Charismatic leaders persist in alluding to past revivals and their preachers in order to support their beliefs and activities. Inevitably, they twist what is true, often by just a few words or meanings. One such man who is pointed to as being supportive of today's charismatic sinful excesses is Evan Roberts, who God used in the 1904 Revival in Wales. Evan Roberts roundly condemned the kinds of things we see happening today.  I refer to the book 'War On the Saints'*, chapter five. Evans' words in that book are remarkably fresh, for they could have been written about the Toronto Blessing!  Evans has been dubbed a 'charismatic', but his book perfectly denies it. (* By Jesse Penn Lewis and Evan Roberts).

Therefore, we repeat much of the chapter's text verbatim in this Article.  It is potent material and stands as a dire warning to all who are caught in the present supernatural trap of Satan.  This Article is a direct challenge to all who have come under the spell of the Toronto Blessing, and also to anyone who believes charismatic churches are acting under the Holy Spirit!  Evan Roberts provides chilling evidence that YOU ARE ENTIRELY WRONG.  It is our hope that you will take heed of the evidence.

Preamble

Before we look at what Evan Roberts had to say, let us tell you something that may shock you, taken from "Satan's devices" (page 209) by Dr Kurt Koch.  We repeat his words because so many Toronto Blessing followers and leaders claim to 'love Jesus more' and so on.  Let these words make you think deeply....

ALSO:

To charismatic leaders I say, stop attempting to be clever!  Satan is the highest of all angels, supernatural and powerful.  As an angel he was made higher than you - so stop pretending, using sophistry and nonsense. Are you claiming 'Jesus' in your meetings?  Then be warned.

Counterfeits of the Divine

(Taken from chapter five, 'War on the Saints', original edition. Beginning at page 69. Additional comments by myself  - KBN - are added as indicated. Any sub-headings are those found in the book.  Some portions have been left out, but these do not affect the understanding of the texts).

In seeking to deceive the believer, the first great effort of evil spirits is directed toward getting him to accept their suggestions and workings as the speaking, working or leading of God.  Their initial device is to counterfeit a "Divine Presence", under cover of which they can mislead their victim as they will...the word 'counterfeit' meaning the substitution of the false for the true.

The condition on the part of the believer which gives the deceiving spirits their opportunity, and the basis of this counterfeit, is the mistaken location of God; either (1) In them (consciously); (2) or around them (consciously).  When they pray they think of, or pray to, God in themselves, or else to God around them in the room, or in the atmosphere.  They use their imagination, and try to "realise" His presence, and they desire to "feel" His presence in them or upon them.

The Location of God by Believers

This locating of God in or around the believer, usually comes about at the time of some special crisis in his life, before which he lived more by the acceptance of facts declared in the Scriptures, as understood by his intelligence; but then became more conscious of the presence of God by the Spirit, and in the spirit, and so begins to locate the Person of God as in, around, or upon him.  Then he turns inward, and begins to pray to God as within him, which in time may even result in prayer to evil spirits.

The logical sequence of prayer to God located within, can be pressed to absurdity, i.e. if the soul prays to God in himself, why not pray to God in another elsewhere?  The limitation of God as a Person within, and all the possible dangers arising from this misconception of truth, are obvious.

.....with the result that their spiritual capacity and mental powers become dwarfed and powerless.  Others become victim to the "inner voice"...which is the ultimate result of the location of God as a Person within.....(they are) open to the gravest danger; for upon this thought and belief, sedulously cultivated by the powers of darkness, the most serious deceptions of deceiving spirits have taken place.

The Ultimate Result of Mistaken Location of God

Upon this principle of the mistaken location of God, used by evil spirits as the ground work for manifestations to support and deepen this belief, have come about the delusions of believers during past ages, and of recent years, who assert themselves to be 'Christ'. On the same principle will come about the great deceptions at the end of the age, foretold by the Lord in Matthew 24:24, of the "false Christs" and false prophets.....The devil's richest harvest is from the effects of his counterfeits; and unwittingly, many sober and faithful teachers of "holiness" have aided him in his deceptions...

Those who locate God personally, and wholly, in themselves, make themselves...practically "divine" persons.  God is not wholly in any man.  He dwells in those who receive Him, by His own Spirit communicated to them.  "God in Spirit" and mind or body cannot hold communion with spirit.  Sensuous feelings, or "conscious" physical enjoyment of some supposed spiritual presence, is not true communion of spirit with Spirit, such as the Father seeks from those who worship Him (John 4:24).

God is in heaven.  Christ the crucified Man is in heaven.  The location of the God we worship is of supreme importance.  If we think of our God as in us, and around us, for our worship and for our "enjoyment" (?) we unwittingly open the door to the evil spirits in the atmosphere which surrounds us...

Christ As a Person in Heaven

(From page 72).  The counterfeit "presence" of God is nearly always manifested as love, to which the believer opens himself without hesitation, and finds it fill and satiate his innermost being, but the deceived one does not know that he has opened himself to the activity of evil spirits in the deepest need of his inner life.

Counterfeit Presence of God

How the powers of darkness counterfeit the presence of God to those ignorant of his devices may be somewhat as follows.  At some moment when the believer is yearning for the sense of God's presence, either alone, or in a meeting, and certain conditions are fulfilled, the subtle foe approaches, and wrapping the senses round with a soothing, lulling feeling - sometimes filling the room with light, or causing what is apparently a "breath from God" by a movement of the air - either whispers "This is the presence you have longed for", or leads the believer to infer that it is what he has desired.

Then, off his guard, and lulled into security that Satan is far away, some thoughts are suggested to the mind, accompanied by manifestations which appear to be Divine; a sweet voice speaks, or a vision is given, which is at once received as "Divine guidance", given in the "Divine presence", and hence beyond question as from God.  If accepted as from God, when from the spirit of evil, the first ground is gained.

The man is now so sure that God has bidden him do this or that.  He is filled with the thought that he has been highly favoured of God, and chosen for some high place in His Kingdom.  The deeply hidden self-love is fed and strengthened by this, and he is able to endure all things by the power of this secret strength.

He has been spoken to by God!  He has been singled out for special favour!  His support is now within upon his experience, rather than upon God Himself, and the written word.  Through this secret confidence that God has specially spoken to him, the man becomes unteachable and unyielding, with a positive trend on infallibility.  He cannot listen to others now, for they have not had this "direct" revelation from God.  He is in direct, special, personal communion with God, and to question any "direction" given to him, becomes the height of sin.  Obey he must, even though the direction given is contrary to all enlightened judgement, and the action commanded opposed to the spirit of the word of God.  In brief, when the man at this stage believes he has a "command" from God, he will not use his reason, because he thinks it would be "carnal" to do so; "common-sense" is lack of faith, and therefore sin; and "conscience", for the time being, has ceased to speak.

Some of the suggestions made to the believer by deceiving spirits at this time may be: (1)  "You are a special instrument for God", working to feed self-love  (2)  "You are more advanced than others", working to blind the soul to sober knowledge of itself;  (3)  "You are different from others", working to make him think he needs special dealing by God;  (4)  "You must take a separate path", a suggestion made to feed the independent spirit;  (5)  "You must give up your occupation, and live by faith", aiming at causing the believer to launch out on false guidance, which may result in the ruin of his home, and sometimes the work for God in which he is engaged.

All these suggestions are made to give the man a false conception of his spiritual state; for he is made to believe he is more advanced than he actually is, so that he may act beyond his measure of faith and knowledge (Romans 12:3), and consequently be more open to the deceptions of the beguiling foe.

The Counterfeit "Presence" is Sensuous

Counterfeits of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, are recognisable by the manifestations being given to the senses...for the true indwelling of God is in the shrine of the spirit alone; and the soul vessel, or personality of the believer, is purely a vehicle for the expression of Christ, Who is enthroned within by His Spirit; whilst the body, quickened by the same Spirit, is governed by God from the central depths of the human spirit, through the self-control of the man, acting by his renewed will.

The counterfeit presence of God is given by deceiving spirits working upon the physical frame, or within the bodily frame, upon the senses.  We have seen the beginning of this, and how the first ground is gained.  It is deepened by these sense-manifestations being repeated, so gently, that the man goes on yielding to them, thinking this is truly in "communion with God" - for believers too often look upon "communion with God" as a thing of sense, and not of spirit - and here he commences praying to evil spirits under the belief that he is praying to God.

The self-control is not yet lost, but as the believer responds to, or gives himself up to these "conscious" manifestations, he does not know that his WILL-POWER IS BEING SLOWLY UNDERMINED (author's emphasis).  At last, through these subtle, delicious experiences, the faith is established that God Himself is CONSCIOUSLY IN POSSESSION OF THE BODY, quickening it with felt thrills of life, or filling it with warmth and heat, or even with "agonies" which seem like fellowship with the sufferings of Christ, and travail for souls, or the experience of death with Christ in the consciousness of nails being driven into the bodily frame, etc.  From this point the lying spirits can work as they will, and there is no limit as to what they may do to one who is deceived to this extent.

Counterfeit manifestations of the Divine life in various ways now follow quickly; movements in the body, pleasant thrills, touches, a glow as of fire in different parts of the body; or sensations of cold, or shakings and tremblings; all of which are accepted as from God.

Evil spirits work by sudden suggestion, which is not the ordinary working of the mind, but suggestions which come from without; "flashes of memory", again not the ordinary working of the memory, but coming from without; touches and twitches of the nerves; feelings of draught and sensations of wind blowing upon the circumference, etc.

Compulsory "Confessions" of Sin

Evil spirits may push the man to "confessions" of all kinds, however public and painful, which he hopes may result in regaining the "experience" apparently lost; but all in vain.  These confessions instigated by deceiving spirits may be recognised by their compulsory character.  The man is forced to "confess" sin, and ofttimes sins which have no existence, but in the accusations of the enemy.

As it does not dawn upon him that evil spirits will push a man to do what looks like the most meritorious thing, and which Scriptures declare is the one condition for obtaining forgiveness, he yields to the drive upon him, simply to get relief.  Herein lies the danger of widespread "confessions of sin" during times of Revival, when almost a "wave" of "confession" passes over a community, and the depths of sinful lives are exposed to the gaze of others; through this enabling the lying spirits to disseminate the very poison of the pit into the atmosphere, and into the minds of the listeners.

True Confession of Sin

True confession of sin should come from deep conviction and not compulsion, and should be made only to God, if the sin is one only known to God; to man personally, and in private, when the sin is against man; and to the public only, when the sin is against the public.  "Confession" should never be made under the impulse of any compulsory emotion, but should be the deliberate act of the volition; choosing the right, and putting things right, according to the will of God.

That Satan's kingdom gains by public "confessions" is evident by the devices (used) of the enemy to push men into them.  Evil spirits drive a man into sin, and then compel that man publicly to confess the sin which they forced him to commit - contrary to his true character - in order to make the sin which they have forced him into, a stigma upon him for the remainder of his life.

Ofttimes the "sins" confessed have their rise in the believer, from the insertion by wicked spirits of feelings as consciously abhorrent and loathsome, as were the former "conscious" feelings of heavenly purity and love....

In short, the counterfeit manifestations of the Divine presence in the body, in agreeable and heavenly feelings, can be followed by counterfeit feelings of sinful things, wholly repugnant to the volition and central purity of the believer who is as faithful to God now in his hatred to sin, as in the days when he revelled in the sense of purity given consciously to his bodily frame.

Counterfeit Guidance

As Christ was a pattern, or example for His followers, guidance or "leading" in its perfect and true form is shown in His life, and believers can only expect the co-working of the Holy Spirit when they walk after the pattern of their Example.  Out of line with the Pattern, they cease to have the working of the Holy Spirit, and become open to the deceptive counterfeit workings of evil spirits.

If the believer ceases to use mind, reason, will, and all his other faculties as a person, and depends upon voices and impulses for guidance in every detail of life, he will be "led" or guided by evil spirits feigning to be God.

Counterfeit "Inward" Drawings

As his spiritual life develops the believer knows to a great extent the true guidance of the Spirit of God.  He knows true inward constraint to act, and restraint from action in like manner; such as when to speak to another about his soul, when to rise and testify in a meeting, etc., but after a time he ceases to watch for this pure inward moving of the Spirit, often through ignorance of how to read the emonitions of His Spirit, to guide him in action.  This is the time for which the deceiving spirits have been watching.  Because at this point the believer has ceased, unknown to himself, to cooperate with the inward spirit action, to use his volition, and to decide for himself, he is now watching for some other supernatural indication of the way to go, or the course to take. Hence he must have "guidance" somehow, some "text", some "indication", some "providential circumstance", etc., etc.

This is the moment of opportunity for a deceiving spirit to gain his faith and confidence: and so some word or words are whispered softly, that are exactly in accordance with the inward drawing that he has had, but which he has not recognised as from another source than the Holy Spirit, Who acted by the deep inner constraining and restraining of the spirit.  The soft whisper of the deceiving spirit is so delicate and gentle, that the believer listens to, and receives the words, without question, and begins to obey this soft whisper, yielding more and more to it, without any thought of exercising mind, judgement, reason or volition.

The "feelings" are now in the body, but the believer is unconscious that he is ceasing to act from his spirit, and by the pure unfettered action of his will and his mind, which, under the illumination of the Spirit, is always in accord with the spirit. This is a time of great danger if the believer fails to discriminate the source of his "drawing" feelings, and yields to them before finding out their source.  He should examine his basic principle of decision, especially when it has to do with feeling, lest he should be led away by any feeling without being able to say where it comes from, or whether it is safe for him to go by it.  He should know there are physical feelings, soulish feelings, and feelings in the spirit, either of which can be Divine or Satanic in their source.  Therefore, reliance on "feelings" - feeling drawn, etc., - is a source of great mischief in the Christian life.

From this point deceiving spirits can increase their control, for the believer has begun the listening attitude, which can be developed acutely, until he is always watching for an "inner voice", or a voice in the ear, which is an exact counterfeit of the voice of God in the spirit; and thus the believer moves and acts as a passive slave to "supernatural guidance".

The Counterfeit Voice of God

Evil spirits are able to counterfeit the voice of God, because of the ignorance of believers that they can do so, and of the true principle of God's way of communication with His children.  The Lord said: "My sheep know my voice..." i.e. My way of speaking to My sheep.  He did not say this voice was an audible voice, nor a voice giving directions which were to be obeyed apart from the intelligence of the believer; but, on the contrary, the word "know" indicates the use of the mind, for although there is knowledge in the spirit, it must reach the intelligence of the man, so that spirit and mind become of one accord.

How To Detect the Source of a Voice

In order to detect which is the "voice of God", and which is the "voice of the devil", we need to understand that the Holy Spirit alone is charged to communicate the will of God to the believer, and that He works from within the spirit of the man, enlightening the understanding (Eph. 1:17-18), so as to bring him into intelligent co-working with the mind of God.

The purpose of the Holy Spirit is, briefly, the entire renewal of the redeemed one, in spirit, soul and body.  He therefore directs all His working to the liberation of every faculty, and never in any way seeks to direct a man as a passive machine, even into good.  He works in him to enable him to choose the good, and strengthens him to act, but never - even for "good" - dulls him, or renders him incapable of free action.  Otherwise He would nullify the very purpose of Christ's redemption on Calvary, and the purpose of His own coming.

When believers understand these principles, the "voice of the devil" is recognisable, i.e. (1) when it comes from outside the man, or within the sphere of his circumference, and not from the central depth of his spirit, where the Holy Spirit abides;  (2)  when it is imperative and persistent, urging sudden action without time to reason or intelligently weigh the issues;  (3) when it is confusing and clamorous, so that the man is hindered from thinking; for the Holy Spirit desires the believer to be intelligent, as a responsible being with choice, and will not confuse him so as to make him incapable of coming to a decision.

Supposed Unity for "Revival"

For some time now it has been on my mind to try to put into language some of the things which it has been my painful experience to witness, and pass through, in connection with the workings of Satan as an "angel of light", but everything seemed so complicated and confused...

First his (Satan's) attacks seem to be made upon the most spiritual souls - those who have made the fullest surrender to God, and who recognise a spiritual affinity, which they believe if broken, mars the whole purpose of God (1 Cor. 1:10).

The lying spirit insists on one mind and judgement and one expression.  These souls thus "joined" form the "assembly" so-called....Everything is brought into the "assembly" for decision, the assertion that no individual soul can get the mind of the Lord....Hours were spent in bringing the tiniest details of daily life before the Lord.  The leader spread each matter, asking that all might be brought to one mind.  The response was then given by each one in some word of scripture.  The attitude taken to receive the supposed "word of the Lord", was the RESISTANCE OF ANY THOUGHT OR REASON, AND LETTING THE MIND BECOME A PERFECT BLANK.  If anyone ventured to give an opinion, or any judgement, they were ruled out of fellowship; the fact of reasoning being the proof of the "flesh life".

The discipline ministered to such was severe indeed.  They were not allowed to speak to anyone, or to do any kind of work. In some cases this lasted for weeks, and even months.  The effect upon the mind was very terrible.  The only way back was by making a statement in the "assembly" which satisfied them that there was true repentance...consequently, the soul is shut up in torment and despair, being excluded from all meetings.

Second.  The "manifestations of the Spirit" in prophecy, prayer and travail.  One person would often pray for an hour, and sometimes two hours, without a break.  Messages, too, would often last for two hours, and the whole meeting for eight or nine hours.  Anyone yielding to sleep or exhaustion, was at once pronounced "in the flesh", and a hindrance to the meeting.

"Travail" was manifested by tears, groans and twisting of the body; and with some it was exactly like hysterics, and would last for hours. This was greatly encouraged as the means whereby God would work for the deliverance of souls - and those who did not come under this manifestation, were judged as preserving their own life, not willing to "let go" - lovers of themselves; and it was believed that when the whole company were unitedly under the so-called "manifestation of the Spirit", (then) God would break through in Revival!  I might say that all this began with a nightly prayer meeting for Revival, with no limit as to time.

The paralysing fear of resisting God by any lack of submission, and evading the Cross by an unwillingness to suffer, just sways the soul; and it dare not yield to one thought contrary to the "mind of Christ" in the "assembly"...

The Lord Jesus is supposed to have said (i.e. in a meeting, through a 'prophet'):

"The manifestations of the Spirit, in some things, are very strange.  Sometimes He will twist the body this way and that, and the meaning is dark to you.  I want you to know some things about this part of the spirit's work.  I want you to see that they are not useless."

If you had spoken in your own tongue when the Spirit came in, it would have graciously blessed you; but perhaps you might have thought it was yourself, as many have (thought).  So the Spirit comes in and speaks in an unknown tongue to you, that you might know that it was NOT YOURSELF SPEAKING...

Your hands He has often lifted up, and again He has raised your fingers in various ways.  Your eyes open and shut by the Spirit now, as they did not before.  Your very head has been shaken by the Spirit, and you have not known why He did this.  You have thought sometimes, it was just to show He was living there, and that is true, but there is more to it than that, and He will show you as well as He can, in a few words, what some of these things are...

Some things in the manifestations are very peculiar to you.  You have gone on wondering about them.  Don't think it strange that the Spirit works in you in many ways.  His work is more than two-fold work.  It is manifold.  This is puzzling many minds.  They see the Spirit shaking. They hear Him singing. They FEEL HIM LAUGHING and they are sometimes tried with His various twistings and jerkings, as though He would test them to pieces.

Sometimes it seems He is imitating the animals in various sounds and doings.  This has all been a mystery to the saints.  His work, I say, is manifold.  He seeks, in some, to show them that they are all one with each other, in the whole creation...If He shows you, by making a noise as of some wild animal, and that you are like that, you must not despise His way of working, for the Holy Spirit knows why He does it.  He makes these noises in the animals, can't He make them in you?

Finally...

The words of Evan Roberts, a man used of God in real revival, are an indictment against what is happening now under the aegis of charismaticism.  There can be no doubt whatever, that the Toronto Blessing, as a whole, is Satanic.  Why as a whole?  Well, Evan Roberts was referring to false manifestations that arose out of a true Revival, initiated amongst genuine and faithful Christians.  But the Toronto Blessing has arisen out of heresy, from men who have perverted God's word grossly, basing their beliefs on Arminianism.  Their utterances against those who reject their claims are evil and not worthy of true Believers.  That is where the difference is.  If the root is bad, so will be the fruit and, as God says in Isaiah 5, He will cut down and completely destroy the rotten root along with its quickly fading blossoms.

If you are caught up in the TB you are now urged strongly to come away before it is too late...before your soul is so twisted it will no longer be able to see the light again - and before the wrath of God descends upon you in utter and continuing condemnation.

Finally, here is another warning, given by Kurt Koch, concerning being 'slain in the Spirit' - something that is most evident in  TB meetings.  Next time you or your neighbour falls to the ground in ecstasy, in unconsciousness or in weakness, just remember the following stark account....

Taken from "Satan's devices", pages 33-34.

Example 37.

Mark...was a Christian in a church that he thought was formal and dead.  He went to a Pentecostal church, where hands were laid on him, and he was what they called "slain in the spirit".  He was lying on the floor in a trance.  When he came out of it, he was praising Jesus in a loud voice, and he continued praising Jesus.

While attending this Pentecostal church Mark also received a gift of tongues....(it was later found that) the name of the spirit of the tongue was "Domenigaio".  Here are some of the notes taken when this demon was cast out in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"Domenigaio, how many associates are with you in Mark?"

"I am alone."

When did you enter him?"

"When he was slain in the spirit."

"Who sent you?"

"The devil, from the pit."

"Do you acknowledge our authority over you in Christ Jesus our Lord?"

"I do."

"What is your commission from Satan?"

"To deceive."

"How?"

"In his love for the Lord Jesus; ruin his faith; have him follow Satan."

"You were posing as the Holy Spirit, weren't you?"

"Yes."

Mark denounces this demon in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and he is cast out into the pit, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The name 'Jesus' keeps coming into Mark's mind, so we command in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that, if there is a demon in him named Jesus, he come forward and give his name.

Answer:  "Jesus."

"What Jesus?"

"Jesus of the devil."

"What is your work; what did Satan commission you to do?"

"To fool him; to steal the glory from God."

"When did you enter him?"

"When he was slain in the spirit."

...it here becomes evident that the so-called baptism of the Spirit in the charismatic movement is usually an opportunity for demons to enter. Experiences with the so-called charismatic movement teach us to pray more than ever for the gift of discerning of spirits.  These experiences also warn us to be led, in faith and obedience by the word of God and the Holy Spirit, into all Truth.

A Repeated Plea

Once again we plead with Believers to come away from the Toronto Blessing and renounce it completely.  Not only that, but we urge you to also come away from charismatic churches, no matter what the cost. At this stage it does not matter if you know where else to go or who else to trust.  God will honour your faith if you honour Him!  Come away, renounce what has happened, turn your back on it all (including the charismatic movement as a whole), and the Lord will come and show you what to do.  You will not be left alone, but you will be shown a new and true fellowship, based on God's word and not on experiences.

If you need counselling, in your search for deliverance from the bondage of the Toronto Blessing or other Charismatic manifestations, you may write in confidence to BTM.

Note that we do not necessarily endorse everything said, taught, or done by Evan Roberts.