(A response to a post at the “Friends of the Messianic Corner”)
When Rebekah agreed to marry Isaac, Abraham’s servant adorned her with gold and jewels. Genesis 24:53 (NKJV)Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.Isaac symbolises Jesus. Rebekah represents the bride of Christ and the servant symbolises the Holy Spirit, preparing the Bride for the coming of Jesus, the Bridegroom from Heaven.THIS EXPLAINS THE MYSTERIOUS APPEARANCE OF GOLD DUST AND PERFECT PRECIOUS STONES WHICH GOD SUPERNATURALLY CAUSES TO APPEAR AS GIFTS TO SOME CHRISTIANS IN OUR GENERATION.
I left the Charismatic movement behind me when it was still in the ‘3rd wave’ and must say i’m glad i did. What we see those days in the 4th wave like the ‘gold dust’, Crowder’s movement, ‘holy laughter’, ‘holy barking’ and so on does not glorify the Lord. Why? Well,..
1. it’s not Biblical. You can only give it some Biblical “credibility” by explaining things from a certain assumption like the original writer does when he says “Isaac symbolises Jesus. Rebekah represents the bride of Christ..” – this is not sound Biblical teaching. It’s *assuming* something or even worse: “making it up”. Never in the whole Bible we see a thought like this confirmed; it’s not to be found in it. So based on this assumption, it’s a nice thought i agree, you start assuming that the ‘gold dust’ is somehow related to this. But if you apply the proper hermeneutical principles on what you’re claiming here, it will not hold up;
2. claims about “gemstones ”, “gold dust”, “golden teeth” and so on have all fallen flat when researched by objective researchers. This has been tested in the Netherlands and other countries. We have a preacher in the Netherlands who has been “shaking gold dust from his Bible” and he is even supported by some very influential Evangelical leaders. When his ‘gold’ was tested by two laboratories it was proven to be worthless plastic. Does God give his believers worthless plastic?
This whole “gold dust” thing started back in Brazil, do some googling and you’ll find out the truth about it. There never ever was any real, true, gold ‘manifested’.
3. it doesn’t add to our personal believe in God, nor does it bring the unbelievers to Christ but in fact the 4th wave is the thing that allows more and more people to ridicule Christians! Does God want the world to make fun about his Children or about Himself or does he want the world to know the truth: that He is coming again soon and will judge the unbelieving world? So, what’s more important – having our own little “gold dust parties” or spreading the truth and bring people to Christ? This whole thing is nothing more than people concentrating on themselves and their own feelings and not reaching out to the world;
4. finally – look at the lives of the men leading this movement. I only have to mention one name, or two… they lead unholy, greedy, lives. Todd Bentley, for example. He’s one big fraud. Even his ‘biker gang’ history is a fraud. We know how he ended up and still he’s backed up by some of the most influential 4th wave leaders like John Arnott from Toronto.. Mind you I don’t want to point a finger, but doesn’t the Bible clearly state we have to watch our leaders and how they end? The leaders of the 4th wave show no spiritual progress, don’t lead into spiritual progress – as far as I’m concerned they are clowns and frauds.
There’s so much to learn from the Lord, by his spirits guidance, why on earth should we be occupied by these “lower” and earthly “manifistations”? In the end, they won’t help us deepening our faith. In fact, they will only draw us backwards since we will be jumping from wonder to sign and from sign to extatic utterances and so on without growing spiritually. That’s why I’m glad I’ve left the movement and went on – if I hadn’t done so, I’d still be doing that and wouldn’t have grown and learned as much as I’ve done in the past 20 years.
So, whats my authority? Am I an authority on this? Therefore I’d like to let someone else, a world-wide recognized formal leader of the pentacostal church tell the truth,… David Wilkerson, he’s been a life long, respected, leader and has been a great example in- and outside the movement. Listen to people like him!
Video: http://youtu.be/dvoAGEZf-nI
