Christ Revealed in
His Own Word #20
Your Attitude Seals Your Desitination
Sunday Morning,
June 2, 1996 “Two types of Believers”
Brian Kocourek, Pastor Grace
Fellowship
For the past few weeks
we have been focusing our attention on Brother Branham's opening prayer
where he made very clear his thoughts on our need for a Vindicated Word from
God. He even said his own words would not help us but that what we need to help
us is for God to intercede on our behalf and speak forth His Own Word to us. In
focusing our thinking on these thoughts we went showed how necessary it is for
us to receive a vindicated Word in order
to bring our minds into a condition that will be ready for a change of
our body.
And then, in order to really understand the Vindicated
Mindset that we must receive, we have to recognize first how it comes and By
Whom it comes. In the process of doing this we had to look at the
opposite, which is a mind that is
reprobate concerning the Faith. This way we can be sure of the True Method of
God in contradistinction to the false methods of Satan. For Satan does not have
a word of His own. He only takes God's Word and perverts it. And so as we
reviewed these thoughts we found there to be only two types of people, Those
who actually Believe which we call Believers,
and those who disbelieve who we call Unbelievers. Now Brother Branham
has told us that their are three types of believers. Believers, Make-believers,
and unbelievers, but when he really boiled it down, he said there are only two
types because the Make-Believer is not really a Believer after all, but an
Impostor whose true motives for hanging around the Believers are not because of
their love for the Truth, but actually they have money and popularity on their
minds and that is why they will hang around with the True believers for a
while. Until they can get what they came for. But once they get it they then
begin to look for some way to justify their exodus from the True Believers and
so they begin to look for fault, and when they finally find something to point
at, they says, "Ha! I knew it!" and then they go away.
[ 1 John 2: 19 ]
Read The very fact that they went out
John says is evidence that they never really were of us. Then you see brother
Branham was totally right when he calls these people impostors. Because after
all, the fact that they hang around a group of people that they really do not
identify with shows that they are only looking for something else and not what
the people have concerning their Faith. So we can see that these people are
impostors by their false motives.
Now, then, we see that there are actually only two types
of Believers after all, because when we
focus down and see that the make-believer is actually an unbeliever in
disguise. We find the same thing in [Matt
7] where Jesus warns us against wolves in sheep's clothing. Now why would a
wolf be in sheep's clothing? We know a
wolf wears sheep clothing to do one thing and that is to get close enough to
the sheep to fleece them. To make merchandise of them. To devour them. And so
we see that it boils down to motives.
And so we see that there are two types of unbelievers: Those
who could care less and those who would make merchandise out of you. Frankly I
would much rather talk to the one who could care less than the other one who
has ulterior motives. Neither One of them believe, but at least the one is
honest about his unbelief while the other hides behind your belief because he
wants to get close enough to shear you. That's the one to watch out for.
Now as we found out that there are two types of unbelievers
we also see that there are two types of believers. The wise and Foolish Virgins
were both believers. Both Believe the
Report in Matt 25.
[156
Ten Virgins 60-1211M] Now, watch, they, both of them were virgins.
Now, let me get this. Here, let's take these two right here. This is a virgin
and this is a virgin. This was a foolish virgin and this was a wise virgin, but
both of them are virgins. Now, if
you'll take that name "virgin" and run it down, it means--it means
"holy, clean, sanctified." The word "sanctify" comes from
the word "sainted," which means "clean." Like the Hebrew
word... Now, that's a Greek word; "sanctify" means "clean."
[ Matt 25: 1 - 13
] Read
In COD 1033, pg 174 Brother Branham said the Foolish Virgin
is a Believer. She wanted what the Wise
Virgin had and she wanted to Meet The Bride Groom, but she just wasn't ready.
She did not have the Oil to light her lamp.
[ E-35 Sudden Secret Going Away of the Church 58-1012] How many of you, all perhaps, have read of the virgins? Some were wise
and some were foolish. "Virgin" means "purity." They were
all good people, everyone of them virgin, sanctified vessels of God. But those
who had oil in their lamps went in. And the others was left out. They were all
virgins, everyone people that you couldn't put your finger on for anything
wrong. They everyone believed in the coming of the Lord. They were ready to go
meet Him, but some of them let their oil go out. Don't let that be your case.
Keep oil in your lamp. Oil is the Spirit, the Holy Spirit. Never let it drain
from you. When you feel your love dying
away, your sincerity to Christ, and
to the cause, quickly go to Him Who has the Fountain of Oil and buy for
yourself a filling of the Holy Spirit.
Now how then do we go to Him and refill these lamps? [ Psalm
119: 105] Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. In fact we find brother Branham tell
us the same thing in connection with his explaining this lamp the Wise Virgin
had that was lit.
[73 Conflict Between God and Satan 62-0531] Fire is the confirmation of the Light coming
from the Word. The smart virgin, the wise virgin, had oil in her lamp, and
she trimmed her lamp and lit it.
Now, what is it? Now, God is the Word;
the Oil is the Spirit; and the Fire is
the Gospel Light on that Oil. Amen. God said so. See? That's the vessel.
All right. The Oil is in the vessel,
and the Fire burning it, shows that it's
reflecting the Light of what the Word said. See? That's the reflection.
Now, that wise virgin could do that; but that other, foolish virgin, was on the
outside, had no Oil. And they couldn't reflect nothing but just their church
and their denomination. See? Now, "You say the Word... You said the Word
was Spirit?" Yes, sir. God said,
"My word is Spirit." That's right. The true Bride must be unified
by the Word. Now, remember, if she
is a part of Christ, she has to be the Word of Christ. In order to be the Word
of Christ, you have to be baptized into Christ. And when you're in Christ, you
believe Christ and Christ is the Word.
Now, we see that their are two types of unbelievers and two
types of believers. But that actually makes 4 . And 4 is the number of
deliverance. It is also the number of earth or earthy. But 5 in the number of
Grace and that is what we see in the scripture pertaining to another Group
altogether, which we shall calls the ones in between. Because it is strictly by
Grace that they are given Life Eternal on the other side. And it is this group
that I want to focus our thoughts upon this morning because we all have loved
ones that just can not see this Message of Grace that God has given to us. They
are truly blinded to it and because of this it looks like there is absolutely
no hope for them. Yet God who is rich in Mercy has made a way for them and that
is what I want to address to you this morning. Your parents, your brothers,
your sisters, your close friends who are just blind and can not help being
blind. They were ordained to their blindness because they are part of what
makes up Laodicea which are blind, naked and miserable and don't even know it.
274-2 CHURCH AGE BOOK CPT.7
As Israel (chosen people of God) in majority
forfeited their rights in the Book of Life by rejecting Jesus, so the majority of the Gentile church will
also come into condemnation with the resultant removal of their names
from the Book of Life by rejecting
the Word and thereby entering into the world ecumenical movement which
is the image erected unto the beast.274-3 There is another point to see here. In the
great White Throne judgment there will be a separation of people. The Book of
Life will be opened and another book will be opened. [Matthew 25:31-46]
Read
[Revelation 20:11-15]
"And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from
Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away: and there was found no place for
them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were
opened: and another book was opened,
which is the Book of Life:
[ Matt 16: 24 - 27
] & [ Rom 3: 19 - 20 ]
and the dead were judged out of those things
which were written in the books, according to their works, And the sea gave up
the dead which were in it: and death and hell delivered up the dead which were
in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and
hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever
was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire."
There will be both the righteous and the
un-righteous in this judgment. It says so.
THESE RIGHTEOUS WILL NOT BE THE BRIDE FOR THE BRIDE SITS WITH HIM IN
JUDGMENT.
[I Corinthians
6:2-3]
"Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world
shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye
not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this
life?"
[Revelation 3:21] "To him that
overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame,
and am set down with My Father in His throne." See, the bride is with Him
in the throne. As she is to judge the world she has to be sitting in the
judgment with Him.
That is exactly
what Daniel saw. [Daniel 7:9-10] "I beheld till the thrones were cast
down, and the Ancient of days did sit, Whose garment was white as snow, and the
hair of His head like the pure wool: His throne was like the fiery flame, and
His wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before
Him: thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten
thousand stood before Him: the judgment was set, and the books were
opened." See, it is the same scene, for the thousand thousands who are
ministering to Him are the bride, for who ministers to the husband but the
wife?
CA 276-1 The question now
arises, why are these righteous ones in the judgment? There is no other place
that they can come up, for there are but two resurrections and since they could
not qualify for the first resurrection they must come up in the second which is
a resurrection unto judgment. The ones who qualify for the first resurrection
(the bride) are not in the judgment.
[John 5:24] "Verily, verily I say unto you, He
that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life
(that is, the believer is already the recipient of eternal life which he has in
his possession now) and shall not come into condemnation (shall not come into
the judgment, is what it really says) but is passed (permanently) from death
unto life."
But notice
carefully, Jesus must have yet another group in mind who at a certain resurrection
will receive eternal life. They will receive it at the resurrection, NOT HAVING
PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED IT AS A MEMBER OF THE BRIDE.
[John 5:28-29] "Marvel not at this, for the hour is
coming, in the which ALL that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall
come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life, and they
that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." Now we all know
that John 5:28-29 is NOT THE RAPTURE for only the dead in
Christ will arise from the graves at that time along with the living bride who
still is on the earth.
[I Thessalonians
4:16-17] "For the Lord Himself
shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and
with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which
are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to
meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." But it
says in John 5:28-29 that ALL are going to come forth from the grave.
This is the very same resurrection that is spoken of in
Revelation 20:11-15 wherein THE DEAD were brought before the Lord and judged
according to their works, and all whose names were not in the Book of Life were
then cast into the lake of fire.
CA 277-1 We now face the
question as to why they should be given eternal life at the judgment since the
Epistles seem to conclusively point out that one must possess the Spirit of
Christ or perish. Though it seems thus, we must not discredit the words of
Jesus Who most pointedly sets forth that there are some found in the Book of
Life who will either receive eternal life before the general resurrection or
after it. Paul does not evade this truth for he most clearly says in Philippians 3:11, "If by any means I might attain to
the resurrection of the dead." Now this statement is most peculiar. We all know
that we are ALL going to be in a resurrection whether we want to be or not. All
will be resurrected. So Paul could
hardly be saying, "If by ANY MEANS
I might attain to a resurrection of the dead." The truth of the matter
is, he is not saying that. The literal reading is, "If
by any means I might attain to the `out-resurrection' from among the dead."
This is not the attaining to the general or second resurrection, but attaining
to the first resurrection, of which is said,
"Blessed and Holy is he who hath part in the first resurrection, on such
the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ
and shall reign with Him a thousand years." The first resurrection has
nothing to do with the second death. That is at the end of the thousand years
when ALL THE REST of the dead live again. And in that day there will be those
who come forth to eternal life and those others who are caught in the second
death. Now we do not need to guess about those who in the second resurrection
are given life. We are told it is given to them on the grounds that they have
been kind and good to the "Brethren". Those who are raised and cast
into the lake of fire will be so treated because of their mistreatment of the
"Brethren". Since this is the Word of God we simply accept it. There
is no argument here, just a simple statement of fact.
278-1 To further clarify,
notice specifically the words of Matthew 25:31-46. It does not say
that a shepherd is literally separating sheep from goats, but it is AS a shepherd dividing sheep from
goats. These are not sheep in this
particular area of time (White Throne Judgment). The sheep are in His fold,
they heard His voice (Word) and they
followed Him. THEY ALREADY HAVE ETERNAL LIFE AND CANNOT COME INTO THE JUDGMENT.
But these do NOT have eternal life, and they are in the judgment. They are allowed to GO INTO eternal life.
But upon what grounds do they enter into life eternal? Certainly not upon the
fact that they already have His life as does the bride, but they receive it because they were kind to His brethren. They are not His brethren: that would make
them joint-heirs with Jesus. They are NOT heirs to anything but life. They share no throne, etc. with Him.
THEIR NAMES MUST HAVE BEEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE AND NOT REMOVED. Now because of their love of the people of God
they are recognized and saved. No doubt these served and helped the children of
God. Perhaps like Nicodemus and Gamaliel they stood for the children in a
time of trouble.278-2 If this seems to smack of
"restoration," watch carefully now, for the wicked are NOT restored,
but turned into the lake of fire. The names of many of those destroyed were in
the Book of Life also; but they were blotted out because they failed to honor
the people of God who were the living manifested Word (living epistles) for
their day.278-3 Now let us be very clear here. These are not
nations being judged and going into the millennium because they have harbored and
helped the Jews. That is very clear because of the conclusion of these verses.
"And these (the wicked) shall go away into everlasting punishment (lake of
fire), but the righteous into everlasting life."
There is no record of TWO judgments set where
the wicked are cast into the lake of fire. Only the beast and false prophet are
judged at the end of the great tribulation. No, this is the White Throne
judgment, and they are judged according to what is written in the books
279-1 It is the second resurrection wherein the five foolish
virgins come up. Notice that they were virgins. They did not have the Holy Spirit so they missed being in the bride,
while the five wise who had oil became a part of that bride. But these people, being a separated,
God-loving people, and trying to abide in the Word, according to what they knew
of it, and being a help in the work of the Lord will come up at the end of
time. They will miss the millennium, which you can begin to see by these
truths is much more important and wonderful than we have ever thought or
believed.279-2 All these people had their names in the Book
of Life and their names remained. But whose names did not remain? Those of the
world system churches who fought the bride will be those whose names are
removed. That is who will lose out. They will be cast into the lake of fire.279-3
Now let us go another step, but before we do let us review our case thus
far. First of all we know most assuredly that the purpose of God stands in
election. It was purposed in Himself. It was God's purpose to bring forth a
people like unto Himself that would be a Word Bride. She was chosen before the
foundation of the world IN HIM. She was fore-known and beloved before she was
ever brought forth during the ages upon the earth. She was redeemed by His
blood and can NEVER come into condemnation. She can never be in the judgment
because sin cannot be imputed unto her. [Romans 4:8] "Blessed is the man to
whom the Lord will not impute sin." But indeed she shall be with Him
in His throne of judgment, judging the world and even angels. Her name (each of
her members) was written in a section of the Lamb's Book of Life before the
foundation of the world. Secondly,
there is another class. Their names are also in the Book of Life and they will come
up in the second resurrection. Such are the foolish virgins and the righteous
as are spoken of in Matthew 25. In this
class also are those who do not worship the beast or become involved in the
antichrist system but die for their faith even though they are not in the
bride, not having been born again. But they will come up in the second
resurrection and go into eternal life. Thirdly,
there are the borderline Christians such as we saw in Israel coming out of
Egypt. These had their names in the Book of Life and their works written in the
books. These having failed to obey God and being void of the Spirit, though
even the signs and wonders were amongst them, will have their names removed
from the Book of Life. Amongst this group will be the ones like Judas who
though entirely void of the Spirit, but are religious, will have manifestation
in their lives, and though on the books were not the elected IN HIM. Such also
as Balaam will be in that group. Fourth
and finally are the ones whose names have never been or will ever be
written on the books. Such are found in
Revelation 13:8 and Revelation 17:8,
"And all that dwell upon the earth
shall worship him, whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb
slain from the foundation of the world.
The beast that thou sawest was, and is not: and shall ascend out of the
bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall
wonder, whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of
the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is."
Jesus said that a certain group would accept one who came in his own name. That
one is the antichrist. And that is exactly what it says of them in Revelation 13:8, and 17:8. These were ordained of God but
not unto election. And with this group is such that are as Pharaoh. It says of
him, "Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up. Vessels of wrath
fitted for destruction." Romans 9:17 and 22. None of these would be placed
on the records of life.
I am not saying that
there is no record of them. No doubt there is some kind of a record of them,
but NOT IN THE RECORDS OF LIFE. Their purpose of existence has been dealt with
slightly in the rest of this book but we can add two more Scriptures. [Proverbs 16:4] "The Lord hath made the wicked for the
day of evil." [Job 21:30]"The wicked is reserved to the day of
destruction, they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath."
Now with this in mind, I hope you can see the importance of
be salty and applying the Token for your loved ones.
E-28 BLIND.BARTIMAEUS CHICAGO.IL 56-0407
Just watch, watch
what happens to that type of crowd. What if they could rise out of hell
tonight, what would they do? I imagine there would be an old fashion altar
call, sure enough. But they can't. Their
attitude towards the Son of God then sealed their destination. And your
attitude towards Him tonight will do the same thing for you. That's right. You
either bring Him in or seal Him out.
THE TOKEN
63-0901 pg. 49 pp. 5
Apply it, create
that atmosphere around you, that they will just drop right into it. Oh, you are , if
you've got the Token, you create an atmosphere around you of power, that when
you walk, people know that you are a Christian. In love for you to say something to them. They believe your word,
what you say, they hold onto it. See? That is it. Apply the Token, then walk in
it. Claim your household. You must do it, now. This is the evening time
IS YOUR LIFE
WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL pp. 151
And did you know, you are a little creator yourself? Did you
know that? Certainly! You've seen people that you just love to be around. You
don't know why. Just that loving type of person. Haven't you seen that? Just as
kind, you like you be around them. They
create that atmosphere by the life they live, the way they talk, their
conversation. Then you've seen those that every time you - you shun them.
All the time they want to talk about something evil and talk about somebody,
and say, "Oh, my, there they come, they're going to talk about this man.
All they're going to do is tell dirty jokes, or something about women, or
something like that." You just hate to get around them. See? They create.
Seemingly pretty nice people, but they create that atmosphere. And the things
that you think on, the things that you do, the actions, the things you talk
about creates an atmosphere.
AWAKENING JESUS
63-0117
And we create our
atmosphere around us, each one of us. You've been with people that were
nice people, but you just couldn't hardly be around them. Then you've been with
other people that you just loved to be around them. You create that atmosphere. And, oh, wouldn't you have loved to
have been around Jesus just a little? Wonderful! See what that atmosphere He
created would have been. I imagine it was just one great big bundle of Love,
and Respects, and Godly Fear.
E-13 GREAT.COMMISSION CHATTANOOGA.TN 58-0301B
And what about a
brother that has made a mistake? Though I say he's wrong. Sometimes he's
accused wrong when he's not wrong. But if he is wrong, well, if we will take
him to the throne of God, stand there shoulder-to-shoulder with our brother,
knowing he's a mortal, and maybe his
destination rests upon our attitude towards him, when we come back from the
throne of God, we'll realize that we're everyone guilty, and we all need help
one from the other. And the best way to do is pray.
E-15 IMPERSONATION.OF.CHRISTIANITY JEFF.IN
57-0120M
Our heavenly Father,
today it's with grateful hearts, as we quietly and reverently approach this
sacred moment, How do we know but what this very hour, may determine the eternal destination of a soul setting present?
And the value of that soul is compared with many thousands of worlds. So we pray, Father, that You will let us
approach reverently, solemnly, and in the attitude of prayer. And also, there
may be sick people setting present, who this day, and their attitude that they receive through this Word, may determine
how much longer they stay on the earth. So we realize the solemnity of this
very moment, and we ask that Your great Presence will anoint us all.
E-24 FROM.THAT.TIME PHOENIX.AZ 60-0302
Whatever you attitude is towards God, seals your eternal destination.
You can walk across the line between grace, mercy, and judgment; and when you
spurn grace so many times you can separate yourself from ever the Presence of
God, or you can accept Him and have Eternal Life, and never die, but be raised
up again at the last day in the general resurrection. Oh, how glad I am, that
there's something that we can point back to and say, "From that time,
something happened."
1 DISCERNMENT.OF.SPIRIT PHOENIX.AZ
V-9 N-3 60-0308
And we are here this
morning, Father, gathered for no other purpose but to study to know the will of
God and what we must do to make Christ real to the people of this generation.
Knowing surely that in the day of the judgment we will be brought face to face
with this generation. And, being ministers,
we will be judges. And the people to which we have spoken to, and their
attitude towards the Word that we bring them, will determine their eternal
destination. Therefore, Lord, in that day we would be a judge for or
against the generation that we preached to.
32 SEVEN.CHURCH.AGES JEFF.IN V-26 N-2 54-0512
And may every one of the laity act tonight as if this was
their last sermon they'd ever hear. God, take away all folly. Make us sincere,
knowing that we must answer at the judgment of God someday. And our attitude towards Him and His Word
now, will 'termine our eternal destination.
E-52 THEN.JESUS.CAME JEFF.IN 57-0407E
And whosoever will, may come and drink from the fountains of
Life freely. You make your choice. Your
eternal destination will be staked upon your attitude towards Jesus Christ.
This might be your last chance. And when we bow our heads now just for a word
of prayer. I'll ask the sister to come to the piano. While every person is in
prayer, I want you to think it over.
E-7 GOD.PROJECTING.HIS.LOVE EDMONTON.ALBERTA 57-0806
Your action or
your attitude towards this little piece of Scripture will seal your eternal
destination. And if that Scripture is that valuable,
it's plenty enough for us tonight to think on for just a little while.
E-10 THEN.JESUS.CAME NEWARK.NJ 57-1213
These little words
here tonight of these four letters that's been read for a text, they could seal
your eternal destination, your attitude towards them. So that's what makes them
so important. Them little words could set you free from sin tonight. Those
little words could condemn you tonight. Those little words could set you free
from sickness and suffering tonight, if you will receive them. But they've got
to be received.