“Seer Prophet” Bob Jones – Controversial ‘Kansas City Prophet’
Bob Jones (not the one connected with Bob Jones University) died 1 on February 14, 2014 at the age of 83.
A prominent figure in the New Apostolic Reformation, Jones was the most controversial of the ‘Kansas City Prophets.’
Leaders at the infamous Kansas City Fellowship described him publicly as a “resident seer.”
Jones claimed that when he was seven years old, the archangel Gabriel appeared to him — riding a white horse and blowing a double silver trumpet into his face, before throwing an old bull skin mantle at his feet.
Jones said the mantle was that of a ‘Seer Prophet.’
Later Jones claimed that he died in 1975, but that God “sent him back to minister to church leadership and reach the multitudes with His love, truth and equipping the saints with understanding of the spiritual gifts.”
Hundreds of thousands of Christians who have bought into the controversial ‘renewal and revival’ movements, such as the Toronto Blessing or the Pensacola Outpouring, eagerly accepted anything and everything Bob Jones had to say.
Discerning Christians knew better, and rejected his Jones’ plethora of occult visions, unbiblical teachings and false prophecies.
Vineyard Christian Fellowship Disciplines Bob Jones
Soon after the Vineyard Christian Fellowship had started to work with the Kansas City Fellowship, Jones was removed from his ministry duties at the Vineyard due to sexual misconduct. This misconduct did not include intercourse, but consisted of encouraging women to undress in his office so they could stand “naked before the Lord” in order to receive a “word.” 2
Jamie Buckingham, an internationally renowned best-selling author, columnist, and conference speaker, at the time wrote this in his newsletter, Buckingham Report:
The moral fall of a respected leader is one of the saddest events in Christendom. Over the past few years, we’ve been inundated with news of leaders— evangelical, Catholic and Pentecostal—who have fallen before the fiery darts of Satan.
The recent problems in Jimmy Swaggart’s life, just when some of us were so hopeful he was making progress, have devastated many—and perhaps spell the end to another tower of Babel
rising, as was PTL, to man’s glory.
Now news has come that one of the high-profile prophets in the Vineyard ministry has fallen. Bob Jones, for a number of years associated with the Kansas City Fellowship (now Metro Vineyard Fellowship) is being disciplined by his superiors. Pastor Mike Bickle and the elders of the Kansas City church— as well as the elders of Vineyard International— have acted with commendable dispatch and compassion to police the matter. Under ordinary circumstances, we would not report this—feeling it was being handled properly in-house. However, because Vineyard leader John Wimber has distributed an explanation to all Vineyard pastors and other leaders, we feel it is proper to commend his example and, with sad hearts, to publish his letter:
“Dear Friend of the Vineyard, When a leader falls into sin, the Word tells us that elders ‘who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning’ (1 Tim. 5:20, NIV). We, the national Vineyard leadership, believe that the rebuke of a leader discovered sinning should be published at a level commensurate with his visibility and ministry. Therefore, with much sorrow, we are writing this letter to you.
It has been discovered, confirmed and confessed to that Bob Jones, a recent associate of the Vineyard, and with a nationally recognized prophetic ministry, has been involved in serious sin. His actions have necessitated his being removed from all ministry at this time. The sins for which Bob has been removed from ministry include using his gifts to manipulate people for his personal desires, sexual misconduct, rebelling against pastoral authority, slandering leaders and the promotion of bitterness within the body of Christ.
Regarding our pastoral concerns, our goal at this time is not Bob’s restoration to ministry, but his restoration to his walk with Christ. Presently, Bob is fully cooperating with honesty and humility, and we are choosing to believe that his repentance is sincere. We ask you to pray for Bob and his wife and for us as we work together with them. A second, just as significant, pastoral concern is for those who have been sinned against. They are receiving pastoral counseling and are being helped in every way possible.
With any moral failure — whether it’s done by a home-fellowship leader, pastor or evangelist — it’s important to distinguish the ministry from the sin. In this instance, we encourage those of you who have been positively ministered to by Bob to hold onto those good things God has done in you.
We encourage you not to make judgments against the value of the prophetic based on this incident, but would rather ask you to rejoice with us as we obey the words of the apostle Paul, ‘Brothers if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourselves or you also may be tempted. Carry each others’ burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:1-2).
Sincerely in Christ,
John Wimber
for the National Board and Council”
Bob Jones supported by other controversial leaders
Abundantly supported by fellow false prophet Rick Joyner, Jones was a major proponent of Latter Rain and Manifest Sons theology.
Former Kansas City Fellowship pastor Mike Bickle, under whose leadership the Kansas City Prophets ‘ministered,’ has continued to promote Bob Jones. Bickle later founded the (equally controversial) International House of Prayer (IHOP). In a video posted at IHOP’s website Bickle highlights Jones’ influence on the history of IHOP.
Articles
- Bob Jones — a Tail of A Prophet Overview of Jones’ approach to prophecy
- The Kansas City Prophets by Sandy Simpson. Includes an extended look at Bob Jones.
- The New Apostolic Reformation: Influence and Teachings, by Holly Pivec
- Wandering Stars: An Examination of the New Apostles and Prophets Review of a book in which among other things the teachings of leading figures in the New Apostolic Reformation movement (including such men as Rick Joyner, Mike Bickle, and Bob Jones) are closely examined.
See Also
- The Way of Cain This extensive article provides lots of background information about the history of the false doctrines and practices in which people like Bob Jones, who is mentioned several times, were able to gain a following
Notes:
- This link leads to an archive news item published by Charisma — an organization that has a long history of promoting false teachers, ‘apostles,’ and ‘prophets.’ ↩
- Documentation ↩
Article details
Related topic(s): Bob Jones
First published (or major update) on Monday, February 17, 2014.
Last updated on March 12, 2023. Original content is © Copyright Apologetics Index. All Rights Reserved. For usage guidelines see link at the bottom.
Bill Caron I believe that we should look at a person the same way God sees a person. Samson was used by God even after he had a fall. And God’s final report card of King David after David has left earth and can do nothing else to add nor substract to it, is this:
Acts 13:22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’
King David’s repentance and God’s restoration
Psalms 51 and what the Prophet Nathan proclaim showed that King David had true repentance which God fully accepted. (Killing an innocent person and adultery are both punishable by death.)
If God is looking for flawlessness and sinlessness after the initial acceptance of Christ, commissioning into ministry, then, we would all be Jesus Christ and not need to rely on a Savior. But, the fact that that the Blood of Jesus is great enough and powerful enough to cleanse and greatly use anyone who has true repentance. (In fact,
Psalm 103, especially verse 13
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18.
The same Savior that restored Apostle Peter that denied Him thrice, is the same Savior that restores everyone and anyone that earnestly turns back to Him for salvation.