Spoken Word #13
“The
Lamb and the Dove”
Brian Kocourek
March 29th, 2008
Now, although there
are several wonderful thoughts that brother Branham has spoken to us in this
paragraph, I would like to examine just one of them this evening. And that
would be when he said, “the greatest
reality the world has ever known, that the Son of God is not dead, Who made the
promises, but is alive among us forevermore.”
Now, the reason why I
have chosen this message is because I believe that many who believe the
doctrine of Christ are still within themselves not so sure who is here among
us.
You see, many who used
to scoff at those who teach the Parousia of Christ are no we teaching it, only
with a better spirit. At least that is what they believe. But, they teach it in
error not knowing who came down in this hour. Many say the lamb has come down,
but that is not what brother Branham taught.
First seal the 63-0318 P:121 Notice
now, The Holy Spirit and the revelation and Christ is... The Holy Spirit is Christ in another form. That's right. Notice, it is a Lamb that opened the Book, and the
Lamb is Christ; and Christ is not
seen anymore from then, but He is seen in the Book of Revelations the 19th
chapter, coming on a white horse. If you'd like to read it, let's turn to
Revelations 19:11 to 16.
So you see, we have a
problem if we do not understand his language, because brother Branham uses the
Word Christ very often and if you do not understand what the Word Christ means
and Who it is speaking of when it is used, then you can have some trouble trying
to follow this Message.
Now, we know that the
word “Christ” means anointed, but it can also be used when we are speaking of
the one who “anoints” and also when we are speaking of the one that is
“anointed”, so how the word is used depends upon the context of the sentence in
which it is being used. So when brother Branham says, that “Christ” is here, if
we do not understand the Godhead as he taught it by vindication, then we may
very well be confused when we try to explain just who came down in this hour.
That is why many who
are now teaching the Parousia are the same ones who once called it a false
doctrine. And the way they are teaching it is in error because they are saying
the Lamb has come down. But that is because they do not understand the Godhead,
nor do they understand what the Lamb represents.
Now, Brother Branham
taught us that the lamb of God represented the physical body of the Son of God.
So if you teach that the Lamb has come down, you are in essence saying that the
second coming has taken place and the Son of God in the flesh is now here on
the scene. But this is contrary to the teaching of the Scriptures that plainly
teach that there is an Appearing before the Coming. The Appearing is always in
Scripture the Father coming down before the promised Son arrives.
John 1:25 And
they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that
Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John
answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you,
whom ye know not; 27 He it is, who coming after me
is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond
We see in the days of
Abraham that the Father of Glory came down to reveal to Abraham the promise of
a Coming Son. So the Father came before the Son. Now, even in nature there must
be a father come first in order to bring forth a son. You don’t get son’s
without a father, and the father is on the scene before the son ever comes on
the scene. That is just simplicity and God hides Himself in simplicity.
What they do not
understand is that the same Spirit or Life that was in Jesus has come back upon
the Church. The One who is here in our midst is the same Life that was living
in Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Now, in the Message On the wings of a dove 65-1128E P:16Brother
Branham shows us the simplicity of God identifying Himself with the Dove while
identifying His Son as the Lamb of God. He says, “How
beautiful it's typed here as Jesus being
the Lamb, and God being the Dove.
And the dove would not have settled on a
wolf; his nature's not right. It couldn't have settled on a dog; his nature's not right. It had
to be on a lamb; the two natures had
to be the same. And that's the
way we have to be; our natures has
to change from the roaring sinner to the meekness of a lamb. And did you
notice the Dove led the Lamb? And
notice, the Lamb forfeit everything He
had to the Dove. And look where the Dove led Him: to crucifixion for the
sins of us all. Now, the Dove, if God
wanted to represent His Son, He was represented by the most cleanest and
meekest animal on the earth, a earthbound creature; but when God represented Himself in the heavens, was
by the meekest and most cleanest bird there is in the heavens: a dove.”
Now, brother Branham makes it very clear here that Jesus, the Son of God
is represented in Scripture as a lamb which is the meekest of earthbound
creatures. At the same time he also let’s us know that God represented Himself
in Scripture as a Dove which is a heavenly being. But notice that he said the
two natures had to be the same in order for God to indwell his Son. Now, the
Lamb does not represent the Spirit of Christ that abode in Jesus body. It
represents the body of the Son and the nature of that body.
Again in the sermon God's only provided place of worship 65-1128M P:71 Brother
Branham illustrates how the lamb is the true representation of the Son of God .
He said, “He was tested to see where He
was standing (See?), tested in every manner, tested like we are tested. But
there was no giving in to him at all. No, sir. That was the Son of God. And the lamb was tested, and was kept up
for fourteen days. That was two Sabbaths, or two ages. Once for the Jews, which
they offered the lamb in type; once for the Gentile, who has a real Lamb, and
all of them was made perfect by believing this Lamb would come. But He was
examined fourteen days, He was the Word.
And again we see brother Branham say in his sermon God's only provided
place of worship 65-1128M P:69 Notice, now, on this the lamb was Christ in figurative form.
Or did I say that right? Christ was the
Lamb. He was to be a male, the first from the old mother ewe; or ewe, which
ever way you choose to call it. It must be her first. And he must be tested
first to see if there is a blemish on him. Now Christ was tested, the lamb, first from the mother ewe, Mary the
virgin. And was tested by what? Satan against the Word. When he hit Eve, she
fell; hit Moses, he fell; but when he flew up against Christ, and tried to
quote the Scripture to Him wrong, he found out that that wasn't Moses. See? He
was tested. What did he turn around, he said, "If
thou be the Son of God. Now, they tell me you perform miracles, and they tell
me that the Messiah's to do that. Now, if it is, you're hungry, you haven't
eat; turn these stones into bread, and eat.” He said, "It
is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone,'" your creed, so
forth. But by what? Every Word! A part of the Word? Every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, that's what man
lives by. See? The Lamb was tested, see if there's anywhere He had fallen.
So that will take us
back to the thoughts that brother Branham said then in this Message that we are
speaking from this evening, because first he said, the Son of God is not dead, Who made the
promises, but is alive among us
forevermore. And it is one thing to know and understand that the Son
of God is alive forever more, but to know also that he is here among us is
another thing altogether, because when we think of the Son of God we think only
as Him as the Lamb of God. We do not understand how He could be the Lamb of
God, which speaks of the man Jesus, but then we hear these words He is alive
and with us forevermore, because the
lamb is not here. He is making intercession for our confession. So who is here.
Now, let me throw one
more at you in this regards. The Scripture we read that brother Branham is
quoting from says, 32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven
like a dove, and it abode upon him. (Now, so far we do not have
a problem here because we see that the Spirit which descended like a Dove is
God, and the one on whom he is descending upon is the Son of God which is the
Lamb of God. So every thing is crystal clear so far. But then watch what John
says…) 33 And
I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto
me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit
descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy
Ghost. 34 And I saw, and
bare record that this is the Son of God.
So now we see that the
role of the Son of God was to baptize with the Holy Ghost. At least that is
what John is prophesying here. he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me,
Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit
descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy
Ghost. 34 And I saw, and
bare record that this is the Son of God.
So John sees and bears
record that the one in whom the spirit descended upon is Jesus the Son of God.
And the One who sent John forth to baptize which is God Himself, said that this
one upon whom the Spirit shall descend upon is Jesus the Son of God, and He
shall baptize with the Holy Ghost.
So we see this role
then is assigned by God Himself for the Son of God to do. He is the Baptizer
with the Holy Ghost. But I want you to see the key here. The Spirit of God
spoke to John and said, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining
on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. So
the key is the one that you see the spirit descending upon and remaining on
Him….That is the key, the spirit remaining on him… So the man Jesus is not the
subject here, but the Spirit which comes down and remains upon this man, this
is the one that will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
John 20:17 Jesus
saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to
my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father,
and your Father; and to my God, and your God. 18 Mary
Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the
disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the
midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad,
when they saw the Lord. 21 Then said Jesus to them
again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive
ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
Notice then that it
was Jesus the Son of God who breathed upon them and they received the Holy
Ghost. But notice also that Thomas was not there at that time.
John 20:24 But
Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him,
We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands
the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will
not believe. (Now, this word thrust
in which he said, unless I thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
This word thrust is translated from a Greek word “ballo” which means to thro
(in a violent or intense manner, and denoted a deliberate hurl, like a punch or
deliberate jab. These were not kind words coming from a kind man, but these
were words coming from an angry man. And notice he was not there when Jesus had
breathed on the others giving them the promise of receiving the Holy Ghost. So
these men still did not have the Holy Ghost and neither did Thomas.
From Questions
and answers COD 64-0830E P:37 383. The question was asked him, “Dear
Brother Branham, what is the difference when Jesus breathed on the disciples
and said, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost," and when they had to go to the
upper room to tarry? It was a promise He
gave them, breathed upon them His promise, said, "Receive ye the Holy
Ghost." It was a promise. They went to the upper room to wait for the
promise to be fulfilled. The same thing is when we lay hands upon you to be
healed, then you go on about your business waiting for the promise to be
fulfilled.
26 And
after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the
midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he
to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands;
and reach hither thy hand, and thrust
it into my side: and
be not faithless, but believing. (what a rebuke to Thomas that Jesus gave him back the
very same words he said in disgust to the others.) 28 And
Thomas (the man who as yet had not received the Holy Ghost) answered and said
unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto
him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast
believed: blessed are
they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (Now, remember,
this man Thomas here is yet without the baptism of the Holy Ghost. And brother
Branham said the evidence that you have the Holy Ghost is that you will
understand the doctrine, and the
31 But
these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might
have life through his name.
So let’s turn in our
Bibles for our Communion reading and look to John 13 and read as the brothers
bring forth the elements to pray over.
John 13:1 Now
before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that
he should depart out of this world unto
the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them
unto the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil
having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all
things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his
garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After
that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and
to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter
saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto
him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know
hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou
shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with
me.
Now,
this is very important for you to know. People take so callously the Lord’s
Supper, but listen. If you can not be in regular attendance for service this is
one service you should never miss, because Jesus said if you do not do this you
have no part with him.
And when
Simon Peter heard Jesus say this notice how he responded… 9 Simon
Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my
hands and my head. 10 Jesus
saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit:
and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he
knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not
all clean.
We
know who that was, that was Judas that betrayed Jesus. Peter never betrayed
him, he just denied knowing him. And I think sometime we do the same thing in
our lives by the way we act when no one is watching you, but that is when the
real test comes. Anyway, there is a big difference between denying and
betraying, but we won’t get into that now.)
12 So
after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down
again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye
call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given
you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I
say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent
greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. 18 I
speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be
fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. 19 Now
I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I
am he. 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that
receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
Now, this is one area
that we do not practice enough. Jesus said, He that I send should be treated
with the same respect as if it is me that is there in his place. But we have
become too common to one another. Especially the ministry. We do not come
prayed up as we ought, but brother Branham said if you come prayed up you will
hear from Heaven. But that is the carnal nature of man.
That is what Jesus is
saying, and yet people always think of their own problems first and then if
they have time or money left over they will put God second. But let me tell you
this, that if that is the way you are tonight, you had better repent before you
come to drink this cup.
And let’s also turn in
our Bibles to 1 Corinthians 11:17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not,
that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear
that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19 For there must be also
heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 20 When
ye come together therefore into one place, this
is not to eat the Lord's supper.
21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is
drunken. 22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to
drink in? or despise ye the
1 Corinthians 10:1 Moreover,
brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were
under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And
were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of
that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown
in the wilderness.
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are
written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he
standeth take heed
lest he fall.
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to
man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the
blood of Christ? The
bread which we break, is it not the communion of the
body of Christ?
17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
18 Behold
29 Conscience, I
say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? 30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken
of for that for which I give thanks?
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give none offence, neither to the
Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
Let us pray…