Rick Joyner Claims The Last-Day Church Was Born in 2008

Rick Joyner has a new article out on the Elijah List here, posted on 01/01/2009. 

Rick Joyner’s piece is quite long, and as there is a lot  of really bad error contained within it, I intend to go into more detail in a subsequent post on other aspects of what he has written. But for all that blatant error, Steve Shultz of the Elijah List writes a gushing introduction to Rick Joyner’s revelations. Seemingly, the more outlandish and false the prophecy gets, the more gushing Steve Shultz gets over it!

Certainly, Rick Joyner’s latest ‘revelations’ are demonstrating more and more Rick Joyner and his followers’ religious cult status [see this eye-opening 'must-read' testimony on Joyner and Morningstar here], and underlines even more this influential NAR false prophet’s huge breach and departure from biblical truth. 

For now I wanted to tackle the following few paragraphs from the article on their own. As a little bit of background, the whole article was crammed full of Latter Rain Manifest Sons theology along with some ‘unique’ Joynerisms.

 This is the last bit of the article -

Rick Joyner:

“A New Beginning

The number 8 in prophecy often refers to a new beginning,

{Endtimes note - The number 8 might well hold that significance within the occult, in associated superstitious numerology, and in Chuck Pierce’s and Rick Joyner’s type of kabbalah-influenced prophetic claptrap {see here: http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/05/11/chuck-pierce-prophesies-the-kabbalah/] but not within genuine biblically-based prophecy. Ultimately Joyner uses 8 because in 2008 it suits him to do so. This year, 2009, he will focus on 9 as that will suit him.]

“… and 2008 was certainly a year of new beginnings.

However, when a person is born, they are far from being what they will be when they mature, and the new things that have been born in the Church this year are a long way from being mature. Because of this, to see what the Lord is doing we often need the vision of Simeon the prophet, who could see in a mere infant the salvation of the world (see Luke 2:25-34).

{Note the distortion here of scripture, as Simeon’s hope and revelation was based on the Holy Spirit, not imagination or embellishment, and agreed and testified to the writings of all the OT prophets. It also crucially came to pass, it was true and reliable, and pointed to the true Jesus and the true gospel – unlike the NAR’s prophecies which point to another Jesus and another gospel and are not true and reliable.

Note also that Simeon was a righteous man, which cannot be said of many of the leaders of the  lawless NAR. So Joyner’s “revelations” cannot be compared to Simeon’s as it was a very different scenario in a multiple of ways.

Also, it seems as if Rick Joyner is likening the birth and then growth of his heretical dominionist endtimes apostolic church of ‘mature’ God-men - all of them under the even more godlike and even more perfected C Peter Wagner’s  NAR apostles – with the birth of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago. And somehow equating this same church  full of the Latter Rain Christ returned within the secret rapture in the tangible ’glory’ within them, as a Messiah through which their dominionist rule will save the world….] 

“For this reason, the Lord compared faith to a seed. Faith can see a mature tree in a seed. You may only see it now with the eyes of faith, but the last-day Church was actually born in 2008.

{Because Rick Joyner says so?!!! – but why should we believe Joyner when he has a track-record of deception?

True faith is a gift of God, and comes through hearing the word of God. Joyner’s claims contradict the Bible’s – does the Holy Spirit contradict Himself in such a way? Could He even?!  How can Joyner then speak for God?

True faith is built on testing and rejecting the false, and is not afraid of discernment at all. Only deceivers and crooks are afraid of biblical discernment, for by people testing and weighing ’super-apostles’ claims they are found out for what they really are – and it ain’t pretty!

Notice too Rick Joyner’s manipulation – believe him, believe him blindly - all without testing his prophetic words and teachings which the  church is commanded to do. If you test his words you are condemned and ostracised – you doubt him! You must see it with the eyes of faith – that is blindly believe – HIM. If you can’t see it – well, there’s something wrong with you, and most likely you are demonised with a religious spirit. Best take his word for it, and pray til you see his light. You are obviously not as prophetic as him – yet. But you better believe him anyway as you don’t want to miss it, do you?  Doubt yourself, don’t doubt him! This is manipulation extraordinaire!]

“On 8/8/08, we had a gathering to celebrate this new beginning.

{It has to be asked, if the Last-Day church was born on 08.08.08, what about all C Peter Wagner’s [and the other prophets and apostles'] previous claims about the church, such as the government of the apostles that according to them came into place long before 2008?! How can apostles come into place and reformation begin without a church to govern and reform?!

08/08/08 was Todd Bentley’s last stand. This event was hyped ruthlessly. Bob Jones and Bonnie Jones’ prophecies about the Joseph Company surrounded it. Other NAR prophets and apostles and their hangers-on had similar 08.08.08 meetings around the world including Lou Engle and the UK’s Sharon Stone, Betty King and Ken Gott.

The Heritage event featuring Bentley was hyped for weeks beforehand by God TV and Joyner, who led up to it with a forty day fast. This was the same event where Joyner admitted he still let Bentley on stage on the 08.08.08, even after being told of Todd Bentley’s adultery at least one day beforehand.

Todd Bentley was undoubtedly the star of Rick Joyner’s Heritage event, so if the birth of the NAR endtimes church is deemed to have taken place then on that date, focussed all around Todd Bentley and his lying impartations, claims and revelations, against a backdrop of Rick Joyner still letting Bentley minister against express biblical instruction, then Todd Bentley is either the church’s father or ‘divine’ child forerunner for the New Breed. Then he starts to look even more like fitting the bill as the man of lawlessness who leads the church into great apostasy, or at least part of his false prophet.

I caught only part of Todd Bentley speaking that night of the 08.08.08. I noticed how small the crowd was relative to the amount of hype and advertising for the event. [By that time Todd Benley had been exposed on ABC Nightline as a liar and the dregs of a floundering Lakeland led by other ministers was in its last days]. But I took a few brief notes of what Todd Bentley said that night.

Notes from the 08.08.08 meeting -

Todd Bentley spoke about 4 levels. The first level was healing. The second was “notable, remarkable miracles”, the 3rd level raising the dead –  ”I have reached raising the dead!”  Todd boasted, claiming 35 ’stories’, and the 4th level was the Manifestation of the Sons of God with resurrection life, glory in the church, dominion authority in church, corporate anointing on cities etc. Todd prayed for this spirit of resurrection to break forth. [This 4th level is obviously what Rick Joyner is now saying was birthed that night  - the birth of the Latter Rain manchild.]

I carried on taking notes and Todd Bentley went on and on and on about money. Talking about money was the only time he really seemed genuinely animated and excited and to come alive. Regardless, I was disgusted by the blatant simony.

One of the greatest ways we can open heaven – not the only way – is to take an offering, Todd claimed. If people want a double portion …. the offering is a big part to bring that about by giving a double portion [or more].. He inferred all ’seeds’ given go to revival. He reported that Bob Jones claims poverty is the one thing that will kill revival, so dig deep in your pockets and give to Todd to keep it going.

The nature of anointing is that God is extravagent – so revival generosity in financial giving and the anointing go hand in hand, Todd claimed. Todd then twisted the scripture in the Book of Acts about people who sold land and houses to try and get them to give to him extremely generously. Then he prayed manipulatively; “Thank you God you are challenging businessmen to give in a big way…”

He then claimed that people will reap what they ’sow’ so get out and give generously with your credit card. “If you give 112,000 or 1,000 dollars wonderful!” {Note the big sums he mentions!]

“If you think “Todd Bentley, I love you!” – then show us tonight!” he said.

Sow for your family, grandchildren church – get an envelope – ‘sow a seed and make a demand of God!’  When dos God ever sell Himself in such a way? Since when can man think they can demand like this!]

“It was an outdoor event on the grounds at Heritage and it drew thousands. The Lord gave us “signs in the Heavens” to testify that He was indeed bringing forth a new beginning. For days before, the heat had been hitting 100 degrees or more, and the humidity was almost too much to bear for more than a few minutes. Of course, we were concerned about the people in the open fields. However, the Lord turned on His air conditioner, and as we gathered for the meeting the temperature was a very comfortable 88 degrees with low humidity, and the wind was blowing 8 mph.

{These claims was debunked in a previous article by someone who actually checked the weather stats for that day in that area… I have also shown that Rick plays fast and loose with his ‘prophetic’ figures to suit him. And of course, even if these reported figures were really true and accurate, and even if what they were supposed to testify was biblical and not antichrist, it still would not be a sign from God, it would be superstition and omen watching.]

“The presence of the Lord was remarkable,

[Because...? They twitched, jerked and manifested without any good fruit being produced? Because they felt high?]

“… and there were many signs and wonders that day. Even so, the Lord had spoken through a number of dreams that September 21 was going to be an even more important day. We had changed the dates of our Harvest and Worship & Warfare Conferences so that September 21 was the Sunday between them.

{see here for the real significance of this date in September and the associated events of the bonfires … http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/rick-joyner-on-numerology-superstition-wicca/]

“It was a powerful day, but not more than we were used to at conferences, and it did not seem that anything very significant happened—but it did.

[If nothing happens in reality, well you gonna make sure it does 'prophetically' then to back your hype!]

“Through a number of prophetic dreams and experiences given to those who had gathered with us and others who were far away, the Lord proclaimed that day as the end of the Laodicean Church and the beginning of age of the 8th Church of the Book of Revelation.

{Very bad theology about the 7 church ages here, linked to Scholfield-Darby who also promoted the pre trib rapture heresy.]

“This is not to add to the Book of Revelation,

{Sure it is!]

“… but there is actually an 8th Church in it—the Bride that is prepared for Him and comes down out of Heaven.

{Oh boy, what distortion!]

The Laodicean Church was the one that had so much she did not seem to need the Lord. We have certainly been in a very blessed time in the natural, but much of the Church has fallen into the most depraved and deceived state of lukewarmness.

[It is true there is a lot of lukewarmness within the modern 'church'. But this state does not describe the entire worldwide church.]

That will now change. That Church is going to fade away,

{By being killed off by Joel’s Amy in the civil war in the church that the NAR prophets repeatedly prophesy is about to take place?]

… and a new Church with a new nature is going to emerge. The difference between these two Churches will be like the difference between a caterpillar and a butterfly. The caterpillar is a worm that has to crawl on the earth and therefore conforms to the earth. The butterfly soars high above it and is carried about by the wind of the Spirit.

{Hear the disdain here for the true church – likened to a worm crawling upon the earth! Surely Joyner displays his true colours in this statement.]

It is said that the greatest struggle of the life of a butterfly is breaking out of its cocoon. However, if it was not for that great struggle, the butterfly would not have the strength to use its huge wings. A struggle is happening in the Church,

{The struggle being the contention with criticism and the ‘religious spirit’ from all who disagree with them or show them up?]

“… but it is for our sakes so that we will be able to use the great authority that the Lord will give His people who are called to preach the good news of His coming Kingdom.

{And where does it say that the church has any MORE authority in these coming times than it did 2000 years ago?]

“It is now time to obey Romans 12:1-2:

{And it was not time before to obey this?!]

“I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

{Just pick out and focus on one word that Joyner likes and use it out of context ignoring the rest of what the scripture actually says and actually means….]

The Greek word that is translated “transformed” in this text is actually the word that we derive our English word “metamorphosis” from, which is the process a caterpillar goes through to become a butterfly. It is time to learn to fly.”  [end]

{Oh what deceitful scripture twisting ….]

__________________

See also these associated articles -

http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/12/28/rick-joyner-on-liking-interesting-demons/

http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/07/26/heritage-outpouringrick-joyners-40-day-fast-pointing-to-what/

http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/07/26/8-8-8-superstition-promoted-by-rick-joyner-larry-jackson-bonnie-jones-todd-bentley/

http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/08/02/uk-church-promotes-080808-superstition-hosts-false-prophets/

 http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/more-080808-nonsense-false-prophets-gathering-at-louisiana/