Kim Clement: False New Age Prophet

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Is Kim Clement a  New Age Prophet?

If you’re unable to deal with issues of Bible doctrine this article will be disturbing in two ways; to those who follow such teachings and to those who hold to the Word of God correctly and are repulsed by distortions.

Kim Clement’s Biography

Kim Clement was born in Uitenhage South Africa in 1956. Kim remembers his parents telling him he would be a classical pianist. His first music lessons were at the age of five. Clement describes his family as nominal Christians who believed there was a God; they did not go to church except for an occasional wedding or funeral and celebrating Christmas. They did not read the Bible or pray as a family.

At the age of nine, Kim took a serious fall when his parents weren’t home and was rushed to the hospital. He had stopped breathing when he fell, and had severely damaged his hip (excerpt from book, “The Sound of His Voice” p. 12) He explains: One day, an Anglican minister, wearing his clerical collar, came into my hospital room. He walked over to my bed and asked, “Would you like me to pray with you?” “No,” I instinctively responded, “I don’t want any prayer.” Then he looked me straight in the eye and said something that sounded quite unusual to me. “Jesus still walks the streets today, and one day you are going to need Him. If you call on Him, He’ll walk over to you, and He will touch you.” I didn’t respond to his words, and he quietly left the room.

At about ten years old, his mother had enrolled him in the Trinity College of London. He dreamed of being a great musician and performing in concerts around the world, practicing two and three hours a day, to perfect his skills in classical music.

At eleven he quit classical music and his attention turned to jazz and then rock. For the next several years he was totally engrossed in rock and roll and played in rock bands, usually with musicians much older than himself. During this time, he describes himself as being unruly and rebellious. He hated school, and was expelled from three different schools. He began drinking and using drugs, and by the age of seventeen, and became addicted to heroin.

Clement says that he gave his life to the Lord on a street in South Africa in 1973. He describes this occurring while “suffering from a severe knife wound as I overdosed on heroin.” He was picked up off the street by an unnamed man and “delivered from strong demonic oppression.” At the time Clement was a rock musician who performed in bars and clubs, after this incident he claims to have abandoned his music career and “start a new life.” The day Kim was baptized, he received an audible word from the Lord as he came up out of the water that he was called to be a minister of the gospel.

Clement was uneducated because of his numerous expulsions from different schools and the only education he claims to have had was in music where he attended the Trinity College of London. He was eager to play music for the Lord because of his long hair appearance and his previous lifestyle, he was misunderstood and not accepted.

He twice unsuccessfully tried to enter different Bible Colleges. He was finally accepted into a home study Bible course through Oral Roberts University. After writing the university explaining his situation and putting a few dollars in the envelope a few weeks later he received a surprise at his door, boxes of books from Oral Roberts. He read them over and over.

Between the years 1973-76 Clement attended and served in what he calls a “full gospel church.” In 1976 Clement was drafted into the South African army to fight in its war with Cuba in Angola. After 12 months of service Clement went into full time ministry in 1977 as a music director and youth pastor for a Pentecostal Protestant Church. He was only there about a year then moved to Durban, Natal and joined the Full Gospel Church of God as an assistant Pastor. In December of 1978 Clement married his girl friend Jane and continued serving in different positions at his Church until 1983. He believed God was calling him to be a missionary to the United States so he packed up his family and moved to America.

The “Prophetic” call

In the year 1983 Kim Clement states that the “Prophet” Bill Hamon confirmed his call to be a Prophet of God. Bill Hamon has been a subscriber to the Latter Rain movement from its inception in the late 40’s which the majority of the Pentecostal church rejected as heretical at first. He promotes the manchild sons of god doctrine. Today Hamon describes himself as both an apostle and a prophet that is now affiliated with Peter Wagner’s International Coalition of Apostles (ICA) known as the round table of apostles. Hamon states, “In 1977 God spoke to me says, “I want you to start raising up a company of prophets and start (menacing) the leadership.” Hamon wants to raise-up an army of prophets (which he has by laying hands on thousands throughout out the world), Clement is a part of this prophetic army. Hamon believes prophets can have a low percentage of accuracy not needing to be 100% correct. Clement has this same theological construct with a low success as a prophet, admitting he has missed it a number of times.

Clement said of his Pastor, Fred Roberts he “released me to obey this call.” Clement and his wife subsequently moved to the U.S. In 1986 Clement met Pastor Mike Hayes and describes it as an immediate “divine connection.” He then joined his Church after selling his home in South Africa. In 1991 he settled down in Dallas and later moved to Detroit. Three years later Clement was involved in a serious accident that broke both of his arms. He was left with numerous scars which resulted from the surgery. It was at this time that Clement claims during his recovery that “the Lord visited me with visions and I received specific instructions regarding my ministry I saw beyond the year 2000 and what would happen in the kingdom I saw a vision of people that were wounded people whom I would later call wounded warriors these are people hurt by the religious system unable to get healed because of isolation. These people loved God, yet didn’t want to attend traditional Church.” (quotations unless noted are taken from Clements web sight under “history”). After these visions, he founded a movement called ‘Warriors of the Millennium’ and the ‘Kick Devil Butt Generation.’

Clement is the President and CEO of his ministry Prophetic Image Expressions. Clement had a salary of $346,00 in 1998 out of $1,174,437 in contributions. In 2001 his ministry took in $1,296,875. Not surprising that he is not a participant of the ECFA  (listed on-http://www.ministrywatch.com/mw2.1/F_FinInfo.asp)

Today, many in the charismatic circles accept Clement as a prophet. Not all who believe in spiritual gifts would agree with his prophetic teaching, some are opposed to his ministry antics. Charisma magazine ran a full page ad promoting his meetings in Detroit, with a quote from one of his prophecies and the announcement, “The Light has come to Detroit!” As we look at what he believes we will find Clement is confused on the essentials, and to have such a statement of bringing the light is not quite an accurate representation.

Clement is unique because of his background in music; he prophesies while singing. He is known as a singing prophet, and he rocks. His band is well trained to move with his speech and hits all the high and low notes as Clement winds the people through his passionate speeches of “abundance,” prophesying “victory,” “more,” “blessings’ and “higher places,” in his gatherings. Clement can act very nervously, he often pulls his hair, fidgets, wipes his nose as he leads the service.

Clement says we go from glory to glory which he defines as meaning states of existence. In a prophecy on his program shown on TBN he explained that God ignores your present need and state of existence by revealing a higher state of existence. By telling you what is available to you by saying yes. He then breaks into a rehearsed song saying, “just say Yes” (a new cliché in contrast to just say no to drugs cliché). (TBN April 30, 2002)

Contrary to Clement’s unique interpretation that sounds good at first, it is not in context. Glory to glory means the transformation of the character and ways of God as exhibited by Christ to and through believers, (2 Cor. 3:18 and 4:6). We now walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4) and are changed daily. Paul contrasts the glory that Moses had in God’s presence that faded away (2 Cor. 3:12) with what we have by the Spirit. We begin with the grace of first knowing the Lord, then as believers when we enter heaven we are brought into the likeness of Christ permanently, glory to glory (see Rom. 8:18,21, 9:23; Phil. 3:21). Then we are brought into a permanent state of glory. This may not seem like not much of a difference on the surface but it is just one of the many ways he reinterprets what scripture means.

“Clement chants there is always another you that is the essence of prophecy” (TBN Clement’s program Feb.3, 2004). Meaning that prophecy is attached to the you of the future and that is where and what you want to be. He then sings “I’m not satisfied with what I got right now, I know there’s more” To say your not satisfied, packaged with what the future holds is hardly a biblical principle. As Paul said to be content (satisfied) with what you have and where you are at whether in abundance or in lack. This is no small teaching to ignore because to not be  satisfied is to be anxious and covet something you do not have. but this is the very essence of these types of prophecies.

Clements ministry is a positive one that tickles the ears of his adherents. Despite what Clement says are blessings and promises to everyone, the Bible has a different story; God does not always bless but will sometimes chastise. This does not seem to be part of his policy to speak. In fact it was the thrust of the ministry of the prophets to rebuke and scold as well as to bring comfort. Isa.30:9-10: “That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the law of the LORD; Who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us right things; speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits.”

Jer. 14:15: “Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, whom I did not send, and who say, ‘Sword and famine shall not be in this land’–‘ By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed!”

If one reads about the true prophets they were giving warnings almost all the time not soothing words people want to hear. But the prophets of today, which Clement is part of, are a merry band who give smooth words and knows what people long to hear. This is the attraction, along with the combination of his musical talent. After all who wants to come to a meeting and be challenged and possibly be rebuked for doing any wrong, it is the blessing everyone is seeking not the counsel that will correct, “what does God have for me.”

Clement is not without his vocal critics and has had to answer allegations of being a false prophet. In an interview on TBN he responded, “You can be a wrong prophet and not be a false prophet, somebody can make a mistake with doctrine…how many Bible prophecy teachers told us things were going to happen, and took out the book of Revelation and they never came to pass and nobody said a word (ed. Note: this is not true many have). No books apologizing for this, a teacher can teach things and today I know teachers, great teachers who said I was wrong 30 years ago some mission doctrine, discipleship, today they say that was wrong. Now they were forgiven, but a prophet makes a mistake and he’s a false prophet and we must stone the guy right away he’s right out. Well this there’s that aspect of it, I could have made a mistake, let me tell you something you can.”

Will Clement say 30 years from now he is wrong, or do we have to wait that long?

Clement shows ignorance on this subject. Comparing someone who teaches and another who gets direct revelation from God as a prophet, speaking as God’s mouthpiece His words to the people. These are two completely different activities. Anyone with the slightest bit of Biblical knowledge knows this. In the Old Testament God never had as severe punishment for people teaching wrong, as He did for giving false (or wrong or failed) prophecy. Prophecy is not the same as if someone is teaching on prophecy. We are always to test a prophecy by the prophet’s statements, the prophets are to judge and we are to discern what is said as well. Clement is either getting his prophecy from the lord or is not getting his prophecy from the Lord. The other options are: he is inserting his own teaching, or he is hearing something outside himself that is not from the Lord. We can arrive at this conclusion because he is not only inaccurate, but the delivery and content is alienated from biblical principles and language. The Bible makes it clear God only gives a true prophet one kind of prophecy, correct prophecy; 100% of the time. Once they prophesy falsely, they no longer speak for God.

Clement explains how the prophetic works “When you do get a word there is an action expected from you, if you don’t do it you ain’t gonna get prophecy, you can call me a false prophet I don’t really care, it doesn’t matter, it really doesn’t.” (The prophetic ministry of Kim Clement, Aug, 13, 2002 TBN)

So lets apply this concept to prophesy God spoke. Would Jesus have been unable to be born if Mary did not say so be unto me as you say tot he angel? Is God’s ability to make things to come to pass dependent on our cooperation or on His ability. The fact that prophecy is an exact prediction of the future, it is not a best guess.  When God said he would destroy the all breathing things by a flood would this have not occurred if Noah did not obey? Or would Noah and certain animals not have survived. Did Sodom and Gomorrah’s fate lie with Lot? When God told Abraham the future of the nation Israel did Israel cooperate to be enslaved?  Prophecy is  demonstration of God’s wisdom and power. When the tribulation begins is it dependent on us? When Jesus comes back to set up His kingdom is it dependent on what we do or what He does? When a prophet spoke of a calamity or destruction did it involve cooperation from those who heard it? It seems Clement has a different explanation for everything he says.

What is a true prophet? We decide by asking, “what does the Scripture say?” Giving an argument from human reasoning is not sufficient to arrive at the truth. We can only determine the truth from what God has spoken to us. Moses said “And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?–when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him” (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). If a prophecy from a prophet failed to come to pass, the people were told to rid themselves of the prophet by no longer paying attention to him.

What is remarkable is the terminology used; they say their prophetic failures were only “mistakes,” not false. Jeremiah puts it this way “An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely” (Jeremiah 5:30). Maybe God actually meant the prophets prophesied mistakes, because to Clement and others in the prophetic movement, there is no falsehood, only mistakes.

For those who want to justify this with the common excuse that everyone makes mistakes, even prophets. I have this to say: If prophets can falsely prophesy and still remain legitimate, how do we determine who is a false prophet?

If prophets are able to make “mistakes” how can we know what is written that is still future is not a mistake? If one does not need 100% accuracy in prophecy and can be wrong, how do we know what was the right prophecy and what was the wrong one?

The fact is that prophets have always been with us, both true and false ones. In Old Testament times in Israel when the nation was a theocracy, it was very serious matter to speak on behalf the Lord to the people. Today it is accepted with much less seriousness in the church. Essentially, there were two groups of prophets in Jeremiah and Ezekiel’s day, and the largest group was the false prophets who always spoke of good things of victory, blessings and rescues. It’s no different today.

There is no doubt that Clement is talented on the ivories, however what he sings and how he sings should be questioned. He will play the same tune and words over and over again like “I’m completely satisfied when I hear your voice,” I hear your voice is repeated over and over. One message he sang “I hear your spirit” umpteen number of times. This is typical subconscious convincing that goes on in his meetings to prepare the people for what he is going to prophesy. The crowd follows his lead and gets into “the spirit” and after a constant repeating he breaks into prophecy numerous times in his singing presentation.

Kim Clements Theology

Clement does say that he believes in the trinity and the baptism of water as an outward sign of an inward change. Some other points would be agreeable as well. Does this mean everything he says is wrong? Of course not, but the wrong is still there and cannot be ignored, because it is very wrong.

The foundation of a true prophet is right doctrine, but for one to have this they must be students of the Word.

Kim Clement admits that he was rejected from at least two different Bible colleges and received most of his early Biblical education and training at Oral Roberts University which I believe explains at least in part much of his unbiblical and often confusing theological teachings. This also explains his view of prophecy.

Oral Roberts [who himself claims to be a Prophet] is personally responsible for some of the most outrageous and absurd teachings in 2,000 years of Church history [see Oral Roberts on this site] and although its not entirely clear just how much influence ORU had on Clement. I think its safe to say it certainly couldn’t have helped him formulate orthodox Christian Bible views. Having Bill Hamon call him to be a prophet does not help either as Hamon’s concepts are Latter rain teaching.

Clement states “We want you to sing to Satan,” he then makes a comment of people being offended by this. After a short teaching about Jesus and the temptation he has everyone sing over and over…“I don’t turn the stones to bread to find out who I am, I just believe him.”

Clement also says when Moses saw God’s back it does not mean back it means the year after in time. (Oct. 22, 2002) This is not true at all, it means his glory passed by likened to an “afterglow,” the after effects of his going by. Moses did not see God as He is fully, but was allowed to see His passing glory, in this His name was proclaimed, because something of his nature was made known.

Sin-grace-salvation

In an Interview with Matt Crouch on TBN Clement had these gems to say–let me say something to you. Most of you know that when you were sinners, you didn’t have to be told of your sin. You were aware of your sin all the time. You didn’t have to be told”… Clement goes on to say, “He investigates himself and for the first time in his life, finds that there’s something good inside of him, because the church and the gathering should be a place where you discover the greatness and the treasure of God that’s inside of you, not the bad thing… So, in other words, when they come into our presence, for the first time in their life they hear, they’re saying ‘there’s something beautiful inside of me. There’s something beautiful, there’s something, I know there’s something. I’m investigating, and for the first time in my life I’m finding that yes, there’s a chance for me, there’s a hope for me.’.. for the first time in their lives they’re finding ‘There’s something inside of me that I never knew existed,’ and they fall on their knees and worship God.”

Under the heading of Doctrinal belief on Kim Clements website he explains at length exactly what he believes concerning many of the essential teachings in Christianity because some have had questions. He states in the beginning that, “As you read on you will find out that my beliefs are totally scriptural. My interpretation may differ from some of the traditional “Hocus Pocus” but it is still within the confines of our fundamental beliefs.”

Are they Scriptural? This quite a different view than anyone taught over the centuries. The simple reason is that it is not the Bibles definition of what is in man. Despite calling some of the traditional views as hocus pocus, it really is the reverse. Clement believes this treasure is not something that is put inside you when you are born again by the Holy Spirit but it is already contained inside and we discover it, we release it.

Kim Clement explains in his own words concerning the teachings of sin, grace and salvation. “I thought that Christianity was based on a relationship resulting from grace. My idea that each person is born with a treasure in their spirit is mocked, and I am accused of being a new age prophet because I will NOT focus on their sin but rather on their treasure”[emphasis his] ……. “I know how a sinner feels because I have been one”……..I do not believe that you must be born again to obtain salvation…….you cannot and will not make a disciple out of a sinner who has been introduced to Jesus Christ on the basis of their sinful inheritance only.”

We need to look at his statements carefully to see if he is speaking correctly. Many other quotations could be cited from Clement but these should suffice. Without a doubt, Clement in just a couple of paragraphs has distorted some of the most fundamental and essential teachings within Christianity. Jesus said you must be born again so Clement is against the words of Jesus (Jn.3). Its not a choice but a necessity, and the Greek language is clear it means from above; in other words it deals with God’s Spirit regenerating man’s fallen sinful spirit to be alive and in relationship with Him. There is no other way.

We are not dealing with semantics but core doctrinal issues. If you are wrong on one of the key doctrines, it will affect the others.

Kim Clement: “I am accused of being a new age prophet because I will NOT focus on their sin but rather on their treasure.”

The Bible: Clement claims that a person’s treasure that we all apparently possess within us is more important to realize than a person’s sinful nature. However, the Bible contradicts Clements teachings. There is only one thing that separates mankind from God; our sin. Jesus said I have come to save sinners. He also said only those who know they are sick need a physician, not those who are well. In fact the very reason Jesus Christ died for humanity is to present us before God without sin and blameless in his sight. It’s because of what Christ has done that justifies us before God, not discovering some dormant “treasure” within us waiting to be activated through belief in Him. There is absolutely no teaching from Jesus about finding any treasure within oneself. The only times Jesus mentions a treasure is when he says “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-20) and  “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”( Luke 6:45) None of these are relative to what clement is stating. This kind of teaching was from the Gnostics that were enemies of the gospel and Christianity. Every true prophet focused on sin to have people repent, false prophets will avoid this to be accepted by the people.

According to the Bible we don’t have a treasure in us, we have SIN in us.

In John’s Gospel he explains that Jesus is “the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (Jn.1:9). John was addressing those who claimed to be a messenger’s (of light) of God (especially the Gnostics who held that mans spirit was good and not fallen). The Holy Spirit is to bear witness to every man’s fallen human spirit to bring that light who is Christ Jesus into a person’s heart. The thrust of John’s words is that Jesus is the uncreated God not the human soul that is a spark of divinity or God already in man. That we walk in darkness, we are children of the Devil (having the nature of sin) and as sinners we need to pass from death to life by having a rebirth from God’s Spirit coming in and giving life to a dead spirit in sin.

Clement is well aware of his differences, for this reason he states he is accused of being from the New Age persuasion; and this is exactly what “New Agers” believe. I speak from former experience. Being in the movement for many years I easily recognize what he is saying. I was in it, and know the interpretations and terms used. Whether Clement has a background in this does not matters, for what he is teaching is not Christian orthodoxy, but his own private interpretations on many scriptures.

Clement’s emphatic statement, “I will NOT focus on their sin but rather on their treasure” stops someone from having salvation the Biblical way. Without a focus on this fact, one cannot admit being a sinner and they cannot ask Christ to be the savior of their sins by his shed blood; for He came to save sinners. This is the only way into the kingdom of God. “The sin question must be settled for any new life to be bestowed” (W.E Vine 1 Jn.4). To admit ones sinfulness means one is humble themselves, and call upon Jesus as their savior, recognizing He is the only way and they make Him Lord over their life. To deny this is to say, “I don’t need a savior” from my sin. Clement says, one does not need to be been introduced to Jesus Christ on the basis of their sinful inheritance only. We don’t have a sinful inheritance but a sinful condition, to have Christ’s inheritance WE MUST DEAL WITH OUR SIN.

Kim Clement states that he doesn’t focus on sin, but the Bible makes it clear that its our sins which separate us from God; the importance which Clement places on a persons “treasure” is pointless if we first don’t take care of the sin problem, by accepting Jesus as our saviour.

Paul says Rom .7:8 “But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire.” Rom. 7:18-22 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.” Clement may say well this treasure is in our spirit not our flesh. But the fact is our spirit is what separates us from God because it is fallen and in sin. Again nowhere did Jesus or the apostles teach to go on a discovery within.

It seems Clement would not be able to read the first epistle of John because John concentrates on how we are still sinners needing to confess our sins to our great high priest every time we sin, only sinners still sin. Kim says I used to be sinner, but John says he who says they have no sin is not walking in the light (the truth of God’s word) and is calling God a liar. Because we are to confess our sins, because we sin.

By this teaching alone we find Clements teachings on how to be a Christian as unscriptural.

The Bible warns in Isa. 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness.’ Is not a treasure  which would be light a substitute for the darkness (sin) that is there?

Most in the New Age Movement accept Jesus as an enlightened master, someone who discovered a treasure within him and raising his consciousness, but most importantly, they deny their sin. The new age does teach of a God potential within us that is supernaturally activated. They, like Clement, believe that all God’s treasure is already inside waiting to be released by a technique or by some type of self-discovery. For Clement it is by believing in Jesus. So their objective is to turn us within, toward the Light, within each one of us where the good is waiting to be released. This was what the Gnostics in the early taught as well. A spark of the divine was left in everyone to be discovered.

New Agers believe the Christ potentials are already within needing to be activated. As New Ager Barbara Marx Hubbard “You all have the same master from within. That master is me, your higher self, the Christ within each of you” (Barbara Marx Hubbard The Revelation p. 243) New thought practitioner Charles Fillmore taught, As Jesus realized and taught, “the kingdom of God is within you” “His kingdom is within man” p.67. That man “must claim the supreme inheritance before he can enter into the mighty mental and spiritual forces that are released from the kingdom of God within man”p.36 (Christian Healing Charles Fillmore)

Clement believes his message of finding what is within is the way the church will yield results. “The church, with its prophetic mantle can actually win a lot more people to the Lord because of the idea that we are presenting right now, and that is that every one of you were born and formed and sent upon by God for something great. The prophetic makes you aware of something that is already present in you that you’ve not seen.” His message also contains the flattery that we all are destined for something great.

To further show his message is focused on this on Praise The Lord (TBN), February 4, 1997 Dead Being Raised, Creative Miracles: in an interview on TBN …. Everyone that’s born, God has placed something special inside. It’s our responsibility as preachers of the New Millennium to bring out the treasure that’s already there.”

… I’m telling you there’s going to be some ignoramuses coming to meetings, into our meetings, the New Millennium church, that’s not focusing on the sin and trying to force them to repent and make them afraid because they’re going to go to hell, and they’re going to discover ‘there’s a glory, there’s a beauty inside of me’ that only Christ can bring out by the power of His breath and His resurrection. And that’s what way the church is going. That’s the New Millennium church. Let me tell you something. It’s going to go out and when people come into their presence they’re going to be aware of something that they’ve never been aware of in their lives. Beautiful.”

This new Millennium church seems to differ with the church that Jesus started. Clement is one of the preachers of the New Millennium church who has a mission to bring out the treasure that’s already there. The new age concept of Christ within. A number of new agers prophesied for the end of the 20th century that they would see the church change. They would bring their disciples in to influence the church. Theosophist Alice Bailey wrote in The Externalization of the Hierarchy, “…Eventually, there will appear the Church Universal, and its definite outlines will appear close of this century.” “The Church should take the great basic doctrines and (shattering the old forms in which they are expressed and held) show their true and inner spiritual significance. The prime work of the Church is to teach, and teach ceaselessly, preserving the outer appearance in order to reach the many who are accustomed to Church usages. Teachers must be trained; Bible knowledge spread; the sacraments must be mystically interpreted, and the power of the Church to heal must be demonstrated” (Alice Bailey, The Externalization of the Hierarchy, 1957).

Now we will compare Kim Clements teachings with the traditional “Hocus Pocus “he belittles, the Bible itself. What is his solution to getting right with God?

Kim Clement: “I thought that Christianity was based on a relationship resulting from grace” (He then presents his idea of not needing to be born again)

The Bible: Probably the most important and emphasized teaching in the entire Bible is God’s grace upon humanity. Christianity is about grace, but to receive God’s grace that is salvation one must agree with God in our wrong standing with Him. The book of Ephesians makes it clear that our relationship with God is a direct result of His grace upon us “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7). But grace is never given to those who do not admit their sin. In verse 13 we read that, ‘“In Him you also trusted after you heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation, in whom also having believed you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (vs. 14) who is the guarantee of our inheritance.”

Notice grace is given to those who admit they are sinners and believe what God has said about their condition. “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love were with he loved us even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ [by grace you are saved] and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus for by grace are you savedthrough faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:4-9). By eliminating being born again as the result of believing the gospel, we then default to gaining salvation by the treasure that is already in us; then it is of ourselves.

Clement says, “I do believe that every human being must repent in order to be right with God, but the method that Jesus used in reaching them is not being applied today. He touched the unseen part of man. The treasure that God placed there is accessible through obedience to the cross.”

Did Jesus die on the cross so we can go within and discover a treasure that was already there? There are natural talents in us but it is the Holy Spirit is the one who gives spiritual gifts and talents. Is Clement assuming the Holy Spirit is already in man without being born again? This does not make any sense in the biblical model of sin being dealt with by His blood on the cross.

Concerning people like Clement who would downplay God’s grace through the gospel, in 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Paul tells us the Gospel message he delivered is in its entirety That “Christ died for our sinsaccording to the Scriptures. Was buried and resurrected. This is the content of the Gospel that Paul preached for one to be saved- there is only one Gospel. This is what Paul tells us to stand in; yet Clement wants to avoid the gospel that Paul preached. The fact is we can’t have true faith without believing we are sinners or there is absolutely no reason to come to the cross. In Rom. 5:9: “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” One is saved by the grace of God through the blood of Jesus Christ. “the blood of Jesus His Soncleanseth us from all ” 1 Pet.1:18-19: “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” God forgives sin on that basis of the blood of Christ. The Bible tells us that our New Covenant is based on Christ’s blood(Heb.9:18) which washes away our sins, not by discovering a treasure inside themselves.

 How to Enter the kingdom

Clement says “Entrance into the kingdom is impossible without sight. you have to see it, vision is a very, very important. prophets bring vision to the people. Prophets bring sight to the people they let them see the future, they let them see themselves in the future because you look a whole lot better than you look right now in the future did you know that, most of you don’t believe that. But you look a whole lot better than you do right now. So where is it, the futures right inside of you, everybody say the futures inside of me. So its right there, so in other words the future is here right now but your going to be transformed into what’s living inside of you cause…” His musicians have rehearsed well, so when he says certain words his music group breaks forth singing a funky beat repeating the phrase “your somewhere in the future and you look much better than you do right now” (The prophetic ministry of Kim Clement, Aug, 13, 2002 TBN).

So what is Clement saying, we need a prophet to draw our future from what is already inside us. This is his consistent teaching– that it is all inside you, before you are saved, just as the new age movement teaches, but again this is not the teaching of the Bible.

Clement states, “I believe in reaching the lost according to the biblical concept, not man’s deception” (Doctrinal belief). I have listened to Clement enough and never heard him speak on the gospel in this way– Jesus’ blood was shed on the cross for your sins, He died and was resurrected bodily. That we need to believe on His sacrifice to be saved from the penalty of our sins. In fact he denies this as the way and speaks around it.

Salvation is explained by Clement as “Because first of all you seek the kingdom… say the word seek, once you have sought the kingdom you see the kingdom. And once you see the kingdom you enter the kingdom that you saw. And once you enter the kingdom you possess the kingdom that you entered and then you inherit the kingdom that you possessed” (The prophetic ministry of Kim Clement, Aug. 13, 2002 TBN) .This is exactly like his doctrinal statement, “The Kingdom within is simply the domain of God demonstrated through us. There is no physical place to enter the Kingdom of God. You SEEK the Kingdom; you SEE the Kingdom; you ENTER, you POSSESS and you INHERIT.” (Doctrinal belief)

Interesting that Clement makes a point that you must see it. Jesus said unless you are born again you cannot enter the kingdom of God after He said to Nicodemus you cannot see it unless one is born again. In other words only those regenerated – born anew will enter it, not those with the fallen nature of Adam, this is what He meant by seeing it. For he gives the example of the wind and the spirit, you cannot see it literally, but can see its affect. We enter in through Christ by the New Birth, and there is a literal future Kingdom to come. There is a spiritual aspect to the Kingdom, which is God’s rule, in the heart of every believer. This is an invisible spiritual kingdom. Jesus explains in other places that the kingdom will come to earth, when He comes back He will physically present to rule, it will one day be physical.

Kim Clement: “I know how a sinner feels because I have been one”

The Bible: Because of Kim Clements New Age theology of activating his “treasure” by belief in Jesus, he now apparently believes he was a sinner in the past which does imply he is not now; is he sinless now? The Bible however calls anyone who says they have no sin “self deceived.” To say we were once sinners is not accurate, we are still sinners because we do still sin.

Been a sinner or still a sinner? John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” We are still sinners, Paul said so even at the end of his life. John who was closest to Jesus certainly teaches this.

We can break down John’s correction of the Gnostics in 1 Jn.1:8-9 Verse 8. Profession of sinlessness-self deception-not of truth living a lie. Claiming to live without any sin shows that one is deceived in regard to their present human condition. John refutes the error that we have no sin nature, by using the word sin in the singular sense. It is not just committing sin but the principle of sin. This would encompass sin in both a general sense, and sin in a specific sense, including every description. To admit that we have no guilt, no sinfulness means we have no need of the cleansing blood of Christ. For it continues to cleanse us as we confess our sin.

1 Jn.1:9 Confession of sin- brings divine cleansing, no confession and divine cleansing is denied; there is no removal of guilt and condemnation.

1 Jn.1:10. Denial of being a sinner- is tantamount to calling God a liar- then we have no revelation of the truth. Our goal is not to sin, but Scripture never says we are no longer sinners.

John’s epistle is addressing the Gnostics who denied the sin nature. John says to say such a thing “and the truth is not in us.” This is building on verse 6 it is a worse condition than “not doing truth.” The truth which is contained in the whole body of Christian doctrine; the revealed counsels and will of God. To claim sinlessness is to be void of truth and removed from reality.

1 Jn.1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us (1 Pt.1:23) because for one to enter into the kingdom they must humble themselves and admit they are a sinner. Ps. 32:5: “I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin”

Kim Clement: “I do not believe you must be born again to obtain salvation.”

Recently Clement also said “When you’re born again the Bible doesn’t say that you are saved. The Bible says that when you are born again you see the kingdom it doesn’t say that you are saved even though salvation takes place and rebirth causes you to see the kingdom of God.” (The prophetic ministry of Kim Clement, Aug. 13, 2002 TBN)

So you get to see the kingdom being born again according to Clement but have not received salvation.

Which is it? He is confused. He says both at the same time. If the act of being born anew with God’s spirit does not equal salvation, one can only wonder why God would give someone His spirit to live their life through. Of all the statements Clement makes, this one absolutely crosses the line from biblical orthodoxy to outright confusion. There are many things Clement teaches that fall into this category, however this one is the most serious. The Bible is crystal clear about how one obtains salvation. Numerous passages could be cited however these will settle this issue clearly.

John 3:3: “ truthfully I say to you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 1 Peter 1:23 “ being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which lives and abides forever.” This Word of God is the written word, not a new word from a modern prophet.

The Bible clearly teaches that a relationship with our creator depends on us being born again which means that we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and saviour who died for our sins. He seems to think one can completely bypass this and still have a relationship with Christ. This vital truth is replaced with a discovery of what is inside.

Clement make it clear what he means, “I believe in Salvation according to Grace, which is a gift from God. I believe that confession of Jesus Christ and calling on Him for salvation allows you eternal life. I believe that you are born again after salvation.”

Eph. 2:8: “For by grace you have been saved through faith” Faith in what? The gospel, when we hear it then we can call upon the Lord. How? By grace. So if we are saved through faith that comes by grace then Clement is wrong. This process is clearly demonstrated through the book of Acts. The basic biblical concept is that born again is salvation, not a separate event from it afterwards. This is just confusion to say salvation is different then being born again. Can one see the kingdom of God and not be born again yet? This is just a reshuffling of bible teaching. Titus 3:5-7: “according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Eph. 2:4-5 “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” 1 Cor. 15:1-4: “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you– unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” 1 Cor.1:18 tells us it is the cross that saves, for the gospel is the power of God for our salvation.

Eph 1:13: “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” This is the very thing clement is saying does not happen. By believing you receive salvation and the Holy Spirit (which regenerates you- this is called born again).

James 5:19-20: “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” This is the ministry of the New Testament priesthood is to turn those in sin to the truth, woe to those who speak in the name of the Lord and do not do this.

Clement says of preaching on hell “they have used a perverted doctrine to gain followers by preaching fear and manipulating them, at the same time pocketing large amounts of money by the merchandising of a lie. My focus is on one, not the other… You can’t force people to love Jesus, yet threaten them with hell if they don’t.”

True we are not to use hell to manipulate people, but there is a right motivation to fear an eternal judgment, even Jesus used this. Jesus spoke on hell often. Is it wrong to warn people of their future if they don’t repent? Jesus didn’t think so, He spoke on it, often warning the people. I wonder if Jonah had the wrong message from God telling the people destruction will be their future if not for repentance? Would they have repented and seen God’s mercy if it was a positive message like Clements? New age teaching avoids hell; it also teaches that we already have what we need inside us and it needs to be activated, as Bill Hamon his senior prophet says, “They called it my part of my ministry in the 60’s was to get everybody loose and liberated praisin’ the Lord in the dance and shouting. And so I preached and got ‘em all activated.” He explains that he “started seminars and conferences and training sessions to teach, train, activate, mentor and mature people in the gifts of the Spirit. The Lord showed us that we can teach, train, activate people in prophetic ministry.” “The Protestant movement bought the revelation how to activate people the gift of eternal life. The Pentecostal movement brought the revelation how to activate people in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. And the Prophetic movement brought the revelation how to activate people and get ‘em loose and free and flowing in their gifts and in the prophetic ministry.”

Clement claims “You cannot and will not make a disciple out of a sinner who has been introduced to Jesus Christ on the basis of their sinful inheritance only. The sinner wants something that he does not have. To approach them on the basis of their sin and condemning them to Hell, will only increase their contempt or else it will manipulate them into making a decision in order to survive the flames of Hell. Although we know that hell is a reality and sin is their snare, the way Jesus approached the sinner was through His perception of their need and the potential that was inside of them.”

Clement reacts to those who criticize him by saying “My idea that each person is born with a treasure in their spirit is mocked, and I am accused of being a new age prophet because I will NOT focus on their sin but rather on their treasure. Unfortunately for my accusers, I also have evidence from the Word of God that assists me in backing up this belief.” Here is his example “after Jesus spoke life to Nathaniel he fell down and worshiped Him. Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God opening and angels ascending and descending hereafter. The Kingdom of God was inside of Nathaniel; therefore Jesus had unlocked the spirit of that man and given him access to the Kingdom within.”

This is his evidence? To use this verse to say the kingdom was in Nathaniel when it does not say this at all is a dead giveaway of a Gnostic viewpoint, not a Christian interpretation, this is not handling the word of God correctly. To reinterpret Scripture in such a manner is like the Gnostics did, it becomes whatever you want it to. In his book The Superbeings New ager John Randolph Price “Along with those who come forth already evolved, it seems to me that many people have this potential within them” (p.16). “I know the Supermind is within each individual.” (p.17) although Price uses new age methods to gain access it still has the same concept, Clement just calls it something different. Price quoting another man states “The most important thing to learn is that within every person, whether in this dimension or another, is a presence and a power-the same Presence and Power through which this universe was created” (p.32-33). You can call it a light, spirit, the human soul, higher self and even treasure, it does not matter is all the same.

2 Cor. 4:6-7: “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we (who are born anew) have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”

We find the scripture saying the light shines into us to give us knowledge of Jesus, it is not of ourselves. It is not already is in us and is brought out. We are in darkness until salvation. Prior to this passage Paul explains 2 Cor. 4:3-4 “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” Clement has it backwards and for one claiming to be a prophet this is quite a surprise. The gospel is not an entry to illumination or knowledge of the human spirit but to have Christ come and live inside you, regenerating, bringing back to life the dead human spirit. It is put in us by God, it is His Holy Spirit that is the treasure, not the fallen human spirit.

Clement states, “Only when I was introduced to Jesus did I become aware of the fact that I had something precious in my spirit. When I met Him, I felt good about myself. I was aware of the fact that I had to change, but what was fascinating was that I felt like I could become a new creation when I met Him. My spirit was dead unto sin, but once I was alive in Christ, I had access to the treasure within me. What is this treasure within me? The treasure within me is my pre-ordained destiny and my inheritance. This was the inheritance that Jesus granted to me at the cross, based upon my acceptance of His sacrifice.”

This is Gnosticism, to discover a treasure within ourselves, he didn’t discover his sin, that he was a sinner but had a treasure. Yet he does say his spirit was dead, but he pours a completely different meaning into it. This is far from the biblical teaching of the apostle Paul who said I know in me dwells no good thing.” Paul who had a radical conversion, being a prior murderer of Christians wrote in Rom. 7:17-18: “But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.” In anything we do it is always described as “To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily” (Col 1:29). It is His power His work through us, not ourselves; it is not our spirit but His. Paul says he still has the fallen nature that can work through the flesh.

Clement justifies his position of a treasure inside us already by reinterpreting “Ephesians 1: 4: “..just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, It also states in Ephesians 1:11 that “in Him we have also obtained an inheritance, that was predestined according to the purpose of Him.” In other words, what we carry inside our spirits throughout our lives is the predestined inheritance only accessible through our acceptance and obedience to Jesus Christ. As a sinner you carry it without obtaining it or “seeing” it because you are blind. As a Christian who has been redeemed (saved), you obtain it (your predestined inheritance) by being born again.”

Contrary to Clements view, predestination does not mean we have anything of God in us until we are born again by His Spirit. (It also involves God’s foreknowledge) We are not in Him until we believe the gospel, 1 Cor.12:13 then we are put in His body and He is put in us, thus uniting us in Spirit. Clement makes it clear that we need an illumination to see what we already have.

He also uses the women at the well “Jesus also said, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.” Please note that He said something unusual to an adulterous woman, “The water that I shall give will become IN YOU a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Again, Clement makes the Scripture to say what he wants it to. John 4:14 Jesus said, “the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” Jesus gives the water, it comes from Him not us. John 7:38-39: “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

Clement insists, “I do not believe that you must be born again to obtain salvation. As I have explained in the preceding paragraph, I believe there is a distinction. The Bible clearly tells us that “whosoever calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved” and “whosoever believes on Him shall have everlasting life.” When Nicodemus approached Jesus, he came with a hungry heart declaring that “no one could do these signs that You do unless God is with Him.” Jesus was a demonstration of dominion that no one else had, and Nicodemus was inquiring about it. Nicodemus was not asking how to be saved.”

Maybe Nicodemus did not ask, but Jesus certainly offered it to him with one of the most detailed explanations in Scripture. To deny this is to deny the Biblical new birth by faith in the gospel that Jesus explained to Nicodemus.

Clements states, “BEFORE Jesus died on the cross, He told Nicodemus, who was saved according to the law [at that time]; “Unless one is born again, he cannot SEE the KINGDOM OF GOD.”Jesus was not speaking about the salvation that would come because of His sacrifice on the cross. He was referring to seeing and inheriting the Kingdom of God.”

Was Nicodemus saved? Jesus told the people to believe in Him as the Messiah to be saved.  Later on in the chapter, Jesus went on to explain how salvation would come when He said to Nicodemus, in John 3:16, “God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes on Him [Jesus] should not perish but have eternal life.” He was explaining the way that salvation would come. Prior to that, He was telling Nicodemus how to see and inherit the Kingdom of God.

To be saved one needs the Spirit. Paul says it is the proof that one is Christ’s. All you have is sin in you before one is in Christ, not treasure.

In fact the work of the Holy spirit to the unbeliever is  “He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  of sin, because they do not believe in Me.” ( John 16:8-9). This is something Clement says he will not address.

Clement by this statement shows why he believes in the concept of the treasure in you. “I believe that only after salvation do you qualify to see, inherit and possess the Kingdom of God, which is inside of you.” “This is the same Kingdom that the Pharisees were inquiring about in Luke 17:20-21: “Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, ‘The Kingdom of God does not come by observation, nor will they say “see here” or “see there”! For indeed the Kingdom of God is within you.’”

“This treasure sounds similar to the occultist Levi Dowlings channeled book “find the house of God; it is within the soul (40:7 Aquarian Gospel of Jesus Christ by Levi Dowling ) “This kingdom is not far away, but man with mortal eyes can see it not; it is within the heart.” (29:19 ibid. )

Clement makes the same mistake the New Agers make (and some cults). Jesus was not saying the kingdom was already inside us needing to be released or activated to life. In this passage it was the Pharisees that asked the question of when the Kingdom would come. Surely Jesus is not saying the Kingdom is within them! But according to Clements theology of a treasure inside everyone, it would mean exactly that. The Greek word points to Him as the kingdom in Greek-entos. It means the kingdom was in their midst, among them, He Jesus Christ was physically present and wherever He is the kingdom is. That is why he told us to pray your kingdom come.

But Clement also reinterprets “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done ON EARTH as it is IN HEAVEN” to mean — “This is not encouraging us to pray for one event, but a continual flow of the Kingdom coming, in order for us to perform His will ON EARTH as it is IN HEAVEN. The Kingdom within is simply the domain of God demonstrated through us. There is no physical place to enter the Kingdom of God” (Clement’s Doctrinal belief).

This again is wrong. As already stated there is a spiritual aspect to the Kingdom, which is God’s rule, in the heart of every believer today. This is an invisible spiritual kingdom. In this way, we enter in the Kingdom. There are two aspects to the kingdom, one is that those born again are citizens, translated from the kingdom of darkness to light (Acts 26:12-18). The other, which Clement neglects is a literal kingdom, a messianic rule by Jesus that will commence by His Second Coming. Jesus explains in many places that the kingdom will come to earth when He comes back and is physically present to rule, it will be literal. Jesus said before Pilate, “If my kingdom were of this world my followers would fight.” He will be physically present to rule from Israel for 1,000 years and the saints will co-reign with Him. This is the “true kingdom” on earth that we are to be patiently waiting for the king to establish in his timing. A literal kingdom is coming, Paul spoke of this Kingdom in a future tense (1 Cor. 6:9; 15:50; Gal. 5:21; Eph. 5:5). 2 Peter 1:10-11 also speaks of the Kingdom in a future tense. This kingdom is entered in by humility not by taking the world and destroying Satan’s kingdom down by force.

One can read the book of Daniel and Revelation to see how God explained this to us. Dan.7:21-23: “I was watching; and the same horn (little horn) was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, “until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.” V.27 “Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High.” When does this happen, at the 2nd coming. The Church is not ruling when Christ comes again, for Jesus comes back to break the ruling kingdom at this time when He returns (Daniel 2:44).

If what Clement says is true then Scriptures like these make no sense “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

Clement also says when you have the kingdom “Satan is not concerned about whether or not you are going to heaven. He does, however, tremble at the thought of a Christian obtaining “perception” [spiritual sight] because of spiritual knowledge. Satan knows that once this happens, he is again bound and cannot operate freely. He has no power over the individual, over families, communities, regions, businesses and even over Nations if enough people operated with ‘Dunamis” (Doctrinal belief).

Satan does not care if you go to heaven! Of course he does. He wants to take as many as he can to hell with him. To say he has no power over the individual, over families, nations etc. if we operate with enough dunamis, implies we can take over and be immune to anything he does. The Bible teaches he is unable to have power over any Christian who walks in the spirit and prays and applies the word, we already have the victory individually if we obey. Yet we will always be spiritually attacked as long as we are in the world, just as the apostles were.

All this is not surprising when clement says such silly things as “I don’t want gold dust, I want gold bars…now” (Oct. 22, 2002). “Our blood type has changed from 0 positive to JC positive” (TBN Clement’s program Feb.3 2004)

Eschatology and Warfare

Clement is very focused on breaking the power of Satan and practices the “new type” of spiritual warfare “Your people stand before you tonight satisfied, satisfied that you have once again shattered the dreams of demons and raised the hopes of your people. Just by a few utterances we have received the promise of God, the promises of God are yea and amen, everyone says yea and amen, say it again, (people) ‘yea and amen’ say it again (people) ‘yea and amen.’” (2001 Clements program TBN)

“I believe that we are the body of Christ and He is the head. He gave us the power to spread the Gospel, overcome demons, and disciple the Nations.”

Yes this is true in a certain sense, but how far does one take this? His overcoming demons is done by prophetic utterances and binding them.

Do we complete the job and then Jesus comes back? That’s what his senior prophet Bill Hamon believes, but it is not what the Bible teaches. Clement hold to his own variation of dominion, kingdom now teaching. He sings overcome, overtake, occupy until he comes, Clement says it means you’re going to take over. Clement explains “ The kingdoms of this world will shall become the kingdom of our God understanding this, that whatever is controlled by the world is actually going to be transformed in the kingdom of God, so whatever you see out there that you’re calling obnoxious and evil has the potential to become the kingdom of God” lets take media , its evil isn’t it, yea it is but that is the kingdom of God its going to be translated (sounds like this) its going to be an infiltration into those regions and that’s where we are going to work from within out not trying shout from the outside to get it to change but that’s what I believes going to happen. So you see anything right now that you don’t like that’s making you mad whatever kingdom it is whether its in the sports world, arts, the economic world that is going to become the kingdom of God.” (The prophetic ministry of Kim Clement, Aug, 13, 2002 TBN)

Clement makes these telling statements on the 2nd coming “I do not agree with some modern eschatologist and some of the erroneous dispensational teachings that suggest we are on a holding pattern so that Jesus can return to complete the job that we never finished.”

So then who completes it if he does not? We do! Any prophet that speaks about the kingdom now (dominionism) without Christ’s coming is a FALSE PROPHET.

In fact Clements Doctrinal Statement says, “I believe in the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ. I believe in the fact of meeting Him in the air, but for a different reason than to escape from the wrath of the beast.” (Kim Clement, Doctrinal Statement September 26, 2001)

We all know we will be changed and glorified when Jesus comes but is it wrong to long for His coming and wanting to escape the coming tribulation and the beast who kills the saints? Are we supposed to be looking forward to this?

Well Clement tells us what he really thinks, “How many of you are tired of hearing about Jesus coming back? Nobody will says yes of course, because we think its blasphemy to say, well what’s wrongs with Jesus coming back. I know, I’m very exited about him coming back and I feel we need to take our mind off him coming back because we don’t know when he’s coming and we try to tell people when he is coming, and I don’t think he knows himself when he’s coming, just joking, OK, he said the Father knows anyway, he probably knows now. I don’t want to hear about Jesus coming back I want to hear about the kingdom coming. Jesus is coming back it’s a fact but its the most irrelevant thing to preach, because preaching it, there’s nothing to preach about. What are you going to preach on for, for for an hour about Jesus coming what’s it going to look, you don’t know what its going to look like. What’s it going to sound like, going to sound like a trumpet uh what can you say. But you can preach about the kingdom and let me tell you something about the kingdom...” (The prophetic ministry of Kim Clement, Aug, 13, 2002 TBN)

Can one be excited about the second coming and also deride it and tell us not to focus on it. Is it irrelevant to preach? The “hope” of the New Testament is “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). Jesus and the apostles all said to watch, “Watch therefore, for YOU KNOW NEITHER THE DAY NOR THE HOUR IN WHICH THE SON OF MAN IS COMING.” Jesus comes for His Bride unexpectedly, “LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT.” However, the bride is not taken by surprise if she is prepared and watching for Him.1 John 3:2-3 promises that “When He is revealed we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is, And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” He who has “this hope” is looking forward to the Lord’s return, cleanses themselves (keeps himself from the pollution in the world). Instead Clement wants the church to fight demons and take over the world system and make it the kingdom of God.

“I believe that His coming is for a triumphant and glorious church, not a bunch of passive, backbiting, heresy hunters who cause division.”

Who is really causing the division? Those who teach contrary to the word,  which has already been pointed out.

Clement also teaches “God’s word contains miracle-working creative power! It has the ability to create something from nothing. In fact, the moment God speaks something to you, it is already a fact because with God there is no time. In the beginning of time, God spoke the world and all of its surroundings and properties into existence. Today, wonderful things still happen when God speaks. He does not speak something into your life that you already have, but something that you do not yet possess. Speaking His word actually initiates the thought into existence and vocalizes God’s intent for that situation. He has promised that His Word would accomplish the thing He sent it to do. “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isa. 55:10-11) (The above is taken from excerpts from “The Sound of His Voice” by Kim Clement, from Prophetic Image Expressions).

Clement utilizes what we would identify as word faith teachings in his teachings “speaking his word actually initiates what God wants to accomplish into existence and vocalizes God’s intent for that situation.” This statement and other variations can frequently be found in many New Age circles. It is also found in the prophetic movement with the new prophets such as Dutch Sheets, who believed by speaking words into the heavenlies it will change the atmosphere. It is one thing when God speaks, in this he is correct, but to claim the same ability to man even if we recite his word does not bring something into existence. Clement comments: that many leaders have asked me to share these visions (he had in ’93), where he describes having tremendous visions for five hours … when I came and I shared a little bit with my wife and my mouth was shut and the Spirit of the Lord said to me, “You are not to share this until ’97. This is not to be spoken about” because only when it’s spoken out, then it is released, because God creates as He speaks, and so God said this is not to be spoken.”

Clement describes “When you hear the voice of God it is a voice that…sounds so familiar, someone you have known for a long time… the biggest problem is to distinguish between God’s voice and your own. God has to use your thought patterns and your voice. We learn by trial and error. To know the voice of the Lords is by faith as well. There is always a constant fight between the flesh and the Spirit.” (Kim Clement TBN broadcast 4/14/94)

I would have to disagree that God’s voice is something we are all familiar with, someone we know. Neither does God use your thought patterns or your voice, He is not limited by or dictated through our human nature. Clement is really pointing to our own heart and soul according to the Bible. When God spoke to the prophets they knew it was God. The prophets must have been able to distinguish the words of this voice from his own heart, from their own personal soul or spirit. This is the only way he would be capable to confidently and accurately speak to the people in the name of God the words given him. The only example we have of this is with Samuel who was young and never heard the voice of God and mistook it at first for another, Eli.

I realize that as a new believer one would learn to distinguish the Lord’s voice from others, but this would be done by becoming familiar with the Scripture. You would never be able to tell God’s voice if you are listening to new prophets words that claim to be from the Lord. It is not the sound of the voice per se but what is being said, the content. Kim Clement claims that as a prophet of God we learn by “ trial and error” to discern if what was said to him in his “ thought patterns” are really from God or not. Now that word error is the one we should notice and be concerned about. As already mentioned, a true prophet of God will always be free from all errors when pertaining to the message that God entrusts him to speak. Now does that mean that a true prophet of the Lord will be perfect in all aspects in life, certainly not, however concerning the message itself, a true prophet will always be 100% correct. If a true prophet can “miss it sometimes,” and then get it rightsometimes then it would be impossible to detect a false prophet, wouldn’t it? This is not like playing baseball and striving to get over a 400 batting average.

part 2 Clement’s teachings from prophecy

Source: http://www.letusreason.org/Popteac14.htm

JOYCE MEYER AND HER FALSE GOSPEL

The Last Trumpet and the Rapture

The Last Trumpet

by Thomas Ice

Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.– 1 Corinthians 15:51- 52

It is not unusual for some posttribulationists to think that they have fired a silver bullet which they believe destroys the possibility of the pretribulational rapture teaching. That shot is usually thought to be in the form of the argument relating to ” the last trumpet” as found in 1 Corinthians 15:52. Even though some think they have found a slick and simple solution to the timing of the rapture, they fail to realize that the New Testament teaching concerning this issue is more sophisticated than that.

Scripture Or A Survival Guide?

I recall years ago meeting and talking with the late Jim McKeever at a Christian Book Sellers convention in the early 90s. He made the ” last trumpet” argument to me at that time. Later I read his book entitled Christian Will Go Through The Tribulation.[1] Judging from the title, I thought it would be a biblical treatise providing thorough reasoning to support the book’ s title. It was anything but that! He basically presented a single argument, (the last trumpet argument), in just a few pages and drew the following conclusion:

If a Christian will put out of his mind all of his preconceived ideas about a Rapture occurring at the beginning of the Tribulation, and will look objectively at what the Scriptures have to say, I believe he will conclude that the Rapture will occur at the end of the Tribulation. 1 Corinthians 15 tells us that we will be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and that the dead will be raised at the ” last trumpet.” In Revelation, at the LAST trumpet we see the beginning of Christ’ s reign and the FIRST resurrection. Nothing could be simpler. There are no complications, if you accept the fact that the Rapture occurs at the end of the Tribulation.[2]

First of all, I arrived at my pretribulational beliefs through the study of the Bible, thus, I am not going just put them out of my mind when I am challenged to examine the beliefs of others. I doubt the Bereans put their understanding of the Bible out of their minds when ” they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). So we are to do just the opposite of what McKeever and others like him when they suggest that we approach any issue with an open mind. I do not want to be open-minded when examining issues, I want to be biblically-minded.

Second, we should not use a reductionist approach to Scripture, as McKeever suggests, when an issue involves a degree of sophistication. Such an approach is often used by opponents of the Trinity and the hypostatic union of Christ. If one applies a reductionist approach to Scripture in relation to the Trinity and the hypostatic union, it would only lead to heretical conclusions.

Third, McKeever frontloads his own approach to the matter by taking the phrase ” last trumpet” and equating it with the seventh trumpet in Revelation (11:15- 19). (This is an erroneous assumption that I will deal with later.) McKeever says, ” A significant thing is that verse 52 tells us WHEN all of this will occur, and this ” at the LAST trumpet. . . . It would then seem reasonable to turn to the book of Revelation to find out something about this ‘ last’ trumpet.” [3]

Other than a fraction of this single chapter, which very weakly argues for his ” last trumpet” view, the rest of the book (17 chapters and about 350 pages) is a survival guide on how to make it alive through the tribulation. It just so happens that McKeever was a key player in the survivalist movement and he provides great detail, something lacking concerning His biblical arguments for posttribulationism, for how to prepare to survive the tribulation. I have often thought that if one really believes in posttribulationism, then, logically it should lead to survival preparation that would aid the church in going through the tribulation. I am sure that there are a few posttribulationists who have made some preparation, but such preparation appears to be generally lacking with those who hold this view.

Biblical Trumpets

Paul does teach in 1 Corinthians 15:52 that the rapture will take place at the last trumpet. Do posttribulationist like McKeever have a point or is there a better explanation that takes into account the whole counsel of God on this matter? How does Paul’ s last trumpet statement harmonize with pretribulationism?

Throughout the Bible there are a number of trumpets being blown. For example in Numbers 10 there are trumpets being used in order to give commands to the people of Israel. Another example, a trumpet is used to assemble the people for their journey and another trumpet that signals the start of their journey. There were trumpet sounds that would tell the people to stop and another sound telling them to assemble. Depending upon whether the people were moving are getting ready to move, the last trumpet would signal them to move or if moving, a second last trumpet sound would tell them when to stop. So even in this context, for example, there are multiple ” last trumpets.”

Trumpets in Revelation

Some midtribulationist and posttribulationists attempt to equate the ” last trumpet” in 1 Corinthians 15:52 with the seventh trumpet in Revelation 11:15- 18. Revelation 11:15, does not say specifically ” last trumpet.” Instead, the Revelation passage says ” the seventh angel sounded.” The seventh trumpet is the seventh in a series of judgments. The seventh trumpet is the last in a series of trumpet judgments but it is not the last judgment in the series, seven more judgments (bowls) follow.

The ” last trumpet” of 1 Corinthians 15:52 is singular, referring to one judgment, not a sequence of seven. Ellicott notes, ” There are no sufficient grounds for supposing that there is here any reference to the seventh Apocalyptic trumpet (Rev. xi. 15), or to the seventh and last trumpet.” [4] Henry Thiessen agrees:

If he had thought of this trumpet as one of seven, he would undoubtedly have said something like the following: ” For when the trumpets will be sounded and the time comes for the last one to sound, the dead in Christ shall be raised.” At any rate, there is no ground for identifying the ” trump” in 1 Cor. 15:52 with the seventh trumpet in Rev. 11:15. Those in the Revelation introduce fearful judgments upon the world and mankind; this one calls the dead in Christ out of their graves and summons both the ones raised and the believers still living into the Lord’ s presence.[5]

If the seventh trumpet in Revelation and the last trumpet in 1 Corinthians 15:52 are supposed to be a reference to the same thing, then why are there many more months of judgment that follow the supposed last trumpet in Revelation 11. The view that equates the last trumpet in 1 Corinthians 15:52 with the seventh trumpet of Revelation does not harmonize in any way.

1 Corinthians 15:52

The context of 1 Corinthians 15:52 is very different than the context of Revelation 11:15. 1 Corinthians 15:52 better harmonizes with 1 Thessalonians 4:16, which says, ” For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” Both passages speak of the rapture and judgment is absent from both. The trumpet in both are the last or final command that the Lord gives to the church, resulting in the translation of all Believers. Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost cites the following reasons as to why the ” last trumpet” in 1 Corinthians 15:52 is different from any of the trumpet judgments in Revelation.

There seem to be a number of observations which make it impossible for one to identify these two trumps. (1) The trumpet of 1 Corinthians 15:52, . . . sounds before the wrath of God descends, while, . . . the chronology or Revelation indicates that the trumpet in Revelation 11:15 sounds at the end of the time of wrath. . . . (2) The trumpet that summons the church is called the trump of God, while the seventh trump is an angel’ s trumpet. . . . (3) The trumpet for the church is singular. No trumpets have preceded it so that it can not be said to be the last of a series. The trumpet that closes the tribulation period is clearly the last of a series of seven. (4) In 1 Thessalonians 4 the voice associated with the sounding of the trumpet summons the dead and the living and consequently is heard before the resurrection. In the Revelation, while a resurrection is mentioned (11:12), the trumpet does not sound until after the resurrection, showing us that two different events must be in view. (5) The trumpet in 1 Thessalonians issues in blessing, in life, in glory, while the trumpet in Revelation issues in judgment upon the enemies of God. (6) In the Thessalonian passage the trumpet sounds ” in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” In Revelation 10:7 the indication is that the seventh trumpet shall sound over a continued period of time, probably for the duration of the judgments that fall under it, for John speaks of the angel that shall ” begin to sound.” . . . (7) The trumpet in 1 Thessalonians is distinctly for the church. Since God is dealing with Israel in particular, and Gentiles in general, in the tribulation, this seventh trumpet, which falls in the period of the tribulation, could not have reference to the church without losing the distinctions between the church and Israel. (8) The passage in Revelation depicts a great earthquake in which thousands are slain, and the believing remnant that worships God is stricken with fear. In the Thessalonian passage there is no earth quake mentioned. . . . (9) While the church will be rewarded at the time of the rapture, yet the reward given to ” thy servants the prophets, and to the saints” can not be that event. The rewarding mentioned in Revelation 11:18 is seen to take place on the earth after the second advent of Christ, following the judgment on His enemies. Since the church is rewarded in the air, following the rapture, these must be two distinct events.[6]

Conclusion

The last trumpet in 1 Corinthians 15:52 is the final command that Christ provides for His church when He sends the signal to gather us together for the meeting in the sky that we know as the rapture. The contexts of 1 Corinthians 15:52 and that of Revelation 11 are totally different from one another. About the only similarity between the two is that the word ” trumpet” is used in both. (Actually the word ” trumpet” is not even used in Revelation 11:15- 19. The text actually says, ” the seventh angel sounded” (11:15), clearly implying that a trumpet is sounded as noted in Revelation 8:2). The respective contexts are totally different. In 1 Corinthians 15:52, there is the context of things related to the church age, while Revelation 11 speaks of judgment during the tribulation. No such silver bullet argument exists for posttribulationism since I believe that it is clear that the New Testament does not teach such a view. Maranatha!

 

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Endnotes

[1] Jim McKeever, Christians Will Go through the Tribulation: And How to Prepare for It (Medford, OR: Omega Publications, 1978).

[2] McKeever, Christian Will Go, pp. 45- 46.

[3] McKeever, Christian Will Go, p. 36.

[4] Charles J. Ellicott, St. Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians: With a Critical and Grammatical Commentary (Minneapolis: The James Family Christian Publishers, [1887]), p. 325.

[5] Henry C. Thiessen, Will the Church Pass Through the Tribulation? (New York: Loizeaux Brothers, 1941), p. 56.

[6] J. Dwight Pentecost, Things To Come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1958), pp. 189- 91.

 

Are Tongues for Today?

ARE TONGUES FOR TODAY?

Opening Text: Acts 2:1-20

In this lesson we will learn 3 things:

1. Tongues were for Israel.

2. Tongues were temporary in nature.

3. Tongues would cease upon the completion of the word of God.

Introduction:

Before we look at the above 3 points let us ask the question “What are tongues?”

* Some people think that tongue talking is speaking gibberish.

* Some people believe that it is currently going on today and is one of the signs of salvation.

* Some people think that God is speaking to them and giving them direct revelation apart from the word of God.

But what does the Bible say tongues are? The Bible clearly teaches that tongues were known languages.

“But what about ‘unknown tongues’ in 1 Corinthians 14?”, you may ask.

If we apply what we already know from Acts 2, that tongues are known languages, then 1 Corinthians 14 is not a problem. Paul is simply bawling out the carnal Corinthians for misuse of the gift of tongues.

Verse by verse commentary on 1 Corinthians 14:

1 Cor 14:1Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

COMMENT: After telling the Corinthians in Chapter 13 that tongues would cease, Paul now directs them to follow after prophecy, or preaching.

1 Cor 14:2For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

1 Cor 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

COMMENT: Again, a logical argument arises. If there is no one who can understand you but God, then it would be better to speak so that man can be edified, or built up in the faith.

1 Cor 14:4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

COMMENT: It is better to edify the church than just one member of it. Keep in mind here that no one in the assembly could understand this tongue that was being used. It is unknown only in the sense that no one there knew what was being said.

For example: If I were to walk into a German, French, or some such assembly and begin to speak to them in American (we speak American, not English), and no one there understood American, what good would it do them, though I gave them the whole counsel of God? The answer is none.

1 Cor 14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

COMMENT: It is readily apparent that prophesying was more edifying than talking in tongues.

1 Cor 14:6Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

COMMENT: Again the great apostle to the Gentiles makes the same argument.

1 Cor 14:7And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

1 Cor 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

1 Cor 14:9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

COMMENT: Yet another illustration of the frustration of tongues.

1 Cor 14:10There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

1 Cor 14:11Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

COMMENT: Rather than commend the misuse of this gift, which is how it is practiced today in America, Paul all but calls it barbaric: the opposite of civilized. In other words, Paul was saying only a bunch of barbarians would go around speaking things that no one in the speaker’s vicinity could understand, and then brag about it!!!

1 Cor 14:12Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

COMMENT: This is the 3rd time now that Paul has returned to this theme. Again, he does not commend the use of tongues. He is commending edification which, apparently from this passage, was not being accomplished through tongues. If I tell even our young folks that it is better to do one thing than to do another, they understand perfectly well what is meant. So many today fight and wrangle with these verses trying to make them say what they do not say.

1 Cor 14:13Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

1 Cor 14:14For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

1 Cor 14:15What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

1 Cor 14:16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

1 Cor 14:17For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

COMMENT: The issue is the edification of the believer. Speaking in tongues in the Corinthian church was not edifying, and Paul recommends against it in favor of edification.

1 Cor 14:18I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

COMMENT: Many contend that this is a reference to Paul’s personal, private prayer life and, therefore, it is ok to practice at home. This is a wild leap of imagination. The correct use of tongues was to reach the lost, as we shall see shortly.

1 Cor 14:19Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

COMMENT: This is the 5th time that Paul returns to this argument of edification. This time he makes it very plain that, “in the church”, speaking with understanding is preferred above speaking in tongues.

By the way, do you know what 5 words Paul would rather speak, clearly and distinctly so everyone could hear? I am guessing, of course, but I think they might be, “Christ died FOR our sins”.

1 Cor 14:20Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

COMMENT: Paul now reasons with them not to be children. “Do not shoot out the lip because I am taking away your toy. Grow up and be men in understanding.”

1 Cor 14:21In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

1 Cor 14:22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

COMMENT: Paul now turns his attention to the purpose originally given for the use of the gift of tongues: the salvation of the nation of Israel. The Jews required a sign. They were sign-oriented people. The way they knew that God was working in their midst was through the use of signs. This principle holds true throughout the law. Signs were a part of their heritage and birthright. If God was speaking to them, signs would follow.

When lost Israel sees the Gentiles practicing their gifts, God uses this to provoke some to salvation. This is part of the “provoking ministry of Paul”. This sign, talking in tongues, would be done away with for 2 very good reasons.

1. Israel would be set aside because of unbelief.

2. The completion of the canon of scripture.

Now this all begs a question, which Paul logically asks in verse 23.

1 Cor 14:23If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

1 Cor 14:24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

1 Cor 14:25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

COMMENT: The question that must be asked is this: If tongues are for a sign to the unbelievers, why was it being practiced in the church? It needed to be practiced outside in the world where it could be used effectively. The same is true today. If you want to hear people “speak in tongues”, you have to go to their worship services. I have had Mormons, Church of Christ, Baptists, and Russellites (or Jehovah’s Witnesses) come to my door and talk to me, but I have never had a Pentecostal come to my door and speak to me in tongues. Why?

1. Today it is gibberish and means nothing.

2. It is of the flesh.

There is nothing spiritual about it, and this whole chapter proves that very point. The purpose of tongues was to reach lost Israel through the manifestation of the Spirit in the believer. The Corinthians were not using it that way.

1 Cor 14:26How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

COMMENT: This verse demonstrates the carnality evidenced in Corinth and across America today. No understanding. No edification. Just a flesh and emotion feast.

1 Cor 14:27If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

1 Cor 14:28But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

COMMENT: Terms and Conditions – Part 1: Notice again the problem here is with the unknown tongue, a language that no one in the congregation could recognize. Also notice that, under the decently and in order rule, one would not get up and start speaking in an unknown tongue without first making sure there was an interpreter present. If not, he (not she, because women were not allowed to speak, much less speak in tongues) was to keep silence.

1 Cor 14:29Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

1 Cor 14:30If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

1 Cor 14:31For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

1 Cor 14:32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

1 Cor 14:33For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

COMMENT: Terms and Conditions – Part 2: The prophets are to speak first, as many as 2 or 3, and another was to judge, or make sure he spoke according to sound doctrine. If someone got a revelation, that is they received some light that might help the others to understand, they were to wait their turn. Notice that there are no limits. All may prophesy, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. This is consistent with Pauline doctrine and the context of this passage. Verse 32 simply means to gauge what is being said, the role of the judge.

1 Cor 14:34Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

1 Cor 14:35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

COMMENT: Terms and Conditions – Part 3: The speaking is tongues and prophesying. They are not to interrupt the flow of things with questions. The shame comes from not being under subjection, not for being a woman. The modern tongues movement would come to a screeching halt if this one verse were obeyed.

1 Cor 14:36What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

COMMENT: Now Paul completely deflates their ballooning pride by telling them that they are not the center of the universe. “Do you think you are the only ones in God’s plan and purpose?”

1 Cor 14:37If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

1 Cor 14:38But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

COMMENT: Finally, the apostle to the Gentiles reminds them that if they really were spiritual, if they really were prophets, they would acknowledge him and his ministry. Such is the condition of the “professing church” today. They stumble in fettered flesh and emotionalism because they have not acknowledged the apostleship of Paul. In reference to verse 38, it is as if Paul were saying, “You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink. We can only show you the door you will have to open it and go in”.

1 Cor 14:39Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

1 Cor 14:40Let all things be done decently and in order.

COMMENT: Paul’s closing remarks on this subject are clear and instructive. It is better to edify than not. Speaking in tongues is not to be forbidden (at that time), but clearly here, and according to the context, it was better to leave tongues out in the world where it could do the most good. “In the church” it only brings confusion.

Conclusion:

The Corinthians were not using tongues in the proper way and Paul commands them to put things in order. The church was to be a place of edification and education of the saints. Tongues were to be a sign to unbelievers. Paul recommends prophecy over tongues by a huge ratio. And by the way, women are not to do it.

Having said all that, let’s continue to examine what the Bible teaches about speaking in tongues:

Tongues Were For Israel

* The Twelve Apostles received the gift

Acts 1:26And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

* Peter quoted Joel, an Old Testament, Jewish prophet

Acts 2:14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

Acts 2:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

Acts 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

Acts 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

NOTE: There is a dispensational line to be drawn here. The following events in the passage did not come to pass in Peter’s day. They will happen after the catching away of the church, the body of Christ.

Acts 2:19And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

Acts 2:20The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

* The Jews require a sign. They always have.

1 Cor 1:22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

Examples: Moses and the burning bush, Gideon’s fleece, the virgin birth, Hezekiah’s 10 degrees, etc.

Christ’s words to the scribes and the Pharisees:

Mat 12:38Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

Mat 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

Mat 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Mat 12:41The men of Ninevehshall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

Note that the Ninevites needed no sign, just preaching.

* Tongues were prophesied.

Jer 5:15Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.

Deu 28:49The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;  To these people, to these Gentiles, were Israel’s gifts given to provoke them to jealousy.

Rom 11:11I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

Tongues Were Temporary In Nature

Israel was going to be set aside as God’s agency because of her rejection of the Messiah and the Holy Spirit. God had a secret plan to bring in the revelation of the mystery. This is made evident in the book of Romans:

Rom 11:25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Rom 11:28As concerning the gospel (i.e. the gospel of grace), they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.

Rom 11:29For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

Note: At the time of the writing of Romans, Israel could be called enemies of the gospel. Note also that in verse 31, Israel now must go through the body of Christ to be saved. The tables have been turned, so to speak. The middle wall of partition has been broken down.

Eph 2:14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Three times in the book of Acts, Paul pronounces judgment on unbelieving Israel.

1. Acts 13:46Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

2. Acts 18:6And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

3. Acts 28:25And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

Acts 28:26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

Acts 28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Acts 28:28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

Conclusion: Tongues belong to Israel. When Israel is set aside, so are her signs.

Tongues would cease for the body of Christ upon the completion of the word of God

1 Cor 13:8Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

COMMENT: What do prophecies, tongues and knowledge (supernatural knowledge, as with tongues and prophecy) have in common? They all have to do with the transmission of the word of God. When Paul, by the Holy Spirit, penned these words, the word of God was not complete. Therefore he says, “We know in part.”

NOTE: The word “knowledge” used in this passage is the Greek word “gnosis”, which means, “to have knowledge of.” This in itself is not very significant until you turn to the book of Ephesians, where we find:

Eph 1:17That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

This knowledge is the Greek word “epignosis” which means, “full knowledge!” When we get a completed book, we no longer need tongues, knowledge or prophecy.

1 Cor 13:9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

1 Cor 13:10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

COMMENT: The Pentecostals like to say thatthis verse is a reference to the coming of Christ. First of all, it does not fit the context of the passage in any way. Secondly, it says “that which is perfect”, not “he who is perfect”, and God is able to say what He means. When the word of God is completed, that which is in part shall be done away. And isn’t that what we have with Paul completing the “revelation of the mystery”? We now, today in the year 2000, have God’s complete plan for the heavens and the earth. For the body of Christ and the nation of Israel. For the mystery program and the prophesied program.

1 Cor 13:11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

COMMENT: Did you ever grow up? Were things different when you did? That is the difference between having part, but not all, of the word of God.

1 Cor 13:12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

COMMENT: Ever look into a dirty mirror then wipe it off. That is the difference between having part, but not all, of the word of God.

One last passage:

Col 1:24Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Col 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

To Paul was given the capstone of divine revelation. His epistles finish the book. And we have it in our hands today.

2 Tim 3:16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Tim 3:17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

This verse nullifies tongues for this age, the dispensation of the grace of God.

* Tongues were for Israel

* Tongues were temporary in nature

* Tongues would cease upon the completion of the word of God

Source: copied from unknown source

WHY SO MANY DENOMINATIONS?

A study in doctrinal distinctiveness

Dr. Mike Johnston, Editor

The question before us is Why So Many Denominations? The answer is simple: There are as many denominations as there are interpretations of the Bible.[1] As a result, multi-denominatio­nalism stems from a crass inability to rightly and consistently divide the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15).

We begin our discussion by introducing a proper division of the sixty six Books of the Bible. Conventional wisdom tells us that when the Bible was written it was divided into Old Testament and New Testament. However, the Bible is basically divided into two more well defined, descriptive terms: prophecy and mystery. Cornelius Stam discusses this dichotomy:

Prophecy is basically the purpose God has for the earth and Christ’s reign upon it, which includes the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem (2 Peter 1: 16-19). This is the Kingdom of heaven that will in the future be set up on the earth, in Jerusalem, Israel. The Mystery is that which the prophets knew nothing about  and was revealed to the Apostle Paul, concerning heaven and the exaltation of the Body of Christ in heaven, who is together there with Christ (Eph. 2:4-10, 3: 1-4). Stam continues in more detail:

Prophecy

What is at the heart of Prophecy? The Messianic kingdom; that is, the “kingdom of heaven” which was spoken of by John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus Christ and the twelve disciples, which will be set up on the EARTH; (Matt. 3:1-2, 4:17, 10:5-7). Since the “kingdom of heaven” is not yet established on the earth, it will be set up in the near future when the Lord Jesus Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah, returns to the earth on the Mount of Olives, then on to Jerusalem at the Second Advent and sets up His kingdom and reign upon THE EARTH for one thousand years. This is also called the Millennium. The main purpose or the main goal of prophecy is the establishment of the “kingdom of heaven” upon THE EARTH (Rom. 11:25-29). The Messianic Kingdom will be set up on THE EARTH: (Psalms 2:8) “I shall give Thee . . . the uttermost parts of THE EARTH for Thy possession”. (Jeremiah. 23:5) “A King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in THE EARTH”. The Lord Jesus Christ who is the second member of the Godhead, who is God, will rule as God, from Jerusalem and He will reign over the entire world. It will be a theocracy. “They shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Isaiah 7:14) (Matt. 1:23). “And His name shall be called . . . The mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6). “The Lord shall be King over all THE EARTH” (Zech. 14:9).

Mystery

God’s purpose concerning HEAVEN and the exaltation of the Body of Christ there with the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Head of the Body, is the subject of “The Mystery”. What is the Mystery? There are many mysteries in the Bible, but this refers to “THE MYSTERY” which is that great body of truth given to the Apostle Paul by direct revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ, from heaven. The “kingdom of heaven” one day being set up on the earth and the coming Messiah was well known and prophesied by the holy prophets. But, the Body of Christ with its heavenly calling and position was not prophesied. Nothing, not even one mention can be found in the pages of prophecy about the Body of Christ. God kept this a complete secret until the proper time when He brought the Body of Christ into existence, revealing THE MYSTERY only to the Apostle Paul. (Rom. 16:25) “kept secret since the world began”. Then also in (Ephesians 3:9) “from the beginning of the world . . . hid in God”. “hid from ages and from generations” (Col.1:26).

The nation Israel was temporarily set aside along with the unbelieving Gentiles. “Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for” (Rom. 11:7). “Because of unbelief they were broken off” (Rom. 11:12). A new dispensation was slowly being brought in and mercy was shown to all. “For God hath concluded them all in unbelief that He might have mercy upon all” (Rom. 11:32). “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek (gentile)” (Rom. 10:12-13). No longer is the gospel of the kingdom proclaimed, but the gospel of the Grace of God, which is Christ’s finished work on the cross. The Apostle Paul declared “the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD” and “THE DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD which is given me to you-ward” (Acts 20:24) (Ephesians 3:2). (Stam 1959)

Dispensational Distinctives

While Stam’s hermeneutic is not only accurate it is provably so. Notwithstanding, we cannot begin to discover this dichotomy if we are not willing to apply sound- non prejudicial- hermeneutical principles.

If you are a PMI student you know that hermeneutics is a fancy word for “the science of Biblical interpretation employing immutable rules that when consistently applied will result in exegesis [i] of a passage rather than eisegesis. [ii] Taking into consideration that the Word of God needs dividing (2 Tim. 2:15), the school of hermeneutics most scholars find capable [iii] of the unbiased separate divisions- is called dispensationalism. Among the more well known dispensational teachers are Drs. JN Darby, CI Scofield, RA Torrey, Clarence Larkin, Charles Ryrie, John Walvoord Hal Lindsey, Jack Van Impe, Thomas Ice, and a friend of Scofield’s, by the name of Lewis Sperry Chafer.

Several decades ago Dr. Chafer wrote: “All Scripture is … profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16), but all Scripture is of primary application to a particular person or class of persons which the Bible designates as such. All Scripture is not for the angels, nor is it all for the Gentiles. In like manner, not all Scripture is addressed to the Jew, nor is it all addressed to the Christian (Dispensationalism, p. 417). Simply stated, dispensationalism [2] teaches us that God gives different demands and responsibilities to the people living in different ages while making a distinction between three kinds of people: Jews, Gentiles, and the church.

Dispensationalism is distinctive for many reasons. I’ve loved and preached the Scofield notes over 30 years, because they have provided me a distinctive systematic theology that is consistent from Genesis 1 through Revelation 22. The Old Scofield Bible defines dispensation as a “period of time during which man is tested in respect of obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God.” Simply stated, unless you took a lamb to church this past Sunday, you are at some level a dispensationalist. [iv] However, if this term still seems a bit nebulous, consider God’s Word a giant puzzle, with a number of pieces (dispensations) scattered on the table. Now let’s give you three choices regarding the pieces, or dispensations, as they’re called: you can ignore them, destroy them, or analyze and fit them together so that once connected you will get the whole picture from Genesis to Revelation. The seven dispensations from majority consensus- including the Old Scofield Bible are: Innocence (Gen_1:28); Conscience (Gen_3:23); Human Government (Gen_8:21); Promise (Gen_12:1); Law (Exo_19:8); Grace (Joh_1:17); Kingdom (Eph_1:10; see 2Sa_7:8-17; Zec_12:8).

Dispensationalism- while distinctive- isn’t complicated even though made to be so by its opponents who have launched unfounded attacks against dispensationalism with distortions that are simply not true. [3] One of the distortions from anti-dispensationalists is that we teach several ways of salvation. Unless they are referring to a fringe group I’m not aware of, dispensationalists actually teach that salvation has always been by grace through faith.

Another anti-dispensationalist distortion maintains that dispensationalism removes a great portion of the Bible. True dispensationalism does not take the Bible away from you; it gives the Bible back to you with tools to rightly divide it. May I reiterate: while all Scripture is profitable, all Scriptural is not personal and will not lead you to misapply sections not designated for this age.

One overarching example of misappropriating Scripture concerns the 613 OT laws given to Israel and no one else (Exod-Deut). Heretics have for years used the Law like a sledge hammer to force their members to obey the Mosaic mandates that were never intended for the church. It’s sad to see how this has kept large numbers of innocent- yet Biblically ignorant- people in the throes of bondage in the age of liberty.

Another noteworthy example of dispensational distinctiveness can be found in the very different ministries of Peter- Apostle to the circumcision, and Paul- Apostle to the uncircumcision (Gal. 2:7-8). Dr. Noah Hutchings, one of my favorite Bible teachers, writes: Investigating the reasons for church differences, I have concluded that they lie in the failure to understand the variance between the gospel of the Kingdom and the gospel of grace; and more specifically, the message preached by Peter and the message preached by Paul. It is my firm conviction that if all churches could agree on the first fifteen chapters of the Acts of the Apostles, there would be few church differences. Therefore, it is important for Christians to understand the difference between the ministry that Christ committed to Peter and the ministry that He committed to Paul . . . However, the greatest revelation to me concerning dispensational truths and sound doctrine was the scriptural evidence that Paul and Peter did not preach the same message. They preached the same Christ, but not the same gospel [gospel simply means good news].  p2-3. Dr. Hutchings continues:

Some might ask, What about the conversion of the household of Cornelius when Peter [4] preached to them the gospel? If you will read in Acts 10:42, Peter still preached Christ as the judge or ruler of the living dead. While this is certainly true, Peter was still preaching Christ from a Kingdom age covenant position. [5] p7 (Hutchings 1992).

 

The Epistles of Paul- Dr. CI Scofield

In the Introductory Notes to the Epistles of Paul Dr. Scofield [6] writes: The Epistles of the Apostle Paul have a very distinctive character. All Scripture, up to the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion, looks forward to the cross, and has primarily in view Israel, and the blessing of the earth through the Messianic kingdom. But “hid in God” (Ephesians 3:9) was an unrevealed fact–the interval of time between the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ and His return in glory; and an unrevealed purpose– the outcalling of the ecclesia, the church which is Christ’s body. In Mat. 16, our Lord announced that purpose, but wholly without explanation as to how, when, or of what materials, that church should be built, or what should be its position, relationships, privileges, or duties.

All this constitutes precisely the scope of the Epistles of Paul. They develop the doctrine of the church. In his letters to seven Gentile churches (in Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse, and Thessalonica), the church, the “mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God” (Ephesians 3:9), is fully revealed, and fully instructed as to her unique place in the counsels and purposes of God.

Through Paul alone we know that the church is not an organization, but an organism, the body of Christ; instinct with His life, and heavenly in calling, promise, and destiny. Through him alone we know the nature, purpose, and form of organization of local churches, and the right conduct of such gatherings. Through him alone do we know that “we shall not all sleep,” that “the dead in Christ shall rise first,” and that living saints shall be “changed” and caught up to meet the Lord in the air at His return.

But to Paul was also committed the unfolding of the doctrines of grace which were latent in the teachings of Jesus Christ. Paul originates nothing, but unfolds everything, concerning the nature and purpose of the law; the ground and means of the believer’s justification, sanctification, and glory; the meanings of the death of Christ, and the position, walk, expectation, and service of the Christian.

Paul converted by the personal ministry of the Lord in glory, is distinctively the witness to a glorified Christ, Head over all things to the church which is His body, as the Eleven were to Christ in the flesh, the Son of Abraham and David. (Scofield 1917)

Dr. Hutchings reflects on Scofield: In reviewing the ministry of Peter in relation to what Dr. Scofield said about the ministry of Paul, [7] we remember that the authority for Peter’s ministry is revealed in Matthew 16:19: And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. If the keys of the Kingdom as committed to Peter concerned the church, then why would the Lord commit the revelations concerning the church to Paul? [8] The evident truth is that Peter’s ministry primarily concerned Israel. It had meaning for the Gentiles only in the sense that the Gentiles are to be blessed through Israel during the Kingdom age.

I will close by sharing again this insightful quote from Dr. Hutchings: It is my firm conviction that if all churches could agree on the first fifteen chapters of the Acts of the Apostles, there would be few church differences. Therefore, it is important for Christians to understand the difference between the ministry that Christ committed to Peter and the ministry that He committed to Paul . . . However, the greatest revelation to me concerning dispensational truths and sound doctrine was the scriptural evidence that Paul and Peter did not preach the same message. They preached the same Christ, but not the same gospel.

Works Cited

Hutchings, Dr. Noah. “Why So Many Churches.” In Why So Many Churches, by Dr. Noah Hutchings, 206. Oklahoma City, OK: Bible Belt Publishers, 1992.

Johnston, Dr. Mike. Denominationalism: Defined and Described. Tract, Battle Creek: PMI Center for Biblical Studies, 2011.

Scofield, CI. “Old Scofield Reference Bible.” By CI Scofield. New York City: Oxford University Publishing, 1917.

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[1] I am not including cults and fringe groups here like Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Latter Rain/Charismatics, etc.

[2] Old Scofield Study Bibles are sound exegetical proponents of this and we have a 2 year course in Scofield Theology for those with $120 sponsors.

[3] The fact is, unless you take a sacrificial lamb to church with you this coming Saturday (Sabbath), you are at some level a dispensationalist.

[4] Peter was the Jewish facilitator for the Gentile converts Paul would be bringing into the Body of Christ.

[5] Keep in mind, Peter was the Apostle to the circumcision, aka the Jews while Paul was Apostle to the uncircumcision, aka the Gentiles.

[6] We have these Old Scofield Reference Bibles in bonded leather, KJV, available for a gift to PMI of $30 + $4 s/h to help us minister to you and others. Please remember, when you order from us, you help support us. Stamps are welcome.

[7] Dr. Hutchings actually quoted a note in the New Scofield Reference Bible while my quote is from the Old.

[8] The prophets provided Peter with his message for Israel which was confirmed by Christ and focused on earth. Prophecy and Mystery: Paul received his message for the church from the revelation of the mystery hidden from the prophets (Rom 16:25; Eph 3:3-9)  which focused on the heavenlies (Eph 2:6; Col 3:1-4).

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[i] Exegesis is the process of approaching Bible interpretation with a humble spirit, and an open mind.  In order to gain a true understanding of God’s Word, one must be willing to allow God’s Word to speak for itself, and be willing to abandon cherished beliefs if they are in conflict with God’s Word.Exegesis is not merely an intellectual exercise we do all alone.  God tells us that in order to properly understand His Word, we need the help of a) the Holy Spirit and b) others who have strong theological training.  We are also cautioned to be careful about who we allow to influence us.

[ii] Eisegesis is the approach to Bible interpretation where the interpreter tries to “force” the Bible to mean something that fits their existing belief or understanding of a particular issue or doctrine.  People who interpret the Bible this way are usually not willing to let the Bible speak for itself and let the chips fall where they may.  They start off with the up-front goal of trying to prove a point they already believe in, and everything they read and interpret is filtered through that paradigm. Stated another way, they engage in what the Bible refers to as “private interpretation”.

[iii] No other disciplines offer the seven dispensational distinctions. Two contemporary disciplines, Kingdom Now and Covenant Theology basically teach the Covenants of Works and Grace while all eke their existence out at the expense of Israel for which they blasphemously claim has been replaced by the church (Rev. 2:9; 3:9).

[iv] The word dispensation means “dispense” or administer.