Todd Bentley or Jesus Christ? from CRS

Jack Kelley at Grace Thru Faith has this to say about this situation.
http://www.gracethrufaith.com/selah/spiritual-life/the-florida-healing-outpouring

Kim,
Do you have any written material by these people who came out of the Toronto deception? I don’t know if they would be open to it, but I am gathering some reading material to send to my inlaws for them to read.

Bentley and Lankland is very disturbing, but it is a great encouragement to hear that there are some God is delivering such as the speakers at the conference you attended. Great news in the midst of such spiritually discouraging times.

Hi “r180”:

On the subject of “prophets” and visitations from “Jesus,” I have an important story to share with you. Please bear with me, and please read this slowly and carefully.

While living in Florida years ago, I received complaints from local pastors that a man was going from church-to-church claiming to be an end-time prophet of God and interrupting the services. He was quite aggressive in his approach, and
was accusing the pastors and laymen of false teachings and “attacking” him and being rude.

The pastors were at their wits-end, and considered calling the police to have him removed and/or arrested to restore order.

After speaking to the pastors and a few laymen, I was led to attend one of the churches the man had frequented a week before. And, it just so happens, the man, along with his mother, showed up during the evening service.

Immediately, before the man could say anything, I stood up and asked he and his mother to step outside. They agreed, and the three of us began a discussion, which lasted almost two hours.

During the discussion, I listened carefully and learned that he:
claimed to be THE end-time prophet of God.
taught that the Christian churches in the city were corrupt.
received “revelations” and “visions” from God.
had been “visited” by angels and “Jesus Christ” on numerous occasions.
The man also claimed that “Jesus” would return bodily in one month, which I used as a focal point when he ran out of breath.

After being accused of “attacking” him and God’s anointed prophet, I kindly, lovingly asked him to show me, in the Bible he was carrying, where it says Jesus is returning in one month.

After pointing to a few Scriptures–and twisting them out of context–he quieted down long enough for me to ask if he would believe Jesus’ words over anyone.

He said, “Yes.” And his mother, who had been nodding in agreement with him, said “Yes.”

I led them both to Matthew chapter 24 and asked him to read each verse slowly and carefully. After he read each verse, I asked him to define its meaning.

Well, we covered most of Matthew 24, and I assure you it was a wing-dinger, as well as a lesson in humility and patience for me. However, as the man read the verses, I could see the Lord working and convicting. God’s word is truth. Truth is truth, and God’s word stands on its own.

Bottom line? He, nor his mother, knew the real Jesus of the Bible. Both had been deceived and misled by a myriad of false prophets and false teachers. To the man and his mother, there was no need to study God’s word–slowly and carefully, verse-by-verse–and allow the Holy Spirit to lead them into all truth.
Why? They had been conditioned over a period of time to believe that God’s word came from the mouths of their teachers, mostly those on TV, who twist God’s word on a regular basis day and night.

Instead of studying God’s word–alone–on a daily basis, the man and his mother had allowed themselves to be fed a steady diet of false teachings and false prophecies, and were taught how to make excuses when the teachings didn’t align with Scripture, and when the prophecies failed.

“But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14).

And that is the same identical thing that cults such as Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses do. They twist the Bible to align with their own feelings and emotions; they mislead and deceive the innocent and unwary; they play damage-control and make excuses when their false teachings and false prophecies are exposed. They tell lies to cover up lies and sin within their own camp. They listen to and follow the teachings of corrupt men. And, by doing so, they seal their eternal welfare–with Bibles in their hands.

“But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13).

After the man read most of Matthew 24, he grew quiet, as did his mother. I took the opportunity to share the real Jesus with them, and learned that while they knew of A “Jesus,” they didn’t know THE Jesus of the Bible.

“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men” (Matthew 15:8-9).

Eventually, the man and woman left in their car and were never heard from again.

When we take our eyes off of Jesus Christ and listen to men who add to and take away from God’s word, we end-up on an endless road of confusion and deception.

“Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 1:9).

So, in reality, Todd Bentley brings nothing new to the table. His stage performances, false teachings, “visions” and “revelations” and “visitations” are worn out copies of those who came before him (such as Benny Hinn, who Bentley credits with getting him on the road to understanding the “Holy Spirit”– http://www.freshfire.ca/index.php?Id=103 ).

Way before Todd Bentley came along, Benny Hinn had established himself as a false prophet, false teacher, and false healer. When Bentley read Hinn’s book, “Good Morning, Holy Spirit,” he probably wasn’t aware that the book underwent numerous changes–after its first publication–due to the serious doctrinal problems, outlandish statements, and outright contradictions
( http://www.christianresearchservice.com/Benny_Hinn.htm ).

After all, when one teaches that there are “nine persons in the Trinity” and that Jesus had to be “born again” in hell, one shouldn’t expect everyone to yell “Praise the Lord!” and sit back and twiddle their thumbs. And when Hinn taught those things, Christians came out of the woodwork and exposed it worldwide.

And I praise the Lord for their boldness and dedication to God’s word.

Since the early 1990’s, Benny Hinn has struck a nerve and raised the red flags of discerning Christians worldwide. For years I have maintained that Hinn is the most prolific false prophet, false teacher, and false healer of our day. But Todd Bentley makes Benny Hinn look like a choirboy. And, like Todd Bentley, Benny Hinn learned his blasphemous and hyper-heretical teachings from those who came before him (the list is too long to cite).

Therefore, it isn’t the Christians who are doing the “attacking.” The “attacks” are coming from the wolves in sheep’s clothing, all of whom use the word “attack” as a scare-tactic to sidestep the real issues.

Christians are commanded: “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them” (Ephesians 5:11. See also Romans 16:17; 2 Corinthians 6:14). Exposing false teachers guards the body of Christ and protects the spiritual welfare of the believer. To do so demonstrates love; not to do so demonstrates compromise and cowardice.

Jesus Christ is the greatest example of love and compassion the world has ever known. But His presence and words offended virtually everyone in His day (Matthew chapter 23). Dare anyone have the nerve to say He came across as “arrogant’ and lacked “humility”?

Finally, “r180,” I love you in Christ. If it were possible, I would have dipped this post in honey prior to sending it. However, I love Jesus Christ and His word more, enough to tell you the truth.

I encourage you to listen to those who care about you and your spiritual welfare. Consider strongly what they say, for your eternal welfare hangs in the balance.

r180/John,

If you really want to be an ‘expert in Truth’ you should use lingo that jives with the Bible. If you state, “I’d encourage you to live in the ‘ Tree of Life’ as opposed to the ‘Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil’. Don’t be tempted to be an expert in facts, but be an expert in Truth.” then you should not use the term ‘Tree of Life’ to mean something different from the Biblical use in Genesis 3 and Revelation 22. Otherwise it leads to confusion.

Jesus did many things that weren’t recorded in scripture.

Yes, but does that mean we can do anything that’s not specifically forbidden in scripture? We have to believe in absolute Truth; and, the Bible is of course that Truth. Otherwise there’d be chaos. We have to believe that the reason all of Jesus miracles were not recorded is that this point is not important to Christianity; that is, if we believe the canon was truly Holy Spirit inspired.

Bear in mind this statement only refers to Jesus’ miracles. I think it safe to assume that Jesus did not invoke angels in any of his miracles.

The point is that when angels visited anyone in Biblical accounts these individuals fell down in reverence. Bentley just nonchalantly calls ’em out and then chats with ’em. I believe these to be ‘angels of light’ as I see no other explanation. Except perhaps it’s all in his vain imagination.

And, why would he petition angels when we can go directly to the Holy of Holies? This whole paragraph I cited above is WRONG on so many levels! This scripture [Phil 4:19] says NOTHING about angels at all; so, how can he get this explanation. It’s a classic case eisegesis rather than exegesis.

We’ll do things that Jesus didn’t even do!

Once again, I disagree with your exegesis of this. But, even putting that aside. Do you really think this means we will summon angels by this scripture bypassing Jesus’ shed blood as an entrance directly into the Holy of Holies?

r180/John,

The practice of kundalini is not even mentioned let alone forbidden in scripture. Does this mean it’s OK for the Christian?

Kundalini comes out of Eastern Mysticism. I have a strong belief that Bentley is, in fact, imparting kundalini energies by his “anointing.” The manifestations of Bentley’s anointees bear a striking resemblence to those who receive the kundalini from a shaktipat.

Going back to “Tree of Life” — do I presume you’re aware that this term is used in Qabalism/Cabalism/Kabbalism.

To quote another site:

Just as the tree of life has significance to the Christian through what it signifies in the book of Genesis, so too does it have significance to mystics and occultists. Manly P. Hall, in, The Secret Teachings of All Ages, writes, “…the Tree of Life is the appointed symbol of the Mysteries and by partaking of its fruit man attains immortality.”
Nevill Drury, in his Dictionary of Mysticism and the Occult, claims that “The occult Tree of Life is a path in which the initiate—the occult student—discovers and experiences the “inner light” (also called the “inner Christ”). It is a system of spiritual doctrines which opens up the mind and the soul to a new level of understanding—“salvation comes from within.”

John,

But again, I still say your use of the Tree of Life does correspond to the Tree of Life as referenced in the Bible in Genesis 3 and Revelation 22. We do not partake of the Tree of Life until the other side of Glory!

Is it possible for someone like Todd to hold to a doctrine out of ignorance, and then correct? I’m not talking about anything specific.

I’m not naive enough to think that someone can be ‘in the ministry’ for over 10 years and consistently teach erroneous doctrine mangling scripture beyond its obvious context out of ignorance. Bentley holds to the Latter Rain doctrine of William Branham, Bob Jones, Paul Cain, et al. His teaching on angelic hosts as I’ve cited above is not only full of doctrinal errors, it is obvious to anyone who will study that he is espousing New Age doctrine albeit in Christian lingo.

And here’s more of his Latter Rain heretical teaching:

http://www.etpv.org/2002/joelarmy.html

From the above quoted by Jack Deere and then John Wimber:

Jack Deere explains Joel 2 in the context of Ezekiel 9 — When this army comes, he says it’s large and it’s mighty. It’s so mighty that there’s never been anything like it before…And they walk through the land and they start and they begin to slaughter and you know it’s already started with the biggest names in His household? He has already started the slaughter…and it is coming now among the Church.”(It Sounds Like the Mother of All Battles, Jack Deere, VMI, Joel’s Army, 1990).

John Wimber also stated, “those in this army will have the ‘kind of anointing’… His kind of power … anyone who wants to harm them must die”… [there’s that “anointing” word again.]

OK, so this link is dated 6 years ago. However, Bentley has a Joel’s Army school tab currently on his website; so, obviously he still believes this stuff.

I’m sure you’re aware of IHOP’s take on Joel’s Army. On IHOP’s “Affirmation and Denials” page [now why the need to deny things unless there once was a time (and perhaps still is) that IHOP was confused with espousing these beliefs?] there’s a disclaimer on Joel’s Army (among others):

WE AFFIRM that the army in Joel 2:1–11 was an ungodly Babylonian army that destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC. We believe that this passage has a double fulfillment as it points to the Antichrist’s army that will attack Israel at the end of the age. We affirm that Joel was prophesying of the lifestyle of godly believers in Joel 2:12–17.

Explanation: The term “Joel’s Army” has been used to signify the people who walk out the principles of prayer with fasting as taught in Joel 2:12–17. The term has been used much like “Joseph Company”, “Gideon Band” or “David Company” to signify the people who embraced the godly qualities that Joel taught about prayer, fasting and wholehearted obedience. Paul Cain had a prophetic word about a “Joel’s Army in training,” referring to a group of people who would give themselves to prayer and fasting according to Joel 2:12–17. When used like this, “Joel’s Army” does not refer specifically to the destroying army mentioned in Joel 2:1–11, but to people who walk out the Joel 2:12–17 lifestyle. The misunderstanding comes from giving the title “Joel’s Army” to both the destroying army (Joel 2:1–11) and the group of people who give themselves to fasting and prayer (Joel 2:12–17).

OK, now going back to the Bentley Joel’s Army link above, we have Paul Cain’s words which directly follow Wimber’s quote above:

Paul Cain says that out of this unity will come an army, Joel’s Army, based on Joel 2: “I told you about … this recurring [35 year-old] vision I had…. The angel of the Lord said, ‘You’re standing at the crossroads of life. What do you see?’ And I saw a brilliantly lit billboard that reads, ‘Joel’s Army now in training.’ . . . .I believe one day soon Joel’s Army will be in training … until it graduates into the stadium …. But a right understanding of the plan of God for this generation brings this tremendous inclusion…. God’s offering to you, this present generation, a greater privilege than was ever offered any generation at any time from Adam clear down through the millennium.”

“I had a vision of you people coming from . . . a circle of maybe a hundred miles and I saw people coming from every major city within that circumference and a great conclave was taking place, and it was the training of Joel’s Army. . . . I believe that people are going to come together by the thousands and train for the Army of the Lord. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? I mean, that’s long overdue.” (Grace Ministries tape)

So, am I to believe that Deere/Wimber and Cain are talking about two different ‘Joel’s Army’ — the first is a fighting army which will kill the oppostion while the other is merely those have ‘given themselves over to a lifestyle of prayer and fasting? I’m not that naive.

[I’ve seen “Joseph Company” mean something totally different — C. Peter Wagner’s ‘Great Transfer of Wealth.’ Once again, just like your usage of ‘Tree of Life,’ we have multiple meanings for the same term/phrase. Why is this done? It leads to confusion.]

My contention is that this doublespeak is intentional and is done to divide. Yes divide. Those on blogs such as this who are contending for Truth [Jude 3] are the ones accused of division, yet it is those who are teaching false doctrine who are dividing and leading parts of the flock astray.

We already have a common denominator. Yes, of course, I’m speaking of Jesus but also His Word. It is one thing to make the occasional doctrinal mistake. It’s quite another to consistently and blatantly misuse God’s Word. It’s offensive to me.

Would you consider the Joel’s Army and Latter Rain issues to be essentials or non-essentials of scripture? Or said another way, can one old to those teachings and still be a Christian? In your opinion?

My opinion matters little. It’s the Word of God which will provide your answer.

31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” [John 8:31-32]

24″Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” [Matthew 7:24-25]

7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. [John 15:7]

Jesus was very clear that doctrine is important, for, once again, Jesus is the Word made flesh.

“16I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” [Matthew 10:16]

“34”Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” [Matthew 10:34]

What is this sword? It is the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God!

35″For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” [Mark 8:35]

15″Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21″Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

What is this bad fruit? Bad doctrine! Jesus starts out with, “Watch our for false prophets.” The question is then what is a prophet? A prophet is one who is a speaksperson for God either by forthtelling or foretelling. So, if one is off on their doctrine or on future prophecies, this one is a false prophet not sent from God. Neither Branham, Bob Jones, Paul Cain nor Bentley were/are sent from God as all have spoken false future prophetic events and all have proclaimed the Word of God falsely. It’s plain and simple.

9″Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. [Matthew 24:9]

True Christians will continue to be persecuted even more so as the end of the end draws nearer.

10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. [Matthew 24:10-13]

Rather than a “billion souls saved” at the end as Bickle and others teach, many will “turn away from the faith.”

13″Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” [Matthew 7:13-14]

4Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ [anointing],’ and will deceive many. [Matthew 24:4-5]

23At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ [anointing]!’ or, ‘There he [the anointing] is!’ do not believe it. 24For false Christs [anointings] and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. [Matthew 24:23-24]

There’s not to be a ‘great revival’ of end time saints but rather a great persecution of true Christians. The whole doctrine of Latter Rain/Joel’s Army/Manifest Sons of God (MSoG I really haven’t touched on yet) is not just heretical but antichrist doctrine as it diminishes Christ’s finished work on the cross. Any doctrine which does not exalt Christ is antichrist by definition.

18Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. [1 John 2:18]

Of course there have been many antichrists outside the church — Hitler is but one of many examples. Plus Joseph Smith, Jim Jones, the leader of Jehovah’s Witnesses whose name escapes me at the moment who profess(ed) to be Christian “churches.” However, there are those who’ve successfully infiltrated the church with their antichrist doctrine just like Theosphists/New Agers had intended. Latter Rain is just one of those doctrines.

It’s a principle… to live in the Tree of Life is to live a life of innocence, of service, of humility.

John, the trouble with this is that we CANNOT go back, as it were, to a life of innocence because Eve then Adam partook of the Tree of Knowledge. It’s just like I cannot unlearn things I learned after my childhood and return to childlike innocence. There are many things I wish I had not done or experienced; but, I cannot undo them.

John,

Please show me your scripture reference.

and, since the enemy can only counterfeit, the experiences in God must be much potent and overwhelming.

How can you say that satan’s counterfeit will be less potent than God’s? Once again, I’ll ask you for scripture reference. OK, I’ll provide a few:

24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. [Matthew 24:24]

9The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. [2 Thess 2:9-12]

It’s very clear that satan will have very powerful signs and wonders to deceive. The scary part is that God Himself sends the strong delusion to those who do not love the truth.

Why do folks tend to get nervous when others are manifesting? Rolling around on the ground, laughing, shouting, trembling, etc? Instead of being excited for them, certain types of people actually tend to sneer and resist.

While I can’t speak for others I can tell you that I find no Biblical precedence for these manifestations. But, I can find those same types in kundalini and qi gong; and, they’re just as potent as what I’ve witnessed in Charismatic circles. As I mentioned before, all those manifestations mirror what occurs to those who’ve had a kundalini arousal.

http://godnet.org/cult.htm

http://www.inplainsite.org/html/kundalini.html

And, I can find no Biblical precedence for an “anointing” like Bentley is transferring imparting; but, I find that there is this one anointing in scripture:

20But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth… …27As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him. [1 John 2:20,27]

This anointing is the Holy Spirit which is NOT transferable by man.

To not be open to experiences is to limit greatly what God has planned for us.

I agree. And, I have experienced God. He’s led me to do things that didn’t quite seem right at the time; but, they definitely were not unbiblical.

Kim,

I also refuted the “billion souls saved” above in one of my posts; but, I quoted the ‘narrow gate’ scripture to show why. Perhaps John was referring to me.