Many gospel teachings have historically associated good health with divine favor and illness with sin or Divine displeasure. However, under Pastor Isaac Noriega's teachings, Golden Dawn Tabernacle has escalated this idea by suggesting that one's sickness is the congregation's fault. This disturbing doctrine, combined with their views on faith and divine healing, not only leads to a delay in medical treatment for many ill congregates but also inflicts severe psychological trauma.
Diving Healing and Cause of Illnesses
Pastor Isaac Noriega at Golden Dawn Tabernacle preaches an extreme version of the doctrine of divine healing. He teaches that strong faith and a firm belief in being healed can lead to miraculous recoveries. According to his teachings, if one truly believes they are healed, they should cease medical treatments and even dismiss or deny any symptoms of illness. This approach is often accompanied by the belief that worsening symptoms signify the illness is being defeated internally. Consequently, this has fostered an anti-medicine and anti-science sentiment among the congregation, leading many to avoid medical interventions and view them as a last resort, as seeking medical help is perceived as a demonstration of insufficient faith.
Isaac Noriega claims that he and his ministry possess the gift of Divine Healing, suggesting a spiritual connection to the legacy of William Branham. He asserts that his ministry is influenced by the same spirit/ anointing that guided Branham. However, when healings inevitably do not occur, Noriega often attributes the absence of miracles to his being beyond the 'first and second pull,' a concept also promoted by Branham.
Despite the profound implications of his version of divine healing, Isaac's views on the origins of sickness are equally concerning. He frequently attributes illness to spiritual causes, such as sin or a lack of faith. This perspective extends to his personal reflections, where he contemplates whether his own sufferings might have been inflicted by God, as he shows in an excerpt from the book "Two Pioneers."
Page 78: After the surgery, Brother Isaac was in much pain and was suffering dangerously high fevers. There was a concern that such high fevers would cause him to start having convulsions that could lead to a stroke or a heart attack; therefore, the nurses were constantly applying ice packs and wet towels to reduce his temperature and alleviate his discomfort.
While suffering greatly, Brother Isaac would read his Bible in order to try to find the mind of God and to receive comfort from the Word. Late one night, he turned in his Bible and read about King Jehoram who was warned by the prophet Elijah that he would become ill and die. He read:
"And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day. And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers." II CHRONICLES 21:15,
Although it was about one o'clock in the morning, Brother Isaac was so shaken after he read this Scriptural passage that he immediately called Brother Danny Ramirez to share with him what he had just read. He told Brother Danny, "Even God's Bible is against me!" Brother Danny tried to encourage Brother Isaac, assuring him that he would be okay, and that God was with him and would take him through.
We mention the example above to illustrate how Isaac perceives and approaches this subject. His belief that God inflicts punitive punishment through sickness and suffering is deeply ingrained in the congregation, creating a pervasive fear. This fear prompts a more urgent need to covertly break church rules to avoid being blamed for causing someone's illness. In the book "The Two Pioneers," there are also references to the congregation, including innocent children, suffering from illnesses as a result of the church's actions that displeased God.
Sick Because Of Sin
Regrettably, it is common to hear some members of the congregation disparage those who are ill, hastily concluding that their sickness is due to sin, evil spirits, or divine rebuke. Such accusations lead to significant stress and psychological turmoil for the afflicted, who begin to doubt their faith and fear they may be living in sin. Moreover, this environment pressures them to forego potentially life-saving medical treatments. Being sick is already a heavy burden; now, those who are ill must also cope with the additional stress of church pressure and the expectation to attend services.
Even worse, the perceived sins of adults are often blamed for the illnesses of innocent children, as highlighted in an excerpt from the book "The Two Pioneers."
Page 102 & 103: As a result of the devastating impact that convention had on the local assembly, Brother Isaac was led by God to stop attending conventions held in other churches. He told Brother Pearry, "I am not going to cancel my services and dismiss my congregation anymore to attend your services because I don't know who you are going to have preach." Brother Isaac later disclosed the consequences of the damage done that night: "Ninety-nine percent of those who were rebaptized from our congregation eventually left the Word. For a few years, our assembly went into such a storm and a turmoil. Besides the spiritual upheaval and backsliding that occurred, several children became sick. Gracie was beginning to suffer; Marc Chacon began having medical problems at ten months old and eventually had to have surgery in order to remove a cancerous tumor; and then little Michael Lopez was born with Down's Syndrome and other complications."
For several months after that service, Brother Isaac's little seven-year-old daughter Gracie continued to suffer with the flu-like symptoms that she had begun to experience in November of 1976. Brother Isaac and Sister Lucy did not know what to do. In April of 1977, God spoke to Brother Isaac to take Gracie to be examined at the hospital. Once the test results were received, the doctor concluded that she had leukemia.
In the book authored under Isaac's direction, he explicitly states that the illness of several innocent children stemmed from the congregation's decision to attend a church convention led by Pearry Green. This claim is baseless and absurd, yet it likely serves an ulterior motive: instilling fear in the hearts of church members to secure their obedience and compliance with his directives.
Medical Treatment and Lack of Faith
Members who seek medical treatment are often viewed as lacking faith, and such treatment is generally discouraged until it becomes a last resort. In some instances, congregants, including elderly widows, must obtain Isaac's approval before seeking medical care. This culture of avoiding medical treatment, even in emergencies, is deeply ingrained within the church. A stark example of this is when Lucy Noriega chose to drive her dangerously ill and unresponsive daughter to the church instead of the hospital, highlighting the pervasive nature of these practices.
Page 104: One evening, Gracie became so sick from dehydration that Sister Lucy stayed home from church with her. That night, Brother Isaac was preaching on "Perfect Faith." Suddenly, he heard a car honking incessantly. He thought it was a young boy who had left the church but now wanted to return; Brother Isaac had been counseling him, encouraging him to come back to God. When Brother Jesse Chacon went outside to investigate, he discovered that it was Sister Lucy, who had brought Gracie to the church because Gracie's eyes had rolled back and she was bleeding from the mouth. Brother Jesse carried her to the platform where Brother Isaac prayed earnestly for his daughter. Once he finished his message, he rushed Gracie to the hospital so the doctors could administer IV's to her, for she was very dehydrated.
However, once at the hospital, the doctors refused to administer the IV's to help Gracie because Brother Isaac had taken Gracie out of the hospital the first time, and this upset them. They wanted Brother Isaac to sign a consent form allowing them to have complete control of Gracie's situation and make medical decisions for her. Seeing that Gracie was in a terrible condition, he signed the papers.
The excerpt from the book clearly shows that Isaac Noriega has a history of disregarding medical advice and delaying seeking professional help unless absolutely necessary, even to the extent of endangering his own daughter's life. Given his willingness to risk his daughter's well-being, it is not unreasonable to suspect that he might exhibit the same disregard for the health and safety of any member of the Golden Dawn Tabernacle congregation.
Medical Diagnosis and Treatment Aversion
Pastor Isaac Noriega claims he has nothing against doctors and medical treatment, but then he berates the congregation for depending on doctors. He especially gets upset with prayer requests of congregants saying they are going to go see a doctor for a diagnosis or to get a procedure done and asking for prayer that all would go well. However, on the flip side, if the procedure or test results come back clean, he will be quick to claim that healing has miraculously taken place.
In some cases, there is a strong reluctance to receive medical treatment even after being diagnosed with serious illnesses such as cancer. Congregants are convinced to claim their healing, which usually result in their suffering and demise as their untreated condition worsens and ends in their death.
The notable exception to this pattern was Isaac’s late wife, Lucy Noriega, who underwent numerous medical procedures over the years, frequently missing church services for weeks. While there is nothing inherently wrong with receiving medical care, the disparity in how medical treatment is handled between his wife and other congregants clearly highlights a troubling hypocrisy.
Attending Church Services At All Costs
There is immense pressure within the congregation to never miss church services, which often leads congregants to avoid necessary hospital stays and attend church even when seriously ill, exacerbating their conditions.
Additionally, there is a troubling practice where church leaders place sick and contagious female congregants in the nursery, away from the main congregation, thereby risking the health of infants and toddlers by exposing them to infectious diseases. In other cases, congregants who are either too loud or distracting due to their illnesses are isolated in janitor closets.
Isaac Noriega frequently praises those who attend services despite severe illnesses. The worse a person's condition when they attend, the more praise they receive, fostering a culture where appearance at church services is prioritized over personal health.
This culture particularly affects the elderly, who may have additional health and cognitive challenges. It's distressing to expect someone, especially the frail, to sit through prolonged services without adequate breaks. Reports indicate that terminally ill members, including those in hospice care, have been dressed formally and brought to church, seemingly for the sake of appearances rather than any spiritual need.
A poignant example involved the late Oscar Jacques Sr., who, while terminally ill with cancer and under heavy medication, was still expected to attend church and remain alert. His son, Isaac Jacques, now a head deacon, seemed more concerned with upholding a facade of devout attendance than his father's comfort.
The church's disregard for medical treatment is further evidenced by the tragic story of a female congregant who, suffering from breast cancer, refused treatment and deteriorated in the church pews. Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated case. Many other examples underscore this concerning trend. Names like Martha Espitia, Pedro Silva, Patricia Escobar, Jennie Miramontez, Audelia Alvarado and Carmen Lopez come to mind. Despite their critical health conditions and some being comatuse, they were brought to church services. Instead of resting comfortably at home, they were made to sit through long sermons getting nothing out of it, adding to their discomfort and placing undue burden on their caregivers and family members.
Isaac's Private Medical Advice
Isaac Noriega privately counsels parents against vaccinating their children, labeling vaccines as poisonous and harmful. This stance starkly contrasts with that of the late Oscar Jacques Sr., the former head deacon of GDT and a respected medical professional until his passing in 2013. Oscar was considered a reliable source of medical advice within the church, often urging congregants to seek medical attention and advocating for child vaccinations.
Following Oscar Jacques Sr.'s death, the church turned to Dr. George Hobeich, a non-member doctor, for medical care for their children. In exchange for construction work performed by some of the church members, Dr. Hobeich provided free medical exams and prescriptions to the congregation. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago from a septic infection, leaving the church without a trusted medical professional and further elevating Isaac Noriega’s role as a primary source of health advice, despite his questionable views on medicine.
Conclusion
We want to clarify that our intention is not to criticize anyone's beliefs in divine healing. Our concern lies with the consequences of Pastor Isaac Noriega’s teachings, which impose restrictions on medical decision-making within the congregation. Pastor Noriega resorts to medical solutions only when left with no other options, and while he asserts that he is not against medical intervention, his stance on divine healing presents a conflicting and perplexing message. It appears that he may adopt the most convenient position at any moment to benefit himself and maintain control over the congregation. Regrettably, such teachings can lead congregants to take extreme risks with their health, sometimes with fatal outcomes.
The authors of this post have witnessed the psychological trauma and abuse endured by current and former members over decades, arising from illness and internal battles with self-worth. Members often doubt their spiritual state due to their health issues and feel guilty for seeking medical help, fearing it indicates a lack of faith. This toxic and manipulative environment can be incredibly damaging and perpetuates a harmful cycle that significantly impacts individuals' health and spiritual journeys.
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Archived Comments#
10 comment(s) imported from the original site:
Sleepy Church Member — May 4, 2024#
Ya same thing happened with Dave Koss, he waited until he couldn’t take it anymore then they cut off his leg. Anna Chacon, heck anyone during Covid..
Shalom — May 6, 2024#
Tenemos que entender que para Issac cada persona enferma es una oportunidad de demostrarle al mundo que el es el " ungido" de la columna de Fuego" y el “Unico " ministerio vindicado de DIOS, segun el. Por lo tanto espera a que alguno sane para informarlo al mundo entero y asi tomar la atencion y el credito y la fama que siempre busca,… Todos los hnos que murieron en la pandemia fueron aquellos que le llamaban para preguntar por su consejo y de por supuesto el les decía que no fuera al hospital, y ya que estaban en un estado critico , entonses corrieron al hospital, donde murieron solos y desamparados, peor que un perro. El hno J*** C***** jr…. Tiempo atras si no fuera porque su mujer “desobedece " al ministerio, al llebarlo de emergencia al hospital por un problema cardiaco, se hubiera muerto en casa. Y su esposa dijo que los mando a la chin….. Y que agarró a su esposo y lo subió al carro y asi lo atenderion devidamente en el hospital. Issac quiere y espera por algun " milagrito” para poder lucirse…que hasta ahorita no hay ninguno. Es un criminal, que de pastor no tiene nada, al exponer a la muerte a las ovejas.
Think about this — May 7, 2024#
Stress Anxiety and Depression are Caused when we are living to please others, how many inside GDT are suffering from this ? Everyone. All because they strive to please a man
Golden Dawn — May 7, 2024#
Bro Rey Aguirre: Why don’t you touch the edge of Isaac suit? To be healed? Because he is you God. He is your everything!!!!!
Concerned citizen — May 10, 2024#
Is Rey Aguirre sick? I hear he has cancer?
David Alcantar — May 12, 2024#
Ok…so I can speak on this because I was there.. In Peary greens meeting I was there at that service..and it is true that service had great repercussions…there is something to that..on the other hand Issac has taught from the beginning that any major development or decision had to go thru him. And to a degree people should consult their pastor providing he has their best interest at heart. However Isaac has really dropped the ball on people seeking medical help..Let’s say you break your arm ..you are allowed to go get that taken care of right away..but if you or your wife come down with cancer ..you have to wait on the Lord..that is if you do not have enough faith to overcome it.. He himself has been to the doctor more then anyone else besides his wife.. Taking all kinds of medication.. Bro Branham would sometimes tell people to go see a certain doctor that would be able to help them. I think at this point in time ..he should step down as a minister..he can and is no longer in touch with the flock.. He has totally fleeced them all and made himself rich. The reason he has always been in a bad mood is because he has never wanted to be bothered.. unless there is money to be made.. Hi goal in life has always been to be rich ..and he’s accomplished that..
Golden Dawn — May 27, 2024#
Bro. Allistair: Your preaching was a blessing to my heart,!!!!! Sadly on Wednesday my pastor Issac Noriega will bury you!!! 😩😩😩😩. How I wish I had a Pastor like you.
Obese child — May 30, 2024#
Two of Isaac Noriega’s children have had cosmetic surgery. Lucinda and Steven both have had Gastric bypass surgery. Although GD denies the claim of them being against the congregation seeking medical help. We members and ex- members know the truth. GD members ask yourself this question: exactly with who’s and what money are they paying for these surgeries? You might say: “ well it’s his money he can do what he wants. God will judge him” It’s the money you gave him. The money he so Blatantly requires. Yet he gets mad when you need medical help. Remember all those Covid deaths? Yet his obese children were getting cosmetic surgery.
David Alcantar — July 12, 2024#
So I am not sure what you are saying…r u mocking ….?
David Alcantar — July 12, 2024#
Isaac and I have so much history…it would be impossible to write it all… ..