What Thanksgiving Ought to be To Us
Bro. Lee Vayle - November 24, 1983
Shall we pray. Heavenly Father, we're always grateful for the
opportunity coming together with Your people somehow as we look to You
and recognize Your Presence, something begins to happen. Fear begins to
go away, conflicts begin to disappear and become with grips, Lord, with
ourselves with peace in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. No longer,
Lord, are we in our own channels, but we're in Your channels, Lord, and
we're grateful that now by Your Word, Lord, we are coming into that
great day, which we're looking forward to, for You made it abundantly
plain to us that this is that hour when he that liveth and believeth in
You will not die, but walk on into immortality.
We believe, Lord, all these covenant promises have been met now by You,
and we become the recipients of grace, heirs through Christ. We cannot
praise You enough tonight, Lord, we simply relax in Your goodness, and
bask in the sunshine of Your Presence. That we might ripen, Lord, not
according to what men think, but according to what You said. Now, unto
Thee we shall ascribe the honor and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. You may be seated.
1. Certainly I'm privileged to be here with you, and I'm always thankful
that we can meet with the children of the Lord. The message tonight is
going to be quite simple, it has to do with thanksgiving and this is of
course a 'Thanksgiving Day'.
Now, personally for many years I have not been one to take a special
commemorative day and adapt a message to it, but, I notice that Bro.
Branham did, and I appreciate why he did it. Because the people are
already in a spirit of the hour of that day. And I don't say it's always
the right spirit, but at least there's a moving toward it. And he said
it is important to be in the spirit.
So, on Thanksgiving Bro. Branham gave us a Thanksgiving Message in
1965, and he always gave us Christmas Messages, and Easter Messages. And
I believe it's right tonight to try to bring a message dealing with the
subject of Thanksgiving, and in it, hopefully will not only be
celebrating a national commemorative holiday, but we'll be bringing out
what Thanksgiving ought to be to us according to the Bible. And
especially in this last hour.
2. Now, to do that I want to take two or three portions of Scripture
which I'll use, and each portion is found in the Book of Revelation. And
each portion has It's setting in heaven. By that I mean that John was
caught up, and in a vision he saw in heaven what was before him, though
this was later take place on earth. So, be careful that you understand.
I know what I'm talking about from the Patmos vision and the four and
twenty elders.
I'm not going to try and take it from Bro. Branham's view point all the
way, that is what he said about some of this, but, I'm talking in terms
of 'thanksgiving'. So, you understand that. And each portion gives a
part. Each portion of these three settings in the Book of Revelation,
give a part to mankind redeemed. And we'll just read them in order which
are: Revelation 4:1-11, Revelation 7:12-17, and Revelation 11:15-19.
3. So, going then first of all to Revelation 4:1-11, we read:
(1) After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven:
and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet
talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee
things which must be hereafter.
(2) And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was
set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
(3) And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine
stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight
like unto an emerald.
(4) And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon
the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white
raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
(5) And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and
voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the
throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
(6) And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal:
and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were
four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
(7) And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a
calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast
was like a flying eagle.
(8) And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and
they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night,
saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and
is to come.
(9) And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him
that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
(10) The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the
throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast
their crowns before the throne, saying,
(11) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power:
for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and
were created.
4. Now, as we read this Scripture I think it is amply clear that we are
introduced to what is a worship of God. And you'll notice in the first
three verses:
(1) After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven:
and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet
talking with me; (and) said, Come up hither, and I will (show) thee
things which must be hereafter.
(2) And immediately I was in the spirit: behold, a throne was set in
heaven, and one sat on the throne.
(3) And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine
stone: there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like
unto an emerald.
And in verse 8, It says, in each concerning those beasts, the living
creatures, each had six wings about him; and they were full of eyes
within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD
God Almighty, which was, and which is, and which is to come.
So, the One that sat on the throne was God. Because they say It is God,
and they are worshipping God on His Throne. And then, It says when those
four beasts give glory and honor and thanks to Him that sat on the
Throne that liveth forever and ever. So, we see very amply here that
this is the worship of God which is designated at a future time.
5. Now, this also has been set before us in Isaiah 6. I'll just read It
for you, don't need to look at It.
(1) In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting
upon a throne, (and that's the Lord of host) high and lifted up,
and his train filled the temple.
(2) Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain
he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with
twain he did fly.
(3) And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the
LORD of hosts: (and) the whole earth is full of his glory.
(4) And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried,
and the house was filled with smoke.
So, we notice immediately here, that this scene embraces the worship of
Almighty God. God is being worshipped as He is on His Throne. Now
secondly, we want to look at exactly who is involved in this worship of
God, which worship is evidently acceptable to Him Who sits on the
Throne, because He is receiving it.
6. So, we go back again to Revelation 4:6-8, we notice:
(6) And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal:
and in the midst of the throne, round about the throne, were four
beasts full of eyes before and behind.
(7) And the first beast was like a lion, the second beast like a
calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth
beast (it should be living creature) was like a flying eagle.
(8) And the (living creatures) had each of them six wings about him;
and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night,
saying, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and (which) is,
and (which) is to come.
Now, of course these are those 'four living creatures' that Bro.
Branham identifies and all scholars have identified is found over in
Ezekiel 1:1-14, which verses we won't particular read.
7. But we might go to Ezekiel 1:23-28.
(23) And under the firmament were their wings straight, (and) the one
toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side,
and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.
(24) And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the
noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of
speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down
their wings.
(25) And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their
heads, when they stood, and had let their wings down.
(26) And above the firmament that was over their heads was the
likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and
upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance
of a man above upon it. (Now, we recognize that was the Son of
man. You know Ezekiel looked down the ages.)
(27) And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire
round about within it, from the appearance of his loins upward, and
from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were
the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.
(28) As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of
rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was
the appearance of the likeness of the glory of (God.) And when I
saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard (the) voice of one that
spake.
Now, we see here then the form of the cherubim chariot of God, and
this represents (that is the four living creatures) represent the living
Church that is living in the power of the Resurrection of Christ. (And
that's on page 613 in the Revelation Book.)
So, this cherubim of God then, represents, or stands there,
representative of the Bride and they are living in the power of the
Resurrection of Christ. So, we're looking down in past the Resurrection,
what we're really doing.
8. Now then, Revelation 4:4, It says:
(4) …round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon
the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white
raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
Now, these are redeemed men. They're the twelve patriarchs and the
twelve apostles. And again we're looking back farther down the road into
the Resurrection, and they are seated on thrones and they are wearing
crowns. (That's page 634)
The third thing we notice is, that when this worship takes place,
Revelation 4:5.
(5) And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and
voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the
throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Now, we can read if you want to go back to it, on page 622 and 23 of
the same series, that this is not a throne of grace. Because that has
gone, it is a Judgment Seat, and only the redeemed can stand there. And
we use the terminology 'stand' in the light of the Scripture that says,
"If thou Lord, should judge iniquity, who can stand?" So therefore
evidently there's a people who in the face of this throne, which is a
judgment seat, are able to stand, and God is enthroned as Judge.
Now, we go to Psalm 130:3. Says here:
(3) If thou, LORD, (should) mark iniquities, (who) O Lord, who shall
stand?
(4) But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest fear.
(And so on.)
Now, this redeemed Church, or here is the redeemed Church in the
presence of Revelation 4:4, which Bro. Branham signified as a Mount
Sinai.
9. Now, when you look at Mount Sinai, you got to go to 2 Corinthians 3,
and see what is written concerning that. In chapter 3 then of 2
Corinthians, he is speaking here in verses 7 and 8.
(7) But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones,
was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly
behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which
glory was to be done away:
(8) How shall not the ministration of the spirit be (incomparably)
glorious?
Now, what we're seeing in here is what came from Mount Sinai, and you
will see from Revelation 4, here, where in this is not a Mercy Seat, but
a Seat of Judgment. It is not a Seat of grace where God is standing and
there is a group that is able to stand in the Presence of this One who
is thundering forth, which would of necessity be Him Who thunders forth,
(as Bro. Branham said, "we know that God Who is going to judge this
world by One Christ Jesus Who is the Word,") and when man stands there
without something to counter balance what he is within himself, it is
absolute judgment and destruction for the individual. He simply will not
be able to stand there. See, he can't do it.
10. So, here is a Mount Sinai scene whether we want to recognize it or
not, (the prophet said it was,) in which we find a church in the face of
the thundering's and condemnation coming from Him Who demands a
perfection, a Bride is able to stand there, because of the covenant
token which is signified by the rainbow which is over him.
So therefore, the Bride is a convent people of a convent God. And she
is found in the same chapter of 2 Corinthians 3:17-18.
(17) Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord
is, there is liberty.
(18) But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of
the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory,
even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
And you can see that there's room then for two people here. And one is
standing with perfect justification and can stand, and the other can't.
Because, one has caught a glimpse of condemnation where God is
thundering forth what man is. And you cannot take from His glory,
because It's the all glorious God. Visualize yourself if you can, in
your mind's eye spiritually standing there with that throng of people
and there is judgment; and you see the majesty, and the power and the
wonder and the glory of God. And you cannot help but be awe struck by
the fact of it. You see, there is that God of glory, and He is
absolutely glorious. And the law that condemns does not detract from His
glory, but makes Him all the more glorious. Because, He cannot be
approached unto. And yet, you will see a people standing there who can
stand there.
11. Now, what has happened? From Mount Sinai is simply the image, and
the revelation of man would get you nowhere. But, these redeemed have
caught the revelation in the Holy Spirit being baptized, and they're
standing there in the image of Christ comes upon them and they reflect
back to Him and there they stand in His image. Now, God cannot condemn
God! So, you see what we're seeing here is something fantastically
wonderful.
Now, this scene follows Matthew 3:12, and Revelation 22:19. Okay, we go
to Matthew 3:12, we read. And we know:
(12) Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor,
and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff
with unquenchable fire.
Now remember, what you're talking about here then, is wheat in the
image of wheat. First fruit in the image of 'the first fruit'. Children
of God in the image of 'the only begotten Son of God', and here is a
chaff. So, we see what we have. We have a Mount Sinai. We have a
judgment.
All right, and this then is because of Him Who's fan is in His hand.
And It says, "when His fan is in His hand, He will purge His floor and
He will gather His wheat into the garner, but He will burn up the
chaff." Now, that's a harvest scene.
12. Now remember then, He's got to appear on the scene as the Harvester.
And when He comes at the end-time He will separate between the chaff and
the wheat. Now, who is to say who is chaff and who is wheat? It is going
to be God Who says it. So therefore, this One Who is at the end of this
time, who's fan is in His hand gathering the wheat in the garner,
looking down the line at what we see here which takes place not too
distant from this very hour, we see then, He must be a Judge. That's
what Bro. Branham said.
He said, "This same Pillar of Fire that came back, this same Pillar of
Fire that took upon Him a human form, when that human form was set
aside, the same Spirit came back as a Pillar of Fire and begin to
settle Himself over the people and give a portion of Himself to the
people."
And he said, "That same Pillar of Fire met Paul, (Paul he said) who was
Saul." Then he interjected quickly, "the same Pillar of Fire at the
end-time is to come right down here as it was before Sodom and
Gomorrah when the Judge of all the earth declared who was righteous."
13. Now, you do what you want with it. I believe the prophet! And I say
what the prophet said! And if you doubt it, get your C.O.D. and start at
page 1019 you can read. That's right.
Revelation 22:10. And Bro. Branham categorically said in the Rapture
tape, Revelation 1:12, the One Who stood there. He phoned Jack Moore, a
theologian. And Jack said that was the glorified Son of man. And Bro.
Branham, the Holy Ghost denied it was the glorified Son of man. Then the
reincarnation they're not taken place, but He was Judge. And discernment
proved it. Who's fan is in His hand. The gathering wheat in the garner
was the prophetic Message with the prophet. That's right.
Revelation 22:10-19, let's categorically see It.
(10) And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of
this book: for the time is at hand.
Between Revelation 10:4 when the Book was sealed, and Revelation 22:10,
the Books must have become unsealed. And he said, "Don't you seal It."
Now where's your Seals? Is the Seventh Seal opened, or is It not? Make
up your mind. I've made up my mind, you do what you want.
Jesus Christ took that Book one day in the temple, and He opened It,
and He alone could open It. And He closed It, and He closed to [the]
place, "the day of vengeance." But He also closed to the place where It
says, "to comfort those that mourn."
14. Let me tell you, the One that closed It is the only One that can
open It. And when It opened, It opened to Him Who is here in the form of
the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles. Because, to Israel He came in the
flesh, but to the Gentiles He came as a Spirit. Do what you want. At the
time when these Seals are broken, the Book is open and no one can close
It.
(11) He that is unjust…is unjust still…
You try to change that. You say, "Bro. Vayle, where does it put you if
I'm unjust, I'm unjust, I said it?"
If I've added to the Book by preaching the Presence, I will be here to
receive the plagues. If you have denied the Presence that He is here,
you will be here. You say, "How do you know, we could both be wrong?" We
could be absolutely. Then if we're not somebody is going to be here, and
somebody is not going to be here.
(11) …he (that's) filthy, let him be filthy still: …righteous,
righteous still: he that is holy, …holy still.
(12) …behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me…
15. Who opened the Seals? William Branham? By no means. By no means.
Anybody knows that. Said, "the Holy Spirit swept into the room." He
said, "I thought you might know what was going on, them Seven Angels."
God, Holy Spirit ministering in seven theophonic forms. Come in flames
of Fire, Seven Mighty Angels surrounding came down.
Bro. Branham categorically said the camera took the picture of that One
in the Cloud, was the same picture of the Pillar of Fire over his head.
One God. When the Book is open, It can't be closed. And at that time He
said:
(12) …I come quickly, (and He will, took the reward with him) to
give every man according as his work shall be.
(13) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and…the first and the
last.
(14) Blessed (is he that wash their robes), they may have right to
the tree of life, enter the gates into the city.
(15) For without are dogs, (male prostitutes; preachers that build
organizations for the whore. You do what you want, I believe this.)
whoremongers, sorcerers,…
Sorcerer, is a man who is a druggist, he gives the wrong prescription.
Whoremongers, can't leave organization. Can't leave their thoughts and
the things that they have taken in for the things of God.
So, the scene we talked about follows what we see here. The Book is
open, the wheat's gathered in. The Judgment is set, and the throne's
cast down Bro. Branham said were cast into the earth. Where Daniel saw
them empty, this one saw them filled.
16. So, my point here is not so much the thoughts of the eschatology
[doctrine concerning final matters, as death and judgment] involved, but
the fact that there is a great scene coming that John saw that is the
worship of God. A Bride is standing there, that's right. The four and
twenty elders, the four living creatures, (now stay with me, because I
want to bring a point here in a moment. Watch this scene,) the four
living creatures are leading in the worship service, and they are
crying, "holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and which is,
and which is to come." [Rev 4:8] Hebrews 13:8.
This is Elohim, and Bro. Branham categorically said that Elohim came
down through Abraham, and the word 'Elohim' means, 'the One Who
becomes'. And you'll notice that Bro. Branham so called
'pigeon-English', he always used the terminology 'becomes'. He used the
Hebrew without being a Hebrew scholar.
Now, to visualize this great scene, this great scene will visualize it
with the vindicated God of the Throne. I used the term 'vindicated God'.
[Revelation 4:] 11 said:
(11) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power:
This God has thoroughly identified Himself. This God the people had
identified to them through all those ages are now being worshipped in
this great scene. And the words come:
(11) O Lord, Thou art worthy to receive glory and honor and power:
for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they (were)
and (are) created.
17. Now, just in front of Him, that's this great God are four living
creatures, and they are crying, "holy, holy, holy," and they are
speaking to the great unchanging and ever-revealing God. As Bro. Branham
said, "he merely changes His mask." And remember, Revelation precedes
preeminence, which means 'there can be no true worship outside of
revelation'. And preeminence precedes the going back to the Garden of
Eden.
Now, watch carefully in [Revelation 4:] verse 9.
(9) And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks (thanks)
to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
(10) The four and twenty elders (then they fall prone…)
At the time the four creatures that represent the true church, which is
living in the Resurrection power of Almighty God. And they are they in
that great worship scene, it says, they are giving thanks. And the
message tonight is 'Thanksgiving'. They stand there giving thanks. And
when they give thanks and praise in this great service, there is an
instant response by the four and twenty elders who are so thankful, and
remember, they are redeemed. And if they are there redeemed, then we are
there redeemed. Because, the Bride in the throne judging. The Queen sits
with the King. And we have a representation there.
And Bro. Branham said, "Let one person be a representation, one person
in the body do it, all have done it." All are represented. Search what
he said. That will make you to know why the church is not to be
Charismatic from this point on. William Branham has a …?... Let's get
the Scripture in order, we had a prophet to get us in order for us.
18. Now, in that great swelling anthem, which is a great swelling anthem
of the recognition of God, the worship of God, the thanks to God, they
say this:
(11) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive honour and glory and
power:…
Which means, You get all of our thanks, all of our honor, all of our
glory, and they cast their crowns down, [verse 10] (see?) on the grounds
of exactly Who He is which has been revealed to them.
Now, what is the reason, or the tenor, or the theme, the very
motivation, or rivers of inspiration for the worship that service of
Thanksgiving? What is it that inspires them to that great anthem? It is
the recognized and enjoyed sovereignty of God. Because It says, "For
Thou hast created all things and for Thy pleasure they are and were
created." [Rev 4:11] God You are God, and You do exactly what You want
to do, and the way You want do it, and we recognize it, You are God.
That's what It says.
Now, you say, "Bro. Vayle, you're weaving something in there." Do what
you like. That's my business, I'll take my chance on it.
19. Now, I want to ask you a question: What is God? A Sovereign Being
Who bows to no one, Who has no mind but His Own. Own decision by His
Own, and He carries out His Own decision in His Owe time, in His Own
will, and man stands back! That's God!
Now, if you've got some milk-chopped God, and if you can twist His arm,
let me tell you this: you belong to milk-fed Israel. The backsliders of
the wilderness, who knew certain laws of God and used those laws and
their hearts were so corrupt, that God let them use their laws, and He
said, "I gave them their desires, but they found leanness in their
soul." [Ps 105:15]
The Bride is not a lean-soul person. She's rich and real in the things
of God. And let me tell you brother/sister, let's get this flat, I
don't …?...if I preach anymore than I preach right now, I could quit.
And I'll tell you this: that Bro. Branham preached Israel at the Red
Sea, and he said, "I left this people a church, and I came back to find
a cult." They had repudiated the sovereignty of Almighty God, and the
prophet said they're a cult. Have you heard the tape? You better hear
it. Not that you haven't, I know you have.
20. Now, after the dust of the ages had settled and man has redeemed all
back to God, believe it or not, the first recorded thundering worship
service of 'thanksgiving' has for its theme the sovereignty of Almighty
God.
Ephesians 1: Now, I wish I was a real sweet person like Bro. Ungren, to
preach a real sweet sermon. Now, I don't know the word, the meaning of
that type of sweetness when you're engaged in a battle of death. I've
never seen a soldier on a battle field yet take off his armor and give
it to an enemy, take off his helmet and give it to the enemy; take off
his sword and say, "here it is. Go to town. I'm locked in mortal
combat with the devil." Do what you want.
(3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…
Why don't we read It fact on the God and Father of the Lord Jesus
Christ? Who dares to say we're blessed with all heavenly blessings; on
the fact before the foundation of the world we were chosen? Hogwash!
"I stood there, and I chose Him, because I thought a truth,
hallelujah."
Why don't you read It that way… So much for your hogwash love.
(3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath
blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in…
(4) According as he hath chosen us in him before (there was one speck
of stardust)…
Before the Logos even begin to form around Him, that He could present
Himself to that which He would create to be presented It to. Blessed be
God! Oh, brother/sister, let the earth tremble, let everything fall
into chaos and disorder, He predestinated me:
(4) …that we should be holy and without blame before him…
(5) in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by
Jesus Christ himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
(6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us
accepted in the beloved.
(7) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of his grace;
(8) Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
(9) Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to
his good pleasure (for Thou has made all things for Thy pleasure.)
21. God, You mean to tell me that You wrought this all out for Your
pleasure, that You had Your hand in this that You set the bounds of the
sea? That You had a what is called a limited election, a limited
predestination, a limited atonement? You do what you want with it,
brother/sister. Stay with the faith of the man. Go back to your
legalism, that's your business, not mine, I prefer to stay with the
prophet here, that's all the hope I've got. Because, if He isn't going
to do it, I'm going to tell you flat, it ain't going to be done by Lee
Vayle, because I am undone, and I am done for. I don't know what people
want other than this.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who created all things and I'm one
of them, and for Your purpose and for Your pleasure, You did it. O God,
You did it.
And the legalist stands up and said, "hallelujah, isn't God glorified
by me? You see, it isn't so much me you see, my dear friend," said the
legalist, "but it's what He gave me to do with, and I did it."
"Then if thou hast received it, why do you act as though you didn't
receive it, I thought a gift was a gift."
22. You know, we've put God like we are, "now son, if you wash your face
every morning and brush your teeth every night, and you take that shower
and you keep your socks clean and the stuff in the drawer, I will give
you on your birthday a lovely night." He didn't give that kid nothing.
[laughter]
Now come on, I've got you over a barrel. I know you don't think you're
over a barrel, because I can just about read your thoughts, and I'm not
a prophet. Because, you say, see, I did give it. I thought grace was
unconditional. I thought I read the conditions right here. I was upon
condition you were foreknown in Him? That in the fullness of time, He
brings all things in heaven and earth together, and we see a Bride
standing there. And out of there comes a rumbling. Out of there comes a
rumbling.
That's like that man Bro. Branham talks about, he said, "Do you mean
he's gone to heaven?" He was dead and he was on his way up, and he got
there and they said, "Who are you?"
And he said, "I'm so and so. I'm a servant of God, I'm a minister."
Well he said, "Well, we don't have any record of you coming."
"Well," he said, "just a minute, now just a minute, there has got to be
a record."
They looked and he said, "I'm sorry."
"Well, what am I going to do?"
"Well," he said, "you could appeal to God."
"Well," he said, "If I got to do, I got to do that."
So, they took him there and pretty soon they came to this Great Light
which no man could approach unto, and out of the Light thundered the
Voice, "Have you ever told a lie?"
"Well," he said, "I thought I was one of the most honest men living
until I heard that Voice and I knew I was a liar." And went down the
catalogue, he said, "I'm finished, I'm gone."
And he heard a Voice say, "Father, he stood for Me on earth, I'll stand
for him here."
Where are you going to go without Him?
Right now I feel like I could launch into fifteen different subjects
all on the same thing, but I'm going to hold myself back for your sake.
No mine, I can happily die up here, preaching. [laughter] I don't want
to see them carry you out.
23. Now listen: [Ephesians 1:]
(10) …the dispensation of the fulness of times he gather(ed)
together in one all things in Christ, both which in heaven, and on
earth… (see, there's a bunch up there already.)
(11) In whom we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated
according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the
counsel of his own will:
His own will. Just a minute, that's the same one back there they're
talking about? I got an idea they're several gods. Can't be even just
two of them, they're got to be three or four of them. Thunder, lighting?
Seven Church Ages? Seven manifestations of human flesh of the Spirit of
God in Seven Church messengers, of which the last was a great prophet
which God Himself inhabited? Yeah.
Apostle Paul said, "You have not so been taught of Christ, if so be you
heard Him." And all they heard was Paul.
William Branham comes on the scene said, "When you see God descend from
the heavens, stand before groups of men and declare Himself as ever He
did." He's telling you that God was in him as a prophet, because that's
how God declared Himself.
And they said, "Far be it, far be it."
Well, hallelujah, let it be near to Lee Vayle, I want to hear! I want
to hear him say, "Little Bride, you didn't do it at all. You're the
virtuous Bride of the Son of God, you were tricked into it." Hallelujah,
I was tricked into it. …?... And Jesus tricked me out of it. No wonder
I like Halloween 'trick or treat'. Get relaxed, I ain't going to hurt
anybody. I don't want to get facetious either, get you relaxed.
24. Now listen: There's not five or six gods, you see one. These were
foreknown, predestinated. Now watch them.
(12) That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first (hoped)
in Christ.
(13) In whom (you) also (hoped), after (you) heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation: in whom after that (you) believed,
(you) were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
(14) Which is the earnest of (your) inheritance until the redemption
of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Now, It
tells you right there you're going to make it.)
Now, this bunch here that stands literally in front of a Sinai
condition, no problem. No problem. They were predestinated. The Blood
stands there perfecting the Bride. The Holy Spirit sealed them in.
"Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once
was lost, but now I'm found, was blind but now I see."
A lost child of God brought back through the redemptive grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ.
25. Now listen, Paul said: "Wherefore, you people full of the Holy Ghost
(15) Wherefore (you people full of the Holy Ghost) after I heard of
your faith in the Lord, (your) love unto all the saints,
(16) Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my
prayers;
"That now that you are full of the Holy Ghost, you really do need the
Holy Ghost." I don't see that there, but it says about the same thing.
(17) …the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may
give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge
of him:
(18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that (the eyes
of the heart being enlightened, and enlightenment, who's the
light,) that (you) may know what is the hope of his calling, (not
yours, but His) and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance
in the saints,
What's His inheritance? He only inherited one thing. Everything else He
worked for, He inherited the Name. And where's the Name? In the Bride,
Mrs. Jesus. That you may begin to know what that Name really means. That
you may really know what was His in the Father, you got It. See?
26. Now, he says here:
(19) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who
believe, according to the working of his mighty power, (that raises
the dead.)
You haven't had that. That's not the baptism in the Holy Ghost. That's
not the baptism. You already got it up here. He's praying, whatever
spirit he's praying about will come into the church in revelatory power,
raise the dead, and take them in a Rapture. Let you do what you want
with it. Because, Bro. Branham said, "justification gave way to
sanctification, sanctification gave way to the baptism with the Holy
Ghost, and the baptism with the Holy Ghost gave way to the Holy Ghost!"
"What's he talking about?"
You can't figure that out? It's right here. Daniel said, …?... "the
spirit of wisdom comes into the church." To make known to the church by
the revelation of the Holy Spirit, bringing the church in revealing what
day we're living in. Just the same as Gabriel came to Daniel, the Holy
Spirit comes to the church in the last day to reveal these deep secret
things. And here He is, and here He is. Sovereign God.
27. Sovereign God starts in His mind predestinated through the channels
(which we'll talk about) brings it through the end where He Himself
comes down. Because, Who came down, but Elohim?
Now listen: let's go back to C.O.D. (Church, order, doctrine, page
1019, about 22) categorically states: that, "that same One that was in
flesh went back to Pillar of Fire, divided Himself amongst men, the same
One that Paul saw on the road to Damascus. The same One absolutely at
the end-time is down here, Elohim."
Now, he said it, I didn't. And he said concerning the Son of man, he
said, "I am not the Son of man, the Pillar of Fire is not the Son of
man, It's in the form of the Spirit."
You tell me, when William Branham stood here was the Pillar of Fire
here?
Where's It gone to?
"Oh," you say, "it's gone back home."
You prove it. You show me where It comes down, goes up, comes down,
goes up, comes down. You show me, you can't do it.
The same prophet said, "that One that came down to lead a Church out,
sets Himself at the Head of the Church in order to raise the dead."
They better not …?...
Then where is He? He's here! I know you're stunned, because you can't
get rid of the baptism of the Holy Ghost that's in your mind. You can't
do it, that's your trouble, you don't realize the same Pillar of Fire
that was giving a portion of Himself to the members that were coming in
was the same Individual who had not given Himself to Paul at all, met
him on the road and said, "I'm Jesus." The same One on the Straight
Street gave a portion of Himself, then took him to the desert for three
years.
And Bro. Branham said, "Just think," he said, "the same Pillar of Fire
that brought the Word to Paul, is here revealing It." And you tell me
He's not here.
"Well," you say, "Bro. Vayle, I know He's always here." Not like this.
Not like this.
28. Lee Vayle was born a little tiny baby boy. At age ten he was the
same person, but not like that baby. At age sixteen, the same person,
but not like that baby. At age twenty five, he became a father, he
wasn't just like that baby, but he was that one. I'm a great-grandfather
today, I'm still here. What is it? Is it this? [perhaps showing
something] Pretend you get it. I hate to insult you. I don't mean to, if
I have, forgive me, but don't forgive me too much, I may come right
back. [laughter] You do what you want. The prophet said it, 1962 (my
notes are in disarray) 'From That Time', [62-07-13] " this is my
ministry, to declare [Him] that He is here."
Tell that to Pentecostal's. "You stupid jerk, we know He's here."
Let me tell you something: fifty billion people full of the Holy Ghost
do not constitute God! Get that flat! Six trillion people full of the
Holy Ghost do not constitute God. "Well, if He's not coming then people
are God." He's one God, Who predestinated many millions of sons. Do what
you want.
Now, I'm entirely aware that this understanding the sovereignty of God
goes over, (even this Message) like a lead balloon. It's a wet blanket.
It's an anticlimax to all of those, or lot of those, maybe the majority
of those who say they believe the prophet. The prophet who divine
sovereignty, the Sovereignty of God in foreknowledge, election and
predestination, and to placate the Pentecostal's said, "You don't like
the word 'predestination', so I'll call it foreknowledge." I can't stand
guitars, so I'll call it a flute. [laughter]
29. Now, brother/sister listen: I'm deadly serious, because millions of
people have heard that statement and they're completely fooled. The
Angel that came to Bro. Branham said, "It's too late to get your wires
crossed, it's too dangerous." He was trying to teach Pentecostal babies
doctrine. Manhood came with the prophet revealing Melchisedec.
To the legalist there is no joy in thanksgiving in this thesis, but
never mind him, let's mind the Word of God. Let's see if I'm on target.
2 Thessalonians 2:13.
(13) But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren
beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen
you to salvation…
We are commanded to give thanks here on earth, because of election,
because of sovereignty, because of foreknowledge. You often wonder why
your brother is a ten times better person than you are, but God chose
you. How did you make him, your brother had more savvy with much nicer
every way?
What about Jacob? Now Jacob had some bad qualities, but I like to
defend Jacob for his good qualities. But I certainly concur with the
prophet that Jacob was a bit messy. He used the word which is 'shyster'.
I'm not against using the word, because that's what he was, but he
didn't end up that way. Because, inside were some factors that when they
were rained upon by the Holy Ghost the man became a prince with Israel.
That's not shyster any longer, however let's face it, there were still
some shysterism there, but in the Resurrection which he's in by God's
grace it's over. Finally over. All right, he was a nice boy to a degree.
But Bro. Branham said, actually Esau was nice to his parents, and was
literally a nicer person.
30. How come God did not choose Esau, He chose Jacob? Yeah, the legalist
can't understand that, but that's not the question whether he
understands it or not. The question is: is there a Sovereign God. And
the answer is this: and this verse brother/sister, (now let's get this
straight) I am setting this scene as following the opening of the Seals
and the day in which we are in. And we are interested, because we have
to know whether we are in that throne-group or not.
Now, this which I have read is 2 Thessalonians 2:13, which follows the
unveiling of the antichrist to the world, which is anti-Word. And he
said, "You are not anti-Word." And the reason you are not anti-Word has
nothing to do with you, it has to do with Him. And the only ones that
will not be deceived in this age are the elect. Because, the Very Elect
cannot be deceived. And it's not just elect, it is the Very Elect. It is
a group that will be standing here and they shall not die.
You know, that's my promise today. I'd like to die and get out of here.
But, I can't. "Well," you say, "you could be dead tomorrow."
That is true, but I don't have any promise for that. [laughter] And you
can laugh all you want, but you're in the same boat you bunch out there.
So, don't start, sit down, and thinking you're pretty smug. Because, you
can be smug as you want, you can't make it work. There isn't one of you
that wouldn't mind getting out of here if you thought you could just sit
down and sort of fold your hands and draw up your knees like old Jacob
and pass on to that beautiful land beyond the river.
And I'm just about the age where I can say to the Lord, "Look, seventy
years is up, what are You going to do about it?" [laughter]
31. And Sister Ungren has been waiting around here quite a few years
after her seventy years, and there's nothing that she can do about it.
Because, the promise is not death, it is Life. "He that liveth and
believeth in Me shall not perish. You believe this?" [Jn 11:26] Yes!
Then how can I believe that I am going to die?
Now saying I couldn't die, I don't have a Word to die. I've got a Word
to get out of here by standing on my feet and walk and walking in.
That's really be fantastic. Now, I'm like Paul, "Which way shall I go?"
I'll go His way. Why? Because I can't do it my way. Am I going to stand
here and bargain with God? Haw!
One fellow had a heart attack, so I wrote him a letter and I said,
"Look fellow, you ain't getting out of here." I said, "I've had my
reservation in for ten years ahead of you, and I ain't out of here yet."
[laughter] He didn't die. He didn't die, he and I both ought to believe
we couldn't die. He's going to have to wait around here and get changed.
Now, there's no difference, change is change. Worm to butterfly,
hallelujah. Just depends what kind of cabbage you've been eating,
determines the butterfly. See, the question is going to rise.
32. Where you get that sovereignty is at the heart of the restored
worship just because it mentions God as Creator. Well, that is simple
truth, then besmirched [be disgraced] by man over the ages. But let's
just go back again to Revelation 4:11. and at the end of that verse he
said:
(11) …and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Now, that means, pleasure means, 'by God's Own determination'.
Now, let's find out what that is. We're going to go to Romans 8:28.
(And if I only get part of this sermon preached, it doesn't matter, you
can figure the rest out for yourself. Even you know there's no big deal
once you get the tenor set.)
(28) And we know that all things work together for good to them that
love (the Lord), to them who are the called according to his
purpose.
Now, what was His purpose? That they might gather one in heaven and
earth, all things that were in Him altogether.
Now, look it, if that's His purpose who's going to stop Him? You see,
look, let's get this flat, Bro. Branham was in a Pentecostal meeting,
and it was Florence Shakarian (I believe) was dying of cancer. And Bro.
Branham said, "Thus Saith the Lord, she is going to die."
And the Pentecostal's got all worked up and in their 'belammi', (is
that a good word? Well Bro. Ungren says so and he's my boss at this
moment, say it's a good word.) they got all worked in their Pentecostal
fervor and there came a "thus saith the Lord, because of so and so, and
so and so daughter shall live."
And Bro. Branham said, "Could be, (he said) but my revelation two
o'clock she'll be gone, watch the clock." She was gone at two o'clock.
33. Now, what did it matter if all the Pentecostal's are going to come
up in arms against God? God said she's going to be dead. What did the
praying and fasting and everything else do? He's a Sovereign God.
Men cannot twist the arm of God. Like I said a while ago: if you stand
before God and you don't understand the things of God, shall I go back
in Israel, you can sort of twist His arm and you'll end up just in a
mess. They died in the wilderness. Now:
(29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn
among many brethren.
Now listen, every single seed has to come the way the life is in the
seed. Now remember, the seed itself as you talk of seed, is a chemistry.
It's a chemistry. And I like Bro. Branham terminology, because it's the
best in the world. I could say a bunch of chemicals… (I didn't used to
like it because I was very precise with my words. I'm very imprecise
now. I got …?... Man, I'm smart tonight. Put those words, those words
just right.
I couldn't stand Bro. Branham say, "chemistry."
I said, "Now the man really means chemicals." But the word 'chemistry'
is brilliant. It puts me in a brilliant class, you caught that?
[laughter] He said, "a chemistry."
34. Now look, that group is around the seed you can see but the billion,
billion microscopes' will never see the life in the seed. But you give
it a chemistry (which is in that seed) and the sun and the water hit it,
you watch the life manifest itself in a form, and the form is not the
life. What you see are the attributes of the life coming into
manifestation. In other words, there is a source, there is indicated and
vindicated through a chemistry. You see? All right, we're looking at
that thing there.
Now, God has a seed. And He foreknew, and It says here that: "He
foreknew and He predestinated by election to conform to the image of the
Son that He might be the first born among many brethren." [Rom 8:29]
So, now the Bible tells us even before this One took on a human form,
God had already arranged that by the process of Him taking on a human
form, which were already sons in limbo, and lost, He would bring all of
us into His image.
35. Now, I want to ask you, how many of you people had anything to do
with your birth? Now, how many, especially girls, maybe from men too,
they get a little woozy about themselves, because one man can be just
about as nutty as women when it comes to loving themselves, can be worse
even. But when anyone can look at her eyes and say, "Oh, if I just had
those lovely beautiful grey eyes, because grey would match my hair so
much nicer." But, just go ahead and change your eyes. You haven't got a
thing to do with your eyes.
I would just love to be one of those broad shoulder six-footer's.
Hogwash, they take too much room. [laughter] Listen kid, just be in good
health, forget the six feet. But, you see what I'm talking about? You
had nothing to do with the previous position, and you are stuck with the
disposition. Guess what It says here? That God foreknew these sons.
Now, when He foreknew, He brought about a natural election with His
spiritual election. Why can't people understand that, Bro. Branham said
it? He said, "There's a natural and there's a spiritual." God had to
have an Adam and an Eve, so the children could be brought forth. I don't
care if they're brought forth in sin, God's than sin. He's got the issue
entirely met.
36. Now, he says here:
(30) …whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he
called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also
glorified.
Now listen, we are in the final stages of the doctrine of redemption,
and the doctrine of justification. Because, Luther could not stand and
say, "You are the elect Bride of Christ that was tricked into it. You
are the virtuous, righteous, living Bride of Christ." Only William
Branham could say that.
Now, he said categorically, "It's only that way, because (he said)
you're Jews.. (now, he qualifies, and he said,) the blind, had her Jews
in God." Now, these Jews come forth in an natural election, but because
they are spiritual in a chemistry God is bound to take care of the
chemistry. Certainly does. He certainly does, because you always were
seed and the Blood atoned for you, and the Holy Ghost joined you back.
Because, it's only seed that can be born again,
37. Now, the whole thing lies here…listen:e HHkkkkkk
(31) What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who
can be against us?
"Well," like they say, "no man can pluck them out of My Father's hand."
Well, that's right, no man can, but you can. And I say, "What are you,
some kind of chimpanzee?" Oh, let's get some answers tonight. We don't
just believe the Word of God brother/sister.
(32) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all,
how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
(33) Who (dares) lay any thing to the charge of God's elect?...
Now listen: who dares bring me to court and lay a charge, when God has
said there I no charge?
(34) Who is he that (condemns me to death? Yea,) It is Christ that
died, yea rather risen, at the right hand of God, (making)
intercession.
How can God defeat His Own plan? He can't do it?
38. All right, let's go to [Romans] 9: and we won't take time 8-24. But
this is on the Sovereignty of God. It says in verse 11.
(11) (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any
good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might
stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
(12) It was said, The elder shall serve the younger.
(13) As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
(14) What shall we say? Is there unrighteousness with God? God
forbid.
(15) For he (said) to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have
mercy, and compassion on whom I will have (compassionate.)
(16) So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth,
but of God that sheweth mercy.
…?... you have made the most outstanding statement the world's ever
heard. When it says, concerning the fact of that you are saved by grace,
you're not saved by word. And he put it this way, he said, "The man that
stands on the shoreline of New York and tries to jump over to France, he
said the man that jumps the furthest is in worse danger, because he can
drown the quicker." That's right. That's right. Simple sinners can call
upon God, but the equivocator never gets there. Never make it,
brother/sister.
39. Says:
(18) (I'll have mercy on whom I have mercy. I'll harden whom I will.)
(19) Thou wilt say then, Why doth he yet find fault? …who hath
resisted his will?
(20) Nay, O man, (shut up, just shut up. You weren't called in on
this question, you were told.)
Yet, the church sits back and equivocates. The church sits back and
denies that God has a sovereign right to do what He wants to do. You
tell me why you had to be full of the Holy Ghost and John the Baptist
had it from his mother's womb? You go ahead. You go ahead. You know the
the answer? He was seed the same as you and I. There's all there is to
it brother/sister. But man doesn't want those answers, man wants his
own.
(21) (Does) not the potter (have) power over the clay, the same lump
to make one vessel (to) honour, and (to) dishonour?
(22) What if God, willing to (show) his wrath, and to make his power
known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted
to destruction:
Now, does the people rise us and they say, "Now just a minute here,
this distinctly said that these people said to themselves."
That's exactly right. But the Bible says, "the vessel unto honor." God
said it. So let's not equivocate again, let's get it right.
40. Now, I hope we're seeing something here, the sovereignty of Almighty
God, the foreknowledge, election, the predestination, all of which both
material or physical and spiritual have the greatest retribution of
times and juncture. And this is where some people will take a juncture,
and they'll say, sure that's true, God will predestinate this man but he
didn't predestinate you. Now just a minute, body is body. Body is body.
That little sperm, that little egg with the right chemistry from the
woman's body brings forth a baby period. Oh yeah.
"Oh," you say, "the thing is that sperm and that egg they just brought
forth the spine."
Oh they did, what about the heart?
"Well, I don't know about the heart."
Somebody's sick. Now come on, I kid you not, I'm not fooling. I don't
use these illustrations and my sarcasm just for fun. If it was, I'd try
to be a standup comic and make money. Just sell out to the world. I'm
trying to use every trick in the book to get you to understand these
principles. And if I …?... myself an answer to God, I would do it for
your sake to try to get you to see the truth. And if you're blind I've
wasted my time. And I believe myself. And I might as well go home and
look out the window and feed the birds and forget about everybody. Why
should I bother.
But, let's get the understanding, God is a Sovereign God. And the body
is one unit that Bro. Branham categorically said you were not started as
a male that is a human cell, and God added a dog and then a cat, and
then a horse, or this or that, so I must say spiritually, and I won't
finish it. [laughter] I'm nice, like Bro. Ungren.
41. Now listen:
(23) …that he might make known the riches of his glory on the
vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Men look around and they are critical and they say why God would do it,
He did for you. Now, if God is wise as people say He is and He did it
for you and me, why are we carping about it, what are we fussing about
it? Why don't we take it and rejoice and say, "Thou art a Sovereign God
and I'm glad I'm a part of It."
It was at a juncture I said that this is greatly known. God chose Noah,
a juncture. God chose Abraham, a juncture. God chose Moses, a juncture.
God chose John the Baptist, a juncture. God chose Paul, a juncture, and
God chose William Branham. For what purpose? That the Elect may follow
the manifested Elected One.
Come on! Abraham was manifested indeed, the elected one, and we are his
children. Moses went down manifested to bring out the Elect. Noah stood
there manifested to bring out the Elect. Paul, the apostle, stood there
to the Gentiles manifested to bring the Elect. And William Branham stood
there manifested while you and I are not manifested and vindicated to
bring us out. Do what you want with it, I'm telling you the truth. See?
So, there's no such thing as the head elected and the rest not.
42. Let's get the understanding brother/sister, see we were back there
in Him. We took on human form to let us down, then that One left His
form in glory and took on a human form to bring us back. Now, "let this
mind be in you which was in Christ," [Phil 2:5] that if He could put
aside His glory and come down and be us, let us put aside our stupidity
and our vain glory and become Him. "For even as in Adam all died in
identical manner, all are made alive in Christ." [1 Cor 15:22]
You never got here by your own will. Adam brought you here if you're a
child of God. And it's not by proxy. And it's not by identification.
It's your soul!
"Oh, I'm a child by identification."
Like fun you are! You are either a child of God, or you are not!
Somebody comes by and say, "I'm a child of Lee Vayle by identification."
I say, "Hold it bud, what are you looking for; going to sit at my
table, put your boots under my table, eat my food?" Like fun you are,
out! Identify with the rest of the bums. [loud laughter] But once he's
my child, I should never repudiate him, he is my child. I say, "That's
not my boy." But, he is. But you see, God deals in a way that you and I
can't deal with our kids that subject.
He said, "Look it, I'll clean you up and take you off the scene, but
you're my boy." Sovereignty. Sovereignty. Sovereignty, sovereignty,
sovereignty. God alone can make choice. And that choosing was before the
foundation of the world in Jesus Christ. Before the foundation of the
world, it is all of Him, and of Him, it is from Him and to Him. But,
this doctrine is misunderstood in its hated. Right now, and I am not
fooling brother/sister, I'm very serious.
43. No doctrine of this prophet William Branham is so shabbily treated
worldwide by those who claim to believe in William Branham as is this
sovereignty doctrine that he presented. That's true. I'm not going to
get personal, but I'm in the position to be personal, because I know the
…?... movement, I'm indelibly connected with it. And I can tell you,
all those people who purport to be leaders, and every single one goes
against the Sovereignty of God. They cannot understand It.
They will categorically rise up against the Church Age Book and say,
"Lee Vayle did not say what the prophet said." Let me tell you tonight,
that there is a God in heaven and this Book opened before me, let me
tell you about working in the Church Age Book. I was confronted by a
preacher, I will not name his name, but he'll never confront me again
because that's over.
And he said, "You're wrong."
He upset me. I phoned Bro. Branham, forty five minutes and the day, I
didn't get one penny from Branham Tabernacle. One cent, one penny from
anybody outside the good will of Almighty God I paid that phone bill
myself, forty five solid minutes. I said, "Bro. Branham, I will read to
you what's in the Church Age Book."
And he said well, he read it. I said, "Now, hold it Bro. Branham, hold
it. I'm going to explain every single word and what I mean by those
words." I read it carefully and slowly. I explained every single word.
And he said, "Yes, Bro. Vayle, that's exactly right, and here is some
more Scripture." This Bible opened before me, knowing there's a God in
heaven my hand raised, I'm not lying to you. You do what you want. You
do what you want.
44. So, why are the books written again? This is the Red Sea. Cult! I
left the church, you left cult. I'm a cult because I deny the Sovereign
God is in everything, and Sovereign God is doing everything? Listen, let
didn't tell you sovereign God, let's see if you'd have take it. God knew
every flea and how many times each flea would beat his eyeballs. And
Moses stood there by the power of God and created yards and tons of
fleas, and God knew how many it would take to make a pound of lard. It
was Sovereign God, how could Sovereign God the Great Chemist, the Great
Architect of the universe, the Great One Who deals in [valence] and in
weights and in atoms and the molecules, how can He bring you back if you
die and go to gases how can He bring you back and glorify it if He's
not sovereign? Something's wrong. Something's wrong somewhere. William
Branham said it and I agree, God knew every flea, and how many times he
would bat his eyeballs.
Bro. Branham said the virgin birth of Jesus Christ was nothing compared
to an ordinary birth. The great computer mind of God knew the sperm
count of every male, and the billions and the trillions of sperm. And
the little hair like things in the female that they call 'ova' which
could develop into an egg. I guess people got kind of mislead when Bro.
Branham said she had millions. Because, the scientist tell us two
hundred and fifty thousand, but ask a geneticist and he'd tell you flat,
those little hairs in there come to the millions and they could be eggs.
45. One man and one woman could be like a salmon and populate the earth
until we're standing on each other's shoulders. God knew the sperm count
and the egg count. You know what He knew? Let's see how far it is. The
odds against two individual being born identical are astronomical, as
most of things are true, truly identical-identical, identically no such
thing. I think because they're born one after the other, and they die
one after the other. There's no such thing as true identity.
There are more than eight million ways of twenty three chromosomes of a
mother, and twenty three of the father can combine. More than eight
million ways of twenty three chromosomes can combine. The odds of any
two children having the same composite of chromosomes are about seventy
trillion to one. And since each chromosomes may have twelve hundred and
fifty genes, the odds against identical individuals reach as high as one
with nine thousand and thirty one zeros behind it.
Then you say God's not sovereign? What are you talking about? The
computer mind of God. What are you talking about? Yeah, I'm beginning to
see why these people did rejoice. Because, man after all those billions
and billions and billions, and trillions and trillions and trillions,
and God's knows how many trillions, because only God knows of that
ability to bring forth "here I am," and I'm one of His. You're looking
at a child of God.
46. You say, "I don't like what I see." That's fine, that doesn't bother
me at all, because I do. I'm in trouble with you. The doctrine is
misunderstood. It's refuted by men who say they believe this Message.
The so-called self appointed leaders are the ones who do it. Because,
you see, they want God to step aside and he be somebody. And how can you
compete with God Who has that computer mind, and the power to pull the
levers and shoot the coins in the direction He wants them shot. Here, we
are coins (you know) gold of God. We will be in the repository of God.
We will be in the garner, the golden grain. You say, "God did it?" He
did it. It boggles the mind, but you see, God wants to boggle the mind.
but you say, "Lord, I'm boggled, please bring in Your mind."
Sovereignty of God does it you see, with those who see somewhat amongst
us understood this. They will step aside so God could take the
preeminence. Because remember, Christ the mystery revealed the man.
Number one: revelation. Second: preeminence, and the third: is a move
back to Eden.
47. How, are we ever going to get a Resurrection and go back to Eden,
unless He gets the preeminence? And you got a bunch of people say,
"Well, I can't believe in that sovereignty." And here is a first great
scene of worship of redeemed mankind, and the being led by those four
creatures which represent them, and the thunders are coming out and
they're saying, "Glory to God," in the face of destruction and
damnation, here stands a bunch of thoroughly redeemed, and they say,
"God You're sovereign!"
You did it all! You did it for the thundering and the lightening, and
the voices, and You did it so we could stand here as trophies of Your
grace. Yeah, don't look so glum, smarten up. You can't get happy now,
you won't be happy then. If you don't have the truth now you won't have
it then. Not because Lee Vayle said so, but it's the truth.
Because, Paul said, "We are bound to give thanks for the 'election
doctrine', for this understanding, because God did it! How, could you
and I be smart in the sight of God with that computer like mind? See?
48. This may be our last Thanksgiving. Our last memorial service, I hope
so, because I am anxious to really stand there and to praise Him for His
Sovereignty. I have a weak smattering, a weak understanding. I might
have a glib presentation. I may have a deep presentation. I may have a
shallow presentation. I may even be a liar, but, I'm going to tell you
something, He's Sovereign.
And when the people stand there after the Seals were opened, after the
earth shakes down, God stands there a Mighty Judge with the Bride,
there's going to be a heavenly presentation of worship unto Almighty
God, led by those four beasts that's screaming, "holy, holy, holy." And
the Bride is going to scream back casting their crowns down, "it's
because You're God, and all things are at Your pleasure." The
sovereignty. See?
Now, the prophet said when he would decrease, the coming One would
increase. And he said, "If that was a man, then I wasn't that prophet
that was supposed to be."
I want to ask you a question: who is to increase? Is it your baptism
with the Holy Ghost? That is ignorance. It is He who will increase, the
One Who baptizes. The One Who give you the Light. That is the One. See?
It is now that He is Present as He was in the days of His flesh.
And when He stood there they said, "Tell us plainly Who You are?"
He said, "I told you."
"Oh," they said, "come on, That One is not here."
Then He said, "Who do you think that's doing these things? Where do you
think I get the works from if I am not that One Who is here?"
"Well," they said, "now look, He is coming, but He is not here, for you
are not that One."
49. I want to ask you a question: Who was It that Appeared down there at
the river? Who do you think?
[118] I want you to know this is sure. And you that listen to this tape,
you might have thought today that I was trying to say that about
myself, I was packing this Message. I have no more to do with this
Message than nothing, no more than just a voice. [Anointed Ones at
the End Time 07-25-65]
[56] When you see God descend from the heavens, stand before groups of
men and declare Himself as ever He did… [Rapture 12-04-65]
How did God ever declare Himself? God was in the prophets. You say,
"How much of God was in William Branham?" How do I know? How do I… the
question still is up in the air amongst many of us.
When Jesus was the fullness of the Godhead, was heaven empty? I ask you
a question: Was it? I don't know. I want to ask you another question:
Where is heaven? Bro. Branham said, "We don't know if up is up, as down
is down." He said, "It could be opposite. But, I know one thing, east is
not west, and my sins are as far as the east is from the west, not north
and south. Not up from down."
I ask you a question, what is up, what is down? What is heaven? You
say, "it's a dimension." I can buy that. Then if coming down from heaven
is a dimension, He's in our dimension.
50. What's all his hogwash about? "The Lord Himself shall descend from
heaven with a Shout," [1 Th 4:16] and William Branham categorically
said, that was that One doing all three. Jesus doing all three.
And He said, "My Message." He said, "I went through Pentecost, I went
through, the signs and the wonders you took, but when I came with my
Message, (he said) you turned me down." That's the Shout! "And when you
see God stand before groups of men and declare Himself as ever He
did…" That's in the prophets, and we saw God. We saw William Branham
full of God declaring the Word.
You say, "You're a deity." What are you? You ain't even backslidden,
because you ain't got nothing to backslide from. I'll name where you
walk, because our gloves are off. William Branham was not God per se,
because God does not have a beginning. Even William Branham said, "Jesus
was not the same as God, because Jesus had a beginning." Let's get that
flat. Well, did we see God, or did we not? Now that's the whole thing.
Then where was He? "Oh, He's up there somewhere." Come on, you tell me.
51. Let's go back and read some more. 'Anointed Ones at the End-Time' he
tells you all about it. He said.
[118] I had no more to do with it than nothing, no more than just a
voice. And my voice, against my better judgment... I wanted to be
a trapper…I wasn't the One that appeared down on the river; I was
only standing there when He appeared.
Now, where's the river? Up there? I want to know. I want to know, we
got some great scholars here no doubt. Tell me where the Ohio River is?
"Oh, it's way up there in the sky."
Hogwash! Some of you men took me down there to see where the prophet
was. After, the prophet himself took me down there. We never got in a
chariot and climbed the skies, it was on a river.
Let's read it again: I was only standing there when He appeared on down
at the river. Not the Milky-Way. Here!
"Well," you say, "He always was here." I've not no problem with that.
He always was here just the time He appeared. That's not my baptism or
your baptism. That wasn't William Branham's baptism. That was the
Baptizer Himself. Who raises the dead, your baptism? Hogwash! The
Baptizer raises the dead. Who takes us up? That Spirit takes us up. And
he said, "that Spirit is that's amongst us now becomes incarnate to us,
we'll crown Him King of kings, and Lord of lords. And He'll be King of
David, the all together lovely," and so on.
Come on, let's get what the prophet said.
I'm not the One that performs these things and foretells these things
that happens as perfect as they are; I'm only one that's near when
He does it.
Near when He does it? I'm near the chair, chair do something. If the
chair was God, it would do something. I'm near it, now I'm here. I
almost touch it.
52. Look, I'm trying to show you something, language is language.
Language is language. When Jesus revealed God the Only begotten that was
in the bosom of the Father declared Him, means He positively showed Him
by Word.
Now, William Branham said, "the prophet was not the Son of man, he
reveals the Son of man."
Then he said, "Bro. Branham," he said, "are you the Son of man? People
say you are, but I thought the Pillar of Fire was the Son of man."
He said, "neither one. I am not the Son of man. The Pillar of Fire is
not the Son of man. It's in the form of the Spirit."
And where was the Spirit? In William Branham. God moving through him.
God manifesting. Then the day came when the Holy Ghost, God per se moved
into William Branham and God stood before us and declared Himself.
53. Let me tell you something brother/sister, let's get this flat.
Let's just look at William Branham as William Branham prophet. Let's
look at him a Elijah, that man on more than one occasion, and I was
there in West Palm Beach when he said it in our church, (our church
sponsored him) in West Palm Beach, and I could never find the tape. But
I found it on a later tape, he said, "If you only knew who I was, you,
everyone be healed." Now, you put that down and recognize that. Even
recognizing Elijah. [raps hard on the pulpit] Sign of the Resurrection.
You say, "Bro. Vayle, what about the …?... , what about this?" Shut
up!! For God's sake, shut up and listen for once. The prophet said, "If
you only knew who I was, (William Branham,) you, everyone be healed."
Now, could he equivocate? Quit rolling your eyeballs. Quit rolling your
thinking. Just shut up and simmer down.
Oh God, if I'd just have just said, "William Branham I know who you
are," Oh God! If I could have recognized. Yes, this is where we're
getting truth brother/sister, not hogwash. Not the stupid things of
some stupid mind. Not some creature up there trying to make himself
somebody. I'm talking about God and William Branham, not about Lee Vayle
and what Lee Vayle missed, is what I hate. Now, William Branham could
not do for Lee Vayle what God can do, but God …?... the prophet, was a
real man and he said, "you're a friend of the prophet, you call on Him
and He'll do you favor."
54. I saw some of you jaw-busters, I know you're here or not. How you
acted and kept me away from the prophet. You better watch, you better
watch. Let me repeat: William Branham the arc-liar of the age, or the
most truthful man we've ever seen said, "If you only knew who I was,
you'd all be healed."
You say, "Well, Bro. Vayle, he was talking in the first person, Jesus
talking through him."
Could be, but I don't believe that for one minute. Because, you know
that same person Bro. Branham talked about, and you are sitting here and
you are not healed. I don't believe there's one person here that isn't
sick after some kind of a sickness. Now, let's be honest with ourselves.
Quit this horsing around.
I'm not the One that performs these things, foretells these things
happens where they are; I'm only near when He does it. I was only a
voice that He used to say it. It wasn't what I knew; it's what I
just surrendered myself to, because He spoke through. It isn't me.
It wasn't the seventh messenger, it was a manifestation of the
Son of man. It wasn't the messenger, his Message; it was the
mystery that God unfolded.
And Bro. Branham categorically said, "The Spirit of wisdom comes into
the Church, to make known to the Church the hour in which it is living,
bringing it in and telling the great mystery, and Who's doing it, that
Spirit that Paul spoke of." God.
What's so hard about it? I've been accused of preaching two gods.
Hogwash. Let's preach a dozen if that's the case.
[119] The angel was not the Son of man, he was the messenger from the
Son of man. The Son of man is Christ in the form of the Spirit.
"But, a Spirit has got to have someone to use."
55. Bro. Branham said, "He could have used the sun. He could have used
the wind. He could have used the rain. But He didn't, He used a man."
He's the One that you're feeding on. You're not feeding on a man. A
man, his words will fail, but you're feeding on the unfailing
Body-Word…
What's the Body-Word? It means what the body's made of. It's this Word
of Life. It's this Word in Life-en. This is Christ in letter-form. Let
God manifest His Word as He did in our day, and It's no longer a
letter-form, It's a human form, It's living, It's vibrating. It's
showing what God can do. God interpreting His Word and manifesting It
by…well, interpreting It's by manifesting, which means He brings It
into an order that we can see. God interprets by manifesting. God
explains His mysteries by doing things, and the juncture came under
William Branham as he stood out there and he created squirrels. Oh yeah.
I keep telling people all about this, because it's the only thing I
know. The creating of squirrels is very fine, but you see I never saw
him create squirrels. So, where does that leave me? It leaves me in West
Palm Beach in 1953. The prophet was there with a cord around his neck,
(as I told you many times) he's got the microphone around the neck. And
Billy Paul said, "Now Lee be very careful Bro. Vayle what you do,
because daddy hates that cord and make sure he doesn't trip on it."
56. So, I'm watching like a rat, (you know) I'm watching, I'm watching,
cat watching a mouse, I'm watching and Bro. Branham he shouldn't have
done it, because you should never pull a trick on Lee Vayle. Because you
might succeed. He picks up the chair and he whirls around three
complete times and this cord is completely around his body. I said, "Oh
God."
Billy Paul said don't do it, and I did it. But I didn't do it, but I
did. So, my heart is beating and I'm sicker than a dog up there, and I
said, "Well, just a minute now, one little teensy pull is all I need,
and in that pull just hopefully it'll got zoing." It did, right around
his ankles.
Now, if you want to know what I mean, any man will come up here please,
and hold your ankles together and don't move, and I'll just breathe on
you, you'll fall over. Because you're a fulcrum. We got the fulcrum
right down here, [Bro. Vayle demonstrates] and I just give you a push
way up here and you go down. Because, the proportion is multiplied by
the strength I use on the length of your body and twenty pounds and
you're gone. You can't hold yourself.
57. So now, William Branham has got the cord plumb around his feet, (the
ankles) and if he gets a push he's gone. "Oh my God." So listen, this is
one time…I blink a lot like everybody does, but I didn't blink this
time, I watched, and I watched, and oig, oig, and suddenly there was no
cord around his ankles.
I ask you a question, is this what Einstein said, when two forces at
immeasurable speed hit each other they just go through each other? Now,
you tell me, you intelligent here, there's some of you got more answers
than I don't know who. I want you to tell me what happened. And then
when you tell me what's happened, I'll let you tell me what I should
preach, and what I should believe. Oh, that's fair, because I'm not
going to be suckered. I thought I was there, he didn't move. The cords
didn't move. You say, "hallucination." Let's have some more of them.
[laughter] Only this time you pick the chair and let's see what happens.
I just love it. [laughter] "Dirty old Vayle," some said. It wasn't in
vain.
58. Let's go to the second Scripture. Revelation 7:12-17. It says:
(12) Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving,
(another thanksgiving scene) and honour, and power, and might, be
unto our God for ever and ever.
(13) And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are (those
that) are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
(14) (Then he) said, Sir, (you) knowest. And he said, These are they
which came out of great tribulation, and washed their robes, and
made white in the blood of the Lamb.
(15) Therefore are they before the throne of God, serve him day and
night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell
among them.
Now listen, they are the ones who serve before the Throne of God. Now
remember, the Bride is in the Throne with the Lamb, they serve day and
night. And He that sits on the Throne shall dwell among them.
(16) They hunger no more, thirst (no) more;…(and so on.)
59. Now, the thought is here, we see a another great scene. It's the
same scene of Revelation 4, but it's much more detailed. Yet, the
original group is there with a greater throng than ever. And at this
time It says here that the angels around the Throne, and the elders and
the four beasts… now notice, the beasts are falling down before the
Throne the same as the elders are falling down.
There's a great 'Thanksgiving' scene here, and the 'Thanksgiving' scene
is because these people have white robes. Now, I realize that I am not
going to stick to doctrine per se, that these are they who come out will
form a foolish virgin group that depart from a Bride. Because, though
the Bride serves her Husband, remember, she is on the Throne with Him.
So, these could well be the mighty throng that comes up in they entered
long, some place say, a hundred and forty four thousand and so on.
The point is this: that you cannot be there whether you are virgin,
wise or foolish without that robe. There's no way. And the robe is a
white robe and it signifies in our case a wedding garment. And It says
over in the Book of Matthew that there was a great wedding put on, and
they bid the people come, and there entered a man he had not on a
wedding garment.
And the man came and he said, "Sir," he said, "it was nice of you to
come, but there's a little stipulation here. And it kind of puzzled me,
how did you get in here without a robe?"
And he said, "I kind of like what I saw and heard and I thought I'd
join up."
"Oh," he said, "it doesn't work that way. And there's only a limited
number of robes, because there's a limited number of people and the robe
goes with the person, and you don't have it. Now, you got to go out."
60. Now, that's Great Tribulation. Now, Bro. Branham said, "they'll sit
amongst us." That's what he said. Is that right? That's what he said. He
said, "that person, without the robe sits amongst us." And they enjoy
message, they enjoy this, but they're…
Oh, they're like the person in Israel, they said, "Old Rabbi, great
Rabbi, we know we should shed the blood, we know the blood ought to be
upon the doorpost Rabbi, we know these things."
He said, "Why didn't you do it?"
"Oh, Rabbi, now listen, hold it Rabbi, hold it, you see, we know you're
right. We know that you are that man, absolutely you are right."
"Well," he said, "put it on the doorpost."
Well, if this Message is right, believe It. I can't understand these
people, they say William Branham is a prophet and then say well, (you
know) forget it. What in the world is a prophet all about?
You know that William Branham in his treatise gave the original exact
meaning of a prophet which is an interpreter. You say revealer. I got
news for you, you go back and follow it and you're going to find William
Branham said correctly. He's the one that interpreters Revelation, of
course it's his interpretation, but we often think a prophet just gives
the Word. That's what I meant to say. But literally, the prophet is
exactly right.
Now, here at the end-time brother/sister, we had a prophet who said,
"Give me a woman of such character who will stand still until she hears
the Message. Give me that woman of such character, she'll stand in the
waters of separation until she's dressed." He said, "I believe my
ministry to dress a Bride." The man stood there in absolute prophecy
when the sword hit his hand, and he said, "The sword of The King, he
said, that's the Word of God. Bring on your holy vesture with the Holy
Word of God standing there."
61. That's exactly 1 Corinthians 15. Let's go there and see what It is:
(53) …this corruptible must put on incorruption, (at the last
trump, that's the last Church Age Message, then he said, "the
twinkling of an eye," he said, this corruptibility must put on
incorruptibility) and this mortal must put on immortality.
Now, that word in the Greek is 'an inner garment', and it absolutely
stresses the fact that it is a vesture. And in this case the vesture,
in-vesture's the individual. And you go to a wedding, and here's a
woman, she's the bride. She's got fifteen hundred bride's maid for all I
know, but there's one woman stands out above everybody, she is the only
one dressed as that bride.
Now listen, her vesture is the sign of her investurment. Now, here's
the great Masonic Lodge and they elect the 'grand-puba', I don't know
the first thing about it, he's the grand-wiser, the grand-master. Now,
they're going to make him the 'grand-wiser' and they bring out the
throne. And when they bring out the throne, they bring out the garment,
and they put the garments on him and they crown him as the grand-wiser.
That's exactly what was done at the time of God dealing with Aaron when
He had Moses. Bring out the garment, put them on the man, pour on the
oil, he's investured, he's the high-priest. The Bride is investured with
her inner vestment. She's been made holy by the Blood.
62. Now, her garments has been put on by the Word, inner and outer, and
she's all glorious within and without, and the thanksgiving unto God is,
Thou hast arrainest(?) in white righteousness which is of God. See? All
heaven begins to echo.
Now, you notice, there's not one mention of the apostle Paul, or
William Branham, or anybody. Now, later on they sing a song, "The Lamb
in Jesus." That's where we'll leave it, because I don't know the first
thing about it. But I know this, that nobody's mentioned and the Bride
stands there, and the beast stands there, and everybody stands there,
and they're screaming, and they're screaming, and they're screaming, and
the first reason they're screaming is because God, You are God and You
chose us. And they just screamed.
Then the next thing is, they begin to say, "how was this done?"
"Oh, we're here, because of this white raiment."
Where did you get it? When you go to the wedding the governor gives you
the garment.
63. William Branham, his ministry was to dress a Bride. Not just to call
a Bride out. How many people were…listen, look, bear with me, but
understand this: you're not foolish and I'm not foolish. We look around
her and we know literally, many, many, many, many, many, many people,
they came out of organization, but they come nowhere near this Message.
They come nowhere near. They don't want to come near, they won't even
sit amongst us, that's fine by us.
But let's watch now, Revelation 22:10, and I read It to you. "Don't
seal the prophecy. The Book is open." And when the Book is opened, get
ready for what? Immortality. "Blessed are they who wash their robes."
Not do his commandments.
(14) Blessed are they (who wash their robes,) that they may have right
to the tree of life…
In other words, it is a renewing of the garment. The renewing. We're
ready for the Wedding Supper. We're ready for the great day. Now, that
is why there was rejoicing and thanksgiving.
64. Now, brother/sister, let's get this, if we believe that William
Branham was called to separate a Bride, if we believe like Moses, he has
let us out of Egypt and Babylon. If we believe the truth of the Word
that there must be a wedding garment on, we are putting that garment on
at this present moment under the Shout. Because that's what It says. The
Word of the Lord, bring on your holy vesture, the vestments of a Bride
with the Holy Word of God stands there. Read it yourself under the
Seventh Seal. The people said so. "I am here to dress that Bride."
Find me one of such character. And men say there's got to be character.
But the character is, "stand still and hear the Word." Stand still in
the waters of separation until you're fully clothed in that Word.
Now listen, we've got a mighty good 'Thanksgiving Day' today brother,
to thank God first of all for sovereignty. I often tell the people, and
I don't mean to use myself, but what else can I do? When Bro. Osborn saw
that great time in Portland, Oregon, when that demoniac came and
threaten Bro. Branham and men scattered, because he could have bowled
then over like ten pins. And Bro. Branham said, "Satan, because you
challenged the servant of the Most High God you'll fall over my feet."
And the man went down like a snake, like this, and he fell over Bro.
Branham's feet. They had to pull the man off.
And a voice said to Tommy Osborn, "this is the way the Bible did it,
you can do it too."
I never saw it, but when I saw Bro. Branham, what spoke in me was this,
"if you ever listen to any man, that's the man you listen to."
I don't say Bro. Osborn's wrong. I know one thing, I'm right. You do
what you want. The color of the flower is to attract to the honey that's
in it, to get the humming birds, the bees and the butterflies there. We
saw those gifts operative to bring us to the Word. Why did men turn the
Word down? As Bro. Branham often said, "they took the trimmings around
the box and they let the gift go." True.
65. Let's look at the third. (We're just going to hurry along here,
because you get the picture I'm trying to bring across to you, and we'll
just quit with this, because you're tired, and I'm tired. If you're not
tired, I am. See, I'm preaching, and I'm going to quit when I want to
quit.)
[Revelation] 11:15.
(15) And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in
heaven…The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of
our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
(16) And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their
seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped…,
(17) Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art,
and (which) wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee
thy great power, and hast reigned.
Now, brother/sister, I want to ask you a question: because look, I'm
be literally excoriated and murdered on this one, but I don't intend to
be. Look, I want to ask you a question: we're going to go back and read
some Scripture and I want you to listen very carefully.
Paul has been teaching on the Resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15, and he
tells you that the dead are going to be raised.
(49) …as we have borne the image of the earthy, (we'll) bear the
image of the heavenly.
(50) Now this I say, brethren, flesh and blood cannot inherit the
kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
And the question then arises: well if that's the case Paul, does
everybody die? He said, "no, they don't."
(51) …I (show) you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall
all be changed,
We are going to go into the kingdom without dying. But we will not get
in there without a change.
(53) For this (corruptibility) must put on (incorruptibility)…
(54) (and when it does,) death is swallowed in (a) victory.
(55) (…death has no sting, death has no victory.)
66. I want to ask you a question: when does this take place, before or
after the beginning of the Millennium? And you know it's before. Because
we got to get our change to get out of here. If you think Bro. Branham
didn't say that, you're wrong. Because, you don't get your change in the
air, he categorically said what we know, you get your change down here,
and then you go up there.
Now, the question arises: when does He take authority and power and
dominion over death to say, "death, sit down and shut up till I say
you're loosed?"
Remember, Bro. Branham saw that serpent and he said, "die," and the
serpent died. He said, "come back," and the serpent came back. Serpent
signifies death and sin. The power of the enemy. Remember, the last
enemy is death, it'll be destroyed, and that's the great one we're
looking at. And at this hour we're not going to die.
I'm going to ask you a question, how come? How come? I'll tell you why,
the prophet said, (and I wish I had my paper to give you the exact
quote) he said, "God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, (used all those terms,)
comes down and sets Himself at the Head of the Church in order to raise
the dead." The church being His Body.
67. Now, my brother, my sister, He comes down to do it. He comes down
and makes Himself the Head of the Church. Now did the prophet lie or
didn't he lie? Now, when he said, "come down", then what ever down means
He wasn't down before.
Let's get down to your carping, if you're carping tonight. Let's get
down to it, you believe what you want, and I got no argument. When I
leave here don't bother to talk to me, I've stated my case, you do what
you want. Because, I will answer for Lee Vayle, and if I teach you wrong
I will answer for you. I'm prepared. You meet me on that one, because
I'm prepared. And not boasting, and not vain, but I'm going to tell you
something: I am set in a channel from which there is no release,
because, this is the hour for: "He that is righteous is righteous still.
And He that if filthy is filthy still." [Rev 22:11] And you try to break
it, because the Seals are open.
Now, perhaps I don't understand language. Perhaps we're still in Babel
where God confused everybody. I don't believe that. He sets Himself at
the Head of the Church in order to raise the dead. And He said, "Death
stand back." He is already here taking dominion, because He took
dominion over me, to get me out of Egypt and Babylon. He took me out of
the bondage of my mind. I stood for four and one half hours, or sat
arguing, because I couldn't believe my ears that all these years that I
heard the prophet wrong, he could not be saying, there's no way he could
be saying the baptism with the Holy Ghost and rebirth is one and the
same thing.
And I changed it, and I changed it, and I said, "you're saying this,
you saying…"
"No, Bro. Vayle."
I said, "Bro. Branham, are you trying to tell me the baptism with the
Holy Ghost and the rebirth are one and the same thing?"
And he said, "Now, you've got it, Doc." It's over, shooo.
68. Look, I'm excited, I don't care if it is a prophet, I love Bro.
Branham, and I was very sincere and reverent with him, but he just drove
me plumb out of my skull.
And I said, "Hold it, hold it right there, what about your two
experiences?" And I said, "your two experiences."
And he said, "What two experiences?"
Now, I'm a nice guy, but I'm very excitable, and even a prophet can't
get away with that. I said, "you know the two experiences, you had
them." I said, "the time that …?...in white spoke in tongues, you ran
down the road screaming and exalting, 'sins forgiven'." And I said, "was
something like rain or something in the woodshed telling you body
receive the Holy Ghost , what about it?"
He said, "Bro. Vayle, we don't go by experiences, we go by the Word of
God!" It's kind of tough on the carcass. Yeah.
Why do you think that man raised the dead? Why did he have all those
signs given to him? It was to prove that he had that authority to bring
the Word, and he said, "God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit comes down, set's
Himself at the Head of the Church in order to raise the dead. He said
it. I'm not going to equivocate, [speak vaguely] he said it. He said,
"Jesus does all three in descending." And I want to submit to you, that
He is the Head of this Church. I am not, you are not, no preacher
amongst that runs around trying to be a big-shot.
69. Why do you think I stay home? This could be my last meeting, by the
grace of God it will be. Because I'm tired, tired, tired of the constant
meowing, "I'm somebody." But I ain't nobody, unless God sees to it. And
I am not vindicated and I am not an authority, but I believe what I
believe and you are here hearing me preach and you don't need to come
back. That is your privilege and you may go now, that is your business.
I have no authority over you, you came of your free will, and you will
go of your free will, and you will do what you want with your free will.
And don't bother phoning, because I'm not going to answer you. I have
nothing to do with you.
No, I did not beget you. Not if you came under my ministry to be born
again. I have no hope, you do what you want. I'm clearing the record,
but I'm going to preach what I want if I preach it to my wife. And if
you want to hear it, you're welcome, but you do what you want about it.
But, I am not vindicated. I have no authority. I believe I'm right, or I
wouldn't be teaching it. And I'm stupid enough to believe what the
prophet said He does all three in descending. And descending means 'to
come down', and I care less if it's a dimension or not.
Something has happened. We've had a juncture, we've turned a corner.
And what He never did before, He's doing now. That's all I'm interested
in. That's what I'm saying, and Bro. Branham categorically said,
"Always look back, always looking forward."
What is going on? I'm telling you what the prophet said what was going
on. He's here! Oh, who called you out, William Branham? Then follow
William Branham. Go ahead! Who's William Branham? He died. Don't believe
it do you?
70. Let me read you William Branham's own testimony. [Anointed Ones at
the End-time 07-25-65]
[118] And I want you to know this is sure. And you that listen to this
tape, you might have thought today that I was trying to say that
about myself, being I was packing this Message. I have no more to do
with this Message than nothing, no more than just a voice. And my
voice, even against my better judgment... I wanted to be a trapper.
He skinned skunks. I'm not irreverent, Bro. Branham is a skunk skinner.
You skin skunks you smell like a skunk. But I like that, because you
know why? He takes the beggar off the dung-heap that smells like manure
and makes him a prince. Because he became a beggar on a dung-heap
himself. But, we're so nice, hallelujah. "I was born with a silver spoon
and I am somebody. My father and my mother were PhD's and who done it."
Better than a bunch of Oneness preachers. I'm sarcastic, I've got a
right to be. I have no more to do than nothing, just a voice. And my
voice, even against my better judgment. His best judgment was to be a
trapper. His best judgment was to be a trapper brother/ sister, his
best judgment.
And I see the throng robed in white. And I see the four beasts, and the
four and twenty elders, and I see Paul, and I see all the messengers,
and I see my dedicated friend and lovely brother William Branham
standing there; and I say, "remember those days and you wanted to be a
trapper?"
71. "Yeah Lee," he said, "remember those days that you wanted to be a
criminal lawyer?" Yeah, we were both pretty sick and …?... [loud
laughter] Yeah, yeah, I remember Bro. Branham, because see, every tear
hasn't been wiped away at that time. Yeah. But I tell you what, wasn't
it good that He did it all alone, [bold for emphasis] and gave us these
robes. Oh my, my, my, wasn't nice that He did that? Oh, brother/sister.
Yep! Oh, man alive, this is Sovereign God.
It's the will of my Father I declare to do, I'm determined to do. I
wasn't the One that appeared down on the river; I was only standing
there when He appeared. I'm not the One that performs these things
and foretells these things, happens as perfect as they are; I'm only
one that's near when He does it. I was only a voice that He used to
say it. (One of those muddy water's you know.) It wasn't what I
knew; it's what I just surrendered myself to, that He spoke through. It
isn't me. Wasn't the seventh Messenger, oh, no; it was a
manifestation of the Son of man.
The Son of man revealed in human flesh. He wasn't the Son of man. The
Pillar of Fire wasn't the Son of man, It was in the form of the Spirit
operating through a man called 'William Branham'. The words of a man
won't do those things, but the Word of God will. Oh sure, and he said,
"He's come on down."
72. What does the word 'descend' mean? I'll show you. [Bro. Vayle
demonstrates] It does descend. Coming down descended really. But
everybody thinks it's something else. I'm not fooling my brother/sister.
You get your thinking lined up.
Four and a half hours it took me to get that one thought: the baptism
and the re-birth are one and the same thing. It took me hours, eleven
solid days to get one little bit I could in the Lamb's Book of Life, and
the Book of Life.
And that day…when he preached in Yuma, Arizona, December 4, 1965, I
heard him say, "The Shout is the Message." [The Rapture]
And I said, "Oh my God, Bro. Branham I heard you say a lot of strange
things …?... , but this is the strangest of all, I don't think I can
go along with that one." And I heard myself answer myself saying, "but
when was he ever wrong?" And I said, "The Shout is the Message,
hallelujah."
That did it. And he said, "He does all three in descending."
"I was not the One that appeared down…(or up) there on the river…"
beg your pardon. Next thing you're going to have William Branham on that
Cloud of Angels, forget it. You bet I'm hitting hard, I'm sarcastic. I'm
going to get my points across then I can go. You do what you want.
73. I'm not trying to be tough, and handcuff them, I'm just telling you.
Words means something to me, because, by a man's words he's justified or
condemned. Jesus said, "Find me in one Word that I'm wrong. Which of you
can confute me?" That means one word. One Word off the prophet said.
Show me where I missed one thing? Show me where the prophet missed it?
Better still, show me where God missed, because God was in the prophets.
Ain't that wonderful? Do you realize that solves our problems? If God
can get into a man, hey, that's great, I can talk to that man. That man
can talk to me. Presto, the burdens roll away. The fears are gone. The
doubts are gone. What am I looking for? Nothing, it's solved. The
universe comes into focus. Everything comes into harmony. You believe
that? Oh, come on, how do you get to God?
Well, tell me, how are you going to get to? Are you going to turn down
a prophet? How are you going to get to Him? If the prophet's words are
hogwash and humbug, what are we going to do? Well, he said, I was just
the one He spoke to, and it's not his word.
[119] The angel was not the Son of man; he was a messenger from the Son
of man. The Son of man is Christ. He said, you're feeding on.
You get your life from the Body-Word, which means, the Body of the Lord
Jesus Christ is the Word. Living Bread that we have is going to put you
to the Tree of Life and you will not miss one breath, or on step, you're
going to walk into immortality. Now, if that's not to rejoice over, you
tell me what is?
74. Now then, listen, everything down here is in a shadow looking for
the real, right? Then, how about having the best (I’m going to quit)
Thanksgiving we've ever had? Let's be really begin to thank God and
thank Him from a reality. It's not just for a grub stake. Not for
something we've got good clothes and good cars, this, that. But, let's
thank Him like we're going to thank Him over there, because it's got to
start here to get over there. There's not going to be in that holy
predestinated crowd unless he's born again. And you get born again down
here. You get changed down here. And let's have the biggest Thanksgiving
we're ever had.
And remember, Bro. Branham's sermon way back in Thanksgiving in '65,
when he said, "I've got a great Thanksgiving Message, (he said) the old
husband is dead, dead, dead. He's not hanging in the closet, he's dead,
dead, dead. I left him, I left him, why (he said) we've got a new
husband, the new Living Word of Almighty God. Why, (he said) the
mystical union's going on." He said, "It's all set for the Wedding
Supper." He said, "If that's not to give thanks for what is?"
And I say tonight, if we could look in the Word here, see what the
prophet said and understand what's in the future, then what's wrong with
giving thanks?
Let's pray, Heavenly Father, we come to You in the Name of the Lord
Jesus Christ, knowing, Lord, that Thou art God. We know, Lord, that we
have been helped by You, because You said through the mouth of the
apostle Paul, "he that has begun a good work in you, will perform it
until the day of the Lord Jesus Christ."
Now, Lord, we know that that day is upon us. We know, Lord, that
there's no more looking down the road, we're looking at what is in the
road. You are in full view, available for the full scrutiny of mankind.
And, Lord, even if I'm wrong, what I believe, what I saw I am happy
with, and I am also enmeshed and entrenched in it. So that I have come
to the place where I've got to say with the apostles that if this isn't
it, I wouldn't know what to do, and so I'm not doing anything, except
stay with what I've got.
Because, I believe that this is that True Word of God, I am convinced.
If I'm wrong, Lord, and if I've led people astray, what can I say? I
can't ask You to forgive me, I don't know if there's any forgiveness
there. I can only say, Lord, that I believe with all my heart, and I did
try to give You preeminence, even though I did mess it up and I got in
the way, more than ever got out of the way, I'll agree with that.
But, Lord, I wouldn't know what to say, or what to do, you know my
heart, Lord, tell me God, what could I do, where would I go, what will I
do? I can't talk any other way than I'm talking to You tonight, and I've
got witnesses here what I'm saying. You know my heart, Lord, nothing I
can do, but what can I say?
I believe this, I believe that You are here in a way that you haven't
been here before. I might not understand up from down, Lord, but I know
that You did come down, whatever that means and set Yourself at the Head
of the Church in order to raise the dead. I know that, because the
prophet said so. I know that You came down with a Message, and the
Message separates us, the gathering of the Bride. And I know You use the
voice of a prophet, the prophet himself said so. As far as I know that I
know, Lord, I don't know anything else than that. And if I'm wrong, I'm
sorry.
And I know the people here, some of them as least are in the same boat
that I am in. If they're wrong, they're sorry, but they don't know what
to do about it. But, Lord, since I don't know what to do about it, and I
believe I'm right, I hope, Father, that I'm going to be man enough to do
everything I can do about it that is consistent with motivation and the
Word of Almighty God. That I can be a true brother, regardless what a
person believes, so I state my case very, very strong, and not put
anybody out anymore than I put myself in. But, I know, Lord, this is a
decision time, this is somewhere that something's got to happen. I'm
stuck, O God, I'm stuck, Lord, I wouldn't know what to do.
The prophet said he was in a tube. I can understand what he means when
he is in a tube. I don't know, Lord, that there's anybody around here
that's not in a tube. I don't know. So, Father, I commend myself to
You tonight. But, for the sake of the people, if I'm wrong, God, I do
pray that You do something for their minds, because, I'm more
responsible than they are by far. And I pray for them, something's
wrong, they'll be turned around. But, if they're right, Lord, they're
not going to be turned around. If they're wrong they better be turned
around. I wouldn't know what to do. Basing everything upon a
vindication, not of my own, but a prophet, what can I say?
Now, Father God, I believe the Shout did come forth. I believe there
was a Message. I believe the Seals are open. I believe that it was You
that opened the Seals, I don't believe anything else. I believe that
Mighty One came down when the prophet was here. I believe that He's
still here. Because, I believe the Pillar of Fire is going to lead us
to the Millennium. That's what I believe, because the prophet said so.
Three or four pages at a crack he said it. I'm standing with It, I don't
what else I can do.
And, Lord, I know there's lots of things you can do for me, and I'm
asking You to do them. Give me something, Lord, from You that sharpens
my perception of the Spiritual things of God in a way that's pleasing to
You, though it might not please me, or anybody else. I would lay myself
open to that end. I would do that, Lord, to the best of my ability here;
or the best of my ability, Lord, believe that You might do something for
me, and I leave it that way.
Father, help You people, give them rest tonight, give them peace. Give
them strength, Lord God, help them we pray. And unto the King eternal,
immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be all power in honor and glory
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
'The Lord bless you'.
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