Rick Joyner is Preparing for War

Not satisfied with a life of false prophesy and honoring himself with false titles, the Clown Prince of Prediction appears to be looking for a new title to adorn himself; self appointed NAR Super Apostle Generalissimo Joyner. Maybe his coveted 2016 False Teacher Of The Year award went to his head and he's aspiring to higher acclaim? Maybe he's looking for a second Golden Goat for his I Love Me wall?

All year long Rick Joyner has been itching for a fight, he opened 2019 with his "vision" - a call to war. In his vision Joyner claims that we didn't win the Revolutionary War because slavery still existed after the Revolutionary War. He really said that. This angel honestly played on Joyner's historical ignorance. Slavery was not an issue in the Revolutionary War, in fact the three proponents of the Revolutionary War (first Civil War if you're a Tory loyalist) England, France, and the Colonies all agreed that slavery was legal. The angel then told Rick that the Civil war didn't end successfully because if it had there would have been no need for a civil rights movement. The Civil War ended more successfully than most wars, the winner knew they won, the loser knew they lost, and both sides agreed that the war was over. What was not successful was the peace. The Democrats, the party of Jim Crowe, did everything they could to insure that a civil rights battle was going to happen. If it wasn't for JFK and the republican congress there would have been no Civil Rights act. 

Is Rick Joyner as clueless about American History as he is about the Holy Spirit? We haven't heard of it for a while, maybe it's faded away, maybe it's gone underground, but about 20 years ago there were congregations whose worship included "holy laughter" and mimicking of animals. I remember reading a "heavenly tourism" book about 10 years back where the choruses of angels laughed, not sang. I can't remember what the name of the book was, and it was fairly engaging to that part. Here's what Rick Joyner has to say about congregations laughing and making animal noises:

"One of the disconcerting aspects of this movement has been the animal sounds and mimics that some have felt compelled to make.  There are 'signs and wonders,, and almost everyone is wondering about this sign.  Some of it is demonic.  Some of it is mere human foolishness.  Some of it is really inspired by the Holy Spirit.  There will always be tares in the wheat, but this is something that the Holy Spirit is doing, and it is important. ((The Morning Star, Prophetic Bulletin, January 1995, p. 8.)

Did he just say that the Holy Spirit is mimicking satanic actions? He sure did. So now let's look at "Professor" Joyner's mad history skillz. While discussing his call to arms Rick drops this intellectual dud: 

All authority not specifically given to the federal government in the Constitution was reserved for the states and the people. An argument against this is that it was improbable that the Southern states would have abolished slavery on their own. A better argument would be that if the federal government had not immediately deviated from the Constitution, slavery could never have happened in America in the first place. States that did not hold to the basic reason given for seeking independence—that “all men are created equal”—could not have been a part of the United States. (The Second American Revolutionary/Civil War Episode 35 August 27, 2019)

"... if the federal government had not immediately deviated from the constitution..." Quick - everyone who sees the magnitude of wrong in this statement please raise their hands - Good! You're all with me. 

The Federal Government actually predated the Constitution by 8 years, it existed in a much different form and was based on the Articles of Confederation in 1781 which left the question of slavery up to the individual states. The term "all men are created equal" did not and does not appear in the US Constitution, it was in the Declaration of Independence, and was referring to British citizens in England being created equal to British citizens in the colonies. When the Constitution of the United States was ratified slavery was still legal in the United Kingdom (and by extension Canada) and in France. 

Personal note - slavery still exists in this sin soaked world, I have been in countries that hold slaves, and have met slaves and have heard their stories

In simple language - in 1789 when the Constitution of the United States was ratified and became the blueprint for our federal government, it actually held no sway over the states themselves, and it did not outlaw slavery. If it actually did outlaw slavery the end result would be that the federal government itself could not own slaves. Joyner also claims that slave states could not have been part of the original states:

States that did not hold to the basic reason given for seeking independence—that “all men are created equal”—could not have been a part of the United States. (ibid.)

First of all, upon the ratification of the Constitution of the United States the only states that did not have slaves was Maine and Massachusetts. All other states had slaves. That would have made for a very small country. Secondly "All men are created equal" was not given as a reason given for seeking independence from the United Kingdom. Either Dr. Rick is ignorant of that fact or truly believes in the ignorance of his audience and knows that they will not read more than a couple of lines into the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution of the United States.

All year long Rick Joyner has been fantasizing about what he calls "The Second American Revolutionary/Civil War" based upon his own misinterpretation of pretty much everything. He entertains his fantasy week after week, relating visions of combat in cities given to him by angels. Lately he's been advocating "prepping" and mentioned that church leadership should all have Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training and that pastors should have military Chaplin training. These are actually good ideas, church leadership really should be ready to respond to emergencies such as floods, church shootings, etc.

Joyner's September 24th entry comes to a cryptic end:

Next week we will cover an area of preparation that is a little more challenging for many Christians to accept

If it's "challenging for many Christians to accept" it's probably non-biblical (like most of Generalissimo Joyner's "ministry"). Recently Mr. Joyner recently appeared on the Jim Bakker show to present his new idea to show our love for our Savior Jesus Christ: open warfare. He told the unrepentant cash grabbers Jim and Lori Bakker:

“The Second Amendment is linked to militias... We were meant to have militias throughout the country to defend our communities … I think there is going to be a militia movement that unites and supports and is open about what they are doing and they are going to be trained and prepared to defend their communities.”

“If Christians don’t get involved in things like that, [the] wrong people will get in,” he added. “Christians need to get in to set the course. We’re not just going to attack other races; we’re here to defend and support. Christians have to get engaged in it. Jesus himself said, ‘There is a time to sell your coat and buy a sword.’ That was the weapon of their day.”

“We are entering a time for war and we need to mobilize.” 

Wait a minute, did he just say "We're not just going to attack other races"? Yep, he sure did. Slip of the tongue? or was that a Freudian slip?

Christians do not get involved in things like militias, because it's not the Christian thing to do, we're called to have fellowship with other Christians. The early church was not a militia, our spiritual ancestors were targets, they were cannon fodder for the hate and vitriol that Satan spewed forth on the world. They showed the peaceful love of Christ Jesus by offering up their bodies as targets for the hate of the world.

Secondly, Jesus did not say "There is a time to sell your coat and buy a sword" what he said was:

36 And He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, ‘And He was numbered with transgressors’; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment.” 38 They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.” (Luke 22:36-38)

Some who read the bible take this as an order from Jesus to arm themselves, as Generalissimo Joyner did, but they fail to look at verse 37. Here Jesus it telling his followers that He is insuring that Isaiah 53:12 is fulfilled:

Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12)

Jesus wanted to be arrested, He wanted to be taken, beaten, tortured, dragged through the streets and finally executed in the most horrific way, because that's what His Father required of Him. To do that He had to be caught with a rough bunch, malcontents, transgressors. A group of fishermen may be a rough bunch, but a group of fishermen with swords? Now there's a bunch of transgressors. If you notice when they produced a second sword Jesus said "It is enough" - two swords were all He needed to make the Romans think His disciples were transgressors. The swords were just for show, so when Peter actually used his sword and cut the ear off of Malchus Jesus immediately rebuked him:

So Jesus said to Peter, "Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?" (John 18:11)

In no uncertain terms Jesus told Peter that the show is over, He is headed to the cross as God planned and as was foretold. Now this is all information was gathered by a regular guy, sitting on a warm patio at the altitude of 5,000 feet. Down closer to sea level where Dr. Joyner resides there is much more oxygen for the brain to enjoy, yet Mr. Rick missed all of this.

Where in the bible do you find permission for Christians to participate in civil uprisings?  First Capitulations? maybe Ruminations? Hezekiah? The fact is that Christians are not called to "git yer gun" but to remain peaceful

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. (Colossians 3:15)

I'm not saying that Christians can't own a firearm, but I am saying that this Christian does not own a firearm. I shot for sport and I shot for competition, and I shot for Uncle Sam. And when Uncle Sam told me to retire, I retired most of my arms, and when Jesus called me to him, I retired my 'pop guns' too. But I still have my dad's trusty ol' Red Ryder BB gun just for plinking cans.

There's a difference in shooting holes in soda cans and shooting holes in another person. Anyone that has been there can attest to that.  But arming yourself with the intent to overthrow a government is a sin

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. (1 Peter 2:13-14)

1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. (Romans 13:1-5)

This is rough stuff; I was not a fan of President Obama in the least, but when I reread this I realized I was living in a state of sin and had to repent of my sins and back off of the anti-Obama rhetoric. Of course now that he's Mr. Obama I can discuss his transgressions... in a purely historical manner. But here is Mr. Joyner, Super Apostle, calling for a second revolutionary/civil war. Ok, to be fair he's not calling for one, he's telling us that God is telling him that there is going to be a war. 

The proper Christian response to this kind of revelation is to PRAY, and if you feel drawn to take action, then your second option (after prayer) is either to enlist or, as Peter says in Acts 5:9 obey God rather than men. If you want to stock up on food and bandages, fine, you're protecting your family. But where does God's word tell you to stock up on 7.62mm ball?

Generalissimo Joyner hides behind several bible verses, one of which is Ecclesiastes 3:8 which says there is a time for every event under heaven - A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace. But it doesn't say that you have to participate in hate and war, and Jesus clearly told us over and over that we are above that. 

Joyner uses 1 Timothy 5:8 as a sledge hammer (or a recruiting poster)

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

and Joyner loudly claims that providing for his own includes stocking up on guns and ammo and being prepared to use those weapons. His phraseology clearly states that a Christian who is not prepared to kill someone to protect their family against a perceived threat is worse than an unbeliever.

Look, I'm not saying that a Christian cannot own weapons and prepare to defend themselves, their family, their homes, that's between you and God. What I am saying is that I am prepared to entertain a motion to close nominations for the False Teacher of the Year for 2019. I think we have a "winner" here.

Can I get a motion and a second in the comments below?