Chris Hill reviews ‘How to Enjoy the Psalms’ by Neil Turner (ProjectZone, 2019)

Brexit, Iran and questions about the end of days.

The news media is awash with Brexit and we all know we are living in momentous days. Everyone is murmuring that this week may have been the most significant week in British politics for centuries.

I have no wish to detract from this state of affairs. Virtually all of us are, I believe, experiencing a sense of reverence for the seriousness of the situation in which we find ourselves. Seeking the Lord for how to pray must be a top priority. Nevertheless, let’s not forget that there is a big wide world out there, beyond Brexit, which has not dropped everything this week to stay glued to the BBC Parliament channel. Other things of significance have been happening that we would do well to heed.

Prelude to War

Top of the bill is surely Iran’s newest contravention of the 2015 nuclear deal, bringing the ayatollahs another step closer to nuclear capability. Previously enriching uranium at 4.5%, today (6 September) will see a move beyond this, potentially of up to 20%.¹ This comes in the midst of a spike in Middle East tensions that saw Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon narrowly avoid escalation to all-out war last weekend.

In the bigger picture, Iranian entrenchment across the entire region shows no signs of letting up, despite the combined efforts of Israel and its allies. Commentators have long warned that when the Syrian civil war finishes, Iran’s efforts to exploit regional instability to its own ends will start to consolidate. Indeed, the dust has not even settled in Syria and Hezbollah is on the brink of developing a precision-guided missile system with the express aim of attacking Israel, while Iranian proxies from Iraq to Gaza, Syria to Yemen are being resourced to the same end.

These are grave matters that go far beyond wars of words on Twitter. The mullahs in Tehran, openly hell-bent on wiping Israel from the face of the planet, are ideologically compelled: in other words, in the long run, sanctions and diplomacy may not make any difference whatsoever.² Barring pre-emptive (or divine!) intervention, we are witnessing the prelude to a combined assault on Israel that could end up being both ballistic and nuclear, with the IDF forced into a multi-front war with enemies on all sides - not unlike the situation Israel faced immediately after its national rebirth just over 70 years ago (though with much superior weaponry).

No wonder then, that in this ‘week of all weeks’ in British politics, Israeli PM Netanyahu has managed to book an unexpected visit to Boris Johnson, later seeing the US Secretary of Defense who has also been in London (as has US Vice-President Mike Pence). Perhaps Israel is quietly seeking support for military action on a different level from that on which it has currently been operating.

I have no wish to detract from the seriousness of the situation in Britain – but there is a big wide world out there, beyond Brexit, which has not dropped everything this week to stay glued to the BBC Parliament channel.

Are We Nearly There Yet?

This entire situation does not escape those with an interest in eschatology (that is, the study of the end times), because Persia (modern-day Iran) features in passages of Scripture that are clearly yet to be fulfilled. The most obvious example is Ezekiel 38-39, which tells of a multi-army war on Israel involving Iran, nations from north Africa, likely Turkey and possibly led by Russia.³

Although there is disagreement about just when this war is supposed to take place in the grand scheme of God’s end-time purposes, and we are clearly not there yet, we watch current trends with interest. Most of the peoples mentioned in these chapters harbour a militant hatred of Israel today (or ally with those who do), in an increasingly joined-up manner.

As children of our Heavenly Father, the question always hovering near us is the question all children notoriously ask their parents on long journeys: Are we nearly there yet?

Many generations have thought that theirs was the ultimate - the last - yet history has continued, God’s grace towards sinful man outlasting all expectations. But this is no reason to become complacent: we are all called to be watchful and alert, especially when we see a particular selection of signs coming to pass in close conjunction.

Signs All Around

These are outlined, most fundamentally, in Matthew 24, flanked by the Old Testament prophets, many other New Testament passages and of course Revelation. The signs include:

• The restoration of Israel from international exile to the Promised Land, for a second and final time;
  
• A widespread falling away from Christianity and rejection of belief in God;
  
• The spread of selfishness and moral licentiousness with a consequent rise in pride, greed, abuse and violence;
  
• An increase of deception and false prophecy within the Church;
  
• Political turbulence all over the world, part of the great ‘shaking of the nations’ prophesied in Haggai 2:6 and Hebrews 12:10;
  
• Worldwide persecution of believers and a general hatred towards the Gospel;
  
• The move towards a global government of an authoritarian, surveillance-based nature.
  

It is increasingly impossible to deny that these things are coming to pass today, albeit perhaps not yet on the scale described in Scripture. This begs more questions for believers here in Britain: where does Brexit fit into this big picture? If these signs are coming to pass, since they are biblically inevitable, why bother to defend our democratic freedoms or take a stand against the existential threats to our crumbling culture? What possibility for revival is left?

Many generations have thought that theirs was the ultimate - the last - yet history has continued. But this is no reason to become complacent. We are all called to watch the signs.

The Gospel at the Centre

I do not pretend to have all the answers to these questions – but then, I’m not entirely sure that we need them. What we need is a renewed and robust focus on the Gospel. “No man knows the day or the hour” at which the Son of Man will return (Matt 24:36; Acts 1:7). We might have every reason to believe that his return is truly ‘right at the door’ (Matt 24:33) - and we should certainly live like it. But we do not know what mercies the Lord will yet grant us, nor what intercession might yet achieve.

One thing we can all be asking with great fervency is for “the Lord of the harvest to send out workers”, for “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few” (Matt 9:37-38). We can be certain that the Lord is working his purposes out, chief among which is for the truth about Jesus to be preached “in the whole world as a testimony to all nations” (Matt 24:14), giving everyone the opportunity to hear and respond.

The Gospel – that is, the truth about Jesus Christ, his death, resurrection and soon return, and the coming Kingdom – is why God is permitting British politics to go into meltdown. The Gospel is why he is allowing nuclear threats to gather on the international horizon. The Gospel is why Revelation is in our Bibles. The Gospel is why you and I are here, right now, living another day. Let’s not forget the Gospel, in the midst of Brexit.

Notes

1 For whether or not this is a bluff and what it might mean for the region, read Jonathan Tobin at JNS.

2 Trump’s sanctions may yet drive Iran to its knees and to the negotiating table, but this is not a regime that can be reformed. Europe’s efforts to appease (led by President Macron, following Obama’s footsteps) have only fuelled Iranian aggression.

3 This is presuming that these chapters are to be read literally.

Is the end closer than we think?

A friend of mine, who is gifted in one-to-one evangelism, asked me a question a few days ago: would I write out for him all the scriptures relating to the return of Jesus? The reason, he said, was that he was finding himself talking more and more frequently about Jesus’ return, as he witnessed to those he met.

This was not an isolated incident. Increasingly, I am meeting Christians who are being led to consider the Lord’s return, and finding their interest expanding to want to read those hard passages relating to ‘end times’, that have been allowed to fade into the background for so many years.

Getting Perspective

We should pause to consider the bigger picture, not from our own perspective, but from the Lord’s.

There is always plenty to talk about these days, relating world affairs to the wisdom of Scripture. Indeed, we often need to be selective in Prophecy Today, as to which of the many burning issues of the week should be addressed for comment in our articles.

In the coming days, it will surely become increasingly more and more fast-paced, confusing and concerning. Yet, we should also pause to consider the bigger picture, not from our own perspective, but from the Lord’s.

The Bigger Picture

Many Christians in the UK are praying fervently for the outcome of Brexit, and that is right and good. It is my opinion that the UK, has indeed, been granted a window of opportunity to put matters right with God. I connect this to the remaining time that our Queen is on the throne, whose Coronation Oath, though already broken, defines a place to return in repentance to God.

However, coming out of the EU will merely be a step along the way. We can only imagine what may lie ahead in our witness and prayer, if the nation would also reverse the many unbiblical laws now deeply engrained in the hearts and minds of the people and our leaders. This will preoccupy Christians for some time yet.

“When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near”

Nevertheless, there is a higher reference point than those on earth, and Scripture instructs us to look upwards: “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). This is what Jesus told us to do, nearly 2,000 years ago. The only question is whether we are, indeed, in the time frame to which he was referring.

Accident of History?

With the nation of Israel becoming re-established in their ancient Promised Land in 1948, one is prompted to think carefully about whether this is indeed a major sign of the soon coming of Messiah.

We could look upon the pressures and conflicts of the Middle East through political eyes, and see them as simply accidents of history, rather than fulfilments of a covenant promise. Or, we could look up and seek the Lord God for understanding, as to whether this is fulfilment of the prophecy, that the fig tree would bud again (Luke 21:29-31). If it is a sign, then, as we read in this passage from Luke, “the Kingdom of God is near”. And if this is a major sign, then so are the many other signs in the socio-political arena.

Tears and Laughter

There may be tears of sorrow in the coming days, when events occur that we cannot control, and it will be the poor who will suffer most, as always occurs when the leadership of nations goes astray. Our tears will lead to prayer, just as the tears of Jeremiah led to prayer, and moreover, when Jesus wept over the City of Jerusalem, as he knew what was about to come upon it (John 11:35; Luke 19:41-44).

God laughs because the world's rulers cannot succeed, any more than Satan can succeed, in preventing Jesus coming back to establish his Kingdom on this earth.

Yet, there is a contrast, as it says in Psalm 2:4: “The One enthroned in heaven laughs”.This picture of God laughing in the midst of a sorrowful, earthly situation is not his laughing at human misery, but at the rulers who take counsel together and lead the world astray.

God laughs because they cannot succeed, any more than Satan can succeed, in preventing Jesus coming back to establish his Kingdom on this earth, or, any more than they can quench the Gospel, with all its covenant blessing and promise, bestowed on his own people with multitudes still being saved throughout the world.

Time to Seek Understanding

Whatever our view of the end times, difficulty undoubtedly lies ahead, calling for perseverance. Nevertheless, one thing we must not do is to despair and give up. Looking earthwards at the escalating troubles will divert us from paying attention to the bigger picture of history that we can see by looking heavenwards and seeking God for peace and understanding.

This ‘big picture’ is absolutely certain to be fulfilled. It is locked into God’s unfolding, immovable covenant purposes, given first to Abraham, and then, finally, through the fulfilment of the promises to Jeremiah (see Ch. 31), fulfilled through Jesus the Messiah. The climax of these promises is his return.

One thing we must not do is despair and give up.

Thus, the question remains whether the signs all around us in this shaking world are the signs of his coming. If so, we must look up and seek God for understanding. The prophetic scriptures have too often been sidelined amongst Christians, because there is such division on their interpretation. Surely, it should be the opposite: that working together and seeking the Lord, we find a place of unity, through better understanding of what we have been told in the prophetic passages concerning the return of Jesus.

Let us, at least, seek to balance our concerns for the many issues filling our daily news with more earnestly seeking to understand how God is working out his end time purposes. It is surely time to look up.

Click here to read Dr Clifford Denton’s 2016 study series on the end times.

The Son of God is coming soon, along with fiery judgment

Amidst the chaos and uncertainty of Britain’s Brexit prospects, doom-and-gloom merchants have assembled in Poland for a Global Warming summit expected to paint an apocalyptic picture of a world choking to death on carbon emissions.

Indeed, Sir David Attenborough predicts the collapse of civilisation if suitable action is not taken.¹

Admittedly it’s a touch warmer than usual for the time of year, no doubt aided by the amount of hot air generated from the 200 nations represented at the symposium, but the heat that should really concern us is the fire of God’s judgment soon likely to be unleashed on our planet.

I like the poster I saw outside our local parish church not so long ago: ‘Global warning – the Son of God is coming’.

Signs of His Coming

It is appropriate at this time of year – known as Advent in the Church – to focus, not only on Christ’s birth but also on his promised return in power and great glory. And prophecies of end time chaos as a prelude to his Second Coming abound in the scriptures.

I mentioned a significant one last week, indicating signs of a 2,600-year-old prophecy of Ezekiel being fulfilled with the Dead Sea coming to life as fresh water and fish flow back into an area choked with salt for thousands of years.

Jesus too, a fulfilment himself of hundreds of Old Testament scriptures pointing to the coming Messiah, outlined a number of specific signs he said would indicate the imminence of his return.

And one of those would indeed be climatic chaos! Listen to what Jesus describes, especially bearing in mind the frightening tsunamis we have seen in recent years:

There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time, they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luke 21:25-27)

Signs of Jesus’ return include environmental chaos – not primarily due to our mismanagement of the earth, but as a wake-up call sent by God that judgment is inevitable.

In addition, wars, famines and earthquakes would occur with increasing severity, as with labour pains for a pregnant woman (Matt 24:7f).

But all this would not primarily be due to mismanagement of the earth, though it is no doubt partly to blame as, out of our selfishness, we do not take care of our God-given environment as we should.

No, it is chiefly a wake-up call to flag up inevitable judgment on a wicked world along with the Second Coming of our Saviour, Jesus. The earth is experiencing the pains of childbirth (see also Romans 8:22) that will ultimately usher in the rule of Christ.

Yes, the Bible is clear that he is coming back to reign from Jerusalem for a thousand years of perfect peace. But his coming will be preceded by terrible times of violence, immorality and rebellion against the Creator.

The Mount of Olives, where Jesus will return, according to the Scriptures (Zech 14:4; Acts 1:11). Photo: Charles GardnerJesus will finally place his feet on the Mt of Olives overlooking Jerusalem (Zech 14:4) and put an end to war. Those who love him will welcome him with great joy, but those who have rejected him will mourn over what they have done to him (Matt 24:30).

Not Yet Fulfilled

Ezekiel also predicted a terrible war in the last days that would see a group of nations coming against Israel, but great numbers would perish in the conflict as God ‘sends fire’ on the aggressors (Ezek 39:6).

50 years ago an elderly woman in Norway shared a frightening vision of the time leading up to Christ’s coming and the onset of a ‘Third World War’ that would be ended, she said, with a ‘nuclear atom bomb’.

In view of the fact that much of her vision has come true – a long peace between the super-powers, a falling away from the Christian faith, a huge increase in violence and immorality and unprecedented immigration to Europe – it should at least be taken seriously.

Meanwhile a new book, Floodgates by David Parsons (Whitaker House), supports the biblical premise that while God’s judgment of flood on the ancient world at the time of Noah will not be repeated, judgment on the modern age is just as inevitable – except that it will be by fire, not water.

The Apostle Peter predicted that in the last days there would be much scoffing about such talk (of the Second Coming) by godless people suggesting life would continue as it always has done.

“But they deliberately forget”, he writes, “that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly” (2 Pet 3:5-7).

In fact, if there is any delay in his coming, it is because he doesn’t want anyone to perish.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth…will be laid bare. (2 Peter 3:10)

If there is any delay in his coming, it is because he doesn’t want anyone to perish.

Peace in Christ

One person who has already experienced apocalyptic horror of this kind is Kim Phuc Phan Thi, the nine-year-old girl pictured running in terror from the effects of a napalm bomb during the Vietnam War – a photo that shocked the world. Though scarred for life, she found peace after committing her life to Christ on Christmas Eve 1982.

The pastor spoke of how Christmas is not about the gifts we give to each other, so much as it is about one gift in particular: the gift of Jesus Christ…How desperately I needed peace. How ready I was for love and joy. I had so much hatred in my heart – so much bitterness…My faith in Jesus has enabled me to forgive those who have hurt and scarred me.²

Hers is a true peace following a particularly bloody war. And you too can experience such transformation through Jesus, who loved you so much that he died in your place to give you eternal life!

References

1 Live Science, 3 December 2018.

2 New Life, December 2018 – www.newlife.co.uk

Paul Luckraft reviews ‘Floodgates’ by David Parsons (Whitaker House, 2018).

This is a highly significant and well-researched book on the end times and, perhaps more importantly, what is already happening around us as we head towards the coming wrath.

David Parsons is an attorney, journalist, ordained minister and Middle East specialist working for the ICEJ. In the book, he aims to identify God’s specific ‘end game’ strategy for bringing this present age to a close.

Parsons claims that the moment we enter the Tribulation will be self-evident, but what about the period leading up to it? The author sets out “to break new ground in our understanding of the prophetic Scriptures” and attempts to widen the lens “to reveal what will transpire before we reach those last seven years” (p15).

The Genesis Flood as a ‘Type’

His approach is to take the Genesis Flood as a ‘type’, and in particular, the “days of Noah” as a parallel, just as Jesus does in Matthew 24. Parsons asserts that whereas in the first global judgment God opened the water floodgates, in the end judgment it will be the fire floodgates.

Just as God opened the springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens (Gen 7:11), so there is fire stored up above our atmosphere and below the earth’s crust, waiting to be released to destroy the current world before the new Heaven and new Earth are created.

Parsons’ approach is to take the Genesis Flood as a ‘type’, and in particular, the “days of Noah” as a parallel, just as Jesus does in Matthew 24.

Parsons explains that biblical references to the ‘days of Noah’ point us back to the long period before the Genesis Flood during which the Ark was being built. This period – possibly as long as 120 years (based on Gen 6:3) - represents the time between God’s decision that judgment would come and the actual execution of that decision. He had made up his mind to flood the world long before he opened the floodgates. In legal terms, the verdict was in, judgement was inevitable - it was just a matter of time before the sentence was executed.

Parsons asks: what if we are already in a similar period leading up to the final floodgates of fire being opened? What would that look like?

Deconstructing Humanity

Part One of the book is taken up with considering the Flood of Noah, with chapters about the Divine Nature and proof that the biblical Flood was a real event.

There is also a very helpful discussion on the ‘forbidden union’ between angels and women which created the Nephilim (Gen 6:4). Here, the author brings clarity and certainty to a passage that is often seen as complicated and controversial. The vital conclusion is that hybrid humans could not be allowed to continue and multiply further. Mankind had gone against the natural order of God’s Creation and this, together with high levels of violence and sexual perversion, meant that humanity from that point was doomed.

Part Two, The Modern Rebellion, explores the ‘parallel plunge’ today, with chapters on the blight of violence and the sexual revolution. But the heart of this section is Parsons’ assertion that the verdict for the ‘end time’ judgment has already been given. We have passed the tipping point, identified by Parsons as the acceptance of evolution as a mainstream idea. This outright denial of God as our Creator has led to devastating consequences in all parts of human society and encouraged us to explore ourselves as a species without fear of God or his judgment.

Without being too specific regarding dates, Parsons asserts that this tipping point was not during the life of Darwin or at the time of publication of his works; rather it was the subsequent proliferation of his ideas and their embedding within human thinking and development. Once in place, they set us on a new path, from which Parsons argues there is now no turning back.

God had made up his mind to flood the world long before he opened the floodgates. In legal terms, the verdict was in, judgement was inevitable - it was just a matter of time before the sentence was executed.

Transgressing God’s Created Order

In Parsons’ view, this ‘social Darwinism’ began around 1900, with one obvious outworking being the horrors of Nazism. He writes well on this topic, which incidentally was what led him to write the book in the first place.

Interestingly, Parsons highlights two other features from the turn of the 20^th Century: the emergence of evangelical Pentecostalism and the rise of Zionism leading to the re-creation of the State of Israel. Together, these three strands are all vital in God’s end time plans. True Spirit-filled believers and the restoration of the Jewish people together form an Ark-like contrast to the majority of humanity.

We often see our times as characterised by violence and sexual perversion, and discern these as precursors of judgment, but Parsons adds an extra dimension. What is unredeemable is the belief that God is no longer a credible Creator and hence we can go our own way, transgressing his boundaries with abandon. We seek to create and fulfil our own destinies, but by playing with our God-given humanity we will lose it and final destruction will follow.

These days we have both the capacity and the desire to interfere with our species to an extent that blurs the distinctions that God has ordained. With genetic engineering, cross-breeding, sex changes and attempts to augment and enhance human bodies using technology, we can create human hybrids without input from fallen angels.

Distinctive Slant

The book has been 20 years in the writing, during which Parsons has been living and working in Jerusalem. As such, it has slowly crystallised into a comprehensive prophetic thesis about our times with a distinctive slant that is well worth thinking through. It certainly makes sense, both biblically and in terms of what is happening in the world today. If Parsons is right, the verdict has already been declared. Denying God as Creator has primed the final judgment.

We seek to create and fulfil our own destinies, but by playing with our God-given humanity we will lose it and final destruction will follow.

The book has good and full endnotes and an extensive bibliography of books, articles and websites. There is no index but this is not really a problem. Overall, a valuable book and highly commended.

‘Floodgates: Recognize the End-Time Signs to Survive the Coming Wrath’ (272pp) is available from Eden for £12.99. Also available on Amazon, including Kindle.

Parsons’ blog and website, www.floodgatesblog.com, includes updates and commentaries from the author, reviews and endorsements, videos and more background information about the book.

Paul Luckraft reviews ‘Israel’s Anointing’ by Sandra Teplinsky (Chosen Books, 2008).

Sandra Teplinsky’s book ‘Why Still Care About Israel’ was reviewed previously on Prophecy Today and highly recommended. Now we feature her other main book of this kind, ‘Israel’s Anointing’.

The book, subtitled ‘Your Inheritance and End-Time Destiny through Israel’, aims to prepare God’s people for the closing events of this age (and beyond) by providing insights into God’s heart and purpose for Israel and how these apply to us personally as individual believers in Jesus.

Messianic Understanding

In the author’s own words, “the chapters build on each other, taking us from the ancient paths into the prophetic future” (p17).

Two of the chapters focus on single books – Ruth and Song of Songs, respectively. Chapter 3 uses the story of Ruth to illustrate the mystery of Jew and Gentile as ‘one new man’ and the recent unprecedented move of the Spirit, destined to increase in the coming years, that is causing a “global rejoining of Gentile to Jewish believers in Messiah” (p40). Chapter 4 features the Song of Songs to emphasise that Jesus is coming for a Bride.

The next two chapters are particularly impressive as Teplinsky explores two key themes, Sabbath rest and Torah. The chapter on the Sabbath contains many useful insights. Rather than just being a repeat of familiar arguments, we are given a feel for the importance and potential impact of a Sabbath rest.

Teplinsky aims to prepare God’s people for the closing events of this age by providing insights into God’s heart and purpose for Israel and how these apply to us personally.

Her explanation of the role of Torah is one of the highlights of the book. Here is a brilliant exposition set within the context of the covenants. The level of understanding that comes through these pages is perhaps one that only a Messianic Jew can provide.

The Physical and the Spiritual

Chapter 8, ‘From Zion’s Battlegrounds’, is a fascinating description of the military pressures and battles that Israel faces, especially over Jerusalem. Teplinsky’s proposition is that we can only properly understand the physical warfare once we have grasped the nature and intensity of satan’s heavenly rebellion against the God of Israel.

She convincingly explores the link between what Israel has to face on the ground and what the Church faces in terms of spiritual warfare. “The Israeli Defence Forces have been called to fight battles in the natural that both prefigure and reflect battles the Church is called to fight in the supernatural” (p136). As Christians often don’t see these supernatural battles or feel called to engage in them, they remain largely unaware of the real aspects of ‘Zion’s battlegrounds’.

One interesting extra detail is Teplinsky’s link between the role of women in the IDF and that of women in the Church as intercessors. Whatever reaction this might cause amongst her readers, the whole chapter is nevertheless well expressed and thought out.

Encouragement to Stand Firm

In later chapters Teplinsky focuses on aspects of Jesus’ return and its aftermath. She maintains a steady position based upon a straightforward reading of the biblical texts. Jesus will set up a Messianic Millennial Kingdom in line with that of his role as the fulfiller of the Davidic covenant. Righteousness and peace will ensue and the earth will be progressively restored.

Teplinsky’s proposition is that we can only properly understand the physical warfare once we have grasped the nature and intensity of satan’s heavenly rebellion against the God of Israel.

The planet will be in tremendous need of rehabilitation after the havoc wreaked by the Antichrist during the Great Tribulation, and “resurrected saints will play a thrilling role in overseeing the millennial operation” (p166). Without trying to explain every detail of this, we are simply encouraged to stand firm to the end in order to have a part in this eternal destiny.

The book concludes with an extensive bibliography, end notes and index. Overall it succeeds in its aim of providing insights into God’s purposes for Israel and how individual believers can engage with this. It will enable both Gentile and Jewish believers to grow in maturity and come together as ‘one new man’ in Messiah.

'Israel’s Anointing' (215 pages, paperback) is available from Amazon for £7.99.

Paul Luckraft reviews two books by the pastor of Father’s House Sabbath Congregation, North Wales.

How the Kansas City Prophets impacted Britain.

This article is part of a series. Please see the base of the page for more details.

Church Leaders’ Support

Reference was made last week to the fact that a number of British church leaders rushed into print with a public statement issued in July 1990 supporting the Kansas City Fellowship ministry. The statement was issued from Holy Trinity, Brompton by Sandy Millar, probably in response to the articles in Prophecy Today which urged leaders to be on their guard and to test all these spiritual phenomena according to principles laid down in the New Testament. The statement gave unreserved support to the Kansas City Prophets.

We believe they are true servants of God, men of sound character, humility and evident integrity...We have no doubt about the validity of their ministry... and encourage as many as possible to attend the conferences to be held in Edinburgh, Harrogate and London in the autumn of this year, at which they will be ministering.¹

The signatories included Gerald Coates (Pioneer), Graham Cray (St Michael-le-Belfry), Roger Forster (Ichthus), Lynn Green (YWAM), David McInnes (St Aldate’s, Oxford), Sandy Millar (Holy Trinity, Brompton), John Mumford (South West London Vineyard), David Pytches, Brian Skinner, Teddy Saunders, Barry Kissel (St Andrew's, Chorleywood), Terry Virgo (New Frontiers International), Ann Watson (widow of David Watson), Rick Williams (Riverside Vineyard, Teddington).

All had been 'ministered' to by the Kansas City Fellowship team. This was acknowledged in the statement they issued. The fact that they stated that they believed a man such as Bob Jones to be a 'true servant of God' and a man of 'sound character' is evidence of the extent to which they were deceived.

It was the practice of the prophets led by Cain and Jones to give encouraging messages, supposedly from God, with promises of amazing power and greatly-expanded ministry. They were told they would be speaking to multitudes, seeing miracles, witnessing to kings and presidents and enjoying tremendous blessings. These prophecies resulted in bringing the recipients under the controlling spirit operated by/operating through the 'prophet'.

It was the practice of the prophets led by Cain and Jones to give encouraging messages, supposedly from God, with promises of amazing power and greatly-expanded ministry.

There are always serious consequences of believing false prophecy. It has a polluting effect upon the spiritual life of those who receive it. At best it is taking an alien influence into your life; at worst it is actually receiving an alien spirit. I have personal knowledge of several British church leaders who received false prophecies from Cain and Jones, believed them and then strove to fulfil them. The 'prophecy' thus exercised a controlling influence over the life of the recipient.

The 'use of prophetic gifting for controlling purposes' was tenth in the list of 15 errors acknowledged by Kansas City Fellowship in May 1990,² but there is no evidence that they had abandoned the practice two months later (July 1990). The support of senior British church leaders was essential if John Wimber was to see the fulfilment of those things which the 'prophets' had predicted. He fully expected a mighty revival to break out in London in October 1990. This had been prophesied by Cain whom he believed 'never got it wrong'.

They had foretold the great revival would be accompanied by an explosion of signs and wonders, leading to the submission of church leaders to Wimber's apostolic authority. He would also be given divine power over the enemies of the Gospel to deal summarily with them in the same way as Peter dealt with Ananias and Sapphira. As the revival spread across the UK into continental Europe, Wimber and his 'apostolic team' would assume governmental control of the nations.

All this had been prophesied by Cain and Jones and embraced by Wimber. It is doubtful if many of the British leaders knew of Wimber's expectations, but their willing compliance played an important part in preparing the way for the October meetings. The prophecies of a great revival were repeated from many pulpits and anticipation was high.

Promises of Supernatural Power

The commendation of senior church leaders, plus considerable publicity promising an exciting message and signs and wonders, brought large crowds to the public meetings in Harrogate, Edinburgh and London in October 1990. Prominent British church leaders had endorsed this ministry, so the people lapped it up. Not being trained theologians, they looked to their pastors, ministers and priests to say whether or not the ministry was biblically respectable and should be heeded. Their ministers themselves were enthusiastically endorsing this new ministry and the message, so the people followed their leaders.

The amazing promises given at the Wimber meetings filled the people with excitement and anticipation. The teaching was a heady mixture drawn from bits of all the strange teachings that had run through the charismatic movement since the middle of the 20^th Century: Latter Rain, Manifest Sons, Positive Confession, Signs and Wonders, Power Healing, Power Evangelism, Spiritual Warfare, New Breed and Joel's Army - to mention just a few. Elements of all these teachings came together in 1990 and were injected into the British Church with great hype and all the charisma of American glamour ministries.

The amazing promises given at the Wimber meetings filled the people with excitement and anticipation.

These strange teachings had been steadfastly resisted by most faithful preachers and Bible teachers in Britain for many years. But this latest onslaught was led by a man who was an excellent communicator, who appeared friendly, laidback and trustworthy. He was a man who had been recommended by David Watson and a number of prominent Anglicans as well as denominational and house-church leaders. He came with a popular message attractively presented. This heady cocktail was drunk by leaders, pastors and elders in many of the British evangelical churches, especially those in the charismatic sector.

The mainline churches in Britain were particularly vulnerable due to the years of decline. In fact, the whole nation was labouring under a cloud of status deprivation from loss of empire and world prestige. Here was a message of hope. Here was a message of power to the powerless. Here was a message of light and life to scatter the darkness of moribund inactivity.

But the promises were false. This was partially acknowledged by John Wimber at Holy Trinity, Brompton in June 1991 and again at the New Wine conference in August 1995. What has never been recognised, however, is the extent to which these promises were rooted in false teaching.

Expectations of the End Times

The foundation of this teaching lay in the belief that in the last days there would be a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit empowering the saints to perform great signs and wonders.

Some of this teaching was based upon prophetic revelation which Bob Jones claimed to have been given by the Holy Spirit. He said that the 'last generation' would be those born since 1973 and that they would be an elect company of believers of the seed of the apostles. They would be 'omega children'. Jesus was the 'Alpha' and they are the 'Omega'. Jesus inaugurated the Kingdom, and the elect company of omega believers would complete the work and establish a glorious Church on earth reigning over the nations.³

This teaching, which was given by both Jones and Cain, became the basis of the Vineyard/Kansas City Fellowship revivalist preaching. But it has no biblical foundation. The Bible declares Jesus to be both 'Alpha and Omega' (Rev 21:6). New Testament eschatology says that Jesus will come again to complete the work of the Kingdom. The Father will not take this away from his Son and entrust it to human hands.

There is a great need today to study what the Bible actually says about the Kingdom of God and the Second Coming of Christ. This may, in fact, provide the key to bringing the charismatic movement back onto a firm biblical basis. In Matthew 24 Jesus gave a series of signs of the end of the age - none of which promised supernatural power to believers.

Jesus warned those who are his followers to be alert to resist deception; to expect false christs, apostasy and false prophets.

He warned those who are his followers to be alert to resist deception; to expect false christs, wars and rumours of wars, famines and earthquakes, persecution, apostasy, betrayal, false prophets, the increase of wickedness and a lack of love within the Church. He nevertheless promised that the “Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world” (v14).

The only prediction of supernatural power was in an additional warning about deception!

For false christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect if that were possible. (v24)

This is not the only warning in the New Testament concerning deception in the last days. Paul spoke of a time of great lawlessness which, he said, “will be in accordance with the work of satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders” (2 Thess 2:9); and writing to Timothy he warned, “the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” (2 Tim 4:3-4).

These warnings, and a number of others, are in the New Testament for our own protection so that we will be alert to the intentions of the enemy to deceive, and to the strategy which may be employed. This is where a knowledge of the Bible is essential. When we move away from Scripture and invent doctrine, however attractive, we are in grave danger of deception. Once we are loosed from the word of God we are adrift on the high seas like a rudderless ship in a storm.

Non-Biblical Teaching

The injection into the British church in 1990 of a package of non-biblical teaching promising supernatural power, signs and wonders and imminent revival, marked a milestone in the apostatising of the charismatic movement in Britain.

The way had been prepared for this by a gradual and almost imperceptible down-grading of the Bible from its place of centrality within the Protestant tradition. This could be seen in the increasing separation between the reading and exposition of the word of God, and the exercise of spiritual gifts. Jesus was perfectly clear in stating that signs and wonders would follow the preaching of the word. This is what happens in the poorer non-industrial nations, where multitudes have been coming to Christ throughout the second half of the 20^th Century.

At large gatherings where the word of God is proclaimed, while the preacher is still speaking miraculous healings occur, many are born again and the signs and wonders of the presence of God through the work of the Holy Spirit are evident.⁴

In charismatic churches in the western nations, by contrast, we have developed the practice of separating word and Spirit. When we reach the end of our act of worship, or service, where there has been singing, prayer and the exposition of the word, then we clear away the chairs or invite people forward saying 'Now we'll have a time of ministry!' Over the years these so called 'ministry times' have gone from the simple praying for the sick to the performance of all kinds of bizarre manifestations as we have moved farther and farther away from a biblical centre.

In charismatic churches in the western nations, by contrast, we have developed the practice of separating word and Spirit.

Peter Fenwick, earlier in this series, has shown how the path to the Kansas City Fellowship 1990 package had been well prepared by Restorationist teaching, at least in the house-church streams. The new factor was the open door into the mainline churches which enabled their teaching to sweep right through the denominations. This was very largely due to John Wimber's acceptability, which in turn, had been due to David Watson's influence and subsequently to the support of several influential Anglican clergy.

A number of prominent charismatic leaders also embraced the false teachings presented in 1990. They were on an escalator from which there was no turning back and which it was not easy to jump off without risking personal injury. Their reputations were at stake and they had taken false promises into their spiritual lives. Many of them also took into their teaching and preaching the false expectations of a great revival. Churches such as St Andrew's, Chorleywood gave great prominence to preparing the congregation for revival and for the expected inflow of large numbers of new believers. But the revival did not happen.

On to the Toronto Blessing

By 1994 it was becoming difficult to sustain the enthusiasm of the people and to stave off massive disillusionment. The credibility of leaders was on the line. The Toronto Blessing arrived just in time to provide a new wave of excitement. With its coming, many leaders cut down or even abandoned the preaching of the word in order to get into the 'ministry time' as quickly as possible.

Thus the move of many charismatic churches into experience-centred phenomena took another leap forward. But the way had been prepared by 25 years of neglect of the Bible and a lack of biblical scholarship among charismatic leaders, which left an open door for the Toronto Blessing.

The eagerness with which Toronto was embraced is an indication of a deep spiritual hunger and a longing for God to 'rend the heavens and come down' and bring a mighty revival to transform the decaying life of the Western nations. But even this longing for revival is a reflection of the values of the world where the whole of our society is looking for 'quick fix' solutions to all our problems.

In the Church we are not prepared for the cost of obeying the 'Great Commission' and “making disciples, teaching them to obey” everything the Lord has taught us (Matt 28:19-20). Instead, we look for supernatural power to create an instant, ready-made reproduction model.

It is this human longing for revival that opened the way for many of the strange things which have become associated with the charismatic churches over the years. This eagerness to see the reign of God on earth and to promote the work of the Kingdom is surely good. But in the Western nations, generally, the Bible has been abandoned. Humanistic and New Age teachings have been widely embraced in an increasingly secularised, post-Christian society and the churches, especially charismatic, have been influenced more then we realise.

The eagerness with which Toronto was embraced is an indication of a deep spiritual hunger for God to 'rend the heavens and come down' and bring mighty revival.

Many evangelicals, especially those who have embraced the charismata, have tended to follow the world in neglecting the systematic study of the Bible and whole-hearted commitment to its teaching and living according to its moral and spiritual precepts. We have elevated spiritual excitement to new heights leaving the door open for non-biblical teaching and lax standards of personal and corporate morality.

Of course this is a generalisation and we would not wish to imply that there are no faithful evangelicals who love the word of God and live godly lives. Neither would we wish to imply that none of those in churches affected by the Toronto Blessing have been blessed by God. As others have clearly stated earlier in this series, God will always honour those who come to him with clean hands and a pure heart, or with humility and repentance. God longs to bless his children and those who come in sincerity will not go away empty-handed.

I personally know many believers who have been blessed by attending 'Toronto' meetings. But this is evidence of the faithfulness of our God, who loves to bless his children. It is certainly not an endorsement of the Toronto Blessing. God does not initiate things which are contrary to his own word in Scripture.

There was, nevertheless, cause for concern regarding this wave of excitement which swept through the charismatic churches in 1994 and 1995. It did not bring revival; neither would it even prepare the way for revival. It proved to be yet another blind alley that actually led the Church away from fulfilling the purposes of God.

There is also cause for concern that, as the charismatic movement has increasingly embraced the experiential, the way has been opened for even more bizarre behavioural phenomena and the embracing of heretical New Age-type teachings and practices. As the years have passed since the Toronto Blessing, what other waves have been introduced – and what does the future hold?

Next week: Our penultimate instalment in this series.

References

1 Published in Renewal, October 1990.

2 Published in Prophecy Today, Vol 6 No 5, September 1990.

3 Vineyard School of Prophecy, Bob Jones, op cit. p 1.

4 See Prophecy Today Vol 1 No 3 July 1985.

Series Information

This article is part of a series, re-publishing the 1995 book ‘Blessing the Church?’, an analysis of the ‘Toronto Blessing’ and a wider critique of the charismatic movement in the late 20^th Century. Click here for previous instalments and to read the editorial background to the series. 

Paul Luckraft reviews ‘The Key to the Middle East’ by Derek Prince (Derek Prince Ministries, 2013).

 Israel is responsible for the Law as well as the Land.

As the earth is ravaged by an unprecedented series of natural disasters, accompanied with threats of war and terror, world leaders have been presented with a heavenly vision.

In challenging the ‘fake history’ of those who deny Jewish links with Israel’s holiest sites, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu has sounded a clarion call for the United Nations to acknowledge the divine authority of the world’s greatest book – the Bible.¹

Three times he referenced the Bible in a powerful speech to the UN in which he claimed that Israel’s right to exist and prosper as a nation is rooted in God’s word.

Referring to July’s declaration of Hebron’s Tomb of the Patriarchs as a Palestinian World Heritage Site, he said you won’t read the true facts of its history in the latest UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) report.

Weightier Publication

“But you can read about it in a somewhat weightier publication – it’s called the Bible,” he mocked, adding that it was “a great read”, that he read it every week, and that they could purchase it from Amazon.²

Bibi must also seek to apply the Law – that is, the Lord’s teaching on ethical matters – to his domain.

How refreshing that at least one nation’s leader takes his stand on the Bible, though it is entirely appropriate as Bibi leads the people who gave it to us! As well as a sacred book written by divine authority, it is also an historical record which validates Israel’s claim to the Promised Land they now occupy. 

But in making such a divine claim for the territory, Bibi must also seek to apply the Law – that is, the Lord’s teaching on ethical matters – to his domain.

He is right in saying that the words of the Prophet Isaiah – that God called Israel to be a light to the nations – is being fulfilled as the tiny Jewish state becomes a rising power. But their call “to bring salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isa 49:6) must mean more than hi-tech innovation and being good neighbours through their search-and-rescue teams sent to disaster areas and medics tending to wounded Syrians on their northern border, though we praise God for all that.

Rife with Immorality

Israel is nevertheless rife with immorality – and I am thinking particularly about abortion, a killing of innocents that echoes previous turning points in Israel’s (and the world’s) history at the time of Moses and of Jesus. I appreciate that its practice in modern Israel is less prevalent than in most parts of the West,³ but some 650,000 children⁴ have nevertheless been denied life in a country that gave God’s law to the world, including the commandment ‘Thou shall not kill’.

Paradoxically, the killing of innocents has accompanied the greatest rescues mankind has witnessed.

In the UK, shockingly, nine million babies have been murdered in the 50 years since the passing of the Abortion Act, originally designed to prevent backstreet abortions and meant to apply only where a mother’s life was threatened. Now it is virtually a case of abortion-on-demand as further calls are made for relaxing the law. 

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists President Lesley Regan believes terminations should be the same as any other medical procedure, requiring consent from only one doctor, just as if they were having a bunion removed. But the fact that 650 doctors have signed a petition against it is very encouraging.⁵

Massacre of Infants

Paradoxically, the killing of innocents has accompanied the greatest rescues mankind has witnessed. Moses survived the edict of the Egyptian Pharaoh calling for the slaughter of all Hebrew babies to lead his people out of slavery to the Promised Land. Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah, survived King Herod’s massacre of infants – ironically by fleeing with his family to Egypt in response to God’s warning – to bring salvation to the world through his sacrificial death on a Roman cross outside Jerusalem.

Moses also received the Law of God; now Jesus writes the Law on our hearts (Ezek 36:26; Jer 31:33). Moses was hidden among the bulrushes of the Nile and became the saviour of his people; Jesus was raised in the backwaters of Nazareth but became the Saviour of the world as he brought true freedom to all who would trust in his redeeming blood (John 8:36).

The Knesset was voting on an abortion law at the very same time that we were discussing Torah.

My colleague, Clifford Denton, tells me of a conference held in Israel in 1996 at which Messianic leaders gathered to discuss the Jewish roots of Christianity. “Unknown to me until afterwards,” he said, “it turned out that the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) was voting on an abortion law at the very same time that we were discussing Torah (the Law of Moses). In fact the Knesset was struck by lightning at that very time.”

Messiah’s Second Coming

With innocents around the world being butchered as never before, the Messiah is about to be revealed to the nations.

Jesus indicated that his coming again would be as in the days of Noah (Luke 17:26) when the world was full of violence (Gen 6:13). Today, terrorism stalks the planet as unbelievable cruelty mars even supposedly ‘enlightened’ societies, while nuclear holocausts have become a distinct possibility with both North Korea and Iran making ominous noises. And all this while nations reel under the ferocious effects of earthquakes and hurricanes – also spoken of as signs of the Messiah’s imminent return (Luke 21:25-28), especially when they follow in rapid succession and with increasing severity, as on a woman with labour pains (Matt 24:8).

The day is coming when the killing of the innocents will give way to the glorious return of the Son of Man.

Of the three major Jewish feasts, Jesus has fulfilled both Passover and Shavuot (Pentecost). Many Bible commentators believe he will soon fulfil the Feast of Tabernacles (shortly to be celebrated throughout the Jewish world) when he returns to reign from Jerusalem. The One who protects his people, and provides for them, as he did in the wilderness so long ago, will finally bring in the harvest of those who believe in him as he comes to ‘tabernacle’ (or livemake his dwelling) among us (see John 1:14).

The day is coming – very soon, it seems – when the killing of the innocents will give way to the glorious return of the Son of Man “coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27) to avenge every wrong as he passes judgment on a cruel world.

Israel – you are truly called to be a light to the nations, and indeed you have impressed so far with many marvellous inventions. But the brightest light is the fulfilment of the Law through Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Messiah), who brings hope, not despair; and life, not death.

Notes

1 Christians United for Israel, 21 September 2017.

2 Ibid.

3 Among European nations, only Croatia has a lower abortion rate than Israel, according to the Jerusalem Post on 31 March 2015. And on 14 January 2014 the Times of Israel reported that, despite liberal policies on the issue, the nation’s abortion rate had been declining for the previous quarter-century, dropping 21% since 1990 to 20,063 in 2012 (or 117 for every 1,000 live births).

4 Johnston’s Archive compiled by Wm Robert Johnston, last updated 25 February 2017.

5 Daily Mail, 22 September 2017.