Latter Rain, Kingdom Now, & the Lord's Recovery

[Jo S]

Briefly fellowshipping with member's of the LC and talking with you all here, I've noticed patterns in biblical interpretation and from reading Lee's own writings that to me sound's very similar to teachings such as Pentecostal "Latter Rain" and New Apostolic "Kingdom Now" theology which are both variants of Christian Dominionism.

Some of the characteristics of LC theology to me seem partially influenced by Latter Rain Pentecostal thought so I'd like to get the forum's views on whether you believe the LC is a strong proponent of dominionist theology.

Here are a couple of excerpts from gotquestions.org and theopedia.com that seem to fall in line with this view;

"Latter Rain teaching is characterized by a highly typological hermeneutic. That is, the Bible is interpreted in a symbolic, extremely stylized manner. An emphasis is placed on extra-biblical revelation, such as personal prophecies, experiences, and directives straight from God. "

and,

"Many “apostles” in the Latter Rain Movement also teach the doctrine of “the manifest sons of God.” This is a heretical doctrine which says that the Church will give rise to a special group of “overcomers” who will receive spiritual bodies, becoming immortal."

also,

"The Latter Rain taught that God saw the church organized not into denominational camps, but along geographical lines. They expected that in the coming last days, the various Christian denominations would dissolve, and the true church would coalesce into citywide churches under the leadership of the newly-restored apostles and prophets." This is also called Christian ecumenism. It is then no surprise that many former Pentecostals become attracted to the LC.

Then there is Kingdom Now theology.

Per gotquestions.org;

"Kingdom Now proponents believe that God lost control over the world to Satan when Adam and Eve sinned. Since then, the theology goes, God has been trying to reestablish control over the world by seeking a special group of believers—known variously as "covenant people," "overcomers," or "Joel's army........."

This belief that God lost control can be found in Lee's writings on Genesis;

"Man must have dominion over all things on the earth, the field of Satan's activities. Satan is very active on the earth (Luke 4:5-6). So, here in Genesis 1:26 it especially says that man may have the dominion "over all the earth." The earth has been usurped by Satan. Thus, it needs to be ruled over by man, God's representative." -Witness Lee

We know from scripture that God is sovereign which means there isn't anything that is not allowed by him first including allowing Satan to have rule over the earth. Satan did not "usurp" anything meaning taken illegally or by force apart from God's allowance. Stating or implying otherwise is saying that God is not sovereign and in complete control.

The mindset that Christians need to take back control from Satan is the foundation of dominionism and it seems to be what Lee is promoting in his writings. I'm curious on what you guys think.

[Evangelical]

Its quite different. Pentecostalism gets into extra biblical things. Prophecy in the local churches is more or less expounding biblical truth already known. I think both groups found some biblical truth independently of each other. Eg dominion is biblical. Dont confuse correlation with causation.

[Jo S]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

Its quite different. Pentecostalism gets into extra biblical things. Prophecy in the local churches is more or less expounding biblical truth already known. I think both groups found some biblical truth independently of each other. Eg dominion is biblical. Dont confuse correlation with causation.

Wouldn't the whole concept of the Lord having a latter day "recovery" of the Church using a city model before the 2nd coming be extra-biblical in itself?

You say don't confuse correlation with causation. Doesn't Paul ask rhetorically, "What relationship does light have with darkness?" Either doctrine is rooted in God's truth or it's a lie. Both predate any official position, denominational or not.

I see God's original intent was for us to have dominion over the land and animals in Genesis but where does scripture teach this kind of dominion after the fall? Isn't it more reasonable to assume this privilege was forfeit by sin? Dominionism is the belief that we are to reclaim that responsibility before the Lord's coming and interjecting it within politics and religion as well. This doctrine would be considered extra-biblical.

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by Jo S

Wouldn't the whole concept of the Lord having a latter day "recovery" of the Church before the 2nd coming be extra-biblical in itself?

You say don't confuse correlation with causation. Doesn't Paul ask rhetorically, "What relationship does light have with darkness?" Either doctrine is rooted in God's truth or it's a lie. Both predate any official position, denominational or not.

I see God's original intent was for us to have dominion over the land and animals in Genesis but where does scripture teach this kind of dominion after the fall? Isn't it more reasonable to assume this privilege was forfeit by sin? Dominionism is the belief that we are to reclaim that responsibility before the Lord's coming. This doctrine would be considered extra-biblical.

In Genesis 1:28 , there are two commands.
1) be fruitful and multiply - this is by marriage.
2) fill the earth and subdue it - this is achieved primarily by being fruitful and multiplying.

If dominion was forfeited by sin, then marriage would be also. Since there is no indication that marriage was forfeited by sin, I think we can conclude that dominion is not forfeited either.

[Jo S]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

In Genesis 1:28 , there are two commands.
1) be fruitful and multiply - this is by marriage.
2) fill the earth and subdue it - this is achieved primarily by being fruitful and multiplying.

If dominion was forfeited by sin, then marriage would be also. Since there is no indication that marriage was forfeited by sin, I think we can conclude that dominion is not forfeited either.

Dominion is the relationship between man and the earth. Marriage is the relationship between man and women. Scripture says that Satan is the "god of this world" (2 Cor 4:4) and not the god of man so you're argument fails by equating these two types of relationships. Marriage is further taught in scripture, dominion is not. Dominion implies mastery over creation. Genesis states that after the fall, man will "eat bread by the sweat of your brow". Does this sound like mastery or slavery?

Either way the type of dominion I'm talking about is religious/political dominion.

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by Jo S

Dominion is the relationship between man and the earth. Marriage is the relationship between man and women. Scripture says that Satan is the "god of this world" (2 Cor 4:4) and not the god of man so you're argument fails by equating these two types of relationships. Marriage is further taught in scripture, dominion is not. Dominion implies mastery over creation. Genesis states that after the fall, man will "eat bread by the sweat of your brow". Does this sound like mastery or slavery?

Either way the type of dominion I'm talking about is religious/political dominion.

Dominion is also here in Genesis 9:1

9 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 2 The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. 3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.

This is after the fall, so obviously dominion was not forfeited by sin.