Ephesians #07
#2181
…grace extended to us at this hour, and we can come into Thy Presence, Lord, knowing You are here in a way that You have not been here over the ages, and we thank You for that, and we give You the preeminence, Lord, we acknowledge You in that way.
And we know, Lord, that because You are here in a Spirit of revelation, that Spirit of wisdom that gives revelation in the knowledge of Yourself we are so happy, Lord, that we can talk about You; and know that which is said is correct in this hour. Not only in this hour, but has been for all other hours in the ages to come.
We thank You, Lord, that that which we have therefore is something in which we know, having a great and wonderful effect upon us, O God, until the day is all over, and we stand forth in a new dawn of time that the world talks about.
Politics keeps talking about, churches keep talking about, but Lord, we know we’ve already entered into it, we’re just waiting now for the shadow to become the entire substance.
The two great realms have met, Lord, in a way that we do not perhaps fully understand, but we recognize, and we thank You that we have been allowed that recognition in this hour.
And, Lord, that we are a part of that great plan, and we are eternally grateful for. Solemnize our hearts therefore this night under the whole meaning of Your Word.
In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
You may be seated.
It’s certainly wonderful to be back here in the house of the Lord with you. Trust the Lord will bless us altogether. We thank Brother Petrie and his family for the time of recreation yesterday getting together, and it was very much appreciated, and appreciate the people coming out tonight.
Of course we’ll have a… I trust you’re set up for Communion and Foot-washing no doubt and then tomorrow morning service at 10:30 when we’ll be continuing in the subject we started on Sunday morning. Just barely got into it, but we’ll be continuing and knowing that the Lord will do us great good.
Now, because of the fact that we are into series of messages that actually blend together, one is in Ephesians 1:15-23 Sunday morning, and we took a recap on the first three on one Saturday night.
And this Saturday night we’re going to take a recap again up and to the message of yesterday morning, and it has to do of course with the Presence of the Lord.
And we’re going to read from Ephesians 1:15-23, and then we’ll look at It in a little different light then what we have looked at It previously in order to acquaint ourselves with the subject matter.
Now:
(15) Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
(16) Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
(17) That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
(18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that [you] may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
(19) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
(20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
(21) Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
(22) And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
(23) Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all [things with] all [things.]
Now, verses 17-18.
(17) That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
(18) [That] the eyes of your understanding being enlightened;…
Now, we don’t intend to go beyond the first portion of verse 18 which I just read, but we look at the entire portion of verses 15-23 to get a view, or understanding of what is:
Number one: A certain period of time. In other words, do these verses describe a certain period of time?
Or number two: Do they refer to a monumental manifestation of the Spirit and power actually apart from the period of time that we would suggest that it refers to?
Or three: Is it both of them combined?
Now, we’ll just kind of go over that again, so that you’ll understand more specifically what I’m saying.
Now, these verses set forth here are dealing with either, one: a remarkable description of what takes place of the time the Resurrection. Or, a tremendous discourse of revelation of Jesus Christ accompanied by great manifestation of His Resurrection, and is a part and it is different from, it’s away from, and not a part of the Resurrection.
But none the less, a tremendous phenomenon. Or could it be a combination that makes this a tremendous period just before the Resurrection?
Now, we better read the verses again and point out what we have in mind. Paul says,
(15) Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
(16) Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
(17) That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
(18) [That] the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; [you] may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
(19) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
(20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
(21) Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Now, concentrating on verses 15-21. We already know that verses 15-17 are separate and beyond verses 11-14.
Now, let’s just read 11-14 in the same chapter.
(11) In whom also [you] have obtained an inheritance,… [Now he’s speaking in the emphatic, that he has a revelation concerning these Ephesian people, that they definitely have already obtained an inheritance.] being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
(12) That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first [hoped] in Christ.
(13) In whom [you] also [hoped], after [you] heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that [you] believed, [you] were sealed [now he knew that they were really full of the Holy Ghost and sealed in] with that holy Spirit of promise,
(14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption [with] the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Now, verse 15-17 are separate. He says, “Wherefore, because of the fact that this has already happened to you I can now pray this prayer:” He said:
“Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints. That they have become a partaker of the Holy Spirit and now we’re looking forward to redemption.
Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.”
Now, the fact to the matter is, that those verses 15-17, could only be applied to those who have already received verses 13 and 14, wherein he says,
(13) In whom [you] also [hope], after [you] heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that [you] believed, [you] were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
(14) Which is the earnest of our…[notice, he puts the two together, the Ephesians and himself, both having the same experience like Moses bringing down the Manna, whereof he ate the same as they ate. The very same experience, the very same filling, the very same sealing,] Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Now, you would have to be in that category which is truly born again before the prayer below, could be uttered for you. And he says:
(15) Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
(16) Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
(17) That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom in the knowledge of [himself.]
Now, you’ll notice here that redemption rites belong to those in verses 13 and 14. They have heard the truth, they receive the gospel, they receive the Holy Spirit, they were sealed in to the day of redemption which is literally the Resurrection when the bodies are going to be redeemed.
Now, notice in verse 19.
(19) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
(20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead…
Now, you’ll notice that verse 14 entitles them to verse 19. They’re entitled to positively be in the Resurrection. To be transformed from death and the grave into eternal immortality. And of course, this takes in the Rapture and all else.
Now, we say here that if these people had not been born again, they would not be entitled to that Spirit coming in order to raise the dead. Because there’s going to be millions and millions of people lying in the ground when God speaks forth to the dead and calls those out of the ground.
As the apostle Paul himself said, “If by any means I may attain to the out resurrection from among the dead, or be in that First Resurrection.”
There is no way that you could possibly qualify them for verse 19, unless you had already received verses 13 and 14. You see? So therefore, he is not praying in verses 15-17, that God would fill these people with the Holy Spirit.
He is not saying that at all. He is saying that he is praying that whatever it takes, and it takes the Spirit of God to raise the dead, that they would be recipients of it. Now they are naturally going to be recipients.
Somewhere down the line they’re going to be recipients. But he’s praying that these people here as he prays later, and shows in Thessalonians that he is hoping that in their case, that Spirit will be there in order to raise the dead, which does raise the dead.
Now, let’s read carefully there in verse 17.
(17) That the God of our Lord [this Spirit] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.
(18) [In order that] the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; [in order] that [you] may know what is the hope of his calling, [in order that you may know] what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, [are,]
(19) And [in order that you may know] what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
(20) Which he wrought in Christ…
Now look, if they are to receive the Spirit in order to know this, what was the Holy Ghost doing up here in verses 13 and 14? You can see right away that he’s not talking about the same thing. No way! See?
Up here the Baptism with the Holy Ghost is the earnest, and an earnest is a temporary thing. There’s coming a day when the Holy Spirit will no longer baptize people with Himself, will put them into Christ. And He’ll be standing right there to raise the dead. Because the earnest is temporary, because It says, “until.”
So, the Baptism with the Holy Ghost is a temporary thing whether you want to believe it or not, but It does get you there. Takes you where you need to stand until that Spirit Himself that raises the dead can stand there. There’s got to be a cutting off-period in this hour my brother/sister, whether you believe it or not.
We don’t have too many young people here tonight, but let me tell you kids, smarten up before it’s too late. Smarten up before it’s too late. You’re going to find yourself sitting here with the antichrist, because you’re accountable. Got too much fooling around yet.
This is temporary, and when this is cut-off there is nobody, but nobody to come in. There’ll be no more saved. The foolish virgin are finished. The Bride is finished. It’s all finished.
“So, have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?” is a very pertinent question. Like Brother Branham said on the ‘Token’. “Well, Rabbi I think that’s wonderful. I think it’s great. That’s a marvelous idea about the shedding of the blood.”
He said, “Have you got it on your door post?” The chemistry is given away to the reality of the life.
Now, he’s speaking of these people here, they’ve already been born again. See? But it takes something more at the end of the day.
Now he said, “In order that you may know the exceeding…” In other words, the experience yourself, “the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead…
That is not the Baptism with the Holy Ghost. That’s what takes place after the last one is brought in, and is sealed in. And this is not temporary, this is permanent. If you ever make the Resurrection, man you can breathe the sigh of relief.
Of course you’ll breathe like you never breathed before. You asthmatics, you’ll never have one more breath that’s kind of hard to take. And you with a little bit of heart trouble where the little bit of fat or something around here.
And the nicest sometimes you just can breathe real deep sometimes, and once in a while you just feel so good, well, it’ll never change from that moment on.
All right, now these verses to me are spelling out part number three, that’s these verses right here, are spelling out the third part of three parts of the chapter 1 of the Book of Ephesians.
Okay, begin at verse 3-11, that’s part one. 12-14 is part two. 15-23 is part three.
(03) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
(04) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him: in love
(05) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
(06) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. [That’s put us in the Bride.]
(07) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
(08) Wherein he hath abounded [that’s absolutely overflowed] toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
(09) Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
(10) That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
(11) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him [that] worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: [which really would belong to those other verses.]
Now 12-14 would takes us part two:
(12) That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted [the word is hope really, hoped] in [Him.]
(13) In whom [you] also [hoped, that means an earnest expectation. That’s not just a trusted here… well it’s trusted alright, but the word is hope, earnest expectation,] after [you’ve] heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that [you] believed, [you] were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
(14) Which is the earnest [the down payment, that temporary given thing to you,] of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Now, that’s part number two. And the number three: is what we read in verses 15-23, so I won’t have to read them over again.
Now notice, verses 12 to 14 especially tell who they are of 3 to 11. Now he says over here:
(03) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
(04) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him, in love
(05) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children…
Notice, He foreknew and He called, and He gave him a destiny ahead of time that says absolutely, absolutely, this is the way it’s going to be, and nobody is going to change it, because I’ve purposed it, I’ve figured it, and I’m doing it.
And He said, “Let all hell stand back and try to stop it, and let heaven and earth marvel at what I’m doing.” And He said, “Nobody is going to get in my way.” You see?
(06) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
(07) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
(08) Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
(09) Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
(10) That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together [He will,] in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
In other words, everything that’s left up there when Satan and his gang is finally kicked out, and all the redeemed in the First Resurrection are there, and all the archangels and the cherubim and all those which glorify God, they’re going to be there and there’s going to be a Bride taken up there.
Everything that’s in Him is going to be gathered there, and then there’s going to be a gathering even beyond that after the White Throne Judgment, when He wants to dissolve the whole earth and all the universes. He’ll catch them all into the dimension there, they’ll all be in there.
Won’t be one missing. That’s what the word ‘perfect’ means. It means ‘absolutely, thorough polished and finished off, ‘ so that you can’t take one and you can’t add one. It means ‘a completion’.
Now, He’s going to gather these all in heaven and which on earth in Him,
(11) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance…
Now, he’s just spilling the beans here about some more goodies. The very fact it’s not just the matter of Him lining this all up for us, but He’s got a whole lot more things lined up.
(11) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
And even that inheritance. He’s got that worked out He’s going to give it to us. Now notice, who are the ones that are going to get it?
(12) That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. [And anybody else trusting in Christ.]
(13) In whom also… [now, Paul is talking about himself as one, and the apostles who came in.] In whom [you] also trusted, after [you] heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that [you] believed, [you] were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
(14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Now, that tells you who verses 1 to 11 are fulfilled in. It’s to those who are filled with the Holy Ghost. There is absolutely no miss, there is no way that anybody born again will ever miss this. See? Now, and verses 15-23 tells of 12-14, right here now, those in 12-14 born again:
(15) Wherefore I also, after I [know you’re born again, know] of your faith, [know of your] love…
He said, “There’s nothing to stop me from screaming and rejoicing, and praising God for you;”
(16) …making mention of you in my prayers;
(17) That the [Father] of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: [See?]
He’s praying that these verses be fulfilled in 12-14, the same as verses 3-11 are fulfilled in 12-14. Do you follow me? Well, just keep listening and keep putting down what I’m telling you, put it in your minds.
Now watch: he says this here:
(18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; [you] may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
(19) …the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
(20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
(21) Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Now listen, those verses fulfilled 9-11.
(09) Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
(10) That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
(20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
(21) Far above all principality, might, and dominion, and every name that is named…
Now notice, these people full of the Holy Ghost are to be right up there in verses 20 and 21. So, you see what we’re talking about. Three parts. Ephesians [1:] 3-21, and in there, there is 3-11 that sets forth God’s master plan. Verses 12-14 tells you who inherit It.
Then verses 15-21 delineate and says that also is given to those in 12-14. And what It’s telling you is, that 15-21 is 9-11. How It’s being done. You follow it? Huh? Well, some of you look like you’re getting it, and some don’t. Might as well just tell you flat. If you look vacuous, I look at you, I just tell you’re looking vacuous.
All right, for you that are getting it pretty good, and you that are vacuous, you that got it, it isn’t going to hurt you to get it again.
All right, look: we’re looking at three parts to this chapter. He starts out in the infinite mind of God.
(03) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath…
(04) …chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,… [and so on, and so on.]
You’re going back to the infinite God. In verses 20 to 21, you are raised up to be with the infinite God. You see it?
All right, the infinite plan is: that God purpose that at a certain time which is called ‘the dispensation of the fullness of times’, He would gather them in. Now the point is, who qualifies? Who’s going to get it? Those full of the Holy Ghost.
Now, this people 12-14 are going to get 3-11. Now then, verses 15-21, show you how it’s absolutely going to take place. They are going to be having bestowed upon them verses 17-21.
Now, what are verses 17-21 actually? What I told you, 9-11,
(09) Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
(10) That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
(11) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance,…
And It says:
(20) Which he wrought in Christ,… [now this Bride here is going to know the power of God that raised Jesus] from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
(21) Far above all principality, might, and dominion, and every name that is named,… [then where’s the Bride? She’s right up there.]
So, that’s the fulfillment in verse 10 that God wants for her. But who are those that God wants this for? Those that are born again full of the Holy Ghost. You see?
Now then, those that are full of the Holy Ghost are entitled to verses 17 and 18, in order to come to verse 19, which throws them into 20 and 21, which is the consummation of the plan. Okay, so we understand that right?
Now, you follow me here, so sort of repeating, Ephesians 1:3:11. God’s great plan and God’s way of accomplishing that plan of the entire Logos and attributes gathered together. And they’re gathered together, verses 22 to 23,
(22) And… put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
(23) Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all… [things with all things,] [In other words, the Logos and all that accompanies the Logos attribute-wise, power-wise, the whole thing comes into a consummation with Christ and the Bride Raptured.]
Now, Ephesians 1:12-14, they are those who are a part of it, as It says over here in,
(12) For as the body is one, and many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
(13) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, [he’s talking about the body of Christ, talking about the Bride,] whether Jew or Gentiles, bond or free; and been all made to drink into one Spirit.
And verses 15-21, the outworking or actual way that God brings those of verses 12-14 into verse 10, and 21-23. And verse 10 was, He’s going to gather them all together, and this tells you how He does it. God does it, and He tells you how He’s going to do it. Now that’s what we’re looking at.
Now, I’m going to tell you something: I’ve got a lot of books in my library and on Ephesians. I’ve got a lot of books in theology, and I’m going to tell you flat, ain’t nobody in the world teaching this Message the way you’re getting it here tonight.
For one reason, it’s based upon what the prophet taught, because he said that Spirit in verse 17 was the Spirit of wisdom. He tells you right here, the Spirit of wisdom comes into the Church, to make known to the Church by the revelation of the Holy Spirit, bringing the Church in and revealing what day we’re living in.
Just the same as Gabriel came to Daniel. The Holy Spirit comes to the Church in the last days to reveal the deep secret things of God.
Now, he says, “The entire Holy Spirit visits the Church making God in human flesh as He did before Sodom.”
Now, you’re not going to find that in any books of theology. It’s one of the two smartest men ever living was, Hogg and Vine and they haven’t got that figured, but they did a pretty good job as far as they could go. The world doesn’t understand what’s going on.
Now, let’s understand this my brother/sister, prophecy comes to indicate certain things. But the prophets themselves many times do not know when that thing is going to take place. Then I ask you a question, how does anybody know? God does it! Then the people know what was done, because it’s explained to them.
Now, I ask you a question: does this hold good here? Or suddenly everybody got so smart they got all the answers. They’re so smart right today, oh they can’t have prophets after all, God spoke in the Son. What did they say?
Said, “Hear him.” What did he say? That’s got a Baptist theologian, or some seminarian to tell us. Drop dead buddy, I’ve had my gamut of those, on the gamut of that bunch of birds. Closest I’ll come to trusting anything, or anybody is a prophet. At least I’m scriptural. See?
Now, this is the understanding I have and I approach this chapter on that how God gets the people into a Resurrection and a Rapture. How He gets them placed in the dispensation in the fullness of times, getting them up into heaven and everything in one vast tremendous union there.
I understand this to be the way that He is to do It. And I understand by Scripture that this must be taking place when I am introduced to It. See? It always has been that way. But we’re going to look at the other views which I mentioned.
Does this have to do with the Resurrection period? Or is this a simple, not so much a simple, but a tremendous manifestation of the witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ?
Now, the view based on 19-21. Is this simply a manifestation to prove the Resurrection of Jesus Who is the Christ, and a great power revival? For It says here, The Spirit coming into the Church will cause the people to know His Presence.
(19) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
(20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
So, what I want you to understand what I’m looking at is this: Is this not something that has to do with the Resurrection period, that It doesn’t? That we can read this with the understanding that God has promised actually what it amounts to a Charismatic revival.
So that Christ is greatly revealed to the people. Actually you don’t find him talking about the revelatory part. You just hear him talking about the power part. But could it be that this is a period where Christ comes into preeminence on the basis of a fantastic power of revival that proves His Resurrection?
All right, let’s begin looking at some Scripture. Because you see, this is exactly where Pentecost took what I’m talking about with the prophet. Might as well tell you flat.
(01) Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
(02) For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
(03) How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
(04) God bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his will?
Now, It says right here that God absolutely granted phenomena of a most extreme and tremendous order, that He might prove the fact of Jesus Christ’s redemption through birth, death, and Resurrection, that God did it.
Now, with that thought in mind that God positively demonstrated and witnessed through the Holy Ghost what He was doing, and what was done we go back to the Book of Acts,
(01) And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
(02) Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
(03) And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
Okay, let’s read now in Acts 3:11-18, and see what stirred those boys up.
(11) And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
(12) And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, [You] men of Israel, why marvel [you] at this? or why look so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
(13) The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom [you] delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
(14) But [you] denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
(15) And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Now listen, because God did this to this man:
(16) And [Jesus’] name through faith in [Jesus’] name hath made this [weak] man strong, whom [you] see and know: yea, the faith which is by [Jesus] hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
(17) And now, brethren, I [know] that through ignorance [you] did it, as did also your rulers.
(18) But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
(19) Repent [you] therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,…
Now, you notice right there that this man’s healing was a testimony a witness, or as Brother Branham put it one time, “an earnest to the Resurrection.” You see? As he also put it, “that this One that raised from the dead was doing the same things in the Spirit that He had done in His body.”
Okay, now we go to,
(14) And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. [Pretty hard to clobber evidence like that.]
(15) But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
(16) Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. [Well, the best thing is spread a few lies about him, or beat the stuffing out of him.]
(17) But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
Do you realize what they were doing? They were cutting their throats, because Jesus is Jehovah Savior. In other words, they were denying the very Name of Almighty God. Oh brother.
(19) But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge [you].
(20) For we cannot but speak the things [that] we have [heard and that we have seen.]
(21) So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
(22) For the man was above forty years [of age], on whom this miracle was [shown].
(33) And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them…
In other words, a witness to the Resurrection was a continuous stream of miracles and wonders, and things that God was doing.
Now, let’s go back to Acts 2:4, and you’ll begin to see what I’ve got in mind as I get into this explaining It.
(04) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
(14) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
(15) For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
(16) But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
(17) And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
(18) And on my [men] servants and on my [women servants] I will pour out [my Spirit] in those days, and they shall prophesy:
(22) Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as [you] yourselves also know: [so try to prove me wrong.]
(23) Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, [you] have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
(24) Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
When he said, “I lay my life down, when I take it up again,” brother that was the exact truth, because He was more than a man. He had the nature and form of a man, He was more than a man.
And that wasn’t just God speaking that in the sense of the alienable God with His alienable rights, but that’s that One standing there as a man, the last Adam, the second man, Who can stand up and say, “I’ll lay my life down, and there ain’t no way that anybody is going to keep Me down.”
Because it wasn’t possible to hold Him. Boy, you can see what a sinless life is like. Man dare to live above the things of this world what he amount to. He doesn’t have to be Jesus Christ either.
(25) For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
(26) Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
Now he’s talking about the fact that what’s attributed to him through Jesus’ death.
(27) Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. [David could rejoice in what Jesus went through. See?]
(28) Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
(29) Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
Now it didn’t say David was there, he said his sepulchre was. He could have been in that First Resurrection. No doubt was.
(30) Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
(31) He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither [did] his flesh [suffer] corruption.
(32) This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Now, they didn’t all see Him. Just about five hundred saw Him for those forty days. Twelve saw Him, Paul saw Him out of due season. He was seen maybe of six hundred people maximum if that. He’s talking about the signs and wonders that were done.
(33) Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
(34) For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
(35) Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
(36) Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom [you] have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Now, you can see that to believe the portion in Ephesians 1:17-21 as a Charismatic movement is entirely fallacious. It is an entirely fallacious exegesis of this Scripture, because Acts 2:1-4.
(01) …the day of Pentecost was fully come, [the Holy spirit came down] they were all [filled with the Holy Ghost…]
Is,
(13) In whom [you] also trusted, after that [you] heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that [you] believed, [you] were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
(14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Acts 2:1-4 is Ephesians 1:12-14. See? And had already… Acts 2:1-4 had already accomplished the proof of the true person of Jesus, established His Resurrection and Hebrews 13:8 places It without fail or interruption in the Church.
That’s why Brother Branham said, “The Church is well…Oh, ‘He’s the same yesterday, today and forever’. but He doesn’t heal.” Drop dead. You never did have the Holy Ghost. Don’t talk to a man of God full of the Holy Ghost, that you got the Holy Ghost you’re nothing but a liar.
Because that man is going to stand in the White Throne Judgment and condemn you all the more. You follow what I’m saying?
You can’t say that Ephesians, that this Book of Ephesians then here 1:17-21 is a great charismatic revival showing the Resurrection of Jesus and pointing out that He is Lord. You don’t need it. The mere Baptism with the Holy Ghost does it. See?
That’s why He’s the same yesterday, today and forever in the Church, and the Church never did repudiate the signs and wonders. And you can read your history which I will say the Pentecostal’s made too much of, just like the Baptist tried it to poor old doctor Carroll tried to trace the Baptist all the way back to John the Baptist, and said they never were Protestants or organization.
And I said, “How could a man of his intelligence be so absolutely idiotic. That mean that you’d have to prove everyone of your ancestors had gone back to John the Baptist.” And then you’re getting into papal succession by virtue of the fact of a blood birth.
Listen, even the Baptist vomited on that one. They were just as upset as the Catholic’s were when the pope said that Mary is ascended into heaven. How many folks used to be Catholic?
You take that old theory that… what was it? pope Pius, I think it was, that said that he just got a revelation, he stood there three times and thundered, “Mary has been ascended bodily to heaven.”
And the poor Catholic theologians all just bled tears, real tears of blood. But being good Catholic’s they had to say, “Yes, popie ol’ boy you’re right.”
Mary is not ascended into heaven. I’m sorry she’s yet to get there with the rest of them. The Baptist are just as bad. Don’t blame the Catholics. Protestants just…you people think I’m after the Catholics, I’m going to tell you flat, I think I’m a little pro-Catholic than I am Protestant.
Because the Protestant ain’t got no protest anymore, and the Catholics still believe just about what they believe that there’s a pope and he’s got a right to say things. Protestant’s are a mess. See?
How in the world can somebody say, they’re baptized with the Holy Ghost and deny “He’s the same yesterday, today and forever,” then mouth it all on one side then say, “He doesn’t heal anymore?” See, it’s not a charismatic …?… alright.
Then is it the two things combined? Is it a repeat of Pentecost? The answer is “yes and no.” See?
The reason that it is ‘yes and no’, is because the very ministry that Jesus performed in the days of His flesh was repeated after Pentecost, and Jesus’ true identity was established thereby at that time. But, it never brought a Resurrection.
Never brought a Resurrection. There’s no doubt that if Jesus was proved to be that Christ and risen from the dead by those miracles. No doubt in the Holy Ghost in the lives of men He was doing the same thing when He did upon earth. He was raising the dead. He was healing the cripples. He was doing tremendous things.
No problem. But there was no Resurrection. No time for It. It couldn’t bring about a Resurrection per se. What It did, It guaranteed certain people they would be in the Resurrection. But in itself was temporary. It was until that day. This is that day today.
One of these days the people will no longer receive the Holy Ghost. Brother Branham categorically said so. He said, “He’ll be gone back.” And he said, “The church will be preaching to the total lost.”
Then those people say, “Brother Branham’s got to come back and do it.” Is he the whole church? They better get to know the rest of his quotes too, instead of talking one or two and let a lot of hot air nonsense degrade a wonderful man of God down to that kind of level.
The Resurrection power at the time manifested, now listen: the Resurrection power at that time manifested was not toward the believer to change him and bring the dead out of the grave, but was merely a witness, or earnest of the personal Resurrection of Jesus, which witnessed was toward the unbeliever.
It was toward the unbeliever. It was to convince and convert as It says concerning even tongues in 1 Corinthians 14:21-22, where It tells us here:
(21) In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
(22) Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but [prophecy see,] serveth not for them that believe not, but them which believe.
You’ve got the same thing right today. Tongues is a witness against the world, but the prophet came for the believer, he hasn’t got a thing for the unbeliever. So back in those days when after Pentecost, when the Holy Ghost filled those men and they went out like giant houses on fire in a windy day.
That wasn’t toward the believer, the believer already had it. It was toward the unbeliever. And when that Pillar of Fire came down whirling and screaming over Brother Branham’s head, he had to say the same thing that the prophets of old said, “This is not for me, I believe It’s for you.”
And on the bank [of the river] the unbeliever would begin to see something.
Now, what we are seeing here therefore is a special visitation of God, (that’s in Ephesians 1) making Himself known in a personal revelation to the Bride, and raising the dead.
Okay, Ephesians 1:17-18. Now notice he’s praying concerning those that he lets in on the revelation of what lies ahead of them, they’ve got it, because they’re full of the Holy Ghost, and those full of the Holy Ghost he says:
(17) That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you [who are Bride] the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Now this is important:
(18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that [you] may know what is the hope of his calling,…[what He’s doing.]
Notice over here It tells you what He’s doing for you. Now there’s something different about this which does not lie in verses 3-11. There’s something different here.
(18) …and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
(19) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
(20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead…
And It tells you that same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is going to be there in power and in revelation for the Bride. And the revelation precedes the Resurrection and the Rapture. And I don’t care what anybody says. We’re right down to the nitty-gritty, are we going to believe God or not believe God?
I’m going to tell you people something: let’s get this flat, we’ve got engineers here, and people who understand chemistry. So I’m going to tell you something that you know: there’s a certain doctor down in Macon, Georgia, there’s a chiropractor that he goes to in Valley Fort.
Now, this doctor in Macon is an exceptionally good, ear, eyes, nose, and throat if he’s still living, and he has made a certain inhalant and spray for the throat, and it works wonders. I’ve had a little bit used on me. Now, you’ve got to go to him to get it.
“Oh,” you say, “Brother Vayle, we’ve got such great science spectroscopes and this kind of a scope and that kind of a scope, bless God, and isotopes and whatever they got and all these wonderful things; we’ll just run it through our machines and we’ll tell what’s in it.”
Wonderful, go ahead and do it. But I challenge to make his product. You can’t do it, because first of all, you don’t know where he got his stuff. Secondly, you don’t know how he got it out of the stuff he got it out of.
Thirdly, you don’t know what order he mixed it. Now you prove me wrong. Right? I’m a hundred percent right, because I know what I’m talking about.
Now, people try to do this with the Bible. Go ahead. Go ahead and sputter and blubber and tell, “Oh I don’t have to have this.” Science so called, stupid. Theologian’s so called, and lay members, stupid. “Oh, I got the Holy Ghost, I don’t need this. Who needs Elijah, I got the Holy Ghost.”
If you had the Holy Ghost, you’d recognize what God said. Oh, I’m tough to deal with, certainly. I’ve learned this much anyway.
I’m not a scientist, I know this one thing: Hey, there’s no scientist living can take every ingredient unless he knows certain things to make those same, that same formula work the way another man can make it work.
And another thing, let’s face it, you can even raise plants, and if you’ve haven’t got a certain touch, that plant will never do for you what it’ll do for somebody else with the touch.
I’m trying to tell you they leave out God, though they seem to say, “Oh we love God, and we have God.” You believe God and got the Holy Ghost, and then turn this down? There’s no way.
Now, this Scripture in Ephesians 1:17-21, is only one portion of the Word devoted to this subject. Now, someone come along and say, “Well hey, you’ve got an isolated pass to the Scripture.”
I don’t care if there’s only one verse that said this. No way are you going to duck It. See. It’s just like election, predestination, foreordination.
If you think that can’t be proven in one Scripture, I’ll prove it to you. “And John the Baptist had the Holy Ghost from his mother’s womb.” Now you try to tell me that there’s any other way in what I just said.
“Oh, Brother Vayle, we got to repent.”
Go ahead and repent. Have fun, do it lots of times. I’m sarcastic on purpose. People can repent, repent, repent. You don’t get the right change, where are you all at?
Oh, a lot of people run around repent, to get as religion, that religion, next religion. They repent a hundred and one times. But if you don’t have repentance unto salvation granted by God, forget it.
They just run around a bush like a poor old dog out there on his whirly tether. Barking up the wrong tree at that. Get the picture. Get the picture.
All right, there’s more Scripture… devoted to this subject. Notice how Peter in Acts 3 brings up this very subject by slanting It in on the return of Jesus. Let’s take a look at It.
Here’s Peter in year thirty-three and a half, somewhere in that area, thirty-three and a half about, talking about the return that we’re into 1948 years later. Acts 3:14-18a, we read that awhile ago.
(14) But [you] denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; [So they got it.]
(15) …killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
(16) And [Jesus’] name through faith in [Jesus’] name hath made this [weak] man strong, whom [you] know: yea, the faith which is by [Jesus] hath given this [weak man this] perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
(17) …now, brethren, I [know] that through ignorance [you] did it, as did also your rulers.
That’s what Paul said. “Had your rulers and princes known that they would not of crucified the Lord of glory.”
In other words, you can see Scripture a hundred percent fulfilled and explained to you, and go away madder than a hatter and try to kill it. How many Gamaliel’s do we have in this hour of intemperance? Not very many.
You know, this old lukewarm age sure breeds a lot of junk. You know, lukewarm conditions aren’t good. You know what lukewarm conditions are? It’s a basement full of mildew. Get a basement hot or cold, she ain’t got that rotten stinking mildew down there.
Bugs and every other kind of junk moving around in a mess. You know, that lukewarm doesn’t only make a guy nauseated, it gives you cause to be nauseated. Sure, I know they did it in ignorance.
(18) But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
(19) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…
Now, we’re going to read from the second part of that verse, 19b -21.
(19) …when times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
That word ‘and’ in the Greek can be translated ‘kai’, it comes from the word ‘kai’, which is a preposition as well as a conjunction. And I prefer the preposition, because It tells you here:
(20) [Even] he shall send Jesus Christ, which was [appointed.] [The word is not preached in the Greek, it is appointed.]
(21) Whom the heaven must [retain]… [The word ‘receive’ that has the understanding of retain,] until times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Restitution of what things the prophet spoke? That which is necessary in order to bring Him back.
I’ve got a friend he likes to say, “Well, Jerusalem is not restored.” Who cares two cents about Jerusalem, what’s that got to do with me? Of course if you want to give everything to the Jews go ahead. They about own it all anyway. People just are ignorant.
I want to tell you something: if you want to give a lie to the Jews, Malachi 4:5-6, you better go all the way and give him Hosea too. And when you give him Hosea, there’s no way that anybody standing here on earth outside of a Jew, is going to go back to the Tree of Life without dying.
Give him Hosea. Give him everything. Tell the Jews we’ve made a mistake. You talk about a sick bunch of people. That would make me vomit. I don’t know how God stands it. Don’t worry, God’s not standing it. Those things to be restored, it’ll bring you back to earth.
Now, we’re going to go a little further.
(26) Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Now, let’s go back to [verse] 19.
(19) …when times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
That’s an actual fresh breath of revival. God breathing upon the Church, awaking it from amongst the dead, giving it a fresh impulse. As Brother Branham called it, “A spiritual resurrection.” Bringing that church out of its lethargy.
Now, “times of refreshing a revival from the presence of the Lord .” That word ‘presence’ means, ‘anything visible to the eye’.
Now, what part of God is visible to the eye? That’s what we’re looking at. Something to do with an act, like creation. Now that’s not going to do it. Because men look at creation and they say, “We can figure it out by evolution.” Well, I was ripping and snorting today at the table about this women… there I go again.
Oh, she was at this great religious council, where I’m sorry to hear that Falwell sent his man Goodwin and different people. What are they doing even sitting in? And they’re voting against putting the studying of creation back in the schools.
And she said, “I resent it, because I was trained as a scientist.” You talk about a filthy harlot. Trained as a scientist, liar. Evolution depends upon mutations, and the consistency of a mutation. How long would it take to bring the world to the place that it is today by mutations which is an accident?
I’ll tell you one thing, one with a million or trillions zeros behind it. The computers couldn’t even handle it, and then she dares to stand there. She’s chained to the scientists.
She was, chained to the scientists. I suppose like that …?… woman, that got rid of cyclamates …?… Takes, what is it, three car loads to bring cancer under wraps.
So we can’t have cyclamates if they’re not dangerous at all. But we’re allowed saccharine which will kill you. Woman go on home, get in the kitchen where you belong. She messes up Eden, she messing up everything. When the church is fighting her stupid battles.
The ERA has places the woman in men’s hands until she was only a sex thing before she’s less than a sex thing today. And the same rotten spirit is placing the church in the hands of the antichrist. I’ll be glad when it’s over. I’ve heard from Above. Ain’t going to be long now. It wouldn’t be long now, that which is visible.
Jesus said, “If I had not done the works, nor the man, did they had not sinned, but now they both seen and hated both Me and my Father.” He said, “Believe me for the works sake.”
He’s letting you know right here that God is going to bring a great ministry as a witness to the resurrected Christ. And at that same time there will be a message of restoration, the Word come forth. Then It says, “After that is completed, He will come on down here.”
Now, hold it! Ain’t no way He’s going to come down here till there’s a Resurrection and a Rapture and come back at nineteen. So this Scripture is saying the same thing. Peter is saying the same thing as Ephesians.
There is coming a day when God is going to manifest Himself. And God is going to declare Himself. And God is going to bring about a Resurrection, and He’s going to bring about a Rapture. Then, Jesus will come back immortal with a Bride.
Now listen,
(26) Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
I want to tell you this flat brother/sister: that God raised up Jesus first and sent Him right to Israel where they could have had an national revival, and turned right around the things of God consummated “first,” It said. Now if there’s going to be a ‘first’, there’s got to be at least a ‘second’.
Didn’t say, God raised Him period. Said, “God first.” I want to ask you, who does He get raised to second? Gentiles. When? At this time. At what time? When He manifests Himself, declares Himself, and shows Himself in the great prophetic ministry.
And It says, “At that time it’ll come to pass that every soul that does not hear that prophet shall be destroyed.” That didn’t happen at the cross.
He said, “Listen, you call me the son of Satan, I’ll let you get away with that, but when He comes, you will not get away with it.” He’s come. They’re not going to get away with it. They’re blaspheming the Holy Ghost right now. God raised Him up to the Gentiles.
How did He raise Him up to Israel? Signs and wonders, miracles, a great ministry. I’m going to tell you something flat: I’ve told you before, I’ve got the books. I’ve had the books in my hands, Catholic encyclopedia, the whole bit.
And I’m going to tell you, one day in the life of William Branham would just about cover everything you’ll ever read in anything outside the Bible. One day in his life would just about cover every single thing that you’ll ever read outside the Bible, when it comes to miracle ministries by the Holy Ghost in men’s lives. No where have you seen such signs.
Now, this same Scripture in Ephesians are the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ as He spoke in Luke 17:22-37. Let’s go back to It. People get surprised that this is in the gospels. Why shouldn’t it be? Show me one thing that isn’t in the gospels.
Now:
(22) And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and [you’ll] not see it.
(23) And [they’ll] say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. [I want to ask you a question. Did they do it? By no means. By no means.]
(24) For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
Now, It tells you right there, It says, “You’re going to desire to see one of the days and you will not see it. Why will they not see it? Because It tells you in verse 25,
(25) …he (must) suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
They won’t see. They would never see another one of His days on earth in His flesh. No way! Because the Holy Ghost came and did the very same things, but He’s saying here, “those days will come again to another generation.” And He says:
(26) …as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
Now He says, “You won’t see it. You’re going to want to see it.”
I want to ask you a question: did somebody rise up and say, “Hey, I’m the one that rose from the dead.” No way.
You can’t find one place in the Book of Acts. You can’t find one place where It says it. You can’t find one place where a false anointing, that is: a true anointing came in, on a bunch of falsifiers.
You can’t find one place in the Book of Acts. It’s at the last-days the Spirit is poured upon all men. That generation never saw the Son of man doing another thing in His human flesh. There’s no way.
You say, “What about the fact of His Resurrection, he turned the fish and all?” I’m not talking about that. That’s proving His Resurrection, but there was no ministry there. No way was a ministry. But He said here, it’s going to come.
And He tells you, “As the Light moves from the East to the West there’s an illumination. The Son of man reveals Himself.” It’s exegetical. It’s explanatory. It is declarative concerning Himself. Then those days of what He did in the flesh Appear at the end-time in the days of Noah.
It Appears at the end-time in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah.
(30) Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. [He shall reveal Himself, His Presence.]
Now:
(31) In that day, he [that will be in] the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
(32) Remember Lot’s wife.
(33) Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
(34) I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Now, in one place He’s talking about the rejection of that generation. They were not to come down off the house. When the gate was opened they saw the armies coming, get out of there in a hurry. Because, He’s talking about two things: this generation turning Him down, and the generation where He Appears again.
Now, the generation where He Appears again is “as it was in the days of Lot.”
(34) I tell you, there two men sleeping in [a] bed; one taken, and [one] left.
(35) Two women grinding; one taken, [one] left.
(36) Two in [a] field; taken, [one] left.
(37) And they answered and said, Where, Lord? And he said, [Where] the body is, [or the carcass is, the soma, there] the eagles [are] gathered together.
Now, you notice in here is particular asked in verse 37. “Where Lord?” And He says, “I’ll tell you where it is. It is where the body is, that which is what is to be fed on.
Now listen, what did God say the people feed on? His Word. “Man shall not live by bread alone.”
So therefore, as Brother Branham said, “There is a Message that will go forth at the end-time and catch the Bride.” That’s exactly what’s taking place here. And the Bride will be where the Word is. She will not be someplace else.
You say, “Brother Vayle, then you’re identifying yourself.” Well, take it or leave it. I’ve got that right, I’m an American citizen. See?
Again, Paul brings out these same thoughts in 1 Thessalonians 4:13. He is speaking concerning the living and the dead at the time they will assemble together.
(13) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that [you living shall not] sorrow, [as though they] have no hope.
(14) For if we [living] believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring [forth, and lead forth] with [Jesus.]
Now listen, “Thus saith the Lord.” That’s what he said.
(15) …that we which are alive and remain unto the [Presence] of the Lord shall not [take a precedence, or have any preeminence whatsoever over] them [that] are asleep.
He said, “I want you to know this. Don’t get any great big grand ideas about that time there is absolutely no difference, because them coming out of the grave will be just like you who get your change here.”
In other words, it’s going to take God to do it for them. It’s going to take God to do it for you. And the Presence of God is going to bring them out of the grave. That same Presence of God is going to do it for you.
And you see, this is one thing where I just simply cannot understand why people are going around the country preaching, and they’re preaching up a storm, a great big …?… getting everybody excited. How they’re going to have this, and they’re going to have that, and they’re going to do something. Fap!
You’re going to do nothing. It’s going to be done for you. All you can do in consecrate yourself for it.
(16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
(17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Now, you can see right here that he is saying the very same thing, that there is going to be a visitation by Almighty God. Now what is that visitation going to do? The visitation is going to be there with “the Shout.” It is going to be there with “the Voice.” It is going to be there with “the Trump.”
Now, the person would automatically ask and say, “What in the world is that ‘Shout’ anyway? Well that’s a military command. And under the military command, is a military placing. And that placing starts at the time of the Resurrection according to,
(23) …every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are [His] at his [Presence].
(24) Then cometh the end, when he shall have [done so and so…]
There is something which God Himself is doing. And notice It says here: that they are going to rise before us which constitutes a ranking which God Himself is doing.
Now, Brother Branham categorically said, and here’s where a prophet comes in, “That the Shout is a Message. The Voice of the archangel is the raising of the dead. And the Trump of God is the Wedding Supper.” Now of course, that lines with ever single other Scripture.
First of all, there has got to be the Appearing. And there’s has got to be the revelation of the person. The proof of the person in order to receive the revelation. Then with the revelation comes the fact. The next thing will come the raising of the dead.
And the third thing, the change of the living. And the forth thing the Rapture. It lines up.
Now, since we see this is a special visitation of the Holy Spirit into the midst of the Church, we are set to see what He will do. Now, there’s other Scripture I’ve used on my series during Wednesday night, which I’m not bringing out here. But we’re going to go now to Ephesians 1:17, where we were reading.
(17) …God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
(18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;…
Now, this is a categorical statement that He will reveal Himself. He will impart a knowledge of Himself. Now, bear in mind Matthew 16:13-18, when we deal with this subject. Okay, we read It.
(13) …Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
(14) …they said, Some say [you’re] John the Baptist: some, Elias; [some], Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
(15) He [said], But whom [do you] say that I am?
(16) And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
(17) And Jesus answered and said, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
(18) And I say unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Now, what is He saying there, He is building His Church upon a revelation, the revealed Word, and specifically the revealed Word was Christ the Logos.
Now, it doesn’t simply mean I see that you are that person. The world has seen that for centuries. It’s to know deeper the attributes, the personality and that which is involved in Him.
Now, He says here, “I’m going to build My Church upon it.” So we bear in mind what the foundation is. Now notice, it’s a revelation of Him. A revelation that the Spirit of God alone can give.
Now listen: we bear in mind that what the foundation is, that is, the substance of the foundation, or what went into the foundation is the Capstone also, you follow me? what’s the foundation is absolutely the Capstone. Because there’s only one substance.
Now, let’s show it to you.
(16) From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth,
Now, what’s he talking about? He’s talking about the Head. In verse 15,
(15) [Holding] the truth in love, grow up into him in all things, which is the head…
(16) From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
It tells you that everything that goes into that body was from the Head. Then the foundation is the same material as the whole Church, the whole Bride, and the whole Bride is the same as the Head, because it came out of It.
Now, you can understand right there we’re talking about foreordination, predestination in Christ from the beginning, manifestation bringing it on down.
Now listen, as in Matthew 16, “I will build My Church.”
In Ephesians 1:17, “I will cap-off My Church.” You follow me? Upon this rock of revelation, “Thou are the Christ the revealed Word. God revealing Himself, I’m building My Church.” You follow me?
Okay, let’s read It in Ephesians so you’ll know what I’m saying.
(17) That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Capstone, I’m capping the Church off. What was He started with? Revelation. What is it build on? Revelation. What’s it build with? Revelation, then the body’s come around it.
What kind of a mess would it be if over two thousand years a bunch of people tried to build a building and everybody stood …?… foundation and if one guy came by and said, “Hey, I can see that foundation, it’s got four corners, it’s a base.”
The next guy came by and he said, “I want to tell you something, that gives me room for thought. I’ll just use my ingenuity.” And pretty soon he’s got the thing coming out like this.
And the next guy comes by and he says, “Well, you know, (he said,) that kind of looks like some ancient Greek architecture. We’re a little more modern now, we better try a little bit of the European stuff here further in the West.” So he brings it this way.
And the fourth Church Age does something else, and the fifth Church Age something else. And Jesus looks down and He says, Heavenly Ghost, I thought that’s supposed to be a pyramid.” Do you think God’s stupid? Maybe people do, but I don’t.
That Church was already built in His mind. And everything that was in that Head came on down there, and It starts with the foundation and you can’t find one piece of timber different. So what does He cap It off with? If He started Himself with a divine revelation, It has got to finish with a revelation. Or doesn’t it? Sure.
Now, this is not a farfetched deduction, for it is neither farfetched, nor a deduction. I’ll prove it to you.
(09) (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
(10) He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
“Well,” you say, “that leaves out the Bride. He ain’t going to fill it.” You got to be sick. That’s the most important thing in the works. And He’s going to fill her with all things… Who is all things to Him?
Brother Branham said, “The Bride is all things to Christ. He’s all things to us.” And He’s going to fill us with Him, and us will fill with Him, so to speak. You can’t tell where He ends off and we start.
Now:
(10) He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
(11) And he gave, apostles; prophets; [teachers, pastors,] evangelists; [and so on.]
(12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
(13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a [finished] man, [no more can come in, and nobody goes out. Polished, rounded, ready for delivery] unto the measure of the stature of the [perfect man.]
(14) That we henceforth be no more children, [you know, kids just experiment. Men know what they’re doing. See?] tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
(15) But [holding] the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
(16) From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth…
Every age had the same thing. Had the measure of the Word and through the Holy Ghost. Word of God came down anointed by the Holy Ghost right in the first age. Absolutely, the building blocks came around it.
Age number two, the Holy Ghost came down in the Word, Word of God sent, Life of the Word, building blocks came around to human. Now It’s all down. Every bit’s down, that’s why Brother Branham said, “It’s a super, super race approaching unto Christ.”
A million times ahead of Pentecost, but It’s the same One. He’s doing it all, see?
Now, He brings us right to the peak:
(16) From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted… maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
So, what we’re telling you is neither far-fetched, nor a deduction, nor a theory. Absolutely It’s revealed unto us here in Ephesians 4:9-16, that Who started it, finishes it, and What started it, finishes it. Capstone’s no different, foundation Cornerstone. All one and the same.
Now then, we notice specifically, that the knowledge of Him by revelation has not changed its authority, but it’s constant. Let me show you what I mean.
Knowledge: not simply to know such as seeking to know, or inquire, especially in the spiritual truth, but clear and exact knowledge, thorough participation on the part of the knower with the object of Knowledge.
That’s what wrong with people that think they’re born again, they don’t know Him. They know about Him, but they don’t know Him. And how can they know Him unless the Holy Ghost reveals Him? See?
Now, the first thing does, is make a man know he needs repentance. Makes him to know he needs a Savior. But he does not get definitive revelation until he’s born again. See?
Now, a knowledge that has powerful influence on the knower. In other words, God doing a monumental work through revelation of Himself.
Now, notice again: not simply to know, such as seeking to know or inquire. Especially in the spiritual truth. In other words, this is not something to do with theology.
That’s why Brother Branham said, “The theologian will never get it. The Bible school will never get it.” He said, “No way that this is going to take God Himself to do it, and He works through a prophet.”
All right, now it’s exact. Clear and exact knowledge. Now listen: thorough participation on part of knower, with the object of Knowledge. That’s why Brother Branham had a reality about God that I’ve often spoken of.
It said, Brother Branham when he talked about God just… why just like he’s handling this thing here. See?
Then notice what it says, “A knowledge that has a powerful influence on the knower.” Then therefore, your revelation of Him in this hour is commensurate what happens in your life. Because if you don’t see Him as the Resurrection, forget it, you ain’t going to make it.
If you don’t see Him as Husband of the Bride, forget it. You’re not part of It. Now, I’m talking to myself same time talking to you. I’m not trying to…?…and say, “Why, ol’ Vayle up here knows it all.”
Listen, I’ve got a pretty good head-knowledge, and I’ve got a pretty good mouth to spout her. But just what’s all down in here. That’s going to take God Himself to do something.
Because Paul said, “I can have all knowledge and know all mysteries,” he said, “but if something isn’t working down here, where are you going to go to?”
Now, I’m on safe exegetical ground here, I know what I’m talking about. And I know what the prophet said, and I saw in his life what other people have never seen. I know absolutely, there’s no doubt about it. See? All right.
What about Matthew 16:13. “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God, upon…this I’m going to build my Church.”
Now, I want to ask you a question: was the Church built? Oh, absolutely. Did that knowledge have a powerful effect? Sure did. Okay, what about today? Isn’t that exactly the same what we read in Ephesians 4:13-16?
(13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, [under] the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
(14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro…
(11) When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
What are you talking about? Ephesians 4. There’s no difference, It’s the same thing.
(12) …now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
Now, It tells you right there. Now, the point is: how is this person known today? We’re going to cover that shortly. But It tells us, “I’m going to know as I’m known.”
Now, what we’re looking at is That Which is Perfect comes, and It takes away childhood, and throws us into adulthood. Now, when does adulthood appear? When Melchisedec comes. The same One that indwelt Jesus in flesh.
The same One that Appeared back in the Plains of Mamre. The same ones were there before Melchisedec and he received the emblems of the Lord’s Supper, looking toward the Millennium, the whole bit. That was that same One Appeared at the end time. You’re into adulthood. You see?
You’re seeing now that which started the Church, built the Church, and ended the Church, because Paul says, “Moses was recognized as a ruler over a house, but Christ built His Own house.
Now, at the end-time you’re looking at the Builder. A full revelation of the Spirit of Almighty God that did it all. And this is the time of adulthood.
This is the time when He comes to cap it off, and raise the dead as Brother Branham said, “Jesus Christ, God, Holy Spirit come down, sets Himself at the Head of the Church in order to resurrect the Church being His Own body.”
All right, you’ve got what you’ve got. You see what is going on here. That this is what is taking place.
Now, what we saw then, spoken of this in 1 Corinthians 13:9-12, is being fulfilled. But was there not an espousal spoken of in 2 Corinthians 11:2-3?
(02) …I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. [In other words, I may lead you right there to the Wedding.]
(03) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
In other words, the exegesis turned sour, so therefore she would have to have a thorough and new exegesis to bring her back. Now, there was an espousal spoken of in the Scripture. And there was a husband and wife mystery spoken of in the Scripture.
(25) Husbands, love your wives, Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
(26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
(27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
(28) So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
(29) For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
(30) For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
(31) For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
(32) This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
All right, there was an espousal. There was a husband and wife mystery, where in spite of the espousal going astray God has demanded of Himself to sanctify and cleanse the Bride by the washing of water of the Word, that He will be able to present it to Himself without spot, without wrinkle, without blemish, because He loves her and she is a part of Him and He is a part of her.
Now, we see that in Scripture. And is there not a Bride standing on earth at the end-time fulfilling Revelation 22:17.
(17) …the Spirit and the bride say, Come… let him that [thirsted] say, Come…
In other words, the Spirit and the Bride come into a unity. See? The Husband and the wife are one. The Husband is a Spirit, the wife is a Bride.
Now, most certainly it is uniting time. For in Revelations 18:4 the Holy Ghost through the prophet screams out, “Come out of her my people that you be not partakers of her sins.”
And she comes out of her, because in verse 23, It says, “No more will the voice of the Bridegroom and the Bride be heard in her,” she’s out of her.
And in 19:7-9,
(07) Let us [rejoice, and be glad,] and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Now, she’s already his wife. See? The espousal. You can’t get by it, but she hasn’t yet been presented to him physically. She’s made herself ready.
(08) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, [white and clean:] for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
(09) And he [said] unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb…[Now, he’s pinpointed it, that the marriage is finished, but the supper is about to start. See?]
Now, what we’re looking at here, is what we’re seeing in this Book of Ephesians that the impact of the knowledge transmitted by Holy Spirit Appearing at this end-hour, is going to literally bring this woman from the fallen woman she is into a chaste and beautiful Bride.
And there isn’t going to be one thing in Scripture that is not fulfilled concerning her.
Now, all right, we’re going to close in a few minutes now, so we’re going back to Ephesians 1:18. Now he’s telling you what’s happening here.
(18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened… [That literally means, “The eyes of your heart being enlightened.”]
Now, that absolutely is the work of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 2:9-14, where Paul is speaking and tells us that no man knows the things of God say the Spirit of God.
(09) …Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. [Now remember, that’s the Bride loving Him.]
(10) But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
(11) For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now, that tells you right there, that when the Spirit of God comes in, He will reconcile what man is and has to be normally, and what he has to be and will be normally in the Holy Spirit. There will be a reconciliation between the two.
Right today people are so mixed up on what they can do as a man and woman, that they are so mixed up and fouled up, their marriages are hardly worth two-bits. And their lives are so chaotic, because they cannot understand the place of the Holy Spirit, and the place of their own spirit.
Now, when the Holy Ghost comes in there should be a reconciliation. Where a man for the first time knows what man is allowed to do, and he simply can do, and what he is heir to in the human race and the human flesh, and what is over here in the Spirit.
Now, he automatically does knows certain things concerning humanity, but he doesn’t know the things of God at all until the Holy Spirit comes in.
(12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
(13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Now, It tells you right here, that the way of the Spirit of God is to speak, and He used to use words. Jesus Himself, John the revelator, in the gospel of John says, “The only begotten Who is in the bosom of the Father that exegeted Him,” or John enforced by words.
And the Scripture says, “At the end-time Jesus will speak one more time.” And then everything is going to tumble which can tumble, is going to go down.
Now, we’re looking at the thought here at the end-time, God Himself, reveals Himself within the Church. But the question comes up, “Who is going to hear Him, and how is it going to be done?” It is done as it always has been done.
God appoints a messenger, and the messenger hears the Word and passes It on. And in Age number one, and in Age number seven, those are prophets. And in Age number seven is the prophet Elijah, who brings us this Word.
Now, we’re looking at the fact that God here is going to illumine our minds. He is going to actually illumine our hearts by shining into them.
Now, this is Malachi 4:6, “Turning the hearts of the children back to the fathers.” This is Luke 1:17, where It tells you that the wisdom of the just is being brought to the people.
As it was in Jesus, …?… entered John the Baptist, same thing happens at the end-time. And they have become knowledgeable concerning the things of God.
Now, if it took Elijah to bring Him on the scene as John the Baptist in 30AD, it’s going to take Elijah to bring Him on the scene again, because Alpha is Omega. And that is Revelation 10:1-7, and with It, all the mysteries of God wind up which will put us into the Resurrection and the Rapture.
Now, here’s what we are seeing here: that there is guaranteed to the Church an enlightenment at the end-day that is going to have such an influence upon them, that they are going to be the unsullied perfect Bride of Almighty God.
And those same ones are going to be standing here, so the Resurrection can take place and they can be changed and put into a Rapture.
Now, what we have seen here tonight, as he’s gone into Scripture what we’ve seen in many nights preaching these same things over and over again, many mornings, on Sunday morning. We are seeing and understanding the truth here that God has laid out to us as specific order that He is following through.
Now, let’s just go back to 1 Corinthians 15:21, and I’m closing with this thought, that we brought to you many, many times.
(21) For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
(22) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ… all be made alive.
(23) But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his [presence].
Now, It tells you right there, when Christ comes down to earth here, and He is Present, He sets up an order, and that order is not going to be changed. There’s no way you’re going to change it. And then It says:
(24) Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when [the Father] shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
(25) For [the Father] must reign, [until every enemy is put] under [the] feet [of Jesus Christ.]
See, God has begun to do this. That’s why It says in Ephesians, “The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory…” So Jesus has a God, the same as we do. His Father, is the Father of glory which absolutely boils down to the fact of the One Who planned it all, and Who does it all according to the Word.
Now he says, “That One will be in the midst of the people and He will be revealing Himself, and His revelation will do those specific things which will bring about a Resurrection, a change and a Rapture.
Now brother/sister, that’s exactly what we see in this order here. And that word ‘order’ as I understand the Bible is a military terminology. And it is not something wherein we say, “Well look here, I’m going to get a command of God to do this and do that.” That’s been going on for years, we’re not interested in it.
What we’re looking at is an order that God Himself has instituted. And that order that God instituted was His Own order that He Himself would come on down, and start this whole thing in running order where it would go to the end. That’s why I said the other night, on Wednesday night, you go to James 5:7-8, and It says here:
(07) Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the [presence] of the Lord…. the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth,… until he receive the [former] and [the] latter rain.
Now, It tells you right there, that even Jesus Christ cannot put His hand out to receive one person out of the ground until that time is set by Almighty God, which is a time of teaching, re-teaching, and a time of power to bring the teaching what is taught into effect.
So there, you’ve got Ephesians 1 again. I don’t care which way you go in this Message.
I don’t care how you admit that you hit a Resurrection. The minute that you hit Rapture, the minute that you hit one thing at the end-time, you go right back to the Message of Brother Branham, and there is no way that the man made a mistake.
There is no way that what he brought to us can be outside the Word of God for a split second. But the theologian’s will never follow It. Mankind can’t follow It, because they’re not in a position to follow It. Won’t do it. But God has revealed Himself this evening hour to us.
Now remember, “He’s the same yesterday, today and forever.”
All right, let’s rise at this time shall we.
Kind Heavenly Father, again we look to You at this time for help, O God, which help we need in all things. We need Your help Lord Jesus, to be hundred percent satisfied settled as never before upon the Word.
If there’s any little facet, Lord, we need to know, we know You’ll either tell us, so that we can know, or You’ll help us to understand that this could be one thing that we may have to forgo for the time being, we don’t know.
But, Lord, You know how our minds are in these days, that we have seen something, and therefore our minds are set to it, and they cannot be unset, but they must follow through, O God. We see this as no different from the prophet. Not trying to be like the prophet, Lord, but it’s the same spirit but not the same ministry.
And we thank You, Lord, that we can recognize this much to know, and all of us here there is that setting of the thoughts which come. And we must be careful with them, so that You can enlarge upon those thoughts, and show where they go, to show how they are a part of the Word, and how they are fitting in here.
Building up our faith as never before built up, that this is It. And knowing that this is It, then we place It with the right hour. It is the hour of the Resurrection, and we thank You for It, Lord. And we know that those in It must be cognizant of It.
For You said here, Lord, in Your Own Word, the days of the Son of man could only be made known to the Very Elect, because It would go over the heads of the other people. They wouldn’t even know about It, or they know about It too late.
Noah didn’t know about It too late, he was right there, Lord, in the day in the building of It. And we know, Lord, that we’re in the last day here in the gathering in the Message, Lord, Your prophet said in 2 Thessalonians 2:1, “By our gathering together unto Him by the Presence, the Message of the Word of God.”
So, Lord, here we see these things and we thank You for It. We thank You Lord, You’ve shown our minds these things clearly, what It is and what It is not. Why it is the prophet said, “You can’t go back to Pentecost.”
We took the Scripture tonight, Lord, and showed the people there’s no way you go back to Pentecost. This is not Pentecost, it’s a million miles beyond. It’s a million miles beyond healings and miracles, and wonders and signs and those things. Millions of miles beyond.
It’s no longer the Word of God demonstrated in power, It’s the Word of God manifested in revelation. Here It is now, clear before our very eyes. Heavenly Father, we thank You for It.
Now, merciful God, as we look to You for a partaking of emblems and foot-washing, and coming together tomorrow morning again. What a blessed time. What a wonderful time, Lord, to be together. To get into Your Word, Lord.
Your Word, Lord, to have preeminence, thereby we give You preeminence. Oh God, what a blessed day, when one day many things will melt away and that sweet Spirit of Christ that Brother Branham saw and do behind the Curtain of Time is going to precede the Resurrection.
Lord, I believe It’s going to precede even us who may possibly have to go before. Doing something, Lord, that only You would do, because You’re the God of all grace, and this is of grace. And we thank You for it, Lord.
So bless each one now in divine Presence. The grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with every single one. May God be glorified we pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.