Since last week or so, Michael Nissim, who has partnered with me in NARWatch Israel for the last couple of years has left the core team. What this means is that I alone am now responsible for editorial and content decisions.
What this doesn't mean is that Michael will not be posting stuff on NARWatch Israel or that I won't be putting up any of his content. Far from it. If the overall content is good and fits the mandate I don't mind putting up stuff even where I might disagree with some of the positions taken, though I would include a statement to that effect. This is not a breach in our friendship, but a change in the way we work together. It just gives me the freedom to express myself through NARWatch on those subjects we disagree on where they touch on discernment issues without treading on Michael's toes or anyone writing in wondering if he has changed his views or whatever. Michael has done a lot of good work in making Hebrew speakers aware of the horrors that have been lurking in our midst undetected and exposing to the Hebrew speaking Body the false apostles and false prophets who have sown so much destruction and false teachings into the Body and who have caused incalculable damage to the cause of Christ. We very much expect that Michael will continue to do that as and when he is able and we look forward to continuing to work with him in this amended working arrangement. Below are Michael's own words on the matter: Dear NARWatch supporters, I’ve been part of NARWatch for a few years. I’ve maintained the Hebrew NARWatch (found here: http://narwatch-israel.blogspot.com/) and wrote most of the articles on it; and I’ve done practically all the videos on the NARWatch YouTube channel up to this point — a few of these addressed to Hebrew speakers. In fact, I’ve had the privilege of producing what is probably the first discernment video ever produced in Hebrew, “Good Company”. But now I’m leaving NARWatch. Andy, the founder of NARWatch, wishes to express his views on subjects he and I do not agree on. Andy holds to the PreWrath view of the timing of the rapture, while I hold to PreTrib (I’m also “Once Saved Always Saved” while Andy isn’t, though this has been less of an issue). Up to now I’ve tried to prevent Andy from expressing himself regarding PreWrath on the NARWatch website and public forums, because being part of NARWatch, I felt it misrepresented me. To be clear, I think it’s ok for anyone to express their own views on their own blogs or under their own names. It’s only that I didn’t want NARWatch to link to websites or promote views we didn’t both agree on. Andy, however, thinks the timing of the rapture and other issues we disagree on are important to address from an anti-NAR or discernment context as well. Therefore we’re parting ways as far as the discernment work is concerned: Andy will continue NARWatch while I’m backing off for now. I’d like to state that even if I don’t fully agree with the necessity of this move, I take it as from the Lord. In addition, and without giving too much detail, Andy has some ministry associations which I have a growing difference with. Perhaps stepping back can prevent future tensions. That said, it’s important for me to state that Andy is a good friend to me. He takes me out every week for cheaper grocery shopping outside of town (since I don’t have a car) where we also discuss discernment issues over a coffee break. That way I get my family’s shopping for the week and save on food expenses. Andy has also bailed us out of some sticky situations with his car on a number of occasions - medical emergencies, flooded streets etc. Andy and I will most probably continue exchanging information and ideas, and he expressed his willingness to publish anti-NAR materials that I might produce on his NARWatch websites and video channel. We still see eye to eye on many scriptural issues. Andy has greatly served the body here in israel in being the first one to identify the NAR and fully comprehend the danger of it for the Israeli congregations. May God bless Andy’s work and all of you who support what we’re doing. Blessings in Yeshua, Michael Nissim, Elder at Nahariya Messianic Congregation
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Some time ago I came across a wonderful collection of testimonies from people who had escaped the NAR, or Apostolic-Prophetic Movement as it is also called. Some of these testimonies are very disturbing as people suffered terrible spiritual and emotional abuse. By the descriptions, even when the congregations and leaders are not named specifically, I can recognize several of them. Other ones are named and have direct relevance for Israeli believers, as these same organisations and "ministries" are operating in, or connected with, NAR entities in Israel. For those who wish to read some of these testimonies they can be found by clicking here.
Below are some screenshots from May 2020's CBN Night of Promise broadcast. What is interesting here is just who certain Israeli and messianic spiritual "leaders" are prepared to approvingly associate with in order to grab a little air time and media exposure. Birds of a feather really do flock together. Even if it's a shock for some to see certain names on this list alongside the Israeli and other NARpostles and false prophets/teachers. Not even one of the Israeli or messianic contingent on this video surprises us, we can assure you. A few of the names are unfamiliar to me.
By Andy Gould Some time ago I was glad to see that Amir Tsarfati, an Israel-based tour guide and populist current events commentator, appeared to have come out against the New Apostolic Reformation or NAR.
Since then however he has become a "person of interest" for NARWatch Israel as I began to notice some doctrinal inconsistencies and recently some strange and aberrant, even unethical behaviour as well as a clear set of double standards under which he appears to be operating. A few months ago in the comments section of a YouTube video (see below) I was trying to probe and see how one of the commentors would react when confronted with scriptural standards for prophecy. The video clearly reveals that Smith Wigglesworth, Lester Sumrall and Michael Brown presumptuously uttered prophecies in God's name that did not come true. I have left the correspondent's name and spelling and punctuation errors more or less as is.
Do you remember the ‘good old days’ when we didn't need smoke machines, laser light shows, a twelve piece band, a superstar worship leader, backing vocalists, with a mixing desk the size of your living room to worship God? We rendered our thanks to Him in song accompanied just by Nellie at the piano. Oh how things have changed. Now it’s all about "leading people into", "ushering in" or "hosting" the "presence" or some other wet-sounding mystical mumbo-jumbo. Then, it was about singing to Him because we just simply wanted to give thanks for His mercy and goodness; now it’s about achieving an altered state of consciousness so that "stuff" can happen, so that the "anointing’" can flow and "manifestations" occur.
When One For Israel first began producing Hebrew content, many of us myself included were happy to endorse it. It seemed to be accomplishing great things -engaging content in Hebrew that was definitely impacting Israelis via the social media like YouTube. As the years have passed however, we began to hear more and more rumblings of concern from doctrinally sound voices within the local Body here, and we also began to see and hear things ourselves that were indications that all is not well. We know personally of at least one international ministry that will no longer support One for Israel because of doctrinal (amongst other) concerns.
Certainly some of our overseas contacts were sickened to see NAR apostle Michael Brown appearing in their materials, and over time a few other NAR-connected figures have also appeared in One For Israel evangelistic materials, such as Ron Cantor and Jonathan Bernis or false teachers such as Jonathan Cahn. However things have now reached a new low, because One For Israel have recently openly endorsed and celebrated, of all people, Sid Roth. |
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