Christ Revealed in His Own Word #123

Stablished in The Faith #4

Sunday, August 3 1997

Brian Kocourek, Pastor Grace Fellowship

[2 Tim 3:16] All Scripture is for our edification and building up so therefore the same must be said of what has been brought to us in this hour, since it is the Revealed hour and God has come to bring to pass what He has promised. Then if all scripture is given for a purpose, what then can be said of that Word when it has been revealed and interpreted?

[74 Going Beyond the Camp] for He dwells only in His Word to confirm It. The Bible said that He watches over His Word to confirm It.

[1 Presence of God unrecognized] working for this one purpose, for you to recognize the Presence of Jesus Christ. See? If He is present, then, why, everything is settled. He made the Word. He is here to confirm It. He proves that He'll confirm It. "He is just the same yesterday, today, and forever."

[Phil 1:6] Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ: Let’s pray...

This morning I would like to proceed further into this Message of Brother Branham’s called, “Christ is Revealed in His Own Word.” And this will be number 123 in our series. We began this series back on March 17, of 1996...almost 17 months ago and I can’t see the end coming as yet. But I have thoroughly enjoyed the many facets of Christ’s Revealing of Himself, and I have found that through our understanding better of how He reveals Himself through His Word, that if you will notice in looking back upon this series, there have been more and more pastoral messages that have taught us how to look at ourselves in a new way in order to gain a better understanding of our own selves. Because after all, if we know that their is a standard, and we don’t know our own selves and where we compare with that standard, then how can we assess if we are walking in it or not. And so, through out this series there seems to have come a better understanding of our own selves as well as Christ Himself.

In fact the more we come to understand Him, it seems the better we come to understand our own selves. And that is Scriptural you know. Who can give me a Scripture that would say this in some fashion....

[1John 3: 2] and [Col 3:4] and [1Cor 13:12]

Now this morning I would like to proceed with reading from paragraphs 158 & 159....

[158] So we see the evening Light's here. And what does it do to have light, if you don't have any eyes to see how to get around in it. (Now, that is a very good question. What good does it do if you have light, an evening Light but you are blind to it?) What is the evening Light? ( almost all of us have lights that come on at night, or if our lights are not automatic, we turn them on by hand, but we do this because when the evening comes, it brings with it a darkness that makes it difficult to see. Therefore we turn on the evening light, or the light in the evening time.

[Isaiah 59:19-60:3] Notice that the Scriptures foretold this time when there will be Gross darkness upon the earth, but notice also that it speaks of a Light to the Gentiles will be on the scene at this time as well. And the emphasis that is brought to our attention here is the Glory and Presence of the Lord Himself amongst His People.

Now, in getting back to what Brother Branham is saying in paragraph 158, he says, “The Light comes on to reveal something. Is that right? If there's something here you feel, and you can't understand what it is in the darkness, then turn a light on. It's to reveal. What's Malachi 4 to do? See? Do the same thing. What was the opening of the Seven Seals to do? What are all these denominations staggering around in this...?... It's to reveal, bring out. If you haven't got any eyes, then what's the use to reveal? (Now, look, that’s a serious statement because he is speaking about being Elect to seeing something that others are not Elect to see. That’s [Matthew 13: 10-17] They are not ordained to see it. That’s also [Acts 13:48]. Then what does that say about those who do not see What He is doing in this hour? They’re not ordained to see it, and no matter how much you try to tell them what you see, they will never see it unless they are ordained to see it. ) Then he goes on to say... “There has to be eyes first to see. Is that right? It'll reveal Malachi 4, reveal St. Luke 17:30, St. John 14:12, also John 15:24; 16:13,

and to also reveal Revelations 10:1-7, the opening of the Seven Seals and the Seventh Angel's Message, to open up, to reveal when the evening Light's come. Now, what do all these Scriptures have in common? Is it that God sent a prophet, or is it that God Himself has come down with a Message which He reveals through that Prophet. And remember, he said, “My ministry is to declare Him, that He is here!”

Now, before we go any further let’s read from each of these Scriptures that Brother Branham is pointing out here and see the common thread that ties them all together. He lists, Malachi 4, is to reveal St. Luke 17:30, is to reveal, St. John 14:12 is to reveal, and also John 15:24 is to reveal; as well as John 16:13 is to reveal, and also Revelations 10:1-7 is to reveal, Reveal what? Well, the theme of this Message is about a revealing of Christ isn’t it? “Christ is Revealed in His Own Word”, right? Then what should we be looking for as we examine these various Scriptures that He lists here? A Revealing of Christ! Right?

So let’s start first with the Scripture that every one refers to who claims to believe the Message.

[Malachi 4] But before we read it, I want you to notice that he did not say [Malachi 4 verses 5-6], as so many believe, but he said, [Malachi 4] which means all of the book of [Malachi and chapter 4].

[Malachi 4: 1-6] Verse 1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. Verse 2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. Verse 3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do [this], saith the LORD of hosts. Verse 4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, [with] the statutes and judgments. Verse 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: Verse 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

[Luke 17:30] Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. What does that mean, even thus shall it be, and what does it mean when the Son of Man is revealed? In order to find out we need to go back to Verse 26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. Verse 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Verse 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; Verse 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all. Verse 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

[John 14:12] Again, this scripture that Brother Branham lists here is the same as the last one. In order to understand it we must go back to a few verses earlier to catch the thought that Jesus is bringing forth. Verse 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Verse 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Verse 8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Verse 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father? Verse 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Verse 11 Believe me that I [am] in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verse 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

[John 15:24] Verse 18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you. Verse 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Verse 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

Verse 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. Verse 22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. Verse 23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also. Verse 24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. Verse 25 But [this cometh to pass], that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. Verse 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: Verse 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

[John 16:13] Verse 1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

[John 16:2] They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. Verse 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. Verse 4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. Verse 5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? Verse 6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Verse 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. Verse 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Verse 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; Verse 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Verse 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. Verse 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Verse 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. Verse 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you. Verse 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you. Verse 16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.

[Rev 10:1-7] Notice here that he did not say, Rev 10:7, but Rev 10: 1 through 7 because this scriptures speaks of more than the end time Messenger to the church. It speaks of the Lord Himself descending with a Loud Voice which is the same as a shout that we see in [1 Thess 4:17]. So let’s compare these two scriptures to see how they tie together. [Rev 10 verse 1] And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow [was] upon his head, and his face [was] as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: Verse 2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and [his] left [foot] on the earth, Verse 3 And cried with a loud voice, as [when] a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. Verse 4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. Verse 5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, Verse 6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

Verse 7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

[I Thess 4:13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. Verse 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. Verse 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. Verse 16 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: Verse 17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Verse 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober. 5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 5:13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. [And] be at peace among yourselves.

Now, in paragraph [159] he says, “Now, if a man... In the Laodicean age the people were what? Naked (Are they?), blind. What good does light do to a blind man? If the blind leads the blind, don't they all fall in the ditch? Naked, blind, and don't know it. Even their mental faculties are gone, their spiritual faculties of mental--spiritual understanding. See? Heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, and despisers of those that are good, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof (The power of revelation, they don't even believe in it. See?)... They don't believe in such things as prophets, and so... They don't believe in it. They believe that Malachi 4 is to be a certain church or certain organization. When he come the first time he was a man. When he come the second time with a double portion, he was a man. When he come in the form of John the Baptist, he was a man. See? In the last days when the evening Lights begin to shine, eyes will become open and you'll see where you're going. Then the Body is already formed, standing upon it's feet, taking motion, moving by the Holy Spirit. What? The same One that moved upon the prophets that wrote the Bible, the same Holy Ghost moving in a Body, filled with the Holy Ghost, moved in the Holy Ghost out of every organization and every kindred, tongue, and people.