17AR22-30

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AR 22:30 - The convoluted case for the "seer anointing"

In this issue:

NEOPENTECOSTALISM - the so-called "seer anointing"

Apologia Report 22:30 (1,350)

August 3, 2017

NEOPENTECOSTALISM

In "Demystifying the Seer Anointing" Jenny Rose Curtis discusses "the divine revelations that mark the seer anointing" an introduction to what she describes as "a coming move in the prophetic realm that outweighs all former moves" (which would apparently include "moves" like Holy Laughter and the Latter Rain). Recognizing the potential for repeated error, Curtis warns that "the confusion often swirling around the seer anointing can be inhibiting at best - and heretical at worst." Unfortunately, she adds little to address an endemic curse within the movement. Heretical charismatic and Pentecostal teachings are too often ignored, seldom acknowledged, and rarely repented of among those who have promoted them over the years.

"So what is the seer anointing, really, and how does it function? What is the purpose of a modern-day seer? How do seers differ from prophets, or do they?" Curtis acknowledges that "Some balk at the word 'seer,' as it can bring occult practices to mind. But divination is only the third definition Merriam-Webster offers for 'seer.' The first two definitions are: 'one who sees' and 'one that predicts events or developments; a person credited with extraordinary moral and spiritual insight."

James Goll, president of Encounters Network <godencounters.com>, says that "the biblical definition of a seer goes even deeper," even though the New Testament "does not contain the term 'seer,' but it is common in the Old Testament. Indeed, prophets were called seers before they were called prophets (1 Sam. 9:9).

"Although all seers are prophets, not all prophets are seers. The distinction lies in the way the two receive and release God's voice on earth. ...

"The anointing's purpose is to build up the body of Christ, just like any other manifestation of prophetic ministry." Curtis suggests that a seer bestows authentication. "Seers, then, provide clarity of God's will. ... 'Christians need to have a firm foundation and say, "No, this is what the Lord says," no matter what.'" according to the seer Ana Werner. "Goll agrees. He says the role of a seer is to prepare God's people to respond to what He is saying or doing at any given time. ...

"Goll explains that in 1948 - the year Israel became a nation - the Holy Spirit brought an emergence of the prophetic.

"In that movement, there were two distinct prophetic streams: the seer-prophet and the *naba* prophet. [Curtis only mentions that "the Hebrew word for 'prophet' is *naba,*" but makes no other distinction.] 'One was called the Latter Rain movement and the other was more called [sic] the healing evangelist, the healing deliverance,' he says. 'The people, they operated differently, but they were both prophetic streams.'

"The Latter Rain movement helped restore the biblical precedent of the prophecy of the presbytery - a collection of gifted elders or leaders who pick an individual and then pray over them, Goll explains. Among the stream of prominent seer-prophets were William Branham, Kenneth Hagin, [and] Oral Roberts....

"The movement flourished and subsided, only to re-emerge 40 years later - this time marked by fervent intercession. 'It was part of a rebirth in 1988 in Kansas City ... of this particular seer stream with Mike Bickle, Bob Jones, Paul Cain, John Paul Jackson,' Goll says. 'And then it interacted, it networked with Rick Joyner and others.'

"Bishop Bill Hamon with Christian International in the Florida panhandle along with the Ohio Prophetic Conference offered a collective stream of the prophetic at that time. The distinct pockets operated differently but still functioned under the same Spirit.

"With the next 40-year marker drawing near, Goll says he sees the two prophetic streams beginning to merge in what he calls a 'cross-pollination between seers and *naba* prophets.' ...

"As the church continues to stir up the seer gift, [Jennifer Eivaz, executive pastor with Harvest Christian Center in Turlock, California] says the need for discernment rises, because 'there's always going to be a counterfeit.' Because of this, she stresses the importance of staying in close fellowship with a community of mature believers - such as a local church or a school for prophets - who have permission to judge one another's prophetic words and visions.

"But the most important way to judge a revelation is to measure it against the Scriptures. Goll says seers must do two things after receiving revelation: pray and take it to the Word. 'Does [the revelation] bear good fruit?' he says. 'That takes time to observe. Does it create a culture of faith or a culture of fear?' ...

"Above all, Werner encourages growing seers not to lose heart if they make mistakes or are still weak in the gift. Maturity in the anointing may take time to achieve, but seeking the Lord with a steadfast heart is the key." Charisma, Mar '17, pp30-34.

It's been a long time since we encountered a more significant example of the chronic lack of accountability that frequently characterizes today's charismatic/Pentecostal movement. That Curtis refers to William Branham without qualification or warning is among the most obvious of many problems here. Sadly, the evangelical church typically ignores these errors and seldom offers a sound, biblical response.

Rafael Martinez and his team of Pentecostals with Spiritwatch Ministries considers James Goll one of the most abysmally dubious leaders of the so-called "prophetic movement" today who, in the article above, has given a tired and tragic rehashing of extrabiblical teachings that have been repudiated by biblically grounded Charismatics and Pentecostals during the period Goll calls a refreshing of "prophetic streams."

Martinez finds that Goll's cavalier mischaracterization of the Latter Rain movement — positioning it as a restoration of "biblical precedent" — twists the history of its abusive and autocratic manipulation. Curtis boldly sets it forth as a framework for understanding this so-called "seer anointing." Almost every major Latter Rain error - the teaching of "seers" who practice "impartation of the anointing," reliance upon "divine revelation" for guidance instead of objective BIblical precepts, and a radical denial of the priesthood of all believers through a presumptuous claim to authority by "seer and 'naba' prophets" - is reflected here.

Special thanks to Spiritwatch <www.spiritwatch.org> a ministry team of Pentecostals, for helping us assemble the following list of resources:

Branhamism - <www.goo.gl/D4aABj> <www.goo.gl/hFJeEh>

Holy Laughter - <www.goo.gl/vf5v7y>

Latter Rain - <www.goo.gl/BsWBwC> <www.goo.gl/Tpwjzn>

The doctrine of "impartation" - <www.goo.gl/9TFuVz>

The "five fold ministry" - <www.goo.gl/Z4dgDS>

The "Kansas City" movement - <www.goo.gl/64qvqn>

Mike Bickle - <www.goo.gl/qVDmDQ>

Paul Cain - <www.goo.gl/B5k6qU>

Rick Joyner - <www.goo.gl/dZXGC7>

Bill Hamon - <www.goo.gl/vkn8si>

Kenneth Hagin - <www.goo.gl/4V11eS>

Oral Roberts - - <www.goo.gl/G3Kqp4>

The "New Apostolic Reformation" - <www.spiritoferror.org>

You may also find it helpful to search <www.apologeticsindex.org> for more information about the terms noted above. Last, visit <www.goo.gl/fy1PY7> for a review neopentecostalism in our back issues.

POSTSCRIPT, Aug 26 '17: Also see <www.goo.gl/4PpNrR>

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