Gary, Jay — Jay Gary
Proponent of Kingdom Now theology. His book, “The Star of 2000,” was the subject of a very positive review in “New Man,” the magazine of the Promise Keepers. In the book, Gary sets a deadline of 2000 for the rising up of an army of “god-men” (see Joel’s Army/Manifest Sons of God)
Gemeente Gods, De
Netherlands-based cult, disbanded after its leaders were arrested on charges of child sexual abuse and rape.
Founder: Sipke Vrieswijk. Co-leader: his girlfriend, Aagje F.
Vrieswijk claimed to be a prophet – one of the two prophets of Revelation 11. His cult kept members away from friends and family. Practices included sexual abuse and sexual orgies, sometimes under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Members were told that if they left De Gemeente Gods they were lost.
On February 12, 1999 Dutch media (Nederlands Dagblad; Teletekst) reported that a court in Arnhem, Netherlands sentenced ex-cult leader S. Vrieswijk (70), and his girlfriend (47) to detention and treatment in a psychiatric hospital for the sexual abuse and rape of two underage girls. The abuse took place for many years.
Vrieswijk and his girlfriend were leaders of “De Gemeente Gods” (The Church of Christ – no relation to the denomination, or the International Church of Christ cult). In court, they also admitted to sexual relations with other members of the cult, which from 1983-1993 was headquartered in a monastry in Velddriel (Holland).
In 1993, the cult leaders and several members moved to Cyprus and later to Israel, where the sexual abuse continued. The abused women were told they were the chosen brides of Christ.
The two leaders insisted they were not guilty because, they claimed, they acted on the will of God.
Het Laatste Oordeel. Dutch-language radio documentary, KRO, May 27, 1988.
Groothuis, Douglas — Douglas Groothuis
Douglas R. Groothuis is Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary. He is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society, Evangelical Philosophical Society, and Society of Christian Philosophers.
A philosopher and Christian apologist, he is the author of Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith, Truth Decay: Defending Christianity Against the Challenges of Postmodernism, Philosophy in Seven Sentences: A Small Introduction to a Vast Topic, and other books.
His articles have appeared in scholarly journals and popular magazines.
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