Kingdom-Dominion Articles

This collection of articles covers the topic of Restoration, which means "restoring
the authority and apostolic leadership to the global Church". It has other and
deeper implications too, as can be seen by the articles on warring in the
heavenlies (to pull down the satanic strongholds that restrict the church) and "The
Glory" (which is a skewed belief that the full power and visible glory of God will
ultimately descend upon the restored Church.)

The two main Dominion movements are Christian Reconstructionism and

Kingdom Now Theology. Though these two movements differ greatly in their
general theological orientation (the first is strongly Reformed and Neo-
Calvinistic, the second is Charismatic), they share a postmillennial vision in which
the Kingdom of God will be established on Earth through political, spiritual and
in some extreme cases military means.

Dominion Theology and Restoration today has progressed far beyond the reach of
these early articles of mine; however it is always good to refer to the roots of the
movement, and to understand its core objectives.

Topics covered in this section are: Gatekeepers and Spiritual Warfare,

Restorationism, Shepherding, Kingdom Theology and its proponents, historical
roots such as Gnosticism, Sonship and the Latter Rain, the coming glorification of
the ascended saints, and the part that the Toronto revival and such things as
Celtic Mysticism have to play.

Kingdom Theology by Al Dager (Part One)

Article taken from: Media Spotlight, Vol.7

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

OVERVIEW
The Vulnerability of Pentecostalism

KINGDOM THEOLOGY DEFINED:

the participants

teachings

no rapture

the church has failed

the cloud of witnesses

some differences

some terminology

THE LATTER RAIN MOVT.

FRANKLIN HALL

spreading the word

occult influences

(including his teachings on manifestations of silver and gold)

WILLIAM BRANHAM

the serpent's seed teachings

supernatural manifestations

difficulties with the brethren

eulogies

THE SHARON BRETHREN

GEORGE WARNOCK

THE LATTER RAIN CONTINUES

NOTES

INTRODUCTION

In every Christian's life there comes a genuine challenge to their

intellectual honesty and, more importantly, to their commitment to
God's truth. Such a challenge is all the greater when prompted by the
realization that men and women whom we've held in high regard are
inadvertently or even knowingly leading us astray.
It isn't too difficult to accept the truth about the aberrant teachings and
dangerous practices of non-Christian cults; Christian bookstores are
replete with publications on cult belief systems and activities. But the
same bookstores sell materials containing false doctrines under the
guise of "deep truths" and "new revelations."

Many of these teachings are gaining acceptance among a growing

number of evangelical Christians, and are increasingly finding
expression in the Christian Media. Because this report strikes at the
false teachings (often undiscerned) within the heart of the Christian
Church, it has been with a great deal of pain and personal soul-
searching that it was written.

Certainly this report will have an impact upon those propagating these
false teachings, as well as upon those who learn from the teachers.
Certainly it will cause loyalties to be broken. On the other hand, I'm
well aware that it may cause loyalties to this ministry to be broken. So
be it; if any loyalty to this or any other ministry takes precedence over
loyalty to God and His truth as revealed in Scripture, then that loyalty
should be broken.

Jesus taught this very thing when He said, "He that loveth father or
mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or
daughter more than me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:37).
In Luke 14:26 He goes even further, saying that if we love even our own
lives more than we love Him we are not worthy of Him. If we are
expected to hold allegiance to Jesus whom we have not seen, even
above allegiance to our own families and our very lives, how much
more should we be loyal to Him above others, no matter how they
impress us with their knowledge and eloquent oratory.

Are those who teach us humble? Jesus is more humble. Are they wise?
Jesus is more wise. Do they love us? Jesus loves us more. Whatever
virtues they possess, the greatest teachers in the Church are in poverty
compared to Jesus. When He trod this earth as a man, having
relinquished all privileges of His eternal Godhood, Jesus was
approached by one who addressed Him as "Good Master." His response
should humble all who hold themselves or others in high regard: "Why
callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God"
(Matthew 9:16-17).

Though the words I bring you may be hard to bear, I implore all who
read them to pray that God will illuminate their minds, and also for His
protection from the enemy who would distort the truth of these
matters as well as my motive for bringing them to light. This is written
with full awareness of my own vulnerability. For I admit that the things I
have witnessed from those whose teachings I question herein have
caused me to wonder whether they might not be from God.
It is a fearful thing to contemplate the thought that I might in all
sincerity cast aspersion upon true men of God whose work I may not
understand. But I am convinced that what I present to you is the truth,
given with a heavy heart for those who, by necessity, must be named
for their errors.

I urge you therefore to lay aside prejudices and personal preferences

for teachers and teachings. Receive this message in the spirit in which it
is written, not as an attempt to sow discord among the brethren (of this
I am sure to be accused), but as a humble attempt to shed the light of
God's truth upon the darkness caused by teachings contrary to His
Word. I encourage you to put this writing to the test. But no less do I
encourage you to put to the test those teachings with which it deals.

Let God judge men's hearts; that is not my intention. But each of us is
responsible to judge what we are asked to believe.

OVERVIEW

With every move of God comes a countermove of Satan to snatch the

seed of truth from those who desire to glorify God with their lives.
From the very start of the Church Age Satan has attempted to destroy
the work of God and bring liberated souls back into bondage to man-
made religion.
Yet in spite of the awesome power Satan's emissaries in the spirit realm
display, the gates of hell have not prevailed against the Church - nor
will they ever. It may seem at times that the Church has been subdued.
But even during the twelve-hundred years of oppressive rule by the
Roman papacy under the claim of apostolic authority, there were
faithful saints who kept their relationship with God pure - even if at
times perfect understanding may have been withheld from them.
Certainly we cannot say that God's grace was nullified during that time.

Even the Reformers of the sixteenth century and after sorely lacked the
full understanding that would have allowed them to lead their
followers into paths of complete harmony with God's Word. Yet line
upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little, God has
shed more understanding upon His Word.

The Azusa Street (Los Angeles) revival of 1906 marked the beginning of
today's Pentecostalism. During the outbreak of that revival the Baptism
with the Holy Spirit became widely experienced and many Christians
spoke in foreign languages with interpretations, extolling the glories of
God. Out of this move of God came the establishment of large churches
that broke from the formalism of a stagnant Protestantism.

Various Pentecostal denominations such as the Assemblies of God, and

the Church of God, were born virtually overnight, and found great
success as memberships burgeoned. Many independent Pentecostal
churches sprang up as well. The Church as a whole realized a new surge
of vitality and enthusiasm for God. And if people were healed of
sickness and delivered from demons in the process, so much the better.

But with this move of God came a counterattack by Satan's forces.

Recognizing that people were hungry for demonstrations of God's
power, and that in their enthusiasm many had neglected to ground
themselves in the Scriptures for protection against deception, Satan, as
an angel of light, began to manifest his own demonstrations of power.
By this means he sought to beguile Christians away from their Lord, and
focus their attention on the benefits they could derive from personal
"experiences" - in Jesus' name, of course.

I believe the Pentecostal explosion that occurred in 1906 was a mighty

move of God to prepare His Church for the unique challenges that the
twentieth century has presented, and to demonstrate to the world that
Jesus is not dead, but alive for evermore.

The manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit are as valid for us today as
they were for the first-century Church. If anything, they are more
needed today than ever. We must jealously guard the gifts, and not
misuse them as has been the custom of many who, overcome with zeal,
have thwarted the work of God in their lives.

Signs and wonders, miracles and healings are good when they originate
with God. The problem lies in our inability sometimes to distinguish
whether they are from God or Satan. For Scripture gives us ample proof
that Satan, as well as God, can perform marvelous miracles (Exodus 7:8-
15; Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22; II Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:11-
18).

It's not a question of counterfeit versus real; Satan's miracles are not
counterfeits any more than foreign currency is a counterfeit of our own
currency. Counterfeit "miracles" are those feats of legerdemain
performed by professional magicians, and charlatans who create ruses
to bilk people out of money. A miracle from the spirit realm is genuine,
whether from God or Satan. Satan's healings are not illusory; they are
real. That's what makes them dangerous.

The reason people believe teachings when they are accompanied by

signs and wonders is that they don't believe Satan or his demons can
perform genuine miracles. Therefore they think that any teaching
accompanied by signs and wonders must be from God.

The Vulnerability of Pentecostalism

There are inherent problems in every system of theological expression.

Fundamentalism is often fraught with a legalism unintended by God
and unsupported by Scripture. The Reformed churches have given us,
among other things, "Liberation Theology" - a "social gospel" that bears
little resemblance to the dynamic of true Christianity.
These have sprung up to a large extent because orthodox Christianity
has been content for centuries to cling to a formalism that denies the
power of godliness. In short, every discipline within the Church has
allowed deception to enter in.

What makes Pentecostalism vulnerable to deception is the

emotionalism that has become attendant to it. Not that Pentecostals
don't love Jesus and desire to keep their doctrine true. But unless they
test all teachings by the Word of God and recognize that experience
must be secondary to truth, deception has an open door.

I remind the reader of Paul's warning to the Corinthian Church in

speaking of false apostles and deceitful workers transforming
themselves into the apostles of Christ: "...for Satan Himself is
transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his
ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose
end shall be according to their works"(II Corinthians 11:15-15).

Satan's ministers will preach righteousness, morality, and family life.

They will preach against pornography, crime, homosexuality, abortion,
and the corruption of the world system. While these are legitimate
issues of vital importance, they are irrelevant in determining whether
the voice is from God or from Satan.
Many cults stress righteousness and morality. The only means we have
to test the spirits is rightly dividing the Word of Truth. Even the
preaching of Christ crucified and resurrected is no longer a means of
determining if the spirit speaking is of God or Satan.

Many cults call Jesus "Lord and Savior," and "the only Way to the
Father." Mormons believe in the Lord's bodily Resurrection. They and
Jehovah's Witnesses testify that they are saved by grace through faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ. But these declarations are nullified by deeper
teachings to which adherents are gradually indoctrinated. Satan uses
this same tactic through various "new revelations" within the Church
itself.

The tares are truly among the wheat. For this reason, today more than
ever, Christians must learn to distinguish between the words of a
teacher, and the spirit behind those words. Often the purity and
simplicity of the Gospel will be encroached upon by other teachings
that, in aggregate, nullify the Gospel and lead the hearer astray into
doctrines of demons (I Timothy 4:1).

True humility on the part of any person should prompt recognition of

his vulnerability and raising of safeguards. This should be especially true
of Pentecostals and others who believe in God's continual working
through supernatural means. Because we are more receptive to
supernatural input we should recognize our vulnerability to the spirit
realm - both God's working and Satan's. God's Word tells us that "a
little leaven leavens the whole lump" (I Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9).

All the wonderful preaching and spiritual insight a man brings is

nullified if he has the leaven of false doctrine sprinkled among ninety-
nine percent truth. That's not to say that every man is unsaved who has
succumbed to deception and, overcome by its "spirituality," spreads it
to others. No man has all truth, and all are tempted to make Scripture
fit their personal biases and pet theories.

However, greater is the condemnation upon those who teach if they

lead others astray, even in the name of righteousness (James 3:1).
Many desire to be teachers, but they do not know what they are talking
about or what they so confidently affirm: (I Timothy 1:7 NIV). This is
why Jesus commended the Ephesian Church for trying the words of
those who call themselves apostles (Revelation 2:2).

These truths must be kept in mind as we study this phenomenon called

"Kingdom Theology" and its impact upon the Church.

KINGDOM THEOLOGY DEFINED

Within the "Kingdom Theology" camp are several movements whose

teachings are remarkably similar over all, yet divergent on some points.
These movements - though to a greater or lesser degree disavowing
association with each other - are sufficiently homogenous in their
eschatalogical and theological viewpoints to place them all under a
common banner: what I refer to as "Kingdom Theology."

These movements are built upon the same foundation: the neo-
Pentecostalism of the mid-twentieth century. They draw from one
another the support needed to develop their strategy for gaining
preeminence among Christians. All zealously propagate their "new
revelations" which allegedly are to prepare the Church for "the next
move of God," bringing us closer to the Kingdom Age (the rule of God
on earth).

The most prominent of these movements are:

Latter Rain

Identity

Manifest Sons of God

Restoration

Reconstruction

Charismatic Renewal

Shepherding/Discipleship

Kingdom Message

Positive Confession
Throughout the course of this study we'll be examining these
movements and their major proponents. But first it's important that I
give a general outline of Kingdom Theology itself and its dynamic.

The Teachings

The basic premise of Kingdom Theology is that man lost dominion over
the earth when Adam and Eve succumbed to Satan's temptation in the
Garden of Eden.

God "lost control" of the earth to Satan at that time, and has since been
looking for a "covenant people" who will be His "extension," or
"expression," in the earth and take dominion back from Satan. This is to
be accomplished through certain "overcomers" who, by yielding
themselves to the authority of God's apostles and prophets for the
Kingdom Age, will take control of the kingdoms of this world.

These kingdoms are defined as all social institutions, such as the

"kingdom" of education, the "kingdom" of science, the "kingdom" of
the arts, and so on. Most especially there is the "kingdom" of politics or
government.
This naturally implies the concentration of military and police power in
the hands of those in control during the Kingdom Age. They are
referred to as the "many-membered man child," whom Kingdom
Theology adherents believe will be the fulfillment of Revelation 12:1-5:
"And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with
the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of
twelve stars....And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all
nations with a rod of iron."

Those who hold to Kingdom Theology assume that the Church (some
believe only a small group within the Church, called "overcomers"),
under submission to the latter day apostles and prophets, is that man
child, and that it has the responsibility to put down all rebellion and
establish righteousness. This necessitates the utilization of supernatural
power and the full implementation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

This theory is based upon the idea that all authority in heaven and on
the earth has been given to Jesus. Since believers are indwelt by the
same Holy Spirit that indwelt Jesus, we have all authority in heaven and
on the earth; we have the power to believe for and speak into existence
things that are not, and thus we can bring about the Kingdom Age.

The many-membered man child must take control of the earth before
Jesus can return. Necessary to the Kingdom Age is "the Restoration of
the Tabernacle of David,"defined as the completion of perfection of the
Bride of Christ - a Church without spot or wrinkle.
During the Kingdom Age (or after all else is subdued during that time)
Satan and all enemies of God will be put under the feet of the many-
membered man child. This will be the fulfillment of I Corinthians 15:25-
26: "For he (Christ) must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his
feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."

The rationale that the many-membered man child will put God's
enemies under 'its' feet is that Jesus is the head of Christ and the
Church is the body of Christ. And where are the feet but in the body?
Many in the Kingdom Theology movements insist that when this
Scripture refers to Christ it is really referring to the Church who is the
Body of Christ. Therefore it is necessary for them to establish within the
minds of Christians the idea that, as the Body of Christ, we are Christ.

In other words, we have His divine nature. Notice that this idea, similar
to that of mind science and other false religions, separates the
anointing of "Christ" from Jesus and bestows it upon all who come into
a place of certain knowledge and spiritual attainment. This is a heresy
that is as old as the Church. It is rooted in the Greek school of
philosophy known as Gnosticism.

No Rapture
Critical to hard-core Kingdom Theology is the denial of "the Rapture" -
the teaching that the Church will one day be caught up to meet the
Lord in the air so that we will be with Him in Heaven when God's wrath
is poured out upon the earth.

This event is explained away as a feeling of rapture or excitement when

the Lord returns to receive the Kingdom from our hands. In other
words, everyone will be "caught up" emotionally when He returns. This
explanation ignores the fact that such an application of the term
"caught up" is strictly an idiomatic expression peculiar to English, not
Greek.

"I was all 'caught up' in the movie" (or other excitement) is not the
equivalent of 'harpazo' in I Thessalonians 4:17, II Corinthians 12:2-4,
and Revelation 12:5, used to describe the catching up bodily into
Heaven, and Acts 8:39 where Phillip is bodily "caught away" by the
Spirit to another location.

Consequently, since there will be no bodily catching away - or

"Rapture" - of the Church (some say not until the Church has taken
dominion in the face of adversity), there will beno restoration of the
nation of Israel.

The proponents of Kingdom Theology are correct when they say that
the Church is spiritual Israel, but they fail to acknowledge that God has
promised to restore national Israel and deal with her during the coming
seventieth week of Daniel. All prophecies regarding future Israel - both
in the Old and New Testaments - are made to apply to the Church.

The restoration of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1-11 is said to be the

Restoration of the Church out of Babylon (denominationalism) into
perfect unity. All believers will possess the same mind, same thoughts,
and same goals delineated by the apostles and prophets of the
Kingdom Age through new revelations.

The Church Has Failed

Another eschatological viewpoint of Kingdom Theology is that the

Great Tribulation is seen not as a time when anti-Christ will reign and
war against God's people, but rather a time of tribulation for the world
brought about by God's judgment through His people.

Anti-Christ, in fact, is considered by some not to be a person, or even a

system of government, but a spirit of rebellion against God's
constituted authority - the coming of Jesus in the flesh of the apostles
and prophets, according to their interpretation of I John 4:2 and II John
7.
Since there will be no "Rapture," and no Second Coming of Jesus until
the Kingdom has been established by the Church under the direction of
the apostles and prophets, most Kingdom Theology adherents are mid-
or post-millennialists: Jesus will come back after the millenium has
begun or after it has been completed.

Some are amillennialists, believing He will never come back personally,

or that He already came back to His own generation, leaving the Church
to take dominion over the earth. Thus they see the Church as having
failed in what they consider its commissionto take dominion over the
kingdoms of the earth.

The reason the Church has failed is because it has not understood what
Jesus meant when He told His disciples that they would be witnesses of
Him throughout the earth.

To be a witness means to demonstrate the Kingdom on earth: to take

dominion, bringing all things into obedience to Christ. In order to
demonstrate the Kingdom, the Church must not only be united under
the apostles and prophets, but must be prosperous, having taken
control of all the material wealth of the earth.

Since "The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof; the world, and
they that dwell therein"(Psalm 24:1), the world is ours as joint heirs
with Christ. This sounds good, but without Jesus here to establish the
dominion, we are left at the mercy of men who, according to their
thinking, will have "overcome" all faults and will be operating according
to the perfect will of God.

Since all enemies, including death, will be put under the feet of the
"overcomers," it is therefore necessary that dominion include
"immortalization" (or at least living in "divine health" as well as "divine
prosperity").

The Cloud Of Witnesses

To accomplish the great task of taking dominion over a rebellious

world, the Church must have supernatural help not only from God, but
from angelsand from the "great cloud of witnessess" (the dead in
Christ) who have preceded us.

A unity between their spirits and our spirits will create a

communications link by which revelations will be conveyed that will
guide the Church in its mission.

The apostles and prophets especially will have contact into the spirit
realm through appearances of Jesus, angels, and departed saints. In
fact, such contacts have already been reported in the Christian media.
Essentially then, Kingdom Theology sees the Second Coming of Jesus in
two stages:

first through the flesh of the believers (and in particular the flesh of
today's apostles and prophets), and then

in person to take over the Kingdom handed to Him by those who

have been victorious (the "overcomers").

In some circles it is believed that the overcomers will have become

immortal - they will have attained what is called "resurrection life."

Whether immortal or not, it is generally agreed in Kingdom Theology

that the overcomers must purge the earth of all evil influences.
"Evildoers" must be converted or they will be punished and/or
"destroyed from off the face of the earth."

"Evildoers" have been variously described as drug pushers, murderers,

child molesters, thieves, prostitutes, and other such "scum" that Jesus
died for. It will interest the reader to learn, however, that for many who
teach Kingdom Theology, the term "evildoer" applies to anyone who
refuses to submit to God's authority(the latter day apostles and
prophets).
Those who do submit will be sealed with the "mark of God" in their
foreheads, and will escape the coming judgment.

Some Differences

As we deal with these teachings individually in successive chapters,

keep in mind that some movements are more extreme than others, and
each is somewhat unique in its approach to the basic tenets of Kingdom
Theology.

In fact, not everyone within each movement is necessarily in agreement

with each other, let alone with those in the other movements. Still,
each movement has teachings that are sufficiently aberrant as to
warrant careful testing by the Word of God. Each in its own way has its
part in propagating some or all of the elements of Kingdom Theology.

Other teachings not detailed here are quite bizarre, and add to the
overall occult flavor of Kingdom Theology. We'll be dealing with them
as we progress.

It's important to understand that not everyone in the various

movements mentioned believe all Kingdom Theology teachings. Many
are innocently fraternizing with those whose doctrines would horrify
them if they were aware of them.
Yet while the adage "guilt by association" does not always hold true, a
consistent pattern of fraternization and support are sufficient grounds
to at least question whether one holds the views of those he supports
and with whom he seeks unity.

Some Terminology

As in all fraternities, there is certain terminology peculiar to Kingdom

Theology. Knowledge of that terminology can alert us to the possibility
that we are hearing from an adherent to those teachings.

A few occasions of word usage prove nothing, of course. But a pattern

of usage and dependence upon terminology peculiar to Kingdom
Theology is reason for concern and further investigation of a teacher's
doctrines. Many will hide their true beliefs to all but those within their
inner circle lest they be prematurely exposed to the Body of Christ at
large.

Once you become familiar with their terminology I urge you not to
judge arbitrarily, but to seek further knowledge of the teacher's true
beliefs (Acts 17:11).
Meanwhile, be cautious until you do know what he or she believes. The
following Kingdom terminology should be cause for concern even
though much will be defended as "scriptural" by those who use them:

Dominion

Overcomer(s)

Word-Faith

Spoken Word

Five-fold ministry

Latter Rain

Tabernacle of David

Feast of Tabernacles

Many-membered man child

Manifestation of the Kingdom

Manifestation of the Sons of God

Ongoing Incarnation

Birthing in the Spirit

Get this into your spirit

Unity (of the Body)

Serpent's Seed or Seed of the Serpent

 Faith in faith

God's faith

God-like faith

Kingdom language

Kingdom principles

Christ principles

Elijah Company

Bride Company

The Christ

Ecclesias

I wish to reiterate that the use of some of these words - at least

moderately - is not grounds for judging harshly the speaker or writer
(see John 7:24). I stress this because I know I'll be accused of jumping to
conclusions and lumping everyone together. I urge caution in accepting
or rejecting anyone on the basis of their terminology alone.

By the time you've read through this report, however, I'm certain you'll
see why these terms are good indicators of the teacher's beliefs. At the
end of the final installment you'll find a sample questionnaire which
you can use to test any teacher's position relative to Kingdom Theology.
This may be used as a precaution against erroneously prejudging
anyone - teacher or disciple.
This said, we will examine now the roots and the effects of Kingdom
Theology and its various movements.

THE LATTER RAIN MOVEMENT

It becomes apparent through study that Kingdom Theology had its

beginning in the teachings of the more prominent leaders of the mid-
twentieth-century phenomenon known as "The Latter Rain
Movement." These teachers blended Pentecostal fervor with
supernatural manifestations which, when examined, are found to have
been heavily influenced by occult activity.

The unwary believers of that time, whose lives were touched by these
supernatural phenomena, were unversed in the occult sciences and
accepted these manifestations of power as from God.

Now we are seeing at the same time within Pentecostalism, both the
true manifestations of the Holy Spirit and the occult manifestations of
Satan. To determine which are of God and which from the adversary, it
helps to know the history of this movement called the Latter Rain.
Therefore I have endeavored to lay out in a semblance of chronological
order the various influences the teachers of that period had upon each
other, and how those influences are affecting the Church today.

FRANKLIN HALL

In the fall of 1946, a "major fasting and prayer daily revival center" was
established in San Diego, California. Under the leadership of Franklin
Hall (assisted by Jack Walker, father of child evangelist "Little David"
Walker), the teaching of fasting as a means of bringing about revival
and the "restoration" of the Church spread throughout the Pentecostal
world.(1)

Other ministers who helped establish the fasting and prayer center
were: Dr. Waltrip (Kathryn Kuhlman's husband); Stanley Comstock; Earl
Ivy; Tommy Baird; Myrtle Page; and Franklin Hall's brothers, Delbert,
Harold, and Virgil. (Delbert Hall and his wife, Florence, were pastors.)
(2)

According to the Summer, 1985, issue of Franklin Hall's newsletter,

'Miracle World,' in which is revealed some of the early history of his
ministry, "A fasting chain came about. Several were on major fasts
around the clock. Many were fasting for not only days but weeks at a
time. One lady, Sister Mary Sommerville, fasted without food for
eighty-three days. She was so strong on this notable fast that she ran
and danced all over the place, being drunk on both the inner and outer
filling of the precious Holy Spirit." (3)

Hall claims more than one thousand converts during the first year of
the center's existence, with scores being healed of diseases, through
fasting and prayer. Alleged appearances of the Holy Ghost in fire and
smoke are also related in Hall's newsletter:

"Once or twice the Fire department was briefed by folk seeing the Holy
Smoke and Fire through the windows upstairs. They came running up
the steps with the hoses to put out the fire. Some of the firemen,
seeing that it was not a natural fire, sat down in the large revival center
hall and worshipped the Lord getting saved." (4)

Spreading The Word

Hall and his wife, Helen, sold off some assets and borrowed against
their home to finance the printing of "millions of pieces of literature" to
send to people all over the world.5 The Hall's claim this mail campaign
resulted in the great healing revivals of the late forties and early fifties.

It was during this time (1946) that Franklin Hall wrote his book, 'Atomic
Power With God Through Fasting and Prayer,' which was to have a
significant impact upon the world of Pentecostalism.
Many people, little known at that time, were greatly influenced by
Hall's literature. Gordon Lindsay's publication, 'Voice of Healing,' helped
spread the fasting message, as well as did Thomas and Evelyn Wyatt's
worldwide radio broadcasts.

Hall's newsletter records how others received his message:"Rev. Walter

Frederick, former Assembly superintendent in Canada, sent Brother
Hall's literature to every Pentecostal preacher in Canada....A few of the
others (not too well-known then) ministers [sic] who had major fasting
experiences by our writings in the 1946, 1947 to 1950 fasting era and
who also became famous are:

Wm. Freeman

Gordon Lindsay

A.A. Allen

O.L. Jaggers

Gayle Jackson

Oral Roberts

David Nunn

Wm. Branham

W.V. Grant
 Wm. Hagen

Dale Hanson

Tommy Hicks.(6)

Hall's writings on fasting and diet as a means to spiritual restoration

might easily be seen as the primitive beginnings of today's "Christian
holism."

Occult Influences

As evidence of God's favor upon those who fast, Hall points out that
even the prayers of pagans will be answered by God if they are
accompanied by fasting:"Many, if not all, the American Indian tribes
sought revelation of the Great Spirit through Prayer and Fasting. When
they had famines, food shortages, lack of rain, etc., the Great Spirit was
sought through prayer and fasting, and their prayers were answered."
(7)

Hall uses this as an example of how fasting is necessary to have our

prayers answered. In fact, he states that "Without fasting, prayer
becomes ineffectual." (8)
In other words, those who pray to demons will have their prayers
answered if they fast, but Christians will not have their prayers
answered if they don't fast. At the least, it would seem, they would be
hindered greatly.

This is a good example of how a person can extoll a faith in Christ while
negating all the effects of that faith and the relationship with God it
entails. By giving credit for answered prayer to the demon gods of
pagan religions, Hall displays a mindset characteristic of occult science.

That there is a definite occult influence on Hall's career is evident in

other writings. His book, 'The Return of Immortality', suggests that
Christians can learn how to become immortal through stages of
spiritual growth. This involves experiences with "UFO's, and the UIO
gravitational and levitation control." (9)

His teachings on attaining immortality in this life through psycho-

spiritual exercises and righteous living were the foundation upon which
many in the Latter Rain and subsequent movements based their
immortalization theories. Hall's main point in his immortalization
theory is that "the sleeping, so called, unfoundationally built
church"must awaken to "a real cause and calling, that when God's word
is completely acted upon and complied with, will result in bringing
about the real gushers and torrents of the long, past due, RAIN OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS, a rain of IMMORTALITY UPON THE EARTH that so
many prophets have written about and portrayed in their prophesies".
(10) (emphasis Hall's).

Hall's premise is not, however, predicated upon God's promise of

immortality for the faithful after their resurrection.

This is evidenced by his following words: "Permanent, lasting freedoms

from all sickness, harmful accident things and defeat will come about.
Freedom from the imprisonment of all gravitational forces will also be
brought upon the whole man. This study teaches one the power and
secrets of space flight. Space floatation [sic] and hovering ability. It
gives the Bible formula for weightlessness, the 'raising up' power of
those who come to immortality." (Jn.6 chapter and Rom.2:7)."(11)

In his book, Hall gives "evidence" of his already having attained a

degree of "immortality" (which allegedly affects everything that comes
in contact with the immortal person's body): "Brother Hall's light
colored jacket is seven years old and has never been pressed or cleaned
or aireated in 7 years, since new, yet it has been worn repeatedly in
many overseas countries and regularly in all crusades everywhere
(excepting one). It has been on more than 200 airlines in travels. It has
no spots, stains, discoloration or body odors anywhere on it or inside it
- similar to the children of Israel's clothes under the Glory, Immortality
Cloud of Fire Power." (12)
The attainment of "Immortality blessings" are alleged by Hall to be
more successfully attained through open-eye prayer. "Coming with
closed eyes," he stated, "destroys faith." (13)

Hall claims that there is an"Immortal Substance" that comes upon the
believer who feeds upon it "from within Christ's now body" - the "FIRE -
IMMORTAL - PACKED - BODY"(Emphasis Hall's).

This "Immortal Substance" is claimed to be seen on those who attend

Hall's meetings, as a fine gold and silver, sparkling material that
emanates from sometimes visible "Immortal Heavenly Objects" (IHO's),
"Unusual Heavenly Objects" (UHO's), and "Unidentified Flying Objects"
(UFO's).

In Hall's words, "The sparkling shining FINE GOLD and SILVER are seen
upon their SKIN, brought about through the faith-power of impartation.
The polished brass, the beryl stone appearances are even now
manifested today."

He challenges the reader to see and behold these phenomena by

attending "the International Holy Ghost and Fire Seminars of Brother
and Sister Franklin Hall." (14)
This sparkling material Hall calls, "The shiny metal like, Jesus'
substance."(15) While Hall has many excellent things to say about
fasting from the standpoint of good health, when it comes to spiritual
matters he often transcends sensibility and delves into areas of the
occult.

The book upon which many healers of the Latter Rain period publicly
acknowledged their dependence,'Atomic Power With God Through
Fasting and Prayer,'is evidence: "In the zodiacal sign, 'Scorpio,' which is
the eighth sign of the Zodiac, we have a picture of a scorpion with its
stinger lifted ready to strike. This is the sign of death, and is supposed
to govern the sex area. Just before this sign in the heavens, there is a
sign of the Judge, Jesus, who is the giver of LIFE. Jesus proceeds toward
death and pulls the STING OUT OF DEATH. 'O, death where is thy sting?
O, grave, where is thy victory?" (16)

There is today a growing acceptance of the idea that the Zodiac is a

representation of the Gospel. More will be said about this when we
examine the teachings of some current Kingdom Theology proponents.
But I feel that I should a least point out at this time that the Zodiac is an
arbitrary assignment of images to certain stars by the priests of the
Babylonian mystery religion. No matter how one tries to make it fit
Scripture by claiming Genesis 1:4, there is no scriptural evidence that
the "signs and seasons" spoken of in God's Word have any relation to
the astrologists' Zodiac.
We have the more sure written Word of God for guidance; we tread on
dangerous ground when we try to accommodate His Word to occult
science, or try to make the two equal. Hall's penchant for a form of
"Christian astrology" is evidenced further in his statement that, "In
1848 A.D. the Aquarian Age was introduced to the world." (17)

Those familiar with the New Age Movement, will recognize the
Aquarian Age as the "Golden Age" of enlightenment when mankind will
take a quantum leap in his evolutionary stages, to immortalization. The
Aquarian Age will not be completely entered into until around the year
2000 A.D. Hall's writings are replete with strange, even weird
statements difficult to decipher. The following, though a bit lengthy and
poorly written, are examples:

"So much has been said about the travels of the astronauts, about
conquering space and even going to Venus or Mars, about the power
behind the saucers. The overcoming saints, however, are hundreds of
years ahead of our scientists. These heaven projected saints will be so
clothed and covered with the Immortality, supernatural, ZOOMING
sparkling Substance, that it will be no more trouble at all for them to
take off.

"Where will they go?

 "They will fly right into the Glory Cloud residence of our Lord and
Savior, Heaven in Him. Into His Cloud Fire Body. (Rev.12:5)

"What distance will they go?

"The distance, at first, may not be very far away, however, as the 8th
church from out of the 7 churches of revelation, called the
'overcomers,' become more and more adjusted and acclimated to Holy
Ghost Space flight, great distances taken, will seem like no distance at
all.

"Jesus taught a small, but precious group of His followers - those who
were able to bear it, that gravity would be completely loosed from
them, in the last days, when they learned how to train their appetites
into a different channel. We must learn to labor for the meal that
endures unto everlasting (IMMORTAL) life. The meat that draws us
away from gravity holding things. Jn.6:27.

"The 'not-perisheth' menu is the menu of Immortality, weight

releasing power. The 'endureth unto everlasting life' menu.

"...The quickening power of the Holy Spirit brings about Immortality

REVERSE ENERGY EMPOWERMENT." (18)
 "Gravity-freed, great people will run up walls, not break rank, and if
they fall on a sword, the Immortality power from Jesus' body, on them,
will protect them. It appears that, they also can walk or run upside
down. See Joel 2:3-11."19 (emphasis Hall's in all quotes).

In an ad for another of his books, 'Formula for Raising the Dead,' Hall
cautions the potential purchaser, "This volume is only for very
advanced Holy Ghost people. Do not order unless you are open to an
apostolic teaching and have read four other books by Bro. Franklin
Hall." (20)

I would not question Hall's sincerity and desire to attain spiritual

enlightenment. But the heavy flavor of occultism in his teachings should
have been sufficient warning even back in 1946. Yet many prominent
teachers credit the empowerment for their ministries (especially
healing ministries) on his book on fasting and prayer. It's clear that
Hall's teachings are a blend of occultism with Christianity. And since his
teachings formed the basis of those that came after, and since the
influence of those teachings upon neo-Pentecostalism is so great, close
scrutiny of every ministry they touched is necessary.

WILLIAM BRANHAM
Inscribed on a pyramid-shaped tombstone in a Jeffersonville, Indiana
cemetery, are the names of the seven churches of Revelation,
"Ephesian" at the base representing the beginning of the Church Age,
"Laodicean" near the top the end of the Church Age. On the opposite
face are the names of seven men whose impact on the Church
throughout its history has been significant.

Were the two faces of the pyramid juxtaposed one over the other, we
would see the names of the churches superimposed over the men's
names in the following order, from bottom to top:

Ephesian - Paul

Smyrnean - Ireneaus

Pergamean - Martin

Thyatirean - Columba

Sardisean - Luther

Philadelphian - Wesley

Laodicean - Branham

Among most major proponents of Kingdom Theology these men are

considered the great reformers of the various stages of Church history.
To many Kingdom Theology proponents William Branham was perhaps
the greatest "prophet" for the Church's final age.

In 1948, Branham, a Baptist preacher turned Pentecostal, and

influenced by Franklin Hall, gained notoriety for his teachings on what
he called, "God's Seventh Church Age" (supposedly the final move of
God before the manifestation of His Kingdom on earth).

Branham based this teaching primarily on Joel 2:23 and Revelation

1:20-3:22, the latter recording Jesus' messages to the seven churches in
Asia Minor. Branham claimed that the angels (messengers) to the
churches were men who appeared at various times throughout Church
history to usher in revelations that would lead the Church in new
directions according to the purpose of God.

As indicated on his tombstone, Branham was thought to be the angel to

the Church of Laodicea - the end-time Church. In his teachings on Joel
2:23, Branham defined the "latter rain" as the Pentecostal Movement
of his day. God's promise to restore what the locust, cankerworm,
caterpillar, and palmerworm had eaten, he defined as the "restoration"
of the Church out of denominationalism (which he equated with "the
Mark of the Beast").
Although denying he was a believer in the "oneness" doctrine, Branham
had his own form of "oneness" teaching that defined God as one
person who manifested Himself as three different "attributes": the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, rather than three Persons
comprising one Godhead.(21) He believed the doctrine of the Trinity
was the "Babylonian Foundation" of the denominations, inherited from
Roman Catholicism.(22) Branham also believed that the Word of God
was given in three forms: the Zodiac, the Egyptian pyramids, and the
written Scriptures. (23)

The Zodiac theory was not new, having been put forth by Franklin Hall
previously, and as early as 1893 by historian E.W. Bullinger in his book,
'The Witness of the Stars.' The idea that the Great Pyramid of Giza in
Egypt was constructed by God (possibly through Enoch) is at least as old
as the Zodiac theory, and is popular with the Dawn Bible Students, an
offshoot of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

It can be said of Branham that he had a simplicity and apparent

humility which attracted many followers. "Gordon Lindsay told of how
he impressed audiences with his utter and complete consecration." (24)

The Serpent's Seed

In spite of his apparent humility and consecration, Branham had great

difficulty controlling a strident, hateful attitude toward women. In his
own poor English, transcribed from a sermon, Branham stated, "But I
remember when my father's still up there running, I had to be out there
with water and stuff, see young ladies that wasn't over seventeen,
eighteen years, up there with a man my age now, drunk. And they'd
have to sober them up and give them black coffee, to get them home
to cook their husband's supper. Oh, something like that, I said, 'I...This
was my remarked [sic] then, THEY'RE NOT WORTH A GOOD CLEAN
BULLET TO KILL THEM WITH IT.' That's right. And I hated women. That's
right. And I just have to watch every move now, to keep from still
thinking the same thing."(25)

This attitude toward women may have played a part in the

development of Branham's bizarre "Serpent Seed" teaching. This was
based on a twisted interpretation of Genesis 3:13, where Eve is
recorded as saying, "The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat." The word
"beguiled" Branham defined as "seduced sexually." He claimed that
Satan and Eve engaged in an adulterous affair out of which Cain was
born. Since that time evil has passed from generation to generation
through women, who keep the seed of the serpent alive.(26)

He seemed to think that women are responsible for the evil in the
world because of their enticements. The "Serpent's Seed" teaching
obviously indicated that Branham didn't take the Scriptures literally,
where we read, "And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived and
bare Cain..." (Genesis 4:1). His animosity toward women led to the
preaching of a rigid moral code that lambasted them on their manner
of dress, and may have been responsible for his "revelation" that
allowed for divorce.(27)

Supernatural Manifestations

From the time of his infancy it was evident to his parents that William's
life had upon it the touch of the supernatural. Born in 1909 in a
mountain cabin near Berksville, Kentucky, William Marrion Branham's
childhood was spent in extreme poverty. His father was only eighteen
years of age, and his mother fifteen when he came into the world
weighing a scant five pounds, the first of nine boys and one girl. (28)

The following account may be legend or fact, but it was part of

Branham's testimony from the start: On the day of his birth, after being
washed, he was placed in his mother's arms by the midwife who then
went to a window to open the shutter. (There was no glass in the
Branham house in those days.) As dawn broke sending a few rays of
light into the room, there was seen a small circular halo about a foot in
diameter, above the bed where little William lay in his mother's
arms.(29)

Thousands of people have supposedly seen this halo, which is

ostensibly revealed in a photograph taken in Houston, Texas, during a
January, 1950, campaign. (The best we've been able to obtain is a
photostatic copy of a copy which, though poorly reproduced here, will
allow the reader to see what has been taken for a "halo."

Whether this is a halo or a flaw in the negative - whether it is a

manifestation from God or Satan or poor photography, we will leave to
the reader's judgment.) When he was three years of age, Branham
experienced for the first time what he called "the Voice." At age seven
"the Voice" commanded him, "Don't you never drink, smoke, or defile
your body in any way. There'll be work for you to do when you get
older."(30)

This "Voice" accompanied Branham throughout his lifetime, and

eventually made itself known as an "angel" that directed him in every
aspect of his personal life.(31)

During healing services Branham would often fall into a trance during
which his angel would work through him. Asked once if the healings
were done by the Holy Spirit, Branham replied, "No, my angel does it."
(32)

Branham was one of the foremost proponents of the theory of healing

and imparting the Holy Spirit through the "laying on of hands." He
would often feel a heat in his hand as he touched affected parts, and
exhibited a remarkable clairvoyancy in knowing intimate details of the
lives of people he had never seen before. No doubt this was due to the
angel's possession of his mind.

Difficulties With The Brethren

Branham's unorthodox methods of healing and allegedly imparting the

Holy Spirit by the laying on of his hands came under severe criticism by
the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. These practices became major
sources of controversy between the Latter Rain Movement and the
established Pentecostal denominations who held to their belief that
one must "tarry" in prayer for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In spite of his bizarre healing methods and aberrant doctrines, Branham

enjoyed remarkable popularity among many Pentecostals, and was
warmly received by such notables as Demos Shakarian (founder of the
Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International), Oral Roberts,
W.V. Grant, A.A. Allen, Gordon Lindsay (founder of Christ for the
Nations), O.L. Jaggers, George Warnock, and Franklin Hall. Although
many Pentecostals were willing to embrace Branham as an "apostle"
and "prophet" while overlooking his aberrant teachings, his popularity
declined in the late 1950's after his numerous bold proclamations of
"thus saith the Lord" to establish his doctrines. Many Pentecostal
churches became reluctant to allow him to speak. (33)
No one conversant with Pentecostalism will deny that, for better or for
worse, William Branham had a tremendous effect on the neo-
Pentecostalism of his time. From all accounts, he did exhibit remarkable
healing powers which no doubt played a significant part in giving
credibility to his teachings. Branham was warmly welcomed by
Pentecostal churches and organizations such as the Full Gospel
Business Men's Fellowship International.

This organization in particular provided his most reliable support. In

1961, the editor of FGBMFI's magazine, 'Voice,' wrote, "In Bible Days,
there were men of God who were Prophets and Seers. But in all the
Sacred Records, none of these had a greater ministry than that of
William Branham." (34)

It should be noted that often what Branham taught as a guest speaker

differed from what he taught at his own church, Branham Tabernacle,
where he felt freer to disclose his more aberrant teachings. Toward the
end of his career, however, Branham's public espousal of his strange
doctrines became even more controversial and he was used less and
less by the FGBMFI, though for several years his speaking engagements
were underwritten by local chapters. For years he had been a frequent
speaker at regional and national conventions.

Eulogies
Branham's life ended abruptly. While on a trip to Arizona, his car was
hit head-on by one driven by a drunken driver. For six days he lay in a
coma and, on Christmas Eve, 1965, he passed away. The entire
Pentecostal world was shaken by the tragedy. "A number of old friends
- Oral Roberts, Demos Shakarian, T.L. Osborn - telephoned their
concern."35

When Branham died, Demos Shakarian wrote, "Rev. Branham often

made the statement that the only Fellowship to which he belonged was
FGBMFI. Often, when called upon to speak at various conventions and
chapter meetings, he has traveled long distances to keep those
engagements. His spirit of service was an inspiration."36

Many of Branham's followers believed that he had truly come in the

spirit of Elijah; some believed him to be God, born of a virgin. (37)

They fully expected him to rise from the dead and come back to them
at the end of three days. Five days after his passing, William Branham
was buried, and his grave was soon marked by the pyramid-shaped
tombstone. To date, William Branham's body is still in the grave. But his
occult approach to healing was picked up by hundreds of pastors and
teachers who have traded on it to a greater or lesser degree.

THE SHARON BRETHREN

In the fall of 1947, two former pastors for the Pentecostal Assemblies
of Canada, George Hawtin and Percy G. Hunt, joined with Herrick Holt,
a pastor of the North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Church of the
Foursquare Gospel, in an independent work. That work - Sharon
Orphanage and Schools which Holt had originally started in a large
residence in North Battleford - had come to occupy about one
thousand acres of farmland about ten miles distant from the city limits.

With Hawtin and Hunt came seventy students from Bethel Bible
Institute where both had formerly taught before Hawtin was asked to
resign for lack of cooperation, and Hunt resigned out of sympathy.

George Hawtin's brother-in- law, Milford Kirkpatrick, and Ernest

Hawtin, George's brother, soon joined in ministry at Sharon.38 Herrick
Holt had been preaching that God was going to be doing a "new thing"
in accordance with the prophecy of Isaiah 43:18-19:

"Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of

old. Behold I will do a new thing; Now it shall spring forth; shall ye not
know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the
desert."

Of great influence upon the work at Sharon were the teachings of

William Branham. Several of the school's brethren visited one of his
campaigns shortly after George Hawtin and P.G. Hunt had come on
staff.
With renewed fervor, the brethren took Branham's teachings back to
Sharon, unaware that the supernatural power bestowed upon them by
Branham would make their ministry the focal point of the Latter Rain
Movement for several years to come. (39)

Another influence, on the Hawtin brothers in particular, was J.E. Stile's

book, 'The Gift of the Holy Spirit,' which asserted that if one were truly
repentant, and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, all that was necessary
for him to receive the Holy Spirit was for another believer to lay hands
on him (40)

Franklin Hall's book was especially utilized at Sharon. Ernest Hawtin

wrote: "The truth of fasting was one great contributing factor to the
revival. One year before this we had read Franklin Hall's book, entitled
'Atomic Power With God Through Fasting and Prayer.' We immediately
began to practise [sic] fasting. Previously we had not understood the
possibility of long fasts. The revival would never have been possible
without the restoration of this great truth through our good brother
Hall." (41)

On February 11, 1948, a young woman at the Bible school prophesied

that a great revival was about to break out. The next day, according to
Ern Hawtin, the Holy Spirit fell with great power. "Day after day the
Glory and Power of God came among us. Great repentance, humbling,
fasting and prayer prevailed in everyone."(42)

Because of the manifestation of power at North Battleford, news of the

outbreak spread, and soon people were coming from everywhere to
receive that power. They believed that the long drought was over for
Pentecostals, whose use of the gifts had gradually declined since the
advent of Pentecostalism at the turn of the century.(43)

A striking characteristic of the Sharon revival was the effort to avoid the
establishment of another denomination as had happened during the
earlier Pentecostal Movement. George Hawtin was especially adamant
about this and labored to instruct those who were touched by his
ministry not to fall into that trap. He felt that the unity of the Church
was essential to bring about its restoration, and therefore encouraged
the establishment of autonomous, local congregations. It became a
hallmark of the Latter Rain Movement that innumerable independent
churches sprang up with no denominational affiliation.

This did not set well with the Pentecostal denominations, who lost
many members to this "new thing."

A major point of controversy between the North Battleford brethren

and some Pentecostal denominations was the teaching by the former
that there are present-day apostles and prophets for the Church. (44)
And though George Hawtin wrote in the June, 1948, issue of 'The
Sharon Star' (the school's newsletter) that "no church exercises or has
any right to exercise authority of jurisdiction over another church, its
pastors or members," the travelling "presbytery" from Sharon, of which
he was a part, did indeed exercise authority over people in other
congregations through personal "directive prophecy." (45)

In spite of the Sharon group's insistence upon autonomy, they

eventually became sectarian to the extreme, holding to the notions
that no teaching was valid unless it originated with them, no fellowship
was to be engaged in with anyone outside their own confines, and they
alone were the purveyors of God's truth.

If anyone would be an "overcomer," it must be through obedience to

their authority. Even some who were endorsed as apostles and
prophets by the Sharon group eventually became disillusioned and
broke ties from Sharon.

Among these was Reg Layzell who wrote: "At the first camp meeting
you were made a member of the Body of Christ by the Spirit of God.
And even if you said you were not in the Body you still were. No man
could put you in or take you out. Now the error: they claim you are only
put in by them and can be put out by them."46
A significant event in the history of Sharon Orphanage and School was
its July 7-18, 1948 Camp Meeting, during which thousands of people
from Canada and the United States flocked in hopes of receiving
something special from God. Residents from at least twenty states
attended, and the great Latter Rain Movement burst upon the world.
From that time the movement spread rapidly and Sharon shortly
became just one of many centers of teaching for the Latter Rain
Movement.

In his thesis on this movement, Richard Riss states:"It should be noted

however, that prior to the revival, these practices [laying on of hands
and acceptance of apostles and prophets] were already commonplace
in some places, including Elim Bible Institute, which was at that time in
Hornell, N.Y., and which, until the revival, had not had contact with
North Battleford." (47)

"It should also be noted...that prophecy was a major distinguishing

mark of the Latter Rain Movement, whereas, in the case of the healing
evangelists, healing was more prominent, and in the case of the early
pentecostal revival, tongues had prominence." (48)

Elim Bible Institute was for years prior to the outbreak of the Latter
Rain Movement a center for neo-Pentecostal teachings. Although it was
Sharon Orphanage that gave real impetus to these teachings, it is Elim
Bible Institute that has continued even to this day with its influence,
while the Sharon group has largely been relegated to obscurity.
GEORGE WARNOCK

Among those present at the Sharon Camp Meeting in July, 1948, was
George Warnock who at one time had been personal secretary to Ern
Baxter (an associate with William Branham's healing ministry).(49)

At this meeting one of the teachers, James Watt, made a passing

remark that the third of Israel's feasts, the Feast of Tabernacles, was
yet to be fulfilled.(50) This struck Warnock and he began to associate it
with the end-time ministry of the Church, and the concept of
restoration. In the fall of 1949 Warnock took up residence at Sharon,
"assisting in the office work, and helping in the Bible School and in the
local church." (51)

In 1951 Warnock wrote his book, 'The Feast of Tabernacles,' in which

he layed out a specific doctrine for the Latter Rain Movement, and
those who came after. He taught that the Church was about to usher in
the completion of God's feasts for Israel, through perfection of the
saints and their dominion over the earth.

Essentially, this Latter Rain teaching implies that the three great annual
feasts of the Lord in Israel's worship (Passover, Pentecost, and
Tabernacles) pre-figure and typify the whole Church Age, beginning
with the death of Jesus on the cross, and consummating in "the
manifestation of the Sons of God" - the "overcomers" who will step into
immortality and establish the Kingdom of God on earth. (52)

Warnock teaches that this will be accomplished through the restoration

of the Church in unity and, once done, the saints will "eat the Lord's
Supper in reality." (53) (as if we are not doing so now).

"Unity" as defined by Kingdom Theology entails the putting on of "the

mind of Christ" so that we all think, say, believe, and confess the same
things. (54) What we will think, say, believe, and confess will be told to
us by the apostles and prophets. Unity without regard to "doctrine"
(except the doctrine of those imposing the unity) is the great cry among
those today who think that the Body of Christ has thus far failed in its
commission.

We will deal with these teachings in more detail later.

THE LATTER RAIN CONTINUES

Many teachings of the Latter Rain Movement have been retained in the
Church through the influence of various men and women, many of
whom are still alive, and active in groups that spun off from the Latter
Rain Movement. Although the Latter Rain Movement has had lasting
effects upon Pentecostalism in general, its effects upon the major
Pentecostal denominations was minimal after the mid-1950's.

This was due in part to the role the Assemblies of God played in
confronting the Latter Rain extremes. That denomination, as well as
others, lost many pastors and members to the Latter Rain as a
consequence of their opposition.

Today, the influence of the Latter Rain Movement upon traditional as

well as Pentecostal denominations is growing. And although by all
appearances the name has died out, the Latter Rain Movement has
surfaced under other names and is held together by a network of
teachers and organizations which are finding new acceptance on a wide
scale in the Christian media.

(Continued in Part 2)

NOTES

Franklin Hall, "Miracle Word" (Phoenix; Hall Deliverance Foundation,

Inc., Summer, 1985) p.10.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Ibid, p.9.
 Ibid.

Franklin Hall, 'Atomic Power With God Through Fasting and Prayer'
(Phoenix: Hall Deliverance Foundation, Inc., 5th Ed., 1975), p.19.

Ibid., p.9.

Franklin Hall, Catalogue of Publications (Phoenix: Hall Deliverance

Foundation, 1986).

Franklin Hall, 'The Return of Immortality' (Phoenix: Hall Deliverance

Foundation, Inc., 1976), pp.2-3.

Ibid., p.3.

Ibid., Inside Front Cover.

Ibid., p.10.

Ibid., p.48.

Ibid., p.20.

'Atomic Power With God Through Fasting and Prayer', pp.29,31.

Ibid., p.7.

. Ibid., p.53

Ibid., p.55.

Catalogue of Publications.

William M. Branham, 'Adoption' (Jeffersonville, IN: Spoken Word

Publications, 1960), p.21.

W.illiam M. Branham, 'The Serpent's Seed', taped sermon, undated.

 'Adoption', pp.31,104.

David E. Harrell, Jr., 'All Things Are Possible' (Bloomington: Indiana

University Press, 1976), p.162.

William M. Branham, 'My Life Story' (Spoken Word Publications,

undated), p.27.

'The Serpent's Seed'.

'All Things Are Possible', p.162.

'Brother Branham' (Jeffersonville, IN: Spoken Word Publications,

undated), p.19.

'My Life Story', p.21.

Ibid., p.24.

Kurt Koch, 'Occult Bondage and Deliverance' (Grand Rapids: Kregel,

1972), p.50.

Ibid.

'All Things Are Possible', p.159.

Ibid., p.161.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Ibid., p.164.

Richard Riss, 'The Latter Rain Movement of 1948 and the Mid-
twentieth Century Evangelical Awakening' (Vancouver, B.C.: Thesis),
p.79.
 Ibid., p.80-81.

Ibid., p.83-84.

Ibid., p.86.

Ibid., p.89.

Ibid., p.89-90.

Ibid., p.101.

Ibid., p.102.

Ibid., p.154.

Ibid., p.108.

Ibid., p.116.

Ibid., p.104.

Ibid.

Ibid.

George Warnock, 'The Feast of Tabernacles' (Cranbrook, B.C.: George

Warnock, 1951), p.14-20.

Ibid., p.22.

Ibid., p.23.

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