INTRODUCTION

Regardless of what age we live in, regardless of what covenant we are under, the Lord always calls His people to separate from sin and from those who are living in sin. In the Old Testament we find God calling Abraham to separate from His idolatrous family and clan (Gen.12:1). We see Him calling Lot to separate from his sin-infested city (Gen.19:12-14). We see Him calling the children of Israel to separate from their rebellious brethren who were part of Korah's uprising (Num.16:23-26). Later we see Him calling the Jews to come out from their doomed nation, which was about to fall to the Babylonians (Isa. 48:20).

In the New Testament we find Jesus calling a couple of would-be disciples to come out from family relationships and duties that would keep them from following Him (Luke 9:59-62). Through the apostles the Spirit called Corinthian believers to come out from among their unsaved friends (II. Cor. 6:17) and a Hebrew fellowship to come out from among their apostate brethren (Heb. 13:13). Thus, the call to separate from those living in sin is not something new.

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

Revelation 18:4-5

And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

Revelation 17:15-16

For many years now God has been calling His people out of Babylon. Indeed, we see in Revelation that right up to the final hours of this age God continues to call His people out. He calls us to separate from the spiritual pollution of Babylon and from those who are polluting themselves with that pollution. He calls us out of this thing which has become the home of every "unclean bird" (demon spirit) so we can be pure, so we won't partake of its wickedness and receive of the wrath that is to be poured out upon it.

But escaping the wrath that will be poured out on Babylon is not the only reason God's people should flee from it. Another reason we must "come out of her" is because she is full of religious confusion, and that confusion will keep us from reaching the goal of redemption. Yet so many of God's people refuse to come out. Maybe one reason they won't flee is because they are not really sure what to flee from. Exactly what is Babylon anyway? Opinions vary. Some of the more common candidates are: (1) America—especially New York City, (2) the country of Iraq, (3) the Roman Catholic Church, (4) the Protestant Church, (5) all organized religion, (6) the United Nations, (7) the European Community (EU), (8) the One World government, (9) the One World religion and (10) the world system as a whole—the "cosmos"—which would include all of the above.

Since there are so many different definitions of this mysterious entity, people tend to always think Babylon pertains to the other guy. We never think the things that we are involved in are part of Babylon. Those who think secular governments (and particularly the coming one-world government) constitute Babylon will never consider the possibility that their particular church is part of it. Those who think the Roman Catholic System is Babylon will never consider the possibility that the Protestant System is part of it. Those who view Babylon as all organized religion will probably never consider the possibility that their separate, independent little house church or home fellowship is part of it.

We believe the Scripture portrays Babylon (the woman riding the beast) as a Global Church that is riding on the back of a secular, one-world Global government (the beast with ten horns). The Global government will use the Global Church to get what it wants. Once it has what it wants it will turn on her and destroy her with fire.

What we have to remember is that it is spiritual confusion that ultimately produces the Global Church (Babylon). So while we watch for the final, visible manifestation of literal Babylon, we must remain aware of the fact that we do not have to be part of any visible group or organization in order to be part of spiritual Babylon. All that is necessary in order to be part of spiritual Babylon is that we be aligned with (accept as true) the confusion that is producing literal Babylon. If we are under the influence of this confusion we are part of Babylon, even if we are living alone in a cave in the middle of the wilderness—and if we remain under the influence of spiritual Babylon we will never have the discernment or the strength to flee from literal Babylon when it is manifested.

If ever God's people lived in a time of unrestrained spiritual confusion, today is that day. So many Christians think a great "revival" has broken out and is sweeping the globe, but they have no idea that spiritually we are headed straight back into the Dark Ages—with one major difference. The darkness that engulfed the Church System then was advanced by means of political power. The darkness that is engulfing the Church System today is advanced by means of supernatural power. In those days Satan controlled the Church discretely. He worked in the background, so to speak, through the darkened minds and lusts of Catholic Popes and Bishops and Friars and Monks. Today he no longer works in the background, but boldly manifests himself in our churches and is in direct, supernatural contact with many of our leaders. Today it is Protestant preachers, teachers, evangelists, prophets and apostles who do his bidding.

When I began my research on the revival over a year ago, the first thing I realized was that much of the confusion we see is rooted in the battle between those in the Pentecostal/Charismatic camp who seek to be guided by the Spirit and those in the Fundamental camp who seek to be guided by the Scripture. Of course this controversy is not new. The debate over the place of spiritual experience in the Christian life has been going on for centuries. But in 1905 the Azuza Street revival brought the issue to center stage. Since then there has been a battle between those who accepted Azuza Street as a genuine move from God and those who rejected it as a counterfeit.

Those open to the outpouring experienced things they had never experienced before. The Spirit was being manifested in various observable ways, most notably in causing multitudes to speak in unknown tongues. Those who rejected the outpouring rejected it on the basis of doctrine. They believed the Scripture taught that the practice of speaking with tongues ceased at the end of the apostolic period. Seeing people falling to the ground and babbling in an unknown tongue served only to convince them that the revival was a counterfeit.

Ever since then the question has been whether truth equals experience or experience equals truth. Fundamentalists tend to think that holding correct doctrine and following the written Word equals knowing and experiencing God. They believe Pentecostal and Charismatic believers are following dubious spiritual experiences, revelations and manifestations instead of Scripture. Pentecostals and Charismatics seek to be led by the Spirit and believe that because Fundamentalists tend to reject the supernatural and follow the letter of the written Word, they are not capable of understanding what it means to be led by the Spirit. They believe their experiences are Scriptural and that the problem lies with the narrow, legalistic interpretation of Scripture by Fundamentalists

Disasters like Toronto and Brownsville, which have spawned "revivals" around the globe, have only served to harden the position of Fundamentalists—since they can now rightly point the finger at Spirit-filled believers and say: "you are deceived if you think your experience is coming from God!" The spread of this counterfeit revival has produced a siege mentality among Fundamentalists who rightly claim we are in the midst of the "great falling away".

Though there are still many Pentecostals who do not believe the current "revival" is genuine, they are stuck between a rock and a hard place. If they say the revival is a counterfeit, not only do the Fundamentalists consider themselves vindicated in rejecting everything supernatural since 1905, their Pentecostal brethren who think the revival is genuine cast them out of their churches. If they lay low and say nothing, Fundamentalists accuse them of secretly endorsing the revival and their brethren who are caught up in it mock them for being so slow to recognize this "mighty move of the Spirit".

Then there are those "outside the camp" who probably aren't paying too much attention to what's happening "inside the camp" because they don't see how any of it has anything to do with them. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Some of the error we now see inside the System actually came from outside the System—and some of what's affecting them right now has been affecting us for quite a while. One example is the current teaching in revival circles on the five-fold ministry, a doctrine that until twenty years ago was only found outside the camp. Another example is the teaching on the Feast of Tabernacles, again a doctrine that until recently was only found outside the camp.

It is debatable whether or not what is now being taught inside the System is the same version of what has been taught outside the System for the last 50 years. When we have people like Morris Cerullo, a prosperity preacher, talking about the "manifestation of the sons of God," something is drastically wrong. The following quote from a message on World Evangelism called, "The End time Manifestation Of The Sons Of God," shows that he doesn't really understand the Scriptural doctrine of Sonship.

"Did you know that from the beginning of time the whole purpose of God was to reproduce Himself?...And when we stand up here, brother, you're not looking at Morris Cerullo; you're looking at God. You're looking at Jesus"

Having a "blab-it-and-grab-it" preacher talk about the manifestation of the sons of God is sort of like the situation in Paul's day, when would-be teachers of the "law" entered fellowships and caused spiritual confusion. Paul warns Timothy to stay away from these men who "do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm" (NIV I. Tim. 1:4-7).

It's true that when the Sons of God are manifested the nations will be able to see different facets of God's glory in each one of us. It's also true that corporately we will present a comprehensive picture of God's nature. But no single individual will ever manifest the fulness of His glory. It will never be true that when the nations look at us individually they will be "looking at God". That exalted privilege was reserved for one man alone—the Lord Jesus: "For in him [not in Morris Cerullo!] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9). Right now even the best of us still walk in the flesh at times. The degree to which we actually "walk in the Spirit" and manifest the nature of Christ, to that degree people can see Christ in us. However, when the nations hear Mr. Cerullo and see him peddling his $89.00 Special Edition Bible—which is "the definitive word on finances"—the only thing they see is greed, arrogance and spiritual pride.

Speaking of people who don't understanding the things they "so confidently affirm," the following prophesy was sent to Doug Fortune, a West Coast revivalist who maintains the prophetic web site, Trumpet Call. He posted this "word of the Lord" in his Apostolic/Prophetic Bulletin section.

"Tabernacles is come, for I desire to fill My temple with My glory...I desire to manifest My fullness in My chosen who ARE My temple. Many look to a temple built with hands that I may establish My reign, but I tell you I am building MY temple even NOW! Were not the children of Israel instructed to dwell in booths during the Feast?...I am calling for those who will enter into the Feast, earnestly desiring to be clothed with the tabernacle prepared in the heavens, which is My manifest tabernacled presence, My glory rising upon My chosen... from THIS temple shall I reign! Know ye not that the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands, for heaven is My throne and I am building MY temple with `living stones', a spiritual house of which CHRIST is the cornerstone. THIS is the house that I shall fill with My glorious presence for ALL to see!...and the glory of THIS latter house shall be greater than the glory of the former house. Have I not said that `...nations shall come to THY light and kings to the brightness of THY rising...'? Do not be satisfied with the `BOOTHS' of the in-part (we know in part and we prophesy in part) gifts of My Spirit, rather seek towards the `building up' of My TEMPLE of `living stones' that I may dwell in My FULLNESS. Enter into the Feast!...for THIS is the appointed time!"

Those familiar with Tabernacle and Sonship teachings that have been outside the System for many years might read this prophesy and think it is pretty good—until they realize that all the terms they are familiar with have been completely redefined. What this individual means by partaking of the Feast of Tabernacles is not what we mean by partaking of it. Like many of today's revivalists, he only sees Tabernacles as a feast of "joy". They therefore assume that the Laughing Blessing is the fulfillment of this feast. They call it "new wine" and the "Isaac of joy" (Isaac means laughter).

When this individual talks about being "clothed with the tabernacle prepared in the heavens" he's not talking about the same thing the apostle Paul referred to in Second Corinthians. When Paul said he wanted to be "clothed with the tabernacle prepared in the heavens" he was talking about receiving his new body, which will not happen until the First Resurrection (II. Cor. 4:1-10). This person is talking about something altogether different. He is referring to a "manifest presence"—a glory cloud or some external manifestation of power—coming on the body of Christ and residing on us, which will basically make us immortal before the first resurrection.

When he says we should "enter into the Feast" he's not talking about entering into the true, spiritual Feast of Tabernacles, of which the literal Old Testament feast was but a type and shadow. No, he is calling us to enter into the Toronto Blessing. He is calling us to get involved in the Brownsville revival.

Another doctrine that until recently was never taught inside the camp is the whole concept of the "overcomer" (Joel's Army, the 144,00, the Firstfruit Company, the Corporate Manchild, etc.). Another one is the whole "Latter Rain revival" teaching. According to this scenario, a mega-dose of external power or anointing will be poured out on certain believers, producing near-immortality and enabling them to gather in the end-time harvest. It will also enable them to establish the Kingdom of God on earth before Jesus returns.

Our object at this point is not to say whether or not these teachings, in whole or in part, are true. Their validity will be dealt with in this series. The point here is that these doctrines—whether true or false—originally belonged to those of us "outside the camp". None of them have been taught inside the camp until recently. So the confusion we now see in the Pentecostal/Charismatic branch of Christianity has very much to do with us because some of it came from us.

The Spirit of God is calling His people to come out from under the influence of all of this religious confusion, not only because it hinders us from attaining the goal He has set before us, but also because a massive Global Church is actually beginning to come together. If we remain under the confusion that is producing this Global Church we will never escape its seductive power. Babylon is indeed rising—and not only are God's people not heeding the call to "come out of her," they are in fact helping to build it!

We pray the things shared in the following study will help those who have become entangled in any of these errors too break free from them, and that it will encourage those who are free from them to stay free from them.

Brother Daniel

OPENING OUT UNDERSTANDING

Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

Psalm 119:17-18

King David asked the Lord to open his "eyes" so he could "behold wondrous things" out of the law. Since he was not physically blind, we know that he was talking about receiving spiritual sight or spiritual understanding. We also know from his own testimony that he studied the law and meditated on it continually. He probably even had a good portion of it memorized, yet he still asked the Lord to open his understanding. This is because even though the meaning of many truths in the Scripture are self evident, there are deeper levels of understanding that are not self evident. There are "wondrous" things to behold which cannot be grasped simply by reading the Word or studying it. When it comes to these things, the Spirit has to open our eyes to them or we will never see them.

This truth is also revealed in the New Testament. For example, after the crucifixion of Jesus, two disciples left Jerusalem and headed to a near-by town called Emmaus. While on their way to Emmaus Jesus drew near and walked with them: "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:27). They walked the whole way to Emmaus and had started to eat supper before they recognized the Lord. After Jesus disappeared from the table they said to one another: "Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures" (v.32).

Those two disciples knew the Scripture. They had read through the Law and the Prophets many times growing up in the Synagogue. They also knew that Jesus was believed by many to be the Messiah predicted by the prophets. They followed the events leading up to His crucifixion, yet they did not understand what was happening until the Lord opened their understanding.

And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.

Luke 24:44-45

After Jesus disappeared the two disciples "rose up the same hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them" (v. 33). While they were reporting to the apostles what had happened, Jesus appeared in the room. After comforting them He opened their spiritual eyes, just as He had done with the two disciples that were headed to Emmaus, in order that they might "understand the scriptures".

The Lord does the same thing with us today, only He does it through the Holy Spirit. When we read the Word and a verse or passage jumps out at us, and all of a sudden we see what it really means for the first time, or we see it in a different light, that is God opening the eyes of our understanding.

Much of what is commonly called "end-time truth" has come as a result of some one having their understanding of the Old Testament opened. There are still wondrous things to behold out of the Law, not only regarding the Lord but also regarding the Church. However, since most believers have "cut their spiritual teeth" on Dispensationalism, they are incapable of having their understanding opened in things pertaining to the Church from the Old Testament.

In addition, because there has been carelessness and abuse in this whole area of Biblical interpretation, people end up denying the truth along with the error. They lump it all together and out the window it goes. It's tragic that so many professedly Spirit-filled people denounce teachings that are perfectly Scriptural, which are both foreshadowed in the Old Testament and plainly stated in the New Testament. Take heed brethren; in the eyes of God it is just as evil to call truth false doctrine as it is to call false doctrine truth! An example of this kind of over-reaction can be seen in the following testimony of Robert Liichow, a former "Latter Rain" minister who has seen the error of his ways and now spends his time exposing the current revival:

"After being ordained into full-time ministry by a Rhema graduate and acknowledged prophet, I started a small ministry called 'Latter Rain Ministries'...I, like many others, believed that God had restored the office of the apostle and prophet back to the Church. Many prophetic words were spoken over my wife and I regarding the move of God and the end time glory which was about to be manifested and our role in this coming move...it is only recently (the last two to three years) that the Lord has opened my wife and my eyes to the Truth of His Word, which has been subsequently revealing the darkness of what we once gladly walked in...In 1990 I began to hear the term 'prophetic interpretation' in our church, which simply meant our pastor (now elevated to an apostle) could make the text mean whatever "the Spirit" was revealing. In Latter Rain circles truth is changing and evolving. Scriptures do not have one meaning, the meaning evolves as does the Church. What Latter Rain people look for in the Bible is the "present day truth" which is arrived at by the Holy Spirit as revealed through His current crop of apostles and prophets".

Restoration: The Latter Rain Movement

One of the main errors (in his view) of Latter Rain people is that they make the text mean whatever the Spirit is revealing. Those who do not believe passages of Scripture have only one meaning, but instead look for "present day truth" in them, are in error. Like the majority of today's believers, Mr. Liichow has come under the spell of Dispensational Orthodoxy, which says there is only one way to interpret the Scripture, particularly when it comes to Old Testament passages and especially when it comes to prophesy. That one way is to interpret everything literally, historically and geographically.

Dispensational teachers claim that while many Old Testament prophesies apply to the coming Messiah, none of them apply to the coming Church of Messiah. Except for those verses which clearly refer to the Lord, all others apply only to the Jewish nation and the Land of Israel. This whole idea is so unscriptural it's incredible that so many intelligent people (Fundamentalists, Pentecostals and Charismatics alike) have swallowed it—but swallowed it they have—and because so many people have come under the influence of this kind of interpretation, there is a very real need to expose it for the legalistic error it is.

APPLYING THE OLD TESTAMENT

Just study the footnotes of any good Reference Bible and you will discover that the writers of the New Testament quoted profusely from the Old Testament in order to confirm their doctrines of the Church. The apostle Paul made over eighty references to the Old Testament in his letter to the Romans and at least eighteen such references in his letter to the Galatians. The writer of Hebrews made well over one-hundred such references and Peter made some thirty references or quotations from the Old Testament in his first epistle alone.

Moreover, when you look at the verses they quote—especially those of a prophetic nature—many times they take them completely out of their literal, historical and geographical setting. Yet the apostles never so much as hinted that they were "misquoting" a scripture or "taking it out of context" and they made no apologies for how they applied them! This is because they were not slaves to the kind of Orthodoxy we are. They were being led by the Spirit—and when the Spirit showed them that a certain Old Testament passage or prophesy was applicable to a situation in their day they freely applied it.

That this is true can be easily proven, and we want to take a few moments to do so, for one of the biggest problems today is that Christians do not know how to handle God's Word. We either handle it too carelessly, being too free with how we interpret it, or too legalistically, not being free enough to allow the Holy Spirit to interpret it. When testifying to his fellow Jews in Antioch that Jesus was the Messiah, Paul stood in their synagogue and quoted a passage from Habakkuk as a warning to them not to reject his testimony.

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

Acts 13:38-41

Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.

Habakkuk 1:5-6

No one can deny that if kept in its proper (ie., Dispensational) context, the wonder to which Habakkuk refers is the soon coming invasion of Judah by the Chaldeans. The people to whom this prophesy was given and to whom it applied lived at the same time Habakkuk did. Even though God sent this prophet to warn them of the coming destruction, the Jews would not heed the warning. They refused to believe that God would use a ruthless, pagan nation to judge them and destroy them. Habakkuk's prophesy was fulfilled not long after he uttered it.

Now, if we judge what Paul did by Dispensational standards, we would have to say that he took an Old Testament prophesy totally out of context and applied it to people who had nothing to do with the original prophesy. He was in fact saying that a prophesy which had already been fulfilled could be fulfilled again in some way upon these Jews if they rejected his testimony. Another even more interesting example of this comes from Matthew. After describing the massacre of the children of Bethlehem by King Herod he refers to Jeremiah's prophesy.

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

Matthew 2:17-18

Thus saith the Lord; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. Thus saith the Lord; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to their own border.

Jeremiah 31:15-17

Most Evangelical commentators agree that Jeremiah's prophesy was referring specifically to both Israel's then-present misery, as well as its future hope of restoration. Ramah was a town five miles north of Jerusalem and Rachel was Joseph and Benjamin’s mother. Joseph was the father of Ephraim and Manasseh, who became the two major tribes in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Thus, Jeremiah was picturing the weeping of the women of the Northern Kingdom as they watched their children being carried into exile in 722 B.C.

Matthew could also have had the 586 B.C. deportation of Judah in view because Ramah was also the staging point for Nebuchadnezzar’s deportation. These women were crying because they would never see their children again. But as the women of Israel and Judah wept for their exiled children, God offered a word of comfort. There was "hope" for their future because their children would return to their own land. God would bring about a restoration.

Yet Matthew clearly says that Herod’s slaughter of the babies in Bethlehem, 700 years later, is the fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:15. This seems to be a contradiction. Jeremiah's prophesy pointed to an Old Testament deportation of children from a town north of Jerusalem, whose descendants would eventually return. Matthew said the fulfilment of that prophesy was the New Testament slaughter of children in a village south of Jerusalem. By all Orthodox standards then, Matthew (like Paul) took an Old Testament prophesy completely out of context and applied it to a people—the mothers of Bethlehem—it should not have been applied to.

It is interesting to see how the leaders of today's Dispensational Orthodoxy react when faced with proof that they are wrong. In an attempt to explain the discrepancy, they say:

"The answer to the problem hinges on Matthew’s use of the word "fulfilled" (pleôrooô). Though Matthew did use the word to record an actual fulfillment of an Old Testament prediction, he also used the word to indicate that the full potential of something in the Old Testament had been realized. In these latter instances there is no prophetic significance to the word fulfill, which is how Matthew used the word to associate the slaughter in Bethlehem with the sadness in Ramah. Matthew used Jeremiah 31:15 in his book to explain the sadness of the mothers of Bethlehem. The pain of those mothers in Ramah who watched their sons being carried into exile found its full potential in the cries of the mothers of Bethlehem who cradled their sons’ lifeless bodies in their arms".

The Bible Knowledge Commentary

John Wolvoord & Ray B. Zuck

Ah! Why didn't we think of that! We should have known that Jeremiah didn't really mean what he said. We should have known that there was "no prophetic significance" to the word fulfill. Of course, most normal people would assume that the "full potential" of Jeremiah's prophesy being "realized" would have to do with the restoration of the exiled children of Judah, not the slaughter of babies in Bethlehem. But such a conclusion is obviously the product of faulty logic—or maybe not enough seminary training?

Dispensational theologians cannot admit Matthew actually meant that Herod's murder of those babies was the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophesy because this would be tantamount to admitting it is acceptable to take an Old Testament prophesy "out of context" and apply it (as the Holy Spirit directs) to a New Testament situation or event. It would mean that Old Testament prophesy can have duel applications or various levels of fulfillment.

Either Matthew saw (by the Spirit) a duel fulfillment in Jeremiah's prophesy, or it was revealed to him (by the Spirit) that this particular prophesy was spiritually applicable to a New Testament event—in this case, the murder of the children in Bethlehem. Thus, he confidently stated that Herod's slaughter was the fulfillment of that prophesy. This way of handling the Scripture is anathema to today's Dispensationally driven Orthodoxy.

We must realize that the Bible—the whole Bible—was written for us. Otherwise we will deny ourselves the life and wisdom God intended we should derive from the Word. "Unto us" the prophets ministered, said Peter (I. Pet. 1:12). Matthew in particular has a very nasty habit of exposing the bankruptcy of Dispensational interpretation, for he constantly (mis) applies Old Testament prophesy to New Testament events. When recounting how Herod was seeking to kill Jesus, and how God directed Joseph and Mary to take Him to Egypt so He would not be murdered, Matthew quotes Hosea 11:1.

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Matthew 2:14-15

When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.

Hosea 11:1-3

When you read the Old Testament reference you find that the whole account is talking about the nation of Israel coming out of Egypt in the great Exodus. Once again, either Matthew saw a duel fulfillment in Hosea's prophesy, or it was revealed to him that this particular prophesy was spiritually applicable to a New Testament event—in this case, the return of Jesus from Egypt. Another example of apostolic exegesis can be seen in the first chapter of the book of Hebrews where the writer, referring to the preeminence of the Son, quotes a combination from portions of Psalm 2:7 and II. Samuel 7:14.

For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

Hebrews 1:5

And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

II. Samuel 7:12-14

The quote from Psalms would be acceptable to today's Orthodoxy because it is obviously referring to Messiah. But the quote from II. Samuel, if kept in its "proper" context, is obviously talking about Solomon. Certainly God was not saying that if Jesus committed "iniquity" He would be chastened "with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men!"

How then did the writer of Hebrews know that this one line, right in the middle of a whole passage about Solomon, was a reference to Jesus? He was shown by the Spirit which words carried a "present truth" meaning. Moreover, the apostles clearly taught that certain natural Old Testament experiences had spiritual New Testament counterparts. In other words, there is a spiritual reality, a spiritual experience if you will, behind many of Israel's literal events which we can and should partake of as New Testament believers. For instance, when dealing with the ungodly tolerance of sin in the Corinthian assembly, Paul said:

Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

I. Corinthians 5:5-8

"Let us keep the feast," said Paul. What feast? The Feast of Unleavened Bread. Was Paul telling these Gentile believers they had to keep the literal Feast of Unleavened Bread? Absolutely not! He was exhorting them to walk in the spiritual reality of what that Old Testament feast typified. During the literal Feast of Unleavened Bread the Jews removed all the leaven from their homes. In the New Testament spiritual fulfillment of that feast, Christians are to remove the leaven—which represents "malice and wickedness"—from our lives.

This kind of apostolic interpretation can be seen again in chapters three and four of Hebrews, where the writer plainly states that the literal event of Israel taking the Promised Land under Joshua represents a spiritual reality that New Testament believers are to experience, called the "rest" of God. It can be seen again in Paul's comparison of Hagar and Sarah.

For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Galatians 4:22-26

Here we are clearly told that Hagar represents a religious experience (walking under the Old Covenant), while Sarah represents another kind of religious experience (walking under the New Covenant). If all this seems foreign to us it is only because we have been duped by a false system of Biblical interpretation. If it was proper for the apostles to use the Old Testament to establish Church doctrine, it is certainly proper for us to use it to confirm what they taught.

At the opposite end of the spectrum from those who handle the Scripture too legalistically are those who handle it too carelessly. While an opened understanding of Old Testament types and shadows is profitable and sheds important additional light on what God is doing at this time, typology can easily be misunderstood, carried too far, or intentionally manipulated. This fact need not intimidate us however, for it's not that hard to discern which teachings that have been based on symbolism are true and which are false. The proper role of types and shadows is to confirm or shed additional light on the teachings that were laid down once and for all by the Lord's apostles. (We are talking now about what the apostles actually taught, not about what today's Orthodoxy says they taught; the two are not necessarily identical.)

Symbolism is not to be used to produce teachings that contradict New Testament doctrine. Thus, any additional insight drawn from the Old Testament that contradicts the doctrines of the New Testament is error and must be rejected, regardless of how logical it might sound or how good it might make us feel.

Also, having our understanding opened to a New Testament reality that was foreshadowed in the Old Testament is not the same as transplanting some Old Testament office, ministry, experience, or point of view into the Church. To do this is to go backwards spiritually, not forward. It is no different than going back under the first covenant and observing its commandments and ordinances. Having an Old Testament shadow confirm or shed additional light upon some truth or experience that is taught in the New Testament is one thing. The apostles did this all the time. But it is quite another thing to bring that type and shadow forward and mix it with the reality it was only meant to symbolize.

This kind of mixture can be seen in many of the current fads of the revival—such as the "Psalmist" ministry, the "Porter" or "Gatekeeper" ministry, the "Harp and Bowl" ministry of Mike Bickle and the "Armor Bearer" ministry—this is where somebody carries the pastor's Bible for him to the pulpit, guards his office door, warms up his car in winter, etc. All these fads are Old Covenant ministries which have been repackaged and transplanted into the Church. If it was God's will to mix the offices and ministries of the Old Covenant with the New Covenant we would have seen all these functions in the Early Church, but we don't.

LATTER RAIN HISTORY

"The Latter Rain is God's great end-time ministry. The Latter Rain is the Restoration of the Church and the Harvest of souls, the gathering together of His people to finally enter God's Kingdom on earth. The Latter Rain is the five-fold ministry in action. The Latter Rain is the promise given to us in the last days for the outpouring of the Holy Ghost and spiritual power. The Latter Rain is blessing millions around the world with times of refreshing and just gets better. The Latter Rain is for you and those you love to enter into now...If you want to help, point the five-fold ministry vision of unity and latter rain spiritual outpouring to your friends...Latter Rain teachings are not according to the conservative traditions of men that are taught by the lukewarm church and may seem strange to those who are not in the five-fold ministry...Latter Rain concepts are becoming so widespread today that there are many web sites and organizations in the flesh devoted to discrediting it".

Jay Atkinson

In order to understand what is happening right now we must understand the concept of the "latter rain," both as it is currently perceived and also as it has developed through the years. Without this understanding, the only thing we will comprehend as we behold the spectacle of the current "revival" is a bunch of unrelated doctrinal errors and abnormal behavior.

Jay Atkinson, a Latter Rain advocate who runs a pro-revival web-site called The Latter Rain Page (www.latter-rain.com), explains what Latter Rain means today. He says the Latter Rain is "God's great end-time ministry"—that is, God's great end-time "five-fold ministry in action". The five-fold ministry in action will bring about a restoration of the Church and this will enable the Church to finally (after all these centuries) bring in the final "Harvest of souls".

In Jay's view, the Latter Rain has already begun. Right now it is "blessing millions around the world with times of refreshing and just keeps getting better". Of course, the refreshing he refers to is none other than the infamous Laughing Blessing and all the outlandish manifestations that go with it. The Latter Rain has begun. The time has come. So if you want to be part of what God is doing in this hour, if you want to be on the cutting edge of Christianity, you will direct all your friends to the "five-fold vision of unity and latter rain spiritual outpouring".

Referring to the controversial nature of today's Latter Rain teaching, Jay freely admits that it goes against the "conservative" view of lukewarm (denominational) churches, but that it is spreading throughout these churches nonetheless. In fact, Latter Rain views are becoming so widespread a host of organizations and web-sites—mostly Fundamental so-called "Discernment Ministries"—are trying to discredit them. Speaking further of the infiltration of Latter Rain thought into the denominations, he says it:

"...is a spiritual move that transcends the four walls of any church. The latter rain is a scriptural and spiritual concept, not an organized group...You could find latter rain thought in any denomination but mostly in the churches that accept the prophetic, with like minded people mostly in Charismatic and Pentecostal groups but anywhere there is praise, worship and intercessory prayer".

According to Jay, Latter Rain is a "spiritual move that transcends the four walls of any church". It can be found in any denominational church right now, but mostly in Pentecostal and Charismatic fellowships that "accept the prophetic". In other words, the current emphasis on the prophetic—the restoration of the Old Testament office of prophet, prophetic conferences and roundtable meetings, and of course the School of the Prophets training centers that are cropping up everywhere like weeds in a garden—are identified as being an integral part of Latter Rain thought.

Today's Latter Rain scenario did not just spring out of thin air. It was built very slowly, over many years, from some very basic errors that have been part of Evangelical Christianity since the Reformation. First and foremost among these errors is a doctrine called The Great Commission. Like the term "Rapture," the term "Great Commission" is found nowhere in the Scripture. It is simply a man-made title denoting a particular view of what Christianity is all about. In fact, the only time the word commission is mentioned in the entire New Testament is when Saul the Pharisee received his commission from the elders of Israel to persecute believers in Damascus.

This is interesting because right now the thing that is uniting most Protestant sects together, and also uniting them with Rome, is the desire to "fulfill" the Great Commission. Religious leaders always have misunderstood the purpose of redemption, but today they have become obsessed with the idea of evangelizing the whole world before Jesus returns—and they will do anything to attain that goal. Once they have consolidated their ecclesiastical power they will, without hesitation, "commission" a whole army of Sauls to persecute and silence those who refuse to take part in this great end-time revival/harvest.

Over the years there has been a progression of error in the Church System and today's revival is merely the result of that progression. The process was initiated centuries ago when early Protestant leaders misinterpreted the words of Jesus in Matthew: "...this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come" (Matt. 24:14). Even though it was already done once (in the days of the apostles), they adopted the view that the Gospel would have to be preached to all nations again before the Lord could return. Eventually this became the majority view in the churches.

This misunderstanding wasn't too harmful yet because no one was suggesting the nations would accept the Gospel when it was presented to them. They merely assumed it had to be preached. In fact, the general consensus was that the nations would reject the message and that this rejection would trigger the return of the Lord and the wrath of God. This view also motivated churches to send missionaries all over the world—after all, the sooner all nations hear the Gospel the sooner the Lord will return, right?

This was the beginning of the "Great Commission" delusion. Though it was not dangerous in and of itself, it laid the foundation for the next error, which came when leaders started believing the nations would accept the Gospel that would be presented to them in the last days. The result of this, of course, would be mass conversions—a world-wide revival just before the Lord's return.

Once this view was adopted, more error was bound to follow because it was obvious that the greatest efforts of the Church at evangelizing the world were barely making a dent. In order for all nations to accept (not just hear) the Gospel, something extra-ordinary would have to happen to the Church—and that extra-ordinary something would be supernatural power (the latter rain), something that could be seen by unbelievers, which would compel them to accept the Gospel.

This concept started to become a tangible doctrine after the Azuza Street outpouring at the beginning of this century. In 1907 a man named David Wesley Myland wrote a book of songs entitled Latter Rain Songs. In 1910 he wrote his book The Latter Rain Covenant in which he correlated the natural rainfall in Israel with the spiritual manifestations being attributed to the Holy Spirit in the Azuza revival. The material of his book was initially published in Piper's famous Pentecostal periodical, The Latter Rain Evangel. Myland's book was the first comprehensive look at the fledgling Latter Rain Movement and is one of the first defenses of Pentecostalism. He must be given credit as the individual who coined the term "Latter Rain Movement".

Many Pentecostal pioneers believed the Azuza revival was the latter rain. Thus, they thought the time had come for "all nations" to hear the Gospel and exhibited great missionary zeal. The place of tongues was seen as central to their efforts because it was believed that supernatural foreign languages were necessary to reach the nations. During the revival some who received a heavenly language thought it was a foreign language and went off to the mission fields of China, only to return embarrassed and disillusioned.

For this and various other reasons most of the churches that sprang from the Azuza outpouring rejected Latter Rain doctrine. But even though it was rejected, it was not considered "heretical" because at this stage of its development it remained within the bounds of Evangelical Orthodoxy. Latter rain Christians still believed in the 7-year tribulation, the rise of the Antichrist and the Rapture.

The Latter Rain Movement basically died out until 1948, when it again took center stage through a fresh outbreak of revivals in Canada and America. The new movement was given a new name, The New Order Of The Latter Rain, as opposed to the old Pentecostal name, The Latter Rain Movement, because there came new revelations, new experiences and a whole new vision of what God would do in the last days.

The new doctrines, experiences and viewpoints soon came into conflict with the denominations because these new additions moved Latter Rain ideas outside of Evangelical Orthodoxy. The Canadian Assemblies of God denounced the New Order of the Latter Rain (NOLR) as heretical and a cult. The America Assemblies of God followed suit. This ended any possibility of the new move flourishing within the Establishment. Those who wanted to be part of the NOLR had to leave the denominations and start independent fellowships. Once again, those in the new revival thought it was the latter rain. They declared this belief in both their teachings and their songs—but it wasn't.

Since the Establishment declared the NOLR a heretical cult, the movement began to gradually die out, except this time there was a difference—many individuals and fellowships continued to spread the new Latter Rain concepts. With the advent of the Charismatic Renewal, many doors opened for these individuals to share their Latter Rain views because the people being touched by the Renewal were not Pentecostals and they held no prejudice against these new concepts. The Charismatic movement eventually became the vehicle through which Latter Rain thought was introduced back into the Church System and the current revival is the final manifestation of that process.

A DEFECTIVE FOUNDATION

Today's Latter Rain scenario—which is nothing but the original Great Commission error gone berserk—is built on four basic untruths: (1) that the whole world must eventually be converted to Christianity, (2) that this mass conversion, commonly referred to as "the harvest," will happen just before Jesus returns, (3) that the Church is responsible to fulfill this grand plan, and (4) that we must receive some kind of visible supernatural power in order to do it.

(1) The idea that at some point a great revival/harvest will bring "all nations" to repentance is a direct contradiction of the Lord's teaching on the "sheep" and the "goats" (Matt. 25:31-46). Speaking of what would happen at His return, Jesus said that before him "shall be gathered all nations, and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left" (vv. 32-33). Clearly there are GOATS at the end of this age and they will never be saved.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand [the goat nations], Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels...And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Matthew 25:41&46

(2) Not only is the idea that the whole world will eventually be converted error, it is doubly wrong to teach this will happen at the end of this age, for the end of this age is marked by world-wide religious delusion and apostasy. In the parable of the sower (Matt. 13:24-43), Jesus explained what the "harvest" (end of the age) would be like. The Son of Man sowed good seed (children of the kingdom) in the world and His enemy sowed tares (children of the wicked one). When the servants realized what had happened they wanted to root up the tares, but the Master said: "Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn". Later, the disciples asked the Lord to explain the parable to them.

He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:37-42

Jesus defined the harvest as the "the end of the world". What happens at the end of this age? Is there a great revival that suddenly turns the tares into wheat? No! The tares remain tares and are gathered, put into bundles and burned. According to Jesus, the great end-time harvest is not a harvest of tares into the kingdom, but a harvest of tares into the flames! At no time did Jesus teach or imply that there would be an epic harvest of sinners just prior to His return. Such a notion would have been a direct contradiction of His teaching on the last days.

(3) It may come as a shock to some who are reading this book but we Christians are not responsible for the salvation of the world. We are not responsible to try and save every one around us. Contrary to what we assume or may have been taught, Jesus does not call every Christian to evangelize the lost. He does call some to that ministry, but not all. And while it is true each of us is to be a "witness" for Him, our modern concept of what a witness is, has been perverted by Evangelical Orthodoxy which is blind, presumptuous and immature

Moreover, God Himself is not trying to save the whole world. Yes, He loves mankind and because of that love He sent His only begotten Son into the world in order to give every person a chance to be saved. But providing a way to save all men is not the same as assuming it is possible to save all men. Neither is it the same as actually attempting to save all men. The responsibility of drawing men to God rests on the shoulders of the Holy Spirit and He has never transferred that responsibility to the Church. He has never placed that responsibility on my shoulders or your shoulders.

Simeon [Peter] hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

Acts 15:14

James described in one short statement the whole purpose of the Church age. He said God is visiting the Gentiles (nations) in order to "take out of them" a people for His name. Few (if any) of us even have the capacity to understand what James said here because we have been blinded by the System's evangelize-the-world mentality. Instead of reading what James actually said, we read what we have been taught he said, which is: "Simeon hath declared how God is visiting the Gentiles in order to bring them all to salvation".

But that is not what brother James said! Look at what he said again, carefully. Why is God visiting the nations in this present age? Is He visiting them in order to try and save them all? No. He is visiting them in order to TAKE OUT OF THEM a people for his name.

If it was said that you went to your dresser to "take out" of it a pair of socks, should we assume that you went to that drawer to take all the socks out? Of course not! Then why do we put a totally alien meaning on what James said? The reason is because we have grown up in a Church System that is blind when it comes to understanding the deeper purposes of God in this present age. Today's Orthodox religious leaders have no idea the primary thrust of God in this age of grace is to take out of the nations a people for His name in order to purify them and bring them into the fulness of His image.

JOEL’S PROPHESY

(4) The most dangerous of all these errors is the belief that we must receive visible supernatural power in order to produce the end-time revival/harvest. The reason it is dangerous is because it compels us to seek external supernatural power, and there are two sources of supernatural power, not just one. If we are not careful to "test the spirits [manifestations] to see whether they are from God" (I. John 4:1), we are sure to be deceived by the enemy. It's bad enough when a stable, spiritually grounded fellowship starts seeking after external supernatural power, but when such a fellowship loses its fervent love for the truth and becomes willing to compromise in order to have unity or accomplish something God never asked of it (evangelizing the world); when its only test of right and wrong becomes whether or not something feels right (instead of whether or not it is Scriptural); when it thinks it can't be deceived by evil spirits (Christians can't have a demon); and in that condition goes after supernatural power, you have a recipe that is guaranteed to produce disasters like Toronto and Brownsville.

In an attempt to validate what's happening in the current revival—including all the bizarre manifestations that are being seen—the leaders quote the apostle Peter's quote of Joel, who said that in the "last days" God would pour out his Spirit upon all flesh. But the verses they never spend too much time on are the ones immediately preceding Acts 2:17. The reason is simply because these verses are a direct contradiction of what they are saying and doing.

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.

Acts 2:14-16

A close examination of Peter's discourse will reveal several things. First of all, because the darkened minds of those in the crowd could not understand what was happening, they accused the disciples of being drunk. But the disciples were not acting drunk and they denied being drunk, as is evident by Peter's answer: "These are not drunken, as ye suppose". They were merely praising God in languages that everyone present could understand. This is quite a contrast to the boasting that comes from today's revivalists that they are drunk and proud of it! Listen to the lyrics of this revival song, written by Kathryn Riss, wife of Toronto Revival historian, Richard Riss:

New Winos Drinking Song Number One

Kathryn Riss

If you feel too serious and kind of blue

I've got a suggestion, just the thing for you!

It's a little unconventional, but so much more fun,

That you won't even mind when people think you're dumb!

Just come to the party God is throwing right now,

We can all lighten up and show the pagans how

Christians have more fun and keep everyone guessing,

Since the Holy Ghost sent us the Toronto Blessing!

I used to think life was serious stuff

I wouldn't dare cry, and I acted kind of tough

Until God's Spirit put laughter in my soul,

Now the Holy Ghost's got me and I'm out of control!

Now I'm just a party animal grazing at God's trough,

I'm a Jesus Junkie, and I can't get enough!

I'm an alcoholic for that great New Wine,

'Cause the Holy Ghost is pouring, and I'm drinking all the time!

I just laugh like an idiot and bark like a dog,

If I don't sober up, I'll likely hop like a frog!

I'll crow like a rooster at the break of day,

'Cause the Holy Ghost is moving, and I can't stay away!

I'll roar like a lioness who's on the prowl,

I'll laugh and shake, maybe hoot like an owl!

Since God's holy river started bubbling in me,

It spills outside, and now it's setting me free!

So, I'll crunch and I'll dip and I'll dance round and round,

The pew was fine, but it's more fun on the ground!

So I'll jump like a pogo stick, then fall to the floor,

'Cause the Holy Ghost is moving, and I just want MORE!

Secondly, unlike those in the current revival, Peter, who was filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke with tongues as the Spirit gave him utterance, did not set aside the Scripture or think himself above it. Indeed, just the reverse was true. His discourse was filled with quotations from the Law and the Prophets. It is the Scripture to which he appeals and with which he proves what he says. The apostles understood what today's revival leaders don't—the Spirit is not given in order to supersede the Scripture, but to give us a better understanding of it. He comes so we can "behold wondrous things" out of the Word.

But in revival circles the intense physical and emotional pleasures that are experienced on a weekly (sometimes daily) basis make reading the Scripture seem terribly boring. It's so much more exciting to feel God zap us and have our body do bizarre things. It's so much more exciting to have Michael the Archangel—or even better, Jesus Himself—come in person and minister to us. It's so much more exciting to go into a trance and have technicolor visions about all the great things we will do and how the nations will soon be bowing at our feet. This stuff is intoxicating! It's like spiritual heroine. Once you get a taste you want more...and more...until you become a "Jesus junkie" like Kathryn Riss.

After quieting the crowd down, Peter, referring to what was happening that day, said: "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel". He then proceeds to quote a portion of Joel's prophesy.

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 2:17-21

This is that, said Peter. This is the fulfillment of "...it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh". This is the fulfillment of "...your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams. This is the fulfillment of "...and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy". Could Peter have said it any clearer?

Yet for the last hundred years many Pentecostal leaders have said this is not that which was spoken by the prophet Joel. They have said that because Peter also quoted the part of Joel's prophesy which predicted wonders in heaven and signs in the earth—which did not come to pass at Pentecost—we should not take his "this is that" statement at face value. What Peter meant was "this is only a foretaste of that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; you'll have to wait for another 1900 years to get the rest of it". Thus people are taught to look for a future, universal fulfillment of this entire passage.

The reason Pentecostal and Charismatic leaders continually deny the obvious meaning of Peter's words is because they have a pre-conceived view of what is going to happen in the last days, and that view demands a future, universal fulfillment of this prophesy—especially the part about God pouring His Spirit out upon "all flesh".

It is true that part of Joel's prophesy is future, for Jesus also referred to the sun being darkened and the moon turning to blood prior to His return (Matt. 24:29; Mk. 13:24; Lk. 21:25). However, it is not true that all of it is future. When we rightly divide the Scripture we see that the term "last days" can have various connotations. It does not always mean the end of this age. For example, the writer of Hebrews said God spoke in the past by the prophets, but in these "last days" He has spoken by His Son (Heb. 1:1-2). In this instance the term last days refers to the beginning of the Church age, not the end of it. Several prophets also used this term to denote a time other than the last days of this age. Isaiah and Micah both said in the "last days" the nations would "beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruninghooks: [and] shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Isa. 2:1-4; Mic. 4:1-3). They were clearly referring to the peace that will be established after the Church age, during the thousand year reign of Messiah. So the term last days has several different prophetic meanings. It can mean the whole Church age, the beginning of it, the end of it, or even the beginning of the next age.

Knowing the various uses of the term "last days" helps clear up the confusion about what Peter meant, for Joel's prophesy has two distinct parts and two distinct times of fulfillment. The first part has to do with God pouring out His Spirit on all flesh, which is exactly what happened on the Day of Pentecost. When Peter quoted Joel, he was saying these events were the beginning of the fulfillment of Joel's prophesy. What began in Jerusalem among Jews soon spread to Gentiles in every nation.

The second part of the prophesy has to do with heavenly signs that are connected to the judgment of God and the return of the Lord. It has to do with God coming to judge those who have rejected the Spirit that was poured out. The prophesy actually spans the entire Church age. The pouring out of the Spirit happened at the beginning of the last days, while the signs in the heavens will happen at the end of the last days.

TRUE LATTER RAIN

What about this whole idea of Israel's literal rain representing something spiritual in the New Testament? Obviously it doesn't mean what the original Latter Rain folks assumed it meant, and it certainly doesn't mean what today's revivalists think it does—all these assumptions directly contradict the teaching of Jesus and the apostles. However, just because their assumptions have been wrong, does that mean the whole concept of literal rain having a spiritual application is error?

Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

Deuteronomy 32:1-2

Even under the Old Covenant a link is established between speaking truth and rain. In this context the truth being spoken comes from Moses and it is in the form of "doctrine". Moses teaching the people God's truth is pictured as rain coming upon the herbs and as showers coming upon the grass.

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

Hosea 10:12

Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

Hosea 6:3

In the book of Hosea, God calls the people of Israel to repentance and exhorts them to sow righteousness instead of wickedness in order that they might reap mercy instead of judgment. The prophet then tells them to seek the Lord until He "rain righteousness" down upon them. In this instance rain represents God's people coming forth in righteousness. Prior to his exhortation to Israel about sowing righteousness, Hosea said if they followed on to know the Lord, He would come unto them as the former and the latter rain. Notice that Hosea said the Lord would come to them. In this instance, rain represents the Lord Himself coming to His people.

Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel. After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them. And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

Job 29:21-23

In the book of Job we again find a clear link between speaking truth and rain. In this context the truth that is being spoken comes from Job and it is in the form of "counsel". Job was remembering the days before his calamity when everyone respected him and payed serious attention to him. Giving forth his wise counsel is pictured by him as latter rain dropping into the mouths of thirsty listeners.

Without a doubt, literal rain can represent spiritual realities. It can represent God's people coming forth in righteousness, or teaching and doctrine, or wise counsel, or even the Lord Himself coming to us. Certainly literal rain doesn't always have to represent something spiritual. Most of the time it means just plain old rain. But it can have a spiritual meaning and in some Old Testament passages it does.

The question is: is there any truth in the idea that some kind of "latter rain" will be poured out in the last days? If there is any truth to the idea, what will happen when it comes?

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

James 5:7-8

In this passage James is exhorting believers who are being mistreated by the rich that they should be patient in the midst of these trials. Just as the farmer who needs patience to wait until nature does her work, sending both the planting rain and the harvesting rain, so likewise, we need patience to wait until Christ comes and sets things aright; till He punishes those who deserve punishment and rewards those who deserve to be rewarded. But could there not be a secondary meaning or application to what James said? After all, in the Old Testament God is seen as a husbandmen and Israel as a vineyard. The Lord planted Israel and waited for them to bear fruit. In the New Testament Jesus is pictured as the Vine and we as the branches. The Father is again pictured as the husbandmen who comes into the vineyard looking for fruit.

The typology for a Latter Rain is Scriptural, but it must be kept in the farmer/vineyard setting. God isn't waiting for a harvest of sinners. He is waiting for a harvest of fruit—the fruits of righteousness (II. Cor. 9:10; Phil. 1:11)—which are supposed to come from we who are His vineyard. God's primary interest lies not in evangelizing the whole world but in bringing a people forth in the full image of His Son, as it is written: "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren" (Rom. 8:29). Also, true Latter Rain doesn't necessarily have anything to do with Peter's quote of Joel.

Actually the Lord has been pouring out the "later rain" but most people are missing it. Fundamentalists (and Pentecostals who agree with them) are missing it because they reject the whole Latter Rain idea and are therefore not looking for it. Pentecostals and Charismatics who accept the Latter Rain idea have been missing it because they are looking for the wrong thing. They are looking for a Hollywood-style ministry—healing the sick, emptying out all the hospitals, raising the dead, etc. They are looking for a visibly united Church that will finally succeed in evangelizing the world. They are expecting the Church to become the head and not the tail, which will result in the complete transformation of societies and nations. They are in fact looking for some visible anointing that will enable them to establish the Kingdom of God on this planet before Jesus returns.

In order to understand the true Latter Rain we must look at the planting season of natural Israel. The "former" rain comes at the beginning of the growing season to soften the earth for planting. The Latter Rain comes a few months before the final harvest and gives the crops a good soaking, after which the weather becomes extremely dry and hot. It is that blazing heat that brings the last stages of maturity to the crops. If there is no latter rain just before this period starts the crops will not mature, they will die.

So it is concerning the times in which we live. The end of this age is not only marked by great deception but by great tribulation and judgment. Spiritually, it's going to get very "hot" in the coming days because we are going to experience the transition from this present age to the Kingdom age. During that transition a lot of nasty things are going to take place. We would never be prepared to face all these things victoriously unless God had been sending us the Latter Rain.

True Latter Rain is a fuller understanding (from Scripture) of what God is doing in these days. It is present truth and the ability to receive present truth. It is spiritual wisdom and discernment, given to us so we can differentiate between the clean and the unclean, between the holy and the profane. It is the Spirit working righteousness in us. It is the ability to come into an ever deeper union with the risen Lord. All these things are being poured out today in order to prepare us for the "heat" that is coming. Both the rain and the heat are needed to bring us to spiritual maturity.

COUNTERFEIT TRIUMPHALISM

One thing you notice as you listen to revival leaders is their triumphalistic attitude. According to them, we will soon take over the world. Actually there are two kinds of Triumphalism capturing popular Christian imagination today. The first type comes from the more Orthodox camp and is of the..."We've got to take back our country from the humanists" variety. The idea is that we must take dominion over every aspect of our culture—art, politics, education and communication. All these areas are ground that needs to be taken for Christ and controlled by believers. In this view, Christians are the (good) "leaven" that will ultimately effect the whole "lump" (society) for Christ.

This particular kind of Triumphalism is called Reconstructionism. Though it has touched some in the Pentecostal/Charismatic camp, its main appeal has been to non-Charismatic-oriented Evangelicals. The vehicle that is to be used to implement the reconstruction of society is political action. The goal is to gain political power in the nations and eventually establish an Old Testament Theocracy over the entire planet. This movement received great impetus in the 1980's because of the political dissatisfaction of American Christians, and also, because Jesus failed to return by 1988. Prophecy teachers had interpreted Matthew 24:34 to mean that within 40 years of the establishment of Israel (May 1948) the Lord would come back—40 years being one generation.

The other kind of Christian Triumphalism is called Kingdom Now Theology or Dominion Theology and it is merely the Pentecostal/Charismatic version of Evangelical Reconstructionism. Its goals are identical to Reconstructionism except that it is relying on supernatural power and the great end-time revival to accomplish this objective instead of political action.

Kingdom Now Triumphalism says the Church is not going to be a whipped, sick, defeated little group of believers, hiding from the Antichrist. Instead, it will be a might army, ruling nations, displaying awesome power, emptying hospitals and filling sports stadiums, all before the Lord returns. This makes Jesus' question in Luke 18:8 totally irrelevant: "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" Of course the Son of man will find faith on the earth! In fact, He will find more faith on earth than ever before! Where have you been? Haven't you heard what the Spirit has been saying unto the churches through His restored apostles and prophets?

"The coming revival will eclipse all preceding revivals in terms of power and scope. It will go beyond that which was done during the apostolic period of the First Century...Healings will be common during this time--even resurrections will become common...When there is economic chaos and the society is coming apart from almost every angle, the church will be coming together and displaying a unity that has never been seen before in the history of the church...Furthermore, there will be a new understanding of the supernatural. Angelic appearances will become common in meetings and even the Lord himself will appear in the coming weeks and months and years. Healings will become so common that even children will be able to perform them on a regular basis".

John Wimber

January 1989 Prophesy

"The magnitude of this harvest will ultimately astonish even the most optimistic believers. Congregations of less than a hundred will be adding a thousand believers a week for periods of time. Meetings which begin spontaneously will stir entire cities, continuing until they fill the largest stadiums night after night. Previously popular sporting events will be abandoned in many regions for lack of interest. Whole towns with populations of thousands will swarm on neighboring towns to evangelize them...News teams will follow apostles like national figures...cities will experience periods of zero crime... pornography, prostitution, illegal drugs, abortion and drunkenness will cease to exist in many areas without passage of a single law...Whole nations will give themselves to periods of fasting and prayer".

Paul Cain

"When Heaven Touches Earth"

Unfortunately a major portion of Christianity has accepted, to some degree at least, the teachings of Kingdom Now Theology or Reconstructionism. This is evident by the fact that so many people were taken in by that ridiculous "prophecy" on TBN some years ago, which said "all evil would be ripped off the face of the earth" on June 9th, 1994. This created a lot of excitement among the churches. It was being endorsed by Paul Crouch and confirmed by other so-called prophetic voices.

Of course evil was not "ripped off the face of the earth" on June 9^th and damage control had to be quickly initiated by Mr. Crouch. It was explained that the prophesy was never meant to be taken literally. God was merely saying a "spiritual veil was being removed". At this point only the hopelessly gullible continued to believe these people. Still, before June 9^th many did believe the prophesy—and how many more people do you suppose were waiting until June 9^th to decide whether or not they would believe it? Anybody who did not immediately reject the idea that evil will be suddenly ripped off the face of the earth—but not by the second coming of Jesus Christ—is already under the influence of today's counterfeit Triumphalism, which is at the root of the current revival.

The idea that we are going to be glorified and take over the world before Jesus returns is not simply a minority view among revival leaders. Nor is it merely the extreme position of a few religious nuts on the fringe of the movement. It is the unanimous opinion and publicly stated goal of all those considered to be revival leaders.

"The Church is asleep, but when she gets woken up and joins together in an army, there's not any power any place that can stop her, for she'll know nothing but victory when she joins hands and becomes one in purpose, and that's to reveal the kingdom on the face of the earth".

School for Prophecy - Session 7

Vineyard Ministries; 1989

"The coming move of God is going to be a lot different than I ever thought—and I’m sure it will be different than you thought, too...The holy radiation of God will drive out all kinds of illnesses in these last days, and it will be the number one cure for cancers, AIDS and all kinds of communicable diseases. God will once more do things that are unprecedented. He will do things that are different from anything He has ever done before...Just as Jesus stood on the Mount of Transfiguration and his three disciples saw Him shine (Matthew 17:1-8), God is going to have a whole company of people who are going to shine. The world will see the light, and all the nations will come...[The] church is going to regain her power and emerge shining brighter than the noonday sun. We are going to be called upon by heads of state and kings of nations. The Lord is going to give heaven to earth so that we can evangelize the world".

Paul Cain

Morning Star Ministries

"No prophet or apostle who ever lived equaled the power of these individuals in this great army of the Lord in these last days. No one ever had it, not even Elijah, or Peter, or Paul, or anyone else enjoyed the power that is going to rest upon this great army...all the sick are gonna be healed, the dead are gonna be raised and nations are gonna turn to God in a day".

Bob Jones

"Selections from the Kansas City Prophets"

"When God processes this thing and we come out the other end, we are going to be a people, one new man in the earth, that are going to exhibit and showcase the Kingdom of God in such a degree that the nations, kings are going to come to our feet and ask of us the things of God".

Larry Randolf

11/18/94 Toronto Church

"At that time the sons of God will be fully manifested on the earth. Widespread spiritual warfare will result with the Sons of God doing battle with Satan and company, the non-Christian nations of this world will also be defeated. Once the earth has been subdued, Jesus will come back to earth and be given the Kingdom that has been won for Him by this "manchild company".

Bill Hamon

"Prophets and the Prophetic Movement"

"Death will not be conquered by Jesus returning to the earth. It will be conquered when the church stands up boldly and says, “We have dominion over the earth!” How else will God be able to show Satan a people for whom death holds no fear, over whom death no longer has any power?…Is it possible that there will be a people who so possess the authority of Almighty God, as Elijah did, that they, as a group, will say to death, hell, and the spirit of Satan, 'We will NOT die. We will stay here and be changed, and we will call Jesus Christ to return to this earth as King of Kings and Lords of Lords'? Yes, that is what I believe the church must do"!

Earl Paulk

"The Proper Function of the Church"

"This many-membered corporate body will take dominion over the Earth for ultimate presentation to Christ at his second coming".

Mike Bickle

"Overview Of God's End Time Purpose"

"You see why we're excited about someone like Paul Cain or Bob Jones coming on the scene? Or others that we've met…you know those two powerful witnesses in Revelation 11:3? You know what they are, first and foremost? They are prophets. He said they will prophesy for 1,260 days. He's going to end the last days just before His Son returns with a prophetic movement that will sweep the entire face of the earth and will eclipse anything we have ever seen before"

Jack Deere - "Joel’s Army"

Vineyard Ministries Cassette Tape - 1990

"You see, God’s plan is that here on earth, in us, the glory of the Lord will be revealed. The luminous, radiant light of His Presence, as it shone from Moses’ face and flooded Solomon’s temple at its dedication, as it radiated from Jesus and bathed His disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration-that light of God’s Presence shall arise from within us at the end of the age! Prior to Jesus Christ's physical return, His living presence will companion the church in ever-increasing power. During this time the visible glory of the Lord will rise and appear upon God's people".

Former "Walk" Apostle, Francis Frangipane

"The Days Of His Presence"

"This harvest will be so great that no one will look back at the early church as a standard; all will be saying that the Lord has certainly saved His best wine for last. The early church was a firstfruits offering, truly this will be a harvest! It was said of Paul that he was turning the world upside down; it will be said of the apostles soon to be anointed that they have turned an upside down world right side up. Nations will tremble at the mention of their name".

Rick Joyner

The Harvest

"From out of the sands of time I have called the best of every bloodline in the earth, unto this generation...Even the bloodline of Paul...of David...of Peter, James and John, the best of their seed is unto this generation. They will even be superior to them in heart, stature and love for me....They will move into things of the supernatural that no one has ever moved in before...They themselves will be that generation that's raised up to put death itself underneath their feet and to glorify Christ in every way. "

Bob Jones

Vineyard Prophecy Conference - 1989

"Jesus cannot, will not return, until there literally exists this kind of church, body of Christ. This Church (remnant) is to be...executing deliverance and judgment, in all authority and power, to all the people of the earth, first to and in the Church, then to all the nations of the earth...They will have absolute immunity to destruction and death in any form. Even vengeance and wrath which is about to come, will not touch them, but they themselves will be the execution of this vengeance and wrath".

Former "Walk" Apostle, Royal Cronquist

Love Ministries Newsletter 8/94

"[We] will be the head and not the tail, the lender, not the borrower. Christians will dominate the socio-political systems of the day".

Pastor John Arnott

Toronto Airport Vineyard

Please note where the focus lies in the minds of these leaders. Paul Cain says news teams will follow apostles like national figures. Rick Joyner says the day is coming when it will be said of the apostles soon to be anointed that they have turned an upside down world right side up. Nations will tremble at the mention of their name. These leaders are not offering people anything new—except demon possession, perhaps. Everything is still based on the clergy/laity system and they are just as ministry-minded as the Baptist preacher down the street. All the arrows of importance point to them.

They may talk about what the "body" will do in the coming days, but what they say and what they really think are two different things. In their minds they believe it will be the apostles who are on center stage. It will be the names of the apostles—not our names—that nations will tremble at. It will be said of the apostles that they turned an upside down world right side up. News reporters will follow the apostles around, not the average believer!

Jack Deere says the revival leadership is "excited" about someone like Paul Cain or Bob Jones coming on the scene. He then suggests they might be the two witnesses in Revelation eleven. Speaking of these two witnesses, he says the fact that they will prophesy for 1,260 days means God is going to "end the last days just before His Son returns with a prophetic movement that will sweep the entire face of the earth and will eclipse anything we have ever seen before". Oh really?

Mr. Deere seems to have gotten so excited at the prospect that Paul Cain and Bob Jones could be the two witnesses he forgot to read the rest of the passage in Revelation chapter eleven!

And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

Revelation 11:3-10

Not a very encouraging scenario for the two witnesses is it? First their ministry comes to an end—this alone would send today's leaders into a state of depression, since they are addicted to ministry. Next, they are overcome and killed by Antichrist—so much for Triumphalism! Adding insult to injury, those who "dwell upon the earth" not only reject their testimony, they rejoice when they are killed and throw the biggest party in history. Thus, an inglorious end awaits the last days prophetic movement that will "sweep the entire face of the earth".

This Triumphalism is not limited to those immediately identified as revivalists. Thanks to the presidents of the two largest Christian broadcasting companies in the world, it's becoming common among all branches of the Church.

"Somebody has got to sew some tents together, and sew some nets together, and get the literature together, and all the things that are needed to handle 400 million to a billion souls that are going to be saved in the next few years! I mean, it's a staggering task and God's going to give it to us! Someone has got to train the future leaders of this world, because God is going to put us in positions of responsibility...What do all of us do? We get ready to take dominion! We get ready to take dominion! It is all going to be ours - I'm talking about all of it. Everything that you would say is a good part of the secular world. Every means of communication, the news, the television, the radio, the cinema, the arts, the government, the finance - it's going to be ours! God's going to give it to His people".

CBN Owner, Pat Robertson

Maranatha Campus Ministries Dallas '84 Convention

"If and when we finally lay down these petty doctrinal and traditional differences and join together as an awesome united body and force, all hell will finally retreat into the abyss, and, together, we will bring back the king!...When will we realize that the enforcement of Christ's Victory is UP TO US?...Read the parable of the Wheat and the Tares in Matthew 13:24-30 and you will see that at the end of this age the "ANGELS" are sent forth to remove evil from the earth. That word "ANGELS" also means messengers. So God may use some of us to finish up the work of this age".

TBN Owner, Paul Crouch

3/93 & 3/94 PTL Newsletters

Christian Triumphalism is actually an enormous religious movement. Toronto and Brownsville (and their numerous clones) are only one part of it. It's not a structured, organized thing with a central headquarters somewhere. Rather, it's a convergence of various polluted streams within the Church: such as the Restoration/Kingdom Dominion stream, the Word of Faith crowd, radical World Evangelistic groups, various Latter Rain/Manifest Sons Of God groups, Spiritual Warfare and Intercessor groups, and the Apostolic/Prophetic move.

The fire that fell at Toronto was merely the thing that started bringing all these streams together. Right now they are forming one giant river of Pentecostal Globalism. Moreover, there has been a definite strategy aimed at drawing otherwise normal pastors and their congregations into this Triumphalism. In 1992, The Morningstar Journal (Vol. 2, No. 3) published an article by Rick Joyner called A Vision of the Twelve Cities. In that article Mr. Joyner laid out the tactics which Vineyard and its spin-off groups would use to infiltrate and gain control of the entire Christian community in the U.S. and Canada.

Conferences were to be the main strategy. These conferences, he wrote, "would ultimately attract multitudes of believers...from every present stream [denomination] in the body of Christ, as well as independents". Each general conference "will spawn" local conferences for pastors, prophets, intercessors, etc., to be held throughout the year in each region. At the local level, "city-wide weekly prayer and leadership meetings would also begin". Of course these conferences would not be advertised as "Vineyard" meetings. They would be advertized as "annual, general conferences" and would be held in each of the 12 major U.S. cities he saw in his vision: Albany, Atlanta, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Santa Maria, and Washington.

These cities were chosen because they are strategically located for geographic and demographic impact. He estimated that 98% of the U.S. population lives within 500 miles of at least one of these cities (about a one-day drive). Referring to the vision, which he claims to have received on February 6, 1989, he says: "Though I was given no timing, I felt that the conferences would begin in the early nineties, but that it would take several years before all twelve would be functioning".

Many people are drawn into the Dominion movement when they unknowingly join local groups that have been organized for a particular purpose, such as intercession for example, by those involved in the movement and which are based upon their way of belief. Pastors involved in the movement start local groups for other pastors, ostensibly for the purpose of coming together for mutual encouragement and to pray for their geographic area. But the pastors who become involved in these groups are slowly and deliberately initiated into the practices and world-view of the movement.

Put very simply, they don't talk theology and doctrine in these groups, they simply practice it, and those who join them begin to absorb it. For instance, you cannot call on Jesus to cast the strongman ("territorial demon") out of a city or a nation without first absorbing the idea that there are such things as territorial demons that rule over cities and nations, and that they can be (and should be) cast out by certain types of prayer in order for Jesus to take that "territory". In addition, many materials presented as resources for pastors, like materials on "church growth," for instance, are really entry points into the teachings and practices of the movement.

There are many paths into this movement. Cell-based churches are a primary one, as is the new Lighthouse movement, Promise Keepers, March for Jesus, intercessor groups, world evangelism groups, and various Praise and Worship seminars. In addition, many of the latest fads like Cleansing Stream and the Alpha Course are entry points—and the list goes on. As a matter of fact, you will be hard pressed to find an organization or group today that is not involved to some degree in Dominion Theology. It's like an enormous octopus that has spread its tentacles in every direction, affecting everyone.

SCRIPTURAL TRIUMPHALISM

While today's revival Triumphalism is a Satanic counterfeit that should be avoided at all costs, this does not change the fact that there is a proper kind of Triumphalism presented in the Bible. The first type of Scriptural Triumphalism has to do with our personal victory over the world, the flesh and the Devil. We can overcome these things in our own lives because Jesus triumphed over them and has made His power available to us so we can do the same.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Ephesians 5:25-27

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

II. Peter 3:13-14

The Word says when Jesus returns He will find a Church without "spot or wrinkle, or any such thing". It teaches very clearly it is God's will that we be found "holy and without blemish". Peter said spiritually minded Christians should be diligent to "be found...without spot and blameless". Obviously Paul and Peter were not referring to imputed spotlessness because we need not be "diligent" in order to retain the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. This righteousness is imputed to us through faith when we trust in His shed blood for salvation. No, the apostles are talking about coming to a place of real, tangible, spotlessness. They are talking about moral perfection.

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

NKJ Ephesians 4:11-13

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God...For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection

II. Corinthians 7:1 & 13:9

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.

Hebrews 6:1-3

If we take the Bible seriously, there can be no denying that God intends to have a people who have "come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ". We are plainly told to leave the first principles of the faith listed in Hebrews chapter six and go on to perfection. What we wish, said Paul to believers in Ephesus, is "your perfection".

Blind guides have always said we can't be perfect while alive in the flesh. They have always stood behind their podiums and sanctimoniously declared we will sin as long as we are "human". They fail to see that when they say we have to sin they are saying Jesus made a mistake when He told us to be perfect in Matthew 5:48. According to them, what He should have said was "try to be perfect". But Jesus didn't say try to be perfect. He said be perfect. Not only do these blind guides deny the possibility of going on to perfection in this life, they accuse all who seek to do so of being Gnostics or New Agers. They teach (implicitly) that the trip to heaven will make us perfect and take away the very ability to sin. Excuse me! Where in the Scripture is that doctrine taught?

Jesus never told us to wait till we get to heaven to be perfect for the simple reason that going into the spirit realm won't perfect us and it won't keep us from sinning. Think about it. Who committed the first sin? It wasn't Eve and it wasn't Adam. It was Lucifer. And where was he when he sinned? He was in heaven, right around the very throne of God! Lucifer was created sinless and he lived in heaven, yet he rebelled anyway. Adam and Eve were created sinless and lived in an earthly Paradise, yet they rebelled too. So you see, even being created sinless and living in heaven is no guarantee that we will never sin. Being transferred into the spirit realm (heaven) is not our deliverer from sin. Jesus Christ is our deliverer from sin—and He wants to deliver us from sin in this life, before we go out into eternity.

There is no question there will be a people on this earth who are spotless and without blemish when the Lord returns. The real question is. what will be the result? What will happen to the society in which these people live? Will they take over the governments of the world? Will all nations flow unto them and make them the head instead of the tail? To say "yes" is to contradict the very words of Jesus and the apostles.

Scriptural Triumphalism must never be confused with the counterfeit, which says we can (and therefore should) try to drive Satan out of America's Sodom and Gomorrah culture, or that we should be "pulling down strongholds" over entire cities and nations in order to drive him out. Scriptural Triumphalism has nothing to do with trying to establish an Old Testament Theocracy over the nations of the earth. Satan has an allotted time in which to do his evil work and parameters have been established concerning just how far he can go. Moreover, God has appointed a day of reckoning for him and his evil host. Nobody can hasten or delay that appointment.

The fact is, nobody knows how the events surrounding the Lord's return will play out. Yes, the Scripture gives us a general overview of what will happen, but many details remain vague. The Lord's return will be much like His first appearing in the sense that there seems to be a conflict in the way things are predicted to happen.

Before Messiah's first appearing the Pharisees were confused because the prophets predicted He would come as both a suffering servant who would be killed and also as a mighty king who would conquer all his enemies. They couldn't understand how He could be both at the same time. So instead of remaining humble and seeking God's wisdom to understand the contradiction, they concocted their own doctrinal answer to the problem. There would be two Messiahs. One would be a suffering servant and the other would be a conquering king.

Since they were under the political foot of Caesar they naturally focused on the conquering Messiah who would free them from Roman bondage. They chose to place their hopes in this Messiah and it was for Him they eagerly awaited. As a result, they were totally unprepared to recognize the "suffering servant" when He came.

Today we have a somewhat similar situation. The New Testament seems to present two contradictory pictures of the events leading up to the Lord's return. During the same period of time you have the body of Christ coming to full spiritual maturity and also the Antichrist coming to full power in the world. The two scenarios seem irreconcilable. But instead of seeking God's wisdom, everyone has decided to invent their own version of what will happen. There are many different (and opposing) end-time scenarios being promoted right now, both inside and outside the System.

Actually, Kingdom/Dominion teachers are partially correct when they say the Church—or at least a portion of the Church—is not going to be a whipped, sick, defeated little group of believers huddled in the corner, hiding from the Antichrist. It's when they say we will be emptying hospitals, raising the dead, filling sports stadiums, bringing revival to every city and ruling nations in the midst of Antichrist's reign that they move from truth to religious delusion. Antichrist could never even come to full power—let alone stay in power for 42 months—if their scenario turns out to be true.

There is another kind of Triumphalism found in the Scripture which has to do with the glory we will partake of in the future. It has to do with having the same kind of "joy" the Lord had when He walked among us. The writer of Hebrews said Jesus endured the cross "for the joy that was set before him" (Heb. 12:2). We too must have a joy set before us. That joy is the understanding of our destiny in Christ. It is knowing that "in the fulness of time" we will be granted power and authority as sons of God. It is the knowledge that in the fulness of time we will rule and reign with Jesus and do many of the things now being prophesied. In the fulness of time—not before.

And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father...To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne...He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Revelation 2:26-27; 3:21; 21:7

And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Daniel 7:27

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth...And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

Matthew 5:5; 19:29

Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

I Corinthians 6:2-3

Awesome power and responsibility will be given to God's faithful saints. The kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven will be given to them. They will inherit the earth and all things. They will be given power over the nations and will rule them with a rod of iron. They are destined to inherit everlasting life and sit with Jesus in His throne. Do we realize what it will mean to sit in the throne of God with Christ?

COUNTERFEIT SPIRITUAL GOVERNMENT

"I think the most wonderful thing God is doing for us in these last days is raising up and restoring completely apostolic leadership and authority. The hope of the church, the hope of the world, is the apostolic ministry...So here God is raising up a new standard, a new banner, if you will, that's going to radically change the expression, the understanding of Christianity in our generation...God has invited us to have a role in establishing this New Order of Christianity".

"You Can Become the Word!"

Vineyard Prophecy Conference, 1989

"And now my government is in place, and in a time of great stress I shall bring forth my next step, for Toronto was a step, Brownsville was another step; My next step will be my glory, and signs like you have never seen before".

Bob Jones; 1998

"The Remnant Seed"

As if numerous people running around claiming to be "prophets" was not bad enough in the 80's, during the 90's these prophets began ordaining certain of their fellow prophets into the exalted office of "apostle". People may view these activities as nothing more than some kind of religious game being played by harmless ministers, but rest assured, these men are not harmless. Please notice that the Vineyard prophesy says restored apostles are going to change "radically" the expression and understanding of Christianity through the intervention of apostolic authority (not simply apostolic ministry).

This is what the "new paradigm" is all about. These "restored" apostles and prophets intend to take control of every church they possibly can. They have every intention of replacing the Headship of Jesus Christ over the Church with their own—and that is precisely what terms like "apostolic authority" and "apostolic government" mean.

Notice also that Bob Jones—a restored prophet—says the "next step" of the revival (God help us!) can now be released because a government has been set in place. What's he talking about? What government has been set in place? Unless you understand the concept of Restoration these statements will make no sense.

Restorationism (not to be confused with Reconstructionsim) says that soon after its birth, the Church lost much of its vibrancy and spiritual power due to the acceptance of man-made tradition and legalism and was finally plunged into the darkness of Roman Catholicism. With the advent of the Protestant Reformation the Church began the slow process of recovering the things Catholicism had suppressed or distorted for over a thousand years. Luther restored justification; the Wesley brothers restored sanctification; the Baptists restored pre-millenialism; the Missionary Alliance restored divine healing; the Pentecostals (from the Azuza outpouring) gave us back spiritual gifts, commonly referred to as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

This is all very true. From this point on however, the teaching degenerates very quickly. According to Restorationists, the next thing that needed to be restored was the five-fold ministry, for until they are restored the body of Christ is "out of divine order". The five-fold ministry is viewed as absolutely essential in: (1) equipping believers for "the work of the ministry," (2) bringing the body of Christ to the "unity of the faith," and (3) bringing us to "the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ". In short, these ministries are viewed as the only ones who can perfect the saints. Therefore, until they are restored to their rightful place and given their rightful authority in the body we will never reach perfection.

Actually, when revivalists talk about God restoring the "five-fold" ministry they are really only talking about two parts of the five-fold ministry—the apostle and the prophet—because the Church never lost the offices of evangelist, pastor or teacher. More specifically, they are referring to the authority contained in these offices. What needs to be restored is not merely prophetic and apostolic ministry, but prophetic and apostolic authority. They are talking about bringing the whole Church under "divine government"—and of course they will be the undisputed heads of this new government.

Once the new government is in place and the people are willing to submit to it, these restored apostles and prophets would introduce new doctrines into the churches through divine revelation which would begin moving the people from the old ways to the new paradigm. This has largely been accomplished. Not only has the structure of many fellowships been changed, their core beliefs are also being transformed. Facilitating the transition from the old ways into the new paradigm is the new priesthood of restored apostles and prophets. Every day more and more fellowships are being deceived into placing themselves under the ecclesiastical authority (covering) of these men. Once a Church submits to their authority, contradicting or questioning their revelations becomes tantamount to contradicting or questioning God Himself.

At the moment, the most important job of the new priesthood is to produce visible unity among as many churches as they possibly can. For you see, until we come to a place of visible unity the "glory" cannot fall, the "latter rain" cannot be fully poured out, and we cannot bring in the harvest or establish the kingdom. All dissent and inter-denominational strife must be silenced (or at least swept under the carpet). Doctrinal differences especially must be set aside because "doctrine divides". Consequently, those not willing to put aside their pesky little doctrinal views are seen as hindering the noble causes of going on to perfection and Global evangelism.

Once the new priesthood has produced a massive, visibly unified, Global Church—and by the way, this will require the removal of those refusing to go along with the program—the final stages of Restoration will follow. A visible glory cloud or some other apparition will be manifested permanently upon the bodies of revivalists as evidence that God has transformed them into spiritual beings, full of wisdom, knowing all things, irresistible and immune from all harm. This will enable the new priesthood to extend their divine government from the Church to the nations, thus establishing the Kingdom of God on earth. Then, and only then, can Jesus return to receive the kingdom.

This scenario is the "new paradigm" we keep hearing about. It's the shift from a Scriptural world view to an unscriptural Latter Rain/Dominion world view. It's the shift from one basis of authority (the Word of God) to another basis of authority (subjective experiences of religious leaders). It's the shift from seeking conformity to God's holy character and will to seeking supernatural power to do our own (religious) will. It's the shift from the priesthood of all believers to the priesthood of some believers (apostles and prophets). It's the shift from Protestantism to a thinly veiled form of Catholicism.

While the new priesthood labels everything of the past mere religious tradition, they vomit out a constant stream of demonic error (which they call "revelation") and vain imaginations (which they call "prophesy"). The "new" order they boast about is really just the "old" order perverted beyond recognition, then repackaged. It's a hierarchy of rulers with apostles and prophets at the top of the pyramid. This is new?

At this point there is still a significant amount of disagreement among Restoration people regarding the exact parameters and authority of restored apostles. For instance, in an article called The Five-Fold Ministry Debate, Bill Burns of Faith Tabernacle in Kremmling, Colorado says:

"The church has been laboring to bring forth the new man child [referring to Rev. 12] which represents the restoration of apostolic government. Whenever God brings forth a "new thing" Satan stands up to devour the work of the Spirit...One of Satan's main devices is to bring confusion into the Body of Christ. His plan is to negate the work of the Holy Spirit by confusing the issues and thereby bring disagreement, which will ultimately bring division. Division will fragment the Body of Christ, and then the different factions will end up fighting one another, destroying the unity of the Spirit, thus diminishing God's purpose.

We can already see this process taking place regarding the Father's efforts to restore apostolic order to the church. Apostolic order operating through the five-fold ministry (Eph. 4:11) has the potential to restore apostolic power to the Body of Christ. A church in order according to divine government will bring forth the power that the present day church so desperately needs...Pastors are paranoid because they are being told that they really aren't supposed to be leading the flock. The emerging prophets have been hurt because they don't have a platform in the local assembly. Some believe that a plurality of elders should oversee the flock, and some believe in the "set man" principle. And then, we have some who call themselves apostles and others bishops; some insist on the term elders while others are overseers. Some want to change the title of pastor to shepherd, and most really don't know what to do.

Faith Tabernacle Website

We don't have time in this part of the study to explore Mr. Burn's claim that the manchild of Revelation represents the restoration of apostolic government, except to point out again the ministry mentality all these people walk in. In his thinking the manchild is not the whole company of overcomers but the apostolic government that leads them. Also, he sees the current division and disunity over the roles of the new priesthood as a real problem. He admits that many pastors are scared of the new government because they are being told by some who are promoting it that they "really aren't supposed to be leading the flock". He also says most revivalists "don't know what to do". Maybe that is because their new leaders speak with a forked tongue when it comes to the proper function of restored prophets and apostles in the Church. Consider the following "vision" Bob Jones had:

"In the vision, Bob found himself and his wife Viola standing on an open plain in a barren, desert looking area. As he was inspecting the area in which he was standing, he observed a black snake approaching in the distance traveling towards a specific city..However, upon initial observation he supposed the snake was a black snake and therefore harmless...As the serpent came closer, Bob discovered a shepherd’s staff in his hands, which he knew represented spiritual authority to deal with the specific issues he was to confront...

Upon seeing Bob, the serpent raised its head and displayed that it was not in fact a black snake but a very deadly Cobra. As the Cobra approached, Bob was able to keep it at bay with the shepherd’s staff entrusted to him. When the serpent discovered it was unable to directly strike Bob, it then traveled toward Viola who was unarmed. This represented the enemy’s intent to attack the church, as Viola was representative of the church body in this vision.

Bob found himself using the shepherd’s staff to defend, not only himself but also Viola in this struggle to overcome this evil spirit. As he did so, the Lord spoke to him and told him the Cobra represented the “spirit of the Nicolaitans”. The spirit was coming in the form of “self appointed” leadership desiring to lord its authority over the church body injecting its venom causing destruction and death. Bob represented in this vision the “God appointed” leadership with the appropriate spiritual authority to fortify itself and the body of believers to whom they are assigned.

As the battle continued, the Holy Spirit imparted to Bob the understanding that he was contesting an ancient religious spirit that had successfully undermined many purposes of God in the earth. It is the Nicolaitan spirit desiring to come between the church and the government of God established in the church with true spiritual authority. The “head” (leadership appointed by Christ) has the insight and understanding of God but can do nothing without the “hands and feet” provided by the body.

"Spirit Of The Nicolaitans"

Bob Jones and Keith Davis

Mr. Jones said the Cobra represented the spirit of the Nicolaitans, which is "self appointed leadership desiring to lord its authority over the church" and seeking to "come between the church and the government of God" (the five-fold ministry). Please notice that he makes a distinction between the Church and the government of the Church.

In this struggle between true and false authority, Mr. Jones represents true authority (of course!) and the Cobra represents false authority. Notice that he refers to true spiritual authority (himself) as "the head" and the rest of God's people as "the body". He says the head has the insight and understanding of God's purposes but can do nothing without the hands and feet provided by the body. Not only does he divide the Church, he usurps the Headship of Jesus Christ over the Church and replaces it with his own!

Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

Colossians 2:18-19

These revival leaders "beguile" God's people out of their reward through double-speak. They do not hold the Head in His rightful position, yet they make statements that appear to do so. For example, further on in this message Mr. Jones says false authority:

-Promotes the separation of people into the priest and laity class.

-Advocates an us and them philosophy.

-Separates the ministers from the people, making the leaders overlords instead of servants.

-Tries to create subordinates rather than brothers and sisters.

-Always attempts to set itself above the body of Christ usurping a position in the Church rightfully ………..-belonging to the Holy Spirit.

This man is so deceived he is incapable of seeing he has done the very thing he said the Cobra seeks to do. In reality he is a Cobra as well, yet he thinks he is a hero. This is the kind of deception you are dealing with when you "jump in the river". So look carefully before you leap because you might never make it back out—Mr. Jones certainly won't! Since he claims to be against ministers usurping the position that rightfully belongs to the Holy Spirit, it would be interesting to hear his view on the following statement by restored apostle, Royal Cronquist:

"The greatest decision that the church is going to have to make in these days ahead...is to face that there are apostles of God, that they must submit to that authority and to that office. They must submit to that foundation as though it was Jesus Christ, and whosoever will not submit to that authority shall be destroyed from among the people".

"Your Daily Cross Is Giving Up The Throne Of Self"

Of course, most revival leaders are not as blatantly honest about what they are trying to do as Mr. Cronquist is. Most of them do not go around demanding blind obedience. To his credit, this man says exactly what he (and the new priesthood) believes. The reason people don't realize the others think this way is because they "beguile" them with a combination of crafty double-speak, psychological manipulation, and a large dose of Scripture twisting.

In addition, most revivalists are too stoned on the "new wine" to see what's happening anyway. Not only are these false apostles and prophets usurping the Headship of Jesus, they are using the people they have deceived to build a massive Global Church over which they expect to be ruling by October 2003. In November of 1999, C. Peter Wagner, the man who is fast becoming the head of the whole prophetic/apostolic movement, convened a meeting of The Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders to discuss a time table for putting the apostolic government into place. A message from these "Prophetic Elders" concerning what had been discussed was released a few days later. In his January 2000 news letter, Chuck Pierce, one of Wagner's right hand men, gave a synopsis of that message, part of which is quoted below.

"God is going to shake governments. Rulers will bow their knee to the Lord of Glory and dedicate their nations to the Lord Jesus Christ. The government of God’s Kingdom will be established through the apostles and prophets laying the foundation for the church. We will begin to recognize the apostolic and prophetic authorities in cities and nations...The church will be in a key transition period between 2000 and 2003. During this period the youth in particular will be transitioning into revival. It is especially important for the apostolic governments to be initially established and functioning in our cities by October 2003 if we are to see the transformations that God wants to release".

Wagner says it is important that apostolic governments are functioning before October 2003 if we are to see "the transformations that God wants to release". These transformations include the "glory" that will make us indestructible and enable us to bring in the harvest and then the Kingdom of God. Notice also that Mr. Wagner said the government of God’s Kingdom will be established through the apostles and prophets laying the foundation for the Church". Through the apostles laying the foundation for the Church? What does this mean? What kind of "foundation" are they laying? We get a glimpse of what he is referring to from a January 2000 CBN interview, in which he says:

"I believe that the government of the church is finally coming into place and that is what the scripture teaches in Eph. 2, that the foundation of the church is apostles and prophets. Previous to this decade of the 80's and the 90's we practically ignored prophets and apostles and now we're seeing, what I believe is a major reason we're going to new levels in prayer, we're going to new levels in spiritual warfare, we're going to new levels in healing and miracles, we're going to new levels in deliverance of demonic deliverance. So this is the new era we are going into and I don't know if it is coincidental or what but its just as we are moving into the new millennium".

Part of the foundation the new apostles are laying consists of "going to new levels" in prayer, spiritual warfare, healing, miracles and deliverance. We will be dealing with the whole issue of spiritual warfare later, so for now we just want to point out the obvious. These are not Scriptural levels of prayer, spiritual warfare, healing, etc. They are new levels of prayer, spiritual warfare, healing, miracles and deliverance, and they came from restored apostles and prophets by way of direct supernatural revelation. They include but are not limited to the following: identificational repentance, prayer walks, 24-hour-a-day prayer and worship chains, spiritual mapping, strategic level warfare (binding principalities over cities and nations), spiritual "stakeouts" (placing anointed wooden stakes with scriptures written on them at key "entry points" into a city in order to "claim the territory for Christ" and keep the demons out), and many other superstitions that only a few years ago would have been relegated to religious fruitcakes.

The acknowledged leader of this new paradigm warfare is Peter Wagner, who recently (September 1998) opened his 55,000 square foot, 5.5 million dollar World Prayer Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. An estimated 50 million people in 120 countries around the world are involved with this center, which claims that electronic telecommunications were invented for the purpose of distributing important information to Christians throughout the world. (Actually Mr. Wagner is using telecommunications's to collect information about Christians throughout the world!) The Center is linked to many other national prayer networks. Each of these prayer networks represents a country and is in constant contact with the WPC via computers. Participating prayer networks report to the National Prayer Network and the National Prayer Network reports to the World Prayer Center, which in turn reports to its President, C. Peter Wagner. Wagner calls it "a human network" and of course he is the main coordinator of all its activities.

The World Prayer Center is a Protestant Vatican City for the emerging 21^st Century Church. Thousands and thousands of ministries, organizations and fellowships are busy networking together through the huge super-computers located in the building in order to better carry out their plans for unity and world evangelization. They are forming major new allegiances and holding prophetic conferences in every major nation in order to formulate the doctrines and bureaucracy of the new "apostolic government". This is no joke. These people are dead serious about becoming God's government on earth.

Why do we need a World Prayer Center anyway? Jesus said when two or three—not two or three thousand—are gathered together He would be there. In contrast, it is the New Agers who hold vigils of thousands to bring in the power and the light of a thousand points. As the Lord faced death, He took three sleepy disciples with Him to pray. He could have gathered thousands for a prayer meeting but He chose instead to pray in private. And what did He pray? "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt". He asked the Father to let the cup pass if it were possible, but He subjected Himself to the Father’s will. He did not present His own strategic plan to carry out the Father's will but submitted to the plan the Father had already ordained.

Contrary to the example of the Lord, the WPC boasts of promoting strategic and effective prayer to defeat the enemy and there are formulas for intercession in their numerous books. The idea that God has strategic ways to pray which He forgot to mention in His Word is pure delusion. The Scripture says: "we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Rom. 8:26). The Spirit of God intercedes for us to make our prayers acceptable and effective. Our prayers are effective according to the Holy Spirit, not according to the formulas and rituals of some modern day prayer strategist.

The WPC isn't really about prayer anyway. It's about networking everyone together into a massive computer data base—and there are thousands of paths into this data base. In fact, you will be hard pressed to find an organization that's not linked to the WPC in some way. Everybody who's anybody attends the plethora of conventions and special meetings that go on throughout the year. Just one of the many organizations that meets there is the National School of The Prophets. Some of the guest speakers at these conferences include: Chuck Pierce, Cindy Jacobs, Bill Hamon, Dutch Sheets, Rick Joyner, Kingsley Fletcher, Mike Bickle, Jim Lafoon, Barbara Wentroble, Ted Haggard, Paul Cain, Jack Deere, Barbara Yoder—and the list goes on.

A 1998 conference that was hosted by "Global Harvest Ministries," one of several organizations headed by Mr. Wagner, was entitled: New Apostolic Reformation: A Springboard Into The 21st Century". The convention flyer boasts that Wagner's New Apostolic Reformation is "changing the shape" of (a better description would be "destroying") Protestant Christianity.

"In session two, be prepared to think 'outside the box.' New moves of God are always controversial. Dr. Wagner will examine what he believes is the next major move of God around the world. Join us as Dr. Wagner explains how the New Apostolic Reformation is, to a significant extent, changing the shape of Protestant Christianity. In virtually every region of the world, these new apostolic churches constitute the fastest growing segment of Christianity".

In order to understand just how big a web is being spun around God's people, you have to understand the structure of the WPC, which is run like a giant network marketing company. In his literature, Wagner speaks of being in the "third wave"—the wave of power. Network marketing also claims to be in the third wave. It claims that eventually all business will be done as third wave network marketing companies. Like its religious counter-part, the secular third wave is also viewed as a paradigm shift—a shift away from traditional business practices. Apparently Mr. Wagner realized he needed a way to control his sprawling third wave organizations and network marketing seemed to serve as a suitable model. Modern computerization gives him every control he needs and prayer for world evangelization is the perfect vehicle to rally Christians and Christian organizations into his network.

Being a network marketing company the WPC is very complex with all the power and control flowing to the top—a plan that would almost make the Pope envious. It may be pictured by thinking of your family tree. Your grandparents could represent the initial marketing company, in this case, the WPC. That set of grandparents would have children and their children would have children etc. Soon the family would go so deep and the generations would be so far apart you wouldn’t know each other even if you bumped into each other on the street. How many of your father’s first cousins do you know? You can meet your relatives and never guess you are related.

In the same manner the WPC duplicates and grows. As it grows it collects more and more sub-organizations, each having their own restored apostles and prophets and their own brand of revival doctrine. As sub-organizations multiply, the network becomes so large, member organizations may not even recognize each other, just like in secular network marketing. For example, Amway has many representatives that use their own company names. One member may call his cell, Products International while another representative may call his cell, Super Sales. Likewise, the satellites of the WPC carry their own names. Consequently, they don't appear to be connected to the WPC. The ultimate aim of Mr. Wagner is to network all existing churches and church organizations under the umbrella of the WPC.

THE FIVE FOLD MINISTRY

While Mr. Wagner continues to spin his web around the Church, revival leaders are slowly restoring "divine government" inside the Church. They claim this new government is the same one the Early Church had. Unfortunately, from what we've seen and heard, none of these people know what they are talking about. As far as doctrinal teaching goes, the new priesthood bases its claims to headship on its own peculiar interpretation of a combination of verses in the book of Ephesians. The doctrine is built in steps. The first step is to twist the meaning of Ephesians 2:19-20. The second step is to then link this perverted interpretation to Ephesians 4:11-13.

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

Ephesians 2:19-20 is interpreted to mean that the apostles and prophets—not Jesus Christ—are the foundation of the Church. Jesus is said to be the "Cornerstone" of the Church and the foundation of creation, but not the foundation of the Church. This interpretation is then combined with Ephesians 4:11, where apostles and prophets are part of a list of five ministries whose job it is to equip the saints. The idea is that not only are the apostles and prophets the foundation of the Church, the other three ministries of evangelists, pastors and teachers share this exalted position as well.

But this is pure speculation. No place in the Scripture does it say these five ministries are the foundation of the Church. While the people who propagate this error give lip service to the fact that Jesus is the head of the Church, this doctrine establishes them as the defacto head. The reason they don't mind doing this is because they believe the Church will never experience unity or reach perfection until we all (or at least a vast majority of us) submit to their authority without question. There is to be no judging of their doctrine or religious experiences, no judging of their personal lifestyles or fund-raising methods. Even more importantly, there is to be no attempt to understand the Word of God apart from their interpretations and teachings.

"Who is the foundation? The apostles and prophets. Is Jesus Christ the foundation? No. He is the foundation of all things, but literally, to the church, He is the cornerstone, and upon Him comes the foundation of the apostles and prophets to put the foundation of all doctrine, of all revelation, of all experience, of all truth, of all anointing, of all authority, of all power, not only upon, but under all the people of God...The whole purpose of the foundational ministry, and especially the foundational ministry, is to equip you in a very private, particular way to inform, to undergird, to strengthen, to encourage, to qualify, to create the will of God for your life. Can you imagine how the body of Christ is still in the baby infancy stage, because they have really denied the foundation that is to their lives, and if they deny the foundation of their life, there is no way that the foundation can be built within them".

Royal Cronquist

"Your Daily Cross Is Giving Up The Throne Of Self""Ephesians 2:20 says the Church is built not on Jesus (a lot of folk don't know that), but it's built on the apostles and prophets, and Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. He's the cornerstone, but the apostles and the ministry of the prophets is the foundation. What God is doing today is raising up prophets".

Earl Paulk 3/4/86

TBN's "Praise The Lord" Show

According to these men the foundation of the believer's life is not Jesus Christ. It's the apostles and prophets, whose job, says Mr. Cronquist, is to equip us "in a very private, particular way" (one of which is to create the will of God for our lives). In real life this means they become our head. They become the voice of God to us; they become the will of God to us. Submitting to them equals submitting to God.

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

I. Corinthians 3:9-11

The same apostle who said we are "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets" also said, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ". So then, who is the foundation of the Church? The apostles and prophets or Jesus? Notice what else Paul says: "I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon". In other words, Paul laid the foundation of Jesus in the lives of the Corinthians, not by "creating the will of God" for them or by becoming their head, but by delivering to them the teachings of Jesus which eventually became the New Testament.

Paul was not the foundation but the layer of the foundation. The revelation of salvation which Jesus brought into the world was laid at the beginning of the Church age by the Lord's apostles. From that point on every individual has been responsible to carefully build upon that foundation. Thus, the meaning of Paul in Ephesians 2:20 is this: ..".you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners, but have become fellowcitizens with the saints as the result of being established on the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets".

The foundation of the Church is a Person, not a divine order or an apostolic government, and it has already been laid! It cannot be laid again, nor can any other foundation be laid over top of it. The only reason Earl Paulk, Royal Cronquist and all the rest of them teach that the foundation of the Church consists of "offices" instead of a Person is because they want to re-lay (replace) that true foundation with a counterfeit one of their own making.

In order to do this they must convince us that the Church is built on the offices of the prophet and the apostle, not on the Person of Jesus. Once the true foundation has been replaced with a counterfeit one, the doctrine of the true foundation (Jesus) can be replaced with the doctrine of the counterfeit one (the experiences and revelations of the new priesthood). They become the final word on what is true and what is false instead of the Scripture. As Mr. Cronquist so aptly describes the procedure, they lay another foundation of doctrine, revelation, experience, authority and power UNDER the people of God. This is exactly what Mr. Wagner means when he says the government of God’s Kingdom will be established through the apostles and prophets "laying the foundation" for the Church.

"You therefore shall be complete, even as your heavenly Father is complete. How do you suppose that is going to be done? It's going to be done by holy apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers who become the experience themselves, who equip you with the experience that they have, who give you the rules, the laws, the ways, and the how-tos to literally cooperate with God's Holy Spirit so that it again can be performed".

Royal Cronquist

"Your Daily Cross"

Mr. Cronquist wants us to believe that men like him (men who cannot rightly divide the Scripture where its meaning is obvious even to the babe in Christ) are going to give us new apostolic "rules" and "laws" and "ways" and "how-tos" that will bring us to perfection. He wants us to go along with the idea that the new priesthood will first become the experience, then show us how to become the experience by letting them lay another foundation "under" us.

And what if their experience contradicts the Scripture? What if the doctrine that results from that experience contradicts it? What if their experience is really coming from a demon spirit? This is not possible in their minds because they are in direct supernatural contact with and are being led by a very real, unseen entity which they assume to be the Holy Spirit. This entity gives them visions and dreams and all kinds of spiritual experiences that confirm the errors they propagate. Since they are totally convinced the things they are experiencing are coming from God, they won't stand for anybody challenging them or even consider the possibility that they are deceived. Once they give themselves completely to this spirit it is impossible to deliver them.

"The fourth issue at stake is the true unity within the body of Christ. To build upon anything less than the true Rock, the only lasting foundation, would be only to see the entire building fall. Paul made it clear that the Cornerstone had been 'rejected by the builders.' The only solution was to bring forth new builders - whom Paul defined as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers - to build up a people fitly joined together whose head is Jesus Christ Himself. We are further given the warnings as to how we build on this foundation. To talk of unity without truth is to build with wood, hay and stubble (I Corithians 3)".

Earl Paulk

"The Betrothed"

As was stated already, the problem with so many of the statements these people make is that their source is a highly intelligent religious spirit who is a master of double-speak. Notice how Mr. Paulk talks about building up a people "whose head is Jesus Christ" Himself, and that for believers to base their unity upon anything less than "the true Rock, the only lasting foundation," would be a waste of time. It is certainly true that Jesus is the Rock, the only foundation and the head of the Church. Yet the real meaning of what he is saying is just the opposite!

Read the statement again, carefully. Near the end he says: "We are further given the warnings as to how we build on this foundation". What exactly is "this foundation"? According to him, "this foundation" is the "new builders" (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers). Yet earlier he called "the Rock" the foundation. Was he then calling both Jesus and the new builders the foundation? The answer is no, for he doesn't believe Jesus is the foundation. He believes Jesus is the Cornerstone. We know this is what he believes because he openly declared it on TBN.

So then, what was he saying? (A) The "new builders" (five-fold ministry) comprise the foundation of the Church. (B) The "Rock" is the only foundation of the Church; ergo, the Rock is the new builders (five-fold ministry).

The third step in building the five-fold ministry error comes from a further distortion of Ephesians 4:11, which is the idea that these five offices were given to the Church to "perfect" it. But before examining this pompous claim we need to read the passage again.

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men...And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:7-13

Unfortunately this passage is being used by Third Wave leaders as a battering ram to demolish the current order. And even though we have no great love for the present order, it is certainly better than the one being set up by today's apostles and prophets. For they are trying to replace an order that was originally instituted by God (though now perverted) with an order that is being instituted by Antichrist and the False Prophet.

The first thing that needs to be emphasized when reading this passage is that whatever the original Apostolic order was, it was never meant to be eternal. It was temporary by design and will end with the return of the Lord. Paul clearly stated it will only function TILL we all come to the unity of the faith and the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

The reason this needs to be emphasized is because the order Peter Wagner, Rick Joyner, Bob Jones, Paul Cain, Bill Hamon, Earl Paulk, Mike Bickle, Cindy Jacobs, and the all the rest of them are trying to establish is a permanent one. Don't ever be so gullible as to think they are wasting all their time, money and effort just to set up a temporary order. Far from it, dear friend. They think the order they are establishing right now will go right on into the Kingdom age. Indeed, they believe the Kingdom age will come in on the back of this new order. Once they become the absolute head of the Church they intend to maintain that position for a very long time!

The second thing that needs to be emphasized is the meaning of the Greek term, katartismos (kat-ar-tis-mos'), which the KJV translators rendered "perfecting". This word means "to completely furnish" (equip) something or someone. There is a vast difference between the concepts of equipping the saints and perfecting them. The concept behind equipping the saints is that once they have been equipped, THEY become the ones who minister to each other and edify the rest of the body of Christ. You don't have to be perfected in order to be equipped. The equipping concept places all the focus on the ones being equipped.

The concept behind perfecting the saints is that ministers will guide the sheep and feed the sheep and cover the sheep until the sheep are finally perfected—which of course will not happen until the Lord returns. You DO have to be perfected in order to reach perfection. This mind-set enforces the already-present clergy/laity system, for now the five-fold ministry becomes the permanent focus of all that happens in the Church. They are now viewed as the "perfecters" and non-ministry types are viewed as the "perfectees"

Pretty soon everyone is comfortable with the idea that the sheep are to be perfected indirectly, by Christ in the ministry, while the shepherds are to be perfected directly by the Spirit. While Jesus remains their head, they become our head. We are too dumb to see they have just inserted themselves between us and the Lord. We don't realize that ALL of us are to be perfected directly, by the Spirit. There is no other head between the New Testament believer and his Lord—and any one who teaches there is, is teaching Roman heresy. They would do better to be honest about their views and go join the Catholic priesthood rather than trying to secretly undermine the Protestant faith.

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:14-16

You can see the true intent of Paul as you continue to read Ephesians chapter four. The body is to edify itself. The body is joined together and compacted, not merely by those gifts that Paul mentions here and elsewhere, but by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working of every part. The goal of all true ministers should be to work themselves out of a job. Gifted ones are called to help the brethren acquire the skill necessary to get the "supply" with which THEY are supposed to supply the rest of the body.

The third thing that needs to be emphasized is the fact that these five ministries are gifts. We have already covered this fact in Escaping The Religious System, but a few points need to be stated again because so many people are swallowing the lies being superimposed on this passage.

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

I. Corinthians 12:27-31

It is the common practice of those pushing the five-fold error to separate the gifts of the New Testament into essential and non-essential categories—and of course the five offices in Ephesians 4:11 are considered the essential ones. These offices are sometimes called "accession" gifts or "ministry" gifts and are viewed as the gifts. The rest of the gifts are viewed as profitable, of course, but definitely not of the same caliber as these five offices, and they certainly aren't viewed as carrying the same level of spiritual authority.

What Paul said in the above passage is conveniently overlooked because it puts the lie to this arrogance. Here he specifically enumerates the gifts in their order of importance. The first, second and third positions of importance are held by apostles, prophets and teachers respectively. He then says, "after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments" etc. The term "after that" means the gift of miracles—not the office of evangelist—is next in order of importance. The term "then" means the gift of healings—not the office of pastor—is next in order of importance after the gift of miracles.

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

I. Corinthians 12:10-11

In this passage Paul lists three specific kinds of gifts. There are manifestations of the Spirit, administrations of the Spirit, and operations of the Spirit. The nine gifts listed in verses 4-11 of this chapter are manifestation gifts. The five gifts in Ephesians 4:11 are administration gifts, which are commonly called offices. Others gifts are operation gifts. Please notice that all three types are contained in the above list. Apostles, prophets and teachers are administration (office) gifts; miracles and healings are operation gifts; and diversities of tongues and interpretation are manifestation gifts.

Why are all three types of gifts found in one list? Because contrary to what the new priesthood teaches, all the various manifestations, administrations and offices of the Spirit are equally necessary if the body of Christ is to remain healthy and grow . Neither the Lord or the apostles divided the gifts of God into essential and non-essential categories. They are all just as necessary. They are all just as important. This is the whole point Paul was trying to make in Corinthians. This is why he compared the various functions of the body of Christ to the various functions of the human body. He was giving us a concept that we could wrap our brain around.

Consider how you view your body. Is your liver more valuable to you than your brain? Is your heart more valuable to you than your kidneys? Are your lungs more valuable to you than your arms and legs? Every part of your body is just as important and just as valuable to you as the rest! Jesus feels the same way about all the individual parts of His mystical body as we feel about all the individual parts of our physical bodies! He expects us to view His body the same way He views it!

Nobody thinks to ask these people by what authority they separate the gifts of God into different categories and redefine them. The apostle Paul certainly didn't. He put all three types into one list, thereby signifying they are all equally necessary. By what authority do they proclaim some gifts capable of producing perfection and others incapable of doing so? By what authority do they say the Ephesian list of gifts are "ministry" gifts but all the rest of the gifts are "non-ministry" gifts? Who says the gifts of helps and governments don’t carry any spiritual authority? The Word doesn’t says these things. In fact, it teaches the exact opposite!

You, dear reader, are part of the body of Christ and you have been given a particular talent, ability or manifestation of the Spirit in order to edify those around you. God has prepared a place for you in the body and enabled you to do what He has called you to do. Each one of us has been given something to contribute to the rest. We are all important—just as important as the next member. We are all necessary—just as necessary as the next member.

It doesn't really matter whether the new priesthood is advocating a one-fold, three-fold or five-fold ministry; everything they are offering is based on the clergy/laity structure, which is a hierarchal structure. They have no idea how "gifted ones" functioned in the Early Church and they certainly do not possess the humility of the original apostles. They are only capable of thinking in terms of "sheep" and "shepherds". Regardless of how grand it may sound, their whole vision is still based on the idea that their job is to feed the sheep, guide the sheep and cover the sheep until the sheep are perfected. The only sheep that escape this never ending cycle are those who manage to become ministers themselves, or who leave the Religious System altogether.

Unlike this new priesthood, the first apostles were never guilty of trying to join people to themselves, their ministry, or their religious groups—and can you imagine Paul and Peter trying to network their congregations into a massive, Antichrist Global Church? They taught that Jesus the Person—not Christ in various types of ministries or Christ in each other, but Jesus in heaven—is the direct and immediate Head of every individual in the body of Christ. They taught that the most important duty in life is submission to Jesus personally. They never taught people that submission to themselves (or to any kind of office) equaled submission to God. What they did teach was that after submitting to Jesus first, our next duty is submission to one another, and especially those we know God has placed in our lives to help us spiritually.

Following the direct guidance of the Spirit was the emphasis of the apostles because they knew that neither Christ in others or Christ in a ministry can lead anyone to glory. Only Christ in you can lead you to glory. In fact, Christ in you is your only hope of glory—and all you have to do to destroy that hope is come under the Babylonish confusion of today's revival leaders. For not only are they trying to lay a false foundation UNDER us, they are also trying to place a false covering OVER us.

Of course they do not realize they have come under the dominion of another spirit and are being used mightily by Satan in his final assault against the Church. No doubt they are sincere as far as they are concerned. No doubt they are convinced they are serving God. In addition, when you listen to them they do seem to teach things that are Scriptural (yet the truth they speak is negated by the terrible error mixed in with it.).

Still, the fact that they are deceived and have no idea what they are doing does not alter the truth that they are extremely dangerous people! They cannot be helped because they have become unteachable and immune to rebuke. The only course of action left is to "come out" from among them—and especially from their false teachings—so we don't end up being destroyed with them when God finally destroys Babylon.

To Be Continued