I admit to a degree of scepticism about dreams and prophecy, derived from years of over excited preachers promising revival is just around the corner, especially if we will give the preacher's ministry money. It is remarkably honest of Kenneth Copeland to have such an archive of his jokes (he calls them prophecies) on line.

My favourite - for showing that he's a fraud - is from 1995 and contains the line:

"I’ve already taken over the federal government. I took it over some time ago. And I’m already changing—I’m already changing those parties up."

http://www.kcm.org/read/prophecies/95-11-1995/changes-will-be-made

Really? God's taken over the (US) federal government? If so, nobody else has noticed. And does that imply that that nice Mr Clinton was doing God's will with Monica?

Don't hear me as totally negative: I accept that there are genuine prophecies out there. But I really don't like the idea that we should determine doctrine from them: the NT pattern of prophecy seems to be far more about immediate guidance in circumstances. By contrast the major doctrinal dispute of the biblical period, over the requirement or otherwise for Gentiles who become Christians to get circumcised, is settled in a council after long discussion, not by a prophecy.

Calvin's followers have taken it to its logical conclusion by denying that God speaks through prophecy after the bible - reacting to the flow of mystical experiences proclaimed by the Roman Catholic Church. I'm certain that is throwing the baby out with the bath water - but is a good reason to be VERY sceptical about these claims.

Paul is very explicit on the issue in 1 Thess 5: 20 "Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil." We have a duty to be discerning; ask hard questions and if they don't stack up, walk away...


• ( http link ) A Kenneth Copeland Prophecy from 1995
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