WITHOUT A VISION THE PEOPLE PERISH
by Tony Alamo
Proverbs 29:18 states, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”
Revelation 22:1-2 tells us, “And he [one of the seven angels (dispatched by the LORD) which held the seven vials full of the seven last plagues] showed me a pure river of water of LIFE, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of GOD and of the LAMB. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of LIFE, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month.”
This was the vision given to the Apostle John (who wrote the Gospel of John as well as First, Second, and Third John, and the book of Revelation) as it was shown to him.
Revelation 1:1 states, “The Revelation of JESUS CHRIST, which GOD gave unto HIM, to show unto HIS servants things which must shortly come to pass.” One of the things the LORD showed unto HIS servant John, and us who also are HIS servants, was a vision of the river of LIFE (Revelation 22:1). It would be well with you if you would keep this vision of the river of LIFE, which emanates from the throne of GOD, in your heart, mind, and spirit, so that you will not perish. This river of LIFE is from GOD, who is the only eternal life in the entire universe. All life came from GOD, including the temporary life of all living creatures, and it is this same river of LIFE that gives us our eternal LIFE, if we choose to receive it.1
In the universe, every kind of life, except for the life of GOD, cannot be considered life. In the universe, there is plant life, lower animal life, higher animal life, human life, and angelic life. In terms of nature and principle, however, these different kinds of life cannot be considered to be life. The real nature and principle of LIFE is that it is ever-living, ever-existing, indestructible, unchangeable, and incorruptible. Only GOD HIMSELF is LIFE because only GOD is eternal, ever-existing, unchanging, and incorruptible.2 Only GOD HIMSELF is divine and eternal, and only GOD HIMSELF is LIFE. Therefore, only GOD’S LIFE can be considered to be LIFE. GOD’S LIFE is the unique LIFE in the universe. Only by having this LIFE can one have LIFE; without this LIFE, one cannot have LIFE.
The LIFE of GOD is only in HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST. That is why 1 John 5:12 says, “He who has the SON has LIFE; and he who does not have the SON of GOD does not have the LIFE.” This means that with the SON, there is LIFE, and without the SON, there is no LIFE.3
JESUS told the woman at the well, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water [from the river in Heaven which emanates from the throne of GOD,4] springing up into everlasting LIFE” (John 4:13-14). Again, we would all do well to remember the vision which emanates from GOD’S throne, mentioned in the twenty-second chapter of the book of Revelation. And again, without a vision (this vision), the people perish (Proverbs 29:18).
In John 20:22, after JESUS was resurrected from the dead, JESUS breathed into the disciples and said to them, “Receive the HOLY SPIRIT [the river of LIFE].” This shows how GOD begets us and becomes our LIFE. These two matters—LIFE and SPIRIT—are the line of LIFE in the book of John as well as in John’s writings in the book of Revelation, chapter 22.
The line of LIFE indicates that the WORD was in the beginning and that LIFE was in this ONE (JESUS), who is the WORD of GOD.5 When we contact HIM, we receive the authority to become the children of GOD.6 We are, by the SPIRIT, the river of LIFE, begotten of GOD. Moreover, GOD begets us when HIS SPIRIT enters into our spirit.7 “GOD is SPIRIT” (John 4:24). In order to contact HIM and be joined to HIM, we must be in our spirit. In order to mingle HIMSELF with us and be our life, HE must enter into our spirit through HIS SPIRIT. May these words be deeply engraved in our hearts and be thoroughly apprehended as a VISION in our minds so that they may shine forth as LIGHT and LIFE within us.
The Bible reveals that the WORD of the LORD, as the SEED of LIFE, contains the LIFE of GOD (1 Peter 1:23).8 A seed is something tangible. It contains life, which some might say is an intangible, but the LIFE of GOD is not at all an intangible, as we see the VISION of it in Revelation chapter 22. Some may also say that faith is an intangible, but Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” A farmer plants seed in faith. He has substantial faith that the seed will grow into the substance of whatever life the seed has in it. Therefore, he waters it. He has substantial faith that his labor is not in vain. A farmer believes in the day of harvest. So the seed is not intangible, nor is the life in the seed intangible. The seed will grow. The farmer has faith that there will be a day of harvest. Wherever seed is sown, it will blossom.
The Bible likens the heart of man to a field where seed is to be sown (Matthew 13:3-8). When the WORD of GOD, which can be compared to a seed, is sown into the good ground of a good heart of a man, the LIFE of GOD will grow.9 This growth is GOD’S regeneration of man (Matthew 13:8, 18-23). First Peter 1:23 says, “Being born again [regenerated], not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the WORD of GOD, which liveth and abideth for ever.” We who are saved have been regenerated, born again, through the living and abiding WORD of GOD (which is from the river of LIFE, emanating from the throne of GOD). The WORD of GOD, the river of LIFE flowing from the throne of GOD, is tangible because when it is received in the good heart of a man, it changes that person’s life immediately. This is GOD’S regeneration of man.10
In John 6:63, JESUS said: The WORDS which I have spoken to you are SPIRIT, and are LIFE. Although life is hidden in the LORD’S words, the SPIRIT must be in the words in order for the words to have LIFE. Without the LORD’S SPIRIT, the LORD’S words are without LIFE (2 Corinthians 3:6). The LORD’S words must have the LORD’S SPIRIT to have the LORD’S LIFE. GOD’S LIFE is with HIS SPIRIT, and HIS SPIRIT is in HIS WORDS.
Furthermore, we need to be clear that the SPIRIT does not follow LIFE, but rather, LIFE follows the SPIRIT (the river of LIFE from the throne of GOD). Our eternal LIFE is in the SPIRIT of GOD; we can touch GOD’S immortal LIFE only through the SPIRIT (John 4:23-24).
The book of Revelation is a series of prophetic visions that we are to focus on so that we do not perish (Proverbs 29:18). Revelation 1:1 states that these visions shall SHORTLY come to pass. One of these visions we must focus on is seen in Revelation 1:7-8 which states, “Behold, HE cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see HIM, and they also which pierced HIM: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of HIM. Even so, Amen. I am ALPHA and OMEGA, the beginning and the ending, saith the LORD, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the ALMIGHTY.”
Another vision that we best all focus on is in Revelation 19:11-15, which says, “And I saw Heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and HE that sat upon him was called FAITHFUL and TRUE, and in righteousness HE doth judge and make war. HIS eyes were as a flame of fire, and on HIS head were many crowns; and HE had a name written, that no man knew, but HE HIMSELF. And HE was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and HIS name is called The WORD of GOD [which is SPIRIT and eternal LIFE]. And the armies which were in Heaven followed HIM upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of HIS mouth goeth a sharp sword [which is the WORD of GOD11], that with it HE should smite the nations: and HE shall rule them with a rod of iron [which is GOD’S judgment, not the one-world secular judgment].”
In the Old Testament, the prophet Jeremiah is given a prophecy from GOD regarding GOD’S WORD: “Is not MY WORD like as a fire? [This speaks of the convicting power and judgment of GOD’S WORD.] saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:29). The rock speaks of the hardness of people’s hearts, which only the WORD of GOD can break open, if a person only believes.
The fiery judgment and convicting power emanating from GOD’S throne by HIS WORD is shown to the prophet Daniel in the seventh chapter of Daniel. It regards the judgment of the fourth beast, which is the last secular kingdom, the one in which we are currently living.12 This corroborates the twenty-first and twenty-second chapters of Revelation regarding GOD’S final judgment of Satan, the false prophet, his one-world government, and all those who follow it.
“I beheld till the thrones were cast down [this means when all the earthly kingdoms are finished, after all the work on earth is over and it is GOD’S final judgment time], and the ANCIENT of DAYS [GOD] did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of HIS head like the [color of] pure wool: HIS throne was like the fiery flame, and HIS wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before HIM [this is correct judgment]: thousand thousands ministered unto HIM, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before HIM [this is one hundred million]: the judgment was set, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:9-10). This is Judgment Day; this is Daniel’s vision of it, and this should be our vision as well, if we will not perish.
The forty-seventh chapter of the book of Ezekiel also gives us a vision of the river of LIFE, which we also must fix our minds upon. This vision corroborates chapter 22:1-2 of the book of Revelation regarding the river of LIFE emanating from GOD’S throne. To have eternal LIFE, we must receive it from this river, which is CHRIST, the HOLY SPIRIT.13 To receive it is as simple as receiving CHRIST’S breath—just breathe it in. We will do it, or we will suffer the following vision for eternity, and that is this judgment from GOD: “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his GOD, and he shall be MY son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:7-8).
Revelation 22:14-15 states, “Blessed are they that do HIS commandments, that they may have right to the tree of LIFE, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”
In the Old Testament, there are over 330 prophetic visions of the first coming of CHRIST, and they were all fulfilled, no matter how much the heathen raged. All the prophetic visions of this literature shall surely be fulfilled. Receive your salvation now by saying this prayer:
Prayer
My LORD and my GOD, have mercy upon my soul, a sinner. 1 I believe that JESUS CHRIST is the SON of the living GOD. 2 I believe that HE died on the cross and shed HIS precious blood for the forgiveness of all my former sins. 3 I believe that GOD raised JESUS from the dead by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT 4 and that HE sits on the right hand of GOD at this moment, hearing my confession of sin and this prayer. 5 I open up the door of my heart, and I invite YOU into my heart, LORD JESUS. 6 Wash all of my filthy sins away in the precious blood that YOU shed in my place on the cross at Calvary. 7 YOU will not turn me away, LORD JESUS; YOU will forgive my sins and save my soul. I know because YOUR WORD, the Bible, says so. 8 YOUR WORD says that YOU will turn no one away, and that includes me. 9 Therefore, I know that YOU have heard me, and I know that YOU have answered me, and I know that I am saved. 10 And I thank YOU, LORD JESUS, for saving my soul, and I will show my thankfulness by doing as YOU command and sin no more.11
After salvation, JESUS said to be baptized, fully submerged in water, in the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY SPIRIT.12 Diligently study the King James Version Bible, and do what it says until the day you die13
The LORD wants you to tell others of your salvation (Mark 16:15). You can become a distributor of Pastor Tony Alamo’s Gospel literature. We’ll send you literature free of charge. Call or email us for more information. Share this message with someone else.
If you want the world saved, as JESUS commands, then don’t rob GOD of HIS tithes and offerings. GOD said, “Will a man rob GOD? Yet ye have robbed ME. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed THEE? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed ME, even this whole nation [and this whole world]. Bring ye all the tithes [a ‘tithe’ is 10% of your gross income] into the storehouse, that there may be meat [Spiritual food] in MINE house [souls saved], and prove ME now herewith, saith the LORD of HOSTS, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of HOSTS. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of HOSTS” (Malachi 3:8-12).
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Without A Vision The People Perish footnotes:
1. Isa. 12:3, 44:3-4, John 3:14-16, 36, 4:10-14, 5:21, 24, 39-40, 6:32-35, 39-40, 47-58, 63, 7:38, 8:12, 10:27-30, 11:25-26, 17:1-3, Rom. 6:23, 8:9-1 return
2. Deut. 32:39-40, 1 Sam. 15:29, Psa. 33:11, 90:1-4, 93:1-2, 102:24-27, 119:89-91, Isa. 44:6, 1 Tim. 6:15-16, Heb. 1:10-12, 13:8, James 1:17 return
3. John 1:1-4, 3:36, 4:14, 5:24-26, 39-40, 6:33-58, 63, Rom. 6:22-23, 8:9-10, 1 John 5:11-12 return
4. Ezek. 47:1-12, Eph. 5:25-27, Rev. 22:1 return
5. John 1:1, 14, 1 John 1:1-3, Rev. 19:13 return
6. Jer. 24:7, 29:12-14, John 1:9-13, Rom. 8:12-21, Gal. 3:24-29, 4:1-7return
7. Ezek. 36:27, John 3:3-8, 6:63, 14:15-18, 20-21, Rom. 8:9-11, 14, Gal. 4:6-7, Eph. 2:1-10, 1 John 3:24, 4:4, 13 return
8. Luke 8:11, John 1:12-14, 3:16-17, 5:24, Acts 13:48, 1 John 1:1-2, 3:9 return
9. Luke 8:5-15, John 12:24, 1 Cor. 3:6-9 return
10. Jer. 32:38-40, Ezek. 11:19-20, 36:25-28, Matt. 18:3, Rom. 6:3-13, 7:6, 8:9-17, 2 Cor. 3:18, 5:17, Eph. 4:22-24, Col. 2:11-15, 3:1-3 return
11. Isa. 11:4, Hos. 6:5, Eph. 6:17, Heb. 4:12, 1 John 5:7, Rev. 2:12-16 return
12. Dan. 2:40, 7:19-27, 8:8-12, 16-26, 12:1, Rev.13:2-8, 14:8-11, chap. 17, 18:2-24, 19:1-3 return
13. John 6:63, Rom. 5:5, 8:1-16, 1 Cor. 15:45, 2 Cor. 3:6, 17-18, 5:21, Gal. 4:6, 5:16-18, 25, 6:8, Eph. 4:22-24, 5:18, 25-27 return
Prayer footnotes:
1. Psa. 51:5, Rom. 3:10-12, 23 return
2. Matt. 26:63-64, 27:54, Luke 1:30-33, John 9:35-37, Rom. 1:3-4 return
3. Acts 4:12, 20:28, Rom. 3:25, I John 1:7, Rev. 5:9 return
4. Psa. 16:9-10, Matt. 28:5-7, Mark 16:9, 12, 14, John 2:19, 21, 10:17-18, 11:25, Acts 2:24, 3:15, Rom. 8:11, I Cor. 15:3-7 return
5. Luke 22:69, Acts 2:25-36, Heb. 10:12-13 return
6. I Cor. 3:16, Rev. 3:20 return
7. Eph. 2:13-22, Heb. 9:22, 13:12, 20-21, I John 1:7, Rev. 1:5, 7:14 return
8. Matt. 26:28, Acts 2:21, 4:12, Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14 return
9. Matt. 21:22, John 6:35, 37-40, Rom. 10:13 return
10. Heb. 11:6 return
11. John 5:14, 8:11, Rom. 6:4, I Cor. 15:10, Rev. 7:14, 22:14 return