Circular Letter December 2016

I would like to send heartfelt greetings to all brothers and sisters worldwide in the precious and holy Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, with the Scripture from 1 Cor 4:1-2:

“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” That is how Paul introduced himself and the true servants of Christ.

What a privilege to have been put into the ministry by the Lord Himself (1 Tim 1:12)! What a privilege to administer the mysteries of God that were proclaimed through the ministry of the apostles back then and in our time by the ministry of Brother Branham and have been revealed unto us by the Holy Spirit! What a privilege to be allowed to carry the last message literally to the entire world – to some for the calling-out, to others as a witness!

The most important message before the Return of Christ is: “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” (Mat 25:1-13). The Apostle John, who received the final revelation, wrote: “… And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” (Rev 19:7-9). Amen.

The following parable applies one hundred percent to our time: “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.” (Mat 25:1).

In this parable, it is foretold by the Lord Himself that only five of the ten virgins, that is half of those who hear the last call of the Bridegroom, will be ready and go in to the Marriage Supper.

At the time when the Bridegroom takes home His Own, the following shall come to fulfillment: “Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” (Mat 24:40-41). One will be taken up and the other one left behind.

Ten virgins go out to meet the Bridegroom: Five are ready and go in to the Marriage Supper; five are left standing before the closed door. And again the urgent admonition: “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” (Mat 24:42); and once more: “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Mat 24:44).

According to what the Lord Himself said, only half will truly remain faithful until the end and go in to the Marriage Supper. In the promise that God gave to Abraham (Gen 15:5-6; Gen 22:15-18), the redeemed of all times since Adam shall be an innumerable multitude, like the stars of the heaven (Rom 4:18).

In Mat 24 we find a record of what will take place before the Return of Christ. There it speaks of natural disasters, wars, earthquakes, and famines as well as of false Christs and false prophets. In regard to the Gospel, it states: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Mat 24:14).

The sign for our time, which is visible to everyone, is the return of Israel in the parable of the fig tree (Mat 24:32). After all, God promised them already in Eze 11:17: “Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.”

Therefore, our Lord said in Mat 24:33: “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it – the Return of Christ – is near, even at the doors.”

The condition of the world, however, will be the way it was at the time of Sodom and Gomorrah and in the days of Noah (Mat 24; Mk 13). The rapidly progressing climate change, global warming and the resulting severe weather conditions frighten people, as it is written: “… and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring …” (Lk 21:25b).

Mat 24:45-47 applies to the spiritual realm. The spiritual food is given out in due time and is directly connected with the biblical doctrine. “… nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.” (1 Tim 4:6). A man sent from God knows the day and hour of his commission and does exactly what he has been commanded. An evil servant (vv. 48-51) appoints himself, has no commission, and cannot report of any calling. A mix-up or commingling does not exist. A true servant has never turned into a false one, and an evil servant has never transformed into a faithful one. Moses never became the likes of Balaam, and Abel never adopted the ways of Cain.

This is directly followed by the parable of the ten virgins in Mat 25:1-13. What is written there is being fulfilled now, until right before the second coming of Christ. The wise virgins have burning lamps and the vessels of oil. The lamps of the foolish go out due to the lack of oil – the fullness of the Spirit, and they are told: “Go rather to the shopkeepers, who also speak of the Spirit in their charismatic meetings.” The wise virgins are not enticed by anything; they will go in to the Marriage Supper as a pure bride, and the door shall then be closed. The following is fulfilled with them: “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Rom 5:5).

The foolish, who likewise wait for the Return of Christ and for the Rapture, will call out in disappointment: “Lord, Lord, open to us.” “But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” (Mat 25:12).

With God there is no comingling, neither in heaven nor on earth. Every seed brings forth after its own kind. Only the pure of heart will see God; only the ones who are filled with the Spirit of promise (Acts 2:38) and are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Eph 1:13) will enter into glory. “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Rev 21:27).

As was the case already in apostolic times, so also in our time both of these go forth: first the Word and then the interpretations. “Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” (Acts 20:30). The foolish virgins will also believe interpretations, while the wise virgins hear only the original Word, believe it, and abide by it.

One thing is certain: No false teacher will be raptured – “… but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be” (Gal 5:10b) – and neither will the ones who let themselves be deceived because they also “… have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray …” (2 Pt 2:15).

In the Book of Revelation, we read right at the beginning: “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” (Rev 1:3). Whatever is not written in the Word falls under interpretations, which we as the Word-Bride cannot believe, let alone keep.

We also find the same admonition along with the beatification in the last chapter: “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” (Rev 22:7).

The Bride says only what the Spirit has revealed from the Word: “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (v. 17).

Then comes the irrevocable warning: “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book …” (v. 18).

All of the doctrines that are being called special revelations but are not found anywhere in the Bible are false teachings and have been added to the sealed testimony of God. Whatever is not contained in the testimony of the Bible is unbiblical; what is not written in the divine Testament is not of God. Even Paul already had to write in Gal 1:8: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

Whoever adds anything to the Word of God is beguiled, preaches another Jesus and another gospel, and is deceived (2 Cor 11:3). The Lord could never say to the false teachers, “Come unto me, ye blessed!” That is absolutely impossible because God is true; He has separated light from darkness. As certain as the Lord has sent His servant and prophet William M. Branham with a scriptural message, we were indeed brought back to God and His Word, which was in the beginning. The pure Word-message was proclaimed unto us, which, in turn, brings forth the pure Word-Bride. All who believe as and what the Scripture says are part of the wise virgins. The elect cannot be deceived by any interpretation. They are in the Word and the Word is in them. Blessed is the preacher who can truthfully say, “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord …” (1 Ths 4:15a)! The following applies to such preachers: “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” (1 Jn 4:6). Amen. Amen.

In Spirit and in Truth

Thus saith the Lord: “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (Jn 4:23-24).

Only somebody who really is in the truth can be sanctified in it and worship God. The Lord Himself prayed for His Own: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (Jn 17:17).

In his sermon “The Seed of Discrepancy” on January 18, 1965, Brother Branham introduced the subject with the parable of the two different seeds that were sown (Mat 13:24-30). In verses 36-43 the Lord explained the meaning to His disciples. The true seed of God came forth as the children of the Kingdom, as the wheat, which the Lord had sown and which He will gather into His heavenly garner (Mat 3:12; Mat 13:30).

The tares are the seed of discrepancy sown by the enemy. In a vision, Brother Branham saw the sower, dressed in white, who sowed the good Seed; right behind him came someone dressed in black who sowed tares. Both seeds sprouted and both received the same rain. As the Redeemer was the revealed Word which was made flesh (Jn 1:14), the redeemed certainly are the Word-Seed that serves Him (Ps 22:31; Isa 53:10). Brother Branham literally said, “Anything that does not agree with the Word is the seed of discrepancy.”

No lie is of the truth (1 Jn 2:21). Whoever associates the true God and His prophet, whom He has sent, with the various false doctrines (which we cannot address in more detail here) is possessed by a lying spirit. William Branham was a man sent from God. But what is being done with him and with his statements? The glorification of any man is blasphemy and is an abomination to God. True worshippers everywhere worship God only in the Spirit and in truth.

A servant sent from God will only preach the Word and not quotes that have been taken out of context. In 2 Tim 4:2, Paul commanded his co-worker Timothy to preach only the Word. And right afterward it states: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Tim 4:3-4). That goes along with what the Lord Himself has said: “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Mat 15:9).

All true servants of God preach the Word and give out the spiritual food, which is connected to the Will of God (Jn 4:34). We preach Jesus Christ, the Crucified One, and the Full Gospel as the power of God (1 Cor 1:18), just as the apostles and Brother Branham preached it. Now the message for this most important time period for the Church is reaching the entire world a crystal-clear manner. It becomes manifest who worships God in Spirit and in truth and also who thinks and prays past God in error.

Faith and Obedience

“By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name …” (Rom 1:5).

At all times, people had to decide whether to believe what the Lord God had said to His servants and what they proclaimed in His commission or whether to reject it in unbelief. The Thus saith the Lord is still valid: “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). Likewise: “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 yours also.” (Jn 15:20). A heavenly commission is directly connected to the greatest responsibility before God in regard to the Church.

God can regret His creation of mankind: “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” (Gen 6:5-6). A calling, however, He cannot regret; in regard to a calling, it specifically states in Rom 11:29: “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”

In Ex 3+4 we find the calling of Moses, to whom the Angel of the Lord appeared in the burning bush. He could then say, “The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you …” (Ex 3:13). “And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.” (Ex 4:1). It is always about the faith of the listeners. “And it shall come to pass, 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.” (chap. 4:8).

Each individual within the many denominations and religions has some kind of faith. Even the devil believes and trembles (Jas 2:19). However, in the Kingdom of God it is always about the faith in what God really said and promised – also with Brother Branham, who was told: “If you get the people to believe you, and be sincere when you pray, nothing shall stand before your prayers, not even cancer.” Before every healing service, the chorus was sung: “Only believe, only believe; All things are possible, only believe.” About our Lord, we read in Mat 13:58 that in His hometown of Nazareth He could not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Unbelief is the first sin, and it goes back to the Garden of Eden. Brother Branham emphasized this very strongly time and again. The following is an account of three of his quotes from the years 1953, 1956, and 1960.

“Forgive our sin of unbelief, which is the original and only sin. God help us tonight to be faithful and believe.” (May 9, 1953, Jonesboro).

“Let me show you just on a Word. The first time that the devil met Jesus Christ, he doubted Him. Doubt always is of the devil. That’s where the first sin came. There is no other sin but doubt. Unbelief is the original and only sin. Committing adultery is not a sin; smoking cigarettes is not a sin; getting drunk’s not a sin. That’s the attributes of unbelief.” (July 22, 1956, Shreveport).

“But, you see, my precious friend, sin is not immoral living. Sin is not drinking whiskey; sin is not committing adultery. You do that because you’re not a believer. That’s the attributes of unbelief. You do that because you’re not a believer. But if you are a believer, you do not do those things. So there’s only one original sin and that’s unbelief. The Scripture says, “He that believeth not is condemned already (Mk 16:16).” (January 10, 1960, Tifton).

After the sermons about the Seals in March 1963, Brother Branham often referred to Eve, who listened to what the serpent said unto her. Many times, he compared it to Rev 22:18-19: “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

Satan came to Eve in the shape of the serpent and sowed doubt in regard to what the Lord God had said unto Adam: “Yea, hath God said …?” Perhaps he even asked her, “Did you hear it? Were you there?” Thus Eve came under the influence of Satan. Paul wrote: “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” (1 Tim 2:14).

In reference to faith, the Lord said, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” (Jn 8:24). After His resurrection, He rebuked the unbelief of the disciples: “Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.” (Mk 16:14).

Unbelief is the original sin. Whoever does not believe God makes Him a liar (Rom 3:4). In Heb 3:12 we read the serious admonition: “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”

The Exodus of Israel through the Red Sea and the supernatural supply with manna in the desert were mighty: “By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.” (Heb 11:29). But what was the end for many of them? “But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. … Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” (1 Cor 10:5-11). For a proper self-examination, it is necessary that everyone reads 1 Cor 10:1-15. In Heb 3:19 it is summarized as follows: “So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”

First faith, then obedience, wherewith God is well-pleased. Faith is the victory, unbelief the defeat. “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Rom 5:19). Whoever wishes to know more about the consequences of unbelief may read Romans 11.

Faith and obedience connect us with God; unbelief and disobedience separate us from God. Faith in Jesus Christ leads to obedience, unbelief to disobedience. “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. …” (1 Sam 15:23).

Now it becomes evident who truly believes God as Abraham believed God, “(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” (Rom 4:17; Gen 17:5). Only when God speaks to a person through His Word, only then can someone believe. Whoever is controlled by unbelief thereby shows that he or she is still under the influence of the evil one.

Abraham believed God (Rom 4:17): “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 18:10). And he received the promised son. Abraham was obedient: “And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” (Gen 22:2). “Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” (Heb 11:19).

“Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?” (Jas 2:21-24).

For Eve, unbelief sown through doubt led to the beguiling, and then Adam also knew his wife Eve. As a result, two different seeds came forth, Cain and Abel. Both were religious; both believed in the same God; both built an altar and brought their offerings; they were, however, totally different from birth. God had respect unto Abel and his offering, which was a lamb, but He rejected Cain and his offering, the fruit of the ground (Gen 4:1-8).

All message believers know what took place in the Garden of Eden. Now, however, it is about the present time. Satan also questioned what Brother Branham was told, namely that the message would forerun the second coming of Christ. Satan questioned that the message would be carried into all parts of the world after his passing. For us, who are now living, it is written: “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.” (1 Jn 3:11-12). The divine love is the bond of perfection (Col 3:14; 1 Cor 13).

God must be well-pleased with those who wish to be raptured, as He was with Enoch, who walked with God (Gen 5:24; Heb 11:5). Not the beginning, but the end shall be crowned (2 Tim 4:8).

The 500th Anniversary of the Reformation

From October 31, 2016, until October 31, 2017, the Protestant Church is celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation through Martin Luther. This commemoration of the Reformation is not only held in Germany but worldwide. Even the Catholic Church is joining the celebration: The chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, and the chairman of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), Bishop Dr. Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, have come to the agreement that both churches should celebrate the anniversary in a joint series of events. Thereby, the “unity of faith” is to be made visible.

On the global level, the celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation started in the Swedish cities Lund and Malmö – in the country where the Lutheran World Federation was founded 70 years ago. The president of the Lutheran World Federation, Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan, and the head of the Catholic Church celebrated along with 10,000 participants in the stadium in Malmö. On the occasion of the joint ecumenical prayer service in the Lutheran Cathedral of Lund, Pope Francis held a brief speech, which he started off with the text from Jn 15:4: “Abide in me, and I in you.” In the city of Lund, on October 31, 2016, Pope Francis and Bishop Younan also signed an agreed statement calling for a move from conflict to joint communion. The joint declaration likewise begins with the Scripture from Jn 15:4: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” It deals with reconciliation and the healing of the wounds, which they have inflicted upon one another, and the recognition “that what unites them is greater than what divides.” Both sides commit themselves to remove the obstacles in order to attain full ecumenical unity. The goal is the shared communion. Through their joint efforts, they open themselves “to the power of the Triune God,” as they call it.

The concrete and full unity shall find expression in the Catholic Eucharist celebration together with the Protestant communion. However, they are fundamentally different, as made evident in the Heidelberg Catechism (the most widely used of the Catechisms of the Reformed churches) under question 80: memorial meal (1 Cor 11:25), not renewed sacrifice.

Do the Lutheran spokesmen actually believe what Luther has taught? Has one of them read the foreword to the Prophet Daniel, edition 1545? Has anyone realized what kind of prophetic insight and foresight Luther had at that time? In his preamble, he clearly described the four consecutive world empires that are mentioned in the Prophet Daniel: the Babylonian Empire, the Medo-Persian Empire, the Greek Empire, and the Roman Empire, which began in the year 63 before Christ.

All religious publications, even daily newspapers and weekly magazines are dealing with the Reformation. Is the final goal not the unification of all world religions under Rome, the city on seven hills – the Vatican? Was the Roman Treaty not signed in the Vatican on March 25, 1957? Is the long-desired New World Order already close at hand? All of this must be said because it is biblical prophecy in its fulfillment. We have arrived in the end time, and everything is coming to pass as it was foretold in Bible prophecy.

In His prayer of intercession in Jn 17, the Redeemer most certainly did not pray for the unification of two churches or of all religions, but for the unity of the redeemed: “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. … I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one …” (Jn 17:14+23). He is the vine, and all true born-again believers are the branches in which the divine life is manifested as the fruit of the vine. The unity of the redeemed takes place under Christ, the Head of the Church, which was founded 2,000 years ago on the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, according to Acts, chapter 2. The state church in the Roman Empire was established by the First Council of Nicaea ad 325. The Reformation through Luther, Melanchthon, Zwingli, Calvin, and their predecessors Wycliff and Hus was then the breakthrough of a spiritual renewing. Also in the subsequent revivals among the Methodists, Baptists, and right up to the Pentecostal revival in our time, the Spirit of God was at work. The Bible believers do not go back to Rome or Nicaea but to Jerusalem. The concern is the return to God and His Word. Through the last message before the Return of Christ, the believers are brought back to the original Christianity. We have arrived in the time period of the calling-out, the restoration, and preparation. We may take part in what God is presently doing and are expecting the imminent Return of Christ.

The Return of the Jews into Their Land

The Jewish people have gone through a sorrowful history. After they were scattered all over the world 2,000 years ago from the land that God had given them, the Jewish State is once again in existence since being re-established in 1948. For centuries, the Jews were considered a foreign minority and religious group. They had to live in fenced settlements. They were denied their recognition as a people. At the first World Zionist Congress in 1897 with Theodor Herzl in Basel, they qualified as a nation again and demanded to have their own state.

On November 2, 1917, the British Foreign Secretary Lord Arthur James Balfour informed the Zionist Movement of his government’s decision of wanting to assist with “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.” In 1922, Great Britain was entrusted with the Mandate for all of Palestine. On November 29, 1947, the UN General Assembly adopted the following resolution: “The territory of the British Mandate will be divided into an Arab State and a Jewish State.” On May 14, 1948, David Ben Gurion proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel.

“When Israel was established in 1948, the country had approximately 806,000 inhabitants. 68 years later, on the Israeli Independence Day 2016, there are 8,522 million according to the official statistic.” (Israel Today, report from June 2016).

God has given many promises to the people of Israel, including in reference to the Promised Land. Jerusalem is mentioned in the Bible 780 times, Mount Zion 157 times – always in connection with the people of Israel. Their dispersion and their return have also been foretold in Bible prophecy. This is what the Bible states in this regard:

“And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” (Lk 21:24).

“But, The Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.” (Jer 23:8).

“… set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.” (Jer 31:21).

“… I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.” (Eze 11:17).

“For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.” (Eze 36:24).

“Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem …” (Isa 10:12).

“Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.” (Isa 24:23).

According to Hos 9:10, the fig tree is a symbol for Israel: “I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time …”

“Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh …” (Mat 24:32; Mk 13:28).

We can see this development with Israel fulfilled before our eyes.

Balfour’s letter went down in history as the “Balfour Declaration” and is regarded as the basis for the establishment of the State of Israel. The Palestinian National Authority in Ramallah has now announced that they would lead a fight against the Balfour Declaration from November 2, 2016, until the 100th anniversary on November 2, 2017. They want to bring legal action against this declaration and demand reparations from London.

We believe that God has brought His people back into the Promised Land to carry out His plan for the end time. This is not changed in the slightest by a lawsuit brought by an ethnic group that did not constitute itself until 1968 – that is 51 years after the Balfour Declaration.

God has announced the judgment for all of the nations that rise up against Israel: “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.” (Joel 3:2).

The newest UNESCO Resolution, which identifies the Temple Mount as a “cultural heritage of Palestine” and Israel as “the occupying Power,” shows how severely people can be struck with blindness. The Temple Mount was first known as Mount Moriah in the Old Testament (Gen 22:2) and then as the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. David purchased the entire mountain region for 600 shekels of gold (1 Chr 21:25) and declared in 1 Chr 22:1: “This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of the burnt-offering for Israel.” Until the destruction by the Romans in the year ad 70, the Second Temple of Jerusalem was located at this site.

The promise that the Third Temple shall be built upon the same foundation where the First and also the Second Temple stood will be fulfilled, because in Rev 11:2 the newly-constructed Temple is measured in connection with the ministry of the two prophets.

We are living in the time period in which biblical prophecy is fulfilled before our eyes, even if the world is not aware of it. Blessed are those who recognize the signs of the time, indeed, of the end time!

God Is Faithful in All His Work

The ministry of Brother Branham was of great significance for the Church of Jesus Christ in the context of the Plan of Salvation. He was sent as the promised prophet (Mal 4:5-6) with a message, as confirmed by the Lord in Mat 17:11 and Mk 9:12: “And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things …” The ministry of Elijah was no theory; it was a reality. He called the people of God unto Mount Carmel, rebuilt the torn-down altar with the 12 stones, and laid the sacrifice upon it. Then he prayed and God answered visibly, and the hearts of the children of Israel were once again turned back to God (1 Kgs 18:21-40).

The ministry that God gave Brother Branham was extraordinary, and I experienced it personally as an eye- and ear-witness. The faithful Lord took his messenger, but the biblical message is still being proclaimed. It was not my decision that the Lord commissioned me. I was not asked whether I wanted to go.

Filled with gratitude, I may look back on a blessed year in the service of the Lord. God is faithful. He has granted grace and strength to preach His Word and carry it into the entire world. Yes, He has confirmed His commission, and all who believe rejoice in it. After all, the Lord foretold that He would send a famine to hear His words (Amos 8:11). He Himself commanded me on September 19, 1976: “My servant, I have ordained you according to Matthew 24:45-47 to give out the food.” That Scripture is being fulfilled before our eyes, and the table of the Lord has never been set as richly as it is in our time.

The words “As John the Baptist was sent to forerun the first coming of Christ, so you are sent with a message that will forerun the second coming of Christ”, which were addressed to Brother Branham from the supernatural cloud, are being fulfilled. Through the message, the faithful Lord restored all things. The doctrine of the twelve apostles (Acts 2:42) has been proclaimed anew. In the same manner that the message has been perfectly placed into its divine order in the Word, all true believers now let themselves be integrated in the Word so that all things in His Church are restored to their rightful condition – back to how things were in the Church at the beginning. Soon the heavenly Bridegroom will come to fetch His Bride.

By the grace of God, I have remained faithful to the heavenly calling despite evil slanders and difficult trials in my personal life. The Lord said the following in Isa 54:17 about the ones He has sent, and it still applies: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.”

I do not need to take anything back from what I have taught in more than 8,000 sermons or what I have written in the numerous brochures and Circular Letters. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank the brothers who alongside me hand out the spiritual food. What a privilege it is to consciously experience the last phase before the Return of Christ! All of the effort put forth day and night will be worth it in the end (Phil 2:16).

It is my prayer that no one allows this precious time to pass them by without experiencing the reconciliation with God and with one another. It is still the time of grace; there is still time to come to God and dedicate one’s life to the Redeemer. The forgiveness of sins is still being proclaimed in accordance with the Great Commission. People still become believers and are biblically baptized.

May the last phase become a great year of jubilee among all true believers (Lev 25:8-13).

The photograph was taken on Monday, August 15, 2016. In the background is the world map with the pins marking the many countries in which I have preached. It was exactly 61 years ago, namely on Monday, August 15, 1955, after attending the first two meetings, when I was able to shake Brother Branham’s hand for the first time.

It has now been 51 years since his passing. During that time, I have carried the last message into 160 countries by personal journeys. Through numerous TV programs and the live streaming of our meetings in the Mission Center in Krefeld on the first weekend of each month, we are reaching thousands of believers on all continents. In addition, more than 8,200 DVDs and 1,150 CDs are sent out every month. The printed brochures, Circular Letters, and sermons that are mailed in the course of a year amount to hundreds of thousands.

The full Gospel has been preached to all nations for a witness, and thereby Mat 24:14 is fulfilled. The end can now come, and it will; however, no one knows the day or the hour. With great gratitude, I can say, “Faithful Lord, now you let your servant depart in peace, for my eyes have seen the fulfillment of the promise for this time.” The Lord Himself will finish His Work with His Bride Church, as the Bridegroom take her home, and present her to Himself without spot or wrinkle (Eph 5:27).

Only perfect love combined with the true and living faith in every Word of God will enter into glory. Every promise of God is Yes and Amen and leads to the fulfillment for all of the elect who believe it (2 Cor 1:18-22).

“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” (2 Cor 2:14).

May the blessing of the Almighty God come upon all who believe the Word of God.

My sincere thanks go out to all those who remember me in prayer in regard to this worldwide mission work. To those who support it with their gifts, may the faithful God reward each one of you. I also want to thank everyone who works at the Mission Center. Yes, all who carry on the precious Word in the many countries, may God bless them. Last, but not least, I would also like to thank our brethren who serve the church in Krefeld. May the Lord bless all who love His appearing. Amen.

For the year 2017, we wish you God’s visible blessing from the bottom of our hearts, no matter in which city or country you live. Together we look up, for we know that our bodily redemption is drawing near. Maranatha.

By His commission

Review of the Year 2016

By the grace of God, the missionary journeys could once again be continued this year. They included travels to all corners of the earth: to the Azores, to the Philippines, to Ethiopia, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso and Nigeria, to Pakistan and to Guadeloupe; also to Romania, France, Belgium, and England, and the last Sunday of every month to Zurich.

The invitation to the meetings in Pakistan was announced on national TV. In the stadium in Lahore, 3,000 believers gathered to hear the Word of God from the mouth of the German preacher. Brother Kamran Michael, Minister for Human Rights of the Pakistani government, greeted the attendees. Brother Irfan Michael was the translator.

The photo shows the second meeting in a church in Lahore, Pakistan.

The meeting on December 4, 2016, at the Mission Center in Krefeld

Beloved Lord Jesus,

Remember the covenant You made with us,

The blood You shed for us,

The promises You gave to us,

And grant us eternal life.

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 19:30h (Central European Time), on Sunday morning at 10:00h. The sermons can be heard in thirteen different languages worldwide. Have a part in what God is presently doing according to His Plan of Salvation!

You can find us on youtube.com under “Apostolic Prophetic Bible Ministry”

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

E-mail: volksmission@gmx.de

Fax: +49-2151/951293

Copyright © by the author and publisher E. Frank