John and Jed discuss the recent speech defending Mike Bickle and how it attempted to frame the public perception of her brother, Mike. They reflect on how her tone and phrasing followed recognizable manipulation strategies, and how those techniques were familiar to anyone who had grown up under strong religious authority. Jed explains why Lisa's words were especially difficult for him to hear, given his own history, and outlines how attempts to minimize or excuse misconduct affect survivors. John adds his perspective on what it felt like to hear the language as if he were in the congregation and how the approach mirrored experiences from his past.

Together they examine the wider implications for the International House of Prayer community and beyond. They compare how prophetic authority and promises of revival can be used to cover wrongdoing, and how this dynamic has played out repeatedly. They also highlight how leaders in the broader movement have responded, often with silence, and the consequences this has for accountability. Throughout the discussion, both hosts emphasize how the rhetoric of forgiveness has been misapplied in ways that silence those raising concerns, and they call out the difference between genuine redemption and using faith to maintain power.______________________

Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962

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John invites Jon Dugan to share his story about growing up in a high-control religious community and spending four decades in Japan helping families escape controlling belief systems. They reflect on the psychological patterns and authoritarian structures common across a wide range of fringe and mainstream religious groups. Dugan describes how cultural dynamics, especially in postwar Japan, created fertile ground for high-control organizations, and how his work intersected with a number of well-known movements, both religious and sociopolitical.

Throughout the conversation, they explore the underlying motivations that draw people into such groups, the consequences of rigid spiritual frameworks, and the parallels between different global expressions of control-based faith systems. From his own childhood inside a religious commune in Minnesota to his firsthand work with families affected by destructive teachings in Japan, Dugan offers a rare inside view into how authoritarian structures thrive across cultures. The discussion includes surprising intersections with global figures, well-known theological trends, and the lasting impact of unchallenged groupthink.

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Jon's Counter-Cult Organization: https://cult-sos.net

Kansai Christian School https://kansaichristianschool.com⁩ 

Jon's Church: https://naranewlife.org

______________________ 

Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K

______________________

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John and Steve discuss the connections between Russian mysticism, Persian Sufi thought, and the modern New Apostolic Reformation. They explore how figures like Jacob Boehme, Emmanuel Swedenborg, and ancient Persian mystics shaped theological concepts such as angelology and union with the divine. The conversation highlights how mystical and esoteric streams have influenced various Christian movements, from Orthodox traditions to charismatic groups, drawing parallels between historic syncretism and contemporary trends. Along the way, Steve stumbles on a few phrases, restarting his sentences with humor, and both hosts use these light moments to transition into deeper analysis.

The discussion covers major Russian thinkers like Vladimir Solovyev, Alexander Dugin, and Nikolai Berdyaev, examining how their visions of unity, dominion, and eschatology intersect with themes in Western religious movements. They trace historical and ideological links through Henry Corbin's synthesis of Orthodox and Islamic mysticism, the blending of Illuminism with Neoplatonic thought, and the adaptation of these ideas in modern movements. John and Steve also reflect on how such converging streams can create unstable alliances and influence political and spiritual landscapes worldwide, while cautioning about the dangers of these theological mergers.

______________________

Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K

______________________

- Support the channel: https://www.patreon.com/branham

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John and John McKinnon discuss how William Branham's interpretation of the seventy disciples diverged from the biblical timeline and meaning, using it to explain away declining popularity in his ministry. They trace how Branham misrepresented Scripture, particularly conflating John 6's "falling away" with Luke 10's commissioning of the seventy, despite the events being separated by multiple milestones in the Gospels. This distortion, they argue, was used to frame followers leaving as spiritually deficient, reinforcing cult control. They also connect Branham's teaching to his broader pattern of self-promotion, doctrinal exclusivity, and fear-based manipulation, which laid groundwork for later movements like the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR).

They highlight how this flawed foundation enabled later leaders to combine out-of-context verses with claimed personal revelations, producing a "new gospel" that justified personal agendas. The conversation links Branham's methods to the political and theological aims of the NAR, including the Seven Mountain Mandate. Both hosts emphasize the danger of building doctrines on misused Scripture, noting that such distortions have reached into politics, church leadership models, and modern charismatic movements, leaving Christians unaware their beliefs may rest on non-biblical foundations.

______________________

Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K

______________________

- Support the channel: https://www.patreon.com/branham

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John and Chino discuss the complex evolution of the doctrine of the Trinity in fringe religious movements and how it impacted followers of William Branham and Hobart Freeman. Chino opens by recounting a personal phone call from Kathy Kinsey, who warns him about speaking critically of her late father, Hobart Freeman, and describes the interaction as a one-sided monologue. The hosts reflect on how cult mindsets produce emotionally charged, irrational responses and prevent honest dialogue. They analyze how theological positions become interwoven with identity, especially in authoritarian religious environments, making disagreement feel like a personal attack.

The discussion then shifts to a deep examination of Hobart Freeman's transition from orthodox Trinitarian belief to a hybrid influenced by Oneness Pentecostalism and Branham's teachings. Chino traces Freeman's theological drift, his fixation on baptism in Jesus' name, and the tension in his efforts to reconcile traditional doctrine with charismatic influences. John shares how historical research and early church debates helped him move beyond Branham's teachings. Together, they explore how early Christian councils shaped the orthodox understanding of the Godhead, contrast it with Freeman's conflated definition, and highlight the logical fallacies and contradictions Freeman introduced. The episode concludes by urging respectful, open inquiry over rigid dogma.

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Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K

______________________

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John and Laura-Lynn discuss a series of historical events connecting figures in the Latter Rain movement, William Branham's ministry, and a network of personalities whose activities blurred the line between religion and entertainment. John begins by outlining shocking newspaper findings linking Laura-Lynn's former church leaders to Branham's circle, showing how terminology like "message of the hour" signaled deeper involvement. He recounts the infamous "halo photograph" incident, revealing that what was promoted as a supernatural sign was likely a stage-light effect, and that the photographers had questionable backgrounds. This segues into the strange and troubling case of Leslie Douglas Ashley, a young person tied to the photograph who later faced a sensational trial, incarceration, and became central to a push for clemency by Branham and others.

They examine how prominent ministers like John Osteen and others became entangled in the situation, despite the reputational risk. Laura-Lynn reflects on modern parallels in religious movements where spectacle and personality overshadow truth and discernment. John ties the story into broader patterns in the Pentecostal and charismatic world, including connections to today's NAR figures. Together, they explore the moral compromises leaders made to protect their ministries and how those choices have shaped the trajectory of these movements, highlighting the need for greater transparency, accountability, and courage to speak against wrongdoing.

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Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K

______________________

- Support the channel: https://www.patreon.com/branham

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John invites John Ryan to share his story about how spiritual hunger and religious zeal brought him into the orbit of Glad Tidings Temple—a prominent charismatic church in Vancouver—and how that same zeal eventually contributed to its collapse. Raised Catholic but turned off by what he experienced, John Ryan recounts his dramatic conversion at a Salvation Army mission and his reluctant but ultimately passionate embrace of the culture at Glad Tidings. He recalls both the vibrant spiritual community and the troubling signs of imbalance and spiritual pride that began to emerge. His story is one of deep conviction, sincere worship, and eventual disillusionment as leadership failures and a shift from scriptural grounding to personality-driven prophecy caused the church to implode.

The conversation explores how large-scale revival efforts, when rooted more in emotionalism, entertainment, and unchecked prophetic voices than in scripture, can lead entire congregations astray—often with devastating financial and emotional consequences. Both continue to reflect on how revival movements repeat many of the same patterns, the tragic cost to sincere believers, and how mature prayer, humility, and biblical discernment are essential in rebuilding after spiritual disappointment. They also discuss the legacy of Reg Layzell, early prophetic movements like the Latter Rain, and how historical awareness can help Christians avoid repeating the same harmful cycles.

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Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K

______________________

- Support the channel: https://www.patreon.com/branham

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John and Bob discuss a recent public message delivered by Mike Bickle's sister, Lisa Stribbling, which sparked a wave of emotional and theological reactions. Drawing from years of firsthand experience inside charismatic movements, John and Bob unpack the underlying psychological, spiritual, and familial dynamics at play. They reflect on the weight of spiritual authority, cultic mindsets, and the impact of charisma-driven leadership within religious communities, particularly when scandal strikes.

The conversation moves between personal stories and historical parallels, drawing comparisons between Branhamism and IHOP KC. They explore the role of family loyalty in enabling dysfunction, the dangers of suppressing critique within religious environments, and how belief systems can shape reality even in the face of moral failure. They end by expressing deep concern for those still trapped in high-control systems and consider how public accountability and spiritual restoration must be thoughtfully and responsibly navigated.

______________________

Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K

______________________

- Support the channel: https://www.patreon.com/branham

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John and Charles discuss the origins, evolution, and impact of the Manifested Sons of God teaching, tracing its lineage from early movements through the Latter Rain era and into modern expressions within the New Apostolic Reformation. They compare the premillennial and amillennial branches of this belief, exploring how each integrates the doctrine into its end-times framework, and showing how it connects to related ideas such as fivefold ministry, positive confession, and kingdom theology. The conversation highlights the doctrine's historical cycles of rapid growth, collapse, and reinvention, and examines how these cycles have led to authoritarian leadership models, theological distortions, and harmful consequences for followers.

They also reflect on their personal experiences within the movement, offering warnings about its adaptability and persistence over centuries. By examining key figures, organizations, and ideological shifts, they reveal how certain strands of this belief system intersected with racial theories, dominionist ambitions, and a tendency toward high-control structures. Throughout, they emphasize the importance of identifying and removing the underlying theological framework to break the repeating cycle of harm, encouraging listeners to pursue healthier spiritual paths free from manipulative systems.

______________________

Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K

______________________

- Support the channel: https://www.patreon.com/branham

- Visit the website: https://william-branham.org

John and Chino explore the confusion and contradictions surrounding the doctrine of the Trinity in the teachings of William Branham and Hobart Freeman. They begin by addressing how both figures used shifting theological language depending on audience or circumstance, manipulating definitions to present themselves as having unique spiritual insight. John shares quotes showing Branham alternated between affirming and condemning Trinitarian language, while Chino recounts how Hobart created his own definition that was neither Trinitarian nor Oneness—confusing followers and critics alike. The discussion exposes how both leaders sought to appear distinct from mainstream Christianity in order to build loyal followings.

Chino reflects on Hobart Freeman's doctrinal evolution, tracing his shift from Baptist orthodoxy to a blend of Oneness ideas, mysticism, and cultic authoritarianism. The hosts connect these teachings to broader movements, such as the United Pentecostal Church and figures like David Terrell, highlighting how legalism and experiential mysticism were passed down and rebranded across generations. The discussion touches on theological manipulation, plagiarism from earlier revivalists, doctrinal legalism, racial motivations behind certain Godhead claims, and the influence of early 20th-century American religious extremism. Ultimately, they emphasize the dangers of redefining theology around personal authority rather than Scripture, and the way such teachings are used to isolate and control groups of followers.

______________________

Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K

______________________

- Support the channel: https://www.patreon.com/branham

- Visit the website: https://william-branham.org