Articles

My Vision of the Endtime Ministry of the Body of Christ

By: Tommy Hicks

July 25, 1961

On the morning of July 25, 1961, at 2:30, I received a vision from the Lord that has entirely revolutionized my whole life and ministry. It seemed as though I had hardly gone to sleep, when this vision came before me not just once but three times. Oh, wonder of wonders, when again on July 27 this vision reappeared. In each instance the details were the identical.

Suddenly, in the vision I was standing with the full view of the whole world before me. From out of the heavens came great thunderings and lightning. Accompanied with this phenomena came a voice, a great voice, for it was the voice of God. My face was turned towards the North. With a great flash of lightning covering the whole earth, I looked down and beheld a massive form that appeared like a huge Giant. I was amazed as I saw this Giant cover the earth. Its feet seemed to reach to the North Pole, and its head extended to the South Pole. The arms were dramatically spread from sea to sea. Again, with another great flash I saw that this Giant was alive, and yet, strange to say, struggling for life. I said, “Oh, Lord, what does this mean?”

This massive being was covered with debris and seemed to be fettered. As I viewed this being, it began to quiver, then almost go into convulsive gestures. As this took place, I saw thousands of strange little creatures. Every time the Giant would quiver, they would withdraw. However, when it ceased to move, they would return again. I was definitely made to know what these creatures were. They were instruments that had bound the body of Christ throughout the ages.

Suddenly, the right hand of the Giant came up, and with it came a loud voice like a roar of thunder from heaven itself. The left hand was raised . . . and as I looked, I saw its hands extend into the very heavens. Then very slowly the Giant began to cleanse the debris from off its body. I saw it rise to its feet with hands outstretched to heaven, so great that its hands were in the heavens, while one foot was in the sea and the other was on the earth. I trembled immensely, for never before had I seen such a sight.

Presently, the sky was filled with clouds, heavy clouds, but lo, they turned to silver until from the very silver clouds themselves came liquid drops of light and poured on the form of the Giant. As I watched intently, I saw the Giant melt to the earth itself. The form had seemed to dissolve, and now in its place I saw millions of people. I cried to the Lord, “What is the meaning of this?” A voice so clear and vibrant said plainly, “I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army, which I sent among you.”

As I listened to the voice and watched the multitude of people, from the clouds came great drops, like liquid light. This majestic heavenly substance made every one it touched lose their identity. . . and their identification was JESUS. I saw no barriers, no denominations, nor sects, but the transcendent glory of heaven that rested upon these people compelled them to lift their hands in praise and adoration.

I watched to see who this company was worshipping. At that point, I saw a great white figure come out of the clouds pointing His finger to one and then to another. It seemed that He was giving directions, for as He would point, they would go, some through deserts, forests, and jungles. God is going to have a perfect Church. He is going to have a people that is so endued with power that it will not be an exposition of self, but it will be Christ in them the hope of glory. I saw these people pass through the fire unburned. They crossed rivers as though there was no water in them. They crossed oceans with ease, escaped persecution as though a hand transported them from their surroundings.

In spite of wild beasts roaring, being attacked by men with swords and weapons of war, nothing seemed to hinder them. They moved over mountains and through valleys. They moved like the hart skipping down the hills. Their faces shone with the countenance of victors . . . they were Conquerors.

I hesitate to tell this part of the vision, because it was with great trembling I received this portion of the revelation. I saw the man clothed in white point with a sceptred hand. Again, there was a pouring forth from His hand what I call “liquid power.” As soon as it would touch the person, he would have his hands bathed and dripping in the same heavenly substance. Upon receiving this anointing, they would walk into hospitals, through the streets, into the institutions, and on and on, marching throughout the length and breadth of the land. I would hear them saying, “According to my word, be thou made whole.” As the liquid power flowed from their hands, each one they touched was instantly healed and made whole.

I saw people transported in the spirit from nation to nation. I saw them going to Siberia, Africa, to Canada, and to the ends of the earth. I saw them literally lifted up and placed by the Spirit in the respective countries.

Then I heard a voice, not a thundering voice this time, but a voice that was low and beautiful as the murmuring of the waters. This tender voice said, “My little children, I have given unto thee my treasures. You are mine; you belong to me. I have loved you with an everlasting love. Now my power shall be in you. The gifts that I have given unto thee shall be made manifest to a lost and dying world. I am going to restore to thee ALL.” These people arose in the power of this great commission. I saw them cross oceans, go through fire, face persecutions, and be lifted by the Spirit and transported to many places. They were being placed where God wanted them. They were being put in places God was going to visit His people. They were prepared and already equipped.

I realized that this whole panorama picture was the demonstration of the Kingdom of God through those who follow Him. I continued to see a stream of people marching, healed, blind eyes opened, deaf ears unstopped—literally millions receiving the power of this great manifestation. It seemed so “fluid” in its operation. There was no exaltation of a man—simple, but profound, “According to my word, be thou made whole.”

As I watched, it seemed as though days formed into weeks, until months and years seemed to slip away, and in the midst of those who received the fullness of God's visitation, there were also those who withdrew. I could see the anguish of their faces. The price was too steep; retaining of identification meant too much to them. They refused to march and eventually slumped away. The price was more than they could bear. They eventually slipped out into the darkness of the night.

To speak of the following instances leaves me weak with the glory and power of the tremendous finale. The days, months, and years seemed to slip by as I beheld this celestial scene. Nevertheless, it all happened in a short time, possibly just a few seconds. Who can tell? No tongue could adequately tell of the glory and the splendor of the formation of this angelic host. In a moment, just a twinkling of an eye, the graves of the saints had become as a plowed field, and the saints from all ages, from the seas, the mountains, the deserts, from every imaginable place, gave up her dead and rose in power and in majesty to be absorbed into the great Giant. No debris covered this great being now. It was clothed in heaven's majesty, glorious, shining garments, so brilliant that it would make a million diamonds look dull.

Everyone was in a state of perfection, and t hat moment I heard as it were a great thunder; and I turned to behold the most repelling sight human eye can witness. From the heavens above poured forth the vials of wrath, the wrath of God. It seemed that wrath and justice of God was wrung-out drops of unspeakable anguish and suffering. The Christ-rejecting peoples of the earth had had their cup filled.

Once again, my attention was drawn to this glorious body as I heard again the voice, even as thunder, crying, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him. For He is the Lord of Glory. Lift up your heads, O ye gates. Be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in.” Then as though the great Maestro of heaven had given the sign, a mighty volume of harmonies, heaven's harmonies, pealed forth like music born on the wings of a dove. The music was clear, vibrant, rich and resonant. It was heaven's music, the song of a soul set free. They were singing a new song, and what I thought to be added accompaniment now became clearer, stronger. It was the voice of the Bride, many voices, but one voice singing the Song of Moses and the Lamb.

As I listened, suddenly I became weak, and yet even the weakness was my strength, for I had been in the presence of the King of kings and the Lord of lords. I was filled with an unspeakable surge of the Spirit to go tell all nations, press the battle to the front-line trenches of a lost and dying world.

Folks, the Kingdom is here. The very power and spirit of the Kingdom of God so possessed me, I knew it was the revelation of the King in all His kingly authority. I could see that the Lord was showing me that the Kingdom was coming into view. This was the revelation of the Kingdom of God coming to man. The very spirit and power of the Kingdom so gripped me, I felt like one caught away to the third heaven. Daniel saw the everlasting Kingdom. No power in the world will be able to destroy this Kingdom. Once again, I saw this body now being lifted into the heavens.

At this point I awoke. The vision repeated in the same manner three times again. Each time in perfect detail. From that moment to this, these words have rung through my soul: “He's coming soon; He's coming!”