Book Authored by Carlsbad Native Benefits Local Ministry

By Misty Cryer

William A. Brooks (aka Bill Brooks) was born and raised in Carlsbad, graduating from Carlsbad High School with the Class of 1968. He is well known in the community, primarily for his contributions to the performing arts, including music and theatre.

From performing with his brother as The Brooks Brothers, to performing in and producing musicals, including The Promise, Brooks said, "We toured the world, had music hits, and performed for several million people."

Brooks' latest venture is authorship with a focus on what he began to learn in his hometown. On at 1 p.m. on February 21, Brooks will do a signing of his new book at Oasis Church, located at 802 S. Main St., in Carlsbad. The book, "Prophecy and the Present: God's Arc of Redemption," will be available for purchase at the signing event. Brooks said that 40 percent of the book's proceeds are donated to Oasis Prison Ministry.

The book is the first in a series of three books about the subject of God's Arc. "It is called 'The God's Arc Series,'" said Brooks.

The book begins at the first of Genesis and ends at the end of Revelation, tying together biblical prophecy from the Garden of Eden to eternity, he said, explaining that it is actually a return to the Garden of Eden.

The overriding emphasis of the book is to show a couple of things: "That God is in charge and everything that happens is according to a divine plan, so nothing is random. God's grace and forgiveness, which ultimately result in redemption, always win, no matter how the human race has moved away from the straight line," he said.

The book also gets into what is commonly called end-time prophecy, said Brooks. He explained that it discusses what the Bible may say about what will happen as the end of the age draws closer.

While most people who write and study prophecy try to predict dates, Brooks said he does not. "I simply support everything I have written by scripture and offer the possibility based upon the interpretation that I have," he said.

"In the 1950s, I was a young boy in Carlsbad, and I was raised at the Church of God at 9th and Missouri streets, which is no longer there," said Brooks. "The pastor was a man named Jack Drake, a prophecy scholar," he said.

In weekly meetings, Brooks said, Drake would give the group gathered at the church information about prophecy.

"Over the years, I got to the point where I kind of debunked what he taught me as a kid, but a little over four years ago, a church and classmate from back then sent me a little booklet that he (Drake) had written," said Brooks. "When I started reading it, I literally said to myself, 'Oh my God. What Jack Drake said would happen is happening right now.'"

While technically, the writing of the book began in the 50s, Brooks began the process of actually writing the book around four years ago. Referring to Drake, Brooks said, "I used his material, his outlines, and what he taught us. I expanded and researched the book."

For both believers and non-believers, Brooks said, "It is a message of hope because the fact is that in the end we win."

He said, "To the believer in Christ, I hope that this book strengthens your confidence in the God that holds the future as firmly as he holds your life. To the unbeliever, the one who has not yet placed their trust in the finite work of Christ, after reading this, that you will stop and let this truth reach you— that Jesus died for your redemption. He completed the work. He shed his blood for you. All you have to simply say is, 'I believe he died for me. I accept his redemption right now.'"

The book is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book/Kindle format and will also be available as an audiobook, said Brooks. For more information, visit ProphecyandthePresent.com and follow Prophecy and the Present on Facebook.