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

(Heb. 13:8)

CIRCULAR LETTER April 2012

Anniversary Edition

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Special greetings to all of you in the precious Name of our Lord Jesus Christ with the Scripture from Eph. 3:3-4, which I fully apply to me and all true believers in this time:

“How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ …”

Paul made use of every opportunity to preach the things that had been revealed to him, even if it was from early in the morning until late in the evening (Acts 28:23). His writings, on the other hand, were quite brief. One time he taught until midnight, then the breaking of bread followed, and afterward he continued until daybreak (Acts 20:7-12). Brother Branham also preached long sermons which, thankfully, were recorded on tapes. After his departure, they were transcribed and printed in Jeffersonville upon my request, under the supervision of Roy Borders. Therein we have the proclamation of the whole counsel of God. Together with Paul, I may testify that I am well-acquainted with the mystery of Christ by revelation. With God’s help, I have served the Lord day and night for more than half a century, during which I have travelled, preached, and written.

Whatever God reveals to one of His servants is always meant for all ministers of Christ, even for the entire Church. Paul spoke of the mystery of Christ, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets (Eph. 3:5-6). On the Isle of Patmos, the Apostle John was given the revelation of Jesus Christ, which was meant for all of the servants of God (Rev. 1:1-3). The days that I spent on the Isle of Patmos in 1980 in prayer and reading the 22 chapters of the Book of Revelation were a great blessing to me.

From the beginning

From the beginning, the Lord God has revealed Himself to His Own in a manifold way: Already in the Garden of Eden, He visited Adam and Eve in the cool of the day and had fellowship with them (Gen. 3). The Bible reports that Enoch walked with God, that God was well-pleased with him, and that he was raptured (Gen. 5:24; Heb. 11:5). We read about Noah, about the establishment of the covenant after the flood, about the rainbow as the sign of the covenant (Gen. 9), and about Abraham, to whom God gave the promise to bless all of the nations that believe as he believed. God established the covenant of circumcision with him as well (Gen. 17:13). All of the prophets in the Old Testament and all men of God knew the Lord God personally and obeyed his instructions. All throughout the Bible, we find testimonies about the personal revelations of God as Creator, King, Saviour, etc. In the New Testament, we see the personal revelation of God in our Redeemer, through Whom we have received the adoption as sons (Gal. 4:4-7). He reveals Himself for each specific task according to the divine Plan of Salvation as Lamb of God, as Mediator, as Advocate, etc.

The main purpose of this exposition is to show that the Lord has revealed Himself in our time through the ministry of Brother Branham just as He did in the Old Testament. Brother Branham had the same supernatural experiences as Abraham, Moses, and the prophets were granted back in their time. He often mentioned the “Angel of the Lord” when He descended in the light in connection with the prayer for the sick. Repeatedly, he spoke of the “Angel of the Covenant” with reference to the appearance of the Lord in the supernatural pillar of fire. He emphasized that it was the same “Angel of the Lord” Who had accompanied Israel in the cloud and in the pillar of fire.

To Abraham, God revealed Himself as “Angel of the Lord” when he was ready to sacrifice his promised son Isaac: “And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.” (Gen. 22:11-18).

In the days of Moses, it was about a significant event within the Plan of Salvation: the calling out and Exodus of Israel, just as God promised it to Abraham (Gen. 15:13). “And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush … And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses.” (Ex. 3:2+4). Here we have three designations, namely “Angel of the Lord,” Lord, and God, for the One Who then introduced Himself like this: “I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.” (v. 6).

In the shape of an Angel He appeared in the fire; as Lord He saw Moses approaching; as God He spoke to him. Yet it was only One because there is only one God. For our salvation, the one God revealed Himself in the New Testament as Father in heaven, on earth in the Son, and in the Church by the Holy Spirit.

Moses wanted to know the Name of the One who was sending him: “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.” (Ex. 3:13-15).

The Eternal is always present as the I AM when He reveals Himself. The I AM is the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth. At the proclamation of the Ten Commandments, we read: “And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God …” In Isa. 44:6 it states: “Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” All the way up to the last book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation, the Lord introduces Himself as the I AM: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (1:8). “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” (22:13).

From the many “I AM” whereby the Lord revealed Himself in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, we recognize that He is always the same. “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” (Jn. 8:58). The Lord/Yahweh of the Old Testament is the Lord Jesus/Yahshua of the New Testament. “… and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” (1. Cor. 12:3).

In Joel 2:32 it states: “… whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord/Yahweh shall be delivered …” In Rom. 10:13 we find the same Word in reference to Jesus once again, for whosoever calls upon the Name of the Lord Jesus/Yahshua shall be saved.

All of the miraculous signs that Moses presented to Pharaoh had a single purpose: “Let my people go, that they may serve me.” (Ex. 7:26; 8:16; 9:1; 9:13; 10:3). When God made the covenant with Israel, the Lord was the “Angel of the Covenant” because He gave His people the commandments of the covenant.

“And the Lord said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel. And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.” (Ex. 34:27-28).

Through Moses, God provided the called-out Church with binding commandments and said: “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” (Ex. 19:5-6). The Exodus was solely God’s responsibility, but then obedience had to follow the faith of the called-out ones to thereby keep the covenant. Thus, the called-out Church of Israel became a kingdom and priesthood of God.

That is also the divine purpose of the redeemed and called-out Church of the New Testament: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light …” (1. Pt. 2:9). “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” (Rev. 5:10).

As “Angel of the Covenant,” He led His people in a visible form, namely in the shape of the supernatural cloud. “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.” (Ex. 13:21-22). That is how He accompanied His people Israel during the forty years.

In Neh. 9:12-13 we are told: “Moreover thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go. Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments …” The Lord God can visibly reveal Himself on earth and still let His voice sound from heaven. God is Spirit – He is omnipresent.

In Ex. 40:33-38 the cloud is mentioned five times: “So Moses finished the work. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.”

At the consecration of the temple, the Lord descended once again in the supernatural cloud: “So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.” (1. Ki. 8:10-21).

In the New Testament

In the New Testament, the supernatural cloud is also mentioned, as at the transfiguration of Jesus on the mount:

“While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” (Mt. 17:5).

Mark testified of this event as well: “And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.” (9:7).

About His ascension we read in Acts 1:9-11: “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.”

Our Redeemer ascended into heaven in a cloud, and according to 1. Ths. 4:17 the Redeemed will be raptured from all continents and be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

When Paul experienced his conversion and calling, a light from heaven suddenly shined round about him and he heard the words: “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” Paul asked, “Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.” Ananias was sent to him because of a vision and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 9:5+17b). “The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.” (Acts 22:14). In 1. Cor. 9:1 he testified: “Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?” Connected to the heavenly appearance was a divine commission, a sending with a special significance in the Plan of Salvation.

It happened in our time

There was also a confirmed commission in our days, in order to turn the hearts of the children of God back to the faith of the apostolic fathers. That is the fulfilment of the promise from Mal. 4:5-6, as our Lord confirmed it in Mat. 17:11 and Mk. 9:12: “Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.” This is presently the concern in the Church of the Lord: Just as Elijah then took the 12 stones according to the 12 tribes, rebuilt the altar of the Lord, and called the people together on Mount Carmel and their hearts were turned back again, so has the man of God in our time reintroduced the doctrine of the 12 apostles (Acts 2:42) and has turned our hearts back. The Church has to be restored to its original condition before Jesus can return, for this is the promise: “Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” (Acts 3:21). It is also Thus saith the Lord.

Since the Reformation, there have been many revivals wherein the proclamation of the Gospel was the main focal point. At the beginning of the 20th century, a mighty outpouring of the Spirit took place, similar to the one on the day of Pentecost. That brought forth the various Pentecostal churches. However, a genuine breakthrough to the original Christianity was not accomplished. After World War II, a man finally came on the scene who had a scriptural apostolic and prophetic ministry. It was William Branham, a man sent from God, through whom the mightiest salvation and healing revival since the days of Jesus and the apostles made its breakthrough.

On May 7, 1946, Brother Branham had the following experience: That evening, a supernatural light beamed from heaven into the room. Brother Branham saw how a messenger from God descended in this light and then came toward him. Frightened, he stood up and heard the first words: “Fear not, I am sent to you from the presence of God.” The visitor then explained to him all the details concerning his ministry. Among other things, Brother Branham was told: “As Moses was given two signs, so you are also given two signs.” The first sign was to appear when he took the right hand of the ailing person with his left hand. The suffering – for instance the cancer, the tumour – became visible on Brother Branham’s hand and disappeared again after the healing took place. The second sign was that something he absolutely could not have known was revealed to him from the life of the person for whom he was praying. To each person about whom something was shown to him in a vision, Brother Branham could say in the Name of the Lord: “You are healed by the power of God in the Name of Jesus Christ.” The Lord said to Moses: “… if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.” (Ex. 4:8).

Hundreds of thousands of people experienced and witnessed it in the years 1946 until 1965 that the blind received their sight, the lame could walk, the deaf could hear, and most notably the cancer sufferers were healed. It happened because the Angel of God said at the commission of Brother Branham: “If you will get the people to believe you, nothing shall stand before your prayer, not even cancer.”

In regard to His ministry, the Son of God was “that Prophet” who had been promised in Deut. 18:18, as it was further confirmed in Acts 3:22-23: “For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.” He saw in visions what would be, spoke it, and it happened, regardless whether the afflicted person was blind, lame, or leprous, etc.

The very same ministry was repeated in our time: Brother Branham was shown in visions what would take place; he spoke it, and it happened. Time and time again, the man of God therefore referred to Jn. 5:19 and applied it to his ministry: “Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.”

With reference to his ministry, Brother Branham also often made the comparison with Gen. 18, when the Lord together with two angels visited Abraham and gave the promise for the birth of Isaac. Sarah, who was in the tent and was listening, laughed within herself. The Lord looked at Abraham and asked, “Wherefore did Sarah laugh …?” Likewise, Brother Branham referred to Jn.1, when Andrew brought his brother to the Lord, Who then told him: “Thou art Simon the son of Jona …” To Nathanael He said: “Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.”

The woman at the well, whose past life He revealed, knew “… that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.” And the Messiah confirmed it: “I that speak unto thee am He.” This prophetic gift to see things in visions and have them revealed was for some people the greatest blessing, while others, the scribes and Pharisees in particular, took offense at it and hence called the Lord Beelzebub.

The ministry took place in our days, in this prophetic age in which the Son of Man revealed Himself (Lk. 17:26-30). We are still waiting for His coming (Lk. 17:34-37). His Return happens suddenly, on one day, in one hour. Then two will lie in one bed or be in the field; one will be taken and the other one left. This happens in an instant (1. Cor. 15:51-58), as the Lord explained it in the comparison with the lightening which shines from the East unto the West (Mt. 24:27; Lk. 17:24). He could not have said it more precisely. And we believe it the way it is written. Amen.

Divine confirmation

Wherever the Lord is present, the extraordinary happens. The Spirit of God is at work during the entire time of grace: People are saved, delivered, healed, and blessed. All of this happened a thousandfold in the ministry of Brother Branham. The following words of our Lord were literally fulfilled: “… the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do …” (Jn. 14:12).

The same God who revealed Himself as Lord, as Angel of the Covenant in the time of the Bible also manifested Himself in our time in the pillar of fire and in the supernatural cloud. The Lord made His promise a reality: “The world seeth me no more; but ye shall see me for I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Indeed, He even allowed that on January 24, 1950, a picture was taken in Houston, Texas, with the pillar of fire above Brother Branham’s head and later on several photos were made of the supernatural cloud on February 28, 1963.

The press photographers Mr. Ayers, a Catholic, and Mr. Kippermann, a Jew, took snapshots in Houston during a debate about divine healing. Both were critics of Brother Branham. When the pictures were developed, it turned out that all of the negatives were empty and only one single photograph was successful: the one with the light above Brother Branham’s head. Upon the request of Gordon Lindsay, whom I also met in person, the negative was sent to Washington for examination by Dr. George J. Lacy, a sworn expert for questionable documents. After the inspection, he issued a certificate of the results on January 29, 1950, which has since been reprinted many times. His testimony: The supernatural light was there; otherwise, the camera could not have captured it. Thereby, God Himself bore witness that He was present and confirmed the word of His servant (Isa. 44:26a).

The same applies to the supernatural cloud which was suspended over Flagstaff/Arizona on February 28, 1963. As Brother Branham had seen it in a vision, he was on Sunset Mountain at that time, and it happened as it had been shown to him. He told me about this vision in December 1962, and because he was moving to Tucson, Arizona, in January 1963, he asked me to preach in his stead in Los Angeles at the “Full Gospel Businessmen” meeting that had been arranged in Clifton’s Cafeteria by Demos Shakarian.

The cloud appeared in the clear sky and could still be seen 28 minutes after sunset brightly illuminated in the sky. It happened exactly there where Brother Branham was and where he received the instruction for the opening of the seven seals: Seven mighty thunder claps sounded, and the entire area was shaken as from an earthquake so that rocks rolled down the mountain. I saw the fallen rocks with my own eyes in December 1968 on a trip from Tucson to Sunset Mountain.

According to newspaper reports, more than 80 pictures were taken of this extraordinary cloud from various locations. Even the renowned Science Magazine put a photograph of this phenomenon on the cover of its issue from April 19, 1963, and published on pages 292, 293, 294 an article by Dr. James McDonald from the University in Tucson. Life Magazine also released an article and several pictures of it in its edition from May 17, 1963. According to the statement of Brother Braham, seven angels were in the cloud in the form of a pyramid. The seventh one in the constellation spoke to him.

In reference to this event, Brother Branham said the following: “It shook the hills for miles around like that. There stood seven Angels one with a silver sword in his hand and said, “Go home and open these Seven Seals that are given.” And here they are, the true mystery of marriage and divorce, and the serpent’s seed, and all these things that’s been fussed about. It’s Thus saith the Lord.” (The Easter Seal, April 10, 1965).

“I was up with my hands in the air, praying, and a sword came into my hands. You know that. I stood there and looked at it, just natural as my hand is now. Not knowing what it meant, and it was left me with a Voice that said, “This is the Sword of the King.” And then, later when the Angel of the Lord revealed it, It was the Word in the hand. Immediately after that, the Angels of the Lord appeared and told about the Seven Seals; and I was to return back here to Jeffersonville and preach the Seven Seals.” (Feast of the Trumpets, July 19, 1964).

It must be said once again: In regard to Brother Branham, it is a matter of a divine commission and sending with an extraordinary responsibility, as it was with Moses. His prophetic ministry must be placed correctly into the Word of prophecy. Like Paul he preached the whole counsel of God; he was given the revelation of all mysteries and then proclaimed them: starting with the fall in the Garden of Eden up until time gives way to eternity.

People who believe the Bible have no difficulties believing that an angel came to Zechariah and announced the birth of John the Baptist and, as written in the same chapter, that the Angel Gabriel came to Mary and announced the birth of the Redeemer (Lk. 1). They further trust that the Angel of the Lord entered amidst a bright light into the room in which Peter was imprisoned (Acts 12:7), and that the Lord sent His angel to John on the Isle of Patmos to show unto His servants what would shortly come to pass, and also what is reported in Dan. 8:15-19, etc.

Did God have to ask somebody when He called Moses or any other prophet? He Alone decides His works according to His eternal Plan of Salvation, which He fulfills in the course of time. In Brother Branham’s life, there were also a number of extraordinary experiences which God gave him, especially after the age of seven. Prophets are undoubtedly consecrated from their mother’s womb (Jer. 1:5). According to Lk. 1:15, John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother’s womb. Also Paul testified that he was called from his mother’s womb (Gal. 1:15).

Through his ministry, the seventh messenger introduced the Bride age in the age of Laodicea. Blessed are those who are led into the Word of truth by the Spirit of truth, as the Lord announced it to His Own: “… the Spirit of truth will guide you into all truth …” (Jn. 16:13). Blessed is he who does not need to say, “It can be this way or that way …,” but who knows that everything always is and comes to pass according to God’s Word, which remains forever! Blessed is he who can correctly place what Brother Branham said into the divine order of the Bible! It does not make any sense to take the numerous quotes out of context and then claim: “The prophet said …! The prophet said …!” The word of prophecy does not allow for any private interpretation (2. Pt. 1:20). Every interpretation is a lie, and the Apostle John emphasized “… that no lie is of the truth.” (1. Jn. 2:20). The fact remains: Wherever divine revelation is present, there are no more interpretations; and where interpretations still prevail, there is no revelation. In His true Church, everything must be biblical, that means all things are in absolute agreement with the Old and the New Testament.

All the things that were part of Brother Branham’s ministry have been fulfilled. What is promised to the Bride Church will certainly become a reality in her. Only if there is a promise for something in the Scripture can there also be a fulfilment, “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” (2. Cor. 1:20). The Bride of the Lamb is not waiting for a prophet who will minister in a tent in the USA for four weeks, nor for the dead in Christ to rise and then walk the earth for at least 30 days. She is awaiting the full restoration, the final moving of the Spirit, and the coming of the heavenly Bridegroom!

The last message was to forerun the Return of Christ, and that is now taking place in full force. Through the final mighty work of God, the revealed Word will be confirmed among the elect worldwide. The crowning conclusion will be the Return of the Lord and 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.” (1. Ths. 4:15-17). The Rapture is no private revelation; although it will happen in secret, it is still the greatest reality of all times: the manifestation of the sons of God, our bodily transformation and ascension to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

The Angel of the Covenant

Once more, hopefully for the last time, the subject of Rev. 10 shall be scripturally illuminated. At His first coming, God sent to His people Israel, a prophet as the preparer of the way, according to His promise in Mal. 3:1 (Mt. 11:7-15; Mk. 1:1-4). This is generally known. In the second part of the same verse in Mal. 3:1, which refers to the coming to His people Israel, it states the following about the “Angel of the Covenant,” who will then come to His temple: “… and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.” – Indeed, it is Thus saith the Lord! Here it is not about the Return of Christ as Bridegroom, not about the Rapture of the Bride, and not about the marriage supper. This coming falls into the “day of the Lord.” The Holy Scripture confirms it: “But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.” (vv. 2-4).

In this text we are told precisely what will happen when the Lord as the Angel of the Covenant comes to His people Israel. At that time, He will purify the sons of Levi, and all offerings of Judah in Jerusalem will be pleasant unto Him. This brings us into the literal fulfilment. After the last message to the churches in Rev. 3 and this serious admonition to the believers: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches ...,” the last church age comes to its end. Brother Branham repeatedly said, “The Church goes up with chapter 4 and returns in chapter 19.” Thereafter, John no longer sees the Son of Man walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, but he sees the Lord on the throne, surrounded by a rainbow: “… and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne …” (Rev. 4:2-3).

In Rev. 10 the Lord comes down as the Angel of the Covenant surrounded by a rainbow: “And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire …” (Rev. 10:1). Then the following comes to pass:

I. In His hand He holds the open book which was still sealed in chapter 5.

II. He sets one foot upon the sea and the other on the earth and cries with a loud voice, as when a lion roars.

III. Only then, when He as the Lion of the tribe of Judah has roared, the seven thunders utter their voices.

From the moment when He swears as the Angel of the Covenant, there are three and a half years left until the end of the time of tribulation and the beginning of the Millennium: “… and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.” (Dan. 12:7b). That is Thus saith the Lord in His Word.

This coming, when He roars like a lion, is illuminated in at least three Scriptures. The first one is Jer. 25:30-36: “The Lord shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the Lord.” (see also Isa. 63:1-6 and Rev. 14:14-20).

The second Scripture is Hos. 11:10: “They shall walk after the Lord: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.”

The third one is Joel 3:15-16: “The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.”

On March 17, 1963, Brother Branham read the Scripture from Rev. 10 out loud and then said the following in accordance with the aforementioned Scriptures: “If you notice that’s Christ (See?), ‘cause He in the Old Testament was called the Angel of the Covenant, and He’s directly coming to the Jews now, for the Church is finished.” That is correct. Not only is she finished, she is indeed raptured.

Here we see the Lord as the mighty Angel of the Covenant who is clothed with a cloud. It is the same cloud that accompanied Israel – the same Lord, the same Angel of the Covenant. The rainbow upon His head testifies of the covenant which He made with Israel. Yes, He roars from Mount Zion, from Jerusalem. Thus saith the Lord in His Word. Everything else is an arbitrary interpretation (2. Pt. 1:20). Whoever does not believe the truth of the Word is damned to believe the lie. Only to the one who actually respects the Word of God can the Lord speak; only he who places what Brother Branham said into the right biblical context believes as the Scripture says. Amen. Only then are we the Word Bride. All thunder doctrines are unscriptural, for they are not found in the Bible, not testified therein. Woe unto him who adds to the completed testimony of the Holy Scripture (Rev. 22)!

According to Mal. 3:1b-5, the Lord comes to His temple at that time. This is the moment when the antichrist as the “son of perdition,” as the “adversary of Christ” who exalts himself above everything, comes to the temple in his arrogance. The Lord will then consume him with the spirit of His mouth (2. Ths. 2).

In Ezekiel, chapters 40-47, the temple is described and also the river which flows from the temple to En Gedi all the way into the Dead Sea. “Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward …” In Zec. 14:20-21 it states that then even the pots in the temple will be sanctified. In Isa. 66:6 we read: “A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the Lord that rendereth recompence to his enemies.”

In Rev. 11 the ministry of the two witnesses is described. Right in verse 1 it states: “… Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.” At that time, the temple, which was destroyed in the year ad 70, must be rebuilt.

The Jews at the Wailing Wall always end their prayer with this request: “Elohim Adonai, grant that the temple is built and that the Messiah comes.” Right in verse 2 it is written that at that time “the holy city” – which is always Jerusalem – shall be trodden down by the Gentiles for 42 months, that is three and half years. In Rev. 11:3 it states that the two witnesses will prophesy for 1260 days, which also add up to three and half years. Lest anyone comes to the conclusion that it is about the same three and half years, the separate time periods are on one hand identified as 1260 days for the ministry of the two prophets, and on the other hand as 42 months during which the city is trodden down. In the first three and half years, the two prophets have their ministry. The second three and half years are the time of the great tribulation, during which the persecution of the believers that were left behind, but especially the Jews, takes place: “… and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.” (Rev. 13:5). After these three and half years of tribulation for Israel, the Millennium will be proclaimed. This is Thus saith the lord in His Word: “… and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. But the judgment shall sit … And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” (Dan. 7:25-27).

In Rev. 10:7 we find the announcement that when the seventh trumpet angel blows his shofar, the mystery of God shall be finished, as He revealed it without fail to His servants, the prophets (Amos 3:7). Christ, the Messiah, the Redeemer, is the mystery of God revealed (1. Tim. 3:16). The Jews did not recognize it at that time but then they shall look upon the Him Whom they have pierced (Zec. 12:9-14). In Rev. 11:15 we find the fulfilment: “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” It cannot be this way or that way – God’s Word is always and with every subject “Yes and Amen.”

“Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.” (Eze. 37:26-28). And just as the numerous Scriptures declare it, so shall it be.

It has to be said once more: The first four seals refer to the antichrist power in its four stages (Rev. 6:1-8) parallel to the church ages (Rev. 2+3). The fifth seal shows the Jewish martyrs – including those from the Holocaust – at the altar and foretells that their blood shall be avenged and that their fellow servants and brothers will also suffer the same fate (Rev. 6:9-11).

With the sixth seal, we see the introduction into the day of the Lord: A strong earthquake takes place; the sun becomes dark and the moon turns into blood; the stars fall from heaven; and there it actually states: “For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Rev. 6:12-17). By now everybody realizes that the events which are described from that point on will take place only after the Rapture, during the time of the sixth and seventh seal. That includes all of the trumpet judgements and even the seven vials of wrath (Rev. 16). Then all that remains is the judgement over the great Babylon, which is attired in purple and scarlet (chap. 17+18).

Whosoever is part of the Bride Church thankfully does not need to worry about the things that will take place on earth during that time. Everything will be literally fulfilled just as it is written, chapter by chapter, and verse by verse. The seventh seal (Rev. 8:1) is certainly not merely the silence in heaven. Right from verse 2 we are told what happens then: John at once saw the seven angels who stood before God, to whom were given seven trumpets. And straightaway we find out what kind of judgements strike the earth at the sound of each trumpet. Amen. For the last phase, everything is foretold in great detail, whether it is written in chapter 7, in chapter 8, chapter 9, chapter 10, chapter 11, or thereafter. All these things will be fulfilled to the letter.

With all sincerity

With utmost respect and filled with gratitude, we acknowledge what God has done in our time in a supernatural way. Thereby, He wanted to show us the way and bring us back to the beginning, to the original foundation, to the doctrines of the apostles, to the sole absolute of His Word. This is the only way for us to experience the perfect unity and our completion by His grace.

The single most important thing for the four evangelists was that everything that had taken place from Mt. 1 to Jn. 21 was correctly placed according to the Scripture: “Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled …” (Mt. 1:22a). “For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled …” (Jn. 19:36a). Peter did the same, even before the day of Pentecost: “For it is written in the book of Psalms, …” (Acts 1) and then especially after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit: “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel …” (Acts 2). After the resurrection, our Lord said: “These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.” (Lk. 24:44). Indeed, and only in connection with the fulfilment did He then open His disciples’ understanding for the Scripture (v. 45).

Paul also referred repeatedly to the Holy Scripture and could correctly place his ministry in Isa. 49:6, even at the exact point in time, when the salvation passed from the Jews to the Gentiles: “For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.” (Acts 13:41-51). He was commissioned to preach the Gospel of God to the Gentiles, “which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures …” (Rom. 1:1-5). Likewise, we can place the ministry of Brother Branham into the Holy Scripture. The Bible is also the sole foundation of my proclamation. I must refer to Mt. 24:45-47 because the Lord Himself audibly called it out to me. I must refer to 2. Tim. 4:1-5 because the Lord commanded it to me in a loud voice. The present ministry must be placed according to Scripture as well.

It does not suffice to be sincere and to refer to Brother Branham and his ministry. The most important thing is the correct scriptural placement of the written and revealed Word according to its divine order. Part of that is, for example, that we do not equate the revelation of the Seals in March 1963 with their fulfilment, let alone with the Return of Christ. The appearance of the cloud was simply the indicator for the impending opening of the Seals! Brother Branham made this abundantly clear. Future events were pronounced as if they had already taken place. But that is the case with all biblical prophecies. Isaiah saw in chapter 53 the crucifixion like it had already happened, although it was still 800 years in the future. The Apostle John saw all the things that were yet to come as if they had already occurred: He saw the marriage supper (chap. 19); in chap. 20 he saw the last judgement on the white throne, then in the next chapter even the new Jerusalem as it descended on the earth – and it is still above. He also saw the new heaven and the new earth (chap. 21).

It must be said in all clarity that we are still living in the time of grace. The blood of the New Covenant is still on the mercy seat. Jesus Christ is the Mediator of the New Covenant and remains our Advocate until the last elect has been called out (Heb. 9:11-22; a. o.). In every age, the Redeemer has always claimed the Redeemed. At His Return, He will complete this claim on His children through the changing of the bodies. “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” (Rom. 8:23). According to Rev. 7, even the innumerable multitude will wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb during the great tribulation (v. 14). Blessed is he who believes as the Scripture says and frees himself from every interpretation!

For many years we have scripturally illuminated the unique ministry of Brother Branham time and time again and have placed it one hundred percent upon the foundation of the Holy Scripture. Hence, it is abundantly clear that he was the messenger in the last of the seven church ages through whose ministry the mysteries were revealed and all doctrines, in fact, all things were restored back to their original condition, the way they were in the beginning. That he was still expecting more than what had already happened is also well-known to us. Who could know this better than I do, since I have been translating his sermons into the German language since 1958? When Brother Branham said on November 28, 1963, that his tapes were being translated and played in Germany before hundreds of people, he could not have meant anybody else, for there was no one else who was doing that.

Is the concern to exalt all of Brother Branham’s statements as an absolute above the Scripture and, as is sadly being done by many people, misappropriate a great many of his quotes in order to justify one’s own teaching? Can we see history repeat itself in regard to what the Apostle Peter wrote even back then, namely that the ones who are unstable in the Word twist the things that are hard to understand unto their own destruction (2. Pet. 3:14-18)? In many cases, his quotes are being recited with sincerity, but sadly without placement within the divine order of the Holy Scripture. Yes, one can be sincere and truly wrong at the same time, wanting to do God a service without being called to do so and hence without being in His Will.

The divine calling and commission, which the prophet confirmed in the presence of the witnesses Sothman and Wood on December 3, 1962, is irrevocable. My ministry is divinely connected to Brother Branham’s ministry within the Plan of Salvation. In response to certain expectations within the circles of the end-time message that are referring to particular quotes, it must be said once again: If there is no promise for something in the Bible, then there is also no fulfilment. Interpretations contain false hopes, which is exactly what we do not need, for they lead to disappointment. The ministry of Brother Branham is finished forever, just as the one of Moses, of Elijah, of John the Baptist, and as every other ministry is forever completed. The spiritual food, however, is now being given out according to Mt. 24:45-47 in cooperation with all of the ministers worldwide. But first it had to be stored in, as Brother Branham stated repeatedly. I can testify to have done both upon the command of the Lord: first the storing in and then the giving out. Never before could the following be said in reference to the Word, “Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.” (v. 47): “Today this Scripture is fulfilled.” The last message is directly connected to Mt. 25: “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” The wise virgins listen to it; they trim their lamps and fill their vessels. The foolish ones bypass it and therefore miss their preparation. Whoever rejects the successive ministry must ask himself whether he really understood the preceding one. What would have happened if the Lord Himself would not have seen to it years before that after the departure of the messenger the message could be carried into the entire world in the first place?

The end will be crowned

Now, directly before the Return of our Lord, the important part is that all those who are part of the Church of Jesus Christ come out from all spiritual bondage and confusion, also within the circles of the message, so that they can truly serve the Lord as His delivered people. This is the only biblical message of calling out: Back to the beginning! Back to the Word! Back to the Gospel that Paul and the apostles preached. After all, any other proclamation is under the curse according to Gal. 1:6-10. Everybody should earnestly read this text and take it to heart, as well as 2. Cor. 11:1-6. Paul wanted to present a chaste virgin unto Christ. That is what Brother Branham strived for as well. It is what every true servant of Christ wants. But just as the serpent from the very beginning beguiled Eve and all those who did not remain steadfast in the Word, it is the very goal of the enemy even to this day. Satan always stays with the subject but never with the truth (Jn. 8:44).

The true elect, however, the ones who are part of the Bride cannot be deceived. According to Eph. 5:27, it is the Lord Himself Who will present His Church in glorious beauty, without any spot or wrinkle. It is very important that we believe and experience the promises which the Lord has given for our time. Brother Branham said, “What did He say in Malachi 4? Would restore, restore back the original Pentecostal faith, back to the people with the same Pentecostal message, the same Pentecostal sign, the same Pentecostal evidence, the same God, the same power, the same teaching, everything exactly, with the vindication of the same Pillar of Fire that struck Paul down on the road, down to Damascus; among us today, doing the same things He did in that day.” (The uniting time and sign, August 18, 1963).

Where is the called-out Church now? We see how far Moses led the Church of Israel under God’s direct leadership. But then the prophet had fulfilled his commission. It is worthwhile to read his closing speeches in Deut. 27 to 34, which include all subjects, in particular the blessings of the twelve tribes. Moses was supposed to climb Mount Nebo and look into the Land of Promise, but he was not allowed to enter it. There the Lord took His servant unto Himself; one phase came to its end and the next one began. Under Joshua, the priests carried the Ark of the Covenant, and as with the Red Sea they crossed the River Jordan on dry ground and claimed the Promised Land. Also the chapters in the Book of Joshua testify of the divine Plan of Salvation. Therein we read how it continued. “And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you. And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.” (Jos. 3:5-6). We do not need an eighth messenger; what we need is the Word of the Covenant, the Holy Scripture. Amen.

After the Lord Himself had accompanied the people of Israel up to that point, He then appeared to Joshua as the Captain of the Lord’s host with His sword drawn in His hand. Joshua fell on his face to worship and asked, “What saith my lord unto his servant? And the captain of the Lord’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy.” (Jos. 5:13-15).

Thereafter came a special day, a day of victory for the people of God. The sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and the Captain of the Lord’s host Himself led the way and fought for Israel. But can we see up to which point the Church was led by the ministry of Brother Branham? Do we see how it continued afterward and is still continuing to this day?

May this exposition contribute, at least in part, to leading everybody who is part of the Bride Church to listen unto the Voice of the heavenly Bridegroom and to let himself be placed into the Will and Plan of God. In the full restoration, which was promised to us, the Church of the Lord will stand as the body of Christ, as the house of God, as the pillar and foundation of the truth, like in the very beginning: the same preaching, the same doctrines, the same water baptism, the same baptism of the Holy Spirit – everything the way it was at the beginning: thus one Lord, one faith, one baptism (Eph 4). Not one group here and one there, but just as the believers were one heart and one soul back then, so will they now be one heart and one soul in every country and in every city.

We are confident. The Lord Himself, the Victor of Calvary who has conquered all the powers of the enemy and made a show of him openly, walks before us (Col 2:12-15). He Who led us out with a mighty hand will also lead us in with a strong and exalted hand. “The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.” (Ps. 118:15-16). No promise will stay unfulfilled. He, our Lord and Saviour, is completing His work of Redemption, and we have been granted the privilege to partake in it.

It will be worth it

I can look back on more than sixty years in the Kingdom of God. In 1948 I experienced my conversion to Christ and received the assurance of salvation that I had become a child of God. With further experiences which the faithful Lord gave me, I proceeded to follow Jesus Christ. Already in 1949 I participated in the international Pentecostal Conference in the city of Hamburg. I have been preaching on a regular basis since 1952.

The experiences in the meetings and personal encounters with Brother Branham in the years 1955, 1958, and 1962 were milestones in my spiritual life. I still have the 21 letters which testify of our direct communication. The first one is from November 11, 1958, and the last one from September 30, 1965. Through his sermons which were sent to me regularly, I was led ever deeper into the Holy Scripture.

The wording of my commission from April 2, 1962, has been well-known to all of you for years. I had already been preaching the Word prior to that, but from then on I was supposed to go to other cities. On account of the direct commission, I drove from city to city, travelled from country to country, flew from continent to continent and proclaimed the Word, according to the Lord’s commandment.

For those who can believe it, I testify once again that all of the experiences that I have ever mentioned are true, also that I saw Brother Branham on Friday, December 24, 1965, in the very moment of his passing, as he was taken up in a cloud which looked similar to the cloud from February 28, 1963. As the living God is my witness, this is the truth. After all, Elisha also saw as Elijah was taken into heaven (2. Ki. 2). In the vision, I said, “Brother Branham, you are not the Son of Man, why do I see you on the cloud?” At that point in time, I did not know anything about his car accident, which he had suffered on December 18, 1965.

My eyes were probably the last ones to see Brother Branham in the coffin on April 10, 1966, in the presence of the funeral director, Mr. Coot. His face, which had been severely injured in the accident, was flawlessly restored and embalmed, looked nice, and had a natural smile.

The funeral was on Easter Sunday, April 11, 1966. There was a great expectation that his resurrection would take place. Therefore, the burial was delayed by singing the choruses “Only believe” and “On the wings of a snow white dove” over and over.

In the evening of the funeral day, it became clear to me that now the time had come to carry the God-given message into the entire world. As Brother Branham instructed me on December 3, 1962, I had waited with the giving out of the spiritual food until I received the rest of it and the time was fulfilled. Because of the divine foreordination, I could now carry out my commission within the Plan of Salvation.

In 1966/67 I began to arrange and hold meetings in 25 cities in Western Europe, to which I also invited Rev. Pearry Green. From 1968 on, I then started visiting the countries in Eastern Europe, including Russia. Other nations and continents followed. By invitation, I also preached in Canada and in the USA, then in Latin America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. By 1979 I had preached in 85 nations and there proclaimed the end-time message, the everlasting Word of God, by sowing the Word as the original seed, just as the Lord Himself had done (Mt. 13:37-38; Mk. 4:14; Lk. 8:11). Those were the most blessed years in my ministry for the Lord. The faithful God has given grace and His blessing for every journey.

In all these years, we also always had blessed meetings here in Krefeld in the presence of God, and the mighty moving of the Spirit was manifested. In May 1979, however, Satan wanted to destroy me, the Church, and the work, but what our Lord said of His Church proved to be true: “… and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Mt. 16:18b). I have also personally experienced what He said to Peter: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Lk. 22:31-32).

Today I look back on the many years, and the number of countries has increased from 85 in 1979 to 155. I was able to preach the precious, revealed Word there, regardless of the character assassination and slander. Presently thousands of people are hearing the Word of God through television broadcasts aired on all continents. The entire world is being reached, if not in person, then by radio and TV programs, by online transmissions, by literature, and by over 7,500 CDs and DVDs sent out monthly in 13 different languages. The following is being fulfilled: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, …” and at the same time the Lord calls His elect out from every spiritual confusion.

At the end, we expect a double restoration, the mightiest movement of the Spirit of God, a true infilling with the love of God. Only perfect love enters there, and that is the love of God, which is poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Only then shall the nine gifts of the Spirit (1. Cor. 12+14) for the edification of the Church and the nine fruits of the Spirit in the personal life (Gal. 5:22-24) be manifested.The love of God as it was manifested on the cross of Calvary unites all of the Redeemed among one another – always with forgiveness and reconciliation. Not a special knowlege, but the love of God that embraces all of the elect is the bond of perfection. Paul certainly addressed the Word to the elect, and only with them this becomes true: “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” (Col. 3:12-14).

The last work of God will be in connection with the former and the latter rain, which is promised before the Return of Christ, and all true believers will be one heart and one soul: “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.” (Jas. 5:7).

“Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” (Jas. 5:10-11).

Let us persevere as Job (in Hebrew “the persecuted one”) persevered, who experienced God in a mightier way after the severe trials than before. We should let go of all grudges against one another and remain steadfast until the Return of the Lord. The faithful Lord will bless us as He did with Job as an example for us. All those who had misunderstood and accused him were then sitting together with him at the same table. We certainly know that our Redeemer lives and that He will make all things well in the completion. The ones who have remained faithful and did not let themselves be deceived will experience it.

“And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.” (Job 42:10-11).

The year 2012

The year 2012 is a year of jubilee for me. The memory of the unparalleled experience on April 2, 1962, remains with me forever. In all conscience, I have carried out what the Lord commanded me on that Monday morning 50 years ago. I can refer to the following Scriptures with regard to that commission:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.” (Jn. 13:20).

“Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep your’s also.” (Jn. 15:20).

“… for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee …” (Acts 26:16).

The end to the year 2011 and the beginning of the year 2012 were blessed beyond measure. More than a thousand brothers and sisters were gathered here in the Mission Centre; the online viewing rate reached a total of 999 internet connections, most of which represented entire congregations that had come together to jointly listen to the sermons. Through the audio cassettes, CDs, and DVDs that are sent out monthly, tens of thousands of people worldwide are connected with us and with the Lord. In accordance with the direct commission, I have now proclaimed the Word for more than half a century and have given out the spiritual food. Our faithful Lord and Redeemer Himself will finalize His Work.

At the time of Moses, He decreed a year of jubilee (Lev. 25). In Lk. 4 our Lord referred to Isa. 61:1-2 and pointed to the year of jubilee: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” (vv. 18-19).

May the Lord also give us the year 2012 as the acceptable year. We will continue to preach the good news, and as the ones sent by Him we shall proclaim liberty to all those who are held captive and are spiritually bound, offer sight to the spiritually blind, and preach all things that belong to the full Gospel and incorporate spirit, soul, and body. All those who have withdrawn themselves are invited to come back. We are approaching the culmination of the Plan of Salvation. As soon as the time is fulfilled, it will take place. And we are expecting it in the near future.

“Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.” (Heb. 12:26).

“Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Heb. 13:21).

“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Rev. 3:21).

Israel in the focus of the world

With the on-going activities in the Middle East, we are mainly interested in Israel and the peace process. According to an article by Spiegel Online on January 23, 2012, the EU foreign ministers appointed the German diplomat Andreas Reinicke to be the European special envoy to the Middle East Peace Process. Until now, he was the German ambassador in Syria. Reinicke is supposed to advance the European Middle East politics and bring the Israelites and Palestinians back to the negotiating table. He represents the EU in the Middle East Quartet, which is comprised of the EU, the United Nations, the USA, and Russia.

Other press releases inform us about what is planned for Jerusalem, the Temple Mount, and Mount Zion. We refer to an article from January 31, 2012, “Israel and the Vatican achieve substantial progress.” It is about negotiations over Mount Zion, where the tomb of David and also the building wherein the Last Supper and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit took place are located. The Vatican wants to get it under its sovereignty. Now the prospect of a lease agreement was offered. According to Vatican Radio, the papal Nuncio, Archbishop Antonio Franco, said this after the meeting in Jerusalem: “There has been indeed substantial progress, which makes us hope that we can work toward an agreement in a reasonable, short time frame that includes all practical aspects of the life and function of the church in Israel …”

On January 30, 2012, the broadcast station of the Archdiocese of Cologne, Domradio, reported about negotiations between the Vatican and the Palestinians. The subject was a basic treaty which would determine the rights of the Catholic church in East Jerusalem and in the Palestinian areas.

By now, the Palestinians even agree to place the Temple Mount, the third holiest site in Islam, under the administration of a joint committee. Everything is under way for the establishment of a treaty that the Bible refers to as a covenant: “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week …” (Dan. 9:27).

On August 6, 1961, Brother Branham said that this covenant would be made at about the same time as the beginning of the 70th week and the Rapture of the Bride. The completion of God’s Plan of Salvation with the Church from the nations is also the beginning with His covenant people of Israel. From the newest developments, we recognize ever more clearly that the time of grace is running out for the nations and is dawning for Israel. We are not simply saying it – it is as God foretold it in His Word.

The entire Christian world talks about the “signs of the time.” We go to Mt. 24, Mk. 13, and Lk. 21, and to the Word of prophecy and are now witnessing as the forth and final, namely the Roman Empire arises once again: “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. … And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” (Dan. 7:23+27).

We may call out to one another: “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

The Lord bless you all.

By His commission

A photo with the Pope and the Palestinian representatives in front of the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount

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A picture of the assembly on February 5, 2012, in the Mission Centre in Krefeld, Germany

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© by the author and publisher E. Frank

Content

Anniversary Edition 1

From the beginning 2

In the New Testament 5

It happened in our time 6

Divine confirmation 8

The Angel of the Covenant 12

With all sincerity 16

The end will be crowned 19

It will be worth it 21

The year 2012 24

Israel in the focus of the world 25