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Analyzed, Examined, and Found Wanting
by Bud Press, Director
Christian Research Service
www.christianresearchservice.com
January 19, 2009
‘Angel feathers’ in their caps
Question: Who made the following statement? Patricia King? Benny Hinn? Todd Bentley? Pastor David Jones? Joshua Mills? Bill Johnson?
Angels often send us little reminders of their presence as angel feathers, which are small white feathers. These seem to appear from nowhere when we are down and in need of comfort. I remember sitting in a café, watching the rain falling on the pavement outside and feeling blue. Suddenly, a small white feather floated down in front of me and landed on my table. I smiled, knowing the angels were around me, with their comforting presence. [emp. theirs]
For the answer to this question read the extensive research done by Bud Press
by Bud Press, Director
Christian Research Service
www.christianresearchservice.com
October 24, 2008
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And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with
the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not
strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.
And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called
the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to
the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him (Revelation 12:7-9).
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In the opening stages of his 2003 article, “Angelic Hosts Part 1,” Todd Bentley focuses the reader’s attention on “teaching on the angelic realm and how you can release angels to fulfill God’s word”
( http://www.etpv.org/2003/angho.html ).
Next, Bentley reveals that he had “several daily visitations of angels which lasted for weeks,” and that,
Since the beginning of this year I’ve also sensed an increase in the presence of angels in our meetings. Many others have reported to me of increase of spiritual activity in their lives too.
Towards the end of his article, Bentley claimed that one of the angels he encountered was a female named “Emma”:
Now let me talk about an angelic experience with Emma. Twice Bob Jones asked me about this angel that was in Kansas City in 1980: “Todd, have you ever seen the angel by the name of Emma?” He asked me as if he expected that this angel was appearing to me. Surprised, I said, “Bob, who is Emma?” He told me that Emma was the angel that helped birth and start the whole prophetic movement in Kansas City in the 1980s. She was a mothering-type angel that helped nurture the prophetic as it broke out. Within a few weeks of Bob asking me about Emma, I was in a service in Beulah, North Dakota. In the middle of the service I was in conversation with Ivan and another person when in walks Emma. As I stared at the angel with open eyes, the Lord said, “Here’s Emma.” I’m not kidding. She floated a couple of inches off the floor. It was almost like Kathryn Khulman in those old videos when she wore a white dress and looked like she was gliding across the platform. Emma appeared beautiful and young-about 22 years old-but she was old at the same time. She seemed to carry the wisdom, virtue and grace of Proverbs 31 on her life.
She glided into the room, emitting brilliant light and colors. Emma carried these bags and began pulling gold out of them. Then, as she walked up and down the aisles of the church, she began putting gold dust on people. “God, what is happening?” I asked. The Lord answered: “She is releasing the gold, which is both the revelation and the financial breakthrough that I am bringing into this church. I want you to prophecy that Emma showed up in this service-the same angel that appeared in Kansas city-as a sign that I am endorsing and releasing a prophetic spirit in the church.” See, when angels come, they always come for a reason; we need to actually ask God what the purpose is. Within three weeks of that visitation, the church had given me the biggest offering I had ever received to that point in my ministry. Thousands of dollars! Thousands! Even though the entire community consisted of only three thousand people, weeks after I left the church the pastor testified that the church offerings had either doubled or tripled.
But “Emma” isn’t the only female angel that Todd Bentley has endorsed. There is another, and her name is “Mary.”
Mary, Mary, quite contrary…
In his June 1, 2008 book, The Reality of the Supernatural World, Todd Bentley included a chapter titled, “SUPERNATURAL ENCOUNTERS.” In it, Bentley introduces the reader to “some inspiring testimonies of ordinary people who have experienced powerful spiritual encounters” (p. 339).
On page 340, Todd Bentley gives his stamp of approval to the inspiring testimonies, stating that,
I’m so thankful for those who have shared their stories here, and I rejoice for what God has done in their lives and through our ministry. We thank them for “saying so,” for declaring His works, and making known to our readers that the Kingdom of Heaven is now.
One of the stories Todd Bentley is so thankful for is the testimony of a 15 year old girl named “Alyssa” and her “Supernatural Encounter With Angels” (dated April 5, 2007). Here is an excerpt from page 344:
Then, I went to sleep and I saw in a dream our whole house being taken over by angels, and even the Lord came into our house, walked around our beds, and blessed us and secured the whole place. Then the next night, a whole room full of angels came in and spoke with me and said, “We are so happy to have you back, ALYSSA!” Then a beautiful angel, named Mary, came and said, “We are here to believe in you.”
Alyssa concluded her testimony on page 344, stating that, “This has changed my whole life!” She hoped to attend the Supernatural Training Centre, sponsored by Fresh Fire Ministries ( http://www.freshfire.ca/index.php?Id=4 ).
In his article, “Confronting the Superstitious Church of the 21st Century,” Richard Fisher reminds Christians that their focus is to be on Jesus Christ, not angels:
The pursuit of angels should be off-limits for a Bible-believing Christian for a number of reasons. Paramount is a warning in Colossians 2:18 regarding intruding into the unseen realm of angels. The pursuit of angelic beings is a subtle diversion from the only Mediator who is superior by comparison and from the study of Scripture. [Personal Freedom Outreach, http://www.pfo.org/confront.htm ]
But the pursuit of angels is precisely what Todd Bentley, Alyssa, and many of his followers have done. And while Alyssa’s testimony will sound credible to the innocent, unwary, and those whose minds are blinded to the truth of God’s written word, it wasn’t heavenly angels and the Jesus of the Bible that appeared to her in her dream. What Alyssa encountered were counterfeit angels the Apostle Paul warned about in his letters to the churches of Galatia and Corinth.
In his letters, Paul warned about the false “Jesus” and demonic angels roaming the spiritual landscape. Galatians 1:6-9 and 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 serve as a chilling reminder that there are real counterfeit angels–all of whom make it their business to confuse, oppress, deceive, and lead the believer away from the real Jesus Christ and the real gospel and the real Holy Spirit.
And marching in-step with the counterfeit angels and “Jesus” are men and women who claim to be servants of Jesus Christ, but are, in reality, those who are well-trained in the dark art of deception and manipulation:
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 (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
Remember this: Where there be false apostles and deceitful workers, there be doctrines of demons and interactive fellowship with demonic angels.
Again, from Todd Bentley’s article, “ANGELIC HOSTS Part 1,” here is a chilling reminder of what happens when the counterfeits’ show up:
During this visitation the pastor’s wife (it was an AOG church) got totally whacked by the Holy Ghost–she began running around barking like a dog or squawking like a chicken as a powerful prophetic spirit came on her. [ http://tinyurl.com/BarkingClucking ]
For decades, the Charismatic movement has spawned and spewed a multitude of false prophets, false teachers, and false healers; all of whom have mocked, plundered, and twisted God’s written word; all of whom have taken advantage of the weak and conditioned the innocent; all of whom have caused tremendous damage to the cause of Christ worldwide.
While deception is seeker-friendly to both adults and children, Alyssa’s testimony demonstrates just how easy it is for a young teenager to be influenced and manipulated by the false teachers of our day.
After all, is there a better way to ensure the future of demonically-inspired teachings than to condition and deceive impressionable children, and lead them down the path to unrighteousness?
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren
who are in the world (1 Peter 5:8-9).
Recommended reading:
Bob Jones: A Tail of a Prophet
Does the Bible teach that angels visit us?
Todd Bentley and “The Beautiful Side of Evil”
By Berit Kjos – June 26, 2008
The Beautiful Side of Evil
Back in the eighties I read The Beautiful Side of Evil by Johanna Michaelsen. For many years she was caught up in the occult, yet she believed that the “angels” who reached out to her were servants of God, not Satan. One of those “angels” sounds strangely similar to Bentley’s “floating” angel, Emma:
“[She was] beautiful with flowing hair and robes of shimmering dark blue spangled with tiny stars…. She took me by the shoulders and gently kissed me on the forehead…. ‘Welcome, my child,’ she said. Then she turned and floated back through the wall as she had come. I have never experienced such joy, such light and peace, such unspeakable ecstasy. I was on the right path at last.”[2,p.83]
No, she was tricked! Masquerading as an “angel of light,” Satan used her feel-good experiences to deepen the deception. Through those painful years, Johanna’s “fellowship” with demons brought her indescribable depression and despair. The enchanting moments of light were fleeting, while fear and confusion darkened her days. She would continue to suffer under that cruel master until God set her free. But since that time, God has used her testimony as a much-needed warning. It calls His people to–
“Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” Eph 5:8-11
Exposing the darkness can be costly. Church leaders who seek unity, popularity and unbounded fellowship are quick to label us intolerant and judgmental. But the cost is nothing compared to the genuine joy of serving our Lord!
Mesmerizing the masses
To alter her consciousness and connect with these entities, Johanna used meditation, visualization, concentration — and the repetitive beat of a metronome. Bentley’s tools are different but just as effective. Like tribal shamans (and like his own former world of “satanic music”), he uses loud rhythmic sounds (drums, etc.), then adds repetitious words and hypnotic music. Pastor Gary Osborne described it in his article, Bentley’s “Revival” in Lakeland, Florida:
“The phrase ‘stir yourselves up’ was used repeatedly…. A woman led in prayer for the service and … told the people to ‘roar like a lion!’ … People everywhere shouted at the top of their lungs…. This same lady was jerking and twitching…. There was also much talk of ‘birthing’ and ‘signs and wonders.’… People were swaying and dancing…. There was a very sensual spirit… People seemed to be in a trance all around me. If the worship leader said, ‘raise your hands’ everyone did so immediately. If he said, ‘drop to your knees’ they did…. The music had the people mesmerized….
“At about 8:30 PM… the music leader says, ‘I’m feeling drunk.’ He then tells the people to say to God, ‘Intoxicate me, Lord…. Now the people are getting truly wild and the leader says, ‘Scream!!!’ and the people let out a yell…. Finally the worship leader falls to the floor himself….”[5]
This manipulative process started up again the next evening. Finally, with the crowd thoroughly conditioned to “break out of the box” of Biblical order (1 Cor 14:40), Bentley took control. Wearing a t-shirt with the words, “Jesus Gave Me My Tattoos,” he announced the presence of “great authority” in the building. “I speak creation,” he declared. “I speak new hearts, new livers into existence tonight….’”[5]
Doesn’t he know God’s view of such arrogance? Has he no fear of His judgments on those who serve the purpose of the master deceiver?
“For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven… I will be like the Most High.’
Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.” Isaiah 14:13-15
Signs, wonders and mystical healings
“The glory of God is intense,” wrote Bentley in a “Personal Message” on May 20. “…miracles continue – tumors disappearing nightly, cancers and deaf ears being healed. It has been reported that more than 55 people in wheelchairs are receiving their healing. Another remarkable turn of events – 13 reported resurrections!”
He claims that a male “angel” named “Healing Revival”[6] worked with him in many past healings: When he comes,” said Bentley, “I get… the ability to diagnose people’s sicknesses with my left hand…. I get very accurate details from God…. And whenever this angel shows up the miracles go off the charts.”[4]
Four angels supposedly operated on him during one of his heavenly visions. He saw “a Pillar of fire” rise up through the roof of a church. When “God” told him to “get into the Pillar,” he complied — and landed on an operating table in heaven. The angels tied him down and began surgery:
“[T]hey pick this thing up… and they stuck it in me right here on my neck and it didn’t hurt…. they went right down to my lowards and all of a sudden … everything inside of me popped out onto the table, my heart, my liver — like everything…. . [T]he angels start taking these white boxes… and they start stuffing these things inside of me… and I heard the verse ‘I desire truth in the inward parts.’”[7]
Bentley’s reference to Psalm 51:6 illustrates his blatant Scripture twisting — a timeless demonic tool. And his “surgery” reminds me of the mystical reports about “alien abductions.”
It’s also similar to Johanna’s experiences with painless operations in Mexico. Both claim to have seen countless supernatural healings that clashed with all medical knowledge. But Bentley’s “heavenly” experience (while in a trance) occurred only in a psychic realm, while Johanna assisted in numerous operations where patients actually bled. A few incredulous doctors observed this bizarre process and validated the results.
We shouldn’t be surprised. Long ago, missionaries to distant tribal cultures described both the source and the effect of and shamanic magic. It’s not a new phenomenon!
Johanna would assist Hermanito, a demonic spirit that “possessed” a Mexican woman named Pachita and used her body to operate on his patients. Like Bentley’s six angels, he often replaced something from the patient’s body with special objects.
A former army officer with an inoperable brain tumor came seeking relief from blinding headaches. As his operation began, Hermanito ordered Johanna to hand him the knife: She described the brutal action:
“In a single, violent motion he plunged it into Perry’s skull. The man on the table gasped. ‘Do you feel pain, Perry?’ I asked him anxiously. ‘Oh, no,’ he replied with a faint smile, ‘but I can feel something moving inside my head—it’s so strange!’ he laughed nervously…. Several days after the operation, I called him to see how he was doing. He told me his headaches were completely gone….”[2,p.126-127]
To heal David, a young man with terminal cancer, Hermanito called for more concentrated prayer — using words that blended the Scriptures with occult ideas:
“Take a glass of pure water. Go out to the balcony, raise it high in your right hands and say, ‘May the most precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which, when only represented in Egypt brought freedom to the Israelites by the strong arm of God, free us and favor us against all evil.’… Sun and Earth, Moon and Stars… Mosses, Reptiles…. I ask of you this day the health of this patient.’
“’Form a circle around him…. Hold hands and pray….’ He raised the scissors in prayer for a long moment, then plunged them into David’s side. He cut for a few moments, then asked ‘Do you feel pain…?’ David didn’t answer…. Hermanito’s breath drew in sharply…. ‘Roll up your sleeve. We must perform a transfusion. Hurry! The rest of you pray!” he ordered…. Suddenly, David took a deep breath and opened his eyes….
“David had died on the table that night. The force behind Hermanito had brought him back…”[2,p.118-119]
But all was not well in this psychic realm. David died less than four months later. And many other healings were only temporary.”[2,p.134] Christians who sought help through demonic forces suffered more and were less likely to be “healed.” Satan has only hatred for his deluded victims — especially those who actually belong to the true God. [See From torment to triumph]
God’s Victory in this Spiritual War
“…many of our churches are in serious danger of occult contamination,” wrote Johanna.[2,p.183] She knew how easily even Christians could trade God’s truth for counterfeit promises. After all, she didn’t stray into darkness because she loved evil — but because evil looked so good! Her testimony is a wake-up call to churches everywhere:
“That first week in college, when the gospel was shared with me, I welcomed it with open arms. I confessed my sins before God and asked Jesus to enter my life as my Lord and Savior. I know, on the basis of God’s word, that I was born again, and I received in my spirit the assurance of my salvation. I gave myself to Him with my whole heart.
“But I did not understand the importance of carefully, systematically studying His Word. I had no real understanding of what I believed or why I believed it.’ And so, in time, I began to build my relationship with God based on my experience. My experience told me the healings and miracles I witnessed at Pachita’s were of God. My feelings assured me the work there was holy, for the name of Jesus was used and there was a crucifix on the altar, and demons were ‘cast out.’”
“Soon my ‘logic’ told me the Bible was too narrow…. Ultimately, I came to believe Jesus was a way to God — but not the Way, the Truth, the Life. Gently, a step at a time, I fell away from the faith, unwittingly ‘paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.’ (I Timothy 4:1).… Ultimately, because I was a child of God, because I wanted more than anything else to know the Truth, He delivered me.”[2,p.181-182]
I thank God for His mercy and saving grace that reaches out to all who will hear and heed His Word. As the spiritual war intensifies, may we be ready to hear His call, turn around (repent), resist the deceiver, and follow our wonderful Shepherd.
“Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:10-12
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