Were the 'Trump Prophets' Right After All?

Given that the whole story of Trump’s reelection is almost impossible to believe (it seems almost miraculous) I have no problem believing that God may have showed people in 2020 that he would serve two terms. However, the major prophetic FAILURES at that time were . . .

Were the 'Trump Prophets' Right After All? | Articles | The Line of Fire

It was all the rage back in 2020. A chorus of prophetic leaders announced with certainty that Donald Trump would be reelected and serve a second term in the White House, but he did not – at least, not in 2020. 

Now that he has been reelected, resoundingly at that, does this mean that these prophets were right after all? 

First, some of the “prophets” (I will let God decide their actual status and calling) said that Trump would serve 8 consecutive years. They were dogmatic and clear and aggressive, even after the 2020 election results were announced. 

“Watch and see” they proclaimed, but nothing happened.

Second, after Biden’s victory was announced, the prophets predicting his reelection doubled down. Many said that he did win the election, but it was stolen. 

But that raises the question: if Trump would win but actually lose, why didn’t God show them this too? This would be like me giving you a prophetic word that a rich man would be giving you a Porsche next week, entirely for free. I just failed to tell you it would be carjacked on the way to your house and you would never see it. 

Others doubled down by saying, “In the coming weeks, the results will be overturned and Trump will be declared winner,” with some prophesying specific timetables in which this would take place. 

None of this happened – not in a single instance or court case – despite their guarantees.

Others claimed that there would be a coup and Biden would be removed from office. It would happen right after the inauguration. 

Still others claimed that Biden was not inaugurated, that there was an actor (or shapeshifter!) taking his place, and that Trump was the true president in God’s sight. Seriously!

Still others moved into other realms of spiritual fantasy, as characterized by this “vision” allegedly received in April 2021: 

“As I was praying today I saw a vision of DJT seated on a throne holding a golden scepter. He also had a golden crown on his head. This, I was shown, is his PRESENT status from heaven’s perspective. That becomes all I need to know, as to should I back off saying ‘the steal will not hold’. Heaven does not recognize JB having any scepter nor wearing any crown. From heaven’s perspective, there is only the legitimacy of DJT. God has assigned a massive contingency of angels to that scepter and to that crown. They have not ceased assignment and anointed seers can see this. To repeat, the prophetic word has been true all the way from Nov 3. On that date, DJT won the election “as spoken by His servants the prophets”. IT WAS FULFILLED. The only thing presently yet to be made visible is will an outrageous steal hold for a whole term. It will not! The answer from God to the question of when is—SOON. Do I have a date on that SOON? No, I don’t.”

You might say, “But what if God did show these prophets that Trump would be reelected, but they just misinterpreted what they saw?”

That’s actually a valid question, and it’s in keeping with biblical prophecy, in which the prophets did not always understand the timing of the revelations they received. 

“Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things” (1 Peter 1:10–13).

That’s why we have no business setting dates and putting time frames on prophetic words we claim to receive unless God Himself gives us those dates.

Given that the whole story of Trump’s reelection is almost impossible to believe – whether you’re for him or against, it seems almost miraculous – I have no problem believing that God showed people in 2020 that he would serve two terms.

If He did, the failure was in speaking prematurely and giving false hopes and expectations, rather than praying secretly for God’s will to come to pass based on prophecies received. 

It would also have been fine if they had said, “God showed me Trump will serve two terms, but I have no idea if they’ll be consecutive or not.” Today, we’d be shaking our heads in awe and marveling.

Let us, then, tread carefully when it comes to speaking for God.

Playing With Holy Fire: A Wake-Up Call to the Pentecostal-Charismatic Church

The Political Seduction of the Church: How Millions of American Christians Have Confused Politics with the Gospel

Saving A Sick America: A Prescription for Moral and Cultural Transformation

This is the fruit of a real move of God, coupled with solid ministry training. Year in and year out, even decade in and decade out, the fire continues to burn. May the Lord send a fresh wave of revival to His people in America ...and beyond!

The Lasting Fruit of a True Move of God | Articles | The Line of Fire

This past weekend, we celebrated our 25th annual missions conference, thanking God for the amazing testimonies from our faithful workers who have served on the mission field worldwide, often quite sacrificially. 

This missions’ movement was birthed directly out of our ministry school, Brownsville Revival School of Ministry, and then FIRE School of Ministry, which in turn was birthed out of the Brownsville Revival in Pensacola, Florida (1995-2000). This is the best answer to the critics who claimed that the fruit of the revival would not last. 

One critic claimed that Brownsville was “not really. . . a revival, but lunatic fringe Christians from other places responding to altar calls,” also referring to it as a “spiritual cesspit.”

A prominent American pastor described the revival as a “mindless, emotional orgy marked by irrational, sensual and fleshly behavior produced by altered states of consciousness, peer pressure, heightened expectation or suggestibility.”

Surely, these emotions would quickly fade!

During the revival, I would say to these critics, “Well, this person has been walking solidly with the Lord now for one full year. What does that indicate about the validity of their conversion?”

The reply would be, “One year? That proves nothing!”

What about several years later, when they graduated from our ministry school with a burning heart to reach the nations? What about several years after that, as they relocated their whole families to serve outside the USA? And what about now, when some of our grads have been on the mission field for 25 years? I would call that lasting fruit!

Eric was a youth pastor who struggled with porn and had to step down from ministry. He visited the Brownsville Revival, experienced deep repentance and complete deliverance, graduated from our ministry school, and has now served on the mission field in Asia with his family for more than 20 years.

Last year, we commissioned one of his daughters to go as a missionary to Japan. This year, we commissioned another daughter to serve in the Philippines. 

Andy and his wife Karyn were powerfully touched in the revival, graduated from our school, and were the very first missionaries to sign up. They have served in Mexico for the last 25 years, continuing to bear great fruit and with all their children serving the Lord.

“We are about to send out a Mexican couple to Asia in 2025; we are super excited about that! We continue to visit the homeless downtown and throughout the streets of Guadalajara, bringing them the Gospel in creative ways from giving food, providing wound care as a nurse, and [more]. . . .

“Has it been worth it? Absolutely 100%. By Life or By Death.  We have had death threats, rocks pelting me in the head, our churches burned down, stranded vehicles in the middle of nowhere, and insects infesting my toes with eggs.  Would we do it all again? Absolutely 100%. Through it all God has been so faithful.  It’s just who He is.”

This is God’s answer to the critics and mockers. 

This is the lasting fruit of a true move of God.

Leann had friends who were powerfully touched in the revival and decided to relocate to Florida and attend our school, enrolling in 2000.

After graduating, she moved with some other grads – mainly single women, like herself – to the Ukraine, where she remains until this day, right in the midst of the war.

“I have seen Jesus do so much in Ukraine in the past twenty-one years, it’s been an adventure and a journey.  Jesus is alive and well, and changing lives across this land. . . .

Ministry began all those years ago, traveling from village to village, gathering all the villagers together, and preaching the Gospel.  Our team saw withered hands restored on several occasions, spines healed, a babushka who was completely hunched over get miraculously healed and start running down the road, as well as deaf ears opened.  Many of those living in villages are elderly and they were so thankful that we came, as they felt forgotten.  We would bring gifts of food and pray with them, they were so touched but the Lord.  Many gave their lives to Jesus in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s.”

“There were years of ministry in orphanages, children’s shelters, children’s rehab centers, and children’s camps.  So many children were introduced to the Bible and Jesus through our ministry.  Many of the orphans I knew that were once little are now adults, and some are living their lives for the Lord to this day.  I still have connection with some of those I ministered to 20 years ago. . . .

“I was sharing Jesus recently at a meeting for refugees and an older man named Kolya, in his 60s, was in tears the entire time.  I prayed with him, and he told me his whole life he has been searching for something that is true.  He joined the communist party when he was young and saw that it was empty, he tried lighting candles at the orthodox church and he said it was empty. Now, because he has lost his home and came to our city, he met me and for the first time in his life he heard something that is actually true.  Kolya said ‘I have waited my whole to hear this truth about Jesus.’  He finally found the truth he longed for his entire life in his 60s!”

“I have experienced many hardships since the war began.  But, I know I am in the place where I am supposed to be, and that’s the safest place for me.  Even though we hear explosions every week, sometimes every day.  Even though air raid sirens blare off and on every day.  Even though we have lived without power and water, mobile service, and internet for long periods of time.  I am in the right place.  There is such darkness and hopelessness, but I am here to shine the light of Jesus and help destroy the works of the enemy.”

Leann recently got married, but only after her husband-to-be was miraculously protected while on the frontlines of the very worst part of the war. Now, together, they are serving God courageously in that battle-weary land.

This is the fruit of a real move of God, coupled with solid ministry training. Year-in and year-out, even decade-in and decade-out, the fire continues to burn.

May the Lord send a fresh wave of revival to His people in America and beyond!

Seize the Moment - How to Fuel the Fires of Revival

Turn the Tide - How to Ignite A Cultural Awakening

The Fire that Never Sleeps - Keys for Sustaining Personal Revival

Authentic Fire: A Response to John MacArthur's 'Strange Fire'

A Time for Holy Fire - Preparing the Way for Divine Visitation

The Sad State of Contemporary Cessationism

From a biblical viewpoint, cessationism is completely indefensible. And experientially, as the Spirit continues to move powerfully all over the earth, it is becoming harder and harder to defend. Simply pointing to charismatic extremes and errors will not stem the tide of the real, glorious, moving of the Spirit. ..

The Sad State of Contemporary Cessationism | Articles | The Line of Fire

Pastor P. Yesupadam is one of my closest friends in the world and the truest Christian I know. 

But he was not always a follower of Jesus. 

To the contrary, although his father gave him the name Yesupadam, meaning “the foot of Jesus,” he grew up hating that name and hating the caste system of India. That’s because he was born into an untouchable family, suffering terrible deprivation and almost dying of starvation as a boy.

Then, at the age of 11, he was recruited by a radical Maoist communist (called a Naxalite). This gave him a sense of purpose for the first time. Now, he would fight against the caste system, taking from the rich – violently, if needs be – and giving to the poor.

By the time he was in his early 20s, he was considered a lost cause by most who knew him. 

In short, he was an atheist, an alcoholic, and a terrorist.

But his Christian wife and some other believers were praying for him (his marriage was arranged, of course, as per Indian custom), and it was then that God intervened in his life.

As he sat on his chair one afternoon, he saw something in the sky that got his attention, but it was somewhat distant. Then as the vision drew close to him. He realized it was Jesus that he was seeing. Yesupadam saw the pierced and bloody hands, which were now stretched out. And he heard the Lord say, “Son, I have done all this for you. Now, what will you do for me.”

At that moment, Yesupadam was radically and dramatically born again, going out on the street and clapping his hands and shouting, “Have you heard? Jesus died and rose from the dead!”

Since then, he has done more good in more tangible ways than any man I know on the planet, planting 10,000 churches in previously unreached tribal regions in India, raising and educating thousands of orphans and needy children, caring for the elderly and the handicapped, building hospitals, and more. 

And he has replicated his work in other continents as well.

I should also mention that he has been stoned for preaching the gospel, that many, if not most of his workers have been physically attacked for the gospel at least once, and that at least 5 of his pastors have been killed for their faith. 

In fact, in virtually every case, these martyrs were men whom I sent out as well in one of my annual trips to India, commissioning them with Yesupadam to preach the gospel by life or by death.

For the cessationist, though, Yesupadam’s conversion story is bogus, even if, somehow, he is truly saved today. That’s because these cessationists do not believe that the Lord has appeared to anyone since New Testament times. (You may be shocked to hear this, but yes, that is their position.)

Sadly, it is not only Yesupadam’s conversion story that is bogus to the cessationist. Millions of other dramatic testimonies must also be questioned, including the countless Muslims to whom Jesus has appeared in dreams and visions, pointing them to the Scriptures.

To give one case in point, one of the grads from our previous ministry school who has been serving in Iraq for more than a decade, shared this with me firsthand. He met a Muslim woman to whom Jesus had appeared years earlier, telling her to get a Bible. But she had no access to a Bible and didn’t know where to get one.

Years went by, and then she met our missionary. She described to him what Jesus looked like, and he showed her an Arabic Bible, pointing to the description of the risen Christ in Revelation 1. To her absolute shock, that is exactly how she had described the Lord to our grad. Now, when she saw who He was in the Bible, her whole life was rocked.

Once again, the cessationist must protest. “God only speaks through the Bible! The days of dreams and visions have ceased.”

Of course, the Bible itself speaks against that viewpoint categorically, telling us that the Spirit will speak through prophecy, dreams, and visions during the entire period of the last days, meaning from the death and resurrection of Jesus until His return (Acts 2:14-21, 39). 

And Jesus Himself told us that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him (John 10:27; these verbs are present tense and active in the Greek), while Paul wrote of the fellowship we enjoy with the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14).

The truth be told, in the time it has taken me to write this article, the Lord has been speaking to His people, leading His people, healing His people, delivering His people, and making Himself known to the lost in innumerable ways. It is a real cause for rejoicing.

For the cessationist, though, this is not a reason to rejoice. Instead, it is a sign of deception, a proof that Satan, not the Spirit, is at work – unless they simply write everything off as make believe or the product of emotionalism.

Today’s hardline cessationist will not even allow for the Holy Spirit to bring a word of comfort to a mourner, unless it is a direct quotation from the Bible. Some even say that we don’t “experience” God in worship or “feel” the Spirit, since God is omnipresent and anything we “feel” is from our emotions.

From a biblical viewpoint, cessationism is completely indefensible. I’m as sure of that as I am of the nose on my face – and it is a conspicuous nose! And experientially, as the Spirit continues to move powerfully all over the earth, it is becoming harder and harder to defend. 

Simply pointing to charismatic extremes and errors will not stem the tide of the real, glorious, moving of the Spirit. By God’s grace, this tide will flood the lives of our cessationist friends too!

That’s why I was not surprised when a caller to my show expressed his shock at the doctrine of cessationism. He was an African Christian newly located to the States. He had no idea that any Christians denied the continuation of the miraculous gifts for today!

That’s also why I plan to write a book to be released in 2026 on the end of cessationism. The doctrine cannot be argued biblically and soon enough, God willing, it will be a forgotten theological relic of the past. 

Thank God for the outpouring of the Spirit!

Playing With Holy Fire - A Wake-Up Call to the Pentecostal-Charismatic Church

A Friendly Invitation to the Speakers at the G3 Cessationist Conference

Let us as leaders have a respectful, face to face discussion, one where we are able to present our views and respond to relevant questions. And rather than try to score points or win a debate, we will present a discussion with the goal of magnifying Jesus, exalting the Word, and building up the people of God.

A Friendly Invitation to the Speakers at the G3 Cessationist Conference | Articles | The Line of Fire

To all the speakers at the G3 Cessationist Conference and to all those who appeared in the Cessationist movie, I want to give you a personal invitation. 

This is not a challenge, and this is not meant to be a provocation. Instead, this is a genuine, heartfelt invitation for the glory of God and the good of His people, an invitation to enter into a serious public dialogue about the cessationist-continuationist controversy. 

Will you please take a moment to read on?

Since 2013, I have offered to debate any of the speakers from the Strange Fire conference on a simple topic: According to the Scriptures, are the gifts of the Spirit – including tongues and prophecy and healing – normative for today? 

To date, none of the speakers responded to my invitation, although I subsequently had debates with Dr. Sam Waldron, Dr. Theodore Zachariades, and (in more limited form) with my friend and colleague Dr. James White.

Last year, at the invitation of Christianity Today, I wrote an article explaining why I was not a cessationist, offering to debate anyone who appeared in the cessationist movie or would be speaking at the conference. Pastor Andrew Rappaport, a Jewish believer in Jesus, like myself, was the only one to respond to the invitation, as he had participated in a previous, smaller cessationist conference and was a supporter of the movie. He actually reached out to churches in Oklahoma near the site of the upcoming cessationist conference area to see if any of them would be willing to host our debate the night the conference ended, but he got no takers.

Hopefully, Andrew and will be able to conduct that debate for the edification of the Church in the days ahead. 

But for now, I want to offer an alternate proposal to any of the G3 speakers or to those who appeared in the movie: Let’s sit down together one on one in a full-length, non-hurried, non-timed discussion where clarity and understanding is our goal.

We will each lay out our positions in a private setting before video cameras, we will make sure we understand one another’s positions, we will have opportunity to challenge one another’s positions in a gracious way and to respond to those challenges. 

Then, we will post the video for free viewing on our respective social media platforms for everyone to watch and evaluate for themselves. 

Recently, on August 20, I did something similar with a brilliant, ultra-Orthodox rabbi. He and I have been engaging in discussion since 2001, exchanging many hundreds of pages of documents and emails over the years along with countless conversations by phone. We’ve also had some limited YouTube interaction, with each of us posting a series of videos where we responded to one another. 

But this was the first time that we sat together and conducted our discussion in public (it amounted to almost four hours of content), where questions were asked of one another and where greater clarification could come. The response to the video has been overwhelmingly positive. People in both the Jewish and Christian community are benefiting greatly by watching this dialogue and witnessing our respectful interaction. 

How much more could we do this as brothers together in the Lord? 

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, I tried to become a cessationist. I didn't want to be Pentecostal or Charismatic anymore for a number of reasons, and I bought books arguing against the Pentecostal-Charismatic position, also dialoguing privately with those who rejected the charismatic gifts for today. 

But the more I studied the Word, the more I was convinced that there was not a stitch of scriptural support for cessationism. 

In fact, it is my belief that there is not a single verse in the Bible that supports the cessationist position and that the doctrine would have been utterly foreign to the Apostles and to the writers of the New Testament. 

My own view is that cessationism is either based on one’s personal spiritual experiences or bad exegesis or faulty theological presuppositions (or all three). 

You, for your part, feel you have very strong and robust Scriptural arguments against my position. You would also question my interpretation of the Word, my theological presuppositions, and my own spiritual experiences.

Fair enough! That’s why we need to have this discussion: the Body of Christ deserves it.

We will not debate contemporary miracles. 

We will simply discuss one question: What does the Bible say?

Surely, you know that the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement is growing rapidly around the world, with an ever-increasing number of Reformed continuationists as well. 

It is my conviction that there is a powerful, glorious wave of the Spirit sweeping the earth that cannot be stopped, mixed with many destructive excesses and even heresies that must be addressed. (For my relevant 2018 book, see here.)

In your view, this is a dangerous movement that is deceiving many that must be confronted as loudly and clearly as possible lest millions of people are led astray. 

Suffice it to say that the stakes are high!

Let us, then, as leaders with platforms in the Body, have a respectful, face-to-face discussion, one where we will be sure that each of us is satisfied that we have been able to present our views and respond to relevant questions. 

I’m more than happy to use the platforms that God has given me to expose viewers to your position, and I hope that you feel sufficiently confident in your point of view that you would be willing to expose your viewers to my position. And I’m happy to come your way to record or to fly you to North Carolina at my expense to record. We have a great studio and our team is ready to go.

And rather than try to score points or win a debate, we will present a discussion between leaders in the Body with the goal of magnifying Jesus, exalting the Word, and building up the people of God. 

Are you in? You can reach out to me here.

Of course, if you are convinced that I am not a brother, I can only pray for God’s grace to flood your hearts afresh. Be assured that I hold no animosity towards you! I do hope, however, that at least one of you will take me up in this invitation. 

May Jesus be glorified and may we all walk in the fullness of the Spirit for today.

Knowing the Scriptures and Having the Power of the Spirit Are Two Different Things

Have you ever wondered what Jesus said to His 11 disciples when, after His resurrection, “He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45)? These men had already been with Jesus for more than three years, but this day was different. . .

Knowing the Scriptures and Having the Power of the Spirit | Articles | The Line of Fire

Have you ever wondered what Jesus said to His eleven disciples when, after His resurrection, “He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45)? 

These men had been with Jesus for more than three years, hearing His teaching, talking with Him privately about the Word, listening to His debates with the religious leaders. But this day was different. Now their minds were opened, and, more than ever before, the Word was unfolded before them.

What else did they need? The answer can be given in one word: power!

Jesus said to them, “You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what My Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:48-49; see also Acts 1:4-5, 8).

Words alone – even words of Scripture explained by Jesus Himself – were not enough. The power of the Spirit was essential too.

Knowing both God’s Word and God’s power are essential for spiritual soundness and fruitful ministry. Knowing one without the other leads to errors and extremes. 

2-in-1  Whatever Happened to the Power of God -and- It’s Time to Rock the Boat

Could it be that those who urge us to go back to the Word, who tenaciously profess that the Scriptures alone are the final authority of faith and practice, and who sometimes call their churches “Bible churches,” have unwittingly denied important truths that were central to the authors (and Author!) of that very Bible?

Do You Go to a ‘Bible’ Church? | Articles | The Line of Fire

No denomination has it all. No Christian movement has an exclusive corner on the truth. 

No single group can claim to be “it” – to the exclusion of everyone else who has been born into God’s family through faith in Jesus. All of us together make up the Body of Christ, and only together are we complete.

The problem is that we tend to divide over our distinctives, becoming totally closed to anyone who would have anything to teach us in those important – yet touchy! – areas. 

Certainly, the foibles, follies, and flaws of the contemporary charismatic Church have helped those of us who call ourselves “Spirit-filled” to open our ears more widely to our non-charismatic brethren. 

But could it be that the reverse is also true? Could it be that there is some significant error in the non-charismatic camp as well? Or, to get more specific, could it be that those who most zealously hold to the principle of sola scriptura need to learn about this very principle from those whom they judge to be dangerously subjective and even unbiblical? 

Could it be that those who urge us to go back to the Word, who tenaciously profess that the Scriptures alone are the final authority of faith and practice, and who sometimes call their churches “Bible churches,” have unwittingly denied important truths that were central to the authors (and Author!) of that very Bible...?

An Honest Question for the Critics of ‘NAR’ (the New Apostolic Reformation)

This article is not meant to provoke or insult or demean or antagonize or gaslight. Instead, it is meant to help readers understand why I continue to say that the “NAR” of the critics does not exist. 

Remember that I freely acknowledge the existence of the New Apostolic Reformation as articulated by Peter Wagner and, in certain ways, spearheaded by him....

An Honest Question for the Critics of ‘NAR’ (the New Apostolic Reformation) | Articles | AskDrBrown

This article is not meant to provoke or insult or demean or antagonize or gaslight. Instead, it is meant to help readers understand why I continue to say that the “NAR” of the critics does not exist. 

Remember that I freely acknowledge the existence of the New Apostolic Reformation as articulated by Peter Wagner and, in certain ways, spearheaded by him.

I freely acknowledge that I have been a member and leader in the US Coalition of Apostolic Leaders (USCAL), but only after the name was changed from Apostles to Apostolic Leaders, which was subsequent to Dr. Wagner’s involvement.

I freely acknowledge that I believe in the ongoing ministry of apostles and prophets in the church, holding to the view that there have been apostles and prophets operating in the Church throughout history, even if not called by those names.

I freely acknowledge that I am friends with men like Lou Engle, Randy Clark, and Sid Roth.

I freely acknowledge that I am an unashamed Pentecostal-Charismatic, that I have spoken in tongues since January 24, 1972, and that I will gladly debate any qualified leader or scholar on the continuation of the gifts of the Spirit.

Why, then, do I say that the “NAR” of the critics is a fiction?

On December 12, I’m scheduled to interview historian Matthew D. Taylor on my Line of Fire broadcast. 

Dr. Taylor is one of the hosts of the podcast called “Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation,” as well as the author of a forthcoming book The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that Is Threatening Our Democracy. He believes that there is a direct connection between the events of January 6 and the New Apostolic Reformation founded by Dr. Wagner.

That’s what we’ll be focusing on in our interview, and while we definitely have some profound differences, we do share a number of common (and serious) concerns. 

Interestingly, in light of his investigative research, which included direct access to Dr. Wagner’s archives (including personal emails and much more), Dr. Taylor has come to recognize that I myself am not part of NAR. He also recognizes that men like Randy Clark are not part of NAR. And, like me, he takes issue with the scholarly methodology of some of the principal critics of the wider “NAR,” while acknowledging some nuggets of truth in their work, as I also do.

In Dr. Taylor’s own words, if you search online for NAR: 

“You’ll find websites with literally thousands of names indexed of different Christian leaders who are supposedly part of ‘the NAR.’ … You will find writing about the New Apostolic Reformation that sounds like stuff out of a bad conspiracy novel - where NAR leaders are spookily manipulating political leaders like some sort of Charismatic Illuminati.”

“You will also find people, reputable people, journalists, scholars, people who’ve done their research, pushing back and say, ‘Yes, there is such a thing as the NAR’ and they can marshal a lot of evidence, much of it coming from Peter Wagner’s writing and associations.”

It is the former “NAR” whose existence I deny, the NAR that has become the charismatic boogeyman lurking behind every controversial tree, the global network allegedly numbering hundreds of millions of Christians, poised to take over the world. It is the “NAR” that is described so differently by different critics that many of the descriptions are mutually contradictory.

To cite one example out of many, one critical website claims to offer “The Six Hallmarks of a NAR Church.” 

“We’re in a ‘Second Apostolic Age.’ There are new Apostles are on the earth today, anointed by the laying of hands to represent and speak for God here on Earth. These ‘Super Apostles’ are equal to the original Apostles – the ones who witnessed Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and were appointed by Christ Himself to the office. Since these new apostles are commissioned by God, their authority may not be questioned.”

Personally, I don’t know a single apostolic leader who claims to be equal to the original Apostles, and I don’t know any who claim their authority cannot be questioned. In all circles I work with, such attitudes would be flatly rebuked. Yet we’re told this is the very first hallmark of a “NAR” Church. Some “apostles” might claim this kind of authority, but that would exclude all the leaders I partner with.

“Rather than preach the Gospel of the cross, Apostolic leaders are working to bring the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven to Earth. They do this by taking dominion of earthly kingdoms or ‘mountains’ of government, media, entertainment, education, business, family, and religion. Leaders often talk of city building and organize prayer walks to pray against demonic strongholds. They often speak of being mission-focused rather than being Christ-centered.”

This too is a gross exaggeration, although some of it is true in terms of dominion theology, a theology I strongly reject. What is false here is the notion that “NAR” leaders are not Christ-centered and do not preach the gospel of the cross. It’s also false to group under “NAR” those churches that believe in prayer walks, that speak of being mission focused (which does not mean they are not Christ-centered), and that believe in praying against demonic strongholds. That takes in a wide variety of quite unrelated churches and movements.

I think you can already see how these descriptions are, on the one hand, way too vague, and on the other hand, highly exaggerated. How does this help someone genuinely seeking to understand the meaning of “NAR”?

“Though members are not always charismatic, they frequently emphasize a manifestation of ‘Glory’ and ‘God’s presence,’ and often have a special anointing to receive direct revelation from God, perform healings and other signs and wonders. They teach that our purpose is to achieve our dream destiny so that we can change the world.”

Did you get that? If you emphasize God’s presence in your corporate services or your private prayer life, you’re probably NAR. If you believe the Spirit is still speaking and healing, you’re probably NAR. If you believe that God wants to use you, as a follower of Jesus, to be a world changer, you’re probably NAR.

Once again, you can see how utterly unhelpful and confusing such definitions are, especially when you remember that day and night, we hear about the dangers of “NAR.”

“Revival on a massive scale is key in this movement. There is a strong emphasis on an ‘end times harvest’ through a great awakening that we can usher in. Often these revivals are held in stadiums and reach millions around the world via live stream technology; they are marketed and produced like rock concerts. All scripture verses about an end times falling away are ignored, and get replaced with hyped-up claims about the Next Big Thing that's always just around the corner.”

Again, aside from gross exaggerations, such as, “All scripture verses about an end times falling away are ignored,” this description indicts countless thousands of churches worldwide that have been praying for revival and believing for a great end-time harvest for decades (even while recognizing that there will be falling away as well). This also indicts the hundreds of millions of believers who have prayed and believed for revival and a great end-time harvest throughout church history. This also indicts much of the world missions movement, along with many postmillennialists who are even anti-charismatic.

“Unity (at the expense of biblical doctrine) is almost always used as both the how and the why in this movement. Unity for the sake of bringing Heaven to Earth is leading to the blurring of doctrinal and denominational lines, often bringing together well-known leaders of charismatic, reformed, Word of Faith, seeker-emergent, progressive and Roman Catholics churches, all under one umbrella.”

Again, I don’t work with anyone who believes in unity at the expense of essential doctrines. But hopefully we all believe in unity around Jesus despite secondary doctrinal issues. As for this being a description of “NAR,” notice now that this becomes the umbrella for “well-known leaders of charismatic, reformed, Word of Faith, seeker-emergent, progressive and Roman Catholics churches.” It looks like everything is NAR! 

6. NAR DENIES THE SUFFICIENCY OF SCRIPTURE. 

“NAR adherents may believe in the inerrancy and authority of the Bible, but God’s breathed-out Word is just not enough for them. Jesus’ sacrificial death for our sins is not good enough; the promise of eternal life in Heaven is not good enough.”

Having served the Lord now for the last 52 years, having worked with hundreds of thousands of leaders and believers worldwide, having ministered outside the United States on roughly 200 trips along with preaching throughout America, having taught at dozens of ministry schools and seminaries, to my knowledge, not a single person I have worked with would affirm this statement. Yet, we’re told, this is a hallmark of a NAR Church.

The truth be told, I don’t personally know a single church that would affirm all six of these alleged “hallmarks.” Of what use are they?

You might say, “But you’re cherry picking. You chose a ridiculous, hyper-critical website rather than a reliable one.”

I would reply that, first, plenty of people do believe what is on this site, and second, how does one know which is the real “NAR” and which is not? Or who are the reliable critics and who are not?

So, once again, I come back to my initial question.

Why do I deny the existence of “NAR” (let alone by being an alleged leader in “NAR”) when I so freely affirm apostolic ministry today, when I recognize the existence of Dr. Wagner’s NAR, and when I am an unashamed Pentecostal-Charismatic?

It is because the “NAR” of the critics is a fiction, and a dangerous one at that. For that reason, my appeal remains the same. 

Ditch the unhelpful terminology, give up the exaggerated, fear-mongering, click-bait posts, and focus on actual abuses and problems. Then we can get some constructive work done for the glory of God and the good of His people.

Why Reformed Cessationists Should NOT Quote Church History to Support Their Position

Although it is common for my Calvinist, non-charismatic friends to point to church history in support of their cessationist position, it’s really a mistake for them to do so. A big mistake. Church history actually works AGAINST them...

Why Reformed Cessationists Should Not Quote Church History to Support Their Position | Articles | AskDrBrown

Although it is common for my Calvinist, non-charismatic friends to point to church history in support of their cessationist position, it’s really a mistake for them to do so. 

Church history actually works against them.

The first reason is the most obvious. Reformed cessationists, like me, are in the Protestant, rather than Catholic, camp of the church. That means that we believe that, in some very fundamental ways, much of the church lost its way through history, because of which a massive reformation was needed. Many Reformed Christians even argue that Roman Catholics are not Christians at all, meaning that roughly half of all professing Christians today are de facto disqualified.

On what basis, then, does a Reformed cessationist appeal to church history, when so much of that history is rejected from the outset? 

If the argument is that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit which were normative in New Testament times gradually disappeared from church history, what do these cessationists do with Roman Catholic miracles through the centuries? They must reject them as counterfeits or frauds. As a result, they appeal to church history while rejecting large portions of that history that violate their narrative. 

And on what basis can a Reformed cessationist argue against God restoring something that was lost in light of the whole premise of the Reformation? Pentecostals and charismatics believe that, even though there was definitely a decrease in the use of these miraculous gifts at certain points in church history, there is no doubt that they have been powerfully restored in the last 150 years.

Yet it is the very essence of Protestantism to argue that, in much larger ways, things that were part of the early church were subsequently lost to history, only to be recovered by Luther and the other reformers. As British theologian Andrew Wilson rightly noted, 

“this sort of argument - that, since something gradually disappeared from the church over the course of the first two or three centuries, it must therefore be invalid - should strike any five sola Protestant as providing several hostages to fortune.”

As one popular website states, the Reformation slogan, ecclesia reformata, semper reformand, “the church reformed, always being reformed,” is meant to ensure “that our hearts, lives, and practices are being reformed by God’s Word.” That’s what we have been calling for for decades: let us continually reform our practices, beliefs, and attitudes by what is written in the Word. 

A second reason why church history works against Reformed cessationists is that there is clear testimony that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit did not cease with the death of the apostles.

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho (written around 160 A.D.): “For the prophetical gifts remain with us, even to the present time.”

Irenaeus of Lyon in Against Heresies (180 A.D.): “For some do certainly and truly drive out devils, so that those who have thus been cleansed from evil spirits frequently both believe, and join themselves to the Church. Others have foreknowledge of things to come: they see visions, and utter prophetic expressions. Others still, heal the sick by laying their hands upon them, and they are made whole. Yea, moreover, as I have said, the dead even have been raised up, and remained among us for many years. . . . We do also hear many brethren in the Church, who possess prophetic gifts, and who through the Spirit speak all kinds of languages.” 

Basil the Great (350 A.D.): “The Spirit enlightens all, inspires prophets, gives wisdom to lawmakers, consecrates priests, empowers kings, perfects the just, exalts the prudent, is active in gifts of healing, gives life to the dead, frees those in bondage, turns foreigners into adopted sons.”

The position of Augustine (354-430) is often quoted, as he “stated quite specifically that Christians are not to look for continuance of the healing gift” (in the words of Morton Kelsey, Healing and Christianity). He also stated that the gift of tongues had ceased in his Homilies on the First Epistle of John.

But Augustine decidedly changed his views while completing his magnum opus, The City of God. 

Charismatic/ Spiritual Gifts

Were the 'Trump Prophets' Right After All?

The Lasting Fruit of a True Move of God

The Sad State of Contemporary Cessationism

A Friendly Invitation to the Speakers at the G3 Cessationist Conference

Knowing the Scriptures and Having the Power of the Spirit Are Two Different Things

Do You Go to a ‘Bible’ Church?

An Honest Question for the Critics of ‘NAR’ (the New Apostolic Reformation)

Why Reformed Cessationists Should NOT Quote Church History to Support Their Position

The Fine Lines that Separate Faith from Fantasy and from Presumption

Why We Wrote Our Statement on ‘NAR’ and Christian Nationalism

A Collective Leadership Statement on the 'New Apostolic Reformation' (NAR) and 'Christian Nationalism'

Staying on Mission: A Lesson From the Pentecostal Charismatic Movement

How to Have a Constructive Conversation about ‘NAR’ (the New Apostolic Reformation)

‘According to Your Faith’

A Friendly Word to My ‘Cautiously Charismatic’ Colleagues

Sickness Is an Enemy

Are You Suffering from Prophetic Burnout?

A Unified Call for Prophetic Accountability

Prophecies are NOT Simply Newspaper Headlines in Advance

Who or What Is a False Prophet?

Don’t Despise Prophecy

A Strong Appeal to Those Who Prophesied Trump’s Reelection

Slobbering in the Spirit

Does 'Believe the Prophets' Apply to Us TODAY?

The Essence of the Spirit of Prophecy

Some Practical Thoughts on Contemporary Prophetic Ministry

This is a Great Time to Test Contemporary Prophetic Words

Is the ‘7 Mountains Mandate’ Biblical or Heretical?

Sex Symbols Who 'Speak in Tongues?'

The Shocking Difference Between Pentecostal Pastors and ‘Mainline’ Pastors

An Appeal to Holly Pivec and Prof. Doug Geivett to Separate Yourselves from the Hyper-Critics

Dispelling the Myths About NAR (the New Apostolic Reformation)

So Many Charismatic Casualties

Gullibility, the Great Sin of the Charismatic Church

Did God Send a Prophet to Rebuke John MacArthur?

Justin Peters, Benny Hinn, and the Pursuit Of Truth

Are We Charismatics Doing Enough to Correct Abuses in Our Midst?

A Great Big Blind Spot

Authentic Fire vs. Strange Fire: It's Not about Winning an Argument

A Final Appeal to Pastor John MacArthur on the Eve of His 'Strange Fire' Conference