I just wrote my friend, Barbara, to let her know that I no longer have time for even posting research due to the new web site(s) we are creating and my need to begin writing a book WHILE working on music AND keeping our outreach locations organized. Barbara was nice enough to write this and share her research with us for the ministry blog. I wanted to post it for an Internet archive.
The Kabbalah Connection
Mantles and Anointings from the Deceased
Over the last few years I’ve heard many in the false prophetic make reference to mantles from deceased evangelists. The notion left me baffled. New Testament Christians were never Biblically commanded to seek mantles or an anointing from deceased evangelists or prophets.
Yet this doctrine has crept into Christendom from many “ministries”. Here are some examples:
White Dove Ministries:
“The Lord is about to release other mantles as well - the mantles of William Branham, Katherine Kuhlman, A. A. Allen and John G. Lake among others.”
Northwest Prophetic:
“Even on that day that the ground shook and the graves were opened and the old saints walked again, the graves shall be opened in this hour and the mantles of those that walked the earth and caused it to shake then, so shall these mantles walk the earth again. They will be released on My people with signs, wonders, and miracles.”
Benny Hinn:
One of the strangest experiences I had a few years ago [was] visiting Aimee’s tomb in California. This Thursday I’m on TBN. Friday I am gonna go and visit Kathryn Kuhlman’s tomb. It’s close by Aimee’s in Forest Lawn Cemetery. I’ve been there once already and every so often I like to go and pay my respects ‘cause this great woman of God has touched my life. And that grave, uh, where she’s buried is closed, they built walls around it. You can’t get in without a key and I’m one of the very few people who can get in. But I’ll never forget when I saw Aimee’s tomb. It’s incredibly dramatic. She was such a lady that her tomb has seven-foot angels bowing on each side of her tomb with a gold chain around it. As—as incredible as it is that someone would die with angels bowing on each side of her grave, I felt a terrific anointing when I was there. I actually, I—I, hear this, I trembled when I visited Aimee’s tomb. I was shaking all over. God’s power came all over me. ... I believe the anointing has lingered over Aimee’s body.
“Prophecy” over Todd Bentley (transcript from a youtube video):
“All this week I believe William Branham’s mantle has been manifesting with Todd in a new realm of angelic activity”……… (00:52-1:00)
“And so I’ve been watching you operate in that mantle. And I… when I first saw it I said “That’s like William Branham. William Branham waiting upon the angel of the Lord to direct the ministry in great revelatory miracles, and I’ve been watching that with you.” (01:29-01:43)
Let’s look at this passage from 2 Kings 2:
9And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 10And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. 11And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. 13He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; 14And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. 15And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
Elijah did not die; he was taken by a whirlwind into Heaven. His mantle, a real garment, fell from him, and Elisha picked it up.
I did a thorough Bible study of the words “mantle” and “anointing”. There is nothing Biblical that backs the notion that spiritual mantles from deceased evangelists are about to be released, and nothing Biblical about seeking an anointing from a deceased person.
Kabbalah
I learned a lot about the Kabbalah and practices of Kabbalists from this video:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8617500122476262686#
Just past the 25 minute mark the narrator explains the gravesite rituals that took place in Sefad, Israel. Kabbalists searched for locations to their previous incarnations under the guidance of Isaac Luria. The narrator states, “They (Kabbalists) would take on the soul of the deceased who was lying there and speak with that person’s voice.”
From another Kabbalah site:
(Rabbi Luria was also known as the “Ari”.)
“The Ari arrived in Sefad on the very day of the Ramak's funeral. Joining the procession, he discovered that he alone was witness to a pillar of fire following behind the Ramak's bier--a sign, according to the Zohar, that he was meant to inherit the mantle of leadership left behind by the deceased.”
Bible
Mantles and Anointings from the Deceased
Over the last few years I’ve heard many in the false prophetic make reference to mantles from deceased evangelists. The notion left me baffled. New Testament Christians were never Biblically commanded to seek mantles or an anointing from deceased evangelists or prophets.
Yet this doctrine has crept into Christendom from many “ministries”. Here are some examples:
White Dove Ministries:
“The Lord is about to release other mantles as well - the mantles of William Branham, Katherine Kuhlman, A. A. Allen and John G. Lake among others.”
Northwest Prophetic:
“Even on that day that the ground shook and the graves were opened and the old saints walked again, the graves shall be opened in this hour and the mantles of those that walked the earth and caused it to shake then, so shall these mantles walk the earth again. They will be released on My people with signs, wonders, and miracles.”
Benny Hinn:
One of the strangest experiences I had a few years ago [was] visiting Aimee’s tomb in California. This Thursday I’m on TBN. Friday I am gonna go and visit Kathryn Kuhlman’s tomb. It’s close by Aimee’s in Forest Lawn Cemetery. I’ve been there once already and every so often I like to go and pay my respects ‘cause this great woman of God has touched my life. And that grave, uh, where she’s buried is closed, they built walls around it. You can’t get in without a key and I’m one of the very few people who can get in. But I’ll never forget when I saw Aimee’s tomb. It’s incredibly dramatic. She was such a lady that her tomb has seven-foot angels bowing on each side of her tomb with a gold chain around it. As—as incredible as it is that someone would die with angels bowing on each side of her grave, I felt a terrific anointing when I was there. I actually, I—I, hear this, I trembled when I visited Aimee’s tomb. I was shaking all over. God’s power came all over me. ... I believe the anointing has lingered over Aimee’s body.
“Prophecy” over Todd Bentley (transcript from a youtube video):
“All this week I believe William Branham’s mantle has been manifesting with Todd in a new realm of angelic activity”……… (00:52-1:00)
“And so I’ve been watching you operate in that mantle. And I… when I first saw it I said “That’s like William Branham. William Branham waiting upon the angel of the Lord to direct the ministry in great revelatory miracles, and I’ve been watching that with you.” (01:29-01:43)
Let’s look at this passage from 2 Kings 2:
9And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 10And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. 11And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. 13He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; 14And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. 15And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
Elijah did not die; he was taken by a whirlwind into Heaven. His mantle, a real garment, fell from him, and Elisha picked it up.
I did a thorough Bible study of the words “mantle” and “anointing”. There is nothing Biblical that backs the notion that spiritual mantles from deceased evangelists are about to be released, and nothing Biblical about seeking an anointing from a deceased person.
Kabbalah
I learned a lot about the Kabbalah and practices of Kabbalists from this video:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8617500122476262686#
Just past the 25 minute mark the narrator explains the gravesite rituals that took place in Sefad, Israel. Kabbalists searched for locations to their previous incarnations under the guidance of Isaac Luria. The narrator states, “They (Kabbalists) would take on the soul of the deceased who was lying there and speak with that person’s voice.”
From another Kabbalah site:
(Rabbi Luria was also known as the “Ari”.)
“The Ari arrived in Sefad on the very day of the Ramak's funeral. Joining the procession, he discovered that he alone was witness to a pillar of fire following behind the Ramak's bier--a sign, according to the Zohar, that he was meant to inherit the mantle of leadership left behind by the deceased.”
Bible
If you are a born again Christian, your anointing is from the Holy Spirit. In Colossians 2:10 we read that we are complete in Him (Christ Jesus), and He is the head of all principality and power. In Ephesians 6 we read that the spiritual garment we are to put on is the whole armour of God.
2 Corinthians 1:20-22 For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 21Now He which stablisheth (establishes) us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts
1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him
Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God: 18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
A Biblical word of warning:
Deuteronomy 18:10-12 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. 11Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
-Barbara for Lighting the Way
Sources:
http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/bhnecro.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE5dOvEhctE
http://www.inner.org/stages/stages1.htm
http://www.inner.org/stages/stages1.htm
All scripture passages are from the King James Version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE5dOvEhctE
http://www.inner.org/stages/stages1.htm
http://www.inner.org/stages/stages1.htm
All scripture passages are from the King James Version
