The best definition of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement is:
A fast-growing Dominionist movement of new Apostles and Prophets who will lead God’s end-times army in establishing His kingdom on earth, by taking authority over earthly and spiritual realms.
Let’s talk about the word Prophet. How do we define it? How does the NAR define it? More importantly, how does God define Prophet?
Statue of the Prophet Isaiah
The real prophets that we read about in Scripture actually spoke for God. He would tell them to speak an oracle to a certain people group, and it was always God’s words, not the prophet’s.
One of the challenges we run into with the word Prophet is that Evangelicals have redefined it to mean something other than how the Bible describes prophets.
Today you may hear that a prophet is one has the gift of being able to recall just the right Scripture verse for a particular situation. Does the Holy Spirit help our minds recall Scripture verses that we’ve learned? Absolutely! This is Wisdom as we grow in maturity in the Word of God. But is that really the “gift of Prophecy?” Not the way the Bible defines prophets.
Painting of Daniel
What does the Bible say about prophets? In the Old Testament there were more than 133 named prophets, and there were prophets in the early church as well. But remember, the early Christians did not have the complete Bible. The last book of the New Testament (Revelation) was not completed until late in the first century. So, the Lord sent prophets to proclaim God’s Word to His people.
On the other hand, The NAR has its own description of Prophet. These prophets make predictions based on the visions they say they download from God. They claim to receive direct instructions for the church, to build and advance the kingdom.
You might think we can build the Kingdom by leading people to Christ. Yes, Christ does grow His kingdom with every saint He regenerates, but His Kingdom is already built, and it is not of this world.
But unlike the prophets in the Bible, NAR prophets:
- RARELY warn you of the coming judgment for unrepentant sinners.
- RARELY point you to repentance and reconciliation with God.
- RARELY ever tell you to test the spirits. In fact the prophetic predictions are so vague that there is really no way to test them.
Are there true prophets today? If the purpose of a prophet was to reveal truth from God, why would we need prophets if we have the completed revelation from God in the Bible? If prophets were the “foundation” of the early church, are we still building the “foundation” today?
In the book of Hebrews, God makes it quite clear that He no longer requires prophets to speak for Him:
Hebrews 1:1-3
If indeed the self-titled prophets of today are as valid as the ones God anointed in the Old Testament, then Deuteronomy 18:22 and Jeremiah 28:9 both say that the prophets in the Bible had to be 100 percent accurate, or they were put to death. That’s how seriously God takes anyone claiming to speak for Him, claiming “thus sayeth the Lord.”
NAR prophecies are often unfulfilled or false. But yet they continue to be upheld as prophetic authorities. Many of them contradict each other – there is no unity.
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Prophetess Jennifer Leclaire, former editor of Charisma Magazine and inventor of the Sneaky Squid spirit says that when prophecy doesn’t come true, it’s because you didn’t engage in intercessory prayer enough to make it come to be. They will blame it on the people for failing to do something.
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Mike Bickle says that the majority – 80 percent – of all of the dreams, visions and manifestations at these services, seminars and conferences are FAKE. But it’s okay, because 20 percent are true, and we need to hold on to the true, he says.
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Prophetess Wendy Alec has a very popular book: Journal of the Unknown Prophet, and she claims that she’s received this word directly from Jesus: “For the Word alone is yesterday’s manna, and it is no longer enough to feed my people.”
The Bible tells us that yesterday’s manna bred worms and it stunk. How is that for trashing the word of God?
Help fill in the blanks – two words – we know from Scripture that if a prophet prophesies falsely, he or she is a _____ _______.
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Resources:
- What your pastor needs to know about the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)
- Leaving the NAR Church – 55 Testimonials
- Archives | New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)
- Has Your Church Fallen For the Lies of the N.A.R.?
See also:
- New NAR group to keep your eyes on: The International Coalition of Prophets
- False prophets and teachers: Here come more wolves
- The ‘Prophets’ and ‘Apostles’ Leading the Quiet Revolution in American Religion
- New NAR group to keep your eyes on: The International Coalition of Prophets
- What Do I See? False Prophets Everywhere — Not a Lucid Word to Spare
- Are you easy prey for false prophets?
- Exposing NARpostles Wagner, Cain, Pierce, Jacobs, Hamon, Sheets, Joyner, Fletcher, Bickle, Laffoon, Wentroble & Haggard
- NAR Prophets claim the three streams will be one
NAR prophets also sell you their latest book, and charge you to hear them speak. They want money more than to share God’s word (they think it is).
Well, I appreciate the thought put into this and I’m also concerned about abusing a “prophetic office.” It’s true that the contemporary Church either redefines what a prophet is or typically states that the office or gift ended with the first century Church and the Revelation of the Apostle John. I don’t feel comfortable with either position and I’m not sure I can define it other than to say the true meaning is somewhere in between.
Paul makes it clear that there is a gift of prophecy in the Church Age. The gift was active in the early Church as women were advised to wear a head covering praying or prophesying and men were to have no head covering for the same reasons.
The Church at Antioch had a prophecy of a famine coming to Jerusalem and the necessity of collecting funds to help them. This would not be equivalent to being entrusted with “The Word of God.” or Divine Revelation intended to provide “doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness” fully furnishing unto every good work. This would be more like a sign post along the way – it cannot contradict the Bible and it must promote it’s themes.
So let’s give room for God’s anointing. “God can to anything you know – far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in you wildest dreams! He does it not my pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us.” Eph 3:20 (The Message)
Thanks Leland,
I would ask that readers consider the Canon of Scripture is now closed, and no new authoritative prophecies or oracles are being written. Scripture is sufficient, correct?
As for The Message, I have quite a few articles on this site that encourage readers to steer clear. These articles hold up the verses found in the Message to word-for-word translations like ESV, NASB, NKJ, etc. You can use the search bar to find them if you like.
Blessings to you.
But the idols He shall utterly abolish.
‘Ave Maria’ caps Republican National Convention: ‘Most Catholic moment in American history’
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 28, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The Republican National Convention concluded with what one commentator has called “the most Catholic moment in American history”: the performance of “Ave Maria” – the “Hail Mary” prayer, put to music.
Opera singer Christopher Macchio offered a beautiful rendition of the song, cherished by Catholics, from the Blue Room balcony of the White House after President Donald Trump’s speech officially accepting his party’s nomination to run for reelection.”………
The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger.
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
Why did not mary deliver donald?
But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?
Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
They shall be ashamed And also disgraced, all of them; They shall go in confusion together, Who are makers of idols.
I agree with Leland.
I am indebted also to Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones teaching on this subject. These abilities are given in the sovereignty of God. A particular individulal may be given this peculiar abilitly, but not permenantly, it suits a time and occassion.It may be seen in preaching or teaching or in a more direct way- some cite during periods of revival(genuine ones that is) This ability has not been withdrawn but, I think it is exceptionally rare. I dont believe prophets like Agbus have arisen since NT days . But I accept the Holy Spirit can give people insight and unusual authority on certain occasions. It is seen in the history of the reformation and subsequent revivals. It is facinating to read accounts of these events. I am sure many can relate how in their journey with God, there have been moments of clear Divine interuption in thought, behavour and guidance and illumination given.
At all events,The book of Acts records sparingly on this and only several instances are recorded by Luke. Timothy was reminded by Paul regarding prophecy given to him, and Paul in 1Thess 5:20,21 and in 1Cor commands it to be tested, but not despised.
The critisims levelled at NAR movements ect. are fully justified. I am glad I found this website.
I have become convinced that the gift of prophecy as set forth by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 is preaching the word.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy, but do not have love, I am nothing. The gift of prophecy in this context is not the gift of prophecy we have read about in the Hebrew Scriptures. It is not foretelling but forthtelling. It is preaching the word. 1 Corinthians 14:1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.
3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. (1 Cor. 14:1-3 NAU) Prophesying is a means for building up the body of Christ through preaching the word. And that is supported by 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
NAU 2 Timothy 4:1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; (2 Tim. 3:16-4:2 NAU)
And this make sense then, 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. We cannot pass judgment on the Old Testament kind of prophecies until we know if they have come to pass or not. But when a brother stands to preach, the rest of the men in the assembly can tell immediately if he is Biblically correct. We can do that by knowing the Scriptures. We can all be Bereans. It doesn’t stand to reason that prophecy as laid out in chapter 14 could be anything other than preaching.