Is falling backwards (called Slain in the spirit in the Evangilical world) a sign of acceptance with God? The answer is emphatically NO, it never has been and it never will be.

1. Is Falling Backwards A sign Of Acceptance
With God?
What Does the Bible teach?
Elder Farouk Karim

2. • Today many preachers claim to have the power of God which they
reveal through different avenues, which they say, testifies that God
is working with and through them. Miracles of many sorts and
fashions are all done in the name of the Lord, and one of the
most used craze in the evangelistic world today, is that of
pressing the foreheads of individuals while praying for
them and allowing them to fall backwards. Far more than this
some preachers only wave their hands and whole congregations fall
backwards. And this is performed to show that God is with them.
But is this really a revelation of the God of the bible ? Is this how
God works with and for His people ? Are these preachers true
ministers of God ? What does the bible teach ?

3. • Concerning the events that would happen during the closing years
of the existence of this world, Christ has clearly warned us in the
bible, Matt. 24 : 4+5 “ Take heed that no man deceive you. For
many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ and shall
deceive many.” The apostle Paul also writing concerning the last
days warns us in the book of 1Tim. 4 : 1, “Now the Spirit
speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall
depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and
doctrines of devils.” While these words may sound fearful, yet
they speak the truth. Many a preacher twist the word of God to
suit their fancy and to soothe their hearers with doctrines that are
wholly of the devil. As a people we must study the word of God in
the light of it’s teachings, comparing scripture with scripture
knowing that God alone is to be worshiped and that we are saved
as individuals, only as we serve Him as outlined in His word.

4. • What then of this falling backwards ? Is this in harmony
with the worship of God ? Let us examine what the bible reveals to
us in the worship of God, understanding that God can only accept
true worship and He gives no respect to false worship even if one
uses His name. This is clearly outlined from the very beginning
with Cain and Abel. Gen. 4 : 3—5, reads, “And in the
process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the
ground an offering to the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the
firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect
unto Abel and to his offering. But unto Cain and to his offering He
had not respect……”
• We cannot serve or worship God as we please, the penalty of sin is
death , fruits as Cain brought cannot atone for sin, the bible
teaches that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of
sin. The slaying of the animals was pointing to Christ’s ultimate
sacrifice.

5. • Let us now examine the bible teaching on the topic as it relates to the
worship of God. Again from the book of Genesis we learn from the
practice of Abraham, whom also is known as the father of faith, so
faith did exist in the old testament. As a matter of fact you
can read in the new testament, the whole of Hebrews
chapter eleven, which gives a definition of faith, and
tells of the faith practiced in the old testament by
Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph,
Moses, just to name a few. So do not allow any
minister to deceive you into thinking that there was
no faith in the old testament. When the bible says that
faith came by Jesus Christ, it means that only Christ and Christ
alone can give faith and this same Christ is the Great I AM that
gave faith ( His revealed truths ) to all the patriarchs in the old
testament, and all His disciples in the new, even now, to you
and to me.

6. • Yes back to Abraham, Gen. 18 : 1—3, it says, “And the
LORD appeared unto him (Abraham) in the plains of
Mambre; and he sat in the tent door in the heat of
the day; And he lift up his eyes and looked, and
lo, three men stood by him ; and when he saw them,
he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed
himself toward the ground……………………” We read
also of Lot, Gen. 19 : 1, “ And there came two angels to
Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom : and
Lot seeing them rose up to meet them ; and he bowed
himself with his face toward the ground.” It is clearly seen
here that both Abraham and Lot, in worship, bowed with their
face toward the ground as in reverence, and not falling
backwards.

7. • Throughout the bible this is the true form of worship that is
revealed, practiced, and which is required. Not only to be
performed by individuals, but also by entire gatherings. Ex.4 :
31, “ And the people believed : and when they heard
that the LORD had visited the children of Israel,
and that He had looked upon their affliction, then
they bowed their heads and worshiped.” 2 Chron. 7 :
3 And when the children of Israel saw how the fire came down,
and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed
themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement,
and worshiped, and praised the LORD, saying, For He is
good: for His mercy endureth forever.”

8. • There are many other examples in the bible of Moses in
Exodus 34 : 6—8 ; of Balaam in Numbers 22 : 31 ; in the book
of Psalms 95 : 6 that you can also read. This form of worship
to God never changed into any other practice, as the same is
taught and practiced in the new testament. Rom. 14 : 11 , “For
it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to
me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” Notice this is
God Himself making this declaration. There is no evidence
of anyone falling backwards in this statement.

9. • The bible continues to show that when conviction of the truth
comes to individual they respond in this said way of worship as
is recorded in 1 Cor. 14 : 24-25, “But if all prophesy, and there
come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced
of all, he is judged of all. And thus are the secrets of his heart
made manifest: and so falling down on his face he will worship
God, and report that God is in you of a truth” These evidences
are recorded for our learning and admonition that we need not
err nor be deceived by false prophets. God knew that false
teachers and preachers would mislead many a believer, but this
need not be the experience of you. Even the pagan roman
soldiers knew and practiced this true form of worship tough
only in mockery to Christ. Mark 15 : 19-20
•
•

10. •
• There are many other examples in the bible of Moses in
Exodus 34 : 6—8 ; of Balaam in Numbers 22 : 31 ; in the book
of Psalms 95 : 6 that you can also read. This form of worship to
God never changed into any other practice, as the same is
taught and practiced in the new
• Even the angels in heaven practice this true form of
worship as recorded in the very last book of the bible. Rev. 7 :
11. “And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about
the elders and the four beast, and fell before the throne on their
faces, and worshiped God.”

11. • So then what does this other practice of falling backwards
represents as taught in the bible ? Let us continue to be guided
by God,s Holy Spirit as we examine this practice to know if it is
acceptable worship to God, or if it is not. What does the bible
reveal on this subject ?. 1 Sam. 4 : 17—18, “ And the messenger
answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and
there had been also a great slaughter among the people, and
thy two sons also Hopni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of
God is taken. And it came to pass, when he made mention of
the ark of God, that he fell from off his seat BACKWARD by
the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died;
……………” Even though Eli was the high priest and judge of
Israel for forty years, because of his unwillingness to correct
the sins of his sons, who also were priest , thereby encouraging
sin in the nation, God rejected him. Eli fell backwards and
died, a sign of rejection from God.

12. • Falling backwards is also a sign of departing or forsaking
God by continuing in sin. Isaiah 1:4.; Isaiah 28:13 ; 44: 24-25 ;
59:14. Falling backwards is also a sign of open rebellion
against God. Jer. 7 : 23—24 ; 15 : 6. The book of John
records the events that took place when Judas came with a
band of roman soldiers to arrest Christ in the garden of
Gethsemane. This is the result as recorded ; John 18 : 6 “ As
soon then as He had said unto them I am, they went
BACKWARD, AND FELL TO THE GROUND.” Judas and
the band of soldiers went backwards and fell to the ground
as a sign of separation from Christ. Christ was no longer with
Judas.

13. • So then is falling backwards a sign of acceptance with God?
The answer is emphatically NO, it never has been and it never
will be. What it signifies as seen in the bible, are revealed in
these three particular areas (1) It is rejection from God.; ( 2 ) It
is rebellion against God, and ( 3 ) It is separation from Christ.
Any one of these three pronouncements, means a lost of our
salvation and our hope of eternal life. My dear brethren please
do not be deceived by satan and his false prophets, preachers
and teachers, but rather study God’s word and serve Him in the
Spirit , having the understanding in the truth. May God bless
and keep you in His pathway of righteousness.
•

14. Please feel free to contact us, and please do share this
message with as many persons as you can, you may be the
one that God use to help another.
Your’s in Christ
brother Farouk Billy Karim
Zebach Free SDA