Identification

Identification

'Word of Promise'

Bro. Lee Vayle - February 19, 1968

...brought to our attention that even as this has been closed tonight, maybe in It O God, and the ears may be anointed, and the hearts maybe anointed to receive what lies in the Lord Jesus Christ. And so, edified by the Word in our lives through the Spirit that we might be that living Word amongst the people this day. Help us now, Lord and we know what You’ve done to ask you to help us because You, already have helped us, are helping us, and will help us. But may we be aware of Your helping hand tonight and all the grace which You have extended toward us.

Now we commit ourselves to You, Lord, we be ever mindful of the every moment on in this service, so that You can receive all the glory through all the pre-eminence in the Name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

1. Now, I want take another message tonight, and this one is relative to knowing God's way in order to understand the times in which we live. And we'll take a search of Scripture to discover this. In the Book of 1 Peter 1: I'm going to read a couple of verses of Scripture to you.

(10) Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, (those prophets) who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

(11) Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, (or was declaring) when it testified before- hand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

(12) Unto whom it was revealed, (in other words, they got the prophecy) that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire (and that word is to have an intense desire)

to look into.

2. Now, just quickly try to get a little verse back here in Daniel 9:2

(2) In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

Now, many things, is we're well aware are set forth in the word of God and they're veiled in mystery. Much of what is in the Bible is veiled in mystery. And the people to whom It was written never clearly understood many of the great prophecies. Now, the very Scripture that we just read in 1 Peter proved that to be so. Because Peter said that the prophet to whom the Word was given tried to search the very manner in which the Word would be fulfilled, and try to find that Word placed in the history of the people. That's what Daniel was trying to do. And he had already studied Jeremiah who had prophesied, or brought forth the Word. And he tried to place what Jeremiah said in the lives of the people amongst whom he was living. And you'll notice that these people could not get the answers, because their prophesies were to be fulfilled in the future. And that's why Peter said they were ministering to us.

3. Now, actually you can take the Book of Joel. Joel was ministering to us. You can take part of Isaiah. Isaiah was ministering to us. You can take what Paul said to his churches that he was the founder of, and the spiritual charge of, that he would literally ministering to us.

What they declared by the Spirit of God was not for themselves, but for others. And you can see how the prophet brought out God's great Word, and that Word was not for them, but It was for others. But, some day somebody was to receive the prophet's declared Word. (See?) Somebody, no matter what this prophet said, and they couldn't place It back in their day. There had to come a day when somebody would receive the prophet's declared Word. (See?)

4. And when the Word came to the prophet, It was a great mystery to them. Like I've already said, It was mysterious. Even a prophet couldn't understand many times what the other prophets said. Like in the case of Daniel, he couldn't understand It. But, one day the mystery of God, it contained in these declared Word promises, would come to an actual fulfillment to a people who would receive this Word to whom It was given, and then the mystery would be resolved. (See?)

There'd be no more mystery, because the Word would be revealed by Its actual fulfillment to and in a certain people. Now, you understand that? (See?) You got to see that, because this brings us...we'll later bring us to this Age in which we live.

5. So, the question arises: How did God make the people to understand what Word was taking place in their day? (See?) Because you just can't always use history to look back. Because there's going to come a day you're up to date. (See?) And time cuts off, (see?) like it's going in this period. You follow me? See, now you can take the Seven Church Ages, and it's very simple by history to place the Church Ages. And it's simple to place much of fulfilled prophecy by history. But, there is going to come a day when God calls a halt. (See?)

All right, if God calls a halt at a certain time, then who is going to continue on in order to look back upon fulfilled history when there isn't any more history going on? So, there's got to come a time when like in this day to know if this is end time, what's going on in this Age. (See?) There's a Word for every Age. Like I showed in God revealing Himself by the Voice. John turned around to see the Voice. And the Voice gave the Word to every Age, and those that had an ear to hear, heard, and the Word of God was fulfilled to them which was previously committed to them generations before perhaps, but now, being fulfilled in them. (See?)

6. Now, this mystery we look back on and we see it revealed. You say, "Well, that's alright, I understand that, understand that, understand that." But, there's going to come a time when a group of people walking on this earth…as I said last night, will not die but receive the full benefits of the Resurrection without being resurrected. Because you can't resurrect unless you're dead. And these aren't going to die. See, that's 1 Corinthians 15: That's the mystery of those living who will not die, but share in the benefits of the Resurrection. I Thessalonians 4: is the Rapture. (See?) But 1 Corinthians is not really the Rapture, although the Rapture is indicated.

Now, you've got this condition, (see?) that we come to. So, the question comes up: How did God make the people to understand what Word, see, what Word was taking place in their day? How did the people truly identify? Now, watch this, because, there's two kinds of people identifying. (See?) How did the people, (the real people of God) truly identify with the Word? How did they know to identify with the Word, because It's a mystery that's taking place?

7. On the other hand, how did the majority fail to truly see their identity in the Word? Because always when God brings His Word of promise and fulfillment, He also says something about the other side, (see?) the people that failed to see what's really going on. Are you following so far? Now, I'm not talking in riddles here, but this will maybe kind of tough for you to get a hold of. And I want you to see this. Are you with me now? The question comes up see, these prophet and ministers down through these ages by the Word of God, and it's in mystery. (See?) It's hidden.

Now, at the end age there has got to come a fulfillment of the promises of God at this end Age. And it's no use trying to look back, because, there's no future to go into and look back on. You've got to suddenly find yourself right up to date and know the Word for your day. (See?)

Now, so the question comes up:

"Now, how did God get His people to know? What is the key, to understanding, the day of your fulfillment, (see?) of your place in the Word?"

And the next question comes up:

"How did the majority of people, (you see?) who don’t truly identify with that Word, but they’re also in Scripture, now how did they fail, to identify with the Word that was so clearly set forth to their Age?"

Yet they missed It entirely. (See?)

8. Now, let me put it another way to get at the thought. God has made certain great and blessed promises to His people. Now, these promises are both temporary and consummation. In other words, God gives promises like: "I'm the Lord that healeth thee." [Ex15:26b] That's wonderful, He can give any day of the week. And that's for anybody. That's for the evil man and that's for the good man.

That's no problem, there's no problem there at all. God can give each person his livelihood. In fact, you're going hear...actually in this day and age more people are the wrong seed, are getting a better living then the Christian is, the true Seed. And yet God has promised to provide for His people. He's got a lot of temporary promises that are very wonderful. But they're consummation promises. And those consummation promises, is what God said He is about to do and is doing through the Ages concerning the disposition of His people in the eternal hereafter.

Now, you see you're healing fine, but that has nothing to do with future, anybody can get healed. See, your promises here about God providing for second ...?.... That's good, anybody can have it, that's good, anybody can have that. You can be a Seventh Day Adventist as long as the day is long. And be a prosperous man, happy, healthy and wise and what have you, and you can even go to hell with flying colors. (See?) That's talking in tongues like a Pentecostal and miss it a million miles. Said, "I never knew you." (See?) But, there's going to be a group who promises are consummation promises. "My blessed, sit here in the Throne prepared for you." [Rev 3:21] (See?) Now, how are these mighty promises of the consummation promises, how are they going to be revealed to us, so that we are in a blessed place of receiving them?

9. Now, the promises of God, (that we are really talking about tonight) have prophetical events surrounding them. In other words, there're certain stages of history, and God makes predictions and promises concerning them, wherein God is going to do these things for His people in bringing them into a place of fulfillment so that they can sit with Him upon His Throne.

Now, being that’s the case all history, (and that's true) all history has become a waiting, (a waiting period) for God's Word to be fulfilled in His people. Now that's right. All history is a waiting period, Age by Age for God to fulfill His Word in His people. And all history proves that those who have identified themselves with the fulfilling of His Word. (See?) This, talking about two groups now, (see, two groups) all history proves that those in majority who have identified themselves with the fulfilling of God's Word, have miserably failed to receive the promises. Which are consummation promises, and thereby be the children of God and actually all the while identifying themselves when it comes to the showdown, they reject the Word of God. And they slide right off into eternity. You still follow what I'm talking about now?

10. Because we've got to understand now, how I'm talking, and I'm talking about identifying. We were not using that Word identification now just one way, I'm using It two ways. I'm using It like a little boy who does belong to his father, and another little boy that doesn’t belong to the man. And the little boy who belongs to his dad, he's got access and will have what his father has laid up for him. But the other fellow is a bogus, but he identifies. (See?) And you've got two people identifying, and their religious. (See?) They're in the same camp, one is wheat and one is not.

Now, the two major promises that we have in the Word of God which upon all history depends, all history has, it’s focused upon, or contingent depending upon two major things in the Word of God. Two and nothing else. These two are the Coming of Messiah to Israel number one, and number two the return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Gentile Bride. Nothing else really matters, nothing.

These are the two major events. These are the two major Word promises. These are the two focal points of history. These are the two focal points of history. These are the two consummation promises, the great tremendous utterances in the Word of God that balance out, and cast out everything else in comparison. The First Coming of Christ, and the Second Coming of Christ.

11. Now, in the first case, (talking about our message now, our introduction) in the first case, though Israel to whom the Word was given was properly identified with the Messiah, (the promise with the Messiah) she missed Him almost entirely except for a bare minority. (See?) Now, I told you to watch those two words identify. In the first place one was truly identified, and in the other place the others had identified themselves with it. (See?)

One you may say was identified by God, but the other identified themselves with God. (See?) Now, there's a big difference between the two. So, as in the first case of the promise of the Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Prince, (who would be cut off, but not in their estimation) but as Messiah. Israel who was properly identified with this Word of promise missed the Messiah, except for a very bare minority.

12. Now, let me show you that this was true what I said. That Israel was properly identified with the promises. And she said, "Messiah is coming to us. God will fulfill His Word to us. We are the ones who will see this, this is ours." They miss it. Right? Now, this in Romans 9:1-8

(1) I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

(2) That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

(3) For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: (See?)

Was it, a kinsman of Paul? Definitely. Was he a part of them? Definitely. Were they a part of Him? Yes sir. Did Paul have Christ? Sure did. Did the rest? No sir. Now:

(4) Who are Israelites; to (now watch what they had in their favor, see?) to whom pertaineth the adoption, (that's the placing of sons) and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

(5) Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ ... (did come.)

All right, now let's read on. If this is the case, how did they miss it?

(6) Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect...

Do you hear it? Did it take effect up here? No sir. Sounds like this is a complete wash out. Yet It says,

(6) Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

13. They are not all Christians who embrace the Christian religion. (See?)

(7) Neither, because are they the seed Abraham, are they all children: (See?) but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

Abraham had how many sons? Ishmael, Isaac, seven more. Nine children. But only one was called his child. So, how can God do a thing like that? He did it. He never gave one bit of credit to Ishmael, and one bit of credit to seven sons. In fact, you can't find any trace in history concerning the sevens of Abraham. [with Keturah] He gave them gifts and sent them away. And that's what God did in every Age. He gave gifts of the Holy Ghost. They spoke in tongues, they talk in tongues, the interpreted, the prophesized, they prayed for the sick. And one day they're going to say, "I never knew you." They're going to say, "We did this, that." He'd say, "I never knew you, depart from me you that work iniquity." [Mt 7:23b] (See?) Get the Scripture there now. Now verse 8

(8) That is, They which are the children of the flesh, ... (See?)

Do you know that you can have a religion of the flesh, and be just so close to the real thing and miss it?

(8) ...these are not the children of God: but the children (notice, but the children) of the promise...

I told you about the promises being fulfilled, consummation promises. These are the ones that are getting the promises. These are the ones that are getting the promises.

(8) ...the children of the (promise) are counted for the seed.

God promised what? "You're going to have a son by Sarah." [Gen 18:14b] All right, that makes all the other sons, no sons. They don't count. He could have fifty wives and five thousand boys and girls, it wouldn't count. Why? Because they were right in the part and parcel of it, but they were going to miss what God had said would be fulfilled in them. But, they're right in there slugging and trying. They were just like old Esau, slugging and trying beside Jacob, "Bless me oh my father, haven't you got something for me too?" [Gen 27:38a] "Let the heavens open, let me be in this thing too." No, you decide you're birth right, you weren't in this thing in the first place. (See?) So, now you understand that?

14. So, now [Romans 9:]

(27) Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, (see?) a remnant shall be saved:

Now, the question arises, did God give a blanket promise in the Coming of Messiah to Israel? He certainly did give a blanket promise in the Coming of Messiah in Israel. But, who received it? A bare minority. Who didn't get it? The great majority. But they were identified with Him, weren't they? Just the same as the minority were, but they missed it, one hundred percent. (See?)

(28) For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

(29) And as Esaias said... Except the Lord of (the harvest, see?) had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like Gomorrha.

Now, you can see right here what we're talking about, that Israel in the whole was identified with the Messiah, because He was coming to Israel. But only a minority was properly identified with Him, to receive Him as the great Messiah.

15. Now, why did Israel all the while identifying herself with the Word promised Messiah? Now, He was the Word promised Messiah. Right? Word promise. (W-o-r-d) Word of God promise Messiah, miss Him! The answer is very evident. Christ came, (now listen) Christ came according to the Word. Exactly as God said He would come, but contrary to Israel's interpretation of that same Word. You follow that? You get it? Now, you can see the sermon in three sermons here. The 'Rapture', and explaining to you, "The Lord Himself descending with the Shout from Heaven, with the Voice of the archangel and with the Trump of God." [1 Th 4:16]

I explained to you and showed you what the revealed Word to the prophet in this Age really meant, but you can't find the people of this Age interpreting the Word of God any different from the way Israel did. They got the Word, but they got It all wrong.

Now, Christ came according to the Word, exactly as God said He would come. "Oh, (you say) that's simple Bro. Vayle, I can look back and see It filled." They didn't have anything to look back on, because they met Him face to face that day. There wasn't going to be any history to look back on, and say, "There He was."

16. Now, one of these days there's going to be the same thing happen to our Age. We're going to come face to face with God, and it's going to be too late. There won't be any history to look back on. Say, "Well, I can see how that's fulfilled, I can see how that's fulfilled." I say that we look back, and we say to the Jew, "Well, isn't it strange they didn’t take Him. There It is in Isaiah 53: all fulfilled." He came just like Isaiah 53: said He would come. He came just like the Scripture said He would come. Like Zechariah said He would come. He came exactly as the Bible said He would come. Just like in the Book of Micah said He would come. There's no doubt about it. He came exactly, but He didn't come according to their interpretation of the Word. Now, mind you, they were identified with the Word. And they were properly identified with the Word, but the majority missed it.

Now, that is the crux of the whole matter. They were looking for Him, and don't think they weren't, because they were. They were identifying themselves with Him, and don't think that they weren't, because they were. They were looking for Messiah, they were identifying themselves with the fulfillment of God's good Word, and yet they missed Him. They claimed, or they literally took the promise of the Coming of the Word of God, and they claimed It, and yet they lost it. And brother/sister this will repeat in this last Age, because this is the great lie of this Age. Millions are believing that they're born again, and will be ready for the Rapture. And those same millions will fail to make the Rapture, because only a bare handful will. And yet, they're absolutely in the Word looking for Him, they've identified themselves with the Word, but they're going to miss Him, just like Israel did.

17. Now, let us look at Israel at the time of the First Coming of Christ, and analyze the situation. Israel first of all and rightly so, (see?) claimed and assured relationship to God both physically and spiritually. They said, "Look, we're God's children." We got a right to Messiah, when He comes, He comes to us, we've been waiting all these years, we're in the Word." (They've got it all laid out.) "Now, He'll come to us."

Let's see what the Book of John says, in chapter 8:41. Jesus said,

(41) (You) do the deeds of your father. (And they) said to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

Did you miss what I just read there, you that believe in serpent seed? Can you see serpent seed there? They said, "We're not born of fornication." Who fornicated? Eve and the serpent. "Yeah, (they said) Abraham's our father, we can trace him right back to Adam." Because they could, and they said, "Well alright, our father is Abraham, who came right from the loins of Adam, and from the womb of Eve." Pure human beings, children of God. Did you think they didn’t understand serpent seed? Come on. "What do you think this...we not be born of fornication, we're making a jab at Christ?" (Uh uh?) This is no jab at Christ, as though He were born of fornication. This is what they said. They said, "It we went right to God."

18. They weren't talking about fornication between men and women here now, they were tracing their genealogy. Adam was the son of God, and therefore Seth was the son of Adam, so therefore Seth was the son of God. And they traced their linage all the way down, and by the flesh they said, "We've children of God, the rest of the world is in fornication, because they belong to the serpent."

They had genealogy to prove it brother/sister. Let's face it, you can trace Abraham right back to Noah. (Uh?) Certainly, that's your serpent seed. They said, "We have one father, even God." (See?) Now, let's look at [John 8:] 33

(33) (And) they answered him, We be Abraham's seed, (we) never (were) in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, (You should) be made free?

Notice, that they claimed and assured relationship to God both physically and spiritually. For they said, "We're free men, we're spirit individuals, we belong to God. We got the promise of God, the very promise of Abraham. We got our history, our genealogy. If anybody knows God, we know God." And you can't deny that. "God's amongst us, we had the prophet, we had the law. We had the temple, we got this, we can look back in our age, we can see prophecy fulfilled. Why certainly, we're that people of God." They made their claims that they were that people of God. They were very strong and staunch in it, that they were the people.

"Well, (you say) that's a great testimony." Yes sir, we've got the same thing right today, a testimony. If you just free from your heart, and declare with your mouth concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, you just got to be saved! Certainly, they've got the same thing going for them right today.

19. Secondly, they govern access to God and worship to God. Look at John 9:22, 34. This is concerning the man that got healed, in his thirty-ninth year I think it was.

(22) These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had already agreed, that if any man did confess that (Jesus) was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

And if you got put out of the synagogue brother/sister, you're gone. Because you didn't have a chance of temple worship, and therefore you couldn’t properly worship, and have their sacrifice offered, they committed you to the limbo, or to the lake of fire. You're wiped out of God's face, not of God's Book.

John 9:34

(34) They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

They called him a sinner. They didn't recognize him as a part of Israel. Maybe this could have been a dispersion on his birth. Who knows?

35. You know they governed access to God and route to God? They certainly did. Now, can a people do that? They had a right. There's only one place that you can meet God, and that is by way of the temple. God wasn't down in Rome. God wasn't down in Athens. He wasn't in Corinth, He wasn't in Ephesus. He wasn't in Diopolis. [ancient name of Laodicea] He was over there in Jerusalem only. The only place you could have access to God was in the holy city. The only place where the worship was. Only one place where the arc and the cherubim were. There was only one place of…the Levitical priesthood. That's why they came every year and worship, from even foreign lands. They wanted to make sure that they had their part in the Kingdom of God.

Jesus Christ said, "You shut out the Kingdom of God, and you bind men." They positively were in a position that they had an authority, and they exercised that authority. They claim to know the Word of God with the ability to interpret It.

36. In verse 29 in the same chapter of John. They said:

(29) We know that God spake unto Moses: (but) as for this fellow, (as for this Christ, this Jesus) we know not from whence he is. (See?)

They said, "We know Moses' law. And they knew the Word of God. Their theologians knew the Word of God. Did the Romans know the Word of God? No, they didn't know the Word of God. Did the Ephesians know the Word of God? They didn't know the Word of God. Who knew the Word of God? There was only one group of people that knew the Word of God. The Israelites, the Scribes and the Pharisees. They had the Word of God. They read the Word of God. They knew the Word of God. They ministered the Word of God. They positively had a worship within the church. They claimed that they were the only ones however, who had the rights to interpretation. They said, "We're the group, there isn't anybody else knows what this Word is, and if you don't listen to us, you got to be wrong, because we say so. They had a very strong, tightly knit organization, with their little hierarchies in order to rule all the masses in the people. And they certainly did rule them.

37. Now notice, not only did they claim that they had a right to the ability to interpret the Word of God. They knew the Word of God. But furthermore, they repudiated Word fulfillment given by divine intervention, and desired their own criteria. (See?) They went so far as to absolutely put to one side any possibility of them being wrong. They thought, "Now, we'll sew this thing up and nobody can possibly make us wrong, as long as we can bull-headedly plow our way through this thing, while were positively going to inherit the Kingdom of God."

So, when the Word of Almighty God became fulfilled by divine intervention. Now, notice what I said, "When the Word of God became fulfilled by divine intervention, God doing a tremendous thing to prove that His Word for that day, they just turned their noses up at It. They repudiated It, and they desired their own criteria."

They said, "Well, if there is going to be any kind of intervention we'll set the laws down how there ought to be intervention. Then if God acts according to law we lay down, we'll say, 'alright, we made a mistake and this is God after all'." Is that, right? You know it's right.

38. We got to John 7:3-5

(3) (And) His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.

Notice what Jesus' brethren said: "Go on in, go into Judea, don't stick around this one little corner here. Go to Judea to show disciples also there may see that works that you do. For notice why they said it.

(4) For there is no man that doeth anything in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.

(5) For neither did his brethren believe (on) him.

If you can't see Satan there, it's got to be the Son of God, "turn these stones into bread. I thou be the Son of God, jump off the wall. If thou be the Son of God, (well come on, you say the king's ...?...., let's take the shortcut) you worship me, let’s have Him right now, let's not wait till tomorrow."

See, they laid down their own criteria. They said to Jesus, "No man who wants to be known openly does things in secret, come out in the light and give us some proof. Come out here and show who you are." (See?) "Do it our way." (See?) "Stand up and be counted. But you better stand up and be counted the way we tell you to stand up and be counted, because otherwise we're not going to believe it."

39. Let's go back here to Matthew12:38, and see something else.

(38) Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

"Well, what signs do you want?" Well, He hit that right on the butt. He said, "There isn't any signs going to be given you but the Word of God." Well, that's what He said. He said,

(39) (This generation is) an adulterous and evil generation seeketh after a sign; (but) there shall no sign be given to it, but... (some- thing that is already in the Bible. All, they didn't like that.)

Now, if you’re just going to take Messiah, I'll tell you want you do. "Now, I know what's God, God is ... If you're just Oneness that can do all these things, you're going to be bigger than Moses. Because we know that Moses said, the Lord God is going to raise up a prophet amongst the brethren, and you're going to listen to him, or everybody is going to get cut off."

Now, you know that's the case, there's a pretty big prophet coming. "We also know the Messiah is going to sit upon the Throne of His father David, we know that. All right, you go ahead and rise up your army and thrown in an atomic bomb at that bunch of Romans over there. Clean up the citadel up there, go on blast it, lower it to the ground. Let's take a crack at Roman, put it out of existence once and for all. Come on, let's have a sign," (See?)

40. And he said, "I'm sticking to the Scripture.” (See?) What kind of sign does he want tonight? What would be your answer? Are you willing to abide by Scripture, or by revelation by the Spirit of the Living God? Or would you like someone to come on scene tonight with power and absolute to demonstrate according to your requisite what you want?

No, the Lord Jesus came on the scene and He read the hearts of the people. And the hearts of the people being read, some of them said, "Why, that guy's got a devil." Cheap trick of ESP. Cheap old trick that any old witch of Endor can do.

Oh, I’ve been to meetings myself when I was a sixteen year old kid, I saw a man from London England, (and I forget his name) …and he came over and I saw him, and he wouldn't even ask him a question. He’d just say, "Think your question." And he'd stand there. right away he'd tell you your name and what your question was. And he did it by the power of the devil.

41. And Jesus Christ came on the scene, (see?) and He didn't do great and mighty things if you wanted Him to do. But He could read your hearts, and they said, "Why, that guy's the devil." He's got a devil doing this. He healed the sick, and they said, "He's got a devil doing it." He cast out devils. They said, "He's got a devil doing it."

And he said, "Now listen, let's do my sign. Never mind what the Bible says what the real signs are. Never mind the evidence in here. Just blind your eyes and close your ears and forget it. Just demand what you want to say the whole things a fraud, but I’m in God's pocket just the same, the Word of God is mine. Hallelujah, when Messiah comes He'll come right to us, because we're the people."

42. They said that in Christ's day. They said the same thing to Larry …?... in Chicago. They said, "Branham, why that false prophet. Why, (they said) if he'd have been the real prophet he'd have come to us." You say, could a bunch of Pentecostal people say a thing like that? You bet your life they would. If they have cause him to come to them and done what they wanted, he'd have been the man of God. They'd have listened. But, the minute that he didn't come to them and tell them what they wanted, then he wasn't that man of God. You see?

You say, "Well Bro. Vayle, that sounds like those old Pharisee's. You mean they're shutting up the heavens then, they're binding the Word of God?" They certainly were. Just like the Pharisee's. You see. Yet, these people were in the Word. (See?) They weren't a bunch of heathen in Rome. They weren't a bunch of worshippers of Diana in Corinth and Ephesus. They weren't a bunch of Hottentots in Africa, eating snakes, and becoming cannibals, killing other things, drinking their blood. They weren't Indians here in America, they're snake-dancers, they're rain-dancers, they're corn-dancers.

43. They were people in the Word who worshipped God in the temple according to the Word. And yet they were a million miles off of the truth. It was this very attitude that caused them to deny John the Baptist.

They came to John the Baptist and said, "Who are you, are you that Christ?"

He said, "No."

"Are you that prophet?"

He said, "No."

"Are you Elijah?

He said, "No."

"Are you this or that?"

He said, "No, I'm not."

"Then who are you?"

"I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. I am Malachi 3:"

And they said, "You're what?" They said, "Man you've got to be kidding."

They wanted John to say what they wanted him to say. They wanted John to tell the soldiers their answers. John the Baptist said, "You, generation of vipers, [Mt 12:34a] who warned you to flee the wrath to come, to bring forth fruit meat for them." But if he wasn't eating, you're telling us to bring forth fruit meat for them. We are, we're the children of God, we're the children of Abraham, we have got the temple. Where else is there a temple of God? Where else is the Word of God? Where else is the worship of God? Where are they? No place!

44. They were one hundred percent identified and a hundred percent wrong. And brother/sister they're just as sure as you and I are here tonight, that they're a hundred percent right. They went to John, and they couldn’t change John's mind though. Why? Because John came in simplicity. The Word of God said, "When this voice of one crying in the wilderness, make a straight path for the Lord God coming." [Mk 1:3]

Why, the high hills are going to come on down, and the low places come up. And they said, "That's politics, God is going to make us a great nation." But it wasn't. It was their thinking, which they had exalted against God is going to be brought down to the dust. And the lowly ones like the old harlot out there in Samaria, and the prostitute who washed his feet, would be raised up with the common fishermen while the Scribes and the Pharisees brother/sister, would be lowered to the dust. God lowered them all. "All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned in on our own way; the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." [Isa 53:6] They said, "Who wants it."

45. Now, you can't deny there are right in the place as Bro. Branham preached, "it was the holiest city, it was the holiest people, and they crucified the Holy God." Most religious people in the world, and they were the only ones, (brother/sister) absolutely the only ones to whom Christ could come. "He came unto His Own, and His Own received Him..." [Jn 1:11] "But as many as received Him..." [Jn 1:12a]

A little remnant in there, them who are identified correctly with the Word, and have received the Word's own interpretation of that Word. Not man, not his creeds, not his dogma. Not his organization. Not his plans, not his ideas, but exactly what God said. It caused them to deny the sufferings of Christ, which should precede the glory that they were willing to take. They wanted the glory, but they wouldn't take the suffering. They wanted the fullness, but they wouldn't take the way to get there. They denied the Cross entirely.

46. And furthermore, not only was this so, but brother/sister they claimed the discernment of spirits, as they looked at God manifest in flesh. And they looked God right in the eye, because He said, "He that has seen Me, has seen the Father." [Jn 14:9b] And they looked Him right in the eye and said, "You devil." Well, if that isn't discernment of spirits, what is it? They claimed to have discernment of spirits, Matthew 12:24. "And when the Pharisees heard it, the people are saying, Is this not the Son of David, the great One?" Which Son of David? The greater Son of David? It's the Messiah. "Is this not this the Messiah? Isn't this the promised One? Isn't this the King of Israel? Isn't this the Word fulfilled?

They said, "Why listen, you, poor shrimp, what do you know about that? Helps big law suits, we're the law suit, you’re just a shrimp. the trim. Who's running things here? This is our field you’re in. "Why, this is not the one, this is the wrong." What do you know about discerning spirits? Discerning of spirits brother/sister is not a thing you get by education. They're educated. (See?) They had all the dogmas. They had their own critique. Their criterion, their guide post. And they threw away the Word. Which was the interpretive Word for the promise of today.

Now notice, they wanted the promise, but they threw away the interpretive Word for the promise. And they missed It. Because the same Word, "That all we like sheep have gone astray, turning everyone their own way." [Isa 53:6] "He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities." [Isa 53:5a] "The Lord has laid upon him our transgressions." (See?) They didn't what him. They wanted the glory that could follow. But they wouldn't take the scriptural interpretation which was there in the Scripture. Because Christ came according to the Word, but not according to their interpretation, so therefore they said, "We won't have a thing to do with it." They believed that they were right in discerning of spirits.

47. In the Book of John 10:20

(20) And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why (do you) hear him? (See?)

As I said awhile ago He read their hearts. For that's the devil doing it. I told you I've seen the same thing. You can go to any place you want, but isn't it strange brother/sister the fact that He was not possessed of the devil, and yet He did those things? Did they stop and begin to figure out if there was Scripture concerning it? But no, they said, "We want our own ideas, let Him do what we say, let Him give us our sign, or He's got a devil.

You've got the very same thing today, when Bro. Branham came on the scene and he read the people's hearts, they said, "So what." When he called them by name, they said, "So what." When the saw the great manifestations, and they took on brother/sister, just like a mouse would take cheese. So, you can catch chicken in the dust by feeding them grain. Oh, they went after that in a hurry. But, the minute the man rose up and he told us the Word of God according to the true scriptural interpretation surrounding the promises of this day, they said, "Why are you listening to that fellow, he doesn't know theology, why in a trance he can tell you what is wrong with your stomach. Whether you've got bad breath, or ingrown toenails. What it is, it doesn't matter, that's fine, he’s perfect there, when it comes to the Word he doesn't know what he's talking about. But yet, the same people call him a prophet. Well if a prophet doesn't know the Word, I want to ask you one question, who does? See, they're going to eat their own words. But they said, they don't believe that of course.

48. Just like in the days of Jesus Christ. You see, the King is never one in which the failure has to do with absolute ignorance of the Word. (See?) That's where people get hooked from today's Message. They say, "Well now, just a minute, you've got to be absolutely ignorant of the Word." We're not. You look at us, Bro. Branham and you guys that preach that he was the end time messenger. You look at us as though we don't have a thing. You talk to us as though we don't know any Word. You act as though there's some strange thing there that you've got and we haven't got.

See, they don’t understand that when you're dealing with God's Word and the history of God's people, it's not that they haven't got a lot to do with the Word, they've got a lot to do with the Word. They got a tremendous amount. It's not their failure to take the Word of God, …that is to say, a lot of the Word of God, or throw the whole thing in a garbage tin, that's the Communist did that. God's not dealing with the commies, He's dealing with the Christian end Age, when the old religious empire is revived, and the old harlot takes over to the money, the whole world system. (See?) And she'll do it, because right today the Communist countries cannot exist without the West.

49. There is no such thing brother/sister as the commies ever getting along without it. That's why they're biding their time to take us over. And they will at the very end of time, they'll eat the flesh of a harlot by their atomic bombs, don't worry. Right, there's Armageddon come. I don't believe Armageddon is necessarily Christ just blowing the world by Himself. it's the world blowing itself up. (See?) You've got your trouble. No sir.

It's not the failure. It's not in which the failure has to do with affluence, ignorance of the Word is though they knew nothing at all. They are looking for a fulfillment, but not according to truth. (See?) Israel was looking for the Messiah, but not according to truth. (See?) You got to watch that.

50. Let's look at the Book of Matthew 2:1-6. This is concerning the Magi's.

(1) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod...behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

(2) Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

(3) (And) when Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

(4) And when (Herod, now Herod was a Jew, see, he wasn't Roman, and when Herod) had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

(5) And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

(6) And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

51. All right, let's go back and see that. Micah 5:2

(2) But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Now, they didn't understand what that meant. But they knew positively, because they would not be born of Scripture, that Christ would come out of Bethlehem. (See?) They knew He would come, they knew where He would come, they knew His lineage. (See?) And He came, and He did go there. But when He came He didn't come according to their understanding of the Scripture, their interpretation those things like Scripture said.

"Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." [Isaiah 9:6a] Exactly, but they didn't have it. They couldn't take it. (See?)

Now, much Scripture is very evident, you see as Daniel said. Daniel looked at Scripture concerning Jeremiah and he said it was supposed to happen, but he couldn't get it. It hadn’t been revealed to him. And these people did not have the Word of God revealed. But, they had the Word. (See?)

52. Now, while Israel in majority was doing this there was none the less, a small remnant to whom Scripture was being revealed. (See?) Now, let's go back here the Book of Luke for a second.

[Luke 1:]

(13) But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

(14) And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

(15) For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

Now, you talk about a trick. Whoever heard of a man having the Holy Ghost before he was born? Here he is. (See?) For...you believe that for one minute, sitting here as ordinary Christians, no sir, that couldn't happen, but it did. (See?)

(16) And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

(17) And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of (Elijah), to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Now, this of course is found in Malachi and in Isaiah. (See?) Now what was it? The angel of God appeared to a man telling him of the future which was coming upon the earth. An angel appeared at this juncture at the first great scene of history. All history has focal points. The two focal points are the First Coming and the Second Coming. And the First Coming a few people were in on the secret to define intervention and revelation.

53. Notice, in the Book of Luke 1:28-30, 35

(28) And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

Not over women, just among them, you're blessed among them.

(29) And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and (so on.)

(30) And the angel said...Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

Verse 35

(35) ...The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore, also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Here the angel of God came and told her how the Scripture would be fulfilled. (See?) The Jews didn't believe that. Why they said, "That's a lot of nonsense, God coming down and starting somebody in some woman's womb." See, they didn't understand it. No understanding at all.

54. Now look, they had the Scripture and their interpretation simply was that a young woman would have a child. All young women look forward to marriage. That's what they want, to have a child. And they looked forward to that child to being the king of Israel like woman today, look forward to having a son that could sit upon the President's chair in United States. You see they didn't under-stand. But the Scripture was there. But the angel of God came and revealed to her the Scripture. But this was Isaiah 7:14

(14) ...Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a (child...)

And again: [Isaiah 9:]

(6) ...unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the govern- ment shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (And so on, right down the line.)

(7) (And) the increase of his government ...(there's going to be no end to sit) upon the throne of (his father) David,..

This was the One, and the angel came and told her what It was. (See?) The interpretation. But, the rest of the people looking for the fulfillment did not receive the truth, because they had their own interpretation, and it was all wrong. Now, you see they were looking for the right thing. Oh, they sure were. They were looking for the right thing, but they missed it.

55. In a dream, the angel revealed to Joseph the truth of his wife Mary, according to the Scripture. See, It's got to be in the Word. (See?) In the desert God spoke to John, and revealed to John who he was, and what his mission was, and how he was indentified with Christ. In the Book of Luke also It tells us here how Simeon and Anna, It says here in [Luke 2:]

(25) And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; the same man was just, devout, (and he was) waiting for the consolation of Israel: ...

He was in the same Spirit. He was waiting for Christ to come. He wanted Messiah. Notice:

(25) ...and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

Not an angel, but the Holy Ghost was upon him.

(26) And it was revealed unto him (how?) by the Holy Ghost, ...

What's the office work of the Holy Ghost? To reveal, to the Saints. What is His evidence? To reveal the Word to the Saints. Does this prove the man had the Holy Ghost? Certainly, it proved he had the Holy Ghost, because the Holy Ghost took the Word for his day and gave It to him. And he didn't turn and say, "Now, that can't be right. My good me, I know better than that." The Holy Ghost said,

(26) ...(you're) not (going to) see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

56. You believe that God could show somebody really that they wouldn't die before Christ would come? Absolutely, they say, "Oh now, come now, you won't know the day and the hour." But God could tell us today by the Holy Ghost, by divine revelation, everyone tonight can know that Christ would be here within one week, and He wouldn't spoil the Word of God one bit. You believe that? Well, you better believe it, because you've got Scripture for it. And It says,

(27) ...he came by the (Holy) Spirit...

I think I'll go for a walk today. I think I better go to the temple. Hogwash! The God said, "Go to the temple now, at this moment!"

(27) ...and he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, (that's circumcision no doubt, offer him in circumcision.)

(28) Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

(29) Lord, now (let) thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

According to what Word?

(30) ... (I've) seen (your) salvation. A child is born to us, this is the Christ. (See?) "My eyes has seen thy salvation."

He went on to say:

(31) Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

(32) A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

You know what? He had the Word, and that's in the Word. But Israel didn't believe that. They said, "He's all fluff, we'll put the Gentiles down, will sit on top of him, and they’ll listen to us when that Christ comes. Anything else, forget. Was It in the Bible? It's in the Bible. Did he get it from God? He did. Did he see the fulfillment? Yes! Was the Word fulfilled in him? Yes! Was he the one whom the promise was given? Yes! Did the rest get it? No!

57. Anna,

(36) And there was (a) Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with (her) husband seven years from her virginity;

(37) And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, (real elder woman) which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

That woman was in a good place to do that. She had a peace, and so on.

(38) And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Did she have a proper revelation? She certainly did. What was the Holy Ghost given for? To reveal the things of God. Then the people had the Holy Ghost? ...?... said they did. Why did they need the Holy Ghost? To make the Word of God real for their day. (Uh?) See, well the thing is to make Jesus Christ real. Is it? Jesus Christ is real right now. He's telling of the fact thousands are healing the sick. Casting out devils, raising the dead, and taking in millions of dollars doing it. With the golden calf scheme. I'm ashamed that people who raise money for universities. Now, Billy Graham buying a five million dollar, ship. Golden calf scheme, it stinks to high heaven.

58. Now, I'm not against money, because I just don't have any. I got plenty to get by on, don't worry. I just know one thing, I want to do everything I can to get ready against the day when I need nothing but God, because that day is coming brother/sister. I want to be sure I'm standing in the right place. If they look me in the eye, I'm looking right back. And die if I have to die, or live the way I'm supposed to live.

And now today, just prior to the Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, for His Gentile Bride we have a repeat performance of exactly what went on when Christ came and they refused Him, so they were looking for Him, they missed Him. So, they had the Word, they had It wrong, and their names, off the Book of life. There's coming a day when the chaff brother/sister, gets burned up when God takes His wheat. Now remember, brother/sister God taking His wheat, is the present Bride, not under the ground, because He burns up the chaff in this Age. Although that means we'll come ahead of it, don't worry, but it's an end time Message.

58. Now, first of all the Gentile church system, identifies itself with God, claiming a true relation-ship to Him. In this day when they're looking for Christ, they say positively they know God, and are known of God. Now, the Bible distinctly says that you can't know the Father without the Son. And they say, "we know the Son, therefore we know the Father."

And you say, "Well, who is the Son?"

And they say, "He is the second person of the trinity."

There are no three people in the trinity, there's only one. And Jesus said, "I am the First and the Last." [Rev 22:13]

Now, brother/sister, let me ask you a question: can you have a first and a last without a middle? Can you have two ends of a board without something between? Then how can Jesus be First and Last and miss the middle? If He's the First and Last then He's the Father and the Spirit, and there ain't no middle, there's no Son. You say, "Hold it, there's got to be a Son." There was! Right!

But, He said, "He who has seen me, has seen the Father, because I am the Father." So, the Son is the Father, and the First is the Last is one God. But they try to tell you there ain't no God through the Son, they don't even know who He is. You say, "Bro. Vayle, what's that got to...everything, because this is the Age where Jesus by the Word is the Amen, and revealed by the prophets. So, they don't know Who the Amen is brother/sister, and they don't know Who the Bridegroom is. They missed God, though they came through all the relationships in the world doing it. They say, “I belong to God, because they've been born of the Holy Ghost.”

59. I've got news for them, if you claim you've got the Holy Ghost and don't know the Word for your day, and you turn down the interpretation of the vindicated Holy Ghost messenger for the day, which is in Revelation 10:7, then you do not have the Holy Ghost you just think you do. And I can prove that you just think you do, because it's simple as a-c-b to prove it, because I've got the Bible for it. And when I've got the Bible for it, I don't have to go humming and hawing and wondering around looking for something, I know where it is.

It says right here in the Book of Reveation 3:17, starting:

(17) Because thou sayest, ...

Notice, they're talking, you're not listening, they're not listening. "Oh Bro. Vayle, are they listening? They're not listening, they're talking. You can't listen while you talk. Can't be done.

(17) ...I am rich, and increased with goods, (this is what they're saying) and have need of nothing; and knowest not...

And you don't know says God. In other words, you lack the revelation of your true, spiritual, religion. Oh, they look back ...listen, Oh look at Israel, shame on those Scribes and Pharisees. Shame on the way they acted. Shame on the way they taught. Shame on the way the thought. Oh they thought they were so smart. They thought that they were in God's pocket. They thought that they knew the truth. They thought that they were the whole sheep. Look where they went. Oh, my, how they can point their finger at Stalin? The Bible says right here, "You're just as stupid, you Laodicean church." You don’t know. You talk about knowing. You act as though you know the Word of God, just like the Jews did, back in that day. My, they could quote the Scripture.

"What about this Christ." said Jesus one day.

"Oh, He liveth forever."

"You know all about it?"

"Oh yes, glory to God."

Comes out down there, right in Judea, yes siree! Talks like the ...?....

"Do you know God?"

"Sure I know God, same as Abraham." Child of God, who am I? you devil you.

60. I want to get this across to you so you're going to be strong in the days to come, get it brother/ sister. The street Jews were religious, they were the top of the Ages. They weren’t a bunch of gangsters, bank robbers, idolaters, drinking blood out of a skull. Taking up corpses, or necromancy. Not for one minute. They were the organized intelligentsia of the day, that had ganged up to bring the promises of God to pass. You've got every Pentecostal, every fundamental today doing the very same thing. They're raising billions of dollars to make sure that Christ will come, because we're going to bring them in, bless God, we're going to bring them in our way, hallelujah! And they're liars, they're fools, they're blind, they're deaf and they're dumb.

Not so much to say the word, 'they're fools', but they're fools brother/sister, they're completely fooled by the Spirit, they believe the lie. They believe the lie. The Bible said they would, and they're doing it. It said: [Revelation 3:]

(17) ...(you're) wretched, (you're) miserable, (you're) poor, (you're) blind, (you're) naked:

You think anybody is going to walk in the presence of God naked? Not a chance.

61. Now, here’s what He said:

(18) I counsel thee...

Here’s My words saith the amen. Here’s My Word says the one God. Not two words, not three words, one Word by one God, Who is Lord Jesus Christ, Spirit.

(18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; ...

Never mind this talk about money and acting as though it's going to do something for you. You've got this, you've got that, you can therefore...do what I said not long ago. Said, Hudson Taylor I believe once said, "If God...if it took machinery to serve God, let us double our machinery and be twice as effective." And as I've said not long ago in a sermon and I stick with it: If gold is so important, why did God give us the Holy Ghost, why not gold? He tells you. He said here, "You think in the end days, you've taken gold instead of the Holy Ghost.

(18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that (you may) be clothed, the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, ...

62. And here is where the King James version throws you, because the translation is so poor brother/sister, and…I'm sorry, I'm ashamed for it. Because this is will destroy people who don't know what the Word really says. It doesn't say, 'anoint thine eyes'. But, that's as though you've got the Holy Ghost listen to Him, that’s as though you got the anointing, get with it. But it doesn't really say that in the Greek. It says, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold, raiment and eye-salve." They haven't got the eye-salve, so they can't be anointed, but they say they have.

"But, (they say) I spoke with tongues, I cast out devils, I do this."

But, there's a day coming, said, "I never knew a bunch like you."

"So, what is that?" Said the Pharisees, "Because why, (they said) we worship You in the temple, we gave the right sacrifice, we had the Levities, we did all of this. Didn't we obey all these laws? We were good moral men."

He said, "Yes, but you crucified Christ." Take the names out of the Book.

63. I want you to see that. (See?) You've got to understand, it's the group within the group. And they're not surrounded... I mentioned awhile ago, of course these men are of the golden calf, that's true. But, under them were thousands, if not millions of sincere godly wonderful, sweet, beautiful people, who would die for Christ. Give everything they had and lay their bodies prostate on the streets, so the chariots of hell can drag over them, and they wouldn’t whisper but one little word, “Oh God, I love you.” And they'll got down brother/sister.

You say, "That can't happen." I want to show you, it did happen, I’ve got the …?… to prove this. Because this is the toughest thing to say, 'deceived'. Say, "My God wouldn't do that." Your God wouldn't? What kind of a god do you serve? The God of the Bible? The God of this Book? Or the God of your imagination? You got an imagination, fine, use it. See where it gets you. Get's you to hell.

The Bible says, "Pull down every imagination, [2 Cor 10:5a] every reasoning." Then you receive Him, for what? To receive Him this Word, to do it, to believe It. Not do it, believe It. You say, "Well, that would make him do something." It'll make you do something, but don't you put your works instead of believing.

64. You got to be like James. He said, "If you've got faith that works, It`ll do something to work out." But, you don't try to make faith work out by you doing something. That's the wrong understanding. The Gentile system identifies itself as a true relationship with God. They do right today. They identify them-selves with God and with His Word, brother/sister, just like the Jews.

Secondly, they govern access to God, and worship of Him. I'm going to prove it. You say, "Bro. Vayle, they don't do that to us." Oh, come on now. When you stepped out of your old dead organized churches, or your parents ahead of you, didn’t they say, “You're going to hell?“ And don’t they tell everybody else that comes here, “You're going to hell?“ You look at the Pentecostals. Show me one Pentecostal that doesn't condemn Bro. Branham and those that believe him.

You don't mean to tell me that doesn't regulate the Kingdom of God and say whether you can come and go, then I don't know the meaning of anything. I'm just a poor ignorant fool. And you better not call me that, because I think I can pass a few intelligence tests.

65. I'm analytical enough to know the situation, what's going on. They may be blind, but I'm not. (See?) Every time anybody ever came out of anything, that group was hounded down like Pharaoh tried to kill the Israelites. There never was a group that came out that wasn't excoriated, lied about, threatened and everything else. There wasn't any group that came out, that weren't the ones hunted, and penalized, mercilessly persecuted. Haled into court, and everything else. Why? Because you didn't go the way they went. If you didn't have that in your old church over here in ...?.... then I'll eat my shirt. And I'll tell you one thing, you didn't come out anything, you're still fooled.

You're going to have it, you've got to have it, because the Kingdom of God demands persecution. Now, who`s going to do the persecuting? The Bride persecute the Bride? Don't be ridiculous. The Bride's got the Holy Ghost, she knows which way the wind blows. He knows the Scripture. She's got Him Who reveals the Scripture. And those who don't know the Scripture, they'll do exactly contrary to Scripture and think they're in the Word. Right? Certainly.

66. The day of Christ, it's the same day today. The day of Christ in the flesh repeats. The day of Jesus in the Word, brother/sister, because the day is coming with the Word, revealed Word. They claim to know the Word of God, and indeed surely know His great promise of His Coming. But like Israel, they interpret the Word. The interpretation of the Word is according to tradition and not revelation.

You ask anybody today in the fundamental church, "Is the hand writing on the wall?"

They say, "Yes sir."

"Is Jerusalem no longer trodden down?"

"Yes sir!"

"Are the Jews back in Palestine?"

"Yes sir!"

"Do you believe as Paul wrote?"

"Yes sir!"

"How is He coming?"

"Well, He's coming like a great ...?... He’ll come over and we'll be gone."

They missed the prophet Elijah must first come and restore."

I say, "What about Elijah, he's got to come first."

"Oh, well that's not it, it's the Jews."

That's it, that's what you say, that Bible says something different. [thumps the Bible]

"Oh, the Bible does say so. And I…my interpretation is right. Dr. Gableman says so. Dr.

Grey says so. Dr. Moody says so."

Where's their vindication? Where is their vindication? I can take tonight brother/sister if you want, and I'm not sarcastic, just tell you the truth. I can take and show you that Harry Beacher’s brother, told me what the Talmud said, got the Talmud. He positively wrote sermons that you would claim were anointed by the Holy Ghost, were evangelistic as any who have ever read in your life, on any type of paper or any type of book, and yet positively that thing had to rebuke in his day, because Mr. DeWitt ...?.... was am anti-nominalist who believed you couldn't know you were born again till judgment day. And if you were elected you didn’t need to be saved or born again, you'd just make it anyway. And yet he preached sermons so brilliant, it's a line he's offered, and that would be complete doctrine. A hundred million miles out from the truth.

67. You've got the same people right today in this Word, and they say, "Certainly He's come." He says, "Where is Elijah?" Jerusalem is no longer trodden down brother/sister. Elijah must have come and gone. Who was he? It makes you think doesn't it? Kind of puts a lump like indigestion right here, doesn't it? It's no longer trodden down, they got it back. Elijah’s done come and gone.

Do you think they missed him? Well, they had to miss him. You think it doesn't repeat? It does repeat, that's why Bro. Branham preached, 'God Hiding Himself in Simplicity' [63-04-12] and revealed in simplicity. It's so simple, they miss Him every time. He came just according to Scripture, but not according to their reasoning. They are failing to look for Elijah the prophet. Just as Who must come and restore. Even as Israel did not look for John, and when he came they repudiated him.

They will miss Elijah, because they're looking for something great for restoration. They think they know all about it, and I repeat brother/sister, before God I don't lie to you. The Word restoration according to the greatest authority then the word on the Greek, means 'to bring back to a former condition', and has nothing to do with multitudes coming to Christ. Nothing to do. And restoration does not mean gifts brother/sister. I hope I have a chance to preach on these on perversion. I don't think I'm going to make it this trip. Too bad.

68. They will judge Elijah by their criterion, and not by the Word. What the Word says about him, and they're going to miss him. They'll reject the prophet, the Elijah minister at the end time, because of their failure to realize that God has to send a prophet to the Gentiles. They'll reject the messenger, self identification, and all the while they'll say, "Paul identified himself." And that's okay. And they'll identify themselves and say, "That's okay." For when a man of God who is authorized by God vindicated by God, challenges the whole world, they'll say, "Ah, forget him, we're right, he's wrong." Notwithstanding we're repeating brother/sister Israel, I don't know what I'm talking about. (See?) They claim of discerning of spirits. They do! Right today like Israel.

When I was in West Palm Beach, this man named Holloway, was with Calvary Assembly of God, threaten his people, and said, "I'll really turn loose on that man, he's got nothing but a familiar spirit." He had Holloway, and a million Holloway's couldn't produce in fifteen minutes of vindication this man of God had, nor could he produce the Life. Well, I won't get personal, but you should have seen his family. And that's supposed to be of God? You bet your life they're identified. They've got that Word, they’ve got their theologians, they come to church, they worship God. They sing, they pray. They take millions of dollars, they go to the meetings. They do. They're not going to meetings now to much brother/sister, because they can't get in.

69. You can't go to India now, they kicked them out. I couldn't go to India. I don't know if I'll ever make it. So, if I can't that's okay, but not lie about going in, I won't try to tell, won't preach, because I've done preach. Otherwise I'm not going. Who need a trip to India? So, if you take and shots again and getting sick on that one. See, the preacher forgets.

Can't go to Africa. They've tightened up brother/sister. No need to go anymore, they're kicking out those who are there, unless you're a part of the churches. You want to go a little, rub the old lady’s back, and the old men's bones. Put a little life in their belly, that's okay, you go. But bring this Word of God, out! We're not going. Not going for a good time. I'm not much of a world traveler, you put that down, I like America. "Vayle you're soft." Okay, I'm soft. She can't go, who's going to win the world for God? Are you going to go under the World Council of Churches? Win the world for God? Have we got the old Catholic and harlot doctrine, and Protestant doctrine, we're going to make the world for good. Got to come back and say, "How I didn't know it was so good down here. I'll come and take over now." No!!

70. It says, "It's going to be such a mess, with such a few saved, He's going to destroy, write it off. Now, where's your world by the Bible? Nothing to it. They say discerning of spirits, they said, "well, we know the messenger, it's not this one here."

What about these people today? Do you know that in this day of Jesus Christ they were casting out devils? That's right. Most people don't believe that. They think Israel is so bankrupt, Israel they're so filthy they had nothing. They were going to a bare old ceremony in the temple and all they ever got was bare old thing. Kill a calf, put your hands on it. Kill a dove, circumcise the boy baby. Let them get married, let them do this, dry old dead things. Jesus said they were casting out devils in His day. Oh, were they?

Oh, why did He said, "By whom do you sons cast out devils?" They weren't casting out devils. They would have said, "We were not casting out devils, ho, ho, ho."

But they said, "True, they're casting out devils, we got the real McCoy too, you haven't."

71.They said that God Himself vindicated. Like the blind man made whole, he said, "When in the history of the world was ever a man born blind receiving his sight. [Jn 9:32] Come on Pharisees, Scribes, and the rest of you, tell me?" And they said, "Shut up, how do you dare talk to us."

You know the old bluff scheme, and the old look down the nose in the old (you know) treatment? They were casting out devils. They were using authority. Using Christ's Spirit to do it, just like Judas a devil casting out other devils, by the Spirit of God. And in this day, these men take their authority too, and they write little books about the authority of the believer. And they say, "Anybody can take the power of God and they can do what they want." So, here comes people living in sin like under Bro. Branham's ministry, he told me about it.

72. One day in Southern Pines alone, two ministers living in adultery. (I don't mean now the fact that they had divorced wives and all) they were living in absolute raw naked adultery and enjoying it. But they had ulcers over their fingers, or something, they came off the prayer line and Bro. Branham saw through them just like he sees through everything, couldn't hid if you tried, and he just past them right on. Now, they'll to the next prayer line and you'll see somebody like the men over in Tulsa, and from St. Petersburg and some up there in Ohio where this other fellow is, used to be down in Florida, came out of North Carolina, you know what I'm talking about, and all the rest of them. These fellows from you see in Missouri, now out there in California. Yeah, you know what I'm talking about, out there in Dallas, same way.

And they'll come in the line with those adulterous preachers, living in sin wanting a touch so then can enjoy their adulteries a little more. Right! Come on, I'm kind of vulgar, but I do it on purpose. They'll lay your hands on by the authority, “Come out of there, pack you ulcers see, pack them back by my command. I command, I use the authority of God. They'll take off their sickness as the penalty of sin tonight. [raps on pulpit several times] Call that God? Brother/sister, that's God fighting God. That's the Kingdom of God divided. Why? The people are blinded. They're literally dividing and destroying the Kingdom of God using the power of God to do it. That sounds strange, because all the power of the devil’s got is God's power. Perverting usage. They take authority in His Name. Tell lies, live like the devil. And the deceive the poor people under them, fine good people too. "But blind, lead the blind, both fall in the ditch. And the people of the last days shall heap to themselves teachers having itchy ears." [2 Tim 4:3] It's not the teachers having itchy ears, he's got itchy mouth. Itchy mouth is what he's got, they’ve got itchy ears. So, they get together.

73. And I want to tell you right now brother/sister, anybody, even any preacher can have the anointed mouth. Any preacher can have anointed mouth. And anybody can hear, but to have the anointed heart out of which the anointed mouth speaks. Having the mind anointed by the Holy Ghost to reach the anointed ears to the anointed mind, to the anointed heart, that alone is God. Any- thing else is just part. Anything else is the rain falling on the just and the unjust. Anything that's got rain, the sunshine on the two seeds, one the tare, and one the wheat.

Even thus, as Christ came and went. When He came unto Israel and they did with Him and John as they desired, even so will the again refuse the forerunning Message of the prophet, and thereby reject the revealed Christ and failing to be restored by the Message, which is a process of time, they will miss the Rapture. And as Israel can only reach God by suffering and dying, so the foolish virgin will also die in the tribulation in order to rise in the Second Resurrection in the judgment.

74. Now, remember very, very carefully, that Israel was looking for Christ. They were, there's no doubt about it, they were looking for Christ. But, Elijah must first come, and he came and they did with him what they wanted, which was to reject him, and they crucified Christ. And brother/sister, the same thing has happened today. This is the end time. This is the end of the Age, which I taught you the other day on Matthew 25: where It says, "At midnight, the cry went forth, Behold the Bridegroom."[Mt 25:6b] Not the Bridegroom cometh. They've been saying that for years. But, before the Bridegroom can come literally to be with the Bride, He must be revealed. Because It says, "He will be with you."

And remember, He was revealed to Samuel by the Word of the Lord. That's a prophet. And in the end time, this same one, (notice) John turned to see the Voice. Tonight, do you see the Voice? If you do, it's a spiritual revelation of who Christ is. He is God, the Elohim, the Jehovah, one God, Lord Jesus Christ beheld the Word revealed. But they saw him, and they said, "The prophet is wrong." And they rejected, and missed the first step, will they take the next two? No, the next two will also go by. Just like they did in Israel. And the trumpet will have blown, and the marriage feast will be in the beginning of a consummation. And they'll begin to say, "Hey, wasn't this supposed to take place? Wasn’t that? What's it doing here, that wasn't supposed to happen."

75. And the West Coast is falling in, and the tidal waves have shook the earth. And the earth shivering and shaking, because it's ripped back to its axis. See, they say, "My God, what is this anyway? I guess there wasn't a Rapture after all. That those guys that taught the Rapture would take place in tribulation, they were right." And they'll start to refine their thinking, but they're going to find they're wrong. Because antichrist would have snared millions, and the rest will give up their life blood for their testimony. That's 'Thus Saith the Lord' brother/sister. Not because I say, but that's the Word. And that's the vindicated prophet.

You see why they miss Him? You see what this understands and know the day in which we live? You interpret Scripture exactly the way Scripture is for you day. You see why you're given the Holy Ghost brother/sister? You weren't give the Holy Ghost to talk in tongues.

A woman said to me on the street, not long ago, sometime back when I was ...?.... "Bro. Vayle, why did Acts 2:4 then say spake with tongues? Sister, that's the historical account of that day, doesn't say it's the evidence. Christ Himself said what the evidence was. Paul said the evidence. It's in every Book of the Bible what the evidence is. That's not the evidence, that's a historical account.

76. It's just the same as when Paul talked to the man, or the Philippian jailer. that's the historical account of what happened. You don't need an earthquake for people to get saved. You don't need to talk in tongues to have the Holy Ghost. That's a historical account. See, the account is, the day of Pentecost has fully come, they were all in one accord in one place. Suddenly there came a sound from Heaven, as a rushing mighty wind till all the house where they were sitting. And they were given cloven tongues like it was fire, and It sat upon each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. And they all spake with tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance to each other.

That's right, that did happen. But that's the historical account of how He came. It's not an evidence. Have you heard the wind blow, when you received the Holy Ghost? Did the fire fall upon you? If that's it, if tongues are the evidence brother/sister, then the others are evidence too. Show me where they spake in tongues in Samaria. You can't find it, then why add to it. (See?)

So, how did those people been down there in Peter's day know that speaking in tongues was it? Because they had discernment. They had discernment. Man come along and when told Bro. Branham you're of the devil he said, "You're of the devil."

Bro. Branham said, "If that's so, if I'm wrong brother, I'd like to be put right." They talked for two hours. When he left the man shook his hand said, "Bro. Branham, one thing I've got to admit (he said) if any man is full of the Holy Ghost, you are."

77. Charday, spoke of a man in Pentecost and old lifer in the death row. Never get out, and Charday he said, "Hear this man spoke in tongues, but I went to him and I said I'd like some of your tithes to help the orphans, to buy them clothes and the man wouldn't give him any money." And he said, "There's that proof that he didn't have the Holy Ghost, though he spoke in tongues."

Charday, what does he know? Because he wrote a book? Because he got converted? You say, "That's the Holy Ghost that Charday gave him?" Hogwash, Charday didn't have It either according to what he said. Because you don't use your tithes for widows and orphans. Now, where does he go? He talks about having the Holy Ghost. So, he could jump high? Yeah, loud scream and have a vision? No. no.

76. Peter at Pentecost said, "I won't speak on perversion, (I'm going to bring it out) but Peter at Pentecost brother/sister said, "This is that spoken of Joel in the last day, 'Thus Saith the Lord' I will pour out my Spirit on (a-double-l [all]) flesh." What flesh? All, all flesh, "and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy." (See?) Your young men shall see visions, old men dream dreams." [Acts 2:16-17] And they said, "In that day and upon my servants I'll pour out My Spirit, and upon my handmaids...

"You generation of vipers, you mixed up crowds, the day is coming they'll talk in tongues, prophesy, have dreams, have visions. And my children shall have them, and your gang will have them too." It there any evidence? Is that the evidence of being full of the Holy Ghost? No, no, that's the last day and we've got it right today. Those out there denying the Word, the false prophets, real signs and wonders, healing the sick, raising dead, making miracles, talking in tongues, prophesying and get away from this Word. And they don't even know Elijah must first come and restore. They don't even know what restoration is.

77. They have women preachers. Their chopped off hair, and their high heel slippers, their speaking in ungodly ways, God knows what. And the Scripture is a hundred percent against it. And they turn around and say, "Well, it really doesn't matter." Why? Because they said so? The Word of God says different. You see tonight what it is?

Brother/sister listen: they were looking for Him, they knew He was coming. It was the right day to their awareness, but He came according to Scripture, but not the way they interpreted It. And so, they still say, "The Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a Shout." A great screaming noise…

[last portion of message is too poor for continuing]