church; and that they may refer, therefore, to the state of things which the Messiah was to set up his spiritual reign begun in the church on earth and completed in heaven." {2}
* And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid (δειλοί), O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. (Matthew 8:23-26).
Cooper: "Control of nature is a divine prerogative.. Jesus is disappointed that His disciples didn't seize the moment.. The Lord's response: 'Why are you cowards' (the word afraid actually means cowards) 'oh ye of little faith'. Jesus expected the twelve to respond very differently to this storm.. It is a divine prerogative ~ to be able to change the nature around you. Jesus seemingly expects us to know this and to handle it in a certain kind of way.. so that's a prerogative."
The Greek adjective δειλοί = cowardly, fearful (from deos), is found in three places in the NT: Matthew 8:26, Mark 4:40, and Revelation 21:8; and also once as a noun (deos) in Hebrews 12:28.
Word-Faith teachers Kenneth and Gloria Copeland claim the "divine prerogative" to control the weather in the name of God. {3} Copeland recently rebuked COVID-19 to no effect.
Cooper: "Resurrecting the dead is a divine prerogative. It is a divine prerogative to raise the dead, and those humans that he give the authority to do the same." (Matthew 9:18b-19; 23-26).
This deception is also taught by Bill Johnson and Bethel Church Redding. The much publicized failed attempt to raise two year old Olive Heiligenthal last year is a clear example of false teachers who bring the way of truth into disrepute. (2 Peter 2:2). In reality Bethel are part of the heretical New Apostolic Reformation (NAR).
Bill Johnson's justification for attempting to raise the dead is Jesus' instruction to the twelve: Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. (Matthew 10:8).
Church Watch Central: The result of Kalley’s request were thousands of decrees, declarations, and even commands for the child’s spirit to return to her body. In other words, instead of making their requests known to God, Bethelites & co responded in line with Bill Johnson’s little god theology by ‘activating their faith’, attempting to take dominion over death, and speak life into the body. This is pure word of faith and dominion theology – two heresies taught at Bethel. The activity has not ceased, Johnson stated that ‘Since that night, and at the continued request of the Heiligenthal family, Bethel Church has hosted prayer and worship gatherings which consist of singing and prayer (this is the first-ever public gathering of prayer for resurrection that Bethel has hosted).'” {4}
*Jesus Walks on the Water (Matthew 14:22-27)
But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified (ἐταράχθησαν), and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. (φόβου) (Matthew 14:26).
Cooper's response to this verse: "cowards, conduct of the cowards." (23:00 mark)
φόβος is not a synonym for δειλός (cowardly).
φόβος noun ~ be afraid, + exceedingly, fear, terror. {5} (Eng. phobia)
On this occasion Jesus did not rebuke them or call them cowards, rather he reassured them:
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid (φοβεῖσθε).” (Matthew 14:27).
Peter falters in his faith when he attempts to go to Jesus on the water:
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid (ἐφοβήθη), and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:30-31).
Cooper: "Walking on water is a divine prerogative.. it is what God does, and those to whom God gives authority to do the same." Jesus gave Peter the supernatural ability to walk on water, but to say that he had the authority to do this is Cooper's eisegesis.
THE ALL IMPORTANT QUESTION
Cooper: "Was this only in the purview of the twelve?
His answer: "With the right to enter (God's kingdom), comes the right to wield divine prerogative."
During his earthly ministry, Jesus commissioned the twelve to preach the gospel and heal the sick:
As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. (Matthew 10:1,7 cf. Mark 3:14-15; Luke 9:2;10:9).
Supernatural healing is prevalent in the Gospels and also in the book of Acts. And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul.. (Acts 19:11). However, these "extraordinary miracles" do not play a prominent role in the Epistles.
The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. 2 Corinthians 12:12
The twelve: And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. (Luke 9:6).
The Seventy two: Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ Luke 10:9, 17-18).
The focus changes significantly in the Epistles:
Do all have gifts of healing? (1 Corinthians 12:9, 28-30).
Timothy's "frequent ailments"
(No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) (1Timothy 5:23).
I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. (Philippians 2:25-27).
Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. (2 Timothy 4:20).
The believers at Corinth brought judgement upon themselves due to their improper participation of the Lord's supper. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. (1 Corinthians 11:21-30).
As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. (Matthew 10:1,7 cf. Mark 3:14-15; Luke 9:2;10:9).
Supernatural healing is prevalent in the Gospels and also in the book of Acts. And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul.. (Acts 19:11). However, these "extraordinary miracles" do not play a prominent role in the Epistles.
The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. 2 Corinthians 12:12
The twelve: And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. (Luke 9:6).
The Seventy two: Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ Luke 10:9, 17-18).
The focus changes significantly in the Epistles:
Do all have gifts of healing? (1 Corinthians 12:9, 28-30).
Timothy's "frequent ailments"
(No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) (1Timothy 5:23).
I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. (Philippians 2:25-27).
Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. (2 Timothy 4:20).
Paul's thorn in the flesh (sickness or something else?)
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. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ (Matthew 25:36).
Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ (Matthew 25:44).
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. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ (Matthew 25:36).
Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ (Matthew 25:44).
*And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief. (Matthew 13:58).
Cooper's interpretation: "Jesus did not do many miracles in Nazareth because no one asked him." (34:00 mark)
It was not that they "..did not bother to ask him", as Cooper says. In the previous verse we see that ..they took offence at him. (Matthew 13:57). To "take offence" suggests open hostility. (Matthew 24:10).
Cooper's interpretation: "Jesus did not do many miracles in Nazareth because no one asked him." (34:00 mark)
It was not that they "..did not bother to ask him", as Cooper says. In the previous verse we see that ..they took offence at him. (Matthew 13:57). To "take offence" suggests open hostility. (Matthew 24:10).
Cooper: "Most don't ask, or when they do, they couch in the language of cowards. You know what the language of cowards are 'Jesus heal our brother if it be your will', that is the language of cowards." (35:00 mark)
The above statement is extremely dangerous and upsetting, especially to vulnerable people suffering from sickness. Many sick people have been hurt by promises of healing that have not materialized, and many have subsequently gone through a crisis of faith as a result. (Matthew 18:6). I am not a cessationist. I believe that God may spontaneously heal a sick person, or he may direct another, or others, to lay hands on a sick person and to pray for their recovery:
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (James 5:14-15).
..do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6).
Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:18).
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. (3 John 1:2).
For a man who boasts about his prowess in the original languages, Cooper's exegesis is pitiful! As far as I can ascertain, Cooper attended Ouachita Baptist University in 1982 and gained a BA in Pastoral Ministries and a minor in Greek. {1} A Minor is a secondary concentration of courses that often complements the Major. Certainly this video demonstrates that Cooper has virtually no understanding of the original Greek at all!
1. https://prewrathrapture.com/charles-cooper/
2. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/3-2.htm
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKiKf8isLG8
4. https://churchwatchcentral.com/2019/12/21/bethels-false-premise-for-raising-the-dead/
5. https://biblehub.com/greek/5401.htm
The above statement is extremely dangerous and upsetting, especially to vulnerable people suffering from sickness. Many sick people have been hurt by promises of healing that have not materialized, and many have subsequently gone through a crisis of faith as a result. (Matthew 18:6). I am not a cessationist. I believe that God may spontaneously heal a sick person, or he may direct another, or others, to lay hands on a sick person and to pray for their recovery:
..do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6).
Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:18).
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. (3 John 1:2).
For a man who boasts about his prowess in the original languages, Cooper's exegesis is pitiful! As far as I can ascertain, Cooper attended Ouachita Baptist University in 1982 and gained a BA in Pastoral Ministries and a minor in Greek. {1} A Minor is a secondary concentration of courses that often complements the Major. Certainly this video demonstrates that Cooper has virtually no understanding of the original Greek at all!
1. https://prewrathrapture.com/charles-cooper/
2. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/3-2.htm
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKiKf8isLG8
4. https://churchwatchcentral.com/2019/12/21/bethels-false-premise-for-raising-the-dead/
5. https://biblehub.com/greek/5401.htm
