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This is our most recent entry on the prophetic topic “A Civil War is in the Church.” Click the button above to read or download the entire free e-book. It’s full of riveting prophetic revelation!

“Mike Winger Wants to Destroy Charismatic Leaders”
James Crawford & Team

James writes:

On May 12, 2026, I woke to a clear prophetic word: “Create a timeline, as it helps expose the snakes. Study the outpourings that flowed from the charismatic movements. They have brought forth massive amounts of fruit over recent years. The Charismatic church is not dead; it is just starting. Many e-churches will spring up and make her well again.”

When I asked the Lord for the purpose of this timeline, He responded: “This is a timeline for the weary soldiers. It will help them relax when they see it was not a personal attack against them only; it has been an Anti-Christ attack against My anointed ones.”

Those prophetic words were followed by this one which is a call to action: The Lord said, “Now it is time to unite and fight. Show My people Rick Joyner’s book The Final Quest and call them to this battlefield.”

We feel the Lord has shown us that the coordinated onslaught we are witnessing today against God’s apostolic and prophetic ministries is not a series of random, isolated disagreements.

We believe He is revealing that this is the literal manifestation of the spiritual civil war foretold by Rick Joyner in The Final Quest. It is possible that we are wrong about the current civil war in the church being exactly what Rick was shown.

If we are wrong about that, we still truly believe God led us to this anointed book, which is packed with practical wisdom for navigating this massive crisis currently facing the global church. It offers a clear battle plan for success rooted in the Bible and the Presence of God.

In it, Rick shares a vital revelation: that the 'accuser of the brethren' is the driving force behind this conflict.

Mike Winger, the Primary Accuser/Instigator of this Civil War

In this current conflict, Mike Winger acts as the primary human instrument used by this demonic force to attack the reputations of great men and women of God. He has launched a full-scale assault against many of God’s anointed leaders, specifically targeting those within the Charismatic and Pentecostal traditions.

To understand why he is focusing on Charismatic and Pentecostal ministries, we have to look at his background. Mike Winger was trained within Calvary Chapel under Chuck Smith's lineage—a denomination widely recognized for opposing the very spiritual manifestations and divine movements that have deeply impacted our lives. I will unpack this dynamic in greater detail later."

To understand his strategy, consider Winger’s recent targeting of 20 distinct ministers, visible through a single source link below. The nature of these critiques is deeply spiritual and adversarial.

Between April 10 and May 14, 2026—a span of just 34 days—he launched public campaigns against anointed leaders including Paula White, Bill Johnson, Bethel Church, Benny Hinn, Rick Joyner, MorningStar Ministries, Perry Stone, Kenneth Copeland, Todd White, Greg Locke, Sean Feucht, Kris Vallotton, Chris Reed, Joseph Z, Alan DiDio, Shawn Bolz, Mike Bickle, Bob Jones, Paul Cain, Eddie James, Joel Osteen, and general Charismatic pastors.

Every single one belongs to the Charismatic and Pentecostal traditions.

Expanding the scope reveals an even larger pattern. Data from the last two to three years exposes an exhaustive list of 21 additional targeted ministries, bringing the total to 41 leaders.

This broader list includes Sid Roth, Patricia King, Jeremiah Johnson, Francis Chan, Marilyn Hickey, Ché Ahn, Dr. Michael Brown, Vlad Savchuk, Isaiah Saldivar, Brandon Biggs, Mike Signorelli, Heidi Baker, Randy Clark, Todd Bentley, Alexander Pagani, Michael Koulianos, Danny Silk, Landon Schott, Stacey Campbell, Georgian Banov, and Micah Turnbo.

While you can view these modern campaigns directly on “X” via this link, I urge you to finish reading this prophetic word first to understand the full spiritual picture. https://x.com/MikeWingerii

Many other Christian podcasters, such as Julie Roys and Ron Cantor, are doing the same thing. However, I am focusing primarily on Winger because he has the largest following and is the most active. Notice the pattern: all of these critics are non-Charismatic.

The strategy here is obvious. The Charismatic and Pentecostal movement has transformed millions of lives through the power and anointing of Christ. Spiritual forces oppose that very anointing. My own journey began in a beautiful Charismatic church family that provided a foundation for salvation and complete freedom.

That community discipled me to walk in the prophetic, heal the sick, cast out demons, fast, and live a pure life.

Let's look again at what the Spirit is saying about these attacks.

On May 12, 2026, I woke to a clear prophetic word: “Create a timeline, as it helps expose the snakes. Study the outpourings that flowed from the charismatic movements. They have brought forth massive amounts of fruit over recent years. The Charismatic church is not dead; it is just starting. Many e-churches will spring up and make her well again.”

When I asked the Lord for the purpose of this timeline, He responded: “This is a timeline for the weary soldiers. It will help them relax when they see it was not a personal attack against them only; it has been an Anti-Christ attack against My anointed ones.”

Those prophetic words were followed by this one which is a call to action: The Lord said, “Now it is time to unite and fight. Show My people Rick Joyner’s book The Final Quest and call them to this battlefield.”

I asked Gemini this: "Is it accurate to claim that charismatic movements have produced massive fruit-bearing revivals and outpourings in recent years?"

Gemini’s answer: The claim is highly accurate regarding rapid numerical and geographical growth If "fruit" is measured by the number of converts, global reach, and explosive church growth, the Charismatic movement stands unmatched in recent history.

From a purely quantitative and sociological perspective, the Charismatic and Pentecostal movements (often grouped together as "Renewalism") have been the primary drivers of Christian expansion in recent decades. The terms Pentecostal and Charismatic are grouped together because they share the same theological core, historical lineage, and statistical tracking.

Exponential Numerical Growth: The Charismatic and Pentecostal movement is the fastest-growing religious block in the world. Expanding from a nominal baseline in 1900, it reached over 600 million adherents. It is statistically on track to encompass over 1 billion people by 2050, comprising roughly one-tenth of the global population. Wow, Gemini is prophesying!

Now we see why Satan is attacking us!

Rick Joyner’s Book “The Final Quest”

In 1996, when Joyner first received and published this panoramic vision of the coming civil war in the church, he exposed a devastating demonic strategy: the deployment of an army of accusation, division, and pride designed to trick believers into targeting the very leaders God has anointed.

For decades, this warning stood as a future marker for the Body of Christ. Now look at today's date: May 13, 2026. Exactly 30 years after the vision was released.

The bitter, highly organized media and theological campaigns launched by modern accusers are unfolding right now, in real-time, across your screens and church networks.

We feel the Lord is opening our eyes to see that what was written on pages three decades ago is jumping into daily headlines today. This reveals that these bitter campaigns are actually a structured, anti-Christ assault against the moving of the Holy Spirit.

Just as Joyner warned that the enemy's ultimate goal is to fracture and paralyze the church, we feel the Lord has shown us this exposure so we can see through the deception. The charismatic church is not retreating; it is being called to order.

This is your cue to shake off the weariness, recognize that the 1996 prophecy is playing out in the present hour, and stand united on the battlefield to defend the apostolic/prophetic destiny of the church.

From “The Final Quest” Rick Joyner
(Buy this book at Morningstar Ministries - RECOMMENDED)

The Evil Army

As we read Rick Joyner’s account of The Final Quest, we are confronted with a chilling description of the primary strategy the enemy is using to divide the Body of Christ today.

In his vision, Joyner saw a massive vanguard of hell’s army—led by the Accuser of the Brethren himself—sent to attack every level of relationship within the church.

We read how this horde is fueled by divisions of Pride, Self-righteousness, Respectability, Selfish Ambition, Unrighteous Judgment, and Jealousy.

They assault ministries using weapons named Intimidation, Treachery, Accusation, Gossip, Slander, and Faultfinding, while advance scouts exploit openings like Rejection, Bitterness, Impatience, and Unforgiveness.

Most shockingly, we read that this demonic horde is actually riding on respectable, refined, and educated Christians. As we look at the page, we realize these believers have opened themselves to darkness to such a degree that they are actively attacking others, fully believing they are doing God's work.

How We Must Fight

Knowing that a house divided cannot stand, what we read in this vision instructs us exactly how we must fight this spiritual war. We must refuse to use the enemy's tactics, recognizing that our true battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the demonic riders manipulating our fellow believers.

To win this war, we must close every opening in our own hearts by casting out bitterness, pride, and unforgiveness. We must completely reject the weapons of gossip, slander, and faultfinding, refusing to participate in unrighteous judgment.

Finally, we must take what we read in Joyner's prophetic warning and use it as a call to action: we must unite on the battlefield, standing together to protect the unity of the Spirit and defend God’s anointed leaders from this coordinated anti-Christ assault.

The Captain of the Host

As we read further, we read that Wisdom stood beside him, completely resolute, and declared that the Lord was allowing a glimpse into the future. We read that Wisdom is sending a specific message to those who are called to prepare and lead God's army.

These are the faithful leaders who have already been fighting the hard battle on the mountain, directly facing the army of the accuser without wavering. We read that these leaders are the ones who have fiercely watched over God's people and protected them, even at the risk of their own lives.

According to what we read, they are being called forth right now to be the leaders in God's army who will fight in the great battle at the end and stand without fear against all the powers of darkness.

How We Must Fight

Knowing that the Lord is preparing a fearless leadership for this final hour, what we read in this vision instructs us exactly how we must fight. We must refuse to back down when the accuser attacks, choosing instead to remain entirely faithful on the mountain of God.

To win this war, we must recognize, honor, and stand with the true leaders God has appointed—those who have proven their faithfulness by protecting the flock at great personal risk. We must shake off all intimidation and fear, knowing that the Lord is building a resolute army specifically designed to withstand the dark powers of our day.

Finally, we must take what we read about this fearless company and apply it to our lives today, stepping into our roles as brave protectors of the Body of Christ and fighting alongside God's anointed leaders on this end-times battlefield.

The Lord told Rick, “I will be in the midst of them to tread My enemies under this army’s feet. I am coming to be the Captain of the Host!”

Rick writes more about the visions:

I was then reminded of Abraham Lincoln. The only way he could become a great emancipator and the preserver of the Union was to be willing to fight a Civil War. Not only did he have to fight it, but he had to be determined not to compromise until the victory was complete.

A great spiritual civil war now looms before the church. Many will do everything they can to avoid it. This is understandable and even noble. However, compromise will never maintain a lasting peace. It will only make the ultimate conflict that much more difficult when it comes, and it will come.

The Lord is now preparing courageous leaders who will be willing to fight a spiritual civil war in order to set men free.

Just as the American Civil War at times looked like it would destroy the entire nation, that which is coming upon the church will sometimes appear as if it will bring the end of the church.

However, just as the United States not only survived, but went on to become the most powerful nation on earth, the same is going to happen to the church. The church will not be destroyed, but the institutions and doctrines that have kept men in spiritual slavery will be.

Why Mike Winger Accuses Rick Joyner

Ironically, Mike Winger exemplifies the exact type of "accuser of the brethren" that charismatic leader Rick Joyner prophetically warned the church about in his 1996 vision, The Final Quest.

Instead of seeking biblical restoration, Winger launches harsh public attacks, explicitly labeling Joyner as "one of the worst offenders in Cover-up Culture."

This targeted aggression stems from Winger’s background, having been ordained in 2006 under Calvary Chapel, a movement shaped by Chuck Smith’s foundational philosophy of exposing "Charismania" and charismatic excess.

While Calvary Chapel officially affirms spiritual gifts, Smith taught that they must strictly be used in private or kept subordinate to verse-by-verse bible exposition. Winger operates directly out of this heritage, and though he identifies as a continuationist who believes supernatural gifts are for today, we believe his hidden motive mimics a functional skepticism that weaponizes biblical discernment against charismatic power.

By relentlessly accusing Joyner of continuously reinstating disqualified individuals without proper repentance, Winger fulfills the very demonic spirit of faultfinding and public accusation that Joyner foresaw decades ago, trading restorative grace for institutional condemnation.

Officially, the Calvary Global Network and the broader Calvary Chapel movement define their theology as continuationist, explicitly affirming that all miraculous spiritual gifts mentioned in the New Testament remain active today.

However, in practice, the movement occupies a unique middle ground that critics often label "practically cessationist." Founder Chuck Smith intentionally positioned Calvary Chapel between classic Pentecostalism and historic cessationism, rejecting what he viewed as the disorder, hype, and excesses of the Charismatic movement while still affirming the validity of spiritual gifts.

Because of this stance, you will rarely hear speaking in tongues or spontaneous prophetic words from the pulpit in a standard Calvary Chapel Sunday service. The movement teaches that gifts are primarily intended for private edification or controlled, small-group settings.

Over the last few decades, many individual Calvary Chapel churches and pastors have leaned heavily toward highly conservative, reformed, or text-focused teaching structures. Because they prioritize verse-by-verse exposition over experiential revelation, many congregations now operate with a functional skepticism toward modern prophecies.

This functional skepticism creates a severe spiritual blindness, completely cutting believers off from the very prophetic anointing required to discern the true spiritual realm. Without this active anointing, modern apologetics ministries lack the supernatural insight needed to see that their public accusations against the brethren are causing massive, systemic harm to the Body of Christ.

This exact lack of spiritual perception is why they find themselves fighting on the wrong side of the current spiritual civil war, mistaking demonic faultfinding for godly discernment.

Furthermore, this critical posture carries devastating consequences for the sheep under their influence. Because these congregations are being trained to operate with functional skepticism, their people will completely miss the historic, last-day revival that is currently unfolding.

Instead of participating in this fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, they will be left behind, far too busy analyzing, critiquing, and accusing the very moves of God they should be embracing.

Based on my first-hand experience in California as a Calvary Chapel member, I know they offer genuine love and sound Bible teaching. However, I felt a deep need for more, as I lacked the power of the Spirit and revival glory. Through humble prayer and fasting, I was led to the charismatic church, but I recognize the incredible fruit of the Calvary Chapel movement. They don't need dismantling; they simply need a precise spiritual adjustment to fully embrace an abandoned move of God.

The Calvary-Vineyard Split of 1982

The Calvary-Vineyard Split of 1982 was an institutional parting of ways rooted in a fundamental clash between programmatic structure and spontaneous supernatural manifestation. Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel sought a balanced, strictly Word-based environment where supernatural gifts were largely relegated to smaller, controlled "afterglow" meetings.

Conversely, John Wimber, a Calvary pastor at the time, began integrating physical healing, spontaneous prophecy, and visceral manifestations directly into the main Sunday worship services. As visible manifestations like shaking, falling, and ecstatic vocalizations increased, Calvary leadership felt the focus was shifting away from systematic Bible teaching toward erratic experiential chaos.

To protect Calvary's institutional identity, Smith and Wimber mutually agreed that Wimber should withdraw his church from the Calvary network, prompting Wimber to adopt the Vineyard name and found a new movement built entirely around pursuing "signs and wonders."

This historic fracture is exactly why Mike Winger operates with such a rigid, systematic bias against modern charismatics. By entering the Calvary Chapel ecosystem decades after this division, Winger inherited a theological framework whose very borders were drawn in direct opposition to Vineyard-style manifestations.

His intense scrutiny of modern prophets and faith healers is not an isolated, modern crusade; it is the natural expression of Calvary's founding DNA, which defined itself by rejecting the exact experiential excesses Wimber and we ourselves have championed.

Winger operates as an institutional border guard, using his apologetics platform to enforce the very boundaries Chuck Smith established in 1982 to keep the main stage clear of unverified prophetic claims and emotionally charged healing lines.

Furthermore, Rick Joyner and John Wimber were very close from what we have heard, which further solidifies our understanding of Mike Winger’s rigid, defensive posture against modern charismatics. Wimber did not just maintain a casual acquaintance with Joyner; he actively brought Joyner and the emerging prophetic vanguard into his innermost ministry circles, lending them the massive global platform of the Vineyard movement.

Mike Winger’s Background and Calvary Chapel Ordination

Mike Winger graduated from the School of Ministry at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa (the flagship church of the Calvary Chapel movement founded by Chuck Smith) and was formally ordained there in 2006. He served as a youth pastor and assistant pastor within the Calvary Chapel network before transitioning to full-time online Bible teaching through BibleThinker.

While they affirm that the Holy Spirit still works today, they generally oppose what they view as excessive, disorderly, or extra-biblical manifestations common in many charismatic and Pentecostal movements (such as the Toronto Blessing, Brownsville Revival, Bethel’s culture, IHOPKC’s prophetic emphasis, or modern-day apostles).

Leaders in the Calvary Chapel tradition have historically critiqued these as potentially deceptive, emotionally driven, or unbiblical, favoring “the Word” over dramatic signs, prolonged manifestations, or modern “apostles and prophets.”

This theological and cultural formation deeply shaped Mike Winger’s ministry lens. His ordination and training in an environment that is often skeptical of — or openly opposed to — the more radical charismatic/Pentecostal expressions explain why he approaches many of the leaders and movements you listed with strong discernment, warnings, and exposés.

From this perspective, his critiques are not random attacks but flow naturally from the Calvary Chapel conviction that protecting biblical soundness sometimes requires confronting what they see as serious errors or abuses in the broader charismatic world.

It Helps to See the Snakes

Remember, I said earlier that the Lord said, “It helps to see the snakes.”

The “snakes” — critics, accusers, and online attackers — are relentlessly targeting these anointed leaders precisely because they are genuinely fruitful and carry a tangible mantle from the Holy Spirit.

When ministries bear massive, undeniable fruit — millions of salvations, documented healings, churches planted across nations, houses of prayer sustained for decades, and entire regions touched by revival fire — they become lightning rods for spiritual opposition.

Just as the Pharisees attacked Jesus and the early apostles for their power and influence, jealous religious spirits, pharisaical voices, and demonic resistance rise up against any vessel who dares to demonstrate the supernatural reality of the Kingdom.

These faithful servants’ fruitfulness exposes the barrenness of dry religion, threatens comfortable systems that lack power, and advances the harvest in the last days. The intensity of the attacks is actually a backward confirmation of their anointing: the enemy does not waste time attacking fruitless trees.

Instead of being shaken, the Church should recognize this as biblical evidence that God is moving powerfully through these lives, and stand with them in prayer as the Lord vindicates His servants in due time.

If you look closely, you will notice the same pattern with these accusers—they do not share our walk. Beloved, we are the anointed, chosen, destined, fruitful, and faithful families of the Charismatic and Pentecostal movement.

While the enemy has sought to sift us like wheat, the Lord declares: “The Charismatic church isn't dead! We are just getting started!”

Scroll down to enjoy the previous prophecies on this topic!

In His service,
James Crawford & the FHC Team

Be sure to read the final section where I introduce my faithful witnesses and character references.

This is our most recent entry on the prophetic topic “A Civil War is in the Church.” Click the button above to read or download the entire free e-book. It’s full of riveting prophetic revelation!