GNOSTIC TEACHINGS IN THE CHURCH SPLIT THE BODY OF CHRIST
PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE
DOMINION THEOLOGY – MODERN-DAY PROPHETS, APOSTLES
BRIDAL ESCHATOLOGY
LATTER RAIN ARMY OF GOD
“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling, One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
—Ephesians 4:4-6
For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. “
—Romans 12:4-5
“For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”
—1 Corinthians 10:17
“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.”
—1 Corinthians 12:12-14
“But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body.”
—1 Corinthians 12:18-20
“That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.”
—1 Corinthians 12:25
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”
—Colossians 3:15
Seems fairly obvious from the cited Scripture: there is one Body of Christ. One Body, many members with Jesus Christ as the Head. That’s one of the principles of Christianity–as the many verses cited above attest.
There are not two bodies, there is one.
Yet, gnosticim–a belief system that the apostles and early church ferociously battled and which has made a tremendous comeback in the modern American Christian Church–constantly attempts to divide the Body of Christ into two portions.
According to gnostic doctrine and strategy: one part of the Body of Christ has gnosticism’s super secret knowledge of new revelations and teachings. The other part of the Body has to make do with the Bible alone.
One part of of the Body is elevated through their spiritual experiences, feelings and mysticism.
The other part of the Body walks by faith alone.
But it is clear: the Bible teaches one Body of Christ. Not two.
The Gnostic Jesus, a Gnostic Christianity
Gnostic salvation is by experience and knowledge–and many American Christian churches have rushed headlong into obtaining extra-biblical experiences and knowledge. Many have elevated experiences, feelings and emotions above God’s Word while elevating new revelation to a position, if not surpassing God’s Word, to where it sits beside Scripture.
Gnostic Christians: A Different way to be Christian
Is there such a thing as Christian gnosticism?
FOUR POPULAR TEACHINGS IN THE AMERICAN CHURCH WHICH SPLIT THE BODY OF CHRIST
At its base, gnosticism appeals to the snob in every human: follow the gnostic gurus, learn their secret knowledge, practice their rituals and regimens and become a super, elite Christian divided from the rest of the Body of Christ.
Gnosticism uses this human desire to be an “insider” and to be exalted among a select group to snare its believers. Gnosticism begins with the lure of knowledge, revelation, knowledge and experiences. It progresses until it divides the Body of Christ along those same lines. Finally, it unveils its endgame: it the same lie the serpent told Eve in the garden.
“Ye shall be as gods.”
The essence of the ancient Gnosticism was its emphasis on knowledge as the single guarantee of salvation; so much so that real salvation could only be had by those who were “in” on the knowledge, the initiate, the elite, who were permitted to know what the masses were not; salvation came not by virtue of who and what we have become in Christ, in and through His grace, but through information, “understanding who we are,” “being in touch with our inner divinity”, “becoming aware of the `real’ self,” with what our potential is, and what it is that blocks us from achieving that divine status. Americans are consumed with the need for `information.’
—The Problem of Gnosis in the American churches
“For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”
—Genesis 3:5
This desire to be part of an elite group of insiders with secret, insider knowledge–to “be as gods”–and experiences and power that others do not possess is the drawing card of secret societies, such as the Masons and Jesuits.
Fallen men most definitely understand the seductive allure of forbidden knowledge.
“Of all the means I know to lead men, the most effectual is a concealed mystery. The hankering of the mind is irresistible.”
—Adam Weishaupt, Jesuit and founder of the secret society, the Illuminati
Here are just a few of the popular doctrines in American churches which split the Body of Christ into two parts.
This is something that gnosticism has labored long and hard to accomplish. NOTE: One other thing that ties these four teachings together is the unbiblical teaching of Christ returning more than once.
How do they get around this? A variety of ways: pre-tribulationists claim that Christ come first TO His Church (but doesn’t touch the earth) and then comes TO the earth (Jesus touches down on planet earth). Dominionists claim that Christ returns through His Church to first set up the kingdom.
None of this is found in the Bible.
DOMINION THEOLOGY
There are many strands of the antichrist Dominion Theology. Practically all of its sects teach that an end times Church will rise up, take dominion over the planet and cleanse the earth of everyone who does not join this Church (the “evil-doers”).
This doctrine teaches that the Church must take over the earth and present it to Jesus before He can return. This is another Jesus than taught in the Bible.
This Church will feature modern-day self-appointed, self-anointed apostles and prophets and their followers. This Church will demonstrate miracles and power and continue receiving new revelations.
Dominionism teaches Jesus first returns through his body, those in the Church which establishes dominion over all the earth.
Their doctrine divides the Body of Christ into two groups: the follower of the whore Dominion Church and those who will adhere to the Bible alone.
Two bodies of Christ: not Biblical.
PRE-TRIBULATON RAPTURE
In the doctrines of the pre-tribulation rapture, true believers will be snatched off the earth before a period of tribulation. Those who are left behind get a second chance at redemption. Those redeemed who undergo persecution are in one part of the Body of Christ, while those who were sucked up to heaven are in another part.
In fact, according to some story lines, one portion of the Body will be in heaven (the reason the currently apostate Church is taken to heaven is never really explained. What is it that qualifies this portion of the Body to escape persecution?) while the other portion of the Body will be suffering refinement through persecution.
Supposedly, one portion of the Body will be eating and drinking with Jesus–celebrating the avoidance to witness for Jesus when things get tough–while the other portion of the Body will actually be witnessing for Jesus when that witness is most needed.
Revelation 20:4 tells of the “penalty” those who are “Left Behind” suffer.
“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
—Revelation 20:4
Those who were Left Behind to witness for Jesus get to “live and reign with Christ for a thousand years.” Modern Christianity has been deceived into thinking that the period of tribulation is God’s wrath. But God’s wrath is for His enemies; ONLY for His enemies.
“God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.”
—Nahum 1:2
According to the pre-tribulation rapture doctrines, true believers who are Left Behind endure God’s wrath and then are rewarded by living and reigning with Christ for one thousand years.
Indeed, is this not an odd way for God to treat His enemies?!?
Two bodies of Christ: not Biblical.
These doctrines have been refined by some to introduce further separation among the Body. Some teach that only the very best Christians–those who have revelation and experiences and knowledge and purity beyond other believers–will be part of this pre-tribulation rapture.
Some call this purified separate group of believers the “Bride of Christ,” which they teach is NOT Christ’s Church, but is selected from within Christ’s Church. These teachers will instruct one on how to be part of this “Bride.”
Once gnostic doctrine is introduced; once gnosticism begins dividing the One Body of Christ: it’s hard for that doctrine to remain in one place. It will always seek greater divisions. Gnosticism always seeks to fracture the One Body using elitism, knowledge and super-spirituality as its fault lines.
Again, two bodies of Christ: not Biblical.
There are numerous Scripture ( Matthew 24;29-31, Mark 13:24-27 and Revelation 7:13-14 for starters ) which clearly demonstrates that this recently-constructed rapture doctrine is in error. But one of the starkest testimonies against it is the many Scriptures testifying to the One Body of Christ.
Not two.
There is so much more which could be said about this doctrine which has invaded the modern Church after billions of dollars worth of free publicity by the Corporate Media for Left Behind and, in the 1970s, Late Great Planet Earth. There is so much more to say on this topic, it likely will be the subject of an upcoming article.
BRIDAL ESCHATOLOGY
Primarily a teaching of Mike Bickle’s International House of Prayer, this teaching divides the Body of Christ into two groups.
Mike Bickle and the International House of Prayer
The IHOPpers believe they make up one group (Bride of Christ) of Super Christians–who pray and purify themselves after the manner of classic Catholic ascetics. Asceticism is an offshoot of gnosticism–and everyone else, including many true Christians who do not believe their unbiblical teachings, make up another group.
Again, two bodies of Christ are taught–which is a tip-off that the teaching is gnostic in origin.
LATTER RAIN ARMY OF GOD
The Latter Rain was a group of heretics who emerged in the 1940s and 1950s and then went underground. They have emerged again under the banner of Joel’s Army, Manifest Sons of God and other names.
Their doctrine is that God is raising up an elite army of superhuman super Christians to battle evil in the end times. This scenario is completely missing from the Bible, but who doesn’t want to have superhuman powers? Who doesn’t want to be calling the shots as part of an end times Army of God?
Joel’s Army and the Day of the Lord
Bill Hamon and the Manifest Sons of God
Again, these doctrines divide the Body of Christ into Joel’s Army or God’s army–and Christ’s civilians.
Two bodies: not Biblical.
Strange Fire: The Rise of Gnosticism in the Church
“No matter how we view Gnosticism, it is always an elitist faith. . . . There are certain groups of Christians that fall into the category of ‘elitism’ notwithstanding their affiliations. They use the same catch phrases: ‘Come out of your man-made systems’, ‘denominational walls are breaking down’, and ‘Christians need to be “delivered” from “Spirits of Religion” and “sound doctrine.”‘ The guilty groups are primarily among the Charismatics. . .. the common denominator is the ‘elitist’ concept. This [heresy] is set out as follows:
“God is forming an overcoming company within the body of Christ called, among other names, ‘The Manchild Company,’ . . . The Manchild Company is the true church. Those that are the real Christians are the Overcomers. . . and are becoming more and more perfected so that they will be able to drive Satan from the world. This must be done before Jesus can return. They believe that the church is not ready for the coming of the Lord. They are not looking for His imminent coming. They believe that Christ must come TO His Church before He comes FOR His Church.”
“All do not necessarily use this terminology, but the premises are the same. The language is becoming increasingly militant as the ‘Army of God,’ ‘Gideon’s Army’ or ‘Joel’s Army’ takes shape. A common thread is that they are expecting a ‘New Order’: ‘In all revolutions there are noisy and dangerous times as the OLD ORDER is replaced by the new. . . after the dust settles, we can proceed to build the beautiful kingdom that the Lord has purposed from the foundations of the World,’ says Vinson Synan, one of the leaders of AD 2000 (Fulness, Jan.-Feb. 1990, p. 24).”
This was written in 1995.
If your church is preaching that “God is raising up an end times army” or a special group of Christians will perform end times miracles and signs and wonders: FLEE!
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
—Revelation 18:4
The Body of Christ: One Body, many members with Christ as the Head.
American Christianity has a long history of churches which have primed their members to think of a division among the Body of Christ, especially the Charismatic sects. Other Christians have divided the Body of Christ into “dead” and “alive” churches, depending upon their style of worship.
The enemy has been attacking the concept of “One Body, many members” from the very beginning of the Christian Church. He continues to attack it today.
Gnosticism is alive and well in the American Church–and its doctrines usually try to divide the Body of Christ in two.
There is only ONE Body of Christ.
Anyone who tells you differently is not following the Bible.
“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.”
–1 Corinthians 12:12-14
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by Jeremiah J. Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-14. © Mondo Frazier, DBKP and End Times Prophecy Report, 2007-14. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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End Times Prophecy Report 
Thank you for sounding the warning, Jeremiah!
One mark of these “churches” is that they want to avoid the cross, that is, suffering for Jesus’ sake, when this is His will for us.
Phil. 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
For a time, He will allow the Beast to have power over all people, especially us, and to kill us. We can’t avoid this.
Dan. 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
In our own city, there is a church that once believed and covenanted to bring in the kingdom by entering all spheres of life and dominating them. They are no longer in “that place” doctrinally, but are now confused and constantly changing their leadership. I never thought about this as part of the endtimes apostasy – just as strange and unBiblical.
Yes, the aspect of Gnosticism found in these movements is elitism deriving from special knowledge, and division coming from this. It is Nikolaitan too, victory of the people (mixed with immorality), in that there is a strict hierarchy from what I’ve learned. There is no end to carnal man’s horrendous mental inventions. So sad! But in God’s hands, and being exposed as you’ve done.
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Yes. You know, in the times in which we live, some churches even talk a good game about the cross. But it’s getting pretty close to “crunch time” and their true stripes are showing. They may talk occasionally about the cross and they may (and do!) talk about how much they “love Jesus.” But it’s only that: words.
You’re right to watch what they do, not what they say.
As I wrote in “Seducing Spirits in the Church: The Supernatural Fan Club“, when the Israelites made themselves a golden calf, they didn’t say, “Hey, let party around this here golden calf!”
No. They said, “This is thy God, which brought us up out of Egypt!”
Same as today, churches party around a god of their own making and call their idol “God Almighty.” Few seem to notice that it’s not the God of the Bible. And if you point it out? Well, who likes to be informed that they’re idolators?
That’s not real popular.
The days are extremely deceptive: they say one thing and do another.
You’re right: “There is no end to man’s carnal inventions”–and coupled with the enemy’s infernal inventions? Well, I am reminded nearly every day of the deception which is so prevalent it darkens a backwater where someone like myself lives.
Thank you for the kind words.
God Bless You.
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God bless you too!
I meant to say “victory over the people” not “victory of.”
We’re in a small town ourselves. But it’s a university town – the university is a door through which every lie gains credibility and influence. And, will the city “fathers and mothers” scold the university for any point of view, when it is a big source of revenue and notoriety? The university represents a large block of voters, too, so they can defeat the local more conservative commonsense voters, who will have to stay here when others move on.
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Yes, confronting others with idolatry is one of the toughest jobs. Yes, Christians often want to worship the True and Living God in a false, forbidden way like watching a film “about Jesus”. They can’t see the correction about this. We should make sure people know what the commandments are – what makes us guilty before God, so they can get it and run to Jesus Christ alone, not some sinful man pretending to be Him.
Yes, we must be careful not to be all talk about the Cross. That’s particularly horrible and it hardens us. God help us in these days to be sober, vigilant, and prayerful! May the Lord help us to stay awake!
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