Whom Do We Listen To? Part 17

Whom Do We Listen To? Part 17
Monday, May 18, 2026 by Dr. James W. Walraven

Categories: Apologetics / Apostasy / Contemporary issues / Scripture discussion / Spiritual deception / Spiritual warfare / The church / Thought for Today / Truth telling

Have we been captivated by the teachings of the NAR? As we have seen, many of their core beliefs generally fall outside what would be considered historical Christian and biblical norms. As discussed, even charismatic denominations officially deny their core teachings. The trouble is that in charismatic denominations where churches are autonomous, NAR teachings can sneak in, and the local church, as happened with Bethel, Redding, then ends up going their own way.

We’ve noted a couple examples of the NAR twisting Scripture, of how core leaders elevate new prophetic words over Scripture. Worse, as we’ve seen, they’ve rewritten the Bible to help it conform to their teachings, like the Jehovah’s Witnesses did with their New World Translation. As discussed before, based on its website, “The Passion Translation” appears to be legitimate. But, upon closer inspection it was dictated by a supposed angel “Passion,” and per Brian Simmons, more chapters and books are yet to be revealed. Many verses vary widely from the Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. It is not a viable translation.

As for present-day apostles, God through Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:1 states that an apostle must be one who had personally seen Jesus. In 1 Corinthians 15:8, Jesus appeared to Paul last, as one untimely born. The point is that to be an apostle, one had to have seen Jesus, and that Paul was the last one Jesus appointed as an apostle.*

NAR writers insist there will be prophetic mistakes: they are a natural part of a prophet’s growth in developing their prophetic ministry. In contrast, the biblical requirement for an Old Testament prophet was 100% accuracy (with rare exceptions: if a nation repented after a prophet’s warning of impending judgment, God’s judgment would be averted). Nevertheless, contrary to NAR teachings, God never rescinded that requirement. That raises serious questions about the biblical authenticity of NAR prophets.

It gets much worse. The NAR pronounces God’s judgment against those who either oppose them or who ultimately will not work under them. Bill Hamon, in “The Eternal Church,” Revised Edition, Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Publishers Inc., 2003, page 316, states: “God is demanding manhood of his ministers. Many will become sickly and die an early death because they will not rightly discern the Body of Christ, nor work for its unity…. An independent, self-willed and proud spirit will separate a Christian minister from the Bride of Christ just as it separated lucifer from being a minister of God in His heavenly domain…. The choice is ours to submit, believe, and become one with the whole Body of Christ or to rebel, refuse, stiffen our necks, and be devoured.”

Think about that; let that sink in. Any Christian minister is defined as having a “proud spirit” if they dare disagree with NAR pronouncements. Hamon gives us a choice: submit in obedience, or have God kill you off, in essence turn you from a “Lucifer” into a “Satan,” or be devoured. Does that sound even remotely like biblical New Testament Christianity? No. Rather, doesn’t it precisely mirror the language used by extremist cult groups to control their members?

What is curious is that Hamon admits that for many years he prophesied that Jesus would return in 1963. Did he confess that he was in error? Not exactly. He admitted his perception was off, but that God was indeed moving as he was sensing. God’s underlying action, the one he was sensing, was the forthcoming birthing of the charismatic movement.

As we continue our discussion in the next post, we will find that Hamon is not the first person in church history to reframe a failed prophecy regarding Christ’s return.

*I rejoice that Muslims have been having dreams of the real Jesus, and being directed in their dream where to go to hear the Gospel and become a Christian.

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