Trance or Hypnosis

There is a tremendous difference between experiencing a trance in the Biblical sense and being hypnotized by someone involved in paranormal activities. You will hear ministers, like Kenneth Hagin, John Kilpatrick, Steve Hill, and others that are into the "Latter Rain" theology, describe and promote what they call a trance. Kenneth Hagin tells about one of his musicians (guitar player) going into a trance on stage and remaining in that state for a considerable amount of time. Mr. Hagin is in another part of the building having after church refreshments and sees the man by closed circuit video still frozen in this state. He says to those listening, "I’m going to have to go and release him." He goes to him and touches him and the man is immediately released. It is not hard to discern that he was hypnotized and not in a Biblical trance (Video, October Kenneth Hagin Holy Ghost Meeting).

A Biblical trance, as occurred to Saint Peter in Acts chapter 10, was not a suspended state as is evident above with Mr. Hagin’s subject. Peter was experiencing the presence or the glory of God. The word trance in the original Greek means "ecstasy or glory." He was fully conscious, hearing and responding to God’s message. He was at no time out of control or under the control of some foreign power. He did not need to be shaken to consciousness when it was over because there was no altered state to begin with.

Look at this actual text. "On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice [spake] unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, [that] call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate." (Acts 10:9-17).

Peter was praying when the Lord blessed him with His glorious presence, so glorious that Peter was in a trance of ecstasy and praise. We would say he was beside himself with the joy and presence of the Lord. In that glory the Lord gave him a vision and specific directions for ministry to the household of Cornelius. To compare this with a paranormal trance so popular with the occult world and modern day Charismatics requires a stretch of the imagination.

The modern meaning of the word trance is as follows, "a dazed, abstracted, ecstatic or exalted state; a deep sleeplike state, profound and prolonged: catalepsy." (Chambers English Dictionary,W & R Chambers Ltd, 1990, p. 1557.) The original Greek meaning is clearly a different mindset, "a displacement of the mind, i.e. bewilderment, ecstasy." (Strong’s Concordance Of The Bible, James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D.)

It is amazing to see the evolution of this word trance. The Biblical trance reveals a blessed state of God’s presence and glory, while the latter state is one that suggest a comatose state. The last description of a modern day trance was catalepsy, which means complete insensibility and bodily rigidity. Apostle Peter’s experience was glorious, while Mr. Hagin’s account was occultic and demeaning.

This is just another area where modern religions are superimposing a new meaning on Scripture. Such a presence of hypnosis and trances in the Charismatic churches is nothing but a show of preacher power and is being used to bring the masses under their control

The Holy Ghost: Third Person of the Godhead
The Holy Ghost never suspends the control of an individual, nor imposes His authority over a believer. He is an invited guest in your temple and abides in your life by invitation. When He uses you, He allows your choice for His manifestation. You are a fellow worker with God, not a robot He dominates against your choices. Listen to the Apostle Paul, "We then, [as] workers together [with him], beseech [you] also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain." "Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed." "But in all [things] approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left." (II Corinthians 6:1,3,4-7).

Our Father, by His Holy Ghost, is looking for fellow workers. "The spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet." (I Corinthians 14:32)