Ewald Frank

Radio Edmonton 04

Dear friends in Christ, this is Reverend Frank from West Germany, and I wish to greet you in the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

During this season in which the Christians around the world are commemorating the birth of Christ, our thoughts go back to the events that accompanied the first coming of the Lord. History had reached a climax, for the time had come in which God was to fulfill His promise of the coming Messiah, although the date in December was set by men. We know that Christ, our Lord, came into this world to redeem us. In this connection I would like to speak about the frequent visitations of angels in the Old as well as the New Testament to those who were directly involved in the fulfillment of major prophetic events. Many times God sent an angel if something outstanding was to take place.

The angel Gabriel was sent to Mary and carried on a conversation with her. He told her that she was to have a son whose name she was to call Jesus. Joseph was puzzled and didn't understand the miracle that had happened to Mary. He was troubled in his heart and wanted to put her away; ”But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.” (Matthew 1:20)

The birth of John the Baptist was also announced by an angel in Luke 1, 1-17. Verse 18 states: ”And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God, and I am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings.” It was hard for Zacharias to believe the supernatural, because he doubted what he had heard, he was struck dumb, and could not speak until the promise given by the angel was fulfilled according to God's Word.

If only all who do not understand or doubt the promises of God would keep silent until they see them fulfilled, they themselves would only benefit from it. Whoever expresses doubt in the promised Word of God sows the seed of unbelief, but all who believe God's promises honour the Lord thereby. Paul wrote: ”We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.” (2 Corinthians 4:13) All who truly believe the Word of God accept the supernatural and see the promises fulfilled; but those who disbelieve or have a head knowledge of God's Word actually deny the supernatural and miss the day of God's visitation. God has always been a God of the supernatural.

How wonderful to know that He has a way of communicating with those who have part in the fulfillment of His promised word. This is most important because true faith can only rest on the promises of God. If we cannot recognize the word promised for this hour, we cannot have real faith, because the very foundation of our faith is the promised Word of God for this hour. Moses could not have come with Noah's message. He was commissioned to take the children of Israel out of Egypt into the promised land. Likewise, neither could Noah preach Moses's message. He was to call the people to repentance, for God was going to destroy the earth by way of a flood. We must line up with the word for the hour, as Mary did then, saying, ”Be it unto me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38)

”While the shepherds were on the field watching over their flock, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:8-11) ”And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards all men.” (Luke 2:13-14)

If we trace the many occasions of supernatural visitations of angels to the prophets of old, his servants, apostles, and God's children throughout the entire Bible, we notice that God used angels to instruct them. Although the prophets and apostles were under the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Lord repeatedly sent an angel to clarify what they had seen in a vision. Such was the case with the prophet Daniel. We read in chapter 8: "Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision," verse 16, "And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding," chapter 9:22.

In the last book of the Bible, the Revelation of Jesus Christ, chapter 22, it states: "And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show unto His servants the things which must shortly be done."

Any man called of God to the ministry, be it an evangelist, pastor, teacher, etc., would know under the guidance of the Holy Spirit what he has to preach. In the evangelistic ministry, the salvation of the soul is primarily emphasized. The Bible teacher is equipped with the God-given ability to teach the Word. A pastor would know his duties to feed the flock. But when it comes to the Word of Prophecy, the fulfillment of Scripture, or whenever major events are to transpire, God sees fit to send an angel, a heavenly messenger, to instruct his servants and prophets or those directly involved in the fulfillment of prophecy.

Dear friends, what would you have said had you listened to the testimony of the shepherds as they returned from the field and told their experience with the angel and the heavenly host? As the great announcement was made of the first coming of Christ, would you have believed their report? What would your reaction be if you heard of an angel's visitation in our day? Perhaps you marvel at the things God has done in the past. You may be looking forward to what He is going to do in the future, but are you bypassing what He is doing today? May God grant you the grace to recognize your day and the hour we are living in.

It was in June 1933 while Brother Branham was baptizing a large group of people in the Ohio River, who had accepted Christ as their personal Savior, when a bright light came down like a star around 2 p.m. that Sunday afternoon. Approximately four thousand were present when this supernatural event took place. To their amazement, this light hung over Brother Branham, and the following words were spoken to him: "As John the Baptist was sent to forerun the first coming of Christ, you are sent with a message to forerun the second coming of Christ." In the year 1946, this commission was confirmed by the actual appearing of an angel to Brother Branham. Joy flooded my soul when I first heard Brother Branham relate the angel's visit. Who was able to describe him in size, features, weight, and complexion. I was so thrilled I could have listened for hours. If someone is born of the Spirit of God and hears of true supernatural things, he just believes it because his spirit agrees with the Spirit of God.

The problem in our day is that too many Christians have not a true supernatural experience with Jesus Christ. Too many have a mere head knowledge of what the Bible records, but they deny any supernatural thing God is still doing. How can a true child of God, who is part of the supernatural, deny the things God is doing? Dear friends, God is still a God of the supernatural. Whatever He has done in the past, He is still doing today. The things in the kingdom of God are of supernatural nature.

Therefore, we must acquaint you with the things God has done through the history of mankind right up into our present day. Any true servant of Christ has the testimony of Jesus Christ. He testifies of the things he has seen and heard by divine revelation. Amidst all the confusion and unbelief, God has His way with His people. He has sent His angel, the heavenly messenger, to instruct His servant and prophet, the earthly messenger, to let us know of the things which must shortly come to pass. If the first coming of the Lord was surrounded by supernatural events and visitations of angels, we should not be surprised to hear that His second coming is accompanied by the same.

Next Sunday, we shall hear Brother Branham tell his own testimony of the angels' visit, and we trust that it will prove to be a blessing to all of you.

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, we thank Thee in the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ for revealing and manifesting Thyself in our day. We thank You for all the supernatural events recorded in Your precious and holy Word. We just pray, fill us with the Holy Spirit granted, Lord, that each and every one may have a supernatural experience. Prove to them that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Help us to be a true witness of all the things which have happened in this generation.

I pray in Jesus' holy name, Amen.

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May God bless you until you tune in with us again next Sunday at 9.15 p.m.