“By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name …” (Rom 1:5).

At all times, people had to decide whether to believe what the Lord God had said to His servants and what they proclaimed in His commission or whether to reject it in unbelief. The Thus saith the Lord is still valid: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.” (Jn 13:20). Likewise: “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” (Jn 15:20). A heavenly commission is directly connected to the greatest responsibility before God in regard to the Church.

God can regret His creation of mankind: “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” (Gen 6:5-6). A calling, however, He cannot regret; in regard to a calling, it specifically states in Rom 11:29: “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”

In Ex 3+4 we find the calling of Moses, to whom the Angel of the Lord appeared in the burning bush. He could then say, “The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you …” (Ex 3:13). “And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.” (Ex 4:1). It is always about the faith of the listeners. “And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.” (chap. 4:8).

Each individual within the many denominations and religions has some kind of faith. Even the devil believes and trembles (Jas 2:19). However, in the Kingdom of God it is always about the faith in what God really said and promised – also with Brother Branham, who was told: “If you get the people to believe you, and be sincere when you pray, nothing shall stand before your prayers, not even cancer.” Before every healing service, the chorus was sung: “Only believe, only believe; All things are possible, only believe.” About our Lord, we read in Mat 13:58 that in His hometown of Nazareth He could not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Unbelief is the first sin, and it goes back to the Garden of Eden. Brother Branham emphasized this very strongly time and again. The following is an account of three of his quotes from the years 1953, 1956, and 1960.

“Forgive our sin of unbelief, which is the original and only sin. God help us tonight to be faithful and believe.” (May 9, 1953, Jonesboro).

“Let me show you just on a Word. The first time that the devil met Jesus Christ, he doubted Him. Doubt always is of the devil. That’s where the first sin came. There is no other sin but doubt. Unbelief is the original and only sin. Committing adultery is not a sin; smoking cigarettes is not a sin; getting drunk’s not a sin. That’s the attributes of unbelief.” (July 22, 1956, Shreveport).

“But, you see, my precious friend, sin is not immoral living. Sin is not drinking whiskey; sin is not committing adultery. You do that because you’re not a believer. That’s the attributes of unbelief. You do that because you’re not a believer. But if you are a believer, you do not do those things. So there’s only one original sin and that’s unbelief. The Scripture says, “He that believeth not is condemned already (Mk 16:16).” (January 10, 1960, Tifton).

After the sermons about the Seals in March 1963, Brother Branham often referred to Eve, who listened to what the serpent said unto her. Many times, he compared it to Rev 22:18-19: “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

Satan came to Eve in the shape of the serpent and sowed doubt in regard to what the Lord God had said unto Adam: “Yea, hath God said …?” Perhaps he even asked her, “Did you hear it? Were you there?” Thus Eve came under the influence of Satan. Paul wrote: “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” (1 Tim 2:14).

In reference to faith, the Lord said, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” (Jn 8:24). After His resurrection, He rebuked the unbelief of the disciples: “Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.” (Mk 16:14).

Unbelief is the original sin. Whoever does not believe God makes Him a liar (Rom 3:4). In Heb 3:12 we read the serious admonition: “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”

The Exodus of Israel through the Red Sea and the supernatural supply with manna in the desert were mighty: “By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.” (Heb 11:29). But what was the end for many of them? “But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. … Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”
(1 Cor 10:5-11). For a proper self-examination, it is necessary that everyone reads 1 Cor 10:1-15. In Heb 3:19 it is summarized as follows: “So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”

First faith, then obedience, wherewith God is well-pleased. Faith is the victory, unbelief the defeat. “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Rom 5:19). Whoever wishes to know more about the consequences of unbelief may read Romans 11.

Faith and obedience connect us with God; unbelief and disobedience separate us from God. Faith in Jesus Christ leads to obedience, unbelief to disobedience. “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. …” (1 Sam 15:23).

Now it becomes evident who truly believes God as Abraham believed God, “(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” (Rom 4:17; Gen 17:5). Only when God speaks to a person through His Word, only then can someone believe. Whoever is controlled by unbelief thereby shows that he or she is still under the influence of the evil one.

Abraham believed God (Rom 4:17): “And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.” (Gen 18:10). And he received the promised son. Abraham was obedient: “And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” (Gen 22:2). “Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” (Heb 11:19).

“Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?” (Jas 2:21-24).

For Eve, unbelief sown through doubt led to the beguiling, and then Adam also knew his wife Eve. As a result, two different seeds came forth, Cain and Abel. Both were religious; both believed in the same God; both built an altar and brought their offerings; they were, however, totally different from birth. God had respect unto Abel and his offering, which was a lamb, but He rejected Cain and his offering, the fruit of the ground (Gen 4:1-8).

All message believers know what took place in the Garden of Eden. Now, however, it is about the present time. Satan also questioned what Brother Branham was told, namely that the message would forerun the second coming of Christ. Satan questioned that the message would be carried into all parts of the world after his passing. For us, who are now living, it is written: “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.” (1 Jn 3:11-12). The divine love is the bond of perfection (Col 3:14; 1 Cor 13).

God must be well-pleased with those who wish to be raptured, as He was with Enoch, who walked with God (Gen 5:24; Heb 11:5). Not the beginning, but the end shall be crowned (2 Tim 4:8).

“By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name …” (Rom 1:5).

At all times, people had to decide whether to believe what the Lord God had said to His servants and what they proclaimed in His commission or whether to reject it in unbelief. The Thus saith the Lord is still valid: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.” (Jn 13:20). Likewise: “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” (Jn 15:20). A heavenly commission is directly connected to the greatest responsibility before God in regard to the Church.

God can regret His creation of mankind: “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” (Gen 6:5-6). A calling, however, He cannot regret; in regard to a calling, it specifically states in Rom 11:29: “For the gifts and calling of God arewithout repentance.”

In Ex 3+4 we find the calling of Moses, to whom the Angel of the Lord appeared in the burning bush. He could then say, “The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you …” (Ex 3:13). “And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.” (Ex 4:1). It is always about the faith of the listeners. “And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.” (chap. 4:8).

Each individual within the many denominations and religions has some kind of faith. Even the devil believes and trembles (Jas 2:19). However, in the Kingdom of God it is always about the faith in what God really said and promised – also with Brother Branham, who was told: “If you get the people to believe you, and be sincere when you pray, nothing shall stand before your prayers, not even cancer.” Before every healing service, the chorus was sung: “Only believe, only believe; All things are possible, only believe.” About our Lord, we read in Mat 13:58 that in His hometown of Nazareth He could not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Unbelief is the first sin, and it goes back to the Garden of Eden. Brother Branham emphasized this very strongly time and again. The following is an account of three of his quotes from the years 1953, 1956, and 1960.

“Forgive our sin of unbelief, which is the original and only sin. God help us tonight to be faithful and believe.” (May 9, 1953, Jonesboro).

“Let me show you just on a Word. The first time that the devil met Jesus Christ, he doubted Him. Doubt always is of the devil. That’s where the first sin came. There is no other sin but doubt. Unbelief is the original and only sin. Committing adultery is not a sin; smoking cigarettes is not a sin; getting drunk’s not a sin. That’s the attributes of unbelief.” (July 22, 1956, Shreveport).

“But, you see, my precious friend, sin is not immoral living. Sin is not drinking whiskey; sin is not committing adultery. You do that because you’re not a believer. That’s the attributes of unbelief. You do that because you’re not a believer. But if you are a believer, you do not do those things. So there’s only one original sin and that’s unbelief. The Scripture says, “He that believeth not is condemned already (Mk 16:16).” (January 10, 1960, Tifton).

After the sermons about the Seals in March 1963, Brother Branham often referred to Eve, who listened to what the serpent said unto her. Many times, he compared it to Rev 22:18-19: “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

Satan came to Eve in the shape of the serpent and sowed doubt in regard to what the Lord God had said unto Adam: “Yea, hath God said …?” Perhaps he even asked her, “Did you hear it? Were you there?” Thus Eve came under the influence of Satan. Paul wrote: “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” (1 Tim 2:14).

In reference to faith, the Lord said, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” (Jn 8:24). After His resurrection, He rebuked the unbelief of the disciples: “Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.” (Mk 16:14).

Unbelief is the original sin. Whoever does not believe God makes Him a liar (Rom 3:4). In Heb 3:12 we read the serious admonition: “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”

The Exodus of Israel through the Red Sea and the supernatural supply with manna in the desert were mighty: “By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.” (Heb 11:29). But what was the end for many of them? “But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. … Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”
(1 Cor 10:5-11). For a proper self-examination, it is necessary that everyone reads 1 Cor 10:1-15. In Heb 3:19 it is summarized as follows: “So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”

First faith, then obedience, wherewith God is well-pleased. Faith is the victory, unbelief the defeat. “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Rom 5:19). Whoever wishes to know more about the consequences of unbelief may read Romans 11.

Faith and obedience connect us with God; unbelief and disobedience separate us from God. Faith in Jesus Christ leads to obedience, unbelief to disobedience. “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. …” (1 Sam 15:23).

Now it becomes evident who truly believes God as Abraham believed God, “(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” (Rom 4:17; Gen 17:5). Only when God speaks to a person through His Word, only then can someone believe. Whoever is controlled by unbelief thereby shows that he or she is still under the influence of the evil one.

Abraham believed God (Rom 4:17): “And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.” (Gen 18:10). And he received the promised son. Abraham was obedient: “And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” (Gen 22:2). “Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” (Heb 11:19).

“Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?” (Jas 2:21-24).

For Eve, unbelief sown through doubt led to the beguiling, and then Adam also knew his wife Eve. As a result, two different seeds came forth, Cain and Abel. Both were religious; both believed in the same God; both built an altar and brought their offerings; they were, however, totally different from birth. God had respect unto Abel and his offering, which was a lamb, but He rejected Cain and his offering, the fruit of the ground (Gen 4:1-8).

All message believers know what took place in the Garden of Eden. Now, however, it is about the present time. Satan also questioned what Brother Branham was told, namely that the message would forerun the second coming of Christ. Satan questioned that the message would be carried into all parts of the world after his passing. For us, who are now living, it is written: “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.” (1 Jn 3:11-12). The divine love is the bond of perfection (Col 3:14; 1 Cor 13).

God must be well-pleased with those who wish to be raptured, as He was with Enoch, who walked with God (Gen 5:24; Heb 11:5). Not the beginning, but the end shall be crowned (2 Tim 4:8).