Hello discerning folks! Loathe as I am to criticise (stop that laughing there at the back) I was slightly gobsmacked when I received a copy of the redoubtable C. Peter Wagner's "Prayer Track News" - always a good read if you like having indigestion after your breakfast.

His front page was something in itself, entitled "Networking Strategic Intercession" and went on at length about ground forces and air forces, the "air forces" being the "prophets and intercessors" that have been "entrusted with spiritual gifts, and are known as prophetic intercessors."

However, moving right along to page two, I read an article by Chuck Pierce called "Ancient of Days - Releasing Wisdom for the Harvest." I don't know Pierce, but if I had to take a guess I'd say he's more inclined to the New Age than to biblical truth. His article came over to me as a plug for "gnostic wisdom" and his description of the Ancient of Days sounded more like Chronos than God Almighty.

Chuck Pierce is, according to the blurb, "rapidly gaining recognition as a world-class prayer leader, and currently serving as the Executive Director of the World Prayer Centre, and Prayer Leader for Global Harvest Ministries." (No small-bit player, then.)

He lives in Denton, Texas. He's "an ordained minister and head of Glory of Zion Ministries". He's also co=leader with Bobby Byerly of the Spiritual Warfare Network intercession team.

So, what he believes carries weight, you would say?

Well, begin worrying, because what he says, at least in this article, is very strange indeed. He begins by mentioning that, during October, millions will be petitioning for the release of souls in the 10-40 window. He claims that 95-percent of these people are held captive to demonic power. (Thus, they can't believe in God? That didn't stop the Gadarene demoniac!)

So, he asks, is there hope for a spiritual breakthrough? How can these high places be overthrown? How can we co-labour with the Lord to see his glory covering the earth? (Given that he gets the questions wrong, you'd expect him to miss a few answers...)

However, he concludes we are, by our millions, looking around our nations and "crying out for the powers of darkness to be dispelled and the covenant blessing of God to awaken". And he says that what will give us the faith and authority to confront the powers and principalities is an impartation of the wisdom of the Ancient of Days.

Firstly, he asks, who is the Ancient of Days - Dan 7:9-14. He says the name describes (amongst other things) "one advanced in days or knowledge", the "father of years" and "one who forwards time or rules over it". He says the name implies dignity, endurance, judgement and wisdom, and the number of his years is undiscoverable. (DUH...maybe that is because God IS and has always been, and has NO AGE or length of years, being outside time.)

Anyhow, I stopped and looked at my concordance for the Ancient of Days, and found that the word "ancient" 6268 `attiyq (Aramaic) (at-teek'); corresponding to 6267; "venerable" has more to do with respect and veneration than how long a person has lived. Note these commentaries:

ANCIENT OF DAYS (Aram. "Advanced in days"). An expression applied to Jehovah in a vision of <Daniel (7:9,13,22>). "When Daniel represents the true God as an aged man, he does so not in contrast with the recent gods of the heathen which Antiochus Epiphanes wished to introduce, or specially with reference to new gods; for God is not called the old God, but appears only as an old man, because age inspires veneration and conveys the impression of majesty. (from New Unger's Bible Dictionary)

ANCIENT OF DAYS (`attiq yomin, = Aram.): On `attiq, see ANCIENT (4). The expression is used in reference to God in <Dan 7:9,13,22> and is not intended to suggest the existence of God from eternity. It was the venerable appearance of old age that was uppermost in the writer's mind. "What Daniel sees is not the eternal God Himself, but an aged man, in whose dignified and impressive form God reveals Himself (compare <Ezek 1:26>)" (Keil).(from International Standard Bible Encylopaedia, 1996 by Biblesoft)

But Chuck Pierce is focussing on the "aged man" because he wants to stress that this person has "ancient wisdom" to impart to us. He therefore goes on to say that nothing has become so important to him as realising that, when he prays for "people-groups", that he has access to authority and wisdom that will cause spiritual breakthrough.

He tells us that "God has a covenant with the earth and will be long-suffering until all have heard. He says "the heart of God is to form covenant with ALL people-groups on the face of the earth, and to establish a house of prayer for each one of them". Now to me, this does not read like the biblical gospel. For one thing, God does not save "people-groups" but PEOPLE, and he aim is not to erect a prayer-house, whatever that might be, but to save them so that they might know Him, and live with Him eternally, free of the power and effects of sin.

But according to Chuck, the task is to break the demonic powers over these people-groups, and to do that we have to gain ancient wisdom. "The Ancient of Days releases ancient wisdom for present-day victory". He elaborates on this, saying that there is a hidden wisdom, hidden since the beginning of time, and through the redemptive cross you have access to this wisdom. This wisdom will overthrow high places and release captives, and "dismantle demonic structures".

Ever since he has known this, Chuck Pierce has known "if the Spirit of the Lord burdened me to pray for a group, I had authority to gain the keys for their release."

He gives a word about this: "Overcome every obstacle that is hindering them coming to know Me. Open the door for My House to be built within them (???) so they may experience my love throughout eternity. Through prayer, gain wisdom that will overthrow the ancient high places where they have worshipped. Then establish My Throne that many may worship Me and gain life everlasting." THIS (says Pierce) is how ENTIRE TRIBES AND NATIONS will experience conversion.

(Funny we don't see this happening, then. How many entire nations do you know that have recently come to genuine salvation en masse?)

The supposed instructions from God on how to achieve this are odd in the extreme. The obstacle that hinders people coming to God is their own wilful sin and disobedience - no man can pray that away on behalf of another. Even if demonic elements are totally eradicated, there is still the problem of man's heart which is set against serving God. Furthermore, demons cannot hinder anyone from accepting Jesus as Lord (or else we would all be unsaved, still!!) Nor will praying against spiritual high places achieve anything, since they have authority from God to reImages there until the end.

Secondly, what is all this nonsense about building a house within them? The house of God is, in this Church era, a SPIRITUAL HOUSE composed of believers:

1 Pet 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

1 Tim 3:15 that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

However, Pierce SEEMS to be talking about something more than that. He links it with "My Throne". We can't "establish My Throne" anywhere - though this seems to be the current thinking - but only present Jesus the saviour to individuals, and urge them to seek salvation. The Throne of God can be established in a person's heart, metaphorically, if they accept Him. But in truth, the Throne of God is in heaven.

HOWEVER, there IS a teaching (Paul Cain teaches this, and so do many LR believers) that Heaven is not a place but a CONDITION, where the Spirit of God so indwells a believer that he or she is glorified. God would be LITERALLY dwelling on earth in bodies, and a corporate Body. This corresponds to the mention of "covering the earth with His Glory" in the article.

But read this verse below, which indicates that the ultimate, perfect and eternal dwelling place and "house" of God differs from both the earth and the Body of believers:

Acts 7:47-51 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?

The Body of Christ will be incorporated and joined into the higher reality, not the other way round! We have but a foretaste of the heavenly things, and will not know the entire reality of that House of God until we see Him face to face.

2 Cor 5:1-2 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

There's much more I could say about this article and its suggestions, but enough! If anyone feels they should add to what i have said, please do and I will be glad of your comments.

Tricia tillin...UK
 

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