He's a scammer. The reason he went into hiding in the 80s was due to a news crew exposing his scam.
Before people attend his event, he collects their information: name, address, illness, etc, on a card.
Then when he says that "God" is speaking to him, one of his assistants whisper's the person's information into a mic that sends the signal to his
ear piece about the person's info. Peter then says that God told him that (person's name that submitted) needs his help from God, and that
God wants Peter to heal(person's name).
The news crew brought in a device that allowed them to listen in on the signal and they recorded everything that was said to Popoff, causing people at
his church to stop coming.
Today, he gives out "free" handkerchiefs or "holy water" and includes a letter with each one that if the person (who receives the handkerchief or
holy water) doesn't return the envelope with a check for X amount of sum (usually $1,000+), then God will not allow the handkerchief/holy water to
give them a miracle.
The handkerchief is of course not holy and just a peice of cloth and the "holy water from Jeresulam" is nothing but tap water.
He spends less than $0.05 buying the handkerchief and makes a $1000+ profit on each one.
Other televangelists run the same kind of scam, and those who are gullible enough to buy into their scheme spend their life savings on a false
cure.
Here is the exact letter and scam he sends you if you ask for his handkerchief: www.christianissues.com...
Here's a video showing one of his scams exposed:
Here are some links you will find interesting: www.religionnewsblog.com...
www.jesus-is-savior.com...
People who respond to his scam: www.christianissues.com...


It may not be it either, but certainly more plausible....