Close Encounters with What???

I am veering into the realm of religion for this blog. Those of my readers who do not ascribe to orthodox Christianity, I beg your patience.

This is a brief listing of some of the teachings of Jesse Duplantis. I've made some comments in between quotes.

“When someone dies, the opposite occurs. God is there to receive that breath of life back to Himself. When God breathes out, things come alive. When He inhales, that life goes back into Him. Think about that.” “When my mother died, I heard her breathe her last breath. God spoke to me then and said, “I just did to your mama the same thing I did to Adam.” God had breathed life into my mother when she was coming into this earth. He then received that life given breath back unto Himself as she was going out” (p.15 Heaven Close encounters of the God Kind.).

Does this mean there is no one in hell?

“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. They flew into the presence of Jehovah. I realized they were new souls who came from the thoughts of God. God thinks kids. Now I know why those newborn babies are so precious. Babies are gifts given to us directly from the Throne of God. I heard them saying to God, "Can I be a spirit? Would you send me to the 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, Whooosh! I saw these babies leave the Throne by the power of God. (Heaven Close encounters of the God Kind p.119).

This sounds like it lines up with Mormon doctrine.

"I've never had the Lord say, 'Jesse, I think that car is a little bit too nice.' I've had vehicles and the Lord said, 'Would you please go park that at your house. Don't put that in front of my house. I don't want people to think that I'm a poor God.'" (Jesse Duplantis, "When Will We Yield To The Anointing of Wealth II," April 10, 2005)

Jesse Duplantis: "People told me, 'Well, they say, Jesus was poor.' When was He poor? I would like to know when He was poor. Well, He was born in a stable. Why? Why was He born in a stable? Because that short, deaf lady lost their reservation. He couldn't get into the inn. Think about that for a minute...And He had 12 full time people on His staff. Some were married and He took care of them. He had 70 part timers. You don't gamble for rags Marcus."
Marcus Lamb: "Yeah."
Jesse Duplantis: "You don't gamble for rags. You gamble for some clothes that cost. Don't you? He wanted a donkey that had never been rode. As I said earlier, 'You might want a car that has never been drove.'
Marcus Lamb: "He had a full time treasurer on staff."
Jesse Duplantis: "That's right! And stole for three years and the other guys didn't know about it."
Joni Lamb: "And wise men came to see Him."
Jesse Duplantis: "That's right! I mean He wasn't three minutes on the ground and the three wise guys are looking for Him with what? Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. Let me tell you something, this concept that Jesus was in poverty is totally wrong!" (Jesse Duplantis, Marcus Lamb, and Joni Lamb, Daystar Fall, "Share-A-Thon," September 15, 2004)

By the way - the Wise men, the kings, did not get to Jesus until he was around 2 years old.

"If I give $1,000 dollars I deserve to get back $100,000 because I am just, that's not greed!" (Jesse Duplantis, December 19, 2003 TBN, "The just shall live by faith.")

Sounds like greed and excess to me!

"With fierce prayers and determination to see my mother healed, I started talking to God. "What is going on here?! I'm praying! Dad's praying! Why isn't she healed? You cannot allow death to defeat me, God. You made a covenant with me through Jesus' blood! And that covenant says by His stripes we were healed! Where is that healing? If you break this covenant with me, you'll have to cease to be God! You must keep covenant with me. You must obey your Word!" I was honest with God. He knew how I felt, so what was the point in hiding it? I was confused. I was hurt. I didn't know what else to do. That is when God spoke up, "Jesse, I have a covenant with you, yes. However, I have one with your mother as well. You are praying for her healing. She is praying in her heart for Me to take her home. Now, I will obey My Word. But you and your daddy are battling your mother's will. It is her life at stake. You have Me in a hard place, Jesse. Someone has got to give in. Get yourselves together and tell Me what I am to do! (Jesse Duplantis, "My Experience Doesn't’ Change God’s Word," Article C-Faith)

Does God really need our help to decide what to do?

I did not write this next excerpt, but it shows, just like many other passages do, how anti intellectual Mr. Duplantis is. This man was awarded an honorary doctorate, and is still dumb as a stump about many scriptural issues.

The clincher is when Jesse tells us that the name of Jehovah is used in heaven. As the angel says “You have an appointment with the Lord God Jehovah” (ibid. p.69). The angel also fell down, saying, “The Most High God Jehovah! Hosanna in the highest!” (ibid. p.70) “The great God Jehovah!” (ibid. p.81) “The angels with wings were circling the Throne, singing and shouting, “The Great God Jehovah!” (p.114) This is a BIIIG booboo on Duplantis’ part. The name Jehovah is a made up name, it is a slang word put together by a Roman Catholic monk who took the vowels and the Tetragrammaton and made a new word. Even the Jewish Encyclopedia says it is a mis-pronunciation of the Hebrew YHWH the name of God. This pronunciation is grammatically impossible. The form “Jehovah” is a philological impossibility.” (The Jewish Encyclopedia p. 160) So when Duplantis is saying the angels are praising and using this name it is just nonsense. So where was Jesse taken to?

The Forgotten Word Ministries has more info on "Dr" Duplantis. Duplantis is extensively quoted on that site.

Duplantis is a false teacher, anti-intellectual (check your brain in at the door because you will detect the false teaching in a heartbeat if you don't), and a charletan who is totally given in to the Word of Faith lifestyle where all the leaders are little kings and live that way. If you are into Orthodox Christianity, give Duplantis a wide bearth, and warn others as well.

Radiant