The Cruciality of Israel & Eschatology

August 6, 2008 by bpurtle7



“Behold, I have told you in advance.” -Mt. 24.25

“…let the reader understand…” -Mt. 24.15b

“To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.” -Acts 1.3

“Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?” -2 Thess. 2.5

There is no question that the advent of Jesus, his perfect priestly life, his teaching and miraculous ministry, his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension have shifted history and radically altered the course of this age. A brief look at the Scriptures shows what was affected in the hearts of the earliest Jewish believers in Jesus the Messiah. From Mary’s (Miriam’s) outburst of praise, “My soul does magnify the Lord…”, (Lk. 1.46-55) to Simeon’s long-awaited prophetic cry of relief, “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace…” (Lk. 1.25-33). From John the Baptist’s applications of messianic prophecies in Matthew 3 to Simon-Peter’s revelation from the Father in heaven (Mt. 16.15-18).

From Jesus’ own statements about the inbreaking of the Kingdom of God in His time (through speaking, healings, exorcisms, etc.) to the resurrected proclamation of Himself to the blind-hearted disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk. 24.13-35). From the preaching of the apostles with signs following throughout the book of Acts, to the new community created by faith in Christ and the activity of the Spirit in their midst. From the quotations of so many OT prophecies by the early church as fulfilled in their time, to the establishment of new communities of faith in previously untouched regions and nations. From the church’s history of revivals, awakenings, miracles and missionary advancements, to the present movements of international church planting outbreaks, prayer and fasting movements, and miraculous healing testimonies.

Yes, friends, it is acutely clear that the Kingdom of heaven has been breaking into the earth for the last 2,000 years. It is clear that Jesus saw His own life and ministry as the start of a new era in history. A new age was being kick-started. A fuller expression of the eternal Kingdom was rocking the atmosphere. The apostles saw themselves as engaged in the continuum of the same things Jesus had set into motion. The early church saw themselves as connected to the privilege and responsibility of it all, too! And throughout Church history, in waves (sometimes with long gaps in between), the Church has seen herself in the same light. The result has been great revivals, awakenings, missionary movements, and great movings of God.

Who can read the history of the Church and doubt that the Kingdom has been breaking in for hundreds of years (despite the fact that there are many tragedies to consider- from the crusades, to anti-semitic theologies, to divisions and schisms)? It is clear that God has been at work, and that “the kingdom of heaven” has been invading the earth. There is so much to rejoice over, and I believe that the extension of God’s kingdom in these ways is only going to burn brighter and go further as the days go on. The present testimonies only serve to solidify this belief.

WHAT ABOUT THE AGE TO COME?

It was decades ago that men like George E. Ladd pioneered the perspective of the “already/not yet” nature of the Kingdom. This was simply the idea that Jesus and the apostles saw themselves as extending the Kingdom into the earth in their day, realizing also that the fullness of that Kingdom would not be released until an apocalyptic time in the future (however near that future was). The “not yet” was a thoroughly Hebraic expectation. In Jesus, the Kingdom was breaking in “already”, but the ultimate fulfillment (which was spoken of so often by the OT prophets) would “not yet” be seen until some major cataclysmic events took place, and “David’s Kingdom” was restored in the earth. The “already” was quite new for most 1st century Jews, and Jesus’ statements about the Kingdom being “upon you” were extremely perplexing to many of His hearers. “How could the Kingdom be upon us when we’re still being dominated by Roman rule? Doesn’t the presence of the Kingdom of God mean a complete transformation of Israel and the earth altogether?”

Many were waiting for something cataclysmic, something sweeping, something (or rather someone) that would break in and overthrow the state of things, bringing the rule of God back to Jerusalem. And why should they not expect this? The prophets had spoken of such things.

What they didn’t realize was that their own Messiah was to come and express the nature of the Kingdom through ultimate displays of the mercy of God first. His presence in the earth, every teaching, every healing, every demon driven out, the washing of the disciples’ feet, and ultimately the cross were all radical expressions of the nature of the Father to a nation that had mostly been given hollow, religious examples of the God’s Kingdom for hundreds of years. Jesus came to release the “already” upon Israel.

“But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.” -Lk. 11.20

We live in a generation where the “already” is being expressed in new and wonderful ways, as I’ve expressed before. Even in America, there have been more miraculous healings in the streets of our cities in the last 10 years than I can find over the 30 years previous to that. There is a great church planting movement going on in different parts of Asia, Africa, South America, and elsewhere. Hundreds of thousands of people are coming into the Kingdom. The missiologists estimate that about 20,000 souls are coming to the Lord DAILY in China. This is awesome, friends! The Kingdom is invading the earth “already”! Houses of prayer have been springing up spontaneously over the last decade in many parts of the world where people are engaging the Lord in worship, intercession and fasting to a degree never before seen in history! The Kingdom is invading the earth “already”! Every day it seems I hear some testimony of a healing that has taken place in a grocery store, in a Wal-Mart, or at a gas station. This is happening even in America! The Kingdom is invading the earth “already”! The issue of Israel and a prayerful consideration of the end is even on the increase in several places. Hallelujah! This is a wonderful hour, and the expression of His Kingdom is only going to intensify.

I’ve prefaced my main point with all of this positivity, because I know what the response will be from many hearts when I bring up my primary burden in this article.

We’ve covered the “already” in a clear way. But what about the “not yet”? What about the prophecies of the Old and New Testaments that speak of the things to come? What about the future of Israel and the nations?

Do these prophecies really matter? Are they too “far out” for us to really consider? Isn’t the whole realm of “end-times” teaching riddled with bad interpretations, false assumptions, and cheesy expectations? Haven’t the scholars argued on so many points for so many years that it would be vain for us to even go there? Is it really possible for us to see the end of the age in the way that the prophets and apostles did? Is it even necessary? Isn’t it our primary calling just to get the Gospel to the nations? Let me be very clear:

I believe that just as the powers of darkness have sought to slow the Great Commission, just as they have sought to snuff out the Spirit of prayer, just as they have sought to put a damper on the faith of the saints for the supernatural work of the Spirit, so have they sought to put blinders over the eyes of our hearts when it comes to our consideration of Israel and the age to come.

HOW OUR GENERATION FEELS ABOUT ISRAEL AND ESCHATOLOGY

There is a common sentiment in the Body of Christ in our generation. There is a paradigm that I would say is the most prevalent regarding the end of the age. It is this:

“The end of the age must have some importance since the prophets spoke about it sometimes. Israel must be important also. But I don’t see the point or benefit in studying or spending a lot of time on the end of the age or the issue of Israel. I believe God wants to use us to bring the Kingdom now. He is more concerned that I preach the Gospel and heal the sick than He is with me understanding some end-time chart or having a fixation with Israel. Besides, all of the end-time stuff has only served to distract people from our chief calling, which is the Great Commission. I think what really matters is that Jesus has fulfilled the prophets, and we need to preach Him in the nations.”

Let me just make a few points here. This is the primary disposition of the Church in our generation, and I believe there is a reason that we feel this way. In fact there are several.

1. We feel this way because we have seen so many people get distracted by a study of the end-times. We have seen believers make attempts at charting everything out, getting every eschatological duck in a row, and it seems that the majority of those who are engaged in these things are not concerned for the expression of the Kingdom in our generation. They have more of a “fatalistic” mentality, that everything is going downhill from here on out.

2. We have come to believe that the nations are in need of the Gospel (rightly so!), and that we have a primary calling to see the Gospel spread in a powerful way to all people (Amen to that!). To take time to really wade through the Scriptures regarding Israel and the end of the age seems like a diversion from this high calling.

3. We are intimidated by looking into these things, since so many have done so and been distracted from the Great Commission. On top of that, so many Bible scholars have differed in so many ways on so many points that it seems pointless for us to take up the issues pertaining to the end. We have lived most of our believing lives glossing over the passages that speak of the end of the age, moving on to something that seems more applicable to us. We can’t find the relevance of it all as 21st century American believers.

4. We have a bad taste in our mouths about even engaging these things, since all that we’ve heard over the last 30 years (from “Late Great Planet Earth” to “Left Behind”) pertaining to the end seems removed from reality, almost cartoonish and devoid of a sense of purpose.

I can relate to these feelings. I spent my first 4 years as a believer (from ‘96-’00) rebuking friends that I thought were too engaged in eschatological studies. “What about the end of the age?” they would ask. “Jesus is coming back, so repent and take the Gospel to the nations,” was my response. “What about Israel?” they would ask. “We have Jewish roots that we shouldn’t forget about, and we need to preach the Gospel to the Jews as well,” I would reply. For me, that was all there was to it.

Dear friends, that is not all there is to it.

While my jealousy for the harvest was from the Lord, there was a great loophole in my paradigm. I believe this is also the case with the majority of believers in our nation today. In 2001, the Lord brought me to a conclusion that we need to reckon, in fasting/prayer and study, with the issue of Israel and the end of the age. We cannot neglect the dozens and dozens (and that’s a modest number) of chapters in the Scriptures that pertain to the issue of Israel and the end of the age. They are there for a reason, and I believe that it’s our own ignorance (which is the result of many things) that keeps our hearts closed to these realities. It is absolutely crucial that we allow the Lord to restore a value for what the prophets have spoken.

I have heard more teaching in the last year AGAINST a consideration of the age to come than ever before in my life. Often times, the teaching is coming from those who are seeing genuine miracles and awesome fruit in terms of the Kingdom breaking in now. The argument is that those who consider the end of the age have lost sight of God’s desire to break in to change the world in the present. I believe that this is often the case, but I also believe that there is a big hole in the middle of these recent messages. The whole Kingdom view of the prophets, apostles and Jesus Himself was immersed in an awareness of the future, which included great turmoil in Israel and the nations, preceding the return of Christ and the permanent establishment of His Kingdom. They expressed the Kingdom in the present in light of what God promised and warned about the end. They charged the people of God to find hope and encouragement, as well as a healthy fear and sobriety from “these things.” While I rejoice in the fruit these saints are seeing (and I really do rejoice!), I’m compelled by the Lord to step back for a moment to inquire of His heart. My prayer for the last 7 or 8 years has been something like this:

“Lord, I am so thankful for what you are working in these saints. I pray that all over the earth, these works of power would increase in the Church…the Spirit of prophecy, the healings, the supernatural events that cause your grace to break in upon the hearts of unbelievers. I want to see an increase in my own life. But what shall we say of the age to come? Why is there this disposition of neglect toward Israel and the age to come? What was in Jesus’ heart? What was in the hearts of the prophets? What was in Paul and the other apostles that caused them to be possessed by a vision of the age to come, the issue of Israel, and to simultaneously release the life of the Kingdom in the present? The pendulum seems almost always to be on one side or the other. Would you breathe upon us, and make us a people who are not neglecting the prophets? Would you breathe on us, and make us a people who also express the Kingdom in the present? We want to be like Paul…like the prophets…like the Son.”

IT’S NOT EITHER/OR

I believe that we generally have two different camps that are grinding against one another. One is saying that a consideration of eschatology (usually Israel falls into that slot as well) takes away from a spirit of faith for the Kingdom to come now. The other is saying that everything is going downhill, apostasy is coming, “we’re in the Laodicean age, so why bother” (which is an unbiblical idea), etc. Both expressions are outside of the view that the apostles and prophets carried. The former may see some wonderful miracles, the latter may receive some genuine insight into the prophets of Scripture. But separate from one another they produce skewed measurements.

I believe Jesus performed miracles, expressed the power and nature of the Father, and spoke resurrectional words out of His intimate knowledge of what the prophets had spoken. This is what charged His mission with such meaning! His life and ministry were the “first-fruits” fulfillment of all that the prophets had foreseen with regards to the restoration of all things! He knew that the Kingdom which was to come in full on the Day of the Lord was already seeping into the earth through His own life and service. Jesus’ view was not just “already” or “not yet”. It was both at once, without one detracting from the other.

We don’t often meet the kind of men who can speak with authority on both realities. We don’t often find men who speak on the life of the Kingdom, miracle power, and faith for expressions of the God’s power in one breath, who can then turn the table and speak about the judgment to come, the glory of the future, the trials ahead, and the call to prepare for these things. Jesus was one such man. Paul was too. And I believe that God is wanting to raise up a generation that expresses the nature of God and His Kingdom in the present, while anticipating and preparing for the still future events that the prophets have spoken of. We need the “already/not yet”, not as a mere theology, but as a consciousness that affects our moments in real life. God’s going to raise up that company by His Spirit, and I long to be a part of that great company.

Our view of the Lord tends to determine our theology. This is why we have entire movements based on “the Father’s Heart”, and others emphasizing God primarily as judge. We need a view of God as He is, and this is the chief reason that a consideration of the end of the age and the issue of Israel becomes a stumbling block for the majority of believers. We do not know God as He is. Most believers have a stoic, “out of reach” view of God and have not been awakened and healed by the intensity and personal nature of His love. They may speak often of His love, but have not had a revelation of the fiery nature of His love toward them. Others have a view of the Lord that makes it unbearable to consider Him as the coming Judge who will literally deal with Israel and the nations in a cataclysmic way. These things are intense, and need to be prayerfully weighed out. If you can talk about them lightly, you are probably viewing them inadequately. To think about the intensity of what the prophets have spoken is not a cute hobby for the curious religious mind. The end-times have often been pursued in this way, and it has reduced the value of these things in the minds of believers. The end of the age, the nature of God, and the issue of Israel cannot be rightly considered as a hobby or a mere personal interest. We need to be awakened by the Lord through prayer and the Scriptures.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF STUDYING AND PRAYING ABOUT ISRAEL AND THE END OF THE AGE?

A church that has not rightly considered the issue of Israel will be in danger of lapsing into an illusive version of the faith. It will end up thinking that the Kingdom revolves around its own ministry and functions. It will not see itself as grafted into a glorious Kingdom. It will instead see itself as the center of that Kingdom. The mystery of Israel reveals God as the center of the Kingdom, Christ as all in all, and Jerusalem as the center of God’s purposes in the earth. We find that the Kingdom is much bigger than our individual prayer lives or our collective ministry endeavors (though the Lord has a radical love and value for each one of us). We find that the Kingdom is being expressed in the present, but that its fullest revelation will come when the consummation of all things has been released in the earth.

1. The study of Israel and the end of the age imparts a freeing and empowering hope to the people of God. We begin to see that we have been gloriously grafted in to God’s covenantal purposes which broke into the history manifestly with Abraham, and ran like a rushing river through the land of history, finding ultimate fulfillment in the coming Son of God Himself. This is awesome! There is a hope, empowered by the fact that the living God has spoken through the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles. That hope is expanding and deepening, these men have told us, for this Kingdom will soon be indestructibly planted in the earth never to be uprooted again. Jesus will reign from Jerusalem, “all Israel” will be saved (Rom. 11), and the nations will study war no more (Is. 2.4). This is fascinating, and it produces great hope! This day really is coming to the earth.

2. The study of Israel and the end of the age also imparts a high seriousness, releasing the fear of the Lord and a love for His Governance. It gives us a burden for Israel and the nations. We begin to see that the earth is not prepared for what’s coming. Indeed, it’s not prepared for Who’s coming. We have a mandate to preach the Gospel to all nations, and the wonderful calling to come into the fullness of Christ for the Gospel to go out with power. We begin to see that we are not just a religious club that happens to read the Bible. We have a mandate to see the house of the Lord built in the earth. When we have revelation of the nature of the coming Kingdom, we receive a faith and wisdom for the Spirit to build that kind of community in our own churches in the here and now. For this we give ourselves to prayer and fasting, the Scriptures, community, witness, missions, and theology. To rightly peer into these issues is to be moved with urgency for the thing to which God has called us.

3. I believe that the Scriptures are clear regarding the simultaneous increase of glory and darkness in the final stretch of history. Some call it the period of “dual extremes.” Well, it’s obvious that to speak of the promises of last days’ Spiritual outpouring and Millennial glory is an encouraging, faith-building thing. But I believe the Lord has also spoken about what the Scriptures call the “time of distress” (Jer. 30, Dan. 12, Mt. 24) for very important reasons. We need to see the Lord with vision from the Holy Spirit, through the lens of the Scriptures. He is is coming to deliver His people, to judge the nations, to purge Israel, and to release His government on the earth. Our consideration of His nature (revealed now and at the end) is what draws us into the knowledge of God as He is. You can’t know God unless you know Him as Father and Judge. If we reject one attribute we neglect or distort the other. Friends, God is coming. And He is not bound by our categories. He is God over all, and when He comes we will be shocked to find that His love is so much deeper than we ever knew, and His justice is so much more sweeping than we ever imagined.

This Kingdom consciousness needs once again to permeate our preaching and living, or else we reduce the faith to something that is disconnected from God’s history and future, making hollow any attempt at expressing the Kingdom in the present.

With much prayer, and the accumulation of time in the Scriptures, we will obtain the grace to live and minister as Jesus did: expressing the Kingdom in the present, while anticipating events in the days to come that will introduce the Kingdom in a final and permanent way. I say again, God is coming! The nations are not ready! Israel is not ready! And most of us have been cruising our way through life, building a name for ourselves and our ministries, unaware that the great shaking is coming!

“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the Lord of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.
But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.” -Mal. 4.1-2

One of our chief roles as the church of the last days is to prepare the earth for age to come. It will not be completely prepared by our labors (in other words, as great as the harvest will be, there will still be great judgment when He comes), but as we extend the Kingdom through repentance, prayer and fasting, worship, witness, and service we “hasten the day of God”(2 Pet. 3.12), invite the return of the King, and prepare many hearts that would have otherwise been caught unawares.

Isn’t this the picture? God has broken in through the Gospel, and the Kingdom is expanding in the earth. The prophets have spoken about an outpouring of the Spirit in the last days, which kick-started with Jesus and the first apostles and is heightening as this age draws to a close. If the “day” was near then, it’s even closer now! A great harvest takes place during this final season of history! God is being revealed in the nations, and unto Israel. The prophets also spoke about great tumult and cataclysm at the end of the age. Just as we’ve seen the earth contract and pulsate with mercy (revivals and moves of God), we’ve seen it contract and pulsate with judgments (earthquakes, wars, etc.). There will be a church in the earth that is prepared for the difficulty that moves through the nations. They’ll not be offended at what takes place, for they’ve been expecting it. The prophets have spoken these things! They will be a witness to Israel and to all people during this time. There will be a “falling away,” but there will also be many who “know their God” and thereby “do exploits.” It’s the heart that prepares now, through prayer and fasting, worship, lavished time in the Scriptures, fellowship and witness, who will be poised for the glory and “distress” to come.

It’s been the end of the age for 2,000 years, but all of these things are heightening as the age draws to a close. The day of the Lord is dawning. You say, it has been since the days of Jesus. Okay, well it really is now! A prayer and missions movement is burning like never before, the mystery of Israel is being revealed in a more profound way than it has in the last 1800 years, and a vision for the fullness of Christ in the Church is spreading like never before. We are called to prepare the way.

This is the hour for a fresh view. I haven’t presented a complete picture here, brothers and sisters. You and I only see in part. But let’s stop cooping up the expression of the Kingdom in the present. Let’s stop quenching the Spirit and carrying an “everything’s going downhill” mentality. Let’s open up our hearts and let God transform society through us. Let’s believe God for healing, prophecy, God-centered character, and works of power today.

On the flip side of the same “Kingdom coin”, let’s stop downplaying the significance of Israel, coming Judgment, and the age to come. Let’s dive into the Scriptures with impassioned hearts, knowing that the Spirit will guide us into all truth- even if much of it is difficult to bear. Yes, it’s time for the Kingdom to be known and understood in the Church again. It’s ancient, but it’s new to so many of us. We must look at the Scriptures as a whole, releasing the “already” while finding hope and sobriety in the “not yet”. I say, let’s put an exclamation point on the “already” and the “not yet”! Let this age be permeated with the Kingdom, and let us be prepared for the age to come! An exclamation point for both! They were both important to Jesus, and they ought to be of utmost importance for us as well. The hour is late, the Kingdom is at hand.

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.” -Acts 3.19-21

Amen. Let Your Kingdom come, Lord.

"I believe God wants to use us to bring the Kingdom now"

Is this your writing or a post that you copied?

"Kingdom now" theology is one of the most aberrant teachings around today

If you really believe it, this is exctly what I can see underneath all of your posts

You have just revealed yourself

You did not read the article.


At the top it says "August 6, 2008 by bpurtle7" He is my pastor and personal friend. I did not write this.

Niether I nor BPurtle are "Kingdom Now" adherants at all. We are obviously premillenial. If you actually read the article you would never have even questioned this. In fact, this article is very Spiritual. You would benefit to loose the critical attitued and read the article for what it is worth. You are way off to assert that we are preterists or "kingdom Now" people.

We, as believers, are absolutely called to be little expressions of God's eternal Kingdom to come, now in our current lives on earth. We are to be living in harmony with the Lord and demonstrating his coming kingdom to the world.

No need to read any more

You have revealed yourself as a latter rain "kingdom now" follower

This theology is a complete disaster and one that is highly infested with satanic deceptions

How about you give me a post or a link to a good description of Kingdom Now theology. I thought that Pat Robertson taught this. I totally disagree with this and it is heretical and potentially dangerous.

How about you give me a post or a link to a good description of Kingdom Now theology. I thought that Pat Robertson taught this. I totally disagree with this and it is heretical and potentially dangerous.

1. The study of Israel and the end of the age imparts a freeing and empowering hope to the people of God. We begin to see that we have been gloriously grafted in to God’s covenantal purposes which broke into the history manifestly with Abraham, and ran like a rushing river through the land of history, finding ultimate fulfillment in the coming Son of God Himself. This is awesome! There is a hope, empowered by the fact that the living God has spoken through the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles. That hope is expanding and deepening, these men have told us, for this Kingdom will soon be indestructibly planted in the earth never to be uprooted again. Jesus will reign from Jerusalem, “all Israel” will be saved (Rom. 11), and the nations will study war no more (Is. 2.4). This is fascinating, and it produces great hope! This day really is coming to the earth.

Notice how Bryan states that the kingdom is coming in the future when Jesus returns. How is that "Kingdom Now?"

"How about you give me a post or a link to a good description of Kingdom Now theology"

>I will do better than just post a link

>Here is just one .... I could spend a entire day posting more

>If you and your pastor are in this game .... you are both in trouble

Influential 'prophets' in the US are claiming to be an end-time super-army for the Lord. But their 'prophesies' are often wrong. Pentecostal pastor Bill Randles investigates . . .

One consistent characteristic of the new prophets is their insistence that the New Testament prophets do not have to be subjected to the tests of Deuteronomy (13.1-3 and 18.22).

They are incredibly resourceful in the many ways that they rationalise this position. But the end result is that there is no objective standard by which to measure them. I have assembled a sampling of their quotes on this subject so that rather than tell you what they are saying, you can see for yourself in their own words how they approach the subject of prophetic accountability.

We can begin with the US 'prophet' Rick Joyner: 'One of the greatest hazards affecting maturing prophets is the erroneous interpretation of the Old Testament exhortation that if a prophet ever predicted something which did not come to pass he was no longer to be considered a true prophet . . . The warning was that if this happened, the prophet has been presumptuous and the people were not to fear him. If one predicts something in the name of the Lord and it does not come to pass, he probably has spoken presumptuously and needs to be repented of, but that does not make him a false prophet. No one could step out in the faith required to walk in his calling if he knew that a single mistake could ruin him for life.' ('The Prophetic Ministry', Rick Joyner, Morning Star Propetic Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 2, p.2).

How is it erroneous to interpret Moses to be saying that we are to reject inaccurate prophets? If the church is to provoke Israel to jealousy (Romans 11.14), how could inaccurate prophets possibly provoke the people of Moses to jealousy? Joyner then appeals to Bob Jones' teaching on prophetic accuracy: 'Bob (Jones) was told that the general level of prophetic revelation in the church was about 65% accurate at this time. Some are only about 10% accurate. Prophecy is increasing in purity, but there is a still a long way to go. This is actually grace for the church now, because 100% accuracy in this ministry would bring a level of accountability to the church which she is too immature to bear at this time. It would result in too many Annaniases and Sapphiras' (ibid.).

Where do we begin to comment on this kind of reasoning? Prophecy itself is evolving, 'increasing in purity'!? These earnest men want to be accurate, and probably would be, but it is the church which holds it all back, for she is not quite 'there yet'. One must admit, these people are good at communication!

If the church isn't mature enough, at this time, for 100% prophecy, why didn't that stop God in the book of Acts when Ananias and Sapphira actually did die? Was Israel more mature than we are now, in the days of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel? Where are Peter's 30% prophecies or Agabus' 45% prophecies? What other prophets had been given the luxury to grow into 100% accuracy?

Another evasion is in the oft-used disclaimer that: 'We aren't saying that we are prophets, we are only saying that we have a prophetic ministry.' Mike Bickle, for example, in an interview in the book Some said it thundered, which is a positive account of the Kansas City Prophets, is asked the question by the author David Pytches: 'Do prophets ever get things wrong?'

'Mike Bickle was at pains to stress that he saw a real distinction between the recognised office of a prophet and those who received revelations and gave prophecies. At KCF, they only actually regard Paul Cain as a prophet . . . though the self-effacing Paul would never claim such an office for himself . . . We asked tactfully if any of them was ever wrong. They all agreed that they had occasionally been proved wrong. Sometimes their revelation was right but their interpretation or application was wrong.' (Some said it thundered, Pytches, p.108-109).

In my opinion, this amounts to a semantical evasion of the Deuteronomy tests. That somehow it's all right to stand up in the name of the Lord and speak unto God's people, fully expecting to be received as authoritative, as long as you don't call yourself a prophet. Act like a prophet, tell the church you saw Jesus Christ in a vision and a dream, pass on the unique and intriguing 'words' that this 'Jesus' gave you, but when you are proven false, duck out of accountability by denying that you are technically a prophet! It would be different if these people were merely sharing their 'insights' of Scripture, for then there would be room for debate and discussion. They may, or may not, have the correct insights. But these are not mere insights, these are interactive visions, talking angels, authoritative words, predictions etc! In many cases, we are cautioned that to reject these ministries is to endanger yourself to be another Ananias and Sapphira! These people speak out of both sides of their mouths - on the one hand, they allow themselves to be called prophets; they write books about the coming restoration of prophets; they posture themselves as prophets; but when godly people want to apply valid scriptural tests to them, they deny being a prophet!

Not all deny the title in their evasion of prophetic accountability, many just come right out and contradict Moses as being applicable to a New Testament prophet: 'The prophet who misses it occasionally in his prophecies may be ignorant, immature or presumptuous, or he may be ministering with too much zeal and too little wisdom and anointing. But this does not prove him a false prophet . . . it is certainly possible for a true prophet to be inaccurate. He would not do it knowingly, for a true prophet is so conscientious he would rather never speak at all than speak even one false word or give wrong direction to even one person. So we must understand the distinction between a false prophecy and a false prophet if we are to be open to what God says. One of the quickest ways to get into trouble with God is to accuse one of Christ's prophets falsely. God says in his Word: 'Do my prophets no harm.'' (Bill Hamon, Prophets and personal prophecy).

Note that Hamon would remove the objective test of true and false prophets, and would have us test on an entirely subjective level - the prophet's motive: 'A true prophet would not do it knowingly.' Therefore, even if there are false and misleading prophecies, we are warned not to make a judgement unless we can determine whether or not it was done knowingly. I doubt that Nostradamus was 'knowingly' a false prophet! It is impossible for us to discern the motives, it isn't within our power or our responsibility - that is why we aren't given such a test in the Old and New Testament.

The extent of this reconditioning of God's people to be more tolerant and accepting of false prophecy on the basis of motive is illustrated in an editorial article in Charisma magazine in December 1994, entitled: 'When Prophecies Prove False' by Karen Howe. The article was in response to the disillusionment that many had felt after believing the June 9 1994 prediction which John Hinkle had proclaimed on TBN, that on that date God would 'rip all evil off the face of the earth'. The author of the article held that the prediction seemed credible because it was verified by 'two men with reliable ministries'.

Howe writes: 'Those of us who were stirred by the words of these men felt a strange mixture of grief (for the poor prophets), embarrassment (at being so gullible ourselves), disappointment (that we couldn't have the announced visitation from God) and frustration (because it's so hard to tell counterfeit gifts from authentic ones). It was especially discomforting for those of us foolish enough to share the prophecies with sceptical non-Christians . . . And I was, once more, angry with God. This would not have happened, I decided, if he had either protected his prophets from false visions or had co-operated by fulfiling their words.'

That this article should even have been taken seriously enough to be printed ought to be a wake-up call - that we in the charismatic church have been so conditioned against critical thinking that we side more with false prophets than we do with the honour of God!

There will be a tremendous price paid for our lack of loyalty to God and his Word, in fact it is already being paid by many who have submitted their lives to these new prophets. Jack Deere, in a teaching on prophetic ministry at the Toronto Airport Vineyard in November 1994, acknowledged some of the pitfalls and reservations that pastors have to opening their pulpits to 'maturing prophets': 'Who in the world would be against that ministry? They don't want it in their churches because it causes messes . . .'

It is amazing that after recounting a horror story of a blatant abuse of so-called prophecy, accusing someone of being 'into pornography' when that was totally untrue, Deere's conclusion was the tired old mantra popularised by John Wimber: 'God is in the process of offending our minds to reveal our hearts!' As in the Charisma article mentioned earlier which defended the false prophet who gave the June 9 prophecy, another travesty is perpetrated on the body of Christ and the conclusion is that God is responsible for it.

I assure you that with a mindset like this, which can justify such abuse of people in the name of 'the prophetic', we will have to see a lot more of this, probably even going beyond 'prophetic' false testimony against individuals, whole churches will be attacked this way, as long as these false prophets are allowed to continue 'maturing' their gift on real people. The damage will prove to be incalculable, in terms of shipwrecked believers, false converts, division in the Body, squandered opportunities to witness and even wrecked churches. The refusal of our leadership, especially the Pentecostals, to rise up and rebuke this unfaithfulness will be answerable before the throne of God. Instead of laughing and mourning, we should be weeping! Alas, the Scripture in Jeremiah 5 has come to pass in our day: 'The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means and my people love to have it so.'

The justifications for false and inaccurate prophecies are endless, for there is a constant need for them. One of the most creative I've seen was given by Bob Jones in an interview with Mike Bickle, on the widely distributed tape 'The Shepherd's Rod':

'(Jones) 'The Rhema will be two-thirds right on. Not quite time for Ananias and Sapphira yet.'
(Bickle) 'The Lord actually said that sentence to you?'
(Jones) 'Yeah, I mean what he was really showing me was: I'm going to release the Rhema to where that many begin to move two-thirds right on with their words, and the other third will be like poppin' a bullet at the enemy and he wouldn't fire. It was a blank. And he (God) said: I'm the one that's loading the gun, so there's going to be some blanks there . . . the blanks is pointed in the general direction of the enemy anyway, . . . If I (God) release the 100% Rhema right now, the accountability would be so awesome and you'd have so much Ananias and Sapphira going on the people couldn't grow.'

This is an amazing statement, which makes God responsible for the 'blanks' (false prophecies) and gives him a reason for deceiving us! He would actually make you feel relieved and thankful for false prophecy, using the old Ananias and Sapphira threat.

What is going to become of us Pentecostals? Whether we know it or not, Satan has desired to have us that he may sift us as wheat (Luke 22.31). We are currently being tested for our love of God, our loyalty, and that love is as God defines it. If our Lord will have mercy on us, he will sober us up, for the times definitely don't call for spiritual drunkenness. We need to have clear heads for clear, biblical thinking; it has become a matter of loyalty to God.

These are the movements and their leaders that you and your pastor admire

I cannot believe that you do not know about what you are following

If not ..... better check it out .... and yourself

Over 50 years ago, William Branham, George Warnock, Paul Cain and others attempted to introduce Latter Rain/Manifest Sons of God teachings into the Pentecostal movement. In 1949, however, the Assemblies of God officially rejected the Latter Rain/ Manifest Sons of God doctrine as "heresy." The cult went underground but surfaced again in the 1960's as the Manchild Company. Disregarding the Assemblies of God decision, Paul Cain, the Kansas City Prophets and Vineyard Ministries have subsequently reintroduced and successfully established this false doctrine in the Pentecostal churches.
The Latter Rain Revival by Tim Barbaho, 1997

Paul Cain is seen by many supporters of today's renewal/revival movements as a modern-day apostle/prophet.

In the 50's Paul Cain travelled with and ministered alongside William Branham, whom he called "the greatest prophet that ever lived." Though he disagrees with Branham's views on the doctrine of theTrinity (which the latter said was inspired by the devil), Cain very much promotes Branham's Manifest Sons of God teachings. Cain coined the term "New Breed" to refer to that doctrine.

Paul Cain was instrumental in founding Kansas City Fellowship (as it was known at the time) - a church based on the teachings of Latter Rain theology. Cain headed the controversial Kansas City Prophets.

... as pointed out by Gruen in "Documentation of the Aberrant Practices and Teachings of Kansas City Fellowship," Cain has often referred to Joel's Army of god-men and the Manifested Sons of God as the man child of Revelation 12:5. This is classic Kingdom Now theology.
B. M. Rocine (Church of The Living Word, Syracuse, New York, in Misplaced Faith (No connection with John Robert Steven's "Church of the Living Word")



- Oct. 21, 2004 -
Sadly, in a Special Bulletin posted on the website of Rick Joyner, Joyner, Jack Deere and Mike Bickle announce:



In February 2004, we were made aware that Paul had become an alcoholic. In April 2004, we became aware that Paul is a practicing homosexual. When confronted with the evidence of these sinful practices, Paul admitted to them and agreed to a process of restoration which the three of us would oversee. However, because Paul has continued to drink and pursue immoral practices, and after having exhausted the first two steps of the Matthew 18:15-17 process, we now have a responsibility to bring this before the church.
[...]

We also want to apologize to the body of Christ for our part in promoting and elevating Paul’s stature in the church while having these significant strongholds in his life. The signs that these problems existed were abundant, and we had an obvious lack of discernment and failed to see them until this year. We have received a considerable education through this situation, the principles of which we will share in due time with the hope that others will not have to make our same mistakes.


Note: The above quote was found and copied from Rick Joyner's website on Oct. 22, 2004. Since then, the text of the 'Special Bulletin' has been changed.

We agree with their expressed hope to see Paul Cain restored, and agree that - as they put it - "We therefore do not believe that Paul has committed anything that places him beyond the grace of God."

However, we do note that Rick Joyner, Mike Bickle and Jack Deere have often been approached by Christians who have expressed concern regarding their theology and practices. Rick Joyner, for one, rejects such opportunities for accountability. He refers to critics as 'Jezebels,' claiming that those who criticize have a 'religious spirit.'


- Mar. 2005 -
Paul Cain has posted a letter of confession on his website in which he acknowledges the issues brought up by Rick Joyner, Jack Deere and Mike Bickle. He further writes:
I have submitted to a team of leaders in the body of Christ who are supervising every aspect of my restoration. This team is headed by Larry J. Alberts (Fathers and Families Together, Minneapolis, MN) and Dr. Daniel J. Kim (Destiny Training International, El Monte, CA). Larry has considerable experience in restoration ministry and has been requested by leaders such as John Wimber, Rick Joyner, and Francis Frangipane to help restore highly significant ministers in the body of Christ. Daniel directs a training center which emphasizes biblical spirituality and prophetic reformation. I have submitted to Larry and Daniel to develop an appropriate program, involving professional treatments, so that I may walk in moral purity, spiritual and physical health, and wholeness of life.
Source: Paul Cain's official website Last accessed March 8, 2005

- Quotes -


...I know some of you are going to disagree with this. Don't you even stop to disagree. Revelation 12:5. If you disagree, just file it in 'miscellaneous' and check it out. And don't bother with it; when we get to heaven we'll check it out and you'll find out I'm right...
Paul Cain, regarding his exposition of the Man-Child company, at the Prophetic Power and Passion Conference, Christ Chapel, Florence, Alabama, August, 1995.

[Note: telling you not to question or check their teachings is a favorite tactic of false teachers. However, the Bible says to test all things, and to do so using the Word of God].

Though Branham denied the historic, orthodox view of the Trinity, William Branham was the greatest prophet in the 20th century. This was due not to Branham's doctrines but to "his gifting in the word of knowledge."
Paul Cain, quoted in Michael Horton ed. Power Religion, 1992, p.67

For quite a while I have been embarrassed to say anything about the latter rain, because you are associated and identified with something that people don't seem to appreciate in certain evangelical circles. So I have played it cool and haven't said much about it. But I don't care what they think any more... I believe we are going to have the latter rain and I am looking forward to it.
Paul Cain, Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship on May 28, 1995

God's 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 a new order of Christianity...God is offering to this generation something He has never offered to any other generation...beware lest old order brethren rob you and steal this hope from you.
Paul Cain, "You Can Become the Word!," 1989, Vineyard Prophetic Conference

(On Joel's Army)
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 gong to rest on this great army.
Bob Jones and Paul Cain. "Selections from the Kansas City Prophets," audiotape tape: 155C

I had a vision of you people coming from... a circle of maybe a hundred miles and I saw people coming from every major city within that circumference and a great conclave was taking place, and it was the training of Joel's Army... I believe that people are going to come together by the thousands and train for the Army of the Lord. Wouldn't that be wonderful? I mean, that's long overdue.
Paul Cain, Grace Ministries Tapes, Undated.

(excerpt, of Stephen Post #7)
What is going to become of us Pentecostals? Whether we know it or not, Satan has desired to have us that he may sift us as wheat (Luke 22.31). We are currently being tested for our love of God, our loyalty, and that love is as God defines it. If our Lord will have mercy on us, he will sober us up, for the times definitely don't call for spiritual drunkenness. We need to have clear heads for clear, biblical thinking; it has become a matter of loyalty to God.


Excuse my jumping into the exchanges . . . ( firing line ) . . . however, I was forced upon reading
this excerpt to agree 100%.


1 Timothy 5:23
King James Bible
Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.


I think, Stephen . . . the sentence " ' he will sober us up ', for the TIMES definitely don't call for
spiritual drunkenness ". . . forces our examination of selection of a LITTLE WINE, ( which I think
is Holistic Healing, for infirmities ) . . .

And I will paraphrase . . . " If our Lord will have mercy on us, He (IHVH) has already answered,
`What is going to become of us Pentecostals?` ".

As a Pentecostal ( Five-fold ministry, believer myself ) . . . I believe the following sentence
from the excerpt is a loaded gun, full of truth(33) and correction for the brethren. Let us
hold up our hands, in surrender to the fire conviction of the Holy Ghost . . . and yield
ourselves unto the sanctifications of our ministry/calling, unto the Father !


Satan has desired to have us that he may sift us as wheat (Luke 22.31).

(what we do not want to become . . . is a image of this cartoon, in our mission)


http://www.bigdoor.co.za/wordpress/wp-cont...8/08/barney.jpg

I found this Post to bring an "air" of anticipation fot the coming Kingdom of God. It is certianly Holy Spirit Inspired. All one needs to do is set the standard that is given us to see if it is from the Lord or not. Is it encouraging? Is it a message that builds one Spirit up, and not tear down? Is it scriptural? I read through it very carfully, and at the end, The presence of the Holy Spirit totally engulfed my Spirit and I lept for Joy!!! [indent][/indent]

For the record, I did not say say that Paul Cain was a prophet. If I did, please post it and humiliate me in front of all. If I did not, please explain why you are posting things that imply that I hold Paul Cain as a prophet, specifically.

There is no doubt that Paul Cain has indeed healed many people. There is no question that Paul Cain was gifted with supernatural knowledge that worked wonders in individual's lives.

That being said, there is no doubt that Paul Cain was/is a false prophet. Did you catch what I wrote there? There is no doubt that Paul Cain was/is a false prophet. I do not follow Paul Cain's teachings about the "New Breed," the manifest sons of God or any other unique doctrine. I don't care to debate over his prophecies either because I find them irelevant.

Interestingly enough, Rick Joyner, Mike Bickle and other leaders in the charasmatic and prophetic movements have denounced Paul Cain and everything he had prophecied. You even posted their joint statement. They still stand by that statement as far as I know of.

I did say that I wish that I had the power that Paul Cain had walked in back in his day. If I were healing people and ministering emotionally healing words of knowledge as he did, I would be much more fruitful for the gospel than I am now, as would anyone. I am not envious of his false prophetic visions of the future or of his false doctrines, much like Branham's also, rather I am envious of these men's power to heal that they once worked in. A prophet can work for Jesus or for another, like Satan, or demons of false doctrine. This means that a prophet can come preaching Jesus, and yet also preach false doctrines. The Jesus they preach may be the real Lord and Savior, but the doctrines that they preach may be worthless or even potentially destructive ones. That makes them a false prophet.
Look at Balaam. He was a prophet who ministered truth and blessed Israel. He also was a false prophet who participated in occultism and was not following the Lord. God used him for some good and them used him as an example of what happens to false prophets who come against God and His people. I think we can all agree about Balaam. A prophet's motives, actions and accuracy are what make them true or false. God will allow deceptive spirits to lead a prophet if they are not willing to follow and submit to the Lord. Jeremiah even called false prophets "prophets."

8 The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’
Those who handle the law did not know me;
the shepherds transgressed against me;
the prophets prophesied by Baal
and went after things that do not profit.
Jer 2:8.

26 “As a thief is shamed when caught,
so the house of Israel shall be shamed:
they, their kings, their officials,
their priests, and their prophets,
Jer 2:26

30 In vain have I struck your children;
they took no correction;
your own sword devoured your prophets
like a ravening lion.
Jer 2:30

13 The prophets will become wind;
the word is not in them.
Thus shall it be done to them!’”
Jer 5:13

31 the prophets prophesy falsely,
and the priests rule at their direction;
my people love to have it so,
but what will you do when the end comes?
Jer 5:31

13 Then I said: “Ah, Lord God, behold, the prophets say to them, ‘You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.’” 14 And the Lord said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds. 15 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name although I did not send them, and who say, ‘Sword and famine shall not come upon this land’: By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed.
Jer 14:13-15

29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Rom 11:29.

Now a person can be a flat out huckster and be an ungifted false prophet as well, but that is another sort of false prophet. We see these often on Christian TV and through Psychic hotlines.

False prophets can also be full fledged occultists. like Sylvia Brown. She prophecied to a friend of mine before he was saved. She was 100% on the money with her words also. But her words brought no salvation or power into his life. He continued on as a crack addict until Jesus came into his life years later.

Also, a person can be presumtive that they are a propet and effectually be false because of this. I have seen such numerous times. They really want to be a prophet and then they begin to move in an empty spirit of fake prophetic leadings. Sometimes they are totally right on. These few times encourage the immature and false "prophet" to believe that they are always in the Spirit whaen they prophecy or have an experience. Every child of God is by nature prophetic because of the presence of the Holy Spirit. This does not make us all prophets in the Biblical sense.

Paul Cain was definitely gifted by God. He used this gifting to cover his sin that he was not repentant of. He used this gifting to empower his own personal ministry. He was self deceived by his power. It got to his head long ago. The men around him who endorsed his ministry did not help the situation either. They have publically repented of this sin. A true prophet of God, Art Katz ( who was a dear friend of mine and a big influrence in my life) often would passionately warn the church about the ways of Paul Cain and other "prophets" similar to him. In the end, Art Katz has been affirmed and honored as a genuine prophet (he died over a year ago) and Paul Cain is exposed.

9 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me,

“Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
10 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to tear down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.”
Jer 1:9-10.

The prophetic ministry includes the destructive elements as well as the upbuilding work. You have to tear down satanic stronholds in people's hearts before you can truly build up a person in their walk with God. The prophetic ministry includes exposing Satan's ways. It has never changed. Peter was prophetic. He prophecied to Annanias and Saphira. This was not edifying to them. It was, however, edifying the those who would learn from the situation. You may not understand a propet's words. That does not mean that they are not of God just because you are confused. You could be very entrenched in a false doctrine and therefore be confused by the true words of God. You will not feel refreshed when you hear a prophetically inspired message of truth. The teaching that all true prophecy will leave one feeling refreshed and encouraged is simply not Biblical. There is a time for everything. What prophet did not rebuke sin? What prophet ONLY encouraged?

Is still do not understand why those with faith still can not see what Israels purpose is was and will allways be. "Great line of thought from the pastor who was the author" thanks for sharing it.
I like the depth and line of thoughts he/she shared, however while they are in deep thought its very clear when they loose this. It is the desire to seek the truth and the great path to finding wisdom yet so many know and see but are still blind

It is clear that after the murder of the first church by the antichrists of the flesh (The Jews) and their murderers the Romans. That the world entered the dark ages where man's vanity succeeded in changing the everlasting covenant of Christ into false doctrines and abominations made like the imaginations of man.
This is where the world including the majority of self proclaimed Christians are at, this very hour.

When someone, who God sends, speaks the truth. They can not hear. Because their gospel, based on their vanity and money, will not allow it.

The pretending nation of antichrists in the middle east have nothing in God, except that each one repent and believe the gospel of Christ just like anyone else.

This verse is where the bible mentions the time we are in now.

John 9
4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

The light is now dawning out in the wilderness where you can not see. The Lord has raised them to do His awesome will. They will not come from an establishment that is for sale. Because Christ and God are not for sale and have nothing to do with those who prophecy and teach for a bribe. Or who use money at all.


1 John 2
23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.