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The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is a dominionist movement based on the belief that God is restoring the offices of Prophet and Apostle. The movement's premise is that prophets and apostles alone have the power and authority to execute God's plans and purposes on earth.
The movement is traced back to C. Peter Wagner, who claims apostles and prophets will rule the Church of the 21st Century. This movement began as Wagner became known for teaching and promoting church growth and spiritual warfare. He gradually claimed to be the visionary Apostolic leader he espoused and anointed himself NAR's "Presiding Apostle."
The New Apostolic Reformation does not have a formal membership but is well received in the Pentecostal and charismatic circles. In June 2022, Wagner's original book, Dominion, was republished and clarified the separation of the NAR from the biblically orthodox evangelical Christian Church. Wagner's dominion theology, or what he called a new paradigm, is used to promote topics such as the second apostolic age, social transformation, and God having an open mind.
The NAR movement is also known by other titles. The most common are Kingdom Now and the Seven Mountain Mandate. The seven mountains are family, religion, economy, government, education, media, and entertainment. Those named mountains represent the arenas NAR advocates believe the new Apostles can and will gain dominion—ushering in the Kingdom of God now.
It is true believers should be active in all aspects of society, but we do not believe the Kingdom of God will be realized on the earth until the Prince of Peace reigns from Mount Zion in Jerusalem. Also, Scripture reveals that after Moses spent time on Mt. Sinai with God, Satan used the mountaintop experience as a counterfeit. In that regard, mountaintops and "high places" were often associated with idolatry, where people practiced paganism and did not follow God's Word (i.e.: Ezekiel 20:28; Hosea 4:13).
The Passion Bible Translation
Brian Simmons, a NAR apostle, has publicly stated that in 2009, Jesus Christ personally visited his room and commissioned him to write a new translation of the New Testament and the Hebrew Bible, a work he called The Passion Translation. NAR pastors such as Bill Johnson of Bethel Church in Redding, California, praise the translation as "One of the greatest things to happen with Bible translation in my lifetime." Bobbie Houston, Co-Founder of Hillsong Church, also praised this new translation.
Because Isaiah 2:2 mentions mountains, the Apostles of the Seven Mountain Mandate use the passage loosely and completely out of context to support their "mandate." This is actually what Isaiah prophesied: "In the last days, the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it." Another passage the NAR uses to support their theology is Deuteronomy 7:1, which speaks of the seven kingdoms Israel was to drive out of Canaan.
Leading NAR Teachers
Modern-day leaders of the NAR are misleading millions of followers. For example, Bill Johnson's Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry website promises to "equip you to walk in the gifts of the Spirit." How will they do this? They will teach you to "become a modern-day revivalist, get equipped to bring the Kingdom of God to your sphere of influence." They proclaim, "We've spent the last 20 years equipping revivalists like you." Bethel offers a free e-book entitled "The Supernatural Ways of Royalty." Its website proudly proclaims to have over 13,000 graduates and operate in over 100 countries.
Pastor Michael Todd of Transformation Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a word of faith teacher who has followed in the footsteps of former word of faith teachers such as Kenneth Hagin, who was known for making people "drunk in the spirit." Transformation Church's statement of faith lists health and prosperity as one of its core beliefs.
Todd continuously takes Scripture out of context, misleading those who hear him. For example, Hebrews 11:1 begins with the words, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for…" Todd takes the word "now" and rebukes anyone who does not have what he calls "now faith." Another time Todd, citing Jesus healing a blind man in Mark 8, actually brought a man on stage and wiped his spit on his face. This "teaching" turns a miracle of Christ into a blasphemous spectacle.
The same can be said for popular preachers such as Steven Furtick, who publicly claims from the pulpit, "I am God almighty."
Calling Out False Teaching
What's happening on the stages and online with these NAR "pastors" is nothing new. Like Simon the sorcerer in Acts 8, this isn't the first time people have tried to "buy" God's power.
The Church is commissioned to proclaim God's Word, not prey upon His sheep. In doing so, believers are told to call out false teachings like NAR. Paul wrote, "I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the hearts of the naïve" (Romans 16:17-18).
(Read and comment on the full article at the The Christ in Prophecy Journal blog. You can also download this article or flip through this article. Past e-newsletters are available on our News page.)
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