“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

(Heb. 13:8)

Circular Letter March 2007

The true confession

I greet all of you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ with the Word from Matthew 16:16, the true confession of the Apostle Peter, which, by revelation, shall also be given to each one of us,

“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”
(Mt. 16:16-17).

At first the question was presented in general, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” Various answers were given. Then the Master asked His disciples, “But whom say ye that I am?” By inspiration the answer came promptly, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter’s confession was not the result of a synod or of what people were saying, but it was a direct revelation which he had received from God. Thereupon lies the blessing. Please, observe, it does not just state, “Thou art the Son of God.” but “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Only as the Anointed One, as the Christ is He the Son of God.

In the Christian churches the Nicean-Calcedonian creed is being upheld as the “apostolic” confession even until today, which, however, has no connection to the apostles. In fact, it could not possibly be connected to the apostles, because it was conjured up a few centuries later (between ad 325 and 381). Since that time the trinity doctrine and the baptism in the triune formula have been the main pillars of the church, which came into existence since Constantine in the Roman Empire. Yet precisely these two pillars are not built upon the Rock, but on sand. Therefore it cannot be said that they are, “… built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets …”, for they were not known to the apostles. Solely this revelation of Jesus Christ, as the Lord then told Peter/Petros, is the Rock/Petra upon which He has built His Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Only the person who receives the same revelation from God has the true, complete confession of faith which God Himself made known to Peter, the apostles, and to the New Testament Church from the very beginning. The Church of Jesus Christ is only obligated to the Bible and can only believe what and as the Scripture says, namely that the one true and eternal God revealed Himself for our salvation as Father in heaven, in His only begotten Son on earth, and by the Holy Spirit in the Church. At this time we shall not delve any further into this subject, we do, however, wish to briefly touch upon the true confession of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Since the days of the Reformation the question about who the anti-christ is has become an important issue within the Christian world. People are generally of the opinion that the antichrist has to be searched for and found outside of Christendom. They claim that, “whosoever confesses Jesus as the Son of God is of God.” This explanation does not reach the core of the true confession, it is not complete. We have to carefully read what is actually written in the Holy Scriptures and thereby separate what “confession” the church fathers derived from it and interpreted as creed. The false confession can be as close to the real thing as a counterfeit bill, which someone can pass on without knowing that it is a forgery.

In 1. John 4 we find the statement which is typically being referred to, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” That is preceded by 1. John 2:22, “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” It is about the all-inclusive confession of Jesus Christ, the Anointed One, the Christ, the Son of God.

Whoever reads attentively will realize that this is not about simply paying lip service to something, but about the fundamental revelation of who Jesus Christ, the Anointed One, really is, for the Church is built upon this revelation. In this context it is helpful to know that the Hebrew Name of the Redeemer is Yahshua. The angel said to Mary, “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his Name JESUS/Yahshua.”, which is synonymous with “Yahweh-Saviour”, just like Immanuel means “God with us”. Yahweh is the revealed covenant Name of God in the Old Testament. Thus saith the Lord, “I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the Name of God Almighty, but by my Name YAHWEH/Elohim was I not known to them.” (Ex. 6:3). In the New Testament it states, “God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit …” (1. Tim 3:16). Yahweh/the Lord Himself came to us as Yahshua. Yahweh of the Old Testament is Yahshua of the New Testament. This is the New Testament Name of the Lord, in Whom alone is full salvation. As Christ/the Anointed One He appeared in the flesh and became our Redeemer. The Scripture testifies thereof, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11). In Genesis 18 the Lord visited His servant Abraham in human form and ate and drank with him. In John 8:58 Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

The Word of God further testifies, “… and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” (1. Cor. 12:3). He, Whom we know as the Son of God, is the Word Himself, which was with God at the beginning – the Logos, the One who spoke all things into existence: Through Him and unto Him all things were created. Even though He was manifested as the Son in the flesh, He remains the Lord, the I am – the same yesterday, today, and for ever. The Lord became servant, He became one of us. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. In the Son of God all sons and daughters of God received their redemption and the adoption of sons (Gal. 4:5; Heb. 2:10-11; John 20:17; a. o.).

A superficial confession of Jesus as Son of God is something that the antichrist, all false prophets, and even the demons have. In regards to Jesus this is said of them, “And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?” (Matt. 8:29).

Mark, the evangelist, also reported of someone who was possessed, “But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, and cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.” The possessed individual even said the Name of Jesus.

The evangelist Luke wrote about the same incident, so that we have three witnesses, “When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high?”

Which one of the theologians or preachers would say that the possessed or, more precisely, the demons were of God, simply because they confessed Jesus as Son of God? In Christianity they are all confessing Jesus as “Son of God”, but in an entirely different manner:

Some believe, for instance, that God as Father has begotten and born the Son in eternity. However, such a Son of God does not exist in the Holy Scriptures.

Others believe that the Son is the firstborn in the work of creation. A testimony about such a Son of God also cannot be found in the Scriptures.

Certain people believe that in the Old Testament the Son was the archangel Michael, who took on a bodily form in the New Testament. There is no such Son of God.

The following is an excerpt from a catechism, “… God’s Son, born of the Father before all time: God from God, light from light, true God from the true God, begotten, not created, of one nature with the Father …” This church creed is as far away from the Holy Scriptures as heaven is from earth.

There are several more variations of these “son-confessions”, which are altogether unbiblical. Only the testimonies we find in the Bible are indeed biblical. Throughout the entire time span of the Old Testament, beginning with Gen. 3:15 up to Mal. 3:1, the Son of God is announced as the Redeemer, as the Christ, the Messiah. In the New Testament we have the report about Him from His birth until His ascension, “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his Name JESUS … Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Not once does the Holy Scripture say that the Father had born a Son in heaven who then became the Son on earth. That is an invention of the church fathers, who neither knew God nor recognised the manifestation of the Father in the Son. They did not convert to Christ, but instead, as confirmed by church history, they turned to and accepted Christianity.

The Holy Scripture testifies in the predictive prophecy of the Old Testament about the Son of God, “I will declare the decree: the Lord (YAHWEH) hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this day have I begotten thee.” (Psalms 2:7). Also see Acts 13:33 and Heb. 5:5. Eternity does not know a today or a tomorrow, it has no beginning. Eternity has always been and will be for ever. David said in Psalms 90, “… from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” Only those who have received eternal life can and will live for ever. “God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1. John 5:11-12).

The Father-Son relationship was already predicted in the Old Testament as well, “I will be his father, and he shall be my son.” (2. Sam. 7:14; 1. Chr. 17:13). In Psalms 89:26-27 we read, “He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.”

The prophet Isaiah announced the birth of the Son as follows, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his Name Immanuel.” Through the prophet Micah was predicted where the Son was to be born, namely in Bethlehem in Judea (chapter 5).

Every Bible reader knows the reports of the evangelists Matthew and Luke about the birth of the Son of God. The Son was begotten by the Father and born by Mary, the mother. In Psalms 22:10-11 it says, “But thou art he that took me out of the womb … thou art my God from my mother’s belly.”

This is the testimony of the Son, “… If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God …” (John 8:42).

“… For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world ...”

“Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.” (John 16:26-33).

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

“I have manifested thy Name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world …”

“… For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee …” (John 17).

Only if we believe the biblical confession as Peter received it by divine revelation and only if we leave the Scriptures pertaining to this subject the way they are written, only then can the Spirit of God reveal unto us this incomprehensible mystery, “… God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself …” (2. Cor. 5). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, gives the rightful testimony of Himself only in the Bible.

Therefore there is not a single statement therein about the “eternal Son”, only the “everlasting Father”!

Not once does it say anything in the Bible about “God the Son”, but only “Son of God”.

Not a single time do we find the words “God the Holy Spirit”, but only the “Spirit of God”.

Not even once is the term “triune God” found in the Bible, but it always speaks of “only one God”.

Nobody was commanded in the Bible to pray, “Our Son who art in heaven …” Instead we are to direct our thanksgiving to God the Father through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

To make it perfectly clear: None of the things that are written about this subject in church textbooks are found in the Bible and nothing of what is written in the Bible about it can be found in church textbooks. These are harsh words. Who will hear them?

Whosoever does not respect the Word of God with all his heart will never receive this revelation, and this is how it is, “… and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” (Mt. 11:27).

Herewith we wish to wrap up this subject for today. Our Lord and Redeemer is shown to us in the corresponding contexts as “Son of Abraham”, “Son of David”, “Son of God”, and “Son of Man”; also as Lamb of God, as Mediator, as Advocate, King, Priest, and Prophet. It is important that we leave everything where it is written and in the context in which it was left to us. All things must remain in the divine order. May the faithful God lead all of us by His Spirit into all the Truth and, as with Peter and the early Church, let us know by divine revelation who Jesus Christ, the Son of God, truly is.

The entire world in one hand

Bible prophecy is written in a mysterious way. Only the omniscient God knew the end before the beginning. By the Spirit of God the prophets in the Old Testament and the apostles in the New Testament received revelations about the course of the history of mankind until the end of time.

The prophet Isaiah wrote about the last time period, when the Lord God has finished the work of Redemption with the Church and subsequently completes His work with Israel on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. Isaiah also spoke of the world ruler who holds everything in his hand and who thinks and says of himself, “By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man. And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.” (Isa. 10:13-14).

Who was the prophet referring to in this Scripture? Who fits that description? Who has the whole world in the palm of his hand? Who rules the earth? Where are the treasuries? Where are the priceless riches of the nations? The last four World Empires are known to us: the Babylonian, the Medo-Persian, the Greek, and since 63 B.C. the Roman World Empire. The objective was always the forcible conquest and reign of the world, which was also the driving force behind the last two World Wars. It is noteworthy that on that fateful day in 1935, when the Nazis held their party conference in Nürnberg, Hitler exclaimed, “And one faith to the whole world!” That is in the past now. There is no longer a Hitler, a Stalin, or a Mussolini. Border lines changed with each World War, but now the goal is the abolishment of the borders between the nations. Here in Europe we have been witnessing this development live since 1989. Thursday, November 9th, 1989, is a day that not one of us will forget, when the borders between the two German states were opened. It was the beginning of the reunification of Germany. Back on March 19th, 1962, Brother Branham had already said, “There’s been a Roman revival. Do you know what happens? If they give the eastern part of Berlin back, that puts Communism out and the Roman Empire, just exactly in the old circle it was in the time of Jesus. Certainly it does, perfectly.”

World Communism was defeated by world Catholicism and world capitalism put an end to the Utopia of world socialism. The two great powers USA and Soviet Union, which rose up with World War II and split the world into East and West, are no longer what they once were. All were taken by surprise, rulers were thrown from their thrones and no one said anything.

Now the “European Union”, presently comprised of 27 countries and 493 million inhabitants, is in all reality adopting its status as the world power. Just as declared in the Scriptures, the borders within the EU have disappeared. The covers of the new passports proudly display “EUROPEAN UNION” in capital letters. Whoever travels a lot knows how to appreciate that one can journey throughout Europe unhindered by borders and pay with the same currency almost everywhere.

However, there is more at stake here than just Europe: The matter at hand is “globalisation”, world trade, it is about oil, about energy, about the joint survival of the world community, but ultimately it is about power – about world domination. All religions and cultures shall be brought under a single patronage, so that eventually everything will lie in the hands of one authority. Only one central world power is not dependant upon oil resources or energy supply and is able to accommodate all sectors and fulfil the wish for peace and justice. Right now, in a time when the world is bleeding from a thousand wounds and the oil from the Gulf region is tainted with a lot of blood and millions of people are being severely affected, the longing for peace and safety is as great as never before. Meanwhile, the Middle East around Israel has become the main conflict area.

There are many Scriptures in which the actual world power of the end time and its central figure are described. Take notice of the comparison between the old Babylon at the time of Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylon of the end time: On one hand, the confusion of languages is still in existence as it was at the time of the construction of the tower of Babel, on the other hand, the process of communication and unification is in full swing.

In Jer. 51:7 we read, “Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.” The Lord furthermore said, “Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the Lord, which destroyest all the earth.” (Jer. 51:25).

The prophet Daniel also spoke about the last world ruler, who holds everything in his hand. Both things are mentioned: the last World Empire and the last world ruler, “And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.” (Dan. 2:40). The peoples and nations do not stand a chance, they all must comply and submit themselves, for this is the divine instruction, “The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.” (Dan. 7:23).

According to Bible prophecy there are seven heads and ten horns in this last World Empire. The seven leading heads assume the authority; they determine the direction, regardless of how many nations are included in the unification process. This is where the term “G7” applies; the eighth one is only attached pro forma. The ten horns are the states which disagree with the Western system, but out of necessity have to join without protest. Only on the day X will they butt with their horns and unload their anger and destroy the leading city in one hour, as it is written three times in Rev. 18, “… Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought.” (verses 16-17).

Alas, all ways lead to Rome – not to Washington, not to Moscow, and not to Beijing. In the world capital of Rome all cultures, all religions, and even the global economy are all united in one hand, to finally bring the long-awaited peace on earth. All the nations of this world can be entangled in wars and civil wars, but not the Vatican state, for it only has the Swiss Guard, no tanks, no air force, no nuclear bomb. In the hour of temptation, which shall come upon the whole earth, this man enters the world stage as saviour and peace maker. Globalisation is to be the means to achieve peace and safety, culminating in a peace treaty over Jerusalem. There is only one institution which maintains diplomatic relationships with all the nations of the earth, only one man whom all the governments trust and who negotiates concordats or treaties, thereby ensuring his rights worldwide.

All heads of state, all religious leaders are going to Rome. We know the “Roman treaties”, the “European Constitution”, the “European Statute”, the “European World Court”, etc., which they all have to agree to and accept. Thus the world rulership indeed ends up in one single hand.

The prophet Daniel wrote the following about the last world ruler, who exerts his influence through all the religious and political institutions, “And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.” (Dan. 8:24-25; Isa. 11:4; 2. Thess. 2:9).

The hour of temptation

The following Scripture was addressed to the next-to-last church age of Philadelphia, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Rev. 3:10-11).

The church ages which are behind us were all kept from the “hour of temptation”. Now, however, that the end of all things is at hand, the believers are not only hearing the cry, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh …”, but must also endure the “hour of temptation”.

The hour of temptation, which shall come upon the whole earth, is not the same as the daily trials, on account of which we pray in the Lord’s prayer, “… And lead us not into temptation …”, instead it signifies the temptation which Satan used to approach even the Redeemer. Whenever the Lord commanded something, it happened accordingly. Just as the Lord God spoke all things into existence by His Almighty Word (Gen. 1; Hebr. 11:3), so did the Lord Jesus during His ministry as Son of man (Jn. 5:19-20): He spoke and it came to pass. He commanded the storm and the waves and they calmed down. He said to the blind, “Receive thy sight!” and he could see. He spoke to the deaf and he could hear. And when He said to the leper, “Be clean!” it happened instantly. In the temptation Satan demanded of Him, “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread …” The Lord had been fasting and Satan seized that opportunity to challenge Him.

Everybody knows the answer that our Lord gave, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Then Satan took him into the holy city and sat him on the pinnacle of the temple and said unto him, “If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up … Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”

“ Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.” (Matt. 4:1-11).

The temptation consisted of the enemy challenging our Lord and Saviour with the Word of God, the “It is written”, trying to cause Him to fall. In the Garden of Eden Satan used the same tactic to deceive Eve, who then misled Adam. That was the first great and direct temptation in the beginning in paradise, which led to the fall. Jesus, the second Adam, withstood the temptation and redeemed us out of the fall; He conquered Satan, death, and hell.

In the extraordinary, supernaturally confirmed ministry of Brother Branham some special signs and wonders happened directly by the spoken Word of God. He pronounced what should happen as it was revealed to him by God and it instantly came to pass. Among those extraordinary incidents that he referred to there were three direct miracles of creation. As it was with Brother Branham, the messenger, so shall it be at the end with the Bride Church. She shall have that same ministry, the same absolute, the same authority of God’s Word, in the power of the Lord Jesus Christ.

What happened 2,000 years ago is behind us. Nevertheless, even now the enemy slyly approaches with Scripture, with the statement, “It is written …”, but each time he uses it for a temptation, by taking the Word out of context and adding his own interpretation. Our answer today must be the same as the one of the Redeemer. As our Lord had to face the temptation of Satan, likewise the redeemed now have to face that same temptation and thereby prove their faithfulness to God and His Word.

At first the dragon stands before the woman – the end-time Church from the nations, out of which the man child – the overcomers will be born and then partake in the rapture. After the marriage supper they will return with Christ to reign with Him, the King of kings, for a thousand years on earth (Rev. 5:10; Rev. 20:1-20; a. o.). Scripture tells us that all the inhabitants of the earth will worship the last world ruler and his image – therein lies the temptation – all of them will participate, except those whose names have been written in the Lamb’s book of life since the foundation of the world. Only they will remain steadfast in God’s Word (chapter 13). The decision between Christ and the antichrist, between the original Word and the interpretations must be made.

Many Scriptures could be referred to about this subject, especially from the Book of Daniel and the Revelation. Our present concern is the fact that we can now recognise the fulfilment of Bible prophecies also in the political realm. For us it is the handwriting on the wall, the “menetekel”, the clear language of God. Now, before the Return of Jesus Christ, the entire world looks to one man, because he claims to bear the responsibility for the whole earth. The Lord knows His own, they are in His hand, He will be with them in this hour of temptation until they come from believing to seeing.

Time to trim the lamps

The brochure “People ask, God answers by His Word” has been a blessing to many people all over the world. Yet especially ministering brethren are still approaching me with new questions and are requesting a public, clarifying answer. This mainly comes from those who present strange teachings and revelations. Up to this day, I have never mentioned a brother by name, whether it was during a meeting or in a brochure, and it shall remain like this in the future, unless God should directly command it.

The prophets that God commissioned and sent could not stop all the false prophets who inevitably rose up. The apostles could not prevent even in their time that false teachers and false apostles also came on the scene. Jesus Christ does not keep the false christs and false prophets from appearing. Nonetheless, at all times there was only one original calling, one direct commission connected to the plan of Salvation, and there were the various ministries placed into the Church (1. Cor. 12 + 14; Eph. 4; a. o.).

There was only one Noah, one Abraham, one Moses, one Joshua, etc. There was only one John the Baptist, one Apostle Peter, only one Apostle Paul. In the course of the entire church history, there was originally only one man who came on the scene with a special ministry and a divine mandate. In each message to the seven churches (Rev. 2 + 3) only one angel is addressed and spoken to, but is given the direct command to share the divine message with all the servants of God (Rev. 1:1-3).

In our time, as confirmed by God Himself, William Branham was the man sent from God with a message of restoration to the people of God before the second coming of Christ. In the time since Brother Branham was taken to glory, we can look back on many years in which the message has been carried into all the world, according to the Lord’s command, “… I will send you to other cities to preach My Word …” If the heavenly Bridegroom tarries for a little while longer, then the only reason is that the last ones can be called out and prepared for His coming. The message of the hour includes the whole counsel of God. Every biblical teaching, every biblical practice, the entire biblical order must be restored in the Church of Jesus Christ.

In recent times unbelievable teachings were spread about Matthew 25, just as previously the “seven-thunder revelations” circulated the earth and the speculations about the “mystery of the seventh seal” as well as about 1. Thess. 4 in reference to the coming of Christ and also about Rev. 10 were publicised. Nobody needs to present his philosophies about any of these subjects. Every event will take place the way it is written. That equally applies to Matt. 25. It shall happen precisely as the Lord said. Every interpretation is the work of the enemy. God does all things according to His Word and we must respect that.

We are awaiting the great things God has in store for us and have a deep longing to see them come to pass. Then by what authority do some brethren allow the enemy to repeatedly misuse them by having them present their interpretations in an attempt to appease the true desire burning within the believers to see the Word fulfilled?

The commission Brother Branham received was as follows, “As John the Baptist was sent to forerun the first coming of Christ, so the message given to you will forerun the second coming of Christ.” As a man sent from God, Brother Branham preached the full Gospel, just as the Apostle Paul did. He preached the complete message of God. Addressing especially the ministering brethren, he said, “You must not misinterpret, not misplace, not dislocate the Word.”

In the parable in Matt. 25 about the ten virgins who went out to meet the Bridegroom, the main concern is the oil in the lamps and the trimming of the lamps. Brother Branham said the following about this, “It’s true that we need to keep our lamps filled … You know, when they—as you burn … You can’t go on what you have done (See?), because fire burning out of oil makes a carbon; so that’s the reason the trimming of the … Have your lamps trimmed, because the carbon on top of the wick … So you must keep all the carbon trimmed off and that we might press on forward towards the mark of the high calling in Christ.” (1963-3-24)

“Notice, this is lamp trimming time, coming out and going in.” (1965-11-27)

“A Message comes forth first. Now, ‘Lamp trimming time. Rise and trim your lamps. … Behold the Bridegroom cometh. Rise and trim your lamps.’ And they did. Some of them found they didn’t even have any oil in their lamp. See? But it’s lamp trimming time.” (1965-4-12) Even during Brother Branham’s time was Matt. 25 the actual concern, just as it is today.

Since the message came forth, the calling-out from all things which are not in agreement with the Word of God is taking place and also the entering into the complete revelation of God’s Word. Seventy-five times Brother Branham referred to Zech. 14:7, emphasising and proclaiming, “It shall be light at the evening time.” He said this in reference to the message entrusted unto him. Oftentimes he sang the chorus, “It shall be light at the evening time, the path to glory you will surely find …” We have to leave it to God how long the time between evening and midnight will last.

In Matt. 24 we are told about the servant who shares the food with the entire household of God. In Matt. 25 we read about the virgins going out to meet the bridegroom. Half of them are wise and the other half are foolish. Both groups believe in the Return of Christ, both go out to meet the Bridegroom, both have lamps, namely spiritual enlightenment. Both groups fall asleep, as they think the Bridegroom tarries with His coming (2. Peter 3:9). Then there is a cry made at midnight, “Behold, the Bridegroom comes.” Therefore all virgins wake up and trim their lamps.

To the wise applies the following Scripture, “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (2. Cor. 1:21-22). And then, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Eph. 1:13-14). A charismatic anointing is not enough. Those who truly believe have to receive the Word of truth as the divine seed into their hearts and then be sealed by the Holy Spirit. The Word of truth and the Spirit of truth belong together.

The last direct work of the Holy Spirit will be among the wise virgins. Only at that moment the foolish will realise that they do not have the fullness of the Spirit. Then they will approach the wise and ask them for oil. But can someone who is truly baptised with the Holy Spirit give the oil of the Spirit to another believer? Certainly not! This is the great lesson: Only Jesus Christ baptises with the Holy Ghost and fire. Only He fulfils the promise of the Father and endues with power from on high (Matt. 3:11-12; Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:1-9). In his first sermon on the day of Pentecost the Apostle Peter commanded the believers to be baptised in water and also preached about the baptism by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39). The wise believe as the Scripture says. They are baptised by immersion in water in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a confirmation. In Matt. 25 the whole truth comes to light. The wise do not send the foolish to Jesus Christ, who baptises with the Holy Ghost, but to them that sell, to those who give the impression that they can pass “on” the power of the Holy Spirit to others.

All around the earth two things are happening in this regard: There are those who remain under the influence of false teachings, as is the case in all charismatic meetings, when people are called to the front to receive the Holy Spirit without prior instruction about the scriptural baptism of the believers in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. According to their program people fall backwards, are nicely caught by those who stand behind them, and the “anointed ones of the end time” shout out loud, “You are slain under the power of the Holy Spirit!” The false anointed ones and the false prophets remain in their false traditional teachings and never even consider to accept correction for themselves and adjust to the biblical teachings. They do not place the emphasis on the Word which remains eternally, but rather on signs and wonders. Then there are the ones who separate themselves and line up with the revealed Word of God. They eat from the hidden manna and are sanctified by the Spirit of truth in the Word of truth.

During the last move of the Holy Spirit, when the power of God will be revealed as never before, then the foolish will realise that they have not received the true fullness of the Holy Spirit. They will be sent to those who sell in order to buy oil. Why “buy”? The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a gift of God. In the charismatic meetings the so-called “moving of the Holy Spirit” is connected to big business. Not only in his sermon “The Anointed Ones of the End Time”, but repeatedly did Brother Branham speak about those who would perform great signs and wonders and that, if it were possible, as our Lord said, they would deceive the very elect (Matt. 24:24). The foolish obviously have not reached this personal relationship with the Lord. They have not found their way back to the true teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ. They did not fully come out from all traditional teachings and therefore will go to those who sell instead of coming to Jesus Christ to get the oil of the Holy Spirit. “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.”

The foolish virgins who knock at the closed door say, “Lord, Lord, open to us.” The answer they will receive is very similar to the one that was given to those who performed all the great signs and wonders according to Matt. 7:21-25. They also say, “Lord, Lord, have we not done all these things in your Name?” His answer will be, “I never knew you.”

The wise virgins are prepared and ready to go to the marriage supper (v. 10). They are not impressed by charismatic meetings, they believe the revealed Word of God and are led by the Holy Spirit into all the Truth. They recognise that God does all things according to His promised Word, they acknowledge that God has sent His prophet through whose ministry all things were restored and brought back into the scriptural church order. They come back to the first love, because only perfect love will enter there. That is how it was revealed to Brother Branham. The Apostle Paul also taught, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity …” (1. Cor. 13).

Each one of us must ask himself or herself, “Am I ready? Is my lamp trimmed? Do I have the oil of the Spirit in me and with me? Do I have oil in my lamp? Do I have oil in my vessel to refill? Do I walk with God as Enoch did?” Only then can we be ready for the moment of the Return of Jesus Christ and partake in the rapture.

“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

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:

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.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1. Th. 4:15-18).

By His commission

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