Word - Faith teacher Fred Price affirms, “Jesus said, All authority... All of it.” How much is left out of the term all? Nothing. It’s an inclusive term. It leaves nothing out. He said, All authority in the heaven and in the earth is in My hands. It has been given to Me and what do you think the purpose of Almighty God giving Him the authority in the earth was for and He’s not here to use it? It’s because He gave that authority to the Church. In essence, He was saying, I’m going back to Heaven. I’ll take care of the authority in the heavenly realm but I’m leaving you here My body ..and I’m giving you, by delegation, My authority in the earth realm. Go forth and conquer. The way God has designed the system, we control. It’s up to us.” (Fred Price, Ever Increasing Faith Lesea [on audio]).

Since Christ’s ruling is invisible, people have always tried to transfer to themselves and the Church more authority than was actually given. This doctrine extends from one’s right to divine health and prosperity to ruling over the world as espoused in the Kingdom Now movement. There is no difference in the two camps of Word Faith and Latter Rain.

Many act and teach that we have all this authority. Robin Harfouche (who agrees with her husband Dr. Christian Harfouche) explained in a TV interview to Sid Roth in 1998 about when she went to heaven, Jesus told me “He said He gave us all power and authority over the work of darkness and he said if we would rebuke that spirit, say spirit of pain in the name of Jesus Christ go, it will have to leave you” (on Harfouche).

If this were true why does the world and even Christians suffer? Is there not enough rebuking going on to have us painless? All one has to do is turn on Christian TV to hear all the binding of diseases being spoken.Where does the Bible say we have all authority as Jesus does? It was Jesus who was given back the authority He put aside when He left heaven to become a servant (human) on earth. (Phil. 2:5-8) He never gave this kind of authority to the Church. Is there no difference between Him and us? Of course we have a certain amount of authority under His headship, but not ALL authority as He has (after all He is God we are not). So why isn’t this actually working; except for the perceptions in these people’s minds.

Earl Paulk goes much further with this premise and changes Bible promises that have Jesus as the source, and instead attributes them to the Church. “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” (Earl Paulk The Great Escape theory, p. 14). 

Doesn’t the Bible say we preach about the Kingdom of God to the people of the nations (Mt.28:18)? It’s not about demonstrating an alternative rulership so that Jesus is finally able to return. Does this mean the return of Christ is in the Church’s hands? Is this why he has not returned yet? We prepare people to be ready to enter the Kingdom by first having the new birth. This is done by the Gospel being taught and the people having the spiritual Kingdom born inside first. Not by installing a rulership of fallen men (though redeemed) over nations.

According to this new reformation a mature church can only be realized by coming under the leadership of the new apostles and prophets. It is impossible to be realized without this unity and leadership. This is what the Latter Rain tried to do in the 1950's but failed.

One of today’s prophets Dr. Bill Hamon explains, “The restoration of the Elijah Company of the prophets is so dear to the heart of Jesus, for it will be this company of the last day prophets that prepare the way for His Second Coming ... the prophets will also help restore and call forth Apostles of power and restoration for the Church unity and perfection...” This “Elijah Company” is a pseudonym that is just one of many for those who do not believe in the “rapture” of the church. In its place are plans of setting up the Kingdom here on the earth first, after this is accomplished they will invite Jesus back to sit on the throne when its ready. But if the Church can do this before He comes, then who needs Jesus to come back?

Paulk states, referring to our dominion: “When we first began to point out that the Church was. . . [foolishly] standing gazing into the heavens waiting for some dramatic escape from this earth, some began to scream “heresy”! ... The Word proves that the earth is the Lord's and dominion over it is the first task the Church must accomplish...”

Jesus said that all authority in heaven and earth were given to him in Mt. 28:18-19. This is also found in Dan 7:13-14: “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His Kingdom the One which shall not be destroyed.” Some seem to think this was transferred to the Church. Not according to the Scripture.

Speaking of the Lord Ps. 145:13: “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.”

Ps. 22:28: “For the kingdom is the LORD'S, and He rules over the nations.” As we can see the Church does not rule the nations but Jesus. We may co-rule and reign but it certainly will not happen without His being present.

How does this come about? Dan. 7:21-23: “I was watching; and the same horn (little horn) was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, “until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.” Thus he said: 'The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces.”

This fourth kingdom is unlike any other it rules through the little horn. It takes the ancient of days to come for the saints to possess the kingdom. The saints needed to be rescued, they were not ruling. Clearly there is no Church government ruling like this now, nor will it be in the future. (at least not Jesus’ Church) What I’m about to propose fits in perfectly with the Kingdom Now scenario promoted by the new wave. As it is, they want to set up a kingdom to rule over the nations without Christ. Can it be that they are the fourth kingdom? Notice it is not until Jesus comes that we possess the kingdom. This is not talking about his first coming but second as will be explained shortly. The Kingdom Now scenario has the kingdom set up in Christ’s name. Jesus tells us in Mt. 24 that many false prophets will arise, they will display wonders at the same time the elect is here. The purpose is to deceive the elect. Jesus said they will say to Him “Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy IN YOUR NAME,” etc. Just because someone has a logo “Jesus Is Lord” does not make it so. Just because someone invokes the name of Lord, or Jesus, does not make them a child of God. Just because they attribute the healing to Jesus does not make it so. Remember that Jesus said “I never knew you. Away from me you workers of lawlessness." It is by their fruit (doctrine) we will know them. I submit this as consideration for any who claim such positions and power promoting these doctrines.

Dan. 2:40-45: “And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others. “Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. “And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. “As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.” And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. “Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold-- the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”

We know from scripture that clay represents man (God is the potter we are the clay) yet Daniel states it does not mix. Daniel is speaking of a fourth kingdom with kings that will rule the earth unlike any other time. Considering the agenda of the New Age movement as well as Kingdom Now promoters in the third wave it is not that far fetched that they may have their way and rule as the Church on earth without Christ.

Ps. 2:1-3 “Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” Here we have God’s perspective of people united together without the Messiah. It is called a vain thing, empty. Likewise so is the dominionism of the Church without the Messiah present. For God says in Ps. 2:6-9: “Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.” “I will declare the decree: the LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'“ Christ is the inheritor of the nations not the Church. Yet so often we hear people praying that God would give them (the Church) the inheritance. Even as the Church co-rules and reigns in the Millennium, it is under His headship and He is present.

While the fourth kingdom was made of Iron with clay, Christ instead rules with a rod of iron (meaning an unbreakable rule in absolutes, disobedience will bring swift repercussions). Rev. 2:27: “ He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels'-- as I also have received from My Father.” Notice that those ruling the kingdom when He comes will be broken as clay vessels. Why? Because it is not HIS kingdom they set up, but their own. So this can't mean the church is ruling when Christ comes again for He comes back to break the ruling kingdom at this time(Dan.2:44).

Rev. 12:5: “She bore a male Child (Christ the Son) who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.” Jesus had to ascend first before he rules the nations. He also has to come back before this can take place. Rev. 19:15: “ Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron.”

The Kingdom of God arrived with Jesus’ incarnation. He said (Lk.17) the kingdom is within your midst-meaning he was present among them. The death and resurrection of Jesus brought the way in which people can enter his kingdom before it is fully implemented upon His return. As we read in Daniel chapter 7:22: “and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.” The dominion and the kingdom would be given to saints upon the return of Christ.

When the kingdom comes Christ is present and we serve Him, not the prophets or apostles. Dan. 7:27: “Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.”

Those who have ruling positions in the fourth kingdom we find deceived into working for the Devil, Rev. 17:12-13: “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.” These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.

Rev 17:17: “ For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.”

Why would the 4^th kingdom be so different than the others- because it incorporates spirituality with political might, unlike any government in history! It will do things in God’s name and rule the earth. It will be more extensive than any other kingdom before in history.

The 10 kings give their allegiance to the beast and we find the beast is worshipped. Daniel also says it will be a revived Roman Empire. In Rome they had a single man Caesar who claimed to be God among the other gods. He would allow Christians to worship their God as long as they sacrificed to him and said he was God too. So it is possible for many different religions to co-exist in unity if they have the same goals, and put aside their differences.

Jesus said to his followers as long as you are in the world you will have tribulation- that the whole world lies in the power of the wicked one. We save people out of this but don’t rule over it! Why would anyone want to possess and rule the earth that is fallen and under judgment. It is for this reason we wait for Christ to come back and establish his rule and renew the earth.

Rev. 14:12-13: “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'“ “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” The Saints are not ruling, they are dying as the mark of the beast is instituted and the woman who is a counterfeit for the true Church, (the bride of Christ) kills the true saints. When John sees this woman he is awe struck as he describes in Rev. 17:6: I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.”

Rick Joyner writes of his visions of “a bloody civil war” that is to be inside the Church. (Latter Rain Revival, 1996) I submit for your consideration that the “blues” (the spiritual ones) and the “grays” (the intellectual ones) just may have a different significance than what he attributes to them. Consider what the book of Revelation states that the saints are killed by others who think they are doing God's work. One only has to see which is the side that has a militant tone to know the potential that is already there. He (the beast) will cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed (Rev 13:7-15). Those who do worship the beast in his false unity and religion will survive and take a place of ruling for a short time in his kingdom.

Israel was called God's wife in the Old Testament, she became an adulterous wife as she went after other gods but one day in the future she will be reconciled. Paul said: “I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2). We find this woman amazes John because she is against the saints yet she claims to be for God.

Eph. 3 tells us we have already been raised up with Christ to heavenly places. Col. 3:1-3 says to set our mind on the things above where Christ is seated. This goes back to Jesus saying not to store up treasure on earth but heavenly treasure. We bring people into his spiritual kingdom and He will bring the kingdom to the earth when He comes. Jesus made it clear His kingdom is not of this world or His servants would fight (John 18:36). “But now My kingdom is not from here.” It becomes obvious that this fourth kingdom which will rule until Christ comes does so through the tribulation and is the one that does the Saints in. The Christ of the Kingdom Now, for the most part, returns not to take the church to heaven, but to reign over the earthly kingdom that the “overcomers” have prepared for Him.

To meet a “Christ” on earth who comes to reign over the kingdom they have established in his name is not the Christ of Scripture but unknowingly preparing the earth for the Anti-christ who will rule first before Christ comes to set up His Kingdom on earth? If one eliminates this crucial teaching they have no protection against this deception that will sweep the earth and trap its inhabitants.

Vinson Synan, one of the leaders of A.D, 2000 says, “In all revolutions there are noisy and dangerous times as the OLD ORDER is replaced by the new ... after the dust settles. WE CAN PROCEED TO BUILD the beautiful kingdom that the Lord has purposed from the foundations of the World” - (Fullness, Jan. - Feb. 1990. Vinson Synan, p. 24.)

We build the kingdom, I don’t think so! This is the essence of the Kingdom Now, take it by force (or by politics if possible) camp. Jesus told us to pray for his kingdom to come, not take it for him without his being here physically. If we build the kingdom who is going to rule it? Us? Not too comforting a thought. The Kingdom is fully coming into the church independent of the physical return of Christ? How wonderful! Jesus, stay home we’ll call you when we need your help.

Isa. 9:6 “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. V.7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.”

Today’s promoters of Dominion Kingdom theology have expanded the more primitive from of Reconstructionism to be neatly adapted to the Charismatic model and goals.

The Dominionist view is that we will now conquer the whole world for Christ before He comes. They are establishing a superchurch in the name of Christ. Jesus is teaching the Church warfare. He appears as a ferocious Warrior. We are to march forward under His leadership toward “the land which I do give to them” (Joshua 1:2). We have to fight in order to enter the land of promise. “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.” (Joshua 1:3)

This is accomplished in several ways. By ‘speaking into the heavenlies’ the ‘things which are not’ and bringing in the kingdom. Binding the strongmen over the countries and cities. Music is an essential instrument in their model for spiritual warfare; it becomes an emphasis, replacing evangelism by preaching the word. We are told the kingdom is advancing violently referring to Mt. 11:12: “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” This is one of those Scriptures that has various interpretations. So how are we to understand this? When John came on the scene we find the religious leaders came against his message, they had the same resistance to Jesus. The kingdom of heaven suffered violence from those who wanted to force their way in. Jesus said one must become as a child, the meek and the humble gain entrance. They were to follow Him not go in the lead. Whether this is the exact meaning of the passage I cannot be sure since there so many various ways to consider it, but one thing I’m certain of, it does not mean what the Dominionist interpreters have it to mean. It was these same religious leaders who turned on Jesus when he would not be what they expected the Messiah to be like, to overthrow Rome and enforce the kingdom. Could the Kingdom Now movement be repeating the same mistake?

If we look at all the places that they have done this spiritual warfare, has crime, hatred, violence, murder, divorce, abortion been affected. It is Satan’s kingdom that advances violently and does violence. Just take a look at the news, have you heard of one nation that became Christian? Yet there are whole nations that are 99% Muslim, that have Islamic governments. So where are the results? Yet you hear them prophesy of many Muslims WILL come into the kingdom, sure!

Dominionism usually sees no prophetic purpose for Israel and the Jews because it believes the return of Christ depends upon the Church. We must conquer the whole world and set up the theocratic rule before He comes.  

There also seems to be an anti-Semitic vein that runs through some in the Dominion camp. Rick Godwin is a popular speaker in the Christian media has removed the Israel of the Old covenant replacing it with the Church: “They [national Israel] are not chosen, they are cursed! They are not blessed, they are cursed! . . .Yes, and you hear Jerry Falwell and everybody else say the reason America's great is because America's blessed Israel. They sure have. Which Israel? The Israel--the church ...That's the Israel of God, not that garlic one over on the Mediterranean Sea!” (Rick Godwin, Metro Church; Edmund, Oklahoma; April 11, 1988; “Rick Godwin No. 2”, audio tape Quoted in Whatever happened to heaven Dave Hunt) Maybe he should read Paul’s warning found in Rom. 11. Paul did not mix the two groups, nor did he say one is replaced. This is reminiscent of what the Mormons say of the blacks being cursed because they didn’t obey God. Paul writes they (Israel) were broken off for a time but will be grafted in again. Rom. 11:28-29 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” They are temporarily enemies, but they are not cursed.

God promises in Jer. 31:35-37: “Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for a light by day, the ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, who disturbs the sea, and its waves roar (The LORD of hosts is His name): “If those ordinances depart from before Me, says the LORD, then the seed of Israel shall also cease from being a nation before Me forever. “Thus says the LORD: “If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done.” One would have a huge task of removing the sun and the moon and measure out the heavens before Israel the nation (which is whom God is speaking to then) would cease to exist or be cut off. They change the seed of Israel into a spiritual seed and apply it to the Church. Its wrong!

Earl Paulk, one of the leading promoters of this Kingdom Now teaching writes: “Some of the strongest fundamental churches still preach that Christ will return to gather national Israel unto Himself, and I say that is deception and will keep the Kingdom of God from coming to pass! In almost any Christian bookstore, about 99% of the books will say that “God's time-clock is Israel” and that “God's covenant is still with Israel.” . . . [I say that] prophecies about Israel as a nation [are] now transferred to spiritual Israel, which is the people of God [i.e. the church] . . . (Earl Paulk, The Handwriting On The Wall, pp.17, 19-20)

Despite Paulk’s rejection to national Israel Luke records in Acts 1:6-8 “When they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.” At the time Israel was a nation and no place did the Lord change this. If the apostles had no part in restoring the literal kingdom on earth what Scripture would validate the new apostles for doing so?

It was days before the transfiguration Jesus said that the disciples would see the kingdom come in power. What they saw wasn't the kingdom “itself,” but a preview of what it would be like. What was seen on the Mount of Transfiguration showed that the OT saints were to be present as well as God’s glory being there with Jesus.

After Christ returns, after he rescues the nation of Israel, after Armageddon has occurred, then he separates the sheep from the goats in Matt 25:33-34 “And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’” So it is Jesus who personally gives the kingdom, we do not take it or set it up for Him. It is a total deception to think otherwise. The kingdom begins from Israel to the nations as Christ will rule from His homeland. 2 Tim 4:1: “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:” As we can see from Scripture His kingdom and appearing are simultaneous events and it comes with judgment as well as a blessing.

Pt.3 The cleansing for the Kingdom