"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits
whether they are of God: because many
false prophets are gone out into the world."
(1 John 4:1)
This is the story of a journey. An odyssey of discovery and a quest for truth. What is found along the way is that something which, to an uninformed observer, would as like as not appear to be clear inviting water sparkling in the sunshine, upon careful analysis reveals itself to actually contain full many a hidden deadly toxin. Streams when traced can show themselves to flow, as Valerie here carefully recounts, from the most heavily polluted of springs...
The Mystery of the Polluted Spring
Once upon a time there was a man called Charles Dodgson. We know him as Lewis Carroll. He wrote, among other things "Alice in Wonderland" - originally "Alice's Adventures Underground" - and later on "Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There".
On the left is a glass sculpture of “Alice Through the Looking Glass”, by Jeanne Argent. It is located in Guildford, near the house that Dodgson used to rent.
The right hand picture is one of John Tenniel's illustrations for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
In Alice in Wonderland, seven year old Alice falls down a rabbit hole/well to the centre of the earth and drinks from a mystery bottle which changes her size. In "Through the Looking Glass" on the other hand she moves through a mirror into a back to front world. Either way, she meets some pretty odd characters, such as a hookah smoking caterpillar and a mad Hatter, and reads a gruesome nonsense poem about a Jabberwock.
Below is John Tenniel’s illustration of the Jabberwock. Possibly inspired by Darwin, he gave it some dinosaur body parts. Some people link the modern word “dinosaur” to dragons. The Jabberwock is certainly a ghastly beast and used to frighten me as a child.
The author in question presented as an orthodox Christian but was interested in psychical research, Homeopathy, Rosicrucianism and Theosophy - "esoteric Buddhism" - which is definitely occult.
His writing may or may not have been influenced by opium and absinthe - a highly alcoholic spirit termed "the green fairy", which leads to lucid drunkenness. Absinthe contains a small amount of wormwood oil "Artemisia absinthium", which has a bitter taste and is a psychoactive toxin. Depending on the quantity consumed it can cause seizures, hallucinations and death.
Above are pictures from Wikipedia articles on Absinthe: “Albert Maignan's Green Muse (1895: a poet succumbs to the Green Fairy)" and Thujone: "Research-grade Thujone". Thujone is the chemical compound in wormwood.
Why are you telling me all this?
Well, I have a very odd mystery, which somehow connects to the above and leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.
It all started, innocuously enough, with an internet search on John Paul Jackson, now deceased, whose 'expertise' on prophecy was being used to suggest Donald Trump is destined for the White House. Who was Jackson and could he be trusted? Short answer: No. His theology was dubious so even if his predictions come to pass, he is not to be followed!
As the Bible says in Deuteronomy chapter 13 (King James Version):
1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
John Paul Jackson was one of the "Kansas City Prophets" and connected to "IHOP" - International House of Prayer. (If googling, note it's not the U.S. fast food chain!)
As one does, I next googled "IHOP" and looked at their map of the world to see where their prayer houses were. I was interested that they had one marker for Wales: Ffald y Brenin - which I had come across before because of concerns over Celtic mysticism and a teaching on "blessing" which just didn't seem to be right. Each of these prayer places was marked by a red flame on a rectangular red base.
I also saw it was linked to a British based organisation "24-7 Prayer". Being curious, I pursued this link. It seemed joined at the hip to IHOP and was based at Eastgate Gardens, Guildford. When I put this address into google maps I couldn't find it at first. No sign of it in the road, just St Joseph's Roman Catholic Presbytery at the northern end of the road, before the road turns right to St Joseph's church and more houses. However “24-7 Guildford" zoomed me in to stand over a red dragon in the centre of a maze in Allen House Gardens nearby.
What!!
No sign otherwise of a HQ.
The dragon twists around, with its head turned in, with a large mirroring ball on its back and another in the swirl of its tail. Dinosaur-like footprints are marked in the maze, or labyrinth, around it. The shiny balls line up with a coniferous tree, with a hut "pavilion" behind it. From the air the maze looks a bit like a yin yang symbol: a Buddhist concept. The base of it happens to line up with the north end of St Joseph's church.
I then found out that officially it is not a red dragon at all but a Jabberwock, as in Alice in Wonderland: though not looking to my eyes like the one in the book. Why should my search for 24-7 Prayer lead here?
The odd thing is that I might not have pursued my search the same way I did if the marker had led to the pavilion, which is where it appeared a few days later. At the time, the marker led to the Jabberwock. As it was, I dug deeper and found that the official address of 24-7 Prayer International Company No 04176643, Charity No 1091413, is Allen House Pavilion. It shares the pavilion with Matrix Trust and Eden People. Matrix Trust is linked to Eden People. (Why Eden People, and does Matrix Trust have some kind of link to the film The Matrix, which has Gnostic and Buddhist themes?) Eden People can be found as a heading under Matrix Trust. http://www.matrixtrust.com/#/eden-people/4533385012
Eden People
Matrix Trust tells us: “Regular Eden initiatives in the local community include wellbeing therapy evenings, mind, body, spirit fairs, a creative arts evening at a coffee shop, art installations and exhibitions and evenings focused on healing, insight, blessing and meditation." “From a Christian perspective”. How can that be?
Activities include Ruach Blessing Card and Jesus Deck Readings (like Tarot card readings). http://www.edenpeople.org.uk/
Eden people are also registered on the "Energies in Action Your Holistic Gateway" web site. http://www.energiesinaction.co.uk/listings/category/healing-hypnosis/
Listed in “Healing, Healing Hypnosis, Inspirational, Massage, Spiritual” with the address: "The Matrix Trust, Allen House Lodge, Allen House Gardens, Chertsey Street, Guildford, GU1 4HL", Eden people say:
“We are a collective of off-kilter environmentally aware artists, poets and alternative healers, engaged in search and pilgrimage to encounter the ‘divine’ in our daily lives.
We hope that wherever you made a connection with Eden People you would have encountered something of our ethos and heartbeat.
We have a Christ-centred spirituality; so being non-religious, holistic in lifestyle & activity with the creative and spiritual being very important to us.
We look to build relationships and community between spiritual travellers, through having spaces at festivals, spiritual/green/alternative gatherings & exhibitions, arts events, community activities, in pubs, galleries and cafes.
Safe, welcoming, loving gathering spaces and venues allow people to create, discuss and inspire.
Together we encounter the divine creator in some way.
At our gatherings you could find ‘left-field’ heaven sent sanctuaries’ that immerse you in quirky artwork, impromptu healings, visuals, installations, wonky music, and rest & peace for the soul.”
I would contest that Eden People are “New Age”/Occult.
The Matrix Trust says it is about "transforming communities". It says it has "a particular focus on youth and emerging cultures."
"Our vision is to see lives and communities transformed and foundations renewed in peoples’ lives. As a Christian charity, Christian spirituality is central to who we are; but we value partnership highly and work alongside those of any faith or none to improve our service and effectiveness."
Ian Nicholson is listed on LinkedIn as the Chairman of Matrix Trust and the European Director of 24-7 Prayer. He is also Chaplain and Club Director of Woking Football Club and previously worked for Shees Television and Operation Mobilisation. Elsewhere I found out that he is also a local church leader of Emmaus Road/Guildford Boiler Room, and former Olympic chaplain.
How can these three organisations at the Pavilion be so connected?
In the Bible, Paul says in the second letter to the Corinthians (KJV) chapter 6:
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
Let us look at 24-7 Prayer.
Their logo appears to be a sun with a moon in it:
24-7 Prayer call their image the "'Sawtooth Sun/Moon image'" https://www.24-7prayer.com/logos (they are particular about the image's copyright so scroll down the webpage for it or just look at the tab at the top of your computer.)
This is from the site “Symbols and their Meanings”: http://www.crossroad.to/Books/symbols1.html#philo
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SUN & MOON JOINED AS ONE: A universal pagan expression of the merging of opposites. Like the Yin Yang, the marriage of themale sun and the female moon represents unity in diversity, compromise instead of conflict, and conformity to a new consciousness where all is one. (See The Marriage of the Sun and Moon)
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 | SUN FACE: The pictured image is part of an 18th century Masonic ritual painting, but it illustrates a symbol that has been central to most major spiritual systems of history. Since the sun god usually reigned over a pantheon of lesser gods. his symbol played a vital part in pagan worship (and in the rituals of occult secret societies) around the world. In Inca myths, the sun was worshipped as the divine ancestor of the nation. For links to more information, see Sun face in our Q&A section. |
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CRESCENT MOON: A symbol of the aging goddess (crone) to contemporary witches and victory over death to many Muslims. In Islamic lands, crescent can be seen enclosing a lone pentagram.
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I also enclose the information on the Yin Yang symbol, but have chosen not to include the symbol itself.
| YIN YANG: A Chinese Tao picture of universal harmony and the unity between complementary opposites: light/dark, male/female, etc. Yin is the dark, passive, negative female principle. Yang is the light, active, positive principle. Since the holistic balance between Yin and Yang is dynamic and constantly changing, it illustrates the consensus process, the vision of global unity, and the blending of opposing energies at the heart of Holistic Health.
Since it represent monism (all is one) and pantheism (all is God), it opposes Christianity, which shows us that there is only one God (monotheism), and only in Christ can we be one. See The Tao
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24-7 Prayer’s strapline is "Reviving the church. Rewiring the culture". "Our aim is to revive the church and rewire the culture through Prayer Rooms and Boiler Rooms". These are "working alongside and within existing church traditions. Others are strongly prayerful non-denominational churches". https://www.24-7prayer.com/boilerrooms
Ian Nicholson is a leader, as I said above, of Emmaus Road/Guildford Boiler Room. My research showed he started both Matrix Trust and Emmaus Road. On Emmaus Road’s site http://www.emmausrd.com/ they say they are "Proud to be part of 24-7 Prayer" http://www.emmausrd.com/new-to-emmaus. (Both 24-7 Prayer and Emmaus sites are designed by the same company).
Ian Nicholson is actually part of the 24-7 Prayer's International Leadership team. https://www.24-7prayer.com/team
Now to introduce someone new:
The Team Leader of Emmaus Road is Pete Greig, who is central to 24-7 Prayer. He is also Vice Principal of Tearfund and was part of the leadership of Holy Trinity Brompton - home of Alpha Course - for seven years.
There are two books highly recommended by 24-7 Prayer. One is
"Punk Monk: New Monasticism and the Ancient Art of Breathing" by Andy Freeman and Pete Greig (same man) and "Red Moon Rising: The Story of 24-7 Prayer" by Pete Greig and Dave Roberts.
This is the synopsis of Punk Monk on Amazon.co.uk:
"Fleeing the compromises of the 4th century church, the Desert Fathers founded monasticism. In reaction to a Christianity they scarcely recognized, these radicals fled to the Egyptian desert to model a different, radical style of discipleship, filled with sacrifice and continual prayer. Who are the new monks, the new punks, the new revolutionaries? The answer lies in an upsurge of 24 - 7 monastic communities around the world. Punk Monk combines a narrative journey through the beginnings of 24 - 7 Prayer Boiler Rooms with a discussion on the roots of monasticism, particularly its ethos and values, and how it can be applied in the third millennium. Drawing influences from the Franciscans, the Celts and the Moravians, the book highlights the counter - cultural and revolutionary force of monasticism and asks whether it is time for a new monastic movement. It also takes punk as a contemporary expression of monastic spirit and asks whether a ''silent revolution'' is coming."
And Red Moon Rising:
"Brilliantly written with pace and poetry, this gutsy true story of the rise of the 24-7 Prayer movement is peppered with miracles and hard times of suffering. Starting at Cape St Vincent where Pete Greig receives a powerful vision of a coming army of young prayer warriors, it moves on to the eventual formation of prayer rooms and the practice of continual prayer around the world co-ordinated through the web. Read inspiring stories of people finding a new depth of heartfelt prayer and radical compassion..."
24-7 Prayer also set up Prayer Spaces in Schools "supporting spiritual life". (formerly Orison, which they say means prayer, or as Wikipedia says “the act of attempting to communicate with a deity or spirit”. http://www.prayerspacesinschools.com/
Pictures on their website show a child weaving a pentagram aka Christmas star: "reigniting the sense of mystery and awe around the Christmas story", and children putting their hands on a plasma ball. Wikipedia tells me that a central electrode with plasma filaments gives the appearance of moving tendrils of coloured light within the volume of the globe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_globe. It reminds me of a magic ball! Prayer Spaces in Schools seems to like using lights a lot and suggest a “be still” tent.
24-7 Prayer live by "a simple Rule of Life called "The Mustard Seed Order" - which we will come to later.
So what?
Well, this is not just a marginal organisation with little impact. It has the backing of Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who also endorses "Red Moon Rising" as does Nicky Gumbel of Alpha International. Both have connections with the highly influential Holy Trinity Brompton, as of course did Pete Greig himself. "24-7 Prayer lies right at the heart of HTB". They are also going global.
Yet at the heart of 24-7 Prayer is something fishy. At its heart is Contemplative Prayer, which to be clear is a meditative experience - concentrating on one thing only in order to clear the mind to experience something. That something is a change of perception - an experience which makes the meditator feel closer to "god" and at one with god and the universe, but which is actually taking him away from the true God of the Bible. It has unfortunately a long tradition in the Christian Church - hence the "monasticism". It was indeed practiced by the Desert Fathers as they experimented with various forms of prayer and experience. They may have got it from eastern Hinduism and Buddhism and it may also be the basis for later Muslim Sufism (mystical Islam).
The fame of the Desert Fathers and works such as "Sayings of the Desert Fathers" spread rapidly across Christendom as far as Gaul and Spain in the West and became a model for Christian monasticism. Some believe its influence can be seen in what we know as Celtic Christianity, which is also affected by local pantheistic paganism.
In modern times, the Roman Catholic Franciscan/Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, has been very influential in contemplative prayer. He found he had a common experience to Buddhist monks - which is not surprising seeing as it appears to have the same source. The paper trail goes through Brennan Manning, who was also Roman Catholic and Franciscan but expelled for getting married. He then introduced the experience into Protestantism with "The Ragamuffin Gospel". Also extremely influential is Richard Foster's "Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth" (he was Quaker), Dallas Willard and "Renovare Spiritual Formation". These always have the meditative "centering" experience at the heart of their work.
Contemplative, centering prayer appears to bring a person closer to God by feelings/experiences but actually takes them further away from the true God of the Bible. It profoundly affects how the practitioner views life. They start to feel they are one with all things/the universe/god and that they themselves are god. It leads away from Jesus Christ as seen in the Bible towards "Christ consciousness" - a false christ of the New Age/pagan/eastern religions.
In the first chapter of Red Moon Rising, Pete Greig said he had an experience of electrical currents running up and down his body as he prayed in Cape St Vincent. This is also very alarming as it connects to the above. This is not consistent with an experience of the Holy Spirit but rather the false, Kundalini experience of eastern religions and the New Age. It is this experience, linked to the meditative one, which is bringing false spirits and spirituality into the church. Electricity running up and down the body is part of the New Age/Hindu “Kundalini” experience, for example page 16 of Ray Yungen’s book “A Time of Departing” has a similar New Age experience. Also, is it holy? The Holy Spirit leads to truth. John 16:13 says:
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.
If Pete Greig had had a Holy Spirit experience it would be holy and would lead to "all truth". Is this what we see? No, we see a joining with the occult.
(And by the way, repetitive singing for twenty minutes or more may also be mesmeric and lead to “altered consciousness”)
(And by the way, repetitive singing for twenty minutes or more may also be mesmeric and lead to “altered consciousness”)
This is where (for me) it got really hard. At the heart of Alpha is the Holy Spirit weekend. At the heart of that is the Toronto Blessing experience, which is imparted and produces often weird behaviour. But where does that come from?
Partly at least from Lonnie Frisbee, a hippie, deeply into drugs, who struggled with homosexuality. He became part of the Jesus movement and links to Calvary Chapel, Vineyard, Wimber, Toronto Blessing and hence to Alpha. Coined "The First Jesus Freak". He was buried at Crystal Cathedral, founded by Robert H Schuller (wikipedia)
Lonnie Frisbee
Below are some excerpts from "Looking At Lonnie Frisbee: A Real Jesus Freak?" By Steve Mitchell, Power To Stand Ministries. He is discussing a film on Lonnie Frisbee’s life.
"I am judging no one’s ultimate salvation here but I believe that many of these testimonies are extremely dubious given the fact that the alleged new converts to Christ were, in fact, stoned and in altered states of consciousness. Anyone who has done drugs can tell you that LSD and other hallucinogenics, so rampantly and consistently used, can duplicate the most mind boggling and radical false realities imaginable. Meeting “Christ” on drugs is more than an ironic twist, it may very well be counterfeit, especially if the “christ” or “god” you encounter fails to tell you of repentance and the gospel. Lonnie seems to have met “Christ” on one of these trips. Here are the disturbing details surrounding Lonnie’s conversion: Lonnie’s high school friend, Judy Meston, recounts:
“So we drove out to Tahquitz Falls and we hiked up- he wanted to go to the very top falls. And once he got there, he opened his back pack and he spread out- and he had LSD, and he had marijuana, and he had all of his oil paints and he had togas, and he told us to put on togas, so we did. And he proceeded to paint a picture of Jesus on the rocks, a full-sized picture of Jesus on the rock. Then he pulled out his Bible and he got into a kinda yoga position and he says ‘We’re gonna read the Bible now.’ He was reading about John the Baptist and how John the Baptist baptized and he baptized us up at Tahquitz Falls, even though we were all on drugs…”
DiSabatino [the film's Director] continues:
“Sometime in 1967 at the age of 17, Lonnie Frisbee took another trip into Tahquitz Canyon. There he took a hit of LSD, removed his clothing and began to pray in a relatively unorthodox but sincere manner. He would later recount that it was here that God came to him in a vision and told him of the unique role that he was soon to play.”
This vision?
“He saw like the Pacific Ocean emptied out of water but filled [with] people raising their hands and crying out to God to be saved. He says he saw a sea of humanity crying out to the Lord. He said the Lord told him that he would have a unique ministry and that he was not to be afraid.” (Neal Liebig, “Pastor”)
Lonnie continues:
“When the Lord called me, I was going into the desert and I was taking all my clothes off and I was going ‘God if You’re really real, reveal Yourself to me!’ And one afternoon, the whole atmosphere of this canyon I was in started to tingle and get light and started to change and I was going ‘Uh-oh!’ I didn’t want to be there!”
Could drugs have contributed to these special effects? Most assuredly, and with such a bent towards mysticism and occult practice, a young Frisbee was wide open for a dangerous visitation. None of the actualities of this account can be verified or believed to be from the True God because of the self-admitted state he was in. I’ve had addict friends who saw very vivid manifestations and convincing deceptions while on drugs.
“Early Hippy Christian”, David Sloane reveals:
“All of a sudden the Spirit of God hit him hard and he went almost into a trance and he saw himself standing up there with a Bible and he was preaching the gospel powerfully to young people and God told him He was going to use him to bring young people to Christ.”
So according to the film, a high, naked Lonnie receives a vision from a being he identified as “God” who especially selects him for a mission. Although this film is referred to as a “Bible story” and continuously makes comparisons between Frisbee and Bible characters like John the Baptist, Jesus, Samson, and David, one is hard pressed to find any such episode in the lives of these men in the Scriptures. Why is this any kind of credible testimony? Why should any true believer in Christ believe that this was anything other than a counterfeit? Both his “conversion”, confrontation with God, and his subsequent alleged commission all happened while he was high on LSD. Please understand I am not judging whether Lonnie was ever saved or unsaved by his life’s tragic end. All I am saying is that these details don’t indicate this particular series of events to be genuine."
...Lonnie himself believes he was changed:
“He just changed my life. I entered into something that the Bible calls the ‘born again experience’. I was transformed on the inside. I became a new creature in Christ Jesus and the old things passed away…I wanted everybody to experience the experience of Jesus Christ. When I first turned on to drugs I thought that was the truth so I turned everybody on to drugs.”
I believe Frisbee was sincere. Something had definitely happened to him. Note his constant use of “experience”, the “born-again experience”. The “experience” of Jesus Christ. True to many in the Jesus Movement, Christ and salvation was an experiential encounter often perceived to be totally real as a result of a heavy trip while under the influence. All that can be said is that Lonnie had an encounter but we must ask “was it genuine?” Just because he was sincere in his belief about what happened does not make it actual or genuine. If Lonnie truly met God, where was the call to repent of his drug use? If God actually came to him in his drug trip, one would think that he would be told to repent for his sins, but there is no mention of this occurring. We must be wary of anyone who claims to be commissioned by God to serve Him without being told anything about repentance from their sinful lifestyle.
The sad part as featured in the rest of this film is that we will have to acknowledge that not all of the old things were left behind. There just seemed to be no fruit of real repentance, therefore no credible evidence that Lonnie was really saved. The drug use didn’t stop right away either...
....Is he zealous? Was he sincere? Did he “do” a lot of stuff? Absolutely, but that doesn’t really mean much because Christ said that by our fruits will we know someone (Matt. 7:15-20) . “A good tree bears good fruit…” (Matt. 7:17). This is not to say that we all don’t struggle or that anyone is perfect. I certainly am not pointing fingers without first acknowledging my sins before God and that I fall as well. But when false teaching and erroneous belief consistently characterize someone’s life and public ministry, we must be careful to just automatically attribute the power behind that person to the God of the Bible, especially if there is no repentance evident. Sadly, Lonnie’s “Christian” life is riddled with erroneous belief and what can best be described as counterfeit signs and wonders associated with false revival and the presence of sexual immorality.
... Frisbee was hailed to be from God because things happened when he prayed and put his hands on people. We can see the manifestations increase as his ministry grows and many testify to amazing powers coming from Lonnie as the Lord allegedly worked through him."
My contention is that something has got into the church which should not be there. Or rather, I believe there are intelligent beings with their own agenda.
In Acts 16 we see an example of the workings of such an entity, i.e. demons:
16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
That is why we must "test the spirits": because not all that is purported to be from God is from God. Even if it seems to be saying some truth, if it is not from God it will lead away from God.
As John said in his first letter, chapter 4:
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
(Which possibly brings us back to John Paul Jackson at the beginning of this article).
Peter says in his second letter, chapter 2 (KJV):
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not..."
Alice Bailey, a Theosophist, has put this in black and white. The following is from “The Counterfeit Emerging Church Of Alice Bailey” by David J. Stewart July 2015 http://www.jesusisprecious.org/nwo/emerging_apostate_church.htm
It starts with a Bible passage and then follows with excerpts from Alice Bailey's, "The Externalisation Of The Hierarchy" pp. 510, 514:
The following shocking quote from Alice Bailey ought to alarm every born-again Christian in the world. I'll explain the Satanic meaning and dark agenda set forth by Mrs. Bailey after you read this disturbing quote...
“The Christian church in its many branches can serve as a St. John the Baptist, as a voice crying in the wilderness, and as a nucleus through which world illumination may be accomplished. I indicate the hope. I do not assert a fact. Its work is intended to be the holding of a broad platform. The church must show a wide tolerance, and teach no revolutionary doctrines or cling to any reactionary ideas. The church as a teaching factor should take the great basic doctrines and (shattering the old forms in which they are expressed and held) show their true and inner spiritual significance. The prime work of the church is to teach, and teach ceaselessly, preserving the outer appearance in order to reach the many who are accustomed to church usages. Teachers must be trained; Bible knowledge must be spread; the sacraments must be mystically interpreted, and the power of the church to heal must be demonstrated.”
“...There is no question therefore that the work to be done in familiarising the general public with the nature of the Mysteries is of paramount importance at this time. These Mysteries will be restored to outer expression through the medium of the Church and the Masonic Fraternity, if those groups leave off being organisations with material purpose, and become organisms with living objectives.”
In other words to undermine the gospel and use the shell of the church in order to forward Satan's agenda.
Too way off? Oh, I haven't explained the "Mustard Seed Order" mentioned on the 24-7 Prayer site. This order was first set up by Count Zinzendorf. It has now been reconstituted and is Masonic. Zinzendorf is linked to Rosicrucianism.
So we seem to be coming in some odd way back to Charles Dodgson and his writings and to the Jabberwock in the park. Seeming Christian yet involved in psychical research, Rosicrucianism and Theosophy. Involving states of altered consciousness: Psychoactive drugs (LSD, opium, absinthe etcetera) and contemplative prayer both altering brain patterns leading to a sense of "oneness" etc.
This is highlighted in Rob's watchman4wales blogspot of 6th April 2016:
"Beware of 'Contemplative Prayer' - Part One: The Origins of and the Practice of 'Centering Prayer'"
This is highlighted in Rob's watchman4wales blogspot of 6th April 2016:
"Beware of 'Contemplative Prayer' - Part One: The Origins of and the Practice of 'Centering Prayer'"
http://watchman4wales.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/beware-of-contemplative-prayer-part-one.html
"The effects on a person's consciousness of "magic mushrooms" and Centering Prayer are thus essentially the same. And if this wasn't revelation enough, it has been demonstrated that perceptible and permanent physiological changes are the likely result of engaging in such activity!"
"The effects on a person's consciousness of "magic mushrooms" and Centering Prayer are thus essentially the same. And if this wasn't revelation enough, it has been demonstrated that perceptible and permanent physiological changes are the likely result of engaging in such activity!"
And where is it heading? The "reality" seems to be hidden in plain sight, or maybe for us, maybe it can show us what is going on. We have a red dragon/"Jabberwock" in a maze/labyrinth. Labyrinths are connected to Buddhism and spiritual quests/contemplative. When I emailed Rob, he thought about the dragon and the two spheres and replied:
"I knew that those spheres had to represent something... The one is encircled by the dragon's tail, and the other is supported on its back. It's straight out of Revelation.
The one sphere represents the demonic hosts who fell with Satan, the great RED DRAGON:
"And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great RED DRAGON, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.And HIS TAIL DREW THE THIRD PART OF THE STARS OF HEAVEN, AND DID CAST THEM TO THE EARTH: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born." Revelation 12:3-4
The other sphere, literally supported by the dragon on its back, is the false religious system, Mystery Babylon, who is portrayed as sitting on the beast:
"So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman SIT UPON A SCARLET COLOURED BEAST, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns." Revelation 17:3
Two spheres. Two spheres of Satanic influence and control...
They have extremely reflective surfaces i.e. they are mirrors, things which have featured since time immemorial in deeply occult practices; magic, clairvoyance, divination etc. They are used especially by magicians, witches and sorcerers. These spheres face the sky, and as light-reflecting fish-eye mirrors, reflect the heavens - sun, moon and stars (which echoes the 24-7 logo) and so demonstrate, both day and night, i.e. 24-7, the core belief of occultism, "as above, so below." No wonder that Tai Chi is practiced on them!
This is all "hidden-in-plain-sight" deep Satanism, and it is impossible for it to be mere coincidence that the Allen House Gardens should be home to not only the 24-7 Prayer HQ, but also the Matrix Trust and the Eden People. (The Eden People say they have a "Christ-centred spirituality," but theirs is obviously the New Age "Christ." Their "therapies" include things like Jesus Deck and Ruach (spirit) card readings!!!!!) The film, 'The Matrix' is all about different realities, and the New World Order. And in the film, there's a key reference to "the rabbit hole." The plot thickens...
Strangely enough - or perhaps not so strangely! - I was researching labyrinths only the other day, as they are really catching on in contemplative circles - no pun intended - where they are used to help in "centering" by having a physical journey to the centre of the labyrinth to mirror (!) the spiritual journey to the centre of one's self. There's one at a contemplative Catholic retreat in Wales, run by the Jesuits no less!"
In my research I kept finding a greater and greater influence of some of the things mentioned above: contemplative prayer, New Age spirituality, what is known as Gnosticism, Theosophy, Rosicrucianism and Masonry in areas you would not expect. I found Christians who are going away from the simple gospel that Jesus is both God and man, and came, lived a perfect life, died for our sins and rose again. That we can have new life in Him.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
This is the truth that the Apostles creed was written to defend against the Gnostics. What we have now is Gnosticism. (Buddhism and Gnosticism is evident in the theme of The Matrix, as we said before).
From Wikipedia:
It can actually lead to either asceticism or to debauchery.
Excellent on this is Tricia Tillin's work, at:
http://www.banner.org.uk/res/newthing.html
She sees the Toronto Blessing as part of a larger gnostic, antichrist movement. She also traces Satan's false wisdom back to Eden - hence I believe this is the source of the "Eden People". She sees the present situation as the fulfilment of 1 John 4, because it sees in its fullest form the church as the body of "Christ", a force. Jesus is seen merely as an example of a man utilising this force, not God. It also links to Masonry.
From Wikipedia:
Gnosticism (from Ancient Greek: γνωστικός gnostikos, "having knowledge", from γνῶσιςgnōsis, knowledge) is a modern term categorizing a collection of ancient religions whose adherents shunned the material world – which they viewed as created by the demiurge – and embraced the spiritual world. Gnostic ideas influenced many ancient religions that teach that gnosis (variously interpreted as knowledge, enlightenment, salvation, emancipation or 'oneness with God') may be reached by practicing philanthropy to the point of personal poverty, sexual abstinence (as far as possible for hearers, entirely for initiates) and diligently searching for wisdom by helping others. However, practices varied among those who were Gnostic.
It can actually lead to either asceticism or to debauchery.
Excellent on this is Tricia Tillin's work, at:
http://www.banner.org.uk/res/newthing.html
She sees the Toronto Blessing as part of a larger gnostic, antichrist movement. She also traces Satan's false wisdom back to Eden - hence I believe this is the source of the "Eden People". She sees the present situation as the fulfilment of 1 John 4, because it sees in its fullest form the church as the body of "Christ", a force. Jesus is seen merely as an example of a man utilising this force, not God. It also links to Masonry.
"Gnosticism existed before the time of Christ's birth, but afterwards there were Christian Gnostics. They explained the phenomenon of Jesus Christ in this way:
The christ spirit simply inhabited the body of the man Jesus. The christ spirit had come to teach man the gnosis whereby he could free himself from bondage to the evil material world. Some even taught that Jesus did not actually have a body of flesh, but was pure spirit. Thus the ideas of physical death and resurrection were denied by the gnostics.
Now we see what John was speaking of in his letter. It is the antichrist spirit who denies that Jesus is come in the flesh. The antichrist and his followers seek redemption (that is, spiritual transformation) by means of a spirit-being and by becoming a spirit-being!
Bible-believing Christians do not look to a mere spirit-being for salvation. We look to a Man who bled and died, in reality, in agony, upon a wooden cross. We do not receive redemption from a spiritual emanation that infuses us with "revelation" from some unknowable Supreme Being out there! We have a Saviour, the sacrificed Lamb of God, who died in our place, rose again as a flesh and bones person, who ever lives to intercede for us! Jesus is very REAL! If you met him today you could place your finger in the nail scars of His hand, just as Thomas did years ago. He is no "it", he's not a spirit, but a real (but divine) Man."
The christ spirit simply inhabited the body of the man Jesus. The christ spirit had come to teach man the gnosis whereby he could free himself from bondage to the evil material world. Some even taught that Jesus did not actually have a body of flesh, but was pure spirit. Thus the ideas of physical death and resurrection were denied by the gnostics.
Now we see what John was speaking of in his letter. It is the antichrist spirit who denies that Jesus is come in the flesh. The antichrist and his followers seek redemption (that is, spiritual transformation) by means of a spirit-being and by becoming a spirit-being!
Bible-believing Christians do not look to a mere spirit-being for salvation. We look to a Man who bled and died, in reality, in agony, upon a wooden cross. We do not receive redemption from a spiritual emanation that infuses us with "revelation" from some unknowable Supreme Being out there! We have a Saviour, the sacrificed Lamb of God, who died in our place, rose again as a flesh and bones person, who ever lives to intercede for us! Jesus is very REAL! If you met him today you could place your finger in the nail scars of His hand, just as Thomas did years ago. He is no "it", he's not a spirit, but a real (but divine) Man."
It has grieved me to see a Christian I really appreciated turn to yoga, "The Shack" and the theology of Rob Bell, universalism: that all will be saved. Universalism can lead to immorality: what we do doesn't matter.
It grieves me too, to see The Lee Abbey Movement go down the Renovare/contemplative/spiritual formation path. I don't know where the new leadership will take the movement but from my last visits I would say it had gone really "weird": very sensual and environmental. It was using and exporting the Renovare spiritual formation teaching. It seems to have left the true gospel and there were hints that some no longer believed in Jesus' atoning death for our sins.
So much of the church seems to be affected: 24-7 Prayer, International House of Prayer of course, HTB, Alpha's fruits, probably Tearfund: there is a strong social gospel element to "take the world" for Christ, The New Apostolic Reformation - super Christians building a super society - straight down the path into a New World Order and New World Religion. I found personnel links to St. Aldates in Oxford, Soul Survivor, Mike Pilavachi, St. Andrews Chorleywood, Spring Harvest and New Wine. The Bible Society and Scripture Union are affected.
The New Monks are seeking to usher in a non-violent, environmentally conscious (healing the earth's woundedness) society. Ultimately Manning expects to usher in the new heaven and the new earth.
On the other hand the New Apostolic Reformation is turning to violent imagery. They see themselves as Joel's Army, specially elect Christians who will bring God's judgment, physically rule in all spheres of life (The Seven Mountains) and take over the world.
There are also links to Jungian psychotherapy. He was a pupil of Freud. Like him, he was influenced by the occult.
Plato's Allegory of the Cave which talks about reality and a reflection of reality in a flame also seems to fit in.
It grieves me too, to see The Lee Abbey Movement go down the Renovare/contemplative/spiritual formation path. I don't know where the new leadership will take the movement but from my last visits I would say it had gone really "weird": very sensual and environmental. It was using and exporting the Renovare spiritual formation teaching. It seems to have left the true gospel and there were hints that some no longer believed in Jesus' atoning death for our sins.
So much of the church seems to be affected: 24-7 Prayer, International House of Prayer of course, HTB, Alpha's fruits, probably Tearfund: there is a strong social gospel element to "take the world" for Christ, The New Apostolic Reformation - super Christians building a super society - straight down the path into a New World Order and New World Religion. I found personnel links to St. Aldates in Oxford, Soul Survivor, Mike Pilavachi, St. Andrews Chorleywood, Spring Harvest and New Wine. The Bible Society and Scripture Union are affected.
The New Monks are seeking to usher in a non-violent, environmentally conscious (healing the earth's woundedness) society. Ultimately Manning expects to usher in the new heaven and the new earth.
On the other hand the New Apostolic Reformation is turning to violent imagery. They see themselves as Joel's Army, specially elect Christians who will bring God's judgment, physically rule in all spheres of life (The Seven Mountains) and take over the world.
There are also links to Jungian psychotherapy. He was a pupil of Freud. Like him, he was influenced by the occult.
Plato's Allegory of the Cave which talks about reality and a reflection of reality in a flame also seems to fit in.
Finally, but not exhaustively, anything ecumenical is suspect. It looks like this contemplative spirituality is leading towards a one world religion: all religions united. The only ones left out will be those who follow the truth, and according to scripture they will be opposed mercilessly - but accepted by God.
It is probably in a church near you, or your church, or you have been affected by it personally yourself. You may well have imbibed some of this polluted stream. It brings death and destruction, a falling away, wherever it goes. It leads to lucid drunkenness. It is poison and it leads to Hell.
What should we do?
God says to come out of it.
Back to Paul's second letter to the Corinthians (KJV) chapter 6:
It is probably in a church near you, or your church, or you have been affected by it personally yourself. You may well have imbibed some of this polluted stream. It brings death and destruction, a falling away, wherever it goes. It leads to lucid drunkenness. It is poison and it leads to Hell.
What should we do?
God says to come out of it.
Back to Paul's second letter to the Corinthians (KJV) chapter 6:
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
You may need to repent and/or renounce your involvement in any part of the above. I had been involved with Alpha, HTB and the Toronto Blessing so needed to bring this before God and repent. It is now behind me. I do believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the continuation of the gifts mentioned in the Bible, but this clearly isn't of Him. If we keep following God's word step by step He will lead us.
I can only suggest you read God's word, ask Him to reveal if you have been affected and determine to follow Him. As Ephesians 5v11 says (and do read in context):
I can only suggest you read God's word, ask Him to reveal if you have been affected and determine to follow Him. As Ephesians 5v11 says (and do read in context):
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."
Some suggested further reading:
The Perfect Storm of Apostasy – An Introduction to the Kansas City Prophets and Other Latter-Day Prognosticators http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?tag=john-paul-jackson, with further resources below.
On IHOP: http://beyondgrace.blogspot.co.uk/p/mike-bickle-ihop-resource-page.html various articles cached in one place.
On contemplative/New Age in the Church: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/ I have found the whole site consistently truthful and useful.
On Gnosticism in the Church “The New Thing” Tricia Tillin http://www.banner.org.uk/res/newthing.html
On the Toronto Blessing: http://www.wrs.vcu.edu/profiles/TorontoBlessing.htm
Emanating from Virginia Commonwealth University, this site is Academic rather than Christian, and has some typos. It gives a very interesting time line.
On how the New Age has infiltrated the church: “A Time of Departing” by Ray Yungen
On Alpha: "Alpha - the Unofficial Guide: Church Volume", Elizabeth McDonald and Dusty Peterson
The Bible!
