CIRCULAR LETTER August 1993

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." (Heb. 13:8)

CIRCULAR LETTER August 1993

I greet you all very warmly in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ with the words from 2 Timothy 2:19:

"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, 'The Lord knoweth them that are his.' And, 'let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.'"

It is a matter of what God himself has done and is doing, about the foundation He laid and about His church that He Himself builds, on the revelation of His own self, according to Matthew 16:18.

In early Christianity, the biblical believers experienced the fulfillment of what God had foretold through the prophets. The Lord has redeemed His church and is building it. He has appointed the various ministries for this edification. (1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4 et al.) Such men are called co-workers of God by virtue of their divine calling. (1 Corinthians 3:9)

Through the prophet Isaiah the Lord said: "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste." (28:16)

God Himself laid the foundation for the building of His church. It is He who will also lay the headstone. (Zechariah 4:7) Jesus Christ is the cornerstone and the headstone. He is the First and the Last, Alpha and Omega. For this reason the apostle writes in 1 Corinthians 3:11: "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

We have to pay attention to the manner in which this holy foundation is built upon. The five-fold ministry that He established is the original apostolic pattern and will remain until the perfection of the church.

The Apostle goes into more detail about the various ways in which each individual can build thereon. He especially points out those who build according to their own will rather than in accordance with the divine pattern. He explains further that the Day of Judgment, through the trial by fire, will determine what abides. So this has nothing to do with the rapture of those belonging to the Bride Church, those having no spot or wrinkle, who will be raptured before the great tribulation, but rather refers to the day of the LORD, which will bring the judgment of fire for those left behind. These are, as the Scripture says, those who are saved like a brand from the fire [Zechariah 3:2 & Amos 4:11] and will only partake in the second resurrection. As the Scriptures say, the firstfruits believe and are built upon this most holy foundation of faith. The genuineness of their faith is already being tested in all trials for the honour and glory of God at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:7)

No one should deceive himself by imagining that he can be present at the Rapture and stand before the Lord by his own deeds. What is not built according to the original divine pattern will go up in flames. Only that which comes from Him, and is done according to His Word and will, can really stand before God. Your own works, no matter how pious they are, are of no use. So-called Christian deeds that are not done according to the Word are also invalid. God does everything according to His Word, and likewise all His servants only act according to what He has commanded. 

The congregation is dependent upon Christ and submits to Him as its head, that God’s will may be done through her and that His work continues until the end is as it was at the beginning.

In Psalm 118, it was announced that this stone would be rejected by the builders. For the church, however, He has become the chief cornerstone, and all true believers are "as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:5)

Before making the statement in 2 Timothy 2:19, the apostle Paul dealt with the men who presented false teachings, even to the extent of claiming that the resurrection had already taken place. Despite the false teachings, which are always due to false inspiration, the apostle pointed out that the solid foundation laid by God Himself remains. No matter what happens, the true church of the Lord remains in the Word, under the leading of the Holy Spirit, and bears His seal. The Lord knows His own, as they are those who have turned away from all unrighteousness, and His own know Him.

He who is begotten of the Word-Seed by the Spirit belongs to the offspring of God, and only those who are born of God can and will submit to God and the divine order. 

In terms of doctrine, all who are born of the Word-Seed will also abide in the Word.

In Acts 4, Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, justifies to the rulers of the people and the elders the healing of the man born lame, and accuses them reproachfully with the scripture about the builders: "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (vs 10-12)

In Psalm 118, the rejection of the cornerstone is described as the LORD's doing and marvellous in our eyes. Directly afterwards are the words: "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it!" The spiritual leaders of the people of Israel have fulfilled this scripture, and so the day of salvation has begun for all mankind. (Isaiah 49:8; 2 Corinthians 6:2)

The word of introduction refers to the seal. Our Lord and Redeemer was the Word made man — the Son of Man. HE bore the seal of God. " … for him hath God the Father sealed." (John 6:27b)

All the redeemed are of the same Word-Seed having being born again through divine promise unto a living hope. (James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23) They are, in their inner being, through the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit, essentially one with Him and are sealed until the day of our bodily redemption and transfiguration. (Ephesians 1:13) The entire congregation bears His seal and is the house – the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15)

The apostle Paul boldly applies the seal to those who have experienced the Lord under his ministry. "If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. Mine answer to them that do examine me is this." (1 Corinthians 9:2-3)

The fruit of a ministry is the true legitimation, which can not be annulled by any argument. If, despite this, someone sits above one sent by God in judgment, as Paul had to painfully experience, it does not change the fact that God's supernatural working takes place through the proclamation of the Word in those who receive the Word in faith. The critics who are full of envy and jealousy harm themselves and those who succumb to their influence. God has made His infallible Word known through fallible men. Whoever wants to criticize finds something in every man of God.

Paul could point to the fruit of his ministry as the divine seal of his apostleship. This was his justification for those who sat in judgment over him. Whoever judges those who are sent by the Lord will never enjoy the blessing of God that is poured out through the proclamation of the Word; moreover, such a person testifies by their own deeds that they despise the divine decision and have no share in what is done through a ministry ordained by God. What is written in Luke 10:16 still applies to those whom the Lord Himself has called: "He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me."

In this generation, we have heard the Lord speak to us – the THUS SAITH THE LORD from the Word. There were men of God who had to carry out a special commission in connection with the plan of salvation. To them came the living Word of the living God, which they only passed on. We too have witnessed the original Word of God being put anew upon the lampstand. At no time in the history of mankind has God's plan been so clearly and fully revealed as at the beginning and now at the end of the time of grace.

This is no longer the time of intellectual knowledge, which is something to be proud of and puffs one up (1 Corinthians 8:2), but the prophetic period in which the entire truth of the Word and all the mysteries hidden in it were revealed. 

Paul writes to the church at Ephesus: "Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit." (Ephesians 3:4-5) God had prophets in the Old Testament through whom He foretold what would happen. It is therefore written: "The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it." (Luke 16:16)

In the New Testament, it is apostles and New Testament prophets and teachers who properly place the prophetic word under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because prophecy has several fulfillments, the plural refers to prophetic spirits: "For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets." (1 Corinthians 14:31-32)

We also find a similar formulation in the last chapter of the Holy Scripture: "And he said unto me, 'These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto His servants the things which must shortly be done'" (v. 6).

There is the anointing of the Holy Spirit in general, which rests upon believers; there are nine spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12) and nine fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5), and there is the spirit of prophecy, which sets forth the manifold prophetic word to the church. It is noteworthy that the word "servants" is also written in the plural when it comes to the revelation of what God has to communicate to His church in Bible prophecy. It says: " … to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass." (Revelation 1:1)

What has been revealed in a special way through a servant of God, whether a prophet or apostle, such as Paul, John, Branham and others, is intended for the entire congregation and is also given by revelation to the servants appointed by Him. It is always one and the same Holy Spirit, who reveals Himself in many different ways. The different manifestations are included in His work.

In this prophetic age, the spirit of prophecy is at work in a special way. Now it is not a matter of, as is emphasized in charismatic meetings, that all believers become prophets and that they all prophesy on command, but rather it is a matter for all true believers to submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and have the prophetic plan of salvation revealed through the spirit of prophecy from the Word.

What good is it to people if they prophesy what they themselves have devised for others and reinforce their own thoughts with "THUS SAITH THE LORD"? This is well-intentioned, but pious deception. The prophet Jeremiah and the prophet Ezekiel have especially described this matter.

In Ezekiel 13, the prophet of God was commanded: "Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD God; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! … They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, 'The LORD saith … ' Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, 'The Lord saith it;' albeit I have not spoken? Therefore thus saith the LORD God; 'Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you … Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace … Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart … by your lying to my people that hear your lies … and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am the LORD … Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.'"

As wonderful as it may seem in Numbers 11: "would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them" (vs. 29), Paul still asks: "Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?" (1 Corinthians 12: 29-30) The same Paul said: "I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied … " (1 Corinthians 14:5) The Spirit is promised to all (Acts 2:38-39), but not all are prophets.

The Apostle writes: "If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?" (1 Corinthians 14:23) God has a certain order.

Firstly, there is the gift of prophecy, which serves to build up the church, and it always contains three things: edification, and exhortation, and comfort. (1 Corinthians 14:3)

Secondly, there is the gift of prophecy whereby the thoughts and intentions of unbelievers who come to the meeting are revealed. " … And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth." (14:25) To this present day, where has it happened that unbelievers have come to the meeting, their intentions and the secrets of their hearts were made manifest such that they fell on their faces with an overwhelming confession: "God is in your midst!"? People are indeed prophesying like in the days of Ahab without being aware that it is a lying spirit that only imitates the true Spirit of God.

Thirdly, the case of "Let the prophets speak two or three. … If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace." (1 Corinthians 14:29-30) It can be that one prophecies but without getting to the crux of the matter that it is then revealed to another who is listening.

When the Spirit of God speaks, it is not a repetition of Bible verses or other pious proverbs, it is not a question of green pastures and still waters – this is already stated in Psalm 23, rather it is something very concrete that God tells the church. What is already written in the Word can be preached, taught, and expounded.

Many are witnesses to the definitive fact that, through the prophetic ministry of Brother Branham, individuals who were in the prayer lines were told by revelation of the Spirit who they are, where they come from, what their request is, what they have thought, etc., in a similar manner as it happened in the prophetic ministry of our Lord when He spoke with Nathanael, with Simon Peter, with the woman at the well, and in all the other known cases. God is always very precise. There is no "beating around the bush", no speculation, whereby the blame is laid on those who have supposedly not believed when the predictions do not come to pass. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of truth; the past, present and future are all the same to Him.

It is easy to determine where the Spirit of God is at work: namely, where people are introduced to the revealed Word and thus to the will of God. We must learn to discern between the so-called charismatic work of the Spirit, where everyone goes on in their own way and remains in the traditional teachings, and the true work of the Holy Spirit, whereby all are brought to the way of God and are founded biblically. 

It is necessary that we not only recognize the signs of the times but also wholeheartedly accept the messenger and the message. On whom the Spirit of God truly rests now, he will also believe the promises and have the true testimony of Jesus, which is expressed solely through the spirit of prophecy. " … was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Revelation 1:9b) " … for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelation 19:10b)

Unfortunately, it can be observed that people who claim to be prophets are only blowing wind and through pious concoctions are keeping the naive believers away from the true work of God. Even now there are many builders who reject the capstone yet continue to talk and preach about Him and await the coming of the Lord. There is often a world of difference between theory and practice.

For example, one reads the promising title "Philosophical Christianity or Early Christianity". What follows in the exposition actually has more to do with philosophizing than with early Christianity. There are so many things that are called “apostolic” and yet, upon closer inspection, actually have nothing in common with the apostles. Biblical truth and teaching are spoken of everywhere, but what is the reality? 

Anyone who relies on their own understanding in spiritual matters goes astray. All of God's Word can only be transfigured through the revelation of the Spirit. No matter how much emphasis is placed on being in the truth, it can still be self-arranged partial truths taken out of context. We must step onto the ground of divine revelation, enter the most Holy Place before God and let Him speak to us through the proclamation of the Word and Spirit. The threefold testimony of blood, Word and Spirit belong together (1 John 5:5-8; Ephesians 5:26-27; John 3:3-7). It remains true: The Lord knows His own. They hear His voice and follow Him. 

Despite all interpretations and unbiblical teachings, the house of God, the church, will remain, which is itself the pillar and ground of the truth. This is where the seal of God and those sealed by the Spirit belong as the multitude of overcomers who form the Bride Church that will be raptured.