The study of the Book of Revelation began May 8 at 7 PM and will continue on Thursday evenings for eight consecutive weeks. Don't miss this exciting, relevant, and life changing study as Bible Scholar, Educator, Missionary, Author, and Pastor George Kouri (following the Greek text) allows Jesus and the Prophets of Israel explain the prophecy given to John the apostle to prepare the saints of the 1st century for what was about to happen in their day.

This eye-opening study is hosted by the King's Academy in conjunction with the Apostles Theological Seminary. The King's Church is located at 7999 Philips Highway #202 Jacksonville FL, 32256. For more information call 904-940-6314.

To listen to the podcasts click on the titles below:

Part 1a-Introduction To Revelation (Goals For The Study)

Part 1b-Introduction To Revelation (Preliminary Observations)

Part 2a-Introduction To Revelation (Author And Dating)

Part 2b-Introduction To Revelation (Author And Dating)

Ten Ways To Make Your Christmas More Memorable

"There are people who will tell you that Christmas is not what it used to be." That sentiment sounds familiar to me as I am sure it does to you. Yet, these words were written in England in l836, by Charles Dickens.

Mr. Dickens’ statement comes as a surprise to those of us who have always considered the era of the l800’s as the ideal “good old days” for Christmas celebrations. The traditional Christmas celebration of the l800's was the kind that Scrooge disdained in “A Christmas Carol”.

Evidently, Christmas during any given year will only be as meaningful as we are willing for it to be. There is no good in lamenting, for example, that carolers no longer tour the neighborhood as they used to. (Of course we could all gather our friends, our songbooks and candles, and sing up and down the streets that “Christ the Savior is born.”) We have all, at times, complained about the commercialization of Christmas. But it is up to each of us personally to put Christ at the center of our celebration, in our thoughts, our homes, and in the life we live the rest of the year in honor of the one who was born in a manger, lived a sinless life, died in order for us to live, rose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father where we have been lifted up with Him in order to rule and reign in life.

Pastor Sandra and I have been considering how we might enrich your Christmas this year. After much thought here are 10 simple ideas, intended merely as suggestions or possibilities, for each one of us to consider this Christmas season. As followers of Christ the King what can we do to make this season a more meaningful celebration in our life?

1. Shop early so you can be free to enjoy the season. The greatest enemy of our enjoying and appreciating the Christmas season is the frenzied pace in which we find ourselves as we tend to do everything at the last minute. Make sure we leave plenty of time and energy for celebrating ‘Jesus’.

2. Plan your month in advance. Sit down with your family and create a special “Month’s Calendar” for December. Include dates for decorating, cooking, visiting, parties, and other special events for the month. Don’t forget to add Sunday church meetings and Wednesday evenings as a priority. Often in the busyness of the season we are tempted to use these times to get other things done! (Christmas is an opportune time of the year to reach out and invite friends and family members to worship with us.)

3. Remember, Christmas is not just a “day”, but a season. The church calendar has recognized this for centuries in the tradition of Advent. It is a season when believers anticipate the celebration of Christ’s coming to earth. This is a good year to start the tradition of using an Advent wreath or calendar. These can be easily made or purchased as weekly and even daily reminders that God sent His Son to be the light of the world. (If you are not familiar with the significance of these, go online, read, and appreciate the significance of the “Advent Wreath.") Beginning 4 weeks before Christmas, light one candle at dinnertime every night for the first week; two candles throughout the second week; three during the third; and all four the week of Christmas.

4. Decorate for Christmas as a family. Whatever you decide to do in your home or with a tree, include all family members from the youngest to the oldest. (Even toddlers can put Christmas ornaments on a tree.) Often husbands leave this to the wife, or the mother doesn’t want to be bothered with the kids helping. This is a great family bonding activity. Put on Christmas music, have special refreshments, be sure and set aside plenty of time so it is a “party” like atmosphere and appreciate all the efforts of the helpers (even if it is not done as perfectly as you would do yourself!).

If single, invite special friends over to help (make sure you make it fun!).

5. Make your Christmas tree a family history book. As the season approaches, look back over the past twelve months together as a family and think of a significant event that you would like to remember in the years to come. For example you may have had a move, new addition to the family, an adopted puppy, a spiritual encounter, etc.. Then go shopping and look for an ornament that will symbolize the event or perhaps even the whole year. Be sure to print the year on the ornament so that in years to come you or your children can look back and remember.

6. Go caroling in your neighborhood. Door to door caroling is an ancient Christmas tradition. This is a tradition that would be good to keep. Gather some friends or a few families (it does not matter if you can carry a tune or not). The point is for it to be a joyful event, not a professional one. Caroling books are great, but you can make your own song sheets, or just sing the first verse of the carols you know. You will be surprised by the people you will bless.

7. Set aside a day (perhaps a Sunday afternoon) when your family will gather in the kitchen and bake, make candy, or even put together a gingerbread house. Even dad can get creative cutting out cookies or being the architect of the gingerbread house. Christmas is a great time for everyone to enjoy the kitchen, helping to bake holiday treats for entertaining and preparing gifts of food.

8. Have a Christmas family portrait made. Ask a friend to come to your home with a camera and make a group portrait of your family in front of the Christmas tree or some other holiday decoration. Place the portrait in a special photo album to make and keep a record of your family’s growth each year. The book will become a history of your home and lives which can be displayed each Christmas to provide a rich source of memories. You can even offer to be the photographer for another family’s portrait and make the picture a Christmas gift for them.

9. Let Christmas Day be a Sabbath. The entire family (not just mom) can help prepare your meal and do the clean up afterward. Remember that having a peaceful restful day will mean much more to the family than an elaborate meal served on fine china.

10. Make someone who is alone part of your family’s Christmas. Christmas can be the saddest, loneliest, and most depressing time of the year for those who live alone, are separated by miles from their family or have no one to share the holiday with. Consider including the elderly, a shut in, or someone otherwise isolated. There is no greater time to show God’s hospitality to others. This hospitality to a degree will mirror God’s love and hospitality shown to us as He sent His only Son into the world that we may know Him. The joy of Jesus’ birth is ours to share. If we ask God for specific ways to give it away to others, He will be faithful to answer our prayer.

Pastor Sandra and I hope that these suggestions will enrich your celebration of God's most precious Gift of all, the Gift of His Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 11 is the Apostle Paul's amazing commentary on the vision of the prophets of Israel and the prophecy of Jesus of Nazareth in Luke 21:24 about Messiah's Day and the times of the Gentiles or the nations.

King David, Isaiah and all the prophets of Israel prophesied that in Messiah's Day all nations would be converted and learn Christ, including the Arab nations. The result would be that in Messiah's Day the nations would beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks and there would be peace on earth. Referring to this wonderful Messianic vision, Jesus prophesied in Luke 21:24 that Jerusalem, which would shortly be destroyed by the armies of Rome, would continue to be trampled under foot of the Gentiles until the vision of the prophets concerning Messiah's day and the times of the Gentiles had been fulfilled (i.e. until the nations had been converted and learned Christ).

We know that Luke's Gospel was written by Doctor Luke, who was Paul's traveling companion and an active member of his apostolic company. The Apostle Paul and Luke must have enjoyed discussing Jesus' prophecy at some point in their labor together. Brother Kouri explains, "the apostle to the Gentile nations understood the vision of the prophets concerning Messiah's Day and the salvation of the nations. He also understood by the revelation of the Holy Spirit Jesus' prophecy that 'Jerusalem would be trampled under foot' until the prophets' vision for the Gentile nations 'is fulfilled'.  Therefore, the great apostle to the Gentiles declares in Romans 11:25 that once the 'fulness of the Gentiles' has been converted and 'come into' Messiah's Kingdom that 'the partial hardness' keeping the rest of the Jewish people from being saved would be removed and the 'fullness of the Jewish people' will be converted and come into the Kingdom!"

Bishop goes on to explain that "according to the Apostle Paul, the future salvation of the Jewish people will not be because they see Him coming from heaven bodily, as postponement preachers mistakenly proclaim. Instead, according to Paul, it will be because the Jewish people are provoked to jealousy as they see the blessings of the kingdom coming upon the Gentile nations, including the Arabs. In fact according to the prophets of Israel, Jesus, and Paul the key to peace in the Middle East and to the future conversion of the Jewish people will be the future conversion of the Arab Nations.

He closes this powerful and provocative apostolic message by unveiling a surprising and very apostolic or Kingdom scenario for the future of the nations, a Messianic vision of hope for the world, that contrasts greatly with the popular, but mistaken, "dooms-day" scenario proclaimed by postponement theologians and preachers.

To watch the video of this powerful Kingdom message click here.

(This message is Part 4 of "Paul, the Fulness of the Gentiles, the Arabs, and the Fulness of the Jews." And this four part message is part of the larger series, "Jesus and the Times of the gentiles from Luke 21:24. All of these messages may be viewed in their entirety on our Video page.)

TAKE: AD250-The Non-Negotiables Of Apostolic Christianity

Written and developed by ATS Chancellor and widely recognized apostolic father George Kouri, this course might be sub-titled: "A First Century Catechism for the 21st Century Church."

The goal of this course is to help you understand and minister the revelation of Christ, His Kingdom, and His Church, entrusted by Jesus to His first apostles in the first century. This revelation (Jesus called it, "the keys of the Kingdom") was the foundation of the early Church's faith, the basis of their doctrinal, spiritual, and governmental unity, and the secret of their effectiveness in overcoming and impacting the first century world.

Strong emphasis will be placed on:

1. Understanding and recovering the apostles' revelation of the Gospel of the King's dominion proclaimed by the first apostles, especially the Apostle Peter (the spokesman of the twelve apostles of the Lamb) and the Apostle Paul (the arch-type of all ascension-gift apostles today),

2. Understanding and recovering the apostles' revelation of the nature and purpose of Christ's Eternal Kingdom, the person and work of the Holy Spirit, and the Church, as the community of the King and the instrument of Christ's Kingdom purpose to conquer Satan's kingdom, disciple the nations, and fill all things with the glory of the sons of God,

3. Understanding and recovering the apostles' revelation of valid initiation into Christ's Kingdom and proper placement in an allotment of believers as part of Christ's one Church under valid apostolic and pastoral leadership for proper nurture, training, discipleship, and mission,

4. Understanding and recovering the apostles' revelation of the Church's apostolic government and structure, and the importance of true apostolic government to the Church's unity and success in the 21st Century,

5. Understanding and recovering the apostles' revelation of the Church's mission to conquer the kingdom of darkness, possess cities and nations (the Church's Inheritance), and fill the earth with the glory of the sons and daughters of God.

This course is essential for anyone desiring to truly understand and effectively minister the ancient faith entrusted to the original apostles with a view to truly extending Christ's Kingdom, restoring the foundations of the Christian faith, and reforming the Church, so that the Lord's One Church might succeed in it's apostolic mission to possess cities and nations and fill all things.

COURSE OUTLINE:

LESSON 1: THE APOSTLES' UNDERSTANDING OF THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM

In Lesson 1 we will look very carefully and critically at the apostles' understanding of the Gospel. Strong emphasis will be given to the Gospel according to Peter, as the principle spokesman for the 12 Apostles of the Lamb, and the Gospel according to Paul, the arch-type of Ascension-gift Apostles.

We will critically compare or contrast the Gospel proclaimed by the Apostles' Peter and Paul with the popular Gospel being widely proclaimed today.

The goal of Lesson 1 is to recover the actual Gospel entrusted by the Lord Jesus to the first apostles and to enable you to fully understand and faithfully proclaim the message of the King!

LESSON 2: THE APOSTLES' UNDERSTANDING OF KINGDOM INITIATION

In our second lesson, we will explore the necessary understanding and practice of the first apostles for dynamiting individuals out of the kingdom of darkness and into the Kingdom of Heaven. Strong emphasis will also be placed on recovering the apostles' understanding and practice in helping new converts find meaningful placement in the family of God (the Household of Faith, the New Israel of God, the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ) under valid apostolic and pastoral oversight and care.

We will compare or contrast the apostles' understanding and practice or methodology with the traditions of men and modern practices today.

The goal of Lesson 2 is to recover the authentic understanding and the practice of the first apostles and enable each of you to faithfully and effectually bring people into Christ's Kingdom, help them find their place in His Church, and lay valid apostolic foundations in believer's lives.

LESSON 3: THE APOSTLES' UNDERSTANDING OF THE BLESSINGS OF DAVID AND THE NEW COVENANT

Lesson Three deals with the third Non-Negotiable: the Apostles' revelation and Holy Spirit inspired understanding that the promised blessing (also called "mercies") of David is in actual fact the blessings of the New Covenant.

The Apostle Paul makes this clear in Acts 13: 34.

In ACTS 13: 32 and 33, Paul declares Jesus' resurrection to be the fulfillment of the promise made to David and the fathers of Israel concerning salvation and the Messianic Kingdom. In verse 33 Paul even quotes David's great enthronement Psalm, Psalm 2, "YOU ARE MY SON; TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU," as the moment in history when God the Father declared His decree, "I HAVE INSTALLED MY KING UPON MY HOLY MOUNTAIN."

Then in verse 34 the Apostle actually quotes or paraphrases Isaiah 55:3, "I WILL GIVE YOU THE HOLY and SURE blessings (mercies) of DAVID.'

In verses 38 and following Paul goes on to speak of the specific content of the blessing of David: “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses."

(Please note that "the blessing of David" or "the New Covenant of grace" is much better than the Old Covenant mediated by Moses.

The Apostle closes his message to the Jewish Synagogue in Pisidian Antioch with a warning from the Prophets of Israel about the dangers of rejecting the blessings of David and the New Covenant.)

The goal of Lesson 3 is to recover the Apostles' understanding of the blessing of David and the New Covenant. This revelation entrusted by the Lord to the first apostles is essential to understanding Christ's Kingdom, His Church, and true Apostolic Christianity!

It is non-negotiable! Recovering the Apostles' revelation of the blessings of David is therefore essential to recovering the Church's foundations and to an apostolic reformation.

LESSON 4: THE APOSTLES' UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHURCH AS ZION, THE RESTORED HOUSE OF DAVID

In Lesson 4 we will deal in depth with the Apostles' revelation that the One Church Jesus said he would build (Matt. 16:18) is not only the House (dwelling place and household or family) that the Messiah (David's Son) would build for God, but also at the same time, the House or Tent God promised He would build for King David. (2 Sam.7: 11-16)

The Apostles' not only understood that the Church is the spiritual body of the Messiah, the One New Man, but also the heavenly Zion out of which the scepter of Messiah's Kingdom would be extended to all the governments and nations of the earth, establishing righteous judgment, peace and joy.

They understood that the Church is the New Jerusalem, the City of God established on the Heavenly Mount Zion, and the light of the world, to whom the governments and nations of the whole earth would come and learn Christ, beating their swords into plowshares and learning war no more.

They understood that this singular Church is the body of Christ's Kingdom purpose, His threshing instrument and the demonstration in the earth of life under the government of King Jesus!

What does the special revelation of these Apostles mean to believers today and to the Church of the 21st century? How do the popular beliefs and modern theologies of Evangelical, Pentecostal, and Charismatic ministers compare with the revelation of these first century apostles? How does the Apostles' understanding impact or correct and adjust the tendencies of modern ministers and churches to postpone Messiah's Kingdom until after the Second Coming and to build their own independent local Churches?

The goal of this lesson is to help Christ's servants recover the Apostles' revelation in order to revive, restore and reform Christ's Church!

The Apostles' believed that when God raised Jesus from the dead, He not only raised the throne of David, moving the seat of David's Kingdom from earth to heaven and establishing it at His own right hand, but He also raised up Zion, laying the foundation of the New Jerusalem in Heaven. Because of their special revelation of the mystery of the Church they proclaimed that the born again sons and daughters of Christ's Kingdom are not only members of Christ's Messianic body and sons and daughters of the Household of God, but also the sons and daughters of Zion and citizens of the Heavenly city, the Jerusalem above. (See I Peter 2, Ephesians 2 and 3, Hebrews 12, and Revelation 21.)

The Apostles understood that Christ is building One Holy Apostolic Church in the earth, that the Lord's Church is general assembly before it is local, that there is no such thing as independent local churches! They understood fully that the allotments or congregations of believers located in the cities, regions, and nations throughout the earth are in reality the allotments of Zion, spiritual households making up the New Israel, and that they ultimately are to be connected to one another by spiritual fathers or elders forming Christ's one Church, His Holy Nation in the world.

They believed that in the Spirit the Lord's army rides forth out of the heavenly Zion throughout this present age, following the King of glory in His spiritual conquest of the Kingdom of darkness, liberating cities and nations from the oppression of evil, that the Lord has given His Church mighty spiritual weapons to empower them to be victorious in this great spiritual battle, and that on the Lord's day what really happens in the Spirit is that Christ's Church goes up to Zion, gathering in General Assembly around the throne of David in heaven, congregation by congregation, city by city, nation by nation until the whole Church throughout the earth has appeared in Zion to worship God's anointed King and to release His righteous judgments in the earth.

LESSON 5: THE APOSTLES' UNDERSTANDING THAT THE JEWISH AGE IS BEHIND AND NOT AHEAD OF THE CHURCH

If the modern Church does not understand the eschatology (doctrine of last things) of Jesus and the Apostles, we will create our own.

According to today's popular belief and numerous postponement theologies we are living in the last days of the Church age; the end is near. Any moment now Jesus is going to come back and secretly rapture the Church, with the Church gone the Antichrist will appear, raise an army, surround Jerusalem and make war on the Jewish nation. There will be great tribulation (a nuclear holocaust or world war three) in the midst of which Jesus will come back to earth, destroy the Antichrist and His army, establish His earthly Kingdom in Jerusalem and rule the nations from earthly Jerusalem for a thousand years. While there are many variations this is the popular eschatology of the times.

But is this actually what Jesus and His Apostles taught?

We will look closely at the message of the ancient prophets of Israel (the prophetic Song of Moses, Isaiah's Song of the Lamb, and Daniel's Seventy Weeks). We will study the prophetic significance of John the Baptist with regard to the end and the ministry of Jesus as he cursed the fig tree and cleansed the temple, and we will also look carefully at His teaching about the wedding feast, His prophesy about the Temple, and His great end times discourse on the Mt. of Olives dealing with the end of the Old Covenant age. What did Jesus and His Apostles mean by expressions like "in these last days" and "this generation shall not pass away before the end shall come"?

In this critically important lesson we will deal the last days according to Jesus and the Apostles. And we will discover that in reality the whole New Testament is written against the backdrop of the passing away of the Old Covenant age, the age of Moses and the law (the Jewish age), and the dawning of the New Covenant age, Messiah's Day.

The goal of Lesson 5 is to recover the revelation that Jesus imparted to the Apostles of the Lamb and the first Ascension-gift Apostles concerning the last days of the Old Covenant, the end of the Jewish age, the establish of Messiah's Kingdom and the dawning of Messiah's Day.

LESSON 6: THE APOSTLES' UNDERSTANDING OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT AND STRUCTURE

In Lesson 6 we will deal with the Apostles' understanding that Apostolic
Government (the fellowship of the Apostles and the Apostolate) is the functional basis of the unity of Christ's Church and the foundation or key to the Church’s success in it's mission to disciple the nations.

Today we see a Church that is and fragmented and divided into literally thousands of denominations, movements, factions and sects. We sing songs, preach sermons, and talk about the army of God, but the reality is that the modern Church is a bunch of guerilla fighters often fighting with one another or quarreling among ourselves.

In Matthew 16 Jesus declared that He would build His Church, His Holy Nation, and that He would build it in such a way that the very gates of hell (the governments of cities and nations) would not be able to resist the Church's movement in history. What is Jesus talking about? How can this happen? What is the key to the Church's functional and structural unity and the success of its apostolic mission in the earth?

If Christ's Church is truly one, if we are in fact the heavenly Zion, a Kingdom of priests and a Holy Nation, is there a governmental order or structure that will enable the Church to function as One Church. Has the Lord established or ordained a specific governmental order in His Church? If so what is it and what will it take to restore it to His Church today?

In this lesson we will see that Jesus Himself established what the New Testament writers call "the fellowship of the apostles" or "the apostolate". And in the transition that took place from the Jewish age to the Messianic age, the Lord took the Kingdom of Heaven from the High Priests and rulers of Israel (the Sanhedrin), and He gave it to the Apostles, the fellowship of apostles or the apostolate (governmental body or council) that Jesus Himself had established. Together these Apostles extended the Kingdom and planted Christ's Church throughout the Roman Empire. At the Lord's direction they also ordained elders, who were the ruling pastors or shepherds of the allotments or congregations of the Church, who together with the apostles governed the Lord's House.

This fellowship of apostles (apostolate) along with the elders of the congregations or allotments of the New Israel governed the Lord's Church. This governmental order was the basis of the early Church's unity and one of the dynamic keys to the Church's success in triumphing over both the rulers of the Jews and the Gentiles in the first century and several centuries to follow.

The goal of this lesson is to help Christ's ministers recover the Apostles' understanding of the Church's governmental structure in order to restore true apostolic government and valid eldership to the Lord's Church in a city, a region, a nation and throughout the earth so that the Church might function as one and succeed in its mission to possess cities and nations.

What is an apostle? What is the nature and function of the apostolate, the fellowship of the apostles? How do apostles work together? What is an elder? What is the nature of true eldership? How do elders work together with one another and with apostles in a locality, a region, a nation and throughout the earth to extend Christ's Kingdom and to oversee His House?

LESSON 7: THE APOSTLES' UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATIONS AS THE CHURCH'S INHERITANCE

In Lesson 7 we look closely at the Apostles' revelation that the cities and nations of the world belong to Christ and His Church, and are a vital and critically important part of the Church's inheritance and destiny!

Today many sincere believers and church leaders believe, mistakenly, that while the disciplining the nations is truly a vital part of God's Kingdom purpose, that purpose has been postponed until a future, earthly, Jewish millennial Kingdom. They rightly believe that the nations belong to Abraham's seed and are the heritage of Jacob, but wrongly believe that this means the natural or physical seed of Abraham, the Jewish people, and will be fulfilled in a future millennial age.

Over against this popular view and postponement theologies, we will see that the Apostles clearly understood that Jesus Christ is the promised seed of Abraham and that the cities and nations of the earth belong to Him. Because He was cut off in His prime without any physical offspring, all who are baptized into Christ are Abraham's seed and heirs of the promises of God. Thus the Apostles' understood the cities and nations belong to Christ and His Church!

God also promised Abraham that his seed would possess the gates of His enemies, speaking of the cities of the nations of the world. The Apostles understood this promise and knew that Jesus was referring to this promise when He declared that He would build His Church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. Earlier they had heard Him as He proclaimed, "First bind the strong man, and afterward spoil his goods." They knew Jesus was speaking of binding the principalities and powers of Satan's Kingdom, and possessing the cities and nations of the world.

After His death, resurrection, ascension, installation or enthronement on David's throne at God's right hand in heaven, and the outpouring of the promised Holy Spirit in His Name, the Apostles came to fully understand that Jesus Christ is indeed the promised seed of Abraham who would possess the gates of His enemies, that in His death and resurrection He had bound the strong man, and that today is Messiah's Day. They also understood that the Church that Jesus said that He would build (not some future generation of Jews in some future millennial kingdom) is in fact His Messianic body, the body of His Kingdom purpose to possess cites and nations and fill the earth with righteousness, peace and joy.

These Apostles of the Lamb and Ascension-gift Apostles of that first generation of Christians understood that the outpouring of the Spirit is a Kingdom anointing to enable the saints to possess cities and nations. They understood that His Church would be the visible demonstration of His Messianic Kingdom, a light to the nations as Isaiah and the prophets of Israel had envisioned, and the instrument of His Messianic purpose to possess cities and nations and establish Messiah's righteous government in the earth.

The goal of Lesson 7, our final lesson in this course, is to enable Christ's ministers to recover the Apostles' revelation and understanding of the Church's inheritance, its destiny in history and its apostolic mission to disciple the nations and fill the world with the glory of God!

Recovering the Apostles' understanding is essential to the Church's unity, its maturity and ultimate success in its mission!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED FOR THIS COURSE:

1. You must download the free PDF Course Syllabus "The Non-Negotiables Of Apostolic Christianity".

2. You will also need to download the PDF file of George Kouri's book, The Sign of The Kingdom (at no charge).

This course is required for all ATS Degrees: Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral. To enroll go to the ADMISSIONS page of the ATS Website.

ATS tuition is affordable (significantly below the national average for theological and ministerial training). Scholarships are available to every student who is admitted, and no-interest financing is available (you can earn an Associates, Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral Degree in Apostolic and Prophetic Studies for as little as $100.00 a month).

According to HAROLD CAMPING the RAPTURE was supposed to take place at 6 PM on Saturday, May 21, 2011.

LIKE OTHERS before him…who POSTPONE…MESSIAH'S KINGDOM…UNTIL AFTER…THE…SO-CALLED SECRET RAPTURE…& SECOND COMING…Camping WAS WRONG!

And he had been wrong before.

Camping also predicted the rapture would occur in Mid September of 1994.

Prior to Camping, it was Edgar C. Whisenhant…a former NASA engineer…who made numerous false prophecies…beginning with his infamous…"88 REASONS WHY THE RAPTURE WILL BE IN 1988"…and who continued making false prophecies until his death in 1997.

Before him there were hundreds…perhaps thousands…dating all the way back to Mary McDonald…whose false prophecy given around 1830 influenced John Darby and contributed to the establishment of an entire interpretive system concerning the LAST DAYS, known as DISPENSATIONAL PREMILLENNIALISM.

You see saints…if you and I do not understand the last days according to Jesus and what Holy Scripture says about…TIMES & SEASONS…(EPOCHS or AGES)…we will be TEMPTED to CREATE OUR OWN DOCTRINE of "END TIMES".

That is exactly what has happened in the Church today!

In 2 Timothy 2:15 Paul challenges his son in the ministry to, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

One of the critically important KEYS…to being able TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE the SCRIPTURES is AN ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING of the TIMES & SEASONS that GOD REVEALED to the PROPHETS of ISRAEL in the OLD TESTAMENT.

Both Old and the New Testaments speak of "the end" of the times and seasons (epochs or ages) of Moses and Old Covenant Israel and the dawning of the times and seasons (epochs or ages) of Messiah and the times of the Gentiles.

The OLD TESTAMENT CANON is about the AGE of MOSES…or the TIMES of the OLD COVENANT AGE of HISTORY.

The Old Testament is REALLY about God's SOVERIEGN DEALINGS with the JEWISH PEOPLE in order to BRING FORTH THE MESSIAH…the SAVIOR and RULER of both JEW & GENTILE…and the ULTIMATE GOAL or END of the LAW of MOSES.

The ENTIRE NEW TESTAMENT is about the LAST DAYS or the END of the TIME & SEASON of the OLD COVENANT AGE…and the ESTABLISHMENT of the TIME & SEASON of the NEW COVENANT AGE…MESSIAH'S ADMINISTRATION of the KINGDOM of God.

Jesus came to fulfill and to bring an end to the times or age of Moses and the Old Covenant administration of the Kingdom of heaven and establish the New Covenant Administration of the Kingdom of heaven.

ACCORDING to BOTH the OLD & NEW TESTAMENTS…the PURPOSE of MESSIAH'S DAY…and the NEW COVENANT ADMINISTRATION of the KINGDOM of God…is to DEAL with SATAN and HIS KINGDOM… PRINCIPALITIES…POWERS…the RULERS of the darkness of the PRESENT EVIL AGE…THRONES & DOMINIONS…and BRING to an END the PRESENT EVIL AGE.

In Luke 21:24 Jesus declares that the dawning of Messiah's day...ushers into history "the times of the gentiles" (nations).

In this critically important message, Understanding Times & Seasons," I deal with what Jesus Himself taught about the end of the times and seasons of Moses and the Jewish age and the establishment of Messiah's Day and "the times of the gentiles" (the time or season in which God deals with the nations on the basis of their response to the Gospel of the Kingdom).

(This powerful message, "Understanding Times & Seasons (epochs or ages)" is actually part of my series: The LAST DAYS ACCORDING TO JESUS. I plan to follow this message with two messages dealing with discipleship of the nations entitled, "The Times of The Gentiles" from Luke 21:24, and "The Judgement of the Nations" from Revelation 19. )

To watch UNDERSTANDING TIMES & SEASONS click here: http://kingschurchjax.com/the-last-days-according-to-jesus-understanding-times-and-seasons-bishop-george-kouri1 .

The illustration above is from a painting entitled, "the Rider on the White Horse."

Would you like to be able to release the power of God in your life so you can succeed in accomplishing the impossible?

Would you like to see all your prayers answered...change your circumstances and get supernatural results...heal the sick...cast out devils...and raise the dead just like Jesus and the apostles did?

Then this message is for you!

God has called each of us individually and all of us corporately to an impossible task...the task of possessing cities and nations and filling all things with His glory.

He has called each one of us in Christ to bring the Kingdom of heaven...the dominion of the King...into every area of our lives...our personal lives...our marriages...our families...our businesses...our jobs...our careers...our ministries...our neighborhoods...our cities and nations...until the whole world is filled with the glory of the sons and daughters of God.

It is an impossible task!

It will not happen just because we work hard! It will only happen as we learn to release the supernatural power of God through our lives.

In Joshua Chapter 1 God gives Joshua an IMPOSSIBLE TASK.

God commands Joshua and the children of Israel to, "Rise...cross over the Jordan...and take the land."

• The land was filled with idolaters.
• It was filled with giants.
• They were organized;..they had armies...with horses and chariots.
• Here was a bunch of Israelites...without arms...without horses or chariots.
  

It was an impossible task...that would require the release of the supernatural power of God.

And Joshua accepts this impossible task!

What did Joshua do? Four things!

And there are four things we must do if we are going to release the supernatural power of God and succeed in the impossible mission God has given to us individually and corporately.

To watch Part I of this powerful message click on http://kingschurchjax.com/rspgasin .

To watch Part II click on http://kingschurchjax.com/releasing-the-supernatural-power-of-god-succeeding-in-the-impossible-ptii-bishop-kouri1

Against the backdrop of the religious and cultural confusion concerning male and female roles and relationships of the 21st century, Sandra Kouri deals with God's plan for men and women, marriage, motherhood, family, and life.

To listen to the message click here.

Most modern Christians have never heard the full Gospel, the actual Gospel of the Kingdom preached by Peter, Paul, and all of the original apostles of Jesus Christ.

Yes, the apostles all preached about the sacrificial death of Jesus as the Lamb of God on the cross of Calvary and His glorious resurrection!

But they also boldly proclaimed that after His death on the cross and before His resurrection Jesus actually descended into hell, where according to Peter in Acts 2:24, Jesus continued to suffer the agony of death for three days and three nights.

According to both Peter and Paul, it was in hell that Jesus was quickened and made alive again by the Spirit and became the head of a whole new creation. It was in hell that he first conquered Satan, taking from him the keys of death and hell.

Preached during special Good Friday and Easter Sunday services, this amazing two-part message reveals the mystery of what actually happened during the three days and three nights in which Jesus was in hell.

This powerful apostolic message deals with what the original apostles taught about:

• Jesus' preaching to souls that were in hell with Him,
• His redemption or release of the souls of the Old Testament saints who where waiting for Messiah's Day in Abraham's bosom or paradise,
• Jesus' amazing resurrection appearances, His ascension, His enthronement on the throne of His father David at the right hand of God in heaven, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. 

Most people know what happened to Jesus on the cross, but what happened after Jesus died and His body was laid in the borrowed tomb of Joseph?

Both the Holy Scriptures and the Apostles' Creed declare that Jesus (i.e. His human spirit and soul) descended into hell. But what really happened during the three days and three nights in which Jesus was in hell? And what happened after Jesus was quickened and made alive again, triumphing over Satan in His resurrection? 

To discover the amazing answers watch Bishop's message, The Mystery of Redemption, From The Cross To The Throne: 

Part 1 -As The Lamb and the Scapegoat, Jesus Suffers Death On The Cross and Descends Into Hell

Part 2-Jesus Is Quickened and Triumphs Over Satan, Death, and Hell, Appears to His Disciples & Ascends To the Throne and Receives His Kingdom

IF you and I are NOT RELEASING the SUPERNATURAL POWER of God in WHATEVER we are doing in our lives and ministries, then we ARE MISSING it!

I am coming to believe that WHEN people talk about WANTING to go back and recover the beginning of Christianity…they are REALLY talking about RELEASING THE SUPERNATURAL POWER of GOD!

The FIRST CENTURY AD was a TIME when the Gospel of the Kingdom was preached and the SUPERNATURAL POWER of God was RELEASED in a tremendous demonstration of MIRACLES of HEALING, the SALVATION of SOULS, and yes, even in JUDGMENT!

WHAT is HAPPENING in the church TODAY…is that many have become very CEREBRAL and PSYCHOLOGICAL.

Many have become SKEPTICAL…CYNICAL.

But…IF you and I are NOT TOUCHING the SUPERNATURAL POWER of God…we are NOT touching REAL CHRISTIANITY!

CHRISTIANITY is DESIGNED to FUNCTION and to WORK...INSIDE the SUPERNATURAL. WITHOUT the SUPERNATURAL POWER of God…we are JUST another RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY…another DEBATING CLUB!

UNTIL…we TOUCH God …we have NOT TOUCHED GENUINE CHRISTIANITY!

CONTRARY to what many people have been taught…the BOOK of REVELATION is a PROPHECY written to the 7 CHURCHES of ASIA MINOR before 70 AD to PREPARE them for the things ABOUT TO HAPPEN in their day.

The fire of God's JUDGMENT was about to be poured out upon Jerusalem and the Temple.

The BOOK of REVELATION was a CHALLENGE from the LORD JESUS to ACCEPT THEIR ROLE as the SUPERNATURAL people of God…JOIN HIM in His DESIRES to REVEAL HIMSELF and RELEASE HIS SUPERNATURAL POWER IN JUDGMENT in order to ESTABLISH HIS RIGHTEOUS GOVERNMENT UPON the EARTH.

They had to CHOOSE to ACCEPT their role…WE MUST MAKE THIS SAME CHOICE…TODAY!

We MUST CHOOSE to be a people who will NOT BE OFFENDED at the SUPERNATURAL…who will NOT BE FEARFUL of the supernatural…who will NOT RUN FROM the STIGMA of the supernatural…BUT who will WHOLLY EMBRACE the SUPERNATURAL POWER of God and ALLOW HIM to RELEASE HIS POWER through us.

AND IF we SUCCEED in doing this…it won't be God COMING DOWN somewhere way BEYOND us…

The BOOK of REVELATION is not a Book about God MOVING BEYOND…or…OUTSIDE of…or…APART FROM HIS PEOPLE…but IN & THROUGH HIS PEOPLE.

The REVELATION is a BOOK about the 7 CHURCHES of ASIA…made up of BELIEVERS…CHRISTIANS…WHO UNDERSTOOD that the POWER of God…the SUPERNATURAL MANIFESTATION of the LORD would be RELEASED through them…as they THEMSELVES JOINED God in the BATTLE…TOOK UPON THEMSELVES HIS ENEMIES…and DECLARED:

"LORD RELEASE NOW YOUR RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT in the EARTH and REVEAL YOUR SON & HIS KINGDOM in and through your Church."

NOW...HERE...IS THE QUESTION SAINTS…

• HOW do we PARTICIPATE…
• HOW do we ALLOW…
• HOW do we DEMAND…the RELEASE of the SUPERNATURAL?

There are FOUR THINGS that I want you to see in this message…all found in the Book of Revelation.

This is very IMPORTANT…

• HOW do we do this?
• HOW do we RELEASE the SUPERNATURAL?
• WHAT is it GOING to TAKE?

FOUR VERY STRATEGIC KEYS...

To watch Part I click here.

To watch Part II click here.
 

This is Ern Baxter's critically important & comprehensive definition of Zion from his message from Psalm 2, on "Zion – The People of God."

“Zion was and is a combination of divinely designed ingredients which makes it not only the city of David, but the city of God. Zion points to the larger new covenant city whose inhabitants would be from all nations. It stands for the redeemed covenant community, celebrating and declaring the Divine presence and purpose in and through a supernaturally united brotherhood. It is here the Lord commands the blessing. We, the writer to the Hebrews says, are come to Mount Zion. God’s King reigns in Zion and sends forth His power out of Zion. Zion is the covenant community. The headquarters of God’s King is the redeemed community. You are Zion! You are a part of Zion and the corporate ruling power of God’s King doesn’t come out of a preacher, or a leader, but it comes out of the Zion community, the redeemed people of God, who are gifted by Jehovah to become the representatives of King Jesus, and to declare not only His glory and love but His ruling, sovereign authority to the nations. You are Zion!”

My friend and colleague Rod Seago, an apostle of Jesus Christ laboring in South Africa writes: "This message of his is unbelievable. I think it is one of the best that I have heard him."

Brother Baxter was Bishop Kouri's spiritual father and mentor. You can get a number of Brother Ern’s messages, which have been digitally converted, from www.brokenbreadteaching.org .

There is a PRINCIPLE found in Scripture that deals with how we are supposed to live as sons and daughters of Christ's Kingdom.

The word DOMINION sums it up.

If you get hold of this principle...it will CHANGE your life!

One of the GREAT PROMISES God gives to believers in Daniel 7:18 and 27 is that the we will rule in every area of life…in our cities…and nations…in the market place…the schools…the political arena…in every realm of life…NOT just in some FUTURE age…but in THIS PRESENT EVIL AGE.

Christians…I am talking about the Sons and Daughters of Messiah's Kingdom …are to have DOMINION NOW...in this life and in all the ages to come!

Many of you have grown up in a TIME in which Christians have BEEN RUN OVER…LAUGHED AT…and made the BUTT of JOKES.

If you believe that CHRISTIANITY is VALID…

If you believe the BIBLE is TRUE…

If you believe Jesus is LORD and KING…

Then you are RIDICULED!

The IDEA of a person believing in God…is seen as "MENTAL WEAKNESS."

HOWEVER…TRUE BELIEVERS…the SONS & DAUGHTERS of the KINGDOM of God…are NOT to be SECOND CLASS persons…but rather are to REIGN in life and EXERCISE DOMINION in every area of life.

If this is God's PROMISE...then WHY do we not see it manifested fully?

The REASON is that we MISUNDERSTAND DOMINION. We don't understand that there are certain REQUIREMENTS or QUALIFICATIONS for DOMINION. As God works to PREPARE and ESTABLISHES us in dominion…we often GROW WEARY in the SPIRITUAL BATTLE…and GIVE UP or QUIT BEFORE WE RECEIVE THE PROMISE. We often grow weary in DOING HIS WILL.

In this video I am talking about the QUALIFICATION for DOMINION.

There are FOUR THINGS you and I must SEE, if we are going to UNDERSTAND THE REQUIREMENT or QUALIFICATION for DOMINION.

Coming out of this message…

I want you to see WHO you are in Christ…

The POWER that you have right NOW…

And the DOMINION or RULE that you have TODAY in your life.

FOUR THINGS…

To watch PART 1 of this message click here.

To watch PART 2 click here.

According to II Chronicles 16: 9, "the eyes of the Lord move to and fro searching for those whose hearts are completely His, so that He may show Himself strong in their behalf!"

Think of it...ALL THE RESOURCES OF HEAVEN...are available to "strongly support" the person whose heart is fully committed to the Lord.

The day of LUKEWARMNESS is over...

The day of PLAYING IT SAFE is over...

The day of HALF-HEARTEDNESS is over...

In the midst of confusion and difficulty...the person who is ready to do the will of God with all his heart....God is ready to support with all the resources of heaven!

This Scripture is found in the story of King Asa.

In Asa's life and reign are some key principles...some character traits...some strengths...that need to be in our lives today.

It is easy to say...in some nebulous way,

"I am committed to the Lord."

But if we expect the Lord to fully support what He has called us to do both individually and corporately, then you and I must see these principles, characteristics, and strengths that were in King Asa's life incorporated or established in our lives.

IF YOU WANT TO WALK IN THE BLESSING OF THE LORD...

IF YOU WANT GOD TO FULLY SUPPORT YOU WITH ALL THE RESOURCES OF HEAVEN...

IF YOU WANT THE HAND OF GOD BLESSING YOU...UPHOLDING AND STRENGTHENING YOU...OPENING DOORS FOR YOU...PROMOTING YOU...

WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE?

To find out click here.

The illustration above is of King Asa receiving the word of prophesy from the prophet Azariah that encouraged him in his destruction of the high places and foreign altars from all the cities of Judah.

David lived the dream of a lifetime!

Some of you have experienced deep disappointment. You have gone through heartbreak and tragedy. It can seem as though your best days are behind you. But that is not true. The dream of a lifetime is still ahead of you.

God has given many of you a great dream of what He is going to do with your life, a dream of your calling and destiny in God.

The question is, "How can you and I live out the dream that God has given me, His dream for my life? How can we fulfill our calling and destiny in God?"

In II Samuel 5 David is living out the dream of a lifetime!

He is experiencing the fulfillment of the promise or dream God had given him as a boy, tending his father's sheep on the hills of Bethlehem. It had been years since Samuel had anointed him to be King of all Israel. Now 25 years later the dream was coming true.

Here is a man who has known all his life what God wanted to do with his life. Here is a man who had God's dream impregnated in his heart many years before, and he had to walk it out day by day for 25 years. Now 25 years later the dream is finally coming true!

Many of you have a dream, a hope, a calling, a destiny.

God has given it to you. Where are you in the unfolding of that dream? What is the process that you must go through in order to obtain the promise, receive the blessing, and live the dream that God has given you?

What is it going to take?

There are 5 things, five Kingdom principles, all found in David's life, that you and I must have in our lives if we are going to live the dream of a lifetime!

To watch this video click here.

While enrollment has closed for the Winter-Spring Semester of ATS, classes are now being formed for the Fall-Winter Semester which will begin September 12, 2011!

Some of the premier courses being offered during the current Semester are: AD250 The Non-Negotiables of Apostolic Christianity, AD501 Messiah's Day, AD700 Gospel of the King & The Transformation of Nations, AM190 Spiritual Formation For Ministry, AM250 The Work of Apostles and Apostolic Companies in the 21st Century, AM410 Imprecatory Psalms, Praying the Justice Prayers of the Church, NT463 Revelation of John, and EM400 Native Religions, Indigenous Peoples, and Christian Mission.

All of these courses are required for all four of our outstanding degrees (Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral).

To review ATS degree programs and course requirements go to http://www.atsvirtual.org/areas-of-study.

To preview Current Course descriptions go to http://www.atsvirtual.org/current-courses.

To read about the registration and enrollment process go to http://www.atsvirtual.org/admissions .

Please note: Beginning this February, 2011, ATS moved from an open format to a semester format for all of our online courses. This was done to enable our teachers and faculty overseers to oversee the courses and monitor the work of our degree students to assure the integrity of our degrees. ATS degree students may still enjoy the benefit of working online at their own pace. All degree students must be assigned a faculty adviser.

The illustration above is an ancient painting of Jesus Christ depicted as the Apostle and High Priest of the New Covenant and ruler of the kings of the earth.

ATS Classes are now being formed for the Fall-Winter Semester 2011.

The time is now for you to decide which degree and which coursesyou want to take for the FALL-WINTER SEMESTER of ATS.

Classes will begin September 12 and run through December 30.

Some of the premier courses being offered during the coming Fall-Winter Semester are: AD250 The Non-Negotiables of Apostolic Christianity, AD501 Messiah's Day, AD700 Gospel of the King & The Transformation of Nations, AM190 Spiritual Formation For Ministry, AM250 The Work of Apostles and Apostolic Companies in the 21st Century, AM410 Impreccatory Psalms, Praying the Justice Prayers of the Church, NT463 Revelation of John, and EM400 Native Religions, Indigenous Peoples, and Christian Mission.

All of these courses are required for all four of our outstanding degrees (Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral).

In addition to these outstanding courses, ATS will also offer a new course entitled, Spiritual Authority. Using Watchman Nee's classic text, this important course will be taught by Dr. Jim Bradshaw, Dean of the School of Ministry and Applied Theology. Chancellor George Kouri is also offering a new course, Recovering The Keys of the Kingdom.

To review ATS degree programs and course requirements go to http://www.atsvirtual.org/areas-of-study.

To preview Current Course descriptions go to http://www.atsvirtual.org/current-courses.

To read about the registration and enrollment process go to http://www.atsvirtual.org/admissions .

Please note: Beginning in February of 2011, ATS moved from an open format to a semester format for all of our online courses. This was done to enable our teachers and faculty overseers to oversee the courses and monitor the work of our degree students to assure the integrity of our degrees. ATS degree students may still enjoy the benefit of working online at their own pace. But all degree students will be assigned a faculty adviser.

The illustration above is an ancient painting of Jesus depicted as the Christ the Redeemer.

Satan has set an ambush for your life.

Psalm 59 is a powerful psalm David wrote after he escaped an ambush that Saul had set for him. Using Saul as his instrument Satan was trying to destroy David and keep him from fulfilling his destiny in God, and he used Saul and his soldiers to do it. (See I Samuel 19:11-17.)

The enemy set an ambush for David, and he has set an ambush for you.

Whether you know it or not, if you are a Christian, if you are a serious follower of Christ, there is a big bulls-eye on your life. The more you grow in Christ...the more you succeed in doing the will of God ion your life...the more the bulls-eye grows!

If you understand the ways of the enemy and are aware of the plans and expectations of the Devil, you can avoid the ambush.

To watch this video click here.

As believers, you and I need Unshakable Kingdom confidence.

It is easy to have confidence when everything is going great, but you and I need a confidence that looks trouble in the eye...unshakable confidence...Kingdom confidence. We need a confidence that is strong regardless of what we are facing...regardless of what happens.

David had that kind of confidence.

He had confidence when things were good and when things were bad. He had unshakable Kingdom confidence. In Psalm 27:1-3 David declares, "though war breaks out against me; though I am surrounded by enemies, I still am confident."

How could David have confidence like that? How can you and I have that kind of confidence?

• Confidence when our bank account is full, and when it is not...
• Confidence when our marriage is good, and when it is not...
• Confidence when the kids are good, and when they are not...

We need the kind of confidence in God that says like David,

"Bring on the war...I shall be victorious!"

 Saints, how in the world can we have confidence like David?

To watch the video click here.

NT463 is an advanced study of the revelation of Jesus Christ entrusted to John the Apostle on the island of Patmos!

"To fully understand the present administration of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ you and I must see the revelation of King Jesus that John saw on the Island of Patmos."

Using David Chilton's "Days of Vengeance" as a text and taught by South Africa's premier Bible teacher, Apostle Rod Seago, this study will be covered from four perspectives:

(i) A first century interpretative perspective with practical application to the contemporary Church.

(ii) As a prophecy given by Jesus to John the apostle revealing the enthroned Christ in His triumph over His enemies and executing vengeance on those who rejected Him. This prophecy was given to encourage the early Church in their fiery ordeal of persecution by both Rome and apostate Israel.

(iii) The special connection of the Book of Revelation with Jesus’ confrontation of the Pharisees in Herod's Temple as recorded in Matthew 23, and Jesus' discourse with His disciples on the Mt. of Olives recorded in Matthew 24.

(iv) The impact of the book’s message on the present day Apostolic Reformation taking place in the Church.

NT463 is a Bachelor's level course and is located in the School of Biblical Studies.

NT463 is a prerequisite for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees.

(To enroll in this course go to www.atsvirtual.org/admissions. For more information contact Dr. Marie Howard, Dean of Admissions, at mhoward@atsvirtual.org or 904-771-5375.)

I call this message: Wrestling With God: The Divine or Necessary Defeat!

Jacob was a deceiver, a conman, a schemer!

At his mother's direction Jacob deceives his father and steals his brother's birthright. In spite of this, God comes and makes a covenant with him and promises to bless him. Yet Jacob does nothing with God's promise for 20 years. It is literally 20 years before Jacob finally takes hold of his destiny in God.

It is not until 20 years later, after his life is in a mess, that Jacob wrestles with the Angel of God and has his self-sufficiency, self-confidence, and self-centered devotion to God broken by the Angel of the Lord. He is transformed by a divine encounter; his name is changed from Jacob (deceiver) to Israel (Prince with God), and as a result, he receives the promised thousand-fold blessing of God upon his life and fulfills his destiny.

Like Jacob you and I need a divine encounter!

We need to wrestle with the Lord or His angel until we experience the divine defeat, until our own self-sufficiency, self-confidence, our own selfishness is broken or defeated by the Lord.

Sooner or later, if you are truly called by God or chosen like Jacob, if you have a divine destiny, God will put Himself in your path! He will send His angel to wrestle with you and break you. The Lord will deal with your flesh, your carnality, and sanctify you for His purposes.

Ultimately, if you are the Lord's, He will not let you go. He will apprehend or arrest you. He will send His angel to wrestle with you...and if necessary...touch your thigh and break you in order to save you from your false-self.

To watch video click here.

I call this message: MAINTAINING FAITH IN THE MIDST OF DISAPPOINTMENT.

The prophet Malachi was the last prophet God sent to Israel before John the Baptist came on the scene in the SPIRIT OF ELIJAH to prepare the way for Jesus the Messiah. This oracle was given to Malachi 700 years after the children of Israel came out of captivity in Babylon.

As they came out of 70 years of captivity, what happened to the children of Israel? As they came out of Babylon, they had wonderful dreams of what God was going to do. As they returned to the land of Israel, and rebuilt Jerusalem and the Temple, the children of Israel had great expectations that God would at last fulfill His promise to restore David's Kingdom and establish the promised Kingdom of the Messiah!

BUT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN…THAT IS IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AS THEY EXPECTED! In fact they stayed under the rule of Gentile Kings during this entire period.

As a result something happened:

• Their dreams darkened.
• Their hopes dulled.
• They began to be offended with God.

They began to murmur & complain:

• "What good does it do to serve God?"
• "Here I am doing what God wants, and instead of good things happening to me, bad things are happening."
• "Instead of blessing, curses are coming upon me"
• "Instead of things getting better, they are getting worse."
• "What good does it do to serve God?"

ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS TIMES IN YOUR LIFE IS NOT WHEN THINGS ARE GOING WONDERFULLY WELL!

It is easy to PRAISE God in those times!

What we read about in the book of Malachi took place right before the promises actually came true.

GOD KEPT ALL HIS PROMISES TO DAVID…BUT HE KEPT THEM…200 YEARS LATER THAN MALACHI!

ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS TIMES IS THE TIME RIGHT BEFORE THE PROMISED BLESSINGS COME.

THE HARDEST TIME TO HOLD ON TO FAITH IS WHEN GOD HAS PROMISED SOMETHING TO YOU, BUT THE THING HE HAS PROMISED HASN'T HAPPENED YET!

The QUESTION that we are dealing with in this message is this:

• How do you maintain faith, when God's promises haven't happened yet?
• How do you keep believing, when the things God has promised He would do haven't taken place yet?
  
• How do you hold on to God's promises, when you haven't seen them fulfilled yet?

To watch this video click here.

Beginning Winter-Spring Semester 2011:

AM250: The Work Of Apostles And Apostolic Companies In The 21st Century

There has been much talk in recent years about the restoration of apostles and what Peter Wagner and others are calling a "new apostolic movement" or an "apostolic reformation". But before a true apostolic reformation can take place, much regarding apostles and apostolic companies remains to be properly understood, correctly defined and fully restored.

Many today (especially among the younger generations of Christians) are hungry to see the glory of God and the restoration to the contemporary or emerging church of the power and glory of the Lord and His Messianic Kingdom that characterized the Christianity of the apostolic era of the first century. Others, however, eager to build their own ministries and personal kingdoms, are quick to jump on any bandwagon that offers new buzz words and opportunity for innovation. Still others, belonging to certain ancient communions, claim to be apostolic, and strenuously defend their claim, simply because they have a long history and an ancient liturgy and because they can trace the ordination of their bishops to early apostolic times.

Some Tough questions facing the Church of the 21st Century:

1. What was the role of apostles in the beginning? What was their mission in relationship to Christ’s Kingdom and Church? What did they preach, and what did they build?

2. Are there really apostles in the 21st Century or have apostles ceased as many contend? What is the work of apostles today?

3. How do apostles relate to one another in the Kingdom and in the Church? Do they work alone or in company with one another and with other fivefold ministries? What is an "apostolic company" and how does it work today?

4. Is apostolic government needed in the Church today? Should there be a global fellowship or communion of apostles today (that which the New Testament calls the apostolate)? What does the New Testament mean by the elders of a city? How do apostles govern the Church with one another and with the ruling pastors or elders of a city, a region, a nation, and internationally? Should there be geographic (i.e. international, national, regional, and citywide) ecclesiastical councils or governmental bodies (presbyteries, synods, conferences)?

5. What are the requirements for true apostleship today?

6. What are the signs of a true apostle? Do miracles still happen today?

7. What is the proof or demonstration of apostleship today? Is the founding of an independent local church (even a large mega-church) or a network of local churches a valid demonstration of true apostleship?

8. What foundation did Jesus and the apostles establish for His Kingdom and His Church in the beginning? Is this foundation still important today? Should the pattern or paradigm of Church established by Christ and His apostles in the beginning govern how apostles and apostolic companies function today and what they build?

9. What is an apostle’s spiritual responsibility with regard to the stewardship of the mysteries of Christ and the establishment of doctrine, the administration of the ordinances of the Kingdom and the Church, the ordination of elders, and the ordering of Church life?

10. What does it mean really that the Church is one? Is this merely a spiritual or mystical unity, or is that unity also intended to be governmental, functional, and demonstrable?

11. What does it mean that the Church of Jesus Christ is the new creation (new man), the body of his Kingdom purpose to conquer Satan's kingdom, disciple the nations, and fill all things with the glory of the sons of God.

12. What does it mean that the Church is Zion? That the scepter of Messiah’s Kingdom comes out of Zion? That the Church is the Israel of God, the Holy Nation? What is the responsibility of apostles and apostolic company in building the Lord’s army?

13. Are there false apostles today, just as in the first century? How can we identify them?

The goal of this course is to not only to enable AM250 students to answer these and other crucial questions, but to enable them to fulfill their callings and destinies in the 21st Century, as apostles or as members of apostolic companies.

The word "apostle" is the hottest word in theological circles today, and the restoration of apostolic ministry is the thrust of one of today's major movements in the body of Christ. The goal of this course is to accurately understand and recover the Biblical understanding of apostles and the work of apostles and apostolic companies for the 21st Century.

Course Outline: AM250, The work of Apostles And Apostolic Companies in the 21st Century

INTRODUCTION to AM250: A discussion of how the words "Apostle" and "Apostolic" are generally understood, used, and misused in the 21st Century

Lesson 1: JESUS THE PATTERN APOSTLE

This lesson deals first with a number of key definitions, asking how Jesus and His contemporaries (the religious leaders and the Jewish people) understood the Messianic Hope (i.e. Messiah's Kingdom, His Church, His Own Apostolic Ministry and Mission).

We will focus on Jesus as the Pattern Apostle, i.e. how Jesus actually understood His own identity as the promised Messiah and the real purpose of His apostolic mission. We will look carefully at His apostolic strategy and methods, including His preaching and teaching ministries, the working of miracles, the choosing of His own apostolic company and the establishment of the fellowship of the apostles, the inauguration and establishment of His Messianic Kingdom on the basis of the New Covenant, the gathering of the remnant of Israel in the first century and the Jewish Campaign, the raising up of Zion and the establishment of the New Israel, the one Holy Apostolic Church, and finally, Jesus' ultimate strategy for the conquest of the Kingdom of Darkness.

Lesson 2: PETER AND HIS COMPANY

This lesson will focus on Peter and the eleven, called the apostles of the Lamb. We will carefully study Peter's apostolic preaching of the Gospel of the King's dominion in demonstration of Spirit and power and the success of the Jewish mission or first apostolic campaign in the first century. This apostolic mission or campaign was aimed at first of all at gathering the believing remnant of Israel and resulted in the establishment of New Covenant Israel (the Lord's Church made up of the believing remnant of the Jews and the first-fruits of the Gentiles), the end of the Old Covenant age of Moses (with the burning of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple by the Romans), and the dawning of Messiah's day in 70 AD.

Lesson 3: PAUL AND HIS COMPANY

This lesson will focus on Paul, as the apostle to the nations (Gentiles) and the arch-type of ascension-gift apostles today. We will carefully study the establishment of Paul's apostolic company, the purpose of his mission, his strategies and methods in preaching the Gospel of the King's dominion, while working together with the original Apostles of the Lamb to gather the believing remnant of the Jews and the first-fruits of the nations and establish the New Covenant Israel (the Church of Jesus and His apostles) as the instrument of Messiah's Kingdom purpose to conquer Satan's Kingdom and fill all things with the glory of the sons of God. (Special attention will be given to the importance of miracles in preaching the Gospel of the King fully.)

Lesson 4: REVIVAL, RESTORATION, REFORMATION

This lesson will focus on the falling away that began in the second and third centuries, resulting in the hi-jacking of Christ's Kingdom by religion and the division of the Church into denominations. We will evaluate the today's sub-normality and carefully weigh what it is going to take to revive the Lord's work, restore the foundations of apostolic unity and reform the Church, so that it may function as one Holy Apostolic Church and succeed in it's global mission to conquer the Kingdom of darkness and disciple the nations.

Lesson 5: THE PRESENT APOSTOLIC AND PROPHETIC MOVEMENT

This lesson will seek to respectfully evaluate and understand the strengths and weaknesses of the present apostolic and prophetic movement. Careful attention will be given to the writings of the acknowledged leaders (Bill Hamon, C. Peter Wagner, David Cannistracci, Roger Sapp, Cindi Jacobs and many, many others) of what is being called, "the New Apostolic Movement."

Lesson 6: RESTORATION AND REFORMATION, THE PRIMARY WORK OF APOSTLES AND APOSTOLIC COMPANIES IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY

It has often been said, "it is easier to build a new house than to restore an old one". While this is obviously true, today's apostles and those who work with them do not have the liberty of building a new house. Instead we are charged by our Lord to revive the work of God, restore the foundations laid by Jesus and the original foundations, and reform the one Holy Nation, so that all the nations will come to the light of the Church's glory.

This lesson will focus on what this means today and what is involved in restoring the original foundations, reforming the Lord's Church, and bringing cities and nations under the government of God's anointed King. (The restoration of apostolic Christianity requires the recovery of the message and strategies, methods, and governmental structures of the original Apostles of the Lamb and ascension-gift apostles.)

Lesson 7: THE COMMUNION OF APOSTOLIC CHURCHES

This lesson will look at the viability of the "Communion of Apostolic Churches" (www.cacvirtual.org), serving as an architectural blueprint or provisional global wineskin for the restoration of the fellowship or communion of apostles and their related churches in the 21st century.

Lesson 8: APOSTOLIC INITIATIVES FOR IMPACTING AND TRANSFORMING NATIONS

This lesson will focus on a number of apostolic initiatives and strategies designed to impact and transform nations in the Twenty-first Century

Lesson 9: THE FULLNESS OF GOD"S GLORY

According to the prophets of Israel, "the nations shall come to the light of the Church's rising and the glory of the Lord shall fill the earth as the waters cover the seas." And the angelic host proclaimed at Jesus' birth, "Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth among men."

This final lesson will focus on the present purpose of Messiah's Kingdom to deal with the present evil age (i. e. principalities or territorial spirits, demonic powers, governmental thrones, and dominions) and the vision of the ancient prophets of Israel that the Messiah will establish justice (read as "righteous judgment") and peace among the governments and nations of the earth in this age. This lesson deals with what it will it take to bring this about and the strategic role of apostles and apostolic companies in the fulfillment of this vision in the 21st Century?

The Official Text for AM250

The Four Gospels & The Acts of The Apostles (Apostle Kouri will be teaching from the Greek Text, but this course is taught for English readers.)

Recommended Undergraduate Bibliography:

1. Apostles, Prophets, And The Coming Moves Of God by Bill Hamon published by Destiny Image. This book may be purchased at http://www.christianbook.com/ .

2. Apostles and the Emerging Apostolic Movement by David Cannistraci. This book is available at http://www.alibris.com/.

3. The Gift Of Apostle by David Cannistraci, published by RegalBooks. This book is available at http://www.alibris.com/ (both new and used at a variety of prices beginning at $1.99).

4. Apostles and Prophets: The Foundation of the Church by C. Peter Wagner. This book is available at http://www.alibris.com/.

5. Spheres of Authority: Apostles in Today’s Church by C Peter Wagner. This book is available at http://www.alibris.com/.

6. The Restoration of the Apostles & Prophets: And How It Will Revolutionize Ministry in the 21st Century by Hector Torres, C Peter Wagner. This book is available at http://www.alibris.com/.

7. Apostles Today: Biblical Government for Biblical Power by C Peter Wagner. This book is available at http://www.alibris.com/.

8. Apostles of the City: How to Mobilize Territorial Apostles for City Transformation by C Peter Wagner. This book is available at http://www.alibris.com/.

9. Apostles Today by C Peter Wagner. This book is available at http://www.alibris.com/.

10. God’s Agenda by Ern Baxter, available at http://www.amazon.com/.

11. Supernatural Architecture by Stan DeKovan, available at http://www.amazon.com/.

12. Taking Our Cities For God: How To break Spiritual Strongholds by John Dawson, available from http://www.christianbook.com/.

13. Possessing The Gates Of The Enemy by Cindy Jacobs, available from http://www.christianbook.com/.

14. Team Ministry: Putting Together A Team That Makes Churches Grow by Dick Iverson, available for review by clicking here.

Additional Graduate Student Bibliography:

1. Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s Or Ours by Roland Allan published by Wm. B. Eerdmans. This book may be purchased used at http://www.christianbook.com/ or at http://www.alibris.com/.

2. The Training Of The Twelve by A.B. Bruce, available at http://www.alibris.com/.

3. The Development Of Apostolic Preaching by C.H. Dodd, may be accessed online without charge. Click here and you may review all three chapters of Dodd’s small but critically important work simply by clicking on the chapter title. You may also copy and quote without charge, but you can’t reproduce for commercial purposes.

4. The Vanguard Leader: A New Breed of Leader to Encounter the Future by Frank Damazio available at http://search.barnesandnoble.com/.

5. Paul: Apostle Of The Heart Set Free by F. F. Bruce available for preview by clicking here.

6. The Spreading Flame by F.F. Bruce available for purchase at http://www.alibris.com/.

This course is required for all ATS Degrees: Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral. To enroll go to the ADMISSIONS page of the ATS Website (www.atsvirtual.org/admissions).

Sadly, many Christians today do not even know who Abraham is, let alone, that he is the spiritual father of all who believe in Jesus.

In Christ, the promised seed of Abraham, we have become the children of Abraham. We have Abraham's faith, the faith of God, the faith of Jesus, resurrection faith, mountain-moving faith. Today, many Christians do not understand the ways of our heavenly Father or how to pass the test of faith or receive the promised inheritance. In this provocative message I deal with five things you and I must understand in order to pass the test of faith and receive the reward: the Initial Resolve, the Inevitable Refinement, the Immediate Reaction, the Initiator's Responsibility, and the Incredible Reward.

To watch this message go here.

In a recent strategic planning meeting of theApostles Theological Seminary Senior Leadership Team a practical decision was made to offer a STIMULUS PACKAGE for 2011.

This decision came out of discussion about the struggle many ministers and ministerial candidates are having in the today's economy. To encourage fivefold ministers and ministerial candidates to move forward with their ministerial training this package includes:

1) REDUCING TUITION COSTS on all four ATS degrees, Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral.

The tuition for the Associate's degree has been reduced from $200.00 a credit hour to $100.00, the Bachelor's Degree from $300.00 a credit hour to $200.00, the Master's Degree from $400.00 a credit hour to $300.00, and the Doctoral Degree from $500.00 a credit hour to $400.00.

2) GRANTING SCHOLARSHIPS to every student accepted into ATS.

Scholarships may range from full tuition (which will be granted to deserving students) to 50% or 25% of the tuition required for a degree program (depending upon the student's financial situation or need). Students must apply for scholarships through the Admissions Office and supply appropriate financial information upon request (http://www.atsvirtual.org/admissions).

3) Finally, our NO-INTEREST FINANCING program completes the ATS STIMULUS PACKAGE and makes it possible for anyone desiring to do so to earn an Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral Degree degree in Apostolic & Prophetic Studies for only $100.00 a month.

Prospective students may contact the Office of Admissions at mhoward@atsvirtual.org. or 904-771-5375 regarding questions concerning ATS degree programs, course availability, tuition, scholarships, and interest-free payment programs.

One of the popular beliefs today is that if something is the will of God, it will automatically happen regardless of what you or I do as believers.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

This is a false triumphalism that takes human responsibility out of the work of the Kingdom of God. The balance to the Biblical doctrine of the sovereignty of God is the Biblical doctrine of the freedom of the human will. Once God does His sovereign work of regeneration in our lives, He has work for us to do in partnership with Him and with each other as believers. The Scriptures demonstrate again and again that even though God has a sovereign will or a plan for our lives we still can resist or refuse His will; we can miss it. The will of God for our lives requires faith on our part, and the Bible teaches that real faith acts. It causes us to obey the will of God and to work together with God to see His will accomplished.

In Joshua chapter 1 God promises Joshua and the children of Israel that He is going to give them the land of Canaan. But He fails to tell them that it is already occupied:

"I am giving you the land, and by the way it is full of giants."

"I am giving you the land, but there are 7 nations bigger and greater than you already in it."

"And there are 31 kings in the land; these kings have armies, and their cities have walls around them."

"I am giving you the land, and you have the joy of fighting for it."

God gave them the land, but without their obedience, without acting and doing their part, the land would only be theirs in theory, not reality.

Saints, God has given us wonderful and sovereign promises, but we must understand or know what it will take to actually possess what He has promised us as His sons and daughters. In this message there are three things we must accurately understand if we are going to possess the land God has already given us.

To watch to this powerful message click here.

REBUILDING YOUR FINANCIAL HOUSE

A Seminar and Workshop on How to Set Your Financial House in Order and Prosper

Are you tired of being in debt, broke, and never having enough?

Beginning 7 PM Wednesday, February 2, and continuing on Wednesday Evenings throughout the month of February, David Kowalski will be leading a practical how-to-do it seminar and workshop on the theme, "REBUILDING YOUR FINANCIAL HOUSE." David will draw on personal insights, as well as, materials taught by Larry Burkett (Crown Financial) and well known financial counselors, Dave Ramsey, and Susie Ormond.

Come and learn how to set your own financial house in order and receive the blessings of the Kingdom of heaven upon your this area of your life! Start your own journey towards financial freedom and success.

David Kowalski has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and has been involved in the design, construction, and operation of wastewater treatment facilities for the City of Jacksonville for a number of years. He came to the Lord through the ministry of the Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship and was a member of the organization for many years. He has been a member of The King's Church in Jacksonville for the last 12 years and heads up the Men's Ministry.

By the mercy and grace of God, David and his wife Ines have been successful in rebuilding and establishing their own financial house on a strong Biblical foundation.

This seminar is free!

One of the most dangerous times in our lives as believers is the time between receiving a promise from God and experiencing it's fulfillment.

It is a dangerous time because, if we do not know what to do during this time, we can wind up delaying or even aborting the fulfillment of God's promise in our lives.

One of the great principles from Scripture that we must understand as Christians is that the very moment God promises something to us, from His viewpoint in Heaven, it is DONE…COMPLETED…FINISHED! Yet there may be a period of years, even decades, before you and I are in the RIGHT PLACE…at the RIGHT TIME…with the RIGHT QUALITIES worked into OUR LIVES…so that we can EXPERIENCE the FULFILLMENT of God's promise in our life.

ONE of the THINGS the Lord does, and this is critically important; He promises us things, and then He works in our lives by His Holy Spirit and His providence to bring us to the place spiritually and geographically in which we will be able to receive what He has promised us.

There is no more striking example of the outworking of this important principle of PROMISE AND FULFILLMENT than in the life of the young man Joseph, who at the age of 17 received an amazing dream or promise from God of ruling. Immediately, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. This message, PROMISE AND FULFILLMENT, is the amazing message of how God took Joseph from a pit in Israel, where his brothers had thrown him, and brought him to Egypt, and it is the faith-building message of how God took Joseph from the dungeon to the throne of Pharaoh in order to fulfill His promise.

This critically important message of PROMISE AND FULFILLMENT, dramatically demonstrated for us in the life of Joseph, is the glorious message of how God works in His sovereignty to move us from where we are in our lives to the place both spiritually and geographically that he can fulfill His wonderful promises in our lives.

To watch the video click here.

Chancellor George Kouri announces addition of the Associate's Degree in Apostolic and Prophetic Studies.

Aimed at all those actively involved in fivefold ministry, who are pressed for time in their busy schedules, but who nevertheless are eager to enlarge their theological knowledge and increase their ministerial effectiveness, the ATS Associates Degree in Apostolic and Prophetic Studies is especially designed to introduce the student to the apostolic and prophetic revelation entrusted by Jesus to His original apostles.

Upon completion of this unique, one-of-a-kind course of study the graduate of the ATS Associate's program will have an in depth understanding of apostolic and prophetic ministry (including the Gospel of the Kingdom proclaimed by the first apostles, as well as, the apostles' understanding or doctrine of Christ and His Kingdom, Kingdom initiation, the nature, structure, and mission of Christ's Church, and what it is going to take in order to restore authentic apostolic foundations and reform the Church, so that it functions as one Church in the earth).

The Associate's Degree consists of 60 Credit Hours chosen from the Core Curriculum of the Bachelor's program. For details go to the ATS Areas of Study page.

Christmas is my favorite time of the year!

I love the glory of the incarnation, "God with us." I love the joy of Christmas music, the fellowship of family and friends, exchanging gifts, and not least of all, the culinary delights of turkey and dressing, mashed potato and gravy, cranberry salad, and pumpkin pie!

But as a herald of Christ the King, I especially love proclaiming the life-changing message of Christmas! Here are a four of my favorites.

May the glory of God overshadow you and the power of God come upon you as you watch:

The Great Christmas Expectation

Mary: Living the Miracle of Christmas Everyday

Experiencing the Power And Glory of Christmas

Joseph: Overcoming the Fear of the Will of God

By means of our unparalleled, online, Biblical, theological,and ministerial curriculum, you may study at your own pace in the comfort and convenience of your own home and earn one of our outstanding degrees in Apostolic And Prophetic Studies.

Our outstanding courses are taught by seasoned and field-tested apostles, prophets, and other five-fold ministers. Through the ATS teachers' lectures, the reading and writing assignments, the course forums and chat-room discussions, and approved field projects you will rediscover for yourself the authentic revelation of Christ, His Kingdom, and His Church that Jesus entrusted to the apostles of the Lamb and the first generation of ascension-gift apostles like Paul and Barnabas, preserved for us in the Canon of the Scriptures. In the glorious light of this amazing revelation of Christ and His Kingdom and under the direction of qualified teachers you will be able to accurately measure and critically evaluate two thousand years of Church history and theology and discern and confront the spirit of the age in which we are living today.

The Course Requirements for the ATS Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral Degrees in Apostolic And Prophetic Studies are posted on the Areas of Study page of the ATS website. The Ministry Specialization courses and electives are listed in the ATS Course Catalog.

Registration and Tuition costs, special discounts, interest-free financing, and scholarship information are all available on the Admissions page.

(The illustration above is an ancient painting of Peter and Paul, Peter representing the 12 Apostles of the Lamb and Paul the archtype of the Ascension-gift apostle.)