False prophets represent such a danger for believers that many warnings concerning them are given in God’s word. If these warnings were important in the past, they are even more important today.
Prophets in light of the Bible
God’s prophets were under obligation to present only God’s word: “But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.” Along with his commission, God gave the young Jeremiah His support: “Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.” Jeremiah 1:7, 8. Some prophets also had to carry out explicitly the service of a watchman. They were commissioned to warn both individuals and people of threatening danger: “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at My mouth, and give them warning from Me.” Ezekiel 3:17.
Aware of their responsibility, God’s prophets were careful not to say anything in the Lord’s name that God had not commanded them: “But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.” Deuteronomy 18:20-22.
“The Bible says clearly that when a prophet mixes that which is true with what is false, when he brings true and false messages and claims that they were given him by the Lord, he is a false prophet.” –Lohmann, Pfingstbewegung und Spiritismus (Pentecostal Movement and Spiritualism), p. 78.
Present-day “prophets”
“Charismatics divide their own history into three great periods, which they call the ‘three waves of the Holy Spirit.’ They call the Pentecostal movement the ‘first wave,’ which began around the turn of the century and led to the formation of the Pentecostal churches all around the world; these are some of the fastest-growing churches in the world today.
“The charismatic movement, which began about 1960, is called the ‘second wave.’ It did not have the goal of forming new churches but of penetrating the existing Catholic and Protestant churches, as well as the free churches, with the so-called ‘Spirit experience,’ such as baptism of the Spirit, speaking in tongues, visions, and healing.
“This movement, which considers itself the ‘leaven of the church,’ has actually penetrated large parts of existing Christianity within a few decades and today probably has most of its followers in the Roman Catholic Church, where the charismatic movement enjoys the special favor and blessing of the Vatican as the ‘bridge builder of the confessions.’
“The ‘third wave’ is relatively young, existing since about 1980, and has one special goal: To give ‘spirit experiences’ to the churches and free churches which were not reached by the first two waves, being careful that this occurs in a ‘non-charismatic’ and ‘non-Pentecostal’ way. The two great, well-known leaders of the ‘third wave’ are C. Peter Wagner and John Wimber, who have conducted large conferences and the training of co-workers all around the world.” –Wolfgang Bühne, Die Propheten kommen (The Prophets Are Coming), pp. 13, 14. The rapid growth of this movement makes it appear that the latter rain is already falling. We shouldn’t forget that the number of those who consider themselves part of the third wave was estimated to be 33 million people in 1990. At the end of 1998, the number was calculated at about 500 million followers around the world.
The different currents and various ways the leaders of the charismatic wave work are so multi-layered that only a part can be mentioned in this article.
We’ll examine a few of this movement’s leaders.
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This sign invites the public to a faith healing service in Mosbach, Germany. Such meetings contain a very different spirit from that of Jesus.
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C. Peter Wagner
“I am convinced that in the 20th century we are experiencing the most far-reaching outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all Christianity that has ever occurred. If not in quality, at least in quantity it has even surpassed that of the first century.”
–Die Propheten kommen (The Prophets Are Coming), p. 7. Such a statement does not contradict God’s word. It is true that the the latter rain will exceed the early rain. We recognize that such statements should put people who believe in the Bible on alert.
Rick Joyner
“The next spiritual wave will bring the reestablishment and recognition of the role of prophecy. The role of prophecy will stand at the center of attention in the coming years, for more unction will accompany it than was ever seen since Bible times.… The prophetic word is sent with a purity and precision as has never before occurred in church history.” –Rick Joyner, quoted in Die Propheten kommen (The Prophets Are Coming), p. 15. This statement is also Biblical: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” Acts 2:17.
Rick Joyner says about himself that he has had “literal conversations” with the Lord and received these revelations for three days in total. W. Bühne warns here about “a language which is felt by many faithful Christians to be positive and reassuring.” –Die Propheten kommen (The Prophets Are Coming), p. 24.
John Wimber
“God is at present reintroducing the office of the prophet. In the coming years, the prophet will play a fundamental role in beginning and sustaining the awakening.… God is also reintroducing the apostolic office in the church. Men will arise who have seen the Lord Jesus and who will perform the signs and wonders of an apostle. We haven’t had men of this kind since the first century. But if God used such at the beginning, why shouldn’t He use them at the end?… In addition there will be a new understanding of the supernatural. Angels appearing in meetings will become normal, and even the Lord will appear in the coming weeks, months, and years. Healings will become so natural that even children will be in the position to carry them out regularly.… Even resurrections from the dead will become common knowledge.
“You will experience faith healers who lift their hands and light will radiate from their hands. If this light strikes someone who is sick, he will be immediately healed. You will see amputated arms and limbs grow back, when light from the hand of the evangelist strikes them.” In his book, “Dritte Welle” … gesunder Aufbruch? (“Third Wave” … Healthful Awakening?), pp. 7, 8, author Wolfgang Bühne quotes the above from the cassette recording of a speech by John Wimber in 1990.
In these two statements of John Wimber, it is clear that the edges of spiritualism and occultism have already been crossed. The first thing we may determine is that appearances of the Lord in different places are deceptions: “As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ.… In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation.” –Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 624. But the Lord’s coming will be visible to all people, not just to some here and there. Secondly, it is impossible for man to impart life. Satan may make it appear that he has even raised the dead, but that is solely a divine prerogative.
The following quotation from Dave Hunt shows how people are already caught in the manifold satanic entanglements: “Some of the most important business people in the world, as well as some leading politicians, will not make a single decision without consulting with their astrologer or special medium. As never before in recent history, now the opportunities are there for Jesus’ prophecy to be fulfilled that many false prophets would deceive many.” –Hunt/Mahon, Die Verführung der Christenheit (The Seduction of Christianity), p. 40.
“Are we prepared for the trial which awaits us when the lying wonders of Satan shall be more fully exhibited?” –Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 302.
“…Satan can, through a species of deceptions, perform wonders that will appear to be genuine miracles.” –Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 2, p. 52.
“The last great delusion is soon to open before us. Antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures. By their testimony every statement and every miracle must be tested.” –The Great Controversy, p. 593.
Only in God’s word do we find help and instruction to recognize these false prophets and be able to face them. Let us look at some of their spiritual roots and compare them with Scripture.
The “prophets” and their spiritual roots
We find Biblical evidence in 1 Corinthians 14:1, 3: “…Desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.” “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.” “Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21.
John Wimber is quoted as follows: “The only spiritual way to this unity [among Christians] is a return to the message and doctrine of the Bible with simultaneous aid from the tradition of the entire church.…
“Thus Bible and tradition, the old principle of the Roman Catholic Church, should make this unity possible. Hence, one finds in Wimber’s books hardly one definitive statement, so one doesn’t wonder when he cites Pope Gregory I, Tertullian, Ignatius Loyola [founder of the Jesuits], as well as the miraculous healings of Lourdes as chief witnesses of church history.” –“Dritte Welle” (“Third Wave”), p. 26.
In another place he calls not tradition but experience as the aid for understanding the Bible: “Some truths in the Bible can be understood only when we have made particular experiences.… Thus God uses our experiences to give us greater understanding of what He teaches in the Scriptures. And much more through experiences He causes us to throw overboard elements of our theology and world view or to change them.” –“Dritte Welle” (“Third Wave”), p. 27.
C. Peter Wagner, quoted above, also uses the Bible and experience as the source of revelation for theology: “Theology is actually nothing more and nothing less than a human attempt to explain God’s word and way of acting in a sensible, systematic manner. The two essential sources for this are the Bible and Christian experience.” –“Dritte Welle” (“Third Wave”), p. 27.
“To survive, every error draws truth from the Bible, and the more Bible truth an error contains, the more dangerous it is. That is true of every philosophy and theology which somehow bends God’s word to fit with man’s word and shrinks the hope of the gospel in favor of human fantasies.” –L. Gassmann, Der Traum von der einen Welt (The One-World Dream), p. 63.
In Matthew 15, we find Christ’s clear words concerning these and similar phenomena: “But He answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?” Verse 3. “Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.” Verse 6. Christ’s closing statement clearly shows the whole situation: “But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Verse 9. Christian doctrine reaches its climax in Jesus’ words: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6. In these words of Jesus we find no hint that tradition or any kind of human experience is the basis for faith.
The true Christian appeal
The mother of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the revival preacher, told him privately: “‘Charles, we have taught you the gospel and set you an example in this. You know what matters. But if you are lost, it is solely your own fault.’ Charles took these words to heart; he did not want to be lost for eternity.…
“Many months passed without Charles coming to know the secret of inner peace in the many sermons of famous pastors. He wanted to go on a Sunday morning to hear a famous preacher in a distant church. During the night it had snowed; the snow lay three feet deep on the road and blocked his way. However, on the next street there was a small Protestant chapel, and Charles went in to hear another sermon. Only a few listeners sat in the pews, the pastor had not appeared, and a lay preacher stood at the pulpit.… At the end [of his sermon], with kind, heartfelt words, he invited his listeners to be saved from death through Jesus. He looked directly at Charles and spoke to him from the pulpit: ‘Young man, you look so troubled; you are lacking the peace of Jesus. Look to Him now. Do you see how He died on the cross for your sins, how He took all your guilt upon Himself and forgives you?’ Because he was addressed so kindly and sincerely, Charles did what the preacher recommended.… Later he himself became a preacher; indeed he became the ‘prince of preachers,’ one of the greatest preachers in the entire history of Christianity.” –M. Kobialka, Revolution im Vatikan (Revolution in the Vatican), pp. 10, 11.
Later in his life, the following incident occurred during one of his own sermons: “On July 23, 1864, a woman whose husband regularly attended Spurgeon’s sermons, which she despised, decided out of curiosity to visit a service in the tabernacle. Since she didn’t want to be recognized, she disguised herself and looked for a place in the upper gallery. When she entered the hall, Spurgeon was just beginning to read the Bible text about which he planned to speak. He pointed his finger in her direction and read: ‘Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam; why feignest thou thyself to be another? for I am sent to thee with heavy tidings.’ 1 Kings 14:6. One can imagine how this woman turned red under her veil, especially when in the course of his sermon Spurgeon said: ‘I think there are some among us whose character and behavior I have described so exactly that they know they are meant.… I don’t suppose that anyone has disguised himself this evening, although that can also happen: The worker who is afraid of being ridiculed perhaps comes here in disguise. And perhaps also the pastor, whose conscience would not be quite at peace if he would be seen here would do likewise. Whoever you are, whether disguised or not, all this is useless where God’s gospel is preached. He knows you immediately and searches the thoughts and intents of the heart. He will find you; and no matter how you are disguised, He will show you who you really are.” –Die Propheten kommen (The Prophets Are Coming), p. 59.
In these cases, God used a preacher who carried out the responsibility of a prophet, without even knowing this himself. “And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.” “Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all My servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them.” 1 Kings 20:41; Jeremiah 7:25.
“Prophet” Kenneth Hagin
“If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams:…” Deuteronomy 13:1-3.
Kenneth Hagin considers himself a “prophet.” Some decades ago, he allegedly received “personal revelations” both at “God’s throne” and during “appearances by Jesus.” He reported further that he appeared before God’s throne eight times and received special revelations. He also stated that once when he lay in the hospital because of an arm injury Jesus visited him personally.
He attempts to emphasize his authority as God’s prophet through the following report: “I was holding a series of meetings in a church and had to give the presiding pastor a message from the Lord, which he did not accept. After the last meeting, I left the church in tears. In the next church where I conducted the services, I said to the pastor: ‘Some day this man will drop dead in the pulpit.’ A few days later, that happened. Exactly 14 days after I left him in tears following the last service, he dropped dead in the pulpit.” –Die Propheten kommen (The Prophets Are Coming), p. 46.
The incident described could have been an actual revelation from God. Therefore, let us check once more the teachings of this “prophet” and then make our own judgment: “Kenneth Hagin is one of the most well-known preachers of the affluent gospel … and the so-called ‘identification doctrine’”–a blasphemous idea implying that Jesus made a type of agreement with or submission to Satan. –Die Propheten kommen (The Prophets Are Coming), p. 43.
No further comment is needed.
“Prophet” Paul Yonggi Cho
P. Yonggi Cho, pastor of the “Yoido Church of the Full Gospel,” which has about 700,000 members (1989) comes from a Buddhist family. When he was 18 years old, he became sick and it was determined that he was in the final stages of tuberculosis. He was given three to four months to live. On his deathbed he was visited by a young Christian woman who was eventually able to convince him to read the New Testament. As a result, he was converted. He was also healed.
“In his life Cho himself puts great stock in speaking in tongues: ‘I pray a lot in tongues. Speaking in tongues is the language of the Holy Spirit; and when I speak in tongues, I experience His presence in my consciousness.’… By now, Y. Cho is a popular convention speaker in many countries, and his books have been published in several languages. As founder of CGI (Church Growth International), he has become an influential personality in the church growth movement as well as in Pentecostal and charismatic circles.” –“Dritte Welle” (“Third Wave”), pp. 52, 53.
To accurately classify this “prophet,” let’s now compare the statement of R. Schuller, who wrote the Foreword to Cho’s book: “I believe that nothing has been done in the name of Christ or under the banner of Christianity that has been so destructive to the human personality and thus has so stood in the way of evangelism as the … unchristian strategy of first trying to show people how lost and sinful they are.” –Hunt/Mahon, Die Verführung der Christenheit (The Seduction of Christianity), p. 15.
This statement blatantly contradicts God’s word: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. Only through the Christian portrayal of reality can the individual recognize that he needs a Redeemer. To obscure this would be victory for the deceiver: Taking Jesus away from the sinner. Man would be lost.
Cho is also a disciple of the visualization technique: “The following story happened in Germany. After a presentation, two ministers came to Cho, hoping to receive a VW from him. His counsel was: ‘Why don’t you brood one for yourselves right now?’
“‘How should we brood one?’ they asked, astonished.
“‘Brooding is an important process in prayer,’ explained Cho. ‘If you keep hoping, you can never brood.… So start brooding. Open your notebooks to some empty pages.’ And then he directed them: ‘Imagine the exact VW you want to have. How many does it seat? What color is it?’
“‘It’s green and seats four persons,’ they answered.
“‘Good. Write that down. Close your eyes, and imagine the VW in your mind. Now start thinking through all the possibilities you have for finding enough money to buy your VW. Stick a description of your VW on the wall in your bedroom. Read it at night before you go to sleep.… Then say to yourself: “This is my VW.” Thank God for your VW and believe it.…’
“After a few months, the two ministers owned the ‘hatched VW,’ and Cho explained: ‘We need to use the principle of brooding and release the reality of a miracle out of the embryo of a thought.’” –Y. Cho, Der Schlüssel zum sieghaften Leben (The Key to a Victorious Life), pp. 8, 9; quoted in “Dritte Welle” (“Third Wave”), p. 62.
This charismatic also exceeds the limit with his statements in other places: “Jesus is bound by what you say.… Then produce the presence of Jesus and set it free with your spoken word.… Therefore, think that Christ is dependent on you and on your spoken word to set His presence free.” –Y. Cho, Die Vierte Dimension (The Fourth Dimension); quoted in “Dritte Welle” (“Third Wave”), p. 66.
Here we see the parallel: Just like the Catholic Church, Cho teaches that Christ is subordinate to people–God’s Son beneath sinners. Further comment is not necessary here.
“Through Cho’s representations it becomes clear that he understands ‘faith’ to be something completely different from what the Bible teaches. Biblical faith is a firm trust in God’s word and promises. However, Cho teaches that faith is a ‘four-dimensional power’ which one develops in himself through visualization to create, influence and change things.… His teachings … destroy Biblical faith. Therefore, Cho must be considered a false teacher.” –“Dritte Welle” (“Third Wave”), p. 67.
Where are the charismatics leading?
There exists today a worldwide, unbiblical striving for unity, which attempts in a human way to achieve peace in the religious arena.
In earlier articles in this series, we quoted Redemptorist pastor Tom Forrest. He initiated Gospel Action 2000 campaign, which is explicitly supported by Pope John Paul II, with the following goal: “On His 2,000th birthday, Jesus Christ should find a majority of the world evangelized.” –“Dritte Welle” (“Third Wave”), p. 101. Indeed, right in the calculation, there is a big mistake. Christ was born in B.C. 4 and so would have already had His 2,000th “birthday” in 1996, not as late as 2000.
In Gemeinde-Erneuerung (Church Renewal) magazine of January 1991, we find the following quotation: “Advance Christian Unity.… Christian unity is an essential ingredient of successful evangelization.” Even in the past, the famous Pentecostal preacher David du Plessis warned the charismatic movement numerous times: ‘Only if the charismatic movement is ecumenical will it remain. As soon as it loses its ecumenical character, it will also lose its charismatic power.’” –Charisma 55/1987, p. 11.
“John Wimber–and along with him, the ‘third wave’–supports ‘Evangelism 2000’; and he describes the ‘decade of evangelism’ announced by the pope as ‘one of the greatest things that ever happened in church history. I am enthusiatic about the pope’s calling the church to this goal.’ More and more, the Christianity of the end time appears to show an ecumenical-charismatic-Catholic face. The common denominator is no longer the Reformation and Biblical principle of ‘sola scriptura, sola fide, sola gratia,’ but common experience. The familiar motto of the charismatic movement, ‘Dogmas divide–love unites,’ appears more and more to be the confession of many evangelicals.” –“Dritte Welle” (“Third Wave”), p. 102.
“With its 500 million adherents, the charismatic movement is today the strongest link between Catholics and other Christian churches.” –Revolution im Vatikan (Revolution in the Vatican), p. 105.
Pressure will be brought to bear on those who think otherwise, and they will be associated with Satan. The “Congress for Revival and Church Growth” took place in 1991 in Nürnberg. “The goal was unity at any price; and a statement by Klaus Eickhoff made during the press conference fit: ‘Everything that impedes unity is from below.’” –Revolution im Vatikan (Revolution in the Vatican), p. 106.
Crossing into the occult–the “Toronto Blessing”
“It is particularly offensive … that, in the cases of John Wimber and Yonggi Cho, one also encounters phenomena which have already ‘crossed the border to the occult.’… For example, concerning the work of John Wimber, there are reports from conferences in which participants lost their self-control, which was expressed in a sort of pathological laughing fit, falling backward or writhing around on the floor. Wimber himself qualifies this type of phenomena as the workings of the Holy Spirit.” –M. Kobialka, Leben nach dem Leben? (Life after Life?), pp. 54, 55.
“Since January 1994 there has been talk in charismatic circles of a ‘new wave of the Holy Spirit,’ of a ‘time of spiritual refreshing,’ and of the ‘laughing heard around the globe.’… These phenomena, which are explained by charismatics as the ‘power operations of the Holy Spirit,’… became known quickly around the world, and in the following months approximately 30,000 visitors from around the world visited this Vineyard Church in Toronto.” –Die Propheten kommen (The Prophets Are Coming), p. 189.
It is striking that many of the false “prophets” and charismatics portray the Holy Spirit as only an impersonal force.
Among the well-known ‘prophets’ is Benny Hinn, who is described in Part 6 of this series, about false christs. The following statement from one of Benny Hinn’s publications provides a clear picture: “People of God, we must never express such faith-destroying words as, ‘If it is Your will, Lord.’” –Die Propheten kommen (The Prophets Are Coming), p. 199.
Wolfgang Bühne describes Hinn’s lifestyle as quite lavish. His yearly income is estimated by Focus magazine at $11 million. During “Euro Crusade 1993” in Basel, Switzerland, Benny Hinn and his crew stayed at the most exclusive hotel. The eight persons paid a total of 16,000 SFr. ($10,000) for two nights–all from contributions! Such practices are a contradiction to the lives of Biblical prophets. Furthermore, the miracles were no miracles, and the “healed” people were still sick. It was prophesied that one man who was sick with cancer would live for many more years, but he died two days later. However, the show was splendidly produced.
In most cases like the “Toronto Blessing,” there are the following manifestations: “Resting in the Spirit, laughing in the Spirit, being drunk in the spirit, crying, trembling, shaking, jumping, screaming, roaring like different animals, and coughing.” –Die Propheten kommen (The Prophets Are Coming), p. 216.
The results are catastrophic: “One participant not only experienced the ‘Toronto Blessing’ with its described characteristics as solely negative but came to complete confusion in his life of faith; his previously intact relationship to Jesus Christ suffered a terrible shaking.” –Idea Dokumentation 27, 1994. Another church in southern Germany was split: “The supporters of the ‘Blessing’ no longer accepted the Bible as the sole rule of faith. Repentance would play no role in the ‘Toronto Blessing.’ Critical inquiries were not permitted, and opponents were excluded.… In a prophecy, death threats were pronounced against opponents.” –Idea, November 16, 1994.
At the close of his account, Wolfgang Bühne states: “Even Adventists are not exempted from the controversy [over the ‘Toronto Blessing’].” –Die Propheten kommen (The Prophets Are Coming), p. 228.
One expert at the scene warns clearly: “Therefore, I want to petition the people to be more than careful in the way they give such things attention. In many cases I have seen them founder and know from experience that promptings, even if they are presented to the mind with great strength, are not safe evidence that this is divine revelation.” –J. Edwards, On Revival, p. 141.
“According to everything that there was to hear or read up to now about the ‘Toronto Blessing,’ it does not appear as if people … go [there] to become better acquainted with the Bible but to make experiences and to satisfy psychological and spiritual needs and deficits. Therefore, in a strict sense, Bible teaching plays virtually no role at these conferences, even if the Bible is frequently quoted. Christ and His word are not at the center; instead, it is the religious person who is craving an experience.” –Die Propheten kommen (The Prophets Are Coming), pp. 232, 233.
God’s view–the cross at the center
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3, 4. “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.
“Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23.
“Here Christ is speaking not of individual persons, or of only a few, but He says ‘many’ deceive themselves and are deceived regarding the ‘gifts of the Spirit.’ The center of the charismatic movement is therefore, as shown by evidence, morbid and occult and should not mislead any genuine Christian.” –Leben nach Leben? (Life after Life?), p. 56.
“Every awakening brought about by the Holy Spirit in the history of God’s people led the believers back to the sole authority of the Bible and to the obedience of faith. Almost every false doctrine and every wrong way began with following extrabiblical sources of revelation. The history of the Roman Catholic Church and the history of almost all sects show the catastrophe that results when, in addition to the Bible, one makes either tradition or experience an equal source of revelation. The history of the charismatic movement also provides a great deal of evidence of the errors that arise when one lets himself be guided by visions instead of God’s word alone.” –“Dritte Welle” (“Third Wave”), p. 99.
From the foregoing, we recognize the danger surrounding us today. Can we protect ourselves from these things with God’s help and courageously resist them, instead of falling helplessly in fear? The answer is: Yes! When we fortify our minds with the word, the Holy Spirit can keep us from the deceptions that will come upon the whole world. We should not look for that which is spectacular but cling to the cross of Christ to the end. The cross is the sole center in which there is salvation. As before, it is still true: “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom; But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness.” “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:22, 23, 18.
If we say today: “The end is coming! The shaking is coming! The judgment is coming! The last signs in world history are coming!” we’re limping far behind the events. The end, the shaking, the judgment, the last signs in world history are already here. We are right in the middle of them.
Let us ask God for the support of the Holy Spirit so we may belong to those who are ready.
--Helmut Welker, Germany
