Questions and Answers no. 5

Alpha and Omega Comparisons no. 2

The Name of Jesus

June 3^rd, 2007

Brian Kocourek, Pastor

Last week we began to look at the comparisons between the Alpha and Omega Ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. This morning we shall continue with this study, but let me remind you before we begin this morning, that the Alpha and Omega the First and the last does not speak of the Son of God, but the God of the Son.

In the Book of MALACHI we read, Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

And in Hebrews 18:8 we also read words which sound very much alike as we read, Hebrews 13: 8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

The problem we have in viewing these two verses is that because of improper teaching concerning the Godhead, most people who read these two verses immediately think of the Body that walked the shores of Galilee. But Hebrews 13:8 and Malachi 3:6 do not speak of the Body, but the One who indwelt that body. He is the One that is the same yesterday, today and forever, and that is the God of the Son.

The reason that people have so much difficulty in reading and understanding Hebrews 13:8 is because that the name Jesus Christ is used here. The same people in reading Malachi 3:6 don’t have this problem reading that God changes not. But they have a problem reading Hebrews 13:8 because the name Jesus Christ is used and immediately the name is identified with the child that was born in Bethlehem and grew up to die for our sins.

But Jesus Christ that is the same, yesterday, today and forever is not the Son of God, but the God who Indwelt the Son.

Therefore before we go any further in our comparisons between the Alpha and Omega ministry of Jesus Christ we have to know more about the name Jesus Christ so we can understand how it is used and Who it refers to when we see it in scripture. We need to understand also that the name Jesus belongs to the Son of God, because He came in his Father’s name. Therefore that name not only is used by the Son of God but the Father of the Son as well. Therefore the name of the Father is Jesus Christ and thus the name of the Son had to be called Jesus also, because he said he came in His Father’s name.

Sound Confusing? It shouldn’t be. Every son comes in his father’s name. What is so confusing about that? In John 5: 43 Jesus, the son of God said, “I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.”

And in Luke 19: 38 we read, Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: … and what is the name of the Lord? It’s Jesus. That’s the name of the Lord.

Again in John 10: 25 Jesus tells them that the works that he did, He did in the name of His Father. “Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.” So Jesus is doing the works and in so doing he is bearing witness to His Father and to His father’s name in the process. And yet, he said in John 5:19 and 5:30, “the Son can of Himself do nothing, but whatsoever he seeth the Father do, that doeth the son likewise. And again he said, the Father worketh and the son worketh hitherto. In other words, the Father shows me these things to do in a vision, so it is the Father doing them, but I am just like a puppet and I do what my father shows me by vision what He is doing and so that is what I am to do.

And that is exactly what William Branham said about this verse of Scripture.

Be certain of God 59-0708E P:47 Jesus, when He was here, He said, "I do nothing till the Father shows Me." He saw a vision. Everything that He did, He said, "I do nothing except the Father shows Me first." Saint John 5:19. So it's by vision. Now, He promised those things. He told His disciples, "When you... When the Holy Spirit's come, don't you do that before the Gentiles; do it before the house of Israel." The day would come for the Gentiles. Now is their day. So God introduced Himself that way, the Messiah. And the woman, when she seen Jesus tell her that, she said, "Sir, I perceive that You're prophet. We know that when the Messiah cometh, He will tell us all these things. But Who are You?" He said, "I am He that speaks to you." She run into the city, said, "Come, see a Man Who told me the things that I've done. Isn't this the Messiah?"

And from his sermon called Earnestly contending for the faith 55-0123E P:22 Brother Branham said, Listen at Jesus remark back. He said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing in Himself, but what the Father shows Me. What I see the Father doing, the Father shows Me, and then I go do it." In other words Jesus done nothing in Himself until He saw a vision of what the Father said do. Then He went and done it.

Now, in the book of Hebrews 1: 4 Paul tells us that Jesus received His name from the Father as a part of His inheritance. 1  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5  For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

So when we see the name Jesus Christ we must ask ourselves what context this name is being presented. Because the word Christ has several meanings. It can mean anointing or anointed one or the one who anoints. Now the one who anoints is God Himself, as we see in Acts 10: 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Then we must ask the question, if God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost, did he have the Holy Ghost before he was anointed by God? And the answer is yes, but not in the same way he had it after he was anointed. Because the Holy Ghost is the Holy Spirit. There is not difference just the terms that are used. Now, that is God’s Spirit which is God’s Life. And when Jesus was born in the flesh the spirit he had was a part of God’s Spirit or what I call God-Life. He was born with God Life, just the same as John was born with God Life. In fact the Bible tells us that he was filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother’s womb.

Luke 1: 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

And not only that but his father was filled with the Holy Ghost. Luke 1: 67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

And not only was his father filled with the Holy Ghost, but his mother was also filled with the Holy Ghost. Luke 1: 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

And not only he but also Mary was anointed by the Holy Ghost and that anointing of God-Life brought forth the Son of God. Luke 1” 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

And not only John’s parents, and Mary were either filled or anointed by the Holy Ghost, but there was a man named Simeon as well that was anointed by the Holy Ghost. Luke 2: 25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

You know it is crazy how people read their Bibles, but many do not believe the Holy Ghost anointed men in the Old testament, but there are many scriptures that tells us that God anointed this one and that one with His Spirit. And you don’t have to read the Old Testament to find that either.

Mark 12: 36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

So you see David was anointed by the holy Ghost and in fact which of the prophet were not anointed with the Holy Ghost.

So just because these people were either filled with the Holy Ghost or were anointed by the Holy Ghost, that did not make them God. To be anointed by the Holy Ghost does not make you the Holy Ghost. And neither did Jesus being anointed by God and indwelt by God make the man God? Go is Spirit, not flesh and blood. But God indwelt His Son to manifest Himself to the world.

Luke 3: 22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

So in fact at this time we see God indwelling His son.

Matthew 1: 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

So we see Jesus is not the Holy Ghost, but He is the child of the Holy Ghost. And that Holy Ghost that is His Father is God. And God Himself indwelt His Son, and gave Him His own Name.

And not only that but we all have the promise of being filled with the Holy Ghost, but that does not make us God. Acts 2: 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Let’s look at a few more who received the Holy Ghost. Acts 9: 17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Acts 13: 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

Acts 4: 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

And what about the 120 that were in the upper room on the day of Pentecost? Acts 2: 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

So you see, to be filled with the Holy Ghost or anointed with the Holy Ghost does not make you the Holy Ghost. And since the Holy Ghost is God himself, for God is Holy and He is Spirit, and therefore He is The Holy Spirit, because there are not Two Holy Spirit’s. But it is one spirit that we are all baptized with into One Body. The Spirit of God. The God-Life in us that makes us act like sons of God just like the Son of God acted.

And just because God gave His own name to His Son does not make His Son God. There is only One God, and He had a son. And if you believe because God gave His name to His son makes His Son, God, then what are you going to do about the Fact that All of God’s children are given His name? Ephesians 3: 14-15 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

And not only the whole Family of God, but the 144,000 also. As we see in Revelation 14: 1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

From His Sermon, Mary's belief 60-0311 P:38brother Branham said, It made this little baby come to life in the wombs of its mother, and leap for joy. And the Bible said that John was born from his mother's womb full of the Holy Ghost. Not only that, but while he was in the womb and the Holy Ghost upon him, his own mother received the Holy Ghost and prophesied saying... and gave prophecy concerning him and concerning the Lord Jesus. Don't you see, friends, that same Jesus Christ that was born of the virgin Mary, was born of virgin birth, His Holy Spirit's here tonight. He has every Angel under His control; He has every power under His control. "Every--all powers in heavens and earth," He said, "is given into My Hands. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, into all the world..." And He--He... All the power lays within Him, and He promised these promises. Just don't question Him; take Him at His Word. Do that while we bow our heads just a moment now for prayer.

Now, let’s look at a few things that brother Branham had to say about that name that Jesus came in.

We would see Jesus 58-0612 P:55 Look. When He was here on earth, how many knows that that was the Pillar of Fire that followed the children of Israel in the wilderness, that It was Christ, the Angel of the covenant? All right. And how many knows that that was Jesus in Jesus, that same Spirit? Look, when they questioned Him, Saint John 6, calling your...?... attention to it. They said, "You say you're greater than Abraham?" And said, that, "Why, you're only fifty years old, yet." He said, "Before Abraham was, I AM." I AM was in the burning bush. Is that right? A Pillar of Fire... When He was here on earth, He said, "I came from God, and I go to God." Did He say it? And then, if He came from the Pillar of Fire, He returned back to it again. After His death, burial, and resurrection, Saint Paul was on his road down to Damascus and big bright Light struck in his face and blinded him. None of the rest of them saw It. Paul saw It. It blinded him; he fell on the ground. What is this Pillar of Fire, again? "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?" "Who are You, Lord?" "I'm Jesus." Is that right?

So you see here that this one in the form of the Pillar of fire is the same one that indwelt the Son of God. It was the Father whose name is Jesus, and the same name was given to the son when he was given birth. The Jesus, that was in Jesus, was God Himself, the Father of Jesus.

Notice again brother Branham says from his sermon Modern events made clear by prophecy 65-1206 P:64 The Door... Said, "I will make one place. Don't... You won't worship Me in every door that I've give you; but there's one Door, and in that Door I'll put My Name." And where the Lord puts His Name, that's the place that God will receive your sacrifice. We've made all kinds of doors, but God made a Door. God made a Door, and that Door was... St. John the 10th chapter, Jesus said, "I am that Door." God put His Name in Jesus. Do you believe that? He was the Son of God. Every son comes in his father's name. He said, "I come in My Father's Name; you receive Me not." I come in my father's name; you come in your father's name. Jesus come in His Father's Name, so His Father's Name's Jesus (It's exactly), 'cause He came in His Father's Name.

Things that are to be 65-1205 P:58 Now, He don't meet you in a Methodist gate, a Baptist gate, or Pentecostal gate, or any of them; but He put His Name in His Son. He said, "I came in My Father's Name." Any child comes in his father's name. I come in the name of a Branham, because my father was a Branham. And you come in your name, because that was your father's name. And Jesus, the Son, came in the Father's Name. And He said He put His Name... "In this Gate that I put My Name in that was the Sacrifice." And in Jesus Christ is the only place that you'll ever find fellowship and worship to God. You say, "Well, I belong to the church." That don't make one thing different. You've got to be in Christ.

God's only provided place of worship 65-1128M P:89 Where did He put His Name? In His Son." Oh," you say, "now wait a minute, Brother Branham. That was the Son, not the Father." The son always takes the name of his father in every case. I come to this earth in the name of a Branham, because my father's name was Branham. Jesus said, "I came in My Father's Name, and you received Me not." You wanting a Scripture on that? St. John 5:43. See? "I came in My Father's Name, and you received Me not." Then the Father put His own Name, which is Jesus, in the Son. And He's the way; He's the door; He's the House; He's where God chose to put His Name. God never put His Name in me; He never put It in the church; He never put It in the Methodist, Baptist, Catholic; but He put It in Christ the anointed Emmanuel.

God of this evil age 65-0801M P:112 And when Jesus said, "Go baptize them in the Name of the Father, Son, Holy Ghost," setting that there to blind the unbeliever... Watch. Why didn't Peter carry that out word by word? He had to. If a man is baptized in the titles Father, Son, Holy Ghost, he's never been baptized at all; he has no name. Father's no name; Son's no name, and Holy Ghost is no name. Holy Ghost is what It is, like I'm a human. It is the Holy Ghost. Father's a title; I'm a father. Son is a title; I'm a son. Human is a title; that's what I am. But my name is William Branham. And the Name of the Father, Son, Holy Ghost is the Name of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "I come in My Father's Name?" What is the Father's Name? Any son comes in his father's name, and the Father's Name is Jesus Christ. See? See what I mean?

God's chosen place worship 65-0220 P:24 And now, we find out that Jesus said also, "I came in My Father's Name, and you received Me not." Then the Name of the Father must be Jesus. That's right. The Name of the Father is Jesus, 'cause Jesus said to them, "I carry My Father's Name. I come in My Father's Name, and you received Me not." Then His Name was Jesus, and Gabriel called Him Jesus, the prophets called Him Jesus, and He was absolutely Jesus. Before His birth even the holy prophet called His Name Emmanuel, which is "God with us." Then God was manifested in the flesh in order to take away the sin of the world, and in doing so, He was given the Name of Jesus. So Jesus is the Name. And the Name was placed in a Man, not a church, not a denomination, not a creed, but a Man. He chose to place His Name in Jesus Christ. Now, we find out that then He becomes the place of God's worship, where you worship Him. Ever before that He was even born, His Name was called Jesus.

It was so important it was give to His mother by the Angel Gabriel, that His Name would be called Jesus, Son of God, what He was.

What about Isaiah 9:6. This tells us the one born is the everlasting Father, and the Almighty God. Does it? Let's read it thought by thought. ISAIAH 9:6 For unto us a child is born, Now, if the child is born it has a beginning. Then how can it have a beginning and be the everlasting Father. William Branham said he cannot be His own Father, so we have an oxymoron here, but let's read on, "unto us a son is given:" Now, if this Son is given, then someone greater had to give Him, and who could that be? We find our answer in John 3:36 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.

Therefore when Isaiah 9:6 tells us this son was given it is imperative that someone greater gave him, and we have our answer, the Father gave His Only begotten Son. "and the government shall be upon his shoulder: Now, in order for the government to be on this ones shoulder, he would have to be elevated to that place, and we find the Scripture tells us in the Book of Acts, 2:36 that God hath made Him both Lord and Christ. Now, if God made Him Lord then he wasn't Lord to begin with. ACTS 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand [to be] a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. PHILIPPIANS 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;

Now, this scripture plainly tells us that he was obedient showing he was not sovereign, and God the Sovereign One exalted the one who was not sovereign. 12   "and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Notice it does not say he is, but His name shall be called, and that is very significant because Jesus said I come in My Father's name. JOHN 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. And what does the name Jesus come from? It comes from Joshua which means "Jehovah Savior". Therefore, His name shall be called…Called what? The same as the almighty God and the everlasting Father…

Ashamed of Him 65-0711 P:90 Jesus said, "I came in My Father's Name, and you received Me not. But there will be one come in his own name, and you'll receive him," that's your denominations. Any son comes in his father's name. I come in my father's name. You men come in your father's name. And what was His Name, what is the Name of the Father? Jesus. He, "came in My Father's Name, you received Me not." Now, His Bride will have His Name, of course. I took a woman, by the name of Broy, and she become a Branham. He's coming for a Bride, be sure and remember that as you come to the pool. Let us bow our heads now.

God's only provided place of worship 65-1128M P:93 Now, a son always comes in his father's name. Any son comes in his father's name. And Jesus said, "I came in My Father's Name.” Then what is the Name of the Father? What is the Name of the Son? And He said, "A little while and the world seeth Me no more, yet ye shall see Me." He's come in the form of the Holy Ghost, the same Jesus. That was the reason they was worshipping, "O Jesus." See, see? Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: It's the Lord Jesus Christ. That's all. "I come in My Father's Name, and you received Me not."

God's provided place of worship 65-0425 P:27 Now, to back it up, we could take the entire Bible to back up what I'm going to say. For the place that He chose is in Christ, in Jesus Christ. It is in Him, His Son, God's Son, Jesus Christ. "Well," you said, "I thought the Scripture reads here that He said He would choose the place, and He would also put His Name in that place." Why, the son always takes the father's name. My name's Branham because my father was Branham. And Jesus said that He came in His Father's Name. Saint John 5:43, "I come in My Father's Name and you receive Me not," therefore, there's where God placed His Name, under the sacrifice of His own Son. That's God's only provided Place there is where people can meet God, is in Christ. That is His provided Place, no denomination, no creed, no nothing else, God's promised to meet. Only in Jesus will He meet, for that's the only Place His Name is.

Who is this Melchisedec 65-0221E P:52 Now, notice. Now, we see Melchisedec and why that Mary wasn't His mother. That's the reason He called her woman, not mother. He had no father, for He was the Father, the Everlasting Father, the three in the One. He had no mother. Certainly not. He had no father, for He was the Father. As the poet said one time speaking a great compliment unto Jesus. He said, I AM that spoke to Mose sIn a burning bush of fire. I AM the God of Abraham, The bright and morning Star. I'm Alpha, Omega, the beginning from the end. I am the whole creation, And Jesus is the Name. (That's right.) Oh, Who do you say that I am? And whence do they say that I came? Do you know My Father, Or can you tell His Name? (Hallelujah.)That's the Father's Name. "Yeah, I come in My Father's Name and you received Me not." See? Sure, He's the same yesterday, today, and forever.

I hope you can see how important that name is and how that just because the son received that name by inheritance, it does not make him the father. He can not be His own Father. And you being filled with God-Life will not make you God, either. There is One God, and He had a Uniquely born Son, and He took on the name of the father as we His bride shall take on the Name of the Groom.

Hallelujah, let us bow our hearts in prayer.

Dear father, we come to you in that most beautiful name Jesus, in which the whole family in Heaven is to be named, and we thank you for this understanding you have given us this day and we also ask that you help us to walk worthy of that Name for we ask it in Jesus Name amen.