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by Bud Press, Director
Christian Research Service
"When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe." --John 4:47-48
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More than at anytime in the history of their movement, Charismatics are claiming to experience signs and wonders in the form of miraculous healings, resurrections from the dead, time-travel into the past, dreams and visions, spare body parts in heaven, prophecies, supernatural manifestations, angelic visitations, visits to heaven and to the throne of God, and one-on-one encounters with Biblical prophets, apostles, and "Jesus Christ." And Patricia King and her Extreme Prophetic team is no exception.
Patricia King is a professing Christian and the founder and president of Extreme Prophetic. Her claims of supernatural manifestations--such as diamonds, rubies, gemstones, gold dust, gold nuggets, gold glitter, oil-soaked Bibles, and angel feathers--has caused a great deal of concern, controversy, and skepticism.
While King and others maintain the manifestations are a supernatural blessing from God, others say the manifestations are nothing more than sideshow gimmicks to draw the crowds, and draw away their hard-earned money.
In her January 23, 2008 article, "WHEAT AND TARES IN THE SAME FIELD OF SUPERNATURAL PHENOMENA IN 2008," Patricia King maintains that the "Lord" will intensify supernatural manifestations in 2008, and testifies of her encounters with the supernatural--both the true and the false:
In the last 7 years there has been accelerated manifestations of supernatural phenomena. Healings, deliverances, manifestations of glitter, feathers, gemstones, various heavenly fragrances, visions, angelic visitations and heavenly encounters are a few. In 2008, the Lord will increase the amount and the intensity of true supernatural phenomena in His church. It is going to be both glorious and necessary for the Body of Christ as we grow in understanding of the power of the invisible Kingdom of God being made manifest in the earth. While the true manifestations of the Kingdom accelerate, so also will the false--both in the church and in the world.
However, is Patricia King willing to produce the evidence to back her claims?
Watch the angelic birdy!?
In the following excerpts from her December 20, 2005 "Prophetic Directives For 2006," Patricia King shares a story about an angelic visitation that not only shimmers with New Age, but resembles the central theme of the popular book and movie series, The Lord of the Rings:
In December 2005, our producer Shirley Ross was visited by an angel called "Purity". Purity is a white eagle with piercing fiery eyes and yet soft, gentle, and dove-like in nature. Shirley also saw a golden ring that Purity carried. It was a ring of power and protection and it was placed around individuals and groups who chose the virtue of purity. I was present during the visitation and also felt the presence of Purity at that time although I did not see it...The angel Purity returned the next day and the day after. I saw the vision of this being during the two days and also felt the softness of its breast feathers on one occasion.
At the Eyes and Wings Conference in Kelowna, angels filled the sanctuary, hundreds of them. Their heads were like the heads of eagles and their bodies were like angels – white, pure, glistening.
They were building nests and sitting on eggs. The eggs were the prophets that were being raised up for the last days. These angels were assigned to incubate the eggs and were mandated to call the eaglets out of their shells, for it is now the time.
The angel of Wisdom appeared in the vision. She had a lamp in her right hand and in her left was a little gold book with silver lined pages. The book was called "The Eternal Word". The print inside the book was written in blood red. She said, "from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it, you shall surely die. (see Genesis 2:17)" ["Pat Coking: The Beguiling Serpent (Part One),"
Ironically, Patricia King's article, "Prophetic Directives For 2006," includes the following paragraph, which falls under the category of, The deceived warning the deceived about being deceived:
Deceitful last day’s doctrines will attempt to be birthed into the minds of believers that will give license to lustful and worldly pleasures. Confusion will come to some as supernatural visions, revelations and even some scriptures will be used to support the doctrine. These doctrines will seem right to some but the end will be destruction. They will fall away from the truth as a result.
Clouded minds
Common with all false teachers is mixing a little truth with a lot of deception. One part truth, shaken and stirred with two-parts deception--then bottled in a new, divine revelation--produces a demonic cocktail sauce waiting to be spoon-fed to impressionable, Biblically illiterate Christians.
False teachers are subtle and methodical in their approach. Slowly but surely, they condition their followers to nod their heads in approval over things that God has clearly warned against for thousands of years. And when they know their claims and teachings become too "controversial," false teachers go to great lengths to explain it away, and always caution or warn their followers to avoid those who "judge falsely" and "attack God's anointed."
But what the followers of false teachers fail to realize is that God commands the believer to judge righteously and without hypocrisy (Matthew 7:1-6; Matthew 18:15-17; John 7:24; 1Cor6:3-5).
And when false prophets and false teachers spew their doctrines of demons, God commands Christians to guard the flock, defend the faith, and expose false teachers publicly (Acts 20:27-31; Jude 3; Ephesians 5:11). How else are Christians to know the vast difference between truth and deception than to test the claims and teachings by God's written word?
Truth mixed with error leads the innocent and unwary away from Jesus Christ and sound doctrine into the arms of the world and eternal separation from God.
"They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error" (1 John 4:5-6).
Again, from her December 20, 2005 article, "Prophetic Directives For 2006," Patricia King states that,
The nature of deception is that when you are in it, you do not know it. Strong relational accountability will be needed to help avoid the pitfalls that come with deceptive doctrines and mindsets. ["Prophetic Directives For 2006," ]
The conditioning process prepares the mind for deception. Deception clouds the conscience and the thinking process therein. Doctrines of demons burn the conscience like a hot iron. Departing from the faith opens the door to seducing spirits (1 Timothy 4:1-2).
Patricia King would do well to follow her own advice.
Signs or the Savior?
Question: Is a claim true simply because someone says it is true? Answer: No. A claim without proof is like a bird without feathers--it won't fly. The burden of proof rests with the one making the claim.
Common sense dictates that when a person makes a claim, but refuses to provide PROOF, it calls into question ALL the claims he or she has made, both past and present.
Most importantly, where in God's written word does it teach that diamonds, rubies, gemstones, diamond glitter, gold dust, gold nuggets, gold glitter, oil-soaked Bibles, oily stigmata, purple angels, angelic footprints, and angel feathers are supernatural manifestations of God? It doesn't.
Supernatural manifestations said to appear out of nowhere, specifically those described and supposedly experienced by Patricia King and others, are found nowhere in God's written word. Yet, those caught up in the signs and wonders movement are listening to false teachers over Scripture, and claim the manifestations are from God in heaven.
It is the experience (personal feelings and emotions) that cause people to look to themselves and place their trust in what man teaches, instead of trusting in the Lord. It is the experience (something seen; something felt; something tangible) that takes precedence over the written word of God. It is the experience that draws people away from Jesus Christ and into deception. It is the experience, instead of the Holy Spirit, that becomes the teacher:
"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you" (John 16:13-14).
The Holy Spirit guides the believer into all truth and glorifies Jesus Christ, not signs and wonders; not supernatural manifestations; and not experiences rooted in false teachings.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil" (Proverbs 3:5-7).
In his article, "To be Forewarned is to be Forearmed," Mike Oppenheimer speaks directly to those who are caught up in the experience, rather than God's truth:
If people gather to see signs and wonders, they are already removed from the prescribed order for a church gathering. God is interested in communicating truth not just His power. God’s Word is truth that has the power to change lives. God said He would lead us into truth through His Word, not through miraculous signs. God still does miracles but He will NOT honor falsehood by the power of His presence. Any sign or wonder must be questioned, and tested by the word rather than relying on the experience itself to validate it.
Manifestations or man-infestations?
Patricia King's Extreme Prophetic website includes "Supernatural" photos taken during various functions. On this page, Joshua Mills (accompanied by his wife and Patrica King) is seen with "Gold" in the palms of his hands. This page features photos of Mills with glitter on his forehead and hands, and "oil" dripping stigmata-style from his hands. This page consists of an "Angel" hovering over a building, numerous angel "orbs," "Fire" and "Flagging Lights," "Gold Leaf," a "Purple Angel" hovering above a crowd, "Gemstones," "Glory Clouds" and, in the bottom left-hand corner, and a photo taken in Puerto Rico of what is claimed to be footprints of an angel (click here for the enlarged version).
While Patricia King, Joshua Mills, and others within the Charismatic movement publicly testify to supernatural manifestations of the expensive kind, it is the manifestations of the feathered kind that prompted the following letter to King, with the hope she would back her claims and cooperate with a very simple request:
September 23, 2008
Patricia King
Extreme Prophetic
PO Box 1017
Maricopa AZ 85239
P: (250) 765-9286
F: (250) 316-6285
http://www.extremeprophetic.com/
Dear Patricia:
I have spent a considerable amount of time on your website reviewing the "Supernatural Revival Photos" of gold dust, gold nuggets, gemstones, oil, and diamonds--all of which is claimed to have appeared supernaturally.
http://www.csa-xp.com/index.php/media/media-photo-gallery/category/4
In the Ask Patricia section of your website, under "Gold dust, gems, signs and wonders," you stated that,
Many times in meetings or in devotional times, signs and wonders will manifest such as gold dust, gemstones, diamond glitter, oil, feathers, manna and many other things. [ http://tinyurl.com/PKFeather ]
If, by chance, you aren't in possession of a feather, please feel free to provide one from another source.
Should you agree to my request, my mailing address will be promptly provided.
Please know that this letter, comments on your reply, and the results of the scientific analysis on the feather will be published on my website.
Thank you, Patricia. I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest possible convenience.
Sincerely in Christ,
Bud Press, Director
Christian Research Service
http://www.christianresearchservice.com/
Jude 3
Bud Press is a Christian Investigative Researcher and the Director of Christian Research Service. CRS is a discernment ministry that provides information, documentation, and referral on a wide variety of issues to the body of Christ and the Christian news media worldwide. All correspondence is subject to public scrutiny.
The above letter was e-mailed to three different addresses at Extreme Prophetic. The same day, an Extreme Prophetic Team member provided the following automatic replies:
Thank You for contacting Extreme Prophetic. Your needs and requests are important to us and we will try to get back to you as soon as possible. Due to the overwhelming amount of e-mail we receive, it may take us a few days. Thanks or your understanding. Patricia and the Extreme Prophetic Team
Thank you for emailing the Extreme Prophetic Resource Department. Due to the high volume of emails we receive it may take a few days before you hear back from us. Thanks for your patience. -The Extreme Prophetic Team
Obviously, more than a "few days" have passed since CRS's September 23 letter to Patricia King. Nevertheless, in a follow-up on September 30, CRS called Extreme Prophetic to speak to Patricia King about the request for a feather, as well as other issues. During the call a representative said King was out of the country, and that King would read and reply to her e-mails upon her return at the end of the week.
But the end of the week came and went with no reply from King or her staff.
On October 7, CRS called Extreme Prophetic, again, to speak to Patricia King, but was told she was unavailable. The staff member said she would make sure CRS's letter would be referred to the proper individual for review.
In light of 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 and 1 John 4:1, when claims of the supernatural are made, those making the claims should be ready, willing, and able to validate their claims and provide proof. If their claims are true, they have nothing to fear from public scrutiny.
Yet, as of this writing, there has been no reply from Patricia King, and no further replies from her staff.
Are the feathered manifestations a supernatural blessing from God, or infestations of mankind's ignorance and greed?
Closing comments...
Simply put, those caught up in the signs and wonders movement should take serious Jesus' warnings to His disciples in Matthew chapter 24:
"Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many...For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance."
In 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, the Apostle Paul warns that lying signs and wonders will play an important part in the downfall of those who choose to follow a lie over the truth:
"Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved."
Although supernatural manifestations are considered by many as "great" signs and wonders, it doesn't mean that the manifestations are real. Those who truly love Jesus Christ do not waste their time crawling around on the floor searching for gold nuggets and gemstones, nor do they fixate their eyes on church ceilings and the sky searching for "angel" feathers.
Christians keep their eyes on the One Who suffered and died on the cross, the Alpha and the Omega, the Savior and King of kings--Jesus Christ:
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2).
While claims of supernatural manifestations will increase, here are some important words from Jesus Christ, Himself, that should be strongly considered by anyone caught up in the signs and wonders movement:
"The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. But He replied to them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' "And in the morning, 'There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah." And He left them and went away (Matthew 16:1-4).
An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign... Jesus didn't mince words. He said what He meant and meant what He said. Seeking after a sign is a sin that draws the believer away from the Person and work of Jesus Christ. It is a form of idolatry:
"We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, guard yourselves from idols" (1 John 5:19-21).
Christian Research Service tried to contact Patricia King numerous times, and allowed her plenty of time to reply. Indeed, with all those "feathers" floating around, surely King or a member of her staff could have spared at least one feather for scientific analysis?
FIDDLESTICKS!
Footnote:
1 Refer to the article, Todd Bentley: An Angel Named 'Mary'
Recommended reading:
The Purpose of Signs and Wonders
Lucy Rael caught faking angel feathers...
Patricia King and Extreme Prophetic Exposed
Patricia King: Mortuary Ministry???
The Hurt of Healing (Faith Healers)
All That Glitters: Gold Fillings and Truth Decay Toronto
Todd Bentley Articles Page
Todd Bentley Videos Page
See also:
