A vision from Todd Bentley during a third heaven experience
This following prophetic vision comes from Todd Bentley’s website about his alleged trips to heaven/his third heaven experiences. There is so much wrong with this vision that I would be underling almost every other word to write a commentary marking what is wrong and why it is wrong - but do I really need to do this? Isn’t it really, really obvious - even to folk that are not yet old or wise in the faith - that what follows is not a true vision or a true third heaven experience, but a pile of fanciful tosh that makes Todd Bentley a false prophet and a dangerous one at that? Does Todd Bentley really believe that what he writes is a true rendition of a real genuine spiritual encounter that reflects spiritual reality, or is he just trotting out any old nonsense, as his followers will seem to swallow it and anything else he says, however unscriptural, without even basic scrutiny? The vision is so fanciful, it is so off theologically, in parts so ludicrous and silly and wrong, that he cannot really believe this can he as a true experience, can he? Is he merely making it up as he goes along just like his other prophesying cold reading? (http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/todd-bentley-prophesying-bad-cold-reading/) You’ll note too the lack of attention to erm…GOD in this encounter. This vision is on a parr for silliness as Choo Thomas’s tall tales of heaven, but at least she focuses on Jesus a bit more.
“…. I actually saw the apostle Paul come walking toward me onto the bridge. …He was short, not more than 5′1″ or 5′2″. He was bald except for a little crown of hair that came around his head. Looking very Jewish with a short, trimmed, white beard, my first thought was of a monk in a monastery! He actually had jolly cheeks and I thought: Paul you’ve got a little weight on you! I mean he wasn’t fat but he looked a little pudgy! He sat next to me and he took his hand and placed it across my chest not saying anything. But I felt like I was receiving an apostolic blessing from a father…. While he touched my chest, Abraham and David appeared out of the cloud of witnesses (Heb. 12:1). Although they were very close (and yet somehow at a distance), they weren’t the main focus. They were simply there as witnesses to an encounter. Next, Paul spoke to me without words spirit to spirit. I never heard one word but I had instant knowledge of what he was saying. He said that David and Abraham are true fathers—”These are the apostolic fathers”—and I thought to myself: Why Abraham and David? He answered me by saying that there would be no gospel without Abraham. People forget that without Abraham there would be no Israel, or Jewish people (Ps. 105:6–11; Gen. 15:1–5, 18–21; Gen. 17).
Just so you know too, Abraham was taller than David and Paul, about 6′5″. He was a very big rugged looking man, very big boned, large hands, having a long black beard and hair. In fact he looked quite East Indian or Pakistani (in skin color); not like an African man (in blackness), but closer to an East Indian man. He actually didn’t look Jewish at all!
Now David’s appearance was much different from Abraham’s. Having seen Jesus before, I noticed that David’s features were similar to Jesus, the Son of David. Both Jesus’ hair and David’s hair were alike—long brown reddish locks that hung to their shoulders. David’s eyes were blue and he wore a purple royal robe but when he lifted his arm, inside his robe I saw the color blue; it was very kingly. He was very handsome with a short beard and he was really well kept.
As I just stated, Paul told me that essentially there would be no gospel and there would be no Israel without Abraham. He said too, that there would be no gospel without David because there would be no divine Son of David (Jesus Christ) in order for the kingdom and His throne to be built upon the throne of David (Luke 1:31, 32). Jesus came through the lineage of David and with Jesus’ coming, the gospel was released.Paul also said that—in the sense of the revelation of the gospel to the Gentiles—he was the greatest carrier of that revelation to them. He took what Jesus brought and made it available to the rest of the world, and the global evangelism that’s taking place today comes as a result of the revelation of the gospel by the apostle Paul.I discovered while conversing with Paul that it wasn’t only Jesus Christ who taught him in heaven. I say this because Paul told me: “Abraham taught me, in heaven, and that’s how and why I wrote the book of Hebrews. What I heard was from the lips of Abraham himself.”
I know I’m stepping out on theology now; however, I want you to understand that Paul always made it clear when he authored an epistle—”Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ” or “Paul, a bond-servant of Christ.” Always! Yet, for the Book of Hebrews, although most Bible scholars believe that it was authored by Paul, there are those that really can’t say it was him because the authorship is never clear. Paul told me why. Here is what he said to me. “Do you know why I know so much about Abraham?” [So much of Hebrews is based on other things that you just can't pull from in other scriptures.] He said, “Abraham himself shared (information) with me and I simply wrote it” (in the Book of Hebrews). “The authorship isn’t clear because it was Abraham and I; Abraham shared with me.” [Much of Hebrews is about Abraham; i.e. Hebrews Chapter 11.] Paul said, “When I was in the third heaven, Abraham was with me like you are with me now.”
Next, I was at Paul’s house and he said to eat the Book of Titus! What’s more, several days later I was taken back into heaven to Paul’s house! But this time I didn’t go inside. I stayed outside where I saw a ladder in his back yard like the one described in Genesis 28, Jacob’s ladder. [I've come to understand that there are ladders like that in heaven in order to ascend and descend into different realms because heaven has places, geographical places. For example, the first heaven is where we live on the earth; the second heaven is the invisible realm of Ephesians 6: 12; and the third heaven where I was with Paul, it's the Paradise of God (Rev. 2:7).] So I jumped onto the ladder and began to climb up into another realm. I saw around me that it was all clouds so I began to pull those clouds back. As I did, a hole opened up in the heavens. Immediately then, out of heaven, flowed the color green, not just a light; it was like a green liquid and it was pouring onto my eyes! When I asked God about this, He said, “You are coming into the throne room; you are beneath the sea of glass; there is a rainbow around the throne. It’s not just above the throne; it’s a circle around the throne, a rainbow, emerald, green in color.” ["And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald" (Rev. 4:3).] I had just climbed into the fourth realm of heaven which is the throne room, (with more realms to follow). I went up from the throne room into the fifth realm which is the heavenly city. I saw streets that are golden and mansions and I noticed that it was very different from the Paradise of God (third heaven) where there are hills, still waters, and flowers. It wasn’t as peaceful. Next came the sixth realm of heaven which is the place where the angels live. There is literally a realm reserved for Michael, Gabriel, all the arch angels and all the angels under the arch angels! This isn’t the second heaven, the angel and demon realm, where they battle. It’s just a realm where the angels dwell. Then the last heaven I saw, the seventh realm was other universes and the solar systems; undiscovered universes and planets that God has created.”
I couldn’t get through too far into this man’s nonsense…especially after this part: “He was very handsome with a short beard and he was really well kept.”
The one who this man describes as King David ‘was really well kept?’…GOD forbid heaven’s residents walk around looking like bums.
And how convenient he can just ‘copy’ what the true prophets have done as described in the Holy Bible. Also, did this man make mention of what the whole point was of these so-called visions? O are we to assume that the LORD just took him on a six flags adventure so he could enjoy himself?
I am sick to the core with this nonsense that so freely flows from people like Todd Bentley. Heaven and hell are no joke. We will all stand before the throne of our Maker and that sounds wonderfully TERRIFYING to me.
Bentley has no idea of what he is talking about.
Hi: I just want to write and say I know why lots of christians would have trouble with this if they have not experienced these things or known someone personally who has. But keep in mind that the Pharacees et al. ridiculed and rebuked Jesus and John. What you really have to do I think is stay humble and ask the Lord if it’s Him?
I was in a revival meeting a number of years ago and prayed…’I just want to be sure this is you Lord’…with that my “eyes” were opened and I saw Jesus walking behind the healing minister touching the sick! So walk softly dear saints…we are earthen vesels…imperfect…but
God is still speaking and doing miracles for whom so ever will. Others have met saints of old…didn’t Elijah and Moses come to strengthen Jesus…also angels at Gethsemene?
The angel told Daniel…”from the moment you set your heart to seek God…I was sent.”
Interesting that Paul, the apsotle, said that the visions of the third heaven were not to be shared… hmmmm.
“1 Cor 12:3 And I know that this man–whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows– 4 was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.”
Let’s use God’s word to judge all things!!
Todd Bently is so far out in left field I wonder if he isn’t smoking something! I watched some of the videos from the Florida “revival” and wanted to run for my life. I sensed a strong demonic anointing.
It’s a sad day in the church when we can’t distinguish between the genuine and the false. Scripture is full of warnings about the false prophets, teachers, which incidently, Scripture tell us will either “raise from among us” or come from the world. Notice in Matt. 24 Jesus said that many will come in His name claiming to be- not Jesus, mind you, but Christ. The word Christ means anointed or the anointing. Thus making reference to a false anointing.
I am disgusted and extremely saddened by this so called revival. It’s nothing but a sham! A countefit, I believe the intention behind it is to discredit the genuine when it shows up. Remember that the spirit of the antichrist is not only “against Christ but in place of Christ”.
The so called leaders behind this have a long rap sheet of falseness, wrong behaviour, discredit, inmorality and straigh out error. All of them from the KCF, which has had several makeovers over the years till now; to the new breed of juniors, Todd Bentley, Patricia King, Joshua Mills, and of course the “senior prophet” Bob Jones.
Error! Error! I see demonic spirits, familiar spirits and witchcraft behind this so called revival.
May God grant unto us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowlegde of Him (Eph.1-3, Col. 1:9) that we may be able to rescue as many as possible out of this farse.
Many Bessings!
Pastor C
Amen Pastor C! I do have one personal testimony that has come from this “revival” however - I’m in the word lately like I haven’t been in years! Not because of the teaching of Todd Bentley, but because I sense such demonic influences associated with these meetings and am compelled to arm myself with the truth. Everyone here in Lakeland is talking about it, and I want to be able to speak from a position of knowledge and scriptural soundness.
It’s very very sad isn’t it.
We really do need an Elijah to come and rebuke the false prophets.
Shalom.
Hi, i just want to say that Apostle Paul was never a prideful man, he didn’t want to tell people of his experience into the heavens because he wanted to give all the glory to Jesus,
It’s not about US it’s about Jesus.
It’s actually very simple
We can only shine light where darkness lies.
The world today is looking for an easy quick fix for everything.
Everyone wants to be rich and healthy but never understand the reason why God created them or place them in the situation they are in.
I don’t know what’s in Gods plan, all I know is we must stand firm while the storm comes.
Amen.
a false prophet, is that what were calling Todd. you know the bible says we see threw a glass cloudy. If Jesus is being lifted up, and people are getting saved, healed, ect. even Jesus said, you will know them by their fruit.. I dont see Todd. with a crystal ball, reading palms, asking people what sign they are,, and by the way its not about Todd. he is being faithful. laying down his life, for the gospel. hes not perfect, and we dont worship him. the bottom line is every one should do what God has called you to do. and with all your heart. and stop looking for devils around every corner. a house divided against it self cant stand. pray for Todd. God is able to take care of him self.. Jesus is coming. work for the Kingdom.. this world is passing away and people are dying every day, with and without christ.. so follow the Lord, and not Todd. if he ish in error is it your job to save people from him. preach the gospel. and watch the blood on your own hands. I dont want to stand before the Lord, with out souls…
Ok, I decided that I needed to see for myself as much as possible of an evening Revival Meeting at Lakeland. So I tuned in to GodTV.
Watching the odd YouTube hust doesn’t cut it, you know?
Right then. The show started at around 8.30pm UK time. it was around 10.15 before Todd came on stage to speak.
Considering that the worshipers in the crowd had spent anything up to 1 hour before hand singing with the band, it was clear that physical exhaustion would play a part in the emotion of the night.
The songs were sung repeatedly with each verse sung at least ten times. The climactic song was “Baptise us in the Holy Spirit”
The lyrics are as follows:
Baptise us with the Holy Spirit,
Baptise us with Fire.
… uh … that’s it. She sung those words hundreds of times over a very large PA system.
Todd was dancing around and whipping people up like some kind of rock star. (Which is, of course, exactly what he is now. He’s gonna make a ton of cash.)
When he finally started to speak without any musical accompaniment he said this: (I am paraphrasing, since I did not write out a transcript.)
“The annointing is going to increase … prophetic voices have told me that it will increase from June 22nd. The Angel of the Lord vistited me in my trailer and I never felt such annointing. On Monday 23rd June, Peter Wagner and Rick Joyner and many of the Apostles and Prophets of the NAR will be joining us on the platform and they want to endorse this revival.”
(cheers from the crowd)
“This revival will transform cities, it will transform nations”
…….
I switched off at that point, it was pushing 11.30pm and frankly, I have more important things to do with my time than watch a heretic on my TV set … I have to work for a living.
Why is the notion that God will transform cities and nations heretical?
Well, the NAR is fully into Kingdom Now/Dominionist teachings … i.e. the church will take over world governments and restore the planet to the rule of God BEFORE Jesus returns.
But my Bible tells me that we will be hated by all Nations before the end, there will be a great falling away and the love of MOST will grow cold.
Todd and the NAR knowingly ignore, twist and contradict scripture.
Peter Wagner has set himself up, as top dog in the New Apostolic Reformation as a person who is more infallible than the Pope!
Abba Father have mercy on us!
Even so, Come Lord Jesus!
Bull the problem with you is that you have a very critical spirit and heart.. Dont you know wot Isaiah 60 says? His glory will cover the earth then the end will come. U sound like you only looking for the glory of the devil to take over first!!! Hello Jesus is preparing his bride the church for his coming and yes signs and wonders will happen, gold dust appearing and other miracles leading people into the kingdom. The God of the bible have been perfoming miracles, signs and wonders from Geneish to Revelation. He will not let thousands of people being deceive from the devil if they are so hungry for him. He will meet them where they are even if you dont like the preacher thats your problem. God will always use things to offend your mind and reveal wots in your heart. Thats why you all hyper n confuse abot the whole thing. You dont know how to worship thats why you cant understand why those people are singing prophetic songs in the spirit and repeating the songs.. So wot if they repeating songs to the Lord..God love those who worship him in spirit and in truth. In heaven u wont preach or prophesy or evenglise, you will worship. If you dont know how to worship on earth then you have failed in your christian duty!!! If you dont agree with florida, why dont you go pray and ask God yourself if this is from him or not. If you dont know how to hear his voice then you have also failed in your christian duty this is because you dont know how to worship and listen to the voice of God.. Seek his Kingdom first and all this things will be given to you. It is sad you not seeking. You just seekin the other peoples views from blogs n your own view.. Better seek Gods view first…
Hello
I am very concerned about Todd Bentley and have been posting on the Reachout Trust Forum (UK)you may wish to use some of the posts sent in by worried Brethren.
The link is: http://www.reachouttrust.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2077
Love in Jesus
Danzo
It would be a good thing to record (if someone has the ability to do that) the Peter Wagner / Rick Joyner show on Mon. No, I don’t worship these people, nor hold them in high esteem… however, it is wise to know what they say, and what they are up to. In my opinion, they are setting themselves up as the enemy of truth, and it’s always good to know what your enemy is up to.
We at the Lord’s Remnant Ministries are in the same location as this ‘revival’. Please pray for us as we do our part to preach truth in the midst of falsehood and apostasy.
God directed us to take an ad out and place it in the local newspaper in Lakeland to direct people to our website.
Our burden is to be a light in the darkness; to be there when the hurt and grieving are left standing looking for someone that stands for truth - for a day is coming and is already here that the people left in the ‘wake’ of this tide of heresy will need a ‘hospital’. Jesus is the healer….
We never thought of ’starting’ a church..building and all, but….Many times I myself, have wanted to ‘leave’ this location and the Lord has taken me in various places, but in the end..I end up back here…I have dealt with denominations for years…in the end…it’s the fear of man that controls…
Those of you that are not physically present in this city…can pray for us..as we seek the Lord for direction. It was never in our thoughts to have a ‘physical’ church…as we are in professional positions and those occupy the majority of our time. But, it is becoming a burden heavy on our hearts to ‘be there, be visible’ and therefore…it will come to pass in the Lord’s timing.
I can say that all of us…have long since ‘counted the cost’ of following the Lord - so, that is not an issue…neither is money, for we ask not for any donations at all for we believe along with our fellow missionary…’Gods’ Will Done God’s Way Never Lacks God’s Supply’ when someone has to ‘ask’ people for money may be it’s time to close shop. Therefore, we come to you, those of you that know the heart of God…and ask you to pray with us…that the Lord’s will be done and that we will be obedient to walk in it.
Marilynn
http://www.thelordsremnant.com
Marilynn - seeing as you are near Lakeland, is anyone picketing the revival, or there with plackards or whatever?
Jonjon,
Good to have you back, but for the 100th time, JESUS HIMSELF said that FALSE PROPHETS would come doing signs and wonders.
For you to CONTINUALLY point to supposed signs and wonders as proof that this is from God means either one of two things:
(1) Either you don’t know the scriptures. OR…
(2) You know them but choose not to believe them.
You say we are to worship in spirit and in truth, but how can you worship in spirit led by a man (Todd Bentley) who CONTINUALLY works against the Holy Spirit by doing and saying things against God’s Word (written by the Holy Spirit)
Among them:
* Todd continually brags about speaking with the dead, which THE HOLY SPIRIT forbids in God’s Word.
* Todd claimed that Jesus was going to appear in Lakeland. ACCORDING TO JESUS (Mth. ch. 24), Jesus said people who claimed this were FALSE PROPHETS and JESUS TOLD US specifically NOT TO GO and see them.
* Todd said that God did not author the book of Hebrews, which is blasphemy.
* Todd said that God told him to get people to believe in the angel, and not in Jesus.
Again, Jonjon, is that what YOU call worshiping in spirit and in truth? For your sake, I hope not.
Todd Bentley and Bob Jones and new age Demonic religion
http://www.patholliday.com/radio.php
WHEN YOU LISTEN TO BOB JONES’ PROPHECIES REMEMBER HE PERSONALLY ADMITS THAT HIS FALSE INACCURATE PROPHECIES, ONLY TWO-THIRDS ARE RIGHT ON. HOWEVER, ONE THIRD WILL BE POPPN’ A BULLET AT THE ENEMY AND HE WOULDN’T FIRE. IT WAS A BLANK! So, there you have it. Bob Jones serves a confused, New Age god that is using him to give blank (untrue, empty prophecies and you listen to it.” This is what people get when they don’t listen to the prophecies of Jesus Christ. He said, “I will send you the Holy Ghost and he will tell you about Me.”
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3248700/-TODD-BENTLEY-HIS-SPIRITUAL-GUIDES-NEW-AGE-RELIGION
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJKNj7QsIXE
Bob Jones speaks of a new paradigm shift like we’ve never known before… The terminology “paradigm shift is New Age terminology that has been used by all the New Age witches and wizards. Jones also says the sword of the spirit will take back the “craft”. . . Ya da, Ya da Ya…. Jones WANTS TO TAKE BACK THE CRAFT. . . WHAT IS THE CRAFT?
Acts 19:27 , “So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSyj2pZisG0&feature=related
The above U Tube is sick- insane New Age type Christianity ~ interestingly, in Africa people manifest exactly in the same manner. The difference is, in Africa, the ministers discern it is demonology and cast the demons out while in America they laugh and say, “Look, it’s the Holy Ghost!”
{Marilynn - seeing as you are near Lakeland, is anyone picketing the revival, or there with plackards or whatever?}
As far as we know there are no picketings, plackards. We, at The Lord’s Remnant Ministries have taken an ad out to run on Saturday in the Religion/Life section of the main local newspaper…directing people to our website for our audio sermons and writings; whether we continue to do so will be decided - our efforts may be taking on a new direction.
I may add that what is happening here today has it’s roots in the falsehood that went seemingly unnoticed by the masses years ago in Lakeland.
We have had more than a few occasions to live in Lakeland - myself on and off. I attended Southeastern College (moved on to Springfield)- . During my first year in attendence at SE…another man claimed he talked to angels..he was coming to the A/G church on Main St (Straders).I asked God if the man was of Him, did He really send the angels to this man and give him the messages he claimed? I did not want to be ‘fooled or led into falsehood’. The man was coming to the A/G church the next night…The man died that very day. God will show this current ‘revival’ for what it is..eventually…in His time as He always has…….
We have attended like kind revivals….starting years ago with Rodney Howard Brown; he always spent at least an hour preaching on money…and was actually boring. An A/G minister and his wife attending some of these earlier meetings…would stand at the front swaying and acting drunken….people would be laughing until they fell off the pew to the floor..I knew a lot of these people personally from visiting friends on occasion and going to their church..(pre-/Brown days)…I had observed that the ones the most easily ‘fooled’ had kinks in their armor to begin with….their Christianity was horribly lacking such as in haughtiness, self - serving, even straight out lying to the congregation or individuals. So, the fact that people are taken in by these false prophets is of no surprise…most do not love the truth…do not live the truth…and do not walk in love….. Some are just plain ‘looking’ for something - such as babes in Christ, and as I have stated before…it is the unpaid bill of the church.
Teaching and preaching have man-centered for decades…the whole fault of the these ‘revivals’ is not the people endorsing them…it’s the lack of sound teaching throughout the years in the pulpits acrossed this nation.
Babylon has spread the falsehood around the world and become a haunt of demons…. she will be judged.
Andy we dont worship todd, u are a blind vessel thats why you dont understand wot is going on!!! I am not suprised the blind will lead the blind and so are you.
JonJon:
Jesus has already said to us:
‘There will be a great falling away’
‘The love of MOST will grow cold’
‘You will be HATED by ALL nations because of Me.’
And just so you know, I have heard the voice of the Lord. Because I obeyed Him, I ended up being blessed with a wife and family. The world is growing darker and darker, while Todd hypes up his ‘billion soul harvest’.
Ask the people of Zimbabwe if any of them are interested in the revival in Florida.
Ask the people in Darfur what they think of Todd and his ministry.
Ask the persecuted Christians in China if they are looking forward to the ‘glory’ coming on Lakeland this week.
Whiel you wallow in your sensual lakeland experiences, the New Apostolic Reformation is trying to hijack the universal church. They have promised to kill anyone in the church who doesn’t join them, the ones who base their faith on the Word of God, the Bible rather than their experiences.
There is a time of terrible persecution coming to God’s people, and it looks like it is going to start inside the church.
JonJon, Joshua was confronted by ‘the Captain of the Lords Host’ outside the walls of Jericho. Joshua said to him, “who’s side are you on?”
He answered “No. Who’s side are you on? Are you on God’s side Joshua?”
Joshua, at the end of his life said to the people:
“Choose now whom you will serve. As for me and my house, I will serve the Lord.”
Amen.
This guy’s a piker.
Ever heard of “Percy Collet”? Guy was hot stuff on Christian radio and casette ministry in the Eighties with a similar claim to a “Vision of Heaven” where Elijah gave him a guided tour in his chariot drawn by “spirit horses”. And how “spirit dogs” in Heaven “neither bark nor bite, but always say ‘Praise the LORD!’ over and over.” Now THAT was some serious strangeness!
Ask the people of Zimbabwe if any of them are interested in the revival in Florida.
Ask the people in Darfur what they think of Todd and his ministry.
Ask the persecuted Christians in China if they are looking forward to the ‘glory’ coming on Lakeland this week.
– Bull
Lakeland, like a lot of things that go on in America, is evidence of a society that has beaten the survival game and can indulge in such luxuries of the idle rich. When you’re in survival mode, you can’t afford it.
I attended one of the nights of the Lakeland revival, along with several members of my (very mature Christians) church in Orlando. I have recently returned to God in no less than a personal “revival”, where I do almost nothing but pray and worship and read about God and whats going on in the Christian world. I say this because I do believe that the spirit of revival is coming upon many.
When I arrived I expected great things and was very excited to be at the “outpouring”. God immediately dealt with my heart and impressed upon me that I was to “seek His presence” not for signs and wonders.
To be clear, I could care less about Todds piercings or tattoos, although I was under the impression that those were all PRIOR to his coming to Christ, when it seems that is not the case.
I have spoken in tongues since the age of 17, so I dont think that people dancing, odd forms of praising or other “charismatic” type things bother me.
HOWEVER…I am still not clear on how to describe what I experienced at Lakeland. While I sensed the “sincerity” of all the people, their hunger (along with my own) to experience “more” of God and to be closer to God, it seemed to me that the music and atmosphere were very hyped and “trance-like”. I was open to this because I recognize that we have to “press in” and remove ourselves from our flesh to really experience God. But SOMETHING seemed wrong to me.
I sat up in the balcony and praised God with my eyes closed, and truly I could feel a very strong anointing in the Room. When Todd came out I was a bit surprised at his mannerisms, constantly jerking and laughing, it struck me as “possessed” and not in a good way. I have been “slain in the spirit” once in my life when I felt overpowered by the spirit of God and went down. But I never saw anything like what I witnessed on stage with Todd.
Again, I reiterate, I was open and expectant for Gods message and Todd to be the vehicle. But something was wrong. He didnt preach, or teach, or say “repent and come to Christ”. All he did was to talk about the fire and power of God and how God had told him earlier that day about all these miracles that would happen. He then began to proclaim healing over just about everything you can imagine, including the REMOVAL of metal from peoples bodies. One man came up and claimed he could now see out of his GLASS eye. Todd proclaimed this a greater miracle than seeing out of a natural eye, but to me I thought, “God is perfect, if he restored he would restore perfectly, not imperfectly”.
At any rate, I remained until the end, watching various people come on stage, obviously overwhelmed with emotion, shaking and proclaiming miracle healings. I have no idea if they were healed or not but I took them at their word. Then suddenly (not coincidently when God TV was soon to shut us off for the night) Todd asked for money. And then asked for money. And asked for money and asked for money, on and on and on he droned asking for money and more money and more money. It seemed like an eternity, and I know I listened to this appeal for at least 20 minutes.
When he began the “ask” immediately the atmosphere of “anointing” was gone. I am very much a “giver”. When I feel lead by the spirit I give in amounts far beyond my own means. But I firmly believe that if God wants some of His money back from me he will let me know, which means He doesnt have to ask over and over again. I left after 20 minutes of the “ask” thinking I would just donate online since they were taking so long and it was so late at this point.(remember, despite the “wrong” I felt I was still very much “accepting” of Todd and the “outpouring”).
I subsequently have listened to his CDs on gaining the “seer gift” and “word of knowledge”. Didnt work for me, although I dont know if that proves anything or not since in my own experience, speaking in tongues did not come without a lot of soul searching and prayer.
What I know is that the more I read the more I dont like. I watched the revival one more time on God tv. In that segment, he was proclaiming “gold teeth and gold dust” (which did not occur at the one I attended in person). At that point I KNEW that he was a fake. Can God create Gold teeth? Of course HE COULD. But WHY would he? He would just heal your cavity or toothache or whatever. God doesnt do “splashy” things like creating gold teeth that serve no purpose. He doesnt just hand out gold and jewels, he works through PEOPLE to glorify JESUS. If God wanted to give you money or gold he would bring it to you through increase at your job, or through a check from a person, not through a silly gold tooth or gold dust.
As a follow up, I went to the church of one (Joshua Fowler In Orlando) of the “prophets” who “annointed” Todd Bentley as a group. The place was a frenzy. People were waiving and weaving and declaring the “wind of change”. Their praise was fine (although certainly not conventional) until some woman got the microphone and began SCREETCHING about Gods plan for the Nations. On and on she went, demanding the people to shout louder and louder, as if the VOLUME of your voice would bring God closer. Then one of the younger pastors got on stage and was violently preaching the “wind of change” and waving his arms wildly, encouraging all the people to do so as well. One of the young men got on stage and sang “burn burn” over and over and over and over. My spirit was so grieved I had to leave the place. Their desire and hunger for God was so genuine, but their efforts so obviously misled. God doesnt come because you scream for him in public, he comes to you in your own quiet, prayer closet. In public he inhabits the PRAISES of his people (not their shouts).
At any rate, I write all this to thank you for your website. As one who was very close to being deceived by Todd Bentley I really appreciate your time and efforts to stem the tide.
I do believe that God will send forth a “signs and wonders prophet” who will rebuke and refute all of the current false prophets. The “outpouring, signs and wonders” of the true God I believe will far outweigh anything that we are seeing from the false ones.