In our previous article, “The Latest Unholy Alliance – Hillsong and Bethel”, we linked to an upcoming Bethel event, “OpenHeavens” with Brian Houston as a keynote speaker.

The “unholy alliance” continues as Bethel embarks on its own courtship with the Pope.

Tony Miano writes,

Bethel Redding’s Courtship with Belial

Kris Vallotton, second in command of the Bethel Redding cult, recently met Pope Francis–an antichrist.

I have well-documented the unbiblical, blasphemous beliefs and practices of a group I believe is a cult–Bethel Redding. My research and documentation includes information about Bethel’s second-in-command,Kris Vallotton. Today, Vallotton met Pope Francis–head of the apostate Roman Catholic Church and an antichrist. As I write this article, Vallotton’s Facebook photo with the pope has 240 shares, 290 comments, and over 5,700 reactions. Vallotton’s remarks, along with many of the comments attached to the photo, serve as examples of Bethel Redding’s courtship with Belial.

Who is Belial?

The word/name “Belial” appears in only verse in the Bible–2 Corinthians 6:15.

“What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?”

So, who or what is “Belial?”

I found the following explanation in Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers to be rather fascinating:

“The passage is remarkable as being the only occurrence of the name in the New Testament, all the more so because it does not appear in the Greek version of the Old. The Hebrew word signifies ‘vileness, worthlessness;’ and the ‘sons of Belial’ (as in Deuteronomy 13:13; 1 Samuel 2:12; 1 Samuel 25:17) were therefore the worthless and the vile. The English version, following the Vulgate, translates the phrase as though Belial were a proper name, and this has led to the current belief, as shown in Milton’s poems, that it was the name of a demon or fallen angel, the representative of impurity—

‘Belial came last, than whom a spirit more lewd,

Fell not from heaven, or more gross to love

Vice for itself.’—Paradise Lost, i. 490.

‘Belial, the dissolutest spirit that fell,

The sensualest, and, after Asmodai,

The fleshliest incubus.’—Paradise Regained, ii. 204.

“St. Paul’s use of the word would seem to imply that some such belief was floating among the Jews in his time. A strange legend, which possibly had a Jewish origin (it is referred to certain necromantici), is found in an obscure and forgotten book (Wierus: Pseudo-Monarchia Dæmonum), to the effect that Solomon was led by a certain woman to bow before the image of Belial, who is represented as worshipped by the Babylonians. Of that worship there is no trace in history; and Milton seems to have recognised this—

‘To him no temple stood

Nor altar smoked.’

“But if the name had gathered these associations round it, we can understand St. Paul’s using it as representing, or, as it were, personifying, the whole system of impure cultus that prevailed in the worship of Aphrodite at Corinth.”

In his work, Notes on the Bible, Albert Barnes explains the term “Belial” this way:

“Belial – Βελίαλ Belial or Βελίαρ Beliar, as as it is found in some of the late editions. The form Beliar is Syriac. The Hebrew word בּליּצל beliya‛al means literally without profit; worthlessness; wickedness. It is here evidently applied to Satan. The Syriac translates it ‘Satan.’ The idea is, that the persons to whom Paul referred, the pagan, wicked, unbelieving world, were governed by the principles of Satan, and were ‘taken captive by him at his will’ (2 Timothy 2:26 compare John 8:44), and that Christians should be separate from the wicked world, as Christ was separate from all the feelings, purposes, and plans of Satan. He had no participation in them; he formed no union with them; and so it should be with the followers of the one in relation to the followers of the other.”

Whether Belial is a demonic entity or a type of person, followers of Christ are to never engage in any spiritual enterprise (prayer, worship, ministry, etc.) with unbelievers, with practitioners of false religions–with Belial, with those who are of their father, the devil.

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

‘I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
Therefore go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty’” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

Vallotton professes to be a Christian, yet he lauds the leader and practitioner of a false religion. He does this with seemingly nary a care for the billion lost souls in Roman Catholicism and without a care for the soul of a lost old man he would call “brother.” Why the fascination with Francis?

Vallotton’s Fascination with Francis

Vallotton makes no secret about his man-crush on the pope. “I had the privilege of meeting Pope Francis today with some other pastors. He is really a great man. I love him a ton!” This is how Vallotton captioned his photo of his meeting with the pope.

A great man? How can any professing Christian refer to the present leading antichrist in the world as a “great man?” And how exactly does Vallotton define a “great man,” if the pope (the leader of an apostate religion that spiritually [and sometimes physically] abuses, enslaves, coerces, extorts, and manipulates more than a billion people) as his example?

Earlier this year, Vallotton did a “blog swap” with Lisa Bevere. Lisa is married to John Bevere–the man who takes credit for giving the New Apostolic Reformation its name in 1994 and for being the apostate and blasphemous movement’s “intellectual godfather.”

Earlier this year, writing on Lisa Bevere’s blog, Vallotton penned an article titled Women Leaders in the Church. Vallotton begins the article as follows:

“In a recent interview with America Magazine, the Pope spoke of his concern for women to find their proper role in the Church. He said, ‘Women are asking deep questions that must be addressed. The Church cannot be herself without the woman and her role.’

“I agree with the Pope. I have an amazing wife, two daughters, a daughter-in-law and three granddaughters that wake up every day to a world of discrimination simply because of their gender. But the most troubling aspect of this oppression is that the Church is often found leading it! Many believers have developed a theology that proactively uses the Bible to disqualify women from the most formidable roles of leadership, especially in the Church. I am appalled by the number of Christian leaders who are convinced that women are not as qualified, called, and/or gifted to lead as men are.”

Vallotton, a feminist and an egalitarian, doesn’t even try to hide his cards. He lacks the wisdom and discernment to differentiate between the Roman Catholic Church and the true Church–the Bride of Christ. He lacks the wisdom and discernment to differentiate between a Christian and an antichrist. He sees the pope as a spiritual brother, a “great man” who he “loves a ton.” Of course it’s only my opinion, but I believe the reason is that both Vallotton and Pope Francis are of the same spiritual father–the devil (John 8:44).

Some NAR, Bethel Redding, and Vallotton apologists will no doubt cry foul (they do every time I dare to touch who they believe is one of the Lord’s “anointed”). They will accuse me of faulting Vallotton for “loving” the pope. They will accuse me of not loving the pope. It’s not true. I don’t believe Vallotton is capable of loving the pope with a love that matters–the kind of love that would call the pope to repent and believe the gospel.

Vallotton’s Lost Sheep Followers of Belial

As disturbing as Vallotton’s man-crush on the pope is, the comments of Vallotton’s lost sheep followers of Belial are just as bad–if not worse. Here are a few low-lights:

“I’m glad you love him [the pope]. So do I ..He has such a heart for the Lord.”

And…..

“We are one in the spirit
We are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity
May one day be restored.

“We just sang that at Azusa. Look at us now!”

And…..

“Please tell me you gave Him a word. That would be incredible to honor him that way. Awesome to see this.”

And…..

“Not a false teacher at all. Some would toss those claims towards Bethel as well. Just because you read your bible differently, doesn’t make it false… Careful how tight you hold water/theologies. The tighter you grip the more you loose.”

And…..

“Can’t we just agree that this was an historic moment without offering our opinions” (Beni Johnson, wife of Bill Johnson–leader of the Bethel Redding cult).

It’s the blind leading the blind. It’s a wolf leading deceived sheep (or goats). These quotes are heartbreaking examples of people who may very-well one day hear Jesus say:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’” (Matthew 7:21-23).

Closing Thoughts

Kris Vallotton has once again shown himself to be a friend of Belial and not a follower of Christ. Vallotton lacks the wisdom and discernment to recognize Pope Francis as an antichrist, likely for the same reason a billion Roman Catholics fail to do so. He is lost and needs to repent and come to faith in Jesus Christ. I hope and pray he does while God has given him time.

If after reading this article you’ve come to realize that Bethel Redding and Kris Vallotton have led you astray, if after reading this you are questioning what you believe, please take the time to read Our Message.