CIRCULAR LETTER October 1995

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

CIRCULAR LETTER October 1995

I greet you all most cordially in the precious name of Jesus Christ with the words from Isaiah 14:27:

For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

It is a wonderful thing to know that God has made His plan from eternity and is carrying it out in the course of time. The fact remains that the right hand of the Lord is exalted and doeth valiantly. What God has set out to do, He carries out. HE does not have to take anyone into consideration. Even on the crooked lines of human life and human history, He is able to write His straightforward plan of Salvation. The LORD God is now occupied with bringing His redemptive work to a conclusion. Just as He rested on the seventh day after He had finished His work of creation, the seventh millennium — the millennial reign of peace of Jesus Christ — is now near as God's day of rest (Revelation 20:1-6). Before that, He will complete with His own the work He has begun on the day of His glorious return.

While the whole creation is waiting to be delivered from bondage and corruption, it is the believers who, in particular, are waiting for the return of their Lord and long to see the transformation of their mortal bodies into immortality (Romans 8:19-22 et al.). Therefore, now, in the last part of the time of grace, everything in the life of each individual and in the church must be ordered according to the will of God. In practice, this means attaining complete conformity with the Word of God. It must be for us a heartfelt desire to ask in all that we do, "What does the Scriptures say about this?" The apostle James urges us not to even groan against one another, saying, "… for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." (James 5:7-11). As at the beginning, the church will be one heart and soul at the end.

God has in His Word revealed and established His will, which shall be done on earth as well as in heaven. Of our Redeemer it says in Isaiah 53, the chapter that describes Him in His suffering and death most vividly: "… when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure [will] of the Lord shall prosper in his hand." In the Lord's Prayer, the Son of Man taught us to pray correctly: "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." The obedience of the Son of God is contrasted in the Holy Scriptures with the disobedience of Adam. Grace nullifies disobedience; disobedience can in turn nullify grace. We were pardoned to become obedient children of God. Even today, the words of 1 Samuel 15:22b-23 are still valid: "to obey is better than sacrifice … For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft."

Eve was deceived, as she herself testifies (Genesis 3:13), but Adam fell by disobedience. That is why it is written that in Adam all die… (1 Corinthians 15:22). The commandment of the LORD God in Genesis 2, not to eat of the tree of knowledge, was addressed to Adam, because Eve was still in him at that time. Beguiled by the serpent, she fell under the spell of Satan, was as one bewitched. She was already a seduced, deceived human child when she usurped power over Adam, but he consciously transgressed God's commandment when he accepted her proposal. Br. Branham said repeatedly in the sermon The Voice of God in This Last Days: "… as long as Adam listened to the voice of God, all was well. The moment he listened to his wife's voice, it was all over."

We see two beginnings in Scripture: the first with the natural, earthly creation with Eve, who is described as the mother of all living (Genesis 3:20), to whom, however, death is certain. She came under the influence of the evil one and received the seed of the serpent. The second beginning happened with Mary, who believed and was obedient and said: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." She received the divine seed, and so the Word became flesh. Through her obedience, the Son of God came into this world as the firstborn with the aim of destroying the deceitful work of Satan and bringing immortality and life to light (2 Timothy 1:10).

Both disobedience and obedience are not theories: disobedience always entails transgression, obedience justification. "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." (Romans 5:19). Both happened here on earth. The first Adam was disobedient, transgressed the commandment, and thus brought death upon all mankind. The second Adam, Jesus Christ, was obedient and brought eternal life. "… he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:8).

"Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:8-9). The emphasis here is on the statement: "… all them that obey him". For those who have been pardoned, it is a matter of obedience by faith, because every disobedience to God calls our salvation into question anew.

It is true that we have received all-encompassing instruction and also that there has been no lack of revelation by the Spirit. The question that concerns us now is how is it with us when it comes to obedience and living out the Word of God. Here, too, the word applies: Let each one examine himself and judge how he stands before God. The right spiritual judgment is always made according to the Word of God.

In general, we live in a time when everything is blurry and the spiritual reasoning lacks accuracy. It may be that some no longer notice that they are not walking in obedience in the footsteps of the Lamb of God; they justify themselves and their actions in order to calm their conscience. It must become a heartfelt wish and a sincere desire for all of us to live in the will of God, for only in this way can we be prepared. Walking with God includes obedience in faith and agreement with His Word. Not the hearers, but the doers are blessed.

The Son of God says: "For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother." (Mark 3:35). He also says, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21). If we have become children of God and can say with an honest heart: "Our Father which art in heaven…", we will also know that the man of God does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of His mouth. It must be with the redeemed as it was with the Redeemer. He said, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work" (John 4:34). The completion of His work is near, so it is necessary for all members of the Body of Jesus Christ to become one with the exalted Head. We want and will witness how the Bridegroom transforms and prepares the bride, how He fills her with His nature and life, how His fruits and gifts are manifested, until we have come unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. After the full restitution comes, the moment finally arrives when we will go from believing unto seeing.

Never has the time been so serious, never has it been so necessary to connect with the last work of God, until bride and bridegroom, head and limbs, are united in Word and Spirit. We were in God's plan, so now we are allowed to witness what God is doing in the congregation according to His plan of Salvation. Below we print an excerpt from Brother Branham's sermon The Spoken Word Is the Original Seed, Part 2, of what was especially laid on his heart by the Spirit:

Now listen close. Here's what I picked up the pen for, part of it. Do you see, friends, what I have … the way I have stood the way I have? See why I am contending---get away from them denominations and get a real church of God? See why it's got to come out of the Word? It can't come by the wisdom of man; it's got to come by the Word of God. That's the reason I believe the Word just the way it's written. I won't add nothing or take nothing; just preach it that way; just keep going.

Now, brethren (you all on the tape), if you disagree with me, I'll pray for you; if I'm wrong, you pray for me. I'm going to read some now just… I want you to listen real close to this. Here's where the Spirit said, "Pick up the pen." I have to leave some of it go, but I've got to bring some of it to you.

All right. Now, here is what I'm trying to say to you: the law of reproduction brings forth of its kind (Genesis 1:11). These last days, true church-bride comes to the headstone. Will be the "super church"; a "super race" as they near the great headstone. They will be so much like Him, they will be in His very image, in the order to be united with Him. They will be one. They will be the very manifestation of the Word of the living God. Denominations can never produce this. This will be … they will produce their creeds and dogmas mixed with the Word and brings a hybrid product.

The first son, was spoken seed-word of God. He was given a bride. (I'm just reviewing the Spirit, and I was picking up what I said, see.) A bride to produce himself. She fell … (See, that's what the bride was given, to produce himself again another son of God, but she fell by hybreeding, see.) Produced himself---but she fell; caused him to die.

The second son, a spoken seed-word of God was given a bride like Adam, but before He could marry her, she had fallen, also; for she was put to a free moral agency like Adam's wife was, to believe God's Word and live, or doubt it and die---and she did.

Then from a little group of the true seed of the Word, God will present Christ a beloved bride, a virgin---a virgin of His Word---and through them and by them will be fulfilled all that has been promised for His Word in the virgin, who knows no man-made creeds or dogmas. The word of promise in Himself like it was in Mary---God Himself made manifest. He will act, Himself, by His own Word of promise so to fulfill all that has been written of Him. As He did when He came from the virgin womb (type of the spirit womb now), so will the virgin now, accepting His Word: "Be it unto me as thou has said," though it was said by an angel while it yet was the written Word. (Isaiah 9:6) They will love Him, love His … and will have His potentials, for He is their head, and they are His subjects, subject to His head. Headship of Christ was His.

Notice, what harmony. Jesus never did anything until seen of the Father or the Father showed Him first. (Harmony between God and Christ, see. John 5:19.) So will the bride, and He shows her His word of life (He shows her), and she receives it. She never doubts it.

Nothing can harm her, not even death; for if the seed be planted the water will raise it up again. Amen. (Now, I got a great big Hallelujah!) Here is the secret: the Word is in the bride and the mind of Christ to know what He wants done with the Word, and she does it in His name. She has "Thus saith the Lord."

Then it is germitized; so the Holy Spirit waters it until it is grown and serves it's purpose. They do only His will. (Amen! I'll believe that.) No one can persuade them different. They have "Thus saith the Lord," or they keep still. Then they will do the works of God. For it is Himself in them, continuing His Word to fulfill as He did complete in His day. All things---when He was here---He did not complete all when He was here, for it was not time yet.

Now, let us stand like Joshua and Caleb. (Now, watch close, this is going to have a spiritual background.) Now, let us stand like Joshua and Caleb as we see the promised land coming in sight. It's nearing the time. To be given… Joshua in Hebrew means saviour and represents the promised end-time leader to take the church over. Caleb represents the true believer who stayed with Joshua. God started Israel as a virgin, with His Word, but they wanted something different. So did the last day church.

Notice how God did not move Israel until His own appointed time. (Now listen. This is going to mean something.) Joshua waited for that time! Oh, how … No matter how much people might have said, "God gave us the land, the promise; let us go now and take it." They might have said, "Joshua, you lost your commission. You're all washed up. Why are you not doing something? You used to know 'Thus saith the Lord' in a moment and what was the will of God." But this wise God-sent prophet knew the promise of God but also knew to wait for that promise---a clear-cut decision from God for his time.

(See these parables? Now watch.) And when the time come, God gave it to Joshua, who had stayed with Him by the Word, for He could not trust others; He could trust him. So will it repeat!

Like the mighty anointed prophet Moses knew God would use him, for He had proved Moses to be His servant by his peculiar birth. At the right time, that deliverance for Abraham's seed was at time. (Are you getting it?) Moses never stayed in Egypt and argued his scriptural points with them. He never fussed with the priests, but he went to the wilderness and waited on the Lord until the people was ready to receive him. He had come to testify of them, but they would not receive him. God called His prophet to the wilderness. God had testified; He'd chose him, but the waiting was not by Moses, but for the people to get ready to receive Moses. Moses thought the children would understand that he was sent. (I never wrote it, He did; so is it now.)

Like Elijah, after that mighty vindicated prophet that the Word of God came to had finished preaching his message to the modern American groups of the first lady with their bobbed hair and Jezebel paint groups… God confirming His prophet; every time he prophesied, it was the truth. God had to call him off of the field until He plagued that generation with mighty plagues for rejecting the message of His prophet and the word of God that He had sent to them.

God sent him into the wilderness in hiding. Not even the king could call him out. And them that tried to persuade him against the will of God died for doing so! Oh, God! Whew! Mmm! But when God spoke to His faithful prophet by a vision, out of the wilderness he come with "Thus saith the Lord." What did he do? Straight to the Word, back to the Word he went. Brought the twelve stones and rolled them together.

Like John the Baptist, Christ's faithful forerunner, the anointed prophet, no school of his father, no school of the Pharisee, no denomination could call him from the wilderness where God had sent him until he heard the voice of God, the Messiah's Lamb!

Are you listening spiritual mind? What more could I say here? I'm skipping something here, now.

How different today! Many so-called evangelists claim they have the answer from God for the people, just as Korah did---denying, disputing the authority of God's vindicated anointed prophet, Moses, claiming he had the answer. This was a money-making scheme, too---a golden calf, as many do today---big buildings, big schools, hatched out incubators of their same seed. And then … people then, as like now, fell for it after they had heard the true Word of God through an anointed prophet that was vindicated.

They fell for Korah's lie. God-proven prophet, and God knew … and knew God had told them… Israel knew God had told them distinctly that He would vindicate His prophets by His Word. Korah was not a scriptural prophet, but it looked awful good to the people; same as it does now. Today it's blood on your hands, balls of fire on the platform, oil in your fingers; and the same thing produces women preachers, short hair, bobbed … makeup. What do you have? You would not think that people would fall for it, but they did for Korah, and they do the same thing now and turn away from the true Word for denominations. Shorts: shows what kind of a seed that's in them.

But thank God all Israel never fell for Korah. Some stayed by Moses, the anointed prophet with the Word of God. Same is it today with many of God's elected, by His Word and His Spirit.

Remember, the tares, the weeds, are to be gathered and bound in bundles. Is that right? This has come to pass. The apostate organization churches is bound tighter than they ever was bound. They are bundled together in a federation of churches, ready for the fires of God's judgment. (I never wrote this, I feel that He did it.) Pentecostals are full of so-called … the same as them. The wheat-Word will be gathered someday after they leave, for the Master.

God has promised … (be careful!) God has promised Malachi 4 for this last day, and Malachi 4 has not as yet been fulfilled, but it must be fulfilled for it is a germitized word of God, spoken through Malachi, the prophet. Jesus referred to it (Matthew 17:11) . It is to be just before the coming of Christ the second time. (Listen close, now.) All Scripture that has not been fulfilled, must be, before that time. The Bible is to be finished; the Gentile dispensation is to be finished with the church age. When this anointed messenger arrives, of course, he will plant the seed of the entire Bible, plumb from the serpent to the messenger, in the former rain. Then he will be rejected by the denominational people as his forefather, John and Elijah, as was spoken by our Lord … people, as Elijah was the first time to Ahab's time. It will happen here in this country, as this country is a type of Israel.

Read, or hear "Jezebel Religion." As this country… Our forefathers worshipped the way they wanted to, come to this country and pushed out the natives and took over; so did Israel take over when they come up out of Egypt. We had godly men like Washington, Lincoln. They had great godly men as David and so forth. Then they got a Ahab on the throne with a Jezebel behind him to direct him---so have we! So it's at this time, in this country, that that person will appear. For it's in the Scripture, and it's "Thus saith the Lord."

Then in the latter rain there will come forth a Mount Carmel, a showdown---Bible fulfilled to the letter. John the Baptist, His messenger before His face in Malachi 3, planted a former rain and was rejected by the churches (the denominations---the Pharisees and Sadducees) in his day. Jesus came and had the Mount Transfiguration showdown. This forerunner of the last days will sow for the former rain. Jesus will be the showdown between denominations and creeds (which is His Word). When He comes, the showdown---the rapture of His bride! The first was Mount Carmel; the second was Mount Transfiguration; the third will be Mount Zion! Glory!

Elijah's behavior, Moses' behavior, John's behavior, leaving their field of service---many of the people didn't understand them. It was because they was rejected and their message. The seed had been sown; judgment was next, and they was a sign to the people from God that judgment was at hand. Planting was over.

I believe someday the real bride of Christ will be forced to stop preaching the Word of God. The Bible prophesies of it in Revelations 13:16 (if you want to put it down.) Denominations will force it to stop or take its mark. Then when the Lamb will take His bride and judge the whore for this.

Remember Moses, born for the work, had to wait on God for the extra gift for the job. (He had to go back and wait.) And for the time appointed by God a certain Pharaoh had to be on the throne. And the people had to be wanting the bread of life before God would send him back. Now, with thousands of sign-workers in this last day has created a generation of sign-seekers, that knows no more … nothing about the true move of God in His Word in these last days.

As I have said, "Give them blood and oil and fleshly demonstrations on the platform, and they'll support it whether it's God's Word or not, whether it is scriptural or not." Jesus had warned us of such things at the end time. As I have said, in Matthew 24, two spirits, very close alike, deceive the very elected if possible. How can you tell them? Give them the Word test. How can you know it? Speak the Word; see what they say about it. If they don't believe the Word, they have no seed-germ in them. They are of the evil one and deceive you. As the first bride was deceived, then the second bride was deceived. They are deceivers of the third bride by hybreeding the Word, or trying to.

God never placed signs ahead of His Word. (Amen! That's a scorcher.) God never placed signs ahead of His Word. They were added for proof of the Word, but the Word is first.

To prove it, Elijah said to the woman, "Bake me a cake, first." Then watch the miracle happen. Come to the Word first and then watch the miracle. The seed-Word itself is what the Holy Spirit energizes. How can a messenger sent from God just believe some of the Scriptures and not all the Word?---deny part of it.

The true prophet of God will proclaim the Word in the last days; denominations will hate him. He will not pull any punches on them. He will be like he was when he come at the first coming of Christ. "You generation of vipers!" But the predestinated will hear and will make ready for the countdown. The royal seed of Abraham's faith (like him) holding to the Word of God regardless, for he was predestinated. The messenger of Malachi 4 will appear at God's appointed time. We are all looking for him. We believe he will come. That is according to His Word; it will be at the end time, which it is time now for to see it.

He will be correctly dedicated to the Word as they have always been; indicated by God's Word---and a-vindicated. God will vindicate what he preaches to be the truth as He did Elijah; for it is Elijah coming, making ready for the Mount Zion rapture. Jesus said in the last days it would be like Lot's time. His preaching will be with the Spirit and straight line of God's Word. Because so much has been called God's truth, many will misunderstand this true messenger. (I've got wrote here p-r-o-p-h-e-c-y, prophecy.) Because so much has been called God's truth by fakers, many true ministers will misunderstand that messenger.

As the end time … prophecies will repeat, I believe. As the first forerunner came from the wilderness and cried, "Behold the Lamb of God," the second forerunner will probably do the same by pointing the people to a Word-born bride. The bride of Christ will be pointed to the skies at the appearing of Jesus, screaming, "Behold the Lamb of God!" will come forth from his lips. God help us to be ready for this near event.