Robert S. Liichow
The Word-Faith movement, sometimes referred to as the health and wealth movement, is popular because of the promises it guarantees. Christians are led to believe they can create their own circumstances and cause money and health to obey them. They can also do anything God can by using spiritual laws.
Kenneth Hagin has long been touted as a prophet by many within the charismatic movement for years. Without a doubt, all people within the Word of Faith Movement look to Hagin as a genuine prophet of God.
The facts seem to indicate otherwise! Hagin's claim to the prophetic office is somewhat different than most people. Hagin claims that the Lord Jesus Christ personally ordained him into this "restored" ministry.
When I said
personally, I should clarify it to mean - IN PERSON. Hagin claims to have had an out-of-body experience in which
Jesus laid His "nail scarred hands" upon him giving him a specialanointing along with the
personal, face-to-face call as a "prophet." All of this is revealed in his most entertaining book,
I Believe In Visions," which contains a series of 8 visits with his version of Jesus
(which is actually a demonicspirit masquerading as
Christ).
(taken from my book,
Everything You Always Wanted to know about Kenneth
Hagin, but were afraid to
ask.)
In chapter four we will look in some detail at the various alleged encounters Hagin has had with the risen Lord of Glory. This chapter deals with the encounter in which Hagin’s Jesus calls him into the prophetic ministry.
The sixth time the Lord appeared to me was in February 1959, while I was conducting a revival meeting in El Paso, Texas. . ."I am going to talk to you now about the prophet’s ministry," Jesus said. "You have missed it and have been only in my permissive will because you have reversed the order, putting the teaching ministry first and the prophet’s ministry second. . .The Lord discussed these things with me in the vision to show me that the apostle’s and prophet’s ministries are still for us today.
Hagin was in the hospital due to a fall on his elbow. The Lord took that opportunity to chasten Mr. Hagin for not keeping his prophetic ministry ahead of his teaching ministry. What is interesting in this encounter is that we are told that the role of the apostle and prophet are still for the Church today. This aberrant thought was not new, in fact, Hagin got it from the leaders of the Latter Rain Movement. People such as William Branham, Franklin Hall, the Hawtin brothers, and John Stevens had been teaching a restoration of apostles and prophets since the mid-1940's. Before them Edward Irving and Alexander Dowie had taught the restoration of such gifts in the late 1800's.
The Bible discounts such a concept. The role of the apostles and prophets was foundational.
1 Cor. 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
Ephes. 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Paul, the apostle, laid the foundation, someone else built on it. The Church herself is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Once the foundation has been laid, then all other building is done upon that initial foundation. There is no other foundation which can be laid, than which has been laid!
There is simply no need for apostles and prophets today. The foundation was laid two thousand years ago. The Word of God has been given, we have all the "Word of the Lord" we need. So why does the Church need Mr. Hagin and his fellow so-called restored prophets and apostles?
Kenneth goes on to reveal to the Church what it is that constitutes a "prophet" today:
It should be noted that one does not begin in the ministry as a prophet. To stand in the office of a prophet, one is first of all a minister of the Gospel separated and called to the ministry with the calling of God upon his life. Second, he must have at least two of the revelation gifts as well as the gift of prophecy operating in his ministry. The revelation gifts, Jesus pointed out to me, are the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, and the gift of discerning of spirits.
Now the Church knows what makes up a prophet! For almost six thousand years of recorded Biblical history all of God’s people have been in the dark . . .until the advent of "Dr." Hagin’s divinely granted insight. Hagin lets the readers know that he meets all of the qualifications of being a prophet.
Hagin is recognized as an apostle, prophet, and teacher by multitudes of charismatic people. Yet the truth of the matter is even more obvious - he fails in all three areas of ministry. He is a false apostle, false prophet, and false teacher.
The Old Testament has a simply, but strict guideline for those in the prophet’s ministry - it is called 100% accuracy.
Deut. 18:20,22 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
If you say you are a prophet and presume to speak in the name of our Lord and your prophecy does not come to pass, then you are a false prophet. Let’s consider some examples of Mr. Hagin’s prophetic pronouncements and see if they have come to pass.
The following prophetic words was given by Kenneth in Saint Louis the summer of 1997. This prophetic word is available on the Internet.
JULY 1997
(Bold type added by the author for
emphasis)
That which I said unto you shall come to pass. There is a time promised, but
they don't necessarily happen over night. He's coming again. Two thousand years have passed. He's coming.
Now it is time. It shall come to pass. Those Secrets that
you have prayed out with the Father - in tongues we have spoken to God secrets, mysteries, - those things shall come to pass. That which we have prayed through, into manifestation they
shall come.
This is the day, the hour, the time. Now at this time there shall be a greater spirit of seeing and knowing. Revelation gifts of the Spirit - Words of
Wisdom Words of Knowledge, Discerning of Spirits. You have seen a little. Not just shortly, but NOW come to pass. This shall bring us into a place of great faith. The gift of Faith shall
be in manifestation., No one has ever seen the measure it will be manifested in these days. The working of Miracles in the full orbit shall come. Gifts of Healings like showers of rain
falling everywhere.
The glory of the Lord shall shine and be seen on His people. The cloud of His glory shall be seen by many at times. Even as it filled the
temple of Solomon when it was dedicated so that the priests could not stand to minister. The church filled with the Spirit of God, in His presence fall.
You
think this strange? These are just the beginnings. Now walk in reverence before Me, saith the Lord. Respond unto the call of God. Respond to those who I have put into positions of
leadership. Respond unto the prophet and you shall see the glory of God on thee, your loved ones, and those around you.
It shall come to pass this year! It shall come
to pass at last. That which has hindered shall be taken out of the way. The last vestige shall be removed! And it shall come. What is that I see? Shining so bright coming from heaven.
Awesome; you want to weep, yet shout, cry yet laugh. I see it coming nearer and nearer. Blinding light. The fall of this year - October. As the people walk in the light of what they have,
the rest shall come to pass.
We are going with God. We'll go off and leave some, but we are going with God. Going with God! In the spirit he speaketh mysteries,
secrets. Things which are and shall be. When it comes to pass you will know.
In October in St. Louis, the center and heart of the nation, it shall come. It shall spread
all over the nation. Manifestations everywhere. That which has frustrated will be removed.
Then you will know the full meaning of the Divine glow. And others will be
invited to walk in the light of it, and so they shall. The glory of the Lord shall shine upon His people.
We saw a measure forty to fifty years ago. That will be just the beginning of what's coming now.
Great change is coming. Get ready. Get prepared. How? Be humble in My sight. Think little of yourself. Let Jesus be glorified.
Walk in it. It will
be different in thee. Those who are desirous to walk with God. Different in your spirit, for you will be conscious of the Holy Ghost in you in a measure you've not been conscious of
before. You'll be conscious of Him working in your soul realm - emotions, mind, thoughts. In your body - you will be strong in your body. Lying symptoms of the devil will dissipate and
disappear. Your body will work perfectly.
Look forward to it with great anticipation. It shall come to pass. This word is for everyone who needs it and shall come to
pass for everyone who believes it. I believe.
Walking& walking in the light. Walking& walking in the Word. Walking& walking in the Spirit. Walking&
walking in the will of God. Walking& walking in His plan and purpose. And it shall be consummated. And the end is at hand.
What about the end? It is written - wars, earthquakes, famine, evil men. We see it all around. Many deceived. But we are not deceived. The curtain has been drawn
and the glory of the Lord shines. The cool breeze of the Spirit doth blow.
The world waxes worse, darkness covers. But the saints, the people of God, have light in
their dwellings and they walk in the Light - the Word. They walk in the Spirit. They walk in God's plan and purpose. Many shall be turned unto the Lord. Great - beyond your imagination.
If it was told you, it would be difficult for you to believe what shall shortly come to pass. The [rest] of this year - 1998-99-2000. Oh my!
You will be here if you believe me, saith the Lord. I have some things for you to do. I have a work for you to fulfill. There is a work to be done. Here am I, send me.
Use me, Lord. No way to explain or describe it until we get there.
Well, 1997 has come and gone. The things the "Lord" spoke through Hagin did not come to pass. Hagin was just then getting into the "holy laughter" excess . . .but it had already swept the nation a few years earlier, with all its accompanying unbiblical manifestations.
What is interesting in this patheticword is that Hagin seems to be saying the gifts which constitute the prophets office are in existence now - "words of wisdom words of knowledge, discerning of spirits . . . .the gift of faith shall be in manifestation. . .no one has ever seen the measure it will be manifested in these days. . . Gifts of healings like showers of rain falling everywhere." Over a year has passed since Hagin stated by a spirit, "this is the day, the hour, the time."
In his book, I Believe In Visions, he made a similar pathetic utterance in September 1950 - (Hagin is reading from an invisible scroll out loud to the people at a tent meeting while he is in a trance) bold type added for emphasis:
America is receiving her last call . Some nations already received their last call and never will receive another. . . All the gifts of the Spirit will be in operation in the Church in these last days , and the Church will do even greater things than even the Early Church did. It will have greater power, signs, and wonders than were recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. . .Jesus continued, "More and more miracles will be performed in the last days which are just ahead, for it is time for the gift of the working of miracles to be more in prominence. We have now entered into the era of the miraculous.America is receiving her last call. Some nations already received their last call and never will receive another. . . All the gifts of the Spirit will be in operation in the Church in these last days, and the Church will do even greater things than even the Early Church did. It will have greater power, signs, and wonders than were recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. . .Jesus continued, "More and more miracles will be performed in the last days which are just ahead, for it is time for the gift of the working of miracles to be more in prominence. We have now entered into the era of the miraculous.
In 1997 - the same old theme for a new generation of people. Restoration of the gifts . In 1950, when Hagin gave this mystical utterance the healing revival was at its peak. William Branham, A.A. Allen, Jack Coe, Oral Roberts, all were holding huge tent meetings, each outdoing one another with claims of dramatic healing and miracles. So it was easy for Hagin to make such a statement and have people believe he was speaking by the Holy Spirit. Yet history proved all of the above mentioned "healers" to be liars, fakes, frauds, drunks, and con men.
Now, once again, Hagin is in the midst of theToronto Blessing and Pensacola Outpouring, and the Smithton Cornfield Revival, all with wild claims and bizarre manifestations. On line 20, the hearers are told, "respond unto the prophet and you shall see the glory of God on thee, your loved ones, and those around you." Again he claims to speak as our Lord’s very mouthpiece! He excites the hearts of unstable people into thinking what is taking place is of God. . .when it is no more of God than the so-called healingrevival of the mid 1940's and early 1950's .
Notice the emphasis in 1950 was the restoration of miracles. In 1997 it was the restoration of the "revelation" gifts. Both words underscore the "glory" of God being made visible and tangible. Now, take a few moments and compare the comments from 1950 and those of 1997 with these prophet Hagin made in 1980:
(Word of Knowledge through Kenneth Hagin in 1980)
Bold type and underlining added by the author
You are right on the verge, right on the verge of the greatest move and
manifestation of the Spirit of God that this world has ever seen. You're right on the edge of it; and like on standing on the creek bank about to jump in. And if you'll give the more
earnest heed unto the things which you have heard, not only those things that you've heard about faith and those things that you've heard about healing, but also those things which you
have heard about the Holy Spirit, and the things that you've heard about angels, and the things that you've heard about Divine Visitation, (for remember that it was prophesied of Joel
of old that in the last days, saith the Lord, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams, and upon My hand maidens
will I pour out My Spirit, and they will prophecy), so not only will it be that the young men will prophecy, but the young women will prophecy, and the anointing and the out-flow of
the Spirit of God shall be great and amazing in those days -- for there shall be a visitation of angels.
Be not afraid, but yet take heed even in these areas, for Satan himself has at
times come as an angel of light. But examine things in the light of the scriptures and walk in the light of the Word of God.
And sometimes the angel will give you direction, and even in your finances, and the direction that would save you life, as in the case of the shipwreck of Paul, and direction
concerning ministry, as the salvation of Cornelius and his household, and Philip as the angel spoke to him to go down to Gaza and the Ethiopian was converted.
And so in these days there shall come a mighty manifestation of the Spirit, and the work that God intended should be done in these last days shall be accomplished. For the time is short and things must be speeded up. And you'll learn much faster spiritual things then those of yesteryear. And you'll develop much faster and it'll be said of some they just virtually matured overnight. And they shall go forth to speak in the name of the Lord, because they understood the principle of faith. They'll understand the principles of the Kingdom. And they'll understand the laws of God. And they'll operate and minister in that area. And nothing will be hid from them. And though there are some who stand here now and have operated in a measure in those areas in times passed, and because they've let these things slip, they themselves in ministry and in life have slipped. And they shall be restored. Yea, they shall even be restored this night. And the manifestation shall come and the glory of the Lord shall rest upon it and rest upon thee. And His glory shall be seen round about and the cloud of God will come and fill the house. And, yea, it will seem as though the whole building is filled with smoke, because you see, the glory of God shall be in manifestation. And great, great shall be the noise thereof and praise and adoration that shall go up from His people.
And it shall be noised abroad. And men from afar shall here it. And men from afar shall here of it. And men from afar shall come to behold it. For the Lord shall be in manifestation in those days in all ways that He ever manifested Himself, both in the Old Covenant and in the New Covenant, plus the multiplying of the Spirit in the power of God of these days.
For men, as men grow more wicked and more wicked, and as Satan, because he knows
his time is short, and, all of his cohorts and evil spirits go about as never before to devour, so the power of God, the glory of God, shall be increased and shall be multiplied. And it
will flow like a mighty river, flow like a mighty river. Yea, the Spirit of God will flow like a mighty river. And many, not only hundreds, not only thousands, but millions will be swept
into the flow of that river, and shall flow forth in praised and glory. For the glory, for the glory of the Lord is in manifestation. The glory of the Lord will be seen of the face of the saints. The glory of God shall shine forth until men will walk in a place of business and people will fall on their knees and cry out to God though be said nothing. And women will walk into a place of business and people will fall and their knees and cry out to God though she opened not her mouth
. For the glory of God will shine through. Yea, the glory of God will shine through. Yea, the glory of God will shine through. For the manifestation of His power, and the
manifestation of His glory, is reserved until this hour!
And if it could be told, if it could be told in a way that you could see it, even with the eyes of your spirit, if it could be displayed at this moment before you in a tangible form that you could see with your physical eye, it would be very difficult for you to believe that which shall shortly come to pass. It would be very difficult for you to accept it. But as you walk with the Lord, as you prepare your heart, as you feed upon His word, as you listen to what the Spirit of God says, your heart shall be prepared, and your mind will be changed until you will flow in the supernatural as naturally as a bird flies through the air. And you'll flow in the super natural as naturally as a fish will swim in the water.
And you'll flow in the supernatural as naturally as you breathe the very air. You'll not be conscious of your faith. You'll not be conscious of what's going on around you. But
rather, you'll be conscious of the flow of the Spirit God. And He will manifest Himself. And He will accomplish that which He desires.
For you see, these are the last days, and this is the end time. And what is done must be done quickly. And it will be done. And the hearts of many will be cause to rejoice. So rejoice. Rejoice. Be glad and praise the Lord and prepare your hearts. And let Him prepare you for that which He has prepared for you. And so walk in it. You shall walk in it. And you shall run. And you shall fly, literally, spiritually speaking. And you shall enjoy the fullness of that which is provided for you.
All three of these false prophecies do nothing more than prop up the false concepts of the Latter Rain Movement (LRM) which was in full impact when Hagin initially prophesied in 1950. Some of what the LRM stressed was the restoration of: (1) prophets and apostles, (2) all the supernatural sign gifts of the Spirit, (3) a tremendous outpouring of healing and deliverance, and (4) a worldwide harvest of souls.
The 1980 word is now eighteen years old, and has not come to pass. The Church was not flowing in the supernatural anymore in 1980 than it did a thousand years ago.
What has happened since 1950 is a decrease in the Church and not an increase. There is more apostasy, more aberrant and heretical doctrines, more false signs and wonders deceiving multitudes than ever before in Church history.
I close this chapter out by stating that because one is deceived into thinking he is a prophet, when in fact they are not, does not immediately signify that the individual is not saved. The person may simply be extremely deceived and misled, thus unintentionally misleading others . I am not God and thus I am not in a position to make any statements regarding the state of Mr. Hagin’s soul. He does teach false doctrine, he does utter false prophetic words, and in our next chapter we shall see that he has been subject to false visions. . .but I cannot say he is not saved. I do urge prayer be offered on his behalf, due to the impact of his ministry in the spiritual lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Somente use Bíblias traduzidas do Texto Tradicional (aquele perfeitamente preservado por Deus em ininterrupto uso por fieis): BKJ-1611 ou LTT (Bíblia Literal do Texto Tradicional, com notas para estudo) na bvloja.com.br. Ou ACF, da SBTB.