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A new beginning

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Without knowing that Brother Branham was taken home on December 24^th, 1965, I saw on that day how he ascended on a cloud. In this experience I said, “Brother Branham, you are not the Son of man, why do I see you on this cloud?” I found out later that it was the very hour when Brother Bran-ham was taken to glory. It wasn’t until the beginning of January 1966 that I received a letter from Brother Armbruster from Pennsylvania, informing me of the accident that happened on December 18^th and then his going home six days later. Some time later I found in the Bible that not only our Lord ascended to heaven on a cloud, “… and a cloud received Him …” (Acts 1:9), but also the two prophets are taken up on a cloud, “And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud …” (Rev. 11:12). Only as time went on did I then begin to realise that we are truly living in the most important time period of the entire plan of Salvation.

During the watch night service of December 1965/66, the Spirit of God moved in a rather extraordinary way in our midst. Exactly 120 brothers and sisters were gathered. By the Thus saith the Lord I was directly addressed, “My servant, I have put My sword into your hand.” I must admit that I could not immediately accept what was said, because my thought went to Brother Branham, in whose hand the sword of the Lord had been placed. At that point we still did not know about his going home. Later I realised that the Lord God had indeed placed His sword, the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, into my hand. Thus it coincided with my commission, “… I will send you to other cities to preach My Word …”

On January 19^th, 1966, I was taken in the spirit into a very large place of worship. One side of it was a building like a cathedral with a balcony and the rest was round like a tent. I was seated on the balcony and observed how a great number of people were pushing their way into this place. Then I saw that all had taken their seats and that ushers who were wearing an armband were moving up and down the middle isle. Then I saw Julius Stadsklev, a close friend of Brother Branham, standing on the front of the platform. He looked up to the balcony and said, “Brother Frank, it is your time. Come down now.” I stood up and went down the stairs, which were open towards the tent and could be seen by the thousands who had gathered for this meeting. I then went to the platform and stood there right next to Brother Stad-sklev, when a voice said, “We are not gathered here because of John the Baptist. We are gathered because William Branham, God’s prophet, was taken from us.” Then, suddenly, the voice spoke again, “Turn to the people that have assembled and speak to them, ‘The coming of the Lord is very near.’” In this vision I turned to the congregation in that huge tent and relayed what I was commissioned to say.

Then came April 11^th, 1966, the day when the earthly body of Brother Branham was buried. To me it was a day of utter sadness. I do not remember having experienced anything like this ever again. I could not join in singing the chorus “Only believe …” which was repeated over and over. I was torn, wept and prayed, spoke to the Lord and said, “Please let me know how the Bride Church can be ready for Your return without this ministry.” It seemed though an entire world had collapsed before me on that day.

Towards the evening of that day, I returned, completely exhausted, to my hotel and sat down, when I suddenly felt that a great burden was lifted from me. The deep sadness vanished and an unspeakable joy filled my soul. I could feel the peace of God and it spoke in my heart, “Now your time has come to give out the spiritual food.” God had taken care of the entire matter. He decides the beginning of a ministry, the continuation, and the end thereof. How could it be otherwise? He also ordains the new beginning and the continuation of the following ministry. Just as the death of John the Baptist was incomprehensible for the believers back then, so was the sudden death of Brother Branham for many at the time. Both had completed their commission, one at the first coming of Christ, the other, who was sent to bring the divine message in our day, before the second coming of Christ.

The next day I called the brothers for a meeting and it was decided that Brother Branham’s sermons, which were only recorded on tape up to that point, would now be printed on paper. Brother Roy Borders agreed to take on the responsibility for that task.

It was not easy for the Apostle Peter to say this when the crucial moment came, “Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.” (Acts 15:7). James confirmed what Peter had said with this very important declaration, “Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written …” (vv.14-15).

Thus I was ordained by God Himself and privileged to carry the pure message right from the start to the ends of the earth. On one hand it is about the proclamation of the true Word of God and on the other about the giving out of the spiritual food, which includes all the promises for this time.

I was in contact with Brother Branham when he was still alive. The brethren in the USA had never set foot on European soil before. God ordained it so that I, having command of three languages, became the contact person for all the countries. There is no continent on earth I did not take the message to. The Lord God Himself opened the doors and the hearts. As early as 1963 I was already ministering in the various cities in our country. In 1964 I took my first trips to England, then to India, Jordan, and Israel. In 1965 I continued with the ministry in the West-European countries. Subsequently I was able to arrange meetings in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria in 1966.

In the following ten years I visited 86 countries, and in the next ten years the total grew to over 120. While travelling the world, I was initially passing on the Jeffersonville address to the responsible brethren during the meetings, so they could order the printed sermons of Brother Branham in the English language. At the beginning of the 1970’s the Lord led it in such a way that Brother Don Bablitz, with the aid of a small team, was able to begin sending out Brother Branham’s sermons from Edmonton, Canada, into all the world. It was Brother Don Bablitz, later residing in Whitehorse, Canada, who came to talk to me on that Saturday morning in the mid-seventies. He was overwhelmed by the fact that brothers from the many countries where I had preached were writing to him, asking for Brother Branham’s sermons. The conversation went on, then Brother Bablitz suddenly said, “Brother Frank, we see Brother Branham’s ministry in the Bible. What about your ministry, which is now happening worldwide? Is it also found in the Bible?” I suspected fanaticism and just dismissed it by saying, “Please stop it. How can my ministry be in the Bible? That is not possible!” We ended our conversation and then prayed for the worldwide work, which also includes the distribution of these brochures, entrusting it to the grace of God.

And again it happened unexpectedly and suddenly: Early the next morning the sun was shining into the room as I reached to my right to get my Bible, when the Lord addressed me with the following words, “My servant, I have ordained you according to Matthew 24, verses 45–47, to give out the food.” I had never preached on this Scripture before and until then was unaware it even existed, let alone that it was a promise from the lips of our Lord. Only then I read the text and was astonished to read about a faithful and wise servant, whom the Lord placed over His household to give the food in due season. The Apostle Paul wrote in reference to the meaning of this Scripture to his co-worker Timothy, “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.” (1. Tim. 4:6).

One must read the first five verses wherein the disastrous situation in the last days is being described, the complete falling away from the true faith by the works of misleading spirits and doctrines that originate with demons. Only then we realise the importance of this statement and the emphasis put on the true teachings, which are our only guideline. The time is at hand. This Scripture is also being fulfilled in both realms. In the first place this ministry is meant for all the ministering brethren, so that they might correctly place God’s revealed Word into the scriptural order and bring the food as a prepared meal to God’s children at the Lord’s table. It is one thing to store in all the groceries which are needed to sustain life, and it is another thing to bring a prepared meal to the people in order to satisfy their spiritual hunger with the hidden manna. God said, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord …” (Amos 8:11).

It certainly is not by chance that Matthew 25 is the wake-up call, the midnight cry, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh …” It follows right after chapter 24. The last message is directed to the wise virgins. Only those who are part of the Bride Church will receive the Word of the Bridegroom by which they live. The wise virgins, who will be ready at the coming of the Bridegroom, will be connected to the God-ordained ministry. Still valid today is what we read in 2. Cor. 11:2, “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

I can also say in the name of the Lord, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry …” (1. Tim. 1:12).

The final ministry ordained by God Himself includes both the proclamation of the everlasting Word of God and the distribution of the spiritual food, and will then finally merge into the completion of the Bride Church. I am not a one-sided mouthpiece of Brother Branham or of the Apostle Paul. I can say this on account of divine authority: I must be the mouthpiece of God to proclaim the whole counsel of God, taking into consideration the everlasting Gospel as it was preached by the Apostle Paul and Brother Bran-ham. No one will ever hear me cry out, “The prophet said … the prophet said …” I was not called by the Apostle Paul or by Brother Branham, I was called by the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. Right to the very end only God’s unchangeable Word will be heard from my lips, and not any of the various interpretations, which I loathe. For Thus saith the Lord, “My Spirit that is upon thee, and My Words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth …” (Isa. 59:21).

No servant of God had any say in the matter; none was ever asked whether he would be so kind as to serve the Lord. God acts sovereign in His Kingdom and in His Church. It is known to all of us that the Apostle Paul had a special ministry and commission for the Church. Three times the reference was made to his calling: Acts, chapter 9, chapter 22, and chapter 26. With divine authority he could apply the promise recorded in the words of Isaiah 42:6 and 49:6, which were spoken about the Lord, to the commission given to him (Acts 13). Why? Because therein we find a two-fold promise. The first one refers to the Redeemer and states that the tribes of Israel would be restored. That is why the Lord first said, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles …” (Matth. 10). When the time came and the second part of that promise, which applied to the Gentiles, found fulfilment, we read, “For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.” (Acts 13:47). A new period started, a transition time at first. There is a biblical order for the Church whereby the ministries are placed into it for its own uplifting, and there is also the divine order for the entire plan of redemption.

John the Baptist knew which Word was fulfilled in his ministry. He was being asked, “Are you the Christ? Are you that prophet? Are you Elijah?” Three times he answered, “No!” Then those who had been sent to ask him wanted to know who he truly was. His scriptural answer is found in John 1:23, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness …” It was also revealed to Paul what Scripture applied to him in his time. Likewise Brother Branham knew which Scripture was fulfilled through His ministry. He testified of it in many of his sermons. That was the stumbling block for all the evangelists. They were offended, even though they started their ministries only after attending one of Brother Branham’s meetings. I have first-hand knowledge of this, for I came to know many of them personally. They held the man sent by God in very high regards as a healing evangelist, recognising the special gifts of the Spirit. They also testified that this kind of ministry had not been present on earth since the days of the apostles. But when the emphasis was made that thereby a scriptural promise was fulfilled, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord …” (Mal. 4:5-6; Matth. 17:11; Mark 9:12), they rejected him. They hardened their hearts and were not prepared to submit themselves under the mighty hand of God, Who was fulfilling a promise He gave, for He is bound to His promises. They were not ready to leave their traditional teachings and views. They did not want to change their ways. Then they had no other choice but to declare that William Branham was on the correct course at the beginning of his ministry, but supposedly got off the track later, towards the end.

Now the spirits stand divided once again because of the person God has chosen, history is repeating itself. Now they are saying, “He had a special calling and ministry at the beginning, but then …” Just as the world would have never known any of the evangelists without the God-given ministry, likewise now would no one have heard of the brothers from the USA within the circle of the message. They are offended again, because someone shows forth the particular Scripture upon which his ministry is based. It needs to be said that if this ministry was not founded on the Bible, it would have no right to be in existence. Others complain that he supposedly corrects the prophet. They do not comprehend that if there seems to be a discrepancy between what the prophet said and what the Bible says, that we then need to go back to the Scriptures and see what is verified therein by at least two, three, or more passages.

The promise that at the end of the time of grace God would send a prophet means everything to the elect. But now there are actually three things happening: The “scribes” of the denominations reject him, the “hierarchy” within the end-time message looks upon him as a founder of a new religion, while only the elect take it to heart and are returning to the belief of the fathers, coming back to the doctrines of the apostles as they were at the very beginning. In this important period the concern is the prophetic Word, which must not be interpreted, but instead has to be seen in its fulfilment (2. Peter 1:15-21). Hear this, all ye nations: With view of the completion of the Church of Christ, the teaching ministry is now just as important as it was at the very beginning (Acts 13:1; 1. Cor. 12:28), so that we are brought back into the unity of the faith (Eph. 4:1-16) and are no longer tossed about by the various winds of doctrines.

If it is true, and it is indeed, that God’s original message, as it was at the beginning, is now being preached to call out and to establish the same teachings in the Bride Church before Jesus Christ returns, then the wise virgins must hear what the Spirit says unto the churches. They will be the ones who are baptised by the same Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ to become the true living Church, which the Redeemer will present to Himself without spot or wrinkle (Eph. 5:26-30). It is equally certain that the foolish virgins will bypass what God is doing and continue to follow some leader who constantly refers to the prophet, presenting and propagating special revelations and causing rifts. All of them are convinced, be they wise or foolish, to have heard the call of the Bridegroom. Some even say that He has already come, others that He has been slowly descending ever since the opening of the seals. It will not be sufficient to continuously quote what the prophet said, if the Bible is not being consulted as the final authority. Just as the clergy interprets the same Bible in so many different ways, so it is now being done with the statements of Brother Branham unto their own destruction (2. Pet. 3:16). For the true believers this is the time span for their preparation in faith and obedience, the time of unification of Bride and Bridegroom in the divine love, in the correct teachings and in the true faith, which was once and for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3)!

Through the ministry of Brother Branham the whole counsel of God was preached. All the hidden mysteries were revealed. The Holy Spirit now leads us into all the Truth of the Word of God. Now, at the end of the time of grace, at the end of the day of Salvation, before the Day of the Lord comes and the sun turns into darkness and the moon into blood, the prophetic Word and also the true teaching will lead to the final goal in the completion. The total restoration is part of the main promise to the Church of the Living God. Before the Bridegroom will take His Bride home, she must be called out, she must be ready. For thus it is written about Jesus Christ, our Lord, “… Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the age began.” (Acts 3:18-22).

It was the decision of the ever-true God to make me one of His servants. Again and again He spoke to me with an audible voice, which each time comes from above, always to my right side. Only once, on June 16^th, 1979, just at the breaking of a new day, I heard the angry Voice of God coming down like an unbearable thunder, descending vertically to my right, its thunderclaps growing ever louder and stopping just a few meters above me. Then came the sound of the nine words, of which each one was a thunderclap within itself (Gen. 3:17), and every word the Almighty spoke was clearly pronounced (Fanø, Denmark).

Now I would like to refer to a few select experiences which are of significance to me, to other individuals, and also to the Church. I am aware that only those who have had true experiences with God will thereby be strengthened in their faith. My testimony will mean nothing to those who do not have a true personal relationship with the Lord. They will just be offended by it. They might think to themselves, “What does he make of himself?” The others will realise that no one can have anything unless it is given to him by God. The Apostle Paul even testified that he was taken up into the third heaven, into paradise (2. Cor. 12). He did so for the glory of God. In spite of that he still had to suffer a great many things because of his ministry, as we find recorded in 2. Cor. 11. Being in the Lord’s service can be accompanied by many things, such as enmity, persecution, suffering, but also by wonderful experiences and blessings. Prophets and righteous men were not persecuted and killed because they were criminals, but because they were carrying God’s Word. Nevertheless, I can say, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry …” (1. Tim. 1:12).

I begin my testimony by referring to the divine commission, as did Abraham, Moses, the Apostle Paul, and Brother Branham:

• The last two things the Lord commanded therein were: “My servant, do not establish local churches and do not publish your own songbook …” (Krefeld). I believe that local churches are scriptural, but it is not my task to establish churches in other cities and countries.

It is common in all churches to use a songbook and we do as well. However, I must not publish one. The Lord directly told me: “… for it is a sign of a denomination.” That is as true as true can be. Every church, every denomination has its own songbook, even the various groups within the end-time message.

• “My servant, rise and read 2. Tim. 4, for I want to speak to you …” (Marseille). After the service of the preceding evening I was approached with the question about the seven thunders. I had no answer at that time. The next morning the Lord Himself gave me the answer from the Scriptures, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” After reading this text, I placed my Bible on the small table, lifted up my hands and said, “Dear Lord. As certain as You commanded me to read this Scripture passage, it is equally certain that whatever the seven thunders uttered is not written in God’s Word. Therefore it cannot be preached.” That is thus saith the Lord. True servants of God are obligated to only read and keep the words that are written therein (Rev. 1:1-3). All things that are circulated under the term “thunder doctrines” are destructive heresies, even if quotes are mistakenly being used. They are speculations and not revelations. No one has the right to add a single word to the words of prophecy in this Book (Rev. 22:18-21). Whoever does it anyway disqualifies oneself.

• “My servant, when the last move will start I will speak to you again, for then My Spirit shall be sanctified in you …” (Krefeld). The city of Zurich was mentioned in this experience. I believe that the God of heaven will do a short and great work in which the true believers will partake. “For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness; because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.” (Rom. 9:28).

• The vision with the wheat field and the combine was extraordinary. This experience has long since been the target of slanderers. Many years ago somebody in Hamburg wrote a brochure with the title “The combine dossier”. Therein he described me as the antichrist and ridiculed me in a sarcastic way. I truthfully state before God Almighty only what I saw and heard. In the Spirit I was taken to a very large, overripe wheat field. I saw the ears bending down, already singed by the sun. I know that throughout the entire time of grace the Word seed is being sown and in every church age a harvest of souls is being brought in. But the Scripture also speaks about what will happen directly at the end (Mt. 3:12; a. o.)
In Rev. 14:15 we read, “… the harvest of the earth is ripe.” I noticed that there were no thistles in the whole wheat field and knew in the Spirit that the tares had already been taken out, as it is written, “… Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles …” (Mt. 13:30). Then I looked to my left and saw a brand-new combine. At that moment the Lord spoke with a commanding voice, “My servant, the combine is destined for you to bring in the harvest. Never has anyone used it …” Right away I walked over and climbed on the combine. Then it started getting dark. As I looked to the sky, it appeared as though there was a battle going on in the clouds. And I said, “Dear Lord, it is too late, I cannot bring in the harvest. The judgements are striking the earth.” The next moment the sun with all its might broke through an opening in the clouds, shining upon the whole wheat field. Immediately I moved the handles on the combine and started to bring in the harvest. I had just finished the last part, when the sky grew dark again and only thunder and noise could be heard.

• “My servant, cancel your trip to India!” (Krefeld). I had already picked up the tickets from the travel agency and was supposed to fly out on that Friday. The aircraft that my flight was booked on from Bombay to Madras caught on fire right after takeoff, crashed, and all 96 passengers on board lost their lives.

• “My servant, I have ordained you according to Mt. 24:45-47 to give out the food in due season.” (Edmonton). That was my answer from the lips of the Lord, Who watches over His Word in order to fulfil it.

• “My servant, when the borders will open up, then I shall call the Bride out of the East-European countries …” (Krefeld). In this vision I was standing on a platform in a very large banquet hall. People came in through the main entrance and took their seats. I looked around and saw that many chairs were still empty. The next moment the voice spoke, coming from above the chandelier where I was standing, “When this happens, My return is very, very near!” Then I looked to my left and observed as the emergency exit door opened and the individual groups from the East-European countries entered in an orderly fashion. The leading brother of each group came by the platform, shook my hand, and continued on with the group to take their seat. After the last group had come by, I looked around again and saw that every chair was now occupied. I had this experience thirteen years before the Berlin Wall fell and the borders to Eastern Europe were opened. At that time nobody thought that the Eastern bloc would be dissolved and that the unification of Germany and Europe would take place.

• “My servant, walk over to the adjacent piece of property and dedicate it unto Me …” (Krefeld). That piece of land had been a prison camp in World War II and still had a fence measuring 2.3 meters with a barbed wire on top surrounding it. I went through the small gate that led to the shopping center, went all the way around, knelt down in the undergrowth and dedicated that piece of property to the God of heaven for His Church here on earth.

• “My servant, go to R. T., take the elders with you and read to him the Word the Prophet Isaiah spoke to Hezekiah. He shall recover.” (Krefeld). I had just walked outside after a service and was at that moment near the old cherry tree, which was at the property line between the two lots, when the Lord spoke to me. We did as the Lord commanded and God confirmed His Word.

• “My servant, go forth, speak the word, for the believing woman shall not be put to shame before her unbelieving husband.” (Krefeld). A dear sister had come to the meeting with a brand-new car, not even showing 1,000 km on the odometer, and her car would not start. Some of our knowledgeable brothers as well as the experts from the roadside assistance club tried their best, but could not get it running. I was walking through the prayer room when the voice of the Lord said, “My servant, go forth and speak the word …” No one can imagine what kind of certainty and what absolute the direct word from the lips of the Lord brings with it. I went outside, met the sister who was still surrounded by some of the brothers and said, “Return to your car and start the engine, for thus the Lord has spoken …” The sister replied, “But we have tried everything …” I interrupted her, “Do not speak, but go and do as you were directed in the name of the Lord …” She did accordingly and the car started on the first try. She then drove home, a distance of about 250 km, without any incident. The next morning her husband, a doctor, wanted to drive to the hospital, but the car did not start. It had to be towed to the garage. The fuel injection pump was broken and had to be replaced by a new one. Only when the Lord truly speaks first can a servant of God have the ministry of the spoken Word.

• On Saturday, November 18^th, 1978, at 10:00 a.m. the Lord spoke to me while I was in the office of the Mission Center, “My servant, search in the Book of Acts if ever a man was ordained to the ministry together with his wife.” I turned to my right, picked up my Bible and began reading in the Book of Acts. Soon I noticed that even the seven deacons were called without their wives. Through this direct advice a false prophecy given in the city of Bremen in June 1976 was uncovered by God Himself, Who instructed me to search the Book of Acts. For ever I am obliged to follow the original example and guideline of apostolic times.

• I was taken out of the body and experienced the rapture. I saw the Holy City coming down (Krefeld Hospital).
In December 1980 I was on a missionary trip through Africa. One night in Accra, Ghana, I was bitten four times by the Anopheles mosquito. When I returned home just before Christmas I was already feeling very weak. On January 1^st, 1981, I was taken to the hospital by an ambulance. After an examination they discovered that it was malaria tropica in its advanced stages.
On January 3^rd, 1981, I heard Prof. Dr. Becker, head doctor to an entire team of doctors standing around me, say to them, “It is too late, it is too late. Nothing can be done. No medicine, no blood transfusion will help now.” I could not speak, but I could still hear. When the doctors had given up on me and left me to die, as I was ravaged by fevers and getting ever weaker, my brother Artur stood at my bedside and said loudly, “Jesus Christ was not only victorious on Calvary, He is victorious in this room.” In spite of it I felt I was nearing the end and my only concern was, “Dear Lord, how do I stand in Your Presence?”
Right then I was taken out of my body and under blue skies, where I saw a large multitude dressed in white. They were all young (Job 33:25). The first row was made up of brothers, which is where I was standing as well. The sisters had long hair cascading down their backs. Remarkable were the different hair colours. Majestically we were taken up ever higher. Then I saw a horizontal dividing line, similar to what can be seen at sunrise above the clouds. I knew in the Spirit that we were being taken up to meet the Lord in the air. So I looked up and saw the Holy City coming down upon this dividing line. It was glorious, it was majestic. Waves of glory streamed through that celestial body. I knew: This is the rapture. I wish to stop here and only mention the disappointment I felt when I returned into my body.

• “My servant, gather Me My people together, all who made the covenant with Me by sacrifice …” (Krefeld). This happened on one December 28^th, when the Lord spoke these words to me. I was surprised that there are actually two places in the Scriptures that express this: Psalms 50:5 and Deuteronomy 4:10. All of God’s children believe the promises and they confirm their covenant with God, which He established with us through Jesus Christ, our Lord. It was done by sacrifice. And now God’s people are gathered to hear the Words of the Lord.

• I was taken out of the body right into heaven. Maybe it was Paradise (Varna, Bulgaria). The light was made of rainbow colours, which were moving harmoniously, as though it was filled with life. I knew in the Spirit that the throne was way to my right, from where the light shone that appeared mingled with fire. To my left a male choir was looking towards the throne and singing Psalms 34 in the German language according to the Luther translation. The words, “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them” were followed by this interlude, “The angel of the Lord is now here!” After singing, “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him”, the choir sang with all voices vibrating, “The Lord is now here!”

I could continue to share the precious experiences which I have had throughout the many years. For each one of those experiences I can call upon God to be my witness in the name of Jesus Christ. The Word and the whole counsel of God has never before been revealed in such clarity and entirety as it is in our time. Truly, God revealed to His apostles and prophets what He had planned for His Own since before the foundation of the world (Eph. 3), and in this last time has also revealed it unto us.

Without knowing that Brother Branham was taken home on December 24th, 1965, I saw on that day how he ascended on a cloud. In this experience I said, “Brother Branham, you are not the Son of man, why do I see you on this cloud?” I found out later that it was the very hour when Brother Bran-ham was taken to glory. It wasn’t until the beginning of January 1966 that I received a letter from Brother Armbruster from Pennsylvania, informing me of the accident that happened on December 18th and then his going home six days later. Some time later I found in the Bible that not only our Lord ascended to heaven on a cloud, “… and a cloud received Him …” (Acts 1:9), but also the two prophets are taken up on a cloud, “And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud …” (Rev. 11:12). Only as time went on did I then begin to realise that we are truly living in the most important time period of the entire plan of Salvation.

During the watch night service of December 1965/66, the Spirit of God moved in a rather extraordinary way in our midst. Exactly 120 brothers and sisters were gathered. By the Thus saith the Lord I was directly addressed, “My servant, I have put My sword into your hand.” I must admit that I could not immediately accept what was said, because my thought went to Brother Branham, in whose hand the sword of the Lord had been placed. At that point we still did not know about his going home. Later I realised that the Lord God had indeed placed His sword, the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, into my hand. Thus it coincided with my commission, “… I will send you to other cities to preach My Word …”

On January 19th, 1966, I was taken in the spirit into a very large place of worship. One side of it was a building like a cathedral with a balcony and the rest was round like a tent. I was seated on the balcony and observed how a great number of people were pushing their way into this place. Then I saw that all had taken their seats and that ushers who were wearing an armband were moving up and down the middle isle. Then I saw Julius Stadsklev, a close friend of Brother Branham, standing on the front of the platform. He looked up to the balcony and said, “Brother Frank, it is your time. Come down now.” I stood up and went down the stairs, which were open towards the tent and could be seen by the thousands who had gathered for this meeting. I then went to the platform and stood there right next to Brother Stad-sklev, when a voice said, “We are not gathered here because of John the Baptist. We are gathered because William Branham, God’s prophet, was taken from us.” Then, suddenly, the voice spoke again, “Turn to the people that have assembled and speak to them, ‘The coming of the Lord is very near.’” In this vision I turned to the congregation in that huge tent and relayed what I was commissioned to say.

Then came April 11th, 1966, the day when the earthly body of Brother Branham was buried. To me it was a day of utter sadness. I do not remember having experienced anything like this ever again. I could not join in singing the chorus “Only believe …” which was repeated over and over. I was torn, wept and prayed, spoke to the Lord and said, “Please let me know how the Bride Church can be ready for Your return without this ministry.” It seemed though an entire world had collapsed before me on that day.