„Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.“

(Heb 13:8)

CIRCULAR december 1985

Special greetings to you all in the precious Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. This year 1985 is coming to a close. Together it is our privilege to have part in whatever God does in His Kingdom at this time. He makes His promises known to His people before their fulfillment. The New Testament began with the accomplishing and realization of Bible prophecy. It will end in the same way, as the· divine plan of salvation with humanity comes to completion.

Through the whole Bible we can trace the promises and their fulfillment. True faith is anchored in them and becomes a living revelation to the individual. The best known example is Abraham, who believed the promise of God and experienced the same. Isaac was not a doctrine, he was not an explanation, neither was he an interpretation. He was the literal result of that promise! Amen. The same applies for all of God's children who are not converted by the will of men, but are born again through the everlasting seed of God's Word.

Paul writes in Gal. 4:28, „Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.“ Isaac was a promised son, John the Baptist a promised prophet, Jesus the promised Messiah and Redeemer. So was Brother Branham a promised prophet. What about us? Who are we? It is important for us to recognize our position and penetrate into the direct fellowship with God. We must not only ask to know the ways and the will of God, we must be ready to walk with Him and to do whatever He said.

Again Abraham was our example in regards to receiving the promise, to believe and to obey. He left everything to reach the place the Lord showed Him. No one could stop him. So it is with the spiritual seed of Abraham at this time. We have received the promised Word for the hour, we believe and walk in obedience to the Word. Abraham's final goal was the promised land. The same is with us: We shall see the last promise fulfilled at the moment the Lord returns to take us home to the place He has prepared (John 14). That again will not be a doctrine or an interpretation, it will be reality.

In Gal. 3:29 we read, „And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's children, and heirs according to the promise.“ There is always a condition connected to a promise. Christ must be in us, only then we can be in Him. That again should not be a doctrine but reality. It must come to pass as it is written in I John 4:13, „By this know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit.“ The claim „Christ is in us“ will not suffice – it has to be so. The sincere question is, whether we are truly in Christ. We can test ourselves according to John 8:31, „If ye continue in my Word, then are ye my disciples indeed.“ Faith in the promised Word gives us access to our inheritance. Therefore we read in Gal. 3:18, „...God gave it to Abraham by promise.“

We must always watch the promises which were given and recognize them in their fulfillment. Only if the promised Word is in us, we can be in the promised Word and obtain our inheritance. Only if the love of God is poured into our hearts, that love will be manifested. Only if we have received the Holy Spirit, we can bear the fruits of the Spirit. A tree is not known by the outward appearance, but by the fruit. We need no artificial imitation, nothing self-made or manufactured.

In Gal. 4 we read about the placing into the sonship. In verse 6 it says, „And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts ... and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.“ The Kingdom of God is not theoretical or philosophical, but it is divine reality. If we are in His Kingdom, then His Kingdom is in us.

To know what God is doing now right in the end-time, we have to contemplate on what He did right from the beginning. Everything that originates with Him is perfect and leads us back to Him. Our connection with Him is through the Word and the Spirit under the shed blood which is the blood of the New Covenant.

The Lord had predicted and spoken through His servants, the prophets. With the commencing of the New Testament one promise after the other was being fulfilled. In John the Baptist and his ministry the prophetic utterances of Isaiah 40:3 and Mal. 3:1 became a living reality. He preached the Kingdom of God; at the same time he was part of the Kingdom. The Lord testified of Him, „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)Commonly this verse is being used to undermine the validity of the Old Testament. But that is not meant at all. This Scripture informs us that whatever is promised in the Old Testament now was being fulfilled to the letter in the New. Right in the next verse we read, „And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one title of the law to fail.“ Every Word of God is perfect and has its place. It is necessary at this time to have a complete balance. In the preaching all Scripture must be considered.

The ministry of John the Baptist needed no interpretation but had to be recognized and placed scripturally. As already stated, John was not an interpretation, and there was no doctrine made about him. Through him the promised Word for the hour became a reality. He pointed all to the Lamb of God. Only where God acts according to His Word, there is His kingdom. John preached in the wilderness; at the same time he prepared the way of the Lord. It did not happen through might or power but through the Spirit of God resting upon the prophet who had the promised Word for the hour. With this we hit the main target of all revelation. We have to recognize that all has to be done according to the Word at the appointed time.

Hundreds of years it was a written promise, then it was a walking and talking, a living reality. We have to realize that God's eternal plan and purpose is being accomplished in His Kingdom. All promises pertaining to the first coming of Christ were fulfilled to the letter. So it has to be now before His second coming. Every promise given to us must not be discussed or interpreted, but has to become a living reality through fulfillment. God has ordained it thus, so we can check and prove all things and see whether promise and fulfillment agree. Also the events which have to take place are clearly set in order.

In the sermon «Doing God a service without His will», preached on July 18th, 1965, Brother Branham gave a solemn warning in the name of Jesus Christ, „Don't you add one thing. Don't put your own ideas in it ... Don't take some new thing. They're flying everywhere, and there'll be more than that come. But don't take these new things.“

Who has heeded to it? How many new things were introduced! If one thing doesn't pull, something else is being invented. But if we have come to our rest in God, we shall patiently wait for the realization of every promise God gave. He always keeps His Word. Whosoever believeth Him, will not be disappointed.

Jesus Christ, our Lord, was the promised Messiah. In Him the Word was made flesh. All prophecies, including those which spoke of His sufferings and death, resurrection and ascension, were fulfilled. As our Redeemer He had to walk this way, and overcame death and hell and rose triumphant. All the redeemed will also overcome through Him who made it possible for us. Brother Branham said, the Word of this hour would be crucified. This could not happen as long as it only was said or written. There had to be those in whom that Word became reality. A corn of wheat must also die before new life comes forth. The seed of God goes through the dying-process but does not remain in death, because the germ of life comes forth.

If we are in the Kingdom of God, we don't plan our own programs. We only have one desire: to find ourselves in God's plan. All our own efforts will cease. First we come to know the will of God through the Word of God. Then we must be prepared to obey and do accordingly. In the Holy Scriptures everything to the last events pertaining to the plan of salvation is clearly foretold. At the right time He sends a prophet to announce to His people whatever is to take place (Jer. 1:5, Amos 3:7).

Back to the Word

With all our hearts we believe that the purpose of the God-sent ministry in our generation is to bring us back to the original Word, which is the only original seed. Anyone, whether preaching or listening, should be ready to receive revelation, but it has to come through the Word and the Spirit. Apollos had knowledge of things pertaining to the ministry of John the Baptist, then was met by Priscilla and Aquila and was more deeply acquainted with the „way of God“ (Acts 18:24-26). He came from the renowned city of Alexandria and knew the Scripture well, but not all. He was willing to receive further instructions. Everyone, whether preacher or listener, if we are in the Kingdom of God and if that which we already know is right, then we are willingly led deeper into the council of God.

We comprehend that we should only be concerned with the doctrine of God, the commandments of God, the Word of God, the plan of God, the church of God, the Kingdom of God and so on. Truthfully we can confess that we were led deeper into the understanding of God's Word, also into the complete revelation of Jesus Christ. But it is necessary, while reading the Bible and hearing the messages, not to think our own thoughts, but take correction.

At the end of the time of grace we have to be brought back into the total accord with His Word, free from all traditions and interpretations. The last things will take place in the church of the living God, and the bride will come forth. For His church He can count on all He promised to her. The Bride will receive whatever He prepared for her. God continues in perfect harmony from beginning to the end.

It is not easy to trace what spiritually happened in the Dark Ages. But from the time of Reformation we can see how Bible truths were restored one after the other. It is in the plan of God that right at the end the same pure condition will prevail in the church, as it was right at the very beginning. We must picture the first weeks and months and perhaps the first couple of years after the Day of Pentecost. Everything was genuine: the preaching, the experiences, the ministries, the gifts; everything was wrought by the Spirit and led by the Spirit. This condition however was only of short duration. The problems began very soon. The epistles which deal with the same testify about it.

Unauthorized brethren tried to usurp the ministry, and they were preaching the Word mixed with their strange doctrines, first privately and then openly. In every way the enemy brought confusion and sowed his seed of discrepancy. While Paul dealt with some of the things, he said, „For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.“ (I Cor. 14:33) The same applies today. If we are sanctified through the Truth, which is the Word of God revealed to us in this day, then we will have peace in our hearts, in our homes and in the church.

We have to submit in our thinking, talking, and in every way to God's order. Confusion is always accompanied by other unpleasant things: Peace is gone and fellowship is broken. Hatred, enemity, and malice is the result of it. In such a turmoil everyone speaks his own language, no one understands the other; all believe their own thoughts and perceive what is in their imagination and not what was said or meant by the other person. No one seems to ask any more how the Lord would have acted and spoken. Believers who years ago made everything right the same day and did not permit the sun to set, they now can rise again the next morning without paying attention to what they have caused. Everyone thinks to be right, only few are ready to take correction by the Word and Spirit. Many seem to know what the others should have done or not.

A child of God must of necessity have the virtues and the characteristics of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. If we are filled with the

Spirit, we bear the fruit of the Spirit automatically. We then will have what Paul states to the Philippians in chapter 2: consolation in Christ, comfort of love, fellowship of the Spirit, tender mercies and compassions.

The restoration ministry must result of necessity in the same.

There has to be a total renewing, sanctification and infilling of the Holy Spirit – a uniting under Christ, the Head, of all the members being joined together into His body. That unity will be the work of God amongst the elect.

We must receive the message of restoration, but also participate in the actual realization thereof. If we are the called-out at this time, then we are not dealing with empty doctrines, but in the true sense of the Word with the full restored Gospel of the Kingdom of God. We also expect the same confirmation upon the same Word.

Everyone who is sent by Him, will speak His Word and will he able to say without presumption what He said, „My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.“ (John 7:16) Every doctrine goes back to the one it originates with. In the various directions of the message it is not hard to trace the origin of it. The many self-appointed teachers are responsible for the confusion brought about.

Is there one left who could truthfully say before Almighty God, „This is the true apostolic teaching!“? Have all deviated from the original Word and introduced interpretations according to their own imaginations? How many strange teachings are in circulation, being presented as special revelations! If a doctrine is not found black on white written in the Scriptures, it's not of God. Whoever propagates it, is not sent by Him, and whoever believes it, is deceived. We always have to give everything that comes along the Word-test.

It is in vain just to refer to a prophet and speak of the message and take the things which fit into our concept, instead of taking every Word of God. Brother Branham has emphasized the things which needed to be stressed at this time. If I am rightly informed, he only had two hobbies: that was hunting and fishing. No one should suggest that he hit upon organizations and denominations for fun. Through the Spirit he knew, the road they had taken would lead to destruction. He had no choice, because he was under the direct commission of God. No one else could have done or said what he did. He was appointed for that purpose. He could not please men, he had to please God (Gal. 1:10). He also pointed out the respective Scriptures for men and women. It was part of his ministry to restore things back into the original condition. God's order had to be established again under all costs, so the God of peace could have His way in the church. As Paul, he had a divine responsibility and wished to espouse the Bride as a chaste virgin to Christ (II Cor. 11:1-3).

We have to go through this purification process and be ready to be placed as sons and daughters into the perfect will of God. The true believers are washed by the water of the Word, because they are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Nothing should remain after this perfect Word-bath, no spot and no wrinkle. Only after this has happened, the adorning of the Bride can begin. Many try to dress themselves up with the quotations of their choice, but leave out those cleansing passages which are most essential. Only after we have taken our stand reverently before God and pay full respect to His Word, we shall see the final promises fulfilled.

Spiritual orientation

„THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS: Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets.“ (Zech. 8:9) There was always a strengthening power in recognizing and believing God's promised Word. Daniel searched in the Scriptures and found the prophecy given by Jeremiah. That was the moment he began to search for the realization thereof, and it was revealed to him. We are now to experience the last part of the plan of salvation, and we believe that every child of God has to be in accord with the Word of God. Otherwise we shall not experience the completion. Since we are so very near to the second coming of Christ, God has given clarification in each Bible doctrine and subject. The hidden mysteries were revealed. We are taken out of confusion and brought to the clarity of God's will shown forth in His Word. All who really speak in the Name of the Lord will do it in full agreement with the prophetic message and the Scripture.

To reach a destination one does not simply start out into any direction but informs himself about the way. In the spiritual everyone hopes the direction to be right. We must be able to confirm this in the Holy Scriptures. Because it is our eternal destination, we must make sure that we don't presume. It's the deep longing of every child of God to serve the Lord and to please Him. To do this we have to remain in His Word, because only then we are His true disciples.

Frequently we have emphasized Brother Branham to be a Word-prophet. In his own testimony can be read what he said when he was taken beyond the curtain of time during his lifetime. He said, „I preached the same Gospel Paul preached and baptized as he did.“ The white-dressed multitude shouted with one voice, „We believe that. We rest upon it.“ After that he heard the words: „Only perfect love will enter here.“ The love of God is always the love for the Truth, and the Truth forever is God's Word. Only in this perfect love the members of the body of Christ will be united.

I am convinced that God's work, which started through the divinely appointed ministry of Brother Branham, will continue right to the end. I can see a parallel between the time of Moses and Joshua and the time we are living in now. Regardless of what anyone else did or said, we clearly see that the ministry of Moses continued until the children of Israel possessed the land. Joshua did not come up with new doctrines or interpretations, he didn't introduce a prophet-cult – he knew the Word and moved forward. He was ordained of God and told the priests to take the ark of the covenant with the Word of God and to bear it in front of God's people. After a time of waiting, they reached the promised land. The same is happening now. With absolute assurance I can say that we have added nothing to God's message, we have not interpreted anything but we do claim to carry the Word of God for this day. At God's time we shall see the promised land as sure as He said it. We only need patience and walk faithfully with the Lord, then we shall have part in whatever He is going to do.

This generation

Time is moving on so swiftly. Another year has become history. It is now twenty years since Brother Branham was taken to be with the Lord on December 24th, 1965. In May 1986 it will be forty years since the Jewish flag was hissed after 2,500 years. On the same day, the May 7th, 1946, the Angel of the Lord appeared to Brother Branham and gave him the special commission. After a two-year transition period, Israel was declared a nation on May 14th, 1948. According to eye-witnesses the Jews were singing on that day in the streets of Jerusalem, „Glory, glory, hallelujah! His truth and righteousness goes before us.“

Our concern is Matthew 24:34, „Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass away until all these things be fulfilled.“ Because this verse was so much emphasized as to be a period of time, it is necessary to give a brief clarification. The word «generation» is not in connection with a space of time at all. According to Webster it goes back to the genealogies and derives from the word «generatus» which means «to beget», «to be born of», and also to the word «genus» which means «offspring», «race». This is very important. A practical example should illustrate the significance of this word. The grandparents are one generation, the parents the other, their children the next, and the grandchildren would simply be the fourth generation. How such generations differ in time, we shall show forth from the Word of God itself.

In Matthew 1:17 we read, „Therefore all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations.“ If you look at the timetable, there is a space of approximately 1,000 years; divided by fourteen comes to about 70 years to one generation. „Then from David to the Babylonian captivity were again fourteen generations“ – but only approximately 400 years; divided by 14 comes to about 28 years. Thirdly, „from the Babylonian captivity to Christ“ approximately 600 years; divided by fourteen comes to about 42 years for a generation. Anybody can check the time allotted to the fourteen-generation period of the three mentioned eras.

This one verse in the Scriptures should teach us the profound lesson, that «generation» in the English Bible does not speak of a certain number of years, as it is now commonly viewed. The American College Dictionary suggests 30 years, the German states 33 years. Bible scholars take the forty-year period of Israel's journey through the wilderness to be the space of one generation. So it was, but it does not need to be so again. From Abraham to David one generation came to 70 years. So it was, but it does not need to be again. From David to the Babylonian captivity one generation was about 28 years. So it was, but it does not need to be so again etc. Whatever the time space may be, that word simply means «race». It has to do with genealogies. Our children make the next generation, and theirs the following, etc.

The Lord was talking to the Jews, He assured them that their offsprings, their children, their race would survive. All the terrible persecutions, even the gas-chambers could not eradicate them. They are now back in their homeland, and God will have His way with them according to His promise. The word «generation» is only in the English Bible. Not one time is it found in the German, the Russian or other languages. The use in Bible days was not in the same sense as today, as we have seen. This is confirmed in Gen. 5: 1. There we read, „The generations of Adam are...“ In Gen. 6:9 it says „Noah and his generations are...“ In Gen. 11:10 it states, „The generations of Shem are...“ In Gen. 17:7, „Their generations are...“ In I Chronicles 1:29, „These are the generations...“ Everyone can read those places and find out that the context this word was used in pertained to the genealogies and not once to a forty-year period.

Because this word in Matthew 24:34 was emphasized as a forty-year time space, some have fixed the dates, believing the last generation started in May '46. Others count from May '48, when Israel became a nation. But they apply the Scripture that the time would be shortened for the elect's sake and therefore arrive at about the same time '86/'87.

As I was led to caution God's people about the years 1977 and also '83-'84, so I am doing it now again in the Name of the Lord. As stated, the word «generation» simply should read «race» as correctly found in the Lamsa translation. The English speaking world must receive this clarification. We are expecting the second coming of Christ, which could happen at any moment. At the same time nobody should dare to set a deadline by even misusing Matthew 24:34. That point should now be clear to all. We believe, the Lord could come at any time. But no one knows the space of time allotted to us. If I am here at the end of 1986, I will praise the Lord and serve Him. I would do the same in 1987, '88, '89 and '90 and so forth. We should serve God and use the time until the Lord comes. Hopefully, the believers of the end-time message would realize how necessary and important this clarification is. Just think about the tragedy, if one would need to declare the Scripture untrue, after this forty-year period passed, simply because the word «generation» was misunderstood and misapplied.

Anyone who fanatically against better knowledge from now on will insist upon a certain year, will be held responsible on the day of judgment. Should some nevertheless hold to the view of a forty-year generation period as their absolute, they might have to do away with the Scripture itself after this time elapses. Why don't we leave the time to the Eternal One? I am sure that all of God's children will be thankful for these few thoughts expressed here and will consider the matter prayerfully.

Unto this day all calculations and time settings were wrong, and so will the future ones be, including the one about the forty years. We must realize, that it is only the idea of scholars, not a prophetic or apostolic doctrine. Matthew 24:34 speaks of the Jewish race as a generation.

In spite of the translation work and the many other duties it was possible for me to undertake a number of journeys during this year. A book could be written with testimonies of what God has done. After ministering in Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and Syria the Lord has opened the doors around the Arabian Gulf. During my last trip through the Gulf region I heard an outstanding testimony of a professor who went to the US-library in this islamic country. To his surprise he found my brochure ONLY BELIEVE THE THUS SAITH THE LORD there. After reading it, he was convinced of the truth and invited me. In the presence of about 300 people he gave his testimony which made a tremendous impact upon all the listeners.

If we believe this message to be the final call, then it has to reach the ends of the earth for the last elect to hear it. The Lord calls His people out of all nations, languages and tribes. In all humility I can say that He has used me after Brother Branham was taken to glory to carry this message into all the world. I wish to thank all of you who have shown their love and hospitality to me while visiting your country. Please remember me in your prayers as stated by Paul in Rom. 15:30.

Throughout the year 1986 I wish you God's richest blessings.

By His commission

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