Kingdom Now: We're Not Returning to Eden

Olive Tree ^ | March 7, 2007 | Jan Markell

[Esther Ruth]

Kingdom Now: We're Not Returning to Eden

One of the fastest-growing false teachings in the church today is called by various names: Kingdom Now, Dominion Theology, Reconstructionism, and the Restoration Movement. It is also known as "liberation theology." It is an effort to use the church to make the world perfect for our Lord's return.

It is embraced and taught in part or whole by the National and World Council of Churches, Jim Wallis, Tony Campolo, Earl Paulk, Bob Weiner, John Wimber, James Robison (who is called "the President's pastor"). There are many other names that are focusing on the Leftist social gospel in hopes that this will clean up the world and make it perfect for Christ's return. No more disease, war, poverty, AIDS, global warming, etc. Jesus will return when the church is unified, vibrant, forceful, spotless, and wrinkle-free. This is delusional and keeping people out of Heaven.

There is no Biblical support for this belief, for the Bible teaches just the opposite. In the end of days, bad things will wax worse and worse until the world calls out for a savior. They first pick the wrong one. And are the likely billions of saints in Heaven now there because they attained perfection or were a part of a movement to make the world perfect? The Bible says our works qualify us for rewards but not for Heaven itself. There is nothing we can do to hasten Heaven except preach the gospel and save the lost spiritually speaking.

This theology is borne out of the Manifest Sons of God movement and Latter Rain movement in about 1948. It also has ties to the positive confession movement. Major points of the theologies teach:

Prophetic scriptures are denied or fulfilled in 70AD (as is also the belief of Preterism).

The church is the new Israel.

Armageddon is the ongoing battle between the forces of light and darkness.

The Antichrist is a spirit, not a person.

We are already in the Tribulation, but at the same time, we are in the Millennium. It doesn't get any stranger! It's one or the other.

Rather than following traditional Bible prophecy, they follow "new revelations."

Modern-day prophets must be obeyed and not judged for their inaccuracy. They want to restore the Edenic nature even though Eden is where sin began.

To add to the tragedy of this false doctrine is the fact that many churches who had this accurate are now switching to these false teachings.

This is not unique to just the Protestant world. Mother Teresa, who selflessly took care of 40,000 derelicts in Calcutta, basically stopped her ministry to them by providing them a clean bed and comfort. She did not share the gospel. She believed many faiths would get to Heaven so she only saw to the physical needs of the body--admittedly, no small task in India. The Buddhist Dali Lama believes the same. In other words, feed the body but not the soul just as today's social gospel "save the world" leaders are doing.

And unfortunately, those who hold to correct theology in this realm are deemed to be "fundamentalist-millennial-apocalyptic-crackpots."

The church is not in the business of taking anything away from Satan but the souls of men. The world is a sinking Titanic ripe for judgment, not Garden of Eden perfection. Jesus will take dominion of the cleansed earth. For men to speak of doing that before the judgment of this earth is spiritually arrogant. I encourage you to flee such false teachers.

God says in Isaiah 66:3-5, "I will choose their delusions." I believe that is the reason for so much confusion, false theology, and apostasy today. For some reason, likely with an end-time purpose, God is sending delusion. There is no other way to interpret those verses.

[Froufrou]

"Jesus will take dominion of the cleansed earth. For men to speak of doing that before the judgment of this earth is spiritually arrogant."

Great post!

[Esther Ruth]

Find more information on Dominion Theology/Kingdom Now at my Web site at the link Prophecy Watch: http://www.olivetreeviews.org/topics/prophecy.shtml and/or Spiritual Deception at http://www.olivetreeviews.org/topics/spiritual_deception.shtml

RADIO THIS WEEKEND: Dr. David Reagan and I will consider this topic first hour. We carry his book at "Our Products" for further study. Second hour I am joined by World Net Daily's David Kupelian, discussing his book, "The Marketing of Evil: How Radicals, Elitists, and Pseudo-Experts Sell Us Corruption Disguised as Freedom." We air live Saturdays, 9 to 11 AM CST out of AM980 KKMS, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN with a rebroadcast Sunday, 12 to 2 PM. You can listen live at the home station's Web site, http://www.kkms.com/ See the "Radio Show" page for the cities in which we air. All programming is posted to our "radio archives" two days after the weekend programming.


Awaiting His return,
Jan Markell

Olive Tree Ministries
Box 1452
Maple Grove, MN 55311.

[Quix]

Haven't studied every word they ever said or wrote, but from what I know of John Wimber and Robison . . . . I don't believe they belong classed in that group.

[Blogger]

I wasn't aware that the WCC was Kingdom Now

[Esther Ruth]

I haven't heard of either of them but I'm thinking I'll take her word for it till otherwise, she is very good in these regards.

[Quix]

I won't.

Too much of such blackwashing is based on a phrase or few sentences out of context etc. and the whole of the person's ministry is ignored compared to a tiny fraction of their statements out of context. I hate it.

But, I haven't read the lady. I can extend grace. I just know that Holy Spirit operated powerful through John Wimber and does through James Robison. I'm not about to throw rocks at someone as balanced as either of them and whom Holy Spirit obviously approves.

[Rutles4Ever]

"This is not unique to just the Protestant world. Mother Teresa, who selflessly took care of 40,000 derelicts in Calcutta, basically stopped her ministry to them by providing them a clean bed and comfort. She did not share the gospel. She believed many faiths would get to Heaven so she only saw to the physical needs of the body--admittedly, no small task in India.

Talk about missing the point. Taking care of the poorest of the poor isn't sharing the gospel? As St. Francis aptly pointed out, evangelization is about action first, then words.

[Esther Ruth]

Universalism cannot be supported by the New Testament, Christ's teachings, His Words. It is a false gospel. Man MUST call upon the name of Jesus Christ to be saved. No other name, no other way, no other door. This is the gospel. Christians need to tell men this, we need to tell them they are bound for Hell without the salvation that can be found only in Jesus Christ. That is Jan's point. All the food, clean water, sheets, good health care are just that but a man or woman who has not yet become born again and is without Christ - those are bound for an eternity apart from God.

We are in the very last days and there will soon be a literal seven year period of tribulation on Earth that John wrote of in Revelation, horrible time, then after that Christ will return. Not before.

First, foremost, most importantly all men need to call on the name of Jesus Christ to be saved.

[dominic flandry]

I respectfully disagree.

"But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." Matthew 24:36.

The signs described in the Gospel have not yet occurred so the end time is not yet.

[PetroniusMaximus]

"Dominion Theology, Reconstructionism, and the Restoration Movement. It is also known as "liberation theology."


My understanding is that Dominion Theology and liberation theology are two very different animals.

Liberation theology is basically Socialism/Marxism masquerading as Christianity. This is where you will find the WCC & any other liberal "Christian" groups.

Dominion Theology is a theology held by certain Christian groups who are strong on the Bible but mistaken (grossly so) in their eschatology - believing that it is the Church's job to bring about the Kingdom on earth through legislation, etc.

The two theologies may have superficially similar aims, but that is where the comparison ends.

[PetroniusMaximus]

"Talk about missing the point. Taking care of the poorest of the poor isn't sharing the gospel? "

No, it isn't. It's a good work.

The Gospel is a specific set of facts, (the death, burial, resurrections of Jesus Christ and repentance and the forgiveness of sins in his name) which when preached in the power of the Holy Spirit have the ability to transform peoples lives is a permanent and spiritual way.

[HisKingdomWillAbolishSinDeath]

Until you see the sick healed, the dead raised, and demons cast out, on a massive scale, on the streets of cities throughout the world, the end is not here.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom (the same gospel Jesus preached with signs following) shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

That includes every Muslim country on earth.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

The two theologies may have superficially similar aims, but that is where the comparison ends.

Pretty much.

Respectfully, Ruth, this is one of the most idiotic articles I've ever read on FR.

Liberation theology is pure socialism.

Reconstructionism is hard-core conservatism.

Reconstructionism began, in great part, through major funding by friends of Ronald Reagan such as Howard Ahmanson, Jr., heir to the Home Savings and Loan fortune who studied under R.J. Rushdoony, the father of the Reconstructionist Movement. These men were the "Christian Right" who put Ronald Reagan in the governor's mansion in California and supported him throughout his Presidency.

Christian Reconstructionism is primarily Calvinistic (hardly a "liberal" theology); postmillennial (heralds Christian progress through history); theonomic (the Bible should be the basis for everyone's lives); and fiscally conservative (welfare reform was first espoused by the Christian Right as a means of increasing benefits to all members of society.)

Christian Reconstructionism is responsible for the rediscovery and encouragement of homeschooling in the United States; is founded on the free market principles of economist Ludwig Von Mises and believes strongly in the individual's responsibility to govern himself. As Gary North writes, Christian Reconstructionists believe in "limited civil government and extensive self-government."

As we can see if we just look outside our windows or read a newspaper or pay attention to FR, the clarity and strengths of Christian Reconstructionism are fast being eclipsed by Liberation Theology, socialism and the still-increasing welfare state.

More's the pity.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Amen.