first, let's discuss dreams . . .
I don't know too many people that qualify as experts as it relates to dreams and visions, and I claim no expertise in either subject. But, I have learned a few things over the years so let's tackle the subjects together. Sometimes there are dreams that have profound meaning and, as is often the case, they have come to us from God. Those dreams are no less important than the visions we will discuss below, which have also have spiritual (heavenly) origins. And then there are times you might have dreams that are the result of eating too much spicy Mexican food. Often you'll know the difference because they are usually meaningless. We all experience these kinds of dreams that make no sense at all and we dismiss them. They're the kind of dreams that keep Alka Seltzer and Rolaids in business. I have many of these kinds of dreams because I love Mexican food. Ah, those tamales con puerco, mmm!!
there is more than one kind of vision . . .
There’s the vision for things that are near and dear to your heart. As an example, I have a vision to reach more people for Jesus Christ and to see Him touch their lives, and I also have a vision that includes reaching out to Muslims, as there seems to be so many who are seeking – without answers. Then there are the supernatural visions, often played out visually before you in your mind, and usually of things to come. Now that we’ve cleared that up I want to point out that I’m not one that claims to have frequent supernatural visions. In fact those visions have been few and far between. But, those that I’ve had are significant.
who's the fanatic? . . .
In my section entitled “Who’s the Fanatic?” I discuss in some detail about the supernatural visions I had that were warning people of impending natural disasters, or having the cure for cancer. In that section I point out that even an atheist would try to warn people of a disaster ahead, or even an atheist would share the cure for cancer with a cancer-riddled world.
but they told me it was OK . . .
I’ve also had a few brief visions of wayward relatives finally coming to Christ, as well as one in which I saw homosexuals that I knew personally who were desperately crying out at the judgment, “But they told me it was OK. They told me it was normal and not to worry about it.” These tended to be gut-wrenching visions because we know the alternatives -- if the wayward ones decide not to follow Christ, and if the homosexuals (whom Jesus loves, as do I) do not repent and turn to the Lord the consequences are unthinkable. And that leads me to another vision I had many years ago in which I was permitted a brief vision into what hell was actually like. I used the word “unthinkable” here because it is torment without relief . . . forever. (NOTE: I recommend you visit my section on “Born Again – Why?” because it reveals how, and why God never “sends” people to hell, and why people will inevitably end up in one place or the other because of their choices.)
the worst thing anyone can ever say to anyone . . .
A little side note here. We all know some of the cruel things people say to one another, especially when angry, or what people will say to someone they hate – such as, “eat (something disgusting) and die, or "(bleep) you,” or “You stupid son of a (bleep)” and so on. I’m sure you can think of many more. But to me there is nothing – nothing worse that you can ever say to anyone, or wish upon anyone, than “go to hell”. . . because I’ve been given a glimpse of it and you wouldn’t wish this on your worst enemy. It is indeed, unthinkable.
the vision that changed my life . . .
Many years ago I had a vision that had a profound effect on my life. “It was late 1968 or early 1969. We were at the Teen Challenge Center on Chapman Avenue in Anaheim, and a man named Dick Mills, who was well known for his gift of the "word of knowledge" in which he had supernatural, prophetic insights into matters usually pertaining to individual people. These were things that he could not have known by natural means. This is not to be confused with fortune telling, as one gift is prompted by the Holy Spirit, and the other has other-worldly origins and should be avoided because if it is genuine they are dealing with "familiar (demon) spirits," and if not, they are simply fraudsters. Dick Mills called me out of the group and said, “Young man, God’s going to be sending you across the country, and I see you ministering to thousands, and many will be saved. God has His hand on you, and He has anointed you for a great work. Get your affairs in order because you’ll be leaving soon.”
That night I went home, and I had a vision in which I was standing chest deep in a river, and I was baptizing young people who’d given their lives to Christ. Not sure if this was a dream, or a vision, but when I woke up the vision continued without interruption, and it was so vivid and so specific. I saw trees along a riverbank heavily laden with Spanish moss, and the banks were filled with hundreds, maybe thousands, of people watching as the new Christians went down into the water. And as they came up out of the water the Spirit of the Lord descended upon them and with a heavenly glow about them they lifted their hands and began to praise God. This dream went on for a long time and each new convert came down into the river to be baptized and the crowds of onlookers were amazed at the scene. I wasn’t exactly sure what to make of this vision but this seemed to be the confirmation I needed. God had called me to do a work in Florida.
It was 1972, at least three years since that vision, and for the most part I'd forgotten about it. Our group from Youth Challenge began to go to weekly rock concerts held in Lowry Park in Tampa. The Hillsborough River runs through the park and it has a unique natural scenic beauty. This rock festival usually had anywhere from fifteen hundred to five thousand people, sometimes more, and it was the scene of loud acid rock music and getting high. Each Sunday we would travel to the park and right in the middle of the rock festival we put up a large wooden cross made up of railroad ties. This was the same cross we kept on the stage at The Dove coffeehouse. Our message was simple: “Jesus is real . . . and He’s Son of the living God. He loves you and wants to give you life. We didn’t come here to preach or condemn. We came here to show you how to have life, and that’s through Jesus.”
if Jesus is real come on up here and prove it . . .
Immediately we began to see results. Some of the most-hardened dopers there were softening up, and several had asked to receive Jesus as Savior. Much like the hippie scene in Huntington Beach years earlier, the drugs were everywhere, and the smell of marijuana filled the air. Sales of heroin were made right out in the open and it was not uncommon to see someone shooting up. Many of them danced around with visions of mushrooms in their head, high on LSD. It truly was a scene—sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll. It seemed everyone was smoking pot, so much so that you could get high just walking around. Some were having sex in sleeping bags during the concerts. By the third Sunday that we’d been coming to the rock festival one of the members of the rock band summoned me to the microphone, and I got the sense he wanted me to get up on the stage to see if I’d make a fool of myself. He demanded, “You keep saying Jesus is real . . . come on up here on the stage and prove it,” and when I jumped up on the stage he handed me the microphone.
the Holy Spirit descends on 5,000 . . .
But when I took the microphone a hush fell on the crowd. The Holy Spirit seemed to descend on them like a love blanket for some five thousand or so people. Then I began,
“Just as real as I’m standing here . . . Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, is here. He’s real and He’s here. We didn’t come here to talk to you about religion — religion never saved anyone and religion never helped me. We’re here to talk about Jesus. If you’re quiet and listen to your heart you’ll feel Him. He’s got your heart in his hands right now. I know you feel it. You can feel your heart beating, pounding in your chest. Call on Buddha, call on Allah, nothing happens! Call on the Hindu gods, and nothing happens! But call on Jesus and He will touch you on the inside and you’ll know it’s Him! Just when I said that some of you felt your heart skip a beat. Some of you felt a lump in your throat. That’s the Spirit calling you to Him. Jesus loves you. Did you hear me? Jesus loves you. He didn’t come here to condemn you, and we sure didn’t come here to talk about church or religion, but to love you and share Jesus with you. Some of you feel Him right now… and in your heart you know it’s Him! The word of God says, ‘The words that I speak to you are Spirit, and they are life,’ and if you act on those words, you will receive life! If you just surrender to Him every one of you can be saved.”
5,000 leave the rock festival to see the baptisms . . .
Then I said, “Many here have had their lives touched by Jesus. Dopers, pushers, prostitutes -- it doesn’t matter. Whatever you’ve done, Jesus already took the rap for you so you’d never have to stand before God and hear the word, ‘Guilty!’ We’re going down to the river and baptize those of you who have given your lives to Jesus.”
As I jumped down from the stage and began to walk the hundred yards or so to the river I heard a commotion behind me, and after walking some distance I turned around, and to my amazement, everyone—everyone—was leaving the rock festival and going down to the river. The entire rock festival emptied out and followed me to the river to watch the baptisms. By this time there was a line of young people waiting to be baptized. The first was a young man, Lucky, who’d lost both his legs in Vietnam. Using braces, along with his artificial limbs, he struggled down the bank of the river to me and as I lowered him into the water when he came up it was as if the heavens opened up and the Holy Spirit poured out an endless river of love over him. He lifted his face toward heaven and spontaneously began to praise God.
the 3-year-old vision in instant replay . . .
It was then that I looked up and to my astonishment I remembered my vision that was being played before my eyes exactly as I’d seen it nearly three years earlier as though in instant replay: “I saw trees along a riverbank heavily laden with Spanish moss, and the banks were filled with hundreds, maybe thousands, of people watching as the new Christians went down into the water. And as they came up out of the water the Spirit of the Lord descended upon them and with a heavenly glow about them they lifted their hands and began to praise God. This dream went on for a long time and each new convert came down into the river to be baptized and the crowds of onlookers were amazed at the scene.”
Even down to the leaves on the oak trees and the Spanish moss, everything was exactly the same down to the finest detail. This was the literal fulfillment of that vision. When I went home later that evening I fell to my knees and wept. God had told me what was going to happen years earlier and it happened exactly as He said it would.
This should explain why these dreams and visions are happening. God said, “In the last days God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people, your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams.’” (Acts 2:17). This is often described as The Great Outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In my section entitled “Good News for Muslims and Christians” it details how God is revealing Jesus Christ to literally millions of Muslims through dreams and visions and this is a sign to many that we are entering into “the last days," and I believe The Great Outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as predicted in Joel 2:28 and Acts. 2:17 -- has begun!!
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If you would like to schedule Ken Simmons to speak to your church or organization he can be contacted at: Ken Simmons Ministries, Ontario, California, kensimmonsministries@gmail.com or call at (909) 957-8882.