Token no 57
The Token and the Economic Judgments
February 7, 2016
Brian Kocourek, pastor
This morning I would like
to take a message from brother Branham's sermon, the Token which may seem
strange to some, but actually this theme is carried throughout the sermon of
brother Branham's Token Message. I want you to follow how this Sermon develops from
God to God Life displayed, to God life received, to God life in you, to God
life flowing from you to others.
It is quite interesting
when going back and doing a search in this one sermon, how many times this
theme comes up in this sermon. And the theme I am talking about is the
relationship between the Token Itself and the judgments. And I want you to
follow the progression that takes place in this Message because it is simply
quite beautiful the way brother Branham builds this sermon concerning the
Token.
Let me read to begin with
from several paragraphs in the Token, and you will be able to see for
yourselves how often brother Branham ties the Token with the time of the
judgments of God. Brother Branham begins in paragraph 16 with the Scriptural reference
of the Token and its association with the judgments of God and the Token Life
saving role for the believer.
16 Now, solemnly, reverently we approach the
Word. Now, I wish to read this morning from Exodus the 12th chapter, and beginning with the 12th
verse, the 12th and 13th verse inclusive. And listen close now. And then before
communion, tonight, read the 12th chapter -of Exodus, the entire chapter. For just the 11th
verse here is the getting ready for the journey and the communion before the journey.
And we want to approach this very reverently now. Now, the 12th
verse of the 12th chapter: "For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite
all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the
gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to
you for a token upon the house where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will
pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I
smite the land of Egypt."
May the Lord bless His holy Word.
Notice the setting for the
Token Message concerns the judgments that are to come. The first time we see in
Scripture concerning the judgments that came at the first Exodus upon Egypt.
Then in paragraph 57 brother
Branham brings to our attention, that the Judge is present at the time of the
judgment, which only makes sense. "When He becomes both Judge, Jury, and Attorney, He pleaded our case. We,
found guilty by His Own law, and He come and took the guilty person's place
that was in the sanctuary. He took his sin. He took it upon Himself, and died,
and paid the price, and shed His Blood, and give back His Own Token: His Own
Life. Why, we are perfectly... The case is dismissed. There's no more sin to the believer. Oh, God, have mercy. If the
people can't see that there's no more case. "He that heareth My words, and believeth on Him that sent Me,
has Eternal Life, and shall not come to the judgment, but's passed from death unto Life." There's the
case. Case dismissed; no more case
to it. Amen. Then safely with the
Token applied, when Death begins to
smite against the door out there, it has no control.
So we see here that he lets
us know that before the tribulation judgments come, when death begins to smite,
and that is the key, he says, "when death begins to smite at the door", that is when the Token comes into full
effect.
Therefore, according to John 5:24 that
brother Branham quotes above, we will not come to the judgment, but it looks
like we will see the development of the judgments, before they actually let
loose on the earth. And I believe that is where we are at right now.
Then in paragraph 80 he
tells us that the characteristic of those who go to judgment are those who do
not believe His word. But on the other hand those who actually do believe and
apply that belief are those who are allowed to bypass the judgments of God.
80 As I've said, try... People try to
make God some big old fat doting grandfather (See?), a bunch of grand-kids
that's like little Rickys and Elvises, and there's no harm in them. Not God, He
has no grandchildren; He's a Father. You
got to be born again. He's not big, soft, doting; He's a God of judgment. The Bible speaks He is. His wrath is fierce. Don't you trample
on that and expect the goodness of God someday take you in your sin and to take
you to heaven. If He'd done that, He'd excused all of this here and have took
you. You'll believe His Word or you'll
perish. And when you believe His
Word, the Token will be upon you.
Then in paragraph 83 brother
Branham makes the case that the Token is promised for each age before the
judgments come for that age. He tells us that God always sends mercy first
which is a Message of repentance to the people, and those who spurn that
warning, are left for the judgment, and those who come into the Mercy (Message)
are spared the judgments, and are carried over the judgments.
83 Now, let's stop just for a moment or two
on that clock there. Let's just think in our minds back what He promised would happen in the last days.
I wonder if we hadn't just about check up too. He done all these things, and yet they still desired not to repent or
to believe the message of the day. They still didn't want to do it.
Although it'd been displayed before them, and had been surely made known...And
when you see such things taking place, it's
the sign of oncoming judgment. Judgment
will follow those things. It's
always done it, and this won't be no
exception. See? Judgment follows
grace. When mercy is spurned,
there's nothing left but judgment. So it'll always follow.
In paragraph 99 brother
Branham continues with this thought that the Token comes before the judgment. And
the people will come from all over into the safety of the Token, and they will
come one by one because of word of mouth. It will not be an never has been a
mighty move of man, or a large organizational push. The people that will come
will come one by one as they always have.
99 They come from all Egypt to gather into this one place so they could be under this token. And they have come from
Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Pentecostals, everything else, to get under the Token, just exactly like it was then. It was a Pillar of Fire was represented
them. And one told the other, another told another, another told another;
and first thing you know, here they all begin to come. They begin to come, and they watched the sign of God. They
said, "Judgment's at hand."
Then the prophet said, "I have
heard from God. There will be a token. And you put the blood upon the door;
slay the lamb, put the blood upon the door. And that'll be a token, because
death is fixing to strike."
By the time we reach
paragraph 11 brother Branham is now making it quite clear that the judgments
are already being set up, and the judgments are just waiting. Then he lists
some of the judgments, such as atomic war, and all kinds of disasters. And he
let's us know now, that we must not just accept the Token, but the Token must
be applied or we will be caught up in the judgments, which ever form they
manifest.
111 Remember, there's a lot of them come by,
them women, that night, and say, "Hey, girlie, Lily, some of you, come on
out; we're going to a party tonight.""Huh uh, I'm under the Blood. I'm under the Token to stay here. My
love is to my Maker. Death is in the land tonight." And death is in
the land today. Judgment
is waiting; she's pending. Atomic, and hydrogens, and all kinds of
disaster is waiting for the nations. And God is moving His church and showing all... We been keeping the
Lamb up now for quite awhile, watching,
seeing what He's doing, watching His nature and everything, but
now the Token's got to be applied. It's got to be applied. It's the only thing. "Except a man be born of the Spirit and of water, He will in no wise
enter in."
By the time we reach
paragraph 123 brother Branham is
letting us know that every nation will be hit by the judgments, so no place
will be safe outside the Token. Those judgments will be in the form of every
judgment you see in Deuteronomy 28 which we do not have time to go into this
morning. But there will be a very great depression affecting the whole world.
The economies of the world are going to fail, they are already failing. Then we
will see germ warfare like never before, and then the earth itself and the
weather patterns and then the judgments from the heavens. All of this is
building the stress upon man until nuclear war will become inevitable and end
life on earth as we know it. But we have a Token to deliver us and that is what
this sermon is about.
123 Look, Joshua... Wish we had
time to read it. Mark it down. Joshua the 2nd chapter, believing, Gentile,
harlot, Rahab...Oh, I just wish it was about
In paragraph 125 brother
Branham let's us know that the Token is displayed or manifested by God in the
form of signs and wonders to get the attention of the people so they will know
this is a supernatural thing taking place here. and God being a supernatural
being identifies His Token in a supernatural way.
125 Notice,
Then
by paragraph 138 brother Branham let's us know that those who have witnessed
the supernatural nature of God's Message of Mercy, not only recognize it but
act upon it, and then God confirms His acceptance of their belief and seals
them into His token via John 14:12 the supernatural Word that they heard, and
recognized, they then become one with it and act upon it. Showing they are
sealed into the Token. And the very supernatural nature of God is now confirmed
in them, and having the same nature they have the same character.
138 And it displays His power. John
14:12, says, "He that believeth on Me, the works that I do
shall he do also."
New Testament is new covenant, new life.
Shows Jesus has met every requirement
for us that God required to make us back truly sons and daughters of God,
under the Blood where there is no more condemnation. Romans 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in (not those who are believing it), those who are in Christ Jesus, that walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit." "And My Word is Spirit and life?." Oh, couldn't I take a text from that, and stay
about a couple more hours, but we'll hurry over it. You see? No more
condemnation; free from sin; free from the cares of the world. No condemn...
Why? To them that have
been by one Spirit baptized into one Body, there the Blood of the Lamb has been applied. The God of heaven has accepted you. And
your... His life is in you, and you are sons and daughters of God.
Your character is God's character. What is
it? A little pushover? No, sir. God's a God of judgment. He's a God of correct.
It must be on the line. Nothing else will do. That's the kind of character you are, because you're the character of
your Father. See? Watch.
By the time we arrive at paragraph
151,
we see that not only has the Supernatural God come with a Token, but those who
have heard it and recognized it, and acted upon it, are not only sealed in
themselves by the Token, but God allows them to apply it for others and
bring loved ones into the same safety
net of the token that was given to them.
151
That's what they did in
Then in paragraph 176
brother Branham brings us to the conclusion that those who have the token and
have applied it have not one thing to worry about.
176 As Israel set there, and the screams
was going on out there in the street, they
didn't have one thing to worry about. Only thing, just be sure the blood,
the token, was showing. That's the only thing we have to worry, right now. There's trouble in the--in the way making,
friends. It ain't going to be long.
Trouble's striking. You know that. Be sure the Token's showing, and the
Token is the Holy Spirit. "For by one Spirit, we're all baptized into one Body, and made
partakers of His glory,"
on our lap home march now to the promised land. Do you love Him? You believe
the Token? How many would like to say, "Oh, Brother Branham, pray for me
that I will come under this Token." Let us bow our heads.
Now, that we have
established the series of events concerning the token Message, the recognition
of that Message and the application of the Token, and the effect it has upon
the safety of those who have it and have applied it, we can now go into more
detail about the judgments that are on developing on their way all over the
world as we speak.
In
this sermon this morning we will begin to examine brother Branham's thought
process concerning the Token and the judgments. We will show you many things he
said concerning the two and take it to the scriptures as well so you can see where he was coming from when
he said these words.
From PP. 100 of the Message Jezebel
Religion 61-0319, brother Branham said, When
God sends forth a message and tells the people, and they don't receive it, then
He withdraws His servant and sends His plagues: famine, death, spiritually
speaking, physically also. You watch for a
depression, brother. You think you've seen something; you just wait after
while. You haven't seen nothing. You think you're dying
for a good spiritual revival; you wait till after a bit. You just wait, long
and cry to hear the Word of God. The Bible said so. "There'll be a famine
in the last days," said the prophet, "and not for bread and water
alone, but for hearing the true Word of God." But that voice will be quiet
in the wilderness somewhere, hid away. He ordained the ravens,
His servants. Bless them birds, His servants, that kept the voice of--of Elijah
alive during the time of his--his isolation from the church.
Now,
there are those people who think he meant a spiritual depression, which I can
understand why they would think that, but as you will see by scripture and
other things brother Branham tells us that there is coming an economic
depression on a scale that the world has never seen before.
From, Daniel
8:23-25: we read, And
in the latter time (in the last days) of
their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the fullness (Completion), a king of fierce countenance (mighty
Presence), and understanding dark
sentences (double
dealings), shall stand up (shall
present himself or come on the scene). 24 And his power (wealth), shall
be mighty (vast), but not by his own power (not
by his own ability to produce wealth, which means he gets it from others):
and he shall destroy wonderfully (Bring to
ruin, pervertion and corruption),
and shall prosper (make great
profits) , and practise (bring about
a press or squeeze), and
shall destroy (bring to ruin) the mighty (the
many nations) and the holy
people (the set apart nation of God, The
Jews). 25 And
through his policy also he shall cause craft (manufacturing) to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in
his heart, and by peace (quietness, ease and
prosperity) shall destroy (corrupt,
pervert and ruin) many: he
shall also stand up (stand
forth and present himself) against (on behalf or on account of) the Prince of princes (Christ); but he shall be broken without hand (when
the final act is played out).
2
Thess 2:3-13: ¶ Let no man deceive you
by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling
away first, and that man of sin be
revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that
is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth
in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Remember
ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And
now ye know what withholdeth that he
might be revealed in his time 7 For the mystery of iniquity
doth already work: only he who now
letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. . (He who letteth is the Holy Spirit who will let these thing be
until he leaves the midst of humanity and takes us up with him.) 8 And
then (after the Holy Spirit
leaves the earth and we are taken up with him) shall that
Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord
shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the
brightness of his coming: (You see the parousia of Christ has
informed us of what is to happen. It destroys the plan of the evil one for
those who believe and are sealed into the Token.) But when the parousia of
Christ leaves the earth, then the parousia of the evil one comes into
manifestation.
9 Even
him, whose coming (parousia) is after the working of Satan with
all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all
deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received
not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And
for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a
lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the
truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 13 ¶ But we are
bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because
God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of
the Spirit and belief of the truth: