"ON EAGLES’ WINGS MINISTRIES"
January 2015…Letter from Ken McWilliams on the subject of “The Lost Gospel.”
Brother Royce,
As a follow-up to our email correspondence, I was re-reading your article “Reviewing the Import of the Lost Gospel,” and have a few more thoughts about this matter that I would like for you to consider. You wrote: “As we ponder the importance of the gospel, we are reminded of how quickly corrosion, stagnation, and errors can seep into people’s belief structure. We are over two thousand years apart and away from the actual ministry of Christ on earth. Sometimes we wonder how powerful we’d be if we were able to walk and sit with the Christ as he taught the people. But church history shows that many of those who walked hand in hand with Jesus did not continue with the same spirit, and in the same pattern of holiness and dedication to the tenets of divine truths.”
We have now entered a wonderful time in which revelatory truth is now being made known to His called-out (ekklesia) first-fruits. As we look back in time, John on the isle of Patmos was instructed to send messages to seven churches. These messages to the churches along with the whole Book of Revelation is believed to have been written about 90-95 A. D. (hardly 60 years after our Lord’s ministry on earth.) In chapters 2 and 3, we see that there was already a “falling away” from the truth, and six of the seven churches were given a rebuke for what had already happened within their assemblies.
From there, we look ahead to around 325 AD when Emperor Constantine has a “vision” of the cross in the sky while in battle, and prays or says to himself: “If I win, I’ll make the Roman Empire (state religion) Christianity. Afterwards, he was successful, and as a result of this, he went back to Rome and instructed the Bishops to organize or structure their beliefs, and while at it, include the (Babylonian=confusion) pagans into Christianity into a “big tent” religious organization.
As a result of this, we have Christmas and Easter along with many other rituals that were incorporated into “Christian” religion which had pagan origins. Furthermore, as this “big tent” religion became more powerful and influential, it caused the advent of the “Dark Ages” in Europe which ranged around 500 AD until about 1500 AD.
It is true, as Brother Royce wrote: “We rolled the curtains back all the way to the first century AD so as to highlight the fact that erosion and false doctrines began very early: and our trek down the corridor of time takes us on a grand tour of what used to be and what ought to be: the faith that was once delivered unto the saints.” Interestingly, a priest in the church, Martin Luther, apprehended of God, came to the understanding that: “the just shall live by faith.”
This “revelation” for Martin Luther, to him, was so profound, he eventually was excommunicated from the Holy Roman Church after nailing his 95 thesis to Wittenburg’s church door in 1517. From this, Martin Luther was forced to defend himself at the Diet of Worms where he said: “Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the Pope or in councils alone, sine it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves,) I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me. Amen”
Martin Luther was asked several times to “recant,” but his repeated reply was: “Here I stand. I can do no other.” Thus, the reformation started by a simple revelation as it was with Martin Luther, and so it was for many in other centuries such as: John Calvin, John Wesley, John Wycliffe, John Knox, William Tyndale, and many others. For these reformers, there was an “inner call” that would not give them rest until they answered that call to come out of Babylon= confusion. How the call of Revelation 18:4 must have been so strong in them, that there was no peace as they: “heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”
As these reformers came out (ekklesia) each had a “new” piece of understanding (revelation) of scripture to to them, but they came out with much “baggage” still attached to them in the form of church dogma, rites, and traditions, which were learned or indoctrinated while still in Babylon=confusion. Now we go to the early 1900s to the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, and the revival in Topeka, Kansas.
A thought from brother Kennedy. "One brother Seymour from Topeka was invited to come and speak at the Azusa Street mission in Los Angeles. But when he arrived, he was not received (perhaps because he was black). But a few people outside the group decided to have him in house meetings anyway. The Holy Ghost fell and that was the start of something new and great."
Since the start of the reformation there were those who began to sense God’s truth in a deeper manner, but at Azusa Street and Topeka, the Holy Spirit was once again active; manifesting gifts of the Spirit which had not been realized since the early days of the apostles. The blessings flowed as the Holy Spirit once again began to fill the children of God with the speaking in tongues and other gifts. During this period, several Holiness/Pentecostal denominations were formed as the flames of the Holy Spirit were burning.
Yet, with time, the organizers took over during the next few decades, and most of the liberty and fire that was experienced in the Holy Spirit was formalized into ritual and routine as the Spirit was quenched. In 1948 there was another breakout of revival which was named “The Latter Rain Movement,” and it continued into the early to mid-1950s. Some of the gifts, again, began to be manifested along with healings and words from the Lord.
Other than the obvious worship, singing, shouting, raising of hands, and praise, there seemed to be a common testimony within these meetings as the people would prophesy that the Lord was coming soon. Obviously, it did not happen—or did it? Again, as was in the early 1900s revival, the organizers and those who interpret God’s word in a carnal manner began to teach of the rapture of the church, a misleading understanding of God’s truth.
What was received spiritually was interpreted literally by dispensationalists in such a manner as John Darby, and CI Scofield, who were active the century before. From these and others who literally interpret scripture, we’ve been taught or indoctrinated by man’s traditions that Jesus Christ will literally come to physical Mount Zion and set up a physical kingdom on earth, even though Jesus said when demanded by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would appear, He said:
“The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or lo, there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17: 20, 21. Also, as Paul wrote about Jesus’ appearance: “Though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.” Why? It is because he now lives within us, as His Spirit.
Furthermore, Paul wrote about this great mystery. “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints (note: not to the world, but his saints, set-apart, holy ones): To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of his mystery among the Gentiles (nations) which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Col.1: 26, 27.
Looking back, we can see that the body of believers has repeatedly been misled (hijacked) by false teachers since Jesus completed His physical ministry. It happened before the apostles were all dead. It happened again, in a big manner in Rome which affected the whole known world at the time. It happened during the reformation, when those valiant ones defied the penalties of death from Rome. (Note from brother Kennedy---what was known as the Holy Roman Church, and is known today as the Roman Catholic Church.)
It happened in the early 1900s when the gifts of the Spirit were once again given to believers, but was eventually swallowed up by formalism and organized religion. Lastly, we can see the encroachments of error into another movement of God. These were wonderful truths during the “Latter Rain” that were revealed were stifled and distorted, by cunning ones, just as Jesus told the Pharisees who were: Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition.” Mark 7: 13.And as Paul wrote: “Beware lest any many spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Col.2: 8.
At this point, I must pause and state that I believe that God is sovereign over ALL things. There is not one molecule in the whole universe that is not under his control and will. The following scriptures demonstrate God’s sovereignty—not as many preachers in “religion” would have us to believe, however, for they teach that: there is a war between God and Satan, and that God is barely in control in order to save a few at the end. Let us read some wonderful words of God’s sovereignty.
Such are the thoughts of Ken McWilliams and we appreciate the fact that he took time to construct and send this letter, that I deemed a good idea to share it with others in the body. Be blessed in all that you do.
Ken McWilliams
Please be reminded to make your gifts payable to Royce Kennedy and not to the ministry. Thank you!