Intro from Steve Shultz
Bishop Bill Hamon is not only a friend of mine, but he is one of the very first Prophetic Apostle/Prophets that I learned about PROPHESYING from. I’ve been to his prophetic school and we sit on one or more councils together. Hundreds and even thousands of people from around the world now prophesy because of Bill Hamon’s prophetic school and ministry, “Christian International” or “CI.”
Whenever a prophet of God names a DATE, it’s going to be controversial and normally, I would not post something where calculations are done alongside a prophetic word (in other words, this is both prophetic and he’s done some math as well). However, in my view, Bishop Hamon has earned the right over the course of many years and decades of releasing prophets into full-time ministry, to “risk it” with just such a word for the Church.
Bill Hamon is saying that this very year, 2008, marks the “BEGINNING OF THE THIRD AND FINAL APOSTOLIC REFORMATION.” Scripture is clear that prophets are given both the right to give prophetic words, while each of the saints have the privilege of evaluating for themselves how the Spirit bears witness. I, for one, am intrigued and I look forward to praying this word from the Lord with: “Lord, let it be so that this year marks such a beginning among Your saints!”
1 Corinthians 14:29, "Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said."
One final note: On words such as this one, there are always many who will agree and some who will disagree with the word. We don’t publish this to seek input from our readers as to if you feel it’s correct or not. We post it so that each person or “Saint” will individually evaluate for themselves this word, pray into it, and hopefully be encouraged and motivated by it.
Under His Wings,
Steve Shultz, Founder and Publisher
The ElijahList & ElijahRain magazine
The Beginning of the Third and Final Apostolic Reformation (by Bill Hamon)
The Lord Jesus has revealed by His Spirit some insight and application concerning His timely purpose being activated in 2008. I have been prophesying for 10 years that a "Saints Movement" is coming to the Body of Christ.
The Saints Movement is a time when the saints, believers in Jesus Christ, recognize and act on the understanding that Christ has empowered and commissioned each of them to be the Church 24/7--manifesting the Kingdom of God wherever they live and work. Every believer has the ability to manifest the supernatural in a miraculous way, and every saint is called to demonstrate the Gospel of the Kingdom (not just the Gospel of salvation) in their sphere of influence.
In my book, The Day of the Saints, I prophesied what would be many of the truths and ministries of the Saints Movement. Some of these include: every saint manifesting the supernatural; ministers in the marketplace and in all arenas of society; saints becoming the Church 24/7; and people of all ages becoming activated as ministers for Christ. In the last several years, we have seen these things happening in the Body of Christ, such as through the increased emphasis of signs, wonders and miracles and of ministry in the marketplace (sometimes called the "Faith at Work" Movement or other similar terms).
A New Era of Reformation
Now in 2008, God has brought new revelation and application. The Saints Movement is the catalyst to launch the Church into the Third and final Apostolic Reformation. The First Apostolic Reformation occurred in the 1st century with the launching of the era of the New Testament Church. The Second Apostolic Reformation, which is known to historians as the Reformation, transitioned the Church from the "Dark Ages" to beginning the period of the restoration of the Church (see Acts 3:21).
This Reformation will bring about a paradigm shift in the goal and purpose of the Church. Most Evangelical and Pentecostal theologians see no purpose for the Church other than to win more souls to Christ so they are made ready for Heaven. Now we are receiving revolutionary, reformed thinking from the heart and mind of God. The expanded goal and vision of the Third Reformation Church is to co-labor with Christ in His passionate desire for the fulfillment of Revelation 11:15:
"...there were loud voices in Heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'"
The Purpose of God for This Time
The First Apostolic Reformation and purpose of God was for Jesus to shed His life's Blood for the salvation of sinners. God was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world unto Himself by purchasing them with His Blood and making them members of His Body of Christ, the Church.
God's Second Apostolic Reformation and purpose was to restore and build His Church to the full maturity and ministry of Christ Jesus. This is accomplished through Christ's fivefold ministers, of which the last two, prophets and apostles, were restored to recognition and began fully ministering during the Prophetic-Apostolic Movement, from 1988 to the present. Apostles and prophets have existed throughout Church history but often weren't recognized or allowed to fully function. The fivefold ministers are for the purpose of equipping the saints to demonstrate Christ's Kingdom--the Saints Movement.
Christ's Third Apostolic Reformation and purpose is to use His restored Church to fulfill God's original mandate to mankind--subdue all things, take dominion and fill the earth with a mankind race in God's own image and likeness, bring more and more of God's Kingdom and will to earth, and transform nations into sheep nations (those who do the works of Christ. See Matthew 25:31-46). This is the end result of the saints taking the Gospel of the Kingdom into every aspect of society.
The Timing
2008 is the year of new beginnings. It is the beginning of the new Third and final Apostolic Reformation. This Third Reformation will bring as much transition and fulfilling of God's purpose as the First and Second Reformation did. We have been prophesying and interceding about this shift for many years. It is with firm conviction that I believe this is now the time for it to fully be underway. Whenever a move of God occurs, there is much action and anticipation ahead of time, during the "birthing" process, and even greater activity afterwards. In later years, historians pick a date they consider to be the "official" start of that new move. Many currents were headed toward Reformation prior to the year 1517, and several key things happened after that date, but 1517 is the year chosen by historians to signal the beginning of that major move.
I believe and am declaring that 2008 is God's set time for the full release of the Third Reformation. At Christian International, we saw a birthing of the Saints Movement at our Watchman Intercessor Conference in April 2007, as prophesied by Cindy Jacobs, one of the speakers that week. I witnessed to that word and was glad we have finally seen it.
It coincides with one interpretation of the 490 years (70 weeks x 7 days per week = 490, with each day symbolizing a year) that Daniel prophesied concerning the time period to the coming of the Messiah and ushering in the Church (see Daniel 9). Many believe this is also the period of time from the beginning of the restoration of the Church to the time when all presently restored truth and ministries would be activated into fulfilling God's end time purpose.
Church historians designated the year 1517 as the birth date of the Protestant Movement, which was the beginning of the period of Church restoration. AD 1517 + 490 years = AD 2007. This time period covers all the restoration movements from the Protestant Movement through the present Prophetic-Apostolic Movement to the birthing of the Saints Movement in 2007. Others may have their own views on interpreting this Scripture, but I believe it is clear that God's Spirit is saying this is a very significant time.
Receive God's Grace to Participate
In 2008, God is releasing special supernatural grace and power to those who are willing and ready for Church Reformation. They will be those who demonstrate the Kingdom of God for the transformation of nations. Expect to hear much preaching and see many books being written on the saints taking dominion, the Kingdom of God, transformation, wealth for Kingdom purposes, the Third and final Apostolic Reformation, and God's purpose for His Church, His Kingdom and planet earth.
All of the hundreds of apostles and prophets that I know around the world are sensing and saying the same thing, although some may use different terminology to express these things. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of understanding and participating in the major transition and new thrust of the Holy Spirit taking place in the Church today.
As the leader of Christian International, we are gathering our leaders and ministers in early March (open to all) to strategize how to best position ourselves to cooperate with this great move of God, and I encourage others to do the same.
A Word of Wisdom Regarding End Times
I want to add a word of wisdom to all who read this. All Christendom, from Catholics to Charismatics, believe in the second coming of Christ--when He will translate the bodies of the living saints and resurrect the bodies of those who have died. The a-millennialists and post-millennialists believe this all happens at one coming of Christ at the end of the Church Age. The dispensational pre-millennialists believe in two comings, one for the Church and one for the general resurrection, and then the great white throne judgment.
Most see a seven-year period between Christ coming FOR the saints and Christ Jesus coming back WITH the saints. Some believe the Church will be resurrected and translated to Heaven at the beginning of those seven years, some believe it will happen three and a half years later, and some believe it will occur at the end.
The wonderful and amazing thing is all of them teach that the saints are coming back to join the reign of Christ's Kingdom over all the earth. Regardless of the different eschatological beliefs, all Christians will end up back on the new earth, where all the kingdoms of this world become the Kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ.
Make the Transition
Those whom Jesus has made kings and priests unto God shall be the overcomers who reign with Christ on the earth. Please do not get stuck arguing and debating over what will happen during the seven years. Let us set our vision and goal beyond those seven years to Revelation 11:15. It is the time to give all of our life and labor to be co-workers together with Christ in demonstrating and enforcing His Kingdom in all the earth.
We will not cease until we can join the voices in Heaven victoriously, declaring that the kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdoms of our Lord Jesus and His anointed one, the Church.
Bill Hamon
2008 is a historical time for the Church. Be an overcomer and make the transition. Allow nothing to keep you from being a participant in this day of divine visitation and reformation. Begin now to earnestly pray, prepare and work for God's Kingdom to come, and His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Amen and Amen.
Yours in Christ,
Bill Hamon, Founder and Bishop
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