Has anyone read David E. Taylor's book Face to Face Appearences from Jesus ?

[Life Warrior]

A friend of mine gave me a copy of it to read a while ago; since then its just been sitting in my room unread. I'm kind of cautious about it, it sounds a bit dodgy, but I'm not 100% sure.

Many people who have read that book say Jesus has appeared to them in person afterwards.

What I was thinking was, why do I have to read some book to have an appearence from Jesus? And why can't I just read my Bible and have an appearence from Jesus?

It all seems a bit confusing; and I keep on thinking about it; should I read it or not.

Anyone here read that book?

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

A friend of mine gave me a copy of it to read a while ago; since then its just been sitting in my room unread. I'm kind of cautious about it, it sounds a bit dodgy, but I'm not 100% sure.

Many people who have read that book say Jesus has appeared to them in person afterwards.

What I was thinking was, why do I have to read some book to have an appearence from Jesus? And why can't I just read my Bible and have an appearence from Jesus?

It all seems a bit confusing; and I keep on thinking about it; should I read it or not.

Anyone here read that book?

Jesus told His disciples that in a little while they would see Him no more. This suggests to me that after His ascension, there would be no personal appearances until the Second Coming. The Holy Spirit was sent to be His representative. I do believe that people can have visions of Jesus, but they are brought by the Holy Spirit, and Jesus has not appeared in person. The light that blinded Paul on the Damascus Road was generated by the Holy Spirit. Jesus did not appear to Him in person at that time. At other times, Paul had visitations by angels who strengthened and encouraged him at specific times.

There is no support in the New Testament for personal appearances by Jesus after His ascension.

This can only leave us with the strong indication that these personal appearances described by people could very well be impersonations by the devil. The Scripture says that the devil can transform himself into a very angel of light. He can impersonate the Holy Spirit, angels, and even the Lord Jesus Himself.

We have the Holy Spirit dwelling in every believer. Therefore they don't need personal appearances by Jesus, who is actually seated at the right hand of the Father in glory. That's where Stephen saw Him, as revealed to him by the Holy Spirit.

So, I would not trust anything that was said by any personal appearance of anyone who seemed to look like Jesus and who purported to be Him. No one knows what Jesus actually looks like, and if He "appeared" as the appearance of any of the artists impressions, I can confidently say that it is the devil's impersonation of Jesus in order to deceive. And it says that he is so cunning that he is able to deceive the very elect.

If anyone has an appearance, I strongly suggest they apply the Scriptural test that Jesus certainly appeared in the flesh and that He was truly divine yet truly human. If there is a negative reaction to that, then you know it is a counterfeit. Also, if the impersonation gives instructions and guidance, then you would know it was a fake because the Scripture says that it is the Holy Spirit who is now our counsellor and guide.

 

[Alive_Again]

I have know of many people who have seen Jesus. As you know, He is the Son of God and can appear anywhere at any time, and still be on the Throne of God. He appeared in another form after His resurrection on the road to Emmaus. It is somewhat a mystery, but you are also seated in Heavenly places and this is not just symbolic.

I worked for someone who went to a meeting and said he heard a loud crashing & "thud" seven times in a row. He still doesn't know the meaning of that. After that he was instructed by a voice next to him to look over by the door, and he saw the Lord walking across the stage to the speaker. It only lasted a few moments.

My pastor went to a conference in South Africa this year and delivered a prophecy to the assembly. Later someone in the audience said that they saw Jesus walk to the podium and speak that prophecy while he was reading it.

I read the book and gave it to the woman who became my wife. She saw the Lord in a church service not long afterwards.

When I read the book I was excited and it seemed to good to be true, because the Lord promises those who read the book to see Him. This might be in your dreams, or in person. My attenna shot straight up. I seemed to bear witness to the truth of this promise. I did what I often do when I am seeking confirmation. I speak of it at church to someone present. (I'm not looking for their approval. I'm looking for a manifestation of the Spirit of God.) When I did, the Holy Spirit's presence seemed to increase and I could sense on the inside that eventually this would come to pass.

A few days later I heard a message on the radio at an odd time how to prepare for your visitation (if you felt like one was impending). I also ran across a writing by Peter Tan on preparing for your visitation all in about a week's time. All through this my expectancy was increased. I set aside some time for prayer and fasting and expected this to happen during this period. Peter said that you could set aside time and prepare for your visitation, so you wouldn't end up like this one person the Lord appeared to while his mother was nagging at him outside his closed bedroom door!

I spoke to other people about it hoping to light a fire with them, only to find out that they had already seen the Lord. It seemed like I was the only one who didn't since everyone I spoke with did!

I got overly anxious, my fasting was brief and sporadic. I got "busy" preparing and my set aside time started to wane. I got very frustrated and flat told the Lord that I was not worthy of His visitation. I will say that nonetheless that week, I knew the Lord's presence in a remarkably increased way. The increase of His presence is often a reward for denying your flesh or for passing some kind of test (in addition to just being blessed). I consider myself a failure of both in that season.

I do consider it something for the future and I did seem to bear witness to the promise.

The crux of what is preached by David Taylor (I definitely bore witness to what He said throughout the book.), is that the John 14 passage where Jesus said He would manifest Himself to those that love Him, is that this revelation is accepted to mean experiencing the presence of the Lord, which as Spirit filled believers (as that is the case) often do.

But this is not the end of that. Jesus wants His people to cultivate an expectancy to know Him intimately and in a way that far exceeds your usual church experience. He wants you to seek Him expectantly.

I have come to believe from the book that the Lord has this experience for every last one of His children if they will not be content with a nominal walk. He expects so much more from us. We can get by many times with much less, but that is not the relationship He desires.

I read His other book as well and Jesus told him that you could know Him as well as any man has ever known Him. You have to pay the price and desire this without fainting. I groan for my own failings. It should be an ever increasing pursuit.

I have read many books of many fantastic visitations and experiences by many people, bearing witness by the Holy Spirit. I have also been disappointed in my own walk as a result of this. The Lord has shown me to be content with the where He is taking me and not get anxious. It's all for a purpose.

I believe we are also to reach forward with a fervent hope and this book will help light a fire in that direction.

The Lord has appeared twice in my dreams in the course of my life and I have been before the Father twice (also in my dreams). I long for more appearances and believe that they will take place. You have nothing to fear with that book and David Taylor walks the straight and narrow.

We would all do well to cultivate great spiritual hunger.

 

[Yitzchak]

Jesus told His disciples that in a little while they would see Him no more. This suggests to me that after His ascension, there would be no personal appearances until the Second Coming. The Holy Spirit was sent to be His representative. I do believe that people can have visions of Jesus, but they are brought by the Holy Spirit, and Jesus has not appeared in person. The light that blinded Paul on the Damascus Road was generated by the Holy Spirit. Jesus did not appear to Him in person at that time. At other times, Paul had visitations by angels who strengthened and encouraged him at specific times.

There is no support in the New Testament for personal appearances by Jesus after His ascension.

This can only leave us with the strong indication that these personal appearances described by people could very well be impersonations by the devil. The Scripture says that the devil can transform himself into a very angel of light. He can impersonate the Holy Spirit, angels, and even the Lord Jesus Himself.

We have the Holy Spirit dwelling in every believer. Therefore they don't need personal appearances by Jesus, who is actually seated at the right hand of the Father in glory. That's where Stephen saw Him, as revealed to him by the Holy Spirit.

So, I would not trust anything that was said by any personal appearance of anyone who seemed to look like Jesus and who purported to be Him. No one knows what Jesus actually looks like, and if He "appeared" as the appearance of any of the artists impressions, I can confidently say that it is the devil's impersonation of Jesus in order to deceive. And it says that he is so cunning that he is able to deceive the very elect.

If anyone has an appearance, I strongly suggest they apply the Scriptural test that Jesus certainly appeared in the flesh and that He was truly divine yet truly human. If there is a negative reaction to that, then you know it is a counterfeit. Also, if the impersonation gives instructions and guidance, then you would know it was a fake because the Scripture says that it is the Holy Spirit who is now our counsellor and guide.

I have to disagree with you here Oscar. At least in part. John had an appearance of Jesus and as a result wrote the book of Revelation....It was not simply some thing which the Holy Spirit impressed upon John. There were actual visions which John had.

Paul on the road to Damascus is another example. It was Jesus who confronted Paul who was then named Saul.

Act 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Act 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Both John and Paul had conversations with Jesus after the ascention. Neither one describes Jesus as being limited to sitting at the right hand of the Father. And neither one speaks of the Holy Spirit's presence as excluding having a conversation with Jesus.

Discussing the details and implications of these instances is another subject. But making blanket statements which make rules which the Bible does not make is not called for.

I am by no means ruling out the possibility that people could have false visions of Jesus. But I think I am on solid ground to say that the Apostle Paul and the Apostle John both had real ones.

 

[Biblicist]

A friend of mine gave me a copy of it to read a while ago; since then its just been sitting in my room unread. I'm kind of cautious about it, it sounds a bit dodgy, but I'm not 100% sure.

I think that you would be well advised to simply throw the book into the bin. What more can I really say other than if we are looking for a daily dose of a personal visitation from the Lord then I suspect that we might need to reconsider where our foundations are. There have been many odd bods over the years who seem to believe that they can rack up countless frequent flyer points with trips to heaven but with 99.999 percent of them I think that we can quite easily ignore their claims and as for having personal visitations from Jesus the mind simply boggles.

I wonder how many of these individuals have claimed to have spoken to Elvis during one of their visitations!

 

[Life Warrior]

Thanks for all your replies everyone.

I was reading on David Taylor's website (best to read from the source, not second hand) and everything that I could see adds up Biblicaly and with my understanding of current world events.
So I started reading the book, and have been checking all his quotes from the Bible and none of them seem out of context. It seems good so far, gotten to chapter 4.

 

[Biblicist]

Thanks for all your replies everyone.

I was reading on David Taylor's website (best to read from the source, not second hand) and everything that I could see adds up Biblicaly and with my understanding of current world events.

I went over to this characters website and amidst the numerous wild claims he states that Jesus took him over to meet the Holy Spirit and in my view he makes an even more outlandish claim that “I will appear to everyone who reads this book and hears this message”; I hope this snake oil salesman is never granted entry into Australia!

And people wonder how there will be believers in the final days who will be conned by the anti-Christ!

 

[FoundInGrace]

if people want a visitation they probably will get one.. what sort it is remains to be seen.

 

[Yitzchak]

I think that you would be well advised to simply throw the book into the bin. What more can I really say other than if we are looking for a daily dose of a personal visitation from the Lord then I suspect that we might need to reconsider where our foundations are. There have been many odd bods over the years who seem to believe that they can rack up countless frequent flyer points with trips to heaven but with 99.999 percent of them I think that we can quite easily ignore their claims and as for having personal visitations from Jesus the mind simply boggles.

I wonder how many of these individuals have claimed to have spoken to Elvis during one of their visitations!

Actually...The bible is silent when it comes to mocking reports of visions, trips to Heaven, and reports of angel sightings. It never once mocks these things by comparing it to some wingnut having an Elvis sighting.
It does however speak about these sorts of things as something true and something the Apostle Paul looked up to as a greater experience with The Lord than what he himself had.....

2Co 12:1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2Co 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth such an one caught up to the third heaven.
2Co 12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth
2Co 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
2Co 12:5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

I would encourage you to get back to the Bible and not taking the low ground to make fun of a supernatural experience that someone has reported. The truth is that there is no scripture which forbids it.

 

[Alive_Again]

I think that you would be well advised to simply throw the book into the bin.

The Word says not to answer a matter before you hear it. This would mean in this case actually reading it. Of course only if you are led. There are many books I'm not ready for and so the Lord wouldn't lead me to them. Just because you haven't had a leading doesn't mean it isn't of God.

To judge it before hearing it would be foolish. I always surprises me when I read things greatly anointed and hear people readily dismiss them for reasons unscriptural.

Sure if you're seeking a visitation you might get visited by deceiving spirits. If you're seeking guidance you might get one then too. We're giving instructions on how to judge those.

If you actually read David's book, you'd see how his life progressed. How he denied himself and the world and entered in on fire for the Lord. He talks about how to really seek after God and of course no false prophet or apostle will tell you to do that. If they do, they would tell you the wrong way to do that to deceive you, but again, he tells you to lay down your life and believe.

If the book cultivates an expectation of a greater manifestation of the Lord, it's worth its weight in gold. If you have already found treasure in a field, and now hear that that treasure is present in a far greater measure than what you've already found, the it gears you up for a deeper search. If most of the church has found that treasure in smaller measure, and accept that this is the "norm", then they often search no further.

But the Lord encourages His people to search more and to expect to find. If you don't have the expectation, you'll give up and decide that you've found what was there and you'll be satisfied with it. Kind of like old wine. That's what you're used to and why continue pressing in for the new because everyone else mostly has old wine and it's so good!

Don't deny yourself the revelation because you're doctrinally offended at someone with a "wild" claim. You should be glad someone pressed in further and God met them there with a message for the church who has a sharp ear (meaning a ready and wiling heart). I'm not excusing myself, but I will say that I bore witness to the truth of the book and I heartily recommend it to anyone who already knows the Lord and wants a deeper walk.

 

[Yitzchak]

By the way, in answer to the opening post...i do not know one way or the other about David Taylor. I never heard of him until you mentioned him. I am basing my comments entirely upon the discussion here and the information given.

 

[jamadan]

I went over to this characters website and amidst the numerous wild claims he states that Jesus took him over to meet the Holy Spirit and in my view he makes an even more outlandish claim that “I will appear to everyone who reads this book and hears this message”; I hope this snake oil salesman is never granted entry into Australia!

And people wonder how there will be believers in the final days who will be conned by the anti-Christ!

LOL! Really? I guess I shouldn't be amazed at how gullible people are and just how badly they want entertainment in the form of supernatural experiences.

So this guy is meeting the Holy Spirit, as if He has a personal form like Jesus, and Kat Kerr is sitting on the Father's lap staring at his big blue eyes, and people are lining up to give them the attention they seem to be seeking and forking over money.

I guess when God turns people over to their sin, in this case seeking after manifestations and experiences, they really become hardened of heart and have abandoned all form of discretionary judgement and discernment.

Gotta love how it's now so bad that you get judged and condemned for exercising even basic Holy Spirit discernment.

 

[Yitzchak]

LOL! Really? I guess I shouldn't be amazed at how gullible people are and just how badly they want entertainment in the form of supernatural experiences.

So this guy is meeting the Holy Spirit, as if He has a personal form like Jesus, and Kat Kerr is sitting on the Father's lap staring at his big blue eyes, and people are lining up to give them the attention they seem to be seeking and forking over money.

I guess when God turns people over to their sin, in this case seeking after manifestations and experiences, they really become hardened of heart and have abandoned all form of discretionary judgement and discernment.

Gotta love how it's now so bad that you get judged and condemned for exercising even basic Holy Spirit discernment.

So you're saying that the basis for your ridicule is that the Holy Spirit is telling you to ridicule them ? Because so far , not single scripture has been given to support your position. Unless you have some insider knowledge that you are not revealing to us , then it seems that you are either ridiculing these people out of bigotry or this " Holy Spirit " discernment that you claim now.

So I would just like to clarify. You are saying that The Holy Spirit has revealed to you that these people's experiences are false and a result of God turning them over to sin ????

If that is the case , I guess we will have to evaluate your claim of special revelation. It could be true...Or it could be that you are not even making such a claim and are just of a mindset to make fun of someone else's experiences?? In which case Holy Spirit discernment would be , it seems weird to you. Which I am not sure how that is a work of the Holy Spirit ? There are lots of unsaved people who mock and make fun of it too.

And just to clarify my position. I have never heard of these ministries and have never supported and stood against them. I state that I simply have no basis to judge them on. So I am forced to believe that you either have inside knowledge or that you make judgment s upon people because they seem strange to you. Not sure where the verse is for that ?? So I am just asking for you to clarify....By Holy Spirit discernment , are you saying that outside of the word , the Holy Spirit has provided you with this gift of revelation where you know what these people are doing is judgment for their sin...I am astounded but open to discussion on the matter.....

 

[Alive_Again]

Some people are perfect representations of what you can do with graphics. You invert the whites and blacks. You've probably seen pictures where this has happened. All the people in a photo are white and the rest of it is dark grey.

All that would be white is dark and that which is portrayed as dark is actually white. It's a bizarro world they live in where beauty is rendered as ugly and vice versa.

Sadly there's only two kinds of people in this world. Those walking with the Lord (the sheep and the wheat)and those who are not.

It's very easy to see that one time choices do not carry over for a lifetime. Those trying to get by on their past have no validation in the present or an incorrect depiction of a future.

Of course everybody gets into trouble (without exception) and there's no room to point fingers directly, but looking at the fruits (words) and their accompanying spiritual manifestations, it's easy to see who's even trying to get it. They are the ones who do not get caught up in accusations in things they may not even fully understand, but they are searching.

They do not speak evil of th ings they do not understand (like "brutes" would) who are made to be taken and destroyed. It's a downward spirial for those on that path (God help us to wake up and live again!) and see things for what they really are, and not pick up the judges gavel and speak forth their own demise (in the name of someone elses).

 

[Life Warrior]

LOL! Really? I guess I shouldn't be amazed at how gullible people are and just how badly they want entertainment in the form of supernatural experiences.

So this guy is meeting the Holy Spirit, as if He has a personal form like Jesus, and Kat Kerr is sitting on the Father's lap staring at his big blue eyes, and people are lining up to give them the attention they seem to be seeking and forking over money.

Kat Kerr is a different person, and as far as I know does not have anything to do with David E. Taylor; other than also saying she has been to Heaven.

I guess when God turns people over to their sin, in this case seeking after manifestations and experiences, they really become hardened of heart and have abandoned all form of discretionary judgement and discernment.

Gotta love how it's now so bad that you get judged and condemned for exercising even basic Holy Spirit discernment.

So is seeking experiences of God's power a sin? And believing in God's manifestations means someone is hard of heart?? Your statement is actually contrary to scripture:

Mark 16 ASV
9 Now when he was risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.
10 She went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11 And they, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, disbelieved.
12 And after these things he was manifested in another form unto two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country.
13 And they went away and told it unto the rest: neither believed they them.
14 And afterward he was manifested unto the eleven themselves as they sat at meat; and he upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen him after he was risen.

 

[Life Warrior]

By the way, in answer to the opening post...i do not know one way or the other about David Taylor. I never heard of him until you mentioned him. I am basing my comments entirely upon the discussion here and the information given.

I never heard of him either until a friend of mine gave me a copy of his book. That was actually about six months ago. I was very sceptical back then of it; thinking almost everyone is a heretic. But since then my walk with the Lord has been increasing, and I have been alot more in tune to the Holy Spirit. This previous week for some reason I kept on thinking about that book; its like the Holy Spirit was drawing me to read it. So I've been reading it this past 3 days and am near the end of it.

I have such peace reading it, like I somehow just know that it is true.

Its not the same as some other books that I've read, like Heaven is so Real by Choo Thomas; that book filled me with such fear and doubt for my salvation. David E. Taylor's book instead has filled me with peace and a greater desire to get to know Jesus.

 

[Alive_Again]

This previous week for some reason I kept on thinking about that book; its like the Holy Spirit was drawing me to read it. So I've been reading it this past 3 days and am near the end of it. I have such peace reading it, like I somehow just know that it is true.

That's a great sign and the peace are the fruits to abide in! Always go by the fruits. The book encourages you to think that things can be different and greatly increased. This points to abiding more fully and walking more fervently and working more diligently.

I wish I were this way myself and anytime a book or a teaching can exhort you to rise up, it is very valuable indeed.

 

[Biblicist]

Because so far , not single scripture has been given to support your position.

I would have thought that most of us were conversant with Col 2:18-19 where Paul attacks those who “take their stand on visions that they have seen”. One would have thought that if Paul expected that we could base our doctrinal positions on visions or from messages supposedly given by angels that he would have told us so. Here we have Paul attacking those who appear to be running around pretending that they have been given some special visionary revelation; if Paul takes such a hard stand on this issue then undoubtedly we are expected to be as diligent as he was in this matter.

NASB Col 2:18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.

If any of us have the misfortune of walking into a congregation where is someone on the platform spouting out the foolishness that we hear from the likes of David E. Taylor or Kat Kerr, then we would be well advised to leave the building as soon as possible.

Unless you have some insider knowledge that you are not revealing to us , then it seems that you are either ridiculing these people out of bigotry or this " Holy Spirit " discernment that you claim now.

Unlike Taylor and Kerr, we can make no false claim to any extra-biblical 'special inside information' but we can rely on the witness of the Spirit of God within us which is why we can say with complete confidence that these two are simply charlatans of the worst order.

 

[Biblicist]

This previous week for some reason I kept on thinking about that book; its like the Holy Spirit was drawing me to read it. So I've been reading it this past 3 days and am near the end of it.

I have such peace reading it, like I somehow just know that it is true.

When we compare this with your opening post:

9th March 12:43 PM

This previous week for some reason I kept on thinking about that book; its like the Holy Spirit was drawing me to read it. So I've been reading it this past 3 days and am near the end of it.

Going by your OP and your post 16 it seems that you have had a quick change of mind – did you read the book before you started this thread?

 

[Life Warrior]

When we compare this with your opening post:
Going by your OP and your post 16 it seems that you have had a quick change of mind – did you read the book before you started this thread?

I've had a change of mind after reading the book, and checking and finding that all the scripture references David gives are correct.
And no, I did not read the book before I started this thread, I started reading the book a few hours after posting this thread.