Essentially the Intra-Seal theory, devised and peddled by Jacob Prasch, is a systematic denial of the gospel and the ministry of the Holy Spirit for the entirety of the 70th week of Daniel! As such, it should be viewed as a very serious false teaching.
I shall quote JP verbatim in order to avoid the possibility of being accused of quoting him out of context:
"Pentecost is reversed... the same as Jesus went and sent the
Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit goes and sends Jesus. In that interim
period you have a powerless church that cannot fulfil its mission any
more. 'work while you have the light; night comes - no man can work.'
Does this mean the Holy Spirit is taken from us as individuals? No! What
happened in John 20 is forever 'I will never leave you or forsake you.'
.....but what happened at Pentecost is over. There is no longer
conviction of sin, no more grace, now he is getting ready to be the God
of wrath again. Pentecost is reversed..... That period of powerless in
the interim is 'the shattering of the power of the Holy people.'"{1}
"There
will be a very difficult period called 'the shattering of the power of
the holy people'. The church will have become so worldly and so
corrupted, persecution becomes a necessary evil to sort out the faithful
bride from the harlot church..... this will be the last chance for the
bride to get ready... Don't confuse 'why are we here' with 'why is the
church here'; the church will be finished, it will face disolution; the
church will not be here, just the faithful people who are in it will be
here waiting to be rescued. God will leave them here for purposes of
preparing them for the coming of Jesus"{2}
As far as I am aware, all other commentators believe "the shattering the power of the holy people" refers not to the church, but to the Jewish people. The only exception is Chris White, who believes that the 3.5 years is based
on the exhausting of the power of the Antichrist, not the power of the
people he “shatters" (see below). Here we have yet another isolated interpretation from JP which finds no biblical support and no agreement either historically or with modern scholarship!
I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed. (Daniel 12:7)
Daniel 12:7 corresponds to Revelation 10:5-7 below. As well as alluding
to the persecution of Antiochus and the destruction of Jerusalem in
70AD, the shattering of the power of the holy people concerns the time of Jacob's
trouble. Daniel 12:1 confirms this and also identifies Michael as
contending against Satan: At that time shall arise Michael, the great
prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of
trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time.
But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name
shall be found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1).
And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven and
swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is
in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that
there would be no more delay, but
that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh
angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to
his servants the prophets. (Revelation 10:5-7)
And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the
stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and
swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and
half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy
people comes to an end all these things would be finished. (Daniel 12:7)
The problem lies in identifying "the holy people". In context, this phrase refers to Daniel's people i.e. Israel, the Jewish people: "your people" (Daniel 12:1) "your people and your holy city."
(Daniel 9:24). Daniel 12:1 marks the beginning of the "time of Jacob's trouble" with the abomination of desolation. (Matthew 24:15-22; Jeremiah 30:4-7). Unbelieving Israel will be shattered by the Antichrist
and his anti-Semitic forces during the great tribulation. (Matthew 24:21
cf. Daniel 11:31). The question is, can we apply this verse to the faithful church? In the second part of the prophecy
contained in the Olivet discourse. (Matthew 24:15-22), Jesus refers to
Daniel and confines himself almost entirely to the fate of Jerusalem.
The coming prince who will destroy Jerusalem and the Temple—the one who
will make the Jewish nation desolate. (Daniel 9:26-27). The last half of
Daniel’s seventieth week ends with the shattering of the Jewish nation
(cf. Daniel 12:7). Certainly the church will experience terrible
persecution during the great tribulation and the horn (Antichrist) will
prevail over it. (Daniel 7:21, 25; Revelation 13:7). However, Israel does
have to be distinguished from the church since it seems the purpose of
their "shattering" is for their ultimate salvation (Jeremiah
30:7), whereas the faithful church will be persecuted, not to bring them
to faith, but due to their already existing faith. If "the shattering" refers to the church, persecution is never linked to diminished
activity of the Holy Spirit in the scriptures, rather persecution is the
result of the activity of the Holy Spirit and the preaching of the
gospel. (2 Timothy 1:8; 2:9).
Below are some commentary notes
from Stephen R. Miller which shows the traditional view i.e. that Daniel 12:7 refers to the Jews:
“During these three
and one-half years,“the power of the holy people” will be “finally
[probably better, “completely”] broken [or “shattered”].” The “holy
people” in this context is a specific reference to Israel; therefore
their “power” being “broken” signifies that the nation will be utterly
defeated by their enemies. That the Jewish state will be attacked by
many nations and crushed by them is taught elsewhere in Scripture (e.g.,
Zech 12–14). A breakdown in Israel's resistance to God (and his
Messiah) may also be implied here. When in desperate straits, the Jewish
people will cry out to God for help, repent of their sins, and receive
Jesus as their Messiah (cf. Zech 12:10–14). At that time the Lord will
return to rule the earth, and the tribulation will end (“all these
things will be completed”). Zechariah describes Israel's deliverance
(cf. 14:3–11).”{3}
Chris White's commentary on the
Book of Daniel:
"When
the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these
things shall be finished. Many Bible versions give the impression that
the finishing of all these things is contingent on the power of the holy
people being completely shattered, but this conclusion would be wrong.
The NET Bible renders the phrase this way: 'It is for a time, times, and
half a time. Then, when the power of the one who shatters the holy
people has been exhausted, all these things will be finished.'
This
seems to reverse the meaning. It is saying that the 3.5 years is based
on the exhausting of the power of the Antichrist, not the power of the
people he 'shatters.' While the NET makes this case based on a
linguistic argument,[54] it also enjoys some scriptural support. And he
[Antichrist] was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies,
and he was given authority [power] to continue for forty-two months. -
Rev 13: 5 Here we are told that the Antichrist is given “authority”
for 42 months or 3.5 years. We can see that the 3.5 years will come to a
conclusion, not because of anything that the people or the Antichrist
do, but rather because that is the time allotted to him by God. When
that authority is exhausted, God will finish him. So that is the meaning
of the phrase 'when the power of the one who shatters the holy people
has been exhausted, all these things will be finished.'"{4}
David C. Grabbe:
If the church's power—Jesus Christ, living in us by His Spirit—were ever "completely shattered," the gates of the grave would
prevail against the church, and God's purpose would fail! But we know
that cannot be so. Even though it is prophesied that the
"holy"—set-apart—peoples of Israel will fall, and even though the
church of God may not always have an open door to preach the gospel
powerfully to the world—depending on what God is doing at any point in
time—we can have every confidence that the power of the New Covenant
church will never be shattered—for that power is God Himself!
In general, the book of Daniel contains prophecies of world-ruling empires that are mentioned only as they encounter Israel. The "holy people" of Daniel 12:7
could just as easily represent the nations of Israel, and the fact that
their "power" can be shattered strongly implies that God's power is not
under discussion. Defining the power of God's church as "shatterable"
reveals a humanist bent, as it assigns importance based on corruptible
human action rather than the will and outworking of the unassailable
Head of the church. In fact, such an inclination on our part may have
been part of the cause of the church's scattering in the first place! {5}
Here we have yet another red flag going up concerning Jacob Prasch's skewed eschatological interpretations. I
wonder how many more red flags we need in order to disregard JP as a
valid voice on this subject? As I have said before, it is vital that the
church has an accurate view about the 70th week of Daniel and is not deceived. We need to
reject these unhinged ramblings based on human interpretation.
(Matthew 15:9).
I have now published my full Intra-Seal refutation on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/INTRA-SEAL-RAPTURE-DECEPTION-EXPOSED-devised-ebook/dp/B06X6N2JJT/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489130468&sr=8-1&keywords=treena+gisborn
{1} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8BousC77kU
{2} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBXcQMtEdf4
{3} Miller, Stephen B.. The New American Commentary Volume 18 - Daniel (p. 323). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.
{4} White, Chris. Daniel - A Commentary (p. 315). CWM Publishing. Kindle Edition.
{5} http://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.CGGWeekly/ID/282/Power-of-Holy-People.htm
Wednesday 27 July 2016
Saturday 23 July 2016
jacob prasch moriel ministries: the gagging of the sisters!
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ..... (2 Corinthians 10:5)
As before, I shall quote Jacob Prasch verbatim in order to avoid any accusation of quoting him out of context.
Jacob Prasch: "Did God use Deborah to bring victory to Israel? Yes, He did. But her head was covered by Barak....." https://www.moriel.org/component/k2/item/1822-daughters-of-zion.html
"Hebrews 11:32 names four judges, it does not name Deborah. The judge that was named in the New Testament was Barak." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHAiwIE5EVI
"Women must have their head covered.... Can God use women without their head covered? No - things are going to go wrong. The serpent beguiled the woman and the serpent still beguiles the woman." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP6x2hhAzEI
Things are not quite so clear cut as Jacob Prasch would have us believe. An unbalanced and distorted view of the scriptures is always very dangerous as I am sure he well knows. Pat Roberts aptly points out: "Too many heads, too many coverings, the murky teachings of Jacob Prasch." {1}
Was Deborah's head "covered" by Barak?
The Canaanites were defeated under the prophetic leadership of Deborah and the military leadership of Barak.. but make no mistake about it, Deborah was calling the shots. Deborah summoned Barak, the son of Abinoam, from his home at Kedesh in Naphtali, and ordered him, in the name of Yahweh, to take ten thousand men to Mount Tabor. He agreed, on condition that Deborah accompanied him (Judges 4:4-10).
Deborah was judging Israel in her own right without any reference to a man.. the people of Israel came up to her for judgement (Judges 4:4-5). Barak was the next judge of Israel AFTER Deborah and he preceded Gideon. The scriptures make very clear that Barak would not get the honour for the victory over the Canaanites led by Sisera: .....the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman." (Judges 4:9). In fact the honour did not go to Deborah either, it went to Jael (Judges 5:24).
A few examples of judges, prophets and kings are given in Hebrews 11:32, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— but we should not read more into this than we ought to. It is true that Barak achieved the military victory over the Canaanites, but this was before he actually became judge, and it was under the prophetic ministry of Deborah. However unpalatable JP finds it, Deborah was acting directly under God without a human male "covering". Technically of course Deborah's "head" should have been her husband and not Barak. It is very interesting that Deborah's role as a "prophetess" takes priority over her role as a wife!
Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. (Judges 4:4)
Deborah may have been an exception to the rule, but nevertheless, there she is, as large as life acting without a male "covering". How very inconvenient!
Examples of "prophetess" as an identifier ahead of familial connections:
Isaiah referred to his wife as "the prophetess": And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, “Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz; (Isaiah 8:3)
So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter), and they talked with her. And she said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read.....'" (2 Kings 22:14-20 cf. 2 Chronicles 34:22)
Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. (Exodus 15:20)
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher..... And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:36).
Biblically, it appears that spiritual authority is closely linked with hearing from God and being commissioned by Him for ministry and service. Deborah is a clear example of this. From the above examples, a woman's role as "prophetess" takes precedence over her relationship to male family members. This of course contradicts JP's insistence that every woman needs a Mordecai and be subject to various male family members or church elders.{2} In my own experience, male elders will attempt to crush such a gift rather than offering their support, JP being a case in point. Whilst it is true that Eve was deceived, Adam was not deceived and transgressed (Romans 5:17). All of this nonsense about women having long antennae and men having short antennae is unbiblical. If women are more easily deceived, then men are more likely to willfully disobey.
Actually the Bible contains several accounts where God bypassed husbands and male guardians and spoke to women directly with messages of vital significance.
Further Examples:
Samson's mother: The Angel of the Lord entrusted God’s plan for Israel’s deliverance to a woman (Judges 13:1-24)
The Wise Woman of Abel Beth Maacah: The woman was clearly a person of influence, possibly even the leader of the fortified town of Abel Beth Maacah in Israel. As a civil leader in Israel, this women, like Deborah, would also have had a degree of spiritual authority. Through her wise use of authority and peaceful persuasion she rescued her town from being destroyed by Joab, the commander of King David’s army. (2 Samuel 20:14 ff esp v22). {3}
If God so wishes, He can speak through a donkey! (Numbers 22:28-30)
Even the apostles rejected the message of Mary Magdalene and the women who had seen Jesus after he had risen from the dead. This perhaps demonstrates the male trait of dishonoring women and denying them a voice.
She (Mary Magdalene) went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. (Mark 16:10-11)
Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. (Luke 24:10-11)
I am not suggesting that we swing to the other end of the spectrum and give women authority over men. What I am saying, is that scripturally, women should not be denied a voice under the pretext that they are "easily deceived". Many men are also deceived as we daily witness in the apostate church! I am not suggesting either that anyone, man or woman, should speak into a vacuum without any safeguards: Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. (1 Corinthians 14:29).
Some questions on this subject were put to Jacob Prasch in a very respectful way by Pat Rogers some weeks ago. JP has refused to answer her questions point blank, and he refuses to even enter into a discussion! He dismisses her questions as "feminism coming into the church". Some red flags should be going up here ladies! Mike Rogers has a blog called Closingstages where all this is recorded in detail.{2} Pat Rogers goes into the technicalities of "covering" and "headship" and asks some very pertinent questions, for instance:
".....Jacob pointed out women can prophesy, again the question remains; who are they prophesying to?" {4}
Two issues here have been obscured by JP.. the “head” and the “covering”. These are addressed in two separate passages of scripture:
In an older teaching below, JP speaks about 1 Corinthians 11 being a local cultural issue Paul was addressing: "Paul wanting silence from women in the congregation. There was a local cultural issue in the churches... around Corinth at that time because the people were bringing the influences of the pagan world with them from the Delphic Oracle into the church.....We see there are prophetesses, we see there were places where women did prophesy. We see the daughters of Philip were prophetesses. Obviously they spoke in the congregation...."
Judges 4 demonstrates that occasionally women are legitimately called to take on a role that appears to be outside God's stated patriarchal order. When that occurs it is a serious indictment against weak men! (Judges 4:8).
As before, I shall quote Jacob Prasch verbatim in order to avoid any accusation of quoting him out of context.
Jacob Prasch: "Did God use Deborah to bring victory to Israel? Yes, He did. But her head was covered by Barak....." https://www.moriel.org/component/k2/item/1822-daughters-of-zion.html
"Hebrews 11:32 names four judges, it does not name Deborah. The judge that was named in the New Testament was Barak." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHAiwIE5EVI
"Women must have their head covered.... Can God use women without their head covered? No - things are going to go wrong. The serpent beguiled the woman and the serpent still beguiles the woman." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP6x2hhAzEI
Things are not quite so clear cut as Jacob Prasch would have us believe. An unbalanced and distorted view of the scriptures is always very dangerous as I am sure he well knows. Pat Roberts aptly points out: "Too many heads, too many coverings, the murky teachings of Jacob Prasch." {1}
Was Deborah's head "covered" by Barak?
The Canaanites were defeated under the prophetic leadership of Deborah and the military leadership of Barak.. but make no mistake about it, Deborah was calling the shots. Deborah summoned Barak, the son of Abinoam, from his home at Kedesh in Naphtali, and ordered him, in the name of Yahweh, to take ten thousand men to Mount Tabor. He agreed, on condition that Deborah accompanied him (Judges 4:4-10).
Deborah was judging Israel in her own right without any reference to a man.. the people of Israel came up to her for judgement (Judges 4:4-5). Barak was the next judge of Israel AFTER Deborah and he preceded Gideon. The scriptures make very clear that Barak would not get the honour for the victory over the Canaanites led by Sisera: .....the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman." (Judges 4:9). In fact the honour did not go to Deborah either, it went to Jael (Judges 5:24).
A few examples of judges, prophets and kings are given in Hebrews 11:32, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— but we should not read more into this than we ought to. It is true that Barak achieved the military victory over the Canaanites, but this was before he actually became judge, and it was under the prophetic ministry of Deborah. However unpalatable JP finds it, Deborah was acting directly under God without a human male "covering". Technically of course Deborah's "head" should have been her husband and not Barak. It is very interesting that Deborah's role as a "prophetess" takes priority over her role as a wife!
Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. (Judges 4:4)
Deborah may have been an exception to the rule, but nevertheless, there she is, as large as life acting without a male "covering". How very inconvenient!
Examples of "prophetess" as an identifier ahead of familial connections:
Isaiah referred to his wife as "the prophetess": And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, “Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz; (Isaiah 8:3)
So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter), and they talked with her. And she said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read.....'" (2 Kings 22:14-20 cf. 2 Chronicles 34:22)
Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. (Exodus 15:20)
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher..... And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:36).
Biblically, it appears that spiritual authority is closely linked with hearing from God and being commissioned by Him for ministry and service. Deborah is a clear example of this. From the above examples, a woman's role as "prophetess" takes precedence over her relationship to male family members. This of course contradicts JP's insistence that every woman needs a Mordecai and be subject to various male family members or church elders.{2} In my own experience, male elders will attempt to crush such a gift rather than offering their support, JP being a case in point. Whilst it is true that Eve was deceived, Adam was not deceived and transgressed (Romans 5:17). All of this nonsense about women having long antennae and men having short antennae is unbiblical. If women are more easily deceived, then men are more likely to willfully disobey.
Actually the Bible contains several accounts where God bypassed husbands and male guardians and spoke to women directly with messages of vital significance.
Further Examples:
Samson's mother: The Angel of the Lord entrusted God’s plan for Israel’s deliverance to a woman (Judges 13:1-24)
The Wise Woman of Abel Beth Maacah: The woman was clearly a person of influence, possibly even the leader of the fortified town of Abel Beth Maacah in Israel. As a civil leader in Israel, this women, like Deborah, would also have had a degree of spiritual authority. Through her wise use of authority and peaceful persuasion she rescued her town from being destroyed by Joab, the commander of King David’s army. (2 Samuel 20:14 ff esp v22). {3}
If God so wishes, He can speak through a donkey! (Numbers 22:28-30)
Even the apostles rejected the message of Mary Magdalene and the women who had seen Jesus after he had risen from the dead. This perhaps demonstrates the male trait of dishonoring women and denying them a voice.
She (Mary Magdalene) went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. (Mark 16:10-11)
Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. (Luke 24:10-11)
I am not suggesting that we swing to the other end of the spectrum and give women authority over men. What I am saying, is that scripturally, women should not be denied a voice under the pretext that they are "easily deceived". Many men are also deceived as we daily witness in the apostate church! I am not suggesting either that anyone, man or woman, should speak into a vacuum without any safeguards: Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. (1 Corinthians 14:29). 
Some questions on this subject were put to Jacob Prasch in a very respectful way by Pat Rogers some weeks ago. JP has refused to answer her questions point blank, and he refuses to even enter into a discussion! He dismisses her questions as "feminism coming into the church". Some red flags should be going up here ladies! Mike Rogers has a blog called Closingstages where all this is recorded in detail.{2} Pat Rogers goes into the technicalities of "covering" and "headship" and asks some very pertinent questions, for instance:".....Jacob pointed out women can prophesy, again the question remains; who are they prophesying to?" {4}
Two issues here have been obscured by JP.. the “head” and the “covering”. These are addressed in two separate passages of scripture:
For the husband is the
head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body,
and is himself its Saviour. (Ephesians 5:23) Ephesians 5 speaks
specifically about the relationship between wives and husbands, it
does not address any practices within the congregation.
1 Corinthians 11:3
reiterates the husband and wife relationship: …..the head of every man is Christ, the head of a
wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Paul then goes on to address the cultural issue of literal head coverings at Corinth (1 Corinthians 11:1-16). JP has distorted and merged the two meanings of head and covering and has tacked on that all women need a "covering".... if not a husband, then a father or the male leadership of the church. This is very remiscent of the Shepherding error and it is unscriptural.
In an older teaching below, JP speaks about 1 Corinthians 11 being a local cultural issue Paul was addressing: "Paul wanting silence from women in the congregation. There was a local cultural issue in the churches... around Corinth at that time because the people were bringing the influences of the pagan world with them from the Delphic Oracle into the church.....We see there are prophetesses, we see there were places where women did prophesy. We see the daughters of Philip were prophetesses. Obviously they spoke in the congregation...."
Judges 4 demonstrates that occasionally women are legitimately called to take on a role that appears to be outside God's stated patriarchal order. When that occurs it is a serious indictment against weak men! (Judges 4:8).
As M'Kayla Kelly aptly points out: ".....don’t insist we wear the spiritual burqa, as I for one, will not. There is too much at stake." {5}
I have recently published a full exposure of Prasch's Intra-Seal rapture invention. Intra-Seal is Prasch's systematic denial of the gospel and the ministry of the Holy Spirit during the 70th week of Daniel no less!{6} Beware of this man, his teachings are demonstrably a serious perversion of the scriptures in a number of instances.
{1} https://closingstages.net/2016/08/05/to-many-heads-to-many-coverings-the-murky-teachings-of-jacob-prasch/comment-page-1/#comment-11808
{2} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHAiwIE5EVI
{3} http://newlife.id.au/equality-and-gender-issues/bible-women-with-spiritual-authority/
{4} https://closingstages.net/
{5} https://mkayla.wordpress.com/
{6} https://www.amazon.co.uk/INTRA-SEAL-RAPTURE-DECEPTION-EXPOSED-devised-ebook/dp/B06X6N2JJT/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489250710&sr=8-1&keywords=treena+gisborn
Recommended Links:
https://closingstages.net/2016/08/02/part-3-womans-head-covering/
https://closingstages.net/2016/08/02/jacob-prasch-answers-my-question-after-all/
{1} https://closingstages.net/2016/08/05/to-many-heads-to-many-coverings-the-murky-teachings-of-jacob-prasch/comment-page-1/#comment-11808
{2} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHAiwIE5EVI
{3} http://newlife.id.au/equality-and-gender-issues/bible-women-with-spiritual-authority/
{4} https://closingstages.net/
{5} https://mkayla.wordpress.com/
{6} https://www.amazon.co.uk/INTRA-SEAL-RAPTURE-DECEPTION-EXPOSED-devised-ebook/dp/B06X6N2JJT/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489250710&sr=8-1&keywords=treena+gisborn
Recommended Links:
https://closingstages.net/2016/08/02/part-3-womans-head-covering/
https://closingstages.net/2016/08/02/jacob-prasch-answers-my-question-after-all/
Thursday 21 July 2016
jacob prasch moriel ministries: busted! presumptuous teaching about the restrainer: 2 Thessalonians
Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12)
I take no pleasure in exposing Jacob Prasch's
faulty eschatology. However, it is critical that the
faithful church understands the 70th week of Daniel correctly rather
than submit to JP's forceful personality and skewed eschatological
teachings. When teaching about the 70th week of Daniel, JP frequently says
authoritatively "PAY ATTENTION", as if
he were speaking for God Himself. I strongly recommend that those who
read this post study the scriptures for themselves and PAY NO
ATTENTION to myths and the commands of people who turn away from
the truth. (Titus 1:14; 1 Timothy 1:4; 2 Timothy 4:4), teaching as doctrines the commandments of men (Matthew 15:9).
We should consider with some trepidation the ramifications of identifying the Holy Spirit as the Restrainer. This view not only misrepresents God himself, since the Holy Spirit is omnipresent. It also precludes the Gentiles from hearing and receiving the Gospel during the 70th week of Daniel! The identity of the Restrainer is a non-essential question, so why does JP make it a "doctrine" i.e. "The Doctrine Of The Holy Spirit"? It is worth noting that prior to John Nelson Darby, no-one held this view of the Restrainer. What a masterstroke of Satan; he could not have chosen a better way of misleading God's people than by using a much trusted and respected teacher, who has, in recent times, overstepped the mark.
Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! (Psalm 139:7-8)
I will quote JP verbatim in order to avoid any accusation of quoting him out of context:
We should consider with some trepidation the ramifications of identifying the Holy Spirit as the Restrainer. This view not only misrepresents God himself, since the Holy Spirit is omnipresent. It also precludes the Gentiles from hearing and receiving the Gospel during the 70th week of Daniel! The identity of the Restrainer is a non-essential question, so why does JP make it a "doctrine" i.e. "The Doctrine Of The Holy Spirit"? It is worth noting that prior to John Nelson Darby, no-one held this view of the Restrainer. What a masterstroke of Satan; he could not have chosen a better way of misleading God's people than by using a much trusted and respected teacher, who has, in recent times, overstepped the mark.
Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! (Psalm 139:7-8)
I will quote JP verbatim in order to avoid any accusation of quoting him out of context:
JP: "The Restrainer is absolutely not an angel. The Restrainer is the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin, of judgement and of righteousness. That's not going to happen during the last seven years of history. The things that restrain Satan will no longer operate the way they do now.... the age of grace comes to an end during those last seven years.... the age of grace comes to an end. God reverts to behaving the way He did in the Old Testament. Grace is over. Now he is the God of wrath and of judgement again. He begins doing the things that he did in the Old Testament again, you see a replay of the judgements of Egypt from the book of Exodus in the book of Revelation..... the dispensation of grace is over, the covenant of grace no longer functions. Now he goes back to dealing with fallen man the way he did in the Old Testament..... the Holy Spirit will be taken from the world. He will no longer convict the world of sin the way He does now. Grace will come to an end. God reverts to this Old Testament wrath and begins refocusing towards dealing with Israel and the Jews" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ0LEfWRBaM&feature=youtu.be
I believe I have now identified the source of the confusion with these teachings, which, by the way, JP has revised several times now. JP's maniacal handling of the 70th week of Daniel obscures the issues and attempts blind us all with science. He integrates the various time frames of the 70th week indiscriminately and jumps back and forth from birth pains to tribulation to wrath and judgement. In other words, he very cleverly merges the three periods and applies them to the entirety of the 70th week without making any distinction between them. For instance, the wrath and judgement of God DOES NOT begin until the seventh seal is opened (Revelation 8:1-13). We therefore cannot speak of God reverting to being a God of wrath and judgement during the 70th week, it is only during the Day of the Lord that this happens (Revelation 6:16-17; Revelation 8....).
I believe I have now identified the source of the confusion with these teachings, which, by the way, JP has revised several times now. JP's maniacal handling of the 70th week of Daniel obscures the issues and attempts blind us all with science. He integrates the various time frames of the 70th week indiscriminately and jumps back and forth from birth pains to tribulation to wrath and judgement. In other words, he very cleverly merges the three periods and applies them to the entirety of the 70th week without making any distinction between them. For instance, the wrath and judgement of God DOES NOT begin until the seventh seal is opened (Revelation 8:1-13). We therefore cannot speak of God reverting to being a God of wrath and judgement during the 70th week, it is only during the Day of the Lord that this happens (Revelation 6:16-17; Revelation 8....).
When precisely is the Restrainer taken out of
the way?
JP teaches that the Restrainer is taken out of the way "during" the 70th week. This repeated use of the word "during" is very misleading! JP assumes a shift in the ministry of the Holy Spirit "during" the birth pains i.e. the first 3.5 years, but this is unsustainable:
JP teaches that the Restrainer is taken out of the way "during" the 70th week. This repeated use of the word "during" is very misleading! JP assumes a shift in the ministry of the Holy Spirit "during" the birth pains i.e. the first 3.5 years, but this is unsustainable:
The passage in 2 Thessalonians indicates that certain things must happen before the restrainer ceases to restrain i.e. the rebellion (apostasy) must occur first and then the Antichrist will take his seat in the temple of God proclaiming himself to be God. This happens at the mid point of the week. The man who is destined to become the Antichrist will be preparing to fulfil his vile destiny prior to the mid point of the 70th week, but not until the then will he become possessed by Satan, set up the abomination of desolation and be revealed (Daniel 7:25; 9:27; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). Hence it is the mid point of the 70th week that the Restrainer is taken out of the way..... not during the entire 70th week as JP teaches!
Only he who now
restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the
lawless one will be revealed, (2
Thessalonians 2:6) This
is a concomitant event...
the Restrainer is removed at a specific point in time, and THEN
AT THAT TIME, the lawless one will
be revealed. At the beginning of the week the Antichrist will make a strong covenant with many for one week and Israel will enter into a covenant with death (Daniel 9:27; Isaiah 28:15,18). This event marks the beginning of birth pains (Revelation 6:1-8 Matthew 24). It is important to notice that the beginning of birth pains/the four
horsemen are WORLD WIDE PHENOMENA, they do not apply
specifically to the tribulation of the church and they are not connected
to the removal of the Restrainer as JP teaches.
It is not until the mid point of the 70th week that God focuses upon Israel. Even after that, the Gentiles are not forgotten:
This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. (Luke 21: 14-1 cf. Luke 12:11-12)
During the Great tribulation the two witnesses will prophesy internationally for 1,260 days clothed in sackcloth. (Revelation 11:3-13)
And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. (Revelation 11:13)
At least one of the three angels in Revelation 14 preaches the gospel to the inhabitants of the whole earth: Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people (Revelation 14:6 cf. John 16:8).
And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” (Revelation 14:9-11)
And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).
JP's doctrine that tribulation is associated with the beginning of birth pains has necessitated further acrobatics. He has now invented a "seven year tribulation" of which the first 3.5 years of "birth pains" are "general tribulation" based on thlipsis John 16:21. John 16 refers to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the birth of the church. It is a complete fallacy to say that John 16 refers to the tribulation. I have debunked JP's argument about thlipsis in John 16:21 in my previous post: http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/jacob-prasch-say-again-tribulation-is.html
Interestingly, close associate of JP, David Nathan of Bread of Life Ministries and Moriel South Africa, teaches categorically that the restrainer is not the Holy Spirit, but that he is the Archangel Michael. He explains the phrase: "At that time" Daniel 12:1 refers to Israel and the end times, and that Michael will "stand aside" (Hebrew amad): "That is who is restraining, it is Michael, the angel that God has set over his people Israel." David Nathan not only confirms the pre-wrath position, he also confirms that a seven year tribulation is definitely not found in the scriptures.
It is not until the mid point of the 70th week that God focuses upon Israel. Even after that, the Gentiles are not forgotten:
This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. (Luke 21: 14-1 cf. Luke 12:11-12)
During the Great tribulation the two witnesses will prophesy internationally for 1,260 days clothed in sackcloth. (Revelation 11:3-13)
And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. (Revelation 11:13)
At least one of the three angels in Revelation 14 preaches the gospel to the inhabitants of the whole earth: Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people (Revelation 14:6 cf. John 16:8).
And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” (Revelation 14:9-11)
And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).
JP's doctrine that tribulation is associated with the beginning of birth pains has necessitated further acrobatics. He has now invented a "seven year tribulation" of which the first 3.5 years of "birth pains" are "general tribulation" based on thlipsis John 16:21. John 16 refers to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the birth of the church. It is a complete fallacy to say that John 16 refers to the tribulation. I have debunked JP's argument about thlipsis in John 16:21 in my previous post: http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/jacob-prasch-say-again-tribulation-is.html
Interestingly, close associate of JP, David Nathan of Bread of Life Ministries and Moriel South Africa, teaches categorically that the restrainer is not the Holy Spirit, but that he is the Archangel Michael. He explains the phrase: "At that time" Daniel 12:1 refers to Israel and the end times, and that Michael will "stand aside" (Hebrew amad): "That is who is restraining, it is Michael, the angel that God has set over his people Israel." David Nathan not only confirms the pre-wrath position, he also confirms that a seven year tribulation is definitely not found in the scriptures.
Eschataology Part 7
(The seven seals) The Restrainer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmUbFG064X8
I also recommend:
Joe Schimmel, Blessed Hope Chapel:
The Revelation Series: The Amazing Mission of the Archangel Michael
https://player.fm/series/blessed-hope-chapel/the-revelation-series-the-amazing-mission-of-the-archangel-michael
Alan Kurschner, Eschatos Ministries:
http://www.alankurschner.com/2015/05/20/archangel-michael-the-restrainer-removed-
Jacob Prasch's aberrant intra-seal teaching is provably unscriptural. His earlier teachings were good as far as I can tell, but I would advise my readers to be very cautious about his later offerings.
I also recommend:
Joe Schimmel, Blessed Hope Chapel:
The Revelation Series: The Amazing Mission of the Archangel Michael
https://player.fm/series/blessed-hope-chapel/the-revelation-series-the-amazing-mission-of-the-archangel-michael
Alan Kurschner, Eschatos Ministries:
http://www.alankurschner.com/2015/05/20/archangel-michael-the-restrainer-removed-
Jacob Prasch's aberrant intra-seal teaching is provably unscriptural. His earlier teachings were good as far as I can tell, but I would advise my readers to be very cautious about his later offerings.
Sunday 17 July 2016
jacob prasch moriel ministries: say what! the seven year tribulation debunked!
Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! (Psalm 139:7-8)
I am writing this post because some people hang onto every word Jacob Prasch speaks as though he were infallible. I am in the process of writing a longer piece concerning JPs dogmatic assertion that the Restrainer of 2 Thessalonians is the Holy Spirit. In my view this assertion is not only wrong, it is presumptuous - the scriptures do not name the restrainer! IF JP's claim about the restrainer is incorrect, then not only does it misrepresent God (Psalm 139:7-8); it also puts a skewed emphasis on the 70th week of Daniel. Similarly, his claim for a seven year tribulation also puts a skewed emphasis on the 70th week. Prior to Darby, no one ever taught that the restrainer was the Holy Spirit. This teaching of JP is going to take some unravelling, but I am in the process of doing just that. JP's hostile reaction to my post I think reveals not only presumption; it also demonstrates ungodly arrogance and belligerence towards those who disagree with him or point out any error in his teaching.{1} This is a very bad sign in anyone who is an elder of a church and/or a teacher. (Titus 1:7-8; 1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Corinthians 5:11). In my view Jacob Prasch has become quite popish.
The extraordinary claim of Jacob Prasch: He defines the first half three and a half years of the 70th week as “tribulation” based on thlipsis in John 16:21:
I am quoting Jacob Prasch verbatim in order to avoid any possible further false allegations of quoting him out of context:
JOHN 16
Jacob Prasch: "The Great Tribulation (indicates a shift from the tribulation of verse 9 to the intensification of Greater Tribulation that is 'Megalo Thelipsis' in verse 21). This commences with the 5th seal when the antichrist tries to wipe out as many believers as he can and marks the shift from tribulation to Great Tribulation when God stages a cosmic maelstrom and terrestrial seismic explosion and prepares to unleash His wrath with the 6th seal but first raptures the faithful believers during the interlude before the 7th seal."
As translated by The New Testament Greek, Jesus clearly and directly refers to the ':Beginning of Birth pangs" as "Thelipsis' / TRIBULATION in John 16:21. If she had only read John chapter 16 from where both of these issues of the Holy Spirit's current function and the nature of the birth pangs are addressed and explained by Jesus, she would know that for herself.
.....in verse 9 of Matthew 24 Jesus shifts from an already existing tribulation to the Great Tribulation (Theslipsis Macro) in verse 21 when Satan tries to kill us all via agency of anti christ etc.
In John 16: 33, Jesus refers to 'tribulation' in the general sense used many times in scripture for believers in all ages. We have "tribulation" in the world.
However in this same John chapter 16 in verses 20-22, Jesus speaks of His Second Coming as being proceeded by the Birth Pangs seen in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and as is illustrated in the vision of the woman in travail in Revelation chapter 12
.....the Beginning of Birth Pangs (corresponding to the four horseman of the Apocalypse) followed by the shift to Great Tribulation when the believers are horribly persecuted (akin to what happened to the Jews in the holocaust) during the first half of the 7 years can be called 'Tribulation'.
In John 16: 20-22 speaking of these Birth Pangs preceding His return Jesus calls them (as translated in every Greek manuscript and codex we have) "THELIPSIS" (John 16: 22)
'But When She Gives Birth She No Longer Remembers The TRIBULATION (THELIPSIS).'
The term 'thelipsis' moreover is applied here as an obstetric term for very good reason. Its Greek etymology is not simply 'pressure' but 'Constriction' as in contractions of maternal labour." {1}
BIRTH PAINS
The tribulation follows the birth pains in Matthew 24:5-8.... THEN verse 9..... In other words, JP's suggestion that tribulation is associated with the beginning of birth pains is incorrect. There is no disconnect between “the tribulation” of verse 9 and “the great tribulation” of verse 21. The first word in verse 15 is THEREFORE - oĂşn (a conjunction: therefore, now then, accordingly so - typically translated "therefore" which means, "By extension, here's how the dots connect".
VERSE 9: “THEN they will deliver you up to TRIBULATION and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. verse 15: THEREFORE (οὖν) when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel...... verse 21: For then there will be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be (Matthew 24:9-21) Mark 13 confirms the sequence of events in Matthew 24.
JP: "However in this same John chapter 16 in verses 20-22, Jesus speaks of His Second Coming as being proceeded by the Birth Pangs seen in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and as is illustrated in the vision of the woman in travail in Revelation chapter 12."
Revelation 12: The event that triggers the tribulation is Satan's expulsion from heaven when he is thrown down to earth (Revelation 12:7-12). The woman (Israel) will be divinely protected after the midweek abomination of desolation and during the subsequent reign of the Antichrist. (Revelation 12:16) AFTER THAT HAPPENS the Antichrist turns his attention towards believers: THEN the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea. (Revelation 12:17)
Once again, no specific "tribulation" is mentioned prior to the mid point of the 70th week.
The word thlipsis appears a total of 45 times in the NT.
A few examples of thlipsis:
There will be tribulation (thlipsis) and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, (Romans 2:5-9)
Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation (thlipsin), unless they repent of her works, (Revelation 2:22)
…..since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction (thlipsin) those who afflict (thlibousin) you, (2 Thessalonians 1:6)
(thlĂbĹŤ is the root of thlipsin)
When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish (thlipseĹŤs) for joy that a human being has been born into the world. (John 16:21)
Clearly the context defines the meaning of thlipsis and it does not always apply to the persecution of believers. Beware of those who twist the scriptures to suit their own interpretation - teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:9 ). The context of John 16:21 is NOT indicative of persecution.
It is very unfortunate that JP has to make his parting shot a personal attack and a rant on his latest false teaching on this subject:
JP: "I wish they (anyone who disagrees with him) would spend more time studying the word of God before attempting to elicidate about it without knowing what they are talking about.... blabbing nonsense when they don't even know what they are saying... patent nonsense...." {4}
This really is unconscionable behaviour from a so-called man of God. These kind of remarks do nothing for JP's argument or witness. Such displays of irreverent behaviour towards other members of the Body of Christ grieve the Holy Spirit (James 3:9-12). I suggest that my readers test JP's teaching for themselves and decide whether he rightly divides the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
{1} http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/the-rapture-holy-spirit-and-restrainer_25.html#comments
{2} Eschataology Part 7 (The seven seals): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmUbFG064X8
{3} Eschataology Part 5 (The False Prophet and the Mark of the Beast): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjrhyvlUbqY
{4} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3_QuhOnG9U
I am writing this post because some people hang onto every word Jacob Prasch speaks as though he were infallible. I am in the process of writing a longer piece concerning JPs dogmatic assertion that the Restrainer of 2 Thessalonians is the Holy Spirit. In my view this assertion is not only wrong, it is presumptuous - the scriptures do not name the restrainer! IF JP's claim about the restrainer is incorrect, then not only does it misrepresent God (Psalm 139:7-8); it also puts a skewed emphasis on the 70th week of Daniel. Similarly, his claim for a seven year tribulation also puts a skewed emphasis on the 70th week. Prior to Darby, no one ever taught that the restrainer was the Holy Spirit. This teaching of JP is going to take some unravelling, but I am in the process of doing just that. JP's hostile reaction to my post I think reveals not only presumption; it also demonstrates ungodly arrogance and belligerence towards those who disagree with him or point out any error in his teaching.{1} This is a very bad sign in anyone who is an elder of a church and/or a teacher. (Titus 1:7-8; 1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Corinthians 5:11). In my view Jacob Prasch has become quite popish.
The extraordinary claim of Jacob Prasch: He defines the first half three and a half years of the 70th week as “tribulation” based on thlipsis in John 16:21:
I am quoting Jacob Prasch verbatim in order to avoid any possible further false allegations of quoting him out of context:
JOHN 16
Jacob Prasch: "The Great Tribulation (indicates a shift from the tribulation of verse 9 to the intensification of Greater Tribulation that is 'Megalo Thelipsis' in verse 21). This commences with the 5th seal when the antichrist tries to wipe out as many believers as he can and marks the shift from tribulation to Great Tribulation when God stages a cosmic maelstrom and terrestrial seismic explosion and prepares to unleash His wrath with the 6th seal but first raptures the faithful believers during the interlude before the 7th seal."
As translated by The New Testament Greek, Jesus clearly and directly refers to the ':Beginning of Birth pangs" as "Thelipsis' / TRIBULATION in John 16:21. If she had only read John chapter 16 from where both of these issues of the Holy Spirit's current function and the nature of the birth pangs are addressed and explained by Jesus, she would know that for herself.
.....in verse 9 of Matthew 24 Jesus shifts from an already existing tribulation to the Great Tribulation (Theslipsis Macro) in verse 21 when Satan tries to kill us all via agency of anti christ etc.
In John 16: 33, Jesus refers to 'tribulation' in the general sense used many times in scripture for believers in all ages. We have "tribulation" in the world.
However in this same John chapter 16 in verses 20-22, Jesus speaks of His Second Coming as being proceeded by the Birth Pangs seen in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and as is illustrated in the vision of the woman in travail in Revelation chapter 12
.....the Beginning of Birth Pangs (corresponding to the four horseman of the Apocalypse) followed by the shift to Great Tribulation when the believers are horribly persecuted (akin to what happened to the Jews in the holocaust) during the first half of the 7 years can be called 'Tribulation'.
In John 16: 20-22 speaking of these Birth Pangs preceding His return Jesus calls them (as translated in every Greek manuscript and codex we have) "THELIPSIS" (John 16: 22)
'But When She Gives Birth She No Longer Remembers The TRIBULATION (THELIPSIS).'
The term 'thelipsis' moreover is applied here as an obstetric term for very good reason. Its Greek etymology is not simply 'pressure' but 'Constriction' as in contractions of maternal labour." {1}
BIRTH PAINS
The fallacy that John 16 refers to tribulation:
John 16 DOES NOT refer to the 70th week and the supposed "seven year tribulation". The PRIMARY MEANING of John 16 is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the birth of the church. The disciples would "weep and lament" - they would be "sorrowful", but their sorrow would turn to joy (verse 20). ....you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. (John 16:22) Jesus refers to his post-resurrection appearances and the permanent presence of the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, as a result of his departure (cf. 14:17). The disciples DID NOT experience persecution during the time that they were weeping/lamenting/sorrowful. If THE PRIMARY MEANING does not speak of tribulation, why should any SECONDARY MEANING? Most translators have "anguish" (thlipsis v21) and not tribulation or persecution. JP has twisted thlipsis to fit his own interpretation - this is a dishonest use of the context! (2 Peter 3:16-17).
Matthew 24/Revelation 6
John 16 DOES NOT refer to the 70th week and the supposed "seven year tribulation". The PRIMARY MEANING of John 16 is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the birth of the church. The disciples would "weep and lament" - they would be "sorrowful", but their sorrow would turn to joy (verse 20). ....you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. (John 16:22) Jesus refers to his post-resurrection appearances and the permanent presence of the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, as a result of his departure (cf. 14:17). The disciples DID NOT experience persecution during the time that they were weeping/lamenting/sorrowful. If THE PRIMARY MEANING does not speak of tribulation, why should any SECONDARY MEANING? Most translators have "anguish" (thlipsis v21) and not tribulation or persecution. JP has twisted thlipsis to fit his own interpretation - this is a dishonest use of the context! (2 Peter 3:16-17).
Matthew 24/Revelation 6
There is of course "general tribulation" as we all know (John 16:33). However Matthew 24 speaks specifically about the end of the age.... "when will these things be..." (verse 3).
The first four seals broken in Revelation 6:1-8 correspond with the birth pains in Matthew 24. The great tribulation corresponds with the breaking of the fifth seal Revelation 6.
For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. (Matthew 24:5-8) (the beginning of birth pains/the four horsemen)
It is important to notice that the beginning of birth pains/the four horsemen are WORLD WIDE PHENOMENA, they do not specifically apply to the tribulation of the church as JP teaches.
The first four seals broken in Revelation 6:1-8 correspond with the birth pains in Matthew 24. The great tribulation corresponds with the breaking of the fifth seal Revelation 6.
For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. (Matthew 24:5-8) (the beginning of birth pains/the four horsemen)
It is important to notice that the beginning of birth pains/the four horsemen are WORLD WIDE PHENOMENA, they do not specifically apply to the tribulation of the church as JP teaches.
The tribulation follows the birth pains in Matthew 24:5-8.... THEN verse 9..... In other words, JP's suggestion that tribulation is associated with the beginning of birth pains is incorrect. There is no disconnect between “the tribulation” of verse 9 and “the great tribulation” of verse 21. The first word in verse 15 is THEREFORE - oĂşn (a conjunction: therefore, now then, accordingly so - typically translated "therefore" which means, "By extension, here's how the dots connect".
VERSE 9: “THEN they will deliver you up to TRIBULATION and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. verse 15: THEREFORE (οὖν) when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel...... verse 21: For then there will be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be (Matthew 24:9-21) Mark 13 confirms the sequence of events in Matthew 24.
JP: "However in this same John chapter 16 in verses 20-22, Jesus speaks of His Second Coming as being proceeded by the Birth Pangs seen in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and as is illustrated in the vision of the woman in travail in Revelation chapter 12."
Revelation 12: The event that triggers the tribulation is Satan's expulsion from heaven when he is thrown down to earth (Revelation 12:7-12). The woman (Israel) will be divinely protected after the midweek abomination of desolation and during the subsequent reign of the Antichrist. (Revelation 12:16) AFTER THAT HAPPENS the Antichrist turns his attention towards believers: THEN the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea. (Revelation 12:17)
Once again, no specific "tribulation" is mentioned prior to the mid point of the 70th week.
The word thlipsis appears a total of 45 times in the NT.
A few examples of thlipsis:
There will be tribulation (thlipsis) and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, (Romans 2:5-9)
Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation (thlipsin), unless they repent of her works, (Revelation 2:22)
…..since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction (thlipsin) those who afflict (thlibousin) you, (2 Thessalonians 1:6)
(thlĂbĹŤ is the root of thlipsin)
When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish (thlipseĹŤs) for joy that a human being has been born into the world. (John 16:21)
Clearly the context defines the meaning of thlipsis and it does not always apply to the persecution of believers. Beware of those who twist the scriptures to suit their own interpretation - teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:9 ). The context of John 16:21 is NOT indicative of persecution.
Interestingly, close
associate of JP, David Nathan of Bread of Life Ministries and Moriel
South Africa, teaches categorically that the
restrainer is not the Holy Spirit, but that he is the Archangel Michael. He explains the phrase: "At that time" Daniel 12:1 refers to Israel and the end times, and that Michael will "stand aside" (Hebrew amad): "That is who is restraining, it is Michael, the angel that God has set over his people Israel." {2} David Nathan not only confirms the pre-wrath position, he also confirms that a seven year
tribulation is definitely not found in the scriptures.{3}
It is very unfortunate that JP has to make his parting shot a personal attack and a rant on his latest false teaching on this subject:
JP: "I wish they (anyone who disagrees with him) would spend more time studying the word of God before attempting to elicidate about it without knowing what they are talking about.... blabbing nonsense when they don't even know what they are saying... patent nonsense...." {4}
This really is unconscionable behaviour from a so-called man of God. These kind of remarks do nothing for JP's argument or witness. Such displays of irreverent behaviour towards other members of the Body of Christ grieve the Holy Spirit (James 3:9-12). I suggest that my readers test JP's teaching for themselves and decide whether he rightly divides the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
There are some very interesting observations on m'kayla's korner: https://mkayla.wordpress.com/2016/07/13/an-encounter-with-a-madman-or-two/
{1} http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/the-rapture-holy-spirit-and-restrainer_25.html#comments
{2} Eschataology Part 7 (The seven seals): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmUbFG064X8
{3} Eschataology Part 5 (The False Prophet and the Mark of the Beast): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjrhyvlUbqY
{4} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3_QuhOnG9U
Friday 8 July 2016
together 2016: the spirit of antichrist!
Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the
Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:17-18)
Together 2016 aka The Reset Movement is a national campaign in the US being organised by the Spirit of Antichrist. One million attendees is the target set for this ecumenical event at the National Mall in Washington DC on Saturday July the 16th. The event is being organised by "visionary" Nick Hall, the founder of PULSE, an organisation which claims to be a prayer and evangelism movement "to empower the church and awaken the culture to Jesus." Pope Francis will be delivering a video message addressing the crowd. RESET doesn’t belong to any one denomination or religion; the only affiliation is "Jesus", but which Jesus are they promoting (2 Corinthians 11:14)? TOGETHER 2016 is an opportunity to stand together with people from every corner of America who are praying for catalytic change, i.e. a reset.into a false unity that is foreign to the scriptures - "To lay down what divides us and lift up Jesus who unites us...." {1}
The scriptures support "togetherness" only where there is agreement on doctrine. Do not buy into the current trend to sacrifice core biblical truth on the altar of love and unity.... this is not love, it is the lie of Satan. Jesus' prayer for unity (John 17) is conditional upon TRUTH:
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. (John 17:17-19 cf.1 Corinthians 13:6 cf. 2 John 1:4).
.....for there MUST be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. (1 Corintians 11:19)
All the usual apostates are all crawling out of the woodwork to support/participate in this work of deception. Mark and avoid the organisations and people below - those who promote and preach a message contrary to sound doctrine..... (Romans 16:17)
Together 2016 supporters include: The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, the Luis Palau Association, CRU (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ), Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Premiere Productions, the National Day of Prayer, YWAM and the American Bible Society.
This so-called "revival" is bringing together Assemblies of God Supt. George O. Wood and Southern Baptist Convention president Ronnie Floyd to link arms in spiritual unity with the Pentecostal Charismatic Churches of North America, Grace Communion International (formerly the Armstrongism Worldwide Church of God), participants include Hillsong United, Kari Jobe, Francis Chan, Lecrae, Nick Hall, Passion, Crowder, Kirk Franklin, Ravi Zacharias, Jeremy Camp, Bob Lenz, Andy Mineo, Michael W. Smith, Lauren Daigle, Christine Caine, Mark Batterson, Matthew West, Jo Saxton, Mike Kelsey, Casting Crowns, John K. Jenkins Sr., Josh McDowell, Laurel Bunker, Luis Palau, Tedashii, Tasha Cobbs, Lacey Sturm, York Moore, Trip Lee, Samuel Rodriguez, Ronnie Floyd, Reid Saunders, Jose Zayas, Jennie Allen, Nabeel Qureshi, Ann Voskamp, KB, Christine D'Clario, Matt Maher, Sammy Wanyonyi, Lindsey Nobles, Amena Brown, and Josh Brewer. {2}
To alter the teaching (doctrine) of Jesus Christ and his apostles is to reject the Word of God itself:
He (an overseer) must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (Titus 1:9)
The obvious reason to separate from Rome and those ecumenical leaders supporting Together 2016 is that the scriptures state unequivocally that Christians are saved by grace through faith, totally apart from works: (Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 3:10-11; Romans 3:19-24). In direct contradiction to the scriptures, the RC Church teaches that salvation is a process, and that salvation is attained through baptism and good works. The list is very long, but in general the RC Church teach papal infallibility, Mary is the Queen of Heaven, a perpetual virgin, and the co-redemptress who ascended into heaven, faith is maintained through the sacraments, a distinction between clergy and laity, confession of sins to a priest, prayers and petitions are said to Mary and to dead "saints", indulgences achieve time off purgatory. None of these things are scriptural. Pope Francis has stated that there is no salvation outside of the RC church - hardly inclusive! The aim of the RC church is to bring back all the "separated brethren" back under their domination, and to suck all people into heresy and ultimate destruction.
Heretical quotes from Pope Francis:
"He (God) knows that Christians are disciples of Christ: that they are one, that they are brothers! He doesn’t care if they are Evangelicals, or Orthodox, Lutherans, Catholics or Apostolic…he doesn’t care! They are Christians. And that blood (of martyrdom) unites. Today, dear brothers and sisters, we are living an “ecumenism of blood”."
"Non-Christians [such as atheists], by God’s gracious initiative, when they are faithful to their own consciences, can live 'justified by the grace of God', and thus be 'associated to the paschal mystery of Jesus Christ'… to the sacramental dimension of sanctifying grace... to live our own beliefs."
“Mary is more important than all of the apostles.”
“Christians who obstinately maintain ‘it’s always been done this way,’ this is the path, this is the street—they sin: the sin of divination. It’s as if they went about by guessing: ‘What has been said and what doesn’t change is what’s important; what I hear—from myself and my closed heart—more than the Word of the Lord.’ Obstinacy is also the sin of idolatry: the Christian who is obstinate sins! The sin of idolatry. ‘And what is the way, Father?’ Open the heart to the Holy Spirit, discern what is the will of God.”
Warnings From The Scriptures:
As he (Jesus) sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.... And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. (Matthew 24:3-11)
The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
Out of one of them came a little horn (the Antichrist), which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them. It became great, even as great as the Prince of the host. And the regular burnt offering was taken away from him, and the place of his sanctuary was overthrown. And a host will be given over to it together with the regular burnt offering because of transgression, and it will throw truth to the ground, and it will act and prosper. (Daniel 8:9-12)
{1} http://penews.org/News/NAE-Urges-Churches-to-Pray-Together-Sunday-July-10
{2} http://www.piratechristian.com/berean-examiner/2016/6/the-pope-and-hillsong-will-unite-together-2016-in-washington-dc
{3} http://biblehub.com/greek/500.htm
Together 2016 aka The Reset Movement is a national campaign in the US being organised by the Spirit of Antichrist. One million attendees is the target set for this ecumenical event at the National Mall in Washington DC on Saturday July the 16th. The event is being organised by "visionary" Nick Hall, the founder of PULSE, an organisation which claims to be a prayer and evangelism movement "to empower the church and awaken the culture to Jesus." Pope Francis will be delivering a video message addressing the crowd. RESET doesn’t belong to any one denomination or religion; the only affiliation is "Jesus", but which Jesus are they promoting (2 Corinthians 11:14)? TOGETHER 2016 is an opportunity to stand together with people from every corner of America who are praying for catalytic change, i.e. a reset.into a false unity that is foreign to the scriptures - "To lay down what divides us and lift up Jesus who unites us...." {1}
The scriptures support "togetherness" only where there is agreement on doctrine. Do not buy into the current trend to sacrifice core biblical truth on the altar of love and unity.... this is not love, it is the lie of Satan. Jesus' prayer for unity (John 17) is conditional upon TRUTH:
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. (John 17:17-19 cf.1 Corinthians 13:6 cf. 2 John 1:4).
.....for there MUST be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. (1 Corintians 11:19)
All the usual apostates are all crawling out of the woodwork to support/participate in this work of deception. Mark and avoid the organisations and people below - those who promote and preach a message contrary to sound doctrine..... (Romans 16:17)
Together 2016 supporters include: The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, the Luis Palau Association, CRU (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ), Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Premiere Productions, the National Day of Prayer, YWAM and the American Bible Society.
This so-called "revival" is bringing together Assemblies of God Supt. George O. Wood and Southern Baptist Convention president Ronnie Floyd to link arms in spiritual unity with the Pentecostal Charismatic Churches of North America, Grace Communion International (formerly the Armstrongism Worldwide Church of God), participants include Hillsong United, Kari Jobe, Francis Chan, Lecrae, Nick Hall, Passion, Crowder, Kirk Franklin, Ravi Zacharias, Jeremy Camp, Bob Lenz, Andy Mineo, Michael W. Smith, Lauren Daigle, Christine Caine, Mark Batterson, Matthew West, Jo Saxton, Mike Kelsey, Casting Crowns, John K. Jenkins Sr., Josh McDowell, Laurel Bunker, Luis Palau, Tedashii, Tasha Cobbs, Lacey Sturm, York Moore, Trip Lee, Samuel Rodriguez, Ronnie Floyd, Reid Saunders, Jose Zayas, Jennie Allen, Nabeel Qureshi, Ann Voskamp, KB, Christine D'Clario, Matt Maher, Sammy Wanyonyi, Lindsey Nobles, Amena Brown, and Josh Brewer. {2}
To alter the teaching (doctrine) of Jesus Christ and his apostles is to reject the Word of God itself:
He (an overseer) must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (Titus 1:9)
The obvious reason to separate from Rome and those ecumenical leaders supporting Together 2016 is that the scriptures state unequivocally that Christians are saved by grace through faith, totally apart from works: (Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 3:10-11; Romans 3:19-24). In direct contradiction to the scriptures, the RC Church teaches that salvation is a process, and that salvation is attained through baptism and good works. The list is very long, but in general the RC Church teach papal infallibility, Mary is the Queen of Heaven, a perpetual virgin, and the co-redemptress who ascended into heaven, faith is maintained through the sacraments, a distinction between clergy and laity, confession of sins to a priest, prayers and petitions are said to Mary and to dead "saints", indulgences achieve time off purgatory. None of these things are scriptural. Pope Francis has stated that there is no salvation outside of the RC church - hardly inclusive! The aim of the RC church is to bring back all the "separated brethren" back under their domination, and to suck all people into heresy and ultimate destruction.
Heretical quotes from Pope Francis:
"He (God) knows that Christians are disciples of Christ: that they are one, that they are brothers! He doesn’t care if they are Evangelicals, or Orthodox, Lutherans, Catholics or Apostolic…he doesn’t care! They are Christians. And that blood (of martyrdom) unites. Today, dear brothers and sisters, we are living an “ecumenism of blood”."
"Non-Christians [such as atheists], by God’s gracious initiative, when they are faithful to their own consciences, can live 'justified by the grace of God', and thus be 'associated to the paschal mystery of Jesus Christ'… to the sacramental dimension of sanctifying grace... to live our own beliefs."
“Mary is more important than all of the apostles.”
“Christians who obstinately maintain ‘it’s always been done this way,’ this is the path, this is the street—they sin: the sin of divination. It’s as if they went about by guessing: ‘What has been said and what doesn’t change is what’s important; what I hear—from myself and my closed heart—more than the Word of the Lord.’ Obstinacy is also the sin of idolatry: the Christian who is obstinate sins! The sin of idolatry. ‘And what is the way, Father?’ Open the heart to the Holy Spirit, discern what is the will of God.”
Warnings From The Scriptures:
As he (Jesus) sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.... And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. (Matthew 24:3-11)
The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
Out of one of them came a little horn (the Antichrist), which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them. It became great, even as great as the Prince of the host. And the regular burnt offering was taken away from him, and the place of his sanctuary was overthrown. And a host will be given over to it together with the regular burnt offering because of transgression, and it will throw truth to the ground, and it will act and prosper. (Daniel 8:9-12)
Antichrist definition: antĂxristos - Strongs 500 - the preposition anti means substitute, opposite to, in place of etc. it is not only one who is the enemy of Christ, it is also one who puts himself in place of Christ.{3}
Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. (Matthew 7:13)
Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. (Matthew 7:13)
{1} http://penews.org/News/NAE-Urges-Churches-to-Pray-Together-Sunday-July-10
{2} http://www.piratechristian.com/berean-examiner/2016/6/the-pope-and-hillsong-will-unite-together-2016-in-washington-dc
{3} http://biblehub.com/greek/500.htm
Wednesday 15 June 2016
THE CURSE OF DEREK PRINCE FALSE TEACHER!!!
Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. (Luke 11:35)
How deceiver Derek Prince had the audacity to stand in front of born again, blood bought believers in Jesus Christ and tell them that "many" were, in all likelihood, under an ancestral curse is totally beyond me! I am writing this second post about Derek Prince because there are those who are associated with Derek Prince Ministries (DPM) who protest a little too loudly that I do not understand Prince's teaching about curses and blessings. Very sadly, I can say that I do understand all too well. I have re-visited this subject in order to reiterate my warnings about the deviant teachings of this man.
Derek Prince claimed to show three things in his ten part teaching about curses and blessings: 1, what the symptoms are of being under a curse; 2, where curses can come from, and 3, how to be free: How To Pass From Curse to Blessing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsOhODrm67k
Prince claimed that many Christians come under generational curses, going back hundreds or even thousands of years.{1} According to the scriptures however, a familial curse is not effective for longer than 128 years at the most (Numbers 14:18). A generation in human terms typically ranges from 22 to 32 years.{2}
The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation. (Numbers 14:18 cf. Exodus 34:7)
Derek Prince: "In my opinion it’s scarcely worth ministering in Southeast Asia if you can’t deal with the subject of the curse because basically ninety-five percent of all the people there are under a curse." {3}
Derek Prince: "Many here tonight are fighting something that you don't fully understand in your own life. Some kind of frustration, something that every time you are about to succeed intervenes and keeps you from success. Something that holds you back from being a complete person, from being completely free, from being able to serve the Lord the way you would wish to, from leading a life of real victory. I believe in many cases, the problem that you are fighting with, that you have never diagnosed, you have never come fully to grips with, is that there is a curse over your life."
Derek Prince's answer to generational curses: "The prayer of release from a curse". {4}
Prince's statements above are some of the most wicked deceitful words I have ever heard! Sadly he found no difficulty in finding naive believers who identified with his message. There are no shortage of Christians who find themselves struggling in their walk with the Lord and who have become the victim of Prince's false diagnosis of non-existent curses. What Prince failed to mention is the fact that it would be strange if difficulties were not the case. The scriptures are very clear that various problems will beset believers (1 Peter 4:12). Jesus warned his potential followers to count the cost of discipleship (Luke 14:27-29). The gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life (Matthew 7:14; cf. Matthew 5:2-12; John 16:33; Acts 14:22; Philippians 1:29; 1 Peter 4:14). The Apostle Paul confessed his struggles with the flesh: For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate (Romans 7:15-23 cf. Galatians 5:17). Paul's story is hardly one of "success" or "victory" in worldly terms; he was shipwrecked, stoned and beaten with rods three times (2 Corinthians 11:25). At one stage, Paul and his companions were so burdened beyond their strength that they despaired of life itself. (2 Corinthians 1:8). Ultimately all the disciples were martyred except John. Were they under a curse? Nowhere in the New Testament does it state that genuine believers in the Lord Jesus Christ can be under a generational curse, and furthermore the apostles taught no such thing! I have personally known Christians who have received "prayers of release/deliverance ministry" several times, but inevitably their struggles continue, and tragically they remain convinced that they are still under some unidentified curse, or that they have a demon. Hence many Christians go back again and again for this kind of "ministry" and are bound to a vicious circle of doubt and oppression, never believing that they are quite free, convinced that something more from the past needs to be exposed in order to release them. The suggestion that ancestral curses have to be dealt with in an extrabiblical manner by some curse-buster or guru is to suggest that the cross alone is in some way deficient in the area of ancestral curses. This powerful lie from the pit of hell is so serious that it actually mounts a bid to strip the cross of Christ of its power and belies the scriptures. It is a very subtle way of making us doubt the word of God which is exactly what Satan wants!
In order to promote his deviant teaching about ancestral curses, Derek Prince used examples of his own spiritual experiences and various "words from the Lord" which he then tied into Old Testament curses. In this specific teaching on YouTube, he spends some time on the twelve curses listed in Deuteronomy 27. These curses were pronounced by the Levitical priests and were to be set up on Mount Ebal once the Israelites had entered the promised land. The curses would be the inevitable result turning away from God and breaking the law of Moses. Prince suggests that these particular curses may be affecting people in his audience, but this is ridiculous. Firstly, we are going back thousands of years, not three or four generations; secondly, we are speaking specifically about curses upon the Israelites, and thirdly, the new birth is required (John 3:18), all who rely on works of the law are under a curse (Galatians 3:10). At Sinai, Moses sprinkled the blood of animals on the altar and upon the people who entered into covenant with God (Exodus 24: 3-8). Once the Israelites entered into the covenant at Sinai, what God required was obedience. God gave no special "prayer of release from an ancestral curse" to Moses and the Israelites in relation to their 400 years spent in Egypt and similarly none is required for Christians. Since we are to make parallels with the Israelites as believers, then we must see that once the Israelites came out of Egypt, generational curses were not an issue. The New Testament identifies the problem: their hearts turned back to Egypt (Acts 7:9; cf. Deuteronomy 30:17). Similarly if we disobey the commandments in the New Testament (John 13:34), then inevitably, there will be consequences (1 Corinthians 10:11). Notice that the key is obedience, forgetting those things that lie behind and straining forward to what lies ahead (Philippians 3:13). When we do fail for any reason, then we need to repent. If any ancestral sins did exist before we were converted, the moment we were born again we became a new creation in Christ, the old has passed away; behold, the new has come (1 Corinthians 5:17). We passed from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God (Acts 26:18). The teachings of Derek Prince would destroy our peace in Christ and cause us go backwards, denying what the Lord has achieved on the cross into bondage, curses, death and darkness! Ironically, in preaching a gospel contrary to the scriptures, Prince would have been under a self inflicted curse himself (Galatians 1:8-9).
An important example is Jesus' letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 which identify various critical problems within certain congregations. The remedy was/is repentance (Revelation 2:5, 16, 21, 22). The consequences of remaining unrepentant are dire indeed, but note that nothing more than repentance is needed to restore a right relationship to God. To pray a "prayer of release from a curse" is extrabiblical. Do we really want to be guilty of going beyond what is written and adding to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 1:19; Revelation 22:18; Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:6)?
THE TRUTH is that anyone coming to faith in Jesus Christ is transformed into a new creation upon conversion: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:4 cf. Isaiah 43:18; Ezekiel 36:26). Believers have no remit to go digging around in the past looking for curses, to do such a thing is sinful! Jesus Christ has blessed true believers with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3 cf. Philippians 3:13). Can someone be blessed and cursed at the same time? We can blame the oppression of Satan, the flesh or the world for our difficulties, but never an ancestral curse (Luke 4:18; John 8:32-36; Romans 8:2). The Apostle Paul taught that our way of thinking needs to be renewed in order to come into agreement with the Word of God (Romans 12:12; Ephesians 4:23 cf. Romans 6:4; Colossians 3:10 cf. 1 Peter 1:2; Hebrews 9:14).
Derek Prince: "Men representing God are authorised to curse things."
Prince: "... Cursing is part of the ministry of a man of God... men of God not only bless, they also curse....." {5}
Whom did Derek Prince expect Christians to curse? Their enemies? (Matthew 5:44; Mark 11:26; Luke 6:28), or another believer whom we hold something against? (Matthew 18:21). Jesus Christ was quite specific about the consequences of unforgiveness! Paul also instructed: Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. (Romans 12:14, 2; 1 Corinthians 4:11-12; cf. 1 Peter 3:9; James 3:9). It is clear that followers of Jesus Christ are never permitted to appeal to the precedent of David, Elijah or anyone else in the Old Testament to justify treating enemies in ways that contradict His example and teachings.
Prince gives various examples from the Old Testament in order to justify cursing:
Joshua's curse on the man to rebuild the city of Jericho (Joshua 6:26). Joshua's curse was fulfilled approximately 500 years later during the reign of Ahab, when Hiel, a Bethelite, rebuilt Jericho at the cost of his firstborn and youngest sons (1 Kings 16:34). Prince wanders off into his own eisegetical interpretation, surmising that Hiel's sons wasted away, the cause being undiagnosed by doctors! In fact, Hiel and all Israel would undoubtedly have been aware of Joshua's curse. Actually the manner of the fulfilment of the curse is disputed since there is some question about whether Hiel rebuilt Jericho in defiance of the curse, or whether his sons were intentionally sacrificed. {6}
The curse of an Old Testament prophet was an inspired prediction of punitive disaster, it did not come from the flesh. Elisha pronounced inspired judgement upon the sin of Gehazi who had lied in vain to the Holy Spirit. The apostles were also so gifted (Acts 5:1-10). We should not confuse this with modern day false "prophets" like Benny Hinn who pronounced a curse upon his detractors. {7}
The Fig Tree
When the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matthew 21:20-22)
Derek Prince: "Jesus said to them (his disciples) 'you will not only do what was done to the fig tree'... he said 'you can also speak to a mountain'..... notice He authorised them to curse things. I tell you, the power that we have, if we could but realise it, is frightening. We are really rather like Moses - You see a lot of us are like that, we are holding a staff in our hands, we don't realise that if we hold a staff in our hand it can turn into a snake."
Prince's teaching of Jesus' curse on the fig tree is immensely deceptive. There are two accounts of this event in the New Testament: Matthew 21:18-22 and Mark 11:12-14. Critically, Prince completely fails to explain that the fig tree symbolically represents Israel (Hosea 9:10; Matthew 24:32-35). Jesus' curse upon the fig tree symbolises the judgement and rejection of God and His judgement on Israel for failing to bear the fruit he required from the temple. It foreshadows the cleansing of the temple (Mark 11:15-19) and ultimately the prophecy of its destruction. Jesus frequently used the allegory of trees and fruit (Matthew 3:10; 7:19; Luke 3:9; 13:6-9; John 15:2-6). No argument can be made that the example of the fig tree gives Christians authority to pronounce curses on individuals or things at will, especially in view of Jesus' unequivocal teaching about how we should treat our enemies. Such actions belong to the realm of witchcraft and Satanism! God alone is the One who will decide what kind of corrective action will need to be taken with the enemies in our lives, we have no such remit!
Self Imposed Curses
Four godly men in the Old Testament are known to have had a death wish: Elijah (1 Kings 19:4), Job (Job 3:1-2), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:14) and Jonah (Jonah 4:8). In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul and his companions were so utterly burdened beyond their strength that they despaired of life itself (2 Corinthians 1:8). None of these men were under a curse, they undoubtedly fell temporarily into fear, exhaustion and depression at particular times. In other words, they had weaknesses like every one of us. For the Christian, the answer to depression is always to turn directly to God for the answers and for strength. Once again, we do not need to turn to some self appointed guru to obtain release from "the spirit of death" as taught by Derek Prince. Jesus Christ himself was in intense anguish in the garden of Gethsemane and was very sorrowful, even to death (Matthew 26:38). Was Jesus Christ under a curse? Genuine Christians are blessed even in times of depression and weakness. We were darkness, but now we are sons of light and are light in the Lord (Ephesians 5:8; Luke 16:8; John 12:36). Paul's mission to the Gentiles was to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus. (Acts 26:17-18). We see then that Christians are not under the power of curses in any respect once they have truly repented and are sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ.
Demonization
The definition the Greek word daimonizomai (δαιμονίζομαι) Strong's 1139 = possessed, or to be under the power of an evil spirit or demon - to be oppressed and possessed by a demon.{8}
Derek Prince made a very poor argument that "demon possessed" is a mistranslation of the word daimonizomai.{9} In fact, in context, those whom Jesus delivered from demons in the gospels were manifesting actual possession e.g. Legion: Jesus commanded the unclean spirit/s to come out of the man and the demons pleaded: “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.”(Mark 5:1-13). Similarly, the boy with an evil spirit that made him mute was possessed. Jesus commanded: “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again. (Mark 9:14-29). My own view is that if a demon has entered a person, if it actually dwells inside a person (Matthew 12:45) and is controlling them, then "possession" is an appropriate word. In Prince's language, there is no distinction between a Christian who is "demonised" and Legion or the boy with an evil spirit whom Jesus delivered. In Prince's thinking their condition is identical. In fact ancient Jewish writers confirm the scriptural view of demon possession as expressed by Flavius Josephus and many others.{10} Derek Prince's ideas on the subject were neither scriptural nor historical (Romans 12:3).
There is a vast difference between being oppressed from without by Satan, and being possessed or "demonized" as Prince put it. Christians have been bought with a price (I Corinthians 7:23), they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, they cannot be indwelt by demons. Those who follow Jesus have passed from death to life (Romans 12:3; John 8:12).
I have written this post in order to repeat my dire warnings about the teachings of Derek Prince, which in my view are pure poison to true followers of Jesus Christ. My previous post covered Prince's ecumenical activities, his association with the Vatican and his leadership role within the infamous Shepherding Movement.{11} Just how many "mistakes" are we supposed to overlook in the case of this wolf in sheep's clothing? It takes rather more than intelligence and pedigree to be a true teacher and servant of the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:19; James 3:1). Below Prince admits his mistakes whilst leading the Shepherding Movement, including the sins of personal ambition and legalism. Incredibly he stated that his ministry "took off" after his disassociation from the Shepherding Movement which shattered so many lives. It may have "taken off" numerically, but ultimately it is doubtful how much fruit this man's "ministry" actually produced!
DPM always refer to "Derek's teachings", and this is precisely what they are! They are not Jesus' and the apostles teachings, and they do not pass the test of scripture (1 John 4:1; cf. Matthew 7:15, 24:11). The most deadly form of teaching is the mixture, when truth and error are combined (Deuteronomy 22:11; Hebrews 10:22). Prince's "teachings" are aired by Derek Prince Legacy Radio and iTunes. They are also aired on apostate TV channels like God TV, TBN and Revelation TV, and they are also widely available on YouTube. It seems to me that DPM have more than your freedom in view (Ezekiel 22:27)! DPM is no small operation! They operate in over 140 countries with 45 offices around the world, including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. They boast of promoting over 50 books, 600 audio and 110 video teachings.{12} Large amounts of money are involved through donations, the sale of videotapes, literature, books, paraphernalia etc. Turnover in the UK alone stands at £811,035 {13} with donations alone totalling £876,40 in 2015.{14} To a large degree I believe that the commercial activities of DPM, rather than any love for the truth, explains the hostility that is being directed against me by various DPM associates.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
.....if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)
If you are associated with DPM or if you earn your living from this ministry, then you need to prayerfully consider the teachings that you promote and their crippling effect upon the Body of Christ. Please do not write to me again with your "experiences" or your opinions. I am always ready to argue from the Word of God, but if you are not prepared to test the spirits then I have nothing to say to you (1 John 4:1; cf. John 10:13).
{1} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpuEn85G9mc.
{2} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_time
{3} http://www.derekprince.org/Articles/1000085373/DPM_USA/Archive_of_UK/Keys/Blessings_and_Curses/Causes_of_Curses.aspx
{4} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsOhODrm67k
{5} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RupeqW1NC2A&list=PL16919B450DF02A6A&index=4
{6} https://www.jstor.org/stable/3140746?seq=2#page_scan_tab_contents
{7} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wAQ5ftiEqE
{8} http://biblehub.com/greek/1139.htm
{9} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RupeqW1NC2A
{10} http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/5942-exorcism
{11} http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/derek-prince-false-teacher-wolf-in.html
{12} http://www.dpmuk.org/about/
{13} http://directory.uk-b2b-info.com/org/charity/1123283/derek-prince-ministries-uk/
{14} http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends83/0001123283_AC_20150630_E_C.pdf.
How deceiver Derek Prince had the audacity to stand in front of born again, blood bought believers in Jesus Christ and tell them that "many" were, in all likelihood, under an ancestral curse is totally beyond me! I am writing this second post about Derek Prince because there are those who are associated with Derek Prince Ministries (DPM) who protest a little too loudly that I do not understand Prince's teaching about curses and blessings. Very sadly, I can say that I do understand all too well. I have re-visited this subject in order to reiterate my warnings about the deviant teachings of this man.
Derek Prince claimed to show three things in his ten part teaching about curses and blessings: 1, what the symptoms are of being under a curse; 2, where curses can come from, and 3, how to be free: How To Pass From Curse to Blessing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsOhODrm67k
Prince claimed that many Christians come under generational curses, going back hundreds or even thousands of years.{1} According to the scriptures however, a familial curse is not effective for longer than 128 years at the most (Numbers 14:18). A generation in human terms typically ranges from 22 to 32 years.{2}
The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation. (Numbers 14:18 cf. Exodus 34:7)
Derek Prince: "In my opinion it’s scarcely worth ministering in Southeast Asia if you can’t deal with the subject of the curse because basically ninety-five percent of all the people there are under a curse." {3}
Derek Prince: "Many here tonight are fighting something that you don't fully understand in your own life. Some kind of frustration, something that every time you are about to succeed intervenes and keeps you from success. Something that holds you back from being a complete person, from being completely free, from being able to serve the Lord the way you would wish to, from leading a life of real victory. I believe in many cases, the problem that you are fighting with, that you have never diagnosed, you have never come fully to grips with, is that there is a curse over your life."
Derek Prince's answer to generational curses: "The prayer of release from a curse". {4}
Prince's statements above are some of the most wicked deceitful words I have ever heard! Sadly he found no difficulty in finding naive believers who identified with his message. There are no shortage of Christians who find themselves struggling in their walk with the Lord and who have become the victim of Prince's false diagnosis of non-existent curses. What Prince failed to mention is the fact that it would be strange if difficulties were not the case. The scriptures are very clear that various problems will beset believers (1 Peter 4:12). Jesus warned his potential followers to count the cost of discipleship (Luke 14:27-29). The gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life (Matthew 7:14; cf. Matthew 5:2-12; John 16:33; Acts 14:22; Philippians 1:29; 1 Peter 4:14). The Apostle Paul confessed his struggles with the flesh: For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate (Romans 7:15-23 cf. Galatians 5:17). Paul's story is hardly one of "success" or "victory" in worldly terms; he was shipwrecked, stoned and beaten with rods three times (2 Corinthians 11:25). At one stage, Paul and his companions were so burdened beyond their strength that they despaired of life itself. (2 Corinthians 1:8). Ultimately all the disciples were martyred except John. Were they under a curse? Nowhere in the New Testament does it state that genuine believers in the Lord Jesus Christ can be under a generational curse, and furthermore the apostles taught no such thing! I have personally known Christians who have received "prayers of release/deliverance ministry" several times, but inevitably their struggles continue, and tragically they remain convinced that they are still under some unidentified curse, or that they have a demon. Hence many Christians go back again and again for this kind of "ministry" and are bound to a vicious circle of doubt and oppression, never believing that they are quite free, convinced that something more from the past needs to be exposed in order to release them. The suggestion that ancestral curses have to be dealt with in an extrabiblical manner by some curse-buster or guru is to suggest that the cross alone is in some way deficient in the area of ancestral curses. This powerful lie from the pit of hell is so serious that it actually mounts a bid to strip the cross of Christ of its power and belies the scriptures. It is a very subtle way of making us doubt the word of God which is exactly what Satan wants!
In order to promote his deviant teaching about ancestral curses, Derek Prince used examples of his own spiritual experiences and various "words from the Lord" which he then tied into Old Testament curses. In this specific teaching on YouTube, he spends some time on the twelve curses listed in Deuteronomy 27. These curses were pronounced by the Levitical priests and were to be set up on Mount Ebal once the Israelites had entered the promised land. The curses would be the inevitable result turning away from God and breaking the law of Moses. Prince suggests that these particular curses may be affecting people in his audience, but this is ridiculous. Firstly, we are going back thousands of years, not three or four generations; secondly, we are speaking specifically about curses upon the Israelites, and thirdly, the new birth is required (John 3:18), all who rely on works of the law are under a curse (Galatians 3:10). At Sinai, Moses sprinkled the blood of animals on the altar and upon the people who entered into covenant with God (Exodus 24: 3-8). Once the Israelites entered into the covenant at Sinai, what God required was obedience. God gave no special "prayer of release from an ancestral curse" to Moses and the Israelites in relation to their 400 years spent in Egypt and similarly none is required for Christians. Since we are to make parallels with the Israelites as believers, then we must see that once the Israelites came out of Egypt, generational curses were not an issue. The New Testament identifies the problem: their hearts turned back to Egypt (Acts 7:9; cf. Deuteronomy 30:17). Similarly if we disobey the commandments in the New Testament (John 13:34), then inevitably, there will be consequences (1 Corinthians 10:11). Notice that the key is obedience, forgetting those things that lie behind and straining forward to what lies ahead (Philippians 3:13). When we do fail for any reason, then we need to repent. If any ancestral sins did exist before we were converted, the moment we were born again we became a new creation in Christ, the old has passed away; behold, the new has come (1 Corinthians 5:17). We passed from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God (Acts 26:18). The teachings of Derek Prince would destroy our peace in Christ and cause us go backwards, denying what the Lord has achieved on the cross into bondage, curses, death and darkness! Ironically, in preaching a gospel contrary to the scriptures, Prince would have been under a self inflicted curse himself (Galatians 1:8-9).
An important example is Jesus' letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 which identify various critical problems within certain congregations. The remedy was/is repentance (Revelation 2:5, 16, 21, 22). The consequences of remaining unrepentant are dire indeed, but note that nothing more than repentance is needed to restore a right relationship to God. To pray a "prayer of release from a curse" is extrabiblical. Do we really want to be guilty of going beyond what is written and adding to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 1:19; Revelation 22:18; Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:6)?
THE TRUTH is that anyone coming to faith in Jesus Christ is transformed into a new creation upon conversion: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:4 cf. Isaiah 43:18; Ezekiel 36:26). Believers have no remit to go digging around in the past looking for curses, to do such a thing is sinful! Jesus Christ has blessed true believers with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3 cf. Philippians 3:13). Can someone be blessed and cursed at the same time? We can blame the oppression of Satan, the flesh or the world for our difficulties, but never an ancestral curse (Luke 4:18; John 8:32-36; Romans 8:2). The Apostle Paul taught that our way of thinking needs to be renewed in order to come into agreement with the Word of God (Romans 12:12; Ephesians 4:23 cf. Romans 6:4; Colossians 3:10 cf. 1 Peter 1:2; Hebrews 9:14).
Derek Prince: "Men representing God are authorised to curse things."
Prince: "... Cursing is part of the ministry of a man of God... men of God not only bless, they also curse....." {5}
Whom did Derek Prince expect Christians to curse? Their enemies? (Matthew 5:44; Mark 11:26; Luke 6:28), or another believer whom we hold something against? (Matthew 18:21). Jesus Christ was quite specific about the consequences of unforgiveness! Paul also instructed: Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. (Romans 12:14, 2; 1 Corinthians 4:11-12; cf. 1 Peter 3:9; James 3:9). It is clear that followers of Jesus Christ are never permitted to appeal to the precedent of David, Elijah or anyone else in the Old Testament to justify treating enemies in ways that contradict His example and teachings.
Prince gives various examples from the Old Testament in order to justify cursing:
Joshua's curse on the man to rebuild the city of Jericho (Joshua 6:26). Joshua's curse was fulfilled approximately 500 years later during the reign of Ahab, when Hiel, a Bethelite, rebuilt Jericho at the cost of his firstborn and youngest sons (1 Kings 16:34). Prince wanders off into his own eisegetical interpretation, surmising that Hiel's sons wasted away, the cause being undiagnosed by doctors! In fact, Hiel and all Israel would undoubtedly have been aware of Joshua's curse. Actually the manner of the fulfilment of the curse is disputed since there is some question about whether Hiel rebuilt Jericho in defiance of the curse, or whether his sons were intentionally sacrificed. {6}
The curse of an Old Testament prophet was an inspired prediction of punitive disaster, it did not come from the flesh. Elisha pronounced inspired judgement upon the sin of Gehazi who had lied in vain to the Holy Spirit. The apostles were also so gifted (Acts 5:1-10). We should not confuse this with modern day false "prophets" like Benny Hinn who pronounced a curse upon his detractors. {7}
The Fig Tree
When the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matthew 21:20-22)
Derek Prince: "Jesus said to them (his disciples) 'you will not only do what was done to the fig tree'... he said 'you can also speak to a mountain'..... notice He authorised them to curse things. I tell you, the power that we have, if we could but realise it, is frightening. We are really rather like Moses - You see a lot of us are like that, we are holding a staff in our hands, we don't realise that if we hold a staff in our hand it can turn into a snake."
Prince's teaching of Jesus' curse on the fig tree is immensely deceptive. There are two accounts of this event in the New Testament: Matthew 21:18-22 and Mark 11:12-14. Critically, Prince completely fails to explain that the fig tree symbolically represents Israel (Hosea 9:10; Matthew 24:32-35). Jesus' curse upon the fig tree symbolises the judgement and rejection of God and His judgement on Israel for failing to bear the fruit he required from the temple. It foreshadows the cleansing of the temple (Mark 11:15-19) and ultimately the prophecy of its destruction. Jesus frequently used the allegory of trees and fruit (Matthew 3:10; 7:19; Luke 3:9; 13:6-9; John 15:2-6). No argument can be made that the example of the fig tree gives Christians authority to pronounce curses on individuals or things at will, especially in view of Jesus' unequivocal teaching about how we should treat our enemies. Such actions belong to the realm of witchcraft and Satanism! God alone is the One who will decide what kind of corrective action will need to be taken with the enemies in our lives, we have no such remit!
Self Imposed Curses
Four godly men in the Old Testament are known to have had a death wish: Elijah (1 Kings 19:4), Job (Job 3:1-2), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:14) and Jonah (Jonah 4:8). In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul and his companions were so utterly burdened beyond their strength that they despaired of life itself (2 Corinthians 1:8). None of these men were under a curse, they undoubtedly fell temporarily into fear, exhaustion and depression at particular times. In other words, they had weaknesses like every one of us. For the Christian, the answer to depression is always to turn directly to God for the answers and for strength. Once again, we do not need to turn to some self appointed guru to obtain release from "the spirit of death" as taught by Derek Prince. Jesus Christ himself was in intense anguish in the garden of Gethsemane and was very sorrowful, even to death (Matthew 26:38). Was Jesus Christ under a curse? Genuine Christians are blessed even in times of depression and weakness. We were darkness, but now we are sons of light and are light in the Lord (Ephesians 5:8; Luke 16:8; John 12:36). Paul's mission to the Gentiles was to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus. (Acts 26:17-18). We see then that Christians are not under the power of curses in any respect once they have truly repented and are sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ.
Demonization
The definition the Greek word daimonizomai (δαιμονίζομαι) Strong's 1139 = possessed, or to be under the power of an evil spirit or demon - to be oppressed and possessed by a demon.{8}
Derek Prince made a very poor argument that "demon possessed" is a mistranslation of the word daimonizomai.{9} In fact, in context, those whom Jesus delivered from demons in the gospels were manifesting actual possession e.g. Legion: Jesus commanded the unclean spirit/s to come out of the man and the demons pleaded: “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.”(Mark 5:1-13). Similarly, the boy with an evil spirit that made him mute was possessed. Jesus commanded: “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again. (Mark 9:14-29). My own view is that if a demon has entered a person, if it actually dwells inside a person (Matthew 12:45) and is controlling them, then "possession" is an appropriate word. In Prince's language, there is no distinction between a Christian who is "demonised" and Legion or the boy with an evil spirit whom Jesus delivered. In Prince's thinking their condition is identical. In fact ancient Jewish writers confirm the scriptural view of demon possession as expressed by Flavius Josephus and many others.{10} Derek Prince's ideas on the subject were neither scriptural nor historical (Romans 12:3).
There is a vast difference between being oppressed from without by Satan, and being possessed or "demonized" as Prince put it. Christians have been bought with a price (I Corinthians 7:23), they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, they cannot be indwelt by demons. Those who follow Jesus have passed from death to life (Romans 12:3; John 8:12).
I have written this post in order to repeat my dire warnings about the teachings of Derek Prince, which in my view are pure poison to true followers of Jesus Christ. My previous post covered Prince's ecumenical activities, his association with the Vatican and his leadership role within the infamous Shepherding Movement.{11} Just how many "mistakes" are we supposed to overlook in the case of this wolf in sheep's clothing? It takes rather more than intelligence and pedigree to be a true teacher and servant of the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:19; James 3:1). Below Prince admits his mistakes whilst leading the Shepherding Movement, including the sins of personal ambition and legalism. Incredibly he stated that his ministry "took off" after his disassociation from the Shepherding Movement which shattered so many lives. It may have "taken off" numerically, but ultimately it is doubtful how much fruit this man's "ministry" actually produced!
DPM always refer to "Derek's teachings", and this is precisely what they are! They are not Jesus' and the apostles teachings, and they do not pass the test of scripture (1 John 4:1; cf. Matthew 7:15, 24:11). The most deadly form of teaching is the mixture, when truth and error are combined (Deuteronomy 22:11; Hebrews 10:22). Prince's "teachings" are aired by Derek Prince Legacy Radio and iTunes. They are also aired on apostate TV channels like God TV, TBN and Revelation TV, and they are also widely available on YouTube. It seems to me that DPM have more than your freedom in view (Ezekiel 22:27)! DPM is no small operation! They operate in over 140 countries with 45 offices around the world, including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. They boast of promoting over 50 books, 600 audio and 110 video teachings.{12} Large amounts of money are involved through donations, the sale of videotapes, literature, books, paraphernalia etc. Turnover in the UK alone stands at £811,035 {13} with donations alone totalling £876,40 in 2015.{14} To a large degree I believe that the commercial activities of DPM, rather than any love for the truth, explains the hostility that is being directed against me by various DPM associates.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
.....if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)
If you are associated with DPM or if you earn your living from this ministry, then you need to prayerfully consider the teachings that you promote and their crippling effect upon the Body of Christ. Please do not write to me again with your "experiences" or your opinions. I am always ready to argue from the Word of God, but if you are not prepared to test the spirits then I have nothing to say to you (1 John 4:1; cf. John 10:13).
{1} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpuEn85G9mc.
{2} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_time
{3} http://www.derekprince.org/Articles/1000085373/DPM_USA/Archive_of_UK/Keys/Blessings_and_Curses/Causes_of_Curses.aspx
{4} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsOhODrm67k
{5} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RupeqW1NC2A&list=PL16919B450DF02A6A&index=4
{6} https://www.jstor.org/stable/3140746?seq=2#page_scan_tab_contents
{7} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wAQ5ftiEqE
{8} http://biblehub.com/greek/1139.htm
{9} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RupeqW1NC2A
{10} http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/5942-exorcism
{11} http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/derek-prince-false-teacher-wolf-in.html
{12} http://www.dpmuk.org/about/
{13} http://directory.uk-b2b-info.com/org/charity/1123283/derek-prince-ministries-uk/
{14} http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends83/0001123283_AC_20150630_E_C.pdf.
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