Questions Et Réponses n° 1
59-1 I don't know where if--if... They--they probably perhaps did not write it over. It said, "Isaiah 4:24." Now, Isaiah 4 only has six verses in it, so I'm... I don't know whether you meant Isaiah 5:24. It says, "What is the meaning of the Scripture, and when shall it come to pass, Isaiah 4:24?" And Isaiah 4 has six verses. If you can... Ever who wrote it, if you could think now, maybe, and rewrite it again, I could get to it. You see? I won't know just where you was referring to, "Isaiah 4:24, what is the meaning of the Scripture and when will it come to pass?"
59-2 Now, I
won't keep long. I got a... All right, thank you, brother. I got--I got
some places to go, and this... You know, I was thinking; I had a
Scripture here... Oh, excuse me, a letter from my--Mr. Baxter. And
before we start on the services this morning, on this, I'd--I'd like
for you to--to pray with me just a moment.
I had been come out of the services with the very best of intentions to
going into--to my service overseas just in the next few days. Now, I
get a letter from Brother Baxter, Brother Cox read it to me over the
phone last night and gave it to me this morning, that they are trying
to set it back again now, again. And I don't--I don't know whether that
is Satan trying to hold me back or if it's God just waiting for the
time to be right. I--I don't know. They're wanting to set it back a
little piece, and they just kept setting it back since October.
October, November, December, January, this is almost four months now
that they've set it back.
59-4 And
now, the vision has come; here it is written here in my Bible just
exactly what will come to pass; but when, I don't know. Now, I have
told the people just with good faith what they told me, that to be
ready along this time.
Now, people think that, I know, that I'm just not honest about it, "Oh,
what... When's he going to get... When's he going to go?"
But when I get these letters and they tell me, "Well, you can't do it
just yet; there's this has to be done, and this has to be done." Then I
don't... I--I feel bad, facing the people. I don't know what to do. But
one thing, I'll do this, and you all with me; I'm going to commit it to
God, and say, "Now, Lord, when You're ready, I am." See? And if I
just...
60-7 Sometimes it's the church that's out of cater; now it's visas or something another. You know, there's just things like that. It may be Satan trying to do it. So while we pray this morning... And each time when you're praying through the week, you--you pray for me and ask God to, if it's Satan, to move him out of the way. See? And if it's--and if it's His will, hold me here. See? He knows just exactly what to do. There may be something another He's moving around, getting the picture right. I never want to get ahead of Him. Oh, when you do that, it's terrible. See? So I--I just feel that's it's--that--that it may be... I don't know which to say, 'cause I don't know.
60-8 Just like our dear Brother George Wright. Many of you know his conditions, don't you? And you know the doctors has given him up, that he was supposed to have died a week ago or more (See?), Brother George Wright. I went down to see him, and while down there I prayed and prayed as sincere as I knowed how to pray for him. And then coming home and I wondered what would take place. And after a few days, well, I had a vision last Monday morning, and is waiting...
60-9 Now,
there's a--there's a woman that I prayed for with cancer, and I seen
her stand and she--she'd... They opened her up; she's just filled with
cancer; they just sewed her back. See? But she's going to live. I know
that.
But now, Brother George Wright, I didn't get the vision clear. I was
coming... That same vision, I was coming out and I seen his--his place,
his house. And on the left hand side of the house where them trees are
standing there, a--a willow tree, right along above there I seen some
clods of dirt, almost as big as my fist, rolling down. And I heard that
Angel which was standing by my side, said something about a grave and
Brother George.
Now, it was either this, that it was Brother George's grave that they
were digging, or it seems to me... Now, remember now, I wouldn't state
this. And I believe we got a PA system moving through here, or a
recording system, rather... But now I want to make it clear like I did
to them: I think it was this...
61-12 There's
a bunch of people down there laughing at him because that he believing
that God's going to heal him after the doctor said he... get well.
Well, he can't (See?), the blood clot's done into his lungs, and he's
spitting out blood and everything else. He said, "Just the first little
grain goes to his heart or his head, it'll paralyze him or kill him."
See? And he's seventy-two years old, past the allotted time.
But I believe that it was this: that he would dig the grave of some of
those that's laughing at him, dig the grave. And now, I didn't know
that he was a grave-digger, but he is. I... And you see? And I thought
that he dug their graves; that's what he does. And it seemed like
there's something about a grave and digging a grave, or--or something
like that, and Brother George Wright.
I've asked the Lord now, for about four nights, to repeat it to me
again if He would. It come along about seven or eight o'clock one
morning. So I trust that He will make it clear. But I do believe with
all my heart... Now, this is just that I was right when I say that he
will dig the grave of some of those that's laughing at him, if I got it
clear. But I'm not too sure of it. It was something about digging a
grave, and Brother George Wright. I think that he was to dig the grave
of somebody was laughing at him.
61-15 Now,
God is love, and, oh, we just love Him with all of our hearts.
Now, this morning we don't want to take too much of our time here on
these questions; I'll answer them the best of my knowledge. Now,
friends, I can make so many mistakes on these things. I'm just--I'm
just a man like all the rest of us. And Brother Neville, or any of
these other ministers, or so forth, could answer them just the same as
I could. But I do this for a purpose, to kind of find out what's on the
heart of the people.
Then if I see four or five pulling on one thing, then I think, "Oh, oh,
here we are. Way... I know where you're at now, some little questions
in the church." And now, let's just forget about the--the little
questions. And the main thing above everything is to keep the church in
harmony, and in love of God, and moving on, if we can all believe that
the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness.
If the woman setting next to you, or the man setting next to you, if he
doesn't believe that Jesus will--will actually come visibly again,
let's just believe It and go right ahead anyhow. We don't agree with
him on the Scripture. But let's make the church move on for harmony,
because in there we're going to catch some more people. But when the
church is out of harmony, then you--you hurt the church; then you hurt
the cause. You... it's just... You just can't do it. But when we can
agree upon one thing, that the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from
all sin (That's right.) and sin is gone, and we--we're pretty close to
home line then, Brother Neville. When blood... when we're blessed...
I've got a brother; we're blood relations. But my, how we disagree,
miserably. But just the same, we're brothers.
62-19 Now, I
was thinking of this week, coming week, if I didn't go overseas,
maybe... Brother Cobbles come over, and he wanted to start a campaign
in Louisville, and he wanted to get the Armory that we had our little
healing service over there the other night. And the Lord worked some
marvelous things. And so... But then I find out that those brothers
from Del Rio, Texas, Jessup brothers, is having a service in Louisville
and they got their best speaker over there for these next coming weeks.
And said he didn't know just when he was going to leave. Charles, I
believe it is, that's to be there this next week, and I certainly
wouldn't start a revival nowhere and a campaign of that kind going on.
And they're also having a healing campaign. And so the healing campaign
is in the afternoon, this afternoon. And so I wouldn't want to start a
meeting and--and them having a meeting there, 'cause I know what it is
to be somewhere and it just... Oh, you know, while I'm holding a
meeting and somebody jump up and start a little meeting like that. It
just doesn't look good; it doesn't give it the right place, you know.
So we'll just wait till a little later on, maybe the Lord will help us.
He will help us, anyhow, and so we just believe, and hold on, and be
faithful to God.
62-21 Now,
shall we pray: Father in heaven, let Thy blessings shine upon us now,
as I go forward to answer these questions. O God, just... There's some
of them here I've never even looked at yet, and only two or three that
I--I read just awhile ago. I pray, Father, that You'll help me and give
me wisdom and understanding, that I'll only speak that which is right.
Grant it, Father. And may I have Thy wisdom, and may the Holy Spirit
come down just now and grant the wisdom that's needed. Bless us
together today, Lord, as this little tabernacle group here.
Bless our dear beloved brother, Brother Neville, here, Father. who's
labor along, the shepherd here in the pastor field, that's--that's
trying to lead the sheep to the green grass and the deep clovers, or
out into the water and then back to the shade tree, and caring for the
sick and the needy and the little crippled ones and those who are weary
and try to doctor them up and bring them, so they'll be real sheep. O
Father, I pray that You'll bless him. Give him wisdom and knowledge and
understanding.
And help us all together now, Father, and we'll give Thee the praise in
Jesus' Name. Amen.
63-24 Now, in some of these here, I'll get them out of--some from different parts of the Scripture where they--where they was belonging to. And now, we just start on some, and answer right along till we can get--get as many as we possibly can out. I believe we can get them all, and I'll kind of watch here that we get out early.
63-Q-8 The
first thing is just a question, just a straight question:
8. I was baptized at the age of thirteen. Should I be again?
Now, that's a--that's a nice little question to ask. Well, now, friend,
I always leave that to the person.
Remember, I don't know... There's one that I do know who wrote it;
that's this one right here, and the man handed it to me himself. And
somebody asked me a question back there that I should answer, and they
never put it on paper, and I said, "If I got enough time after these
here I would answer it."
But now this here, "Well, should I... Was I... "I was baptized at
thirteen. Shall I be baptized again?
If you've been a Christian all along, since you was thirteen years old,
a believer in Christ, I--I'd just remain like you are. I wouldn't now,
if God has blessed you and give you the Holy Spirit since then...
63-30 And the
baptism is only a--a--a form; it's just to--to show the world (or the
congregation that you're--you're with at that time) that you, before
witnesses, prove that you have believed that God sent His Son and He
died and rose again on the third day, and you was buried into Him and
have risen to walk in newness of life. And them same people that
watched you when you was baptized will meet you at the judgment. See?
And then along, if someone, a stranger, says, "Was--was you?"
"Yes, I have been baptized with my--unto my Lord's death and burial."
64-33 See, I
think that baptism... Oh, I do say it's essential; I wouldn't want to
say it isn't essential. But it is essential because it's... Every
commandment of God is essential. Don't you think so? It's essential
that we must be baptized. Jesus give this statement in St. Matthew, or
St. Mark 16; He said, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel; he
that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." And when He was talking
to Nicodemus, He said, "Except a man be born of water and Spirit he
will in no wise enter the Kingdom." It must be baptized. I believe in
immersing, in the baptism, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to
be raised again in newness of life, to walk after the commandments of
God.
But you say, "Brother Bill, did you ever baptize anybody over, who'd
been baptized when they was a little fellow and then be rebaptized?"
Many times.
So there--there's a Scripture over in Revelations the 2nd chapter,
speaking to the church, He said, "Repent and do your first works over
again." And many of them interpret that Scripture to say this, that
that means you'd have to go right back and do the same thing over.
Well, if you'll notice, dear Christian friend...
64-36 Now,
I'm not disagreeing with this now (See?), 'cause we've got the
baptistery filled up. We're ready to baptize anybody that wants to be
baptized at any time. But we're not disagreeing. If you want to be
baptized, if that's something that's standing in your way and you feel
like you should be, you go do it. That's right. You go do it. Don't let
nothing stand in your way; you make yourself perfectly clear.
Just like if--if you'd taken something years ago, and you feel like you
should go make that right, you go make it right. No matter what it is.
You keep everything clear. 'Cause you'll come up to that thing, and you
can't go any farther till you get that out of the way. You see? You've
just got to lay aside every weight and the thing that so easily besets
you.
65-38 And if
you want to be baptized again, go ahead, that's the thing to do. I've
baptized many over.
But now to that Scripture that you're referring to, that wasn't talking
to an individual; that was to the church. See, the church, what they
had done, they had lost their first love (See?), the real cream that
they had in the beginning. And he said, "Lest you repent and do this
first works over again," start right back and get the thing. He's
talking to the church, "Unless you repent and go back again," well,
then, He was going to move the candlestick.
65-40 But if
you want to be baptized, and if you was baptized when you was thirteen,
or whatever age, why, you--you be baptized if it's in your way.
But now to say that Scripturally I could say that you should be
baptized again, there's only one Scriptural way that I could--could
announce that people was rebaptized. There's only one Scripture in the
entire Bible that people was rebaptized, and that was those who was
baptized by John the Baptist before the Holy Ghost came. Paul, in Acts
19:5, told them that they had to be rebaptized again in the Name of
Jesus Christ in order to receive the Holy Ghost. See?
65-42 Now--now,
you don't have to be baptized to receive the Holy Ghost, because you
can receive the Holy Ghost when your heart's right. See? Because on
Acts 2 Peter give a formula to--a formula to "Repent, and be baptized
in the Name of Jesus Christ, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost." But then, in Acts 10:49, God turned around and give the
Gentiles the baptism of the Holy Ghost before they was ever baptized at
all. You see? So, you see, it's the condition of your heart.
Then said Peter, "Can we forbid water, seeing that these has received
the Holy Ghost like we had it at the beginning?" You see? So then
he--he constrained them that they must be baptized in the Name of Jesus
Christ.
Then Paul, in Acts 19, said... Paul, having passed through the upper
coasts of Ephesus, he finds certain disciples, and he said unto them,
"Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?"
They said, "We not know whether... know not whether there be any Holy
Ghost."
He said, "Unto what was you baptized?" They was.
They said, "We were baptized unto John."
He said, "John baptized unto repentance, saying that you should believe
on Him to come, that's on the Lord Jesus Christ." And when they heard
this, they were baptized again in the Name of Jesus Christ. See? So
then that's...
66-47 Now, on
this, it's... But just saying that you were baptized in Christian
baptism at the age of thirteen, and you've lived a Christian life all
the way along, or if you've backslid a few times...
I don't know whether they got a... On backsliding, I wish somebody
would go to ask--ask me that. But on backsliding, remember, you
backslide every day. There's no way at all for you to keep out of it.
All right. But you backslide to the people in the church, but not
before God... See? You backslide on Christ, but you don't on God.
'Cause, if you--when you sin, you're gone. But you're constantly
falling. Paul had to die every day. Is that right? He had to die every
day, repent every day, and just constantly repenting all the time. See?
And if Paul had to do that, then I'm going to have to too. Aren't you?
That's right. So we...
But now, if--if you've been--if you've been redeemed and you feel that
the--the Blood of Jesus Christ cleansed you from sin, then I--I... and
you've lived a Christian life, I--I wouldn't think it'd be necessary.
But if you want to, all right, it'll be fine, we'd be glad to do it.
66-Q-9 Now,
here's a little note that someone give me back there:
9. What position will the church be in when the Gospel returns to the
Jews?
Now, the person that did this, was referring here to Luke, the...
He--he told me, our brother, that he was referring to where it said,
"The--the Gentiles will trod the walls of Jerusalem till the Gentile
dispensation would be finished." That's in Luke 21:24. Now, listen
closely and this may get it. Beautiful question, wonderful.
And
when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed about with armies, and know that
the desolation thereof is nigh.
Now, let's catch this close now. "The desolation is nigh when you see
Jerusalem compassed about with armies." Now, that's been a lot of
confusion right there with you people in the--But approaching it from a
historical standpoint with the Bible...
67-53 Now,
the Advent brethren, the Seventh-day Advent brethren, they believe
that--that Jerusalem will again be compassed about with armies. Well,
now, that could be true, 'cause Scripture has a compound meaning many
times.
And how many knows the Scripture has a compound meaning to every
prophecy? Sure does. Yes, sir. It'll say it and mean it just exactly to
this time, and turn right around and repeat it again back over here
somewhere. See? Like... And I'll refer to one of them if I can think of
it right quick. Oh, yes, here's one in Luke... In Matthew 2, said, "And
Jesus was called out of Egypt that it might be fulfilled which was
spoke of by the prophet, saying, 'My... I've called My son out of
Egypt.'"
Now, that prophecy, referring back in there by the prophet, was exactly
referring to Israel (which was God's son) He called out of Egypt
(That's right.) in--in Genesis and Exodus. But it--it was referred
to--to there, but was repeating again. "Out of Thy..." Israel was God's
son. You know that. He told Pharaoh, said, "You..." Said that
"You--you..." what he had done to His son, that He would take the
life... He wouldn't let His son go, so Pharaoh... God taken Pharaoh's
son from... and... or the death angel that night. So it's a compound
meaning.
67-56 And so,
now, as Jerusalem compassed about with armies, but literally,
historically, that was during about A.D. 96 when Titus had besieged
Jerusalem. But now watch this closely; you can see the different. Now,
I believe that Jerusalem will be compassed about with armies again at
the end time. But I believe this here was comparing with when Titus
besieged it, when the desolation bear out.
Now, "The desolation," speaking was when Daniel, the prophet...
"standing in the holy place." Notice, he said, "When you see the
abomination that maketh desolation standing in the holy place..." See,
the abomination, "abomination" is "unclean." "That maketh
desolation..." Desolate "do away with," is to "destroy." "When you see
the abomination that maketh desolation standing in the holy place..."
Scripturally fulfilled when Titus besieged Jerusalem, took their...
68-58 In
beginning of this chapter where they was asking Him, "When will the end
time be? And what will be the signs of the coming of the--of Christ?"
And they told Him about the temple, how it was, how goodly it was
adorned with great stones and things. He said, "There'll come a time
when there won't even be one stone left upon another, that this will be
tore down." He begin to give them signs and wonders. Then Jesus
speaking now, turns now to Daniel, to fulfill, 'cause all prophecy must
dovetail one with the other. The whole Scripture is not broken nowhere.
Jesus said, "The Scriptures cannot be broken." Amen. And there... Am I
going to heaven? Sure, I am. The Scriptures cannot be broken. To you
who don't believe in signs and miracles and wonders, how could you get
away from that Scripture? The Scriptures cannot be broken, no more than
Christ can (up here above), can be done away with. Just as His great
body above, and every move of His body reflects a motion down here on
the earth, it's bound to be. Then if Christ... if your... Divine
healing, the power of God is taken from the literal church, or the
spiritual church here on earth, then it's been taken from Christ. He no
more...
68-61 But oh,
what a picture as the true Vine there, and we are the branches in that
Vine. See? Just as the Vine moves, so does the branches move. Is that
right? How beautiful then of His great body, oh, His great bleeding
arms and dropping tears, and His bleeding sides, and His striped back
a-hanging over the earth like this between God the Father and the
mortals of this earth, a-pleading and loving them just as His body
comes into motion and power, it's given into the church.
Just as He said, "I'll move my hands this a-way," and His literal body
moves. "Go here; preach the Gospel," you'll see that church move right
straight. 'Cause, my shadow has to move with my hand. Amen. Is that
right? Amen. Oh, my, when I think of that... There He is, His body
moving, "Go ye into all the world, demonstrate the power." No matter if
we let our theology and teachings and so forth like that, we bitterly
fail. But now the hand of God is a-moving; signs and wonders are
appearing. Why, my.
69-63 Jesus
said, down there when He was casting out devils... Not getting off this
question, now, just for a moment. But Jesus said, when He was casting
out devils; He said, "Who do your sons cast them out by?" If I with the
finger of God cast out devils, who does your sons cast them out by? If
you got a better policy, show us." See? "If I with the finger of
God..." Amen. Just think, the "finger" of God. There's God above
Christ; Christ above the church. There's God, the Father, says
certain-certain thing; then God the Son moves His hand and the shadow
follows it. "If I with the finger of God cast out devils, who does your
sons cast them out by?"
Look, I want you to notice. Oh, no matter how great a disease or how
much affliction the Devil could put on you, just takes His finger to
move it. Oh, my. My. Look at them big strong shoulders and arms and
muscles. Just His finger moves every disease and casts out devils. What
a little thing the Devil is. He just takes His finger and moves him
away then. "If I with the finger of God..."
69-65 Now, let me show you some love of God. But when a sheep was lost, He didn't use His finger; He laid him upon His shoulders; and He took His whole Being, hands, sheep around His shoulder. The strongest, most powerful part of man is across his shoulders and back. You know that. For all of His arm muscles and muscles move out, and He's taking the whole sheep; put Him upon His shoulder and here He comes, not with His finger, to cast out a little, old devil, but here He comes with His... All of His muscles of His leg, all the muscles of His arm, moving through the wilderness, packing the lost sheep on His shoulder. Oh, my. "If I with the finger of God cast out devils, who does your sons cast them out by?" Oh, hallelujah. My.
69-66 All
right, back to the subject.
But
when you... see Jerusalem compassed about with armies,...
Then
let them which are in Judaea flee into the mountains; and let them
which are in the midst of it depart not out; and let... them which are
in the countries enter... into.
For
these shall be days of--of vengeance, that all things which are written
may be fulfilled.
But
woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those
days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon the
people.
And
they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive
into all nations:...
70-67 Notice
how beautiful here the Scripture is to make it specifically. First
thing, "By the edge of swords." This last one will be by atomic bomb.
See? But this is by the edge of sword, and the Jews was to be led away
captive to all nations. It'll never be that way again; they'll be
gathered in Palestine for the last time. See? This was referring to
days that's passed by. And that's just exactly according to history,
come to pass just that way.
They were led away into all nations. Every nation under heaven today
you find Jews. Oh, every nation, you go to China, you find Jews, go to
Russia, you find Jews. Go to the little islands, you find Jews.
Scattered in among every nation, what is it? God's prophecy. God
intended it. And those Jews are mileposts, brother. When you see them...
70-69 I know they're blind and led away, and deceiving and everything, but they was deceived by God that you and I might have sight. That's right. But I'll say this in the spirit of prophecy, by the Bible, that the hour of the Jew to return home is at hand. Yes, sir. He hardened Hitler's heart, drove them out of Germany; hardened Mussolini's heart, drove them out of Russia. He's driving them from everywhere like He did in the days when He brought them out. And then when they got out into the wilderness there and was ready to cross over, what taken place? God visit the land with great plagues and things, which He will repeat again with His two servants, the two olive trees of Ezekiel and also of Revelation 11. He will repeat those signs and wonders.
70-70 Look at
them two witnesses in Revelations 11, "I'll give power unto My
witnesses, and they'll close the heavens in the days of their prophecy.
They'll send plagues upon the earth as they will." There they are, the
two witnesses in the last days.
I know modern teaching is that that's the Old and New Testament. That's
wrong. That's wrong.
Here's the two witnesses; that's absolutely a return of Moses and
Elijah. You notice back there, neither one of them... Moses, he died,
but where did he go? He had to raise again. And Elijah was translated
even without death. He will have to die, 'cause every mortal has to, so
he will have to return back again. And there's the two witnesses.
71-73 Now,
watch:
And
they'll trod... And they shall fall by the edge of the sword,... (24th verse)...
of the sword, and all shall be led away captive into all nations: and
Jerusalem shall be trod down of the Gentiles, until... (Amen.)...
until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Shocking, isn't it, to know that we have a limited time? God said so.
The Gentile dispensation was issued in with King Nebuchadnezzar. Oh,
how remarkable. How much time I could spend on this, just for a few
minutes. But notice, everyone wants their question. But while we're on
this, let's think of it; because it's very essential now, right now.
Look. God led the people of the Jews. They were never a nation; they
were just a people. And they never was an organized church; they were
just the church called out. There never was an organization amongst the
Jews; they were always led by God.
Then when politically, nationally, they wanted to become--have a
king... And God gave them a king and it never did work. God's their
King. God's our King. That's right. God's the King of the church.
71-77 Now,
notice then when they were captured and carried away into Babylon
because they tried to impersonate the nations of the world... What a
beautiful picture today of the church trying to impersonate the world
out yonder, and carried away, carried away with their--their living.
The church lives just the same as the world does, carries on, acts just
like it, and everything else, and claiming to be the church. You can't
do that. No, sir. Your very life proves what you are.
What you are... As I said in the beginning, what you are somewhere else
is what you reflect here. What you are, what your celestial or
terrestrial body is up yonder, what your celestial body is somewhere
else is what you're reflecting back here. In the spirit land, what you
are, is what you are here. If you're still vulgar minded and so forth
in the spirit land, you're vulgar minded here. If you still got malice,
envy, and strife, you're in the spirit land with that, it reflects back
here. But if your whole innermost being has become cleansed and purged,
it shows that you've got a body out yonder waiting, that's been
cleansed and purged, and it's reacting back in the flesh. Don't you
see? See, there it is. "If this earthly tabernacle be dissolved, we
have one already waiting." See?
72-79 Now, in
this time, the end time, how that this carnal comparison,
impersonations of Christianity will all mingle up into one big Babylon
just like it did back there. And they were carried away into Babylon.
Is that right? And the Bible said, "The Angel of the Lord called and
said, 'Come out of Babylon, My people.'" Confusion, it's "I'm a
Baptist. I'm a Methodist. I'm a Presbyterian," all that's just
confusion. There's no salvation in it at all.
Now, don't say that I'm saying the Baptist people hasn't got salvation,
the Methodist people. I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about the
church and its political power, its politics. And of politically
speaking, because you're Methodist, or Baptist, or Presbyterian, or
Catholic, has nothing to do with it. God don't even recognize it, and
it's in Babylon today. And God's calling out a Church out of all of
them, pulling out the pure in heart, making His Church. How beautiful.
72-82 And
notice, I could state something here that would shock, but if--if it
is... Listen, now. Watch how Babylon... What taken place at--in--in
Babylon, when the force was brought on to the true worshippers?
Remember, just a little handful, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and
Daniel, of--of the true worshippers that went down into captivity, when
God called them to--to really show their colors, what they were... They
were forced into worship of an idol. Is that right? Idolatry, they was
forced into worship an idol, and they had to bow before an idol. And if
they didn't do it, they were persecuted.
Oh, what a picture you could pull out of Daniel, Revelation, tying
those together and show by the Scripture that the Church is coming into
the same type of persecution before She's called out. That's the way
the Gentile Church was brought in; that's the way the Gentile Church
will be taken out. As she come in so shall she go.
73-84 And
look how he saw the image. And now, remember, the image... Now, this is
home-place now. Look, I believe that the image that King Nebuchadnezzar
made was of Daniel, a holy man. If you'll notice, King Nebuchadnezzar
already had called Daniel, called him "Belteshazzar," which was his
idol, and he made--made a image, and no one after Daniel had been
throwed in this lions' den, and so forth, and he said, "No one should
serve any other gods, and so forth, but Daniel's God." It was probably
the image of a holy man, great statue, and everybody was to bow down to
this.
But the church, Shadrach, and Meshach, and Abednego... Daniel being the
leader, as Christ being the Leader of the Church...
And they was to bow before this image and do worship to the image.
Notice. And you notice, in those times Daniel was silent. Amen. Oh, and
I hope you get this. Daniel was silent, letting, they had to make their
own choice.
73-87 In the
day in the going out of the Gentile dispensation, there'll be an image,
and everybody will have to bow before this image and do worship. Though
it be holy as ever, you're not to worship an image (image-worship).
Now, notice. Oh, my. Right at the end Daniel steps in again. How
marvelous. That night before the great feast of the concubines and so
forth, there come a handwriting on the wall, "MENE, MENE, TEKEL,
UPHARSIN," across the wall. And the interpretation, nobody could give;
it was wrote in unknown tongues. Nobody could interpret It.
They went and got their best scholars. They said, "We don't know."
They went and got all their soothsayers and astrologers. "We don't
know. We don't know nothing about it. We never seen such language,
never heard such in our life."
But there was a man. God had His man; Daniel was there, said, "Go get
him," said, "for the Spirit of the Gods live in him."
So Daniel come up there, begin to read and interpret that language on
the wall, and he gave... What was the interpretation? Not, "Oh, blessed
be thou, O king, live forever," but it...?... a raw, burly, a flat
rejection of him. Said, "You are weighed in the balance and found
wanting."
74-93 Look,
that's the same way. As that supernatural brought in the Gentile
kingdom, so the supernatural is taking out this of the Gentiles. The
kingdom was ushered in by the supernatural; it's going out by the
supernatural. The walls of Jerusalem shall be trod, shall be... It
was... "Gentiles will possess it until the Gentile dispensation be
finished." Then God turns to the Jew. Amen. Oh, my.
Oh, friends, I wish we could get that right down good (Don't you?),
have about a week on that one subject (See?), so we could thoroughly
search it through the Scriptures.
74-95 That,
watch, listen--listen close now what He said. "Jerusalem shall be trod
down by the Gentiles until the time of the Gentiles be finished." The
siege of the--of Titus, then come in, taken in Jerusalem. He said,
"Now--now, you heard about the abomination that maketh desolation?"
"Yeah."
"Well, that's when the Gentiles come in."
"Yeah, we understand that," said the disciples.
"Now, the Gentiles has had their government now."
"Sure."
"Jerusalem under Gentile government then?" Yes, sir, the Romans, they
still had the government in--in Jerusalem. And it started back yonder
by the abomination that maketh desolation that Daniel spoke of.
74-97 Now, He
said, "That time's near at hand, for they're going to tear down this
temple and put up the Moslem of Omar, is going to stand on the same
place here, the Mohammedans, Gentiles. And it's going to stand there."
"Gentile" means "unbeliever." That wasn't the Church now. That was the
Gentile (See?), the unbeliever. Now, and that will stand until the
Gentile dispensation will be finished. Then when the Gentile
dispensation be finished, the great Prince is to stand for the people
Who is Christ, at the end time.
"He came to Him," in Daniel, "Whose hair was white as wool (like you
see Him in Revelations 1), to the Ancient of time. And the judgment was
set and the Books were opened. Books (plural) was opened and every man
was judged out of the Books, the things was written therein." Look, the
Books were opened, "He saw Him coming, and ten thousands times ten
thousands ministered to Him," saints come with Him. Is that right, in
Daniel? "And the Books were opened," that's the Book of your life, "and
every man--and every man was judged thus, the sinner, judged thus. And
another Book was opened," which was the Book of Life, "and every man
was judged."
75-100 Now,
notice, always remember, carry it in threes. If you don't, you're sure
to get mixed up. There was three classes of people born on the earth;
there was three classes in the beginning; there'll be three classes in
the ending. What...
Jesus returned with ten thousand times ten thousand, ministered to Him.
You remember him saying, "Is it not a small thing for you to take... or
an uncommon thing to take your business and your troubles to the law,
when know not that the saints shall judge the earth?" The saints judge
the earth. Hallelujah. I think of that, my. To see Him coming yonder
with the Blood-washed after the millennium, the redemption and the
redeemed of all ages standing in His Presence, the Blood-washed Bride...
75-102 Not
just those who are good people, they certainly miss the first
resurrection. The Bible said, "And the rest of the dead lived not until
the thousand years were finished." Is that right? That's those who had
their names written in the Lamb's Book of Life but refused the baptism
of the Holy Ghost.
Just the elect goes in that time. Just the elect takes the--the--the
millennium. Oh, then, brother, what type of people should we be? I want
to live through the millennium. Let us lay aside every weight and the
sin that so easily beset us. If the fellow says something wrong or does
something this way, pray for him and keep moving on. Let your one
alternative be set towards God. If nobody else makes it, you make it.
For there's going to be an elect who's going to live through the
millennium age and will go in and out with Christ for a thousand years,
and then they shall go up into glory with Him and return again. When
the resurrection of the wicked is brought forth, then the millennium
will set... After the millennium is over, then Christ will go up with
the church, and at the end of the thousand years He will return with
the church.
75-104 Christ
comes three times. The first time He came to redeem His church. Is that
right? The second time He comes to receive His church. The third time
He comes with His church. See? He come to redeem her; He comes to
rapture her and be caught away, in the time of the plagues and so
forth; returns back for the millennium, lives through the millennium.
And then the great King and Queen comes down for the judgment. The
white throne judgment's set; the Books were opened. And there stands
the redeemed, Holy Ghost borned Church of the living God, standing
there in her beauty to judge. "The Books were opened; judgment was set,
and every man was judged thus." That was the sinner. "And another Book
was opened," not for the Holy Ghost Bride; she'll never take it, 'cause
she's in the rapture.
If you're filled with the Holy Ghost this morning, and God's power is
moving in every fiber of your body, what good would it do for you to
stand in the judgment? You're already judged, and been received, and
filled, and already--already translated into heavenly places with
Christ Jesus. Not you will be, you are now, right now translated.
76-107 "Those
whom He called, He justified; those whom He justified, He glorified."
And every redeemed person in the world this morning that's under the
Blood of Jesus Christ, filled with the Holy Ghost, hath Everlasting
Life and can't perish, and is already in heavenly places with Christ
Jesus, and shall never come into condemnation. Already redeemed, isn't
that wonderful? See? Already redeemed, setting in heavenly places now
with Christ, and glo--already glorified, already glorified.
You say, "Brother Bill, does the Scripture say that?"
Jesus said that, or the Scripture says that, or the writers. Paul, he
said, "Those whom He justified, He hath already glorified. Those whom
He foreordained, He predestinated; those whom He predestinated, He
justified; those whom He justified, He has already glorified." What is
it? Oh, my (Excuse me.), already glorified. Then if we are filled with
the Holy Ghost, our fibers and beings has already been preserved in
God, there is a glorified body already waiting, and you have to go to
it as soon as this is over. Those who He has justified, He's already
glorified.
What I was saying awhile ago, the negative and positive. Wished I had
the education enough to bring that out and make it sensible and clear
to you, but I just can't find it. I know what I'm talking about, but I
can't present it the way I want to.
77-111 [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.]... Red Sea and all these things they're putting out the materials that's there, the Jews real rich, then that same thing will pollute their camp again. Yeah. They'll come right down, the cities of the world. Russia will come down, say, "We just got to have that stuff. That's uranium and everything down there; we got to go get it." And as they go down, then will be the battle of Armageddon. That'll be when God will stand like He did in the valley for the children of Israel and fight again. But that'll take place until the Gentile dispensation will be finished. And when that time is finished, she's cut off.
77-Q-10 [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.] Now, to
my humble opinion, dear person who asked this question here, to my
humble opinion about this:
10. Who these giants were in those days?
Now, Josephus there... 'Course I know our church is just like me.
I--I'm a seventh grade dummy, and I--I don't care about education and
things. I think it's the biggest hindrance the Gospel's ever had. But
yet, just sometimes, I pick up a book or two. Now, my dealings with
people like myself, we're just all on the same line, we're just the
common people. And I'm so thankful. The Bible said, "The common people
heard Him gladly." The aristocrats, then there was another class. But
the common people, just the ordinary run of people like we are, people
who love God, don't have much of this world, have their children and
families; we love God and like to go to church, give the--the clothes
off of our body for His Kingdom, anything like that. We love Him, we'll
do anything; that's the common people that heard Him. And it's still
the same way today: the common people heard Him gladly.
Now, the rich man's got too much of the earth to think about. See?
And--and the real fellow down there who you can't do nothing with him
on skid row, he just won't pay no attention to it. But just the common
people heard Him gladly.
78-115 And now
in Josephus, his writings, he said... Now, here was his interpretation
of these "sons of God" that take daughters of men. He said that the
fallen spirits that were on the earth...
Now, you know the--in the Revelations the 11 chapter--or--or the 7th...
No, beg your... 12th chapter of Revelations, the woman standing in the
sun... "The red dragon put his tail around two thirds of the stars and
pulled them to the earth." We realize that Satan in the beginning set
up a kingdom in the northlands to be more beautiful than what the--than
what the Michael was, and there was a day he declared war in heaven.
And he pulled two thirds of the angelic beings with him. Is that right?
That's the reason we're only a minority. I mean the--the--the side--the
small side of the people this morning, in the Christian realm, the Holy
Ghost born people, because they are in the--the--the little part.
That's right.
78-118 And if
you watch the spirits that come up out of Genesis and begin to raise
up, watch that real classical, high classical church worship. Look at
it back yonder in Cain; look at it today. Comes right down in, moves on
down through into the Pharisees. And there's two sects of them:
Pharisee and Sadducee. See, moves right on out, and look at it today in
Catholicism and great moves like that, great beautiful places.
But look at Abel with the little lamb (See?), just a common... Look at
it in the days of Jesus. Look at it all the way down through the
Scripture as you move it up, see how it is. We're living right then in
that day that when God has called His church all the way down through,
that little streak, little red streak that's come right down through
the Bible all the way of the Blood-washed people.
78-120 Notice.
Now, these "sons of God," to my opinion, you might certainly... Not
disagreeing or trying to act smart or say that Josephus didn't know
what he was talking about, but he was a man like I am. No matter how
much scholar he was, he was just a man. And the only thing he had was
research old Scriptures, and so forth like that, and old relics, and so
forth; but he had no more than what we have today, the Holy Spirit.
Now, he was just going by the natural mind.
But we're taking it by the spiritual mind. Those "sons of God," when
that they were angelic beings... I believe they are. And I--I believe
that the...
79-122 Now,
Josephus said the same thing, but he said, "They forced themselves, and
pressed themselves into human flesh, and taken sons--and--and taken the
daughters of men." Now, we're a mixed-up crowd; we're different here
this morning, men, women, and little girls and boys; and I speak this
so the adults would certainly understand. But when... He says that when
the angelic beings seen the desire of women, how men lived with women,
that they forced themselves into human flesh so... And they took unto
them the daughters of men.
Well, I--I don't believe that. I believe this, that they were born
there in Canaan, and they were born out of the--the group of Cain that
was sent forth to the land of Nod. And he had a mark upon him and
nobody would kill him, because of his murdered condition--murdering his
brother. But if you notice, even the Israelites found some of those
people when they went over there. They was so big, and he said they
looked like grasshoppers up the side of them. Is that right? Hundreds
and hundreds of years later there was great, burly men, big fellows.
And sometimes they do dig up the--the carcass of them, and they find
that they were great men.
79-124 Now,
where I think that come from... Now, here's a little of my own doctrine
now. It's just church folk. See? I think that Cain was the son of
Satan. I know you disagree with that; my own church does. But that's
still... Till God shows me different, I--I believe the same thing
(See?), that he was the son of Satan. 'Cause I couldn't place that
ungodly, murderous spirit coming out of God. No, sir. He had to be
after his daddy, and his daddy was the--the...
When the Satan got upon the serpent... And the serpent was not a
reptile; the curse made him a reptile. He was just like a man; he
walked upright. And he was with this woman out there, and she committed
this adultery and brought forth her first son which was Cain, the
nature of his daddy. And I believe that big beast was up like a man; he
walked upright, and that's where these great giants come from. Yeah,
that's exactly. Now, that's my own thought, and I--I could be wrong.
That's my thought. See? But they were great men.
79-126 And if
you noticed, God standing there before Adam and Eve, He says, "I took
you out of the dust, dust you shall return. I... And because you
brought your--you listened to your--the beast instead of to your
husband, that you took life out of the world, you'll bring it back into
the world."
And He said, "Serpent, off comes your legs (See?); you're not going to
walk up no more. And you're not going to be a beast; you're going to be
a reptile now. And on your belly you'll go, and dust shall be your
meat."
80-129 There's
where I think that that... Cain, after the nature of that brute that
she lived with, like an animal, that lived with this woman that brought
forth this child, which was half brute and man-like, a great big old
fellow... And then he went out there and his children begin to come
from him, and then beasts, sexual lusts like their daddy in the
beginning, that old lust beast found these daughters and things, and
took unto them the daughters of men. That's right.
And what brought on these fellows, sure, it come down through that same
lineage which was these fallen spirits that come upon the people.
Remember, the same spirits that lived back there, today, live today.
80-131 Look at
it today. Well, we've got people in this country that's... Now, I'm
not... This... I'm an American; you know I am. But let me tell you;
this is the lowest nation outside of Paris, France, that I know of
anywhere in the world. It's so degraded, why, even the foreign people
in Africa, in--in Sweden and--up there, they say, "What in the world's
the matter with you American people? Don't you all have no more respect
for your women? For all the songs on--on the radio, some kind of an old
dirty, vulgar song about women. Don't you have no respect for your
women over there?"
All our songs are about women, and sex, and lust, and things like that.
It's because the Devil has got ahold of it. That's exactly right. Old
Hollywood and televisions and everything is pushing out that vulgar and
ungodly stuff, will go to old newsstands and everything else.
Everything's some stripped women or something. That's exactly what it
started in the beginning, ending the same way. It's a shame.
81-134 And the
backbone of any nation is womanhood, when it comes to morals. And you
break motherhood, you've broke your nation. We've got to a place today
till our women smoking cigarettes, and things like that, and drinking
whiskey, and carrying on, and it's--it's disgraceful.
A young man to try to find a wife that's even a virgin, that's moral,
he'd have to go around some good little old Holy Ghost church almost to
find one; and that's exactly right, where a man just kept her in and
things like that, and got a little decency about her.
You might think that's crazy, but, brother, you look it over and find
out, and see if that isn't the truth. It's a disgrace. All right.
Them was the sons of God which are at... Now, that, I can explain my...
When--when I know if...
81-137 I had another question today; they say, "Why, Brother Bill, the Bible said Eve said, 'I have got a son from the Lord.'" Exactly right. It had to come from the Lord. The Lord's only Creator there is. He... God created the Devil. How's that? God created the Devil. God created every fallen angel there is. Is that right? Why, certainly. That was their choice, not His. He created you; what are you doing about it? You'll be judged the same as they are. There you are. Certainly.
81-138 These
were sons of God, but they had fallen from grace and had come into
these beastly men, and run out and lust. When they seen women, they
just got them. Why, they're still here. The immorality of America is
full of... A man without the Spirit of God, would throw a baby out of a
mother's arms and ravish her. Without God, he's not--he's not much
better than a beast. He's still got that beast, ungodly nature. And a
man with... They say, "Religion takes you... so a man go crazy over
religion." Religion's the only thing that can give a man his right
mind, that is, the religion of Jesus Christ.
I could prove by the Bible that you're not in your right mind till
you've found Christ. That's right. That's pretty strong, but I can
prove that by the Scripture. That's right. You become beastly, lustly,
and everything until you've found Christ Jesus. He's the lovely One.
81-140 Now, I'll admit that people study too much, and try to go too far ahead, and try to think too hard, and sometimes have mental breakdowns and things on account of studying about the Lord. You must quit that. You don't have to do that. The only thing you have to do is fall in love with Him, and just go right on loving Him. Amen. It's not trying to push into something or make yourself something you're not; just go ahead and let God use you the way He wants to use you. Just yield yourself; commit yourself and walk on, happy, singing, rejoicing. That's the way.
82-141 The
Bible said, "All things work together for good to them that love Him."
So just be sure that you love Him; that's the only thing you have to
know. Amen. Just love Him and walk on. Say, "Lord, I love You; You know
I love You."
"You love this?"
"No, Sir, I love You, Lord." See?
Say, "Well, don't you want to be... Wouldn't you like to be a great
preacher? Wouldn't you like to be this?"
"No. Now, Lord, what... If You want me to be, I will. If You don't...
Amen. I'll be right here, just a doormat at this church."
"Well, now, I believe if you do something like this the people would
think a lot more of your church."
"I don't care what the people think; I want to know what You think,
Lord. I--I'll just stay right with You, what You tell me to do. I love
all them, sure."
"Well, now, you know Sister So-and-so; you don't love her." "Yes, I do,
Lord. Yes, I sure do. I love her."
"Why?"
"'Cause You love her, and You're in me. And I have to love her, 'cause
it's You in me loving her out of me." Whew. That will get it.
But I think that that was those beasts that fell in there, that's the
lustly beast that fell. See?
82-Q-11 11.
Does the "sons of God" mean Angels or spirits from heaven?
That was the person's question. All right. I believe that they wasn't
Angels. See, they were beings, sons of God, like the Scripture says.
Not angels, they were sons of God. And they come from heaven to the
earth, and was put into flesh, not pressed themselves into flesh. I
believe all flesh is born sexual outside of Jesus Christ. I believe
He's the only virgin-born Being that ever was: Jesus Christ. And I--I
don't agree with Josephus on that, on the great historian. But I do
believe that they were supernatural beings that come down and took over
the spirit of men. And I believe they're right here yet today, still
walking around in Jeffersonville today, them same beastly, lustfully,
ungodly spirits, that live right in human beings.
Now, someday these men will die; and if there's another generation,
they'll come right down on them. Remember, God takes His man but never
His Spirit; this is the same Holy Spirit that they received on
Pentecost.
It's the same Devil in religious forms that persecuted the Christ, is
the same devils that's in church today, wearing long robes. And they
don't have to wear... I don't mean the robe over their body; I mean the
robe on your soul. See, "Why, the days of miracles is past; there's no
such a thing as..." You talk about modern Pharisees, just exactly.
83-151 However, the Bible said, "They'll have a form of godliness, but would deny the power of it. From such turn away; get away from it. Stay away; keep yourself away." That's still them sons of God, but they're in a fallen condition. See what I mean? Some of them are ministers; some of them are deacons; some of them are elders; some of them are bishops, just as pious as they can be. But the Bible said...
83-Q-12 Now,
I'm going to answer the question, brother, that you asked me awhile
ago. Somebody said:
12. Brother Branham, I want to know the place where I can tie down and
say "This man has the Holy Ghost because he did this, or this woman has
the Holy Ghost because she did that."
There's not a way in the world for you to know it. That's right.
There's not a way in the world for you to know it. God is the Judge; we
are not to judge. See? Just preach the Gospel; live...
83-154 A
fellow come to me here sometime ago; I was preaching about... I said
the other night. He come up to my house; he said, "Brother Branham,
brother, I want--I want--I wanted to be... I want to get rid of my
sins. I want to be a Christian." He set on my porch.
He said, "I heard about a great man, an internationally-known man by
the name of Billy Graham." He said, "I went to his meetings
and--and--and he said, 'All that wants to become a Christian, hold up
your hand and accept Christ as personal Saviour.' So I raised up my
hand. He said, 'Now, all stand have a prayer.' So I stayed and prayed
just (Pardon me.)--just as sincere as I could be." He said, "And,"
said, "didn't do me any good."
He said, "Then I went down to--to Oral Roberts' meeting." He said, "I
heard of him, and I heard they all had such joy." Said, "I went down to
Oral Roberts and I asked him, 'What must I do to become a Christian?'
He said, 'You get back in there...' I told him I had held up my hand at
Billy Graham's. He said, 'You stay in that inquiry room in there until
you're so happy you speak with tongues.'" He said, "I went in there and
I prayed till I spoke with tongues." Said, "I come out, didn't do me
any good."
84-157 He
said, "And then I went to another meeting, and they told me I hadn't
been sanctified yet, said I have to get sanctified and get happy and
shout, get enough joy. So I prayed and prayed till I--I shouted, but
yet still..."
I said, "Brother, every one of those things are correct; every one of
them are good. Holding up your hand, speaking with tongues, shouting, I
believe in every bit of it, but yet that's not the thing. See, it's
accepting the Person, Christ Jesus." See? See, it's not...
These things are attributes. Shouting, speaking in tongues, running,
shouting, crying, praying, whatever, that's just attributes that
follow. The first thing is to accept the Person, Christ Jesus. See? So
there's no--there's no evidence that we could say. Because a man cries?
I've seen man cry and cry, and cry crocodile tears, and he's still just
as big a sinner as he could be.
84-160 Listen,
Jesus has nothing but sheep. Is that right? The shepherd knows his
sheep. Anybody in here ever hear a goat cry? Brother, you better be a
shepherd if you want to know the difference. A goat will cry just
exactly like a sheep. Uh-huh. Let a little old billy goat get hung up
out there somewhere, and a little sheep on one side going "Baa," and
then "Baa," just the same.
And I've heard them down at the altar just a-crying and crying, "O
God..." sobbing away like that, "O God..." and a goat all the time.
That's right. Shouting? Well, my, I've seen them shout till they
just... And they run across the floor and jump up-and-down and shout...
85-162 Now,
you say, "Brother Branham, you don't believe in crying." Don't take me
wrong. Sure, I believe in crying. But I'm saying that's not no evidence
(See?), 'cause they both cry. I've seen them shout just as hard as they
could shout. Yes, sir. And just a-carrying on like that... There's a
long ways; you know what I'm talking about. I've heard them speak with
tongues, go out and live any kind of a life, just do anything. That was
no sign.
But you say, "Well, you're against it."
No, I'm, not. I believe in speaking in tongues; it's God's gift in the
church. If I'd take it out, I'd take a part of God out. If I take my
tongue--my tongue out of my body here, I wouldn't have a complete body.
The Body of Jesus Christ has tongues in it. The Body of Jesus Christ
here has tongues; and you take it out, take part of Christ out. But you
still can't say that that's the body. See, see, see?
85-165 But
it's accepting the Person Christ Jesus, and these other things come
right on in and they fit together. Let every member in this body this
morning, let this little group of people, if we could pull the curtains
down along on each side and every person in here receive the Person
Christ Jesus, there wouldn't never be a fuss; there would never be no
argument. There'd just be a perfect love. Yet you'd still believe this
and believe that, but it'd just be so full of love, you'd just... See?
That's it.
Now, Jesus said, "By their fruit you shall know them." And the fruit of
the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, goodness, meekness,
gentleness.
Now, I'm going to... I'll give you my estimation of what I think that
the closest thing to an evidence that a man is a Christian, than
anything I know of. You know what it is? It's travail of soul, a person
that's always so hungering and thirsting for God. They just simply...
Day and night they--they just can't stand it. They--they--they got to
do something for God. They--they're full of love and they're just a
soul-travail, just travailing all the time. The Bible said, "He that
goeth forth sowing in tears will doubtless return again, rejoicing,
bringing with him precious sheaves." Is that right? All those things...
85-167 Now,
look, if there's... If this church... If I'd say, this morning in this
little group of people and I... God say, "Now look, William Branham,
I'm going to make you answer for that group of people, what you tell
them. Now, do you want them all to shout?"
"Sure, I want them to shout."
"Do you want them all to speak with tongues?"
"I want every one of them to."
"Do you want them all to dance in the Spirit?"
"I want every one of them to."
"All right, well, that's very good, but what would you rather have them
to do?" Uh-huh.
"I'd rather have a church that had such a burden on their heart for
prayer that they just stayed at this altar and would be here day and
night, and everything else; and in their house, was constantly in
prayer, and humble, and trying to get people to come to God, and making
calls at the hospital, and visiting the sick, and trying to get people
to come to church and do right. I'd rather have that than all the other
put together; although the other is right, it belongs in the church."
86-170 But if I had to have it, I'd put that first. 'Cause if you've got that, the other will take place. Uh-huh. See? If you've got that, if you'll just get so hungry for God, shouting will take place. If you got so hungry for God, speaking in tongues will take place. If you got so hungry for God, you'll just keep on hungering, keep yourself. Now, you go to seeing yourself getting indifferent, just remember, look out, there's another spirit trying to work itself in there. Stay right before God, humble, with travail of soul. Just be all that good old fashion...
86-171 I can
prove by the Bible that the first time the Angel of God went over the
lands to seal with the Holy Ghost; He only sealed those who cried and
sighed for the abominations done in the city: Ezekiel the 9th chapter.
Is that right? Set a seal upon the forehead of those who sigh and cry
for the abominations that's done in the city.
Now, I want to ask you a question. I'll ask you this question. (Now,
we'll close just as quick as I can.) What would take place today if the
Holy Ghost went through Jeffersonville, New Albany, and Louisville, to
seal those this afternoon who would be at home, "God, send a revival,
just so hungry for a meeting. O God, look at the sins of the city. Oh,
isn't it terrible, God? Oh, won't You please send a revival, God. Send
some good preacher, send someone. O Lord, let the Holy Ghost just...
"Where--where would He seal? Think of that?
87-173 Now,
"Well, Brother Branham, what do you mean?"
I mean this, and I say this now reverent, walking on brittle threads. I
believe that day is about finished; them that's in is in. See? The
doors are closing together; you don't have that burden no more.
Billy Graham's had meetings all across the country, and Oral Roberts,
and all the rest of us. We've cried, and prayed, and prayed, and
everything else. But you see, the doors are closing. "Let him that's
filthy" I'm quoting Scripture, "be filthy still. Let him that's
righteous, righteous still. Him that's holy, holy still." And I believe
the doors of the Gentiles is closing together. See? The day, the time,
the season is just about over, just a few more to come in. The reason
you can't have no kind of a meeting like that, there's no travail of
soul. You don't--you don't get that burden.
87-176 I
remember years ago. You always heard them talk about the sawdust trails
and things in the Tabernacle. That didn't make it any more, not a bit
more. But then it was fresh; God was calling His church. I've seen them
sob and cry and lay on the altar all night long. I've went to their
houses, and you could hear them when you come up, just in their--in
their bedchamber, men and women, crying, "O God..."
You'd see them walk through the church, and I'd see the piano start
playing, "Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross," and the tears flowing down
there, you know. [Brother
Branham sniffles--Ed.] Walk
into this church, then walk down to another church, and hear them
there, "There's a precious Fountain..." "O God, save my boy. Save my
daughter; she's lost, Lord. Please."
87-178 You
don't find that no more. What's the matter? The Spirit of God is
withdrawed. Jesus said, predicted this, that the love... because the
love of many... the love would fail. "That because iniquity would
abound, the love of many would fail." See? See, grow cold, go away...
The love is dying away. And what they got into, just a form; beat the
piano up-and-down real hard, and holler "Glory to God. Hallelujah.
Praise the Lord." See, like that, it's just a form. Don't fool yourself
(See?), just to fool yourself. See, doesn't matter until we... I go
like this, I'm talk...
Now, I'm not talking about our Tabernacle; I'm talking about what I
find around the United States. It's become just a form, just kind of
acting what we used to have. And that travail of soul, it's just about
over. O brother, sister, God, have mercy on us, well, God have mercy.
88-180 Look at
these revivals and things just a-pounding and pounding and pounding,
and the Gospel being preached more clear, it's... Look at it today,
just as soon as a revival closes, away they go. You know what?
Let me say this. I don't know why I can't get away from this. But look,
Jesus said, "The Kingdom of heaven is like unto a man who took a net
and cast into the sea. And when he had took in, he took several species
of the sea, of course. He took in turtles; he took in snakes; and he
took in crawfish, water bugs, fish. See? And I believe the net...
88-182 Now,
look. Here's a turtle and here's a fish. That turtle can't help because
he's a turtle; he was a turtle to begin with. His nature is a turtle
and that's all there was to it. (Now, remember, I--I said I was
going...?...) See, he's a turtle to begin with; he's a turtle now. He's
a snake to begin with; he's a snake now. If he's a waterbug to begin
with...
And I believe the net has been throwed and throwed and throwed, till
just about all the fish has been taken out of the pond.
That's the reason they say, "Yeah, I held my hands up. Yeah, glory to
God. I want to be saved. Praise the Lord." And a couple days later,
"Oh, Liddie, you know that stuff is not--nonsense. I guess it was
right." Why? The nature in here is a waterbug to begin with; was a
serpent, to start.
The fish is just about combed out of the lake now. The net will be
dried. Jesus will come; He'll take His fish in then. See what I mean?
Oh, if there's one speck of Christianity in you, if there's one speck
of desire for you to serve God, hold it just as tight as you can this
morning and cherish it with all your heart.
88-186 "Sons of God taken unto them daughters of men." Sure they were sons of God. Today they're still sons of God, but they're fallen sons of God, some of them, Scripturally (Whew.) How they can speak the Scripture. They're sons of God. You know, Satan was God's right-hand man. You know, he knows more about the Scripture than any--any theologian--theologian in the world today. Talk about... He's turning seminaries up-side-down, especially this Baptist one over here saying that--that "Jesus Christ was born of a Roman, or a German soldier." I got a book on that; I want to show it to you some of these days. All right.
89-Q-13 Quickly,
Exodus... Oh, they'd a-never got that unless you put it back. I'll get
them right quick now. I know I'm taking a lot of your time. You all
bear with me just a few minutes longer? [Congregation
says, "Amen!"--Ed.]
13. Are the one hundred and forty-four thousand, mentioned in
Revelation, the Jewish remnant that we... will be part of the rapture
of the church? (over) Is not Israel, of the beginning of the...?...
(I'm sorry.)... goes into the time--time of the...
I'm sorry, just a minute till I get this made out. It--it's went
through; it's pushed through on the paper.
... to come to pass during the one thousand years of--of Christ rather
than that man can live as do these modern religious fellows. Yes, sir.
Now, just a minute to get this right. The question is:
Is the one hundred and forty-four thousand, which we are a remnant of...
I want to correct on that one first, just to be sure that you... See,
the one hundred and forty-four thousand...
Is the one hundred and forty-four thousand, mentioned in Revelations,
the Jewish remnant that will be a part of the rapture of the church? Is
the one hundred and forty-four thousand...
Now, just... I'm--I'm... I want to get this clear in my mind 'fore I
start on it.
Are the one hundred and forty-four thousand, mentioned in Revelation,
the Jewish remnant that will be part of the rapture of the church?
I want to get that first. The one hundred and forty-four thousand is
the Jewish remnant, but not the raptured church. See? Look over now in
Revelations the 6th chapter, you'll see then.
Then we'll get the other part on the other--other side and they have
another question in there. Notice these things.
90-194 All
right, look here now, Revelation 6, now, that's where you find it. See?
Now, we're going to begin; he goes ahead and talks about the horse
riders, and so forth, going forth. "When he opened the..." Let's get
the 9th verse of the 6th chapter of Revelation.
And
when he had opened the fifth seal,...
I'm--I'm--I'm wrong; I'm in the wrong chapter. It's the 7th chapter.
...
after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of
the earth,...
Oh, what a beautiful question, and what a little time to get into it
and have prayer for the sick.
...
after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of
the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should
not blow upon the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
And
I saw another angel descending from heaven, having the seal of the
living God:...
Oh, be sure, this is a wonderful question. See? Now, that's a dramatic
picture; John set out here away from the earth now, in Spirit, looking
back to the earth. And he saw four angels standing on the four corners
of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth.
Now, "winds" in the Bible... I haven't got time to run the Scriptures
for you. But we can get to this. If it isn't answered correctly, then
I'll get it some other time. The four... The "winds" in the Bible means
"wars and strife." Like in Job's time, you remember, winds came down
and--and took the sons. And you know what I mean; it--it's--it's
trouble. See?
...
and I saw four angels... (four
angels or four messengers)... they were standing on the
ends of the... or four corners of the earth, holding the four winds...
...
and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given
to--to hurt the earth and the sea. (Now,
that's the coming of the Lord, what he's speaking of. See?)
Saying,
Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed
the servants of our God in their foreheads... (servants).
91-199 Now,
remember, the Church is not His servants. We are His sons, not His
servants. The Jew is always His servant. The Church has never been His
servants; it's been His children. See? The servants:
And
I heard the number of them... were sealed: and there were sealed an
hundred and forty and four thousand all of the tribes of the children
of Israel. (Now, look,
all Jews.)
Now, watch.
Of
the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand... the tribe of Reuben...
twelve... the tribe of Gad... twelve
...
Aser... twelve... And of... Nepthalim... twelve... (and--and
on down.)
...
Simeon... twelve... And--and... Aser... twelve...
And...
Zabulon... twelve... And... Benjamin... twelve...
And twelve tribes of Israel, so twelve times twelve is what? A hundred
and forty-four thousand. Now, watch, all of the tribes of the children
of Israel. Now watch, them were servants of God.
Now, maybe I can make this clear. Now, watch.
After
this... behold, and, lo, and I saw a great multitude, which no man
could number... (Now,
here's another group. See?)... of all nations,...
kindreds,... tongues, and people, stand before the throne, and before
the Lamb, having white... having... Lamb, clothed with white robes, and
palms in their hands;
And
they cried with a loud voice, saying,... (Listen to
this Holy Ghost meeting.)... Salvation to our God that
setteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb.
And
all the angels... and around about--about the throne, and about the
elders and the four beasts,... fell before the throne on their faces,
and worshipped God,
Saying,
Amen: Blessing,... glory,... wisdom,... thanksgiving,... honour,...
power,... might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
And
one of the elders... (Now,
watch, now, that was... John was in the vision.)... one of
the elders said... answered me, said unto me, What are these...(Now, John
was a Jew and he seen the twelve tribes of Israel; he knowed them)...
But what are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence cometh
they? Where'd they come from? Now, you've seen the Jews; you know them
every one; you numbered them off in tribes and told how many thousand
were sealed. But who are these of every kindred, tongue, and nation?
Where'd they come from?
And
I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest.
John, in other words, "I don't know where they come from. I'm a Jew,
and I'm standing here, and I see my--my people and see them that's
here."
And
he said unto me, These are they which have come out of the great
tribulation,... (See?)...
the great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white
in the blood... (not the
membership of the churches)... but in the blood of the
Lamb. (See?)
Therefore
they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in the
temple:...
92-202 Now,
where does Mrs. Branham serve me at? In the house. That's the Bride.
Mrs. Neville, that's where she stays: in the house serving you. That's
where the Bride at, not the servants, the Bride serve.
...
in the temple: and they... sitteth upon the throne shall dwell with
them.
And
they shall hunger no more,... (They
missed a few meals, looked like, didn't they, when they was here)...
hunger no more, neither shall they thirst... neither shall the sun
light on them, nor any heat.
For
the Lamb which is in the midst of them shall lead them and feed them,
and shall lead them into the--to the living... (Just a
minute)... living fountains of water: and God shall
wipe... all tears... (That's a
crying bunch that got in there.)... from their eyes. (See?)
92-203 Now,
notice, they were hungered and thirsted, and cried, and moaned, and
begged, they come out of tribulation (said, "Look at that bunch of
holy-rollers; oh, they're crazy.")... Oh, my. Yeah. See? But they cried
and they begged; they didn't fuss and stew. And they just cried and
begged. And see, and they was all kindreds, tongues, and nations.
Now, the hundred and forty-four thousand of the Jews. Abraham was God's
servant. The Jews has always been God's servants. The Gentile has never
been His servant.
93-205 Now,
just... I have to hurry through this now, 'cause I got two or three
more. And I'll hurry just as quick as I can, and not to try to overrun
these. But I'll come right back and get them again next Sunday (if the
Lord willing) and spend more time on them.
But look. Now, he saw all four corners of the earth. There's a Angel
standing on the four corners of the earth. Now, you say, "I thought it
was round." That don't keep it from having four corners. You see? All
right.
93-207 Now,
"On four corners of the earth, holding the four winds." In other words,
here went the winds blowing in the wars and strife to come all over the
world. When did that ever happen? Never until the First World War.
"Holding the winds," and they were striving, going in to take over.
And now, here come another One. Now, if you'll watch and refer that
Angel, He's the same Angel that come out in Ezekiel 9, when the men
come from hinder their gates with slaughtering weapons and was going
through Jerusalem to slaughter the Jews. You remember? He said, "Hold
it. Hold it. Stop it, till you go through the city and put a mark on
every forehead that sighs and cries for the abominations done in the
city." Is that right?
Then after He did that, then He let them go in and slaughter. That was
the persecution under Titus. Now, you see, he's the same Angel come
forth again, coming from the east, from where Jesus shall come, and He
has the Seal of the living God. Glory.
93-210 Now,
what is the Seal of the living God? Oh, if that ain't a big dispute in
the world today. Some say it's keeping the sabbath day, and some says
it's for doing this and that. But the Bible said the Holy Spirit is the
Seal of God. Ephesians 4:30 says, "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God
whereby you're sealed until the day of your redemption." See? All
right. It's the Holy Spirit.
Then what come? Now, look. Oh, when I think of this, my heart jumps.
Now, He said, "Hold the four winds until (in other words) we seal the
servants of our God in their forehead (The servants, the Jews.)." John
turned and said, "I seen a hundred and forty-four thousand sealed
away." Now, the winds all started in, and they would've covered the
earth and the battle of Armageddon would've took place in the First
World War, but...
94-212 Now, I
have to get another Scripture here to show you. Jesus talked about the
people that, He said, "Some come in at one hour, and another hour, and
there was eleventh-hour people, the eleventh-hour people." Now, you who
are spiritual, read between the lines, 'cause I got to jump here and
hurry. Now, look. "Come in, the eleventh-hour people." And right...
Now, the first come in and received a penny, and the next come in and
received a penny, and the eleventh-hour people got the same penny that
they did at the first. Is that right? The eleventh hour...
Now, watch, the Jew is the milepost we're following him now. Now, when
the First World War come, it took every Jew; they scattered to all the
nations. Like the first Scripture that today was asked, how He would
scattered them among all nations; there they all are. And here come the
winds coming into Jerusalem, everywhere, a world war.
94-214 And He
said, "Hold. Stop it, until we have seal the servants of our God."
Other words, "We're ganging them in from all the nations, everywhere,
bringing them in, 'cause we got to get them right in here to seal that
hundred and forty-four thousand. Hold it."
And the World War I stopped on the eleventh month of the year, the
eleventh day in the month, the eleventh hour in the day, that the
eleventh-hour people could come in, the last call for the Jew. And he's
going to receive the same baptism of the Holy Ghost that they got back
at the beginning back yonder at Pentecost, be baptized the same way,
and everything, the eleventh-hour people moving in.
He said, "Hold it now, until we have sealed."
"How long You going to hold it?"
"Until we have sealed the servants of our God." Now, we--we're sealing
the Gentiles; they've been sealed away, thousands times thousands
through these persecutions and tribulations; they're sealed away. But
wait a minute, just a minute. Don't let the per... Don't let the time
come till we seal these servants." And he sealed a hundred and
forty-four thousand. Then the winds was let loose again.
94-218 Now,
notice, and since the First World War there has constantly been a
persecution against the Jew. Up raised Hitler for the Second World War,
and when he did, he begin to... What? He was going to tear the whole
world right around. Is that right? He was going to tear it up, and
right around. Yes, he was.
Everything had to be Communism. Do you remember when they was going to
put me in this jail down here? I was a-preaching this same thing down
here at the...?... Hall that night (Yes, sir.), saying, "There'll be
three isms. And they'd all heap up in one ism, and that ism will bring
forth a persecution that would send Jesus Christ to the earth again."
That's exactly so. That was Communism, and--and Hitler and--and Nazi,
and so forth; and how that Fascism of Mussolini, and Hitler, and
Stalin. I said, "One of them will take the place of it. I don't know
which one it'll be, but I believe it'll be the king of the north."
Surely you remember those things and how those has been taught in here;
and Brother Mahoney, you all from way back there though...
And they said, "If you preach that..."
95-221 And on
this N.R.A. thing, I said, "That's not no mark of the beast, certainly
not. It's a religious boycott, not that." I said, "That's just a
forerunner to get the people ready, and knowing that it's just
beginning. Right here is the beginning of sorrow; right here's where we
start in. Right here is when the--when the time begins to set close.
Now, notice, there at that time..."
Now, the persecution come upon the Jews, and they begin to persecute
them from every nation and drive them right into Jerusalem. Is that
right? Every one, they're going right... And you will have a hundred
and forty-four thousand. Look over here a little farther in Revelations
where John...
95-223 Mr.
Bohanon down here said to me, said, "I couldn't read that Revelation."
Said, "There was the Bride standing on the Mount Sinai." Said, "There
was the Bride up yonder in heaven." And said, "There was the Bride, and
the water... dragon spurting water out of his mouth to make war with
her." He said...
I said, "Mr. Bohanon, first thing of it is, you've got the wrong thing,
calling it the Bride." I said, "The Jews will stand on Mount Sinai, the
hundred and forty-four thousand. The Bride, correctly, was in heaven
with Jesus. And the dragon that spurted water out of his mouth will
make war with the remnant of the woman's seed," That was this group
here that had to go down, not that. See? The remnant of the woman's
seed, the sanctified church, without receiving the Holy Ghost, that's
the ones he make war with. See?
96-225 Here
they are, there's three tribes. Always keep them three in mind. And
here we seen, around, this hundred and forty-four thousand around that
great redeemed Bride. And just remnant was left, there they are;
there's the Jews; there's sealed a hundred and forty-four thousand.
Here's the ones that's sanctified that refused to get the Holy Ghost.
The church will persecute against... The--the Roman church and them
will persecute them. But the Bride's already raptured and in heaven.
There they are, placed exactly the way the Bible said they would be.
See?
So the hundred and forty-four thousand are Jews, God's servants. And
when the Holy Ghost Gospel is preached to them, and they receive the
baptism of the Holy Ghost just exactly like they did in the beginning,
the Gentile dispensation is finished, the church is sealed away, the
rapture comes.
96-227 The
Gentile day, the Gospel's been preached everywhere, hammered amongst
the Gentiles, pulling the seine, trying to get every fish there is in
the water to come in. And look at them, the biggest...?... The haul was
all turtles and water spiders, and so forth. Just as soon as the
revival's over they go right back out in the world again. The fish is
almost already strung up. See what I mean?
The Gospel's been preached. You don't hear no more crying, no more
moaning, no more sighing, crying for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
They like to come in, lay their little hands on them by the hundreds,
and they carry on and dance, maybe, or something another like that.
That's all right, but that's just the attributes.
96-229 The
Person Christ Jesus produces the real thing, and keeps that person
secured in Christ until He comes. There He is. And now, and that's why
there's no more crying; the doors is just about shut. The message has
went forth; it's about its last time, just a few to pull like that to
get into the Kingdom of God. The doors are closing.
Then what's the next thing? The Jews has got to receive the Holy Ghost
and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. Along they persecuted and
made fun of; and there, as soon as the Holy Ghost is represented to
them, they receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. The Gentile Church is
raptured. And those who refused, and just walked under justification,
the dragon, the Roman power, spurts the water, which will unite with
Communism, and take the church into a persecution like that. There they
are pictured exactly.
97-231 Oh,
brother, when we see it coming, that's the reason I'm praying. That's
the reason I'm crying to God, "Lord, let me get to those Jews. Let me
start in down there in Africa, work with a few of those Gentiles and
Mohammedans. Let me go over here in India and try to produce and show
to them the real Lord Jesus Christ with His powers, miracles, His
Baptism, everything, and the Holy Ghost." Then when they come to
Jerusalem...
Brother Beeler, this was what you was asking about. When they come to
Jerusalem and stand out there, and say, "Now, if Jesus is the Son of
God that raised from the dead, He knows the things just like He did
back there in the beginning; He can produce the same Life that He did
back there. And if He does, will you accept Him as your personal
Saviour?" And then show that God by His great powers and things of His
resurrected power, He's with us.
Then when they do that, say, "Now, you that have received Him as your
personal Saviour..." I hope there'll be thousands of them. Say, "The
same Holy Ghost that fell on the day of Pentecost is right here for
you."
97-234 Then
the Gospel goes back to the Jews right there at that time. Then
there'll be a revival amongst those Jews right there that'll carry
thousands and tens of thousands and... a hundred and forty-four
thousand into the Kingdom of God, will be sealed by the sealing Angel.
I trust that He's coming from the east. That's the way He is from us
now, with His seal in His hand. Then, oh, I want to be gathered in
there. "I've sent a persecution here and a persecution there, and I've
run the Jews and drove them as hard as I could. And they've drove back
in. Many Jews in the United States (which they won't escape from) has
already received the Holy Ghost. But I've got all of the hundred and
forty-four thousand standing there that's going to receive the baptism
of the Holy Ghost."
And right there, as soon as that sealing Angel begins to seal that
hundred and forty-four thousand, the Gentile Church door is closed, and
the Jews take the Holy Ghost to the Jews. And they'll have a revival
that'll sweep the entire world. Hallelujah. And the power of God will
be manifested amongst the Jews. Oh, how marvelous. Whew. Oh, my.
98-Q-14 Let me
see right quick. Isaiah, we got that sons of God. Now, let's see.
Is the Israel...
See if you could read that, brother. I... It was kind of run together;
he rubbed it out a couple times. It's hot... looking for another one if
you will, please...
[Brother
Neville reads the following question--Ed.]:
14. Is not Isaiah's meaning of the beating of the swords into
plowshares to come to pass during the one-thousand-year reign of
Christ, rather than something that man can bring as so many modern
religionists tell us?
Ever who you are, my dear brother or sister... Looks like a man's
handwrite. But anyhow, ever who you are, you are exactly right. That's
when the plowshares will be beat--or when the swords will be beat into
plowshares. That'll bring forth the millennium reign. And all those
modernistic religious cults that's going around trying to educate
people into the Kingdom of God... That'll be when God Himself will come
in the supernatural Being and in the supernatural power, to a
supernatural-believing people, and will receive a supernatural power
that'll mold God's sons. Hallelujah. It'll never be no more reading,
writing, arithmetic. It'll be by the power of the resurrection of Jesus
Christ. Then the world will study war no more.
98-240 Every nation today, every power, every kingdom is controlled by the Devil. The Bible says so. And one of these days the kingdom of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will rule and reign a thousand years upon the earth. And rapture the church... Exactly, that's exactly right, dear reader.
98-241 The
hundred and forty-four thousand is servants. The great number which no
man could... Multitudes which no man could number are the Gentiles.
Just a minute now, one more little thing on there. I can't... I'll just
have congregational prayer then in a few minutes. Look here, I think
this is more important right now. I want to pray for the sick, but
we'll hurry up. Instead of having discernment, we'll just go right
through. I want to ask you something. Is there even another one? I'll
just have to take this and get it next Sunday, I guess.
99-243 Look,
friends, on this, how beautiful... Look, want you to watch now closely,
this person who asked this question. The hundred and forty-four
thousand, now, that is the servants; they'll serve. If you noticed,
positionally, in the old Scripture...
Always look at the shadow if you want to see what the positive is.
That's right. Look back yonder, see what it is. Now, that's vice versa
since the Cross, and look what the positive is if you want to see what
the shadow is. Back there, it was leaning up to the Cross; we had to
look back there to see the shadow, to see what the Cross would be; now
you have to look from the Cross, to look back and see what the shadow
is. See? Look what Christ was in the days when He was here on earth;
what He was then He is now. This is His shadow. See what I mean? You
know, in the beginning when I explained it, that's what it is. Now, if
I'm looking from back there, I have to look what the shadow was to find
out what this will be, what the cross was.
99-245 Now,
one day there was sin in Israel, and there was a man by the tribe of
the name of Levi. They pulled their swords, and they went with Moses to
the camp, and they destroyed everything that was sin. Is that right?
God looked down and said, "Because you did this and stood for Me,
your--all these others will serve you. You go right into the temple as
priests." Is that right? "You stay right in the temple, and the rest of
them will work and will bring in a tenth and take care of you." Is that
right?
Oh, hallelujah. If you can see what that temple was, that the Levites
was the Bride. Now, when sin is a-wakening on every hand, the Levites
is pulling their swords. The Holy Ghost born Bride is standing out,
saying, "Jesus Christ in the positive is Jesus Christ in the negative,
just the same. Sin is still sin; it's wrong to do these things." That's
right; they're standing there with a Sword.
God says, "Come ye now, the blessed of My Father." That is the Bride.
99-248 There's
the servants, and look where the servants was camped. Twelve on this
side... I mean, four on this side, four on that side, four on that
side, and four on that side: twelve tribes. The twelve tribes are the
hundred and forty-four thousand. Look in the Book of Revelation; he saw
the city with its twelve foundations. Upon each gate was a name of an
apostle, and twelve gates. And around it was the twelve tribes
(Hallelujah.), setting around.
And in there was the Redeemed (Hallelujah.): black, white, yellow,
brown, and all that's Blood-washed will be His servants, He said
they'll be with Him. They'll... The sun will not fall on them any more;
they'll not hunger nor thirst anymore; and through a great ceaseless
age will they live and reign with Christ forever: Him, the King, and
them, the Queen, rule and reign forever.
100-250 The
Lord bless you. Amen. I'll keep these; God willing, I'll be right back
with them again (See?), maybe tonight, and answer them tonight or
whenever Brother... We'll get together and talk it. The Lord bless you.
You love Him with all your heart?
Oh,
I want to see Him, want to look upon His face,
There
to live forever by His saving grace;
On
the streets of Glory let me lift my voice;
When
cares all pass, home at last, ever to rejoice. (Oh, my.)
As
I travel through this land, singing as I go,
A
pointing souls to Calvary, to the crimson flow, (not--not
to the church; to Calvary)
That's where we're pointing: not to some theology, but to the crimson
flow, to Jesus Christ. "The life is in the blood," and He is the Blood
of God which is our Life that lives in us now. "Blest be the tie that
binds."
100-252 While
we're going to pray for the sick, I want a--a special right now. I want
Sister Gertie and her daughter, if they will, to come here. And this is
the original old song; I want you to sing it for me, "Only Believe." I
remember, was walking in that door, and this song has followed me all
across the nations. And I--I want them to sing; she was the first one
to play it, the first when I heard it. A buddy of mine wrote it, Paul
Rader. And before we pray for the sick, I want them to sing it while
God's blessings rest upon the people for the sick.
We've taken a lot of time. I'm sorry, Brother Neville. God bless you.
Do you love questions? I do. Oh, and them were real good ones; they
were just so good. And there's just another bunch. And, really, some of
them hasn't been thoroughly went through yet. Oh, there's just so much
to go through them. May the Lord bless.
101-254 All of
you keep your mind on Christ now, and let's change from the questions
back to Divine healing. How many's here to be prayed for? Let's see
your hands, wants to be prayed for. All right, we're going to bring
them forth and pray for them just in a moment, soon as our sisters
sings this beautiful song. While they're making ready, hanging right
above you now is the promise; this is His Bible.
[Sister
Gertie and her daughter sing "Only Believe."--Ed.]
Only
believe, only...
Now, you who are sick, move up around the altar now, if you will.
All
things are possible, only believe;
Only
believe, only believe,
All
things are possible, only believe.
101-256 [Brother
Branham begins humming "Only Believe."--Ed.] Now,
heavenly Father, we're so thankful today for this Scripture and for
this song, "Only Believe." We can hear You say to the father who had
the boy with epilepsy, "Only believe, for all things are possible."
Now, we pray, God, as these people are coming to the altar to be prayed
for, seeing that we are here, negative, just the negative; the positive
is just around us, the immortal Spirit that was upon us shall never
die. It will be all through the ceaseless ages. And we go forth now as
Your anointed servant to help our fellow man to receive help, for only
one alternative, Father, that is that they would glorify You. And now,
may each one standing here at the altar this morning, sick, suffering,
now may the Holy Spirit grant healing to every one of them.
101-258 And we
as Your little--little flock, that the sisters was just singing of,
"Fear not, little flock," we know, Lord, it's Your good will to give
the Kingdom to those. And we know that You're always near, for You
said, "Wherever two or three would gather in My Name, I'll be in their
midst. Whatever they ask, I'll give it."
Now, according to the Word of God which cannot fail, God's Word, grant
healing to everyone, Lord. And they're standing here, waiting. As we go
to anoint with oil, and to lay hands upon, and to ask for deliverance,
may each of them go to their seats, back to their homes, praising You,
normally, perfectly, and well, and return again tonight, Lord, at the
service, giving praise and glory to God for their healing. Grant it,
Lord.
And while we have our heads bowed:
102-260 Brother
Neville, come with me, if you will. I want Brother Fleeman, and
Brother... deacon, or somebody here, and Brother Cox, you all come here
and help me. It's all of the deacons here of the church is what I'm
calling for just at this time.
And as we pray for them, you can help them if you will. Now, I want
every one in here to be real sincere. And as we pray for the sick, I
want you to pray with us.
I see a little boy setting back there now, awhile ago walked out in the
hall there and had a hemorrhage. And the Lord Jesus so wonderfully
stopped the blood right. See? His mercy be praised, His Name be
honored. Just see how many has recovered in the last few days.
102-263 Just
think, the very Lord Jesus that was back there in the days of the
apostles is right here now. And it's just winding up the end of the
Gentiles. A great move is going amongst the supernatural believers,
'cause we believe that God is here.
Just think, your--your glorified body's right here at the Tabernacle
now, the Presence of the Holy Spirit which is your glorified condition.
You're glorified in Christ right now. "Those who He justified, He
glorified." And your own glorified body is standing near you right now
in Christ Jesus to give to you a strength like a charge going into a
battery. The Holy Spirit's in you. It's to charge your body to give you
new strength, to heal you from the sickness that you've got, to make
you well.
102-265 Now, I
want the church, if they will, with our sisters, if they'll sing that
song through again. Now, each one of you at the altar...
Now, friends, if I am a deceiver, I'm ignorant of the fact. I am trying
to be a Christian, and with all my heart I'm trying to help people. And
I'm trying to help you, God's children. And if I--if I love my heavenly
Father, I'll love you, His children. If I don't... If I'm deceiving
you, I've tried to deceive God; you're His children; no one can deceive
God. I'm trying to help you.
103-267 That's
the reason God is a-blessing my efforts. And maybe they're very poor,
and some of them I'm ashamed of, and God knows I'm ashamed of them and
repent of my efforts... But I'm doing all that I can to help God's
Kingdom and to help you children of His. Receive Jesus this morning as
your Healer right here at the platform, you'll go back to your seats
and to your home and be normal and well.
Now, if He will heal hundreds here, and thousands and thousands around
the world, why wouldn't He heal you? Just only believe. All right,
sisters. Brother Neville, I want you to come and anoint them. [Brother
Branham and brethren pray for the sick. Sister Gertie and her daughter
sing "Only Believe."--Ed.]