Counterfeit Revival

by Hank Hanegraaff

Hank Hanegraaff documents the danger of looking for God in all the wrong places and goes behind the scenes into the wildly popular and bizarre world of contemporary revivalism. Hanegraaff masterfully exposes the stark contrast between these deeds of the flesh and a genuine work of the Spirit by contrasting modern "revivals" with the scriptural examples of God's movement among His people.

Genres: Nonfiction, Theology, Christian, Religion, Christian Living, History, Christianity

412 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Hendrik "Hank" Hanegraaff, also known as the "Bible Answer Man", is an American Christian author and radio talk-show host. Formerly an evangelical Protestant, he joined the Eastern Orthodox Church in 2017. He is an outspoken figure within the Christian countercult movement, where he has established a reputation for his critiques of non-Christian religions, new religious movements, and cults, as well as heresy in Christianity. He is also an apologist on doctrinal and cultural issues.

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read. Great for anyone who doesn't understand what they are seeing. At the end of the day, study the Bible if you want the truth. Blindly listening to others is a means to a disastrous spiritual end.

[Frank Peters · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book by Hank Hanegraaff was entirely concerned with proving that all of the recent charismatic Christian signs and wonders movements, and healing movements are not from God, but are rather the result of psychological manipulation such as hypnosis. The book has some very interesting (and disturbing) history of many of these movements and he (unfortunately) seems to take delight in discussing the excesses and absurdities that have taken place in the movement. I purposely read this book immediately after “Surprised by the Power of the Spirit” by Jack Deere, who is one of the “leaders of the counterfeit revival” according to Hanegraaff. Oddly, I found Deere’s book entirely God centred, filled with scripture and uplifting, while I found Hanegraaff’s book self-centred in comparison. This is not to say that the book is wrong. I think Hanegraaff has many important things to say, that are ignored by too many in charismatic churches. But, I think Hanegraaff has pushed things too far. I am afraid that he has “thrown the baby out with the bath water”. Or to quote a previous book that I read recently “Faith that is scared to think is scary, but faith that only thinks in unthoughtful”. Hanegraaff’s book describes in great detail the scary faith, but unfortunately does it in a way that is unthoughful. So, ultimately the book is worth reading, but I did not appreciate the tone, and I think Hanegraaff has overreached in his criticisms.

[Edward Arrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

The message of this book is solid. Christians need to return to looking for God in His Holy Word, the Bible, and stop following after every new fad. As the author says in the epilogue, we need to worship God, come together with other believers in community, and witness of what God has done in our lives and can do in the lives of others. The book was first published in 1997. I was vaguely familiar with some of the practices the author described but it was far beyond what I had even imagined. It's hard to understand how so many have gotten caught up by all the things he describes but yet he explains in one of his last chapters how it occurs so easily. It was interesting how he used an experience in the life of Mark Twain to show just how easily people can be fooled. I recommend every sincere Christian read this book to help avoid the counterfeit.

[Judah · Rating 3 out of 5]

As his usual style this book is a messy bloated book version of what seems to being various articles sewn together in what resembles an argument thesis in need of a good editor. Hanegraaff’s research is meticulous but he’s prone to repeating quotes and baby stepping his readers with anagrams explaining his points. Perhaps this is helpful for individuals who fall victim to fundamentalism and prosperity faith, but it makes his work a bit of a slog to get through once the thrill of the ridiculously blasphemous wears off. Also included is a series of rebuttals originally published elsewhere, against slanderous reviews and statements from charismatic critics.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. A little slow and tedious at times. It does, however, contain some solid thoughts on the strange goings-on in charismatic circles today. This "charismatic" movement needs to be addressed. I am glad Hank took the time to write about it.

[Elizabeth Lafferty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read

Really gets to the heart of a controversy in the Church - being "slain in the spirit". Digs deeply into the history of this behavior, and shows, with scripture and the words of theologians, why this is not a genuine manifestation of God.

[Charles Ferguson]

Not many professing Christians like this book. Read it and find out why. Highly recommend reading this. Who know, it may open your eyes to the truth.

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE "BIBLE ANSWER MAN" CRITIQUES MODERN "SIGNS AND WONDERS"

Hendrik "Hank" Hanegraaff (born 1950) is the president of the Christian Research Institute (CRI), and hosts the "Bible Answer Man" radio talk-show, since the death of Walter Martin in 1989; Hanegraaff has written many other books, such as 'Christianity in Crisis,' 'The Bible Answer Book,' 'The Bible Answer Book, Volume 2,' etc.

He wrote in the first chapter of this 1997 book, "Thousands thronging into churches assume they are safe and secure... Prophets of the Counterfeit Revival claim that that entire Christian community is going to be polarized by a bloody civil war. On one side will be those who embrace new revelations. On the other will be those who obstinately cling to reason... Some of the most recognizable names in the Christian community are endorsing this paradigm shift with little or no reservation.

"The appeal is so staggering that churches on every continent are now inviting their people to 'experience' God in a brand-new way... Sardonic laughter, spasmodic jerks, signs and wonders, super apostles and prophets, and people being 'slain in the spirit' are pointed to as empirical evidence of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. The form and function of the church is being so radically rearranged that even the secular world has taken note...

"As secular television cameras demonstrate to a watching world, the essence of our faith is being systematically subverted... multitudes hail the changing face of Christianity as a mighty revival... what they are being told is a 'great awakening' is, in reality, a great apostasy. Genuine revival will not take place until the body of Christ undergoes genuine reformation."

He points out, "Leaders of the Counterfeit Revival appeal to Jonathan Edwards to validate their lying signs and wonders. Edwards, however, believed that the very kind of signs and wonders to which they appeal felled the First Great Awakening." (Pg. 14)

Later, he adds, "The ministry of Jonathan Edwards was characterized by dynamic expositional preaching. The message of the Counterfeit Revival is characterized by delusional experiential pandering. While the Great Awakening was an era of exposition, the Counterfeit Revival is an era of esoteric experience... The very thing that Edwards wanted people to be saved FROM is what Counterfeit Revival leaders are inducing people to indulge IN." (Pg. 101)

He notes, "Unlike the leaders of today's Counterfeit Revival, [Assemblies of God leaders] were embarrassed by such outlandish claims and outrageous conduct. Thus, when [A.A.] Allen, who is extolled today by Benny Hinn as 'a great man of God,' was arrested for drunk driving during a Tennessee revival in 1955, the first of many alcohol-related experiences for Allen, the leadership of the Assemblies of God had reached its limit... [They] advised Allen to get out of public ministry... at the age of fifty-nine, he died in San Francisco from cirrhosis of the liver." (Pg. 133-134)

He wrote, "[Kathryn] Kuhlman's relationship with evangelist Burroughs A. Waltrip destroyed his family and devastated her followers. One new convert, for example, almost lost his faith when he 'got an eyeful' one night as he passed the church office and saw Kuhlman 'in the evangelist's arms.' Kuhlman candidly referred to her relationship with Waltrip as the 'greatest mistake she ever made.' She became utterly convinced that only a divorce would bring God's 'anointing and blessing' back to her ministry." (Pg. 169-170)

As with Hanegraaff's "Christianity in Crisis" book, this book is admittedly controversial; but Christians on all sides of the issue can benefit from reading Hanegraaff's documentation and exegesis---whether they necessarily agree with him, or not.

[Hudson Christmas · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the book of Matthew, Jesus warns his disciples of "...False prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves (Matthew 7:15)." These individuals are who Hank Hanegraaff spends the majority of his book, "Counterfeit Revival," examining. Many people flock to churches that the teachings of contemporary revivalism. These churches preach of dramatic workings of the Holy Spirit in such examples as slain in the Spirit, drunk in the Spirit, speaking in tongues, and dramatic healings. These churches ignore the Word of God and instead focus on "throwing a party" with the help of the Holy Spirit. In the "Counterfeit Revival," Hanegraaff examines and analyzes the history and current actions of these churches, and explains how believers should respond in light of these false teachers.
Hanegraaff is an exceptional writer, and one who conducts extensive and detailed research on this subject. This book is not an examination on the working of the Holy Spirit, but a documentary of the teaching and actions of contemporary revivalism churches consumed with the idea of being slain in the Spirit, and other such heresies. Pulling from the Word of God and contradicting the lies spread by those within the "Counterfeit Revival," Hanegraaff attempts to educate the everyday Christian to understand the dangers of those within this movement. This is not a theological book or a study on the Holy Spirit, but Hanegraaff's attempt to educate and explain the lies of the "Counterfeit Revival," as well as help believer's to understand how they should act in light of this movement's heresies. This book may not be the most impactful book of all times, but it certainly is a help. It exposes doctrines and lies of those who profane the name of Jesus, and encourages believers to obey Christ's command in Matthew 10:16 and "...be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves."

[G.J. Hocking · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hank Hanegraaff of the Christian Research Institute writes an accurate analysis of some of the more extreme areas of Pentecostalism. At times, the author appears to go behind the scenes when referencing from audio and videotapes some of the goings-on, which occurred mainly in the mid-to-late 1990s, among the Third Wave movement of Pentecostalism.
Under the acronym Fabrications, Fantasies, and Frauds, the author seems at times to reflect a bias against some of those involved in extreme phenomena. In short, it was a good read, with lots of information, which one has come to expect from the Christian Research Institute.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to rate. Fascinating book on the different false movements that are/ have happened within the Christian church.
Yet the author somehow comes off as bitter and hateful. It's strange that this book reads that way instead of more uplifting.

[Nicholas Maulucci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably more like a 2 1/2. Documentation of what all sane people know. Charismatics are loonies or demon-possessed. Recommended for ammo against false teachers.

[Justin Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides insight into the evil roots of the charismatic movement by providing a clear understanding of movements roots, its own divisions, and its wrong doctrine and cultic teachings.

[Sharon Zink · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I agree with this book and am glad to find that someone has written about it. The chapters are short, and the writing is clear and engaging.

[Sheila Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is an older book, the truths it contain are still applicable today.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Good: Counterfeit Revival offers an interesting history lesson on the neo-charismatic/revivalist sector of the church. Hanegraaff connects many of the dots between the revival leaders of yore, such as Katherine Kuhlman and William Branham and their modern day counterparts, Benny Hinn, John Arnott, Bob Jones, etc. Personally, I've always found one of the most fascinating aspects of the signs and wonders movement to be the extremely close-knit atmosphere of the leadership. Everyone knows everyone else, and according to Hanegraaff, they all share the same root going back to the Azusa Street Revival. I also appreciated that Hanegraaff's criticisms of what he calls the Counterfeit Revival were countered with what he believes to be a better approach for the church. It's all well and good to tear down someone else's argument, but in order for a criticism to be truly constructive, I think you have to provide an alternative way. Hanegraaff did this, revealing a heart for church reformation, which I thought was laudable despite the book's flaws.

The Bad: My first quibble is a personal pet peeve. I really hate it when authors get overly cutesy. Hanegraaff has a thing for acronyms and alliteration. He said his goal was to help readers remember his points, but I found the abundance of them extremely distracting. Not to mention annoying. I also found his organization to be a bit incoherent. There wasn't a whole lot of structure to the book, which made it difficult for me to follow. Parts of it were extremely repetitive, as he retold stories over again in different sections to illustrate his points. Reading the book, I often had a strange feeling of deja vu. Some of the stories Hanegraaff would half tell and leave the reader hanging. One in particular I remember was when he told a story about a man who went to India (I think) without learning the language because he believed that God would grant him the gift of tongues. And as I'm waiting to hear about the hilarity that ensued, Hanegraaff abruptly ends the narrative with something like, "and that was for sure a disaster. Moving on..." What? How do you end a story like that? It's just cruel.

My more serious critiques of Counterfeit Revival have to do with the lack of serious biblical analysis of the revivalist movement. Hanegraaff spends a great deal of time proving why Jonathan Edwards and John Wesley (two respected preachers who are often cited by revivalists to lend credibility to the signs and wonders movement) would not have approved of the excesses at the Brownsville Revival and Toronto Blessing. While I do think it's worthwhile to establish what Edwards and Wesley really believed about manifestations such as holy laughter and being drunk in the spirit, it is not a critical issue, at least for me. Even if Edwards would have thoroughly disapproved of the Toronto Blessing or Rick Joyner's teachings, that does not mean that God disapproves. It's God's view of this whole thing that counts, not a long-dead preacher's. I'm not saying that Hanegraaff himself believes this at all, but the book tends to conflate Edwards' opinion with God's. If Edwards wouldn't like it, then it is just not to be liked. I would have appreciated more biblical inquiry into why the signs and wonders movement is in error. There was a little bit of it when Hanegraaff briefly mentions some scriptures that revivalists use to show that strange spiritual manifestations took place in the Bible, but for the most part Hanegraaff leaves the debunking to the reader with something like, "Any serious study of these scriptures will show that the counterfeit revivalists' interpretations are ridiculous." The end. It was disappointing.

I chose to give Countefeit Revival three stars because it did offer a lot of information on the revivalist movement. It was an interesting read, at times even shocking. But I don't think it's all that convincing. If you want a sort of broad overview of the neo-charismatics, it's not a bad starting point as long as you know ahead of time that it's mainly about history, biography and the power of hypnotism. A solid biblical critique will have to be found elsewhere.

[William Dicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

What this book shows us, is that everyone who does a miracle is from God, and not everyone who claims a "move" from God is from God.

It reminds me of the following:

(21) "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. (22) "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' (23) "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'" (Matthew 7:21-23 NASB)

[Chainsaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding text that logically and Biblically demonstrates how many Christians are unfortunately deceived by false "prophets" and "modern apostles" who often utilize the same techniques used by cults. Although I do not personally agree completely with Hanegraaff's interpretation of the Bible, his analysis on this topic is SPOT ON. This text is a MUST READ for Christians, providing excellent history and analysis of the heretical "modern prophets" and how they attempt to seduce Christians away from the true Word of God.

[Michael Pack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another enjoyable book by Hank Hanegraaff that exposes the error in some of the more extreme charismatic movements. We must beware of false teachers in our midst and rightly divide the word of truth to practice discernment.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

don't know if the toronto blessing is still going, picked this up mainly to clear a space on the shelf, ended up reading it. as always hanegraaff's writing is well referenced and footnoted. (forgotten that in addition to being v.cool, brilliant people, the shakers were just plain odd.)

[Royce Ratterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most books are rated related to their usefulness and contributions to my research.
Overall, a good book for the researcher and enthusiast.
Read for personal research
- found this book's contents helpful and inspiring - number rating relates to the book's contribution to my needs.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hanegraaff has a passion for truth. And he is a master at examining and exposing modern day false teachers. He does plenty of that in this excellent book.

[Rod Horncastle · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's some crazy things going on in Christianity. This is a good sample of what to avoid.

[Jeff Noble]

Counterfeit Revival by Hank Hanegraaff (?)

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you know someone who has fallen prey to a bizarre "ministry" or television evangelist, there's no better book to recommend.

[Chuck Bonadies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though Hanegraaff's material is a bit dated now, I still find it relevant.

Cb

[Alejandro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting information. Not sure what informative on the history of the movements. Loved the epilogue and the practicals in it.

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting view of modern charismatic movement history.

[Rick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't like his tone. Content was OK

[Yolanda Shanks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great Book to assist with discernment of truth.