1. THE NIGHT VISITOR
   

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   The Extraordinary Mystical Transports & Angelic Visitations to  Jesse Duplantis Word of Faith "Evangelist", by Robert S. Liichow
   Copyright © 1998-2000 by Rev. Robert S. Liichow.  All rights reserved
   Inner City Christian Discernment Ministry
   NOTE: Empasis by the author, Robert S. Liichow

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   While Rev. Duplantis was ministering in Jonesville, Louisiana. One night just before midnight (he looked at the clock) he was startled by the following experience:
   
   "I looked up and saw standing at the foot of my bed the biggest character I had ever seen in my life. I hadn't heard anybody come into the room. He just stood there looking at me. It was an angel of the Lord! He was huge. He looked about seven feet tall and had blond hair longer than mine. He glowed. It was such a shock to see him standing there, I could have blown a hole in the wall getting out if I could have made myself move. He said, "I have been sent by the Lord. You are under much stress, and the Lord sent me to tell you to sleep."
   
   The Ancient of Days dispatches one of His divine messengers to one of His servants. Is the message about the coming Messiah (Luke. 1:35) or some other world shaking event about to take place? No, this angel has been dispatched to tell Rev. Duplantis to go to sleep because he is under much stress! When I began this section I started by examining the basic tenor of the dreams, visions, and angelic appearances in the Bible. When you consider when and why the Lord moved in such a manner in the Old and New Testaments you see it was always for a very specific reason. All of the Biblically recorded events were profound in importance. These modern "" visitations do not come anywhere near those revealed to us in Scripture. On what basis does Rev. Duplantis know that this is angel and angel of the Lord? Here an angel is sent to tell a man that he is under stress and to get some sleep! A little flaccid when compared to the Bible record, wouldn't you say?
   
   End Of Article By Robert S. Liichow

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   ON DOCTRINE COMMENT: What type of discernment did Jesse Duplantis use to determine the validity of the visitation?
   1. How did Jesse Duplantis know that the visitor was from God?
   2. Was it just assumed that the visitor was from God with no thought that he might be from Satan?
   3. Did the visitor present any credentials?
   4. Did the reason given for the visit actually correspond with the nature of the problem?
   
   
2. THE TRIP TO HEAVEN
   

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   The Extraordinary Mystical Transports & Angelic Visitations to  Jesse Duplantis Word of Faith "Evangelist", by Robert S. Liichow
   Copyright © 1998-2000 by Rev. Robert S. Liichow.  All rights reserved
   Inner City Christian Discernment Ministry
   NOTE: Empasis and underline by the author, Robert S. Liichow

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   In August 1988 Rev. Duplantis was preaching a revival in Magnolia Arkansas. He feels impressed to go back to his hotel room and pray about the service that evening. He notices the clock (again) it was one minute before one o’clock. He gets down on his knees and gets ready to pray then

   "Suddenly I felt a suction as if I was being pulled up out of the room. . .I heard a sound, Whoosh! And I was pulled up out of the room. . .I didn't know I had left the room and I was zooming along at a phenomenal rate of speed. . .in something like a cable car. . .Then I looked up. There stood another being. I realized that it was the blond-headed angel who had visited me. . . have an appointment with the Lord God Jehovah."

   Jesse has an out-of-body experience and finds himself in an angelic cable car with the same angel who told him to get some sleep. This time we are told why this is happening, Jesse has an appointment with the Lord God Jehovah!

   "As I stepped out of the chariot, everything I saw was so beautiful. I had always thought that when I went to heaven I would see only a city. But the first place I saw was Paradise; it hadn't been destroyed. Paradise is a big place, completely surrounding the Holy City. It is like being on another planet."

   We are now informed that Paradise has (1) not been destroyed, (2) paradise is a big place, and (3) paradise completely surrounds the Holy City. Not only is this without any Biblical proof, but we seem to have a dichotomy between Mrs. Baxter’s revelation in our last section and Jesse’s revelation now. Jesus personally showed Mrs. Baxter that Paradise has been taken over by Satan in hell. Yet now, a few years later we find that Paradise is now sort of the suburbs of heaven. Who are we to believe? Which is it? Is Paradise in hell or in heaven? These two nationally known charismatic teachers both claim to have had genuine experiences but their experiences in no way agree! This is a logical impossibility. Even if their accounts internally agreed with each other they are still at complete variance with the Bible, and must be discounted.

   Jesse begins to describe the heavenly scene. He sees children, animals, beautiful flowers, the River of life and trees lining the River of life with thousands of people standing around under the trees. Jesse notices something that again is a totally new insight regarding some sort of caste system in heaven:

   "Then I saw other people who didn't have on robes; they were wearing gowns. They started walking toward the city, but they seemed to get weak. I saw them walk over to the trees, pick what looked like fruit and eat it. Then they took some leaves off those trees, put the leaves up to their faces and breathed in, smelling them. I asked the angel, "What’s happening?" He said, "Some of them have not lived the life they should. They believe in God and love Jesus, but they didn't live to their fullest potential. . . Yes God is merciful to them," he said. "But they have to be prepared to stand in the presence of the Almighty."

   Even in heaven some people will have to work to make themselves ready to stand in the presence of God. They did not live up to their fullest potential on earth, so now they have to do some more works in heaven . . .then they can face God. The work of Christ is not enough, it obviously is not a finished work, we still have to do our part to make ourselves ready to face God. Hebrews 9:12 tells us that the work Jesus Christ did on the cross obtained for us an eternal redemption. Yet it appears, according to Duplantis, we still have to work on becoming perfected even in heaven.

   "Some people don't live close to God the way they should. They know Jesus as their Savior, but they could do so much better. In heaven they will eventually be able to go to God’s Throne, but it takes more time for them."

   Duplantis does not explain what it takes to "live close to God" but it obviously involves some type of work(s) on our part. I have no problem with the fact that one can live a dynamic Christian life or a mediocre one on earth. I have no problem with one teaching that people will receive varying degrees of reward from the Master at the Judgment Seat of Christ. I have an extreme problem with people having to do some form of works in order to merit an audience with God! This insight is a lie because it directly contradicts Biblical teaching.

   Romans 3:26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 12:23 to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect.

   With nothing more than a quick glance through the New Testament anyone can see that the one who has placed their trust in the work of Christ (as opposed to their own works which can never save or justify) are declared to be righteous (2 Cor. 5:17-21). We are exhorted to draw near with confidence (parresia, Greek NAS 3954; from Greek 3956 (pas) and rhesis (speech); freedom of speech, confidence, boldness, boldness of speech, confidently, openly) .

   Why then does this change in heaven? Why does one have the eat fruit and smell leaves in (works) in order to approach the throne of our God? The blood of Christ has perfected us in God the Father’s eyes. However, Jesse’s experience gives us what really takes place in heaven.

   "When I began to feel weak, the angel walked over to one of those trees, picked some of its fruit and brought it back to me. . .The angel said to me, "Eat this fruit so you will be able to withstand the glory of God."

   It appears that Jesse himself at this point has not been living as close to God as he should have been, even though God appeared to him, he’s seen angels, and been teleported to Lafayette, and now is in heaven, he still needs to eat some angelic fruit so he can withstand the glory of God!

   After eating the fruit the angel asks if he is thirsty, he is, and lo and behold, father Abraham is close by and he comes with a golden goblet to give Jesse a drink. This wise looking fellow comes over and Jesse asks him who he is. Here is the response:

   "I’m Abraham, Paradise is my place. . .I felt I knew him like I knew my father. I fell down on my face before him; but he said, "Stand to your feet. The only One you worship is the Lord God. . .I meet all the people who come here because Paradise is my bosom .

   After his drink he and the angel keep heading towards his divine appointment with Jehovah God. Then all of the sudden he hears children singing and praising God. What’s more they were carrying little harps (I kid you not). After this insight Jesse and the angel continue their journey to meet Jehovah God. At this point in the story Jesse is given further insight into heavens works system:

   "They almost got there; then they stopped, turned around and had to go back. It seemed as if they were depressed. I heard someone say, "There is no depression here. Just eat of the Tree of Life, smell the leaves for healing and let your spirit grow. You shall stand at the Throne of God.""

   Like my grandfather used to say "close but no cigar." Obviously these folks had made some progress in their sanctification but still they had to turn back to eating the fruit and smelling the leaves.

   "All of the sudden, the angel stooped our chariot and said, "Kneel. He’s here." I felt weak then fell to my knees. The angel handed me some fruit and said, "Eat this." So I did. . .Jesus was taller than I thought He would be. I would guess Him to be from five feet eleven inches to six feet one inch. . .He looked at me and said, "There are many things you shall see and learn here, but I have brought you here so that you will go tell My people I’m coming."

   Now we know that Jesus is probably just a tad under six feet tall, that He has light brown hair and that He especially wants Jesse Duplantis to tell the Church He is coming. Again, the Bible is not enough, the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy is not enough, we need people to take special trips to heaven and come back to tell us Jesus is coming back for us.

   Jesus tells Jesse that He wants him to meet another king, king David. David we learn has a red beard and reddish hair.

   "Jesus said, "Jesse, I want you to meet the king of Israel." The Lord said, "Take Jesse to his home. Show him what I have prepared for him. Then bring him to My Throne. I must go."

   David begins to take Jesse to see his heavenly mansion. On the way they go into another home and Jesse meets the Apostle Paul. Of all the questions he could have asked Paul here is what he comes up with:

   "I said to Paul, you went through great persecution." "Yes," he answered, "but I kept the faith. I focused my life on faith. That’s how you get things done. . .Never change the message because of the hearers. Speak what God gives you"

   That must have been sweet music indeed to the ears of a Word of Faith teacher like Rev. Duplantis, Paul kept his focus on faith, that is how you get things done! Isn't that interesting? All this time I thought Paul had said he kept his eyes focused on knowing Christ (Phil 3:10-13). Now we see that really Paul kept focused on faith, and that it is by the power of faith that things get done! Well the angel has to move Jesse along, he still has an appointment at the Throne of God. However, King David tags along with them to fellowship with Jesse. What Rev. Duplantis shares next is extreme heresy, King David is speaking -

   "He did use Psalm 23 as an example as he explained, " I allowed God and the anointing to come through in that song. In other songs I sang strongly about my troubles. I think I should have allowed more of the answer to come through, instead of the complaining. Those weren’t his exact words, but I knew that was what he meant. Then he added, " I wish I had written more songs about God’s answers than about my problems.

   There we have it! David allowed God and the anointing to come through on Psalm 23. Some of the other psalms in the Bible, I guess we cannot be so sure about. Like a good "faith man" David wished he had written more about the answer than the problem. David wished he had allowed more of the answer, i.e. God and the anointing, to come through instead of complaining.

   I really do not think that Rev. Duplantis has thought through the ramifications of his alleged encounter with King David and David’s comments. David’s comments imply that what he wrote was not equally inspired. Some psalms he yielded to God and the anointing (as though they are separate from one another) and others, he did not yield as much.

   Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 2 Tim. 3:15-17 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; [17] that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

   Then after this astounding revelation David takes Jesse into his home where here we learn that in heaven "all desires are met here. Everything has been thought of - all your desires and some that you could not even think of."

   "I felt weaker and weaker as we approached the Throne room. It looked to me like millions of people were there. . .When the light from the Throne hit me I couldn’t stand up; I fell down, and the angel gave me more of the fruit. . .I look up from the floor in the direction of the overwhelming Light, and I saw Him! I saw Elohim, Jehovah God, Yahweh sitting on the Throne! But I saw His feet - only His feet. . . He is so big - you can’t describe Him in a dimension. His hand is huge! His body, the form of it, is sort of like energy, spirit. There’s a wall around the Throne, but the Throne is higher than the wall - that’s why you can see the Throne from every direction, from a distance. And that power, that energy-like smoke of God, covers all around the chair of the Throne itself."

   Jesse still needs to eat the sanctifying fruit even though he has made it up to the very Throne of God. Like Moses he just got to see part of God’s body, and not His face. Yet all-in-all even getting to see the feet of Jehovah is more than any of the rest of us have seen! Also we get the extra-Biblical insight about some type of wall around the Throne, I guess some sort of restraining wall to keep Him from being mobbed by adoring family members.

   "There was a cloud that looked like smoke going up from the Throne and I heard that massive sound, "whoosh! It was power like I’ve never experienced in my life. Then I saw God’s finger barely move and when it moved, an angel that was flying near Him was thrown up against a wall. Bam! It didn’t hurt the angel."

   I am reminded about the refrain from an old gospel blues song "when the Lord gets ready, you’ve got to move." That angel must certainly have that as a revelation after getting splattered against the wall. During this time Jesus comes out of the glory of the Father and begins to preach to the assembled crowds "He was a preacher full of victory, shouting and hollering!" Jesse enjoys the sermon and asks the angel "where’s the Holy Spirit?" "He is on the earth He said." Then he remembers this fact and feels "stupid" for asking such a "dumb question" at the Throne of God. So now we know that as of 1996 the Holy Spirit is not in heaven He is on earth. Now Jesse will admit that God is Three in One, but obviously the One God is somehow separated spatially. In any event, the Holy Spirit is not in heaven.

   "I saw new lives of little babies singing and flying around God’s Throne. It seemed to me that babies just came out of the breath of God. They looked like they were wearing nightgowns. . .I heard them saying to God, "Can I be a spirit? Would You send me to earth so I can be a spirit? I want to be a redeemed person. Can I be a spirit? And while I watched, I heard that mighty sound of God’s power, Whoosh! I saw these babies leave the Throne by the power of God."

   Mrs. Baxter saw baby cherubim flying around the Throne of God kissing his face, feet, and hands while singing holy, holy, holy. Rev. Duplantis does not see these baby cherubim instead he see’s some type of proto-babies who want to become spirits. What is more these proto-spirit-babies ask to be sent to earth and they ask to be redeemed persons. Who makes the determination to become a redeemed person? Obviously we did in our proto-spirit condition when we, in eternity past, flew around the Throne of God in our little nightgowns!

   What utter drivel and heresy! There is not one shred of Scriptural evidence to even remotely infer this type of theology. In fact, like with everything else Mr. Duplantis sees, the Bible refutes it thoroughly -

   John 15:16 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you. Romans 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

   I cannot take time to go into the doctrine of election. Yet the Scriptures are plain that it is always God who does the electing, not man! If we take Mr. Duplantis Throne room vision at face value then are we to assume that some babies want to be damned? After all, some ask to be redeemed people, do others ask to be allowed to be damned people? Even Jesse would admit that not everybody is saved, he does believe some folks do go to hell. So if what he saw is true, then those in hell made this choice before they ever came to earth. It is hard to imagine a preacher of the Gospel would write such things, and expect the reader to accept it as truth.

   Before Jesse is sent back home to planet earth Jesus explains how He is dreading the day when He has to send some of the creation He loves to hell. "I wanted to reach out and comfort Him, so I put my hand on the Lord. . .I could tell that Jesus was hurting." Can you imagine? The One who upholds and sustains all things by His power (Heb. 1:3) feels sad and is hurting and Jesse tries to comfort the Lord God Almighty as best he can. In these closing discourses with Jesus Jesse comes to believe "we can delay His coming by waiting for a sign before we act on His Word . . ." Through this supernatural gnosis, we learn that people choose their eternal destiny as proto-babies and we also can delay the return of Christ by our actions or inactions. Earl Paulk must be correct then when he teaches that it is up the Church as to when Jesus returns.  Jesse continues to humanize God by saying

   "I didn’t know before how much He needed me to reach out to other people. I have always thought of how much I needed Him, not how much He needs me. . .He smiled at me and said, "I chose you. No one else wanted you, and I need you Jesse."

   Jesus Christ needs Jesse Duplantis! I do not doubt that the Lord Jesus love[s] Jesse Duplantis, I love him too, but I doubt He "needs" Jesse. If you, me or Jesse dies tomorrow God’s plan will roll on without as much as a hitch.

   Jesse returns to his body and walks up to the front of the church. "Look at Brother Jesse. He’s shining." There was a light on my face. I had been in the presence of the glory of God." So, like Moses, Jesse Duplantis` face shines with the very presence of God. "I didn’t even preach that night. I didn’t say anything, but people began falling under the power of God’s Spirit! There was ministry throughout the auditorium without me saying any more."

   What is the result of this trip to heaven? Mr. Duplantis gets to church but does not even preach the gospel. Instead something even greater transpires, people begin to fall under the power of God’s Spirit. We are not told if anybody came to faith in Christ at the service, nor are we informed if anybody rededicates themselves to serving Christ. All we know, according to Mr. Duplantis, is that people see his face shining and fall into unconsciousness.

   As with Roland Buck and Mrs. Baxter I must denounce Heaven, A Close Encounter of the God Kind as a work of fiction masquerading as fact. None of the three people’s visions and experiences I have examined remotely resemble what is revealed in the Bible. In fact, all of them contradict Biblical teaching and doctrine.

   Out of Christian charity I am willing to grant that brother Duplantis had some type of experience but it was not of the "God kind." This leaves me with one of two possibilities, either his experience is demonically inspired or is the result of his overactive imagination. His concept of the doctrine of God, the inerrancy of Scripture, and salvation are aberrant according to what he relayed in his vision.

   Mr. Duplantis is a well known international speaker in Word of Faith circles and yet none of his fellow charismatic leaders seem to have any problem with his revelations. The editors at Harrison House Publishers did not pick up any doctrinal errors or question the validity of his experiences as they proofread his text.

   End Of Article By Robert S. Liichow

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   ON DOCTRINE COMMENT: There are too many problems with the experience by Mr. Duplantis to deal with in the space allotted here. But as to only a few instances which have not already been covered:
   • What is this business with the "cable car" that he needs to ride in order to get to heaven. Since when does heavenly transport require a vehicle?
   • Transportation while in heaven is by chariot? Where is that in the Bible and why is another vehicle necessary in heaven?
   • What Paradise is he talking about - (1) The Paradise of the garden of Eden? (2) The Paradise of the Old Testament Saints or (3) The Paradise which is heaven?
     Genesis 2:8 refers to the garden in Eden in which Adam and Eve lived. Luke 23:43 refers to the Paradise of the Old Testament saints. 2 Corinthians 5:8 and Revelation 2:7 refer to the Paradise which is heaven. Presumably he is talking about the Paradise of the Old Testament Saints since Abraham is involved, ie. the "bosom of Abraham".
   • "It is like being on another planet." With this statement, Jesse Duplantis, ever so subtly, introduces the concept that is so predominant in Kenneth Copeland's teaching, that heaven is a planet where God lives. This is also a variant of Mormon doctrine, in which their god and his wives also live on a planet.
   • In regards to the dual division of people who have robes and gowns, the question must be asked as to at what point the division occurs?
     "I asked the angel, 'What’s happening?'; He said, 'Some of them have not lived the life they should. They believe in God and love Jesus, but they didn’t live to their fullest potential. . .Yes God is merciful to them,' he said."
     It is true that Christians are given rewards in heaven based on conduct on this earth, but since when is a Christian's position in relation to God based on living the Christian life to its fullest potential? How many Christians live their lives to the fullest potential? There are probably very, very, very few, if any. The vast majority of Christians in Jesse Duplantis's heaven would be eating fruit and smelling leaves. Jesse Duplantis certainly will not fulfill that requirement, because to the "fullest potential" means perfection of character and accomplishment. That is a standard of works and is rejected by the doctrine of salvation by grace. In heaven, God sees the believer through the work and character of Jesus Christ, not the work and character of the believer.
   • Why should it take more time for these "sub-Christians" to eventually appear before the throne of God? If all Christians become transformed to the image of Christ, how can they be any less when in heaven. Apparently Jesse Duplantis' God and Jesus Christ will allow those in heaven who are less than what Jesus Christ claims to own. His bride does not quite measure up to the standard by which it was presented to Him. In what manner do Christians become "weak" while in heaven when they have the power of the Holy Spirit?
   • What is this spiritual growth accomplished by eating the fruit of the Tree of Life? What is the "healing" accomplished by sniffing the leaves. In heaven, what spiritual growth is necessary (because all are like Christ) and what healing is needed (since all have glorified bodies)? The leaves of the Tree of Life, in heaven, are for the healing of the nations, Revelation 22:2. There is only a single Tree of Life in heaven which bares 12 different fruits every month. There are not many trees as were seen by Jesse Duplantis, cf. Revelation 22:2.
   • Jesse Duplantis became weak when he saw the light from the throne of God, but where did he think the light came from that illuminated the entire heaven. The Bible says that the glory of God and Jesus Christ will illuminate heaven, cf. Revelation 21:23, 22:5.
   • Jesse Duplantis returns from his trip to heaven and goes to his meeting. However he does not preach or speak about the incredible journey that he has just taken. Instead, the message is replaced by the audience being knocked to the ground by "God's Spirit". Apparently the Holy Spirit, who was not in heaven at the time of the visit by Jesse Duplantis, did not get the message that was supposed to be given that night, so Jesse Duplantis does not preach the message that Jesus Christ told him to give, "...but I have brought you here so that you will go tell My people I'm coming." Jesus Christ apparently forgot that the same "revelation" has been in the Bible for almost 2000 years. Well, Jesse Duplantis did not live up to his potential by ignoring the direct request of Jesus Christ. After all, that was the only reason that He brought him to Heaven. The sermon ministry that evening was people being knocked unconscious; by what, they did not know, for what reason they did not know.
   • Questions that need to be answered:
     1. When did this incident happen?
     2. In what church did this incident happen?
     3. Who was the pastor of the church?
     4. Who were the people in the congregation?
     5. What did the people in the congregation say about the event?
     6. Does anyone in the congregation remember Jesse Duplantis speaking about his heavenly trip?

"Does God Still Give Revelation today?"
by John F. MacArthur

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