Posted on 04/23/2018 9:24:19 PM PDT by Sontagged
One of the core beliefs at Bethel Church in Redding, California, is the need for new revelation from God, which is in contrast to the so-called old revelation of the Bible as it has been understood for the past 2,000 years.
New revelation can refer to many different things.
It includes knowledge about what’s currently taking place in heaven and new interpretations of Scripture that are based on direct revelation from the Holy Spirit, apart from a historical and grammatical hermeneutic.
It also includes what Johnson calls “new revelation of Jesus.”
And it includes creative ideas–such as fresh music lyrics that will result in mass conversions to Christianity and breakthrough inventions in science and medicine.
However, Bethel’s teachings about the need for new revelation inevitably shift the focus away from the written Word of God in Scripture, insofar as it has been understood for the past two millennia.
Their teachings also place Bethel outside of historic Protestant Christianity, based on the 16th century Protestant Reformation, which has taught that the church is to look to Scripture–not new revelations–for its beliefs and practices.
On this note, consider that even Pentecostals and charismatics–who believe in present-day miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as the gift of prophecy–have held that the Bible contains all that is necessary for living the Christian life. See, for example, a position paper published by the Assemblies of God—the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination—which upholds the sufficiency of Scripture.
It’s titled “The Inspiration, Inerrancy, and Authority of Scripture.” And see the post written by charismatic theologian Wayne Grudem titled “The Bible is enough.”
But, clearly, Bethel leaders disagree that the Bible is enough. To show you what Bethel teaches about new revelation, take a look at these words written by its senior leader, Bill Johnson.
Bill Johnson On The Need For New Revelation
“I’m convinced that the pace of revelation will increase very rapidly in these last hours of history…. That acceleration of revelation is beginning in our day… ... It’s about the purposes of God being unveiled on the planet. On-going revelation and encounters with the power of God launch us into understanding of things we’ve never understood before.” (The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind, page 68)
“It is absolutely impossible to live the normal Christian life without receiving regular revelation from God.” (The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind, page 58)
“The key is to be spiritually discerning–to open our spirit man to direct revelation from God.” (The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind, page 60)
“We are the most to be pitied if we think we’ve reached the fullness of what God intended for His Church here on earth. All Church history is built on partial revelation. Everything that has happened in the Church over the past 1900 years has fallen short of what the early Church had and lost. Each move of God has been followed by another, just to restore what was forfeited and forgotten. And we still haven’t arrived to the standard that they attained, let alone surpassed it. Yet, not even the early Church fulfilled God’s full intention for His people. That privilege was reserved for those in the last leg of the race. It is our destiny.
As wonderful as our spiritual roots are, they are insufficient. What was good for yesterday is deficient for today. To insist that we stay with what our fathers fought for is to insult our forefathers. They risked all to pursue something fresh and new in God. It’s not that everything must change for us to flow with what God is saying and doing. It’s just that we make too many assumptions about the rightness of what presently exists. Those assumptions blind us to the revelations still contained in Scripture. In reality, what we think of as the normal Christian life cannot hold the weight of what God is about to do.” (When Heaven Invades Earth, Kindle edition, pages 162-163, emphasis mine)
“I am convinced that as His government and Kingdom rule increase on this earth … the Church will receive revelation like we’ve never known…. But first we must learn to hunger for and receive revelation as part of our everyday lives. That revelation will help us to carry out our earthly assignments with greater precision and wisdom.” (The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind, page 56)
“There are vast resources of revelation in heaven for the areas of education and business, the arts and music, and these resources have yet to be tapped anywhere near to their fullness…. Our job is to tap the revelation of the Lord in our area of talent or gifting so that we can accurately and powerfully reflect the King and His Kingdom.” (The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind, page 67)
“Presently, every denomination, church, and group seems to have revelation into certain Kingdom matters. Nobody has the whole picture…. But in these last days God is going to release a Spirit of revelation over the Church… We are coming into an hour where there will be a common revelation…. an hour when the people of God will simultaneously hear and see similar revelations, no matter the church or group.” (The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind, page 68)
“The anointing on a coming generation will be great enough that the natural order of things will no longer apply. With a low-grade anointing and revelation, we have to live by natural principles and restrictions to get spiritual results. But Jesus brings this revelation, which is almost frightening.
He says, ‘Lift up your eyes,’ meaning, ‘With the way you see things right now, you cannot operate on the revelation I want to give you. But there is something available for a coming generation where the anointing is so extreme that every person will be ready for the harvest.'” (The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind, page 153) “Revelation comes piece by piece, layer upon layer, to generation after generation.” (Hosting the Presence, Kindle edition, page 52)
“In this hour the experience will help to open up those portions of Scripture that have been closed to us. No one in their right mind would claim to understand all that is contained in the Bible for us today. Yet to suggest that more is coming causes many to fear. Get over it, so you don’t miss it!” (When Heaven Invades Earth, Kindle edition, pages 104-105)
Allegedly, new revelations will enable Christians to perform greater miracles than those performed by Jesus, reap the greatest harvest of souls in history, and bring God’s kingdom to earth. We wouldn’t want to “miss it,” would we?
But, notably, apostles and prophets like Bethel’s own Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton are the gatekeepers to these new revelations.
So here’s Bethel Redding’s bottom line on new revelation: you’ve gotta have it, and they got it.
But are you willing to trust their interpretation of what God really means rather than contending for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3)? —– Holly Pivec is the co-author of A New Apostolic Reformation?: A Biblical Response to a Worldwide Movement and God’s Super-Apostles: Encountering the Worldwide Prophets and Apostles Movement. She has a master’s degree in Christian apologetics from Biola University.
I consider the Bible “sufficient” and have no problem researching other sources. I have a problem with a religion/movement claiming they have something the Bible doesn’t offer and without it one cannot be redeemed...
Because he has bought into what Catholicism is selling?
Ya need TRADITITON; too!
Because he has bought into what MormonISM is selling?
The bible is LACKING the GOOD STUFF??
While ROME only says:
“Everything isn’t written down in the Bible!”
If you’re involved in ANY church in any way, always test what IT preaches and teaches against scripture.
Then you'll be MORE noble in character.
While Salt Lake City says: “Everything isn’t written down in the Book of Mormon. GOD has revealed MUCH through our Living Prophet® in our Doctrines & Covenants; too.”
666 posted on Tuesday, April 24, 2018 7:35:28 AM by --Mormon_Dude(I may not understand everything MORMON, but, by golly, I sure BELIEVE it!)
First, Bill Johnson is a false prophet, he is NOT a *brother in the Lord*.
Second, Sontagged just posted scads of examples of what you are asking for.
Read the article.
Johnson is talking about NEW revelation, not a fresh understanding what we already have.
All this emphasis on *new* revelation is setting people up for a great demonic deception, which Jesus warned us would come at the end of the age. People will be ready and eager to hear it, making them receptive to the lies of the enemy and ripe for deception.
People, myself included sadly, do not already live up to the revelation we have. Why should God give us new revelation when we don't even obey what we have?
Article of Faith #7:
We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
It’s the kundalini spirit invading the church.
Kundalini is a Hindu deity.
This video is less than 10 minutes long and VERY enlightening, it explains it very well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWeUNoR30_0
Catholicism doesn’t say to invent your own tradition.
I would say also in very SUBTLE ways. The best thing someone can do to counter that is to immerse themselves in the word and start doing Scripture memory.
The Bible itself says everything isn’t written down in the Bible. See 1 Cor 11:2 and 2 Thess 2:15. The rules haven’t changed since then, sorry, Elsie.
It doesn't need anyone to invent their own traditions.
They invent plenty on their own.
Do people the courtesy of posting the verse along with the reference so that nobody has to waste their time looking it up.
And again, just because not everything was written down, does not give anyone license to make stuff up and add it, claiming their own special revelation.
Scripture contains everything we need to know to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and for the man of God to be complete, for every good work.
John 20:30-31 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
2 Timothy 3:14-17 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Well, he can have fun with that. Mohammad and Smith sure had luck convincing tons of people about a new revelation, despite the Bible speaking directly against it.
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a divine curse! - Galatians 1:8
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. - 2 Corinthians 11:14
Roman catholics have to be included along with the Mormons as denominations that believe the Bible is insufficient.
If she referenced Mein Kampf would you suggest she’s a NAZI?
So your homework produces no such proof and your rejoinder to me is that I should do homework
Alriiiiighty then
So, that would be demonic possession, right? No, actually that is descriptions given for a Kandalini Crisis or a 'bad trip'. So let this be a warning for any thinking about experimenting with this..
"Unpleasant side effects are said to occur when the practitioner has not approached Kundalini with due respect and in a narrow egotistical manner. Kundalini has been described as a highly creative intelligence which dwarfs our own. Kundalini awakening therefore requires surrender; it is not an energy which can be manipulated by the ego."
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