The Real Heretical Teachings of Kenneth Hagin
BY SANDY SIMPSON
Zizzored from www.letusreason.org
Editor: Jan Lilleby
Mr. Kenneth Hagin is well known to be one of, or the main influences of the word faith movement of our day. He claims he received revelation that he taught to the Church.
Mr. Hagin says he was born premature, plagued by numerous health problems as a child, suffering from a deformed heart and what was believed to be an incurable blood disease he was not expected to live and became bedridden. Until he became a Christian at age 15, when he died and descended into hell.
In his booklet, I Went to Hell, he wrote that his heart stopped and he ‘‘was pulled toward hell just like a magnet pulls metal unto itself. ’’
This took place in April 1933 during a dramatic conversion experience, he reported dying three times in 10 minutes. He felt himself slip out of his body and descend into a terrible darkness, seeing the horrors of hell and then returning to life. Each time he heard a commanding voice from above, and felt himself pulled back into his room and into his body.
On the third time, he called out to God to forgive him and to cleanse him of all sin. He said he ‘‘ began to pray, ‘O God! I come to You in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I ask You to forgive me of my sins and to cleanse me from all sin.’ ... So I was born again ... and I’ve been saved ever since. ’’ That's quite a prayer from a non Christian at 15.He also says he was raised from his deathbed on August 8, 1934 by "the revelation of faith in God's Word" (Kenneth Hagin, I Went to Hell and What Faith Is).
Mr. Hagin was apparently born again in hell, thus we can understand his doctrinal teaching on Jesus being born again in hell. But Hagin remained paralyzed.
Apparently his new birth affected his memory (claiming his healing occurred on Tuesday of the "second week" of August 1934, or August 7, which was not the same date given as the "second Tuesday" that month [August 14). Hagin gives various dates, such as "6 days before my 17th birthday [August 20, 1934," which would be August 14, the "second Tuesday of August 1934": (Kenneth E. Hagin, El Shaddai [Tulsa, OK: Kenneth Hagin Ministries, 1980, 24-25.)
Regardless of the different dates, Hagin claims he was healed of his "deformed heart," "paralysis," and "incurable blood disease." I believe God. I believe I receive healing for the deformed heart. I believe I receive healing for the paralysis...." (How to Write Your Own Ticket With God) In case he missed something, he declared his " healing from the top of my head to the soles of my feet" on August 7, 1934, so that "every symptom of distress, deficiency and physical wrongness was driven out of my body," perpetually .
Yet on May 1939: he states ". . . I attended a Full Gospel convention .... As I sat in the service, I began to have sharp pains around my heart. It seemed to quiver and stop. It even felt as if my breath were being cut off " (Hagin, Right and Wrong Thinking 20-21).
It was not a healing that he kept, as these symptoms of a bad heart continued “ I remember many years ago after I was healed, physical symptoms came back .... The devil said to me, '. . . You're going to die... !' . . . I laid my Bible on the floor and literally stood on it . . . ." (Kenneth E. Hagin, "God's Best," Word of Faith [December 1992, 5c).
It seems William Branham said the very same on hell prior, “When I saw the vision of hell, as a--as a little boy, the horrors of it. … (63-1124E, Three Kinds Of Believers, Branham Tabernacle, Jeffersonville, IN)
Kenneth E. Hagin states he began his ministry in 1934 at the age of 17 in Texas when he raised from his deathbed on August of 1934 by a revelation of "faith in God's Word" after reading Mark 11:23-24.
http://www.rhema.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8&Itemid=137
He was Born in 1917 (he says he was 15 in 1933) which does make this an issue, since he was just converted and knows next to nothing about the Lord.
Hagin had received a vision containing the Scripture passage Mark 11:23-24. It was because of this vision, and the supporting Scripture passage, that he built his theology on the “Faith Principle” “ believe it in your heart, say it with your mouth, and you will have whatsoever you confess.”
This inaccuracy of Scripture continued. He later developed this into what is known as speaking faith, positive confessions…" Jesus used the fig tree to demonstrate that He had that God-kind of faith, then He said to the disciples--and to us--'You have that kind of faith.'...Jesus said He had the God-kind of faith; He encouraged His disciples to exercise that kind of faith; and He said that 'whosoever' could do it. . . . That is why Jesus said, 'whosoever shall say ... and shall not doubt IN HIS HEART.'" (Having Faith in Your Faith [Tulsa, OK: Kenneth Hagin Ministries, 1988], 3, emphasis in original.)
Do we see any apostle’s example of doing this? If not then it must mean something other than the way he interpreted it.
For twelve years he pastored, and then traveled as an evangelist. In 1936, he founded his first non-denominational church. Bill Sherman - World Religion. "The Hagins' ministry." Tulsa World . He preached his first sermon as the pastor of a small, community Baptist church in Roland, Texas. ChristianityToday.com. In1937, he became an Assemblies of God minister.
Kenneth married Oretha Rooker on November 25, 1938, had two children, Kenneth Wayne Hagin Jr. (September 3, 1939), and Patricia Harrison Hagin (on March 27, 1941). Patricia married and later became the widow of the late Doyle Buddy Harrison, the owner and publisher of Harrison House, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
He was ordained a minister of the Assemblies of God in 1967 (North Texas District Council). In 1963, the Kenneth E. Hagin Evangelistic Association was incorporated. He then began his radio ministry and other media promotions (It continues today by his son, Rev. Kenneth Hagin Jr.)
The ministry was moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1966 into the office that was formerly occupied by T. L. Osborn, a Branham enthusiast. (Ibid.) In 1974, he founded Rhema Bible Training Center in Tulsa, Okla., which now operates in numerous countries (at least 110) and has many thousands of alumni. Rhema churches are a great influence to many in teaching his false Christianity.
Hagin's most successful protegè is Kenneth Copeland, Christianity’s first billionaire braggart. Copeland has been quoted as saying that he 'learned nothing' during six months at Oral Roberts University but was so excited by Hagin's teachings that...[he] spent the next month in his garage listening to them. ”(Charles Farah, "A Critical Analysis: The 'Roots and Fruits' of Faith-Formula Theology," PNEUMA: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, Spring 1981, 15)
There are so many others, Charles Capps, Frederick K.C. Price, Robert Tilton, David Yonggi Cho, Rodney Browne etc. Many of them are graduates of Hagin's RHEMA Bible Training Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
"Charles Capps gives a the testimony "Brother Hagin was the greatest influence of my life. Kenneth Copeland credits Hagin's tapes with having revolutionized his ministry. McConnell, Kenyon Connection, p. 11.
Frederick K.C. Price says: "Kenneth Hagin has had the greatest influence upon my life of any living man ... his books ... revolutionized and changed my life. (Taped interviews on file at the Holy Spirit Research Center, Oral Roberts University cited in D.R McConnell)
Others, like Joseph Prince praise Hagin. Anyone who can attach themselves to Hagin needs to be avoided as a teacher, for they show they have no discernment and cannot separate the truth from error.
You can sum up Kenneth Hagin’s philosophy of ministry by this teaching: " I'm tired of hearing that religious jargon that we're tired and lonely; we're the meekest and the lowliest... Believe in God! Believe in yourself! There never was a person who succeeded in life who didn't believe he could do it. You may argue, "But I don't want to be egotistical..." That's a lie the devil concocted to cause people not to succeed. Somebody's always talking about being humble. There are some people who are so humble they are proud of their humility! Religious people will tell you "Don't every get conceited..." but the devil tried to rob people through false modesty too... God can't do anything on this earth without a man or woman who will do it for Him ...it's God's plan of action; therefore we need to begin to believe in ourselves ." ("How to Make the Dream God gave you Come True" Faith Library Publications: 1981) underline mine.
That is exactly what the devil wants us to be, self-sufficient, not Christ sufficient, our confidence is to be in the Lord alone. This statement of his is the very opposite of what Scripture says, not to trust in oneself. This is no different than having faith in faith, faith in oneself. We are not to believe in ourselves, along with God. To say God cannot do ANYTHING without a person is just plain ridiculous, the whole Bible speaks of his sovereignty over all. Yet this is the basis for being a god with the same powers and authority like Jesus. (in the second section he tells a story of what he could do that Jesus could not)
His heresies of Jesus and humanity
" Of course Jesus stands in a class by himself, personally as deity. But when it comes to ministry, Jesus does not stand in a class by Himself. . . Even though Jesus was the Son of God, and divine blood flowed through His veins, yet He was ministering on the earth as a human being - a prophet anointed with the Holy Spirit “(Hagin, Kenneth, Hear and Be Healed, ps. 8,13-14)
This is where we find in the movement from Bill Johnson he teaches we can do all that Jesus did.
E. W. Kenyon " Every man who has been born again is an incarnation and Christianity is a miracle. The believer is as much an incarnation as was Jesus of Nazareth." (E.W. Kenyon, The Father and His Family, 100)
this diminished the uniqueness of the incarnation of God becoming man through a virgin.
Copying E. W. Kenyon Hagin said, " Every man who has been born again is an incarnation and Christianity is a miracle. The believer is as much an incarnation as was Jesus of Nazareth." (the Incarnation Kenneth Hagin, p. 12).
Does being born again make us an incarnation of God in the flesh? From this basis he made other claims of what Christians can do just like Jesus.
Hagin specifically stated "We (the church) are Christ." (As Christ is -- So are we, Tape #44H06)
Where does the Bible teach this? It says we are his body, the physical expression of his nature in us, not the Messiah himself. There is only one messiah and we are not him. This diminishes the uniqueness of the Christ being the savior of sinful man.
He said, " If we ever wake up and realize who we are, we'll start doing the work that we're supposed to do. Because the church hasn't realized yet that they are Christ. That's who they are. They are Christ."
Are we God who came from heaven? That's what Jesus is. The Lord Jesus Christ is God manifested in the flesh, the eternal Son of God. That is what defines the incarnation. Apparently he did not understand the incarnation which is associated with the gospel, or he did not believe it.
Kenneth Hagin also taught "[Man] was created on terms of equality with God, and he could stand in God's presence without any consciousness of inferiority... God made us as much like Himself as possible... He made us the same class of being that He is Himself... Man lived in the realm of God. He lived on terms equal with God.. ." (Zoe: The God‑Kind of Life, 1989, 35‑36, 41)
While man could stand in God’s presence, he knew God was his creator. It is only when he believed the devils lie that he thought of himself to be like God. Hagin continually turned the difference of the creature (man ) upside down with the creator (God) giving them the same nature.
"Even many in the great body of Full Gospel people do not know that the new birth is a real incarnation....Jesus was first divine, and then He was human. So He was in the flesh a divine-human being. I was first human, and so were you, but I was born of God, and so I became a human-divine being (Kenneth Hagin . Hagin, Zoe: The God-Kind of Life, Tulsa, OK. Faith Library, 1981, p40.)
Here he introduces man as divine from the new birth, we are gods.
Kenneth Hagin says “God made the earth … giving Adam dominion over all the works of His hands. In other words, Adam was the god of this world. ” (The Believer’s Authority, 2d ed. [Tulsa, OK: Kenneth Hagin Ministries, 1991], 19).
If he said ruler that may be acceptable, but god; no. There is only one God, all others are false gods.
Mans dominion was specifically over the creatures on the earth, he was never called a god. Gen. 1:28 ‘ subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
This was taken away when man was ousted from the garden after he sinned by eating the fruit, believing he would be as God. Hagin "Man is a spirit who possesses a soul and lives in a body...., He is in the same class with God." (Man of Three Dimensions; Tulsa: Faith Library, 1973)
No, God is uncreated, therefore he is not in the same class as man who is created by the uncreated.
As Adam sinned and was separate from God so was Jesus
Kenneth E. Hagin: "God came down in the cool of the day in the Garden of Eden to commune and fellowship with him [Adam]. as he had in the past. And he couldn't find him. He called out to him, 'Adam, where art thou?' And he said, 'I hid myself.' Why? Because of sin. Because, first, sin separates you from God. Secondly, by sinning, by listening to the Devil, he took upon himself the nature of the Devil into his spirit being." ("How Jesus Obtained His Name" [Tulsa, OK: Kenneth Hagin Ministries, n.d.], audiotape #44H01, side 2.)
He says that Jesus did the same but at the same time denied he taught this, "Why did He (Jesus) need to be begotten, or born? Because He became like we were: separated from God. Because He tasted spiritual death for every man....Jesus was the first person that was ever born again." K. Hagin, How Jesus Obtained His Name, Tulsa: Rhema, audiotape #44H01.
“Jesus died as our substitute. He who knew no sin was made to be sin. He took upon himself our sin nature. And he died- he was separated and cut off from God. He went down into the prison house of suffering in our place. He was there for three days and nights.” (Made Alive” the word of faith 15 apr.1982
The Gospel heresy
“He [Jesus] tasted spiritual death for every man. And His spirit and inner men went to hell in my place. Can’t you see that? Physical death wouldn’t remove your sins. He’s tasted death for every man. He’s talking about tasting spiritual death.” (Kenneth Hagin, “How Jesus Obtained His Name.”) underline mine
This is said to support the doctrine that he agreed with from E.W. Kenyon and W. M. Branham, both teaching that Jesus went to hell to suffer there to complete the gospel.
Mimicking Branham Hagin states, "Do you think that the punishment for our sin was to die on a cross? If that were the case, the two thieves could have paid your price. No the punishment was to go into hell itself and to serve time in hell separated from God ... Satan and all the demons of hell thought that they had him bound, and they threw a net over Jesus and they dragged Him down to the very pit of hell itself to serve our sentence."
This further explained by Hagin “If Jesus' physical death could pay the penalty for Sin as some contend, then why is it necessary that a Christian die? If a Christian dies physically, does he not pay the penalty of his own ,sin? If physical death is the penalty for sin, then why do not the whole human race pay their own penalty, and save themselves, for all die? But we hold that the physical death of Jesus did not touch the sin issue at all." (quoted in A Different Gospel, D.R. McConnell, (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1988), 23, 28 note 23)
This is a full denial of Jesus mission in becoming man. He is questioning Gods Word by his fallen human reasoning. The Word explicitly teaches he became man for his physical death – that his blood would be shed, “ Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. A principle of sacrifice that was taught from the beginning of when man sinned. “ In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins…” (Eph. 1:7) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins ” (Col. 1:14). (further scriptures on this important issue are Rom. 3:24-25 we are bought with his blood 1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Pt. 1:18-19).
The new covenant is enacted by his blood (Heb. 9:2, 26), from the death of the body. Heb. 9:15: “ Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant by means of death” this denial of the core teaching of Christ DYING for sin (for his spirit cannot die, he was God) is denied.
Hagin taught Jesus suffered in hell for 3 days. Today all the faith teachers repeat this demonic interpretation.
Kenneth Hagin “ Jesus died as our substitute. He who knew no sin was made to be sin. He took upon himself our sin nature. And he died- he was separated and cut off from God. He went down into the prison house of suffering in our place. He was there for three days and nights . ” (Made Alive” the word of faith Apr.15, 1982)
This states the cross was not the place of victory as the Bible declares, nor a finishing of the atonement for the new covenant, instead it was continuation in hell
This suffering in hell has become the standard gospel in the word faith movement. This is what Kenyon taught, this is what Branham taught.
E. W. Kenyon, “ Satan took Jesus spirit with him down to the pit of hell where Jesus during three terrible days and nights suffered the tortures of hell.” (Lie, E. W. Kenyon, 43)
William Branham likewise said this long before Hagin, “He died a sinner, knowing no sin, yet our sin was on Him. And God, for His sins, sent Him to hell.” (53-0609A, Demonology, Religious Realm, Roberts Park Amphitheater, Connersville, IN)
William Branham said “And when He died, His soul went to hell, because it had the sins of the world upon it. And He was in hell three days.” (59-1124, Balm In Gilead, Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, San Jose, Ca)
The born again Jesus
Hagin’s full quote states “Well, Jesus tasted death, spiritual death for every man. See sin is more than a physical act, it's a spiritual act. And so He became what we were, that we might become what he is. Praise God! And so therefore, his spirit was separated from God. Why did he need to be begotten or born? Because he became um we were, separated from God. Because he tasted spiritual death for every men, and his spirit and. inner man went to Hell in my place. Can' t you see that PHYSICAL DEATH WOULDN’T REMOVE YOUR SINS. He's tasted death for every man. We're talking about tasting spiritual death. Jesus is the first person that was ever born again. Why did His spirit need to be born again? Because it was estranged from God. (How Jesus obtained his name tape # 44HO1 side 1)
Clearly he does not understand the nature of Jesus being a man and being God in Spirit. His Spirit was God, God does not need to be reborn spiritually, if that’s true we are all in trouble. Thankfully it is not!
Here we have the teaching of humans becoming god[s]. All this and more was taught by his experiences, his visitations of Jesus and angels and hearing from what he thought was the Spirit.
The Numerous Visitations of Jesus and angels to Kenneth Hagin
Kenneth Hagin had numerous stories of personal visions of Jesus. In fact, He had more visitations than any apostle in the New Testament. Not since the early Gnostics that were enemies of Christ who came into the church, do we hear of so many supernatural stories. He said he later received the spiritual gifts of healing, prophecy, and discerning of spirits.
“Some of us', like Paul. stand in more than one office. Often well weave in and out of these offices. Thank God 1 had the anointing to preach and then the anointing to teach. I spoke in tongues and prophesied,, but 1 never stood in the office of the prophet until 1952. I know exactly when 1 entered into the ministry of the prophet. (Kenneth Hagin,, Understanding the Anointing (Faith Library, 1985), p. 65)
Like prophet Branham ,his contemporary, he had many stories of Jesus visiting him. He not only went to heaven but hell a number of times (No apostle went to hell). We can trace all the lying stories of others today to these teachers of the Latter Rain, i.e. Kenneth Hagin.
Mr. Hagin claims that Jesus appeared to him in 1950 and gave him a special anointing to minister to the sick. Hagin says that if individuals, churches and pastors do not accept his message they will pay the ultimate price "The Lord said to me, 'If I give you a message for an individual, a church, or a pastor and they don't accept it, you will not be responsible. They will be responsible. There will be ministers who don't accept it and will fall dead in the pulpit .'" (I Believe)
This is a counterfeit punishment of Ananias and Sapphira who lied to the Holy Spirit under Peters leadership. To make his personal message like this is not from the Lord but of self promotion. He thought he could convince people of his importance by using this scripture.
Are we to believe Jesus showed up not once, but several times to Mr. Hagin when he came to Saul only once (and did not give him a special anointing)! Paul who wrote that he was the last of all to see Jesus on earth… so Paul is wrong? If that is what you think you should understand that you are wrong.
Mr. Hagin tells us that Jesus appeared to him in Phoenix, Arizona and revealed the keys for people to get from God what they want. (How to Write Your Own Ticket With God, Kenneth Hagin; (Rhema Bible Church) p. 1-5. " Jesus dictated to me during my vision, 'Your action defeats or puts you over. According to your action you receive or you are kept from receiving.'" "Jesus said to me, 'Tell it so others may believe' This is near identical to William Branham saying such things who came before him.
Hagin is notorious for receiving “visions” which gave guidance to his ministry. One of his frequently recounted visions recalls a time when he and Jesus were talking together and were confronted by a “demon monkey.” In the vision, Jesus was unable to control the monkey, but
This story may be his best one
“In 1952, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to me in a vision and talked to me for about an hour and a half about the devil, demons, and demon possession . At the end of that vision, an evil spirit that looked like a little monkey or elf ran between Jesus and me and spread something like a smoke screen or dark cloud. Then this demon began jumping up and down, crying in a shrill voice, “Yakety-yak, yakety-yak, yakety-yak.” I couldn’t see Jesus or understand what He was saying. … I couldn’t understand why Jesus allowed the demon to make such a racket. I wondered why Jesus didn’t rebuke the demon so I could hear what He was saying. I waited a few moments, but Jesus didn’t take any action against the demon. Jesus was still talking, but I couldn’t understand a word He was saying—and I needed to, because He was giving instructions concerning the devil, demons, and how to exercise authority.
I thought to myself, Doesn’t the Lord know I’m not hearing what He wanted me to? I need to hear that. I’m missing it! I almost panicked. I became so desperate I cried out, “In the Name of Jesus, you foul spirit, I command you to stop!” The minute I said that, the little demon hit the floor like a sack of salt, and the black cloud disappeared. The demon lay there trembling, whimpering, and whining like a whipped pup. He wouldn’t look at me. “Not only shut up, but get out of here in Jesus’ Name!” I commanded. He ran off. …I was thinking, Why didn’t He do something about that? Why did He permit it? Jesus looked at me and said, “ If you hadn’t done something about that, I couldn’t have.”
That came as a real shock to me—it astounded me. I replied, “Lord, I know I didn’t hear You right! You said You wouldn’t, didn’t You?” He replied, “No, if you hadn’t done something about that, I couldn’t have.” I went through this four times with Him. He was emphatic about it, saying, “No, I didn’t say I would not, I said I could not.” I said, “Now, dear Lord, I just can’t accept that. I never heard or preached anything like that in my life!” I told the Lord I didn’t care how many times I saw Him in visions— He would have to prove this to me by at least three Scriptures out of the New Testament …. Jesus smiled sweetly and said He would give me four. I said, “I’ve read through the New Testament 150 times, and many portions of it more than that. If that is in there, I don’t know it!”
Jesus later states, “ Here are your four witnesses. I am the first, James is the second, Peter is the third, and Paul is the fourth. This establishes the fact that the believer has authority on earth, for I have delegated my authority over the devil to you on the earth. If you don’t do anything about it, nothing will be done.”
Jesus keeps talking when he knows he can’t hear him? Hagin has Jesus sit and talk for 1 1’2 hours when we find that whenever Jesus spoke to the apostles after his ascension it was brief … and he did not appear to anyone after Paul was chosen.
Here face to face is Jesus, who is God, and he is telling him to prove what he is saying to him --What? Jesus who is called the truth is being questioned! Not trusted, but doubting like Thomas. Where is his respect? He may have read the New Testament 150 times but apparently neither he nor his Jesus taught him correctly. To teach Jesus does not have the power to do something but Hagin (and all of us) do. Does Scripture not say he was given all authority (we were not). He rebukes the demon because Jesus did not have this ability! Is there any teaching like this on Jesus? I find this conversation more than difficult to believe. Does Jesus speak like this? Go ahead and believe Hagin and you let Hagin make a monkey out of you.
In his book, Hagin sees a vision of Jesus, and says to Him, "Dear Lord, I have two sermons I preach concerning the woman who touched Your clothes and was healed when You were on earth. I received both of these sermons by inspiration” Later, Hagin quotes what Jesus told him in reply: "You are correct. My Spirit, the Holy Spirit, has endeavored to get another sermon into your spirit, but you have failed to pick it up. While I am here, I will do as you ask. I will give you that sermon out-line. Now get your pencil and paper and write it down."
Again the Jesus Hagin presents is hardly the same as the one in Scripture. This is presented as Scripture, to write it down. The alternative is reading a fairy tale.
Hagin recounts a face-to-face meeting with Jesus.
“I was conscious of the fact that I still lay flat on my face on the floor, and for a few minutes I remained there, feeling the glory of this miraculous visitation. Again I heard a voice say, ‘Come up hither.’ And this time the voice said, ‘Come up hither; come up to the throne of God.’ I saw Jesus standing again about where the top of the tent should be, and I went to Him through the air. When I reached Him, together we continued on to Heaven. We came to the throne of God, and I beheld it in all its splendor. The first thing that attracted my attention was the rainbow about the throne. It was very beautiful. The second thing I noticed was the winged creatures on either side of the throne. They were peculiar looking creatures, and as I walked up with Jesus, these creatures stood with wings outstretched… I started to look at the One who sat upon the throne. Jesus told me not to look upon His face . I could see only a form of a Being seated upon the throne. Then for the first time I actually looked into the eyes of Jesus. Many times when relating this experience I am asked, ‘What did His eyes look like?’ All I can say is that they looked like wells of living love. It seemed as if one could see a half-mile deep into them, and the tender look of love is indescribable. As I looked into His face and into His eyes, I fell at His feet. I noticed then that His feet were bare, and I laid the palms of my hands on the top of His feet and laid my forehead on the backs of my hands. Weeping, I said, ‘Oh Lord, no one as unworthy as I should look upon Your face.’ Jesus said that I should stand upright on my feet. I stood up. He called me worthy to look upon His face, for He had called me and cleansed me from all sin.” (“Come Up to the Throne of God,” January 2002, magazine)
There is quite a number of contradiction[s] I saw Jesus… I walked up with Jesus, …But did not see his face? I started to look at the One who sat upon the throne. Jesus told me not to look upon His face. I could see only a form of a Being seated upon the throne. Then for the first time I actually looked into the eyes of Jesus.”
What mass of confusion. I can tell you from Scripture that when John saw him in heaven his eyes were not liquid love, but writes His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.”
Rv. 1:17 when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; There is the difference of one who knew Jesus personally on earth and sees him in heaven, for even Paul was not allowed to speak what he saw, only John.
Hagin states he cleansed me from all sin. I thought all his sins were cleansed when he was born again in hell, oh well who can remember all the details of these many supernatural encounters (Branham certainly could not either). Jesus left the throne and is walking with him to him being on the throne? He saw Jesus, but did not see his face? Then looks into the eyes of Jesus. Again the apostle John who wrote about heaven under the direction of the Lord had a very different reaction seeing Jesus. Hagin makes himself equal with John the apostle. But to the Latter Rain story tellers who are modern Gnostics this does not matter.
Hagin has a vision and stated “ I saw a horseman riding at full speed toward me. He held a scroll of paper high in his left hand.
It was written in the first person and was just like Jesus Himself speaking. He said, “ America is receiving her last call. Some nations have already received their last call and will never receive another. THE TIME OF THE END OF ALL THINGS IS AT HAND,” was repeated at least four or five times. He said also that this was the last great revival.”
I am speaking and giving America her last warning and call to repentance and the time that is left is comparable to the last seven days of Noah’s time…. He said again, “ This is the last revival and I am preparing my people for My coming. Judgment is coming but I will call my people away even unto myself before the worst shall come. (A Vision of the End – Kenneth E. Hagin Sept. 2 1950)
What I find incompatible are the people who believe Branham, believe Hagin that are producing today's revivals, yet they don’t believe what Jesus said to either of these men.
Just like William Branham, “And the revival is over, and America has turned down her opportunity ." …"And there won't be no more. " (56-0408 Visions And Prophecy)
Branham said “I believe it's received its last revival…” (64-0830E, Questions And Answers #4, Branham Tabernacle)
“ The revival is over, across the nation. There ain't going to be no more revivals, big sweeping revivals; this nation never receive it ." (65-0822M, Christ Is Revealed In His Own Word)
Branham said “ The revival is over. America had her last chance in 1957.” (The Message to the Laodicean Church Age p.29)
That’s 60 years ago when the so called prophet said no more.
But all the modern Latter Rain promoters claim a great revival is coming or is already here. For example in Rodney Browne’s booklet “the Coming Revival” it says “The Last revival has Begun.” That’s 25 years ago..
As Paul Cain copied Branham with a personal angel, so did Hagin. Kenneth Hagin claimed to have a personal angel revealed to him and had eight personal visitations of Jesus.In 1958 "the Lord Jesus suddenly appeared" before him, with an angel standing three feet behind Him. In I Believe in Visions he reveals, "He [Jesus] said, 'This is your angel.' 'My angel?" I asked. 'Yes, your angel, and if you will respond to him, he will appear to you as I will at times; and he will give you guidance and direction concerning the things of life... '" (Kenneth Hagin, I Believe in Visions, 1984, p. 93).
Jesus taught Hagin that his angels could be commanded by Hagin and us to do our bidding. Hagin said Christ told him in 1963 that the angels were waiting for his command to provide his material desires : “They are waiting on you to give them the order, just as the waitress cannot do anything for you until you give her the order” ( Hagin, I Believe in Visions, p. 126).
We now can understand where the modern signs and wonders movement gets its doctrine on superiority and control of angels. The Bible says God sends the angels to minister to, not we send them to work for us. Nowhere are we told nor seen an example of a ‘revealed personal angel’ over a believer. Israel was given a personal angel over them as a nation (Michael). Not individuals anywhere in Scripture.
Eight times Jesus appeared to Hagin, Kenneth Hagin described Jesus as “ 5'11" tall and weighing about 180 pounds: “ as I looked to see who it was, I saw Jesus ... I saw Him. He had on a white robe. He wore roman sandals ... He seemed to be about 5 feet 11 inches tall. He looked to weigh about 180 pounds. ” (How You Can Be Led by the Spirit of God [Tulsa, OK: Kenneth Hagin Ministries, 1978] 29–30).
Contrary to Hagin, Branham said Jesus was a short man (W.M. Branham 55-0117.) But all these mens descriptions are different just like their detail of heaven are different. That is because they did not go there.
Another story, Hagin tells us Jesus sat down by his bedside, and talked with him for about 30 minutes. During that time, Jesus is said to have taught Hagin how to be led by the inner witness of the Holy Spirit.
If the resurrected, glorified Christ left the right side of the Father in heaven to visit Hagin, it would be to correct him, but alas that is not possible since he receives only revelation from his Jesus. Today we have so many others mimicking the same type of embellished stories of going to heaven and him coming from heaven. Hagin is the main influence of their lying experiences.
Kenyon, Branham, Bosworth
Kenneth Hagin was influenced by Branham, in the book “Ministry of a Prophet” (Faith library publications Tulsa Ok. 1979 p.8). Kenneth Hagin called William Branham a prophet.
Branham was mutual friends with Hagin. When he met Hagin for the first time he said of him,
“ This morning I was at the Assemblies of God church for the morning meeting, where we had a lovely service. I was listening at the evangelist there. I can’t think of the man’s name. Hagin, Brother Hagin. Very reliable teacher, Pastor, a lovely man, they were very sorry they was having a revival during the time of our campaign, but they’ve had it staged for about a year. And they had to go ahead, through with it. So it was perfectly all right. But we want to show them our love, that we love them. We’re not divided in this work of the Lord. We’re all together, one body are we, moving on. And every morning, at ten till eleven o’clock, they having services there in the …Brother Hagin, this morning is teaching on Divine healing, which had a marvelous message. I sure appreciate it. My first time ever getting to shake hands with the brother, but a mighty fine man .” ( W. Branham, Sermon: Glorified Jesus, February 25, 1955 )
If Branham approved of him, you know God did not.
Hagin was also a part of the Voice of Healing Revival in the U.S. in the late 40’s and 50’s together with Oral Roberts, Gordon Lindsay and T. L. Osborn. He was also influenced by the teachings of F. F. Bosworth, the famous healing evangelist of the 1920’s who participated in the post-World War II revival as a member of the Branham team.
In 1924, Bosworth published his first edition of Christ the Healer , sermons on the topic of faith healing. Bosworth's 1930's booklet "The Christian Confession", was condensed into a chapter of the 1948 edition of "Christ the Healer." At the end of the chapter titled, “Our Confession,” Bosworth wrote: “ Most of the thoughts expressed in this sermon I have brought together, by permission, from the writings of Rev. E. W. Kenyon .”
Bosworth recommended Kenyon's books, Bosworth had several articles appear in of Kenyon’s Herald of Life publication between 1949 and 1964.
It was E. W. Kenyon who taught on the power of words and the gospel that added Jesus suffering in hell to finish redemption. Both Branham and Hagin agreed and used his writings.
So it is understandable for him to use Kenyon’s teachings. But word for word and taking credit for the heresy? That’s not a good thing any which way it is looked at.
EX: Kenyon “He was no less God than He was before He took the physical body...Man, at death, leaves his physical body and is no less man than he was when he had his ... body.” (The Hidden Man [Seattle: Kenyon's Gospel Publishing Society, 1970],p. 40; Two Kinds of Faith, p. 3)
Hagin: He was no less God than when He didn't have a body. Man, at physical death, leaves his body. Yet he is no less man than he was when he had his body . (Man of Three Dimensions Tulsa: Faith Library, 1973)
Hagin insists: " Kenyon's influence on my ministry has been minute. Only his teachings on the name of Jesus have much to do with my theology. I absolutely deny any metaphysical influences from Kenyon, I teach not Christian Science, but Christian sense." ("The Faith of Kenneth Hagin," Charisma and Christian Faith, 15:11, 6/90, 68)
There is no question that Hagin lifted portions of E. W. Kenyon’s teachings, yet being a contemporary with Branham we find striking similarities with him as well. Before there was Hagin there was Branham. These topics he taught were covered by Branham for over 20 years.
All of E. W. Kenyon’s books were available for Branham to read. Jesus the Healer (1940); Identification: A Romance in Redemption (1941); The Two Kinds of Faith (1942); New Creation Realities (1945); What Happened: From the Cross to the Throne (1945); The Hidden Man: The New Self: An Unveiling of the Unconscious Mind (1951)
Anyone who looks into this will find what Hagin is saying is not true. In fact one may find the Branham influence just as solid as Kenyon’s.
Hagin said his theology came from special revelation, often Jesus coming to visit. Yet we find that he plagiarized his teachings from the writings of E.W. Kenyon, a metaphysical Bible teacher and author who died in 1948, and William Branham who died in 1965.
William Branham has been called the Father of the healing movement, the Father of the signs and wonders movement. But you can add word faith teachings to him as well. Let me explain. It was after Branham died, Hagin began writing books on these topics, many of these teachings were taught by Branham.
Right and Wrong Thinking for Christians (1966) Bible Faith Study Course (1966) What Faith Is (1966) Authority of the Believer (1967) The Real Faith (1970) I Believe in Visions (1972) The Human Spirit (1974) Demons and How to Deal with Them (1976)Faith Food for Spring (1978) Seven Things You Should Know About Divine Healing (1979).
It was later that Hagin fully developed his teachings that he wrote How to Write Your Own Ticket with God (1979),Having Faith in Your Faith (1980), How God Taught Me About Prosperity (1985).
He authored 125 books/booklets Faith Library Publications – with 65 million book copies in circulation around the world, translated into more than 25 foreign languages. People are being poisoned by this counterfeit teaching
So we have a spiritual lineage that is unsound that has spread from Hagin to his disciples even further. The Bible says if a tree is bad so will its fruit that it will produce.
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So far, Sandy Simpson’s expository of Kenneth Hagin Sr. and his background, coming up from a totally heretical fraudulent revivalist sphere, well acquainted with all the big names in America’s heretics fellowship. NOTICE: The article has more than I have edited here, so if you want to read the entire length of it, go to his website www.letusreason.org
My comments on this expository:
Simpson’s article speaks for itself really. But let me just add to this some information.
The Midas Touch
Right before his death in 2004, Kenneth Hagin Sr. wrote a booklet called “The Midas Touch” – in which he expressed personal grief over learning that many of his followers (mostly pastors, evangelists and teachers) had started to ‘twist and turn’ on Hagin’s teachings. Such as that infamous Name-it-and-claim-it magic, prosperity teachings, seed-faith-teaching (give money to God, and He shall give you more riches back) – things like that. He urged them in this book to step down from such extreme and unbiblical preaching/teaching. Now, 18 years later (2022) we cannot see any positive changes in his follower’s teachings and lifestyle.
I am talking of the inner circle first and foremost, such as Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Jan & Paul Crouch, T.D. Jakes, Rodney Howard-Browne, and a lot of others in later generation.
They simply just don’t care. What they are into, is a full-blown gigantically miracle and healing fraud combined with their love of money, for which the Apostle Paul condemns such ones to go lost in eternity (Eph. 5:5). They will not inherit the kingdom of God and Christ, - for they are idolaters…money is their god.
But having said this, I should also point out that Hagin Sr. made a major blunder with that booklet: He forgot (willfully?) to beg his follower’s apology for not himself confessing in public all of his rotten lies and false doctrine served over his pulpit…for decades! He mainly pointed his finger at his followers and told them their ‘sins’ – but told them nothing of his own sins and terrible misinterpretations and lies regarding Biblical teaching. What a blunder! What lack of humility.
I believe that Hagin’s lack of humility and modesty had his well-meant words in The Midas Touch fall to the ground with no effect to his readers.
Now, let your thoughts dwell for a while on the fact that Kenneth Hagin Sr. – a heretic and a notorious liar over decades – was the father of the Word of Faith movement. Would you like to stand before the Lord one day, admitting to have followed this hopeless liar and heretic? Are you a member in such a ‘Word of Faith’ assembly? Get out of it now – leave that fraudulent kind of spirituality, but I cannot give you any specific advise to where you should go, since I live in Norway. I am sure though, that there are several Churches that will be much better off for you that the place you are now.
Wouldn’t you rather get right with the Lord here and now, saying a final goodbye to this kind of unbiblical - and therefore dangerous teachings?
Jan Lilleby, Editor.
