this event. The mid-1800s was also a period that saw the rise of a number of Millennial groups that believed their job was to warn people to “Repent for the End is Nigh!” But the advent of the specter of nuclear war since the 1950s has fueled an explosion in the number of ministries that have, as their primary emphasis, the promotion of the prophetic speculations of their founders. The financial success of the Left Behind series of books and movies is evidence of the fascination of the masses, including those with no church affiliation, with the possibility that we are, indeed, living in the End Times.
Word Faith Movement
Throughout much of the history of Christianity, living modestly and frugally, and patiently enduring suffering, have often been considered signs of true spirituality. Only the relative affluence of late 20th century America could have spawned a movement that literally insists that it is God’s intention for every believer to be perpetually healthy and wealthy. The opulent TV studio sets populated by Word Faith evangelists, sometimes looking more like the gaudy décor of a brothel in the Old West than a modern living room, seem to give hope to those watching. If only they can appropriate the same formulas of faith used by these endlessly cheerful performers, they too can drive a Rolls and wear a Rolex!
Healing Ministries Movement
If one were to believe all the claims of some of the preachers in the Healing Ministries Movement, it would be puzzling why there are any hospitals left. There’d be no need for them. All that would be necessary would be for the Healing Evangelist to come hold Miracle Healing Explosions in hospital parking lots across the land, and have the staffs wheel out all the patients for an encounter with the “Man with God’s Anointing.” Unfortunately, years of investigation by sincere researchers have been unable to substantiate the grandiose claims of astonishing miracles of healing that have created huge followings for many of these preachers.
Hebrew Roots Movement
Jesus Christ of Nazareth was born into a Jewish family. His disciples were all Jewish, as were almost all the people he preached to throughout his ministry years. In order to understand some of the circumstances described in both the Old and New Testaments, and some of the analogies and metaphors used by Jesus, it would obviously be helpful to know what Jewish society was like in New Testament times, as well as what Israelite society was like in Old Testament times. Those involved in the Hebrew Roots Movement are convinced that teaching about the “Hebrew Roots of Jesus” (sometimes called the “Jewish Roots of Jesus”) has been sadly lacking in most churches. So, all across America, former Protestant ministers are giving themselves the title “Rabbi” instead of “Reverend,” and starting “Messianic Assemblies.” Their gatherings may feature “Hebraic” music, blowing ram’s horn shofars, wearing prayer shawls, learning Hebrew, studying the teachings of the historical rabbis such as those in the Talmud, and more. Although this movement had very little influence outside limited circles a decade ago, it has taken off in popularity in recent years. Hebrew Roots teachings are showing up in all sorts of strange settings—including in programs on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. Some Charismatics are even referring to the Hebrew Roots Movement as the “Fourth Wave” of restoration of the Full Gospel.
The Who’s Who Digest chapter includes many names of men and women who are involved in one or the other of these movements. In fact, it is becoming more and more common for individuals to be involved in more than one. For indeed, the teachers and preachers who are leaders in these movements have begun cross-pollinating, yielding many strange new hybrid breeds of religious diversity in the Wild World of Religion.
Chapter 9
End Times Prophecy Movement
The Claims
A growing number of ministries, groups, and individual teachers are dedicated to promoting the message that we are living in the last generation before the Return of Christ. They have widely divergent teachings concerning the details of just how current world conditions and events fit into the biblical scenario of “the End Times.” But they all agree that “prophecy is being fulfilled daily,” and that it is extremely important for Christians to be able to understand “the times in which they live.” They believe it is so important that they are convinced that sharing their own version of prophetic speculation ought to be an integral part of the preaching of the Gospel.
Although most denominations, religious groups, and Bible teachers have a specific point of view about some of the debatable issues of Bible prophecy, most give a fairly low priority to coverage of this topic in the bigger scheme of their belief system. Those groups, teachers, and ministries that are a part of the general End Times Prophecy Movement, on the other hand, place issues of Bible prophecy squarely in the middle of the reason for the existence of their group or their ministry. Although they may address other issues of biblical doctrine and Christian living principles, such topics are in the minority in their teaching recordings, magazine articles, television and radio programs, personal appearances at seminars and conventions, and on their websites. It is not usually their teaching of the Bible in general that attracts new prospective supporters, but rather their prophetic speculation schemes. And although their listeners and supporters may adopt their perspective on a variety of other doctrinal matters, it is the prophecy teaching that establishes the credibility of such teachers in the minds of their followers.
The Allure
We live in a world full of turmoil. Especially since the events of 9/11/01, many people have much less of a sense of basic security than they have ever experienced before. More and more are fearful, not just of specific problems such as terrorist acts or wars, but of “the unknown” in general. The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon made it clear that there are forces in the world that could conspire to unleash the “totally unexpected” in a way never before experienced in the U.S..
Into this swirling uncertainty step teachers who claim to have The Keys to unlocking a future that is certain. They claim to be able to unveil the future so that their followers can have the assurance of knowing what’s next in the unfolding of history. Even though not one of them agrees totally with any other one of them regarding the details of these keys or the process of this unveiling, that makes little difference to those who are attracted to each one. For few people ever bother to compare the teachings of a wide variety of these teachers and groups. It is typical for an individual Bible student to be attracted to just one source of prophetic teaching, and to invest all of his/her energy into absorbing every bit of minutia put out by that one source.
They are usually not disappointed. Most End Times Prophecy ministries put out an endless stream of “amazing information”—at least once a month in a newsletter, perhaps once a week if they have a regular television show, and even more frequently if they have a website. This adds to their allure for those who wish to be constantly reassured with new evidence that their chosen prophecy guru is able to open the secrets of the Bible in regard to the times in which we live. In addition, the fact that they are kept in the know by their guru may give them a sense that they are among an elite group that has the special favor of God. Many such teachers feed this sense by affirming that their ministry is so important to the “Plan of God” for the world that supporters of that ministry are, indeed, part of what might be termed a Spiritual Special Forces brigade.
Concerns
The primary purpose of prophecy in the Bible, even predictive prophecy, is to clarify to specific people what God plans to do to them or for them—based upon their own actions. The focus is not on the event that may come, but on the hearts of the people involved. Nations whose leadership and citizenry are involved
