Many different manifestations previously known almost exclusively to the occult are sweeping the church world. Is it the Holy Spirit or is it “psychic activity?” You will eventually have to answer that question for yourself, hopefully after you finish this article. Sharp division between the real and the false will soon be a requirement for Christian living and church attendance, if not already. For too long the church has drifted like a ship without a rudder. In many congregations, Biblical truth has been treated lightly, while social and emotional matters have demanded attention. This closing hour does not allow for such carelessness, neither does it allow a light treatment of the “spirit of discernment.” Those who do not have a firm and conscious hold on Biblical values and Biblical truth will not be able to survive.A few proof texts of Scripture are not enough for this unprecedented hour. Jesus said, “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” (Matthew 24:5). Because someone says all the right things about Jesus does not prove that the truth is being spoken. Even if the teacher, pastor, evangelist, or so-called prophet can prove that some of his prophecies have come to pass, that does not prove anything about his standing before God. Psychics, like Jeanne Dixon and Edgar Cayce, have prophesied certain events that came to pass, but their lives and beliefs attest to the absence of the Lord Jesus and His Spirit in their lives.

Over and over the Holy Scripture warns us of these last days. Apostle Paul, speaking specifically about the Antichrist, said the following. “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10).

Years ago when I read the Biblical statement made by Jesus, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

(Matthew 24:24), it made no sense to me. Deceive the very elect if possible? I thought, how could that be? The great Christians that I served the Lord Jesus beside were as solid as a rock. The real church world did not tolerate false doctrines or questionable activity that passed the points of acceptable order. That day is gone.

Calling “Psychic Activity” The Gifts Of The Holy Spirit
When I first wrote that the mass psychic activities that were sweeping New Wave churches was an altered state of consciousness, I trembled that maybe that was too harsh or far-fetched. Little did I know that the so-called Kansas City Prophets and now the defenders of the “Toronto Blessing” were already saying that all of the New Wave activity was a kind of psychic phenomenon, except they said it in a positive vein. In a book entitled, Some Said It Thundered (1991) by David Pytches (foreword by Dr. John White and afterword by Jamie Buckingham), dealing with the “Kansas City Prophets” this kind of thinking was clearly believed and fully expressed.

Here are several clear statements reported from those interviewed, along with some of their rationale for this idea.

“Our first question was: How do prophets receive their revelations? Is it through the “psyche” (soul) or the “pneuma” (spirit)? This was important for us to clarify. For the average Christian the word “psychic” is tainted by its association with the occult, but in fact the Greek word “psyche” is a wholesome New Testament word translated “soul”. Such a good biblical word clearly needs redeeming today. The psychic center in each of us seems to have a vital role to play in the area of revelation from God.”

“Then if occultists get limited communication from the powers of darkness on to the psyche, which some claim to be the case (though obviously such revelations, even when true, have an evil origin for evil objectives), then such a counterfeit must be matched by a genuine experience from God almighty.”

“They seemed to have no problem in accepting the term psychic in this pure sense to describe one part of the process of divine revelation to human beings.”

“The human spirit is a channel that picks up spiritual transmissions from God or from the powers of darkness, and these are reflected on to the screen of the psyche, the soul. The same TV channel can carry beastly cruelty, pornography, or breathtaking beauty. The responsibility for the subject matter lies not in the channel itself but in the source of the transmission or the choice of the person tuning into the program.” (Some Said It Thundered, David Pytches, pp. 106-107, 1991.)

Never in church history or my Biblical studies have I heard such thinking defended. The Word Study Dictionary says, “The soul belongs to the lower region of man’s (immaterial) being…” (The Word Study Dictionary, page 1494.) The soul cannot be confused with our spirit, which is God breathed or the breath of God. This breath from God exists in us as our spirit. The Spirit is our spiritual connection to God. Jesus said, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in “spirit” and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” (John 4:23).

There is no clear distinction in the secular or occultic world between the soul and the spirit as is clearly seen in Holy Scripture.

While both belong to the immaterial, the soul represents the lower region of this immaterial aspect of man while the spirit represents the higher. The soul is the seat of the depraved nature, while the spirit, though dead in the unregenerate man, is from the Lord. It is said that God made “the soul (of Jesus) an offering for sin.” (Isaiah 53:10). But at the event of Calvary when the soul was being made an offering for sin, Jesus said as His two closing statements, “It is finished.” And, “Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit.”

Except for the three hours that the Father hid His face, Jesus Christ by His Spirit was in perfect fellowship with God His Father. To suggest that our relationships to the Holy Spirit are patterned after His relationship and then to call such a relationship a psychic activity is to accuse Jesus of being a psychic. It is totally contrary to the orthodox interpretation of Scripture and certainly the very history of the church. This is the false idea that arises from the concept of Jesus as a paranormal person that had to go into hell and be born again.

We do not, nor cannot, commune with Jehovah God through our soul. We can communicate with fallen spirits or Satan (if we are willing to pay the price Satan requires) by the soul, but not the Heavenly Father. The Scripture clearly forbids any communication with fallen angels or evil spirits because they now serve the enemy of God, Satan. God taught the children of Israel, “And the “soul” that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.” (Leviticus 20:6). That is an irrefutable commandment coupled with a dire warning.

The New Wave Emotions, Called “Altered States Of Consciousness”
One book that defends the many emotions of the New Wave revival suggested that we consider autosuggestion, hysteria, and crown phenomena as affecting our minds and bodies. The author asserts that prayer, fasting, and speaking in tongues, can affect our conscious state and subsequently our spiritual awareness. He further states that such “altered states of consciousness” are a part of the “normal” Christian experience and Charismatic faith.

The author distinguishes “altered states of consciousness” as separate from our normal waking and sleeping states and says that, in everyday language, we might refer to ASC”s as a trance, hypnosis, dream or ecstasy. He considers them as the “key to making sense of Christian experience, particularly what is happening in many churches today.” (Ibid., pp. 259 – 260.)

Saying, “One could argue that ASC’s, in the context of faith in Christ and prayerful obedience, are the basis of dynamic, personal, relevant, living faith,” the author lists six characteristics of an Altered State of Consciousness

(Signs Of Revival, Dr. Patrick Dixon, MA, MBBS, p. 260.):

1. “Alterations in thinking.”
2. “Altered sense of time.”
3. “Loss of control.”
4. “Changes in emotional expression.”
5. “Body image changes.”
6. “Perceptual changes or hallucinations.”

(Ibid., p. 261-263.) Those who are grounded in God’s Holy Word will realize that these characteristics most certainly do not describe the marvelous activities of the Holy Spirit in the temple of Godly saints. The Holy Spirit does nothing in our bodies and vessels that He does not reflect or do in His own personality or character. He is in Himself whatever He is in any one of the children of God and nothing more or less.The Big Picture

These psychic activities are not isolated phenomenon. The seed of occultic deception has been growing in the church world for a number of years. There is clear integration between what is happening in the New Age cults and what is happening in the church. The direction of these ideas is identical.

The Kansas City Prophets
One fellowship in Kansas City under Pastor Mike Bickle has exhibited clear psychic signs. The book, Some Said It Thundered, defends the whole story of this church. The author of the foreword, Dr. John White, refers to “baby prophets and their difficulties distinguishing the words of the Holy Spirit from ones generated by their own hearts and/or evil sources.” He says, “At first, they make many mistakes. We know they hear from God because of the reality of the true words they speak.” (Some Said It Thundered, David Pytches, p. xiv.) I have never heard of a “baby prophet” before. I have always believed God moved through people when they were spiritually prepared. One problem I perceive is that when you are listening to what you think is God by psychic intuition, you cannot be sure to whom you are listening. No wonder they become confused as to their source.

The entire story appears to connect John White and the Kansas City Prophets back to the Latter Rain Movement of the forties and fifties. In fact one of the ministers of that period, Paul Cain, is intimately tied to this particular church and ministry. The Latter Rain Movement was riddled with confusion, false doctrines, and was utterly rejected by the mainline Pentecostal churches. Here is a quote from one of Cain’s sermons at the Kansas City Fellowship:

“You know this message is 35 years old and I’m just preaching it again. Thank God I’ve found somebody to preach it to. I told you about the vision, what I’ve had. This recurring vision of standing at the crossroads of life and the angel of the Lord said, “You are standing at the crossroads of life. What do you see?” And I saw a brilliantly lit billboard, which reads JOEL’S ARMY NOW IN TRAINING . . . See I’ve been wanting to share this for so long and find somebody. How would you like to have something on the back burner for 35 years and nobody had any . . . boy this is, I mean this isn’t leftovers. I mean this has been hot with me all these years, but everywhere I tried to preach it, they cooked my goose. Don’t you boo me. This kind of fiery preaching is a lost art today except in a very mild degree.” (Joel’s Army, cassette from Kansas City Prophets.)

Paul Cain, according to details in the book and other sources, has exhibited psychic characteristics from his childhood. The author of Some Said It Thundered included this story about Mike Bickle and Paul Cain.

“On one occasion after Mike Bickle had been complaining to his wife that he had “a bit of a sniffle” or a slight cold ” something he rarely had ” the phone rang. Bickle picked up the receiver and heard Paul on the line. He had heard about Paul’s gift so he said by way of a joke, “Hi, Paul! You’re all right today! How am I?” Immediately Paul answered him, “Why, Mike, you”ve got a bit of a sniffle and you are all wet. Your hair is standing up on the left side of your head.” “Bickle called his wife Diane to look at him. “Sweetheart, Paul says I have a “sniffle,” I am all wet and my hair is standing up on one side. Am I all wet?” “”Yes,” she said. “You”ve just come out of the shower.” “”And is my hair standing up on one side?” “”Yes,” she replied, “on the left side!”” (Some Said It Thundered, David Pytches, p. 30.)

Here is another story repeated in the book. “On his (Paul Cain) first visit to Anaheim (to visit John Wimber) in February 1988 Paul saw powerful lights across the room and a strong sense of the presence of God was accompanied by revelations in the word of knowledge. On that occasion an expensive video camera was short-circuited. This was battery operated and not plugged into any outlet. The next night the telephone system was blown out though no one was on the phone at the time.” (Some Said It Thundered, David Pytches, p. 52.)

Is there any precedence for this kind of paranormal or psychic power in the Holy Scripture being identified as the work of the Holy Spirit? Such unbiblical thinking dominates almost every detail of these prophets, and the entire New Wave religion.

The writer of this book stated, “The responsibility for the subject matter lies not in the channel itself but in the source of the transmission or the choice of the person tuning into the program.” That statement would imply that the whole matter is like tuning a radio, either to heavenly voices or hellish voices, and all without any similitude of spiritual maturity.

In the scope of the author’s interview with these so-called Kansas City individuals the following conversation was reported: “John Paul shared how the Lord had dealt with him over a problem he had with occasionally confused visions that came to him as flashbacks resulting from watching TV too much. He said that for the prophetic ministry that God had given him, the more television he watched the fewer true visions from God that he could experience.

“Bob Jones agreed that the Lord would not let him watch much TV either. “I can’t get into that fantasy realm ” it cuts off my visions!” “They advised watching carefully against counterfeit visions of any kind. Someone mentioned alcohol as creating confusion, since when taken in excess people can begin to “see” things.”

“Another problem they shared was the danger of confusion over revelations where the person receiving them had particularly strong opinions, prejudices, or unresolved bitterness in certain areas. It was easy to distort such revelations and color their own interpretations.” (Some Said It Thundered, David Pytches, p. 108.)

It”s interesting to note that drinking “excessive” alcohol is considered a possible deterrent to giving good prophecies. Please note that Bob Jones, one of the Kansas City prophets at that time, called prophetic revelations getting into the fantasy realm.

Kansas City And A Paradigm Shift
The author of Some Said It Thundered clearly identified his experiences with the “Kansas City Prophets” as a paradigm shift, which we discussed in chapter one. Capable and skilled writers do not lightly use this New Age term. The meaning is dynamic to anyone that knows this age and the spirit of the Antichrist. Every New Ager is calling for a “paradigm shift.” Writer David Pytches said, “We felt we were experiencing a paradigm shift ” we were beginning to see another way of looking at the foundational things we held dear, without having in any way to discard them. Perhaps that is what the Bible meant when it spoke about scales falling from Paul’s eyes.” (Some Said It Thundered, David Pytches, p. 140.)

Barbara Hubbard (noted New Ager) writes in her books: “Teachings from the Inner Christ, how the human race will soon experience a day of “Planetary Pentecost.” Hubbard, claiming to be in contact with “Christ,” writes “the Planetary Smile is another name for the Planetary Pentecost. When enough of us share a common thought [paradigm shift] of our oneness with God, Spirit will be poured out on all flesh paying attention.” (p. 79). In her book, The Revelation, Hubbard says, “Christ, in describing the planetary smile, said: “an uncontrollable joy will ripple through the thinking layer of the earth.”” …This massive sudden empathic alignment will cause a shift in the consciousness [paradigm shift] of Earth.” (p. 234-235). Writing in Happy Birth Day Planet Earth, Hubbard repeats what she heard from “Christ.” He said, “as the planetary smile ripples through the nervous systems of earth, … separation is overcome, and I appear to all of you at once.” (p. 10-11.) (The words “paradigm shift” added at appropriate places.) (SCP Newsletter, Volume 19:2, p. 13. Published by Spiritual Counterfeits Project, P. O. Box 4308, Berkeley, CA 94704.).

New Wave leaders and their subjects are having the same paradigm shift. They are learning a complete new way of looking at things, plus, they are using new “enlightened” words to still claim and describe the old discarded truth. All of this is identical to what is happening to the leading New Agers. The Planetary Pentecost described by Hubbard is identical to the different phenomenon going on in present day New Wave churches. All of this shows the psychic nature of these strange activities.

Psychic Powers And Warnings Of Destruction
The printed materials of these writers are filled with constant pronouncements and warnings of judgment to all resisters. They say that anyone who resists this “new move of God” is an enemy to the Lord.

Notice how one well-known speaker warns his audience and readers with fear of judgment, “One of these days, you may just be talking to someone, asking them how things went at church last Sunday, and they may say, Oh it was great! The glory of God was strong it healed ten cripples, opened the ears of thirty deaf people, cured seven cases of cancer and killed Brother Bigmouth and Sister Strife.” (“Voice of Victory” October, 94.)

Christians have a vital choice to make, this speaker stated, “When the fire of God begins to burn and the rivers of the Spirit start to flow, he’ll have to do one of two things: he’ll either have to yield to the Spirit and let go of that sin by repenting, or he’ll have to resist the flood of God’s Spirit and be swept away.” (Mainstream, Winter 1994, p. 3. Published by Banner Ministries, Box 23, Belper, Derbys DE56 1QR, UK.)

In the book entitled, Epic Battles Of The Last Days, two themes appear. One is a call to battle and another is the constant warning of judgment to scare anyone who resists. Rick Joyner states, “Criticism is one of the ultimate manifestations of pride because, whenever we criticize someone else we are by that assuming that we are superior to them. Pride brings that which any rational human being should fear the most ” God’s resistance. We would be better off having all of the demons in hell resisting us than God!” (Epic Battles Of The Last Days, Rick Joyner, p. 23.)

Almost any subject this author discussed, he used it to warn people about judgment or resistance against what his book represents. When he discussed witchcraft, Jezebel, or Antichrist, he applied it to resisters. Of Jezebel he said, “Jezebel, who is one of the archetypes of witchcraft in scripture, used her power to control her husband who was the authority over Israel. She was also able to bring such depression upon Elijah that he sought death over life, even after his greatest spiritual victory. There is great power in this evil; those who are ignorant of it, or who presumptuously disregard its potential to affect them, are very often brought down by it, usually without even knowing what hit them.” (Ibid., p. 78.)

He did not ever touch what Jezebel really represented. His book can best be described as propaganda for the new theology and self-styled theologians that are sweeping churches. I get the feeling he is the New Breed’s rear guard to scare anyone who dares to resist or tell the truth about his new wave teachings.

Another author does the same kind of use of judgment in his materials. In his booklet, entitled The Jezebel Spirit, he writes, “Jezebel’s worst enemies are the prophets; her worst fear is that the people will embrace repentance. Jezebel hates repentance. Though this spirit will infiltrate the church, masking its desire for control with true Christian doctrines, it will hide from true repentance…Jezebel hates the prophets, for the prophets speak out against her. The prophets are her worst enemies. When she wars, it is to stir people against the message of the prophetic church. More than she hates the prophets, she hates the word they speak.” (The Jezebel Spirit, Francis Frangipane, p. 6.)

The Fourth Dimension
Paul (David) Yonggi Cho teaches the same thing. In The Fourth Dimension he tells of his frustration that Buddhist monks and yoga healers could perform miracles. Then the Holy Spirit supposedly revealed to him that the fourth dimension, the spirit realm, is available to all whether Christian or not, for it contains both good and evil powers. “So men, by exploring their spiritual sphere of the fourth dimension of visions and dreams in their imaginations, can brood over and incubate the third dimension (the material world) influencing it and changing it.” This applies to all men alike. Because God gave man dominion over the earth, says Cho, unbelievers can “develop their inner spiritual being” and change the material world. Thus Christians also have the responsibility to “realize their inner potential” and manipulate the fourth dimension for good.” (Mainstream, Winter, 1994, p. 11. Published by Banner Ministries, Box 23, Belper, Derbys DE56 1QR, UK.) Anyone who teaches this idea of a fourth dimension is dealing with psychic activities and the depraved soul, not the Holy Spirit. While there are some temporary results to these kinds of activities, they are totally evil and will eventually turn on the person’s head.

“Psychic Warfare”, “Territorial Spirits” and “Dominion Theology” Behind much of the present deception and/or confusion is the new prophetic view of Jesus Christ and His coming. Only a few short years have passed since the dominant message in the Evangelical World was the “imminent Rapture before the Great Tribulation.” Even those who held to mid- or post-tribulation views were very close in spiritual kinship to the pre-trib view and its proponents. P> AA deep bitterness now exists toward the traditional view of prophecy. This new breed of prophets and spokespersons is preparing for all out war to take the kingdom by these psychic powers. Paul Cain says that there will be an army, called Joel’s Army, and that God will equip them to perform His judgments. In the book, Some Said It Thundered, the Kansas City Fellowship is identified as the location for training this army.

“By the time Paul Cain arrived in Kansas City the fellowship was well settled into their new meeting place at the Grandview Worship Center. Paul immediately recognized the location from the crossroads outside as the place, which the Lord had showed him many times (possibly twenty, over as many years) as a spiritual training center for the soldiers of Joel’s army that God was raising up for the coming revival.

“”Many years ago,” said Paul, “I came to the crossroads of life and I saw a vision of an illuminated billboard on which was written: “Joel’s army in training.” It was on these crossroads with an arrow pointing to this spot ” though there was no building on it then! I believe God has shown me that here he is going to raise up an army. This army is not a destructive army but a deliverance army…”” (Some Said It Thundered, David Pytches, p. 132.).

His idea of deliverance is not the traditional loving idea. It’s “bow or burn” that these men are talking about. Roger Forster wrote in a foreword to the book, Territorial Spirits, “These structures [territorial principalities] will be refurbished with a whole new personnel. The final overthrow of Satan’s rebellious colonial government by the central government of God is preceded by the faith-sons of Abraham bringing blessing to all the families of the earth. This demands territorial claims and advance through the earth.” (Emphasis added.) “Eventually, this resistance movement can provide sufficient numbers of trained personnel to take over the authority and administration of the colony from Satan and his angels, giving the least amount of disturbance to the heavenly structural powers … until such a network of resistance against Satan is found all over the earth, the second coming of our Lord is held up and his total reign restrained.” (Mainstream, Spring 1994, p. 10.)

The following statements show how widely this view of this dominion theology has become. P> CCindy Jacobs: “Today’s praying church is rising up in militant force to possess the promised land of our nations.”

John Dawson: “There is not one reason why we, the Church, should concede one square inch of this planet to the government of territorial spirits. This is our planet.” P> Francis Frangipane: “All spiritual warfare is waged over one essential question: who will control reality on earth – heaven or hell? … We must see that our prayers, attitudes and agreement with God are an integral part of establishing the reality of the kingdom of God on earth!” (Mainstream, Spring 1994, p. 10.)

Rick Joyner, probably one of the cleverest writers of this new breed, says the following, “The church is at war. This war will not end because we do not like it, or we do not want to fight. Fortresses of darkness are being raised up in all directions ” in government, schools, business, entertainment, in our neighborhoods ” they are even being raised up in the church! … Even so, as improbable as it may seem at this time ” we have the enemy surrounded! The church is about to win her greatest victory. This is her finest hour ” the retreat is over and the advance is about to begin.” “… This generation has been called to carry the banner of the Lord into the greatest epic battle of all time. The last day church has been given one of the greatest privileges that has ever been bestowed by God upon men ” to be on the field of battle for the ultimate confrontation between light and darkness.” (Epic Battles Of The Last Days, Rick Joyner, p. 13.)

“The Lord has already defeated our enemies. He could have banished them to hell on the day of His resurrection, but He left them here for us because He wants His bride to share the honor! In these last days she will surely be, “As awesome as an army with banners” (Song of Solomon 6:10).”

“The Lord has called His bride to rule and reign with Him as joint heir. He let this conflict continue for over 2,000 years so that His bride could prove herself, and grow in the faithfulness and grace that is needed for her great position.”

“The whole creation, including the principalities and powers, is watching to see what the church is really made of. Will we love the Lord, truth, and righteousness, more than we love this present world? Only those who love not their own lives unto death are fit for the great throne that has been prepared for the bride of Christ.”

“This book is but one trumpet call among many that are now calling the saints to battle.” (Epic Battles Of The Last Days, Rick Joyner, p. 14.) This manner of theology is certainly contrary to Biblical truth. These writers mix a little bit of truth that applies to the future Millennium after Jesus returns to establish His kingdom with Kingdom Dominion Theology. No error is ever so powerful as that error that is filled with a mixture.

Psychic powers are certainly real and have been used for centuries dating back at least to Nimrod and his great tower of Babel. This present New Wave generation seems to have mastered these techniques and are experiencing great success. One of the results is incredible emotional activity. One such activity is “holy laughter.” This is a mass megatrend in the New Wave revival. Let’s look at past phenomenon and some true manifestations as we explore the “laughter” movement.

If there is one thing certain about Paul and Jan Crouch, it is that nothing is certain. Whether the guest of Trinity Broadcast Network is a religious leader that is fairly fundamental in doctrine or a way out person that says almost nothing that makes sense, they both are welcomed and applauded as great. For one hour of the “Praise The Lord” show you may hear someone trusted by much of the church world and then the next hour hear the babble of Kim Clement. Theology or truth is just not important. It is religious entertainment.

In fact, Paul Crouch calls theology “doo-doo”. On a Praise The Lord telecast he shouted, “Let Him (God) sort out all this doctrinal doo-doo, I don’t care about it.” He apparently hates no one worse than those he calls “heresy hunters”. On another occasion he spoke to his worldwide audience by stating, “Heretic hunters, those guys who spend their lives straightening us all out doctrinally, they are going to go straight to hell.” (You could hear Jan laughing approvingly on the set.) Here are a man and woman that controls the message about the Word of God and the airing of the messages of the most noted televangelists to the greatest single audience in the world and they hate correction and biblical reproof. It is a formula for spiritual disaster and that is what is already occurring.

Here are three additional statements that show Paul’s disdain for anyone that dares to question the messages of his guests on Trinity Broadcast Network.

Transcribed From Trinity Broadcasting Network’s Praise The Lord Show:

“I refuse to argue any longer with any of you out there. Don’t even call me if you want to argue doctrine, if you want to straighten somebody out over here, if you want to criticize Kenneth Copeland for his preaching on faith of Dad Hagin, get out of my life. I don’t ever want to talk to you or hear, I don’t want to see your ugly face.”

“I think they are damned and on their way to hell and I don’t think there is any redemption for them. I say, “to hell with you”.”

“I say, “Get out of God’s way, quit blocking God’s bridges (Apparently, he defines God’s bridges as the One World Church and ecumenism.); or God is going to shoot you if I don’t.””
What Does Paul And Jan Really Believe?

Either they do not know what they believe or they do not care. Their guests represent some of the wildest possible heresy that can be exposed. Two of their newest stars/idols are Phil Munsey and Kim Clement. The mainstays of the last five to twenty years are well-known televangelists that continually teach questionable doctrines that have already destroyed a multitude of believers. I want to simply give you quotes from TBN telecasts and their guests and then show those quotes in the light of clear biblical truth. The picture that will emerge will represent some of the absolute darkest heresy available in the church world. The problem is that these people, whose actual words you will read, are not called cultic. They operate in the supposedly sane world of true Christianity. You must let God’s Word help you decide. Your spiritual life is absolutely at stake.

The “Force Of Faith” Vs. The “Faith Of Our Fathers”

Nothing we discuss in this article is more important than this definition of faith. God is either the Sovereign and Eternal God that has revealed Himself in His book of faith (The Holy Bible) or He is a pagan god that operates much like Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Paul Crouch, etc. Listen carefully to this explanation of faith.

Transcribed From Trinity Broadcasting Network’s Praise The Lord Show:

Kenneth Copeland: “The force of faith is in the spiritual realm a great deal like certain forces in the natural realm. It is a spiritual force, like gravity is a natural force, and electricity is a natural force of power.”

Paul Crouch: “A measurable natural force.”

Kenneth Copeland: “It’s a measurable force, it’s conductible, it’s perceptible to the touch . . . Faith is a spiritual force, it’s perceptible, . . . it is a tangible force, it’s an invisible force, so is gravity, but it is there.”

Paul Crouch: “So is electricity . . . Does God use faith?”

Kenneth Copeland: “Surely.”

Paul Crouch: “. . . See, here is the sore spot. There are those who say . . .”

Jan Crouch: “Not with him.” (speaking of Copeland)

Paul Crouch: “Not with you.” (lots of laughter follows)

Jan Crouch: “Not with God.”

Kenneth Copeland: “. . . the fact. No, I’m not sore at God at all and I don’t think He’s sore at me . . . I haven’t done anything to Him.”

Paul Crouch: “. . . The critics say God is God, He doesn’t have to have faith; He doesn’t exercise faith. He doesn’t use faith. He’s God. He’s the object of faith.”

Kenneth Copeland: ” . . . Wait a minute, what does that mean? Object of faith. I don’t know what that means.”

Jan Crouch: “I don’t either.”

What Does The Bible Say About Faith?
The definition of biblical faith has no kinship to this “Force of Faith” espoused by Copeland, and apparently Paul and Jan Crouch. In the above statement by Kenneth Copeland, God is said to use faith just like Copeland uses faith. Faith ceases to be the lofty and eternal truth forever settled in the Heavens and established by an eternal God that is Himself the object of our faith. It becomes a formula or a New Age force that is a pagan idea, clearly kin to the many teachings of the occult.

The new religion of the Antichrist is said to be a religion of “forces”. Daniel prophesied this clear warning, “But in his estate shall he honor the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.” (Daniel 11:38)

To even suggest faith as a “force” is to deny God as an eternal being to whom we turn in truth and faith for all our sufficiency. It actually reduces God to the level of man. Real faith is clearly seen in Apostle Paul’s beautiful description to the Hebrews. Listen to his biblical statement of faith, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:1,3,6). In true faith God becomes the “Absolute, the Eternal Sovereign God” in whom we rest all our hopes.

The Biggest Failure In The Bible 
When you join together the idea of faith as a “force” with a God that became the biggest failure in the universe, you are laying the foundation for a “pagan cult” or a “paranormal religion”. Here is another example of a TBN telecast where biblical doctrines are cast to the wind.

Transcribed From Trinity Broadcasting Network”s Praise The Lord Show:

Kenneth Copeland: “I was shocked when I found out who the biggest failure in the Bible actually is.”

Paul Crouch: “Okay.”

Kenneth Copeland: “You know everybody you ask, you say, “Who’s the biggest failure?” They say, “Judas.” Somebody else will say, “No, I believe it was Adam.” Well, how about the devil?”

Paul Crouch: (Sound of amazement.)

Kenneth Copeland: “He’s the most consistent failure . . . but he’s not the biggest in terms of material failure and so forth. The biggest in the whole Bible is God. . . . Wait, wait. don’t you turn that set off. You listen to us. I told you. . . . Now, you sit still a minute. You know me well enough to know I wouldn’t tell something I can’t prove by the Bible.

“He lost His top ranking of most anointed angel, the first man He ever created, the first woman He ever created, the whole earth and all the fullness therein, a third of the angels at least. That’s a big loss, man! I mean you figure up all of that, that’s a lot of real estate, gone down the drain.

“Now, the reason you don’t think of God as a failure, He never said He’s a failure. (Paul Crouch and others laughing on the set.) And you are not a failure until you say you are one.”

Does The Bible Suggest That God Was A Failure? 
Our Sovereign God created us in His image that we might bring honor and glory to Him and have eternal fellowship together. He desires our love and He wanted that love to be our choice. He wanted our obedience, but He wanted that obedience to be our choice. To suggest that God was a failure because Adam and Even made a sinful choice is ridiculous. It completely alters the entire biblical account of man’s fall, Satan’s fall, and the results that occurred. Our world would certainly be a different place if man had not sinned, but not for one moment was God ever a failure. The only failure was found in those that sinned. He never ceased to be the God of His universe or of the spiritual world where His will is forever being done.

The biblical account of the years that have transpired since the fall are filled with His story and the revelations that have never ceased to unfold. David made it clear who rules this Universe and it has never been the devil. His words speak volumes. “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.” (Psalm 24:1-10)

You have the choice of believing Copeland and the Crouches or God and His true prophets. Reducing God is a constant theme of these diluted pundits (self-proclaimed authorities), but His majesty is undefeatable. The foolishness of this crowd gets worse.

The Deity Of The Son Of God In Question
Always error is on a downward spiral. Truth ascends and gets richer and sweeter, but error descends and becomes more and more absurd. That is clearly the direction of Paul and Jan Crouch. We will see other evidence of that in some of the new stars of TBN, but already the deity of Jesus Christ is under attack. Read carefully the following conversation:

Transcribed From Trinity Broadcasting Network’s Praise The Lord Show:

Kenneth Copeland: “We are still questioning what was said about that prophecy. That prophecy never mentioned the Son of God. Never said anything about the Son of God.”

Paul Crouch: “What did it say?”

Kenneth Copeland: “It said I did not claim to be God.”

Jan Crouch: (Unintelligible sounds.)

Kenneth Copeland: “That’s all it said.”

Paul Crouch: “In other words, in so many words, you’re right, no where in the New Testament did he literally get up . . .”

Kenneth Copeland: “. . . preach and claim that He was God . . .”

Paul Crouch: “. . . and say, “I am God.” Did He? I stand corrected.”

Here is the apparent prophecy that was being discussed by Copeland and Crouch. It is an example of the new revelations as being claimed throughout the “New Wave” so-called revival. Christ supposedly told Copeland the following:

“don’t be disturbed when people put you down and speak harshly and roughly of you. They spoke that way of Me, should they not speak that way of you? The more you get to be like Me, the more they’re going to think that way of you. They crucified Me for claiming that I was God. But I didn’t claim I was God; I just claimed I walked with Him and He was in Me. Hallelujah.” (Kenneth Copeland, “Take Time To Pray,” Believer’s Voice Of Victory 15, 2 (February 1987): 9.)

Here is an additonal quote by Copeland, which confirms his belief that Jesus was not God as He appeared on earth.

“What [why] does God have to pay the price for this thing? He has to have a man that is like that first one. It’s got to be a man. He’s got to be all man. He cannot be a God and come storming in here with attributes and dignities that are not common to man. He can’ do that. It’s not legal.” (Kenneth Copeland, “Question & Answer,” Believer’s Voice Of Victory 16, 8 (August 1988):8, emphasis in original.)

Let’s read the words of another guest that was also bold enough to deny the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Transcribed From Trinity Broadcasting Network’s Praise The Lord Show:

Joseph Good: “Yeshua (Jesus), we do not see as being God when He walked here on earth. We see Him as a man.”

Guest: “A man anointed by God.”

Joseph Good: “A man anointed by God, sent by God to perform a function. Now, in his resurrection . . .”

Guest: “He”s not God.”

Joseph Good: “We do not see Him as God. We see Him as a man anointed by God. And that has been restored. There is nothing in the statements of Yeshua, in the statements of the disciples that would cause one to believe that they were proclaiming that He was deity.”

Was Jesus Christ The Eternal Son Of God?

The Copeland, Hagin, Hinn, and Crouch, etc. theology plainly teaches that Jesus was only human in His earthly visit. Paul Crouch makes a statement that Jesus was reincarnated as the Divine Son when He was “born again” in hell. Let’s listen to Kenneth Copeland say that God was not the Father of Jesus Christ, that He was an “emaciated (poured out) little wormy spirit . . . down in the bottom of that thing (the pit of hell).” Then, we hear Benny Hinn say how Jesus was born again with Paul Crouch adding, “that is when His divinity returned.”

Transcribed From A Message Given By Kenneth Copeland:

“How did Jesus then on the cross say, “My God.” Because God was not His Father any more. He took upon Himself the nature of Satan. And I’m telling you Jesus is in the middle of that pit. He’s suffering all that there is to suffer, there is no suffering left . . . apart from Him. His emaciated, little wormy spirit is down in the bottom of that thing and the devil thinks He’s got Him destroyed. But, all of a sudden God started talking.”

Transcribed From Trinity Broadcasting Network’s Praise The Lord Show:

Benny Hinn: “Jesus Christ destroyed the power of Satan on earth, but destroyed Satan in the under world, the Holy Ghost wasn’t there. Think about that.”

Paul Crouch: “That’s when His divinity returned.”

Does The Bible Deny That Jesus Was The Eternal, Divine Son Of God?

The answer is simple. To deny His divinity, to suggest that God wasn’t His Eternal Father, or to even consider that the Son of God had to be reincarnated as divine is total heresy. It flies in the face of the established truth of the eternal deity of Jesus Christ. The great Apostle John settled this in his gospel and other revelations.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” (John 1:1-5).

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14).

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:1-3).

“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8).

The Lord Jesus was eternal God and never ceased to be divine. Yes, He took on the “form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men”, but that does not even remotely suggest that He ceased to be God. God forbid that we suggest it did. Listen to this passage of truth, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8).

The divine nature, by its very essence, cannot be discarded and then reincarnated. This fallacy alone shows the total biblical collapse of the entire “Faith Movement.”

The Diety Of Man And The Teaching That We Are “Little Gods”

Let’s go straight to several statements by Paul Crouch, Benny Hinn, and Kenneth Copeland on this crucial subject. After seeing the denial of Jesus Christ’s eternal divinity, it is amazing to hear their elevation of man unto a “god” status.

Transcribed From Trinity Broadcasting Network’s Praise The Lord Show:

Paul Crouch: “He doesn’t ever draw a distinction between himself.” (Jan Crouch agrees in the background.)

Kenneth Copeland: “Never, never. You never can do that in a covenant relationship.”

Paul Crouch: “You know what else that settles then tonight. This hue and cry and controversy that has been spawned by the devil to try and bring dissent within the body of Christ that we are gods. I am a little god.”

Kenneth Copeland: “Yes, yes!”

Paul Crouch: “I have His name. I’m one with Him. I’m in a covenant relationship. I am a little god.”

Kenneth Copeland: “Critic, you are anything that He is.”

Paul Crouch (heard under the words of Kenneth Copeland): “Critic, be gone.”

Paul Crouch: “Yes!”

Transcribed From Trinity Broadcasting Network’s Praise The Lord Show:

Benny Hinn: “Adam was a superbeing when God created Him. I don’t know whether people even know this, but he was the first superman that ever lived. (Jan Crouch is heard laughing on the set.) First of all, the Scriptures declare clearly that he had dominion over the fowls of the air, the fish of the sea, which means he used to fly.”

Jan Crouch: “Wow!”

Benny Hinn: “Of course, how can you have dominion over the birds and not be able to do what they do?”

Jan Crouch: “Whoa, I mean, wait a minute. Benny, wait a minute.”

Benny Hinn: “I’ll prove it to you. The word dominion in the Hebrew clearly declares that, if you have dominion over a subject, you can do everything that subject does. In other words, that subject, if it does something that you cannot do, you don’t have dominion over it. I’ll prove it further. Adam not only flew, he flew to space. He used to be . . . He, He, He, He, He, He . . . with one thought He’d be on the moon.”

Transcribed From A Message Given By Kenneth Copeland:

“God’s reason for creating Adam was His desire to reproduce Himself and in the Garden of Eden, He did that. He was not a little like God, He was not almost like God, he was subordinate to God, even. And Adam was as much like God as you can get . . . And I want you to know something. Adam in the Garden of Eden was God manifested in the flesh.”

Does The Scripture Teach The “Little God” Concept?

The answer is obviously, “No!” There are many great truths of Scripture that show our humanity and the hope of a future glorification.

– Presently, We Are Tempted – “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” (James 1:2-3).

– Our Outward Man Perisheth – “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward [man] is renewed day by day.” (II Corinthians 4:16).

– Our Hope Is At The Completion Of Our Earthly Journey – “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13).

It is certainly clear that this entire concept is a cheap path to riches and earthly glory. To look for some spiritual benefit in this false doctrine is a waste of time. The purpose of the teaching is to create a whole class of “swinging saints living the good life”, something akin to the “Beverly Hillbillies”. You would think this crowd has been watching too much television. When you look at the real Jesus of Scripture, the prophets and apostles in their suffering and sacrifice and then return to see Paul and Jan and their fellow travelers in their glory, it all becomes a fantasy world of deception.

God Is Both Male And Female?
The pagan roots of this whole deception is manifest as they create a God that becomes more like Zeus or the pantheon of ancient gods. I have been aware for some time that this entire theological confusion was headed back to its pagan roots. These men and women are clever, but they will eventually become so deluded that the error will show through. Listen as Kenneth Copeland clearly states that God is both male and female. Next, listen to Benny Hinn state that women were first created to bear children out of their side. Then, he somehow compares this to Jesus and the spear print in His side.

Transcribed From A Message Given By Kenneth Copeland:

“Then, he created Eve out of Adam. Now, actually God didn’t name her Eve, Adam named her Eve later. That wasn’t her name, her name was Adam . . . Adam. When God said Adam, they both came. Their authority was one and the same together. They did everything together. They had always been together. Even when she was still part of him, he was as much female as he was male, LIKE GOD IS. And God separated the female part of him and then put them back together. And she was Adam, they were Adam. He was the man, she was the woman. She was the man with the womb.”

Transcribed From A Message Given By Benny Hinn:

“Holy Spirit said something to me and I had to go like a mad man and looking in the Word. He says, “God’s original plan is that the woman was to bring forth children out of her side.” What? You know that there is nowhere in the Bible but where God gives birth out of His side. Jesus gives birth to the church out of His side. Adam gives birth to his wife out of his side. It was sin that turned the thing around. And it was sin that transformed her flesh and her body.”

Such an idea is certainly blasphemous. It is exactly the same foolishness that elevates Mary, the mother of Jesus, to the state of “The Mother of God.” Many writers are beginning to suggest as Copeland that God has a dual nature of male and female. The entire new headquarters of Trinity Broadcasting Network is feminine in design. There are female angels guarding the entrance to the television studio. The ceilings are filled with frollicking, mostly nude children. Two pictures of the mother/child deception and one of a feminine face, with two nude young bodies hovering above, line the short hallway leading past the female angels to the studio. The appearance is mythological and pagan.

The Bible is absolutely clear that God is our Heavenly Father. His nature is divine and eternal and sexual distinctions are non-existent. He created man in His image and then created woman in the image of man. There are no female angels because the angelic host were created in the image of God before women were created. Women are a unique creation out of man to supply him a helpmeet and has absolutely nothing to do with the nature and appearance of God. This false concept of God being both male and female is clear decension into paganism.

God As Mother Nature 
As we move to the concept of a dual nature, both male and female, manifest in the Heavenly Father, the results can only lead to more disgusting ideas. The new additional studio of Trinity Broadcasting Network in Hendersonville, TN, is the scene of the following quotes. Jan Crouch appears to be the host of these events, with preachers like Phil Munsey and Kim Clement. On one occasion Phil is preaching and appears to be speaking more from “fertility rites of ancient paganism” than the Bible itself. He states:

Transcribed From Trinity Broadcasting Network, Hendersonville, Tennessee:

Phil Munsey: “There is going to be a paradigm shift in philosophies of men. Mother Earth is groaning in travail, labouring pain, ready to give birth to something big and something mighty and wonderful . . . God is moving, connect with Him.”

As he preaches, he mentions the Buddhists and directs his remarks to them. “Buddhists, I love you much, I’m honored that you are willing to get out of yourself and take a risk and go for something that people used to laugh at. I’m honored that you have enough passion for God to try to connect with something.”

Phil Munsey: “In the Throne Zone, time past, present, and future cease to exist. We move into a frame without the limitation of humanity in the natural.”

In the course of these several nights of so-called revival, he apparently tried to show that people in the heathen world have learned how to connect with the principles of God without being Christians. I presume this is why he spoke so kindly of the Buddhist. Listen:

Phil Munsey: “People learn how to work the principles of God, they learn how to operate in the charisma of God without the character of God and that makes good people mad.”

Phil Munsey: “Get your ears to hear what the Spirit says now, Get your ears to hear what the Spirit says now. (Supposedly, the Spirit is speaking through him.) I tell you that the kingdom of God is so due and overdue. I tell you that Mother Nature and I don’t mind using that word . . . It is now time for the New Jerusalem to come down out of heaven and kiss the earth until all that God is shall be made known and His glory fills the earth . . . I tell you what God is going to, has to do. He’s either going to shut some mouths up that are aborting the purpose of God and bring some marriages . . . If you are a virgin and you are telling people you are pregnant, you could get stoned.”

Phil Munsey: “God is looking for a womb to bring forth His Rhenna upon the earth. The Bible says in Isaiah, chapter 34:16, and I love the Amplified Version, that everything in nature has a mate of which they bring forth from their seed . . . Every Word of God has a mate . . .”

Can Truth Of Scripture Be Blended With Pagan Doctrines? 
The answer is obviously a resounding, “No!” When God the Father becomes “mother god” as much as “father god”, anything becomes possible in the pulpit. The term Mother Earth, as used by Munsey on these TBN Broadcasts suggests that the paradigm shift has reached an intense level of change. These doctrines will be preached very carefully for a while and then the speakers will grow blatant and arrogant.

Notice that Munsey says that the Spirit was saying, “the kingdom of God is so due and overdue.” Is God ever late? Does He have to apologize for the failure of His plan? Copeland has already answered that on an earlier Praise The Lord telecast. “God,” says Copeland, “was the biggest failure ever in history.” Paganism has arrived at the pulpits of many churches.

Stand On The Word Of God
My dear friends, get back to the truth of God’s Eternal Word with all of your heart. Truth will set you free. Do not allow these “New Wave” preachers to force you to deny the beautiful ministry of the Holy Ghost in your life. The Holy Spirit was sent by the Father as the Spirit of Truth. His living presence in the church will cause the Word of God to come alive. My heart is set on a reformation in the Body of Christ. The church world has a multitude of sincere believers who love the eternal Son of God and many of them have been influenced by these pagan ideas. Pray earnestly for the “Word of God to prevail.” Let’s be sure that each one of us gets back into total truth and believes for a revival of New Testament Christianity.

Pray earnestly for the Crouches and others that truth will prevail in their lives. Millions are being led into deeper and deeper error and everyone of us has an obligation to help them learn the truth. Share this information with everybody in your sphere of influence.