The Forgotten
Facts about Michael Brown of Brownsville
by Sandy Simpson, 7/8/19
Dr. Brown has been making the rounds of evangelical church gatherings and conferences presenting himself as an authority on Judaism and the truth of Scripture. His latest conference, where he is listed first as a plenary speaker, is the NCCA (National Conference on Christian Apologetics) put on by Southern Evangelical Seminary (SBC) and held at Calvary Church in Charlotte. Looks good except for one glaring problem. Michael Brown. This guy has been inserting himself in all kinds of apologetics and Jewish studies conferences. He carries with him an unrepenant participation in the Brownsville "Outpouring" that split hundreds of churches worldwide with the false teachings of the Latter Rain. He lied to Holly Pivec of Spirit of Error by saying there was no such thing as the New Apostolic Reformation. He is a clear wolf in sheep's clothing. There are some good knowledgable people particiapting in this conference but I would not spend a dime to hear his diaprax. Please warn others about this.
This from a man who is actually an adherent of Latter Rain teachings, associate and participant with many New Apostolic members (for an older membership list go here: http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/theattackoftheenemyonchurches.html), and who has never repented of the false teachings of Brownsville in which he participated as a leader and that split many churches around the world along doctrinal lines. I have a number of articles about him on my site. I started collecting articles exposing the Brownsville “Revival” back in 1996 because of the lies being told by its leadership. I wanted to leave a historical record of what went on, of the false teachings and false prophecies, so that they could not dupe people with false information they are putting out there. Such is the case with Michael Brown, one of the leaders in that movement. Following is evidence of his guilt by participation in the Third Wave. My hope is that Bible-believing, Christ-centered Christian organizations will quit associating with him.
Brown has made a number of false statements and false prophecies.
Michael Brown’s False Prophesy
By now we are all familiar with the prophecy - first denied to be a
prophecy, then admitted to being a prophecy, then denied to be a prophecy -
issued by John Kilpatrick on April 6, 1997 against CRI and its president, Hank Hanegraaff. However, it has been discovered that John
Kilpatrick is not the first Brownsville Assembly of God staff member to have
prophesied falsely. As far back as 1987, Dr. Michael Brown, Brownsville's chief
apologist, issued one of his own.
One of the foremost theologians and spokesman for the Messianic Jewish
Congregation (MJC) has informed us of an embarrassing prophecy given by Dr.
Brown. Given the international nature of his ministry, this spokesman wishes to
remain anonymous, but reader inquiries related to any cited material will be
forwarded to him and he will reply privately with the inquirer.
This spokesman of the Messianic Jewish Congregation wishes to make it well and
formally known that Dr. Michael L. Brown is not reflective of, nor does he
represent, on any level, national or international, the MJC. Furthermore,
beyond speaking in and through the local MJC church he once belonged to, he has
never been a formal spokesman, either nationally or internationally, for the
MJC. He did indicate that he thought Brown was an elder in the MJC church he once belonged to and that he
was involved and spoke at some meetings, including the Conference of Messianic
Jewish believers sponsored by Israeli Messianic Jews in Jerusalem, Israel back
in '87 or '88. This was a collaborative effort between American and Israeli
Messianic Jewish believers, encompassing a diversity of theological backgrounds
ranging from charismatic to non-charismatic.
While speaking at that Jerusalem gathering, Michael Brown proceeded to
tell the attendees that "tonight," that night, would be a "history-making"
night insomuch as the Holy Spirit would descend in power and fire as
earth-shaking and monumental as the literal day of Pentecost detailed in Acts,
chapter 2. On a video of this speech in the presence of Israeli Messianic
leaders including such leading scholars
as Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum who all witnessed the
false prophetic predictions, Michael Brown went so far as to interpret the
national disaster of forest fires destroying 20% of Israel's reforested land as
emblematic of the outpouring. [Reported in the Moriel
Newsletter Number 9; Jacob Prasch Ministry] Somewhere
around 2 am, when it became apparent nothing "earth-shaking" was
going to occur that evening, Brown's "prophecy" fizzled and he
subsequently issued a letter of apology, attempting to claim that the reason
nothing came of it was because several people in attendance were allegedly
praying "against" his "prophesy". He would ultimately go on
to admit that, in fact, he must not have been "in the Spirit" when he
made the aforementioned proclamation. (Article by Bob Hunter and Debra Bouey, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/brownprophecy.htm)
Brown lied about Hank Hanegraaf. I’m not a fan of Hanegraaf since he admitted to being a Pretereist, but Hank was lied about repeatedly by Brownsville leadership because of his book exposing counterfeit revivals.
Michael
Brown lies about Hank Hanegraaf (John
Kilpatrick falsely prophesied and cursed Hank Hanegraaff
to death from the Brownsville pulpit while Steve Hill stood by and agreed with
everything he was saying, even calling anyone who disagreed with them
"devils" (http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/quotes.html#Hill)
First and foremost let me emphasize that
my meetings with John Kilpatrick, Stephen Hill, Michael Brown, et al., should
not be interpreted as an endorsement of the "Pensacola Outpouring."
Not only I, but Pensacola leaders have underscored this fact. In the words of Michael Brown, "Hank Hanegraaff is not now saying that he endorses the
revival." Rather than an endorsement, my meetings with Pensacola leaders
should be viewed as an encouragement to carry on a dialogue with those with
whom you disagree, in a manner that reaches rather than repels. (CRI
Statement on December Meetings Between Hank Hanegraaff
and Brownsville Revival Leaders, 1997,
http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/meeting.htm)
As the Brownsville “Revival” waned, there was a fallout among the leadership. Following is what happened.
Power Struggle At The Brownsville School Of Ministry (BRSM)?
Holy Laughter /Toronto Blessing Research Information web site, 1/01
http://discern.athome.to/
There appears to have been a
power struggle at the BRSM, between the AoG and John
Kilpatrick on one side, and Dr. Michael Brown on the other side, over the
operation of the school.Though the facts are not
entirely clear, which both sides disputing the details, the following things
are clear:
- There was a dispute over the
running of the school
- Dr. Brown was fired.
- Dr. Brown is starting a competing school in Pensacola.
- Dr. Brown has managed take some of the staff of the BRSM with him.
Here are the official
announcements by each side. Please note that the original BRSM annoucement was altered after Dr. Brown put his statement
up to respond to comments made on his site.
Please note that
these web pages have been taken down as has most of what happened there, which
is what I expected when I started colledting and
storing articles about Brownsville. You
may still be able to view some of them on archive.org.
Official Statement from The Brownsville
Revival School of Ministry Regarding the firing of Dr. Michael Brown (http://www.brsm.org/Updates/Official_Statement/official_statement.html)
Official Statement from Dr. Michael Brown Ministry Regarding
the firing of Dr. Michael Brown
(http://web.archive.org/web/20050312091155/http://www.icnministries.org/statement.htm)
Dr. Michael Brown's Q&A concerning the event
(http://web.archive.org/web/20050205131152/http://www.icnministries.org/qanda.htm)
This
firing come close on the heels of Stephen Hill, another
one of the top leaders in Brownsville, leaving for his own ministry. There
does not appear to be any connection between these incidents.
Charisma Magazine reported the
abrupt firing of Michael Brown, president of the Brownsville Revival School of
Ministry (BRSM). Brown then
promptly formed a new organization called the Fellowship of Revival and
Evangelism (FIRE) (Brown is still the vice president of FIRE which he started
after Brownsville https://fire-international.org/about-fi/). There were
then two rival schools of revival operating in Pensacola, but now Fire Church
is located in Concord, NC. (http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/orrel2.html)
Another
fabrication by Brown regarding Hanegraaf
But, perhaps the most significant
fabrication that I’m concerned with at this point, is
the fabrication made by a gentleman named Michael Brown who says that “Hanegraaff misused Edwards material to suit his own
purposes.” He’s saying that “in “Counterfeit Revival” I (Hank Hanegraaff)
do not fairly represent Jonathan Edwards.” And he points out that he himself “has consulted scholars working under Yale
University’s “The Works Of Jonathan Edwards” a project that they have “who have lent their academic credibility to
his critique of my book “Counterfeit Revival”.”
Now that’s his fabrication. The facts are that (a) man who leads
(another) project, his name is Dr. Bowman, he is the coordinator for the STEP
Publications “The Edwards Project” which is releasing the complete works of
Jonathan Edwards on CD-ROM, was concerned enough about this fabrication coming
out of Pensacola and Michael Brown’s lack of scholarship and (his) fabrication
to release the following statement:
“Having just finished Hanegraaff’s
“Counterfeit Revival” I do not see any inaccuracy in his review of Edward’s
“Distinguishing Marks” treatise.
Overall, I felt that Hanegraaff’s analysis was right
on. Edwards did not condone excesses but felt that they could be present in
true revival. Edwards realized that the remorse that the repentant individual
feels when they realize what they have been saved from can occasionally lead to
emotional outbursts. The bizarre and drunken behavior in the counterfeit
revival movement has nothing to do with repentance. What concerns me most about
this issue is that mainstream Christianity does not seem to seriously and
forceful condemn this movement.” So
again, far from this project leader saying that I have not dealt with Edwards
fairly, it is the people in Brownsville who are not dealing with Edwards
accurately. (http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/fabrications.htm)
Michael Brown joined Steve Hill in mocking and cursing anyone who disagreed with the unholy antics at Brownsville.
Steve Hill and Michael Brown of
BAG have learned not only the defense of fruit-proof but the attack of
intimidation to silence those who ask them to explain biblically the bizarre
manifestations which both occur regularly and are promoted as signs of a new
and end time anointing. Hill’s first offensive play from scrimmage is the
“God Mocker”. In his book bearing that title he states:
“God Mockers scoff and hold in
contempt everything they don’t approve of. The second mark of a God
Mocker is a fear of confrontation and change. They are so stuck in
religious tradition that they are closed to a new revelation … God Mockers have
much to fear. God will recall every curse uttered against His
revival. He will repay every blasphemy whispered … He will remember every
word spoken against the weary pastors … God Mockers have disturbed and confused
this country … We normally never give the time of day to critics and accusers …
The bible says touch not God’s anointed, and do my prophets no harm (Ps.
105-15). That’s a deadly warning to every God Mocker on this planet … Be
careful God Mocker! Do you know who you are messing with? … You are
messing with God Almighty. When He moves, you had better back off.” (Steve
Hill, The God Mockers, Destiny Image’s Revival Press, P.O. Box 310, Shippenburg, PA, 1996, chapter one.)
Michael Brown, not to be
outdone by Hill’s God Mocker attack, pulls out of his playbook the well-used
"blasphemy of the Holy Spirit" ploy. Michael Brown writes:
“Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. It is a terrifying sin, a horrible
sin, a sin of disastrous consequences. It is the only sin specifically
described in the Bible as unforgivable. Just the thought of it is enough
to send spiritual chills down your spine … Are you totally and absolutely sure
that you are right in attacking the current revival? Are you willing to
wage your salvation on the fact that you are correct? (Michael
Brown, Let Not Man Deceive You, Destiny Image’s Prophetic Press, Shippenburg, PA, pp. 13-14)
Dr. Michael Brown Defends Word Faith Heretic Benny Hinn
Charismatic theologian, author, and radio host Dr. Michael Brown on the
eve of the conference posted an open letter to Dr. John MacArthur stating that
he “attributes the extreme errors of a tiny minority to countless hundreds of
thousands of godly leaders worldwide.”[1]
From this statement it is apparent that Brown does indeed recognize
that there are “extreme errors” in the charismatic movement. Not to
worry, however, because those who propagate such error constitute only a “tiny
minority” of the mighty charismatic army.
I’m not a social media guy but a few of my more technologically astute
friends alerted me to a tweet from Brown
dated January 2, 2014 in which he stated that he “just recorded five wonderful
TV shows with Benny Hinn.”
Brown has often been seen sharing the platform with
people as spiritually whacked as his longtime friend, New Apostolic
Reformation’s Rick Joyner. Brown is also friends with Mike Bickle and
Lou Engle, participants in the NAR. So his statement that there is no such thing
as the NAR is ridiculous.
(http://apprising.org/2014/01/13/dr-michael-brown-defends-word-faith-heretic-benny-hinn/)
Some other links to check out on Brown:
Dr. Michael Brown Says Friends Mike Bickle And
Lou Engle “True Men Of God”
http://apprising.org/2014/01/14/dr-michael-brown-says-friends-mike-bickle-and-lou-engle-true-men-of-god/
Dr. Michael Brown Debates Phil Johnson On
“Strange Fire” Conference
http://apprising.org/2014/01/14/dr-michael-brown-debates-phil-johnson-on-strange-fire-conference/
James Jacob Prasch-Live From England-Michael Brown, Bill Johnson And Bethel Church
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU_BxcYLtFA
Here is Brown’s statement about the NAR to apologist Holly Pivec
During a recent podcast interview, Alisa Childers asked for my response
to Brown's claims. You can read what I said below, starting at 29 minutes into
the interview. The bottom line is that
Brown hasn't clearly defined NAR. Nor does he seem to understand the essential
thing that makes the NAR, NAR: i.e., the belief in the present-day governing
offices of apostle and prophet. Because he doesn't clearly define NAR, Brown
errs in his conclusion that it doesn't exist, at least not to any significant
degree. It seems that Brown just doesn't know what he ought to be looking for.
ACT Note:
Brown should not have even been invited to participate in a discussion of
what the NAR is. He has been duplicitous for a long time and was a leader
for years in the counterfeit revival of Brownsville where a spirit of deception
was given full access to that church, and from there to hundreds of other
churches. Brownsville caused division everywhere due to their false
teachings and unbiblical practices. He has been trying to legitimize himself
since then but obviously is still telling lies about Latter Rain doctrines,
which he promotes. He is the epitome of the "spirit of error"
in my estimation.
(http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/ditc69-4.html)
Here are some
other articles to read exposing Brown.
Though I am not necessarily endorsing these ministries they have valid
points when it comes to what Brown has been doing.
Dr. Michael Brown Ruins His Credibility On His Own Facebook Wall, Then
Deletes All The Evidence
http://www.piratechristian.com/messedupchurch/2017/5/dr-michael-brown-ruins-his-credibility-on-his-own-facebook-wall-then-deletes-all-the-evidence
Dealing with Dr
Michael Brown’s lies (Part 1): Answering Rosebrough’s
first question
https://churchwatchcentral.com/2016/11/07/dealing-with-dr-michael-browns-lies-part-1-answering-rosebroughs-first-question/
Gatekeeper of False Teachings -- Dr. Michael Brown
http://www.828ministries.com/articles/Gatekeeper-of-False-Teachi-by-Anthony-Wade-God-170516-785.html
You can check out
this link for further info on Michael Brown, along with his Brownsville cohorts
on my ACT site: http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/pensacola.html#mbrown