Shalom #14

Coming to a Virgin Mind

April 23, 1989

Shall we pray. Heavenly Father, we welcome Your Presence, knowing You’re here in the form of the Holy Spirit in the Pillar of Fire, to bring Your people in to a Millennium, the people that You call Bride, having chosen her out from amongst the others. We realize that; and by faith we count ourselves a part, and trust that many, many others also who count themselves a part, believing in the Word manifested and delivered to us in this end time. Help us in our studies today to truly understand exactly what was in the heart, Your heart, Lord, and in the heart and mind of the prophet we might have the same, because we know it is going to be a heart proposition. Something Lord, which is our very source and power of life. Grant it, Lord, this morning. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

You may be seated. 

1. Now we’re on number 14 of “Shalom.” And, of course, this message, delivered by Bro. Branham in 1964, has a great bearing upon us, as he was explaining to us, how that he was bringing the peace of God according to an end time revelation. Now last Wednesday we did not get into reading further into the message than we did on Sunday, because we dwelt upon Bro. Branham speaking of the light pressing the darkness.

Now we viewed the fact that the light, which he talked about, was both Logos and Rhema. In other words Rhema is strictly the Word that would be written down, the Word that was spoken, that which was enunciated or set forth in some way, simply something you view and say, “Well, that’s what It says.” But Logos, of course, is where we have an _expression of the Word, which would be confusing to many people who depended solely upon Rhema, which is, “Well, that’s what it says,” and their understanding of what is said. Like Bro. Branham said that Jesus Christ came according to Scripture, but not according to their understanding of the Scripture; and so, therefore, the people, especially those led by the Pharisees and the scribes, crucified and killed the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Now you notice in there (It just suddenly struck me.) the Pharisee was the one who interpreted the Word, and the scribe was the one who merely brought the Word. See, in the Bible there’s a prophet, wise men, and scribes.

A prophet is one who actually brings the Word. He might not explain it at that time, but he has the ability to reach God in order to get the explanation or the revelation, and bring it to the people.

Now the wise are sort of like the class of a five-fold ministry, where they’re able to take the Word that has been not only given according to Rhema, but it has been actually revealed, which would be according to Logos, and take the Word, and deal with that Word for the sake of the people.

Then, you come to the scribe, and he would be one who could merely quote. And, if he was sensible to the position that he held, he would merely quote it and not try to say anything on his own, apart from the ordained way, which God had given.

But you notice that both groups had come against Jesus: those that simply wrote the Word and say, “There it is. That’s what it says.”

And the Pharisees came along, and they said, “Well, that’s what It says all right, but you really don’t know what It says. We’re going to tell you what It says. You listen to us.”

And you notice what they did; they rose up against the Lord’s Christ, their own Messiah, and destroyed Him. Now, what was it they should have listened to? John the Baptist. But they threw away the kingpin. They threw away what was the prerequisite.

So, that’s why at the end time, for God to restore the Word, He would have to send a prophet. And indeed, He said, “Behold, I send you Elijah the prophet, before the coming and the great and notable day of the Lord.” So, there must be a prophet come to earth before the great and notable day of God would come. And that prophet, of course, would have to be such as would reveal the Word. And, when he does, and we believe he already has done it, then you note that those who feature themselves as interpreters or theologians, or in any way able to feel they really know something, arise with those who would say, “Well, I don’t know, but here’s what It says.” And they came against the Lord and crucified Him. They would do the same according to Hebrews 6, where they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh.

3. So, Bro. Branham is speaking of this light pressing the darkness. And we’re looking at that this morning, again, as what did Bro. Branham really have in mind. Now viewing the fact, then, that light was both Logos and Rhema, he used the term there of light; meaning the actual fact of God bringing into manifestation Himself and His Word and, actually, the written Word without manifestation, without explanation, God is both of that. Because remember, Rhema lay back there in God when nothing was ever written. And nothing was ever said. It was just a matter of being there. Then, it was written; then, it was spoken; then, it came into manifestation.

Now, let’s look at it. If God is in the beginning, and there’s nothing before Him, then even His Own thoughts generated from God, constitute a part of God, because that’s all there was there. Right? That’s all there was there. So, Rhema, and what He does about it, is always one and the same thing in the final analysis.

4. So, looking at the fact, then, that Bro. Branham is using the term of light, that which gives us manifestation, that which gives us an understanding, to help us, he said, “That is both Logos and Rhema.” And the Bride was a part of the light and the Word by reason of being: she’s born of God. So therefore, the Bride and every truly born-again Christian, has to be a part of the light and a part of the Word, which is a part of God. So, if you’re a part of God, you’re light and you’re Word. Like Bro. Branham said, “You don’t take a chicken cell and put it with a cat cell. Neither do you build a Bride, which God is building His Own church, by taking anything but Word members.” If it’s going to be a body of Christ, then remember, a body is nothing more nor less than the life expressing itself materially. That’s all! It’s a materialistic concept. My body, your body, is nothing but an _expression of the life within us that got a hold of minerals, proteins, and substances. That’s all. There’s no difference then, from God. When God, then, would form a body, He would have to start with the life that was in Him. And so, the life is light, it’s Word. So, Bro. Branham said, “Every Bride member must be a Word member.” And he piles Word upon Word upon Word, and the whole body is of Word. At the same time the whole body is light, because God is light! God is Word; God is light. In other words God’s able to bring Himself into manifestation. He can bring a Bride into manifestation. And a Bride, then, is part of God, for God is light, and God is Word.

5. So, we find at the end time, that the prayer of Jesus in Jn 17:20-26, is fulfilled. But, before we read it, we want to go back and look at John 8. Now in Jn 8:12, Jesus said unto the mixed multitude—pharisees, scribes, disciples, believers, make-believers, unbelievers:

(12) … I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Well, what’s He talking about? “They’re going to have my Own light!” See? Now, being a seed of God and a light of God, that body, that Bride, does not automatically give you this. It’s only automatic in the sense ‘you will get it’. But it’s not an automatic proposition that by your own innate maturation—in other words inner growth, your own spiritual impetus—will bring it to you. It’s got to come the way God said it. It’s got to come the way God said It. See?

6. (12) … he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Now, how does God give the light to the people? It’s got to be Rhema; it’s got to be Logos. In other words it’s got to be that which was way back in there, in the very beginning, before we have any concept of it; and it lay right in there in God, and God began to move it out. See? So, how’s it going to be done? Well, the Book of Revelation tells you: Seven Church Ages; “Unto the messenger, which is in the church at Ephesus.” God begins to speak. The Spirit begins to speak. So, the Spirit, then, speaks to the church in Seven Church Ages by seven messengers. And in the first age it’s a prophet, and in the last age it’s a prophet.

In-between it wasn’t so. You know why? Because God had already said, “There must be a restoration.” How can you restore that which does not require restoration? You can’t do it. You’re hitting an immortal principle. See? Immortality does not denigrate itself into a corruption. It never needs a restoration! Never does. So, consequently, because of the fall of Adam through Eve, there has to be in every age a falling away, until at the end time. See? Now, even Paul did not have a perfect Word. Paul’s age could not have brought immortality, because he himself sought something. We’ll talk about it in here. We go along. He couldn’t get it. But at the end time, we have it. See? And the Bride must be in position to get it.

7. Now over here, these people, all of them could not get it. Let’s go to John 12. In Jn 12:35 we’re looking again.

(35) (And) Jesus said (mixed multitude again), Yet a little while (and) the light (is) with you. Walk while (you) have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

Now there again, you have the Alpha situation to the Omega situation. The presence of Christ appearing to the Gentiles, proving that it is He, by the same ministry. And He says in here, “I am the light of the world. You’re going to follow me. You’ll have the light.” Now He said, “The light is with you.” Now He said, “Walk in that light lest darkness come upon you.” Now the question comes up: Did darkness come upon Israel because of their failure to see the light? Absolutely. Only the elect will ever see it. What about the end time? It warns us to walk in the light while we have the light, because from that point on, darkness is going to be predominant.

8. Now, let’s take also Jn 12:46.

(46) I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

So, we got the same premise with us at all times that there is a light that God gives His Own elect, and we know how it comes, if you studied the Bible. There is no doubt how it comes. And we can be in that light, as well as being a part of the light. Now, let’s watch it. Darkness cannot tolerate light. It’s going to flee. Light alone can tolerate light, because it mingles with it—is a part of it—having already come out of it. So therefore, if you’re born of the light, which is God, born of that Word, which is God, you will never have any problem of not becoming a part with it, because you’re of it! Now that’s what you’re looking at here.

9. Now, let’s go and look at this in John 17, where Jesus prays about us. We read it the other day. Jn 17:20:

(20) (Jesus said,) Neither pray I for these alone, (That’s the disciples.) but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; (Now, watch; coming down.)

(21) That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (Let’s keep reading.)

(22) And the glory which thou gavest me (I’ve) given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

(23) I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

(24) Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovest me before the foundation of the world.

(25) O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

(26) And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. (And He quit talking.)

Now, let’s go to Jn 15:18 and just read something here.

If the world hate you, (you) know that it hated me before it hated you.

If (you’re) of the world, the world would love his own: but because (you’re) not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hate(s) you.

Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, (they’ll) also persecute you; if (they’ve) kept my saying(s), (they’ll also) keep yours also.

Now, just hold your finger there and quickly thumb back, or finger back, whatever you’re going to do, to 1 Jn 3:1:

(1) Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew not (him).

10. Now, let’s go to Rev 3:9.

(9) Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Then, when does the prayer of John 17 actually take place? It has to take place at the White Throne, because all inbetween tells you… Now, let’s read again what He said in John 17, just so you know what I’m talking about.

(20) (I pray for those that are going to believe on My name, down through the ages.)

(21) They all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, they also may be one in us: that the world may believe thou hast sent me.

Notice what He said: “The world may believe.” When’s it going to? It doesn’t believe in Seven Church Ages. The world doesn’t accept anything. Then It says here, verse 25:

(25) O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these (whom) thou hast sent (and so on).

Right down the line He’s talking about these people being one with Him.

11. Now, let’s just look at this for a second. In the beginning of the church ages, we had a church that was spoken of in 2 Corinthians 11. Paul is speaking to them; and he says:

(2) I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Now that’s what he had been given of God to bring into existence as a foundation for all the Seven Church Ages and the church, which was to be built upon it. She was to be a virgin. But notice, she loses her virginity, and what it is—what it means to lose her virginity.

(3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtility,

Now it can’t go back to an act of the flesh, just like the Talmud said, and the book of Yabemoth, that the serpent and Eve cohabited and brought forth Cain. And again, Israel said to Jesus, “We be not born of fornication. We have one Father, God.”

And you can’t find the lineage of Cain in the Bible. He doesn’t have it. He doesn’t go back. See? So, they understood serpent seed. As much as people try to tell you it’s not a doctrine, don’t worry about them. The Pentecostals shout the loudest and scream the most, because they are the chaff. That’s all. They’re the chaff. Now, don’t try to dress it up.

You say, “Bro. Vayle don’t tell me these lovely, sweet people.”

I was in Pentecost a long, long time, going in about, before I was eighteen even. So, I know all about it. I’m not interested. I know one thing: the Bible. I don’t care about anything else.

12. Now you can’t go back to the beginning of the origins of the seeds. Can’t do it. And remember, Jesus Himself said, “They’re people.” And He said, “The good sower went forth and sowed people. And the bad sower went forth and sowed people.” So, you’ve got to put it where it is. There’s those that are dark; they have no part of light. They never did and never will. Why God did it, that’s His business. We understand.

He’s talking now about a wrong word coming to people’s minds, which will change the entire concept of what Paul laid down. They will preach another Jesus, they will preach another spirit, they will preach another gospel. So consequently, they will have another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel. And it’s going to be a complete dismal failure. However, at the end time, watch what happens in 1 Corinthians 15, for It says over here, verse 51:

(51) I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep; we shall all be changed,

(52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, the dead (in Christ) be raised, and we shall be changed.

(53) For this corruptibility must put on incorruptibility.

Now that’s an inner garment that gives you an incorruptibility! Now, what brought about corruptibility? Getting off the Word! What will bring incorruptibility? There’s only one thing can do it: it is somehow getting that person back to a place in the mind and program of God, wherein that person can come back to a complete virgin mind, in spite of the fact of what he is! Follow what I’m saying?

13. Now, let’s look at Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve were fallible; they were innocent. They were not righteous as we know righteousness. They were good people. The word of the enemy corrupted their minds. Instantly getting away from the Word, they fell away from the possibility of immortality. They died. Had they never touched the word that Satan presented, they would have eventually become immortal, within six thousand years. Everybody would have become immortal with them. And we’re talking about people who are mortal, because Adam and Eve were not immortal. They would have come to immortality, absolutely basically. Now we have to get back to the place that they were! The place that they were is a virgin mind!

Now remember, Christ was the virgin mind of God! And never, ever changed!

Satan came and said, “Tell you what;” he quoted the Word. He said, “If you be the Son of God, turn these stones into bread.”

He knew it was absolutely possible. Now you can do it, (turn stones into bread) if, first of all, you break the stone down, you pulverize it to a place where it releases minerals, you have the water and sunshine, and you put some seed into it. You could turn it into bread. But that wasn’t what Satan had in mind. He knew that God could do anything. Absolutely. Jesus proved it by turning water into wine, bypassing the natural processes of water going through the grapes and all, as Bro. Branham explained.

So, he said, “Why don’t You turn these stones into bread? It’s a sign, then, that You are able to prove that you’re the Son of God. Show the people.”

Well, he said, “No.” He said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but every Word that proceeds out of the mouth.”

14. Notice what the virgin mind said!

Satan, then, says, “All right. Why don’t you get up to the temple, make a big show of yourself. Prove that you are the chief rabbi, that you’re the High Priest. Jump on down. You won’t die.”

He said, “It is written, thou shalt not tempt the Lord, thy God.” Notice the virgin mind.

He said, “I’ll tell you. I’ll give you everything, if You worship me.”

And He said, “Thou shalt worship only the Lord God.”

Notice the virgin mind!

Then, we’ve got to come to a virgin mind! And, when you are changed in your body, there’ll be no trouble with the virgin mind! But the living have got to beat that!

You say, “I don’t know if I’m going to have a virgin mind.”

What are you giving up for? What are you chickening out for? Eagles don’t chicken. Chickens chicken! Buzzards buzz—eat carrion. And you know what happens when you get a hold of a buzzard and he is not happy with you? He throws up on you! Talk about all the tables being full of vomit. Buzzard vomit, they tell me, is the worst in the world. He said, “You talk about stink.” All that filthy, rotten meat, the carrion the buzzards eat, they throw up on you! So, go to some church and hear your dead theologians with their dead dogmas! Have your buzzard vomit. But, if you’re of the other mind, then you’ve got to realize that you have the full potential of who and what you are in Christ, being of God! To have a virgin mind. That virgin mind brings us right to immortality. Now that’s what we’re reading of over here in John 17.

15.  Now, if you get back to Jn 17:16:

(16) They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

(17) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (That’s Rhema when it’s revealed! Becoming true Logos, in its certain area.)

(18) As thou hast sent me into the world, even so I also sent them into the world.

(19) And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. (Now notice, he said:)

(17) Sanctify them through truth: thy word is truth. (Notice.)

(19) And for their sakes I sanctify myself.

How? By the Word! “It is written. It is written. It is written!” “If you’d known Moses, you would have known me. Search the Scripture, in them you think you have eternal life; they are they which testify of me.” He always went to the Word. He sanctified Himself by truth! Never mind acting it out. This, number one, is passive faith. Active faith is where you stand with it and claim the promises. But, let me tell you something. How good would it have been to Abraham to try to procreate a son by Sarah, if he hadn’t had the promise? My, he couldn’t even do the act. Well, why don’t you try it? I’m not being nasty. I’m not being crude. I’m just telling you the truth. You relate everything to Scripture, and understand It. How can you possibly have a virgin mind unless it’s granted to you, number one, by God, then something is presented which makes sure you have a virgin mind!

16. Now Jesus said, “I sanctify myself for their sakes.” In other words, “I go a hundred percent by the Word, thereby standing for them in that which they cannot stand for themselves!”

Understand what I’m saying? I hope you understand what I’m saying.

He said, “I sanctify myself for their sakes. Because they cannot stand for themselves, I am standing for them.”

Now there’s no way that you and I can have a virgin mind outside of the Presence of the same One Who said it, and Who sanctifies Himself once more for the Gentiles in order that they can have the virgin mind! I know this is too deep for everybody but ones like us. Go plumb over their heads, because they think we’re doing doubletalk. I am not doing doubletalk, my brother/sister. This is not doubletalk at all. We saw through that man’s ministry “THUS SAITH THE LORD,” “THUS SAITH THE LORD,” “THUS SAITH THE LORD,” thousands and thousands of times. Never once did it fail!

Does God back a man up with lies? If He does, then why didn’t Jesus lie? Jesus sanctified Himself by the Word. So does every prophet sanctify himself by the Word. Why? Because the Word has nothing to do with the prophet in the sense the prophet has something to do with the Word; he is a catalyst. He’s a channel. The Word of God has to come through him absolutely untouched, but it does something as it comes through him, like a catalyst, and it’s also a channel. See? God has always sanctified Himself unto His Word. And what would you have here? You have the same thing in this hour.

17. So, let’s read It again now.

(18) As thou hast sent me into the world, even so I (send) them into the world.

(19) For their sakes I sanctify myself, they might (also) be sanctified through the truth.

(20) Neither pray I for these alone,

So, what is He saying here? “As I am come into the world, in order to be sanctified by the truth, which is the Word, that that Word in my acknowledgment, under every consideration, brings me to the place where I can stand as that Messiah and eventually be recognized.” He wasn’t recognized back there. So the Christian must also be absolutely sanctified and set apart by the Word until the time of recognition. Now the recognition you get now is negative! I proved it to you. John 15:18.

(18) If the world hate you, (you) know that it hated me before it hated you.

(19) (Now) if (you’re) of the world, the world would love his own: because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hate(s) you.

Now He talked of being sanctified. All right, let’s go to 2 Thessalonians and read It like we’ve never read It before: 1 Th 2:13. Paul is speaking to those that believe the truth at the end time.

(13) But we are bound to give thanks always(s) to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit (even the) belief of the truth:

Now, if you’ve been sanctified, you’ve come into that complete union that Christ talks of, which you can have at this time! And the world’s going to hate you for it. The buzzards are going to throw up on you, because they can’t stand it. Now I’m sorry, but that’s the way it is. The one thing that riled the devil more than anything in this world was the Word; because that’s the first thing he came against in the Garden of Eden. And that is what he perverted in heaven.

18. Now, this unity we have, Bro. Branham spoke of in “Invisible Union.” It’s a completion. And it’s got to be in somebody at the end time, although there’s going to be only very few standing here and get out of here. There’ll be a lot of people die off. No problem. But to literally stand here, there’s not going to be too many. There are people right in this Message that draw a blank when you tell them that. Where have they been the last 25 years, I’d like to know, and the several years before that as Bro. Branham preached. There’ll be very few. But don’t let that hinder you. Just keep believing. Press on!

Now there is a Word-identified Bride, the same as Jesus was the identified mind of God. Now the Bride believes the Word, because she understands vindication. Now, let me throw something at you. Eve did not believe the Word! I think you believe in your heart that Bro. Branham said something different. Bro. Branham didn’t say something different. He said she just misbelieved one word. That changed the whole thing. In plain English, then, she did not believe what the Word of God had to say about the present condition under which she was, and she perverted the whole thing; or, as Bro. Branham said, “She caused an interruption.”

Eve did not believe the Word, therefore, she either did not, #1: understand, or #2: believe in vindication. Now she understood enough to argue. But she didn’t have a clue about vindication. She didn’t have a clue about vindication.

You say, “What vindication?”

The animals. Nature. Perfection. Her husband. God coming down and talking. Vindication. She didn’t believe it. Adam believed the Word based on vindication, because he knew that Eve came out of him, though she didn’t have any remembrance of it. That sound familiar? She didn’t evidently. She had no remembrance at all when she was back there. He believed the vindicated Word, but he absolutely disobeyed it for Eve. Now, watch. Cain also refused God’s vindication. Because Abel was vindicated, the fire came down and consumed the offering. Burned it right up. Sure. Cain refused vindication. Then, what did he do? He killed his brother! So, number one: you check your brother! Does he believe in vindication. In other words, does he believe in a prophet to bring an absolute revealed and perfect Word of Almighty God, even if you argue about it! Understand?

19. Now, according to Bro. Branham, if the Day Star is to rise in our hearts, and we are to be a part of the new day’s dawning, we must come to the place of Abraham, who accepted the visitation of God and the revealed and vindicated Word of God. And that’s what he stood on. And with no time at all, Sodom burned. Yes. And the son in human flesh came into existence. Of course, there was the period of gestation and all, but it just suites our type in that respect, that Sodom had to burn before the child could come.

And that’s what you’re looking at right now. When the church positively accepts (That’s the Bride.) the vindication where there are no more doubts and fears. Never mind the full impact and the full understanding, because Bro. Branham said you can be in this much and make it, and that much and miss it. (Holding his fingers open half an inch, saying you could make it. Holding his fingers open four inches, saying you could miss it.) It’s whether you’re sold and sanctified the way Christ was and the apostles finally were, who said, “Live or die, sink or swim, this is it.” And live or die, they did sink. They didn’t swim. They were all killed off except John. They went down, but they went down with the Word. And they’re waiting for the Resurrection based on it. And brother/sister, there’s going to be a people standing here who believe in this Word, and they will not die. Somebody’s got to have it! Somebody’s got to have it. When are they going to have it? When the Lord Himself descends with an Order! Not a shout! It’s an Order--a rule of subjection--where He puts the church in order and begins putting the universe in order (See? —where we can come down on it.

20. You ever notice this oil spill up in Alaska? Don’t feel bad about it. It had to happen. Don’t feel bad about all the waste in the world. It has to happen, because God has to destroy those who destroy the earth! And, unless the earth is destroyed, He can’t destroy the destroyers! So, the Bible said, “Lift up your heads and rejoice. When all these things come, get happy!” Yeah. I like to preach that in a church where they want you screaming and all.

You just heard something now that should set you on fire; because pollution--we never had it so rank. Look at yourselves and your kids! There’s not a home that’s not full of pollution. Lead in the paint, radon, God knows what else there is! The ammonia you smell, the stuff given off by neon lights! Everything conspires to kill you! I think we ought to thank God we’re half as well off as we are. But He’s going to destroy those that destroy the earth; and, unless there are people who destroy it, He cannot come on the scene. And then, He’ll renovate it and bring us back. So, let it come! When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Lord raises up a standard! What is a standard? It’s an ensign. It’s a prophet. God raises that man up. You don’t raise God up. God’s always been raised up. Just comes back on the scene.

21. Now, we can go back to page 20, and we’ll quickly read again: paragraph 112.

[112] When we see darkness settling, that darkness that is just before the day, when you see it, we know that the morning star is hanging yonder to introduce the coming sun. Now the bottom of the paragraph. But the morning star when it comes says, “Good morning. Shalom.”

That means He that’s among us is identifying His Word. What does Shalom mean, then? What is peace today? In this hour of desperation we’re in? Darkness. Why peace means:

[113] That’s He amongst us, His Word being identified.

That means ‘peace’. He is here. Let’s go to Mark 4 and see it. And we’re going to say the same things that every preacher’s ever said. It’s like a cliché; so, forgive me. Mark 4:35-41.

(35) And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over (to) the other side.

(36) And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

(37) And there arose a great storm of wind, the waves beat into the ship, (until it was just full of water.)

(38) And (here) he was (asleep) in the hind part of the ship, on a pillow (evidently kept him higher than the water): and they (were a little bit feisty), and (they said), Master, (Hey, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?) (Well, you’d want to start bailing. Be a little bit mad.)

(39) He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said (to) the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, there was a great calm.

And he wasn’t very pleased for being wakened up and called on the scene to calm the storm, because he already said, “We’re going across.” Like one fellow said, “He didn’t say we’re going to sit in the middle and be drowned. We’re going across. If I said we’re going across, we’re going across. Then, what are you fussing about?” [End of side one of the audio tape.] So, now Jesus was a bit feisty.

(40) He said, Why are (you) so fearful? How is it that (you) have no faith?

Now, watch what the rebuke did. It did them good. That’s why Bro. Branham said, “You come to church to get corrected.”

(41) And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man if this, that even the wind and sea obey him?

What manner of man was William Branham to say “THUS SAITH THE LORD” thousands of times, and each time God backed him up?

“Oh, he’s a little Kentucky hillbilly. Well, he only had a grade seven education. Why he doesn’t, he’s never been to a Bible school. And he’s got no credentials. And furthermore, he is entirely gross in his theology, because everybody knows there’s three gods, and this fellow preaches one.”

And, how come their three gods didn’t back them up? See?

I like the old man who said, “Let Baal plead.”

They said, “Don’t you know this fellow’s gone in there and shoved over the image of Baal and made a great to-do in the temple of Baal?” They said, “Why don’t you kill your son?”

He said, “shut-up. If Baal’s so big, let Baal handle my son, or he ain’t much of a god.”

Oh, that old tough gentleman had more theology and truth than all of Israel put together, except, maybe, his son.

22. Let God plead for Himself. If God’s God and William Branham’s His prophet, let God do something about it. And He did thousands and thousands of times. Then, a prophet comes on the scene and explains that ring of angels, and they say, “Oh that’s not true, that’s something else.”

Oh, you tell me what it is! Give me one sign you can even tell the truth. I’ll ask you a question this morning: what they produced in Utah, was it merely a chemical reaction, or is it true fusion at room temperature? Tell me! Now Gene, you’re smart; tell me. What would your guess be? ‘Que sera’. Well, there goes the scientist down the drain. Peter’s not here. He’s a chemist of a high order. Anybody taken a lot of chemistry? Did you get a degree in it? Now they’re going to fuss and fuss and argue. And let them do it. They may finally prove it’s fusion at a low temperature, but can they make it work to where it’s going to do something for us? I don’t know. But I’m trying to show you something: man doesn’t have the answers!

23. So, if you’ve got “THUS SAITH THE LORD,” somebody’s doing something, and everybody ought to sit still, shut up and listen and try to find out something. That’s what Bro. Branham said. “He amongst us has been identified.” What is this that William Branham is dealing with? The God of the Bible.

You say, “Well, I don’t know that that’s true.”

Well, I’ll tell you what. You’re going to have to wait to find out. Everybody else has to, too. And, what if it’s too late? And according to the Word of God, something’s going to happen at the end time, when it is going to be too late. And It says that those who are too late are dark and stay in their darkness. They don’t listen to the Word which sanctified Jesus. The sanctifying Word that Jesus had in His day was the Word applicable to Him that He endured and saw through! You’ve got the same right here. Under Matthew 12 and Hebrews 6. We have Christ sanctified amongst us again, doing what you and I aren’t supposed to do and can’t do. But believing in it gives us the assurance of grace.

See, the Day Star arising into the church, is none other than the Son of man amongst us: the days having returned and God identifying Himself.

[113] Now notice, he said, with this the day is fixing to break. Millennium’s going to be on hand. The morning eternal. Our names are on the Books, we know we’re going to be there, we’re sanctified. Paragraph 114.

[114]  The darkness is separating…

That means dogma is refusing vindicated doctrinal light and ending in Hebrews 6; there is no more repentance; there is no room to change the mind! If you’re not a part of the virgin mind of Christ, it’s too late! There’ll come a time when the great tribulation sets in, and there’s nothing anybody can do about it, because It says there’s only one time left you can repent or change your mind. See? Eve changed her mind about the Word! Adam disobeyed the Word! Christ came and perfection of the mind with the Word, obeyed the Word, sanctified us! Now the same God of truth is in our midst, because He said at the end time… I’ll read it for you. Let’s go back to Revelation 3.

(14) And unto the (messenger) of the church of the Laodicean write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness,

See? Thus saith the God of the Amen, the God of truth. Once more God has sanctified Himself by His Own Word—Spirit of Christ here, fulfilling His Own Word, not deviating. It means that you and I now have the completeness of a redemption for the last hour, because it’s all a part of redemption. The Book of Redemption came down with it. “Darkness is separating.”

24. Bro. Branham said, “What’s doing it?”

[114] God is causing it, the Light is doing it. The Light is pressing Itself in such a way until the darkness has to congregate, the tares are coming together. Organization, creeds and dogmas. They had a chance to accept it. They wouldn’t do so; so it’s condensed itself.

What does he mean, ‘condensed itself’? The light has gone to one place, which is in the Bride, and the darkness has gone to the other place, and they are separate. And you’ll not get them together. No sir. There was light at the evening time, and evening time is where there was light and shadow mingled. It was a kind of gray, never-never land. But, when the light came, the light all came together, and the darkness went. And remember, there’s more darkness than light. The whole thing goes to darkness.

[114] And they do that by the…Council of Churches. When they so firmly disagree with one another…

Oh, they can’t stand each other’s doctrine, but from this point on, they can’t help themselves. They will come together with their doctrine!

You say, “Bro. Vayle, what is doing it?”

Bro. Branham just told us: the Message he brought.

You say, “Well, I think maybe, if you look at history and the politics and economics, it’s something else.”

No, that’s where you’re wrong!

You say, “Well, it’s economics, because the people have compassion!”

They know you should help those poor African people. They know you should help those downtrodden people around the world. And they’ve got a good heart to please God. They want mankind saved. God says they’re not going to get saved.

So, you see what they’re doing in the name of Jesus, in a Christian attitude. They know that suffering mankind can’t take anymore and won’t take anymore. It means complete anarchy. And they’re trying to save the world, bringing us together. That’s real love. That’s real God to them.

They are insane. Tell me… I’ll tell you straight. They haven’t got a clue about “THUS SAITH THE LORD.”

25. It is this Message that William Branham preached that did it, because it didn’t do it before. In 1946 he was commissioned; 1948, the World Council came into existence. San Francisco, I guess it was. The United Nations formulated their freedoms and said what we’ll do. And at the same time within two years, they kicked Christ right outside the door! And said “We are as good as Christ. And voodoo’s as good as Jesus Christ. And anybody and anything else is as good as Jesus Christ. Forget your religion. We are now going to institute the highest order of religion there is, that which evolves out of mankind.”

It’s the same lie I heard this morning: the Catholics saying, “I’m going to pray to this saint and that saint.” Who gave any pope or anybody the right to ordain someone to get prayed to? You talk about heathen blasphemy. What did it? The Word did it. The same One that came down judging. [Points to the picture of the Cloud—the Judge.] Why do you get in trouble today with the nation? Because of the law. The Word tells you distinctly, if you abide by the law, you’re a good citizen. Nobody bothers you. But the minute you disobey the law and you work evil, it comes down onto you. Now, what about God? That’s it.

26. [115]  Now he says here, “Arise, and shine, for the Light is come.”

In other words, get up on your toes and become part of the vindicated Word and confess it. What do you believe over here, Jn 3:16. Jn 3:16 is great; just read the rest of it. Condemnation is right in the world. Men turn down light, which is the Word of God.

“Well, I don’t know if I believe that. I’m telling you I believe this is the way it is.”

“Well, God bless you brother,” and off you go. Don’t fool with the guy. That’s what Bro. Branham’s saying, have a sweet spirit about this whole thing. I didn’t get mad at the guy at all! You just say, “I’m light; I met my darkness. Everything’s got a counter part. It takes a bad woman to make a good woman look good. So, this fellow here with his crazy doctrine makes me look good in the sight of God, and I talk my message with my brothers and sisters. I have a great time. So, I’ve got nothing against the guy,” and say, “Hallelujah.”

27. Just like the guy destroying the earth--Exxon.

They say, “Well, let’s not patronize Exxon.”

I think that’s a good idea. If I was the government, I’d kick everybody out of Exxon, take the company over, and put it up for bids.

I’d tell the next guy, “You make one boo-boo, we’ll throw you all in jail.”

Not one of you, not one of you, not one of you, will miss jail—next fifty years. I’ll confiscate everything you got if you put one more drunken man out there. I’d do that. But God doesn’t. Why? Because either it was Will Rogers or it was Mark Twain, I’m not sure which, said something like this. He said, “When it comes to religion, spiritual things,” he said, “eighty percent,” I think he said, “are led of the devil. When it comes to politics, a hundred percent’s led by the devil.”

So, I sanctify myself by His Word. Just close myself right off. I’m a part of it. I’m not getting angry at anybody.

“Oh, Bro. Vayle talk to yourself a whole lot about that in the days to come.”

I need that one. I need to do it.

Get up and testify; identify yourself.

28. [116] Rise, and shine, the Light has come. You’re a part of it, tell the world. The Word, Light, is vindicated again. God’s vindicated Himself! Tell it! The Light vindicated again, God’s Word, so that you can see God manifested in His promise of the Light of the day, what is the light of the day? The Day Star rising. How’s it going to be done? Through Elijah the prophet! Don’t back away from that. Don’t back away from that. And understand the truth: the Elijah of this hour is the Lord Jesus Christ; not a man, but it comes by a prophet. Not a man, God, but it comes by a prophet. See? God’s Word, you can see God manifested in His promise of the Light of the day, or the Word given to this age (See?), these promises that’s made for this day, these promises that were said by the prophets, and by Jesus Himself. In this day! “God, in sundry times...” He used a prophet, see? Last day now by His Son.

Okay, we identify as being part of the Message. And we identify as one with the prophet in the Word. Notice, brother/sister, for the first time, denomination has come out against William Branham. Number one: the Pentecostals shied away. The other churches wouldn’t touch him. They couldn’t. He was too supernatural. Pentecost shied away; they began fussing at him. Pretty soon they wrote about him, some others began fussing and writing. Now they’re all against it. Missionaries overseas are fussing about it. Sure.

I had an article long time ago about one, and they said, “The worst cult in all the world is the Branham cult down here, because he made himself Jesus Christ.” That was down there where Soto went, and those guys down in Venezuela and Peru and places, with their utter folly. Now they’re all against the Message.

29. “Now, once more through His Son, the last day through His Son, in the form of the Holy Ghost.” Now, let me read right down here. I’m going to read right through. Bro. Branham says:

[117] He is that great Light, that’s that One in our midst, Shalom, means the One there. Peace, because He’s here, like He was in the boat, going to take us across. He is the great Light that hung in the wilderness when Moses forsook Egypt, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater treasures than that of Egypt.

[118] The same One that met Saul on the road to Damascus. A great Light hung before Him, the same Light, same Pillar of Fire. Being a Hebrew, never worship a spirit or anything, or call it “Lord.” He said, “Lord, who are You?”

[119] He answered back, “I am Jesus.” (Jesus said, “I came from God, and I go to God.”)

[120] That same Light has come. To what? To manifest, to make known to the people the promises that He made for this day, manifested Light of the day. The darkness is darkened.

William Branham said, “I have the same thing that Moses and Paul had because of the Presence of Jesus Christ.” Now, you’ve got to identify with that.

You say, “Well, that’s too big.” Well, it’s not for me. I saw “THUS SAITH THE LORD.” I’m not going to fool with these other guys that come around and say, “Well, don’t say it. Be careful.” Why should I? If God identified Himself, and kept on identifying Himself, in spite of what men say, then I’m going to stick with what that man said, because I got a far better chance. And I’m looking for a chance brother/sister, because I don’t know anybody who came back from the dead. Do you? Well, if you had, just let me know, and I’ll go out, and we’ll talk to them. Not some spook; I mean literally come back. The only hope I’ve got that Jesus came back, that He’s not history, is that. [Points to the picture of the Pillar of Fire over Bro. Branham.]

30. So, let’s get down to where we are, not pretend we’re in some cloud with these ignoramuses out here. Let’s not get down where the chickens are picking manure, but let’s think like eagles; because a little eagle was in there picking manure with the chickens, and he couldn’t stomach it, until one day he heard an eagle scream, and that began turning him around. And after his first jump, he didn’t go back in the pen again, either.

31. [120] To manifest, to make known to the people the promises that He’s made for this day, manifested light. The darkness has darkened.

[121] When He came, he was the Light of the day. There was supposed to come a Messiah. And He was just exactly like God said He would come. And when He did, what was He? The Light of the day. Sure. See?

You don’t know how to make a certain thing work. Like, maybe, they’ve changed where they put the… What do you call the lights on your car? The switch. Maybe they put it down on the right hand side, or the left hand side, just reach down easy; don’t even bother the wheel. You can’t find it.

Somebody said, “Well, it’s here.”

Ah, the light goes on right? It’s the way it always is. Anything made manifest is light. Anything that gives understanding is light. Anything that helps you down the road is light. All of these things are light. It’s called light. See?

[121] He was the Light of the day. Sure was. He said He was. And It pressed the darkness so against Him! In other words, the enemy pressed it against Him. Is that right? He had to give His Life that the Light continue, could shine. He was the Light of the day. But why, why was He the Light of the day? He was the vindicated Word that had been spoken, made manifest.

So, today, when Bro. Branham says, “Shalom,” the point is: have we got something that indicated that God really was on the scene and doing something which was pertinent to His children?

Well, they say, “That sure wasn’t.”

Well, there to me was. There’s where I disagree with the world.

32. [122] God said over this gloomy, dismal, dark, mossy world… You know what moss is? It’s a kind of a fungus-like thing. It grows where it’s dark and damp. It grows on the north side of the tree, because it doesn’t get the sunlight. You know? It’s a dismal thing; you don’t like it at all. Dark, dismal world that stood without light, He said, “let there be light.” And it wasn’t light until the Word was manifested, then it was light.

That’s right. In other words, look, anybody can say, “Well, I believe this, believe this, believe this is right here, Rhema.” Well, you make Rhema work itself out. No book ever proved itself! And this Book doesn’t either, unless it was written by God, and God says, “I’m going to do what I said in the Book.”

Praise God. You know enough about mathematics and geometry and physics and everything else, you people sitting, even the smallest, you know that you cannot possibly make something work that is unfeasible in mathematics. You just can’t do it. If it’s not a law of one and one make two, and two and two make four, there is no way it’s going to work. You can get into a theory where you’ll take algebra, and by a theory, get mathematics to work on a higher level. That is true and that is good, because you’re combining mathematics and the alphabet, and it comes out to the same thing, because they’re both measurements! But I’m going to tell you one thing, brother/sister, a centimeter is a centimeter is a centimeter is a centimeter. You can’t change it by one billionth, and it would still be. You can’t change things that are unchangeable. You cannot change this Word of God. You cannot change God! God has a way of doing things so that you and I can change. That’s wonderful. Manifested light.

33. [123] He said, “There’ll come a Savior, Messiah.” It still wasn’t manifested until He came to manifest that promise. It couldn’t come until that hour, see? And when He vindicated that promise, He says, “Search the Scripture, for in Them you think you have Eternal Life; and They are They that testify Me.”

In other words he’s telling you right here that William Branham, having being vindicated by God and preached the Word for the hour, proves that this is the Word for the hour! You don’t go back somewhere in Zechariah and say, “Why didn’t Bro. Branham teach on that?” like this guy from Europe did.

I know you think it’s not polite to mention names, so I’ll spare you this morning. I’ll be polite, but just this morning. Not after this morning, because the guy’s over there a millionaire now, with a doctor’s degree. And he came over here to America, and he said, “Bro. Branham did not tell us right about Zechariah.”

Well, Bro. Branham didn’t have to tell us about Zechariah. It isn’t for us.

34. Now, listen. You are not so ridiculous this morning that you think you can leave your yard and go to your neighbor’s yard, and act as though what your neighbor had is yours and bring it to your place. They’ll throw you in coop for stealing! Then, what makes you think you can fool with the Word of God, which is a higher authority?

The Bible distinctly says, “If a man sin against man, the judge will judge him; but, if a man sin against You, O God, who will plead for him?”

How are you going to compromise with God? Come on, brother/sister. You’ve got to understand vindication here. I’m just going to take one more thing here.

35. Now, look. We’re talking about this. So, let’s go to 2 Peter 1. Now we’re going to start reading here, verse 2.

(2) Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and Jesus our Lord.

(3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us (unto) glory and virtue:

(4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (Now, if you’re going to have… partake of the divine nature through those things they got to be given to you.)

(5) And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

(6) And to knowledge temperance; temperance patience; patience godliness;

(7) Godliness brotherly kindness; brotherly kindness charity (love).

(8) If these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now It tells you right here that there is a way of growing up into Christ and getting a very strong knowledge, which is in the line of fruitfulness.

36. Now, let’s keep reading to verse 11.

(9) But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten he was purged from his old sins.

(10) Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if (you) do these things, (you’ll) never (fail):

(11) For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Now he tells you here that you’re looking to go into the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now evidently there is something that has to do with the end time that allows you to enter into this Kingdom. Because Peter goes on to say, “We were in the holy mount, where Jesus had already told us, ‘Some of you will not see death, until you see the Son of man coming in His Kingdom.’”

Now he said, “You want to enter into that, you’d better be standing there, when that Kingdom comes! And you’d better be in this shape.” Which is one virtue for every church age, until He Himself, Who is Word, Who is Life, Who is Light, Who is Spirit, Who is Love, comes and seals you in. Now, if you don’t lack at the end time, you’ll go in. But, if you come right up to brotherly kindness, you’re not going to go in. And that’s the Seventh Church Age. So, you got to have something to seal you in. Something to crown. Bro. Branham said that was God Himself coming in. And so you’ll have an abundant entrance into the everlasting Kingdom.

37. (12) Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though (you) know them, and be established in the present truth.

Now he said, “You’re established in the truth that is present.” What was the present truth? Redemption. The First Church Age. And Peter was looking down at the last age. Now they were going to make it through the Resurrection. But what about those who don’t see death? You know what I’m saying? Some aren’t going to see death, because that’s what Peter’s talking about. So they’ve got a truth that must be present with them! A present truth. Let’s read It and find out.

38. Now he said:

(14) Knowing (this I must) shortly put off my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.

Now he said, “I’m telling you, looking way down the road, there’s going to be a people who walk right into the Kingdom. I only saw it in a vision. But somebody is going to walk into it!”

Right? Oh yes. That’s exactly true. And I’m not talking about the dead coming back. I’m talking about “some shall not taste death.”

The same thing was said by Paul: “What about the living at the time of the dead?” He said, “I’ll tell you about the dead and the living at their time. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a Shout.”

The only truth that can get them what Peter is talking about (And he illustrates. I’ll read It to you) is a present truth; what is present with you.

(15) Moreover I will endeavor that (you) may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

(16) For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and (the) coming (the very Presence) of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitness of his majesty.

“I’m telling you the truth!” he said. “I was there to see what is coming. And there’s going to be people standing that don’t die!” Now that’s right!

(17) For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Now, listen. Jesus stood there, and God testified to Him! Do you hear what I said? Jesus stood there glorified. And God testified to Him. Now, at this time Jesus is on the throne glorified, and Rev 5:1, which is Rev 10:1, which is God, has come down and testified to Jesus! [Points to the picture of the Pillar of Fire.]

39. Why do you think Bro. Branham kept saying, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am pleased to dwell in?” Jesus didn’t say that. God said it! And just before New Jerusalem, which opens up with the Resurrection, making a complete Bride, there will be One from heaven Who speaks again on earth. Now remember, Jesus is away glorified, and the scene that Peter saw was that time, away glorified. And a voice from heaven spoke, and God must speak once more according to Paul in Hebrews 12. And He does. Now, listen:

(18) And this voice which (we heard) came from heaven (which) we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

(19) We have a word of prophecy (made more sure);

Why? He only saw it; he didn’t get into it! This time you’re not going to see it, you’ll walk into it, and you’ll see it when you get there, of course. In other words it’s not a matter of seeing it. It’s a matter of going into it! Do you follow me? Okay, I’m glad you see it. All right.

(19) … whereunto (you) do well that (you) take heed, as unto a light that shine(s) in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your heart:

Now It tells you right there that there’s going to be a time of darkness. There’s going to be a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn. In other words, until that time when that Kingdom comes into literal being, with people standing here, and changed, and walk right into it. See?

Now something has got to happen. The Day Star has got to rise—Christ in our midst, vindicated. Wasn’t He vindicated back there? A voice from heaven. Then, won’t He be vindicated now? Yes