latter day rain movement(bikle)

[beleive]

ihop in k.c. led by mike bikle is this a cult??Alot of people getting drawn to this church they dont believe in the rapture??Some people from my church are drawn to it??

[Ladybug]

Yes, it is a cult. They are part of the Kingdom Now movement, which basically teaches that either 1) the Book of Revelation has already occurred and the Kingdom of God is currently being perfected by today's believers or 2) the Book of Revelation is totally symbolic.

[firstoftwelve]

Yes, it is a cult. They are part of the Kingdom Now movement, which basically teaches that either 1) the Book of Revelation has already occurred and the Kingdom of God is currently being perfected by today's believers or 2) the Book of Revelation is totally symbolic.

Can you help me with this some more??? I've recently run into an old friend who believes this, but I have very little understanding of it to be able to refute it, and most importantly do you have scripture to help in the discussion? Also, what about the movement makes it a cult?

Thanks,

Diane

[Ladybug]

Can you help me with this some more??? I've recently run into an old friend who believes this, but I have very little understanding of it to be able to refute it, and most importantly do you have scripture to help in the discussion? Also, what about the movement makes it a cult?

Thanks,

Diane


Believes in the latter rain/Kingdom Come stuff, or specifically Mike Bickle? I'll certainly be glad to give you more information, just give me a bit of time. :)

[firstoftwelve]

The Kingdom Now movement. They believe Nero was the AntiChrist and that the Kingdom of God is being perfected for His return, not getting worse as pre-tribers believe.

Thanks again!!

Diane

[beleive]

like to know more and why people are drawing to it???And there beliefs

[Ladybug]

Ok, sorry it took so long; I was at work and it's not something that can be posted quickly.

And before I begin, let me preface with this is going to be generalizations; there are many variations just as there are various Baptist denominations. So you may know of one group or person who may not believe a certain aspect, but the general characteristics will stand.

The Bible speaks in several places of 'latter rain' which is interpreted as being another outpouring of the Holy Spirit akin to Pentecost. Therefore, those who recieve the latter rain are considered 'apostles' who are able to do miraculous works as the early apostles did, such as raising the dead, speaking in tongues, and receiving new revelations of God's Word. The leaders of this movement are considered a spiritual elite, sometimes called 'overcomers', because it will be they who overcome death on earth. They believe that their mission is to perfect God's kingdom on earth now, thus the 'Kingdom Now' term. The rapture doesn't mean that Jesus will remove us from this earth before the Tribulation, but rather the rapturous feeling we'll have when give this world to God as His kingdom after we restore it for Him.

Their teachings are...unorthodox, to say the least. Here is one quote from Mike Bickle, the person originally asked about:

''God intends us to be like gods, he intends us to be like the Son of God. ... God has conceived in His heart of a plan to make a race of men that would live like gods on the Earth. He has conceived in His heart to have Sons that would live like His Son, the Lord Jesus lived... That we were to be on earth the extension and manifestation of God's life in heaven.''


I'm not a good apologist, so if you want to dig deeper into it, I can give some sites to go to learn more.

[countmeworthy]

How different is this from the preterist view ? Anyone ever heard of Bill Johnson? What are his views?

[Leialoha]

having a different view of the end times does not make a group a cult. Doctrinal error does not equal cult. I don't like Kingdom Now theology but I wouldn't call it a cult, either.

[firstoftwelve]

having a different view of the end times does not make a group a cult. Doctrinal error does not equal cult. I don't like Kingdom Now theology but I wouldn't call it a cult, either.

I was wondering this myself. My pastor has said in the past, "that's ok if you don't believe in the Rapture. I'll just explain it to ya on the way up! :pound )