PREFACE TO THE BOOK "ANGELS OF LIGHT"

In my book, 2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity, I documented the dynamic, miraculous work of the Holy Spirit from the Day of Pentecost to the present time. I also documented the intensifying of the Holy Spirit’s work since the turn of the twentieth century, with virtually all denominations now open to the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, and the formation of thousands of new Pentecostal and charismatic churches and denominations.

Even as I was doing the research for that book, however, I was being made aware of the demonic deceptions that arose in virtually every revival. Thomas Coke, John Wesley’s colleague and biographer, wrote of how Satan sought to destroy the great eighteenth century Methodist revival with counterfeit gifts and manifestations. He also acknowledged that it was not something new.

Those who have read the accounts of the great revivals of true religion in many parts of Europe, and in our own country in particular, will easily perceive the sameness of those devices of Satan whereby he perverts the right ways of the Lord.

The devices Satan uses again and again in revival are spiritual pride and a neglect of Scripture for the pursuit of esoteric, spiritual experiences. Coke mentions this in his biography, saying that Wesley was called upon to oppose several great deceptions that arose in the revival. According to Coke, one of the deceptions was,

Attention to dreams, visions, and men’s own imaginations and feelings, without bringing them to the only sure test, the oracles of God.

I am a life-long, committed Pentecostal-Charismatic who values the miraculous and dynamic work of the Holy Spirit My earliest memories include being in church meetings where gifts of the Holy Spirit were being manifest and prayer for the sick was being offered. I remember as a child going with my family to great healing revivals under the giant tents of Oral Roberts and William Freeman.

I lived through the great healing revivals of the 1950s, the great Charismatic Renewal of the 1970s (when I was supernaturally called into the ministry), the Word of Faith revival of the 1980s, the Toronto and Pensacola revivals of the 1990s and the work of the Holy Spirit since that time.

Yes, I value the work of the Holy Spirit, but I have learned from experience that all that glitters is not gold and that Christians, perhaps as never before, need to listen to the words of Paul who, in II Corinthians 11:13-15, warned,

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness.

The purpose of this book is not to be critical. The purpose of this book is to help this generation realize that along with the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the last days, there are many Scriptural warnings of wide-spread deception that will also characterize the end times. I see signs everywhere of this deception, especially in the modern charismatic movement.

It behooves us, therefore, to be equipped to discern the true from the false, the real from the fake. As John the Apostle exhorted in I John 4:1,

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

This is the Preface to Angels of Light, available from Amazon and my website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

WHEN SATAN COMES AS AN "ANGEL OF LIGHT"

A noise was heard like the sound of a rushing mighty wind, which filled the Temple, and all the congregation simultaneously arose, being moved upon by an invisible power; many began to speak in tongues and prophesy; others saw glorious visions; and I beheld the Temple filled with angels, which fact I declared to the congregation (Hyatt, Angels of Light, 37-38)

The above is not the description of a contemporary, prophetic glory conference. It is not the description of a modern revival service. It is Joseph Smith’s description of the dedication of the first Mormon Temple in Kirkland, Ohio in 1831. 

Many do not realize it, but the early Mormons experienced speaking in tongues, prophecy, falling under the power, visions, and angelic visitations Yes, this movement, that denies the virgin birth of Jesus and believes there are many gods ruling different plants, emerged out of one of the most powerful revivals in Christian history, the Second Great Awakening. 

Their example is a wake-up call for all who embrace the supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit to be diligent in carrying out the Biblical commands to test the spirits and to judge prophetic utterances and supernatural manifestations. After all, Satan does not come in a red suit with horns and a pitchfork; he comes as an Angel of Light as Paul warned in II Corinthians 11:14.

Mormons and the Second Great Awakening

Peter Cartwright (1785-1872) was a circuit-riding Methodist preacher and one of the most remarkable revivalists of the Second Great Awakening. His autobiography offers intriguing reading and provides valuable information concerning the religious landscape in early and mid-nineteenth century America.

His autobiography also offers a personal glimpse into the origins of Mormonism and how it began in the milieu of religious revivalism. For example, Cartwright tells about a large campmeeting he was conducting with thousands in attendance, including Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Quakers and others. On Saturday morning, he said, “There came some twenty or thirty Mormons to the meeting.”

He tells how at the end of the service, the Mormons remained behind, singing and praising God. They were excellent singers and many began coming back under the tabernacle to hear them. They continued singing and as people finished their noon meal they came back to the tabernacle until there was a large crowd gathered around them.

Eventually one of the Mormon women began to shout and then swooned away and fell into the arms of her husband. Her husband then announced that she was in a trance and that when she came out of it she would speak in an unknown tongue and he would interpret. This was obviously not something new for them (Hyatt, Angels of Light, 33).

Cartwright, by this time, decided to break up their meeting, as he believed they were purposely seeking to draw attention to themselves. As he walked into the midst of the group the woman in the trance began speaking in tongues. When Cartwright told her to “hush,” she opened her eyes, laid her hand on his arm, and said, “Dear friend, I have a message directly from God to you.”

Cartwright, who was a gruff sort of personality, said, “I stopped her short and said, ‘I will have none of your message.’” The woman’s husband, who was to interpret the message in tongues, angrily replied, “Sir this is my wife, and I will defend her at the risk of my life.” Cartwright retorted, “Sir, this is my campmeeting and I will maintain the good order of it at the risk of my life” (Hyatt, Angels of Light, 34).

After an exchange of emotionally charged words, the group finally left. Cartwright identified them as Mormons, followers of a “Joe Smith” with whom he had had several conversations.

Cartwright Meets “Joe Smith"

Cartwright had several meetings with the founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, whom he called “Joe Smith.” Smith shared with him his vision for the restoration of the church of the New Testament. According to Smith, during a time of revival in upper state New York he had prayed about which church was the right one. Smith said that during this time of prayer,

I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air (Hyatt, Angels of Light, 35).

According to Smith, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit appeared in this vision and told him not to join any of the churches, for none was the true church. 

Cartwright said that Smith, at first, sought to flatter him telling him that of all the churches then in existence, the Methodist church was the closest to the church of the New Testament. According to Smith, however, the Methodists had stopped short by not claiming the gift of tongues, of prophecy, and of miracles. He went on to tell Cartwright,

If you will go with me to Nauvoo (a Mormon community), I will show you many living witnesses that will testify that they were, by the saints, cured of blindness, lameness, deafness, dumbness, and all the diseases that human flesh is heir to. And I will show you that we have the gift of tongues, and can speak in unknown languages, and that the saints can drink any deadly poison and it will not hurt them (Hyatt, Angels of Light, 35).

Smith Proves to be Angry and Unteachable

As Cartwright listened to Smith, it soon became obvious that he had left behind Biblical truth and was following sensational teachings based on prophecies, visions, and supposed angelic visitations. As Cartwright began pointing out to Smith his error with Scripture, he said that Smith’s wrath boiled over and “he cursed me in the name of his God.” Smith angrily retorted,

I will show you, sir, that I will raise up a government in these United States which will overturn the present government, and I will raise up a new religion that will overturn every other form of religion in this country (Hyatt, Angels of Light, 36).

Mormon Doctrine Built on Esoteric Spiritual Experiences

Joseph Smith and his early followers not only claimed the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, they claimed to experience visions and angelic visitations on a regular basis. Those of the contemporary prophetic movement would have, if they had been there, designated Smith as a prophet or seer. 

Smith claimed that on one occasion an angel named Moroni appeared to him and told him where to find the plates on which were inscribed the Book of Mormon, written in an ancient Egyptian text. Smith claimed that while he and an associate, Oliver Cowdery, were translating the book, John the Baptist as well as Peter, James, and John appeared to them and ordained them to the priesthood of Melchizedek.

Smith obviously had a very active imagination and a desire to be important. Demons will always play on such human credulity and pride, telling indiviudals how important they will be if they accept the revelation. Cartwright considered Smith and the Mormons a living exmaple of Paul's warning that Satan transforms himself into an angel of light (II Corinthians 11:13-15).

Out of this group that based its beliefs on prophecies, visions, and angelic visitations, has grown a movement that today numbers millions of followers around the world. While many of their beliefs are obviously Christian in origin, they also hold to many beliefs that have no basis in Scripture and are at odds with Biblical Christianity. This happened because they exalted their spiritual experiences to equality with, and even above, the Bible.

For example, Mormons teach a form of polytheism, claiming that the planets of the universe are ruled by different gods and that Elohim—the God of the Old Testament—is the god of this planet. They also teach that Elohim had a wife who bore his offspring as the Eternal Mother. According to Mormon doctrine, Jesus is merely the oldest of the offspring produced by the Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother, and we are all his spirit brothers and sisters.

We Must Not Repeat Their Mistakes

Winston Churchill once said, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” I see emphases in the modern charismatic and prophetic movements that could lead to similar tragic ends if we do not learn from their mistakes. Here are five suggestions that can help us avoid repeating the same mistakes as this movement.

1) Make the Bible the standard by which every spiritual experience is judged. When John Wesley was faced with strange spiritual manifestations in the Methodist revival, he exhorted, “Try all things by the written word and let all bow down before it. You’re in danger of enthusiasm every hour, if you depart ever so little from the Scripture: yea; from that plain, literal meaning of any text, taken with the context.” The Bereans, in Acts 17:11, were commended because, instead of naively accepting what Paul and Silas preached, They searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether those things were so. Because the Mormons neglected the Bible as the final standard of truth, they were led astray by those angels of light Paul referred to in II Corinthians 11:13-15).

2)  Don’t be afraid to “test the spirits.” We will not quench the Holy Spirit by doing what He has commanded us to do. We may quench spiritual pride and religious ambition, but not the Holy Spirit. Smith and the early Mormons did not test the spirits, nor did they judge their prophetic-supernatural experiences. Instead they twisted Scripture to make it fit their experience. Avoid this at all costs.

3)  Avoid spiritual pride. Cartwright says that Smith told him that if he [Cartwright] would join him [Smith], “We could sweep, not only the Methodist church, but all the churches, and you would be looked up to as one of the Lord’s greatest prophets.” Do you see and hear the pride in that statement? Remember that, “the stronghold of deception is pride.” We must stop trying to be important and simply be obedient to the Lord.

4)    Stop chasing the sensational. Let the supernatural happen: Don’t try to make it happen. The early Mormons were obviously enamored with the sensational—visions, angelic visitations, and so on. This led to their departure from Biblical truth. Along with teaching the miraculous dimension of our Christian faith, we must emphasize the practical Christian lifestyle of Scripture. This is clearly articulated in passages such as the Sermon on the Mount. Don’t be afraid of using some sanctified common sense, which the Bible calls wisdom.

5)    Avoid an elitist mindset. Smith claimed that he and his followers were the true restored church of the New Testament and that all other churches were false churches (the Mormons still believe this). This too was based in pride and an unhealthy lust for importance and power.

My Prayer

My prayer is that God will have mercy on us, and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, that His ways may be known upon earth and His salvation among all nations (Psalm 67). May God give us a love and hunger for His word, a sharpened sense of discernment, and the courage to speak and walk in His truth. 

This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt's latest book, Angels of Light, available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com. Eddie is deeply committed to a ministry of writing , teaching and preaching, calling America back to God and her founding principles. He believes there is a purifying process taking place in the American church, which is a necessary prerequisite for genuine Spiritual Awakening.

THE STRONGHOLD OF DECEPTION

How Satan Makes Inroads into Christian Revivals

It was during the praise and worship service just before I was to preach in a very lively "revival" church. It was a very festive atmosphere with people shouting, waving banners and running the aisles. As I quietly worshipped, I heard the Holy Spirit say, “The stronghold of deception is pride.”

I immediately knew that I was to address the fact, that during times of revival, pride often creeps in because of the power and blessing of God. Individuals and churches get an inflated sense of their own importance because of God’s blessing on their lives. This pride then becomes an opening and a stronghold for demonic deception.

By the time I finished my message that morning, a solemn quietness had settled over the congregation. After the benediction, everyone seemed almost afraid to talk and spoke quietly and in whispers as they departed. It was such a contrast to the earlier festive atmosphere that I was somewhat concerned.

After the service, I shared with the pastor that I hoped I had not squelched the enthusiasm of his congregation. He replied, "Oh no, you were right on target." "In fact," he said, "I may be accused of bringing you in as a hired gun today."

He then shared how that the very thing I addressed that morning had been happening within his congregation. He told how individuals who had been saved less than a year in the revival had challenged his leadership. Because they were experiencing God’s presence and power, they had gotten an inflated sense of their own importance, not realizing that what they had experienced was out of God’s goodness and grace.

God Resists the Proud

Gordon Lindsay, one of the most prominent leaders of the divine healing revivals of the 1940s-50s, declared, "As one rises higher and higher in spiritual power and blessing, he must ever seek to become lower and lower and lower and lower."

This statement was born out of his observation of the tragic collapse of the lives and ministries of several men who had been powerfully used of God in ministries of healing and deliverance. In each case, Satan’s door of entry into the person’s life seems to have been an inflated idea of his own importance.

Instead of humbling themselves before God, they became enamored with their own success. And instead of moving on to greater displays of God’s glory and power, they were brought down because of their pride and arrogance. 1 Peter 5:5 says that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

William Branham

For several years, beginning in 1947, Lindsay managed the ministry of William Branham, the most prominent healing evangelist of the 1940s-50s. Branham was launched into an amazing ministry of signs and wonders after an angel appeared to him during a time of prayer and instructed him to take a gift of healing to the people of the world.

Thousands attended his crusades because of the prominence of healings and miracles. These giant crusades were organized by Lindsay who also emceed the meetings and taught in the morning sessions.

When the time came for Branham to preach in the evening services, Lindsay would introduce him in a low-key manner while at the same time acknowledging that God was using him in a remarkable way.

How Branham Was Deceived

Once, when Lindsay was away, a “Brother Baxter” emceed the meetings and introduced Branham. His flowery introduction was filled with glowing accolades and he referred to Branham as a special “end-time prophet of God.” When Lindsay returned, Branham said, "Brother Lindsay, I think I would like for Brother Baxter to introduce me from now on.” (These facts were relayed to me by the late Freda Lindsay, wife of Gordon Lindsay, who was privy to all the details described)

Branham then began to surround himself with individuals who fed his ego with ideas about being a special end-time prophet of God. Lindsay sought to warn him, but his advice was not heeded. When he saw that Branham had embraced serious error, he withdrew from Branham’s ministry and developed the Voice of Healing, known today as Christ for the Nations.

Branham eventually began to believe that he was the fulfillment of God’s promise in Malachi 4:5 which says, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. He also identified himself with the angel of the seventh church in Revelation 3:14. 

Branham went on to embrace and teach other bizarre doctrines. His “serpent seed” doctrine said that Eve’s sin involved sexual relations with the serpent with people descended from this event and, therefore, destined for hell. Those who would receive his teachings were the seed of God and destined to become the bride of Christ.

In spite of his bizarre self-concept and erroneous teachings, miracles continued to occur in his meetings. God is merciful!

Kenneth Hagin’s Prophecy

In 1963, Kenneth E. Hagin walked into Lindsay’s office and handed him a prophecy which he had written out. The prophecy stated that the leader of the deliverance revival had gotten off track and would shortly be removed from the scene.

Lindsay read the prophecy aloud in the presence of his wife, Freda, and then locked it in his desk. Freda asked, "Who is he talking about?" With great somberness he replied, "He is talking about Branham. He has gotten off track and thinks that he is Elijah."

Two years later, Lindsay received a call from out-of-state asking him to come and pray for Branham who had been in a car accident and was in serious condition. Because of his previous experiences, Lindsay felt that he was to leave the situation completely in the hands of God and he did not go. A few days later he received word that Branham had died.

Though sad and tragic, Branham’s experience is not unique in the annals of Church history. Again and again, as God has visited His people in answer to their prayers, pride has crept in and the revival has been squelched, and it is still happening today.

Pride in the Pentecostal/Charismatic Camp

While ministering in a large urban area on the east coast, I picked up and scanned a tabloid that appeals primarily to Pentecostals and Charismatics. I was stunned by the arrogance and pride in the advertising that had been placed by churches and ministries.

There were not only charismatic prophets, apostles and bishops, there were also "covering apostles," "presiding apostles," "jurisdictional apostles," "archbishops," "prelates" (religious rulers) and even one individual who had designated herself as "her super eminence Apostle so and so."

I thought, "Can these individuals be followers of the One who made Himself of no reputation and washed the feet of His own disciples, a task performed in that culture only by household servants and slaves?" Can they be followers of the One who, in Matt. 23:6-12, warned His disciples about adopting honorific titles that would set themselves apart from other believers.

But you, do not be called “Rabbi”; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.

No wonder the world does not see Jesus. They cannot see Jesus for us. No wonder we are not seeing a national spiritual awakening! The first condition for such an awakening, according to II Chronicles 7:14, is for the people of God to "humble themselves."

God Is Calling Us to a Different Posture

Several years ago, I sat in a "Revival Now" conference and experienced an overwhelming urge to bow down before the Lord. I sat and contemplated what I should do for no one else was bowing down. In fact, people were going forward and standing as they waited to receive prayer for a fresh touch of the Holy Spirit.

However, as this urge to bow myself before the Lord continued, I finally turned and knelt at my seat. As soon as my knees touched the floor, I heard the Holy Spirit speaking in my heart in a clear and vivid manner. He said,

I am going to be doing some incredible things in the days ahead: And when you see My power and My glory, this is to always be your posture. You are to bow down and acknowledge that I Am the sovereign Lord of this universe.

Yes, pride is the stronghold of deception. That is why we must continually acknowledge that it is not about us, but about Him. And remember the exhortation of Peter in I Peter 5:5b-6 where he said,

And be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud but gives grace to humble. Therefore, humble your selves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time.

This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt’s latest book entitled, Angels of Light, with the subtitle, False Prophets & Deceiving Spirits at Work Today in the Church & World. The book is available from Amazon, will soon be available from his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.