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P.O. Box 1288 Costa Mesa, CA 92628 PART I Section A --------- By Albert James Dager INTRODUCTION In every Christian's life there comes
a genuine challenge to their intellectual honesty and, more importantly,
to their commitment to God's truth. Such a challenge is all the
greater when prompted by the realization that men and women whom
we've held in high regard are inadvertently or even knowingly
leading us astray. It isn't too difficult to accept the
truth about the aberrant teachings and dangerous practices of
non-Christian cults; Christian bookstores are replete with publications
on cult belief systems and activities. But the same bookstores
sell materials containing false doctrines under the guise of
"deep truths" and "new revelations." Many
of these teachings are gaining acceptance among a growing number
of evangelical Christians, and are increasingly finding expression
in the Christian Media. Because this report strikes at the false
teachings (often undiscerned) within the heart of the Christian
Church, it has been with a great deal of pain and personal soul-searching
that it was written. Certainly this report will have an impact
upon those propagating these false teachings, as well as upon
those who learn from the teachers. Certainly it will cause loyalties
to be broken. On the other hand, I'm well aware that
it may cause loyalties to this ministry to be broken. So be it;
if any loyalty to this or any other ministry takes precedence
over loyalty to God and His truth as revealed in Scripture, then
that loyalty should be broken. Jesus taught this very thing when He
said, "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not
worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me
is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:37). In Luke 14:26 He goes
even further, saying that if we love even our own lives more
than we love Him we are not worthy of Him. If we are expected to hold allegiance
to Jesus whom we have not seen, even above allegiance to our
own families and our very lives, how much more should we be loyal
to Him above others, no matter how they impress us with their
knowledge and eloquent oratory. Are those who teach us humble? Jesus
is more humble. Are they wise? Jesus is more wise. Do they love
us? Jesus loves us more. Whatever virtues they possess, the greatest
teachers in the Church are in poverty compared to Jesus. When He trod this earth as a man, having
relinquished all privileges of His eternal Godhood, Jesus was
approached by one who addressed Him as "Good Master."
His response should humble all who hold themselves or others
in high regard: "Why callest thou me good? there is none
good but one, that is, God" (Matthew 9:16-17). Though the words I bring you may be
hard to bear, I implore all who read them to pray that God will
illuminate their minds, and also for His protection from the
enemy who would distort the truth of these matters as well as
my motive for bringing them to light. This is written with full awareness
of my own vulnerability. For I admit that the things I have witnessed
from those whose teachings I question herein have caused me to
wonder whether they might not be from God. It is a fearful thing
to contemplate the thought that I might in all sincerity cast
aspersion upon true men of God whose work I may not understand.
But I am convinced that what I present to you is the truth, given
with a heavy heart for those who, by necessity, must be named
for their errors. I urge you therefore to lay aside prejudices
and personal preferences for teachers and teachings. Receive
this message in the spirit in which it is written, not as an
attempt to sow discord among the brethren (of this I am sure
to be accused), but as a humble attempt to shed the light of
God's truth upon the darkness caused by teachings contrary to
His Word. I encourage you to put this writing
to the test. But no less do I encourage you to put to the test
those teachings with which it deals. Let God judge men's hearts; that is
not my intention. But each of us is responsible to judge what
we are asked to believe. AN OVERVIEW With every move of God comes a countermove
of Satan to snatch the seed of truth from those who desire to
glorify God with their lives. From the very start of the Church
Age Satan has attempted to destroy the work of God and bring
liberated souls back into bondage to man-made religion. Yet in
spite of the awesome power Satan's emissaries in the spirit realm
display, the gates of hell have not prevailed against the Church
- nor will they ever. It may seem at times that the Church
has been subdued. But even during the twelve-hundred years of
oppressive rule by the Roman papacy under the claim of apostolic
authority, there were faithful saints who kept their relationship
with God pure - even if at times perfect understanding may have
been withheld from them. Certainly we cannot say that God's grace
was nullified during that time. Even the Reformers of the sixteenth
century and after sorely lacked the full understanding that would
have allowed them to lead their followers into paths of complete
harmony with God's Word. Yet line upon line, precept upon precept,
here a little, there a little, God has shed more understanding
upon His Word. The Azusa Street (Los Angeles) revival
of 1906 marked the beginning of today's Pentecostalism. During
the outbreak of that revival the Baptism with the Holy Spirit
became widely experienced and many Christians spoke in foreign
languages with interpretations, extolling the glories of God.
Out of this move of God came the establishment
of large churches that broke from the formalism of a stagnant
Protestantism. Various Pentecostal denominations such as the
Assemblies of God, and the Church of God, were born virtually
overnight, and found great success as memberships burgeoned.
Many independent Pentecostal churches sprang up as well. The Church as a whole realized a new
surge of vitality and enthusiasm for God. And if people were
healed of sickness and delivered from demons in the process,
so much the better. But with this move of God came a counterattack
by Satan's forces. Recognizing that people were hungry for demonstrations
of God's power, and that in their enthusiasm many had neglected
to ground themselves in the Scriptures for protection against
deception, Satan, as an angel of light, began to manifest his
own demonstrations of power. By this means he sought to beguile
Christians away from their Lord, and focus their attention on
the benefits they could derive from personal "experiences"
- in Jesus' name, of course. I believe the Pentecostal explosion
that occurred in 1906 was a mighty move of God to prepare His
Church for the unique challenges that the twentieth century has
presented, and to demonstrate to the world that Jesus is not
dead, but alive for evermore. The manifestation of the gifts of the
Spirit are as valid for us today as they were for the first-century
Church. If anything, they are more needed today than ever. We
must jealously guard the gifts, and not misuse them as has been
the custom of many who, overcome with zeal, have thwarted the
work of God in their lives. Signs and wonders, miracles and healings
are good when they originate with God. The problem lies in our
inability sometimes to distinguish whether they are from God
or Satan. For Scripture gives us ample proof that Satan, as well
as God, can perform marvelous miracles (Exodus 7:8-15; Matthew
24:24; Mark 13:22; II Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:11-18).
It's not a question of counterfeit versus
real; Satan's miracles are not counterfeits any more than foreign
currency is a counterfeit of our own currency. Counterfeit "miracles"
are those feats of legerdemain performed by professional magicians,
and charlatans who create ruses to bilk people out of money.
A miracle from the spirit realm is genuine, whether from God
or Satan. Satan's healings are not illusory; they are real. That's
what makes them dangerous. The reason people believe teachings
when they are accompanied by signs and wonders is that they don't
believe Satan or his demons can perform genuine miracles. Therefore
they think that any teaching accompanied by signs and wonders
must be from God. The Vulnerability of Pentecostalism There are inherent problems in every
system of theological expression. Fundamentalism is often fraught
with a legalism unintended by God and unsupported by Scripture.
The Reformed churches have given us, among other things, "Liberation
Theology" - a "social gospel" that bears little
resemblance to the dynamic of true Christianity. These have sprung
up to a large extent because orthodox Christianity has been content
for centuries to cling to a formalism that denies the power of
godliness. In short, every discipline within the Church has allowed
deception to enter in. What makes Pentecostalism vulnerable
to deception is the emotionalism that has become attendant to
it. Not that Pentecostals don't love Jesus and desire to keep
their doctrine true. But unless they test all teachings by the
Word of God and recognize that experience must be secondary to
truth, deception has an open door. I remind the reader of Paul's warning
to the Corinthian Church in speaking of false apostles and deceitful
workers transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ:
"...for Satan Himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed
as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according
to their works" (II Corinthians 11:15-15). Satan's ministers will preach righteousness,
morality, and family life. They will preach against pornography,
crime, homosexuality, abortion, and the corruption of the world
system. While these are legitimate issues of
vital importance, they are irrelevant in determining whether
the voice is from God or from Satan. Many cults stress righteousness
and morality. The only means we have to test the spirits is rightly
dividing the Word of Truth. Even the preaching of Christ crucified
and resurrected is no longer a means of determining if the spirit
speaking is of God or Satan. Many cults call Jesus "Lord
and Savior," and "the only Way to the Father."
Mormons believe in the Lord's bodily Resurrection. They and Jehovah's
Witnesses testify that they are saved by grace through faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ. But these declarations are nullified
by deeper teachings to which adherents are gradually indoctrinated.
Satan uses this same tactic through various "new revelations"
within the Church itself. The tares are truly among the wheat.
For this reason, today more than ever,
Christians must learn to distinguish between the words of a teacher,
and the spirit behind those words. Often the purity and simplicity
of the Gospel will be encroached upon by other teachings that,
in aggregate, nullify the Gospel and lead the hearer astray into
doctrines of demons (I Timothy 4:1). True humility on the part of any person
should prompt recognition of his vulnerability and raising of
safeguards. This should be especially true of Pentecostals and
others who believe in God's continual working through supernatural
means. Because we are more receptive to supernatural input we
should recognize our vulnerability to the spirit realm - both
God's working and Satan's. God's Word tells us that "a little
leaven leavens the whole lump" (I Corinthians 5:6; Galatians
5:9). All the wonderful preaching and spiritual insight a man
brings is nullified if he has the leaven of false doctrine sprinkled
among ninety-nine percent truth. That's not to say that every man is
unsaved who has succumbed to deception and, overcome by its "spirituality,"
spreads it to others. No man has all truth, and all are tempted
to make Scripture fit their personal biases and pet theories.
However, greater is the condemnation upon those who teach if
they lead others astray, even in the name of righteousness (James
3:1). Many desire to be teachers, "but they do not know
what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm:
(I Timothy 1:7 NIV). This is why Jesus commended the Ephesian
Church for trying the words of those who call themselves apostles
(Revelation 2:2). These truths must be kept in mind as
we study this phenomenon called "Kingdom Theology"
and its impact upon the Church. KINGDOM THEOLOGY DEFINED Within the "Kingdom Theology"
camp are several movements whose teachings are remarkably similar
over all, yet divergent on some points. These movements - though
to a greater or lesser degree disavowing association with each
other - are sufficiently homogenous in their eschatological and
theological viewpoints to place them all under a common banner:
what I refer to as "Kingdom Theology." These movements are built upon the same
foundation: the neo-Pentecostalism of the mid-twentieth century.
They draw from one another the support needed to develop their
strategy for gaining preeminence among Christians. All zealously
propagate their "new revelations" which allegedly are
to prepare the Church for "the next move of God," bringing
us closer to the Kingdom Age (the rule of God on earth). The most prominent of these movements
are: - Latter Rain Throughout the course of this study
we'll be examining these movements and their major proponents.
But first it's important that I give a general outline of Kingdom
Theology itself and its dynamic. The Teachings The basic premise of Kingdom Theology
is that man lost dominion over the earth when Adam and Eve succumbed
to Satan's temptation in the Garden of Eden. God "lost control"
of the earth to Satan at that time, and has since been looking
for a "covenant people" who will be His "extension,"
or "expression," in the earth and take dominion back
from Satan. This is to be accomplished through certain "overcomers"
who, by yielding themselves to the authority of God's apostles
and prophets for the Kingdom Age, will take control of the kingdoms
of this world. These kingdoms are defined as all social institutions,
such as the "kingdom" of education, the "kingdom"
of science, the "kingdom" of the arts, and so on. Most
especially there is the "kingdom" of politics or government.
This naturally implies the concentration of military and police
power in the hands of those in control during the Kingdom Age.
They are referred to as the "many-membered man child,"
whom Kingdom Theology adherents believe will be the fulfillment
of Revelation 12:1-5: "And there appeared a great wonder
in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her
feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars....And she brought
forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of
iron." Those who hold to Kingdom Theology assume
that the Church (some believe only a small group within the Church,
called "overcomers"), under submission to the latter
day apostles and prophets, is that man child, and that it has
the responsibility to put down all rebellion and establish righteousness.
This necessitates the utilization of supernatural power and the
full implementation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This theory
is based upon the idea that all authority in heaven and on the
earth has been given to Jesus. Since believers are indwelt by
the same Holy Spirit that indwelt Jesus, we have all authority
in heaven and on the earth; we have the power to believe for
and speak into existence things that are not, and thus we can
bring about the Kingdom Age. The many-membered man child must
take control of the earth before Jesus can return. Necessary to the Kingdom Age is "the
Restoration of the Tabernacle of David," defined as the
completion of perfection of the Bride of Christ - a Church without
spot or wrinkle. During the Kingdom Age (or after all else is
subdued during that time) Satan and all enemies of God will be
put under the feet of the many-membered man child. This will
be the fulfillment of I Corinthians 15:25-26: "For he (Christ)
must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The
last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." The rationale that the many-membered
man child will put God's enemies under 'its' feet is that Jesus
is the head of Christ and the Church is the body of Christ. And
where are the feet but in the body? Many in the Kingdom Theology
movements insist that when this Scripture refers to Christ it
is really referring to the Church who is the Body of Christ.
Therefore it is necessary for them to establish within the minds
of Christians the idea that, as the Body of Christ, we are Christ.
In other words, we have His divine nature. Notice that this idea, similar to that
of mind science and other false religions, separates the anointing
of "Christ" from Jesus and bestows it upon all who
come into a place of certain knowledge and spiritual attainment.
This is a heresy that is as old as the Church. It is rooted in
the Greek school of philosophy known as Gnosticism. No Rapture Critical to hard-core Kingdom Theology
is the denial of "the Rapture" - the teaching that
the Church will one day be caught up to meet the Lord in the
air so that we will be with Him in Heaven when God's wrath is
poured out upon the earth. This event is explained away as a
feeling of rapture or excitement when the Lord returns to receive
the Kingdom from our hands. In other words, everyone will be
"caught up" emotionally when He returns. This explanation
ignores the fact that such an application of the term "caught
up" is strictly an idiomatic expression peculiar to English,
not Greek. "I was all 'caught up' in the movie" (or
other excitement) is not the equivalent of 'harpazo' in I Thessalonians
4:17, II Corinthians 12:2-4, and Revelation 12:5, used to describe
the catching up bodily into Heaven, and Acts 8:39 where Phillip
is bodily "caught away" by the Spirit to another location.
Consequently, since there will be no
bodily catching away - or "Rapture" - of the Church
(some say not until the Church has taken dominion in the face
of adversity), there will be no restoration of the nation of
Israel. The proponents of Kingdom Theology are correct when they
say that the Church is spiritual Israel, but they fail to acknowledge
that God has promised to restore national Israel and deal with
her during the coming seventieth week of Daniel. All prophecies regarding future Israel
- both in the Old and New Testaments - are made to apply to the
Church. The restoration of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1-11 is
said to be the Restoration of the Church out of Babylon (denominationalism)
into perfect unity. All believers will possess the same mind,
same thoughts, and same goals delineated by the apostles and
prophets of the Kingdom Age through new revelations. The Church Has Failed Another eschatological viewpoint of
Kingdom Theology is that the Great Tribulation is seen not as
a time when anti-Christ will reign and war against God's people,
but rather a time of tribulation for the world brought about
by God's judgment through His people. Anti-Christ, in fact, is
considered by some not to be a person, or even a system of government,
but a spirit of rebellion against God's constituted authority
- the coming of Jesus in the flesh of the apostles and prophets,
according to their interpretation of I John 4:2 and II John 7. Since there will be no "Rapture,"
and no Second Coming of Jesus until the Kingdom has been established
by the Church under the direction of the apostles and prophets,
most Kingdom Theology adherents are mid- or post-millennialists:
Jesus will come back after the millennium has begun or after
it has been completed. Some are amillennialists, believing He
will never come back personally, or that He already came back
to His own generation, leaving the Church to take dominion over
the earth. Thus they see the Church as having failed in what
they consider its commission to take dominion over the kingdoms
of the earth. The reason the Church has failed is
because it has not understood what Jesus meant when He told His
disciples that they would be witnesses of Him throughout the
earth. To be a witness means to demonstrate the Kingdom on earth:
to take dominion, bringing all things into obedience to Christ.
In order to demonstrate the Kingdom, the Church must not only
be united under the apostles and prophets, but must be prosperous,
having taken control of all the material wealth of the earth.
Since "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof;
the world, and they that dwell therein" (Psalm 24:1), the
world is ours as joint heirs with Christ. This sounds good, but
without Jesus here to establish the dominion, we are left at
the mercy of men who, according to their thinking, will have
"overcome" all faults and will be operating according
to the perfect will of God. Since all enemies, including death,
will be put under the feet of the "overcomers," it
is therefore necessary that dominion include "immortalization"
(or at least living in "divine health" as well as "divine
prosperity"). The Cloud Of Witnesses To accomplish the great task of taking
dominion over a rebellious world, the Church must have supernatural
help not only from God, but from angels and from the "great
cloud of witnesses" (the dead in Christ) who have preceded
us. A unity between their spirits and our spirits will create
a communications link by which revelations will be conveyed that
will guide the Church in its mission. The apostles and prophets
especially will have contact into the spirit realm through appearances
of Jesus, angels, and departed saints. In fact, such contacts
have already been reported in the Christian media. Essentially then, Kingdom Theology sees
the Second Coming of Jesus in two stages: first through the flesh
of the believers (and in particular the flesh of today's apostles
and prophets), and then in person to take over the Kingdom handed
to Him by those who have been victorious (the "overcomers").
In some circles it is believed that the overcomers will have
become immortal - they will have attained what is called "resurrection
life." Whether immortal or not, it is generally
agreed in Kingdom Theology that the overcomers must purge the
earth of all evil influences. "Evildoers" must be converted
or they will be punished and/or "destroyed from off the
face of the earth." "Evildoers" have been variously
described as drug pushers, murderers, child molesters, thieves,
prostitutes, and other such "scum" that Jesus died
for. It will interest the reader to learn, however, that for
many who teach Kingdom Theology, the term "evildoer"
applies to anyone who refuses to submit to God's authority (the
latter day apostles and prophets). Those who do submit will be
sealed with the "mark of God" in their foreheads, and
will escape the coming judgment. Some Differences As we deal with these teachings individually
in successive chapters, keep in mind that some movements are
more extreme than others, and each is somewhat unique in its
approach to the basic tenets of Kingdom Theology. In fact, not
everyone within each movement is necessarily in agreement with
each other, let alone with those in the other movements. Still,
each movement has teachings that are sufficiently aberrant as
to warrant careful testing by the Word of God. Each in its own
way has its part in propagating some or all of the elements of
Kingdom Theology. Other teachings not detailed here are quite
bizarre, and add to the overall occult flavor of Kingdom Theology.
We'll be dealing with them as we progress. It's important to understand that not
everyone in the various movements mentioned believe all Kingdom
Theology teachings. Many are innocently fraternizing with those
whose doctrines would horrify them if they were aware of them.
Yet while the adage "guilt by association" does not
always hold true, a consistent pattern of fraternization and
support are sufficient grounds to at least question whether one
holds the views of those he supports and with whom he seeks unity. Some Terminology As in all fraternities, there is certain
terminology peculiar to Kingdom Theology. Knowledge of that terminology
can alert us to the possibility that we are hearing from an adherent
to those teachings. A few occasions of word usage prove nothing,
of course. But a pattern of usage and dependence upon terminology
peculiar to Kingdom Theology is reason for concern and further
investigation of a teacher's doctrines. Many will hide their
true beliefs to all but those within their inner circle lest
they be prematurely exposed to the Body of Christ at large. Once
you become familiar with their terminology I urge you not to
judge arbitrarily, but to seek further knowledge of the teacher's
true beliefs (Acts 17:11). Meanwhile, be cautious until you do
know what he or she believes. The following Kingdom terminology
should be cause for concern even though much will be defended
as "scriptural" by those who use them: - Dominion I wish to reiterate that the use of
some of these words - at least moderately - is not grounds for
judging harshly the speaker or writer (see John 7:24). I stress
this because I know I'll be accused of jumping to conclusions
and lumping everyone together. I urge caution in accepting or
rejecting anyone on the basis of their terminology alone. By
the time you've read through this report, however, I'm certain
you'll see why these terms are good indicators of the teacher's
beliefs. At the end of the final installment
you'll find a sample questionnaire which you can use to test
any teacher's position relative to Kingdom Theology. This may
be used as a precaution against erroneously prejudging anyone
- teacher or disciple. This said, we will examine now the roots
and the effects of Kingdom Theology and its various movements. THE LATTER RAIN MOVEMENT It becomes apparent through study that
Kingdom Theology had its beginning in the teachings of the more
prominent leaders of the mid-twentieth-century phenomenon known
as "The Latter Rain Movement." These teachers blended
Pentecostal fervor with supernatural manifestations which, when
examined, are found to have been heavily influenced by occult
activity. The unwary believers of that time, whose
lives were touched by these supernatural phenomena, were unversed
in the occult sciences and accepted these manifestations of power
as from God. Now we are seeing at the same time within Pentecostalism,
both the true manifestations of the Holy Spirit and the occult
manifestations of Satan. To determine which are of God and which
from the adversary, it helps to know the history of this movement
called the Latter Rain. Therefore I have endeavored to lay out
in a semblance of chronological order the various influences
the teachers of that period had upon each other, and how those
influences are affecting the Church today. FRANKLIN HALL In the fall of 1946, a "major fasting
and prayer daily revival center" was established in San
Diego, California. Under the leadership of Franklin Hall (assisted
by Jack Walker, father of child evangelist "Little David"
Walker), the teaching of fasting as a means of bringing about
revival and the "restoration" of the Church spread
throughout the Pentecostal world.1 Other ministers who helped
establish the fasting and prayer center were: Dr. Waltrip (Kathryn
Kuhlman's husband); Stanley Comstock; Earl Ivy; Tommy Baird;
Myrtle Page; and Franklin Hall's brothers, Delbert, Harold, and
Virgil. (Delbert Hall and his wife, Florence, were pastors.)2 According to the Summer, 1985, issue
of Franklin Hall's newsletter, 'Miracle World,' in which is revealed
some of the early history of his ministry, "A fasting chain
came about. Several were on major fasts around the clock. Many
were fasting for not only days but weeks at a time. One lady,
Sister Mary Sommerville, fasted without food for eighty-three
days. She was so strong on this notable fast that she ran and
danced all over the place, being drunk on both the inner and
outer filling of the precious Holy Spirit."3 Hall claims more than one thousand converts
during the first year of the center's existence, with scores
being healed of diseases, through fasting and prayer. Alleged appearances of the Holy Ghost
in fire and smoke are also related in Hall's newsletter: "Once or twice the Fire department
was briefed by folk seeing the Holy Smoke and Fire through the
windows upstairs. They came running up the steps with the hoses
to put out the fire. Some of the firemen, seeing that it was
not a natural fire, sat down in the large revival center hall
and worshipped the Lord getting saved."4 Spreading The Word Hall and his wife, Helen, sold off some
assets and borrowed against their home to finance the printing
of "millions of pieces of literature" to send to people
all over the world.5 The Hall's claim this mail campaign resulted
in the great healing revivals of the late forties and early fifties.
It was during this time (1946) that
Franklin Hall wrote his book, 'Atomic Power With God Through
Fasting and Prayer,' which was to have a significant impact upon
the world of Pentecostalism. Many people, little known at that
time, were greatly influenced by Hall's literature. Gordon Lindsay's
publication, 'Voice of Healing,' helped spread the fasting message,
as well as did Thomas and Evelyn Wyatt's worldwide radio broadcasts. Hall's newsletter records how others
received his message: "Rev. Walter Frederick, former
Assembly superintendent in Canada, sent Brother Hall's literature
to every Pentecostal preacher in Canada....A few of the others
(not too well-known then) ministers [sic] who had major fasting
experiences by our writings in the 1946, 1947 to 1950 fasting
era and who also became famous are: Wm. Freeman Hall's writings on fasting and diet
as a means to spiritual restoration might easily be seen as the
primitive beginnings of today's "Christian holism." Occult Influences As evidence of God's favor upon those
who fast, Hall points out that even the prayers of pagans will
be answered by God if they are accompanied by fasting: "Many,
if not all, the American Indian tribes sought revelation of the
Great Spirit through Prayer and Fasting. When they had famines,
food shortages, lack of rain, etc., the Great Spirit was sought
through prayer and fasting, and their prayers were answered."7
Hall uses this as an example of how
fasting is necessary to have our prayers answered. In fact, he
states that "Without fasting, prayer becomes ineffectual."8
In other words, those who pray to demons will have their prayers
answered if they fast, but Christians will not have their prayers
answered if they don't fast. At the least, it would seem, they
would be hindered greatly. This is a good example of how a person
can extol a faith in Christ while negating all the effects of
that faith and the relationship with God it entails. By giving
credit for answered prayer to the demon gods of pagan religions,
Hall displays a mindset characteristic of occult science. That there is a definite occult influence
on Hall's career is evident in other writings. His book, 'The
Return of Immortality,' suggests that Christians can learn how
to become immortal through stages of spiritual growth. This involves
experiences with "UFO's, and the UIO gravitational and levitation
control."9 His teachings on attaining immortality in this
life through psycho-spiritual exercises and righteous living
were the foundation upon which many in the Latter Rain and subsequent
movements based their immortalization theories. Hall's main point in his immortalization
theory is that "the sleeping, so called, unfoundationally
built church" must awaken to "a real cause and calling,
that when God's word is completely acted upon and complied with,
will result in bringing about the real gushers and torrents of
the long, past due, RAIN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. A rain of IMMORTALITY
UPON THE EARTH that so many prophets have written about and portrayed
in their prophesies"10 (emphasis Hall's). Hall's premise is not, however, predicated
upon God's promise of immortality for the faithful after their
resurrection. This is evidenced by his following words: "Permanent,
lasting Freedoms from all sickness, harmful accident things and
defeat will come about. Freedom from the imprisonment of all
gravitational forces will also be brought upon the whole man. "This study teaches one the power
and secrets of space flight. Space floatation [sic] and hovering
ability. It gives the Bible formula for weightlessness, the 'raising
up' power of those who come to immortality. (Jn.6 chapter and
Rom.2:7)."11 In his book, Hall gives "evidence"
of his already having attained a degree of "immortality"
(which allegedly affects everything that comes in contact with
the immortal person's body): "Brother Hall's light colored jacket
is seven years old and has never been pressed or cleaned or aerated
in 7 years, since new, yet it has been worn repeatedly in many
overseas countries and regularly in all crusades everywhere (excepting
one). It has been on more than 200 airlines in travels. It has
no spots, stains, discoloration or body odors anywhere on it
or inside it - similar to the children of Israel's clothes under
the Glory, Immortality Cloud of Fire Power."12 The attainment of "Immortality
blessings" are alleged by Hall to be more successfully attained
through open-eye prayer. "Coming with closed eyes,"
he stated, "destroys faith."13 Hall claims that there is an "Immortal
Substance" that comes upon the believer who feeds upon it
"from within Christ's now body" - the "FIRE -
IMMORTAL - PACKED - BODY" (Emphasis Hall's). This "Immortal
Substance" is claimed to be seen on those who attend Hall's
meetings, as a fine gold and silver, sparkling material that
emanates from sometimes visible "Immortal Heavenly Objects"
(IHO's), "Unusual Heavenly Objects" (UHO's), and "Unidentified
Flying Objects" (UFO's). In Hall's words, "The sparkling
shining FINE GOLD and SILVER are seen upon their SKIN, brought
about through the faith-power of impartation. The polished brass,
the beryl stone appearances are even now manifested today."
He challenges the reader to see and behold these phenomena by
attending "the International Holy Ghost and Fire Seminars
of Brother and Sister Franklin Hall."14 This sparkling material
Hall calls, "The shiny metal like, Jesus' substance."15
While Hall has many excellent things to say about fasting from
the standpoint of good health, when it comes to spiritual matters
he often transcends sensibility and delves into areas of the
occult. The book upon which many healers of the Latter Rain period
publicly acknowledged their dependence, 'Atomic Power With God
Through Fasting and Prayer,' is evidence: "In the zodiacal sign, 'Scorpio,'
which is the eighth sign of the Zodiac, we have a picture of
a scorpion with its stinger lifted ready to strike. This is the
sign of death, and is supposed to govern the sex area. Just before
this sign in the heavens, there is a sign of the Judge, Jesus,
who is the giver of LIFE. Jesus proceeds toward death and pulls
the STING OUT OF DEATH. 'O, death where is thy sting? O, grave,
where is thy victory?'"16 There is today a growing acceptance
of the idea that the Zodiac is a representation of the Gospel.
More will be said about this when we examine the teachings of
some current Kingdom Theology proponents. But I feel that I should
a least point out at this time that the Zodiac is an arbitrary
assignment of images to certain stars by the priests of the Babylonian
mystery religion. No matter how one tries to make it fit Scripture
by claiming Genesis 1:4, there is no scriptural evidence that
the "signs and seasons" spoken of in God's Word have
any relation to the astrologists' Zodiac. We have the more sure
written Word of God for guidance; we tread on dangerous ground
when we try to accommodate His Word to occult science, or try
to make the two equal. Hall's penchant for a form of "Christian
astrology" is evidenced further in his statement that, "In
1848 A.D. the Aquarian Age was introduced to the world."17
Those familiar with the New Age Movement, will recognize the
Aquarian Age as the "Golden Age" of enlightenment when
mankind will take a quantum leap in his evolutionary stages,
to immortalization. The Aquarian Age will not be completely entered
into until around the year 2000 A.D. Hall's writings are replete
with strange, even weird statements difficult to decipher. The
following, though a bit lengthy and poorly written, are examples: "So much has been said about the
travels of the astronauts, about conquering space and even going
to Venus or Mars, about the power behind the saucers. The overcoming
saints, however, are hundreds of years ahead of our scientists.
These heaven projected saints will be so clothed and covered
with the Immortality, supernatural, ZOOMING sparkling Substance,
that it will be no more trouble at all for them to take off. "Where will they go? "They will fly right into the Glory
Cloud residence of our Lord and Savior, Heaven in Him. Into His
Cloud Fire Body. (Rev.12:5) "What distance will they go? "The distance, at first, may not
be very far away, however, as the 8th church from out of the
7 churches of revelation, called the 'overcomers,' become more
and more adjusted and acclimated to Holy Ghost Space flight,
great distances taken, will seem like no distance at all. "Jesus taught a small, but precious
group of His followers - those who were able to bear it, that
gravity would be completely loosed from them, in the last days,
when they learned how to train their appetites into a different
channel. We must learn to labor for the meal that endures unto
everlasting (IMMORTAL) life. The meat that draws us away from
gravity holding things. Jn.6:27. "The 'not-perisheth' menu is the
menu of Immortality, weight releasing power. The 'endureth unto
everlasting life' menu. "...The quickening power of the
Holy Spirit brings about Immortality REVERSE ENERGY EMPOWERMENT."18
"Gravity-freed, great people will
run up walls, not break rank, and if they fall on a sword, the
Immortality power from Jesus' body, on them, will protect them.
It appears that, they also can walk or run upside down. See Joel
2:3-11."19 (emphasis Hall's in all quotes). In an ad for another of his books, 'Formula
for Raising the Dead,' Hall cautions the potential purchaser,
"This volume is only for very advanced Holy Ghost people.
Do not order unless you are open to an apostolic teaching and
have read four other books by Bro. Franklin Hall."20 I would not question Hall's sincerity
and desire to attain spiritual enlightenment. But the heavy flavor
of occultism in his teachings should have been sufficient warning
even back in 1946. Yet many prominent teachers credit the empowerment
for their ministries (especially healing ministries) on his book
on fasting and prayer. It's clear that Hall's teachings are
a blend of occultism with Christianity. And since his teachings
formed the basis of those that came after, and since the influence
of those teachings upon neo-Pentecostalism is so great, close
scrutiny of every ministry they touched is necessary. |