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

(Heb. 13:8)

CIRCULAR LETTER December 2011

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I greet you most cordially as the year 2011 draws to a close and wish you God’s blessings for the coming year 2012. May God’s Word speak to us in a mighty way:

“But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 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. 1:18-22).

“For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself …”

“Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath …” (Heb. 6:13+17).

God became the guarantor for all the things He planned, all that He promised, that He said, and that He proclaimed through His messengers. Indeed, God is also my guarantor that His Word is the absolute truth in my mouth, the way it was with Elijah (1. Ki. 17:24) and with Paul (1. Ths. 2:13) and with Peter as well (1. Pet. 1:25) – exactly as it came forth from His mouth (Isa. 55:10-11). In the more than eight thousand sermons that I have preached in the past half-century of my ministry, I never said, “It could be this way or that way,” but God’s Word was always “Yes and Amen!” It was never “Yes and No.” The guarantee for all of God’s promises is in Him – our LORD, the central point of our proclamation: Christ, our beloved Redeemer. Therefore, we emphasize it once again: “For all the promises of God in him are yea …” so that through us the Amen – the fulfilment – can come to pass. Amen means: So be it.

The entire plan of Salvation is founded upon promises, beginning with Gen. 3:15 where it states that the seed of God would come and bruise the head of the serpent. In the completed redemption, the following promises were realized: “… when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.” (Isa. 53:10) and “A seed shall serve him …” (Ps. 22:30). Every promise of God is fulfilled through the true believers who are His seed, for the glory of God.

Abraham believed every promise that the LORD God gave him, whether it was in regard to the land of Canaan, or the blessing of the nations (Gen. 12:2-3; Gen. 15:5), or the special promise concerning Isaac: “And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life, and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.” (Gen. 17:21; Gen. 18:10).

After every promise it could state in capital letters: “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS COUNTED UNTO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:3).

Paul summarized it in Gal. 3:8 as follows: “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”

“They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” (Rom. 9:8).

In Christendom over two billion people believe in God in their own way. But the question is: Who believes God? Who believes what God has said? What He has promised? Who believes every Word? Only when the LORD speaks to us personally through the proclamation of the Word, which brings forth faith, and reveals the promises unto us, then we have a living connection with Him and the communion in the Holy Spirit. That is when we truly believe Him because our faith is anchored in His Word, in His promises.

Paul continued on in 2. Cor. 1 and included all of the true believers: “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us is God …” (v. 21). The anointing is the confirmation. So the promise comes first and then faith, which through us leads to the fulfilment. The absolute firm foundation on Christ and the anointing by the Spirit, which teaches us all things, belong together (1. Jn. 2:20-27).

Here we are not dealing with an anointing, the likes of which has by now taken hold of 550 million people in all denominations through the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement and is considered to be a genuine moving of the Spirit. Brother Branham spoke in the sermon “The anointed ones in the end time” about the three realms of body, spirit, and soul and emphasized that people can receive the Holy Spirit in the second realm without being born again in their soul and without being saved. In this context, he referred to Mat. 5:45 where it states that God makes the sun to rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. The Spirit of God was indeed poured out on all flesh (Joel 2:28) and has been moving upon mankind since the day of Pentecost, the way It also moved upon the face of the waters in the natural creation (Gen. 1:2). The decisive factor is the seed, and the spiritual seed is the Word (Mk. 4:14-20; Lk. 8:11). The Word seed is not planted in the spirit realm but in the soul. In the Word is the germ of life that comes up. Every seed of course brings forth after its own kind. The good seed are the children of the kingdom of God (Mat. 13:36-39), and they are born again by the Spirit of God, filled and taught by it, and led into all truth (Jn. 16:7-15).

In reference to Mat. 24:23-26, Brother Branham explained very clearly that it is the Holy Spirit that is at work now, and even the false prophets and Christs are laying claim to it. The anointed ones in the end time will convey such a biblical impression that the LORD had to give this warning: “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Mat. 24:24). The legitimate question is: Are they begotten of God? Are they born again (1. Jn. 5:18-21)? Or are they false in their nature and in their teachings? Do they follow the wrong path with their traditions and misinterpret every Word arbitrarily? In this regard, the words that the LORD addressed to the scribes back then are turning out to be true even today: “Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. … He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” (Jn. 8:43+47).

The true Church of Jesus Christ, which He Himself redeemed (1. Pet. 3:18) and which He Himself builds (Mat. 16:18), returns to the beginning, to the Word that has been proclaimed since the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), to the teaching that came forth from Jerusalem, from Mount Zion (Isa. 2:3; Acts 2). It must be emphasized anew each time: In the Church of the firstborn (Heb. 12:23), the first and the last sermon, the first and the last water baptism, the first and the last baptism by the Spirit, all the gifts of the Spirit, all the fruits of the Spirit, and all of the ministries will truly be the same. All things will be restored to their original condition. Every doctrine and every practise recorded in the Bible collectively are forever the pattern for the New Testament Church (Acts 2:42), for the Word of God remains forever (Isa. 40:8; 1. Pet. 1:25).

At the end of our introductory Scripture, Paul once again placed the emphasis on Him, our LORD: “… Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” Whoever has been sealed is thus not anointed in the second realm but has received the Spirit in his soul, in his heart. The sealing can only take place if we have received the Word of truth by faith:

“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.” (Eph. 1:13). It is valid for all eternity and is irrevocable.

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth …” (Jn. 16:13). So it is not only about the anointing but about the guidance into all truth by the Holy Spirit.

“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (1. Jn. 5:20).

And only by this do we recognize what was said in Jn. 3:34: “For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.”

Whomever God sends does not proclaim interpretations but God’s Holy, infallible Word in the original form, and all who are of God hear and believe what and how the Scripture says. They take the final warning seriously and do not add to the completed testimony of God and do not take anything away from it (Rev. 22:18-21).

Abraham believed and obeyed God and received the circumcision (Gen. 17:10-13) as the sign of the covenant, as the seal of the righteousness of his faith (Rom. 4:11). At that time it was a circumcision on the body; now it is circumcision of the heart: “… circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter …” (Rom. 2:29).

In 1. Cor. 9:1-3 Paul defended his apostleship as someone who had seen the LORD Jesus, and he called out to the believers: “… are not ye my work in the LORD?” He had proclaimed the Word unto them according to his commission and further wrote: “If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the LORD. Mine answer to them that do examine me is this …” This is also my justification in answer to those who sit in judgment on me.

A seal is placed on a document, a certificate. It was not just some random church but the Church of Jesus Christ that came into existence through his God-given apostolic ministry and that was allowed to bear the seal.

In 2. Tim. 2:19 the apostle spoke about the inscription of the seal on the foundation upon which the Church is built: “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The LORD knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

Only the elect are sealed and bear God’s seal. Only they accept the ministry that God has put in place; only they walk in obedience of faith the whole way with God until the end.

Thus saith the LORD: “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.” (Isa. 8:16).

The mysterious book in Rev. 5:1 was sealed with seven seals: “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.” The seals were opened, and the content was made known by revelation. However, only the ones who are sealed understand all things correctly through revelation of the Spirit. They are the true disciples. That is the remarkable thing in our time, and in this connection the calling out, separation, preparation, and restoration take place. This is also the time of the sealing with the Spirit of promise while the last prophetic message goes forth.

This message is now going forth, and all who have an ear will hear what the Spirit has to say to the churches. They are the overcomers who shall inherit all things and even sit with the Redeemer on His throne and rule with Him during the Millennium (Rev. 3:21). Also this promise is yes and Amen.

First the Word of promise is addressed to the children of promise, then the Spirit of promise carries out its purpose, and finally the sealing takes place.

Already in the Old Testament, God fulfilled His promises with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and with Israel. In Deut. 9:5 we read: “Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

In Jos. 23:14 Joshua admonished the people when he departed: “… and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.”

At the consecration of the temple, Solomon called out in his prayer: “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it … And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.” (1. Ki. 8:15+20).

The main promise of the Old Testament, however, was the announcement that the Redeemer would come. It is for instance written in Isa. 7:14: “Therefore the LORD himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” When the time was fulfilled and Mary received the announcement that she was the chosen vessel to fulfil it, she said, “Behold the handmaid of the LORD; be it unto me according to thy word.” (Lk. 1:38).

Elisabeth, the mother of John, confirmed it, inspired by the Spirit of God: “And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the LORD.” (Lk. 1:45).

At first Zechariah could not believe that he and his wife Elisabeth were supposed to be the parents of the preparer of the way when the angel brought the message to him. But he, too, eventually recognized that the Word of God was being fulfilled and, filled with the Holy Spirit, he spoke these prophetic words: “As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began …” (Lk. 1:67-80).

On the founding day of the New Testament Church when the outpouring of the Holy Spirit took place, Peter explained the event to the assembled multitude: “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams …” (Acts 2:16-17).

Indeed, “the promises of God remain; forever unwavering: Jesus sealed with His Own blood what He promised in His Word” (Hymn by Levi Pethrus, Stockholm). All the promises of God are yes and Amen, and now we may partake in what God has promised unto us. The main promise is the Return of Jesus Christ, as announced to us in Jn. 14:1-3. After the completed redemption, Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, where He prepared a place for us, and He will return in the same manner as He ascended (Acts 1:9-11).

The Return of Christ and everything that is connected to it, therefore, also is our main subject. Led by the Spirit, Paul wrote these words, and today they are addressed to us: “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” (1. Ths. 5:23-24). Amen.

However, the following serious admonition is also addressed to the true believers, those who are sealed and who are waiting for the changing of the body: “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Eph. 4:30-32).

May the faithful LORD and Saviour grant it to all of us so that we may thus experience the completion, in perfect unity and harmony with God and His Word as well as among one another and together in the perfect love of God, and partake in the Rapture.

“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.” (Rom. 16:25-27).

Who has believed our report?
(Isa. 53:1; Rom. 10:16; 1. Jn. 1:5)

The last message is now being proclaimed to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith. As Paul documented it in Rom. 1:1-7, this takes place on the foundation of the prophetic Scriptures. “We have also a more sure word of prophecy …” and no private interpretation is permitted. It is how Peter explained it in his text in which he focused on the Return of Christ (2. Pet. 1:16-21).

Prior to that, the special promise from Mal. 4:5 is fulfilled: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.” This was confirmed by our LORD, and at the same time He emphasized what would thereby take place: “… and restore all things.” (Mat. 17:11; Mk. 9:12). Here we have a double THUS SAITH THE LORD, confirmed by Matthew and Mark. Also this promise is not yes and no, but yes and Amen! However, only those who believe according to the Scripture will receive the revelation thereof, only they will have a part in the fulfilment. What Paul wrote back then is still valid today: “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” (Rom. 11:5).

Time and again we have called attention to the statements in which Brother Branham quotes the exact wording the way it was addressed to him on June 11, 1933, from the lips of the LORD, namely that the message would forerun the second coming of Christ. It was the mighty experience linked to his commission, and it is in direct connection with the plan of Salvation and with the Return of Christ. This Scripture is still valid: “Surely the LORD GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7).

The same Prophet Malachi who prophesied of the preparer of the way, John the Baptist (3:1), also prophesied of the last prophet who would come on the scene at the end of the day of salvation, before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes (4:5-6). This is powerful, and our LORD Himself confi rmed it. This promise is yes and Amen as well.

God has taken home His messengers whom He sent in the Old and in the New Testament, but their testimony and their message are left unto us in the Bible. Brother Branham also has fulfi lled his commission in accordance with his divine calling, and everything that God had to say to us has been revealed. From a human point of view, he was recalled suddenly and unexpectedly, just like John the Baptist, but the work which he had to do was completed. The revealed Word, including the mysteries of the Kingdom of God and the opening of the seals, is left unto us. And even after Brother Branham’s departure, the whole counsel of God is being carried on without interruption as the divine message of salvation because of a direct commission. The proclamation includes the evangelistic part as well as the teaching and the prophetic part. Seen from this perspective, the “Full Gospel” of Jesus Christ is now being preached as the last message before the Return of Christ unto all nations for a witness (Mat. 24:14).

It is a wake-up call that is addressed to all of the virgins who are waiting for the coming of the Bridegroom: “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” It is the calling out: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the LORD, and touch not the unclean thing …” (Isa. 52:11; 2. Cor. 6:17-18). Still, only the wise virgins believe this last message in a crystal-clear way, without adding even the slightest interpretation. They are the only ones who believe all things as they are recorded in the Scripture. By divine revelation they are led into the fulfilment. They will be ready and will go with the Bridegroom to the marriage supper (Mat. 25:10).

Precise placement

Where does it belong, where should it be placed within the order of the plan of Salvation when the LORD says, “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins …” (Mat. 25:1)? In Mat. 24 the LORD foretold the order of events in the last time period. As a special sign, He announced in the parable of the fig tree the return of the people of Israel into the land of their fathers, into the land of promise. He wanted to thereby draw our attention to what is now being fulfilled before our very eyes, according to His promise: “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” (Mat. 24:33). Then our LORD spoke of the Return of the Son of Man, compared this time to the days of Noah, and emphasized a second time: “… so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” At the Return, which we are longingly awaiting, one shall be taken and the other left (vv. 40-41). This happens at the Rapture. Therefore the admonishing words: “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (v. 44).

All the things that our LORD mentioned – wars, rumours of wars, famines and earthquakes, and all of the birth pains which shall come upon the entire earth – are certainly coming true before our very eyes: “… and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring …” (Lk. 21:25). Likewise coming to pass in our time is what the LORD said directly afterwards in Mat. 24:45-47: “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?” That is equally THUS SAITH THE LORD, and it concerns the Church. God not only sent a prophet to store in the food, as Brother Branham pointed out eight times in the span from March 11, 1962, to June 28, 1963, but He also ensured that this food is distributed to the entire household. Through this ministry, the collective household as designated by the LORD can give out the same Word, the same spiritual food. That is how the revealed Word has become the spiritual food for all of us.

All those who believe that with the ministry of Brother Branham everything came to an end consequently deny what the LORD called out to Brother Branham on June 11, 1933, while he was baptizing believers in the Ohio River, when the heaven opened and the supernatural light descended, visible to all who were present, namely: “As John the Baptist foreran the first coming of Christ so you are sent with a message that will forerun the second coming of Christ.” They believe the invented, falsified version in which it no longer says anything about “message”: “As John the Baptist foreran the first coming of Christ so you are sent to forerun the second coming of Christ.” Therefore, they reject the one who now carries the message and what God is presently doing. They continue to live in the past and go from one error and from one interpretation to another. But what are they to do with the words from the very lips of Brother Branham: “Not that I would be a forerunner, but the message was the forerunning”?

Whoever denies what the LORD said and what was left unto us from the lips of Brother Branham has fallen prey to the same beguiling as Eve. Paul, who according to 2. Cor. 11 wanted to present a chaste virgin unto Christ – which Brother Branham strived for as well and is now finally going to take place, clearly said wherein the beguiling is manifested: Another Jesus is preached; another spirit is at work; another gospel is proclaimed. By the virtue of his divine commission, Paul placed such people under the curse (Gal. 1:6-10). Remarkably, only this one particular statement of Brother Branham is being denied. Apart from that, one constantly hears the claim: “The prophet said! The prophet said!” The respective statements are taken out of context and definitely not placed where they belong within the divine order of the Holy Scripture. As a result, the prophet is made the substance of their proclamation and another gospel comes into existence. The wise take all things and place them into the correct context according to the Scripture. They believe the Word which was at the beginning and remains forever. They comprise the Bride who is redeemed by the blood, sanctified in the Word, and joined with Christ in the Spirit.

Nevertheless, the foolish virgins also count on the Return of the LORD and are even convinced that they will have a part in the Rapture and in the marriage supper, but they are bypassing what God is presently doing. Neither John nor Paul (Acts 26:13-18) nor Brother Branham had a hand in it that they were commissioned and that their ministry was of great significance within the plan of Salvation. Likewise, I did not choose what the LORD commanded me and that He always addressed me with the words “My servant”: “My servant, your time for this city will soon be over … My servant, do not establish any local church … My servant, I have ordained you according to Mat. 24:45-47 to give out the food … My servant, get up and read 2. Tim. 4!” As far as I am concerned, everything that He told me and what is written in Mat. 24:45-47 and in other Scriptures is THUS SAITH THE LORD.

Right afterwards we read in chap. 25 about the parable of the ten virgins: “Then – namely when all that was announced in chap. 24 is taking place – shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins …” Then, when the food is given out, the midnight cry goes forth: Behold, the bridegroom cometh! Then all this comes to fulfilment, and it is happening now, in our time. This is the most important time period of the entire plan of Salvation, and blessed is he who does not miss the connection.

Twenty days before his passing, Brother Branham spoke in his sermon “The Rapture” about the shout: “It’s a Message to get the people together. A Message comes forth first. Now, ‘Lamp trimming time. Rise and trim your lamps.’ … Behold the Bridegroom cometh. Rise and trim your lamps.” (December 4, 1965).

In the sermon “The invisible union of the Bride of Christ” from November 25, 1965, Brother Branham said this one month before his departure: “Notice. But watch when, the spiritual Bride, when She begins to have a revival, when She begins to come back and line Herself up with the Word of God. Watch then again (You see?), how that the Scriptures, … At that time there’ll be a message sweep out to catch that Bride, catch that woman, elect.”

In the sermon about the seventh Seal, he said: “It may be time. It may be the hour now, that this great person that we’re expecting to rise on the scene may rise on the scene. Maybe this ministry that I have tried to take people back to the Word has laid a foundation; and if it has, I’ll be leaving you for good. There won’t be two of us here the same time. See? If it is, he will increase, I’ll decrease. I don’t know. But I have been privileged by God to look and see what it was (See, see?), unfold to that much. Now, that is the truth.” (March 24, 1963).

At the end of this sermon, Brother Branham prayed: “Then, LORD, I pray that You’ll help me. I’m beginning to fade away, LORD. I know my days can’t be too many more, and I pray that You’ll help me. Let me be true, LORD, and honest and sincere that I might be able to bear the message as far as it’s ordained for me to bear. And when it comes to the time that I must lay down, when I get down to the river, and the waves begin to come in, O God, may I be able to hand this old Sword over to somebody else that’ll be honest with It, LORD, and will pack the truth.” God has taken the messenger unto Himself, but the message is left to us and it is being carried into the entire world. The sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:10-20) has also been entrusted to me.

“These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges …” (Rev. 2:12).

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12).

On August 23, 1964, Brother Branham gave this admonition: “The only thing you can put your trust in is THUS SAITH THE LORD from the Bible. Now, Church, that is exactly where I have tried to keep you, my children. And if something happens to me and God takes me out of this earth, don’t you never fail. Remember this with all your heart: stay with that Word. Don’t you leave that Word. Anything contrary to It, leave it alone, no matter what it is. Then you know It’s right.”

The wise virgins believe every Word of God and every promise. They are led from clarity to clarity and have a direct part in what God is currently doing. They not only have the lamps, the illumination, they have the connection to the fullness of the Spirit, which leads into all truth. Their vessels are filled with oil, and thus they will go and partake of the marriage supper according to the words of our LORD. But before that, in the time of calling out and preparation, they recognize the teaching ministry, which is now taking place, just as they previously recognised the prophetic ministry. After all, God did not come to a halt in the past, but He is a God of the present.￼Bro. Thomas und Bro. Sothman

Testimony of Thomas Schmidt

In September 2009, Brother Daniel and I had the opportunity to meet Brother Fred Sothman during a visit in Jeffersonville. At that time he was 93 years old, and we found him to be in good health and mentally clear. He willingly gave his testimony about the work of God through Brother Branham, in particular about the gift of divine healing. Yet this was not the main reason for our visit. After we had spoken for quite some time, we asked Brother Sothman about a particular meeting Brother Frank and Brother Branham had, during which he was also present. He remembered and said that Brother Branham told Brother Frank that “he would return to Germany with this message.” This, however, referred to the meeting in Dallas, Texas, in 1958. Upon further inquiry about the meeting in December 1962, at which Brother Branham repeated word for word the commission that the LORD had given to Brother Frank on April 2, 1962, Brother Sothman replied, “That’s right. That’s true.” He not only confi rmed the wording of the commission: “My servant, your time for this city will soon be over …” but likewise confirmed that Brother Branham had further said: “Wait with the giving out of the food until you got the rest of it … The food is in the sermons on the tapes …” For us this visit was a joy and strengthening, especially in view of the unexpected testimony about the meeting in Dallas in June 1958.

This testimony is given for the glory of God and shall serve those who cannot yet believe that the LORD indeed spoke out a commission which is of significance in regard to the plan of Salvation. Even before our visit with Brother Sothman, we already believed the testimony of our brother with all of our hearts and have been richly blessed by his ministry throughout all the years.

God does not change but instead continues to proceed according to His divine pattern whereof the Bible testifies. Recognize the day and His message!

On account of his commission, Brother Frank is not dependent on our testimony but can confidently say along with Paul: “Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men …” (2. Cor. 3:1-2).

A conversation and its consequences

As we have reported occasionally in previous publications, it was on June 12, 1958, during the large conference in Dallas, Texas, which had been arranged by Gordon Lindsay, when I sought a meeting with Brother Branham. Brother Thomas has heard the confirmation from the lips of Brother Branham’s closest friend who was present at that time. At the end of that conversation, Brother Branham told me: “The LORD bless you and be with you!” When he stepped on the platform that evening, he said, “Just now, a man laid his arm around me from Germany, just now, where we had on the average of ten thousand converts every night: fifty thousand in five nights.”

Both here and there the meetings took place in the presence of God. Thousands of people experienced anew what is recorded in the Bible. Since the meetings in Karlsruhe, Germany in August 1955, I felt as though I shared a special bond with Brother Branham. His words at the conclusion of our conversation in Dallas, specifically: “You will return with this message to Germany,” were a holy command for me. After all, I had immigrated to Canada, had started a new life there, and had already bought a house. But after hearing the words that I would return to Germany with this message, I pulled up stakes and moved back to Germany with my family the very same year.

There are many things to be reported from the half-century of my ministry for the LORD. The most important experience for me was the commission which the faithful LORD gave me on April 2, 1962. It was not yes and no, but it is and remains “Yes and Amen, THUS SAITH THE LORD.” Yet, I am also aware of the responsibility that is connected thereto. I have made the most of my time day and night, have preached, translated, written, and personally carried the last message into more than 150 countries.

I will continue to carry out my commission for as long as the LORD wants me to and grants His grace for it. I will preach the pure Word (2. Tim. 4:1-5) and will pass on the spiritual food to God’s people by giving out everything that was left to us (Mat. 24:45-47). Just as Paul made mention of his co-workers Silvanus and Timothy who preached the same Word back then, likewise I may now include all of the brothers worldwide who also preach the same Word, the same message, the same biblical teachings, and are giving out the spiritual food together with me. The Bride hears and believes and gets herself ready.

End-time events

There are a number of Scriptures that speak of this special time period. They include the subject of unrighteousness, which is steadily increasing, the unrest among the nations, and the perplexity which is predominant everywhere. All citizens are calling for solutions, but nobody seems to have them. Never before have that many conferences been held at the highest levels as they have in this year. The foremost subject is the international financial and economic crisis. Who has ever heard of entire countries going bankrupt and this many banks having to close? In the desperate search for solutions, all of the nations are being included, even Russia and China. All of the countries certainly depend on each other; especially their economies are interdependent.

Now the Vatican is also chiming in. It is demanding the establishment of a global regulatory body to control the financial markets, a “World Central Bank.” “It is the task of today’s generation to recognize and to consciously accept these new world dynamics for the achievement of a universal common good.” That is how it is stated in the document of the “Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.” It further claims: “The Spirit of Babel was yesterday. Now the Spirit of Pentecost is called for, the Spirit of the one human family.”(Vatican Radio, October 24, 2011).

According to the Prophet Daniel, the last earthly power will devour the whole earth and force it into the unity. Now one bailout follows the other, until everything is eventually united under one large umbrella: World economy, World government, World religion – everywhere is room for everyone.

Only the elect, the true Church of Jesus Christ remains under the protection of the most High (Ps. 91), and His truth is their shelter (Ps. 40:11). In the world there is only deception because all leadership is subject to the prince of this world and is under the influence of the evil one. But according to God’s promise, the Almighty God will establish eternal justice for his people: “Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet …” (Isa. 28:17). And as written in Dan. 7:26-27, the God of heaven will establish His Kingdom at the time of the last World Empire and commence the Millennium (Rev. 11:15). The time is at hand; the time is here!

Missionary report for the months
of September, October, and November 2011

Here is a summary of my missionary travels from the past three months:

On September 10 and 11 we had special meetings in Donetsk, Ukraine, which many brothers and sisters attended from the surrounding countries that speak or understand the Russian language. Brother Paul Schmidt accompanied me and was my interpreter.

On September 17 and 18 I preached in Lyon, France, where many brothers and sisters came together from other European countries as well. God greatly blessed us.

On October 9 we had an especially blessed meeting in Rome; various groups from all over Italy participated.

From October 12 to 22 I visited some churches in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and in the city of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. It was my second trip to these countries. The sermons were translated into the respective national language, recorded, and duplicated. The subsequent distribution of the recorded sermons ensures a lasting effect among the believers in these countries.

The end of this journey was on the Philippines. In Manila we had a meeting with the brothers, and over 30 preachers of the message were in attendance.

After a longer break, a harmonic meeting filled with the divine love took place in the city of Graz, Austria, on October 29. Memories from more than 40 years have confirmed the faithfulness of God anew.

As they do every month, the faithful believers assembled to hear the proclamation of God’s Word on the last Sunday of October in Zurich, Switzerland.

In the time from November 10 to 20, the first visit was to Angola, where thousands of people heard the Word in the respective stadiums of both cities Luanda and Cabinda. In the closing joint prayer, the praise and worship was brought before the LORD God after each sermon.

The subsequent meetings in Zimbabwe, namely in Harare and in Bulawayo, were very much blessed as well.

In Blantyre, Malawi, the first meeting was scheduled to take place in a Trinitarian Pentecostal church. When the preacher declared at the end of the service that he could not believe the message, all of the elect rose and walked out in protest. The final meeting, which took place in Lilongwe, was a mighty victory for the truth.

The end of the journey was on November 20 in Johannesburg, South Africa. According to the local brothers, up to 1,500 believers had come together.

In the future, I will not be able to undertake as many trips as I have in the past years. It is important to me to concentrate mainly on the few remaining countries which I could not visit thus far.

God has granted grace so that the brethren in the many countries around the world can participate with their congregations in the services which take place here in Krefeld on the first weekend of every month. On the first weekend in November, 844 participants joined us online, and the number is steadily increasing each month.

The sermons are held in German and are simultaneously translated into 12 different languages. The number of DVDs that are sent out on a monthly basis has reached 6,700 by now. By all manner of means, it comes to fulfilment that the last message is preached to all peoples, tongues, and nations for a witness.

I want to sincerely thank all of you, my beloved Brothers and Sisters, for faithfully supporting and carrying this work of God with your prayers and gifts. May the LORD reward you. It will be worth it to remain faithful until the end, for the end will be crowned with divine victory.

“… Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our LORD Jesus Christ.” (1. Cor. 1:8).

By His commission

If you are interested in receiving our literature, you may write to the address below:

Mission Center
P.O. Box 100707
47707 Krefeld
Germany

You can also tune in on the Internet for our monthly meetings on the first weekend of each month: on Saturday evening at 19:30 h (Central European Time), on Sunday morning at 10:00 h (Central European Time). The sermons can be heard in twelve different languages worldwide. The Zurich meetings can be accessed online on the last Sunday of every month at 14:00 h (Central European Time) and are available in German and French. Have a part in what God is presently doing according to His Plan of Salvation!

Homepage: http://www.freie-volksmission.de

E-mail: volksmission@gmx.de or
E.Frank@freie-volksmission.de

Fax: +49-2151/951293

© by the author and publisher E. Frank

A photograph from Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The picture shows a part of the great multitude in the stadium of Luanda, Angola.

The meeting in Johannesburg

The meeting in Rome, Italy

A picture from Graz, Austria