Dave Williams's Blog, page 5

Church Sabbatical Policy

Rest is Not an Easy Thing 

When our “get it done” accelerator is stuck to the floor, it’s difficult to rest.   

It was excruciatingly painful for me to take my first sabbatical after 14 years of non-stop ministry, week after week. That’s why taking a Sabbath must be done by faith. With faith, we are assured that God knows how to take care of matters in our physical absence so that we can cease from our own works.  

In this way, by faith, the minister enters in and ceases from his own labors. It’s like God bringing His children into the Promised Land after all their labors in Egypt.  

Hebrews 4:3-11
“For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest,” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts. If Joshua had given them rest, he would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains, therefore, a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Therefore, let us be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 

Hebrews 4:9-10
So then, there remains a sabbath rest for the people of God [it is available to us now]; for whoever enters God’s rest also ceases from his labors as God did from his.

That is what the true Sabbath is, to cease from your own labors, your own efforts, your own activity; to cease from your own works. 

Rest is Important 

Rest is important. Your ability to hear God’s voice and to work productively depends, to a large degree, on your willingness to rest. We all need to rest physically and mentally. Sleep is important to your successful life. With prolonged sleep deprivation, the imagination can begin to play tricks on you and convince you to make bad decisions. Without rest, the devil can get a toehold.  

God wants us to rest in His goodness. He gave us physical rest, emotional rest, and spiritual rest. We know we need about 8 hours of sleep a night. In the early years of ministry, I settled for about four hours per night. It’s not surprising that I developed some serious physical problems. We also need emotional rest. God calls that the Sabbath.  

Sometimes we need an extended rest from the regular routine. That is called a “Sabbatical.” We rest in the goodness of God that He took our sins away, and we acknowledge Him as the Creator who gave us the example when He rested on the seventh day. 

Thoughts on Rest

First of all, a Sabbatical is not a cessation of activity—rather a change in activity. You are resting from your normal duties, ministry, or regular routine. 

Second, good rest, true rest, is therapeutic, curative, and brings a restoring quality to our lives. It leaves us ready and willing to get back to our normal routine, knowing we’ll be better at what we do because we rested. 

Third, mental rest is just as important as physical rest. 

The Bible teaches us that genuine rest comes from God: 

Isaiah 30:15-16
For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing, And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses,” Therefore you shall flee! “And we will ride on swift horses,” Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift. 

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. 

Psalm 127:2
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. 

Sabbatical Policy when I served as Pastor of Mount Hope Church What a Sabbatical is not: A Vacation A time to exclusively work on an unrelated project What a Sabbatical is: A time off from the regular routine—a change in activity A time to refresh and restore and allow God to re-create passion in you and impart fresh dreams and faith goals. A time to seek God, study His Word and receive prophetic insight from Holy Spirit concerning His plans for your future  Mount Hope Church Sabbatical Policy: After seven years of full-time service to Mount Hope Church and Pastor Dave Williams, a minister is qualified for a paid Sabbatical provided he/she has been faithful and fruitful in ministry. Sabbatical length: Executive ministers: 3-month sabbatical Associate ministers: 2-month sabbatical Assistant ministers: 1-month sabbatical 
NOTE:  The Sabbatical must be taken all at one time (no splitting up the months). No two ministers shall take a sabbatical at the same time until the church is at a regular 10,000 in Sunday morning attendance. The minister taking the sabbatical shall have all work up to date, and have an appointed, qualified lay delegate to “fill in”—one person in charge. The executive pastor shall approve the delegate. Ideally, it should be the minister’s “Timothy” (apprentice or mentee). Application for sabbatical must be made in advance and approved by pastor or his official delegate. 

A Sabbatical may be requested in writing every seventh year. 

There shall be no double-sabbaticals. For example, if a pastor puts a minister on mandatory sabbatical to get something straightened out (attitude, marriage, etc.), that counts as his/her sabbatical for that seven-year period. 

Renewed, Refreshed, Repaired, and Revived! 

Now, get back to what you were called to do! A sabbatical is designed to refresh, renew, and give you greater ministry longevity.

Download Sabbatical Policy ArticleProducts you may find helpful in your ministry: Miracle of Faith GoalsArt of Pacesetting LeadershipThe Jezebel Spirit The Spirit of Antagonism The ImposterHow to Help your pastor SucceedHope in the Last Days42 Things Productive Pastors Know and do that Others Don’tEmerging LeadersHeart to Heart Talks with Young Pastors Defeating the Realm of the DemonicThe Power of Prophetic RevelationYour Spectacular MindDeveloping the Spirit of a ConquerorThe New Life…The Start of Something WonderfulDeveloping the Spirit of a conqueror 

The post Church Sabbatical Policy appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

Perhaps This Year?

I wish it weren’t true, but it seems as though the prophets who forecast judgment are usually the right ones. It was that way historically and biblically. 

I remember when Dr. Jack Van Impe, in June of 2008, warned us, “Get out of the stock market – it’s going to crash.” Very few believed him. After all, the market was steaming ahead, bringing stellar gains to investors. It looked like there was no end to the raging bull market. Then three months later, the major stock indexes lost nearly 20% of their value. And within six months, the Dow reached its lowest point, 54% below its peak. It took four years for the market to recover.

Bad News Prophets?

David Wilkerson’s 1973 apocalyptic vision sent shivers down our spines, and many didn’t believe it. Yet, now just about everything in that vision has come to pass. The rest will likely occur during the dreaded Tribulation period.

Before going to heaven, John Paul Jackson received a prophetic word about the coming “Perfect Storm” and associated judgments. It looks like we are standing on the very edge of it right now.

Cataclysmic Times of Global Disturbances

We are facing cataclysmic times of global disturbances. Ours is an age of rampant, accepted, and applauded sin. We hear voices that tell us abortion is not murder; it’s “reproductive health.” Lying is not a sin; it’s called “creative reporting.”

A powerful leader will soon emerge on the global scene that will head up an end-time global coalition.  

The World Economic Forum met recently with some of the world’s most powerful business leaders and concluded that our planet needs a global reset. The “reset” includes casting away of capitalism and personal responsibility and replacing them with a socialist new world order. It will be a cashless society with a totalitarian government.

Yes, that’s precisely what they are pushing. The initial platform for the final global government will be “PEACE & SECURITY.”

1 Thessalonians 5:3 NRSV
When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape!

But this new world order will quickly turn into tyranny and dictatorial dominion. (Revelation 13:16-18) 

The Harbingers are Now Arriving

The Harbingers are arriving now. Total repentance and crying out to God may provide the only hope of a reprieve or a softening of what’s to come. But it’s our choice, just like it was Nineveh’s choice. The entire city fasted and repented. As a result, God withheld His judgment for a long season. He would do the same for America.

Good News Prophets

Some good news many church fathers taught was the doctrine of the Rapture. They believed Christ would come for His Church before the final “conflagration.” That is, “before the Tribulation.”  

The Apostles wrote about it in the Didache, giving an order to end time events: Rapture, then Tribulation, Anti-Christ, Second-coming.

Irenaeus wrote “… the Rapture of the Church shall take place before the Tribulation and at a time separate from the Second Coming of the Lord.”

Shepherd of Hermes wrote about the catching away of the Church.

Ephraim the Syrian made over 300 references to the Rapture

Victorinus (d. 303/304) in his Commentary on the Apocalypse spoke of a pre-tribulation Rapture.

Rapture naysayers, as sincere as they may be, possess only dead-end arguments. They echo the same things consistently:

“Rapture concept is too new to be true.”
“There is no evidence of a Rapture doctrine from 1st Century Church.”
“John Darby got it from Margaret McDonald in the mid 1800’s”
“Rapture belief is nothing but escapism.” (see Luke 21:36)
“Rapture is not in the Bible.”

However,

Jesus taught it (John 14:3)
Paul taught it (1 Corinthians 15:51-55)
Paul again (1Thessalonians 4:13-18)
John spoke of it (Revelation 3:10; 4:1)

Without the Rapture, there can be no imminence, no concept that Jesus could come at any moment for his Bride. Imminent means it could happen at any time.

No Comfort in the Post-Tribulation Theory

Over the years, I’ve seen Christians fall into the post-tribulation rapture theory. Joy leaves, fear enters, soul-winning ceases. Because it’s not comforting to hear, “Become a Christian and Christ in his wrath will beat the tar out his precious bride during the Tribulation.”

The Church of Jesus Christ is a glorious, spotless bride, and without wrinkle, not a defeated broken-down, beat-up bride. And since the final 7-year Tribulation period is the wrath of God, then would the Bride (His Church) then be considered a battered bride, beaten up by the Bridegroom? Is that your concept of Jesus? (Luke 17:26-30 NKJV) 

Ephesians 5:27
that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Noah was building the ark without knowing exactly when the judgment would begin. Noah was out in the ark BEFORE God’s judgment. Lot was out of Sodom BEFORE God’s judgment.

And perhaps very soon the world will encounter The Biggest case of missing persons in all of history! If it’s God’s judgment, God’s wrath that’s coming, be assured we’ll be out BEFORE it begins!

I urge you to get a copy of my book, Hope in the Last Days. You will see clearly the signs, markers, and conditions leading up to the final hours. Every family must have a copy of this book that explains the future in a way you can understand. Or better yet, order it from JVIM.com and get a free DVD by Rexella Van Impe and me on Who Jesus is, Why He came the first time, and When He will return.  

The post Perhaps This Year? appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

Why Did Jesus Come to Earth that First Christmas?

Here it is. Christmas again…already! Time never stops for any of us. We know it’s Christmas but have we ever really thought about why Jesus came?

I remember reading a story (years ago) about Pastor Clifford Stewart of Louisville, Kentucky, who sent his parents a microwave oven for Christmas one year. He recalls: “They were excited that now they, too, could be a part of the instant generation. When Dad unpacked the microwave and plugged it in, literally within seconds, the microwave transformed two smiles into frowns! Even after reading the directions, they couldn’t make it work. 

Two days later, my mother was playing bridge with friends and confessed her inability to get that microwave oven even to boil water. ‘To get this darn thing to work,’ she exclaimed, ‘I don’t need better directions; I just needed my son to come along with the gift!’ 

John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Jesus Came to Earth as a Gift of Salvation

When God gave the gift of salvation, he didn’t send a booklet of complicated instructions for us to figure out; he sent his Son. That’s the first reason the Son of God came to Earth. He leads and guides us to make things work for our good (Romans 8:28).

Jesus Came to Earth to Undo the Works of the Devil 

The word “destroy” in 1 John 3:8 means to untangle or undo. All entanglements of the enemy are undone in our lives when we receive Jesus as not only our Savior but also our Lord, who unravels and unscrambles the mess sin has brought to our lives.

1 John 3:8b
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

We all had sold ourselves into sin during our lifetime. We became enslaved by a lifestyle of pride, self-importance, and other sins that bind us and blind us. Satan became our slave master. But when Jesus came to Earth and gave his life as a ransom, our slave masters, sin, fear, death, and the devil had to give up their claim on us. And the result was that you and I would be adopted into the family of God. He paid the debt for our sin, so if we turn and follow Him in faith, we are freed from all our guilt too!

Hebrews 2:14-15
Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Jesus came to Earth to be our “Horn of Salvation” 

In Psalm 18 and Luke 1 Jesus is referred to as the “Horn of Salvation.” “Horn” in the Bible refers to power, authority, and forcefulness. It is sometimes referencing nations, but in this context, it is a reference to God’s power to deliver you, redeem you, and conquer all your enemies.

Here is the Hebrew word picture:

Satan may be roaming around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour, but all who take refuge in Christ, the horn of our salvation, cannot be destroyed or devoured. The picture is that of a horn with an impaled lion on the end DEAD! The Horn of Salvation will impale the one who thinks he’s king of the jungle (metaphorically).

Psalm 18:2
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Luke 1:69
And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David

The “horn of salvation” projects an eternal and everlasting reign. He came to Earth to offer forgiveness, power, and a new nature. Ultimately our full redemption will suddenly arrive in the Rapture when our bodies are transformed into incorruptible, everlasting bodies. When Jesus came to Earth, He conquered the devil, death, and the grave by His crucifixion and resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:52-53
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Hebrews 9:27
…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment

We all will face Jesus as Judge one day. It looks like the prophets who foretold us that Jesus would come back were right. All the signs pointing to the Great Event are converging in an unprecedented manner. Now is the time to make peace with God.

This Christmas, make Jesus the Horn of your Salvation! Get a free ebook download of The New Life—Start of Something Wonderful! 

The post Why Did Jesus Come to Earth that First Christmas? appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

The Miracle of Thanksgiving

Psalm 100:4
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Nehemiah 12:31
So I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, and appointed two large thanksgiving choirs. One went to the right hand on the wall toward the Refuse Gate.

Years ago, before I was in full-time ministry, I worked at a power company. I had a Bible study going in my home and owned lots of tapes of famous preachers. There were no high-speed duplicators back then, so if I wanted to copy a tape, I had to record it from one little tape recorder to another. The tapes all said “copying for Christ permitted,” on their label, so I copied them. 

I gave them to a fellow at work, and he was so appreciative. He couldn’t stop thanking me. That made me want to give him more. So…I did. You love giving and serving, where you are celebrated and appreciated. 

The Bible is full of encouragement to the practice of giving thanks. This is Thanksgiving month and an excellent time to remember the “Miracle of Thanksgiving.” 

When Jesus gave thanks for the few loaves and fish he had, they multiplied.

Matthew 15:36
And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude.

Mark 8:6
So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude.

When my friend was thankful for the tape I had recorded for him, his number of tapes multiplied. I realized there was a principal at work here; so, within the first couple of years of being pastor at Mount Hope, I developed a message entitled “The Miracle of Thanksgiving.” In the 1980s, all the Pentecostal and Charismatic churches gathered in one united Thanksgiving service. One year I was selected to be the preacher. I rem ember preaching on the Miracle of Thanksgiving and how it can bring multiplication and miracles to our lives. 

About a month or so later, I was teaching a Wednesday evening class at Mount Hope when I noticed a precious African-American lady wearing a hat in the service. I didn’t know who she was, but I was glad she was there. 

She kept smiling at me and nodding…just the kind of congregation member a pastor likes to see. 

When I finished my lesson, she ran up to me and said, “Pastor Williams, my name is Pearl, and I was in your Thanksgiving service where you talked about the Miracle of Thanksgiving. I sat back there quietly, complaining because I had nothing to be thankful for. After all, I had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the more I thought about it, the more I said to myself, “I’m going to do it.” I started thanking the Lord for everything I could think of. Before long, I was thanking him for the socks in my dresser drawer. I even started thanking him for the old man he had given me that’s such a grump. I thanked Jesus for everything I could think of, including the home heating system that worked. Everything! 

Well, Pastor Williams, the next thing I knew, I got hungry. I hadn’t been hungry in weeks. I was thin and still losing weight. But I went to the kitchen and made myself a sandwich, then a bowl of soup, then a little bit more. After a week I had put on quite a few pounds already, so I went to my doctor, and he ordered me to go to the oncologist, where I got the good news: I was now cancer-free. I had gone into remission… and the only thing different in my life was my level of Thanksgiving. Thank you, Pastor Williams. Your message on the Miracle of Thanksgiving saved my life.” 

Well, that was very rewarding as Pearl gave me the biggest hug I think I’ve ever had, and she thanked Jesus for leading her to that service that day. (It’s true sometimes it’s about showing up.) 

What are you going to do this Thanksgiving? Why not make a list of everything you can thank the Lord for, and then watch him bring multiplication into your life. Nobody likes hearing a bunch of complaining, and neither does God. Happy Thanksgiving, my precious partner.

Psalm 69:30
I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.

Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

May I pray for you? God has an indescribable gift for you! If you prayed this prayer, I’d love to give a free download of my top-selling book, The New Life—Start of Something Wonderful! 

The post The Miracle of Thanksgiving appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

Why Are Some Believers Choosing to Disbelieve the Promises of Jesus?

I was stunned the other day as I watched a fairly well-known Bible teacher answer questions that people sent in. He picked up a piece of paper and read the question, “Do you believe in the Rapture.” He got a disgusted look on his face, and he yelled, “No!”  

No? Did I hear him say, “No?” He explained that he believes the Second Coming and the Rapture are identical events. Then he admitted that prophecy was not his forte. He continued his rant by downplaying the seriousness of the Tribulation period, suggesting that it won’t be as bad as some of the prophecy teachers have asserted.  

First Resurrection and Rapture

This teacher admitted that he doesn’t clearly understand the prophetic writings as the Book of Revelation. Yet, he was basically telling his followers that he doesn’t believe in the Rapture of Believers.

Do you want to know the truth? Here’s the truth: If you don’t believe in the Rapture of the Church, it’s because you don’t believe in the promise of the resurrection. The Bible teaches there will be a first resurrection which will happen simultaneously with the Rapture, and there will be a second resurrection (at the end of the 1000-year reign of Christ on Earth) which will be the resurrection of the damned. 

1 Corinthians 15:51-55
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Unfortunately, many Christians are throwing their hats into the ring, seemingly volunteering to participate in the Great Tribulation spoken of by Jesus himself and prophesied by the prophets Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Joel, Paul, John, and others. Some well-meaning Christians are reading the writings of men who have failed to “rightly divide the Word of Truth.”

2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

If you carefully read the prophetic Scriptures, you’d never walk away believing the Rapture of the Church and the Second Coming of Jesus will be simultaneous events. It’s not even possible. The Scriptures relating to the timing of the Second Coming are totally different than the conditions and timing of the Rapture. At the Rapture, believers meet the Lord in the air. At the second coming, believers return with the Lord to the Earth (Revelation 19:14).

Some say the word “Rapture” is not in the Bible. Bad argument. The word “Bible” is not in the Bible, so you’re not going to believe the Bible? We get the word “Rapture” from a Latin word (Raptus), meaning “a carrying off, a transport, or a snatching away.” This is the Greek word, “Harpazo,” which means a sudden catching away, as with great force.  

The Rapture is the end-time event when God “catches away” all true believers from the Earth before His wrath and righteous judgment pour out on the Earth during the tribulation period. The Tribulation is seven-years of terrible judgments. Thankfully, God promised that His followers are not appointed to wrath but deliverance.

1 Thessalonians 5:9
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
For this, we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

It’s like a magnet picking up a piece of steel. When I was a kid, I’d sometimes go over to Glick’s Junkyard in Jackson, Michigan. They had a huge electromagnet on a Crane, and when they hit the right button, it would lift a car off the parking lot and place it in another machine to compact the car into a small cube, then ship it by rail to be recycled.

The Rapture will be kind of like that.  

If you are of the “right material”, you’ll be suddenly lifted from the Earth and taken to a distant paradise (heaven) where you will go before the Judgement seat of Christ to determine your rewards (Salvation is a gift but your position in the millennial kingdom is a reward).  

Extracted From Earth

If you have the attraction of heaven by following Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you’ll be extracted instantly. If a room was full of nails and plastic nails (fakes) and the giant magnet is turned on, only the real nails would be lifted by the magnetic force. And only genuine Christians, followers of Jesus, will be lifted suddenly when Jesus comes for HIs bride.

If the Church was to be on Earth for the Tribulation period, we would know the exact day Jesus would return to Earth. It would be 1,260 days after the world leader (Antichrist) moves his image into the holy rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem. Yet the Scriptures say, “No man knows the day or the hour.” And that’s true of one event: The Catching Away of Christ’s bride, the Church. We don’t know the day or hour of the Rapture, so we must be ready at all times.

The sands of time are quickly falling. The conditions are here, pointing to the Tribulation period of seven horrifying years. The Rapture will come at least seven years before the wrath of God is loosed on Earth in the worst time of anguish ever. Everyone trapped on Earth will participate in unthinkable horrors. Best to believe the word of Jesus in John 14:3 and Revelation 3:10.

Jesus promised: 

“I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:3)

“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” (Revelation 3:10)

Jesus really is coming back. Repent of your sins now; believe that Jesus died on the cross for you. Ask Him to forgive you, confess Him as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead.  

Be ready to leave this planet in a moment and the twinkling of an eye!

My book, Hope in the Last Days, has gone into another printing. I urge you to get your loved ones a copy before it’s too late. In the book, I show you the prophetic timeline and help you understand what’s coming. Learn more.

The post Why Are Some Believers Choosing to Disbelieve the Promises of Jesus? appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

Are We Now Living in Times Just Like the Days of Noah?

What were some of the unusual conditions in Noah’s time?

Matthew 24:37 AMP
For the coming of the Son of Man (the Messiah) will be just like the days of Noah.

A catastrophic storm was brewing in Noah’s day, but very few believed it. Until it struck…then it was too late.

I wonder why NASA has suddenly become so concerned with finding a way to defend the Earth from giant asteroids?  

Author and Economist Michael Snyder asks, “Could it be possible that there is something heading toward Earth…that they haven’t told us about yet?” https://themostimportantnews.com/arch...

Dr. Thomas Horn has a theory that Apophis (the asteroid heading for Earth now), said to strike between Mexico and California, is Wormwood. He shows how this asteroid fits perfectly with the biblical “Wormwood” prophecy and would cause death from toxic drinking water for 1/3 of the Earth.

Revelation 8:10-11 AMP
The third angel sounded [his trumpet], and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch [flashing across the sky], and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of [fresh] waters. The name of the star is Wormwood; and a third of the waters became Wormwood, and many people died from the waters, because they had become bitter (toxic).

Sick, Nazi-level experiments on humans taking place NOW.

Transhumanism

In Noah’s day, the fallen angels found a way to penetrate the natural realm and impregnate human women to produce super-beings known as Nephilim (Genesis 6:4).

Today there seems to be a mad dash to increase human productivity, intelligence, and strength. Some are even claiming these human experiments will lead to cures and anti-aging secrets.

Has science gone too far? Here are some headlines I have seen recently:

Scientists Have Created Embryos That Are Part Human, Part Monkey.Mutant Rat-human Births Approved in JapanPart-human, Part-Monkey Embryos Grown in Lab Dishes  Research Using Human Fetal Tissue, Doctor Offers a Code of Medical Ethics (Opinion)Those in Noah’s day encountered unbridled lawlessness

We’ve witnessed “Defund the Police” marches. Leftists and lawless politicians supported this insane notion that we need more social workers and less police. The result was tragic—an astronomical upward trajectory in crimes, including murder, rape, theft, and more. In Noah’s day, lawlessness was celebrated. Today we see celebrations for abortion, same-sex marriage, illegal migration, and other forms of lawlessness, exactly as it was in the days of Noah! 

These are just a few of the signs that point to the return of Jesus Christ. Here’s another one:

Persecution

Noah was ridiculed for building a boat on dry ground. Today Christians are being “canceled” and harassed … even by government agencies. 

Pastor arrested for conducting church service (News from the staff of Charisma Media)

‘Don’t Fear Men, Fear God,’ Canadian Pastor Tells Church After Serving 18 Days in Jail. After 17 nights and 18 days, Canadian Pastor Tim Stephens walked away from his Calgary, Alberta, Canada, jail cell and, with tears in his eyes, delivered a heartfelt sermon this past Sunday morning in which he urged congregants not to fear taking a stand for Christ.

Pastor Stephens was arrested June 14, 2021, after his underground church met for the second week in a row following the shutdown of its campus for violating province COVID-19 rules. He had previously been arrested May 16 and spent two nights in jail.

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, which represented Stephens, announced his release July 1 along with the release of his church building, Fairview Baptist Church, from government seizure.

Socialism

Canada has become increasingly inclined to the popular “gospel” of socialism. Democratic socialism always needs “useful idiots” to promote anti-God, anti-Christ policies. And now they are promoting what they call “Christian Socialism.” This fits very well with Satan’s end-time strategy of deception.

We have today: “Christian paganism,” “Christian witchcraft,” “Christian yoga,” and now “Christian socialism,” none of which is Christian at all. Satan has become bolder and more brazen in his tactics, knowing that he has only a short time left. (See my book 24 Reasons to Avoid Yoga)

Revelation 12:12
Woe to the inhabiters of the Earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

The socialists’ propaganda campaigns always try to convince the citizens that democratic socialism is different than communism, yet, history shows us that it always turns out the same. Under socialism, eventually, the government seizes private property, enacts censorship, prison or death to dissenters, destruction of the economy due to government spending, and widespread fear of the government leaders because they weaponize every branch of government against those who speak anything other than what the government dictates.  

It’s happened everywhere “democratic socialism” has penetrated; Cuba, Venezuela, Tanzania, Russia, China (including slave labor for the state) – Everywhere! By the way, Castro campaigned on social justice, hope and change, and universal health care for all.

Castro converted Cuba into a one-party, socialist state under communist party rule, the first in the Western Hemisphere. Cuba was once a beautiful island vacation paradise for Americans, Canadians, and people from all over the world. Socialism turned it into a third-world country.  Once a beautiful paradise, Cuba was destroyed by socialism.

And now: Christian Socialism?

Socialism, for all its popularity in some circles, is not a biblical, God-ordained model for society. Don’t be deceived by smooth-talking Marxists.

The Bible never promotes socialism and is, in fact, in total opposition to socialism. The Bible—God’s Word—endorses the concept of private property ownership and issues command to respect it: commands such as “Thou shall not steal” are meaningless without private property ownership. 

Unlike what we see in failed experiments in socialism, the Bible honors work and teaches that individuals are responsible to support themselves: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). The redistribution of wealth foundational to socialism destroys accountability and the biblical work ethic. Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25:14–30 clearly teaches our responsibility to serve God with our (private) resources. https://www.gotquestions.org/Christia...

It’s just like it was in the days of Noah.

Matthew 24:37
But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

The post Are We Now Living in Times Just Like the Days of Noah? appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

The Final Drama is Now Unfolding

Just ahead, the world will experience shocking events that will eclipse anything in history. We live in the first generation to see all the end-time signs converging together.

Matthew 24:33, 34
So also, when you shall see all these things, you know that it is near, even at the doors. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.  

Very soon, everything will change. It will be sudden, swift, dramatic, unexpected, and global.

1 Thessalonians 5:2
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 

“The Day of the Lord” is always, scripturally, a severe time of great anguish, horrifying darkness, and solemn judgment. 

In the New Testament, it refers to a day of “wrath,” and the “great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:14) and refers to when God’s wrath is poured out on the unbelieving world (Isaiah 22; Jeremiah 30:1-17; Joel 1-2; Amos 5; Zephaniah 1; Ezekiel 38–39; Zechariah 14). St. Paul writes, “the day of the Lord” will come in a sudden, unexpected manner, like a thief in the night (Zephaniah 1:14-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:2). Jesus tells us many will be trapped on earth for The Day of the Lord, also known as The Tribulation. 

Matthew 24:21
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 

Jesus instructs His followers: 

Luke 21:35-36
For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. 

If you read and believe the biblical prophets, then you know the final drama is unfolding before our very eyes at this moment. Just as Israel and Judah’s demise came suddenly and unexpectedly overnight—and everything changed—so it will be in the days ahead for those who are trapped on earth. 

Jesus, our Lord, however, made an iron-clad promise to His followers.

Revelation 3:10 ESV
Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 

The word “from” is “eκ” meaning “out of.” Jesus is saying, “I will keep [you] out of …” Paul speaks of this event in 1 Corinthians 15, and 1 Thessalonians 4, and Jesus spoke of it in John 14:3 when he said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” This is known as the Rapture (Harpazo in Greek; Raptus in the Latin), when Jesus will come in the air to take all true Christians to be with him. This happens before “The Day of the Lord” but sets the stage for the Tribulation period (God’s wrath), which will last seven years. 

One day, millions will disappear just prior to that great and notable Day of the Lord’s wrath. 

New Age (occult) leaders today are urgently predicting the rapid unfolding of “Earth’s hour of cleansing,” a time when those “not of Earth’s harmony” will be taken from this planet for intense New Age indoctrination before being allowed to return. Are they preparing the minds of their followers for what is about to transpire? 

It’s all happening now. You are in one of two conditions: ready or not ready. If you’re not ready, come to Jesus Christ, God’s Son. He died on the cross and rose from the dead to save you. He ascended back to heaven and promised to come again. Looks like any day now. 

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See the Invisible Accomplish the Impossible!

Have you ever wished you could find the secret to achieving the impossible?

I remember reading a story about David Wilkerson, founder of the Teen Challenge Ministries. This happened when he worked with Kathryn Kuhlman in Pittsburgh. David wondered how Kathryn could keep going…and going. She would be on her feet for four hours praying before a service, and then another four hours during the service, and after that, she’d be gracious to guests. She worked hard. David asked Kathryn, “How do you do it? How can you keep going with seemingly endless energy.”

Kathryn shook her finger in David’s face and said: “David, in the Bible it says that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead shall quicken my mortal body (Romans 8:11). David, if you can see it, you can have it.” She had discovered a secret that very few will ever understand. God made a promise, and if you can see it you can experience it.

You Must Envision God’s Promises.

I met Dr. Paul Yonggi Cho in 1980. At that time he had 50,000 church members in Seoul, South Korea.  We all thought that was amazing, but he had a vision for 1 million members (which came to pass in 2020). Dr. Cho gave us an amazing word about the power of vision. 

We actually can see things that others don’t (John 4:35), looking at those things which are not seen (2 Corinthians 4:18), and calling those things which be not as though they were (Romans 4:17).

These are all steps of faith…and without faith it’s impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6), but with faith, we can move mountains (Matthew 21:21).

The picture above is not a picture of Mount Hope Church (where I had pastored for 30 years). It is an image of a three-dimensional model that I commissioned to be built before we ever laid the first brick for our 3000 seat Worship Center. We enclosed this finished model in a glass case so the congregation could see it. I was trying to put a vision into their hearts for what we would see in the future.

The artist put this model together in 1984. We needed a new facility. We were conducting five services every Sunday at our old facilities. Finally, little by little, the new building came out of the ground. When we dedicated it in 1987, there were only 200 seats left. We had to go to two services almost immediately when we moved into the new facility.

Many times, over the years, I remembered what Kathryn Kuhlman said to David Wilkerson: “If you can see it, you can have it.” If you can get a picture of something you want and you know it is promised in God’s Word, and you know it is God’s will for you, then SEE IT in your image center.

Prayerfully Imagine Your Ideal Scene In 10 Years (Dream with the Holy Spirit).

Start by thinking about what kind of person you really want to be in 10 years, and the type of lifestyle you want to live. (You may also list some of your heroes and role models.)

Mark 11:24
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

What do you see ahead for your family, your church, your career? When you see a promise in God’s Word, see yourself as a recipient of that promise.

If You Can See It, You Can Have It!

Check out Creating Your New Reality; Miracle of Faith Goals, The Desires of Your Heart for further study.

The post See the Invisible Accomplish the Impossible! appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

The Most Dangerous Moment in Your Life

What could be the most dangerous moment in your life? I would suggest that the most unsafe and slippery spot on your path through this life is when you begin to lose your crisp, clear heavenly discernment. Without it, people inevitably wander into an “illusion of truth” that ultimately brings unthinkable devastation to their lives.

In last month I shared Signs of Christ’s Coming.” I pointed to the number one sign Jesus Himself gave us concerning the last days–DECEPTION. Jesus prophesied that there would be all kinds of deception prior to His Return (political, social, financial, and spiritual).

1 Timothy 4:1 (TPT)
The Holy Spirit has explicitly revealed: At the end of this age, many will depart from the true faith one after another, devoting themselves to spirits of deception and following demon inspired revelations and theories.

DISCERNING THE TRUTH IN THESE FINAL HOURS

How can we discern the truth in days of such deep deception? I suppose you could go to your favorite internet source, but, honestly, you won’t get any heavenly insight from Google, Bing, or Snopes, etc. But, thankfully, God has given His children a divine defense against deception. It’s called “DISCERNMENT.” And He shows us exactly how to sharpen that defensive tool and how you, as a believer, can develop the amazing power of discernment.

Hebrews 5:14 (MEV)
But solid food belongs to those who are mature, for those who through practice have powers of discernment that are trained to distinguish good from evil.
1 Timothy 4:1-2 (NLT)
Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.

Deception always leads to serious danger and unimaginable consequences. This satanic tactic goes back to the Garden of Eden, where he deceived the first humans and brought death and misery on the entire human race as a result. The malevolent tool of deception is powerful.

GOD’S WORD? OR AN OPPOSING WORD?

Discernment means “to distinguish, to separate out by diligent search, to examine.” Ask yourself, “Do I examine carefully everything I hear?” Do I cherish God’s Word more than I cherish my feelings or my opinions?

Discernment is always related to wisdom. It is your spiritual life preserver in a treacherous sea of toxic teaching, lethal lies, and floating falseness. Thank God for His Word and His Promise that we can be equipped to practice the power of discernment. Discernment reveals the hidden traps of deception.

Unfortunately, some professing Christians seem to ignore discernment and plunge headlong into spiritually fatal attractions like so-called “Christian yoga,” “Christian witchcraft,” and “Christian paganism.” It baffles me as to why Christians would lug doctrines of demons from other religions into their Christian practices. But we are living now in the final stretch before Jesus comes. All this was prophesied.

If you don’t believe these deceptions are now at floodgate levels in America and Canada, just Google “Christian witches” or any of the other so-called “Christian” practices from the East. Discernment is our first line of divine defense against deception. We ignore it to our own peril.

HOW SOME BECOME VICTIMS OF DECEPTION

You’ll probably find the following five fatal mistakes in almost every professing Christian who ends up following after a lie; a spiritual deception.

Christians who stray into a deception commonly:

Did not seek the counsel of the Lord or His Word first (Joshua 9:14; Acts 17:11)Did not seek mature spiritual counsel (Proverbs 1:5; 13:20)Did not research the history of the doctrine, group, or practices in which they are becoming involved (2 Timothy 1:7; 2 Timothy 2:15)Did not investigate the credentials, backgrounds, certifications, and licensing of their teachers (1 Thessalonians 5:21–22; 1 John 4:1). Counterfeit teachers mislead people with distortions of God’s WordDid not exercise discernment, which is available to all believers (Hebrews 5:14)

1 Timothy 4:1-2 (NLT)
Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.

The first and foremost sign of Christ’s Return is acute, widespread DECEPTION. Your defensive safeguard is discernment.
The most dangerous moment in a Christian’s life is the moment he or she begins to lose all discernment and begins following a lie, a counterfeit, a masquerading demon.

Psalm 101:7 NLT
I will not allow deceivers to serve in my house, and liars will not stay in my presence.

FALSE TEACHERS IN THE END TIMES

Matthew 7:15 (AMP)
Beware of the false prophets, [teachers] who come to you dressed as sheep [appearing gentle and innocent], but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Typically, a false teacher will look and sound so sincere and passionate that, without biblical discernment, you wouldn’t know they’re actually twisting God’s Word. True Christian teachers will “reach for the Bible first, second, and always.” 281

THE ILLUSION OF TRUTH

If you hear professing “Christian teachers” trying to blend a contrary or conflictive religious source with Christianity, run for your spiritual life! The only Scriptures Christians regard as God’s Word are found in the Holy Bible, Genesis through Revelation. The Bible contains no Sutras, no Sanskrit, and no little red book of Chairman Mao, no Karl Marx, no Book of Mormon, and no other books.

Your biggest keys to discernment in these last days are:

Trust God’s Word (the Bible).Read God’s Word every day.Love God’s Word.Believe God’s Word.Listen for the Holy Spirit’s voicePractice the power of discernment every day of your life.

The post The Most Dangerous Moment in Your Life appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

What Will Be the Sign of Christ’s Coming?

We all want to know how close we are to the sound of the trumpet and the calling home of God’s troops. In Matthew 24:3, the disciples asked Jesus three questions that you and I would have probably asked Him if given the opportunity:

When will things happen (destruction of Temple)?What will signal Your coming?What sign should we expect as we approach the end of the age?

Jesus answered in verses 4 and into chapter 25.

Deception Will Run Rampant 

(Fake news, propaganda, everywhere). Not only will Satan be using spiritual deception, but there will arise political, social, relational, and financial deception and more! In my upcoming new book, Yoga Craze in the Last Days, I repeatedly say, “Discernment is our lifeline in these days of deception and delusion.” 

Many Will Claim to Be God’s Anointed But Will Lead Many Astray

They may look and sound “anointed,” but as genuine followers of Jesus Christ, we must line up what they teach and do to the Holy Scriptures. Today there seems to be a rise in the erroneous and damnable teaching that says, “The second coming of Christ has already taken place and is not an actual physical appearance of the Lord, but rather his return in spirit and truth.” (This is NOT true at all!) 

Those who understand and prioritize God’s Word know that if all the prophecies about Christ’s first coming were literal, then all the prophecies about His second coming will also be literal, not metaphorical or allegorical.

Wars, Revolutions, Riots, Insurgencies, Revolts, with Rumors of More to Come.

However, He tells us not to fret or worry about it. Jesus explains that the world system is breaking apart and that it’s destined to happen. A new (not good) world order is unfolding that Satan will, through a master deception, actually rule through a lawless leader whose number is 666. Thank God, the Church will be suddenly snatched (harpazo in the Greek) away to be with the Lord forever. Some will be ready and go in. Some will not.

Ethnic Wars, Earthquakes, and Horrible Epidemics, Pandemics, and Pestilences 

These are merely the first of the Kingdom of God’s contractions and birth pains coming to Earth. It will be all-out war just before Jesus descends.

Christian Persecution

People will hate Truth lovers. I’d rather be mocked and standing on the side of Truth, than to be popular and be walking in deception, promoting a lie to others.

Many Will Stop Following Jesus and Fall Away (apostasy)

They didn’t love the Truth, they lacked discernment, and the lying prophets snagged them like a little bird hypnotized by the serpent’s stare until snap—it’s too late.

Matthew 24:11 TPT
And many lying prophets will arise, deceiving multitudes and leading them away from the path of truth. 

Remember what Jesus said to His lovers in verses 12-14: Despite increased lawlessness and sin, and the burning passion of some growing cold, you keep your hope (your vision; your anchor) to the very end and you will experience LIFE and DELIVERANCE. Jesus is coming for you! Not only that, verse 14 tells us that a “joyful assurance of the realm of heaven’s kingdom will be proclaimed all over the world, providing every nation with a demonstration of the reality of God.”

Thank you for helping us prepare leaders on campuses in Teen Challenge Centers, Indonesia, the Caribbean, Russia, and Siberia). Let’s pray together that God will give us each a part in the Billion Souls Harvest.

The post What Will Be the Sign of Christ’s Coming? appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.