Evangelist Jeremiah Johnson is one of the disturbingly large group of pastors and evangelists who prophesied that Trump would win the 2020 presidential election. Johnson claimed that he had seen baby boomers helping Trump reach the “finish line” of the presidency in a prophetic dream.

After Trump lost the election, Johnson quickly jumped on the conspiracy theorist bandwaggon claiming that the election was “stolen” from Trump. In fact, he put his prophetic integrity on the line, along with all other “prophetic voices” who had claimed that Trump would be reelected:

Yeah, back in November Johnson argued that the only alternative to the #stopthesteal conspiracy theory was that numerous prophets were possessed by demons… something he clearly didn’t believe.

But after the 1/6 terror attack against the Capitol and the certification of Biden’s win by Congress, something happened with Johnson.

He actually repented.

He wrote in his newsletter:

I would like to repent for inaccurately prophesying that Donald Trump would win a second term as the President of the United States.

I refuse to blame the saints and say, “It didn’t come to pass because they did not pray enough.”

Nor will I proclaim, “Donald Trump actually won, so I was right, but now it has been stolen from him.” I believe the first statement seeks to alleviate the prophetic messenger from the responsibility of what he prophesied, and the second statement is filled with potential pride and an unwillingness to humble himself and admit he was wrong. 

I want to go on record: “I was wrong, I am deeply sorry, and I ask for your forgiveness.” I specifically want to apologize to any believer in whom I have now caused potential doubt concerning the voice of God and His ability to speak to His people.

He also added:

Joe Biden’s becoming the 46th President of the United States is meant to humble not only Donald Trump but all those who worshipped him more than they kept their focus on Jesus Christ. 

For the record, if I myself inadvertently persuaded anyone to do this by sharing my prophetic dreams and interpretations with the world, I repent and ask for your forgiveness. I have stated all along, “Political figures can never solve spiritual issues.”

The story could have ended here. But less than two days later, Johnson had another update. A horrifying one.

He wrote on Facebook:

Over the last 72 hours, I have received multiple death threats and thousands upon thousands of emails from Christians saying the nastiest and most vulgar things I have ever heard toward my family and ministry. I have been labeled a coward, sellout, a traitor to the Holy Spirit, and cussed out at least 500 times. We have lost ministry partners every hour and counting.

After publicly repenting on January 7th, I fully expected to be called a false prophet etc in some circles but I could have never dreamed in my wildest imagination that so much satanic attack and witchcraft would come from charismatic/prophetic people. I have been flabbergasted at the barrage of continued conspiracy theories being sent every minute our way and the pure hatred being unleashed.

To my great heartache, I’m convinced parts of the prophetic/charismatic movement are far SICKER than I could have ever dreamed of. I truthfully never realized how absolutely triggered and ballistic thousands and thousands of saints get about Donald Trump. It’s terrifying! It’s full of idolatry!

If I helped to prop up this idealogy concerning him, I will need to repent again and stir up even more hell.

I know that nothing should surprise me in the Trump age – QAnon shamans sieging the Capitol and all – but death threats from Christians just because Johnson regrets a false prophecy? Thousands of hate mails with vulgar cuss words in them?

We might feel tempted to deny that these people are Christian at all – but it wasn’t long ago that people at the Jericho March said that they would fight to the end and engage in a bloody war to prevent Biden from becoming president:

If there’s something that the Jesus flags at the Capitol terrorist attack show us, it’s that contemporary white evangelicalism is very violent.

It didn’t use to be. In fact, early American Pentecostals were mostly pacifist. But the Republican party has changed that. And now, when Republicans have become more authoritarian than ever, it’s not even possible for an influential evangelist to apologize for

History tells us that xenophobic nationalism is one of the cruelest and most brutal ideologies ever known to man. The church needs to abandon it as soon as possible.

Micael Grenholm is a Swedish pastor, author, and editor for PCPJ.

Pentecostals & Charismatics for Peace & Justice is a multicultural, gender inclusive, and ecumenical organization that promotes peace, justice, and reconciliation work among Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians around the world. If you like what we do, please become a member!