ArkHaven

Dominionism

The Trojan Horse In The Charismatic Movement

1Th 5:21  Test all things; hold fast what is good.

The focus of this article is a report on the recent emergence of Dominion Theology in Charismatic and Pentecostal circles, and the primary theologian and thinker behind this movement.  This brand of Dominionism comes out of the Partial Preterist view of eschatology.  If you do not know what Dominionism or Preterism is and how it affects you, you have an unguarded door in your Christian life, so please read on.

Some of our most popular Charismatic/Pentecostal leaders are
Preterists and Dominionists, and are leading
their followers into these controversial doctrines

Preterists Believe Most Of End-Times Prophecy was fulfilled in 70 A.D.
Dominionists say the church will completely Christianize and rule the world
before Jesus can return

I like to ask this question to Christians who believe that Jesus will return before the 1,000 years of peace: are you a Futurist, a Preterist, or a Historist?  Very few will have ever heard of any of these terms, and therefore don’t know that they are a futurist.  Believe me, the Preterists and Historists know all these terms, and so should we.

Ignorance is an unguarded door for the enemy to come through unawares, so we need to learn how to guard the door to our faith like the Bereans did.  We CAN judge doctrine by the Word of God, and we’re required to test ourselves to see if we’re in the faith. 

You can’t reform what God never started

The system we have today isn’t broke, it wasn’t God’s in the first place, and you can’t reform what God never started. 

As I have shown in other articles, Protestantism inherited a lot of her traditions and theology from her Catholic mother.  And Catholicism was and is full of pagan practices (a mix of Christianity and paganism).  Because of that, very little of the Acts model for the church is visible anywhere in Christendom today.  That is not a criticism or opinion, that is a historical fact that is well documented in a church history book titled: Pagan Christianity, The Origins of Our Modern Church Practices, by Frank Viola. On the one hand, it is true that his history lessons are true and important to know.  But on the other hand, it should be pointed out that Viola is very involved in the Emergant Church movement.  So, his history lessons are solid but his Emergent theology is not.

For a doctrine to be heretical it will be more than just not Biblical, but the heretic will also demand that you be in unity with them, not they with you.  They will come up with exclusion/elitist battle cries reminiscent of the Civil war between the Blues and the Grays.  They are the Blues and we are the Grays, and the Grays are the rebels and the losers.  Without correct doctrine one can not have correct worship or true unity.  The worship will be the “strange fire” Eli’s two sons had when they did burnt offerings.

But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.  Hebrews 5:14

This word “distinguish” is “diakrisis” which means “a distinguishing, discerning, judging” and comes from the root “krino” which is used as “judge” in Matt 7:1-5. So what’s the difference? It’s in the context. One is hypocritical judgment, which is condemned. The other is a mandate to be mature and judge between what is GOOD (like doctrine) or EVIL (like bad doctrine). And if it is false doctrine, well let’s be logical…it’s heresy. It leads people away from the true Way. Would false doctrine be from Satan?

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!  Gal.1:8

Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?  Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?  Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?  If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?  1 Corinthians 6:1-6

I came into the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in 1965 during the early years of the Charismatic movement in St. Louis.  In those years I sat at the feet of the founders of many doctrines. I finally came to realize they were not good doctrines, and I walked away from them.  The Shepherding,  Jesus Only (oneness),  Manifest Sons of God,  Latter Rain, and the Word Faith, were all presented to me. After a lot of prayer, study, and the advice of mature Christians, I didn’t go with any of them.  I stayed in the main flow of the Charismatic movement. 

My point is: yes I examined, no I didn’t go with them … yes I have dear friends in some of these groups. And of course I have received criticism for being so critical of what I perceive to be a Trojan horse in the Charismatic movement.

“So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength).—2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (Amplified Bible)

The latest stream in the Charismatic movement has been evolving since the 90’s, but just recently began to take on a name.  In fact it seems like they were hiding their identity.  At any rate I have only begun to get wind of it over the past two months. 

I knew what a Preterist was, but it seemed entirely foreign in the Charismatic movement.  Now I have come to understand that the full title of this movement is: the Partial Preterist / Dominionist movement

At this time, most Charismatics and Evangelicals have never heard these terms before.  If you are such a one, please read on, because you really need to know who these people are and what they are teaching.  You may be in the midst of such a group and not even know it.

Unlike all the other movements, this one is militant.  As Preterists they believe that Jesus’ second coming took place way back in 70 A.D.  As Dominionists they intend to intimidate, dominate, and conquer the whole world so that Jesus can manifest His presence and rule the world. 

If you do not succumb to their doctrine you are accused of touching God’s anointed, not being in the Spirit of Unity, and coming against God.  All the other groups just let you be, but this one doesn’t.  In a moment we will give a better definition of these terms. 

These Dominionists tend to scorn and belittle those who would exercise their God-given self-defense weapon of discernment. Those who would obey scripture and “test all things” are mocked and ridiculed and labeled ‘Pharisees.’ It seems that the Church has fallen prey to the modernistic, non-judgmental mindset of our present age. The one unpardonable sin is to question someone’s belief, or dare to say that it might be wrong. This is a politically correct time in America.  We don’t want to offend someone whose beliefs may differ from ours.

These new leaders demand you march inline, and if you cannot agree, then you must remain silent at all costs. They call for us to experience now, and evaluate later. I am reminded of heroin addicts who took one shot and then evaluated that decision for the rest of their wretched lives.  

Some of our most popular Charismatic/Pentecostal leaders are
Preterists and Dominionists, and are leading
their followers into these controversial doctrines

They have been very secretive about their doctrine and identity for some reason.  We can only recognize them by what they are teaching.  They teach a doctrine, but they hide their label.  Why?  By hiding their label they also hide their identity.  Who are the leaders? And prophetically, where is this movement taking us? 

For a deception to be received in a widespread and mainstream manner, the teaching of it has to be slow and methodical.  That is what they have done.   The Holy Spirit prompts people that something is off, but when they take a cursory glance they can’t see what it is and they are often discouraged from asking questions.  The Scriptures have been slowly removed from much of the church, discipleship removed, and we are left with an immature, untrained, vulnerable ‘army’ willing to follow a ‘strong’ leader.  We feel excused because few of us have ever heard of these labels (Preterist & Dominionist) before. 

Is this a Trojan horse full of false prophets that will open the church gates to a lethal invasion of heresy? We need the Lord to show us what to do.  As the Lord reveals the deception and calls people to Truth, Satan would love to create chaos and misunderstanding.  We need the Lord’s clear direction.  There will be conflict and battle by the world’s standards but peace according to the Lord.  Light shining in darkness reveals whatever is present.

In short, we need to understand what the word “Dominionism” means to these people, and why they are so militant.  So far only one of these prominent Charismatic leaders (that I know about) has come out of the closet and announced himself as a Preterist and Dominionist.  C. Peter Wagner, Presiding Apostle in the International Coalition of Apostles, said in his new book titled: DOMINION! How Kingdom Action Can Change the World, that he is a Partial Preterist and strong advocate of Dominion Theology. Here is what he said on page 61:

“Seriously, I will confess that up until recently I knew what eschatology I did not believe—namely, the traditional Left Behind futuristic view—but I was not able to verbalize what I actually did believe. My changing point came when I read Victorious Eschatology by Harold Eberle and Martin Trench. Victorious eschatology fits dominion theology like a hand in a glove. Eberle and Trench say, “Before Jesus returns, the Church will rise in glory, unity, and maturity. The Kingdom of God will grow and advance until it fills the Earth.”

Victorious eschatology makes a convincing argument that the biblical prophecies concerning the “last days” or the “end times” were literally fulfilled at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. The end times marked the ending of the old covenant and the beginning of the new covenant. Jesus literally will return to the earth in the future (see Matthew 24:36-25:46), but none of the signs of Matthew 24:4-34 are expected to precede His return, because they have already occurred. This is known by professional theologians as the Partial Preterist view of eschatology, and it is the view with which I personally identify.”

Many of my readers have never heard any of these words or names before, so consider doing a Google search on them. It bears repeating, ignorance is an unguarded door for the enemy to come through unawares.  These terms need to be defined so you can see what Dominion Theology is, and why it is so essential for you to know something about these doctrines.

I like to ask this question to Christians who believe that Jesus will return before the 1,000 years of peace: are you a Futurist, a Preterist, or a Historist?  Very few will have ever heard of any of these terms, and therefore don’t know that they are a futurist, the very thing Wagner said he doesn’t believe.  Believe me, the Preterists and Historists know all these terms, and so should we.

Amillennialists or Preterists say that the Second Coming, the Antichrist reign, and the tribulation all took place in the era of AD 70 when General Titus destroyed the temple and marched Judea into captivity, and we have been in a none-literal millennium ever since AD 70.  They call themselves Preterists. Many Preterists teach Replacement Theology and Dominion Theology. Do you think this doctrine is heretical or just in error? As I understand this doctrine, Preterists are saying there will not be a great tribulation period or an Antichrist whom the book of Revelation says will become a One World dictator for a brief time in history. There will only be Christian super leaders who (in unity of some spirit with all their believers) conquer the world for Christ.  And then Jesus will come again.  Do you think this doctrine is heretical or just in error…or is it Bible truth?

Postmillennialists or Historists say that the Second Coming can not take place until the end of the millennium when every human has been led to Christ (allegorically understood to just mean “a long time” and not a literal 1,000 years).  They call themselves Historists because they believe that most of the end-time prophecies have already been fulfilled, and believe the reigning Pope has always been the current Beast.  Many Historists also teach Replacement Theology and Dominion Theology. Do you think this doctrine is heretical or just in error?

Premillennialists are called Futurists because we say that the antichrist will come on the scene sometime in the future at the onset of the great tribulation period, and that the Second Coming will take place at the beginning of the millennium.

Premillennialists (pre, mid, and post tribulation rapture saints) know the passage in Genesis where God told Adam to, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it” (Gen 1:26-28) but they also know that before their first child was born that they had already lost God’s perfect plan for dominion over the earth.  But the principle for us to remember is that God wants us to be the stewards, the caretakers and protectors of His creation.  Because we have the correct Biblical view, we assume that all Christians do, and the Dominionists take full advantage of our innocence and naivety.

Replacement Theology Teaches that the Church is the replacement for Israel and that the many promises made to Israel in the Bible are fulfilled in the Christian Church, not in Israel. So, the prophecies in Scripture concerning the blessing and restoration of Israel to the Promised Land are “spiritualized” or “allegorized” into promises of God’s blessing for the Church. Major problems exist with this view, such as the continuing existence of the Jewish people throughout the centuries and especially with the revival of the modern state of Israel. If Israel has been condemned by God, and there is no future for the Jewish nation, how do we explain the supernatural survival of the Jewish people over the past 2000 years despite the many attempts to destroy them? How do we explain why and how Israel reappeared as a nation in the 20th century after not existing for 1900 years?

A radio radio talk show I once had was kicked off of a radio station (the major advertisers were in replacement theology denominations) for giving a pro-Israel program.

Dominion Theology  Teaches that the Gospel of Salvation is achieved by setting up the “Kingdom of God” as a literal and physical kingdom to be “advanced” on Earth in the present age. Dominion Theology says the church will completely Christianize and rule the world before Jesus can return (the Second Coming) to rule the world. 

Full Preterists,” who see all prophecy fulfilled in AD 70 are rarely connected to Dominion Theology (Reconstructionism; Rushdoony, Bahnsen) because they see the Mosaic code as yet binding.  The branch of Dominionism we are addressing here essentially seeks to establish God’s Kingdom on the earth now by political or radical activism. They believe that Jesus can’t come back until they have conquered the earth in His name and subdued all of God’s enemies.  Four centuries after Calvin it’s very popular in Charismatic and Pentecostal movements in the U.S. and the U. K. that are trying to establish God’s kingdom here on earth, and denies the rapture. Some have gone as far as to say the rapture is a lie of the devil.  Do a Google search on John Calvin’s Dominionism to do your own research.

TEN REASONS TO REJECT DOMENIONISM

[Excerpted from http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/dominionismexposed.html]

[compiled by Sandy Simpson, 2/2/06]

The doctrines of Dominionism are rooted in the earth. Their basis is the (false) teaching that man must take dominion of this earth and change it for the better before Jesus can come. The emphasis, therefore, has shifted from ‘looking up’ to ‘looking around’ to see what can be done to patch up the environment and change society into a more godly one. This scheme is unscriptural and should be rejected as heresy.  Following are ten reasons why.

REASON ONE:

It requires a universal Kingdom of God on earth.

Obviously, in order to alter society and bring in biblical laws for the nations, in order to change man’s habits of greed and violence, there would have to be a world government headed and policed by Restoration Christians. (The “Holy” Roman religio-political empire nearly achieved this in time gone by, but at a high cost – the oppression of the masses, widescale poverty and ignorance, the disappearance of the Bible texts in the common language, papal abuses, priestly dominion and the slaughter of thousands of dissenters and so-called heretics who refused to bow the knee to Roman dictators in the Church.)

This system requires obedience to Law. If any system of religion is going to be introduced worldwide, amongst many who offer only a token submission to it, obviously that religion must be strongly enforced and governed by rules and regulations. In fact, the religion proposed by Dominionism (and other) Christian movements for world transformation today is one closely modeled on the Old Testament Law. Every part of the world system – law, government, medicine, education etc. – would be ruled by biblical precepts. But the New Testament demonstrates that Law cannot save mankind and that the only hope for man is in justification by faith. The Law has failed to transform mankind and it always will. [Rom 7:6] But Dominionism adherents hope to resurrect it as the basis of a new age of peace and righteousness.

Taking restoration teachings to their logical conclusion, it is clear that nothing less than world Christianisation would work the miracle of planetary salvation. This, say the leaders, would be the ‘Kingdom of Peace and Righteousness’ promised in the Old Testament. However, given the condition of the human heart, and satan’s plans for world dominion, it is actually the universal reign of terror through Antichrist! In the Word of God, not universal obedience but universal wickedness is forecast before the Coming of Christ, and all nations will follow the satanic plans of the ‘Beast’. [Rev 13:3,4] To set about organising and networking for a New Order and for global dominion is to throw huge parts of the Church into the hands of ‘another christ’ and ‘another gospel’.

REASON TWO:

It robs the Jews of their inheritance.

In order to provide biblical proof of their role as earth saviours and law-givers, and in order to support their claim to be the Kingdom of God on earth, Dominionism leaders have to pirate the Old Testament promises of God to the nation of Israel and make them apply to the Church.

They have gone on record as saying that Israel has no further place in God’s future plan for blessing the nations, nor will the ‘kingdom’ promises of the OT come to pass specifically for Israel, but only by and through the Church. The Jews rejected their Messiah, they say, and so forfeited their inheritance. But God, who can never lie nor break His Word, has promised specific material blessings of land, prosperity, nationhood, peace and victory to the literal nation of Israel in the future. These promises have never been fulfilled and can only be fulfilled in the context of a re-gathering and spiritual resurrection of Jews in the literal land of Israel. [Jer 31:35-37] with ultimate fulfillment in the Millennial Kingdom after Christ’s second coming.

REASON THREE:

It removes awareness of the Return of the Lord.

The emphasis on earthly triumph for the Church and long years of victorious rule to precede the Lord’s Coming removes the need to ‘watch and pray’ and be ready for that Day. Many sensitive Christians are aware that the signs leading up to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus are being fulfilled in this generation, and that – in fact – the Coming may be very soon indeed. If so, we ought to be on our guard against laxity and deception, as Jesus warned. But Restoration doctrine promises ultimate triumph for the Church instead of the tribulation of the endtimes prophesied in the Word, and so encourages a careless attitude.

REASON FOUR:

It denies the scriptural prophesies of the end-times.

Because Dominionism teaching places the binding of evil, and the ‘dominion’ of the righteous, at the FIRST coming of the Lord, it radically adjusts our understanding of the book of Revelation and the other prophecies of the End. According to this scheme, the Tribulation, Antichrist, Apostasy and so forth are placed historically in the PAST, or else are made out to be symbolic interpretations of ordinary antagonism against the victorious Church. The Restoration understanding of prophecy is largely POST-millennial. That is, it places the Return of Christ AFTER the reign of righteousness and peace. Therefore, what is now expected is not tribulation but triumph. This is very dangerous, especially as the scripture warns that, before Jesus returns, a world leader claiming to be Messiah will arise. [2 Thess 2:3,4] It may be that Dominionists, unaware of the true prophetic calendar, will accept this man as Christ.

REASON FIVE:

It denies the sovereignty of the Godhead.

Dominionism doctrine claims that Jesus CANNOT return until all His enemies have been put under the feet of the Church, (including death, presumably). His coming is not at the appointed time ordained by God, as scripture says [Acts 1:7] but must wait on the preparations made for Him by the Church, for the world must be evangelised and saved and the Bride must be totally united and without spot or wrinkle when He comes. However, the Bible states that very few will be ready when Jesus comes, and that the purification of the Bride is a work of the Holy Spirit, not Christian leaders. [Luke 18:8/Matt 7:14]

REASON SIX:

It requires religious unity.

Since the world must be evangelised and cleansed, according to this doctrine, and since this cannot be done by individual churches, it is imperative that all denominations (now including Mormons, eg.) come together to do the work. The plan for World Evangelisation entails an overthrowing of doctrinal differences (such as justification by faith alone) to allow Roman Catholics and liberals to help christianise the World. But the scripture forbids us to work together with unbelievers and heretics. [2 Cor 6:14]

REASON SEVEN:

It rests on human ability and wisdom.

Instead of the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit, the scheme of world restoration calls for the development of man’s social skills and knowledge, organisational ability, qualities of leadership, rhetoric and the ability to dominate adversaries. Dominionists are now being encouraged to take a full part in all areas of the world system in order to change it from within. This is what the Transformation movement is all about, with marketplace apostles, and marketplace Christians, for instance.  But Bible Christians were often the poorest and least intelligent, and relied on nothing but the power of God to back their preaching. Their work was to preach the gospel only, and never were Christians told in scripture to change mankind by social action. [1 Cor 2:1-5]

REASON EIGHT:

It requires a structured Church system based on human leadership.

In order to establish world dominion, Dominionism teaching must be unvaried and universal, and this cannot be done without the obedience of all its followers. Thus, a system of leadership [discipleship] must be introduced to ensure every Christian is under authority and unable to err from the teaching. This leadership model is the New Apostolic Reformation headed by the International Coalition of Apostles under head “horizontal apostle” C. Peter Wagner.  This excludes from the ‘one world kingdom’ all those who disagree with Dominionism teaching. In effect, it disinherits all other Christians from the Body of Christ. Indeed, some Dominionist fellowships teach that their Church is the only valid one, that the door to salvation is through the Church, [not Jesus Christ the Saviour!] and that everyone outside of the system is outside of the Kingdom of God.

REASON NINE:

It replaces Jesus with the Church.

In an effort to strengthen the claims of the Church on earth, as a Kingdom and Authority to be obeyed, Dominionism doctrine has come close to replacing Lord Jesus with His Body. The properties, abilities and authority of Jesus are made over to the visible Body on earth and His functions as Head and Government, Shepherd and King are taken over by apostles (on His behalf, they say!). Then, it becomes the responsibility OF THE CHURCH to destroy the wicked and establish the Kingdom on earth. This is exactly what Word-Faith and Latter Rain/New Apostolic heretics have been teaching for years. Yet this leads to human arrogance and rivalry, and replaces obedience to God with submission to the Church.

REASON TEN:

It draws from corrupt roots.

What we know today as Dominionism doctrine is a hybrid of Roman Restorationism, Dominionism, Preterism, liberal A-millennialism, Post-millennial eschatology, and Later Rain doctrines. The Latter Rain revivals of the early 20th century introduced an ideal new to Christendom – that of achieving religious unity and a golden age for the Church by means of revelation knowledge and spiritual power. Much more was entailed in the scheme, but this heresy, though largely debunked in the 1950’s, seeded the charismatic movement and linked with other groups to form the Restoration Movement, Latter Rain, etc..

Thus, much current heresy on the “birth of the Manchild” and the role of an elite army of saints in taking the nations for God – which came to our present time in the Toronto Blessing, Brownsville, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, and a host of false apostles and prophets on TV- has been able to implant itself most readily in charismatic churches where restoration teachings had already paved the way.

Many have discovered from bitter experience in Dominionism fellowships that behind the smiling faces, camaraderie, loving embraces and victorious praise, there lies a spirit of dominion that will wound and crush any who do not toe the line. An empire-building, self-seeking arrogance pervades much of the Dominionism leadership, and they have proven themselves closed to correction. Greed, corruption, immorality and spiritual abuses have thrived in this climate – and the teaching which focuses so much on the earth as our inheritance had led many to become so in love with this present world as to adopt almost all its values.

Without denying that there are many sincere people who claim to be Christians within this system, it needs to be said most strongly that Dominionism churches are a foundation of sand, and the doctrines taught are unscriptural, unsound and finally heretical where they deny the bodily return of Jesus Christ to earth to rule and judge..

CONCLUSION

Anyone within the Dominionism system should think very carefully about the dangers to their spiritual walk.  Dominionism is heresy and the Bible is clear that we are to reject heresy and heretics (Titus 3:10), mark and avoid false teachers (Rom. 16:17), and prove that we love the Lord by obeying His commands (John 5:10).  Our mandate is the same as when Christ ascended until He returns: preach the gospel (Mark 16:15) and disciple believers from all the nations (Matt. 28:19).  We are NOT to overthrow the governments of the world, take over businesses, or throw our collective Christian weight around in a bid to take over everything.  We are to be light and salt (Matt. 5:13-15) to a dying world (1 Cor. 7:31) and abide till He comes (1 John 2:28).  Christians need to get busy witnessing for Christ and drop this Dominionist, Kingdom building rhetoric and planning because if they do not they will be playing right into the hands of the coming antichrist.

End of quote.

The roots of Dominionism are traced back to Ambrose of Milan (338-397), who influenced Augustine, (354-430) the theological father of what we know today as Roman Catholicism as well as Reformed Theology. Ambrose believed that the church should exert political authority over the state so that the courts and government would reflect the morality and ethics teachings of the church.  The Reformers did not go completely back to the Bible but rather went back to the root of the problem, Augustine of Hippo.  There was an urgency to preserve unity within the church, so Augustine called for the Council of Nicea which began what is known as Erastianism (i.e., the sins of Christians should be punished by the state, and not by the church withholding the sacraments). The result of all of this being that political dominion could now be exercised by civil authorities over the church. Hence, the term dominionism.

Both Martin Luther (1483-1546) and John Calvin (1509-1564) were ardent students of Augustine theology.  In 1540 Calvin set about revolutionizing Genevan society. His most important innovation was the incorporation of the church into city government; he immediately helped to restructure municipal government so that clergy would be involved in municipal decisions, particularly in disciplining the populace. He imposed an hierarchy on the Genevan church and began a series of statute reforms to impose a strict and uncompromising moral code on the city.

Some argue that doctrine is a matter of personal choice … an opinion that is dear to you.  But isn’t it logical to say that history is not a matter of opinion.  History says there were no Preterists or Dominionists during the first 350 years of church history.  These doctrines were the works of men whose names do not roll off our tongues easily, men who were Catholic Bishops.  If a theology, doctrine, or tradition was not found in the writings of the early church fathers and historians, we can conclude that they are not scripturally valid, assuming that the first century model for the church is the only model sanctioned by the early apostles. Again, that is not an opinion, that is just a historical fact.  Diversity is healthy, but it must also have historical support as well as Scriptural support to not be erroneous or heretical. All the early church fathers were pre-millennial. You know there is a lot of error out there, and in all probability you and I, and every Christian, has some error in our teachings.  I can handle error, but I draw the line at heresy, don’t you?

The branch of Dominionism we are addressing here essentially seeks to establish God’s Kingdom on the earth now by political or radical activism. They believe that Jesus can’t come back until they have conquered the earth in His name and subdued all of God’s enemies.  Four centuries after Calvin, it has become popular in Charismatic and Pentecostal movements in the U.S. and the U. K.; they are trying to establish God’s kingdom here on earth, and deny the rapture.   Do a Google search on “John Calvin’s Dominionism” for more documentation.  Here is an example at the top of the list: http://fanaticforjesus.blogspot.com/2011/09/rick-joyner-founding-fathers-were.html.  The below links to Jack Prasch sermons will also provide scholarly documentation.

I really resisted the reports that the most militant form of Dominionism is coming out of what is called the Religious Right, because I strongly identify with that label.  Finally I could see that the evangelistic fervor and the Pentecostal doctrine that says all of the 2 Corinthians 12 gifts and Ephesians 4:11 five fold ministries (something else I am a part of) are still with us today combined with Dominionism makes for a volatile mix.  And Peter Wagner also identifies with both of those camps. Some Dominionists  liken the New Testament Kingdom to the Old Testament Israel in ways that justify taking up the sword, or other methods of punitive judgment, to war against enemies of their kingdom. These militant Dominionists teach that men can be coerced or compelled to enter the kingdom.

They consider us Premillinnialist/Futurists to be among those enemies.

33  Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
34  Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”
35  Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”
36  Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
37  Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”   John 18:33-37

They assign to the Church duties and rights that belong scripturally only to Jesus Christ. This includes the esoteric belief that believers can “incarnate” Christ and function as His supreme authority on Earth to establish His kingdom rule. An inordinate emphasis is placed on man’s efforts; the doctrine of the sovereignty of God is diminished.

In Peter Wagner’s Dominion theology the first item of business is to have absolute dominion over their followers.  The word “dominion” means to dominate, to use their “Joel’s Army” to enforce complete control, to be punished if you do not submit to the leaders assigned to you, and to the party line they lay down for not just their followers, but to ALL of society…world wide.

Around 1988-1994 Dominion Theology became linked with some Charismatics.  Gary North may have gotten the ball rolling by dedicating one of his books to a Charismatic leader (his name is withheld here). The link between the two seemed to be that the Charismatics were intrigued by the Dominionist’s interest in seeing God’s authority extend over the earth.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:13-14

Some of our friends don’t know they are parroting the Dominionist mind control and brain washing technique.  Can you agree with me that ignorance is an unguarded door for the enemy to come through unawares? 

 

The Hitler and Catholic Model of Dominionism

Hitler practiced the tenants of the dominion philosophy (and had the blessings of the Pope and Moslems) and was able to convince the church in Germany that he was a messiah. After all, he took a nation that was bankrupt; had no military or industry, was overrun with crime and perversion, and turned Germany into a world power in something like 4 years. 

Keep in mind that the Preteristic Catholic church gives us the oldest Dominion Theology model, and that Protestantism is still a whole lot more Catholic than we want to believe.  For instance, a lot of our denomination’s eschatology is the Catholic eschatology, Preterism.  The Papal system of Rome has had over a thousand years to perfect their heretical doctrine.  Their Dominionism gave us the dark ages and the inquisition that martyred 50 million Christians (from 1476 to 1834) who would not submit to the Pope’s authority.  Yet, here they are practicing this heresy themselves.

The Vatican is not all that interested in their followers knowing their theology or the Bible.  In fact, they outlawed the Bible for centuries.  They just want dominion and indoctrination.  Can you now see what is immerging here?  Can you see the dangerous potential this heresy may hold?

In Dominionism we are seeing the potential for the antichrist system and world domination.

It makes me wonder how this powerful, aggressive Charismatic/Pentecostal Protestant Dominionist group is gong to face up to the Catholic Goliath Dominionist camp. 

Knowing the history and the psychology of Preteristic Dominionism, some of the more enduring segments of this movement will probably merge at some point.  Are we not told to accept Christians of all faiths, and in the spirit of unity and keeping the peace we are not to judge or condemn any error or heresy?  At some point we can expect them to say the same about Islam and all other religions, as the Popes in my lifetime have already done.  This short video clip gives you a glimpse of this gathering:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keiU9WiyPJE

Biblical truths are not as important as domination, manipulation, and control.  Bringing the world under submission so Jesus can return at the end of their figurative millennium is everything to them.  Once the world is completely under their control, THEN they can afford to tell us the rest of the rules…as Hitler did.  If Hitler had died in 1938 he would have gone down in history as one of the greatest leaders and social engineers in history.

A lot of the renewal and growth in the ‘Christian’ church is taking place within the Catholic Charismatic movement, the fastest growing in the world (I am told). This is a bogus, ecumenical, experience-based, Cross-denying, Mass-exalting movement which is trying to destroy the work of the Reformation by joining Catholics and Protestants in ecstatic rituals, not belief in the same truths.  Dominionism is always an aberration of true Christian theology.

Don’t Ask, Don’t tell

The Dominionists are just now beginning to show their true religion, they have been very secretive about it.  But they are well enough established now that they can reveal themselves.  I do not know yet how many of them are informed and committed Dominionists, and who are among the elect  (Matt 24:24) but caught up in the struggle to be recognized and advanced by them, and don’t really know the heresy and trap they are falling into.  But once they do, it will be too late for many of them.  They will have too much invested, will look bad, will be ostracized and persecuted for trying to be God’s prophetic watchman on the wall who announces the enemy within the city walls.  But if the people fall to the enemy within, their blood will not be on the Watchman’s hands.  Jeremiah can tell you that a prophet can really pay a heavy price for the proclamation of God’s will. 

For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.   Matthew 24:24

Why do we bless heresies and allow ourselves to be silenced like bleating sheep?  Out of fear?  Fear of what?  The prophet is compelled out of love of Christ to follow the ancient principle of announcing God’s blessing on repentance and obedience, and God’s judgment if He is not obeyed.

If you can handle a lot of disappointment you need to watch this confirming video by Dr Walter Veith, a theologian.  In most of the video clips you can clearly see and hear them say things that will shock you.  So judge for yourselves as you watch this video:

 http://video.aol.com/video-detail/225-strange-fire/1521808401  

Judgment is coming to the world, but it always comes to the church first.  I do not know the form of that judgment, but the Bible says it is coming.

For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?  1 Peter 4:17

Am I being paranoid here?  Is this another wacky conspiracy theory?  Are the Preterists and Historists convincing us Premillennialists that there is no premillennial return of Christ or no return at all?  No antichrist is coming, no tribulation is coming, no alternatives to them ruling us and the world? 

Somehow the end-time prophecies WILL be fulfilled, but we see through a glass darkly as to how all that is going to play out.  John admonished us to “Look up and be ready.”

Dialogue With the Uninformed

Like Paul Revere, end-time prophets are riding out into the night calling out, “the Preterists are coming, the Preterists are coming!!!” 

And the Premillennialists will ask, “what is a Preterist?”

“You know! Wake up!  The Dominionists are coming, the Dominionists are coming!”

“What’s a Dominionist?”

Paul Revere did not say, the British are coming, because the colonists were also British.  No, he said the Red Coats are coming.  They looked like the colonists and have the same British accent, but they were there to kill and dominate.

The Red Coats in this analogy are the Dominionists who come looking and sounding just like us Premillennialists … the wolves in sheep clothing, the Trojan horse full of intruders that will open the church gates to a lethal invasion of heresy. 

The Dominionists can do it unobserved because most Premillennialists never heard that word before.  It will be a big shock and horror to them, and to hear the names of the leaders behind this silent invasion will really shoot down their house of cards.  Again, ignorance is an unguarded door for the enemy to come through unawares.

Do You Hear The Calling?

That is why Lora and I have the Paul Revere calling, the Watchman on the wall calling, to warn of the invasion that has befallen Christendom.  This message should remove all doubt as to what is really coming down.  Now, will you take up a defense against the “red coats”, or will you invite them in for a neighborly cup of tea?

The lost world awaits the shining light of God’s servants, for as the following passage reveals, the world doesn’t cry out for signs and wonders, it doesn’t wait for a great preacher or missionary, it doesn’t pray for a mighty revival and an outpouring of special gifts. The world waits for one thing, The Light. The Lord has always planned for His Light to be manifested through Jesus and the sons of Light!

The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.     Matthew 4:16-17

You can’t reform what God never started

As I have shown in other articles, Protestantism inherited a lot of her traditions and theology from her Catholic mother.  And Catholicism was and is full of pagan practices (a mix of Christianity and paganism).  Because of that, very little of the Acts model for the church is visible anywhere in Christendom today.  That is not a criticism or opinion, that is a historical fact that is well documented in a church history book titled: Pagan Christianity, The Origins of Our Modern Church Practices, by Frank Viola.

The system we have today isn’t broke, it wasn’t God’s in the first place, and you can’t reform what God never started.  We don’t need another reformation like Martin Luther who only wanted to reform Catholicism (not to discredit any of the great Bible doctrines he restored).  We need restorationists today, those who seek to understand the Acts model established by the first century apostles, and restore it as best we can.  Preterism and Dominionism originated in Catholicism, so if they had not lost the Acts model about 1600 years ago, we may not have had to deal with this and other Catholic heresies today.

The title of that history book was a bit overstated to make a poignant statement, and the title of this book is also.  So You Don’t Want To Go To Church Anymore, by Jake Colsen, is one that makes the point that we Christians are the church. The dialog between Jake and John in this book has shown me the best description of what the gathering of the saints for fellowship should look like.

Jesus did not leave us with a system, he left us with His Holy Spirit—a guide instead of a map.  Jesus said it only takes two or three gathered in His name, and He never said anything about doing it at the same time or same place or same way every week.  He didn’t seem to think of the church as something we do at all, or even go to, but a reality we live in every day. 

The point I hope to make is … What is a good Biblical way to counter and correct the Dominionist threat?  I say, by proclaiming the salvation and repentance message, by preparing the Bride of Christ, and following the leading of the Holy Spirit, no matter the cost.  And the Acts model is an alternative for us to use to protect ourselves from the Dominionists in the end-times, and to draw them out of their apostasy.

Apostasy 1) The public abandoning of a religious faith, especially Christianity, for another. 2) A similar abandoning of a doctrine or party. [from Latin from Greek apostasia, renunciation]

Apostate 1) One who has forsaken the faith, principles, or party, to which he before adhered; esp, one who has forsaken his religion for another; a pervert; a renegade. 2) One who, after having received sacred orders, renounces his clerical profession.

The end-time revival will be more about quality than quantity.

“evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13 )

Then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come (Matthew 24:10-14)

Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.   Revelation 19:6-8 

2 Thessalonians 2: 3 “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,  4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.” Our task is to first guard our own selves from being deceived, and then to guard our family and friends from falling away. 

For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.  Luke 12: 2, 3 

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 

But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their
own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;  and they will turn
their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

If you find this information important, one thing you can do is forward this email to your mailing list and list it on websites, if you are led of the Lord to do that.

May God Bless You Richly,

Kenneth Uptegrove

24 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.
25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’
26  But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.
27  For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.
28  “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.
29  And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me,
30  that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Luke 22:24-30

The Charismatic Dominionists

 

June 21, 2008

 

SUGGESTED FOLLOW UP MATERIAL

In the preparing for the times we are coming into (or are accelerating into) it is important to understand what preparing spiritually really means.  Bible prophecy warns us again and again that deception and the false will define and rule the hour. 

Lora and I have been listening to Pastor Bob DeWaay show how the Emergent church and Dominionism are related and have a variation of the same eschatology.  Yet it is almost impossible to get the leaders in these deceptions (Emergent and Dominionism) to ever state clearly what their eschatology is.   Whatever they ARE they are NOT Pre-millennial (second coming before the millennium starts).  Every theology revolves around its eschatology.

Dominionist “apostles” tell us that “unity in the Spirit” means us being in unity with THEM, otherwise we are in rebellion.  Dominionist and Emergent leaders say the world is getting better and eventually their apostles will have dominion of all mankind (the one world church), then and only then will Jesus manifest Himself and rule the world.  Towards the end when 90% or so of the world is Christianized and under their dominion, then it will become necessary for them to speed up and finalize the process by elimination those who have not come into the fold … meaning you and me who must be “removed” for the sake of the whole.  Interestingly enough, the Koran and the New Agers (and the Catholic Encyclopedia) also say that.  But Dominionism originated in Romanism and that is what the Inquisition was all about … Dominionism.  It makes you wonder if they are in league somehow.

Please listen to some of the sermons and interviews by Pastor Bob DeWaay at http://www.cicministry.org .  He is very scholarly and very Evangelical … and Premillennial.  He does an excellent job of showing the history, the origins, the proponents of these deceptions, and showing you quotes from these people so there can be no question as to whether he is telling the truth.

 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/From_The_Edge-Alerts/message/8408   Swarna Jha vision
In these days of rampant deceptions, God understands the needs of His people
who are constantly begging Him to keep them safe from lies and the falsities that abound.

http://deceptionbytes.com/DarkAgenda Mishel: They eschew the hope of heaven and mock and deride Christians who believe in a literal rapture. Instead, they desire dominion here on earth. They believe it is their right and their inheritance to rule and reign, dominate and subdue. They want to rule the earth and all its inhabitants. They aspire to purge the earth it of its evil and bring everything under submission to their authority.  What will happen to those who do not wish to be dominated? Simple- they will die. 

http://www.fulfilledprophecy.com/bb/viewtopic.php?=&p=250509 An email from C. Peter Wagner

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominionism Dominionism describes, in several distinct ways, a tendency among some conservative politically-active Christians to seek influence or control over secular civil government through political action — aiming either at a nation governed by Christians or a nation governed by a conservative Christian understanding of biblical law. The use and application of this terminology is a matter of controversy.

http://www.letusreason.org/Latrain20.htm A great concern has arisen from the new movements that have been surfacing. We now have men who are saying that the government of the Church is to be based on today’s “end time apostles” which is the foundation for the new era of the Church. It is to be built (or rebuilt) just as it was in the beginning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keiU9WiyPJE  Dave Hunt: Pope invites leaders of all religions in the world to Vatican.  

A Strong Delusion – The New Apostolic Reformation

Submitted by Mishel on Sat, 06/28/2008 – 12:24

Everyone hates a mosquito. There is just something infuriating about these little insects thinking they can suck our blood. In the natural, not one of us would stand and watch a mosquito draw our blood without swatting it away. However, in the spiritual, we the church are doing just that. There is a growing force sucking the life Blood out of us and we are welcoming them in and making them at home. However, far from harmless mosquitoes, these parasites are lethal. They are the reformers of the church, the new crusaders if you will, the gathers of the global church.  They are the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), and they are coming for your church.

The new Apostolic Reformation (NAR) sprang from the Pentecostal and Charismatic movement.  They claim that they have been given authority to lay the foundation for the “new” global church. They believe they are restored apostles called and ordained by God to be the government for the emerging “New Order” church.  In order to maintain this governance they stress strict obedience and submission to them in all matters. They claim they hear directly from God, and many claim that Jesus visits them in person. Like the true biblical apostles who established the early church, these so called restored apostles believe they are called to lay the foundation and government for the new Kingdom (one world church).  Their goal is complete and utter control of the church and subjugatation of its current governance to them. They want power, dominion and total control.  They truly believe that the world is awaiting fulfillment of a take over by a militant church (Joel’s Army) that will arise, govern and dominate the world politically and spiritually. This is a highly organized group with a global agenda.  It has been well thought out, well strategized, and will be implemented with military precision.    The grid is in place – our future is planned.

Alarmingly, these apostolic churches represent one of the fastest growing segments in the church today.  In an article entitled New Apostolic Reformation and the Faith and Work Movement, John Rowell states the following “David Barrett, editor of the World Christian Encyclopedia reports 1,000 apostolic networks on record in his global database. These networks are found on six continents and account, by his estimate, for some 100 million believers worldwide. Dr. Wagner estimates that in the US alone there are as many NAR churches as there are Southern Baptist congregations – something approaching 40,000. Growth in the Third World among these churches far surpasses the more mundane statistics found in the West. Europe’s largest church is Manna Church in Lisbon, Portugal with 25,000 members. The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God in Brazil claims over 3 million congregants. The world’s largest congregations are now in Nigeria where the Church of Jesus Christ in Logos assembled 10-12 million people for its Holy Spirit service in December, 2000. The world has never seen this kind of church expansion!”

According to Wikipedia, Kingdom Now theology (which the NAR ascribes to) believe that God lost control over the world to Satan when Adam and Eve sinned. Since then, the theology goes; God has been trying to reestablish control over the world by seeking a “special” group of believers. Through these people — known as “covenant people,” “overcomers” or “Joel’s army,” depending on the source — social institutions (including governments and laws) would be brought under God’s authority. These “covenant people” or “overcomers” are “little gods” — God’s “extension” in the world to regain authority from the devil. The church, under the leadership of “restored” apostles and prophets, therefore must take over the world and put down all opposition to it before Christ can return. Anyone who rebels against the church, along with other “evildoers,” must convert or be punished.

No one is more central to this global takeover of the church than C. Peter Wagner. It might frighten you to know that through Wagner’s World Prayer Center (WPC) he is tracking thousands of ministries and churches.

 “We see our task as getting people in touch with one another to form interactive, human web networks that are properly equipped to wage effective spiritual warfare. The WPC is a fully equipped nerve center with data and information about prayer needs throughout the world [which] … networks prayer ministries, denominations, churches and cell groups. World Prayer Center website. Why is this groundwork being laid for a global network? To pave the way for the Apostolic Reformation in which apostles take control of the church and usher in the New Order church they call the kingdom of God.”

I don’t think anyone has put it more succinctly than Sandy Simpson in her forward to her article, The Agenda & Teaching of the New Apostolic Reformation. (http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/arise.html) Simpson states that, “This agenda (the apostolic and prophetic reformation) runs through thousands of agencies and web sites.  It is what is driving the Transformations movement, the global prayer movement, and thousands of other churches and organizations.  What Christians need to realize is that they need to make a choice now.  A majority of Christian churches have already succumbed to this Dominionist agenda foisted on the churches by false apostles driven by false prophecies from false prophets.  Wagner is talking about the government of the church, under the leadership of the new foundational restored “apostles”, OVERTHROWING the governments of the world. “

Recently someone sent me a DVD of one of these apostolic conferences called, 2008, Staring the Year off Right. Dutch Sheets spoke shamelessly about their (NAR) groups plans to take over. He showed a doted map of the United States with hundreds of large and smaller dots spaced evenly across the country. He explained that the larger dots showed the apostolic hubs: the teaching and training centers they had already implemented. The smaller dots showed the individual apostles that had been put in place. Underneath the apostles, he explained, would be the individual churches that would be, a local expression of the global church. He stressed that we were no longer to think in terms of our local church but in terms of the Kingdom (buzz word for the coming one world church). It might alarm you that they have deemed 2008 as the year of the “great shift”

John Eckhardt , one of Wagner’s leaders, had this to say in his book, Moving in the Apostolic “The war between the Pastor and the Prophet will cease with the full emergence of the Apostle…. Are we going to be willing to submit our ministry to a specific Apostolic visionary? This is a critical question that will determine our influence on hastening the coming of the Lord, in our effective contribution to the restoring of all things spoken by the prophets”

Let me state emphatically that God does not need us to hasten his coming.  That the God of the universe would somehow be impotent and unable to return to earth until WE overthrow the kingdoms of this world is not only heretical but utterly ludicrous.

Rick Joyner in his book The Harvest had this to say about the emerging government of the Apostles.  “It was said of the Apostle Paul that he was turning the world upside down; it will be said of the apostles soon to be anointed that they have turned an upside down world right side up” . Nations will tremble at the mention of their name.

 According to Joyner these reigning apostles will actually make all things right; they will bring order out of Chaos. Interestingly enough, this is the same mantra as the New Agers and those pushing for a New World Order.  Joyner goes further in saying that the nations will tremble at their name? If these apostles are going to make all things right and bring order, healing, salvation, and the love of Christ to the whole earth, then why would the nations tremble? They will tremble because they plan to kill those who do not go along with their governance.  

You may be experiencing confusion right now; you may be saying to yourself, no this couldn’t be!  How could a deception this big exist? Well, let’s think about that for a moment.  We know from the Word of God that there will be a one world church and a one world government. This one world government and church is not God’s. We know that the end of days will be marked by deep deception and lying signs and wonders. In fact, the Bible says that the Antichrist will call fire down from Heaven. The Bible also says that God will send a powerful delusion to those that did not love the Truth so that they will believe a lie. If your only basis by which to judge whether a person or ministry is from God are signs and wonders then  sadly enough you are already deceived. 

Below are some of the teachings and beliefs of these self styled apostles.

  • They believe that God is restoring the office of prophet and apostles to the church
  • Claim that they alone have the power and authority to execute the plans and purposes of God
  • Believe they are building a new foundation for a global church.
  • Believe they will  literally establish the Kingdom of Heaven on earth
  • Believe in a coming “civil war” in the church where they will overcome all (true Christian) opposition.
  • Place an inordinate emphasis on angels and the supernatural
  • Claim extra biblical revelations that can not be scripturally proven ( progressive revelation)
  • Claim that God is doing a “new thing”
  • Frequently say that those not accepting their heretical teaching are “Putting God in a box”
  • Teach that we should never question their authority.
  • They use the term “Touch not God’s anointed” frequently when questions are raised.
  • They peg those that question their authority as  bound by religion,  legalistic, divisive,  narrow minded,  rebellious, and demonic
  • Place a greater emphasis on dreams, visions and extra-biblical revelation than they do on the word of God
  • They believe they will be the corporate incarnation of Christ
  • They believe they will execute judgment upon those who oppose them (up to and including death).
  • They believe in a one world religion operating in sync with a one world government.
  • They believe in complete unity and believe that there is nothing they can not accomplish through this unity.
  • They believe they can bring Heaven down to earth (Yoism- see link below for more information)

(http://herescope.blogspot.com/2006/05/yoism-creating-heaven-on-earth.html)

  • They believe that we will be perfected here on earth
  • They believe in aggressively organizing small group networks
  • They believe in the organization of apostles under pre-eminent apostles
  • They believe that ALL local churches must be under the authority of a regional or trans-local apostle
  • They believe each city must have an apostle- men given extraordinary authority in spiritual matters over the other Christian leaders in the same city
  • They consider themselves divine, little gods and equal to Christ (although they loosely veil this)
  • They believe they will attain perfection on earth
  • They consider themselves the “Defenders of the Faith”
  • Place a great deal of emphasis on mysticism and hidden knowledge ( Gnosis)
  • Do not believe in the rapture (or believe the wicked are the ones that will be ruptured)
  • Stress unity over doctrine and reject the literal interpretation of the Bible

2 Thessalonians 2:8-11 (Amplified Bible)

8 And then the lawless one (the antichrist) will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and bring him to an end by His appearing at His coming.

 9 The coming [of the lawless one, the antichrist] is through the activity and working of Satan and will be attended by great power and with all sorts of [pretended] miracles and signs and delusive marvels-[all of them] lying wonders—

 10 And by unlimited seduction to evil and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing (going to perdition) because they did not welcome the Truth but refused to love it that they might be saved.

  11 Therefore God sends upon them a misleading influence, a working of error and a strong delusion to make them believe what is false.

 

To Correspond With Kenneth