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Updated Feb.15,2002 The “Just Give Me The Facts” series are not intended as a critique or commentary. To those Christians who are exercising the gift of discernment and who are truly seeking after wisdom I believe that the “facts “will speak for themselves.
Just Give Me The Facts:
Compiled by Renee Rodriguez In 2 Peter 2:1–2, we read, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” This was an accurate narrative of the spread of heresy in the first–century church, and Peter’s warning that false teachers would continue to arise can easily be seen today in the growth of cults and pseudo–Christian religions. What is most interesting is, the heresies that are popular today are simply variations of the same heresies that have arisen throughout the history of the Church. In this paper, we will be looking at the Manifested Sons Of God/Latter Rain teachings. The Church has already condemned the Manifested sons of God (MSOG)/Latter Rain teaching as heresy. On April 20, 1949, the Assemblies of God took a stand against the doctrines being promoted by the Latter Rain Movement. Their stance cost them many congregations and members but they stood their ground. In their letter from the Executive Office of the General Council they stated: “The true test of any movement is whether or not it will stand up under the light of the Word of God.” Established Pentecostal churches did not embrace much of what was being taught by the Latter Rain prophets and apostles, yet many in their congregations did and thousands left. Many independent Pentecostal ministries were birthedand released by the North Battleford brethren and Myrtle Beall in Detroit Michigan. The Assemblies in 1949 were not the first to be faced with or to condemn this teaching and neither will they be the last as the apostasy approaches ever quicker. These are facts, which are a critique and commentary in and of themselves. The purpose for this paper is to alert the reader to the fact that this heretical teaching has surfaced once again today under the guise of a “New Thing” using the same old names and a few new names such as “The New Apostolic Reformation”, “The Prophetic”, “Kingdom Now”, “Joel’s Army”, “Dominionism”, “Triumphalism”, “The Overcomers”, “First Fruits”, New Breed”, “Sonship” and “Elijah Company”. The facts are the teachings are being presented today by familiar teachers and are nothing new, “same heresies; different day” We are bringing forth “Just the Facts” so that when hearing these teachings you will not be caught unawares of exactly what it is that you are hearing. In Hosea 4:6 the Word of God says; “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”. Jesus, Himself said "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect “Behold I tell you in advance” (Matt.24: 24-25) 1) What is the Latter Rain Teaching? Before the founding of the Assemblies of God, David Wesley Myland, in 1910, wrote a book entitled “The Latter Rain Covenant” where he advanced three levels of interpretation: literal, typical, and spiritual and that one should look for the “deeper” meaning of a particular Scripture. This “deeper” meaning is the source for an allegorical hermeneutic, which drives the engine of Latter Rain doctrine and fuels the fire of Latter Rain Revival. As E.S. Williams and A/G leadership in 1949 rightly pointed out, the New Order of the Latter Rain was nothing really new. During the mid-40s, a great expectation was being promoted that God was going to do a “new Thing.” In 1946, a book came out that enjoyed widespread popularity among Pentecostals. It contributed to the general expectation of a “new day.” It was called Atomic Power with God, Through Fasting and Prayer, by Franklin Hall. To those “who could receive it,” answered prayer, signs, wonders, immortality, and even release from gravity awaited those who would fast and pray. In 1947, George Hawtin, a Pentecostal pastor and director of an orphanage and Bible school, attended a William Branham meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia. He, his brother Ernest, and Percy Hunt had left the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. He along with several students and faculty members received an “impartation” from Branham, through laying on of hands.2 By July, 1948, Hawtin’s group put on a huge camp meeting which attracted several thousand from the U.S., Canada, and all over the world, wanting to be a part of the “New Thing!” Very shortly, the New Order of the Latter Rain was a worldwide phenomenon.3 In the spring of 1949, after attending public and private meetings, talking and corresponding with Latter Rain leaders, devouring many articles and booklets on the subject, and listening to hours of wire recordings, the Executive Presbytery of the Assemblies of God authorized General Secretary, J. Roswell Flower to prepare a special 6-page letter to deal with the growing problem. General Superintendent E.S. Williams cited unfortunate precedents he had observed in the Azusa Street Mission as early as 1906. In his words, “It did not take some of us brethren any time to know where this new teaching was going to lead, for we have seen it repeated at different times during the past 40 years, each time with disaster.”4 The 1949 General Council in Seattle adopted a resolution disapproving the doctrines of the New Order of the Latter Rain. The minutes of that Council record that after brief debate it was adopted with an overwhelming majority. The Resolution dealt with the following issues, evidently those most affecting them at that time:
All of these but number 4 are present in the current Latter Rain revival.
The Latter Rain Revival centered around several themes:
The General Council action did not halt the continuation of the Latter Rain movement. Strong centers of New Order teaching formed in Detroit, St. Louis, Memphis, Oklahoma City, Beaumont TX, Tacoma WA, Portland OR; as well as pockets in Duluth and Hibbing (MN), Hornell NY, etc. The Latter Rain survived and influenced the course of other movements with in the past forty years.6 One of the most notable was the salvation/healing revival. Various of the Healing Ministries took up this doctrine, including A.A. Allen, William Branham, Jack Coe and others. Many of the issues covered in the past in A/G “White papers” have their roots in Latter Rain Doctrine. This river flowed through the Charismatic movement, the Word/Faith movement, the Shepherding movement, into the Vineyard, was active among the “Kansas City Prophets” and found open expression in the Toronto Revival. Time will not allow dealing with all the bizarre growths that have come with this river. However, we do know with certainty that this very same river has re-contaminated the Assemblies of God through Brownsville. PRESENT DAY LEADERSHIP Let’s review. Ern Baxter, (commonly known as one of the Fort Lauderdale Five Shepherding leaders of the 1970s) was a personal secretary of William Branham, and ministered extensively with him from 1949 to 1953; he became widely known in the Charismatic Renewal. In 1975, he became closely associated with the Christian Growth Ministries in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.7 Bill Britton of Springfield, Missouri is one of the most prominent ministries that has brought Latter Rain beliefs and practices into the Charismatic Movement. Bill Britton came into the Latter Rain in May 1950 through meetings at Faith Temple in Memphis, Tennessee, pastored by Paul Grubb. The guest speaker was Fred C. Poole, who laid hands upon him and prophesied that he would be an evangelist, a “publisher of good news.”8 Bill Britton died in the mid-80s and through his life contributed many writings to the movement. Joseph Mattson-Boze and Gerald Derstine: Logos Journal, which, was one of the most widely circulated magazines of the Charismatic Renewal, grew out of the publication, Herald of Faith/Harvest Time, edited by Joseph Mattson-Boze and Gerald Derstine. Mattson-Boze played a part in the 1948 Latter Rain Revival, and Gerald Derstine was associated for several years with J.Preston Eby, who had had some contact with the 1948 Latter Rain.9 One of the most prominent leaders of the Charismatic Renewal in the ‘60s and ‘70s was John Poole, who was a major Latter Rain teacher. In the early 1970s John Poole was a frequent contributor to “New Wine,” just about the most important magazine of the Charismatic Renewal. John Poole was the son of Fred Poole, who had close associations with the Latter Rain movement in the 40s.10 George Warnock picked up the concepts for Tabernacle of David worship in 1948. He was the author of The Feast of Tabernacles, one of the most influential books arising from within the Latter Rain Movement, and acted as Ern Baxter’s personal secretary for two or three years, immediately prior to the 1948 revival. Eric Simila, Ern Baxter’s secretary in 1975, referred to George Warnock as an associate, a “‘Timothy’ if you please,” to Ern Baxter, who became widely known in the Charismatic Renewal.11 Warnock is still living and resides in western Canada today.
Bill Hamon, though not traceable to the ‘48 “Revival,” founded a school of Prophets in Florida that maintains the original doctrines and spirit of “Latter Rain.” In his book, The Eternal Church, Bill Hamon entitled a chapter “The Charismatic Movement--An Expansion of the Latter Rain Movement.” Also in “THE ETERNAL CHURCH” we see MSOG teaching where he states:
Paul Cain, a leader in the Kansas City Prophets and a senior prophetic authority is a former associate of William Branham. Paul Cain has exhibited the ability to tell people the details of their lives, hidden sins and even things they have said in confidence to others. Cain is highly regarded as a “Terror of the Lord.” It is reported that power surges of electricity occur at places where he ministers.12 The Kansas City Prophets were for a time taken into the Vineyard Movement and have asserted a heavy influence both on the Vineyard and the present revival movement. Two people who have been strongly influential in exporting Latter Rain beliefs into the Assemblies of God are John Wimber and C. Peter Wagner. they have been welcomed into our churches across the country as church growth consultants. “Wimber, former Quaker and rock guitarist, founder of the . . .Vineyard Ministries . . . openly advocates a ‘paradigm shift’ away from thinking with Western logic into the exclusively experiential way of oriental thinking... He also claims “first century Semites did not argue from a premise to a conclusion; they were not controlled by rationalism. “This is a highly erroneous and mischievous statement. Not only is it historically inaccurate but it . . . denigrates logic . . . [and] epitomizes the considerable confusion in the Charismatic Movement in its failure to identify the difference between (unhealthy) rationalism, whereby the miraculous is denied and the supernatural work of the Spirit is blasphemed, and (wholesome) rationality, whereby the Christian exercises necessary discernment . . . . “The ultimate first century Semite was surely the Lord Jesus Christ: yet He continually used the most devastating logic to demolish His opponents... Never before [today] has a “sound mind” been so necessary in the life of the Church.”13 John Wimber, until his recent death, taught how to do signs and wonders and how to prophesy, and charged a stiff fee for attendance at such seminars. And some of the techniques the Vineyards still use, such as moving one’s hands slowly back and forth a few inches from a subject’s body to feel for hot spots to see where God is at work, or letting one’s mind go blank and speaking forth whatever thought comes, open the door to the occult. Biblical prophets never learned techniques.14 In one of his meetings, C. Peter Wagner said, “One fundamental thesis will control this discussion...the thesis that ministry [experience] precedes and produces theology, not the reverse.”15 We in the Assemblies of God have never believed this. We have always believed that all theology must have its roots in the Word and must be measured by the Word! Wagner calls Wimber “my mentor.” Wimber said, “We are cataloguing all of our experiences so we can develop a theology.”16 Recently, C. Peter Wagner convened the “National Symposium on the “Post Denominational Church.” The goal is to inaugurate and establish an organization to replace denominations and provide “structure” for the church of the 21st century.17 Of course, the New Order of Apostles and Prophets will be the new leaders of this charismatic amalgamation. This kind of activity is straight from the pages of the Latter Rain teaching of the 1940s. E. S. Williams, J.R. Flower and R.E. McAlister addressed these issues. Documentation can be found in the A/G archives. ONE RIVER Latter Rain is not easy to address. It is a complex system and consists of a variety of errors. It serves up a smorgasbord of false doctrines. Various groups emphasize different portions of the error. However, allegorical interpretation of Scripture, the circulation of apostles and prophets and their anti-establishment spirit tends to bring them together with some commonality.
The belief system coming down this river remains virtually intact from the 1940s. Though the tag “Latter Rain” is seldom used, and many would not even recognize the term, the doctrine is virtually the same. It has simply been repackaged. The term “River” is an apt figure of this “revival.” Whatever is upstream in this river will inevitably make its way downstream. The term “Revival” is opening the doors of receptivity. Once the camel gets its head through the flap of the tent, it eventually moves in.
Notes:
The following is a brief outline of what constitutes Latter Rain Doctrine:
2) What is” Manifest Sons of God”, AKA: —Joel’s Army—Man-child Company—New Breed— Sonship— Overcomers—Dominionism —Kingdom Now— Kingdom Message— Triumphalism—Elijah Company— The Walk---Restoration— Reconstructionism— Charismatic Renewal— Shepherding/Discipleship—Positive Confession (Word-Faith) — Gideon’s Army (possibly more?) ~ “ For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. Romans 8:19” ~ Dominion theology is the belief that in the end times (which, of course, we are in or on the brink of), God will create special leaders who will overcome the world, destroy the enemies of Christ and attain power throughout the world, ushering in the Kingdom of God. Some of the leading Pentecostal preachers have elements of it in their preaching. One version of this vision speaks of the “manifest sons of God” (sometimes known as ‘Joel’s Army’), who will be armed with supernatural power, for the purpose of wresting control of the world from the hands of Satan’s slaves. These people will (now having attained full sonship) already have their perfected new Kingdom-bodies and thus they will be able to stride across the earth like gods. They will usher in the Kingdom, they will complete the Church and some of them hold, thus even complete Jesus himself who up until their success is a head without a Body. Their mantra is “As you have seen Him go (spiritual ascension not bodily) so shall He return (spiritually through His corporate Body of believers “The Corporate Manchild” ) The main organized bodies of Christianity, so this theory goes, are controlled by the spirit of the Anti-Christ and thus will be among the first to be vanquished by the new order. MSOG Latter Rain gives all the above names and possibly more for the same elite group within the Church. They will be Christ incarnated on earth and are considered equal to Christ as his body on earth, Jesus being the head. Their teaching is that Christ must first come within the church before he can come for the church. This teaching envisions a civil war within the church in which there will be a dismantling of denominations and traditional organizations and judgment on those who will not buy into this revival, even to the point of bloodshed (Phineas Priesthood). They will take over the world for Christ and most of the world will come under the domination of the church. J. Preston Eby, who had some contact with the 1948 Latter Rain, has lived to be a contemporary Latter Rain teacher. He sums up their mission by characterizing their movement as “a people being prepared for the coming third outpouring . . . this third great work of the Spirit shall usher a people into full redemption—free from the curse, sin, sickness, death and carnality.” In Joel chapter 2, by an allegorical interpretation, the locusts are figured to be the church militant (Joel’s Army); in Revelation 12, the woman is the church who gives birth to the elite “Man-child” company who rules the nations with a rod of iron. The Church and Jesus are equal as parts of the “Christ.” All the Old Testament prophecies concerning Israel are applied to the church. Many of the Messianic prophecies concerning the reign of Christ are applied to the church. Rick Joyner a “prophet” disseminating these views spoke in Brownsville, A/G, he had written a seven-page article entitled “The Hordes of Hell are Marching”
Choruses bearing this doctrine are popular in many “revival churches.” Among them are, Blow the Trumpet in Zion; and Will You Ride with Me. The first pictures the church as Joel’s Army. The second pictures Jesus riding across this country with his church as they conquer (dominion). Where in Scripture does Jesus ride a white horse across America?
It is claimed that these people will be perfected into their "glorified bodies" prior to Christ's return. That perfection will allow them to subdue the earth for Jesus. Proponents of this doctrine also claim Christians, having a "divine nature," become "gods." They say Christ came into us as a "seed" and grows into a "prophet." Thus, Christ does not physically return, but returns within us. The rapture, according to this doctrine, will be of the wicked - not of believers.
The doctrine also includes the idea that Jesus was sent as a "pattern" for the corporate church (Corporate church in this context means that the church becomes Christ. Christ is considered not complete without us because he is the head and we are the body).
The earliest MSOG teaching I was able to find can bee seen in the following: ...according to Basilides, the Archon of the Hebdomas spoke in Exodus, saying: "I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and I have not revealed the name of God unto them." In his Epistle to the Romans, Paul had written: "For creation itself groaneth and travailleth awaiting the manifestation of the sons of God." These sons of God manifest when they become Gnostics, beings aware of Truth, true pneumatics filled with divine breath, able to bring ignorant souls into the divine order and set them on the road to perfection. The life of Basilides left no discernible track in history or legend, though the line of spiritual teachers from which he descended is known. Simon Magus, a Samaritan was singled out by the early church as its chief enemy. His foremost disciple and fellow Samaritan, Menander, "also attained the pinnacle of the magical art", according to Irenaeus. His authentic magic or soul-wisdom promised self-conscious immortality to those who could pass through the spiritual baptism, which washes away attachment to every angel and principality below the unknowable First Power. Menander in turn had two chief disciples, Satornilos of Antioch and Basilides of Alexandria. Tradition holds that Basilides was Alexandrian by birth, and though for a time he was said to have "preached amongst the Persians", he consecrated the whole of his life to teaching in his home city, most probably around AD. 130. Unlike his near contemporary and fellow Alexandrian, Valentinos, Basilides did not found a school of disciples, preferring to teach and advise those who came to him from every quarter. His only identifiable disciple was his son Isidoros, whose Ethika contained the ethical elaboration of his father's metaphysics. The teachings of Basilides survive today in Theosophy and New Age teachings. In Their Own Words- Next, we will look at this teaching in the words of the teachers themselves. I have chosen just a few of the terms as they pretty much repeat themselves and well; you get the idea… The word “transformed” in Romans 12:2 is the same Greek word translated “transfigured” in Matthew 17:2 which referred to the change that came in Jesus’ body on the holy mount or the mount of transfiguration. Therefore, it is reasonable to think that our bodies are to be “transfigured” or “transformed” too. In fact, this is the very heart of the meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles and why we enter the Most Holy Place. Hebrews 10:19, 20. First, as the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:2, “...be not conformed to this world:’ We have to leave behind the beliefs of the world (especially the religious world) that every single person must die a physical death or the rapture theory that Jesus will return and instantly change our bodies. The religious world teaches that we all must die and they quote Hebrews 9:27, “…it is appointed unto men once to die…” This is true but our old man did die. He was crucified with Christ. That was the death of the “old man” or the “carnal man.” Praise God, he is dead! (Bennie Skinner New Creations Pt. 2 Gospel Grace Ministries)
Sonship
"And she brought forth a manchild, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron." (Rev.12:5). The woman gives birth to a mighty warrior, a full-grown child, a "manchild." Not a babe. Then she "fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God." (verse 6). God will not "rapture" the Church, but will protect His Church, during the tribulation. There was war in the heavenlies. "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ." (verse 10). Good news: the "manchild" are the Sons of God who come forth in the endtime to cast down Satan and his demons one final time in the battle of the ages. The Sons of God win the battle. The accuser of the brethren is cast down, and the blood of the Lamb, with the word of the Sons' testimony, brings great victory to the woman, the Church in the wilderness. And great defeat to our enemy. It's what the whole creation is waiting for, says Paul. "For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the manifestation of the Sons of God." --Romans 8:19 It's the final step to glory. Message of Sonship: God, the Father, adopts his own children. The spirit of adoption is promised to the saints, and expected to be released by the end of this present age. "For the Spirit which you have received is, the Spirit of adoption, the Spirit producing sonship." --Romans 8:15 Here's something to think about; in this world, we only adopt those outside our immediate family. God, however, only adopts those inside his immediate family, his own children. Adoption, to the Hebrew, means, "placing as sons." Jewish Ceremony: The Jews had a beautiful ceremony for males reaching thirty years of age. Accompanied with fanfare, festivity, music, dancing, and ceremony, the priest in his garb stood before the young Jewish male. The father in his best robe stood behind his son. Neighbors, relatives, and townsmen watched. The young man knelt before the priest. Prayers were offered. Songs were sung. And young Jewish girls danced in circles, their banners flying in the wind. Yahweh was near by. Then the pronouncement, "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased." The father placed his hands upon his son's shoulders and kissed him. The child had become a son, thirty years of age, adopted by the father-now with the same privileges and responsibilities. The son had taken on his father's name, could wear and use his ring. He no longer had to get permission to use the family name for transactions, purchases, or major decisions. The father trusted him. His child had entered sonship. He had just been adopted and "placed as a son." After the ceremony had broken up, there was music in the air. Even into the night. Jesus too was adopted. Jesus is standing in river Jordan, one of the most popular scenes in all of scripture. He's about to be baptized by John: "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. And lo, a voice from heaven saying, This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased." --Mt.3:16,17 God, the Father, had just adopted Jesus. At thirty years of age, Jesus enters Jewish maturity, and enters his ministry with an unlimited anointing. John says he saw the Spirit descend from heaven and remain on Jesus (1:33). He also said that God gave the Spirit to Jesus "...without measure" (3:34). That's Sonship: ministering with an unlimited anointing, without measure, and having the Spirit remain on you. Saints, the day is coming.
After that day in Jordan, Jesus began a three-year ministry among his people, a ministry unparalleled in history. He was the firstborn among many sons-adopted by the Father. He is the Pattern Son, entering behind the veil as our forerunner (Heb.6: 20). And we're to follow.
The Man-Child Now, who is the man-child? Hermeneutical methods of Biblical exegesis would naturally look for the most obvious and literal of interpretations before we would go to spiritual or figurative ones. So to start with, we may have to accept that this is one child, one person instead of children or group of people, but not necessarily. It has been suggested that the second coming of Christ would be a "corporate Jesus" or all of us as His body being the second coming. It has also been suggested that the man-child is Elijah or the prophet to come but we will see that this is not the case. The man-child is set to rule. Remember that Jesus came as a ruler but humbled Himself and became as our servant, that rule will come in the last days. Now who is "he that overcomes?" Who is him given power over the nations? Is it just one person that keeps His works unto the end or it is anyone that keeps His works? If it is not just one person, it is many and then we must see it as a fulfillment of the Manifest Sons and a many-membered man-child. …Since we are talking about the man child here, we must come to the conclusion that he is a corporate Jesus in that the manifest sons as His body will be part of the second coming. Others in the restoration are already teaching this. Now we are not the high priest but all priests after the order. Hebrews 8: 4, if the high priest were on earth, he should not be a priest. So, Jesus is in heaven as high priest. We are on the earth as priests after the order of Melchizedek. So if Jesus is high priest and cannot be such on earth because it is forever, if the man child is Jesus, the child cannot be Jesus the high priest and cannot be another Jesus, therefore must be the corporate Jesus of us being priests unto Him and representative of His body. We are the man-child, we are the fulfillment of the prophecy that have just been birthed. Who are we? The true prophets of the last days bear witness to the truth that the five-fold ministry of apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists will march in rank (Joel’s Army) bringing the last days message to the world and that we are clothed with the sun and Jesus has placed the crown of apostolic order upon the woman's head with us as her jewels. This many membered man-child in the beauty of holiness with the fullness of the spirit will rule the nations according to His promise and joined with Jesus as our Lord. The proclamation of this truth will bring forth the restoration of all things and the latter rain outpouring unto all the earth, reconciling man and God in preparation of the harvest before the great and terrible Day of the Lord. This royal priesthood will come forth with the anointing and power to bring the church into the holy of holies and fulfill the prayer of Jesus that we should all be one. The enemy seeks to devour the child, take courage. (Jay Atkinson The Latter Rain Page) Kingdom Now The basic premise of Kingdom Theology is that man lost dominion over the earth when Adam and Eve succumbed to Satan's temptation in the Garden of Eden. God "lost control" of the earth to Satan at that time, and has since been looking for a "covenant people" who will be His "extension," or "expression," in the earth and take dominion back from Satan. This is to be accomplished through certain "overcomers" who, by yielding themselves to the authority of God's apostles and prophets for the Kingdom Age, will take control of the kingdoms of this world. These kingdoms are defined as all social institutions, such as the "kingdom" of education, the "kingdom" of science, the "kingdom" of the arts, and so on. Most especially, there is the "kingdom" of politics or government. This naturally implies the concentration of military and police power in the hands of those in control during the Kingdom Age. They are referred to as the "many-membered man child," whom Kingdom Theology adherents believe will be the fulfillment of Revelation 12:1-5: "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.... And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron." Those who hold to Kingdom Theology assume that the Church (some believe only a small group within the Church, called "overcomers"), under submission to the latter day apostles and prophets, is that man child, and that it has the responsibility to put down all rebellion and establish righteousness. This necessitates the utilization of supernatural power and the full implementation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This theory is based upon the idea that all authority in heaven and on the earth has been given to Jesus. Since believers are indwelt by the same Holy Spirit that indwelt Jesus, we have all authority in heaven and on the earth; we have the power to believe for and speak into existence things that are not, and thus we can bring about the Kingdom Age. The many-membered man child must take control of the earth before Jesus can return. Necessary to the Kingdom Age is "the Restoration of the Tabernacle of David,” defined as the completion of perfection of the Bride of Christ - a Church without spot or wrinkle. During the Kingdom Age (or after all else is subdued during that time) Satan and all enemies of God will be put under the feet of the many-membered man-child. This will be the fulfillment of I Corinthians 15:25-26: "For he (Christ) must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." The rationale that the many-membered man-child will put God's enemies under 'its' feet is that Jesus is the head of Christ and the Church is the body of Christ. And where are the feet but in the body? Many in the Kingdom Theology movements insist that when this Scripture refers to Christ it is really referring to the Church who is the Body of Christ. Therefore, it is necessary for them to establish within the minds of Christians the idea that, as the Body of Christ, we are Christ.
In other words, we have His divine nature. Notice that this idea, similar to that of mind science and other false religions, separates the anointing of "Christ" from Jesus and bestows it upon all who come into a place of certain knowledge and spiritual attainment. This is a heresy that is as old as the Church. It is rooted in the Greek school of philosophy known as Gnosticism.
Whether immortal or not, it is generally agreed in Kingdom Theology that the overcomers must purge the earth of all evil influences. "Evildoers" must be converted or they will be punished and/or "destroyed from off the face of the earth." "Evildoers" have been variously described as drug pushers, murderers, child molesters, thieves, prostitutes, and other such "scum" that Jesus died for. It will interest the reader to learn, however, that for many who teach Kingdom Theology, the term "evildoer" applies to anyone who refuses to submit to God's authority (the latter day apostles and prophets). Those who do submit will be sealed with the "mark of God" in their foreheads, and will escape the coming judgment. not everyone within each movement is necessarily in agreement with each other, let alone with those in the other movements. Still, each movement has teachings that are sufficiently aberrant as to warrant careful testing by the Word of God. Each in its own way has its part in propagating some or all of the elements of Kingdom Theology. Other teachings not detailed here are quite bizarre, and add to the overall occult flavor of Kingdom Theology. We'll be dealing with them as we progress. It's important to understand that not everyone in the various movements mentioned believe all Kingdom Theology teachings. Many are innocently fraternizing with those whose doctrines would horrify them if they were aware of them. Yet while the adage "guilt by association" does not always hold true, a consistent pattern of fraternization and support are sufficient grounds to at least question whether one holds the views of those he supports and with whom he seeks unity. As in all fraternities, there is certain terminology peculiar to Kingdom Theology. Knowledge of that terminology can alert us to the possibility that we are hearing from an adherent to those teachings. A few occasions of word usage prove nothing, of course. But a pattern of usage and dependence upon terminology peculiar to Kingdom Theology is reason for concern and further investigation of a teacher's doctrines. Many will hide their true beliefs to all but those within their inner circle lest they be prematurely exposed to the Body of Christ at large. Once you become familiar with their terminology I urge you not to judge arbitrarily, but to seek further knowledge of the teacher's true beliefs (Acts 17:11). Meanwhile, be cautious until you do know what he or she believes. The following Kingdom terminology should be cause for concern even though much will be defended as "scriptural" by those who use them:
Some Terminology
The Walk
He came to teach that all the regular denominations were of the Old Order, were Babylonish, and worldly, and largely apostate. God was using The Walk to establish a New Order, and eventually they would "birth" the Manifested Sons, of whom Stevens would be the first. He claimed to be an Apostle and Prophet, and gave out endless taped revelations, many of them transcribed into dozens of booklets. Documentation on this Latter Rain variant is therefore easily obtainable, and has been available to interested researchers for thirty years. Stevens' most serious (and aberrantly fruitful) blunder was his decision that the spiritual practices and forces of Occultism are really "neutral" and that therefore the methods of the occult should also be used by Christians to help them achieve a similar or even better "spirituality." In fact, he said that Satan originally stole these methods from the righteous. Believers should therefore study the occult and appropriate their techniques, reclaiming their use for God. JRS taught that God will bless this syncretism, and the Latter Rain fire will fall at last, birthing the perfected Church. The Walk will be (literally) glorified into the Manifested Sons, thereby becoming themselves the Parousia (the Second Coming) of Christ, itself the Manchild Company (Nichols' SCP report). Stevens even said that communication with Angels and deceased believers had already become possible. Paul Cain and Bob Jones have been talking with Angels regularly for decades, of course. Stevens claimed communication himself with the "great cloud of witnesses."
ROYAL CRONQUIST:
Cronquist, though having left the covering of John Robert Stevens, continues to maintain most of the Manifested Sons of God doctrines. His interpretation of Ephesians 2:20 is classical manifested Sons of God. Below are some quotes:
...The whole purpose of the foundational ministry, and especially the foundational ministry, is to equip you in a very private, particular way to inform, to undergird, to strengthen, to encourage, to qualify, to create the will of God for your life. Can you imagine how the body of Christ is still in the baby infancy stage, because they have really denied the foundation that is to their lives, and if they deny the foundation of their life, there is no way that the foundation can be built within them. ...And so we are going to have to be willing to let our mind be changed by the Holy Spirit in the way that we think and the way we under- stand. He did promise that 'albeit when He, the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into all truth.' In 2,000 years no one has ever been guided into all truth. Why? The only thing I can think of - and I don't know everything yet because I haven't yet become glorified, but I believe that God is now beginning to remove the seals from the secrets that have been hid from the foundation of the world. I believe that He is now going to begin to reveal unto the holy apostles and prophets the foundation of the kingdom that will unfold the truths of God to His people so that they can literally become the very divine substance of Jesus Christ in their spirit, soul, heart, mind, and body. ...You therefore shall be complete, even as your heavenly Father is complete. How do you suppose that is going to be done? It's going to be done by holy apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers who become the experience themselves, who equip you with the experience that they have, who give you the rules, the laws, the ways, and the how-tos to literally cooperate with God's Holy Spirit so that it again can be performed.
"...The greatest decision that the church is going to have to make in these days ahead (and especially the ministries in the body of Christ) is to have to face that there are apostles of God, and that they must submit to that foundation as though it was Jesus Christ, and whoever will not submit to that authority shall be destroyed from among the people."
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