Winston Churchill once said, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” This is especially true of the church where the same mistakes have been made generation after generation concerning revival and the prophetic.

The following information is drawn from a document written around 1560 by Obe Philips, a leader in the sixteenth century Anabaptist movement that sought the restoration of New Testament Christianity. Philips was commissioned as an “apostle” in this movement, and he commissioned others to this “office.”

The document, entitled “Confessions,” describes events in Europe in the 1530s. From this document I have delineated five telltale signs from their experience that can help us avoid the tragic mistakes that produced such great suffering and distress for them.

Sign No. 1: When Prophecy is Used for Self-Promotion

1517-1537 was a very exciting time for many Christians in Europe. A great spiritual reformation was under way, and many believed God was restoring the church to its original purity and power. Many believed that out of this restoration would come a great revival and harvest that would usher in the coming of the Lord and the end of the age.

In the midst of this end-time, revival atmosphere, individuals began to arise proclaiming themselves to be special end-time apostles and prophets, endowed by God with miraculous power to usher in His kingdom upon the earth.

One of the most prominent of these “apostles” was Melchior Hoffman, a powerful preacher and teacher who gained a large following. His status was further enhanced when a prophetess saw in a vision a large white swan, larger and more beautiful than all the others, swimming in a beautiful river. She claimed it was revealed to her that the swan was Hoffman and that he represented the fulfillment of God’s promise in Malachi 4:5 to send Elijah before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

Biblical Insight: Satan plays on human ego and pride. God calls us to humble ourselves before Him and promises that He will then raise us up. Demons, on the other hand, tell us how great, wonderful, and significant we are in ourselves. The “Elijah” prophecy given to Hoffman is one that Satan has used again and again to bring good men down because of pride.

The ultimate goal of prophecy is to point people to Jesus. This was confirmed by the heavenly being who was at John’s side as they observed the vast heavenly host worshipping and praising God. Overwhelmed at the sight, John fell at the feet of his heavenly escort to worship him, who stopped him and said, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10, emphasis added).

In John 16:14 (ESV), Jesus said that when the Holy Spirit would come, “He will glorify me, for he will take of what is mine and declare it to you.” The Holy Spirit is not here to promote a prophet, teacher, angel or any other creature. Jesus is the only Savior, Healer and Lord, and the Holy Spirit is here to point people to Him. When people use prophecy to put themselves and their own movement in the limelight, it is a warning sign they have strayed from the biblical pattern.

Warning Sign No. 2: When Prophecy Becomes the Primary Means for Determining the Will of God

Another individual prophesied that Hoffman would be imprisoned for six months in the city of Strasbourg, and after that, his ministry would spread over the whole world. Based on the prophecy, Hoffman moved to Strasbourg where he began to preach and teach throughout that city.

The first part of the prophecy was fulfilled when the Strasbourg authorities arrested Hoffman and had him imprisoned. Philips says that he entered the prison “willingly, cheerfully, and well comforted,” convinced that the latter part of the prophecy would now soon come to pass.

While in prison, Hoffman wrote many letters which Philips says came every day describing “how his actions, his visions and revelations affected him.” One individual prophesied that at the end of his six-month imprisonment, Hoffman would depart Strasbourg with 144,000 true apostles endowed with such miraculous power that no one would be able to resist them. Elated with such prophetic predictions, Hoffman vowed that he would take no food other than bread and water until the time of his deliverance.

Six months passed, however, and he was not released. More time elapsed and he found it necessary to break his fast. Hoffman eventually died in prison, a very disillusioned man. Philips says;

In the end, everything he so boldly professed from the prophets and prophetesses he found to be all falsehood and deception, in fact and in truth; and he was so deceived with all their visions, prophecies, commission, dreams and Elijah role that my heart today feels pity for him on account of this distress of his soul.

Biblical Insight: It is clear from Scripture that personal prophecy is not for giving direction in life. There is not a single positive example of such in the New Testament. Neither Jesus or Paul ever encouraged anyone to seek direction from a “prophet.” In this New Covenant, all are given the Holy Spirit, and all are to be led by the Spirit (Rom. 8:14) A prophecy may confirm, but never direct.

I know the value of prophecy as confirmation. I was launched into ministry by a prophetic word that revealed all that was in my heart concerning God’s call. I did not learn anything new from the prophecy; it merely confirmed what was already in my heart and gave me the courage to act on what God had already spoken to me.

The only New Testament example of a personal prophecy giving direction is in Acts 21:4 where certain disciples, by the Spirit, told Paul, who was on his way to Jerusalem, not to go up to Jerusalem. What did Paul do? He ignored what they said and continued on to Jerusalem. Prophecy must confirm what we already know in our heart, and Paul had already purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem (see Acts 19:21).

When prophecy is sought as the primary means for determining the will of God, those involved have departed from the biblical pattern and fallen into cultic divining and even witchcraft.

Warning Sign #3: When Prophecy is Preoccupied with Images, Numbers and Symbols

Prophetic dreams and visions flourished in this movement. These dreams and visions predicted many remarkable things related to the establishing of God’s kingdom and the destruction of the wicked. Much of this information was given in symbolic form which had to be interpreted by those who were “spiritual.” Philips says.

One came dragging a wagon without wheels; another wagon had three wheels; one wagon had no shaft; some had no horses; some had no recognizable driver; some had but one leg; some were lepers and beggars and some wore a tunic or a cloak with a lappet of fur. All this they could interpret for the brethren in a spiritual sense.

These prophecies, dreams and visions predicted remarkable successes for the people of God, including a super-empowerment of the Spirit by which they would be enabled to overcome the wicked and establish the kingdom of God in the earth. In his very moving account of these matters, Philips says,

Now when these teachings and consolation with all the fantasies, dreams, revelations and visions daily occurred among the brethren, there was no little joy and expectation among us, hoping all would be true and fulfilled, for we were all unsuspecting, innocent, simple, without guile or cunning, and were not aware of any false visions, prophets and revelations.

Biblical Insight: In the New Testament, God communicates very clearly and precisely to His people. When He spoke to Ananias in a vision about going and praying for Paul, God gave precise instructions (Acts 9:10-12). He told Ananias the name of the man he was to pray for, the name of the man in whose house Paul was staying and the precise street address. When God does speak in a symbol or image, it is for the purpose of communicating a more clear and vivid message. It is never done as a riddle that must be searched out and solved, or interpreted by some spiritual elite. God wants to communicate clearly with His children.

Warning Sign #4: When Those Prophesying are not Open to Testing and/or Correction

During this time, two new apostles arrived in Philips’ home town of Leeuwarden. They declared that they had been commissioned to the apostolic office with such signs, miracles and workings of the Spirit that words failed them to describe it. They also declared that, “In a short time God would rid the earth of all shedders of blood and all tyrants and the godless.” Philips says that they frightened the people so that no one dared speak against them for fear they would be speaking against the commission and ordination of God. He says, “For we were all guileless children and had no idea that our own brethren would betray us.”

Biblical Insight: False prophets are unteachable and unwilling for their prophecies to be evaluated and tested, as Scripture commands. Virtually every time New Testament Scriptures speak of prophecy, they also speak of evaluating and testing the prophecy, which is the responsibility of every believer. I Thessalonians 5:19-21, for example, says, “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Examine all things. Firmly hold onto what is good.” First Corinthians 14:29 says, “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.” And in this same vein of thought, 1 John 4:1 says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

Sign No. 5: When Prophecy Becomes a Replacement for the Scriptures and Common Sense

The tragic end of this prophetic movement came, when based on dreams, visions, prophecies and supposed angelic visitations, a number of these visionaries claimed that God had designated the city of Munster as the New Jerusalem, and from there the kingdom of God would spread through all the earth. Philips says, “Some had spoken with God, others with angels—until they got a new trek under way to Munster.” Based on the prophecies and supposed visions, they went to Munster and took the city by force from the Catholics who controlled it and renamed it New Jerusalem.

The Catholics, however, quickly regrouped and regained control of the city. They wasted no time in inflicting a terrible slaughter on those apostles, prophets and their followers who believed they were setting up the kingdom of God on the earth.

Philips tells about going to Munster and walking among the bodies, many of them beheaded, of these individuals who had been his friends and acquaintances. It was a very somber time and a wake-up call for him as he observed the sad end of these apostles and prophets who had relied without question on their dreams, visions and prophecies.

This whole fiasco resulted in widespread persecution of all Anabaptists, who were hunted down, imprisoned, hanged, burned and drowned. Philips later lamented his role in the extremes of this movement. He wrote,

It is this which is utter grief to my heart and which I will lament before my God as long as I live, before all my companions, as often as I think of them. At the time that I took leave of those brethren, I had warned Menno and Dietrich and declared my [apostolic] commission unlawful and that I was therein deceived. I thank the gracious and merciful God who opened my eyes, humbled my soul, transformed my heart, captured my spirit, and who gave me to know my sins. And when I still think of the resigned suffering which occurred among the brethren, my soul is troubled and terrified before it.

Biblical Insight: In Psalm 119:105 David said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness to doubt His identity, He responded to each temptation with, “It is written,” and then quoted the appropriate passage of Scripture. John Wesley, who saw many unusual spiritual manifestations as the leader of the 18th-century Methodist revival, said, “Try all things by the written word, and let all bow down before it.” When Scripture and common sense are neglected for dreams, visions and personal prophecies, it is a telltale sign that the movement has gone astray.

Conclusion

This 16th-century prophetic movement highlights the need to “test the spirits” and to “judge” prophetic utterances according to the Scriptures. For the most part, these were sincere, seeking people who suffered much pain, grief and even death because they neglected this biblical admonition. May we learn from their example and not repeat their mistakes. {eoa}

This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt’s latest book, Angels of Light, available from Amazon and his website at .

Liu Zhenying, better known as Brother Yun, is driven by one goal: fulfill the vision God gave him at 16 years old to preach the gospel. Because of that vision, Brother Yun played an instrumental role in developing China’s network of house churches in the 1980s and ’90s.

“The heavenly man”—as Brother Yun has been affectionately called—is well-acquainted with suffering for Jesus’ sake. He has been in jail three times for his faith (his testimony is that he simply walked out of prison and all the doors opened) and was even exiled from China. But he is also well-acquainted with the power of God. Brother Yun is more passionate than ever to see the church bring the gospel to all races and all nations, especially Israel.

Charisma has written about Brother Yun several times. In fact, he appeared on Charisma‘s cover in 2007. In our cover story about him, we take an in-depth look at Brother Yun’s life and ministry; the imprisonments, torture and false accusations he has endured; and his supernatural escape from a high-security prison. Click here to read the entire article, and if you haven’t done so already, click here to subscribe to the magazine.

While at Heidi Baker’s Live to Love conference in Orlando, Florida, God allowed me to interview Brother Yun. I could hear the passion in his voice as he shared the vision God gave him to fulfill the Great Commission.

“I was called by the Lord when I was 16, and He had given me a very clear vision to preach the gospel to the West and the South,” Brother Yun told me with the help of an interpreter.

He also told me that more people need to pray for the church in China. Lately, as the Chinese government has lessened its religious persecution, the church has let its hunger for God and spreading the gospel weaken.

“First thing, we need a lot of prayers for the church in China so we can also resurrect that sense of urgency to bring the gospel back to Jerusalem, to have that sense of mission and that sense of fear—but not in a scary way but rather a reverence for the Lord,” he says.

Brother Yun is a steadfast proponent of the Back to Jerusalem movement, which started in the late 1940s when mainland Chinese house churches felt burdened to preach the gospel and establish Christian fellowships between China and Jerusalem. Believers from these churches started traveling on foot from Eastern China toward the West, preaching as they went. But as they approached the Western border of China, the Cultural Revolution started (Mao Zedong’s communist takeover), and they were accused of being revolutionaries. They were sentenced to jail, where some stayed as long as 30-40 years. Sadly, some even died there.

“For the sake of this vision, I was imprisoned for a third time in China, but by the grace of the Lord, He has brought me out of prison again,” Brother Yun says. “After I came out of prison for the third time, I heard the Lord telling me, ‘Your time in China is up. I’m taking you out of China to another country. I’ll be taking you to a foreign land, where all the faces will look different and they will speak a different language, but do not be afraid.'”

And God is fulfilling that prophetic word. Now, Brother Yun’s followers are spreading the gospel not only in Western countries but also in Muslim and Buddhist countries. Believers are preaching throughout the 10/40 window—and each country with its own challenges.

“China has its own cross to carry,” Brother Yun says. “But outside of China, there’s a different cross. The crosses might be slightly different, but the weight of the cross is the same.”

But he points out that in order to fulfill the vision God gave him, the church must rise up and take advantage of its power in Christ.

“I firmly believe our Lord is a resurrected God, just as Paul said,” Brother Yun says. “He became flesh and was buried and was resurrected. And that same power has been given to us to trample on our enemy. I firmly believe God will establish his church in the darkest places of the world, and no power in hell, or no political power, no dark forces can overcome the power of Christ.”

I couldn’t agree more. I hope every Christian will soon understand the Holy Spirit’s power as Brother Yun does. Be sure to listen to my entire interview with Brother Yun below, and share this article today with another brother or sister in need of encouragement and inspiration.

Netflix debuted its trailer for Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Thursday, teasing viewers with glimpses at Baphomet, demonic rituals, pentagrams, spells and more.

“We are living in a golden age of Satanic coming-of-age tales,” Katie Rife of the AV Club writes.

The poster for the series, released Wednesday, gives the titular character horns as the Satanic icon Baphomet hovers behind her.

Netflix says Chilling Adventures of Sabrina imagines the origin and adventures of Sabrina the Teenage Witch as a dark coming-of-age story that traffics in horror, the occult and, of course, witchcraft. Tonally in the vein of Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist, this adaptation finds Sabrina wrestling to reconcile her dual nature—half-witch, half-mortal—while standing against the evil forces that threaten her, her family and the daylight world humans inhabit.

“The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina trailer certainly looks like the creepy, supernatural drama those close to the production have promised fans,” ScreenRant reports. “Much of the trailer is made up of quick-cut scenes, showcasing various settings around town, including the Spellman Mortuary and Cerberus Books. Further, the trailer teases the 16th birthday of Sabrina, which marks an important time in a young witch’s life. But the celebrations aren’t all fun and games, with multiple shots of various rituals and the demon that appears behind Sabrina in the show’s poster.”

While some Christians quibbled with the first series, which was more hokey that horror, the new adaptation proves there is nothing to joke about with witchcraft.

According toRefinery 29:

Blatant satanism on television could be a reflection on the culture’s larger recent obsession with the occult.

President Donald Trump’s election drew witches out of the woodwork to cast spells during pagan holidays, and Spirit-filled pastors immediately recognized the demonic forces attacking the administration.

Even secular sources have reported on culture’s growing obsession with darkness.

Aimee Lutkin writes for Marie Clare:

Donald Trump and his cabinet of evangelical, right-wing billionaires have been enacting their anti-woman agenda on both a national and international stage for nearly two years, reinstituting the global gag rule on abortion, continuing their attacks on Planned Parenthood and demonstrating on every front their contempt for women and children. …

In just a few short years, under these conditions, the pop culture witch has grown far more hostile. She’s no longer here to cleanse auras and bow to the moon. As writer Lindy West joked in her New York Times op-ed, “Yes, this is a witch hunt. I’m a witch and I’m hunting you.”

This Big Mood is already felt in Charmed, a show you’d expect to be goofy, nostalgic fun. We see witch Mel Vera get accused of being too angry, of alienating everyone around her by being obsessed with her mother’s death. Later, her newly discovered sister Maty Vaughn smashes a beer bottle with her telekinetic powers after an outburst, anger coursing through her as much as magic. The youngest sister, Maddie Vera, kicks a monster in the body of a man across the room.

Though the development teams for these spinoffs and reboots are likely juggling the demands of advertisers, a possessive fanbase and what you can legally show on TV, it’s telling that the witches we’re being offered now are consumed with rage. It’s a dark world, and they’re fighting back with their dark arts. Ding, dong, the witch lives.

As much as Satan may think he’s gaining ground, though, God’s kingdom continues to explode.

Multiple revivals are breaking out across the country with thousands of salvations and miracles among them.

James tells us to resist the devil and he will flee, so maybe don’t indulge in pop culture’s latest obsession.

Anne Graham Lotz and others in the Carolinas are already experiencing the punishing outer bands of Hurricane Florence. But the popular evangelist also faces what she calls her own “personal hurricane”: a recent diagnosis of breast cancer. In this interview with WRAL (Raleigh, North Carolina) she shares words of prophetic encouragement for all those in the path of personal storms.

Terrorism expert Brigitte Gabriel says the upcoming midterm elections are critical for America’s survival.

“God looked upon America with grace and said, OK, I’ll give you one more chance to straighten up. One more chance!’ And, thank God we have somebody like President Trump in office who has the backbone and the courage to say what most people are afraid to say, including the majority of our Republicans in Congress right now.”

Gabriel, whose latest book, Rise, came out on 9/11, says believers especially must show up to vote their values.

“These midterm elections, especially the Christians, I’m talking to all you Christians watching right now, you need to show up, and you need to exercise your voice because God changes the world using you as instruments of change,” Gabriel says. “It’s not enough to pray, they have to go out and vote their principles and their values.”

In this new clip from the upcoming film, Finger of God 2, pastor Chad Norris from Bridgeway Church in Greenville, South Carolina, talks about the real reason Jesus came to earth: because the Father wants His kids back.

You can see this new film at one of its many tour locations around the U.S. or watch an exclusive online event on Oct. 6 (the film will be available for 24 hours). All information on the tour, the Sneak Peek event or even how to bring the film to your church is available at .

The film will be released worldwide on Dec. 4.

Joseph prepared for seven years of famine during the seven years of prosperity (Gen. 41:47-49, 53-57). And so there is a time of preparation we’ve been in now for some time. The disciplinary judgments of the Lord have been delayed and held back from on our nation as the praying remnant who are exercising their spiritual authority take their place.

I heard one minister call this the ministry of divine authority. In the times of Elijah, we see this ministry in manifestation in the spirit and power of Elijah as he stood on Mount Carmel and contested with the false prophets of Baal. The fire fell and consumed the sacrifice along with the wood, stones, dust and even the water. This mighty manifestation caused the people to fall on their faces and declare the Lord as God.

“Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, ‘The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!” (1 Kings 18:39b)

We also see this divine authority exercised in the days of Moses as he stretched forth his rod and the Red Sea swallowed up and drowned the Egyptian armies. The results of this ministry are noted in Exodus 14:31:

“When Israel saw the great power which the Lord used upon the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.”

This type of authority administered in the spirit and power of Elijah will be seen again. Its purpose is always redemptive—to bring forth true repentance and cause the hearts of the people to turn to the Lord.

We are in the infantile stages of the release of the spirit and power of Elijah where true servants of God exercise this great authority. This will include a worldwide company of men and women who have been summoned by the Lord to be His messengers, and their ministry will be similar to that of John the Baptist.

“He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:16-17).

In the times of Moses and Elijah, great severity was necessary to turn the hearts of the people back to the Lord. Often people quote the Scripture in Romans 2:4, properly stating that it is the goodness or kindness of the Lord that leads to repentance, but when the Lord’s goodness does not lead to repentance then He is forced to move us into the realm of His severity.

“Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God—severity toward those who fell, but goodness toward you, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off” (Rom. 11:22).

If people would stop taking Romans 2:4 out of context, they would see that the passage is not just focusing on the goodness of God, but also on His severity. It’s in contrast to understanding His severity that we come to greatly appreciate His goodness and not take it for granted. People love to quote this verse, but how often do you hear them quote the verses before and after it? Do people realize this verse is sandwiched between verses about the judgment and wrath of God?

Do you think, O man, who judges those who do such things, and who does the same thing, that you will escape the judgment of God? Do you despise the riches of His goodness, tolerance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

But because of your hardness and impenitent heart, you are storing up treasures of wrath against yourself on the day of wrath when the righteous judgment of God will be revealed. …

But to those who are contentious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation, and wrath, will be tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man who does evil, to the Jew first, and then to the Gentile (Rom. 2:3-5, 8-9).

The danger of God’s judgment and wrath needs to be made known, or people will never realize how good, kind and patient He is. God’s goodness is truly manifested toward the disobedient when He graciously allows them more space and time to repent in spite of their rebellion against Him. Lovingly warning others about God’s wrath and severity does not mean you are not focusing on the goodness and kindness of God. God’s wrath is good, because it is just, and fair, for it reveals His holiness.

Too many people have taken the Lord’s goodness to further their pleasurable, worldly and even sinful lifestyles. Therefore, for the sake of their salvation and perseverance of their souls the Lord has to administer His severity.

And so we will see both the manifestation of the goodness and severity of the Lord side by side in the days ahead. Bittersweet times are upon us. We will choose our own medicine. These things will come with great cost and great loss to many as well as great glory and victory to others.

President Donald Trump is only a year and a half into his presidency, and he remains one of the most controversial political figures of the day. Despite this, evangelical Christians have expressed their faithful support for him and his conservative policies.

One group dedicated to challenging evangelicals and their positive relationship with the administration is The Satanic Temple (TST).

Founded in 2012, The Satanic Temple (not to be confused with the Church of Satan) is a non-theistic organization that has gained prominence since President Trump’s election. The group reported it gained “thousands of new members” after Trump won the presidential race.

“The Satanic Temple attracted ‘thousands’ of new members in just the first 36 hours after the election of Donald Trump,” the group reported. “The 4-year-old temple, which had a pre-Trump membership of around 50,000, has never before seen a spike in registration nearly this big.”

“We’re definitely a resistance movement,” spokesperson and co-founder Lucien Greaves said after a speech outside the University of Colorado Boulder. “We stand in stark opposition to this idea that we must unify under a single religious banner.”

“We’re on the front lines of some of these battles against theocratic encroachment, especially with characters like Mike Pence holding such a high office,” he added.

Since the election, The Satanic Temple has launched multiple campaigns aimed at challenging Christian influence in the political sphere. One example is their After School Satan Clubs.

Ultimately, the group is about glorifying rebellion. In fact, they say they don’t even worship Satan or believe he is a personal being. Instead, they focus on rebelling against “tyrannical” authority, secularism and theism. {eoa}

For the rest of this story, visit our content partners at . Copyright The Christian Broadcasting Network, all rights reserved.

5779 is a new year when the new wine will flow freely—but we must also embrace, and in some instances actually become, new wineskins.

In Matthew 9:17, Jesus said: “Neither do men put new wine into old wineskins. Or else the wineskins burst, the wine runs out, and the wineskins perish. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

A wineskin is essentially a container or a vessel that stores liquid. Jesus said rivers of living water would flow from our belly (John 7:37-39). New wine will flow from our vessel if we embrace—and in some instances become—new wineskins.

This means a change in the way we move, live and have our being (see Acts 17:28). With the new wine will come new creativity and new methods. We must not expect to do business as usual or church as usual. Those who embrace the spirit of innovation will see an accelerated growth as the Holy Spirit breaths the wind of momentum over your work.

Those who don’t embrace the new wineskin will not be able to hold the new wine God is pouring out in this season. Their wineskins will be like bags with holes (see Hag. 1:6). Times of refreshing will come to those willing to change the way they think and embrace the new wineskin (see Acts 3:20). But the enemy will bring weariness to those who won’t embrace the Holy Spirit’s leading to follow Him.

Noteworthy is the fact that wineskins in biblical times were made of either sheep or goat skin. Prophetically speaking, I believe the outpouring of new wine will begin to separate the sheep from the goats—the true from the false. You will know them by their fruit (see Matt. 7:15-20). New wine manifests with not just the gifts of the Spirit but the fruit of the Spirit.

Although the ultimate separation won’t come until the judgment of the nations, Jesus describes in Matthew 25:31-46, we will see exposure this year of those who are abusing the new wine or who are not holding it in vessels of honor.

In 2 Timothy 2:20-23, Paul told his spiritual son: “In a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some are for honor, and some for dishonor. One who cleanses himself from these things will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, fit for the Master’s use, and prepared for every good work. So flee youthful desires and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and unlearned debates, knowing that they create strife.”

Only those who pursue righteousness will be able to hold the new wine. Those who abuse spiritual gifts, merchandise the saints, exert false charisma and the like will be exposed in the eyes of those who have clean hands and a pure heart.

Winston Churchill once said, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” This is especially true of the church where the same mistakes have been made generation after generation concerning revival and the prophetic.

The following information is drawn from a document written around 1560 by Obe Philips, a leader in the sixteenth century Anabaptist movement that sought the restoration of New Testament Christianity. Philips was commissioned as an “apostle” in this movement, and he commissioned others to this “office.”

The document, entitled “Confessions,” describes events in Europe in the 1530s. From this document I have delineated five telltale signs from their experience that can help us avoid the tragic mistakes that produced such great suffering and distress for them.

Sign No. 1: When Prophecy is Used for Self-Promotion

1517-1537 was a very exciting time for many Christians in Europe. A great spiritual reformation was under way, and many believed God was restoring the church to its original purity and power. Many believed that out of this restoration would come a great revival and harvest that would usher in the coming of the Lord and the end of the age.

In the midst of this end-time, revival atmosphere, individuals began to arise proclaiming themselves to be special end-time apostles and prophets, endowed by God with miraculous power to usher in His kingdom upon the earth.

One of the most prominent of these “apostles” was Melchior Hoffman, a powerful preacher and teacher who gained a large following. His status was further enhanced when a prophetess saw in a vision a large white swan, larger and more beautiful than all the others, swimming in a beautiful river. She claimed it was revealed to her that the swan was Hoffman and that he represented the fulfillment of God’s promise in Malachi 4:5 to send Elijah before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

Biblical Insight: Satan plays on human ego and pride. God calls us to humble ourselves before Him and promises that He will then raise us up. Demons, on the other hand, tell us how great, wonderful, and significant we are in ourselves. The “Elijah” prophecy given to Hoffman is one that Satan has used again and again to bring good men down because of pride.

The ultimate goal of prophecy is to point people to Jesus. This was confirmed by the heavenly being who was at John’s side as they observed the vast heavenly host worshipping and praising God. Overwhelmed at the sight, John fell at the feet of his heavenly escort to worship him, who stopped him and said, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10, emphasis added).

In John 16:14 (ESV), Jesus said that when the Holy Spirit would come, “He will glorify me, for he will take of what is mine and declare it to you.” The Holy Spirit is not here to promote a prophet, teacher, angel or any other creature. Jesus is the only Savior, Healer and Lord, and the Holy Spirit is here to point people to Him. When people use prophecy to put themselves and their own movement in the limelight, it is a warning sign they have strayed from the biblical pattern.

Warning Sign No. 2: When Prophecy Becomes the Primary Means for Determining the Will of God

Another individual prophesied that Hoffman would be imprisoned for six months in the city of Strasbourg, and after that, his ministry would spread over the whole world. Based on the prophecy, Hoffman moved to Strasbourg where he began to preach and teach throughout that city.

The first part of the prophecy was fulfilled when the Strasbourg authorities arrested Hoffman and had him imprisoned. Philips says that he entered the prison “willingly, cheerfully, and well comforted,” convinced that the latter part of the prophecy would now soon come to pass.

While in prison, Hoffman wrote many letters which Philips says came every day describing “how his actions, his visions and revelations affected him.” One individual prophesied that at the end of his six-month imprisonment, Hoffman would depart Strasbourg with 144,000 true apostles endowed with such miraculous power that no one would be able to resist them. Elated with such prophetic predictions, Hoffman vowed that he would take no food other than bread and water until the time of his deliverance.

Six months passed, however, and he was not released. More time elapsed and he found it necessary to break his fast. Hoffman eventually died in prison, a very disillusioned man. Philips says;

In the end, everything he so boldly professed from the prophets and prophetesses he found to be all falsehood and deception, in fact and in truth; and he was so deceived with all their visions, prophecies, commission, dreams and Elijah role that my heart today feels pity for him on account of this distress of his soul.

Biblical Insight: It is clear from Scripture that personal prophecy is not for giving direction in life. There is not a single positive example of such in the New Testament. Neither Jesus or Paul ever encouraged anyone to seek direction from a “prophet.” In this New Covenant, all are given the Holy Spirit, and all are to be led by the Spirit (Rom. 8:14) A prophecy may confirm, but never direct.

I know the value of prophecy as confirmation. I was launched into ministry by a prophetic word that revealed all that was in my heart concerning God’s call. I did not learn anything new from the prophecy; it merely confirmed what was already in my heart and gave me the courage to act on what God had already spoken to me.

The only New Testament example of a personal prophecy giving direction is in Acts 21:4 where certain disciples, by the Spirit, told Paul, who was on his way to Jerusalem, not to go up to Jerusalem. What did Paul do? He ignored what they said and continued on to Jerusalem. Prophecy must confirm what we already know in our heart, and Paul had already purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem (see Acts 19:21).

When prophecy is sought as the primary means for determining the will of God, those involved have departed from the biblical pattern and fallen into cultic divining and even witchcraft.

Warning Sign #3: When Prophecy is Preoccupied with Images, Numbers and Symbols

Prophetic dreams and visions flourished in this movement. These dreams and visions predicted many remarkable things related to the establishing of God’s kingdom and the destruction of the wicked. Much of this information was given in symbolic form which had to be interpreted by those who were “spiritual.” Philips says.

One came dragging a wagon without wheels; another wagon had three wheels; one wagon had no shaft; some had no horses; some had no recognizable driver; some had but one leg; some were lepers and beggars and some wore a tunic or a cloak with a lappet of fur. All this they could interpret for the brethren in a spiritual sense.

These prophecies, dreams and visions predicted remarkable successes for the people of God, including a super-empowerment of the Spirit by which they would be enabled to overcome the wicked and establish the kingdom of God in the earth. In his very moving account of these matters, Philips says,

Now when these teachings and consolation with all the fantasies, dreams, revelations and visions daily occurred among the brethren, there was no little joy and expectation among us, hoping all would be true and fulfilled, for we were all unsuspecting, innocent, simple, without guile or cunning, and were not aware of any false visions, prophets and revelations.

Biblical Insight: In the New Testament, God communicates very clearly and precisely to His people. When He spoke to Ananias in a vision about going and praying for Paul, God gave precise instructions (Acts 9:10-12). He told Ananias the name of the man he was to pray for, the name of the man in whose house Paul was staying and the precise street address. When God does speak in a symbol or image, it is for the purpose of communicating a more clear and vivid message. It is never done as a riddle that must be searched out and solved, or interpreted by some spiritual elite. God wants to communicate clearly with His children.

Warning Sign #4: When Those Prophesying are not Open to Testing and/or Correction

During this time, two new apostles arrived in Philips’ home town of Leeuwarden. They declared that they had been commissioned to the apostolic office with such signs, miracles and workings of the Spirit that words failed them to describe it. They also declared that, “In a short time God would rid the earth of all shedders of blood and all tyrants and the godless.” Philips says that they frightened the people so that no one dared speak against them for fear they would be speaking against the commission and ordination of God. He says, “For we were all guileless children and had no idea that our own brethren would betray us.”

Biblical Insight: False prophets are unteachable and unwilling for their prophecies to be evaluated and tested, as Scripture commands. Virtually every time New Testament Scriptures speak of prophecy, they also speak of evaluating and testing the prophecy, which is the responsibility of every believer. I Thessalonians 5:19-21, for example, says, “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Examine all things. Firmly hold onto what is good.” First Corinthians 14:29 says, “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.” And in this same vein of thought, 1 John 4:1 says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

Sign No. 5: When Prophecy Becomes a Replacement for the Scriptures and Common Sense

The tragic end of this prophetic movement came, when based on dreams, visions, prophecies and supposed angelic visitations, a number of these visionaries claimed that God had designated the city of Munster as the New Jerusalem, and from there the kingdom of God would spread through all the earth. Philips says, “Some had spoken with God, others with angels—until they got a new trek under way to Munster.” Based on the prophecies and supposed visions, they went to Munster and took the city by force from the Catholics who controlled it and renamed it New Jerusalem.

The Catholics, however, quickly regrouped and regained control of the city. They wasted no time in inflicting a terrible slaughter on those apostles, prophets and their followers who believed they were setting up the kingdom of God on the earth.

Philips tells about going to Munster and walking among the bodies, many of them beheaded, of these individuals who had been his friends and acquaintances. It was a very somber time and a wake-up call for him as he observed the sad end of these apostles and prophets who had relied without question on their dreams, visions and prophecies.

This whole fiasco resulted in widespread persecution of all Anabaptists, who were hunted down, imprisoned, hanged, burned and drowned. Philips later lamented his role in the extremes of this movement. He wrote,

It is this which is utter grief to my heart and which I will lament before my God as long as I live, before all my companions, as often as I think of them. At the time that I took leave of those brethren, I had warned Menno and Dietrich and declared my [apostolic] commission unlawful and that I was therein deceived. I thank the gracious and merciful God who opened my eyes, humbled my soul, transformed my heart, captured my spirit, and who gave me to know my sins. And when I still think of the resigned suffering which occurred among the brethren, my soul is troubled and terrified before it.

Biblical Insight: In Psalm 119:105 David said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness to doubt His identity, He responded to each temptation with, “It is written,” and then quoted the appropriate passage of Scripture. John Wesley, who saw many unusual spiritual manifestations as the leader of the 18th-century Methodist revival, said, “Try all things by the written word, and let all bow down before it.” When Scripture and common sense are neglected for dreams, visions and personal prophecies, it is a telltale sign that the movement has gone astray.

Conclusion

This 16th-century prophetic movement highlights the need to “test the spirits” and to “judge” prophetic utterances according to the Scriptures. For the most part, these were sincere, seeking people who suffered much pain, grief and even death because they neglected this biblical admonition. May we learn from their example and not repeat their mistakes. {eoa}

This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt’s latest book, Angels of Light, available from Amazon and his website at .