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"THEY WERE ALL FILLED" -- Rev. Jim Thorpe DD An Unedited Version An Important Definition: |
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Index Chapter 1 -- Ye Shall Receive Power
Chapter 1 Ye Shall Receive Power, The Purpose of Pentecost This night is darker than any before. The Doctor's prognosis strikes like the sentence of a trial judge and gives no hope of appeal. Death draws near and the morning sun will not be seen. The cancer has done it work -- life is painfully slipping away -- the daughters are told that the fight can go no further. Violet had faithfully held that healing would be hers. Her girls and loving husband stand with her and hoped to heaven for something good. Nevertheless, the darkness now grows heavier by the hour. What could turn the tide? Where is God's help? It seems that this may indeed be the end. Wait -- there is yet one final appeal! Look again to the mediator that can be touched in such a time as this. Violet's Council now stands at the right hand of God. There he waits to intercede for those that sued in faith. Now before God the evidence is presented -- Stripes for the healing of those who believe. The plea is given -- "These signs shall follow them that believe." The judgment is overturned -- "Because I live ye shall live also." The bailiff is dispatched -- "Lo, I am with you always." For Violet the swelling tide of death is miraculously turned into complete physical healing. Her astonishing miracle is carried home and finally blooms into a total restoration of health! This one story is special to me because Violet is my Sister in Law. Nevertheless, this is only one healing among many, many, others. The coming of the Holy Ghost in the book of Acts has provided God's people the kind of help that we cite here. Jesus' power has continued to be seen as the promises of God are enjoyed by one generation after the other. We can say from experience that God also has a blessing for you. Advance to the Fight Modernistic theologians wrongly assert that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost vanished with the early apostles. In this volume we survey the work of the Holy Ghost throughout Church History and the notable miracles that have continued to bear witness to the Gospel message. Many will be astonished by the Pentecostal gifts that have worked through the most highly regarded Christians of the past. These were men of power whose prayers wrought extraordinary wonders. We shall document that Pentecostal power has remained in force since the days of the early apostles and that Jesus is truly the same yesterday, today, and forever! Why must Pentecostal gifts endure beyond the early apostles? Scripture teaches that the Holy Ghost was given for the spreading of the Gospel through the methods and power of Jesus. (Acts 1:8) The disciples preached while exercising the miraculous gifts of the Spirit! Paul confirmed, "Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds." (2 Corinthians 12:12) Today, we need no less than the primitive church. The needs of our age are equal to those of the first century. (I Cor. 10:18) Scripture never indicated that the gifts of the Spirit would be removed during the age of grace but rather affirmed a wonderful outpouring in these last days. (Acts 2:17-18) Therefore, we must seek God's Pentecostal power to enable Christ-like ministry. Like great men throughout history we must lay hold of God's Pentecostal anointing and thereby reach our lost generation! Satan's Counter Attack Satan has fought these truths in two ways. First, to create confusion he has initiated many false signs and wonders. False miracles can be identified by their failure to exalt Christ and inspire love for the Scripture. Secondly, Satan has sent his army of doubters, naysayers, and neologians like a plague of destroying locust. These have all risen to oppose the Spirit and the life changing power of the Gospel. Remember that God has never changed and has always done the miraculous. On the day of Pentecost, God's power was sent into His eternal temple. (1 Corinthians 3:16) Satan has been trying to destroy God's house ever since. While Jesus is unchanging, Satan continually changes into every disguise to accomplish his deception. We can defeat him with the Word of God and the power of the Holy Ghost. Get ready and come with expectancy: "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." (Acts 2:39) Our Foundation As the reader considers one servant of God after the other, it will appear that we are pointing toward a sort of apostolic succession of the spiritual gifts. This is to say that, one generation has imparted its power and message to the next. Therefore, today's various Evangelical groups are the distant successors of the first apostles. Let me emphasize that this is not our aim or message. Such a concept takes away more than it gives. God does not approve his people because one generation validates the next. Dead religion is grounded on that false assumption. Our present obedience to the Scripture and God's personal approval are the only things that truly count. Although, human to human ministry such as witnessing, exhortations, and the impartation of blessings are legitimate, these never do away with the fundamental need for a personal meeting with Christ. Every individual must touch the God of creation. No religious ritual can substitute for a personal relationship to Christ. No human can impart God's redemptive touch. No truth apart from those already revealed in Scripture can bring us to our heavenly prize. Therefore, as the reader views the continuous train of miracles, please remember that this train is seen only because God himself is present in every generation. God seeks for and finds an obedient heart in every age. When God finds such hearts He sends his Pentecostal power to enable for service! Our church organizations are only valuable to God as long as they promote truth as recorded by Christ's apostles and the old prophets. If we embrace their teachings and touch their God we all become DIRECT FIRST GENERATION SUCCESSORS OF THE APOSTLES. Thus, when anyone asks how we became Christians and through what minister did we receive the Gospel? Our truest (most correct) answer is that the apostles lead us to Christ through the Scriptures and Jesus himself called us, as he spoke to us through his Holy Ghost. Hallelujah! We happily find ourselves with all the blessings of the first century Church!
Chapter 2 Prophets of Pentecost Looking Toward the Promise The Spirit that descended on the day of Pentecost was not God's after thought or one time anomaly. The coming of God's Holy Ghost was as needful as the sacrifice of Messiah. (John 14:16-20) First, Jesus purchased our salvation, next, the Holy Ghost empowered the Church to spread the Good News. (Romans 10:13-14) The prophets had long foreseen the arrival of God's Holy Spirit. By reading their prophecies we gain matchless insights into the Holy Spirit's work in us. Listen to the Prophets of Pentecost! Isaiah -- God's Refreshing Spirit Poured Out! Isaiah 44:3 "For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:" Isaiah 59:21 "As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever." Isaiah 28:11-12 "For with stammering lips and another tongue (Acts 2:4) will he speak to this people. 12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear." Isaiah foresaw the coming of the Pentecostal blessing. (including tongues) He further wrote that when the spirit of God arrives, so does the Spirit of Prophecy. (Anointed speaking of God's Word) Never separate God's Spirit and God's Word -- both must work together. God's Spirit must anoint our speech, while God's Word (Scripture) guides our soul or human spirit. Both elements must be present to achieve true Gospel ministry! Notice: Although our Christian witness becomes feeble without the Spirit's fresh anointing, we dare not allege that the Holy Scripture constitutes a dead letter. Paul was not degrading the Scripture when he spoke of the letter that kills, rather, he was describing the Law of Moses and the deadly wages of sin. (2 Cor. 3:6-7) Paul further illustrated the hopelessness of trying to satisfy God's law through human effort in Romans seven. In contrast, Romans eight revealed the miraculous life of victory that is available through the Spirit. Isaiah had foreseen this triumph when he prophesied of today's Pentecostal refreshing and rest. Isaiah foresaw Israel receiving of God's Spirit and Word and passing it from one generation to the next. (Acts 4:4, Acts 5:14, Acts 13:45 Acts 6:7-8, II Tim. 2:2) Joel would add that not only the Jews but also the gentiles would receive the Pentecostal blessing. Finally Isaiah compared the coming of Pentecost to Israel's entrance into the Promised Land of rest! Our prayer is that none of us fall short of God's rest and God's best. (Heb. 3:18-19) Joel -- God's Spirit Upon All Nations Joel 2:28 "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:" Acts 2:16 "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:" Acts 2:39 "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." Paul declared that God has provided salvation to the Jew and the Gentile alike. This truth caused Paul more trouble than any other part of his message. The Jews jealously hoarded God within their dying religious system.(Heb. 8:13) However, prophets like Joel gave a different description of God's chosen family. God intended to reach all nations through the sacrifice of messiah and the coming of the Holy Ghost. What glory -- Oh wonder, that outsiders (ALL FLESH) are included in the family of God. During the age to come all of Israel will serve God. (Rom. 11:26) Gentiles and Jews alike will serve the King of Kings as Christ shall rule the Earth!(Isaiah 2:2) Joel said that until that future day, the Pentecostal experience is for all that are called. Do you hear His voice and have you caught the vision? Yes! Ezekiel -- God's Spirit by Measure Ezekiel 37:10 "So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army." Ezekiel 47: 3 ...the waters were to the ankles. 4 ... the waters were to the knees. 5 "Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over." John 3:34-35 "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand." Matthew 25:2-4 "And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps." Ephesians 4:6-7 "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ." Because the Holy Spirit is a person some fail to understand how that the Spirit can be received by measure. We will clarify this truth if we explain that God might only have a little of us. Certainly every born again believer has God's Spirit living within.(Gal. 4:19) The indwelling Christ is comparable to Jesus inside of Mary. He was there and growing but Mary needed to take care of her self or the growing infant would suffer. Even so, we need to nourish our new man until we come to "the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." (Eph. 4:13) Some Christians will be embarrassed at Christ's return, because, Jesus indicated that many would be left behind. (Matthew 25) These failed to keep oil (the Spirit) in their vessels and the Word in their hearts. Let's all be filled up and watching for Jesus. If we invest our talent wisely we will increase in Him. Sorrowfully, many have aborted or neglected the new man within. Many have run to dead formalism to camouflage personal sin. Some have moved away from Scripture by opposing the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit. These are all like Ezekiel's dead army, first lacking flesh, next lacking life, and all without the breath of God. How can we be filled with the spiritual breath of God? Jesus pointed to the heart of man as the field of battle. Refraining from adultery was never enough as thoughts and desires became foundational issues. Therefore, to be filled with God's Spirit we must sing to and praise God in our heart. The words of God must fill our living every day. The pleasure of God must be our highest desire. Always choose the greater filling of the Spirit. Never try to see how little can be maintained before the empty mark is reached. Paul exhorted, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;" (Ephesians 5:18-19) Daniel -- When the Blessing Comes Daniel 12:11-12 "And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days." Many Orthodox Jews have missed God's blessing by denying fulfilled prophecy. The Church might also miss God's best though unbelief or misguided interpretation. Daniel's 70 weeks clearly foretold of the coming Messiah. Jesus fulfilled Daniel's timing perfectly. Daniel also predicted when the Holy Ghost would arrive in chapter 12:11-12. Daniel 12 speaks of Christ's passion and three connected outcomes. First, when Jesus died for sin, the sacrifices of the Temple were no longer legitimate or effective. Secondly, because God no longer recognized animal sacrifice, the Jewish Temple was later destroyed and an idol was set in its place. Daniel described this as the abomination (idolatry) desolation (destruction). Finally, Daniel's prophesied blessedness spoke of the arrival of the Holy Ghost in a specific number of days. Daniel's predictions all proved correct! For the benefit of dedicated prophecy scholars, there is a commentary about Daniel 9 and 12 in the appendix of this book. Most modern scholars believe that Daniel's prophecy tells of a coming personal antichrist. However, I am quite willing to exchange a future antichrist for Christ's present Pentecost! Salvation and God with us -- In this age there is nothing more blessed! Since the coming of Pentecost we live in a special day. We live in the CHURCH AGE MIRACULOUS! God is on the move and we are participating in God's wonderful advance.
Chapter 3 The Comforter Has Come Arise, shine; for thy light is come. . . (Isaiah 60:1) Fifty days after the first Passover, Israel stood before Mount Sinai. There, God spoke with fire and shaking, while, Jewish tradition says that God's voice was simultaneously heard in every language of the earth. This event initiated the Old Covenant and is remembered as the first Feast of Pentecost. The old Prophets also foresaw another Pentecostal encounter with God. This was to be God's speaking out of Zion.1 It seems most fitting that God's New Covenant should also be established on the Feast of Pentecost. On that unique Pentecost the true Passover lamb had just been offered. Now, fifty days later the greatest Pentecost arrived. The disciples were waiting for the promise of the Father. They were gathered upon Zion in one of the Temple's meeting rooms. Very early that morning, something marvelous occurred. ----------------------------- 1. God's Spirit upon ZionPsalms 110:2 "The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies." Psalms 50:1-2 "A Psalm of Asaph. The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined." _______________________________ The Day of Pentecost, --William Author, 1856 "Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind. Not, mark you, a wind: no gale sweeping over the city struck the sides of the house, and rustled round it. But ' from heaven' directly downward fell 'a sound,' without shape, or step, or movement to account for it -- a sound as if a mighty wind were rushing straight from on high, like showers in a dead calm. Yet no wind stirred. As to motion, the air of the room was still as death; as to sound, it was awful as a hurricane. Mysterious sound, whence comest thou? Is it the Lord again breathing upon them, but this time from his throne? Is it the wind of Ezekiel preparing to blow? Shaken by this supernatural sign, we may see each head bowed low. They timidly turn upward. John sees Peter's hand crowned with fire: Peter sees James crowned with fire: James sees Nathaniel crowned with fire: Nathaniel sees Mary crowned with fire; and round and round the fire sits 'on each of them.'2 --------------------- 2 The Tongue of Fire; or, the True Power of Christianity -- William Arthur, A.M., Southern Methodist Publishing House, edited 1856, published 1879, pg. 46. The Methodist, William Arthur was a forerunner of modern PENTECOSTALISM. His theology grasped the message of Pentecost and faith for the gifts and infilling of the Holy Spirit. Author's views were common in his generation and sprang from a true heart that said yes to Scripture.__________________________________ The fire is not a shapeless flame. It is not Abraham's lamp, nor the pillar of the desert, not the coal of Isaiah, nor the enfolding flame of Ezekiel. It is a tongue; yea, cloven tongues. On each brow glows a sheet of flame, parted into many tongues. here was the symbol of the new dispensation. Christianity was to be a Tongue of Fire. It was a symbol of their 'power:' the power whereby the new kingdom was to be built up; the power for which they had so long to tarry, and so eagerly to pray, when all other things were prepared; for which the whole arrangement for the world's conversion was commanded to stand still. The appearance of this one symbol was the signal that former ones had waxed old, and are ready to vanish away; Altar and cherubim, sacrifice and incense, ephod and breastplate, Urim and Thummim -- their work was done. Even of the most sacred emblem of all, that which was the 'pattern things in the heaven,' the ark itself, it had been foretold, 'They shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord; neither shall it come to mind; neither shall they remember neither shell they visit it; neither shall it be magnified anymore.' Of the Temple itself, the Master had said that not one stone should be left upon another." William Arthur further says that this tongue of fire was, "The symbol which, once for all, announced to the Church the advent of her conquering power -- the power by which she was to stand before king, to confound synagogues, to silence councils, to still mobs, to confront the learned, to illuminate the senseless, and to inflame the cold -- the power by which, beginning at Jerusalem, where the name of Jesus was a byword, she was to proclaim His glory though all Judea, throughout Samaria, and throughout the uttermost parts of the earth. The symbol is a Tongue, the only instrument of the grandest war ever waged: a tongue -- man's speech to his fellow-man; a message in human words to human faculties, from the understanding to the understanding, from the heart to the heart. A tongue of fire -- man's voice, God's truth; man's speech, the Holy Spirit's inspiration; a human organ, a superhuman power: Not one tongue, but cloven tongues. As the speech of men is various, here we see the Creator taking to himself the language of every man's mother; so that in the very words wherein he heard her say, 'I love thee,' he might also hear the Father of all say, 'I love thee.' How does that fire-symbol, shining on the brow of the primitive Church, rebuke that system which would force all men to worship God in one tongue, (Latin) and that not a tongue of fire, but a dead tongue, wherein no man now on earth can hear his mother's tones! Cloven tongues sat on each of them; so that each had not only the fire-impulse to go and tell aloud the message of reconciliation, but also the fire-token that all mankind, of whatever nation, kindred, people, or tongue, were heirs alike of the gospel of salvation, and of the word whereby that salvation is proclaimed. Blessed by the hour when that TONGUE OF FIRE descended from the giver of speech into a cold world! Had it never come, my mother might had led me, when a child, to see slaughter for worship and I should have taught my little ones that stones were gods. 'Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous thing!"3 ---------------------------------- 3 ibid., pp. 49-52_____________________________ After Pentecost Once the Comforter had come the early church shared God's heavenly message and delivering power. Wherever they preached miraculous signs followed. The only thing that could possibly interrupt their mission was the return of their Lord. Nothing could stand in their way. Everything was expendable to obtain the prize. Death brought life, trial brought rejoicing, trouble inspired prayer, and prayer brought comfort and the supernatural working of God's Holy Spirit. Often, the blood of the martyrs is credited with the early success of Christianity. This concept is greatly over rated because the Gospel is the true seed of the Church! (Luke 8:11) If human martyrdom could have saved the world, there would have been no need for the unique sacrifice of Christ. The power of Christianity lies in the Gospel. The Gospel is confirmed in changed lives and in supernatural manifestations! It is the Holy Ghost that effects these wonders and thanks be to God that the Holy Ghost is still with us today.
Chapter 4 Tell Your Children and Another Generation Unto You and to Your Children (Acts 2:39) Peter said that the infilling of the Holy Ghost was to be a continuing blessing. The power of the Spirit was to pass along to all that were called. (Acts 2:39) Therefore, when the apostles died the miraculous works of the Spirit continued. The early Church fathers widely confirmed this truth in their writings. They were eyewitnesses to the continuing work and ministry of the Holy Ghost. Theologians that say that miracles and gifts ended with the early apostles are incompetent historians and mock professors. The only hope for them is a dose of salvation and a mighty Holy Ghost Baptism! They also need the spirit of doubt expelled by the powerful Word of God. The Early Church Fathers Justin the Martyr (168 AD) witnessed the gift of prophecy and set it apart from what we now call preaching. Justen said, "On the Lord's Day all came together from town and country at the same place and read the Scriptures. When this was finished one would give the address (preaching) "in which he encourages and exhorts to obey these good things. After this we all stand and pray, and when, as already stated, the prayers are ended, bread, wine and water are brought in, and the leader prays and praises with all his strength, and the people give an approving 'Amen!' After this ... If any are holy let them come, if not let such be converted. But as concerns the prophets, let them offer thanksgiving (prophesying and possibly tongues I Cor. 14:17) to their heart's content." So, at the end of the meeting the prophets were given freedom exercise of their spiritual gift.4 Irenaeus (130-201 AD) defended the manifestations of the Spirit in the Church. This included the gift of tongues and prophecy. He said that, "Others mock the gifts of the Spirit, which during the last day, according to the Father's will, were poured out upon the human race." He says that certain mockers, "... are not willing to accept the form according to John, in which the Lord has promised to send the Comforter, but they renounce both this gospel and the prophetic Spirit. They ... will not accept the gift of prophecy in the Church." "I have heard many brethren in all the Churches, who, by the spirit speak in all kinds of tongues, and to the edification of others bring what is hid in man to light and revile the secrets of God."5 Ignatius (115 AD) sent his greetings to the church of the Smyrnaeans saying they were "mercifully endowed with every grace, being filled with faith and love and lacking in no gift, most reverend and bearing holy treasures; to the church which is in Smyrna of Asia..."6 Chrysostom ( AD) said; "But if anyone assert that these (miracles) are mere smoke, and a fictitious wonder unworthy of credit, let us view those of the present day, which are calculated both to stop and to put to shame the blaspheming mouth, and to check the unbridled tongue. For, throughout our whole habitable world, there is not a country, a nation, or a city, where these wonders are not commonly spoken of, which, if figments, would never have occasioned so much admiration. And you yourselves, indeed, might testify for us to these. For we shall have no occasion to receive confirmation of what we assert from others, seeing that you yourselves, our opponents, supply us therewith."7 ------------------------------------ 4 In The Days of the Latter Rain, T. B. Barratt, p. 595 ibid. p. 576 The Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans, IgnSmyrn prologue:17 Suppressed Evidence pp. 26-27_________________________________ The Fervent Prayer of A Righteous Man James 5:16 (about 400 A.D.) While Augustine, and his brother Alippius, were studying for the ministry they lived in the home of one Innocentius. He was a devout believer but was afflicted with a painful malady. After repeatedly submitting to severe surgical operations Innocentius' affliction continued. When he was told that another procedure was needed he became pale and agitated with fear and sent away the doctors. His pain during past operations had been so terrible. Finally, exhausted with weeping, at the end of him self, and knowing that there was no way of escape, he called in Alexandrinus a celebrated surgeon. This physician agreed that the operation must be performed to save his life. Therefore, the doctors who had been sent away were told to plan for the operation. That next day a cry went up from his house as though someone had already died. It sounded as though all hope was lost. Every day some godly men visited Innocentius. These were Saturninus bishop of Uzala, Gelosus deacon of the church of Carthage, and Aurelius. When the ministers made their evening visit, the sufferer piteously wept and asked them to be present at his decease rather than his sufferings. Because of the painfulness of his past operations Innocentius believed he would die under the surgeon's hand. His friends did their best to comfort him and exhorted him to submit and trust in God. The rest is told in the words of Augustine. "We then went to prayer; and, as on other occasions, he also prostrated himself, as if some one had forcibly thrust him down, and began to pray: in what manner, with what earnestness, with what emotion, with what a flood of tears, with what agitation of his whole body, I might almost say with what suspension of his respiration, by his groans and sobs, who shall attempt to describe? Whether the rest of the party was so little affected as to be able to pray, I know not. For my own part I could not. This alone, inwardly and briefly, I said: 'Lord, what prayers of thine own children wilt thou ever grant, if thou grant not these?' For nothing more seemed possible, but that he should die praying. We arose; and after the benediction from the bishop, left him; but not till he had besought them to be with him in the morning, nor till they had exhorted him to calmness. The dreaded day arrived, and the servants of God attended as they had promised. The medical men made their appearance; all thing required for such an occasion are got ready; and amidst the terror and suspense of all present, the dreadful instruments are brought out. In the meantime, while those of the bystanders, whose authority was greatest, endeavor to support the courage of the patient by words of comfort, he is place in a convenient posture for the operation, the dressings are opened, the seat of the disease is exposed, the surgeon inspect it, and tries to find the part to be operated upon with his instruments in his hand. He first looks for it, then examines by the touch. In a word, he makes every possible trial, and finds the place perfectly healed! The gladness, the praise, the thanks giving to a compassionate and all-powerful God, from the lips of all present, cannot be told by me. The scene may more easily be imagined than described."8 Speaking Without Tongues The Historian Milner writes of an extraordinary miracle occurring in the 5th century. At Typasa, the secretary of Cirila was ordained bishop by the Arians.9 Many of the Typasaian Christians fled from the Arian heresy but others were unable to leave. These faithful believers began to worship in their homes. When the new Bishop discovered this he complained to Huneric. Therefore, Huneric ordered the dissenter's "tongues to be cut out, and their right hand to be cut off, in the public market-place. After being punished some of the victims moved to Constantinople. ------------------------------------ 8. Suppressed Evidence, -- Thomas Boys, pp. 37-399. The Arians denied the deity of Christ and gave him the same position as today's Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons. John spoke of this spirit when he said, "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world." (1 John 4:3)____________________________ "A miracle followed worthy of God, whose majesty had been so daringly insulted, and which must at that time have much strengthened the hearts of the faithful, who needed indeed some peculiar consolations amid horrible persecution. The miracle itself could not be better documented. These faithful believer's had their tongues cut out to the root, yet they spoke as well as before. 'If any one doubt the fact,' says Victor of Vita, 'let him go to Constantinople, where he will find a sub-deacon, called Reparatus, one who was thus treated, who speaks plainly, and who has a particular respect shown him in the palace of the Emperor Zeno, especially by the Empress.' Aeneas, of Gaza, a Platonic philosopher, was at that time at Constantinople, and writes thus in the conclusion of his Dialogue on the Resurrection: 'I myself saw them, herd them speak, and wondered, that their utterance could be so articulate. I searched for the organ of speech, and not trusting my ears, was resolved to have the proof of the eyes, Causing them to open their mouths, I saw that their tongues were plucked out even by the roots, and was then more surprised that they could live, than that they could speak.' Is this sufficient evidence? Hear more: Procopius, the historian, in his history of the Vandalic War, says, 'Huneric ordered the tongues of many to be cut out, who were afterwards seen in the streets of Constantinople when I was there, talking without any impediment, or feeling any inconvenience from what they had suffered.' Count Marcellinus, in his Chronicon, says, 'I have seen some of this company of faithful confessors at Constantinople, who had their tongues cut out, but spoke nevertheless without any imperfection in their utterance.' To name only one more witness, the great Emperor Justinian, in a constitution published by him for Africa, after it had fallen into his dominion, testifies, that he had beheld the same." 10 --------------------------------- 10. Milner's History of the Church of Christ, Ed. 1824. Vol. ii, p. 505_______________________________ Miracles Beyond Human Understanding Can speech be effected without a tongue or can the earth be hung on nothing? Yes, God is the God of miracles. Speech without tongues or sight without eyes are all possible with God. The greatest miracle I have ever witnessed, was experienced by Ronald Coyne in the 1950s. As a boy Ronald was playing with a piece of bailing wire and accidentally pierced his eye. His eyeball had to be removed and replaced with a flat glass insert. Young Ronald soon attended a healing meeting and went up for the healing of a common cold. The lady evangelist noticed his eye was off center and was about to pray for its healing when Ronald's mother stood to tell the evangelist not to bother. However, the mother was instantly silenced and fell limp under the power of God! When Ronald went home he discovered he could see with or without his glass eye. In about two weeks his parents finally were convinced of his unique miracle. Ronald Coyne later began to minister and show what God had done. I attended two of his meetings in a small country church. When Brother Coyne arrived, I felt the same anointing as I had known in the Jack Coe healing crusades of 30 years before. God was truly present to heal. Brother Coyne asked Clarance Eans (of Pulaski, VA) and myself to cover his good eye with a handkerchief and role of bandage tape. There was no way to see through his good eye. Then Brother Coyne called for anyone to come forward and bring something for him to read. I knew all the comers and he knew none of them. I was at home and he was the guest. On that day I saw a miracle that was unexplainable and impossible! Simply put -- Brother Coyne could see and read any thing that anyone handed him. During the meeting God was present to heal. I received a healing in my foot. Two members from my present church also received special healing touches from God. Some people were anointed some were not but God was healing right and left. There was no hype or hypnotism. Emotionalism was at a low for that particular congregation. Brother Coyne's message was simply "come forward you unbelievers and see what God has done." Finally, all were invited to receive Christ as their personal savior. If you find it difficult to grasp this story, please do not feel ashamed. Before meeting Brother Coyne, I wondered if his healing was genuine. After seeing the mighty hand of God I will never be the same. Truly, with God all things are possible! As Years Go Forward Throughout the second and third centuries, the gifts of the Spirit, including tongues and prophecy, were documented as being alive in the Church. Later, when the Roman government physically organized the Christian Church the apostles message was progressively diluted with elements of non-Christian mythology.11 Thus, the record of true Gospel miracles becomes increasingly sparse or clouded as the dark ages advance. Furthermore, the Roman Church largely destroyed the writings of all nonconforming groups.12 During that period an unnumbered multitude of so called heretics died for their faith. Among these persecuted Christians were many who were filled with the Spirit and enjoyed God's miraculous gifts. God has never left himself without a true witness. --------------------------------- 11. The Two Babylons, -- Rev. Alexander Hislop, Loizeaux Brother, Neptune, New Jersey12 A Short History of the Italian Waldenses, Who Have Inhabited the Valleys of the Cotton Alps From Ancient Times to the Present, by Sophia V. Bompaiani, A.S. Barnes And Co., 1897_________________________________
Chapter 5 Walking Through the Wilderness Hold Fast Till I Come (Rev. 2:25) During the dark ages a faithful remnant never lost the Gospel and its attending miracles. God continued to sustain his people through truth and power. Their names varied (Waldenses, Leonists, Vaudous, Anabaptists and others) but their spirit and messages were constant and Christ centered. The documented origin of the Waldenses is lost in the night of centuries. Their traditions assert that they were driven from southern Italy, in the time of the second and third centuries. They resorted to the alpine valleys, where they have ever since lived and kept the faith of Jesus Christ. The Waldenses with others persevered in spite of torture, cold, destitution, and loss of life. They were burned -- cast into damp and horrid dungeons, and smothered in mountain caverns. Their suffering extended to mothers and babes, old men and women together. Whole towns were exiled on winter nights, unclothed and unfed, to climb the snowy mountains. Some were hurled over the rocks or their heads were used as footballs. Cherished homes and lands were taken from them, as their little children were stolen to be educated in the religion they abhorred. Yet, they would not submit to Rome's pontiff, worship the communion wafer, seek absolution from priests, or to give up the Bible. Long before the German Reformation the Waldenses were an Evangelical people. They loved the Bible above all things, which they translated into the common tongue and spread abroad into Bohemia, Germany, France, Italy, and much of Europe. They taught their children to memorize whole chapters, so that if their written copies were lost, large portions of it might be secure in the memories of their youths and maidens. In the night they traveled to their secret meetings barefooted, or with shoes bound with rags, so that they might not be heard in passing. It was their custom to listen to the Gospels recited in turn by the young, each one responsible for a certain portion. 13 Offspring of the Apostles An Inquisitor and enemy, Reinerius Sacco, in the thirteenth century, called them the Leonists, said: "There is not one of the sects of ancient heretics more pernicious to the Church than that of the Leonists; first, because it has been of longer continuance, for some say it has lasted from the time of Pope Sylvester, others from the time of the apostles; second, because it is more diffused, for there is scarcely any land in which this sect exists not; and third, because the Leonists have a great semblance of piety, inasmuch as they live justly before men, and believe, together with all the doctrines contained in the creed, every point respecting the Deity. But they blaspheme the Roman Church and clergy." 14 ----------------------------------- 13. ibid., pp. 1-1114 ibid., pg. 8-12 (This is a condemnation given in comparison to the Catholic monks that hide themselves away in monasteries and pray much. Protestant's later criticize these monks for not sharing the gospel and generally contributing noting to society. Christ never told us to leave the world and hide the Gospel.)_____________________________ Fruit of Righteousness The good living of the Waldenses even shined through the slander of their enemies. "The Waldenses heretics 'are the worst and most wanton of mankind," says an Inquisitor. "They are known by their manners and their words. They are composed and modest; they admit no pride of dress, holding a middle position between the expensive and the squalid. In order that they may be better avoid lies, and oaths, and trickery, they dislike entering into business, but by the labor of their hands they live like ordinary workmen. Their teachers (Pastors) are mere artisans. Riches they seek not to multiply, but are content with things necessary. In meat and drink they are temperate. They resort neither to taverns, nor to dances, nor to any other vanities. From anger they carefully restrain themselves. They are always engaged either in working, or in learning, or in teaching, and therefore they spend but little time in prayer. This paradoxical race, so wicked, and yet so practiced in all the Christian graces, made converts among the noble and the great. A wondering missionary, with a pack, like any other merchant, would knock at the great doors of a castle, and be admitted to the presence of the beautiful castellana. When he had shown his rings, and robes, and other wares, he would say, 'Lady, I have jewels far more precious than these, which I will give you if you will secure me against the priests.' The promise given, he said, 'I poses a brilliant gem from God himself, for through it man comes to the knowledge of God; and I have another which casts out so ruddy a heat that it forthwith kindles the love of God in the heart of the owner.' The 'vagabond' then rehearsed parts of the New testament, and often won the lovely lady of the castle to the 'religion,' as it was called, even as if there were no other religion."15 St. Bernard, the enemy of the Albigenses, described them thus: 'If you ask them of their faith, nothing can be more Christian, nothing more irreprehensible then their conversation, and what they say they confirm by their deeds. They attack no one; they ensnare no one; they defraud no one. Their faces are pail with fasting; they eat not the bread of idleness.' Yet, 'mark the fox,' says Bernard, as he proceeds to enumerate the some of the popular false accusations, forgetting that this good fruit could not grown upon an evil tree. 'They submitted joyfully and triumphantly to martyrdom, rather than apostatize from what they held to be the true faith of the Gospel.' During the reign of King Louis XII, the ways of his Vaudous subjects from Val Louise was so upright that had to admit; "These heretics are better Christians then we'."15 --------------------------------- 15 A Short History of The Italian Waldenses Who Have inhabited the Valleys of the Cotton Alps From Ancient Times to the Present, -- Sophia V. Bompiani, 1897, p.44_________________________ People of God, People of Power The Waldenses believed in the miraculous gift of healing. In 1431 Johnnias Lukawitz recorded the Waldenses' confession of faith. He said, "Therefore, concerning this anointing of the sick, we hold it as an article of faith, and profess sincerely from the heart, that sick persons, when they ask it, may lawfully be anointed with the anointing oil, by one who joins with them in praying that it may be effective to the healing of the body, according to the pattern and end and effect mention by the Apostles: and we profess that such an anointing, performed according to the Apostolic pattern and practice, will be healing and profitable."16 ---------------------------------- 16. Suppressed Evidence, -- Thomas Boys, pp. 56-57 __________________________ Gift of Miracles The name Waldenses became synonymous with Divine intervention. After a massacre in 1655 a war ensued. The historian Leger left marvelous descriptions of God's support. Leger describes the turn of events as a "Miraculous deliverance," and a "Most miraculous deliverance." The enemies of the Waldenses often lamented that the weather seemed to change at their command. Waxed Valiant in Fight In 1476 during one Crusade against the Waldenses, they were nearly overcome on the heights of San Giovanni or Saint John. The enemy was seen advancing against their natural fortress, where they had taken their families for refuge. Seeing the enemy mounting step by step, and drawing their ranks closer, the women, children, and old men fell on their knees, fervently crying out together, "O our God help us! O God, give us our strength! O God, save us!" "My men shall give you the answer," cried one of the chiefs of the invaders scorning their prayers. He raise his visor at that moment, to prove how little fear he had of these poor people. Suddenly, this new Goliath was struck between the eyes and killed by a stone from the hand of Pierre Revel of Angrogna. The Waldenses, seizing the moment of panic drove their attackers down the mountain. Their enemy was vanquished and disbursed to the plain. Then on the mountain they fell to their knees and thanked God for an outstanding victory. Their enemies were soon persuaded that God fought with the heroic mountaineers. The next day a new expedition advanced by another road. However, a fog suddenly arose just as they entered the most difficult and dangerous paths. Unacquainted with the roads, and marching single file by rocky precipices, they fell back as soon as the Waldenses began to resist. Those in front fell back hastily upon the others as disorder followed. The retreat became a flight and the flight a catastrophe. Many fell over the slippery precipices that the fog hid from view. Some were lost in the ravines, and a few only succeeded in escaping. The captain Saguet de Planghere also fell over the rocks and the place he fell now carries his name. In 1655 Janavel defeated the army of Piannezza while attempting to protect his native town Rora. Janavel drove back the enemy without revealing the smallness of his own force. He had sixteen men, six armed with guns and ten with slings. With these few men he repulsed a second attack and pursued the terror-stricken army. Years later in Geneva, the old exile Janavel said, " We were few, but the stones from the slings of those ten boys, were effective on the retreating enemy." When a third attack came Janavel witnessed the burning and sacking of Rora. Therefore, with an ardent prayer to the God of armies he led his little troop of seventeen men to a place where he all but destroyed the enemy. Janavel and his men knelt on the grass and prayed, "O God, we bless Thee for our preservation. Protect us in these calamities and increase our faith." Hebrews 11:34 "Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens." Escaped The Edge Of The Sword "In July, divers of these Waldenses went out into the county to reap their harvest, and in sundry places were all taken prisoners, not knowing of each other's calamity. But God so wrought, that miraculously they all escaped out of prison, to the great astonishment of their adversaries. At the same time also, others, who had been long in prison and longed for nothing but death, through God's providence were delivered after a wonderful sort." 17 One writer says that the Waldenses were proven to be God's "elect of his faithful flock, to demonstrate, by prodigies (miracles) beyond the course of nature, or natural strength of man, that they live in that religion in which He would have all the redeemed to live, to serve, and honor him Amen."18 -------------------------- 17 ibid. p. 61, Clarke's General Martyrologie, London 1677 p. 9118 ibid., p. 61, Authentic Details of the Valdenese, London 1827 pp. 387-388__________________________ Although God kept the Waldenses through many centuries, finally, the words of Jesus were fulfilled. After faithfully preserving the Gospel of Jesus their enemies nearly annihilated them. "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake." Matthew 24:9 In response to the Reformation the persecution of the Waldenses greatly increased but not a hair of their heads perished beneath the martyrs crown. Many thousands sealed their faith with their blood and passed their message to an unnumbered multitude in our generation. Their faith now lives in today's Evangelicals and Spirit filled PENTECOSTALS. God shall never be left without a witness!
Chapter 6 Unto the Uttermost Parts of the Earth The Northern Lights (400s - 600s and beyond) While the Waldenses fled to the mountains of Europe, another group of Christians enjoyed a measure of freedom because they were far removed from Rome's ecclastical domination. Several hundred years passed before these churches were finally subjugated through intimidation and armed conquest. Today, the church at Rome wrongly usurps the great names and stories of many independent Christians from the past. The believers in northern Europe followed Scripture, Christ's great commission and the leading of the Holy Ghost. True miracles accompanied their work as they brought their generation to Christ. St. Patrick (440 to 493) As a youth Patrick was kidnapped from Scotland and enslaved in Ireland. Some time after escaping he received a "Macedonian" vision in which a man handed him many letters from Ireland. These letters begged him to come over and help. In the spirit of an apostle Patrick obeyed and went to Ireland while preaching Christ and holding up the Scripture as the only authority of faith. He also demonstrated the power of the Holy Ghost and worked many miracles. Through the gifts of the Spirit the blind were healed, nine were raised from the dead, and the snakes were expelled from Ireland. The elimination of Irish snakes is a most remarkable act and sheds fresh light on Mark 16: 18 ("They shall take up serpents...") The King James Bible sometimes renders the words for "take up" as "take away". (John 11:48) Thus, I understand this verse to mean we shall cast out devils. However, Patrick demonstrated a more literal fulfillment by his unusual gift of reptile expulsion. Today, I have many friends in Appalachia that would welcome St. Patrick's special gift. One young lady speaking of St. Patrick said, "That's my kind uh man." The result of St. Patrick's mission was the conversion of Ireland. Ireland became a missionary base to Europe and because of its Christian piety was called "the island of the Saints." Patrick said "I am greatly a debtor to God, who has bestowed his grace so largely upon me, that multitudes were born again to God through me. The Irish, who never had the knowledge of God and worshipped only idols and unclean things, have lately become the people of the Lord, and are called sons of God." One of Patrick's disciples also gained a reputation as a minister who exercised supernatural gifts. St. Bridget performed all sorts of signs and wonders and prophesied of birth of Columba who would later take the Gospel to Scotland. Legend has distorted much of what she truly did but her witness shines through the centuries. She shows us that God was present and working in the far-flung islands of the sea. Columba (521- 597) Columba traveled to Scotland as a missionary while following the model of Patrick. He was full of the Holy Ghost and exercised prophetic foreknowledge and miracles as great as those performed by Christ. His prayers changed water into wine for the communion when it was unavailable, made bitter fruit turn sweet, called water from a rock, calmed a stormy sea, and cured many diseases. His spiritual gifts made him a legend in his time. Most importantly Columba guided his life and ministry by the Scripture rather than the traditions of men. Should we doubt the gifts of these ancient disciples? Didn't Jesus say, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." (John 14:12-14) Today, we can expect the impossible and believe for the miraculous. The unchanging nature of God demands no less. Why Miracles? In 1832 Thomas Boys (United Brethren Church) explained that MIRACLES AND MISSIONS GO TOGETHER! He said, "Modern Christians, that believe in missions and denying miracles, occupy a curious position... Depend upon it, my dear friends, you must take miracles and missions together, ere you get it right, for they go together: you must accept this truth, you must look at it and like it, you must acknowledge it, you must act upon it, ere you come to stand upon the proper ground..." Boys said that if men ever form a Missionary Society founded upon the following ideals something wonderful will happen. Boys' guidelines for a Missionary Society: Free from all "new fangled" views, nonsense, and objects of their own. Holding the promise of miraculous aid as belonging to missionary efforts in this day. Not deserting and betraying those who proclaim miracles. Declaring miracles, acting upon them and establishing and conducting the society in harmony with them. Steadfastly excluding from the management all those who deny these principles, or all who pretend to hold them. Boys wrote, "DEPEND UPON IT, a Society so formed would start with the fairest prospects of a blessing, by which all other societies should soon be eclipsed and thrown into the background; and that, in all probability, would proved to be the Society destined to gain the bulk of the success, ... up to the second coming of Christ."19 --------------------------------- 19 Suppressed Evidences, Boys, p.106________________________________ Chapter 7 Dawns Early Light Pre-Reformation A Ray of Hope Although the pure Gospel existed throughout the dark ages it was widely suppressed. Ecclesiastical Rome fought the free circulation of Scripture because that the simple reasoning of the Bible did not support its manmade decrees. Nevertheless, God had foreseen a day of victory. The nations that were in darkness would receive God's Word of deliverance. With the release of the Scripture the mighty River of God again broke upon the earth. Thus, whosoever will may hear the Gospel and drink of the water of life freely. The gift of prophecy was strong in the days before the Reformation. God's servants foresaw that a wonderful thing was about to transpire. In this chapter each of the reformers shall be seen to exercise the prophetic gifts of foretelling. Almost all prophesied of the coming Reformation except for John Wyclif.20 Satan particularly hates this gift because it demonstrates God's present involvement in our lives. The Fall of Babylon Fox tells of Hildegardis, (1146) who prophesied of the ruin of Catholic Rome, and against the begging friars. She said, "In these days shall arise a senseless people, proud, greedy, without faith, and subtle, the which shall eat the sins of the people...(These began selling licenses to sin) When their wickedness and deceit shall be found out, then shall their gifts cease...(People stopped supporting the Roman Church.) Then shall the people cry out upon them: Woe be unto you, ye miserable children of sorrow, the world hath seduced you..." 21 In addition to prophecy, Hildegardis also gave "concerts in the Spirit" while singing in other tongues. 22 ---------------------- 20 Isaiah 48:5 "I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I showed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them."John 13:19 "Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he." 21 Acts and monuments, John Fox, v. 1, pp. 294 - 522 Pentecost in Church History, http://www.azstarnet.com/~jsbarta/ch_hist.html 10/24/98A History of Speaking in Tongues and Related Gifts, -- George H. Williams and Edith Waldvogel, in The Charismatic Movement, ed. by Michael P. Hamilton, p. 70 ___________________________ Hildegardis foresaw the coming Reformation and the wide sale of indulgences that would soon contribute to the undoing of Rome. She understood that Christ's salvation was a gift above, for Jesus and no other man stands before God as our mediator. The Word of God was about to open the eyes of many throughout the world. The Holy Spirit of prophecy was beginning to move afresh! Morning Star of the Reformation John Wycliffe (1324-1384) was a Catholic Priest, university teacher, and a righteous man. While reading the Scripture he discovered the Gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ alone. This view was in contrast to salvation through any other man or church. 23 He was the first to translate the Scripture into the common English of his day. Under his guidance, young preachers called Lollards went out to share the Good News. They proclaimed Christ while calling men to repent and love God. Ultimately, half of England was converted. An enemy said that in his time, "If two were seen walking together, one would be a Lollard." --------------------------- 23. Wycliffe's Path To Heaven"The almighty triune God ordains men to come to the bliss of heaven by three grounds: By knowledge of the trinity through steadfast faith, By true keeping of God's commandments and By perfect and endless charity." The English Works of Wycliffe, --Matthew's page 264 _________________________________ During Wycliffe's ministry his increasing age and trials advanced into sickness. The unrighteous friars scurried to his bedside. They pretended to wish him "health and restoration from his distemper." However, they soon changed their speech. "You have death on your lips. Be touched by your faults and retract all that you have said to our injury." Wycliffe calmly let them finish, then, asked his servant to raise him a little on his pillow. He was feeble and found it hard to support himself. Fixing his eyes on them he prophesied, "I shall not die but live and again declare the evil deeds of the friars." They rushed out of the room in astonishment and confusion. When Wycliffe recovered, he set about the work of translating the Bible into English. The zeal of the bishops to stop the Scriptures only promoted their sale. Afterward, when Wycliffe's teachings spread, it was a common practice to fasten these Scriptures to the necks of the condemned heretics and burn them together. Just as Paul's and Silas prompted great shakings though their prison song, Wycliffe's life moved the footstool of God. On one occasion the Black Friars met to condemn his writing and teaching. However, about two o'clock, when they were finishing, God sent a wonderful and terrible earthquake that shook all of England. The officials at the Council of Constance bore witness to a similar occasion in which the door of the church was suddenly broken open by lightning and Wycliffe's judges barely escaped bodily harm.24 Although Wycliffe did not normally exercised the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, he gives us some priceless counsel concerning the place of miracles in the life of the believer. In his day the Roman Church was exercising many false and bazaar miracles and thus, leading men to idolatrous worship. Wycliffe acknowledged the reality of these miracles but said that God's law had to remain uppermost! Wycliffe said, "We should understand that signs often come from the devil, because of mans first sin. So, as Saint Paul says, the Devil has power to transform himself into an angel of light. Thus, it is a false man that says to place as much faith in signs as in God's law. . . We stand established in our faith, for that may never fail." 25 --------------------------------- 24 Foxe's Book of Martyrs, --John Fox, Whitaker House, 1981, p. 6225 The English Works of Wyclif Hitherto Unprinted, F.D. Matthews, 1880. p. 289______________________ In today's world there are bad Lawyers, Judges, Salesmen, Clergy, and etc. We accept this fact and understand there are also people in these position that are upright. Miracles, including all the gifts of the spirit are no different. Jesus told us that many false prophets would arise. In the Old Testament there were also many false prophets. Nevertheless, since Jesus gave us the real working of his Spirit we should not refuse his true gifts. Our yardstick of discernment is found in the doctrines Scripture! If we refuse the real operation of God's Spirit because of our fear and unbelief, we have denied Christ and his Gospel and we are no better than those that perform false miracles. "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." (James 4:17) A Swan Shall Sing, Bohemian Prophets Some of Wycliffe's students hand copied his writings and took them into Bohemia. There, the priest John Huss (1369-1415) read Wycliffe and embraced the Gospel of salvation. Huss spoke out against the sinful lives of the clergy and the other false practices. Consequently, he was judged before the Counsel of Constance and burned. During his trial he gave a remarkable prophecy. "This day you roast a goose; but an hundred years hence you shall hear a swan sing, that you shall not roast."26 Huss further testified of his prophetic dreams that were later fulfilled. John Huss' burning sparked a mighty fire. His name meant goose and has given us the saying, "Your goose is cooked!" Huss was roasted as he sang from Mark 10:47. The Council's verdict was so unjust that a 30 year war finally resulted. One hundred years after Huss' death another priest wrote, "In God's name and calling, I will tread upon the lion and adder, and trample the young lion and dragon under foot. This shall commence during my life, and be accomplished after my death. St. John Huss prophesied of me, writing out of prison to Bohemia: 'Now shall they roast a goose, but an hundred years hence shall they hear a swan sing, that they shall be forced to endure. So must it be, God willing."27 This priest was the singing reformer Martin Luther! --------------------------------- 26. The Suppressed Evidence, Thomas Boys, 1830, p 73. From Arnold's Kirchen und Ketzer History, Frankford 1699 Th. I. b. xv. c.v.p. 42027 Suppressed Evidence, p 74_________________________________ Huss' message did not die in the flame. During the next one hundred years the Gospel spread. Huss' followers became the original "Bohemians" (non-conformist) of Bohemia. Their leaders were sometimes called the bearded ones and were unaffectionately called the Anabaptists. The Evangelical awakening during those interim years prepared the way for Luther and the prophesied Reformation. Another Bohemian foresaw the revival that was coming. This was Pious Janowsky. "On his deathbed he consoled his friends by the hope of better times. 'The fury of the enemies of the truth,' said he, 'has now the ascendant. But this will not always be so: for there will arise a people without display, without sword, and without power, whom they will not be able to resist.' He added, that there would be but one of them, who would see that happy time; and the Brethren observe, that in fact an individual, named Wenceslas, attained so great an age, that, sixty years after, he saw the church of the Brethren formed, and became one of its members. Janowsky died in 1394." 28 A Precise Prophecy (1486) Luther's contemporary Melancthon retold the story of a persecuted Franciscan monk called John Hilten. His peers imprisoned him because he spoke against their sins. He died about 30 years before the Reformation. Melancthon inspected Hilten's manuscripts, which prophesied things that were already fulfilled and some that were yet to come. We are told that during Hilten's final days he was quite sick and was brought before the superior of the convent. The superior, burning with holier-than-thou hatred, began to reprove him harshly for his teaching because it might destroy their way of life. Hilten sighed and groaned while replying, "For Christ's sake I patiently submitted to these reproaches; for that indeed I have neither written nor taught any thing which could over throw monarchism, but have merely denounced some notorious abuses." He prophesied, "There shall come another, in the year of our Lord 1516, who shall destroy you; nor against him will you be able to stand." 29 ----------------------- 28 ibid, p. 76, and Boast's Histoire de L'Eglise des Freres, Geneva, 1831 vol. 1, p. 3329 ibid., p. 88_______________________________ Chapter 8 Anabaptists, Through Water and Fire Friend or Foe? In life few thing are simple. Thus, the Reformation must be viewed as a revolution that grew out of many different motives. As Catholic nations rejected Rome's authority, the Scripture was enjoyed by many. However, ecclastical money and power were also made available. Thus, greed revealed the worst in kings, governors and sometimes the new Protestant churches. Because Satan was hard at work, some true Christians suffered under the new Protestant powers. Protestants of the Reformation had put on a new name but many were still possessed by the Gospel hating spirit of Rome. That spirit opposed the free worship of Christ and vexed the Evangelical message when ever possible. Dead religion has always hated the new wine of Christ's true Gospel. We must point out that the intolerance of some Protestants was very small compared to the Roman inspired holocaust of the past. Nonetheless, the Anabaptists were caught in the middle of the Roman - Protestant conflict. They refused to follow any church that lacked the message of heart conversion and they paid dearly for their faith. Anabaptists Everywhere (1400s and Forward ) Before and during the early Reformation the scarlet thread of the Gospel moved from one heart to the next. Reading the Scripture and repentance spawned the New Birth and many new congregations of saints. The world seldom recognized such faith but God has always marked his people with good living, Gospel preaching, and miraculous signs. Huss and Janowsky foresaw a wonderful revival. Their prophecies were fulfilled in the formation of the Brethren movement in 1457. Their enemies normally called these Brethren Anabaptist's. They trace their beginning to the Waldenses that carried the Gospel throughout Europe. The Brethren hold a direct link to John Huss and his followers who were originally influenced by Wycliffe's writings. Therefore, Anabaptists were popping up everywhere. Although unnumbered Anabaptists were killed or imprisoned, by 1500 the Bohemian Brethren numbered 200,000 with 400 congregations in Bohemia and Monrovia.30 They were missionaries in spirit and owed no allegiance to any formal religious body. Often, they held all material possessions as common. The Scripture was their guide as the Spirit filled their hearts. The light of their message has now passed to our present day. Some who still follow the heart of their teachings are: Baptists, Evangelicals, Holiness, Mennonites and Pentecostals. These all hold a common view of the New Birth and holy living as a mark of conversion. ------------------------------ 30 History of the Christian Church, Schaff, v. 6, p. 399___________________________ Holiness and Spirit Filled In the fourteenth century the Anabaptists were severely persecuted by the Catholic Inquisition. Therefore, they tried to become unobtrusive. Their names such as Winkeler and Grubenheimer, denote people who had their homes in hideouts or in the woods. During that time the Anabaptists were also called the good, the pure, and the perfect. They were also called spirituales, that is, men of the Spirit, and enthusiastai. These titles fit in well with modern names such as Holiness and PENTECOSTAL. All of these old and new groups retain the same doctrines, emotional commitments and all enjoy the New Birth! Anabaptists Knew Christ Anabaptists held that the Bible was inspired while still acknowledging that Christ's Sprit was a present guide. They knew that Christ was with them according to his promise, "Lo, I am with you always, unto the end of the world." They believed that the Holy Spirit entered into the hearts of those who were dedicated to Christ. They believed that a committed Christian must deny oneself and follow Jesus. Their lives were to be no different from the life that Jesus himself had lived, in both its inner nature and its outward form. They believed the spirit of truth writes the Word of God into the heart of the believer. 31 Their name reflected their practice of baptizing converts rather than infants. These understood baptism to be an outward confession of inner faith. Anabaptists and the Gifts of the Spirit Anyone that accepts the reasoning of Scripture understands that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit are to be a part of the Christians everyday life. The following accounts are just a small sample of the power that worked through the early Anabaptists. Their trials were great but God was greater! Their history echoes the miraculous faith of Hebrews eleven. Peter Riedemann wrote from prison about in 1530. He gave a written confession of faith in which he defined the work of the Holy Spirit. He said the Spirit was a father of the poor and miserable, strength to the week, a comfort to the mourner, a guide to the truth, a light to those in darkness, a lifter to the fallen, and a giver of ALL the varied gifts of God. He said, Through the Holy Spirit we receive victory to take us to the place that Christ has prepared for us. 32 --------------------------- 31 The Early Anabaptists, --Eberhard Arnold, (1883 - 1935) Reprint, Plough Publishing House, Rifton, NY 197032 Love is Like Fire, The confession of an Anabaptist Prisoner, --Peter Riedemann (about 1530) Plough Publishing House, Farmington PA, 14357____________________________ Miracles in the Hour of Trial In 1592 Thomas Haan of Bavaria, was beheaded for his Evangelical testimony and faith in Jesus. After his death the executioner placed the body on the woodpile and lit the fire. As the body burned the head moved close to the body and the hands raised themselves up. Although a strong wind was blowing, the smoke rose straight up to heaven and was witnessed by all. This sign was extraordinary in that the same miracle was seen every day at the Temple of God in Jerusalem. Historians tell us that the smoke of the sacrifice would always rise straight up to heaven as the people lifted their hands and worshiped God. Thomas Haan became a living sacrifice for his Christ. His praise was unquenchable in the fire of affliction. Perhaps his movements in death signify that Thomas was truly still alive and was making a victorious entrance into Glory! "Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name." (Psalms 63:4) In 1531 a Martin Maler with six others were imprisoned at Schwabisch Gmund for their trust in Christ. They were condemned for refusing the Roman Church and clinging to Christ alone. As they were escorted across a bridge Martin prophesied and said, "No more of God's faithful will be taken across this bridge." Then the seven brothers entered God's kingdom through fiery tribulation. Amazingly, the bridge that the Christian brothers had crossed was carried away in a violent storm a few days later. On the evening of their execution, a traveler approached the city and passed the place of death. At that very spot he saw seven lights like burning flames and heard a remarkably sweet and beautiful angelic song. Upon reaching the city he asked what had taken place and what it was he had heard and seen. When the city council learned of his report they made a deal with him to remain silent. So, he said nothing more but many already knew of the heavenly witness. The modern missionary story, Through Gates of Splendor tells of a similar event. After Alca natives martyred five Gospel missionaries, their killers saw a bright light above the trees and saw the missionaries standing before heavenly Gates of Splendor! Elizabeth Elliot, the wife of one of the martyrs continued her husbands work and lead many Alcas to Christ. Her husband's killer was among her Alca converts, and told her the extraordinary story. Truly the angels of God are with Christ's martyrs! "Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared." (Exodus 23:20) We know that the Lord will do no less for us. In 1533 Jakob Hutter was the leader of the Hutterian wing of the Anabaptist. He wrote his followers in Tirol saying, "God's name be praise for you and all the believers. Praise God for the signs and miracles he has done and continues to do every day through Jesus Christ, for ever and ever. Amen We really needed this kind of assurance in our deep pain and sorrow. It was well-timed to help us; the lord surely came at the right hour." 33 ---------------------------------- 33 The Chronicle of the Hutterian Brethren, Translated by the Hutterian Brethren, Plough Publishing House, Riften New York, p.115________________________ In 1579 Hans Zuckenhammer and a tailor named Wolf, were captured in Salzburg while doing missionary work and witnessing for Christ. Upon apprehension Zuckenhammer was struck so hard he bled and then his hands were bound so tightly they turned black. While being escorted to prison the crushing grip of the ropes suddenly let go so that the constable had to retie them. These apostles of Christ were repeatedly questioned and threatened by the priests and others. Their faith stood firm as they continued to refuse the religious idols and all doctrines that took away from the work of the Cross. The warden threatened to bring scholars from Salzburg but they answered, "Let a whole city full of priests come, it will not matter; they will never be able to turn us from the truth or from the way of salvation that God has shown us." Suddenly, the ropes fell off of brother Wolf's hands of their own accord. At a later time the brothers were questioned again. As the men gave a good witness for the truth the ropes on brother Wolf's hands again fell off as everyone watched. The bishop's chaplain, provincial judge, and the others all fell silent. Wolf gathered them up and put them on the bench beside him. When the hearing ended, the judge himself carried the ropes out. After the men spent three more week in prison, the bishop of Salzburg ordered their release. They had born sixteen weeks of imprisonment and hunger. Now, they walked out of the town in the broad daylight. Their discharge was like a miracle from God. Never before had anyone every been released in this area. It is God that robs princes of their bravery, holds their hearts in his hand, and destroy the fangs of the wicked. With God all things are possible. The apostles saw the delivering hand of God in the Philippian jail and in Jerusalem's prison. (Acts 12:7, Acts 16:26) God sent angels and earthquakes to set his servants free. Those that suffered death were also mighty witnesses who followed in the master's steps. God help us not only to see the miraculous but to also be found faithful unto the end. A Faithful Generation As the persecution of the Anabaptist Brethren continued more and more people came to Christ. The persecution of this time was not unlike that of the early church. A mighty army of faith was rising in Europe. The real Reformation did not start on a Church door in Wittenburg but in the hearts of uncounted Anabaptist Brethren across Europe. When Luther wrote his 95 theses he was equivalent to the modern politician that jumps in front of the moving crowd. This Reformation train was already moving and bound for Glory. The seats were already full! Luther's 95 theses was only a call for tickets. Although multitudes of Anabaptists were martyred, God's hand was not slack. After a time the persecutors began to fear God's retribution. It was noted that if you touch one of these Anabaptists that death would follow within twelve months. God heard the cries of his people and began coming to their defense. The stories of such divine judgment are without number. Truly, God has never changed and the testimony of his people is always the same. What he has done for others he is still doing today!
Chapter 9 The Reformers <ALIGN="JUSTIFY"Mighty Men of God <ALIGN="JUSTIFY"The days of the early Reformation were times of great trial. Many gave their life for Christ while some enjoyed a miraculous deliverance. The greatest miracle of that day was seen in the distance that men progressed in biblical understanding. Searching pilgrims crossed from the city of destruction to the very gates of heaven. All the blessings of Christ became theirs in a moment of time. When we consider how utterly difficult it is for modern Christians to lay aside small points of error, we marvel at the brilliant light that suddenly filled the old pioneers of faith. Luther (1483-1546) Martin Luther remains the most recognized leader of the Reformation. His teaching of justification by faith alone is know to all. Unfortunately, many modern teachers say nothing of Luther's other virtues. Some "neologians" would even deny the documented record of Luther's Holy Ghost anointing and his exercise of spiritual gifts. These spiritual manifestations did not detract from the preeminence of Scripture but rather confirmed the Scripture! We read that Luther was "a prophet, evangelist, speaker in tongues, interpreter, in one person, endowed with all nine gifts of the Spirit."34 Luther was a choice vessel in the hand of God and without the mighty gifts of the Holy Ghost he would have failed in his work! --------------------- 34 Pentecost in Church Historyhttp://www.azstarnet.com/~jsbarta/ch_hist.html 1/1/99 _____________________ Power Over the Devil (1536) A young girl of 18 years, was tormented by the devil. The advisory would though her down into convolutions whenever she spoke the name of Jesus. Therefore, she was brought to Luther for prayer. After his sermon she again fell prostrate on the ground, while struggling and kicking. Luther laid his hand on the girl's head, repeated the creed, the Lord's prayer, and John 14:12. "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do." He then prayed with the rest of the ministers that God would cast the devil out for Christ's sake. With his foot touching the girl Luther prayed, "Proud devil, thou wouldst, parade, but I will do no such thing. I know that thy head is crushed, and that thou liest prostrate under the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ." After this, Luther turned and left and the girl was taken home. From that time forward she was delivered and was never again taken with a seizure!35 Healing the Sick Today, glib critics inflect their voice in disgust whenever they mention Faith Healers. True ministers of God are often given no more respect than voodoo witch doctors. Well, Jesus said, "Ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake," and the words of Jesus are now fulfilled. How many false theologians dare admit to the healing ministry of Martin Luther? Which modern doctor of doubt will honestly expound on Luther's testimony of the power of prayer? Luther not only prayed for the sick but also had his life saved through the healing touch of Jesus. He wrote to his wife about his sickness and said, "In one word, I was a dead man" and "had reconciled myself to the grave. . ." Luther wrote that the good prince made his servants "run, ride, fetch, and he exerted himself to the utmost, to obtain (medical) relief for me, but it was not so to be. Your remedy, also, was equally ineffective." Next, Luther's friends prayed the balm of Gilead and "prayed so hard for me to God, that the tears of many people proved successful on my behalf: and I seem to my self to have experienced a new birth . . . God has already wrought a miracle on me this night, and does so still, through the intercession of good people." 36 --------------------- 35 Suppressed Evidences, --Thomas Boys p. 162, Jewish Expositor, May, 1831, pp. 145-153 36 Suppressed Evidence, --Boys, pp. 192-193 _________________________________ The well-known Reformer Philip Melancthon once became mortally ill while traveling. Luther was called to his dyeing friend and upon arriving found Philip about to give up the Ghost. His eyes were set, his understanding was almost gone, his speech and hearing had failed, his face had fallen, he knew no one, and he could no longer eat or drink. Upon seeing this spectacle Luther was filled with shock, and turned to his friends and said, "Blessed Lord, how has the devil spoiled me this instrument!" Then, turning toward the window, he called upon God. Next, he took the hand of Philip, and he said, "Be of good courage, Philip, thou shalt not die . . . He (God) takes pleasure in life, and not in death, . . . trust in the Lord, who is a able to kill, and to make alive." While Luther prayed Philip began to revive and to breathe and gradually recovered his strength and was totally restored to health. The healed Melancthon later wrote to his friend Burcard and said, "I should have been a dead man, had I not been recalled from death itself by the coming of Luther." Luther also wrote of his friend and said, "Philip is very well after such an illness, for it was greater than I had supposed. I found him dead; but, by an evident miracle of God, he lives." 37 Prophetic Utterance Luther prophetically addressed the future on many occasions. He correctly told of many events that would transpire after his death!38 In 1541 Mechum lay (with consumption) at the point of death and wrote his friend Luther a farewell note. However, Mechum later testified that he was "raised up from death, by the mandates, prayers, and letter of the reverend father, Luther." Luther's prayer and letter were prophetic when he said, "May the Lord never permit me to hear of your passage while I remain behind, but make you the survivor. SO I ASK, AND SUCH IS MY WILL, AND MY WILL BE DONE. AMEN. Because, this will seeks the glory of God's name, certainly not my own pleasure or advantage." ------------------------------ 37 ibid. p.196-202, and from the German book, Seckendor, Lib III, ' cxxxii. Add 1.b. and Briefe, 5ter Theil. p. 297-298 + 327 38 ibid. p. 186-191 ___________________________ At a later time, Mechum again fell gravely ill and besought Luther to release him to death. Nevertheless, he again recovered and came to live two months longer than Luther. Upon Luther's death Mechum fully understood the power behind Luther's words and wrote, "I certainly am very much struck." Luther died February 18th, 1546 and Mechum died on April 7th. William Tyndale In the early 1500s, the Englishmen William Tyndale became inflamed with an earth changing vision. He believed that all men should have the Scripture in their native tongue. Privileged scholars were already reading the Bible in the classical languages and thereby, finding conversion but Tyndale wanted to make salvation available to everyone. He knew that if the Scriptures were read, men would believe and be saved. Therefore, his mission in life became the translation and making of an English Bible. The organized church violently opposed his work and desperately tried to stop him. As a result, Tyndale fled from England while continuing his work. During his first printing of his New Testament, a spy discovered portions of his Bible in a German printer's. Officers were dispatched to apprehend Tyndale but he was not there. The officials next set out for his safe house but Tyndale, being forewarned fled with his books in hand. He slipped around his pursuers while returning to the printers and bailed together the incomplete Bibles. He then loaded all into a small boat and drifted down the German river for six days. Like Moses in his little ark -- adrift in a hostile land and yet, in this little boat was the Gospel of deliverance. Tyndale knew the pages of his Bible were precious and understood that if Englishmen read the Scriptures they would find Christ and freedom from their chains of sin. Ultimately, Tyndale was betrayed, strangled and burned but not before he gave us the most precious gift in this world -- The Word of God. William Tyndale lived during the time of Luther and visited him. We have no record of Tyndale exercising Pentecostal gifts, as did Luther. However, Tyndale left us a record of his inner conversion and his powerful Evangelical teachings. He ministered in the apostolic office of Teacher, for which we own him a unique debt of thanks. His work became the foundation of the King James translation that appeared over 70 years later. Tyndale often included comments next the text of his Bible. His notes testify of the works of the Holy Ghost and the gifts of the Spirit. The following excerpts are taken from Tyndale's translation and attached notes. Saint Paul said, "The gifts# of the spirit are given to every man to profit the congregation." (I Corinthians 12:7) (Tyndale's N.T.) #Tyndale's added note, "The gifts of the spirit are given us too as service to our brethren." Tyndale translated Saint John as saying, "And ye have an ointment# of the Holy Ghost, and ye know all things." (I John 2:20) (Tyndale NT) #Tyndale's added note, Ointment: that is knowledge of the truth and all the gifts of the spirit. While Tyndale was quick to reject the garish and bazaar miracles of the organized church, (i.e. weeping idols, moving idols, and etc.) he accepted true miracles as a token or proof of the true Gospel. Next to his translation of Hebrews 2:4 Tyndale added, "Miracles are called signs because they be a sing-token and an evident proof that the thing that is preached is God's Word." The Historian J.H. Merle described Tyndale as a man "anointed with the Spirit of God" 39 The Evangelicals of Tyndale's day are described as men "baptized of the Holy Ghost." 40<\sup> A man named Pykas "bought a Tyndale New Testament, and read it thoroughly many times. His heart was totally changed. 'We must be baptized by the Holy Ghost,' he said, and these words passed like a breath of life over his simple-minded hearers."41 --------------------------------- 39 The Reformation in England, -- J. H. Merle d'Aubigné, 1853, Reprint by Banner of Truth, ISBM 085151 486 3, V. 1, pg 190 40 ibid., pg. 423 41 ibid., pg. 352 ________________________________ Powerful Presbyterians The Presbyterian Hall of Faith A One Man Army (1505-1572) John Knox was an eminent wrestler with God in prayer, and like a prince prevailed. The Queen Regent herself had given him this testimony, when upon a particular occasion she said that she was more afraid of his prayers than of an army of ten thousand men. He was likewise fervent and moving in his preaching. He prophesied many events and these were remarkably accomplished. John Knox the Prophet While a prisoner in the castle of St. Andrews, he foretold both the manner of the castles surrender, and of his deliverance from the French galleys. When the French army twice discomfited the lords of the congregation, Knox assured them that God would ultimately prosper the work of Reformation. Again, when Queen May refused to come to preaching, he sent word that she would yet be obliged to hear the Word of God whether she would or not. This came to pass during her arraignment in England. At another time, Knox rebuked the Queens husband saying, "Have you for the pleasure of that dainty dame, cast the psalm-book into the fire? The Lord shall strike both the head and tail." Therefore, Both King and Queen died violent deaths. An Anointed Preacher! Though Knox became old and "very week in body, he would not refrain from preaching, it became necessary for his servant to support him as he entered the church; when in the pulpit, he had to rest before he could preach, but before he ended his sermon he became so vigorous and active, that he was like to have broken the pulpit to pieces." Gifts of the Holy Spirit Mr. Thomas Smeaton spoke of Knox at his death and said, "I know not if God ever place a more godly and great spirit in a body so little and frail. I am certain, that there can scarcely be found another in who more gifts of the Holy Ghost, for the comfort of the Church of Scotland, did shine . . ." 42 Robert Garnock, (about 1679) Robert Garnock wrote of a field preaching and communion service that he once attended. There, he saw the manifest presence of Christ. Robert recalled, "In reference to the three wonderful days of the Lord's presence at East Nisbet in the Merse; that was the greatest communion, (lords supper) I suppose, these twenty years; I got there what I will never forget while I live. Glory to His sweet name that ever there was such a day in Scotland; His work was wonderful to me, both in spirituals and temporals. Oh! that I could get Him praised and magnified for it. He (the Lord) was seen that day sitting at the head of His table, and His spikenard 'sending forth a pleasant smell.' Both good and bad were made to cry out, and some to say, with the disciples, 'It is good for us to be here.' They would have been content to have stayed there; and I thought it was a heaven begun to be in that place." 43 --------------------------------- 42 The Scots Worthies, -- John Howie, 1775 and 1781, Reprint -- Rev. W.H. Carslaw 1870, pp 52, 57-58, 58, 63 43 ibid. p. 459 ___________________________ Thomas Hog, (about 1670) Mr. Hog went to see a gracious woman who was afflicted both in body and mind. He prayed, "O Lord, rebuke this temptation, and we in thy name rebuke the same." Immediately the woman was fully restored. 44 Robert Bruce (1554-1631) It was the custom of Robert Bruce to go out for private prayer after his first sermon. On one occasion a waiting nobleman sent to ask if a second sermon was planned. The nobleman was informed. "I think he shall not come out this day, for I overheard him say to some one, 'I protest I will not go unless thou goest with me.' " However, Bruce shortly came out alone. He then ministered a powerful message with much evidence and demonstration of the Spirit. It was easy for his hearers to discern that Bruce had been in the mount with God. More properly, he had come out with God whom he had first met in private. Robert Bruce was also a man who had the spirit of discerning future events. He prophetically spoke of several things that afterward came to pass. Also, in obedience to Scripture he prayed for the sick. After prayer, the sick were fully restored to health. Bruce was known as a wrestler with God, and had more than ordinary familiarity with Him. 45 ---------------------------- 44 ibid. p. 564 45 ibid. pp. 147+148 _________________________ John Welch (1570-1622) A young nobleman was boarding in John Welch's house while receiving his education. This young man "fell ill of a grievous sickness, and after he had been long wasted by it, closed his eyes and expired, to the apprehension of all spectators; and was therefore taken out of his bed, and laid on a pallet on the floor, that his body might be more conveniently dressed. This was to Mr. Welch a very great grief, and therefore he stayed with the body fully three hours, lamenting over him with great tenderness. After twelve hours, the friend brought in a coffin, where into they desired the corpse to be put, as the custom was; but Mr. Welch desired that, for the satisfaction of his affections, they would forbear for a time; which they granted, and returned not till twenty-four hours after his death. Then they desired with great importunity, that the corpse might be coffined and speedily buried, the weather being extremely hot; yet he persisted in his request, earnestly begging them to excuse him once more, so they left the corps upon the pallet for full thirty-six hours; but even after all that, though he was urged not only with great earnestness, but displeasure, they were constrained to forbear for twelve hours more. After forty-eight hours were past, Mr. Welch still held out against them; and then his friend, perceiving that he believed the young man was not really dead, but under some fit, proposed to him for his satisfaction, that trial should be made upon his body by doctors and surgeons, if possibly any spark of life might be found in him; and with this he was content. So the physicians were set to work, who pinched him with pinchers in the fleshly parts of his body, and twisted a bow-string about his head with great force; but no sign of life appearing in him, the physicians pronounced him stark dead, and then there was no more delay to be made. yet Mr. Welch begged of them once more that they would but step into the next room for an hour or two, and leave him with the dead youth; and this they granted. Mr. Welch fell down before the pallet, and cried to the Lord with all his might, and sometimes looked upon the dead body, continuing to wrestle with the Lord, till at length the dead youth opened his eyes, and cried out to Mr. Welch, who he distinctly knew, 'O Sir, I am all whole, but my head and leg;' and these were the places they had sorely hurt with their pinching. When Mr. Welch perceived this, he called upon his friends; and showed them the dead young man restored to life again, to their great astonishment." 46 ---------------------- 46 ibid., pp 132-133 __________________________ Some Walked the High Road The Swiss reformer Zwingli disappoints us because of his persecution of independent Anabaptists. Modern Calvinists love him for his doctrine while giving fewer honors to Zwingli's hand-picked replacement. This replacement was M. Heinrich Bullinger (1504-1575) who was an Evangelical in conduct and heart. He was a man of charitable works and Christ-like actions that did not persecute his enemies. Rather, he blessed them and fed them. After assuming Zwingli's office Bullinger freely dispensed food, clothing, and money from gifts and how own his small income. He cared for widows and orphans, strangers in exile and people of other creeds. Bullinger entertained persecuted brethren for weeks and months in his own house, or helped them find the means of travel. He received with open arms fugitive Protestants from Italy, France, England, and Germany, and made Zurich an asylum of religious liberty. In the mid 1500s he constantly spoke out in behalf of the persecuted Huguenots, Waldenses and Reformed congregation in Paris. Bullinger's teaching clearly reflected a born again heart and true follower of Christ. 47 This same Bullinger possessed a vision for world Missions and God's call to preach to all people! He was Evangelical, born again, and sanctified in living. Further, his writings reflected the sentiments of today's PENTECOSTALS! Bullinger said, "Those who shall have believed in me, (Christ) shall cast out devils, not in their own name but in mine; shall speak with new tongues; shall drive away serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. When these things are accomplished, a greater miracle is performed in men's minds, though a hidden one, Avarice, lust, ambition, hatred, wrath, malice, are to the mind deadly poisons and diseases; these they shall drive away in my name, and do it constantly. But, on account of the weak, and those who are slow to believe, the former (physical miracles) also shall sometimes be done, that even the dullest may perceive that in them is the Spirit, mighty beyond human power." Miracles, Healings, Tongues! Bullinger believed the gifts of the spirit were to be present in every generation. He said, "If, however, we refer these thing (deliverances) to the body, they are wrought by a miracle both in the teachers and in the disciples themselves. For believers, through the power of Christ in who they believed, drove out and overthrew the devil, and were accustomed to speaking with new tongues -- both the Lord's disciples, and the disciples of the Lords' disciples." Bullinger further says, "To this the Acts of the Apostles bear witness. Ecclesiastical History bears witness to the same. Lastly the present times bear witness; wherein, through confidence in the name of Christ, numbers, greatly afflicted and shattered with disease, are restored to health." 48 Bullinger's words sound more like those of a modern healing evangelist than the writings of an ancient Reformer! Why? Unbelieving professors of doubt have suppressed the record of truth. Nonetheless, God's Word cannot be denied. Jesus is still the same yesterday today and forever! ----------------------------- 47. History of the Christian Church, --Schaff, V. 8, pp. 48 Suppressed Evidences, --Boys, 1832, p. 153. Bullinger's Works, V.7, col. 272 on Mark 16, -- Leyden 1706 ________________________
Chapter 10 A Rising Tide of Miracles Huguenots and Children Prophets (1688) French Protestant faith and worship was very much like that of the English Puritans in 1600. Their faith centered upon the Word of God. The Huguenots read their Bible and listened to others read aloud. They sang the Psalms, recited prayers, and heard their minister preach from the Scriptures. Children memorized the Bible and took part in church responses from the age of ten. The Huguenots embraced their faith at a high price. They were repeatedly persecuted and, subsequently, forced to defend their lives and families. The Huguenots were expecting Christ's soon coming and Millennial Kingdom. However, unspeakable persecution plunged them into a holocaust of suffering in 1685. Many were imprisoned and made galley slaves. Parents were compelled to raise their children as Catholics. Their ministers were among the prisoners taken away, while, laymen who were left behind were forbidden to leave the country. Some pastors did manage to escape France while others went underground. As the Huguenots resorted to secret meetings their fervent prayers overturned the plans of Satan. God began to do a wonderful thing. Many witnesses tell of the great Heavenly signs that continued throughout 1687. Angels, thousands of Angels sang the song of deliverance while marching or drumming was heard in the sky. Trumpets were heard to sound and hundreds gathered at night to hear the angelic chorus.49 The hearers speculated that this foretokened of a wonderful thing that God was about to accomplish. Truly, God would soon pour the promise of Joel 2:28 on the oppressed Huguenot children. The weak of this world would confound the wise. Since their ministers were driven into exile and hiding, God began anointing a young generation to stand in the gap. ----------------------------------- 49. The French Prophets, --Hillel Schwartz, University of California Press, 1980, p.16 _____________________________ In February of 1688, Isabeau a sixteen-year-old shepherdess in Dauphine had the Spirit of God come upon her as she slept. She cried out and began to sing and prophesy. At length many Huguenots sat in her room at night as she ministered in her sleep. When Isabeau lay on her back she quickly fell asleep. Then, she sang the Ten Commandments in rhyme and followed that with a Psalm. After a pause, she preached or prophesied fluently. Her gestures and speech were rapid and sometimes displayed agitation. However, she woke in the morning refreshed and did not remember the happenings of the previous night. Isabeau's message contained a call for all to repent and honor God's Word. She spoke of the forty-two months of trouble in Revelation 50 and of eternal life for God's faithful. Her message was one of comfort for those that were distressed. She spoke of Joel's prophecy about a young generation that would receive God's Spirit and prophesy. ------------------------------------ 50 These 42 months equal 1260 days. All Reformation Protestants understood these days to be 1260 years in which the ten horned beast of Rome (Reincarnated into the Roman Church) would persecute the true children of God. Rome was teaching that these events were all yet to come. ___________________________
When church priests got wind of her gift, they had her imprisoned in June 1688. God was not through, others children soon took her place of ministry. Within six months many children received the gift of prophecy as they were filled with the Holy Spirit. This revival swept the towns of Dauphine. In the village near the home of Isabeau, more than sixty had received Isabeau's experience by years end. Some adults also received the Holy Ghost Baptism. A sleeping farmer's wife flailed her arms and legs, shouting "Mercy, mercy." She prophesied that the earth would soon end and the faithful would reign with Jesus for 1000 years.51 The children's meetings grew to as many as 1500 in attendance. In the early spring of 1689 Rome moved against the young prophets. The youngest ones were placed in convents and prison hospitals and the others were condemned to death. The children prophets foresaw this intense persecution and some managed to hide and continue their ministry. By 1701 the young prophets numbered in the hundreds. Their messages were respected and quite accurate. Some predictions that did not seem to occur were simply in need of further explanation just as Revelation often needs enlightening comment. The children prophets were mightily anointed. When ordinary children received their spiritual gift they spoke with a holy unction and gave their messages while crying out in public places, "This is the last days, repent!" Many miracles accompanied their words. Furthermore, newborn infants spoke out and refused Catholic baptism.52 Some of the young prophets also exercised the Pentecostal gift of tongues. In later years the maturing prophets lead their people against unbearable tyranny. The hopeful French Protestants followed the direction of prophecy in the daylight and in the nights they were guided to their camps by divine lights.53 They believed guardian angels protected them from ambush. Mere, bands of men stood against a royal army of 20,000. Although, they did not prevail the stories of their exploits inspired the Protestants in other parts of Europe. ------------------------------- 51 Revelation 22:12 "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." 52 When the author was one year old he was christened in the Episcopal Church. As the priest sprinkled, the author's Evangelical spirit rose up and refused the un-scriptural baptism of a child. He knocked the dish right from the priest's hands. There! a job well done. It may not have been miraculous but was certainly a prophetic omen. He definitely remembers the occasion and also recalls his embarrassed Grandmother Zell sopping up the spill. 53 My grandmother Cora told me of the return of her grandfather from the Civil War. Mr. Ball fought with the South during the Civil War. He survived the war to return home. He had a horse and, therefore, often traveled at night. As he went he said a light appeared before him to show him the way home. When he arrived he was unable to eat regular food for a time because of the famine in the Southern Army. Psalms 78:14 "In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire." _________________________
A few of the prophets fled to England during the days of war. Although, these did not sustain the excellent reputation of those remaining in France, at least some of them had a positive influence on the spirituality of the English. The French prophets did not set down a formal creed or make an official statement concerning their beliefs. They moved like the wind and followed the Spirits leading. The Spirits guidance is good but must always be submitted to the unchanging truth of Scripture. A clear statement of faith leaves a positive Gospel witness for the next generation. Our present statements of faith raise a standard against false prophets that seek to damage God's work. The descendants of the French prophets did not continue their parent's message or experience. However, many other people in their day shared the anointing of the prophets, with their call to repentance and inner conversion. Some of these people did pin their beliefs, and we have greatly profited from their witness. John Wesley was one such writer and many modern Methodist's still carry his excellent spirit. Children as Prophets? The participation of children in revival is quite common. However, children as the leading figures of revival might not be so quickly accepted. God often calls the young first and then moves to the elders. Samuel heard God's voice as a child. Jeremiah and David were also quite young. I believe that God picks young people because of their obedience and faith. Early submission to God yields a lifetime of usefulness. One of the most outstanding examples of modern Revival among Children can be found in H. A. Bakers, Visions Beyond the Veil.54 --------------------------------- 54 Visions Beyond The Veil, --H.A. Baker, Missionary to China, Osterhus Publishing House, 4500 West Broadway, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55422. Contact them! ___________________________ Baker was a missionary to China during the first half of the 1900s. He took in Chinese orphans and naturally told them of Christ's love and salvation. These poor children were sometimes slow of understanding but quick in spirit. Thus, prophetic visions introduced them to all the stories and truths contained in Scripture. These little people exercised mighty gifts of prophecy, healing, and revelation. The special experiences these children enjoyed plainly demonstrated God's tender caring for the week and orphaned. We must also view our children as potential doors to the wonders of God. Although children display most of the flaws of their elders, they are teachable and ready to change. Jesus said that we must be like children to enter His Kingdom. If we introduce our little ones to God, they will return to us like prosperous merchants, loaded with gifts from above. If we become as little children we may happily receive God's gifts. Too often, I have seen children find conversion and stand on the very brink of Heaven. Then a earthly minded and doubting parent moves with all vigor to quench the Spirit's flame and redirect the child's interest toward the artificial elements of religion or the delights of vanity fair. In reality the parent performs a spiritual abortion and in the end will reap the sad consequences. The children prophets are just one of many groups that were enjoying the promise of Joel during the early 1700s. God was pouring his spirit upon all who were seeking him. Parts of the Reformation movement were about a century and a half old at that time. Protestantism had lost the powerful Spirit of the early reformers. Contrariwise, the revivalists of the 1700s viewed their fresh anointing as a sort of second Reformation. The outpouring of the Spirit ultimately crossed to America and is today spreading throughout whole earth. God is still the same today. As a child of eight years this author received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of Pentecostal tongues. During his childhood he had many edifying visions. As a young teen-ager he was: called to the ministry, prayed for the sick, maintained a musical ministry, was inspired to compose numerous songs, began preaching, witnessed for Christ and occasionally prophesied in Church. At eighteen he was place in charge of weekly reform school services in which many were born into Christ's kingdom. The life of that child, thus, set the course for the man he is today. "A little child shall lead them." (Isaiah 11:6) Do Angels Still Sing? In the late 1800s thousands heard angels singing at the Wabash (Sheffy) Competing in the New River Valley of Virginia. Angelic songs have often been witnessed in times of revival. When today's PENTECOSTAL outpouring came to Asusa Street in Los Angeles the Angels of God sang. A witness wrote of those early days: "'The news spread far and wide that Los Angeles was being visited with a rushing mighty wind, from heaven. The how and why of it is to be found in the very opposite of those conditions that are usually thought necessary for a big revival. No instruments of music are used. None are needed. No choir. Bands of angels have been heard by some in the Spirit and there is heavenly singing that is inspired by the Holy Ghost. No collections are taken. No bills have been posted to advertise the meetings. No church organization is back of it. All who are in touch with God realize as soon as they enter the meeting that the Holy Ghost is the leader. One brother states that even before his train entered the city he felt the power of the revival." 55 ----------------------------------- 55 With Signs Following, Stanley Frodsham, Gospel Publishing House, 1946 p. 33 ____________________________ Chapter 11 Heart Burning Heavenly Fire Mighty Methodists In the early 1700s a fresh Pentecostal revival began appearing in many quarters. In Europe the Spirit was moving among the Huguenots, Moravians, and Quakers, while in America the Great Awakening touched the New Lights, Separatists, Baptists and New England Presbyterians. During these days of revival the Methodists stand out because of their exceptional growth and doctrinal stability. Methodists were strong in their desire to retain Scripture as their guiding light, while some of the other groups (i.e. Quakers and Shakers) set their feelings, revelations or personalities above the written Word of God. Because the Methodists embraced Scripture as their guide they altered World History for the good. Many Methodists also gained a reputation for their HUMAN EXCITEMENT as well as their demonstrations of SPIRITUAL POWER. SPIRITUAL POWER Acts 6:8 "And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people." Cast Out Devils Mark 16:17 "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils;" While some early Methodists discouraged the emotional outburst among converts. Wesley generally held that such demonstrations were simply an outward manifestation of an inward work and were most desirable. He also noted that certain physical exhibitions came from demonic influences and so, he prayed for the afflicted person until deliverance was found! We are informed that many converts were set free from demonic possession through the ministry of the early Methodists.56 Speak With New Tongues Mark 16:17 ". . .they shall speak with new tongues" Thomas Walsh (one of Wesley's foremost preachers) made this entry in his diary; "This morning the Lord gave me a language that I knew not of, raising my soul to Him in a wonderful manner."57 During the 1740s the Rev. Nicholas Gilman, a New England clergymen, spoke in his diary of a young woman that fell into a protracted ecstasy in which she "lay blessing and praising God in whispers, in the language of a soul actually in Heaven."58 In Darlaston England, at about the same time, several people fell down while making what was described as strange noises. These testified that they had received the Holy Ghost and thus, precipitated a riot.59 ------------------------------------- 56 Spirit Possession and Popular Religion From the Camisards to the Shakers, Clarke Garrett, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1987, p. 86 57 With Signs Following, Frodsham, Thomas Walsh, Entry of March 8, 1750, p. 258 Also cited at, http://acf.net/manifest.htm April 13, 1998 58 Spirit Possession and Popular Religion From the Camisards to the Shakers, Clarke Garrett, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1987, p.131 from Gilman's "Diary" 243, 253-55, 258 59 ibid, p.98 _____________________________ Lay Hands on the Sick Mark 16:18 ". . . they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." It was common for pioneer Methodists to experience Divine quickening and strength when all human energy had failed. However, John Wesley also wrote of praying for the sick. A certain Mr. Meyrick was expected to die before morning, so, some believers joined in prayer and "before we had finished his sense and speech returned." Wesley continued, ". . . this is the power of God."60 Praying for the sick was not a new innovation among Methodists but was also included in the old 1721 Episcopal prayer book and was effectively ministered by some Kings of England during the 1700s.61 To deny prayer for the sick is simply the fruit of modernistic unbelief. Prophecy and Miracles Acts 2:17 ". . . your sons and your daughters shall prophesy..." John 14:12 "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do. . . " In 1797 the Methodist Thomas Ware witnessed that Christ still controlled the weather and used his servants in the gift of prophecy. Thomas says, "Cecil circuit had been added to the Philadelphia district. The quarterly meeting on this circuit was at hand, and I urged Dr. C. To attended it. He came with a number of the warm-hearted members from his circuit. On the first day of the meeting there were many present, and the prospect was very encouraging. But there were appearances of rain, which it was though might discourage the people from coming out in the evening. Dr. Chandler, however, pressed to come out, saying that he believed God would be present and do wonders among them. 'Some of you,' he added, 'will probably be kept away from the apprehension that it will rain: but, mark my word, there will be no rain in this vicinity, until the quarterly meeting is ended.' I was startled at his bold prediction, and was on the point of requesting him to recall or qualify it, but finally concluded to let it pass. Night came, and the house was crowded. A gracious work commenced. Some, of whom it was least expected, were found upon their knees crying for mercy. The morning of the Sabbath was the most dark and threatening I ever saw. The clouds appeared surcharged with rain, and it was the expectation of many that Dr. Chandler would be proved a false prophet. But still it so turned out that the rain was withheld until the meeting closed, and the people generally had reached their homes; after which the clouds emptied themselves upon the earth, and the fall of rain exceeded anything which had been know for many years before."62 -------------------------------------- 60 The Journal of the Rev. John Wesley, A.M, ed Nehemiah Curnock (London: Epworth) 1912 3:55-56, Entry of 20 Dec. 1742 Theological Roots of Pentecostalism, Donald W. Dayton, Francis Asbury Press, 1987, p118 61 Suppressed Evidence pp. 318 - 320 62 The Life And Travels of Rev. Thomas Ware, --Thomas Ware, 1842, p.229 _____________________________________
I Will Pour Out My Spirit, (Joel 2:28) Joel 2:28-32 "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit . . . 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered . . ." As God moved among the Methodists, visions were often accompanied by overpowering love and joy. A child, seven years old, saw many visions and astonishes the neighbors with her innocent, awful manner of declaring them. Some believers laid under the hand of God for hours while tears of joy ran down their faces. Others screamed and shouted or shook with violence from head to foot. The Methodists preached Jesus Christ, and faith in his blood. Consequently, believers were continually added to the Church. As these met God, He moved throughout the total person and touched them in Spirit Soul and Body. The end effect of these encounters was best summed up in the words of one woman. After her emotional excitement she was asked, "What do you want?" She replied, "Nothing but Christ."63 ------------------------------ 63 Wesley's Journal (January 3, 1760), http://acf.net/manifest.htm, April 14, 1998 ___________________________ HUMAN EXCITEMENT Acts 8:8 "And there was great joy in that city." While many early Methodists ministered through the gifts of the Spirit, they also "got happy" in the process. The joy and excitement they experienced were identical to that of the early 1800s Camp Meetings and to the early 1900s PENTECOSTALS. Falling and Emotional Manifestations Acts 16:29-30 "Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" One of the most prevalent manifestations among early Methodists was fall down in the presence of God. The worshiper would become so moved or convicted that they would drop as if dead. Some would lay without motion, some trembled, others would display a sort of convulsive response which might include strong groans, cries and tears.64 The sinners prayed with deep cries of anguish while agonizingly panting and gasping after eternal life in great distress of soul, calling on the Lord Jesus for salvation. When an altar call was made it was common for people to sink to the floor. ---------------------------------- 64 The works of John Bunyan were loved and read by many early Methodists. Bunyan wrote, "First of all, A child, you know, is incident to cry as soon as it comes into the world; for if there be no noise, they say it is dead. You that are born of God, and Christian, if you be not criers, there is no spiritual life in you -- if you be born of God, you are crying ones . . . The Works of John Bunyan, Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon, V. 2 p., 756 ____________________________
Holy Laughter Wesley's journal speaks of a young Methodist sister Ann Thorn, who, sometimes had visions of Jesus and frequently laughed while she saw His glory. Many others demonstrated their joy through holy laughter. Wesley also spoke of an uncontrolled laughter that seized some individuals. This was accepted as joyful praise but occasionally it was discerned to be the pernicious work of the devil. The discerning of spirits is necessary for today's believer and was part of the Methodist experience. I once pastored an aged Nazarene (non-PENTECOSTAL) sister who manifested the spirit of laughter. She would say, "Preacher, I never spoke in tongues but laughing, that's just what I do." Whereupon, she would raise her head and laugh from the depths of her spirit. I can confidently affirm that her laughter was great praise to God. She always followed her rejoicing with heart felt "Praise the Lord!" A Country Revival! While Thomas Ware (1790) ministered in the area the Holston Conference, and attended a quarterly meeting in Mecklenburg. He wrote, "On Saturday many people attended and great power was manifested during the public exercises. On Sunday morning the love feast was appointed to commence at eight o'clock. By seven the house was nearly full, and many were prostrate on the floor; and the surrounding grove was made vocal by the shouts of men, woman, and children, as they were approaching the house, some of whom were supported on their horses by those who accompanied them. When the house was filled, those who could not get in were engaged in some religious exercise without, and numbers were slain under the trees. A son of Col. Taylor, of Tar River, supported by two men, went about among the people, praising God, and telling them what the Lord had done for his soul; and wherever he came they were melted into tears. His appearance was sufficient to disarm the most stouthearted of them. As to preaching, it was out of the question. Nor did there appear to be any need of it; for all seemed to yield to the gracious influence, and with melting hearts to say, 'This is the work of God.' Something like this had been witnessed under the ministry of Mr. Boardman, King, and others. However, Mr. Rankin, Mr. Wesley's general assistant, so violently opposed it (emotional experience) that it soon declined. This circumstance was remembered; and all who were the real friends of experimental religion agreed that it behooved us to let the Lord work in his own way." 66 ------------------------------- 66 The Life And Travels of Rev. Thomas Ware, --Thomas Ware, 1842, p.169 ___________________________ Sent Away -- To God's Secret Place Hebrews 13:13-15 "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." --Thomas Ware 1790 "I once knew a pious female, a member of a church, remarkable for her good sense and propriety of conduct, who was constrained under a touching address of her minister to cry out and shout aloud. The effect was thrilling. Numbers in the congregation trembled and wept. The minister, however, sharply rebuked her, and told her to be silent, or to leave the house. She chose the latter and immediately retired to a grove, where, without rebuke or interruption, she could give vent to the swelling emotion of her pious heart. Had the minister continued his address instead of checking the impulse of feeling uttered by this devoted Christian, and called upon those who were weeping and trembling, to humble themselves before God, and seek his mercy, and the pious part of the congregation to unite in prayer for them, he would no doubt have had a great and glorious revival of religion, and many souls would have been rescued from the captivity of sin. But setting his face against the first manifestation of God's special presence among the people, the serious impressions which some had soon died away; and the good woman would have been a valuable helper to him if the revival had gone on, was set down as an enthusiast. Thus was she restrained while she continued in connection with that church. In process of time, however, she removed to another place, where she opened her doors for Methodist preaching, and was the first to join class when an opportunity was offered. After this, she lived long as a nursing mother in our Zion, greatly beloved and respected by all that knew her. From the diary of this excellent person I took by permission, the following extracts, relating to the grove in which she retired for devotion:-- 'The grove to which I fled from the rebuke of my minister, for disturbing what he called the order of God, where nevertheless the presence of my God, which attended me, shone so bright that its foliage seemed tinged with his glory, was long my favorite retreat. Here were lofty trees, who's cooling umbrage, in the sultry season, I often enjoyed, and who's towering leafless heads I have seen in winter wave to Him who bid them be, and I ardently desired to be as pure from sin as they. The last time I visited this delightful recess, on the one side a marshy swamp through which no one could pass, and on the other an open wood through which none could approach unseen, (for I wished to be unseen by all but Heaven,) I renewed my covenant with God and received a delightful assurance that he would go with me in the way I was about to go;-- and retiring, I cast back on this rural temple a last and lingering look, and sighing, said, 'Adieu! Adieu, ye trembling aspens, emblems of myself, ye tremble without fear, corroding fear! Adieu, ye towering poplars, oaks, and elms! ye sweet magnolias, and ye mantling vines, adieu! Beneath your ample shade I've sat, I've knelt, I've sung, and made you witnesses of my solemn vows to a tree, and whose blood I hold to be the source, the price, the sum, of all my hopes, for time and for eternal ages.' Hallelujah! The Lord God omnipotent reigneth!' "67 ------------------------------------------ 67 The Life And Travels of Rev. Thomas Ware, --Thomas Ware, 1842, p.253 ____________________________ Moravian Marvels While speaking of the Methodists we must also remember the Moravians and their singular influence upon Methodism. The Wesley brothers were first lead to a personal knowledge of Christ through the evangelistic ministry of the Moravians! Although the Wesleys were raised in the home of an Anglican priest and were themselves Anglican ministers they had not experienced the new birth that Jesus taught was so needful. When the Wesleys finally met Christ, the great Methodist awakening commenced. The Moravians originated among the Hussite Anabaptists which fled from Bohemia / Moravia during the very early 1700s. They were also known as Bohemian Brethren and officially took the name of United Brethren when they merged with some Waldensians in 1722. Count Zinzendorf of Germany granted these exiles refuge on his estate in Saxony and named their swelling settlement Herrnhut. (The Lord's Watch) God sent the refugees of Herrnhut a wonderful revival in 1727. Scriptures were confirmed with miraculous manifestations, signs and wonders, as most were lead by the Spirit to become missionary pioneers. They worked for fresh spiritual awakening in Europe and throughout the world. Because of their vision and soul-winning example, we all own them a great debt of thanks. The Moravians did not conform to the established patters of worship. The Moravians enjoyed twenty four-hour prayer meetings, spirited evangelical preaching, songfests, love feasts, loving Christian fellowship, and private devotions. The power of the Moravian experience sprang from a personal relationship with Christ and the glorious joy that can be found only IN HIM. From this personal knowledge of Christ and the Gospel message, God continued the ministry of the early apostles! Their leader Zinzendorf wrote of a Moravian brother who witnessed the refreshing that was coming upon the people. He noted that we were being "baptized with the Spirit of our fathers, beneath their cloud. Their Spirit returned upon us, and there was wrought in these days, amongst the Brethren, signs and miracles: and great graces (gifts of the spirit) were amongst us, and in all the district." 68 In 1740 the Brethren churches were described thus: "In respect to church matters, there are occasionally observed Apostolic graces, miracles, gifts of seers, &c. They are received in a child-like spirit, and there the matter ends."69 Zinzendorf concludes, "To believe against hope is the root of the gift of miracles: and I owe this testimony to our beloved church, that apostolic powers are there manifested. We have had undeniable proofs thereof in the unequivocal discover of things, persons, and circumstances, which could not , humanly, have been discovered: --in the healing of maladies in themselves incurable, such as cancers, consumptions when the patient was in the agonies of death, &c., All by means of prayer, or of a single word. We have seen hypocrites publicly unmasked, without any thing that was the occasion externally; visible signs, both of condemnation and also of recovery, in men who had offended with respect to the church; -- we have seen matters, which no man could think of seeing brought to an issue, cleared up in a few moments." 70 ------------------------------------- 68 Suppressed Evidences, --Boys, p 261, and from History of the Church of the Brethren, -- Rev. A Boast, Tom. II p. 367 69 Boys, p 261 , and from History of the Church of the Brethren, -- Rev. A Boast, Tom. II p. 1770 Boys., p. 263_______________________________ One special instance of healing was recounted by Zinzendorf. "A married Sister became extremely ill at Herrnhut. The physician had given up all hope, and her husband was plunged in grief. Watterville (a minister) visited the patient, found her joyfully expecting her removal, and took his leave, after having encouraged her in this happy frame. It was at that time, still the practice for the unmarried Brethren, on Sunday evenings, to go about, singing hymns before the Brethren's houses, with an instrumental accompaniment. Watteville made them sing some appropriate hymns under the window of the sick Sister; at the same time praying in his heart to the Lord that he would be pleased, if he thought good, to restore her to health. He conceived a hope of this, so full of sweetness and faith, that he sang with confidence, these lines: 'Cross upon Calv'ry lifted high, When Jesus gave himself to die, Come, warm a heart redeemed by grace, And kindle gratitude to praise. When, at the last, I pant for breath, Name but the Cross, my hope in death, Soon as I hear the blissful word, My voice returns, to praise the Lord.' What was the astonishment of those who surrounded the bed of this dying Sister, when they saw her sit up, and join, with a tone of animation, in singing the last line, 'My voice returns, to praise the Lord.' To Watteville's great amazement and delight, he found her on rescinding to her chamber, quite well, She recovered perfectly; and not till five and thirty years after did he attend her earthly tabernacle to its resting place." 71 --------------------------------- 71 Boys, p 301, and from History of the Church of the Brethren, -- Rev. A Boast, Tom. II. pp. 406-408 ____________________________
Chapter 12 The Sound of Rain Camp Meeting at Cane Ridge, Kentucky (1801) After the American Revolution, most Churches suffered a decline. The Kentucky frontier especially remained a spiritual wilderness as uncontrolled alcoholism and land-grabbing lust fueled a moral collapse. Self sufficient pioneers felt God would excuse their conduct or was not watching. Thus, wilderness populations doubled and tripled, while the Churches dropped in attendance. Some people of God were moved to pray. In 1798 Kentucky Presbyterians called for special prayer, which other groups also supported. Soon, a marvelous thing transpired! In June 1800 several minister came together for revival and communion. Among these a Rev. McGready, the Presbyterian William McGee, and his Methodist brother John. Nothing unusual occurred until the third day of meetings. While one local minister preached, a woman who had been seeking for the assurance of salvation began shouting and singing. The sermon was concluded and the ministers went out except for the McGee brothers. The Presbyterian William sat down next to the pulpit and began weeping. Soon the congregation was weeping. The Methodist John rose to preach and said, "The Lord God omnipotent reign in their hearts, and to submit to him." Next, the people began to cry aloud and shout. Then the woman who first shouted added a shrill cry. Methodist John McGee, while going to comfort her was reminded that this was a Presbyterian church where emotionalism was not condoned! Later John recalled, "I turned to go back and was near falling; the power of God was strong upon me. I turned again and, losing sight of the fear of man, I went through the house shouting and exhorting with all possible ecstasy and energy, and the floor was soon covered with the slain." This was only the beginning of a mighty torrent of Holy Ghost revival. Quickly, this revival spread through Kentucky and Tennessee as sinners cried to God and fell while praying and wailing for mercy. At Desha's Creek, thousands of people attended to worship. Many fell before the Word, like corn before a storm of wind, and many rose from the dust with the divine glory shining from their face. The Methodist James B. Finley spoke of the meetings and said, "The nearest approximation to it was the revival on the day of Pentecost." At Cane Ridge in 1801 the revival reached its zenith. The estimates of attendance varied between 10 and 25 thousand. Those attending were greatly affected by the spirit as, sometime more than 1000 persons fell to the ground including many infidels. The worship continued night and day and even through heavy rains. Deep wholehearted worship was the order of the hour. Consequently, the work of God was manifest to all; many fell down in a moment, as slain in battle, and laid for hours in a motionless state. These slain of the Lord groaned, shrieked, prayed for mercy and declared His wonderful works. All types of people responded and were moved upon by the Spirit, including, the very young, blacks, whites men and women. Excitement mounted as the camp erupted in a torrent of noise like the roar of Niagara: the cries and shouts of the penitent, "the babble of incoherent speech,"72 the crying of babies, the shrieking of children, and the neighing of horses. Worshipers jerked under the hand of God; some falling, dancing, running and singing heavenly songs. Sinners dropped on every hand, shrieking, groaning, crying, praying, agonizing, fainting, clapping their hands, laughing in the raptures of joy conversion! Barton W. Stone wrote of one woman saying, "The singing exercise is more unaccountable than anything else I ever saw. The subject in a very happy state of mind would sing most melodiously, not from the mouth or nose, but entirely in the breast, the sounds issuing thence. Such music silenced everything, and attracted the attention of all. It was most heavenly. None could ever be tired of hearing it." Rev. Stone "concluded it to be something surpassing anything we had known in nature." 73 --------------------------------- 72 Cane Ridge America's Pentecost, -- Paul Conkin, p. 94, The University of Wisconsin Press, 199073 The Cane Ridge Meeting-house, -- James R. Rogers To which is appended the Autobiography of B.W. Stone. 1910, p. 162_______________________
One 7-year-old girl sat on a man's shoulders and spoke inspired words until she tired. When she lay her head on his as if to sleep, someone in the audience suggested "the poor thing" had better be laid down to rest. The girl roused and said, "Don't call me poor, for Christ is my brother, God my father, and I have a kingdom to inherit, and therefore do not call me poor, for I am rich in the blood of the Lamb!" Was this mere religious enthusiasm or the true work of God? When the Spirit overcame a farmer as he plowed and many believers broke into glorious shouts on their beds, was this human ecstasy or divine visitation? Those living in the territory of these revivals knew that it was God. All of society changed as: Cursing was hushed, feuds were calmed, faith was embraced by the faithless and slaves were freed! An infidel named James B. Finley, who attended the Cane Ridge revival said, "An extraordinary sensation, such as I had never felt came over me. My heart beat, my knees trembled, my lip quivered, and I felt as though I should fall to the ground. A strange supernatural power seemed to pervade the entire mass ... I fled for the woods again, and wished I had stayed at home." Finney Revival (1830s) In the early 1800s the Calvinism of the Northeast had degenerated into lifeless formalism. Calvin and Knox would have certainly disowned the dead theological system that honored their names. Because Modernism had replaced Scripture, conversion was never taught or experienced and no one expected miraculous answers to prayer. Pitifully, the theology of Princeton made God to appear absent or quite dead. Ah! God was not dead but was seeking for a man to stand in the gap and believe for fresh Holy Ghost showers from above. In this hour of need, God's man proved to be one Charles Finney. In 1821 the young Presbyterian lawyer Finney, came under a great conviction of sin and an unquenchable desire to find the assurance of his salvation. While seeking God in his study, Finney at last met God. He said, "No words can express the wonderful love that was shed abroad in my heart. I wept aloud with joy and love; and I do not know but I should say, I literally bellowed out the unutterable gushings of my heart. (Romans 8:26) These waves came over me, and over me, and over me, one after the other, until I recollect I cried out, 'I shall die if these waves continue to pass over me. 'I said, "Lord, I cannot bear any more;' yet I had no fear of death." Finney called this experience the Baptism of the Spirit. After his baptism he preached under an anointing that brought multitudes to Christ. (Acts 1:8) The most marked effect of this revival was the moral reform that that it brought among the people of the Northeast. Sinners turned about face and fervency served God. Many that had the outward trappings of Christianity also found their first true conversion! Finney's Presbyterian Pastor and mentor was among those that followed Finney into an experience of conversion. In the city of Rome, New York the change was so marked that one observer said. "Whatever of sin was left, was obliged to hide its head. No open immorality could be tolerated there for a moment." During the revival God manifested His miraculous gifts of the Spirit. Finney's Autobiography catalogues many emotional and supernatural happenings. Among these were: Holy laughter Visions Falling under the power of God Divine protection from murder Supernatural hunger for God among the population An illiterate woman was given the gift of reading Healing the sick Healing of the insane God's personal leading Prophecies Finney repeatedly confirmed that the key to revival was PRAYER. He said, "For several weeks . . . I was very strongly exercised in prayer, and had an experience that was somewhat new to me. I found myself so much exercised, and so borne down with the weight of immortal souls, that I was constrained to pray without ceasing. Some of my experiences, indeed, alarmed me. A spirit of importunity sometimes came upon me so that I would say to God that He had made a promise to answer prayer, and I could not, and would not, be denied." Such prevailing prayer opens doors of spiritual captivity and turns the kingdom of Satan upside down. One pastor joyfully told Finney that, "So far as my congregation is concerned, the millennium is come already. My people are all converted. Of all my past labors I have not a sermon that is suited at all to my congregation, for they are all Christians." The Power of God waxed so great that no one could escape God's presence. The sheriff of Utica, N.Y. heard of the revival and jested about the reports. Finney said, "But one day it was necessary for him to go to Rome. He said that he was glad to have business there; for he wanted to see for himself what it was that people talked so much about, and what the state of things really was in Rome. He drove on in his one horse sleigh, as he told me, without any particular impression upon his mind at all, until he crossed what was called the old canal, a place about a mile from the town. He said as soon as he crossed the old canal, a strange impression came over him, an awe so deep that he could not shake it off. He felt as if God pervaded the whole atmosphere. He said that this increased the whole way, till he came to the village. He stopped at Mr. F's hotel, and the stable boy came out and took his horse. He observed, he said, that the stable boy looked just as he himself felt, as if he were afraid to speak. He went into the house, and found the gentleman there with whom he had business. He said they were manifestly all so much impressed, they could hardly attend to business. He said that several times, in the course of the short time he was there, he had to rise from the table abruptly, and go to the window and look out, and try to divert his attention, to keep from weeping. He observed, he said, that everybody else appeared to feel just as he did. Such an awe, such a solemnity, such a state of things, he had never had any conception of before. He hastened through with his business, and returned to Utica; but, as he said, never to speak lightly of the work at Rome again." Later, this sheriff was converted. Chapter 13 The Joseph Generation The Curse Becomes A Blessing Riches in Times of Poverty Rare is the man that sees through the eyes of God. We usually call such men prophets and saints and yet, these men live in every generation. God never leaves himself without a true Pentecostal witness. Among God's many witnesses were a group of prophets that historians have passed by. These chosen vessels were the poorest of the poor and yet they were given the full riches of Christ's kingdom. (Matt. 5:3) These dear saints were the Blacks and slaves of America. Man viewed them as small but God calls them great and we all owe them an eternal debt of gratitude. Some of these will unquestionably sit on the right and left hand of our Lord. (Mark 10:40) The Joseph Generation originated in Africa. Like Joseph of old these unfortunate people were bound by their brothers and sold into slavery. In the land of their affliction they were resold and served with rigor. Although, our Black brothers came to America in chains, they put aside bitterness and took hold of the Gospel and its message of freedom. They further embraced Christ's own nature of forgiveness and have rendered good for evil. Through their unwavering faith and spirituality, European America has been refreshed in the Pentecostal Baptism. Our Black brothers have been like Joseph, who, blessed Egypt and many other nations. Millions of Latinos have also embraced the Afro-Evangelical Gospel and thus, have incorporated the Pentecostal experience into their culture which was already one of faith and joyous celebration. Modern Theologians make light of the PENTECOSTAL movement because of its direct link to Black spirituality. They cynically reminded us that modern PENTECOSTALISM started among Blacks, Hispanics and poor uneducated whites. Glory to God! Jesus the Son of God had a similar beginning. He therefore, seeks for the "God chosen . . . poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him." (James 2:5) God's kingdom is made up of Blacks, Latinos, Whites, prostitutes, drug addicts, and sinners of every evil description. These all have the highest of human virtues which is a hunger for God. Finally, these besmirched people have knelt at the Cross of Christ and have found eternal salvation! Conversion to Christ When slaves were first introduced to Christianity they testified of being "Born again" and receiving a new heart! During their conversions they were smitten dead by the Spirit and raised into a new life. This transformation might take place in the field, in a grove, at the camp meeting, in their quarters or during one of their own meetings. Slaves found joy in the thoughts of the afterlife. In that heavenly realm there will be no master or servant and no work to be done. Best of all there will be sweet Jesus that loves us all! During the ante-bellum days, black and white preachers itinerated from plantation to plantation to bring the Gospel to the slaves. The slaves had no fulfillment in the dead formality of European Churches. Rather, they loved the free spirited worship of the Methodists and Baptists. Among these the slave's joyous and Biblical form of worship could find full expression. A seeker could travail and groan in repentance. Next, shouts of joy and praise could be offered before God's throne in thanksgiving. The slaves would sometimes find it necessary to "steal away to Jesus." There, they could give vent to their deep love for God. Let's follow the well worn path of the slave and find our own hiding place in Christ. Blacks in Revival In the revival of 1801 at Cane Ridge, Kentucky, the most enthusiastic participants were the Africans and the children. We are told that the moral climate of America was changed through these meetings. Eventually, many Europeans cooled in their spirits but the Blacks incorporated that revival into their culture and prayed until America was turned upside down. Finally, all Blacks were set free. God truly answered their prayers! One ex-slave recounts that during fierce thunderstorms the masters hid in their feather beds, but the slaves went outside to lift their hands and thank God that judgment day was coming soon. 75
In Francis Asbury's America, we find a widely published engraving of a camp meeting in the early 1800s. In this illustration the white people are rejoicing with hands raised. Some seem to be spinning and one has fainted away and is being assisted while most are watching. Cane Ridge embodied far more spirit than was indicated in that old drawing. 76 Conversely, the Blacks were not depicted so cautiously. In their revival the illustrator shows a total "hallelujah breakdown" with few left standing and all joining in praise. 77 The author makes no comment about the picture and none is needed. Truly, the Blacks had touched the throne of Jesus! Their lamps were full, burning and waiting for his coming. ---------------------------- 75 Lecture Nine, The Religion the Slaves Made, --Terry Matthews, http://www.wfu.edu/~matthetl/south/nine.html , 10/23/98, Internet76 Francis Asbury's America, --Terry D. Billhartz, Francis Asbury Press, 1984, p. 10077 ibid., p. 86_____________________ Pentecost Has Come In 1906 the great PENTECOSTAL movement came to Azusa Street, Los Angeles. God used a Black preacher William Seymour that ultimately blessed the world. We are informed, "As the people came they would fall under the power, and the whole city was stirred. The sick were healed and sinners were saved just as they came in." A witness said, "The news spread far and wide that Los Angeles was being visited with a rushing mighty wind, from heaven. The how and why of it is to be found in the very opposite of those conditions that are usually though necessary for big revival. No instruments of music are used, none are needed. No choir. Bands of angels have been singing that which is inspired by the Holy Ghost. No collections are taken. No bills have been posted to advertise the meeting. No church organization is back of it. All who are in touch with God realize as soon as they enter the meeting that the Holy Ghost is the leader. One brother states that even before his train entered the city he felt the power of the revival. Travelers from afar wend their way to the headquarters at Azusa Street. There, they find a two-story whitewashed store building. You would hardly expect heavenly visitation there unless you remember the stable at Bethlehem. But here they find a mighty Pentecostal revival going on from ten o'clock in the morning until about twelve o'clock at night. Pentecost has come to hundred of hearts." 78 The Azusa Revival is recognized as "ground zero" for today's PENTECOSTAL movement. Thus, today's worldwide revival found a launching pad in those meetings. Although, God was simultaneously pouring out his spirit in many places Azusa Street was briefly the center of attention. God's Atomic Bomb of Faith (1860s) Once America's Blacks received the Gospel they were no longer slaves. At the moment of conversion they became sons of Abraham (Romans 2:29) and were entitled to all the blessing of their father. (Gal. 3:14) Thus, the slaveholders became marked for a fall. "For thus saith the LORD of hosts. . . for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye." (Zechariah 2:8) At a religious meeting in 1801 in Piedmont, North Carolina, three young men fell beneath the hand of God while cutting whips to punish some Blacks who were crying for mercy. "The three persecutors struck with the power of God . . . and never rose until God spoke peace to their souls." 79 This was only the beginning. Finally a nation would lie prostrate before God and cry for mercy. Yes, God said, "Let my people go!" ---------------------------------- 78 With Signs Following, -- Stanley Frodsham, Gospel Publishing House, 1946, p.32-3379 Pentecostal Manifestations, --Rev. W. H. Turner, Printed by Publishing House of P.H. Church 1947 p. 24____________________________ Volumes have been written about the causes of the Civil War and how that slavery was only a part of the larger story. Nevertheless, all of these opinions are simply mans thinking. In truth God was delivering his people through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm." (Deuteronomy 5:15) People that pray in the Spirit change the world. . Isaiah 43:1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people (NATIONS) for thy life. (In Psalm 47:3 the word people is translated as nations.)
Chapter 14 The Holiness Awakening Of the 1800s "Awake, awake; Put on ... thy beautiful garments" (Isaiah 52:1) After Cane Ridge, God's Spirit flowed like waves of the sea with one refreshing surge following the next. In America and abroad the outpouring of the Holy Ghost touched an ever widening sphere of believers. We now call these revivals the Holiness Awakening because of the doctrinal emphasis on a second work of grace. That experience was then called both the Sanctification and Baptism in the Holy Ghost. Question -- What set this revival apart from others of the past? Let the critics howl with horror but we firmly declare -- NOTHING! Yes, we wholeheartedly affirm that the Holiness Awakening of the 1800s was nothing new in the world of revival. The Evangelical message of the past was simply being discovered by a new generation. Tell Me The Old Old Story! Like the primitive Waldenses of Europe, Holiness believers witnessed heaven sent answers to prayer. In the hills of South West Virginia, Preacher Sheffy was a man that was known for effectiveness in prayer. The many stories of Robert Sheffy have been compiled in the form of a novel but these stories are also biographical and substantially genuine. In the 1850s Rev. Sheffy was attempting to slow the boot legging trade and stop the hurt it brought upon mountain society. He set out to find stills and to convert their owners. On one occasion Sheffy came upon a still and was looking it over when the operator stormed out of the woods. Robert informed him that it was not God's will to "turn good men into wife-beaters and hate-mongers who abuse their children and take food from their mouths to buy your devil's nectar!" Before Robert said more a swift kick sent Sheffy to the ground. In pain he prayed against the still, "Make a mighty oak to fall across it and break its back. We ask it not for ourselves, Lord, but for thee who said: 'All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing ye shall receive it'." The bootlegger roared in laughter because the nearest tree was a full thirty yards away. Then, all went silent. After a time Sheffy came to while being helped by his friend Ben. The enraged distiller had knocked the praying preacher out cold. Some days later Robert and Ben came upon a wagon accident. However, when the driver saw Sheffy he screamed out in fear; 'Get away from us! ... I don't want nothin' to do with you! I seen it happen with my own eyes!' Ben asked, 'Saw what happen?' 'It started to rain and lightnin', and afore I could get to the woods the wind laid me flat on the ground...and I looked up...and like a feather in the a whirlwind a white oak tree as big around as that wagon wheel came dancin' down the hill and squashed my stillhouse like a stepped-on chicken egg!' Sheffy and Ben continued helping the shaken stranger and got him back on the road. Upon parting company Sheffy earnestly called, "God be with you, my brother!" "'He already was,' a fearful voice shot back from the disappearing wagon." 80 ---------------------------------------------- 80 The Saint of the Wilderness, --Jess Carr, Commonwealth Press, 1974 pp 204 -209_________________________ Like the early Evangelical Reformers of the 1500s, the Holiness believers of the 1800s were also described as "Born Again" and "full of the Holy Ghost." These were not overblown descriptions but living realities that were found by reading the Scriptures and submitting to Christ's Spirit. Both the Reformers and Holiness believers began with experiential conversion and moved forward into holy Christ-like living. Their doctrinal descriptions of sanctification have varied but all agreed that God enables the believer to live a new sanctified life! The holiness message is expanded upon in Appendix B of this book. Like the Moravians, of the early 1700s the Holiness believers of the 1800s were soul-winners. They fulfilled the ministry of an apostle while sending an army of witnesses into the far reaches of the earth. These spread the truth of Christian conversion and influenced large heathen societies for good. (For example, in India the practice of sacrificing children to the river and the burning of living widows with their departed husbands was ended because of Christian influence within the Colonial Government.) Like the Scots Reformers, prayer for the sick was also practiced in the modern Holiness Awakening. There were many healing ministries and uncounted testimonies of deliverance documented during the 1800s. The only reason these miracles seem less notable to us, is because we are living today. During that period the Holy Ghost was moving in power and was present to heal. Jesus had predicted that his followers would lay hands on the sick and bring recovery. His words remain forever true! Many ministers prayed for the sick during the late 1800s. Additionally, the Baptist Pastor A. J. Gordon left us his outstanding book titled, The Ministry of Healing, or Miracles of Cure in all Ages. Pastor Gordon's testimony reflects the faith and experience of a mighty generation of believers. He catalogued healing miracles from the past and present and showed that God was at work while confirming his Word with signs, wonders and impossible cures. Like the post-apostolic church, the gift of tongues continued to appear during the Holiness Awakening. D. L. Moody (late 1800s) had been a successful Evangelical minister for years and yet began to hunger for the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. After seeking and receiving, he said, that the baptism proved to be "more wonderful than words could express." Moody understood that his baptism came as an experience subsequent to salvation that paralleled the post-salvation experience of many believers in the book of Acts. Moody saw more souls coming to Christ after his baptism than ever before. Sometimes, the huge response totally shocked Moody. Shortly after Moddy's infilling and during a trip to England, we find a group of YMCA men at a noonday prayer meeting. They had been enjoying Moody's ministry and in prayer were exercising the gift of tongues and prophecy.81 Their experience should only be doubtful to those who deny the Scripture. Paul told the Corinthians, the Spirit prays for us and through us with groaning that cannot be uttered. The spirit speaks mysteries and should pray in the spirit and in the understanding. Spiritual praying is to pray in other tongues by the inspiration of God's Spirit! During Moody's Northfield Bible Conferences of 1891, Dr. N. J. Holmes a Presbyterian minister from Greenville, South Carolina was in attendance. Dr. Holmes enjoyed private conversations with Moody in which he was lead to seek the "Spirit-filled life."82 Upon returning to Greenville Dr Holmes also encouraged his student to seek the Pentecostal baptism. As the students sought for God; one and then another was filled with the Spirit with the evidence of Pentecostal tongues.83 Finally, in 190784 Holmes and the full student body received the baptism with the Holy Ghost, spoke in tongues and manifested many extraordinary gifts of the Spirit.85 Holmes' school still claims to be the oldest PENTECOSTAL Bible College in the world. ------------------------------------- 81 "On the following Sunday night, when I got to the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association, I found the meeting on fire. The young men were speaking with tongues and prophesying. What on earth did it all mean? Only that Moody had been addressing them that afternoon. "What manner of man is this?' thought I."D.L. Moody and His Work, --Rev. W. H. Daniels AM, Hartford, American Pub. Co., 1876, p. 248 82 The Holy Spirit In Heaven & Earth, -- Dr. O. Talmadge Spence, (Preface to a Forthcoming Book, 10/1/98) PO Box 1166 Dunn, NC 28335-116683 The Holiness-Pentecostal Movement in the United States, -- Vinson Synan, Eerdmans Publishing Co., p. 128, Dr. Synan tells of tongues appearing at the school in 1905. Dr Holmes' writings indicate this happened in 1906.84 Living in the Presence of God, Enthusiasm, Authority, and Negotiation in the Practice of Pentecostal Holiness, -- Daniel Glenn Woods, Doctoral Dissertation at the University of Mississippi, Chapter 1, p.3 footnote 3. (Date?) (After hearing the PENTECOSTAL leader G. F. Taylor many of Holmes' students went forward and received the Pentecostal baptism with the evidence of tongues.) (Check for when Holmes85 Life Sketches and Sermons,--Nickels J. Holmes and Wife, Franklin Springs Ga. 1920, p.147_____________________________
The authors Great Grandfather Archibald Calvin Hinderson was a Primitive Baptist living in Houston Texas. His experience in Christ predated the rise of modern PENTECOSTALISM. He once had a dream or vision of Jesus and joyfully recounted how that Jesus looked at him and said, "I know that man." In the early 1950's my mother received her Pentecostal baptism with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. She was telling Great Granddad about her gift when he mused, "Oh, I do that when I pray and wondered what it was." How many others throughout history have unknowingly found the blessedness of the Pentecostal baptism? A Coming Flood During the 1800s the call to Holiness grew into a travailing cry for the Pentecostal baptism. The Spirit inspired Christians to seek God for the deeper walk and fresh power for service. Heaven knew that something extraordinary was about to transpire. Finally, Joel's last day outpouring was soon to blossom upon the earth. In the mid 1800s the old Methodist William Author prophetically prayed, "And now, adorable Spirit, proceeding form the Father and the Son, descend upon all the Churches, Renew the Pentecost in this our age, And baptize thy people generally -- O, baptize them yet again with tongues of fire! Crown this nineteenth century With a revival of 'pure and undefiled religion' Greater than that of the last century, Greater than that of the first, Greater than any 'demonstration of the Spirit' Ever yet given to men!" 86 ---------------------------- 86 Tongue of Fire or the True Power of Christianity, -- William Author, 1879 edition, Page 375______________________
Chapter 15 The Pentecostal Latter Rain Ask ye of the LORD "Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field." Zechariah 10:1 At the beginning of the 1900s God answered the prayers of the Holiness believers and a mighty influx of the Holy Ghost's power descended from Heaven! This flood has risen until today great showers of blessing are spreading across the continents and it has become evident that we are now living in a special hour of prophetic fulfillment. During the dark ages the earth was forlorn beyond description. God's people were present but most were forced to hide to avoid cretin martyrdom. God has now turned the tide and Bibles are multiplying while the person of the Holy Ghost is filling millions! We are informed that PENTECOSTALISM has "450 million adherents worldwide!" 87 Foreign missionaries report that many non-PENTECOSTAL (i.e. Baptists) groups enjoy a full Pentecostal experience! During the past 30 years the continent of South America has ceased to be a Catholic stronghold and has emerged as a haven for Pentecostal Evangelicalism. Billy Graham observed while in Argentina that there is "a revival of some sort or another taking palace every where you look." In the midst of great persecution the young Chinese Church is growing with all vigor! God is doing a remarkable thing and only the unbelieving shall remain empty. A New Thing? The early pioneers of PENTECOSTALISM have been explored in many other volumes. The reader may want to do outside study to discover the wealth of documentation connected to the awakening at the beginning of 1900. 88 In this book we will not attempt to restate their often told history. We have another message that must be told. ---------------------------------- 87 Sojourners, September-October 1995. Vol. 24, No. 4.88 The Holiness - Pentecostal Movement in the United States, -- Vinson Synan, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company , Grand Rapids, Michigan.___________________________ Our modern Pentecostal revival is not based upon a few receiving at Topicka Kansas or many receiving at Azusa Street. The source of today's PENTECOSTAL revival is Heaven. When it rains no one exclaims, "This was the first drop to fall and that one drop spawned all the rest that followed." No, we all recognize showers are an act of God and when God gives he gives abundantly! No earthly mortal can organize the showers of heaven! (Job 38:28) In the early 1900s Pentecostal showers simultaneously fell in may quarters. Because of that early outpouring a mighty river now flows in the earth. Remember, the Pentecostal revival of 1900 contained nothing new in the way of spiritual manifestations. God's gifts have been in operation since the day of Pentecost. There are only two elements that set our modern PENTECOSTAL revival apart from past awakenings. First, TONGUES WERE OFFICIALLY DOCTRINALIZED AS THE INITIAL EVIDENCE of the Holy Ghost baptism. Today's PENTECOSTALS are the first organized group to formally define this truth in agreement with the early Church. (Acts 10:45-56) However, the Holy Ghost baptism was not new and the practice of tongues and other miraculous gifts were quite common though out history. Many individuals spoke in their favor and enjoyed the benefit of the Pentecostal sign. Secondly, the aforementioned PENTECOSTAL message and Pentecostal baptism are spreading to all nations AS MULTITUDES OF LOST PEOPLE ARE FINDING CHRIST! Until this century only the early church had reached such a wide cross section of humanity with the Gospel. We believe that today's awakening may be a sign of the soon return of Christ. "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (Matthew 24:14) We now look for Christ with great expectancy! Pentecost at Work! In the early 1900s the Holy Ghost began to fall in many locations. People set their hearts to seek God and were finding Him in his Glory. We read of Pentecostal revival appearing in Wales, Scotland, India, Los Angeles, South Carolina, North Carolina, and more. Souls were saved, sick bodies were healed, drunks came home to their families, thieves put away their stealing, and the timid became flaming witness for Christ. This was Biblical revival and was certainly initiated by God. It is interesting to note that when the 1900 PENTECOSTAL awakening first started its adherents believed that world evangelization would quickly be accomplished. Their vision for a lightning fast conclusion was not fulfilled. However, as we view history in perspective and consider the centuries of darkness since Christ, we cannot help but see that today is a very special day. Pentecostal power is now moving to the ends of the earth with unprecedented speed. If the leaders of today's revival remain true to Scripture we may finally realize the great commission. (Mark 16:15-18) If modern PENTECOSTAL leaders fail, the common solder in God's army will nonetheless move forward. How? Christ alone is the captain of this anointed host. Pentecostal Tongues, Then and Now The PENTECOSTAL awakening of 1900 was quickly associated with the gift of tongues as experienced in the book of Acts. Believers were expecting and receiving the fruit of their faith as supernatural tongues came upon one seeker after the other. Bilingual individuals repeatedly confirmed that the ecstatic manifestations were actual speech and gave glory to God or called for repentance and reconciliation. Often the foreign observers remarked that not only were the tongues understandable but also, that the accent was totally correct! Some foreigners were lead to Christ as they heard the Gospel through Pentecostal tongues from above. Such confirmation of PENTECOSTAL tongues has repeatedly taken place through out this century. In today's revival the manifestation of Pentecostal tongues is universal among those that receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Just like on the day of Pentecost we hear people speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Many do not speak in tongues beyond the initial infilling while others continue in their gift and frequently enjoy this heavenly blessing. In either case the gift of tongues is not an end but an entry. Pentecostal tongues are understood to be the least of the spiritual gifts. Coming into Pentecostal Ministry After receiving the Holy Spirit the believer moves forward and is empowered by God to be a greater witness for Christ. Thus, in the PENTECOSTAL meeting not only the minister prays for the sick but groups of inspired individuals join in unified prayer and lay hands on sick folks while trusting God for divine healing. All types of needs are similarly ministered to in PENTECOSTAL meetings. Common believers move into their priestly ministry. (Rev. 1:6) Sinners are lovingly lead to Christ, broken hearts are lifted into heavenly places, binding vises are shed like leaves in the fall, and everyone goes away saying, "It has been good to be in the house of the Lord." The Joy of the Lord is My Strength (Neh. 8:10) Ye rejoice with joy unspeakable (I Pet. 1:8) One element that is most indicative of the true PENTECOSTAL meeting is the presence of joy. Who could possibly tell? -- Who has the ability to describe? -- Truly, one of the greatest benefits accrued in the Pentecostal experience is the joy of the Lord. The joy of the Holy Ghost exceeds all pleasure found upon earth. Such joy strengthens the believer to go forward and to hold nothing as dear as Jesus. The joy that the Holy Ghost brings is the joy of "First Love." (Rev. 2:4) Holy Ghost joy amplifies the joy of conversion and brings a sense of assurance that words can never describe. If sinners only knew what they were missing, they would all run to Christ! If the saved but non-PENTECOSTAL believer had any inkling of Pentecostal glory, they would seek until they were filled to overflowing! Pentecostal Prophecy Today's PENTECOSTAL revival has brought renewed vigor to the prophetic ministry. Such a ministry has been evident in all revivals of the past. The Reformers were prophets in their generation and through the power of the Holy Ghost spoke God's Word and changed the world! The ministry of innumerable prophets similarly marked the Old Testament. Christ has irrevocably placed the ministry of the prophet within his Church. We dare not contradict the Scripture by rejecting this truth and God's gift. Prophecy can be described as divinely inspired preaching, warning, foretelling, exhortation, rebuke, encouragement and confirmation of direction. We add very cautiously the word direction because without the proper checks and balances many pretenders are changing a legitimate gift of ministry into something more akin to palmistry. Be Careful! As surly as God has his man the devil always creates an imitation. (II Cor. 11:14) These false prophets are generally proficient in human manipulation and physiology but they know little of the true message of Scripture. Watch out for them, listen to their doctrine and you will quickly discern their origin! (John 7:17, Acts 2:42, Ro. 16:17, Eph. 4:14, I Tim. 4:16) Nonetheless, the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy (Rev. 19:10) and this Spirit is found in the mouth of God's best servants. In the hour of need the anointed prophet speaks healing and encouragement and more often than not a scripture is recited with fresh power from God's throne. Pentecostal prophecy brings life to the body of Christ as we gather in the meetinghouse. When God moves through an individual and they speak an anointed message many bondages are broken as both our spirits and understanding are lifted. I have personally received encouragement through prophecy. I was once warned of physical danger but was told not to fear because that "no weapon formed against me would prosper." (Is. 54:17) In a short time I was on the mission field and some enemies (Perhaps communists?) were making moves against the mission station. Screens were torn open and the women were being terrorized. I was assigned to stand watch but in the darkness and terror of many nights I had a promise! The invisible weapons of God were greater than the threats of man. Fear was overcome by faith as I held to Scripture and embraced my prophetic word of assurance. Furthermore, when Satan attacked me with malaria it seemed the end was near. God was not yet through but was only beginning. About two years later I was healed and totally delivered from the recurring attacks. Now, 30 years later the disease has never returned! God's word is true and his promises are sure. Discernment of Spirits and A Word of Knowledge Only the very slow of mind deny the existence of evil spirits in the earth. Paul described the presence of evil spirits and the desperate need of sinners to be delivered from Satanic bondage. (2 Timothy 2:26) Jesus frequently cast spirits out of both physically sick and mentally oppressed individuals. With the advent of the PENTECOSTAL awakening Satan was again put to flight. Now, not only great ministers are mighty warriors for God. Today, armies of Spirit filled believers are moving across the earth. These all have power to throw down the works of Satan and to pray until the gates of Hell are shaken ajar. (Luke 10:19) Thus, Satan's captives are escaping to the cross to find a sure rock of hiding in Christ Jesus. When things look impossible and the devil seems to have the upper hand a little granny rises in prayer to shake the very seat of Lucifer! This is the power of Pentecost! Many that receive the Holy Ghost have their spiritual eyes opened and their once callused heart sensitized. Thus, sin appears very sinful and the presence of evil is quickly discerned. With such spiritual sight the PENTECOSTAL prays more effectively and Satan is defeated before he affects his evil cause. We know that Satan comes to destroy while Jesus brings life. (John 10:10) Through the discerning of spirits PENTECOSTAL believers are warned of Satan's traps, devises, plans, and assaults. With such spiritual knowledge prayers go out before trouble comes and thus catastrophes are miraculously diverted before they arrive. I have personally known many people that were in mortal danger but a Spirit filled believer at another location was suddenly lead to pray in their behalf. God brought a mighty deliverance and often life threatening circumstances were diverted as Satan's plans were shattered! Scripture Fulfilled -- Pentecost has Come! On the day of Pentecost the apostle proclaimed, "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel." Today we join Peter's litany and declare, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:" (Acts 2:16-17) With Jesus we say, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." A Fresh Outpouring? Honest students of History cannot miss the recurring cycle of revival that comes every one hundred years. Sense the Reformation it seems that God always does something wonderful on or about the turn of each new century. Therefore, we set our hearts with expectancy looking for God to move ahead in greatness as we meet the year 2000. We know that mighty revival has already begun and will increase in notable measure! The latter rain is now falling. We direct our prayers toward our nation and its sin accepting religious community and earnestly pray for a restoration of Holiness and Holy Ghost baptism. Lord, may it come in our day! Chapter 16 The Purpose of Pentecost Getting it Right! Outsiders and new converts sometimes misunderstand PENTECOSTALISM. Unfortunately, some Bible lazy PENTECOSTALS have added to the confusion. Let's examine some areas of confusion that have sprung up around the Baptism in the Holy Ghost. Opponents may be greatly surprised. Who knows? When they understand what we truly believe they may also want to receive God's wonderful gift! "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" (Acts 19:2) 1. The Pentecostal experience imparts power to witness. Without continuos anointing the Church dwindles in her ability to fulfill Christ's great commission. Every generation needs an empowering Pentecost to reach the lost. Jesus said, "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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8) 2. The Pentecostal baptism does not wash away sin. Only the Blood of Jesus cleanses from sin -- Only Christ's atoning sacrifice provides justification and righteousness. Remember, the unleavened bread of Passover symbolized Christ's sinless offering. Conversely, leavened bread (a type of sin) was included in the feast of Pentecost. Leavened bread was seldom allowed in the service of God. 89 Knowing that the unleavened bread of Passover symbolized Christ, we take the leavened bread of Pentecost to typify common man. That Pentecostal bread depicted one man ministering to the other through the anointing of the Holy Ghost. ---------------------------------- 89 (Pentecost Lev 23:17 and Peace offering Lev. 7:13)___________________________ 3. The Holy Ghost baptism helps us to manifest a sanctified life. To be sanctified one must first be made holy (cleansed) and then the individual moves forward to be consecrated (set apart) for the WORK and SERVICE of God. This is symbolized by the vessels of God's Temple. These historic vessels were certainly washed (made holy) but they were also dedicated (set apart) for God's EXCLUSIVE use. Likewise, both the washing and dedication are indispensable and inseparable parts of our sanctification. In modern language you might say, "This clean bowl belongs to God and therefore the devil is not to dirty it with his worldly filth. God takes no pleasure in eating after the devil!" Through sanctification the new man within gives righteous expression to our outward living. Old-time Holiness preachers once majored on outward sanctification while seeming to neglect the justifying (inner) work of the Cross. We know that conversion initially and fully imparts justification but that holy work must also be manifest in our daily living! The inner cleansing coupled with an outward manifestation equals true Sanctification. The baptism in the Holy Ghost certainly empowers us to live a separated life. Empty vessels can never know the victory of the sanctified walk in the Spirit. When people fail to live in holiness they are demonstrating a spiritual emptiness and malady. Just as when Christians are physically sick they need prayer, even so, carnal believers need to pray that their inner man will break through in changed living. How are we sanctified? By the Cross, Hebrews 10:10, Hebrews 10:14, By the Holy Ghost, Romans 15:16 and 1 Corinthians 6:11 By Truth, John 17:19 By Faith, Acts 26:18 By putting aside sinful living, 2 Timothy 2:21 So, the Cross initiates cleansing while the other listed gifts lift us up into a sanctified walk. Sanctification is provided by God as a perfect work, yet, we have not arrived and need to press on unto perfection. (Philippians 3:14-15) A lively debate has sprung up around the truth of Sanctification. Extreme Reformed Christians assert that we are legally sanctified once and for all. Therefore, our past, present, and future sins are under the blood! Conversely, some extreme Holiness believers say that through experiential sanctification we rise above any possibility of sin! Both positions are unreasonable and quite wrong! The author does not assert that we are yet safe in heaven or have yet become manifested Sons of God! The truth lies somewhere in-between. We must ever pray, "Create in me a clean heart, (THE CROSS) O God; and renew a right spirit (PENTECOSTAL BAPTISM) within me." (Psalms 51:10) 4. The Pentecostal experience helps us to obey the Word of God. Power To Live Right Ezekiel 36:26-27 "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." Power to Accomplish the Great Commission Acts 10:38 "...God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." John 20:21-22 "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:" 5. The Pentecostal experience enhances the exercise of spiritual gifts. In Acts the disciples operated in spiritual gifts as a consequence of their Pentecostal Baptism. God's spiritual gifts promote the spread of the Gospel and the perfecting of the Church. (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) 6. The Pentecostal expense does not "glorify or transform" our fleshly bodies. When a believer receives the Pentecostal baptism he feels that he has left this earth and entered God's Heaven. Nevertheless, we will not be physically glorified until Jesus personally comes in the clouds. Pentecost is only an earnest (down payment) of the great hope of the believer! (Romans 8:23) Pentecostal Manifestations and Emotionalism Everything that we have belongs to God. Once, Satan controlled us but now Jesus holds the title. As God's children we must give our total beings to Him. As Christians we must submit all to God's Word. Our minds must bow to God's word and truth Our emotions must weep or exalt as Scripture directs Our bodies must live in holiness and worship in a Biblical fashion. Deuteronomy 6:5 "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." Giving God only one part of our being is a wide spread error. Many give their heads to God but retain control of their hearts. (Modern Reformed believers might fit into this category.) I have seen "head" believer's sight emotional worship as heathenish, because, heathens worship with emotion. Conversely, I have also seen some emotional believers belittle "book learni'n." and exalt their "heart leadi'n." (Jer. 17:9) Caution! Without the Word our worship will indeed become heathenish. We must have both the SPIRIT and the TRUTH. We cannot choose one or the other but must submit all to God! Believers that lack one or the other of these treasures are profoundly retarded in their Christian life. There are many emotional manifestations that might transpire during Pentecostal worship. Satan sometimes counterfeits all of these. Alas, Satan also has a counterfeit Bible but the real cannot be mistaken or refused! Satan is a counterfeit god but we recognize the good shepherd's voice! Do we reject preaching because of false preachers? No! Although Satan's counterfeits drive off many people, God still works in the real. A short list of emotional and Biblically based manifestations might include: Weeping, Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." Laughing, Luke 6:21 "Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh." Rejoicing, 1 Thessalonians 5:16 "Rejoice evermore." Shouting or Rejoicing greatly, Zechariah 9:9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout! (also I Th. 4:6) Praying, 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 "Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Praying in Other Tongues, 1 Corinthians 14:15 "What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also." Interpretation of tongues, 1 Corinthians 14:27 "If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret." Prophecy, Romans 12:6 "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;" Bold Preaching, Acts 4:31 "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness." House Shaking, Acts 16:26 "And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed." Falling, Acts 9:4 "And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Revelation 1:17 "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:" Visions, Acts 10:10 "And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance," A Repeat of the Original Pentecost, Acts 11:15 "And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning." All gifts of the Spirit! 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." Again, all of these manifestations have been counterfeited at one time or another. We must not refuse the real out of fear of the false. The fearful will never enter God's promised land! (Revelation 21:8)
Chapter 17 Why All the Talk About Tongues? Pentecostal Tongues Non-PENTECOSTALS that fear the unknown generally place tongues in a negative light. However, a more potent cause initiates the greatest alarm. This is the issue of new revelation. Today, Many Christian groups fear tongues and prophecy because they represent a new revelation. Such revelation is understood to devalue the Bible. Since the Biblical Cannon is complete, could new revelation ever be legitimate? Yes, otherwise who would be called into modern ministry? Who would be convicted of present sin? Who would have Christ revealed afresh and born into their heart? Luther's New Revelation The reformer Martin Luther explained that he had a "certain impulse" that inspired him to speak against the practices of the Roman Church. He later discovered that his impulse though received apart from the Bible fully agreed with the Scripture. This impulse was Gods sovereign leading and brought him into his great ministry of Reformation. God is still speaking today! Furthermore, Luther correctly foresaw and prophesied many events that would come to pass after his death! 90 --------------------------------- 90 Suppressed Evidences, --Thomas Boys, pp. 179-191___________________________ Calvinistic New Revelation, Spirit Filled Presbyterians Consider how that God's Spirit enlightens and calls us to follow Christ. (John 16:13) When the original Calvinists spoke of election they were not attempting to exclude anyone from God. Rather, they were acknowledging that the Spirit must draw each heart or finding God was hopeless. They understood that without the active conviction of the Holy Ghost salvation remained inaccessible. People that deny the need of fresh revelation do so to cover their personal lack. They are stopping their ears lest God's Spirit calls them to forsake hidden sin through repentance. These are hiding in dead religion and presumptuous hopes and thus walk the path of death. In the old book Scots Worthies, spiritual gifts were common among early Presbyterians. This book recounts the Pentecostal gifts of healing, prophetic foretelling, word of wisdom, word of knowledge, working of miracles, appearances of Christ, palpable and audible visitations from heaven, raising of the dead, and divine judgments upon God's enemies. Only the gift of tongues were not mentioned. The early Presbyterians always spoke with understanding in their meetings to counter the error of the Catholics who always ministered in Latin. (The only thing that the Catholics did not do in Latin was to curse their enemies.) After centuries of babbling Latin the reformers rightly emphasized edification though prophetic foretelling, warning, and the expounding of the Word. Frankly, with all the greater gifts in full operation, there was no need to mention tongues that is understood to be a lesser spiritual gift. (1 Corinthians 14:5) Prophesying Baptists Baptists were originally called Anabaptists meaning that they believed in another baptism. They practiced adult baptism based upon a personal confession of faith and not the "baby wetting" of the established churches. Their leaders were known as the bearded ones and lead their people in heart felt joyful worship. The Baptists had their beginnings in Bohemia and were spiritual descendants of the Pre-Reformation martyr John Huss. Huss' message did not perish in the flame. During the next one hundred years the Gospel increased in his followers. These living saints were also unaffectionately known as the original "Bohemians." In modern times this epithet has been used to describe many types of non-conformity. Chapter Seven documents that both Huss and Janowsky prophetically foresaw events that arrived long after their deaths! Their prophecies were not the ranting of mystics or demon possessed fanatics. Huss and Janowsky were simply Born Again, Spirit filled believers! They were faithfully adhering to the Bible based gifts of the New Testament Church. A Warning to All! New revelation that contradicts Scripture leads to hell. All our thoughts, dreams, emotions, reasoning, and revelations must be submitted to the Word of God. No human facility stands above God's eternal Word. This is our final safety net and rock of sure standing. Since we have the Sure Revelation why seek a fresh revelation? Because, the Sure Revelation of Scripture teaches us to hear from God for ourselves! Isaiah 30:21 "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." Jeremiah 33:3 "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." John 16:13 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come." etc. etc. etc. Hog-tied Preachers In Old Testament times Israel had many false prophets and a few true prophets. People had to be cautious but at the same time not refuse God's true voice. Today, true prophets are told to judge prophecy. (I Cor. 14:29) Churches that have no prophetic gift or ministry are at a disadvantage when prophecy does occur. The listeners ask, "Is this word from God or simply the ravings of man?" Because of an inability to discern true and false prophecy many pastors shun all prophecy. Such fear effectively denies the Bible based ministry of the Holy Ghost to the body of Christ! We admonish all fearful ministers to: 1. Be born again by calling upon Christ. 2. Be sanctified by the Word and the Spirit. This will require prayer and Bible reading. Fruits of the Spirit will follow. 3. Be filled with the Spirit. This will also come through prayer and Bible reading but this infilling will be accompanied by spiritual gifts. The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is for all today! (Acts 2:39) 4. Desire earnestly the best gifts. (I Cor. 12:31) When you have progressed through each of these steps then you will understand prophecy and the other Pentecostal gifts. You will know the real from the false. Then you can stand in the pulpit, unashamed and without pretense. You will be one of God's prophets. "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:11) Special Instructions from Paul 1 Corinthians 14:2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. vr. 4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself... vr. 5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying." vr. 14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. vr. 15 "What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also." Romans 8:26-27 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." Tongues for Personal Edification The Holy Spirit is not optional in the Christian life. Being empty of the Holy Spirit leaves us like Samson with a "buzz cut." We thus become powerless, directionless, self centered, easily discouraged, fearful and starving for God. Many Christians fear the gift of tongues. They say, "In the church we should speak English or have an interpreter." OK, we will do that. However, does any one here only pray at Church? Shame, if that is true. We must all spend time before God and in obedience to His Word "pray in the Spirit." (I Cor. 14:15) I suspect that if God showed himself to most ministers or Christians they would be scared to death. This is because they are like stranger and are seldom in His presence. The gift of tongues will reverse this shortfall. Paul tells us how that praying in spirit is to pray in tongues and praying in tongues is praying to God. Paul encourages us all to pray in tongues. As we pray in tongues the Spirit prays for needs we might not know about. Through prayer in the spirit we are personally edified and built up. When I am week, the spirit prays for me in the most effective way possible. I could never formulate the words he speaks in my behalf. Best of all the prayers of the Spirit are all according to God's will. So, I can pray in tongues and sing in tongues as personal devotion. (I Cor. 14:15) In the meeting I can make myself understood by the Spirit of Prophecy. Tongues, A Mighty Weapon Ephesians 6: 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your: Loins girt about with truth Breastplate of righteousness Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace Shield of faith Helmet of salvation Sword of the spirit Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit... Are there six or seven parts to God's armor? If praying in the spirit (tongues 1 Corinthians 14:15-16) is not a part of armor than it is surly the life and power that moves the solder of God. We must pray in the spirit or we will be like Ezekiel's lifeless army. Without the Spirit we lie powerless before our enemy and will certainly fail in the day of conflict! We must be filled with the breath of God. This is why Satan hates tongues. Through the infilling of the Holy Ghost Satan receives a mighty wound. God uses both prophecy and other tongues to fight the enemy of our soul. According to I Corinthians 14: praying in the spirit is praying in tongues. Praying in tongues is either our weapon or energy for fighting and overcoming Satan. This explains why the Devil fights the gift of tongues with such fervor. (Don't be his instrument!) The gift of tongues causes the Devil tremble in his cloven hooves. Tongues allow God to pray through us and puts the very prayers of Jesus in our mouth! (I Cor. 14:2, Romans 8:26-27, John 14:16-18) Tongues, a Stumbling Stone When God said he would take the foolish thing of the world and confound the wise the gift of tongues found its verse. The quickest way to find trouble is to speak in an unknown language. I have often felt sorry for foreigners on city busses as they tried to get help from a tired unsympathetic driver. Once, my dear wife nearly wore her lunch when she asked a Latin waitress for catsup by pointing at her hot dog while saying "mucho rojo."(much red) The waitress was only appeased when she discovered that we were requesting catsup rather than complaining about the hot dog's color. Unfortunately, the gift of tongues have been misunderstood by many. Isaiah was correct when he predicted that tongues, though a sign from God, would not convince the listener. (Isaiah 28:11-12 + 1 Corinthians 14:21-22) Remember that the prophets similarly foresaw Messiah's rejection and crucifixion. Are those that now renounce tongues and the gifts of the spirit following the lead of the Jewish Sanhedrin? Are today's Christian leaders refusing the Holy Spirit in the same way that the Scribes and Pharisees rejected Jesus? Must the Scripture again be buried beneath a mound human prejudice, unbelief and fear? No! Many are believing and receiving for this is the day of the latter rain! Tongues, A Sign of the Last Days Acts 2: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; Joel 2: 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. According to Peter the latter days commenced when the Holy Ghost was sent from heaven! We still live in those last days and thus the Holy Ghost is also promised to us. Everyone is eligible to receive this blessing. Including: servants, slaves, young girls and little boys, old men and kings. Only a proud and unbelieving heart will disqualify us. The question still rings, "Have you receive the Holy Ghost since you believed?" There were wonders in the heavens before the destruction of the old Jewish Temple. There will also be wonders in the last days before Jesus comes to judge the wicked nations. There was a restoration in old Israel after the Babylonian captivity. Today a wonderful restoration of the Church is taking place. The Holy Ghost is being poured out in mighty measure over the whole earth! Although, God always had His witness and has always blessed men by his spirit; for centuries the earth was held captive by a false religious system. Today, God has reversed over a millennium of captivity and the Holy Ghost is going everywhere to herald the soon coming of Jesus ! Today's Holy Ghost revival clearly heralds the end of the age! (Matthew 24:14) Tongues, A Good Start, The Initial Evidence How can A believer know when he has been Baptized in the Holy Spirit? This was an unresolved issue in Holiness Awakening during the late 1800s. The outward manifestations of the Spirit were varied while the inner joy was "unspeakable and full of glory." Thus, few could agree on which manifestation marked the Baptism of the Spirit. The same Spirit of God is still showering down today! Some ask: "When the God of heaven reaches down and touches my heart in love, and waves of His Spirit waft me to the outer regions of heavenly Jerusalem, is this not the Baptism of Acts? When I come to the altar and weep tears of repentance, and sweep away in the flood of joy, is this not the Baptism of Acts? When I tremble beneath the very hand of God, is this not the Baptism of Acts?" What sign did the apostles hold to be the evidence of the Holy Ghost Baptism? Remember that our answer must conform to Scripture and not the doctrines of any church! Church doctrines are useful but God does not inspire them. Likewise, our feelings of joyous rapture must equally bow to Scripture. Deep inner feelings are wonderful and are a part of our conversion, however, all feelings and opinions of man must surrender to the Word. Scripture is as always our only true guide for living. The Biblical Precedence for Tongues So, what outward evidence signified the Baptism of the Holy Ghost? As Peter preached to the gentiles at Cornelius' house a wonderful thing transpired. The gentiles believed in Christ and received the Holy Ghost. The apostles knew this to be a fact, "For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God." (Acts 10:46) Let Scripture speak for itself! Who is on the Lord's side? There are five places in the book of Acts where people receive their first infilling of the Spirit. In three of these places the gift of tongues was evident. (Acts 2, 10, and 19) Paul's baptism was the fourth in which tongues are not immediately cited. However, Paul later affirms that he was the most prolific tongues talker of all. (Acts 9, 1 Corinthians 14:18) The fifth infilling is the most extraordinary. (Acts 8) Simon, a sorcerer and a worker in the black arts was supposedly converted and thus, was baptized in water. He watched in wonderment as Philip cast out demons and effected many mighty healings. Jesus himself had said, "That these signs shall follow them that believe." God was meeting the needs of the hour while fulfilling the words of Christ. (Mark 16:17-18) In spite of many miracles Philip's mission was incomplete. Although the people of were healed, converted and baptized they did not have the Holy Ghost Baptism! All of the necessary gifts of Mark 16 were demonstrated except for one. 91 Therefore, the apostles came to help Philip and fulfill the words of Christ. The apostles prayed for the Samaritans to receive the Holy Ghost. Although, we do not read that tongues resulted, Jesus' words in Mark 16 would indicate they did, and the other infillings of Acts would also give evidence of the same. --------------------------------- 91 When Philip ministered were all the gifts of (Mark 16:17-18) present? The expelling of demons and healing of the sick were the needs of the hour and were seen. In the figurative language of Luke 10:19 snakes were indeed taken up (cast out, removed, crushed!) through Philip's ministry. A literal taking up of snakes was not demonstrated. Why not? Paul wasn't gathering snake-infested firewood and therefore, protection from snakes was unnecessary. (Acts 28:3) Likewise, Philip being warmly received was not poisoned by his hosts. The Romans were notorious for poisoning their enemies. (The modern practice of "handling snakes" and "drinking poison" is equivalent to cutting off a hand or committing murder to create the need for healing prayer.) Jesus would never show off by jumping off of the temple. (Matt.4:5) Rather, "Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." (Acts 10:38) Miracles are sent for the afflicted and needy! Miracles are never to be used as a circus side-show. Hurt must never be sought to demonstrate power! Tongues does not fall into the side show category. In Samaria the gift of tongues or the Baptism in the Holy Ghost was not in evidence and was therefore properly sought and found.___________________________ Simon's response gives us a most compelling confirmation. He had seen all the other gifts in operation but now this Baptism revealed the secrets of his heart! Why? When Simon saw tongues his greed overcame his good intentions. In his day the centerpiece of popular Roman religion was the heathen oracle. There, offerings were made while a demon inspired individual would incantate future events or instructions. Naturally, tongues were linked with such prophecies. Simon knew that if he could control such spiritual utterances he would eventually control the religious world and its wealth. He might become both the high priest of Heathenism and Christianity. To us Simon would become an antichrist in the flesh! (John 2:18) Don't let this frighten you concerning tongues. Satan always has his counterfeits. There is a counterfeit Church. Yet, I will go to Church because of the true. There is a counterfeit God. Yet, I will worship God in spirit and in truth. There is a counterfeit way of salvation. Yet, I will find true salvation in Christ my righteousness. There are false prophets, yet, true prophets gave the Scripture. There are true tongues and false tongues. To refuse the true because we fear of the false is a gross denial of God's Bible and will spawn unbelief, while causing you to miss God's best! "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:13) Yet, I still hear some reiterate that they believe they have the Baptism without tongues. The Pioneer Pentecostal T. B. Barratt explained by saying, "Let me again lay stress on the fact, that although there are other evidences of the indwelling Spirit, it is clearly stated in Acts that the Apostles considered this (tongues) to be a SURE SIGN OF THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST. No one can read the account given in the tenth chapter of Acts with a fair mind and doubt this. Still I believe that many have had, and that may in our day obtain mighty baptisms with out this sign. This arises mainly from ignorance of the subject, prejudice, unbelief, or some other cause. Of course, their experience will not be perfectly similar to that record in Acts 2, 10 and 19. And in fact we believe that the two other cases record in Acts of the first infilling of the Spirit -- At Samaria and Damascus were ample proof that tongues were present." 92 Therefore, like Barratt we say that tongues are the initial evidence of the Baptism of the Spirit. Because tongues are the least of the gifts, they are only the beginning. To say otherwise embraces prejudice rather than the testimony of Scripture. The simple reasoning of Scripture is both powerful and compelling. ------------------------------ 92 In The Days of the Latter Rain, Pastor Thomas Ball Barratt , 1928 p. 152___________________________
Chapter 18 Missing Candlesticks Revelation 1:20 "... the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." Revelation 2:4-5 "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." Nothing New Under the Sun Since the beginning of the early Church one tragic story has been told over and over again. This is the story of lost love and fallen Churches. Israel first lived this tragedy in the Old Testament. Then, when Messiah came God's faithful Israel was united with believing gentiles and was called the Church. 93 Unfortunately, many churches have proven themselves to be as frail as old Israel; rising and falling -- rising and falling. However, God's one invisible Church has never failed. (Matt. 16:18) It is founded upon Christ alone and not a man, ethnic group or denomination. In each succeeding generation Christ's true Church is renewed by the Holy Spirit. Its man made denominational labels constantly change but the Spirit of Christ's true Church remains singular. ------------------------------ 93 Isaiah 62:1-2 "For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. 2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name."Matthew 16:18 "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." ___________________________ When a faithful generation of believers passes into heaven their property and name are left to others. The ownership of these resources are inconsequential to God. God only yearns for people that will worship him in spirit and in truth. When one group fails, he finds another people with quick ears and hungry hearts. This is the reason there are so many denominations emerging from the past. Many backslidden groups have become "whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness." They are memorials of shame to those that have forgotten God. The one true church was founded by Christ and was spread by the apostles. These apostles set up the original candlesticks (churches) which were sometimes removed by apostasy and backsliding. In this chapter we will cite several missing candles and the causes for their removal. These failings are set as warnings for today's generation of Spirit filled believers. Revivals of the Past: Notice that all of the revivals in the following list are documented to have the miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost in operation. Most also included the gift of tongues. The following dates are only approximate and often extend over many years. I have omitted some groups because of their blatant neglect of Scripture. Emotionalism and miraculous signs are of no value apart from Scripture and are not legitimate or worthy of listing with the real. The Gospel Train: Since the Early Church -- Waldenses, A light in the dark ages Wax Candles and Tinkling Symbols The Roman Church was first organized by the heathen Emperor Constantine that worshiped the Sun and the Son. His church has caused more spiritual damage then might be imagined. Jesus warned that a great apostasy would arise in the earth. Roman Catholicism was one arm of that apostasy. Its power surpassed the power and wealth of any other nation or government in all of history. It withheld the Scripture from centuries of lost souls. We observe that some righteous men were born into this corrupted system and found salvation. Their salvation came from Christ and not from their church. The Roman Church of Constantine was never one of Christ's candlesticks. WAL-DEN'-SES Of Europe -- God's Light in the Darkness While ecclesiastical Rome held sway over the nations the true Gospel was largely suppressed. Some kept the Gospel alive but were systematically persecuted. One such group was the Waldenses. They maintained a pure Gospel witness for centuries and as their enemies said "since the first apostles." The Waldenses exercised Pentecostal power, which included the working of miracles, prophecy, tongues and healing. About the time of the Reformation their work was faithfully completed as they came under mighty persecution that drove them from their mountain hideaways and into other countries. They finally returned but were so oppressed that the children of the Reformation took the Gospel to them to bring about their renewal. These were truly a long-lived candle and a very special light to the nations! In 1975 they merged with the United Methodists. The Northern Lights (400s - 600s and Beyond) Under Patrick (440 to 493) and Columba (521- 597) the northern churches were totally free from Rome. The historian J. H. Merle d'Aubigné recounts the Gospel influence that long issued from Columba's evangelical complex at Ionia Scotland. This had become the Jerusalem of England and the surrounding region. Throughout the seventh century Rome sent its representatives to subjugate the northern churches. Slowly, it succeeded in its quest. On two pivotal occasions Rome achieved a doctrinal and philosophical victory because the leaders of Ionia had allowed their knowledge of Scripture dwindle. They were unable to answer fundamental questions of faith that were well defined in the Bible and readily known to men of the Word. Therefore, the Church of Ionia lost England and finally its own faith. A few lovers of the Word subsequently tended Columba's flickering candle. These ran up and down through Europe until the dawn of the Reformation. 94 The Evangelical Lollards (1400 to the Reformation) The Lollards were Evangelicals of the best sort. A Lollard said "The essence of the worship that comes from Rome consists in signs and ceremonies, and not in the effectual ministry of the Holy Ghost: and therefore it is not that which Christ has ordained." 95 Their founder John Wycliffe was an Oxford intellect and a man of the Scripture. Miracles attended his ministry, with the most notable being Wycliffe's translation of the first English Bible and his preaching of the Gospel of Salvation. Since Wycliffe came directly out of Catholicism this marked a remarkable advance. His Lollards preachers continued his work beyond the next century when Tyndale and the Scots gave their great witness. Although, the Lollards were roasted for their Evangelical preaching, their candlestick shone brighter than all the fires of Roman persecution. The Lollards were a faithful witness. ---------------------------- 94 The Reformation in England, -- J. H. Merle d'Aubigné, 1853, Reprint by Banner of Truth, ISBM 085151 486 3, V. 1, pp. 45-6695 ibid., pg. 101______________________ Scots Worthies -- Presbyterians (1530s and Beyond) The Scots Reformers started well as they broke off the bondage of Rome and took up the full Gospel of Christ. They believed in personal repentance and enjoyed a full born-again experience. Their prayers exhibited the fervency of warfare as they knew their living would place them in bad or good standing before God. (Rev. 22:14) The Presbyterian Scots exercised Pentecostal power and the miraculous gifts of the Spirit. Many successors of the old Presbyterians have failed to keep their father's faith by denying the power of prevailing prayer and rejecting God's call to personal holiness. They idolize their own election while also forsaking God's call for world evangelism. (John 3:16) Modernism has slithered in and has changed the reasoning behind old Presbyterian doctrines, while seeking to justify an unconverted heart and living. Such new thinking stands in total opposition to the old Reformed faith. Thus, the children of the Reformation have extinguished their father's candle. Keys To Reformed Theology First, the Presbyterian's doctrine of "election" was never meant to oppose the need of experiential conversion. Contrariwise, the old Presbyterians believed that "election" described the powerful infilling of the Holy Ghost as the seal of God's selection and approval. Election affirmed that a few privileged individuals (the priesthood) did not hold the keys to Heaven but God alone called and saved. The Presbyterians believed that God called each individual to salvation though the personal work of the Holy Ghost. When a man answered God's call he would then experience a mighty inner conversion. Furthermore, when a man became a true Christian he might then "wrestle with God" in prayer and receive miraculous answers! Secondly, the old Presbyterians believed good works never earned salvation but the salvation experience always produced good living! Yes, the early Presbyterians were HOLINESS to the core! They did not embrace eternal security but believed that their souls hung in the balance of their continued obedience to God's Word. 96 ------------------------------- 96 For those who doubt our contentions read the old book called The Scots Worthys from "The Banner of Truth." The simple reasoning of this volume fully supports our contention._________________________ We liken modernistic (not all) Presbyterians to the grand battle ship Arizona. She was once a floating fortress of liberty but was at last caught sleeping in harbor. Thus, today she rests dead in her watery grave. The only power and force that she retains is that of a memorial, where, the curios traveler pauses to reflect on past glories. If today's PENTECOSTALS lay down their missionary vision or prophetic anointing we will also be trapped in harbor. Missions keeps us moving on soul saving oceans, while the spirit of prophecy warns us of coming assaults! English Episcopals (1530s and Today) The official English Church was first instituted as King Henry's pawn. Being birthed in adultery it also shared in the persecution of some of God's best people. Righteous men that have been born into that group have had their good influence blunted by the organization. We note that these righteous men received their righteousness directly from Christ and the Scriptures. The Episcopal Church was never a candlestick of Christ although many of its ministers certainly were and are. Remember that God works around the worst of circumstances and is forever calling his people out of Babylon. Today, there is a body of Fundamental and Charismatic Episcopalians that have formed a new Episcopal fellowship. Three cheers for such men of vision! These men and their new Church are true candles for God in our generation. Anabaptist / Brethren (1400s and Forward) The old Anabaptist/Brethren movement emerged directly from both the ancient Waldenses and the later Hussites. All of these believers were one in message and spirit. Their missionary work first spawned the European Reformation and finally spread the Evangelical Gospel to many nations. Early Anabaptist's were Bible loving missionaries in action and in heart. They enjoyed Pentecostal power and all the miraculous gifts of the Spirit. The descendants of the early Anabaptists are now identified as Baptist, Mennonite, Brethren, Moravian and others. Today's PENTECOSTALS embrace the conversion message of the old Anabaptist's as well as their belief in Pentecostal power and gifts of the miraculous. PENTECOSTALS constitute a sort of modern embodiment of the old Anabaptists because of their common emphasis on Scripture, conversion, baptism, and spiritual experience and joyful worship. Today, some of the Anabaptist's offspring continue in mighty faith while others possess less faith, and still others have totally lost their candlestick and the Gospel of salvation. This last group doggedly clings to pacifism and communalism while de-emphasizing the need for world evangelism. I have a current Hutterian publication in which the sayings of Confucius are praised as being more unified and consistent than the Laws of Moses. Further, we are told that "whoever does God's will is a child of the kingdom of heaven, whether he comes from Confucius or from the Church." 97 Finally, the necessity for Christian evangelism is rejected and is not recommended. ---------------------------------- 97 The Plough, A publication of the Bruderhof Communities, Plough Publishing House, Farmington PA, 14357, Number 53, Fall 1997, pp. 36-37______________________________ We point this out as a warning to all Gospel loving Christians. We may possess a wonderful name and heritage but our descendants may one day forget God's message of salvation. Our children and those yet to come might dilute or pollute our most sacred truths and forget all that we posses. The enemy of our soul is on the attack. Only the full arsenal of God will keep Satan at bay. We must treasure the fullness of the person of the Holy Ghost! We must hunger for the Word. We must reject men with worldly degrees who add doubts to Christ's Gospel. We must refuse the delights of sin and worldliness! Warn your children and pass to them the eternal keys of God's kingdom. God's candle still burns among many descendants of the Anabaptists! Huguenot Prophets of France (1688 to the Early 1700s) About 150 years after the Reformation, God sent revival during a time of extraordinary persecution. Huguenot pastors had been imprisoned or and made galley slaves. Their Huguenot Children were compelled by the Church and State to fully embrace idolatry and the Catholic faith. Consequently, God intervened and sent his Spirit in accordance with Joel's prophecy. (Joel 2:28) Consequently, for a time nothing could stop the hand of God. Huguenot children exercised Pentecostal power and all the miraculous gifts of the Spirit. They were great lights in a very dark place and time. However, the children grew older and eventually failed to submit their gifts to the direction of Scripture. Unlike the peaceful Anabaptists they took up arms to oppose their enemies. Jesus said to love our enemies and told us to rejoice in persecution. Jesus' teachings must always supersede all "inspired thoughts" of war or killing! In the end the prophet's gifts became polluted and finally died. A second generation of prophets was never seen. Thus, a bright candle was removed in France. If these prophets would have conformed to scripture, all of France might have come to salvation. Prophetic prayers are always mightier than a prophet's sward. Mighty Methodists (1730s and Beyond) In early 1700s Methodism became a revolutionary force in England. Its message was based upon repentance and a deep born again experience. Many ministers and adherents received the Pentecostal baptism and witnessed all the miraculous gifts of the Spirit. Unfortunately, as the years rolled by, the faith of many has faltered. I attended a modern Methodist Camp Meeting at the Sheffy Camp Grounds. (Wabash Camp Grounds in the New River Valley of Virginia) One ecstatic participant testified that he was still a shouting Methodist and then gave a living demonstration. Yes, he was indeed a shouting and running Methodist. Unfortunately, that was the high point of the meeting. Alas, God's Spirit was not manifest as in former days. Remember, this was the same camp meeting where thousands of worshipers simultaneously heard the angels sing! 98 ------------------------------ 98 The Saint of The Wilderness, --Jess Carr, Commonwealth Press Inc. Radford, VA, 1974. pp. 400-402________________________ While pastoring two Methodist churches I found the membership to be both Godly and spiritual. They were not unlike Pentecostals or any other group that I have known or pastored. These good folks were truly hungry for God and great truth seekers. Unfortunately, all of Methodism is not so happily situated. The high leaders of the Methodist denomination do not reflect the faith of many in their church. Methodist administrators are possessed of another spirit and inspired by a foreign gospel. These dark angels require all pastors to attend schooling that directly attacks evangelical faith and openly attempts to engraft unbelief into the ministry. Today's Methodist leadership is simply promoting faithless Modernism. By implementing their policies, Modern Methodist leadership has effected the removal of God's candlestick from many Methodist congregations. I have heard their teachers snicker at Bible believers as they said the scripture was not factual or inspired. I have seen their Sunday School literature mock "that great getting up morning." Their Colleges have corrupted multiplied generations of Clergy and many of their people have been left with false promises of salvation that are based upon names in membership books. Some ministers confess that they pray for the sick only because it is expected! These hypocrites know nothing of old time conversion and the message of John Wesley. How have the mighty fallen? When Methodist leaders allowed compromises to enter their institutions of learning the great fall began. Now, many deny fundamental faith and Methodism's original Spirit Filled foundation. The Methodists in outlying areas still retain faith and often much faith. A great warfare thus rages with an apostate leadership in control. These leaders give more value to earthly organization than to God or the Scripture. I am sure of this because, I have sat among them and unsuccessfully plead for the truth. Camp Meeting at Cane Ridge (1801) A remarkable revival took place in the beginning of 1800. The camp meeting moved America's soul toward God. The Cane Ridge camp meeting was the largest of these meetings with an estimated ten to twenty five thousand in attendance. This meeting was once called the American Pentecost by reason of the extraordinary move of the Spirit that was witnessed there. Further, the moral fabric of the region was totally reborn. The descendants of that mighty revival quickly forsook their Evangelical roots. They have literally enshrined the Cane Ridge meeting house while despising the operation of God's Spirit. These so-called "Disciples of Christ" embrace every sort of modernist message and immorality. In their great convention they regularly maintain a booth to promote the homosexual agenda. This includes a connected hospitality sweet upstairs! I have letters from a few of their ministers stating that they are glad that their congregations did not expect them to live above sin. These fallen angels openly mock Scripture citers, Bible thumppers and Fundamentalists. I was pleased to pastor a Disciples Church that officially separated from this pernicious fellowship. Truly, the Disciples candle has been removed from the Temple of God! Barton W. Stone participated in the great Cane Ridge revival. While writing he exposed the forces that would one day quench the Camp Meeting Spirit. He told of the first assault that cold and unbelieving clergy made against that move of God. Although, these Modernist would eventually squeeze out revival, God overruled in behalf of Rev. Stone and brought him a miraculous healing. Rev. Barton Stone wrote, "Since the beginning of the excitement I had been employed day and night in preaching, singing, visiting and praying with the distressed, till my lungs failed, and became inflamed, attended with a violent cough and spitting of blood. It was believed to be a dangerous case, and might terminate in consumption. My strength frail, and I felt myself fast descending to the tomb. Viewing this event near, and that I should soon cease from my labors, I had a great desire to attend a camp meeting at Paris, a few miles distant from Cane Ridge. My physician had strictly forbidden me to preach any more till my disease should be removed. At this camp meeting the multitudes assembled in a shady grove, with their wagons and provisions. Here for the first time a Presbyterian preacher arose and opposed the work, and the doctrine by which the work amongst us had its existence and life. He labored hard to Calvinize the people, and to regulate them according to his standard of propriety. He wished them to decamp at night, and to repair to the town, nearly a mile off, for worship in a house that could not contain half the people. This could not be done without leaving their tents and all exposed. The consequence was the meeting was divided and the work greatly impeded. Infidels and formalists triumphed at this supposed victory, and extolled the preacher to the skies; but the hearts of the revivalists were filled with sorrow. Being in a feeble state, I went to the meeting in town. A preacher was put forward who had always been hostile to the work, and seldom mingled with us. He lengthily addressed the people in iceberg style--his influence was deathly. I felt a strong desire to pray as soon as he should close, and had so determined in my own mind. He at length closed, and I arose and said, "Let us pray." At that very moment another preacher of the same caste with the former rose in the pulpit to preach another sermon. I proceeded to pray, feeling a tender concern for the salvation of my fellow-creatures, and expecting shortly to appear before my Judge. The people became very much affected, and the house was filled with the cries of distress. Some of the preachers (cold preachers) jumped out of a window back of the pulpit, and left us. Forgetting my weakness, I pushed through the crowd from one to another in distress, pointed to the way of salvation, and administered to them the comforts of the Gospel. My good Doctor was there, came to me in the crowd, and found me literally wet with sweat. He hurried me to his house, and lectured me severely on the impropriety of my conduct. I immediately put on dry cloths, went to bed, slept comfortably, and rose the next morning relieved from the disease which had baffled medicine and threatened my life. That night's sweat was my cure, by the grace of God. I was soon able to renew my ministerial labors, and was joyful to see religion progressing." The Cane Ridge revival was eventually weakened by a spiritual infection called Modernism. The cold religious doctors of that day labored for quiet congregations in which to plant their life draining doubts. Like the medical men of their time, they first restrained their patient and then drained out the life's blood. George Washington had recently expired through the repeated bleedings of a doctor. His Physician said that at the last the blood came slow and thick. The author of death first inspired both physical and spiritual bleeding. Old doctors of medicine and unbelieving doctors of religion knew nothing of the ways of Jesus who said, "Rise Up and Walk." These doctors did not have the Gospel of Peter and John who sent the lame man forth; walking, leaping and praising God. These knew nothing of the life and power of Pentecost! Today, medical knowledge has wonderfully increased. However, the religious doctors of doubt have not advanced. They still propagate their quack theology by restraining God's people and draining them of living faith! They pierce good Christians with darts of doubt and thereby demonstrate that they are members of the very army of Satan. The Holiness Awakening In the early nineteenth century the Presbyterian Church had cooled and lost the founders vision. This fall came because, Seminaries (i.e. Princeton and Yale) had become the nesting grounds of dead faithless religion. In the process of their education many upcoming ministers traded the Gospel of Christ for the honors of men. Nevertheless, God's Spirit would not be stopped and flowed through America in the great Camp Meeting and Finney revivals. Because the Methodists were opened to God's Spirit, they particularly enjoyed a great increase during this period. However, by the end of the 1800s revival was again needed because, the established churches (now including Methodists) were growing colder by the year. Many administrators and church leaders no longer possessed the fire of their fathers. This decline came because, an increasing number of Seminaries were planting unbelief in each new class of prospective ministers. Some Methodist leaders had studied in Germany99 and returned with a theological virus called Rationalism. Such leaders had traded the Gospel of Christ for the Modernistic spirit of the age. ---------------------------------- 99 The Holiness-Pentecostal Movement in the United States, -- Vinson Synan, Eerdmans Publishing Co., p.41_____________________________ Because Methodism was cooling, many Holiness groups splintered off toward the end of the 1800s. These groups became identified as the Holiness Churches. These believers were marked by their love for Scripture, separated living and deep emotional worship. The ministry of healing was one strongly emphasized during the Holiness awakening. Unfortunately, some Holiness groups soon rejected the flow of God's Spirit and eventually became reactionary against the PENTECOSTAL segment of their awakening. These did not move forward into the baptism of fire. I have recently observed that it has become increasingly difficult for the old line Holiness Churches (non-PENTECOSTAL) to find spiritual pastors. Why? Without the fresh move of God's Spirit, seminaries always produce PROFESSIONAL IMITATORS rather than powerful PROPHETS. Without a current vision and anointing true shepherds will not be called. The candlestick of the Holiness revival is still burning but not as brightly as in the beginning. The best of the Holiness believers moved ahead in God and received the full Pentecostal baptism. The remainder was left behind to wither in cold unbelief. Pentecostalism (1900 to present) The Holiness movement set the stage for rising PENTECOSTALISM. When Holiness people began to receive the answer to their prayers the PENTECOSTALS were born. Some Holiness folks were startled when they saw the reality of what they were seeking! Holy Ghost filled believers exercised Gospel power with all of the miraculous gifts of the Spirit. Remember, in every revival of the past the Pentecostal gifts were present. It was only when churches dried up100 that they no longer witnessed God's miraculous power. If PENTECOSTALS fail in their faith their gifts will also cease to function! ---------------------------------- 100 "Dried Up" means to embrace unbelief, set earthly things before God, set man before God, or to leave the Word of God and prayer.______________________________ PENTECOSTALS are fundamental in their acceptance of the Scriptures as the ultimate guide. Yet, PENTECOSTALS are unique in that they have doctrinalized the work of the Spirit. This is a legitimate step for the continuation of their message. Our doctrines constitute a testimony to succeeding generations. Many previous groups had already doctrinalized healing and the New Birth. Today, PENTECOSTALS have taken their turn in doctrinal statements and many have done an excellent job. Although God is still using modern PENTECOSTALS some words of caution are in order. If PENTECOSTALS hope to shine into the coming millennium some serious difficulties must be addressed today! We pray that our words will be received as loving counsel from a life long PENTECOSTAL. Pentecostal Entanglements 1. Secret Agents Among Us Will PENTECOSTALISM continue as a witness though the 21st century? What could possibly initiate its fall? The Methodists once walked the same path that the PENTECOSTALS now tread. Their fall was initiated through their colleges where faithless professors sewed tares of unbelief into young Theology students. Thus, the Methodists have lost their anointing and glory and stand as a screaming warning to us all. The Sprouting Tares As all church organizations increases in property and age, greater requirements are made of prospective ministers and, thus, studies in Doctrine and Theology are required. This practice is both scriptural and good. Satan, however, is attacking at this very point of necessity, as he brings his unbelieving agents from faithless universities, where doubt is valued more than Scripture. These agents possess the degrees and the recognition of the World but have received Satan's mark (666) of approval for their compromise. Occasionally they slip into PENTECOSTAL institutions of learning. Satan is a cunning adversary! John Bunyan warned of this trap in his description of Vanity Fair. Satan built that place to destroy true Christian faith. Bunyan said that the merchandise sold there is "houses, lands, trades, places, HONORS, PREFERMENTS, TITLES, etc. . . And, moreover, at this fair there is at all times to be seen juggling cheats, games, plays, fools, apes, knaves, and rogues, and that of every kind." These sometime gain entrance into great institution to reek havoc and destruction upon our Pentecostal faith. It is the responsibility of all PENTECOSTAL leaders to see that these do not succeed in their mission. A True Account 101 My son was attending a major PENTECOSTAL University and sent me a recording of his required Theology class. There, the professor of 30 plus years taught that when the Bible states that God responded to prayer and changed direction, we are only reading "Good Literature."(Numbers 16:) (Meaning, the prophet was just speaking our language and therefore, scripture is not fully inspired.) He further said, "Our prayers don't change circumstances but our prayers only enable us to accept circumstances." (Meaning, God does not heal in response to prayer!) The professor finally said that he does "not understand the dynamic of prayer." Naturally, anyone that does not believe in miraculous answers to prayer cannot grasp the dynamic (power) of prayer. This professor further said, "I cannot change God's mind by how good or bad I live." (He thus teaches Eternal Security and anti-holiness doctrine!) ---------------------------------------- 101 Web page, http://home.i-plus.net/thorpe/lee/INDEX.HTM 7/12/99___________________________ Although, the denominational leaders of that institution were FULLY INFORMED, no one would arrest the tragic retreat from PENTECOSTAL faith. We were shocked to see the University's president and head of the School of Religion join "lock step" with these modernistic teachings. The excellent people of that denomination do not embrace such false teachings. Nevertheless, if nothing is done and a stand is not taken, their Pentecostal message will pass into oblivion and God will call another group of people by a yet unknown name. A Slippery Slope How could such a fall be happening in a major PENTECOSTAL denomination? Is this also being repeated in other Pentecostal institutions? I wondered why PENTECOSTAL leaders would allow compromise and with a little research found the shocking answer! Many of these leaders received their education in modernistic seminaries where faith was despised and degraded. Some of the highest leaders of that denomination hold Doctors and Masters degrees from the infamous Emery, of Atlanta where the "God is Dead" heresy was birthed and defended! People who drink from poison wells die. Keeping company with dead people breeds disease and so, death finally spreads to the living. Truly, the people we study under affect our eternity. (Psalm. 1:1) I can remember when this great PENTECOSTAL denomination believed that God's immutability meant that He healed and answered prayer -- yesterday, today and forever. Now, their ordained professors are teaching that God's immutability means to accept your fate! You will die when it is meant to be and prayer cannot altar physical circumstances. These modernistic teachings will hasten the death of many that seek a healing prayer. Thus, a GREAT ALARM is sounding in today's PENTECOSTAL movement. A faithless generation of ministry has already been spawned and is now at the helm. Keep an open heart, for God will certainly move afresh when others have denied the faith! 2. Voluntary Humility Paul was a Pentecostal among Pentecostals and understood how that many so called spiritual people fall into bazaar deceptions. He catalogued a few problem areas in Colossians 2:18. "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind," Artificial Brokenness or Replacing Christ's Cross Voluntary humility describes those that take pride in becoming humble. Actually, they love appearing humble and enjoy going through a long process of suffering that makes them feel humble and holy. As the down home folks observe, "You can see the pride through the wholes in his britches." God takes no pleasure in self-righteous counterfeit humility or self-abasement. Holiness can only be attained though His Cross applied in heart conversion. True humility is only found while acknowledging that our righteous actions or personal sufferings cannot save. When Jesus commanded us to take up OUR CROSS, he was not giving instruction unto holiness but rather a requirement for discipleship. He was showing that ministry can be both costly and rewarding. Nonetheless, salvation only comes through the sacrificial work of Jesus. Lovers of Pain Some popular figures welcome physical suffering as an enhancement to their inner suffering. These believe that God is glorified by our anguish. They assert that we become more holy though physical affliction.102 By following this line of logic the ministry of healing becomes less desirable than the ministry of suffering. Such people believe that we must submissively receive all ills that befall us and embrace them as a gift from God. Such teaching totally denies the great commission and the work of Jesus and is a departure from the basic Gospel and the heart of the great PENTECOSTAL message. -------------------------------- 102 Hungry for More of Jesus, --David Wilkerson. Chosen Books, Copy 1992 ISBN 0-8007-9200-9, pp. 136, 160-164__________________________ 3. Illumination Beyond Scripture Colossians 2:18 "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind," Anything that we place above God's Word is being worshiped in God's place. Beware, Satan is literally transformed into an angel of light. He will come to you as he did to Jesus. He will not come sporting horns and hooves. Rather, he will come in the guise of a preacher, quoting Scripture while promising you everything your heart ever desired. Satan knows the weakness of your flesh and will play upon it if you allow him room. Hold to the message of Scripture and let all else take second place! 4. Mysticism Colossians 2:18 "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind," The great Pentecostal Smith Wigglsworth warned against Mysticism when he said, "Spiritism, mysticism, Christian Science -- they are all akin. None of them obey God and make room for the blood, and you cannot get near God but by the blood. It is impossible. The blood of Jesus Christ is the only power that can make a clear road into the kingdom of God for you." 103 Mysticism can be described as entering into the spiritual realm and walking among and communicating with the unseen spiritual beings that are around us. This might also include astro-projection or traveling to far off places in the spirit. 104 Knowing and fellowshipping with Christ is necessary but spiritual fellowship must never lead us away from the Word and the great commission. Certainly, intermittent dreams and visions are Biblical. God spoke to many people in the Bible with such experiences. However, if we live in a dream or spiritual world and exit the material world, this is not pleasing to God. Such mystical activity constitutes a sort of spiritual suicide and prematurely removes us from our God ordained ministry. God expects us to work while it is yet day and while we yet have breath. Beware of mystical writers such as Hannah Hurnard the author of Hinds' Feet on High Places. She ultimately allowed her artificial spirituality to lead her into Pantheism, Universalism,105 and Necromancy.106 We presently know of some one-time "PENTECOSTALS" that are snared in a kind of hyper-spirituality. Some are teaching that we must go beyond PENTECOSTALISM and enter into a deeper spiritual experience! 107 These are preaching "Tabernacles," "Manifested Sons of God" and the "Restoration" heresies. We are told that the "Glorified Sons of God" (Super Human Saints) must appear on the earth before we can see Christ come in the air. Incredible! ------------------------------ 103 Cry of the Spirit, by Roberts Liardon, Harrison House, 1989, p. 38104 2 Corinthians 12:2-3 (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)" Paul's contact with a sort of "spirit travel" was not the norm and was not clearly defined. To seek this experience on a regular basis springs from spiritual pride and opens us to certain deception.105 Eagles' Wings To The Higher Places, --Hannah Hurnard, 1981, Harper, SanFrancisco, PP. 35, 98, 133106 The Inner Man, --Hannah Hurnard, Sun Books, Sun Publishing, ISBN: 0-89540-256-4, p. 50 + 55107 The Shofar Letters, --Larry & Betty Hodges, found on the net, 10/27/98_________________________ Augustin's Amillennialism first taught a kind of modern "Restoration Theology." He asserted that the Church would progressively establish Christ's Kingdom in the earth. His ideas were held aloft like a banner and were used to justified the false Church, as it lead the world into the dark ages! He asserted that the Church would establish the Kingdom of God on the earth. Contrariwise, Augustine's church established a kingdom of darkness. His church ultimately forbade the reading of the Bible! Please, put the Scripture foremost in your life. Weigh ever experience and leading against the Bible. Never place the revelations of men above the reasoning of Scripture. The reasonable message of Scripture lead the world out of the dark ages and will lead each of us to God's eternal kingdom! Even a little child can understand God's true way of salvation. 5. Fleshly Minds -- Lovers of Pleasure Colossians 2:18 "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind," People with fleshly minds are the opposite of the so called mystical or "self effacing sufferers" mentioned above. These carnal believers embrace all the positive benefits of God and add a few extra. Such unscriptural benefits are spawned by man's love of physical opulence and comfort. Beware! Luxury and comfort will take our minds off of the great commission. Paul warned about preachers that were "...destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself." (1 Timothy 6:5) Our needs and wants are not the same. Solomon pegged man rightly when he said, "...the eyes of man are never satisfied." Proverbs 27:20 Please oh Lord, help us to turn our hungering vision above! "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:2) 6. Misplaced Love Another trap that is set for modern PENTECOSTALS is the new ecumenical apostasy. Today's Charismatic Ecumenism has MISSDEFINED LOVE to mean that we must welcome many false teachers, while becoming ambivalent about Bible truth! I find it strange that PENTECOSTALS once rejected ecumenism and counted it to be a part of the coming Antichrist. Today, we are told that unity and love are the principal things. Satan must be dancing in our church isles. If today's "love all" teaching continues it will lead to the loss of our salvation message. Furthermore, Scripture declares that this is a counterfeit love and is not of Christ. Such misguided love springs from the very spirit of antichrist! Love is to Keep Christ's Word and Commandments "This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments" (Romans 13:9-11) "Whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected" (1 John 5:3-5) "Therefore love is the fulfilling of the law" (1 John 2:5-6) "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. (John 15:10) John Balances Love and Truth 2 John 1: vr. 6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. Careful, Antichrist Deceivers are Present vr. 7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist." Watch out for Yourselves -- Be Careful About Doctrine vr. 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. vr. 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine (teachings) of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. Don't Mix With False Teachers vr. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, (Which is: 1. love each other, not everything, 2. obey Christ's rules) receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: How to Avoid Spiritual Infection vr. 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. Although other pitfalls might be set for modern PENTECOSTALS, I was particularly drawn to list the ones mentioned here. I must confess that I have had to bring some of my thinking into line with the Word of God. We pray that you will find the freedom of Christ in these truths. Finally, God's candle still burns brightly among many PENTECOSTALS! Charismatic Showers In the early 1960s God sent a fresh shower of his Spirit. At that time the PENTECOSTALS were the main group that embraced the miraculous gifts of the Spirit. Then a wonderful thing occurred. Suddenly, on the morning NEWS the Dutch Reformed, Herald Bredison was seen in his clerical collar. There, he spoke in tongues and prophesied. The mighty Holy Ghost was breaking out in every quarter. Revival rains were falling again! This revival seemed unique at the time because of the wide participation of many varied denominations. In my 17 short years I had only seen PENTECOSTALS enjoying the baptism of the Spirit. Now other denominations were launching out into the deep. After compiling the information for this book we understand that a broad denominational base is quite normal in most revivals. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." The subsequent warnings are not a condemnation of the Charismatic Movement. Rather, these five loving admonitions are to be received as a word of ministry from a caring brother and father. We hope to remove some possible stumbling stones from the road. 1. Hold To The Word! -- Our Final Authority As Charismatics our number one rule must be to judge all inner revelations by the Word of God. New and mysterious revelations are invalid and anti-Christ when they depart from Scripture. When the reformers spoke of following REASON; they were saying that the Pope's spiritual revelations were without basis in the Scripture. Thus, any BORN AGAIN and REASONING individual was qualified to read Scripture, understand its truth, and judge right from wrong! May we forever hold this precious jewel. I recently heard a nationally known minister assert that he could have died on the cross instead of Jesus if he would have had the knowledge that Jesus had. We can certainly mark this off as a false revelation. He said that God gave him this truth. Yet, which god is he hearing when he debases the unique sacrifice of Christ and contradicts the easily understood words of Scripture? 2. Separation The early PENTECOSTAL movement had people come from many denominations. Even so, today's Charismatics also come from various groups. However, these two movements differ in that, the PENTECOSTALS always separated from their old groups, while the Charismatics often remained in modernistic denominations. The Charismatics lack of bold separation could be the undoing of those who continue in unbelieving churches. The Charismatics children will certainly never receive a message of faith from dead denominational leaders. Catholic Charismatics particularly need to consider this danger. The Holy Ghost and salvation come straight from the throne of God and never from Rome. "Wherefore come out from among them,(old dead denominations) and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you," (2 Corinthians 6:17) Thankfully, many Charismatics have now moved to "New Life" type assemblies. 3. Holiness In the late 1960s the Charismatics and PENTECOSTALS were not alike in their understand of Holiness. Because of their Holiness roots, the PENTECOSTALS normally emphasized a separated life and initially adhered to unnecessarily strict standards. Conversely, nominal church Charismatics were not exposed to the Holiness message, and have failed to consider the need for separated living. This lack could bring a quick end to their revival if greater revelation is not forthcoming. I trust that the Charismatics love for Scripture will fill this gap and lead them into a sanctified life. (1 Thessalonians 4:3) Unfortunately, I remember some Charismatic associates rejoicing in their new liberty to sip alcohol since they separated from there PENTECOSTAL fellowship. I later observed Charismatic ministry receiving council for alcoholism. Certainly, God demands more than HBO watching preachers and winebibbing prophets. Charismatic gifts do not replace our call to holy living and a life of righteousness. Truly, the Holy Ghost inspires holy living, because, Holiness is God's only standard for living! 4. Initial Evidence The fourth major stumbling stone before Charismatics comes from their understand of tongues. Many Charismatics do not believe that tongues are the initial evidence of the Baptism. Therefore, an emotional sensation is sometime taken to be the Holy Ghost Baptism, while tongues is viewed as something extra to be acquired. This thinking falls back to the Pre-PENTECOSTAL Holiness move. If tongues are not clearly defined as the initial evidence of the Holy Ghost Baptism, then the Charismatic move may possibly become a one-generation revival. I have generally observed that Charismatic meetings have not embodied the depth and power that was seen among the PENTECOSTALS in the mid 1900s. Please, don't take offence. I have participated in both revivals and have seen both from the inside. I have ministered among Charismatics and old line PENTECOSTALS and their observed a distinct difference in their anointing. Certainly, some may contend that this is simply my subjective observation -- but brother, you should have been there when the Spirit fell! Wheew -- Glory! No one wanted Pizza after those meetings because we trembled all the way home as we helped those that were still under the power of God. The PENTECOSTALS doctrine of tongues as the initial evidence of the Baptism has raised a spiritual standard against an ever-cooling Church. Thus, future generations will be able to measure their spiritual experience against the minimum standards of their predecessors. With tongues as the first and minimum sign of the Holy Ghost Baptism, we can look for a continuation of today's PENTECOSTAL revival! Furthermore, if the gift of tongues seem disturbing than wait until you see the greater gifts in action! 5. Prosperity A fifth and very dangerous aspect of the Charismatic movement has matured in recent years. This is the gospel of prosperity! It was widely disseminated in the early 1970s when Oral Robbers authored his Seed Faith book. Jesus always defined the seed as the Gospel or people. (Luke 8:11) Paul, however, did liken money to seed. (II Cor. 9:) The Corinthians having plenty were encouraged to help the Macedonians who were in need. So, one group brought their lack while the other group brought their overflow. The two were joined and God gave an increase, which was righteousness. Through giving we lay up treasures in heaven and not on the earth. Prosperity teaching overplays financial return in this life and takes advantage of the fleshly greed of the old man, while appealing to the same baser instincts that drive the state lottery. In today's "seed faith lottery" everybody wins except the giver, who is expecting great monetary returns. When monetary returns do arrive (and they do) we may be heaping a curse on our own heads! (Luke 6:24, Matthew 19:23-24, Luke 1:53. Luke 6:24) As I recall Paul, who defined money as seed also counted the piling up of honors, money and everything earthly as dung. (Philippians 3:7-8) So, money is actually a fertilizer and our desired harvest is not more fertilizer but rather eternal righteousness and the reward of Christ! OUR PRIORITIES MUST BE SET IN ORDER! In the early 1960 the prosperity message was strongly publicized in A.A. Allen's magazine. Evangelist Allen promised Cadillacs from God. These luxuries were regularly pictured with satisfied supporters. Shortly thereafter Brother Allen died liver failure while alone in a motel. What a pity -- Another well-known evangelist was selling wallets that would never run dry! (What a great buy for only ten dollars!) If today's PENTECOSTALS and Charismatics fail into this trap they will be finished. To use or religion to generate earthly wealth is clearly opposed to Christ's Gospel. If this trend does not change God will find a new people in our generation! Nevertheless, a candlestick still shines among many Charismatics! A Final Word About Tongues Anyone reading this book now knows the author fully supports the gifts of the Spirit including tongues. Many PENTECOSTALS fail by enjoying happy times in the meeting but little prayer at home. Since PENTECOSTALS meet 3 to 4 times a week prayer is not entirely left out. However, if we briefly exercise the spirits gifts and live for self the rest of the week we miss our calling. Tongues cannot substitute for Holiness, Tongues cannot replace travail for the lost. I challenge all PENTECOSTALS and Charismatics to seek a fresh Baptism and infilling of the Spirit. Never collect spiritual experiences like Boy Scout merit badges. Forever, keep on being filled with the Spirit! Jesus is coming, so, BE PREPARED!
Appendix A Daniel, A Prophet of Pentecost!
According to Modern prophecy teachers, Daniel chapters 9 and 12 speak of a future great tribulation. In this section we will briefly present this popular view. Afterward, we shall consider the same texts with an interpretation that we reason is more correct. We will show that these verses were fulfilled by Jesus' earthly ministry and through the outpouring of the Holy Ghost. We are not seeking to deny the great apocalyptic chaos of the future. Rather, we simply seek to apply these particular scriptures according to their original intent. The Dispensational -- Futurists View of Daniel 9 + 12 Today's Popular Interpretation of Daniel Chapter Nine Daniel 9 predicted the time of the Messiah's coming and told of his death for sinners. Daniel also foresaw how many years would separate a kings decree to rebuild Solomon's fallen temple and the arrival of Messiah. When Messiah (Jesus) was crucified, Daniel's prophetic clock was paused and a long time gap we now call the age of the Gentiles began. The future Rapture will restart Daniel's prophetic clock and the final seven years (one-week) of Daniel's ancient prophecy. This coming seven years is believed to include the Great Tribulation and physical reign of the Antichrist. ------------------------------------------------ Daniel 9:26 "And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: (The Crucifixion)and the people (The 'People' is understood to be the Roman Army that destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD.) of the PRINCE that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. ------------------------------------------------ The Prophetic Gap Most current teachers believe that a great prophetic gap occurs in verse 26 at the word PRINCE. The PRINCE is said to be the future Antichrist. However, some assert that all of verse 26 applies to the past destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. In their view the prince is the Roman general Titus that lead his armies against Jerusalem. All futurist teachers agree that Daniel's prophetic clock restarts by verse 27. That verse reveals what will transpire during the future Great Tribulation. ------------------------------------------------ Daniel 9:27 And he (Antichrist) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: (seven years) and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, ( breaking his covenant with Israel) and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." ------------------------------------------------ Futurist teachers report that the above verse speaks of Antichrist. During the Great Tribulation, Antichrist will make and break a covenant with Israel. He will sit in a rebuilt Jewish Temple and say that he is God. He will stop the reinstated sacrifices of the Jews. Today's Popular Interpretation of Daniel Chapter Twelve ------------------------------------------------ Daniel 12:11 "And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, (when future Antichrist stops Jewish sacrifice) and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, (Antichrist will declare himself God) there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.(Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel, half of the way through the tribulation.) 12. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days." (When Christ appears in the air to set up his earthly Kingdom.) ------------------------------------------------ This text repeats the events revealed in Daniel 9:27 above. The Antichrist will betray the Jews and sit in the Temple while announcing that he is God. This will take place in the middle of the coming 7 year Tribulation. Verse 12 seems to indicate; If you can survive the second half of the Tribulation a wonderful day will follow. A Tarnished Cup The PROTESTANT world was first introduced to the above interpretations by Lacunza the Jesuit (a.k.a. Joseph Ben Ezera converted Jewish Rabbi.) 108 These ideas were unique to the Catholic Church before the Reformation. 109 Lacunza put forward the bulk of these views while trying to undo the prophetic cornerstone of the Reformation. Lacunza disguised the ongoing activity of antichrist by scooting him into the distant future. He also attributed the covenant ministry of Jesus to the future antichrist. His thesis of prophecy was an attempt to deny today's great spiritual conflict and was an attack on the priesthood of the common believer. Lacunza's teaching was an attempt to restore the authority of the Roman Priesthood and Catholic Church. ----------------------------- 108 History of the Christian Church, -- Schaff, Vol. 1, page 838.109 Acts and Monuments, --Fox, Volume 5, pp. 131-196 In 1391 Walter Brute argues against many points of Prophetic Futurism as taught by the Roman Church._______________________ The Worst Trade Ever Pentecost for Antichrist? Daniel, Chapters Nine and Twelve are some of the least understood and therefore, most difficult prophecies in the Bible. Are these chapters speaking of past or future events? People living in the final Tribulation will certainly experience apocalyptic chaos preceding Christ's appearing but that final period of wrath should not be attached to Daniel 9 and 12. There are far richer truths contained in Daniel's prophecy! In the remainder of this chapter we shall explore how these prophecies foresee the hope of the ages and the desire of the nations! These Prophecies will be shown to contain: 1. The Well Spring of our salvation that flowed from the Cross. 2. The connection between Jesus' atonement and the Temple's destruction. 3. The coming of the Holy Ghost as the prophesied blessedness of Chapter 12. The PROTESTANT Explanation of Daniel 9 + 12 Daniel 9 and 12, contain a wonderful surprise! Both texts tell of common events. Understanding this truth restores simplicity and logic to the wording of the verses. Seventy Weeks to Salvation, A Desolate Mountain ------------------------------------------------ Dan 9:24-27 24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. ------------------------------------------------ This prophecy reveals: 1. Jesus' work of Salvation: a. On the Cross, shedding his Blood b. Before the Father, presenting His Blood c. With his Disciples, confirming His Blood 2. The anointing of the Holy Ghost is placed: a. Upon Jesus at his Baptism b. Upon his Church at Pentecost110 ----------------------------------- 110 Might the most Holy be both Jesus and his Church? Yes, this may be correct because we are made one in Christ and are entered into his holiness! Jesus becomes our Holiness.2 Corinthians 5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." John 17:21 "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." 1 Peter 2:5 "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood. . ." 2 Timothy 1:9 "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling. . . which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," 1 Corinthians 3:17 ". . . temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, . . ." Romans 11:16 "For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches." ________________________________ The Coming of Messiah Foretold There were 483 years, (69 weeks of years) between the decree to rebuild Jerusalem, and the beginning of Jesus' ministry. When the 69th week was over Jesus began his great week of covenant ministry. There are several prophecies in Scripture that employ this "day--year" principal of interpretation. The command to restore Jerusalem is found in Nehemiah 2:1-6, when Artexerxes I ordered the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Four hundred and eighty three years later Jesus began his prophesied ministry. However, because of wars and changing kingdoms, some conflicts exist in old calendars. Because of these differences, my messianic calculations can either match perfectly or miss by four years. No matter which dates are accepted, it is easy to see that Jesus was the prophesied Messiah. We are shortening our consideration of these years because many others have already written on this lengthy subject. Conversely, the remainder of this prophecy, which is less understood, is our target. Messiah Cut Off -- The Temple Destroyed ------------------------------------------------ When Messiah comes two things shall transpire: 1. Messiah will be cut off for the sins of others. The precise time of Jesus' death is only roughly placed in this particular verse. The following verses are more descriptive of the timing. 2. The prince shall destroy the sanctuary. Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed by the Roman Army in 70 AD. This destruction arrived in response to Jewish apostasy and Christ's atonement. The two events became an inevitable action and reaction! (Luke 13:35, Hebrews 8:13) God allowed the destruction because the Temple of Jerusalem ceased to exist as the door to God, when Jesus died on the Cross. His sacrifice forever invalidated Temple worship. The Temple's physical and spiritual overthrow will be retold in, Daniel 12:11. Fulfilling God's Covenant to Israel ------------------------------------------------ Seven Years of Ministry to Israel A full seven years were allotted to confirm God's covenant with Israel and to fulfill God's promise to them. 111 The first three and one half years were accomplished through Jesus' physical ministry including His Sacrifice. The last three and one half years were fulfilled by His anointed Christ filled disciples. They completed Jesus' week by offering fleshly Israel full salvation and God's law upon the heart, which was the great promise of the prophets. The period that the disciples ministered should not be viewed as a make do or inferior substitution. The disciple's ministry was foretold in the Old Covenant. 112 First, the head, Jesus died for sinners, then the anointed body of Christ offered the risen Messiah to lost Israel! At the end of the messianic week God opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles as the apostle Paul received his commission. ---------------------------- 111 Confirming God's Covenant With Manya. Jesus, God's Covenant Promise Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Matthew 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Matthew 15:24 "But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: b. Many Received the Promise! Acts 5:14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women." Acts 13:45 "But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, Acts 6:7-8 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. 112 An Old Promise Fulfilled Through the Disciples Exodus 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words that thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. Acts 13:32-33 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, 33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again... _______________________ By the end of these seven years or Messianic week many Jews had rejected God's Law, promise, Covenant, Messiah, Sacrifice, and very God in the flesh. These had crucified the Lord of glory and refused the undeniable sign of his resurrection and its proof through innumerable miracles. Although, a great multitude of Jews and priests believed, many refused Christ and were consequently separated from God. God had no more to offer those which rejected the hope of Abraham. Those poor souls are forever lost! Because of unbelief, the Covenant was "taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." (Matthew 21:43) Yes, God opened his covenant to the Gentiles and invited them to unite with the remnant of faithful Israel. Jews were never arbitrarily excluded from salvation. The only change that occurred was the inclusion of outsiders called Gentiles. Everyone was invited to the feast! "Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage." Matthew 22:2-9 God called Paul as the "point man" of God's prophesied inclusion of the Gentiles. This new direction signaled the end of Israel's monopoly on righteousness. A new eternal Israel was established "after the order of Melchizedek" and Jesus. Most of new Israel lacked an earthly pedigree of race but all possessed the blood of Jesus and eternal faith. In Heaven nothing else will count! The Church is not just a symbolic or spiritual Israel but the eternal prophesied Israel. This Israel of faith was foreseen from the beginning. God saw Eternal Israel, Jews and Gentiles as one nation born of the Holy Ghost. Paul indicated that until non-Christian Jews receive Christ, they are no longer God's true Israel. The unjust Crucifixion did not create this breach. Jews and Gentiles both took part in Christ's death. Each individual's response to Jesus, places them in or out of the Israel of God. God never lost his true Israel, he simply invited the outsiders to join his growing family.113 Paul continued to carry a great burden the Jews that were still lost. ---------------------------- 113 Joining the Family of GodEphesians 3:6 "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:" Romans 2:29 "But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." ______________________ Overspreading of Abominations He Shall Make it Desolate Verse Twenty-Seven makes the connection between Jesus' death, the invalidation of sacrifice, and the physical destruction of the Temple. First, the Temple was rendered ineffective, because, Jesus paid the full price for sin. Next, the Temple was physically destroyed and replaced with stinking idolatry. Would all-powerful God allow his house to lie desolate for 2000 years? No, God's true eternal house is now in the making and we are the living stones in that eternal temple. A physical or stone temple would now constitute an idolatrous abomination in the sight of God. Reviewing the Prophecy: Daniel 9 contains the prophecy of the Seventy Weeks. The final result of these seventy weeks was the coming of righteousness and the sealing up (fulfilling or finishing) of the vision. 1. A heathen King declared the rebuilding of Jerusalem. 2. After 69 weeks of years, Messiah began his ministry. 3. Messiah's was to confirm his covenant with Israel for one week. 114 4. In the midst of that week Messiah was cut off. (Jesus was crucified) Therefore, the animal sacrifices of the temple were invalidated before God and only an empty shell remained. 5. The final 3 1/2 years of covenant ministry were carried out by the "Jesus filled" disciples. After the apostate Jews rejected the clear signs confirming Christ's covenant. 115 The Gentiles were invited to the wedding feast, which marked the finish of Old Covenant ministry as foreseen by Daniel! 6. Jesus' death on the cross was linked with an inseparable consequence. This was the destruction and desecration of the physical Temple. (The Abomination Desolation) God took up his residence in humanity and tore the Temple's veil on the way out. 116 7. An Abomination was set up upon the Mountain of God. Idols replaced the old Temple of God. The Jews became displaced vagabonds, as they were cast out of the "Good man's Vineyard." The Temple's holy mountain became the seat of foreseen monstrosities. Nonetheless, God's mercy forever remains available to the wondering Jews. --------------------------------- 114 God's covenant with Israel was totally fulfilled in Jesus Christ. This was accomplished though seven years of ministry. Jesus fulfilled half of the time in the flesh and half through his royal priesthood of disciples. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood." (1 Peter 2:9) Yes, Jesus fully ministered through his disciples. (John 14:18) "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." At the end of the seven years Jesus went to the Gentiles because, he died for the Jews and for the whole world!115 Many Jews came in during this time of confirmation. At the end of this period, God broke with tradition and called regular ministry to the Gentiles. "And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time." (1 Corinthians 15:8) All nations were then invited to the table of God. Paul's ministry introduced Christ apart from the practice of Mosaic Law. The Jews were not turned out for being Jewish; they were cut off for their unbelief. The Jewish rulers were so hardened they paid off the Roman guards to lie about what they had seen. (Matthew 28:11-15)116 (Matthew 21:42-44) "Jesus saith unto them, did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, (Jesus) the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? 43 Therefore, say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. (The Destruction of the Temple) 44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."__________________________________ 8. CONTINUING ABOMINATIONS ON ZION: a. The Jews continued to offer invalid sacrifices, slapping the face of their God by rejecting his true Sacrifice and their Messiah. b. Heathen Rome {the Dragon} built a temple of idols upon Zion when the Jews were removed. c. Next this Dragon of Rome passed its power to the Beast, {Apostate Christian Rome} who placed idol filled churches there. One of these still stands today but has been taken over by the Muslims. d. Muslims are a misbegotten child of Rome and maintain Geographic Zion as an empty shell of desolation. 117 You will be restrained if you attempt to pray on Zion. Muslims embody the antichrist spirit of old Rome by refusing the Son of God and his Word. ------------------------------- 117 The Prophet, by Chick Publications describes the Roman Catholic debacle that inadvertently spawned the Islamic Religion. The evidence of secular history seems to lay credence to Chick's allegation. Mohammed was reportedly groomed and financed by Rome but in the end deserted Catholicism and followed his own inner revelation.____________________________ At last, the only way of salvation is to totally forsake that accursed mountain and City, "which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified." (Rev. 11:8) Run to the Rock of salvation, Jesus Christ and the city of our God the New Jerusalem! The curse upon Zion will not be lifted until Messiah physically returns to the earth in judgment.
Blessing out of Desolation Pentecost or Antichrist? While keeping Daniel Chapter nine in mind, consider Daniel Twelve. This prophecy contains a forgotten store of truth. __________________________ __________________________ Outlining Daniel 12:11-12 Part A __________________ __________________________________
Part A --------------------------------- Here is the end of the Old Testament sacrificial system. This elimination was a direct consequence of Jesus' death on the Cross, as he became God's perfect Lamb and final sacrifice. Thus, Jesus warned the Jews, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." (Matthew 23:38) Consequently, we have become God's Temple and forever offer daily sacrifices of praise unto God! The Law established the daily sacrifice for all time.118 Since sacrificial worship was so highly valued, prophecy forewarned of each lapse. 1. The seventy years of Babylonian captivity were prophesied and fulfilled. 2. Daniel 8 told of the removal of the Sacrifice by the Greeks. 119 3. Daniel 12 predicted the final removal of Temple Sacrifice. The end of Temple worship was first indicated in Daniel 9:27, "...the sacrifice and the oblation to cease." Jesus further defined the Temples destruction in Matthew 24. --------------------------- 118 2 Chronicles 2:4 Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual showbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance forever to Israel. Exodus 29:38-42 Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually. (Evening and morning sacrifices)119 Advanced study hint - (This Inter-testamental period is difficult to trace because of obscured dates. If you look into Daniel 8, notice that the English word for day, (Dan. 8:14) is literally "evenings and mornings" in Hebrew. Daniel 8:26 uses the same words of "evening and morning" and is translated as such. Thus, the count of 2300 days must be divided in half to reflect that only 1150 days were needed to miss 2300 evening and morning sacrifices. This will be a great help in figuring how long the altar was defiled under Antiochus Epiphanes. Don't miss this key point!__________________
A Hebrew Word Study An Interesting Possibility A slightly altered rendering of verse eleven may be justified. The exact Hebrew words used in that verse are translated one way in some texts and a second way in others. Because both of these variations are consistent with good translation we should not be afraid to interchange each English variation when the ORIGINAL LANGUAGE is the same in both places! The prepositional phrase at the beginning of Daniel 12:11, "And from the time that" might also be read as, "And from time." Thus, "And from time the daily sacrifice shall be taken away," This alternate reading gives rise to the though of the symbolic sacrifice being removed forever. The removal of God's daily sacrifice would be an unthinkable interpretation for any Jewish Scribe, but this is the truth of what happened through the Cross! The Daily Sacrifice was no more, because, God's PERFECT SACRIFICE was offered. "Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second." Hebrews 10:9 Which reading is correct, "and from the time" OR "and from time"? The Precedence For Our Alternate Reading of, "And from the..." to "And from..." is found in: Isaiah 11:11 "and from Elam," Exodus 8:8 "and from my people." These verses contain the exact Hebrew words that are translated as "And from the..." in Daniel 12:11. Could it be correct to translate Dan. 12:11 with the same wording as was used in the above texts? We believe it is correct. If we made this change Daniel would read; Daniel 12:11 "And from time the daily sacrifice shall be taken away." Both English renderings of the same Hebrew word can be found throughout the Old Testament. Therefore the doctrinal understanding of the translator might certainly affect which reading might be chosen. Time and Sacrifice without End? Our use of the word time as a direct object would appear to gain its precedence from Ecclasiastes. ("A time to laugh," etc. etc. etc.) Both Daniel and Ecclasiastes use identical Hebrew words for time in their texts. Therefore, time might also be an object in Daniel's verse eleven. Through this usage the daily sacrifice would be removed forever! Both a laughing time and a sacrificing time come to an end! (Hebrews 9:12-15) The italicized word "that" which appears following "time" is an added word for ease of reading in English. Therefore, it can be dropped without great consideration. Part B ------------------------------------------------ Desolation refers to the tearing down of God's Temple. Abomination speaks of a stinking idolatry that was set in its place. We know that Adam died in spirit on the same day that he sinned, however, his physical death arrived much later. Likewise, the Temple completely lost its spiritual power when Messiah was crucified. The Temple's spiritual nullification was reflected by its destruction in 70 AD. God has continued to demonstrate the uselessness of the Temple by allowing gross idolatry to inhabit that location. Other than Christ there is no sacrifice for sin! One of the great prophecies that Jesus gave to his disciples was of the coming destruction of God's Temple.(Matthew 24) Following the Cross the Temple was rendered ineffective before God. Christians went about preaching this truth while predicting the Temple's physical ruin. They revealed that subsequent to the Cross, Salvation was only available though Jesus Christ. Hebrews 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." Hebrews 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." Part C ------------------------------------------------ How long was Jesus' fleshly ministry before his death? l. Daniel 9:26 said Messiah would be cut off at some point after the 69th week. Jesus did appear at the close of the 69th week and was later Crucified. This verse was speaking in generalities compared to the next verse. 2. Daniel 9:27 better defined the length of Messiah's physical ministry as ending in the midst of the messianic week. Conforming to that prophecy, Jesus went to the Cross after three and one half years of preaching. Most Bible historians agree with this figure. 3. Daniel 12 went the farthest in defining the exact length of Jesus' earthly ministry. Here, 1290 days were assigned to the physical ministry of Jesus, which was linked to an additional 45 day period. Anyone arriving at the 45th day would become a witness to a special day of blessing. This was the arrival of the blessedness or the promised Holy Ghost!
------------------------------------------------ This obscure verse stands among others as a prince of promise. The outpouring of the Holy Ghost is the prophesied "blessedness." As the disciples returned to Jerusalem, they were about to receive an unimagined glory. This "blessing" or joy has become the undoing of Satan's grip on mankind. Through God's Pentecostal power the Gospel is filling the earth!
Appendix B The Miracle of Holiness "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:" (Hebrews 12:14) "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:11) The Rock of Apostasy -- "Office above Actions" Could God's chosen people ever fall? Would God ever destroy his heritage? Does God always cover the sins of his elect? Getting these questions wrong has provided Hell with many a smoking morsel. Through out the Old Testament the people of Israel wrongly mused that God would excuse their sin because they were God's chosen people. God's longsuffering and tender mercies were misunderstood and in the end were not enough to turn back judgment. When Israel's Messiah appeared the religious system was again far from God. The ministers of God elevated their "office above actions." Jesus exposed them when he said, "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." (Matthew 7:18) The early Church's success did not mark the end of spiritual conflict. Although Hell would not prevail a mighty battle continued to rage. Powerful men wrongly molded the visible Christian Church into a corrupt establishment. History repeatedly documents how that the Caesar Constantine's state sponsored church progressively mutated and revived many elements of the old Greco-Roman Mystery religion of Babylon. (I.e. idolatry121) Constantine's church asserted that the pope and his priests exclusively possessed the power to forgive sins. Their power was often used while engaging in corruption, murder, and vice.122 Just like the false leaders in Jesus' day, the new church leaders exalted their "office above actions," ------------------------------- 121 Variations of Popery, --Samuel Edgar, D.D., M.E. Church South 1873, pg. 147History of the Christian Church, -- Schaff, V. I., p. 85, Popery the Foe of the Church and of the Republic, -- J.S. VanDyke, Peoples Publishing Co., 1872, pg. 40, The Two Babylons, -- Rev. Alexander Hislop, Loizeaux Brothers, Neptune NJ. 122 The Bad Popes by E.R. Chamberlin, The Dial Press Inc., Library of Congress Catalog: 78-83475____________________________ Reformation Theology Although the organized church of the dark ages neglected holy living and Scripture, God always sustained a remnant of faithful children. While reading the Bible the reformers embraced God's message of holiness. They understood that our living must conform to the standards of Christ and that being a Christian did not license free wheeling sin. The reformers grasped both the love and the fear of God. One truth that the Reformers often preached was justification though faith alone. The word "alone" emphasized that salvation did not come through a priest or any earthly church. However, modern Reformed theologians have redefined "alone" to mean, "The way that we live does not reflect or affect our standing with God." Wrong! Their assertion is not Reformed Theology but a Modernistic New-ology. The early Reformers all believed that we must confirm our faith through holy living. Luther was shocked when he saw how that people misused their freedom from Rome to purse the sins of the flesh. He said that these people would be better off under the bondage of Catholicism. Wycliffe and Tyndale both promoted holy living and noted that with out holy living our profession of faith was a sham. Modernists have distorted Calvin's message to excuse sinful living. Free grace teachers have ignored history to cover their personal exodus from God's righteousness. These pretenders believe that their position as God's elect will excuse their sin. They are building upon the old bogus teaching of "office above actions." Today, some are saying that a call to holy living is a call back to Rome. These should be more honest about history and study the Scriptures as their Reformed fathers did and return to God's Holiness! The Holiness Movement When the Reformed churches grew cold and abandoned the message of holiness, God looked for a new obedient generation. Since the name Reformed was already in use the more specific title of Holiness was embraced. No matter what the name, their Bible reading, prayer, charity, and a constant flight from sin always mark God's children. Many link the Holiness movement back to the preaching of the Wesleys. In spite of their assertions the Wesleys did not truly initiate but only revived the Holiness message! In Wesley's day the established Protestant church had become formal and cold. Therefore, God found a fresh willing heart to obey and spread his Word. God has always maintained a faithful remnant. Their ecclesiastical names have changed but their living remains constant. Christ always leads his flock into holiness. Scripture and the Holy Ghost always inspire holiness in the people of God. Holy, Holy, Holy The ageless Gospel of Christ cannot be lived without the Holy Ghost. Christ's Spirit works with the Scripture to empower holy living. By way of God's Spirit and his Word the lowest of sinners rise to righteous living. The appearance of this new life is malicious evidence of God's closeness. Holy living is one of the great signs that follow those that believe. Only the heart that loves sin denies these truths. History has confirmed that church denominations with wonderful beginnings often lose their way. When circumstance become comfortable they tend to forget God and empower organization. Satan ultimately uses the organizations of men to fight God's message of Holiness. When the enemy is successful, God always calls a new generation of obedient people. Therefore, both the Holiness and Pentecostal movements may one-day fade in faith. When this occurs God will surly call another generation of faith. These new people shall be identified through their holy living and love of the Scriptures. The Spirit of holiness will rest upon them and the miraculous power of God will work in their lives. Always look for these beautiful marks upon the true people of God.
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