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Media Spotlight Vol 8. - NO.1 P.O. Box 1288 Costa Mesa, CA 92628 ------------------------- Written by: Albert James Dager FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY Those whose teachings
center on or are substantially concerned with the five-fold ministries
(Ephesians 2:20; 4:11) as the foundation for our faith are convinced
that there can be no unity in the Body of Christ until all Christians,
or at least a vast majority of us, submit to the authority of
the present-day "apostles" and "prophets"
without questioning. There is to be no judging of doctrine, or
of personal lifestyles, or of fund-raising methods. There is
to be no attempt to understand the Word of God apart from the
teachings of the apostles and prophets. The "five-fold
Ministries" teaching as it is interpreted within Dominion
Theology is specifically a Manifested Sons of God teaching. It
states that the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and
teachers (not Jesus) comprise the foundation of the Church. It
is affirmed that Jesus is the foundation of creation, but not
of the Church. Before we examine the
Dominion Theology position on this subject, we should put Ephesians
2:20 within the context it was written in order to rightly divide
the Word of Truth. "Wherefore remember,
that ye being time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called
Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision in the flesh
made by hands; "That at that time
ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of
Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no
hope, and without God in the world: "But now in Christ
Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood
of Christ. "For he is our
peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle
wall of partition between us; "Having abolished
in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained
in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so
making peace; "And that he might
reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain
the enmity thereby: "And came and preached
peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
"For through him
we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. "Now therefore
ye are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with
the saints, and of the household of God; "And are built
upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ
himself being the chief corner stone; "In whom all the
building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in
the Lord: "In whom ye also
are builded together for an habitation of God through The Spirit"
(Ephesians 2:11-22). Hearing Ephesians 2:20
taken out of context, one might fall prey to the teaching that
the "five-fold ministries" as enumerated in Ephesians
4:11 comprise the foundation of the Church. But let's examine
exactly what Paul was saying in Ephesians 2:11-22. In the first place,
we see that it is not the so-called "five-fold" ministries
to which Paul assigned the status of "foundation,"
but rather the offices of apostle and prophet only. Because these
offices are mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 in connection with those
of evangelists, and pastor-teachers (the latter being one, not
two distinct offices), doesn't necessarily mean that the evangelists
and pastor-teachers are numbered in the foundation. In the second place,
if we put Ephesians 2:2 in the context of the thought expressed
in verses 11 through 22, we see that Paul was specifically addressing
the Gentiles at Ephesus regarding their being joined in one body
with the Jews through whom came the revelation of God's Truth.
Having been grafted into the true faith (Christianity) which
is the continuation of God's revelation through the prophets
who preceded Christ, not something distinct from it, the Gentiles
were built upon the foundation of the apostles (New Testament)
and prophets (Old Testament) combined. In other words, the teachings
of the apostles and prophets, the Spirit and the Law, comprise
the foundation through which the believing Gentiles (the Uncircumcision)
are joined with the believing Jews (the Circumcision). As the
Cornerstone of that foundation of teachings, Jesus is the element
that holds all truth together, and to whom we look for all guidance
through the Holy Spirit. To take a single verse
out of Scripture and build a doctrine as serious in its consequences
as that of the "five-fold ministries" of Dominion Theology
is contrary to even the most basic principles of biblical exegesis.
This error is compounded by the suggestion that today's so-called
apostles and prophets are the foundation for the Church. If anything,
the Lord's apostles would be the ones spoken of since it was
through them that He gave His revelation contained in the written
Scriptures known as the New Testament. By equating today's teachers
with the early apostles, we open ourselves up to their new revelations,
many of which are not based on God's Word, but are totally subjective.
Certainly such subjective teachings can be recognized by the
fact that they are learned from certain people and propagated
apart from independent study of the Bible. The "five-fold
ministries" doctrine is one such that is parroted by dominion
teachers who have not learned it from Scripture, but from others
who have learned it from others, ad infinitum. We have been able
to trace it back to Franklin Hall, but that's not to say that
it doesn't go back to an earlier teacher. We will look now at
a few who propagate this particular doctrine to see how it fits
into the overall scheme of Dominion Theology. EARL PAULK: "That's what we're
doing as the five-fold ministry - the apostles, prophets, evangelists,
pastors, and teachers - is equipping the saints, maturing the
Body of Christ. But see, even that frightens us because we say
we've got pastors, we've got evangelists - we talk about apostles
and prophets, we get afraid. And yet they've got to come back
with authority and power. "Ephesians 2:20
says the Church is built not on Jesus (a lot of folk don't know
that), but it's built on the apostles and prophets, and Jesus
Christ being the chief cornerstone. He's the cornerstone, but
the apostles and the ministry of the prophets is [sic] the foundation. "What God is doing
today is raising up prophets. I don't have any doubt in my mind
that Oral Roberts is a prophet to the Church to bring us back
to the healings. "Many of them -
Branham and many others - I believe that the Hagins and the Copelands,
we have varying doctrines here, but I believe they brought us
back to understanding the power in God's Word. They were apostles
toward that. I believe there are other apostles and prophets
God is raising up."24 If we apply any formula
for consistency to Paulk's words, we would have to assume that
Jesus has taken a minor role in the governing of His Church.
The following statement, taken with the understanding that Paulk
considers not Jesus, but the apostles and prophets, to be the
foundation of the Church, removes Jesus from the position of
the Rock upon which the Church is built (Matthew 16:18), and
assigns that position to the five-fold ministries. "THE FOURTH ISSUE
AT STAKE IS THE TRUE UNITY WITHIN THE BODY OF CHRIST. To build
upon anything less than the true Rock, the only lasting foundation,
would be only to see the entire building fall. Paul made it clear
that the Cornerstone had been 'rejected by the builders.' The
only solution was to bring forth new builders - whom Paul defined
as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers - to
build up a people fitly joined together whose head is Jesus Christ
Himself. We are further given the warnings as to how we build
on this foundation. To talk of unity without truth is to build
with wood, hay and stubble (I Corinthians 3)."25 [Emphasis
Paulk's.] Some logical, deductive
reasoning would assume that Paulk is calling the five-fold ministries
the Rock of our salvation: Jesus is not the foundation, He is
the Cornerstone; the five-fold ministries comprise the foundation;
the Rock is the only lasting foundation; ergo, the Rock is the
five-fold ministries. In all fairness to Paulk,
I don't believe he has fully thought out the implications of
his statements. They reflect a carelessness in the bandying about
of terms that cause confusion. During a 'Praise The Lord' program
on TBN in July, 1987, Paulk was challenged by Hal Lindsey regarding
some serious errors in his teachings. Paulk denied believing
what was written in his own books. He suggested that Hal wasn't
able to perceive the true meanings of those writings because
people who do not have the Spirit of God (i.e., non-charismatics)
cannot understand the things that can only be spiritually discerned.
In other words, Paulk placed his own writings on a level equal
to Scripture, while limiting spiritual understanding of his esoteric
teachings to charismatics. Such statements hinder greatly our
attempts to bring unity to the Body of Christ. ROYAL CRONQUIST (Former apostle of John Robert
Steven's Living Word Church, headquarters for the Manifested
Sons of God): Cronquist, though having left the covering of John
Robert Stevens, continues to maintain most of the Manifested
Sons of God doctrines. His interpretation of Ephesians 2:20 is
classical manifested Sons of God: "...Who is the
foundation? The apostles and prophets. Is Jesus Christ the foundation?
No. He is the foundation of all things, but literally, to the
church, He is the cornerstone, and upon Him come the foundation
of the apostles and prophets to put the foundation of all doctrine,
of all revelation, of all experience, of all truth, of all anointing,
of all authority, of all power, not only upon, but under all
the people of God."26 Cronquist does say that
upon Jesus "come the foundation of the apostles and prophets."
Certainly we can find no fault with that order. As is the case
with dominion teachers, however, he assigns to the latter-day
apostles and prophets powers beyond those assigned by God's Word.
He believes that the apostles and prophets are not only the foundation
of our very lives, he also believes that they create God's will
for our lives: "...The whole purpose
of the foundational ministry, and especially the foundational
ministry, is to equip you in a very private, particular way to
inform, to undergird, to strengthen, to encourage, to qualify,
to create the will of God for your life. Can you imagine how
the body of Christ is still in the baby infancy stage, because
they have really denied the foundation that is to their lives,
and if they deny the foundation of their life, there is no way
that the foundation can be built within them."27 Cronquist errs in suggesting
that the five-fold ministry is "the foundation of their
life." Those in whom God has placed responsibility to build
up the saints and bring them to maturity are to be honored and
obeyed insofar as they teach and practice truth. But Jesus is
the only foundation of not only our spiritual lives, but it is
to Him that we owe our very being and substance (Acts 17:28). And how can the apostles
and prophets "create the will of God" for our lives?
Only through total submission of our minds and wills to theirs
will we be made to believe that they are ordained by God to direct
our every move. While submission to
authority in the Body of Christ is of great importance, it is
within the local body that that submission must take place, and
only to the degree that that authority operates in conformity
to God's Word. It is only in the local body that anyone ministering
the prophetic gifts or administering authority can know enough
about the believer to guide him. But the dominion people want
us to believe that there are apostles and prophets at large who
are coming on the scene with new revelations to which every believer
must adhere without question. There is no accountability of these
apostles and prophets to the Church, but only to one another.
This very subjective authority must be taken on faith by the
individual at the risk of his being deceived. "...And so we are
going to have to be willing to let our mind be changed by the
Holy Spirit in the way that we think and the way we under- stand.
He did promise that 'albeit when He, the Spirit of Truth is come,
He will guide you into all truth.' In 2,000 years no one has
ever been guided into all truth. Why? The only thing I can think
of - and I don't know everything yet because I haven't yet become
glorified, but I believe that God is now beginning to remove
the seals from the secrets that have been hid from the foundation
of the world. I believe that He is now going to begin to reveal
unto the holy apostles and prophets the foundation of the kingdom
that will unfold the truths of God to His people so that they
can literally become the very divine substance of Jesus Christ
in their spirit, soul, heart, mind, and body."28 According to Cronquist
the Holy Spirit did not guide the writers of the Scriptures into
all the truth necessary for the maturing of the saints. Evidently
God planned that, for 2,000 years, the Church would walk in darkness,
unable to grasp the truths necessary to conform them into the
image of Christ. But what do the Scriptures say? "For whom he did
foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image
of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. "Moreover whom
he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called,
them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
"What shall we
then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against
us? "He that spared
not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he
not with him also freely give us all things? "Who shall lay
anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth"
(Romans 8:29-33). "But evil men and
seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. "But continue thou
in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of,
knowing of whom thou has learned them; "And that from
a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to
make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ
Jesus. "All scripture
is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: "That the man of
God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works"
(II Timothy 3:13-17). It is not the apostles
and prophets who are going to perfect us (bring us to maturity).
The Word of God, working on our hearts through the power of the
Holy Spirit, will bring us to maturity as we submit ourselves
in love to God. All any apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor,
or teacher can legitimately do is point us to the Word of God
and encourage us to follow its directives with pure motives.
There are no new revelations by which we must be saved or grow
to maturity. Now, however, we are
asked to believe that men who cannot rightly divide the Word
of Truth where its meaning is obvious even to the babe in Christ,
are going to give us "new truths" by which they will
direct our paths toward perfection. What Cronquist means by saying
we will become "the very divine substance of Jesus Christ"
is not clear. But this statement fits the theory of the deification
of man held by many dominion proponents. How will we achieve
this? Cronquist says, "...You therefore
shall be complete, even as your heavenly Father is complete.
How do you suppose that is going to be done? It's going to be
done by holy apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers
who become the experience themselves, who equip you with the
experience that they have, who give you the rules, the laws,
the ways, and the how-tos to literally cooperate with God's Holy
Spirit so that it again can be performed."29 The rules and laws by
which we exercise our faith are already established in God's
Word (Revelation 22:18-19). Those who would today burden the
Church with new, man-made rules and laws according to their own
experiences are legalists of whom Paul warned: "Beware lest any
man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition
of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And
ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality
and power" (Colossians 2:8-10). How are we to recognize
who the apostles and prophets are? Cronquist says our hearts
will know: "The knowledge
of a person as a prophet or apostle of God must be a heart revelation....I
could come to you and tell you that I am an apostle, but that
doesn't mean a thing. Someone else could tell you they are an
apostle; that doesn't mean a thing, but I will only be an apostle
to you when you have heard from God's Holy Spirit that I am an
apostle of God, and if you believe I am a false prophet, to you
I would be a false prophet whether I am or not. As a man thinks
in his heart, so is he."30 Roman Catholics believe
in their hearts that the Pope is an apostle of God; Mormons believe
their apostles are from God, as do Jehovah's Witnesses, the Moonies,
and every cult that lays claim to apostles. Our hearts are deceitful
above all things (Jeremiah 17:9). We will believe what we want
to believe unless we have an objective standard of truth to which
we are willing to submit ourselves. The only standard given
to us by God is His Word. And the tests for prophets are found
in Deuteronomy 13:1-5 and 18:22, and in Galatians 1:8. Who Are The Apostles
And Prophets? Since the late 70s and
early 80s there have been increasing but still vague references
within the dominion camp to certain men as "apostles"
or "prophets." Yet there has been no definitive list
from any authoritative source within that camp as to who currently
comprise that august body. Nevertheless, there are certain leaders
who are increasingly supportive of each other, and referring
to one another as "prophet," or "apostle."
Although some are more visible than others, these same leaders
are showing up on the same platforms in varying numbers and orders.
They are on a constant circuit, conducting "leadership conferences"
for pastors from all over the world. At these leadership
conferences the pastors and teachers in attendance are instructed
in the latest methods on how to make their churches grow, how
to take dominion over their cities, how to institute proper worship
and praise in order to move God, how to work miracles, signs,
and wonders, and other things related to church ministry and
administration. The most comprehensive
organization conducting these leadership conferences is Charismatic
Bible Ministries, founded in 1986 by Oral Roberts. This organization
is a coalition of the most visible leaders in the Charismatic
Movement, a large segment of whom fall into the dominion camp.
Although not all the members of Charismatic Bible Ministries
have overtly stated belief in Dominion Theology, there is certainly
no hiding from them the teachings of those who have. The officers and trustees
of Charismatic Bible Ministries at the time of this writing are:
Oral Roberts* - Chairman
Ken Copeland* - Secretary Trustees: Jim Ammerman Freda Lindsay*
*Founding Trustees31 I cannot stress enough
the fact that not everyone involved with CBM is an advocate of
Dominion Theology. If the reader wants to know where any of these
people stand on the subject I advise that he write and ask them
directly. Of great significance, however, is the fact that fully
half of the founding trustees of Charismatic Bible Ministries
openly profess belief in major aspects of Dominion Theology,
as does approximately the same percentage of the overall members.
In addition, some among them espouse other questionable doctrines
such as the "Jesus died spiritually" heresy. Specifically,
Kenneth Hagin and Kenneth Copeland teach that Jesus died spiritually,
and had to be born again in hell by subjecting Himself to torment
by Satan and his demons. Copeland has gone so far as to say that
we are not saved spiritually by Jesus' death on the cross; otherwise
any righteous man could have died for our sins.32 This teaching will be
covered in an upcoming Special Report. I pray that those who
espouse it are not consciously aware that this teaching effectively
denies the blood of Christ as payment for their sins. Several members of CBM
have been approached with information regarding the heretical
beliefs of many in this organization, but none have acknowledged
the need to take a stand for sound doctrine. "Unity at the cost
of truth" is the mindset of many of today's "leaders"
in the Church. PURGING THE EARTH A sure sign of religious
authoritarianism is a zealousness to rid the world of opposition
to its peculiar tenets. In the minds of many dominion teachers
the authority of the apostles and prophets must not be questioned.
The Kingdom of God (as they understand it) must be free from
dissension. Therefore it will be necessary that those who challenge
their authority be removed. There are differences
of opinion among dominion teachers as to how those dissenters
will be removed, but there are essentially five ways in which
that may occur: 1) God will supernaturally
strike dead those who oppose His apostles and prophets; According to some dominion
teachers, in order to effect this purging of the earth the overcomers
must attain immortalization, thus becoming immune to any physical
resistance to their program. Becoming immortal, and thus impervious
to death and injury, will result from having attained spiritual
perfection through obedience to the apostles and prophets. We will deal with the
teachings on immortalization in the next chapter. The subject
matter at hand is the purging by the overcomers of not only the
earth, but of the Church as well. FRANKLIN HALL (Pioneer of the Latter Rain
Movement): In his book, 'Subdue
the Earth, Rule the Nations,' Hall quotes Revelation 12:5, and
states that the man child of the sun-clothed woman represents
the overcomers of the Church:32 "The man-child
company will have dominion of this planet first. Those who possess
a house may decide who shall occupy it. In the same manner, as
a group from the church take up their authority and rulership
of the planet that God gave them, they will likewise be able
to choose whom they will, to occupy it."33 "The man-child
group of the sons of God will be required 'to rule all nations
with a rod of iron' (Revelation 12:5). To those not accepting
this invitation into the Holy Ghost Light of fire, there is but
one alternative: the opposite to light is DARKNESS. The Light
of Life will be to them a blinding and consuming fire of destruction!"34
Hall's fanciful interpretation
of Revelation 12:5 is not consistent with Scripture. While the
symbolism of the man child is open to interpretation (whether
he is Jesus, Israel, the Church, certain overcomers, etc.), the
fact remains that the man child is caught up to Heaven while
the woman who gave him birth is driven into the wilderness. If
the man child is in Heaven while the earth is being purged, then
he cannot rule with a rod of iron until after he returns to the
earth. He cannot exercise dominion prior to his return which,
if he is the Church, will be with Jesus at His return (Jude 14-15). ROYAL CRONQUIST: "...The greatest
decision that the church is going to have to make in these days
ahead (and especially the ministries in the body of Christ) is
to have to face that there are apostles of God, and that they
must submit to that foundation as though it was Jesus Christ,
and whoever will not submit to that authority shall be destroyed
from among the people."35 "...Jesus cannot,
will not return, until there literally exists this kind of church,
body of Christ. This Church (remnant) is to be...executing deliverance
and judgment, in all authority and power, to all the people of
the earth, first to and in the Church, then to all the nations
of the earth."36 "...The kingdom
of God is now ready to appear, now ready to be literally established
in all its fullness within the earth. The first-fruits people
will be counted worthy to escape the things that are to come
to pass upon the earth. They will have absolute immunity to destruction
and death in any form. Even vengeance and wrath which is about
to come, will not touch them, but they themselves will be the
execution of this vengeance and wrath."37 All I can say is, if
some religious attempt to execute God's vengeance and wrath is
to take place, those doing the executing had better be under
the absolute control of the Holy Spirit. The problem with Cronquist's
scenario is that the premise upon which it is built (immortalization
prior to Jesus' return) is unscriptural. I shudder at the possibilities.
EARL PAULK: In his book, 'Thrust
in the Sickle and Reap,' Paulk quotes Matthew 13:40-43: "Therefore as the
tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the
end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and
they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and
those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace
of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the
righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their
Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" Applying his own interpretation
that the angels who will accomplish this task are ministers of
the Church, rather than the angels of heaven, Paulk calls upon
God's people to rise up and judge the kingdoms of this world:
"The book of Revelation
makes it clear that John wrote his letters to the angels of the
Church. Who are the angels that God will use? they are ministers
called by God to boldly proclaim the Word of God. They will sound
the trumpet. One should never separate prophecy of the New Testament
from prophetic Old Testament scriptures. The trumpet sounded
in the Old Testament as a warning. Today the trumpet sounds from
the angels of the Church, God's ministers who cry out, 'It is
harvest time!' Witnesses to God's power will shine as never before.
God will gather righteous people together to raise up a witness
of Jesus Christ and judge the kingdoms of this world."38
Paulk goes on immediately
to say that the first sign of the time of harvest is an answer
to Jesus' prayer in John 17, "that they all may be one just
as We are one." Unity aside, the chilling aspect of Paulk's
reasoning in these passages of his book is the realization that
he is looking forward to the day when the "angels"
(i.e., ministers of the Church) will gather out of God's kingdom
"all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,
and will cast them into the furnace of fire." I hope I'm
misreading his intentions. JAMES McKEEVER (Editor and publisher of 'Endtimes
News Digest,' author, lecturer, and financial consultant): In an article entitled,
"When Is The Rapture?" McKeever states that the Great
Tribulation will be a time when God's people will supernaturally
destroy their enemies: "God is raising
up an end-time army of overcomers (bondslaves). God never raised
up an army that ran. So, we need to take a look at why God is
raising up that end-time army. "Most people do
not realize why there is going to be the great tribulation at
the end of this age. Let me see if I can help you understand.
If Christ came back tomorrow morning to rule and reign on the
earth for a thousand years of peace and joy, what is the first
thing He would have to do? He would have to get rid of all government
buildings and employees, because He is going to be the government.
He would have to get rid of all armies, weapons and factories
that build weapons, because there is not going to be any war
while He is here on the earth during the millennium. He would
have to get rid of the people who do gross evil on the earth,
such as dope pushers and murderers.... "This would be
a messy way to begin a thousand-year reign of peace and joy.
Thus, the period of the great tribulation is when God gets rid
of all governments, all armies, all grossly evil people, and
geologically plows up the earth, so that it is a renewed, refreshed
earth, ready for Jesus Christ to come back to rule and reign
for a thousand years.... "When the children
of Israel went into the promised land, God could have caused
all the evil inhabitants of the land to disappear. However, that
is not God's pattern. He uses His people as an army when He wants
to get rid of evil people.... "People ask me
if I am afraid to go through the tribulation or if thinking about
it makes me gloomy or sad. The exact opposite is true. I am excited
about going through the tribulation, as a bondslave of God. I
am excited about getting His seal on my forehead and being protected
against Satan, because we know that the victory is ours in Jesus
Christ."39 Before I comment on
Jim's statements, let me make it clear that I have a personal
liking for him. I have in the past recommended his newsletters
and have quoted him in 'Media Spotlight.' He has done me the
same honor. And for the most part I agree with his teachings.
They contain many useful facts and spiritual truths. Now, it
isn't just a matter of two brothers holding differing opinions
on some minor point. It is crucial to the Church's position during
these end times that it not be misled in its understanding of
the events which are soon to transpire. In Matthew 24, Mark
13, and Revelation 6 and 7, we see separate accounts of the same
events relating to the Great Tribulation. I agree with Jim that
the Church will go through the Great Tribulation, but as the
first several verses in Revelation 7 point out, when God's wrath
is poured out upon the earth, we will already have been taken
up with Jesus into heaven. The error of most pre-
and post-tribulationists is the equating of God's wrath (the
trumpet and vial judgments) with the Great Tribulation period
(the opening of the first six seals). The Great Tribulation will
be a time of chaos upon the earth during which the Church will
be persecuted, and many believers will be slain for the witness
of their testimony. It will be a time of judgment not upon the
earth as much as upon the Church, which will result in the Church
being purified from its spots and wrinkles (Ephesians 5:27).
The Church, as an organism in which currently reside both sheep
and wolves, will be purged through persecution. Only those who
are truly God's people will stand, and will be driven out of
necessity toward maturity in faith and in deed. The only servants of
God who will be sealed in their foreheads are the 144,000 members
of the twelve tribes of Israel described in Revelation 7:1. These
will be restored when they see their Messiah (on whom they have
not believed until that time) return in the clouds to receive
His Church. It is important to distinguish, however, that these
144,000 Jews are not necessarily part of national Israel. They
will be a remnant of natural Israel whom God will bless as a
witness of His power to preserve His integrity among those people,
and to honor His covenant with Abraham. The only other seal
to be placed on anyone's forehead will be that ordered by the
false prophet in conjunction with his command for all men to
worship the image of the Beast (Revelation 13). It isn't my intention
to be dogmatic on the subject in this writing, but merely to
point out that the dominion teachers' interpretation of Revelation
is a delusion which will leave those who believe it unprepared
for the troubles that lie ahead. If, because we believe this
error, we are looking forward to receiving any mark in our foreheads,
we may well be set up for the strong delusion which, if it were
possible, would deceive the very elect (Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22).
IMMORTALIZATION If the dominion overcomers
are to be God's instruments of destruction upon not only unbelievers,
but believers who do not submit to the authority of the apostles
and prophets as well, they will need immunity from reprisals.
It is an essential ingredient of Dominion Theology, therefore,
that these overcomers, through their perfect (sinless) living,
attain immortalization and become impervious to injury and death.
That's why it's such a tragedy for someone in the movement to
die - especially someone in a position of dominion leadership.
If God does not count such an one worthy to escape death, then
those close to him must make excuses such as equating his death
with some vicarious suffering for the Body of Christ. Of the fringe movements
in dominion teaching, Positive Confession is most susceptible
to this theory of immortalization. The believe-it-and-receive-it
mentality of Positive Confession must inevitably result in the
belief that if one can muster enough "faith" to live
in "divine health" (which has never been sufficiently
defined), he can also believe for immortality. Of course, it is believed
that this final state of physical perfection will come about
only through the attainment of spiritual perfection. The reason
is that death is the final enemy to be conquered (I Corinthians
15:26). EARL PAULK: "THE FIFTH FUNCTION
OF THE CHURCH IS TO CONQUER THE LAST ENEMY, WHICH IS DEATH, AND
TO BRING REDEMPTION TO THE BODY OF CHRIST. When the Apostle Paul
says that redemption has not yet taken place, he speaks, I believe,
of the redemption of the individual body; yet in my spirit I
perceive that he speaks also of the redemption of the Body of
Christ. [Boldface Paulk's throughout.] "Jesus Christ Himself
overcame death individually, and WHEN THE CHURCH BECOMES SO CONFORMED
TO HIS IMAGE THAT THOSE WHO DIE DO NOT PASS THROUGH THE GRAVE,
BUT BECOME INSTEAD GLORIOUSLY CHANGED IN THE TWINKLING OF AN
EYE, IT WILL BE THAT CHURCH WHICH WILL BRING THE KINGDOM OF GOD
TO PASS ON THE EARTH. [Paulk then quotes Romans 8:18,22-23, and
Ephesians 1:13-14.] "We have received
the earnest of the EXPECTATION through the baptism of the Holy
Spirit, but we must move on to the POSSESSION, which is overcoming
the last enemy, death. Sometimes the interpretation has been
made that Jesus Christ conquered death, but if that were so,
why would Paul's epistle to the Corinthians, written at least
ninety years later, say that the last enemy that SHALL be destroyed
is death (I Corinthians 15:26)? JESUS CHRIST CONQUERED DEATH
INDIVIDUALLY, BUT IT IS LEFT TO THE CHURCH TO CONQUER DEATH ON
A CORPORATE BASIS.. "Is it possible
that there will be a people who so possess the authority of Almighty
God, as Elijah did, that they, as a group, will say to death,
hell, and the spirit of Satan, 'We will NOT die. We will stay
here and be changed, and we will call Jesus Christ to return
to this earth as King of Kings and Lords of Lords'? Yes, that
is what I believe the church must do! But it will not be easy,
because GOD IS LOOKING FOR THE MANIFESTATION OF A MATURE CHURCH
WHO CAN SPEAK WITH THE AUTHORITY JESUS HAD WHEN HE STILLED THE
WINDS AND CALLED LAZARUS FORTH FROM THE GRAVE. "An exciting prospect?
Oh, yes! We are God's people, called to do the will of God in
the world today and to see the King of Glory return to establish
His Kingdom on earth! Jesus Christ had the authority to say 'No'
to death on earth, and He is waiting for us to come to that same
authority He had so we can say, 'The last enemy - death - has
been conquered!' [Paulk then quotes I Corinthians 15:20-26.] "Jesus Christ,
as the firstfruit of the Kingdom, began the work of conquering
death on an individual basis, but we, as His church will be the
ones to complete the task. Jesus said (Matthew 28:18), 'All power
is given unto me in heaven and in earth,' and the church today
has that same power. Death will not be conquered by Jesus returning
to the earth. It will be conquered when the church stands up
boldly and says, 'We have dominion over the earth!' How else
will God be able to show Satan a people for whom death holds
no fear, over whom death no longer has any power? When God can
do that, Satan's hold on us will be broken forever!"40 History shows that true
believers don't need to be immortal to be free from the fear
of death. It is 'faith,' not immortality, that removes fear.
I suspect that those who so earnestly desire immortality that
they will twist Scripture to fit that desire are the ones who
really fear death. So great is that fear that they have deluded
themselves into believing they can overcome death through their
own works of righteousness. This is why so many demonstrate such
fervor toward God. It isn't so much that they fear Him as much
as it is that they fear death and the consequences if they haven't
proven themselves worthy of eternal life. At the root of much
dominion thinking is a works-oriented salvation rather than a
faith-oriented salvation. When immortality does come it will
be after the dead in Christ rise (I Thessalonians 4:13-17; I
Corinthians 15:50-55). This immortality unto
eternal life, the hope of our salvation, will occur suddenly
and will take effect throughout the Body of Christ, not just
among a select few "overcomers." It won't occur because
we happen to come to the realization that we can speak it into
existence because of our attainment to holiness through outward
works of righteousness. Such a notion is ridiculous and is contradicted
by Scripture. Likewise the very Scriptures
Paulk quotes contradict his belief that the Church will destroy
death. For verse 26 of I Corinthians 15 says, "For he [Jesus]
must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The
last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." Jesus, when
He returns (not the Church prior to His return), is the one who
will put all enemies under His feet. He must reign on earth until
that is accomplished. The context of these verses shows clearly
that death will be destroyed 'after' the Millennium, when Christ
"shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father"
(I Corinthians 15:24). DAVID EBAUGH (Leading apostle of the Identity
Movement): In a communication to
his followers, Ebaugh reprinted a proclamation by a Rev. Dean
Gross entitled "Melchisedec Order Decree," and offered
it free on request to those who would write to his organization,
Word by Word Association. This decree, affirming belief that
the end-time overcomers will be a part of the Melchisedec Order
of priests, states in part: "In the name of
the Lord Jesus Christ, through his blood, fire, water, and Spirit,
I receive glory, honor, and immortality by imparting his now-blood,
liquid streams of living light into my blood. My whole spirit
by faith, soul by works, body by hope is now being preserved
blameless until the coming of the Lord. When I decree a thing,
it is established unto me; and your light shines upon my ways.
I decree that the full manifestation of the Kingdom of God from
within me now come forth. I decree that every atom within my
earthly, physical body bring forth health, light, life, and immortality.
My light is now coming forth as the morning, and my health is
springing forth speedily, and my righteousness goes before me.
Your glory is my rear guard. For I am made in the image of Elohim,
after Elohim's likeness. I have dominion over the fish of the
sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over
all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon
the earth. I am helping to bring about the revelation and restoration
of all things which you have spoken by the mouth of all your
holy prophets since the world began."41 SAM FIFE (A leading apostle of the Manifested
Sons of God Movement): In his book, 'One Corporate
Man,' Fife states: "Therefore let
all men know, that in this dispensation of the fullness of times,
God is going to fulfill His purpose to bring together into one,
all things that are in Christ, both in the earth and in heaven,
and make of all the twos, one new many-membered man, who lives
after the order of Melchisedec. When He has finished preparing
this many-membered man, He is going to purge the earth of every
other man by His Judgment Day, and there will come in a new age,
and a new earth, with a new man living in a new order, where
every member is so dead to self that he lives unto the rest of
the Body, and that order shall perpetuate eternal life."42 The more we study the
Kingdom Now Movement, it becomes increasingly evident that it's
proponents have adopted a pattern of taking Scriptures relating
to entirely different time periods and applying them to the present
age. Much of what is said is true if placed in proper context
relative to the time period for which it is meant. For that reason,
they can quote Scripture seemingly with authority to prove their
hypotheses. What the immortalization
theory fails to explain is how, if death is the 'final' enemy
to be conquered, there will still be other enemies left to be
conquered by those who will have conquered death? Of all the bizarre elements
that make up the total picture of Dominion Theology, immortalization
caters most to spiritual pride. When one comes to the place where
he believes he can say he has no sin he will move into an amoral
mindset whereby he can justify any action in the name of God.
Earl Paulk gives a clue to such reasoning by suggesting that
whether one sins is dependent upon his motive. "...The accusers
said to Jesus, 'We have Moses as our father, and Moses said,
Thou shalt not commit adultery.' Jesus replied, 'I believe that
too, but let me carry you to a heavenly dimension. If you don't
lust in your heart you cannot commit adultery.' They said, 'The
law says, Thou shalt not kill,' and Jesus replied, 'I believe
that too, but let me speak to your heart. If you don't hate first,
there is no possibility of murder.' How wise Jesus was!"43 This is a perfect example
of twisting the meaning of Jesus's words. While motive does play
a role in sin, there are objective standards instituted by God
and revealed in His Word which cannot be abrogated simply on
the basis of one's personal conviction. If, as so carelessly
stated by Paulk, "If you don't hate first, there is no possibility
of murder," then out of a motive of purifying society, and
with a "heavy heart," dominion overcomers may put dissenters
to death at will. Hit men for the mobs don't necessarily hate
their victims - for the most part they're indifferent to them.
Using Paulk's rationale, they are innocent no matter how many
people they kill. This is a chilling statement
that, without clarification, could possibly cause some neurotics
to get "trigger-happy." There is a strange paradox
revealed among some who, on the one hand denounce the atrocities
of Hitler, yet on the other hand passionately look forward to
the day they can "speak the word" or pull the trigger
that will destroy the "sinners" (and unyielding Christians)
they perceive as God's (i.e., their) enemies. Yet if the utopian
society of the dominion teachers is to be realized before Jesus
returns, a holocaust worse than any history has ever witnessed
must take place. The "holy wars" of early "Christianity"
may yet be revived. 1. "Harvest Time"
(Atlanta: Chapel Hill Harvester Church, December, 1984), p.15.
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