William Marrion Branham 20th Century Prophet

William Marrion Branham Twentieth Century Prophet

Bro. Lee Vayle June 26, 1974

a. You may be seated. It’s certainly a great privilege to be here with you again tonight. We didn’t know last June that we would be able to see the middle of 1974. But, here we are. It just means that the Coming of the Lord, is one year closer. I know God does not measure time as man measures time, and we measure time by the roll of the planet. Twenty-four hours a day, it makes its little spin, before the sun. But, God measures His time according to His Word. A certain Word must be fulfilled, and when it’s all fulfilled, then He will come. So, we thank the Lord, that that Word is being fulfilled. And, nothing will stop It. Scripture says, “The light shineth out of the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not.” [Jn 1:5] I was told by a student many years ago, that that could be rendered the darkness can do nothing about it. And that’s true. God’s Word is ever victorious.

Because He stands behind His Word to perform It. Literally, you might say, the Word of God is self-fulfilling. Because It has the life within It. And that life is bound to come forth. Remember when God called Jesus forth, that was only a first fruit. That’s right. And He called a few more forth with Him. But, in what we know to be the first Resurrection, this actually, the second part of the first Resurrection. As Bro. Branham said, “One part has already taken place.” That He is going to call forth from among the dead, many, many more. And they will be the Bride of the Lord Jesus Christ. And by His grace, we trust we are a part of that Bride. We’re not worthy within ourselves, but, because of Him. Very happy to see so many people, from not only last year, but, from many places where I get around.

b. And I can see friends in from Canada, I didn’t get a chance to see them, but I notice Bro. Thorsen, setting down there with Sis. Thorsen. And of course, good to see Bro. and Sis. Rosenke come in last night. Here was already, Bro. Guy from Newfoundland. I mentioned these Canadians, because you know somehow, if you can sort of change your native land, but you sort of remember, that there were people back there, that you were very, very partial to. Not trying to make anything of Canadians, but, it sure does my heart good to see I’ve got some buddies that have the same faith in the United States, that I’ve got. They come on down here and fellowship. That makes me know I made a very wise choice. And if I could influence a bunch more of them, I’d have them just coming right down here too.

So, the Lord bless you all that’s come on down, and Bro. Friesen, came on down. Different ones and we're just so happy to have them all, and I want you to meet them all. Just like they want to meet you too. And nice to see so many faces, that are not getting older, but, we’ve got some brand-new ones in here. All the time we see different ones coming in, and that’s wonderful. Because that’s just the way it ought to be. See? The people coming into hear the Word, and becoming part of that same wonderful Word. Now, tonight the message may be a little longer perhaps then what you’re used to listening to. And if you get tired, or bored, it’s all right, we’ll excuse you. Or, if you go to sleep, you won’t be the first one that went to sleep on me. [laughter] And frankly, I’ve gone to sleep on preachers too.

c. I’m a little ashamed to say it, but, I can’t help it. Now, I’m not given to much sleep, about twenty-four, twenty-five hours at one crack. There comes a time when I’m ready to crack up. Maybe you’ve driven for twenty-four, twenty-six hours, …appreciate the fact that you’re here. When you sleep, don’t take more than one seat. [laughter] That’s all. If you take two of them, someone’s going to tap you on the shoulder, and I’ll call the deacons in to take care of you. One seat to a sleeper. And that’s all right. I think that’s fair and square…don’t you? I’d like the boys up here to agree with me. But, I just want to warn you, a friend of mine, was very sweet years ago, he said, “It isn’t that Bro. Vayle’s longwinded, he just has a lot to say on a subject.” The subject tonight is, ‘William Branham, Twentieth Century Prophet.’ I could be here for four to five days, talking about that. So, that’s the subject tonight, a little different. We just not along lines, with perhaps other messages we brought.

I know some of you are well acquainted with this thought, that Bro. Branham is the Twentieth Century prophet. But, there might be someone in here in this opening night, who has never really understood why we call him ‘a prophet’. And we want to go to the Word of God, which is our foundation. There’s no other place we’ll go. We’re not trying to bring him as a man, outside the Scripture. If he doesn’t fit the Scripture, forget him. Now, I loved him with all my heart. I don’t know I loved him, as much as some people do. Because I don’t know their capacities, as compared to mine. It’s not right to compare anyway. But, I know in my heart I loved him. But, I want to say this…if he didn’t line up to Scripture, that love of mine, is no premise or basis for faith. See? It’s just like a marriage, man and woman could love each other dearly.

d. But, when one gets born again, the Scripture says, “Who are you O man and woman, to know that you will sanctify that person to such an extent, that that person will come in?” You don’t know. The family’s sanctified. Surely, that’s true. Marriage is good. God will honor it. But, you don’t know if you’re going to save that person. So, we love a man who was here, but, that’s not why we are here. We’re here because of the Word. And he lined up to that Word. Now, shall we bow our heads in a word of prayer.

Our kind Heavenly Father, again we come to You in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. At this time asking You for grace, and mercy Lord. That Your Word may be set forth in such a way that hearts will be enlightened. And even those of us who have known this Message for some while, will appreciate it all the more because it’s so Word oriented. It’s absolutely Your Word coming to life. It’s not that we took a man, or we set a man, or, that we even asked for a man. But Lord, You sent a man, and that man was one with that Word. All the earmarks were there. And that’s why we believe tonight. And Lord, if we’re wrong, we’ve been somehow, something was here that was the Word, and it just couldn’t be, because Your Word never fails Lord. So, we know, and we’re thanking You. This is the Word prophet, that came at the end time. And now, here we are, thanking You Lord, and praying that You’ll help us at this moment to show the people exactly how it is set forth. And we’ll give You the praise and the glory, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

1. Now, we’re not going to try to eulogize the man any more than we’d eulogize Paul, or a man like Moses. But remember, God did something great in this end time. We’re going to read first of all in Jeremiah 25:4

(4) And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but (you) have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.

Then in Amos 2:11

(11) And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O (you) children of Israel? saith the LORD.

Amos 3:7

(7) Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

(8) The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

Getting into more familiar territory.

Hebrews 2:1

(1) Therefore, we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things

which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

2. Now, you can see who brought the Word, was the prophet. Now, he warns us that we must not be heedless, and ever let it slip. Also in Matthew 23:34

(34) Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them (you) shall kill and crucify; and some of them (you shall) scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

God said He’s going to send prophets, wise men, and scribes. Now, my message tonight will not be…and I don’t think for one moment I would hope it would be…universally accepted. The majority of fundamental and nominal Christians, will deny it. They’ll say it’s not so. The rest of the world, …religious believers, because there’s more than just nominal, and fundamental…will disbelieve it. And the ir-religious, will be skeptical, and try to prove it by finding some abstract answer, which will give them the reason why we would have such a man as I want to speak about tonight. And yet, there was a man of the Twentieth Century in spite of this, by the name of William Marrion Branham, who most certainly had to be a prophet, according to the definition of the word ‘prophet’ in the Bible. The man’s ministry was perfectly, in accordance with the Scripture, that I have just read.

3. Why then, do the majority of nominal or fundamentals, reject him? It is because that they are taught that there are actually no longer true Bible prophets. Now, the seminaries, and the schools, and the Sunday schools, and the pulpits teach that. That there are no longer and true Bible prophets. They are taught that there are no need of Bible prophets, because the Bible has already been written, in its accepted canon of sixty-six different Books. Yet, though they profess to believe the Bible. And they do profess. They are crying out against the very Word that they profess to believe. Because they do not say what the Bible teaches. Now, let’s look for ourselves. There is not one verse in the entire Bible that says there will never be anymore prophets, since the completely recorded, or, written Word, that we have sixty-six Books.

Now, there are over four hundred and sixty-six Scriptures about that. Four hundred and sixty, to four hundred and seventy verses of Scripture concerning the prophet, or, prophets, in the entire Bible. And there is not one verse that even suggests that it is impossible for a Bible prophet to come on the scene, at any given time. You won’t find any Scripture that says that God is limited, or, has limited Himself to sending a prophet at any given time. Not one Bible prophet, not one verse limits the Bible prophets to an era ending about 100 A.D. when John the Revelator, went off the scene. Now, most historians tell us, the last revelation came to John, about 90 A.D. I don’t know whether it did or not, that’s open to speculation. But, the concensus opinion is amongst those people who do believe, …even Christianity in some form or other, …that there are actually no more prophets, since that era.

4. But, as far as I know, when I have looked at these verses, checking them through, I cannot find one verse that even hints at that. Not one. Now, the mistake may come from perhaps, 1 Corinthians 13:8. Because there’s got to be at least some scriptural argument somewhere, for the people who do not believe that prophets can exist, and come on the scene at any time that God so wants them to come. Now, I say I believe that it is possible that many people read 1 Corinthians 13:8, the first part, where It says,

(8) Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; …

And they believe that because this verse is in there, that a prophecy fails then, there’d be no reason for a prophet to come. The infallible Word of God, …which is true, It is infallible…will fulfill itself, and there is no need for a prophet. But, you will notice It doesn’t say that. It says, prophecy.

5. Now, those who prophesy, are not necessarily prophets. Let’s go to 1 Corinthians 14:24

(24) But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, …

Now, the Scripture says here that there’d be a group of people, and they would all be prophesying. But the Bible tells us, that they are not all prophets. Are all prophets, or all apostles, are all teachers, are all pastors, are all speakers in tongues? No, this is merely the thought, that people can prophesy, but they certainly are not prophets. See? Rather than deny the prophet, and his office, Christianity today, as in Paul’s day, ought to be crying to God to send one. See? Now, that’s what happens. Now, let’s get our picture clearly. So, this message isn’t wasted. See? Not denying it. They shouldn’t be denying it. They should be literally crying, for God to send a prophet.

Now, let’s just go to 1 Corinthians 14:36-37 Paul speaking to this church.

(36) What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

(37) If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknow- ledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

Now, this was said the to the Corinthian church, who were already fragmented as to pertaining to their coming together. They were coming under the name of Paul, and Paulus, and Cephas, and different ones. And maybe even saying, “Well, I belong to Jesus, the rest of you people don’t belong…period.” They were fragmented there. Also, they were already disputing what Paul had laid down, as the authoritative teaching in the church, which was the church order. And they were doing things the way they wanted to do it, and when they wanted to do it. Now, Paul is saying, “Listen, if you’ve got the Holy Ghost, and you’re spiritual, (he said), maybe that’s going over your heads here, it should, (then he said), if there’s a man here, a prophet.” See? He would agree. In other words, this man being a prophet, would be able to know what the Word of God really meant, when It was given.

6. Now, have you ever seen a time like we’ve got? The further we go, there’s more organization, more understanding, …or I should say, misunderstanding of God’s Word. More ideas. Then, instead of the church saying, there aren’t any prophets, they should be praying to God, “Lord, somehow, could You just send us one? Because this could be a help to us, if You just send us somebody.” See? Now, according to the Word of God here, there would be a man who understood this Word. And he would be a prophet. The prophet would know the true revelation of the Word, and he would bring It to the people. See? Now, Paul sensed that there, about two thousand years ago. So, the church would, if it would get into trouble, it could seek God, and say, “Lord, there ought to be an end to this. But, there doesn’t seem to be an end in the church yet.”

Now, if such a man were here today, and heeded by the denominations, there would be a great coming together in the truth. You see? There would be. There’s a separation over what they call, ‘the dividing of the truth’. And let’s face it, everybody can’t be right. Can’t blame the Holy Ghost for saying, “Well, He taught me this.” While somebody else says, “Well, He took the same verse, and taught me something else.” Or, something different now. Maybe, there’s a few limitations we could have a little divergence, on the fact that Scripture being sitting there, which would mean something to a person in his own private life. But, you couldn’t get that as the Word of God to a church. You couldn’t do it. See? Wouldn’t work that way. But, of course this is not happening. See? The church is not coming together with the truth. In fact, the Bible tells us, it’s going to come together on anti-truth.

7. There’s something wrong. See? Now, for if the church, or one, …we don’t matter if it’s the church or one person…is already disobedient to the remedy, (see?) they won’t listen to the remedy, and they don’t want the remedy. How are they cured? Now, let’s just think about that. Let it settle in. We see here where God’s remedy was. But, if they don’t want the remedy, where are they going to get a cure? See? The world’s talking right now, about the great things God’s going to do in a fantastic revival to bring us all together, and in a Rapture. That’s a hundred percent contrary to the Word of God. Because the same people talking about it, disavow the reality of a God sent prophet. Or, that there could be a God sent prophet. Let’s put it that way, for the time being. See? Now, the overwhelming numbers of Christian churches, do not believe in prophets. They just don’t do it.

So, there cannot be any cure for the hurt of the daughter…the daughter of the church, or God’s own daughter. See? That’s what Scripture called Israel, ‘God’s daughter’. And in her eyes, …in God’s eyes rather, we are noted as a female member, a Bride, we’re just like a daughter…read the Scriptures, It says we are…and a wife. My daughter, my spouse. See? It’s all one. Well how’s the wound going to be healed? Well now, let’s face it, if that daughter has been wounded, the healing has got to come in God’s prescribed way. Now even these few Scriptures show, that there is a prophet, a ministry somewhere, that’s going to get her to the truth. See?

8. Now, the other religions who do not believe in the Bible prophet, or wouldn’t want a prophet, (see?) they wouldn’t listen. It’s just like in Jonah’s day, God said, “Jonah, you’re My prophet, you go down to Nineveh.” He said, “What for? They don’t believe like we believe. But, they don’t even believe in You, Great Jehovah God. And I’m going to go down, and tell them?” Now listen, Jonah wasn’t anybody’s fool. Though, he should’ve been God’s fool. Well, he learned that a little later on. But, that fellow wasn’t anybody’s fool. And he knew what he was going to get when he got down there, as far as he was concerned…which was, stoning. First of all, they’d laugh and say, “Who is that fellow?” And the more he cried yet forty days, “Nineveh is going to fall,” the more he cried, and tried to get under their skin. But, not only “Who is that fellow?” But, “Who does he think he is?”

Then, “Is he going to come to tell us?” What is this about this Jehovah bit? See? Now, that’s the attitude. See? They don’t have any interest whatsoever, because it doesn’t mean a thing to them. They just don’t believe in it. See? Now, you get another group, that is strictly ir-religious. And you get a prophet come on the scene, a real Word of God, prophet. And, what are they going to do? They’re going to try to explain it away as some phenomenon, that will eventually prove itself out to be some little law of nature. Now, these people are usually, uninterested. That’s these ones that are ir-religious. They’re uninterested in any explanation, that is not compatible with nature. In other words, they don’t believe in the supernatural, in any way. So, they just pass it over.

But, in spite of the widespread disregard and repudiation, of the thought that God does send us prophets, because they don’t believe that God sends us prophets, we ought to know the truth about this subject. Which we have headed into. See? Because if He should send us a prophet, what if we should turn him aside? Now, this could be of serious consequences.

9. Let’s go to John 13:19-20 Jesus said,

(19) Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe

that I am he.

(20) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

Now, here he is linking up an actual prophetic utterance, with someone who could come later. Because he says here, “I’m telling you before it comes to pass. So that, when it does come to pass, you can believe.” Now, we know the prophets do that which we’ll see in Scripture, that’s what they really do. Then he says, “Truly, truly, I say unto you, He that receives whomever I send.” Now, who does He send? Prophets, scribes, wise men. God sends men. And He lists first of all, the prophets. Now, He said here,

(20) … (If you receive) whomsoever I send; (you receive) me; …

Now, who does He say He sends? He says, He sends prophets. Then, who’s going to say He can’t send a prophet, if He should decide to send one? Now you see, this is exactly where we stand tonight. And in bringing this message, I hope that anyone who doesn’t see what we see, will kindly understand our timid, yet brave approach, to this subject. That we’re not trying to be anybody. We’re not trying to be somebody. We’re not trying to exclude anybody. We’re given a reason why we see the way we see…that’s all.

10. Let’s go to Matthew 10:40-41

(40) He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

(41) He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet…

Paul, prophet, Moses a prophet. See? Peter, certainly. John. Now, let’s get down a little further. Even though this is maybe not, we’re not quite ready for it, Agabus, was a prophet. What about if Bro. Barnabas was a prophet? I don’t say he was, but, what if he was? What if the year 600…ah man, we’d have to put him in our language, because I’m not good at figuring anybody else’s language. But, a man called ‘Brown’. Well, what’s his name? ‘Brown’. Could you receive a prophet, in the name of ‘Brown’? “I don’t know about that.” You’re going to miss something that God is going to send. Because He said, “You’ve got to come to the place where you’ll accept a man in his name.” What if it had been a good old name from Poland, like ‘Stakowski’? Well, what about it? Well, he’s not Bro. Smith, so we don’t want Stakowski. What if that was his name? Are you ready to receive the man in his own name?

The Bible says right here, “The prophet, and the prophet’s name.” It doesn’t say somebody else’s name. He said he’ll receive a prophet’s reward. Well, what’s a prophet got to give? Well, what’s his ministry? I’m here for it. I don’t know what he’s going to give me. Because I don’t know just what all his ministry going to give. We’ll talk about that in a little while. Find it’s just some of the things in there. But supposing, my good friend Stakowski, or whatever his name was, came? And he came, and he was one of God’s prophets. And I turned him down, and I don’t get his ministry…and God sent him. See?

11. Now, let’s go to Matthew 23: let’s look at verse 34 again, which we read a little while ago.

(34) …behold, (wherefore) I send unto you prophets, (in the name of a prophet,

now) and wise men, …

And name of the wise men. You know something here? I’m just going to drop this thought in here. I think we’re a little too careless about people’s names. Why do people’s names, makes sometimes cause their lips to curl, and our tongues to drop a little bomb? I’m not pointing my finger at you. I’m pointing my finger at Lee Vayle. I’m not going to stand up here as a hypocrite and try to pretend somebody I’m not, because that never has gone me, never will. But, a man’s name must be pretty sacred…we better watch how we use it. Because I’m going to send you a prophet, naming his own name. I’m going to send you wise men, they’ve got names too, I’m going to send you scribes. Now, what’s a prophet? He’s a man, we know brings the Word, he’s bring It out.

12. What’s a wise man? A wise man can take that Word, and by the gift of the Holy Ghost, explore and explain It. A scribe, he’s a man that tells you word by word what was said, could write it down, anything else you want. Now, they’re going to come in their own name. I’m going to send them. Now, you better receive them. But, He said, “I know what you’re going to do because (He said), I’ve been in this business a long time,” (said Jesus). Yes, He sure was. Before the beginning of time, He said, “I tell you what you’re going to do, you’re going to scourge him.” First, your lip will curl. Yeah, that fellow Grabowski(?) who does he think he is anyway? You know. Yeah. He don’t believe that, like we believe. Can’t even explain the Word of God. He’ll skirt it. You’ll kill and crucify some of them, too. You’ll kick him out of your company, then you’ll even send letters ahead to cities.

Yeah. And he said, “You’ll have a ball doing it.” You’ll see, I want you to notice, I’m not going to bring condemnation on you. Because I’m going to require blood, at your hand. You can read the rest of the verses, to [Matthew 23:] 35-37. Screaming out, “I would have gathered you.” But He said, “You wouldn’t come.” Now, before we can definitely say, that William Branham was a prophet, we must know something about a Bible prophet. And even a casual study of Scripture, shows that the prophetic ministry varies greatly as it appears through different men. It is not stereotyped. Many men were prophets. They had many ministries, that weren’t identical, though they were prophets. And, God sent each one of them. Now, the first mention of a prophet, strange to say, is in Genesis 20:7 where God spoke to a dear old heathen king, called Abimilech. And, as My prophet, and you better watch how you handle his name, his wife, and anything else.

13. Because you are already dead seminally speaking, and you could be dead even beyond that. And he said, “Why Lord, I didn’t know that he was Your prophet.” He said, “You know now, because I told you.” First place it’s mentioned. Now, I’m not saying there wasn’t prophets before then. Because there were. There was Enoch, and he prophesied concerning an event way down the road, about the Second Coming of Jesus with His Bride. So, illustrious and glorious, and they’d reign upon earth here. See? And then there was old Noah, back there. And he had the Word of the Lord to build that ark, and he knew what was coming, and he did what God said. And those that didn’t listen, were condemned, just like It said. “That fellow Noah, Noah…who’s Noah? [spoken very sarcastically] Why, I knew his Daddy. And I’ve been knowing him for years. And all that silly preaching he’s been…why he isn’t even educated.”

See the lip curling. That old teeth baring now. That’s that old animal Cain in there. I just got to quote him because it’s just too terrific. And, he said, “Boy I know how those Pharisees felt, when Jesus, said, “You’re, serpent seed. (He said) because it must have been like when Abel, pointed to the serpent and said to Cain, “That’s your Daddy.”” That’s right. Who is this Noah, anyway? See? Listen, I want to tell you something. God’s got their names on sacred records.

14. Now, just go back here a second, to Genesis 12th chapter, and look at this friend of ours…Abraham. Because he was a friend of God, and if he’s a friend of God, I want him to be my friend too. And over here in Genesis 12:1

(1) Now the LORD had said unto Abram, … (See?)

Now, God’s talking to a man. That’s why He said, “he’s My prophet”. See? Isn’t that nice? Now, He said,

(1) …Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from

thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee:

And then, just skip down to verse 3,

(3) And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth

thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Why not? Because he had the Word of the Lord. See?

15. Now, let’s go to Genesis 17:15-22

(15) And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt

not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.

(16) And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will

bless her, and…

Somebody else is dabbling in the Word, and taking proof from the Word, but is not in the covenant. Now, who’s going to know that, but, a prophet? He gives them the prophet. And He left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham. Now, you can notice the prophetic office here. Why is he the prophet? Because God is speaking to him, and bringing him the covenant Word, for His own people. Now, that’s the first mention of prophet.

16. So, let’s go back to the Book of Revelation, and get the last mention of prophet. My, look at this one. Revelation 22:8-9 the very last chapter, of the very last Book

(8) And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had

heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel

(the messenger, it really should be put in our language) which (showed) me these things.

(9) Then (said) he unto me, See thou do it not: (do not worship me)

for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, (See? even) of them which keep the sayings of this book: (you) worship God.

Notice, this tremendous, illustrious, seemingly divine person. On the same tradition as Abraham. Which is to receive the Word of God. And to keep the people right with that Word, in order that their worship can be accepted, and they be accepted by the Lord. There’s the last one. Don’t understand it but, there he is. A prophet. The first you see, and the last. Now, so we see that the major office of the prophet, is his gift whereby he can receive God’s Word. It is not only to receive the divine communication, but, it is to reveal it. See? That’s where people don’t understand, [inaudible comments]…that’s not what Paul said. He said, “If you had a problem among you, you wouldn’t be all scrupled up on His Word, that I have given you.” See?

17. Now, let’s just look at the Bible. Revelation 10:7 again.

(7) But in the days of the voice of the seventh (messenger), when he

shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, …

That’s perfected, and concluded, brought to a fine point, honed off, beautiful, perfect. Do you tell me the Word of God today, is honed off and fine, out there in religious organizations, sects, and denominations? I want to tell you, it’s a billy-club, it’s a cudgel, where they fight each other. There’s got to be a honing of It. How can you hone something that’s fragmented and splintered? I’d take a nice brittle piece of wood here, and I go wham against this building, and it goes into thirty or forty pieces. Now, tell you what it’s going to do. I’m going to hone that down pretty. You say, “Vayle, I knew you were crazy, but, this proves it.” How are you going to hone it? How are you going to perfect it? How are you going to conclude it? Because that’s what lies in this Scripture. See? The word ‘finish’ means it. Perfection, and conclusion. Now, it’s going to have an end time man do it.

And, now listen. As He has declared not to His servants, but, by His servants the prophets. Just what I read back there I guess, in the Book of John. See? For He said, I’ll tell you things that will come to pass, …now, He pointed to the prophet. Now, He brings us right here. A prophet, to hone the Word, and to bring It to that fine point, that Bro. Branham spoke of, when that Capstone can come down. Or in other words, Christ Himself really can come and take home that Bride. See? How’s it going to be done? He tells you. There’s going to be a prophet do it.

18. Let’s go to, Hebrews 10:1

(1) For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the

very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

Now, who said that? A prophet said It. Now, how are you going to know what type and a shadow, unless you’re a prophet. How can you turn around and say, “I’m going to tell you, that’s a type, that’s a shadow, and this is the real thing.” We go back there to the Bible, the Bible says, a woman should not put on man’s clothing, it’s an abomination. Somebody [inaudible comments] …she walked out and she can put on any clothes she wants because she’s got the right to do it. Well, how are you going to know? We can even battle this for a century. And I’ll tell you, we’re going to be the loser too, because nobody’s going to believe it. They’re not going to believe it. See?

19. Now, listen to me, let’s get the picture here. This verse of Scripture which I read, has undone the first five Books of the Bible, and all the rest of them. For that first thirty-nine, because now you can’t interpret that way anymore. It’s no longer the blood of an animal. It’s no longer the blood of a bird. It’s no longer a ceremony. They were only types and shadows. Who told us? Prophet did.

Then, how are we going to know a lot of things that we ought to know, if we don’t have somebody tell us, it’s the prophet? See? Now, let’s just…I’m just using common sense. But, I’ll challenge any man living to show me how they can go back and prove any of these things were types and shadows. Why hasn’t Israel got the right to still do what she was doing, four thousand years ago? She still got the right if you’re going to use the argument of the present day, Christian, “Who needs a prophet?” That’s right. Now, you just remember what I said. I’m not making up little gimmick stuff here. I’m laying this as logically as I can. Who brought us this revelation? Who told us, and showed how It was all fulfilled. Who gave us our basis to preach according to the New Testament, going back to the Old? Who did it? Prophets.

20. Let’s go to 2 Peter 1:20-2, that Peter is a good man,

(20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

(21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Who did it? The prophet. Then, who is it the one that has the final say? The prophet. Then, you tell me we don’t need a prophet today? Do you know something? A lot of people realize this, and for years I read their magazine. And it screamed, “O God, send a prophet. O God, send us a prophet.” So, the prophet came, went right in their house, and ate with them. And the next night, the paper came out, “O God, send us a prophet.” Five years later, “O God, send us a prophet.” A hundred years from now, it’ll be there, “O God, send us a prophet.” Now, they’re right…but, they’re wrong. If they don’t see what’s under their faces. Now, some of these prophets were called ‘seers’. Because they were given the power of vision. They were. Dreams, visions, just see things right out there, you know.

Often this was like the…given to help an individual problem. Such as in, 1 Samuel 10:2 where Samuel said to Saul, “Saul, don’t you worry anymore about those missing asses. They’ve already been found. Everything’s right.” Saul said, “Well that doesn’t sound so fantastically spiritual.” Well, it sure is. I want to tell you, God is fantastically spiritual. And He told the prophet to tell them. Yeah. See? And it was used in more important ways. Which was to reveal evil from amongst the people. And what God was going to do because of it. Like when, Eli’s children wouldn’t obey right, and Samuel came by, and told Eli, and that’s exactly what happened. See? God judging evil. See? And sometimes it was a national condition. When the nation was gone into sin, and God had to rebuke them. Telling them what was wrong, and what He was going to do.

21. Go to Jeremiah 32:1,5 just read two verses there, and see it.

(1) The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.

Now, the verse 5,

(5) And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until I

visit him, saith the LORD: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, (you)

shall not prosper.

Said, it’s not going to do you one bit of good. You won’t win, because I said, “You’re going to lose.” National calamity. That’s right. A prophet said so. Some of the prophets were given miracle working ministries, and the ability to predict the future. Like Elijah called down fire out of Heaven. He sure did. Dry up the country, no more rain. And bring on almost a downfall of rain like a…almost like a flood. See? Elijah, gifted. Brought water when there was no water. Said, “Dig some trenches”. The water came in. Told the widow, she could have a son…not the widow, the Shunamite woman. The barren, she could have a son. She, had a son. The son died. He raised him up. Little old widow, they didn’t have enough food. Took care of her. Axe fell in the water, and the axe didn’t belong to the man. Threw a branch in, the axe floated.

22. Just fabulous ministry. Naaman needed healing. And the little Hebrew girl, over there in Naaman’s household. Said, “O my, I feel so sorry, you’ve been such a nice fellow. Now, I know you don’t believe like us, but, you’re a real fine fellow. You treated me really kindly, and I just wish I could help you.”

“In fact, you could be helped, if you could just come and get some word from the prophet.”

So, he said, “Do you really mean that?

He said, “Sure, we’ve got such a man.”

He said, “Lead me to him.”

Naaman, …(See?) …healed by the power of God. Because of a prophet that was in the land. See? A great, and gifted man. See? But through all the variations of this prophetic ministry, the major purpose of the office, was to bring and reveal, the Word of God to the people. It was to keep the people one with God’s Word, and thereby God Himself.

23. Deuteronomy 4: I could also read you Deuteronomy 28: 32: and so on. But, we’re just going to take Deuteronomy 4:1-3

(1) Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the

judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live,

and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your

fathers (gave) you.

(2) (And you) shall not add unto the word which I command you,

neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that (you) may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Now, he says,

(3) Your eyes have seen what the LORD did (at) Baalpeor: …

Through the prophet, Moses, who brought the Word. Here was the prophet bringing the Word. And here’s the prophet giving the key to bringing that Word, and keeping that Word, in perfect submission to the will of God. A prophet doing it. Don’t add, and don’t take from It. See? God, keeping His people one with His Word. See?

24. Now, then there were also prophets who foretold very little, as to events in the nation. They didn’t tell very much. See? And at the present moment, they were ministering. Didn’t tell very much at all. See? But, they wrote a whole Book, on the present, and future of Israel, and the world, and the sinner, and the Christian. And they covered the revelation of God, that He wanted brought forth. In other words, they did not reveal very many events as did Samuel or Elijah.

But, they gave the Word, for the future generation. They gave them meat of the Word, or the revelation of Christ the Word. Read It for yourself. Read it there in the Psalm. What miracle did David perform? But, he wrote the 22nd Psalm, the 69th and so on. What were the miracles of Solomon? But, he wrote about the Bride. See? Those men, they brought out what I call ‘the meat of that Word’. Christ, the Word of Almighty God, made flesh. See? We’ve got to know about Him. And again, there were prophets like John the Baptist, who revealed who Jesus was, by identifying Him with the Scripture. See? And he dealt with Israel’s sins, and told them what to do. But, the Bible said he did no miracle. And his prophetic voice…prophetic office, was that of a voice.

25. A voice revealing the Word of the moment. See? He was a prophet. And he was called, ‘the greatest, born of a woman’. My, how the Lord must have loved him. Say, “Now John, I want you to know John, we don’t think you’re anybody. Because after all, Moses was a great man, and Elijah was a great man, Elisha was a great man. And Isaiah wrote this wonderful Book over here, and Jeremiah wrote a wonderful Book over here, and Amos did such a wonderful job, and Joel, and Hosea, and all the rest. And John, we don’t think much of you, because you were just a voice that identified the Lord. And we’d even think you backslid, because you sort of sent messengers saying, “Well, I just hope I didn’t make a mistake. Did I make a mistake? Are You the real one?” Jesus said he was the greatest prophet, born of a woman. See?

I want you to understand about this office. It’s not what some people think it is. Stereotyped, cut, and dyed. There can be variances, from one extreme to the other. See? They’re still prophet. But, you watch how that central theme holds out, brings that Word, or reveal It. See? It’s all through Scripture. Now, there was good old Moses, a great man of God, he was truly a great prophet. He had signs, wonders, predictions, vindications. Monumental judgements came during his ministry. But, above all that, he was the original one to write the Word of God. God gave him the pen to write It. Moses, the great prophet, was Moses, the great law giver. He does not go down in the annals of the people’s lives. Now let’s get this straight. Moses does not go down in the annals of the history of people’s lives, as the great miracle worker. But, as the Word of God giver.

26. Because those miracles that took pass, placed down there four thousand years ago, don’t mean that, to you and me at this moment, as a miracle. It’s the Word that came from it, that means everything to us. I’m not saying the miracle doesn’t mean anything. You understand what I’m talking about. You weren’t there, I wasn’t there. We didn’t have to go through a Red Sea. We weren’t worried about Pharaoh. We weren’t down there. See? But that Word, (See?) that’s the Word. That’s what counts. That’s why Moses was great, because he brought that Word. See? Then, there was a prophet called Agabus. We’ll go to another extreme now. Who was he? Well, he was a little fellow, living at the time of Paul, the great prophet. And he must have looked like a little candle, compared to a three-hundred-watt bulb, or a thousand-watt bulb… according to ministry.

And he’s the fellow that brought the Word about Paul going to be bound, and have trouble in Jerusalem. See? But, he recognized the truth and the authority of Paul. See? He knew where the Word came. So, now we see God’s prophets are not all alike in every detail. Some look mighty great. Some look mighty small. Some have great public ministries. Others seem to be destined to live in a corner. Now, that’s the way we are right today. Not prophets, but, just ordinary Christians, too. Now, but here are some of the things they’ve got in common.

First, they’re sent of God. Now, that’s the first thing, they’re sent of God. Now of course, I realize people could say, “Well, how do you know this? How do you know that?” That’s not the point…we’ll talk about that. The point is, they are sent of Almighty God, as they’re supposed to be. Now then, the next thing we notice.

27. [Second,] They have a Word from the Lord, to the people. The prophet does not receive the miracle, and the Word of God, for himself. Or, that would make him a stunt man. That’s right. He is not a stunt man, he is a front man for God, who brings the Word. See? Now, he has a Word from the Lord for the people.

Thirdly, the failure to hear them, is to reject God, and bring judgement. See? And do not forget those three things. 1) Sent from God. 2) Bring the Word. 3) To reject them, is to bring judgement. See?

People get so involved with great ideas, they forget Isaiah.55:8-9

(8) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways

my ways, saith the LORD.

(9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways

higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

And that’s what God says, right there. See? That should be a clue to all men, to walk very softly before Almighty God, when it comes to the Word. They don’t stop to think of Isaiah 40:3 let’s go back and look at Isaiah 40:3. This is about John,

(3) The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the

way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

28. Oh, my, bulldozer, scoop shovel. Oh yeah. Israel reminded of the day, back in Pharaoh’s day, their forefathers maybe left written records, and saying how Pharaoh made them build great big roads, and great big palaces, and wonderful architectural structures. And now comes this Word from God. Oh boy, we’re going to have our own big highway now, you watch.

(4) (Every mountain and) every valley shall be exalted, and…

Going to fill the low places, Glory to God. Going to bring down all mountains…Hallelujah.

(4) …(every) crooked (thing, going to) made straight, and the rough places (made) plain:

(5) And the glory of the LORD…

Is going to settle right down on it. Oh my, you talk about an ice cream sundae, with whipped cream and a cherry on top. Oh, this is fabulous. They’ve got it all made. They can just see it coming. It’s just going to be glory, glory, glory, glory. But, it wasn’t. But, it wasn’t, it was just old John the Baptist come and saying, “Oh, you generation of vipers. Who warned you of the wrath of God?” What do you soldiers think, as you are abusing the people? And you miserable tax-mongers. That’s bringing the high places down, the low places up, every crooked thing straight, and a highway for God? That’s what he said. That’s what Bro. Branham said. You sure look big, when you look at it your own way. It sure looks mighty big. But, you see, God’s thoughts, aren’t our thoughts. Yes siree.

29. Let’s go back over here to the Book of Matthew then, and just see what Jesus said about this one who was the voice crying. We talked about him a little bit ago. Matthew 11:7- [13

(7) … Jesus (said concerning John) …What went (you) out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

(8) But what went (you) out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment?

(those kinds of fellows) are in kings' houses.

(9) But what went (you)out for to see? A prophet? (He said) …more than a prophet.

Well, this fellow then, should’ve been bigger than Moses. Man, you talk about the Red Sea opening…this should’ve been a highway. Why, this should’ve been something fabulous. See?

(10) … I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy

way before thee.

(11) Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there

hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he

that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

He said, “How can you say he’s the greatest prophet, when Moses was born of a woman. Moses was a great prophet, he was born of a woman. John, was born of a woman, his mother was Elizabeth. And God said, he’s the greatest one. See? They didn’t understand. And then he says in verse 13,

(13) For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

Notice, he’s a juncture, an actual juncture, himself. In other words, he’s history himself, John the Baptist. History, itself. John the Baptist. That’s what God thinks of the prophet. It’s a pity that men don’t think the way God thinks. But, then again, He told us, “Our thoughts, are not God’s thoughts. And our ways are not His.” So, see the great thing. It is that God has sent the man with the Message, to reveal His Word. Now, talking about the Message from God, let us see the way in which a message is brought by a messenger.

30. We go back to Deuteronomy 18:15-22

(15) The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the

midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall

hearken;

(16) According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in

Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again

the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire

any more, that I die not.

(17) And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which

they have spoken.

(18) I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto

thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto

them all that I shall command him.

(19) And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my

words which he shall speak in my name, (Notice: will not hearken

unto my words which he shall speak in my name,) I will require it

of him.

(20) But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name,

which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

(21) And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which

the LORD hath not spoken?

(22) When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing

follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD

hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously:

thou shalt not be afraid of him.

Now, you’ll notice in here, first of all in verse 16-18, that Moses is telling them why they are having a prophet. It is because Israel was so frightened by the Pillar of Fire, and the thunder, and the lightening, and the judgements that followed. See? Because sin had to be dealt with. That they said, “Now Moses, go to God and tell Him, ‘Look, don’t You deal with us, anymore as a group of people.’ Moses, you let God talk to you, and then, you talk to us. We won’t see the Pillar of Fire. We won’t hear the thunders. We won’t have to worry about it. But, when you come back, we’ll believe you.” And God said, “That’s exactly fine. That’s the way I’ll do it. From now on, I’m going to use the prophet.”

31. Now, that’s how God said He’d do it. Now, notice the test of the prophet. The test of a prophet, is a little further down. That’s in verse 20-22. He says here,

(20) …the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, …

All right, now He says, prophets can come. And evidently, they’re going to be in a category of true and false. Because there’s some foolish amongst them. And they’re going to say, “How in the world are we going to know, whether we’re supposed to hear this fellow or not?” And the Word of the Lord said, “I’ll tell you what’s going to happen. He’s going to come in My Name, and prophesy something.” Like “Thus Saith the Lord, Jehovah God says this...” See? And that thing coming to pass, means that’s the man you listen to. Now, if he says he’s a prophet, and he can’t produce that, you just laugh at him. Oh, don’t be mean about it, just be smart enough to walk away. See? Just leave him alone. Because he’s not the one God sent. Now, let’s get the picture. A man coming and prophesying, concerning something which must come to pass.

32. And he does it in the Name of the Lord. Now, what is the name of the Lord? Jehovah. That’s one, which is Jesus, Savior. Now, he went in that day like Moses came down and rather saw the burning bush and he said, “Well, how am I going to go tell these people?” “Well (He said), you just them, I AM sent you.” He said, “When you go down, you’ll have a rod to throw down, that becomes a serpent. Pick it up by the tail, goes back to rod again.” He said, “Put your hand in your bosom.” It came out leprous. “Put it back.” Fine again. He came down with a witness, that he was one sent by God. But, now he says here, he doesn’t say that. He said, “You will come now, the prophet will come in Jehovah’s name, and say, ‘Thus Saith Jehovah’ tomorrow morning at 11 o’clock, there’ll be water in those ditches.”

Let’s find out. You go there at 11 o’clock tomorrow morning, no water. You say, “Well, I’m sorry, your word sure sounded pretty good. You can’t be the one I’m to listen to.” But, what if there was water? Then, what do you do? You reverently say, “This is the man that God sent. When I receive him, I’m receiving God. When I hear him, I’m hearing God.” You see? There is the test that God has laid down.

33. Now notice how the false prophets like to foul up. He’s over here in chapter 13. Now, you watch how close he can come to real prophet. Deuteronomy 13:1-3

(1) If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and

giveth thee a sign or a wonder,

(2) And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he (spoke)…

saying, Let us go after other gods, (and so on.)

(3) (You shall) not hearken unto the words of that prophet, …

33. Notice, It does not say there, the he said, ‘Thus Saith Jehovah’. He just prophesied, and it comes to pass. Now, so you can have a lot of prophets, like the ‘school of the prophets’. Four hundred of those robust fellows, …they were well fed, they were chunky boys. They were well taken care of. Now, I tell you, nobody else had it, but, maybe that they did. They didn’t look lean and hungry like the poor crowd milling around out there. They sat at the king’s table, well fed. But, there wasn’t any man in there that had, ‘Thus Saith the Lord’, except one little fella. And boy, they hated him. See? Why? Because what he said did come to pass. And what they said, was merely something they took out of Scripture. “O King, Thus Saith the Word, that’s your land, go and take it.” The other said, ‘Thus Saith the Lord’ O king, it was yours, but you lost it, and you ain’t going to get it back. And that happened. Just like he said. And he said, “King, you’re going to die. And Israel’s scattered.” And he died. And Israel was scattered. Now the Bible said, that false prophet comes along, and he doesn’t have ‘Thus Saith the Lord’, he just prophesies, and it comes to pass. He just has a sign, or a wonder. But, in the Name of the Lord, that’s different.

Now, I know people don’t see this. I’ve got somebody that I talk to, and for years he said, “Well, (he said) the false prophet has got the same thing.” I said, “You’re not reading it right.” I said, “Let me read It to you, because you haven’t read It.” And there were some mighty, stony, silence for a while, when he found out that Deuteronomy 13: does not have ‘Thus Saith the Lord’. It’s Deuteronomy 18: that’s got it. See?

34. Now, God says He sends prophets, so we can expect that God can send such a prophet as that. Now, see how a true prophet, cannot help but speak the Word of God. I want to show you. A true prophet cannot help but speak the Word of God. Let’s go back to Deuteronomy 4:2 Now notice,

(2) (You) shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither

shall (you) diminish ought from it, …

Now, Moses gave this Word, ‘Thus Saith the Lord’. Don’t you dare add, don’t you dare take away. See? Now He said, “I’m going to send a prophet with the Word.” And if he comes in a certain way, you hear him. See? You, fear him. Then listen, then this prophet, cannot add one word, or take one word, from the Word of God. Because He says here, “Don’t you dare add, and don’t you take.” But, over in five more chapters, He says, “You hear him, and you fear him.” Then, if you’re to hear him, and to fear him, this man with ‘Thus Saith the Lord’, cannot add or take, he must be one hundred percent with the Word, by the proper revelation. My, wouldn’t it be great to sit at the feet of a prophet like that.

35. Now, from what we’ve just seen, a true prophet, or a properly vindicated prophet cannot possibly take you off the Word. But oh, how people get so afraid. See? By revelation, he will bring the truth of the Word. But, his revelation from God could be a hundred percent off, just from you’re understanding of that same Word. Then, which way will you go? See?

“Well, I believe in a Rapture before the Tribulation”.

“Well, I believe in a Rapture after the Tribulation.”

Why I’ve got more verses to prove there’s no Rapture, until after you’ve got to prove there’s one before. Now, who’s right? See?

“I want to tell you, if a man marries, divorces, he can get remarried”.

“Well, I’ve got Bible, says a man marries and divorces, he can’t remarry.”

Now, who’s going to tell us the truth? What if a prophet came and said,

“I’ve got news for you people on marriage and divorce. You’re a-double-l [all] wrong.”

“Oh, no, no, not me.”

36. Yeah. You’re all wrong. What if he came and said that? Now, in the Scripture I used, would this be unusual? No, it would not be unusual. It would be the norm, for a prophet to come and say, “I’ve got news for you, four hundred prophets…you’re all wrong. Now, I know there’s seven thousand out there that haven’t bowed the knee. I’m going to have a look out for you, because I know you’re going to listen. The other four million, five hundred thousand, will not be quite so happily engaged.” We have a notable example of this in John the Baptist. On his revelation of the Messiah.

For he said, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

And they said, “John, you weren’t pointing at a man.”

He said, “I was.”

“Oh, (they said), John…tsk, tsk, tsk, we thought you were a true prophet for a while. But the Word of God warns that you cannot shed man’s blood for remission of sin. You cannot pass the children through the fire. You cannot give a sacrifice like this. John, if He’s the Lamb of God, He’s got to die. Be sacrificed. He’s got to go to the altar. No, no, John, no. We thought you were a prophet. But, oh…tsk, tsk, tsk, I’m sorry, but you flubbed it up.”

37. I’m sorry John didn’t flunk the test. Because John was a prophet, and he knew here was the substance of the shadows. That the animal sacrifices would cease because the life being in the blood, could not come back upon the soul of a man. It was to take a life of a man to come back. And then, it would take the life of God, to come back and make it eternal. Eternal redemption. See? They turned it down. Their understanding, Israel, scribes, and Pharisees and teachers’ understanding, was a hundred percent different from John. But, a couple of people sit back and they said, “I don’t understand what this is all about.” But, there’s something tells me I’d better not start judging until that I know a little more. And they said, “We’ll just wait a little bit.” See? And they waited, and God blessed them for it. See? Then Jesus, fulfilled the exact revelation of John. And they hated Him for it.

Then when He died and rose again, they said, “It’s all a lie, forget it.” But, what did Jesus say back over here in John chapter15? Now sometimes, humanly thinking, I would say, not just being apologetic. But folk, I want to be honest with you. I could never write what’s in this Bible here. Well, what did Jesus say? Now, you can make me a liar, that’s par for the course. I’m no better than Bro. Branham, I came into the world speaking lies, you know when I could talk. But this is not the word of Lee Vayle, or, William Branham, or, anybody else. This, is what Jesus said. And He said, “You turn down what I did, which was a manifestation, that I had the truth for you. You have hated Me, and God.”

38. You say, “Well, hold it right there, little fella. We know that You’re kind of mad, You had a bad history. You’ve been run down, and I know You’ve been trying to make Yourself some-body, and it hasn’t worked out too good, because we know Your background. But, You know really, You’re fit to be killed for that. I want to tell you something. We don’t hate God, we love Him. We’re not born of fornication. Now we’ve got Abraham to our father.” See? Let me tell you something. Don’t think that’s ancient history brother/sister. That’s based on antichrist, until the White Throne Judgement. And it’s all purified. That’s not going tomorrow. That’s right here today. See? Yeah, they repudiated Jesus, when He’d done nothing but, good.

This now brings us up to the 20th Century. We know from God’s Word, what to look for in a true prophet. There is no Scripture that says God has no more true prophets to send. We know that because there is about 400 and about 66, you can’t find one place where God says, “I’m through with it, no more. It’s all over.” See? can’t do it. What if a man appears with ‘Thus Saith the Lord’, and never a failure? Now, there’s a good question. What if there should be such a man? What if a man should come on the scene, ‘Thus Saith the Lord’, and never fail, never, never fail. I fail, you fail, we all fail. See? What if there be such a man that never fails? See? Will we hear him, or, reject him, because his revelation of the Word, does not agree with ours? See? The answer is obvious. If God be God, and He sends vindicated, ear-marked prophets, then we are to listen to those prophets.

39. No matter when or where, or under what conditions they come. The same person who’d rejoice over a beautiful diamond, whether it came in a bucket of swill, or, you had to swim through four hundred feet of putrefaction. Whether it came cut/uncut, as long as it came, and when it came. You’d say, “Oh, goody, I’ve got the diamond.” And a diamond means nothing, because it’s going to melt with the rest of the things of the earth too. Yet, if a prophet came with ‘Thus Saith the Lord’, thoroughly vindicated, how many would turn aside and say, “There goes all my thoughts, and thank God, and good riddance.” He is the One we should rally to, or gather to. Yeah. He’s the One we should rally to, and gather to.

I read It, but, I’ll read It again. [Matthew 23:]

(34) Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, (He didn’t say when, didn’t say, just said He’d do it.) and wise men, (they’d take the Word, break it down, to help you. Not change It one bit.) … scribes: (they’ll just lay it on the line straight. Not tell you what it means. You figure it out yourself, if you can. This is what the prophet said. And he said,

(you’ll) shall kill and crucify (them); you’ll) scourge…

Said, “You won’t like that at all.” Now watch. Verse 37,

(37) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest

them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, …

Now, hold it. He said He was going to send prophets, and yet He said, He’s going to gather them. Why? Because whomsoever I send, and is received by you, you are receiving Me, as though I came Myself. Therefore, according to Scripture, the prophet should be gathered unto, by the people. He should be their rallying ensign. That’s right. He should be the one to whom they listen. I don’t care if he’s sawed off, or mountain high, I don’t care if he’s thin or fat. I don’t care is he ‘hain’ts’ and ‘totes’ and this and that. That, doesn’t mean a thing. If he has ‘This Saith the Lord’, you gather to that man. You don’t care about his grammar. You shut your mouth about your own ideas. I don’t mean to be tough, but, I’m callous. And thank God, in a good way. Because I don’t care what anybody says, if such man should cross my path, and everything else goes by the board. My thoughts don’t mean that. [Bro. Vayle snaps his fingers] My ways don’t mean that, if they are contrary to one thing that He said. Why? Because God said here, “I would have gathered you.” God gathering His branches of His vine to Himself through the prophet. See?

40. Let’s go back to Matthew 10:41

(41) He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive

a prophet's reward; …

“Well, who’s William Branham?” Yeah. “Daddy a bootlegger. I knew his family. Ha. Pigs live better than they did.”

(41) …he that (receives) a righteous man …

I’d like to see a man who could walk in the footsteps of a man like William Branham…when it came to a godly life. I’d just like it, because I watched him year after year. I wasn’t a stranger to him, or his house, or his family. Or, when he could read my thoughts and would do it for me for my own sake. Let me tell you something. I told you before, that my sister used to read handwriting. Let me tell you frankly, it’s a scientific thing. Why? I don’t know, but, it’s there. And she didn’t know she had Bro. Branham’s handwriting. So, she sent me back the analysis. And she said, “This man is so peculiar, because he doesn’t have one bit of deceit in him.” I’d like to have…I should have done it, maybe, we could still do it. We could send it to everyman that is a graphologist, and every woman. And say, “Read this man’s handwriting, and humble yourself, in the presence of a prophet.” It would be true. See?

Do you realize that major companies now, give hundreds of thousands, and millions of dollars to graphologists, to read men’s writings to know if they're fit for their job, and can they be trusted, …I can prove it. Just read the article the other day. Having a sister engaged in it, I know a few things about it. She even saw his trance and visions. See? Receiving his ministry, receiving the Word, receiving Christ, receiving the gathering, receiving the Wedding Supper. That’s what he said. I didn’t make this up, it’s in the Bible. Now, the Bible actually predicts that at the end time, there would be a vindicated prophet.

41. Now, let’s find out that the Bible didn’t even hint at, but opposite, contrary, said there would be, praise the Lord. And he said, in Malachi 4:5-6

(5) Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet (just like I sent John)

before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

(6) And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the

heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth

with a curse.

42. Now, Jesus Himself said that was going to happen. Over there in Matthew 17:11 he said,

(11) … (Elijah) truly shall first come, and restore …

What was the context to that over there in Matthew 17:11? It was Matthew 16:28

(28) … some (of you) standing here, which shall not taste of death,

(you’ll) see the Son of man (kingdom come in power).

And then He showed them what it was. It was on Mount Transfiguration, the beautiful Resurrection and the Millennium coming into full view. Christ receiving His adoption, and so on. See? There it was. And He said, “Before that takes place, you’re going to have Elijah the prophet come, or, there won’t be any adoption.” There won’t be any Rapture. There won’t be any Resurrection. There won’t be any Millennium. I know people don’t like that, but, I don’t care what they like. Do you think I like it either? You’ve got to be kidding. I’m not some saint up here, I'm a 'haint. Thank God, I’ve been washed in the Blood of the Lamb. So, I claim by faith, that I am a saint. I told you, I stood back year after year, I knew the man had something. I knew he had that Word, I couldn’t understand It. But, I knew there was coming a showdown one day, when I would have to believe what he believes. Because he had what I didn’t have.

Now, I’m pretty dumb, but, I’m not that dumb. My eyesight’s not too good, but, it’s not that bad. Sure. See where it fits? There’s got to be a prophet before the Millennium. There’s got to be a prophet before that First Resurrection. And He said, that if he doesn’t come, it’ll all be wiped out. Now, a lot of people don’t like it, but, I do. Isn’t it beautiful to think the whole Word of God goes kaput, if one part’s not filled. It’s nice to know, if it isn’t all there, then, forget it! If part can fail, it’ll all fail. And if God so chooses, that He’s going to wipe the whole thing out if He doesn’t send Elijah, then praise the Lord, let’s have Elijah. Let’s start looking. Let’s start pleading. Let’s start going around. Let’s get our eyes opened. Because everybody’s talking about Heaven, and they’re trying to get there.

43. Now, let’s go back here in,

Matthew 17:11-12 again, and you’ll see these words,

(11) … Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

(12) But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew

him not, but have done unto him (what they wanted, what they

thought was wise). Likewise (they’re going to do it to the Son

of man…

Now, why does He say this? Because Malachi 4:5 has two parts to it. Let’s go back

and look at it. Because Elijah’s already done come. Now, over here He says, He’ll turn the hearts of the fathers to the children. And in Luke 1:13-17, the angel of God explains to Zachariah, what that is. So, let’s take a look at it. Not going to be too hard to find out, if we just look at it, the way It's written.

44. All right, Luke 1:13-17

(13) … the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is (answered, you’ll) call his name John.

And now He says in verse 15,

(15) For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither

wine nor strong drink; …be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

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

Many of the children of Israel…no all, as the many, he shall turn to the Lord their God.

(17) And (John) shall go before (the Lord their God) in the spirit and power of (Elijah), to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, …

45. And no more quote from Malachi 4:5. So, the Spirit of Jesus Christ, titles of the Elijah ministry, was to come upon John and turn the hearts of the fathers to the children. And he explains what it is, because the Word ‘kai’ in the Greek, can be translated ‘even’ which is a preposition, as well as a conjunction ‘and’. And should be; (even) the disobedient, to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Elijah being sent, in order for the coming of the Lord. Turning the disobedient…and the word in the Greek doesn’t mean a willful disregard for a commandment…it means; even those who don’t understand. In other words, the illumination of the understanding by revelation, was John’s job, in order that they receive Christ. Now, there’s going to be reverse. It’s going to happen once more.

Once more the understanding comes back. In other words, the Word of God will be Scripturally oriented. Not, pulled out of context by man’s creeds and dogmas. Not His power nullified by man’s interpretation. But, the Word of God, coming into full view. Thus, there must be another later time, for the same prophetic ministry to come to earth. Jesus said there was.

46. Now, let’s prove it. Acts 3:19-21

(19) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted

out, when the times of refreshing…

That’s a revival breeze, a move of the Holy Spirit.

(19) ...shall come from the presence of the Lord.

That part of anything physical to the eye. Which we know of course, is the miracles. And then It says,

(20) (After that) he shall send Jesus (the) Christ, which …

Was not preached, the word is ‘appointed.’ Christ wasn’t preached, He was there. Did His own preaching.

(21) Whom the heaven must receive (He received, He retained) until…the (restoration) of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all

his holy prophets since the world began.

What is spoken by the mouth of His holy prophets? The Word of God. He’s going to restore It. Now, you don’t take and say, “I’m going to restore this Bible, unless God …” I’ll tell you, I don’t think that what’s over here in Genesis, should read so and so. How do you know what I think it should? No, look, this Book is okay. Don’t you know, Jesus authenticated the first, thirty-nine Books? He did, He authenticated them, beginning at Moses, and all the prophets. He revealed Himself in here, took the whole Book. Authenticated It. If He did it once, He’s got to do it again. Alpha and Omega. And He did it through a prophet, William Branham. I just threw that in, you’ll catch it.

47. Now listen. The Word of God from Moses, truly said the fathers. “A prophet, should the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto Me. Him shall you hear in all things, whatsoever he shall speak unto you.” [Deut 18:5] But, just a minute. All the things are up here, before Jesus comes back. They must have bypassed some of this. As Bro. Branham said, “Everything that he was called to do, He didn’t do in the days of His flesh.” Like over there, where He came to preach deliverance. See? Acceptable year of the Lord. But, he never came to pronounce judgement, divine judgement to comfort those that mourn. That’s yet to be done. He did this part of it, here. See? Now, He’s going to do it again. This time, not thirty-nine Books, but, sixty-six.

Notice, “It’ll come to pass, that every soul (that) will not hear that prophet, (will) be destroyed from among the people.” [Acts 3:23] See? They weren’t destroyed when Jesus was here. That day’s coming. Same spirit. See? But, now in a prophet. Notice, in all the prophets from Samuel. Now, hold it. Verse 22 says, Moses. But, verse 24 says, Samuel. Now we’ve got a little different story here. Jesus was likened unto Moses, because He’d have to get Him away from those bunch of Herod followers, that wanted to kill Him, like Moses. But, not Samuel. He was a little boy brought up in the temple, with visions as a young kid. See? Had the Word, as a little child. Is this, beginning to make sense to you? Come on, you’re not ignorant. Put two and two together. Where am I leading you? Who had visions as little child? See? Got to be an end time prophet, with the same Spirit of God upon him as Moses, which is Jesus Christ. Then, come here like a Samuel, a seer. See? Come here as a child, with his vision. The Word of the Lord cometh. And him, himself, not knowing how to handle It. But, blurt It out, and watch It come to pass. See?

See, that verse 23 there, we read a while ago, come to pass, those who would not hear, their thoughts would be destroyed. See? All the prophets that followed him, all the prophets from Samuel, follow after. As many that spoke of these days, spoke a likewise, foretold of these days. Now, he says, “You’re the sons of the prophet. The covenant which God made with your fathers, and so on.”

48. Now, notice in here, where Peter speaking in here concerning this end time. He says in verse 23, [Acts 3:]

(23) (Those that don’t listen, are going to be destroyed.)

Now, what happens, when the Sixth Seal is opened? Judgement hits the earth for three and one-half years. And everybody but were destroyed, as far as I know Bro. Branham saying, except the 144,000 that go in as eunuchs to take care of the Bride, while she takes care of the Groom. And the Book of Revelation said so, because she follows the Lamb, wherever He goes. The prophet was right. See? He never explained that Scripture to me, but, it’s in there. Then, the righteous come back upon the earth. And they walk on the ashes. How? Like they walked on the ashes or bones in the days of Noah. Where were they? Underneath. We don’t go puff, puff amongst ashes. No, they’re going to be down there. Covered over like in Noah’s day. See? Now, not only does Jesus conclusively tell us, that a great prophetic ministry will arise at the end time. But, he gives us some pertinent information about that end time ministry in Luke 17:

49. Now, Luke 17:22-30 tells us,

(26) And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of

the Son of man (will be).

Notice, ‘as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.’ Now, he doesn’t say the Noah’s coming back. He doesn’t say the Son of man is coming back. He said, the ‘days’ are coming back. So, the days of the Son of man come back, and the ministry comes back, three times and in 'Seventy Weeks of Daniel' [61-08-06] Bro. Branham said, “The ministry of Christ comes back.” And every time he preaches on this, he tells you, “It’s in the Bible.” But, he never told us where, It’s right here. Sure, it’s in the Bible. He expected you and me to find It. You say, “Did he?” Sure, he did. No problem. He said, “Once you understood this Message, and believe it, that’s all you’d see in the Bible.” So, why can’t we see it? Well, let’s see.

It says right here in the Book of Luke. It says the very ministry comes back. He says here, in the 30th verse,

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

Tells us. See? A great revelation at the end time, access the Presence of the Lord. That part which is visible to the eye. What did Jesus say was visible to the eye? He said, “If I had not done the mighty works, which they did. (But He said,) now they have both seen Me and the Father.” [Jn 14:10-12] Why? It was the works. Like creation out here, you don’t see God, you see creation. But, creation shows there’s a God. And that’s all of God you can see. Then, you see a miracle. That’s all of God you see. Then, the revealed Word, then you really see Him. See? Certainly.

50. Now he said, “That’s going to happen.” And these days, …sure it’s the days of Noah, and the days of Sodom, and Gomorrah. See? But, what happened back there? There was a prophet in the days of Noah. Right. What happened in the days of Sodom? A prophet came down. God, in human flesh, came down. Now, the prophet’s not going to be God in human flesh…another reincarnation. It’s going to be the Word. Because that’s where It is. God was in the prophets, …the Bible says so. That’s not strange. If you can believe that He is in you and I, or you and me rather, on the grounds that without Him we’re unsaved, we’re lost. Then what about a man with a prophetic office? That becomes a god to the people, because “He that receives you whom I send, receives Me.” [Matthew 10:40] See? Now, in that day then, here was Abraham, and here came those three men down. And he went to the one, and said, “My Lord.” There, was God. There was Jehovah Elohim. Adonai, call Him what you want. There He was. He recognized Him. What did He do? He revealed the hour of the promised Word.

51. That’s what Amos said. Why he said, “If God’s going to do something, won’t He show it to the prophet first?” So, God said, “If I show Abraham what I’m going to do.” Looking at Abraham, He said, “This time tomorrow, I’m going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.” And He said, “I’m going to see that Sarah has a son.” And with Sarah in there, she began to laugh. And He rebuked her. I want to tell you one thing. God loves to rebuke His church, when they just don’t listen. And they kind of mock His Word, and say, “Well, what’s going on anyway?” See? Bro. Branham before he died, said, “What’s the matter with us? We’re not sober and sincere enough.” Don’t worry, it’s coming. See? Now, He’s talking of the Son of man here, that’s going to be revealed. The great prophet.

He’s talking of what He was to the human race, He will be again. Those days that are passed, will repeat. In other words, the literal ministry of Christ, returns to earth. But not, Jesus Christ Himself, any more than Noah returned in his flesh, either. It’s the days that are in which we will see what accompanied those men. In other words, in our very day, we’ll see what took place in Noah’s day, Sodom’s day, and the days of Jesus Christ, in our very daily living. Now, someone might wonder if we are at the end time or not.

52. Now, let’s see if we’re at the end time. Because this will prove this is the day of Sodom and Gomorrah. Luke 21:21-24 [

(21) Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let

them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that

are in the countries enter thereinto.

(22) For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written

may be fulfilled.

Going on down here, verse 24,

(24) And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away

captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Now, that happened in 70 A D, and it’s been trodden down. But listen, it says it’ll be trodden down until…but, seven years ago this month, and then God does everything in seven’s. Right? Jerusalem was delivered back to Israel. Old and new section, last word I heard, they were building, they were going to build the first section of the new temple, whatever that means I don’t know. I’m not a prophet student. I’m not good at prophecies. I don’t where Bro Branham said too much on it. But, he mentions something about it, a little bit. And now we see by the papers, they’re getting ready to build one section. Just like…prefab. They’ve done it as back in Solomon’s day, they’re doing it now in our day commercially. They’re going to do it over there.

53. Now, Israel is not trodden down. Right. They got Jerusalem. It’s a proper nation. It’s got its own money. Bro. Branham said, “Its own ships, its own flag, its own navy, own merchant marine.” I guess they’ve got their own army and everything else.

They’ve got a fantastic bunch of men over there. God Has used the wrath of man to praise Him. He’s got the Zionists to put money in there, and we’re putting our money in there, over there in Israel. And everything is shaped right up brother/sister. We’re right at the door. Says God does things in seven's, I don’t know just what more seven's He’s going to do. I’m not saying this has got to be it. I don’t know. But, one seven is gone by now. Now we know once more Jerusalem has got to be trodden down for three and a half years. In other words, another mandate, and that’s just what it looks like right now. That mandate is coming, because those Arabs…and I’m not going to fuss at them, let them do what they want. [audio breaks up] …until one day the nations are going to say, “That’s enough.”

54. You’ve had it. They’ll throw an army in there. And once more, it’s trodden under foot. And we should be gone, those three and a half years. Now look, Israel has been out of her homeland for centuries. Listen to me, do you realize if you studied history, that when the Crusaders went there and tried to restore it, and they said, “We’re going to build a temple.” That God sent thunderbolts and lightening to so discomfort them, they couldn’t begin to build. There’s no such thing as Israel going back, until God let them go back. And I don’t care what they try to do, they couldn’t do it. And no man could have put them there. God put them there. And they’re there. And this is the end time. I don’t care if it’s seven more years from now, but, if there’s fourteen as Bro. Branham said, twenty years, a hundred years, I don’t care. We’re in the last days.

I’m not going to live to be a hundred, don’t worry. I didn’t think I’d make sixty. Too bad, I’ll be that this fall if the Lord tarry, and I tarry. I don’t look for too much. Because here it’s fulfilled. Man tried to do it, it wouldn’t work. Why? Because God had an hour. And now you see, they’re in the homeland, Jerusalem is no longer trodden down. Definitely, it is the age of a vindicated prophet. Who brings a Message, to bring the people back to God. That’s for the age, here it is. God said, “I’m going to send you Elijah. I want to bring you back.” It’s going to be at the end time. Going to be a great ministry. See? Going to be the ministry returned to earth. Going to be a terrible time. There’s not been a worse time than today. Now, I know some folks say, “Bro. Vayle, well now, if you read history.”

55. I know about the Roman orgies, I read about them. I know about the Corinthian orgies, I’ve read about them. Let me tell you something. They were not enlightened. We are enlightened. We’re supposed to be civilized. We’re supposed to have science and a few things they didn’t have. We’re the lousiest bunch of the works. We’ve got less to show than any of them, because we have been enlightened. We have had centuries of training. Today, our knowledge is increasing. Listen, in a couple more years, I understand by science, that knowledge will double itself, every six months on a computer. Look what they can do with it. They’d had dedicated themselves for righteousness, we could’ve been a nation that would’ve said, “Come Jesus, we’re ready for you.” But, oh brother, you better not try it now. You become the seed of the serpent.

That’s right. Our science has done us nothing, but done us in. Like…what’s it done for us? It’s done us in, that’s what it’s done for us. If you want to know the truth. Like Bro. Branham said about that lady, when her son came out he said, “Mama, what happened? What did the doctors give you?” She said, “They gave me up.” That’s all they could give her…they gave her up. She died. That’s where we are. We’ve been done in by science. They haven’t done a thing for us. Bro. Branham said, “Truly we are the most barbaric people of the Age?” Oh, we heard about Genghis Khan, and the Tartars and all the church and all those things. Sure, sure, I know. But listen, they didn’t have what we have. They didn’t have it. Listen, back in those days, they fought bloody wars, in order to get material to live by.

56. Today, we could help each other. We’re not doing it. No. We’re in a bad shape today. Now, here is where William Marrion Branham comes in. He had the very ministry I have spoken of, which is ‘Thus Saith the Lord’. He was born to it, like Samuel. As a tiny child, he had visions which came to pass then, and years later. Not one of those visions failed. At the age of seven, the ministry of Moses, that prophet ministry, …remember, I don’t know where Samuel ever had the Pillar of Fire come like Moses did. But, at the age of seven, William Branham on Uttica Pike, the Pillar of Fire descended, and God met him face to face. When he entered the ministry in 1933…I don’t mean he entered the ministry then, but, in 1933 having gone to the ministry, …God gave him Seven Major Visions before the end time.

#1) Mussolini in Ethiopia. He’d take some faulty steps, then die in disgrace, with his woman friend. They did.

#2) That the three mighty ‘isms’ of the world, Communism, Fascism, and Nazism would all go in to one…Communism. Watch Russia, watch Russia, with the kings of the north. (that’s what the Voice said.)

#3) He saw the rise of Hitler with the Second World War, it’s terrible American destruction at the Siegfried line. Roosevelt’s fourth term, because of it.

#4) He saw the moral decay of American womanhood, by their undressed condition, which we’ve got today. (I’m glad Bro. Branham’s gone, not to see it, because I don’t think you people really understood, unless you’re with him, as some us were. How distressed he was, because of women.)

Only once in a while, you get a hint on a tape, if you didn’t know what’s behind it, you didn’t understand, but he was terribly distressed, because of womanhood. He was not a woman hater. But he sorrowed terribly because of what they were coming into. As he saw, and we couldn’t. And they have gone almost the entire limit, until women have so debauched themselves, that they are literally worse than animals. I don’t mean our sisters here, but I mean what’s in the world today, and what we’re coming to even more.)

#5) He saw advanced technology, which was symbolized in the remotely controlled vehicle. And we have remote controls all over the world today.

#6) He also saw, America…a woman, beautiful but cruel and terrible in power, rise. He said, “I do believe it’s the Catholic Church.” And said it was, later on.

#7) The seventh vision was America bombed out. A land of craters by the atomic bomb.

57. These visions were for the world. Now notice, I would say that six of them have certainly come to pass. See? They’ve come to pass. Our science, it’s here to stay. It’s just a matter of going on and on. You don’t need to wait to see what’s going to happen. It’s all on the drawing boards already for it. See? We’ll soon be bombed. But, that’s all right, we’ll be gone. These visions were for the world. But, he had thousands for individuals who came to him for help. That’s visions and help. Not one ever failed. See? On a matter of interest, how many of you folks ever went to Bro. Branham and he had a vision which was exactly right? Let me, see your hands.

57. I’ve got one more here. Let me see more. You’ve got Jack? Someone. Put your hands up, then, you’re not ashamed of it, are you? I can see the man’s hands better. That’s good. Well, if we had all the people here except for Bro. Branham, you’d see thousands and thousands of hands. Where Bro. Branham had thousands of visions, there never one was wrong. Everyone was one hundred percent correct. And everybody admitted it. See? Now, and when any vision was predictive, it came to pass, like six of those seven we already saw. All it takes remember, is one prediction, ‘Thus Saith the Lord’, to make you listen. That Mussolini took Ethiopia, and then died as he did, was all we needed, but will never come back on God and say, “Lord, You should have sent some more.” He’ll say, “I sent you six more.” In our case, this day would be five more, because some will not see the bomb.

You see I sent your full number, man’s number six. Why don’t you do something about it? See? All it takes is one. Just one vision is enough…that comes to pass. He gave it to the world, thought the world was not impressed. He gave much to the church world. But, they called him ‘a devil’, or said, “Well, he was such a nice fella, but he’s mixed up. But, you see, when you go off the Word, well…you’re finished. Now, why was he repudiated? Just like all the prophets were. They said different from the hierarchy. And from the independents, too. They said, “This, is the Word, not your interpretation.” But, he had the proof that his was the interpretation. And notice, he was turned away, in the face of a ministry, identified, and vindicated, by God. I told you before, what happened in Canada, when I first saw Bro. Branham, in ’47.

58. It was there before about three thousand people, about fifteen hundred or so, had prayer cards, and needed healing. That little man stood before the congregation and he said, “Now you will have to vote who have prayer cards. (But he said,) Tonight bring me your twenty-four worst cases, I guarantee healing for all. (Or, he said,) all who go through the prayer line, or may choose to do so, where sixty percent get healed. How many want to see the miracles?” Hardly a hand, if any went up. I don’t know if mine went up, I was out of the picture, I had no prayer card anyway. He said, “How many want to go through the prayer line?” They went through. But, do you know folks, that night there wasn’t one miss out of about fifteen hundred. Not twenty-four guaranteed miracles, but, sixty times that number. But, when they didn’t take up the challenge, they did in Texas, I think somewhere near Brownsville, but, I’m not sure.

They said, “Bring me the worst case you can find, (he said) I’ll guarantee healing.” They brought a little girl, Spanish girl, I believe she was…a little Mexican girl. And in my understanding, I use this vernaculus phraseology, …she must have looked like a dish of cold, cooked spaghetti, she was so horribly mangled. About twelve years of age. He said, “Start singing choruses.” Took the little girl on his knees, and started praying. She ran down that aisle, a brand-new creature, with flesh on her body. Guaranteed. You show me in this world of three billion, maybe four hundred million people, you bring all three billion people, four hundred million, all together cannot even guarantee my little tiny hangnail I’ve got here on my finger, and say, “Heal it.”

59. They say, “Well Bro, Vayle, you’ve got to have faith.” And I say, “Hogwash,” charistically I say, “I want you to do it.” What’s a hangnail between friends? You’ve got the power of God, do it. Not that it couldn’t be done by them. If I came their way. But, when I said, “I challenge you, make it ‘Thus Saith the Lord’, do it.” They’ll not do it, because they can’t do it. But, William Branham could say, “Bring me twenty-four.” And failing twenty-four, about sixty times that number. I was there, brother/sister. Not one deaf, but heard. Not one dumb, but spoke. Not one blind, but saw. Not one crippled, but was healed. The most horrible cases you’ve ever saw. Legs, unwound. See? I know people say, “Oh, I’ve got great ministries.” And then, Bro. Branham’s ministry faded away. They say, “Ha, ha, told you so. He made himself a big fellow.” Then, Jesus made Himself a fool, because His ministry faded too. It’s always been that way. See?

Always was, always will be that way. Dr. Price’s ministry faded. Bosworth’s ministry faded. That’s the way it’s got to be. Why? Because vindication is for the greater, which is the Word of God, to be revealed. That’s what’s going to bring you to the kingdom. What are you born of? A miracle? No. The Word of God, which lives and abides forever, while America perishes. It’s an eye opener. It’s an eye catcher. It’s what brings the bee to the honey. But, let’s get to the meat. How often I heard Bro. Branham mention, how that when he prayed for the sick, in discernment, he could say, “Look, this is like the wrappings on a loaf of bread.” We’d talk about it. “Because you don’t want the wrappings on a loaf of bread, (he said) you want the bread.” Now he said, “This just startled you. This just makes you to see. Come to the bread.” But, he was working beyond just the bread of healing.

60. That’s crumbs. He was trying to get us to the loaf…which is Christ, and be part of that Bride. See? Certainly, that’s how it is. Now, when he first went to the public at forty-six, he was given a sign in his hand. It could get red and angry looking colors, because you know, he saw the disease. Then he said, “God has told me, there’s going to be a change, I’ll read men’s hearts.” And in 1950, in Regina, Sk. a man came to the platform and spoke to him right there, He read the men’s heart. And the Pillar of Fire was taken in 1950 in Houston, Tex. Where they realized that something supernatural was come back to earth. In 1963 by supernatural revelation, he brought the revelation of the Seven Seals. Which have been hidden in mystery in the Word of God. How did he do it? Well, how do you know he did it? See? That’s the idea. Anybody can come and say, they’d likely come to me and say…

I remember a young kid came to me one day, and he said, “Bro. Vayle, I want to talk to you.”

I said, “Sure.” I said, “Son, what is it?”

He said, “I want to tell you, Bro. Branham did wrong opening them Seals.”

I said, “He did?”

He said, “Yeah. Because I’m supposed to do it.” [laughter]

I said, “By what authority?”

He said, “Because Bro. Barson (I think he said) laid hands on me and prophesied.”

And I said, “Hogwash.” I said, “Son, where is your vindication?”

He said, “I had hands laid on me.”

I said, “So have I had hands laid on me.”

61. Anybody can talk. Give me one, ‘Thus Saith the Lord’. Where is it? You say, “What do you mean Bro. Vayle, do you believe that you stand on the fact that Bro. Branham had an absolute, vindicated, ministry, pure and perfect from God, to bring us the perfect revelation, to his Word for this hour?” I do. And on what grounds? Because he had, ‘Thus Saith the Lord’. Now, you show me the fellow that’s got it. Nobody. Nobody, just he alone had it. Other men had visions. Isn’t it when he said, “Thus Saith the Lord’ they went shhhpp to the ground. I’ve got a man’s handwriting right now. Got his name on all of it, he said, “Bro. Branham should never say ‘Thus Saith the Lord’, because it could fail. But, I’ll tell you, it never failed. The guy misunderstood, then he tried it, it failed, so that meant it would always fail. But, it didn’t fail, because Bro. Branham didn’t fail.

Not once, once would have been enough. For me to come and tell you, that I was there, would have been enough. You’d stand condemned on judgement day, to turn me down. Because I was there. You didn’t have to be there. But It did, thousands of times. Never one failure. A vindicated man, with ‘Thus Saith the Lord’, and what does It say? Hear him, fear him. Let’s go back in our mind. How much fear did we have? How much fear do we have now? How much did we hear then? How much do we hear now? Yeah, that’s true. Fear him, hear him. Put it together, what do you get? You get Revelation 22:18-19. For the end time.

62. Let’s read what It says about your day and my day. [Revelation 22:]

(18) For I testify unto every man that heareth…

Now, Br. Branham said ‘hear’ means to understand, that’s true it does. You’ve got to have ears to hear. Not just organs, now organs of hearing, that’s not it. It’s Spiritual revelation.

(18) … unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book,

If any man … (adds) … God (will) add unto him the plagues…

Great Tribulation can only happen now.

(19) And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and

out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

You know, take away his name. Is that, right? Certainly. Now verse 20.

(20) He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, … Lord Jesus.

When this Word comes to this place. Come on, but not before. When it comes to where you know that you have got by divine authority, a man with ‘Thus Saith the Lord’, to neither add nor take, but bring that revelation, to a honed, perfect, finish. ‘Thus Saith the Lord’, “…Even so, come, (quickly, it’s the hour of His Appearing).” [Rev 22:20]

63. Now listen Revelation 10:4

(4) …Seal up the things that the seven thunders had uttered…

Sure, it did. Said, “Seal them up.” That’s what It said to do. And they were sealed up. Just like the Bible said. What about verse, [Revelation] 22:10

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

Somewhere between Revelation 10: to Revelation 22: somebody’s got to come and unseal it. Who’s going to do it? I don’t want anybody, but a man that’s got ‘Thus Saith the Lord’. I don’t care how he can prophesy, how he can preach, how much money he’s got, how big his university is, how big are his museums, how worldwide his fame is. I don’t care how many people he’s got, I want ‘Thus Saith the Lord’. Now listen. I may not understand all he said. I may even be a false teacher. I’ve got no proof in vindication. I’m not vindicated. I’m not infallible. I’ve said it hundreds of times, and hundreds of tapes, it’s going on again tonight. Don’t look to me. I haven’t got it. I’ve got no fight with any man, you believe it any way you want. But, I know one thing, this Message as he preached It, as he understood It, as he brought It, with ‘Thus Saith the Lord’.

64. Is going to be my judge, and your judge, if we miss it. And if by the grace of God, we are part of It, our names will remain. There will be no plaques, no curse, there’ll just be glory. So, God sent a vindicated prophet, to bring us back to God. Just like It says in Malachi. But, the average man says, “Just a minute now, are you trying to tell me, I who have been born again. I whose life has been changed. I who have been full of the Holy Ghost in signs and wonders, you mean to tell me I am away from God?” Look, I’m not telling you nothing. Pardon the language. You’ve done been told that, “He that hath an ear, heareth, and he that hath an eye, readeth. And he that’s got a mind, perceiveth.” I’m not telling you anything. Either way, Scripture was the Bible says, Elijah was just going to turn the few that turned away, the rest of you already have got it made, bless your little hearts.

He said, “If I don’t turn back those, I’ll just take the whole kit and caboodle off, they’ll all die. You say, “Well, I wasn’t turned away from God.” Well, that’s you can say what you want, I don’t mind what you say. I’m going to say this, I tried hard, I struggled, I believed God. I prayed, I fasted. I went every route I could to attempt to find a bigger source of light, revelation and love, and knowledge in Jesus Christ.

65. But, I’ll tell you this, if I had thought that Message was according to what the Word is here tonight, I’d be lost as lost can be. I’d have to tell you flat, that I’d been turned from God, and been turned away. My brother/my sister listen. Listen, I don’t have to be a genius, a student of the utmost in semantics, the most proper grammar, or perfect exegesisian, I don’t know those things. All I got to be just simple to understand God sent a man, just like the Word says.

And He said He’d turn my heart back. Well, I’ve got faith He’s done it. I didn’t even have enough brains to know I was done turned away. I thought I’d done turned pretty good. I used to take courses on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and teach six and eight weeks at a crack. Seven and eight hours a night, you know. No, maybe not quite six and eight weeks. It would take me about two weeks to cover the subject. I’d take six and eight weeks and take time in between, maybe. But, take hours and hours on one subject, and maybe on discerning of Spirits take three, four nights in a row. Three to four hours and just keep talking, tell what I knew from the Word of God, in experience and all. But, He was something, I was all wrong. Yeah. I was all wrong. Yeah. But, the Scripture was so good, and the experience was so rich, and the people were so nice, Oh…then one day, the prophet came. And he said, “Bring me twenty-four of your worst cases.”

What are you going to do? Why, I can talk to the folks for hours like I’m doing tonight, and who knows who is getting any good at all? I’ve got no proof. But, a prophet came. See? It’s his Message, not mine. Not what I say what counts, or even what I say about it. It’s what he said. God proved He sent him, no doubt about it. You mean to tell me, God is such a kind of a God, that He’d let a man have ‘Thus Saith the Lord’, and that not be His man. Now, you know I’ve often said and I mean it, that if you’re less honest, or you’re crook and less truthful, you’re a liar.

66. Now, I’m going to tell you something. You tell anybody in this service here tonight, that I promised every one of you free lunch. I’ll call that first guy a bare-faced liar, if he’s shaven. Or, a fuzzy-faced liar, if he’s got his beard on. Because I didn’t say it. And, I’ve got no honor. What should I worry about? I can’t do anything, anyway when I’m dead and gone, I’m gone. But, God’s a God of honor. You think for one minute that God Almighty would then back up a man with ‘Thus Saith the Lord’ would come to pass, he wasn’t God’s man? Oh, come on now. That’s why once is enough. Not twice, not three times, once is enough. You say, “Why don’t you tremble in my presence?”

That’s why I stand with what he said, not with what I say about it. Of course, I try to say what’s right about it. Where is my proof? See? I believe what he said. And we all believe. By grace, we’re hitting that mark, in the name of Jesus Christ. God proved who that man was. And I hope He gives me my proof, that I’ve stayed with this Word. See? Yes, it’s time for that prophet to turn the hearts of the children back to the fathers.

67. For the day of the Gentile is all but over. Now, I know to some, it might be a strange doctrine. Because people are just so satisfied, and they say, “How can I be wrong? Because I just feel I’m so right.” That His thoughts are not our thoughts. And He said concerning His thoughts of this day, he said, “You say you’re rich and increased in goods, and have need of nothing. But let me tell you something. You’re wretched, you’re miserable, you’re poor, you’re naked, you’re blind. I’m going to send you Elijah, but, you’re going to turn him down.” When he comes on the scene, you’ll just hunt him from church to church and say, “Don’t let that fellow Branham in because you know, he’s got oneness doctrine. Don’t let that fellow come in because after all, he says women can’t preach. And you know our dear sisters, you couldn’t tell them not to wear slacks because sure, they’re better than the wind blowing their skirts around. Sure, sure.

And why shouldn’t they cut their hair? After all, why should you bother with your hair? What’s that got to do with it anyway? You know, the fellow had a great ministry, but you know it kind of went to his head, and he thought he was somebody. Now, he really was nobody.” That’s what they said. Hunt Him from synagogue to synagogue. Crucified the Word that He brought. Put Him to an open shame. Both, the prophet and the Word. How would you feel if you had ‘Thus Saith the Lord’, and cried day and night. You’d had tortured your heart and your mind, year after year, whether you were of God or not, wondering yourself. Then the full vindication revelation, how would you feel if they looked at you and say, “Well, Bill, if it hadn’t been for those guys around you like Lee Vayle and some of those birds, you’d be all right.”

68. As God is my judge, I had nothing to do with that man’s thinking. But, he sure had, I hope, a lot to do with mine. See? They turned Him down. And He said, “When you turn them down, you turn Me down.” You say, “Bro. Vayle, are you trying to make that man like Jesus Christ?” Look brother/sister, I want to tell you something flat. I don’t care how much you believe the Blood, and how much you believe you’ve got the Holy Ghost. Something tells me in my heart, that something’s awful wrong somewhere, when Scripture contradicts Scripture. Somebody’s wrong, it’s not God. Bring it into line, and you’ll find that God ensured the Blood. Ensured the power of the Holy Spirit, by bringing a man, to bring us to reality. The Lord bless you. Shall we pray.

Our kind, Heavenly Father, we thank You tonight that You have fulfilled before our eyes, the Word of the hour that You said would come before our vision, to turn us back to You. Lord, sometime we get a little bit of a bad feeling in our hearts just wondering how far we’ve been turned back. But, we know that grace turns it all the way back. And it won’t be long until it’s going to go back to originality. That this Word which was in the beginning with You, and has now come down in our mortal flesh, is going to go back clothed, in a beautiful glorified flesh. Going to go back, Lord. Turned all the way back. Because You said, “When Elijah came, it would be time for a Resurrection, and a Rapture.” Lord, tonight we haven’t tried to eulogize Bro. Branham. You know that I kept away an awful lot I could’ve said about him.

Just trying to show how he fit with this Word, that he was literally, a part of that Word. Because you said to the Messenger of Laodicea, and he wasn’t even born. That’s about two thousand years ago that You said that. And here he is now, Lord, the very one you were talking to, which would be on earth. Like You said about John the Baptist. Here he was. The seventh Messenger sounding, a prophet, bringing us the Word, and taking us back. Lord, I know that there isn’t one of us here that’s going to say, “I’ve got it all down so perfect.” So, there’s not a word added or taken, the way I do it. No, there’s not one. We know the prophet had It. Lord, I’m standing on Your Word, with these people tonight, said, ‘Thus Saith the Lord’, according to the Word which is there in Deuteronomy. It’s come to pass, Lord. We’re standing on It.

Lord, we’re not a deceived people. We’re not a smart people. We’re not a segregated people, as though we did this on our own. But, Father, tonight we just hope people will understand why we believe what we believe. Why we do what we do, and stand where we stand. Father, thank You for sending Bro. Branham. Thank You, Lord, that You did it for us. And we’re so glad, that You gave us the opportunity to at least try to come in and be a part of It. And, Lord, we saw You with our eyes. That part of You that was visible. The wonders and the signs, and the infallible coming to pass of ‘Thus Saith the Lord’. And we want to tell You, we appreciate it. And, Lord, even if we didn’t make the Rapture, we want to say, “Lord, thank You.” It sure was wonderful Lord to see It.

That You let our eyes see It. If It even condemned us, which we don’t believe it’s going to, we want to say, “Look what You did.” And we were able to just come by and even gaze at. And that’s mighty wonderful Lord, in the face of the fact that there’s about three billion people here in the world. Maybe quite a few more. And, Lord, if we got this close, it’s just been mighty wonderful. It’s just been so good to see that the Bible could come to life. Lord, we just may be like the little lady after the great hurricane. Who, after the buildings were all destroyed, and the trees uprooted, still jumps up and down singing, “Glory to God.” What a great God, if He is greater than that hurricane. And Lord, we may have to stand afar off and say, “What a great God, who brought a prophet on the scene.” I don’t believe we will, Lord, but, by faith we’re trusting we won't. If we had to, we’re still going to be in that class. Mighty God Thou Art. Great, Eternal One, who looked down upon us, and showed Himself.

Proved and brought to us His Word of the hour. That’s marvelous. That’s wonderful. How fortunate. What a graced people we are, by the grace of God. Lord, I pray that we’ll have a better, deeper resolve in our hearts, to follow this Word by spiritual revelation, and letter by letter, for that’s in simple obedience to. Help each one, Lord, to get every heart right before each other. But, especially with Thee. And may we all go on serving You. Following closely in this Word to the best of our ability. Watching carefully, and praying that not one of us lose one word from this grace which has been given to us. Oh, may it be everything to us. Dear, dying Lamb, the purchase was too great, that we should... The vindication was too manifest, that we should turn it down. Forgive our insincerity, and our stupidity, Lord. Our ignorance …?...

Lighten us with Thy Life, O God, until our whole heart, and mind, and soul, and body is a light for Christ. We pray these mercies in Your Name, Lord. Thank You Jesus, for Your goodness to us. I pray, Lord, that not one of us but, what shall be a better fruit bearer in Christian Word, as never before. And unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be all power and honor and glory for ever more. Amen.

The Lord bless you. Before I took the pulpit, Bro. Palmer had Bro. Cabra lead in that chorus that Bro. Branham took around the world… ‘Only Believe’. We know now that chorus was simply to get us to believe for healing. But, to believe that he brought that Word, which, we should believe. I wonder tonight, if we cannot sing that little chorus with deeper meaning than ever before. And greater understanding…only believe. Because faith comes from by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Shall we rise at this time, …Bro Cabra. [Bro. Cabra leads the congregation in the singing of ‘Only Believe’.