In House of Cards Falling (Part 1), we examined the network of alleged sexual and other abuses within the International House of Prayer, particularly in regard to IHOP founder and frontman, Mike Bickle. In Part 2 of the series, we took a look at the failed prophetic movement that has been integral to IHOP from the very beginning, particularly in the form of the Kansas City Prophets. With revelations that the International House of Prayer Kansas City will soon be closing its doors and starting a new organisation, we ask, in this third and final part in the series, what warning signs were missed – or ignored, and we outline the desperate need for true spiritual discernment within the body of Christ.

William Branham

Modern-day ‘prophets’ like Shawn Bolz make no attempt to hide the fact that their main mentor was Paul Cain. Cain, in turn, was a self-declared protege of William Branham. One of the leading figures in the Healing Revival of the 40s and 50s, Branham (1909-1965) has long been widely regarded as a prophet of extraordinary gifting, whose ministry has been stated as being unparalleled since the days of Christ.

Yet in a recent thorough study, making use of the most extensive research ever conducted into his life, author John Collins paints a shockingly different picture, exposing Branham as a deceiver and hypocrite of the most heinous type imaginable.

Many of his so-called healings were false (“Those who came in ambulances left in ambulances”); the phenomenal accuracy of many his words of knowledge was achieved by natural means – asking those who joined his healing lines to write down personal information on a ‘prayer card’ in advance; and his personal connections were of a truly disturbing nature – to the extent of having links to the Ku Klux Klan.

Simply put, as anyone who has taken the time to read Collins’ painstakingly-researched biography, ‘Preacher Behind the White Hoods’, Branham’s life story could hardly have been much darker.

... his personal connections were of a truly disturbing nature – to the extent of having links to the Ku Klux Klan.

All this is hugely significant because William Branham is regarded as a ‘grandfather’ figure of the Kansas City Prophets movement. Yet despite all that is now known about him, Branham is still widely lauded within Pentecostal and charismatic circles as a healer and prophet of the finest pedigree.

Blessing the Church?

The charismatic Church was largely mesmerised by the prophecies of the Kansas City Prophets; believers flocked to their meetings and fell for them hook, line and sinker – Vineyard frontman John Wimber even hailed Paul Cain as “a new breed of man”. Meanwhile, a few brave and discerning church leaders sensed there was something amiss right from the very start, and felt the need to warn the Church of this latest heresy.

In the mid-1990s, Dr Clifford Hill, along with others connected to Prophecy Today (such as David Noakes, Peter Fenwick and David Forbes) felt compelled to sound the alarm when disturbing phenomena plagued church meetings in the form of The Toronto Blessing. These men traced the roots of the current unholy craze back to the Latter Rain movement of the mid-1940s, the related ministry of William Branham, and the re-embodiment of these movements’ teachings in the late 1980s with the rise of the Kansas City Prophets.

Major deception

Dr Hill lamented unequivocally, “A major deception entered the Church very publicly in 1990. The … promotion of the Kansas City prophets did immense harm in Britain by presenting a mixture of divination and personal prophecy as evidence of a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This caused great excitement among charismatics but it was a major diversion from the purposes of God.

“It was also a major turning point in the charismatic movement. It marked a shift away from a Bible-centred expression of the Holy Spirit working through the lives of ordinary believers in the Church and paved the way for the next phase in the drift into experientialism and the acceptance of bizarre manifestations, exciting spiritual phenomena, non-biblical practices and extra-biblical revelation.

“From that point in the summer and autumn of 1990 I believe that the charismatic movement actually became a stumbling-block to the Gospel. The charismatic movement, which the pioneers in the early years had seen as restoring New Testament ministries and gifts to the Church to enable her to fulfil her true prophetic function and save the nation, now became a hindrance to the fulfilment of those aims.”

Clifford Hill and Prophecy Today urged all church leaders to be on their guard and to test all these spiritual phenomena according to principles laid down in the New Testament.

Clifford Hill and Prophecy Today urged all church leaders to be on their guard and to test all these spiritual phenomena according to principles laid down in the New Testament.

Instead, almost every prominent charismatic church leader in Britain (and, indeed, the States) heralded the arrival of the Kansas City prophets with fanfare. In a special statement of unreserved support, the leaders of over a dozen of the UK’s top church streams – including those of Pioneer, Ichthus, YWAM, New Frontiers International, Vineyard [South West London and Teddington], St Andrew’s Chorleywood, Holy Trinity Brompton and others – united to state that they were sure the Kansas City prophets were “true servants of God, men of sound character, humility and evident integrity … We have no doubt about the validity of their ministry …”

Thirty-five years on, and at last, it seems, some at least are beginning to waken up to the reality of the deception.

But some of the ‘prophets’ we have mentioned appear to mix information obtained from ‘natural’ sources along with genuine prophetic words.

Levels of false prophecy

It would appear from what has already been said that there are differing levels of false prophecy. There are those who would appear to be complete frauds, having minimal or no genuine prophetic gifting at all, and who use underhand means of giving ‘words of knowledge’ and impressive ‘prophetic’ words.

But some of the ‘prophets’ we have mentioned appear to mix information obtained from ‘natural’ sources along with genuine prophetic words. Various people have acknowledged this – Jack Deere, for example, while accepting that Paul Cain sometimes made use of genealogical programs in obtaining historical information about his ‘subjects’; while at other times he revealed the very thoughts inside Deere’s mind, told him exactly what he had dreamed the previous night, and told him personal details that absolutely no one could naturally have been privy to.

In other words, such prophetic ‘words’ clearly came from a supernatural source, be that a heavenly or an occultic source.

Scriptural admonition

We are urged to use spiritual discernment, and to “not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1Jn 4:1).

Similarly, it is of essence to note Jesus’ teaching that “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit” (Matt 7:16).

Thirty-five years on, and at last, it seems, some at least are beginning to waken up to the reality of the deception.

The fruit is not prophetic words or actual healings in themselves. Rather, the fruit of the Spirit comprises 'love, joy, peace, patience, kindness... self-control' (Gal 5:22-23). Of course, it takes time for fruit to be seen. There is little doubt that historically the Pentecostal and charismatic Church has placed too much emphasis on gifts over fruit (while the traditional churches may well have had the opposite problem.)

The New Apostolic Reformation

It has not been the point of this article to gloat over the sexual indiscretions of Mike Bickle or any other person mentioned. Rather, the focus has been more concerned with related themes. It is most noteworthy that numerous individuals who had long defended and promoted the ministry of the Kansas City Prophets are now beginning to question everything connected to them.

Jack Deere recently stated his shocking opinion that “IHOPKC’s entire prophetic history is questionable.”

US-based Remnant Radio has withdrawn a series of videos in which they proudly testified to the prophetic successes of the KCPs, and have publicly apologised for having promoted them in the first place. Dr Sam Storms, hitherto a staunch supporter of men like Cain and Jones, whom he knew personally, has stated his intention to write a book, ‘The Rise and Fall of the Kansas City Prophets’.

Will other prominent church leaders follow suit? It is important to consider the implications of recent revelations for the charismatic Church at large. Although IHOP leaders are adamant that their church stream does not believe in modern ‘apostles’, both Mike Bickle and IHOP in general clearly have long-held strong bonds with the New Apostolic Reformation, notably with groups like Bethel Church and Morningstar.

Why did no ‘prophet’ or leader within these groups call these false prophets and practices out? Why do they continue to fail to?

Numerous of the Kansas City Prophets had very close connections to the leaders of these hugely influential mega churches, while currently popular ‘prophets’, such as Bolz and Reed, also move freely and approvingly within these circles.

Questions abounding

What does the corruption exposed within the Kansas City Prophets, and among other ‘prophetic’ figures say about the wider prophetic movement of which they have been a part for years or decades? And what does it say of the New Apostolic Reformation in which circles they have also moved over many years? Why did no ‘prophet’ or leader within these groups call these false prophets and practices out? Why do they continue to fail to?

Are they tarred with the same brush?

Noting recent events at IHOP, one wonders whether those within these streams will sooner or later wake up to the deception that surrounds them, and in which they, perhaps, play a part. Or are we likely to see further packs of charismatic cards begin to unravel?

Time will tell.