Our Fellowship’s Comments to Daniel Zopoula
Comments sent to Daniel Zopoula from those who received his reply sent to Victor and the audio messages.
From Dena Dahl:
Hi all,
When listening to Daniel’s message to Victor, it sounded like a confusing sermon. I felt like I was listening to an audio recording of “The Emperor’s New Clothes”, with Daniel the vain emperor and his words the emperor’s clothing. In short, he doesn’t have the covering that he purports to have.
Dena
From James Sorochan:
Daniel,
I see confusion and contradiction in your responses to Victor Hafichuk’s correspondence. Perhaps you should meet everyone in person as Victor has suggested for some much needed reality. I believe that would be a good thing for all.
James Sorochan
From Jon Kail:
It’s been really good to read what everyone has to say. I think it’s so neat how everyone sees a little something different and similar things at the same time.
Mark, if I could express what I was thinking on this topic I think it would be practically identical to what you have explained here. You have quite the way of expressing yourself and articulating things.
–Jon K.
From Bradley Matthews:
Just a few observations from listening to the two Audio tapes ! Firstly, Daniel applies John. 3:16 towards Victor as some type of “sentimental love” that he claims that God has towards all Mankind. The Greek word for “love” used in this passage is “Agapeo,” which is NOT a sentimental type love.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved (Agapeo) the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Agapeo is love based on principle, doing what’s right towards Mankind, even when undeserved. Example: Love your Enemies, not based or motivated through emotion. To love in a moral or social sense.
Mat 5:44 But I say to you, Love (Agapeo) your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you,
Daniel presents a Phileo type love, using John 3:16 incorrectly.
Phileo (Love, Tender affection, a type of sentimental love)
From G5384; to be a friend to (fond of [an individual or an object]), that is, have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling; while G25 is wider, embracing especially the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety: the two thus stand related very much as G2309 and G1014, or as G2372 and G3563 respectively; the former being chiefly of the heart and the latter of the head); specifically to kiss (as a mark of tenderness): – kiss, love.
Example of Phileo, the kiss Judas gave Jesus when betraying Him.
Mat 26:48 And he who betrayed Him gave them a sign, saying, Whomever I shall kiss (Phileo), He is the one, lay hold on Him.
Secondly: He seems to present himself towards Victor in the Audio like he’s teaching Victor, as if he’s the Teacher and Victor is a pupil. Sort of like Victor needs Daniel’s insight as his “pupil.” It suggests to me that Daniel’s being condescending and treating Victor as his intellectual inferior. Just my take on it!
Bradley, BAM
From Eric Starnes:
Brad, yes Daniel definitely sees himself as hearing from God and Victor needing to hear instruction. He also sees himself as spiritually superior, as well he should given that his pride views all things from his “lofty” position. As the poem describes to a t:
Pride says:
“The friendship of people towards me comes out of their admiration for me.” (sometimes true)
“People see something special in me even if they can’t put a finger on it. If they don’t, they ought to.”
“People respect me because I am something special.”
“All centers on me…all.”
“All things said and done toward me to my dislike are offensive, wrong and unjustified.”
“Don’t rebuke me; don’t rail on and on. It’s only your ignorance and bad attitude. I don’t want to hear it.”
“I have spoken. Let all men fall down and worship.”
“World, watch the grace, see the grace that issues from my precious lips.”
“I’m sure glad I’M right.”
From https://www.thepathoftruth.com/poems/the-vices-voices.htm
Written before Victor knew Daniel, but the Lord knew him from the beginning.
Eric S
From Dan Lysthauge:
Hi everyone,
In Daniel’s opening statement he says “love conquers everything.” He is correct about that, but he has never met The Truth (Love).
If he had been given repentance by The Lord, Daniel would not call himself “great.” He would bear witness to what The Lord has done to him and for him.
Dan
From Ingrid Benson:
Hi everyone,
I hear a mocking spirit, despising and making a mockery of everything holy and godly.
Ingrid
From Diana Laumbach:
Hi Everyone,
I just listened to the recordings. To me it seemed like he was attempting to preach to Victor a sermon in a church manner as a church goer would. After listening to all recordings I nearly had chills down my spine and everything about the recording from Daniel was demonic in spirit and presence and so evil! For me it was like I could hear the demon coming from his voice and in his voice. I believe Daniel is aware that Victor knows the Lord in spirit and truth yet seems to think he can fool Victor with his speech. The Lord is not fooled though and Daniel’s cover is blown! I could not listen to that recording again I still have chills.
Diana
From Jeannie Van Popta:
I had already told Victor what I thought about Daniel’s response but here it is again:
I could hardly finish listening to the recording, it made me feel dirty. I felt like he was trying to seduce Victor with his voice, full of false love. It was demonic.
Martin [Jeannie’s husband] said he thought that Daniel didn’t feel like he was getting through to Victor with written word so he needed to use his voice. I agree.
Jeannie
From Eric Courtemanche:
I agree, Jeannie! The recording was a siren song of the harlot, Mystery Babylon; filled with the contradictory carnal love of this world.
Victor, how can the fruit of your lips be evil as Daniel says, “but I do want you to know the thing at the same time though, you heart loves me, but your lips betray your heart.” When God cures a deceitful heart and turns it to Him, how then can you be a good tree and a corrupt tree at the same time?
Matt 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Eric C.
From Paul Cohen:
Good point, Eric. Here’s another Scripture that applies:
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth the good. And an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth the evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45 MKJV).
What Daniel claims about Victor is impossible, according to God and reality. It’s either one or the other, a good or bad tree producing like fruit. That’s what Victor has told him, in so many words. But Daniel, representing Babylon with its abominable mixture, argues out of both sides of his mouth, mixing truth with error in a deadly concoction that has deceived a world slated for God’s judgment:
Revelation 18:2-3 EMTV
(2) And he cried out with a strong voice, saying, “Babylon the great has fallen, and she has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every unclean spirit, and a cage for every unclean and detestable bird!
(3) For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the wealth of her luxury.”
Now Daniel has come to “a Stone-of-stumbling and a Rock-of-offense to those disobeying, who stumble at the Word, to which they also were appointed” (1 Peter 2:8 MKJV). It’s his day of judgment.
Paul
From Eric Starnes:
25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape, those who refused him that spoke on earth, much more we shall not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from Heaven,
26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will not only shake the earth, but also the heavens.”
27 And this word, “Yet once more,” signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, so that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Heb. 12:25-27
Having refused Him who speaks from heaven Daniel moves from delusion to inconsistency to contradiction to incoherency. He is one whom reality has rattled.
Eric S
From Edwin Romero:
It will be very interesting to hear what happens if he actually accepts to visit with Victor and others in person… He might not accept after all.
It’s actually humbling for me to see that we, the ones “more experienced in churches,” could be like him, had our eyes not been opened. All thanks to the Lord!
Edwin
From Joe Vonheeder:
I found it very difficult to listen to. The seduction and affectation in the voice…very hard to hear.
Joe Vonheeder
From Gerhard Fourie:
Hello all,
I have a couple of concerns with his words and please correct if I’m wrong or understanding out of context:
First words that struck me: “the devil being God…”
Is that what he meant? Did I read and hear him right?
Then it seems he is judging according to appearance when he says…
“That is why you say you love me, and deeply you meant it, and I believe you.”
and…
“I do want you to know the thing at the same time though, you heart loves me, but your lips betray your heart.”
He doesn’t have the Lord’s testimony. He believes Victor but at the same time doubts the tone of Victors words OR Jesus Christ in Victor which brings me to the next point
“The devil speaks to your mind, but the devil being God always speaks to the heart.”
Calling the Spirit of Christ the devil, the unpardonable sin. He admits that God reveals things to Victor
“Like I say, you have had some things revealed to you in a different manner.”
but then says, the devil speaks to Victor.
That’s all I want to say for now.
Paul Cohen (answering Gerhard):
“The devil speaks to your mind, but the devil being God always speaks to the heart.”
It’s unclear exactly what Daniel is trying to say here (if you worship the devil, he speaks to your heart?), but you’re certainly on the right track in sensing the contradiction and confusion in his words.
From Jon Kail:
Huh,
It seems like the whole thing went over his head. It’s interesting to me how people are so quick to take the high and holy road and slip in all kind of sneaky humility in the process while avoiding the entire core issue and substance of the matter.
Hey, I’m a good guy, you’re a good guy. Let’s just love each other! It’s all about love, love, love..
I really can’t see how he thinks this whole response is going to suffice for anything. Unless you’re a total pushover V, 🙂 and we know that’s certainly not the case. I believe Daniel feels outmatched here and is trying to level things out with this “love” defense mechanism.. like let’s find something to agree on. That might work in “church”.
Also, I could be wrong but it looks like Daniel is describing himself here. Really, not bad words but he has it all backwards.
“So I think you are struggling over accepting the church, over welcoming the church for who it is, that God meant it to be and you only have one notion of what the church ought to look like, but God is working outside of your concept of church, He is working outside of your analysis and your understanding, so lean not on your own understanding and acknowledge the Lord and let the Lord reveal Himself to people as he pleases…”
“Thank you for your email, Victor. I appreciate your email. There is something unique about that email.”
I don’t think he appreciates the email at all. I think he appreciates and relishes the opportunity to respond in a deceptively (self) righteous manner and “loving” way while steering clear of the meat and potatoes.. and of course by the looks of it, he isn’t fooling anyone 🙂 and the “something unique about that email” is the Truth, plainly laid out for him (probably for the first time in this way). He might be sensing it but not seeing it.
–Jon K.
From William Woeger:
What a performance! Daniel is pretty good with the vocals there. “I am an orthodox believer!” What passion! He should get into audio books or something.
Daniel says he red your email, yet he doesn’t address a single point in your email. He only gives his very poor unsubstantiated assessment: “There is a contrast in you. You said in your heart you love me but your lips betray your heart.” How and where Daniel sees this is never mentioned, and he could never explain because Daniel doesn’t know what true love is… Then he goes into a rant.
From Jason Lee:
I hear devils speaking by this man.
His approach and speech are smooth and seductive, trying to appeal to V’s emotions/ego.
“Victor, you are decent man.” tells all-whom he speaks by. If he knew the Lord at all, he would know that no man is good or decent. Ever.
Our comments on Jason’s:
Victor:
“…he would know that no man is good or decent. Ever.”
Until in harmony with God by faith, Jason. Abraham would have been known as a “decent man,” for example. And what about Cornelius (Acts 10 – see his description even before salvation), Job (chapter 1), John the Baptist, Samuel, Isaac, Jacob, all 3 Josephs (son of Jacob, husband of Mary and the one of Arimathea), and the Roman centurion (Luke 7:1-5)? Not saying you’re wrong about Daniel Zopoula.
Paul (answering Jason):
“For he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And many people were added to the Lord” (Acts 11:24 MKJV).
That says it all, doesn’t it?
Simon Simba:
I agree, Jason. There’s much delusion and presumption with Daniel.
Simon
Click HERE to go back to False Teacher: Daniel Zopoula – A Blasphemous Charade.