Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was ingrained into the Christian faith as a young child…then seeking my own ways for a season, the prodigal returned to Jesus with a God-given passion to write and speak to Christians and seekers to inspire them to live holy in an unholy world. I earned his degree in Biblical studies from Liberty University.
Wisdom was gained in the trenches of life, and the passion for me to address deep questions of faith beyond surface teachings was produced. Through years of personal study, the original Millions Vanished vision was birthed in 2005.
If you desire an in-depth study tool to discover truths from Genesis through Revelation surrounding the topics of the Raptures and Resurrections, then this book series is for you!
You can contact me here:
millionsvanished.com
facebook.com/BrianPLakins/
Other Books Being Released In 2016-2017:
From The Millions Vanished Series:
Unveiling Raptures and Resurrections (Part 1)
7 Rapture Views (Part 2)
The Watcher’s Guide (Part 3)
Signs of His Coming (Part 4)
Billions Left Behind (Part 5)
From The Obedient Christian Series:
My Road to the Path (Part 1)
Eternal Laws From God and Christian Warnings (Part 2)
Eternal Security’s Evidence, Conditional Salvation’s Verdict (Part 3)
The Billions Who Lost Salvation From Genesis Through Revelation (Part 4)
Tough Christian Questions, Tough Biblical Answers (Part 5)
The Lost Pillars of Conditional Salvation (Part 6)
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Unveiling Raptures and Resurrections is the name of Book 1 in the 5-part Millions Vanished series. Book 1’s theme and name was inspired by a life-long conversation with all who I’ve spoken to about the rapture. There are so many myths and misconceptions about the rapture, it’s origin, the timing of the event, etc. Most rapture books dedicate quite a bit of their book on the timing of the rapture of the church, while neglecting all other raptures in the first resurrection of the righteous. For example, Jesus began the first resurrection 2,000 years ago as the first fruit of the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20, 23). The two witnesses are resurrected and raptured as another phase and rapture in the first resurrection, yet the rapture of the church is the only one focused on, even acknowledged or known. I wanted to shed light on all the raptures, 5 in the first resurrection, and teach on the two resurrections, each having many phases of raptures. The focus should not be on the rapture of the church, it is only a by-product of the resurrection. I leave the answers for the timing of the rapture of the church for Book Two, 7 Rapture Views.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I always stay well caffeinated while writing. Sugar free fruit punch Rock Star is my energy drink of choice, but coffee is my usual. It is much more economical, and most likely a little less bad for me. I write best when my beautiful wife and two kids are asleep. I feel like time is standing still in the middle of the night, not a care, not a worry. I believe those are common traits among writers, so I’ll go ahead and tell ya that I feel more focused when I wear my hat. If you’ve ever seen the 1980’s Sylvester Stallone movie, Over the Top, then you’ll understand. If you haven’t, what are you waiting for?!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
My all time favorite author is Finis Jennings Dake. He wrote God’s Plan for Man, Revelation Expounded, The Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ, Bible Truths Unmasked, Another Time…Another Place…Another Man, Heavenly Hosts, and more. My favorite of all, which I’ve spent the most time in is the Dake Annotated Reference Bible. I’d recommend anyone reading his books over mine, but if I thought I was a better writer than my favorite author, then I’d consider myself vain.
Josh McDowell and Lee Stroble are also incredibly smart writers and researchers who have influenced me to be a deeply thorough, in-depth thinker and researcher.
What are you working on now?
Right now I am working on Book 3, The Watcher’s Guide. This is my all time favorite book of the Millions Vanished series.
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” The first and last prophecy in Titus (Tit. 2:13). People looked for the rapture in that day, proving there is no definite time element in Scripture for this event (Tit. 2:12; Php. 3:20). It seems that looking for the rapture is a righteous act (Mark 13:34-37) and not separate from preaching righteousness (Titus 2:11-12).
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-13).
We may not know the exact day or year, but you’ll be surprised at what you don’t know that you don’t know that you can know!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use my own website: https://millionsvanished.com
It is my own little place where I can let my creativity explode. If you visit it regularly, then you’ll see how much I change it. Its like my wife’s addictive relocating the living room furniture disease.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
The best advice I would give a new author is to just begin! Write for 20 minutes a day at minimum. I started writing with no idea how to do so. All I knew was I was supposed to write. If you have this passion, then start doing it and you will be qualified sometime during your journey. Never wait until you are qualified my anyone’s standards, even your own. Just start doing it and you will grow in ways you never thought could be possible!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you’re wrong.”
This leads me to another great piece of advice.
“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.” -Abraham Lincoln
As pertaining to writing Christian non-fiction, I can’t afford to be wrong (Galatians 1:6-10; James 3:1)
What are you reading now?
Right now I am reading marketing strategies by everyone I can find 🙂
Writers love to write, not so much market and promote their work.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Of course I am anxious to finish the two book series I have written or outlined. You can find those at my site: www.millionsvanished.com
Through this entire journey I would love to get my feet drenched in speaking engagements. It scares me a lot, but I hate fear, so I want to overcome it and teach these books.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
#1 Dakes Annotated Reference Bible – Finis Dake
#2 The Case For Christ – Lee Stroble
#3 Evidence That Demands A Verdict – Josh McDowell
They are all older books, but the teaching that builds your faith from all these books is all I would need to survive with. They would sustain me until the day I finally meet the Lord.
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