by Kjos Ministries
Back in the eighties I read The Beautiful Side of Evil by Johanna Michaelsen. For many years she was caught up in the occult, yet she believed that the “angels” who reached out to her were servants of God, not Satan. One of those “angels” sounds strangely similar to Bentley’s “floating” angel, Emma:
[She was] beautiful with flowing hair and robes of shimmering dark blue spangled with tiny stars…. She took me by the shoulders and gently kissed me on the forehead…. “Welcome, my child,” she said. Then she turned and floated back through the wall as she had come. I have never experienced such joy, such light and peace, such unspeakable ecstasy. I was on the right path at last.[2,p.83]
No, she was tricked!Masquerading as an “angel of light,” Satan used her feel-good experiences to deepen the deception. Through those painful years, Johanna’s “fellowship” with demons brought her indescribable depression and despair. The enchanting moments of light were fleeting, while fear and confusion darkened her days. She would continue to suffer under that cruel master until God set her free. But since that time, God has used her testimony as a much-needed warning. It calls His people to–
Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. Eph 5:8-11
Exposing the darkness can be costly. Church leaders who seek unity, popularity and unbounded fellowship are quick to label us intolerant and judgmental. But the cost is nothing compared to the genuine joy of serving our Lord!
Mesmerizing the masses
To alter her consciousness and connect with these entities, Johanna used meditation, visualization, concentration — and the repetitive beat of a metronome. Bentley’s tools are different but just as effective. Like tribal shamans (and like his own former world of “satanic music”), he uses loud rhythmic sounds (drums, etc.), then adds repetitious words and hypnotic music. Pastor Gary Osborne described it in his article, Bentley’s “Revival” in Lakeland, Florida:
“The phrase ‘stir yourselves up’ was used repeatedly…. A woman led in prayer for the service and … told the people to ‘roar like a lion!’ … People everywhere shouted at the top of their lungs…. This same lady was jerking and twitching…. There was also much talk of ‘birthing’ and ‘signs and wonders.’… People were swaying and dancing…. There was a very sensual spirit… People seemed to be in a trance all around me. If the worship leader said, ‘raise your hands’ everyone did so immediately. If he said, ‘drop to your knees’ they did…. The music had the people mesmerized….
“At about 8:30 PM… the music leader says, ‘I’m feeling drunk.’ He then tells the people to say to God, ‘Intoxicate me, Lord…. Now the people are getting truly wild and the leader says, ‘Scream!!!’ and the people let out a yell…. Finally the worship leader falls to the floor himself….”
This manipulative process started up again the next evening. Finally, with the crowd thoroughly conditioned to “break out of the box” of Biblical order (1 Cor 14:40), Bentley took control. Wearing a t-shirt with the words, “Jesus Gave Me My Tattoos,” he announced the presence of “great authority” in the building. “I speak creation,” he declared. “I speak new hearts, new livers into existence tonight….'” Click here for links, citation and to read this entire article.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.