Because of the imminent return of Christ the question arises: When will the Bride Church submit fully to the Word of God and be in the service of the LORD for the up-building of the whole Body of Christ? We do believe that the true Church should be at the end as she was in the beginning: one heart and one soul. Only when this is achieved by the grace of God we shall see the great works of the Almighty. Before this State pleasing unto God can be reached, every individual has to experience a repentance wrought by the Holy Spirit in the innermost of our hearts. A repentance that is not demanded of others but experienced by every one personally. After this has taken place, the Scriptural blessings will become a reality with us.

In order to serve one another we must have the humble submitting character of a servant. Who ever needs to admonish or reproof others must place himself into their situation before doing so. Before we can pull out the mote from the eye of someone, we must first pull out the beam from our own eye.

The statement of our LORD found in the Sermon on the Mount, known as “The golden rule” should be our guide line,

“Therefore, all things whatever would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them for this is the law and the prophets.” (Mt. 7:12)

In that notable sermon on the Mount the Lord pronounces the blessings upon those who follow Him in obedience to His Word, even to the statement, “Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.” (Mt. 5:8). Whoever is informed about the special God-given ministry through Brother Branham will know that his “back to the original Word” Message must precede the second coming of Christ. John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way of the LORD at the first coming of Christ. This apostolic prophetic ministry is sent to restore (Mt. 17:11). If we do recognise how essential this God-sent message is to the Bride Church, we must wake up immediately, come to our senses and be sober in all things. We also should have a good spiritual judgment of our own state and of that of the Church. It would be a shame to continue in the practised manner where everyone believes with his segregated party to be ready for the Rapture. It is astonishing that all groups who are contrary to one another assuming the same, even if their countenance fell as that of Cain (Gen. 4:5).

Believers of this day are of the opinion that they can love God and at the same time hate their brother or sister. They believe they can talk to God, but would not speak to a brother or a sister. They believe that one can remain irreconcilable and still be ready for the Return of Christ. They assume of being in fellowship with God and reject the fellowship with a brother. True fellowship with God is connected with true fellowship of the believers and His servants.

“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” (1 Jn. 1:3)

As God's children we should comprehend that in all realms we must be subordinated to God's Word. For the Church only God's order applies to which we must submit on each level. Everybody, man, woman, father and mother, every boy and girl, all who had their personal experience of salvation and are part of the Church must submit to God's order. Whenever eating and drinking or the keeping of days is concerned, everyone should do things according to his own conviction, but leave the other person in peace and respect their conviction (Rom. 14:1-10). It is different, if things are concerned which are demanded in God's Word. Only on grounds of the written Word it is permissive to complain and again to judge only by the written Word.

In Israel the elders were acting as judges, dealing with the problems of the people (Dt. 16:18-20). The whole congregation sought their advice. In the Church are placed the elders who take care of all such things. When the LORD God appeared to Moses, He said unto him, “Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them …” (Ex. 3:16). They were men who had the confidence of the tribes and the people. When Moses climbed up the mountain to meet with the LORD God, he took the seventy elders with him who were also called the nobles of Israel. “And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand; also they saw God, and did eat and drink.” (Ex. 24:11). As on one hand, the priests took care in the spiritual part of the temple service, and also the Levites had their place in the divine service. The elders looked after the well-being of the whole congregation, judging a reprobate son (Dt. 21:18-21) and also a marriage dispute (Dt. 22:13-21).

In the New Testament churches, elders were being appointed (Acts 14:23, 1 Tim 3:1-7; Tit. 1; a. o.). When Paul and Barnabas with a small delegation came to Jerusalem to settle a certain question, they were met by the apostles and elders (Acts 15). “The apostles and elders and brethren send greetings unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia…” (vs. 23b). The apostle Paul did not call the brethren who had the fivefold ministry, when he was concerned with a local church, but rather the elders. “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church … Take heed, therefore, unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20:17+28).

The elders were also called overseers. In the Book of Revelation the twenty-four elders are spoken of, representing both, the Old and the New Covenant. Elders are being called to anoint the sick with oil and to pray for them (Jas. 5:t4). They do have a responsibility for the well-being of the Church. “The elders who are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight of it…” (1 Pet. 5:1-2) Who ever has the true fear of God in his heart, will respect the brethren in their God-ordained ministries. Who ever has no respect for God's decision, the same cannot have the fear of God. The fear of God must return into the Church (Acts 5:1-11), because the fear of God is the beginning of all divine wisdom (Ps. 111:10, Prov. 1:7; Jas. 3:17).

The responsible brethren in a church are to take care of the problems of those belonging to the assembly. Paul writes, “For what have I to do to judge them also that are outside? Do not ye judge them that are within?” (1 Cor. 5:12) Who ever disconnects himself from church life, because the Word did not seem to be on his side, disconnects himself from God, testifying thereby that he does not submit under the Word but rather places himself above it. The question then is, if such a person can still remain as a member in the Body of Christ for whom the whole Word is binding. There are such people who always believe for themselves to be right. The right of a believer does only exist within the set limits of God's Word. Whosoever goes further, leaves the Bible grounds, and withdraws himself from the convincing by the Holy Spirit. In such a way people not only walk according to their human-fleshly understanding, but they actually come under the influence of evil spirits and go wrong.

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye who are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” (Gal. 6:1)

If the concern is marriage, family or any other problem among believers, in every case only God's Word alone is applicable. No believer has the right to seek his right against a brother or a sister in Christ through a lawyer and a court decision. The apostle Paul was reproving the believers who sought their right before unbelieving judges instead of the saints (1 Cor. 6). All those who seek their right before unbelieving judges have despised God and God's Word, and throw the Church of the Living God into shame before unbelievers. They throw the pearls before the swines. In such a case, people have turned their back on God and His Word.

No one who purposely oversteps God's Word will remain unpunished. Who ever decides to take an earthly judge has rejected the heavenly judge and has annulled the Word of God for himself and is stepping on the way of unbelievers. For example, how can a judge give a right judgment in a marriage dispute, if he does not know God's Word at all? He simply does not know what is written in Mt. 5:32, in Mt. 19:9, in 1 Cor. 7:10-11+15. and in many other places in the New Testament. He also does not know what the Word says in the Old Testament from Ex. 20 until Mal. 2:16.

Whatever concerns believers is not a private or a family case, but rather is the concern of the whole assembly, as it is known publicly. Therefore the divine jurisdiction must be according to the Word within the assembly, not taking sides with any party. In a case of dispute always a mediator is needed to administer justice. The mediator can never take sides, should not be related to one of the parties, as he must mediate and reconcile. Our Redeemer is the best example. He became the Mediator of the New Covenant. In Him the divided and separated humanity was reconciled with God. Who ever rejects the jurisdiction of the Word within the assembly withdraws from God and is about to walk in his own ways. It must be achieved what Paul taught, that experienced men in the faith should judge a case and give clarification.

If two people have a quarrel, it does not need to say, that both had bad intentions. It is possible that each party is making use of another Scripture to support their own cause without taking into consideration the one of the other party. As old as humanity is the fact that one blames the other. That is the way it started in the garden of Eden when the LORD God talked to Adam. He said, “The woman whom thou gavest me…” When the LORD God then spoke to the woman, she put it on the serpent saying, “The serpent beguiled me…” The Lord God did not curse Adam and Eve but only the serpent.

No problem is solved in accusing someone else. By this the case is being made worse. To blame somebody else comes about by the fact that forgiveness and reconciliation is being rejected. This should never happen between believers. As a warning we are told in the LORD'S prayer, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. … For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Mt. 6:12-15)

If someone thinks such important statement does not apply, he deceives himself. If someone does not forgive “one thing”, to him God will not forgive “all” the things. Thus we can read in Mark 11, “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have anything against any, that your Father also, who is in heaven, may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father, who is in heaven, forgive your trespasses.” (vv:25-26). If one compares himself and his deeds with such Scriptures, it is easy to judge ourselves in the light of God's Word. If somebody really forgave, he will stretch forth the hand of reconciliation to others. Who ever is not reconciled with a brother, cannot be reconciled with God.

It would be good for each and every one to read Mt. 5, from verse 21 to 26, in order to comprehend the seriousness of our talk and even the vocabulary we are using, if we speak to each other. If we take things lightly, we might say that it is not to be taken seriously. But God Who knows the thoughts and intents of the heart also knows why we use the language we do. He proves the heart and knows all about us. From Mt. 5 we learn that anybody having become guilty of using strong language against his brother to leave the sacrifice on the altar of the LORD and make things right before offering the sacrifice. Only if God's justice and order is established in each individual it will be established in the Church of the Living God.

Because of the imminent return of Christ the question arises: When will the Bride Church submit fully to the Word of God and be in the service of the LORD for the up-building of the whole Body of Christ? We do believe that the true Church should be at the end as she was in the beginning: one heart and one soul. Only when this is achieved by the grace of God we shall see the great works of the Almighty. Before this State pleasing unto God can be reached, every individual has to experience a repentance wrought by the Holy Spirit in the innermost of our hearts. A repentance that is not demanded of others but experienced by every one personally. After this has taken place, the Scriptural blessings will become a reality with us.

In order to serve one another we must have the humble submitting character of a servant. Who ever needs to admonish or reproof others must place himself into their situation before doing so. Before we can pull out the mote from the eye of someone, we must first pull out the beam from our own eye.

The statement of our LORD found in the Sermon on the Mount, known as “The golden rule” should be our guide line,

“Therefore, all things whatever would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them for this is the law and the prophets.” (Mt. 7:12)

In that notable sermon on the Mount the Lord pronounces the blessings upon those who follow Him in obedience to His Word, even to the statement, “Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.” (Mt. 5:8). Whoever is informed about the special God-given ministry through Brother Branham will know that his “back to the original Word” Message must precede the second coming of Christ. John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way of the LORD at the first coming of Christ. This apostolic prophetic ministry is sent to restore (Mt. 17:11). If we do recognise how essential this God-sent message is to the Bride Church, we must wake up immediately, come to our senses and be sober in all things. We also should have a good spiritual judgment of our own state and of that of the Church. It would be a shame to continue in the practised manner where everyone believes with his segregated party to be ready for the Rapture. It is astonishing that all groups who are contrary to one another assuming the same, even if their countenance fell as that of Cain (Gen. 4:5).

Believers of this day are of the opinion that they can love God and at the same time hate their brother or sister. They believe they can talk to God, but would not speak to a brother or a sister. They believe that one can remain irreconcilable and still be ready for the Return of Christ. They assume of being in fellowship with God and reject the fellowship with a brother. True fellowship with God is connected with true fellowship of the believers and His servants.

“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” (1 Jn. 1:3)

As God's children we should comprehend that in all realms we must be subordinated to God's Word. For the Church only God's order applies to which we must submit on each level. Everybody, man, woman, father and mother, every boy and girl, all who had their personal experience of salvation and are part of the Church must submit to God's order. Whenever eating and drinking or the keeping of days is concerned, everyone should do things according to his own conviction, but leave the other person in peace and respect their conviction (Rom. 14:1-10). It is different, if things are concerned which are demanded in God's Word. Only on grounds of the written Word it is permissive to complain and again to judge only by the written Word.

In Israel the elders were acting as judges, dealing with the problems of the people (Dt. 16:18-20). The whole congregation sought their advice. In the Church are placed the elders who take care of all such things. When the LORD God appeared to Moses, He said unto him, “Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them …” (Ex. 3:16). They were men who had the confidence of the tribes and the people. When Moses climbed up the mountain to meet with the LORD God, he took the seventy elders with him who were also called the nobles of Israel. “And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand; also they saw God, and did eat and drink.” (Ex. 24:11). As on one hand, the priests took care in the spiritual part of the temple service, and also the Levites had their place in the divine service. The elders looked after the well-being of the whole congregation, judging a reprobate son (Dt. 21:18-21) and also a marriage dispute (Dt. 22:13-21).

In the New Testament churches, elders were being appointed (Acts 14:23, 1 Tim 3:1-7; Tit. 1; a. o.). When Paul and Barnabas with a small delegation came to Jerusalem to settle a certain question, they were met by the apostles and elders (Acts 15). “The apostles and elders and brethren send greetings unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia…” (vs. 23b). The apostle Paul did not call the brethren who had the fivefold ministry, when he was concerned with a local church, but rather the elders. “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church … Take heed, therefore, unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20:17+28).

The elders were also called overseers. In the Book of Revelation the twenty-four elders are spoken of, representing both, the Old and the New Covenant. Elders are being called to anoint the sick with oil and to pray for them (Jas. 5:t4). They do have a responsibility for the well-being of the Church. “The elders who are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight of it…” (1 Pet. 5:1-2) Who ever has the true fear of God in his heart, will respect the brethren in their God-ordained ministries. Who ever has no respect for God's decision, the same cannot have the fear of God. The fear of God must return into the Church (Acts 5:1-11), because the fear of God is the beginning of all divine wisdom (Ps. 111:10, Prov. 1:7; Jas. 3:17).

The responsible brethren in a church are to take care of the problems of those belonging to the assembly. Paul writes, “For what have I to do to judge them also that are outside? Do not ye judge them that are within?” (1 Cor. 5:12) Who ever disconnects himself from church life, because the Word did not seem to be on his side, disconnects himself from God, testifying thereby that he does not submit under the Word but rather places himself above it. The question then is, if such a person can still remain as a member in the Body of Christ for whom the whole Word is binding. There are such people who always believe for themselves to be right. The right of a believer does only exist within the set limits of God's Word. Whosoever goes further, leaves the Bible grounds, and withdraws himself from the convincing by the Holy Spirit. In such a way people not only walk according to their human-fleshly understanding, but they actually come under the influence of evil spirits and go wrong.

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye who are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” (Gal. 6:1)

If the concern is marriage, family or any other problem among believers, in every case only God's Word alone is applicable. No believer has the right to seek his right against a brother or a sister in Christ through a lawyer and a court decision. The apostle Paul was reproving the believers who sought their right before unbelieving judges instead of the saints (1 Cor. 6). All those who seek their right before unbelieving judges have despised God and God's Word, and throw the Church of the Living God into shame before unbelievers. They throw the pearls before the swines. In such a case, people have turned their back on God and His Word.

No one who purposely oversteps God's Word will remain unpunished. Who ever decides to take an earthly judge has rejected the heavenly judge and has annulled the Word of God for himself and is stepping on the way of unbelievers. For example, how can a judge give a right judgment in a marriage dispute, if he does not know God's Word at all? He simply does not know what is written in Mt. 5:32, in Mt. 19:9, in 1 Cor. 7:10-11+15. and in many other places in the New Testament. He also does not know what the Word says in the Old Testament from Ex. 20 until Mal. 2:16.

Whatever concerns believers is not a private or a family case, but rather is the concern of the whole assembly, as it is known publicly. Therefore the divine jurisdiction must be according to the Word within the assembly, not taking sides with any party. In a case of dispute always a mediator is needed to administer justice. The mediator can never take sides, should not be related to one of the parties, as he must mediate and reconcile. Our Redeemer is the best example. He became the Mediator of the New Covenant. In Him the divided and separated humanity was reconciled with God. Who ever rejects the jurisdiction of the Word within the assembly withdraws from God and is about to walk in his own ways. It must be achieved what Paul taught, that experienced men in the faith should judge a case and give clarification.

If two people have a quarrel, it does not need to say, that both had bad intentions. It is possible that each party is making use of another Scripture to support their own cause without taking into consideration the one of the other party. As old as humanity is the fact that one blames the other. That is the way it started in the garden of Eden when the LORD God talked to Adam. He said, “The woman whom thou gavest me…” When the LORD God then spoke to the woman, she put it on the serpent saying, “The serpent beguiled me…” The Lord God did not curse Adam and Eve but only the serpent.

No problem is solved in accusing someone else. By this the case is being made worse. To blame somebody else comes about by the fact that forgiveness and reconciliation is being rejected. This should never happen between believers. As a warning we are told in the LORD'S prayer, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. … For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Mt. 6:12-15)

If someone thinks such important statement does not apply, he deceives himself. If someone does not forgive “one thing”, to him God will not forgive “all” the things. Thus we can read in Mark 11, “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have anything against any, that your Father also, who is in heaven, may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father, who is in heaven, forgive your trespasses.” (vv:25-26). If one compares himself and his deeds with such Scriptures, it is easy to judge ourselves in the light of God's Word. If somebody really forgave, he will stretch forth the hand of reconciliation to others. Who ever is not reconciled with a brother, cannot be reconciled with God.

It would be good for each and every one to read Mt. 5, from verse 21 to 26, in order to comprehend the seriousness of our talk and even the vocabulary we are using, if we speak to each other. If we take things lightly, we might say that it is not to be taken seriously. But God Who knows the thoughts and intents of the heart also knows why we use the language we do. He proves the heart and knows all about us. From Mt. 5 we learn that anybody having become guilty of using strong language against his brother to leave the sacrifice on the altar of the LORD and make things right before offering the sacrifice. Only if God's justice and order is established in each individual it will be established in the Church of the Living God.