False Leaders (long article, but worth the read)
GREAT SIGNS AND WONDERS
Matthew 24:24 "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."
I believe being "slain in the spirit" is one of the "signs" false prophets and false Christs use in order to draw people to themselves and away from God. It is a sign attributed only to Jesus Christ recorded in John 18:3-7. When Jesus proclaimed "I AM" (the name of God translated YAHWEH in Hebrew) to the soldiers who were sent to arrest Him they fell backwards. It was a sign to the unsaved soldiers that Jesus had the power to deliver Himself, but was willingly giving Himself into their hands to fulfill scripture. I'm surprised they still had the courage to arrest Him after that. The phrase "slain in the Spirit" is not in scripture, and it is not a sign God commands His followers to perform. It's O.K. if people happen to swoon in God's presence, but beware of those who attribute it to themselves.
The media has already exposed several fake "faith healers" and those who use fake "words of knowledge" or "prophecy" in order to extort money from people. Remember Jesus' disciples performed signs as confirmation of His word being spoken through them (Mark 16:20), and not as a means to become rich (1 Timothy 6:3-5).
In the early 1990's a new wave of extra-biblical "signs" were experienced throughout the Church; hysterical laughter or tears, uncontrollable bouncing up and down, and animal noises such as barking or gobbling. This type of hysteria has been documented during other "revivals" in previous centuries. I think it represents sensual people desiring a personal physical experience with God without any added responsibilities. All of the signs of the Holy Spirit are controllable and are to be used to edify others in the church (1 Corinthians 14:26-33). If these people are willing to make noises, why don't they seek the gifts of prophecy or tongues? These people have had little opportunity to be "real" in church, but at least they can be "spiritual" and still express their pent-up emotions.
Though in God's presence we can laugh or cry or leap for joy, these are emotions we choose to express before the Creator of our emotions. The Church is supposed to be a place of true emotional expression: "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." (Romans 12:15) If Christians so quickly run to false leaders who give them emotional release, what will happen when anti-christs perform great signs and wonders?