Examples of Movements with Demonic Infiltration

In First Timothy chapter 1 verse 16, it says,

“However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.”

So Paul was a pattern for all who would follow.

Again, in First Corinthians 11 verse 1, he says,

“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”

The only alternative to the cross is to build self in the place of Christ. But this is idolatry and opens the way to the evil consequences that invariably follow idolatry.

The cross is the heart and center of the Christian faith. Without the cross, so framed and applied, Christianity is left without a foundation and its trainees are no longer relevant. It has become in fact a form of false religion. As such, like all false religions, it is inherently exposed to demonic infiltration and deception.

So now, having said that much, let me give you five examples of movements within the charismatic movement that have all gone the same way. In some way or other, I have had some kind of association with each of them. Going back to the period shortly after World War II in Canada, there was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Saskatchewan, which came to be called “The Latter Rain.” It made a very powerful impact, and a lot of people went from different areas of North America to Saskatchewan.

I would say the essence of this movement was a full restoration of all the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Demos Shakarian, who was president of the Full Gospel Business Men in Chicago, a fine Christian, described what happened to him when he went there. He said the meetings lasted nine hours, and they were so exciting that he didn’t even want to get up and go to the bathroom. But what happened? The leader became proud, self-asserted, and fell into immorality, and thereby discredited the gifts of the Spirit.

Later on, from 1957 through 1962, I was a minister among the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. Dear people, but practically no exercise of spiritual gifts at all. So one day I said to them, “Why don’t we have exercise of spiritual gifts?” Their answer was, “The Latter Rain had them.” In other words, that made it impossible for us. We might go the same way. You see, one of Satan’s tactics is to discredit that which is true by its misuse.

Then there was “The Manifested Sons.” I’m sure some of you can remember reading. They were a very powerful group of men who took the scripture that all creation is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. They had a really powerful ministry, particularly in casting out demons. But in casting out demons, they entered into long conversations with demons and sought revelation from them. I think it’s totally wrong ever to seek revelation from demons.

They ended up with an exaggerated theology, which said some of them had already received their resurrection bodies. The next thing that happened was two of them were killed in an airplane crash. So God said, “Where’s your resurrection body now?” But they were fine men at the first.

Then there were “The Children of God.” How many of you have heard of “The Children of God?” Later they changed their name to “The Family.” A woman named Linda Evans exercised a powerful ministry among them. I had two or three encounters with her. She was a very dedicated, powerful woman, and she had a great burden for the young people of America. But when she was taken over by pride, she became manipulative and dominating. Many of the young people in “The Church of God” came under her control. She cut them off from their relationship with their parents and their families, and it became a disaster. But I believe that when she started, she was right.

Then there was William Branham. I had a little association with William Branham at the closing period of his ministry. I was on the same platform with him two or three times with the Full Gospel Business Men. William Branham had, in some ways, one of the most remarkable ministries that I know of. He was a very gentle, humble, loving man. His ministry of the word of knowledge was absolutely legendary. Nobody ever heard Branham give one false word of knowledge.

I was with him in a meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. He was on the platform, and he picked out a woman in the audience, and he said, “Now, you’re not here for yourself. You’re here for your grandson.” And then he told her her name and her exact street address in New York City. They were about 2,000 miles away from New York City at the time. Unfortunately, after exercising his gift two or three times, he just collapsed, and his men came and gathered him up and carried him away. He explained that by the statement in Jesus that ‘power has gone out of me.’ But Jesus did not collapse. I do not believe that was the Holy Spirit. I believe it was demonic.

Later on, I was a close friend with Ern Baxter, who was, for quite a considerable period, the Bible teacher in Branham’s evangelistic meetings. Ern loved Branham dearly, but his heart was broken over what happened. One day he gathered a small group of us and said, “I want to tell you about Branham. I don’t want you to talk to anybody about it. I just want you to know.” Now, since all the people concerned have passed from the stage of time, I feel free to say what Ern said about Branham. He said, “Branham had two spirits. One was the Spirit of God; one was not.” And one point they were together, and Branham pointed to a light bulb hanging from the ceiling and said, “The power I have to make that bulb move.”

I believe Branham remained in Christ to the very end, but he was taken over by people who wanted to exploit him. Although he did not call himself Elijah, he commended his followers to do so. He was killed through an automobile crash when his car was run into by a drunk driver. His followers embalmed his body to keep him there until Easter Sunday, being convinced that he would be resurrected, but he was not. When he was in the Spirit under the anointing, he was almost unchallengeable. At one time, a demonized man came up to attack him in a meeting. Branham commanded the man to kneel down and stay there until he finished his message. The man stayed kneeling in the same posture for the whole period of Branham’s sermon. But I would have to say his end was, perhaps the best you could say, disappointing.