Richard F. Ames (1936-2024)

[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

A “Day” Like No Other

More than 30 prophecies in your Bible describe an awesome event that will rock the whole world. It’s called the DAY OF THE LORD. It will shake all nations and all peoples on earth. It will affect you and your family if you are alive to see it.

Just WHAT IS the DAY OF THE LORD? Is it a day of the week? How long will it last? Just HOW will it affect every nation and person on earth? What will it mean in the flow of Bible prophecy? The book of Revelation introduces the Day of the Lord with dramatic cosmic disturbances. “The stars of heaven” fall to the earth. The sun becomes black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon becomes like blood. There is a great earthquake. As it tells us in Revelation 6:14, “every mountain and island was moved out of its place.”

These heavenly signs are just the INTRODUCTION to the dramatic Day of the Lord. Will you be able to survive this convulsive and dangerous time? You need to know. The prophetic Day of the Lord will set the stage for the greatest and most encouraging event in modern history, the return of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. My friends, you need to understand this mysterious time period that will affect every human being on earth! Just what IS the Day of the Lord?

Stay tuned

The Day of the Lord IS Coming!

Warm greetings to all our friends around the world!

There’s a MAJOR PROPHETIC EVENT looming on the horizon. It’s called: THE DAY OF THE LORD. The great prophets of the Bible, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel wrote about it. The so-called Minor Prophets, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Zephaniah, Zechariah, and Malachi, also emphasized this event. Even the Apostles Peter, Paul, and John wrote about it.

Just WHAT is the Day of the Lord? And HOW does it fit into the FRAMEWORK of Bible Prophecy? More than 30 prophecies in YOUR BIBLE refer to the DAY OF THE LORD. On today’s program, we’ll answer the question, “Just WHAT IS the DAY OF THE LORD?” And we’ll be offering you a free audio compact disc that will help you in your study of Bible prophecy. Be sure to write down the phone number and contact information to order your free copy. You can also order this free audio compact disc on our Web site at TomorrowsWorld.org. This free one-hour audio compact disc “THE DAY OF THE LORD” covers much more information than we have time for in this program. Be sure to request your free copy.

If you have your Bible, turn to the Book of REVELATION, CHAPTER ONE. The Apostle John writes in REVELATION, the FIRST CHAPTER, VERSE 10, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet.”

John is NOT speaking of a day of the WEEK. He is speaking of the prophetic period of time described in the rest of the book as the Prophetic DAY OF THE LORD. John is NOT referring to Sunday. If he were, he would have referred to Sunday as “the first day” of the week as he did in the Gospel of John. Jesus Himself said He was Lord of the Sabbath, as it tells us in Mark 2:28! The expression “Lord’s Day” here in Revelation refers to the THEME of the whole book, the prophetic Day of the Lord, culminating in the return of Jesus Christ!

In Revelation CHAPTER FIVE, we read about a scroll sealed with seven seals. Jesus, the Revelator, opens the seals to the book. We read the description of these seals in Revelation the sixth chapter. The first four seals are known as the FOUR HORSEMEN of the Apocalypse. THE FIRST HORSE, the white horse and its rider, represent false religions, false Christs. Jesus Himself points out the sequence of these end-time events in the Olivet prophecy in Matthew 24. We’ve explained this convergence in previous programs. The second seal reveals a horseman riding a red horse with the power to take peace from the earth. The third seal presents a rider on a black horse representing the scarcity of food and resulting famine. The fourth seal shows a rider on a pale horse named “DEATH” “and power was given to them [the four horsemen] over” ONE FOURTH of the earth to kill major populations. Jesus also spoke of the pestilence that normally follows on the heels of famine.

Critics say there has always been war, famine, and pestilence. Our world has experienced epidemics and pandemics over the centuries. Now, mankind faces the challenge of trying to contain a virus more deadly than the SARS virus that spread around the world in 2003. COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, has caused panic, sickness, and death. But a time is coming when this will seem like the least of our problems. You and I will see the four horsemen of the apocalypse INTENSIFY THEIR RIDE with increasing global impact as time goes on. These four horsemen are revealed in REVELATION CHAPTER SIX as Christ opens the first four seals. Now, what happens when the fifth seal is opened? Turn to REVELATION 6:9.

Christ opens the fifth seal in REVELATION 6:9, “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.”

Here is described the martyrdom of the saints, true Christians. In the first century, the Emperor Nero violently persecuted Christians and put them to death. This FIFTH SEAL also predicts a major end-time persecution of saints. Then Jesus opens the SIXTH SEAL, revealing the heavenly signs that will shock people all over the earth.

REVELATION 6:12, “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and EVERY MOUNTAIN AND ISLAND was moved out of its place” (Revelation 6:12-14).

Not only will asteroids and meteors frighten people, but massive earthquakes will also shake the earth. As the Apostle John saw in vision, “every mountain and island was moved out of its place” (Revelation 6:14). Almighty God will get the attention of rebellious humans through these earthquakes and heavenly signs. The Creator God tells us in HEBREWS 12:26, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.”

My friends, will you be ready for those literally earth-shaking events? Will you REPENT and HUMBLE YOURSELF before God NOW, instead of being SHAKEN later? The cosmic disturbances and earthquakes introduce the Day of Judgement on all nations. Jesus Christ will judge the nations during the Day of the Lord

The Great Tribulation and the Seals of Revelation EXPLAINED

We saw that the Heavenly Signs will introduce the prophetic Day of the Lord, as “the great day of His [Christ’s] wrath” (that’s in Revelation 6:17). This is a time when Almighty God intervenes powerfully to judge rebellious nations. As we’ll see, He’ll even let the nations actively try to destroy one another in world conflict.

Are we capable of destroying ourselves? Even now, scientists and world leaders are warning us of worldwide cosmocide. On January 23, 2020, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists moved the Doomsday Clock minute hand to 100 seconds before midnight. NPR.com reported: “The End May Be Nearer: Doomsday Clock Moves Within 100 Seconds Of Midnight…. ‘The Doomsday Clock is a globally recognized indicator of the vulnerability of our existence,’ said former Irish President Mary Robinson at the annual clock-unveiling ceremony. ‘It’s a striking metaphor for the precarious state of the world, but most frighteningly, [it is] a metaphor backed by rigorous scientific scrutiny’” (“The End May Be Nearer: Doomsday Clock Moves Within 100 Seconds Of Midnight,” NPR.org, January 23, 2020).

Yes, the world is facing the danger of total destruction. We can be thankful that God will intervene and save us from ourselves. But we must take the warning Christ gives us in Matthew 24:21-22. This unique time in all history is the Great Tribulation. It is ALSO the time of Jacob’s trouble, as pointed out in JEREMIAH 30:7, “Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.”

The United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the British-descended peoples are descendants of Jacob. Not only will they face ruin from military weapons, there will also be incredible ECOLOGICAL DEVASTATION. Imagine massive locust invasions! If you have your Bible, turn to JOEL the FIRST CHAPTER. JOEL is near the end of the Old Testament. It’s the second of the so-called Minor Prophets. The prophet Joel describes locust plagues as a DAY OF THE LORD judgment. JOEL 1:4, “What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten; and what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.”

In January 2020, massive swarms of locusts in Kenya give us a preview.

The hum of millions of locusts on the move is broken by the screams of farmers and the clanging of pots and pans. But their noise-making does little to stop the voracious insects from feasting on their crops in this rural community. The worst outbreak of desert locusts in Kenya in 70 years has seen hundreds of millions of the bugs swarm into the East African nation from Somalia and Ethiopia. Those two countries have not had an infestation like this in a quarter-century, destroying farmland and threatening an already vulnerable region with devastating hunger (“‘This is huge’: Locust swarms in Africa are worst in decades,” The Charlotte Observer, January 26, 2020, p. 30A).

In the future, the insect plagues that some nations experience today will seem minor by comparison. When God brings punishments upon rebellious nations in the future Day of the Lord, He’ll call upon the nations to humble themselves and repent! Of course, we, you and I, don’t need to wait until then! As conditions worsen on the world scene, we all need to pray and cry out to God--and make sure we are on GOD’S SIDE!

Our Savior warns us to watch and pray as He tells us in Luke 21:36. We need to know the signs leading up to the Day of the Lord and the sequence of prophetic events. Where does the Day of the Lord fit in the scheme of end-time prophecy? Let’s notice the biblical framework and the prophetic sequence of events. There are three major periods of time or events we need to look at. They are referred to as the Great Tribulation, heavenly signs, and the Day of the Lord. It’s important to understand the correct order. Jesus spoke of the climax of the age in MATTHEW 24:21, “For then there will be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22).

The first major event is the GREAT TRIBULATION, followed by HEAVENLY SIGNS. The DAY of the LORD, the third event, leads to the Second Coming of Christ. The second chapter of JOEL confirms that the Heavenly signs INTRODUCE the Day of the Lord.

JOEL 2:30, “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, BEFORE the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD” (Joel 2:30-31).

So we see the sequence of events. #1 is Great Tribulation; #2 is Heavenly Signs (or the 6th Seal of Revelation); #3 is the Day of the Lord (or the 7th Seal of Revelation).

Just how long is the “Day” of the Lord? We’ll answer that question in the next part of our program, but first I’d like to give you another opportunity to order our exciting and informative free audio CD “THE DAY OF THE LORD

The Day of the Lord is a Year of Woes

We have seen that the Day of the Lord will come after the Great Tribulation and the Heavenly Signs. But just HOW LONG will it last? As many students of Bible prophecy know, there is the year-for-a-day principle in prophecy. Remember when the twelve spies of ancient Israel under the leadership of Joshua searched out the Promised Land? The spies came back after 40 days to report on the resources of the land. But ten of the twelve spies gave an evil report and refused to trust God to give them the victory over the giants and the inhabitants of the land. As a result of their unbelief, God condemned them to wander in the wilderness for FORTY YEARS, a year for each of the 40 days they had searched the land.

NUMBERS 14:34, “According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for EACH DAY you shall bear your guilt ONE YEAR, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection.”

This principle of a day for a year is also used by God in EZEKIEL 4:6.

How long then, is the Day of the Lord? The Day of the Lord in one sense, is the YEAR preceding the return of Christ! It’s a significant part of God’s plan, something all Christians should know!

Notice also in Isaiah 34:8, “For it is the DAY of the Lord’s VENGEANCE, the YEAR of recompense for the cause of Zion.” Here again, God’s punishment, the day of the Lord’s vengeance, is equated to one year.

Let’s briefly summarize. The environmental and political problems symbolized by the four horsemen of the Apocalypse will continue to intensify. There will be wholesale religious persecution as revealed through the fifth seal of Revelation. The sixth seal, the heavenly signs, will awaken the world to the beginning of the Day of the Lord, the seventh seal!

Let’s understand! The seven seals reveal end-time trends and events. The seventh seal represents the year-long Day of the Lord. It consists of seven TRUMPET judgments during the yearlong Day of the Lord. As we’ll see later, the seventh TRUMPET itself consists of the “seven last plagues” mentioned in Revelation 15:1.

The seventh seal lasts approximately one year and it consists of seven trumpet plagues. These trumpet plagues are described in the 8th and 9th chapters of Revelation. Turn in your Bible to REVELATION the eighth chapter, “When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets” (Revelation 8:1-2).

The trumpets give us warning--they announce seven trumpet plagues or judgments! As you read through chapter 8, you’ll notice that, as the first four angels sound their trumpets, there is great ecological devastation all over the earth. There are earthquakes; vast areas of vegetation are burned up; a third of all sea life dies; water sources are poisoned. The heavens are darkened.

The last three trumpet plagues are called woes. The word “woe” is an exclamation of grief! REVELATION 8:13, “And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, ‘Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!’”

The first woe, or the 5th trumpet plague, is described in chapter nine. The 5th angel sounds a trumpet that begins a military action that lasts 5 months. The second woe, or the 6th trumpet plague, is pictured with symbols of horses and horsemen. Here we see an intense military counter-attack.

REVELATION 9:12, “One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things. Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates’” (Revelation 9:12-14). An army of 200 million drives west across the Euphrates River and destroys ONE-THIRD of the earth’s population! This phase of World War III will kill billions of humans! Yes, Jesus said that unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved--otherwise, all life on earth would be destroyed.

Next we hear the sound of the seventh trumpet. For Christians, the sounding of the seventh trumpet is GOOD NEWS because it announces the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth and the return of Jesus Christ. REVELATION 11:15, “Then the seventh angel sounded: and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’”

The one-year period of time, called the Day of the Lord, culminates in the announcement that Christ is taking over all the kingdoms and governments of this world! That’s the good news we all look forward to hearing!

No Peace on Earth Until Jesus Christ Returns!

The Day of the Lord in end-time prophecy consists of seven trumpet events over a period of one year leading up to the return of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The seventh trumpet announces the good news of Christ’s takeover of world governments. But the seventh trumpet is also called the third woe! Why? Because it also signals the seven last plagues! The Apostle John describes them in the 16th chapter of Revelation. They include plagues of painful sores on those who have worshiped the Beast power and its image. They include even more poisonous rivers and seas to the extent that “every living creature in the sea died” as it states in Revelation 16:3. The sun becomes hotter, resulting in extreme heat waves that torment those who will not repent of their sins!

In northern Israel, on the plain of Jezreel, will be gathered massive military power and might! These armies will actually fight against the commander of Heaven’s armies, Jesus Christ at His return. Turn to REVELATION 19 in your Bible. Revelation 19:14, the Apostle John describes Christ returning to conquer all nations: “And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:14-16).

When Christ returns to this earth, He will conquer all his enemies. He will conquer the nations and their powerful armies that fight against Him at His coming. The Day of the Lord will bring God’s judgment on the nations.

As we’ve seen, in one sense the Day of the Lord is the year preceding the return of Christ. In another sense, it continues on through the Millennium and on out to eternity.

The Apostle Peter describes it this way in 2 PETER 3:10, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:10-13).

The Apostle Peter exhorts us to be in a spiritual state of readiness. We must be alert to the Day of the Lord, a sobering period of judgment on the nations. Beyond that lies tomorrow’s world, a wonderful time of beauty, prosperity, and restoration under the rulership of Christ. May God speed that day!

[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

Becoming a True Success, God’s Way

Have you ever felt like a failure? Many famous and successful individuals experience disappointments, trials, and failures before they finally advance in life. The famous inventor, Thomas Alva Edison, viewed his disappointing experiments with a positive attitude. He once said: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

Many people define success by money, wealth, and material possessions. Some look to the ups and downs of the stock market to find success. Others hope they can find some “get rich quick” scheme as an easy road to riches. Others pride themselves on physical beauty, or on positions of power. Some value popularity as success. But all of these measures of success are temporary. TRUE success in life is defined by LASTING values that society cannot take away.

Many ordinary people who considered themselves under-achievers or lacking potential, have found the way to TRUE success. What was their secret? The Seven Laws of Success. On today’s program, we’ll discuss seven principles for true success.

What is the Highest Goal in Life?

Too many people equate success with monetary wealth. They want to get rich quick. Gambling casinos are very popular, and they can profit billions of dollars each year. Listen to this report on the gambling industry: “Visiting casinos is not the only way to gamble. Another growing segment of the gambling industry is online. The global market size of online gambling was forecasted to reach over 59 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, growing by around 20 billion U.S. dollars in just five years. The largest share of this industry segment is made up of casino gambling and sports betting” (“Gambling Industry in the U.S. - Statistics & Facts,” Statista Research Department, July 24, 2018).

Is gambling the secret way to true success? Of course not. In fact, one of the proverbs in your Bible gives this warning: PROVERBS 23 and verse 4, “Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven” (Proverbs 23:4-5).

That’s what happens when you don’t apply the Seven Laws of Success! Just what is true success? And what are the Seven Laws of Success? On today’s program, we’ll answer those questions. And we’ll be offering you an inspiring FREE audio CD, THE SEVEN LAWS OF SUCCESS. This 80-minute CD contains three Tomorrow’s World programs: The Seven Laws of Success, Vital Keys to Happiness, and Peace of Mind Through Prayer. You need this vital information. Be sure to request your free copy!

One of the wealthiest individuals who ever lived was ancient King Solomon of Israel. He was striving to experience “life to the full.” What did he discover? ECCLESIASTES 2 and verse 10, “Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor; and this was my reward from all my labor. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was VANITY and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11).

Solomon designed and engineered many complex projects including irrigation systems, symphonic orchestras, and choral groups. He held great treasures of silver and gold. He states in ECCLESIASTES 2 and verse 7, “I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds. So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me” (vv. 7-9).

King Solomon also had 700 wives and 300 concubines. Did they give him lasting happiness? His wives eventually persuaded him to worship false gods, and he paid a dear penalty! With his wisdom that remained, Solomon understood that a lifestyle WITHOUT the security, blessing, and guidance of Almighty God was a striving after wind, worthlessness, and vanity. Are YOU living a life of vanity? Now is the time to start applying the Seven Laws of Success. Perhaps you are applying four or five, but let’s consider all seven!

Many decades ago, the predecessor of this Work, Herbert W. Armstrong, pioneered seven Biblical principles, which he called, “The Seven Laws of Success.” These principles can help you, your family, and your children. What are those seven laws? LAW NUMBER ONE is: Set the Right Goal. Successful people know that to accomplish anything of value, we need to set goals. If you don’t know where you’re going, you’re not going to get there.

Goal-oriented people set long-term and short-term goals. And if the goal is important to them, they will make strong commitments to do all they can to achieve their goals.

We previously saw that ancient King Solomon achieved many goals, but he realized that those goals did not give lasting value and success. He called life’s routines “vanity,” a striving after wind, without lasting value. What will give you lasting happiness and true success? Turn in your Bible to MATTHEW the 6th chapter. Here Jesus tells us that we need not anxiously worry about food and clothing. That if God provides food for the birds of the air, He will much more provide food for His children. Jesus was saying that all of the necessities we anxiously worry about are SECONDARY to the most important goal of all. MATTHEW 6 verse 33. Jesus said, “...seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Yes, setting the right goal produces true success if you follow all of the Seven Laws of Success. My friends, our ultimate goal is the Kingdom of God. SUCCESS LAW NUMBER ONE is: Set the Right Goal.

Six More Steps Towards Ultimate Achievement and Fulfillment

It’s good to be committed to our goals, but what will we have achieved at the end of our lifetime IF those goals do not lead to godly character and abundant living now, and later on in the Kingdom of God? We must be sure that our goals contribute to lasting values. SUCCESS LAW NUMBER ONE is: Set the Right Goal. LAW NUMBER TWO is: Educate (or Prepare) Yourself.

What KNOWLEDGE do you need to achieve your goal? What PREPARATIONS must you make? If you’re choosing a career as a craftsman, you will need to work as an apprentice before you can be a journeyman. And many professions require at least a college education, if not an advanced degree. More than ever, we need to increase our knowledge just to keep up with our goals. We should never stop learning. But make sure that the knowledge you are learning is TRUE KNOWLEDGE. In the book of PROVERBS, we are told that TRUE knowledge begins with an awe, reverence, and acknowledgement of God as the SOURCE of wisdom and knowledge. PROVERBS 1 verse 7, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of KNOWLEDGE, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

And again in PROVERBS 9:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of WISDOM, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Are you growing in wisdom? Are you growing in the grace and KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST, as it states in 2 PETER 3 verse18? Our Savior is the KEY to TRUE CHRISTIAN SUCCESS! To reach your goal, you need to educate yourself and prepare to achieve that goal, whether physically or spiritually. You need GODLY wisdom and knowledge! The SECOND LAW OF SUCCESS is: Educate (or Prepare) Yourself.

The THIRD LAW OF SUCCESS is: Maintain Good Health. How healthy are you? Do you have energy and vigor to work hard and accomplish? Our fast-food, high-fat, high-sugar diet mentality is not the steady diet God intended for humans. A polluted environment may harm our health. And REGULAR EXERCISE is important. The Apostle Paul told the evangelist Timothy, “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:8). Again, the Bible emphasizes the spiritual dimension in our lives. But we ALSO have a responsibility to honor God in our body, as it tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:20. You will be better able to achieve your goals if you strive for physical fitness. THE THIRD LAW OF SUCCESS is: Maintain Good Health.

LAW NUMBER FOUR is: Drive Yourself! Mr. Herbert Armstrong called this an “all-important law.” He wrote, “You will always find that the executive head of any growing, successful organization employs drive! He puts a constant prod on himself. He not only drives himself, he drives those under him, else they might lag, let down and stagnate” (The Seven Laws of Success, 1974, p. 44).

Yes, we need to put a prod on ourselves to move. The book of PROVERBS gives us a graphic illustration. PROVERBS 6 and verse 6, “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep—so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man” (v. 6-11).

Proper rest is essential, but God warns against being lazy! We all need energy and purpose. We need to discipline ourselves to work effectively. THE FOURTH LAW OF SUCCESS is: Drive Yourself!

THE FIFTH LAW OF SUCCESS is: Apply Resourcefulness. Think of this as “the emergency law.” Perhaps the road ahead to your planned career or goal looks clear and smooth. But life often brings unexpected obstacles. You may suddenly face a financial problem, or health emergency. What will you do?

Always investigate your options. What resources are available? What agencies or individuals can help? Of course, the first step is to ask for God’s help. Remember when Jesus came walking on the water to His disciples? The Apostle Peter wanted to do the same. So Jesus told Peter here in MATTHEW 14:29, “‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’” (v. 29-30).

Ask God to save you out of your predicament. But be sure to do your part and search out all the resources available. Don’t just give up. Ask for wise counsel. PROVERBS 15:22, “Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established.” THE FIFTH LAW OF SUCCESS is: Apply Resourcefulness.

THE SIXTH LAW OF SUCCESS is: Persevere Toward Your Goal. Always have perseverance—stick-to-it-iveness, as Herbert Armstrong described it.

During World War II when the future looked gloomy for Great Britain, Prime Minister Winston Churchill spoke on October 29, 1941 at the Harrow School. He inspired his audience to persevere. He said, “...[S]urely from this period of ten months this is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy. We stood all alone a year ago, and to many countries it seemed that our account was closed, we were finished...” (“Never Give In, Never, Never, Never, 1941,” Speech, Harrow School, October 29, 1941).

Yes, we all need to persevere! Those who respond to God’s calling are in a spiritual race to persevere. Hebrews the twelfth chapter encourages us to look forward to our final goal. HEBREWS the twelfth chapter, verse 1, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with ENDURANCE the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (v. 1-2).

Apply the SIXTH LAW OF SUCCESS. Run the race with endurance, or “patience” as the King James Version has it, or “perseverance” as the NRSV translates it. Never give up! Run the race of life with perseverance. THE SIXTH LAW OF SUCCESS is: Persevere Toward Your Goal. 

LAW NUMBER SEVEN is the most important principle for achieving success. We’ll discuss it in the next part of our program.

Seek a True Relationship With Your Creator

When you apply the Seven Laws of Success, you need the right motivation and attitude. The world has produced thousands of books on becoming successful, rich, and famous. But the problem, my friends, as we emphasized earlier, is that the world seeks the wrong kind of success. The world defines success as possession, power, and position. The advertising world promotes success as having material possessions: such as expensive autos, fine jewelry, large mansions, and yachts. But electronic toys, buildings, and cars do not produce lasting happiness. 

There are two ways of life: the way of give and the way of get! Your Bible reveals the simple and yet most profound way of living. If you have a Bible, be sure to mark this scripture in ACTS 20 verse 35. Jesus stated, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Or as the Moffatt translation has it, “To give is happier than to get.”

God’s way of success is to serve, help, care, and give. Whatever positions we may hold in this life, it will never amount to TRUE SUCCESS unless it is one of GODLY SERVICE toward others. Listen! One of the measures of TRUE SUCCESS is the degree of godly service we are willing to give. Emphasis on GIVE. False success relies on the GET principle, the selfish default characteristic of human nature! 

Applying the attitude of service, the laws of success can produce true and LASTING success. That way of life yields happiness, fulfillment and peace of mind. So far, we have briefly discussed six of the Seven Laws of Success.

LAW NUMBER ONE: Set the Right Goal

LAW NUMBER TWO: Educate (or Prepare) Yourself

LAW NUMBER THREE: Maintain Good Health

LAW NUMBER FOUR: Drive Yourself!

LAW NUMBER FIVE; Apply Resourcefulness

And LAW NUMBER SIX: Persevere Toward Your Goal

These six laws are vital and extremely important! But to practice them successfully, you need the vital SEVENTH LAW for true success. THE SEVENTH LAW OF SUCCESS is: Seek God’s Continual Guidance.

You may ask, “How can I have God’s continual guidance?” The simple answer is: you pray to Him, you acknowledge Him! Listen to this wonderful promise in PROVERBS the third chapter, verse 5: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (v. 5-6).

God PROMISES that He will direct your paths and guide you through life to fulfill your human potential and ultimate destiny. But we must PRAY DAILY, and we must ACT on His priceless promises. Another of God’s wonderful promises is found in ISAIAH 55 verse 6, “Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (v. 6-7). As you begin to pray, as you begin to change your whole way of life to God’s way of true success, He will forgive you through the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. God has promised that He will have mercy on you and pardon you, IF you repent and seek Him.

When you come to a crossroads, when you are faced with decisions, PRAY and ask for God’s will to be done in your life. He has promised to GUIDE you, and be WITH you. As Jesus promised us in Hebrews 13 verse 5, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” THE SEVENTH LAW OF SUCCESS is: Seek God’s Continual Guidance.

I encourage you to apply ALL SEVEN laws of success. If you do, you will come to find the true abundant life Jesus promised in JOHN 10 and verse 10, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

In the conclusion of our program, we will see some of the amazing benefits of applying all seven laws of success.

True Success Through the Savior of the World

As you apply the Seven Laws of Success, you’ll enjoy God’s blessings and TRUE success. God wants us to live happy, abundant lives. But many make the mistake of setting happiness as an end or a goal in itself. As a result, they become frustrated. Commentator Dennis Prager points out that one “secret” to happiness “...is realizing that happiness is a byproduct of something else. The most obvious sources are those pursuits that give our lives purpose-anything from studying insects to playing baseball. The more passions we have, the more happiness we’re likely to experience.” (“A Simple Truth About Happiness,” Reader’s Digest, June 1998, p. 99). Of course, the greatest happiness comes as a byproduct of having the greatest purpose: seeking God’s Kingdom.

Can YOU really succeed? Can you experience true Christian success? As the Apostle Paul stated in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” My friends, THE BIBLE reveals the unseen, immutable laws of life. When we’re in harmony with those principles and instructions, we are blessed. In fact from the beginning of the Bible to the end, you will find that obedience to God’s way of life brings blessings, and disobedience to God’s way of life brings curses. The world’s criteria for success: possessions, power, position, and pleasure—only bring pain, suffering, failure, and death. Those whose brand of success is self-indulgence, self-aggrandizement, and self-centeredness, harm themselves AND others.  True success comes only through the Savior of the world who taught us to love our enemies, to lay down our lives for one another, and to live by every word of God. When we do that through the power of the Holy Spirit, we will live a truly happy, productive, and successful life, because we will be helping others into the Kingdom of God. And remember that the Holy Spirit is God’s gift to those who repent and are baptized. 

Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 10 verse 8, “Freely you have received, freely give.” We strive to do that on this program. Be sure to request your inspiring free audio CD on THE SEVEN LAWS OF SUCCESS. The Tomorrow’s World telecast, magazine, Bible Study Course, and all the other free materials we offer, are dedicated to EDUCATING millions to Biblical truth,  so that they may be successful in this life, inherit the kingdom, and experience true success for all eternity.