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Friday, August 14, 2009

Where Are The Prophets Now?

2 Thess. 2:10-13~"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11-And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12-That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

The nation's recession continues with high unemployment, record foreclosures, and an astounding national debt that has just exceeded $11.8 Trillion and is expected to surpass $12.1 Trillion by as early as October 2009. According to current studies Medicare will be insolvent by year 2017. Then President Barack Obama is insistently pushing for more govermental control of the healthcare of the nation's citizens. In light of this the over 45 Million individuals who receive Social Security/Medicaid are at risk that they will totally loose whatever benefits they are receiving within their lifetimes. So far as retirement benefits for those with 20 or more years left until retirement age, my advice is that you/we create another source of wealth for yourselves that will meet future needs because under current numbers there won't be enough tax base or resource to provide post retirement benefits for us at all. On top of all that, what we know as dollars, may be worthless in a short period of time due to rampant debt and global insecurity.

What Is This?

Knowledge of these things is not a fear tactic, it's a reality check. One needs not peer into the spirit realm to see and know the reality of many of these things. For the church and to the believer we have an assurance that God will provide and that we will be sustained:

Phil. 4:19~"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

The foundation of the true believer is secure and steadfast in Christ Jesus as he is the Rock upon which our hope, faith and trust is built.

Mt. 16:18~"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Unfortunately, there is another agenda that has seduced many in the church and continues to be a problem. It's the "snakeoil" salesmen that promises the miracle cure for whatever ails. Remember, from the secular point of view it's called control the masses. It begins in 2 parts:

1- Control the money (as the Federal Reserve CARTEL does) and
2- Control the mind, wellbeing and placement of the people by mass appropriation

We'll address the secular aspects of this more specifically in an upcoming post, but what makes all of this especially traggic is that the post modern church has seemingly, deliberately mimmicked many of the same techniques that scular society employs when it comes to the seduction of the minds of the people.

Let's Look Back

Many of us remember that 2007 was supposed to be the "Year Of Supernatural Release" or "The Year Of Freedom" associated with the number 7 and the year of jubiilee.(???) Then 2008 was the "Year Of New Beginnings" (one year after the 7, which somehow completed a cycle, and then at eight we start all over again...???) There were prophecies that went out all around the country and everything was "Howdy-Howdy!" If the ministry wasn't "grand" it was insignificant. If the bank account wasn't "deep", you weren't living up to your "God potential"

Similar to the materialistic teaching and "pimp daddy" preaching of the late Rev."You Can't Loose With The Stuff I Use"Ike, the messages then were as they are now: prosperity, sow, gift, seed, plant, harvest (in order to sow, gift, seed, plant and harvest again). The prophets were receiving all time high PROFITS. Many with personal jets "for the work of the ministry", starting banks, proclaiming a business for every one in the prayer line, a multimillion dollar venture for every adherent that would "sow a seed to meet the need", a new multimilliondollar home for all, a new luxry vehicle (Esc'y-Esc'y), a special "money anointing" for those who needed cash and supernatural "debt cancellation plan" for all them that would only, believe and "speak it into existence". Times were grand! Hopes were high. Notes were signed. Debts were piled up.

In his 2004 booklet "How To Be Rich And Have Everything You Ever Wanted" defrocked and resurged false prophet Robert Tilton stated that his message "declaring the 7 decrees of abundantly more" was "one of the most important messages that I have ever been sent by God to deliver." You mean Mr. Tilton placed this message on the same plane as the message of the cross? If it was one of the most important certainly it's up there, and especially since he preaches nothing else on his infomercial but propserity, we can safely say that this message is probably one of his ONLY messages therefore being at least equal to the cross in his mind.

In his letter attached to the book Charlatan Tilton says:

"...Jesus is going to cause what you give to be given back to you and MORE. You must plan a seed to receive a harvest. Plant a seed of $30 or $60 or even $100. Or pay a tithe and believe god to fulfill His word of riches and wealth to be in your house (Ps. 112:3). And believe as King David did in Ps. 118 when he prayed, "Oh God, SEND NOW PROSPERITY!"

Twisted context and scriptural manipulation is what we see most abundantly in the life of false teachers like Tilton. Not to mention the personal committments gone awry.

Then Reality Does Set In

Now some years later many of those that gave significant dollars and resources remain unfulfilled. Many of those prophesied up businesses either never materialized or went bankrupt. Homes have been forclosed upon, and cars have been reposessed. Some were even waiting by the mailbox for that "supernatural check" to cancel the debts after sowing their seeds, but only more bills came. Then others who were waiting for their healings slipped further into their medical conditions some paying the penalty by waiting too long to receive adequate medical care and therefore costing their lives.

These circumstances are sad and happen to many of us, and some of them are nothing to be ashamed about in and of themselves. But then others could have been prevented by listening to sound council instead of listening to wolves in sheeps clothing. It should be no surprise that a sinner can prophesy and sound good:

1 Sam. 18:7-12~"7-And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. 8-And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? 9-And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. 10-And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand. 11-And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice. 12-And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul."

Even Saul with jealously, hatred and murder in his heart was bound and overwhelmed by an "evil spirit" to prophesy.

Even at yet another time Saul and his men werre overcome and prophesied even as they sought to kill David.

1 Sam. 19:19-24~"19-And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah. 20-And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 21-And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. 22-Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah. 23-And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24-And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?"

We should note that the "gift" is not the only consideration that should be had. The quality of the word of God and the lifestyle and integrity of the vessel should be the greatest considerations. Now many will say that "prophecy" doesn't exist as a modern gift or if it does exist it doesn't men to foretell it only means to forthtell. I don't want to necessarily open that can of worms in this post but the critic (the cessationist)is hardpressed to set forth a truely biblical hermenutic that would support either of those propositions especially since the New Testament church was specifically engaged in this gift even during the post-apostollic period.

More specifically for this post, what we should ask is this: Where has the prophet been since all of this trouble has arisen and why didn't the prophet have a word warning us that we'd be in this condition?

Oooh, Oooh, Oooh, I Know!

1- Many of these persons that we call prophets weren't saved to begin with and certainly had no connection with God to know what was coming. Then secondly, unfortunately, many of the prophets (who were once saved) were seeking PROFITS and adding to the delusion of the people of God.

You see in most prophetic schemes "the blessings don't flow unless you sow"...In other words the money has to come under control of the prophet. This always leads to the security fo the wellbeing of the individuals and eventually the controlling of the actions of the masses. When those two things are combined within a person who is irresponsible and not saved, it is always a dangerour coctail of spiritual intoxication and a seething cauldron of sin waiting to happen.

Seeking PROFITS:

Similar to the hip-hop entertainer who sometimes create multiple personalities to deal with their issues, some prophets are not just one, but two also. In fact, Masterprophet Bishop Mar Elijah Bernard Jordan founder of Zoe (Gk: The god kind of life) Ministries prophesies for a fee. This is what his website says about Bishop Jordan's gift:

"Bishop Jordan is a modern-day prophet whose ministry is absolutely astounding! Like Nostradamus, Bishop Pike, and Edgar Cayce, the accuracy of the gift that operates in Bishop Jordan will astound you! He is known to predict exact names, dates, and times of events both individually and globally! His visual perception is so exact that he is able to give accurate descriptions of locations that are pertinent to the recipient of the prophecy! Bishop Jordan differs from those who can operate with extra-sensory perception, for his calling as a prophet endows him with a degree of authority. As a prophet, he can truly decree a thing and see it established---just like the prophets of the Scriptures! He is not one just to give information, but he is also known to create miracles and circumvent events merely by the power of his speech!"

"merely by the power of his speech" Wow! Why go any place else or to anyone when we can hang around The Masterprophet and he can shape reality for us through his speech? He is the world-speech-bender almost like Naruto.

Bishop Jordan is like "Nostradamus", "Bishop Pike", and "Edgar Cayce". I was familiar with the other two individuals and know that they rendered nothing that was subject to Christ in their works but I wanted to know more about Bishop Pike. He was an American Episcopal Bishop. To commend Pike, he was a desegregationalist, however his spritual practices and doctrines were unbiblical. In fact he was a proponent of what we know know as gay inclusion and also one who was caught up heavily in spiritualism and was even "poltergiested" according to his own accounting. He wrote a book called "The Other Side" in which he documented his expereinces after the drug overdose of his son and he also preformed a seance with his dead son through an apostate preacher named Arthur Ford on television. The Masterprophet is like him? God help us please!!!

There's a second aspect of development of this personality. This is what the website says about Mar Elijah's duties:

"Mar Elijah flows with the wisdom and insight of the prophet Daniel, of whom the Bible says understood all the sciences. In their time and season, Moses and Joseph also understood the prophetic sciences of their day, enabling them to overcome their obstacles. The Neophytes under The Prophetic Order of Mar Elijah are trained not only to hear the voice of God and articulate it accurately, but are taught scientific ways of mind renewal and development using the Word of God and proven technique sciences."

Mar Elijah is like Daniel, he says that he was assigned to raise up 300 "neophytes" before the year 2000 as the "foundation stones", and the gifts he shares with the neophytes (foundation stones) is to teach them ways of "mind renewal and development using the Word of God and proven technique sciences." Just in case you couldn't get through the jargon this is called mind contol.

I thought,"a neophyte"??? This is the definition I find for that:

"A beginner; A novice (recent convert), a new convert or proselyte; A name given by the early Christians, and still given by the Roman Catholics, to those who have recently embraced the Christian faith, and been admitted to baptism, especially those converts from heathenism or Judaism; A plant"

The question is, does a neophyte (one who is a recent convert) really need to be involved in controlling the mind of others? In fact does the ministry at any level need to be involved in mind control techniques? I suppose you can answer those questions for yourselves...Or better yet let the word of God answer it for us:

2 Cor. 4:1-2~"1-Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2-But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God."

One thing is certain, God is not and will not use these mind control agents, and they render no glory to the Lord through their works.

Then there are others such as West African Prophet Thomas Manton IV who also Traffics Pornography Once again these are real lifes issues and noone is immune to problems, however one wonders is the PROFITIC ministry only a cover for many of these guys or what? Prophet Manton was so influential that leaders of countries were making decisions based on his word and in some cases having people executed. Here's what Bishop Mutthee had to say about seeking to get into this prophetic gift:

"According to Thomas Manton IV’s January 2004 prophecy, the Lord is turning our night into morning. Within days of the prophet prophesying a political leader would die, one suddenly died in a road accident. God has greatly used Prophet Thomas Manton IV in Kenya and many other nations. Things have actually happened as he declared they would! I believe this same prophetic anointing shall flow into you as you go through these prophetic revelations word-by-word!" ~Apostle Pastor Mutthee – Kenya

Then there's probably the grandmomma of them all...Juanita Bynum III. No wait it's only II for now...Act 3 is on the way! According to Gcmwatch.com, Juanita Bynum II is glad for the dollars and praises whosoever gives them even if their lifestyles aren't biblical. In this case she was more than happy to praise homosexuals for their support, calling them children of God, without hinting they they must repent, leave homosexuality and be saved. Juanita yet breathes out her false prophecies on her web radio network and website but don't expect to find insight on how to come out of sin and be free of false prophetic influences. That would be a prophetic violation.

In short there are 2 standards that I am interested in when it comes to the modern day prophet. 1- Are they biblically centered? and 2- Do they live what they teach? and I'll add a third, are they glorifying God or are they glorifying themselves? In short these guidelines should be good guidelines for any servant of God assessing the value of the ministry from which they partake, but especially that of the prophet. The weak and vunerable would do good to stay away from these wolves and those similar to these. They are popping up everywhere, saying promising words collecting money and leaving individuals broke and frustrated. Remember, they only have the power that you give them and their works will be judged.

We'll conclude with the words of the Apostle John regarding this issue:

1 John 4:1~"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."



Blessed!

16 comments:

  1. Amen Pastor Burnett,

    You know there is a parallel working here. Let me explain. Madoff ran a ponzi scheme to the world's financial system. These profits and pimps basically have been doing the same to the body of CHRIST. I thank GOD for opened eyes and correction.

    Question: Where does the Body of CHRIST go from here?

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  2. Enochwalked,

    I think the true body of Christ has never left their word, honor and respect for Christ and did as you, came out from under the influence of these false teachers.

    I'm doing another post and finding that some of these charlatan's influence is deep within the black community especially. Many of their saying yet resonate today and many of their beliefs.

    For those of us who are of the most recent generation, I think we should strive to better ourselves scripturally keeping that spiritual fervor. Some of us get so intellectual until we surrender the Spirit thinking that a true "spirit led" worship style is somehoh less honoriffic to god when quite the contrary is true.

    So in short, continue in prayer and in the word. That was the success of the early church and it'll be the success of ours.

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  3. Another good post, Pastor Burnett.

    Having come out of the word of faith movement myself, can I add my own insight into how it gets started?

    The root, imo, is in thinking we, as Christians, can do anything at all FOR something.

    Now I know that you and I disagree on this, but it's just my opinion that has come through experience and I won't say revelation because I don't believe that God is finished showing me it all.

    I will remain outside of any organized religion until I'm sure of what His Word is saying, and what I think it's saying is that the only reason God does anything at all for us is because of Jesus, just like you said, and through Jesus to glorify the Father.

    Now if you agree with that, let me add that it's taken me all my life to get to this realization, and I can clearly see how religion itself bears the brunt of responsibility in leading the Body of Christ astray, because it's religion that tells us there are things we can do to earn (for lack of a better word) the love of our Father in Heaven, or two-legged salvation, or even rewards in the hereafter.

    I don't think any of us can even fathom what exactly takes place when we pray in the Name of Jesus, and boldly believe that God will hear us for His sake. Even as visual a person as I am, I can't see in my mind anything but Jesus standing in-between me and God, hiding me completely and making my appeal for me because I am a sinner and nothing without His Blood.

    In my opinion, if we believe anything else, we have already fallen for the schemes to a vast degree, and our discernment may only apply to the extreme cases. It's been hard getting the false teaching out of my head, but I've been striving to "unlearn" and relearn and I can tell you there is very little out there that matches the Word of God 100%.

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  4. This post confirms the spiritual discernment alarms that would go off when I hear one of these false prophets speak. This is clearly a case of witchcraft that these people are using against the people of God. They use seducing spirits to make their pockets fatter.

    Now as far as where the Body of Christ can go from here? We shall be Raptured in the air with our Savior. In the mean time while we are still on earth, we must continue to pray that God will open the eyes of believers everywhere so that they won't deceived any longer

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  5. Pastor Burnett one of the things I struggle with is what Im doing effective. Per Is 21:6 I am to declare what I see. I do that with my blog, yet is this just as you told me God's witness to people he will judge or will people turn away from these folks? It seems they continue to grow and get more money, more influence and more wicked as the day goes by.

    Is there something else we should do, could do?

    Or just hold steady?

    BTW, I appreciate you laying this out so clear even a fool wont err. Your posts are fact filled, not just biased conjecture. But why do people ignore facts and still continue to support false prophets to their own destruction? Have they been "give over", has God sent a "strong delusion"?

    Sorry, lots of questions.

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  6. gmcwatch said "Is there something else we should do, could do?"

    I have wondered about this too, lately. Where do we draw the line in trying to get out the truth? (personally, I think some of those mentioned in Pastor's post are the ones who will hear "depart from Me, I never knew you").

    Though I shake my head and wonder how so many can be fooled by these self-described prophets and how sad that is, fact of the matter is if their followers have accepted Christ then they are in no danger, but will have a lack-luster finish due to their lack of knowledge and discernment.

    But you can't shake a stick without hitting a non-believer now days, and they believe all kinds of stuff that will not bode well for them in the end.

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  7. Gcmwatch,

    You said:"or will people turn away from these folks?"

    I think that ultimately God will continue to use individuals such as yourself as those who will continue to sound the alarm helping the people of God in identifying this type of apostasy. The problem is that this generation doesn't have a reference for what is TRUE and what they have seen previously has been a sham and knock-off of many of these type of false prophets. So your work , I believe, is much more effective than you or I can begin to know and or evaluate at present.

    You said: It seems they (false prophets & ministries) continue to grow and get more money, more influence and more wicked as the day goes by.

    That's the dilemma. Both you and I remind ourselves what davis said in Ps. 37:35 The wicked was "in great power" and "spreading himself" as a "green bay tree". He looked good, effective, profitable and all. But the verny next verse 36 David said that he went to look for the wicked and he "was not" he was cut off and couldn't be found. That will be the ultimate judgement for these cats. In the meantime their works are exposed and found lacking. Revelation 2:22 speaking of Thyatira who had a seat and space for Jezebel to Prophesy, seduce and teach, God said he was casing the people into the same bed, into great tribulation and v.23 says killing "her children with death". Whatever comes from those who have been seduced also is cursed.

    This is a horrible state and how will they know unless you and other like you tell them?

    You said: Is there something else we should do, could do? Or just hold steady?

    Hold steady and obey God. Bothe you and I know that if either of us had a million right now, about $750,000 of it is spent spreading the gespel right now. That's why God has us on a management plan of "slow release"-LOL! Our actions are to be tempered by his will.

    You also asked: But why do people ignore facts and still continue to support false prophets to their own destruction? Have they been "give over", has God sent a "strong delusion"?

    I beluieve that many of them have been given over. Some of them can want something so bad until they misplace God. Wait until my next post but I'll tell you this: when people can't feel the "spirit" until their favorite preacher or prophet arrives, there's TROUBLE in the camp. The ability to worship false Gods has been inextricably woven into the fabric of our communities and churches. This is what we face. People would rather keep their idol alive than kill it. This is pretty deep my brother.

    Thanks for the compliments and stay on the wall!

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  8. 2 Tim. 3:1-5 ~"1-This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2-For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3-Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4-Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5-Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away"

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  9. I'm sorry I can't type, that's the cause of the errors in spelling. I'll try to pay greater attention.

    I was watching Bernard Jordan the other night. He was supposedly giving a prophesy to a lady over the phone: He asked her about he husband. She said she didn't have a husband and wasn't married...he seemed surprised and tried his best to back out of it even trying to make the "husband" a figurative or spiritual thing...the only problem was that he "suggested" that her husbands actions were changing...it was something that couldn't be changed.It was either she had a husband or not...As I said he backed out of it and went on to another "blessing" that she was gong to receive.

    Mostly all of his prophecies were like that...very vague, unspecific and open to interpretation. His bio said that he's called names, places events etc...but notice none of that on the show and even if he did, you'd have to conclude it's because he knows the person he's talking to.

    Another is Eddie Long. On his show (Sunday) he prophesied at the altar and it was the same type of things...I think what he should have been prophesying up was a new wardrobe and mind to work the altar of God. It's sacreligious to dress like he dresses and try to absolve the sins of men...This tight disfunctional wardrobe gotta go!

    I wonder do any of them get a "word" from the Lord regarding that?

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  10. I guess disfunctional is spelled dysfunctional...ANYWAY, It's gotta go no matter how it's spelled-LOL!!!

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  11. Ive noticed that very much not only with the false prophets youve mentioned but you see the same trait running in these prototypes who undoubtedly watch and mimic them in churches.

    Its the in thing: vague, meaningless
    "God is gonna do..." garbage. Ive heard it so many times and it makes me angry. I guess they can tell thats why they never approach me with the stuff.

    But what is interesting is the shift into manipulation. In exchange for the vague or patently false prophecies, people are directed to give a specific amount of money.

    Paula White is the grand high priestess of that.

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  12. Pastor Burnett,I see a perfect description of these false ones in 2 peter chapter 2. There were false prophets also among the people,even as there shall be false teachers among you...and many shall follow their pernicious ways;by reason of whom the truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you...Which have forsaken the right right way, and gone astray following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor,who loved the wages of unrighteousness;But he was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.They are false,they are deceived and deceiving,the are making merchandise of the deceived,they love the wages of unrighteousness,they have forsaken the right way, the only thing missing is a donkey to forbid them of their madness [craziness]. We must accept the truth about anything or anybody,and I do.I thank God for the truth and you for being of the truth.

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  13. WALTER,

    Thanks, and you're certainly on point..."The only think missing is the donkey"-LOL! 4- real!

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  14. This is one of those areas of false teaching that really needs to be exposed. So many of those who are hurting and weary and seeking God fall prey to these wolves in sheep's clothing only to be fleeced. This form of heresy and "spiritual humanism" is rooted in the same materialism as secular humanism which has also infected the theology and practices of the Church - especially the pentecostal/charismatic fold.
    It is high time for real biblical preaching and teaching particularly in the African-American and pentecostal churches. We cannot divorce the Prince from His principles; we must have both if we are to live and work in His service.

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  15. Rev.

    You said:"We cannot divorce the Prince from His principles; we must have both if we are to live and work in His service."

    I'm sorry my man, but I'm gonna have to save that and use it for future reference!

    AMEN, and AMEN again!

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  16. Bernard Jordan and Bishop Pike...he was kinda caught red handed in that wasn't he? I mean he/his own people make that connection, not anyone else...

    WOW!

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