Pre Rapture Revelation of Jesus Christ Bro. Lee Vayle - February 5, 1978 Amen. Let’s pray again. Heavenly Father, we take the opportunity we have of having gathered together tonight. We pray Lord, that thy Word shall come together even better than we have come together, Lord, for here we have come in this very evidence, very manifested nothing can be denied. But we are here, and we know, Lord, that You're greater than we are, and You can bring Your Word together for us in such a way that we truly manifested, richer and realer than we are ourselves. Now, Father, we just pray that You'll have Your way as we commend ourselves to You in Jesus' Name. Amen. You may be seated. Well, it's nice to be back here again, and I just kind of missed what Bro. Burton was saying there. He said that he was going to ordain me as 'chief feather in the wind', that I can say, "Hey, that guy's on the ball." [Bro. Vayle chuckles] I know one little fellow here today and gone tomorrow. I'm here today and gone tomorrow. But, that's alright. He did give me a good thought though, I think I heard him right coming and visiting him, the next time. That's good I'll do that. So, we'll just put that down on the record, to make this stay a little bit longer. Get by and see Bro. Chris, and Bro. Pete, and Bro. Burton, and maybe one Sunday here, I can't promise anymore. [Bro. Vayle chuckles again] Here and now that's going to take care of that. 1. Now, of course you know that I don't try to tell you something you don't know. That's certainly not my job, I wouldn't try to do that, I don't have anything startling to tell you. But what we want to try to do is simply bring out an abundance of Scripture on that which we already know. Because you know, the Word of the Lord was to come in the last day, "precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little." [Isa. 28:13] And that to me is where Bro. Branham brought the doctrine, the precepts of Almighty God. Then he began to break It down. And now at the end time, it's simply taking Word by Word of what he said, because we know that what he said is in the Word here. He never came to bring us something on his own. He even himself said, "Just think of it, (he said) the same Holy Spirit Who brought the Book, the Bible, the New Testament, the revelation of Paul, that same Holy Spirit that brought It is now here to reveal It." And if that is the case then, It could not be something other than what is in the Bible. 2. So, what we're going to do tonight is speak on 'The Revelation of Jesus Christ', and take many, many Scriptures to show you that revelation, that which you already know. And hopefully then your faith is all the more confirmed. I have a peculiar feeling that we haven't seen the end of everything yet. We may see much drifting, we may see many problems, I hope not. But as I go over Bro. Branham's Messages, I find that he was very prone to use a tremendous amount of time, which is very valuable for us. And yet he would keep bringing us back to the prophet with the Word. Well, that would seem irrelevant if I knew there was a prophet with the Word, why would I keep going over and over and over establishing the prophet with the Word? Was it because many more people were listening? Not at all. Because actually, we are far greatly more increased since Bro. Branham has gone then when he was here. Because faithful men have taken this Message out pretty well out around the world. And there are many, many thousands who believe the Word in some way. How they believe It, is personally their business. But they are believers in this Message, and we like Bro. Branham would say concerning a certain brother, "he believes this Message just as much as we do." Though we know that actually he didn't. That sounds like the prophet was sort of giving him, or letting him with the putting too much icing on the cake. No! 3. The fact is, the brother believed there was to be an end time prophet and the Message. So therefore, how he believes It was his own business. But he was as much a believer as we are. And this is one thing we must keep in mind, especially as you remember this morning's message. We all believe together. We are believers in this Word, and we're members one of another. So, no matter how what anybody says, you're still a member of that person. As Bro. Branham said, "If you draw me this, we're going to draw a circle and draw you out." Then he repeated the old bit of poetry, he said, "I'll draw a bigger circle and draw you back again." So, it's incumbent upon us to always remember that. 4. So, I'm going to be talking about not so much the prophet and his Message, but the fact of revelation, because we believe that. And this revelation is not to split us, is to bring us together, and to hold us together. So, we're going to talk about revelation. And what I wish to do then at this time is first to examine carefully what revelation concerning Jesus actually means. What it actually means, then we wish to show that this revelation though basic to the Rapture, does not occur in the actual Rapture itself, as many people think it does. It doesn't, it occurs before it. So, what we'll be looking at this time is the doctrine of the 'Pre-Rapture Revelation of Jesus Christ', that is necessary for the Rapture to take place. Now, that is what we already know. I'm not telling you something you don't know. But I'm going to place It with the Scripture, so that you really know. That is if I can with the help of God, I should be able to do it, bring the Scriptures together. 5. So, what we're looking at then is the doctrine of the Pre-Rapture Revelation of Jesus Christ'. that is very necessary to put us into the Rapture. Now, we're going to start with the very obscure verse. And the reason that It's obscure is because It's mistranslated. We're going to go first of all then to the Book of Luke chapter 2:32, making our start. (32) A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. This of course is to be read in the context of verse 30 and 31. So, we'll read them, this is Simeon. (30) For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, (31) Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; (32) A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. Now, of course we know as I said, this is the prayer of Simeon. And here is what he is saying about Jesus. "I have seen God's salvation, or God's Savior, Jesus, verse 30 and verse 32, (31) Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; Simply reads, "Which You have ordained to be so, before eye witnesses." In other words, done in the presence of the people. Made visible before the people. Verse 32, [Luke 2:32] (32) A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. A Light for a revelation, that's what the word 'light' means. It's the same word 'apokalypsis'. A Light for a revelation to the "Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel." And you will notice that He makes Jesus the glory of Israel, because though He is their Savior, they do not come to Him as Savior, but they do see Him as their glory. (See?) And the 144,000 gets sealed in when He comes back to Israel. 6. Now, we must be careful here not to neglect that word 'light', a Light to lighten the Gentiles. Because Jesus in not only the Savior Who was ordained, but He is the Light for the Gentile revelation of God. Because that's what It says here. He is the Savior which is true. Only by Him can there be salvation. But It also says that He is the Light which will give revelation to the Gentiles. So, what is the light? Well, the meaning is simply 'light'. It doesn't have any obscure thought. But as light as seen by the eye, that's what It says here. It is that which strikes the eye, so the eye can see. So, now we can get a little clearer picture. When Simeon saw Jesus he said, "I for myself have seen God's publically manifested, ordained Savior, the One Who brings into view and openly shows as does a Light Himself to the Gentiles, He being their Savior. Now, that kinds of sound maybe more obscure what you've got in the first place. But it isn't. Because this is actually what he is saying here. He said, "As for myself I have seen God's publically before the people. (Actually, brought before the people so their eye could see it.) I have publically, I have seen God's publically manifested ordained Savior, the One Who brings into view and openly shows as does a Light Himself." 7. Now, the light doesn't show itself, the light is visible. The light shows the microphone, it shows the people here. But what this Light is doing is showing Himself to the Gentiles, He being their Savior. Cutting it even shorter into a nutshell, he is saying, "Jesus revealing Himself, as Savior to the Gentiles," and God publically ordaining it. God ordaining that Jesus should reveal Himself to the Gentiles, for He is their Savior. Now, the word we're using here is 'apokalypsis', or revelation, or the drawing back of the curtain, so that one can see. But in this case, it is Jesus Savior coming into view publically, or openly to the Gentiles, and He is doing it. And in so doing He is His Own revelation, or He is revealing Himself. See, that makes quite a bit of difference. I can strike a match, (not to show you a match, that's not the point) I will strike a match, or give you a light in order that you may see what is going on. But in this case, is a little different, because the Light is Christ Himself, and He is revealing Himself. (See?) Not something else now, but He is revealing Himself. If He is really revealing something else, then it is not that One Who was to be revealed, or the One Who is the Light. I trust you follow that, because there is a difference. It is Jesus, this Light, this revelation is Jesus Himself the Savior coming into view publically. And you notice it's always public. It is not something that is done in a corner. It is not something the people are not aware of. It is something that is public, demonstrated to be public. Coming into view publically, or openly to the Gentiles, and He is doing His Own revealing of Himself. So, therefore we see that Christ the Light, is revealing Himself in a public way, so that It cannot be disputed, but He is that One. 8. Now, with this much on our minds, we're going to look at another thought about the Savior relative to this same period of His life, that is when He was a baby, and someone was talking about Him which gives us a little more illumination. And we go back to the Book of Luke again, chapter 1:76-79, and in here we're going to see what Zacharias the son [father] of John the Baptist is saying. All right: [Luke 1:76-79] (76) And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his way; (77) To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, (78) Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, (79) To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Now, this is part of the prophecy of Zacharias the father of John the Baptist, where he is speaking of the Lord. And he said, verse 76, (76) And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: … So, he's talking about the Lord God Himself, and John is going to go before the face of the Lord God, to prepare His way. Then in verse 78 he says, (78) Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 9. Now, the Dayspring from on high is actually the branch of Isaiah 11:1. So, let's go back and take a look at Isaiah chapter 11:1. (1) …there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: Now, you'll notice It says here then, that the Branch has visited us to give Light. And this word 'light' in the Greek, go back and look at it, The Branch has visited in order to give Light. Now, the word 'light' here, actually means to appear, or to become visible. So, we have to read It this way then, "God in His tender mercy has granted that the Dayspring from on high visit us in order to become visible to us." There again you see the perfect alliance of Scripture, and the alignment of Scripture. That this One Who is the Light, revealing Himself now comes into existence and manifests that He is that Branch. The two going together, that God publically has ordained that the Savior come before the face of the people, come into visible manifestation. So, we can see most clearly that Jesus is the visible manifestation of God. Because It says right here, that John is going to go before the face of the most High. He's going to go before the face of Lord God of Israel. Then he calls Him the Branch, and then he says, "That Branch visitation, (which is God in human flesh) is positively the Jehovah that was to come to the people." 10. In other words, Jesus Jehovah Savior has Appeared according to the ordination of Almighty God. Now, this will help us to understand, or give us even a better view, as we go to John 1: (the Gospel) verses 1-34, and we're going to read as follows: (1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. Now, we're getting right back to what we saw here. "The Dayspring from on High." This One Who is Almighty God, brought into visibility. Now, take verse 14 with that. Jump right down to 14. (14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Now, that's exactly what we saw in Luke. John is saying identically what was said in Luke, by a man who prophesied called Zacharias, by another man who prophesied called Simeon, and it's a hundred percent with the Scripture. (See?) God revealing Himself. 11. Go back to verse 4. (4) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (5) And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. We go to verse 10 here. I should read really verse 4 with 10, making it simpler. (4) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (10) He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. Go back to verse 9, And, (9) That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. Then take 5-8 (5) And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (6) There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. (7) The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. (8) He was not that Light, (that Light) but was sent to bear witness of that Light. Continue in verse 11, (11) He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (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. Now, verse 18 (18) No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (Or thoroughly brought Him to Light.) 12. So, what we have seen in Luke, you can see the perfection of what lies here in the further Scripture of John chapter 1. Now, we're going to read on further verse 22-23. (22) (And they) said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? (23) (And) he said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. Now, where did the prophet Isaiah say this? He said this over in the Book of Isaiah 40: So, we're going to go back to the Book of Isaiah in chapter 40 and see exactly what was said there in order to compare It, 3-5. (3) The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Now, this is John the Baptist concerning the Coming of God Who comes into manifestation. Who becomes the Light of revelation Himself to the Gentiles. (4) Every valley shall be exalted, every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places (made) plain (5) And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. Now, these verses in here, 3-5, and especially 5, had to be fulfilled in the days of John the Baptist which they most certainly were. 13. Now, those verses are verses 26-34 of John chapter 1. (You can hold your finger there is you like and go back to John. Now: (26) (And) John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom (you) 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 Jordan, where John was baptizing. (29) The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (30) (And) this is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. (31) And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. (32) And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. (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. 14. Now, Isaiah 40:5, "And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed," and all flesh shall see it together, which is what is true. Now, you don't need to hold your finger any longer, but we're just going to quickly go to back to Luke 1: again, 78-79. (78) Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, (79) To give light… (see, or to bring into manifestation.) What's He bringing into manifestation? The Dayspring from on High. What's He bringing into manifestation? He's bringing into manifestation Almighty God. 15. Luke 2: 30-32 again. (30) For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, (31) Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; That is exactly what It says in Isaiah 40:5, exactly the same thing. Here you find men who are not necessarily prophets, but the spirit of prophecy upon them. How could they not agree with every Word in the Bible? That's why the apostle Paul could state, he said, "If any man considers himself a prophet, let him admit that what I say is the commandment of God." [1 Cor. 14:37] How can any man with the Holy Spirit ever be off the Word? He couldn't be, because you can see here a perfect dovetailing in the Scripture without one word out of Divine order. Now, here are some other Scriptures are made all the more clearly, because we understand what was given to us over here in the Book of Luke. Take John 10: [30], "I and My Father are one." How could it not be that? I would be impossible, because they are one. They are not two, they're one. Not that they are two in essence, or two in thought, or two in their principle, or two in understanding, it's one person. God becoming visible. (See?) God before the face of the people, so there can be no doubt about it. An absolute demonstration and manifestation of His Presence. 16. Let's go to John 14:7-11, (7) If (you) had known me, (you) should have known my Father also: and from henceforth (you) know him, and have seen him. How could any son come along and say, "Now that you've seen me, you seen my father." Even with the splitting image that would be impossible. (See?) Now: (8) Philip (said)…Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth … (9) ( And) Jesus (said) Have I been so long time with you, and yet thou hast not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Notice, in every single case visible manifestation of proof that this is that One. (See?) Exactly what the Scriptures said would be. Now: (10) Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that (dwells) in me, he doeth the works. 17. Now, let's go to Hebrews 1:1-3. (1) God, who at sundry times and in divers (ways) spake in time past unto the fathers (in) the prophets, (2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us (in) his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Very same thing that John said, no difference in the Word of God, It's always dovetailed. (3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, … Who's he talking about? God. Who's he talking about? The One that came into manifestation. (See?) Whereby God ordained that He, Himself, should manifest Himself and that manifestation should be the Light unto salvation. (See?) Now, (3) …when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: 18. We go back to Philippians 2:5-8. (5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: In other words, being in the very form of God, God Himself, He did not stay in that form, but He came down and took upon Himself another form. What would it matter if you had a piece of gold and you turned the gold into a casing for a watch? Or you took the gold and made it into a little tiny candlestick? Or you took the gold and made it a broach? It's still gold. It doesn't matter what form it's in. And so here the fact is though that He…that God came into another form, other than the Pillar of Fire, or by a Cloud, it didn't change It any. (See?) It didn't change It one bit. (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him(self) the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Why? In order to speak to men. See, in order to that which was visible to the eye could cause and understanding and empathy of complete understanding. As the Scripture says, "The only begotten in the bosom of the Father hath declared Him." [John 1:18] And that word in the Greek is 'exegesis', or which means to 'thoroughly declare by word', thoroughly explained by word. To bring into complete and in full view. (8) And being found in fashion as a man, … Now notice, It says, "being found in fashion." In other words, being found in fashion, humbled Himself and died upon the Cross, for our sins. God Himself dying in a human form. (See?) In other words, He had to take upon Himself a form of flesh and blood in order to die. 19. Now, with this understanding that we're seeing here, the dovetailing of Scripture how that God ordained that He Himself would personally reveal Himself, in such a way that man could apprehend It. We're going now to turn to Revelation 1:1-12 and carry on our same thinking. (1) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, (the apokalypsis, the unveiling) which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his (servant) unto his servant John: (2) Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. (3) Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. (4) John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace (and peace) be unto you, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; (5) And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (6) And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. (7) Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all (the) kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Now, that of course is the Coming at the very end) Even so, Amen. (8) (Now) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (9) I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. (10) I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, (11) Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and last: What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. Now, what we're going to see then, (which we won't read the whole Book of Revelation) is that the entire Book of Revelation is written to seven Gentile churches for the entire Seven Ages. Because that's what It says here. Because the message is written for seven churches, for Seven Ages. 20. Now, continuing in 12-20. (12) And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks. (13) And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. (14) His head and his hairs were white like wool, white as snow; and his eyes (like) a flame of fire; (15) …his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; his … voice as the sound of many waters. (16) …he had in his right hand seven stars: out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. (17) And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying… Fear not; I am the first and the last: (18) I am he that liveth, and was dead; behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; have the keys of hell and of death. (19) Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; (20) The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the (messengers) the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. 21. Now, here we have another perfect picture of Luke 1:79. Just go back and read It here. He says here: (79) To give light to them (or to bring into manifestation, giving light, bring into manifestation to them) that sit in darkness… And we have also with It, because that's what He's doing, like a sun in the midst of the churches. We also have John 1:34. (34) And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. No change. Why? Because He is to be the Light to the Gentiles. God duty bound to reveal Himself to the Gentiles. Not to Israel, He's their glory. Israel turned aside, but God revealed to the Gentiles. Now, it is also the same as John 1:18, where: (18) No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. What He is doing here is revealing by the Word Almighty God Himself. 22. Now, getting back to Revelation 1:10. (10) I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, And reading verses 12-13. (12) And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And what are the seven golden candlesticks? Seven Church Ages of the Gentile churches through the Seven Church Ages. The whole period. (13) And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. In other words, he is seeing the Son of man revealing Himself to Seven Church Ages in Christ Himself is doing it. And of course, we know He is doing it by the Spirit of God in seven distinct Ages. (See?) Never any changes whatsoever. 23. Now, notice Revelation 1:1-2, (1) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants, things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: (2) Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Now, just turn back a little bit to 1 John 1:1-3. Now, what I'm doing is showing you the continuity that there's never any changing, the wording is almost identical. Now, what's he saying here: (1) That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (2) (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, … Now, that's exactly what the Word of God said would take place way back there in Isaiah prophesied by Simeon and Zachariah absolutely took place, and here It is again, the very same Word. Now: (2) …the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, … Why God alone has Eternal Life. And what is he saying here? Not as though God did not come Himself and do it, but God manifesting to the end that they could partake of the same Eternal Life. Now listen, verse 3. (3) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that (you) also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (4) And these things write we unto you, that your joy (might) be full. Now, what we see here then as I mentioned is the perfection of the Word of Almighty God, not out one place. Every Word in perfect harmony one with another. So, what I want to bring to your attention is that here is an exact case of Alpha and Omega. An exact case of Alpha and Omega. Now, I think I maybe preached this sermon years ago, showing you that always there's Alpha and Omega. As a Pillar of Fire brought the Word of God through a prophet that is Alpha, there must be Omega, there would have to be another prophet at the end of the Gentile age with the same Pillar of Fire, or He is not Alpha and Omega. See, there cannot be any argument there, because He said, "I am Alpha and Omega." 24. Now, with Revelation 1:2-3 (2) Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. (3) Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. And take that to verse 17 (17) And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: (Or I am Alpha and Omega.) Now, remember that is at the first, He said I am Alpha and Omega. So, we have here the introduction that the One in Revelation chapter 1 is in perfect harmony in the same One that we saw in the Book of Luke and the Book of John. No difference. 25. Now, go to Revelation chapter 22, let's begin verse 8. (8) And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the (messenger) which shewed me these things. (9) Then (he said) unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow- servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. (10) And he (said) unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. (11) He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he (that's) filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, be righteous still: he that is holy, (he that is holy is) holy still. (12) And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (13) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. (14) Blessed are they (that wash their robes, not) do his commandments, (but wash their robes) that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (15) For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. (16) I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. (17) …the Spirit and the bride say, Come…let him that heareth say, Come. And him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (18) For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add (to) these things, God shall add him the plagues that are written in this book: Now, that could not take place until the end time, because a great tribulation seals off everything to the very destruction of the earth through a atomic bombs. Preparatory for a renewal that God perpetuates very quickly to bring a Bride back. Now, (19) And if any man shall take away from the words of the (prophecy of this) book, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (See?) 26. Now, from these Scriptures compare the Scriptures which I look at and the very first. And the Scriptures at the very end here, we see that there was an unveiling of God in the beginning. Then there must be an unveiling of God at the end. Now, that's what this is all working up to, because that's what I said. First of all, we want to see what revelation is, we saw it. The next thing we want to realize that there must a revelation at the end time. And it's got to be this Alpha and Omega, then it's got to be so the first revelation that came will be followed at the end time by an identical revelation. There will not be any different. Now, there was an unveiling of God to the Gentiles of the first, and there shall be another unveiling at the end. In between there will be a history of what the redeemer has been doing in the Gentile churches. He reveals Himself through the Ages, then also there is a prophecy concerning Israel. Now, you follow what I'm saying? Now, I hope you are, because I know that sometimes I go round, and round the bush, and I don't mean to, I get sort of involved myself. But I'm trying to get as simple as I can get it to you, based on what the Scripture said. That this One here was a manifestation of God, and that He Himself would reveal Himself of salvation to the Gentile. That this same One here Who was the Gentile's Savior, was the glory of Israel. 27. Now, then if He's Alpha and Omega, which the Scripture shows, there must be the same definitive revelation that took place then now in our Age. Now, so therefore through the Seven Church Ages the Book of Revelation, God has been revealing Himself through Jesus Christ to the Gentiles by the Holy Spirit. But at the beginning and the ending of Ephesus and Laodicea, there has to be a genuine definitive matching revelation. But that's not all there is to the Book of Revelation. Under the Book of Revelation there is Fifth and the Sixth Seal. (See?) Israel is being dealt with, but not unto salvation. That's why the missionaries can't go there. God will see that everyone gets saved. Why? Because they're still going to come by the Blood, but they won't be in a Bride. But He will come as the Glory of Israel. And when He comes He'll stand before them and they'll say, "Where did you get those wounds?" You follow now what I'm saying? All right, therefore the Bible is being fulfilled letter by letter in this our day. 28. Now, let's go back, and we want to be careful to notice Revelation 1:1-3, again, because I want to weave these Scriptures back and forth. (1) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, (the unveiling) which God gave unto him, (that's John) to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; … In other words, there is go to be a record. Why? Because when God does things, the record has to be there so you know God's doing it. How in the world do you know God's doing anything, except by the Word? That's why I keep on preaching and saying, "Look, you never judge the Word by the Spirit." That's the most carnal rotten thing in this world. That's what Eve did. You judge the Spirit by the Word. In other words, you always got to look and see what's going on. And say, "Is that in the Bible?" Now, I showed you how It was in the Bible when Simeon prophesied. Showed you were Zachariah prophesied. Took you right to the Word of God, there It lay. (See?) Now, if they'd have said something that wasn't in the Word of God, what a mess they would have been in. If William Branham would have said something outside the Word of God, what a mess we'd be in. (See?) Always you got to check. 29. Now, so the record is given here for the check of the future. (See?) In other words, this literal letter which was penned by Holy Spirit must now become the letter of the Spirit. (See?) Which is in this hour, it will be the letter of the Spirit. The Spirit bringing that thing right to life, and there you see that Word come into view. See God doing it. Now, It says: (1) …he signified it by his (messenger) unto his servant John: (2) Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, of all things that he saw. In other words, he was just lining that Word right up with the Spirit. (3) Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy (of this book), and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. Now, verse 11 (11) Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, and (so on,) Now, you'll notice that John was to write what he saw. Now, he wrote what he saw in order that we might see what he saw. 30. Now, you say, "How can we see what he saw?" It's simple as a-b-c. I'll prove it to you. (See?) Let's go to 1 Samuel 3:10 and I want to read to 15. Now: (10) And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel (speak), Speak; for thy servant heareth. (11) …the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth shall tingle. (12) In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. (In other words, He's going to finish it off.) (13) For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he (did not restrain) them. (14) And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever. (15) And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision. Now, he didn't see anything, but he heard. So therefore, what he heard the Word was a vision. Now, let's go a little further in verse 21. (21) And the LORD appeared …Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD. 31. So, when the Word revealed and is revealed, to us, that is an actual vision. We're entering into the domain and the property, the knowledge, the exhilarance, and all of the things that lay in a prophet. That's how you and I become part of that foundation, where the apostle, prophets are. Through the Word of God, we are not one wit behind anybody. A man says, "I want to see visions." You don't need to see visions, nice for you, but you see that Word, you're seeing a vision right there. Because It said right here, "The Lord appeared by His Word, and the Word is called 'a vision.' Now, John wrote this Word that we by spiritual revelation actually see Christ. And that's right, now you can just take in your heart and stand on it brother/sister, because you're not going to have visions here of Jesus standing there. But you can see Him right tonight in that Word., for the only begotten Who is in the bosom of the Father, Christ the Holy Spirit hath declared Him which is to bring Him into complete view and explained by Word. You see, into a perfection manifestation. 32. Now, if we understand this revelation we see Jesus. Now that's right. Now listen, I know that you’re not quite catching it, so I'm going to go over it again for you. 1 John 1: and I don't blame you, I don't catch these things either. I'm having a rough time tonight, because this is the first time I'm preaching this message. You got to be preaching five or six times and see what happens. I'll get on fire myself then. Because when I make my notes up, I hardly know what I wrote down. And you got to preach it a few times. Listen, [1 John 1:] (1) That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, (which) our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (2) (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, … (that's your Scripture) and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) Now, he's going to show us. How? (3) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, … (thoroughly explained by words and bring It to you.) He said, "What we have handled. What we heard." Now, let's keep reading. Now: (3) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that (you) may have fellowship with us: (that you can handle, that you can feel, that you can see, that you can be a part of) and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (4) And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. It that doesn't place you right with the prophet, where are you placed tonight? If that doesn’t place you with the handle of Jesus Christ, where does It place you? You say, "Bro. Vayle, I'm…" What are you waiting for? Bro. Branham said, "That's the trouble all the time looking back, all the time looking forward, nobody looking now." Listen, I'm not a betting man, but I'll bet you one million dollars to a hole in a donut, there wasn't hardly one person caught my sermon in every church I preached it, on the Presence of Jesus Christ. I don't believe you caught It. I don't believe you did. Now, I'm not after you, if I was I'd have to get mad my myself, because I haven't caught It either. I'm standing here blind, in the face of one of the most dynamic revelation that the world has ever known, that He's here. Not coming, He's come! Not going to be Present, He is! 33. Do you realize what that means? He is in us, He is with us, He is over us! The complete tremendous circle. The same thing I'm saying tonight that we better shake ourselves. No, no, no now force yourself, now you go buggy as a hoot owl, you’ll be out …you get yourself right out of this mess, if you try to force yourself. Just sit there, wait and watch it. But don't go looking down the road, and don't go looking back. Remember, Bro. Branham said, "I must decrease, and He must increase." I want to ask you, has He been increasing? Don't answer, it's a good question. Now come on, I'm going to show you the increase tonight where we're going to get, we want to get something out of this message brother/sister. (See?) Either the Word of God is either true or It's a lie. Now, it's not hard to see It's lining up Word by Word, Scripture by Scripture. We're not missing It a millionth part of an inch. It lies right there before us. (See?) 34. Now, if we understand this revelation we see Jesus. Because John said, "I want your joy full." [John 15:11b] I want you just as much a part of this as I am a part of it. Well, then listen it's got to work that way, or somebody's buggy. "You got some old big mouth John, oh this sentimental old fraud John, he said, "I was with the Word of Life, and I wish you could…ho, ho, ho, of course you're not going to get it like me." What's this? Some Amos and Andy, Charlie McCarthy, Edgar Bergen show? Well, I want to know! Well, I do for my sake and for your sake. Is it some little idiotic thing here? Some fell on the Holy Ghost right, well, I want you to have it, it's your joy to be full. And I want you to have the same reality. You say, "Oh boy, but it never will be." Well, it better be, or it's not the Word of God. It had better be. I want to tell you flat, William Branham understood what I'm talking about. I wish I understood what I'm talking about. I've got the mechanics, he had the dynamics. That's why God was so real to that man. Just lived and breathed. That's the kind of church I want be in, and the kind of member I want to be. (See?) Literal, not some nonsense here, some rabbit's foot, some mystical mysterious thing, but reality what John preached. 35. Now, It is revealed before our eyes. Or He is revealed before our eyes. You say, "I don't see Him." Then you're a liar if you say you haven't seen Him. Where have you been all these years? Now, we got to get serious. "Bro. Vayle, I'm not going to say, I haven't seen Him, haven't see Him." Well, fine you should go…you can go, (you know) where you're going to go. That's your business. I'm not going to fight with you. I'm going to tell you, we have seen Him. (See?) We'll show more and more how we've seen Him. He was revealed before our eyes. 35. It is exactly as It says in John 1:18. (18) No man hath seen God at any time, (but) the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. Which has thoroughly brought Him into view by Words. And when God spake to Samuel, Samuel saw God. That's why Bro. Branham could say, "Jesus is the Word, and the Word is Jesus." Or God is the Word, and the Word is God. And so, if you've seen the Word, you've seen God, you've seen God, you've seen the Word. That takes you right back, "For the Spirit and the Word are one," then how dare any man ever try the Word by the Spirit, when you try the Spirit by the Word. (See?) 36. Now, let's see how correct this is. We're going to go to Colosians 3:4. Now, we don't dare say something brother that's not correct, because if you get your foot in your faith on something that's wrong, you're going to miss it, and I'm going to [be] responsible for it. And I don’t want that kind of responsibility. (4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall (you) also appear with him in glory. Now, It says, that there is a time coming, when Christ is going to Appear. Remember, Alpha is Omega. He's got to Appear identically as He did in the beginning. And when He does Appear, It says, "That is the time that we are going to Appear with Him in glory, and we cannot Appear in glory with Him, until He Appears." So, we've been promised it. 37. Now listen, the word 'appear' is based upon the root word found in Mark 16:9, and Matthew 24:30. Well, let's just hit Matthew 24:30 to begin with, then we'll go to Mark. Now: (30) …then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Something the eye can positively see and get a hold of, as it were. Now, we go to Mark 16:9, because that's the next quote. There's many more words, I'm just taking a couple of them, it doesn't really matter. Now, and It says, [Mark 16:] (9) Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. Now, that's not the word we're looking at here in the Book of Colossians, but it's based upon that word. It takes its root meaning from. But listen, when you go to the Word, when Christ Who is our Light shall Appear, it should not be translated that way at all. It should be translated 'manifested', because it literally means more than for something to appear, or come into view. For a person may appear in a false disguise, or without a disclosure of who he truly is. Yes sir. 38. I come up here and fool the whole bunch of you. I told you that many times. I use an illustration, and I could say, "Now, you look it here, you people think I love Bro. Branham, was very sincere, but I just saw good thing, more money, so I just jumped on the band wagon." You say, "Now, for the first time we really see Bro. Vayle." That's right, it's the first time you really would. Of course, that's a lie if I said that, because that's not true. If I wanted to give you a point. (See?) Now, this word 'appear' does not mean like this here. And I see something can appear. Like, I can put this book up here, now if you didn't know, but I had cut in this Bible all the pages out, and I've got a pack of cigarettes in it. Disguised. Now, we're talking about a word here that does not have that connotation simply appearing. But what it does it actually manifests in such a way as to reveal one's true character of who and what he really is. So therefore, at the end time there is going to be the same definitive revelation of Christ that he was at the beginning, which was Who He was manifested brought before the people, not done in a corner. No sir. So, anybody is going to be blind, is blind because they want to be blind. (See?) 39. Now, let's look at some of the Scripture. We're going to go to John 3:21, (the gospel) and It says: (21) …he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. In other words, you come to the Light to find the true character of worth of what you've been doing. For there's no more fooling. So, there's no more guess work. So, there is an absolute identity as the whether this is of God. 40. Okay, let's go further, we got to 1 Corinthians 4:4, just want to run the Word down, so nobody makes a mistake here. I we're going to know where we stand, let's know where we stand. (5) Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the heart: and then shall every man have praise of God. That day, I'll tell you flat, you and I, and everybody, will know exactly how we did a thing and to what end did a thing not matter how bad it looked, or how good it looked, it's going to be laid out exactly to the true nature and character. So, we'll find out if anybody gave a buck in the service that got to be a good fellow, or whether they gave it out of true compassion with love of Jesus Christ in their heart. Whether they're testimony was a phony thing to make him look good, while they slapped their wife around and stole out of the boss's till. You know, like that some of those bunch (what you call them) bench pounding Pentecostal's, what have you, (maybe some of us too) or whether the person really had something real. In other words, the true character of exactly what and who, is supposed to be manifested. 41. Okay, let's go further we go to 2 Corinthians 5:10-11. By this time, you should have the point, but I just like to belabor the point, we all get it. Now: (10) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of (Jesus) Christ; (and) every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (11) Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. Paul said, "Look, (he said) I could be a fraud. I could be a phony, but (he said) I'm not. And there's a day coming (he said) when you'll know that I was not a fraud, or a phony." Yes sir, there's a day coming. 42. All right, let's go further, we go to Ephesians 5:13. (13) But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: (and) whatsoever doth make manifest is light. There again, there's got to be some way that it can be know what's real and what's not real. That's what the Word is all about. 43. Let's go to 1 Peter 5:4, we get into the real goodies. Because 1 Peter 5: 4 says this: (4) …when the chief Shepherd shall appear, … When Christ shall make Himself absolutely known as to Who He is and His true character. That's exactly why Bro. Branham under the Thunders brought forth Melchisedec and said it was one of the great mysteries the end time, which could not be revealed, because the people where in a milk stage, and it had to be in time of maturity, which is the Laodicean Age. Revealed, laid out exactly the truth concerning Melchisedec. I went over everybody's heads. In fact, we all wondered why in the world he preached it. Well, we know now, I hope. When he shall Appear. 44. Now, let's go to 1 John 2:28, same thing. Now: (28) And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence…before him at his coming. When He shall come before us, and absolutely declare, reveal Himself in an un-mistakenable way the reality of exactly Who and what He is, we'll say, "Hallelujah!" Don't be any worry anymore about His Coming, I'm ready to go bless God. See what we're looking at? Yes sir. 45. Now, let's go to 1 John 3:[1]. (1) Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: (henceforth) the world knoweth us not, because it knew not him. (Now,) (2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it (hath) not yet (come into existence) what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, … It says right there, when He reveals Himself at that hour, when He reveals Himself. When He shows Himself exactly Who and what He is. Exactly was come back there in the days under a prophet. Under two men with prophecy, not even prophets. Simeon could not be called a true prophet I don't think…nor, could Zacharias. But they're under the anointing of the Holy Ghost, they absolutely led Him forth before the people, God ordaining it and declared and showed Who He was. And It says, "From that time comes again, we're going to be just like Him. Why? Because you see Him as He is. To them people, who don't understand this Message, that's because they don't want It. I don't want to be impatient, no, no. 46. Look it, Revelation 3:18, He said here: (18) I counsel thee to buy me gold tried in the fire, that (you maybe) rich; white raiment, that (you maybe) clothed, the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. Now, that's exactly right at the end time when the Holy Ghost comes with the special anointing, they're going to be able to see Him. (See?) 47. Now, Hebrews 9:26 (26) For then must he often (suffer from) the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Did He Appear? Certainly. Then in the same definitive way that same One is going to Appear before us. Now, let's read a little bit more here. (27) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (28) So, Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time… But who's looking for Him to Appear? "Oh, (they say,) Bro. Vayle, that's Rapture." No sir! It's not, it's in the revelation which precedes the Rapture, that nobody believes but us. And we wouldn't believe it except it was manifested. We say, "Hey, that's it." You understand why I keep on saying don't grab things, just wait for the manifestation, that's your interpretation. You show me somebody would have known that was John the Baptist of Isaiah 40:3-5. John the Baptist, Malachi 3:1-3, who would have known it? No sir, couldn't have been known. 48. Now listen, right there just as the eye sees, which the eye can see, so will be brought to our attention just as dynamically, so it cannot be refuted that this is that same One Appearing as He once Appeared. (See?) The same definitive way. Now, we want to be real careful to see what we're studying. It is that the Word promises us, there is a time to come when there will be a disclosure, a definitive revelation of Who and what Christ really is. Now remember, we've already had one…[end of tape] Pre Rapture Revealtion of Jesus Christ (0278A) Page PAGE \* MERGEFORMAT 1