Todd Bentley: The Spirit of Rebellion
This is a topic I’d like to look at and hopefully discuss with anyone who wants to jump in.
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. 1Samuel 15:23a
Scott, at his blog NorthWest Musings, has posted the link to an interview done recently in Seattle, WA with a few who know or are acquainted with Bentley and his life and ministry. PLEASE listen to this interview:
Live from Seattle radio interview
Perhaps I am out of the loop, but what I heard really surprised me. I had no idea that the action which instigated that horrible clip we have heard all over the internet of Bentley screaming out over and over, ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS, and ENCOURAGING others to join him in yelling this out, was a result of and done in defiance of a warning given to him by Rodney Howard-Browne the very day before.
I remembered when it is mentioned in this interview, that Todd, directly prior to going into the Angel rant, had made mention of someone telling hm he should not speak of Angels, etc…but I never had a clue he was referring to R.H. Browne. Is the fact of his lying to Browne and doing this in a direct act of defiance against his admonition why we are not seeing R. H. Browne more actively involved in Lakeland?
And what about that ‘prophecy’ last week concerning R.H. Browne, which came forth from James Goll when filling in for Bentley? Rodney Howard Brown 3rd Wind hitting his sail. Sounds like someone’s trying to mend some broken-down fences.
Folks, Todd Bentley is not only a liar (he even lied to Brown) but is in rebellion, and in my opinion has a demonic spirit OF rebellion operating in his life. He is unteachable, and listens to no one. That is my conclusion after listening to this interview. It was said he has a problem with father figures–which may very well explain why no one can reach him.
Rebellion is the spirit of anarchy, and associated with and connected to the spirit of anti-christ.
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 1 John 2:18
And Rebellion and Pride caused Lucifer’s fall:
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Isaiah 14: 12-14
Ask yourself if its not possible this ‘contagious impartation’ he is spreading is not in fact a spirit of rebellion.
Todd Bentley needs to be delivered and set free.
If this is true (and the tattoos, etc. may be manifestations of this new breed of rebellion), then he’s connected with Americanism, hasn’t he? We were birthed in rebellion, were we not? Isn’t that why we wave the flag so much? A spirit of independence, we call it.
(Yes, I’m an American, hopefully an honest and objective one)
Jesus is alive
Lets join together in Prayer for Todd. I see God using Todd as example to all of us that.. its not about the MAN its about what GOD can do in and through all of US! May our hearts fill with God’s love and respond to Jesus in Love 
Bless you
pj, I also put a post up on an exclusive interview that tc robinson had with Mr. Roger, the man with stage 4 colon cancer in that now infamous video showing Todd Bentley kneeing him in the gut.
http://northwestmusings.wordpress.com/2008/07/18/interview-with-man-bentley-kneed-in-stomach/
Actions speak. Jesus spoke of love. Jesus walked in love. He asked us to do the same. Is this a loving act? Have previous acts been rooted in love? I do not believe the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob is a God who would hurt another individual to ultimately heal. I do not see that in the scriptures. Why would God want His children to believe this today? Exposure by contrast…this “revival” is not of God. There, I said it.
pj. have you seen this quote from Che Ahn? It’s in this story posted here http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_9919655
….Usually, the church is open on Sunday mornings for services, but there’s a special reason Ambassador is open on a nightly basis now: The Lakeland Revival, which is attracting tens of thousands of worshipers to Lakeland, Fla., is coming west when Lakeland Revival leader, Canadian healing evangelist Todd Bentley, addresses Southern California followers on July 26 and July 27.
A similar event, foretold to Pastor Che Ahn of Harvest Rock Church prior to the Lakeland revival, was to take place at his Pasadena church.
“I received a personal prophetic word from a prophet named Bob Jones that the glory would come to Harvest Rock Church and L.A. from July 22 to July 29. But prophecy has to be tested,” said Pastor Ahn. “For me, the confirmation of that prophetic word came when Todd Bentley agreed to come to LA. That is amazing in the sense that he doesn’t leave Lakeland. We are only one of a few cities that he feels God has called him to during this Lakeland revival.”
Harvest Rock Church is anticipating overflow crowds for Bentley’s visit, to the extent that it has rented the Galen Center at USC, which accommodates 10,258 visitors.
Before Bentley visits Southern California, other guest speakers will participate in Harvest Rock Church’s “33 Nights of Glory.”
Todd is a very angry man under the surface. I saw a bit of him tonight, he’s very angry.
I just can’t believe the audacity of this man, he said it again tonight! He reported 32 resurrections from the dead! Then to top it off, he lashed out at people for not believing it. These people are seriously deluded. Lord, have mercy!
To follow-up, I think they have a strategy in place now. The line has been drawn. Anyone who opposes him is against the Lord, and the news media (according to him) just won’t report the truth!
Therefore, the firewall is up. Until someone exposes some recent dirt on him, the band wagon will move on. Next target? Pasadena, CA. There’s gold in them thar hills!
Its a manifestation all-right. And i think it is a type of rebellion against God and his creation:the word tells us man was created in the image of God. Purposefully marking up that creation in such an extreme manner as Todd has done, is sending a message about God’s creation.
Paul did you listen to the interview? It was very interesting to hear what that 80 year old said about these tattoos of Todd’s. It was called an addiction, when someone keeps getting tattoo after tattoo all over their body. The old brother said Todd has another spirit. I agree 100%…i wish i had a transcript of that interview…
I am listening to tonights service as i write.
For the first time, since i started listening to him in clips and at lakeland months ago, the only emotion i am sensing in my spirit is revulsion.
I am so very sick of hearing this man twist scripture and speak about nothing but himself , signs and wonders, and the ‘impartation’
I said it a few weeks ago here on the blog and i’ll say it again: i wouldn’t let that man lay his hands on me for any amount of money.
I’m telling you, something is gonna break on this Guy, I just know it. It’s turned into complete defiance now. He is giving God, and everyone else the finger, and I don’t mean the one way sign either.
PJ and Scott,
The night I saw a major switch happen in the spirit was during the baptism show. If you remember the serpents on the TShirt he wore here, I saw in the spirit that the two snakes represented him holding up two middle fingers.
http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/07/07/todd-bentley-and-the-snakes/
I didn’t really get a sense of who the gesture was directed to at the time, but your comment scott is accurate and not a reaction of your flesh. When I saw it here, I had to write to confirm it before anyone judges it as too crude.
He will soon encounter a smackdown of stunning proportion once God decides He has seen enough and has fully used this God-mocking evil for his purposes.
DEFIANCE… seems to be his Nick-Name
rebel child
rebel teenager
rebel young adult
and now we have
REBEL CHRISTIAN?
We are all rebellious, disobedient children… yet there seems to be Raging Spirit attached to this one.
I wonder why this guy reminds me of Saul the King in the Old Test. It is as if at one time God did something in this man’s life… his testimony seems to indicate this, but something has happened since. Saul continued to believe God had His hand upon him and believed he was able to REBEL and do things in his own way. and to boot… sought out witchery in the spirit world of the dead in order to know what he desired. Saul would not listen to anyone; not even God. Some people continue to act like they are Kings; even when they are taken down off of their Mighty Throne. He even places himself among the prophets and prophesies. He was one with a Raging Spirit; filled with Aggression.
[quote]If this is true (and the tattoos, etc. may be manifestations of this new breed of rebellion), then he’s connected with Americanism, hasn’t he? We were birthed in rebellion, were we not? Isn’t that why we wave the flag so much? A spirit of independence, we call it.[/quote]
I think, if you were to read the writings, the history, the passion, and of the poetry of ideals that were created during the birth of “Americanism”, you would not speak thusly. It is simply a fashionable thing to say, an easy thing to say, to insult something that isn’t very well known.
However, I wonder, why bring up “Americanism”? Is “Europeanism” better than Americanism? Is Africanism better than Americanism? Is Japanese-ism better than Americanism? I find that if you were to use any other term in place of “Americanism”, your entire foundation of argument would crumble in absurdity. There is no reason to be against “Americanism”, to blame some inherent sin of being “rebellious” in our birth and history. Why blame Americanism when you can blame, for example, actual sin? Actual Rebellion against God that is manifested by all tribes? If you were fair, you would be against all “Nation”isms, and would have some philosophical diddy against every nation. Perhaps the Brits and their inherent gluttony, (for they do drink so very much Tea and eat many biscuits!). And as for the French? Hmm, well, I better not go there.
I conclude, therefore, that this word of yours against “Americanism” is born more out of a sense of fashion and a lack of appreciation for history than it is out of logical “objective” analysis. If it were, you would have a catch phrase against every nation, but if you were to go so far you would realize the inherent waste of time in that and would simply fall back to a general lamentation against all humanity.
He reminds me of Allister Crowley. Mr. Crowley was obsessed with Angels.
Todd is posessesed by something dark and worships Satan. He acknowledges that he USED to be into the occult…what a joke! He still is!
He says that AFTER he was saved, demons were cast out of him….Is he sure of that? Looks to me like multiple demons have a happy little home in Bentley.
The man is pure evil. Watch this interview…
http://youtube.com/watch?v=HtSK9TyduR4
For those of you who don’t know about his past, here is a brief article…
http://www.charismamag.com/articles/index.php?id=7032
I am not saying that people can’t change, but you will know them by their fruits. Todd has the same “fruit” he’s always had.
Hi, I loaded up part of the radio interview where the man sharing explains the real reason behind Bentley’s infamous ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS rant! He basically gave Rodney Howard Browne the finger! Which is funny in a sick sort of way.
Oxy,
I can accept that as a confirmation. Last night while praying, King Saul came to mind as i prayed for Todd Bentley.
Paul said above:
And i agree. But perhaps not as Paul sees it.
God may be using Todd as an example, like we read in the bible of King Saul’s life, of what happens when we fail to wait upon God and refuse Godly counsel, but instead plunge recklessly ahead in our own rebellion.
It cost Saul the kingdom and eventually his life.
Dan, i have seen that being said on a few trusted blogs–so im beginning to wonder if God is not revealing that it will indeed occur.
Scott thank you! And God bless you for taking the time and effort to do this. I edited the original post to include your youtube clip.
I thought this was so revealing…I know some folks have a hard time listening to on-line audio, so this may give those folks a chance to at least “possibly” hear this part of the interview.
Hi Ricardo…
I don’t want to speak for Paul–so hopefully he’ll see your comment/question and be able to reply, but i can tell you how i understood his words.
The Church in America has in a huge way, “Americanized” Christianity over the last 50 years [in particular]….and if you consider how the world was invited into the Church and has subsequently flooded it with all-things-worldly, its understandable that we now see nothing wrong with Christian preachers of the Gospel, pastors, etc covering their bodies (from ankle to neck, as in Todd’s case) with tattoos. Ditto for the lip and face piercings.
50 years ago this would have seemed an impossibility in the Church in America…heck, 20 years ago it would have! It is a form of a more recent ‘open’ in your face, rebellion towards God.
PJ, Check this out!
The Outpouring is Going to the Nations!
Stephen Strader
Jul 19, 2008
Todd Bentley announced that the OUTPOURING is going to the nations!!!
The OUTPOURING meetings will continue in Lakeland with Pastor Stephen Strader of the Ignited Church and Todd will began to travel to key cities throughout the USA and the world beginning August 23!
We encourage everyone who can to get into as many of these final services in the TENT! We believe that there will be a special anointing to CONTINUE the LAKELAND OUTPOURING as well as to RELEASE OUTPOURINGS all over the world!
You can see specific dates that Todd will be in and out of the LAKELAND OUTPOURING as well as cities throughout the globe!
http://www.freshfire.ca/?Id=926&pid=952
Beginning THIS Sunday, July 20th, Stephen will begin working with Todd on the transition of the LAKELAND OUTPOURING.
Stephen will be speaking in the TENT this Sunday night!!!
You can go to http://www.ignitedchurch.com and click on 10am or 7pm to see the LAKELAND OUTPOURING services LIVE!
Each morning at 10am E.S.T. features speakers from all over the world who have been impacted by the anointing!
Each evening at 7pm E.S.T. either Todd, Stephen, or one of the associates of FFM will be speaking.
The http://www.ignitedchurch.com website will direct you to the LAKELAND OUTPOURING webcast broadcasts. God TV webcast will direct you to where ever Todd is speaking in the world.
Both Ignited Church Media and God TV will continue to host archives of previous services so you can experience the OUTPOURINGS from both LAKELAND and around the world!
Scott:
Nothing new.
Go into the Wayback Machine and look at early Fresh Fire pages. Back then it was Canada.
Todd Bentley was abandoned, abused and fostered. He became an abuser.
In 2001- a reporter got his hands on information about Bentley’s juvie record.
The only way that becomes public is if the person acknowledges it to the reporter. I can assure you, no media outlet in Canada is going to do this lightly.
I’ve often wondered who wanted this written up.
I’ve never wondered why Bentley talked to the reporter. He’s broken. He does not function well unless it is about him. He needs the adreniline and dompamine and endorphins attention brings.
I can appreciate he thinks he is doing damage control in that interview, but my experience has been the Bentley’s in life are profoundly and tragically self-defeating.
His crimes were described as heinous.
Flip that around. What was done to him?
He would have had some treatment while incarcerated as an adolescent, but certainly not what he needed and at that stage. As a street smart and frightened survivor, he may not have been able to receive what meager psychological help was offered by the province.
Whatever social and emotional support he has received certainly isn’t enough – it can’t be.
He’s not been treated, he isn’t healed,.
Fast forward to Todd Bentley starting out his ministry. He gets invited to Gibson BC. The pastoral council there is concerned enough to go public and are very clear churches will not send their young people to his meetings. That isn’t just ignorant hysteria and mistrust.
One gang has been traded for another, people are using Bentley and Bentley is using them. You are not seeing healthy adult interdependent functioning.
This should give us serious pause. We can’t just moralize or dismiss how we encourage damaged, wounded people to create more damage.
He copes with fantasy, denial, grandious thinking, religious ideation, escapism (his music and motorcycles). Classic symptoms.
Want more? Obesity, anxiety, lying, stealing, lack of empathy, low or extreme affect, humiliation of others, power, gratification and identity issues, withdrawal…
He has overdosed, what about the brain damage?
There are seven categories used to meaure after effects of abuse in adult surivors, they are variable, overlapping and pervasive.
Bentley is not asymptomatic.
We can spiritualize any of them.
Bentley has access to health care in Canada, he is free to seek holistic long term treatment, physical, psychological, social and spiritual. It’s not likely he will, the work involved is arduous, the emotional pain debilitating; the care and support needed, long term and consistant.
His risk factors are not good.
You see a lot of untreated churched people. Many gravitate to leadership. That’s not news.
In male sexual abuse survivors tattooing addiction is not uncommon, this addiction serves at least a double purpose – with his magical thinking it is body armour, the pain is pleasure, it feeds self-gratication, skewed identity.
You have seen the rage, abandonment, confusion, helplessness, bravado, anxiety, dissociating, blaming, lying etc.
You can see a damaged untreated person running amock, you can see the tragedy of spiritual damage and abuse also.
The chanting (I lost count at about the 33rd ‘angels’) is also a form of self-soothing. Scary eh?
Defiant?
Of course.
He’s stuck. He’s so stuck he’s cracked up, he’s had a heart attack, runs away, figures out the angles, manipulates against the middle, trades off his addictions…
I’m not going to minimize the spiritual damage he is doing to others, if he is going to have a smackdown, then let it be to a long term treatment facility with his family. This guy doesn’t know boundaries and has dismal coping skills.
He was vulnerable to spiritual abusers, suggestible and prey to the demonic from early in his life and just like how he survived the sexual abuse, he has become a spiritual abuser.
Let me ask bloggers this. When you’ve received email lambasting you about your criticism of Bentley have you thought to yourself, how adolescent?
Some is coming from emotionally damaged adults who have not been treated, who are finding in Lakeland a terrific way to numb their pain.
We’re enablers, not healers.
I want to comment later on a few things said above, especially your post Bene…you said some very interesting things, but right now i have a question.
Its been obvious to me, in the things Todd has said, that he has felt a close ‘connection’ or dependency on one of the many angels he’s written and spoken of–that being this Emma…(by the way, he said during last nights service, very sorrowfully, he had not seen or been aware of any of these angels for over 2 weeks–he said it was because he had stopped promoting them and/or the supernatural??)
Anyway, the significance of that particular ‘Angel’ was the idea it presented itself as female–and what were some of the terms used?- “motherly”??? i believe was one.
Demons don’t multiply…so any demon active today, was active in the long ago past, and will be ‘tomorrow’…
Because this so-called Emma is female, do you think its possible that this particular unclean spirit always represents itself as a woman? If so, could it be the same unclean spirit (also motherly) which shows up all over the Catholic world, to many, as Mary?
just something to ponder on…
Zec 5:6 And I said, What [is] it? And he said, This [is] an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This [is] their resemblance through all the earth.
Zec 5:7 And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this [is] a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.
Zec 5:8 And he said, This [is] wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.
Zec 5:9 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind [was] in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.
Zec 5:10 Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?
Zec 5:11 And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.
I wonder if Emma has the wings of a stork?? These are unclean birds…ya know…
Bene, that was a dead on target evaluation. You see clearly how this wounded soul is being preyed upon by demons (that’s what they’re supposed to do) but worst of all, fellow Christian “ministers” (taking advantage of damaged or possessed people is not what they’re supposed to do!).
..August 23..?
- how convienient. That day ( or the following ) is st Bartholomew Day;
for okkultists ‘the Great Sabbath ‘,
and the type of it is..yes, ‘FIRE ‘.
L
I am wondering if ther isn’t a spirit of rebellion brewing over even the ‘worship’ preceding the circus. I have watched some of the worship the last couple of evenings and heard words in song about ‘freedmom’ from and ‘breaking free’ from ’spirits’ of religion and tradition.
My spelling is terrible – ‘freedom’.
Hi PJ,
The connection of Emma and the catholic apparitions of Mary-that is a fascinating thought.
I just wanted to amen BeneD on the comment of “You see a lot of untreated churched people. Many gravitate to leadership.” Yeah especially in the charismatic church. Hyperactivity and being a loose cannon is mistaken for being on fire for the Lord. I know a few personally and it’s truly tragic. I was waiting for someone to discuss Todd from psychological perspective since there is so much to tackle.
what I find sad is the push in many charismatic churches to take a new convert from bad backgrounds and trust them into ministry. Why the rush? People like Todd should be getting their heads on straight becoming emotionally stable and maturing in the faith. But then when you look at many of the church leaders who are messed up themselves I guess it’s no surprise.
oops trust=thrustinto ministry
Dan, i have read on a few boards and blogs, that the televised baptism service changed many peoples opinions of Bentley and/or this outpouring. Even many of those who had either been ‘on the fence’ about the whole thing, or even openly defending him, were shocked and deeply offended by the baptism event. I watched it and can understand why…