A PROPETIC VISION FOR THE PHILIPPINES

 

PREFACE

(By the Filipino Translator)

              In 1992, the Prophetic Vision for the Philippines was printed and subsequently distributed nationwide and abroad.  Some of the information may no longer hold today, but the truth remains that the Philippines has a prophetic destiny to take.

Years after such distribution, this translator got hold of a copy from which this Filipino version has been printed.  The Holy Spirit touched me to translate it into the Filipino version that is more understandable to us Filipinos, and akin to our hearts.  For easier comprehension, “Taglish” or the use and coining of both English and Tagalog words was utilized.  And amazingly, in a week’s time, the translation was finished.  What moved me to continue this legacy?

About 20 years ago, the Lord Jesus Christ found me.  I was blinded by my religion believing that I was bound for heaven because of my good deeds.  Until one day He showed me that I was lost, and needed a Savior.  The turn-around did not bode well with my doting mother.  Nonetheless, seeing the transformation in me she took also the path I have trodden.  In fact, she is now serving as a minister of the Gospel and has won our household for the Lord Jesus.

An incident proved to me altogether that God is alive and real, and that He does speak to His people.  Some members of a religious group came to our home, and offered my mother some literatures which by co-incidence (if you wish to call it that way) I witnessed.  Immediately, I informed them that we have come to a living with relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  Enlightening my mother that we should honor the Son just as we honor the Father, I stood up for the Lord.  Then  I went out.

While walking along the street, I heard an audible voice coming from just above my back where God clearly said to me “My hand is upon You.”  I turned my head to see who it was, but there was no one with me. I lie not.

It’s been many years since I heard these words.  Even in our time, God still speaks to His people even to Filipinos such as I.  I took the translation of the Book as an opportunity to make real the words of God in my life.  Now, a part of the work is done.  It is my sincere prayer that this will reverberate in the hearts of the Filipinos living in the Philippines and those scattered abroad that JESUS IS LORD!

             He said, “Walk while you have the light.  The night is coming when no one will be able to work.”  Further, He also admonished that if He is lifted up, He will draw all men to Himself.

“He must increase, and I must decrease so that every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father! (John 3: 30 and Philippians 2: 20-11).”

A PROPETIC VISION FOR THE PHILIPPINES 

(by Bill Perry)

PURPOSE

            It is my desire through this book to challenge people to make an impact on the “10/40 Window” with the Good News of the Gospel.  This window is a geographic area defined as the countries within an imaginary line starting at the 10^th Degree Parallel North to the 40^th Degree Parallel North stretching from N. W. Africa eastward to Japan.  Approximately 97% of the “Unreached People,” in the world needing to be touched by the power of the Gospel live within this window.  Also it is my purpose to encourage the Filipinos especially, to recognize their destiny and strategic geographic location as a doorway into this “10/40 Window.”  I believe they have an important work to do along within their Asian brothers and sisters.  They have a significant role to play in the tremendous revival that is happening in this part of the world!

Until the 10/40 window has been effectively evangelized, the Great Commission will remain significantly unfulfilled.  Nations still must be discipled and their nationals must begin teaching others to teach others.  Until then, most of the 1.3 billion “Unreached People” plus the 1.2 billion “Partially Reached People” in this region will remain isolated from the power and demonstration of the  Gospel.  This includes the Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and other Eastern religions predominant in this “10/40 Window.”

Jesus, the highest authority of all, said, “And the Full Gospel of power and demonstration of the kingdom” (the Gospel that Jesus preached) “shall be preached in all the world and then shall the end come!  (Matt. 24: 14, italics are my implied emphasis). This “world” includes the masses of the unreached in this “10/40 Window.”

The Lord told Habakkuk to write the vision, and make it plain upon the tablets that he who reads it may run to tell others (Hab. 2: 2).  In our day, He might have said to write the vision on overhead transparencies or “billboards,” as it says in the Living Bible.  So, I am now writing the vision with illustrations.  I have also put it on transparencies which I use when I share this vision in person.  I have done this because it is my heart’s prayer that many will run with this vision and hasten the day of the coming of the Lord.

I – SETTING FOR THE END-TIME ARMY

            There has been a significant increase of prophetic songs about the Army of the Lord during the past fifteen years.  Then in 1988, it intensified and a new sound of militant scriptural songs came forth in the Church.  These new songs are about a militant spiritual army crossing the Jordan River and a Joshua generation coming forth, bringing down walls and possessing the land.  When you hear or see an army preparing themselves, taking up arms and crossing borders, you know there is going to be war.

            So also, we as the Church must realize that a great End-Time spiritual war is about to take place.  We are hearing it in the spirit and in the message that the Holy Spirit is sounding throughout the earth in prophetic words and in the songs coming forth.  In the coming chapters, we will see that it is time for the Army of the Lord to begin rising up and preparing to take the Gospel throughout all the world.  Many agree that God is raising up an Army in this day and that it will be an End-Time Army doing those things which God has ordained.  Truly an Army is arising!

            Joel, a prophetic book about the End-Time, gives the setting for the emergence of the End-Time Army of the Lord.  Joel could be called the first “Pentecostal Prophet” because he prophesied the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.  However, he not only foresaw the first Pentecostal outpouring happening on that day in 29 A.D. , but he also saw the Church being restored with full power through successive and final outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all flesh (Joel 2: 28).

            As Joel had prophesied, the Church was birthed in the flames of the Holy Spirit.  In fact, there was a time when every church as “Full Gospel,” practice power evangelism and moved in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  The early Church had great power and great grace (Acts 4: 33).  The Church continued this way through the next couple of centuries or so.  Then Constantine became a Christian and made a decree that everybody was suddenly a “Christian.”  The only problem was that you cannot legislate Christians!  You cannot make everyone a Christian by law.  It has to be the result of a change of the heart through the blood of Jesus Christ.

            In the flow of events after 325 A.D., the Church started losing its power.  A structural church with the blessing of the state began to emerge and the spiritual Church began to loose its supernatural power.  One cause of this was that the pagan influence prevalent at that time was accommodated by the Church and encouraged by the State.  The Church began celebrating pagan holidays and observances and introduced idols into the Church.  Many traditions of men were also added to the Church.  The “spiritual” Church continued to “fall away” getting further and further from God’s pattern found in the New Testament.

            By the early 1500’s, near the end of the Dark Ages, the only vestige of New Testament Christianity left in the Church was the Apostles’ Creed.  Then God broke through and brought “Justification by Faith” back into understanding and spiritual experience.  God started a two-fold process.  First, He had to restore the Church once again to a full power Church.  Secondly, He had to prepare a mature bride, without spot or wrinkle, which would become the powerful End-Time Army.  THIS SO FAR HAS BEEN A 500-YEAR PROCESS!¹

 

                        In Chapter 2, Joel speaks of the End-Time when the earth shakes, the sky darkens and the moon turns into blood.  But first he sees the restoration of the Church in verses 18, 23, 25, and 26.  Joel prophesies the Word of the Lord, “I’m going to restore, I’m going to restore, I’m going to restore.”  And in verse 28, it says, “And afterward it will come to pass”; that is, after the full restoration, there will be an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  Referring to all the major restorations of this century, (after the Pentecostal outpouring, after the Charismatic movement, after the third wave or at the climax of the third wave), God said, “afterward I’m going to pour out My Spirit upon all flesh!”  That’s not just on white flesh and brown flesh or black flesh, but on ALL flesh, as every nation and people come to a true saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  His Spirit will be poured out on all flesh.  There is going to be a revival in the End-Time!  I believe the reason so many prophecies have come forth concerning the Philippines is because the Filipinos are a significant part of this End-Time Army and End-Time revival.

            Joel 2: 28 and 29 says, “And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit.”  There is going to be a heavy prophetic movement in the Church during the End-Time to prepare the way for the Lord’s Second Coming, even as the prophets prepared the way for His first coming.

            At Pentecost, Peter recognized that what was happening had been prophesied by Joel.  In Acts 2: 16, Peter says, “This is that, which was spoken by the prophet Joel.”  The fulfillment of the prophecy was valid for both the first Pentecost and for the Pentecostal movement that happened in the beginning of the 20^th century.  Joel 2: 23 speaks of a former rain and a latter rain.  The first outpouring of the 20^th century was in the intensity of the early rain and the second outpouring in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, known as the Charismatic Movement, was in the intensity of the latter rain.  This early and latter rain as Joel had prophesied, has brought the fullness of the Holy Spirit to more than 500 million Christians worldwide, approximately one-third of the current Church world.  Then the scripture says the Lord will send both the early and latter rain together simultaneously in the same month.  The Hebrew word used here is “deluge” or “flood,” which I believe refers to the current outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the body of Christ, which is being called the Third Wave.  I believe this “Third Wave” ushers in this “deluge outpouring” of the Holy Spirit on all flesh.

            Gerald Derstine, founder of the Christian Retreat Center in Bradenton, Florida and Gospel Crusades, Inc., had a vision in 1952 of a big bucket.  This big bucket was a big 10 liter pail.  It is the type people use when they milk cows or carry water.  He saw only a small amount of water in the bottom of the bucket, representing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit until that time.  The Lord impressed upon him that what he had seen happening was merely “a drop in the bucket” compared to what was about to happen!  I believe by 1992 we can consider the bucket to be one-third to one-half filled.  Further, I believe that the bucket will be filled to the overflowing with the Holy Spirit when God completes the fulfillment of Joel 2: 23 and 28!

The Purpose of the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit

            Acts 1: 8 states that the Holy Spirit’s power, soon to be released on the day of Pentecost, was to give them power for witnessing.  I believe the final outpouring will be to empower the Army for the harvest.  Yes, the Army is for spiritual warfare and yes, the Army is for spiritual worship and yes, we need an Army of intercessors, but this Army also will be used for a special purpose given in Joel 2: 32.  It states, “whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be delivered.”  This is the purpose of this outpouring of the Spirit and the purpose of the Army, to reap the harvest and to cause people to call upon the Name of the Lord!  Joel prophesied that the purpose of the Pentecostal power and the outpouring of the baptism of the Holy Spirit on all flesh was so the Gospel would be proclaimed in power and demonstration, so that “whosoever calleth upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.”  When Peter quoted Joel in Acts 2: 21, in translating the word “delivered,” he used the Greek word “born again” or “saved!”  The Pentecostal power of Acts 1: 8 and 2: 4 for the supernatural empowering of the End-Time Army of the Lord!

 

II –  THE INCREDIBLE ARMY

            Joel Chapter 1 talks about a real army of locusts.  There was a literal army of locusts that covered the earth, and with the cankerworm and the palmerworm, it wiped out all of Judah.  They made it level and barren as never before had happened since the time of man.  In the beginning of Chapter 2, we see a spiritual army – not of locusts this time, but of people.  The Biblical pattern is first to speak of events happening in the natural and then to follow with the events happening in the spiritual.  We see that pattern in Joel.

In speaking of the real army of men, Joel says there has never been anything like this army before nor shall there ever be for many generations (Joel 2: 2).  This Army of the Lord will be like the locusts in chapter 1.  We have not seen anything like this army before!  It is going to be an awesome army!  It is going to be a huge army!  Do you realize that the largest armies of the world today number only a few millions?  This Army of the Lord is going to be many, many, many millions, perhaps hundreds of millions, of people!  Nothing like it has ever been seen before in the history of man!

             Joel 2: 7 states that those who are part of this army are going to “run like mighty men, climb the walls like men of war, and they shall march everyone on his own ways and they shall not break rank.”  The prophet Joel is seeing an Army of the Lord that is in step with one another.  There is going to be a UNITY in the Army that has never been experienced before in the Church.  Do you believe that God would allow Jesus’ prayer in John chapter 17 to go unanswered?  Jesus prayed that the disciples (Church) would be one, as He and the Father are one, and that the world would know that we are one.  This verse in Joel indicates that it will happen.

Someday soon, we are going to march in that army, not breaking rank, not going to the right nor to the left and not doing our own thing.  Praise God, it’s going to be an army that will learn to walk in cadence with the drum beat and direction of the Holy Spirit and every move we make, every turn we take will be in unison.

You also see something else about this army that is unusual.  “Neither shall one thrust another, they shall walk everyone in his path” (Joel 2: 8).  Are you aware that the Church has been jostling one another with their own swords?  There is coming a time when UNITY IN THE SPIRIT will be so strong that we are going to stop jostling one another, because we are going to focus on the Lord of Hosts!  The sword is to be used on the enemy, not on each other and not within the Church.  It has been said that the Church has been the only army in the history of the world that kills its wounded.  How many fallen leaders have been cast aside, slandered and destroyed, instead of counseled and restored?  This has been very unfortunate, and I pray that this prophetic word will soon come into fulfillment in our generation.  I pray for the quick arrival of the day when the world will know that we are one because we have stopped jostling one another, stopped being out of step, stopped breaking rank and stopped doing “our own thing.”

Joel then says something again that is rather awesome.  He says, “And when they fall upon their sword they shall not be wounded” (Joel 2: 8).  Now that is what I call “SUPERNATURAL PROTECTION.”

             Bill Basansky, an American evangelist of Russian heritage, shares a story of this supernatural power.  During World War II, Bill and his family escaped from Russia with his Christian grandmother, a saintly woman of great faith.  As they were fleeing out of Russia through battle areas, they were strafed and shot at from planes.  The bullets literally bounced off what seemed like a plastic shell or dome surrounding the family and fell harmlessly in a circle in the snow around them, not one of them being hit.  Now that is supernatural divine protection, like falling on the sword and not being hurt.  Perhaps, there is also a future significance here as this army obtains its “immortal and resurrected-life” bodies when nothing will hurt them.  I don’t understand how all this will happen or when it will happen in God’s timetable, but it seems likely that this kind of protection will ultimately find fulfillment in our supernatural glorified bodies like Christ had after the resurrection.  As this End-Time event happens, the enemy will not be able to shoot and kill this supernatural army.  Have you ever seen movies where they shoot people and it has no effect?  They use ray guns on them and it does no harm.  This is the type of army that we are going to be someday in the future.

After the blowing of the trumpet in Zion, Joel talks about the End-Time when the earth is going to tremble.  This part has not yet happened, but in God’s timing I believe there will be an overlapping of the Army of the Lord being formed and the End-Time shaking and trembling taking place.  Every rudiment of that army is now being processed, trained and put into place and order.  Every true blood-bought church, regardless of denomination or association, has a unique purpose and part in this End-Time Army.  God is giving each of  us a piece of the vision to carry out according to His divine command and plan.  In God’s time and way, I believe this prophetic vision of the Philippines will be fulfilled.  There will be a great End-Time harvest.  In fact, it has already begun in Asia, parts of Africa and South America.  This awesome day is coming to pass, with an awesome army and the Filipinos playing an important part!

The Purpose of the Army

            Let us look at the Army in action in Joel 3: 9 and 10.  Joel says “Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles (the nations):  PREPARE FOR WAR!  Wake up the mighty men!  Let all the men of war draw near; let them come up.  Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.”

Then in verse 11, Joel continues and tells them to assemble into an army!  Remember this is an army of men of war!  This army is now beginning to assemble and is beating its plowshares into swords and its pruning hooks into spears.  The proclamation is going out to the men of all nations, “PREPARE FOR WAR!”  Next the Army of the Lord is given its marching orders in verse 13.  “Put ye in the sickle!” (The sword has become a sickle).  A sickle is a harvest tool, a sword with a curved blade used to cut the stalks of all kinds of grain like rice, oats, wheat or barley in a single stroke.  This sickle (the army’s sword) is referring to taking a spiritual harvest.  Verse 14 is relevant in 1992 and the following years when it says that, “MULTITUDES, MULTITUDES ARE IN THE VALLEY OF DECISION:  FOR THE DAY OF THE LORD IS NEAR IN THE VALLEY OF DECISION.”  We are coming into a harvest time when multitudes will be making a decision.

The Hebrew word used in verse 13 says the harvest is fully ripe.  It is the same understanding as when Jesus said that there were not yet four months until the harvest, but that it was ready now or “white unto harvest!” (John 4: 35).  When a field or fruit orchard is ripe it almost looks white.  When a grain field is fully ripe it looks white.  If you have to pull a mango fruit off the tree, it may not be real sweet or ripe.  But if the fruit has matured and it falls into your hand when you barely touch it, you can be sure it is fully ripe!  That is the kind of harvest meant by the Hebrew word here.  The harvest is ready to fall into your hand when picked or when you put the sickle in.

In Revelations 14: 15 – 18, when it says the “harvest is ripe,” the Greek word used here means “it is past harvest, spoiled, or rotten.”  At that time, we are commanded to put in the sickle and harvest the lost souls who rejected the Gospel.  The sickle then will be used for the gathering of the lost for the great judgement, which completes the final harvest of the earth (Revelation 14: 19).  So there is an important difference in the two words used for “ripe harvest.”  The one used in Joel, I believe, is prophetic of what is about to happen and is even beginning to happen right now.  The other one is in Revelation, when the earth is harvested after the Gospel of the Kingdom has been preached and the end has come.  In Revelation the command is to put the final sickle into the final harvest for the Great Judgement.

III – THE WAR ZONE

            When there is going to be a war, you want to know where the war zone is. If you don’t know where the war zone is, then you are likely to end up stepping into a minefield, or find yourself in serious trouble somewhere or you could even miss the war altogether.  I would like to suggest that the war zone can be found in the “10/40 Window.”  The term “10/40 Window” originated with Luis Bush, Argentine-born mission executive and International Director of AD2000 Movement and Beyond.  He introduced the concept at the Lausanne II Conference in Manila in July 1989 and missiologists have been using it ever since.  It refers to an imaginary line from the 10^th Degree Parallel North to the 40^th Degree Parallel North and covers the area from Japan over to Northwest Africa.  IT IS IN THIS AREA WHERE NINETY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE UNREACHED PEOPLE OF THE WORLD LIVE  (Fig. 1).  This is why I call it the “War Zone.”  This is a war zone for which we need to pray and into which we should take our “Swords of the Spirit” and take a harvest.

I was so excited when I saw this, because I realized the relevance of the “10/40 Window” in relation to the prophetic words coming forth over the Philippines and to what I have been sensing in my spirit for the past 5 years.  There is indeed a battle zone in the spiritual realm over this area.  Creation and the Garden of Eden, according to many scholars, happened almost in the center of this war zone.  Jerusalem is also near its center, as are Iraq and Iran.  Much of Ancient History and future history lies here.  It all began here and Scripture tells us that it will all end here.  Jesus’ return to earth will occur in the center of this war zone.  Perhaps this is the reason there is such an intense spiritual battle raging over the region and incredible spiritual darkness and strongholds dominating the area.

This “10/40” War Zone is composed of the areas we know as the “Near East,” the “Middle East” and then the “Far East” where the Philippines is geographically located.  It includes the nations of China, Japan, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Kampuchea (Cambodia), Myanmar (Burma), Thailand and many other Asian, Arabian and African countries.  Let us look at the position of the Philippines in this war zone and the critical part the Filipinos are destined to play.

The Philippines is the 14^th largest country, population wise, in the world.  However, it has been like Gideon, who considered himself the smallest, youngest and poorest among the brothers, and from the least of families, yet he was mighty when used by God!  Even young David, the youngest, smallest and weakest, was mightily used of God with his small sling shot and five stones.  The Philippines has an abundance of natural resources.  Although much of the profits have been taken from the country through graft, corruption and exploitation, there are still great amounts of natural resources being discovered and potential wealth yet to be developed.  But I feel perhaps the Philippines’ greatest resource is its 68 million people, an untapped treasure of underemployed PEOPLE POWER.

             In January 1987, when the Lord opened the door for me to come to the Philippines for the first time, I became aware of the strategic location of the Philippines in the natural.  Also during the trip I began to realize in the spirit how the Philippines was spiritually strategic as well.  I was surprised to find that so many people lived in the Philippines and that it was the 14^th largest in population in the world and the second largest group of English speaking people.  I was amazed that it was less than 1000 miles to Vietnam, only 700 miles to Hong Kong and even closer to Borneo and parts of Indonesia (Fig. 2).

In fact as I studied the airline map of the Asia-Pacific area, I came to realize that two-thirds of the world’s population can be reached in about 2-5 hours by plane from Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport.  (You can’t say that about the United States or Europe.  Trips from the East Coast of the United States to this strategic area often take 26 hours.)  With Indonesia to the South, China to the Northwest, Japan and Korea to the Northeast and the Indo-China countries and India to the West, the Philippines is in the center!  I was excited to realize that this is less than one-half to two-third distance from New York State to California.  It was also the first time I comprehended that the land space containing two-thirds the population of the world wasn’t much bigger than the United States and Canada.  I began to see in the spirit that the Philippines was indeed a spiritual launching pad or stepping stone to Asia and I began to understand the spiritual destiny of this country tucked between the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea.  Excitement welled up in my spirit with unexpected joy and anticipation as I landed in Manila that January morning.  Having lived in the Philippines for five years, that excitement is still there and is growing as I witness the seeds of this vision already starting to come forth and grow.

        

Figure 1 – The 10/40 Window

Figure 2: Philippines Strategically Located

 

                                     

                Figure 3: The Philippines        Figure3A: The Philippines as a Warrior 

 Figure 4:  Flames Bursting Forth Throughout the Islands

Figure 5: The Philippines as the Burning Bush of Asia

 

Figure 6: The Sword Touches Other Countries

 

Figure 7: The Sword Touches Hong Kong and China

Figure 8: Asia Ablazed with the Glory of the Lord

 

Figure 9: The Philippines a “Doorway” into the “10/40 Window”

 

IV – THE VISION OF THE PHILIPPINES

            The following vision is one that  I had in the spirit.  I shared this vision and what I felt in the spirit about the destiny of the Philippines with a group of Baguio pastors the first time I came to the Philippines in January 1987.  They told me that they had heard a similar vision around 1985.  They were amazed that they were similar.  It was a real confirmation to them that God wanted to use them in a special way and an encouragement to them after years of turmoil here in the Philippines.

In this fast moving vision, the nation of the Philippines (Fig. 3) was not just the 7,000 islands that comprise the archipelago.  It appeared as a man in military armor (Fig. 3A), perhaps like what King David or the warriors of the Middle Ages had worn.  Northern Luzon was the helmet and plume of this man of war, Palawan was the sword in his hand.  The Visayas formed the chest and heart area and Mindanao was the lower part of the body with Zamboanga and Sulu forming the legs.  The problem was the military man was in total darkness.

Then something happened.  Flames started blazing up in various areas of the Philippines, in Manila, Baguio and other parts of Luzon:  Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod and other parts of the Visayas: and Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga City and other parts of Mindanao (Fig. 4).  Then it became the burning bush of Asia with the flames of God’s glory all over the islands (Fig. 5).

Then in the vision an interesting thing happened.  The sword that was Palawan reached out and touched Vietnam and then flames burst forth in Vietnam also.  Then he saw the sword move on and touch China and Hong Kong and flames burst forth in these areas, too (Figs. 6 and 7).

Then the sword continued to touch other parts of Asia and Southeast Asia was ablazed in the Spirit, as was the Philippines (Fig. 8).

When looking at the “10/40 Window” one notices that the Philippines is strategically half in and half out of this window, like a doorway (Fig. 9).  It is interesting that there are only two countries with a significant Christian population within this window area.  They are South Korea and the Philippines.  There are several reasons I believe the Philippines will not only be a doorway, but also a strategic launching pad for the Gospel into the “10/40 Window.”  I’m not saying this to make the Filipinos proud, but so they will realize their burden and the obligation to carry the Gospel forth.

God has invested many years of preparation in the Philippines and a powerful indigenous Church has been birthed and discipled.  The Filipinos have been evangelized and they know how to evangelize.  They have had excellent teaching on praise and worship, spiritual warfare and intercession, and have been equipped with these and other weapons of spiritual warfare.  As such they have declared themselves to be a “Joshua Generation,” willing to cross over Jordan, go into battle and possess the land both in the Philippines and throughout the world.

In the Spring of 1991, the Holy Spirit brought to my mind several reasons the Filipinos are in this strategic position and how they have everything needed to go into this area as an army.  The Filipinos can go in as an army of spies, like Joshua and Caleb went into Canaan.  They can also go in just as the children went into Jericho, fully seen and waging war!

The Filipinos can do both because they blend in so well.  First, as Asians, they have black hair!  Nearly everyone in the “10/40 Window” has black hair.  Blondes just don’t fit in.  Most of the people of the “10/40 Window” have brown skin and black hair.  Those with black hair and brown skin blend in better and are more quickly accepted than foreigners with the lighter hair and skin of European and Western origins.  They can move around without drawing much attention and without being noticed.  When traveling to Hong Kong and China with a Filipino team, I would often be asked to stay behind in Hong Kong, so as not to attract attention when they made critical trips to visit the underground church inside Mainland China.

Second, Filipinos eat rice that is a major food of most people of this area and Filipinos can handle eating rice three meals a day!

Third, the Philippines offers a microcosm (a miniature world) of preparation.  There are the cold mountainous areas of Benguet and Mountain Province to prepare them for cold countries like Tibet, Mongolia and Nepal and all those countries on the Northern edge of the “10/40 Window.”  We have personally experienced almost freezing in those mountains doing ministry in the Northern part of the Philippines during the cold months.  On the other extreme, there is hot Manila, the lowlands of Southern Luzon, and the thousands of Philippine islands to the South toward the equator to help them adapt well to all the other hot humid areas of the “10/40 Window.”

As there are still areas of unreached tribal people, Buddhists, Muslims and others to be evangelized there are many opportunities for learning to minister to these hard to reach people.  Many Filipinos have had experience as missionaries to their own country.

Fourthly, Filipinos have a natural ability with languages.  Most of them speak two, three or more different languages.  Everyone has his own dialect that his family taught him.  If this dialect is different from the major regional language, he will endeavor to learn that language as well.  Then there is Tagalog, the national language, taught in all the schools as a common language with which everyone communicates.  Throughout the Philippines there are one hundred and seventeen or more different dialects.  Also, most geographical moves by a family require them learning another language.  Clearly, God has given the Filipinos a bi-lingual and multi-lingual gifting.  Because they have well-exercised and developed their language gifting, most Filipinos can learn languages faster than Westerners can.

Finally, what is most important is that most Filipinos also speak English, the market language of almost every single country that the “10/40 Window” war zone.  English is the medium of instruction in most Filipino schools and is often used on television and radio as well as on street signs and billboards all over the Philippines.  South Korea is an Asian nation with about 30-35% born again Christians, but most cannot go out of their country to minister the Gospel effectively, because they do not speak English.  However, the Filipinos know and speak English well.  The importance of this cannot be overlooked as a command of the English is not only a requirement for many opportunities, but even the door-opener.  The former Eastern Block Communist countries and even the Russians are making the learning of English a priority in order to be able to communicate and get into the world market.  Even China has opened its doors to foreigners who can teach English.

Unlike most Asians, the Filipinos have not only the ability to read and write English, but they are easily understood when speaking the language.   I have English speaking friends from other Asian countries, but I sometimes have great difficulty understanding their English and often that of Africans and Europeans who do not speak English as their native language.  You sometimes have to listen three or four times to understand their sentences.  But the Filipino speaks very understandable English.  Very clearly God has equipped them to take an Army into the war zone this year, next year and the coming years.  As it is often heard in the Philippines and I know it to be true, “Yes, the Filipino can!”

 

The Philippines has had an economic challenge.  However, while many are willing to go on missions, they are hindered by weak economy.  I believe that God can use a transfer of funds to the Philippines, through both supernatural and natural economic means to put things into place.  Let us pray that the Philippines will prosper and that the Church and Christian businesses will flourish.  We need to pray, act and believe that God will bless the Philippines in this way.  As mentioned in the Bible, God has given us the power to create wealth and jobs.  The Philippines’ resources are rich, but they have been exploited.  Let us “in Jesus’ Name,” claim this country’s wealth for the people and to send the Filipinos into the harvest.  Let us pray that many more people will have businesses and that as the Bible says…the wealth of the wicked will be transferred into the hands of the righteous (Prov. 13: 22).  Pray that they will get their funds and we will experience the Biblical promise of the blessing of God, because God has given us the ability to create wealth (Deut. 8: 18).  Then as a people of God, who have learned to give biblically, the Filipinos will spread the Gospel throughout Asia and the world.  Even as I am writing this book, I am encouraged by the news of rich oil finds here in the Philippines.

The Philippines have been forced to send one to two million Filipinos to work outside the Philippines.  (Also, many professionals have left to live in the United States, Canada, Europe and elsewhere looking for better jobs and incomes.)  One of the greatest exports of the Philippines has been its people.  These overseas contract workers and professionals have become unexpected blessings, in addition to the million of dollars sent back to their families in the Philippines.  Many have successfully shared the Gospel in this “10/40 Window.”  Though it will be good to see the Filipino workers return and prosper in a growing and strong Philippine economy, they have been planting seeds and making spiritual impact in the countries where they are working.  Though overseas contract workers have already been inside the “10/40 Window” doing the advance work of the Army, the rest of the Army is yet to be sent forth from the Philippines, not as contract workers, but as the Army of God.  This will happen with much support coming from the Filipino believers and the churches, as the Philippines becomes a missionary sending nation!

I thank the Lord that He has already started to send forth laborers into the harvest from the Philippines.  Not only technical and non-technical workers are going, but also a small but growing group of Filipino supported missionaries have been recently sent into Asia.  For instance, there is Tribes and Nations Outreach, a Filipino missions organization supported and managed by Filipinos, already actively fulfilling this prophetic vision throughout Asia.  Although the economy has not yet prospered, Christians in the Philippines have caught the vision, and missions have been made a priority and sacrifices are being made to support these efforts.

A Parallel Vision

             I would like to share a portion of a letter that I received recently from a former YWAMer.  He says, “During the last three months of 1991, I spent the majority of my time in Southeast Asia and China walking up and down the length and breadth of the land, interceding and “giving birth” in the spirit.  I was directed by the Lord to go in as a “spy” and prepare the way for others that would shortly follow.  Beginning in Singapore, I traveled northward through Malaysia, Thailand, up to the borders of Kampuchea (Cambodia) and Laos, taking buses, trains and ferries, claiming every inch of the territory for the Kingdom of God.

Then on the last segment of my journey, I began in Hong Kong traveling inland to Canton and the Southern Provinces of China.

As I traveled through Asia, the Lord began speaking to me through dreams and prophetic visions as to what is about to spring forth in that region of the world; the great outpouring of God’s Spirit and mass harvest of souls about to happen.  I believe a major epicenter will be in the Philippines, spreading outward into Vietnam, China, Malaysia and the other Asian nations.”

I thought that it was interesting that Grant saw not only the same vision as mine, but also the same pattern of evangelism I have been sharing.  He had no idea that I was sharing the same pattern of going to Vietnam, China, Malaysia and the other Asian nations.  Also there are other Christians who have given the same words and patterns of God’s divine plan and purpose.  Many, including the Filipinos, are hearing the cadence and beat of the Holy Spirit, the heartbeat of God the Father and Jesus the Son, and they are beginning to take the Gospel to these very places in the “10/40” War Zone!

Grant added, “I believe that the recent earthquakes and volcanic activity in the Philippines are mere signs of the great activity that is also taking place in the spiritual realm over that nation in preparation for the greatest revival and harvest of souls that Asia has ever seen.”

Another aspect of the parallel vision Grant shared and incidentally, one of the main functions of our ministry is “to network with those that have a similar vision so we can be a reinforcement to each other.  We need to be interrelated in our efforts because a splintered Army is not very effective.”  (Remember the army must not break rank, we need to stop jostling each other.)  “The harvest in Asia is going to be so great that we cannot afford to be divided and fractured.  For decades, the Communists have built mental strongholds in the minds of the Chinese, Vietnamese, etc., by teaching the doctrine of atheism.  There is also a strong-hold of other Eastern and world religions in this area.  These strongholds will quickly fall when the Army of the Lord wakes up from the valley of dry bones and comes into divine order and authority under the directions of the Commander-in-Chief, Jesus Christ, over one Army.”

We feel a kindred spirit with this brother³.  I met him once but we never talked about this common vision which he shared in his letter to me.  Frontline Evangelism personally shares this vision and this has been our “heartbeat” since the first day we arrived in the Philippines.  God has sent us to the nations, but the Philippines was the first nation He sent us to.  We now understand the strategic reason why.  The Life Schools of Ministry which we helped found in the Philippines in 1987, is structured to give students on-the-job training, hands-on experience, and head and heart knowledge through the Spirit.  In my case, I have seminary education but it doesn’t get the Gospel out.  This kind of head knowledge needs additional practical hands-on-experience.  (We, of course, are not against education.  In fact, we have courses and curriculum available to help train people at the Bible College and Seminary level.  These are designed to help equip people beyond a Bible study or lay level.  Associate, Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate level degrees are available through Christian International School of Theology.)²

The harvest is ripe now!  We don’t have eight years to get somebody ready to go to Vietnam or to other areas within the window.  We don’t have years, we have months!  So we equip quickly and continue their education while they are doing the Gospel!  As Jesus said, the fields are white; we must pray and prepare the laborers so they can be sent forth quickly.  The need for workers is great.  There are one thousand churches starting every week across Africa and Asia.  We need to prepare and send out new laborers every year to help those already in the ripe harvest field.  We don’t have eight years to wait!

  V – HIS GLORY WILL COME FROM THE EAST

             A further insight quickened by the Holy Spirit, which fits in with the vision and previously mentioned letter is that God’s glory will come from the East!  This exciting thought is from Ezekiel 43 and it is very interesting when considered historically in the context of what happened in the book of Acts and the path of the Gospel.

Paul and Silas had been sent forth as missionaries to Asia Minor, but an interesting thing happened in Chapter 16 of the book of Acts.  In verse 6, it says, “They were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.”

Now that was a sovereign choice of God.  The Gospel started going East towards the Philippines, but the Holy Spirit stopped Paul and his mission team.  Then that night a vision appeared to Paul, in which he saw a man of Macedonia standing and calling, “Come over into Macedonia and help us.”  This is known as the “Macedonian Call” in the Church History (Fig. 10).  Paul was stopped by the Holy Spirit!  He was stopped from coming to Asia and was sent West instead.  So the Gospel from that point on went toward the West through Greece and Italy, then throughout Europe and ultimately to the United States.

Then in the late 1800’s after revival, a vision for missions was birthed and missionaries carried the Gospel all the way around the world.  Missionaries went to China, India, the Philippines and many African and Asian countries.  This I believe was also a sovereign move of God.  It is from those seeds of the Gospel that were planted and from the lives given that now at the end of the 20^th century, the Gospel is bursting forth in a fruitful and bountiful harvest.

Ezekiel 43 says, “Behold the glory of God came from the way of the East: and His voice was like the noise of many waters”  (it certainly sounds like a mighty Army to me) “and the earth shined with His glory” (verse 2).  “And the glory of the Lord came to the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the East” (verse 4).  Truly, the glory of the God of Israel is coming by the way of the East!  Can you see what has happened?  (Fig. 11)  The seeds planted these past several decades have now grown to where the Eastern Church (specifically Asian and African) is fast becoming larger than the parent or Western Church.  There are now millions of “born again” Christians in the Philippines and Korea.  China alone has 50 to 75 million Christians and some estimate as high as 100 million of its 1.2 billion population are Christians.  It is becoming apparent that the geographical balance of number of believers is now swinging from the West to the East toward the “10/40 Window.”  The East is now seeing the glory of the Lord come forth.  And as it continues to come forth, I believe that the Gospel will continue from the Far East to the Middle East to the Near East and soon the whole area will become ablaze with His glory as the final harvest is reaped ! (Fig. 12)

I believe the Gospel will continue to move through the Far East and penetrate and evangelize the “10/40 Window.”  The manpower is here.  The people can go.  Asians will win Asians.  I believe the destiny of the Philippines is to raise up an Army of the Lord and go forth.

Jesus says that this “Gospel of the Kingdom,” a full Gospel, will be preached in the “10/40 Window.”  Other scripture references of this term, “the Gospel of the Kingdom” are tied directly to power evangelism, a signs and wonders  demonstration of the Gospel where people were healed and delivered (Matt. 4: 23, 9: 25).  Jesus said that this kind of Gospel should be preached to the whole world.  He said that this was one of the many signs that will happen when the End-Time is near.  And we will know that the generation seeing them will not pass away (Matt. 23: 33 and 34).  Yes, we are going to see the “10/40 Window” ablaze with the Holy Spirit and revival will happen!  Zechariah 2: 11 says, “And many nations will be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee.”  We know that this is true because Revelation 5: 9 says there were people out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation standing in front of the throne singing “thou was slain and has redeemed us to God by Thy blood.”

             God is moving and people are catching the vision.  Are you willing to go as a laborer into the harvest field?  Are you willing to risk your life, suffer persecution in this “10/40 Window” war zone, perhaps even be martyred for the Lord?  Are you willing to take the Gospel into this “10/40 Window” till it is ablaze with the Holy Spirit and ultimately with the Glory of the Lord?

 

Figure 10: Gospel Turned Toward the West by the Holy Spirit.  Acts 16: 6 – 10

 

Figure 11: The Glory of the Lord Coming by Way of the East

 

 Figure 12: “10/40 Window” Ablazed in His Glory

 

 

O ARMY OF GOD, ARISE!

AND TAKE UP YOUR SWORD

WITH HIS PRAISES IN YOUR MOUTH

DECLARE THE WORD OF THE LORD!

 

VI – IT CAN BE DONE!

             To rise to the challenge of reaching the “10/40 Window,” the Church will need to release many people and the necessary money to win this final war!  It has often been said that the Gospel is free.  God’s gift of salvation cannot be earned, bought or achieved by good works, but we often forget the other part … it is not cheap!  It cost Jesus His life.  Many martyrs have also spilled their blood down through the centuries and continue to do so right up to the present, with many being martyred throughout the world every year.  Not only have there been great sacrifices made by those who have gone, but it has also cost those at home millions and millions of dollars to send and support them.  Much time also has been invested by prayer warriors on behalf of missions.  Missions is a team effort, and in eternity we will see that it is the whole team that is rewarded for the victories won.  As missionaries ourselves, we truly understand that we are only part of the team and are so thankful for the rest of the team who have a heart for missions and faithfully support us financially and cover us in prayer.

I like what Ed Chinn, Director of EventPath said in a recent Christian Conquest article, “Even at this moment, thousands of missionaries are out obtaining promises.  By faith they are placing the soles of their feet on contested ground.  They are carrying the Gospel in the dark places in the earth and setting captives free.  They are purchasing God’s gifts and the price is sometimes very high.  The history of missions is a story of great sacrifice, selflessness and martyrdom.  It continues today.  Some missionaries are still purchasing salvation and freedom for others with the currencies of their own blood.”

He added, “…we are living in the midst of some of the most cataclysmic changes in the history of the world.  The political and governmental changes across the globe have created unbelievable opportunities for declaring and publishing the Gospel throughout the earth.  Doors are open, but to walk through them with gifts is expensive.  God’s gifts are free – but not cheap!”⁵

             Your giving is needed to conquer this last frontier but please don’t stop tithing to your local church or stop giving to the missionaries you are currently supporting around the world.  Your church and those missionaries need your continued prayers and faithful support to continue on.  Many have gone to the fields with funds pledged by churches or individuals to later have their pledges re-channeled to the next missionaries who visit the church a few months later.  A covenant relationship needs to be made between the giver and the “goer” on a long term basis of at least one year, and preferably several years when it is possible.  This allows the missionary to operate from an expected budget each month and plan long range projects of lasting value.  (The missionary on his part should, of course, be willing to provide appropriate accountability).  If support must be discontinued, it is helpful to drop a line in advance, so the missionary can try to raise a new support or adjust his budget if possible.  Regular monthly support is vital to the missionary, but please don’t overlook the value of one-time gifts.  These are blessings from the Lord that allow the missionary to do the extra things, meet an urgent need he has been praying about, or many times to catch up from unexpected expenses on the field.

Also, don’t overlook giving to special disaster situations, outreach situations and opportunities like the recently opened doors of Eastern Europe and Russia.  The Church needs to go quickly through these doors of opportunity and take territory for the King.  How sad to see doors of real opportunity open…and close because the funds just were not there.

A CHALLENGE

             The “10/40 Window” is the last frontier to conquer.  We must penetrate and establish beachheads for the Gospel in this war zone, but it cannot be done without money.  I would like to challenge every individual reading this book, every church and every businessman to give just 1% of their monthly or annual revenues, over and above their tithes and current giving to help take and evangelize this final frontier.  If we start now and give until the job is finished, the Gospel will go forth and the harvest will be completed.  It doesn’t matter into which organization or ministry involved in the “10/40 Window” you plant your money.  It will assist the common effort and ultimately will help to impact and reach 95% of the unreached people in the world with the Gospel.  The important thing is to decide to “make a difference” by giving your 1% to those ministering in the “10/40 Window.”

Though the “10/40 Window” may appear to be an overwhelming giant, an empowered Church, focused on its target like David with the stone in his sling, will cause this last great giant, the “10/40 Window” to fall.  We will see it ablaze with the Spirit and real Holy Ghost revival.

We pray that because of the part you will play and the impact you will have in this last great revival harvest, there will be a great host standing in heaven singing, “Thou art worthy to take the book, and open the seals thereof; for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.”  And you and I also will be standing with those who were reached and we will be rejoicing together saying, “Jesus has made us unto our God, kings and priests and we shall reign on the earth!” (Rev. 5: 9 and 10).

I trust your heart has been touched as you have become aware of what God is doing and that you will choose to become a part of fulfilling the Prophetic Vision for the Philippines and reaching the “10/40 Window” for Jesus.

 

VII – EPILOGUE

            Many months have passed since the “Prophetic Vision” was first put into written form.  Even though we had shared this message from time to time in the previous five years, we started to share this vision with transparencies in Manila in February of 1992.  Four months later, in June of 1992, it was presented to around 6000 people at the Prophetic Conference with Bishop Bill Hamon in Baguio and Manila.  Two months later, the book was released and the “vision” has now been heralded to many thousands of people around the world.  Additionally, we have shared it at several 10/40 Window seminars and mission conferences.  Even a photocopy of the book was sent back to Dumaguete City, Philippines from Saudi Arabia.  Many books were also dispersed throughout the States and many other nations.  Over the months, we have received many letters from Congo in West Africa, OCW’s in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and elsewhere including a Filipino Seaman from Greece.

Filipinos have begun running with the vision!  With tears in their eyes, they have recognized their destiny and started “to give and to go.”  They are also praying fervently for the 10/40 Window.  Prayer has been rising from every part of this Islands nation (7,107 islands!).  Songs have been coming and other Filipino songwriters echoing in beautiful musical sounds, like a symphony, in celebration to their destiny and their “call to the nations!”

             Their love for the nations has been further enhanced as they heard about the destiny in their name.  They lovingly responded to the concept that they are “lovers and not fighters”!  The root “Phil” of Philippines is from the greek word Phileo, “to love” (brotherly love like in Philadelphia).  The “ip” ending means horses.  So the original meaning of Philip is “lover of horses.”  Nonetheless, like Philadelphia, the root is lover not fighter!

This nation of the Philippines historically has never been an aggressor nation against other nations in Southeast Asia or elsewhere in the world.  God has preserved their name as lovers and not fighters in the natural.  This of course makes them now able to go into any nation of the world with the Gospel because they have not created war hurts or scars of memories in any group of people.  Now the militant Church of Jesus Christ with a flaming sword in their hands (Palawan) is spiritually rising up.  They are now streaming forth into the 10/40 Window countries and beyond!

Since this book was first published, many have gone to the nations for the first time.  Our friend, Pastor June, has established several more churches in the Philippines (now 23 as of the publishing of this 2^nd edition) and has even started a church in Hong Kong (future China – July ’97).  Pastor June has already had three Mission Teams go to China.  They have even raised all of their money in Philippine pesos, in the mountain provinces not Manila.  These highland provinces are economically restricted and often pay their pastors in kind with pork, potatoes, cabbage and whatever they raise.  Now over 20 missionaries from this ministry in these mountain provinces have gone to minister and carry thousands of Bibles and tracts into China.  They have stayed 2 or 3 weeks each time costing $800 per person (a whole year’s income for the average Filipino) just to get the Gospel and Bibles into that nation!  They have left us without excuse because God can provide!

             The Filipino church is on the move with God’s help and His provision!!! They are claiming the nations for their heritage (Psalms 2: 8).  Even though their nation is starting to move up economically.  Praise the Lord, the prophesied increase is on the way!

Furthermore, the destiny in their name is seen in the fact that the Philippines was named after the soon to become King Philip II of Spain in 1543.  King Philip was named after Philip the Evangelist by his mother who wanted him to be a missionary-evangelist like Philip in the book of Acts, however he grew up to be a king!⁶ It is interesting that King Philip later said in his old age that he would be willing to give up all of his wealth if he could win one nation to Jesus Christ.⁷  I believe his prayer is being answered 400 years later!  Now the country that bHTTP/1.1 20me sake is rising in revival-harvest to carry the Gospel to Asia and around the world!  Truly the Philippines is becoming a Christian nation.  The Filipinos are a new breed of Missionary-Evangelists to the nations!

The Filipinos also have less of a problem with culture shock.  They have become shockproof by living in a country where they have grown up in poverty or right next to it.  This has prepared them to be able to handle the poverty in the 10/40 Window countries where “82%” of the world’s poorest of the poor live.⁸

Many have said to me, “Pastor Bill, we’re not like most missionaries who have come to our country and have to stay in ‘five-star hotels,’ we are willing to sleep in an open air ‘all star hotel’ while sharing the Gospel throughout the Philippines.”  I personally thank the Lord that the Filipinos are beginning to hold their heads up high but are remaining humble enough to do whatever it takes to get the Gospel preached and demonstrated in the continent of Asia and the countries of the “10/40 Window”!

The Filipinos are also shockproof because of the things that have happened to them in recent years.  They are now seemingly shockproof and ready for anything, anywhere, anytime!  They have lived with natural and political disasters, struggled under servitude to the Spaniards, Americans and then the Japanese during WWII, and suffered greatly during the war years of 1896-98 and in 1942-46.

Now they are finally free!  (American military bases were finally removed while we were proclaiming this message in 1991-1992).  All foreigners and aggressors have left their soil but many have now returned as friendly investors because of the potential economic growth and economic return in the Philippines.  Mabuhay!

Further, they have been made shockproof by the coup shocks (seven in six years after EDSA, the people power bloodless revolution that removed the Marcos’ dictatorship from power in February of 1986), the earthquake shock, the volcano shock and brownouts shocks!  In 1992-1993, brownouts would last up to 12 hours per day and you never knew when it was going to hit.  Sometimes they would happen off and on several times a day!  It was the best preparation for the “rapture” that I have ever experienced because you never knew when it was going to happen!  In a split second you were in darkness, or lost everything on your computer or immediately struck in a traffic jam because the street lights had gone out!

Since the book’s first edition, several stories and responses have demonstrated the Filipinos’ unique gifting as missionaries.  Especially their linguistic gifting which is mentioned in the main text of this book.  One amazing story (to my western mind possessing some linguistic gifting since I have personally studied seven languages besides English and have taught two of them at university and seminary level) is that a Filipino team could go to minister and plant a church in Russia and in less than 90 days lead praise and worship in Russian!

The second story is about the Navajo language of the American Indian people group.  Their language is so difficult that the United States and the Allied Forces used it as a code language during World War II.  It was never cracked as a code or language in their military radio communications during the entire war.

The American church has tried at various times to have effective missionary work to reach the Navajo people but without much success.  Recently, some Filipinos tried to do the same thing.  This time the Indians related better because of their own Asian roots, and a more similar skin color and of course the same black hair.  But most importantly they heard the Gospel fluently presented in their own language for the first time.  The Filipino team learned Navajo in less than 6 months and have been able to start a growing church!⁹ Because of their natural gifting the Filipinos have turned a difficult situation into a success!

 

FINALE (By the Translator)

            The prophetic vision for the Philippines has been declared;  it is now time to act!

As Filipinos, what can we do?  Let us work together as a people – break the barriers of race, religion, dialect, and beliefs.  God has destined the Philippines for a great and noble purpose.  We were not created as a people by accident.  Let us rise up and fulfill our calling.  For who knows whether we have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?  At the same time, let us take heed not to do our purpose.  For if we remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for those who are perishing from another place, but we and our father’s house will perish (Esther 4: 14).

The following recommended steps in our own little way may find fulfillment of this vision, and see the mighty moving of God in and through us as a people:

R – REPENT

Everyone of us must heed what II Chronicles 7: 14 stated “If My people who are called by My Name shall humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and heal their land.”  Let us repent of our individual sins and at the same time our sins as a people.

P – PRAY

Pray earnestly and constantly for the work to move and succeed for we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers and rulers of darkness (Ephesians 6: 12).

G – GO

Go to the 10/40 Window zone be it as a contract worker or a missionary.  Bring the gospel to that place.  If you are already inside the 10/40 Window, you may translate the Bible or children’s materials for easier evangelism.  There are Christian organizations who are willing to publish them.

O – ORGANIZE

As a church or organization, make plans to do missions work in these nations like medical/dental, teaching, missions, Bible carrier.  Plan for short-term or long-term missions work.

E – EQUIP

Be equipped for the work.  Fast.  Pray.  Memorize the Word of God.  In those places, the Bible may be prohibited but if it is “swallowed” in your heart, it can be swallowed out when inside the zone.

S – SEND

You can send those who are equipped and willing by giving; giving sacrificially.  The amount does not matter because every denomination  put together will amount to something.  Make ways for fund-raising activities.  Solicit, if you have that gift.  Is there not a cause?  And remember, you cannot outgive God! Or you may wish to have this book re-printed.  Reference may be made for the publisher at the front page or go to the website https://harvestseedoflight.wordpress.com.

N – NETWORK

Network with other missions group or churches because there is power in unity.

A – BE BORN AGAIN

If you have not accepted yet the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Lord and Savior although you thought you knew Him even from childhood, you may do so now.  Sincerely pray this prayer – “Lord Jesus, I believe in what You did for me at Calvary.  Forgive me of my sins.  Cleanse me with Your precious blood.  Come into my heart, and make me a new creation in You.  And now use me the way You see fit in this End-time hour.  Amen!”

“Be bold!  Be strong and be very courageous!  Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go  (Joshua 1: 9).”

Arise,  Joshua generation!  Arise!

PROPHETIC WORDS OVER THE PHILIPPINES 

 

All personal prophetic words over an individual, family, church or nation in the Old and New Testaments are always CONDITIONAL and dependent on the people’s response to them.  Nineveh repented and was not destroyed to the chagrin of the Prophet Jonah.  One hundred years later the people of Nineveh fell back into sin and were destroyed, but not the people who properly responded to the original prophetic word spoken to Nineveh.  If my people…then I will, is a Biblical pattern.

However, this does not mean that we should do anything personally to make it happen.  That would be creating self-fulfilling prophecies and likely get you in trouble like Abraham and Sarah.  You could end up with an Ishmael.  The Scripture only says “War a good warfare,” “meditate upon them,” “keep them in remembrance”!  Also, “to neglect not and stir up the gift that was given by prophecy through the prophets in the presbytery”  (I Timothy 1: 18-19;I Timothy 4: 11-16; II Timothy 1: 6).

The only prophetic words that are UNCONDITIONAL and irreversible are God’s prophetic decrees and declarations like “All the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord,” Numbers 14: 21 (which I believe has yet a future fulfillment!).  There are many of these unconditional prophetic decrees in the Word of God even as there are many examples of conditional personal prophecies over individuals.  Some examples would be Jacob (Israel) over Joseph, his two sons, and Joseph’s other 11 brothers in Egypt as Israel laid hands on them blessed them and prophesied over them before he died (Genesis 48: 13-49: 29).  Also over families (house of David, etc.), churches (seven churches in Asia, Revelation 1-3) and of course the nations have many examples from the Bible such as found in minor and major prophets.  All of these kinds of prophecy are in fact found throughout the entire Old and New Testaments.

The purpose of this book is not to cover personal prophecy but to make sure you remember that the Bible teaches that ALL prophecy is to be judged and that all prophetic utterances given by men today are CONDITIONAL.

             With that in mind, I will share with you the text of some of the prophetic words given to the leadership of this nation both in government and in the church.  I personally believe that these prophetic words which I share here have great relevance to the fulfillment for what I have written about in the “Prophetic Vision” as well as the Destiny of the Philippines and Filipinos as a people.  These words were given by a renowed prophet and the prophetic team in June of 1992, more than 5 years after we started to share this vision and two months before we put it into written form.

Many SIMILAR prophecies to those given in this book and those given by the renowned prophet have been spoken by many different men and women of God since the 70’s.  They have been given at different times and their contents were unknown to the next person giving a prophecy or sharing a vision.  Many have of course been shared with us since we wrote this book down as Habakkuk 2: 2 suggested, so that the people who would read it can run with the vision!

The following are the excerpts from June 1992 Prophetic Conference.  Some over individuals that are now serving in the government and others to the Philippines and the people in general.

“I brought you like Joseph who came to a kingdom and to an empire to turn the economy around and take it from famine to prosperity, I’ve ordained that the Philippines will come up while other nations will go down.  I’m going to cause them to abound, I’m going to bring Josephs in and Daniels in and raise them up in My Church, in politics and in government and they’re going to give wisdom to the leadership, give wisdom to the President, they are going to give wisdom and oversight.  And the Lord says, son, I’ve called you to the Kingdom for such a time as this…

I have a 20 year plan for the Philippines and over the next 20 years, I’m going to make it a head and not the tail says God.  I’m going to redeem it, I’m going to redeem the Philippines from slavery, from its bondage, being used and abused by other nations, by other people, and the Lord says, I’m going to turn it around.  Their time has come!

And I’m raising up the Church, the militant Church, the spiritual Church, the Church of authority…I’m going to cause other nations to build and establish in this nation then I’m going to turn it over to this nation says God.”

Footnotes

1.  Dr. Bill Hamon, The Eternal Church (Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, U.S.A.; Christian International; 1981), Part III and IV.

2.  Christian International School of Theology.

3.  Former YWAMer, personal letter and information sheet on file, March 1992.

4.  Robert Gay, “O Arm of God Arise,”  Integrity’s Hosanna! Music (Mobile Alabama, U.S.A.: 1990).

5.  Ed Chinn, “Crossing the Bridge,” Christian Conquest (Mobile Alabama, U.S.A.; November/December 1991), p 14.

6.  Dr. Sonia Zaide, The Philippines: A Unique Nation (Manila, Philippines, 1993), p. 4.

1.  Agusto Kho, Newsletter (Rosales, Pangasinan, Philippines; February/March 1993), pp 1-2

1.  Eric Smith, Message at the Mission Festival:  Helping Close the 10/40 Window, (Davao City, Philippines; May 25 -28, 1993) 4 days.

 

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR (Written in 1992)

             Bill Perry, M. Div., has degrees in Greek and Classical Languages, plus Philosophy from Houghton College (NY).  He has done advanced studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Christian International Seminary and is ordained through Christian International Ministries.  He has taught at Brandon Hall, Houghton College and in 1976 he founded Trinity Institute of Biblical Studies and the “School of the Holy Spirit,” where he was the Academic Dean, Teacher and Administrator.  The school grew to over 250 students with several graduates, many of whom are in the ministry today.  In 1978, this school and staff became Atlanta International Bible College where he served as President until 1980.  Bill is co-founder and International Director of Life Schools of Ministry and founder of Frontline Evangelism International and various ministries to the body of Christ, such as Jehovah Shalom Ministry Center in Baguio City, Philippines.

Within hours of his arrival in Baguio City in February of 1987 a group of local pastors invited Bill to move to the Philippines to start Life Schools of Ministry.

Four months after his first trip, Bill returned to the Philippines in June 1987.  At that time final preparations for Life Schools of Ministry had been completed and the school opened on July 7, 1987 with 87 students.  By November of that same year, the Perry family moved to the Philippines to continue the vision birthed in Bill for Frontline Evangelism in 1986 and to share hands-on experience in the development of Life Schools of Ministry.

Ginger, his wife of 26 years, has been active in managing the ministry, teaching, speaking and ministering as well as helping in the production of courses and handling communications.

Jonathan, their eldest after spending a couple of years in the Philippines, returned to the United States, attended Christ for the Nations and is now attending Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, working on his academic degree.  He is looking forward to returning to visit as minister in the Philippines in God’s timing.  Their daughter Jennifer, now a teenager, has spent more than a third of her life in the Philippines and truly loves it here.  Along with taking an active part in the ministry, she is finishing high school.

Both Bill and Ginger were blessed to have been raised in Christian homes and Bible-believing churches, where they were exposed to world missions.  Both knew as teenagers that they had a call to missions and would someday be part of the great End-Time harvest.  Seeds were planted and watered in college through Foreign Missionary Fellowship, Urbana Missions Conferences, and special missionary speakers.  Many other ministries have touched their lives and prepared them for the ministry of Frontline Evangelism International.  The fruit that has come forth is the result of that which God birthed in their hearts many years ago.  But it was only six years ago, after years of ministry, training and preparation that the Lord released them into world missions.

They have often commented that they had prayed that the Lord of the Harvest would send forth laborers into the harvest field.  In retrospect, their transfer to the Philippines and the start of their work here happened so fast that Bill looked up “send forth” in the Greek and discovered the word meant “to be thrust forth” or “to be launched by a cannon.”  The whole family has been blessed and thrilled to be in the Philippines.  They are now praying that the Lord of the Harvest will “thrust forth” thousands and hundreds of thousands to participate in the Army of the Lord as laborers in the End-Time harvest of the “10/40 Window.”

(Note: This Translator has been looking for the Perry Family.  Should anybody have access to them, please provide details how to contact them.  Thank you.)

A DREAM

             I had a dream.  In my dream was an ocean full of drowning people.  There was a rock that came up out of this ocean.  Some people crawled up on that rock and got to safety.

As I watched 10% of the people on the rock became active in making ropes and ladders, getting near the edge, trying to pull others up on the rock.  But 90% became very active in their rock gardens, their rock music, their rock jobs, their rock lives.  They had a lot of rock meetings where they spent lots of time developing their programs to go back to the ocean, but they never went.

The thought that kept coming through all the time in the dream was, “Could they have forgotten that they themselves were once in the sea?”

A small group of people who seemed to be the leaders bothered me even more.  They spent time trying to get up higher on the rock.  It seemed they didn’t want to get near the edge because it was risky down there.  The dead, the diseased, the lost – they were down there.  But the group on the rock spent more time cloistered in false security on the higher parts of the rock.  Yet every one of them heard a voice say, “Will you come?”  “Will you help me?”

In my dream, the rock was the cross of calvary.  The voice they heard was Jesus Christ, calling you and me to come.  There’s only on thing that remains and that is whether or not we will.

The question is will you and I be different?  Will we be willing to hear the voice and take the risk and speak out in order to rescue others?

Our Daily Bread

Discovery Series