Doctrines of Demons: Onwards and Upwards! (Part 4)

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines [taught by] demons... (1 Tim 4:1 NKJ)

In the previous section of this study, I looked at another three aspects of "Overshadowing":

• The Glory Cloud returning to the "Ark" of the Christian Temple
• The divine nature as represented by gold, covering the believers
• The supposed 'rapture' or transfiguration of believers on earth as they receive their new spiritual bodies.

This final aspect of the overshadowing understandably upsets many of us who know the true biblical meaning of the Rapture. There are a number of opinions about this transformation and what it will entail, and I am going to try to pick out a few of them.

Afterwards, I will move on to some more deeply worrying aspects of the revival/sonship teachings: the rule of apostles and prophets, and the judgement they will bring upon all who do not submit to their rule.

Transformed believers will be irresistible, immune to harm, invincible, and even (some teach) immortal.

Once a person accepts the revised doctrine of the "transfiguration" on earth instead of the Rapture, and ceases to believe that the Church is taken "to be with the Lord", then a whole new revelation opens before him.

Using the scriptures about the transfiguration of Jesus, the Resurrection, and the covering of the glory it is possible to end up with the teaching that believers will become immune to harm on earth, or even IMMORTAL.

As Francis Frangipane says in his article "Greater Purity, Greater Protection":

"The transformation of our souls positions us outside of the devil's reach. It raises us up spiritually to seat us in heavenly places".

I believe that FEAR is at the heart of this doctrine, not faith. It is fear of persecution and suffering that drives some to invent a whole new doctrine of immunity from harm. While all the world outside of the Glorious Manchild is doomed to wrath, they themselves are enjoying an earthly walk in spiritual bodies immune to sin, sickness or even death. The devil cannot touch them! Who wouldn't want to believe in this?

Bob Jones: "This canopy of glory will provide shade from the heat of judgement and a refuge and protection from the raging storms of persecution and accusation. The Lord will be the light of that canopy and His Glory will provide divine insulation." [SHEPHERDS ROD 1999: Visions Given to Bob Jones. Written by Keith Davis ]

Bill Britton: "But thank God, that High-priestly company are going past the vail into a realm where there is 'hidden manna'. This 'hidden manna' is eaten only by the Overcomer (Revelation 2:17). Whosoever eats of this manna shall never die. Death will be put under feet. So when the High-priest company go through the vail they do not have to take the shewbread of healing. They have divine Life in that realm of the fulness of God. No death, no sickness can touch them. [Bill Britton: "Light Out Of Shadows" Chap.5]

1. The Glory Cloud brings Protection:

If you have been following these articles, you will know by now that those involved in the apostasy believe that the Shekinah Glory of God must return to the Christian Temple in the Endtimes, and that this Glory is God Himself in Spirit.

Since the Glory is GOD, and those who partake of the Glory (so they believe) will partake of the DIVINE NATURE, they will inherit divine immunity, health, purity, power, invincibility and immortality as well! In effect, they will have received their resurrection bodies on the earth.

"We do believe at this time, we are in this church, and that we are now being overshadowed by the direct ministration of the Spirit of God to produce in the earth that which all the saints and prophets of old prophesied about.---
In order to be filled with the "divine nature," we must be overshadowed by the divine. The effigy of the two cherubim on the Mercy Seat is a type of the divine overshadowing. The Song of Solomon speaks of the love between Christ and the church, and the final act of planting the seed of life within the soul, the womb of the church. This is God's divine order of bringing forth life.
Isaiah 51:16, 'And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.'
Since the heavens are of old, and the earth is already founded, we can only conclude from this scripture that it speaks of the heaven, or abiding place of God within the soul of man, and the earth, to mean the physical man, which as the scripture says will be made immortal.
The covering here is one of protection, an overshadowing that does not only change man's nature, but protects him while the change is being made. This idea is carried out by the scripture as shown below:
'And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by.' Exodus 33:22." ["The Pattern" by J. De Cille]

Not all in the revival believe this, or at least, not all ADMIT to believing it! However, it IS part and parcel of the doctrine as a whole. There is a logical internal structure to this heresy that DEMANDS certain things such as immunity and immortality, and once having accepted the basic creed it is dishonest of ministers to gloss over the more unacceptable parts of the teaching!

Glory in the Old Testament

The Glory Cloud is described in the Old Testament, appearing when God led the Israelites out of Egypt. At that time the covering of the cloud meant divine protection, guidance and provision to the chosen of God. (Ps 105:39-44/Exod 14:18-20/Neh 9:19-21)

The Glory seen in the Old Testament was prophesied to return in the latter days, and this prophecy has now been seized upon to apply to the Church. Thus the Glory Cloud will again - they say - be seen upon the Christian "Temple" providing a defense against all evil. This scripture from Isaiah is typical of the type used to support the doctrine:

When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defense. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain. (Isa 4:4-6)

I may need to point out that this prophecy of Isaiah speaks of the time AFTER the rescue and spiritual restoration of natural Israel, when God in Person (Jesus the Messiah) has returned to the earth to deliver and purify his ancient people! Only then will supernatural protection and the divine glory be seen in this way - NOT before.

However, those who see themselves as the Spiritual Israel, inheritors of all the promises for Israel, claim that THEY can experience the divine glory right now, and thus will be immune to all that would harm them on earth.

Unlike those other early Apostles and Prophets who were persecuted, rejected and killed, the latter-day Apostles and Prophets intend to be invincible, immune, and irresistible! They will overcome their enemies with a word, deflect every kind of attack, and preach their message with such power and anointing that none can resist it!

Paul Cain: I saw that when they shut up the apostles up in prison, and they killed all of them, many spiritual saints also because of their testimony throughout the past centuries, but this is what God showed me, that this army is INVINCIBLE, they are never put in prison, they are never delivered into the hands of their enemies. [Joel's Army message preached at Kansas City Prophets' Southside meeting.]

Jack Deere: Jesus is coming in power and he's going to have an army that is powerful, and this is the army that he speaks of in Joel. No one can stop it, and it will strike terror into the hearts of everyone. He says in verse 6, nations are in anguish, every face turns pale. This is just like Stephen standing and preaching Jesus to the Sanhedrin in Acts 7, you know. None of them could refute this man, none of them can refute Stephen. And so their faces are gnarled in anger and they gnash their teeth at him and they rush at him and kill him. They're gripped with pain as they stand before this man. That's what will happen with Joels' Army with only one difference, one difference, they won't be able to kill this army. They can't go against this army and suppress it. They will flee from it in terror... nothing can stand in its way, nothing can hold you back, if you know that place, nothing can defeat you, not in this army. In times past, yes, but not in this army. This army is invincible... [Jack Deere "Joel's Army" message preached in 1990, tape sold by Vineyard Ministries International]

John Wimber: So this army has power over men; furthermore this army has power over nature and principalities...power over nature, the creation of God...the earth shall quake before them and the heavens shall tremble, the sun and moon be dark..now those words "before them" means "at their direction". (He then likens Joel's Army to the Two Witnesses in Revelation, and continues)... I don't know if these are two literal men...all I know that other scriptures will tell you is that what these men are endowed with is going to be placed in the BODY. The ARMY will know these things...'and I will give power to my two witnesses...and if anyone tries to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths and devours their enemy.' And I don't know if it means a literal fire or [not]...[John Wimber, Joel's Army message preached in England at the Docklands meetings in 1990.]

2. The Glory Cloud Brings Sinless Perfection:

In a similar way to above, as the Glory Cloud purifies and sanctifies all that it covers and fills, thus sonship believers see their ultimate release from the power and presence of sin in the coming of the Glory. The sort of scripture used to 'prove' this doctrine is as follows:

"And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory. And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest's office. And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God." (Exod 29:43-46)

Paul Cain, preaching about the coming Army of the Lord that is going to purge the earth of its wickedness, says:

"it's coming, it's coming, sweeping this way, sweeping this way. A mighty revival is sweeping this way. All the sick are going to be healed, the dead are going to be raised and nations are going to turn to God in a day, and he will purge Israel of her sins and iniquity in a day, in a day." [Paul Cain, "Joel's Army" at Kansas City Prophets' Southside Meeting.]

(Remember that "Israel" means "The Church" in this new theology.)

3. The Glory Cloud Brings Power over Sickness and Death:

Dwelling in the Glory Cloud brings power over all sickness, diseases, and even death, according to the prophets of this New Order. In tapes of the preaching of Paul Cain and Bob Jones released by the Vineyard Movement in the 1990's, it was made clear that the dead will be raised almost automatically during the ministry of this "army of the Lord", limbs, eyes and other organs will be restored, diseases banished, cancers healed and all who suffer sickness will be cured!

Bob Jones: "for I tell you, you're not going to fly away right away, but you're coming, and going, to raise up the body of Christ that will inherit, and My Glory will abide upon thee, and sickness, sin and poverty will not be able to stand in your presence, you see. And the gods that men have worshipped will fall down and bow to thee..." [Bob Jones "The Remnant Seed" poetic 'prophecy' given at Cross Roads Church, Hamilton, Ontario, March 1998]

Paul Cain: Like the burning bush, the church will again shine with the glory of the Lord. Though the bush was merely an inanimate plant impregnated with God's glory, the church will be a living body that is glorious beyond description. Like the burning bush, we will be a sign that people will turn aside to see. The holy radiation of God will drive out all kinds of illnesses in these last days, and it will be the number one cure for cancers, AIDS and all kinds of communicable diseases. [Paul Cain article: "When Heaven Comes To Earth" ]

4. The Glory Cloud brings Supernatural Abilities:

Just as Jesus after his resurrection was enabled to walk through doors, go without food, appear in places instantly and rise up to heaven, so the new apostles and prophets believe transformed believers will enjoy the same powers over the natural order, living in resurrection bodies on the earth.

Bob Jones recently told those gathered in Hamilton, Ontario that the endtimes saints of the Remnant will have astounding powers:

"For this is the inheritance of the saints you see, To not be defeated in the last day ... because they are victorious in every way, and put on all of my nature .... For I am calling forth my body of Christ, to walk upon the earth where the very earth itself does tremble at their footsteps. And to where the heathen does tremble at their words. Because they will have power over life and death, over storm and fire, and all the things of nature, and by their word, by their word, that they speak as they mature in me, will there be life or death as they do say, 'rain or drought'. That's what will happen as they learn to literally loose my prayers in a brand new way." [The Remnant Seed: Bob Jones]

Another writer in the sonship camp makes this statement:

"Obedient one...God will make you bullet proof! Those that walk in the kingdom will not die until its God's time, and on God's terms. .... The realm of the human spirit, that is under the possession of the Holy Ghost, causes men and women to soar like eagles, full of keen discernment. Like Astronauts in space, we will find ourselves free from the encumbering influences of this Luciferean gravity. Gravity is quickly replaced with joy unspeakable and full of glory!" ["Who am I? (An Introduction)" Nov 13, 1998]

We have already seen, in earlier parts of this series, how Franklin Hall (a major contributor to the Latter-Rain movement of the 1940's and 50's) predicted freedom from gravity as a result of the outpouring of the endtimes glory. Paul Cain has also predicted that transformed believers will levitate and translocate.

Paul Cain describes the coming days of glory in great detail on his tape about Joels' Army. He describes how these transformed believers will perform astounding miracles way beyond anything known in the New Testament. They will have open visions of heaven and commune face to face with God; they will walk with angels; they will levitate, preach for days without any food or water, and appear in places instantly without having gone there in the flesh.

Paul Cain describes this people as a "great Army of Spirit-led, Spirit-empowered people...and no demon, no man-system, no enemy will stop them or hinder them or resist them." He continues:

"...all of the stadiums and all of the ballparks are filled with hundreds and thousands of people. They have hearses lined up, they have hundreds of stretcher cases and all that, and there are men standing there in the pulpit, there are women standing there, that haven't had a change of raiment in three days, they haven't had a drink of water, they haven't had any food and they are preaching under the mighty power. Why, did you see that man levitate? Did you see all those preachers just levitated? Did you see that fixed pose? They stood there for 24 hours in a fixed pose worshipping and praising God and hundreds of thousands came by and fell on their faces and nobody pushed them and nobody shoved them. They fell under the power of God, and everybody everywhere is crying "Oh this is God and Jesus is Lord". It seems like the whole world is turning to God."

The Kansas City Prophets as they were known in the early 1990's (notably Bob Jones, Paul Cain and John Paul Jackson with the assistance of Mike Bickle and others) worked closely with the Vineyard churches and John Wimber at that time, seeding the sonship-latter-rain doctrines into the heart of that community. It is no surprise that the Toronto Blessing emerged out of the Vineyard Movement.

Despite many failed prophecies and proven abuses, Bob Jones and Paul Cain and others from the KCP group continue to be hailed as mentors and grandfathers in the faith, and their doctrine is considered central to the ongoing revival. We need only look at the literature and tapes of the KCP group to see revealed in all their arrogance and heresy the doctrines now being held up as "new revelations" for the revival!

5. The Glory Cloud Brings Immortality:

Not everyone, even in sonship circles, believes that the manifested sons of the endtime will be immortal. However, according to their doctrine, the "manifested sons" are the Manchild of the woman, who is "caught up to God's Throne". This in itself identifies them as having been immortalised, without even touching on all the other proofs brought forward to support the doctrine. I cannot personally see how the doctrine of immortality can be avoided once a minister accepts all the other aspects on sonship, because it is a logical progression of the sonship creed - and always has been!

Almost all the sonship groups that emerged from the Latter Rain Revival of the 1940's taught immortality for the "raptured" Remnant.

It cannot be denied that immortality has been taught as integral to this doctrine from the very beginning - indeed, LONG BEFORE the popularisation of latter-rain or sonship teachings we see millennialists like Jane Leade firmly convinced that the latter-day anointed believers will have progressed so far in their spiritual walk that they will be immortal. Later, the founders of the LR movement like Franklin Hall, George Warnock and George Hawtin all taught the same! For example:

"Enoch did it, so did Elijah. And so shall the sons of God. The Word of Faith shall grip the hearts, and they shall reach out and appropriate the Resurrection and the life, even now in this life. If they do not, Christ will never return to the earth. For God hath said 'Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool' (Ps 110:1) And the last enemy is DEATH. [George Warnock "Feast of Tabernacles" ]

Here Jane Leade writes about the Manifested Sons of God in "A Message to the Philadelphian Society" which was her sixth published Prophetic Work, made available in 1696. This manuscript from the 17th century was out of print for a very long time, but has now been redistributed by Apostolic groups on the Internet. (There's a good treatment of Jane Leade's works and the revival of the Mystics to be found at The Prophetic Telegraph)

Now It was further Queried in me, since the several Societies and Assemblies link’d together at this Day in separated Bodies, have been all rejected and excepted against by Christ, what will be the Signs, Tokens and Characters, by which this Pure Virgin Church shall be certainly known, and distinguished from all other?
Answer. The first and main sign and Character hereof must be, that as this is to be a Pure and Spotless Church, so must it be brought forth from the Virgin Womb of Eternal Wisdom, and so grow to all the Degrees of Perfection, under a strict Law and Discipline, which extends it self so far as to abolish the Law of Sin.
Another Sign is, that as it is conceive’d by the Holy Ghost, it will grow up to such a Manifestation, as is to give absolute Power according to the Resurrection Life of Christ; for that this Church must be agreeable to himself, perfected in the Beauty and Strength of Holiness: who will not own any that shall be found in any Disparity to him. Therefore her Adorning must be with Purity, Power, and Spiritual Gifts; to do and act those worthy things, which he did and acted upon the Earth, as representing the New Jerusalem State.
For Spirits that are thus purely begotten, and born of God, can ascend to the Jerusalem Above, where their Head in his great Power and Majesty doth reign; and thereby receive such mission, to empower these to bring down its Glory upon this Earth, having such an Oneness with God and Christ, that will open through the Tri-Unity the Wonders of Time, that will be acted forth by certain High and Principal Instruments, dignified hereunto; and make out that their Redemption is perfectly completed. [i.e. they have their resurrection bodies].
For such Invincible Powers will go forth as shall draw to them the scattered Flocks, and gather them into one Fold, out of all Nations and Languages and Kindreds; whose Worship shall consist in nothing but in pure Light, Life, and Spirit, without any degree of Mixture, whereby all outward Formalities must fly away, when God shall thus come to pitch his Tabernacle in Man: And the Ark of his Testimony will so open it self, that Dagon must fall before it.
Nothing but the pure Fire and Air from the Holy Ghost, shall be the Organs through which God will speak forth his Mind; whereby all shall be taught of God, as being only filled with God: Which Word of his Speaking through them, will beget a New and Heavenly Generation, that will multiply it self over the Face of the whole Earth; and make the old hereby to vanish and sink away.
This is the Bridal Church that Christ will make ready for his Appearance: and until this be accomplish’d and effected, he cannot come down in his Visible and Personal Glory, for the Solemnizing of this Eternal Marriage, which will be the Joy and Praise not only of the Earth, but also of the Heavens: which shall both be united as into One, and the Militant Church and the Triumphant be no longer twain.
In order to this the Angel-Messengers are gone forth to proclaim, That this Day is upon the World dawning, and that the Virgin Wisdom hath her Representatives upon the Earth that do travail in the greatness of the Godhead strength, for the bringing forth these mighty Births, that shall rule and subdue all Nations under them; that so the Kingdoms of this World may become one all-pure and powerful Kingdom, in which Christ with his Bride shall rule and reign, in the Father’s Glory and Might.

To this Richard Riss agrees. (Riss is often quoted as a theologian of the revival and a man who maintains a wide mailing list for revival supporters.) In his article "Preparing for the Second Coming of Christ" he says this:

"Jesus has reconciled us through His death to present us before Him at His coming holy and blameless and beyond reproach, provided that we continue wholeheartedly in the faith, never allowing ourselves to be distracted from the hope of the gospel, which is that we will be filled with His fullness at His coming, and that this fullness of His Spirit will quicken, or make alive, our mortal bodies, causing us to become immortal and therefore indestructible, when the wrath of God is poured out upon the earth. The promises of God are conditional. We must cooperate with the operation of God's grace in our lives. If we do not, and if we continue to resist Him, then we will not be among the elect."

Please remember that the revivalist's catchphrase is that "the Lord is coming TO his people before he comes FOR his people" and that he is coming IN his Body before he returns to the earth in person, visibly and literally. Therefore what we understand about the Rapture and Second Coming is NOT what Richard Riss teaches here. Indeed, he specifically denies that the biblical Rapture is a catching away of the saints from the earth, as we have seen earlier.

Another book that explicitly explains the doctrine of immortality is "The Pattern" by J. De Cille. Correcting our "erroneous" understanding of the Rapture it says:

"The word "caught up" means, in the carnal understanding, just a lifting up in the air, and many teachers teach that we will be taken away from this earth to another planet. There is no scriptural basis for this. Paul was caught up, but he was still here in body. Truly, there were men who were caught up and lived no more among men, although they have been seen here on occasions. The Manchild, however, when he is caught up, will be immediately given a place of rulership on earth. The word "caught up," therefore, must be a lifting up from the human realm to a higher realm, where he will be living in immortality, and yet in humanity, even as Jesus Christ after His resurrection."

The verses in the book of Revelation that give the sonship and revival believers such great ammunition for their theories are found in Chapter 12, where the woman gives birth to the Manchild, who is then "caught up unto God and to His Throne". The Throne is of course the seat of God's power and ruling authority.

This, in the allegorical interpretation of the sonship believers means that the prepared remnant who are ready to be glorified are transfigured in the Glory Cloud and elevated to a NEW SPIRITUAL DIMENSION while yet on the earth. There they RECEIVE AUTHORITY so that they seat themselves on the THRONE OF GOVERNMENT over the earth. (Note: Compare this to 2 Thess 2:4)

"Look to the many-membered 'Man-child' and decree his coming forth in prophetic proclamation, for the dragon is poised even now desiring to devour him with pride, but know that My hand of protection is upon him in your proclamation. Yes, he shall humble himself under My mighty hand and I shall exalt him in Kingdom authority to rule the nations. Know that the time of manifestation of the 'Man-child' is come, and speak forth My purposes over him that he be joined in oneness with Me, 'caught up' as it were into Me and My throne that My resurrection power flow through him to the nations." ["BIRTH OF THE "MAN-CHILD" Prophecy from Trumpet Call]

This is a very serious matter indeed. They believe that they will be divinely endowed with the Government and Authority over the earth, taking the place of the fallen powers in the heavenlies (whom they cast out!) and thus rule the nations with a rod of iron, destroying all that opposes God.

We will shortly see how they view their role during that time, and what it will mean for people like us.

6. The Glory brings Christhood

Finally, the outpouring and overshadowing of the Glory, they teach, will endow the "manchild" with divine abilities and properties, so that he partakes of the divine nature itself!

"This is my description of the Sons of Glory: Those who have become honored by God... and the Holy Spirit has weighed them down with the mantle of His anointing until they have become adorned (clothed) in the illumination of His glorious splendor. At this point these Sons of Glory have beautified themselves with His likeness (divine nature) and are bringing forth the golden oil, which is allowing the fullness of the Holy Spirit to illuminate the risen Christ, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory!" [Faith Tabernacle:Trumpet Prophecies]

Just as Jesus Christ in his human body was both man and God, so this many-membered 'christ' will be God in human form!

They are not ashamed to call themselves gods, and they pay no heed to the lessons learned by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. They have moved on to perfection and therefore have qualified (in their own eyes) to receive the ultimate prize of godhood.

If the file is still there, take a look at "I Am Christ", which is admittedly not the normal style of revival writing, but what some state openly and proudly, others hide underneath clever theological statements and out-of-context scriptures, trying to defend the indefensible by couching it in acceptable 'christianese'. Since the leaders have bought the whole package, they may as well come out into the open and proclaim their christhood, for they do believe themselves to be Christ on earth!

From that article I quote:

"I am Christ. How can you or I say that - isn't that blasphemy?...Here is what Jesus said [he then quotes scriptures about the kingdom coming "within you" - which in fact is a mistranslation of that verse!]...right now you may be ninety-nine percent human and only one percent Christ. This is because the evil world has given you a false identity. But remember, your true identity is Christ...Jesus attained the 100 percent level...He came...as a pattern son...[that is, a prototype for us to model ourselves on]... accept the grace of your heavenly Father by your confession of the true God-given self, which is Christ."

Or how about this statement from another sonship believer:

"The 'journey inward' has to do with who I am in Adam... the 'journey upward' has to do with the Second Adam, CHRIST IN ME... for in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and I am complete IN HIM... WE are Christ in His BODY in the earth today!... I am NOT speaking metaphorically, WE are Christ in His BODY in the earth today! WE are the corporate, many membered man CHRIST of whom Jesus is the HEAD! ...I cannot 'arrive' at perfection as an individual, but ONLY as the many membered corporate Man." [Trumpet Call Apostolic/Prophetic Site]

The Sequence of Events

Although teachings vary from group to group, the main events remain the same. The differences occur in the timing. From what I am reading, it seems that the timetable for coming events is something like this:

1. Elijah comes to purge the woman, the religious, tradition-bound old order church.
2. The Woman is thus brought into "labour pangs" to birth the Manchild
3. The Manchild corporate-christ emerges from the old order and is revealed as Christ Incarnate to the Church and Nations
4. War breaks out in the heavenlies with satan defeated and the kingdom established under the authority of the Manchild
5. Apostolic authority is wielded by the new order leadership to govern and cleanse the church and the world
6. The old-order religious people are either destroyed or reconciled in submission to the Manchild. All non-believers are brought under God's laws.
7. Whatever remains of wickedness and rebellion on the earth is destroyed by the wrath of God, some say directly, others say this happens by the mouth of the prophets.
8. The "last enemy" death in ultimately eradicated
9. Jesus can now return in person to take the reins of his kingdom.

I am going to deal with each concept in more detail, but firstly read the "order of events" as envisaged by one sonship believer. I must stress that not all groups agree on the details, but the overall concepts remain the same. (For example, some believe in the personal Antichrist, while others see this as a general principle of rebellion against God.)

The Order of Events: (Impartations 97)

• It will start with "Elijah." ... (he continues in another place...)
• First is the judgment of the institutional and apostate churches.
• Then, the new overcoming church is given as a light to unbelievers and a covenant to the church. The hypocritical in the church are publicly revealed.
• Jesus is recognized in His corporate manifestation as The Branch, the Manchild, etc.
• The remnant is exhorted during the time of the fall of the institutional church. The new apostles are miraculously protected.
• The overcoming church operates spiritually in heaven and physically on earth.
• The restored church walks corporately the same path as previously walked individually by Jesus.
• The transition is complete.
• God’s servants are sealed in their foreheads.
• The Trumpet judgments are at hand.

The Events in Detail

1. The 'spirit of Elijah' - before the new christ, the Manchild, can be 'born' into the earth, a new messenger, a new corporate John The Baptist must come to prepare the way. A company of prophets emerges "in the spirit of Elijah". They have a powerful prophetic ministry and proclamation, according to the sonship doctrines, that will cleanse the Temple of those who oppose his coming, and proclaim the "new thing" that is to come.

"The Old Testament deals with today’s end-time Christian Church. Many things in the Old Testament were given by God as a pattern (types) for today. It was Elijah who was sent to fight idolatry in the apostate church. Elijah must return again in the very end times (Mal. 4:5), coming once more against idolatry in the church.
... Elijah eradicated an entire order of false prophets that had been set up by one who manipulated the leadership of the church.These scriptures paint a picture of a prophetically driven transition in the church, targeted on idolatry, and causing a corporate redemption of unwise church leadership. The prophets first come against the apostate church that the institutional leaders have allowed to be set up. Then the second part of the prophetic transition comes against the institutional leaders, themselves. After the leadership transition, the new leaders operate from the overcoming remnant church." (Bar Jona: Impartations 97)

Clayt Sonmore in a sonship manual called "Beyond Pentecost" puts it this way: "Elijah's ministry was one of confrontation to force the people to stop being neutral between conflicting loyalties and to choose one of them exclusively."

This next quote is incredible in its attitude:

"We have entered into a period where the Lord is restoring and gathering the Five Fold Ministry. These restored leaders will operate in the spirit of Elijah gathering and bringing to maturity those who are willing to pay the price and go on with the Lord....No one will come to maturity independent from the restored Five Fold Ministers. God is establishing order and the river of God's grace is being diverted and will flow from the head through the restored Five Fold Ministry to the body. Those that are on their own will not receive the abundance of grace that will be available to bring them to maturity and will even experience less grace in their lives than they have had in the past. Their lamps will be low on oil, they will have almost no discernment and they will be open to deception. These will be foolish virgins.
The Princes that answered the First Trumpet Call (first fruits of wheat) will be the food for the rest of the church. They will operate in the spirit of Elisha and will use the church that was rejected by the Lord to work with Jesus to build himself a permanent habitation. Solomon's Temple is a type of this permanent habitation. The Lord will finally have a place to lay his head a place not just to visit but a place he can call his own.
Those who answer the First Trumpet (Gideon's Army) will be fighting battles for the whole church. At times they will be fighting against much of the church to win battles for her. David ruled over Judah for 7 1/2 years. He fought against the house and spirit of Saul and gradually increased his rule and eventually ruled over the whole house of Israel. His battle was not to destroy Israel but to destroy the bondage and control of Saul.

"The Apostle Paul grieved that most of the Jews would not receive what he was preaching and only a remnant would receive their Messiah and Deliverer. Jesus wept over Jerusalem that they were about to miss their Hour of Visitation. Once again most of the church is about to miss their Hour of Visitation. Those that are supposed to come in are not. All are invited but only a few will answer the call.
We have been in the dispensation of grace for the last two thousand years. As we come to the end of this age and prepare to move into the kingdom age we are preparing for major change. ... Learning the Fear of God is the wisest response to these testings. Stubbornness will make the trip a nightmare. Those most likely to experience hell on earth will be the those who keep repeating to themselves, " I know I am right!" Stubbornness is as the sin of witchcraft." ["The Two Trumpets" By Tommy Thompson]

2. The 'woman' brought into 'tribulation' - this can mean different things to different groups, but in essence it means that a purging and exposure of the old 'religious' order must come to pass BEFORE the manchild can be revealed to the world.

Here is a quote that speaks of the 'troubling of Israel' by Elijah as ESSENTIAL in order to birth the manchild:

"In order for the explosive superlative personal and corporate prophecies spoken concerning the Church to be fulfilled, it is absolutely essential that the world and the Church be catapulted together into a sudden tumultuous traumatic historic upheaval---the Tribulation. It is the "last-days" anointing that we need most of all. It will be a sudden outpouring, not a gradual increase... The outpouring which turns upside down the physical realm must coincide with a massive manifestation in the spiritual realm called the Spirit of Elijah." [Cathedral of Praise Apostolic Website]

"A 'John The Baptist' (spirit of Elijah) type remnant is going to be birthed that are going to go forth with the anointing to prepare the way for the coming of our Lord. ... The Lord is going to send forth an east wind to scatter and wash away all the wickedness in the church and a north wind to destroy all that is not of Him. [Words in Due Season: (Sponsored by Faith Tabernacle of Kremmling CO.) - Karen Palermo August 30, 1999]

2. The 'birth of the Manchild' - this has been covered elsewhere but basically means the emergence and revelation to the world of a divine many-membered Son of God as the new World Ruler. The "coming" of Christ is interpreted to mean his "revealing" in the Body. He will be revealed to the world as a Corporate Redeemer, endued with Glory of his Father. Since Christ is the Head, these will be "headship" believers, apostles and other leaders, who are destined to RULE the nations. They takes their place on the Throne as God's Government over the earth. This happens as the Glory covers the Manchild and lifts him up from humiliation and 'death' in the world.

"Is not the 'woman' ready to give birth to the 'Man-child' even now? For she is clothed with the sun and I have placed the crown of Apostolic order upon her 'head', and her travail is turning to proclamation... all of creation groans in travail with the woman that the manifestation of her 'Seed' come forth quickly. Indeed, this One, this 'Man-child', this 'perfect Man' of many members SHALL rule the nations as I have purposed and according to My promise. For he shall be joined unto Me, I in him and he in Me, and he shall issue forth judgment as I command... for he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes or the hearing of his ears, but with righteousness shall he judge as My seat of authority, My throne.
As he has borne the image of the man of dust, even so shall he bear My image as mortality puts on immortality and death is swallowed up of life. I shall clothe this many-membered 'Man-child' with My glory and My nature and kings shall come to the brightness of his rising. Yes, nations shall come to the 'Man-Christ' and submit themselves as the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of the Lord and HIS CHRIST.
Rejoice and sing, O Zion, for the redemption that all creation has groaned for is nigh... indeed, the 'woman' SHALL, through Apostolic order bring forth the 'Man', the fullness of the stature of Christ, and the kingdoms of this world SHALL be the Kingdom of the Lord and HIS CHRIST, the 'Man-child'." ["BIRTH OF THE "MAN-CHILD" Prophecy from Trumpet Call]

3. War breaks out in "heaven" - As Jack Deere said on his audio tape message, "Joel's Army": "When this army comes, angelic powers are going to tremble...when this army comes on the scene, when it appears suddenly, angelic powers will fall.

The revivalists understand 'heaven' to be a spiritual realm in parallel with this earth. Since they have now received bodies and minds that can enter into this alternative realm, they are empowered to do battle with the fallen powers that have, up to this point, been ruling mankind. They cast out these fallen powers, grasp their inheritance (the meek shall inherit the earth) and take over as rulers in place of these principalities and powers.

"You have heard what the Spirit has spoken; now watch! As I turned my eyes toward heaven, this is what I saw: The Glorious One with the hundred, forty-four and the thousands mounted up on the wings of eagles, and they flew into the heavenlies to wage war against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places."["A vision of eagles" - Prophecy by Bill Burns, Faith Tabernacle.]

(The above is a visionary depiction of the event. Believers are not going to physically fly. Remember that they consider the heavenlies to be a parallel spiritual dimension and that they are freely functioning in both spiritual and material realms, having been transfigured by the Glory of God. Therefore they do not physically 'GO' anywhere to battle the principalities and powers, but are enabled to defeat these fallen entities while still in human bodies on the earth. As I understand things, it will be achieved by intercession, proclamation and spiritual warfare, although accounts do vary.)

"Immediately there is war in heaven. That's because the sons of God have entered into a realm in the heavenlies from whence Satan has for so long ruled. ... This is the time when he (Satan), of whom Pharaoh was but the type, is confronted by Christ's representatives on earth in order to bring out of hard servitude the chosen seed of God....To this end the great Prince, Michael, will stand for the children of God. ... The great dragon was cast out, who had from thence deceived the whole world. That's the good news. When the sons are caught up to the realm of governing authority. NOW is come salvation! NOW is come strength! NOW is come THE KINGDOM OF OUR GOD AND OF HIS CHRIST!....In other words, this child caught up to become identified with governing authority is the blossoming root, known as the Manchild company, who will, by virtue of the mighty-acting power of the Holy Spirit upon it, make war with the dragon and his angels and overcome them. This is God's heavenly militia which He has enrolled to go against Satan and his angels in the might and power of spiritual arms." [Larry and Betty Hodges, 'Shofar Letters', Sigler Ministries, Linwood NC.]

Not only do these overcomers enter into spiritual battle and defeat the spiritual powers of wickedness in the heavenlies, they also cast them out and replace them, as the new rulers of the earth. They become the spiritual rulers in the heavens!

"The mark of YAH our Righteousness is the seal of God as seen in the foreheads of the saints, effective at the close of human probation. They are declared overcomers, firstfruits unto God, and are worthy to share Christs throne. The 144,000 - being the combination of humanity and divinity, are those who replace the fallen angels in the Government of YAH. They are perfected in character and fully reflect the King-Redeemer in thought word and deed." [The Mark of Yah is our Righteousness"]

"Prophet" Tommy Thompson says the same thing:

"This army will have the support of Michael the Archangel and the legions of angels under his command who will take back the second heaven which was stolen from Adam about 6000 years ago. Satan and his angels will be cast down to earth. I believe this will be completed by the Feast of Pentecost in 2001. This will begin the tribulation..." ["The Unveiling Of Christ" by Tommy Thompson - July 1999]

4. Rule with a Rod of Iron - Now they must extend "God's kingdom rule" over the entire earth. A tight pyramid structure of government is set up in which all must submit to their superiors, from Joe Public in the pew right up to the apostles on the top level (and presumably the "head" apostle as the capstone?). They establish God's laws for mankind and destroy any who disobey, purging the earth of 'wickedness and rebellion' until only the obedient remain.

"The 'age of the Kingdom' is beginning to dawn even as I am raising up apostolic authority and order in My church... for she IS the 'seat of authority' in the earth and the heavenly realm that directly interacts with the earth, and as My authority and apostolic order is imparted to her, dramatic changes are beginning to occur. Where there is a kingdom, there is a kingdom order and authority and THIS is what I am restoring as I call forth apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers... Kingdom order that I may rule from My 'seat of authority' in the earth. And what is My 'seat of authority' in the earth?... MAN, submitted to Me and My Kingdom order. ["Finding Your Place in the Apostolic Vision" February, 1999]

"How is God going to bring judgement on the Church, and then judgement upon the land after his church? He's going to do it with a large and mighty army --- it's so mighty that there's never been anything like it before. Not even Moses, not even David, not even Paul. What's going to happen now will transcend what Paul did, what David did, what Moses did, even though Moses parted the Red Sea (he then says this army is the 144 thousand mentioned in Revelation)
...See 144,000 is a multiple of 12. What is 12? Twelve is the number of the APOSTLES, APOSTOLIC GOVERNMENT. And he says that before them a fire devours...what is this fire that devours. Exod 24:17 says this...(glory cloud) His glory was a consuming fire Deut 4:24 Zeph 3:8 Here is Yahweh speaking about his coming...The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger...The Lord says I am getting ready to come, and I'm going to consume the whole world by the fire of my jealous anger.
Now what is he jealous for when he comes? He is jealous for his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. And he's coming to the church right now and anything that is opposed to his SON, anything that tried to take the glory from his son, anything that beats up on his children, that beats up on his sheep, that robs or steals or rapes them, anything that does that, he is coming as a consuming fire and he is going to destroy them." [Jack Deere, audio tape: "Joel's Army" from Vineyard Ministries International 1990]

5. Woman in the wilderness - the non-aligned, dissenting, members of the former world Church are thrust into a spiritual wilderness. Those who look to the "son" for forgiveness and guidance are welcomed back into the fold. All others perish. (The spiritual marriage of the woman and the 'christ' is said to be this reconciliation of the penitents.)

"There will be several million people involved in this move of God and many who truly love the Lord will be involved in the birthing process (Woman) but they will not be ready to completely die to self. These believers will be protected in the wilderness by God and will be fed and covered by the 144,000 First of the Firstfruits of Wheat (the Manchild). [The Unveiling Of Christ by Tommy Thompson, 30 July 1999]

[There are differences of opinion as to who the Woman is - some teach that the sun-clothed woman is the overcoming church and her manchild is the 'headship' of that church; others teach that the woman is the religious old order which must be brought under discipline.]

6. The Wrath - while the Manchild and all who obey him are immune to all harm (having received the seal of God upon their foreheads), the rest of the world comes under the wrath of God and is consumed by the "fire" of his word. (Some say this is literal fire, some say it is the words of the prophets.)

"When He has finished preparing this many-membered man, He is going to purge the earth of every other man by His Judgment Day, and there will come in a new age, and a new earth, with a new man living in a new order, where every member is so dead to self that he lives unto the rest of the Body, and that Order shall perpetuate eternal life." [Sam Fife, a father of the Manifested Sons Movement in his book, 'One Corporate Man,']

"There is a terrific operation of the Spirit going on today to bring the Sons of God into an absolute confinement to the perfect will of God ... This is His battle axe and weapons of war with which He shall subdue kingdoms and overcome all His enemies. This is His mighty and strong One to whom He shall commit the work of judging this world. This is His Overcomer, His great army with which He shall bring the nations into submission." [Bill Britton:"The Harness of the Lord" - Government of the Church.]

7. The Last Enemy - finally, with the earth renewed to a place of complete holiness to the Lord and obedience to his laws, death itself is overthrown by the word of the divine 'son'. "The last generation of the Church will overcome the last enemy (death)" So says "prophet" Bill Hamon in his "Word For 1999".

Much-respected father of the movement, Earl Paulk, has often stated his belief that the last enemy, death itself, will be destroyed - and not by God, but by the "overcoming Church" of the endtimes.

"The 5th function of the Church is to conquer the last enemy, death, and to bring redemption to the Body of Christ...Jesus Christ Himself overcame death individually, and when the Church becomes so conformed to His image that those who die do not pass through the grave, but become instead gloriously changed in the twinkling of an eye, it will be that church which will bring the Kingdom of God to pass in the earth ...
[Paulk then quotes Romans 8:18,22-23, and Ephesians 1:13-14] "We have received the earnest of the EXPECTATION through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but we must move on to the POSSESSION, which is overcoming the last enemy, death. Sometimes the interpretation has been made that Jesus Christ conquered death, but if that were so, why would Paul's epistle to the Corinthians, written at least ninety years later, say that the last enemy that SHALL be destroyed is death (I Corinthians 15:26)? Jesus Christ conquered death individually, but it is left to the Church to conquer death on a corporate basis...
"Is it possible that there will be a people who so possess the authority of Almighty God, as Elijah did, that they, as a group, will say to death, hell, and the spirit of Satan, 'We will NOT die. We will stay here and be changed, and we will call Jesus Christ to return to this earth as King of Kings and Lords of Lords'? Yes, that is what I believe the church must do! But it will not be easy, because GOD IS LOOKING FOR THE MANIFESTATION OF A MATURE CHURCH WHO CAN SPEAK WITH THE AUTHORITY JESUS HAD WHEN HE STILLED THE WINDS AND CALLED LAZARUS FORTH FROM THE GRAVE. "An exciting prospect? Oh, yes! We are God's people, called to do the will of God in the world today and to see the King of Glory return to establish His Kingdom on earth! Jesus Christ had the authority to say 'No' to death on earth, and He is waiting for us to come to that same authority He had so we can say, 'The last enemy - death - has been conquered!'
[Paulk then quotes I Corinthians 15:20-26.] Jesus Christ, as the firstfruit of the Kingdom, began the work of conquering death on an individual basis, but we, as His church will be the ones to complete the task. Jesus said (Matthew 28:18), 'All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth,' and the church today has that same power. Death will not be conquered by Jesus returning to the earth. It will be conquered when the church stands up boldly and says, 'We have dominion over the earth!' How else will God be able to show Satan a people for whom death holds no fear, over whom death no longer has any power? When God can do that, Satan's hold on us will be broken forever!" [Earl Paulk, "The Proper Function of the Church", p.13.]

8. Jesus Can Now Return - only now, with the last enemy destroyed, and the kingdom established on earth, can Jesus return in person, physically and literally to take the reins of his kingdom and be the visible head of the new Jerusalem.

It is often a shock when Christians discover that, according to this doctrine, Jesus Christ the Lord CANNOT return to earth until all His enemies have been destroyed. He must be "held in the heavens" until this Restoration is complete. One scripture used to prove the doctrine is Psalm 110 which says a number of things useful to the Movement:

1. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
2. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
4. The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. [We will later be taking a look at the Melchisadek Priesthood of the New Church.]
5. The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
6. He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.

Thus, it is taught that Jesus must sit waiting patiently until the CHURCH destroys all the enemies of Jesus and cleanses the earth of evil.

"I am now even upgrading the intensity of power that I am giving you with which to fight the enemy. My plan from the beginning has been to defeat My enemy, and I have chosen to do it through My people. [Prophecy of Jean Rodman, February 1999 (Cathedral of Praise)]

However, the Psalmist specifies who will do the work - God himself: "Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." Then the Psalm goes on to specify when and under what circumstances this will take place - viz, the Lord returns to Mount Zion to take his throne of rulership in the "day of his power" and in the "day of his wrath" when the LORD shall "strike through kings, judge among the heathen and fill the places with dead bodies..." (compare Jer 33:4-8/Rev 14:19-20

It is clear to me, also looking at similar scriptures, that the Day of the Lord and the Day of his Wrath are nothing to do with the CHURCH, or "anointed apostles and prophets" or "overcomers" at all. This will be a Day when the Lord comes to slay the wicked with the sword coming from his mouth. (Rev 19:15-21)

Did he find a man to help him in this task? NO - for "I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth." (Isa 63:5-6)

I hope to look briefly at all these events, seen through the eyes of the revival/manifested sons followers. I will be limited only by the length of this file and your patience in reading the myriad of quotes that could be brought forward to support these doctrines.

The most worrying part is the plan to purge the present-day churches of all who oppose these doctrines; they also intend to set up a Global church headed by the latter-day Apostles and prophets. Read on to the next in the series...

CONTINUE TO THE NEXT PART OF THE SERIES (Part Five) HERE

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(c) Tricia Tillin 1999

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© 2003 Tricia Tillin of Banner Ministries. All rights reserved. Cross+Word Website: http://www.banner.org.uk/  This document is the property of its author and is not to be displayed on other websites, redistributed, sold, reprinted, or reproduced in printed in any other format without permission. Websites may link to this article, if they provide proper title and author information.   One copy may be downloaded, stored and/or printed for personal research. All spelling and phraseology is UK English.