Introduction

It has become necessary as Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, “concerning the things about which ye wrote unto me“ to give a reply. The special theme about marriage once more must be profoundly dealt with.

It was given unto us, by the grace of God, to take all teachings out of the realm of discussion and give clarification by the very writings found in God’s Word, and thereby know they are beyond any shadow of doubt true. So shall it be with the help of the Lord, that this most complicated theme pertaining to our earthly life will be dealt with. Marriage crises are as old as marriage itself. They existed in the days of Moses, in the times of our Lord, and the apostles, and even more so now. Especially in this present age we were given the answers to all the questions and problems which deal with this topic from the Holy Scriptures, Sad but true, they are not all found in one chapter where we could go to and have our questions answered. Nevertheless, if we look into the various scriptural passages we can find the answers. As with all the other themes, we search for the references which are scattered throughout the Bible, and just fit them together properly, and thereby have the respective answers.

We are living at the end of the last church age wherein, by the revelation of the Holy Spirit, all things are made known and brought back into the original state and order. Our heavenly Father is so much concerned with our well-being that He has given the right advice and illuminated the good old way. He knows how much heartaches and strifes exist within the families and cares for His children in such a way that He would want to spare and to protect them from harmful things, so we could serve Him with a joyful heart and unburdened soul. Therefore He gave, as Father to His children, the needed guidelines.

The sermon »Marriage and Divorce« preached by William Branham on the 21st February, 1965, in accordance with the Holy Scripture, is the basis of this publication. He was directly commissioned, as Paul, by the Lord, to speak about the theme »Marriage and Divorce« from the scriptural point of view. According to his own words, he received the respective verses and their connections within the Word Itself. He placed much weight upon the fact that the revelation given to him and addressed to the church, would be looked upon as one of the mysteries which were revealed since the opening of the seven seals. We understand that this revelation is something that was not known before. Brother Branham was hesitant to speak on this topic because he was afraid that he would have been misunderstood or even cause separations. In his sermon »The Third Exodus« preached 30th June, 1963, he said repeatedly that something spoke to him, “»Tape that marriage and divorce!« See. The Lord willing, if that keeps on my heart and the Lord shows me some more about it, well then, I may tape that, see.“ He even said, “Might go down and play it to the judge — some of these squires. See what the Lord said about this marriage and divorce.“ (pg. 6).

It is only after the Lord commanded him to go up to the mountains, where He appeared in the supernatural cloud and the revelation of marriage and divorce was granted, that he preached the message to his church in Jeffersonville. Quote: “Something said to me, »Go up yonder in the mountain, and I’ll talk to you.« … And the whole city of people looked at it. On a bright day with no clouds nowhere at all, with this big amber cloud hanging there, coming down like a funnel and going back and spreading out. Friend…, that’s when this was being revealed to me what I’m going to tell you right now. So don’t miss it.“ (Marriage and Divorce, pg. 47-48).

We find what has always happened in the past being repeated to this day. Men would love to hear a prophet, at the same time they expect him to say what they believe and what their ears are used to, and this is what has been traditionally taught all along. Some old inherited tradition can be very religious, but at the same time totally unscriptural. The four hundred prophets in the days of Ahab were under a lying spirit — although they were prophets of Israel —, when they tried to please the king. Micaiah was the true prophet of God. That is the vast difference. Our Lord Jesus.predicted that many false prophets would appear on the scene in the last times. He also confirmed what the prophet Malachi promised; that the »prophet Elijah« would come and restore all things (Mt. 17:11; Acts 3:19-21), before the great and terrible day of the Lord. The Word always came to the true prophet. He could tell the day, the month and the year (Hag. 2: vv. 1, 10, 18 a. o.). Today it is still valid, as it is written, “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants, the prophets.“ (Amos 3:7)

The servant who was sent to call Micaiah told the man of God, “… let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.“ (2 Chr. 18:12b). Zedekiah, the main prophet among them, made himself horns of iron, prophesied mightily and shouted, “Thus saith the Lord …“ (v. 10). It was not Thus saith the Lord of hosts, it was “Thus saith lord Zedekiah“. When the man of God, at first, said what all the others had already spoken, even the backslidden Ahab noticed that something was not just right and he demanded from the prophet, adjuring him, “… that thou say nothing hut the truth to me in the name of the Lord …“ (v. 15b). After this Micaiah proclaimed the revelation he had received before the kings — Jehoshaphat and Ahab. After Jehoshaphat had listened to the 400, his question was whether there would have been still one more through whom God would speak. The revelation came thus, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left“ (v. 18).

It is only Micaiah who had the Word of the Lord, the true Spirit of God, the Thus saith the Lord; the other prophets had a lying spirit connected with a religious attitude. If a »man sent from God« teaches what all the others are saying, then God has not yet spoken through him. It is only when he delivers the revelation he received, which is always contrary to the inherited schools of doctrines, but always agrees and coincides with the testimony of the Holy Scripture, which is thus saith the Lord, that we shall know that the Lord God has spoken.

Brother Branham referred to the respective scriptural passages and showed what the Lord had told him in the right context, which led some to believe that he did not go all the way, but remained in the footsteps of an Old Testament prophet. His sermon was, in spite of the Old Testament comparisons, most definitely addressed to the Church of God in this generation. The God of the Old Testament is also the God of the New Testament. He is the same yesterday, today and for ever. It remains true that, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine…“ (2 Tim. 3:16)

If we read in the New Testament, “As the scripture saith…“ or “As it is written…“ or “…that all scripture might be fulfilled…“, and so forth, every time this refers to the Old Testament. The New Testament was just about to come into existence. In the first two centuries, the gospels and the epistles written to the churches were in circulation. Paul mentions this in his letter to the Colossian church, “And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye also read the epistle from Laodicea.“ (Col. 4:16).

It was at the end of the 3rd and the beginning of the 4th century when Eusebius and Athanasius gathered those single letters into a book which we call the New Testament, the canon, which means the guideline, the rule. The preaching, whether done by our Lord or by the apostles, was originally done from the Old Testament. “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spoke 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. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures…“ (Lk. 24:44-45) Our Lord cried with a loud voice, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said…“ (Jn. 7:38) Of Paul Luke testifies, “… to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.“ (Acts 28:23). Everything pertaining to the plan of salvation or teaching is found all the way from Matthew 1, in the gospels, before the Pentecost experience (Acts 1), on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and thereafter, in all the letters of the apostles, right to the epistle of Jude. Therein the respective passages from the Old Testament are given.

Teachings which are detached from the Word of God are of the lawless one, of whom Paul speaks in 2 Th. 2. God is for ever bound to His Word, He binds His Own to it, so that they might experience the true liberty. The New Testament teachings are so fitting, and are even characterised, when Brother Branham uses the examples, the lived experiences of those whom God used in the Old Testament, that the man of God should be perfect in all good works.

A teaching is biblical when both, the Old and the New Testament, are taken into consideration, and are brought to coincide one with the other. For this reason, the Christian denominations are very wrong, because they have forsaken the Old Testament foundation. In his preaching on marriage and divorce, the man of God surprises us with outstanding comparisons, of which insiders know that he would never have used them of himself. In his humility he said, “And being this is a Bible question, it should be a Bible answer.“ The scriptural answers which he gave do not seem to fit too well into the modern way of thinking. The spirit of the age is ruling everywhere under the banner of equal rights of women. The full emancipation is “in“, and woe unto him who dares to come forth with the outdated scriptural teachings.

Received from the Lord

In the introductory part, Brother Branham mentioned tens of thousands of cases where God showed him things by a vision, and also refers to events he had predicted, which were all fulfilled. He spoke this before his church congregation, who were ear and eye witnesses for many years, and they confirmed his statement with an unanimous Amen. After this he declared that there are two different schools and they are contrary one to the other, and of course to Scripture, although they are preached and believed to be right. Quote. “Now, if that be so, we have two schools of thought on marriage and divorce. And that is, one of them says that a man can only be married once unless his wife is dead. And that’s one of the questions. But you go to following that, you go overboard. And then the next says, »Oh, if the wife or the husband (either one) has committed adultery, either one of them can be put away and married again.« You find yourself overboard with that.“ (pg. 11)

It can be sometimes embarrassing when totally private things are mentioned, but God in His Fatherhood is concerned with us, even in what pertains to a marital relationship. Therefore, He gave the commandments of what is right and of the things which are wrong, for carnal transgressions hurt our spiritual life also. It is disobedience which manifests itself in bodily transgressions and hurts the soul separating us from God. That is why it is very important for a child of God to know what the Scripture says. In the beginning God gave His commandments to Adam and Eve and placed the choice before them to live or to die. They were to be blessed if they obeyed and did according to the Word, and receive a curse of death for transgression and disobedience. Our Redeemer, Who took our place, was obedient unto death on the cross (Phil. 2:8), to take us out of the disobedience of Adam, and to redeem us (Rom. 5:19 a. o.). Thus saith our Redeemer, “… and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him“ (Jn. 3:36b). Peter writes, “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance“ (1 Pet. 1:14). There are two pairs of shoes, »unbelief and disobedience«, »faith and obedience«. Which pair do we wear? We must now not think about others, but place ourselves in front of God’s Word and personally examine ourselves.

All scriptural references pertaining to a subject must be taken into consideration. If someone refers only to one scripture without acknowledging the rest of God’s Word, then he is certainly wrong. God’s Word is not given to please everyone, and far be it that some one would expect to find his own view confirmed by It. We are all here to let God be right and then adjust to His Word. Whoever, for instance does not differentiate between what is addressed to the man and woman respectively, has not come nearer to understanding the matter, and perhaps is not even interested in knowing this subject correctly. Whenever God addresses the man, what is meant is for the man; if He addresses a woman, it is meant for the woman. He always means what He says and says what He means.

How it started

Brother Branham goes back to the beginning, Genesis 1. The word »genesis« means »beginning« or »origin«, and here was the beginning of all the good and evil. We are not told how long the fellowship of Adam and Eve, and God lasted, but we are told of the fall which was connected to the first disobedience, the first transgression of God’s Word, the first beguiling, the first adultery etc. Eve at first was in Adam in the spiritual creation (chapter 1), and in chapter 2, in the second creative act, in the natural, she was taken out of Adam. In this we see the plan of salvation with humanity from the very beginning. The Bride of Christ was in the Redeemer, when He was in His celestial Body, and only when He came into the Body of flesh, and died on the cross, was she taken from His side through redemption by the shedding of the blood.

In his sermon, Brother Branham further states that, from the beginning, for each kind, there was just a pair, male and female. The thought is being expressed here that the original creation could not be tempted and fall (pg. 25). Therefore, the enemy chose to speak to the woman who was not in the original creation. The Lord God gave Adam the following commandment when Eve was still in him, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die“ (Gen. 2:16b-17). God had spoken to Adam, the enemy chose Eve as a partner to talk with and twisted her into arguments about »what God had said«. Even today the enemy uses the same words spoken by many, “Has God really said so…?“, “Does He really mean it…?“ etc., and then he twists everything. God had spoken of a special tree of which he should not have eaten. That was the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The enemy spoke about all the trees. He thus remained with the subject, but not in the truth.

In the first act of creation, both male and female, was one. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them“ (Gen. 1:26-29). Although the whole creation was finished, and was very good after God had completed His Work, and rested on the seventh day and sanctified the seventh day (Gen. 2:1-3), right after this we read, “… and there was not a man to till the ground“ (2:5b). It was only after man was made from the dust of the earth that he could fall asleep and Eve taken out of him. In this natural body he could do all the earthly work, but therein he fell and therefore the Lord had to come in the natural body to redeem us and take us out of the fall. The Saviour became as the ones He was to save in every way (Heb. 2:17). And they will be like Him in the completion (1 Jn. 3:2). Because the first begetting and beguiling happened through the serpent, all those begotten throughout humanity since the beginning are under the fall and the influence of the evil one. Cain was a child of the evil one (1 Jn. 3:12). In the Lord’s prayer we say, “… deliver us from the evil one …“ The Lord of heaven had to come in a human body, through the begetting by the Spirit, and therefore in reality could pull us out of the fall and the power of the evil one.

The very moment Eve permitted herself to be drawn into arguments by the serpent, she became submissive to the power of satan. After this she caused Adam to be submissive to her, and pulled him, against the commandment of God, into the fall. Every woman who pulls a man into transgression as Eve did is under the inspiration of the evil one as she was. Certainly such discussions are always with arguments about »what God has said«. In such a situation, the enemy turns the Word of God and twists it in the minds and mouths of women without them realising it. Satan will always use the Word of God with the intent to deceive. He also came to our Lord with the statement, “It is written“. It is only in this way that he can deceive and pull God’s children into transgression. Every lie is a truth perverted. We must use and follow the example of our Lord, Who met the enemy with the statement, “It is also written!“ Satan takes a single scripture to tempt the believers, we must take all the Word of God to resist the tempter.

The end of the »beginning«

God reacted with anger upon the fall. He cursed the serpent who from that very moment lost speech and shape. Before then, he could speak and walk, from that moment he was a reptile, creeping on the ground. Eve was not cursed, but she had to bear the penalty because she was deceived, and therefore she had to bear her children in pain. God did not put the penalty on the mouth, but right in the mother’s womb where it belongs. The covering of the shame with fig leaves, and most certainly not under an apple tree of which the Bible does not speak, makes it very plain what had happened. Adam was also not cursed, but rather the ground which he had to till. He was to eat his bread in the sweat of his face. The rebuke from the Lord was, “… because thou hast listened unto the voice of thy wife“ (Gen. 3:17a).

Ever since the fall in this body, all are alike during their pilgrimage on earth. Women bear their children in sorrow, and men who work physically still have sweat on their forehead. In the changing of our body, at the Return of Christ, our redemption will be complete. Until then, the believers and unbelievers are alike in the body — both have the same problems, the same desires etc.

Following the tragedy that took place in Paradise, the Lord God gave the first promise of salvation, that the seed would come through the woman and bruise the serpent’s head. Satan brought his seed through Eve, while God brought His Seed through Mary. He said, addressing the enemy, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel“ (Gen. 3:15)

Brother Branham teaches that, after the fall, the original beginning was over, of which Jesus, our Lord, spoke in Mt. 19 when He said, “… but from the beginning it was not so.“ After the fall, thus emphasises the man of God, another covenant was required, and the equality of man and woman then ended. Quote: “Now notice. Now after the beginning, after the beginning, after time began (back in that was Eternity) it was over. Notice, after that fall was made by Eve, after the fall, there was need to be another covenant made. Now, this is going to stumble you, but I’m going to give you the Scripture to prove that this is the Truth. Now notice, after the fall … Jesus said, »God, at the beginning, made one of a kind,« but now, after the fall — now, we’re going beyond that; the covenant was co-equal — but now after the fall, there’s another covenant made. Now, she was no longer ruler with him. Each must have a separate covenant.“ (pg. 31).

The equality that man and woman had on the same level was thereby finished and Adam was placed by God Himself over his wife, “and he shall rule over thee!“ In this respect nothing has changed for the believing women in the New Testament, even if many would say it out loudly or in a more silent way, “I resent that!“ Paul writes, “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God“ (1 Cor. 11:3). That is God’s order for the believers. A truly believing woman will take her stand rightfully and place herself in the role given her by the Lord God Himself, and submit herself to the rulership of her husband. If she does not respect this biblical pattern, then she beheads herself, and in the true sense of the word she becomes headless.

After the fall, the beginning that Jesus spoke of, was over. Quote: “Now, let us notice what Jesus said about: »From the beginning it wasn’t so.« Now, it is not so from — it is — now, it is after the beginning. Now there’s a double covenant. First it was just a covenant. Adam and Eve was co-equal; one man, one woman. Now, the woman sinned. And what does she do? That thro wed them all to death, and God had to make a covenant by that, another covenant. Here it is right here in Genesis 3:16. He made another covenant. … Now, that takes care of the beginning, doesn’t it?“ (pg. 32).

And now Brother Branham states seemingly incomprehensible thoughts for us, but if we are willing and ready to consider what is said, it will be a shock, at the same time we are going to find our place. Quote: “Now, you see, then after the beginning it was — something else was introduced. Now, this is going to shock you. … Then when the double covenant was made by man and woman through sex (another covenant altogether; not the original covenant, but another covenant), now what’s introduced? Polygamy in all. Then after the beginning, polygamy was introduced both in man and beast, after the beginning, the fall … Second covenant: one male, many females …“ (pg. 33)

As announced earlier we are all shocked. We would never have expected such a statement. No one has the intention of introducing polygamy, but rather to set things in the scriptural order. Brother Branham taught what the Bible says, and testified that the place of the woman is different from that of the man.

He continues, upon this foundation, with all divine sincerity which can even be felt in his voice and says, “Notice! (Don’t fail this now; take it all down to your hearts.) But not one of those women could even have one more husband. He’s the original creation, not her. Not one of those women could have one more husband, but that one husband could have a thousand wives. That’s thus saith the Lord. That’s the Bible.“ (pg 34).

Now we are totally astonished, but Paul expressed a similar thought regarding the woman, “Let not a widow be taken into the number under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man…“ (1 Tim. 5:9). It is also very clearly written concerning the woman, “For the woman who hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So, then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.” (Rom. 7:2-3). A woman is bound to her vow as long as her husband lives. If she breaks it she is guilty, which is also confirmed in 1 Cor. 7:39. Did God forget something? Did He say something wrong? Surely not.

The same Paul continues to write to the younger widows, that they should marry again (1 Tim. 5:14). The different stands of man and woman are also expressed in the following scripture, to which Brother Branham refers. Quote: “Matthew 5:32.1 want you to notice here, to support this same idea of one and many…: »But I say unto you that whosoever shall put away his wife, except for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery (Why? She’ll marry again); … and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.«“ (pg. 36-37). Here again, we have to pay careful attention to whom the words are being addressed.

For this reason, if a man had given his wife a writing of divorcement, which served as a document permitting her to remarry, and if she became the wife of another, she could not return to her former husband, even after the death of the second husband, for she was defiled (Dt. 24:1-4).

“They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again? Shall not that land be greatly polluted.” (Jer. 3:1). God takes the whole matter very seriously.

Now somebody may cry out, “Men of God in the New Testament, Paul and Branham, that is too much! Where do we have justice? We do have equality!“ That is true. The spirit of the age practises equality, but the woman is raising herself above the man and instead of him ruling over her, she rules over him, the prophet said so. The Spirit of God raises a standard against the trend of time until all women who believe the Word are sanctified therein and submit themselves to their husbands and all men submit themselves to Christ and also become sanctified by obedience through the Spirit. It is only then, that the ever unchanging divine order will remain in force.

Brother Branham refers to the Apostle Paul, in 1 Tim. 2:9-15; that a woman is not permitted to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man. After Eve came under the influence and power of satan, she began to influence Adam until he finally did what she wanted, and thereby transgressed God’s commandment. That is the way the fall took place. God was utterly mocked and His order was disobeyed and continues to be, by all those who do not find their place in the divine pattern. The reason the apostle gave for the subordination of women is thus, “For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, being deceived, was in the} transgression“ (vv. 13-14). Then he joins this with 1 Cor. 14 and says that the woman must remain subordinate, “… as also saith the law“ (v. 34). Old fashioned? Old Testament? Women hater? No! But rather how the unchanging God set all things in order as they are valid for ever according to His law. The Lord Jesus did not come to take away the commandments and do away with the law, but rather to fulfil the same. “Think not, that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no way pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.“ (Mt. 5:17-18). What He has once said remains for ever valid.

God’s unchangeable order

It is obvious that God’s unchangeable order remains in continuity in the Old and the New Testament. In the 20th century, God says the same thing He did six, four or two thousand years ago. If someone dislikes it he places himself on the same level as the modern thinking humanity of today, who do not have any orientation whatsoever, but walk in their own ways right into destruction. We also need to ask ourselves, what would it be if God would once say this, and then say something different again. He would not be God, Who in eternity made a plan for all, with humanity and also the things happening in the course of the salvation period right into the completion. How could He judge with the same rules if they are not found unchanged in His Word?

Quote: “So now, we see the whole picture of it unfolding to us. There she is. That’s why God won’t let her teach, won’t let her do anything in the church but to set still with a veiled face.“ (pg. 29) Areal harsh statement without love? Who can hear it? Who can bear it? Who will be offended by it and go back? Who will receive it with a thankful heart and go forward? In the New Testament we do not find women ministries of apostlesses, prophetesses, evangelistesses, teachers and pastors. In the 4th church age the angel is being reprimanded because he did not stop that woman Jezebel who pretended to be a prophetess and also was teaching (Rev. 2:20). God had to speak very sternly to the angel of the church because he let this woman have her way. The Lord of heaven does the same today.

The prophet Ezekiel had already taken a stand against the prophetesses after he had really reprimanded the false prophets and their deeds (Ezek. 13). The Lord commanded him, “… set thy face against the daughters of thy people, who prophesy out of their own heart…“ Those women were very clever, they knew how to do things, but they were addressed woefully. “Woe to the women that sew amulets upon all wrists, and make kerchiefs for the head …“ They are the ones who can fit anything into every situation. Prophesying they are taking souls captive, and through false inspiration they kill them because of the poison therein. In such cases it is not prophesying but soothsaying, and sorcery. Whatever a soothsayer might announce can be true, but prophecy comes from God and soothsaying comes from satan (compare Acts 16:16-18, Acts 21:7- 14 a. o.). In a prophecy brought by the Spirit of God and addressed to the Church there are always three main points: Edification, and exhortation, and comfort (1 Cor. 14:3). Whatever comes from God leads to Him and connects with Him, and not the one using the gift, who is just a vessel. False prophets and prophetesses, especially, are known by this fact. They speak as though God is the one Who is speaking. They present themselves as very spiritual, and those they minister to believe them in childlike faith. Through their »gift« they bind the people to themselves and make them dependant on their prophecies. These, as they say, are personal revelations, which spiritually bind the people to them. At the same time the poor souls loose their personal liberty, for they are afraid that God might reveal something against them.

They trust them because of the gifts, and believe them without comprehending that they are drawn under the same ban of Satan that these people are under. The Scripture says, “Therefore, ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations; for I will deliver my people out of your hand; and ye shall know that I am the Lord“ (Ezek. 13:23). It is horrible that such people who do not respect the Word see visions which are caused by a lying spirit. Those who handle what they claim are the gifts are not aware of it that their prophesying, connected with lying visions, is soothsaying; and therefore, those believers in good faith, are brought under a situation of being bewitched, and are not aware of it. Nobody would suspect that such “spiritually gifted“ persons are directly presented and used by the enemy to mislead and destroy the church. All this goes back to Eve who was beguiled by the enemy and became his tool to destroy the original plan of God for His children.

There is also false inspiration which can come upon anyone like it happened to Peter who had a very good suggestion; he meant well, and gave counsel to the Lord that He should not suffer. He took Him aside and said, “Be it far from thee, Lord; this shall not be unto thee. But he turned and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan. Thou art an of-fence unto me; for thou savorest not the things that are of God, but those that are of men“ Peter, though, did not speak to the Lord referring to a vision or by prophecy to influence Him, as it has been done by Jezebels, false anointed ones and false prophets right up to our time. The fact is that Peter did not watch at that moment and came under well-meant but wrong devilish inspiration.

We must all watch at all times. Every time when something is said that does not coincide with the whole testimony of Scripture, wrong inspiration is being exercised, regardless of whom the enemy speaks through at that moment. The Word alone is for ever the only valid measuring rod. Whatever originates from the Spirit of God will always agree with the Holy Scripture. Anything else can be religious, but at the same time deceptive and a false inspiration. Never before was the gift of discerning spirits as necessary as in this deceiving age, where right and wrong are so close together that if it were possible even the elect would be deceived.

Concerning the ministries, God placed them on the brothers for the upbuilding of the church (1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11 a. o.). Paul had to tell women who were ready to use gifts, to pray and to prophesy, where inspiration comes in, therefore, it must first be tested and proven, because the enemy slips in there as they are about to receive inspiration. Therefore, they had to veil their heads and not lift up their noses because spiritual pride comes before the fall of any believer. The long hair, in such prayer meetings, where gifts are in operation, is given to women as a covering (1 Cor. 11:5 + 15), and also serves as a sign of practical submission as required by the Scripture, because of the angels who are responsible in the church. These angels are the servants of God (v. 10). The Word »angel« and »messenger« are the same in the original text. When we read that some have entertained angels without knowing (Heb. 13:2), it was neither Gabriel nor Michael, but rather Paul and Peter, and any other servant of the Lord as a guest. Seven times we read in Revelation 2 and 3: “… and unto the angel of the church … write …“ — that is the messenger who was placed by God. True servants of the Lord are messengers of Christ, and His ambassadors (2 Cor. 5).

Brother Branham is in full agreement with the exposition Paul gave and repeats what the apostle said, “For the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman, but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have authority on her head because of the angels” (1 Cor. 11:8-10). It is hoped that all will have the needed fear of God, respect for His Word and also for His messengers and His message. Every Word of God also, which speaks about the sign of authority, as was left to us, is as holy and compulsory as any other Word of God. Man lives by every Word that comes from the mouth of God. We must be ready to walk all the way in obedience and in the same footsteps as our brothers and sisters did at the beginning of the early Church under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides and works always in the same manner.

What is adultery?

A man, according to the Scripture, cannot commit adultery against his own marriage. He, however, commits adultery whenever he takes a wife belonging to another man. The woman, in that case, becomes an adulteress. God has set marriage aside as something very unique and holy and He protects marriage in a special way. Of the ten commandments, two are addressed very directly to men, “Thou shalt not commit adultery!’’ and “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife!“ This is such a terrible thing that it can only be compared with the fall at the beginning. God commanded, “If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman. So shalt thou put away evil from Israel.” (Dt. 22:22). God pronounced the death penalty on this act as it is also written in Lev. 20:10, “And the man who committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he who committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.“ In Heb. 13:4 we find the statement, … but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge“ (Heb. 13:4b).

Concerning adultery the prophet continues in his sermon on pg. 34, that even amongst the heathen nations the wife of another man cannot be touched. Up to this day it is known among tribes, who sometimes cannot read nor write, that they would never commit such an act. When the heathen king Abimelech was ready to take Sarah, Abraham’s wife, of whom he had said that she was his sister, the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and did not permit this to happen. “Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live; and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou and all that are thine.“ (Gen. 20:7) The king had to return Sarah who belonged to Abraham, as that was a commandment of the Lord.

Solomon, who had many wives, and whom the prophet Nathan called Jedidiah (2 Sam. 12:25) which means »beloved of the Lord« said, “But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding; he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away…“ (Prov. 6:32-33) God has placed a lasting shame upon adultery. Men who take a wife belonging to another man are spoken of as having lost their senses. Jesus, our Lord, has even more strongly emphasised this fact, when He said that, whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart (Mt. 5:27-28).

John the Baptist had to indict Herod because he took his brother’s wife to be his wife, and that was incest. As a prophet he could not be a diplomat, but he had to proclaim the Word of God which states that, “Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife: it is thy brother’s nakedness.“ (Lev. 18:16).

Even though Brother Branham was speaking to the end-time Church, he mentions men of God from the Old Testament, such as Abraham, Jacob and others. Quote: “Look at Jacob, out of whom came the patriarchs. He had at least a dozen wives. He married two sisters and had concubine wives besides that (common law women that he lived with), and those patriarchs were born right out of those concubine women.“ (pg. 44). Jacob did not commit adultery, but David did, when he took Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah. The man of God, after sharing such thoughts with us, simply says, “See, you have to make the Word run smooth.“ (pg. 44).

God requires holiness

Paul dealt with a very awful matter in 1 Cor. 5, where a man had taken his stepmother to be his wife. In reference to this, we are told as follows, “The nakedness of thy father’s wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father’s nakedness.“ (Lev. 18:8). This man had not only sinned but was under a curse, because what he did was one of the twelve curses pronounced by God, “Cursed be he who lieth with his father’s wife, because he uncovereth his father’s skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.“ (Dt. 27:20).

In Leviticus, chapter 18 to 20, we find a list of many transgressions which exclude one from the Kingdom of God, as these are contrary to sanctification without which no one would see the Lord (Heb. 12:14). There, we also find various expressions listed showing how men and women would even commit this act with animals; also that women would live together with women, and men with men as Paul states in Romans, chapter 1. Very plainly the Bible declares, “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith; neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.“ (Lev. 18:22-23). “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections; for even their women did exchange the natural use for that which is against nature; and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was fitting.“ (Rom. 1:26-27). “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.“ (Jude 7)

Our Lord Himself predicted that as it was in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah so would it be at the end-time. Very openly and right in public, we see it happen. Wrong is presented as right and the right as wrong. Homosexuals receive church blessing, and lesbians are also being blessed. Much advertisement is done, and the mass media is being used for such acts, but for marriage, which God instituted, and for the family, it seems there is no more room in society. This brings into existence a total chaos in these last days, which Brother Branham called »Satan’s Eden«. It is only the true elect who will escape the spirit of the age and submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and let the Word be their ruler in all aspects of life.

In 1 Cor. 6 we read, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.“ (vv. 9-10) The things listed here certainly will cause many to be excluded from the Kingdom of God just as many other similar scriptures describe and testify. Now, every one should not only look at this one point that we are dealing with, but also take into consideration the totality of all the things which are a hindrance to us in entering into the Kingdom of God. Everyone should look into such scriptural passages as into a mirror to see how we look ourselves in the sight of God.

Thus saith the Lord, “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy; for I am the Lord, your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the Lord who sanctifieth you.” (Lev. 20:7-8) “But, as he who hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of life, because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.“ (1 Pet. 1:15-16) In his prayer, as high priest our Lord said, “Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth“ (Jn. 17:17). Indeed, the Word which we are now sharing with one another is meant by the same statement and therefore must become part of our human life, wherein we are sanctified in all aspects of our lives.

Marriage

God intended a harmonious marriage. If harmony is to be found with a couple, the conditions must be right beforehand. To those young men who were not yet married, the apostle gave then the advice, as he stated, »by the commission of God«, “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication; that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour, not in the lust of sensuality, even as the Gentiles who know not God; that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He, therefore, that despiseth, despiseth not man but God, who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit.“ (1 Th. 4:3-8).

The Lord spoke very clearly about marriage, divorce and the possibility of remarrying; thereafter, we read what the disciples said, “His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, except they to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs, who were so born from their mother’s womb; and there are some eunuchs, who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.“ (Mt. 19:10-12). If these three conditions do not apply to a young man, then he should not hesitate to take responsibility as a brother in Christ and marry a sister in Christ. Young brothers and sisters who neglect to get married, sooner or later will face difficulties which are of natural and bodily conditions. God knew why He instituted marriage. Therefore it is written, “… for it is better to marry than to burn.“ (1 Cor. 7:9)

It might have been Brother Branham who in questions and answers somewhere addressed young brothers who were about to take this decision, I am stating this to the best of my memory; If you feel that you cannot be without her, cannot live without her, and that you wish you could take her into yourself, then you know that she is the right one. That might be Brother Frank. But the whole matter reminds me of the eight chapters of the Song of Solomon, which deal with the bride and bridegroom, and with married life. In chapter 8, verses 6-7, we read about the intimacy with one another which is being expressed like this, “Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm; for love is strong as death, jealousy is cruel as sheol; its coals are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it. If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, he would utterly be rejected.“

A sister should also watch very carefully, that she waits until the right one comes, with whom she will spend and share her whole life; of course, it is not advisable to wait until the flower of her youth is gone (1 Cor. 7:36). A young sister should not let herself to get defiled in any way whatsoever. She should guard her virginity and bring the same into the marriage, for this, her husband will be thankful throughout all their married life. It might sound outdated, old-fashioned, but it pays off for a whole life of joy and happiness.

Right up to our time, it was common that a girl would stay in the house of her parents until she gets married and has her own family. The modern trend is such that many leave home as soon as possible to stand, as they say, on their own feet, and to set the track for their own lives independently. This is not always considered to merge into marriage. The question here can be rightfully asked; “Would such girls later fit into married life, and be submissive housewives fulfilling the requirements the Scripture shows forth towards their husbands and live harmoniously as a married couple?“

No one should be in a hurry with marriage, because it is a once and for all decision in life. Both should have the understanding beforehand that in every realm, and on every level right up to the questions of faith they do agree. It has to be like this, for God Himself said, “… for I will make him an help fit for him“ (Gen. 2:18). It is only then that one can have the assurance, that it was God Who joined two people together for the whole life.

God has even more to say also to the brothers, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it“ (Eph. 5:25). “In like manner, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel…“ (1 Pet. 3:7a). Men are called upon to live in a respectful way and honour their wives as they are the weaker vessel. They are neither doormats nor housemaids.

Wives should be, as Apostle Peter states in 1 Pet. 3, “having a meek and quiet spirit“ which would always win and draw their husbands to them. It is up to the wife to make in a home a heavenly atmosphere on earth, wherein her husband and children are comfortable. If she does not pay attention, and should what the Bible says about a contentious woman apply to her, then she can turn her own home into hell and ruin her marriage and family.

The apostle further speaks very clearly about the duty of one to the other. “Let the husband render unto the wife her due; and likewise also, the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband; and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife“ (1 Cor. 7:3-4). Thus God has arranged married life for those who are united in heart and body. This is the harmonious oneness as He Himself said, “and they two shall be one flesh.“ The apostle further writes, giving one of the main points for marriage, “withdraw ye not one the other; except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency“ (1 Cor. 7:5). Woe unto the man or woman who suddenly wishes to have power over their own body within marriage. Those who are single, decide for themselves. Those who are married cannot do that, as our text clearly states. It is only if both parties take the Word and practise it, that they will enjoy their married life, being united in earthly and divine love.

If either the man or the woman withdraws from the other party without having mutual agreement, then that is a clear transgression of the Word against the partner. If someone thinks that there is a possibility of withdrawal without consent, then he or she is asked to show forth from God’s holy Word where such a permission is given. Nobody becomes holy in withdrawing from the partner, on the contrary, that is an offence against the rules set forth for married life. Marriage is holy and nothing in it should be despised. But a married couple must live together, and no individual in a marriage can do what he or she likes. Everything has to be brought to a common denominator. Grace, in this case, also means that the couple should live together within the limits of God’s Word.

In the Garden of Eden, the Lord God had already said to the woman, “…and thy desire shall be to thy husband“ (Gen. 3:16). Man does not need to be told so, because it comes very naturally to him. He is made that way for reproduction. Therefore, it is written, that the woman is made for man. To him, married life is a God-given reward for the toils and cares of daily life. “Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity; for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun“ (Ecc. 9:9).

The apostle further writes to those who get married, “Nevertheless, such shall have trouble in the flesh…“ (1 Cor. 7:28). So it is, but we also can count upon the help of the Lord. “But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit; but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband“ (1 Cor. 7:33-34). Whoever gets married knows that two ways merge into one. The living room, bedroom, kitchen and everything, the two own together. In marriage there are no singles, and no self-life. “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled…“ (Heb. 13:4).

The Apostle Peter is considerate and gives a good suggestion to those women whose husbands are not yet walking in the right way, that one can think of, “In the same manner, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the behaviour of the wives“ (1 Pet. 3:1). It is not through arrogance and fussing, not accusing, but as the Scripture says in our text, “through the behaviour of the wives“.

Divorce, yes or no?

The Apostle Paul starts with one unbelieving partner when he speaks about the possibility of divorce: “But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases; but God hath called us to peace.“ (1 Cor. 7:12-16). In such a case there exists no slavery, or life-long bondage, for either the brother or the sister. Just as there are other wrong decisions in life with believers, it is also possible to have made a wrong decision in getting married. Should this be the case, then the ones concerned already suffer enough and we should not treat them as though they were lepers. They do have their life-long burdens which they have to carry. As we read, if the unbelieving depart in such a case, neither the woman nor the man is bound. The term »until death shall separate you« is not found in the Holy Scriptures, but rather, “what God has joined together, let not man put asunder“ (Mt. 19:6). Indeed there are couples who apparently were not joined together by God. Therefore, the emphasis is upon the statement, “what God hath joined together…“ Whatever God does is well-done.

In some legitimate cases God permitted man to give a writing of divorcement to his wife. “When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her; then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house“ (Dt. 24). The same God said, “For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away; for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts; therefore, take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously“ (Mai. 2:16). A wilful divorce, the Scripture declares, is an act of violence against the partner. In the Sermon on the Mount our Lord refers to Dt. 24:1, making the condition even harder. “It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement;“ and then continues, “But I say unto you that whosoever shall put away his wife, except for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery; and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery“ (Mt. 5:31-32).

God protects a woman who has been divorced without a scriptural cause, and will judge the man for it. People may condemn her, because of wrong teaching, if she remarries. In such a case she is not guilty, but rather the man who caused her to come into this situation, and to live in a second marriage which was not originally planned. God always acts rightly and justly. He will demand that the guilty one answers; in this case, it is the ex-husband. The Lord is true in all His Words and holy in all His deeds.

A separation or divorce, without a cause, is directed against redemption and forgiveness, and is looked upon as an act of violence, for the cross and reconciliation are spurned. The enmity God decreed in the Garden of Eden after the fall then comes into existence again, the cross and forgiveness are being put aside and accusations take their course. For the redeemed, it remains for ever true, that all our sins and guilt were placed upon the Lamb of God. We are free and have peace with God. If somebody rejects reconciliation, and continues with accusations, then the same remains in the fallen state. The redeemed are reconciled with God, they certainly do not carry a grudge in their heart and do not practise enmity even unto death. That would most certainly be a paradox. Whoever does not forgive the other party, rejects reconciliation and does not need to pray for forgiveness, for God does not forgive a person in such a state. “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have anything against any, that your Father also, who is in heaven, may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father, who is in heaven, forgive your trespasses” (Mk. 11:25-26).

According to John, chapter 8, the Scribes and Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus who was caught in adultery. They referred to what Moses said in the law that such a woman should be stoned. The question was, “…but what sayest thou?“ Jesus stooped down and wrote with His finger on the sand. While Jesus was writing, the accusers repeated the same question. Finally He stood up and said to them, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.“ He stooped down again and wrote more on the ground. After rising up again all had vanished from the first to the last. “When Jesus had lifted himself up, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more.“ (Jn. 8:10-11) If the believers of this day would have as much sense of honour as the blind Scribes and Pharisees had, then they would read the Scripture and hear what the Lord has written and spoken to them. They also would vanish away as the accusers did there. In the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ no one is righteous, all have sinned, trespassed the commandments and have come short of the glory of God.

It is always those who require repentance themselves that keep on requiring that others should repent, without realising that it is only the Spirit of God that leads all to repentance. There are people who do not know the Lord’s prayer and do not even want to live up to and practise it. “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” (Mt. 6:12). In each case we must note which party is denying salvation to the other, and therefore, acts with enmity, speaks evil about the partner to the extent of committing character assassination. God is the God of peace, and we can have peace within, regardless of the situation. The enemy deceives the peaceless who act with bitterness. Then their mouths become open graves, and their tongues like the bite of a poisonous snake (Rom. 3:10-18 a. o.). Such are the marks of a person who has come under the influence of the enemy. Those who refuse reconciliation sometimes act upon false revelation, and most of the time they cannot be spoken to as the accuser speaks through them. They are under false inspiration, deceived and cannot help themselves and reject the help of the Lord, thinking in their self-righteousness to be right. Forgiveness and reconciliation are bedded in divine love. Arrogant demands are always contrary to reconciliation. There remains one question: What is the actual intention in speaking and acting in such a way? If the matter is against God’s Word, one thing is sure: Satan has begun to destroy.

The Corinthian Church, which had to deal with the special case (chapter 5), was given a thus saith the Lord. “And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband; but and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband; and let not the husband put away his wife“ (7:10-11). Here, we have a commandment for both, not just a polite suggestion, but rather the Thus saith the Lord. If she breaks this commandment and separates herself, then she must remain single or return to her husband. Should he break the commandment he will be held responsible. A man who divorces his wife without a biblical cause, so that he can marry another one, is guilty before God.

Brother Branham emphasises that, in case of separation or divorce there is a difference in the requirements for the woman and for the man. Quote: “Now, you notice in I Corinthians 7:10, notice, Paul commands the wife that is — that divorces her husband to remain single or be reconciled, not to remarry. She must remain single or to be reconciled back to her husband. She cannot remarry; she must remain single. But notice, he never said about the man. See, you can’t make the Word lie. From the beginning, the sex law by polygamy.“ (pg. 37).

When Brother Branham speaks about polygamy, he does not mean to say that a man should have a whole harem of wives, certainly not. He only wishes to express that if the marriage breaks, especially when the woman is the guilty party, the man can remarry. The word divorcé is not found in the Bible, because God never intended, under no circumstances whatsoever, that a woman would give a writing of divorcement to a man. It is only under the permissive will of God that the man can do it, and this would be because of the hardness of his heart — but under no circumstances can the woman do it.

Quote: “But to get this marriage and divorce straightened out so that you would know which was right and which was wrong … A man can put away his wife and marry another, but not the woman put away her husband and marry another. See all the shadows and types there perfectly balanced out“ (pg. 39).

We must submit to the will of God and not only speak about it. There is a permissive will but also the acceptable and perfect will of God (Rom. 12:1). If a woman has separated herself from her husband and rejected him as a husband, and tries to convince herself that this is not a divorce, but just a separation, she is deceived and has no clear judgement any more. The certificate of divorce is just a written confirmation of the already existing separation. If a woman, who has no right to separate or withdraw herself, rejects her husband and thus dissolves the marriage, and leaves her matrimonial home, then she is guilty before God in a most terrible way. Thereby, she demonstrates that she is exercising power over her husband. She may say, “Now I have really shown him.“ God will show her something else, if she does not repent.

The same case applies, when either partner demands that the other one quit their matrimonial home, and thereby humiliates him or her in front of the children. A couple must also agree on the way of bringing up their children, and decide to say the same thing. Otherwise there will be parties within the family If there is a difference of opinion between the couple, the children should not be drawn into it. In a divorce the children suffer the most. All should know in advance, and be very clear about it, that no problem is solved through a divorce, but on the contrary, with the divorce the real problems start for the whole family.

The chosen ones will not permit themselves to be blinded by the enemy in accepting any such wrong action as being right; leave alone supporting it. They are determined at any cost to reach the completion in perfection, and are ready to do the acceptable will of God. For the called ones, the permissive will of God might be sufficient, but if someone acts altogether contrary to the Word of God, they should know that they are neither called nor chosen, but they are utterly deceived.

Brother Branham stated that this complicated matter must be revealed. This revelation came forth through the opening of the seals. Quote: “But now that the Seals are opened, the Spirit of Truth directs us to the Word. That explains why all the mistakes has been down through the ages, because the Seals were not open. This was not revealed. It’s true.“ (pg. 38).

Whoever takes the attitude of having already known all things pertaining to this complicated subject of marriage, divorce and remarriage, should acknowledge as having not yet understood it. The same case applies to the believers in the end-time message, where there is much religious leaven still being held as it was handed down through the traditional deceptive church teachings.

A biblical example and admonition

The apostle wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything” (Eph. 5:24). Exceptions cannot be granted either for the Church or for the woman. They come up only with excuses, but with these some deceive themselves and try to deceive others. God for ever remains true to His commandments and His decision. Brother Branham states a case which is seemingly far fetched and hard for us to comprehend, but he makes a comparison to show the importance of the obedience expected from a woman.

Quote: “You remember in the Bible when the king married Esther because the queen refused. He just got him another one. And when the … What happened when she refused to come out with the king, obey him? The same thing it is with a woman that refuses to be wife to her husband!“ (pg. 41)

A very hard speech, who can stand it? God must make things right within the Bride Church and that must be before the Rapture. The others move on in their own ways, they do not even listen to Him. But His Own have a desire to live up to every Word. We do ask ourselves, “What concerns us in reference to the happening of the Persian king Ahasuerus and his wife Vashti?“ It is apparently a case to which Brother Branham would not have referred to by himself. The Lord guided him thus, and it remains true that all Scripture is given by inspiration and is profitable for doctrine and correction.

The king made a feast to all of his princes and servants, and the queen arranged, parallel to it, another one for the women in the royal house. The king had sent seven men to bring her and they were to deliver the message to the queen, that she should get ready and come up to the king, but she refused. This decision sealed her doom and she was no longer the queen in the kingdom (vv. 10-12). Straightaway, the royal counsel was called together; in the church it would be the elders, who are to decide what should be done with the disobedient woman who had brought reproach upon her husband, who stood in the highest esteem before the people. The reason given was as follows, “For this deed of the queen shall come to the attention of all women, so that they shall look with contempt upon their husbands, when it shall be reported, The king, Ahasuerus, commanded Vashti, the queen, to be brought in before him, hut she came not“ (1:17).

The end of the story, which the Holy Spirit pointed out to Brother Branham, is that the queen lost her dignity. She had done this on purpose and thereby rejected the divine order. That could not be forgiven, and she was not permitted to appear before the king again. There are disobedient acts women commit purposely against their husbands which can never be made right. They step across God’s dividing line intentionally. If that case would have been left the way it had happened then, all men would have been treated by their wives in the same reproachable manner. Thus it is written. The highly esteemed Vashti, as the first lady, would have been their example. Another one who is better than she was to take her place, so it is recorded.

Intentional disobedience in any case is like the sin of sorcery (1 Sam. 15:22-23). An easy way out, as some may think, in dealing with such a matter would certainly not be in accordance with the valid Word of God. “And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire (for it is great), all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small. And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan; for he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to its writing, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people“ (Es. 1:20-22). After this the men found a beautiful virgin for the king, the choice was Esther.

Yes, such an account is found in our Bible. All women without exception should give due honour to their husbands from the greatest to the least. It was then published in all the known languages, every man should be a ruler in his own house. The same must be published in all the languages and brought to the attention of God’s people now. Sarah spoke to her husband also in high esteem, “After I have become old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?“ (Gen. 18:12). This, the Holy Spirit dictated into the Apostle Peter’s pen, “For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands, even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord; whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well…“ (1 Pet. 3:5-6)

God found it necessary to raise a standard against the spirit of this age, as the pride of women is now as it was with Vashti. As a matter of fact, the believing churches are also not being spared from it. This had already been shown to the man of God in 1933, as all who are acquainted with his ministry know. The time has come for men and women to take their God-ordained places. It is for this reason, that all the relevant connections and scriptural references are shown. God is now placing everything into the original order which was disrupted by Satan but is now being re-established. Paul addresses women thus, “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence“ (1 Tim. 2:11-12). One needs to search for a woman today who is willing to listen in silence — this is the crux of the matter — and accept to be taught. It is said openly, “In the church we must keep silent, but at home no one will shut our mouth.“ “For a long time we were held under subjection, but now we are going to have the upper hand, and claim our rights.“ That shows that some sisters who think to be spiritual live a deceitful double life.

The apostle also mentions the duty that the elderly women have in teaching the younger. “That they may teach the young women to be sober-minded, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed“ (Tit. 2:4-5). Such are the footprints of a blessed woman as she teaches younger sisters how to behave in their marriage as she has learned from experience in her own life, so that the younger ones can also be a blessing within their families. What about those who do the opposite, who do not consider what the Scripture says, but instead live in open disobedience or support the same? It is only a sister in Christ who has found her place under her husband, and with her children, who is in her proper place, and therefore, as the apostle said, can teach the younger sisters the way of blessing for their marriage and family. She will otherwise just do the opposite as we have experienced it in recent years.

Man is the head. He is responsible for the family, and not the despot of the house who cannot control himself, but wishes to control his family by force. God’s order can only come into existence when everyone plays their respective roles according to the Word of God in the divine love. Then there is no need for any demands, because everyone lives and cares for the well-being of all.

The right way

Quote: “Now, on the marriage and divorce. See, it has to be revealed. Until it’s revealed, yon don’t know it. But He promised in this last days, in this age, that every hidden mystery in the Bible would be revealed. How many knows that? … Jesus promised it, that all of these hidden mysteries on —- on marriage and divorce, all these other hidden mysteries that’s been would be revealed in the end time. Now, you remember the Voice said, »Go to Tucson.« You remember a mystic Light in the skies, the seven Angels standing there? Come back and the opening of the Seven Seals? Watch what’s taken place.“ (pg. 43)

In the same respect that we have received the teaching on the Godhead, Baptism, Lord’s Supper etc., we must accept without inner resistance every word pertaining to the subject we are dealing with. As it is required of any Bible topic, so is it also in this case, that all passages of the Scripture are carefully placed before us to ponder over them. This is a personal but very important subject and should not be handled privately by anyone who wishes to make things fit his own views. No one should decide his case by himself. A case has to be handled by brothers who have been proven teachers and elders, and they must judge according to the Word of God. The Bible to us is like the book of law, and everyone must obey and do what ever it says. A case should not be dealt with at home but in the church. “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account…“ (Heb. 13:17)

Any brother or sister who withdraws from the church and does not bring his or her problem before the brothers in the ministry, deceives himself or herself; he or she rejects God’s Word, does not respect the pastor, but walks in his or her own ways which lead to lawyers and judges as though they were placed there for the believers. Whoever decides to resolve his or her marriage problem outside the provided scriptural way, is under the influence of the evil one, and in open rebellion against Christ, Who is the Head of the church, and also makes the Word of God to be of no effect to himself or herself. If a husband or a wife takes the initiative and makes the first move to a lawyer, he or she must know that it is a blasphemous act. Believers who do such acts get mocked before the unbelievers in the world thereby, also bringing a reproach upon the Lord, their Saviour, Who bought them with a precious price.

In general, those who are guilty are the ones who withdraw from marriage, and in most cases from the church. They then start saying, “The church is not right!“ “The ministering brothers are not right!“ etc. In their eyes they are right, but according to the Holy Scripture, they have permitted Satan to destroy them and others. Whoever does not respect the Word, apparently does not belong to the sheep, who listen to the voice of the good shepherd. They cannot submit themselves to the Word as they are not born again of the Word Seed by the Spirit of God. This can be the case even with those who are baptised in the Spirit and use spiritual gifts. In this regard, Bro. Branham made a very fitting statement when he spoke about the three circles, the three realms — soul, spirit, body. Quote: “…and they can absolutely have the real Spirit of God. anointed on that spirit, but still be lost and just as devil possessed as they can be with that spirit.“ (And knoweth it not, pg. 18). It is only the Word of God which tells us what is right, nothing else does. And whoever is of God hears the Word of God. Thus it is written. And those who do accordingly are called blessed.

A pastor and elders must never take sides with a party, and must not be related to anyone of them. They are to only show forth the Holy Scriptures dealing with the matter, without giving private commentaries. The decision should lie with those concerned, and they alone will be held responsible for what they do. It is also not permitted for those resolving the matter to speak with one partner, both partners must be present during the conversation, this way each partner has the opportunity to answer to accusations. If this is not done, terrible things lie ahead. Then everyone has the opportunity to spread slander. But as we are told in 1 Cor. 6, slanderers, thieves and robbers, idolaters, adulterers etc. will not inherit the Kingdom of God (Eph. 4:27).

Whenever a case is decided, it must be just before the Lord as He has commanded, “Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgement; thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty, but in righteousness shalt thou judge the neighbour. Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people; neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the Lord“ (Lev. 19:15-16).

If marriage is still valued in the hearts of partners, they will leave private things where they belong, that is at home. A couple must know that they have to speak with each another, and not about one another. They must speak out things, and not fight, but rather pray. They must also allow some time for either partner to understand the demands of the other. There are problems in every marriage and family and they can be resolved, but this can only be done if we keep peace, as the Scripture says, “Keep peace with one another…“ for “…all things are possible for him that believeth.“ Where there is a will there is also a way. If is only if a partner does not want a solution that he or she does not seek a way which they can be able to walk together.

Whoever of the two partners makes a marriage problem public betrays the other partner, destroys confidence and bars his or her own way back. Then he or she walks on this irreversible route which is marked by stubbornness, disregarding the things which happen, without caring who suffers and is hurt, and all those who come to the knowledge of such a case are more or less drawn into it. If talks are one-sided, be it from or about those concerned, parties come up, taking sides and a split is made right through the marriage, the family and the church. Wherever a root of bitterness comes up, many are destroyed. And the tongue is kindled by the fire of hell. Satan has already destroyed churches in this way. Satan does not only character assassinate, but he is also the murderer of the soul. True believers should know that they are not chosen to spread family affairs, but rather to testify of the good things the Lord has done for them, and not speaking about the things Satan has done. A true testimony, to the glory of God, never starts with the words, “Have you already heard…? Do you know…?“

All of us should seriously think before we speak in a way of slander as this will exclude us from the Kingdom of God. There is no cheap grace on which we can count, it does not exist. There is only the precious grace of God in Christ Who bought us by shedding His precious Blood. David asked, “Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour“ (Ps. 15:1-3).

It is only those who accept God’s judgement according to His Word, and let themselves be corrected now, and also allow themselves to be placed into God’s order, that will belong to the Church of the firstborn. Whoever despises the work of God and the Church of Christ, is high- minded and deceived. All arguments which are meant to quieten our conscience, are not valid before God and the final judgement. In His presence only the things that He commanded can stand. Whoever thinks to have regained his or her liberty by separation will very soon realise how much sorrow and heartache he or she has left behind.

Who can wilfully act against the Word and then think himself or herself to be spiritual and even to be part of the Bride? No, none can ever be. This cannot work with God. We must believe, act and walk according to the Scripture. The Lord completes His Church, which will be at the end just as she was in the beginning: one heart and one soul. He unites the members of His Body, as the Head. Brother Branham emphasised that the matter of marriage and divorce must be personally revealed. With this statement, he does not mean ones own revelation but rather the revelation given to him as he laid out in the exposition with so many scriptural references.

Servants of God

If we consider the servants of God, it is noteworthy that God did not ask a single one of them about their family status. He took whoever He chose, whether married or not. Life circumstances of His messengers were as varied as life itself. We also read about those men who stood out in church history, for instance, about John Wesley who married a widow having four children, whose marriage was terrible. But there was not a single one who was perverse natured, homosexual or guilty of illicit practices.

It is only David of whom we read that he committed adultery, although he had many wives. He was also responsible for the death of the husband of Bathsheba. One cannot easily imagine how David had the courage to continue singing his songs, even though he then started with those deep psalms of repentance. It was confirmed that God’s gifts and calling are irreversible, and without repentance. Our Lord even gives Himself the honour to be called by the title »Son of David«. God permitted the transgression of David then, in the Old Testament, so that the triumph of grace and the forgiveness of sins could be demonstrated (Rom. 4:7-8). In any case, the Lord does not permit anyone to judge His servants. It is written and binding for ever to all, “Touch not mine anointed…“ (Ps. 105:15) and “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be held up; for God is able to make him stand“ (Rom. 14:4).

Enoch seems to be the only one who did not become personally guilty in any way. He had already seen the Lord coming and in the midst of His holy ten thousands to execute judgement (Jude), He was married, had sons and daughters and walked with God. At the age of 365 he was taken into Glory, but before his rapture this man of God had the testimony that he pleased the Lord. He, being the seventh from Adam, was a type of the Bride who is to be completed in this last church age upon whom God’s pleasure will rest. She will meet her heavenly Bridegroom without spot or wrinkle in all her beauty. We, who are alive and remain until the return of the Lord, will, just as Enoch, not taste death but shall be changed.

Noah was married, had three sons and was a preacher of righteousness. Through a humiliating experience of drunkenness he came to know about the consequences after having too much wine. When his son Ham saw his father uncovered he despised him, did not behave properly and made remarks which had consequences. When Noah came to himself after the intoxication, he uttered the prophetic words, “Cursed be Canaan!“ That was the son of Ham. There are sins which bring a curse with them, for it is written, “Cursed be he who dishonoreth his father or his mother.“ (Dt. 27:16). God is bound to every one of His Words. Even today such curses can be inherited by those who despise their father or mother. Blessed are the sons whom the father can lay hands upon like Jacob did.

Abraham was married to Sarah, took Hagar and married Ketura, with whom he had six children, after the death of Sarah.

Jacob had wives and concubines of which the patriarchs came from. Everything is written in detail and reported in our holy book, including that he loved Rachel more than Leah. God was not angry because he cheated his brother for the birthright, and He did not reprimand him for that, as he found grace in His sight, he was blessed. God looks upon the heart of His chosen ones and does not impute sin. From a supplanter and deceiver, He made someone who could wrestle with God, had a real break-through until the sun came up and a new day broke forth for him.

Moses had Zipporah to wife, and also took a Cushite woman. On this matter, Miriam, his sister, and Aaron, his brother, were very displeased and took their stand against him. This was humanly understandable, but before the law Giver it was an abomination. The Lord does not permit anyone in any way, to touch His anointed, not even a brother or a sister in flesh. Servants of God are not anybody’s private property, they do not have to answer to a family or a clan, they are in the highest ministry existing on earth. God did not reproof Moses, but was on his side and judged Miriam with leprosy. The words coming out of the mouth of God, and which Moses wrote down had to remain valid, “If he take him another wife…“ (Ex. 21:10). It is high time that we tame our tongues, so that our service unto the Lord is not in vain.

Elkana, the father of Samuel, had two wives, Hannah and Penina. Samuel was the one Hannah had prayed for and upon whom the blessings of God rested.

In the case of Gideon, we read that he had many wives and seventy homeborn sons. He performed mighty acts being in the service of the Lord, but then he also led Israel into idolatry.

Then we have all the amorous stories of Samson.

We do not know too much about other men of God, not even their family status. That shows how little God esteemed the earthly realm in comparison with the supernatural. About Isaiah who was the most important prophet in the Old Testament, in foretelling the plan of salvation, we only read, “And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bore a son. Then said the Lord to me, Call his name Mahershalal-hashbaz.“ (Isa. 8:3). It is not recorded who this woman or prophetess was.

In the case of Jeremiah, we only know that the Lord had chosen him from his mother’s womb to be a prophet unto the nations. As a young man he was called to the ministry.

The prophet Ezekiel went into Babylonian captivity with his Jewish brethren. On one morning he had addressed the people and in the evening his wife died.

The Lord advised the prophet Hosea, “Go, take unto thee a wife of harlotry…“ (Hos. 1:2). The Lord could never have spoken in such a way, to a priest or a high priest because in His own law He said, that a priest who handles the food and the fire of God can only marry a virgin. This woman of harlotry gave birth to a son named Jezreel, and a daughter called Loruhamah and another son named Loammi. One can be more than astonished, for God had already written the history of Israel and the Church in advance in such a way (Rom 9:24-27).

In the New Testament also, we have a variation with the men of God. Apostle Peter was married, but Apostle Paul was not. In the case of the church, elders and deacons were required to be married — and be the husband of one wife (1 Tim. 3 a. o.). But, there was no such a requirement for the apostles, prophets, teachers, etc. In this point also, we need to read God’s Word and apply it as it was meant when it was originally spoken. We must always take into consideration who is being addressed. Could it be that we all have to read the Holy Scripture once again and without preconception, but only reading in it what it actually say? Yes!

On the personal life of Peter we only find mentioned that his mother-in-law was sick with fever and the Lord healed her. In the case of most of the apostles, we do not know any personal life details. But it seems that Paul was at one time ready to speak out, “Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ, our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord? … Have we no right to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only, and Barnabas, have we no right to forbear working?“ (1 Cor. 9:1 + 5-6). We see that the brethren of the Lord, James and Jude, were also married. Paul mentions James as being the Lord’s brother in Gal. 1:19 and Jude refers to his brother James in the first verse of his epistle.

Back to the Word — back to God

In the Old Testament, God had a natural people to whom He promised and gave a natural land. In the New Testament His Kingdom is not of this world. It is the Kingdom of God. But as long as we are on earth all the rules and regulations God gave for the earthly life are valid. We cannot any more a§k one another, “What do you say?“ or “What is your opinion?“, “How do you see it…?“ Judgement begins now in the house of God according to the divine law. Our question should always be, “What does God have to say?“ If a certain matter comes up, then it would also be, “How would He look upon it?“

We are concerned with knowing the will of God for our personal life and also doing the same. Our deepest desire, if we are children of God, is to do the acceptable and perfect will of God in all aspects of our life. We will have met the condition for the Rapture only if God’s pleasure rests upon us. This is so, as all things we are taught from the Scripture are made manifest in the life of a believer, when our deeds dovetail with the Word, and similarly for the chosen ones, everything must be brought back into the divine order; in marriage, family and the church. No one should have a grudge against another, for the coming of the Lord is near (Jas. 5:7-11). Whatever does not coincide with the Holy Scripture — whether it be in words or deeds — causes a misunderstanding and must be dealt with.

“If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself ye do well; but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, and are convicted of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgement without mercy, that hath shown no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgement.“ (Jas. 2:8-13).

Many are waiting for the great and final move of God with signs and wonders which will surely come in the immediate future. But before then, all things must be brought back into the biblical order. It is only in this practical way that our preparation for the Return of Christ can be achieved. First of all, the fear of God must come back into the Church, for therein is the beginning of all divine wisdom and knowledge, which makes an end to our human foolishness. It was so and is still so now, that God is interested in us walking within the limits of His Word. That alone is the only walk with God.

“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself Love worketh no ill to its neighbour; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.“ (Rom. 13:8-10)

With all sincerity, Brother Branham in his sermons spoke about the end-time developments, and about all things getting out of God’s order. The all-penetrating cry therefore is; “Return to God! Come back to the Word! Acknowledge what the Bible teaches!“ In the same sermon on marriage, after mentioning the many examples, he made the, observation that because of wrong teachings everything is in chaos, and that men and women have married the second and third time. Then he made the statement, “But Fm responsible, realising that this is been given unto my hands, and if … I can’t hold it, and I don’t know how to give it out; and I know that this tape will … Oh, my! I’ll just get ready. The office opens up, because here it comes. See? Just like it was on the Serpent’s Seed, but it’s absolutely proven to be right.“ (pg. 45)

He was charged by the Lord to tell all those who had become guilty through unscriptural remarriages, whether they were brothers or sisters, that they were forgiven. Because of wrong teachings, they did not know any better, and therefore they had done it. And then he emphasised with the admonition, “… raise your children in the admonition of God; but God be merciful to you if you ever do that again! You teach your children to never do a thing like that. Bring them up in the admonition of God!“ (pg. 49)

Quote, “And to bear record here today of many people setting here that even saw that sign up in the mountain where the Angels of the Lord came in the whirlwind, where it came in the seven Angels, where the revealing of the Seven Mysteries was unfolded, and that same Angel, in the same direction, on the same mountain the day that this was revealed.“ (pg. 50).

In his ministry, and to the best of my knowledge, it happened three times that the supernatural cloud appeared in the sky. The first time was in June 1933, when he was commissioned and told that his message would forerun the second coming of Christ; the second time was in February 1963 before the opening of the Seals, and the third time was in connection with marriage and divorce.

From this fact alone, we understand how important the matter is to God. We therefore need to take seriously what the Lord has revealed. There are believers who do not wish to hear what the Scripture says about this theme, but the same take every opportunity to say their opinion about it. There is something wrong somewhere, because if God has spoken in this extraordinary way then He wants all of us to hear what He really had to say. It is not a new doctrine which Brother Branham brought to us, it was rather the repeating and the illuminating from the Scripture what God had already said and is found written in His Word. It will be true also in this case, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches!“ Whoever will not hear what God has spoken by the Word of Truth, through the mouth of a true prophet, will have to listen and repeat what false prophets have placed into this world.

My only advice to all is that: we search the Scripture once more and also read the message wherein Brother Branham has laid out what was revealed to him. Be truthful, sincere, and open to receive what was given to us. It is important, yes, very urgent, because the Lord gave the answer Himself. At the end of the sermon the man of God, with all assurance could say, “I told you the Truth, Thus saith the Lord all the way through.“

His Own listen to His Word

The enemy is still fooling many with old, traditional and inherited opinions. It seems he was not satisfied to do it in the times before the subject was divinely revealed, but he does it still in spite of the revelation. Never before were so great details made known as to what took place in the Garden of Eden when the enemy came in with his seed into the human race, and all mankind was brought under his influence. Also the way God came into the human race as Immanuel — the divine seed — to bring forth a divine race of sons and daughters after His own kind. The great mystery unveiled — God in Christ, and Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our Lord specifically speaks about the two different seeds. “The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one“ (Mt. 13:38). The Lord God therefore had to put enmity between the two seeds (Gen. 3:15) — in the natural and then in the spiritual, Lucifer who was in the Garden of Eden before the fall (Ezek. 28:13-15) does not want to be exposed. He would rather hinder everyone from knowing about his lifting himself up in heaven and his fall (Isa. 14). He also wishes to keep covered what happened in the Garden of Eden, and all his deceiving ways from the very beginning. Brother Branham wanted to preach the sermon »The trail of the Serpent« and mentioned, “the beast at the beginning and the beast at the end“. It is sad that he never preached the intended message as he was taken to be with the Lord. But we can say, as Paul did, that the thoughts of Satan are known to us (2 Cor. 2:11).

Whoever does not respect the direct revelation and the way God arranged things for men and women, but remains in the old standpoint, testifies that God has not yet revealed it to him or her. I am concerned about those who take their stand against the Word, they might not know it, maybe not even be aware of it, but these are under the influence of another spirit. The Word and the Spirit of God always agree and move together. The religious, but actually antichrist spirit is working in all those who cannot submit to the Word and bow under It. This may be even the case with women who do not join a convent but disregard their husbands, with the statement, “We were subdued for long enough!“ etc. They wish to justify their unscriptural behaviour. Men should also not think that they have the right to do anything, but they must recognise their God-given limits. Blessed are all those brothers and sisters who can submit to each word addressed to them and live accordingly.

May it be granted to us all, brethren, that we should submit ourselves totally under Christ, our Head. May it also be given to all of our sisters to submit to their husbands as unto the Lord. May all children respect and obey their parents. May they honour their fathers and mothers. May the parents bring up their children in the admonition of the Lord and so forth. May the whole Church of the Lord, which consist of all the members, grow together harmoniously into a God-pleasing life.

Brother Branham saw in a vision, the Bride getting out of step and he also saw the church which was led by a witch. But he also saw that the Bride was brought into step again. Right at the end the Bride was as she had been at the very beginning. He also mentioned a woman who was not ready to listen, with high-heeled shoes and who was telling the other ladies, “Do not listen to this man, I will show you that I can walk this way.“ But she slipped and fell into the deep with a terrible cry.

Whoever is of God hears the Words of God, is being spoken to, continues to take correction until he or she has reached the state of walking in the will of God. It is also true with the teaching our Lord mentioned, “Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God…“ (Jn. 7:16-17). It is only those who listen and read God’s Word with the intention of doing according to His will, that will receive the revelation that the teaching comes from God.

This Word also will then accomplish what it was sent for. All those who are meant, and spoken to, are the ones who are born again to a living hope by the seed of the Word. Whosoever is not Word-Seed cannot be Word-Bride and therefore has no real divine connection to the Word. It has to be the same nature which connects us, and that can only be, if we are born of God.

Epilogue

I am not one who glorifies Brother Branham. That, I do not do with either Peter or Paul, but I do accept and respect God’s decisions to Whom alone belongs all the glory through Jesus Christ, our Lord. He has privileged me to recognise the day of His merciful visitation in our generation, and with thankfulness of heart I have received the messenger and believe the message as He Himself said, “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). The extraordinary ministry of Brother Branham speaks for itself of his divine call and commission in this generation. Not one of the world-renowned evangelists of our time can point to a day or hour when they received a divine call. Therefore in reference to them we can only speak about a ministry, but not of a supernatural commission connected directly with the plan of salvation.

It was William Branham whom God used after World War II to bring about the breakthrough in the full Gospel revival known as the Pentecostal movement. He is also indirectly responsible, with his extra-ordinary ministry, for the coming into existence of the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship. I knew Demos Shakarian personally and spoke as a guest speaker in one of his meetings at the Clifton’s Cafeteria in Los Angeles. He was inspired through the ministry of Brother Branham. The same applies to the Charismatic movement which started with David duPlessis. He attended the historical meetings William Branham had in South Africa in 1951 and later followed the man of God to the United States and became known as »Mr. Pentecost«. I have known both of these men personally, and I have even been their interpreter. The other well-known evangelists in the healing and revival movements, if they are honest, will admit to have received their inspirations in one of Brother Branham’s meetings. In various waves these revivals have continued right into our time.

I knew Brother William Branham for ten years (1955-1965) and his outstanding ministry which could only be compared with the works of Jesus Christ and the acts of the apostles. Since I participated in the special meetings at the »Voice of healing« conference arranged by Rev. Gordon Lindsay in Dallas, Texas, in June 1958, all the sermons Brother Branham preached in the United States were sent to me in Germany, of which I have translated more than 300 into the German language. I experienced every phase of his ministry, knowing every one of his teachings, perhaps more thoroughly than anyone else. I even know the very thoughts that he wished to express in the Scriptures. His prophetic ministry was very much discussed but greatly misunderstood by the theologians of our day. They misunderstood it as did their fellow teachers in the days of our Lord Jesus Christ. The supernatural was foreign to them, because they had not personally experienced the same. But in spite of this, it was absolutely biblical and confirmed by God in an unsurpassed way. It would be my pleasure to offer to all critical ministers one cassette with the original taped message on healing services, when Brother Branham prayed for the sick and the prophetic, discernment and healing gifts were in operation.

After his sermon »Marriage and Divorce«, Brother Branham was especially criticised as it were in a cross fire, just as he had been after preaching about the Serpent’s Seed, wherein he uncovered what really happened in the Garden of Eden. It can only be said, as Peter stated on the deep things revealed to him, about the exposition Paul gave in his day, “… as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.“ (2 Pet. 3:16) It was always and still is, that those to whom the matter is not revealed, will pervert it to their own destruction. I am very much convinced, that a person must be honest and upright in order to understand all things the right way. Hopefully, the Lord will open the understanding of the Scripture to all. May all find what is addressed to them and line up with it as Paul has written, “Examine yourselves…“ It is only then that what was revealed will accomplish the purpose it was given for in us all.

Since the Lord spoke to me with that all-penetrating commanding voice, “…I will send you to other cities to preach My Word“, I do it under all circumstances, as Paul said, “… by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true…“ (2 Cor. 6:8). The revealed Word became a light to our feet, showing us the right way we need to go. The Bride Church now lives by every Word which God has given at this time to be our spiritual food. It is part of my ministry, to place all that Brother Branham received from the Lord into its proper and right context within the Holy Scripture. I have repeatedly been told, by ministers in various countries, that I damage my own ministry by mentioning or referring to Brother Branham. The special criticism has been, as already stated, on the Serpent’s Seed, the teachings about the Godhead, Water Baptism etc. I must stay true to my heavenly calling whatever the consequences are. Being convinced as Paul was, I must declare, “For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.“ (Gal. 1:10b) For indeed as Paul, I neither received the Gospel from men nor through their teachings but by the revelation of Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:11-12).

If God separates the spirits due to and through this exposition, I cannot help it. He always separates light from darkness, right from wrong, etc. I am prepared to bear the reproach of Jesus Christ, my own and that of Brother Branham. May God give grace to each and every one, that at the Return of our beloved Lord there will not be a great disappointment because of being left behind, but on the contrary, may we participate in the great joy of all who will be in the first resurrection, and be taken up to be with the Lord for ever. That would be my reward. I do not ask for more.

God speaks in His Word to each individual personally. Therefore, everyone should read and let the contents of this exposition speak to him or her personally, do not do otherwise, such as reading to the next person and interpreting to them of what they should be doing. It is a personal matter, and if everyone agrees with what God tells him or her, all will know what to do. It is my prayer that God will use this writing to be of help to everyone so that all will benefit from it and that no misunderstanding, misconstruing will take place. That way then, it will have served its purpose. For sure, God has sent His prophet to make the way straight, to tie all loose ends together and to prepare the Bride for the coming of the Bridegroom. The grace of God be with you all, is my prayer.

The same author has dealt with￼ the most important subjects the Holy Scripture speaks about. These brochures are published worldwide in many different languages and have been a lasting blessing to many people.

In this Mission Center we have also published edited sermons of William Branham, which can be sent upon request to all who desire to have them. A list of available publications can be provided.

You will be surprised to know what kind of spiritual food the dear Lord and Saviour has prepared for His Own.

If you are interested, you may write to the address listed below:

Mission Center

P. O. Box 100707

47707 Krefeld

Germany

Phone:+49-2151-545151

Fax: +49-2151-951293

E-mail: volksmission@gmx.de or

E.Frank@freie-volksmission.de

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

© by the author and publisher E. Frank