NAR (New Apostolic Reformation)

[B-A-C]

About 500 years ago there was something called the Protestant reformation. Martin Luther was one of the men called by God to lead this movement.

Nearly 100 years ago, the Pentecostal church had something called the Azuza street revival.

Now there is a new movement in the church. It seems most Christians aren't aware of it, even though your church may be a part of it.
It seems this is "mostly" affecting charismatic Pentecostal churches, but just about all denominations are involved at some level.
Some Assembly of God, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Episcopalian/Anglican, and Church of Christ churches have started accepting it.

There is a lot of debate of whether this is actually a movement from God, or an attempt by Satan to separate and deceive the church yet again.
So what is this NAR (new Apostolic Reformation) and is it Biblical? How does it affect me?

The answer isn't as straight forward as you might think. Also much like the denominations listed above, they don't all agree what it is, and not everyone accepts
all parts of it. So what is it?

For one thing, there is the "office" of prophet. This mostly comes from...

1Cor 12:28; And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
1Cor 12:29; All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they?
1Cor 12:30; All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?
1Cor 12:31; But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.

It seems some believe there is the 'gift' of prophecy (12 Cor chapter 12) but others believe there is also the 'office' of 'Prophet'.
Let me explain the difference. Pentecostal churches believe certain people in the church have the gift of prophecy. But this could be several people in one church.
They believe there are usually at least a few people that have this gift in every church.

Under NAR, this is slightly different... there is the 'office' of a prophet. He is like the Pope, He is 'the Prophet' over the entire church (all churches, not just a denomination).
He is God's chosen spokesperson to tell the church what to do. In some cases, even if what he tells them to do isn't Biblical.
The Mormon church has the office of Prophet also. He is the head of the Mormon church. But the Bible says...

Eph 5:23; For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.

I am leery of any man who says He is the leader of the (entire global) church. Many well known pastors have bought off on this. Including Bill Johnson of Bethel chapel.
A lot of Bethel's music is starting to reflect this in a subtle manner.

New Apostolic Reformation - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

A New ‘Reformation’ That Many Don’t Realize They’ve Joined

If you thought apostles and prophets only lived way back in Bible times and have long since disappeared, think again. Contemporary people calling themselves apostles and prophets have many followers. They are vigorously active in churches in the United States and throughout the world. Odds are...

magazine.biola.edu

What is the New Apostolic Reformation? | GotQuestions.org

What is the New Apostolic Reformation? Are apostles and prophets supposed to have authority over evangelists, pastors, and teachers in the church today?

www.gotquestions.org

But Bill Johnson is far from the only one. Almost every major denomination has some converts.

Another idea of NAR is "dominionism". This is sometimes called the "Kingdom now" movement. This is the belief that we as 'Christian/Saints' have to conquer
the Earth (seemingly on our own) and bring the kingdom of heaven here, so that Jesus can return reign over the Earth. Now I believe Jesus is returning and will
reign over the Earth at some point, but I don't believe we Christians are capable of overpowering the "powers of the prince of the air" on our own without Jesus.
I also believe God/Jesus is powerful enough they can do whatever they want, whenever they want.

Some (but not all) followers of NAR actually believe Jesus gave up His deity when he was resurrected. He left His deity behind, so that we could assume it.
This is much like the Mormon doctrine of the perpetual godhood. Jesus quit beling God, in order to let you become god. And after you acheive your purpose
as a god (for how ever many thousands/millions years it takes) then you will pass the "god mantle" on the next person in line.
A lot of this comes from...

1Jn 3:2; Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.

They take this to mean.. we will be "like Him" to the point of becoming deity ourselves. I guess one question I would have is... if Jesus already gave up His deity and we are going to
be "like" Him, wouldn't that mean we are "not" going to be a god?

There is a lot more to say here, there are some other beliefs that are questionable, but I am out of time for now.

 

[B-A-C]

Another common phrase is something called the fivefold minstry.

Where does the five (5) fold ministry concept come from? What is the five-fold ministry?

: The “five-fold ministry” concept comes from Ephesians 4:11, but apostles and prophets were foundational, temporary roles in the early church. The New Testament’s consistent and ongoing leadership pattern for local churches is simple: qualified elders and deacons.

www.compellingtruth.org

What is the five (5) fold ministry? | GotQuestions.org

What is the five fold / fivefold ministry? Are the offices of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher all functioning in the church today?

www.gotquestions.org

Now whether you believe in this or not isn't really the problem. The problem comes when you start slicing verses in half.
They believe the 'office' of apostles is defunct and dead, well ok, maybe that is the case. But they take the very same verse and say the the 'office' of prophets is still alive.
This is one of those verses that you can't take out just parts of.

Eph 4:11; And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
Eph 4:12; for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

Which parts am I allowed to just toss out? No more pastors? No more teachers? No more evangelists?

 

[B-A-C]

Just in case anyone is wondering, the "current" so-called prophet is Rick Joyner.

Rick Joyner - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

According to this article, he makes about $7,000,000.00 US dollars a year.

According this article Bill Johnson makes close to $100,000,000.00 a year.

The Really Big Business of Bethel Church, Part 1: Show us the Money! – anewscafe.com

anewscafe.com

Now while I'm not against tithing and churches making money, I do think there is a point where it becomes "sordid gain".

1Tim 3:8; Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain,
Titus 1:7; For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,
Titus 1:11; who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.
1Pet 5:2; shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;

 

[PloughBoy]

distractions, distractions, and distractions.....LOL......The devil is busy, busy and busy! ""The Gospel of Jesus Christ" is simple, simple, and simple!
But that religions man and woman is a "trip"! always trying to improve what is finish! Only thing we need and have achieve, has arrived through "The Reformation" and the establishment of "The Protestant churches' is The Written "WORD of GOD" translated into the common man's language. That a mire "PloughBoy" can know more about GOD, than "The POPE who's throne is located in Rome"! But men and women are still seeking out so many more devices, programs and organizations and new institutions..............to do what? God has been saving people for a long time now! LOL,,, religious people will always be, trying to get people to follow them.

my brother and sisters in Christ.......don't give these folks a second thought!!!!! Read your bible and tell other folks to do the same!!!!! And God will give you understanding!

 

[Fragrant Grace]

Thank you for sharing @B-A-C

That was an interesting and concerning read.
I haven't heard of NAR before, but can sense some of what you are describing happening.

As the last days draw in we need to focus on Jesus and not these ever increasing worldly movements.

Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and Thou art exalted as head above all.
1 Chronicles 29:11

 

[Alan McDougall]

About 500 years ago there was something called the Protestant reformation. Martin Luther was one of the men called by God to lead this movement.

Nearly 100 years ago, the Pentecostal church had something called the Azuza street revival.

Now there is a new movement in the church. It seems most Christians aren't aware of it, even though your church may be a part of it.
It seems this is "mostly" affecting charismatic Pentecostal churches, but just about all denominations are involved at some level.
Some Assembly of God, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Episcopalian/Anglican, and Church of Christ churches have started accepting it.

There is a lot of debate of whether this is actually a movement from God, or an attempt by Satan to separate and deceive the church yet again.
So what is this NAR (new Apostolic Reformation) and is it Biblical? How does it affect me?

The answer isn't as straight forward as you might think. Also much like the denominations listed above, they don't all agree what it is, and not everyone accepts
all parts of it. So what is it?

For one thing, there is the "office" of prophet. This mostly comes from...

1Cor 12:28; And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
1Cor 12:29; All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they?
1Cor 12:30; All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?
1Cor 12:31; But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.

It seems some believe there is the 'gift' of prophecy (12 Cor chapter 12) but others believe there is also the 'office' of 'Prophet'.
Let me explain the difference. Pentecostal churches believe certain people in the church have the gift of prophecy. But this could be several people in one church.
They believe there are usually at least a few people that have this gift in every church.

Under NAR, this is slightly different... there is the 'office' of a prophet. He is like the Pope, He is 'the Prophet' over the entire church (all churches, not just a denomination).
He is God's chosen spokesperson to tell the church what to do. In some cases, even if what he tells them to do isn't Biblical.
The Mormon church has the office of Prophet also. He is the head of the Mormon church. But the Bible says...

Eph 5:23; For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.

I am leery of any man who says He is the leader of the (entire global) church. Many well known pastors have bought off on this. Including Bill Johnson of Bethel chapel.
A lot of Bethel's music is starting to reflect this in a subtle manner.

New Apostolic Reformation - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

A New ‘Reformation’ That Many Don’t Realize They’ve Joined

If you thought apostles and prophets only lived way back in Bible times and have long since disappeared, think again. Contemporary people calling themselves apostles and prophets have many followers. They are vigorously active in churches in the United States and throughout the world. Odds are...

magazine.biola.edu

What is the New Apostolic Reformation? | GotQuestions.org

What is the New Apostolic Reformation? Are apostles and prophets supposed to have authority over evangelists, pastors, and teachers in the church today?

www.gotquestions.org

But Bill Johnson is far from the only one. Almost every major denomination has some converts.

Another idea of NAR is "dominionism". This is sometimes called the "Kingdom now" movement. This is the belief that we as 'Christian/Saints' have to conquer
the Earth (seemingly on our own) and bring the kingdom of heaven here, so that Jesus can return reign over the Earth. Now I believe Jesus is returning and will
reign over the Earth at some point, but I don't believe we Christians are capable of overpowering the "powers of the prince of the air" on our own without Jesus.
I also believe God/Jesus is powerful enough they can do whatever they want, whenever they want.

Some (but not all) followers of NAR actually believe Jesus gave up His deity when he was resurrected. He left His deity behind, so that we could assume it.
This is much like the Mormon doctrine of the perpetual godhood. Jesus quit beling God, in order to let you become god. And after you acheive your purpose
as a god (for how ever many thousands/millions years it takes) then you will pass the "god mantle" on the next person in line.
A lot of this comes from...

1Jn 3:2; Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.

They take this to mean.. we will be "like Him" to the point of becoming deity ourselves. I guess one question I would have is... if Jesus already gave up His deity and we are going to
be "like" Him, wouldn't that mean we are "not" going to be a god?

There is a lot more to say here, there are some other beliefs that are questionable, but I am out of time for now.

The only true Apostles were those directly appointed by the Lord Jesus two thousand years ago. Period. These latter-day contemporary self-appointed apostles are all fakes that any true born again should distance themselves from at all costs.
Nearly every TV evangelist is a doctor the question begs doctor of what?
Bill Johnson is most likely the worst most dangerous apostate heretic to emerge out of the face of the obscene twisted, perverted movement that hides under or masquerades its demonic teaching under a cloak of Christianity! It is demonic Satan's attempt to deceive the gullible and rob them of their hard-earned money even their salvation. It is even worse than the New Age.
Bill Johnson encourages his followers to lie on the graves of passed over charts of renown to soak up the anointing from the dead bones. This is necromancy, and yet people fall for this demonic blasphemy!
Why because they never read their Bible like good Bereans to see if what is being taught to them if biblically correct?