Lifetime TV’s “Preach” – False Prophetesses of The End Times

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” – Matthew 7:15.

As Christian reality television shows continue to descend to new levels of blasphemy against the faith, Lifetime television’s “Preach” is the latest installment that mocks the Word of God for entertainment. The show follows four “prophetesses” who serve as pastors of apostate prosperity Gospel ministries and mentors to up and coming apprentices who are trying to “earn the title of Prophetess.” In one of the most blasphemous display ever put on television, these women supposedly have the power to call on the Holy Spirit to perform numerous miracles, signs and wonders, dazzling their many deceived followers with the wildly unbiblical teachings. The show is a perfect example of how far the modern, Biblically illiterate church has fallen into the apostasy – the prophesied end times falling away in the church from Biblical Christianity, into man-centered false doctrines that deceive millions of people in pews every Sunday.

The Trailer

Here is the trailer for the show:

And here is the official synopsis:

Prayers are about to be answered with Lifetime’s all-new docuseries “Preach,” premiering Friday, June 5th, at 10pm ET/PT. With the religious leadership world primarily dominated by men, the show produced by CORE Media Group follows four powerful female leaders who believe God has given them the ability to heal the sick, see the future and rid people of their addictions. Known as “Prophetesses,” these women speak as the interpreter through whom the will of God is expressed. In order for their legacy to continue, they must enlist a “protégé” and teach them how to carry on their gift. These Queens of the Church each have different styles and their own special way of delivering God’s message, but all are united in their love of the Lord.

The Age of Satanic Deception

“Prophetess” Taketa Williams “blows” the Holy Spirit into a follower’s face.

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. – Matthew 24:24.

When asked about the definitive signs that the end of the world and His Second Coming were approaching, The Lord Jesus Christ gave a startling reply:

“..Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” – Matthew 24:4-5.

The “end times” – a term for the final years leading up the Great Tribulation and the Second Coming of Christ – would be marked by unprecedented spiritual deception. Jesus stated that “many” people would emerge on the public scene presenting themselves as Christians, being anointed of God or even being the Messiah themselves, when in fact they were spiritually corrupted deceivers. This trend has taken hold in the church as many apostate, false pastors in thousands of churches all over the world are telling their followers they have “the anointing” or a special “power from God” and in fact they are impostors teaching unbiblical heresies and leading their congregations away from Biblical Christianity and the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and into man-made, person-centered false teachings.
Preach is a perfect example of this rampant deception. From the opening minutes of the first episode, the “Lady Prophetesses” as they call themselves, proclaim that their preaching is directly from God. Dressed in designer fashion and living in opulent mansions, these women repeatedly brag about their mighty spiritual powers. They heal the sick, battle demons of drug addiction and alcohol. Some even claim to have resurrected the dead during church services. And all have the power to “slay in the spirit” – where they can knock a person unconscious by merely touching their foreheads. Here are some of the statements from Prophetess Dr. Belinda Scott:

“we’re not just preachers, we receive divine messages straight from God.”

“I have a mandate to speak for God. The gift was bestowed on me at the age of 11 years old.”

“The test of a prophetess is that – that which they speak comes to pass. I was able to see the events of Hurricane Katrina in a dream weeks before it happened..”

 

The True Test of A Prophet

Dr. Belinda Scott uses her “prophetic” powers on a follower.

Deuteronomy 13 outlines the tests of whether a prophet is truly sent from God or is a messenger of Satan:

If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee. – Deuteronomy 13:1-5.

Notice that the Bible confirms that a false prophet can make a prediction that actually comes to pass. So just being able to make an accurate prediction of the future or perform a wonder does not validate a prophet. The passage continues to command that believers evaluate the doctrine of this prophet. If what they preach is not in line with the Word of God (and thus would lead a listener to a false God or false version of Jesus Christ) they are not a true prophet or prophetess and we are commanded by God to not follow them. Notice that The Lord provides the reason for why false prophets were even permitted – as a test. God uses false prophets to “proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” If you are studying your Bible and evaluating the preaching you hear based on Scripture then you are demonstrating your faith in God’s Word over any man or woman’s. This is showing a love for God. So a Christian must use the Bible as the ultimate authority and be wary of all preaching until it seems clear that the preacher is teaching in line with sound Biblical doctrine.

Preach opens its first episode with Dr. Scott proclaiming: “For many years preaching has been a man’s game, but it’s our turn now.” The purpose of this statement is to boldly announce that the women on the show all serve as pastors of their respective churches in Ohio. The Bible is clear on the requirements for a pastor:

This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. – 1 Timothy 3:1-5.

The office of pastor is ordained by God for be held by men, and specifically “the husband of one wife.” In 1 Timothy chapter 2 the Scriptures say: “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” (1 Timothy 2:11-14).

A true prophetess would not act in rebellion against God’s Word.

So from its very first line, the women of Preach are acting in direct contradiction to God’s Word. So should a Christian be following these women? If a person reads God’s Word and follows someone preaching the opposite they are showing more love for man (or woman) than for The Lord. This is the test God is referring to in Deuteronomy 13. It is a test of the heart and where a person’s faith truly lies. And the women of Preach, like many other apostate false prophets are able to seduce their followers from loving God with flashy style, over the top theatrical preaching and a message that is centered on the listener and their earthly, wants needs and desires.

To no surprise all four of the prophetesses preach the wildly unbiblical Prosperity Gospel heresy that states that every Christian should be healthy, wealthy, fashionable and materially successful. This doctrine preached by some of the most famous pastors today such as Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes and Creflo Dollar – has no basis in Scripture whatsoever. But yet, people all across the world are being swept up in its appeal to the flesh. The Bible predicted this would take place as the end times approached:

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. – 2 Timothy 4:1-4.

A quick examination of the preaching of the women of Preach and it becomes clear that they are trying to scratch “itching ears”, with a theatrical, entertainment-style message. Here is Prophetess Linda Roark preaching a message from the book of Ezekiel:

This ridiculous display is not Biblical Christianity. Notice Roark takes one small paraphrase of Scripture and then turns it into her own message “from God.” Screaming phrases like “God said you gotta learn to swim!” or “God says you gotta catch the wave!” While sprawled on the floor, she works the crowd into a frenzy as her backup band plays exhilarating music to continue the emotional thrill ride. This style of preaching may seem silly but it is taking place in thousands of churches every Sunday. The Bible is mainly used as introductory material for the false prophet’s performance who continually says things not from the Bible but attributes them to God. This is a demonic deception that is leading many into damnation.

The proteges are trained in the false doctrines of the show.

1 Corinthians 14 provided an outline of how prophesying should be done in the first century church of Corinth. This was a church where many people were showing off their “gifts” and services had become disorderly displays and not focused on teaching God’s Word and giving Him glory. The Apostle Paul, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote in his rebuke to them:

How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. – 1 Corinthians 14:27-33.

Was Prophetess Roark edifying the church during that sermon? Was the Word of God truly being taught? Was there a person interpreting her prophesying? No, instead it was just a wild, unbiblical performance that was promoting nothing but confusion. The Apostle Paul continued his instructions for church service stating:

Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. – 1 Corinthians 14:27-37.

Clearly Roark was anything but “silent.” Paul ends this section by saying that anyone who deems themselves a prophet must acknowledge that the commands of 1 Corinthians 14 are not his opinions – they are divinely-inspired commands of God. So is Roark truly following God or acting out in disobedience? From the clear meaning of Scripture she is rebelling against the commands of The Lord. Therefore she cannot be a true prophet of God because her doctrine is leading people away from God and not towards penitent faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Here is a clip of Prophetess Taketa Williams preaching on Judges Chapter 4. Williams, who refers to herself as “the Beyonce of Gospel” (which alone should be a red flag that any woman of God want to title herself after an x-rated performer), told her followers during her TV ministry broadcast that she “prophesies” while being intimate with her husband. And yet despite such outright blasphemy and perversion she boldly proclaims that she receives her messages directly from God [B&E: Williams comes on at 40 seconds into the video]:

This clip is a very good example of how seductive a false prophet can be. Williams like Roark speaks with unlimited passion and energy. In the passage she is preaching from the Israelites had fallen into sinful rebellion against God by worshiping false idols and demons. As a result The Lord punished the ancient nation by allowing their enemies the Canaanites to attack and overpower them. The prophetess Deborah – a true Prophetess of God, instructed a soldier named Barak to lead an army to fight against Sisera, the much-feared military leader of the Canaanites. Once Barak agreed Deborah prophesied that while Barak would be victorious the ultimate glory for killing Sisera would go to a woman. This prophecy was fulfilled at the end of Judges Chapter 4:

Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him. Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.

Then Jael Heber’s wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples. So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel. And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan. – Judges 4:17-24.

This amazing chapter of Scripture teaches so many powerful lessons. The need for repentance when a people or an individual are deep in sin. Crying out to God and The Lord answering prayer. It details the work of a true prophetess  – who delivers God’s Word and directs others in order to bring God glory. [B&E: While a woman cannot hold the office of pastor there is certainly Biblical support for a woman being a prophetess]. Barak was the military leader in the chapter, but he was merely a servant executing God’s plan. It was God who “discomfited” and defeated the Canaanite army. By the time Barak and his men attacked, Sisera and his once-mighty armies were already running in fear. And just as Deborah accurately prophesied, Sisera did not fall at the hands of Barak but at the hands of Jael, who of course was carrying out God’s ordained plan to liberate Israel from the Canaanite oppression. Her assassination of Sisera also provides a powerful foreshadow of the defeat of the Antichrist by The Lord Jesus Christ (for more on this see our article: “Jael The Assassin: Foreshadow of Jesus’ Victory Over Satan and The Antichrist.”)

A protege serves as “Armor Bearer” for superstar false prophetess Linda Roark.

The true Biblical lessons from this passage are about God, not us. Prophetess Williams preaches on this passage and puts all the focus on Jael and her strategy to make Sisera fall asleep. Jael was a “shot caller” and a “baller” and of course the conclusion from that is you can be one too. This is not Biblical preaching. It’s using the Bible as a pretext to teach a self-empowerment message. It is a very subtle way of preaching that puts all of the focus on the individual and not on God. And certainly on the show Preach that is obvious – at no point in the first hour-long episode of the show is there any mention of the Gospel, forgiveness of sin or the need for repentance. The focus is squarely on the four ladies, how fabulous they are and all of the magical powers they have allegedly received from God.
Being “Slain In The Spirit!” And Deliverance – Demonic Deception

There is nothing in the Bible about the heretical practice of being “slain in the spirit.”

Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. – Jeremiah 23:1-2.

The main event of the show is the “Deliverance Service” where hundreds of deceived churchgoers can come and have the Prophetesses “lay hands” on them and “slay them in the spirit” – knocking them unconscious with a simple touch to the forehead – to provide a miracle such as healing, financial breakthrough, release from drug addiction and other amazing claims. Slaying in the spirit is not in the Bible. There is absolutely no place in the entire Bible where any prophet, priest or preacher ever touches or pushes a person to render them unconscious for Holy Spirit deliverance. This is a completely man-made heresy that has no place in Biblical Christianity. During the early days of the first century church, the Apostles – men appointed by God, were selecting the first deacons to assist in the management of church functions this is where a clear example of “laying hands” is given in Scripture:

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

 

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. – Acts 6:1-8.

Notice with the laying of hands there was no one falling on the ground. No one was crying, screaming or having convulsions on the floor. The Holy Spirit, at that time, before the Word of God had been fully written, was transferred by the Apostles (those who had firsthand witnessed the resurrection of Jesus Christ) to men of “honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom.” It was to ordain and grant miraculous power as a demonstration that these men were truly sent from God. This is how their words could be trusted as the New Testament of the Bible was not yet written.

This is not the effect of the Holy Spirit of God.

The Apostle Paul who fell when Jesus appeared to him from the sky in Acts chapter 9, had hands laid on him by a disciple named Ananias to heal the temporary blindness Paul suffered from:

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. – Acts 9:17-20.

Paul was healed of his divinely-imposed blindness for a specific reason – to empower him to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The laying of hands was an ordination for the work of the church – preaching the Gospel and teaching God’s Word to others. It was not done just to perform signs and wonders and dazzle crowds. It was not done to focus on personal, earthly problems. And there was no recording of anyone falling or passing out as a result of being touched by an Apostle. It was also done on very few occasion during a very short time period in the church. By the time several decades passed the miracles performed by the Apostles basically ceased. The Apostle even advised his own disciple Timothy to drink wine for his stomach illness and the many other infirmities he was dealing with.

Yet the women of Preach are supposedly performing miracles each day and can even use their sweat to “anoint” a follower. Their protégés, young women they are training to “earn the title of prophetess” have to follow the prophetesses around, serving as bodyguards (the show gives them the title “armor bearer”) and personal assistants to their “diva” mentors. And as is the case in most apostate churches the protégés are in awe of their Prophetesses. When one young lady is told she will be helping to slay in the spirit at a “Deliverance” meeting, she exclaims “this is like getting my first pair of red bottoms…this is big” (a reference comparing serving God to getting a pair of designer shoes). Another protégé is taught by her Prophetess to focus on God’s power by going to a gun range for shooting practice. At no point is Bible study referenced or any teaching of the Gospel taking place.

The Judgment of False Prophets

Taketa Williams wipes her sweat to “anoint” her protege with “the spirit”.

Here is a clip of false Prophetess Kelly Crew preaching on “mindset shift”:

So by her account the problem of the congregation is not their sin – it is that they are shopping on the wrong rack at the clothing store because they should not be looking for discounts. Despite not giving any type or Biblical preaching the crowd is on their feet, dancing and praising this message. Jeremiah 23 contains a scathing rebuke of prophets and pastors who preach messages that are not truly from God’s Word:

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?… I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. – Jeremiah 23:16-18; 21-22.

Saying “peace” is what the false prophetesses of preach build their ministry on. With a sole focus on earthly prosperity they constantly tell their followers that their healing, financial breakthrough or new relationship is just moments away. They encourage their congregations to focus on their own material status rather than worry about their eternal destiny, God’s judgment and giving God praise not just because you are going to receive a raise, but because your name is written in the Book of Life. And the prophets should be warning people about their sin, something that is not mentioned at all in the first episode of Preach.
Pray For These Women

Dr. Belinda Scott passes on her prophetic super powers via prayer shawl.

Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD. – Jeremiah 23:30-32.

Pray for the women of Preach to repent of their numerous demonic heresies and humble themselves before God and His Word. And pray for the many tens to hundreds of thousands of people who listen and watch these women. Pray for return to sound Biblical doctrine and discernment in the church. Jesus Christ said: “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” (Matthew 5:13). Much of the Christian church today has abandoned Biblical teaching in favor of entertainment-based, emotional-thrill ride experience that focus on themselves and ignore the true teaching of the Bible – which is to save your soul from damnation in hell because of your sin.
And the beauty of the true Gospel of Christianity is that despite how much these women have sinned and defied God and despite the sin this author and all who read have committed – we can be forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Jesus did not die so that we can be “delivered” to a new home or car. He did not shed His precious blood on the cross to ensure we would have no health problems. He died so that all who can believe can escape the guilt and punishment we rightly deserve for our sins and have eternal life. He gave His life so that all who confess their sins and trust in Him can be inheritors with Him of the world to come, not this fallen, corrupted world. If you are a Christian, commit yourself to studying God’s Word and test every preacher or proclaimed prophet by the Bible, not by how charismatic or entertaining they may be. And if you are not a Christian do not let a foolish TV show be your excuse to ignore God’s call to repent. Learn God’s true message of forgiveness and truly receive deliverance.

*Preach has now been officially cancelled.