Questions and Answers no. 16

Rapturing Faith

September 2nd, 2007

Brian Kocourek, Pastor

 

1 Thessalonians 4:13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

This morning I would like to speak on a subject that many, many people have questions concerning, and that is the topic of “Rapturing Faith”.

 

Now, just what is “Rapturing Faith”?

 

Well, I think most believers in the end-time ministry of Malachi four understand what those two words are. We all understand that the Rapture is what we generally speak of as the change of the body and the catching away of the saints to meet the Lord Jesus in the air. But more specifically we know that William Branham taught us the rapture is a series of three events that the Lord does in His descent and presence.

 

First He gives forth a “Shout” which is “The Message” according to Br. Branham in His sermon called “The Rapture” which he preached shortly before he left us.

 

Secondly, brother Branham told us according to 1 Thessalonians 4:16, that the Lord also descends with a Voice, and that Voice is the resurrection of the sleeping saints. And he also taught us that the Voice that calls forth the resurrection is the same Voice that raised Lazarus from the dead, and we all know that it was not the Voice of the Son of God, because that voice wept. But when He said, “Lazarus come forth”, that was more than a man, that was God. So the Voice that calls forth the resurrection will be the Voice of God Himself. And that is not the Voice of God in the Bride as some try to teach. But that is the Voice of the One Who descends with a Shout.

 

Thirdly, The Lord is said to come with the Trump of God, which brother Branham taught us that is the literal catching away.  He also said every time the Gospel trumpet sounded war was declared. So this trump will bring with it a declaration of war.

 

So before we go any further into this, let me qualify my statements with actual quotations from our vindicated prophet and scripture.

 

 

First of all we see that the Lord Himself will descend with these three things according to 1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

 

Now, let’s look at that first word Shout to see what that is all about.

 

The Greek word that was translated as Shout is the word keleuma and it literally means, “To incite by word”, and it has to do with a military command. So we see God descending with a military command calling to order his church.

 

Rapture the 65-1204 P:75 Three things happen, a shout, a voice, a trumpet, has to happen before Jesus appears. Now, a shout. Jesus does all three of them when He's descending. A "shout," what is a "shout"? It's the Message going forth first, the living Bread of Life bringing forth the Bride. Now, God has a way of doing things, and He never changes His policy. He never changes His... He's the unchanging God. In Amos 3:7 He said He would do nothing on the earth until first He revealed it to His servants the prophets. And just as certain as He promised it, He'll do it.

 

Ok, so we see that this Shout is the Voice of God to the people which is God’s prophet. Amos 3:6 the lord God will do nothing unless first he reveals it to his servants the prophets.

 

Rapture the 65-1204 P:93 Therefore, the Message calls the Bride together. See? The shout and the trumpet, the same morning with a loud voice He screamed out with that shout, and voice and woke Lazarus. With a loud voice He cried, "Lazarus, come forth." See? And the voice wakes up the sleeping Bride, the sleeping dead. And the trumpet, with the sound of the trumpet, and when it does, it calls... Always a trumpet called Israel to the Feast of the Trumpets (See?), which was the Pentecostal feast, the great feast in the sky and the Feast of the Trumpets... And now, a trumpet denounced a calling together, calling to the feast. And now that is the Lamb's supper in the sky (Now, watch.,)--the assembling together in the Bride, the Feast of the Trumpets, the Wedding Supper. We have seen it in types. Now, watch just a moment before we close.

 

Rapture the 65-1204 P:82 He ordained these things to be, and He must send this. The first thing come when He starts descending from the heaven, there's a shout. What is it? It's a Message to get the people together. A Message comes forth first. Now, "Lamp trimming time. Rise and trim your lamps." What watch was that? The seventh, not the sixth, the seventh. "Behold the Bridegroom cometh. Rise and trim your lamps." And they did. Some of them found they didn't even have any oil in their lamp. See? But it's lamp trimming time. It's Malachi 4 time when you come... It's Luke 17. It's--it's Isaiah... All those prophecies that it can--perfectly set in order for this day in the Scriptures, we see it living right there. There's no...?...

 

Rapture the 65-1204 P:89 The next is what? was a trumpet. A voice, a shout, a voice, a trumpet. Now, the third thing is a trumpet, which always at the Feast of Trumpets is calling the people to the feast; and that'll be the Bride's supper, the Lamb's supper with the Bride in the sky. See, the first things comes forth is His Message calling the Bride together. The next thing is a resurrection of the sleeping Bride, the one that's died back in the other ages. They're caught together, and the trumpet, the feast in the heavens, in the sky. Why, it's--that's the thing that takes place, friends. We're right there ready now. The only thing, the church coming out has got to lay before the sun to ripen. The great combine will come by after while. The wheat will be burned, the stalks, but the grain will be gathered into it's garner. See?

 

Ok, so we see then that we must lay in His presence to ripen which means to become mature.

 

Now, let’s review before we go any further. Here we have a scene set before us of the Lord God Himself descending with a Message, and then sometime after that he cries with a loud Voice and the resurrection takes place, and finally then the sounding of the trumpet calling us to the wedding supper.

 

Now, if we all know what Rapture means and we know what Faith is then why do we not have it. We know what it is, but we do not know how to get it. That is the essence of our problem, right?

 

Well, this morning I am going to address that problem. Now, I am not addressing it as though I can do something about it. That’s God’s business. But my job is to just speak on these questions that the people have, and bring out what Brother Branham God’s vindicated prophet said about them to try and clear up any confusion that we might be having concerning this matter of faith.

 

Now, one thing I am not going to do. I am not going to try to make something more of this “Rapturing Faith” than what it really is. What’s the point. I can’t give you this faith, and so why pretend to have something you don’t have.

 

But what I want to do is to look at things brother Branham said to relieve the anxiety some may have over not having this faith right now.

 

In the earlier years brother Branham spoke of “Rapturing Faith” as something that we did not have yet, because we did not even have enough faith for healing much less something that would change our bodies. Therefore he tied it to the kind of faith needed for healing.

 

 

Now, I want you to see the progression of thought that he had as time went by. First we will look at 1953.A full ten years before the seals were opened.  The first time brother Branham used the word “Rapturing Faith” was in a sermon he preached called,  Israel at the red sea No. 1 53-0326 P:30 And in paragraph 30 he said, But God's just now loosening up the church everywhere, getting in order now so He can get into the rapture, got to give it Rapturing Faith before it can go in the rapture. The people are in the spirit of the last days, just like they was in the days of Noah, eating, drinking, marrying, giving in marriage, unconcerned, don't care, walk around, and anything else. And these American people is the worst on the face of the earth: heady, high-minded, incontinent, fierce, and despisers, a know-it-all. If there's any place in the world... With, my Bible over my heart, and God knowing that I--looking down on me and know I may have to stand before Him before morning... If I had to say so, the place needs missionaries worse than any place in the world is the U.S.A., the United States of America. The greatest bunch of heathens that I know of anywhere is in America. "Heathen" means "unbeliever."

 

Now, things haven’t changed much. I think the Message churches here in America could use some missionaries from Africa to come over here and straighten them up. I do a lot of missionary work around the world and that is because the rest of the world is open to understanding the doctrine of Christ. But this American church that thinks she has it all because she had the prophet right here are the worst churches that I have seen in the world and this country needs missionaries, but will they open up to hear them? No way, they are too proud. They wouldn’t hear brother Vayle when he was teaching and they won’t hear myself or the others who teach the Truth either because they don’t want the truth. It might interfere with their kingdom building.

 

The next night he again spoke a sermon called Israel at the red sea No. 2 53-0327 P:26 and he said,  And, brother, All Christendom is looking for the coming of the Lord and the rapture of the church, all that's got any knowledge of the Word. Well, if we can't have faith enough for Divine healing, how we going to have a Rapturing Faith? Oh, I believe there's a great calling coming forth. I believe as David said, he laid there and waited until, he listened and waited. After while he heard the rushing wind going through the mulberry leaves, going around. He knowed God was going before him. Oh, brother, I'm listening for the rushing of the leaves, the noise in the mulberry bushes, God going before the battle, then let's rise and put on the full armor of God, pull the sword, go after it. The battle belongs to us then. When we see the hand of God moving on through signs and wonders, let's start following on.

 

Here we see him speak of how that the people do not even have enough faith for healing much less for “Rapturing Faith”. But notice also he begins to see that what the real problem is, is that God is here and the people know that he is here, but they are nbot following the way they should be following. At least that is what I see coming froth from what he is saying here.

 

Then the next night he preaches a sermon called, Israel at Kadesh Barnea 53-0328 P:41 And I believe we're on the borderland tonight. I was wondering about all my meetings and things, how I had to cancel them out. I truly believe, before the church can have the rapture, it's got to have Rapturing Faith. We can't even have faith for Divine healing, let alone Rapturing Faith. Got to have a faith that'll change and quicken this body, and be taken away. I believe there's a church on its road tonight, a power of the living God, that men will speak the Word here and there, and it'll flash like lightning. And a church is coming out, not a psychologist, not some of this put-on, make-belief; but a real, true, genuine, anointed Holy Ghost, called-out church. Amen.

 

Now, if you will notice he redefines here what is meant by “Rapturing Faith” and not that it has to do with healing although they don’t have enough faith for healing, but rather he points to the Word of God going forth in such a way, that it’ll flash like lightening.

Now, the next time Brother Branham speaks of “Rapturing Faith” is a month later when he preaches the sermon called, Jesus Christ the same yesterday 53-0506 P:8 Now, we're able to pull the pages back, but we're not able to open the Word. Remember, John saw over there, the Word, and One setting upon the Throne. And there was no one worthy to take the Book, to loose the Seals, or even to look thereon. Is that right? And a Lamb that has been slain from the foundation of the world, came and taken the Book out of the right hand of Him that set upon the Throne. And He was worthy, and the only One Who could open the Book and loose the Seals. So let's just speak to Him and ask Him if He will open It for us tonight, as we bow our heads. Our precious heavenly Father, we come to Thee, just as humbly as we know how to come. And Thou art the only One Who can take this Word, and Thou art the only One that's worthy of opening the Word: the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world. O Lamb of God, come into our midst tonight in the Power of Thy resurrection. Give us Rapturing Faith tonight. Give us great faith, love, joy unspeakable and full of glory. And now, Father, we thank Thee for the opportunity that we have to be back here in the blessed old Bible Hour Tabernacle with Brother and Sister Reed, and all these lovely saints of Yours. We thank Thee for the grace that's kept us, oh, at the trials, the heartaches, the shaking times, and down through the shadows, through the cold spells; but here we are gathered tonight, after seven years, still in love with Jesus. We just thank Thee, Father, for the grace that's kept us. And it's brought us safe thus far. It'll take us on. We're willing to trust it to go on.

 

Now, I would like to say here that brother Branham seems to be placing this “Rapturing Faith” as something that God alone can bring forth, and that he is asking God to do so, knowing that if God does not do it, it will not get done.

 

And then we see the next time brother Branham speaks of “Rapturing Faith” he actually says that God will do it. First he says, we don’t have enough faith for healing much less for “Rapturing Faith”, but then he says God will do it.  

 

From the sermon I perceive you are a prophet preached 5 weeks later in 53-0614E P:27 If we can't have faith for Divine healing, how we going to have faith for Rapturing Faith? The Church has got a ways to go yet. But I believe God will do it. Now, concerning my little feeble ministry for our Lord, it wasn't my choice. No, sir. You know what I wanted to be in life? A trapper out in the mountains. That's what I had made up my mind, that I was going to be that, regardless. But God changed my mind when I was laying on the Jewish Hospital there, dying. He let me know that I'd do what He said do. So one night when this Angel came and told me to go pray for sick people, it was just as startling. Well, how would I go out there before a modern world and introduce something like that, when people would say I was crazy? I didn't want to do that. But He told me to go. And I started.

 

Now, notice here is the key to our “Rapturing Faith”. It is not what we want to do, or when we want it done, but it is being obedient and waiting upon God, and when God says do, we do, and when He says speak, we speak.  Now, are you catching what I am catching here?

 

Then two months later he says in his sermon, QA on Genesis COD 53-0729 P:98 There's your five wise virgins who had Oil in their lamps, “Rapturing Faith”, believing all the signs, wonders, prophecies, and everything. And these five cut out of the remnant was taken away. And the rest of them were still virgins and will not be lost, but will go through the tribulation period. Jesus said "There'll be..."And they said, "Give us some of your Oil; we want the Holy Ghost now." Now, anyone knows that the Holy Ghost, Zechariah 4, and, oh, James 5:14, all knows that it represents the Holy Ghost. Now, they said... That's the reason we anoint with oil, represent the Holy Ghost now, "The Oil of the Spirit..." the Bible said.

 

Ok, so here we see that brother Branham is telling us what the Wise Virgins had was “Rapturing Faith”. And he let us know that the oil they had in their vessels represented the Holy Ghost. So we see that it will take the Holy Ghost in your vessel to Rapture you. And that is exactly what the Apostle Paul said in   

 

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

 

Now, the next time brother Branham speaks of “Rapturing Faith” he speaks of God’s pouring out of His Spirit hat will bring forth the “Rapturing Faith” in the people.

 

In his sermon called Talk on the word 53-0831 P:24 he said,  But remember, Joshua was right in the Church all the time. He was the one who taken them over. And today, the very signs, and wonders, and phenomenals, that's been in the church... Every time they had a revival through any age, these signs has broke out in the Church. And they been all down through all these church ages. Just like Joshua come with Moses all the way through. But the church age ceased with Moses, and Joshua took the children of God into the promised land. And I believe that the age has come now, the miraculous, the phenomenal, the baptism of the Spirit, and power, and signs, and wonders, this great pouring out of God's Spirit in the last days, and that's the thing that'll bring faith into the people that'll take a Rapturing Faith that'll take the Church into glory. I believe it.

 

Notice, this great pouring out of God’s Spirit is what will do it. Therefore it has nothing to do with you having “Rapturing Faith” or me having “Rapturing Faith” as though this is something that we can produce within ourselves. No, way… It is what God is doing, when he wants to do it.

 

Romans 9: 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

 

Then after he says that the next paragraph he says, P:25 How can the Church be raptured when we haven't even got faith for healing? We got to have Rapturing Faith first. That's right. How that God moves by His Spirit, signs and wonders begin to follow; everywhere God begins to move, signs and wonders follows God. The world has always stood off and criticized it. From Adam down, they've done it every time. And it's nothing new today, that you should be criticized for accepting Jesus Christ…

 

So we see when God moves we must move, and that is the principle he’s telling us here.

 

Now, a few days later he again addresses this subject in his sermon called, Healing what cancer is 53-0904 P:45 and notice that he says,  And the Spirit can move through us. Now, these things by our teachers is just cheated us from them. We ought to have been way up the road. How can we ever go in the rapture... Do you believe the Church will be raptured someday? "We which are alive and remain shall not prevent them which are asleep. The trumpet of God shall sound; the dead in Christ shall rise first." How are we going to have Rapturing Faith when we haven't got healing faith? Hear me. There's coming an hour that when the Church of Jesus Christ shall rise in Her beauty, signs and wonders will fall from everywhere, and I believe that hour is at hand. Amen. How do you do, lady? I'm a stranger to you, lady. You're a stranger to me. I know nothing of you. God knows you, but here's a perfect case again of our Master talking to a Samaritan woman. It was a woman of another race. The Samaritans was a different race from the Jews. Just like we're two races. I be a white man. You're a colored lady.

 

Notice he says that we should be way up the road at this point to “Rapturing Faith” but we have been cheated by our teachers and at that point had not even enough faith for healing. So he was placing the blame for the people not having “Rapturing Faith” on the teachers. Then if false teaching can be blamed for the people not having “Rapturing Faith”, then that tells me that “Rapturing Faith” or the ability to accept it, lays in correct teaching.

 

Then six months goes by and brother Branham in his sermon God has a provided way 54-0404 P:12 and notice carefully the title of this sermon, “God has a provided way he say,  And now we're moving right on into another great age, coming for the rapture of the Church. And in this, we're living in the time of the restoration of the gifts. It stumbled many of the big fine churches; it sent Nazarene backwards; it made fanatics out of a lot of Pentecost. But just the same, God's moving right on, bringing in the Rapturing Faith for His Church. That's right. So tonight I represent that faith, the faith that was once delivered to the saints, in the way of a Divine gift. Which, to my opinion, "Gifts and callings..." Not my opinion; but the Bible says that gifts and callings are without repentance. There's nothing you can do about it. You can't make yourself with blue eyes when you got brown. You're just what you are, by the grace of God. You can't even come to God without God calling you first. You can't seek God without God seeking you first and calling you. "No man can come to me, except My Father draws him." So God is seeking. "God has set in the Church..." 13   And then from a little child, born here in this state of Kentucky, visions just comes to me just the same as eating or anything else. It's just as God will, He provides it. I just do as He tells me to do. Certainly, I have many critics. I have many people who disbelieve it. No matter what would take place, they'd disbelieve it anyhow. I expect to have that. And if I didn't have that, I'd go down to an altar somewhere and say, "Dear Lord, what's wrong with me?" "For all that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Right. We must have it. That's right.

 

Now, notice that Brother Branham was speaking about “Rapturing Faith” and then he changes the subject, or did he?  You see, he was pointing to a sovereign God who does what he is going to do, and there is nothing you can do about it. And the same applies to “Rapturing Faith”.

 

In speaking of the rapture and the change of the  body, Jesus said, “of that day knoweth no man, not even the Son, but the Father onlyMark 13:32 and Matthew 24:36

 

Now, the last time brother Branham spoke of Rapturing Faith was in April of 1954. He does not again speak of “Rapturing Faith until a year and a half later in his sermon, Law having a shadow 56-0621 P:20 where he said,  Why, I believe the time will soon arrive, that when a miracle healing will be such a common thing... We've got to get some Rapturing Faith in the church to get away from here one of these days. "Law having a shadow..." how it foreshadowed all things. We could go back, if time would only permit, and get the great things back all through the coming of the ark at the flood, how Moses down in Egypt, and many of the great characters in the changing of the dispensation, how the law, by the word of the law had supremacy, and how that everything else give away when God's law stretched

 

Notice again he is speaking of how that everything must give away to the Word of God.

 

Then in his sermon, Spiritual inspiration 56-0128 P:38 The woman, she realized that Elijah was a servant of God. And when they would come by that way she'd always trying to do him a little favor, try to be kind to him. And if there's anything that we ought to be, is kind to one another. When you see a brother or sister in fault, don't never breathe it to nobody. Keep it to yourself and pray for that person. Be kind to them. And if the Spirit of God is in you, then you will be kind to one another. Jesus said, "I come to do Thy will, Father.” And  we are about the Master's business as He was about the Father's business. And the same Spirit that He had to begin the works of the Father and to finish the atonement, to make a way that we could carry the message, if that Spirit's in you, you'll have that same attitude towards people: trying to do what you can to help them, no matter who they are or where they are. You'll try to help people. Amen. That's kinda strong, but that's truth. That's right. It... Rather, friends, it's the time has come where we're nearing the end. And something's got to be done. Notice. We got to have Rapturing Faith right away now. I believe it. And after tomorrow night I want you to reason about it when I speak on the second coming and see how close you think it is.

 

Now, what I like so much about this quote is that he shows the attitude of the woman who got something from God through the prophet because she had the proper respect for God’s servant. And Notice he said the same thing about Jesus who said, “"I come to do Thy will, Father”, and so on. You see, it matters not when the rapture happens. Some of you would like for it to happen now, because you are tired out. But that’s no reason for God to bring about one the greatest form of healing which is the change of the body just because you are tired out. I’ll tell you why you are tired out. Because you are focused on yourself. Get focused on others and God will give you energy that you never thought you would have.

Notice he said, the same Spirit that He had to begin the works of the Father and to finish the atonement, to make a way that we could carry the message, if that Spirit's in you, you'll have that same attitude towards people: trying to do what you can to help them, no matter who they are or where they are. You'll try to help people

 

QA on the Holy Ghost COD 59-1219 P:12 Soon the coming of the Lord Jesus. And we've got to have Rapturing Faith in a church that can be changed in a moment in a twinkling of an eye to go out, or we'll not go. But don't worry, it'll be there. It'll be there.

 

So you see it is just like all promises that God has given to us. Even though no man will know the day or hour, yet God knows, and not one thing is out of kilter with His great plan.

 

Abraham and his seed 61-0416 P:59 Now, what did He say to Abraham, "You're a old man, a hundred years old, Abraham. You are ninety and nine. But I am El-Shaddai; I am the breasted One." Now, we're on the... We passed the first junction, justification: justification; sanctification: sanctification. Now remember, that was things of God promised and did to Abraham, but here He said, "I am the breasted God. Now, you're old, Abraham. You're a hundred years old, but to Me you're no more than a baby. So I'll give you a promise, and I am the breasted God. I am the strong One. Lean upon My bosom now and nurse from Me My strength into your weak body," getting him ready for the miracle. That's what He done to the Pentecostals after Wesley age. He let the Pentecostals nurse His own strength, His own Holy Spirit as a baptism, back into their weak bodies to give them faith for the rapture, to give them faith for miracles. "I'm El-Shaddai. "What He did to Abraham and to his seed after him... Watch, believing confirmation, blood covenant, now injecting Himself, His strength into His people.

 

So you see, it was not what Abraham did, but what God did for Abraham.

 

Is this sign of the end sir 62-1230E P:124 Where are we at, sirs? What's all of this about? I'm asking you. The other angels was messengers, men of the earth. But this Angel... This said, to the angel of the church of Laodicea; to the angel of the church of Ephesus, messengers of the earth (See?), men, messengers, prophets, and so forth to the church. But this One didn't come from the earth; He come down from heaven, because the mystery's all finished. And when the mystery's finished, the Angel said, "Time shall be no more," and seven thunders throwed their voices out. What if it is something to let us know how to enter in to the Rapturing Faith. Is it? Will we run and leap over walls? Is there something fixing to happen, and these old marred, vile bodies are going to be changed? Can I live to see it, O Lord? Is it so close that I'll see it? Is this the generation? Sirs, my brethren, what time is it? Where are we at?"

 

Now, remember brother Branham told us that the seven thunders were revealed in the seven seals, and this sermon is a few months before those seals were opened. Remember, the angels came down and one went in there with Brother Branham .

 

Is this sign of the end sir 62-1230E P:139 Is it time? Is the mystery all finished? Has the sounding all over? Is that really them seven thunders fixing to utter out something that the little group that He's gathered together will receive a Rapturing Faith to go in the rapture when He comes; for we'll be changed as quick as those Angels come: in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and shall be caught up together with those that is asleep to meet the Lord in the air. My prayer is: God if this be so, I don't know Lord; I just telling the church. If it is so, Lord, prepare our hearts. Make us ready, Lord, for that great hour that all the history of time, all the prophets and sages has looked for that time.

 

Accepting God's provided way 63-0115 P:103 Then when you say, "Well, I'm exactly on His Word," then He a-vindicates that to be the truth. Now, He's still on course tonight, if we'll just believe it. Will you do it? Let's bow our heads. Now, just as reverent as you can be for a moment... God provided a way that He might bring the believers to a Rapturing Faith: God's way, His provided way to bring believers to Rapturing Faith.

 

First seal the 63-0318 P:38 And then there's coming forth seven mysterious thunders that's not even written at all. That's right. And I believe that through those seven thunders will be revealed in the last days in order to get the Bride together for Rapturing Faith; because what we got right now, we wouldn't be able to do it. There's something we've got to step forward; we can't have enough faith for Divine healing hardly. We've got to have enough faith to be changed in a moment and be swept up out of this earth, and we'll find that after while, the Lord willing, find where it's written.

 

And we talk about having enough faith, but Paul said though I have ALL FAITH to move mountains, and yet Jesus said, Though I have Faith the size of a mustard seed and so not doubt, but say to that mountain be moved and cast into the sea, it shall be done. So no matter the size of the faith, whether we have all faith or Faith the size of a Mustard seed it is still Faith that does it. And Faith is a revelation. Something that has been revealed to you. And it is not our faith but Paul said in Galatians 2:20 we live by the Faith of the Son of God. So it is His Faith, not our. And His Faith was in God to do all and to raise Him from the dead. So it is Faith in God knowing that what He said will of a certainty come to pass. So just be patient until He does it, and look to Him as He is the author and finisher of our Faith. If you have to have a different kind of Faith then it is up to the Author and finisher to complete that which He has begun.

 

He Who began the good work in you, and He shall also perform it.

 

Accepting God's provided way 63-0115 P:116 O Lord God, Creator of heavens and earth, how can we sit here, Lord? This ought to bring a Rapturing Faith, a power of God that would sweep this whole audience, Lord, into higher heights in--and of the glory of God. Let the devil, that's had these people bound, turn them loose. Upon the--the promise of God that I believe in, upon the Bible that I teach, upon the God Who proves that it is the Bible, that proves that He is the God of the Bible...

 

 

 

Jesus Christ the same 63-0627 P:115 Do you believe someday He'll come in and make us free? I do too. Come to the grave and open the doors, I'll come out from among the dead. I'm trusting Him. He's here tonight. Isn't it wonderful to know that we don't have to take some human philosophy; we got a Bible here that speaks of this. And here He is to identify His Church, to give it Rapturing Faith to be taken away.

 

Why cry speak 63-0714M P:21 The time of the rapture is at hand. And we're looking for a Rapturing Faith that can pull the churches together and give it some supernatural strength that can change these bodies that we live in. We see a God that can raise the dead off the floor, or out in the yard, and bring him back to life again, and present him before us. When we see a God who can take a cancer that's eat a man to a shadow, and raise him up to a strong healthy man, that ought to give Rapturing Faith to the people. That when that Light flashes from the sky, and the trumpet sounds, the Body of Christ will be quickly gathered together, and changed in a moment, and taken into the heavens. Yes, there's got to be something like that happen, and our schools of theology can never produce that, yet they intellectually are all right; but you've got to meet that Light.

 

Notice it is seeing God in our midst already doing great and marvelous things such as raising the dead that ought to give us the Faith for our own change of the body. And He is still on the scene.

 

Lord just once more 63-0628A P:73 We've got the members, but they're weak. They love things of the world better than they do the things... You say, "No." Oh? Look upon the churches and find out. Don't try to deny it. Your actions speaks more than your words does. Oh, yeah, got more members, bigger muscles, but where is the strength of the Lord? Your big muscles won't meet the challenge of this hour, the Rapturing Faith to take the Church out of this thing before judgment strikes the earth. And judgment's fixing to strike,…

 

Once more 63-1117 P:78 Just once more, Lord, one more great move of the Spirit. One more time, Lord, and the Church might receive the Rapturing Faith to go in. Grant it, Lord. Make known that You're with us, and we'll praise Thee for it. In Jesus' Name we ask it. Amen.

 

Token the 63-1128E P:12 I'm looking for a time of a break forth of the Spirit of God in these last days that we're now living in, for another surge of the Holy Spirit into the Church for a Rapturing Faith, just before it comes. And everything is setting straight in order for that. And I believe that we're now at the time that the Word should have preeminence. I believe that the time to lay aside our creeds and our thoughts and come back to the Word...

 

In talking about the third pull brother Branham said in his sermon, Look away to Jesus 63-1229E P:18 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 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.

 

Countdown 64-0209 P:64 It's the Holy Ghost that we're justified by. You ministers know that, don't you? The Holy Ghost sanctifies. The Holy Ghost fills us. The Holy Ghost gives us Rapturing Faith (See?) as we move up.

 

And I do not know how to make that any plainer. It is the Holy Spirit that gave us the revelation which justified us in the first place. It is the Holy Spirit that placed the new desires in our heart and sanctified u sin our Spirit, soul and flesh. It is the Holy Spirit that baptized us with His Spirit, and It is the Holy Spirit that came down and is in our midst. So if he doesn’t finish that which He began, whose going to do it for Him. He spoke the worlds into existence. You don’t think he can speak and the body will change?

 

Spiritual food in due season 65-0718E P:2 I want you to get built up now in the holy Oracles of God, in the faith, the faith of this hour. The faith, it's going to take more faith than ever was in any age, for this has to be Rapturing Faith, be taken up. And so we want you to believe tonight in all that you have seen, heard, the Word that you have heard preached, the signs and wonders that you've seen done. We want you to accumulate all that together in your heart and consider it whether if that be God or not. It's like Elisha of old said, "If God be God then serve Him." And if Jesus is the Center of all things to the Christian, then I think we ought to let loose of everything else and cleave to Him. Remember, He is the Center; He is the North Star; He is the Ultimate; He is the Absolute. And if He is the North Star... There's only one thing that'll point to the north star; that's your compass that you're sailing with. And the Compass that I'm trying you to sail with is the Word, and the Word always points to Him.