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Emphasis Mine In Bible Verses
Is There A Biblical Basis For Being "Slain" In The Spirit?
Comparing the texts cited as proof with what goes on in some charismatic arenas
Examining the 'Proof Texts' ... Involuntarily Falling
People Fell Before The Magnificence of What they Were Seeing - Something No One In The Modern Church Can Claim
Besides which among many other differences people who fell were helped up or instructed to stand
Paul - The Road to Damascus
Jesus - John 18.6
The "Ministry" of the Catchers
Summary
A Warning
Foot Note I - Voluntarily Falling
Is There A Biblical Basis For Being "Slain" In The Spirit?
Some years ago (1994 to be exact) Bill Jackson of the Vineyard wrote an article entitled What In The World Is Happening To Us? Although the site I read this on is not longer viable, I have little doubt that his views are shared by many. Some of what Jackson said was...
The most common phenomena we have seen in our meetings is people falling down, commonly called "resting in the Spirit." Often they remain conscious but engaged with the Lord. They feel weak and find it difficult to do anything but rest with God. We have seen that as they lay with the Lord, they have had significant changes in their lives. [02]
He also claimed that the Slain in the Spirit phenomena is "documented both in Scripture and in historical texts, providing solid Biblical precedent for what takes place. [03] He then presented arguments in favor of the "Biblical and historical viability of exotic phenomena such as laughter and falling".
The Scriptural verses Mr. Jackson referred to are no different from the usual suspects rounded up by those in favor of the experience. However, it is impossible to find much if any similarity between the cited texts and what goes on in some charismatic arenas. for example, there isn't a single instance in the Bible of anyone collapsing to the ground when another person laid hands on or prayed for them.
General Differences
The Bible: When the Bible tells us that people 'fell on their faces' it wasn't a power or force transmitted from one person to another; it was a human response to God's glory. They fell on their faces in awe because of something they saw that was much, much bigger than anything they had ever seen or experienced.
Slain in the spirit: When people are slain in the spirit they usually fall after being physically touched by another person or, as in the case of Benny Hinn, the motion of his arm. In some cases the ‘touch’ looks suspiciously like a push. However, although some have claimed to have felt an energy or ‘force’ of some kind that caused them to go down there isn’t a single instance of anyone on Scripture being felled by any kind of force.
People Fell Before God’s Magnificence -
Something No One In The Modern Church Can Claim
The Bible: You will find that although people did involuntarily fall to the ground in the presence of Almighty God, it happened very rarely and always under very unusual or special circumstances. With the exception of the prophet Ezekiel who fell on his face several times when face to face with the "glory of the Lord, all other incidents were unique one time experiences, neither repeated time and time again nor continually sought after. In fact they were never sought after’.
Note however that several people in the Scriptures voluntarily fell before the Lord which was not an unusual practice in the day. However, this article is focused on the few recorded instances of people in the Bible who involuntarily fell to the ground in the presence of the Almighty God. See Footnote Voluntary Falling
Slain in the spirit: This seems to be a very common phenomena in many churches happening to many people. I wouldn’t doubt that there are people who are ‘slain’ more than once or even several times. In fact I just read a comment on You Tube that said the person was "slain in the spirit" on a semi-regular basis. It seems to be, as I have heard it very amusingly but accurately phrased, people seem to enjoy getting their Whoop-de-doos down at the altar.
People Who Fell Were Usually Helped Up Or Instructed to Stand.
Although it varies in the slain in the spirit phenomena people can lie around for a considerable amount of time. This never happened to anyone in the Scriptures.
Ezekiel
As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking. (Ezekiel 1:28 NASB)
The chapter ends with the words "Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking. The very next verses say
"Then He said to me, "Son of man, stand on your feet that I may speak with you!" As He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me. (Ezekiel 2:1-2 NASB)
 Note When Ezekiel wrote "something like an expanse, like the awesome gleam of crystal" over the heads of the four living beings he was describing something very significant - something that was earlier seen by Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu plus seventy of the elders of Israel, and much later by the disciple John. See Footnote II
This was EXACTLY what happened two chapters later on another occasion,
So I got up and went out to the plain; and behold, the glory of the LORD was standing there, like the glory which I saw by the river Chebar, and I fell on my face. The Spirit then entered me and made me stand on my feet, and He spoke with me and said to me, "Go, shut yourself up in your house. (Ezekiel 3:23-24 NASB)
On both occasions Ezekiel didn't just lie there but was set on his feet by the Spirit and spoken to/given instructions.
Daniel
Both Daniel and John had related visions that described very significant events that would take place at the end of days. However, neither man went into a trance or any other kind of altered state of consciousness. And both were helped to their feet. All Emphasis Added
So I was left alone and saw this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength. But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said to me, "O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. (Daniel 10:8-11 NASB)
When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it; and behold, standing before me was one who looked like a man. And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, "Gabriel, give this man an understanding of the vision." So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell on my face; but he said to me, "Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end." Now while he was talking with me, I sank into a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me and made me stand upright. He said, "Behold, I am going to let you know what will occur at the final period of the indignation, for it pertains to the appointed time of the end. (Daniel 8:15-19 NASB)
Although the Bible describes Daniel as falling into a deep sleep on both occasions, the words he "retained no strength" in the first quote sounds almost like he collapsed - what he saw was too much for flesh and bone to stand.
John
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, (Revelation 1:17 NASB)
In this case John was overwhelmed by the sight of "one like a son of man whose appearance was more than magnificent (See Revelation 1:13-16). However, even after John fell at His feet like a dead man Christ touched him and reassured him that there was nothing to be afraid of then instructed the prophet to write the things he had seen. Quite obviously John was quite capable of hearing, understanding AND writing.
What Jesus had to say to John began in verse 17 of chapter 1 and continued all the way through the third chapter. However, it in the very first verse of chapter 4, John was told to "come up hither" and he would be shown the "things which must come to pass hereafter". John then says
"Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. (Revelation 4:2 NASB).
While one can not be certain of exactly what John meant by being in the spirit, it does show that this happened only after Jesus finished speaking. So there is no apparent correlation between falling as one dead and being in the spirit.
Besides which, the only reason the Lord appeared to John was to give him the final chapters of the Bible... a far cry from the triviality heard in most churches today.
Examining the 'Proof Texts' ... Involuntarily Falling
A Proof Text is a portion of Scripture quoted in order to provide Biblical support for the particular position being taken
The Context is the text that surrounds the text in question. Why the context is so important is because no Biblical author ever strung together a number of lofty sounding phrases disconnected from one another. Every single verse is an integral part of a particular point the author was trying to make. In order to accurately determine the message that a particular verse or passage was meant to convey, one has to read the immediate surrounding verses, the entire chapter, or even more than chapter.
It is utter foolishness to read, much less base ones beliefs on stand alone verses. Seeing how a verse fits into the context will often illuminate the passage in question and very often will throw a different light on it. In other words it may not mean exactly what you thought or had previously been lead to believe it meant. See Context is CRUCIAL
Thus if you genuinely wish to know whether the Scriptures support the 'Slain in The Spirit' phenomenon then you have to be willing to carefully consider the context and the circumstances surrounding the so called "proof texts" - not just superficially read only the passage in question (something no believer should ever do).
The texts used to try and validate slain in the spirit include 1 Samuel 19, 2 Chronicles 5:13-14, Ezekiel 1:28 and 3:23, Daniel 8:17 and 10:9, and John 18.6. However, as proof texts all of them are non starters.
1 Samuel 19
He (Saul) proceeded there to Naioth in Ramah; and the Spirit of God came upon him also, so that he went along prophesying continually until he came to Naioth in Ramah. He also stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" (1 Samuel 19:23-24 NASB)
Chapter 19 revolves around Saul's intent to kill David and how he more than once sent messengers to do the job. However the Spirit of God came upon Saul's henchmen who began to prophesy - something that happened not once but thrice. (Vs. 20-21). Finally, presumably intending to kill David himself, Saul went to Ramah where David was but the Lord stopped him from doing so. Saul was being humbled when he lay down before the Lord for a day and a night.
The Holy Spirit coming upon the men Saul sent to kill David was God's way of protecting David and sending Saul a message. However, when Saul did not heed the Lord the Spirit prompted Saul to divest himself of the symbols of royalty and lay down before the Lord in order to humble him.
2 Chronicles 5:13-14
The books of Kings and Chronicles relate the effect the presence of the Lord had on the priests of the Temple. Anyone who reads the context of these verses has to be struck by the sheer magnificence of the occasion...
Solomon had just finished building the temple and filled it with the things his father David had dedicated to the Lord (2 Chronicles 5:1). After he assembled the entire nation the priests and Levites "brought up the ark and the tent of meeting with all its sacred furnishings (Vs. 5). After the sacrifices were made,
"the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the holy of holies, under the wings of the cherubim. " (Vs. 7). This was followed by the Levitical singers, their sons and kinsmen all clothed in fine linen, standing at the east end of the altar with cymbals, harps and lyres, along with them one hundred and twenty priests blowing trumpets in unison. It is then, as the Levites, singers, and musicians with one voice praised and glorified the Lord, (Vs. 12-13), that His glory descended and filled the house so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God. (Vs. 13-14).
The relevant verse simply says “the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud”. There is absolutely nothing about them falling or lying on the ground. When the glory of the Lord filled the temple normal service had to be suspended. God had taken over the entire structure and His presence was so pervasive and so intense that everything else was relegated to the background. They could not minister in the usual way.
To compare something so sacrosanct with people rolling on the floor in a church - often barking or howling is more than sacrilege - it is the desecration of something sacred that is worthy of extreme respect:
Paul - The Road to Damascus
As he (Saul) was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" (Acts 9:3-4 NASB) (Also See Acts 26:14)
Saul was a professing Jew (Philippians 3:5-6) who wholeheartedly believed that Christianity was an abhorrent perversion of Judaism and needed to be eliminated. He was traveling to Damascus intending to arrest anyone who belonged to "the Way" when the Lord dramatically intervened and changed the course of his life.
However, when Luke wrote that Saul "fell to the ground" when "a light from heaven flashed around him", he did not tell us whether Saul was knocked off his horse by the Almighty or whether he simply fell off. Additionally, since it must have been terrifying for Saul to realize that he was suddenly in the presences of the great "I Am" - the God of Abraham, Isaac and Joseph, it is quite possible that he voluntarily fell on his face as did so many people in the Old Testament when in the presence of God Himself.
Since Luke did not choose to clarify what caused Saul to fall off his horse, people tend read into the incident exactly what doctrine they wish it to provide support for.
The only thing we know for certain is that there is absolutely no Biblical record of Paul ever falling again, nor of him ever 'slaying' anyone else in the Spirit. In fact, not one of the New Testament authors ever speak of this phenomenon.
Jesus And The Soldiers- John 18.
When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, He
.... knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and *said to them, "Whom do you seek?" They answered Him, "Jesus the Nazarene." He *said to them, "I am He." And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. So when He said to them, "I am (Gr. ego eimi ) He," they drew back and fell to the ground. (John 18:4-6 NASB)
Note: The word "He" is in italics - the translators way of indicating that this word did not exist in the original Greek. The phrase ego eimi (I Am) was also used in John 8:24, 8:57-58 and John 13:19. Jesus was using the title that Yahweh used of Himself at the burning bush - a clear affirmation of his identity,
The Greek (SEE) says ‘the soldiers went towards the back and fell to the ground. In other words, even they knew or sensed they were in the presence of an extraordinary person and retreated a little before falling on the ground.
In any case making this passage a 'proof text' for modern shenanigans misses the entire point.
John's narrative clearly shows how much Jesus was not a tragic victim but in complete control of His arrest. "For hundreds of fully armed soldiers to fall to the ground in the presence of this unarmed man shows that He could have obliterated them as Elijah called down fire on the cohort sent to arrest him (2 Kings 1). He was not merely "Jesus the Nazarene"; He was God in human flesh!" [05]
What is truly astonishing is how the soldiers got back to their feet and, ignoring this glimpse of power, proceeded to arrest Jesus.
The "Ministry" of the Catchers
Many churches that practice knocking people down with the supposed power of the Holy Spirit usually use "catchers" who are positioned behind those receiving prayer. Their job is to "catch" the people who are being 'Slain in The Spirit' lest they injure themselves falling backwards from a standing position. The "catchers" gently lower the person to the ground and often use a sheet to cover the legs and thighs of women lying on the floor.
I believe that some Charismatic churches even have written guidelines for catchers. However, this "ministry" has been unquestioningly accepted without giving the matter any thought nor applying one ounce of common sense to it.
1) If God is the one responsible for "blessing" people by dropping them to the floor why do we have to catch them? Is He not capable of seeing to it that they are "blessed" without injuring themselves?
2) It is also impossible to believe that He would allow His daughters to fall with their dresses hiked up and their legs at very inappropriate angles. DO you seriously thing His "blessing" would place a woman in an embarrassing position.
Interestingly Rev. Robert S. Liichow who spent almost twenty years of full-time ministry in the charismatic renewal movement was "slain in the spirit" many times. He writes
I know from past experience (I used to be a catcher) that when there was no one standing behind a saint receiving prayer nine times out of ten they would not fall down. This alone is proof to me that what is taking place is not a sovereign move of the power of God. There is a power involved at times but it is not of God. [06]
In any case, in spite of the best efforts of the "catchers", people have been injured in these church antics. At one of Benny Hinn's meetings held in September 1986, Mrs. Ella Peppard, an elderly lady was quickly pulled off stage by the ushers who sat her in a pew where she cried out in pain for 20 minutes...
"The woman's family alleged the ushers refused to call an ambulance because an ambulance would not look good at a miracle service. A lawsuit was settled out of court. Hinn say he never knew the woman was injured or he would have sought medical help. [07]
Summary and Conclusion:
The Biblical occurrences have several points in common that show they bear no resemblance to what goes on in modern churches thus cannot be used to support the 'Slain in The Spirit' phenomena.
1) None of the Biblical figures were ever touched by another person and there is not one single instance in the Bible where the "power" is channeled through another person. There never was any middle man. Yet, in modern day services God apparently only "moves" through an intermediary. (See Voluntarily Falling below)
2) They were in full control of themselves. None of them uttered gibberish, laughed hysterically, convulsed on the floor, described feelings of peace and tranquility, or the sensation of "electricity" going through their bodies... all of which are, in varying degrees and proportions, par for the course in today's manifestations.
3) At no time were any of the persons in the Bible oblivious to their surrounding but in complete control of their senses. For example, Joshua fell, then asked what the "captain of the host" had to say to him. Whereupon, the angel gave Joshua instructions to take his shoes off, which Joshua immediately obeyed.
He said, "No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, "What has my Lord to say to his servant?" The captain of the Lord'S host said to Joshua, "Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5:14-15 NASB)
4) In several of the instances the Father Himself, Jesus in (Matthew 17:6-8), or even an angel, either lifted the person back onto his feet, instructed them to "arise", and/or told them not to be afraid. Multitudes fall in modern Charismatic services, but none have ever received supernatural encouragement to get up again.
The fact that something that took place on rare occasions, under some very exceptional circumstances, has become an every day occurrence in modern churches should raise questions about it's authenticity. To use these incidents as excuses for those who wish to get their jollies down at the altar is to trivialize them beyond belief and shows no understanding of the importance of these occurrences.
It reduces genuine encounters with the Lord to the level of entertainment and cheap thrills.
But, in our "me" centered society we have, as usual, taken the focus off God, His prophets, and His message and placed it squarely on ourselves... what we feel, what we experience, what happens to us.
A Warning
Whenever people are lulled into a very passive state in which they are not doing anything - not thinking or engaging their brains or imagination in any way, they have permitted their guard to be lowered. This makes them very susceptible which allows whatever is out there to gain a foot hold, or even take over completely.
And what is out there is evil indeed - the roaring lion the Scriptures speak about.
Do not for one moment delude yourself that you are safe just because you may be in a church. As John wrote "the whole world lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19) - Many churches included. In any case if your church is endorsing Slain in the Spirit', Tongues, or Contemplative Prayer it has already been infiltrated. Run, don't walk to the nearest exit and do not look back.
As Paul wrote
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:12-13 NASB)
Peter instructed his readers to 'prepare their minds for action' (1 Peter 1:13 )
You can neither resist "the spiritual forces of wickedness" if you are disoriented, disconnected from reality and not thinking clearly. Nor can you prepare yourself for action when you are lying on the floor somewhere completely out of it.
Foot Note I - Voluntarily Falling
In the ancient past the expression to 'fall on ones face' was a well known and well understood euphemism for prostration or placing one's body in a prone position. In the east this prostration took the form of falling to ones knees then touching the earth with the forehead. It was a sign of respect for, and submission to, a superior being such as a king or other leader.
It is also well worth noting that in at least two cases the Bible records that even demons or "unclean spirits" fell before the Lord Jesus. See Mark 3:11 and Luke 8:28
In the Bible people often voluntarily fell forward with their face to the ground as a sign of reverence and in acknowledgment of the glory and magnificence of God's presence. For example, Genesis 17:3 says "Abram fell (Hebrew nâphal) on his face, and God talked with him, saying..."
Nâphal has been used well over 400 times in the Old Testament both for literal falling and as an expression (Then he fell (Heb. nâphal) on his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. (Genesis 45:14 NASB)
When people fell on their faces in the Old Testament they were quite capable of hearing, seeing, speaking (Abraham laughed) or doing something . In other words none of them were 'out of it'.
Joshua 5:14-15: He said, "No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord." And Joshua fell (Heb. nâphal) on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, "What has my Lord to say to his servant?" The captain of the Lord'S host said to Joshua, "Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5:14-15 NASB)
Judges 13:20-22: For it came about when the flame went up from the altar toward heaven, that the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell on their faces to the ground. Now the angel of the Lord did not appear to Manoah or his wife again. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the Lord. So Manoah said to his wife, "We will surely die, for we have seen God." (Judges 13:20-22 NASB)
Ezekiel 1:28: As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell (Heb. nâphal) on my face and heard a voice speaking. (Ezekiel 1:28 NASB)
Ezekiel 3:23-24 So I got up and went out to the plain; and behold, the glory of the Lord was standing there, like the glory which I saw by the river Chebar, and I fell (Heb. nâphal) on my face. The Spirit then entered me and made me stand on my feet, and He spoke with me and said to me, "Go, shut yourself up in your house. (Ezekiel 3:23-24 NASB)
Daniel 8:17: So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell on my face; but he said to me, "Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end." (NASB)
Similarly in the New Testament
Luke 17:15-16: Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. (NASB)
Acts 9:3-4: As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" (NASB)
Revelation 7:11: And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, (Revelation 7:11 NASB) {PLACE IN TEXT}
Continue To Chapter III - Is There a Biblical Basis For Shaking, Laughing, Trances or Being Drunk In The Spirit? HERE
Foot note II - Ezekiels Vision
Ezekiel chapter I describes everything the prophet saw that day.
Now over the heads of the living beings there was something like an expanse, like the awesome gleam of crystal, spread out over their heads...
Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man. Then I noticed from the appearance of His waist and upward something like gleaming metal that looked like fire all around within it, and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw something like fire; and there was a radiance around Him. Like the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking. (Ezekiel 1: 22, 26-28 NASB)
Please Note: When Ezekiel wrote was "something like an expanse, like the awesome gleam of crystal" over the heads of the four living beings he was describing something very significant - something that was earlier seen by Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu plus seventy of the elders of Israel, and much later by the disciple John.
The story behind John's six words in Revelation 21:1 ("there is no longer any sea") is one of the most fascinating studies in Scripture and is closely connected with what these men saw and a single verse in the creation account of Genesis
See What And Where is Heaven? Part VI - No More Sea?
{PLACE IN TEXT}
End Notes
[02] Bill Jackson. What In The World Is Happening To Us? http://www.evanwiggs.com/revival/manifest/holylaff.html
[03] ibid.
[04] ibid.
[05] Steven J. Cole. Jesus In Control (John 18:1-11). Bible.org.
https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-93-jesus-control-john-181-11
[06] Rev. Robert S. Liichow Sons of Thunder? (Part One) “You Don’t Know What Spirit You are Of” https://discernmentministriesinternational.wordpress.com/category/slain-in-the-spirit
[07] Rev. Robert S. Liichow.. Does the Bible Support A Doctrine of Being Slain in the Spirit? Part 2 of 3. Discernment Ministries International. http://discernmentministriesinternational.wordpress.com/tag/maria-woodworth-etter/
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