Rising of the Son No 46

Will all born again believers go in the rapture?

March 4th, 2017

Brian Kocourek, Pastor

This evening I would like to answer a question I received this week concerning my sermon Rising of the Son no 46 where I spoke concerning receiving our rewards.

Last Sunday we read several Scriptures where the Apostle Paul spoke in 1 Corinthians 3 that our rewards are based upon our own labor which is our own works as Jesus said in Matthew 16.

1 Corinthians 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

I wanted you to understand by Scripture and by the Message that your reward is not based on what one man did, ie: (what Jesus did on the cross or what William Branham in this hour) but your reward is based upon what you have done in your own life. Ie: Works that you do.

I feel it is very important that you understand the difference between Grace and Reward, because the scriptures speaks of both, and they are antithetical to each other, which means they are opposite to each other. But as with every principle of God even in physics there has to be two poles to make anything balanced and workable. On earth we have a north pole and a south pole. In Scripture you have grace and works. Most people lean towards one or the other, but it takes both to have a balanced Christian walk.

These are two opposite words, Grace is unmerited favor and has nothing to do with what you have done. Works has all to do with what you have done in your flesh.

Matthew 16:27 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.

Now, we know that our justification does not come by what we do, ie: our own works but rather by the Faith of Christ.

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

But as I mentioned last week, because of a lack of understanding between these two words grace and works, some wish to argue that since we are saved by grace then works are not necessary.

Now, although we are saved by grace and not by works, we must understand that Grace does not negate works. Both poles are very important to have a balanced Christian Life, just like the earth must have two poles to spin correctly without wobbling off into space.

The Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

But notice he says only that you are saved by Grace and that is not of yourself. But notice this Apostle is speaking on how you are saved, but how you are saved has nothing to do with your reward which comes via your works.

This same Apostle doesn't say this about our reward. In fact he tells us in 1 Corinthians 3 that our reward is based upon our own labor which is our own works as we saw Jesus tell us earlier in Mattew 16.

1 Corinthians 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

The apostle Paul said in Ephesians 6:8-9 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord,

Now, this is the same principle as sowing and reaping. You sow good things you reap good things. Your reward is what you reap.

We also see in 1 Peter 1:17 "And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:"

This tells us that no matter who you are or who your parents are, God will judge you by what you do, not who you belong to, or who raised you. There are too many people in this Message who live like Baptists because they think like Baptists. And Baptists think as long as I have my doctrine right that is all that matters to God. But that is not what we just read in 1 Peter. He said God will judge you by what you do, the works that you do. And if you do the works of Christ You will receive the rewards Christ received.

in fact brother Branham says the same thing in his sermon Questions and answers COD 54-0103E P:41 16. Unless you are born again, circumcised of the Holy Spirit... You've got to be... I don't care how good you are, what church you belong to, how good your parents was, except you as a individual has been borned again by the Holy Ghost, you'll never go in the rapture. See? You can't go. That's the very delivering sign, the circumcision; and the circumcision is by the Holy Spirit. Now, God...

So not only must you be born again but the Holy Spirit in you must circumcise your heart from the thins of the world. That is what circumcision represent, the cutting off of excess flesh.

And Jesus said in Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh (to him that prevails, to him that gains the victory over self, in other words, that is the things you do, by your works) him 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.

So the reward is the same for you as it is for Jesus because it is for the same works.

On the other hand, if you do the works of man you will be judged by the works of man.

Then what if you say, "I don't need to do the works of Christ, Brother Branham did the works of Christ and I'm counting on that." Then you will have not works and therefore no reward.

The Apostle Paul also said in Colossians 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Look, God is not a respecter of persons. He doesn't have a law for you and a different law for others. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

We read also in the book of the Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

And as I already mentioned earlier in this sermon, Jesus himself taught us in Matthew 16:27 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.

1 Corinthians 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

Therefore your reward is not based on what brother Branham or anyone else has done. Your reward is based solely upon what you have done, the works that you have done.

I would like to share what brother Branham said in his sermon, Blasphemous names 62-1104M P:58 where he said, "You know, in the Old Testament they took a son, dressed him in a nice pretty garment, and set him out before the public. And they had a ceremony of placing, or we call it adopting. In Galatians there. I kind a think Paul refers to it as adopting sons. Now, by placing a son... Ministers will understand and spiritual Bible readers, a-placing this son... In other words, the son was a son when he was born. There's where our Pentecostal people made their mistake. Being born into the family by the Holy Ghost (That's right.), but then we must be the right kind of children, tutored by the right tutor. See?

Also in this same sermon Blasphemous names 62-1104M P:57 brother Branham said, "Do you remember over in the Book of Matthew the 17th chapter, the 1st to the 5th verse, Jesus on Mount Transfiguration? You've heard me--"Hear Ye Him," that sermon I just, here about a year ago, preached that become so popular, "Hear Ye Him." The placing of a son in Ephesians 1:5 also: "God has predestinated us unto adoption of sons." See, a family... When a son is born into it, it's a son then. But that son had tutors to raise it. And if that son never did come to be the right kind of a son, he never become heir. But if he was the right son, and the son that would obey his father, then that son was adopted or placed positionally. He become heir of what the father had. And that's what God was doing on Mount Transfiguration, when He took His own Son, after He'd been proven to be the right Son (See?), and had stood all temptations. He took Him up on Mount Transfiguration and overshadowed Him.

Therefore, in properly understanding the placing of a son, we cannot properly understand by believing in grace alone. We must also understand that our reward, our inheritance is also subject to our having a balanced life. We must walk by grace and have works in our life that reflect what our confession is all about.

Therefore whether or not you actually receive a new birth, your reward and thus body change, and thus resurrection and rapture are determined by not only your election but by what you have done in your body.

Brother Vayle taught his as your stature and state. Your stature is you are a son, but your state is where are you in your growth toward a fully mature son in the image of the first born son.

The Bible tells us "Abraham believed God and God imputed it unto him for righteousness". And what did Abraham do that showed God he believed? How did Abraham believe God? He showed his belief by doing what God had asked him to do. You could never say you believe something and then don't do it. Your actions show whether you believe or do not believe.

Let me say that again, and I'm going to put this into words that you cannot get around, and that you cannot say "I just don't understand what you are talking about".

1) You will not go in the rapture and receive a body change without being adopted.

2) You will not be adopted unless you are the right kind of son.

3) You cannot be the right kind of son unless you are conformed to the image of the first born son because he proved to God the Father that we was the right kind of son.

4) You cannot be conformed to the image of the first born son unless you manifest as the first born son manifested.

5) You cannot manifest as the first born son unless you do what he did, say what he said, and think like he thought.

In other words, you are saved by grace, but you can be saved and not go in the rapture unless you are first adopted and the Apostle Paul taught us that is the change of the body.

The Apostle Paul said in Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Notice there are two important things he says in this verse.

1) We which have the first fruit are waiting for the adoption "but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit," That means only those who have been born again can receive the body change.

2) Paul tells us what the adoption is when he says, it is the "redemption of our body".

Therefore 1) your being adopted is dependent on being a son. and

2) You must not only be a son, but you must be the right kind of son

Simply put you must first of all be born into the family. But in this verse Paul also tells us your being adopted which is your body change is also dependent on your being the right kind of son. That is where your works comes into play.

Now, being born into the family is not something you can do. Being born into the family is by grace, which means it is by what God has does for you.

No child gives birth to himself, the parent gives birth to the child.

The Apostle John said in John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Therefore, the new birth is what God does for you, but your placing as a son is what you do in return. who gave you the power to become a son? God did. That word power is exousia, and means the ability to make the right decision, to accept what God has done for you.

This same apostle also said in 1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

In other words, every man that accepts this act of Grace which the father did, purifies Him as God is pure. In other words, he overcomes his flesh and dies to self, and is crucified with Christ. This is exactly what John 1:12 said, he is given exousia, or an ability to make a right decision and to accept his role as a son, and thus when he accepts the grace of God he in turn begins to do a work in his own self to purge himself of his excess flesh. That is the circumcision of the heart that was required of Abraham.

And that is exactly what brother Branham said in his sermon, Questions and answers COD 64-0823E P:106 317. Notice the question was asked, "Will all born again believers go in the rapture?" And brother Branham answers, "No, just the remnant, just the remnant, not all born again believers. The Bible said, "And the rest of the dead lived not for a thousand years," and then they was raised up and separated, the sheep from the goats. Not all born again will go in the... according to the Scripture.

Now, brother Branham used the word remnant here and he does sometimes in describing the cut out piece of cloth, as we see in

Token the 63-1128E P:45 Israel coming out, as I said, is a type like the Church coming out, or the Bride coming out of the church. The Bride will be the remnant, will be the little group, the selected, the predestinated. When a woman lays out a piece of goods, lays her pattern upon it, the way she's going to cut it, and she's got her own way of making a choice. But what's left out of that pattern is the same kind of goods that was in the pattern, but it was ordained for her to take this. She fixed it herself. God did the same. "And the remnant of the woman's seed that was left upon the earth..." Today is the calling-out of the Bride out of the church, the exodus for the rapture. For the church truly goes through the tribulation period, as you Pentecostal brothers has preached it. I believe that. The church goes through it, but not the Bride. No, sir.

If you do an entire search of the word remnant you will find generally that brother Branham used the word remnant interchangeably with the words "elected and called out", but after the seals he only used the word "remnant" to signify those who are left after the rapture has taken place.

Voice of the sign 64-0321E P:18 God was bringing a nation out of a nation, just like He's doing now, going to bring a Bride out of a church, leaving the remnant of the woman's seed. The elected will be brought out of the church. The church natural will stay here through the tribulation. That elected, sometime, is called the chosen, elected, the remnant. Let's watch how He did it then, because He never changes His way of doing things. God has one way of doing things, and that's the way He does it, and that's the right way always. See how He did it, and the manner He did it in, and then we can get a glimpse of this.

Token the 63-1128E P:45 Israel coming out, as I said, is a type like the Church coming out, or the Bride coming out of the church. The Bride will be the remnant, will be the little group, the selected, the predestinated. When a woman lays out a piece of goods, lays her pattern upon it, the way she's going to cut it, and she's got her own way of making a choice. But what's left out of that pattern is the same kind of goods that was in the pattern, but it was ordained for her to take this. She fixed it herself. God did the same. "And the remnant of the woman's seed that was left upon the earth..." Today is the calling-out of the Bride out of the church, the exodus for the rapture. For the church truly goes through the tribulation period, as you Pentecostal brothers has preached it. I believe that. The church goes through it, but not the Bride. No, sir.

Notice in the book of Romans the apostle Paul speaks of the remnant as the elect of God.

Romans 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, 3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. 4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. 7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

Now, Paul is telling us our election is not by works, but it is totally God who elects us and calls us out. But this has to do with salvation and nothing to do with our reward.

Questions and answers COD 54-0103E P:26 Now, there'll be... The first that'll take place will be the coming of the Bride. There will be people in the world...You might different a little with this, but listen close. Just because that you accepted Christ as personal Saviour, that doesn't mean that you're going in the rapture. That's for the elect, that'll go in the rapture. There'll be a remnant left here on earth that'll go through the persecution and the great tribulation. The church will be caught up in the rapture.

QA on Genesis COD 53-0729 P:100 What is a remnant? The piece that's cut, left, same kind of goods. Is that right? You go to cut you a dress out of calico, and you spread out a big piece of calico and cut it out. It's your business where you lay the pattern. It's God's business where He lays the pattern; He cuts her right out. Is that right? And now this, rest of this calico left here, is just as good a calico as in the dress. Is that right? But it's God's election. God elects His church; God predestinates His church; God foreordained that, ordains His church; and He takes that church out. And the remnant is left to go through the tribulation period.

And of course when he speaks the words "according to the Scripture", we must be able to find this in the Scripture, and as I've already explained when you study the law of adoption you will find what he is talking about. And Romans 8 is full of the law of adoption.

Since 2007 I have been criticized for two things more than any other that I teach. The first was when I began to teach on the law of Adoption as a necessary understanding for the bride to be positionally placed in this hour, and the second was when I began to teach on the significance of John 14:12, that it is the pattern for being conformed to the image of the first born son.

These two doctrinal principles are so important because without being the right kind of son you will not receive a body change for the rapture, and without the knowledge of what it means to be the right kind of a son, you will never conform to the4 image of the first born son, because you will not know what that image is. And how can the bride "make herself ready" if she doesn't even know what it means to be ready. For the Scripture says "the Bride hath made herself ready."

Now, never forget that God has not left you on your own in this. The Bible also teaches us in Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Now, if there is only a "will" but not a "doing" then it is not God, for the Scripture says, "It is God working in us both to will and "to do".

Again we read in Hebrews 13:21 Now the God of peace...Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

And how was the first born son made perfect?

Hebrews 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Notice Jesus the pattern for all sons was made perfect by obedience to the Father, as we see also in James 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

Now we are not speaking of the works of the law that Paul spoke of in Galatians 3, because remember in Galatians 2 Paul spoke of dying out to self, crucifying self that Christ might live through you and then in Galatians 3 he says, this Christ working in you is not the law, and it is not you doing, but it is Christ doing through you, and then he goes into Galatians 4 to explain the Adoption of sons. Then in Galatians 5 Paul tells us the difference between the works of the flesh and the works or fruits of the Spirit.

Then in Galatians 6 Paul sums it all up by saying, 4 "But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden. 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

In his sermon, Spoken word original seed 62-0318M P:91 brother Branham taught us that Jesus is the example for all sons of God when he sais, "Then the works will be manifested in Him are the same, for it is the same Seed Word of God. God's Son was His example Seed. And what His Life was when the Spirit poured upon Him after His baptism and the Holy Ghost come upon Him, the very Life that He produced will--that same watering Spirit of the Holy Ghost will bring forth the same kind of a Life, doing the same thing that He did; if it's the same Seed. Son of God Seed will bring forth a Son of God Seed.

Therefore to be the right kind of Son is why Jesus came in order to set the example for all sons to follow. Thus as Paul says "being conformed to the image of the first born son".

And since Jesus has already been accepted as the right kind of Son as God officially adopted and placed Him on Mount Transfiguration, and as the first born son, he thus received his inheritance. Therefore you must be conformed to His image in order to be the right kind of son, and joint heirs with him. And the only way we will know this is by having a standard to compare our lives with his, and that standard is John 14:12. Therefore, the mind that was in Christ must be in us in order for us to do what he did, and live like he lived and thus to be conformed to his image. And Jesus the first born son is that standard.

Influence 63-1114 P:42 Jesus is our Example. And we must look to Him, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Christ revealed in His own Word 65-0822M P:120 Not to be different from the other people, but to try to be more like Jesus Christ Who is our Example...

Is your life worthy 63-0630E P:78 Now, now, let's watch. Look at Jesus just for a minute. He was your Example. Look. Let's look at Jesus just a minute. He was our Example. He said so. "For I have given you an example, that you should do to others as I've done to you."Now, watch. When He came into the world, when there was more or as much unbelief in the world right then as there ever was, it didn't even slow Him up. He went right on preaching just the same and healing just the same: never bothered Him. There was critics. The Man was criticized from the time He was a Baby until He died on the cross. Did it stop Him? No, sir. What was His goal? "Always do that which the Father has written, always do what's pleasing."

It wasn't so from the beginning 62-0630B P:11 Now, let's take our Lord as our Example because He said He was our Example. Now, His Life is in us.

Rejected king 60-0515M P:25 There's something about men and women that they long to be like one another. And there's only been one Man ever lived on earth that was our Example, and that was the One that died for us all, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He was the perfect example of what we should be: always about the Father's business and doing that which is right.

So he was always about the Fathers business, and that is the very nature of the first born son and the first to be adopted, and that is the very nature of all adopted sons.

Therefore unless you are the right kind of son, there will be no inheritance and no rewards.

Now, we all know that no one will be in the rapture outside of being born again with the Holy Ghost as we see brother Branham telling us in his sermon, Reaction to an action 59-0810 P:55 You know that no one will be in the rapture without the Holy Ghost. There'll be the sleeping virgin, that'll not... The rest of the dead lived not for a thousand years. That's it.

Again we hear brother Branham tell us the same thing in QA Image of the beast 54-0515 P:111 40. The question was asked, "Will only those who have the baptism of the Holy Ghost be in the rapture of the church, or will all believers be indicated?" And brother Branham replies, "We haven't got time to justify that. But, brother, only the Holy Ghost Bride will be in the rapture. See? The Bible strictly, the others won't be lost.

Questions and answers COD 54-0103E P:41 16. Unless you are born again, circumcised of the Holy Spirit... You've got to be... I don't care how good you are, what church you belong to, how good your parents was, except you as a individual has been born again by the Holy Ghost, you'll never go in the rapture. See? You can't go. That's the very delivering sign, the circumcision; and the circumcision is by the Holy Spirit. Now, God...

QA on the Holy Ghost COD 59-1219 P:61 Now, here's one that's really a sticker. Question... I think it's the same person, 'cause it looks like the same handwrite:95. If a person must have the Holy Ghost to be--have the Holy Ghost to be converted and to go in the rapture, what will be the state of children that have died before the years of accountability? And when will they rise? Now, my brother, sister, I cannot tell you that. There's no Scripture on it in the Bible as I can find anywhere. But I can express my thoughts. Now, this'll strengthen you that believes in grace of God. You see, the person wants to know (which is a very good question. See?)--the person wants to know what resurrection, what will happen to a baby, that if he has to have the Holy Ghost in order to go in the rapture... As I have said, that's right. That's according to the Bible. That's the teaching of the Scripture. Not to--not to go to heaven... Because the Holy Ghost filled people is the first resurrection the Elect. And the remnant of those... The rest of the dead live not for a thousand years. After the millennium, then the second resurrection, the great white throne judgment. See? That's exactly Bible order. But this person wants to know what about these babies. They... In other words, did they have the Holy Ghost before they were born? Did they receive It? Now, that I cannot tell you.

So God leaves something's still a mystery to us, and I believe he does that so we will continue to pray and apply the token for our Household.

Paul told the Philippians' Jailor in Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

Let us pray...