MOV:Kingdom Theology Part III  by Albert James Dager

Article taken from:

Media Spotlight Vol 8. - NO.1 
P.O. Box 1288
Costa Mesa, CA 92628

                               KINGDOM THEOLOGY 

                                   PART III
                             --------------------

                             By Albert James Dager

                                 INTRODUCTION

   This segment of our treatise on "Kingdom Now" or "Dominion" Theology has 
been the most difficult to complete, both in terms of assimilating the 
contents and in presenting them in a manner that would not be inflammatory or
denigrating to any individual's character.  Just getting from the research to
the writing has been extremely difficult and time-consuming in view of the 
mounds of documentation that I've had to read and reread, or listen to on
audio and video tapes over and over in order to avoid the mistake of judging 
erroneously or taking statements out of context.  The importance of the 
subject matter warranted extreme caution.

   I hope the reader will understand my struggle to get this written.  And I
thank for their patience those who have waited so long for this third 
installment.

                                Looking Back

   In our previous installments we traced today's Dominion Theology back to 
the neo-Pentecostalism of the mid-twentieth century, and what became known as
"The Latter Rain Movement."  We discussed the influence of occult methodology
upon the two principal innovators of that movement:  Franklin Hall and 
William Branham.  Their influence at that time upon certain pastors and 
leaders resulted in widespread acceptance of teachings centered on the 
supposed "restoration" of the Church.

   Perhaps more than anyone else, it was William Branham's influence that 
paved the way for this new theology based on the exaltation of the believer. 
This engendered a new hope unknown to Scripture:  that as certain 
"overcomers" in the Church attained a state of perfection, or sinlessness, 
they would become immortal even while in their present bodies.  This, then, 
became the basis for the belief that, through the perfecting of the 
overcomers by obedience to the latter day "apostles" and "prophets," the 
Church will take dominion over the governments and social institutions of the
world.  Thus the earth will be prepared for Christ's return.

   These teachings found their greatest expression in the Manifested Sons of
God and related movements.  They have lately become more widespread so that 
many in the Church today believe it is not possible for Jesus to return until
the Church has made the earth 'its' footstool.

   In addressing these aberrant teachings we also explored other doctrines 
peculiar to Kingdom Now Theology, and we saw how each has its own place in 
the attempt to establish God's Kingdom on earth before Jesus' return.  We 
also examined the various movements that hold many or all of the Kingdom Now 
doctrines.

   In this, Part III, we'll detail some of the key teachings of Dominion 
Theology, and we'll quote some of those who teach them.  It is beyond the 
scope of this writing to quote everyone who holds each doctrine, but we will 
offer a sampling from a few teachers whose statements typically reflect these
doctrines.  Wherever possible we will identify the movements to which these 
teachers belong, although many do not overtly identify themselves with any 
particular group.

   The reader should keep in mind that Dominion Theology is not an easily 
delineated segment within the Church, but rather a loose networking of 
autonomous sub-movements that have different approaches to their attempts at 
establishing the Kingdom of God.  The central doctrine of all, however, is 
that Jesus cannot or will not return to the earth until the Church has taken 
control of at least a significant portion of human government and social
institutions.

   Whether this incorporates belief in a worldwide theocracy, or theonomy,
or the subjugation of individual secular states to the authority of the 
Church depends upon the particular brand of Dominion Theology one holds.
Whether the Lord will return immediately after the Church has taken control
or after it has been in control for some time up to and including the end of 
the Millennium, is likewise dependent upon individual beliefs.

   Again, not all who espouse these teachings overtly identify themselves 
with any segment within Dominion Theology.  Yet each of these teachings is 
peculiar to Dominion Theology and contrary to sound, biblical exegesis.  So, 
while some dominion teachers stress some teachings over others, they are all 
propagating errors that are leaving the Body of Christ open to great 
deception.

   Whether or not these teachers propagate the full gamut of Dominion 
Theology is not as important as the fact that they have adopted these 
unscriptural beliefs and are spreading them throughout the Church by way of 
the mass communications media and special pastors' conferences which subtly 
educate Christian leaders to the heretical doctrines of Dominion Theology.  
We should therefore be cautious of what we hear from these people.

                           Does It Really Matter?

   Some might question if it's really important whether someone believes 
that Jesus will not return until the Church has taken dominion over the 
earth.  This is a legitimate question to which I must respond that, in terms 
of salvation and spiritual growth overall, it isn't important.  I have 
friends who hold a post-millennialist viewpoint and I count them as brethren 
in Christ.  I welcome fellowship with them and we engage in honest (and 
spirited) dialogue in a spirit of love.  Perhaps the reason we get along so 
well is that we are willing to listen to each others' viewpoints and 
recognize that there are strong and weak arguments on all sides of the 
issues.  A postmillennialist stance doesn't necessarily mean a desire for 
world domination.  And they are not so closed-minded to the possibility that 
the world cannot survive much longer unless the Lord does intervene with His 
personal presence.

   No, the problem doesn't lie in the basic tenets of the faith.  We will 
find that many dominion proponents agree with us on the essential doctrines 
involving the natures of God, man, and Satan, as well as salvation through 
the shed blood of Jesus, etc.  It does appear, however, that some - 
particularly in the "Word-faith Movement" among charismatics - are straying 
from sound doctrine in some of these areas of late.

   The basic problems with dominion teaching lie more in the realm of Church
life and the authoritarian structure necessary to implement and maintain a 
dominion mindset.  This is evidenced by cultish tendencies that rob 
individual believers of a true understanding of their personal relationship 
with the Father.  It requires that nothing of a spiritual (and often 
material) nature be undertaken without the approval of one's "covering."

   There are also dangers in the elitist mentality that naturally progresses
from the idea that somehow, due to God's grace or one's own sense of 
righteousness, human life apart from those numbered among the elite becomes 
cheap.

   An additional problem is that followers of Dominion Theology are easy 
prey for political extremists.  There are those who play upon the concerns of
all Christians who naturally desire to see eradicated such evils as abortion,
pornography, child abuse, drug dealing, and crime in general.  The fact that 
many in the "Christian right" are already united with Sun Myung Moon and the 
Mormon Church, is sufficient reason to suspect that, in the long run, no
theocentric form of government will reflect the true biblical pattern for 
society.

   Morality and righteousness are wonderful traits when manifested as a
result of Spirit-filled living.  When manifested as a result of religious 
fervor (the "good" portion of the tree of knowledge of good and evil), these 
traits become precursors to a totalitarian state.  We would do well to take a
lesson from history and remember that Hitler made his plea for acceptance of 
Nazism based upon a platform of anti-communism, anti-homosexuality, 
patriotism, amd morality.  Many German Christians rejoiced when he assumed 
power.

   In light of these dangers we must identify the sources of Domnion 
Theology so that the Body of Christ may at least be cautious of involvement. 
Naturally, if someone desires to believe in Dominion Theology that is their 
business.  When they teach it publicly, it becomes everybody's business and 
they should be willing to have their teachings exposed to testing by the Word
of God.

   Now, in order to do justice to this very complex subject, it is necessary
that we name names.  Some will find this distasteful and will perceive it as 
a personal attack against men and women of God with whom I disagree.  On the 
contrary, it is my position that we must be careful not to condemn those who 
are caught up in this modern heresy, but we should lift them in prayer, 
recognizing that God's grace is extended to all.

   Some dominion proponents may be deceivers engaged in a power struggle for
personal gain.  Some may also have designs on leading the Church into areas 
of compromise with political extremists on the right.  But I believe some are
brethren in Christ who sincerely perceive that they have a biblical mandate 
to bring the world systems under the control of the Church.

   It would be a mistake to look upon all such people as our enemies just 
because they hold a different eschatological viewpoint.  Granted, the 
dominion viewpoint is dangerous in many of its implications.  But let's not 
think there is nothing we can learn from them.  As with all spiritual matters
the truth lies somewhere between two extremes.  There are problems with the 
dispensationalist point of view that the Church has ignored for too long, 
thus creating an atmosphere of credibility for Kingom Now Theology.

   If, in our zeal to "expose" those in error, we obtain a certain amount of
glee in discovering their feet of clay, we'd best take heed to ourselves and 
question whether our motive is really based upon love.  We may rightly quote 
Jude 3 as justification for earnestly contending for the faith, but if we 
forget I Corinthians 13 we are no more free from error than those whose 
errors we expose.

                            THE DOMINION CONCEPT

   The concept of "dominion" as it applies to Kingdom Now Theology holds 
that Jesus cannot or will not return until the Church has taken control of 
the earth's governments and social institutions.  The following are among the
more visible proponents of that belief:

   EARL PAULK (Pastor of Chapel Hill Harvester Church in Atlanta, Georgia):
   In Paulk's own publication he is touted as a "prophet" of today's Kingdom
Message:

       "If there is a prophet today who speaks the truth God wants His 
   Church to hear, it is Earl Paulk.  He is the leading voice today in 
   preaching the message of the Kingdom of God...a man driven compulsively 
   to show this generation that God is waiting for us to do something that 
   will bring Christ back to earth."1

   Paulk, himself has stated:

       "Christ in us must take dominion over the earth...The next move of 
   God cannot occur until Christ in us takes dominion."2

       "The next move of God will unite His Son in marriage.  The marriage 
   supper of the Lamb, the completion of establishing the Kingdom, the 
   eternal rule of God, will finally take place."3

   We see that Paulk believes the Marriage Supper of the Lamb cannot take 
place until after the Church ("Christ in us") has taken dominion.  But does 
Paulk mean that Jesus will already have returned and been with us in order 
for us to have taken dominion?  No he doesn't.  Otherwise he would not have 
used the term "Christ in us."  In its proper biblical context that is a valid
term.  But in this case its use implies that Jesus will take dominion through
the Church while He remains in Heaven.

   The office of Christ cannot be separated from the person of Jesus.  He is
the 'only' Christ of God.  It is Jesus, when He returns, who must take 
dominion and establish the visible Kigdom of God on earth, not "Christ in 
us."  But does Paulk understand this, or are his statements nothing more than
poor choices of words?  Let's see what else he has to say:

        "Christ was one person, limited to ministry in only one place at a 
   time.  In order to minister as an omnipresent Spirit, Jesus relinquished 
   His fleshly dimension with its limitations of time and place.  He entered
   a higher realm of restoration and love by becoming an indwelling Spirit."4

   Either Paulk's Christology has taken an aberrant turn, or he's had a
mental lapse.  Now, I've often heard people, in one breath, address their 
prayers to the Father, and, without breaking continuity, address Jesus as if 
He and the Father are the same person - a "Jesus only" mental glitch.  I can 
understand that mistake.  However, when someone 'publishes' a statement that 
equates Jesus with the Holy Spirit, I would think that takes more mental
affirmation.

   It isn't that Christ 'was' one person, He 'is' one person - Jesus.  When 
the Scripture says, "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27), it 
in essence affirms that we are united with Him by the Spirit of God.  He is 
"in us," and we are "in Him."  It does not mean that He relinquished His
fleshly dimension to become "an indwelling Spirit."  He is, and always will 
be, "flesh and bones" (Luke 24:39).  He is in a specific location, Heaven, 
seated at the right hand of the Father.  (Yes, I'm sure He gets up and moves 
about.)  He is in His resurrected 'body,' limited to place if not to time.

   The Holy Spirit - the Third Person of the Trinity - is omnipresent.  It 
is 'He,' not the person of Jesus, who is the indwelling Spirit of all who 
truly believe in Jesus.

   This is more relevant to our study than may first appear.  For without a 
proper Christology one cannot have a proper eschatology.  In this case, Paulk
sees Jesus as "an indwelling Spirit."  On this basis he claims that the 
Church is the "ongoing incarnation of Christ."  In that case, the church is 
now Christ, and all Scriptures pertaining to Christ's ruling on earth are 
really referring to the Church.

   We'll deal with this in more detail in another chapter.  For now, let's 
consider Paulk's views on dominion.

       "When the apostles asked Jesus if He would now restore the political
   kingdom, He said, 'It's not for you to know the times or the seasons.  
   But I will tell you what will take place in your life, and when you have 
   received what I'll tell you about, you will be able to bring in the 
   Kingdom of God.'

       "How will the Kingdom of God be ushered in?  In Acts 1:8, Jesus said,
   'But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; 
   and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, 
   and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the Earth.'"5

   Notice how Paulk puts words in Jesus' mouth by having Him say, "you will 
be able to bring in the [political] Kingdom of God."  Nowhere in Scripture is
such a statement found.

   Evidently the first-century Church did not have enough "faith" or 
maturity to accomplish this feat, so it is up to today's Christians to do the
job.

       "What are we waiting for?  Why is Jesus waiting in heaven at the 
   right hand of the Father?  Who is He waiting for?  He is waiting for you 
   and me to become mature, for the Bride of Christ to become mature, so 
   that He can come again.  Did you know that God has done everything He can
   do?  If anything else is going to be done, we're going to do it."6

       "In Matthew 24:14, Jesus clearly says that He cannot return for His 
   Bride until she has demonstrated the Gospel of the Kingdom to all the 
   nations of the earth.  Until the church can demonstrate the alternative 
   Kingdom, Jesus cannot come again.  God no longer has the authority to 
   send Christ back to earth, because He will not circumvent His eternal 
   plan.  While no man knows the day or the hour, I can say with the 
   authority of God that CHRIST CANNOT AND WILL NOT COME BACK UNTIL WE HAVE 
   DEMONSTRATED THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM TO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH.  That
   task demands a mature church, which will have become an alternative to 
   the kingdoms of the world.  THAT IS WHAT THE CHURCH IS ALL ABOUT AND 
   JESUS CHRIST'S RETURN IS UP TO US."7  [Emphasis Paulk's.]

   If we read Paulk's statement closely, we'll see that he believes God no 
longer has the authority to send Christ back to earth, but that "Christ's 
return is up to us."  So, God has taken control out of His own hands and 
placed it into ours.

   Now, it's true that "He will not circumvent His eternal plan."  But He 
has revealed in His Word the manner in which He will accomplish His eternal 
plan.  Contrary to Paulk, God's eternal plan is not that the Church will take
dominion on its own, but merely that the earth will be redeemed.  Many of the
details of that redemption have not been revealed, but in order for the 
dominion concept to apply, one must spiritualize what he believes the Word 
says rather than take it literally.  What it does say is that God's plan of 
redemption includes Jesus' return to establish the visible Kingdom before the
creation of the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 20:2-21:5).

   Paulk has misread God's eternal plan by spiritualizing Matthew 24:14, 
which simply states, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all
the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

   It's one thing to preach the gospel of the kingdom; it's quite another 
thing to institute - or demonstrate - the kingdom.  There is only one Gospel:
the Gospel of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.  Within that Gospel is
the "gospel" (good news) that Christ is coming again to establish His visible
earthly reign.  That is the "gospel of the kingdom" we are commanded to 
preach, not this counterfeit Dominion Theology which exalts man above what 
God intended.

   GARY NORTH (Reconstructionist author and publisher):

       "The eschatology of dominion has once again revived, as it has not 
   since the period of the American Revolution....This is not the end of the
   world.  The Church is not about to be raptured.  The humanists, 
   occultists, and New Agers are about to see their world ruptured.  This 
   process could be delayed by God's external judgment on the West, but it 
   cannot be delayed until Christ's return in final judgment.  It will 
   happen long before Christ returns in glory."8

   North is among the most visible Reconstructionists and is, in his words, 
"one of the two primary publishers of dominion theology"9 (Dominion Press, 
Tyler Texas).  It is North's belief that David Chilton's 'Paradise Restored '
is the most definitive, virtually irrefutable, book on dominion eschatology"

       "Dominion theology is the wave of the future.  David Chilton has
   written the two primary eschatological manifestos of dominion theology.  
   Whoever comes after him will inevitably be labeled a 'me, too' 
   postmillennialist.  Chilton has established the terms of the debate over 
   eschatology for the next hundred years, at the very least."10

   This is quite a claim.  Obviously North is convinced that no one will be 
able to challenge Chilton's dominion eschatology in our lifetime.  But the 
question is, if it can be challenged at all - one hundred years, or one 
thousand years from now - why must we accept it today?  Had North said that 
Chilton has established the terms of the debate once and for all, I'd be 
impressed.  Better for his position had he not qualified it.

   As much as some don't like to admit it, there is a debate going on.  The 
Reconstructionists comprise the intellectual arm of Dominion Theology, being 
more grounded in the study of theology than are their charismatic 
counterparts.  As such, the Reconstructionists' arguments are the most 
viable.  And since one of the major publishers of Dominion Theology has 
established that David Chilton is 'the' voice for dominion eschatology, this 
writing would be incomplete without noting Chilton's position on dominion.

    DAVID CHILTON (Reconstructionist author):  Quoting Matthew 5:13-16, 
Chilton says:

        "This is nothing less than a mandate for the complete social 
    transformation of the entire world.  And what Jesus condemns is 
    'ineffectiveness', failing to change the society around us.  We are
    commanded to live in such a way that someday all men will glorify God - 
    that they will become converted to the Christian faith.  The point is 
    that if the Church is obedient, the people and nations of the world will
    be discipled to Christianity.  We all know that everyone 'should' be a 
     Christian, that the laws and institutions of all nations 'should' follow
    the Bible's blueprints.  But the Bible tells us more than that.  The 
    Bible tells us that these commands are the shape of the future.  We 
    'must' change the world; and what is more, we 'shall' change the world."
    11

    Matthew 5:13-16 is hardly "a mandate for the complete social transform-
ation of the entire world."  It is a mandate, yes, but it is a mandate that 
requires no more than that all Christians exhibit in their lives the reality 
of their faith in Christ.  As a result of our witness many will be saved and 
brought into the Kingdom of God.  But there is no mention of the social 
transformation of any nation let alone the entire world.  Scripture tells us 
that, when Christ returns the nations will be arrayed against Him, not 
waiting to welcome Him (Revelation 16:14; 19:19).  Whether anti-Christ is a 
man or a system (as proposed by dominion teachers), the fact remains that, 
when Jesus returns, the world will be under the rule of anti-Christ, not 
under the rule of the Church.

   What Chilton has done in spiritualizing Matthew 5:13-16 is hardly 
academically honest.  In waxing eloquent for his eschatological bias he often
makes a point of accusing those with whom he disagrees of making Scripture 
say what they want it to say.  Has he not done the same?

   In quoting Matthew 28:19-20, Chilton goes against another of his own 
rules in assuming that nations, not just people, are to be discipled:

        "The Great Commission to the Church does not end with simply 
   'witnessing' to the nations.  Christ's command is that we 'disciple' the 
   nations - 'all' the nations.  The kingdoms of the world are to become the
   kingdoms of Christ.  They are to be discipled, made obedient to the 
   faith.  This means that every aspect of life throughout the world is to 
   be brought under the lordship of Jesus Christ:  families, individuals, 
   business, science, agriculture, the arts, law, education, economics, 
   phychology, philosophy, and every other sphere of human activity.  
   Nothing may be left out.  Christ 'must reign, until He has put all 
   enemies under His feet' (I Cor.15:25).  We have been given the responsib-
   ility of converting the entire world."12

   One point Chilton makes over and again in his book is that literalism is 
secondary to consistent biblical imagery.  In this instance he goes against 
his own rule.  To "disciple all the nations," or, "make disciples of [out of]
all the nations," does not mean that every nation as a whole is one day going
to sit at the feet of the Reconstructionist gurus and learn the ways of 
Truth.  The Great Commission requires us to go into all the nations and 
disciple "whosoever will" be saved.  Using Chilton's exegetical rule, if this
"mandate" encompasses all the nations as saved entities, it must encompass 
all believers as missionaries to foreign lands.  After all, is the Lord not 
speaking to each of us as individuals?

   If Chilton's reasoning is good for Matthew 28:19-20, it must be good for 
Matthew 24:9:  "...ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake."  
Therefore, everyone in every nation will hate all Christians.  Ergo, no one 
will ever be converted.

   At least Chilton does see the need for the Church to clean its own house 
before attempting so grand a task as discipling the entire world.

        "...Our goal is world dominion under Christ's lordship, a 'world 
   takeover' if you will; but our strategy begins with the reformation and  
   reconstruction of the Church.  From that will flow social and political 
   reconstruction, indeed a flowering of Christian civilization (Hag.1:1-15;
   2:6-10, 18-23."13

   Chilton correctly points out that postmillennialism has been a dominant 
theme in Church history.  But it is not Scripture he uses to support that 
eschatological viewpoint as much as he uses the writings of the early Church 
"fathers" (Augustine, Athanasius, etc.), and some recent sources such as C.H.
Spurgeon.  But what Chilton fails to recognize is that those early Church 
"fathers" were products of a religious system already sliding into apostasy. 
It was the Roman Catholic Church that first attempted to take dominion over 
the governments of the earth.  It succeeded to some degree, in that Western 
civilization came under its control.  But in order to establish and maintain 
control the Roman Church had to acquiesce to pagan cultures.  The result was 
that, although the Gospel (as much as was allowed under Romanism) did bring a
measure of enlightenment, the Church itself suffered corruption and became 
paganized.  This affected not only its liturgy but its doctrinal postion in 
some crucial areas.

   Yet even to achieve the modicum of success it enjoyed in establishing its
compromising rule, the Roman Church had to resort to bloodshed not only 
through the fomenting of wars, but through pogroms against dissenters such as
took place in the Inquisitions.

   Failing to learn from history, Chilton (an alleged historian) has also 
failed to understand that there are varying points of view even among 
premillennialists.  He lumps all under the mantel of "dispensationalism," and
accuses of being a defeatist anyone who doesn't hold the postmillennialist 
viewpoint:

       "The eschatological issue centers on one fundamental point:  Will the
   gospel succeed in its mission, or not?  Regardless of their numerous
   individual differences, the various defeatist schools of thought are
   solidly lined up together on one major point:  'The gospel of Jesus 
   Christ will fail.'  Christianity will not be successful in its worldwide 
   task.  Christ's Great Commission to disciple the nations will not be
   carried out."14

       "...A good deal of modern Rapturism should be recognized for what it 
   really is:  a dangerous error that is teaching God's people to expect 
   defeat instead of victory."15

   I take umbrage at Chilton's lack of intellectual integrity.  It is 
patently ridiculous to accuse any Christian of believing that "the gospel of 
Jesus Christ will fail."  Every premillennialist I know expects victory,
including Hal Lindsey (whom Chilton takes special delight in denigrating).  I
don't agree with Lindsey on several points, but no one can accuse him - or 
myself for that matter - of having a defeatist attitude.  Were that true, Hal
would not be writing books with evangelistic themes, and Media Spotlight 
would not exist.

   The trouble with Reconstructionists (indeed the entire dominion mindset) 
is that they don't do their homework.  Otherwise they wouldn't lump all 
premillenialists into one grab-bag of escapism.

   Another problem is that they see as defeat anything less than domination 
of the world system before Jesus returns.  This is not spiritual-mindedness, 
but carnal-mindedness, even when based on the assumption that the 
transformation of society will result from the changing of men's hearts 
through the Gospel.

   We are not called to "win the world for Christ."  We are called to be 
witnesses for Him.  It is the Holy Spirit that draws men to God as we share 
the Word about Christ (Romans 10:17).  To think that the Church or the Holy 
Spirit will have failed bacause the whole world isn't converted would be the 
same as to think we've failed because every person who hears the Gospel 
doesn't fall on his or her face in repentance.

   What's the difference if not everyone at a given moment is converted, or 
anyone throughout history is not converted.  Somewhere, according to Dominion
Theology, the Holy Spirit has failed, or the Church has failed.

   "But," some would say, "we don't expect every person to be converted; we 
just want to make sure their lives are conformed to Christian principles."  
Well, if not every person is converted, we will have less than total 
dominion, even if we can control their activities.  The Holy Spirit will have
failed just as He has "failed" to convert everyone who has ever lived.

   And as long as there are unconverted souls, the privilege to run society 
will be challenged.  Ultimately there will be confrontation and the need to 
apply force to maintain control.  Bloodshed and corruption (yes, even among 
"Christians") will be an ongoing result of religious domination.

   Even if we were to succeed in converting every soul and ruling society 
under God's spiritual direction, within two generations at the most, the 
rebellious nature of those to be born will manifest itself.

   Without the visible, tangible presence of Jesus and His 'resurrected' 
saints administering the Kingdom of God on earth, the world will be at the 
mercy of arrogant, religious autocrats whose own peculiar understanding of 
"God's will" will keep us under bondage.

   PAT ROBERTSON (Founder and President of Christian Broadcasting Network): 
Pat Robertson is careful about revealing his belief in Dominion Theology.  
Robertson believes in a literal rapture of the saints, but not until there 
has been a great revival that will result in a godly society run by the 
Church.  In his keynote address to the Dallas '84 convention for Maranatha 
Campus Ministries, Robertson made reference to the late John Lennon's song, 
'Imagine,' in which Lennon imagined a world of peace wherein there was no 
religion to engender strife.  Paraphrasing Lennon, Robertson said:

       "Imagine a world when no more little babies are slaughtered in the 
   womb.
       "Imagine a world where there are no more homes torn apart because of 
   alcoholism.
       "Imagine a world where there are no more young men and young women 
   spaced out and glassy-eyed on account of drugs.
       "Imagine a world when there are no more crime lords selling 
   prostitutes, selling pornography, selling gambling devices, selling 
   drugs, and stealing from legitimate business.
       "Imagine a world where nobody hates anybody any longer, where there 
   is no more fighting and no more killing.
       "Imagine a world where you can walk down the streets of the city - or
   any city - safely at any hour of the day or night wihout fear of your 
   life.
       "Imagine a world where there are no more dead bolts, and chains, and 
   locks, and bars over windows.
       "Imagine a world where there are no more prisons - where there's no 
   more violence.
       "Imagine a world where men and women [are] married in holiness and 
   godliness, and women were not being used as cheap, exploitive [sic], 
   devices to satisfy the lust of men.  And imagine a world where there was 
   no more perversion, and homosexuality, and lesbianism, but men and women 
   functioned as God made them, where they brought up their children 
   together in love, where there was no more divorce, and where little 
   children knew who their mothers and fathers were.
       "Imagine a world where the Word of God was honored and people said, 
   'This is the answer to life's problems.'  Hallelujah!
       "And Imagine a world where those who brought that book, and those who
   had the message of Jesus, were the honored representatives of society 
   where men and women said, 'Welcome into our community; you have come with
   the Word of God.'
       "Now you say, 'That sounds like the Millennium.'  Well maybe some of 
   it does, but some of it we're going to see."16

   What Robertson described is a utopian society based on peace and love.  
He evidently fails to understand that no such society can exist as long as 
men live in corruptible flesh.  By saying that "some of it we're going to 
see," he infers that some, if not all, of these scenarios are possible in 
present society.  Yet there is not a single one that is possible given 
mankind's sin nature - unless ninety-eight percent of the human population 
were wiped out, leaving only conscientious Christians and some moral 
unbelievers, or there was instituted a police state of greater magnitude than
that of the Soviet Union.

   Even during the Millennium, with Jesus reigning in person, there will be 
those who rebel against His laws.  That is why He must rule them with a rod 
of iron (Revelation 2:27).

   There cannot be, nor will there be, anything like a perfect society until
only the saints of God in their resurrected bodies occupy the earth.  That 
will take place after the Millennium and during eternity in the new heaven 
and new earth (Revelation 21).

   If Scripture does not promise any such society before then, what hope is 
there that, under the fallible rule of supposed "overcomers," even a 
substantial portion of sinful humanity will live righteously, voluntarily or 
otherwise?

   Robertson's error lies in his applying to the Church certain Old 
Testament Scriptures that promise the restoration of Israel out of captivity.
He also believes that there is a raising of human consciousness toward 
righteousness in Christ.  That belief, based upon a Gallup Poll commissioned 
by CBN, reveals a lamentable naivete for one some believe astute enough to 
hold the highest office in the land:

       "George Gallup discovered that something happened in America about 
   four or five years ago.  Because we said, 'We want you to go back and 
   survey people and find out the difference of their attitudes today versus
   1979 about religious matters.'

       "George Gallup went to the campuses of America.  He surveyed with 
   extremely accurate testing methods the attitudes of college students on 
   the campuses of America.  Fifty percent of those on the college campuses 
   said, 'We are more religious today than we were five years ago.'

       "Of the general population, sixty percent of the people in America 
   said, 'We are more willing to accept religious solutions to life than we 
   were five years ago; we are more religiously inclined than we were five 
   years ago; we are looking for answers from God more than we were five 
   years ago; we are turning away from science, from humanism, from 
   materialism, and we're saying, 'God, you've got to have an answer'.'

       "Now that's what America told Gallup and he in turn told us.  Now 
   what does that mean?  Well what it means is we are on the verge of one of
   the greatest spiritual explosions in the United States that this world 
   has ever known.  That's what it means.

       "It means that millions and millions of people are open to Jesus 
   Christ."17

   All Gallup's poll really means is that people in the United States are 
becoming more religious.  What does religiosity have to do with Jesus?  In 
fact, the religious entities enjoying the largest surge of interest are those
commonly associated with the New Age Movement.  These include the entire
spectrum of occultism from witchcraft to the human potential programs of EST,
TM, Eckankar, and Summit, to the eastern religions of Buddhism and Hinduism, 
and even most schools of modern psychology.

   While a later poll by Gallup found that there definitely is an inrease in
the number of people in the United States who profess to be "born again," 
their answers to questions about their lifestyles revealed that their values 
are just as worldly as the rest of society.18

   This is borne out by Pat Robertson's own attitude about how his CBN 
Bible, 'The Book,' was advertised when it first came out in 1984:

       "At the end of September we're going to start perhaps the biggest 
   advertising blitz for this particular product that's ever been put behind
   any book in history.  And we've even got guys like Bubba Smith to stand 
   there and say, 'I read 'The Book'!'...And Donna Summers, and a couple of 
   the stars from 'Dallas,' and one of them from 'Dynasty,' and all these 
   are going to say, 'We read 'The Book'!'

       "And reading the Bible, in America, may get to be one of the most 
   'in,' important things people do."19

   It seems not a little incongruous that people who represent some of the 
most ungodly media productions are used by Robertson to sell Bibles in the 
interest of converting society from ungodliness.

   Robertson also believes that, in this present age, the wealth of the 
world will be turned over to God's people, along with the responsibility of 
ruling society:

       "Somebody has got to sew some tents together, and sew some nets 
   together, and get the literature together, and all the things that are 
   needed to handle 400 million to a billion souls that are going to be 
   saved in the next few years!  I mean, it's a staggering task and God's 
   going to give it to us!  Someone has got to train the future leaders of 
   this world, because God is going to put us in positions of responsib-
   ility.

       "Let me ask you this question:  Assume that the Lord took away from 
   the governments of this city, this state, other states, the nation, all 
   the ungodly and the sinners.  Assume they were just taken away.  What 
   would happen then if He said to His people, 'Go in; it's yours'?

       "I don't know how to run a sewage system - do you?  How do you run 
   these things?  What do you do with a tax policy?  What's the foreign 
   policy of the United States, or of a state?  How do you handle the 
   various taxes and imports and duties?  How do you run the various social 
   welfare and social service operations?  What about the welfare of great 
   numbers of people?  What about the major educational programs?

       "And you could go on, and on, and on, and on.  God's people have got 
   to be ready for what He's going to do.  It's one thing to sit here and 
   say, 'Hallelujah!  There's going to be a revival!'  But what are you 
   going to do when it comes?

       "...There has to be preparation; there has got to be training.  There
   has to be a teacher corps ready to train young converts in the Lord.  If 
   you want to concentrate on something while your're here, concentrate on 
   the plan your're going to have for the next five years.  What's going to 
   happen when all these things that we talk about take place?  We will see 
   them happen!"20

   You mean there are going to be taxes in the utopian society?  And social 
welfare?  Obviously Pat wasn't talking about the Millennium.  So the question
arises as to how God is going to remove the "ungodly and the sinners" to the 
point where we will have a perfect society before Jesus returns.

   It should be of concern that anyone would believe that a godly society 
could be established among unregenerate mankind to the degree that there 
would not even be a need for prisons.  Will human nature change?  Not likely.
Evil is not only manifested outwardly through crime and immorality; it is 
primarily manifested inwardly through the thoughts and intents of the heart 
(Jeremiah 17:9).

   Robertson believes that revival will change the hearts of mankind to the 
degree that godliness will prevail upon the whole earth.  Scripture tells us 
that toward the end of this age the love of many will grow cold because sin 
will abound (Matthew 24:12).

   While we know that "the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just" 
(Proverbs 13:22), it is not a given that we will take over the world before 
Jesus returns.  Though we may point to isolated testimonies of inheritance 
from sinners, we will not inherit the earth in its totality until after we 
stand before Jesus to receive our rewards for deeds done in the flesh (Romans
2:6; II Corinthians 5:10).  Yet Robertson believes that Jesus will not return
until after the Church has taken control of society and judgment has come 
upon the ungodly.  In the meantime, we are to prepare ourselves to take 
dominion:

       "...Now what do you do?  What do I do?  What do all of us do?  We get
ready to take dominion!  We get ready to take dominion!  It is all going to 
be ours - I'm talking about all of it.  Everything that you would say is a 
good part of the secular world.  Every means of communication, the news, the 
television, the radio, the cinema, the arts, the government, the finance - 
it's going to be ours!  God's going to give it to His people.  We should 
prepare to reign and rule with Jesus Christ."21

   At this point Pat called for preparation to begin with prayer, after 
which he led the Maranatha Campus Ministries Convention in a prayer for 
revival as a prelude to taking dominion.

   Obviously Pat wasn't talking about the new heaven and the new earth when 
he said everything that is "a good part of the secular world" would be ours. 
He was speaking of taking dominion before Christ returns.  This is borne out 
by his reference to the "good" part of the secular world.  There will be no 
secular world in the new earth.  Nor, for all practical purposes, will there 
be a secular world during the Millennium, at least in terms of government, 
since the government will be administered under the direct, visible kingship 
of Jesus.

   Why, if the Church is going to have dominion, Jesus would catch us up to 
meet Him in the air, is unclear.  Are we just going to go up for a moment and
come right back down?  That would fit the scenario of some dominion 
teachings.  If not, what will happen to society while we're absent during our
celestial vacation?  Would it be turned back over to some remnant of the
ungodly that remains?

   The inconsistencies in Robertson's eschatology are even recognized by 
Gary North, one of the leading advocates of Dominion Theology.  Referring to 
the effect of David Chilton's 'Paradise Restored' upon television ministers, 
North says of Pat Robertson,

       "Pat Robertson was so concerned that his evangelist peers might think
   that he had switched to Chilton's version of postmillennialism that he 
   wrote a personal letter to many of them (including one to me) in the 
   summer of 1986 that stated that he had not adopted Chilton's theology.  
   He mentioned 'Paradise Restored' specifically.  Then he outlined his own 
   views, in which, as a premillennialist, he somehow completely neglected 
   to mention the Great Tribulation.  That a doctrine so crucial to 
   premillennial dispensationalism as the Great Tribulation could disappear 
   from his theology indicates the effect that Chilton (or someone) has had 
   on his thinking....

       "...The change in Pat Robertson's thinking (and the thinking of many 
   premillennialists) had begun several years before 'Paradise Restored' 
   appeared.  Rev. Jimmy Swaggart begins a highly critical article against 
   'kingdom now' theology, including Pat Robertson's version, with a lengthy
   excerpt from a speech given by Rev. Robertson on Robert Tilton's 
   Satellite Network Seminar on December 9-12, 1984.  This was several 
   months before I handed Rev. Robertson a copy of 'Paradise Restored,' and 
   about a month before the first edition of the book was published.  He had
   already made the switch away from traditional dispensationalism."22

       "Pat Robertson has presented a message so completely postmillennial 
   in its tone that it is difficult to understand why he continues to insist
   that he is still a premillennialist.  I have never seen a public 
   pronouncement of any postmillennialist that is more detailed in its 
   description of a coming era of external blessings.  I know of none who 
   thinks it is coming in the next few years, but Pat Robertson did, in late
   1984."23

   I have no doubt that those who believe the scenario set forth by 
Robertson are sincere in their desire to see God's righteousness prevail on 
earth.  But danger lies in expecting more than God's Word promises.  Jesus 
said that in this world we would have tribulation; yet we are to be of good 
cheer because He has already overcome the world (John 16:33).  Eventually, 
when God ordains it, the earth will be ours as joint heirs with Christ.  
Until then we should not try to take for ourselves what He has not ordained 
for us to take.  God allows evil to exist in the world, and it will continue 
to exist, if for no other reason than to test the hearts of men.  He is the 
final arbiter of when evil will be done away with once and for all.

                               FIVE-FOLD MINSTRY

   Those whose teachings center on or are substantially concerned with the 
five-fold ministries (Ephesians 2:20; 4:11) as the foundation for our faith 
are convinced that there can be no unity in the Body of Christ until all 
Christians, or at least a vast majority of us, submit to the authority of the
present-day "apostles" and "prophets" without questioning.  There is to be no
judging of doctrine, or of personal lifestyles, or of fund-raising  methods. 
There is to be no attempt to understand the Word of God apart from the 
teachings of the apostles and prophets.

   The "five-fold Ministries" teaching as it is interpreted within Dominion 
Theology is specifically a Manifested Sons of God teaching.  It states that 
the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (not Jesus) 
comprise the foundation of the Church.  It is affirmed that Jesus is the 
foundation of creation, but not of the Church. 

   Before we examine the Dominion Theology position on this subject, we 
should put Ephesians 2:20 within the context it was written in order to 
rightly divide the Word of Truth.

       "Wherefore remember, that ye being time past Gentiles in the flesh, 
   who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision in the
   flesh made by hands;
       "That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the
   commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise,
   having no hope, and without God in the world:
       "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh 
   by the blood of Christ.
       "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down 
   the middle wall of partition between us;
       "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of command-
   ments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new 
   man, so making peace;
       "And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, 
   having slain the enmity thereby:
       "And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them 
   that were nigh.
       "For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
       "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow-
   citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
       "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, 
   Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
       "In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy 
   temple in the Lord:
       "In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God 
   through The Spirit" (Ephesians 2:11-22).

   Hearing Ephesians 2:20 taken out of context, one might fall prey to the 
teaching that the "five-fold ministries" as enumerated in Ephesians 4:11
comprise the foundation of the Church.  But let's examine exactly what Paul 
was saying in Ephesians 2:11-22.

   In the first place, we see that it is not the so-called "five-fold" 
ministries to which Paul assigned the status of "foundation," but rather the 
offices of apostle and prophet only.  Because these offices are mentioned in 
Ephesians 4:11 in connection with those of evangelists, and pastor-teachers 
(the latter being one, not two distinct offices), doesn't necessarily mean 
that the evangelists and pastor-teachers are numbered in the foundation.

   In the second place, if we put Ephesians 2:2 in the context of the 
thought expressed in verses 11 through 22, we see that Paul was specifically 
addressing the Gentiles at Ephesus regarding their being joined in one body 
with the Jews through whom came the revelation of God's Truth.  Having been 
grafted into the true faith (Christianity) which is the continuation of God's
revelation through the prophets who preceded Christ, not something distinct 
from it, the Gentiles were built upon the foundation of the apostles (New 
Testament) and prophets (Old Testament) combined.  In other words, the 
teachings of the apostles and prophets, the Spirit and the Law, comprise the 
foundation through which the believing Gentiles (the Uncircumcision) are
joined with the believing Jews (the Circumcision).  As the Cornerstone of 
that foundation of teachings, Jesus is the element that holds all truth 
together, and to whom we look for all guidance through the Holy Spirit.

   To take a single verse out of Scripture and build a doctrine as serious 
in its consequences as that of the "five-fold ministries" of Dominion 
Theology is contrary to even the most basic principles of biblical exegesis. 
This error is compounded by the suggestion that today's so-called apostles 
and prophets are the foundation for the Church.  If anything, the Lord's
apostles would be the ones spoken of since it was through them that He gave 
His revelation contained in the written Scriptures known as the New 
Testament.  By equating today's teachers with the early apostles, we open 
ourselves up to their new revelations, many of which are not based on God's 
Word, but are totally subjective.  Certainly such subjective teachings can be
recognized by the fact that they are learned from certain people and 
propagated apart from independent study of the Bible.  The "five-fold 
ministries" doctrine is one such that is parroted by dominion teachers who 
have not learned it from Scripture, but from others who have learned it from 
others, ad infinitum.  We have been able to trace it back to Franklin Hall, 
but that's not to say that it doesn't go back to an earlier teacher.

   We will look now at a few who propagate this particular doctrine to see 
how it fits into the overall scheme of Dominion Theology.

   EARL PAULK:        

       "That's what we're doing as the five-fold ministry - the apostles, 
   prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers - is equipping the saints, 
   maturing the Body of Christ.  But see, even that frightens us because we 
   say we've got pastors, we've got evangelists - we talk about apostles and 
   prophets, we get afraid.  And yet they've got to come back with authority
   and power.

       "Ephesians 2:20 says the Church is built not on Jesus (a lot of folk 
   don't know that), but it's built on the apostles and prophets, and Jesus 
   Christ being the chief cornerstone.  He's the cornerstone, but the 
   apostles and the ministry of the prophets is [sic] the foundation.

       "What God is doing today is raising up prophets.  I don't have any 
   doubt in my mind that Oral Roberts is a prophet to the Church to bring us
   back to the healings.

       "Many of them - Branham and many others - I believe that the Hagins 
   and the Copelands, we have varying doctrines here, but I believe they 
   brought us back to understanding the power in God's Word.  They were
   apostles toward that.  I believe there are other apostles and prophets 
   God is raising up."24

   If we apply any formula for consistency to Paulk's words, we would have 
to assume that Jesus has taken a minor role in the governing of His Church.  
The following statement, taken with the understanding that Paulk considers 
not Jesus, but the apostles and prophets, to be the foundation of the Church,
removes Jesus from the position of the Rock upon which the Church is built 
(Matthew 16:18), and assigns that position to the five-fold ministries.

       "THE FOURTH ISSUE AT STAKE IS THE TRUE UNITY WITHIN THE BODY OF 
   CHRIST.  To build upon anything less than the true Rock, the only lasting
   foundation, would be only to see the entire building fall.  Paul made it 
   clear that the Cornerstone had been 'rejected by the builders.'  The only
   solution was to bring forth new builders - whom Paul defined as apostles,
   prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers - to build up a people fitly 
   joined together whose head is Jesus Christ Himself.  We are further given
   the warnings as to how we build on this foundation.  To talk of unity
   without truth is to build with wood, hay and stubble (I Corithians 3)."25 
   [Emphasis Paulk's.]

   Some logical, deductive reasoning would assume that Paulk is calling the 
five-fold ministries the Rock of our salvation:  Jesus is not the foundation,
He is the Cornerstone; the five-fold ministries comprise the foundation; the 
Rock is the only lasting foundation; ergo, the Rock is the five-fold 
ministries.

   In all fairness to Paulk, I don't believe he has fully thought out the 
implications of his statements.  They reflect a carelessness in the bandying 
about of terms that cause confusion.  During a 'Praise The Lord' program on 
TBN in July, 1987, Paulk was callenged by Hal Lindsey regarding some serious 
errors in his teachings.  Paulk denied believing what was written in his own 
books.  He suggested that Hal wasn't able to perceive the true meanings of 
those writings because people who do not have the Spirit of God (i.e., 
non-charismatics) cannot understand the things that can only be spiritually 
discerned.  In other words, Paulk placed his own writings on a level equal to
Scripture, while limiting spiritual understanding of his esoteric teachings 
to charismatics.  Such statements hinder greatly our attempts to bring unity 
to the Body of Christ.

   ROYAL CRONQUIST (Former apostle of John Robert Steven's Living Word 
Church, headquarters for the Manifested Sons of God):  Cronquist, though 
having left the covering of John Robert Stevens, continues to maintain most 
of the Manifested Sons of God doctrines.  His interpretation of Ephesians 
2:20 is classical manifested Sons of God:

       "...Who is the foundation?  The apostles and prophets.  Is Jesus
Christ the foundation?  No.  He is the foundation of all things, but 
literally, to the church, He is the cornerstone, and upon Him come the 
foundation of the apostles and prophets to put the foundation of all 
doctrine, of all revelation, of all experience, of all truth, of all 
anointing, of all authority, of all power, not only upon, but under all the 
people of God."26

   Cronquist does say that upon Jesus "come the foundation of the apostles 
and prophets."  Certainly we can find no fault with that order.  As is the 
case with dominion teachers, however, he assigns to the latter-day apostles 
and prophets powers beyond those assigned by God's Word.  He believes that 
the apostles and prophets are not only the foundation of our very lives, he 
also believes that they create God's will for our lives:

       "...The whole purpose of the foundational ministry, and especially 
   the foundational ministry, is to equip you in a very private, particular 
   way to inform, to undergird, to strengthen, to encourage, to qualify, to 
   create the will of God for your life.  Can you imagine how the body of 
   Christ is still in the baby infancy stage, because they have really 
   denied the foundation that is to their lives, and if they deny the 
   foundation of their life, there is no way that the foundation can be 
   built within them."27

   Cronquist errs in suggesting that the five-fold ministry is "the found-
ation of their life."  Those in whom God has placed responsibility to build 
up the saints and bring them to maturity are to be honored and obeyed insofar
as they teach and practice truth.  But Jesus is the only foundation of not 
only our spiritual lives, but it is to Him that we owe our very being and 
substance (Acts 17:28).

   And how can the apostles and prophets "create the will of God" for our 
lives?  Only through total submission of our minds and wills to theirs will 
we be made to believe that they are ordained by God to direct our every move.

   While submission to authority in the Body of Christ is of great 
importance, it is within the local body that that submission must take place,
and only to the degree that that authority operates in conformity to God's 
Word.  It is only in the local body that anyone ministering the prophetic 
gifts or administering authority can know enough about the believer to guide 
him.  But the dominion people want us to believe that there are apostles and 
prophets at large who are coming on the scene with new revelations to which 
every believer must adhere without question.  There is no accountability of 
these apostles and prophets to the Church, but only to one another.  This 
very subjective authority must be taken on faith by the individual at the 
risk of his being deceived.

       "...And so we are going to have to be willing to let our mind be 
   changed by the Holy Spirit in the way that we think and the way we under-
   stand.  He did promise that 'albeit when He, the Spirit of Truth is come,
   He will guide you into all truth.'  In 2,000 years no one has ever been 
   guided into all truth.  Why?  The only thing I can think of - and I don't
   know everything yet because I haven't yet become glorified, but I believe
   that God is now beginning to remove the seals from the secrets that have 
   been hid from the foundation of the world.  I believe that He is now 
   going to begin to reveal unto the holy apostles and prophets the found-
   ation of the kingdom that will unfold the truths of God to His people so 
   that they can literally become the very divine substance of Jesus Christ 
   in their spirit, soul, heart, mind, and body."28

   According to Cronquist the Holy Spirit did not guide the writers of the 
Scriptures into all the truth necessary for the maturing of the saints. 
Evidently God planned that, for 2,000 years, the Church would walk in dark-
ness, unable to grasp the truths necessary to conform them into the image of 
Christ.  But what do the Scriptures say?

       "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed 
   to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many 
   brethren.
       "Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he 
   called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also 
   glorified.
       "What shall we then say to these things?  If God be for us, who can 
   be against us?
       "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how
   shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
       "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?  It is God that
   justifieth" (Romans 8:29-33).

       "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and 
   being deceived.
       "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast 
   been assured of, knowing of whom thou has learned them;
       "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are
   able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ 
   Jesus.

       "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for 
   doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
       "That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all 
   good works" (II Timothy 3:13-17).

   It is not the apostles and prophets who are going to perfect us (bring us
to maturity).  The Word of God, working on our hearts through the power of 
the Holy Spirit, will bring us to maturity as we submit ourselves in love to 
God.  All any apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher can legiti-
mately do is point us to the Word of God and encourage us to follow its 
directives with pure motives.  There are no new revelations by which we must 
be saved or grow to maturity.

   Now, however, we are asked to believe that men who cannot rightly divide 
the Word of Truth where its meaning is obvious even to the babe in Christ, 
are going to give us "new truths" by which they will direct our paths toward 
perfection.  What Cronquist means by saying we will become "the very divine 
substance of Jesus Christ" is not clear.  But this statement fits the theory 
of the deification of man held by many dominion proponents.  How will we
achieve this?  Cronquist says,

       "...You therefore shall be complete, even as your heavenly Father is 
   complete.  How do you suppose that is going to be done?  It's going to be
   done by holy apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers who 
   become the experience themselves, who equip you with the experience that 
   they have, who give you the rules, the laws, the ways, and the how-tos to
   literally cooperate with God's Holy Spirit so that it again can be 
   performed."29

   The rules and laws by which we exercise our faith are already established
in God's Word (Revelation 22:18-19).  Those who would today burden the Church
with new, man-made rules and laws according to their own experiences are
legalists of whom Paul warned:

       "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, 
   after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not 
   after Christ.  For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead 
   bodily.  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principal-
   ity and power" (Colossians 2:8-10).

   How are we to recognize who the apostles and prophets are?  Cronquist 
says our hearts will know:

       "The knowledge of a person as a prophet or apostle of God must be a 
   heart revelation....I could come to you and tell you that I am an 
   apostle, but that doesn't mean a thing.  Someone else could tell you they
   are an apostle; that doesn't mean a thing, but I will only be an apostle 
   to you when you have heard from God's Holy Spirit that I am an apostle of
   God, and if you believe I am a false prophet, to you I would be a false 
   prophet whether I am or not.  As a man thinks in his heart, so is he."30

   Roman Catholics believe in their hearts that the Pope is an apostle of 
God; Mormons believe their apostles are from God, as do Jehovah's Witnesses, 
the Moonies, and every cult that lays claim to apostles.  Our hearts are
deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9).  We will believe what we want to 
believe unless we have an objective standard of truth to which we are willing
to submit ourselves.

   The only standard given to us by God is His Word.  And the tests for
prophets are found in Deuteronomy 13:1-5 and 18:22, and in Galatians 1:8.

                     Who Are The Apostles And Prophets?

   Since the late 70s and early 80s there have been increasing but still
vague references within the dominion camp to certain men as "apostles" or 
"prophets."  Yet there has been no definitive list from any authoritative
source within that camp as to who currently comprise that august body.  
Nevertheless, there are certain leaders who are increasingly supportive of 
each other, and referring to one another as "prophet," or "apostle."  
Although some are more visible than others, these same leaders are showing up
on the same platforms in varying numbers and orders.  They are on a constant 
circuit, conducting "leadership conferences" for pastors from all over the 
world.

   At these leadership conferences the pastors and teachers in attendance 
are instructed in the latest methods on how to make their churches grow, how 
to take dominion over their cities, how to institute proper worship and 
praise in order to move God, how to work miracles, signs, and wonders, and 
other things related to church ministry and administration.

   The most comprehensive organization conducting these leadership confer-
ences is Charismatic Bible Ministries, founded in 1986 by Oral Roberts. 
This organization is a coalition of the most visible leaders in the 
Charismatic Movement, a large segment of whom fall into the dominion camp.  
Although not all the members of Charismatic Bible Ministries have overtly 
stated belief in Dominion Theology, there is certainly no hiding from them 
the teachings of those who have.

   The officers and trustees of Charismatic Bible Ministries at the time of 
this writing are:

   Oral Roberts* - Chairman        Ken Copeland* - Secretary
   Jack Hayford* - Vice Chmn      Billy Joe Daugherty* - Treas.
   Paul Yonggi Cho - International Honorary Chairman
   Charles Green - Executive Committee Member
   Marilyn Hickey* - Executive Committee Member
   Karl Strader* - Executive Committee Member

   Trustees:

   Jim Ammerman                    Freda Lindsay*
   Tommy Barnett*                  Francis MacNutt
   Charles Blair                   Ralph Mahoney
   Jamie Buckingham*               John Meares*
   James Buskirk*                  Mike Murdock*
   Happy Caldwell*                 Charles Nieman
   Charles Capps                   John Osteen*
   Morris Cerullo                  Paul E. Paino
   Ed Cole                         Earl Paulk*
   Paul Crouch                     Carlton Pearson
   Gerald Derstine                 Fred Price
   Richard Dortch                  Tommy Reid*
   Ed Dufresne                     Evelyn Roberts*
   Quentin Edwards                 Richard Roberts*
   Mike Evans                      Roy Sapp
   Kenny Foreman                   Jerry Savelle*
   Gerald Fry                      Charles Simpson
   John Gimenez*                   Carlton Spencer
   Kenneth Hagin, Sr.*             Stephen Strang*
   Ronald Halvorson                Lester Sumrall*
   Buddy Harrison*                 Hilton Sutton*
   James N. Haynes                 Vinson Synan*
   Wallace Hickey                  Robert Tilton*
   Roy Hicks                       Larry Tomczak
   Benny Hinn                      Casey Treat
   Charles Hunter                  Ron Tucker
   Frances Hunter                  Tommy Tyson
   Dick Iverson                    Jeff Walker
   Vicki Jamison-Peterson          Paul Walker
   G.L. Johnson                    Bob Weiner
   James E.'Johnny' Johnson        Austin Wilkerson
   Larry Lea                       Ralph Wilkerson

     *Founding Trustees31

   I cannot stress enough the fact that not everyone involved with CBM is an
advocate of Dominion Theology.  If the reader wants to know where any of 
these people stand on the subject I advise that he write and ask them 
directly.  Of great significance, however, is the fact that fully half of the
founding trustees of Charismatic Bible Ministries openly profess belief in 
major aspects of Dominion Theology, as does approximately the same percentage
of the overall members.  In addition, some among them espouse other question-
able doctrines such as the "Jesus died spiritually" heresy.  Specifically, 
Kenneth Hagin and Kenneth Copeland teach that Jesus died spiritually, and had
to be born again in hell by subjecting Himself to torment by Satan and his 
demons.  Copeland has gone so far as to say that we are not saved spiritually
by Jesus' death on the cross; otherwise any righteous man could have died for
our sins.32

   This teaching will be covered in an upcoming Special Report.  I pray that
those who espouse it are not consciously aware that this teaching effectively
denies the blood of Christ as payment for their sins.

   Several members of CBM have been approached with information regarding 
the heretical beliefs of many in this organization, but none have acknow-
ledged the need to take a stand for sound doctrine.  "Unity at the cost of 
truth" is the mindset of many of today's "leaders" in the Church.

                              PURGING THE EARTH

   A sure sign of religious authoritarianism is a zealousness to rid the 
world of opposition to its peculiar tenets.  In the minds of many dominion 
teachers the authority of the apostles and prophets must not be questioned.  
The Kingdom of God (as they understand it) must be free from dissension.
Therefore it will be necessary that those who challenge their authority be 
removed.

   There are differences of opinion among dominion teachers as to how those 
dissenters will be removed, but there are essentially five ways in which that
may occur:

   1)  God will supernaturally strike dead those who oppose His apostles and
prophets;

   2)  God will send, or allow satanic forces to send, plagues upon those 
opposers;

   3)  The Church (or certain "overcomers") will pronounce God's judgment 
upon their enemies, thus moving God to destroy them;

   4)  The Church will, out of "necessity," use physical force by which it 
will judge, sentence, and execute penalties (including death) upon the 
opposers;

   5)  All or any combination of the above may take place.

   According to some dominion teachers, in order to effect this purging of 
the earth the overcomers must attain immortalization, thus becoming immune to
any physical resistance to their program.  Becoming immortal, and thus 
impervious to death and injury, will result from having attained spiritual 
perfection through obedience to the apostles and prophets.

   We will deal with the teachings on immortalization in the next chapter.  
The subject matter at hand is the purging by the overcomers of not only the 
earth, but of the Church as well.

   FRANKLIN HALL (Pioneer of the Latter Rain Movement):

   In his book, 'Subdue the Earth, Rule the Nations,' Hall quotes Revelation
12:5, and states that the man child of the sun-clothed woman represents the 
overcomers of the Church:32

       "The man-child company will have dominion of this planet first.  

   Those who possess a house may decide who shall occupy it.  In the same 
manner, as a group from the church take up their authority and rulership of 
the planet that God gave them, they will likewise be able to choose whom they 
will, to occupy it."33

       "The man-child group of the sons of God will be required 'to rule all
nations with a rod of iron' (Revelation 12:5).  To those not accepting this 
invitation into the Holy Ghost Light of fire, there is but one alternative:  
the opposite to light is DARKNESS.  The Light of Life will be to them a 
blinding and consuming fire of destruction!"34

   Hall's fanciful interpretation of Revelation 12:5 is not consistent with 
Scripture.  While the symbolism of the man child is open to interpretation 
(whether he is Jesus, Israel, the Church, certain overcomers, etc.), the fact
remains that the man child is caught up to Heaven while the woman who gave 
him birth is driven into the wilderness.  If the man child is in Heaven while
the earth is being purged, then he cannot rule with a rod of iron until after
he returns to the earth.  He cannot exercise dominion prior to his return 
which, if he is the Church, will be with Jesus at His return (Jude 14-15).

   ROYAL CRONQUIST:

   "...The greatest decision that the church is going to have to make in 
   these days ahead (and especially the ministries in the body of Christ) is
   to have to face that there are apostles of God, and that they must submit
   to that foundation as though it was Jesus Christ, and whoever will not 
   submit to that authority shall be destroyed from among the people."35
    "...Jesus cannot, will not return, until there literally exists this kind
   of church, body of Christ.  This Church (remnant) is to be...executing 
   deliverance and judgment, in all authority and power, to all the people 
   of the earth, first to and in the Church, then to all the nations of the 
   earth."36

   "...The kingdom of God is now ready to appear, now ready to be literally 
   established in all its fullness within the earth.  The first-fruits 
   people will be counted worthy to escape the things that are to come to 
   pass upon the earth.  They will have absolute immunity to destruction and
   death in any form.  Even vengeance and wrath which is about to come, will
   not touch them, but they themselves will be the execution of this 
   vengeance and wrath."37

   All I can say is, if some religious attempt to execute God's vengeance 
and wrath is to take place, those doing the executing had better be under the
absolute control of the Holy Spirit.  The problem with Cronquist's scenario 
is that the premise upon which it is built (immortalization prior to Jesus' 
return) is unscriptural.  I shudder at the possibilities.

   EARL PAULK:

   In his book, 'Thrust in the Sickle and Reap,' Paulk quotes Matthew 13:40-
43:

       "Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it 
   will be at the end of this age.  The Son of Man will send out His angels,
   and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those
   who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire.  
   There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  Then the righteous will 
   shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  He who has ears 
   to hear, let him hear!"

   Applying his own interpretation that the angels who will accomplish this 
task are ministers of the Church, rather than the angels of heaven, Paulk 
calls upon God's people to rise up and judge the kingdoms of this world:

       "The book of Revelation makes it clear that John wrote his letters to
   the angels of the Church.  Who are the angels that God will use?  they 
   are ministers called by God to boldly proclaim the Word of God.  They 
   will sound the trumpet.  One should never separate prophecy of the New 
   Testament from prophetic Old Testament scriptures.  The trumpet sounded 
   in the Old Testament as a warning.  Today the trumpet sounds from the 
   angels of the Church, God's ministers who cry out, 'It is harvest time!' 
   Witnesses to God's power will shine as never before.  God will gather 
   righteous people together to raise up a witness of Jesus Christ and judge
   the kingdoms of this world."38

   Paulk goes on immediately to say that the first sign of the time of 
harvest is an answer to Jesus' prayer in John 17, "that they all may be one 
just as We are one."

   Unity aside, the chilling aspect of Paulk's reasoning in these passages 
of his book is the realization that he is looking forward to the day when the
"angels" (i.e., ministers of the Church) will gather out of God's kingdom 
"all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast 
them into the furnace of fire."  I hope I'm misreading his intentions.

   JAMES McKEEVER (Editor and publisher of 'Endtimes News Digest,' author, 
lecturer, and financial consultant):

   In an article entitled, "When Is The Rapture?" McKeever states that the 
Great Tribulation will be a time when God's people will supernaturally 
destroy their enemies:

       "God is raising up an end-time army of overcomers (bondslaves).  God 
   never raised up an army that ran.  So, we need to take a look at why God 
   is raising up that end-time army.
       "Most people do not realize why there is going to be the great 
   tribulation at the end of this age.  Let me see if I can help you 
   understand.  If Christ came back tomorrow morning to rule and reign on 
   the earth for a thousand years of peace and joy, what is the first thing 
   He would have to do?  He would have to get rid of all government 
   buildings and employees, because He is going to be the government.  He 
   would have to get rid of all armies, weapons and factories that build 
   weapons, because there is not going to be any war while He is here on the
   earth during the millennium.  He would have to get rid of the people who 
   do gross evil on the earth, such as dope pushers and murderers....
       "This would be a messy way to begin a thousand-year reign of peace 
   and joy.  Thus, the period of the great tribulation is when God gets rid 
   of all governments, all armies, all grossly evil people, and geologically
   plows up the earth, so that it is a renewed, refreshed earth, ready for 
   Jesus Christ to come back to rule and reign for a thousand years....
       "When the children of Israel went into the promised land, God could 
   have caused all the evil inhabitants of the land to disappear.  However, 
   that is not God's pattern.  He uses His people as an army when He wants 
   to get rid of evil people....

       "People ask me if I am afraid to go through the tribulation or if 
   thinking about it makes me gloomy or sad.  The exact opposite is true.  I
   am excited about going through the tribulation, as a bondslave of God.  I
   am excited about getting His seal on my forehead and being protected 
   against Satan, because we know that the victory is ours in Jesus 
   Christ."39

   Before I comment on Jim's statements, let me make it clear that I have a 
personal liking for him.  I have in the past recommended his newsletters and 
have quoted him in 'Media Spotlight.'  He has done me the same honor.  And 
for the most part I agree with his teachings.  They contain many useful facts
and spiritual truths.

   Now, it isn't just a matter of two brothers holding differing opinions on
some minor point.  It is crucial to the Church's position during these end 
times that it not be misled in its understanding of the events which are soon
to transpire.

   In Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Revelation 6 and 7, we see separate accounts 
of the same events relating to the Great Tribulation.  I agree with Jim that 
the Church will go through the Great Tribulation, but as the first several 
verses in Revelation 7 point out, when God's wrath is poured out upon the 
earth, we will already have been taken up with Jesus into heaven.

   The error of most pre- and post-tribulationists is the equating of God's 
wrath (the trumpet and vial judgments) with the Great Tribulation period (the
opening of the first six seals).  The Great Tribulation will be a time of 
chaos upon the earth during which the Church will be persecuted, and many 
believers will be slain for the witness of their testimony.  It will be a 
time of judgment not upon the earth as much as upon the Church, which will 
result in the Church being purified from its spots and wrinkles (Ephesians 
5:27).  The Church, as an organism in which currently reside both sheep and 
wolves, will be purged through persecution.  Only those who are truly God's 
people will stand, and will be driven out of necessity toward maturity in 
faith and in deed.

   The only servants of God who will be sealed in their foreheads are the 
144,000 members of the twelve tribes of Israel described in Revelation 7:1.  
These will be restored when they see their Messiah (on whom they have not 
believed until that time) return in the clouds to receive His Church.  It is 
important to distinguish, however, that these 144,000 Jews are not 
necessarily part of national Israel.  They will be a remnant of natural 
Israel whom God will bless as a witness of His power to preserve His 
integrity among those people, and to honor His covenant with Abraham.

   The only other seal to be placed on anyone's forehead will be that 
ordered by the false prophet in conjunction with his command for all men to 
worship the image of the Beast (Revelation 13).

   It isn't my intention to be dogmatic on the subject in this writing, but 
merely to point out that the dominion teachers' interpretation of Revelation 
is a delusion which will leave those who believe it unprepared for the 
troubles that lie ahead.  If, because we believe this error, we are looking 
forward to receiving any mark in our foreheads, we may well be set up for the
strong delusion which, if it were possible, would deceive the very elect
(Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22).

                               IMMORTALIZATION

   If the dominion overcomers are to be God's instruments of destruction 
upon not only unbelievers, but believers who do not submit to the authority 
of the apostles and prophets as well, they will need immunity from 
reprisals.  It is an essential ingredient of Dominion Theology, therefore, 
that these overcomers, through their perfect (sinless) living, attain 
immortalization and become impervious to injury and death.  That's why it's 
such a tragedy for someone in the movement to die - especially someone in a 
position of dominion leadership.  If God does not count such an one worthy to
escape death, then those close to him must make excuses such as equating his 
death with some vicarious suffering for the Body of Christ.

   Of the fringe movements in dominion teaching, Positive Confession is most
susceptible to this theory of immortalization.  The believe-it-and-receive-it
mentality of Positive Confession must inevitably result in the belief that if
one can muster enough "faith" to live in "divine health" (which has never 
been sufficiently defined), he can also believe for immortality.

   Of course, it is believed that this final state of physical perfection 
will come about only through the attainment of spiritual perfection.  The 
reason is that death is the final enemy to be conquered (I Corinthians 
15:26).

   EARL PAULK:

       "THE FIFTH FUNCTION OF THE CHURCH IS TO CONQUER THE LAST ENEMY, WHICH
   IS DEATH, AND TO BRING REDEMPTION TO THE BODY OF CHRIST.  When the 
   Apostle Paul says that redemption has not yet taken place, he speaks, I 
   believe, of the redemption of the individual body; yet in my spirit I 
   perceive that he speaks also of the redemption of the Body of Christ. 
   [Boldface Paulk's throughout.]

       "Jesus Christ Himself overcame death individually, and WHEN THE 
   CHURCH BECOMES SO CONFORMED TO HIS IMAGE THAT THOSE WHO DIE DO NOT PASS 
   THROUGH THE GRAVE, BUT BECOME INSTEAD GLORIOUSLY CHANGED IN THE TWINKLING
   OF AN EYE, IT WILL BE THAT CHURCH WHICH WILL BRING THE KINGDOM OF GOD TO 
   PASS ON THE EARTH.  [Paulk then quotes Romans 8:18,22-23, and Ephesians 
   1:13-14.]

       "We have received the earnest of the EXPECTATION through the baptism 
   of the Holy Spirit, but we must move on to the POSSESSION, which is 
   overcoming the last enemy, death.  Sometimes the interpretation has been 
   made that Jesus Christ conquered death, but if that were so, why would 
   Paul's epistle to the Corinthians, written at least ninety years later, 
   say that the last enemy that SHALL be destroyed is death (I Corinthians 
   15:26)?  JESUS CHRIST CONQUERED DEATH INDIVIDUALLY, BUT IT IS LEFT TO THE
   CHURCH TO CONQUER DEATH ON A CORPORATE BASIS..

       "Is it possible that there will be a people who so possess the 
   authority of Almighty God, as Elijah did, that they, as a group, will say
   to death, hell, and the spirit of Satan, 'We will NOT die.  We will stay 
   here and be changed, and we will call Jesus Christ to return to this 
   earth as King of Kings and Lords of Lords'?  Yes, that is what I believe 
   the church must do!  But it will not be easy, because GOD IS LOOKING FOR 
   THE MANIFESTATION OF A MATURE CHURCH WHO CAN SPEAK WITH THE AUTHORITY 
   JESUS HAD WHEN HE STILLED THE WINDS AND CALLED LAZARUS FORTH FROM THE 
   GRAVE.

       "An exciting prospect?  Oh, yes!  We are God's people, called to do 
   the will of God in the world today and to see the King of Glory return to
   establish His Kingdom on earth!  Jesus Christ had the authority to say 
   'No' to death on earth, and He is waiting for us to come to that same 
   authority He had so we can say, 'The last enemy - death - has been 
   conquered!'  [Paulk then quotes I Corinthians 15:20-26.]

       "Jesus Christ, as the firstfruit of the Kingdom, began the work of 
   conquering death on an individual basis, but we, as His church will be 
   the ones to complete the task.  Jesus said (Matthew 28:18), 'All power is
   given unto me in heaven and in earth,'  and the church today has that 
   same power.  Death will not be conquered by Jesus returning to the earth.
   It will be conquered when the church stands up boldly and says, 'We have 
   dominion over the earth!'  How else will God be able to show Satan a 
   people for whom death holds no fear, over whom death no longer has any 
   power?  When God can do that, Satan's hold on us will be broken 
   forever!"40

   History shows that true believers don't need to be immortal to be free 
from the fear of death.  It is 'faith,' not immortality, that removes fear.  
I suspect that those who so earnestly desire immortality that they will twist
Scripture to fit that desire are the ones who really fear death.  So great is
that fear that they have deluded themselves into believing they can overcome 
death through their own works of righteousness.  This is why so many 
demonstrate such fervor toward God.  It isn't so much that they fear Him as 
much as it is that they fear death and the consequences if they haven't 
proven themselves worthy of eternal life.  At the root of much dominion 
thinking is a works-oriented salvation rather than a faith-oriented 
salvation.

   When immortality does come it will be after the dead in Christ rise 
(I Thessalonians 4:13-17; I Corinthians 15:50-55).

   This immortality unto eternal life, the hope of our salvation, will occur
suddenly and will take effect throughout the Body of Christ, not just among a
select few "overcomers."  It won't occur because we happen to come to the 
realization that we can speak it into existence because of our attainment to 
holiness through outward works of righteousness.  Such a notion is ridiculous
and is contradicted by Scripture.

   Likewise the very Scriptures Paulk quotes contradict his belief that the 
Church will destroy death.  For verse 26 of I Corinthians 15 says, "For he 
[Jesus] must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.  The last 
enemy that shall be destroyed is death."  Jesus, when He returns (not the 
Church prior to His return), is the one who will put all enemies under His 
feet.  He must reign on earth until that is accomplished.  The context of 
these verses shows clearly that death will be destroyed 'after' the 
Millennium, when Christ "shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the
Father" (I Corinthians 15:24).

   DAVID EBAUGH (Leading apostle of the Identity Movement):

   In a communication to his followers, Ebaugh reprinted a proclamation by a
Rev. Dean Gross entitled "Melchisedec Order Decree," and offered it free on 
request to those who would write to his organization, Word by Word 
Association.  This decree, affirming belief that the end-time overcomers will
be a part of the Melchisedec Order of priests, states in part:

       "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, through his blood, fire, 
   water, and Spirit, I receive glory, honor, and immortality by imparting 
   his now-blood, liquid streams of living light into my blood.  My whole 
   spirit by faith, soul by works, body by hope is now being preserved 
   blameless until the coming of the Lord.  When I decree a thing, it is 
   established unto me; and your light shines upon my ways.  I decree that 
   the full manifestation of the Kingdom of God from within me now come 
   forth.  I decree that every atom within my earthly, physical body bring 
   forth health, light, life, and immortality.  My light is now coming forth
   as the morning, and my health is springing forth speedily, and my 
   righteousness goes before me.  Your glory is my rear guard.  For I am 
   made in the image of Elohim, after Elohim's likeness.  I have dominion 
   over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the
   cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that 
   creepeth upon the earth.  I am helping to bring about the revelation and 
   restoration of all things which you have spoken by the mouth of all your 
   holy prophets since the world began."41

   SAM FIFE (A leading apostle of the Manifested Sons of God Movement):

   In his book, 'One Corporate Man,' Fife states:

       "Therefore let all men know, that in this dispensation of the fulness
   of times, God is going to fulfill His purpose to bring together into one,
   all things that are in Christ, both in the earth and in heaven, and make 
   of all the twos, one new many-membered man, who lives after the order of 
   Melchisedec.  When He has finished preparing this many-membered man, He 
   is going to purge the earth of every other man by His Judgment Day, and 
   there will come in a new age, and a new earth, with a new man living in a
   new order, where every member is so dead to self that he lives unto the 
   rest of the Body, and that order shall perpetuate eternal life."42

   The more we study the Kingdom Now Movement, it becomes increasingly 
evident that it's proponents have adopted a pattern of taking Scriptures
relating to entirely different time periods and applying them to the present 
age.  Much of what is said is true if placed in proper context relative to 
the time period for which it is meant.  For that reason, they can quote 
Scripture seemingly with authority to prove their hypotheses.

   What the immortalization theory fails to explain is how, if death is the 
'final' enemy to be conquered, there will still be other enemies left to be 
conquered by those who will have conquered death?

   Of all the bizarre elements that make up the total picture of Dominion 
Theology, immortalization caters most to spiritual pride.  When one comes to 
the place where he believes he can say he has no sin he will move into an 
amoral mindset whereby he can justify any action in the name of God.  Earl 
Paulk gives a clue to such reasoning by suggesting that whether one sins is 
dependent upon his motive.

       "...The accusers said to Jesus, 'We have Moses as our father, and 
   Moses said, Thou shalt not commit adultery.'  Jesus replied, 'I believe 
   that too, but let me carry you to a heavenly dimension.  If you don't 
   lust in your heart you cannot commit adultery.'  They said, 'The law 
   says, Thou shalt not kill,' and Jesus replied, 'I believe that too, but 
   let me speak to your heart.  If you don't hate first, there is no 
   possibility of murder.'  How wise Jesus was!"43

   This is a perfect example of twisting the meaning of Jesus's words.  
While motive does play a role in sin, there are objective standards 
instituted by God and revealed in His Word which cannot be abrogated simply 
on the basis of one's personal conviction.  If, as so carelessly stated by 
Paulk, "If you don't hate first, there is no possibility of murder," then out
of a motive of purifying society, and with a "heavy heart," dominion 
overcomers may put dissenters to death at will.  Hit men for the mobs don't 
necessarily hate their victims - for the most part they're indifferent to 
them.  Using Paulk's rationale, they are innocent no matter how many people 
they kill.

   This is a chilling statement that, without clarification, could possibly 
cause some neurotics to get "trigger-happy."  There is a strange paradox 
revealed among some who, on the one hand denounce the atrocities of Hitler, 
yet on the other hand passionately look forward to the day they can "speak 
the word" or pull the trigger that will destroy the "sinners" (and unyielding
Christians) they perceive as God's (i.e., their) enemies.

   Yet if the utopian society of the dominion teachers is to be realized 
before Jesus returns, a holocaust worse than any history has ever witnessed 
must take place.  The "holy wars" of early "Christianity" may yet be 
revived.

                                     NOTES

 1.  "Harvest Time" (Atlanta: Chapel Hill Harvester Church, December, 1984), 
     p.15.
 2.  Earl Paulk, 'Held In The Heavens Until...' (Atlanta: K Dimension 
     Publishers, 1985), p.234.
 3.  Ibid., p.235.
 4.  Earl Paulk, 'Thrust in the Sickle and Reap' (Atlanta: K Dimension 
     Publishers, 1986), p.73.
 5.  Earl Paulk, 'Form With Power' (Atlanta: K Dimension Publishers, 
     undated), p.5.
 6.  Ibid., p.4.
 7.  Earl Paulk, 'The Great Escape Theory' (Atlanta: K Dimension Publishers, 
     undated), p.14.
 8.  Gary North, 'Unholy Spirits' (Fort Worth: Dominion Press, 1986), p.394.
 9.  Gary North, 'Paradise Restored' (Fort Worth: Dominion Press, 1985), 
     p.339.
10.  Ibid., p.331.
11.  David Chilton, 'Paradise Restored,' p.12.
12.  Ibid., p.213.
13.  Ibid., p.214.
14.  Ibid., p.10.
15.  Ibid., p.53.
16.  Pat Robertson, speech at Dallas '84, Maranatha Campus Ministries 
     convention.
17.  Ibid.
18.  Orange County 'Register.'
19.  Pat Robertson, speech at Dallas '84.
20.  Ibid.
21.  Ibid.
22.  Gary North, 'Paradise Restored,' p.328.
23.  Ibid., p.329.
24.  Earl Paulk, guest appearance on "Praise The Lord," Trinity Broadcasting 
     Network, March 4, 1986.
25.  Earl Paulk, 'The Betrothed' (Atlanta: K Dimension Publishers, 1985), 
     p.7.
26.  Royal Cronquist, "Your Daily Cross Is Giving Up The Throne Of Self" 
     (Spokane, WA: Love Ministries), p.3.
27.  Ibid., p.4.
28.  Ibid., p.7.
29.  Ibid., p.6.
30.  Ibid., p.4.
31.  Ad for Charismatic Bible Ministries, "Charisma," May, 1987, p.53.
32.  Franklin Hall, "Subdue The Earth, Rule The Nations" (Phoenix, AZ: 
     Franklin Hall Ministries, 1966), p.10.
33.  Ibid., p.11.
34.  Ibid., p.57.
35.  Royal Cronquist, p.4.
36.  Royal Cronquist, "Why the Feast of Tabernacles?", (Spokane, WA: Love 
     Ministries Newsletter, August, 1984).
37.  Ibid.
38.  Earl Paulk, "Thrust in the Sickle and Reap" (Atlanta: K Dimension 
     Publishers, 1986), p.103,104.
39.  James McKeever, "When Is The Rapture?", 'End-Times News Digest,' Special
     Introductory Issue (Medford, OR: Omega Ministries, 1985), p.8.
40.  Earl Paulk, "The Proper Function of the Church" (Atlanta: K Dimension 
     Publishers, undated), p.13.
41.  Dean Gross, "Melchisedec Order Decree" (Chattanooga, TN: Word by Word 
     Association).
42.  Sam Fife, "One Corporate Man" (Miami: The Body of Christ), p.22.
43.  Earl Paulk, "Harvest Time," July, 1984.

