ANGELS OR DEMONS?

By Berit Kjos
July 6, 2008

NewsWithViews.com

"I went into a trance-like state and I saw... the angel of finance.... In that trance I experienced one of heaven’s realities and then that experience became a reality here on earth.... http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/2003/ ... .htm#magic I found myself in a treasure room in heaven. The only item in this room was gold coins, and I began stuffing those coins into my pockets until they were falling out." [1] http://www.newswithviews.com/BeritKjos/kjos91.htm#_ftn1 Todd Bentley

"... my spirit guides, Jesus and Mamacita, where with me, teaching me to overcome the lower spiritual entities. Now, during the many hours spent in meditation waves of light and peace would flow over me...."[2,p.85] Joanna Michaelson, The Beautiful Side of Evil

"... false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. But take heed...." Mark 13:22-23

What's driving Todd Bentley? Why do thousands of people flock to his revival meetings?

Some reasons are obvious. Many seek healing, financial success, spiritual experiences and sensual thrills. After all, Bentley puts on quite a show! Known for his heavenly visions, http://www.etpv.org/2003/angho.html angelic "partners," http://www.etpv.org/2003/angho.html mystical tattoos, http://forum.narrowistheway.org/viewtop ... 992#p12992 and irreverent "teaching," he makes them laugh. One of his many Youtube performances includes this outrageous dialogue with an unbiblical "God":

"The woman was standing in the back of the room when the faith of God hit the meeting, and her tumor exploded out of her right leg, slid down her leg onto the floor! ... [God] said, '...I want you to grab that lady's crippled legs and bang them up-and-down on the platform like a baseball bat.' [loud laughter] ... I grabbed her legs, and I started going, BAM! BAM! ...banging them.... She got healed!...

"And there is this older lady worshipping right in front of the platform. And the Holy Spirit spoke to me; the gift of faith came on me. He said, 'Kick her in the face with your biker-boot..'... I went like this [kicks and shouts] BAM! And just as my boot made contact with her nose, she fell under the power of God." [3] http://www.newswithviews.com/BeritKjos/kjos91.htm#_ftn3 [laughter]

"You will know them by their fruit," said Jesus. (Mt 7:16) But the genuine "fruit of the Spirit" http://www.crossroad.to/HisWord/verses/ ... .htm#fruit (God's love, goodness, gentleness...) was missing from this brutal show. http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/?p=951 God's warnings are becoming increasingly relevant:

"The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; and My people love to have it so!" Jer 5:30-31

COUNTERFEIT ANGELS AND DEMONIC VISIONS

Bentley is no stranger to demonic forces. "...twenty-five demons were cast out of me," he said in one of the many videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtSK9TyduR4 that document his teachings. "...and when I first got saved the demonic started showing up unlike anything that I had seen even before I became a Christian.... I came out of everything involved with the demonic especially in the whole world of music and satanic music." [Transcription] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtSK9TyduR4

Yet the supernatural realm remained central to his ministry, and during one of his "heavenly" visions, Bentley met an "angel" named Emma. http://www.answers.com/topic/emma-1Bentley described their first encounter in his article "Angelic Hosts." http://www.etpv.org/2003/angho.html

"In the middle of the service... in walks Emma. ... She floated a couple of inches off the floor... emitting brilliant light and colors. Emma carried these bags and began pulling gold out of them. Then, as she walked up and down the aisles of the church, she began putting gold dust on people. 'God, what is happening?' I asked. The Lord answered: 'She is releasing the gold, which is both the revelation and the financial breakthrough that I am bringing into this church.'" [4] http://www.newswithviews.com/BeritKjos/kjos91.htm#_ftn4

That's not our holy God! Yet, "Thousands of leaders and pastors have received impartation," wrote Bentley in his Personal Message. http://www.freshfire.ca/index.php?Id=1055&pid=993 "This anointing is very contagious..."

Yes, and the Bible warned us it would happen: "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth." 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10

THE BEAUTIFUL SIDE OF EVIL

Back in the eighties I read "The Beautiful Side of Evil" by Johanna Michaelsen. For many years she was caught up in the occult, yet she believed that the "angels" who reached out to her were servants of God, not Satan. One of those "angels" sounds strangely similar to Bentley's "floating" angel, Emma:

"[She was] beautiful with flowing hair and robes of shimmering dark blue spangled with tiny stars.... She took me by the shoulders and gently kissed me on the forehead.... 'Welcome, my child,' she said. Then she turned and floated back through the wall as she had come. I have never experienced such joy, such light and peace, such unspeakable ecstasy. I was on the right path at last."[2,p.83]

No, she was tricked! Masquerading as an "angel of light," Satan http://www.crossroad.to/charts/sin&satan.html used her feel-good experiences to deepen the deception. Through those painful years, Johanna's "fellowship" with demons brought her indescribable depression and despair. The enchanting moments of light were fleeting, while fear and confusion darkened her days. And she would continue to suffer under that cruel master until, in His perfect time, God would set her free.

MESMERIZING THE MASSES

To alter her consciousness and connect with these entities, Johanna used meditation, visualization, concentration -- and the repetitive beat of a metronome. Bentley's tools are different but just as effective. Like tribal shamans, http://www.crossroad.to/Books/YourChild ... NA-16.html he uses loud rhythmic sounds http://www.crossroad.to/Books/YourChild ... NA-15.html (drums, etc.), then adds repetitious words and hypnotic music. Pastor Gary Osborne described it in his article, "Revival" in Lakeland, Florida: http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/08/di ... ival-1.htm

"The phrase 'stir yourselves up' was used repeatedly.... A woman led in prayer for the service and ... told the people to 'roar like a lion!' ... People everywhere shouted at the top of their lungs.... This same lady was jerking and twitching.... There was also much talk of 'birthing' and 'signs and wonders.'... People were swaying and dancing.... There was a very sensual spirit....

"People seemed to be in a trance http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/?p=856 all around me. If the worship leader said, 'raise your hands' everyone did so immediately. If he said, 'drop to your knees' they did.... He tells the people to say to God, 'Intoxicate me, Lord.... Now the people are getting truly wild and the leader says, 'Scream!!!'... Finally the worship leader falls to the floor himself." [5] http://www.newswithviews.com/BeritKjos/kjos91.htm#_ftn5

SIGNS, WONDERS AND MYSTICAL HEALINGS

"The glory of God is intense," wrote Bentley in a second Personal Message. http://www.freshfire.ca/index.php?Id=1055&pid=993 "[M]iracles continue - tumors disappearing nightly, cancers and deaf ears being healed. It has been reported that more than 55 people in wheelchairs are receiving their healing. Another remarkable turn of events - 13 reported resurrections!"

A male "angel" named "Healing Revival" [6] http://www.newswithviews.com/BeritKjos/kjos91.htm#_ftn6 worked with Bentley in many past healings: "When He comes," said Bentley, "I get... the ability to diagnose people's sicknesses with my left hand.... I get very accurate details from God.... And whenever this angel shows up the miracles go off the charts." [4]

Bentley claims that six angels operated on him during one of his heavenly visions. He saw "a Pillar of fire" rise up through the roof of a church. When "God" told him to "get into the Pillar," he complied -- and landed on an operating table in heaven. Six angels tied him down and began surgery: "[T]hey pick this thing up... and they stuck it in me right here on my neck and it didn’t hurt.... they went right down to my lowards and all of a sudden ... everything inside of me popped out onto the table, my heart, my liver -- like everything.... [T]he angels start taking these white boxes… and they start stuffing these things inside of me... and I heard the verse 'I desire truth in the inward parts.'â€