The coming 'paradigm shift'Print
World
Written by Chris Perver  
Tuesday, 03 June 2008 10:32

It seems that the title that I chose for the previous article on the Florida Healing Outpouring was more accurate that I had first imagined. A couple of titles had popped into my mind, but for some reason I settled on "The agents of change in the Florida Healing Outpouring". I thought that best suited the idea of fallen angelic hosts orchestrating this whole last days deception. Last night I was watching a YouTube video of a programme called Extreme Prophetic. It is produced by followers of the Apostolic-Prophetic movement, who are seeking to restore the office of the prophet in the Church to lead us into the next century. The show is hosted by Patricia King. In this particular programme, King had the honour of interviewing Todd Bentley and Kansas City 'prophet' Bob Jones. As we have seen previously, both men hold highly questionable views that border on the New Age and occult beliefs. Both seem to have had spiritual experiences that contradict what the Bible plainly teaches. For example, Todd Bentley claims to have had dozens of demons cast out of him after he became a Christian (WARNING: This clip is extremely disturbing. Pray for the protection of the blood of Christ before listening to it). The Bible says that once we have trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation, our bodies become the dwelling place of Holy Spirit (John 14:23, Ephesians 1:13). If we have received the "Spirit of Christ" (Romans 8:9), how can we also be possessed with a demonic spirit, for 2nd Corinthians 6:15 says, "For what concord hath Christ with Belial?" Now I am not saying Todd Bentley is not saved. I do not believe we have the right to question people's salvation (2nd Timothy 2:19). But this does raise serious questions about some of his more profound spiritual experiences. Both Todd Bentley and Bob Jones claim to have experienced visitations from angels. As we discussed in the previous article, these angels are not following the Biblical pattern. These angels seek to glorify themselves instead of Christ, they seek to usurp authority over the Church, they proclaim the prosperity gospel and they manifest their presence in ungodly ways. Both men also claim to have ascended into heaven on numerous occasions. We have already related the story of how Todd Bentley was beamed up into heaven through a "pillar of fire", and was cut open by four angels while lying conscious on an operating table. Bob Jones also claims to have ascended up into heaven. In fact Jones says he is able to do this 'at will', simply through an act of faith. And he has taken others with him for the ride. King then recounts an experience in which she was invited to ascend into the "third heaven" with Jones. He took her by the hand and they both closed their eyes, and after several minutes had transpired, King says she began to see a bright light which Jones then claimed was the heavenly realm. But is there any Scriptural precedence for their experience? The Bible does mention several incidents where people have been caught up into heaven. The Apostle Paul was caught up into the third heaven, and saw things which he said were not lawful for a man to utter (2nd Corinthians 12:2). But it is believed that this may have occurred during a near death experience when Paul was stoned in the city of Lystra (Acts 14:19). The Apostle John was also caught up into heaven, and this was to receive a revelation of what will to come to pass during the last days (Revelation 4:1). But when it comes to claiming to be able to ascend into heaven at will, the Bible is emphatic. "No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven", John 3:13. Proverbs 30:4 also asks the question, "Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?". The experiences that these men talk about are not mentioned in the Bible. But they do have a precedent in the New Age movement. Astral projection is practiced by those involved in the occult. "Astral projection (or astral travel) is a paranormal interpretation of an out-of-body experience achieved either awake or via lucid dreaming or deep meditation".

Quote: "In astral projection the traveller finds him or herself in an apparently real domain, which often has no parallel to any physical setting, though can be parallel to different time lines and/or physical settings different to our own. This is termed by New Agers and occultists among others as the astral plane or "the astral". Environments here may range from populated to unpopulated, artificial to natural to completely abstract environments and from beatific to horrific. Here, normal physical laws often do not apply. The quality of detail ranges from crude to vivid and fascinating. Projectors may gain access to visions of the past or future of Earth, and to the Akashic records. It has been said that space and time do not exist on the astral plane in the same way they do on earth, or that they can be transcended.

It would be entirely possible for an astral traveller to 'travel' to a realm that seemed heavenly to them. As we have seen previously with Bentley's UFO abduction experience, if you hold a Christian set of beliefs, you are going to interpret your experience in a Biblical way. That does not mean to say your experience is from God. What this does show us is that we need to be so careful when it comes to extra-Biblical experiences and revelations. Just because these experiences seem attractive to us and appear to be miraculous, that doesn't mean to say they are of God. We must ask ourselves again and again, is this in the Bible (2nd Timothy 3:16-17)? If this experience is not mentioned in the Bible, we must then ask ourselves the question, where does it originate from?

What is most disturbing about this video is Jones' comments at the end, and this is what prompted me to write this article. Jones states that the Church is now entering a "paradigm shift". Apparently we are now entering an age in which the "miraculous will seem normal" and "manifestations of the Spirit" will abound. For those who have insight into the New Age movement, your ears should prick up upon hearing the words, "paradigm shift". For according to this New Age teaching, the world must soon pass through a time of great distress, and the only ones who will survive are those who are prepared to move on to the next step in spiritual enlightenment. Those who understand Bible prophecy will know that this teaching is demonic, for it is preparing the world for the appearance of the false prophet, who will work all manner of lying wonders to persuade men to worship the Antichrist (Revelation 13:13-14, 2nd Thessalonians 2:8-9). Those who don't embrace this "New Age" of enlightenment will be killed (Revelation 13:15). When I searched for the meaning of the words "paradigm shift" on the internet, this is what came up...

Quote: "Think of a Paradigm Shift as a change from one way of thinking to another. It's a revolution, a transformation, a sort of metamorphosis. It just does not happen, but rather it is driven by agents of change.

I didn't purposely name the previous article "Agents of change", but as you can see, it certainly fits what is being taught by Todd Bentley and Bob Jones. There is no doubt we are now living in the last days. As I said before, fearful times are upon us. Great deception is coming, and if you haven't trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation, you will be deceived. For the Bible says that "for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness". Those are serious words, too serious to ignore. Have you trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation? Have your sins been forgiven? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Source You Tube, You Tube, Wikipedia, Take the Leap

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