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NAR Apostle Robert Ricciardelli: Todd Bentley Deliberately Lied That Lord Spoke to fulfil Own Agenda

Further to the recent revelations from one of C Peter Wagner’s apostles Robert Ricciardelli about Todd Bentley and the Lakeland deception (see here), here is some more information from Ricciardelli’s latest posts on the Charisma Magazine forum here. 

(Please note that I in no way endorse Ricciardelli, his beliefs, or the movement he is attached to. However I attach this for information purposes as he has interesting insider information, that confirms what we already know – that Todd lies and falsely speaks for God and manipulates for money.) 

“If you are going to lie or stretch truth like Todd does on a world stage, you can bet people like me who he is representing are going to speak up. Here is one of the errors.

In early June, I think on the 6th Todd gave an offering message that was manipulation and borderline witchcraft. He said the Lord told Him that there were 1000 people who were going to give $1000 and if they were obedient, the Lord said they would receive 1000 fold return. I am in almost daily conversation with Stephen Strader, and challenged him that it was not from God. He agreed and talked to Todd. Todd admitted that he worded it wrong, but that it was an idea he had to raise money for the 30,000 seat revival center they want to build. I then asked if he would repent publicly and they said no because the crowd changes every night.”

July 24, 2008 - Posted by endtimespropheticwords | False Prophets and Teachers, Fresh Fire ministries, Prophecy, Robert Ricciardelli, Stephen Strader, Todd Bentley, signs and wonders | , , , , | 30 Comments

30 Comments »

  1. sick.
    when will people wake up.
    i am so so so over the christianity in the west. people say to eat the meat, spit our the bones, but i feel like im living in a huge graveyard here in the western world, barely any meat to be seen. just bones.
    And the churches that are preaching the true word of God (like the one i Go to now, praise God) get rejected because they arnt ‘up with the times and the new thing God is doing’
    it makes me feel really low sometimes. i get so overwhelmed by the enormity of the delusion, and the complete oblivion to the desperation in other parts of the world for the true saving gospel of Jesus.
    Oh, jesus, please return and sort this whole mess out!!!

    Comment by nzbible_reader | July 24, 2008

  2. He’s on revivalschool.com talking about these things: http://www.revivalschool.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=11181&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 I don’t the like the attack on ‘heresy hunters’. I’m sure there are heartless and proud heresy hunters, but that doesn’t mean heresy and wrong doctrine should be tolerated.

    Comment by BB | July 24, 2008

  3. i don’t think Todd Bentley knows the Lord at all. This is so terrible. He is trying to build a kingdom for himself, not glorify God.

    Comment by nelda | July 24, 2008

  4. Interesting to note that Benny Hinn used the same tactics in South Africa less than 2 weeks ago, even the $1000 part and he even added a 2 minute window. Also he got more than a thousand believers hoping to become millionnaires overnight.

    Comment by Corne | July 24, 2008

  5. nzbible_reader

    I believe John in the book of Revelations best describes the type of apostate christianity we are witnessing in this hour.

    ” a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” Rev. 18:2

    Comment by ron | July 24, 2008

  6. BB

    I don’t like a lot of what Riccardelli is saying, between the lines, either in theology and also generally – also the obvious question is – he claims he knew this was demonic from the start at beginning of April, why has he only spoken out now, months later, after Todd Bentley is already publically brought down by ABC Nightline and runs away sealing his fate and the fate of Lakeland?

    It is possible that some of these guys (I am not saying Robert Ricciardelli is one, as I do not yet know for sure) know they have nothing to lose, but a lot to gain or to save, by saving their necks or a sector of the NAR, by coming out now in opposition and looking like heros when they are just as guilty and dark at source? Ricciardelli claims he has been helping ‘mentor’ Lakeland too and been in daily contact with these guys – and this when he says he knew it was demonic, decietful from the start etc etc? I obviously have huge problems with this. What of all the millions lead astray in these months because he kept quiet? Why speak out now?

    Comment by endtimespropheticwords | July 24, 2008

  7. Miriam,
    I totally agree, he should have headed it off at the pass!!!! Oh, we need to pray for the decieved!!! Some are just babes in Christ and may well truly believe this garbage!

    Comment by OhhowILOVEJESUS | July 24, 2008

  8. Dear ETPW:

    I think what is happening with Mr. Ricciardelli is a good thing. He has been alerted to immoral or shady behavior that does not line up with God in Bentley and Shrader.

    Mr Ricciardelli’s eyes have not been opened to the fact that these men are truly not even Christians. That is the deception that must be exposed, over and over here. Our hesitancy about what and who these people are, is that we cannot believe these people who call themselves “Christians’ are in all actuality, NOT CHRISTIANS AT ALL.

    That is the headbanger, the mindblower for all of us dealing with this cult.

    But once, it sinks in, our spirits do get “aligned” and I don’t mean it the way C Peter Wagner does. I mean we can clearly see who the Enemy is using and who he is not.

    I pray for this discernment for Mr. Ricciardelli and his family and church right now in Christ’s name.

    Comment by AriseMyLove | July 24, 2008

  9. Arise

    God can use it for good, to open eyes, but bad man can use it for their own agendas too – to elevate the false apostles which is what this revival has always been about for them.

    Comment by endtimespropheticwords | July 24, 2008

  10. An ICA ‘APOSTLE’ SPEAKS OUT on LAKELAND by Andrew Strom.

    [With huge thanks to RevivalSchool member 'SoulDan' for his help].

    First, let me start by saying that Robert Ricciardelli has been incredibly bold and courageous in speaking out on this issue in recent days. He is one of the very few from NAR circles who have dared to speak up – firstly on blogs and on the radio – and even on our own Forum at RevivalSchool.com, etc. Robert is a member – a “marketplace apostle” in Peter Wagner’s “International Coalition of Apostles” (ICA). He is the real deal. For him to speak out about Lakeland is a very brave act indeed. Plus he is a Charisma Magazine writer and a friend of Lee Grady.

    Last week on July 14th Robert was a guest on Radio KGNW – where he spoke of how he had just come back from Lakeland, and told of his deep concerns and the background research that he had been doing. On July 16th he commented on one Internet blog:

    “Truth is there are very few people being healed in Lakeland. I have worked with Charisma Magazine editor Lee Grady in discovering how many false reports have been released as facts.

    These are our brothers and sisters involved in this, but this move of God has been a move of men with God still touching some who come to seek Him.”

    On another blog he wrote: “Charisma reporters and a few others like myself have tried to get these verified and cannot… We actually had offered to help, because any news of a resurrection in my opinion is world news if it can be validated. But then when the totals continued to mount which led to hype and embellishment, they began to ask us to stop asking questions. Hmmmm?

    “Friday night, Todd said that God said there were 1000 people that were to give $1000, and they were to receive a 1000 fold blessing. The one hour drama on this giving subject was so deceptively evident that it was embarrasing to watch. On top of that, those that would give that money were able to come to the platform to be recognized.”

    Concerning the ‘Resurrections’ in Lakeland, Robert wrote: “We have investigated the 20 plus “raised from the dead” claims as we want to report them to the media, and they cannot be verified, but were only called in, or sent in from an email. This is not responsible reporting, and leaves many questions, which also adds to the claims of hype and embellishment.” [~Robert Ricciardelli blog comments - 'jasonclark.ws' & 'stevehickey.wordpress.com']

    The hour-long broadcast that Robert did on KGNW is also causing quite a stir as it does the rounds on the Internet.

    On our own Forum at RevivalSchool.com, Robert publicly added the following comments:

    “Peter Wagner and Chuck Pierce nominated me as a marketplace apostle 6 years ago. I threw the title away before I ever got it. I am not into titles, but I am into functions. The Lord told us “yes” to engage, and He was going to show us some truth in the process. Being engaged has given us a great oportunity to see the good,the bad, and the ugly of the apostolic/prophetic movements. The biggest thing along the way is the friends and associates we have met that have a biblical worldview much the same as we do…

    “After this year we will pray about next year and so far it looks like the Father is giving us a sense that we may not to be a part of the ICA if Peter and the leadership do not reconsider their impromptu decision to jump into the Lakeland stream, when many of us warned him not to. It was a mistake to coronate, when they needed to father and correct Bentley from the direction he is heading others into. It just put more fuel in his errant tank.

    “I am praying for Todd, because he really is an evangelist, and he is a gifted evangelist. But he cannot go on embellishing, speaking untruths, hyping, manipulating, shoving, kicking, slapping, leg dropping, and bamming his way on the pulpit without consequences. God will not be mocked, and Todd and others must answer to Him for everyone led astray.

    “The biggest thing about Lakeland is the lack of the fear of our Awesome God, lack of repentance and humility. Many have exchanged the truth for a lie and chosen experience over content. Angels, trances, and 3rd heaven focus has replaced the gospel as a focus… Lord do what only you can do to bring your divine alignment to all of us in Jesus name..” [-end quote]

    I took note of the fact that Robert said that “many” had warned Peter Wagner not to jump into the Lakeland stream. I also noted that Robert seemed to be saying that he himself may leave the ICA over this issue. I thanked him publicly for his courage in speaking out, and asked him if there really was a lot of disagreement even within Wagner’s own movement?

    Robert replied:
    “To answer your question, yes there is at least a dozen ICA members that I know of that are extremely concerned at Peter’s endorsement and more to follow as the nonsense continues. The transferring of anointing, the focus on man bringing anything but the gospel is amazing and sad…. if Peter Wagner, Bill Johnson, and some distinguished members of the Who’s Who in Charismania say it is all good, then people just go with it. Some have begun to see the YouTube and other information and begun to change. Some go as far as to claim it as deception, others say it is a move of God that needs correction.

    “It is my opinion that it was man orchestrated and demonically influenced from the very beginning. The worship has been good and Roy Fields is an awesome worship leader, so many in the worship and even watching from afar can sense God in the worship of His people. The truth is God has been engaged in the worship and has touched and healed some. This is why it has been so confusing to some. I have heard that Roy Fields has stated a few times that when the worship ends, God’s presence leaves the platform, and then Todd Bentley operates void of His presence. That is why most all of what they have claimed cannot be verified, because it just is not happening.

    “We have heard a few people getting well, being touched and so on. There is a church here in North Carolina that brought 27 sick down there for a week. Some with cancer, leukemia, diabetes and such. None got healed and most were worse when they came back. The emperor is not wearing any clothes and the truth must be known. Many are claiming that Todd is the new thing that God is doing. The fact is he is still operating in the old thing, and operating with less integrity and character than the previous one man shows.

    “God is about nameless and faceless people who are operating without any agenda but the Lord’s. Preaching about the King and His Kingdom, and moving supernaturally after Him, and as they do, signs and wonders follow. The problem in Charismania is that they seek the sign, they seek the thrill, they seek the craft supply quality gold dust, feathers and gems. They may get the chills and frills, but leave with nothing more than goose bumps and really little spiritual change. When they seek the King, the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, you begin to see transformation take place at the heart level. This is God’s way and always has been… Bentley is just a product of the Charismatic/apostolic/ prophetic trending away from Plumb line truth. At the same time the fact is, none of us amount to much, no not one.

    But in Him and dying to self and living His agenda, we can move mountains… The church is getting there, I wrote an article for Charisma that everything that can be shaken is being shaken, and this is what is happening in a great way right now…” [end quote]

    Friends, please write to Robert encouraging him if you can for the courageous stand he is taking.

    See more of his comments + links to his article & radio show on the ‘Scrolling Forum’ at the following website (main page) -http://www.revivalschool.com

    God bless you all,

    Andrew Strom.

    Comment by endtimespropheticwords | July 24, 2008

  11. I have problems obviously with Andrew Strom saying of Robert Ricciardelli that he is ‘He is the real deal’ – as this sounds like Strom is elevating the false apostles and false prophets who sent Todd Bentley out in the first place, and also Strom is presumptively saying Ricciardelli has genuine motives for coming out now. (If he was ‘the real deal’, he would not be one of Wagner’s dominionist apostles, and he would have spoken out months ago, Andrew? Has he yet publically repented for his covering up or is he blameshifting on Strader and Bentley?)

    It should also be clearly seen that now Todd Bentley has fallen, others will now be coming out exposing Todd, but only after he has already fallen – that does not make them because they speak up now ‘the real deal’, brave, heros, with noble motives – it makes them more likely weak minded cowards who jump on every bandwaggon and will save their necks by distancing themselves from someone who has publicaly fallen. It is called saving their own skin and hypocrisy. Note again, I do not say Robert Ricciardelli is such a man – he may or may not be – I do not yet know, but undoubtedly others will join in that are like this – dark as dark can be and say whatever it takes to look good. The false apostles get elevated which is what this revival was always about anyway.

    Reading Ricciardelli, as well as his associations with the NAR, as well as his not speaking up for months, as well as his continued lack of discernment, has a lot of bad theology – dominionism and also pro Catholicism. He is not ‘the real deal’. He is an insider in the know re Lakeland. He may be perfectly genuine in his motives now. He may not be. I do not yet know.

    Comment by endtimespropheticwords | July 24, 2008

  12. Often we must look to the message of older generations (of whom the world was not worthy) for inspiration to seek a better resurrection and an heavenly country.

    Amy Carmichael, missionary to India in the early 1900s, scorned the vain imaginations of a worldly Church and would not glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…

    Changed days indeed !

    Comment by BlueRose | July 24, 2008

  13. I also have problems with Strom’s comments on ‘heresy hunters’ that he has made recently on the forum and in various past emailings.

    Comment by endtimespropheticwords | July 24, 2008

  14. I’m having the same thoughts as you Miriam. Why now is Ricciardelli speaking out? Time to distance themselves from the exposed part of their unholy body, methinks.

    They’re just throwing Todd Bentley under the bus. He got full of himself and brought to much attention to their dark plans. Their cover has been blown, time to throw the dead weight overboard so the whole ship won’t sink.

    Just my opinion

    Comment by servant | July 24, 2008

  15. ETP: I’ve never heard of Riccardelli. I will give him the benefit of the doubt in that he states that he was ‘investigating’ the healings and the resurrections and that takes time. He said the lack of verification has led him to change his mind. He also has stated that there are others connected to Wagner who didn’t like Wagner’s coronation of Todd. My guess is that there is more rumbling behind the scenes then we know. You are probably right that there is more to his leaving than he’s telling us but that doesn’t make him evil….. Sometimes it takes time to make such a big decision especially when it goes completely against the leading Apostle of NAR.

    I didn’t read the thread on Andrew’s forum until last night. Andrew has been a lone voice for a long time. I just think he enjoys the company right now. But I agree that Andrew needed to check things out a little more thoroughly before receiving this brother with open arms. On that thread Ricciardelli is confronted with the current state of his website and some very discerning posters asked him about some of the things there. He responded by saying he hasn’t had time to clean it up. Again, I feel we must give the brother the benefit of the doubt (grace) until we see where he is going and where he ends up.

    What I do have a problem with is his attack on those who questioned his putting love above doctrine. The rest of the thread is about this issue. I also didn’t care for the labeling of forum members as ‘nit-pickers’ and ‘heresy hunters’ by him and by Andrew. No one went hunting for this guy. He came to the revivalschool forum and we have a right to ‘test the spirits’ and a man’s doctrine. I thought the members did a good job of confronting the issues raised in spite of Andrew’s protestations. Just because someone renounces Lakeland doesn’t all of a sudden make that person sanctified in life and doctrine. He sounds a little ‘emergent’ in his theology and dominionist as you say. He hasn’t left the Prophetic Movement like Andrew and many of us have as far as I can tell. It’s one thing to renounce TB and quite another to renounce NAR and the whole prophetic movement. GB

    Comment by BB | July 24, 2008

  16. BB - I never stated this guy was evil. I am also giving him for the now the ‘benefit of the doubt’ but it still does not make the questions go away as to what took him so long to speak out etc, and it still does not mean they you embrace him with open arms as a hero without testing him/discerning – as by his own admission as he has known a lot of this stuff for months, and been quiet, and has pastored what he knew to be a demonic revival.

    Comment by endtimespropheticwords | July 24, 2008

  17. ps

    I have not liked Andrew Strom’s comments about nit pickers and heresy hunters for some time – long before the comments re Ricciardelli. By repeating without any substance that they are ‘mean spirited’ blah blah he is doing Todd Bentley’s work for him who call all critics unloving. Of course it is hogwash.

    There are some good folk over at Revival School website, but there were a few damaging false, anti prophecies and advices made some months ago on Strom’s forum, and also in his newsletter emailed out, that effectively told people to keep quiet as they were being critical and unloving, and also undermined others of the critics (apart from Andrew that is, with a plug to buy his book) – and these, regardless of motive, did do a lot of damage and suceeded in shutting up quite a few bloggers who were criticising all at the same time – and so many of them did for a season take this advice – wrongly, as it turns out.

    Comment by endtimespropheticwords | July 24, 2008

  18. Hi Miriam:

    I went back to reread the thread and Ricciardelli claims that he is NOT dominionist and that many in NAR are also not dominionist in their eschatology. He believes he was led there by God and that that is why he has stuck it out there so long and will stay connected until the end of the year. I didn’t listen to the hour radio link and I’m sure there’s more there about ‘why now’ etc.

    Andrew’s forum is a revival forum and not a discernment sight and that’s cool. A lot of members as you say have discernment though and worth reading. When I want discernment I come here sister. Some forget the way Elijah treated the false prophets and what God had to say about them in Ezekiel and Jeremiah for example. Christians have been so conditioned to being politically correct that being strong in the Spirit and the strength of His might is misinterpreted as being judgmental and critical and unloving…unfortunately. GB

    Comment by BB | July 24, 2008

  19. Yes, I read what he said, but reading his answers, he is still a dominionist even if he does not consider himself to be one.

    I too have been blessed by reading posts on the Revival School forum.

    Comment by endtimespropheticwords | July 24, 2008

  20. Here is a thread on a forum where R.R. is in dialogue about lakeland. http://charismamag.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2899&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=45

    May more and more speak out against the deceptions they see helping the deceived to wake up and repent.

    I agree that there needs to be more than simply leaving the lakeland move and TB…. there needs to be open repentance letting the brethren know you are truly sorry to God for being part of the deception.

    Comment by BB | July 25, 2008

  21. ACCORDING TO HIS WORD,GOD HAS SAID, ‘EVERYTHING THAT CAN BE SHAKEN WILL BE SHAKEN!’ AND ALSO THAT ‘UNLESS THESE DAYS BE SHORTENED, EVEN THE ELECT WOULD BE DECEIVED.’
    GOD CANNOT LIE. THESE WORDS STAND AS TRUE PROPHECY FOR THE END TIMES.

    Comment by Cathy | July 26, 2008

  22. Ah me! I do want to say one more thing about healing. You can pray and ask God for healing and God can heal you. Also, when an elder prays for you and scripture speaks about the prayer of faith, I believe it is the faith of the one who is praying for you. Many preachers say you were not healed because of your unbelief, sounds to me it might be their faith that is lacking. You know every believer is granted a measure of faith. So you do have faith. Oh, our God is so good, so loving, it is easy to believe Him. He that is faithful, He that is true. Be careful also of those whom you allow to put their hands on you and pray for you. It is so sad to see the people of God believing lies. I do not believe they know they can pray and believe for themselves.

    Comment by wanda | July 27, 2008

  23. Look, God rewards the faith of His people. If Todd needed to raise money, and people responded to it, God will not let those people down even if Todd made a mistake. When i was 14years old my pastor stood up in church and said there was someone here who needs to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, it was me, and so i went forward. He then said that it was not a word from God but that he knew i needed to be and that without a push i would never have responded to it. So what if my pastor got it wrong and shouldn’t have done that…I’m the one who is better off for it! I t was needed!
    I challenge everyone of you who throw of time away debating…are you perfect in your walk with God? If you were in the spotlight 24/7 would you never say or do something wrong? are you sinless then? All i read on this sad website is you hard searching to find fault, and if you look hard enough at anyone you WILL find it. So don’t go thinking you know all about this man when you don’t. Instead, try looking at what God is actually doing in thousands of peoples lives, including me, and whether you like it or not that’s something neither YOU or the DEVIL can take away from me because it’s real in my life and you can never know that.
    I would be very interested to know who all of you actually are and how God is using you in your life and what fruits you are producing in your life…because it’s so easy to find fault in others and debate it to the second coming on here, without actually doing anything for Kingdom advance yourself.
    So many things said and printed are twisted, not rue and lack evidence. Todd Bentley is not perfect, he is just a man and will make mistakes, but he is a man being used by God. Be very careful not to deny the work of the Holy Spirit, this is dangerous ground. Many of you should be repenting for the things said.

    Comment by higherground | July 29, 2008

  24. http://www.charismamag.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2991&p=51563#p51563

    More from Andew Strom and trouble for C Peter Wagner over Ricciardelli’s comments.

    Comment by AriseMyLove | July 31, 2008

  25. I know one thing for sure, that God is exposing error in His church. The error that everybody is hearing will be proved in time, wait, watch and see. Everything that is hidden will come out sooner or later. Judgment comes to His church first, then comes true revival. God has to clean up His church before He releases true revival. When true revival comes, everybody will know about it because it will be everywhere. In the churches, in the homes, on the streets, in the markets, everywhere. People don’t need to have their ears tickled they need to here about repentance, they have to have conviction by the Holy Spirit. And the only way they are going to know is to hear the truth of God’s word. When we hear the truth the truth will set us free. Apostles, pastors, evangelists, prophets, teachers, minister, church, we need to start preaching about “REPENTANCE!REPENTANCE!REPENTANCE!REPENTANCE! We need a John the Baptist movement, not a signs and wonders movement. There is nothing wrong with miracles, signs and wonders, as long as they come from God our Father. Wake up people! Wake up! Go to God yourselves and ask God what is true and what is not. The word of God tells you what is true and what is false. Test the spirits. Are they of God or something else. It is our responsibility to find out the truth. I did and I found it. I’ve seen this coming for about 7 years now. I’ve seen the deception crawling into the churches. I’ve seen the “love” of money” creeping in. I’ve seen the “star” mentality creep in, I’ve seen the idol worship of well known evangelists and prophets. The blind leading the blind. Wake up and find out for yourselves what truth is. God help us all. Forgive us Father, for allowing the “false” to move into the church. Expose the errors Father, so that we may repent and go back to the pure and true church that You established through Your precious Son Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. We’re sorry Father, please forgive us! in Jesus mighty name! Do what You have to do Father, to put Your church in order. Amen.

    Comment by Louise - I stand for truth | August 1, 2008

  26. Todd Bentley is a CON man. Why can’t some see that? There are so many false teachers out there, in every denomination, lying in wait to deceive. Jesus warned us they would be out there. Why don’t more people believe Him instead of believing these false men?

    Comment by Informed Researcher | August 2, 2008

  27. http://www.charismamag.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2991&p=51563#p51563

    Is NO LONGER available

    Comment by Paula | August 26, 2008

  28. Hmm, what are they trying to hide?

    Comment by endtimespropheticwords | August 26, 2008

  29. Hmmm, the topic must have been TB? What? They just won’t talk about it anymore?

    Comment by redeemedhippie | August 26, 2008

  30. I dont like Ricciardelli and especially Andrew Strom. I called them out on Charisma forums. Been kicked out of Andrews revivalschoolforum. Rick is a shill so is Andrew, i wish this wasnt so. Gentlemen[i say that loosely] i await your retorts. Those have followed my personal posts know i am dead on in these matters revolving Bentley and crew.

    Comment by Naxus | October 26, 2008


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