Lesson 1-19 Was Smith Wigglesworth a Charlatan?

Our number one desire for these Bible lessons are for them to be understandable, defendable, and most important for the Holy Spirit to bear witness that the conclusions are the true, and correct interpretation of the Holy Scriptures.

Guidelines for our Bible studies on this website:

1. We treat the living words of the living God as spoken by the Lord Jesus and given to the Apostle Paul for the Body of Christ the same importance, as the words of the Lord Jesus recorded in red letters in the books of Matthew – Acts Chp. 8, as what should be known as the instructions to the nation Israel.      

2. We will not be wresting the scriptures against each other, we will look at the verses in their context, and will not try to make the scriptures say anything, but what they say.

3. We will be using the verses out of the Authorized Version, commonly known as the KJV. It is fine if you want to look the verses up in other translations if you like, but we will consider the Authorized Version as our final written authority.

4. We do not and will not use the Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, or Latin languages to prove any points, or give any indication that the Authorized Version has been incorrectly translated. 

2Tim.2 [15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

I hope these studies are interesting enough to provoke you to study your Bible and for you to grow in the grace and knowledge of our savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

All Bible proof texts and verses used in this study will be in context, and the words of the scriptures will not be twisted to mean anything but what they mean.

To begin we start in Romans 11, and determine that the Apostle Paul, is the apostle to the Gentiles.

Rom.11 [13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

In the books of Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, and Colossians we establish that Paul was given a mystery by direct revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ who was in heaven, and that this mystery had been kept secret since the world began, no one prior to Paul had been let in on this mystery. Read the following verses several times until you get it. No one prior to Paul knew this information/mystery.  

Romans 16 [24] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. [25] Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, [26] But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: [27] To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

Galatians 1 [11] But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. [12] For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 3 [1] For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, [2] If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward: [3] How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, [4] Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) [5] Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

Colossians 1 [25] Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; [26] Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: [27] To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

I will consider the verses supplied, enough to establish Paul’s commission to the Gentiles.

Now let’s look at Smith Wigglesworth and see if we can determine if he was a charlatan using the instructions/scriptures given to us by the Apostle Paul who got the instructions for the Body of Christ, from the Lord Jesus Christ, (aka the Church) for Christians living in the dispensation of grace (current time period).

Wigglesworth in 1907, visited Alexander Boddy during the Sunderland Revival, and following a laying-on of hands from Alexander's wife, Mary Boddy, he experienced speaking in tongues. Smith largely believed his ministerial success was due to his "speaking in tongues".

Ok, for clarification when a Pentecostal preacher or person, talks about “speaking in tongues” they are always talking about someone crying out with their voice a bunch of unintelligible jibber jabber.

They are not talking about the Biblical experience of speaking in tongues, which was a known language, as was every case where a person spoke in tongues that is recorded in the Bible.

The following proof text is offered for a clear definition of speaking in tongues.

Acts.2 [1] And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. [2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. [3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. [4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. [5] And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. [6] Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. [7] And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?   [8] And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

No Jibber Jabber here, we are talking known languages! I find no where recorded in the Bible where any woman laid hands on any man which resulted in the man “speaking in tongues” (known language or Jibber Jabber) not one case.  The only case in the Bible where someone spoke in tongues after the laying on of hands is when the Apostle Paul laid hands on people in Acts chapter 19 verse 6.

Now let’s look at Smith Wigglesworth’s methods of healing, and raising people from the dead, to see if any of his ways can be reconciled with the scriptural instructions given to the Body of Christ (Christians saved during the dispensation of grace.)

There were numerous claims of divine healing during Wigglesworth's ministry.

These include a woman healed of a tumor, a woman healed of tuberculosis, a wheelchair-confined woman walking, and many more.   

There were reports that people were raised from the dead, including his wife Polly.

Many people said they were cured of cancer by him.

His methods often involved hitting, slapping or punching the afflicted part of the body.

On a number of occasions his approach to persons suffering from stomach complaints was to punch them in the stomach, sometimes with such force that it propelled them across the room.

Now, I could not find one case in the Bible where Jesus, or his disciples, had to hit, slap, or punch someone to heal them. In fact, the most often recorded method used by Jesus and his disciples were to simply speak to the people and they were healed.

Again, I could find no Bible proof texts or verses supporting Wigglesworth’s methods.

I also can not find one person that was healed after the transition book of Acts was completed, (The book of Acts records the transition period, from the Gospel of the Kingdom (Apostle Peter, Jews), to the Gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection from the dead for the forgiveness of sins (Apostle Paul, Gentiles). From Romans to Philemon (Pauline Epistles) not one example of anyone being healed is recorded. In fact, what is recorded, and does has proof texts or verses, is the Apostle Paul who did have the gift of healing, no longer had it.

Proof Texts for Paul no longer being able to heal. Paul had to leave his coworker Trophimus sick at Miletum and Epaphroditus it is recorded was close to death. Interestingly Paul in the book of Acts was able to send handkerchiefs out to the sick and heal people, but by the time he writes 2^nd Timothy and Philippians he no longer has the gift of healing.

Acts 19 [11] And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: [12] So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

2Timothy 4 [18] And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [19] Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. [20] Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

Philippians 2 [25] Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. [26] For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. [27] For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

Simple logic dictates if Paul still had the gift of healing, he would simply have healed his friends and coworkers!

On January 6, 2019 Steve Yuke of Park Avenue Baptist Church, Titusville, FL told a story of about Smith Wigglesworth raising Polly his wife from the dead, by rebuking the spirit of death off of her cold dead body.

Yuke tells this story and presents it to his followers as if it is true, and not the silly unbiblical lie that it is. I encourage everyone reading this to go to the Titusville Park Avenue Baptist webpage and listen to this foolishness. The link is http://parkavenue.org/media/ Sunday January 6^th sermon for anyone interested in keeping up with how Christians, or people who take the name of Christ, can be deceived and follow a deceiver.

Now on to the story, supposedly Wigglesworth went into the bedroom where his dead wife was laying, and he asked everyone to leave the room, (this means no one but a dead woman and himself were in the room), he then supposedly rebuked the spirit of death off of her and she sat up and talked with him forty minutes. She then begged her to let her go back (die again) which supposedly he did. How many witnesses of this were there, only one Smith Wigglesworth, the other witness was dead!

It is hard for me to believe that grown adults, especially Christians, would believe and support this kind of unsound foolish doctrine!

Again, I could no place in the Bible where Jesus, his disciples, Old Testament prophets, or Paul raised someone from the dead, and the only witness was the dead person who was still dead!

Now let’s do some real Bible study and see what is really going on today in 2019 with this so-called Pentecostal holy ghost revival. Let’s look at some Bible proof texts and verses and see if it shines some light on this subject for us.

Mark 16 [15] And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. [16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. [17] And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; [18] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Now let’s look at these verses and see what they are telling us, I believe as always, the scriptures are easy to understand for Christians who want the truth. Here Jesus states that these signs shall follow them that believe, casting out devils, speaking with new tongues, taking up serpents, drinking poison, or any deadly thing having no hurt, laying hands on the sick and they shall recover. 

What the problem is and bear with me before you think I have gone off my rocker, but these verses mean exactly what they say and these signs were going to follow this group of believers, but this group of believers were believers that were part of the Earthly Kingdom that Jesus and his disciples were preaching, they are not believers saved in the dispensation of the grace as given to the Apostle Paul.

We are here confronted with the main reason for all the confusion in Christian circles and churches of today. The confusion among Christianity/Christians today can be attributed to the simple fact that the church, the Body of Christ, does not recognize the separate, distinct, and unique apostleship, ministry, and message of Paul.

The modern-day Christian instead of being able to rightly divide the word of truth, is always trying to fit the Prophetic program of the Old Testament Prophets, into the Mystery Program (Body of Christ) that was given to the Apostle Paul, and make them one.

The things spoken of in Mark 16, simply are not doctrinally correct for Christians living today!

Just like we learn from Paul that unlike the Old Testament Jews being forbidden to eat swine, Christians of today can eat all the bacon they want.

This attitude towards the Bible is like having pieces from two different puzzles and trying to make them fit together, as this is impossible, it is impossible to fit Law and Grace together!

Now to finalize, if the signs were still in effect for this dispensation it would make it really difficult to tell the real believers from Satan’s group and believers who have been deceived and led astray. Lets look at a few more proof texts and verses and then we will finalize this study.

Matthew 24 [23] Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. [24] 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.

Jesus warned his Israeli followers in Matthew chp. 24 that in the future there would arise false Christs and false prophets, and guess what when then show up they are going to show up with great signs and wonders, that are so convincing that even the very elect would be deceived if that were possible.

Compare a similar warning given by the Apostle Paul to believers in the dispensation of grace.

2 Corinthians 11 [13] For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. [14] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. [15] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Notice in Paul’s warning that this group looks really good they appear as apostles of Christ, Jesus said he was the light of the of the world, here we see Satan himself transformed into an angel of light (Satan is a false Christ) notice Satan’s ministers are transformed as ministers of righteousness. 

I used to hear preachers warn of deception but since the majority of believers and preachers no longer have or believe in a final authority that all spiritual things can be judged by the Bible (KJV), not these modern day perversions of God’s Holy Word we don't hear much from them about deceivers. 

Once Satan convinced the majority that the Bible could not be trusted and could only be understood by Greek and Hebrew scholars, Satan was able to steal the Word of God from the Christians. Yes, I use the word Christians albeit they have been fed with tainted milk, and most are malnourished and still baby Christians for the most part.

So how do we determine if these modern-day tongue talkers, healers, serpent handlers, etc are Satanically inspired and controlled, we have to go to God’s Holy Word as found in the Authorized Bible or KJV.

This will be the final proof texts or verses for this lesson.

Matthew 28 [18] And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Notice that in Matt. 18 Jesus said he has “all power” in heaven and earth, well guess what there is only two verses in the whole Bible where the two words “all power” show up together, the one above referring to the Lord Jesus, the one below referring to the Antichrist who is the incarnation of Satan.

2 Thessalonian [8] And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: [9] Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, [10] 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.

I put forth the understanding that after Jesus established the Apostle Paul, as the apostle to the Gentiles, that the sign gifts ceased as the Lord Jesus gave Paul the written words which became the scriptures equal to the very words, that the Lord Jesus gave Moses in the book of Exodus that we know as the Law.

So, with this understanding that the sign gifts are no more, it is easy for the true believers to spot Satan (angel of Light) and his ministers of righteousness like people who are showing signs and wonders!

Smith Wigglesworth had to be a Charlatan! as well as the preachers who support his position.

I am so thankful for the Preachers that were my mentors were Bible Believers and not bible correctors!

Satan is having a field day with the Body of Christ with all these modern-day preachers

proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom with its earthly kingdom hope, repentance, confession of sins, and water baptism required to be saved or a member of a denomination, Miraculous signs as evidence of salvation, such as speaking in tongues and healing; Teaching the observance of the law, teaching the conditional forgiveness of sins based on forgiving others, teaching forsaking all and selling all to gain eternal life, Having the authority to forgive sins, Reaching Jerusalem and Israel first.

These things are simply incompatible with the truths found in the Pauline epistles, and the gospel of the grace of God. Even if you believe the Bible and you fail to understand the word of truth rightly divided you can still be misled, not lost just misled, and rendered a useless Christian witness.

We are saved not by our works, but by our faith in the crucified and risen Lord Jesus!

With modern day technology being what it is, it is very easy to do word searches and check when someone quotes a Bible verse or tells you something is in the Bible for you to look it up and verify if they are pulling your leg!

Acts 17 [11] These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

The Truth of God’s Holy word is easy to determine if you let the Holy Spirit lead you.

Remember all of the confusion among Christianity/Christians today can be attributed to the simple fact that the church, the Body of Christ, does not recognize the separate, distinct, and unique apostleship, ministry, and message of Paul.

If you have never trusted the Lord Jesus as your savior, I encourage you to believe in him and invite him to save you today! All one need do is to trust and believe in the Lord Jesus’s death, burial and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins to be made new in him.

Gal.2 [16] Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified

Eph.3 [17] That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, [19] And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

What a great day that will be when Jesus Christ returns in all his glory, friend don’t let that day take you unawares. Today Jesus has his arms outstretched and open to sinners to put their trust in him. One day we will all stand before him either as our savior or our judge, don’t put it off invite Jesus to save you today!

"The crowd that will not accept one truth will decay to the point that it does not accept one God: many denominations, many translations, many gods."

The words of our Apostle Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles!

2Tim.2 [15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Come join with us as we study God’s Holy Word!

Remember most unsound Bible Doctrine, is sound Bible Doctrine misapplied to the wrong time period, or wrong group of people.

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