Benny Hinn’s Anointed
Graveyard
Ó 1992 The Christian Sentinel
Can the dead bodies of charismatic leaders still emit the anointing presence of the Holy Spirit long after their corpses have decayed? Sound preposterous and maybe a little ghoulish? Yet, this is what Benny Hinn, pastor of the Orlando Christian Center in Florida, claims about the grave sites of Kathryn Kuhlman and Aimee Semple McPherson, both of whom were prominent – and controversial – faith healers. In case you don’t know who Benny Hinn is, he is one of the world’s most popular charismatic teachers. His book, Good Morning, Holy Spirit, has been atop the Christian best seller list for more than a year, only to be usurped recently at the top spot by his sequel, The Anointing.
And, if you think this graveyard talk is exaggerated, read Hinn’s own words, from Hinn’s sermon, "Double Portion Anointing" (Part 3, April 7, 1991, seen on TBN – the Trinity Broadcasting Network):
"One of the strangest experiences I had was a few years ago visiting Aimee’s [Aimee Semple McPherson] tomb in California. This Thursday I’m on TBN; Friday I am gonna go an visit Kathryn Kuhlman’s tomb; it’s close by Aimee’s in Forest Lawn Cemetery. I’ve been there once already, an every so often I like to go an pay my respects ‘cause this great woman of God has touched my life.
"And that grave, uh, where she’s buried is closed – they built walls around it; you can’t get in without a key – an I’m one of the very few people who can get in. But I’ll never forget when I saw Aimee’s tomb. It’s incredibly dramatic. She was such a lady that her tomb was 7 feet [tall], angels bowing on each side of, uh, her tomb, with a gold chain around it.
"As incredible as it is that someone would die with angels bowing on each side of her grave, I felt a terrific anointing when I was there. I actually, hear this, I trembled when I visited Aimee’s tomb; I was shaking all over; God’s power came all over me. The man with me – an I was shaking – Norm, who worked with Miss Kuhlman for years – took me there, and Norm and I were trembling under the power of God.
"I said,, ‘Dear God,’ I said, ‘I feel the anointing.’ I began to weep. You say, ‘How can it be?’ I believe! I’m telling you, this may be something you never think about. Elisha the prophet was dead – you can see this later in 2nd Kings – he was dead. By this time the flesh had gone to dust, and that all was left was bones. They [the bones] were so anointed they put a dead body on top [Hinn claps] and the fellow rose from the dead, that means the anointing has lingered over your body.
"I believe the anointing has lingered over Aimee’s body. I know this may be shocking to you. If Elisha’s bones could still have the anointing – after how many years? – probably, it doesn’t say how many years before this man arose from the dead whose body laid on top of Elisha’s bones.
"Think about this: You bury somebody an ten years later – that there’s bones now left – somebody’s body, they didn’t know there was a grave there; they put this man on top of it and the fellow just rose from the dead. That’s power! How many think that’s power?! Someone asked me, ‘How is it you can feel, um, the anointing around a tomb?’ I said, ‘I have no idea man, but I sure felt it!’ An I’m gonna take David [Palmquist], and Kent [Maddox], and Cheryl this week, but they’re gonna come with me; you, you gonna feel the anointing at Aimee’s tomb. Incredible! And, Kathryn! Amazing!
"I’ve heard of people healed when they visited that tomb. They were totally healed by God’s power! You say, ‘What a crazy thing.’ Brother, there’s things we’ll never understand. Are you hearing me?
