The Parousia (Toledo)

The Parousia

Bro. Lee Vayle – Dec.18, 1977

Thanks, Bro. Lou. It's always a privilege to be here… we now say that Bro. and Sis. Raczkovi are from Toronto. They go to the Toronto church there, but their home is in St. Catherine's, and Br. Raczkovi had the privilege of meeting Br. Branham many years ago, up around Dawson Creek, in that area, and talking with him about a vision he had, and Br. Branham said, "If you believe, it'll come to pass."

Now, Joe had to flee Hungary as a freedom fighter, pretty well the leader in the second biggest city, and a man condemned to death. And when the man could've killed him, he lowered the gun and said, "Get out of here."

Well, he got out of there and got into Canada, and the Lord let him know that's why he got to Canada, was in order to come across the Message, and be in the Message. For some time, of course, I was always in the opinion that it would be folly to go back to Hungary, that it would be kind of foolish to go back because he was a marked man, but the Lord let him go back and even the mayor of Budapest was willing to honor him. And when he asked why that they are ready to be friends, he said, "Well," he said, "If it weren't for men like you, Hungary would not be in the shape it's in," which Hungary is the showplace of the communist countries because they have to put a lot of resources in there, and make it look pretty good.

So, he's been back two or three times and been able to take some of the Message back. And he wants to go again, hopefully, and this time really put effort in, in seeing what can be done. So, I know if you have a moment to think about him sometime, and his family, he would always be happy to have you pray for him. That's the most important thing anyway because he would finance himself and go as the Lord gave him the provision, which he's a hard-working truck driver. Guess you know all about that [Bro. Vayle laughs] ...that and trying to work, so you can appreciate what he is doing and what he would hope to accomplish. so, you just... they're very friendly folk and very down to earth folk. You just... you be... you'll be happy to do it. I know you'll be happy to share your hospitality with them.

So, I appreciate being with you. And, of course, I always like to come here. There's a good fellowship, and I just thinking that Br. Joe was in a certain church and he liked the song service and didn't like the preaching. Well, of course, today I think he liked the song service and I hope he likes the preaching. [Congregation laughs] But he tells us there's two different spirits, and here is a church I don't believe you'll find two different spirits. I believe you'll find one spirit all the way through. And I always have to admit that this church really has an exceptionally good spirit and a good song service, which we know we can thank Bro. Lou for, really, because he's very good at doing that and loves to lead the folk in good worship.

So many places have sort of got away from that, and I'm always happy to be in a place where the people are relaxed and can really sing and worship because that's part of your service. The next part is where you have to start... you put your thinking cap on.

Now, today I'm going to bring a message I thought I'd bring last time and didn't because I forgot my notes. And you know I can't preach without notes. And if the rats ever ate my notes, the rats will eat my message because I'd have to get a tape and go over what I had said because, I'm sorry, I just can't help myself, I just am not a smart fellow that can... well, I wish I was like Ned Iverson in that respect. He really can know... he really knows the Bible and he really gets his sermon down pat, and he doesn't even have to look at notes. Well, I've got to look at notes until I've looked too much, I guess.

But the message is on the Parousia, or the Presence of the Lord, and it's really a mind-boggling sermon for this reason: that when you come to see what Bro. Branham said, you next say, "What do I do with it? What is it all about?" And I'll try, hopefully, to maybe look at a few things that it might mean to us. That's about all I can say. But you will find that this message, based upon quotes in the Word, is a hundred percent with the Word of Almighty God. And it'll give you something to think about, and actually to pray about, so that it might become tremendously real to you. And no doubt, it'll help answer some questions as to why I take such a tremendously strong stand against leadership, that it should help you to see that because it'll answer the question better than I could from a personal viewpoint.

So, let's just say a word of prayer.

Kind Heavenly Father, again we approach You, at this time, for the study of Your Word, and I pray, Lord, that It'll come forth exactly as You would have It to come forth, that even beyond that, not just in the mechanics, which we know must be right, but may the dynamics, which have to follow - the proper dynamics, also begin now to come upon what is said, Lord, because we want the former and the latter rain together. And we know that it'll merge in individuals. It's not going to be something which is simply poured forth, and here it’s indiscriminate and willy-nilly. It's going to be in individuals, which in turn will bring forth a Resurrection and bring about a Rapture.

So, we're looking at that, Lord, this afternoon in the sense of reality. And I pray the people will not be disappointed or any of us shall fall short but be absolutely part of Your husbandry that's going to bring forth in this world according to Your Word.

We ask these things, Lord, not to aggrandize ourselves, or become popular, or even to say, "Ah ha", to somebody, that anybody might think we're somebody, but, Lord, we just that we would like to be identified with that Word, and in It, Lord, God, to give You some honor and glory. So, therefore, we would humble ourselves unto Your hand at this hour. Bring every thought into captivity. Let not our minds wander, Lord, and let nothing come in which is distracting. We ask these mercies in Jesus Name. Amen.

1. Now, we're going to read in 1st Thessalonians, and I've got several pages of notes, but I'll try to keep my comments brief on it, so we just bring you the Word as much as possible. 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18.

(13) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that (you) sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

(14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring (forth) with him.

(15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them (or go before them) which are asleep.

(16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

(17) Then we which are alive and remain (unto the coming of the Lord...) alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: so shall we ever be with the Lord.

(18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Now, let's read verse 13 again.

(13) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (those that have died), that (you) sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

Now, we can see immediately the following verse... the following verses after verse 13 will deal with the relationship of both the living and the dead Christians at the time of Christ Coming.

Now, this is what he's talking about - the living and the dead Christians. This is going to deal with both of them at the very time of that Coming so you'll know what pertains to each group.

Now, read verse 14.

(14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

Now, according to this Scripture, the death and resurrection of Jesus demands our return to this earth of the sleeping saints, where they will mingle with the living. Now, that demands it. That verse demands it, because remember, the living are going to be standing here, and the dead are going to come forth and be with them. So, you see, it's dealing with the living and the dead.

Now, let's read 15 and 17.

(15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord (THUS SAITH THE LORD), that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not (be caught away or go before them which are in the ground, the bodies sleeping).

Then he tells you the mechanics.

(16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, with the trump of God: (Now, that's going to bring them forth into mingling, see, cause) the dead in Christ shall rise first: (See, that's going to be caught up in the air.)

(17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Now, these verses then, 15-17, describe how the living and the dead will be gathered to the Wedding Supper. They'll be here on earth. The dead will be caught up first, ahead. So, even the seventh church age group, those that died will go ahead of us, and we'll be the last ones to go up to the Wedding Supper. And we learned the time and conditions of this great coming together, when the entire Bride will be here. Now, It doesn't say she'll be in one place on earth. She'll be in one place when she's caught up.

Now, you'll find some places it seems though Bro. Branham is saying they'll all be in one group on the earth. Now, but other places do not say that. So, it's my understanding that they will be caught up into one place as they meet the Lord in the air, which is truly what is going to happen.

Now, first we want to examine and learn all about the time this happens. Now, of course, what we're talking about, then, can happen, according to verse 15. It's the time of the coming of the Lord, when the living and the dead are going to mingle. It can be at no other time. It's at the time of the coming of the Lord.

2. And the living of the last age will be heirs to 1st Corinthians 15: 51-54.

(51) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all (die), but (we'll) all (get) changed (See, without a resurrection),

(52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptable, and we shall be changed.

(53) For this corruptable (this corruptability) must put on (incorruptability), and this (mortality) must put on immortality.

(54) So when this (corruptability) shall have put on (incorruptability), and this (mortality) shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

3. Now, that is what's going to happen to the living Bride standing there. And, of course, the dead will fulfill Romans 8, verses 11 and 23.

(11) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

And verse 23.

(23) And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, (waiting for) the redemption of (the) body.

Now, that's the dead are going to be redeemed in their body, coming out of the ground, born again out of the ground. But the others will be born again in their own flesh, (see?), because your rebirth is three-fold: body, soul, spirit, but your body must be brought back. But your body didn't go anywhere, so what happens is the inner processes of the Holy Spirit, by the Word, putting on immortality, until, as Bro. Branham said, "Like a sweep goes over you and you're no more what you were." Now, that is what's going to take place.

4. Now, the Scripture says, here [1 Thessalonians 4:13]:

(13) I would not have you ignorant, concerning them which are asleep, that (you) sorrow not, as others which have no hope.

(14) (Because) if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring (forth out of those graves the same way he brought forth Jesus).

(15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not (precede or go before those who are in the ground, are fallen asleep).

Now, the Greek word for 'coming' in this Scripture is 'parousia', which does not mean 'coming' at all. Now, that's the first thing that just confused your minds. The word does not even mean 'coming'. What it actually means, coming from the Greek word, ‘...?...’, is to be present; not coming, but to be present, to be here.

5. Now, let's look at the Scripture where the same word is used. We go to Luke, chapter 13, and in verse 1:

(1) There were present (there were in the Parousia) at that season some that told him the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

Now, the only way they could be present was that they had come, but they're not talking about the coming. They're talking about the presence. These people are present.

6. Okay, we go to John 11, and verse 28, and we see the same thing again over here.

(11) And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly. saying, The Master is come, (the Master's here, the Master's present, and He calls for you).

Now, He couldn't call if He's just coming. He has already arrived. But let's get the good one.

7. Acts 10: 33. This is perfect. This is Simon the Tanner, or... down at Cornelius' house, rather, and Simon Peter. Verse 33:

(33) (Now) Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come (that you're present). Now therefore we are all (parousia, we're here, we've come together, we've arrived, we're) present (and notice - I love it) before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

Now, notice the recognition of God in their presence.

Now, it really means 'of being present with', not the act of arriving, but a period of time more or less extended. It fixes the attention on the stay following the arrival. You could not have a person present without him having come. But the thought is not ‘coming’, the thought is ‘He is here, now at this moment’. Thus, it should never be used with the idea of the actual specific time of arrival concerning Jesus' return to earth. Never could be used that way. But it certainly refers to a definite period when it is relative to His coming and is a part of that coming.

8. Now, let’s take some more Scripture. Let’s go to 2nd Peter 1: 16. Now,

(16) For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the (Parousia, the Presence) of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

Now, what is that based on? That is based on Matthew 17: 1-8, in the Mount of Transfiguration when they stood there and saw Jesus present. They're looking at Him, right there present.

9. Now, thus we see in 1st Thessalonians 4:15 the coming is an indefinite period of time which takes place and embraces the events of verses 16 to 17. Let's take a look at It.

(15) (If we believe - no) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord (thus saith the Lord), that we which are alive and remain unto the (presence) of the Lord shall not (go before) them (that) are asleep.

(16) For the Lord himself (how is He going to become present?) shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

And then there's something going on. How long, I don't know. Bro. Branham said the Resurrection will be a minimum of 30 days.

10. So, with these things in mind, with a Shout and a Voice and the Trumpet, the Wedding Supper, you can see that this is an indefinite period of time. We can easily see that this Parousia, or Presence, of the Lord is a period with a beginning, a course of events and a conclusion; or the whole picture, or as Bro. Branham would call, a panoramic. It's beginning - it's 1st Thessalonians 4: 15 - His Presence, having come, He is here. And the conclusion, I believe, is in Revelation 19: 7-9. And continuing, also, right on further.

In verse 7:

(7) Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and (the) wife (has) made herself ready.

(8) And to her was granted that she be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

(9) And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he (said to) me, These are the true sayings of God.

(10) And I fell at his feet to worship him...(and so on)

And then in verses 11-16 is where Jesus Christ comes back with the Bride to take authority with a rod of iron, which is Armageddon, to get ready for the Millennium.

11. Now, let's just stop a moment here, and recapitulate because we want to emphasize, again, what the word 'parousia' really is and which is erroneously called ‘the coming’. And it was actually best, according to men like Dr. Vine - one of the greatest Greek authorities who ever lived - that this word should not have even translated. It should have been called 'the parousia', with a foot note, so that people would not get carried away with a misunderstanding, because the way we have been taught it, is a complete misunderstanding of that word. (See?)

Notice, again, it is not the event of arrival, the exact time that a person came, but the person having come, that same person is remaining present for an extended period of time or perhaps never leaving. May never leave again. (See?)

Now, then if this is the truth - and it is - how could anyone ever know the exact time of Christ's coming? He'd be there and it's too late, having already come. See how everything is Scripture, all was dove-tailed, lines up. (See?)

12. Thus we know that the Lord, according to verse 15, has already arrived, and is presently with the living, even before one dead is raised, physically, to immortality. This Parousia, or being present with the living, is by the Lord Himself descending. It act... He actually comes down and is present, and it is not Acts 2: 2-4, when the Holy Ghost came. It is not Matthew 28: 20, when He said, "Lo, I am with you always, to the end of the world." It is not that at all. And it must be a known, definite presence, of which the saints are aware that He is present with them, by descent, and staying with them was what we saw in Acts 10 and 33.

Let's go back and look at that, because I said that that was the one that was really a clincher, that's a beautiful one. Now,

(33) Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art (present). Now therefore we are all here present before God, to hear all (the) things that are commanded thee of God.

And you can see how that fits right this Message perfectly. God Himself coming down. (See?) And in His Presence, we gather before God to hear. (See?) And notice, that this man was speaking to Peter, but recognizing God through Peter. (See?) We'll talk about that later on more.

13. Now, let’s go to 1st Corinthians 16 and 17. Just want to see... just different Scripture on this.

(17) I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus:

Now, right away you know that he is glad because they're there. Then you know that you got to be glad because He is here, according to 1st Thessalonians.

Again, in 2nd Corinthians, the 7th chapter, verses 6-7. The same idea. 6 and 7.

(6) Nevertheless God, (who) comfort(s) those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

(7) And not by his coming only,

That again is parousia, by Titus being present. It wasn't... now it's joyful news, that Titus was going to come, but the comforting could only be done when Titus was there. (See?) Titus was present.

14. Now, what I am presenting here is absolutely foreign and contrary to all present-day teaching. And nowhere, as far as I know, in any books of theology, or eschatology, is this taught the way I'm teaching it today. It is the revealed teaching of a vindicated prophet, who in describing, or parallel, Paul Revere's Ride concerning the enemy, who was screaming concerning the enemy is coming. Bro. Branham said, "I'm not riding the midnight trail saying, 'He, Jesus is coming'. He's already come."

Again, the same prophet said in "The Rapture" tape, "When you see God come down from the heavens, stand before groups of men, stand there and declare Himself, just as He ever did, that's the truth and this Bible will open."

Now, he wasn't saying that this is, "I'm swearing to you and telling you with this Bible in front of me." He was telling you, "It's in the Bible. That's the way God always did it."

15. Let me read you some quotes now. One:

"And today He's standing amongst us in the Person of the Holy Ghost." Where was He yesterday? But not in the same way. Bro. Branham could not say... He's talking about Acts 2 and 4 now, and Matthew 28. He couldn't be talking about this. He's talking about Him standing in a way that He's never stood for centuries until this moment.

You watch. Listen, say it again. "And today He's standing amongst us in the present... Person of the Holy Ghost, manifesting Himself more and more, coming into His Church, making Himself known." - "Doing God a Service"

Number two:

"The Son of man is already come from glory and is revealing Himself for the past few years to His Church in mercy, showing them His great Presence, doing the same things he did when He was here on earth," - What was He here on earth? As Jesus - "revealing Himself like He did to Abraham, before the destruction." - How? In a human figure. - "He has come down now in mercy, revealing Himself to the Church...The next time He reveals Himself it will be in the judgement on the world and nations that forgot God." That was preached in 1958 - "Will the Church Go Through the Tribulation" ["The Called-Out"]

Three:

"The Headship is here. Amen! Christ, the risen Lord, is here in the same Power of His resurrection that He ever was, manifesting Himself.

Four: Now we know that Christ is here." Where was He years ago? He was here but not this way. "Maybe you don't see Him with your eyes, but through vision, I tell you, He's here!" - "Souls in Prison"

Five:

"And when the Seals are broken, and the mystery is revealed, down comes the Angel, the Messenger, Christ, setting His foot on the land and sea, with a rainbow over His head. Now remember, the seventh messenger is on earth at this time of His Coming." Parousia. - "Breach", page 74.

Six:

"The Seventh Seal brings Him back to earth" - "Souls in Prison". "The Seventh Seal brings Him back to earth." It says so. Better watch that Seventh Seal then.

Number seven:

"Because, the Seventh Seal, there was silence. 'No one knew; what, that the minute or hour that Christ would come', as He revealed it to us." - "First Seal" ["The Feast of The Trumpets"] Like I said a while ago, how are you going to know? You can't tell when He comes. You know when He's present. And that Presence doesn't mean it's too late. Keep going.

Eight:

"After almost 2000 years, God has visited again." Where was He before? I thought He was here all the time. He was, but not this way. - "Going Beyond The Camp"

Nine:

"That brings the entire fulness of the Godhead bodily amongst you." - "God's Only Provided Place Of Worship"

Ten:

Listen. Here's what is this now. Number ten.

"The Elijah of this day is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is come according to Luke 17: 30, He's the Son of man that should reveal Himself amongst His people. Not a man, God! But It will come to a prophet." - "Doing God a Service"

Eleven:

"The Headstone coming unto... into the body. That's the redeemer, coming to take His Own. He is here with us." - "Future Home."

Number Twelve:

This will be 14 quotes so far, I'm giving you. Two already you got.

"That... that Life is present here tonight. That's right. The Holy spirit is here, it is Jesus Christ in Spirit form; His Spirit, the anointing is here." - "Leadership"

Now, there's your quotes. Now, we will take some other verses of Scripture that we have always used to express the sudden advent or coming of a person - and especially Jesus in a physical form - but in the Greek, a ‘parousia’.

16. So, we go first of all to a real good chapter in Matthew 24. And here we will really see some things that nobody knows but the Bride. Now, 3:

(3) And he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when these things shall be? what (will) be the sign of thy coming, and the end of the world?

Now, this... this is where he says here, "The sign of Thy Parousia, the sign of Your Presence." Now, this is based upon verses 1 and 2.

(1) And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

(2) And Jesus said, See you not all these things? verily I say, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Then they asked a question. And this question extends over a period of time, concerning His Presence. There's an extension of time, there. (See?)

17. Now, something is going on. So, let's keep reading. We go now to verses 4 and 5.

(4) And Jesus said, Take heed that no man deceive you.

(5) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

(See?) Now, what's He saying here? He's telling you, at the time of His Presence, when He comes back, there will be many people saying that they are Christ. (See?)

Now, let's keep going. Let's take 23-28.

(23) Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

Now, what's He talking about? What is the sign of Thy Presence? What is the sign when You have come back? (See?)

Now,

(23) ...Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

(24) For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, (showing such) great signs and wonders; insomuch (so many), if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

(25) Behold, I have told you before.

(26) Wherefore if they shall say (to) you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: the secret chambers; believe it not.

Now, let's just stop here a second. I want you to notice, brother\sister, that these are not signs as the fundamental Christians try to teach us - signs pointing to His coming - but signs pointing He has already come. Not signs pointing to His coming. Signs pointing, He has come!

18. Now, let me go further. And this... if this doesn't crack you up, nothing will crack you up. 27-28:

(27) For as lightening cometh out of the east, and shineth even to the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

(28) For (where) the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered.

Now, the only man living to catch the Scriptures is Bro. Branham, for he said, "The Light travels from the east to the west." But you and I think alike. [Bro. Vayle hits the pulpit] It's over! It's not! The Light travels. And when It travels to the west, It says, "There will the carcass be, and the eagles gathered." And that was not an instantaneous thing. That was over a process of time.

Nobody but William Branham ever brought this out. And nobody can bring it out of Scripture unless you understand the doctrine that Bro. Branham preached. And when he said, "He's not coming, He's already come," he meant it. Now, don't get your minds made up. Just keep listening, because I'm going to take it …?... and show you where people ran with this doctrine. The devil crept in before the time to release it and made havoc amongst the people.

Now, don't think when I make a statement like that, Lee Vayle teaching means that God had to show me to tell you. But I'm telling you that they didn't understand it. And today, you are getting an absolute, perfect revelation, not because of Lee Vayle, but because it's THUS SAITH THE LORD! I'm not saying THUS SAITH THE LORD. The prophet said THUS SAITH THE LORD. (See?)

Now, this proves right here, that this has nothing to do with an instantaneous thing. It's the Presence. I'll give you a quote later on, how wonderful this is. Not an instant snap - no lightening snapping - but the Light traveling. That's how His Coming is going to be. The Light from the east is going to reappear in the west. And the eagles, the great Eagle and the little eagles, are going to feed on this Word. For remember, Moses ate the same manna Israel ate. No difference! The Word that Br. Branham lived is the same Word you and I live. The Word that gives him Life is the same Word that gives us Life. There is no difference in a body. God has set them as He wants them. There is no difference between a toe and an eyeball, or a fingernail and a heart. (See?) See how beautiful this is.

19. Now, with this let's go to Matthew 27... 24 rather, 37-39. Notice the prolonged period.

(37) But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

And everybody thinks that's future. It is not future.

(37) ...as the days of Noah, so shall the (Parousia, the presence of the days of the Lord be).

(38) For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noe (in) the ark,

(39) And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the (Parousia) be.

In other words, He is right here with us until He takes us away. (See?) Now, remember, this is not Acts 2 and 4, nor Matthew 28: 20. This is 1st Thessalonians 4: 15. (See?) Knowing He is here.

Now, as I said, a prolonged period of time, with signs not pointing to His coming, but signs pointing He has arrived. That's why Bro. Branham could scream, he said, "Can't you see we're done!" And they couldn't. Him standing up there and preaching, (see), knowing that the people would have to get this somehow, even when he was gone. But he laid it out for us, (see), the sign's pointing to His already Presence and arrival.

20. Now, let's go to 1st Corinthians 15 and 23. It says:

(23) But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his (Parousia).

And It tells you right there, there cannot be a resurrection unless He's present. He's got to be here.

Now, remember, brother/sister, this is true to form, because, listen, when Jesus was there in the first part of the first Resurrection, He was there before anybody else could come. He came out and brought them with Him. And the same Scripture says, "God will bring forth with Him!" The same One has got to be here to bring them forth. Why? Because He can't change.

21. Let me tell you something, Bro. Branham warned. He said, "If you ever deny that the way Jesus Christ does anything is different from what He used to do it, then He's no longer the same yesterday, and today, and forever." He's got to be the same Jesus in every particular. He cannot change! He can't change what He's doing. Then He's got to be here! To bring them out of the grave. (See), not somebody else.

Remember, when we speak of Jesus the same, we are not talking of the physical flesh. We're talking of the word 'Joshua', which is Jesus, which is Jehovah Saviour, which is Elohim, under a different appellation in order to give you a better understanding of His relationship to you.

Now, He will be here. This is a part of His descent. Remember, Bro. Branham said in "The Stature Of A Perfect Man", page 48, "In the evening time it shall be Light. That's when comes Christ, the Holy Spirit. Jesus comes down and sets Himself at the Head of the Church then, He will resurrect the Church, being His Own Body."

Now, where is that off, of Scripture? Nowhere. One hundred percent. Can't change it.

22. Now, let's go to 1st Thessalonians 2: 19. We're going to see the same verses again, same idea. Same verse. Now,

(19) ...what is our hope, or (our) rejoicing?... or crown... what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not (you) in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his (Parousia)?

Well, that's the truth, in that period of time. When's the presentation going to be made? Right in that particular area.

Let's go to a good one. 3 and 13, 1st Thessalonians. Now watch.

(13) To the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father,

When!? When? Anybody can read It and say, "Well, Bro. Vayle, I believe I got it now, hallelujah."

I'd say, "When did you say that, sir, this voice from the dead?"

"Oh, Bro. Vayle, I said it 800 years ago."

Well, you've got something wrong down here, in a wrong voice. I've heard a wrong voice! You know why? Because It says, “At His Presence,” was all It said. That's when the establishing comes! Not before. See, like that feeling Bro. Branham spoke of, by that Holy Spirit everyone is sealed. But there's another sealing coming. There's establishing way back there. There's another establishing. It says, "At His Presence in all His saints."

"Oh, I say I don't believe that. I believe that has to do when it'll be proven."

Hogwash! This is not man's idea, now. This is His Presence, the Parousia. See, you can flick Scripture anyway you want to flick it, but when you come across a vindicated prophet, you better see that Word rings right down the line; Word by Word, quote by quote, or you'll find yourself out in the ballpark. (See?)

Now, he says right here... Now listen, let me read It again.

(13) To the end he may establish [Tape jumps back up to beginning of paragraph] your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, (When?) at the (Parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ with all (of) his saints.

That period of time, when the dead and the living are getting together, when He's present and going to do it; and there is a certain establishing that this man, Paul, knew would have to take place.

23. Let me read It to you. It's right over here in Revelation 22. And John new the same things. Revelation 22: 10-15.

(10) And he (said), Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

What time? Yes sir, the very thing He's saying over here, "establish your hearts." Watch.

(11) He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: he (that's) filthy, filthy still: he that (right, now, we got it) he that is righteous, righteous still: he that is holy, (is) holy still.

(12) And, behold, I come quickly (my Parousia); my reward is with me (presentation), to give every man according as his work should be.

(13) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end,

He's warning you. Why is this thrown in here? Suddenly He throws in, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end," because He wants to let it known that He's going to be here doing what He did back there, the same One, in the same way. No different! It's identical. It just the period of time is different. (You see.)

(14) Blessed are they (not that do his commandments but have washed their robes), that they may have right to the tree of life,

Back to the Garden of Eden. Back to the Millennium. Do you realize, brother/sister, we're the only people where the Tree of Life becomes unguarded? We can walk over and become immortal! [Congregation says Amen, Praise God]

God said to Adam, he said, "I'll not let Adam eat of that Tree. If he does, he'll live forever, the shape he's in."

But, we'll live forever, the shape we're in, which is by Christ, what's in here and what He puts in us; holy, righteous, unblameable, and it's coming right here in the Presence of Christ. And He said, "Come in, my beloved. Come to the Tree of Life." A sweep goes over us, and we're changed. (See?)

24. All right, listen, could it be that this verse in 1st Thessalonians 3 really ends?

(14) To the end he may establish your hearts unblameable (that's who's going to do it, Jesus) in holiness before God, even our Father (when?), at the (Parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Now, could this be also where we find 1st Corinthians, chapter 13? Let's take a look at It. What I'm telling you, it really is. Let's look at It, now. And we're going to see verse 9.

(9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

(10) But that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

(11) When I was a child, I (spoke) as a child, I understood as a child, thought as a child: when I became a man, I put away childish things.

(12) For we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as I am also known.

In other words, I'm going to know what knows me. It's going to be mutual. Two people love each other, but they only know each other when they get married. Then sometimes that's too late. But if it's a good marriage, best thing in the world. Just keeps on going, going, going. The one fellow said, "Come with me," he said, "The best... let's grow old together. The best is yet to come." A lot of people can't see that. They say, "Oh, I'm going to get rid of her and shack up with somebody else." Well, that's okay for the world. I'm talking about Jesus and the Bride.

25. Ephesians, the 3rd... 4th chapter, verse 13. Let's take a look at It. Now,

(13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

The ‘all’ will go together. And It says this stature is going to be reached in a place of perfection, Where? In the Presence of the Lord. At no other time. Under no other conditions.

In other words, running here and there, and running after this anointed one, and that anointed one, and they're saying, "He's going to come."

And we're saying, "Hallelujah, He's already come."(See?)

Yes sir, as Bro. Branham said, "Not looking back, not looking forward, but looking right here." Big difference.

26. Okay, that's what it is. Listen, 2nd Thessalonians 2 and 1.

(1) Now we beseech you, brethren, by the (Parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

Oh, it's perfect! As Bro. Branham said, "That's the end time Message!" (See?) The Parousia! Our coming together. And we cannot come together and be joined to Him except His Presence is here. (See?)

Now, and then he said:

(2) (Don't) be soon shaken in mind.

Oh, there must be troubled times in that day. There sure are.

Now, watch. The 2nd chapter and the 9th verse. It says here:

(9) ...whose coming (who's present) is after the working of Satan with all power and lying signs and wonders,

Now, don't you know the anti-Christ is here for three and a half years? That's time. It's the same word 'parousia'. Not the anti-Christ just going to come say, "Hey, good-bye, and hello," or, "Hello and good-bye." He's here. He's got to be present for three and a half years, (See?)

27. Let's go to James, the 5th chapter, 7 and 8. Oh, this is a good one, here, because we all know this one, about the end time. Watch it.

(7) Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the (Parousia) of the Lord (The Presence - watch). Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and (the) latter rain.

And that is a period of time. And He's here during it right now.

(8) Be ye patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Now, He said you watch for it. You get waiting for it.

28. Now, let's go to 2nd Peter 3 and 4. That's the 3rd chapter, I'm sorry, and 4th verse.

(4) And saying, Where is the promise of his (Parousia)? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue from the beginning of creation.

Now, that's based upon 5 - 9.

(5) For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

(6) Whereby the world that was then was, overflowed with water, (and) perished:

(7) But the heavens and the earth, which now are, by the same word are kept in store, reserved (in the) fire against the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men.

In other words, the Word wasn't fulfilled to bring Him on the scene. But now the Word is fulfilled to bring His Presence to really fulfill It! How do you mean fulfill It? Because brother/sister, when the resurrection's here, what are you looking for? It's all over. There's no more left for any Gentile. It is completely done.

Now,

(8) …beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

(9) (And) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise (His Parousia), as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering (toward) us, not willing any should perish, but all come to repentance.

Now listen, that's the days of Noah, but Jesus Himself has already said, "As it was in the days of Noah, so shall the Parousia be." And He said, "You folk are counting slackness, and it's going on and you don't even know It's fulfilled!” That why Bro. Branham said, "I'm not screaming, 'He's coming'. He's already done come. I'm riding the midnight trail saying, 'He has already come'."

29. Okay. 1st John 2 and 28. Let's go over here. No Scripture but dove-tails.

(28) And now, little children, (when you) abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his (Parousia).

And notice, the word 'appearing' and 'parousia' is the same word. Not parousia parousia, but he's saying, in the appearing, is that is Parousia. (See?)

Now, "Have confidence and not be ashamed." Why? What is John talking about? He's talking about people leaving the Word!

Oh my, they hate it when they hear, "Come back to the Word. The prophet came vindicated."

They say, "We can't believe that. We can't believe that. We can't believe that."

And here's the Word of God, and they were ashamed to identify with It. That's why the prophet said they were ashamed of this Word. Oh, hallelujah, they love Jesus, but they hate the Word. Ashamed to be identified. They're ashamed of His Presence. It's what It says here.

"Little children, look out," he said, "because there's a day will come when people are going to be ashamed of that Word." Oh my, William Branham's name is sure hated. But so is Moses'. Oh, Pharaoh must've had a great time with Moses' name. But hallelujah, we're having a wonderful time ourselves. Yes sir.

30. Now, with this understanding, that 1st Thessalonians 4: 15 is a definite period of time rather than a momentary arrival, that He has already come, and He is here. Let's go to verse 16 of that 5th chapter... 4th chapter of 1st Thessalonians. Now,

(15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, ...

He said, “It's written in God's Word. God's Own Word is telling you this.”

(15) ...that we which are alive and remain unto the (Parousia, the Presence) shall not (go before) them (that) are asleep.

In other words, God's not going to do a great and mighty work here, and then we'll be taken off and something happens to the dead. Paul was emphasizing what a mighty work this would be in the disciples of Christ and those members of the body of Christ that they might think, "Oh, then we're going to have some great thing and take off."

He said, "Oh no." Know what he said? "In spite of that great thing coming that the worlds look for, all the ages have looked for; the wisemen, the scribes, the great prophets, the great men of God have looked for, it's going to …?... happen to you people. The end of the world's going to come upon you." He said, "For all of that," he said, "the dead will come out of the grave first, then they'll take off, you'll follow." (See?)

All right. Now, in this... in verse 16, It says that Jesus is going to do three things.

(16) For the Lord himself (not somebody else, but the Lord Himself! Who's the Lord of the Church? Jesus. He's the Husband. He is going to) descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, (and number three) with the trump of God:

That's exactly. There will be a Shout, which is a military command. There will be a Voice of the Chief Messenger. There will be the Trump of Almighty God. After the Trumpet sounds and resurrected ones will be snatched up into the air, when the Trumpet sounds.

Now, remember, Jesus does all three in descending. And I used to be always confused about that. (See?) And I never could figure. And I've got a board it's good. I always thought He was coming down, (see?) ...?... here, down here. So, coming down, is Shout; then, we got Voice; then, we got Trumpet. Not so! He comes down here, and here it's Shout, Voice, Trumpet. Yes sir. Don't get confused because you're thinking something different than Bro. Branham thought.

31. Now, I already showed you, my brother/my sister, that it was in His Presence, here, the dead rise. It is here, the Shout goes forth. He's Present and I will show you now, the Rapture's the same thing.

We go to Matthew, the 17th chapter. Now, in verse 1:

(1) And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart,

And that word in the Greek is He takes them in His arms and they rise up together. That's exactly why Bro. Branham said, "The Holy Ghost would be taken off of this earth. He which hinder... will hinder, he'll be taken out of the way." And I could never figure, because the same Holy Ghost is here to feed 144 000! So, how could the prophet be right? Because he is right! This Holy Spirit, this One, this Jesus, (see?), is going to pick us up and we'll all rise with Him. He does all three in descending: Shout, Voice, Trumpet. Presents us, right to the Presence of God. Then, the living ones will be caught up and we'll meet them in clouds and go to the Marriage Supper.

32. Now, by Divine revelation, the prophet said that the Shout was the Message, and sent forth to get the Bride ready. "As John the Baptist foreran the first coming of Christ, so your Message will forerun the second coming."

Now, John was here just a little while before Jesus came. So was our prophet. And while John was here, Jesus was here to be pointed out, to be shown Who He was. And He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. It's got to be the same. This is where people make the mistake. They say He's the same, but to them He is not the same, because if He is the same, He cannot vary. What He did once, He'll do again, and again, and again, because He cannot change. And He said, "I Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end." So, when He is at the end He must be identical to what it was at the beginning, or He's not the same. (See?)

All right. John revealed Him Who was present among them. I say, John revealed Him, Jesus, Who was present among them. "There is One present among you Whom you don't know. I'm going to point Him out." Jesus had already come, and John said, "There He is."

It's got to be the same today. That's how William Branham had to do it.

33. Now, listen to "The Feast of the Trumpets".

"Now, how It said"... Now, in the little book you got from Bro. Border, and he says it a little different here. Could be something was wrong. I'm not saying he's wrong, but I went back to the tape, and here's what I heard. You hear what you want to hear, but here's what I heard.

"Now, how It said He shall appear" - that's the Holy Spirit, the Word of God - "in the last days, is to bring the people back to the Word, so the Bride will know her Husband, her Mate, the revealed Word."

Now, that said what the Appearing is. A Holy Ghost vindicated prophet told you what the Appearing is! I'll read it again.

"Now, how It said He shall appear in the last days, is to bring the people back to the Word, so the Bride will know her Husband, her Mate, the revealed Word."

34. Is not this identical to 1st John, the 3rd chapter, verse 2? I never heard yet when God first showed me this. I preached to some folk over there in Marion, Indiana, when it just came to light.

(2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it (hath never) yet (come, this is) what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Now, everybody uses this for the Rapture. And you say, "Well, how are you going to be in a Rapture? They say we're going to be changed and caught up to see Him."

The Bible says the opposite. The Bible said you are going to see Him here and get your change and be caught up to see Him. Now, who's right? A bunch of theologians, a bunch of fundamentalists, a bunch of Pentecostals, or the Bible? It said,

(2) ...now (we're) the sons of God, and it (hath never) yet appear what we shall be (In other words, this is something we're all waiting for): but we know that, when he shall appear,

That's the Appearing right down here, His Presence. You've got to see Him as He is. You've got to know as your known, that will change you and catch you up to His glory.

Now, the Bride's got to know her Mate. She's got to see Him. See, once she sees Him, that does it. That's the One she loves. (See?)

Now, so we see right here, that what the Shout is, It is Christ, the anointed Living Word descended, declaring and vindicating Himself, and showing that He is that One, even Jesus, the Husband. Listen, oh brother/sister, can't you see, if Jesus said, "Let there be light," and there was light - like I preached that sermon, here, when Bro. Hicks was here. He wasn't here that Friday. That Friday night I preached on "What's the Holy Spirit’s Been Doing?" Remember that? All right, I brought it and showed you, the Lord said, “Let there be light,” and there’s Light. “Let the dry land appear.” The dry land appeared.

Now, he's saying, if He must be Word, or that Word being God, must put upon Himself a creature manifestation in order to come across to the people, then how much more at this end time must there be a manifestation, so we know we’re looking at.

That same Word that says He must appear, then God must clothe that Word in flesh, in a creation form, in order to come across. That's how God took a prophet. And people want to make him God in every stupid thing under high heaven, dishonoring God and dishonoring the prophet. My, (see?) Now, at this end time, it must be that way. (See?)

35. Now, It is Christ, the anointed, Living Word, descended - It is - declaring and vindicating Himself and showing that He is that One, even Jesus, the Husband. And that's not against the Scripture. Let me show you right here, if I can find it. Sometimes my mind really goes on this, at one time.

In 1st John, anyway, the Scripture here... oh yeah, "Beloved"...no, here [1 John 4:2]

(2) Hereby (we) know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

Now, that's not having anything to do with Pentecostals, where they say, "I'm going to challenge the spirit. Did Jesus Christ come in the flesh?"

The spirit will say, "Oh, no, He didn't."

Oh, that spirit is tricky. Do you think you can fool the devil? Everybody thinks they can fool the devil. Oh, how smart we are. So, the old devil knows our tricks, and so he says, "No, He didn't come in the flesh."

That has nothing to do with trying devils. What it is, is to try this: if it's a Spirit of Christ in you, you will recognize when Christ reveals Himself in human flesh. And for anybody that say He doesn't, is anti-Christ.

So, therefore, was with Paul, and every church age messenger, until the last messenger... till the last messenger and the last messenger's a prophet, is the Living Word of God manifested in human flesh. Of course, that's Jesus Himself, but it also applies to those that He talks about because - look, we're not going to have the rain, the wind, and the moon preach to us. It's going to be a man of God. It's going to be human flesh, (right?)

All right. Now, the Living Word, our Husband, even Jesus, even... [Blank spot on tape]

36. Listen, even in the Resurrection, you're warned, the flesh of the fish comes up fish. The flesh of the animal comes up animal. The flesh of the bird comes up bird. The flesh of the human being comes up human. No reincarnation, no ...?... in the soul. It's an absolute resurrection. So, therefore, God is going to use a human form which is a man. And He does it. (See?)

Now, that means... now, listen, because the Bride now knows the Groom, (see?), it's been revealed. That means there has got to be a marriage... it has got to be Marriage Supper time, for what is Bride and Groom all about but marriage forever?

Now, Bro. Branham said, this Appearing here, is where the Bride gets to know the Groom, her Mate. Now then, if she gets to know the Mate, it's under one consideration: she's got to get married because she can't come to that Person until it's marriage. They're separated. For they're coming for the Marriage Supper. The great big marriage dinner is what it really is.

37. Now, for listen, though that is true, remember, all the Bride is not here, so there has to be a resurrection of the sleeping ones. Now, notice, that's the Shout. Now, if the Shout is where the Bridegroom comes down, the anointed Word Himself to reveal Himself to the Bride, then there's got to be Marriage Supper. True. Then, if there's going to be a Marriage Supper, it means that all the Bride's got to be here to get married. But all the Bride is not here to get married, though He is here. Then the rest have got to come up. Can't you see that's exactly why Bro. Branham said the Shout was the Message and the Voice was the Resurrection. It has to be, because the third thing is the Marriage Supper.

So, if one is the Shout to get us together, the Voice has to be the Voice to get them out of the ground; bring us all together, take us all up in glorified bodies, (see?), because we're ready to get our bodies before the dead even come out of the ground. (See?)

Now, so there has to be a resurrection of the sleeping ones. Thus, if the Shout is the Message, or the gathering, then the Voice has to be the Resurrection. And this is true.

38. Let's go to John 11, where Bro. Branham took us. Now, don't try to figure, just listen, because that's all anybody can do. Now, beginning at verse 19.

(19) And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

(20) Then Martha, as soon as she had heard that Jesus was coming, went (to) meet him: but Mary sat still in the house. (See, Jesus hadn't come yet)

(21) Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. (See, now Jesus has come)

(22) But I know, even now, whatever (you) ask of God, God will give it (to you).

(23) (And) Jesus (said) unto her, (I am the resurrection, and the life... no, It said) Thy brother shall (live) again.

(24) (And) Martha (said), I know he shall rise in the resurrection at the last day.

(25) (But) Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

And therefore, those that properly believe in Jesus Christ and died are going to live, when He, as the Resurrection stands there, but He can't stand there as the Resurrection until resurrection time. Now,

(26) Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

(27) (And) She (said), Yea, Lord: I believe...

Now, verse 38.

(38) Jesus therefore again groaning in himself (came) to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay(ed) upon it.

(39) (Then) Jesus said, Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, (said), Lord, by this time he stink(s): he been four days.

Now, this is going to be a genuine resurrection, now.

(40) Jesus (said) unto her, Said I not to thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, (you'll) see the glory of God?

(41) Then (she...) they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee thou hast heard me.

(42) And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

(43) And when he thus spoken, he cried loud, Lazarus, come forth. (See?)

(44) And he that was dead came forth, bound (in) hand and foot with (a) graveclothes: napkin (about his head), (and) Jesus (said), Loose him, and let him go.

39. Now listen, that same Voice was over in Matthew 27: 50-53. Certainly was. Now watch.

(50) Jesus, when he cried with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

(51) And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to bottom; and the earth did quake, the rocks rent;

(52) And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

(53) And came out of the graves after his resurrection, went to the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Now, what was it? This Voice that Jesus screamed on Calvary woke up the sleeping dead, and they said, "Hallelujah! It's time for the Resurrection," because they knew they had to come back. But they weren't back yet. They had to wait till Jesus pried open the doors and took them out. But they were wakened up. And right now, the same people in the New Testament who have departed are listening forth that Voice screaming forth to say, "It's time to go back and get your bodies." In other words, waking them up! To give them a body.

Now, listen, remember, that the Voice woke up the sleeping dead, preparatory for the body to come out in the Resurrection. Christ comes to them first. Remember, Bro. Branham's vision. They said, "Christ will come to us first and judge you. Then we'll come back."

Come back, why? To get your body, evidently. Waking them up. As we down here are wakened up to the crucial hour, they there are wakened to their crucial hour.

40. Now, the same thing is here, in 1st Thessalonians 4: 14. Let's look at It.

(14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring (forth) with (Jesus).

Going to bring them forth. Going to bring them out of the grave.

Now listen, brother/sister, let's get this straight, here, that these people who have departed are in a theophonic body - which is not the best term, but it's good enough; or as the Word of God calls it, spiritual body - and Bro. Branham was there with them, and they hugged each other. They couldn't eat. They couldn't drink, but they were sensing. They could feel. (See?) They were in a spirit body. And Br. Branham called them theophanies. It's a fine word. Good enough.

Now - because, you see, they’re the Word members of Christ, so we use theophany in that respect. So the word theophany - theo-phonara(?), which means God showing Himself forth, which is ...?..., and it's good enough.

All right. In these bodies, my brother/sister, they have to come back and get a physical body, (see?), a glorified body. Now watch, they are going to descend and be right here on earth before they get those physical bodies ...?...?... I don't know if they'll get those bodies right away. What if they come down here and can go right through a wall?

Now, Bro. Branham said, "If you see your loved one come up that path, open the door and let them in," for what if, in that period of time before they take on their robes of flesh, they walk around here and come right through a wall. What's to stop them?

What is to stop the transition of being in the Resurrection? About 40 days. Now, let's just say that He couldn't get ...?... amongst us. It's going to drive people stark crazy mad. He'll drive millions to, not just insanity, but ...?... because they're wide open for it. But it'll do something for the Bride.

41. Now, remember, Bro. Branham said the Resurrection would be a minimum of 30 days. Now, I'm not saying this is it. I'm just saying one thing. Remember, everything that's in the air has a bit of truth. And don't turn aside the tent vision and say Bro. Branham can't come back and do something, because Bro. Branham can come back and do something that God wants him to. But just keep your heart open and don't get carried away. The great danger is the minute you begin seeing something, or think you do, then you want everybody to see it the way you do, or they're out. And brother/sister, not even you and I always can prove one eye over wit. By the grace of God, we hope that we are and trust that we are, but we can't prove it. So, don't put anybody out, and don't put anybody in, because this is a shady spot, right here, that Bro. Branham warned you, because, listen, they got to come down to put on those bodies, my brother/sister. And they're real, as real can be.

You’ve got to reach out, maybe, in this flesh right here. Of the earth flesh, they may see me pass through there. Again, it might not. What if they walked ...?... See, Bro. Branham was not in that glorified flesh. He was in a vision and thought it was the real thing with his body lying there. Yet he was feeling. Who is to say we might not feel something. I'm not saying you will. I'm just saying, don't you get your minds made up about anything, because the prophet said the revelation lay in the manifestation. And when It manifests, that's when you'll know. In the meantime, hold, and say, "It could be. It could be." (See) Don't turn your back, don’t fuss, because it could be there.

42. Listen, that Jesus Himself does this, as the prophet said, is Philippians, the 3rd chapter, verses 20-21. Let's take a look at It. Now, you all know these verses. I'll read them. Listen.

(20) For our (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for (our) Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

(21) Who (Jesus Himself descending will) change our vile body, that it (might) be fashioned like his (own) glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

And remember, His ability is in the Resurrection. Ephesians, the 1st chapter, 15-23. Read It for yourself. I read it to you many times. Yes sir. He is going to do it. Then the Trumpet blast will catch us up to meet in the clouds, and go to the Supper, face to face. See, He physically does not come to us physically. We go to Him physically. His coming, that which we are discussing is not His physical presence, His physical form. It is His Spiritual form, the Holy Spirit.

43. Let us just see that in 1st Thessalonians 4: 16. The Greek plainly lets us know the Shout is not said to be the very Voice of Jesus. 1st Thessalonians 4: 16.

(16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout...

And the Greek does not say that He Himself shouts. It just says it is a Shout and He descends with a Shout.

Now, listen, here’s what Bro. Branham said: "I want you to know this is sure, and you that listen to this tape. You might have thought that I was trying to say that about myself, being I was packing or preaching this Message. I have no more to do with this Message than nothing, no more than just a voice."

That's exactly Deuteronomy 18. Only the prophet can hear God and come back and tell us. (See?) He's the Voice. "The Lord Himself shall descend with a Shout." In other words, He is in that Shout. He is in that Military Command. See, it's marching order. We've got the ranks, like an army.

"Get in step!" he screamed. Bro. Branham, not knowing one word of Greek, had a vision and he screamed it, "Get in step!"

That's the first thing you've got to learn in any army, man's army, is learn to get in step, because if one person is out of step, the whole nation can die, or the whole army's gone. (See?) You mean to tell me Christ is going to lose the whole body with somebody out of step? Nonsense! The prophet came, and it was His Voice. (See?)

44. Next, who could be that Voice of the Chief Messenger to raise the dead? The prophet told us, He is doing all three. In John 5 and 25. Let's take a look at It. Here it is again. We got the Shout. A prophet did It. Now, John 5 - the Voice. And I said verse 25. Listen.

(25) Verily, Verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

Now, notice It says ‘Son of God’, not Son of man. So, evidently, the time of the Son of man is over! I'm not saying I'm preaching doctrine, here, but could it be true that the time of the Son of man is over? Then what could Bro. Branham do to get us out of the grave? I don't know what he could do because he's got to be taken out of the grave himself. Just like Paul, and the rest of them: Irenaeus, Polycarp, Martin, Columba, Wesley, Luther, the great ones of old, the not so great of old. All is great in the sight of God, but He's the Great One. (See?) Now, He's going to bring them out of the grave.

Now listen, this took place, of course, we read in Matthew - The Voice. And it is yet to take place because He's the same yesterday, and today, and forever. And only the first half of the first Resurrection's over. Bro. Branham said so himself.

Now, now we must know, here, that the dead hear the Voice of the Son of God, not the Son of man. The prophetic voice days are over. The Word has been fulfilled in the Bride, I believe. Now, and the last ones that come into Christ... the last ones have come into Christ, or the dead cannot be raised. Now, I know of no statement of the prophet that defines the Voice, other than what he said in John 11 and Matthew 27. That's all I know, is that Jesus does it.

Now, listen, "Rapture" tape (26). "One day there will come a blast from Heaven, and the dead in Christ shall rise first." Now, he says that blast, the Trumpet, will take them up. Well, who gets them out? The same One that lifts them. Who gathers them? The same One that brings them forth. It's Jesus, Holy Spirit. I put my faith in no man but Christ.

45. Now, we can look back here on James 5 and 7 for a moment. We read a while ago.

(7) Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman (that's Jesus) wait(ing) for the precious fruit of the earth (that's the bodies), hath long patience for (what? the proof, the resurrection), until he receive the early and latter rain.

And it cannot happen until that time. Now, clear as ever, that Jesus Himself, as the prophet said, brought the Shout, or former rain, or teaching rain, because Jesus is the Husbandman and He is to get the teaching rain and the latter rain. It's Jesus Himself Who has both rains; the teaching and the dynamism, the mechanics and the dynamics. And you can't get it any other way. The best anybody can do is point you to it.

46. William Branham was a voice standing by. He was not the Voice! And yet, in a way he was the Voice. William Branham was not the Word of God. The Word of God was here. Such nonsense, coming out of Jeffersonville. "William Marrion Branham, the same yesterday, today, and forever" - that's a lie! William Marrion Branham is not the same yesterday, today, and forever! It's Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever! Jesus, Who is the Christ. It's enough that he could stand here and point us. What a privilege, a man foreordained, pre-elected, predestinated to stand there.

Somebody’ll come by and then try to steal the glory from God. Not the prophet of God, I'll tell you that flat.

47. Now, this former rain and latter rain, Christ bringing the Word, and the very Life in the Word coming upon It to bring It Living Life, which is the Word in the hour. Resurrection is guaranteed to bring up the dead. Thus, It says in verse 8, what we are to watch for.

(8) Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming (the Parousia) is (drawing near).

He said it's coming a time when that One Who promised to do it will do it! Not everybody believes He's going to do it, but they don't know how He's going to do it. And it was the messenger William Branham, anointed of God, vindicated, who told us how it's going to be.

(8) (Therefore) Grudge not against one another, brethren, lest ye be condemned:

And that's the place where we stand right now. There's people believe this Message and they're putting everybody out for their own thoughts and ideas. Even my best friends, that I thought would never be corrupted, no more can stand in the middle of the road for nothing, but I've got great signs ....?... getting letters again, say, "Bro.Vayle, come on over." Ready to get in the middle of the road again. Brother/sister, stay in the middle of the road! Don't turn your head!

48. A great fellow that's a great doctor, an eye doctor, he taught people how to get your eye sight back by several exercises. He said, "I'll tell you what’s wrong. They turn their head.". He says, "You don't turn your head. Learn to turn your eyes."

I remember, when I was a kid - maybe that's what got my sight back when it was so bad - I learned to come in the room to see how far am I going to see here? How far am I going to see there? What can I see here? What can I see there? Because I wanted to see without people knowing I was looking. [Congregation laughs]

You know something? That's right. Spiritual people don't turn their head. The last thing ...?...?... the eyeball …?...?... Up, down. They put blinders on horses. But these people in this Message ...?...?...?...?...?... but their eye muscles are shot. [Congregation laughs] So true.

49. Now, thus the latter rain, which was already here and waiting for the former rain, unites with the Word so the mechanics and dynamics come together, which in my opinion will, if there is a third pull in the Bride, constitute it, because when William Branham brought... would bring the Word of God, the dynamism of the latter rain had to be here to vindicate him. He had it. Then the two get together.

Let's go to Zechariah, chapter 10. Just for one second. Now, I was kind of throwing it just kind of fast that it might even be best to just leave it out, but this won't hurt you any. I should break this down more and more, but Br. Lou will break it down more and more for you, don't worry. Now then.

(1) Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; (and) the Lord (will send) bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.

Now, do you know, right there, It's telling you that you're asking for something in the time of latter rain. You don't have to ask for anything in the latter rain... the time of latter rain. You got it. You’re to ask for rain. What rain? The former rain, in the time of the latter rain. It began to fall in 1906. (See?) But the true latter rain was proven in the prophet's ministry, (see), because he had the former rain. And God anointed him as nobody else.

50. Now, listen, I believe what these two coming together will give the Third Pull in the Bride, whatever that Third Pull is. If a ministry is coming, I believe it will be absolutely one where Bro. Branham said - and it's got to come because he said it - when the Bride and the Word becomes so absolutely One! How are they going to turn their head this way and that way? Oh, they're going to keep the eyes straight ahead. As the Bible says, walk right on down. Nothing over here bothers them.

And the Scripture says... you know what it's going to be like? You read the 2nd chapter of Job, and It says their face is just like a fire that goes before them, leaving everything behind. That's the.... that's Armageddon! That's the Tribulation. Jumping over walls of Rapture. When those people go down that line, and get ready to leave, brother/sister, how ...?...?...?...?... judgement …?... They're gone. Yes sir. But have the Spirit on them. And if we're not Bride, there's a Bride out there, somewhere, and by the grace of God, I'll not stand in her way. You get that Spirit, brother/sister, you're ninety-nine percent there. If you got all this down pat, and you haven't got the Spirit, you've missed It already. The prophet said so, but he said, "I'd sooner have the right doctrine and... a wrong doctrine and a right Spirit, then," he said, "the wrong spirit and the right doctrine." See, if there's this much in, he said, just maybe one ...?...?... (See? Yes sir.)

Now, this latter rain and former rain together in the Bible, this then would be the perfection, or finished work of Christ in the Bride, so the dead can come forth. You say, "Why perfection?" Because the word 'perfection' in the Greek means 'conclusion and refining'. In other words, at the end of the age; it's all over, no much more is going to come in.

51. But remember, there's a training period going on, where the people stay with that Word. Because brother/sister, I don't care what virtue comes out of that Word, that virtue... I mean, what virtue you show forth, ...?... or present. I don't care what virtue manifests itself, it had better be a virtue out of the Word. How many virtues of sweetness out of the Word, as we see what's happening now, with all this gas go out in New York. Sure! You bet it's being shot down now. And I knew it would. I'm no prophet, but brother/sister, let me tell you, if I am wrong in my spirit, and I'm a wrong man, I'll be shot down too; I'll be manifested, because a prophet said so. You can have all the pseudo love you want, and you can have all the talk you want, but as long as you get a say, "You got to come with me and believe like me," as far as I'm concerned, you are a liar, my brother/my sister. And you better repent.

I... certainly I believe the way I'm going. Certainly, I believe what I preach, or I wouldn't be preaching. But I don't know that I'm right and you don't have to believe me. And we would be better off nothing. It's true. I'm not this guy who ...?.. as though I know something. No sir. Say, "Get out of my way, or poor, little Jonah running off because they don't believe Lee Vayle. I don't even believe myself ...?... Why should you believe me? I can't believe what I think. My thoughts are so far from the Word of God and the prophet vindicated, why should I believe myself? (See?) Do what you want when I get through preaching this message. Do what you want. It's up to you, not to me.

52. Listen, so this perfection, coming upon this Bride so the dead can come forth, where Br. Branham said, "For they without us cannot be made perfect according to the Word of God." The Lutherans couldn't come forth with us. They can't do it, because we got to be brought in and the former and latter rain together to bring them up. Now, the Bible said so. If the Bible said so, that's it! You mean to tell me it was in the Old Testament the same thing when He came out of the grave? It sure was. Jesus was that former rain. He was the Teacher come down. He died. And the Scripture was fulfilled. And then, when It was finished and fulfilled in Him, God could bring them out of the grave. Same thing. He never changes, brother/sister.

Now, some feel that since the Word or Voice is in the Bride, she will bring forth the Resurrection. I don't believe that from what I've told you. I cannot see it. I believe He does it, but He will be in us. But I don't see where I'm going to go forth and say, "Hey, come out of the grave."

You know, one brother goes around preaching he was the last man to see Bro. Branham in ..?.., he'll be the first one to see him, he said. [Congregation laughs] Thank you for laughing. You may all laugh. How does anybody know? What a ...?... What ...?... Guessing? Brother/sister, we're not here to guess. Look, I could be right today one hundred percent, I could miss it by a mile. Don't ever presume, because grace never presumes. The prophet himself said, "If you're not Bride, there's a Bride somewhere, and by the grace of God, I'll not stand in her way."

Don't get depressed. If you can get anything, bring yourself down, because when you're down, there's no being ...?... But there's a good thought, that somebody might pick you up. That's right. (See?)

53. Now, listen, then comes the Wedding Supper, when the dead are out of the grave, because we all ascend to see the Bridegroom in His physical incarnation, when Eternal God once more is in human flesh, in a one Person.

Now, He is the Word. And remember, she the Word... He the Word being... [Tape repeats] ...God once more is in human flesh, in a one Person.

Now, He is the Word. And remember, she the Word... He the Word, being immortal, she the Word also must become immortal because the Seed is a Life. Remember, Paul said it's the Seed that brings forth the Body. And if we are the Seed of God, we will have the Body of God. Yes sir! Immortal flesh. So that ...?...

54. Now, this has to be so. As we read, in Matthew 22: 8-14. 22. Once I get to it, here. All right.

(8) Then he (said) to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

(9) Go therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

(10) So the servants went out, and (they) gathered as many as they (could find), good and bad: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

(11) And when the king came in to see guests, there (was) a man which had not a wedding garment:

(12) (And) he (said), Friend, how (did you come in amongst us) not having a wedding garment? (The man) was speechless.

(13) Then (he) said, Bind him hand and foot, and (put him in the great tribulation).

What is it? It's those who come to this Message, they can be unbeliever and make-believer, but they've got to be true believers to get the Wedding Garment on. (Yes sir) And they'll put It on. And what is It? It’s that Word in 1st Corinthians 15. (See?) When the Trumpet... and the Trumpet shall sound! That's not the Trumpet bringing in the Marriage Supper, my brother/sister, that is the seventh church-age Trumpet, when He shall begin to sound, the mysteries have already finished.

In other words, God manifesting in human flesh; the beginning in the creation of God, finishing off His human creation. He signifies, and says the Word's going to do it. And then He brings our attention, ...?... for the Trumpet shall sound. In other words, the Word of God shall come to pass. Now, the Word of God, not man's word. Man's word will fail. (Yes sir)

55. Now then, for a while, listen, we want to consider what we call His coming, or actual arrival, in His immortal Body. Now, let's look at Scripture that talks about the actual arrival of the immortal Body, when He comes down - the Armageddon - take over the earth.

All right. Matthew 16. No, let's go to Matthew 24 and 30. I'm going to take Matthew 16, though, because I will tell you why. 28.

(28) (Then he said unto them), There be some standing (among you) here, (they) shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

That word is literally what we're talking about, the physical coming, and then He gets glorified, showing it'll be a glorified body that is seen. (See?) Now, verse 17 and 2 [Matthew 17: 1-2]

(1) after six days (he takes) Peter, James, and John... (and so on)

(2) And was transfigured before them:

So therefore, He will have a glorified body when He comes. That's another coming. That's the incarnation. That's the Great One we talk about.

Now, Matthew 24 and 30. Now, look at it.

(30) And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they'll see the Son of man coming in clouds of heaven with power and glory... clouds of heaven (and) power and glory.

Matthew 25 and 27. Let's take a look at it. Now, It says here:

(27) (When thou goest... when thou ought to put my... I'll put my money) to exchangers, then at my coming I should received mine own with usury.

That's when He comes back upon the earth and judges those who have destroyed the earth; He destroys them. He's coming, physically, in a certain aspect.

56. Now, 26 and 64. These are better ones, because they're much clearer. And watch what It says here.

(64) (Then) Jesus (said), Thou hast said: nevertheless I say, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, coming in clouds of heaven.

Now, Mark 13: 24-27.

(24) But in those days, after tribulation, the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give light,

When? After the Great Tribulation. Verse 26.

(26) then shall they see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and (great) glory.

Chapter 14, and verse 62, in Mark, we’re just going to give you the whole thing, here. All right. 62:

(62) And Jesus said, I am: and (you) shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in clouds of heaven.

Luke 21 and 27, the last one. See how they run together, brother/sister. Now,

(27) …then shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud (and) great power and glory.

That's not what's over here in Philippians... in Thessalonians. This is He coming in His Own glorified Body, taking His judgment and power authority. He does not do that in the other places. He's gathering the dead together, and the living, as a Bride, to go in Glory. Different thing entirely. Okay. We can see that this does not take place until the end of the Great Tribulation, as foretold in Revelation 19, led them to 16, where He comes in the battle of Armageddon.

57. Now, I wanted to bring this message to make you aware, more aware than ever, of what the prophet said. People are all mixed up over the Appearing and the coming. The fundamentalists say the Appearing is the Rapture, and the Coming is at the end of the Tribulation. That is not so. The Appearing is the Parousia of what we have mentioned now. He has already come. He's already Appeared.

Notice, also, the Appearing is on earth, and precedes the Rapture. He is already amongst us. And that Appearing - listen - and that Appearing was His revelation of the Word Bridegroom to a Word Bride. And here it is exactly as we said. Luke 17: 26-30. Let's take a look at It.

(26) …as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it also be in the days of the Son of man.

(27) They (ate), they drank, they married wives, (gave) in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them.

(28) Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they (ate), they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

What's going to come upon the earth? Tribulation, and kill the whole bunch. Now,

(29) But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, destroyed them all.

(30) Even thus it (will) be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

So therefore, the Parousia, the Coming is the revelation, the Apocalypses, drawing the cover back so that the Word Bride can see her anointed Husband, and say, "I love Him. I'm going to take Him." You know, that's exactly what they... what was... happened to the... to the little girl in the songs of Solomon. She saw him, who was all together loving, and she heard his voice, and she followed him, and that's all she got a glimpse of till he came to her. But she sure went through misery to get him.

58. Now, let's go to Colossians, the 3rd chapter, and verse 4. Just carry this through quickly. The 3rd chapter, verse 4. Listen. Yeah.

(4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

And you and I cannot appear in Glory until, first of all, He's revealed in His Parousia. That's what 1st John says. Don't you see how the Scripture dove-tails? There is no place where It doesn't dove-tail. But if you follow the coming of the Lord any other way, you'll run right into a mess. I've tried this for thirty years, about. I've taken the Greek, I've taken the students, I've laid it all out, and there's not one can bring it out in Scripture. Not till Bro. Branham gave his critique. And, of course, I know the students will laugh in my face, but I'll have the last laugh. I have no problems. Just because I'll laugh with God in derision. If they want to turn It down, that's their business.

59. Listen, 1st Peter 5:4.

(4) And when the chief shepherd shall appear, (you) shall (also) receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

And it's at the time when Jesus returns, Holy Spirit, then He Himself in His Parousia, and in His Apocalypses, the revelation. It is at that time, my brother/my sister, Bro. Branham's vision when he saw the judgement seat, and at the wrong turn it's simply the 'bema', which means a raised-up place where anybody can present himself or say what he wants to say. ...?...?... And that's when Jesus stands there, and he says, "Br. Neville, come up.” Everybody’s rejoicing. And finally, "Br. Branham, come up." (See?) It's at that time it's going to be, and not before that time.

Again, in 1st John 2 and 28, you got the same thing. I read it before. And It says:

(28) And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, (you) may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him (in) his (presence).

In other words, this is the hour, my brother/sister, that in His Presence, in His appearance, our confidence comes, and says, "I'm a part of It."

60. And everybody says it. Not somebody going by and says, "Believe it my way." Oh yeah, I've got a lovely friend, and I love that man, but I want to tell you flat, he's got very ...?... now that Bro. Branham’s got to come back. They're praying for him to come back. And he keeps saying that, "Bro. Vayle, the Scriptures believe all that the prophet said."

I said, "Read the rest of it."

"...?...?...?...?.. the prophet."

Show me. It's come down to one thing, though he himself doesn't know it. He's saying, "I see it. You better see it too."

...?..?... just churns your artichoke because remember, nobody's got to see anything you see. Did Jesus come out there? “Whack whack ...?... whack whack …?... whack whack.”

He said, "Thank you, Father, You ...?...?...?...”

You got a whack whack spirit on you. You ain't got nothing, in my books. And if Lee Vayle's got it, he ain't got nothing. I'm going to send my sins on before me. If I miss the whole thing at least I won't have to go to the Lake of Fire and suffer a whole lot longer because of my stupidity. You say, "Bro. Vayle's an idiot." Well, let me tell that and you prove... you prove today that you've got it. You better get down, kiddo, where the problem lies.

Because they said, "Bro. Branham," he said, "what about," he said, "if you don't make it?"

He said, "If I've got the same Spirit I've got now," he said, "I'll love Him just as much and praise Him." Now we're getting something. Listen, oh brother/sister, I'm not kidding you. I'm telling you the truth, as God as my judge.

Listen, now, here is it here, we might not be ashamed. (See?) We might love the Word, be happy, say, "This is It." (See?) Oh, identify.

61. Go over here to 1st Corinthians, 11th chapter. And in verse 10, notice:

(10) For this cause ought the woman to have (authority over) her head because of the angels.

What am I comparing this for? Because, as Bro. Branham said, this woman here, because of the messengers, when that messenger comes, she's got short hair, she'll be ashamed. She's been off the Word. And poor, old John new that there’d be a Bride at the end time, and Paul new, she'd be off the Word. Now, in the Presence of God, shame coming, but I'm going to tell you, that will lead to repentance, say, "Lord, I'm sorry I was off the Word." (See?)

People that don't understand this don't identify with the Word as they should, because the Word takes the minor place instead of the whole place, (see?), because that's the life that came back upon us.

62. Now, in closing - give me a few more minutes - notice, these final Scripture that gives us further insight, and we're dealing with the Word 'apocalypses', which means to take the cover off, disclose or reveal. And I read one to you. Luke 17, again, just going back over it. Go on ..?...

(30) Even thus (it’ll) be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. (See?)

What is it? The conditions that existed when a prophet came on the scene. And the prophet reveals the Son of man, because remember, the Word descends by the prophet's Spirit. People can't understand that. I've got a lovely buddy; I love the man, but he never could see Bro. Branham on THUS SAITH THE LORD. He never could see what I was driving at. Right today he can't. He reserves to himself the right to interpret the Word of God and other men also, but the Bible doesn't say that. It's got to come by the prophet's Spirit. And when you've got a man with THUS SAITH THE LORD, you've got it all.

Listen, Bro. Branham admitted, under the Seventh Seal, that he alone had THUS SAITH THE LORD. (See?) They don't understand his language, but when you get that, you stay with It. And that's the revelation. The Apocalypses is going on now by Christ Himself revealing Himself. And remember, the only begotten of the Father, Who is begotten... Who is in the bosom of the Father, hath declared Him. And that word in the Greek is "exegesis", which means to explain thoroughly by word.

It's no longer “a picture's worth one thousand words”. That's a lot of hogwash. The picture of Christ is the Word! Don't take some stupid Chinese quote. My God, people do the stupidest things. What's a stupid Chinese quote got to do with you and me? “A picture's worth ten thousand words.” Well, maybe to them, a bunch of birds and heathens, it is, but to us, no! It's the Word revealing Him. (See?) Why? Because they... all the people saw Him, what He's doing, and ran away with their own ideas. Only the Bride stood by to see the revelation of the Word.

63. Oh, my, my, listen, let's go to 1 Thessalonians, 2nd chapter. I'm sorry, 2 Thessalonians - not 1st - 2nd Thessalonians. Now watch. 2nd chapter, 3rd verse.

(3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and (the) man of sin be revealed,

You've got to take the cover off. How would you know Him? There's got to be revelation. He's got an Apocalypses. Let me tell you flat, when the Son of man was revealed, the anti-Christ was revealed, because a Son of man is the Word, and anything opposite the Word is anti-Christ, because it’s instead of the Word.

Look at the 6th verse.

(6) ...(you) know what withholdeth that he may be revealed in his time.

Tells you again, revelation. The 8th verse.

(8) ...then that Wicked (one shall) be revealed, (See?)

Coming into view. How? By revelation. Thank God we won't be here when He's here, (see?) These are just some of the words.

64. We go to 1st Peter, the 1st chapter. Just plain showing you the words, how they work all the same. The 5th verse.

(5) Who are kept by the power of God unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

In other words, the very salvation that every single person has is going to be revealed at the last time, and to us the revelation comes first in order to put on a perfection, that they can come out of the ground, because we don't go to the ground. The revelation, it has been fully stripped back. We're at the end of it. (See?) Okay. The 12th verse of the same chapter. And It says:

(12) Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us the things they did minister, which are now reported unto you by them that preached the Holy Ghost... preached unto you the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven;

In other words, that's revelation. We are now getting revealed in our hour, that which was revealed in Word is now coming into full revelation, as Bro. Branham said, "The same Spirit that gave the Bible is here interpreting the Bible." Oh, my, it's what the prophet said. Everything the prophet said was right.

65. First Peter, the 5th chapter, verse 1.

(1) ...elders (were) among you exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings (in) Christ, and a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

(See?) Now, what's he saying? He said, "I exhort because I'm a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and I partook of the glory." When did he partake of it? He partook of it on the Mount of Transfiguration. And he's letting us know that we are going to share in that which he saw, which was truly God revealed.

First Corinthians, the 1st chapter, 1 and say... oh, let's watch this one here, 1 Corinthians 1:7-8. This should be very good. Now, watch.

(7) So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of (the) Lord Jesus Christ: (See, the Parousia)

(8) Who shall confirm you unto the end, that (you) may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The very thing that John said in the Revelation, all through Scripture, It tells you here, that it's at the time of the Parousia that the revelation comes that we are confirmed, and say, "Look, it's all over." That's why Bro. Branham could say the Seventh Seal is a period of rest, entering right into the Millennium, taking us right in there. (See?)

66. Now, that's where we're at. In closing, this... brother, I might say, this message might help you to understand why Bro. Branham kept saying, "Shoutification, sanctification, baptism with the Holy Ghost."

Listen, this is the hour to where the Holy Spirit is come down in the form of a Light, like He was at the beginning, a Pillar of Fire, and has manifested Himself. Like He said to Paul, "I'm Jesus! The same One ...?...,” doing the very same things He did when He was here, on earth.

Now, in closing, what's this Message all about? I don't know what It's all about. I can't give you all the answers. But I know this, how in the world, if He has been revealed, and He is here, why are we still looking to a man? Or the man? Where is leadership? Bro. Branham said, "Joshua's the Holy Ghost." And Joshua only went in there because of the Word given to Moses. So therefore, the Holy Spirit is here now with Joshua following the Word. He is here. And He is here to lead us. Then where are the great ones amongst us? There are no great ones. This is why I hate leadership, and refuse any type of leadership at all, so that no man can come around and say, "Bro. Vayle's a leader." I am not a leader. The Holy Spirit is here. And I'm not about to take any of His Glory, whatsoever. (See?)

67. Now, Bro. Branham said that Great One that is to come is not a man. And he said if he is a man, then it's not that One of the Scripture. Bro. Branham said, "He must increase, and I must decrease." Who was he talking of? If he is …?... John the Baptist, he can only be talking of one person, and that's Jesus.

So, the Jesus amongst us, the Word revealed, anointed, Holy Spirit, anointed, is here. Then He must more and more increase amongst us. I want to know how in the world, then, do we get a Bro. Branham cult out of this? Don't think I'm against William Branham. I love him. William Branham's going to come back. I believe he could well be the first one in the Resurrection, because the last are first, the first are last, and I would certainly believe that the leader of the Seventh Church Age would be the first one up. I believe that. But brother/sister, William Branham has been magnified to a place where one man has taken a picture - Hoffman's Head of Christ - and put under it, "My Servant", and under William Branham's picture, "My Lord and my God".

I want to ask you something. When Eliezer went to pick up Rebekah, and he told all about the gifts that his Master had, the lovely gentleman waiting for a …?... to come and be a wife. Did she chuck him under the chin and say, "Now, Eliezer, what are you talking about that ...?... Isaac for? But you may have a fine time because you're a cute little kid."

I want to know. I want to know where William Branham would stand for some of the things that are being said about him, as though he's Jesus Christ.

68. Let me tell you something. I could say it, and I hope you caught it. Always looking back, always looking forward, missing what's going on. Christ, my brother/sister, is here. [Bro. Vayle knocks on the pulpit] He's not left. I don't see Him, I don't feel Him, I don't recognize Him, but I know He's here. You do what you want, but I know He's here, because it's proved He's here. I've got, by the Word, where there can be no mistake. I couldn't verify if I tried. Now, I might miss the Rapture and the Resurrection, I might miss the White Throne Judgement, …?... the Lake of Fire; but I know one thing, I haven't missed this: He is here, and He must increase. (See?) And I know one thing, I'm not looking back. I'm not looking forward. Oh, I'm criticized for this, and I'll be hit harder than hard, but I'm going to stay right in the middle of the road, because I don't care. I'm going to keep believing and knowing what I know this hour. He is here, and He will increase.

He Who revealed Himself, declared Himself, and proved Himself - and that's Shout - is the same One that's going to get me out of the ground if I go in, or change me if I'm going to be changed. And don't let your mind get boggled by what anybody says, though all the quotes they try to quote you, because there is one God, and there is no other. And let me tell you flat, when Jesus Christ comes, even in the battle of Armageddon, as far as I can see Scripture I don't understand, He had a name that nobody else knew. So, if anybody's thinking of making the name of Jesus William Branham, in my books you are an idolater. You are sick. And if you're praying for your kids to get saved, forget it, because the name of William Branham will save nobody. It's only in the Name of Jesus.

Now, I could be criticized, because no doubt this tape will get out. They'll say, "Bro. Vayle's against Br. Branham." I am not against Bro. Branham. I am for him because I refuse to make him an anti-Christ, because he was a true prophet of Almighty God. And he pointed us to God. But I can place him with the Scripture, whereas God said to Moses, He said to Aaron, "You tell them, you shall be for God," which is in the stead of God.

Now, I never was ordained to get a revelation. The prophet was. I was never ordained to see with my eyes what the prophet saw, but he was. But I believe I have enough of something on the ball - I don't know what it is - to know. And when that kind of a man is here, I take my hat off me, knowing that whatever God wants for me and for you will come by this man's words, but not by his power. Not by his might, but the Word of God Itself, manifesting Itself in a creature form, because remember, at the end time He is Jesus Christ, the Amen, the faithful and truest, the beginning of the creation of God. And that beginning is here to end it, Jesus Himself. And I cannot believe for one minute that Bro. Branham would want me to say other than I said to you this afternoon. A true, infallible prophet of the Word was amongst us in order that he might bring in a Bride, and dress a Bride, and present it to the Christ, Who we’re husbandry are and His sanctuary we are, presenting us to Him at a Wedding Supper.

Now, brother/sister, if there's a greater honor than that, according to men, I couldn't know what it is. And I believe that anybody that wants to go beyond is going to wish he hadn't. And I believe that anybody who says any less, will wish he hadn't. I want to stay right with that Word.

69. Now, let's go over it again. The Parousia is not 'coming'. He is here. The same One who went away has come back. That's why the Lutheran's didn't have the Holy Spirit, only potential. That's why Wesley didn't have the Holy Spirit, only potential. And Pentecost thought they had it, but they didn't. But He is here now, seeing the whole period on, bringing us in. And remember this one thing: The meek will inherit the earth, which is the Millennium. After the Millennium comes New Jerusalem, not the earth. You want to be in the Resurrection? First, you want to be in the Millennium? Then you better be meek, because the meek inherit the earth. Not the powerful guy, not the great ones. But that meek is to dwell amongst us, which is Jesus. The great powerful One has revealed Himself and shown Himself, proven Himself, and said, "I Am that One Who's going to get them out of the grave, but before they come up I'm going to do a work in you, so they can come. Then when I scream, 'come out', they'll come out."

And brother/sister, as Bro. Branham said, when those apostles saw those resurrected ones, they had resurrection faith, and believe me, when we see them, if we're a part, there'll be that resurrection faith. I believe we'll see them. And I believe we'll be changed in our bodies when we see them go, and we'll start ...?... And Bro. Branham said, "There'll be a handful here, and later on, a handful there, a few at a time." The Resurrection alone will take forty... a minimum of thirty days. What if it was seventy-five? What if the Rapture is twenty days, a month? The Shout has been here for years. Who is to say? Now where do your dates go? Where do funny ideas go? Put them all to one side, brother/sister. Now, I'm not saying, because this could be a trap. You say, "Bro. Vayle, the spirit's here. I'm going to get myself a spirit." Only according to the Word.

70. You see, back in 1966 - as early as '66, Bro. Branham off the scene - some brethren got a hold of the very Word that I'm quoting from, and they said, "Ah, He's here." They said, "The Resurrection's over." They said, "We're in the Millennium." And they took all these quotes, but they didn't go to the Bible.

And one man in South Africa took Bro. Palmer's messages - book - and I have nothing against Bro. Palmer, I'm all for it, as long as you use it as a concordance, and know what you're saying. He sat with me in Jeffersonville, at …?... , and he quoted all these quotes. I said, "Brother, where did you get your quotes?"

He said, "Out of another book." He said, "See, He has already returned."

I said, "My brother, that was the descended, revealed, anointed Word."

And he said, "Oh, descended Word?"

I said, "Yes."

But it was too late to change. He'd been preaching married people - no intercourse. If you don't, you'd better be very good, or someone's going to trap you by the street, because the Bible said that's wrong. And he went further until that man, today, the last I heard, has given up everything. He's literally a drunk, no-good individual. Churches in America are trapped today, and they say, "He's come." ....?...?...?... Taken the same quotes that I've taken. But brother/sister, when you take it to the Word, you'll find that what Bro. Branham taught, he is not separate from this Book. Let me take my notes. And if you still say that I haven’t got it, I've got a page of quotes here. Let’s take the page of quotes. Bro. Branham preached this time again. It is not this, and it is not this. It is this from ...?... He's here.

I can't tell you what all of it means. But I trust, and I believe it must be that one day it's going to break upon us. (See?) Now, listen, you know, there's nothing in itself is too... really too bad if you can become aware. Although some of you, I can scare the daylights out of you.

71. But you know, I tell you, I hate mice and I hate rats. I hate rats worse than mice because I think they're rougher. You know, they're dirtier... not as dirty but they're wicked, rats, because they really chop heads off. I remember years ago in British Columbia, I went upstairs, and this... [Tape jumps back to beginning of paragraph] ...fellow had a meat market, and he was next door to us. And that meat market guy, he's got to be the dirtiest guy. You might call him just kind of like a pig. He was just so filthy. Now, the place had rats. And you could see rats during the day by the dozens, you know. And if you can see dozens of rats during the day, there's hundreds and hundreds during the night. And I went upstairs that night - one night, and I didn't know there's a rat in our place - I was batching with a guy at that time - And I pulled back the covers and this rat jumps. You talk about a heart attack, and that extra flow of adrenaline could've put me in an insane institution. I …?... you could've seen it. You know that road runner they used to put on? We used to watch television years ago. We all stopped watching, of course. Kind of like that road runner - beat all odds. But you know what? If I had known he was there, huh? It wouldn't have been so bad. Something could've been done about it.

Now that's what I'm talking about now. If you know He's here, not waiting to see him as a Pillar of Fire or something, but you know that He's here. (See?) You are in good shape to this extent, that the majority of people in this Message do not know He's here. They don't know this Message. They don't understand. They look away, down the road, and we're saying, "He's here." You follow me? The Lord bless you. Let's rise.

Dear Lord God, I believe You've been with us, Lord, at this time to help us in the study of this Word. And I know the people are like me, this afternoon, what should we say about It? There's no possible way to deny It. We have only one confidence, oh God, and that is that the dynamics will come through the proper mechanics; that this same Jesus, same One, from the time of Paul, and now reappearing at our time, He is going to lead a people into a Rapture. It is now going from glory to glory, and as much as we don't feel it, can we be, Lord, at this time, like Caleb and Joshua? Help us to be rather like them, Lord, who when they were taken with the ten others, went in and saw the Land and said, "He is with us." They were born in God because they saw Thee; saw the proof, the picture ahead, facing up, saying, "This is It. I'm so happy." acknowledging. Help us to be that kind of people. Let us not be, Lord, as like those, it was proven because it was ...?..., and then back away. But let us be able to say, "I have seen the Lord risen amongst us. I know He is here," for that which lose their hope, especially Pentecost, that which the Scripture said, He is present, and I shall be present with Him. For Lord, we know that Your prophet said, that the revealed Word was here, for It said that the Word revealed Itself in order that the Bride would know Him.

Father, I must say, that as far as I know my heart is saying correct and my mind is saying correct. Lord, I do not believe I'm a hypocrite, but I believe, Lord, I am satisfied with the reality that this is It, that You have revealed Yourself, that you are that One that my soul longeth for and loves, and perchance will even more long for, and more love, and give all the glory if I be part of that election. But I know I have seen, and I believe You, Lord, standing amongst us, and I thank you that though all of us might not be Bride, that many in this Message, thousands and thousands, that there certainly could be amongst us friends of the Bridegroom, stand back and rejoice, let the Bride move in, and not have a wrong spirit.

Father, God, if there's any one thing that we want, as Bro. Branham mentioned way back in Ezekiel, is before the Holy Spirit came You gave us a new spirit, put a new heart in us; a heart no longer sowed for the flesh, a warm and tender heart. Lord, I stand as a candidate, today, for that warm, tender heart, that right spirit, oh God, that the Holy Spirit could seal me in, and the people here.

We've admitted it, Lord, because we do not want that other, trying and being tried. It seems it’s ...?... but, Lord, from this moment we disassociate ourselves from it, and abort it and abominate it and say, "I will not recognize it. It's wrong," until, Lord, it's all worked out. I ask this with Your honor and glory. Bless the people, the pastor. Bless every word to come to Life, Lord, because I feel this is something important Word we have talked about today. So, God, help each one to recognize the Presence. Oh Lord, I don't even begin to know ...?...?..., but I know one thing, it's going to lead where the prophet would take me, "Come and walk with Me." So now, unto the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, the all power and honor and glory, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

Amen. The Lord bless you.