And The Prophets Prophesied Falsely And The People Loved It So

by Mike Oppenheimer
Let Us Reason Ministries

But what will you do in the end?

We are watching prophetic history unfold for the church and it is not turning out the way most would think. With each new wave of revival the promoters claimed God is pouring out his Spirit on all flesh, but all that happened is the deception deepened.

You have to love the truth and walk in it, to walk with Jesus, only then can you discern error. That means you must know his word CORRECTLY and be willing to search it daily. Did not Jesus say to worship God we must do so in Spirit. No, He said we are to worship in Spirit and in TRUTH. This is the missing element in Lakeland and every Toronto style revival. In one of his supernatural stories Todd Bentley said when he was abducted through a pillar of fire he landed on a table in heaven surrounded by angels and he heard God say “I desire truth on the inward parts.” Precisely! Where was it?

You cannot worship, you cannot teach “in the Spirit” without truth. Love tells the truth, not hides it, in fact love rejoices at the truth (1 Cor.13).

If salvation comes from the word of God, and our spiritual growth is dependent on it (Mt.13) would not Satan oppose it every way he can, substituting something that appears spiritual with power but has no real affect?

Each one of these waves of revival we have seen since the early 90’s has diminished the church from upholding truth and in its place exalted experience. From the beginning this “revival” was the most blatant in departing sound doctrine by hyping up supernatural experiences- even the bold face lie that we can go to heaven anytime we want.

They put no light on his teachings and kept the people in the dark. They did not examine Bentley’s teachings by Scripture to see his accuracy of his supernatural experiences. Bentley boldly claimed any miracle that happened in the Old and New Testament could also happen to us. This is not only an unbiblical claim but is completely illogical. Is God going to raise up another Moses and meet him at a burning bush and send him to deliver a nation by signs and wonders? Will saints appear on earth as they did with Jesus? No these were all unique one time events. When someone claims that every miracle that happened before can happen again it tells me one thing- they are unable to rightly divide the word of truth and are not showing themselves approved for ministry.

As far as I’m concerned Bentley unequivocally proved he was a false teacher by endorsing William Branham as the greatest healing evangelist and acknowledging Paul Cain who is a latter rain false prophet. Bentley willfully pointed to Branham and searched for any similarity of himself to him he could. Citing an angel told Bentley “I was with William Branham.”Yet Branham was deceived for 30 years, not just at the end of his life, as some people say. The angel that had been in contact with him since he was a small child supposedly appeared during a 1933 baptismal service in the Ohio River at Jeffersonville, Indiana, and he said to Branham: “As John the Baptist foreran the first coming of Christ, you will forerun His Second Coming” (In the Days of the Voice of the 7^th Angel (Edmonton: End Time Message Tabernacle), p. 53.) This led to Branham thinking he was Elijah. Branham denied the Trinity and the Son of God being eternal (and God), and yet Bentley along with men of renown give him kudos for his ministry. This shows how little these men care about the word of God, nor how God and his nature are represented. As long as we have those who care little for doctrine and even less for people to know truth the church will continue to have these kinds of meetings and call them revival.

The state of the church today is no different than when Jeremiah, lamented, “A wonderful [appalling] and horrible thing is committed in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so” (Jer. 5:30-31). The prophets today rejoice at their power and influence–Jeremiah wept.

Supernatural stories and more stories are what fueled the burning the fires of revival of Lakeland. For those who love to hear stories there was a continual stream of them. They were looking for signs in all the wrong places i.e. the glory, fire, the miracles, the experiences etc.

Bentley had more supernatural experiences than all the apostles put together. Like immature children being tucked into bed modern day charismatics accepted his supernatural tales. These were tales from a master of story telling- but it was not Rod Serling of the Twilight Zone, or Alfred Hitchcock– but Todd Bentley of the supernatural zone. The more they heard the more they became accustom to his storytelling and forsook the word of God. And the church leaders stood by said nothing– they endorsed him.

Bentley’s appeal had his audience covet a special visit from God; they would love to have the same things happen to them, yearning for an experience like his. Bentley did not just “emphasize angels,” at times he made them a necessity for the miracles and power. Telling stories about angels that bring financial breakthroughs, revelations, healings and take him to heaven. Bentley was teaching God’s people to contact and commune with angels, to call on them and to seek revelation from them. Even referring to an angel named Emma who Bob Jones stated instigated the prophetic movement in Kansas City in the 1980s. Bentley described a specific woman angel named Emma who appears in a flowing white dress that floated a few feet off the floor. After being scrutinized by those “Bible Bereans” that he (and others) called heresy hunters, Bentley himself tried to make an excuse and tell us he is not being led by Emma, who is not a woman angel. So what do we have, a man angel that is a cross dresser? The confusion escalated because nothing was addressed and the stories continued.

Amidst the ongoing protest of the “Berean’s” that tested his teachings and experiences proving that Lakeland was not scripturally sound and cannot be of God, the promoters ignored them and marched forward with their agenda, and the followers with even less discernment followed them.

While all this was taking place the world continued to turn, spinning downward as the sin factor increased. Natural disasters took place, news reports of our culture imploding morally and spiritually, the economy stuttering and effecting all, even on a global scale. Politicians continued to lie while the crises in the Middle East grew. Russia exerted her force and invaded Georgia and threatened Poland. But south in the USA, Lakeland continued to entertain the church goers who seek supernaturalism, those who had their curiosity peak got their one way ticket to deception. If one pauses to think, there is little difference from what just took place and what has been taking place all along in these “latter rain” revivals. Some of the players have changed but not the game.

What God revealed

August 15, 2008 from the board of directors of fresh-fire ministry

“We wish to acknowledge, however, that since our last statement from the Fresh Fire Board of Directors, we have discovered new information revealing that Todd Bentley has entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff. In light of this new information and in consultation with his leaders and advisors, Todd Bentley has agreed to step down from his position on the Board of Directors and to refrain from all public ministry for a season to receive counsel in his personal life.”

No one rejoices when someone is found in practicing sin, even those who promote error to the body of Christ. Those of us who spoke correction on this do not hate him; our intention was to protect the sheep by opposing the false teachings and practices.

The ministry of Fresh-fire calling it an “unhealthy relationship” to soften the impact certainly appeals to their public relations, but will it help Todd Bentley who has affected his wife and family with this.

Does this action invalidate this revival? Certainly not by itself, it was invalidated from the start with false signs and miracles, accompanying stories that Rod Serling of the Twilight zone and Alfred Hitchcock would be proud of. Bentley being taken up through a pillar fire that no one could see in a room full of people and transported to heaven to be sliced open and operated on by angels is an exercise of his fertile imagination. You have to put a lot time into inventing stories like these. This had being going on for years before Lakeland. What it did validate is his having an overactive imagination which he seemed to have confused with the Holy Spirit giving him an experience. Although one can always opt for the other alternative, that he actually did experience this and it was not imagination, which makes it all the more dangerous.

A portion of Freshfire’s statement to the public:

“we so regret that in the midst of great revival, the enemy has found a way into our camp.”

I see it the other way around- This revival let the enemy into the church- hyped with supernatural stories that would embarrass past greats who actually taught the Bible and seen real salvation commitments by people who wanted to be rescued from sin by Jesus as their savior. No, this had none of “that kind” of preaching. It was something new, fresh, or so they thought.

For over a hundred days fleshly antics and demonic type supernatural stories made its way onto God TV and youtube presented to the world to the dismay of many that tried to warn people of a reinforced Toronto repeat.

“We will continue to host conferences in our region with speakers and worship leaders from around the nation whose message and mandates resonate with the vision and heart of Fresh Fire Ministries.” “In Todd’s own words, “What God is doing is bigger than one man”, and we now have a golden opportunity as the Body of Christ to pick up the baton and to run with perseverance for His glory.” (August 15, 2008 From the Board of Directors).

On their website it has: Cancelled miracles signs and wonders 2008 (all Bentley’s engagements). Yet they are going to be selling The best of Florida outpouring (coming soon). Freshfire ministries faces challenge to try to keep the momentum. They claim they are still believing God for more despite the sin found in their camp that was right in front of their eyes. They participated in the deception that was spread to millions by this supernatural festival they called a revival and refuse to take stock: they will not stop their efforts without Bentley, we may even see them bring him back by popular demand. Will these same people who approved of Bentley’s supernaturalism “pick up the baton,” of course.

As each day goes by more information is released: “Furthermore, it has now come out that there has been some inappropriate behavior, both with excessive drinking and also with a female member of his staff” (John Arnott August 17, 2008 Lakeland & Todd Bentley Update by TACF’s John Arnott).

And at the same time people continue to ask what went wrong? As you read this article the answer should become obvious. It was not the discoveries of Bentley’s mischievous behavior ““ they were the outcome of something far deeper.

The endorsements of Bentley from the Father of the prophets, Paul Cain, The influence of Bob Jones a prophet that was with Paul Cain who taught Bentley that he can go to heaven anytime he wanted to. Leading up to the grand finale – where Peter Wagner and numerous apostles and prophets stood on stage in support with Bentley on this outpouring, agreeing in unison and prophesying Bentley’s power and influence was to increase. They all want to be exonerated from the role they played. Those who acknowledged this as revival and advertised it favorably need to be identified and be avoided (Rom.16:17). Let’s examine some of the things said by friendship and prophecy by Lakeland’s supporters.

In May, Paul Cain (who is 78-years old) attended Lakekand, he was acknowledged for his latter rain vision that claimed stadiums would be filled in the “last days.” He told the audience that “allegations” of moral failings circulating about him were not true. His comments had people wonder of how genuine his confession from three years ago when he was found in sin. Rick Joyner, Mike Bickle and Jack Deere urged Cain to submit to a specific restoration process, because of the claims of drinking and homosexuality.

A New Breed

Paul Cain was invited on stage at Lakeland, Bentley begins by ingratiating himself to Paul Cain by saying: “I saw the angel and when you came out here.” “The angelic activity was released to the stadium and then I turned around and saw Paul Cain step upon the grass”¦ I realized the atmosphere changed when you came back out here tonight to step out on this pulpit the power of God came in, and the glory and his majesty and his holiness came in and I felt the presence of Jesus””¦ “I felt an impression that Jesus himself came to me and I felt the Lord came to me out of honour because he was pleased that you accepted my invitation to come and release the prophetic word and the prophetic blessing. Because I’m telling you right now God is redigging the well and there is a healing revival that is here- you saw it you had the recurring dream and you had the recurring vision. You received it right here in central Florida, and right here in central Florida something has begun and its going around the world its going global and you being here tonight is prophetic history and Paul I would be honored if you would release and pray a blessing of healing revival just over every hungry heart or soul watching on the television”¦ and I know you were with William Branham, I know you were with, you did meetings you traveled with the greatest healing evangelist of the late 40’s and 50’s and those seeds, those healing seeds are in you Paul and I believe if you would release a prophetic blessing, a fathers blessing, a grandfathers blessing because you carried the words since the 70’s and you delivered the word and for so many years and something has begun to come to pass and I would be honoured if you would release that, I feel a stirring in my heart Paul”¦”

Paul Cain was promised many years prior “One day he would be allowed to stand before a new breed of men and women leaders.” His waiting is over.

Paul Cain: prays to the Father in the name of Jesus, “I thank you that you have answered my prayer that you have let me live to see tokens of this revival are be involved in it in some way or a participant if possible AND LORD YOU HAVE NEVER HAS ALLOWED ME TO SAY THAT I HAVE MET THE NEW BREED, ABSOLUTELY- MET THE NEW BREED. And when you brought Todd Bentley and I together the angel of the Lord said “you have found what you are looking for” this is a man without guile. Cain stutters in trying to pull together a bible example using the man up in the tree Zachais and is helped by Bentley and those on stage to realize it Nathaniel: “behold Nathaniel in whom there is no guile. I couldn’t believe when people were criticizing Todd that surely had some kind of guile in him and the lord spoke to me as clearly as he has ever spoken before, and I’ve stood by the notables and the greats that had the greatest healing ministry of all times and I’ve never met anyone that has the integrity and the possibilities of leading this thing into a worldwide revival. And I just want to confer and bless whatever I can do,”¦ I just place to myself to hear from the Lord and to transfer and to give to my brother who has given so much to others and soo much to me, everything you have ever deposited into my life that I didn’t know how to give away I’m giving it to my brother tonight to carry on this revival until the stadiums all over the world have been, uh”¦ catching this, have been carriers of it and taking it from one end of the world to the other and thank you I’VE MET THE NEW BREED TONIGHT.

Cain tells us that Branham had the greatest healing ministry of ALL TIME- does this means greater than any of the apostles, including Paul (it also insinuates Jesus).

No guile in him. We now know this is not true. Guile means cunning or artful deception to attain a goal; duplicity; skillful deceit. I see the very opposite in Bentley with his hiding sin as he ministered to keep the revival going and his ministry intact. Along with this, unproven miracle testimonies and spiritual manipulation by his supernatural stories escalated. This prophet of prophets who was said by other prophets to be able to read minds did not know a thing, he was clueless. Even claiming the Lord spoke to him about Bentley. Paul Cain did not know about his guile, there was no prophetic ability to hear from God, what he said was the very opposite of what was going on. Yes, this is prophetic history.

The angel of the Lord talks to Cain (who does not exist anymore since Jesus became flesh), which shows he is being influenced by a deceiving spirit all these years.

He can now say he has finally seen the New Breed “” (a new breed of what?) Bentley is the new breed! Cain transferred what may be considered his mantle to Bentley. This is not anything good; it can only be identified as deception, especially with its relationship to William Branham and those who have been teaching the new breed for years.

This is a horrible endorsement and a dangerous one, for when one reads what the New Breed is according to these prophets means those who are to overcome death and become like duplicates of Christ without a rapture or return of Jesus.

What revival is Paul Cain speaking of? For many years the New Breed was prophesied by him and Jones (and others) to work mighty signs and wonders and fill stadiums to overflowing as glowing reports come from the major news networks.

Bentley finished Paul Cain’s stay on the platform by saying to Paul Cain and his audience “We honor a great prophet of the Lord, may God anoint every new breed that’s out there tonight anoint them (repeats anoint them about 10 times) “¦ raise up a new breed, raise up a healing army oh god, you said this day was coming a Joel’s army being released. Its here, its now, and we’re not going back.”

This sums up the veiled agenda of these meetings. This is about the Latter Rain and nearly all the players can be found in Peter Wagners ICA (International coalition of apostles). As Lakeland went went from local to international the apostles saw this as a platform and did not miss the opportunity to promote themselves to the world through this Toronto style repeat.

On June 23, 2008 Todd Bentley of the “Lakeland Outpouring,” was commissioned as an evangelist in a ceremony, held in a 10,000-seat tent. Peter Wagner, leader of the International Coalition of Apostles, read a statement about Bentleys need for apostolic alignment. He calls three apostolic pillars of the church:

Ch ƒ © Ahn, pastor of Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena, Calif.; John Arnott of Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship in Canada; Bill Johnson, pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, Calif.; laid hands on Bentley approving him into their fold. It was called a true sign of unity by many. Peter Wagner called this “The Alignment Ceremony” where a total of 17 apostles participated (on stage) representing three apostolic streams: ICA, Revival Alliance, and Morning Star.

Participating leaders at the ceremony included Rick Joyner, founder of MorningStar Ministries

Ken Greter (announces C. Peter Wagner) Che Ahn, Bill Johnson, John Arnott, Stephen Strader, Karl Strader, Jeff Beecham, Rick Joyner, Doris Wagner, Joseph Garlington, Sharon Stone, Paco Garcia, Clarice Fluitt, ‚  Richard Maiden,Mike Maiden, Joshua Fowler, Barry Bouchet,Wesley Campbell.”

(Todd Bentley ‘”Commissioning,” June 23, 2008, http://www.freshfire.ca/?Id=1052&pid=993)

Wagner invites the Holy Spirits power and presence to reside over them, and said to Bentley on the platform: “This commissioning represents a powerful spiritual transaction taking place in the invisible world. With this in mind, I take the apostolic authority that God has given me and I decree to Todd Bentley

• your power will increase,
• your authority will increase,
• your favor will increase,
• your influence will increase,
• your revelation will increase.

“I also decree that a new supernatural strength will flow through this ministry. A new life force will penetrate this move of God. Government will be established to set things in their proper order. God will pour out a higher level of discernment to distinguish truth from error. New relationships will surface to open the gates to the future.“http://vodpod.com/watch/835371-todd-bentleys-apostolic-and-prophetic-commissioning-14

A higher level of discernment? Is this one of his jokes, there is not a square inch of it to be found.

John Arnott

“We bless you today, Todd Bentley. You’re a friend. You’re a man of God. You’re a man of prayer. You’re a man of the spirit. You love the anointing. And I would say that it’s not just the Lakeland revival, but the whole world that goes into revival. And you’re leading an amazing charge. And, multitudes are getting in ‚  behind you and saying, “Come on. I’m gonna go with you.” And so we bless all of that.

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for raising up this young man, to lead such a mighty charge around the world, and to partner with God TV in all that has happened here in the last, uh, several months now, three months almost.

We bless it in the name of Jesus, and we stand with you, and we encourage you, and we honor you.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A05WQYi7aQ

Che Ahn

“Recognizing that God has chosen you and appointed you to bear much and lasting fruit in this Lakeland revival, and revival around the world; Recognizing that He has called you as an Ephesian 4 evangelist and a revivalist moving in signs and wonders; Knowing that you have walked in a manner worthy of the Lord, pleasing Jesus in every way, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing in the intimacy and knowledge of God; We as your brothers and your friends, who have a deep love for you, Shonnah, your whole family, we just esteem you. We are here to stand with you, support you. And we are here to commission you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit–in the power of His name–with special oil from Chuck Pierce. It’s called “Revival Oil.” Chuck could not make it, so ‚  he sent this Fed-Ex, special oil for you. He’s in Africa. And so we anoint you and commission you in Jesus’ name.”

Among their unanimous endorsements we should not ignore the unscriptural concepts and practices these men are introducing to the church via Bentley.

Bill Johnson

“When David wanted Uriah killed, he sent him into battle and then withdrew from him. As a company of people, we refuse to do that. Many revivals through history have been cut short of their intention, God’s destiny and intention over individuals, because of jealousies and fears that get stirred-up in the people of God, and we refuse to do that.

We shape the coarse of history by partnering with you, giving honor where it’s due. You welcome the glory as well as anybody I’ve ever seen in my life. I long to learn from you in that.

And I bless you and I pray with the rest of these, that the measure of glory would increase; that Moses would no longer be considered the high-water mark, with the glory shown from his face, but instead the revelation of the goodness of God ‚  would change the face of the church, and He would use your voice; He would use your grace, your anointing to alter the face of the church before this world; that the goodness of the Lord will be seen once again. I pray this over you in Jesus’ name.”

What glory is Johnson speaking of that removes Moses from the Scripture position to exalt Bentley to a position greater than his- yes Bentleys voice has changed the face of the church by his made up supernatural stories that are unbiblical and deceive people? Indeed these men are all shaping the course of history.

Dr. Clarice Fluitt

“Hallelujah! For the word of the Lord would say, Behold the vanguard. Behold the tugboat that is cutting through the ice of religious traditions–the cruel, hard things. The understanding of the mind of men will now bow to the reality of the revelation of the finished work of Calvary.

Behold, sayeth God, you have been equipped with cutting power. You have been equipped to go through those traditions of the mind of man. Yea, sayeth God, and you are pulling the church into the realm of glory. Behind you is a great ship that is laden with healing and deliverance and prosperity. This is the word to you, oh man of God- arise, kill, and eat. No longer; no longer; no longer will men call unclean what I have called clean.”

I don’t think there is any dispute that this prophesy is about as far off as one can get. If one can make an excuse for this or any of their statements (spoken as apostles and prophets) then they need to check if they are in the faith.

Joshua Fowler

“Todd, the Lord has made you to be a detonator. I see cables going around the world to different nations. I see Great Britain being set ablaze by the power of God. I see even as you go into places that God says you’ll go even with the glory ‚  even like William Branham, and the Lord says you’ll carry a portal anointing. And what ever city you go over, there will be a portal! ‘There’ll be a portal that will be opened up,’ sayeth the Lord! The Lord says you’ll detonate, and BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! There’ll be a release of glory through the nations, says the Spirit of the Lord!

http://legacylife.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=
view&id=115&Itemid=96http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A05WQYi7aQ

Citing William Branham; detonating- boom; a release of glory and stating the Lord says ‘There’ll be a portal that will be opened up,” shows us how careless and spurious their statements are. Clouds without water, illegitimate prophets. And this is only a half the statements made.

All this proves is what so many of us have been warning the church about for years- THERE ARE FALSE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS INSIDE THE CHURCH. The prophecies spoken over Todd Bentley at the apostolic commissioning service prove false prophets were deeply involved in this. None of these so called prophets knew about what was going on, this certainly speaks louder than all their words of achievements. They didn’t know and were deceived. How can they be trusted to speak for the Lord.

The head of the apostles and prophets Peter Wagner approved of this revival, giving his blessing by bringing certain apostles together and taking his so called the apostolic authority and decreeing that Todd Bentley’s, Power, authority, favor, influence and revelation will ALL increase. This is more than an “oops, I was wrong.”

In a newsletter released earlier this week, Bentley said Wagner was the one who suggested having an official ceremony in which Bentley could be commissioned. (By Craig von Buseck blogs.cbn.com Apostolic Leaders Commission Lakeland Revival Leader Todd Bentley

But this time they cannot get themselves out of the freshfire they have jumped into. Why? Because they and so many others that prophesied and had visions from “God” that Todd is the harbinger of a great revival that he would be successful, this revival would continue, it would not be stopped. They prophesied over him and all was to be well and profitable. Caught in lies like a deer in the headlights they are frozen and they should be held accountable for their lack of truth.

Stephen Strader who hosted this spiritual carnival is in Wagner’s ICA- under Peter Wagner. Do you see the bigger picture? As we can see the apostles used Bentley to promote their agenda, they were able to introduce themselves to the church in way they could not before. This time the apostles and prophets got behind this schemer decorated to reach the youth and they all were deceived.

There is not enough room to address all the sordid teachings and activities that were said and done that were an offense to the Spirit of Jesus and His word. Todd promoting being drunk in the spirit (saying it is in the atmosphere) and acting drunk at times (possibly literally). Telling people that acts of violence; slapping, choking, headbutting and kickedwere all instructed by God to heal people. Telling people when they are being water baptized that the fire is in the water, baptizing them in the name of the “˜Father, Son and Bam’ which is totally irreverent and shows this mans lack of understanding of true spirituality. He called down fire from above, he called on the angels. The emphasis was not on Jesus but angels and even Jesus supposedly told Bentley he must preach on the angel (whichever that one is, you guess). The whole “revival’s” focus was leaning on Bentley (see the prophecies) despite denial of this.

Even the people that he resurrected gave him praise along with God. For example when Todd Bentley read an unverified e-mail and excitedly proclaimed the “thirteenth resurrection from the dead” which took place at a funeral home. Bentley says a family requested that the God TV/Florida revival be aired during an “all-night wake” for a dead man resting in a casket. Cheers and applause came from his gullible audience. Reading: At the funeral they played the revival, and we declared that our brother would not be embalmed. ‚  At 2:19 AM, my brother began to stir in his coffin! Bentley’s followers go wild. My brother sat up in the coffin praising God and the Reverend Todd Bentley! Now listen to this! My dear brother, all day, since he’s been raised from the dead, has been telling us about his journey to heaven and how he thought he would never come back. He died and went to heaven! Listen to this! He thought he would never come back to the earth to be with us, but then he heard our beloved Reverend Todd and his voice pulling his spirit out of heaven. NUMBER 13 FROM THE DEAD! ‚  We’re gonna confirm it.” YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLv6C7b6m88) (posted on www.christianresearchservice.com/

It was never confirmed!

This was typical showmanship with the intention of bringing the audience into a state of belief. You are free to believe what you want, but if you have the mind of Christ- USE IT! We are to believe the truth, not made up stories. Can God raise the dead and do miracles, of course. But to claim a dead man in heaven heard Todd’s voice on earth and was pulled from heaven to earth is more than stretching ones credulity, its abandoning the use of your brain. Think of the switch- The Bible teaches that the believer that will hear Jesus’ voice and is to be taken to heaven, not hear a man’s voice and is taken from heaven to be brought back to earth. The people have as much discernment then a bear has feathers. Outrageous, they cannot tell a audacious lie from the truth- where is the operation of the Holy Spirit that is supposed to be with them in such a powerful way? The Spirit of truth that lead them into all truth! Those who understand His word correctly, those who are mature know the Holy Spirits work and his person and can identify what is and is not of God.

God is speaking- do you hear?

God took a revival that looked like the previous revivals (except on steroids with the supernatural stories) and pulled the curtain down on them. This time they all were humiliated by God. Not the God whose been visiting them with signs and wonders but the God of Holiness, the one that will not be mocked, the one you bow your knee to. The real God made spectacle of all the false prophets before the church. But will the blind see or will they continue to follow the blind and make excuses for their spiritual idol[s].

God was supposedly working through Todd “signs and wonders,” bringing revival while his marriage was going toward a separation and he was sloshing hanky pankying around. As stated before- God uses imperfect people but God does not use people nor exercise His miracle power through those that are in blatant sin, that teach falsely about God and his nature and his ways, and misrepresent his word.

God told none of them what was really going on. None of them corrected his false teaching and experiences he was having. They did not care that he gave imaginary stories and promoted unbiblical experiences to an audience that was in the millions all over all the world watching from TV. What they cared about was the introduction and spread of the Latter Rain and the International coalition of apostles (as evident by Wagner’s own introduction of himself).

This third wave of Bob Jones (and Peter Wagner) has proven to be the mother of all deceptions with spiritism as the forte of Bentley. In the end Bentley became the product of all those who influenced him.

The question now is: will those who were deceived be motivated by righteous anger to resist the appeal to love their deceiver[s] (those who promoted him) or will they “˜go liberal’ and defend the fraudulent acts that were presented to them by a sincere but misled master storyteller.

Its time for us to say it and not be so polite; people were being physically hurt and spiritually misled and ruined. Many people who have discernment tried to tell you, but you would not listen. Because you listened to your leaders who were also deceived. This man, this movement, has become a sign to the church more than any other in recent years- why? Because everyone got behind him in support.

In I Kings 22 we read of a time when the king of Israel loved what the false prophets said to him but hated what the few true prophets had to say. Both Jehoshaphat the king of Judah and Ahab the King of Israel reluctantly entreated Michaiah a prophet to tell them what they were not hearing from the hundreds of prophets who said with one voice, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the king’s hand.” Sound familiar? The false prophets ALWAYS prophesied good, peace and victory.

In vv.16-18 the king had Michaiah swear that he would tell the truth. Michaiah said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.'”the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

The king was the shepherd over Israel, but many have listened to the false shepherds (pastors) who are misleading them by approving of the false prophets. Today, Jesus is our chief shepherd that we should be listening to above any earthly shepherd.

Michaiah then gives the king and us insight into the Lords judgments, vv.19-20 he said, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left. “And the LORD said, “˜Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, “˜I will persuade him.’ The LORD said to him, “˜In what way?’ So he said, “˜I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the LORD said, “˜You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.” Therefore look! The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you.”

Notice -they are called the kings prophets- not the Lords. When the leaders continually refuse to listen to God’s voice (which primarily would come by His word), a time comes when God will give them over to what they want to hear to accept their own deception. Todd was the shepherd that led the people and the prophets all prophesied good over him, prophesying success. Lakeland ended in disaster despite the prophets words.

Some people need to get cold water poured on their heads instead of freshfire. These movements are called waves, this being the 3rd (according to Prophet Bob Jones). They are tests upon the church. They are allowed and even sent by God to separate those who will follow God’s word and those who covet more than his word, who desire supernatural experiences and signs (1 Cor.11:19; Mt. 12:39). If those involved are not held responsible this time then when? This will certainly be repeated in the future.

I would like to think this is enough of a shock that some will stop trusting everyone and everything said behind a pulpit. That they will stop getting drunk on their supernatural experiences that persuade them to trust in man and be removed from faith in the word of God.

If I have a message to Todd Bentley it would be this- Jesus loves you and you need to repent, get away from these apostles and prophets, the dominionists who have influenced you, there counsel is worthless. Find someone who knows the Bible to teach you correctly and begin again so you can be useful for God’s kingdom.

No doubt, Lakeland and Bentley will be the topic of discussion for sometime; they will wonder what went wrong (though it is obvious to some). Blame will misplaced as they try to skirt any responsibility. They may blame those who opposed it even though we were being a friend to those who were being deceived.

Because this is what they do when they cannot answer their teaching or practices Biblically. But the facts remain- deception was working, people were being misled.

The church needs to feel the sting of pain on this, mourn, repent from pursuing stories and being entertained by false teachers, so that we can turn this thing around. Healing can only come by an admittance of the wrong done. Until we become serious enough to stop these deceptions, we will not see the church return to sound doctrine to have a renewal and affect the great numbers of lost that need to be saved.