#1 (access a lengthy collated resource paper here)
#2 Richard Riss interviewed Jackson before he died, in preparing his book, "The Latter Rain". Riss's book fairly accurately summarises the history, but is told from an admiring, uncritical stance. For example, he mentions nothing of the continual sexual immorality that followed like a plague its infiltration of other movements; nor did he question the prophetic revelations he was told by various people interviewed.
#3 On a later study sabbatical to Nth America, I found the same pattern there. Other Bible commentators have also noted the tragic follow-on of unclean sexual spirits, once a deceiving religious spirit has established its dominion through introducing a false teaching. Israel's history, too, is littered with examples of this inevitable follow on.
#3A Interestingly, after many years of remaining under the radar of the Australian media, the modern form of the "Move" was forensically done over by Chris Masters on ABC Four Corners (June 23, 2008). The blogspots ran amok with wounded people venting their pain and anger. It was the second most-watched program of 2008, and the most blogged. The manipulative control of marriages, people's decision-making, etc, has deteriorated to greater levels in the years since we left.
#4 [A classic example of this occurred through so-called prophet, Gerald Coates, who predicted a major volcanic eruption around Lake Taupo in New Zealand. Whole sections of the Pentecostal/Charismatic community went into public media-watched panic alert. The Elim Churches, under the leadership of (now disgraced for long-term sexual moral failure) Ian Bilby, set up civil defence stations, only to become a laughing-stock before a cynical community.]
#5 Jacob Prasch (a UK based Jewish AOG teacher) presented an excellent series, "What has happed to the AOG?" to Melbourne AOG ministers in 1994. He presented a strong argument that traditional Pentecostalism is in danger of being overrun by 'the Anointing' a la Benny Hinn, the Toronto Blessing, Pensacola, and the more presentable side of the Rhema/Copeland Faith Movement. Subsequent trends in the Australian AoG have borne out his observations.
#6 They have since brought in Benny Hinn as their national conference speaker too.
#7 A family member of one resident student at that time told me of his being hounded by his fellow students at this time, because he would not "flow with the river". So strongly that he quit his studies and returned home interstate. He returned the next semester to try to recommence studying for the AoG ministry, but quit again (this time permanently) after another six weeks of harassment.
#8 Constance Cumbey examined this in detail in her 1984 book, "Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow". I recommend this book to any serious student of modern spirituality trends. Her observations on global Luciferic initiation - individual by individual, through surrender of self-control to an outside force - are equally relevant to New Age, magic, Kundalini Hinduism, and the Toronto Blessing.
#9 A common feature of several current movements is to haul people out to have hands laid on them, and to be prophesied over - sometimes by people who have not established their credibility clearly enough. At a "Toronto"-style meeting I attended, the billed minister stood, did not speak or preach at all, and announced he was going to lay hands on every minister and spouse in the place! Many responded; he immediately prophesied over them, as they fell down 'under the anointing'. One woman was told she would have a "Kathryn Kuhlman anointing". No one seemed to be 'judging' in accordance with 1 Cor 14:29-33 We chose to not allow him to minister to us. Every believer has that right!.
#10 A practical illustration would be where a Christian deliberately went to a séance, and then tried to use Luke 11 as protection for their own spirit from occultic influence. Yet some of the so-called prophetic ministry meetings, I have documented evidence of, amount to little more than channelling sessions! What's the difference? Paul obviously didn't see any when he attacked the itinerant ministers acting as messengers for the Angel of light at the (Pentecostal) Church in Corinth!
#11 [This of course is nothing new. In the 1970's the Charismatic movement was joyously singing, "As the river runs into the sea, and loses its identity; so it is with you and me, in Christ!" Pure Hinduism!
#12 [On a lighter note (if such a thing is possible in this context!), my niece suggested the key to the one liners shouted at RHB / Catch the Fire meetings was that the leader wasn't happy about the way the local host, Phillip Moore, has been running things, so he kept shouting, "GO! FIRE! FILL! MORE!"....
#13 "I can see the glory of the Lord, falling all around, falling around me.... Holy Ghost, breathe upon me...." sounds inspiring, but it's theologically out-of-date after the New Covenant began. In the dispensation of the church age / Holy Spirit, it is wrong!
#14 Not to mention Benny Hinn's announcement at one National AoG Conference meeting that the Spirit had shown him, He / It would enter Hinn's meeting through a particular rear door in five minutes! And the eye-witness reporting this told me that five minutes later a wave/wind of a "presence" did sweep in that door and aisle…(He was sold on Benny right there…). The Holy Spirit needs a "door"??? What on earth were the thousands of ministers present think about!?!? This is allegedly the God of Great Glory making a grand entrance through a door??? And a back one at that.... And if a wind marked the movement of the spirit down the aisle, just what kind of spirit was it that was manifesting?
#15 Those who "go all the way". The 100-fold ones (some 30 - Evangelicals, some 60 - Pentecostals, some 100 - us!) Those who go through the three doors of the tabernacle, into the Most Holy Place, "unto perfection!" (door 1 = salvation; door 2 = baptism in the Holy Spirit; door 3 = literal perfection).
#16 Sadly, Morrison's well researched material is otherwise biased by his strong anti-charismatic stance. However, the uncensored video clip of Copeland anointing RHB to go forth and open the door for the new move of power is an awesome example of a power play! The Master and the Pupil are powerfully demonstrated in the last five minutes when Copeland takes over, with RHB lying crumpled at his feet. Some excellent material has been published in the UK regarding the excesses at this meeting, and its influence on what has been disseminated (copies available).
#17 A trail of positive / possibility thinking preceded this current move; eg. the Church that hosted RHB in Sydney also hosted Robert Schuller's Australian visit (Phil Pringle's Christian City Church). Frank Houston, Founder of Christian Life Centres, (then) State Superintendent of NSW AoG, hosted John Arnott's 'Catch the Fire' campaign. He acclaimed Norman Vincent Peale as one of the greatest influences in his life at a service I attended in 1992 (Houston was subsequently defrocked in 2002 over homosexual pedophile activities in NZ prior to his move to Australia in the mid-1970's).).
#18 Third Wave Definition: The Dictionary of Charismatic and Pentecostal Movements defines it thus, THIRD WAVE The term "third wave" is used to designate a movement that is similar to the Pentecostal movement (first wave) and charismatic movement (second wave), but which perceives itself to have some fairly important differences. It is composed largely of evangelical Christians who, while applauding and supporting the work of the Holy Spirit in the first two waves, have chosen not to be identified with either. The desire of those in the third wave is to experience the power of the Holy Spirit in healing the sick, casting, out demons, receiving prophecies, and participating in other charismatic-type manifestations without disturbing the current philosophy of ministry governing their congregations.
While the shape of the third wave is in its formation stage at this writing, some distinctives may include:
1. Belief that the baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at conversion (1 Cor. 12:13) rather than as a second work of grace subsequent to the new birth.
1. Expectation of multiple fillings of the Holy Spirit subsequent to the new birth, some of which may closely resemble what others call "baptism in the Holy Spirit."
2. A low-key acceptance of tongues as one of many NT spiritual gifts that God gives to some and not to others. Speaking in tongues is not considered the initial physical validation of a certain spiritual experience but rather a gift used by some for ministry or prayer language.
3. Ministry under the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit as the portal of entrance into the third wave rather than a spiritual experience as is typical of the first two waves. The context of ministry is most commonly a body of believers rather than individual activities such as those of a faith healer.
4. Avoidance of divisiveness at almost any cost. Compromise in areas such as raising of hands in worship, public tongues, methods of prayer for the sick and others, is cordially accepted in order to maintain harmony with those not in the third wave. Semantics become important, with terms such as "Charismatic" and "Spirit-filled" being rejected because of their alleged implication that those who are so labelled form a sort of spiritual elite of first-class as over against second-class Christians.
The third wave became prominent around 1980 with the term itself being coined in 1983 by Peter Wagner. David Barrett estimates that worldwide there are some 20 million believers who could be counted as fitting into the third wave pattern.
#19 Report printed in NZ Challenge 5.12.91 'Prophet' removed from Ministry. Bob Jones, one of the -"Kansas City prophets" has been sidelined after confessing involvement in "serious sin.". John Wimber, leader of. the Association of Vineyard Churches, which oversees the prophets' ministry, says Mr Jones has been removed from all ministry. "The sins for which Bob has been removed from ministry include using his gifts to manipulate people for his personal desires, sexual misconduct, rebelling against pastoral authority, slandering leaders and the promotion of bitterness within the Body of. Christ," says Wimber. Vineyard's "pastoral concern at present is to "restore his walk with Christ." Mr Wimber says the "rebuke" needs to be made public because of Mr Jones' ''high-profile" visibility and ministry.
#20 Such an application of this Scripture [John 12:29], which refers to the Father speaking regarding the Son, says much about the guru-attitude with which Cain is held within Vineyard.
In Feb 2005, Cain was set aside from ministry for "alcoholism and homosexual activity". His letter of belated confession appeared on his website www.paulcain.org/news.html - another typical long-term "fruit" of the Toronto Blessing....
#21 I believe this is a major reason for so many people now quitting the ministry in discouragement It produces unrealistic expectations. We have helped many people in the past 10 years to deliver themselves from the curse of living under the influence of false prophetic pronouncements - including commonplace depression. They have to deliver themselves (as in John 8:32 and 2 Tim 2:26). As Neil Anderson so clearly teaches, acknowledgment of truth opens the door for (self) deliverance. Then they can be free to enjoy being ordinary, effective, faith-filled believers… rather than spending their days waiting for something that is always "just around the corner", because "we are on the verge of the greatest revival in history". Latter Rain was full of this seductive, prophetic clap-trap.
#22 Numerous examples of poorly executed exegesis occur in Vineyard / Toronto Blessing writings, especially their attempts to find Biblical justification for their ministry manifestations, etc. Probably the worst example I have found is Guy Chevreau's hastily written apologetic, Catch the Fire. It wreaks of hastily constructed eisagetical proof texts - including turning Jonathan Edwards' writings on their head to justify physical twitching, etc.
#23 access a very significant, lengthy collated resource paper here
#24 Channel 10 News ran a fill-in story on "laughter yoga" in April 2003. The guru in Qld was releasing people through uncontrolled hysterical laughter and twitching. Turn off the sound, and you couldn't tell the difference!...
#25 I have a tape of Austin’s prophetic ministry, which opened the door for the Blessing in Australasia, from Celebration Centre, Christchurch, in October 93. I personally have serious doubts regarding the origin of the gift Austin operates by, and the content of her message. She seems to be channelling for a good part of the meeting. Copies are available At one point she encourages the congregation to spread the anointing by tickling each other! And then calls the local churches of Christchurch "dark houses" in fierce criticism of their resistance to her influence.
#26 I personally heard Hinn say on video he believed Jesus did not return to heaven with a physical body. This is fundamental orthodox heresy...
#27 refer linked file that quotes Hinn's own description of this psychic encounter.
#28 A UK AoG District Supervisor forwarded the following account to me… "The person relating the experience was Ken Gott (Revival Now, Sunderland). He told the story publicly at the (UK) AOG National Conference during a session just for leaders. He told how he was slain on the floor at Holy Trinity Brompton 'in the Spirit' and as he lay there, unable to move a lady 'slithered' up to him all the time making a noise like 'tikka - tikka - tikka' (like a snake). She hit him in the stomach, which resulted in him bursting out into laughter. She did it several times. He said he did not understand it but felt it was God blessing him and increasing his anointing. This was at the start of his new experience, so its a few years ago. I cannot remember the date".
#29 Some of the effects of this on the next generation were typified in Hillsong's 2002 Youth Convention promotional material in Sydney, where shamanistic dress and dance were incorporated (click here).
#30 To give this Church credit - there was nothing too excessive or disorderly about how they handled their dalliance with the Toronto Blessing. And their experimentation with it was fairly short-lived (although their subsequent appropriation of Copeland's Faith teachings has been far more extensive and influential).
#31 An (Australian) friend told me of his experience at an Anaheim MacDonalds, where one of their party, after a Vineyard Blessing meeting, fell to the floor halfway through ordering, laughing out of control. My response was, "how did this impress the outsiders in the restaurant?" In the same visit he was taken by the number of people walking about imitating a chicken’s movements (He thought it was terrific!)! He was thrilled to roar like a lion too. Another friend asked deadpan, if he had seen any turkey walks too?.... C'mon... Is the Emperor really clothed?....
#32 An AoG pastor in Parramatta shared with me an extensive vision experience he had in which he saw a demon jump into every one that he prayed for, as they lost self-control. This greatly pulled him up in his participation in "the River / Blessing" stream. He became aware of the strong connection between surrender of self-control and demonic invasion / initiation - Christian and non-Christian - it makes no difference!
#33 Deceiving spirits often begin their work by giving accurate information (by revelation or prophecy). But the sting is in the end influence later. My personal experience in deliverance indicates that deceiving spirits will not deliver their intended ‘king hit’ until the targeted person (or Movement) has dropped their critical guard, usually after extended exposure to correct and sometimes powerful manifestations and words. This is particularly true where the ‘king hit’ is in the area of being "called to be the chosen vessel(s) for God’s great (last days / endtimes) move". Latter Rain history is full of such deceiving prophetic spirits.
#34 for instance, It has often been said that the highly emotionally-charged sawdust revival tents of the 19thC US frontier evangelism produced more live births than new births!]. Currently, we have people writhing, highly-charged emotional content, blonde jumpsuit-clad, be-bop female song-leaders (it's not easy to call them 'worship'-leaders)...
#34a A well-known local musician moved across to Vineyard in the late 1990's in our district. Since then, he has bought and sold properties (including overseas) endeavouring to find his place in what God wants for his life and ministry (he spoke to me some years ago of establishing a retreat property for music and mediation - nothing came of it). In my occasional discussions with him, it is evident he is drifting in uncertainty. Meanwhile, years pass by! And he has been (thus far) lost to effective body-involvement.
Similarly, another well-known and respected Sydney minister on the Northern Beaches has experienced a similar kind of crisis of direction, during which his church has gone from some 700 members to about 40 (source of these numbers - a secondhand report from someone formerly involved). He submitted himself to Rodney Howard-Browne's "anointing" during Browne's first Aussie visit.
#35 By the time of this most recent update (2008), there has been enough time to test this 1995 prediction. And we have seen a number of Blessing participants come down with strange lingering ailments.
#35a After a friend from Sydney attended Hear the Word Church in Harare during a missions' trip, she took very ill, requiring treatment, despite prolonged prayer. A Zimbabwean church leader commented to me it was common to see people who went along there get sick afterwards. He explained it as coming under the influence of a powerful religious spirit, which was then able to release demons of sickness and suffering against those so exposed. Truly, a "lord of the flies" scenario!...
#36 This was one area of Latter Rain that drove us nuts after years of prophecy announcing the next great move of God was right at the door. We were continually kept in a state of suspense, waiting, waiting... And to see so many others now echoing the same wish grieves us.
#37 And don't the principal ministries love to get their hands on all the leaders to "impart the Blessing". In the 1995 New Life Churches of New Zealand Conference, Ian Bilby, Apostolic head of the NZ Elim Churches, ministered each night. He called all the (hundreds of) leaders up to be "blessed". My wife and I went forward consciously praying against every spirit not of God. We were literally the only ones he didn't touch in our part of the crowd. And we were literally the only ones not flattened on the floor in our part of the auditorium. Bilby was subsequently dismissed (with national news coverage) for long-standing adulterous affairs, in which he was active during the time we saw him slaying hundreds of New Life leaders in the (or, by a) spirit. To my knowledge, after his exposure, no discussion took place to try to determine the source of this mysterious force that knocked so many experienced ministers down. We were so relieved we had refused to let him touch us.