Lakeland's Recycled Revival

My first real concern with these crusades revolves around the issue of who Todd Bentley looks up to and who he considers spiritual leaders. He frequently mentions, and even has up on stage with him from time to time, members of the "Kansas City Prophets." And the KC "prophets" are, in many ways, an extension of the Latter Rain movement that really found its legs through the ministry of a man named William Branham.

Although Branham didn’t found the movement, he was instrumental in popularizing many aspects of it. This article will not go into detail concerning Branham and his ministry except to say that he was a preacher who ministered primarily in the 40’s and 50’s. He was a forerunner to many of the “healing evangelists” of today in that he would call out words of knowledge concerning the private lives of audience members, as well as pray for the sick to be healed, all with astonishing results. Interestingly, he would often tell the audience wherever he was ministering that he had to wait for his angel to appear before he could give any “words” or work any healings. This will be an important point that surfaces later in our discussion. But let’s stop right here and ask the question: Does God ask His people to look to angels or to Himself for any need? He tells us it is by His Spirit, and not angels, that He operates in words of knowledge, gifts of healings, and the like (I Corinthians 12).

In spite of his miraculous signs and wonders, Branham was a false prophet according to the standards of the Word of God. Why do I say that? Well, read the exhortation from the Lord to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy.

* Dt 13:1-3 – “If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them," you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. “

I believe the Pentecostal Church in Branham’s day failed the Deuteronomy 13 test because while he did perform signs and wonders, he also counseled people to turn from the God of the Bible through his spurious teachings. He taught there was no Trinity (he was “Oneness Pentecostal”); that he was literally the prophet Elijah come back; that the world would end in 1977; that Jesus was “created” and not the Eternal Word as John 1:1 declares; that he was a “god” (and this is where the Manifest Sons of God movement got it’s name and teaching); that he could decree things just like God; that Eve had sexual relations with the serpent in the Garden of Eden; that the Zodiac and the Pyramids were equal with the Bible as the Word of God; and that there would be no eternal Hell.[1]

As you can clearly see, the man was way off in his teaching about God. So the question must be asked, “What criteria do we use to determine if a person is a true prophet or a false prophet?” If you look only to the signs and wonders a person does, and not to their teaching, then you fail the Deuteronomy 13 test. It is NOT the miracles that count. They are only used to CONFIRM the message. It is the teaching coming from the “prophet” that counts the most, according to the Bible. And Branham fails the test miserably. Even today, if one were to visit his gravesite they would see a tombstone shaped like a pyramid!

William Branham helped popularize an entire movement called the “Latter Rain” that has continued to teach differing heresies down through the decades. In the 1980’s a group of men, including Mike Bickle, Paul Cain, Bob Jones, Rick Joyner, and John Paul Jackson formed an alliance of sorts and became known as the “Kansas City Prophets.” Time does not allow me to discuss these men in detail, but it is important to know that these men took some of their cues from William Branham. Two of the main leaders, Paul Cain and Bob Jones, have both been guilty of grievous sexual sin while “ministering” as prophets. Cain has been revealed to be an alcoholic and a practicing homosexual, while Jones admitted to having women undress in front of him to experience the glory of God.[2]

In spite of many doctrinal heresies, this movement continued in one form or another. Whether it be the Toronto Blessing, the ministry of Rodney Howard-Browne (“laughter”) or Brownsville Assembly, it can all be traced back to Branham and to the Latter Rain movement that he helped spread. And so it should come as no shock to anyone that Todd Bentley is connected to all these men. And he is. Paul Cain has shared the stage with Bentley in Lakeland.[3] Bob Jones and many of the others have been mentioned in a favorable light on more than one occasion during the revival.

But the kicker to the entire thing is found here, in an interview that Bentley had with BCN (Breaking Christian News) last month. In that interview he said that he “saw an angel he described as carrying the ‘Winds of Change.’ Asking him to describe this angel, Bentley replied that those familiar with the life of William Branham would recognize the angel from being a relevant factor in his healing ministry.”[4] It should be apparent to all that Todd Bentley’s meetings derive from the same spirit as Branham and the rest. It all comes from the same place. Let the reader take serious note of the obvious and continuous bridge between Branham and Bentley.

The second issue I would like to touch on briefly is the emphasis on “feelings” in all these meetings. Don’t get me wrong. We are created beings that do have feelings, and often times those feelings are a part of our worship to the Lord. If I’m going through a mountaintop experience in my life I may very well “feel” great and shout to the Lord. There’s nothing wrong with expressing feelings in this sense. We can clap our hands, jump and sing praises to God when things are going well, and we can cry and lay prostrate on the floor when facing difficult times. But David said, “as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say you are my God.” He understood that regardless of what he was going through, he would not allow his feelings to dictate truth to him. In the same way the point of this passage and many more like it throughout the Psalms is that God’s faithfulness and truth are not conditioned by our feelings. We enjoy it when good feelings accompany our faith, but we must remember that the faithfulness of God is not based on our feelings.

Unfortunately, in the Bentley meetings “feelings” are the big emphasis, to the detriment of the hearers. Why do I say that? Because the Word of God is not preached in these meetings. Rarely does Todd even bring a Bible to the pulpit with him. He actually bragged about bringing more “real Word” to the people than preachers who expound on the Bible week in and week out because he was bringing a living Jesus through the experiences [i.e. “signs and wonders”] he was giving them. I heard this for myself on his Saturday, May 10th God TV telecast from Lakeland. And the people loved it so. No Word of God is ever brought at these meetings. It’s all about the “feelings” they can experience. This type of mindset and philosophy of ministry leads to very shallow Christianity. I fear for most of the people that attend these meetings because when they come down off the “high” they have been on in these emotionally charged services they will probably crash and burn spiritually. I’ve seen it play out too many times in the past to think otherwise.

In the same vein as the “feelings” issue, there’s also a huge stress on what Todd and his crew call the “tangible presence of God.” That phrase, or one similar to it, is used many times in each meeting. People are conditioned to expect some outward, sensual experience with the Holy Spirit. Whether it’s tasting God’s presence, smelling God’s presence, hearing God’s presence, or seeing God’s presence, it’s all a big part of this revival. Todd talks about seeing a mist or cloud. He talks about tasting something similar to honey. He talks about smelling the incense from Heaven. Everything is done on a 5 senses level. Yet no where in the New Testament do we read about the disciples promoting anything like this nonsense. God is Spirit and those that worship Him will do so in spirit and in truth. The more we move from the objective truth of the Bible and more towards these outward manifestations, the more open we are to deception. The Devil can and does work on people’s senses but he cannot get to us if we know and worship God based on His Word. People in other religions have “experiences” but it doesn’t make them godly experiences. So we must be careful not to be pulled into the trap of feelings-oriented or manifestation-oriented theology. Yet this is exactly what Bentley emphasizes.

For further information, see the following link: http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NL_June1990.pdf

"Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying." (Romans 13:13)

Endnotes: 1. www.letusreason.org/Latrain4.htm 2. www.deceptioninthechurch.com/orrel19.html 3.www.charismamag.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2408&start =0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&sid=386e07de8ab0207fdfb34ca594d2b5ea 4. www.freshfire.ca/index.php?Act=read&status= revival&Id=132&pid=954&bid=923

One can incorrectly infer doctrine from Scripture - such as normalizing acts of the Apostles for today. If this principle is true, do you share every possession with the brethren in your church?

Laying on hands and these other teachings in verse 2 must be taken in context - Hebrews is a letter to Jewish Christians who were being attacked by people trying to tear down their faith in Christ. Here’s an exposition on verses 1 & 2 by A.W.Pink:

“Not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works” (verse 1). It is most important to see that the contents of the second half of verse 1. and the whole of verse 2 are a parenthesis. The “Let us be carried on to perfection” is completed in “this will we do if God permits” in verse 3. That which comes in between is a definition or explanation of what the apostle intended by his “Having left the word of the beginning of Christ.” The six items enumerated—”repentance from dead works,” etc.—have nothing to do with the “foundations of Christianity,” nor do they describe those things relating to the elementary experiences of a Christian. Instead, they treat of what appertained to Judaism, considered as a rudimentary system, paving the way for the fuller and final revelation which God has now made in and by His beloved Son. Unless the parenthetical nature of these verses is clearly perceived, interpreters are certain to err in their exposition of the details.

“Not laying again the foundation,” etc. It is to be remarked that there is no definite article in the Greek here, so it should be read, “a foundation,” which is one of several intimations that it is not the “fundamentals of Christianity” which are here in view. Had these verses been naming the basic features of the new and higher revelation of God, the Holy Spirit had surely said, “the foundation;” that He did not, shows that something less important was before Him. As said above, this “foundation” respects Judaism. Now there are two properties to a “foundation,” namely, it is that which is first laid in a building; it is that which bears up the whole superstructure. To which we may add, it is generally lost to sight when the ground floor has been put in. Such was the relation which Judaism sustained to Christianity. As the “foundation” precedes the building, so had Judaism Christianity. As the “foundation” bears the building, so the truth of Christianity rests upon the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament, of which the New Testament revelation records the fulfillment. As the “foundation” is lost to sight when the building is erected on it, so the types and shadows of the earlier revelation are superseded by the substance and reality.

“Not laying again a foundation,” etc. This is exactly what the Hebrews were being sorely tempted to do. To “lay again” this foundation was to forsake the substance for the shadows; it was to turn from Christianity and go back again to Judaism. As Paul wrote to the Galatians, who were being harassed by Judaisers, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Heb. 3:24). To which he at once added, “But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” Thus, under a different figure, he was here in Hebrews 6:1 simply saying, Let us be carried on to maturity, and not go back again to the things which characterized the days of our childhood.

“Not laying again a foundation,” etc. It will be noted that the apostle here enumerates just six things, which is ever the number of man in the flesh. Such was what distinguished Judaism. It was a system which appertained solely to man in the flesh. Its rites and ceremonies only “sanctified to the purifying of the flesh” (Heb. 9:13). Had the fundamentals of Christianity been here in view, the apostle had surely given seven, as in Ephesians 4:3-6. The first which he specifies is “repentance from dead works.” Observe that it is not “repentance from sins.” That is not what is in view at all. This expression “dead works” is found again in Hebrews 9:14 (and nowhere else in the New Testament), where a contrast is drawn from what is said in verse 13: the blood of bulls and goats sanctified to the purifying of the flesh, then much more should the blood of Christ cleanse their conscience from dead works. Where sins are in question the New Testament speaks of them as “wicked works” (Titus 1:16), and “abominable works” (Col. 1:21). The reference here was to the unprofitable and in-efficacious works of the Levitical service: cf. Hebrews 10:1, 4. Those works of the ceremonial law are denominated “dead works” because they were performed by men in the flesh, were not vitalized by the Holy Spirit, and did not satisfy the claims of the living God.

“And of faith toward God.” Of the six distinctive features of Judaism here enumerated, this one is the most difficult to define with any degree of certainty. Nevertheless, we believe that if due attention be given to the particular people to whom the apostle was writing all difficulty at once vanishes. The case of the Jew was vastly different from that of the Gentiles. To the heathen, the one true God was altogether “unknown” (Acts 17:23). They worshipped a multitude of false gods. But not so was it with Israel. Jehovah had revealed Himself to their fathers, and given to them a written revelation of His will. Thus, “faith toward God” was a national thing with them, and though in their earlier history they fell into idolatry again and again, yet were they purified of this sin by the Babylonian captivity. Still, their faith was more of a form than a reality, a tradition received from their fathers, rather than a vital acquaintance with Him: see Matthew 15:8, 9, etc.

Israel’s national faith “toward God” had, under the Christian revelation, given place to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. A few references from the New Testament epistles will establish this conclusively. We read of “the faith of Jesus Christ,” and “the faith of the Son of God” (Gal. 2:16, 20); “your faith in the Lord Jesus” (Eph. 1:15); “by faith of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:9); “your faith in Christ” (Col. 2:5); “the faith which is in Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 3:13). As another has said, “All the blessings of the gospel are connected with ‘faith,’ but it is faith which rests in Christ. Justification, resurrection-life, the promises, the placing of sons, salvation, etc., are all spoken of as resulting from faith which rests upon Christ... ‘Hebrews’ reveals Christ as the ‘one Mediator between God and men.’ It reveals Christ as ‘a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek,’ and urges the divine claim of the Son of God. The apostle is directing his readers to look away from self to Christ, the Center, the Sum of all blessing. This is not merely ‘faith toward God,’ but it is faith which comes to God by the way of the mediation and merits of His Son.”

“Of the doctrine of baptisms” (verse 2). Had the translators understood the scope and meaning of this passage it is more than doubtful if they had given the rendering they did to this particular clause.

It will be observed that the word “baptism” is in the plural number, and if scripture be allowed to interpret scripture there will be no difficulty in ascertaining what is here referred to. It is neither Christian baptism (Matthew 28:19), the baptism of the Spirit (Acts 1:5), nor the baptism of suffering (Matthew 20:23), which is here in view, but the carnal ablutions which obtained under the Mosaic economy. The Greek word is “baptismos.” It is found but four times on the pages of the New Testament: in Mark 7:4, 5 and Hebrews 6:2; 9:10. In each of the other three instances, the word is rendered “washings.” In Mark 7 it is the “washing of cups and pans.” In Hebrews 9:10 it is “meats and drinks and divers washings and carnal (fleshly) ordinances,” concerning which it is said, they were “imposed until the time of reformation.”

It is to be noted that our verse speaks of “the doctrine of baptisms.” There was a definite teaching connected with the ceremonial ablutions of Judaism. They were designed to impress upon the Israelites that Jehovah was a holy God, and that none who were defiled could enter into His presence. These references in Hebrews 6:2 and Hebrews 9:10 look back to such passages as Exodus 30:18, 19; Leviticus 16:4; Numbers 19:19, etc. Typically, these “washings” denoted that all the defiling effects of sin must be removed, ere the worshipper could approach unto the Lord. They foreshadowed that perfect and eternal cleansing from sin which the atoning blood of Christ was to provide for His people. They had no intrinsic efficacy in themselves; they were but figures, hence, we are told they sanctified only “to the purifying of the flesh” (Heb. 9:13). Those “washings” effected nought but an external and ceremonial purification; they “could not make him that did the service perfect as pertaining to the conscience” (Heb. 9:9).

“And of laying on of hands.” The older commentators quite missed the reference here. Supposing the previous clause was concerned with the Christian baptisms recorded in the Acts, they appealed to such passages as Acts 8:17; 19:6, etc. But those passages have no bearing at all on the verse before us. They were exceptional cases where the supernatural “gifts” of the Spirit were imparted by communication from the apostles. The absence of this “laying on of hands” in Acts 2:41; 8:38; 16:33, etc., shows plainly that, normally, the Holy Spirit was given by God altogether apart from the instrumentality of His servants. The “laying on of hands” is not, and never was, a distinctive Christian ordinance. In such passages as Acts 6:6; 9:17; 13:3, the act was simply a mark of identification, as is sufficiently clear from the last reference.

“And of laying on of hands.” The key which unlocks the real meaning of this expression is to be found in the Old Testament, to which each and all of the six things here mentioned by the apostle look back. Necessarily so, for the apostle is here making mention of those things which characterized Judaism, which the Hebrews, upon their profession of their personal faith in Christ had “left.” The “laying on of hands” to which the apostle refers is described in Leviticus 16:21, “And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness.” This was an essential part of the ritual on the annual Day of Atonement. Of this the Hebrews would naturally think when the apostle here makes mention of the “doctrine (teaching) . . . of laying on of hands.”

“And of resurrection of the dead.” At first glance, and perhaps at the second too, it may appear that what is here before us will necessitate an abandonment of the line of interpretation we are following. Surely, the reader may exclaim, you will not ask us to believe that these Hebrews had “left” the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead! Yet this is exactly what we do affirm. The difficulty which is seemingly involved is more imaginary than real, due to a lack of discrimination and failure to “rightly divide the Word of Truth.” The resurrection of the dead was a clearly revealed doctrine under Judaism; but it is supplanted by something far more comforting and blessed under the fuller revelation God has given in Christianity. If the reader will carefully observe the preposition we have placed in italic type, he will find it a valuable key to quite a number of passages. “We make a great mistake when we assume that the resurrection as taught by the Pharisees, held by the Jews, believed by the disciples, and proclaimed by the apostles, was one and the same” (C.H.W.). The great difference between the former and the latter may be seen by a comparison of the scriptures that follow.

“After the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: and have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust” (Acts 24:14, 15). That was the Jewish hope: “Martha saith unto Him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (John 11:24). Now in contrast, note, “He charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean” (Mark 9:9, 10). It is this aspect of resurrection which the New Testament epistles emphasize, an elective resurrection, a resurrection of the redeemed before that of the wicked: see Revelation 20:5, 6; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 23; 1 Thessalonians 4:16.

“And of eternal judgment.” In the light of all that has been before us, this should occasion no difficulty. The Jewish church, and most of Christendom now, believed in a General Judgment, a great assize at the end of time when God would examine every man’s life, “For God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14). This is described in fullest detail in the closing verses of Revelation 20. It is the Great White Throne judgment.

Let us now, very briefly, summarize what has just been engaging our attention. The Hebrews had confessed their faith in Christ, and by so doing had forsaken the shadows for the Substance. But hope had been deferred, faith hath waned, persecutions had cooled their zeal. They were being tempted to abandon their Christian profession and return to Judaism. The apostle shows that by so doing they would be laying again “a foundation” of things which had been left behind. Rather than this, he urges them to be carried forward to “perfection” or “full growth.” That meant to substitute “repentance unto life” (Acts 11:18), for “repentance from dead works;” trust in the glorified Savior, for a national “faith toward God;” the all-cleansing blood of the Lamb, for the inefficacious “washings” of the law; God’s having laid on Christ the iniquities of us all, for the Jewish high-priest’s “laying on of hands;” a resurrection “from the dead,” for “a resurrection of the dead;” the Judgment-seat of Christ, for the “eternal judgment” of the Great White Throne. Thus, the six things here mentioned belonged to a state of things before Christ was manifested.

<-——— end of quote ————>

Yes. Quotes from the writings and preachings of William Branham... not a KC prophet, but I'll get to it.

“Now notice. Now, it must be kinsman. So, you see, an Angel couldn't do it; a man couldn't do it; it must be a man, but he can't be born of a woman-a sex act. So the virgin birth, the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary, therefore, Jesus was not a Jew. Jesus was not a Gentile. Jesus was God, exactly. His Blood didn't come from any sex act. He was the holy created Blood of God. And we're not saved by Jewish blood, neither are we saved by Gentile blood.” (The Revelation of the Seven Seals, p.88)

“Jesus was created. When the Holy Ghost came upon Mary He created within her the cell that would multiply and become the body of our Lord. That cell was created. It was the beginning of the creation of God. That is who Jesus is.”( An Exposition of the Seven Church Ages, p37).

Now, Paul Cain, a KC Prophet:

“William Branham, the greatest prophet that ever lived, and any of my generation, or any of the generations’ revival that I’ve lived through...”(Joel's Army, p3)

Paul Cain has also claimed to have ministered with Branham, which Branham's family denied. He revised his point calling himself a "living bridge" to Branham. Part of Branham's ministry, BTW, was that his spoken words combined with Scripture from the KJV was the only complete scripture. The "greatest prophet that ever lived, eh"?

I can't really speak to a doctrinal statement, as it seems that all of the Latter Rain movement churches have different doctrinal statements, though as I sifted through a few I saw nothing odd about their description of Jesus.

I'm telling you, you gotta read up on the KC prophets and some of their teachings. This is a long adobe file but gives some good insight. Here is a couple examples of the KC prophets teachings:

“You need to understand the symbols, the ‘alphabet’ of your dream. Different symbols will mean different things to different people. ‘Dog’ to you may mean ‘enemy.’ ‘Dog’ to me may mean ‘friend.’...So you need to understand what your alphabet is, and you need to understand what your symbols are. Those two things will help you to understand 99%--if not 1.00% of your dreams...Pay close attention and make notes of frequent symbols in your dream and what they mean… Examples of notes: ‘Dog’ meant ‘enemy’ here...‘dog’ meant ‘enemy’ there...so ‘dog’ = ‘enemy.’...And if you still can’t get it, go to an interpreter ...a known interpreter, not just your next door neighbor.” (John Paul Jackson)

“My home church, Kansas City Fellowship, has a few Level III prophetic ministers in the church and they occasionally minister together with Level II gifted people in the regular activities in the church and the special conferences. These conferences sometimes provide the emerging Level II gifted ministers with opportunities to minister side-by-side with the Level III prophets." (Mike Bickle)

“He (God) said, ‘If I release the 100% rhema right now, the accountability would be awesome and you’d have so much Ananias and Sapphira’s goin’ on that the people couldn’t grow--they’d be too scared.’ But He said, ‘If it was on target, it would kill instead of scarin’ the people to repentance.’...Boy, there’s a lot of people that don’t like the thought that prophets are only two-thirds right on. They want to make us Old Testament prophets, and we should prophesy, literally in groups, or literally prophesy to the leadership until three or four of us bring the same word. Yes, because New Testament prophets can absolutely miss.”(Bob Jones)

Well, I don't know what else to say, so I'll say no more on the subject. If you have questions about the writing I linked you to, or other theology questions, I would be happy to answer them on a personal post. But, if a study of their teachings weighed against a study of Scripture can't convince you that they are false prophets, then, well, you won't be convinced by me. Please, study their teachings against the infallible Word of God. God Bless.

I don’t find your quote from Branham to be damning. This is what I hear him saying (with quotes, when I’m quoting him):

1. “Jesus was God, exactly.”

2. Jesus was not a Jew, or a Gentile, He was God.

3. Jesus didn’t have a human father (I think he is trying to communicate that the blood of Jesus shed for our sins was neither Gentile nor Jewish blood, but something pure from God and holy).

4. “Jesus was created.” Given #1 above, my understanding would be that Branham is saying in the incarnation the Word or Logos became something He had never been before, a human being. As a human being his name is Jesus. In that sense, Jesus, the God-man, began to exist in a way he had not previously existed. The Assemblies of God has this to say concerning Jesus:

g. The Title, Son of God
Since the name “Immanuel” embraces both God and man in the one Person, our Lord Jesus Christ, it follows that the title, Son of God, describes His proper deity, and the title, Son of Man, His proper humanity. Therefore, the title Son of God, belongs to the order of eternity, and the title, Son of Man, to the order of time.

Though I would agree with Hebrews 13:8 that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, humanity did not know Jesus (as Jesus) until God revealed His name and incarnated Him for our redemption.

5. The Holy Spirit came upon Mary and she conceived. A creative act took place and Jesus, the God-man, came into being (as Jesus the God-man) though He has always existed.

If we could talk to Branham, perhaps we could clarify, but I certainly cannot infer from these words that he is saying there was a time Jesus did not exist as God (see quote #1).

As far as what you included of the Kansas City prophets, who I have not studied, I see nothing there to condemn them over either. From what you emphasized with bold text you made me think of the OT where God told Moses he couldn’t see His face and live. God surely limits Himself to our capacity, or we WOULD die in His presence (Exodus 33:20). As far as NT prophets being infallible, Paul tells us to judge prophecy in 1 Cor. 14:29, and to not despise prophesying in 1 Thess. 5:20.

I do appreciate your efforts at gathering this information, and may get to your link when I have time.

Though I do believe there are false prophets, I do not yet have a reason to classify the KC prophets as such, nor has God appointed me to be the watchdog of their ministrie(s). I can assure you that I do not consider them perfect prophets, or their prophecies to be “inspired” in the sense the Bible is inspired. Just like I do not consider any of the sermons I hear, including the ones I preach, to be perfect and/or infallible.

Thank God for His grace.

Blessings in Christ!

PS - Please note that Branham’s comments were made in the context (I assume from the first few words) of Jesus being our redeemer, which required Him to be a man, but not a fallen man, a perfect man.

Now that we've settled that, what should we tell all those people who have had miracle healings through this ministry?

That they are deceived by false prophets. I understand that your understanding of Scripture is based on experience, and your experience isn't tested against Scripture. I've said that before.

I've also read some of your posts on the follow-up thread to this one, and it seems that your argument is:
If they are false prophets then why would God continue to manifest the signs?

My argument, and the argument of many others, is:
They are false prophets, evident by their un-Biblical teaching, and the signs are not from God. (without Biblical support that "slain in the Spirit" etc.. is of God, then I didn't need the change. BTW, I'm not Baptist, though I have attended a Baptist church since I moved to the Atlanta Metro area three months ago.)

"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep." -2 Peter 2:1-3

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." 2 Timothy 4:3-5

"But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds." II Corinthians 11:12-15

"At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time." Matthew 24:23-25

So, sign and wonders will be performed by people other than people of God. Deception is their goal, willingly or unwillingly, the spirits of demons (Revelation 16:14) will be performing these miracle as it is foretold here by Jesus, Paul, and John. Other scripture speaks to the same.

From the followup thread from you:Why do you think it is that God continues to pour out His healing and restoration if He is being mocked?
As the Scripture says, not all miracles are from God. So how do we discern? We test the teachings Scripture.

Now, as I told srweaver, I am finished with this discussion for now. If my other posts of the words of the KC "prophets" tested against scripture can't convince you, well, I won't be able to. God Bless.

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