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7B UK REVIVAL INTERCESSIONS

Blockage 3 -

The Charismatic Movement

Dealing With the Blockages

We expose the blockage coming through Rick Joyner, the huge growth of the Charismatic Movement and the Knights of St. John which are involved in building up their Kingdom, whilst destroying fellowships holding onto the Nation’s Protestant Constitution.

 

In restoring the Bible we are aware of the impossibility of the task. We are a fellowship under constant attack by the religious establishment in Wales, so much so that we are constantly defending our position that has affected our ability to gain ground in a land that once knew revival. 

 

In getting to the bottom of this we look at four publications mentioned in the Bibliography. These presentations give clear insight into our problem in “breaking through” in Wales with Holy Ghost led Revival of the Chapel tradition rather than that of the Roman Catholic authorised infiltration that like Constantine embraced is a mish mash of apparent Christian doctrine with paganism.

 

We have to ask if the carnal establishment has roots in anything religious for it seems that if one is not in a certain order nothing will go for you. Advertised meetings produce no interest, Christian outreaches produce no gain unless they are connected to something! 

 

The charismatics are flourishing however with an apparent revival at Cwmbran and well attended meetings throughout Wales. Why is this? What can be happening for while there is this flourishing there is an almost total ignoring of those who stand for the Constitutional Principles of the Protestant Reformation, those who stand for the principles of pioneer Pentecostal and Mission Hall fellowships of the 1920’s and of those who reject the notion of the new Charismatic revivals that have fooled so many despite of the obvious fact of their connection to witchcraft and the integration of paganism and Christianity that goes back to Constantine.  

Rick Joyner of Morning Star Ministries so beloved of modern charismatic ministries in Wales with his connections to the Kansas City Prophets, Toronto, Wagner, Warren and Bentley of Lakeland has written a book embracing the Knights of St John, an order with a Grandmaster clearly linked historically with the Order of the Knights of Malta that is within the York Rite of freemasonry. Incredible as this may seem this order seems to have moved from the military activity of the Crusades that included naval activity in the Mediterranean to being a protector in Wales of aline of Christianity that has become the respected order in Wales. Anything outside of this seems to be dealt with by those who will infiltrate Protestant movements to manipulate them back into the fold or if this is impossible destroy them through legal or official channels.

In his book Courage that Changed the World Rick Joyner presents the Order as a “little band” that saved Europe from Islam becoming known as “The Knights of Malta”. To become a Knight of Malta which seems to be Joyner’s invitation one has to make a vow, the concept of swearing a vow being alien to Christianity never to retreat before the enemies of the Cross but as we look at St. John’s Order Cross we see another Cross. As we see the Cross of Catholicism we see a sun around it, the Sun being the physical entity of which Baal is God according to occultic understanding.

Matthew 5:33-35 King James Version (KJV) 

 

Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King

Relating the physical exploits of St John to the apparent spiritual exploits of the Charismatic movement Joyner goes back to the exploits of the Crusades when from 1096 to 1291 apparent Christians swept across the Middle East in military activities to recapture the Holy Land from Islam. In this context Joyner admits the merciless blood lusted activities of apparent Christians whose evangelistic efforts where based on enforcement through threat rather than the free choice God offers. From this militaristic base in 1113 the Pope recognised a transition to becoming servants of hospitals, the support of a hospital in Jerusalem from Wales having its base in military action rather than humanitarian care. It was as if there was being an establishment in the physical senses of there being a combination of threats of destruction combined with a desire to care for people, an aspect still alive today as we show later.

In the militaristic sense the last garrison of the Knights of St John according to Joyner died as the last Christian defenders of Palestine, the few survivors moving to the harbour and ultimately says Joyner becoming great mariners once settling at Rhodes, the East and West “Church” at this time going through their great splits whilst Islam was unifying.

Whilst all this was going on the Order of St John had become very wealthy from the booty of the Crusades and from what they had captured from Muslim ships and caravans. The Knights as Joyner continues also restricted the growth of the Ottoman Empire by their sea battles from their fortified base of Rhodes.

 

 Joyner is overwhelming in his support of the Knights with their Grandmaster (a title which should strike alarm with Christians) D’Aubusson resisting the Muslim attacks in Rhodes. This support even turns defeat into victory with Joyner saying that the Knights had gained the respect of the World even to the point of unravelling the Ottoman Empire.

Seemingly against the gains of the Reformation over Roman Catholicism Joyner instead of becoming excited about the new freedoms focuses on the Knights now arriving at Malta. We now gain understanding of the Masonic title. It would seem they were again preparing tog ain ground with Lafayette becoming Grandmaster in 1557. The fortifications built at Malta declares Joyner holds back the Muslims whilst in England Henry VIII had confiscated the Order’s property after which Queen Elizabeth I according to this publicity agent for the Order even acknowledged that Europe would have fallen to the Muslims if it had not been for the Order!

 

Queen Elizabeth I was the great Protestant Monarch that restored the great Constitutional Acts of our Nation restoring the 1534 Act of Supremacy after Queen Mary re-established the Knights in  Britain whilst suppressing the Protestant Reformation. The Elizabethan Settlement in its determination to keep Britain Protestant forbids foreign influence in spiritual and temporal affairs yet today we discover the British Royal family involved in the knights, HRH Duke of Gloucester admitting being proud to be associated with the knights.

 

There is no suppression therefore today in Britain as the Elizabethan Settlement demands of foreign spiritual activity that affects our Protestant Christianity. Knights and Dames of the order clearly influence our “Church life” to coincide with the objectives of the modern agenda to follow. This infiltration is not new with Florence Nightingale being made a “lady of Grace of the Order of St John in1901, the English order following onto having both Roman Catholic and Anglican members, the Order moving onto establish the St. John Ambulance Brigade linked to the Ophthalmic Hospital in Jerusalem. Clearly breaking the nation’s constitutional acts Queen Victoria granted the Knights a charter; the British Royal Order of Chivalry. What a base therefore do Joyner’s charismatics have to build on, with the second Queen Elizabeth alienating herself from the first by becoming the Sovereign Head of the Order of St John. 

In Wales the influence of the Knights is pre-reformation, Ivor Wynne-Jones, in his bookThe Order of St John in Wales takes the influence back to the1100’s. Here Wynne-Jones relates how Giraldus of St. Asaph and Ifan ap Rhys of Trebrys gave up land at what was then Dolgynwyl for the Hospitallers of St. John to set up a hospice at what is now Ysbyty Ifan or Ifan’s Hospital. The hospice was built and the Church of John the Baptist. It is presumed this was with the approval of the then Prince of Wales Llywelyn the Great.

 

In 1282 Llywelyn Ap Gruffydd, last Sovereign Prince of Wales was defeated by King Edward I who was quick to recognise and accept the Knights of St. John at Ysbyty Ifan whose the Master was Ednyfed.

 

Edward II who succeeded to the English and Welsh throne in 1307 gave a confirmatory Charter according to Wynne-Jones declaring; To all sons of Holy Mother Church, Llywelyn Prince of Aberfraw and Lord of Snowdonia, know that I have conceded in free alms to the house of the Hospital of Jerusalem of Dolgynwal, and the brethren of St. John, all the church of Ellesmere for the need of the poor in Christ, as it belongs to us by right of patronage, donation or presentation.

With Palestine seemingly lost for ever to the knights but as Joyner points out with the threat to Europe abated, the Order as it does today thrived in Europe, for it is this order that prospers in keeping the order of the religious status quo, the new charismatic movements thriving too with this protection. 

 

Wynne Jones takes this thrivin gback to 1312 when the Pope gave the Order for most of the property belonging tot he Knights Templar, an order with a position just higher than St John in the York Rite of freemasonry to be giving to the St. John knights. This giving of property included estates in Wales, and according to Wynne-Jones some time before 1338 the Ysbyty Ifan estates were combined with the commandery of the order at Halston, near Oswestry. 

 

The Ysbyty Ifan estate now included Penmachno andits watermill and the grange at Gwanas near Dolgellau and the manor and church at Carno, the grange of Llanwyddyn with the church at Tregynon. It is obvious in all of this property gaining that the Order has no idea of what the Church is with references constantly referring to the physical rather than the spiritual, a serious problem today in the so called Church in Wales and the charismatic movement that emphasizes physical signs and experience related events rather than the Word of God.

 

As in the present day charismatic movement in Wales and beyond rank is very important in the Order from Pastor or Commander as in the Order down. Likewise the emphasis on ministering to others rather than God brings the present day charismatics and the Order of the same doctrine and emphasis. Despite of the apparent militaristic background not coming to the fore there has still been some turbulent times for the Order with what they call the Church at Clerkenwell being destroyed in the Peasant’s Revolt of 1381 but they rebuilt it as theyre built the hospice at Ysbyty Ifan after Owain Glyndwr destroyed it.

 

Significantly Wynne Jones blames Owain Glyndwr and his activities for the breakdown of law and order claiming that powers of the Order were abused but despite of this surely Glyndwr was simply looking to bring Wales back into Welsh rule. Likewise today as we are looking to restore the ethos of the non-conformist Chapel movement to Wales, we are being looked at as lawless rebels and nothing could be further than the truth for it is in the Constitutional Acts of Britain that sees Wales as an equal partner in the Union not coming under England but under God. These acts give legal protection the Protestant remnant or do they as they are widely ignored or unknown?

Rebellion against St John Order control was not unique to Wales for in 1523 the order accepted defeat at Rhodes when residents rose up against them, the Order departing the island with alltheir considerable possessions. 

 

Wynne Jones recalls that the now famous Wynn family of North Wales, famous in the twentieth century for supporting a Roman Catholic form of nationalism in Wales including a dramatic protest before the Prince Charles Investiture actually took a stand against the Order in the seventeenth century, Sir John Wynn in his History of the Gwydir Family declaring, There continually fostered a wasps nest which troubled the whole country. I mean a lordship belonging to St John of Jerusalem, called Ysbyty Ifan, a large thing that had privilege of sanctuary, a peculiar jurisdiction not governed by the king’s laws, a receptacle of thieves and murderers who safely being warranted there by law, made the pace thoroughly peopled, no place within 20 miles was safe from their incursions and robbery……… kept most part of that country all waste and without inhabitant. Today Wales lacks the prosperity of its own resources, the nation being one of receiving constant grants. 

 

Great social and medical expenditure is at the forefront rather than being an industrious land with the true Church taking its constitutional position rather than coming under a religious system seemingly supported by the Order than is either based in charismatic heavy shepherding and apparent spiritual yet physical experience or the Church in Wales hotch potch of dead religion combined with paganism!

Clearly the account of Sir John Wynn clashes with Wynne Jones perspective, a classic divide in a nation that is continually at odds with itself!

 

The history of the Order in Wales shows the importance that if we can have a Monarch that actually stands on what King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I brought into being we can have protection from foreign order that look to instill an alien form of Christianity upon us. Thank God Henry dissolved the monasteries that had a great effect on the Order in 1540 with the Order’s property confiscated. Thank God Queen Mary’s efforts to restore the foreign rule were suppressed in 1558 by Elizabeth who gave the land at Ysbyty Ifan to Reformer Dr Ellis Pryce and Thomas Fychan but we have to ask where are these reformers today in Wales? Where is the once powerful Chapel movement that influenced the political and social scene? The Order came back with respectability with a Royal Charter granted by Queen Victoria in 1888 and the forming of the St. John Ambulance Brigade in 1877.

 

Those of the Protestant Reformation are now seen as outsiders in Wales despite of their strong legal position in the Constitutional Acts which are illegally and treasonably widely ignored in the legal circles of Wales. We need the real reformed Church to rise to take over and give freedom of choice to the people who continuously moan of how their perspective of Church is one of deadness, control and manipulation of which they want no part.

 

Gossip and legal action against remnant Protestant fellowships abounds in Wales and even the reformer who took over Ysbyty Ifan is presented as one who had dealings with the devil!

 

Whilst we observe Joyner’s analysis of the worldwide modern agenda of the Order Wynne Jones gives the peculiar objectives of those of the order in Wales:

i)                          Encouragement of all that makes for spiritual and moral strengthening of mankind in accordance with the first great principle of the Order embodied in the motto Pro Fide. Here again we see the emphasis on mankind rather than God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. Nothing seems to have changed from Old Testament day with the emphasis being on the Sons of Eli to minister to each other. It is for present day Sons of Zadok to rise up and emphasis the pre-eminence of Christ Jesus and the ministry to Him primarily.

 

ii)                        Encouragement and promotion of all work and charity for the relief of persons in sickness, distress, suffering or danger, without distinction of sex, class or creed, and the extension of the second great principle of the Order embodied in the motto Pro Utilitate Hominum. Putting God first gives the supernatural strength to meet the needs of the people, the true Christian understanding that it not the works of righteousness that brings salvation to the people for “churches” that emphasize this always put the people under suppression for it is not God but Satan! II Cor. 4:4

 

iii)                    Control and Operations of St John Ambulance in Wales (where there are about 7,000members, of whom 3,000 are cadets.) The Brigade also has an Air Wing, based on Cardiff Airport. This organisation because of undoubted good works is right on the forefront of good reputation but what of its spiritual credentials? Would God emphasize the good works or the coming to Him by his Spirit?

 

iv)                   Recommendation to the Grand Prior of the award of medals, badges, certificates of honour for special services in the cause of humanity, especially for saving, or attempting to save life at imminent personal risk. Whilst it is clear from the Bible to give one’s life for another is of great sacrifice one has to remember the context here of the pre-eminence of the Saviour who gave his life for us all and his name is missing from this list of Welsh objectives and from the list presented by Joyner.

 

v)                       Assistance in the maintenance and development of the St John Ophthalmic Hospital in Jerusalem. Whilst care for those in need is of great importance this work clearly has its origins in the Crusades of such violence that brought murderous gangs of squalor to the Middle East in the name of Christendom rather than a connection with those who look to reach every creature with the Gospel, a Gospel that has at its pre-eminence the Saviour who took the violence for mankind rather than give it to people, then look to heal them.

 

The valiant deeds of the Knights however according to Joyner were soon forgotten after Islam ceased to be a threat. This charismatic leader however declares that the Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta is today recognised as the World’s oldest Order of Chivalry with a headquarters established again in Malta.

Joyner has listed the Knights modern agenda:

 

i)               To defend the Christian faith. This however is faith as they see it bringing a Roman agenda that has to be established across Christendom, those with an Early Church agenda being suppressed and being brought back into establishment like the Primitive Methodists were by the use of Higher Criticism and its Roman “Bibles”.

 

ii)            Preserving truth and honour. The “truth” of the Knights however is never presented as Jesus, but truth as they see it, a self-righteousness truth that in our view comes with control.

 

iii)        Devotion to serving “our Lords, poor and sick.” The Knights must be seen to do this, a point alien to true Christianity.

 

iv)         Each knight dedicates himself to Christian service and humility. Good works and humility is the mark of the counterfeit Church, the true Church recognising its position as Christ Jesus body starting in humility at the Cross but moving onto resurrection power.

 

v)             The wearing of the Eight pointed cross. Roman Catholicism portrays a different Cross to the Cross of Jesus Christ and this St John Cross is akin to the Roman Catholic Cross of Baal, the sun god as you see on this picture.

 

vi)         The portraying of a motto: “As we are united in Christ, we are unite in one another.” No mention of the name of Jesus here, Christ meaning “ anointed” but there is another Jesus in the Bible following on from Lucifer’s Isaiah 14 declaration.

 

vii)     Applicants must be practicing and exemplary Christians, active in Church, doing charitable works, helping those in need, the sick, orphans and aged. 

 

Applicants to be a Christian need to be as Christ Jesus; John 5:30.

Joyner concludes by determining that the knights seem to be called into the last battle between light and darkness, Joyner’s Lord apparently having true noblemen and families throughout the World calling divisions petty. Jesus however came to divide and so Joyner calls the Lord’s mission petty? Luke 12:52.

 

Joyner’s final sentence declares that some of these knights may be in your Church. Indeed this is true, in our view to bring about an honour of this World rather than the honour of being the manifestation of Christ Jesus on this earth; John 4:17.

 

Bibliography

Courage that Changed the World: Rick Joyner. Morning Star Publications, Wilkesboro, USA

The Masonic Lodge, What You Need to Know: Ed Decker. Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon.

Hospitallers, The History of the Order of St John: Jonathan Riley-Smith. Hambledon Press, 1999.

The Order of St. John in Wales: Ivor Wynne Jones, Llechwedd Publications, Blaenau Ffestiniog, 1993.

Blockage 4 - The Apostate Pentecostal Movements

Written in 2007-08 (2013/14 comments written in brown - 2013 Note: The Links were active in 2008 but may not be today!)

 

The Truth about the Once Great Pentecostal Movements

Introduction, Contents, Parts 1 & 2

 

Assemblies of God GB & Ireland

ELIM

APOSTOLIC (formerly of Wales)

 

 Once Great Pentecostal Movements now become Egyptian Gnostic Cults

 

David P Griffiths  shows the need for a "Continuing" Church

 

A Network for those called of God to continue the work of the Great Pentecostal Pioneers like Smith Wigglesworth, Charles Harthern, Howard Carter, George Jeffreys and D P Williams

This work honours the founders of these once great movements with a heart

for once more seeing these movements

brought back to the sound doctrines and practices of their called of God founders

 

Introduction

 

Praise the Lord! This work has been on my heart for many, many years. It is a startling revelation of how within one hundred years once great movements should move from being powerhouses of God to being centres of filthy rags, bound to contemporary culture and despicable “Bible translations” that even deny the deity of our Precious Lord Jesus!

 

We are called to form a network of Continuing Churches to continue from the pure beginnings, the ancient landmark of holiness and Pentecostal Power.

 

I believe too that God would have us take back each and every one of these movements and place them in the hands of those sold out to the original vision.

 

Yes, in 2013 we remain committed to this, God leading us to restore the historic Bible College of Wales which will give firm ministry training to those led to take these movements back.

 

Contents

 

Part 1:  History of the Movements   

Assemblies of God U.K. & Ireland            

Elim                                                               

Apostolic (Wales)                                        

 

Part 2: Where it all went wrong       

Textual Criticism                                         

I. What is textual criticism?                       

II. Assemblies of God warning 1924        

III. Petts present day example         

Who is Petts?                                                       

Petts three points                                        

Petts arguments                                          

 

A. The Major NT Texts                          

R.T. France                                                  

The Differences                                           

 

B. A Discussion of

Major NT Themes                                   

Quotes from Jeffreys, McCrossan,

Murray, A.B. Simpson, Bosworth             

 

C. Difficulties with the doctrine

And a proposed modification             

 

Part 3: Gnostic Belief System

With a new “Bible”                                

 

I. Textual Critics Westcott & Hort           

First Belief: Westcott = Anti –preacher  

Second Belief: God’s Word changes        

Third Belief: Roman Catholic                   

Apostolics in Inverness now hip hopping

Slow dancing embracers of Catholic

Manuscripts                                                 

Fourth Belief: Lack of Faith                      

Fifth Belief: Anti Evangelical                    

Sixth Belief: Pro Darwin                            

Seventh Belief: Christ Bearing Our Sins

A Heresy                                                       

Eighth Belief: Protestantism Temporary

Ninth Belief: Blasphemers towards the

Real Word                                                    

Tenth Belief: New “Original Greek”

Contrary to Nicene Creed                          

 

II. Egyptian Gnostic Background    

Elim’s Toronto                                             

Smith Wigglesworth to Alpha

Comparison                                                  

The Root of Gnosticism 

Egyptian Thoth at Elim Bible College                            

Greek Hermes in theological institutions

Counterfeit love that tolerates                  

Jesus reduced to being a mere “he”         

Haven for Gnostic devils                            

“New form” of Christianity                        

Pentecostal movements now cults           

Pentecostal movements new “Bibles” in

Agreement with Egyptian J.W. belief      

 

Pentecostal movements new doctrines

Based on “new translations               

Doctrine 1 – Jesus now “a god”                

Doctrine 2 – God did not manifest           

Doctrine 3 – Joseph was Jesus father     

Doctrine 4 - Made "through him"

Doctrine 5 – Jesus not to be worshipped

Pentecostal movements embracing

Arianism                                                       

Nicene Creed comparison                         

 

Further evidence of a new “Jesus” 

Title 1: The Capstone                                  

Title 2:The Morning Star for Lucifer too!        

 

Part 4: The Way Forward: A Return to the Real Book & Standing on its promises …..

                                                                       

I. Assemblies of God Statement of Faith Examination                                           

Major Major Problem: Petts rejects that Matthew 8:17 teaches that healing is in the atonement p.79

 

II. Elim Fundamental Truths Examination

                                                                       

Man of One Book                                        

Bible College with no Bible!                      

Healing Missing!                                         

 

III. The Apostolic Church Tenets Examination followed by the Way Forward          

Part 1:  History of the Movements                                     

1)     Assemblies of God G.B. & Ireland

 

In 1924 the A.O.G. of the USA came into being responding to the call of God to form networks after the Azusa Street Revival, Los Angeles.

 

In UK Charles Harthern, Donald Gee and Howard Carter were early pioneers of this movement, the doctrinal base being firmly established at this time.

 

In the A.O.G. Redemption Tidings of July 1924 Smith Wigglesworth declared the following:

 

i)                The power of Pentecost as it came at first came to loose men. God wants us free on every line. Men or women are tired of imitations; they want reality; they want to see people who have the living Christ within, and are filled with Holy Ghost power.

 

ii)            Our Christ is risen. He is a living Christ who indwells us. We must not have this truth merely as a theory, Christ must be risen in us by the power of the Spirit. The power that raised him from the dead must animate us, and as this glorious resurrection power surges through your being, you will be freed from your weaknesses and you will become strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.

 

iii)         I believe in the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the speaking of tongues, and I believe that every man that is baptized in the Holy Ghost will speak in other tongues as the Spirit gives him utterance. I believe in the Holy Ghost. And if you are filled with the Spirit you will be superabounding in life – living waters will flow from you.

 

2)     Elim

 

Albert Edsor in his great book to the Elim Movement ‘Set Your House In Order’ sensitively deals with the humble origins of the Elim Movement operating as the Elim Evangelistic Band from 1915.

Part 2 of this presentation is very significant for it gives a complete outline as to why Elim is so different today from its landmark roots of 1915. Elim’s founder George Jeffreys is described as “A Man of the Book”.

 

2013- the only way for true unity within Elim is a return to the landmark with the higher critics, Toronto/Lakeland Brigade leaving unless they repent of the rebellion and destruction they have caused.

 

Edsor refers to E.C.W. Boulton’s reference to early meetings at Clapham. At one time the Hammer of the Word is brought with crushing and irresistible force upon empty profession, and at another the Word is opened up in such a marvellous way that heights of attainment, hitherto deemed impossible, have been made plain to many a longing heart, and never without results. Conversions, healings, and baptisms in the Holy Spirit have followed at every meeting. Souls have been saved even at the open-air meetings. The large hall at the rear of the building is frequently filled and sometime overcrowded with anxious souls. Edsor: Set Your House In Order p. 38

 

Edsor reports Jeffrey’s passion for the Foursquare Gospel of Christ Jesus: Saviour, Healer, Baptizer in the Holy Ghost and Coming King. P.42.

 

The most significant sentence in the whole of the book which differentiates the Elim of yesterday to the Elim of today is as follows:

He was a man of one Book – The Authorised Version of the Bible, which he loved and treasured and from which he derived great spiritual strength.

George Jeffreys

3)     Apostolic (formerly of Wales)

 

The Apostolic Church was a group that formed as a result of the Welsh Revival in PenyGroes, North of Swansea. An early attender who later became leader was D.P. Williams. He had been saved in the Revival on 25 December 1904, hands being laid upon him by Revivalist Evan Roberts.

Having a sound doctrinal base was regarded as very important to these Apostolic Pioneers. This covered the areas of Conviction of sin, Repentance, Restitution and Confession; Justification and Sanctification; The Baptism of the Holy Ghost, with the sign of New Tongues; Divine Healing for the body; The Blood of Jesus. Pleading and Sprinkling; the Gifts of the Holy Ghost; Eternal Punishment for the Unbelieving; The Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; The Millennium Reign; Tithes and Offerings; Ordinances. Water Baptism by Immersion, The Lord's Supper. Fellowship and Breaking of Bread; The Divine Inspiration, authority and sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures; The Unity of the Godhead and the Trinity of the Persons therein; The utter depravity of human nature in consequence of the Fall; The Incarnation and Virgin-Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and His work of Atonement for all sinners of the human race; The immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body and the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to judge the quick and the dead; the eternal blessedness of the righteous, and the eternal punishment of the wicked.

28 December 2010: Early Apostolic Bible College Notes discovered this year show an early Apostolic stand on the Co-Existent/Co-Equal Godhead - a doctrine seemingly denied today by the New Apostolics.

 

2013 - The clear move away from conviction preaching to appeasing the modern flesh of congregations has seen a once great holiness institution turn into a playground for devils that even at the time of writing 2007 - included rave nights in the valleys!!!!!!!

 

The Apostolic Church has enjoyed many converts coming to the Lord including the internationally known Evangelist Luis Palau who at the 1980 Convention at PenyGroes expressed his thanks to the Church.

 

http://www.apostolic-church.org/AboutUs/OurHistory/tabid/235/Default.aspx

Part 2:  Where it all went wrong  

 

 In two words: TEXTUAL CRITICISM.

 

Proverbs 22:28 (King James Version)

Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

 

If there is one thing these early Pentecostal Movements had in common it was the Authorised Version of the Bible. This brought a stability and power that the new “Gnostic New Translations” cannot give and in addition to this: today’s “new translations” cannot support the God given statements of faith so passionately embraced by the Pentecostal pioneers of these once great movements.

 

          I.     What is TEXTUAL CRITICISM?

 

Wikipedia Encyclopaedia describes this practice as:

 

a branch of philology or bibliography that is concerned with the identification and removal of errors from texts and manuscripts. Ancient manuscripts often have errors or alterations made by scribes, who copied the manuscripts by hand. The textual critic seeks to determine the original text of a document or a collection of documents, which the critic believes to come as close as possible to a lost original (called the archetype), or some other version of a text as it existed — or was intended to exist — in the past.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textual_criticism

 

The problem with this activity when it comes to God’s Word is that God has been able to perfectly preserve his Word. In addition to this God gives clear warning of the consequences of removing or adding to his precious Word. God has not required a critic to do his work for him, for the Lord shall preserve his Word for ever.

 

Psalm 12:6-7 (King James Version)


The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.  Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

 

Deuteronomy 4:2 (King James Version)


Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

 

Revelation 22:18 (King James Version)


For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

 

Textual criticism is the practice of correcting ancient manuscripts, the most famous two critics when it comes to the “Bible” being Westcott & Hort who are seen by many as being active spiritualists.

 

We intend to prove in this presentation that AOG Elim and the Apostolics have been severely influenced by textual critics, the main culprits being Westcott and Hort.

 

2013 - this is out and out paganism and one cannot unify the holiness visions of the founders with that!

 

Westcott and Hort were founders of the Cambridge Ghost Society in 1851 according to Alan Gould in The Founders of Psychical Research.

 

"In 1851 was founded at Cambridge a Society to 'conduct a serious and earnest inquiry into the nature of the phenomena vaguely called supernatural,' and a number of distinguished persons became members." [Alan Gauld, The Founders of Psychical Research, NY: Schocken Books, 1968, p. 66]

 

In the Life of Edward White Benson, Archbishop of Canterbury, by his son, A. C. Benson, will be found, under the year 1851-2, the following paragraph:

 

'Among my father's diversions at Cambridge was the foundation of a 'Ghost Society,' the forerunner of the Psychical Society [meaning the S.P.R.] for the investigation of the supernatural. Lightfoot, Westcott and Hort were among the members. He was then, as always, more interested in psychical phenomena than he cared to admit.'

 

In 1853 Westcott and Hort, now Bishops and active spiritualists began their work to produce a corrupted Greek “original text” from evil manuscripts like Codices Vaticanus and Sinaiticus to be taken up later by Dr. Eberhand Nestle who followed on from the efforts of Westcott and Hort in 1898. In 1950 Kurt Aland assumed ownership of this “original Greek” and it is this “follow on” from Westcott and Hort that is now seen as the base document of all new translations, it having derived through the Alexandrian methods of Clement.

 

http://www.seekgod.ca/ghostsociety.htm

 

We will examine later how the original statements of belief from the once great Pentecostal denominations match up with the Authorised Version from which they are based and the “new translations” which are the product of textual criticism.

 

      II.     Assemblies of God Warning 1924

Textual Criticism or “Higher Criticism”

as it is referred to here in the Assemblies of God Redemption Tidings of July 1924

is warned against right from the outset of this once great movement.

 

Points from the Article:

 

i)                Higher Criticism of Germany described as having a “swelled head” appearing in English form through Professor Peake of the University of Manchester.

 

This is the very same University Elim Bible College placed itself under in the early 1990’s, a College that from Jeffrey’s sound Authorised Version roots had descended to the decay of Egyptian Gnosticism that resulted in a mish mash of pagan, apparent Christian and philosophical thinking, the fruit of which we are seeing in all denominational “Pentecostal Ministers” who have bowed down to the system.

 

God told me to refuse the Manchester University Degree offered through Elim. I was told by God that accepting it would affect the anointing on my ministry. I am so glad I have not used the BA Honours degree. It has cost me a lot but I have kept in relationship to God, so much greater than the riches of this world.

 

2013 - One thing Elim have never done is respond to what God told me and that was to refuse their degree coming through Manchester University. At the time of joining their College it was called a Bible College and so it is fair to assume that the Bible would be the one of the founder. Instead I was greeted with a Gnostic introduction to embracing Alexandrian manuscripts presented as "Bibles."  Jesus was no longer "the begotten son" but now merely "a son of the gods."

 

This is the acceptance of my refusal from Manchester University.

ii)            AOG warns of attack on the scriptures coming through Professor Peake’s Commentary on the Bible, one example being Isaiah 53.

 

Little would they have known in 1924 that their own once precious denomination would embrace the same Gnostic approach through Professor David Petts who regards Matthew’s reference to the Isaiah passage as an “aside” rather than part of the main text in Matthew 8!

 

iii)         “Watchman” of today regarded the same as watchmen of old!

 

How amazing this comment now refers to their own, once orthodox denomination.

 

Isaiah 56:10 (King James Version)


His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.

 

iv)          Peake’s approach regarded as blasphemy. How much more so today when the same approach is embraced through the “Pentecostal Denominations”?

 

The coming example of Petts proves how textual critics are ruining the outreach of these once great movements. Redemption Tidings refers to the following scriptures:

 

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (King James Version) 

 

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  

 

And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  

 

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  

 

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.  

 

And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

 

Revelation 18:4-5 (King James Version)


And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.  

 

For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

 

This now relates to their own denominations which were founded under God and stolen by the god of this world who has blinded the eyes of those who now believe not.

 

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (King James Version)


But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  

 

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

 

v)              Responsibility to keep pure

 

1 Timothy 5:22 (King James Version)

 

Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.

 

       III.     Petts present day example

Dr. David Petts, once Principal of the Assemblies of God College at Mattersey Hall, and once on the faculty of Bangor University embraced the textual criticism techniques so warned against by their forefathers. The fruit of this is today showing in the new breed of Pentecostal denominational ministers. 

 

Even more so now in 2014.

 

We provide the proof by analysis of his paper entitled Healing and the Atonement and if the paper matches up to the original Statement of Fundamental Truths of the Assemblies of God or the present day statement of faith.

It is my belief that the paper shows all the hallmarks of Egyptian Gnosticism that I personally witnessed whilst a student at Elim Bible College. 

 

i)                

Purpose and Scope of the Paper as outlined by Petts.

Healing and the Atonement: Petts presents this with three points:

 

A.   The major NT texts upon which the doctrine is based.

B.   A discussion of certain NT themes.

C.   Difficulties with the doctrine and a proposed modification.

 

It is interesting to note that Petts relates the doctrine’s origins to the U.S.A. Holiness Movement in the nineteenth century. The doctrine is described by Petts as being “the view that Christians may claim healing from sickness on the grounds that Christ has already carried that sickness for them just as he has carried their sins.”

 

Petts states clearly from the outset the following further points; Petts appropriately printed in black and my comments in blue!

 

A.   I shall argue that none of the major NT texts used to support the doctrine does in fact support the doctrine as originally propounded. We will argue in defence of the doctrine that the texts provided fully prove the sound doctrine of the Pioneer Pentecostals which Petts seems to want to dismiss, an action we believe to remove the ancient landmark of movements to which he belongs and has association.

 

B.   I shall argue that an examination of relevant NT themes offers no real support for the doctrine as originally propounded. Some themes, however, may offer support for the doctrine in a modified form. We will seek to prove that the technique Petts uses in his attempt to pull down this landmark doctrine is based in Egyptian Gnosticism, which was used to make the “Bible” more acceptable to all cultures.

 

C.  I shall argue that the doctrine as originally propounded is unacceptable both from a theological and a pastoral point of view. A modified form of the doctrine which sees healing as ‘ultimately’ and ‘indirectly’ in the atonement is, however, acceptable both theologically and pastorally. We will prove Petts’ approach to be heretical and out of line with the landmark truths of the Pentecostal movements and use this example as proof as to how far the Pentecostal denominations have gone from the passionate belief of the forefathers.

 

In dealing with his initial points Petts initially refers to Matthew 8:17 and I Peter 2:24 which we show here from the Authorized Version, Petts, however, in line with many of his fellows will undoubtedly be referring to one of the Gnostic translations likely to be NIV.

 

Matthew 8:17 (King James Version)


That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

 

1 Peter 2:24 (King James Version)


Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

 

A.  The major NT texts upon which the doctrine is based.

 

Petts refers to R.T. France in his opening comments stating that he had given an excellent summary in relations to the authorship, readership and theological principles in relation as to how Matthew wrote his work.

 

R.T. Frances’s principles of Biblical study, however, are in my view far from the revelationary passions of Pentecostal Pioneers who warned of textual critics. The Pentecostal Pioneers operated through God revealing the truth of his word to them as he revealed in to Peter, faith being the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen!

 

Matthew 16:17 (King James Version)


And Jesus answered and said unto him,Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

 

Hebrews 11:1-2 (King James Version)


Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  For by it the elders obtained a good report.

 

Frances’s approach is somewhat different.

 

PROOF:

R.T. France’s Paper Inerrancy and New Testament Exegesis clearly shows his way of understanding scripture.

 

http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/article_inerrancy_france.html

 

 

i)                  France: There can be no problems for the evangelical student in the commitment to rigorous exegesis to discover 'what the author really meant', and this will involve the fullest possible use of linguistic, literary, historical, archaeological and other data bearing on that author's environment. The natural meaning of the biblical writer's words in the light of all this comparative material must be the starting-point of any serious study, whether by a conservative or by a radical. And that is what grammatico-historical exegesis means.

 

ii)               France: biblical studies, as in so many areas of study (and of life), it is the half-hearted who get hurt. The evangelical scholar who is not afraid to get fully involved with critical study of the Bible is soon in a position to see that it is not the rules of the game which discourage an evangelical commitment, but a one-sided interpretation of the rules, which he has every right to challenge, on the basis of the grammatico-historical method itself. The rules need to be properly observed, but it is the players, not the spectators, who are likely to be in a position to enforce them.

 

iii)           France: Jesus preached in Aramaic -- the language of his time, place, and people. All of the Gospels, however, are written in Greek (with some useful Aramaisms left in various places).

 

So what the gospels offer us is at most a translation of what Jesus said -- and all translation is to some extent an interpretation, not an exact equivalent. Modern translation theory rightly recognizes that the search for a literal, word-for-word equivalence between two languages is not only futile but can lead to serious misunderstanding. What we need is rather some kind of dynamic equivalent, a way of expressing the substance and tone of the original in a form appropriate to the language into which the translation is being made, which may often need to depart quite substantially from the form of the original.

France, op. cit., page 117.

 

What we observe from this is a completely different approach to understanding scripture than the early Pentecostals, France’s approach being consistent with the approach I fought against at Elim’s Bible College whilst a student.

 

Divine revelation of scripture, divine writing of scripture simply does not come into the discussion. This is blasphemy and heresy and this is what the Pentecostal Denominations have embraced - ABSOLUTE HERESY!

 

2 Timothy 3:15-17 (King James Version)


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.

 

The Differences:

 

i)                 Instead of looking for “natural meaning” the early Pentecostals would regard the Word as “God inspired” and beyond question. Paul said; “I live, yet not I” and so the understanding that the writers of scripture were in fact empty vessels for God to write seems alien to the approach of both Petts and France whom Petts seems to congratulate.

 

Galatians 2:20 (King James Version)


I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

 

ii)             The Early Pentecostals believed the Word by faith with an inner conviction far greater than natural interpretation could employ.

 

iii)          It is heresy to say that scripture is “just an interpretation, not an exact equivalent”. If God has revealed scripture – then God is accurate. Anything else is doubt and unbelief which is the heart of this paper by Petts, which is the spirit undermining the visions of these once great movements of AOG, Elim and Apostolic.

 

We therefore see a new approach to Biblical study being manifest through Petts and this approach continues throughout Petts paper. This is proven by Petts statement concerning Matthew:

 

However, a brief examination of the pericope found in Matthew 8:16-17 reveals that certain introductory issues must be considered before the passage is examined in detail. These include Matthew’s use of the OT and his understanding of fulfilment, his purpose in recording in several places that Jesus healed ‘all’, and his overall purpose in recording the miracles of Jesus. In more general terms I shall assume with France that Matthew’s purposes were didactic, apologetic and Christological.

 

The early Pentecostals assumed nothing for Matthew was a mere instrument for God to write his word. Matthew’s purpose was to write the Word of the Lord, the scripture not being a natural work of philosophy but a God breathed Word of Power.

 

Operating with his principles of natural philosophy, Petts issues a heretical statement in relation to Matthew:

 

Of particular interest and significance to the subject of this paper, however, is his use of ‘formula quotations’ in which we find such clauses as “that what was spoken by the prophet might be fulfilled.” There are then such ‘formula quotations’ all of which appear to function as ‘asides’ of the evangelist, not as part of his narrative, for if the formula and quotation were omitted the narrative would not be interrupted. Sadly, the purpose of these quotations remains an unresolved issue, but the key to understanding them must surely lie in the fact that they are ‘fulfilment’ quotations; they are not merely a set of ‘proof-texts.’

 

We argue that Petts is adopting the Gnostic “higher criticism” techniques embraced by Professor Peake at the University of Manchester, Petts sending his son to Elim Bible College in the early 90’s which came under this very same University. We have already learnt of the 1924 warning of the Assemblies of God declaring the dangers of this heretical approach.

 

How would the early AOG pioneers react today to a piece of Holy Scripture being described as an “aside”? Smith Wigglesworth was a writer in the very first edition of AOG Redemption Tidings. How things have changed.

S.W. = What will make men believe the divine promises of God? Beloved, let me say to you today, God wants you to be ministering spirits, and it means to be clothed with another power. And this divine power, you know when it is there, and you know when it goes forth.

 

S.W. The Word of God has not to be prayed about; the Word of God is to be received and obeyed.The Bible is the Word of God:supernatural in origin, external in duration, inexpressible in valour, infinite in scope,regenerative in power, infallible in authority, universal in interest, personal in application,inspired in totality. 

 

Read it through, write it down, pray it in, work it out, and then pass it on.Truly the Word of God changes a man until he becomes an "epistle" of God." It transforms his mind, changes his character, moves him on from grace to grace, and makes him an inheritor of the very nature of God. God comes in, dwells in, walks in, talks through, and sups with him who opens his being to the Word of God.

 

The scriptures declare that we are in Christ, and Christ is in God. What is able to move you from that place of omnipotent power? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword (Romans 8:35)? Shall death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers (v38)? Nay, In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us (v37)?But we must be found in Him! There is a place of seclusion, a place of rest and faith in Jesus where there is nothing else like it.

How I sit at my desk, God revealing all this to me of the great infiltration that has taken place in the once great Pentecostal movements. I am in tears to think of the “higher criticism” approaches having infiltrated once great movements.

 

Oh! For a return to the teaching that the Word of God changes a “man” into an “epistle of God”!

 

Petts continuation in interacting with textual critics is frankly nonsense to the spiritual eye.

 

In exposing the “Pentecostal Denominations” use of “new translations” it is interesting to note in Petts paper an admission that Matthew’s 8:17 fulfilment reference is nearer to the Masoretic Text used in the Authorized Version of the early pioneers than to the Septuagint. Petts seems to give an impression that Matthew had a choice as to which text he should use. It is interesting to see in Petts approach that he seems to have chosen the text that would eventually back up the Authorized Version. We believe, however, that Matthew had no choice in his role of being God’s writing instrument.

 

Petts argument through a listing of seven points which are given to apparently prove that Matthew 8:17 does not show that healing is in the atonement are confused and in my view impossible to understand. If God provided for healing in the Old Testament through the shedding of animals’ blood, how much more should the blood of Christ Jesus? We know as Petts points out that Matthew 8:17 relates to an incident before the passion and resurrection of Christ Jesus but as with all such incidents they were looking to the day of ultimate victory over sickness and disease which came through Jesus bearing these to the Cross. 

 

I believe Petts is completely out of line with Assemblies of God original Statement of Faith 1924 that declares that deliverance from sickness is provided for in the Atonement, the Assemblies of God quoting the following scriptures as proof:

Isaiah 53:4-5 (King James Version)


Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  

 

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

 

Matthew 8:16-17 (King James Version) 

 

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:  

 

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

Petts direct quote from his paper for EPTA 1993 Healing and the Atonement:

 

….. I reject the view that Matthew 8:17 teaches that healing is in the atonement. There are no direct references to the Servant passages in Matthew’s passion narrative and his quotes from those passages are used in a non-redemptive setting. The quote from Isaiah 53:4 is set in the context of the healing of physical sickness, and Matthew avoids, both by his divergence from the LXX and in his choice of verbs any suggestion that Jesus vicariously took sickness upon himself. Indeed for Matthew, Isaiah 53:4 was fulfilled not in Jesus’ passion, but in his healing ministry in Galilee.

 

James 5:13-16 (King James Version)


Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

 

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:  

 

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.  

 

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 

We believe that Dr. Petts, once Principal of AOG’s Bible College in U.K. was out of line with Assemblies of God original statement of faith, and as a ministry we demanded his removal from that post. He stayed but the damage has been done, Petts being only one example of the curse of textual criticism so alive in “Pentecostal denominations” today.

 

It is up to those who know the truth embraced by early 20th. Century pioneers to restore the landmark back to the Pentecostal movements.

We believe the Pentecostal Movements have been stolen and need to be returned to those who embrace the old truths!

 

John 10:10 (King James Version)


The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

 

Proverbs 6:30-31 (King James Version)


Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

 

But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

 

Dr Roy Harthern, son of one of the AOG pioneers in UK said to me that the Assemblies of God was once a simple, free flowing fellowship. How those days have changed!

 

 

I Peter 2:24 is also cited by Petts as a major “proof-text” used to portray healing being in the atonement. Before examining Petts critical approach it must surely be realised if God provided healing through the shedding of animals or in this case birds, then surely the blood of Christ Jesus is more than good enough to atone for sickness today. We have to ask why present day “Pentecostals” question scriptures which relate to the fact that we have been healed by the stripes of Jesus Christ?

 

Leviticus 14:1-5 (King James Version)


And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  

 

This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest:  

 

And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper;  

 

Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:  

 

And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water:

 

Sacrifice is going on under the law in relation to sickness, in this case leprosy and the “priest shall make an atonement” …. 

 

Leviticus 14:31-32 (King James Version)


Even such as he is able to get, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, with the meat offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed before the LORD.  

 

This is the law of him in whom is the plague of leprosy, whose hand is not able to get that which pertaineth to his cleansing.

 

We see the O.T. Priest making “an atonement” in relation to freedom from leprosy and now in Hebrews we have the recognition that the spilt blood of animals as types of Christ who was to become the Passover Lamb “sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh”.

 

How much more through the stripes of Jesus Christ are we healed? 

 

Hebrews 9:11-14 (King James Version)


But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;  

 

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.  

 

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:  

 

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

 

1 Peter 2:24 (King James Version)


Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

 

Through a complex form of analogy Petts seeks to show that Peter was not referring to physical healing in relation to his statement of I Peter 2:24. There seems to be no reference to the possibility that perhaps Peter was portraying Isaiah’s statement in Isa. 53:5 which most certainly relates to physical healing. If it did not then our Leviticus declarations look ridiculous!

 

Petts, however, relates the context of I Peter 2:24 as relating to slaves who were sometimes “unjustly treated”, beaten as Christ was beaten relating the passage, therefore, to slaves having their sins forgiven! To quote Petts:

 

Accordingly, I reject the view that I Peter 2:24 teaches that physical healing is “in the atonement”. The healing referred to clearly means a spiritual wholeness which results from Christ’s bearing our sins on the cross and our return to the shepherd and guardian of our souls. This view is endorsed by all the major commentaries and indeed it is difficult to see how, when the verse is seen in its proper context it could possibly be understood in any other way. This passage is, in fact, an encouragement to Christians to endure suffering, not a means of escape from it!

 

It would seem from Petts analysis that Christ’s suffering was in vain and that Peter was not looking back to Christ Jesus victory over sickness and disease but rather uses the phrase as an encouragement to endure suffering!

B.     A discussion of certain NT themes.

 

Petts continues his examination with an analysis of the Greek word sozo, but whereas Petts has a right to believe whatever he wants, he has no right to undermine the passions of the Pentecostal Pioneers who in effect founded movements from which he has benefited from financially.

 

George Jeffreys: Founder of Elim : We teach people to seek bodily healing as one of the immediate benefits of Christ's atoning and redeeming work on the cross  ... not the effect of mind over matter - but the power of Christ over disease Acts 4:7-10

 

In contrast to Jeffreys, Petts sees healing as an accompaniment to the Gospel rather than being a part of it.

 

Petts goes onto apparently portray instances of Paul being sick along with other New Testament examples digging out familiar objections to the early Pentecostals that came from textual critics like Petts. Never would they have realised that their own movements would be taken over by such adversaries!

 

Dr. T.J. McCrossan : Satan caused Adam and Eve to sin then Satan is the Author of sin, sickness and death. John 5:14; 10:10

 

George Jeffreys : Bible reveals Satan as a personal devil, opposed to God and the Human Race ....The Israelites understood that deliverance from all bodily ailments was by the power of God, that immunity from disease was a privilege they could enjoy provided they rendered perfect obedience to His will. Ex. 15:26

 

Andrew Murray .... Bearing our sickness forms an integral part of the redeemers work - as well as bearing sin - body and soul created to serve together as a habitation of God -Sickly condition of the body is - as well as that of the soul - a consequence of sin - JESUS COME TO BEAR- TO EXPIATE AND TO CONQUER.

 

A.B. Simpson .... Jesus borne our sins - carried off sicknesses even pains so by abiding in him we may be fully delivered from both sickness and pain.

 

The well known early Pentecostal healing evangelist F.F. Bosworth in raising the issue of the Brazen Serpent asks a question to the textual critics that include Petts …

 

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee: pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.Numbers 21:7-9.

 

Bosworth = If healing not in the Atonement then why were these Israelites required to look at this type of the Atonement for bodily healing?

 

None of the examples Petts relates can be shown to be sickness particularly Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” which is a being rather than a physical condition.

 

2 Corinthians 12:7 (King James Version)


And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure

 

C.      Difficulties with the doctrine and a proposed modification.

 

It is not surprising that Petts has difficulty with this doctrine as embraced by early Pentecostals because each party thought in a different way. Early Pentecostals simply believed God and his Word and stood on it, not doubting or looking for some intellectual technique to disprove their passions and beliefs.

 

Petts, unlike Wigglesworth did not see NT writers as regarding what they were writing as promises to be claimed. This concept, however, completely eliminates the whole idea of Ephesians 6 which depicts the “Sword of the Spirit” as being the Word of God, and as God directs us we speak out the word plunging the enemy’s operation of sickness with God’s fulfilled Word.

 

Petts goes onto talk of his own pastoral difficulties but the early Pentecostals believed God’s Word before natural circumstance. The concept of not being moved by the natural circumstance but being moved by the power of God’s World seems alien to today’s Gnostic influenced denominational Pentecostals.

I am not moved by what I see

I am not moved by how I feel

I am moved by what I believe and I believe

THE WORD OF ALMIGHTY GOD

 

The fruits of Wigglesworth’s ministry was in the dead being raised & the sick being healed because of his dedication to God’s Word. Wigglesworth witnessed healing now rather than at the “redemption of the body” referred to by Petts, this heresy being widely believed at Elim Bible College where I was a student, Petts relating healing to the work of the Spirit which in one sense is true, but surely the Spirit comes to confirm God’s Word which Petts seems to reject.

 

Mark 16:20 (King James Version)


And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Part 3:  Gnostic Belief System with a Different "Bible"  

 

Before examining in our conclusion the statements of faith for each respective “Pentecostal Denomination” we bring a realisation that with the techniques of textual criticism have come a new breed of “Bible” that fits more perfectly into the presentations of the critics, the Authorized Version being a sword against such analysis.

 

We produce, therefore, our analysis of the “new translations” being used by the "Emerging" Pentecostal Movements, movements emerging from Early Church Christianity into a new age.

 

The "Bibles" now used by these movements have been brought together by two characters, spiritualists known as Westcott and Hort. 

 

Brooke Foss Westcott (1825-1903)                                                                                                        Fenton John Anthony Hort (1828-1892)

I.     These characters: Textual Critics Westcott and Hort  produced from

Codices Alexandrinus, Vaticanus & Sinaiticus a new “original Greek”

in the 19th. Century that has supported all “new translations”.

 

A new belief system has occurred in the Pentecostal movements since the widespread changeover to Westcott & Hort “Bibles”.

 

Westcott & Hort believed the following:

 

FIRST BELIEF: Westcott was anti-Preacher – common today in the “Pentecostal Denominations” 1846 Oct. 25th - Westcott: "Is there not that in the principles of the "Evangelical" school which must lead to the exaltation of the individual minister, and does not that help to prove their unsoundness? If preaching is the chief means of grace, it must emanate not from the church, but from the preacher, and besides placing him in a false position, it places him in a fearfully dangerous one." (Life, Vol. I, pp.44,45).

 

The early Pentecostal Preachers had Christ in their hearts. The culture related a “sermon” as being a message from God and so respect was given to the messenger as he was a carrier of God’s given word. The emphasis of Petts on the “spirit” in relation to healing takes away the emphasis on the Word from which the Spirit will come to confirm.

 

SECOND BELIEF: God’s Word seems to change and develop with the time – THE SOCIAL GOSPEL - SEEKER FRIENDLY IS KING TODAY in Pentecostal Denominational Churches.

 

Oct., 22nd after Trinity Sunday - Westcott: "Do you not understand the meaning of Theological 'Development'? It is briefly this, that in an early time some doctrine is proposed in a simple or obscure form, or even but darkly hinted at, which in succeeding ages, as the wants of men's minds grow, grows with them - in fact, that Christianity is always progressive in its principles and doctrines" (Life, Vol. I, p.78).

 

The Bible, however, declares that the landmark should not be moved and we would argue that the Pentecostal Denominational churches of the early days were very different places to the entertainment focussed man pleasing entities they are today.

 

Malachi 3:6 (King James Version)


For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

 

Hebrews 13:8 (King James Version) 

 

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

 

1861 Apr. 12th - Hort to Westcott: "Also - but this may be cowardice - I have a sort of craving that our text should be cast upon the world before we deal with matters likely to brand us with suspicion. I mean, a text, issued by men already known for what will undoubtedly be treated as dangerous heresy, will have great difficulties in finding its way to regions which it might otherwise hope to reach, and whence it would not be easily banished by subsequent alarms." (Life, Vol.I, p.445).

 

1862 Apr. 30th, May 1st - Hort: "It seems to be clearly and broadly directed to maintaining that the English clergy are not compelled to maintain the absolute infallibility of the Bible. And, whatever the truth may be, this seems just the liberty required at the present moment, if any living belief is to survive in the land." (Life, Vol.I, p.454).

 

THIRD BELIEF: The Roman Catholic Manuscripts brought together by Roman Catholic sympathisers : 1847 Jan., 2nd Sunday after Epiphany - Westcott: "After leaving the monastery we shaped our course to a little oratory...It is very small, with one kneeling-place; and behind a screen was a 'Pieta' the size of life (i.e. a Virgin and dead Christ)...I could not help thinking on the grandeur of the Romish Church, on her zeal even in error, on her earnestness and self-devotion, which we might, with nobler views and a purer end, strive to imitate. Had I been alone I could have knelt there for hours." (Life, Vol.I, p.81).

 

1848 July 6th - Hort: "One of the things, I think, which shows the falsity of the Evangelical notion of this subject (baptism), is that it is so trim and precise...no deep spiritual truths of the Reason are thus logically harmonious and systematic...the pure Romish view seems to me nearer, and more likely to lead to, the truth than the Evangelical...the fanaticism of the bibliolaters, among whom reading so many 'chapters' seems exactly to correspond to the Romish superstition of telling so many dozen beads on a rosary...still we dare not forsake the Sacraments, or God will forsake us...I am inclined to think that no such state as 'Eden' (I mean the popular notion) ever existed, and that Adam's fall in no degree differed from the fall of each of his descendants" (Life, Vol.I, pp.76-78).

 

1865 Sept. 27th - Westcott: "I have been trying to recall my impressions of La Salette (a marian shrine). I wish I could see to what forgotten truth Mariolatry bears witness; and how we can practically set forth the teaching of the miracles".

 

Nov. 17th - Westcott: "As far as I could judge, the 'idea' of La Salette was that of God revealing Himself now, and not in one form but in many." (Life, Vol.I. pp.251,252).

 

Oct. 17th - Hort: "I have been persuaded for many years that Mary-worship and 'Jesus'-worship have very much in common in their causes and their results." (Life, Vol.II, p.50).

 

Early 20th. Century Pentecostals were passionately Protestant and would not embrace “Bibles” that undermined the principles of the Reformation.

 

When looking at The Inverness Christian Fellowship in 2008, part of the Apostolic Church it used NASB on its website, a Bible drawn from Egyptian manuscripts found in the Vatican. Today we find the NKJV, a "Bible" that has removed the word "hell" 23 times, the word "repent" 44 times, the complete removal of the word "damned", there being in all 2,289 word removals from the New Testament alone and a 100, 000 word changes meaning additions. This is absolutely in line with the thinking of Westcott and Hort and other textual critics.

 

Deuteronomy 4:2 (King James Version)


Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

 

Revelation 22:18 (King James Version) 

 

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

 

One of the reasons why the Apostolic Church was brought about by God, according to a personal witness was to expose Catholic infiltration in society and here with this example we expose how it has crept into its own ranks.

 

Following on from its use of “user-friendly Bibles” in 2008 we found the Highland Apostolics in Inverness running a Disco Dancing, Hip-Hop, Slow Dance, Cheerleading, Rock'n'Roll and Streetdance Group!

 

What would D.P. Williams have said to that?

 

After our exposure in 2008, we find today the website is much more sober, with a new Pastor being inducted.

 

http://www.icfchurch.co.uk/index.php?jmenu=18&insert

 

As it would seem that the disco, hip hop, slow dancing, cheerleading, rocking and rolling plus street dancing has come to an end with the Inverness Apostolics, fun seekers have to move south to Llanelli Wales where the local Apostolics have spent £10,000 on a cage, yes a cage to play football in!

 

2013 -At this time in 2007 we were witnessing the "social gospel" really getting a hold. In South Wales now there are signs of the traditionalists fighting back in a culture where the Pentecostal Denominations have lost their first love - the love of people before the love of God.

No longer would we have a hip hopping D.P. Williams but rather a caged up prospective Wayne Rooney!

 

http://www.apostolic-church.org/Cage-football-kicked-off-by-Llannelli-church.phtml

FOURTH BELIEF: Lack of Faith in relation to Christ Jesus Ministry: Aug. 11th - Westcott: "I never read an account of a miracle (in Scripture?) but I seem instinctively to feel its improbability, and discover some want of evidence in the account of it." (Life, Vol.I, p.52).

 

The search for physical evidence is a passion of textual critics.

.

FIFTH BELIEF: Westcott and Hort were anti-Evangelical – yet their “Bible” is now the majority “Bible” in “Denominational Pentecostal” Churches!!!!! 1850 May 12th - Hort: "You ask me about the liberty to be allowed to clergymen in their views of Baptism. For my own part, I would gladly admit to the ministry such as hold Gorham's view, much more such as hold the ordinary confused Evangelical notions" (Life, Vol.I, p.148).

 

July 31st - Hort: "I spoke of the gloomy prospect, should the Evangelicals carry on their present victory so as to alter the Services." (Life, Vol.I, p.160).

 

1858 Oct. 21st - Further I agree with them in condemning many leading specific doctrines of the popular theology as, to say the least, containing much superstition and immorality of a very pernmicious kind...The positive doctrines even of the Evangelicals seem to me perverted rather than untrue...There are, I fear, still more serious differences between us on the subject of authority, and especially the authority of the Bible" (Life, Vol.I, p.400).

 

SIXTH BELIEF: PRO DARWIN EVOLUTION THEORY – in line with much Evangelical view today! 1860 Apr. 3rd - Hort: "But the book which has most engaged me is Darwin. Whatever may be thought of it, it is a book that one is proud to be contemporary with. I must work out and examine the argument in more detail, but at present my feeling is strong that the theory is unanswerable." (Life, Vol.I, p.416).

 

1890 Mar. 4th - Westcott: "No one now, I suppose, holds that the first three chapters of Genesis, for example, give a_literal history - I could never understand how any one reading them with open eyes could think they did - yet they disclose to us a Gospel. So it is probably elsewhere."

(Alexandrian Allegorical Approach)

 

It is incredible to note that Pentecostals as they are known today embrace “Bibles” brought together by spiritualists who embraced such beliefs.

 

SEVENTH BELIEF:  CHRIST BEARING OUR SINS IS A HERESY ACCORDING TO HORT: Oct. 15th - Hort: "I entirely agree - correcting one word - with what you there say on the Atonement, having for many years believed that "the absolute union of the Christian (or rather, of man) with Christ Himself" is the spiritual truth of which the popular doctrine of substitution is an immoral and material counterfeit...Certainly nothing can be more unscriptural than the modern limiting of Christ's bearing our sins and sufferings to His death; but indeed that is only one aspect of an almost universal heresy." (Life, Vol.I, p.430).

 

The questioning of Christ Jesus Atonement seems par for the course!

 

Isaiah 53:1-6 (King James Version)


Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?  

 

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.  

 

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  

 

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  

 

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  

 

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

 

EIGHTH BELIEF: PROTESTANTISM TEMPORARY ACCORDING TO HORT: 1864 Sept. 23rd - Hort: "I believe Coleridge was quite right in saying that Christianity without a substantial Church is vanity and dissolution; and I remember shocking you and Lightfoot not so very long ago by expressing a belief that 'Protestantism' is only parenthetical and temporary. In short, the Irvingite creed (minus the belief in the superior claims of the Irvingite communion) seems to me unassailable in things ecclesiastical." (Life, Vol.II, p.30,31).

 

How often are the Protestant roots of the Pentecostal Denominations portrayed today?

 

NINTH BELIEF: BLASPHEMERS TOWARDS THE REAL WORD: 1851 Dec. 29,30th - Hort: "I had no idea till the last few weeks of the importance of texts, having read so little Greek Testament, and dragged on with the villainous Textus Receptus.. Think of that vile Textus Receptus leaning entirely on late MSS.; it is a blessing there are such early ones" (Life, Vol.I, p.211).

 

Sept. 29th - Westcott to Hort: "As to our proposed recension of the New Testament text, our object would be, I suppose, to prepare a text for common and general use...With such an end in view, would it not be best to introduce only certain emendations into the received text, and to note in the margin such as seem likely or noticeable - after Griesbach's manner?...I feel most keenly the disgrace of circulating what I feel to be falsified copies of Holy Scripture (a reference to the A.V.?), and am most anxious to provide something to replace them. This cannot be any text resting solely on our own judgment, even if we were not too inexperienced to make one; but it must be supported by a clear and obvious preponderance of evidence. The margin wiil give ample scope for our own ingenuity or principles...my wish would be to leave the popular received text except where it is clearly wrong." (Life, Vol.I, pp.228,229).

 

May 5th - Westcott to Hort: "at present I find the presumption in favour of the absolute truth - I reject the word infallibility - of Holy Scripture overwhelming." (Life, Vol.I, p.207).

 

There is often an aggression against the Received Text today in the denominational Pentecostal churches.

 

TENTH BELIEF: Westcott and Hort’s new “original Greek” contrary to Nicene Creed: Aug. ? - Hort to Lightfoot: "It is, I think, difficult to measure the weight of acceptance won beforehand for the Revision by the single fact of our welcoming an Unitarian, if only the Company perseveres in its present serious and faithful spirit." (Life, Vol.II, p.140). (Dr. G. Vance Smith, a Unitarian scholar, was a member of the Revision Committee. At Westcott's suggestion, a celebration of Holy Communion was held on June 22nd before the first meeting of the N.T. Revision Company. Dr. Smith communicated but said afterwards that he did not join in reciting the Nicene Creed and did not compromise his principles as a Unitarian. The storm of public indignation which followed almost wrecked the Revision at the outset. At length however Dr. Smith remained on the Committee).

 

As we will discover Hort did not embrace a “begotten, not made Jesus” as in the Authorized Version, this leading to a manifestation of a different “Jesus” in denominational Pentecostal Church embracing the “new translations”.

References:

Hort, A.F., Life and Letters of Fenton J.A. Hort, MacMillan and Co., London, 1896, vols. I,II.

Westcott, A., Life and Letters of Brooke Foss Westcott, MacMillan and Co., London, 1903, vols. I,II.

 

http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/hort.htm

 

II.     Egyptian Gnostic Background to the Codices used by

Westcott & Hort in their critical approach to “Bible” translation.

 

With the emphasis in the “Pentecostal Denominational” churches moving from the Word to the spirit we are discovering a passion for the experience rather than an enthusiasm for the Word of God. We would argue as the spirit is coming from a basis of mistrust in God’s Word and trust into a more user-friendly type “Bible” then the manifestations we are witnessing at this time bare no relation TO THE SIGNS CONFIRMING THE Word in Smith Wigglesworth’s day.

 

In our presentation of Alpha, we discovered that the Jesus of the well known course linked with the Toronto Blessing is a very different Jesus to the one depicted in the A.V.

 

From my time at Elim Bible College I observed a move towards Charismatic theology that emphasized the spirit rather than the Word. This resulted in manifestations of devils in College devotional times that were not dealt with like the early Pioneers would have dealt with them.

 

Links with charismatics that embraced Alpha style activity seemed to be occurring in the Bible College away from the concept of being baptized in the Holy Ghost to the new ideal of “being filled with the Spirit”. The Alpha – Smith Wigglesworth comparison reveals very much the difference between the two.

Smith Wigglesworth... Baptism in the Holy Spirit

 

Beloved, all that I speak this morning is burning in my soul. The baptism of the Spirit has come for nothing less than to eat the whole of my life. It set up Jesus as King, and nothing can stand in His holy presence when He is made King. Everything will wither before Him. I am realizing this. 

 

Smith Wigglesworth.

 

What an inward burning, what an inward craving God can give! It is a taste of the heavenlies!

 

Acts 1:5-8.

 

05  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

 

06  When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel?

 

07 And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power.

 

08  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

Wigglesworth's Points.

 

1.  TO BE CONTINUALLY FULL OF HIS UTTERANCES AND REVELATIONS AND DIVINE PERCEPTION -CONTROLLED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD.

 

2.  IS RESURRECTION POWER - NOTHING EARTHLY CAN REMAIN - i.e. DISEASE.

ALIVE TO GOD - Rom. 6:11 by the Spirit.

 

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

3.  HOLY GHOST = UNLIMITED SOURCE OF POWER -NOTHING STATIONARY IN GOD -INTO LINE WITH THE MIND OF GOD.

 

*Gumbel (Alpha’s Co-Ordinator): Sometimes when people are filled, they shake like a leaf in the wind. Others find themselves breathing deeply as if almost physically breathing in the Spirit.

 

*As recorded in Pastor Chris Hands's book Falling Short

 

From my time running Church fellowships and being involved with national missions in UK, it is clear that many coming to the meetings who profess to be "spirit-filled" are not even born again, the Alpha influence having the effect of bringing sin, rather than freedom from sin into the Church.

 

Smith Wigglesworth saw being baptized in the Holy Ghost as a perfecting for ministry but Petts and present day Pentecostals with their lack of belief in God’s promises being for today seem to be using the concept of “being filled with the Spirit” for self gratification.

 

What Pastor Chris Hand has said about Alpha is my experience of present day denominational Pentecostals.

 

Pastor Chris Hand asks the right questions about Alpha:

 

For all the sincerity of ‘Alpha’ participants believing that they have truly met with God, we are left with a number of questions. Are these experiences comparable with what we have learnt already about the works of the Holy Spirit in bringing true repentance and faith? In all honesty, as we look at the testimonies of people and the Biblical meaning of repentance and faith, the answer has to be ‘no’.

 

Let us recall again some of the hallmarks of repentance and faith. Is there conviction of sin? Do people experience shame for sin? Have people felt the severity of God’s law and understood the justness of God’s condemnation of us? Is there comprehension of the fact that God addresses us as sinners who are in danger of being eternally damned? Do people cling to Christ and Christ alone to save, the true expression of trusting faith? We look in vain for them during the ‘Weekend Away’. They are simply not there.

 

For example, it is difficult to equate the converting of a soul bound for hell with the experiences that we have seen above or with many others that could have been included here. For many it is simply an emotional experience or bodily sensation devoid of anything meaningful. There is no conviction of sin, no grasp of one’s spiritual state, no comprehension of the holiness of God or of our desperate need to be reconciled to Him.

 

We have already seen that the experience of repentance and faith did not feature during the evangelistic part of the course. ‘Praying the prayer’ did not achieve much. It all awaits the Holy Spirit Weekend-Away to ‘kick-start’ the whole thing. But while this produces experiences a plenty, it does not fill in the gap and supply the missing ingredients of repentance and faith. The evangelistic part of ‘Alpha’ failed to convert and the ‘Holy Spirit Weekend-Away’ does no better. At the very point where ‘Alpha’ appears to succeed as an effective evangelistic tool, it fails utterly. It would be an understatement to say that this is very disturbing.

 

The faith of God develops from within you from the study of God’s Word but the “new translations” with their Egyptian Gnostic roots are developing a new breed of denominational critics who either simply go for the “spirit experience” or the cultish doctrine of textual criticism. The Alpha example is one that has infiltrated into Pentecostal denominational thinking too and we argue that because of the move from the ancient foundations of the Church, we are witnessing a very different Spirit than the one that confirms the true Word of God.

 

We examine the Egyptian history of the “new translations” first, and then examine the strange new doctrines of the new translations before concluding with how these strange doctrines harmonize with the early statements of faith of the Pentecostal denominations.

 

The Root of Gnosticism and why “Pentecostal Denominations” have become Gnostic cults today.

 

It is very simple! Gnosticism is a combining of pagan, philosophical and apparent Christian teaching together to form a belief system to please all people. Petts seems determined to find a doctrine which is pastorally more acceptable and so uses the allegorical approaches of Egypt to do just that! Petts represents views widely held amongst present day leaders and Ministry Teachers from within these now apostate movements.

 

The “new translations” have their theological roots in Alexandria, Egypt where Clement of Alexandria endeavoured to combine pagan and philosophical perspectives with classical Christian teaching into his School of Theology. This is my experience of ElimBible College.

 

Later coming out of this school came Origen whose work included a bringing together of a theological technique that later became the base for Westcott and Hort to produce a pagan influenced manuscript that ultimately became the base document for the “new translations”. The influence of this thinking cannot produce a Bible at all as the real Bible is inspired of God. This concept of having a Word inspired of God seems alien to the thinking of present day denominational Pentecostals as proven by our analysis of Petts approach to Matthew.

 

Origen: “The God and Father, who holds the universe together, is superior to every being that exists, for he imparts to each one from his own existence that which each one is; the Son, being less than the Father, is superior to rational creatures alone (for he is second to the Father); the Holy Spirit is still less, and dwells within the saints alone. So that in this way the power of the Father is greater than that of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and that of the Son is more than that of the Holy Spirit, and in turn the power of the Holy Spirit exceeds that of every other holy being (Fragment 9 [Koetschau] tr. Butterworth 1966, pp. 33-34, and footnote).” 

 

http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/o/origen.htm#SH3a

HERE IS THE BIG HERESY: Pentecostal denominations today who are embracing their Gnostic translations are believing in a belief system that has Jesus subordinate to the Father, a concept alien to the pioneer statements of faith. Origen’s Egyptian belief is therefore very much active in these now apostate groups.

 

2013:  Signs of a New Age Elim, Apostolic, AOG are certainly there today particularly with the syncretisation of  Lakeland/Toronto/Purpose Driven.

 

This is why the “new translations” used in the Pentecostal Denominational arena declare that Jesus did not regard equality with God something he could grasp whilst the Authorised Version fully recognises Jesus equality. “New translations”, therefore, have the theology of Alexandria whilst the Received Text has the theology of the Early Church.

 

THIS IS A CRUCIAL THEOLOGICAL POINT DISTINGUISHING TRUE CHRISTIANITY FROM THE COUNTERFEIT AND SO THIS SAME POINT WILL BE REPEATED LATER IN THIS EXAMINATION.

 

CORRECT A.V.

 

Philippians 2:6 (King James Version)


Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

 

NIV – Phil. 2:6  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

 

After 193 A.D. Clement became Head of the School of Theology at Alexandria. He had apparently converted into being a Christian who could not leave aside the values and virtues of his education at Athens from whence he came. This philosophical basis became the foundation on which he could bring a sane and balanced approach to the Christian faith. This approach, however, is far from scriptural but is the approach I endured as a student at what was Elim Bible College at Nantwich. This once great institution founded by Principal George Jeffreys once embraced the Authorised Version but is now part of the secular University system that embraces the allegorical approaches of Alexandria.

 

1 Corinthians 3:18 (King James Version)


Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

 

1 Corinthians 2:14 (King James Version) 

 

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

 

Returning to Alexandria we find that instead of aiming the “Christian” message at the uneducated like so many Christian ministers, Clement turned his attention to those who would become “Christian thinkers”. These thinkers would balance Christian thought with other mystical philosophies like Spiritualism and Theosophy. This is consistent with Westcott and Hort’s belief, there being evidence to show that they were members of a psychical society in Cambridge, Westcott and Hort producing their own “original Greek” from corrupted manuscripts we expose in this paper.

 

One such group of thinkers was the “Hermetist” group who looked to combine Christian thinking with the spiritual guidance of the Egyptian Thoth or Greek Hermes. The general term to be used for such people was “Gnostic” and Gnosticism is at the root of thinking in “new translations”.

 

To examine the spiritual sources of the “Hermetist” Group:

 

Egyptian Thoth.

This Egyptian god (note Jesus is a god in “new translations) is the god of wisdom and learning who invented writing and was the official scribe of the afterworld. In this belief he wrote The Book of the Dead and travelled around with Ma’at his goddess consort.

 

Personal Comment: I was led to this god in this Holy Ghost led study and my wife Lindsay during our Church meeting (13 05 07) atChester recalled seeing a picture of Thoth and the Book of the Dead at Elim Bible College (now known as Regents Theological College, Nantwich) Library during our time there in the early 90’s.

 

From 2013- Looking back at this - why would a Pentecostal Bible College have on its walls a depiction of an Egyptian god who invented tarot which is a spiritualistic activity, the "Bible" of the College at that time having its origins in Egyptian philosophy, mysticism and spiritualism. 

 

It is said that Thoth invented the magical arts including the Tarot deck so commonly used today in this new “multi-faith” Britain with its combination of witchcraft and Christianity.

 

http://www.egyptianmyths.net/thoth.htm

 

Originally Thoth was a god of creation, and the god of learning. Jesus in “new translations” is presented as being a god as well. In this mythology Thoth was the creator God in Upper Egypt where in Ibis form he laid the world egg! With Clement looking to combine ideologies into Christian thinking there is evidence to show that there is a build up of theology going on at Alexandria alien to the belief structures the Early Church had given their lives for. Intellectuals were undermining Early Church belief with their Masoretic Text and Textus Receptus, in the same way intellectuals like Petts are undermining the passions of the Pentecostal pioneers.

 

http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/thoth.htm

 

Greek Hermes.

 

At Alexandria Hermes was responsible for bringing the art of bringing out “hidden meanings” to scriptures in a passion known in theological institutions as “Hermeneutics”. This has resulted in there being a whole minefield of theological opinion dividing the Church from the ancient creeds of belief. The very term “Hermeneutics” is derived from this god. This means that Church ministers are being taught the art of interpreting scripture with the eyes of a Greek god!!!!!!! It’s true – check out the syllabuses of theological institutions so embraced by Pentecostal denominations today!!!!!!!

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermes

 

Hermes is just one deceiving spirit which can take over an apparent Christian. Rev. Dr Suresh Ramachandran in his studies on the Jezebel spirit discovered a false kind of “loving kindness” in the British “Church”.

 

Counterfeit love is one of the main manifestations in a meeting where the Word of God is not preached, and I am not talking “new translation” word which is the doctrine of devils! Any word that changes “God” to a mere “he” is not of Almighty God! With the removal of God’s Holy Word from Pentecostal denominational churches, there is evidence to show that they have become a hive of Gnostic Jezebels. This has taken over from agape love which is the blood shedding love of Jesus that gave his life for us that we should be saved from hell fire and from saved from sickness and disease in this life. Of course the word “blood” and “hell” are commonly missing in “new translations”. In addition to this Petts paper has cast doubt on early belief in standing on the promises of God! We now have a very different Pentecostal Denominational Church set up.

 

Another example of Alexandrian thinking in “new translations” denies God being manifested in the flesh but a mere “he”, who is vindicated – not justified!

 

1 Timothy 3:16 (King James Version)


And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

 

NIV – I Tim. 3:16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, 
   was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

 

 The “simple folk” of the 1930’s who embraced Pentecostalism in Britain are now a remnant. They are either concerned “Church” members or apart from the way British Pentecostal denominations have gone. Gnostic teaching has come in at a time when spiritual experience has increased in the country. The combination of these two facts and the removal of the true Word of God from the churches have resulted in a manifestation of devils so great that we are now witnessing sin being manifest amongst ministers at a pace never witnessed in the 1930’s.

The blood bought Word of God brought conviction and power to Pentecostal Churches. Its withdrawal from use has brought in immorality and self interest to such a degree that most of these “Churches” are now a haven for Gnostic devils & immorality to manifest.

 

Becoming a Christian is a whole hearted commitment. A covenant, that is the total giving of one side to another. The new "Emerging Pentecostals" in their role as seeker sensitive adherents have prevented thousands from being truly saved from hell in their quest to populate their churches rather than populate heaven.

 

The Gnosticism that was growing from Alexandria and other parts of the Mediterranean area in the 2nd. Century were all closely associated with this new form of “Christianity” that was going to be the base for the “new translations” today. To get to grips as to why we have this new “pagan Church” manifesting with strange goings on, we need to realise that this infiltration combined Christian, Jewish and Pagan thought together developing through Gnostic leaders like Valentius and Marcion.

 

http://www.meta-religion.com/Esoterism/Gnosticism/gnosticism.htm

 

 Petts in his work on Healing and the Atonement  seemed to try and bring faith and reason together. Faith and Reason seems to have come together in the same way the Egyptian Gnostics experienced. Martyr embraced this into his theology as did Clement and Tatian. This went onto influence Origen who brought about thinking that ultimately brought about the “original Greek” of the “new translations.

 

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 

2013:  Here is the philosophy so prevalent today:

 

Martyr declared; The Logos is the pre-existent, absolute, personal Reason, and Christ is the embodiment of it, the Logos incarnate. Whatever is rational is Christian, and whatever is Christian is rational. The Logos endowed all men with reason and freedom, which are not lost by the fall. He scattered seeds of truth before his incarnation, not only among the Jews, but also among the Greeks and barbarians, especially among philosophers and poets, who are the prophets of the heathen. Those who lived reasonably and virtuously in obedience to this preparatory light were Christians in fact, though not in name; while those who lived unreasonably were Christless and enemies of Christ.

 

Socrates was a Christian as well as Abraham, though he did not know it. http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/justin.html

 

We therefore argue in this paper that the Pentecostal denominations have now become Egyptian Gnostic cults on the basis of endeavouring to bring faith and reason together, with use of “new translations” emanating from Codices found in Roman Catholic institutions that have their roots in Alexandria, and on the emphasis of the Spirit over emphasis of the Word from which the Lord will confirm his Word with signs.

 

We discover too that the Jehovah’s Witness religion was founded on Egyptian Gnostic belief and as we show a comparison between scripture verses of the “new translations” so embraced today by the Pentecostal denominations it is startling to note how near to the Jehovah’s Witness translation the “Bibles” being used in Pentecostal churches are.  

 

JEHOVAH’S WITNESS NEW WORLD TRANSLATION:

 

I John 5:5 admits that JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD but we know from their doctrine that this means a CREATED SON – NOT BEGOTTEN SON – NOT MADE SON and that this evil passage only says the “three” are in agreement –DENYING THE ONENESS OF THE GODHEAD!

 

NWT: I John 5:5 Who is the one that conquers the world but he who has faith that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he that came by means of water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. And the spirit is that which is bearing witness, because the spirit is the truth. For there are three witness bearers, the spirit and the water and the blood, and the three are in agreement.

 

NOT ONLY IS THIS FALSE “THREE” IN AGREEMENT BUT ALL THE “NEW TRANSLATIONS” SIDE WITH JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES FOR THESE EVIL “BIBLES” ALL COME FROM GNOSTIC MANUSCRIPTS VERY DIFFERENT TO THE BLOOD BOUGHT MANUSCRIPTS OF THE AUTHORIZED VERSION EMBRAZED BY THE PENTECOSTAL PIONEERS.

 

NKJV sides with Gnostic manuscripts with its constant references to “NU” – a referral to Westcott and Hort’s “original Greek” from Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus. In addition there is Codex Alexandrinus, all these Codices being part of Lucifer’s plot to undermine the holy and inspired Word of God. These constant references undermine the validity of Textus Receptus, in favour of the manuscripts of Egypt.

 

PROOF 1: NIV IN AGREEMENT WITH JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES …….

 

NIV: 1 John 5:5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.  6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7For there are three that testify: 8the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

 

PROOF 2: NASB IN AGREEMENT WITH JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES …….

 

NASB I John5:5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?  6This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.  7For there are three that testify:  8the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 

 

PROOF 3: AMPLIFIED IN AGREEMENT WITH JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES …….

 

(There is agreement because although 1 John 5:7 is included – it is undermined by the footnote saying it is only found in late manuscripts (this late manuscripts is the early Textus Receptus)

Note verse 8 – they do not agree in one – but in unison – very different

AMP I John 5: 5Who is it that is victorious over [that conquers] the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on that fact]?     6This is He Who came by (with) water and blood [His baptism and His death], Jesus Christ (the Messiah)--not by (in) the water only, but by (in) the water and the blood. And it is the [Holy] Spirit Who bears witness, because the [Holy] Spirit is the Truth.     7So there are three witnesses in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are One;     8and there are three witnesses on the earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree [are in unison; their testimony coincides].    Footnotes:

a.    1 John 5:6 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies. b.   1 John 5:7 The italicized section is found only in late manuscripts.

 

PROOF 4: NEW LIVING TRANSLATION IN AGREEMENT WITH JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES …….

 

NLT I John 5:5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.  6 And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. 7 So we have these three witnesses—8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree.

 

PROOF 5: ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION IN AGREEMENT WITH JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES …….

 

ESV I John5: 5Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?     Testimony Concerning the Son of God 6This is he who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7For there are three that testify: 8the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.

 

The Authorized Version is somewhat different, the difference being an adherence to the early Pentecostal statements of faith or an adherence to Gnostic belief. In the Authorized Version the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost are one, Jesus being “the Son of God” in the Authorized Version rather than “a son of the gods.”

 

CORRECT A.V.

 

1 John 5:5-8 (King James Version)


Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?  

 

This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.  

 

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.  

 

And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

 

NOW THAT IT HAS BEEN SHOWN THAT “NEW TRANSLATIONS” embraced by so many Denominational Pentecostals embrace the same Arian Jehovah’s Witness heresy – we better find out what the doctrines are and from where they originate …….

DOCTRINE 1: Jesus is “a god” and lesser than Jehovah God.

 

 J.W. Doctrine Scriptural Support:

 

“New translations” agree with New World Translation on “Jesus is a god” point!

 

 NWT Dan. 3:25  He was answering and saying: “Look! I am beholding four able-bodied men walking about free in the midst of the fire, and there is no hurt to them, and the appearance of the fourth one is resembling a son of the gods.”

 

Dan. 3:25 NIV  He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."

 

Dan 3:25 NASB  He said, "Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!"

 

Dan. 3:25 AMPLIFIED He answered, Behold, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt! And the form of the fourth is like a son of the gods!

 

Dan 3:25 NLT “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”

 

Dan 3:25 ESV he answered and said, "But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods."

 

The Authorized Version does not!

 

 Dan 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

 

 DIVINE WARNING …..

Unless you believe that JESUS IS “THE SON OF GOD” – you will not overcome the world!

 

I John 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

 

“New translations” agree with New World Translation on “lesser than Jehovah God” point!

 

 NWT: who, although he was existing in God’s form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God.

 

NIV Phil. 2:6 Who, being in very nature God, 
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

 

NASB  Phil. 2:6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped

 

AMPLIFIED Phil. 2:6 Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained,

 

NLT  Phil. 2:6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

 

ESV Phil 2: 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

 

The Authorized Version does not!

 

Philippians 2:6 (King James Version)


Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

 

DOCTRINE 2: God DID NOT “MANIFEST IN THE FLESH”!

 

 J.W. Doctrine Scriptural Support:

 

 “New translations” agree with New World Translation on “God did not manifest in the flesh” point! “He” or “Christ” is not admitting God manifest in the flesh!

 

NWT: I Tim. 3:16 Indeed, the sacred secret of this godly devotion is admittedly great: ‘He was made manifest in flesh, was declared righteous in spirit, appeared to angels, was preached about among nations, was believed upon in [the] world, was received up in glory.’

 

NIV: 1 Tim. 3:16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, 
was seen by angels,  was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

 

NASB: 1 Tim. 3:16  By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness:He who was revealed in the flesh,
Was vindicated in the Spirit,Seen by angels. Proclaimed among the nations,Believed on in the world,Taken up in glory.

 

AMPLIFIED: 1 Timothy 3:16 And great and important and weighty, we confess, is the hidden truth (the mystic secret) of godliness. He [God] was made visible in human flesh, justified and vindicated in the [Holy] Spirit, was seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, [and] taken up in glory. Footnotes: a) 1 Timothy 3:16 Some manuscripts read "God."

 

(Note; where Amplified says “some manuscripts – it is insultingly downgrading Textus Receptus – the PURE WORD OF GOD!)

 

NLT I Tim. 3:16  Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit.He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory.

 

ESV I Tim. 3:16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:He was manifested in the flesh,vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

 

AUTHORIZED VERSION says clearly “GOD MANIFEST IN THE FLESH”

 

I Tim. 3: 16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

 

DOCTRINE 3: JOSEPH WAS JESUS FATHER

 

J.W. Doctrine Scriptural Support:

 

 “New translations” agree with New World Translation on

“Joseph was Jesus father” point!

 

 NWT Luke 2:33 And its father and mother continued wondering at the things being spoken about it.

 

NIV Luke 2: 33 The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him.

 

NASB Luke 2:33  And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.

 

AMPLIFIED Luke 2:33 And His [legal] father and [His] mother were marveling at what was said about Him.

 

NLT Luke 2:33  Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him.

 

ESV Luke 2:33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.  

 

The Authorised Version does not!

 

 Luke 2: 33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

 

DOCTRINE 4: MADE “THROUGH HIM” NOT BY HIM,

his being coming from “ancient times” not EVERLASTING!

This is the Arian doctrine of Jesus being created and so was not able to create!

 

 J.W. Doctrine Scriptural Support:

 

“New translations” agree with New World Translation on “Through Him” point!

 

NWT   John 1:3 All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence.

 

NIV John 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

 

NASB John 1:3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

 

AMPLIFIED John 1:3 All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.

 

NLT John 1:3 God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.

 

ESV John 1:3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

 

The Authorised Version does not! Things were made BY HIM

because JESUS IS FULLY GOD!

 

John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

 

“New translations” agree with New World Translation on “Ancient times” or a starting point in history rather than everlasting point!

 

NWT   Micah 5:2 “And you, O Beth´le·hem Eph´ra·thah, the one too little to get to be among the thousands of Judah, from you there will come out to me the one who is to become ruler in Israel, whose origin is from early times, from the days of time indefinite.

 

NIV Micah 5:2  "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, 
       though you are small among the clans of Judah, 
       out of you will come for me 
       one who will be ruler over Israel, 
       whose origins are from of old, 
       from ancient times. "

 

NASB Micah 5:2  "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
         Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
         From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel 
         His goings forth are from long ago,
         From the days of eternity."

 

AMPLIFIED Micah 5:2 2But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, you are little to be among the clans of Judah; [yet] out of you shall One come forth for Me Who is to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from ancient days (eternity).

 

NLT Micah 5:2   But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
      are only a small village among all the people of Judah.
   Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you,
      one whose origins are from the distant past.

 

ESV Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
   who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
   one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
   from ancient days.

 

The Authorised Version shows JESUS NOT TO BE CREATED!

 

 Micah 5: 2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

 

DOCTRINE 5 = Jesus not to be worshipped!

 

 “New translations” go along with New World Translation

in showing Jesus not being worshipped as in the A.V.

 

NWT   Matthew 8:2 And, look! a leprous man came up and began doing obeisance to him, saying: “Lord, if you just want to, you can make me clean.”

 

NIV Matthew 8:2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."

 

NASB Matthew 8:2 And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."

 

NLT Matthew 8:2.Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”

 

ESV Matthew 8:2 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean."

 

The Authorised Version clearly shows WORSHIP!

 

Matthew 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

 

 We see that we are getting a “subordinate” Jesus in the “new translations”, these translations being more consistent with Jehovah’s Witness belief than with the statements of faith of the early Pentecostals.

 

Arius formed the doctrines later to be embraced by Charles Taze Russell who founded Jehovah’s Witnesses, whose memorial stone is as follows:

The Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry say this of Arianism, which developed from Alexandria, Egypt like the false “Bibles” of today.

 

Arianism developed around 320, in Alexandria Egypt concerning the person of Christ and is named after Arius of Alexandar.  For his doctrinal teaching he was exiled to Illyria in 325 after the first ecumenical council at Nicaea condemned his teaching as heresy.  It was the greatest of heresies within the early church that developed a significant following.  Some say, it almost took over the church.


Arius taught that only God the Father was eternal and too pure and infinite to appear on the earth.  Therefore, God produced Christ the Son out of nothing as the first and greatest creation.  The Son is then the one who created the universe.  Because the Son relationship of the Son to the Father is not one of nature, it is, therefore, adoptive.   God adopted Christ as the Son.  Though Christ was a creation, because of his great position and authority, he was to be worshipped and even looked upon as God.  Some Arians even held that the Holy Spirit was the first and greatest creation of the Son. 

 
At Jesus' incarnation, the Arians asserted that the divine quality of the Son, the Logos, took the place of the human and spiritual aspect of Jesus, thereby denying the full and complete incarnation of God the Son, second person of the Trinity.
In asserting that Christ the Son, as a created thing, was to be worshipped, the Arians were advocating idolatry.  http://www.carm.org/heresy/arianism.htm 


Jehovah’s Witness and Alexandrian “Bibles” developed their theology on by adding to the heresy of Arius in that i) God the Father through the son, not by the Son created the earthii) Christ was not to be worshipped and looked upon as Godiii) Idolatry accusation dealt with by not worshipping the Son.

 

This heresy of Egypt originated in the same Egyptian City as the Codex behind all the “new translations” and they all depict Arian theology of a created Jesus – a doctrine thrown out by the Council of Nicea which declared this ancient Creed which is scripturally supported in the Authorised Version, and not the “new translations”.

 

We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

 

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

 

He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

 

If this is not enough evidence to support the fact that the denominational Pentecostal “Churches” have adopted the philosophical and spiritual attributes of Egypt then the following titles relating to Jesus are further evidences.

TITLE 1: “THE CAPSTONE”

 

I Peter 2:6-7 (King James Version)

 

Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.  

 

Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

The Cornerstone now, however, has become “the capstone”(pictured) – the top stone of a pyramid, a symbol of Lucifer – thus making Jesus and Lucifer one of the same in the NIV, one of the translations embraced by the new breed of “Pentecostal” churches.

 

NIV: 6 For in Scripture it says: 
   "See, I lay a stone in Zion, 
      a chosen and precious cornerstone, 
   and the one who trusts in him 
      will never be put to shame." 7Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, 
   "The stone the builders rejected 
      has become the capstone,

 

The most commonly used "Bible" in the "Emerging Pentecostals" clearly describes its Jesus as "capstone", a capstone being top stone of a pyramid!

 

The true “Bible” presents Egypt in a derogatory way,

yet the NIV embraced by many of the new Christians presents Jesus as the “Capstone”

 

 

First – a look at Egypt in the Bible:

 

(1) Egypt is first mentioned in Genesis 12:10-12.

  10 "And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there: for the famine was grievous in the land.
  11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:
  12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive."
  

In Genesis 12:1-3 we find Abraham is given what is known as the Abrahamic Covenant.

 

Literally it is God's promise to deliver the world to Abraham and his seed as their own private possession.
  

In Genesis 12:10 Abraham goes down into Egypt to escape a famine in his homeland. In verse 12 we find Abraham's fear that the Egyptians might kill him and steal Sarai his wife. NOT exactly a positive context. We see then that the first mention of Egypt is negative.
  

(2) In Exodus 1:11-14 we find that the Jews were slaves in Egypt.
  

11 "Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
  12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
  13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:
  14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour. "
  In fact, Pharaoh decrees that all male Jewish babies are to be killed in verses 15 and 16.
  15 "And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:
  16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live."
  

Obviously a negative connotation.
  

(3) In Exodus chapter 20, after He had brought the children out of Egypt, God, with His own voice, tells what He thinks of Egypt in verse 2 where He describes it as a "house of bondage" "I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage."
  

Again, a negative comment and this one directly from God's lips.
  

(4) In Deuteronomy 4:20 Moses refers to Egypt as "the iron furnace. "
  "But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace,even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day."
  

(5) In Deuteronomy 17:16 Israel is told that, in the future, when they have a king he is not to carry on commercial trade with Egypt.
  "But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way."
  

(6) And finally in Revelation 11:8, when God wants to denounce Jerusalem, He compares it to Sodom and Egypt.
  "And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified."
  

This brief study has shown what most Christians already know. The Bible has a negative outlook on Egypt.                             

 

Alexandria
  

We find that Alexandria is mentioned only four times in Scripture and that each mention is bad.Why then have the denominational Pentecostal abandoned their “standing in the promises” stance with the Authorized Version for the allegorical Gnostic techniques of Egypt and the false translations? 
  

(1) Alexandria is first mentioned in Acts 6:9.
  

"Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is   called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen."
  

It was Jews from Alexandria who were in the crowd that disputed with and eventually killed Stephen.

 

   (2) The second mention of Alexandria is in Acts 18:24.

"And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus."
  

Here we find a Jew from Alexandria named Apollos who though fervent in spirit was misinformed concerning the gospel. Not knowing the true gospel of Jesus Christ he preached, in Ephesus, the baptism of John the Baptist. (Acts 18:25, 19:3) Apollos was not saved and neither were his converts.
  

Later, Apollos is led to Christ by Aquila and Priscilla (verse 26) and gets his message straightened out (verse 28).
  

But in its second mention, Alexandria is synonymous with bad Bible teaching.
  

(3) The third and fourth mentions of Alexandria are very similar. After Paul is arrested in Acts 21 and appeals his case to Caesar he is sent to Rome, and eventual death, on a ship from, of all places Alexandria (Acts 27:6).
  

"And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein."
  

(4) While sailing to Rome, Paul's ship is sunk in a tempest. After spending three months on the island of Melita he is sent on his way to eventual death on another ship. And where is this second ship from that is so ready to carry Paul to his death?
  

Acts 28:11: "And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux."
  

We see then that all four Bible references to Alexandria are negative. No one with any honesty could pretend that the Bible's representation of Alexandria is good.
  

It must also be noted here that Alexandria was a center of education and philosophy (Colossians 2:8) which it received from Athens in about 100 B.C. (Acts 17:16) There was a school of the Scriptures founded there by one Pantaenus who was a philosopher. Pantaenus interpreted scripture both philosophically and allegorically. That is to say that philosophically he believed truth to be relative, not absolute. He did not believe that the Bible was infallible. By looking at the Bible allegorically he believed that men such as Adam, Noah, Moses, and David existed only in Jewish poetry and were not true historical characters. He was succeeded as head of the school by Clement of Alexandria and later by Origen. Men who shared his skepticism.
  

It was Origen, deceived by the duel intoxicants of education and philosophy who upon receipt of pure copies of scripture altered them to parallel his twisted thinking. He is the father of all Bible critics and is not only responsible for the physical manuscripts which delete such verses as Luke 24:40, Acts 8:37 and I John 5:7, but he is also responsible for the Alexandrian philosophy parroted by so many of our fundamental scholars who claim that "The Bible is perfect and infallible" with one breath and then state "The Bible has mistakes and mistranslations" with the very next. It is this demented ideology that gave birth to the corrupt Alexandrian manuscripts in the first place. Thus we see that not only are the physical manuscripts of Alexandria corrupt and to be rejected, but the Alexandrian philosophy, that the Bible has mistakes in it and must be corrected, is even more subtle and dangerous and must be forsaken by true Bible believers.

 

Copied directly from:

 

http://www.chick.com/reading/books/158/158_08.asp

 

 

TITLE 2: “THE MORNING STAR”

 

Isaiah 14:12-15 (King James Version)


How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!  

 

For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:  

 

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.  

 

Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

 

THE NIV embraced by many of the denominational Pentecostal Churches 

HOWEVER RELATES LUCIFER AS BEING THE “MORNING STAR” –

A TITLE IT ALSO GIVES TO ITS “JESUS” WHO RISES “IN YOUR HEARTS". 

 

NIV Isa. 14: 12 How you have fallen from heaven, 
      O morning star, son of the dawn! 
       You have been cast down to the earth, 
       you who once laid low the nations!  13 You said in your heart, 
       "I will ascend to heaven; 
       I will raise my throne 
       above the stars of God; 
       I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, 
       on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.  14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; 
       I will make myself like the Most High."  15 But you are brought down to the grave, 
       to the depths of the pit.

 

NIV II Peter 1:19  And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

 

NIV Rev. 2:28 just as I have received authority from my Father, I will also give him the morning star.

 

NIV Rev. 22:16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."

 

According to the Urantia Book (New Age) Lucifer is a brilliant spirit who is “a son of God” in the way “new translations” describe Jesus in Dan. 3:25. Within this belief Lucifer recruited Satan and so within this Satanic counterfeit we see a developing of a pagan trinity, Lucifer being the “Morning Star” as he is described in the NIV.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucifer#Other_instances_of_the_Morning_Star_in_the_New_Testament

 

This has most serious consequences for the Pentecostal movements founded years ago on the true WORD OF GOD. From standing on the promises of God’s Holy Word, we have now found an Apostolic Church during 2008 running a disco and hip hop group in the Scottish Highlands, a “Church” embracing the scriptures of Egypt rather than the blood bought Word the early Pioneers would have died for.

 

 Chick Publications declare on their website:

 

Any translation that says “day star” or “morning star” or “star of the morning” in Isaiah 14:12, like most modern perversions, is bringing confusion. And God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). Many people reading the modern perversions end up asking, “If Lucifer is the morning star and Jesus isthe morning star, then is Lucifer Jesus?” The modern translations are simply not clear!

 

http://www.chick.com/ask/articles/lucifer.asp

 

We discover from the true scriptures, however, that Jesus is the “Morning Star” and not Lucifer.

 

Revelation 22:16 (King James Version)


I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. 

I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

 

“New translations” emanate from Codex Vaticanus (found in the Vatican Library) and Codex Sinaiticus (found in a monastery at Mount Sinai) and so it is interesting to note that Pope John Paul II in 2000 declared Mary to be the “Morning Star” a further competitor to Jesus title with Lucifer. Pope Paul II “Bible” was likely to be The Jerusalem or New Jerusalem Bible which took most of its text from the same polluted source as the rest of the “new translations”.

 

At the beginning of this new year, while living the Great Jubilee intensely, we entrust to Mary, the "Morning Star," the evangelizing mission of the Church and the road of Christians toward the full unity desired by our Redeemer. 

http://www.remnantofgod.org/mry-a21.htm

 

Evidence although undocumented has come into me of a particular stand the Apostolic Church took against Roman Catholicism. Now the “Church” embraces its corrupted manuscripts.

 

We have proven that the Pentecostal Denominations have a very different way of interpreting scripture, the denominations having moved from the Authorized Version and standing on its promises to allegorical interpretation of Gnostic scriptures, disco dancing and hip hop in 2008 and now cage football!!!!!!!

Part 4: The Way Forward: Exposing the Extremities followed by

A Return to the Real Book and Standing On the Promises

 

In this concluding section of this study we will see how the original

statements of faith match up to the new allegorical approaches of the

present day Pentecostal movements.

 

           I.     Assemblies of God

 

The first noticeable difference in Assemblies of God’s presentation of its Statement of Faith from the original featured in Redemption Tidings of 1924 to its present day website presentation at http://aog.org.uk/church_interest.asp  is that the introduction seems to have been removed.

 

In 1924 this was:

 

The Scriptures known as the Bible are the Inspired Word of God; the infallible and all-sufficient rule for faith, practice and conduct.

 

This Statement of Fundamental Truths is not intended as a creed for the Church, but as a basis of unity for a full Gospel Ministry, and we do not claim that it contains all truth in scripture.

 

1 Corinthians 1:10 (King James Version)


Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

 

The scripture referred to in this introduction, however, cannot be achieved if “Bibles” are used today out of line with the original Statement of Faith.

 

The current and 1924 statements are shown here with comments in blue. Scripture references are A.V. for 1924 and NIV for modern which is a widely used “modern translation” in A.O.G.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

1924: The Bible is the inspired Word of God.

 

A.V. II Timothy 3:15 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. 

 

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

 

I Peter 2:2 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

 

There is a major difference in emphasis here, the Pioneers having no doubt in declaring that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. This has been changed to “we believe”, a possible influence of Political Correctness! One scripture has changed too.

 

MODERN: We believe that the Bible (i.e. the Old and New Testaments excluding the Apocrypha), is the inspired Word of God, the infallible, all sufficient rule for faith and practice

(2 Tim. 3:15-16; 2 Peter 1:21).

 

NIV II Tim 3:15

and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures,  which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

 

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

 

II Peter 1:21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

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1924: The unity of The One True and Living God Who is the Eternally self existent “I AM,” Who has also revealed himself as One Being in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29; Matthew 28:19

 

A.V. Deut 6: 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

 

Mark 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

 

Matthew 28: 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

 

MODERN: We believe in the unity of the One True and Living God who is the Eternal, Self-Existent “I AM”, Who has also revealed Himself as One being co-existing in three Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29;

Matt 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14).

 

NIV: Deut 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

Mark 12:29"The most important one," answered Jesus,

"is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.

 

Matthew 28: 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

 

II Cor. 13: 14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the l love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

SERIOUS SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH USE OF “MODERN TRANSLATIONS”.This part of the Statement of Faith can be supported by the A.V. which was used in 1924 but not by “modern translations” which depict Jesus as being subordinate to the Father rather than one being.

 

PROOF (“Modern translations” in agreement with Jehovah’s Witness belief – the 1924 Pioneers of the A.V. were not) :

 

NWT Jehovah’s Witness: Phil. 2: 6 who, although he was existing in God’s form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God.

 

NIV Phil. 2:6Who, being in very nature God,  did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

 

NASB  Phil. 2:6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not  regard equality with God a thing to be grasped

 

AMPLIFIED Phil. 2:6 Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained,

 

NLT  Phil. 2:6Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

 

ESV Phil 2: 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

 

The Authorized Version has Jesus of the same substance of the Father

– “begotten” not made!

 

Philippians 2:6 (King James Version)

 

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

 

The issue of the co-existent, co-equal Godhead is crucial with the infiltration of masters and inferiors heavy shephereding practice

that has infiltrated the Pentecostal denominations today.

 

It is very significant that the "new translation" AOG does not have

I John 5:7

 

1 John 5:7 (King James Version)

 

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

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