White throne Judgment
Brian Kocourek
II
CORINTHIANS 5:9
Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of
him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that
every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he
hath done, whether [it be] good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of
the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I
trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
What a terrible thing
to fall into the hands of an angry God. Let's bow our heads in prayer.
Now, this morning I would
like to take paragraph 62 of WHO IS THIS
MELCHISEDEC 65-0221E 62 The other day in the Tucson paper I was
reading an article that where there was a--a woman driving down the road, at I
believe about forty, fifty miles an hour, and she hit an old man with an
overcoat on. She screamed and stopped her car. It threw him up in the air:
right out of the plain desert. And she run back to find him, and he wasn't
there. So what did she do? Some people behind her saw it happen, saw the old
man fly up in the air, his overcoat turning. So they run back to find out. They
couldn't find the man anywhere. They called the police force. The police come
out to examine the place; there was nobody there. Well, each one of them
testified the car chugged, hit the man. He went up in the air, and everybody
saw it. Witnesses and two or three carloads of them, they seen it happen. Come
to find out, five years ago there was an old man with an overcoat on hit and
killed on the same spot. When you leave here, you're not dead. You've got to
come back even if you're a sinner and be judged according to the deeds done in
the body. "If this earthly tabernacle is dissolved, we have one
waiting." "En morphe," that's the word.
Let's stop here a moment and reflect now upon this
statement brother Branham says here. He said, When you leave here, you're not dead. You've got to come
back even if you're a sinner and be judged according to the deeds done in the
body.
He's talking about the great
white throne judgment. We read also that the Apostle Paul said, For we must all appear before the judgment
seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body,
according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the
Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God;…
Knowing the terror of
the Lord, we persuade men. And that is what I am here to do this morning, and
each and every time we come together. Oh if I could just open the eyes of the
people God has given me to shepherd, and yet how can I when the scripture tells
us in the end time the people will be willingly ignorant. But let me say this,
there is coming a judgment, a great white throne judgment, but before that
those who do not make the rapture will go through another judgment that will be
so terrible, that any man in his right mind would not want to face that. And to
think, as bad as the tribulation period will be, it will be even worse to stand
before that white throne Judgment, knowing that every sin you ever committed in
this flesh will have to be accounted for.
MATTHEW
16:24¶ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any
[man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever
will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall
gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in
exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his
Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his
works.
In the Book Genesis of
we first get a glimpse of this great white throne judgment. But the Role of Judge
was first played out by Elohim to Abraham, when he pleaded with God to spare
the lives of his nephew Lot down in Sodom. Abraham said, "Shall not the
Judge of all the earth do right?" And so He did what was right, He
destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire. And if God is a righteous Judge, He is
either obligated to raise up Sodom and Gomorrah and apologize to them, or He
must do the same to America, and in fact the whole world, because He changes
not, and if the sins that were done in Sodom are being repeating in this
country and in fact the entire world, then of is obligated to handle them as He
did to Sodom. And that is to destroy it with fire, leaving it neither root nor
branch.
II PETER
3:3 ¶ Knowing this first, that there shall come in the
last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the
promise of his Parousia? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things
continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they
willingly are ignorant of, (What
are they willingly ignorant of? He goes on to tell us that the world was
destroyed once by water and if God destroyed it once He will do so again, but
this time by fire.) that by the word of God the
heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But
the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved
unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 ¶
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with
the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 ¶ The Lord
is not slack concerning his promise, And what promise is He
referring to? First the promise of a Great Appearing in Mercy, and then the
judgments to follow.) as some men count slackness;
but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that
all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief
in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise,
and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the
works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 ¶
[Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner
[of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness,
And that is my
question for you this morning, ¶ [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall
be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy
conversation and godliness,
Now, if we turn in our
Bibles this morning to the Book of DANIEL 7:9 we will see the first description of
this scene to come of the white throne judgment. ¶ 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, Fire always signifies
judgment, as in the refiners fire that purges out the dross) [and] his wheels [as] burning fire. 10 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 (Notice
books, plural, more than one book is opened). 11 I
beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I
beheld [even] till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to
the burning flame. 12 As concerning the
rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were
prolonged for a season and time. 13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold,
[one] like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the
Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given
him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and
languages, should serve him: his dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, which
shall not pass away, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed.
Notice, the white
wigged one is God and the one like the Son of Man came to the Ancient of days,
He came to be there at this great white throne judgment.
Again we see this
scene played out in the book of REVELATION 20:11 ¶ 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. 12
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:
and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books,
according to their works. 13 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. 14 And death and hell were cast
into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not
found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 54-0103E 117-68 Look at this
morning's lesson. When the judgment was set, and the books were opened... Now,
Jesus came with ten thousand times ten thousands of saints, and then the
judgment was set. Here they all are around the white throne judgment (as we
went through the Scripture with it), and the books were opened; and another
Book was opened which was the Book of Life. And these in the rapture was
judging them. Is that right? Them had done went home and received their
glorified bodies, and lived through the millennium, was here in the white
throne judgment, judging those. He said He would separate the sheep from the
goats. Now, you say here, "Why, now look." You say, "Is that
come up... Whereabouts, Brother Branham?" In the white throne judgment.
BEGINNING
ENDING GENTILE DISPENSATION
55-0109E E-31 Now, "At this time..." He said.
"And at that time," the 12th chapter... And at that time shall
Michael stand up, the great prince that standeth for the children of thy
people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such was never since there was a
nation even to that time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every
one that shall be found written in the book. Oh, my. Aren't you glad your name
is on His Book? When He's... Daniel over here saw Him come to the Ancient of
Days, whose hair was as white as wool. And He opened up the Books, and they were
judged, every man out of the Books: the great white throne judgment.
E-32 Now, Daniel is
given this assurance, that at the end of the Gentile dispensations... Read
the--when you go home, tomorrow read the 11th chapter. You can see how the king
of the north is coming down (which is nothing else but Russia), coming down to
press against it like a whirlwind. And the great battle of Armageddon will be
fought right there near the gates of Jerusalem. Notice, oh, I love this. ...
and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that's been found
written in that book... (the Lamb's Book of Life.) Michael, the great prince,
shall stand up. For what? For thy people. All right. And many of them that
sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake... (When? When these times take
place.)... and some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting
contemptment."
E-33 Just as sure as there's an Everlasting
Life, there's an everlasting departure. It determines on how you treat Jesus
Christ in your life. If you love Him, and borned again and got His Spirit,
you've got Everlasting Life. If you don't, you have not Everlasting Life. If
your name is written on the Lamb's Book of Life, you have immortal Life. If
it's not written there, you'll not be recognized. What is it? All those
prophesies are fulfilled, everything right down to this time.
LIVING
DYING BURIED RISING COMING 59-0403 E-36 Look, friend, we
may go to church every Sunday. We may be very religious. Oh, sure. You might
pay your tithes, and you might just be as good a person as Los Angeles has got.
That may be true. But I tell you: There's a lot of things going to stand before
you if that's all you got, when you stand at that white throne judgment. No
wonder few there'll be that'll be saved.
BALM IN
GILEAD 59-1124 E-37
Now, brother, sister, that was just a dream. But that's the truth too.
When you stand in the presence of that Light of God, there's going to be a
whole lot of things that you'll think of, and maybe that you're not doing now.
That's going to be a dreadful time at the white throne judgment of God.
ROMANS
14:10 But why dost thou
judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at naught thy brother? for we shall all
stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, [As] I live,
saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to
God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Let us
not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man
put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in [his] brother's way. 14 I know,
and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that [there is] nothing unclean of itself:
but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him [it is] unclean. 15
But if thy brother be grieved with [thy] meat, now walkest thou not charitably.
Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 16 Let not then your good
be evil spoken of: 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but
righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ
[is] acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19 Let us therefore follow after
the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 20
For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed [are] pure; but [it is]
evil for that man who eateth with offence. 21 [It is] good neither to eat
flesh, nor to drink wine, nor [any thing] whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is
offended, or is made weak. 22 Hast thou faith? have [it] to thyself before God.
Happy [is] he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 23
And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith: for
whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin.
QA ON
GENESIS 53-0729
55-272 Then look. You say,
"Well, now, Brother Branham, do you mean to tell me there's going to be,
that people that's going to be there at the white throne judgment?"
They'll... The Bride will never be judged. No, sir. She's in Christ. How do you
get in Christ? "By one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body." Is
that right? Now, look, look here. The Bible said, "Judgment was set, and
the Books were opened." Is that right? Books of sinners. "And another
Book was opened," which is the Book of Life, and every man was judged
thus. Is that right? And who was doing the judging? Jesus and the saints. He
said, "He came and ministered unto the Ancient of Days Whose hair is like
wool." And said, "Ten thousand times ten thousands come with Him, and
ministered to Him in the judgment." Here Jesus returns as King and Queen;
the wedding's over, and He's married. Here's King and Queen standing here. And
there stands that sanctified bunch; God said, "Stand to My right side here."
That's the Book was opened, was sinners, "Get over on My left."
Here's the ones that had their names written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
55-274 You say, "Brother Branham, my name's
written there, I'll go." Wait a minute. Judas Iscariot was sanctified.
Whew. Brother, wake up now, pinch, so you can get this. You see?
Judas
Iscariot, his spirit is the antichrist today. You know that. Jesus was the Son
of God, came from God and returned to God; Judas was the son of perdition, came
from hell and returned to hell. Jesus taken the repentant sinner with Him;
Judas taken the unrepentant with him, "If thou be... If, if, if You be a
Divine healer, do this. If thou be This, do this." (See, that question
mark across God's Word.) "The days of miracles is past. If It is, show me
this. If, if, if..." See? "It's all true," God said.
56-276 Now, watch. Judas Iscariot was justified by
faith, and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and was baptized. The Bible said,
"Jesus--Jesus baptized the disciples, His disciples." All right.
St. John
17:17, before He could send them out, He said, "Sanctify them, Father,
through the Truth. Thy Word is the Truth." And He was the Word, even
before the atonement was made. In other words, "As a preview, Father, of
My shed Blood, I sanctify these." He give them power against unclean
spirits, and they went out and they cast out devils. Is that right? And they
healed the sick. Is that right? And they come back, sanctified, rejoicing,
jumping, shouting, and praising God. Is that right? And said, "Even the
devils is subject to us." And Jesus said, "Don't you rejoice because
the devils is subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in the
Book of heaven." Is that right? And Judas Iscariot was with them, one of
them, called-out, sanctified, and his name written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Read Matthew 10 and see if that's not right. He called each one of them, and
Judas and every one of them, right down there. He sent them out, give them
power against unclean spirits.
56-280 Now, watch. Put on your shock-proof vest. But when Judas come right up through that church there, as the treasurer of the church, working with the Pastor, the--Jesus. But when it come time to Pentecost, he showed his colors. He showed what he was. And with a--with enough decency about him, he destroyed himself and hung himself on a sycamore tree to fulfill the prophecy. And that spirit of Judas will come right up and believe the Lord Jesus Christ. Like Jesus said, "The devils believe and tremble." He'll come right up and teach sanctification, just as pure a holy life as it can be; but when it comes to the baptism of the Holy Ghost and the gifts of the Spirit, he'll deny It. He'll show his colors every time. There's that spirit. Look. And Jesus said, "Beware..." Matthew 24, again. "The two spirits will be so close together till it would deceive the very elect." Is that right? Where that pattern's a-laying... Brother, better believe in old fashion, Holy Ghost preachers around here and get right with God. That's right. Don't have a form of godliness and deny the power thereof. Amen.
ABRAHAM
56-1208 E-99
While a calming, sacred quality in the church just now... I seldom ever
seen that done. Right here at the closing of this meeting in the church, and
the Holy Spirit dropped right from that healing line right out over here. Look
swarmed around this altar here. God knows what He's doing. It's better...
Obedience is better than sacrifice, and hearkening to the fats of lambs. God
making His call, maybe there's someone in their final call. How do I know?
Here's young ladies, young children, old gray headed, white, brown, colored,
yellow, all different kinds of people bowed around this altar here with their
hearts bleeding out to God. They're convinced that Christ is raised from the
dead and the great white throne judgment is just before us, in your Presence
now. Confess your sins and they'll go on before you and not bother you in the
judgment.
BLIND BARTIMAEUS
57-0127E E-47 I commend them to Thee now as a fruit of
preaching the Word and the love gifts of the Father, Who's in the Word. And You
receive them now, for Thou hast said, "He that heareth My Word, and
believeth on Him that sent Me has Eternal Life, and shall never come to the
judgment; but has passed from the judgment unto Life." In so many
words, Father, they can't stand at the white throne judgment, You're going to
stand in their place. Never come to the judgment, but has bypassed the
judgment, and has Eternal Life through Jesus Christ. Grant these blessing to
the people. For we ask it in Christ's Name. Amen.
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 59-0628E 388-127 Now, the Bride went up, the remnant left
here. And she is the one who come in the second resurrection. "Blessed and
holy is he that has part in the first resurrection, on which the second death
has no power." That's right. The second resurrection will be the white
throne judgment, then the church... "Don't you know," said Paul,
"go amongst the unbelievers and the lawyers and so forth when the saints
shall judge the earth." These matters should be judged before the church,
not before the unjust magistrates and so forth, but before the church our
matters should. There you take one another to the law. And God pity a man
that'll take a Christian to law. That's right. Paul even dared them to do it.
Now, that's the Bride, and there goes the sleeping virgin, a left on earth. The
wise virgin goes into heaven with oil in her lamp. I know we could spend a lot
of time on that, but I got--I'm going to hurry to get through this.
388-129
Do Christians sin? Absolutely no. There is no Scripture where a
Christian sins. He cannot sin. I know there's a resentment to that. Well, we'll
just go to I John 3 and see what the Scripture says. A Christian does not sin.
Did you ever see a black white bird or a white black bird? Did you ever see a
drunk sober man? No. You never did see a sinner saint either. There's no such a
thing. Now, if this gets just a little touchy, you just put a lot of balm in,
you know, and it'll--it'll cure up just in a little bit now.
389-132 Now, the Scriptures is our absolutely, infallible
proofs of what we are speaking of. I John 3rd chapter and the 9th verse. All
right, listen to this. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil
sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was made manifest,
that he might destroy the works of the devil. Listen, are you ready? Got your
jackets on, the armor all buckled up? Listen close, 'cause this is shocking.
Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin;... (How's that?)... for his
seed... (His seed: God's)... remaineth in him:... (the man)... and he cannot
sin, because he's born of God. In this the children of God are made manifest,
and the children of the devil: whosoever does not righteousness is not of God,
neither... that loveth not his brother. How can you have denominations and draw
barriers and things like that, and say you're born of God? No such a thing.
It's a mock of the--Satan. That's right. But a man that's born of God cannot
sin; it's impossible for him to sin.
389-133 Watch. Just let me take this crucifix just
a minute if it'll come off of there. Who was the sin offering? Jesus Christ.
How do we get in Christ? Who died for us? Christ. What did He die for? Our
sins. He took my punishment. Is that right? And then how do I get into Him? By
one Spirit we are all baptized into one body. And when in this body, we're
covered by the Blood and free from the judgments. He cannot sin, because
there's a Blood sacrifice laying for him day and night. Hallelujah. He can't
sin. He has no desire to sin. If he does it--if he does do something wrong, he
don't mean to do it. The Bible said in Hebrews the 10th chapter, "For if
we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth (and He is the
Truth), there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin. He that despised Moses' law,
died under two or three witness, how much more sorer punishment suppose, though
worthy, who's trod the Blood of Jesus Christ under his feet and counted the
Blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified with an unholy thing, and
done despite to the works of grace."
390-134 For by one Spirit we are all baptized into
one body and are free from sin, and we cannot sin. There is an Atonement
waiting for us. And if there's still desire in your heart to sin, you have
never been baptized into that body, because you are dead and your life is hid
in Christ through God and sealed by the Holy Ghost. Christians don't sin. They
make mistakes, but they don't sin. Amen. That's the reason they don't, for he
cannot sin. How can I have a... If I go down through the city here, and the
mayor of the city says, "Mr. Branham, I know that you make sick calls.
There's speed limits. The highest speed limit in the city is about thirty miles
an hour. But I'm giving you permission to run ninety if you want to, 'cause I
have faith in you that you wouldn't do it unless you had emergency call or
somebody dying yonder in a wreck. And I'll give you permission, as the mayor of
this city, that you can run any red light, do whatever you want to, just go
right on." How could a little two-bit officer ever arrest me out here
making forty miles an hour in a thirty mile zone? He can't. I cannot break any
speed laws in this city, because why? I'm above the speed laws. Amen. I hope
you see it.
390-136 And when we are dead, and God has
recognized our repentance, He's recognized our baptism, He's recognized the
Blood of His own Son, which by faith has been applied, He recognizes His
fore-ordination, and knew that I'd do it, and has recognized me in Christ,
dead... And Christ died in my place when He was slain before the foundation of
the world. My name was put on His Book as a Christian. Hallelujah. Christ died
my death. Christ is my Sacrifice. God could not impute to me sin anymore. He's
give me the Seal of the Holy Ghost as a witness that I've passed from death
unto Life. Whew. That does it.
390-137 Then they
that are born of God does not commit sin, for he cannot sin. In the Old
Testament each year there was a remembered of sin. But Christ, by one sacrifice
He has perfected forever the worshipper. "The--the worshipper once purged
(Hebrews 10)--the worshipper once purged has no more conscience of sin."
So you take these people that run in the church and jump up-and-down, and
shout, and speak with tongues, and act just exactly like a Christian, and run
out, and the next year they got to come back again, next week. They've never
come anywhere to begin with. They're only impersonating, for the Bible said
that the Holy Spirit seals us into Christ until the day of our redemption.
Hallelujah. That's what makes me rest assured, 'cause God promised it.
CONFERENCE
WITH GOD 59-1220M E-54
Now, friend, in closing I'll say this: You're at a conference this
morning. You are. And your case is ready to be pleaded. Your--your case of
sickness is ready to be pleaded before a merciful God. Your sin case is ready
to be pleaded before a merciful God. And be sure that you accept it. Well, let
me tell you, I'm going to speak of the last conference that'll ever be held.
God be merciful. Only one thing will stand there reconciled, that's the
judgment. And the only thing you'll be reconciled by, is when you've accepted the
Blood of Jesus Christ as your pardon and been filled with His Spirit. There's a
conference where every man will meet, every woman will meet, every child will
meet. There is a place selected where that conference will be held. And
there'll be a great white throne judgment set. God has permitted His prophets
to look in, and said, "The Books were opened, and another book, which is
the Book of Life. Ten thousands times ten thousands of ministers and Angels
minister to Him." And there was written, "If the righteous be
scarcely saved, where will the sinner and ungodly appear." What'll be your
stand at that conference? You might've bypassed all of them down through your
life. You may walk out of this door this morning and bypass this one. But, my
friend, you'll never bypass that one. You are going to be there. "For it
was once appointed unto men to die; but after that the judgment." There'll
be the great conference where we'll all stand together, and we'll give an
account for this morning, of this earthly conference that we've held this
morning.
TEN
VIRGINS 60-1211M 35
Now, don't get the rapture of the church and the white throne judgment
mixed up. Because the rapture of church, there is no judgment (See?), you done met it right down here. That's
right. For they which are in Christ are free from judgment. Jesus said,
"He that heareth My Words and believeth on Him that sent Me has Eternal
Life and shall never come into the judgment, but has passed from death unto
Life." How do we do that? We come into Christ and are baptized into one
body (I Corinthians 12), one body. We're baptized into the body of Jesus
Christ, and God has already judged that body. He could not stand us in judgment
again, because He's already judged that body. And by the permission and grace
of Christ He brings us into Himself: I Corinthians 12. By one Spirit we're all
baptized into that one body, and free from all judgments, 'cause He's done
stood the judgments. Oh, aren't you so thankful for Him. He took the judgments
for us: no more judgment. But those who refuse to come into Him, that body, the
mystical body... How do we get into it? By shaking hands? No. By letter? No. By
some sort of baptism, water? No. By one Spirit, Holy Spirit, we are all
baptized into that body.
REV CHAP
4 PT 3 THRONE MERCY 61-0108 89 Now, these elders
setting upon the throne with his crown. Now, the 5th verse, we're going to
start. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings... thunders, voices: and
there was seven lamps on fire burning before the throne, which are the seven
Spirits of God. Oh, I love this. Don't you? Oh, I--I just feel like my coat
fits me, you know. I just... when... Oh, I mean in a spiritual coat, of course,
you know. All right. "Out of the throne..." Let's speak of this
throne now for a few minutes. This was not a throne of mercy; mercy's throne is
finished. No more mercy, it's without mercy. How are we going... How is the
judgment seat going to be the judgment seat of Christ, the judgment seat, the
white throne judgment? Is there going to be mercy then? There is not one speck
of mercy to be given. At the judgment throne you could scream "mercy"
till you couldn't scream no more, and you just might as well scream out in the
air somewhere, 'cause there's no more mercy.
92
Now,
is the day of mercy. Now, let's go back in the Old Testament here just a little
bit and find out what mercy is. Go on back and see what happened to this
throne. This throne, of course, is the--the judgment seat. And the--the reason
today that there is mercy, is because the mercy seat is sprinkled with an
atonement: Blood. And as long as Blood is on the judgment seat then it is not
judgment no more; it's mercy; because Something died to stay judgment. If you
see it, say, "Amen." [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] As
long as Blood is on the mercy seat, showed that Something died to hold judgment
back. But when the church is raptured, the mercy seat becomes a judgment seat.
97 Oh, brother, don't never want to stand
there. Let me stand before a machine gun; let me be cut to pieces; let me be
sawed inch by inch; let anything happen (as the oath of the Knights of
Columbus), let them split open my belly and burn sulphur and everything else in
me, and my arms and legs cut off, whatever it may be; but never let me stand at
that white throne judgment before God. Oh, let me take this little throne here
before the seat of Christ and accept His Blood. Nothing in my arms I bring,
Lord.
No--no other fount I know, Nothing but the Blood of Jesus; (That's
all I know about.) This is all my hope and stay, Nothing but the Blood of
Jesus.
MARK OF THE BEAST 61-0217 E-65
Notice, brother, it is the truth. Remember, when Jesus came--Daniel, he
came to the Ancient of days, the Ancient of days Whose hair was white as wool,
which mean He was a judge, like all the judges wear a wig of white wool,
judges. You notice He was girded about in Revelations around the pap, not as a
priest down here around the waist; over the paps like this as a judge, judge
robe, you judge. That's the reason John didn't see Him on any Sabbath day or on
any Sunday; he seen Him in the Lord's day, the coming of the Lord when He was
Judge, not, no, these other days. We see Him over in here now. We see Him when
He come--Daniel saw Him. And He come with ten thousand times ten thousands of
His saints. Is that right? And the books were opened and another book was
opened, which was the Book of Life and every man... See? There comes up your
lukewarm church, sleeping virgin. Here is the real one with Him come from glory
after being at the wedding supper. And there was a sinner. White throne was...
The judgment was set, white throne judgment. Oh, there you are.
E-66 Here come this church right up; Judas
worked right around deceiving through justification, worked up into
sanctification. Went out and healed the sick, and had healing services and
things, and turned back. But when it come to receiving the baptism of the Holy
Ghost, he showed his color. Now, my Wesley friend, my Nazarene, Pilgrim
Holiness, not to hurt your feeling, don't you call that bunch of people crazy
that speaks with tongues. Don't you call them a bunch of holy-rollers, and
a--and a carry on like that. Because right there, Judas come right up. And you
say, "Entire sanctification is the Holy Ghost." I different with you.
Sanctification is what cleanses the glass, the Holy Ghost is what fills the
glass. That's exactly right. Right.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
61-1015M 682-Q-165
165. Is it possible for a Holy Ghost filled person to be driven by
the--driven by the--to do minor things... influenced to do minor--minor things
that he doesn't want to do? Oh, yes. Yes, sir. Yeah, a Holy Ghost filled
person... You're right in the place then to be--to be drove by these things.
You just put yourself up a target. When you're down there serving the devil, he
just lets you slouch around anyway you want to. But you once take a stand for
Christ; you've got on the other side then; He trains every gun right around on
you. Every temptation, everything that could be thrown to you, then you got it.
But what have you got? "Greater is He that's in you, than he that's in the
world." See? Now, you wasn't in no battle here, you was just slopping
along. See? But now, you've--you've cleaned up; you've dressed up; you've
shaved; you've combed your hair; you put on a uniform; you've got a gun in your
hand. "Let's go." See? You're in battle, not to show off, but to
fight, fight. Sure when the temptations rise, with the spirit and the shield of
faith, buckle off and move on." See? That's right. Oh, put all the whole
armor of God. Why do you put on a armor if you're not going to fight? All
soldiers are dressed to fight, not to show off, walk out and say, "I'm
So-and-so. Now, I'm a Christian. See who I am? I belong to so-and-so.
Hallelujah. I got the Holy Ghost the other night. Sure, nothing bothers me
anymore." Huh-uh. Oh, brother, I--I believe you better go back and try
again. See?
701-Q-170 Now, here is another
one. The second is like this. 170. What manner of body will the wicked have in
the last resurrection at the great white throne judgment?
That sinner will rise in the resurrection to be judged in the body
that he has committed the sin in. See? He'll have to stand the judgment in
resurrection.
Resurrection is not replacement; it's bringing up that that went
down. When Jesus raised from the dead, He was the same body that went down; He
raised in that same kind of a body. We rise in the same body that we go down
in; it's a resurrection, not replacement.
Now, the Bible says that the--that we will be judged according to
the sins done in the body. And when the wicked rises, he will be judged in the
same body that he sinned in, the same thing.
QUESTIONS.AND.ANSWERS_
JEFF.IN COD SUNDAY_
64-0823E
1045-233 The church, the lukewarm, the anything outside
of the elected Bride will go through the tribulation period. They will not
raise in the first resurrection: "The rest of the dead lived not for a
thousand years," just the foreordained, predestinated, elected Bride,
God's own elections. "Who is it, Brother Branham?" I don't know? I
can't tell you who it is, but I know it's going to be there, 'cause the Lord
said they would. See? They are the ones that'll go up from the tribulation, but
the rest of them will go through the tribulation, go down, and everything will
be killed before the millennium. Then the--the righteous shall come out in the
millennium and live a thousand years. And after the thousand years, then the
great white throne judgment comes, and then the dead, both right and wrong is
raised. And the books are opened, and the Book of Life was open; and the
saints, the Wife and the Husband, set and judge the world. And there it comes
to pass the saying: "And He'll judge all nations with a rod of iron."
All nations shall stand before Him there, and He'll judge them with the rod of
iron. He'll separate the sheep from the goats and say to the goats,
"Depart," and the sheep, "Come, ye blessed of My Father."
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 64-0830E 1160-Q-392
392. Ah... The church age ending and has blacked out, the Bride is
called, we have already entered into the tribulation period? No, no, no,
you're... I wished that I could just have more time on that. See, see? The
Bride, when she's taken from the church, then the church age will cease.
Laodicea goes into chaos; the Bride goes to glory; and the tribulation period
sets in upon the sleeping virgin for three and a half years while Israel is
getting its prophecy; then tribulation sets in upon Israel; and then comes the
battle of Armageddon which destroys all things. And then, the Bride returns
back with the Groom for a thousand years, the millennium reign; after that
comes the white throne judgment; after that comes the new heavens and new earth
and the new city coming down from God out of heaven. Eternity and time blends
together.
SEED SHALL NOT BE HEIR
65-0429B 53 That's why the rapture of the royal Seed
has to come first. And the rest of the dead live not for a thousand years, then
they were brought up at the white throne judgment. See, there is no judgment to
the royal Seed, or the predestinated Seed of Abraham. Now, if you'll take Saint John 5:24, listen
to this, "He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, has
Everlasting Life."
274-3 SARDISEAN CHURCH AGE
- CHURCH AGE BOOK CPT 7 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,
"When the Son of Man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with
Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: And before Him shall be
gathered all nations; and He shall separate them one from another, as a
shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and He shall set the sheep on His
right hand, but the goats on His left. Then shall the King say unto them on His
right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave Me meat: I
was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink; I was a stranger and ye took Me in: Naked
and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited Me: I was in prison, and ye came
unto Me. Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we
Thee an hungered and fed Thee? or thirsty and gave Thee drink: When saw we Thee
a stranger, and took Thee in? or naked, and clothed Thee? Or when saw we Thee
sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee? And the King shall answer and say unto
them, Verily, I say unto you, In as much as ye have done it unto one of the
least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me. Then shall He say also
unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,
prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungered, and ye gave Me no
meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me
not in: Naked, and ye clothed Me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited Me
not: Then shall they also answer Him saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an
hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison and did
not minister unto Thee? Then shall He answer them saying, Verily I say unto
you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of the least of these, ye did it not
unto Me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous
into life eternal."
275-1
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: 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 unrighteous 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?
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.
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.
278-4It
is the second resurrection that the "souls under the altar" as set
forth in the fifth seal (Revelation 6:9-11) are given white robes, and of
course eternal life, or there would be no point of white robes. "And when
He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were
slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they
cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not
judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes
were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should
rest yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants also and their
brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled." Now
note particularly that none of these under the altar were killed for the
testimony to Jesus. They were not like Antipas who was slain for holding fast
His Name. These are not born again ones, with eternal life as their possession.
They come up in the resurrection and receive life because of their stand on the
Word. And notice how these are crying out for vengeance. They cannot be bride
material. The bride turns the cheek and cries, "Forgive them, Father, they
know not what they do." These are Jews. They have to be because they are
in the fifth seal, and it is in the fourth seal that the Gentile bride is gone
in the rapture. So these Jews aren't born of His Spirit. They don't even
believe that Jesus is the Messiah. But as they were blinded by God for the
Gentile's sake, God gave them eternal life on the grounds that though they
could not come to Him, yet they were truly faithful to all the Word they knew,
and died for it as multitudes died under Hitler, Stalin, etc., and will yet
die.
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."
281-1 Since this portion of the Word is
hard for the human mind to grasp, it must be accepted and believed by faith.
Some will be offended by what I have set forth because they fail to understand
the sovereignty of God which sets forth that GOD IS GOD, and because He is God
one cannot defeat His counsels or thwart His will and purpose; but He, being
omnipotent, is ruling in ALL affairs and is doing whatever He will with all His
creation because all were created for His good pleasure. Therefore, as Paul says,
"If God should take of one lump of clay and make of that same lump one
vessel unto honor and another vessel unto dishonor, who can be offended and cry
against Him?" That He has the right to do this on the grounds of creation
alone, we cannot deny. Yet He went even further, for according to Romans
14:7-9, we have the irrefutable proof that Jesus paid the purchase price of the
whole world, and therefore He can do as He wills with His own. "For none
of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we
live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live
therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ both died and
rose, and revived, that He might be Lord BOTH OF THE DEAD AND LIVING." (Ownership;
NOT relationship is meant here.) This is also set forth in John 17:2, "As
Thou hast given Him power OVER ALL FLESH, that He should give eternal life to
as many as Thou hast given Him."
281-2 Now, if we impute omniscience to God, we must also accept that He is perfect in wisdom and righteousness. This plan of election and reprobation is the wisdom of God revealed in all ages even, as it says in Ephesians 1:3-11, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all Spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him. In love having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved. In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; wherein He hath abounded toward us in all WISDOM and prudence, Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in Him; In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will." Thus if God has so designed that there be those whose names are placed in a section of the Lamb's Book of Life and cannot be erased for they are the names of His bride, then we must accept that. If it also states that there are those whose names were placed in the record of the Book of Life but in the foreknowledge of God they were to fall and have their names removed we must accept that. And if there are those whose names were NEVER placed upon a record of life, we must accept that, also. And if there are those who will enter into life eternal after the White Throne judgment solely on the grounds of being good and kind and just to the elect of God who are His brethren, then we cannot but accept that. FOR WHO KNOWETH THE MIND OF THE LORD THAT HE SHOULD INSTRUCT HIM? Rather let us be subject in faith to Him Who is our Father and live. But the rapture is not the only roll call. There at the second resurrection, at the great White Throne judgment, will names be confessed before the Father and His angels. Now I have been told by those who know, that the sweetest sound to a human ear is the sound of that person's name. How people love to have their names before the public. How they love acclaim. But no earthly voice will ever sound your name as sweetly as will the voice of God if your name is in the Book of Life and remains there to be revealed before the holy angels. What a day that will be when we hear Jesus say, "Father, they confessed My Name before men in the days of their earthly pilgrimage. Now I will confess their names before Thee and all the heavenly angels."