Joseph Herrin (09-16-08)

Acts 20:29-30
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

There is perhaps no man I have observed in relation to all of these organizations who has spoken more perverse things, and exerted a greater influence upon them, than Bob Jones. Bob is considered by many in the prophetic/apostolic movement to be a prophet of extraordinary gifting. Bob Jones was the driving force behind Mike Bickle’s decision to begin the International House of Prayer movement. Bob Jones introduced Todd Bentley to the angel Emma and has influenced him to embrace other false doctrines and practices. Bob Jones is currently in residence at Morningstar where he exerts much influence over Rick Joyner. Who is this man, and what is he teaching?

Bob Jones was associated with the Kansas City prophets, as was Paul Cain. He gained influence among an emerging prophetic church movement and was on staff with Mike Bickle’s church for a number of years. While maintaining an office there he, was discovered to be involved in serious sin. Following is an account of this event.

The news about Jones was reported in the Olathe Daily Newspaper, 11/31/91. It contained that Jones admitted to sexual misconduct. He was removed from “ministry” to undergo a process of “restoration.” This news was also published in a book called “What Happened To The Fire” by Lee Grady (1994). On page 103 it states, “About a year later, after the church had become affiliated with John Wimber’s Vineyard network of churches, Jones admitted to a moral failure and was removed from his leadership position. Later, Mike Bickle stated publicly that he had promoted Jones improperly. He admitted that his church’s emphasis on prophecy and mystical experiences had been unhealthy and destructive.”

Then, in another review of the Kansas City Prophets, Bill Alnor of the Christian Sentinel reported the following: “Jones, who was using his spiritual authority to induce women to disrobe for him, was removed from that church...” The Apologetics Index, which is a ministry that researches resources on cults, sects and other religious movements, doctrines and practices, also reported on the matter. They state the following, that Bob Jones “was removed from the Vineyard Anaheim because of sexual improprieties, which consisted of encouraging women to undress in his office so they could stand ‘naked before the Lord’ in order to receive a ‘word.’” In addition to this, several cult watch organizations have put him (Bob Jones) on watch for the same thing.

This was an abominable act by Bob Jones. It represents a severe manifestation of the spirit found in Simon the magician who sought to purchase the gift of the Holy Spirit to use for selfish ends. It is the spirit of Balaam, and symbolically it represents touching the bride of Christ in an impure way.

When a minister lures Christian women into his office with the promise of them receiving something from the Lord, and then uses his reputation as a spiritually gifted minister to persuade the naive and gullible to strip naked to satisfy his own carnal lust, he has stepped into very dangerous territory, for the church is the bride of Christ, and God’s name is Jealous.

Exodus 34:14
For Yahweh, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God…

Hebrews 10:30-31
For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

This transgression occurred in 1991. In the years preceding Bob Jones had been heavily influencing the direction of Mike Bickle’s ministry. Indeed, reading Mike Bickle’s own words on this, Bob’s influence was extraordinary, and out of this influence the International House of Prayer was formed. In the above disclosure of Bob’s serious transgression we have the words of Mike Bickle.

Mike Bickle stated publicly that he had promoted Jones improperly. He admitted that his church’s emphasis on prophecy and mystical experiences had been unhealthy and destructive.

Should not Mike Bickle have gone back and reassessed all actions taken at the urging of Bob Jones? Should he not have seriously questioned whether this man was under the influence of unclean spirits, even as his life was manifesting the influence of great uncleanness? On the IHOP website is an article written by Mike Bickle which documents how IHOP came into existence. In this short history the name of Bob Jones is mentioned 28 times. In contrast the name of Christ is mentioned only 3 times. There is also a heavy focus upon angelic visitations. Following are a few quotes from the article.

The first word that Bob Jones gave to me on march 7, 1983

A. Bob Jones’ first prophecy to me, “You will lead a worldwide youth movement of prophetic singers and musicians that God will release in power evangelism and use to mobilize worldwide prayer for Israel. This youth movement will be given abundant grace to operate in the prophetic and intercession…”

Bob Jones encounter with angels – Aug. 8, 1975

A. History on Bob Jones: he was born in 1929 and grew up in the hills of Arkansas. He had two angelic experiences in his youth (Age 9 and 15). Bob met the Lord at age 39 (Sept. 1969). He worked on trees (spraying and trimming) for many years in Kansas City.

B. He had his first major prophetic experience on Aug. 8, 1975. Bob had a “near death experience” in which his spirit left his body and stood before the Lord. The Lord sent him back from death to help the earliest leadership of a future worldwide youth movement. Bob saw two angels who spoke to one another about the future outpouring of the Spirit in Kansas City. They described it as being like an atomic explosion of light and that it would be characterized with prophetic and intercession (in Jan. 1984 the Lord showed Bob that “prophetic and intercession” would need to be joined with “compassion and worship” to be complete).

C. Bob saw both a great revival and crisis coming on a worldwide scale just prior to Jesus’ return. Holy believing persevering prayer is God’s primary appointed means for releasing abundant mercy and grace through His Church in the time of revival and crisis.

D. God showed Bob that He would raise up a worldwide youth movement in Kansas City that would persist in night and day prayer that was led by prophetic singers and musicians. The first anointing will be on prophetic singers and musicians leading to an “open heaven.” God would answer their prayers by releasing revival in the Church, power evangelism (world missions), justice in society, pockets of mercy (“cities of refuge”) and worldwide intercession for Israel.

E. The angel told Bob of the coming of a world war followed by worldwide famine. The urgent need for night and day intercession is understood in context to the coming worldwide crisis…

H. On Aug. 8, 1975, Bob heard the angels speak to each other about God sending a spiritual and a natural breadbasket across the earth from a 500-mile radius around Kansas City in a time of natural and spiritual famine. The prophetic and intercession are redemptive gifts in the Midwest that are essential to releasing this blessing (bread, revelation, finances, houses of prayer, etc.).

I. The angels saw God raising up what we refer to as “pockets of mercy.” For example, there will be rain on areas in the time of drought and financial prosperity in the time of economic crisis…

C. Bob tells of over 100 prophetic revelations of a youth movement rising up in KC (1975-1983). Bob’s former pastor testified of how Bob publicly prophesied of the young people that would come to south Kansas City in the spring of 1983 seeking revival through intercession…

Bob explained that God will give specific prophetic signs in heaven (i.e., the sky: including comets and weather patterns) and on the earth (earthquakes, etc.) to validate prophetic words. Signs in heaven (sky) and earth that are foretold with accuracy cannot be manipulated by man. Thus, they confirm the important content of the prophetic dreams and visions. God holds people accountable to believe and act in obedience when He confirms words by signs in the heavens…

Thursday April 14, Bob Jones is visited by Gabriel who says, “give the young man Dan. 9 and he will understand.” The Lord shows Bob that the fast will be confirmed by a comet unpredicted by scientists and it should start on May 7. This would be a significant time in which God would sovereignly speak to the youth movement and establish some of its spiritual DNA.

Bob Jones before his emergence as a prophet spent time in a mental institution. He has said that while in the mental institution that God told him that in order for him to get his mind back he would either have to kill, or forgive, twelve people. Does this sound like the voice of God? Soon after this, Bob began having prophetic experiences and encounters with angelic beings. Why has the church been so quick to accept these experiences as being from God?

Mike Bickle stated it well when he said that he and his church’s “emphasis on prophecy and mystical experiences had been unhealthy and destructive.”The church traded an emphasis upon sound doctrine and the study of the Word of God for prophetic and mystical experiences. The consequences have been devastating. Yet even having confessed this failure, nothing has been done to remedy it. Consider the following words that Mike Bickle wrote in the above article.

(in Jan. 1984 the Lord showed Bob that “prophetic and intercession” would need to be joined with “compassion and worship” to be complete.)

Where is a mention of a focus upon sound doctrine? Should not a ministry that draws thousands of young Christians have a major emphasis upon laying a foundation upon the teaching of the apostles? Can IHOP, or any other ministry truly be “complete” without such an emphasis? Consider the testimony of Luke in the book of Acts.

Acts 2:42
And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

It is the practice of Satan to twist things in such a way as to arrive at an end that is contrary to the will of the Father. Even as Satan quoted Scriptures to Christ while seeking to entice the Son of God to sin, so too does He do the same thing with the body of Christ today. If he can get a people en masse to depart from sound doctrine and the apostles’ teaching, and to place the emphasis upon new revelations and words of prophecy, he has positioned a people to embrace great deception. Degree by degree he will lead them astray from the purposes of God until their beliefs and practices bear no resemblance to apostolic teaching.

In every instance where Bob Jones’ influence has been felt there has been a departure from sound doctrine and a de-emphasis upon the word of God as one of the chief witnesses of God by which all things are to be tested. In place of the word of God mystical experiences, encounters with angels, visions, and prophecies have become the norm. At Lakeland this was very clearly the order of the day. Morningstar has long promoted a similar atmosphere, and it was especially evident after having imported the Lakeland “revival” to their Heritage facility in South Carolina. IHOP provides a similar environment. Sound doctrinal preaching is very much absent.

Satan has done a profoundly influential work through the hands of one man, Bob Jones. Patricia King of Extreme Prophecy, a close friend of Bob’s, states that Bob has been responsible for fathering many sons and daughters in the church. Mike Bickle, Rick Joyner, and Todd Bentley have all been profoundly influenced by this man, and have in turn influenced tens of thousands of others.

In Rick Joyner’s book The Final Quest, he portrays a scene where he is engaged in a battle with the forces of darkness and he is fighting as he ascends a mountain. The higher he goes, the greater his skill in battle becomes. At one point high up the mountain he nearly slips and falls, which would have resulted in great injury or death. He describes taking his sword and driving it deep into the rock of the mountain and tying himself to it that he might be anchored. An eagle, who represents a spirit of prophecy, speaks to him and tells him he was wise to do what he did. The sword represents the Word of God, and if he were to not use it for an anchor he could well meet with calamity.

Sadly, even though Rick Joyner received this revelation of the necessity of being anchored to the Word of God, he has departed from it. In embracing Bob Jones, Todd Bentley, and the entire gamut of mystical experiences and doctrinal corruption that have attended them, Rick Joyner has departed from the word of God. Injury has already occurred, both to himself and the body of Christ, and if not quickly remedied the end will be spiritual death.

I will provide a link here to a video produced by Extreme Prophecy where Patricia King is interviewing Bob Jones and Todd Bentley. There is a total departure from sound doctrine, and an emphasis upon mystical experience. The ascension into the third heaven and seeing lights is totally anti-Biblical in nature, and the assumption that men can make such journeys at their own will is deplorable. There is much that reeks of the occult and new age practices, but a church who will not test all things carefully will eagerly embrace the deceptions of Satan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGCTMEoifqQ
Recently, the Lord directed my steps to Fort Wayne, Indiana. The group I was sent to speak unto was comprised of young believers who are involved with the local IHOP ministry. The young man leading the discipleship school is a missionary on staff with IHOP, and all the members of the school go there several times a week.

I was able to observe first hand the influence of IHOP upon young Christians today. Mike Bickle focuses very heavily upon the love of Christ, Christ as the Bridegroom, and intimacy and union with Him. Worship is made the central focus of all, and there is consequently a de-emphasis upon other points of truth and doctrine and discipleship. The fear of God, His holy character, judgment upon all sin in the church, and a demand for personal righteousness and a surrendered life, taking up the cross and enduring hardship, are all given less attention or none at all.

As I interacted with these young believers I discerned that there was a great lack of balance in their lives. God sent me to proclaim the message of the cross, and a complete surrender to the leading of the Spirit in all things. I shared from Scriptures and from my own testimony about the call to endure hardship and suffering. I spoke of God’s severe discipline in the lives of His sons, scourging all those whom He receives.

On the last day of my speaking to them, one of the young ladies present was asked about a book she had with her. It was titled The Shack. It had the reputation among a number in this group as being perhaps the best book they had ever read. When asked about it this young woman replied that if a person only read this one book to develop their theology, they would do well. She said that it portrayed God as such a happy God, that He was happy all the time.

This comment really opened my eyes to the great deception that has spread to so many believers through the influence of ministries like IHOP. I was set to give a presentation that evening on all the signs God has been giving that speak of judgment that is swiftly coming to His people and the nations. God has been testifying that He is anything but happy. His attitude is one of great indignation over the sin and idolatry of His people.

Satan has done a profound job of leading a large portion of the people of God away from sound doctrine. It requires patience, and effort to dig deeply in the Scriptures and to ground oneself in a proper comprehension of the word of God. I spent thousands of hours as a youth digging through the word of God with a Strong’s Concordance in one hand and a Bible in the other. Paul told Timothy:

II Timothy 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The Greek word translated as “be diligent” bears the understanding of applying onself to a matter with eagerness and earnestness and effort. IHOP provides an atmosphere where Christians can come in and listen to music 24 hours a day, and they can pray. This is far more attractive to the flesh and soul of man than diligent study of the word. It is no wonder that these types of ministries have proven so successful in attracting devotees. There is nothing sexy or alluring about laboring over the word of God, but a people who fall away from a diligent study and application of the Scriptures will find themselves ripe for every deception and lying spirit that arises in these last days.

Colossians 2:18-19
Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the head…

I am convinced that Bob Jones is a false prophet under the influence of deceiving spirits. If the events at Lakeland were not enough to convince a Christian that the angelic beings introduced to Todd Bentley by Bob Jones were unclean spirits, then I do not know what it will take to convince them. If Todd had been having conversation with holy angels, his conduct would be holy. He would be walking in the fear of God, rather than being inflated by his fleshly mind.

Is it not telling that all of these men claiming great prophetic gifts have had serious moral failures at the time of their walking in these gifts? Paul Cain was and is practicing homosexuality, seducing young Christian men. Bob Jones was encouraging Christian women to undress before him, again acting as a seducer. Todd Bentley has had immoral relations with women on his ministry staff on multiple occasions, and we are told that there are worse sins that have not been made public knowledge as of yet.

I John 3:7-8
Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning.

I want to stand up and shout it out to the body of Christ, “STOP LETTING THESE MEN DECEIVE YOU!” If you are involved with these men and their ministries, do your homework. Examine carefully what they are teaching. Ground yourself in the word of God. Test all things. Stop acting as naive children, babes without understanding. You will surely perish in coming days if you do not start exercising godly discernment!

Matthew 24:24-25
“For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance.”

Christ spoke a warning to His disciples. He has told you in advance. There are false Christs (anointed ones) and false prophets at this very hour. Can you not recognize them? Will you not come out from among them?

Test those who call themselves apostles!

Test those who call themselves prophets!

Test those who say they are anointed servants of God!

Test the teachings that are being proclaimed!

Test yourself to see if you are in the faith!

If you surrender all spiritual discernment in this hour and depart from sound doctrine and a sure grounding in the Word of God, you will surely be swept away to your own destruction.

Revelation 12:15
And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood.

I received yesterday an e-mail from a 72 year old Christian woman with whom I have corresponded in the past. She responded very negatively to my mention of the homosexuality of Paul Cain. She sent a letter condemning my actions to another sister in Christ, sending me a copy of it.

I AM SORRY BUT I THINK THIS WHOLE ARTICLE IS VERY SICK. WHO IS HE TO JUDGE THE BODY OF CHRIST. IT WAS NOT DONE IN LOVE. THE SCRIPTURES SAY IF YOU BREAK ONE COMMANDMENT (SINCE HE, JOSEPH, IS LEGALISTIC) YOU HAVE BROKEN THEM ALL. HE DID NOT SUPPORT HIS FAMILY AND IS “WORSE THAN AN INFIDEL” ACCORDING TO GOD, SO WHO IS HE TO POINT THE FINGER. I THINK PAUL CAIN SHOULD BE PRAYED FOR AND COUNSELLED NOT CONDEMNED PUBLICALLY ON THE INTERNET. WHAT DOES THIS ARTICLE LEAD TO? HE HAD NO POSITIVE ANSWERS TO SUGGEST. HE IS IN BABYLON, MIXTURE, AS HE IS SPIRITUAL ONE DAY AND VERY CARNAL THE NEXT. I CHOSE TO COME OUT OF BABYLON. C.

Because I declared that it was great error to “honor” a minister who is unrepentant in practicing homosexuality, and an example of unrighteous judgment to allow him to speak to the body of Christ, I am condemned as “legalistic.” I tremble when I read such accusations for I know that God’s people who have cast aside all discernment and judgment in this hour will be swept away in coming days. In the writing that spoke of Paul Cain’s sin I quoted the words of the apostle Paul:

I Corinthians 5:9-13
I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters; for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he should be an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler– not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves!

Christians are NOT legalistic by heeding these clear words of command. They will fall far short of the will of God if they fail to judge those within the church. This mindset that all judging is to be avoided has arisen at the hands of Satan, the great deceiver. If you want to understand ACCURATELY the counsel of Scripture concerning judgment, I would encourage you to read the article The Issue of Judging. (http://www.heart4god.ws/id96.htm)

I have been asked by some involved with International House of Prayer, “What could possibly be wrong with a prayer meeting?” It seems incredible to some that God could ever judge such a work to be wrong. This also is a manifestation of a departure from the study and understanding of Scripture. All they need do is read again Christ’s following words:

Matthew 7:22-23
“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

We might as well ask, “What could possibly be wrong with prophesying?” “What could possibly be wrong with casting out demons?” “What could possibly be wrong with performing miracles?” It is not the action itself that makes it righteous or unrighteous. It is whether the action is performed at the command of the Father. If a believer has no command from God to be involved in a specific work then he is acting lawlessly. He is out from under the authority of God, and even works that have an APPEARANCE of righteousness will be rejected by Christ, and those who perform them as lawless ones, when God is not the initiator of the activity.

Christ performed all of the activities described here. He cast out demons, prophesied and performed miracles. But He NEVER did so of His own initiative.

John 5:19-21
“Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and greater works than these will He show Him, that you may marvel.”

A church that neglects the word of God will never discover what is required for their lives to be pleasing to the Father. Christ never did anything of His own initiative, and neither must the people of God. Christ said the Father was revealing to Him what He was doing so the Son could act in like manner. Christ only did those things the Father commanded Him to do, and so must the people of God be led of the Spirit in all things.

Christ only prophesied when the Father told Him to prophesy, and He was so perfect in this that He declared “I do not even speak a word of My own initiative. I only speak the words the Father commands me to speak.” How then can any say that just because there is a 24 hour prayer meeting and worship service going on that it must be the will of God? This entire ministry was initiated at the words and encouragement of Bob Jones who has demonstrated that he is under the influence of unclean spirits.

BEWARE OF WOLVES.

Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws
Parables Blog: http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com

Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063