The divine intervention through the Reformation was overdue, but from the Biblical point of view it was not sufficient. The question arises whether the reformers who were all sons of the Roman church did fully comprehend that a new beginning was essential, because there was not much to be reformed in that worldly system. In one way, the Word of the prophet Jeremiah can be applied, “Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns” (4:3), on the other hand also the prophecy: “We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed; forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country …” It was an exodus, a breaking away and a coming out, as though the voice was heard from heaven: “Come
out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Rev. 18:4).

For example, Luther understood the words which were recorded by the apostle John, “… for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.“ (Rev. 18:23-24), also the utterance made by the prophet Jeremiah: “Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, that made all the earth drunk; the nations have drunk of her wine; therefore, the nations are mad.” (51:7). But the Reformation was not crowned by a break through to the early Christianity. In fact, certain things were reformed and others were changed or done away with.

The selling of indulgences, the role of the pope and the condition in general was in question. The most important was the testimony that man is saved and justified by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer. This message was the climax of the Reformation. It was the actual break through which caused the blowing up of the Babylonian prison house. On the other hand, certain doctrines were kept which were totally unscriptural and typically Catholic. The so-called sacraments were only reduced, the baptism of infants and other things were carried through.

Unfortunately, the concept of the trinity belief remained with the Protestants, and, therefore, they partly walked in the same footsteps.
Jews and those who believed differently, for instance the ones who practised baptism by immersion, were condemned by Luther, Schwenkfeld and such others. In Geneva, the Spanish physician Michel Servet was burned at stake on the 27th of October, 1553, with the consent of Calvin, just because he rejected the trinity teaching. The remarks Luther and Melanchton made about those who rebaptised are documented in church history. The Catholic idea of it being the only saving church was not totally put away by the Reformers. Therefore, they did not tolerate those of other beliefs. Even up to this day, churches who exist for hundreds of years are still looked upon to be sects, although the word sect, according to Webster, denotes a portion from the whole, an organised religious fellowship. In view of this fact, all organised denominations are sects, namely a part from the whole. Because of the various cult-religions in recent time the word “sect” is seasoned with a bad flavour.

In the days of Reformation, the God set goal of the New Testament Church was not fully reached. But the first step in faith was certainly made which was the returning to the open preaching of God’s word. We are, therefore, grateful to those before the Reformation who were burned at stakes and also for the actual reformers.

Henceforth, the Kingdom of God forced its way through. One revival followed the other. Ever more the light of the Gospel began to come forth evermore. From the first step of justification by faith followed the next of the experience of sanctification of heart by the same Word and the Spirit of God. Fiery revival preachers who made church history proclaimed the Bible truths which were experienced by the listeners. Like the servants of God in other times they
were not officially respected because they were not dignitaries but they were just ministers of the Word who brought the people into connection with Christ by the preaching of the gospel.
Regrettably some of those men stopped at a special doctrine revealed to them. Some were satisfied with justification, others with conversion and baptism and again others with sanctification. But God moved on by His Spirit.

Around the turn of this century, a spontaneous moving of the Spirit happened in the various protestant churches and among converted believers who were longing for God. Similar to the experience when Christianity originated, they also experienced God in a supernatural way. So the Pentecostal movement of the 20th century had its beginning.

From the different movements since the Reformation and the revivals, various churches came into existence. Because of human failures and a mixed multitude, things went spiritually wrong, but this did not give the right to anyone to reject the infallible work of God. In each revival, the church was taken closer to original Christianity. The Spirit of God was moving until He was poured out again upon the justified, renewed and born again believers in the so-called Pente-
costal revival.

John the Baptist proclaimed, “I indeed baptise you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to loose; he shall baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire…” (Lk. 3:16). This announcement was first fulfilled on that notable day of Pentecost. The experience of the baptism in the Spirit gives the believer the assurance that God has received him. For the true children of God, it is the sealing with the Holy Ghost (Eph. 1:13;
Eph. 4:30).

Of course, today we have the various Charismatic movements and also the Roman Catholic Pentecostal movement. An atmosphere is being created where people only have an experience, but they remain in their old traditions. They receive a certain anointing under the Spirit, but not the indwelling of Christ by the Spirit. Have they really experienced God in their soul? Are they truly renewed and born again and become partakers of the divine nature? This question can only be replied by each individual concerned. God’s true children who have received the infilling of the Holy Spirit will acknowledge the for ever valid redemption in Christ and make the everlasting Word of God their testimony and absolute.

They bear the fruits of the Spirit by which they are known. Gifts can be shown forth by many, but the fruits of the Spirit will only be seen with those who truly participate in the divine nature. This Word is still valid, “Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father, who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out demons? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Mt. 7:20-23).

Right after World War II, in May, 1946, a mighty healing revival started in the U.S.A. A humble young minister ordained by Dr. Roy E. Davis in the Baptist church by the name of William Branham († 1965) of Jeffersonville, Indiana, had received a divine commission and spearheaded a mighty revival. Rev. Gordon Lindsay reports as an eye-witness and as one who accompanied this humble man for many years in his book «William Branham — a man sent from God» astounding things. He testifies having seen the same signs and wonders in his ministry as recorded in the days of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The blind received their sight, the lame walked and every kind of healing took place, even cancer cases in the last stage. In the second German edition of this book, the publishers of «Mehr Licht» in Hamburg reprinted the following note of Dr. Dibelius, the Bishop of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church on pg. 4:“Many heartily thanks to you for the kind sending of the interesting book about the evangelist William Branham which was translated so fluently. For us this manner is a little strange as practised by the Americans. Perhaps it is good that an other spirit comes into our evangelisation practice. Therefore, I support your plan to invite Branham also to Germany.”

This unique, powerful and divinely vindicated ministry gave reason for a great number of evangelists to start their own similar ministries. Many established their evangelistic associations, also the Full Gospel Businessmen, the Charismatic movements and a number of others had their beginning. If one looks very close at things, the religious mix-up is greater now than ever before. It is being said, “Christ is here; Christ is there”, but up till now no church
has come into existence which could be compared with the original one at the beginning, having the same doctrines, practice and scriptural vindication. We need now at the end of the «New testament dispensation» a direct mighty move of God by the Holy Spirit in which all members of the Bride Church will grow and experience their completion in Christ. The divine goal is that Christ will have a church at the end which is exactly as the one in the beginning. What ever happened then, will repeat again.

Everything pertaining to the Church of the living God must be brought back into its original state. A time of refreshing and a total restoration is promised before the return of Christ (Acts 3:19-21 and others). Whoever is part of the Church of Jesus Christ will not be carried away by religious enthusiasm which often is combined with deceit, but will search the Holy Scriptures to find the promises given for this time and believe the same. Whatever God does, He will always do according to His Word. Before we can pray, “Thy will be done …” the will of God must be revealed unto us from the Word Itself by the Spirit. This is not the time for special men, this is God’s hour, the hour for God’s Word — the truth. From this exposition, everyone has the possibility to prove whether the belief is according to the Scripture or whether the belief is according to a church doctrine. It is now important to find the connection to the last move of God before the return of Jesus Christ.

The divine intervention through the Reformation was overdue, but from the Biblical point of view it was not sufficient. The question arises whether the reformers who were all sons of the Roman church did fully comprehend that a new beginning was essential, because there was not much to be reformed in that worldly system. In one way, the Word of the prophet Jeremiah can be applied, “Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns” (4:3), on the other hand also the prophecy: “We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed; forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country …” It was an exodus, a breaking away and a coming out, as though the voice was heard from heaven: “Come
out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Rev. 18:4).

For example, Luther understood the words which were recorded by the apostle John, “… for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.“ (Rev. 18:23-24), also the utterance made by the prophet Jeremiah: “Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, that made all the earth drunk; the nations have drunk of her wine; therefore, the nations are mad.” (51:7). But the Reformation was not crowned by a break through to the early Christianity. In fact, certain things were reformed and others were changed or done away with.

The selling of indulgences, the role of the pope and the condition in general was in question. The most important was the testimony that man is saved and justified by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer. This message was the climax of the Reformation. It was the actual break through which caused the blowing up of the Babylonian prison house. On the other hand, certain doctrines were kept which were totally unscriptural and typically Catholic. The so-called sacraments were only reduced, the baptism of infants and other things were carried through.

Unfortunately, the concept of the trinity belief remained with the Protestants, and, therefore, they partly walked in the same footsteps.
Jews and those who believed differently, for instance the ones who practised baptism by immersion, were condemned by Luther, Schwenkfeld and such others. In Geneva, the Spanish physician Michel Servet was burned at stake on the 27th of October, 1553, with the consent of Calvin, just because he rejected the trinity teaching. The remarks Luther and Melanchton made about those who rebaptised are documented in church history. The Catholic idea of it being the only saving church was not totally put away by the Reformers. Therefore, they did not tolerate those of other beliefs. Even up to this day, churches who exist for hundreds of years are still looked upon to be sects, although the word sect, according to Webster, denotes a portion from the whole, an organised religious fellowship. In view of this fact, all organised denominations are sects, namely a part from the whole. Because of the various cult-religions in recent time the word “sect” is seasoned with a bad flavour.

In the days of Reformation, the God set goal of the New Testament Church was not fully reached. But the first step in faith was certainly made which was the returning to the open preaching of God’s word. We are, therefore, grateful to those before the Reformation who were burned at stakes and also for the actual reformers.

Henceforth, the Kingdom of God forced its way through. One revival followed the other. Ever more the light of the Gospel began to come forth evermore. From the first step of justification by faith followed the next of the experience of sanctification of heart by the same Word and the Spirit of God. Fiery revival preachers who made church history proclaimed the Bible truths which were experienced by the listeners. Like the servants of God in other times they
were not officially respected because they were not dignitaries but they were just ministers of the Word who brought the people into connection with Christ by the preaching of the gospel.
Regrettably some of those men stopped at a special doctrine revealed to them. Some were satisfied with justification, others with conversion and baptism and again others with sanctification. But God moved on by His Spirit.

Around the turn of this century, a spontaneous moving of the Spirit happened in the various protestant churches and among converted believers who were longing for God. Similar to the experience when Christianity originated, they also experienced God in a supernatural way. So the Pentecostal movement of the 20th century had its beginning.

From the different movements since the Reformation and the revivals, various churches came into existence. Because of human failures and a mixed multitude, things went spiritually wrong, but this did not give the right to anyone to reject the infallible work of God. In each revival, the church was taken closer to original Christianity. The Spirit of God was moving until He was poured out again upon the justified, renewed and born again believers in the so-called Pente-
costal revival.

John the Baptist proclaimed, “I indeed baptise you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to loose; he shall baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire…” (Lk. 3:16). This announcement was first fulfilled on that notable day of Pentecost. The experience of the baptism in the Spirit gives the believer the assurance that God has received him. For the true children of God, it is the sealing with the Holy Ghost (Eph. 1:13;
Eph. 4:30).

Of course, today we have the various Charismatic movements and also the Roman Catholic Pentecostal movement. An atmosphere is being created where people only have an experience, but they remain in their old traditions. They receive a certain anointing under the Spirit, but not the indwelling of Christ by the Spirit. Have they really experienced God in their soul? Are they truly renewed and born again and become partakers of the divine nature? This question can only be replied by each individual concerned. God’s true children who have received the infilling of the Holy Spirit will acknowledge the for ever valid redemption in Christ and make the everlasting Word of God their testimony and absolute.

They bear the fruits of the Spirit by which they are known. Gifts can be shown forth by many, but the fruits of the Spirit will only be seen with those who truly participate in the divine nature. This Word is still valid, “Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father, who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out demons? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Mt. 7:20-23).

Right after World War II, in May, 1946, a mighty healing revival started in the U.S.A. A humble young minister ordained by Dr. Roy E. Davis in the Baptist church by the name of William Branham († 1965) of Jeffersonville, Indiana, had received a divine commission and spearheaded a mighty revival. Rev. Gordon Lindsay reports as an eye-witness and as one who accompanied this humble man for many years in his book «William Branham — a man sent from God» astounding things. He testifies having seen the same signs and wonders in his ministry as recorded in the days of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The blind received their sight, the lame walked and every kind of healing took place, even cancer cases in the last stage. In the second German edition of this book, the publishers of «Mehr Licht» in Hamburg reprinted the following note of Dr. Dibelius, the Bishop of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church on pg. 4:“Many heartily thanks to you for the kind sending of the interesting book about the evangelist William Branham which was translated so fluently. For us this manner is a little strange as practised by the Americans. Perhaps it is good that an other spirit comes into our evangelisation practice. Therefore, I support your plan to invite Branham also to Germany.”

This unique, powerful and divinely vindicated ministry gave reason for a great number of evangelists to start their own similar ministries. Many established their evangelistic associations, also the Full Gospel Businessmen, the Charismatic movements and a number of others had their beginning. If one looks very close at things, the religious mix-up is greater now than ever before. It is being said, “Christ is here; Christ is there”, but up till now no church
has come into existence which could be compared with the original one at the beginning, having the same doctrines, practice and scriptural vindication. We need now at the end of the «New testament dispensation» a direct mighty move of God by the Holy Spirit in which all members of the Bride Church will grow and experience their completion in Christ. The divine goal is that Christ will have a church at the end which is exactly as the one in the beginning. What ever happened then, will repeat again.

Everything pertaining to the Church of the living God must be brought back into its original state. A time of refreshing and a total restoration is promised before the return of Christ (Acts 3:19-21 and others). Whoever is part of the Church of Jesus Christ will not be carried away by religious enthusiasm which often is combined with deceit, but will search the Holy Scriptures to find the promises given for this time and believe the same. Whatever God does, He will always do according to His Word. Before we can pray, “Thy will be done …” the will of God must be revealed unto us from the Word Itself by the Spirit. This is not the time for special men, this is God’s hour, the hour for God’s Word — the truth. From this exposition, everyone has the possibility to prove whether the belief is according to the Scripture or whether the belief is according to a church doctrine. It is now important to find the connection to the last move of God before the return of Jesus Christ.