A Condemnation of the New Apostolic Reformation

 The Neo-Apostolic Reformation (NAR) presents one of the most troubling distortions of evangelical Christianity today. Emerging in the late 20th century, the NAR has gained influence among various charismatic and Pentecostal circles, bringing with it dangerous teachings that undermine the authority of Scripture, distort the nature of Christ’s kingdom, and lead believers into unbiblical practices. As a devout evangelical committed to the authority of God’s Word, I find the teachings of the NAR to be not only erroneous but a direct affront to the purity of the Gospel message and the true mission of the Church. Moreover, its association with Postmillennialism—a belief that Christ will return after the Church has established dominion on earth—further distances this movement from the historic and biblical truth upheld by evangelical believers.

This essay will condemn the NAR's practices and beliefs, exposing how they diverge from the true evangelical faith. In doing so, I will also address the dangers of Postmillennialism (as often held by NAR proponents) in contrast to the more biblically faithful Historic Premillennialism, the belief held by the early Church and many evangelicals today.

The Elevation of Modern Apostles and Prophets: A Dangerous Subversion of Biblical Authority

At the heart of the NAR is the claim that modern-day apostles and prophets have been restored to the Church. These self-proclaimed leaders claim to speak with fresh revelation from God, and in many cases, their words are treated as having the same authority as Scripture itself. This is an egregious error. The canon of Scripture is closed, and the apostles of the early Church played a foundational role that cannot be replicated today. As Ephesians 2:20 tells us, the Church is "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone" (ESV). Once a foundation is laid, it does not need to be relaid. The original apostles were witnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, a historical and unrepeatable event that authenticated their unique role. To claim that new apostles are necessary today is to undermine the sufficiency of that foundation.

Moreover, the NAR’s elevation of these individuals often results in an unhealthy and cult-like authority structure. Leaders within the NAR are frequently regarded as infallible or beyond critique, creating an environment where spiritual abuse can thrive. Scripture, however, commands believers to "test the spirits" (1 John 4:1) and to hold all teaching up to the standard of God's Word (Acts 17:11). There is no biblical justification for placing any modern-day individual on the same level as the apostles who authored the New Testament under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

The sufficiency of Scripture is a bedrock principle of evangelical faith, and the NAR’s challenge to that principle must be rejected in the strongest possible terms. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 declares, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work" (ESV). The Bible alone is our source of divine revelation, and any attempt to add to or supersede it through the words of so-called modern prophets is a dangerous error that leads believers away from the Gospel.

Dominionism and Kingdom Now Theology: A Misguided Mission

The NAR’s theological framework is deeply intertwined with Dominionism, the belief that the Church is called to take dominion over all areas of society—government, education, business, arts, and more. This is often accompanied by Kingdom Now theology, which teaches that Christians are responsible for bringing God’s kingdom to earth before Christ returns. These teachings have their roots in Postmillennialism, the view that Christ’s second coming will occur after a golden age of Christian dominance on earth.

As a Historic Premillennialist and evangelical, I cannot stress enough how unbiblical this perspective is. First, it reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of Christ’s kingdom. When Jesus stood before Pilate, He clearly stated, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36, ESV). The kingdom of God is not established through political or social dominance but through the hearts of individuals who repent and believe in the Gospel. The mission of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel to all nations, not to seize control of human institutions in a bid to create heaven on earth.

Postmillennialism, and by extension the NAR’s dominionist agenda, shifts the focus of the Church away from its true mission. Instead of proclaiming the Gospel, many within the NAR are more concerned with exerting influence over governments and societal structures. This often leads to a conflation of Christian faith with political power, an approach that mirrors the tragic mistakes of the Constantinian era, where the Church’s alliance with the state diluted its witness and compromised its integrity.

True evangelicals understand that the Church's calling is not to build an earthly empire but to proclaim the coming of the heavenly one. Christ will establish His kingdom when He returns in glory. Revelation 19:11-16 paints a vivid picture of this event, where Jesus, the King of Kings, returns to defeat His enemies and establish His rule. To claim that we can usher in the kingdom of God through our own efforts undermines the eschatological hope of Christ’s return. This is a core tenet of Historic Premillennialism, which teaches that Christ will return to establish His millennial kingdom after a period of tribulation, not before.

Spiritual Deception through Signs and Wonders

The NAR places an unhealthy emphasis on signs and wonders as markers of spiritual authority and divine approval. Miracles, prophecy, and supernatural manifestations are treated as regular occurrences that validate the ministry of NAR leaders. While the Bible certainly attests to the reality of miracles and supernatural gifts, the NAR’s fixation on these phenomena leads to a distorted understanding of their purpose and opens the door to spiritual deception.

In Matthew 7:22-23, Jesus warned, "On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’" (ESV). This chilling passage reminds us that signs and wonders alone do not authenticate a person’s relationship with Christ. Faithfulness to God’s Word and obedience to His commandments are the true markers of discipleship.

The NAR’s focus on miracles and supernatural experiences can easily distract believers from the central message of the Gospel. The apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 1:22-24, reminds us that "Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles" (ESV). The power of the Gospel lies not in miracles or sensational experiences but in the message of Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection.

Moreover, the emphasis on spiritual warfare within the NAR often takes on a superstitious quality, with leaders claiming to have the ability to "bind" territorial spirits or "claim" regions for Christ. This goes beyond the biblical teaching on spiritual warfare, which emphasizes standing firm in faith and relying on the power of God’s Word (Ephesians 6:10-18). The true battle for the believer is the war against sin and the forces of darkness within our own hearts, not elaborate rituals to influence the spiritual climate of a city or region.

Postmillennialism and Its Errors: A False Hope in Human Effort

As mentioned earlier, many within the NAR hold to a Postmillennialist eschatology, which teaches that Christ will return after a period in which the Church successfully establishes dominion over the earth. This belief is not only unbiblical, but it also leads to a misplaced hope in human effort.

Scripture is clear that the world will face increasing turmoil and tribulation before Christ’s return. Matthew 24, which describes the signs of the end times, speaks of wars, famines, persecutions, and the rise of false prophets. Nowhere does it suggest that the Church will achieve global dominance before Christ’s second coming. Instead, we are told that things will grow worse before they get better, and that Christ’s return will be a rescue mission to save His people from a world in rebellion.

Postmillennialism puts undue pressure on the Church to achieve what only Christ can accomplish. It shifts the focus from God’s sovereignty to human effort and sets up false expectations for the future. Historic Premillennialism, on the other hand, acknowledges the reality of human sinfulness and the need for Christ to return in power to establish His kingdom. It does not place the burden of establishing the kingdom on the Church, but instead looks forward to Christ’s return as the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan.

Conclusion: The Call to Faithfulness

The Neo-Apostolic Reformation is a movement that distorts the Gospel, undermines the authority of Scripture, and leads believers away from the true mission of the Church. By elevating modern-day apostles and prophets, promoting a dominionist agenda, and focusing on signs and wonders, the NAR has departed from the biblical foundations of evangelical faith. As evangelicals, we must hold fast to the truth of God’s Word, resist the temptation to seek after new revelations, and focus on the proclamation of the Gospel.

The true mission of the Church is not to build an earthly kingdom but to proclaim the coming of Christ’s heavenly kingdom. We are called to be faithful witnesses, enduring persecution and suffering as we await His return. The NAR’s Postmillennialist theology offers a false hope in human effort, but the true hope of the believer lies in Christ alone and His triumphant return.

Let us reject the errors of the NAR and Postmillennialism, and instead, hold fast to the "faith once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3). The Gospel is sufficient, and Christ’s work is complete. We need no new apostles, no new prophets, and no new dominionist agenda. What we need is a return to the simple, faithful preaching of Christ crucified and the hope of His glorious return.