Posted on 01/21/2005 2:42:01 PM PST by samsonite
[India News]: Bangalore, Jan 21 : American evangelist Benny Hinn Friday evening began his much-awaited "Festival of Blessings" prayer meeting here, which saw a shutdown call and incidents of stone throwing by protesting Hindu activists earlier in the day.
About 8,000-10,000 policemen have been deployed in and around the sprawling venue to regulate crowds.
Organisers of the show, being held at the Jakkur airstrip on the outskirts of the city, said earlier that about 400,000 people had already gathered for the event from all parts of the country, especially south India. A few hundred also came from abroad.
Speaking to IANS on phone from the venue, they said, "People are still trooping in, awaiting the arrival of Hinn to conduct the mass prayer and deliver sermons. We are expecting 200,000 more people in the night."
The function started with a 2,400-voice choir singing hymns and prayers in several Indian languages apart from English. Giant screens and mega speakers have been installed all over the grounds for a closer view of the massive stage and to listen to Hinn's religious discourses.
Undeterred by the "Bangalore bandh" shutdown call given by the Hindu Jagaran Vedike with the support of the Sangh Parivar, including the Bharatiya Janata party, the organisers are going ahead with the three-day programme, armed with a high court order.
Earlier in the day, the city witnessed stray incidents of stone throwing at moving buses and processions by anti-Hinn activists, demanding a ban on the programme.
According to police, about 60 state-owned buses were damaged in some parts of the city during the day-long shutdown that led to closure of shops and commercial establishments.
Friday being an official holiday on account of Eid, schools, colleges and government offices remained closed, and there was less traffic on roads.
But roads leading to the venue, about 20 km from the city, were choc-a-bloc with hundreds of buses and other vehicles jamming the national highway.
"We have nabbed about 100 miscreants who were indulging in stone throwing and attempting to torch some buses. We have also rounded-up some leaders of the Vedike when they were trying to disrupt traffic and create disturbances," city police commissioner M. Marisamy told IANS.
Thanks for the inside story.
umm... this is a fake 'healer' and money grabber in the name of God...
He deserves to be in Jail, not blessed
Yes he is preaching about Jesus, but he is using Jesus' name to steal money
Those stone throwers are as much Hindu as KKK members are Christian.
You may believe what you do, but I see him preaching all over the world and all he talks about is Jesus. That is a good and Godly thing.
And no one has ever been forced to give him or his organization any money...people still have the right to give where they want if I'm not mistaken...
They need the sensational in order to keep believing. (Only my opinion, of course.)
I agree. He's a fake. He's only out ot line his pockets and his message is not that of the Bible ... .
Winded catchers try to keep up with the toppling bodies. He rears back and with a pitching motion slays the entire choir with one toss. "That's power," yells Benny." "POWER!" ... Hinn takes off his custom tailored jacket and rubs it briskly on his body. He is rubbing the Power into the jacket. Then he starts swinging it wildly, like the biblical David swinging his sling. He decks his followers left and right. Bam! Bam! Bam! The stage vibrates with their landings. Then he throws it [the "anointed" jacket]. Another bam. As a catcher moves to pick up a woman, Hinn slays him ... then he slays the catcher who caught the catcher. When Benny Hinn is moved, nobody is safe from the Power ... [H]e blows loudly into the microphone ... Hundreds fall backward ... a woman collapses in the aisle and begins to babble. And then, suddenly, Benny is gone. The power vanishes from the room, and the people stare in stunned silence.
This aspect alone of Hinn's meetings is enough to condemn him. He capriciously throws the "Holy Spirit" around in most irreverent fashion, using the third Person of the Trinity as his servant to attract attention to himself. Hinn acts as though the "anointing" is some metaphysical power at his disposal, to be rubbed off onto objects. It looks impressive, works largely by the power of suggestion, but has no purpose except to make people stand in awe of Hinn. "It's scary," says Bill James, a former church member. "The people are mesmerized. ...When he comes out, he's like God."
Got to have gold now!
Benny's office at his church contains pictures of himself with George Bush and John Paul II. It was Hinn who arranged for Paul and Jan Crouch to meet with the Pope. Here is Mike Thomas's impression of a visit with Hinn:
He looks like a Ralph Lauren advertisement, a true gentleman of leisure. As always, his hair is sprayed solidly in place. "I don't know if you'll ever [again] see a reverend without socks," he says proudly. [He's wearing no socks.] "That's the way I am. I'm more down to earth than most people."
This comes from a man who just turned in his Mercedes for a Jaguar and recently moved from the exclusive Heathrow development to the even more exclusive Alaqua, where he now lives in a $685,000 home. His suits are tailored, his shoes are Italian leather, and his wrists and finger glitter with gold and diamonds ... what he considers a modest lifestyle, as if everyone lives like this.
He wears his diamond Rolex, diamond rings, gold bracelet and custom suits for all to see. ..."What's the big deal, for goodness sake?" he says. "What am I supposed to do, drive a Honda? ...That's not in the Bible. ... I'm sick and tired about hearing about streets of gold [in heaven]. I don't need gold in heaven. I got to have it now."
Healed of blindness -- vision still cloudy!
Benny declares: "I have received a new mandate from heaven -- bring the message of the miraculous, healing power of God back to America! Invade our nation with the miracle-working power of God in the '90s!" He claims that about 1,000 people are healed at each "miracle service." But as Thomas reported, "Despite all the thousands of miracles claimed by Hinn, the church seems hard pressed to come up with any that would convince a serious skeptic. ... When pressed for truly convincing miracles, [Hinn spokesperson] Susan Smith cited a woman in Orlando who was cured of blindness caused by diabetes. But she would not give the woman's name. She later admitted that the woman's vision may still be cloudy. `She still has diabetes, strangely ... [and] was just rehospitalized."
Christians are little gods
"People of God," shouts Benny, "we must never speak such faith-destroying words as these: `If it be thy will, Lord.' ... I am Him [Jesus]! The Word has become flesh in Meee! ...You are a little god on earth!" His other heresies include the teaching that God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit each has a body, soul and spirit. "There's nine of them!" he told his congregation "by revelation knowledge," but probably got the idea from Dake's Annotated Reference Bible, where this ancient heresy was revived on page 55. Hinn taught the same heresy as Hagin and Copeland, that when Jesus died on the cross He sank into hell and took upon him the nature of Satan and was tortured by Satan for our redemption. Then early in 1991 he repudiated this teaching along with other "Word- Faith" peculiar doctrines. Yet he had taught it as "revelation knowledge." God's revelations don't change.
Hinn would like to blow the heads off his enemies
As As for his critics, Hinn says: "You know, I've looked for one verse in the Bible -- I just can't seem to find it -- one verse that says, `If you don't like 'em, kill 'em.'' I really wish I could find it! ...Sometimes I wish God would give me a Holy Ghost machine gun. I'd blow your head off!" The TBN studio audience loudly applauded those gracious words from the "man of God."
Surely we are seeing fulfilled the primary sign Christ gave of the nearness of His return: "For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Let us seek to know God and His Word and to walk in obedience to Him, contending earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. He's coming soon! (Dave Hunt, "Signs of the Times," CIB Bulletin, Jan. 1992)
As a personal note my wife and I have "felt" the power in Benny Hinn's services. My wife had the luxury to making it through the maddening throng to get up on the platform . . . and yes Tracy did fall down, knocked down by a force! The question is what is the origin of that force? Tracy will testify that she was no better physically or spiritually because she was knocked down. Thus, the question, where is the benefit? Any observer of his ministry must also question the caviler manner in which Benny knocks people down, stands them up to knock them down again. Can you see Jesus saying "Peter pick that guy up again." Then hitting him with His seamless robe and knocking down again to the loud applause of the multitudes. Showmanship at its best and worst.
One stage magic trick Benny used in the services we participated in is this: He has the 10,000 plus people all get deathly quiet and close our eyes. Then after a few moments Benny's microphone is turned up and he either blows loudly into it or yells "take it." When he does this everyone's autonomic nervous system is jolted (like when someone sneaks up behind up and says "boo") and people (already mentally prepared) fall down thinking that was the anointing of the Holy Spirit. What a cheap trick to play on ignorant people!
God may out of His great mercy heal some people at these meetings. If anyone gets anything good, its source is the Lord God, not Benny Hinn. Due to his severe doctrinal errors, ungodly crusade performances, and bad hair . . .his ministry is to be avoided at all costs, unless you want to observe mass hysteria under the hands of a manipulator.
P.T. Barnum would be proud of Benny Hinn
Well, I'm sorry you feel that way. I have seen him on TV and never once have I witnesed anything defamatory against Jesus Christ or Christians...although he seems to be the object of hatred here by some.
In any case, I make it a point never to defame Christians of whatever denomination...unless they are getting too involved in politics like the "Rev" Jackson.
the whole point here is what you don't see on TV,, of course he's going to be as nice and reassuring on TV and say "glory to God" and "praise Jesus" a lot,, if nobody had proven what a perverted hypocrite Jimmy Swaggert was you wouldn't have known it by watching him on TV,, neither with Jim Bakker, Marvin Gorman, Oral Roberts(caught redhanded healing the same people over and over in his traveling crusades in the 50's), Robert Tilton and the rest of these lowlifes living off of ignorant people,, if you want to help spread the message stay as far as possible from these unChristlike people as possible and give to your local church's missionary sponsorships or your local food kitchens or food distributors to the poor,, it's funny none of these organizations have to push people down on the ground, wear gold jewelery or have $100 hairdoos to feed a hungry person or missionary to the desperate all around the world,,
I'm sorry but where's the proof of wrongdoing? I understand that with Swaggart and Bakker, there was proof of mishandling of funds and they rightfully repented.
Where are the convictions against Rev Hinn? Do I get the impression that lots of the venom thrown his way is based on the fact that his mission has become so powerful? He is doing what Christians are supposed to do: evangelize throughout the world.
And by the way, you do what you think is right and I'll give where I like as well.
BENNY HINN -- FALSE PROPHET EXTRORDINAIRE
By Jackie Alnor
TV mega-preacher, Benny Hinn, used a false prophecy to extort millions of dollars from unsuspecting victims. He warned TBN's TV audience that 1999 was going to be a year of plenty and the year 2000 would bring disaster.
He threatened the viewers that those who didn't double their giving in 1999 would not survive the year 2000. Even the donors who had already called in their pledges were ordered to call back and increase their giving or face the consequences. This alone certifies Benny Hinn as a false prophet.
This isn't the first time Hinn has prophesied falsely. Back in 1989 he prophesied to his congregation at the Orlando Christian Center in Florida what he was seeing for the decade of the 1990s.
"The Lord also tells me to tell you in mid 90's -- about '94 or '95, no later than that -- God will destroy the homosexual community of America . . . He will destroy it with fire."
"The Spirit of God tells me -- an earthquake will hit the east coast of America and destroy much in the 90's."
"The Spirit tells me -- Fidel Castro will die in the 90's. . . Holy Spirit just said to me, it'll be worse than any death you can imagine."
After 20 minutes of prophesying to his congregation that night, Hinn appeared to be "drunk in the spirit." When he came to his senses he said, "I'd like to know what I said. I was totally gone."
Yet no matter how many times Hinn's false prophecies have been exposed, he still performs to overflowing crowds in stadiums around the world.
Hinn shares his latest blunder with 700-Club founder, Pat Robertson, though Robertson could not be reached to verify his involvement.
It was the spring, 1999 Praise-a-Thon, Trinity Broadcasting Network's (TBN), bi-annual fund-raiser, seen around the world via satellite. From the discussion between Paul & Jan Crouch and their guests, pledges were down because people were apprehensive anticipating potential troubles arising from Y2K hysteria. 'Prophet' Hinn exhorted TBN's supporters to not let Y2K fears affect their donations.
Hinn started out by establishing his credentials as a prophet of God. He called upon TBN's fellow guests for help in interpreting a disturbing dream he had had. "I do not fully understand it," he lamented, "but I really believe it deals with what God is about to do in the world."
He gave a long narrative of his mystical dream that he said was "more of a vision of the night" than a dream. "In this dream, I did not see his face," Hinn began. "Everything in me knew it was the prophet Elijah . . . I walked up to him and he was turning water into blood." Hinn continued, "As I came to him, he said to me, 'Take this!' I took the rod from him.".
When he finished, fellow guest Mark Chirona, offered the interpretation:
"The formless essence of Elijah is the spirit of Elijah that God promised to pour out on the last days' company of seasoned ministry that will literally fulfill everything that God promised under the old covenant that would come into the new covenant of a prophetic order that would change the course of history."
Hinn responded. "I feel the anointing here while he is talking!"
Chirona continued:
"And when Elijah handed you the rod, God was putting in your hand a new level of apostolic authority for the nations. . . You are entering into a new age of the miraculous. There will be a sharpening, for the spirit of Elijah rests on you."
Hinn laid out his first prophetic message under Elijah's mantle:
"Pat Robertson, in January, said 'I have just come out of two days of prayer and fasting. The Lord has said to me that this year, 1999, would be the greatest year for the body of Christ, economically and spiritually, but beginning the year 2000, disasters would hit in the world, economically and otherwise, and only those in the church who have been giving to God would be spared.'"
Turning his attention to the viewers, Hinn said:
"So when I say to you here and in your home, increase your seed, God knows you can and you must because if you do not, you will be the one to suffer."
TBN supporters then jammed the phones in order to survive the coming year of disaster. Hinn gave dire warnings to those who pledge and then fail to follow through.
"And one final thing, if you break your promise, hear this! Some of you make a pledge and along the way you decide to forget about it. The Bible says God will destroy the work of your hands if you do that . . . We can't play games with him!"
"Now, some of you will have to step out in faith tonight; you may not even have the money right now. In fact, most times you make a pledge you don't even have it."
Then he followed up with a warning to the skeptics:
"You know, you do not get under the kind of anointing I get under just because you sing hallelujah...There's a heavy price and I would not want to be in the shoes of the one who touches the anointing. Don't touch the anointing!"
"I'm giving you a prophetic word. You know the scripture says they prospered because they obeyed his prophets. I'm telling you tonight, I'm speaking prophetically. Obey the Lord!"
Hinn had a solution for those who were short on cash, -- liquidate!
"You know if I was you and God spoke to me like this, I'd take it out of my investments to give it to God now cause it's already spring and the year 2000 is almost next door."
So now that the year 2000 has come and gone with no casualties to count, will TBN refund the extorted funds?
A very dangerous false prophet
Whatever "spirit" he is listening to is not that of God.
This man actually thinks that he is God. I mean really, truly thinks that he is the Creator of man. A total fake and a phony is what he is.
"I will believe he is of God when a blind man receives his sight, or an amputee regains his lost limb, or someone with Down's Syndrome is healed."
I would, too. Too bad none of this can be substantiated independently of Hinn's 'ministry'.
"Dan Corner is a False Prophet?"
WTF is this? I never said 'boo' about whoever this non-entity is.
So why did you need Benny if you had Jesus?
Also, sweetie, I never condemned anyone - including Hinn - for simply being wealthy.
I am condemning Hinn for HOW he acquired this wealth and that is through gifts that were given to him in the name of God. Billy Graham is an example of someone entrusted with great wealth in the name of God whose financial statements are public record.
To see Mr. Hinn's financial records you'll need a court order in multiple jurisdictions and a team of law enforcement to carry it out.
What's he hiding?
Billy Graham is for real and, compared to Graham, Hinn comes off like a criminal because he ACTS like a criminal.
I don't need Benny Hinn.
I was doing a spiritual fast and I found some scriptures to go to in the Bible, when I searched the Internet he was the one who came up with the passages I needed from the Bible...
I know I take alot of flak from people because they think I am defending Benny Hinn, it's not so much I am defending him as the people that go to his crusades, now if they are attending just to see some Magic Trick they think they need for a broken toe or some other ailment then they are insincere in looking or embracing the Words of Jesus Christ.
But if a un-believer goes to a Hinn crusade and leaves a sincere beleiver isn't that a good thing?
Jesus can prevail even in the face of evil or deceit.
I talked to a freeper in Bangalore who said he went to Benny Hinn's crusade and he said Benny Hinn said the Bible is Jesus and Jesus Christ is the Word of GOD so that is refreshing to hear.
If Benny Hinn is a Zealot Charlatan Jesus Christ will deal with him but if people come to Jesus through Benny Hinn I think that is a good thing...
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