1972-LV Mysteries of God

I'm happy to be back here with you tonight, and I think I was here in April of 75, if I remember correctly, from a little note I have in the book, where I try to remember what little message I brought.

Services, of course, want the society again, which gives you a chance to take a little rest in between. Some folks come from quite a distance, and also it gives me an opportunity, too, to not struggle so hard with my astrology. It's

on Sunday morning, and then also Sunday evening, or whatever time the service is on Sunday. Some services are in the afternoon on various places, and others in the morning and night. So we'll be with some various subjects, I think, might be interesting, especially one that's very interesting to me. the end -time mystery of how close the two spirits are, where the Bible says that man doesn't know the difference between righteousness and unrighteousness. And, of course, there's the great deception of unrighteousness within the Church. And that's the reason I'm going to bring a message tonight on the mysteries of God. I won't attempt to take anything specific, but we'll study them generally in order to... go into the mystery of iniquity on Friday night, or rather, yes, Friday night, the mystery of iniquity. But this will give you an understanding of the mysteries themselves, basically, so we have a better understanding of the Bible and the speaks of these various mysteries. Now, I don't know just how long I'll take, so without further ado, let's just bow our heads and ask the Lord to help us in this part of the service. Faith is heavenly father, we know that thou art. nor the God who is far off, but the God who is now. And, Lord, you've made it in this end time so that you can be amongst anybody who wants to believe, regardless of their creed or their dogma, their condition, and your manifest force and gifts. And that's fine for those, Lord, and we appreciate your great ability to do wonderful things amongst us, but we know there's something greater than that, and that is your spirit in us. to show us all the truth, lead us into all truth, keep us out of error, to keep us out of the end -time destruction, which is so perverse and ubiquitous that only the very elected will not be deceived. And so, Lord, we thank you tonight that you're not only the end of those who call upon you, but you endow them to give us the truth that our hearts need tonight, a man to not live by bed alone, but every word that he reads out of the mouth of God. Lord, we pray now you be with the mouth and with the ear, Lord, that there might be an understanding of your words as we carefully give you the glory in Jesus' name. Amen. Now, if you'd like to turn tonight to just one little scripture, Revelation 10 and 7, and we'll read many more. But in the days of the voice of the seventh messenger, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as God had declared by his servant the prophet. Now, in the Bible there are many mentions of many mysteries, and of course they are all to be finished at the end time, brought into illumination and consternation according to the word of God. They'll be revealed by the seventh church age messenger. Now, some of these mysteries that the Bible sets forth are such as the mystery of godliness. Over in 1 Timothy, the third chapter, Verse 16 says, without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, king of angels, priest under the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. Then there is the mystery of iniquity. That's just, I suppose, the very opposite to the mystery of godliness. That's over in 2 Thessalonians 2 and 7. But the mystery of iniquity does already work. Only he that now hindereth will hinder till he be taken out of the way. Then there's a mystery concerning Israel's blindness. How that as much as you try to work amongst Israel and keep by the scripture, they just don't come in. And that's over in Romans 11, verse 25. I would not, brethren, you be ignorant of this mystery. Lest you should be wise in your own conceits that blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And, of course, there is that mystery of the great harlot, the Babylonian system that is set forth in Revelation, the 17th chapter, and in verse 5. And

upon her forehead is the name of the mystery of Babylon the Great, the mother of the harlot and the abomination of the earth. And, of course, there's another mystery in 1 Corinthians, the 15th chapter, in verse 15. And this mystery is about how there's going to be a people get into the resurrection or get the same thing as the resurrection without dying. Because you've got to die to be resurrected.

In that 15th verse, Behold, I show you a mystery. We shall not all flee, but we shall all be changed. Now, these are just a few of the mysteries. in the Bible. And the reason I brought these to your attention is because in each place the word mystery is set forth in connection with the thematic structure, whether it be the mystery of godliness, mystery of agony, the mystery of Israel's blindness, the mystery of Babylon the harlot, the mystery of a bride who obtains the same result as though she died, and yet she doesn't die. Now, let us consider what a mystery is. Because I'm afraid here is where many people simply don't know what a mystery is because they haven't gone to the Bible to find out. Now, first of all, it is certainly not something about which we can know nothing, or there would be no point in even mentioning it. You know, as soon as people hear that word mystery, they sort of say, well, that lets me out. Now, look, the Bible doesn't do foolish things like that. The mystery is not something about which you can know nothing. and just call it by name, that's about as bad as maybe going to the catalog to get yourself away. It never gets you. Well, I got a white razor. I ordered it from Sears Roebuck or somewhere, but I never got to know it. It's just that silly to think there's a mystery in the Bible and you can know nothing about it. God doesn't do things like that. They're in there so we can know something about them. Now, not only is it something that we can know something about, but neither is it something that's so mysterious that it can't be comprehended. See, the word mystery is too much connected with our English word mysterious. See? And this shows us. So, well, I think those mysteries are so mysterious and hard to know. You just leave him alone. Now, that's wrong. Because my text says, at the end time, the mystery of God would be perfected and consummated. It would be brought in to a full revelation. Now, what is a mystery? This is the thing we should find out from the Word of God, all right? Let's go to Romans, the 16th chapter, and let's look at verse 25. Now, now to him. That is a power to establish you according to my gospel. Now the word K in the Greek can be translated even. Not just and. And many times when you use even, you'll notice how much more sensible it is. Now to him that is a power to establish you according to my gospel. Even the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery. Now. I'll read a little further. Which was kept secret since the world began. I'll tell you right here that according to the revelation of the mystery. Now, if you get a revelation of a mystery, then it can't be mysterious any longer because it's been revealed to you. In other words, the mysterious element has actually been taken out so that you can comprehend or understand what is being spoken about. Now, let me read this in a more literal translation for you. Romans 16, 25. Now to one, that's God, who has the power to establish you, according to my gospel, even the proclamation concerning Jesus Christ, according to the uncovering, drawing back the curtain, redeeming, the mystery, which during eternal times... has been kept in silence, but now has been made known. See, there might have been a time when you couldn't know anything for sure about it. There was a time when you had simply been guessing to hazard an opinion. There was a time when this subject was not forthcoming. That was a long time ago. But it says, has been made known. known through prophetic writings according to the mandate of the eternal God, having been made known with a due to the obedience of faith among all nations. Now, how are you going to obey anything that's faith if you don't know what you're getting into? How can you have obedience unless you know what is set before you to obey?

to God alone wise, to Jesus Christ, to him be glory forever and ever. Now let me read it again. Now the one, that's God, who is a power to establish you according to my gospel. Now you can say that even. Even the proclamation concerning Christ. Now, watch this. There's a power to establish according to my gospel. What is that gospel? All right. Even the proclamation concerning Jesus Christ. Now what about? What about that proclamation? Listen. According to the uncovering of the mystery. Which during eternal times has been kept in silence. But now has been made known. Not in silence anymore. It's been proclaimed. It's been talked about. It's been gone into the news. Now. Has been made known through prophetic writings. according to the mandate of God. God commands to bring these mysteries into view, bringing them so that we may have a revelation and know what they are about. What for? In order to obey them. Now, you know from what this definition I read, this certainly is telling you an awful lot about William Brown's message for the end time. Didn't he say, if you said you'd believe me, why didn't you believe me? See? All right. So God alone wise, through Jesus Christ, will ever and ever be glorified by a man gave to God. God gave the command that these mysteries be brought into you. Now, he tells you here that the eternal word, which to me is God's full knowledge. Some of it's in the book. Some of it's not in the book. Say, well, what do you mean it's not in the book? What about the times the other man told you to seek it to your heart? That wasn't in here. St. Almighty God said it. That same foreknowledge of thus said the Lord that you saw demonstrated, here it is. Now, God's eternal word, God's foreknowledge can be made known. It has been made known, says the Apostle Paul, so it is now knowable. Now, let's look at this in Ephesians, the third chapter, 1

to 7. For this cause I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ, the Gentile, the apostle Gentile, who if you have heard of the distance faith in the grace of God which is given me to you, Lord, how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery.

Now, we're going to read something in parentheses here. As I wrote afore in a few words, whereby when ye read ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ. So you see, a mystery is very knowable. Very knowable. But mystery which in other generations, not ages, that's the wrong word, generations, was not made known unto the sons of men as it is now revealed. See? Now it wasn't that somebody didn't know it way back there. But they didn't know it like they know it now. And that's exactly where we are today in Revelation 10 and 7. There is no age to know what we know and how we know it. See? Okay? Now let's read on. It is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. Notice that's why your apostles had that great ministry. Some of them were actually apostles and prophets. God revealing the mysteries to them. And remember, the apostles and prophets are the foundation of the Church. These are the two cornerstones. But the Church is built upon revelation. So if the apostolic prophetic revelation of God, the amen that we're dealing in, makes you feel good, doesn't it? Just think about all these goodies. Now, it says here that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel. That's one of those great mysteries right there. Now you tell me, is that a mystery today? Not at all. That's a tale of ice water.

Yes, very quickly. Here it is. Whereof I was made a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Colossians, the fourth chapter, and in verse three. All right. With all praying also for us that God would open unto us a door of utterance to see. The mystery of Christ, for which I am also involved. Now, wouldn't that be something that Paul was going to tell the people, something they couldn't know anything about, or was so mysterious they couldn't get it?

Now, what would that do to this faith, Brother Bannon said, that everybody's got faith? Ordinary hyssop, exemplified faith, which anybody could have to come to pass. Now, Paul's going to see something so vast and so great, so complicated, so unknowable. It doesn't add up, does it? No. All right. 1 Corinthians, the fourth chapter. I'll give you Colton Brother Brandon pretty soon, so don't worry. I'm building up here. 1 Corinthians 4 and 1. Let a man so account of us as the ministers of Christ, even stewards of the mysteries of God. What is a steward? A steward is a man who controls and disposes, dispenses. and uses for the welfare and good of his master what his master puts in his charge. That's a third. In plain English, to make it simpler, a third is simply a man who has given the wealth of a wealthy person, and he is supposed to administer it in such a way as to do his master real credit. So Paul was a third of the mysteries of God. In other words, he was to minister those mysteries in such a way as to bring a fruitful abundance of that which he ministered right back to the man who owned it. Ministers, all right? 1 Corinthians 13 and 2. And

though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries. And yet people say you can't understand them. I thought the Bible told you. See, that's somebody got his own idea in there. And when he got his own idea there, he got tricked by the devil. So the devil could say, now you can't understand that. Well, that's the next page. Well, that's the next page. Well, you're going to go through that Bible until you understand anything. And, well, that isn't sensible, is it? No, it's not sensible. All right? Let's go now to Mark, the fourth chapter, and

verses 11 and 12, I think, will do it. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. But unto them that I without, all these things are done in terrible, that seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest at any time they should be converted and their sins should be forgiven. Now you put that... in the sense of you and me receiving revelation from God, which is what we're supposed to do. And what are we supposed to have? In seeing, we see, we perceive. Hearing, we understand. And deconverted, turn right back to God. Anytime you slip, the Word brings you right back. See? And our sins are forgiven. Now, it says the Word doesn't have this for you, but we have it. We are to know. to understand, to see, perceive these things which are from God. Now, the students of religious history, which history they deal with from the times the Apostle Paul had this to say about the word mystery. Perhaps many of you have read it in your dictionaries. Among the ancient Greeks, the mystery were religious rites and ceremonies. practiced by secret societies into which anyone who so desired might be received. Those who were initiated into these mysteries became possessors of certain knowledge which was not intended to be uninitiated and were called the perfected. Isn't that what Jesus said here in Mark? He said, you don't belong to those that are to that other group. They are not initiated into our group. If they were initiated into or investured and they were part of us, then they would be able to see and hear and know. See? But he says they will be able to. Now, what we're doing here is showing you that the word Paul used as mystery was an ordinary word of the day. It was a knowledge that you got only from certain teachers. And when you received that knowledge, you were called one of the perfect. Now, that's the illustration as from the ancient writings. Now, let's notice exactly how true and perfect this is, along with what we're reading. First Corinthians, I'm sorry. First Corinthians, the second chapter. All right. Let's read 1 to 10. And I, brethren... When I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. Now, a while back he said it was an issue. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Christ and in truth divine. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words and man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and power. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. How be it? We seek wisdom among them that are perfect. It's the same thing. If you belong to this group, you're perfect. You'll understand it. You've been trained. There won't be foolishness here. Remember the cross of Jesus Christ was foolishness to the Greeks and was a thumbing stone to the Hebrews once. John the Baptist came and he said, Behold the Lamb of God that taketh us into the world. And they said, You're pointing at a man. He said, I know I'm pointing at a man. That's the Lamb of God. They said, Now hold it right there, bud. Where do you find in Scripture that God said he could take a human being, the Lamb? If the Lamb we take and shed blood, we are forbidden to sacrifice the human offering. So get out while the going is good. Right? You

see, you're not going to sell them anything. It's stumbling block. God says, You don't sacrifice human beings. Now who's going to sacrifice one? You can understand. See? But to them that are perfect, well, they said, that's Isaiah 50, please. They understand the life of the animal could not come back upon the believer. But the life of the man could come back upon a man, giving him eternal life, if so be that man had eternal life to give by the grace of God. Now, what about those groups? Well, they snorted. They said, this fellow is the son of God. Oh, they said, the God's been coming down for years to have our women and have babies by him. We have all of you. Now you're telling me that this God came down in human form and then he died for people? You missed it. Our God don't do that. They have a ball. They beat us over the head. They throw lightning bolts at us, thunderbolts and storms. Oh, we can't see. But to the initiated. To those that belong. See? Why, they said, that's God. Look at his Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. He was the Father, but now he wants to express himself as perfect Father, so he does it as Son of Man. And he came down here as a sacrifice. Then he said he stood back as the Holy Ghost. Well, that makes great sense. If you tell that to the fellow down in the scene, in the Trinitarian scene, he's right now, he's blood -burning, and he's in bad shape. He can't follow you at all.

He isn't with you. He hasn't been brought into ministry. His brother right here. Let me let my hand before my face. Oh, say that's clear. See? Oh, my brother, sister, we're living in the realms of revelation today of the mysteries of God. That's the truth. Now, but we seek the wisdom of God in a mystery. Even the hidden wisdom, the hidden mystery wisdom, which God ordained before the world under our glory. which none of the princes of this world knew. For had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Lords. That's exactly why they killed him. They didn't understand.

It wasn't revealed to them. See? But as it's written, I have not seen or heard, neither have entered the heart of man the things that God hath prepared for them that love him, but God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. For the Spirit's search of all things gave the deep things of God. Okay? Galatians,

first chapter, 11 and 12. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man, for I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Now, With that, don't forget what we read back here in Romans, the 16th chapter, in

verse 25. Now to him that is a power to establish you according to my gospel, even the preaching of Jesus Christ, which is all according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret and told again. How many of you tonight would love to have college or teaching? Everybody. Well, what's wrong? I'm going to keep them.

Roll out those mysteries. No. See, it doesn't gel. The mysteries can be known. They are knowable. It's just that there's a certain group of people know them and another certain group never know them. But they can be known. Now, thus you can see what the mysteries are. The mysteries are actually... the revealed truth, the revealed truth of the word of God to the elect. They're the revealed truth to the elect. That's what they are. Remember how Nicodemus came to Jesus by night? And he said, Rabbi, we know you're a man sent from God because nobody can do the work that you do. Let God be with him. And Jesus said, Nicodemus, a man must be born again. He said, well, what have you told me about? He said, can a man be born a second time? by entering his mother's womb and come forth? He said, no. He said, you don't understand. He said, you must be, you've got to be born again. Unless you're born of water, even the spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of Almighty God. You can't see it. You can't enter it. Now you see those are mysteries. But they're not actually mysteries. What they are is great truth of tremendous depth. Absolute fundamental truth. But Nicodemus couldn't get it at that time. Now, Notice what it says in John 3, 27 here. It says, John answered and said, A man can receive nothing except to be given him from heaven. This word of God cannot be revealed. We cannot get it unless God has given to us in the sense of election so that we may be able to understand it. Now, don't forget to put the emphasis on revelation because this is where Brother Branham put it. This is where Paul put it. And a mystery without a revelation is mysterious. It's baffling. It's confusing. Actually, it's pretty well suicidal. See, that's right. To attempt to figure out the Word of God on your own, which takes the divine revelation, will bring you to death. Just like it did Israel. That's not good. And so I say, don't forget to put the emphasis on revelation. So you can coordinate what I am saying with what Brother Branham taught us when he defined a mystery according to Dr. Schofield, which he did. He read one of his Schofield books. A mystery in Scripture is a previously hidden truth now divinely revealed, but in which a supernatural element remains despite the revelation. See, now Schofield took it in. He said, no matter how clear you get on any truth in the word of God. There's always something in there that you've got to be. We just can't make it say 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. It may be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. See, I just don't place that 6. Don't worry about it. In these seasons, God wants you to get it. See, there's a little something in there that maybe you just can't make this go so clear, but you don't end with it. If you don't know so much about that, then it's the one God explained it. You say, well, now, I'll tell you. I don't know if I can explain it, and you don't see that at all. Because you know down in here, from what went on up in here, that this and this and this, by this, are all together. And so you might not have one little point, but that doesn't bother you any. Or it may make the other fellow think that he's got you on the run now, that you could turn right around to his Trinitarian dogma and have a lot of fun with him, too. I mean, he'd be like something like a cat chasing his tail, and never catching it. So, what I'm trying to show you here, it's clear to us, see, it's real, but there may be some little things that just can't quite line up. Like you hear a preacher say a thing, he says, I know that's right, so how do you know? That's a very good thing. At this minute, I can't tell you how I know, but I know. And you know something? You know. And the day comes, and that scripture comes like that. I remember that time when Brother Branham said that the evidence of receiving the Holy Ghost, or having received the Holy Ghost, was to receive the word for your day. In other words, to be fully exposed to that word for your day, and that word exposed itself to you for that day, and the truth would get to you. And I said, Amen, that's right. I didn't know once it could be divine. I just knew he was right. About two weeks later, going down the road, cutting up. I said, now that's great. I sure agree with what he said. I'm sure of what he said. But where's the scripture? And just like a voice in the original, the Bible's full of it.

It's full of it. John 14, John 16, 1 Corinthians 2 and so on. Down the line, Bible's full of it.

See? Now, that's in there. Like we said that this revelation, we believe it. It's given to us. We understand it maybe 98%. That's all right. We believe it 100%, and it's yelled 98%, a little something in there. But remember, Jesus said the other fellow wouldn't get it all. He said, I'll just give my words in a real parable of mystery to them. But he said to you, you will know the mystery of the kingdom of God. In other words, you can't explain the truth with perfect understanding to any natural mind. Amen. You can't explain it perfectly to a natural mind. But God gets you through it. Now, let's look at John 16. See it here.

Calvin 13. Notice. It's a revelation of the Spirit of God. I have yet many things to stand to use, but you cannot bear them in a hug. Let someone tell you that. You've been around Jesus for about three and a half years. You thought you were reading everything he taught. And one day he comes to you and he says, I'm going to tell you something. I've got a lot of things to tell you yet that you haven't got what it takes to hear it and get it. He's saying, now hold it. That's exactly what he told him. He said, you don't have what it takes. So there's no use in telling him. Now, if you haven't got the Holy Ghost, you'll never know that he's missing. Right? If you're not baptized with the Holy Ghost, brother and sister, then you might get it down word perfect by having a fine mind. and be a very fine theologian for the world, you'll never make one of God's theologians. You won't get it.

You have to be born into the kingdom of God. You have to be one of the initiates. Yes, sir. You've got to be in that body. You've got to be full of the Holy Ghost. And then, and only then, can you bear to hear the good.

I just killed the preacher. Did you hear what he said? Well, I hear he's dead now. It's too bad he didn't die before he wrote that book. In fact, I think we ought to get that book by government decree and burn those books and put in jail those of us. Now, don't think that hasn't already been said. Right? Brother Grant's house is cold and great. And that very thing about him is no time for moving.

Don't talk to me about this.

I love it. See my eyes snap? That's about the only time I'll get anything snapping in my eye. I've got to keep the rest under control.

Now listen, I want to tell you what, that's joy to my soul. Because when that serpent -shaped doctrine came into view, and by understanding through the Spirit of God, you just go right down the line and watch it move and watch it move. See? That's what Jesus told them. He said, How dare you? When he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth. How far? As far as you're able to go. He'll not speak without whatever he shall hear God to speak, and so on. Now, let

me quote from the Anointed One to the End Time. The third toll was the opening of the seven seals to reveal the hidden truth that has been sealed in the Word. Brief. The mystery came down from God as the Word of God, because the mysteries are, or is, the word of God, and revealed the entire revelation of God. I had to put this all in here so you know I'm not trying to bypass something that Brother Brown didn't say. He stood right in the corner of what he said. Now, we

can see actually then from what we've got tonight that the mysteries actually equate to doctrine.

Mysteries are actually doctrine. God's wisdom or truth transmitted to man in order that he may comprehend as far as his human limitations, even though endowed by the Holy Spirit, he will allow the Holy Spirit to take him. Remember, we are still human. We are like that grain of wheat planted in the cockerel. And though there is a body coming up out of the wheat, There's still that old rough cellar called the cockerel. And so the Holy Spirit reveals to us as far as he possibly can because of our present limitations, the exalted, beautiful word of God, it comes into being. Now this is why there is always that element of supernatural remaining even though the teaching is the clearest. possible. And I'm sure that everybody who ever brought anything from God knew that there would be limitations in his ability to put that word across. Think of the prophet receiving something from God that they themselves only knew a part of. You say, frustrating? Sure. But at the end time, it shall be light about the evening time. Now then, since we see that the mystery, are the great truths, those formerly hidden truths that have come down to us, revealed by the Spirit. They are the cardinal doctrines of the Word of God. We want to study something about these mysteries, how they come to the people, how we receive them. All right? John, I'm going to give you about eight points tonight on this portion. Only men gifted by God can bring any revelation to the elect. Repeat. Only men who are gifted by God can bring any revelation to the elect. All right, let's go to Ephesians, the third chapter, verses 7 to 10. Now, I'm not trying to get an exalted priesthood here, so don't be afraid. We just want to study the Bible the way it should.

Ephesians 3, 7 to 10. Whereof I was made a minister according to the gift of the grace of God, given unto me by the effectual working of his power, unto me who am blessed in the least of all saints is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles in search of the riches of Christ, and to make all see the fellowship of the mystery, which before times eternal hath been hidden God, who created all things by Christ Jesus. Okay? 1 Corinthians, the fourth chapter, one

verse, first verse. Let a man so account of us, Paul, Timothy, Titus, the brethren, as the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Stewards. Those who keep in charge. and dispensed for the welfare of the owner, the goods, that's that third, these ones that God ordained, placed in the church so that they would be entrusted to handle the word of God for the people. Now you'll notice, we said in Ephesians 3 and 7, Paul was gifted to bring the revelation. He was the original gifted man. Right. No one else was gifted. Peter was not gifted to bring the message to Gentiles. John was not gifted. No good. Paul was gifted. Literally gifted. You know, the world today is talking about these charismatic creatures. We talk about business with certain charisma. Yeah. A sign of the time that we would have the charisma amongst us in a problem. Turn it down. Paul was given the privilege by grace. And remember, grace saw one's election. There's no grace that couldn't be election.

Now, he said he was grace gifted to bring the original revelation. And remember, this abides all two seven church ages. Paul was the first messenger. Arrhenius was the second in every single age. Remember, it all starts by the Holy Spirit revealing Christ to the messenger and bringing the word to the day. And every age has a faint admonition. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. But the Spirit is speaking to one man explicitly, who in turn speaks it to the other. And as Paul said, teach faithful men that they in turn will teach others. They're gifted men. See? God has entrusted the mystery to the messengers and a dedicated five -fold ministry. The mysteries of God's revelation do not come through the ordinary church membership. If it did, Elijah would not have been a prophet messenger. It would have been a group. So many people still think today that the word of God is going to come. Two different ones getting together and thought of contributing what they have. That is not true. The word of God comes by the messenger of the day, of the age, of the hour, and those to whom God has entrusted the word. He gives you teachers. He gives you pastors who are able to teach. He gives you elders who are able to teach. He gives you evangelists who must base every sermon on the word of God. Or he brings a bunch of ghosts to the front because he talks about mother. Now mother is a sweet woman. Forget her when it comes to the Lord Jesus Christ. She's not in the picture. Know your father and your uncle. Know your brother. They're not in the picture. It is Jesus and Jesus only. Remember, even Moses and Elijah were not in the picture. This is my beloved son here.

So it's got to be that word because Christ is that word. God entrusts men. And in every age a special one. And remember, the word star, as I've explained here before, in the Greek, is not simply a luminary or a light holder. but with the one to whom God has given the preeminent. See? The preeminent one amongst many like him. See? A preacher wearing the same kind of clothes, same hat, same shoes, same language, and maybe not quite as good an education as somebody else has. And God says, I picked him. Pretty hard to sit there and listen to a man. And the church has that Laodicean spirit in it. You know, that spirit, I don't have to listen to anybody. I've got the Holy Ghost. Isn't that silly? And why did God put teaching in the book?

These truths, these cardinal doctrines, the word of God, the depth of the wisdom of Almighty God has been entrusted to seven church -age messengers and was in the age for those that God raises up to teach the word to the people. That doesn't mean that people aren't on the edge of getting things. No, because surely the Spirit wants to teach everybody. But remember, these are the guides to make sure we're thinking right, we're going right. Now, think of me. Only gifted men can separate and coordinate the truth for the bride. To simply know each mystery will allow contradiction of the word. And then the Bible fights the Bible. The whole word must be reconciled to one body of truth. One. living body of truth. I want to repeat that. It's given to the messengers and to those that God raises up to keep in his body, in the five of ministry, those he brings in, and even the elders can do too. God gives him the ability to coordinate the truth in the word of God. Because if you don't understand coordination of the truth, you get to bother finding the Bible. See? Now, let's show you the one I had in mind a while ago. Not 1 Corinthians, but Romans, 11th chapter.

Paul says in 23rd verse, For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceit, that blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles again. I want to ask you, how many people know that one right tonight? You've got to run to the Jews and run to the Jews and run to the Jews and it won't be any good. Because God cannot bring in Israel until they're through with their blindness and that is not true until the last elected Gentile member to the body of Christ comes in. Now, you see, if we did not have The divine revelation concerning this mystery, we begin to have the word fight the word because the Bible by Paul said to the Jew first and also to the Gentiles. Well, now listen. If it's to the Jew first and also, then it ought to be run into in every Jew to Christ. Forget it.

Forget it. I just got the Bible fighting the Bible.

That's what's wrong today. That's why you've got denomination. That's why you've got fussing and people fussing at each other. And instead of pulling together, we're pulling apart. Why? Because evidently there is some teaching amongst the people by the wrong teachers.

Not just us, all over the world, so -called Christian world. That's why we've got a Baptist and a Presbyterian. Now, the Bible does not fight the Bible. Why? Because God is the Word, and Jesus said, concern the devil. If the devil casts out the devil, then Satan is divided and his kingdom falls. And if God fights God, then his kingdom is divided and God falls, right? And how can the Word fight the Word?

There's

a place of reconciliation. And

that can only come by a man like the Apostle Paul and the messenger for the age who teaches the truth so the Word becomes reconciled. Otherwise, you just have a problem. Now, You can see why there is such fighting in doctrine. The thing is, there are not very many true messengers or teachers or fivefold ministries. Now, let's take a look at this. Ephesians, the fourth chapter, verse 11. And God gave some apostles, prophets, banters, pastors, and teachers, fivefold ministries, for the perfecting of the saints. All right, for the what? Perfecting. Who is the perfect one? The taught one. Those that are perfect are initiated, they're brought in house. For the word of God says, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the faith. Now you know there can be no unity of faith, brother, sister, until we all believe the same revealed thing, because you cannot have true faith unless it's based upon a true revelation. Because Paul said, if we say that God raised Jesus and God raised him not, your faith is vain.

What's going to happen to these folks if the Holy Ghost is going to fall in some certain place? Or

if some certain thing has got to happen down here or here or other place? Get your Bible, find out. Lay it on out.

Have you ever had the experience of running up to somebody you thought you knew because he looked exactly like somebody you didn't know and found out was the wrong guy? I had it happen to me once. Most embarrassing thing that ever happened to me. Well, not the most embarrassing thing that happened in my life, but it was one of the most embarrassing things. And this guy was a dead ringer for the guy that wasn't there. And one time a fellow around me, he thought I was his cousin. And I said, fellow, I sure, that's very nice of you, but I sure hate to inflict my looks on the other guy. I thought that brought a bigger superiority complex than I got. But I said, I mean, all

the faith in the world only plummets into destruction. if it is not based on reality.

Now, God gave these men not to go to some Bible school, not to go to some seminary, but to hear the messenger of the age. And in every generation, God would raise up these faithful men to pastor his flock until the new messenger came with the addition of the word of God. Now, let me say something here. Let's go back to the book of Matthew, chapter 7, verse

15. There are false prophets which come to you to keep clothing. Inwardly, they're ravening wolves. The inside man is a wolf. The outside man is a sheep. Sure, you had the old time. Now he acts nice and sweet, and you'd swear he was a real man of God. Sure, you would. There's not a wolf in wolf clothing, it's a wolf in sheep clothing. In other words, he's a hypocrite. Make -believe. You shall know them by their fruit. Now, you know you don't get fruit off a sheep, you get wool off a sheep. Now, he's really putting the mystery down right here now to confuse the general public. It's just a good thing we had a prophet explain to them. Your men gather grapes or thorns or figs or thistles. Even so, listen, even so, every good tree bringeth forth good fruit. But a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit. You are trying to cut trees, bring forth good fruit. Brother Branham said that was people preaching the word.

God has an absolute, genuine, five -fold ministry who wouldn't tell you a lie, who wouldn't teach you anything wrong, who would never make a disciple out of you, but would do only one thing, and that's to take you to the word of God. And if something came up into a camp, they wouldn't try to make you take you to their camp. They just laid the word of God down. You can do what you want.

If you're not in it,

God's done it. Now you've got the false ones too. Good. Now that we know where those false ones came from, they came from Acts 20. Let me show you where it is.

Never forget this now. The five -fold ministry is a genuine five -fold ministry. Now where does the error come from? In verse 17 of Acts 20, Paul was in Miletus and sent to Ephesus for the elders. The elders never were a part of the five -fold ministry. But because they want to preach, God lets them preach. And then here's what he said to the elders, not the apostles and pastors and prophets in the five -fold ministry. To the elders, he said in verse 28, Take heed therefore unto yourselves and all the flock of God, over which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to food the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood. God's own blood is Jesus' Son. For this I know, that after my departing shall grieve the poor, who have been keep clothing. Enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverted things, perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

See, God does everything in service. So he allowed the fivefold ministry to have added to it deacons and elders in order for the sending in of the church. There are too many preachers. What preach is it?

Brother Branham said, a man that really called to God to preach doesn't want to preach, and God's almost got to break him and give him a conversion. That's true, the truth.

That's the one thing I was scared stiff of, that God would call me to preach. He let me know ahead of time. And I've been scared stiff ever since. As far as I'm concerned, preaching and I don't get along in the sense that we're kin. If I wasn't called to preach, you wouldn't be preaching. And I'm not trying to vindicate myself in that way, but you've got to have some of the earmark.

There's got to be reality somewhere.

God's word says so. If it's handled, it's handled by those, it should be handled by those that are ordained to God. And when they're ordained to God, the Bible says succinctly, they will not have bad fruit. A pretty, ordained, elected minister of God will no more keep you alive than you'll believe alive. Right?

Bible says so. Number three. The mysteries of God are for edifying the bride. and were never intended of the Lord to be for judging and witness. Howbeit, they do correct and guide the elect.

Paul said here, all the mysteries, if you haven't got love, don't do one day of this.

No show off. Nobody trying to beat the other fellow over the head. Cow you down like a lot of these preachers do. Say, now, sister, brother, you don't care what the Bible says, so and so. I don't care what the Bible does say, so and so. I can just take the scripture and show anybody tonight with even two glass eyes in his head. that the Gentiles can't even be born again until the new Jerusalem comes down, if you want to read the Bible according to human chronology. Because it says when the wolf and the lion and the lamb and the little kid and the ass all get together in the holy mountain, it says then God will raise up an infant to which the Gentiles can trust. Well, he did that 2 ,000 years ago. But I can read my Bible and prove. Not even a Gentile is going to make a move.

You don't take the word of God to just show somebody something and hold them in. It's like you get a little book of creeds and God is our Holy Father. I got a little book today. What is it? It's about the Pentecostal chanting. Oh, listen. This is the sweetest little nonsense you ever heard. They get more and more spirit from now since they talk in tongues and got all that love and go to Mass and pray the rosary and pray the beads and do their penances. and all this other hard work. Oh, it really means something now. Why

don't you rob an event while you talk in tongues with these awful good people?

It makes you sanctified bankrupt.

Like the one girl says, I've been talking in tongues. I really appreciate the Virgin Mary. Well, I do too. I have nothing against the Virgin Mary. But she's not offended. Now, the Pope says she was offended, but she isn't offended. She's in the grave. I just want one thing. I want to come forth like Mary if I go down. And if I don't go down, I want to go up like Mary. And that's as far as I need to go. See? Look at what God's not given for cubs and pigs and dogs and people in the commission. It won't work. You see, I know what I'm talking about. Because I'm one of those guys who can uproot the wheat with the carrots the way I preach. And I've got to walk it. If I haven't put my hand on something I've got nobody to put my hand on, it falls. Because you can't do God a service apart from his will. I don't care what you think you're doing, but if you take it from me, I live my life in sorrow because I'm too impulsive. You can't even help somebody thinking you're doing God a service without doing anything.

This word's got to be handled right. It's got to be handled with a love and a reverence just to show the people, then they do it. There's something wrong, I'll tell you this. We used to buy the best stuff for our cows we could ever get before. I'll tell you something what a cow likes. There's nothing a cow likes better than prairie wool. Oh, they love that. I used to look at that prairie wool and I'd say, now, I don't think there's forgiveness in that prairie wool for that cow. I'm going to give her something else. And I'd doctor that stuff up for the cow and she'd sort of keep, keep, you know. But man, get her coming, that prairie wool. Ooh, she loves it. There are certain things cows love. And you know what? That's the way sheep are. And furthermore, humans have thin noses. A cow will starve where a sheep will go. A cow will starve where a sheep will go. A cow will starve where a sheep will go. A cow will starve where a sheep will go. A cow will starve where a sheep will go. A cow will starve where a sheep will go. A cow will starve where a sheep will go.

Now, I preached myself a very critical sermon right there. If I could just get it down in here, I'd be in good shape. I know what I'm talking about now. I may laugh about it, but I'm deadly serious with a lot of means because you can't handle that word as a club for your difficulty. You thought it were wrong. We're not here, brother and sister, to get hands on anybody or power anybody. It's simply to deceive.

sheep. That's what Jesus said. Now, that's right. Let's look at over here in 2 Timothy 3. Now, these are the mysteries. You know, we're talking about them. Yes, sir. We haven't got one away from them at all. These are these beautiful truths in the Word of God. All right? Now, 3 and 16 and 17. All scripture is given by inspiration of God. I love that. And it's profitable for doctrine. That's your mysteries. You're teaching broadly. Now, For reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. We're going to talk about that later on. That the man of God may be perfect. One of the perfect ones. How? Being one with that word. Then because your faith is right with God. And, brothers and sisters, by faith we're just absolutely right. Line up your faith. That the man of God may be perfect. truly free unto all good works. How can any man as a prophet have served God apart from this word? Can't work. That'll be one with the word. Now notice also that 1 Corinthians 13 and 2, to the last speaker's tongue in the name of the Lord, I miss you all, makes it very clear that Christ's church is not based on teachings handed down from the fathers. And Brother Branham commented on it. God does not have grandchildren. We don't take our doctrine by Sunday school where you take a book and you gather all the kids and you teach them that word perfectly. It doesn't get me wrong. There's a bunch of doctrine here, kids. You're not Christ's children. You know what I'm talking about. Why, listen. Do you know something? Everybody knows, who knows anything about Sunday school, the minute the Sunday school structure becomes top -heavy, you have already back -splitten so far your penny. In other words, look on the board. You don't have it here, so that's good, so I can let this imply. They put boards in the front of the churches up here, and they say, Sunday school, 125. Oh, boy, that's a nice church. And the kids go home, and you see six people, of which five are women, sitting there. He ain't got no church. He's got a mess.

Yeah, he's got a mess. I said, well, Brother Bill, yeah, I'll wait, honey. I'll wait. The papacy preachers, great old grand papacy preachers, he's got all those kids out there, all these kids now. They thought he's got a booth here. Yeah. Thought he's got two.

I'm up on these things that have got to be. You don't do it that way. It's not something handed down because you can recite the Apostle's Creed and there's no description of it. It's a revelation, Brother Scripture. It's taught in love. It's taught as food for the people. It's laid up there expecting the grace of God to fall upon it. Heart responding to heart. That's the way Brother Branham did it. That's why at the end of every message you want to set up and shout and jump and have a great time. I've had preachers tell me that didn't have the law to sing. I'm not against the law to sing. And I'm not against shouting. I'm all for it. I'm all for anything that's emotionally good. I'm all for it. Do whatever you like. But I want to tell you, when they try to tell you that's the whole secret of the anointing and not that word, that's what it is now. Because I saw what Brother Brannon could do, and I've seen it in many meetings. When this word is preached in the love of God, in the spirit of Jesus Christ, those people are so enthusiastic, they're so annoyed at the stimulation of the wine of revelation coursing through their veins. It sets them on fire. Absolutely. They're coming by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, not something you work up. Don't you know, brother, sister, psychology proves absolutely truly that your emotion can swing into faith. Emotion can swing into faith. That's not what you want, emotion. That's not the Holy Ghost. The Word, my brother, my sister. The Word, the Word, the Word. Amen. Sure. All right, fourth thing. All right. The mysteries of God which are foolishness to the world must be proclaimed with bold. No shame in preaching what others repudiate. Brother John had preached the whole synonym. It's a shame to him. Okay? Ephesians, the sixth chapter. And

19th verse. Okay? As for me, and to me, faith me, said Paul, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel. Paul said that I may ever be bold. to preach this word. You know it takes courage to preach the word of God. You may die for it. It takes courage to stand up and explain Mystery Babylon. It takes courage to stand up and explain who the heart of it is. It takes a lot of courage to stand up in the face of tempted causalism which is being embraced by every denomination and tell them that this is a false thing, that they're simply under an anointing. The two spirits being so close. Oh, it takes courage, brothers and sisters. You may die for it.

You can't stand behind a poker and be weak -kneed. You can't get a revelation of God sitting in that pew and be weak -kneed. Now, sometimes it's hard. Paul knew it would be hard. But he said, I'm prepared to go to Jerusalem and die for what I'm going to be. I'm going to go down and take Christ and him crucified. I'm going to confront the high priest. It means great. I thought I'd be gentle about it. I'll be a man of God. But I'm going to do it. So he's bold. It takes boldness to preach the word of Almighty God. Notice what it says in Colossians, the fourth chapter.

To the poor. Continue in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving with all praying also for us that God would open unto us a door of utterance to seek the mystery of Christ which am also in God. Notice what Paul said. I want you to pray for me that God will open doors so I can take this word. You know, like today, a lot of people think it's too late to take this word out. Now listen, folks, I've got news for you. Don't be that way.

I know for a while I wondered if it was all over you. But don't be that way. Let me just hold your finger. Let me read what it says in the book of Hebrews here. No, fourth chapter. Let us therefore fear, lest the promise being left up of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Any of you should feel that he's come too late.

As long as this bride has not yet been changed in her flesh, you keep taking that word out. And yes, God, if he lets you stay here a few days after your flesh has been changed, then go tell somebody about that too, if he lets you. Right. Pray for those doors. Pray for those doors. See? Pray that this word go out. You know, a few years ago, the women wouldn't pray. Instead of praying for the Lord of the harvest to send forth labor, they'd done them themselves. Oh, what a mess they made of that mission here. They got, you know, yaffing at me down there in North Carolina one time. They had a 10th grade, you know. Well, they said, well, you had to go. Well, I said, so what? Well, they said, so we had to go. I said, you sure don't know your Bible, do you? What do you mean? Haven't you read where the Bible said, pray the Lord of the harvest and for the laborers in your harvest? Why do you get trained for God to trust and force? They said, you're going to kill one. And next thing you know, they cut their hair, and they started winning America, looking ticky, ticky, strong, pretty. There's flowers in the air. Now, don't tell me, I know what I'm talking about. I knew a lady in Florida, she had these bamboozers for a while, too, that was a pretty smart idea. Looked so pretty, pretty, you know. Had to get folks seeing the religion, really was something nice. That's like the businessmen of the park are full of gold, and they'll persuade you. Bless God, if a million bucks looks at Jesus Christ, and he looks at a million bucks three times, then you folks out of Nicaragua look maybe his way, too, hey? How long? Pardon the sarcasm that sets the crop in Egypt. But it's not sarcasm either. It's pointed preaching. We don't fool with these things, I think. We've been called to a high and noble calling in Christ Jesus our Lord. There's a price to pay with preaching this word. As far as I'm concerned, I don't have any price to pay. I love this word. I may have to pay a price later on. But as far as being ashamed of it, I've said on many occasions that the Lord Jesus Christ was going to carry for a hundred years. And I was allowed to preach as a pastor for the next 25 years. I would preach nothing but this message because nothing else makes sense. I can't understand why people don't love it and flock into it. It's exhilarating. It's intriguing. It's beautiful. It's edifying. It's empowering. It's wonderful. I know what you're looking for. This is more exciting than the Wild West story. Right. You know the Bible is. If people think that book's king, that's not a king book. This raises the dead, bless God. Anything that raises the dead ain't paid.

Right. See, it may cost us something. It's a wonderful gospel. Never be ashamed. Oh, they may prosecute or circumcise them. And the fact that you, women, aren't supposed to wear these miserable kind of clothes they wear and this and that. Well, you just stick with the good old truth. As Brother Brannan said a minute about today, he said, wear, he said, your hair is a glory. Wear it with pride. Somebody tried to say, let it hang down around your waist, he said, Brother Brannan. had a vision of the women in those days with their hair, you know, their hips, and you say, what about the fact you said men with craggly hair to their shoulders? Ho, ho, that'll get them. You have women, listen, you don't need to let your hair hang down your waist. He said, you women that complain about the fact long hair is too hot, he said, what's cooler than rolling up in the back of your head all of a sudden? Let's

put these little booties in here so any chance I get, I want to know we're not preaching something. some drop in the superficial, or some in the silly. Listen, we have the absolute, powerful, wonderful word of God that they haven't had for 2 ,000 years. And we ought to just be so proud of it. See? Sure, we're not proud of ourselves. Sure, we're saved. We do a lot of things. Absolutely. But I want to tell you, the bride is getting in step right now by being one of their words. She believes that word. She believes in a vindicated message. All right, what's the fifth thing? The fifth thing, it is evident that the mystery will not scatter or separate the bride, but bring her together. That's absolutely true. Colossians, the second chapter, 1 to 7. For I would be new what great conflict I have for you, and for them it will be odyssey, that's all. And for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that brother Brandon could be written the same thing. That's their heart. might be comforted being knit together in love unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God and of the Father in Christ. Now you notice right there the acknowledgement of the mystery would be towards the man who brought it. And that's at the end time also. First of all, we have got to be set upon the prophet.

If you're not set on the prophet, you cannot believe this message that it is.

Because this is everything. This prophet is the fulfillment. of Deuteronomy 18 and Acts 3, where a man with thus saith the Lord came with a vindicated message. Now listen, what kind of a God is there who would allow anybody to come with thus saith the Lord and let his thus saith the Lord come to pass if God wasn't in it?

You think for one minute I'd have one of you folks say thus saith the Lord and you quoted me wrong? I'd say, now get the minute there, fella. You might have meant well. But you aren't doing well. You're wrong. Because I will not allow my name to go to what you said.

Because I didn't say that. Now, do you think for one minute that God Almighty is such a peculiar creature? He's such a peculiar being? Such a mess? So lacking with dignity and honor? And yet all through the Bible, I'm a sovereign God. I tell you, I don't give my counsel. I don't take counsel from anybody. And I don't allow this and I don't that. But when that fellow William Brown said, I thought that was kind of cute. I'll humor him.

Huh? That's what the world thinks. That's what the world thinks. A vindicated prophet with thus saith the Lord. God himself changed. I come with what God is telling me now. I am speaking for God. The proof is that it comes to pass. It came to pass. And why don't you believe the cross?

Why don't you believe it? How could you dare not to believe it? This is what Paul said. To the acknowledgement of what? The acknowledgement of Paul's understanding of the mystery. Paul bringing it. See? He said, Brother Brown, you brought an indicative word. I believe it. Do you understand it? Nope. But I'm hanging on. You got it all? Nope. But I'm looking to. You believe it all? Sure. Sure. Why? The man's vindicated, thus said the Lord. Infallible. That's exactly it. Now, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge? And this I say, that any man should be guy of you with enticing words.

What's enticing words? Come on now. Is anything different what Paul said? Anything different. Just the way the devil in Christ sees. Something different. Though I be absent in the place, yet am I with you in spirit, drawing and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ, as you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord. Now, how did they receive Christ Jesus the Lord? First of all, by the word. That's the first thing they had to get, that word. And the spirit of God could be even in all. Rooted and built up in him. How did he get rooted? Word. Establishing the faith. Where is faith? Caused by hearing. Hearing by the Word. As you have been taught, abounding with thanksgiving, how can anybody look here and look there when they have the Apostle Paul?

How can you look anyplace else when you have a man like William Branagh?

Boy, I want to tell you, I'm sure to grab my eyesight still, I ain't got time to look anyplace else. I'll just keep in my memory what my eyes go on. Sure. You don't look anyplace else, do you? That's exactly what Paul said. Notice it. In 2 Thessalonians, the second chapter, verse 1, Now we beseech the brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him. Brother Branham said that was the last ten -day message. The gathering by the message. Let's prove it. Matthew 23 and 33.

All right? Here it is. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them that will ascend unto thee. How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings? You would not. How does God gather his people? He gathers his people by the words of the prophet and the words of the messenger. See? God gathers them. The bride is never scattered by the word. The bride is brought out by the word and sent by the word. Come, honor her, my people. What was it? The shout. What was the shout? A message. What's the shout? A military command. Isn't that a military one? Come out of here. Behold the black group. Come out, not go forth. That's the silliest thing in the world, that translation. That's no translation of God's word, go forth. That's the fellow inside the building. I inside the building, I say go forth. When I'm outside, I say... How

could you have a man, a prophet or some messenger, somebody inside an organization? Ha! He's got to be out.

Then he calls everybody. God gathering his bride by the word. Brother, sister, listen. The bride is never scattered by the word. She's gathered by the word. Remember William Branham King? What was it God said? John the Baptist fell down the first coming, so your mercy fell down the second. What was it? Gathering a bride. Brother Branham said, I believe by the grace of God and I'm bringing a bride to Jesus Christ. No true minister of the mystery will use his office in any way except for the sake of the word and for the elect. 1 Timothy 3 and 9. The office that God gives him, the use of the word, to preach that word for the sake of the elect. 1 Timothy 3, verse 9. Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience. Sure, preachers make a living by preaching. But if you're on the road and just preaching for money, just get a job.

Peter said, many, he said, watch it lest you should be enticed by Sophie Lucas.

Why do people like you date big churches? Well, they don't have a lot of sheep. They've got a lot of cows and more.

Dairy business. Naughty, naughty. That's not the word of God. Sheep business. He never said the cow herder with the corral. He said the shepherd and the sheepfold. So the sheep are shearing. But they're not sheared to the sake of shearing. They have to give according to God's word. That's all. And what does the tide do? The tide goes to the deer. Many people have an idea. They can save the tithe for their best friend to come to and get it. Naughty, naughty. You don't do that. Church orders. Come to the pastor. To the deacon. The pastor must use what he needs. And then he has got to give the rest to us. The ministry. Not the building. And not the radios. And not the pianos and this. That is true. Ministry. Because there's five full ministries. Not four. Not one full. Is that right? Right, right, right. It's the property of God's brother. But people don't want those things. They want to send it here, send it there, and do this. Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't do it. See? Get to the Word. That man must, he's got to be doing his thing. What must the people? But your mind is not on big buildings. Of course, your mind's not on that. But that's the old thing that the world looks for. Nice this and nice that and wonderful this and wonderful that. And then this God's entirely. Now, certain mysteries are necessarily reserved. For a certain season. And cannot be made known. Until the times of the manifestation. This revelation for the bride. That she might never be deceived. So the gates of hell will not prevail against her. Certain right now. This is in 2 Thessalonians 2 .3 -7. Where it says that mystery was already working. But could not come into full fruition. Until a certain thing took place. So therefore certain mysteries are reserved for a certain time. Just like Daniel. He left the book. Just for another reason. And brother 6 remember at the end of it. that all can be. And the great point, there has to be some kind of manifested vindication to prove which one it is to whom God has given the key of elation or to drop them to the ground. Now, that happens once at the beginning of the church ages and once at the end. Paul received the vindicated word of God. He said, I brought it to you in power so that you know human words would not do what my words did. Brother Branham said, you saw right here what a man's word will not be. God will. Paul was vindicated. And so, at the end of the age, we have another vindicated. Now why, why did Paul have a vindicated message? You know what? What kind of a woman would trust a man that could jump him? He's got to be sick. No, I'm not kidding. Any woman, versus young virgins, who will marry a drunkard, has got to be sick.

He hasn't got anything in his soul to justify anything to him. He would have to be sick. Or a woman knows that this man has run with every other girl, and now he wants her. She'll go on and get one of the other swap men. She'll run with somebody else later on.

This is why Paul had to bring a vindicated message for that virgin bride so she'd have faith in the man she's going to marry.

And when Paul came with, thus saith the Lord, with the pure, unadulterated word, that virgin bride, says, that's the man I'm going to marry. He's mine. See? Paul said, now I'm afraid. He said, let some city slipper come by and begin to deceive you like he would deceive. Where does it come? Corrupting the mind. And a corrupt mind brings reprobate faith. Oh, brother, sister, if this mind is not aligned with the word of God, you may feel all you want you'll never make it brother brown said the proper mental attitude towards any promise in the book will make it reality so it is the mind is the wound see that's it and of course this bride in the beginning wanted nothing but the word and so therefore she was a version of that word but paul said one day you're going to fall and john said one day They're going to fall. That's Acts 20, 22, 31. I read something. And 1 John 2, 18, 19. And 1 John 4 and 6. You leave yourself some time. Thus the church went into error with no vindicated prophet to bring her back to her original purity. Not one man from Paul down to this age. Not one man from Paul to this age. had the pure and entire word of God. But God gave the necessary revelation to messengers in every age. Let's prove it now. Titus, the first chapter. Timothy, Titus. Verses 1 to 3, first chapter. Paul, a servant of God, an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, that's on the word, even the acknowledgement of the truth which is after God, can hope eternal life with God that cannot lie. promised before the world began, but hath in due time manifested his word through preaching, which is committed underneath, according to the commandment of God our Savior. Now, this third verse in the original says this, But in his own private and strategic season he made known his word in the proclamation with which I was entrusted in accordance with the commandment of God. Paul in his season was entrusted. Arius in his season was entrusted. Martin in his season. Columba in his season. Luther in his season. Wesley in his season. And William Branaman, his season, was entrusted. Now listen carefully and get this. God promised at the end time there would be a complete revelation of the word. In the days of the voice of the seven church -made messages, when he shall begin to sound, The mystery of God should be finished. Remember the mystery of God? Be finished. As God had declared the news of the gospel by his servant the prophet. A little translation. Now then listen. What is it? It was the seventh seal. Because remember the seventh seal was the seal of what? Silence. And Brother Browning said going from Genesis to Revelation he could trace the entire the seventh seal all the way to All right. Let's go to where he says you do. Plants the feet of the entire Bible. From what? The serpent of the prophet in the former age. God redeemed him in the mystery. The question arises, what was that serpent? Nobody could tell you. The prophet told you. And the prophet told you this. What did he do? The prophet told you. People guessed at it, but he knew. What was that seventh seal? The seventh seal opening all the mysteries and the word of God. As Brother Branham said, though that was the seven thunders, that's what seven thunders is all about. Seven seals. He gave the seven seals, gave the bride everything she needed to put in the rapture. All right, now listen carefully. Remember, the bride at the beginning was what? She was a virgin. Was she the virgin the next day? No. Only to the word she knew, not to the whole word. Third day, same thing, fourth, fifth, that's it. But the seventh day, Brother Branham had a vision, and he saw the first day. a view on it, a preview and a view, right? All right. The first age is a preview. Then the seventh age came. First, that American rock and roll witch, the harlot, she wasn't the bride. Suddenly, there came a song, onward, Christian soldiers marching with the war. A little bride comes up, and she was identical to the first bride. See? Why? Because the bride is the body of Christ. And Christ is Alpha and Omega, so therefore the bride is Alpha and Omega. So the first side must be identical to the last side, and the last side must be identical to the first side, and what goes in between. That doesn't matter. God is great.

That's Alpha and Omega. So at the end of time, William Branham came with the Word of God to turn her back to being a virgin of the Word. in order that in her the last mystery, which is the last revealed word of God to come into manifestation in the flesh, we shall not all flee, but we shall all be seen. They without us cannot be made perfect. So God brings a virgin bride, and in her is full, full all the mysteries, based on God, a vindicated prophet. ordained of God to bring that word to the believing elect, who, when they identify themselves with that word, in absolute faith will become that living word expressed. It is at this end time. So, repeat, the prophet brought us the word of Almighty God, and when he brought us that word, it was the complete revelation. Now then, watch that bride. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Completed, right? Okay. The bride is completed. The word of God is completed. Because the bride is that word. Original word. Original seed. Spoken word. Every word manifested in due order. No one more to be manifested. The last of the Gentiles have now come in. The bride stands. What's he waiting for? He's waiting now for that word to have full. Absolute authority within it. See, becoming one with that word to the end of that. Why? It couldn't be that in the first age because the word of God said we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed. They couldn't go to the first age they weren't all there. They couldn't go to the second age they weren't all there. They couldn't go to the third or the fourth or the fifth or the sixth but in the seventh they were all there. Now then. the blood is completely revealed see therefore the word must be completely revealed because you see i'll keep telling you one a part of that word says we shall not all flee but we shall all be changed and that's the last word or mystery from the body what

are the mysteries the word of god come down by revelation

And you know something? I know this sounds awful far -fetched for a bunch of people like us, but we're proud of that. We are. We are proud of that revelation, aren't we? We are. We are proud of that revelation, aren't we? I know we are so full of mock humility, which is nothing but unbelief. We simply cannot give God credit that this is that bride. But I always have been encouraged by the bride and rebel of the book of Psalms and Psalms. You know, it says in there that that little bride heard him. All she heard was his voice. And it says she just fell in love with his voice and just literally melted and oozed her way to the door. She just couldn't get her lover. Oh, I heard you there. Hanged into his arms and she got there. There wasn't anybody there. And she said, I just thought of him. I heard his voice and it's all given. That's all she wanted was that voice. That's all she wanted. And so she went out to find him. And she was so pretty and so nice. Oh, my, she looked lovely. And pretty soon, her garments began to tear on the thorn hedges, and dogs began to chase her. People started to get miles and pounds of her garments and all. And by the time she went all that night trying to find him, and she was just so beat up, and finally she got there. And, oh, that pretty cloth here was all hanging down, and the clothes were in shreds now. Her arms, no doubt, were scarred with the thorns. And she looked at me and said, Oh, Lord, I hate to see him, but that's what he was. walked right in front of him. He said, oh, he said, you're beautiful. He said, you were half of, you're twice as beautiful as you were then. He said, you thought you were beautiful. But he said, now you're beautiful. And you know, he just don't really understand that Brother Brennan said, when a man looks for a woman with character, not some sexting, that means a man. Jesus isn't looking for any sexting. He's looking for a bride of his word. And I want to tell you, I don't blame little old Rebecca. And actually rode on those camels all those days. She might have been pretty sore and pretty dusty. And I don't think she had much chance to look too pretty. So he just flopped her veil in front of her face. And he came by and he just fell in love with her readily. Now, brothers and sisters, that's what I'm talking about when I say he's missing. They have all been open to him. We know the words. We know where he stands. We know where our faith is. Now it's time to believe it. And put it on. And never mind looking at yourself and wondering about this and wondering about the other fellow. It's time to just sit down with that good word of God. And call it food if you want. Call it what you want. The word of God. Close yourself. Seize yourself. Become identified with it. And stand with that revealed word in your faith. Remember when Abraham got to that place, there was no use looking at Sarah. He wasn't fit to be looked at. A 19 -year -old woman going to be a young bride to bear a child? He said, you ain't fit to look at. She said, I know, but did you look in the mirror this morning? He said, I quit looking there because I haven't been fit to look at a whole long time before you weren't fit to look at me. So they didn't look at each other. They just looked to the Word of God. And one day, he suddenly felt, hey, he's pretty good to land on the corner of something. And then he said that to you again after 30 years. He looked toward it, humble, jumped out of bed. He was a beautiful young man. He got out of bed so fast he knew something really was wrong. Because he never got out of bed that fast before. He looked in the mirror. He was a young man. Brother, sister, that's what faith in God's Word does. Apart from work. The mysteries have been revealed. I have got faith in that Word. And you know something? That's all I have got faith in. Because if it isn't, by grace, according to His Word, I am going to make it. But if it is my grace, and he says it is my grace, then how am I going to live? Will you love the word tonight? Amen. God bless you. So we rise. I love you.

You're not a goddess far off, but you're right here, Lord. We know you're here. We know, Lord Jesus Christ, that your presence is with us to continue to help us in magnifying thy name and edifying the people, Lord, by thy spirit and word within us. This is what we desire, Lord, be one with your word tonight. And we know, Lord, that we're on the right track because we have heard the prophet. We've identified him and that word, Lord, and we've identified ourselves with it. And we're not going to budge from it, O God, and we're going to stand because we know that this is the one place that's safe to stand. And, Lord, we know that as we go along that you're faithful to reveal yourself unto us and to bring us into a place of edification we have not been here to. You're going to do it, Lord, because you promised. And we thank you, Lord, for doing it day by day because these things are becoming clearer and clearer. And we know, Lord, that it was in the darkest day of the apostles' lives and you met them on the road you made. And there you opened the book to them and you took all the scriptures and turning yourself and showed it to them. Tonight, Lord, we believe that you're doing that very same thing to us. And one of these days, Lord, we're going to see a real manifestation of the sun come forth because your prophet said the bride had produced that sun. Surely that's exactly what's going to happen. Lord, I know that. This bride stands on the earth one day. There's others going to join us. But I believe before that takes place, this is going to be a word -identified bride and a word -manifesting bride. What all that means, Lord, I don't know. But I've got the assurance it's just going to be a sinful pattern of life. It's going to be the word of God living. And, Lord, it's going to be just the way your prophet told it. It's going to be just naturally breathing, breathing and eating and walking. Just walk right on in to eternal peace. Lord, I know that, and I thank you for it. Bless each one here, I pray, O God. May every heart, Lord Jesus Christ, be filled with joy and authority. Any sick bodies, Lord, may they be renewed. May they be revitalized tonight. May the God of all grace show forth his glory to his honor and praise. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. God bless you. Amen. Friday night, 7 -3.