Prophet

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The Prophetic Movement

Jeremiah 23:16
"Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord."

Some Recognized "Prophets"

The Record of the Early Church Fathers

Charismatic Theologians Opinions

The Biblical Response

Throughout the history of the Church from time to time men and women have risen up and called themselves "prophets" or "prophetesses." These men and women have in general garnered little support. The early church, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Orthodox Protestant Church have never acknowledged anyone since the close of the canon and the death of the apostle John as being a true prophet or prophetess. Montanus was probably the earliest person to try to resurrect the prophetic office in the Church, he was proven a false prophet and he and his followers were condemned as heretics by the early Church fathers.

Today the Church has never experienced a time when so many have risen up globally and claimed the divine calling of prophet or prophetess. All of these people fall within the Pentecostal and Charismatic ranks of Christendom. Today there are churches and ministries which charismatic believers specifically categorize as prophetic. This is due to the emphasis they place on the office of the prophet, personal prophecy and so-called restoration of various practices, offices, and gifts.

For all intents and purposes the prophetic movement began about 1948 in North Battleford Saskatchewan Ontario. From a revival held at Sharon came forth what became known as the New Order of the Latter Rain (please read the latter rain article

). One of the central tenants of Latter Rain believers was the restoration of the ministry of the Apostle and Prophet. From that time on the idea that God was restoring these offices began to take hold in the minds of Pentecostal teachers.

In the 1940's William Branham was originally accepted as a true prophet of God. Years ago, I too accepted Branham as a prophet. I have many of his teachings on both video and cassette tape, as well as a couple of his booklets. Branham was indirectly responsible for the Sharon revival, in that Hawtin and Hunt were both profoundly affected by Branham's ministry. Some of the people sent forth from Sharon in 1948-50 took the title prophet and went out ministering under that appellation. It is readily acknowledged by many charismatic leaders that Branham taught heresy but they still believe he was a true prophet. How can a person teach utter lies and nonsense on the one hand, yet hear so clearly and accurately from the Lord on the other? Branham was asked if the Holy Spirit did the supernatural works in his meetings. His response was, no his angel did these things! He denied the Trinity of God, believed in UFO's, and gave out many predictive prophecies which were proved to be false. He thought he was one of the two witnesses found in the book of the Revelation. At his death many Latter Rain ministers prayed for him to be raised from the dead for days (he is still dead). Branham had literally no education at all, not past the eight grade at most.

Kenneth Hagin claims the Lord Jesus Christ literally appeared to him and called Hagin into the prophetic office in the early 1950's. Hagin's claim to prophethood is unique. The Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Hagin, took him out of his body and laid his nailed-pierced hands upon Hagin and personally anointed him into the office of a prophet in February 1959. Hagin also has not formal theological training and all of his claims are based on subjective experiences. Hagin is a prophet because he says he is a prophet and others have simply accepted he is one (by faith). Several of his predictive prophecies have also been proven false.

One such book is "The Elijah Task A Call To Today's Prophets" by John and Paula Sandford published by Logos International in 1977. This book is a clear exposition on what the prophetic/restoration movement believes. "It will not suffice to say, "We have the Scriptures; prophets are no longer needed." (The Elijah Task, pg. 3). Like all modern prophets, Sandford believes the Bible is not a sufficient guide, we need personal words and directions from the prophets. Sandford is a firm proponent of all the Latter Rain Doctrines of the 1940's.

"Prophets and Personal Prophecy God's Prophetic Voice Today" by Bishop Bill Hamon published by Destiny Image Press in 1987 is required reading in most prophetic circles.

After reading Franklin Hall's book "Atomic Power With God Through Prayer and Fasting" Hamon fasted for 7 days seeking God's will for his life. At the end of the fast he went to a service and a "prophet" was speaking there (his local church was called the Independent Restorational Church) and this man laid hands on Hamon and prophesied over him. According to his book, this was the result:

"There, the Lord began teaching this chosen vessel of God about the prophetic ministry, and involving him in it. . .For some thirty years later, Bill would be raised up as a pioneer and a worldwide leader in restoring the office and ministry of the prophet into Christ's Church with full recognition and authority." (Pg. 4)

Bill Hamon has been very active in promoting the concept of the restored office of prophet and holds what he calls "Schools of the Prophets" where people can come and develop their prophetic gift and calling. Hamon carries with him a 5 and inch binder filled with all of the personal prophecies he has received over the last 30 years. Hamon's doctrine concerning the office of the prophet is summed up in this following statement:

"Church prophets function in all the ministries of the Old Testament prophets, as well as the New Testament gift of the prophet standing in the role of Christ, the Prophet. Thus their prophecies flow in the areas of guidance, instruction, rebuke, judgment, and revelation - whatever Christ chooses to speak for the purifying and perfecting of His Church." (Pg. 52)

"I believe that the decade of the 1980's has been designated in the counsels of God as the time for the calling forth of the prophets ministry. Before the 1980's are over, God will have raised up and called forth thousands of prophets. Their ministry will be clarified and amplified until all the present-truth church world recognizes them as ordained by God and gifts of God to the Church." (Pg. 53)

Hamon is responsible for much of the proliferation of prophetic movement today. His book is another important one to read if you want to gain some insights into what this aberrant, yet prolific, segment of Charismania believes.

Paul Cain was part of the healing revival of the mid 1940's when he was 18 years old. During that time his fellow ministers were William Branham, Jack Coe, T.L. Osborne, and A.A. Allen, etc. He saw the excesses of that movement and backed away from it until 1987 when the Kansas City Fellowship's leaders Mike Bickle and Bob Jones felt impressed to serve Paul Cain and his ministry in any way they could. Bob Jones said "the Lord named Paul Cain's ministry, "The terror of the Lord." (Paul Cain a Personal Profile, pg. 13). Why this name? Paul Cain is reported to be able to reveal peoples hidden sins and details of their lives supernaturally. He predicted an earthquake and it happened! Also people report surges of electrical power that blow out circuits. All of this is naturally attributed to his heavy prophetic anointing. Again, self-proclaimed as a prophet. Has made several predictive prophecies that have proven to be false. Was discipled by aberrant ministers in the 1940's. Is accepted by the younger prophets today without question. Another individual with no formal Biblical training.

These men are the acknowledged fathers of today's prophetic movement. Their claim to being prophets is purely subjective. On various occasions they have contradicted each other and much of what they teach is aberrant when compared to orthodox Protestant doctrine. Even though each of them has prophesied in the name of the Lord and had those prophecies not come to pass they are still regarded as true prophets. Some believe they are equivalent to Old Testament prophets, others of them do not see their office as equal. In short, they disagree on many doctrinal issues, and only truly agree that there are prophets today, and they are them!

Today's prophets fall pretty much follow the doctrines and beliefs of the New Order of the Latter Rain (LR). This is especially true for Paul Cain, John Sandford, Rick Joyner, Mike Bickle, Bill Hamon, Jefferson Edwards, Turnel Nelson, Myles Monroe, and many other international charismatic leaders.

A central thought of LR doctrine is the belief that God is raising up an army that will manifest all the supernatural power of the Old Testament and the New Testament combined. This power will be manifested to bring the entire world under the dominion of the Church. The Church will then in turn hand it over to Jesus, who will hand it over to His Father.

The great conquering army of supernatural saints is commonly referred to as Joel's Army or the Manchild company. Paul Cain is one of the most voracious expounders of this LR doctrine.

Along with this concept of some saints gaining near godhood status in this life is the belief in a tremendous global revival accompanying this supernaturally equipped army. The prophets are prophesying that entire cities will fall on their knees in repentance and be converted.

In examining every work of the Early Church Fathers, all 37 volumes, there is not one reference to the continuing of the true prophetic office. The early church after the death of the apostle John ceased to acknowledge the office of apostle and prophet being in existence.
However, in 26 of the 37 volumes there is quite a bit written about the work of false prophets among the church. These references are partial, and I have not included all of them due to space considerations. There are several reference sites you can surf to read these entire accounts. I have cited just a few of these references below:

THE SAGE DIGITAL LIBRARY COLLECTIONS: THE ANTE-NICENE FATHERS VOLUME 5 Edited by A. Roberts and J Donaldson To the Students of the Words, Works and Ways of God: SAGE Software Albany, OR USA Version 1.0 1996

SYSTEM. And the Celtic Druids investigated to the very highest point the Pythagorean philosophy, after Zamolxis, by birth a Thracian, a servant of Pythagoras, became to them the originator of this discipline. Now after the death of Pythagoras, Zamolxis, repairing thither, became to them the originator of this philosophy. The Celts esteem these as prophets and seers, on account of their foretelling to them certain (events), from calculations and numbers by the Pythagorean art; on the methods of which very art also we shall not keep silence, since also from these some have presumed to introduce heresies; but the Druids resort to magical rites likewise.

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But why need we care, since these philosophers have also made their attacks upon those writings which are condemned by us under the title of apocryphal, certain as we are that nothing ought to be received which does not agree with the true system of prophecy, which has arisen in this present age; because we do not forget that there have been false prophets, and long previous to them fallen spirits, which have instructed the entire tone and aspect of the world with cunning knowledge of this (philosophic) cast? It is, indeed, not incredible that any man who is in quest of wisdom may have gone so far, as a matter of curiosity, as to consult the very prophets; (but be this as it may), if you take t he philosophers, you would find in them more diversity than agreement, since even in their agreement their diversity is discoverable. Whatever things are true in their systems, and agreeable to prophetic wisdom, they either recommend as emanating from some other source, or else perversely apply in some other sense. This process is attended with very great detriment to the truth, when they pretend that it is either helped by falsehood, or else that falsehood derives support from it. The following circumstance must needs have set ourselves and the philosophers by the ears, especially in this present matter, that they sometimes clothe sentiments which are common to both sides, in arguments which are peculiar to themselves, but contrary in some points to our rule and standard of faith; and at other times defend opinions which are especially their, own, with arguments which both sides acknowledge to be valid, and occasionally conformable to their system of belief. The truth has, at this rate, been well-nigh excluded by the philosophers, through the poisons with which they have infected it; and thus, if we regard both the modes of coalition which we have now mentioned, and which are equally

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faith was unsettled, when they pretended that they knew and worshipped God aiming at the increase of their wealth and honor, aspired to the highest sacerdotal power; and when overcome by others more powerful, preferred to secede with their supporters, than to endure those set over them, over whom they themselves before desired to be set.

But some, not sufficiently instructed in heavenly learning, when they were unable to reply to the accusers of the truth, who objected that it was either impossible or inconsistent that God should be shut up in the womb of a woman, and that the Majesty of heaven could not be reduced to such weakness as to become an object of contempt and derision, a reproach and mockery to men; lastly, that He should even endure tortures, and be affixed to the accursed cross; and when they could defend and refute all these things neither by talent nor learning, for they did not thoroughly perceive their force and meaning, they were perverted from the right path, and corrupted the sacred writings, so that they composed for themselves a new doctrine without any root and stability. But some, enticed by the prediction of false prophets, concerning whom both the true prophets and he himself had foretold, fell away from the knowledge of God, and left the true tradition. But all of these, ensnared by frauds of demons, which they ought to have foreseen and guarded against, by their carelessness lost the name and worship of God. For when they are called Phrygians, or Novarians, or Valentinians, or Marcionites, or Anthropians, or Arians, or by any other name they have ceased to be Christians, who have lost the name of Christ, and assumed human and external names. Therefore it is the Catholic Church alone which retains true worship.

This is the fountain of truth, this is the abode of the faith, this is the temple of God; into which if any one shall not enter, or from which if any shall go out, he is estranged from the hope of life and eternal salvation. No one ought to flatter himself with persevering strife. For the contest is respecting life and salvation, which, unless it is carefully and diligently kept in view, will be lost and extinguished. But, however, because all the separate assemblies of heretics call themselves Christians in preference to others, and think that theirs is the Catholic Church, it must be known that the true Catholic Church is that in which there is confession and repentance, which treats in a wholesome manner the sins and wounds to. . .

THE SAGE DIGITAL LIBRARY COLLECTIONS: THE NICENE AND POST-NICENE FATHERS FIRST SERIES, VOLUME 4 by Philip Schaff, editor To the Students of the Words, Works and Ways of God:SAGE Software Albany, OR USA Version 1.0 1996

he wrote of men. They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe though one rose from the dead What have you to say for yourselves? Where is your authority? If you reject these passages of Scripture, in spite of the weighty authority in their favor, what miracles can you show? However, if you did work miracles, we should be on our guard against receiving their evidence in your case; for the Lord has forewarned us: Many false Christs and false prophets shall arise, and shall do many signs and wonders, that they may deceive, if it were possible, the very elect: behold, I have told you before. This shows that the established authority of Scripture must outweigh every other; for it derives new confirmation from the progress of events which happen, as Scripture proves, in fulfillment of the predictions made so long before their occurrence.

6. Are, then, your doctrines so manifestly true, that they require no support from miracles or from any testimony? Show us these self-evident truths, if you have anything of the kind to show. Your legends, as we have already seen, are long and silly, old wives fables for the amusement of women and children. The beginning is detached from the rest, the middle is unsound, and the end is a miserable failure. If you begin with the immortal, invisible, incorruptible God, what need was there of His fighting with the race of darkness? And as for the middle of your theory, what becomes of the incorruptibility and unchangeableness of God, when His members in fruits and vegetables are purified by your mastication and digestion? And for the end, is it just that the wretched soul should be punished with lasting confinement in the mass of darkness, because its God is unable to cleanse it of the defilement contracted from evil external to itself in the fulfillment of His own commission? You are at a loss for a reply. See the worthlessness of your boasted manuscripts, numerous and valuable as you say they are! Alas for the toils of the antiquaries! Alas for the property of the unhappy owners! Alas for the food of the deluded followers! Destitute as you are of Scripture authority, of the power of miracles, of moral excellence, and of sound doctrine, depart ashamed, and return penitent, confessing that true Christ, who is the Savior of all who believe in Him, whose name and whose Church are now displayed as they were of old foretold, not by some being issuing from subterranean darkness, but by a

THE SAGE DIGITAL LIBRARY COLLECTIONS THE ANTE-NICENE FATHERS VOLUME 2 Edited by A. Roberts and J Donaldson To the Students of the Words, Works and Ways of God: SAGE Software Albany, OR USA Version 1.0 1996

cause of him whom he protects not being wounded; preventing him, as he does, from being wounded. For the demon of Socrates was a cause, not by not preventing, but by exhorting, even if (strictly speaking) he did not exhort. And neither praises nor censures, neither rewards nor punishments, are right, when the soul has not the power of inclination and disinclination, but evil is involuntary. Whence he who prevents is a cause; while he who prevents not judges justly the souls choice. So in no respect is God the author of evil. But since free choice and inclination originate sins, and a mistaken judgment sometimes prevails, from which, since it is ignorance and stupidity, we do not take pains to recede, punishments are rightly inflicted. For to take fever is involuntary; but when one takes fever through his own fault, from excess, we blame him. Inasmuch, then, as evil is involuntary, for no one prefers evil as evil; but induced by the pleasure that is in it, and imagining it good, considers it desirable; such being the case, to free ourselves from ignorance, and from evil and voluptuous choice, and above all, to withhold our assent from those delusive fantasies, depends on ourselves. The devil is called thief and robber having mixed false prophets with the prophets, as tares with the wheat. All, then, that came before the Lord, were thieves and robbers; not absolutely all men, but all the false prophets, and all who were not properly sent by Him. For the false prophets possessed the prophetic name dishonestly, being prophets, but prophets of the liar. For the Lord says, Ye are of your father the devil; and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it.

But among the lies, the false prophets also told some true things. And in reality they prophesied in an ecstasy, as the servants of the apostate. And the Shepherd, the angel of repentance, says to Hermas, of the false prophet: For he speaks some truths. For the devil fills him with his own spirit, if perchance he may be able to cast down any one from what is right. All things, therefore, are dispensed from heaven for good, that by the Church may be made known the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal foreknowledge, which He purposed in Christ. Nothing withstands God: nothing opposes Him: seeing He is Lord and omnipotent. Further, the counsels and activities of those who have rebelled, being

THE SAGE DIGITAL LIBRARY COLLECTIONS: THE NICENE AND POST-NICENE FATHERS FIRST SERIES, VOLUME 7 by Philip Schaff, editor To the Students of the Words, Works and Ways of God: Welcome to the SAGE Digital Library. SAGE Software Albany, OR USA Version 1.0 1996

the bride, if I nave received pledges, if I have been redeemed at the price of that blood, do hear the voice of the Bridegroom; and I do hear the voice of the Bridegrooms friend too, if he give glory to my Bridegroom, not to himself. Let the friend speak: He that hath the bride is the Bridegroom; but the friend of the Bridegroom standeth and heareth Him, and rejoices greatly because of the voice of the Bridegroom. Behold, thou hast sacraments; and I grant that thou hast. Thou hast the form, but thou art a branch cut off from the vine; thou hast a form, I want the root. There is no fruit of the form, except where there is a root; but where is the root but in charity? Hear the form of the cut-off branches; let Paul speak: Though I know all mysteries, saith he, and have all prophecy, and all faith (and how great a faith!), so as to remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

17. Let no man tell you fables, then. Pontius wrought a miracle; and Donatus prayed, and God answered him from heaven. In the first place, either they are deceived, or they deceive. In the last place, grant that he removes mountains: And have not charity, saith the apostle, I am nothing. Let us see whether he has charity. I would believe that he had, if he had not divided unity. For against those whom I may call marvel-workers, my God has put me on my guard, saying, In the last times there shall arise false prophets, doing signs and wonders, to lead into error, if it were possible, even the elect: Lo, I have foretold it to you. Therefore the Bridegroom has cautioned us, that we ought not to be deceived even by miracles. Sometimes, indeed, a deserter frightens a plain countryman; but whether he is of the camp, and whether he is the better of that character with which he is marked, is what he who would not be frightened or seduced attends to. Let us then, my brethren, hold unity: without unity, even he who works miracles is nothing. The people Israel was in unity, and yet wrought no miracles: Pharaohs magicians were out of unity, and yet they wrought the like works as Moses. The people Israel, as I have said, wrought no miracles. Who were saved with God õ they who did, or they who did not, work miracles? The Apostle Peter raised a dead person: Simon Magus did many things: there were there certain Christians who were not able to do either what Peter did or what Simon did; and wherein did they rejoice? In this, that their names were written in heaven. For this is what our Lord Jesus Christ said to the disciples on their return, because

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IT was found, again, that about the same time there was a young man in Spain, who, having by many signs obtained for himself authority among the people, was puffed up to such a pitch that he gave himself out as being Elias. And when multitudes had too readily believed this, he went on to say that he was actually Christ; and he succeeded so well even in this delusion that a certain bishop named Rufus worshipped him as being the Lord. For so doing, we have seen this bishop at a later date deprived of his office. Many of the brethren have also informed me that at the same time one arose in the East, who boasted that he was John. We may infer from this, since false prophets of such a kind have appeared, that the coming of Antichrist is at hand; for he is already practicing in these persons the mystery of iniquity. And truly I think this point should not be passed over, with what arts the devil about this very time tempted Martin. For, on a certain day, prayer having been previously offered, and the fiend himself being surrounded by a purple light, in order that he might the more easily deceive people by the brilliance of the splendor assumed, clothed also in a royal robe, and with a crown of precious stones and gold encircling his head, his shoes too being inlaid with gold, while he presented a tranquil countenance, and a generally rejoicing aspect, so that no such thought as that he was the devil might be entertained he stood by the side of Martin as he was praying in his cell. The saint being dazzled by his first appearance, both preserved a long and deep silence. This was first broken by the devil, who said: Acknowledge, Martin, who it is that you behold. I am Christ; and being just about to descend to earth, I wished first to manifest myself to thee. When Martin kept silence on hearing these words, and gave no answer whatever, the devil dared to repeat his audacious declaration: Martin, why do you hesitate to believe, when you see? I am Christ. Then Martin, the Spirit revealing the truth to him, that he might understand it was the devil, and not God, replied as follows: The Lord Jesus did not predict that he would come clothed in purple, and with a glittering crown upon his head. I will not believe that Christ has come, unless he appears with that appearance and form in which he suffered, and openly displaying the marks of his wounds upon the cross.

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But Apelles, sprung from these, thus expresses himself, (saying) that there is a certain good Deity, as also Marcion supposed, and that he who created all things is just. Now he, (according to Apelles,) was the Demiurge of generated entities. And (this heretic also main-rains) that there is a third (Deity), the one who was in the habit of speaking to Moses, and that this (God) was of a fiery nature, and that there was another fourth God, a cause of evils. But these he denominates angels. He utters, however, slanders against law and prophets, by alleging that the things that have been written are (of) human (origin), and are false. And (Apelles) selects from the Gospels or (from the writings of) the Apostle (Paul) whatever pleases himself, But he devotes himself to the discourses of a certain Philumene as to the revelations of a prophetess. He affirms, however, that Christ descended from the power above; that is, from the good (Deity), and that he is the son of that good (Deity). And (he asserts that Jesus) was not born of a virgin, and that when he did appear he was not devoid of flesh. (He maintains,) however, that (Christ) formed his booty by taking portions of it from the substance of the universe: that is, hot and cold, and moist and dry. And (he says that Christ), on receiving in this body cosmical powers, lived for the time he did in (this) world. But (he held that Jesus) was subsequently crucified by the Jews, and expired, and that, being raised Up after three days, he appeared to his disciples. And (the Savior) showed them, (so Apelles taught,) the prints of the nails and (the wound) in his side, desirous of persuading them that he was in truth no. . .

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But a companion was created along with him, a female nature, much differing from him, as quality from substance, as the moon from the sun, as fire from light. She, as a female ruling the present world as her like, was entrusted to be the first prophetess, announcing prophecy with all amongst those born of woman? But the other, as the son of man, being a male, prophesies better things to the world to come as a male.

Let us then understand that there are two kinds of prophecy: the one male; and let it be defined that the first, being the male, has been ranked after the other in the order of advent; but the second, being female, has been appointed to come first in the advent of the pairs. This second, therefore, being amongst those born of woman, as the female superintendent of this present world, wishes to be thought masculine. Wherefore, stealing the l seeds of the male, and sowing them with her own seeds of the flesh, she brings forth the fruits that is, words as wholly her own. And she promises that she will give the present earthly riches as a dowry, wishing to change the slow for the swift, the small for the greater.

However, she, not only presuming to say and to hear that there are many gods, but also believing herself to be one, and in hope of king that which she had not a nature to be, and throwing away what she had, and as a female being in her courses at the offering of sacrifices, is stained with blood; and then she pollutes those who touch her. But when she conceives and brings forth temporary kings, she stirs up wars, shedding much blood;
pg. 514
and those who desire to learn truth from her, by telling them all things contrary, and presenting many and various services, she keeps them always seeking and finding nothing, even until death. For from the beginning a cause of death lies upon blind men; for she, prophesying deceit, and ambiguities, and obliquities, deceives those who believe her.

THE SAGE DIGITAL LIBRARY COLLECTIONSTHE NICENE AND POST-NICENE FATHERS SECOND SERIES, VOLUME 1 by Philip Schaff, editor To the Students of the Words, Works and Ways of God: SAGE Software Albany, OR USA Version 1.0 1996

CHAPTER 18
The Manner in which Apollonius refuted the Phrygians, and the Persons whom he mentions

AS the so-called Phrygian heresy was still flourishing in Phrygia in his time, Apollonius also, an ecclesiastical writer, undertook its refutation, and wrote a special work against it, correcting in detail the false prophecies current among them and reproving the life of the founders of the heresy. But hear his own words respecting Montanus:

His actions and his teaching show who this new teacher is. This is he who taught the dissolution of marriage; who made laws for fasting; who named Pepuza and Tymion, small towns in Phrygia, Jerusalem, wishing to gather people to them from all directions; who appointed collectors of money; who contrived the receiving of gifts under the name of offerings; who provided salaries for those who preached his doctrine, that its teaching might prevail through gluttony.

He writes thus concerning Montanus; and a little farther on he writes as follows concerning his prophetesses: We show that these first prophetesses themselves, as soon as they were filled with the Spirit, abandoned their husbands. How falsely therefore they speak who call Prisca a virgin.Ñ

Afterwards he says: Does not all Scripture seem to you to forbid a prophet to receive gifts and money? When therefore I see the prophetess receiving gold and silver and costly garments, how can I avoid reproving her?

And again a little farther on he speaks thus concerning one of their confessors: So also Themiso, who was clothed with plausible covetousness, could not endure the sign of confession, but threw aside bonds for an abundance of possessions. Yet, though he should have been humble on this account, he dared to boast as a martyr, and in imitation of the apostle, he wrote a certain catholic epistle, to instruct those whose faith was better than his. . .

Admittedly some of this language is difficult to follow but some interesting facts are easily seen. First, the early church had to combat people who said they were prophets or prophetesses and were not. How did they know they were not? Because these people did not adhere to the Scriptures or the apostolic dogmas of the church. The early church also knew these people were false prophets because they knew the foundational gifts of apostle and prophet had ceased. This is evident because they do not speak of these offices being in effect in their writings at all. The only time they write about apostles, prophets, or prophetesses in their time is when these individuals are false and heretical. They do write often and cite often the writings or statements of the Biblical prophets and apostles, especially the prophets in the Old Testament.

Some want to argue that the church had by this time become cold and legalistic and those in authority wanted to "quench the spirit." My question to those with such an opnion is this - why would they who were so close to the apostles and living witnesses to them want to do such a thing? What benefit would be derived from excommunicating those who had a genuine supernatural gifting from the Spirit of Grace?

It is evident from the writings of these great men that they possessed the highest regard for the Scriptures and apostolic tradition. Many of the writers of the letters died martyrs for Christ rather than compromise one iota of God's Truth. For someone today, who has suffered not loss for the cause of Christ, to attempt to impugn the character of these godly men is in itself a wicked act.

Every mention of a modern prophetess was met with the same judgement as the modern prophet, they were false prophetesses. Today we have multitudes of women claiming to be prophetesses of the Lord. These same women would be viewed as false prophetesses by the early church fathers.

Secondly, it is evident that some in their day did work signs and wonders and make claims to being Elijah. But the signs and wonders did not deceive these leaders of Christ's church. They looked beyond the glitter and the ecstasy and saw their teaching did not agree with that of the church and so they were disqualified.

Today the pattern remains the same. Some prophet comes to the local church and teaches false doctrine and closes out the service by doing something supernatural and tells the people "see God has confirmed His Word with signs following." The congregation then usually accepts what the false prophet has taught as being God's truth and is led further astray from true devotion to Christ.

I will never forget the time we had a false apostle, Carlyle Peterson, come to our former fellowship, Jubilee Christian Church, with his entourage of followers and prophets. Not only did Carlyle speak for a few hours, but then literally laid on the church alter and began to speak forth open visions he was receiving from the Lord God concerning our fellowship. Did our pastor stop him? Was there any correction given? No on both counts, later on the pastor of JCC took upon himself the status of apostle and Carlyle came and spoke and his prophets prophesied at JCC on many occasions.

Recent Pentecostal church history shows two key leaders falling into the same error as mentioned in account with Martin. John Alexander Dowie claimed to be the first restored apostle and later claimed to be the prophet Elijah, after that pronouncement he was stricken with a stroke and died shortly thereafter. William Branham also was considered to be Elijah towards the end of his ministry, he never publically discouraged these statements and was shortly thereafter killed by a drunk driver. Many Latter Rain ministers prayed and attempted to raise Branham from the dead for days, because it was commonly held he was one of the two witnesses of the book of Revelation. Both of these men are viewed by Charismatics as mighty men of God and true prophets. Yet according to what they taught publically they were and are judged as heretics by The Word of God.

The early church fathers knew that those claiming the office of prophet or prophetess were in fact false prophets and thus a danger to the true faith of the members of the Body of Christ. A simple study of Church history will prove that whenever people have risen up and made claims to be restored prophets the Church by-in-large has labeled them as false prophets and heretics.

Many of the above citations are referring to people who considered themselves to be Christians but were in fact Gnostics who held to a veneer of Christianity. Gnostics were people who believed that through various means they had access to hidden information and revelation not available to the average believer. There is a very strong Gnostic current within todays prophetic movement. The favorite text of today's false prophets (and probably yesterdays too) is the following:

Amos 3:7
"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."

This is a favorite proof text of Bernard Jordan, who for $97.00 will send anyone the "Word of the Lord" to 2 questions they submit (along with their birthdate for some strange reason) within 48 hours. Bernard Jordan is a follower of prophet Bill Hamon and has taught in his "school of the prophets." It is obvious that anyone claiming to receive the "word of the Lord" for money is a false prophet . . . yet is Bishop E. Bernard denounced by any in the prophetic movement? NO!

The gnostic thrust in the prophetic movement is seen in using texts like the above to control and manipulate people. The prophets get the revelation of what God is doing and saying and they reveal it to the lowly non-prophetic Christians in their midst. In this circle it is the restored prophets and apostles who are the interpreters of the Bible for the people. At Jubilee Christian Church we were told by one of these restored prophets, Keith Grayton of Maryland, that if "anyone in his church heard anything different (from the Lord) then they were wrong!" It was his way or the highway. Why? Because he was God's prophet and thus he alone heard from God for his congregation. Check your mind at the door and line up for the kool-aid!

There are two Pentecostal brethren which are respected as theologians by both charismatic and non-charismatic alike. These gentlemen are Dr. Wayne Grudem and Dr. Gordon Fee.

Both of these men have written extensively about the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. While I do not agree with some of their conclusions regarding the moving of the Holy Spirit today I do agree with many of their Biblically sound insights.

Dr. Grudem believes that the gift of prophecy continues to this day, however the office of the prophet and apostle does not exist today. He also makes it clear in his writings that the Church today is not to be guided by current prophetic words or prophets.

What is the opnion of those in the prophetic movement to Dr. Grudem's Biblical stance? They do not accept his stance on the closure of the prophetic office because it varies from their experience and beliefs. In other words, "don't confuse me with the Biblical facts, my mind is made up."

The prophetic movement picks and chooses what it believes very carefully and whatever does not conform to their experience or practice is simply discarded as "the letter of the law." Those who try to bring them a true Biblical balance are simply ignored and spoken on as having a "pharisee spirit" a "judgmental spirit," they are in league with the "Accuser of the brethren," etc.

In his writings Dr. Gordon Fee has written against the Word of Faith Movement due to its various unscriptural teachings and does not support the current prophetic movement. In reading his two massive books, The First Epistle to the Corinthians, Eerdmans, 1987, Fee does not promote the continuation of the office of the prophet. He also does not mention it in God's Empowering Presence, The Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul, Hendrickson, 1994. Gordon Fee believes that the gift of prophecy exists today, just not the office of the prophet. How do those in the prophetic movement respond? Instead of searching the Scriptures to see if these fellow charismatic scholars are correct, they simply reject their findings as incorrect!

The prophetic movement simply refuses to accept the undeniable evidence of the early church fathers, 1,800+ years of known church history, and the findings of their own scholars!

Ephes. 2:20
having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,

The Church has been built (past tense) on the foundation of Christ as laid by the apostles and prophets. Their job was finished when the canon of Scripture was closed. Since that day the superstructure of the Church has been built upon the foundation they laid.

There are no apostles or prophets today in the Biblical sense. The prophetic/apostolic movement would have us believe that today there are men and women carrying the same weight and authority as the prophets and apostles in the Bible. This is a lie and those who call themselves apostles and prophets are deceived and deceiving others. They may be sincere, but they are sincerely, wrong. In some cases, these folks are tares sown in among the wheat and will remain until the harvest time has come.

Once the foundation of a house has been properly laid it is no longer constructed. It is the first portion built and everything else is subsequent to it. With this fact in mind it is easy to see that there is no need for apostles or prophets today. We have the complete canon of Scripture which is sufficient to guide the people of God in all matters of faith and practice.

Ephes. 4:11-13
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ.

The prophetic movement cites this text as their sole proof that apostles and prophets are for today. "After all, the Body has not attained the unity of the faith, we are not yet mature so we still need their ministry today". Oh really? As I reported above the early church fathers did not express the belief in the continuation of these offices. Church history up till around 1827 does not record the belief or teaching that these offices being needed by the Church. The greatest minds of the church post the death of the apostle John, were not either apostles or prophets. Augustine, Irenaeus, Luther, Calvin, Edwards, Augustine, and a host of others built upon the foundation originally laid - they never taught of a continuation of these 2 offices.

Have you ever noticed that the original Biblical apostles never mention to continuation of their office? We have no record of them teaching about any apostolic succession, nor mentioning who shall replace them when they died. Both Peter and Paul wrote letters before their certain deaths. Knowing they were to die, why didn't they say "Sergus is going to be the apostle now" or give some instruction to the churches they formed? The reason is, they knew they had done their job, run their race, and laid the foundation. They knew God would build His Church through the ministry of the pastor teachers, elders, bishops, and evangelists (all men by the way). Why is it we don't know the same today?