WHO IS THIS MELCHISEDEC #40

Vindication Revelation

FEBRUARY 4,  2001

Brian  Kocourek

 

Before we move ahead  with our study of this wonderful Message from brother Branham entitled, WHO IS THIS MELCHISEDEC I believe we will have to back up to paragraph 18 because we kind of skipped around while preaching the series on Sovereignty, Righteousness and Unrighteousness and the Two Natures.

 

Let’s now, read from paragraph 18.     Now--now, I thank the people for their help again. Now, I just want to comment just a moment on the--on the morning's message (Brother Branham is speaking of the message Marriage and Divorce). There's no doubt I didn't get completely through with it, but I think you understand. And I'm sure you didn't... You'll never know what that was for me to do.

19 Now, it seems very simple to you, but you see what you're doing? You're taking the place of God to pronounce something. And before I would do that, it had to come an answer from God. (Now, what Brother Branham is telling us here that you just can't tell the people what you feel like telling them, if you have something to say it had better be from God or you had better shut up. Especially when it comes to the clemency (the forgiveness) which was given to the people for there sin. Only God can do that. No man, prophet or no prophet has a right to forgive the people of that sin, except God tell Him to say it. Then brother Branham explains that God Himself came down to do so.)  

And He had to come down, and He visibly showed Himself, and gave the revelation. Therefore (See?), this is to the church. And remember, I said these--this what I said was to the church only.

 

Understanding vindication is perhaps one of the most important things we can do as a Believer in God and His Word. It seems today, among the Christian world that we are living again in the days of Judges where every man did what he thought was right in his own eyes.  And why is this the predominant attitude amongst the nations today?, Because the people have turned down a Vindicated Prophet of God.

 

It doesn't matter whether you claim to be a follower of God's prophet or not. The proof of your belief is in understanding Vindication.  So then what is Vindication. Why is it so important to us?

 

  E-32  SIGN OF HIS COMING   62-0407  But to the believer, it's a vindication of the truth of God's Word that speaks of the coming sign. Amen. It vindicates God's Word to be the truth. That's to the believer. Amen. The unbeliever, he's worried, dismayed, discouraged. "Oh, such a outfit," he will say. "You don't mean you belong to a thing like that." See? He's just discouraged with it. And--but to the believer, it's, oh, it's honey in the rock. It's a vindication.

Brother Branham used the term Vindication to explain: "God has a One man Message and He deals with One man only".  But men do not like this, for they seem to want to have their own say as to how God is going to do things. WHO DO YOU SAY THIS IS?  64-1227  128 That one-man message, they didn't want it. No, they didn't want It. And God never did deal but with one person at a time. It's always a one-man message. When did ever He deal with the people, outside of just one person? It's an individual. It ain't a group.

Vindication is the real issue concerning our faith. Not so much that it was God who backed up William Branham's Message, for all Pentecostal people believe that God works out of heaven and does fantastic things. They will even allow for God to come down to do certain things, but the understanding that this Vindication comes in the form of God's Personal Presence with His prophet, and that this Presence was referred to by Brother Branham himself as the Appearing of Christ has become the central doctrinal debate within the "Message clergy" because it comes into direct conflict with their understanding of the Second coming of Christ as they have always perceived it, and this is due to the fact that they do not understand Godhead correctly.

A close study of this principle of vindication will help us to understand better that when  it comes to the program of God, we have absolutely no say as to what will happen. All God requires from you and me is to get ourselves out of the way and allow God to work through his chosen channel, which according to Amos 3:7 is always a prophet.

 

AMOS 3:6  Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done [it]? 7    Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. 8    The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

 

Again we find in the book of Deuteronomy God's Law concerning how he will deal with His People. And since He is the same and changes not, then we cannot say that prophets are relegated to the Old Testament only, for there are references to prophets in the New Testament as well.

 

DEUTERONOMY 18:15   The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; 16    According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.  17    And the LORD said unto me, They have well [spoken that] which they have spoken. 18    I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19    And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require [it] of him. 20    But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.  21    And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?  22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that [is] the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, [but] the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

 

Now, God set forth an order that has very strict consequences for those who will not adhere to it. He said, I will require it from you. You will pay for your unbelief.  Notice the question came forth from God's own mouth. He said, how will  you know what is right and what is not right?  And then He tells us, the one that is not right will not be vindicated. I will not bring his words to pass, because they are not my words.

 

And we know God is very protective of His own Words.  ISAIAH 55:10  For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.

 

PROOF OF HIS RESURRECTION 136  There He stood, and made Hisself known. He said, "If you can't believe Me, believe the works that I do. They testify the Father sent Me."…    "The works that I do are a vindication that the Father sent Me. If that isn't sufficient, believe them then instead of Me.

 

E-15  Jesus Christ the Same  55-0603 But Jesus come by not preaching so forceful as John, but there were signs and wonders accompanying Him. He said, "If you can't believe Me believe the works that I do. If you can't believe Me believe the a vindication that the Father has given of Me, for the works that I do, the same testify that the Father has sent Me." What a statement. Think of it. "The works that I do testify that the Father has sent Me." Man can make any kind of a statement, but if God don't back that statement up, you've got a right to say it's wrong. But when God comes around and confirms that statement to be the truth then it's sin to disbelieve it. For what is sin? Sin is one thing: "unbelief." That's right. You couldn't say how much of that is night. It's all night. And in the daytime you couldn't say just this much is day. It's all day. Jesus said, "He that believeth not is condemned already." Faith in God and unbelief that's the two things. One is sin and the other one is salvation.

 

JOHN 5:19  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

 

JOHN 5:30  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.  31       If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.  32    There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

 

This let's us know that there will be a showdown. God speaks of this in Deuteronomy chapter 13.

 

DEUTERONOMY 13:1    If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,   2    And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;  3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.   4    Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.  5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn [you] away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

 

HEBREWS 2:1     Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let [them] slip. 2    For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3    How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard [him]; 4    God also bearing [them] witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

 

41  GUIDE A  62-1014E It was a vindication there, that there was a living God inside of Him. What He testified, "It's not Me that doeth the works; it's My Father that dwelleth in Me. Verily I say unto you, the Son can do nothing in Himself, but what He sees the Father doing, that doeth the Son likewise. The Father worketh, and I worketh hitherto." In other words, God showed Him what to do, and He went and just acted it out; He didn't do anything until God told Him to do it. Amen. That's the real frank facts of it. If we'd just move and wait till the Spirit moved us to do it... That's it. And then be so completely lost in Christ that He don't have to shove you around like He does me, but the first little nod of His head, you're ready and nothing's going to stop you, because you know that it's the will of God.

 

From the 20th century Prophet Book we read, " There are always two men or two groups who demonstrate power, but one has a wrong source of power. The spirit of Antichrist is here as well as the Spirit of Christ. The spirit of Antichrist in Satan's prophets is so close to the real and true Spirit of God that only the VERY ELECT will escape the deception. Matt. 24:22-24 "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." These true elect ones take the Word. When these true Elect Ones see the prophet and his acts of power, and see that he is right with the Word and never deviates, they know that he is of God and receive him. All that prophet says and does leads them closer to Him Who is coming soon. They look for no other vindication. This is the vindication".

 

Now, we are told in the New testament that God will once again send forth another prophet and those who do not hear him will be cut off. God does not play games with us. He says what He means and He means what He says.

 

ACTS 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 20    And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21    Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. 22    For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 23    And it shall come to pass, [that] every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

 

Notice the requirement at the hands of an angry God, destruction. Destroyed from amongst the people. This is exactly what we see in 2 Thessalonians 1: 8-9. This speaks of those who are cut off from the presence of the Lord, and they will be left for the burning.

 

59  TOKEN THE  64-0208 He sent a prophet to them, Moses, with a message identifying God's Word. And to identify Moses, He sent a Pillar of Fire that hung over him. Amen. Then to give him the perfect assurance, He required a token. Amen. There's a messenger, the message, and the vindication, and the token, the perfect assurance that they had nothing to worry about. No matter how many plagues strike, what everybody else says they are sealed away.

 

20th century Prophet William Branham also says that an angel appears to him. He even describes him. Your reaction is up to you. You can believe or disbelieve. But no man has a right to repudiate another, especially if the claimant is on strict Bible grounds--angelic appearances are positively Biblical. A self-witness is absolutely Scriptural. God backs up the revelation. As it was with Paul who came with the complete revelation to the Gentiles, God bearing him witness both with divers signs, and miracles and wonders and gifts of the Holy Ghost, so God has borne witness to William Branham for there has not been one time when the vision failed. Nor has there been one time when he has said "Thus saith the Lord," that the word in his mouth ever failed. Though one might be censured for the following, yet it ought to be said. There are very few scriptural evidences in the Bible to vindicate the revelation ministry of Paul. That God actually gave him the complete revelation he lays claim to has but little phenomenal proof from God. YET NO ONE DOUBTS, AND NO ONE SHOULD DOUBT THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE MAN HIMSELF AND THE REVELATION. And today, this man, William Branham has had literally thousands of manifested vindications from God, and with his life containing all the other factors that make up the prophetic office, HE OUGHT TO BE RECEIVED FOR WHAT HE IS,--HE MUST BE RECEIVED FOR WHAT HE IS... "Thus saith the Lord" in his mouth by the Holy Ghost is absolutely no different from the "Thus saith the Lord" in the mouth of Paul, for it is the same Holy Ghost.

            The Holy Spirit that spoke in the pillar of fire to Moses is the same Spirit that fell at Pentecost as a cloud of fire, and is the same light exactly that appeared to Paul and blinded him and spoke to him, and that Light or Fire is now with us again and the voice is the SAME VOICE for the SAME SIGNS ARE GIVEN as before, and the prophetic utterance never fails. It is thus the rankest unbelief for men to come to this Prophet and hear him reveal without one mistake ever the various ailments and problems that beset the supplicant who comes for prayer, and then turn from that sign and say that he is a prophet only in discerning, but not a prophet in the Word. Oh, faithless one, can you not see that the sign is to attract your attention that you might believe the Word? It is the WORD that counts, and the sign is to lead you to it.

            But man runs true to form as ever he did. When Jesus came He attracted them by the miracles of healing, the water turned to wine, the loaves and fishes multiplied. But when He began to teach a word that differed from theirs--when He laid out for them the true doctrines--they turned far from Him. And so it was, that, when Rev. Branham first appeared on the scene, thousands were healed with never a miss. Nothing stood before him. Then he came teaching the Word. God had sent him with a message. But the message differed radically from that of the organized churches' message. For this he was repudiated. But God remains true. He that believes His prophets shall prosper.

 

E-16  Expectations 50-0405 Gifts and callings are without repentance. There is spirits that's in the Church. That's true, such as gifts of prophecy, healing, and so forth. But they're in the entire body. They may fall upon one person tonight, a prophecy, and It might not never fall on that person again; It might be somewhere else in the body. And those spirits are supposed to be judged. "Let one speak and two or three judge," said Paul. Now, those are the spirits of the gifts that's in the Church. But the only person that has a right to say, THUS SAITH THE LORD, is an a vindicated prophet. You never seen anybody judging Isaiah, or Jeremiah, or those people. They were prophets, foreordained and borned in the world to be prophets. And they foresaw the thing by a vision, and then said, "THUS SAITH THE LORD," for the Lord had already said it.  So what the Church needs today, is a good old fashion teaching of the Gospel. That's right. To know where they... I don't mean just educated teaching; I mean spiritual teaching. Some people speaks about God, and--and knows nothing of Him. You don't... See, you must get down and deal with the actual spirit itself, you see, to know what you're speaking of.

 

 E-61  Expectations 50-0405  Now, Moses could only perform these miracles, but the people had to believe him. That was the vindication that he was sent of God. You understand? It a vindicated his word to be true. If any man says anything and God testifies not that, then the man is wrong. But if the man says something, and God testifies behind that, then that man is right. See? Not only once, but over and over and over; it has to be the... a--a time. Now, Moses did that and proved to the people. 

 

Rest assured of one thing, as William Branham said, 189 Lord Just Once More 63-0628A  The denominations will not take the a-vindication of the Word.

 

 325-1 Laodicean Church Age – Church Age Book Chapter  9 Jesus called John the Baptist, Elijah. Matthew 17:12, "But I say unto you that Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him what they listed." The reason that he called John Elijah, was because the same Spirit that was upon Elijah had come back upon John, even as that Spirit had come back upon Elisha after the reign of King Ahab. Now once again that Spirit will come back upon another man just before Jesus comes. He will be a prophet. He will be vindicated as such by God. Since Jesus, Himself, in the flesh won't be here to vindicate him, (as He did John) it will be done by the Holy Spirit so that this prophet's ministry will be attended by great and wonderful manifestation. As a prophet, every revelation will be vindicated, for every revelation will come to pass. Wonderful acts of power will be performed at his commands in faith. Then will be brought forth the message that God has given him in the Word to turn the people back to truth and the true power of God. Some will listen, but the majority will run true to form and reject him.

 

 

 

  177  HARVEST TIME    64-1212 Watch now as we hurry up through. "When the Spirit of Truth is come, He will teach you all things, whatever I taught you," oh, my, "bearing all remembrance to you, what I've said to you, bringing to you, all remembrance. And He will show you things to come. He will vindicate every Word, confirming the Word with signs following." Everything that He promised, that God promised in the Bible, if you'll turn loose from every creed and everything else, and hold onto the Word, God is obligated to take care of His Word. And so when they did this, the Word vindicates Itself.

 

  31-5  THIS DAY THIS SCRIPTURE   65-0219 Now, to preach it... As I said awhile ago, if you preach anything and it's the Gospel Truth, then God's obligated to vindicate that. Is that true? Now, if that be so, let the God that wrote the Word, let the God that made the prophecy, let the God Who is God of the Word come forth and prove that He's still God.

 

  101  EVENTS MADE CLEAR BY PROPHECY  65-0801E   How he knowed where he was standing. He knowed exactly. He'd heard from God, and it was exactly with the Word, so he didn't care what people said. He preached It and prophesied It anyhow. And watch, when a man stands for what is Truth, then God's obligated to vindicate that man the truth.

 

Who is This Melchisedec. 20 And so that you might have confidence and know, that was the same God that said to me up there where they was no squirrel, "Speak, and say where they'll be." And three straight times it happened. Now, if He can by that same Word create something that isn't there, how much more will this hold fast at the day of judgment. See? People were there to see these things, and know as Paul said in the days gone by, there's men with him who--who felt the earth shake and didn't hear the voice, but they--they seen the--the Pillar of Fire.

Brother Branham is making reference here to the story in the Book of Acts where Paul alone has full view and understanding of what took place between Him and the Pillar of fire, and yet God left witnesses of this event,

ACTS 22:1    Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence [which I make] now unto you. 2 (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,) 3 ¶  I am verily a man [which am] a Jew, born in Tarsus, [a city] in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, [and] taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. 4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. 5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. 6    And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. 7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. 9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. 10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. 11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. 12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt [there], 13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. 14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. 15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Now, I want to add something here, and that is this. The book of Acts is believed by all Christians, to be the Inspired Word of God. Yet I can show you where there is what seems to be an inconsistency between Paul's testimony here and what is told of the Event by the writer of the Book itself as we see in Chpater 9.

ACTS 9:1    And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5    And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: [it is] hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought [him] into Damascus.

Now, if we are going to become stumbled by what might seem to be inconsistencies in the Scriptures, then there is no way we will ever make it, because God given us a Word which outwardly appears to be quite flawed and full of inconsistencies.  I have a book that is 2 inches thick called "Alleged discrepancies of the Bible" and the author in this book shows what is an alleged discrepancy is not a discrepancy at all, but merely a misconstruing of the intent of the passage.

In this book the Author, John W. Haley speaks of this alleged discrepancy in the reporting of the same event here in the Book of Acts as follows, And I will quote from page 359 of his Book, 

"In Acts 9:7 and Acts 22:9 The Greek word "akou," Like our word "hear", has two distinct meanings, to perceive sound, and to understand. The men who were with Saul of Tarsus, heard the sound, but did not understand what was said to him. As to the fact that one passage represents them as standing, and the other, as having fallen to the earth, the word rendered "stood" also means to be fixed, to be rooted to the spot. Hence the sense may be, not that they stood erect, but that they were rendered motionless, or fixed to the spot, by overpowering fear.   Or perhaps, when the light with such exceeding brilliancy burst upon them, they all "fell to the earth," but after ward rose and "stood" upon their feet.

 

Now, the reason I bring this up is because if we are to understand vindication, we must also understand that although God has vindicated His Word, This Bible to be His Voice to us, then we must also understand that what may appear outwardly to be inconsistencies, are not inconsistent at all.

In Isaiah God Himself is called a "rock of offense"

ISAIAH 8:13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and [let] him [be] your fear, and [let] him [be] your dread. 14  And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

            In Romans 9 Paul calls The Word of God a rock of offense and a stnmblingstone.

ROMANS 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. 33 For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed or confounded.

            Peter tells us the same. I PETER 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe [he is] precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

            Jesus Himself said, MATTHEW 21:44And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

 

Now, the reason I bring this up is because God's Word is a stumbling stone, as Peter said, "a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. And the key here is that it is thus to those who were appointed to stumble over it.

 

Now, then what we are looking at is Vindication. William Branham, as all other prophets of God said things in such a way that it caused some to stumble and others to disregard what he said altogether because it ran contrary to their theology. But what he is addressing to us through the choice of these words is that he is saying, Look, I did not want to do this, it is not my idea to give blanket clemency to these people, although I love you all dearly, but the same One Who told me to speak and squirrels came into existence, is the same One Who said forgive them of their adultery.

 

Now, I think it is quite strange that those men who have made it their calling in life to try and refute brother Branham in his doctrine, and those who have made it their calling to try and disprove Brother Branham as being from God, they seem to strike at the Godhead more than anything else. Had brother Branham claimed to be a Trinitarian as they are, they would have left him alone altogether. But because he did not believe as they do, they have kicked up their heals against him. And thus they look for inconsistencies in things he taught to try to prove that he was off the word.  But that only tells me that this Message is the True Word because it has become a rock of offence to them who stumble at the Word. 

 

Besides the Godhead, they choose to pick apart his view toward 1977.

Now, I will have to admit that brother Branham said some things about 1977 that could be very stumbling if you are able to be stumbled.

 

From the Message: CONDEMNATION BY REPRESENTATION  60-1113   5-1    Then I seen the United States as one smoldering, burnt-over place. It will be near the end. (Then I've got in parenthesis: "I predict that this will take place." Now, remember, the Lord ne... That's what the Lord showed, but "I predict this will take place before 1977.") Upon this prediction, I base, because of the onrushing slaught that's coming now, how fast that it was moving, how long it'll take till this nation meets its place.

 

CONFERENCE  60-1125  E-7    Then I turned to look and I seen the United States was a smoldering something had burned it up, and down beneath there I said (not in the trance) but I predict... Remember this. I guess this is taped too. I predict that these things will take place between now 1933 and 1977 which will give us sixteen more years if my prediction strikes right. Now, there was seven things spoke of that would happen. Five of them has already happened. There's two left to take place. It'll be that way. That's in the Name of the Lord it shall be that way. See?

 

EPHESIAN CHURCH AGE  60-1205  46    And at 1906 the Laodicean church age set in, and I don't know when it'll end, but I predict it'll be done by 1977. I predict, not the Lord told me, but I predict it according to a vision that was showed me some years ago, that five of those things has (out of the seven)--has already taken place about...

 

LAODICEAN CHURCH AGE  60-1211E 43 We believe that the Laodicean church started in A.D. 1906. I predict... Now, remember, "predict," especially you listening at the tape. I don't say it will be, but predict that it will end by 1977, that the church will go completely into apostasy, and she'll be ousted out of the mouth of God. And the second coming, or the rapture of Christ, might come anytime. Now, I could miss that a year; I can miss it twenty years, I could miss it a hundred years. I don't know where. But I just predict that according to a vision He showed me, and taking the time, the way it's progressing, I say it'll be sometime between '33 and '77. At--at least, this great nation is going to strike a war that's going to blow it to bits. See? Now, that's pretty close; it's awful close. And I could be wrong; I'm predicting. Everybody understand say, "amen" if you do. [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] See?

 

SEVENTY WEEKS OF DANIEL  61-0806  196    Now, counting the time, we find that we have exactly (Listen.) seventeen years left, and we will have the same span of time given to us as God dealing with us in the power of the Holy Spirit since A.D. 33 until 1977, the same span of time of 1954 years. God deals with us the same as He did with the Jews. See? How about that? Now, mark down in your book a little Scripture here I want to give you. Leviticus 25, begin with the 8th verse. God calls a jubilee every forty-ninth year; the fiftieth year was the jubilee. We know that. We understand that. From the first jubilee of Leviticus 25:8, in 1977 will be the seventieth jubilee, making exactly 3,430 years. Jubilee means the going up, the release.

 

SEVENTY WEEKS OF DANIEL  61-0806  199    213 And here comes around and shows, and then I predicted... I never said the Lord told me that, but standing that morning in the church, I said, "The way progress..." I got back to one end of the wall and run to the other end of the wall, and I said, "The way progress is going on, I'll predict that the time (I don't know why I'm saying it.)--but I predict that that'll all happen between right now, 1933, and 1977. And not knowing it, God knows my heart, I never knowed it until yesterday, that 1977 is the jubilee, and exactly the same amount of time run out that He give with Israel and everything at the end. So we're at... And here we are at the end of the age, at the coming in of the seventieth week. We don't know what time that the church will be gone. Oh, my. What can we do, friends? Where are we at? 214 Do you see where we are now? 226… Now, I do not want anyone to go away misunderstanding this. Tape's still playing? I don't want anyone to misunderstand it. Don't misunderstand now, and say, "Brother Branham said Jesus will come in 1977." I never said no such a thing. Jesus may come today. But I have predicted that between '33 and '77 something would take place, that these things that I seen come to pass in the vision would take place. And five of them has already took place.

 

The other big thing they try to nail him on is his dates. They say he could not have been Havalina hog hunting on the day when the Cloud appeared because the season wasn't open yet. I believe he was up there doing a pre-scouting trip to check out the terrain and all. As brother Vayle says, brother Branham didn't always have his chronology straight, but neither does the Bible for that matter. At least it appears that way. If you were to read Matthew 24 about the end time and try to follow what Jesus says chronologically, you would get all messed up, because some of the events pertain to Jerusalem being sacked, and others pertain to the end time. 

 

But I believe the Lord does things to purposely stumble those who do not believe. Didn't Jesus turn to the twelve after the 70 left and give them more to choke on?

 

JOHN 6:60       Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard [this], said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 61    When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 62    [What] and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63    It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life. 64    But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65    And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66    From that [time] many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67    Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68    Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69    And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.  70    Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

 

Now, in getting back to our message, I believe God does things and has his prophets say things in such a way as to purposely stumble those who are not ordained to believe.

 

In PP. 21 of Who is this Melchisedec, brother Branham continues by saying,  21 It done me good though after it was over to see husbands and wives that I know is genuine Christians hugging one another and weeping. And listen, friends, God confirms His Word with signs and vindications to prove that It's right. The spoken Word...

 

LOOK AWAY TO JESUS  63-1229E   6-5    It is so sacred that I mustn't not say much about it, as He told me in the beginning. Said, "This, say nothing of it." You remember that years ago? It speaks for Itself. See? But to... I've tried to explain the others, and I made a mistake. This will be the thing that, to my opinion (I don't say the Lord tells me this.)--this will be the thing that will start the rapturing faith for the going away. See, see? Now, and that... I must lay quiet for just a little while. Now, remember (and who's listening to this tape) you might see such a change in my ministry right away, dropping back... Not going up, dropping back... We're right at the age now, and it be--can't go any further. We have to wait here just a minute until this happens over here to catch up, then the time comes. But it's thoroughly identified.

  7-2    There's coming a time upon--in this nation, to where this nation is going to exercise all the power that the beast had before (which was pagan Rome, when it become papal Rome. See?) that this nation will do that. Revelations 13 plainly explains it. The lamb came up out of the earth. The other beast came up out of water, thickness and multitudes of people. This lamb came up where there was no people. A lamb represents religion--the Lamb of God. And remember, it spoke like a lamb; it was a lamb, and then after while it received power and spoke like a dragon, and exercised all the power the--the dragon--power the dragon had before him; and the dragon is Rome always. So don't you see, Roman denomination, a marked Protestant denomination, an image unto the beast, making a power that'll force all Protestants like a union. You'll have to be into this council of churches, or you won't be able to have fellowship or to--to... Well, it's--it's practically that way now. You can't go to a church and preach, 'less you have a fellowship card or some identification.

              7-4    And now, on persons like ourselves, we're going to be cut out of all that altogether. That's exactly, because they won't be able to do it. It's tightening; and then when that time comes, and the press comes to a place to where you're pressed out, then watch (what I am fixing to tell you in a few minutes) watch the third pull then. It'll be absolutely to the total lost, but it--it will be for the Bride and the church. Now, we're closer than it seems to be. I don't know when, but it's real, real, close. I may be building a platform for somebody else to step on. I may be taken before that time. I don't know. And that time may be this coming week that the Holy Spirit will come with--and bring Christ Jesus. He may come this next week. He may come yet tonight. I don't know when He will come. He doesn't tell us that. But I do believe that we are so close, that I would never die with old age. Yet at fifty-four years old, I'd never die with old age until He's here. See? Unless I am shot, killed, or something, or other, some way killed; just old age wouldn't kill me, until He's come. And I believe that... And I want to say this; I have never said it before, but according to Scripture, according to what He said thirty years ago, thirty-three years ago on the river down there (in 1933, rather), what He said, everything has happened just exactly. I may not do it, but this message will introduce Jesus Christ to the world. "For as John the Baptist was sent to forerun the first coming, so is the message to forerun the second coming." And John said, "Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world." See? So it--it paralleled it in every way, and I know it will. The message will go on.