Christ is the Mystery no 221

Twins no 19

Understanding the Seven Seals

Brian Kocourek, Pastor

 

Tonight I would like to take a subject that at first might not seem to fall under the scope of TWINS, which we have been examining for the past few months, but I keep getting questions concerning the Seals from all over the world. Some have been teaching that there is no more mercy because they do not understand the Seals and the chronology of the seal. They believe in point that what took place in 1963 when the Seals were opened is that the Lamb came down at that time to open the seals.

 

What they have done is to look at the opening of the Seals, which I would rather use the term Revelation of the Seven Seals of the Revealing of the Seals, because when you use the term opening, it appears to some that what is in those seals indeed does not come to pass until they are opened, and that is not true at all.

 

We are talking about Bible Truth that has been hidden, and now revealed. The word Opening in the most simplistic definition I can come up has three meaning:

 

1. a hole or empty space that you can go through or see through

2.  the first part of something

3.  the first time that something happens

 

Now, most people see the opening of the seals as the first time that something happened, namely the Seals are opened.

 

I choose rather to see the opening of the Seals as a hole that the prophet was able to pull Himself up into and look threw it like as he illustrated to us concerning how visions are.

 

Brother Branham gave an illustration of what it is like to have the visions working in his ministry. In his sermon, Jehovah Jireh  61-0212M  P:11 and again in his sermon, Be not afraid  60-0717  P:14 he said its kind of like when you were a boy and wanted to see the circus and couldn't afford to get in, so you and your friends went over to the fence and because you were the tallest you could pull yourself up to a certain place on that fence, and look through the peep hole and then your friends would say, what do you see, and you would look and strain and then say, I see a giraffe.  Now, you might have had some friends that were with you that might even have been stronger than you, but because they were shorter, they couldn't jump high enough to reach the top of the fence to hold on, so they would have you do it just because you were equipped to do it.

 

And so you would pull yourself up and hold on and look through that hole in the fence and they would say what does it look like, and so you would begin to describe it to them. But the longer you were holding yourself up there the more tired you become, and so you would have to come down (like coming down from the vision) and then when you came down you would tell it to them, every detail you could think of. Now, it is much easier to tell it if you are planted on your own two feet or you are sitting around and talking about it, but then you are depending on your memory. But if you can hold on up there, and keep looking while you are talking, then it becomes more clear to those who are down below.

 

And so when you come down and then tell it,. You are depending upon your memory, and so after awhile the details become a little unclear, and so they would say, go back up there again and tell us what else you can see. And so you would jump up again and take hold of the top of that fence and lift yourself up to peep through again and then they would say, what do you see now, and you would say, I see a camel or I see an elephant, and then they ask you what they look like, and you begin to tell them, but your arms are getting so tired and so you come back down to earth and then tell them what you saw. And that is how the people pull on that gift. They desire to see what you alone can see, and so you tell them.

 

Therefore concerning the seals, and the opening of the Seals, let me put it to you this way. remember, the first definition of the word "opening" means "a hole or empty space that you can go through or see through".

 

Now, the Seals were written way back before the foundations of the World. John had stepped into a vision or perhaps he was translated up into the Lord's day via a vision, like looking through that hole in the fence and John saw what God had to say about how Satan would work within the confines of the church, and beginning with the doctrine of nicolaitianism when it was first just a doctrine, then how Satan worked that doctrine into the minds of the people until they came to the place where they accepted that doctrine in the flesh of a man, making him pope, and then once that was accepted, then he began to enforce that doctrine through murdering those who did not go along with it.

 

That was the first horse rider, just a doctrine, it was a white horse (a white power) showing it looked like purity, virtuous, after all it was after all only a doctrine in the church, but then when that doctrine became incarnate in a man, it switched to a red horse, and that is when that doctrine became forced upon the people in a forced religion all in the name of Christ.

 

And so what John was seeing while looking threw that peep hole of a vision, was a history of the Church and Satan's attempt to control it, and  John was commanded to write what he saw, and then he was commanded to seal up what He saw until the last days.

 

Now, I have painted a picture for you of the whole scene of the Seals, and the opening of those seals. Where men have gone wrong in this hour is to look at certain statements of brother Branham's and try to place a chronology on them as though these things were taking place in 1963, when it is very apparent that what John saw and wrote, and William Branham looking through the same portal or time, the same hole in the wall, so to speak was the entire scene of what took place concerning Satan's attempt to destroy the True church of the Living God.

 

But these men, many calling themselves ministers of  Christ but are more like ministers of confusion, they began to teach that since the seals were opened in 1963, then the lamb must have left the mercy seat to do so in 1963.

 

In other Words they look at the events concerning the Seals as events taking place in 1963. And thus when brother Branham describes the Lamb coming froth from the Mercy seat to open the seals, they mistakenly think that took place in 1963.

 

NO, that is not correct. What took place in 1963 is that the prophet by God's order was pulled up to the fence of time to look through the portal of a vision, to see what took place since the early church and that doctrine of nicolaitianism first began and how it spread and how Satan gained control of the church. It was like watching a movie and telling us what he saw so in essence we could look also through the yes of the prophet and see what he was seeing.

 

But what so many failed to see is that the Seals were only a play by play detail of what has taken place throughout the last 2000 years of church history and the scene does not stop at 1963, but actually goes right up until the last child of God is in and child trained. And the Lamb of God comes to meet us in the air. And that is why the Seventh seal was quiet, because there was nothing there to tell us the time the second coming would take place.

 

So the prophet told us the first four seals how that doctrine changed horse, (which are powers) and each color showed the nature of that power and how it controlled the people. notice however that the fourth now had a name, it was called death.

 

Then the fifth seal takes us up to the time of Nazi Germany and the souls under the altar revealing what happened to the Jews under Nazi Germany when those hundred thousand times thousand demons were let loose on them. The sixth seal deals with the judgments of God on the church and the world for turning Him down.

 

Brother Branham said in his sermon, Feast of the trumpets 64-0719M P:71 Under that Sixth Seal, these two hundred thousand spiritual demons, started in Rome, Germany--Hitler. Notice, over in the Bible where they received power as kings, but wasn't crowned. A dictator's not a crowned king, just receive power as a king. Oh, the Spirit of God is moving through me now (you know?) just saying something; I don't know how to say it, nor what to say and maybe I'd better not.

 

So we see all the dictators coming forth under the sixth seal as part of the judgments upon man. We have one in this country now, and he has completely destroyed what this nation used to be. That's Deuteronomy 28:18 18. The foreigner that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low.  19. He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall  be the head, and thou shalt be the tail. We put in place a foreigner who is the president of this country by fraud, thus fulfilling the  promised curse of Deuteronomy 28:18

 

Now, the Seventh Seal concerns the coming of the Lord. That's when God is through dealing with the Gentiles, takes the gentile bride up and turns to the Jews.

 

Now, all of this was given to us by John and sealed away, and by looking beyond the curtain of time, William Branham was able by Vision to see it all and each night he came down and gave the church a play by play of what took place with each seal. We then in a sense are now looking through the eyes of the prophet and able to see the entire history of the church. 

 

Now, where men have messed this up is that they just will not say what the prophet said, and take it back to the Scriptures. So they continue that Nicolaitian control of the people by telling them that there is no more mercy, because the lamb has left the mercy seat when the lamb has not yet left the mercy seat. But the reason for their error is that they see the opening of the seals as a 1963 event when it most definitely was not.

 

It is true that William Branham was allowed by God for our sake in 1963 to look beyond the curtain of time, and in so doing could look through that opening of the seals and give us what he saw, but what he saw did not happen in 1963.

 

All these men have succeeded to do in teaching the nonsense that Christ is off the mercy seat is to bind the people by fear to them, and hold them under their spell by getting them to take their focus off of Christ and place their focus on a hierarchy of some supposed five fold minister who now becomes their mediator. All this is a continuation of that same nicolaitian doctrine in the brindle horse power.

 

Now the word brindle means a dark spotty, streaked, grayish in color. In other words, there is such an admixture, it appears tawny, dark, grayish and dirty in color, etc. And that is what the church has become. They no longer wash their robes in the washing of water by the Word, but every thing to them must come through the filter of their camps doctrine. And remember, the promise is that they who have washed their robes by the washing of Water by the Word will be without spot or wrinkle. Therefore they will not be brindled in color in there robe, But will have on pure white robes without spot or wrinkle.

 

But that brindled horse represents that same nicolaitian spirit all the way down since it first became incarnate in a pope all the way down until the end time to where there is such an admixture that  we see it not only in the Catholic church but all her harlot daughters as well.

 

And remember all that live on the earth at this time will either receive the Seal of God which is the Baptism of the holy Spirit, or they will take the mark of the beast.

 

Now, to understand what has taken place, and what William Branham saw, let us never forget that the Lamb of God is the son of God. He is not God the son. There is no God the son, that is Catholic mythology. The Lamb is not God. God Himself is on the throne with the Book that is sealed. John sees God in Revelations chapter 5 handing the Book to the Lamb, (His first born son) the lamb who is the Son of God, then opens the book, hands the open book to Father, then steps up onto the throne while the Father steps off His throne and comes down with the book open, Revelation 10:1-7 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and God hands the open book to the seventh angel Messenger.

 

Revelations 5:1  And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. (Ok, so who is setting on the throne? It is God Himself.)

 

2  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? so the question comes up. God has this sealed book in His hand, and the question arises, who is worthy to open it?

 

3  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

 

Now, notice John beholds this lion, This King, but when he turns to see this Lion, this King, he sees who this king is in  reality, it is the lamb of God that was slain before the foundations of the World. And the lamb is the son of God. Now, we know in the constellations the first sign is the virgin and the last sign of the zodiac is the Lion. This speaks of the first and second coming of Christ. we will get to that a little later on.

 

7  And he (The Lion, who in reality is the lamb of Go, the son of God) came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. So the lamb takes the book out of the right hand of God, 8  And when he (The Lamb who is also the lion) had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 

 

Now, when does this happen? people say 1963, but that is not true at all. brother Branham in 1963 was looking through the great portal of time, but what he saw was when the Lamb becomes the Lion, that's the second coming of Christ.

 

The Breach 63-0317E P:136 Notice, here He comes, leaves the throne as an Intercessor, as a slain Lamb to become a lion, King, to bring the whole world into judgment that's rejected. Our Kinsman Redeemer then is King over all. Why? He's got the Title Deed of Redemption. It all lays within His hand. I'm glad I know Him...?...Then claims His inheritance; that's the Church, the Bride; He claims it. What does He do then? He disposes of His contestant, Satan. He throws him into a lake of fire with all those who was inspired by Satan to reject His Word of redemption. 137 He's King now. Mercy's still on the throne. Don't you reject His offer. See? The riders know just who you are. And now, His contestant, who's give Him trouble for two thousand years, claiming, "I can do with them what I want to. I still have them; they're mine. I... They forfeited the title back there"; but He's the Kinsman Redeemer. He said... He's back here making intercessions now, but someday... He say, "I'll put them in the grave." But He told the Church, "I'll bring you out (See?), but first I've got to be an Intercessor."

 

Now, back to Revelations 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 11  And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12  Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13  And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14  And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

 

Sardisean Church Age 60-1209 P:52 When they seen Him setting on the altar, and had the Book in His hand, and no man on earth or beneath the earth, or anywhere was able or worthy to even look at the Book; but a Lamb that as It had been slain from the foundation of the world, way back at the beginning when He first started this redeemed body, come and took it out of the right hand of Him that sets upon the throne, and set down Himself. Amen. There you are. That's the Scripture. It's just beautiful. See?

 

Notice the picture goes way back to before the foundations of the world when God elected to predestinate you to adoption and chose his son the become the bleeding dying lamb.

 

Brother Branham said that the lamb who is seen here in Revelations 5 who opened the book is not seen again until he comes in Revelations 19 with his saints.  First seal the 63-0318 121 Notice, it is a Lamb that opened the Book, and the Lamb is Christ; and Christ is not seen anymore from then, but He is seen in the Book of Revelations the 19th chapter,….  

 

So Who came down? If the lamb is not seen in Revelation 10, then who came down in Revelations 10?

 

The answer is God Himself came down with a Shout as we see in 1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (Who is Him? God Himself.) 15 For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming (Parousia, Presence) of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For The Lord himself (That's God) 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: 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. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

Therefore the lamb does not leave that throne until the Father takes us up in the Rapture to meet the son in the air. He is there making intercession for our confession until the last name that was in the Lambs book of Life comes in and is child trained. Then he leaves the throne to come and redeem them.

 

First seal the 63-0318 P:135 Notice, and when this Holy Spirit that we have, becomes incarnate to us, the One that's in our midst now in the form of the Holy Ghost, becomes incarnate to us in the Person of Jesus Christ, we'll crown Him King of kings...?... That's right. See?

 

Now, I would like to read a few more quotes in closing to nail this down sot hat we can see that Jesus Christ is still on the mercy seat until that last child has come in and is child trained.

 

It Wan't So From The Beginning  60-0306 53 His flesh sets at the right hand of the throne of God in majesty in glory. "And He that overcometh shall set with Me on My Throne, as I have overcome and set down on My Father's throne." Oh, what a wonderful thing. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, setting in the heavens, and all these mortal souls that's just under the altar, look up and see that body setting there, that corporal body. Oh, I feel religious. That corporal body...

 

The First Seal 63-0318 P:30 Now, in the Bible times, the mysteries were there, and they seen these things happen the way John saw it here. Now, he said, "There is a white horse rider." But what the mystery of it is, there's a mystery that goes with that rider. Now, what it was, they didn't know; but it's to be revealed. But it is to be revealed after the Lamb leaves the Father's throne of His intercessory as Kinsman Redeemer.

 

The Third Seal 63-0320 P:15 And then we went back and got the kinsman redeemer and picked him up to see what his work was. And now, for all these years, Christ has been doing the Kinsman Redeemer work. Now, all that understands that, say, "Amen." He has been doing the work of the Kinsman Redeemer, but there will come a time that when the redeeming work will be over, and when the redeeming work is over, then He leaves the throne of God, where He's seated now, but that's not His throne. "He that overcometh shall set with Me in My throne as I have overcome and have set down on My Father's throne." That is not His throne. That belongs to Spirit, God. Christ, the Lamb, it doesn't belong to Him.

 

Souls in Prison Now 63-1110M P:78 See, it wasn't revealed when that Seventh Trumpet sounded, or the Seventh Seal was opened, then there was silence in the heaven: See? It wasn't give away, what would take place. But under the Sixth Seal where these Trumpets opened... Remember, under there we find out that the Lamb came forth, appeared on the scene. He had left the mercy seat. His work of redemption was finished. And He came forth and took the Book out of the right hand of Him that set upon the throne, and time was no more. And immediately an Angel appeared in the 10th chapter and 7th verse, saying, this Angel came down and swore that time was no longer. But you see, in this Book was what was redeemed; it was the Book of Redemption. And everything that He had redeemed was written in that Book. All that He died for was written in the Book, and He could not leave His mediatorial seat until He had thoroughly redeemed, and He couldn't redeem it at the cross, because they were predestinated in the Lamb's Book of Life, and had to stay on there to make intercession until that last person was finished. Glory.

 

And remember he just got done telling us it was somewhere during the sixth Seal, which is what is going on right now. So, one of these days soon, he which is righteous will be righteous still, and he that is filthy will remain filthy.

 

The Breach 63-0317E P:148 Why? When the revelation come that the Lamb, the Redeemer, our Kinsman had come back from the throne of mediatorial and had walked out here to take His possession. Oh, soon the Lamb will take His bride To be ever at His side,...

 

Now, as I said there are those who believe that there is no more mercy. They believe when the seals were revealed that the Lamb left the Mercy seat and is now on the judgment seat. They believe there is no more mercy. And yet we find brother Branham right up until his last sermon letting us know that the doors of mercy were still open.

On November 26, 1965 he said in the sermon, Works is Faith Expressed, May those who are not saved, above all things, be ready. Get ready now, while the doors of mercy are still opened "

 

Notice that the doors of mercy are still open at that time. Therefore when the seals were opened Jesus did not step off the mercy seat. He stepped up onto His Father's Throne of Mercy and is still making intercession for our confession.

 

And of course in January 19, 1965 brother Branham preached a message called, God who is rich in mercy 65-0119  10 Now, why would he preach such a message almost 3 years after the seals were opened if there was no more mercy. And in this message he said, "Dear Jesus, we are approaching now the great throne of mercy, through this all-sufficient Name. "For there's no other Name given among men whereby we must be saved, but only this Name of the Lord Jesus." And we're coming in His Name.

 

The Breach 63-0317E 107-2 {269} He leaves the throne to be an Intercessor as a slain Lamb to be a Lion, King, to bring the world to judgment who has rejected His message. He's not a Mediator. Remember the Old Testament teaching now, as we hurry. When the blood went off the mercy seat, what was it? Judgment seat. And when the Lamb slain walked forward from eternity out of the Father's throne and took His rights, it was a judgment seat. Then He become not a Lamb, but a Lion, King. And He calls for His Queen to come stand by His side. "Know ye not the saints shall judge the earth?"

And that is Revelation 19 when he comes on His White Horse as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And He comes at that time with His Saints. So the rapture has done long happened, and the saints have crowned the Incarnate Son of God, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I hope this has been helpful for you to see the order of events of the seals.

 

Let us pray...