Little Gods: How a Dangerous Doctrine Shaped Charismatic Theology | Chino Ross | Episode 478

John and Chino explore how the “little gods” doctrine emerged, evolved, and spread through Pentecostal, Latter Rain, Word of Faith, and modern charismatic movements. They trace the development of these ideas from William Branham’s distorted view of Christ as a “thought expressed,” through Hobart Freeman’s charismatic reinterpretations, and into the broader landscape of dominionism and modern spiritual power claims. Along the way, they highlight how proof-texting, misused Greek terms, and theological shortcuts created a framework that encouraged believers to see themselves as small deities capable of commanding reality, weather, sickness, and even God Himself.

The discussion also exposes the psychological and spiritual consequences of this theology—how it fostered hierarchies of “manifested sons,” opened the door to manipulative ministry culture, and blurred the line between biblical faith and occult-like practices. John and Chino connect these historical teachings to current religious-political movements, examining how ideas about dominion, authority, and spiritual control continue to shape contemporary charismatic expressions. This episode gives listeners a clear historical roadmap of how these ideas took root and why they still matter today.

00:00 – Introduction
01:05 – How “Little Gods” Theology Connects Across Movements
02:00 – Branham’s Early Christology and the “Thought Expressed” Doctrine
03:48 – Hobart Freeman’s Version of the Little Gods Teaching
05:12 – Misuse of Scripture: John 10:34, Philippians 2, and Kenotic Themes
10:12 – Why Freeman Claimed Jesus Worked Miracles Only as a Man
11:35 – Clip: “Increasing Our Faith” and Its Implications
16:18 – The Link to Dominionism and Political Spirituality
17:03 – Branham’s Manifested Sons of God Framework
19:32 – Hierarchy of “Little Gods” and Leader Self-Exaltation
22:00 – Word of Faith Expansion: Hagin, Copeland, and Kenyon
25:33 – Faith as a Force and the Sorcery Parallels
29:01 – How the Doctrine Spread After Branham’s Death
33:40 – Dominionism Explained: Reclaiming Adam’s Lost Authority
37:13 – Clip: “Recovering Our Dominion and Rights” (Prosperity + Commanding Satan)
42:31 – “Decree and Command” Theology (Job 22:28 / Isaiah 45:11)
49:13 – Sunship Faith: Freeman’s Claimed Prophetic Sermon Dictations
50:03 – Weather Control Teachings and Storm-Demon Theology
55:07 – Scriptural Contradictions: Paul, Jonah, and Psalm 29
59:10 – Weather Authority as Product of Little Gods Theology
1:00:29 – Branham’s “Why Cry? Speak!” and the Spoken Word Framework
1:02:03 – Final Reflections on the Doctrine’s Logic and Failures
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Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:
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Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K
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