EQUAL WITH GOD

Read John 5:1–23

I haven't figured out what my fascination is with this topic...maybe it's kinda like the rubbernecking response when there is a roadside accident, or just bad roadkill. It started with my yoga research, then friend connections (as mentioned previously), but now who knows. I'm not a spooky superstitious person. I prefer a reasoned argument, some good deep thinking. Ah, well. I do read trashy novels from time to time and maybe this is related. This is all so OUT there and melodramatic and televangelistic-type hype overkill (there's that word again). One of my very literary, intelligent, artistic, brilliant friends loves to read vampire novels. I think we all have some of that in us somewhere. In regards to religious crap, usually it just makes me sick. And partly, this does, because the poor people involved make is tragedy-comedy.

It also might be the occultic connections that fascinate me since I study that stuff. And it does have a relationship with kundalini and other interesting things. But mainly, I'll probably just be really sad when it is all over and so many people have been thrashed by it all. By then, I'm sure I'll be able to watch the expose on tv!

Anyways, that is my long-winded explanation for posting the following story:

You are entering in the middle of the narrative. They are in Lakeland and plan to sing and speak to the crowd and he sees the Angel Emma that Bentley talks about...

We loaded his equipment and headed back down to where Todd Bentley was holding service that evening the Lakeland center or convention center. I’m really not sure what it was called. We arrived and found the place that I felt like the father wanted us to set up. There was plenty of parking in the parking lot where I could have set up or even parked but I had received a warning earlier myself from the father instructing me to not set on foot on that property, to just open my mouth and he would fill it.

Daniel started off singing a few songs playing the guitar and people where very aware of our presence and some started gathering across the road listening. Then I took the mic after a few songs and started in by saying “you like sheep are led astray, Judgment is coming to Florida and then I don’t remember anything else I said until something happened. The anointing was so strong I felt it coming in waves so strong I thought I would not be able to stand. Then my spiritual eyes where opened and I saw an angel coming from the building that was about a block away across the parking lot. She made her way across the parking lot almost instantaneously but the spirit rose up in me and said I rebuke you Emma and I bind you to do no harm.

At that moment it was like I saw her bound by something I could not see, but it rendered her motionless other then every mussel in her body strained trying to break free. And she stayed there until I was done speaking and then I saw her no more. But as sure as I am alive if I would have set one foot on their side of the street she would have killed me. I knew this was that same angel Todd had spoken about in his meetings. It does look like a woman though and looks to be in her mid to late 30’s but you can also tell that she is 1000’s of years old at the same time. She was very beautiful but very insidious at the same time. She was conjured there by other so called ministers and was there for one purpose. That was to deceive and to do lying signs and wonders in so much as if it where possible she would be able to deceive the very elect.

I finished speaking and opened my eyes to see people coming across the street. They where all very nice people that really did love god but clearly where taken in by this false prophet some of them where just misled others where under strong delusion. They did not sing the praise to the lord, but to Todd rather. Asking if we had seen him or been in the meetings and one of them, a man from England started doing the convulsing thing like Todd. He then tried to grab me by the arm to lead me across the street. So that demon could attack me. I told him do not touch me you are not going to put any demons on me. Then the anointing started coming very strong again in those same waves. Every time a wave of the anointing would come, the man that was from England would flinch and dodge like I had taken a swing at him.

I talked with another guy for a bit but he kept trying to get me to cross the road, even after I told him that I had been instructed by the father not do so. The funny thing is that every one that came up to myself or Daniel told us that they could fill the anointing on us but, could not understand why we where speaking against Todd Bentley. I explained to them again that Todd was a false prophet working witchcraft, doing lying signs and wonders. He was no more than a spiritual charlatan. These words seem to fall on deaf ears except for a few people that seemed to be taking it all in but not yet convinced. Someone called the police in the middle of it all and when they showed up the officer ask us what we where doing there. I told him the whole spill about Todd and this false fire revival, and as I was talking to him I saw something change in him. He changed from police officer to someone that was in agreement with what the father was having us do. He walked back to his car and a few moments latter the chief of police in Lakeland showed up. They said they just wanted to make sure no one messed with us.

The police men stood back let us talk to the people until Todd’s body guards, crew, or whatever they were showed up. Seeing these two men approaching the two officers drew in a little closer, still not interrupting but at the same time letting us know that they where there to help us if things went bad. Yah sent us a Joshua and Caleb I have no doubt. We talked with them for a while, showing them in scripture why Todd could not be a true prophet, but our words fell on deaf ears. Then they started trying to get us to come inside. One of them actually said I believe the lord sent you here, and if he told you that Todd was a false prophet, I assure you that is not what he wants to be, so why don’t you just come in and talk with him. I told them again that I had been instructed by Yah not set one foot on the other side of the street. They where polite, shook our hands, then left. Daniel sang one more song and we began to pack up. As we where packing up I noticed a young man that had been standing near by during most of what had transpired returning but this time he was returning with a woman. He introduced her to Daniel and I, then the young man explained to us that she was his spiritual mother. He then ask us if we could tell her why we where there and we did.

She seemed somewhat offended at what we where telling her concerning Todd, and especially when I outright called him a false profit. She started trying to give me a warning about calling men false prophets, but as she was talking the father spoke to me and told me to tell her that her grand father was not afraid to call men false prophets when that’s what they were. She looked stunned at me and replied that, yes he did but, he did it very cautiously. She then told us who her grand father was. She was the granddaughter of A. A. Allen a true man of God no matter how they smeared his name at his death. We talked a bit about her grandfather’s ministry among other things prayed with them and then left. But during our conversation she said that she had gotten a check in her spirit several times since she had been there. And although I did not say it I was thinking to myself then why are you not running as fast as you can away from this place.

The four things that I left Lakeland knowing, besides judgment was for sure coming to Florida was this. #1 almost everyone there told us that they could fill the anointing on us but no one could see that this anointing was real and a warning for them. #2 almost everyone there when told that Judgment was coming to Florida almost seemed gleeful that it was coming and was very demonically deceived by a spirit of deception. #3 that there where real sheep there that where being lead astray not wacko’s fallowing some guru. #4 that there where real miracles going on there but they were not because of Todd, these miracles had nothing to do with him. The miracles came because Yah’s people came expecting and desiring to receive.

Later that evening we returned Brother Anthony’s equipment, and then met with Angus and Batya Wooten the leaders of the MIA. They had driven up from Orlando that evening to have a meal with us before we headed back home. It was my first time meeting them but I felt like I had known them all my life, we talked, plotted, and planed what our next plan of attack on the enemy mite be. Then parted ways because it was getting late and I felt compelled to get out of Florida as fast as I could. I drove several hours until we where almost out of Florida and the uneasiness subsided. Then we stopped and got a room to rest up for the rest of our trip home Friday morning.

I know you thought that was the end of the story but it is not. When all the stuff was going on with Rich’s dad and everything when black concerning him, and after we had prayed for him and his mom I rode in silence, just meditating on the lord. Then again I saw the vision of the Elijah type person calling judgment down on Florida in what seemed like fire, but the vision did not stop this time it continued on. I saw the biggest blackest cloud I had ever seen over Florida. It was so black that it seemed like if it was placed in the shy on the darkest night, it would have still been visible. While looking at the cloud and asking the father what he was showing me, the cloud started shaking violently then the vision stopped. I felt like the father spoke to me “Judgment is coming to Florida”. I was shown this part of the vision, the part with the cloud several times the next day as we spoke to people, and received the same impression each time, “judgment is coming to Florida”.

Upon returning home I was informed that 90 wildfires burned out of control stating Friday afternoon about the time we were crossing the Stateline. The weird thing is that the fires were in the everglades, normally one of the wettest arias in Florida and not to far from Lakeland. There is part one of the judgment fulfilled, the calling down of fire. Now we await the second judgment. One that I fill will be one of the most devastating judgments we have ever seen as a nation. So if you know any one living in Florida please send them this e-mail with the instructions to be very prayerful on what they should do in the coming months. I am not calling for a mass evacuation of Florida I am simply saying, seek God and ask him his will in the matter and if he instructs you to leave do not hesitate. If you need some where to go we will do all that we can to help?

Shalom (Peace) be on you in these last days is my prayer.

End Time Preacher

James Gillispie

A Copy of the email follows.   It WILL NOT make sense to you if you do not watch the video from atleast 5:30 on!  [emphasis on words mine]

Ivor 2008-07-04 Back to Testimonies
ELEVEN YEAR OLD LEADS CLASS TO PRAY AND TEACHER IS RAISED FROM THE DEAD

Let me tell you an awesome story of how God Has supernaturally raised my daughter’s teacher from the DEAD! Not by me, but my 11 year old daughter who led the prayers and got all the kids to pray for her to be brought back to life after she suffered a massive hart attack while teaching in my daughters class. We will see her tomorrow as a family, at her home as she has asked to say thank you to Jessica for her faith and prayers. She said that if she had not got the children in her class to pray she would not be here today!

The paramedics said that ‘you should not be here; we stopped working on you 10 minutes ago because you were gone”! This is miracle I can verify because we were called to the school to collect our children as all classes had to be cancelled. The teacher was not saved but this lady sure knows now that God is real! I just want to say to you Todd, thank you for being the mouth piece of GOD for this revival. We want to see greater things than this or even the return of Jesus in power right now! We live in a small town in Leicestershire, England just about 60 miles from Dudley where the fire is falling. We have seen even here in England the TV news publish the revival not as a story but as FACT! The Revival is breaking out all over the country with it this message, “Come and Get SOME!” As the Children at the school, so we to declare that ‘the lie of the Devil that we have no hope of life is not God’s will!’

In Him,

Pastor Ivor Biggin
Leicestershire

by Anonymous

25 ATTRIBUTES OF A CULT:

This list is taken from a college course called "The Psychology of Fundamentalism" offered by the University of Texas

1. the leader is charismatic and often militaristically demanding
2. the leader is always right
3. elitism, the leaders treated as royalty or a sense of awe, hierarchical, authoritarian power structure
4. lower members get no respect, or get abused
5. leader is not held accountable for his actions or the actions of his authority structure
6. leader will not tolerate or receive criticism, but leader criticizes all others
7. there is no exit
8. if members exit they are considered rebellious, out of the will of a higher power or the leader
9. members do not have any association with members that have left the group
10. there are no graduates from the “program” or group, just deserters or evil people
11. there is cult speak (a language many others can not understand)
12. personal attacks on critics or those who are not in the group
13. solidarity within themselves, no outside allegiance or association
14. use of guilt to manipulate members
15. the leaders of group are self absorbed
16. instant community
17. members unable to tell the truth
18. money grubbing
19. newcomers don’t “think right” and need to be trained
20. system of punishment and reward
21. intrusiveness
22. sense of powerless, dependency, covert fear, guilt
23. members and leaders are imbalanced or mentally ill
24. thought stopping language, clichés, or slogans
25. demands of ultra loyalty or ultra trust in the groups process and others

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25651899/

From Soli Deo Gloria:

The Spirit of Truth Set Me Free From the False Anointing

It's not about clearing out material things...although that's often a good thing to do.

LJMJ is about the theological and spiritual "junk" that is becoming ever more present in the lives of Christians in the USA today (and in many other places around the world).

This issue is of great concern to me because of an increasing number of situations where Christians are showing lack of discernment and following what feels right instead of what is necessarily biblical. In addition, some believers consider extra-biblical beliefs and practices to be an essential part of a healthy Christian life.

The purpose of this blog is not to judge other people's hearts. It is education; in order  to encourage other believers to do as the Bereans did in Acts 17.  While they received Paul's  message with "great eagerness" they also searched the scriptures to ensure that his message was true.

Who was William Branham:

William Branham was born in 6th April 1909 in Kentucky and died on 24 December 1965.  His ministry was founded in May 1946.  But this legacy lives on in his followers and the hundreds of sermons that were recorded or transcribed.  Most people read his sermons more than they do they bible.  Most people believe William Branham's words more than the bible.  This is obviously concerning, but what is more concerning is what William Branham preached and the strange signs and wonders that accompanied him.

The young William Branham:

William Branham's mother was 15 years of age, and his father was 18 years of age.  When William Branham was born something rather unusual happened on that day - a few rays of light shone into the room and a huge halo, one foot in diameter appeared above William's mother and baby.  Because of this his mother took him to a Baptist church in the local community.  That was the first and the last time he went to church in years.    --Carl Dyck, William Branham: The Man and His Message (Saskatoon: Western Tract Mission, 1984), page 3.   

It should be noted (and keep this in your mind at all times) that Branham'sparents both believed in fortunetelling (so they were not Christian) and this of course means that William Branham was raised in an occult environment.     --Kurt Koch, Between Christ and Satan(Grand Rapids: Kregal Publications, 1962), page 150

Branham's life was influenced by numerous visions and angelic visitations.  He recalled that he heard a voice at the age of seven,  "Well, I started up the lane again. And I turned to look at this again. And when it did, a human Voice just as audible as mine is, said, `Don't you never drink, smoke, or defile your body in any way. There'llbeaworkfor you to do when you get older.' Why, it liked to scared me to death!"     --Brother Branham, taped sermon transcript, p. 24

This would not be the last time Branham heard this voice, later this voice would identify itself as an angel and later he ends up receiving  extra-biblical revelation concerning future events.

William's family and Ministry:

William Branham was influenced by a few obscure people/religions before he fully established his ministry in 1948, one of these was the 'Jesus Only' Pentecostals.     --Brother Branham, p.39

At this time William Branham was married and had a baby daughter.  Many family members and other ministers warned him not to associate with the 'Jesus Only' cult for this group did not believe in the Trinity amongst other thing.  Branham must have broken away from then for later when his Wife and baby daughter died in 1937 from Tubercular Meningitis he attributed their deaths to the fact that it was because he had not continued in fellowship with the Pentecostals and had missed God's will.     --Brother Branham, p.47

Never the less, the 'Jesus Only' cult was a great influence on Branham as he adopted many of their heretical doctrines into his own. 

Another influential person in Branham's 'doctrine to be' was Franklin Hall who wrote on the 'Atomic Power with God through Fasting and Prayer'.  Hall had a great influence on almost all the healing revival preachers of that time, of which Branham was his best disciple, in so much that Branham’s followers believed him to be the apostle of the final Church age.

In 1946 while Branham was baptising followers in the Ohio river he heard a small voice say 'Look up!"  Looking up he saw it descending toward him - it looked like a blazing Star, a Pillar of Fire.  The Supernatural Pillar of Fire hovered just above his head and that voice he had been hearing since he was little spoke out of the Pillar of Fire saying, "As John the Baptist was sent to forerun the First Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, so you are sent to forerun His Second Coming."     --Brother Branham, p.71

That was that, Branham called this his 'charge' - that he was called by God and soon many believed him to be Elijah.  In fact when Branham passed away in 1965 due to a head injury from a car accident many of his followers (and still today, believe it or not) truly believe he came in the spirit of Elijah, some believed him to be born of a virgin, some believed him to be God and most expected him to actually rise from the dead in three days.     --All Things Are Possible, p.164

Not long after Branham was told by the Pillar of Fire that he was the forerunner for the Second Coming of Christ he was visited by the voice manifested in the form of an angel.  This angel told him that he had been given two gifts; the gift of healing and the gift of words of knowledge / restore biblical truth.   As time went by Branham also came to believe that this angel was the source of all his visions and extra-biblical revelations as well.   But of course Branham was very discerning (as he claims it was also one of his gifts) and he asked the angel why he should believe the angel to be from God and the angel told him that the people in Jesus' day called Jesus a devil, so he (Branham) should not worry about others in his family or ministry saying the same thing about the message/angel.  The angel mentioned that Branham had been told by fortunetellers in impromptu meetings that he had a special gift from God and was born under a sign.  The angel assured Branham that demons had confirmed that Jesus was the Christ and he should not be concerned by testimony of fortunetellers.      --Brother Branham, pp. 74, 75, 79

Well I suppose that settles it then - the angel must be from God, phewww and all this time I thought otherwise.  You see in 1 John it explains very clearly what Branham was supposed to ask the angel, '"has Jesus Christ come in the Flesh".  I guarantee this angel would have come up with every excuse in the book to say otherwise.  But then, what's the bible anyway? eh?  Just useless info...not to be adhered to.

So Branham decided to test out his new 'powers' and found himself confronted with a women who had cancer.  Just as a matter of interest the angel told Branham about this woman in a vision.  So he prayed for her and she was 'healed'.  He shot to Super Stardom over night and from then on claimed his angel was with him day and night. 

Two things here;  Who said she had cancer?  Was there any medical proof of this and secondly who could prove she was healed?  Or did Branham proclaim she was healed and everyone just accepted it?  So either this was one big lie or worse we have a demon (posing as an angel of light) telling Branham about a women who has cancer, i.e., this woman's cancer was demonically inflicted.  Talk about being set up, William Branham that is, and again so much for his discernment.  So Branham prays for her and she is 'healed'.  What actually happened was the demonic affliction was lifted and who knows what else this woman received in its place. 

From then on William Branham's ministry was built on supernatural manifestations and was empowered by a spirit being / angel.  The angel accompanied him throughout his lifetime and even directed him in every aspect of his personal life.   It was the angel Branham said gave him his power - not the Holy Spirit.  In fact Branham knew that if he didn't do what the Voice told him to do he would suffer greatly. 

But if that has not convinced you even slightly that there was something horribly wrong with Brenham, lets go look at his teachings and see just how much they contradict the Word of God.

He believed he was the Last Days Prophet:

This I find rather funny because since starting my blog I have come across at least 20 others who think they are too.  Who's right?  Fortunately, non of them, Branham included.  Anyhow let's stick to the story shall we - so Branham said, "Now, I'm just your brother, by the grace of God. But when the Angel of the Lord moves down, it becomes then a Voice of God to you...But I am God's Voice to you... Now, see, I can say nothing in myself. But what He shows me."     --Footprints On The Sands Of Time, p. 214

His followers believed him to be the spirit of Elijah based on Malachi 4 and the seventh angel in Revelations 10.

Unfortunately for him and his followers, William Branham has to under no uncertain terms be labelled a False Prophet for a lot of things he prophesied did not come to pass for example:  He prophesied that Jesus would return in 1977 along with the destruction of America .  Branham said, "Jesus did not say no man could know the year, month or week in which his coming would be completed. I sincerely believe and maintain as a private student of the Word along with divine inspiration  that 1977 ought to terminate the world systems and usher in the millennium."   --7 Church Ages, p. 322.

As we can see, Jesus Christ has not come back, America is still standing and it's the year 2008.  So you the reader have 2 choices here;  1) William Branham received this information from a lying demonic source aka his angel who's father is Satan or,  2)  God lied.  

The bible says, in Deuteronomy 18 v 20-22

20  But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.    21  And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?    22  When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

Branham preached the 'Serpent Seed' teaching:

The Serpent Seed teaching is a belief that Cain was produced through sexual intercourse between Eve and the serpent in the garden.  The curse of the Serpent's Seed he believed is the cause of all mankind's problems and women are to blame and it is evident in their temptation of men.     --William M. Branham, My Life Story, p. 19.   

Branham also believe that the Serpent Seed was the missing link between man and monkey. 

Hitler also believed in the Serpent Seed teaching and this was the main reason why Jews needed to be eliminated, for the Jewish nation was of Satan.  Now if Hitler believed in this and Branham believed in this, and Hitler was of Satan and Branham is of God then....we have a HUGE problem here.

It is also noted that Branham despised women and on one occasion stated, "But I remember when my father's still up there running, I had to be out there with water and stuff, see young ladies that wasn't over seventeen, eighteen years, up there with a man my age now, drunk. And they'd have to sober them up and give them black coffee, to get them home to cook their husband's supper. Oh, something like that, I said, 'I...This was my remarked [sic] then, THEY'RE NOT WORTH A GOOD CLEAN BULLET TO KILL THEM WITH IT.' That's right. And I hated women. That's right. And I just have to watch every move now, to keep from still thinking the same thing."      --M. Branham, 'My Life Story' (Spoken Word Publications, undated), p.27.

So now we can see why he was so adamant to preach this Serpent Seed teaching for he had an immense animosity towards women.  This would also explain why he preached a rigid 'moral code' for women with regards to dressing, hair etc, etc.  Branham also had a 'revelation' that allowed for divorce.      --All Things Are Possible, p.162.

The bible says in Genesis 4 v 11;

1 "And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD."  .... not from the Serpent/Satan.

Branham believed the Zodiac and the Egyptian Pyramids are EQUAL to scripture:

So as far as Branham is concerned the Zodiac and Egyptian pyramids are equal to Scripture in the revelation of God's Word.  This might I add is also one of Franklin Halls strange beliefs that was passed onto Branham.    --'Adoption', pp.31,104.   

After Branham's death a tombstone in the shape of a pyramid was placed on his grave.

Now we know that the Zodiac and the Pyramids play a huge part in the occult.  So how on earth can the occult be equal to Scripture?  Witchcraft, Astrology and New Age all use the pyramids and the zodiac for divination i.e., predicting the future. The pyramids are an essential holiday spot for occultists, witches, magicians, necromancers and many a demon/spirit. The narrow passages through-out the pyramids allowed for occult soul travel were mummified Kings and other notable people were buried with gold, food and other worldly possessions in the belief that their soul would need these things in the after-life. Pyramids also have an occult alignment with the stars i.e., the Zodiac.

Let's see what the bible says about this:   Deuteronomy 18 v 9-12

9  When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.   10  There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.   11  Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.   12  For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

Branhman believed that ALL denominations were the Mark of the Beast:

Except for his 'demonination' of course which was pure.  Hence if you follow anyone eles teachings and not his you are doomed.  Branham believed that some humans are descended from the serpent’s seed and are destined for hell, which is not eternal, however. The seed of God, i.e., those who receive Branham’s teaching, are predestined to become the Bride of Christ. There are still others who possess free will and who may be saved out of the denominational churches, but they must suffer through the Great Tribulation. He considered denominationalism a mark of the Beast (Rev. 13:17).     --Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, pp. 95,96.

Branham believed he was commissioned by God to OPEN the SEVEN SEALS in Revelations:

Branham said, "I saw seven angels in the form of a pyramid that swept down, picked me up and was brought east to open the seven seals of God”      --William Branham, Standing In the Gap - 63-0623.1M.

Revelations 5 v 1-10 says; "1  Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.   2  And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?"   3  But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.   4  I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.   5  Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."

So, is William Branham saying he is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David - Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the One and Only Living God?  It must be, because William Branham said it, and if William Branham said that God commissioned him to open the book and loose the seals then who are we to argue, I mean really, the bible must be wrong, completely wrong!

Branham believes he was the ONLY Prophet

Branham said, "There never was in the age, any two major prophets on the earth at one time. There were many minor prophets, but there were one major prophet. And Elijah was the prophet until Elisha came. Then when Elijah was taking off, a portion, double portion, of Elijah's Spirit, Elijah's Spirit came upon Elisha."     --Our Hope is in God, 1951 (tape #51-0929)

Now, God always uses a--a prophet, a man. If you use a bunch of men, you get different ideas (See?); each man, two men. Never did He have two major prophets on the earth at one time. He takes one, so the other one can take its place for another day, another message. He never has two; He has one at a time.”     --The Evening Messenger, 1963 (tape #63-0116)

"God always deals with one individual. Two men's got two ideas. There never was two major prophets on the earth prophesying the same time. Look back and see if there was. No, sir. Too much scrupled up. He's got to get one man completely surrendered and use that person. He searches for that person, but there will be one sometime, somebody who'll listen to Him word by word."      --The Fourth Seal, Revelation of the Seven Seals, 1963 (tape #63-0321)

Many historical prophets did indeed prophesy at the same time as others. Several minor prophets did as well (e.g., Hosea & Micah; Haggai & Zechariah. Ezra 5:1,2 actually says, "Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadakset to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were withthem, helping them." See also, Numbers 11:25-29). In fact, some Minor prophets prophesied at the same time as Major prophets (e.g., Hosea & Micah were contemporary with Isaiah; Habakkuk was contemporary with Jeremiah). But Mr. Branham's most obvious error was in saying that God never sent two Major prophets at the same time. Of the four Major prophets, Daniel, Jeremiah and Ezekiel were all contemporaries during the years 595-587 BC.      --http://people.delphiforums.com/johnk63/1prophet.htm

The difference between Branham and the TRUE prophets of the bible were that the TRUE prophets of the bible were not confused, never presented two different ideas, never got their message 'scrupled up' and most importantly their words were God's words hence they appear in the Word of God.  Unlike Branham who preaches a DIFFERENT gospel.

Branham taught that God is NOT omnipresent

Branham said, "Now, you cannot be omnipresent without being omniscient. God's not even omnipresent; God's omniscient. Omniscient which means - makes Him omnipresent (He knows all things). But in order to be a being He has to be in one being."     --The Masterpiece, 1964 (tape #64-0705)

"He's [God]--He's infinite, and He's--He's omnipresent, omniscient, therefore He knows all things. He can't be present everywhere. By being omniscient, knowing all things, then He can be present everywhere."     --The Harvest Time, 1964 (tape #64-1212)

So because Branham believes that God is a 'being' and not 'spirit' he can't be in more than one place at a time.  He does however believe that God knows 'all things' hence He is omniscient, so it seems like God is everywhere, but He is not.

The bible says:  Jeremiah 23:23-24 "Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord."

Branham DENIED the Deity of Jesus Christ

Branham said;   "The man, the body was not Deity, but Deity was in the body."    --God’s Gifts Always Find Their Places, December 22, 1963 (tape #63-1222)

"Jesus was not God, but He was God. He was a Man, yet He was God. He could cry, and yet He could raise the dead. He could cry for a man being dead and raise him back up again. He was Jehovah-jireh, Jehovah-rapha, Jehovah Manasses; He was Jehovah, all completely. He was Jehovah, and yet He was a Man."     --Questions and Answers #3, August 30, 1964 (tape #64-0830M)

"He was--He was Jesus when He was born. But when the Holy Ghost came upon Him after His baptism, He was anointed with God. God was in Him, 'cause He come to fulfill the Word."      --The Messiah, January 17, 1961 (tape #61-0117)

"And this little Boy, twelve-year-old Child, no wisdom at all, why, but just a twelve-year-old Boy... The Father didn't dwell in Him at that time, because He come on the day when He baptized Him; he saw the Spirit of God coming down (See?), and went in Him."      --Paradox, February 6, 1964 (tape #64-0206B

"The Spirit left Jesus in Gethsemane and He became just a man-- When God looked down upon the body... (The Spirit left Him in the Garden of Gethsemane; He had to die a man.)"     --It Is the Rising of the Sun, April 18, 1965 (tape #65-0418M 

Unbelievable!  William Branham DENIES Jesus Christ.  Anyone who says that William Branham is a man of God is deluded, deceived and follows the teachings on an anti-Christ. 

The bible says,  John 1 v 1-14  The Deity of Jesus Christ:  "1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.   2  He was in the beginning with God.  3  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.  4  In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.   5  The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

William Branham's unsolved mysteries:

1. The Seventh Seal:  Branham believed that his interpretation of the 7 seals (Revelation, chapters 5-8) was essential in preparing his followers for Christ’s soon return. He spent the week of March 18 thru the 23, 1963, "revealing" the meaning of the first 6 seals from Revelation 6. However, on the evening he was to reveal the 7th seal, he did not explain its meaning. It remains a mystery to his followers to this day.
2. The Seven Thunders (Revelation 10:3,4):  Likewise, Branham spoke of the 7 Thunders, but never revealed what the voices spoke.
3. The Third Pull:  Although not a biblical mystery, Branham created a new mystery, speaking of a future phase of his ministry which he called the Third Pull. Not only did he fail to say what this phase of his ministry would accomplish, but he never fulfilled it before his death.   

Source:  http://people.delphiforums.com/johnk63/teachings.htm#unrevealed

William Branham's terrible inconsistencies about a man who tried to prove him to be false:

William Branham sometimes warned his listeners against testing the authenticity of his gifts. Which is odd because the bible tells us to test the spirits.  Never the less Branham indeed had an active imagination and most definitely liked to instill the fear of God into his follows too NOT test him.   Branham would frequently tell his congregation about a man who tried to prove him to be false by writing fictitious illnesses on his prayer card, and then would stand in the prayer line expecting Branham to correctly identify his illnesses as mentioned on the prayer card.   Every time Branham told this story, the outcome of what happened to his man would change:

1. The man received the diseases that he wrote on his card and was still suffering from them (1953).
2. The man had died from his diseases (1954).
3. The man was bedfast "to this day" (1956).
4. The man ran screaming from the auditorium when Mr. Branham publicly exposed his plan (1956).
5. The man died a year after the incident (January 1957).
6. The man was still in "serious condition" (June 1957).
7. The man died 6 months after the incident from cancer (1958).
8. The man was carried from the auditorium paralyzed and is still paralyzed (1958--note that in 1956 Mr. Branham said he ran screaming from the building).
9. The man died on the platform sixty seconds after Mr. Branham exposed him (1961).
10. The man died six weeks after the meeting (1962).

Source:  http://people.delphiforums.com/johnk63/teachings.htm#unrevealed

So much for being man of God.  This is called manipulation people, manipulation and lies belong in the same basket of rotten apples. 

William Branham's vision and the Cloud:

Once again it would seem that William Branham has a very over active imagination, or he just lied as went along to 'prove' himself to be a man of God.   I have received a few emails over the last couple of months from people sending me images of this famous cloud as proof that Branham is a prophet.   So I went and did some research and found out that this cloud appeared over Flagstaff which was 352 km / 219 miles from where Branham was having his vision on a mountain in Tucson.   Now from what I have read it says this cloud was huge and could be seen from very very far away.  However...

Branham says he was stading below it:   "And now, the "Life" Magazine picked it up. And I have the--the article here this morning in the "Life" Magazine there, of the show... Now, here it is, the same time I was there.  See the pyramid or the Cloud? I was standing just below this."     --William Branham, "Standing in the Gap," TSW (sermon preached 6-23-63), 6:7, pp. 20-21

Hmmmm.... How could he be 219 miles from this cloud but yet at the same time be standing just below it...now that is a miracle!

Also Branham's account or 'count' of how many angels he saw appear changed from 5 to 7 over a period of time.   It changed from 5 to 7 angels so he could say these angels represented the 'The Revelation of the Seven Seals'.

5 angels in vision on the mountain:  "And I, still in my ... the two consciences together, I knew I was standing here, and I knew I was somewhere else. And I thought, "Now, this is a vision, and I must learn what this means." And no more than the second group of birds came by, I looked to the west; and it looked like in the form of a pyramid---like two on each side with one in the top, came five of the mightiest angels I ever seen in my life. Such a terrific speed I never seen.... Their heads back and their pointed wings just sailing quickly."      --William Branham, "Reproach for the Word," The Spoken Word (TSW), Spoken Word Publications (Jeffersonville, IN, sermon preached 12-23-62), 2:16, pp. 4-7

7 angels in the vision on the mountain:  "In December 1962 God gave William Branham a vision of an angelic visitation which he foretold in a message "Sirs is this the Time?" On February 28, 1963, the vision and prophecy was fulfilled when a constellation of seven angels, formed as the head of Christ, met him with a commission to speak the opening of the Seven Seals of Revelation. Life Magazine (May 17th 1963) carried the photograph (left figure) of this supernatural event, describing it as a "Mystery Cloud over Arizona."      --http://www.bibleway.org/wmb

I seem to be hmmmm'ing a lot while writing this article.  It's amazing, people will believe all sorts of lies and even when presented with the truth continue to hold fast to these lies for dear life.  What for?  Do you like to be lied too?  Do you like to be deceived?  Do you like to be made a fool of by non other than William Branham?   But then I suppose that's what deception does, it blinds one to the truth.

Conclusion, 1) this cloud has absolutely nothing to do with William Branham's vision, 2) Satan can perform wonderous signs to capture the imagination of people who pretty much believe anything, except the Word of God.

William Brenham denies the Trinity:

Like the 'Jesus-Only' Pentecostals, Branham denied the Trinity doctrine teaching a form of Modalism. Instead of three Persons in the Godhead, Branham taught that there was only one Person (Jesus) going under different titles or modes at various times in history. Branham's teaching is a variation of a second century heresy taught by Sabellius know as Modalistic Monarchianism or Patripassianism.    --Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, pp. 727-28) and www.watchman.org/prOfile/branpro.htm.

Monarchianism:View found primarily in the third century that denied the Trinity, arguing that because God’s nature is one He cannot exist eternally in three Persons. The two most popular forms of monarchianism were dynamic monarchianism and modalism.       --www.watchman.org/cat95.htm#Monarchianismm

The Trinity doctrine cannot be fully comprehended by finite man. However, any other view of the Godhead will not satisfy God's self revelation in Scripture. Modalism teaches that there is only one Person in the Godhead functioning through relational "modes." When He is in the Father mode, the Son and Spirit modes are not functional. In Matthew 3:13-17, however, the Son is baptized, the Spirit descends and the Father speaks. Also, "in the name of" (Matthew 28:19) or in the authority of does not limit the nature of God's unity to one Person but connotes equality of essence within the Godhead (2 Corinthians 13:14).   

Source:  www.watchman.org/prOfile/branpro.htm

William Branham view on baptism:

Branham claimed that proper baptism was needed to avoid the "Mark of the Beast" of denominational churches and escape the danger of missing the rapture and entering the Tribulation. Proper baptism must be in the name of Jesus only. Baptism with the Trinitarian formula of Matthew 28:18 ("in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost") is unacceptable to God.

If an incorrect formula was spoken during baptism, Branham felt the convert would go into darkness. "But a tritheist, triune baptism was never recognized in the Church, the New Testament... Now you know what to do, that's right; and if you refuse to walk in Light when Light's brought forth, you turn to darkness. Right! Amen!"      --Conduct, Order, Doctrine Q and A, pp. 178, 181, 182, 184, 190).

Baptism in the name of Jesus only may have been the early practice in the Jerusalem church. However, all manuscripts of Matthew 28:19 have the Trinitarian formula as being commissioned by Jesus. One document, dating from A.D. 60, the Didache, prescribes the Matthew formula (Father, Son and Holy Ghost) for baptism within the church. Regardless of the formula, baptism is not a requirement for being rapturedoravoiding the Tribulation. Full salvation is by grace though faith and not of works such as baptism (Ephesians 2:8-9).     

Source:  www.watchman.org/prOfile/branpro.htm

Something interesting William Branham once said:

"¹⁶⁷ I was talking on the Name of Jesus Christ baptism. That's right, a revelation of that come. That's the Truth. But what did a bunch of people do? Gathered it right out here and put a denomination out of it, made another tower of Babel, same thing, throw edit right into it. Certainly. Luther done the same thing. Wesley done the same thing; John Smith done the same thing, Alexander Campbell done the same thing. Pentecost done the same thing. God deals with individuals keeping His Word. God's only plan to bring believers to Himself in a true oneness is receiving the Holy Ghost. Then here's how...You say, "Well, Brother Branham, I spoke in tongues. I shouted. I did this." If you still got that kind of a spirit and deny the Word of God, you haven't got the Word of God in you; you haven't got the Spirit. If you'll set and hear the Truth preached, and look It up in the Bible, and see It's the Truth, and then refuse to do it, that's not the Spirit of God. I don't care how much you spoke in tongues, how much you shouted, how much churches you belonged to, or how many times you was baptized, or anything else. The Word is truth. That's what vindicates the truth. If you got all these other truths and then with the Word (Amen.), then you know you're coming home."      --Oneness (62-0211)

So if we reversed this and said, "Well, William Branham, you spoke in tongues, you shouted, you did this and that, and you healed, and you prophesied, and you had visions, and you saw angels, and you had revelations and you spoke words that God supposedly told you to speak.  Then surely if you've got that kind of a spirit but at the SAME TIME deny the Word of God / deny Jesus Christ, then you William Branham haven't got the Word of God in you; you haven't got the Spirit.

Please refer to this article on HOW TO DISCERN - THE BIBLICAL WAY:  http://discerningtheworld.wordpress.com/2008/07/04/how-to-discern-the-biblical-way

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

On July 4th, America celebrated it’s 232nd birthday and I couldn’t help but to think, "Where will this country be a year from now?" You can’t help but to be amazed at the issues and events that are going on in our world today whether economical, political or biblical. Something of great magnitude is starting to happen. The storm clouds are starting to gather on the horizon. The winds are starting to blow and the waves are starting to roll. Everyday, meteorologists are using words like, "worst ever," “record breaking,” “unprecedented,” and “unbelievable."

Tornadoes, floods, droughts and fires are shattering records everywhere and are happening simultaneously in America and around the world. Nations are in distress with perplexities. The economies of America and the world are in disarray. Record oil prices seem to be leading the world toward Armageddon. There are wars and rumors of wars. There are earthquakes, famines and diseases. And all of these are only the start of last days birth pains that are increasing both in frequency and intensity. It’s almost as if the third rider of the apocalypse in Revelation is already galloping across the earth’s surface on his black horse. Current world events/Bible prophesy are accelerating with incredible speed. And then there's the million dollar question: Who will be the next President of the United States?

 I have three observations to share from my ponderings.  The first is how often God tells his people, “Do not fear.”  I was impressed by the reasons for the command, which are always related to God’s sovereignty and grace.  The famous verse in this regard is 41:10, “Do not fear for I am with you; do not anxious look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you; surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  I wonder how many people who quote that verse know the context is God’s sovereign choice of his people.  But there is also “I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’”  “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”  “Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.”  (notice again the context is God’s calling).  If we trust in a sovereign God, there is nothing to be afraid of; if we are his people, we have nothing to fear.

The next two observations from this section are theological in nature.  First is the idea that God is beyond time, not bound by it like we are.  In fact what impresses me here is that God’s freedom from time boundaries uniquely identifies him as God.  No other has that freedom.  In comparison with the idols, God says, “See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.” (42:9)  And in taunting the idols, He says, “Tell us, you idols, what is going to happen.  Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome.  Or declare to us the things to come, tell us what the future holds so we may know that you are gods.” (41:22-23)  Even more telling are two passages where God seems to say, there is no one else like me, who can tell the future: “Who then is like me?  Let them proclaim it.  Let them declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come – yes, let them foretell what will come.” (44:7)  “Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past?  Was it not I, the LORD?  And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.” (45:21)  There has been a movement amongst evangelicals in recent years (even in my own denomination) called “open theism.”  Open theism presents a god who doesn’t know all that will happen in the future, such as some actions and decision of people.  Though thoughts of such a god may be comforting when people do evil things to us, that god is not the God of the Bible.  According to Isaiah’s high view of God, that theology follows a false god, an idol of human invention.

            My second theological thought on this passage comes from one line that jumped out at me in a long section dealing with idols.  The idol maker shapes his idol “in human form, human form in all its glory, that it may dwell in a shrine.”  (44:13)  I laughed when I read this, because I’d been marking the passages in this section that make reference to God’s glory, yet when it comes to man-made gods, the best we can invent is one after our own image!  We instinctively know that we are the highest of God’s creation (or we arrogantly think we are the highest form of evolution!), so when we make a god, we fashion it after ourselves – glorified men with human strengths magnified.  Such were the idols of Isaiah’s day; such were the gods of the Greeks and Romans; so also are the false gods worshiped today.  Problem is, they have human weaknesses as well. The god of easy believism is a god who, like us, doesn’t take sin seriously; the god of prosperity is a god who, like us, focuses on the present life rather than the eternal; the god of open theism is a god who, like us, is bound by time; the same could be said of the Mormon god – he, like us, is bound by time and space.  “I am the LORD; that is my name!  I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols!” (Isaiah 42:8f)  I want to worship, follow and teach the true God, who, unlike me, is not bound by time and space; who, unlike me, is holy and sovereign; who, unlike me, lives in the present and the eternal.

Video of Todd Bentley Assaulting a Man.

(Hat tip Battle 4 Truth.)

And the Word of God says:

This ungodly demonic mess Todd Bentley is doing is nothing new and it appears after nearly thousands of years nothing has been learned and people still run after these false apostles. Being beaten and devoured and still falsely calling it a move of God.

Related post: Todd Bentley, Doctrine of Demons Indeed!

"Like much of this record, this song is aimed at showing Christians that many of the answers we are getting to our problems today are man-centered and ineffective when dealing with problems of sin, depression, and self-worth. Pop psychology has infiltrated the church so much that we forget that the ultimate end of man is not to feel good about one's self or focus on finding who we are, but rather to be "taken by God's glory" and lose interest in our worth, self-esteem, or value. That is the theme that this song tackles - The way for believers to be happy and feel valuable is to value God supremely and reject any notions of "self-help." If man is truly dead in trespasses and sins, the term "self-help" is ridiculous. We need Christ to redeem us from our sin, and find our value in His saving work on the cross. Instead of looking in the mirror and treasuring the good in us, we need to be transfixed on Christ and treasuring and savoring the ultimate good - and rejoicing in the fact that He imparts HIS righteousness to us, undeserving as we are." - Justin Anderson (Mainstay)

HT: Lane

Justin attended Bentley's "Lakeland Revival" earlier this month to witness the claims of "healing" first hand, and decided to contact seven people who claimed to be healed as a result of this meeting. He shared his findings with Todd Friel from the Way of the Master radio program.

Imagine my surprise when learning that none of the "healings" that Justin investigated could be confirmed after the "revival" :roll:

Part 1 - Lies At Lakeland

Part 2 - Lies At Lakeland

Once again, I admonish any TRUE believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to STAY AWAY FROM THE DEMONIC TODD BENTLEY. 

Greetings from Freetown! (Photo is of the beach!)

We have had a great time so far. I don't have time to write much, and I hope to write later on the lifestyle and culture here. Needless to say we are living a very basic existence, but it is a remarkably attractive way of living devoid of most of the things that complicate our lives in England.

Yesterday we went to a slum area of Freetown called Kroo Bay, and did a session for local church pastors. The church was very well equipped, with radio microphones, fans and keyboards - surprising given the lack of basic facilities outside in the houses. John did a brief introduction to 2 Timothy, before Robin and I led studies in Chapters 1 and 2 with the men, and Sarah did John 4 with the women. Our aim was to model a way of studying the bible in small groups, and they said afterwards they found it helpful.

On Thursday we visited the univeristy campus, and met with the CU executive. John gave a brief thought from Philippians 1 and 2, and we had a discussion about the challenges of student witness in Freetown. It was shocking to hear about the level of corruption within the university - lecturers failing students on the basis of their tribe is commonplace, and we encouraged the CU to speak out against it.

Another massive problem in Sierra Leone is false teaching. Large swathes of the church teach a health/wealth/prosperity gospel with no room for suffering and trials. It is exciting to see that the work of Truth Mission is helping, and please pray that God would bring reform and change to the church here.

Tomorrow (Sunday) we have the Word Alive meeting, and on Monday we travel to Kabala. Please pray for God's provision of a driver to take us there!

However there is a way out of the false gospel.  It is through trusting the Sovereign and Holy One.  False gospels teach a trust in self, that’s why I call them “me-centered,” but the true gospel is all about the sovereign, holy God.  “This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” (30:15)  That kind of trust is hard for us, because we are so busy running to the next thing, pursuing our own prosperity.  This is why the prosperity gospel is so attractive to a culture of busyness.  It says you don’t have to slow down and know a holy God; you don’t have to submit to a sovereign Ruler; you can keep going and see human success with a weak god’s help along the way; you can rule your own destiny.  That was exactly the attitude Isaiah addressed.  The very next words are, “but you would have none of it.”  Isaiah says that strength and salvation come from trust and rest in God, but the people of his day didn't want it.  Instead, “You said, ‘We will ride on swift horses.’” (30:16)  Don’t those words describe us well!  Like the people of Isaiah's day, we want to rush off on swift horses.

I wonder if I have bought into the self-centered gospel.  So much of my schedule, even as a teaching pastor, is running from one thing to another – riding off on swift horses – hoping for God’s help along the way.  I believe Isaiah would say that to the extent I don’t practice repentance and rest, quietness and trust, I have bought into a false, me-centered gospel.  That is a convicting thought.

Here's what others are saying about his tattoos, false teachings and practices, along with how a Christian should walk versus what we are seeing in this so-called "revival."

Job at Jesus Christology

Video of Bentley chocking the flock

Many of you are aware of the Ecumenical movement and the Emerging church movement and how they believe that we must "reinvent" the Christian faith (life), which means changing the true Word of God (Bible) to fit into their self-seeking, self-pleasing, humanistic point of view. If you are unaware of this movement, you can read about it at these links: Understand The Times, Slice Of Laodicea, A Little Leaven, Lighthouse Trails, Discernment Ministries also, if you would like more links, please visit my "Links" page.

These movements have caused quite the shake in the Church and are gaining momentum in some outrageous ways as of late. This article is just one more example of the heretical teachings that are creaping into the Church just as the Bible predicted would happen in the last days.

2 Peter 2:1 "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."

2 Timothy 4:1-4 "I charge [thee] therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

 Dr. Killinger seems to look down on fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith, however, to be a true Christian... you must believe what it says in the Word of God on how to become a Christian... This is fundamental, correct? Otherwise you are just playing a game that has no true outcome of which you strive for, so that being said, what would be the use? Your effort would be in vain. The Word of God is an all or nothing sort of thing. Jesus Himself said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15) and also, "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love" (John 15:10). It is logical, don't you agree, that in order to do what the Word says, you must believe what the Word says and then you get what the Word says... eternal life in the Lord's love.

Now, lets take a look at some excerpts from the article...

Excerpt 1

"Doctrine isn't the driving force to many people today" except "to the fundamentalists who insist on it," Killinger said. "But doctrine is a thing of the past now religiously."

Pastors can follow this cultural shift by preaching about Jesus' human side rather than insisting that He was God and that He always existed, Killinger said.

This excerpt goes along with what I have stated in the previous paragraph as you can clearly see.

Excerpt 2

"I find from pastors a greater and greater reluctance to preach from the Gospel of John, which used to be the greatest pleasure for most preachers because John was so assertive about the incarnation and the role of Christ" versus "the tendency to go back to Mark and Matthew and Luke to see the more human side of Jesus, who was anointed at the time of His baptism to be the savior of Israel, but not necessarily to be the preexistent one that we find in John."

The part of this excerpt that stands out the most is the very last phrase, which is underlined by me. I would like to share the following verse with you, which was written before Jesus, the man, came to earth.

Psalm 110:1 "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool."

Also, Jesus clarified Himself to the scribes in the following statement:

Luke 20:41-44 "And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son? And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies thy footstool. David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?"

Now, how do we know for sure that it was Jesus, the Lord (as Jesus Himself claimed to be)? Well, lets take a look at the following:

Hebrews 1:13-14 "But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"

This proves that it was not an angel which was spoken of. Lets continue...

Acts 2:34-36 "For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."

Ah-ha! I think we have a winner! Jesus is the One! Is Dr. Killinger going to through out the book of Acts along with the book of John? If so, then how do we explain the Church being filled with the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit which they so love to claim? You can learn more about the exploited gifts of the Spirit by researching the Toronto Blessing, etc. from the links which were provided above.

Excerpt 3

"Jesus Himself has had a lot of things said in His behalf that He never intended. This is one of the things that's going on today in biblical studies -- and I think is much more promising than some of the fundamentalists will allow -- is that we are questioning whether Jesus Himself said this or whether an institutional church that grew up in Jesus' wake said this. This was the purpose of the so-called Jesus Seminar," Killinger said.

Lets just take a look back at what Jesus said about Himself, shall we?

John 14:6-7 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him."

Then Jesus is questioned by Philip regarding what Jesus just told them and Jesus responds with:

John 14:9-10 "Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."

This is why Dr. Killinger doesn't want to hold to the doctrine in the book of John.  The book of John is to the point, direct, in your face or as Dr. Killinger stated, "assertive".

Excerpt 4

"I'm just suggesting that I think we need to be a little less certain about what Jesus meant, what He was about, what His life and work were about. I think we're reevaluating all that."

For example, Jesus did not conceive of Himself as the Savior of the world and may not have viewed Himself a sacrifice at all until the crucifixion, Killinger said.

Again, please notate the underlined portion, emphasis mine. Now, lets take a look at some more scripture:

John 3:14-21 "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."

 This as we can clearly see, is another reason why Dr. Killinger doesn't want to pay attention/teach the book of John... it clearly states that Jesus IS the Savior. Jesus clarifies in the following verses:

Matthew 16:15-17 "He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."

 The word "Christ" in the Greek is Χριστός which means:

 Christ = "anointed"

1) Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God

2) anointed

Dictionary.com determins Christ as a Messiah. It also clarifies a "Messiah" as a savior, deliverer, liberator.

 So, as we can see... whether by the Word of God (English, Greek, Hebrew) it all spells out that Jesus was, is and always will be the Savior of the World. 

Dr. Killinger goes on to state that he can read the book of John to himself and compares it to a "mystical" experience. This is classic Emergent phylosophy.  

Excerpt 5

Many CBF pastors agree with his views of salvation, Killinger said, citing an experience at a gathering of pastors in South Carolina. When he asked them what salvation meant to them, they all talked about self-fulfillment and love rather than doctrine, Killinger said.

The pastors also said they did not disbelieve in an afterlife but were not overly concerned about it, Killinger said. When asked whether they thought people of other world religions are going to hell, the pastors replied that they did not think in terms of heaven and hell, he said.

 I find it interesting that Pastors today are so not concerned about heaven and hell, yet Jesus cared enough to warn us all about it. (Please read the books of Matthew - John and the book of Revelation for specifics, for there are too many to list now).

Dr. Killinger goes on to attempt discrediting the book of Daniel and its prophetically acurate writings, stating that the book of Daniel "fibbed a lot".

I have given you pretty much the gist of the article, however, I do recommend that you read it i