“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” Revelation 3:17

Matt 6:24 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

The Reverend TB Joshua and his church hostel is collapsing. The news was sketchy at first and confusing. The EOE  knew it would take time for the truth to come out so it waited… While waiting we decided to check out who T.B. Joshua truly is and found that he actually is one of the richest pastors, if not its richest, in Nigeria. Another member of the world-wide Christians preaching ‘prosperity’ putting on decadent display enormous riches which he has gleaned unabashedly from his sheep, flaunting it and telling them they too can have all this. The people drink in this Kool-Aid. They can’t get enough of it. And so, we can only but conclude that they too want wealth and riches of money rather than the spiritual riches offered by the true Savior of Mankind, Jesus Christ Himself. that in gold and can’t get enough of it because it’s just what they are looking for. The word which we at the EOE preach tells us this direct fact: if you love the world and the things of the world the love of the Father is not in you. There should be no doubt that money is the first principle of this modern world in which we live and struggle.

TB Joshua is one of many wealthy pastors that have this love of money in common. More often than not, these money grubbers preach a true Born-Again message, but it is just to lure the sheep not into the sheepfold of safety to be fed nourishing food for free, but rather to parade them before the blade of the shearer and put them under the knife to be dressed and eaten.

They skillfully use the Bible and mingle it with their vapid magic potion of God wanting us to live rich lives on earth and the way to do it is to invest in God’s servants by giving them money to publish lots of books, make cd’s and video’s and line their own fancy suit pockets whether it is with West African Francs or Greenbacks. Jesus was so angry with those in the temple selling things that he whipped them  with a ‘cat o’ nine tails’ that he had made himself for the job, and after kicking over the money tables hollered “make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.”  Jn 2:16

Not only do they line their pockets but bring in their family members to “run the ministry” with them, so their kinfolk live high off the hog as well. To further their deceptive way they are rich in good works so they can’t be accused of not helping others in need. Supporters who see this rich lifestyle want to buy into it like they would a 401K program for their own profit because they like what they see. It is only natural that a person in need seeing this will quickly conclude in their heart that if they accept Jesus they are supposed to get rich in earthly blessings and then worry about making it to heaven later. Lured in by the wealth glistening right before their lusting eyeballs, the people are like sheep ready for the slaughter. They are all deceived, pastors and sheep because they don’t have a love for God’s Word, especially prophecy. Therefore they fall into some kind of deception and all kinds of temptations having to do with fleshly lusts. It is the natural result of not considering the warning of Christ that no man or woman can serve God and mammon. We will always have to choose one over the other. Jesus simply said. “You will hate the one and love the other.” Who will you serve – one must choose.

The good old churches of the USA have picked up the preaching of earthly riches over the last three decades to where it is now the foremost doctrine preached in America. That Protestant ethic of this gospel to the present state of the world goes like this: if you use God’s name, go to church and sit there like a good little kid, work hard (serve the mighty dollar) and get a good education, you can get married, buy a home and end up happy and a pleasure to God. It goes hand-in-hand with the American dream that has been sold to people in the United States since the early days of Puritanism. Well with the housing bubble that busted several years ago, God has let Americans know it’s a dubious outlook on life and a religious deception at best. Such religion should be coming down like a house built on shifting sand, weirdly enough people are still drinking in the Kool-aid.

‘Prosperity’ pastors continue as the most popular and influential of all the clergy, not to mention the most wealthy. They continue to market the gospel in the repackaging of colorful patriotic slogans and the cellophane wrapping of good democratic Christians the last bastion of saviors of the world. It is that fiendish prophet Balaam all over again, who loved the wages of unrighteousness and taught Balac (the enemy) how to make the children of Israel lose favor with God by marrying the world. It was for money and power in this life that the deranged prophet Balaam taught Israel to commit fornication with the enemies of God.

One of the best ways to destroy good standing with God is to seduce them, marry them and then teach them to mingle things with God’s word and worship other gods; that’s how you can ruin the people of God. The people fell for it because they really wanted what was being sold to them. They too were after carnal things, those things that are solely earth, things which do not have the capability to last. But double woe to those greedy preachers who teach the people to mingle things.

The Onslaught Began in the 1980’s

In the mid 1980’s scandals were breaking out in the lives of the early prosperity preachers who were nothing but wolves in sheep’s clothing. They told their followers to give and God would give back ten-fold. One scripture repeatedly invoked always seemed to be: “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure,  pressed down, and shaken together, and running over.” The very first thing was that you had to give them some dough, whether you could afford it or not and then you could be sure it was nothing more than the wisest investment you could make. They always neglected to tell their sheep that the last phrase of Jesus’s declaration is that “men shall give into your bosom ” – umm – not into your pocketbook. Meanwhile, these church financial investment managers soaked little old ladies and the blind and the lame while living themselves in luxury supported by the very sheep they were supposed to be tending to and caring for. Living a lifestyle above the people you are caring for is not right and taking their money to build your own kingdom here is not right. The apostle Paul told the ministers and people of Corinth to do all things honestly that the ministry be not blamed.

God exposed these wolves because He does care about his sheep. One after another many of these wolves, after being exposed, just offered some crocodile tears and a lame excuse, and the people forgave them. Business just continued on as usual. The people still followed them and continue to because they have itching ears and like what they are being told. These people are not following after God. They want their own kingdom here. As for those pastors that lead the sheep away, a greater damnation will fall on them for it.

God does not want His believers to be deceived. That is why He tells us in the Bible to examine the fruits of a person. Also, rely on the Holy Ghost to show the truth about people. He is the expert at bringing the truth out and informing what is truly going on, the word reassures us that his sheep hear his voice. The Lord exposed those evangelists as a warning to people not to follow after their example but trust in the great shepherd of Man’s soul.

In the letters to the church of Laodicea (who represents the end-time church) Jesus says I wish you were hot or cold but you aren’t you are lukewarm so I’m going to vomit you out. That is how disgusting these people are that teach you can have both the riches of this world and Jesus.  

They are full of good works, giving to the poor, trying to spread their gospel, and help “save” souls.  It all looks so good but it’s all a deception. In their heart though, they say I’m rich. I have all that I want and I’m in need of nothing. They behave as though they don’t need the Holy Ghost telling them anything.

Jesus rebukes these people sharply and says you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked, you turn my stomach, but if anyone hears me knocking and opens the door I will come and sup with you. In other words, we will commune together. I will tell you what you need. Don’t go by what you see with only your eyeballs, or you will be deceived. These people that spiritually belong to Laodicea look very successful, they use the name of Jesus as if they were close and on familiar terms but they are lukewarm, they’re neither cold nor hot for Jesus Christ. They love this world and the things in it and it makes them spiritually blind; they don’t see the truth and neither do the people who follow them see it. It is the sheep’s own fault for not following Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth and Life itself.

Just the opposite sits the other contemporary Church, the church of Philadelphia which is weak in regards to worldly position and power, it relies not on earthly influence or prestige and needs, therefore, it needs every bit of Jesus all the time. It’s his way of keeping her safe and sound. She knows she needs him at every turn, every step, all the time. Jesus has delivered these individuals from the lust of money and the pitfalls of earthly wealth.

They have been delivered from the curse spoken of in Proverbs 15:27 “He that is greedy of  gain  troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.”  They have been purged from their own filth, their worldly desires, their own ideas etc. They are willing to learn about the strivings of living a crucified life in Jesus, saying not my will but your will be done, Lord. They are no longer satisfied with accepting being spiritually blind and naked and exchanging it for worldly goods and earthly riches. They are willing to go through the purging fires by being suited up with the asbestos spiritual powers of the Holy Ghost which are needed to preserve us from brush fires and infernos that endanger our spiritual lives in these last days of the approach of Antichrist, just prior to the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ.

Philadelphians will no longer be content with deceiving themselves, they are doing what is necessary to allow the Holy Ghost to separate them from every evil way that is exposed in their heart by God and they are not impressed by velvet tongued false teachers. As one may discern they are not religious people, but spiritual people with a personal relationship with the living Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. They know they must trust Jesus to help them through this life without whom they could not possibly succeed without His all-conquering wisdom and might. They therefore can wait for their heavenly reward. They reckon that their mansions are being prepared in heaven by Jesus Himself. They also have laid up treasures in heaven where earth and rust can’t corrupt them. They will also want to warn as many people as possible not to drink the deadly Kool-Aid being served up in goblets of religious and selfish fool’s gold.

The Bible (King James Version highly recommended) is full of examples for us of those that didn’t do what God told them to and what happened to them. God tells us what he hates so that we won’t do those things and we won’t be deceived by those who do them. Proverbs tells us the difference between fools and wise men. Don’t be quick to listen to velvet tongued men and women. Let the Holy Ghost be your guide and bring you home safely.

The scriptures give us testimonies of people that have listened to God. Take a look at their lives. Did they live a life of luxury? Was their time here on earth easy? Did they even build establishments here? Truly look at the lives of the disciples of Jesus Christ. Are they not our example to follow after. Were they not looking for God and an eternal home and not this temporary abode that lasts seventy or eighty years rather than forever. Paul was a tentmaker. He worked with Aquila and Priscilla making tents with them. It was his trade. In Corinthians, Paul says he didn’t want to use the power of having them support him so that the gospel of Jesus would not be hindered; he didn’t want to be chargeable to any man when it came to his eternal life.

Paul also said he was an example to be followed. He said he knew how to be in need and how to abound. He was an example as to how to keep oneself unspotted from this world. He worked day and night for the perfecting of the saints. He wanted them to be perfect and flourishing in their relationship with Jesus Christ by being yielded to the Holy Ghost who is the power that changes us from glory to glory. That is what the  EOE  truly wants for all its readers. To be perfected in Christ Jesus and to be part of his spotless bride.

My bible tells me things like keeping yourself unspotted from this world; Love not the world nor the things in it; It is harder for a rich man to enter heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle: You cannot serve two masters, and the road is straight a narrow that leads to eternal life and not many find it; while many are called but few are chosen. These are all part of the straight and narrow way, many are called but very few are chosen because they do not enter in by the strait and narrow path.

We need to be following real close to the Holy Ghost to get through this life safely because there are things around us that are full of deceit that want to seduce us and kill us spiritually. We should be in constant need of all things (counsel, wisdom, discernment, comfort, guidance, etc.) Trusting the Lord to provide us with all things that we need to come safely home is wise and prudent.

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Some of the Richest Pastors in the World;

They Walk in the Ways of Laodicea,
Not in The Pathways of Philadelphia

Here are a  few examples of rich pastors and brief summary of what the heresies they teach and/or controversies about them. They all have this in common, lots of “good works;” After all that is how they raise money “to support their good works programs.”

Oral Roberts- Evangelical. According to Wikipedia pioneered TV Evangelism and laid the foundation of the prosperity message and abundant life teachings. In 1947 (age of 29) he came across. “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 Jn 1:2

He then decided it would be Ok to be rich and purchased a car the next day. He said God told him to heal the sick. He began a Radio Broadcast and began to travel the country with healing services and spreading his prosperity gospel. He started his own Evangelistic Assoc, and in 1954 he started his own TV show The Abundant Life. In 1963 he founded his own University Oral Roberts University, a medical center and school called City of Faith Medical and Research Center. He purchased several lavish homes, expensive suits, jewelry, and cars. He used his TV ministry to appeal for funding.

In 1977, daughter Rebecca and husband died in an airplane crash. In June 1982 son Ronald commits suicide. After suffering these tragedies he continued in his apostasies. In January 1987 he said (in tearful pleas) God told him if he didn’t raise $8 million by March he would die. He didn’t make his deadline and he didn’t die. His prophecy was false but raised $9.1 million later that year. Some people stopped following him but many did not. Allegations of misuse of funds, fake faith healings, and false prophecy circled his life but with no convictions, although his son Richard was found guilty of misusing funds. He is still in the ministry today.

Jim Baker- Evangelical. He went to jail for fraud and during this time he supposedly repented. He was released from jail in 1994. In 2002 he’s back at it with a new show called The Jim Bakker Show on 700 acres of property called Morningside that “resembles his former development,” Heritage USA, which is owned by associates, not himself. He still owes the IRS around $60 million. His website is all about them and their good works. No mission statement or teachings on the website. I started to watch a couple of shows to see what he is teaching and the shows had the leaders doing commercials for pillow, food supplies you could purchase, generator, and liquid silver during the show. He is also teaching we are in the tribulation now. It also appears that he is not in his right mind.

Jimmy Swaggart- Networth $1.5 million. Pentecostal Televangelist. In the late 1980’s he brought to light Jim Bakker’s affair with his secretary. Soon afterward Swaggart was photographed visiting Airline Highway in a seedy section of New Orleans with a known prostitute. He said he “repented” and was defrocked by Assemblies of God for 2 years. Swaggart responded by becoming an independent preacher. Three years later he was caught with another prostitute and told his sheep “The Lord told me it’s none of your business.” (Really, Jimmy, it’s none of people’s business, the ones you are shepherding?) Jesus said you shall know them by their fruits. Those are some really stinky fruits. He is still in the ministry today, Jimmy Swaggart Ministries,  Family Worship Center, and Son Life Broadcasting Network along with his children and grandchildren. He has also published his own commentary on the Bible.

T.B. Joshua- (Temitope Balogun Joshua) The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN). Evangelical. One of the richest Pastors in Africa. According to International/The Herald Zimbabwe  Aug 2014 he claims he is worth $60 million which he insists is due to business ventures (blue chips and real estate). He is like Balaam, a lover of this world mixing spiritual things with carnal. His net worth is listed around $15 million.

According to his testimony, he was in his mother’s womb for 15 months. He claims he received a divine anointing from God after being at his prayer mountain for 40 days and nights, he then went into a trance for 3 days. ‘I saw a hand that pointed a Bible to my heart and the Bible entered my heart and my former heart seemed to immerse with the Bible immediately’ (rest of vision is re-enacted on a video clip on his page for his ministry). He started his first church in the 1990s. He claims to be a healer and prophet. He sells holy water, books and CDs. Facebook pages list a lot of good sayings from him and none are scriptural. Teaches if you don’t get what you ask for from God it’s lack of faith on your part. Never mentions that we ought to be listening to God for what his will is. His prophecies are fortune-telling and sorceries. God does not want us to see into the future the way Joshua does.

Friday, Sept 12, 2014, his church hostel building collapsed after adding more floors than the foundation could support. Rescue workers were held back from being able to do their work by church members and didn’t gain full access to the site till Sunday. TB Joshua claims that he saw an aircraft fly overhead just before the collapse. He also stated that people are trying to kill him. Later it was discovered the last flight over the area was 50 minutes before the collapse. Charges are being brought against him for this negligence. Family members of victims are also pressing charges against him.

Joel Osteen- (attended Oral Roberts University) Evangelical. Net worth $40 million. His own house worth $10.5 million. Currently lives off royalties from books. Has the largest Protestant Church in the US, Lakewood Church. His family is all in the ministry his father started (siblings and wife). Preaches “God wants you to prosper” and defines that as “it’s being healthy, it’s having great children, it’s having peace of mind. Money is part of it; and yes, I believe God wants us to excel…to be blessed so we can be a bigger blessing to others”.

He does not preach the doctrines of Jesus Christ nor does he promote spiritual perfection.

Pope Francis- Net worth- Incalculable. The Catholic Church IS the wealthiest institution in the entire world. Investments, land, schools, hospitals, church buildings, artwork, gold, banks, the list goes on and on. They are in every country in the world. In the USA they are in every city and town. They are their own country, bank, and government. They do not need to report their finances to anyone. Therefore it’s very difficult for anyone to know how much they are actually worth. Their erroneous teachings are too numerous to list here but will mention a few, sacramental system, nicoloatin system, idolatry, etc….  Largest cult in the world. Possibly will be the seat of the false prophet. (See Francis Papacy – Damage Control for Ages of Religious Error & Reshaping The Vatican’s Image to Conform with Humanism and What’s in a Name? A Whole Lot – and Then Some)

Edir Macedo- Net worth around $1.2 billion. Evangelical. Home base in the US with branches in Brazil. Self-ordained Bishop. Prosperity message. Built a replica of Solomon’s Temple in Brazil complete with a golden ark of the covenant and white flowing gowns for the ushers who also wear gold belts and golden shoes. Charges of fraud and money laundering were brought against him in Venezuela and the US in 2013. He recently became a banker in Brazil. Owns TV and Radio station and newspaper in Brazil along with a $45 million Bombardier Jet.

TD Jakes- Net worth $150 million. Evangelical. Prosperity teacher. Has made movies, books, CDs, etc. Family involved in ministry. His website does not tell anything about Jesus, no teachings or gospel messages nor do they have a mission statement. I saw many ads for conferences and books and donations. They do list all of TD Jakes’ good works and prestige awards (which are many).

 

Bishop David Oyedepo- Net worth $150 million. Richest Nigerian Pastor- Evangelical. “The hour has come to liberate the world from all oppressions of the devil through the preaching of the word of faith, and I am sending you to undertake this task.”   The word of God came to His servant Bishop David Oyedepo, saying: “The Word I have put in your mouth, the same commit to writing and I will cause the unction on the spoken word to rest upon the written word, producing the same effect. ”  He offers a lot of books, MP3 and CDs. I found no scriptures on the website, mission statement, or any mention of Jesus.

Chris Oyakhilome- Net worth $50 million. Nigerian Pastor. Evangelical. He teaches a prosperity message and that he is a Man of God and you can’t speak evil against a man of God. Therefore you need to believe what he tells you is the truth. Lives a life of luxury. According to Dailypost.ng his wife Anita has filed for divorce accusing him of being unfaithful and neglecting her for 15 years.

Benny Hinn- Net worth $42 million. Christian evangelist and healer. In April 1974 Benny had a vision of people falling into a roaring inferno and heard the words: “If you do not preach, every soul who falls will be your responsibility”  Controversies of misappropriate use of funds. Inappropriate relationship with pastor Paula White. Investigative television show did undercover work at Benny’s crusades and saw staff members not allowing obviously disabled people to go forward for healings.

 

Creflo Dollar- Net worth $27 million. Owns multiple million-dollar homes, Lots of books, CDs and broadcasts for sale. No real mission statement other than spreading the Word around the world. Mandated by God to establish 500 satellite churches around the world. Teaches once saved always saved, name it claim it, positive thinking and prosperity.

 

Cindy Trimm- Net worth $15 million. Christian. She is listed on the worth mentioning Rich Pastor list because she is one of a few women pastors that have successful empires. Her multi-million dollar speaking, writing, and publishing operates in several countries. She is a former Senator with a background in education, psychology, and human development. Her website is all about Holistic Self Empowerment. Pushes her program of Self Empowerment through book sales. She teaches the opposite of dying to self. Believe that everyone is good and can look within to release their own power through God. Scriptures say the heart is desperately wicked above all else, who can know it? She preaches just the opposite. Therefore, if I look to self I’ve already lost the race to be perfect as my heavenly Father is perfect. She also teaches positive thinking.

Joyce Meyers- Net worth around $8 million. Evangelical. listed as #17 in Times magazine as Most Influential Evangelicals in America in 2005. Prosperity teacher/televangelist. She has an Estate worth millions and also gave her children 2 million dollar homes. She lives a luxurious lifestyle with a jet, boat, Mercedes. Her gospel is God wants people to prosper, positive thinking and teaches that everyone who innocuously accepts Jesus as their savior will get raptured regardless of their true actions.

Joseph Prince- Net worth $6.4 million. Evangelical. Listed among the wealthiest pastors in the world. Has one of the largest megachurches in Singapore. Preaches positive confession and “name it – claim it.” Has a worldly business arm of the ministry called Rock Production which includes a state of the art center complex called The Star, travel consultant company, a bookstore and Shine Auditorium.

It is the suggestion of the EOE to that people not enter the web of the fellowship of these obtuse and unrighteous money-grubbers. We remind our readers that Christians are meant to be the temple of the Holy Ghost. Stay free from idolatry. God promises us that if we come out from among these ungodly places and these doctrines that he will be our father and we shall be his sons and daughters.

Sources- Wikipedia, the pastors’ own websites, Forbes list of rich pastors, The Herald- Zimbabwe, naij.com, Celebrity Net Worth, therichest.com

NOTE: It is difficult to get perfectly accurate numbers because these ministries are non-profit and don’t need to disclose their income. Their net worth has been evaluated only by those things and monies actually in their name and possession. They do not include gifts to family members, jobs and salaries for family and friends and others that work for them, and extraneous such homes, vehicles, jets, offshore accounts and whatnots… All of the above compiled by Joelle Gagnon, EOE Staff