BEWARE THE NAR

AN INTRODUCTORY NOTE TO READERS

About 3 years ago, a friend sent me a link to a video about the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) in Israel. I was horrified by the claims made in this video, and this caused me to want to know if they were in fact true, and to learn more about the NAR movement. I began my research and discovered a veritable plethora of information on the internet and in books. I was amazed at how blind I had been. How could I have been so unaware, in spite of the fact that I have been a believer for over 50 years, and in congregations in Israel for over 40 years? I spoke to my pastors and found they knew even less than me, even though these doctrines were already infiltrating the congregation.

As I continued my research the sheer quantity of information became overwhelming and confusing, so I began to try to clarify my understanding by writing an organized summary. I also saw that many of those who were trying to discredit NAR were attacking people and their practices rather than the underlying doctrines and teachings. I wanted to examine the NAR doctrines from a Biblical perspective. At first, I did all this for my own edification, but as I went on, I realized that I could not keep this knowledge to myself. I therefore seek to share this document with all who are willing to read it. My plea is that you do not just accept my findings as truth, or reject them as error, but that they would spur you to do your own research and come to your own conclusions. If you are a pastor (shepherd) or leader in any capacity, you have a responsibility to be informed and to warn those of your ‘flock’, especially the young in the faith who are vulnerable. If we do not speak out against the false teachings, the false prophecies and the heresy promoted by NAR we become complicit – part of the problem.

THE NEW APOSTOLIC REFORMATION

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

Galatians 1: 6-9

When we hear of all the wars, rumors of wars, floods, great fires, plagues and earthquakes such as are happening around the world today, many are asking, “Is this the beginning of the Great Tribulation?”. The answer is ‘not yet’; however, the time is drawing closer, and the signs are obvious to all who have eyes to see. Perhaps the clearest sign is the apostasy of the church. Apostasy means “falling away from something you once had”. Many are falling away, being drawn into all manner of false teachings, because they do not know the Scriptures and love the Truth.

When I came to the Lord in the 1970s one thing that typified all new believers then was an intense desire to study the Scriptures. We memorized many passages, we sang Scripture in songs, we studied the Bible fervently and we wanted to know the truth. I do not see this hunger in new believers anymore, nor in the churches. Many churches do not even have a regular Bible Study. It is no wonder so many cannot discern truth from lies, and consequently are being led astray by false teachings. Satan knows that the greatest threat to the Body of Christ is not attack from outside, but rather from inside. He is sending his servants, whether they do it consciously or not, to infiltrate the church and, because of the lack of discernment, many are left vulnerable to these ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’.

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

2 Thessalonians 2: 9-12 (my emphasis)

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Matthew 7:15 (my emphasis)

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.

2 Timothy 4: 1-2 (my emphasis)

One of the major events leading up to the coming of the Lord Yeshua (Jesus) is the falling away (apostasy) of the church. It is not so much the great and increasing sinfulness of the world that heralds His coming, but the defection of the church. Many (most?) who call themselves ‘believers’ will fall into deception, following false teachers, and ultimately the ‘lawless one’ (the Antichrist) because they do not love the truth. Yeshua himself warned us of this time of apostasy, saying

And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Matthew 24: 10-14 (my emphasis)

False teachings and false prophecies will divide the church, brother will hate brother, and we will betray one another. Only the remnant who remain faithful to the Lord and his Truth at this time will be saved.

I believe that among the most dangerous false teachers and prophets today are those associated with the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). Many have not heard of this movement nor understand what they teach and practice, and yet often attend their meetings and get drawn into their apostasy unawares. It is my intention here to describe and counter the main teachings of NAR so that the reader may be informed and warned. It is essential that all pastors and church leaders be aware of this movement and take action to protect their flocks, especially the young and vulnerable, from this Satan-inspired deception.

In his letter to the Church of Ephesus, Yeshua, speaking through John, praised the Ephesian church saying. “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false (Revelation 2:2). Proponents of NAR often try to protect themselves from criticism by citing the verse which says, “Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm” (I Chronicles 16:22). Read in context however, this verse is talking about the people of Israel, not modern-day self-appointed prophets or apostles. It is not our place to judge the apostles of NAR, but it is our place to test every word they utter, just as the Bereans tested the teachings of Paul (Acts 17:11).

NAR leaders also accuse their critics of causing division and even of being ‘haters’. Yet, it is my claim that it is their teachings and practices which are causing division, even though they hypocritically preach unity. True unity can only be based on a commonly held Truth. What fellowship is there between light and darkness? Our basis for unity is the Truth as revealed to us in Scripture.

NAR leaders sometimes defend themselves by claiming that they do not belong to NAR and do not follow its doctrines. This may be so, but this is in itself a deception. NAR, as we shall see, is not a church or organization as such, and therefore has no ‘membership’, nor does it have a clear ‘doctrinal statement’, but rather a loose collection of teachings some of which are not Scriptural and even contradict Scripture. Any particular NAR teacher may hold only some of the main teachings and reject others. This makes this movement even more dangerous, because it cannot be easily identified. It also means that some may be teaching NAR doctrines and practices unaware that they do so.

There is an enormous amount of information on the internet and in books for any who want to explore further. I have not attempted to present a scholarly work but merely tried to summarize and organize some of this material. I have consulted more than a hundred articles, videos and books, but I have not attempted to cite every reference I have used, instead only those needed to verify a statement or a quotation. It is not my intention to criticize individuals, only doctrines, and have named individuals only when it is necessary in order to support my claims.

WHAT IS THE NEW APOSTOLIC REFORMATION?

The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is a global movement within the church (the worldwide body of Christian believers) which teaches false doctrines and practices extreme ‘hypercharismatic’ forms of mysticism. NAR is not a church, a denomination nor an organization. It is a loose confederation of like-minded people, led by powerful self-styled Apostles and Prophets, and as such it is difficult to identify. It is not a small ‘lunatic fringe group’ but more and more its doctrines and practices are infiltrating all churches and parachurch organizations, and could very soon, if not already, constitute the mainstream of the visible Christian church. It can be likened to an amoeba that spreads in all directions absorbing any compatible doctrine and movement.

WHERE DID IT COME FROM?

The roots of NAR reach far back into the ancient gnostic heresies that arose in the early years of the Church. The word ‘gnostic’ is derived from the Greek word ‘gnosis’ from which we get the English word ‘know’ or ‘knowledge’. Proponents of Gnosticism claim to have received special knowledge that has not been revealed to others. This creates a kind of elitist leadership, the clergy or priesthood, who have this special knowledge, and the unawakened laity, who are expected to submit to the leadership’s ‘superior’ knowledge. Such a belief inevitably leads to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans hated by Yeshua (Jesus) as recorded in Revelation 2: 6,15. NAR teachings have many of the characteristics of Gnosticism, though the leaders would probably deny this. The leaders of NAR claim to have received special revelations that supersede the revelations of Scripture. They claim to be Apostles equal to, or even superior to, the Apostles of Scripture in that they have been awakened to this deeper, mystical truth.

In the 1940s William Branham, had an experience in which he was visited by an angelic being who not only healed him, but also gave him special knowledge. Branham claimed to be Elijah and the messenger of the last church age. He claimed that the doctrine of the Trinity and the existence of denominations are of the Devil and that membership in a denomination was ‘a mark of the Beast’. He credited his signs and wonders to ‘his’ angel (or spirit guide?). Branham also claimed that there are three forms of God’s word – the Bible, the Zodiac and the Pyramids. He taught the Serpent-Seed doctrine which claims that Eve had sexual intercourse with the Serpent in the Garden of Eden and that’s how Cain was born, and Branham taught that “Satan used this creature to get himself into the human race” (1) Branham emerged from the charismatic movement but it was the Assemblies of God that was the first of the mainstream denominations to withdraw their support for his ministry in 1953 (2).

Branham is credited by many to be the initiator of the so-called ‘healing revival’ which began in 1947. During the 1950s dozens of preachers associated with Branham held healing meetings all over the USA and around the world. In 1956, the healing revival reached its peak, with some 49 separate evangelists holding major meetings. By the end of the 1960s this healing revival was waning for a variety of reasons, but out of Branham’s movement grew a number of others, including Joel’s Army, the Voice of Healing, the Latter Rain, the Toronto Blessing, the Word of Faith and the Ecumenical movement among others.

The term ‘New Apostolic Reformation’ (NAR) was coined by Peter Wagner in 1994 in recognition of a commonality amongst these various movements. A telling quote from Peter Wagner goes like this, “I suggest that it may be possible to receive selected but valid information from the world of darkness itself. Certain people such as shamans, witchdoctors, practitioners of Eastern mysticism, New Age gurus or professors of the occult in university faculties are the kind of people who have much more extensive knowledge of the spirit world than most Christians have. Some of the information they furnish is accurate. Many of them are not only intelligent but they are also sincere people of integrity” (3).

Although what he says may contain some truth, God specifically forbids the consulting of such people.

The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so.

Deuteronomy 18: 4 (my emphasis)

There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord

Deuteronomy 18 : 10-12

Today, the term NAR is mainly used by its opponents. Many of NAR’s leaders do not identify as such and even go so far as to deny involvement, while at the same time teaching its doctrines and performing its practices, working and ministering together on platforms and in churches around the world.

The NAR movement is constantly evolving and, in its latest mutation, has merged with some sectors of the Messianic movement in Israel, changing its focus to promoting the leadership role of Jewish believers over the global church.

SO, WHAT ARE THE TEACHINGS OF NAR?

I have outlined the main doctrines below, but as I said earlier, particular leaders or followers of NAR may not hold, nor admit to, all these doctrines, though they often minister together in cooperation with those who do.

End Time Worldwide Revival

NAR leaders claim that they have received new revelation that in the end times the global church will be perfected by the restoration of the 5-fold ministries (apostles, prophets, teachers, pastors and evangelists – Ephesians 4:11) and will unite under the leadership of a Council of Apostles and Prophets, based in Jerusalem. As a result, there will be a great world-wide revival in which the church will take control of society ushering in a period of peace and prosperity, and until this happens, Christ cannot return. One of the NAR leaders in Israel, Asher Intrater, said, “We no longer accept the idea that society will get worse and worse, because we now believe that God’s mandate is to transform society so it gets better and better”(4).

There is nothing in the Bible to indicate that society will get better and better in the end times, or that the church will take control of society. The opposite is true. The Bible clearly states, as we saw above, that in the end times there will be a period of apostasy and ‘falling away’ in the church. A false world religion will be established under the Beast (the Antichrist), but it is short-lived. After just 3 ½ years the Beast (Antichrist) will set up the “Abomination of Desecration” and demand that everyone worship him instead of the LORD. The Antichrist (the Beast) will be defeated and Satan will be thrown into the Abyss. Yeshua (Jesus) will return with the tribulation saints and reign on Earth for 1000 years (the Millennium). At the end of the Millennium Satan will be released for a time and will deceive the world so that they once again come up to attack Jerusalem in the final battle. Satan will be defeated and thrown into the Fire for eternity and only then will the New Heaven and the New Earth be established and there will be no more death, sorrow, crying or pain (Revelation 13-22). In Revelation 1:1 it says, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place”. The word here translated ‘must’ is the Greek word ‘dei’ which means ‘necessary or inevitable’. The events outlined in the Book of Revelation are already determined and will inevitably take place, with or without our participation (which is not to say that the church does not have a role to play).

What is more, this NAR teaching denies the authority and power of Yeshua (Jesus). Yeshua is the savior of the world, not the church. If the church can bring in peace and prosperity to the world, what need of a Messiah is there?

It is not clear to me whether the NAR teachers believe the worldwide revival they preach will come prior to the Great Tribulation, during or after it, or if they believe in a literal Tribulation at all. One of the characteristics of NAR teachers is that they seldom refer to the Bible and, if they do, it is only to take a proof text to support their teaching, often taking it out of context, twisting its meaning or adding words that do not appear in the text.

A good example of this is found in an expose of Joel Osteen, one of the main NAR teachers, which shows a clip in which Osteen claims that the Scripture says that “if we lend to God, He will repay” (5). He does not give a Scripture reference to back his statement for the very good reason that no such Scripture exists. We do not lend to God. God does not need us to lend him money. Everything belongs to Him. Perhaps Osteen is thinking of the Scripture in Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.” If so, it is an example of the dangers of taking proof texts out of context. The context of that verse is a warning against judging others. “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

It is not talking about money.

2. Restoration of the Five-Fold Ministries

According to NAR teachers this end time revival depends upon the perfection of the church by the restoration of the five-fold ministries. They particularly emphasize the re-establishment of the offices of Apostles and Prophets and claim these are the God-ordained government of the global church. The other ministries of pastor, teacher and evangelist are relegated to a secondary role, under the ‘umbrella’ or covering of the Apostles.

The Bible does speak about apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers in the New Testament church,

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Ephesians 4: 11-16

Read in context, the function of these giftings is not to raise up an ecclesiastical clergy or upper echelon demanding ‘alignment’ and submission, but rather that of servants who work together to equip and bring all the people to maturity, able to discern truth and not prone to being tossed back and forth by every wind of teaching (including that of NAR). The unity spoken of here is the unity that comes with knowledge of the truth and with maturity in Yeshua. The ‘unity’ of submission to authority and false teaching is not true unity in the Spirit of God. It is a lie that comes directly from Satan.

3. Prophets and Apostles

The leading teachers of NAR often proclaim themselves, and each other, to be Apostles and Prophets. These self-appointed prophets and apostles claim to have received special knowledge from God and bring forth this ‘new revelation’ prophetically.

It is clear that there is a role in the New Testament church for apostles and prophets as outlined in the passage from Ephesians 4 quoted above.

First note that it is He, himself, that is Yeshua, who appoints these ministers of the gospel, the apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists and pastors. They do not appoint themselves, nor even each other. Secondly, the picture here is not of a hierarchical authority structure but one of a team ministry, comprising men of different callings and giftings, working together to equip and edify the church bringing all into maturity and unity. It is not an imposed unity, but one founded on truth in love.

There is a lot of confusion about the meaning of the word ‘apostle’ and the function of apostles in the church today. The role of the apostle is not primarily a denotation of authority but rather the primary meaning is ‘one who is sent out’, a messenger, envoy or ambassador. Ambassadors are not the highest authority in a nation but are merely the spokesmen and representatives of the highest authority, the president or the king.

The Twelve Apostles of Yeshua’s time were sent out and spoke with delegated authority under the dominion of Yeshua. He, Himself, sent them out having taught and instructed them personally in His teachings which they then brought to the churches which they established. They were simply his mouthpieces. Some of the Apostles also recorded these teachings for us, who were to come after, in what today we call the New Testament. The function of the Twelve Apostles of the early church was clear but what is the role, if any, of the apostle today?

Some say that the modern-day apostles are church-planting missionaries who are sent out to carry the gospel to the unsaved. Others see them as ‘bishops’ who have oversight over a number of congregations – a sort of super pastor, or pastor of pastors. Whatever the case, they certainly do not have the authority to bring new revelation that contradicts Scripture and the teachings of Yeshua and his Apostles, for this is expressly forbidden.

For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Revelation 22: 18-19 (my emphasis)

One must therefore ask, who sent out these NAR apostles? Who is in kingly authority over them? Under whose authority do they add to Scripture, claiming ‘new revelation’ that supersedes that of Scripture?

Most of the NAR leaders also proclaim themselves to be prophets. A prophet is one recognized as mature and proven in the exercise of the spiritual gift of prophecy. All may prophesy but not all are prophets. The role of the prophet is to speak forth the words of God.

The Lord said to me: “What they say is good. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.”

You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.

Deuteronomy 18: 17-21 ( my emphasis)

In recent times there have been a number of prophetic words given by well-known so-called ‘Prophets’ or self-proclaimed ‘Apostles’ that simply have not come to pass, for example, the prophecy brought forth by one of the leading NAR teachers, Kenneth Copeland, at exactly 12 noon on the 29 March, 2020 claiming the Covid-19 pandemic virus “… is finished, it is over, and the United States of America is healed and well again” (6). Clearly this was a false prophecy.

In an effort to explain away or justify such errors a new and dangerous teaching has arisen which claims that ‘there is a lower standard in the New Testament’ (7) and prophecy now does not have to be 100% correct. Clearly such a doctrine is in opposition to Scripture.

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

2 Peter 2:1

For more on this see my article (8) below.

4. The Seven Mountains Mandate and Dominionism

The doctrine of Dominionism grew out of the Latter Rain movement of the 1940s (9). It has undergone various permutations through the years and has gone under different names and been associated with a variety of movements. Dominionism, claims that although God has dominion in heaven, He has given man dominion on Earth. According to this doctrine, God has no authority on Earth and God cannot intervene on Earth without ‘our’ permission. Miles Munroe, a Word of Faith preacher, in an interview with Benny Hinn, said this “ Let me define for you… Prayer is man giving God permission or license to interfere in Earth’s affairs… The heavens are God’s territory and the earth is ours… Only spirits with bodies can have authority on Earth. Even God Himself is illegal on Earth… God himself can do nothing on Earth, nothing God has ever done on Earth, without a human giving him access (sic)” (10). According to this teaching, mankind is superior in authority to God on Earth. This is blasphemy.

Dominionist teachers claim to base their teachings on the Biblical account in Genesis 1:26 and 28, which says,

Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth…God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”

They fail to note that this delegated dominion is extended only over the living creatures (animals) of the Earth, it does not extend over mankind or the Earth as a whole.

Teachers of Dominionism also cite Psalm 115:16 which says, “The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; But the earth He has given to the children of men”. God may have given the Earth to humankind for our habitation and sustenance, and delegated some rulership to us over the animals of the Earth, but never did He relinquish His own ultimate authority or dominion on Earth, as is stated in another psalm, The heavens are Yours (God’s), the earth also is Yours; The world and all its fullness (Psalm 89:11).

The doctrine of Dominionism ignores the whole thrust of Scripture which is that God, and God alone, has dominion, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

^“…That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Ephesians 1: 19-23 (my emphasis)

“If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

1 Peter 4:11 (my emphasis)

For dominion belongs to the Lord,
and he rules over the nations.

Psalm 22: 28 (my emphasis)

In the 1970s Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade, Loren Cunningham, founder of Youth with a Mission and Francis Schaeffer all received a simultaneous, new ‘message from God’ “that in order for the church to impact the world for Jesus Christ, it would be necessary for us to influence the Seven Mountains of society”(9). This latest form of Dominionism is known as the Seven Mountains Mandate and this is actively promoted by the leaders of NAR. They believe that the church’s mandate today is to take control of the seven ‘mountains’ or aspects of society: education, religion, family, business, government/military, arts/entertainment and the media, and that Jesus cannot return until this is accomplished (10). Proponents of this doctrine may use proof texting to support their teaching, but in reality it is based on the special extra-Biblical knowledge they received by means of prophecies, dreams or visions, ‘actual visits to the various heavenly realms’, or via an angelic visitation. This is pure Gnosticism.

Dominionism and the Seven Mountain Mandate is in clear contradiction to the Bible. God is supreme and has complete authority in heaven and on earth. Although the Bible does say that God gave mankind limited dominion over the animals never does this delegated dominion exceed that of God, nor is it even equivalent to the authority of God. He, and He alone, is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

The doctrine of Dominionism appeals to human pride and elevates humans to the status of God. It appeals to the lust for power, and leads to the entanglement of Church and State. It lays the foundation for the ‘little gods’ doctrine and the Word of Faith movement, in which we humans can speak things into being, like God, merely by our word of faith.

Israeli pastor and leader of Tikkun Israel, Asher Intrater says this “We change our will to align with His. When enough human beings have changed their will to God’s will, then the kingdom of God will manifest across the whole earth” (4). This is a teaching that comes from the Jewish Mishna, and the later Kabalistic teachings, and it is known as Tikkun Olam, which means literally “the repair of the world”. It basically does away with the need for a Messiah. The saints bring about world peace and prosperity themselves, usurping the role of the Messiah-King Yeshua. Intrater claims that Yeshua cannot return until the global, aligned church makes the kingdom of God manifest across the earth and ‘permits’ Yeshua to return. He even has the audacity to suggest that it is the church, or even he himself, that crowns Yeshua,

“In November 2016, with 3,000 attendees at the Global Gathering in Jerusalem Arena, David Demian asked me if I would let the Samoan brothers lift me up on their shoulders on the stage to symbolically offer a crown to Yeshua….”(4). And he participated in this charade! When Yeshua returns he will come already crowned, with many crowns (Revelation 19:12). He does not need us to crown him. That is not our place, nor do we have that authority.

This doctrine of Tikkun Olam contradicts Scripture which clearly prophesies that Yeshua will return at the end of the Tribulation and establish his thousand year (Millennial) reign on earth before the release of Satan from the Pit, the final battle and Satan’s final destruction. Proponents of NAR doctrine cite Matthew 23:39, which says “for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”. This again is an example of proof texting. This verse refers to Jesus’ Second Coming at the end of the Great Tribulation when Yeshua will stand on the Mount of Olives and all the people of Jerusalem and Judah will recognize him and bow down before him. At that time, He will enter Jerusalem in triumph to rule as Messiah-King for a thousand years (Zechariah 12-14).

Yeshua is the Messiah and He will come again and rule the Earth, together with those saved out of the Tribulation ( Revelation 20:4-5), but He will come again by His sovereign Will, not needing our permission or help. It is not the church’s mandate to bring about world peace and prosperity. That will only come when Satan, Death and Hades are cast into the pit of fire after the Tribulation and the new heaven and new earth are established (Revelation 20-21). Then “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying “(Revelation 21:4).

The ‘Seven Mountains’ doctrine is a lie of the Enemy designed to distract believers from the true mandate of Yeshua’s followers, namely that of making disciples,

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”.

Matthew 28:18-20

Neither Yeshua himself nor any of his early disciples involved themselves in the politics of their time. They had more important things to do – making disciples. This they managed to do this quite well, with the help of the Holy Spirit, without having to ‘fix’ the ills of society first.

It is interesting that the woman, “Mystery Babylon”, the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth, drunk on the blood of the saints, sits on seven mountains (Revelation 17: 5-9). Could it be that this Seven Mountain doctrine is the foundation of a revived world religion which will persecute and kill the true saints of God in the end times? Already proponents of NAR criticize anyone who stands against them, accusing them of being rebellious and destroying the ‘unity of the Body’. Those who oppose NAR are accused of being in rebellion, having a critical spirit, a Jezebel spirit, a Greek mindset, resisting the moving of the Spirit, or preventing the Second Coming. This is not only manipulative and controlling, but it seems to be only a small step from that point to actual persecution.

Some NAR prophets even speak about the coming Christian Civil War in which those ‘enlightened’ Christians (that is those who accept the teachings and practices of NAR) come up against those Christians who do not accept NAR or even oppose it. This crystallizes the ‘us/them’ thinking and language of much of the NAR narrative. It certainly has little to do with the unity they claim to promote! Rick Joyner, one of the main NAR prophets, in his book, “The Final Quest”, first published in 1996 describes a series of visions he experienced while in a trance. In the first of these ‘revelations’ he saw the demonic horde advancing, not riding horses, but riding on the backs of those Christians who do not accept this new enlightenment or who actively oppose it. He called this “The Great Christian Civil War” (11).

Jesus warned his disciples, speaking of the end times, saying,

Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Mark 13: 12-13

5. Unity, Ecumenism and the Global Church

Many NAR teachers claim that the division of the post-reformation church into the various denominations is wrong and we must reverse this process by coming together again into one global church. They have reached out to leaders and seek to form understandings between the various Protestant denominations, and even with the Roman Catholic and Orthodox streams of Christianity.

Although at first glance this may seem laudable, ‘unity’ that is not based on true doctrine is a false unity. This ‘unity’ proposed by NAR is based on compromise, appeasement, and the watering down of the true gospel.

In Ephesians Paul exhorts the believers to bear one another with love, “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4: 3-4). If we are in the Spirit there will be unity and it has been my experience that all true born-again believers in Jesus have no difficulty fellowshipping together, irrespective of denomination or church affiliation. There is no necessity for an outward, organizational unity when we are already one in the Spirit.

On the other hand, believers are exhorted to test every spirit (I John 4:1), and the Apostle John warned the ‘elect lady’, saying,

For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

II John 1:7-10 (my emphasis)

John called the believers of his time to separate themselves from all evil, and not only that, to purge those who bring false doctrines from their midst. After all, what fellowship do light and darkness have (II Corinthians 6:14)? Unity derives from a common understanding of the Truth and relationship with Yeshua, who said “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). There can be no fellowship between Truth and Lies.

NAR teachers use the call to unity to silence dissent. No one wants to be accused of causing division in the church. This may explain why so few of our leaders and pastors are speaking out against the teachings of NAR. We all believe in the unity of true believers in Yeshua and hate division. We are exhorted again and again to love one another, and the Apostle John wrote this:

Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

I John 4:20-21

The question arises, are these teachers of NAR our brothers and sisters? Are they merely deceived brethren who don’t really understand what they are doing, or are they ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’, deliberately bringing in destructive heresies that lead to death? Whatever the case, and only God can judge their hearts, if we love them, then surely that love constrains us to correct them if we see them heading down a path of destruction, and to speak out against their erroneous teachings that are leading many others down that same path.

My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

James 5: 19-20

True unity can only be founded on truth. Without a common truth there can be no true unity. Of course, there is room for disagreement over non-essential doctrines among brethren, but there is a point at which certain doctrines cross the line of heresy. I believe the teachings of NAR cross that point, and to tolerate these doctrines in our midst, and those who promote them, endangers the church, and all those who are drawn into them. The Apostle John warned the ‘elect lady’ thus,

Everyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God; whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰Do not receive into the house or welcome anyone who comes to you and does not bring this teaching; ¹¹for to welcome is to participate in the evil deeds of such a person.

2 John 9:11 (my emphasis)

The teachings of NAR ‘go beyond’ (far beyond!) the gospel of Christ as recorded in the Bible and introduce a ‘new’ gospel of works, in which man tries to save himself without God, contrary to the Bible. This is the ancient lie of the Enemy, crystallized in every false religion in the world, which says that we must earn our salvation by our works. It is rebellion against God. It belittles the work of Yeshua on the cross and undermines his teachings and authority. If we fail to speak out against these false teachers and prophets we become participants in the evil they promote.

The Book of Revelation ends with this warning,

For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Revelation 22: 18-19 (my emphasis)

6. Alignment

NAR teachers hold that all true believers, churches and parachurch organizations need to come together under the leadership of the NAR Apostles and Prophets in proper alignment with God’s will. These leaders will govern the global church and all its resources (including financial). Those who refuse to come into alignment will be accused of being rebellious and hindering the return of Jesus (thus opening the way for the persecution of the faithful church by the apostate church). Asher Intrater, one of the main proponents of the doctrine of this new global church in ‘proper alignment’, describes it as being like a wheel, with Jesus at the center, the Messianic church in Israel as the hub around the center (axle), the spokes being ‘enlightened’ believers who carry the message to the Gentile church, and the outer rim being the properly aligned Gentile church (12). Such a teaching relegates the Gentile church to a lesser, outer level, subject to the Jewish church, which has more direct relationship to Jesus in the inner circle. This contradicts Scripture which plainly says that we are all one in Christ and there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile in His Body (Galatians 3:28).

Asher Intrater in his book “Alignment” (4) says “Alignment leads up to a divine synergy. When we put the pieces together, a much greater result is produced than just the sum of the individual parts. It is like an explosion… these topics represent a “Messianic Ecclesiology” – a Jewish way of understanding the International Christian Church in its highest and most positive sense of the word. A progressive understanding is being revealed to us all in these days about who we are as the global community of faith…. My intention is… to bring us together as a family, and to prepare us for revival in the end times”.

Intrater also says this, “Alignment is an order that allows for everyone to have his or her own place – for everyone to function, for everyone to bear fruit. Alignment is an order based on intimacy and submission. It starts with Yeshua and the Father and extends into every possible group when two or more people are gathered together for a common purpose. For the sake of the greater good of the group, one must be willing to submit to the authority of that group”. Later he goes on to say, “Cooperation needs alignment and submission with the plans of the leader. Whenever we come into a group, we look to cooperate for the common goal. We immediately seek to understand what that goal is and who is in leadership. We submit both to the authority and purpose. We are team players with a cooperative attitude” (my emphasis).

On the surface of it, the idea of being aligned with God’s purposes seems laudable and right, but what they are talking about here is not that, but rather submission to a hierarchical order of authority. And who is to be that authority in this global church? Themselves of course, the self-appointed apostles. Intrater says “If we are to be aligned to Yeshua, we must be aligned to the delegated authority which He established” (4).

Delegated authority was given to the Apostles of Yeshua’s day, and we as believers must obey the teachings of the Apostles as recorded in the New Testament for they spoke Yeshua’s words as revealed to them either directly by Yeshua himself, or by the Holy Spirit, but NAR teachers take this further, saying that in addition to the Apostles of the Early church there are present day Apostles with new revelation to whom we should submit, namely themselves.

Intrater teaches that the commission of the church in our day is to bring back full- circle the going forth of the gospel– from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the Earth, and back to Jerusalem (12). He bases this teaching on Acts 1:8 which says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”, but notice that he adds a phrase to the end of this verse “and back to Jerusalem” which does not appear in Scripture. The banner statement of Tikkun Israel/Revive Israel on their website is this same misquoted verse, “ A world-wide movement for revival and restoration from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria to the ends of the earth, and back again”(13).

Intrater in his book entitled “Alignment” also says, “Now is the time for the international Ecclesia to turn its attention back to Jerusalem as we seek to complete the Great Commission and get ready for the coming of Yeshua’s kingdom.” He also states “Apostolic authority in the Ecclesia becomes the government authority in the kingdom” (4). (note: ‘Ecclesia’ is Intrater’s term for the world wide church under the new Apostolic authority)

Intrater also records a disturbing event in his book (4.chapter 8)

“ One of the first groups to grasp this was our friends at Aglow International with Jane Hansen Hoyt… Jane said “We at Aglow want to be submitted to renewed apostolic authority in Jerusalem. We want to submit to you and your team and have you send us out”. Before this event, Intrater had been ordained as an apostle by his ministry team. He explains,

“Not long before that Ari and Shira Sorkoram had talked to us about taking oversight of the Tel Aviv congregation, Tiferet Yeshua… Our team members said that if we were to receive oversight of the Tel Aviv congregation, I had to be ordained as an apostle. While I wasn’t particularly excited about the idea, I realized it was the correct thing to do. Everyone agreed; the leadership laid hands on me and Betty… “.

Intrater states this “I am convinced that the right global alignment will lead to a worldwide revival in the end times” (4, chapter 9).

Intrater also says, “Many of my dear friends, such as Marty Waldman, Dan Juster, Benjamin Berger, John Dawson and others, have been involved in “Toward Jerusalem Council II,” which seeks to bring senior church leaders into a recognition of God’s plan for Israel and a commitment to right ecclesiological government”.

The word alignment does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Asher Intrater, in his video entitled “Alignment” (6) explains that he and his colleagues, actually had to coin their own Hebrew term to translate this word. He decided upon הערכות,)ha’aracut) which has military connotations of lining up in battle formation. Actually ‘alignment’ is a New Age (Occult) concept to do with attuning the self in alignment or synergy with the divine energy of the universe. It has nothing to do with Christ! ‘Alignment’ and ‘synergy’ are New Age principles and it is telling that Intrater uses these terms.

Intrater also justifies his doctrine of alignment using the passage in Amos ,

This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand. And the Lord asked me, “What do you see, Amos?”

“A plumb line,” I replied.

Then the Lord said, “Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.

“The high places of Isaac will be destroyed
and the sanctuaries of Israel will be ruined;
with my sword I will rise against the house of Jeroboam.”

Amos 7: 5-9

This passage is talking about the judgement on the house of Israel. The plumb line is God’s standard upon which he bases judgement. It has nothing to do with aligning with the modern-day apostles and prophets of NAR – another example of proof texting and the twisting of Scripture.

In a recent article published in Kehila News Asher Intrater stated his belief that, “The time has come for the Messianic remnant of Israel to take a place of leadership in the greater Body of Messiah worldwide” (14). He goes on to say “This unity includes divine union with God, glorification by the Holy Spirit, and the final evangelizing of the world”. What does he mean by divine union with God? It sounds more like Eastern mysticism as taught in Hinduism and the New Age, than true Christianity. According to the Bible, we can know God intimately, love him and obey him, be united with him in purpose and action, and the Holy Spirit can dwell within us, but God always remains separate from us, there is no union or merging with the divine. We are not God, but created beings bearing his image, made in his likeness but not of the same ‘substance’ and therefore we never can become God. We can be one in understanding and principle but never one in identity or nature. Nowhere does the Bible say we can have divine union with God. This is one of the fundamental differences between true Christianity and the Eastern mystical religions. One must also ask what does Intrater mean by ‘glorification by the Holy Spirit’. Who is being glorified here – the ‘unified saints’ or God?

7. Shepherding

NAR teachers say that individual believers need to align themselves with a modern-day Apostle (or group of apostles) and be accountable to them in order to be equipped and to accomplish their mandate (in a father-son type of relationship). Shepherding replaces true discipling with submission to mentors and church authority. Failure to obey these mentors is called rebellion. Such control is one of the main characteristics of a cult.

In contrast, the Bible teaches that all true believers have the Holy Spirit who teaches us,

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth… As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you.

I John 2: 20,27.

In fact, the writer of the Book of Hebrews implies that all mature believers should themselves be teachers, teachers of the young in the faith (Hebrews 5:12). The aim of true discipling, based on Biblical principles, is not to bring the young into submission and dependence, but rather to help them reach maturity, to eat solid food and be able to independently feed themselves from the Word, so that they themselves will one day become teachers of the young in faith.

7. We are Gods, the Word of Faith, Positive confession and the Prosperity Gospel

Some NAR teachers reject the mainstream view of the Trinity and hold that Jesus took off his divinity and was just a man when on Earth (the Kinosis heresy). This they say, means that if Jesus did all the miracles he did while ‘just a man’ then we, as men (and women) can also do the same today. Some teach that we are ‘little gods’ and can speak things into being prophetically like God. This is the modern version of the Word of Faith and Positive Confession movements.

These movements teach that our words and ‘our confession’ have the power to bring things, like health, success and wealth into being. It makes the focus of faith, faith itself. It is having faith in faith, rather than in God and His word. It also makes faith a means by which we can attempt to manipulate God. There is no consideration of God’s will and sovereignty. The positive confession or speaking out of healing or calling in of wealth, or attempts to control circumstances, comes perilously close to the chanting of spells such as we see in occult practice.

Linked to these teachings is the “prosperity gospel” which teaches that God wants all of us to be healthy, wealthy and successful in all we do, and to achieve these things we just have to ‘speak them into being’, use positive confession and, of course, tithe to the church. Joel Osteen said this “ Believe, visualize, speak out loud and your words release your power, giving life to what you want” (5). Note he said we are to release ‘your’ power to get what ‘you’ want!!! Not what God wants? No, of course not, after all God wants what we want – according to them. It is all about satisfaction in this material life now. They teach that God will give you material wealth if you invest in him, that is tithe and give ‘seed money’ (offerings). Such a teaching panders to the human propensity for covetousness and greed. Jesus said, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15). What is more, visualization is an occult technique practiced widely by New Age Practitioners. It is never mentioned in the Bible.

The ‘proof’ that this NAR ‘gospel’ works lies in the fabulous wealth of these prosperity teachers, their multi-million dollar mansions, private jets and expensive cars. Joel Osteen said this, “I know these principles are true, because they have worked for me and my wife” (5). Of course they worked for him and his wife because they have milked their followers of millions of dollars! They also preach tithing, an Old Testament practice designed to support the Temple priesthood, who owned no land of their own, and as insurance against famine and drought. There is no requirement to tithe in the church, and making a rule of it turns it into a legalism, a way in which we attempt to gain God’s favor. Robert Morris, the pastor of Gateway Church, in Southlake, Texas, said this “If you don’t tithe, you open the door to demons” (15), and in 2020, addressing those who had lost their jobs as a result of the corona virus pandemic, Kenneth Copeland exhorted them saying “ Whatever you do, don’t stop tithing” (16). Of course he would say that, he needs his followers to tithe so that he can maintain his own luxury lifestyle and his megachurch ministry, which brings in more and more money. These preachers use fear, and their followers’ covetousness and greed, to manipulate people into giving them money. Many of the main NAR leaders are among the richest people on Earth and they obtain these riches by robbing the fearful, the poor and the gullible.

The Bible has much to say about the pursuit of riches. Yeshua said,

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6: 19-21

These false teachers, and all of us, would do well to heed the words of the New Testament writers;

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 Timothy 6: 6-10 (my emphasis)

Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

James 1: 9-11(my emphasis)

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

James 2: 5-7(my emphasis)

Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.

James 5: 1-5 (my emphasis)

7. Hypercharismania and the Occult

In the NAR movement there is a strong emphasis on signs and wonders, the pursuit of mystical ‘spiritual experiences’, and the wielding of power. The emphasis is on emotionally charged mystical phenomena, and the systematic teaching of the Bible is notably absent. Common practices include the calling down of angels by name (see for example reference 9 below), praying for the fire of God to fall (it never does), physical healing, people being ‘slain in the spirit’ and manifesting uncontrolled shouting, laughing, physical gyrations or writhing on the floor, the utterance of repeated meaningless syllables which they believe to be speaking in tongues, and of course, the bringing forth of prophetic declarations.

NAR meetings are often designed to produce a kind of mass hysteria in which thousands will enter into an emotionally charged, ecstatic state and start to manifest spiritual phenomena simultaneously. The utterance of non-sensical repeated syllables, or repetitive phrases and chord progressions in songs, has more to do with repeating a mantra and Hindu yogic practices such as Transcendental Meditation than true Christianity. The purpose of such repetition is the achieve a trance-like, ecstatic state which NAR practitioners and their victims mistake for an anointing of the Holy Spirit. This process is often aided by a darkened auditorium, flashing lights and symbols, and hypnotic background music.

This style of meeting is contrary to the Biblical instruction about the way the meetings of believers should be conducted.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

I Corinthians 14: 39-40

There is nothing fitting and orderly in a typical NAR meeting.

True speaking in tongues is the utterance of an unknown language which has syntax and all the grammatical structures of language, including words, phrases and sentences. It is something the person can stop or start at any time – there is no loss of control. Primarily it is a gift by which the speaker can talk privately to God without the limitations of human language. The Bible teaches that one should not speak in tongues in public unless there is someone to interpret.

Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

I Corinthians 14: 26-28

Clearly the speaker of tongues is able to control his or her utterances, choosing to keep quiet or to speak, and if speaking in public, to do so in an orderly manner – one at a time.

The utterance of repetitive non-sensical syllables is contrary to Jesus’ own teaching about prayer. He said, “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words” (Matthew 6:7).

The mass speaking in tongues and all the other strange manifestations that occur in a NAR meeting are also a poor witness to inquirers or unbelievers who may be present.

So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

1 Corinthians 14: 23

There is no Biblical precedent for uncontrolled laughter, shouting, writhing or violent kicking or slapping. When the Holy Spirit comes on a person, He never robs that person of conscious control of his or her actions. In the presence of the Holy Spirit demons may manifest by throwing the possessed onto the floor and causing them to writhe and scream uncontrollably, but by claiming that such manifestations are the Holy Spirit, they blaspheme His holy name. These extreme behaviors can be the result of demon possession, but they also can be the purely psychological fruit of emotional manipulation and the hypnotic power of suggestion, a kind of mass hysteria.

Sometimes these manifestations in NAR meetings involve violent slapping and kicking (see for example (17) below). Many of these practices and manifestations have more in common with New Age, pagan religions and the occult. Some of these manifestations, especially the uncontrolled writhing on the floor, appear identical to the manifestations of the kundalini spirit of Hinduism (18). The kundalini spirit is a demonic snake spirit coiled at the base of the spine. One common manifestation that NAR followers demonstrate is an uncontrollable twitching of the head, known by Kundalini practitioners as a ‘kryia’. The Holy Spirit never causes such manifestations in Scripture. Such manifestations are only seen in Scripture when a demon manifests in someone possessed, throwing them to the ground and causing them to writhe uncontrollably. In NAR meetings these kryias and the uncontrolled writhings are often passed from one person to another, and even to children under the age of consent, by the ‘laying on of hands’, sometimes just by a mere touch.

NAR leaders and followers often claim to have received miraculous healings and use this to justify their beliefs. It is possible that some participants in NAR meetings do receive healing, but it may be as a result of the power of psychosomatic suggestion, or by Satanic counterfeit. Satan can counterfeit all the true gifts of the Holy Spirit (except for love) and can work many miracles (see for example Exodus 2:10-12). The danger is that healings carried out by Satanic powers are designed to lead and tempt believers into deception and often have other negative consequences.

More often, those who are prayed for simply are not healed, and typically the so-called healings by NAR leaders are unverified by independent medical practitioners. For example, in a meeting of Kenneth Copeland, one of the main NAR “Prophets”, he laid hands on a number of people in wheelchairs and not one of them got up out of the chair. He pushed one man in a wheelchair so violently that he fell over backwards. Copeland did not even pause to see if the man was hurt, much less healed, instead he just announced that he wasn’t hurt and carried on with his preaching. Not only was his attitude callous and unloving but there was absolutely no evidence of the man having been healed (19).

The sad thing is that if someone does not receive ‘healing’ they are accused of lacking faith or harboring sin that blocks the healing. The message being that if you are not healed, then it is your fault. In this way, these so-called healers protect themselves, deceive others and cruelly add guilt and confusion to compound the unhealed person’s illness.

There was an incident in Bethel Church in December 2019 in which the congregation prayed six days to bring a dead child, Olive Heiligenthal, back to life. It didn’t happen (20). The implication here is that the parents and others simply did not have enough faith. Imagine the additional pain this has caused the grieving parents. It is cruel and faith-destroying. In addition, this incident was widely reported in the press and such things bring the Body of Yeshua into disrepute, undermining our witness. For a deeper analysis of this incident see reference 19 below.

Some of the NAR leaders and followers are getting caught up in clearly occult practices such as the “Christian” tarot cards promoted by the “Christ Alignment” organization in Australia and endorsed by Bethel Church in the USA(21). Such practices are forbidden in Scripture and have nothing to do with the Holy Spirit.

Another very thinly disguised occult practice in the NAR is the use of the Ennegram, the symbol of which bears an uncanny resemblance to the pentagram of the occult (22). The Ennegram is a device that will read your personality type and life characteristics. It is similar to the reading of a horoscope.

Another practice of some in the NAR movement is what they call ‘grave soaking’ or ‘grave sucking’, in which they lie on the grave of some esteemed Christian of the past in the hope they will absorb his or her spirit or anointing (23). There is no admonition in Scripture to practice such a thing and it rather reeks of necromancy or the worship of the dead.

8. Angel Worship

Another characteristic of NAR belief and practice is an emphasis on angels. Many of the NAR leaders claim to have received special revelation by angelic visitation. They are not alone in this. Most false religions and cults start out this way. They also claim to have personal angels, which in my view are no more than New Age spirit guides, lying demons or angels from the realm of Satan. Satan can present himself and his demonic subjects as angels of light and so deceive many. Although angels mediate some of the revelations and visions of Scripture, any angel that presents another gospel or a ‘revelation’ that contradicts Scripture is necessarily a lying angel from Satan’s realm.

Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Matthew 25:41

We are taught in Scripture not to pray to or worship angels, but NAR leaders often speak directly (pray) to angels, even presuming to command them and attempting to call them down from heaven to the Earthly realm (see for example, 24 below). According to Scripture, angels are created beings who are servants of God and his true children, but they are under the authority of God alone. We have no authority over the angels.

Associated with this obsession with angels many NAR leaders tell of out-of- body experiences during which they rose up into various levels of the heavenly realm. The Apostle Paul mentions that he knew a man who went up to the third heaven, and another who went up to Paradise and “heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (II Corinthians 12:4). Such phenomena therefore can occur, though Satan can undoubtedly also counterfeit such experiences, but Paul’s account is given in the context of an exhortation against boasting. In contrast, NAR leaders boast of such experiences in order to gain credit, status and to justify their claims to superior revelation and authority.

Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

Colossians 2: 18-19 (my emphasis)

When the Apostle John received revelation from an angel, his immediate reaction was to worship at the feet of the angel, but the angel rebuked him for doing so, saying that we must worship God only.

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”

Revelation 22: 8-9

Associated with the practice of calling down the angels is the calling down of fire. NAR teachers attempt to emulate Elijah by calling down fire, the difference being that Elijah did so at the command of God. The NAR teachers have received no such command and therefore it is not surprising that it never happens. Which is just as well for them because, in Scripture, ‘fire from heaven’ is almost always the fire of judgement and cleansing (see for example, II Kings 1:10, Luke 17:29, Revelation 20:9).

When the disciples wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy those who opposed Yeshua, Yeshua rebuked them.

“As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then he and his disciples went to another village.“

Luke 9: 51-56

I am not sure what is the purpose the NAR teachers have in mind when they attempt to call down ‘fire from heaven’. I doubt it is the cleansing fire of judgement! Perhaps they just want the shekinah glory of the Lord to come as it did when Solomon dedicated the Temple,

When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. ²The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. ³When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord….

2 Chronicles 7: 1-3

Alternatively they may want to use ‘fire from heaven’ as a validation and confirmation of their ministry and a sign of their spirituality.

In this context it is interesting to note that the calling down of fire from heaven is one of the tricks the ‘Second Beast’ of Revelation will use to deceive the inhabitants of the earth and establish the worship of the First Beast, the Antichrist.

It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.

Revelation 22: 12-14

9. Seeker-Friendly Megachurches And The Social Gospel

Much of the preaching and practice of NAR is aimed at filling the churches, and high status is given to pastors or teachers who have very large congregations. Many of the leading NAR churches have congregations of tens of thousands, and boast of having followers in the millions. NAR leaders fill their churches by offering a ‘seeker friendly’ gospel (25). Sometimes they will send out questionnaires to the people of the neighborhood asking what they want from their local church, and then they set about providing it. While this may sound good, it means that they often present to these ‘seekers’ a watered-down version of the gospel. They never speak of sin, judgement nor the wrath of God, and nor do they mention the need for repentance, the work of Yeshua on the cross, nor even of the need for salvation. They focus on making people feel good about themselves with flattering words and providing exciting experiences. Of course, they also preach about the ‘blessing’ of giving large amounts of money to the church, which in many cases is used to finance the luxury lifestyle of the leaders. Naturally the larger the church, the more money comes in. It is no coincidence that many of the leaders of the NAR movement are amongst some of the wealthiest people in the world.

NAR meetings are also designed to attract the young. Many NAR leaders wear the torn jeans and T-shirts of the young, bear tattoos and dance and ‘worship’ to a style of music identical to that of the world. Meetings are lively and exciting with many stage effects and gimmicks, such as darkened auditoria, flashing lights, ‘gold dust’ floating down from the ventilation ducts and so on. As a result, many young people are being drawn away from the comparatively ‘dull’ non-NAR churches into these mega-churches. Why are our pastors so reluctant to speak out against this? Wolves are stealing the sheep!!

Paul exhorted Timothy saying,

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. ³For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ⁴They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths”.

II Timothy 4: 2-4 (my emphasis)

People are flocking to these churches because they tell them what they want to hear. These churches appeal to human pride (you are gods), greed (if you give to this work you will receive blessing) and feed on fear (if you don’t tithe you open the door to demons).

WHAT SHOULD BE OUR RESPONSE?

We need to:

Protect ourselves from deception by cultivating a love of truth through the in-depth study of the Bible and prayer. We need to be like the Bereans, diligently searching the Scriptures, testing every teaching and prophecy against the revelation of Scripture. Paul said that ‘to the pure all things are pure’ (Titus 1:15). We need to watch our own hearts and maintain purity and a love of truth. We need to cultivate our relationship with Yeshua.
Speak out against these erroneous doctrines, rebuking those who are teaching them and warning those being led astray. Leaders need to exercise discernment and be vigilant to protect their ‘flocks’ from these ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’, by exposing these lying doctrines.
Pray for the leaders of this movement that they will receive true revelation from God, be convicted of their error and truly repent, publicly admitting to and confessing their sin in corrupting the Word of God.
Pray for all those who are being led into this movement unawares, that they might be awakened to its dangers and discern its errors by a thorough study of the Scriptures.
Be encouraged. The Lord warned us ahead of time that these things would happen and He has promised to be with us always, keeping us and providing for us until the end.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.

Jude 24-25

REFERENCES:

Roberta Morrison “Beware of the New Apostolic Reformation”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyDufXATFl4

See also Bob Hunter “Joel’s Army Marches On” Christian Research Journal, volume 32, number 03 (2009). https://www.equip.org/article/joels-army-marches-on/

2. https://peoplepill.com/people/william-m-branham

3. Peter Wagner “Confronting the Powers” p. 147

4. Asher Intrater 2017 “Alignment” Intrater, Asher. Alignment . Revive Israel Media. Kindle Edition.

5. Joel Osteen Says Giving To Me Is Giving To The Poor and He Mocks “It Is Well With My Soul” Hymn