About this subject various views will be propagated until the Lord returns. In the Scriptures we find the events described that pertain to the first coming, the second coming and the third coming. Brother Branham said, “Watch Christ. First coming, He came a mortal to bleed and die. Is that right? That's His first coming. The second coming is the Rapture. We meet Him in the skies – immortal. His third coming – He's the incarnate God. Amen! God Emmanuel to reign on earth. That's right. Only three.” (Seal book, page 308).

In the sermon The Spoken Word is the Original Seed, on page 5, he said, “There are three comings of Christ. He came once to redeem His Bride, He comes the next in the Rapture to catch away His Bride, He comes again in the millenium with His Bride.”

We should not judge somebody too quickly, because even the disciples did not properly differentiate in regards to the promises of the first coming. "… they asked of Him, saying, 'Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?'” (Acts 1:6b). When our Saviour spoke of His sufferings, Peter cried out, saying, "Be it far from Thee, Lord; this shall not be unto Thee.” We all know that He turned to him and said, “Get thee behind me, Satan. Thou art an offence unto me; for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” (Matthew 16:22-23). This shows very plainly, that if we speak of divine things from our natural understanding, we are under the influence of Satan, as Peter was at that moment. But Peter did not make a doctrine, it was just spoken once and finished through the correction.

The second coming of Christ can be expected at any time. We recognize God's day of visitation and see the signs pointing to that event. The imminent return of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ will be the crowning event for all who love His appearing.

The teaching that Christ already came must be rejected as false and totally unscriptural. Not one of all the promises connected to that event was fulfilled. The revealing of the mysteries hidden in the Word of God was not the second coming of Christ. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was not the second coming of Christ, but the experience of Christ taking His dwelling place in us. The appearing in the supernatural cloud on 28th February, 1963 was of great importance; thereafter the seals were opened, the spiritual food, the hidden manna, was stored up, so all hungry souls can be fed. But it was not the catching away of His Bride which will take place at His second coming.

There is also not one place where Brother Branham mentioned that Christ at that time has made a new covenant. Not one time did he say that Revelation 10 was the second coming. Not once did he teach that the time of grace is finished, that we are now having the marriage supper, neither is he responsible for all the doctrines which are now in circulation. On 26th April, 1965 in his sermon Proving His Word, Brother Branham still gave an altar call. What for, if the time of grace was over? He said, “You'll probably never be closer to Him until you see Him in person when He comes in His visible body from the Heavens.” Right until his end he expected the return of the Lord, as all true believers since the days of the apostles. How can somebody uphold the doctrine "Christ came in '63", if Brother Branham himself still waited for His coming in '65? From the Holy Scriptures and the sermons of Brother Branham, which are always based upon the Bible, the events which surround the second coming of Christ are clearly taught.

In II Thessalonians 2, Paul admonishes us with these words, "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering together unto Him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word …” People are being shaken, because someone presents a doctrine using the appealing words “revelation” and “mystery". They overlook the fact that the return of Christ is an event, not a doctrine. So is the resurrection, the translation, the catching away and the wedding supper of the Lamb an event. In the German Bible and other main translations the word “rapture” is used in I Thessalonians 4:17 and Hebrews 11:5. Henoch, the seventh from Adam, was taken up and not found on earth (Genesis 5:22-24). So will it be at the end of this seventh church age with all in whom God is well pleased.

Some claim, the resurrection has happened; they teach, the graves which opened are the dead denominations. What a perversion of the Scriptures! In I Thessalonians 4 it is very clear that not those who presently live will raise from the dead, but those who are asleep in Christ will come forth. Some believe, the Bridegroom has come and the wedding supper is going on. If this already is the marriage supper going on now, with all the confusion, we were better off without it! Some even go as far as to pray, using the phrase, “I ask it in the Name of Jesus Christ, my husband.”

Putting things together, one has to come to the realization that evil spirits have disturbed the clear thinking of such people. This has nothing to do with the attitude towards a minister, but we shall see that every false doctrine pertaining to the second coming of Christ does not only originate from wrong spirits, but from the antichrist spirit itself! Doctrines wherein the visible, bodily return of Christ, as Brother Branham stated it and the Scriptures teach it, is being denied, are of the antichrist spirit.

"By this know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God; and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God; and this is that spirit of antichrist, of which ye have heard that it should come, and even now already is it in the world.” (1 John 4:1-3)

In II John we read from verse 7, “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

These Scriptures certainly are THUS SAITH THE LORD. The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). God was manifested in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16). The quoted scriptures don't speak of an experience believers have, but of their confession. Therefore it does not say, "Every believer who does not experience Christ to come into his flesh …", but it says, “Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh …" Therefore, any one who confesses that Jesus Christ has or will return in any other form except bodily is deceived by the antichrist spirit.

This is not changed by simply speaking about revelations, twisting the Word and quotes. It states specifically beyond any shadow of doubt, that any spirit who does not confess that Christ has come in the bodily form is not of God. With gratitude of heart we acknowledge the special revelation of the Word in our time. We are grateful for the direct working of the Holy Spirit and also for the meetings wherein the Lord is present as He promised, but all these things are not the greatest event at the end of this age: the return of our Lord!

The scriptures we read are in complete harmony with all the rest dealing with this subject. The same Jesus Christ who was born into this world and lived here in a body of flesh, suffered and died, was buried and rose on the third day, the same Jesus went to heaven and will return in the same way. “This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11b).

In Luke 24:51 we read, “And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” The birth of Christ, the life of Christ, the ministry of Christ, everything right up to His going to heaven and His returning are not doctrines but facts, events which are clearly promised in the Word and literally fulfilled.

Those who put the Word aside should not claim to make up the Word-Bride. Our Lord warned us and said, “Then if any man shall say unto you, 'Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.” (Matthew 24:23). How can people say they believe the Scriptures or the message of the hour and listen to a minister who shouts, "Christ has returned! HE is here. We are at the wedding supper. We are raptured." and so on? The listeners, being under delusion, reply enthusiastically, “Yes, He is here!” Where, in the desert? In the U.S.A., Europe, Africa or Asia? What a mocking nonsense!

Once again it must be emphasized that every promise connected with the second coming of Christ will be fulfilled to the letter. In I Thessalonians 4:16 we read, “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven …" – not a doctrine, not an explanation, but the same Lord who went to heaven shall return. In verse 14 we read, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him." Where are they, if Christ has come back? All who are asleep in Jesus will come with Him and take up their resurrection bodies. Then we who are alive shall be changed, and together we shall be taken into glory.

In John 14 the Lord promised to go and to prepare a place and then to return and take us into the mansions above. In I Thessalonians 3:13, Paul states, "To the end he may establish your hearts un blamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” This corresponds with what we just read in chapter 4, verse 14. Where has this happened and when? In verse 15, Paul writes, “For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede them who are asleep.”

The whole subject is very clear; a fool cannot err, and a child will understand. In verse 17 we read, "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” All the explanations on this subject are null and void, because they are theories separated from the reality attached to it. If the preacher says, “We are caught up in the spirit; we are all in rapture”, that has got nothing to do with the literal fulfilment of the Word of God. Actually, it is astonishing how ignorant believers are of the Word and plan of God.

In Revelation 19, from 1-10, the rejoicing of those who partake at the marriage supper of the Lamb is heard in heaven, not in any country or place on earth. In Philippians 3:20 we read, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from where also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our lowly body, that it may be fashioned like His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.” In I John 3:2 the Scripture says, “Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” The emphasis is on the facts, “when He shall appear … we shall see Him." This doesn't happen by doctrines and imaginations; they only cause confusion. This will be the reality of realities. Amen!

In Romans 8:23 we read, “And not only they, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, that is, the redemption of our body." So again it's not a doctrine, not a subject to be discussed, it is something that will actually take place. Until now everybody is still mourning and groaning. Only in the meetings some pretend to stand above everything, but you should see them a little while after the service is over! Some even tell the same old jokes and think nothing of it.

In I Corinthians 15, from verse 35, we find a complete description of what will take place at the second coming of Christ. Consider the statement, “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So, when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory.'” Many more scriptures could be given to this important subject. "Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” (II John 8-9).

The apostle John was not impolite, he was full of love, as we all know, but this love was for the Truth. If anyone has lost the love for the Truth, only strong delusions are left. John goes on and writes, “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed." Upon the authority of these verses in II John 7-11, we are forbidden to fellowship with anyone who does not confess that Jesus Christ was manifested in a body of flesh and will come back in the same body. It's easy to preach about the Antichrist and not realize that the antichrist spirit is working all over the world in disguise, deceiving those who forsake the Truth.

With the greatest respect we have published the most significant event which has taken place on 28th February, 1963. We have also clearly set forth that it was not the return of Christ, neither could it be the fulfilment of Revelation 10. That was before the opening of the seals, and the book was still closed. Revelation 10 states that the Angel with the rainbow above His head comes with the open book in His hand, so that must of necessity be after the opening of the seven seals, if language makes sense.

In Colossians 1:18 and other places in the Scriptures the Lord Jesus Christ is described as the Head of the Body. We, the true believers, are many members making up that one Body. But Christ is the Head. If you look at the cloud picture, you see the face of the Lord. Why don't we recognize Him to be the Head who has spoken through His prophet William Branham? Especially since the opening of the seven seals all the members of His Body, which make up His Bride, prepare to meet the Bridegroom. The rest will not pay any attention to what the Spirit says unto the churches.

Through the opening of the seals the redeemed were acquainted with the hidden mysteries of the plan of salvation. All who belong to the Body of Christ will recognize His voice and also will accept Him as the Head and submit to His Lordship. They are the only ones who will hear and rightly understand the revealed Word — privileged to meet the great Conqueror in the air. With thankful hearts we acknowledge and respect the Lord and all He has done, but we shall never go any further. We will stop where He stopped and say what He said. All of God's sons and daughters will pay attention to the last message and stay within the Word of God.

About this subject various views will be propagated until the Lord returns. In the Scriptures we find the events described that pertain to the first coming, the second coming and the third coming. Brother Branham said, “Watch Christ. First coming, He came a mortal to bleed and die. Is that right? That's His first coming. The second coming is the Rapture. We meet Him in the skies – immortal. His third coming – He's the incarnate God. Amen! God Emmanuel to reign on earth. That's right. Only three.” (Seal book, page 308).

In the sermon The Spoken Word is the Original Seed, on page 5, he said, “There are three comings of Christ. He came once to redeem His Bride, He comes the next in the Rapture to catch away His Bride, He comes again in the millenium with His Bride.”

We should not judge somebody too quickly, because even the disciples did not properly differentiate in regards to the promises of the first coming. "… they asked of Him, saying, 'Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?'” (Acts 1:6b). When our Saviour spoke of His sufferings, Peter cried out, saying, "Be it far from Thee, Lord; this shall not be unto Thee.” We all know that He turned to him and said, “Get thee behind me, Satan. Thou art an offence unto me; for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” (Matthew 16:22-23). This shows very plainly, that if we speak of divine things from our natural understanding, we are under the influence of Satan, as Peter was at that moment. But Peter did not make a doctrine, it was just spoken once and finished through the correction.

The second coming of Christ can be expected at any time. We recognize God's day of visitation and see the signs pointing to that event. The imminent return of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ will be the crowning event for all who love His appearing.

The teaching that Christ already came must be rejected as false and totally unscriptural. Not one of all the promises connected to that event was fulfilled. The revealing of the mysteries hidden in the Word of God was not the second coming of Christ. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was not the second coming of Christ, but the experience of Christ taking His dwelling place in us. The appearing in the supernatural cloud on 28th February, 1963 was of great importance; thereafter the seals were opened, the spiritual food, the hidden manna, was stored up, so all hungry souls can be fed. But it was not the catching away of His Bride which will take place at His second coming.

There is also not one place where Brother Branham mentioned that Christ at that time has made a new covenant. Not one time did he say that Revelation 10 was the second coming. Not once did he teach that the time of grace is finished, that we are now having the marriage supper, neither is he responsible for all the doctrines which are now in circulation. On 26th April, 1965 in his sermon Proving His Word, Brother Branham still gave an altar call. What for, if the time of grace was over? He said, “You'll probably never be closer to Him until you see Him in person when He comes in His visible body from the Heavens.” Right until his end he expected the return of the Lord, as all true believers since the days of the apostles. How can somebody uphold the doctrine "Christ came in '63", if Brother Branham himself still waited for His coming in '65? From the Holy Scriptures and the sermons of Brother Branham, which are always based upon the Bible, the events which surround the second coming of Christ are clearly taught.

In II Thessalonians 2, Paul admonishes us with these words, "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering together unto Him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word …” People are being shaken, because someone presents a doctrine using the appealing words “revelation” and “mystery". They overlook the fact that the return of Christ is an event, not a doctrine. So is the resurrection, the translation, the catching away and the wedding supper of the Lamb an event. In the German Bible and other main translations the word “rapture” is used in I Thessalonians 4:17 and Hebrews 11:5. Henoch, the seventh from Adam, was taken up and not found on earth (Genesis 5:22-24). So will it be at the end of this seventh church age with all in whom God is well pleased.

Some claim, the resurrection has happened; they teach, the graves which opened are the dead denominations. What a perversion of the Scriptures! In I Thessalonians 4 it is very clear that not those who presently live will raise from the dead, but those who are asleep in Christ will come forth. Some believe, the Bridegroom has come and the wedding supper is going on. If this already is the marriage supper going on now, with all the confusion, we were better off without it! Some even go as far as to pray, using the phrase, “I ask it in the Name of Jesus Christ, my husband.”

Putting things together, one has to come to the realization that evil spirits have disturbed the clear thinking of such people. This has nothing to do with the attitude towards a minister, but we shall see that every false doctrine pertaining to the second coming of Christ does not only originate from wrong spirits, but from the antichrist spirit itself! Doctrines wherein the visible, bodily return of Christ, as Brother Branham stated it and the Scriptures teach it, is being denied, are of the antichrist spirit.

"By this know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God; and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God; and this is that spirit of antichrist, of which ye have heard that it should come, and even now already is it in the world.” (1 John 4:1-3)

In II John we read from verse 7, “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

These Scriptures certainly are THUS SAITH THE LORD. The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). God was manifested in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16). The quoted scriptures don't speak of an experience believers have, but of their confession. Therefore it does not say, "Every believer who does not experience Christ to come into his flesh …", but it says, “Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh …" Therefore, any one who confesses that Jesus Christ has or will return in any other form except bodily is deceived by the antichrist spirit.

This is not changed by simply speaking about revelations, twisting the Word and quotes. It states specifically beyond any shadow of doubt, that any spirit who does not confess that Christ has come in the bodily form is not of God. With gratitude of heart we acknowledge the special revelation of the Word in our time. We are grateful for the direct working of the Holy Spirit and also for the meetings wherein the Lord is present as He promised, but all these things are not the greatest event at the end of this age: the return of our Lord!

The scriptures we read are in complete harmony with all the rest dealing with this subject. The same Jesus Christ who was born into this world and lived here in a body of flesh, suffered and died, was buried and rose on the third day, the same Jesus went to heaven and will return in the same way. “This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11b).

In Luke 24:51 we read, “And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” The birth of Christ, the life of Christ, the ministry of Christ, everything right up to His going to heaven and His returning are not doctrines but facts, events which are clearly promised in the Word and literally fulfilled.

Those who put the Word aside should not claim to make up the Word-Bride. Our Lord warned us and said, “Then if any man shall say unto you, 'Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.” (Matthew 24:23). How can people say they believe the Scriptures or the message of the hour and listen to a minister who shouts, "Christ has returned! HE is here. We are at the wedding supper. We are raptured." and so on? The listeners, being under delusion, reply enthusiastically, “Yes, He is here!” Where, in the desert? In the U.S.A., Europe, Africa or Asia? What a mocking nonsense!

Once again it must be emphasized that every promise connected with the second coming of Christ will be fulfilled to the letter. In I Thessalonians 4:16 we read, “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven …" – not a doctrine, not an explanation, but the same Lord who went to heaven shall return. In verse 14 we read, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him." Where are they, if Christ has come back? All who are asleep in Jesus will come with Him and take up their resurrection bodies. Then we who are alive shall be changed, and together we shall be taken into glory.

In John 14 the Lord promised to go and to prepare a place and then to return and take us into the mansions above. In I Thessalonians 3:13, Paul states, "To the end he may establish your hearts un blamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” This corresponds with what we just read in chapter 4, verse 14. Where has this happened and when? In verse 15, Paul writes, “For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede them who are asleep.”

The whole subject is very clear; a fool cannot err, and a child will understand. In verse 17 we read, "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” All the explanations on this subject are null and void, because they are theories separated from the reality attached to it. If the preacher says, “We are caught up in the spirit; we are all in rapture”, that has got nothing to do with the literal fulfilment of the Word of God. Actually, it is astonishing how ignorant believers are of the Word and plan of God.

In Revelation 19, from 1-10, the rejoicing of those who partake at the marriage supper of the Lamb is heard in heaven, not in any country or place on earth. In Philippians 3:20 we read, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from where also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our lowly body, that it may be fashioned like His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.” In I John 3:2 the Scripture says, “Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” The emphasis is on the facts, “when He shall appear … we shall see Him." This doesn't happen by doctrines and imaginations; they only cause confusion. This will be the reality of realities. Amen!

In Romans 8:23 we read, “And not only they, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, that is, the redemption of our body." So again it's not a doctrine, not a subject to be discussed, it is something that will actually take place. Until now everybody is still mourning and groaning. Only in the meetings some pretend to stand above everything, but you should see them a little while after the service is over! Some even tell the same old jokes and think nothing of it.

In I Corinthians 15, from verse 35, we find a complete description of what will take place at the second coming of Christ. Consider the statement, “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So, when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory.'” Many more scriptures could be given to this important subject. "Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” (II John 8-9).

The apostle John was not impolite, he was full of love, as we all know, but this love was for the Truth. If anyone has lost the love for the Truth, only strong delusions are left. John goes on and writes, “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed." Upon the authority of these verses in II John 7-11, we are forbidden to fellowship with anyone who does not confess that Jesus Christ was manifested in a body of flesh and will come back in the same body. It's easy to preach about the Antichrist and not realize that the antichrist spirit is working all over the world in disguise, deceiving those who forsake the Truth.

With the greatest respect we have published the most significant event which has taken place on 28th February, 1963. We have also clearly set forth that it was not the return of Christ, neither could it be the fulfilment of Revelation 10. That was before the opening of the seals, and the book was still closed. Revelation 10 states that the Angel with the rainbow above His head comes with the open book in His hand, so that must of necessity be after the opening of the seven seals, if language makes sense.

In Colossians 1:18 and other places in the Scriptures the Lord Jesus Christ is described as the Head of the Body. We, the true believers, are many members making up that one Body. But Christ is the Head. If you look at the cloud picture, you see the face of the Lord. Why don't we recognize Him to be the Head who has spoken through His prophet William Branham? Especially since the opening of the seven seals all the members of His Body, which make up His Bride, prepare to meet the Bridegroom. The rest will not pay any attention to what the Spirit says unto the churches.

Through the opening of the seals the redeemed were acquainted with the hidden mysteries of the plan of salvation. All who belong to the Body of Christ will recognize His voice and also will accept Him as the Head and submit to His Lordship. They are the only ones who will hear and rightly understand the revealed Word — privileged to meet the great Conqueror in the air. With thankful hearts we acknowledge and respect the Lord and all He has done, but we shall never go any further. We will stop where He stopped and say what He said. All of God's sons and daughters will pay attention to the last message and stay within the Word of God.