Michael Hoggard

[Jerry]

Is anyone familiar with this youtube/radio preacher? Last week someone trustworthy in my church mentioned him as a preacher I would probably like. I looked him channel up, and initial impressions were whoah and yowza. I figured I had mistyped the name, but then yesterday on Facebook I found a recent post by my friend's wife passing on some article by this man - same one I had quickly looked at. So, with all these red flags going off, I started to check him out.

He hyper focusses on the endtimes, UFO's and the occult (I assume exposing them - THOUGH he has links to actual UFO sites in his channel Playlists - typically people who have their own channels have their own videos in their playlists or occasionally other related or similar videos they recommend), AND/AND/AND seriously into numerology and hidden meanings in the Bible. I listened to two messages, and I can't tell you how horrible and extreme this man is - and therefore obviously seriously spiritually dangerous.

One of the two messages I listened to was from Revelation 4 on the Seven Spirits of God. He took that passage as a springboard, and because somewhere in the passage it mentions that this Spirit was like a lamp, went to the books of Moses, found passages about the construction of the lampstand and its design, discussed how there were 66 parts/sections to this lampstand AND then taught how that passage in Revelation was all about a picture of the 66 books in the Word of God. And that was his church sermon. No Gospel presentation, no application or teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ and God's will for His people (basically no kind of application for His children) - nothing of spiritual value that you would typically get in a sermon - just some esoteric idea that he preached on for 20-30 minutes (can't remember the exact length of that video), plus some weird ideas that the Holy Spirit comes out of the Word of God, and if you want the Holy Spirit get into the Word (but he nowhere spoke about being filled by the Holy Spirit - he actually used the idea of receiving/getting the Holy Spirit, and compared it to the lost receiving the Holy Spirit when they respond by faith to the Word of God/the Gospel; therefore - speaking to the saved - you will get the Holy Spirit by reading the Bible according to Romans 10:17, faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, which will give you the Spirit).

The other video was more of the same, but jumped all around the Bible, looking for hidden meanings based on verse numbers and counting everything in the Bible, according to Revelation 13:18, and stated Bible meanings of symbolic numbers are determined by everything a passage says - like Genesis 2 speaks about the sabbath, the seventh day as being good, holy, righteous, sanctified by God - so therefore when the number seven is used in the Bible or seven things are mentioned, it means (and yes, eisegesis, bringing meaning into the passage that is not in there because somehow that number or that amount of things is contained in the passage), that what is being presented is good, holy, righteous, sanctified by God.**

**Yes, numbers often have a general symbolic meaning as used throughout the Bible - but the context shows the meaning in each passage - not when you bring an external unrelated meaning to the passage. For example, seven is a Biblical number that is basically God's stamp on His Word, and it means perfection/completion. Seven dispensations in the Bible portray God's complete dealings with mankind, 14 (2x7) generations in Matthew 1 from Abraham to David, from David to the deportation of Babylon, from that point to the coming of Christ - the complete history/geneology from the father of the faith to the promised Messiah - but the context shows all this, and we see that the numbers in the passage fit the picture - not by bringing external meaning into the passage, but because that is the context of the passage. But to teach that whenever seven is used it arbitrarily means all that he defines (for example) is forcing meaning into the Bible in a dangerous way. Consider this verse:

Matthew 15:18-19 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Seven things mentioned that come out of the heart of man, seven picturing the complete picture of something. So symbolically it is not a stretch to think that a lost man's heart is completely evil without the Lord. How does this preacher's definition fit? It doesn't, unless he wants to say man's heart is holy, righteous, sanctified by God, etc.!! In Mark 7:20-23 states man's heart contains 13 things - and 13 symbolizes at times rebellion - so we see these things I mentioned here are pictures or symbolic meanings that the usage of a number is given in various places in the Bible AND is consistent with overall Bible teaching. It is not finding a HIDDEN meaning, but a meaning that is consistent with the whole Word of God, and if those numbers did not fit the context of a passage, then obviously that passage is not presenting a symbolic meaning in regards to that number. For example, Revelation describes Christ as having seven horns, seven eyes, and seven Spirits. Based on the symbolism used ALL THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE, I can reach the conclusion that in that particular passage this is what is being pictured:

Revelation 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

Seven - means completion/perfection
Horns - equals strength/power
Eyes - wisdom/knowledge
Spirits - God's presence

Seven horns refers to Jesus' omnipotence; seven eyes, His omniscience; and seven Spirits, His omnipresence - the verse also indicates this (see also 2 Chronicles 16:9), AND other passages and cross references show the same consistent meaning throughout the Word of God. It is not finding hidden meanings or esoteric ideas in the Bible, but bringing out what God has said and seeing how something fits or does not fit His Word - not trying to force meanings into His Word, and making up my own ideas.

Whether you can see the distinctions I am making here or not, I believe there is a world of difference between studying out actual symbols and meanings that God Himself is using in the Bible (exegesis) - throughout the Bible - and between bringing meaning into the Bible (eisegesis).

I am just trying to find out a little more before I have a serious talk with my friend.

[Jerry]

Without getting sidetracked, I will give some examples of (to me) a legitimate spiritual application or meaning to a number. In Ephesians 6, there are seven pieces of the Armour of God that we are commanded to wear. All seven are necessary for victory in our Christian walk in this world and in the spiritual warfare we face. It is worthy to note the SEVEN pieces, and think that this is God's complete Armour for the believer. I don't make any kind of meaning or emphasis beyond noting that.

Nine beatitudes in Matthew 5 - 9 picturing fruit, can also be seen in Galatians 5, the fruit of the Spirit.

[Jim_Alaska]

Once you get away from local, visible church, the one God put you in, this sort of heretical nonsense is not hard to find.

Hence the reason I never listen to radio, TV, or Internet preaching. God put me in the church He wanted me in and under the preacher He wanted me to listen to, that's good enough for me.

[BrotherTony]

Never heard of the man, and most likely won't be checking him out anytime soon.

[Jerry]

Thanks for the input so far. I definitely have issues with this man, and was a little overwhelmed this morning in regards as to how to approach speaking about him.

My friend was not feeling well so had to leave right after the morning services. I did not get an opportunity to talk to him. This gives me more time to seek the Lord in prayer about this.

[SureWord]

So far he sounds pretty good to me.

Where's it written you have to give an invitation everytime? There's no invitations given during Sunday School.

Also, what's wrong with making and application of the Tabernacle candlestick to the seven Spirits of God and word of God? Anything that uplifts the God's word makes a good sermon.

What's wrong with teaching about UFOs? Now I wouldn't preach about them during a main worship service nor fall down the rabbit hole concerning them but Christians want to know about these things whether they are real, fake, of the devil or whatever. 

I think you are too judgemental of other men's ministries. To hid own master he standeth of falleth.

[Jerry]

Who said anything about invitations in this thread? Not me.

In regards to the seven lamps compared to the tabernacle candlestick - no problems there whatsoever.  I do have a problem making the 66 parts he counted on the candlestick to mean or picture the 66 books of the Bible though!! There is nothing in either Revelation or in the construction of the tabernacle and its furniture in the OT to give it that meaning in any way or shape or form. It is finding "hidden" meanings in the Bible that are not there.

And preaching and hyper-focussing on end times, aliens and the occult is not preaching on the whole counsel of God, for one thing. Another is unless he is exposing these things, he is questionable at best. And if his ministry is about exposing these thinks, why does he have direct links to the actual websites of others promoting these things, without warnings against them? That will lead others astray.

Good thing most of the members here are saved by grace through faith alone in Christ alone without adding baptism and other works to their salvation, so that they can dig in and understand the Word of God, compare everything to it, and be discerning.

1 Corinthians 2:14-15 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.