Stephen e Jones and God's Kingdom Ministries

[Farlsborough]

Does anyone have any experience meeting or hearing this guy? It's not always easy over the web to discern; sometimes lots of stuff looks good, but on a site with so much material, I may stumble across something very suspect!

He has some great stuff about the Old Testament feasts, the kingdom, free will etc. He also acknowledges universal restoration, in fact many of the statements of faith are similar to what I have learnt here.

However, some of the current day prophecy stuff seems a bit "wiggy"; the latest update is about some chap who is prophesying that 2014 is the "year of God's kingdom" or something... This is an instant red flag to me! Funny how prophesies are always about now or a very nearby time, isn't it?! Sounds a bit Millerite. Very Millerite, actually.

What I'm particularly interested in is some of the stuff in his talks about worldly movements of the ancient Hebrews (supposedly "Iberia" is from "Eberia/Heberia" - land of the Hebrews) but when searching for evidence in support of this, all I get is crazy conspiracy theory sites  :(

Any thoughts much appreciated.

[ed]

Nope,
Never heard of him.

Googled his site.......................looks like a Bible teacher.........

He has a lot to say.   Can't say that I've ever come across him.

. :dsunny:

[gregoryfl]

I have known of him for a few years, mainly because of his sharing perspectives concerning the deeper, spiritual meanings behind the torah. I have purchased and benefited from a couple of his books, and have listened to many of his mp3 messages. However, like you, I also am leery of his teachings of prophecy for today, but see other things he teaches as valuable and so, like with anyone, I take what I can personally the edifies and clarifies, and at least try to understand what he teaches that I currently do not agree with. After all, there is no human teacher that has a 100 percent accurate way of understanding and presenting things. If you feel comfortable reading him, then do so, and trust the Spirit within you to help you discern truth from error.

Ronen

[marie glen]

I hate it when a good source of learning goes "wiggy"! (But it's like they all do??)

I don't blame you for seeing a red flag.. I was wondering, for a same example? about all the four red moons over Jerusalem talk in some quarters of the internet.. I figure it has happened before and has coincided with events and attacks concerning Israel, but not as a sign of imminent world implosion/apocalypse as some seem to be saying.. someone always goes down a rabbit hole over things.. But at the same time, the information is interesting and good to have.. (I may go give this guy a listen, I love history! ..but not if he's a lost ten tribes guy, i believe they were all there at Nehemiah's census..)

I think of all ideas and groups as tapestries, and we have to separate the true threads from the not true threads.. the light threads from the dark.. and all tapestries have both.. Even all dark tapestries have to have at least one thread of light/truth.. or the whole thing would unravel..?
    :smile:

[joeteekay]

Truly it takes the Holy Spirit to have spiritual discernment and rightly divide the Word.
:gimmefive:

[Farlsborough]

Hi Marie,
His Old Testament stuff is fascinating, particularly as he strongly draws the link that whilst there may be two covenants, the law was always supposed to be spiritual, and God seems keen for the Israelites to understand this even before Jesus's time. Anyone who helps to harmonise the OT/NT and make it clear that it's very much the same God, the same plan etc. is at least half alright with me! He also delves a bit deeper into birthrights, who really is entitled to be called "Israel" and so on. He's also very polite and humble.

It is a shame about the "prophecy today" stuff, because as far as I can see we're just not instructed to look out for endless prophets giving further cryptic insights. There's enough in Revelation and OT types and shadows to keep anyone busy! So then spending time trying to sift through the ramblings of the lastest person to work out that next year (always next year!) really is (this time, honest...) "the great... ingathering/tabernacle building/spiritual flood" or whatever... I just don't get the message from scripture that we're supposed to occupy ourselves with this. At all.

But as Ronen says, he does have real insight into the spiritual meaning of torah. My recent favourite has been Exodus 21, the man who digs a pit is liable for ox that falls into it. I.e. irrespective of what you think about free will, the liability is to do with ownership; God created the world, he "dug" that "pit", and we fell into it (for whatever reason). So by His own law we can expect him to pay the price.

[Seth]

Yeah you never hear a prophecy about how Christ is.coming back after the lifetime of the one making the prophecy. Even Paul made a prophecy about out how when he was gone wolves would enter in. Good observation.

[joeteekay]

I have known of him for a few years, mainly because of his sharing perspectives concerning the deeper, spiritual meanings behind the torah. I have purchased and benefited from a couple of his books, and have listened to many of his mp3 messages. However, like you, I also am leery of his teachings of prophecy for today, but see other things he teaches as valuable and so, like with anyone, I take what I can personally the edifies and clarifies, and at least try to understand what he teaches that I currently do not agree with. After all, there is no human teacher that has a 100 percent accurate way of understanding and presenting things. If you feel comfortable reading him, then do so, and trust the Spirit within you to help you discern truth from error.

Ronen

Ronen is right. We learn much from others preaching from scripture as to what they perceive as truth.  I have read many "articles of faith" and "statements of beliefs" of most of the Churches of God (of which I was once a member) as well as that of the Calvinist congregations and  Armenians.  I was once a Catholic, as my parents brought me up in that belief.  If a church or organization has to provide a list of what they believe, I have a problem with that approach.  Let God lead you.  If some one wants a belief document, read the Holy Scripture.  I have just read the statement of beliefs of the Kingdom ministries you, Farlsborough mention in your first post here.   Same problem with those statement of beliefs, IMO.  I could say more on that list of statements since some are really unscriptural.  On the web site http://gods-kingdom-ministries.net/ it is said if you want to keep the FOT, joint us from Oct 9 - 12 in Minneapolis.  I have kept the FOT for over 40 years and if one wants to really keep it physically, then one must do it all for the full 7 days plus 1 day for the Last Great Day.  It becomes a old wine bottle being put into a new bottle.  Been there done that.  Obedience to God is in the spirit and not in the letter.

[eaglesway]

When we look at the men and women of God in the scriptures, we find things we can emulate, and some we ought not. In the body of Christ, every believer is a priest. Every believer is a member of integral importance. "Let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the others judge. Test all things, hold fast that which is good."(Paul to the Corinthians) "By the grace of God I say unto you, let no man esteem himself more highly than he ought, for to EACH, is given the measure of faith."(Paul to the Romans) "Let each one use his/her special gift in serving one another, and so be good stewards of the grace of God".(Peter)  "Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom."(James)

The treasure of the Lord is stored among, and distributed by, the saints- all the members of the eclesia-"For to each one is given the gift of grace for the edification of the whole".

The Holy Spirit is the teacher of us all, and we are all His instruments- Praise God!