In Memory of April 2

According to church history, Palm Sunday, the day our LORD entered Jerusalem amidst jubilation, as predicted in Zec. 9:9 and as described in Mt. 21, was allegedly on April 2. That is what Dr. C. Larkin wrote in his book “Dispensational Truth,” which Brother Branham read as well and wherefrom he adopted the time line of the seven church ages.

We do not know whether that is the correct date; however, as it is well-known to all of you, April 2, 1962, was probably the most important day for me in regard to my life and service for the LORD. Without this direct calling and sending, I most certainly could not have done what has taken place in the past forty-nine years. My wish and expectation now is for a year of jubilee to commence in which all true believers assume ownership of their divine inheritance that they are entitled to as the legitimate children and heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. This is the realisation of the full restoration as God promised it to us and as He will bestow upon us by His grace.

We are all still in a state of shock over the terrible earthquake in Japan, the subsequent tsunami with tidal waves reaching heights of over 20 meters, and the nuclear catastrophe that has ensued.

There have always been natural disasters; yet as of late, it seems like they are appearing more often and stronger than before. The earthquake that hit Japan on March 11 was one of the strongest on record worldwide. At the same time, we are apprehensively following the political unrests in North Africa and the Middle East. The media is overflowing with reports, but as believers we are mainly interested in what the Holy Scripture says. There are indeed a number of Scriptures in the Old Testament and in the New Testament that speak of what will happen right at the end.

In Mt. 24 the disciples asked our LORD, “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (vv. 3-8).

The onset of the end has violently announced itself, especially by the earthquakes in the past year and also this year in the various countries, for they are “the beginning of sorrows.” These labour pains, which shall come upon the whole earth, namely earthquakes, natural disasters, famines, and political unrest, will steadily increase. The end is coming, even though no one knows the day or the hour. Still, we should pay attention when all these predicted things come to pass, for the redemption of our bodies is drawing near.

In Isa. 24 we read:

“The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.” (vv. 19-20).

In Eze. 7:5-6 and 12-13 it states:

“Thus saith the Lord GOD; An evil, an only evil, behold, is come. An end is come, the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come. … The time is come, the day draweth near: let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn: for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof. For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, although they were yet alive: for the vision is touching the whole multitude thereof, which shall not return; neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life.”

Paul must have been thinking about the very last time period, in which we have now arrived, when he wrote the following in 1. Cor. 7:

“But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.” (vv. 29-31).

In recent times, the scientists are especially focused on the West Coast of the USA. They are expecting the “Big One,” an earthquake much stronger than the one that destroyed San Francisco on April 18, 1906. Back then the crust of the earth in California was ripped open for a length of 1,280 kilometres and about 3,000 to 4,000 people died. Brother Branham predicted it already in 1965 and also emphasised the subsequent tidal wave that will flood large parts of the Western United States. He said that because of this tremendous earthquake, an area larger than California will sink into the sea, so that Hollywood and Los Angeles will be no more. Thousands of people will die. This should happen before the Return of Jesus Christ. The entire world is in suspense as never before. What will happen next? How much time do we have left?

Besides the threefold catastrophe in Japan, the unrest in the Islamic- Arabic world is the main subject in the current news. Governments are being toppled; everything is in an upheaval. Whoever listens closely and reviews things more thoroughly knows that everything in the Arabic world is directed against Israel. For the first time after 36 years, two Iranian warships have passed through the Suez Canal and have positioned themselves in the Mediterranean Sea. A leading Muslim from Syria recently even threatened that next the total destruction of Israel will take place from Damascus. The Holy Scripture says this about it: “The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.” (Isa. 17:1). This will take place as surely as it is written. Verse 12 is also being fulfilled: “Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!”

Our LORD and Saviour made this prediction in Lk. 21:25: “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring…”

The words in Mt. 24:14 are of special significance for us: “And this gospel of the kingdom – namely the full gospel as it was proclaimed in the beginning (Acts 2:37-41) – shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” That is the last message, and we have the privilege of carrying it. Only the ones who are indeed part of the Bride Church will heed the last call: “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” (Mt. 25:1-10).

Already through the Prophet Ezekiel, God foretold that “The end is coming!” And the end will come. For all true believers of the Bible, on the other hand, it means a new beginning, even the fulfilment of the promise of the new heaven and the new earth.

Japan experienced a nuclear disaster already back in 1945. Since the government in Tokyo did not follow suit when the Germans capitulated in May 1945, the American President Harry S. Truman ordered the drop of a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and another on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, whereby approximately one hundred thousand people died instantly. It must have been divine intervention that the US government commissioned the Hollywood filmmaker Hal Herman to accompany the flight and film the bombing. The sight of this left him so horrified that all he could think of was the end of the world. Shortly thereafter, he experienced his conversion and became a blessed evangelist. He even held evangelistic campaigns in Germany, especially in Hamburg and Berlin, and also prayed for the sick. When he gave his testimony at a Pentecostal conference in Hamburg in 1949, he mentioned Brother Branham. That was when I first heard the name “William Branham.” The LORD God led my path and I had the privilege of personally meeting Brother Branham back in 1955. The various experiences and personal encounters with Brother Branham were meant to connect me with him, his ministry, with God and the Holy Scripture in a very profound way.

On April 1, 1962, Brother Branham spoke repeatedly about having to store in the food. He said, “In this dream I should store in food in this tabernacle.” He further stated, “And I was standing right here, and I was calling in great barrels of the prettiest food I ever seen.” Then Brother Branham listed the individual natural food items: potatoes, radishes, turnips, vegetables, etc. Quote: “HE said: ‘Store in plenty of it.’ And I was standing there just storing it in.”On April 2, 1962, the LORD spoke to me about a great famine that would come and mentioned natural groceries, among them potatoes and flour, which we should store in. All brothers and sisters from that time can confirm that we actually stored in natural food, assuming that a catastrophe would come upon our country. But then the prophet of God told me on December 3, 1962, that I had misunderstood because the LORD had meant the spiritual food. The details of this experience are known to all of you.

In Abraham’s time there was a famine (Gen. 12) and in Isaac’s as well (Gen. 26). Everybody knows about the famine in the time of Joseph (Gen. 41-47). Ruth came to Israel because of a famine (Ruth 1); she was ordained to be the mother of Obed and thus the great-grandmother of David. And at the time of David there was also a famine (2. Sam. 21). Joshua instructed the people, “Prepare you victuals …” (chap. 1). During those times, they were natural famines. At first it was not clear to me that it was about the spiritual food when I was commanded, “Store in food and victuals!” However, man does not live by bread alone, but by each and every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Our LORD said, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me.”

At that time, I did not know that the LORD had foretold this already through the Prophet Amos: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD …” (Amos 8:11).

Remarkably, Brother Branham told me, “God will send a famine for His Word, and the food which you shall store in is the promised Word for this time.” And then he said, “Wait with the giving out of the food until you got the rest of it.”

Just before the call that goes out to the Bride, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him …” (Mt. 25), we find the following Scripture: “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?” (Mt. 24:45).

We believe every Word, whether it is written in the Prophet Malachi, in the gospel of Matthew, or anywhere else in the Bible, and by God’s grace we can correctly place it in the divine order of the Plan of Salvation. At all times, God had men to whom He gave a commission according to the Plan of Salvation, such as Noah, Abraham, etc. Moses had a commission (Exo. 3); Isaiah had a commission (chap. 6); Jeremiah had a commission (chap. 1). John the Baptist was a man sent from God. Paul had a commission (Acts 22:21). The apostles were also sent (Mt. 10; Lk. 9). Every man of God knew exactly which Scriptures referred to him and his ministry because it had been revealed to him by the Spirit of God. In Malachi the LORD promised, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet …,” and also after John the Baptist had already finished his ministry, the announcement was made: “Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.” (Mt. 17:11).

Our LORD said, “… as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” (Jn. 20:21). And the LORD also stated, “He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.” (Jn. 13:20).

It is important that we only believe as the Scripture says. This especially applies to the Church in regard to the last time period of the Plan of Salvation. Now that the end is within reach and the Return of Christ is really at the door, we have to verify every teaching with the Holy Scripture, as the believers in Berea did back then (Acts 17:1). Sadly, there have been a great many interpretations spread within the message that have no biblical foundation, but there is one falsification which is especially grave, even fatal: namely what is being fabricated on the basis of the words that the LORD spoke to Brother Branham on June 11, 1933, from the supernatural light.

In his testimony on February 10, 1960, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, he repeated the words exactly: “As John, the Baptist, was sent to forerun the first coming of Christ, the message that is given you will be a forerunning of the second coming of Christ. ” Then Brother Branham further emphasised it with the statement: “Not that I would be a forerunner, but the message was the forerunning.”

However, in the so-called message circles all around the world, the US version is being repeated: “As John the Baptist was sent to forerun the first coming of Christ, so you are sent to forerun His second coming.” The word “message” is missing in that version; yet, this message is to forerun the second coming of Christ, as God Himself determined it.

So who is right? The LORD Who spoke from the same light to Paul and to Brother Branham, who repeated verbatim the words that had been addressed to him? Or those who dared to create such a falsification? The LORD and Brother Branham are made liars, just as the one who now rightfully claims to be carrying the message into the entire world by divine commission. It remains forever true that Brother Branham was the promised prophet and that he brought the divine message through which all mysteries from Gen. 1 to Rev. 22 were revealed and which is now being proclaimed to all nations – the message of calling out, separation, preparation, and restoration.

At the conference in England on February 20, 2011, a brother said, “Brother Frank, we have heard you state repeatedly that you would not have a message at all without the ministry of Brother Branham. We say today that without your ministry, we would likewise not have a message.”

Even the mightiest event in connection with the opening of the seven seals is being misunderstood and falsely interpreted. On February 28, 1962, Brother Branham was on Sunset Mountain in Arizona where he heard seven mighty thunderclaps and where he was told that he should return to Jeffersonville because the seven seals would be opened. Brother Branham referred time and again to these seven thunderclaps, even when he spoke of the rapturing faith. They of course sounded on account of and in regard to the opening of the seven seals. The opening of the seven seals is the greatest event of our time in regard to the Plan of Salvation! Everything that we ever need to know has been revealed in the seven seals. Even the rapturing faith is anchored therein. The revelation is completed. Nothing may be added thereto. God did not forget anything. The seven thunders of Rev. 10, on the other hand, are not in connection with the Church, but with Israel, when the LORD comes down as the Angel of the Covenant. But we have written about this several times and showed it forth convincingly and in accordance with the Holy Scripture and with what Brother Branham taught.

Together with all servants of God, I continue to carry this holy, divine message to the various countries of the earth. HIS holy, revealed Word was entrusted unto us. Even until today I have not accepted one single interpretation, and I will never do so, for interpretations and falsifications are unbearable for me – they are lies and originate from Satan, who beguiled Eve in the Garden of Eden. The LORD has called me to proclaim His Word and to give out the spiritual food, and I will do this for as long as God gives me the strength and the grace for it. Brother Branham said, “Many are thanking the LORD for that what He has done, are looking forward to what He will do and are bypassing what He is presently doing.” In view of the calling out, the separation, and the preparation of the Bride Church, it is about the full restoration and about what God actually promised in His Word. Recognise the day and the message! Blessed are the eyes that see, the ears that hear, and the hearts that believe.

Those of us who have received the end-time message can recognise the signs of the end time. The spiritual famine can be felt, and we experience it anew every month when between nine hundred and a thousand people from countries all over Europe and even from other countries gather here in the Mission Centre. Up to eight hundred individuals and even entire assemblies also join us online from 88 countries scattered on all the continents. Via the internet they partake in the proclamation of the revealed Word. The broadcasts are transmitted in twelve languages. In addition, every month we mail out approx. five thousand DVDs of the services from the first weekend of that month. What a time; what a day of grace! We expect the fulfilment of what God has promised to come to pass in our time, even in the near future. Whoever is of God respects the messenger, recognises the message, and has part in what God is presently doing. God lets us know His ways because we have found grace in His eyes. HE is faithful and will complete His Work with all of His sons and daughters unto the glorious day of the impending Return of our beloved LORD. The Redeemer will have a perfect Church, without any spot or wrinkle (Eph. 5:27), for His Bride has made herself ready (Rev. 19:7). Hallelujah, Amen!

A missionary report could be written each and every month. Not the messenger, but the message, the Word accomplishes what it was sent for in all those who receive it. It is the faithful LORD Himself who gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater (Isa. 55:10-11). Special thanks to all of you for your prayers and for supporting of the Work of God. Your reward will be great. Amen.