Is this teaching biblical?
Wagner Ribeiro claims Christ personally visited him in the hospital and brought a 'spiritual IV drip on a silver tray' to place on his arm. He also claims to have 'left his body holding the finger of Jesus' and heard 'Jesus calling him with a voice of many waters.' These elaborate mystical experiences — published on his official biography — elevate personal visions above Scripture and serve to establish his authority as a special vessel. Paul explicitly warned against boasting in visions and being 'puffed up without reason by a sensuous mind.' The apostle Paul himself, who had genuine visions, refused to boast about them and instead boasted in his weaknesses. Ribeiro does the opposite — his entire ministry identity is built on these unverifiable mystical encounters.
What did Wagner Ribeiro say?
"Ainda no hospital, depois do acidente, o próprio Cristo me visitou: trouxe um 'soro espiritual' em uma bandeja de prata e colocou em meu braço. Jamais esquecerei esse momento."
English Translation"Still in the hospital, after the accident, Christ Himself visited me: He brought a 'spiritual IV drip' on a silver tray and placed it on my arm. I will never forget that moment."
Speaker: Wagner Ribeiro
Source: arbr23.com/sobre-wagner-ribeiro (official biography)
What does Scripture actually teach?
2 Corinthians 12:1-6
"It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago — whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows — such a one was caught up to the third heaven... Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities."
— NKJV
Paul had a genuine vision of the third heaven — yet he refused to boast about it openly. He spoke of it reluctantly, in the third person, fourteen years after it happened. Ribeiro does the exact opposite: he publishes detailed mystical encounters — a 'spiritual IV drip on a silver tray,' leaving his body to hold Jesus' finger — on his official website as marketing for his ministry. Paul said such boasting 'is not profitable.' Ribeiro has built his entire brand on it.
Colossians 2:18
"Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind."
— NKJV
Paul warns against those who 'intrude into things they have seen' (or claim to have seen) and become 'vainly puffed up by the fleshly mind.' Ribeiro's detailed descriptions of Christ visiting him with silver trays, leaving his body, and hearing voices — all published to build his spiritual authority — fit precisely this warning. These visions serve to elevate Wagner above ordinary believers, creating a spiritual hierarchy where he alone has 'access' others must learn from him.
Deuteronomy 4:2
"You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you."
— NKJV
Scripture is complete and sufficient. Adding elaborate mystical experiences — Christ with silver trays, spiritual IV drips, out-of-body encounters — as authoritative revelation is adding to God's Word. The closed canon of Scripture is the Christian's sufficient authority. Ribeiro's personal visions, regardless of their sincerity, cannot serve as a foundation for doctrine or ministry authority.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15
"And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works."
— NKJV
Paul warns that Satan can appear as an angel of light. Not every supernatural experience is from God. The test is not whether the experience felt real — it is whether the fruit aligns with Scripture. Ribeiro's visions produce a personality cult, paid courses, and theatrical spectacle — not repentance, holiness, and the centrality of the Cross. The fruit reveals the source.