We have now reached another step, a logical one really, in the saga of the journey of the River Revival, AKA, The Laughing Revival, The Toronto Blessing, and so forth. The prophets of the revival are calling upon "warrior angels" to do battle against the devil.

I recall a church leader who featured angels in his ministry. Jim Jones, pastor of the People's Church in San Francisco during the 1970's, was fascinated with angels. During his services one could feel the "brush of angel's wings" and reaching upward one could even clasp or shake the hand of an angel. In fact, Jones' attention to and involvement with "angels" reached a high point just prior to his moving the entire People's Church to Guyana. We know what followed.

Am I attempting to disparage the River Revival by use of the "guilt by association" technique? Yes! I admit it, and I do so because I feel this new emphasis on angels among the prophets of the River Revival is extremely dangerous. Let me give an illustration.

Bill Hamon, bishop, president and founder of Christian International in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, speaking at the National School of Prophets in January of 1999, spoke of his encounter with Michael, the archangel. The following was transcribed from a taped recording of Hamon's presentation.*

I was walking up towards the throne of God and I saw Jesus there and this gigantic, big angel and as I walked up it seemed like I moved over here and I listened and I heard the Lord say "Michael, this is General Hamon. General Hamon, this is General Michael." And I watched as we strategized and God says "From this day forward I give you authority. When you call for Michael, he will bring a legion of angels and they will fight and war and I give you comradeship and I give you cooperation, and I'm anointing you to join angelic hosts and the army of the Lord of the saints to win my battle."

Hamon, after setting the stage with a recounting of his vision, made the following application.

Now, everybody that's willing to be a warrior, raise your hand, because angels are coming for assignments to co-labor with us. You've had your guardian angels. This is a new angel. This is a war angel. I say this is a war angel.

Jesus, Commander in Chief, I call for General Michael and the host of war angels; come and appoint yourself companions…now, now, now! Whish! Yeah! Yeah, here they come! Here they come! Yeah! Accept them! Accept them! Woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Angels! I see angels all over! Big, warring angels! Warring angels! War angels! Yes! Yes! Whish! Whish! Come on! Sing in the Spirit. Say, "Here I am! I join with God's angelic host. I join with the army of the Lord."

I anticipate that some will argue that this is so unbiblical, so extreme, that no one would take it seriously. Indeed I would like to think so. But, I have found that it is being accepted uncritically. This is simply a logical step for the "prophets" to take. Their constituents want more and more, and what more could you ask for than a direct meeting with God, a sighting of Jesus even, and an introduction to an archangel. (I detect a demotion of Jesus, the One who defeated Satan at the cross, since Michael is now brought into and is instrumental in the warfare against Satan.) What a thrill to have a warrior angel as a companion in the war against Satan. Big stuff.

It matters little if the warrior angel scenario is unbiblical. After all, God is doing something new in these last days. Of course there is nothing about linking up with a big warrior angel in the Scripture, but there need not be. God is doing something brand new and only those who are spiritually awake and willing can get into it. The rest, those who are skeptical, are missing out on what God is doing in these last days. There are many who succumb to this sorry logic.

Why do I even bring it up? Why advertise this sordid business? Why not just let it blow over? The answer is that theological error must be opposed. Jesus opposed theological error. So did Paul.

Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned.

Galatians 1:7-8, NIV

The Corinthian Christians gave into false doctrine as well as some of the Galatian Christians.

For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

2 Corinthians 11:4

What if Paul had chosen to ignore theological error? What might have become of the Galatians' and Corinthian Christians? Paul loved these people so the error they were embracing had to be opposed. And this is no splitting of hairs either. Companionship with warring angels--this is not only unbiblical, it risks consorting with demons. And, if you don't believe that demons might be involved, that is, demons disguised as angels, still there is the scandal that such buffoonery exposes.

Truth is the best weapon against error. The apostle John said, "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work." (1 John 3:8) Jesus has defeated Satan and his legions. Also, as we resist the devil, he flees from us. (James 4:7) And, perhaps, of greatest importance, we are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 2:6) What need is there for an angel, even a well-known one like Michael? No, Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, is enough.

* D o u g L e B l a n c a n d t h e r e s e a r c h s t a f f o f C h r i s t i a n R e s e a r c h I n s t i t u t e , C h r i s t i a n R e s e a r c h J o u r n a l , V o l u m e 2 2 , n o . 1 , p a g e s 6 - 8 .
 

Kent Philpott
November, 1999