Dr. Patrick Dixon, MA, MBBS (British Publication) has written a book, entitled Signs Of Revival. The subtitle is "Detailed historical research throws light on today's move of God's Spirit." He was clearly a defender of the psychic phenomenon called "holy laughter." In a chapter entitled "Medical Perspectives On Manifestations" he made several incredible statements. Notice carefully these remarks. He names the "new phenomenon of laughter" and then states, "We need to look at the possibility of auto-suggestion, hysteria and crown phenomena being responsible for some of the effects on people's minds and bodies. Finally, I want to look at how many things, including prayer, fasting and speaking in tongues, can affect our conscious state, allowing us to become more or less aware of a spiritual dimension to living, how altered states of consciousness are produced in Christian experience, and are a normal part of charismatic faith." (Signs Of Revival, Dr. Patrick Dixon, MA, MBBS, p. 233)
He actually calls "altered states of consciousness" a normal part of Charismatic faith. I'm glad he said "Charismatic" instead of Biblical or "Classical Pentecostal." He further elaborates under a chapter subtitled, "Altered States Of Consciousness." "My own view is that we are not witnessing brainwashing on a grand scale, as Sargent would try to convince us, nor mass hysteria. We are, however, witnessing what happens when a large number of people experience an altered state of consciousness at the same time, as part of a profound spiritual experience." (Ibid., p. 258)
This same author asks the question, "What is an 'altered state of consciousness'?" and answers, "Our normal state is considered to be a waking state." Then there is the sleeping state. However the brain can also function in other states, too - altered states of consciousness. In our d a y - t o - d a y vocabulary we may refer to ASCs as trance, hypnosis, dream or ecstasy, depending on the situation and our worldview. Yet there are no satisfactory definitions of any of these terms in psychiatry.. ASCs are generally regarded negatively in Western culture and little research has been carried out in this field. Yet I believe it is the key to making sense of Christian experience, particularly what is happening in many churches today." (Ibid., pp. 259-260)
I conclude his quotes with this statement and six characteristics of ASCs as he names them, "one could argue that ASCs, in the context of faith in Christ and prayerful obedience, are the basis of dynamic, personal, relevant, living faith."
Signs Of Revival, Dr. Patrick Dixon, MA, MBBS, p. 260)
Here is the list of characteristics of an Altered State of Consciousness:
1. "Alterations in thinking."
2. "Altered sense of time."
3. "Loss of control."
4. "Changes in emotional expression."
5. "Body image changes."
6. "Perceptual changes or hallucinations." (Ibid. p. 261-263)
If anyone reading this article can still believe that this describes the marvelous activities of the Holy Spirit in the temple of Godly saints or even an honest repentant babe in Christ, please reread the Holy Scripture.
The Big Picture
"Holy Laughter is not an isolated phenomena. The see of occultic deception has been growing in the Charismatic / Evangelical world for a number of years. There is a clear integration between what is happening in the New Age cults and what is happening in the church. The direction is identical.
The Kansas City Prophets
The fellowship in Kansas City under Pastor Mike Bickle has exhibited clear occultic signs. In the book Some Said It Thundered, the whole story of this church is defended; yet, the picture is not a very pretty one. In his foreword Dr. John White stated, "Anyone who has experience in helping to nurture "baby prophets" realizes that they have difficulty in distinguishing the words that the Spirit speaks from those that come from their own hearts or even from evil sources. At first they make many mistakes. We know they hear from God because of the reality of the true words they speak. I suppose the biblical "schools of the prophets" dealt with this kind of problem." (Some Said It Thundered, David Pytches, p. xiv.) I have never heard of a "baby prophet" before. I have always believed God moved through people when they were spiritually prepared. I still do.
The entire story appears to connect the Kansas City Prophets back to the Latter Reign Movement of the forties and fifties. In fact, one of the ministries of that period, Paul Cain, is intimately tied to this story and serves with the staff of this church. The Latter Reign Movement was riddled with confusion, false doctrines, and was utterly rejected by the Pentecostal churches. Here is a quote from one of Cain's sermons at Kansas City Fellowship:
"You know this message is 35 years old and I'm preaching it again. Thank God I've found somebody to preach it to. I told you about the vision, what I've had. This recurring vision of standing at the crossroads of life and the angel of the Lord said, 'You are standing at the crossroads of life. What do you see? And I saw a brilliantly lit billboard which reads JOEL'S ARMY NOW IN TRAINING.. See I've been wanting to share this so long and find somebody - how would you like to have something on the back burner for 35 years and nobody had any - boy this is, I mean this isn't leftovers. I mean this has been hot with me all these years, but everywhere I tried to preach it, they cooked my goose. Don't you boo me. This kind of fiery preaching is a lot art today except in a very mild degree." (Joel's Army, cassette from Kansas City Prophets.)...
Paul Cain, according to details in the book and other sources, has exhibited psychic characteristics from his childhood.. Here is [a] story repeated in the book (Some Said It Thundered, David Pytches, p.52) "On his (Paul Cain) first visit to Anaheim (to visit John Wimber) in February 1998 Paul saw powerful lights across the room, and a strong sense of the presence of God was accompanied by revelations in the world of knowledge. On that occasion an expensive video camera was short-circuited. This was battery operated and not plugged into any outlet. The next night the telephone system was blown out though no one was on the phone at the time."
Is there any precedent for this kind of meta-physical or psychic powers in the Holy Scripture being identified as the work of the Holy Spirit? Such unbiblical thinking dominates almost every detail of these prophets. The writer of this book stated, "The responsibility for the subject matter lies not in the channel itself but in the source of the transmission or the choice of the person tuning into the program." That statement would imply that the whole matter is like tuning a radio, either to heavenly voices or hellish voices and all without any similitude of spiritual maturity.
In the scope of the author's interview with these so-called Kansas City individuals the following conversation was reported: "John Paul shared how the Lord had dealt with him over a problem he had with occasionally confused visions that came to him as flashbacks resulting from watching TV too much. He said that for the prophetic ministry that God had given him, the more television he watched the fewer true visions from God he could experience.
"Bob Jones agreed that the Lord would not him watch much TV either. 'I can't get into that fantasy realm - it cuts off my visions!' "They advised watching carefully against counterfeit visions of any kind. Someone mentioned alcohol as creating confusion, since when taken in excess people can begin to 'see' things.' Another problem they shared was the danger of confusion over revelations where the person receiving them had particularly strong opinions, prejudices, or unresolved bitterness in certain areas. It was easy to distort such revelations and color their own interpretations." (Some Said It Thundered, David Pytches, p. 108)
I was amazed to see drinking "excessive" alcohol listed as a possible deterrent to giving good prophecies. Please note wtat Bob Jones called prophetic revelations getting into the fantasy realm.
Kansas City And A Paradigm Shift
The author of this book clearly identified his experiences with the "Kansas City Prophets" as a paradigm shift. This New Age term is not lightly used by capable skilled writers. The meaning is dynamite to anyone that knows this age and spirit of the Antichrist. Every New Ager is calling for a "paradigm shift." Writer David Pytches said, "We felt we were experiencing a paradigm shift - we were beginning to see another way of looking at the foundational things we held dear, without having in any way to discard them. Perhaps that is what the Bible meant when it spoke about scales falling from Paul's eyes." (Some Said It Thundered, David Pytches, p. 140).
Barbara Hubbard (noted New Ager) writes in her books: "Teachings from the Inner Christ, how the human race will soon experience a day of 'Planetary Pentecost.' Hubbard, claiming to be in contact with 'Christ,' writes 'the Planetary Smile is another name for the Planetary Pentecost. When enough of us share a common thought (paradigm shift) of our oneness with God, Spirit will be poured out on all flesh paying attention' (p.79). In her book 'The Revelation', Hubbard says, 'Christ,' in describing the planetary smile, said: 'an uncontrollable joy will ripple through the thinking layer of the earth... This massive sudden empathic alignment will cause a shift in the consciousness (paradigm shift) of Earth' (p. 234-235). Writing in 'Happy Birthday Planet Earth,' Hubbard repeats what she heard from 'Christ.' He said, 'as the planetary smile ripples through the nervous systems of earth, separation is overcome, and I appear to all of you at once." (p.10-11). (The words "paradigm shift" added at appropriate places.) SCP Newsletter, Volume 19:2, p. 13. Published by Spiritual Counterfeits Project, PO Box 4308, Berkeley, Ca 94704).
Pentecostals / Charismatics / Evangelicals are having the same paradigm shift. They are learning a complete new way of looking at things, plus, they are using new "enlightened" words to still claim and describe the old discarded truth. All of this is identical to what is happening to the leading New Agers. The Planetary Pentecost described by Hubbard is identical to the d i f f e r e n t phenomenons going on in present day churches. Is it an accident or the "plan" ?
Fear Mongers: Warnings Of Judgment
The printed materials of these writers are filled with constant pronouncements and warnings of judgment to all resisters. They say that anyone who resists this "new move of God" is an enemy to the Lord. Notice how Kenneth Copeland warns his audiences and readers with fear mongering, "One of these days, you may just be talking to someone asking them how things went at church last Sunday, and they may say, Oh, it was great! The glory of God was strong it healed ten cripples, opened the ears of thirty deaf people, cured seven cases of cancer and killed Brother Bigmouth and Sister Strife." ("Voice of Victory" October 94)
Christians have a vital choice to make, Copeland says, "When the fire of God begins to burn and the rivers of the Spirit start to flow, he'll have to do one of two things: he'll either have to yield to the Spirit and let go of that sin by repenting, or he'll have to resist the flood of God's Spirit and be swept away." (Mainstream, Winter 1994, p.3. Published by Banner Ministries, Box 23, Belper, Derbys DE561QR, UK.)
In Rick Joyner's latest book, Epic Battles Of The Last Days, his two themes appear to be 1) a call to battle and 2) a constant fear mongering to scare the socks of anyone who resists. He states, "Criticism is one of the ultimate manifestations of pride because, whenever we criticize someone else we are by that assuming that we are superior to them. Pride brings that which any rational human being should fear the most - God's resistance. We would be better off having all of the demons in hell resisting us than God!" (Epic Battles Of the Last Days. Rick Joyner, P.23.)
He appears to believe everyone is a stumbling block that resists these new directions. Whatever subject he discussed, he used it to warn people about judgment or resistance against what his book represents. When he discussed witchcraft, Jezebel or Antichrist he applied it to resisters. Of Jezebel he said, "Jezebel, who is one of the archetypes of witchcraft in scripture, used her power to control her husband who was the authority over Israel. She was able to bring such depression upon Elijah that he sought death over life, even after his greatest spiritual victory. There is great power in this evil; those who are ignorant of it, or who presumptuously disregard its potential to affect them, are very often brought down by it, usually without even knowing what hit them." (Ibid, P.78)
He did not ever touch what Jezebel really represented. His book can best be described as propaganda for the new theology and self-styled theologians that are sweeping churches. I get the feeling he is the New Breed's rear guard to scare anyone who dares to resist or tell the truth about his false teachings.
Francis Frangipane does the same kind of fear mongering in his materials. In his booklet entitled The Jezebel Spirit he writes, "Jezebel's worst enemies are the prophets; her worst fear is that the people will embrace repentance. Jezebel hates repentance. Though this spirit will infiltrate the church, masking its desire for control with true Christian doctrines, it will hide from true repentance.. Jezebel hates the prophets, for the prophets speak out against her. The prophets are her worst enemies. When she wars, it is to stir people, against the message of the prophetic church. More than she hates the prophets, she hates the word they speak." (The Jezebel Spirit, Francis Frangipane, p.6)
The Fourth Dimension, Paul Yonggi Cho
Probably no one helped prepare the church world for this deception better than Reverend Cho. Tricia Tillin describes him and his ideas in an excellent publication from the United Kingdom. "Paul (David) Yonggi Cho teaches the same thing. In 'The Fourth Dimension' he tells of his frustration that Buddhist monks and yogic healers could perform miracles. Then the Holy Spirit supposedly revealed to him that the fourth dimenion, the spirit realm, is available to all whether Christian or not, for it contains both good and evil powers. 'So men, by exploring their spiritual sphere of the fourth dimension of visions and dreams in their imaginations, can brood over and incubate the third dimension (the material world) influencing it and changing it.' This applies to all men alike. Because God gave man dominion over the earth, says Cho, unbelievers can 'develop their inner spiritual being' and change the material world. Thus Christians also have the responsibility to 'realize their inner potential' and manipulate the fourth dimension for good." (Mainstream, Winter 1994, p.11. Published by Banner Ministries, Box 23, Belper, Derbys DE56 1QR, UK.) Rev. Cho is dealing with "psychic phenomena" and the depraved soul, not the Holy Spirit. While there are some temporary results to these kinds of activities, they are totally evil and will eventually turn on the person's head.
"Pre-Tribulation Rapture" Replaced with "Territorial Spirits" and "Dominion Theology"
Behind much of the present deception and/ or confusion is the new prophetic view of Jesus Christ and His coming. Only few short years have passed since the dominant message in the Evangelical World was the "imminent Rapture before the Great Tribulation." Even those who held to a mid or post-tribulation view were very close in spiritual kinship to the pretrib view and proponents.
A deep bitterness now exists toward the traditional view of prophecy. This new breed of prophets and spokespersons is preparing for all out war to take the kingdom. Paul Cain says there will by an army, called Joel's Army, and that God will equip them to perform His judgments. In the book, 'Some Said It Thundered,' the Kansas City Fellowship is identified as the location for training this army.
"By the time Paul Cain arrived in Kansas City the fellowship was well settled into their new meeting place at the Grandview Worship Center. Paul immediately recognized the location from the crossroad outside as the place which the Lord had showed him many times (possibly twenty, over as many years) as a spiritual training center for the soldiers of Joel's army that God was raising up for the coming revival.
"'Many years ago,' said Paul, 'I came to the crossroads of life and I saw a vision of an illuminated billboard on which was written: "Joel's army in training." It was on these crossroads with an arrow pointing to this spot - though there was no building on it then! I believe God has shown me that he is going to raise up an army. This army is not a destructive army but a deliverance army.. '" (Some Said It Thundered, David Pytches, p.132.) His idea of deliverance is not the traditional loving idea. It's "bow or burn" that these men are talking about.
Roger Forster wrote in a foreword to the book, 'Territorial Spirits', "These structures (territorial principalities) will be refurbished with a whole new personnel. The final overthrow of Satan's rebellious colonial government by the central government of God is preceded by the faith-sons of Abraham bringing blessing to all the families of the earth. This demands territorials claims and advance through the earth." (Emphasis added.) "Eventually, this resistance movement can provide sufficient numbers of trained personnel to take over the authority and administration of the colony from Satan and his angels, giving the least amount of disturbance to the heavenly sturctural powers.. until such a network of resistance against Satan is found all over the earth, the second coming of our Lord is held up and his total reign restrained." (Mainstream, Spring 1994,p.10.)
The following statements show how widely [accepted] this view of this dominion theology have become.
Cindy Jacobs: "Today's praying church is rising up in militant force to possess the promised land of our nations." John Dawson: "There is not one reason why we, the Church, should concede one square inch of this planet to government of territorial spirits. This is our planet."
Francis Frangipane: "All spiritual warfare is waged over one essential question: who will control reality on earth - heaven or hell?.. We must see that our prayers, attitudes and agreement with God are an integral part of establishing the reality of the kingdom of God on earth! (Mainstream, Spring 1994, p.10)
[Editor's Note: "Today I am living in the spiritual substance of what was just a dream 30 years ago. My ambitions have suffered greatly, yet my dreams are being fulfilled. Though I have not yet stepped into the fullness of my calling, I understand the difference between ambition and ministry, and it is this: Ministry is a call, not to lead but to die... I have also faced persecution from other Christians, particularly those who fear the idea of unity.." (Francis Frangipane, The Death of Ambition, Charisma, September 2000 p.91,92)]
Rick Joyner, probably one of the most clever writers of this new breed, says the following, "The church is at war. This war will not end because we do not like it, or we do not want to fight. Fortresses of darkness are being raised up in all directions - in government, schools, business, entertainment, in our neighborhoods - they are even being raised up in the church! ... Even so, as improbable as it may seem at this time - we have the enemy surrounded! The church is about to win her greatest victory. This is her finest hour - the retreat is over and the advance is about to begin." "..this generation has been called to carry the banner of the Lord into the greatest epic battle of all time. The last day church has been given one of the greatest privileges that has ever been bestowed by God upon men - to be on the field of the battle for the ultimate confrontation between light and darkness." (Epic Battles Of The Last Days, Rick Joyner, p.13)
The Lord has already defeated our enemies. He could have banished them to hell on the day of His resurrection, but He left them here for us because He wants His bride to share the honor! In these last days she will surely be, 'As awesome as an army with banners (Song of Solomon 6:10)"
"The Lord has called His bride to rule and reign with Him as joint heir. He let this conflict continue for over 2,000 years so that His bride could prove herself and grow in the faithfulness and grace that is needed for her great position." "The whole creation, including the principalities and powers, is watching to see what the church is really made of. Will we love the Lord, truth, and righteousness, more than we love this present world? Only those who love not their own lives unto death are fit for the great throne that has been prepared for this bride of Christ."
"This book is but one trumpet call among many that are now calling the saints to battle." (Epic Battles Of the Last Days, Rick Joyner, p.14.) This confused jargon is so utterly contrary to Biblical truth that it would be laughable if not for its deception. Mr. Joyner mixes a little bit of truth that applies to the future Millennium after Jesus returns to establish His kingdom with Kingdom Dominion Theology. "No error is ever so powerful as that error that is so filled with truth." You can read numerous accounts and prophecies describing this kind of Spiritual scenario. No wonder they are angry with Bible-believing Christians. Our refusal to give up our conviction that this world is a sinking Titanic and needs God's judgment is hindering their effort to defeat the devil in the heavenlies and establish their earthly kingdom. There is a spirit in the entire doctrine that is foreign to Scripture. I believe that many who are caught in this web have already experienced the paradigm shift I mentioned earlier. They do not perceive the truth of Scripture any longer.
All the hype about a worldwide revival that will sweep billions into this religious kingdom fits the devil's New World Religion, but it is totally contrary to the Holy Scripture. Satan and his angels will be cast out of heaven, but Michael and the holy angels will be the ones to perform the task. Christians meeting to bind territorial spirits is not a Biblical instruction. Many are sincere souls wandering from one hype to the next like sheep without a shepherd.
The Big Picture: Clear Demonic Deception
Christianity Today published an article several years ago, entitled "Are Charismatics Going Cultic?" It is clear that a large percentage of their churches are clearly operating in patterns of deceit and confusion. Ministering by radio and our prophecy publication, plus other materials; I communicate with thousands of pastors. The one absolute truth that I have witnessed, no church or individual that clings to true Biblical holiness and proven Biblical prophecy has fallen prey to these deceptive doctrines. Biblical holiness provides a pure conscience that is absolutely essential to a healthy and pure mind and good discernment. Any sincere person can put the books, cassette, video, etc. that has inundated the church in the garage or garbage and take the Word of God (simple and plain) and have a personal awakening that will change their life. God is still ministering in the hearts of men. You can see a miracle, body or soul, just as easily as any minister or evangelist. You do not have the privilege of waiting! It's time to seek the Lord Jesus. [Source: The End Times & Victorious Living Newsletter, by Joseph R. Chambers, Pawcreek Ministries - September / October, 2000 (800) 338-7884]