Where does it belong, where should it be placed within the order of the plan of Salvation when the LORD says, “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins …” (Mat. 25:1)? In Mat. 24 the LORD foretold the order of events in the last time period. As a special sign, He announced in the parable of the fig tree the return of the people of Israel into the land of their fathers, into the land of promise. He wanted to thereby draw our attention to what is now being fulfilled before our very eyes, according to His promise: “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” (Mat. 24:33). Then our LORD spoke of the Return of the Son of Man, compared this time to the days of Noah, and emphasized a second time: “… so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” At the Return, which we are longingly awaiting, one shall be taken and the other left (vv. 40-41). This happens at the Rapture. Therefore the admonishing words: “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (v. 44).

All the things that our LORD mentioned – wars, rumours of wars, famines and earthquakes, and all of the birth pains which shall come upon the entire earth – are certainly coming true before our very eyes: “… and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring …” (Lk. 21:25). Likewise coming to pass in our time is what the LORD said directly afterwards in Mat. 24:45-47: “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?” That is equally THUS SAITH THE LORD, and it concerns the Church. God not only sent a prophet to store in the food, as Brother Branham pointed out eight times in the span from March 11, 1962, to June 28, 1963, but He also ensured that this food is distributed to the entire household. Through this ministry, the collective household as designated by the LORD can give out the same Word, the same spiritual food. That is how the revealed Word has become the spiritual food for all of us.

All those who believe that with the ministry of Brother Branham everything came to an end consequently deny what the LORD called out to Brother Branham on June 11, 1933, while he was baptizing believers in the Ohio River, when the heaven opened and the supernatural light descended, visible to all who were present, namely: “As John the Baptist foreran the first coming of Christ so you are sent with a message that will forerun the second coming of Christ.” They believe the invented, falsified version in which it no longer says anything about “message”: “As John the Baptist foreran the first coming of Christ so you are sent to forerun the second coming of Christ.” Therefore, they reject the one who now carries the message and what God is presently doing. They continue to live in the past and go from one error and from one interpretation to another. But what are they to do with the words from the very lips of Brother Branham: “Not that I would be a forerunner, but the message was the forerunning”?

Whoever denies what the LORD said and what was left unto us from the lips of Brother Branham has fallen prey to the same beguiling as Eve. Paul, who according to 2. Cor. 11 wanted to present a chaste virgin unto Christ – which Brother Branham strived for as well and is now finally going to take place, clearly said wherein the beguiling is manifested: Another Jesus is preached; another spirit is at work; another gospel is proclaimed. By the virtue of his divine commission, Paul placed such people under the curse (Gal. 1:6-10). Remarkably, only this one particular statement of Brother Branham is being denied. Apart from that, one constantly hears the claim: “The prophet said! The prophet said!” The respective statements are taken out of context and definitely not placed where they belong within the divine order of the Holy Scripture. As a result, the prophet is made the substance of their proclamation and another gospel comes into existence. The wise take all things and place them into the correct context according to the Scripture. They believe the Word which was at the beginning and remains forever. They comprise the Bride who is redeemed by the blood, sanctified in the Word, and joined with Christ in the Spirit.

Nevertheless, the foolish virgins also count on the Return of the LORD and are even convinced that they will have a part in the Rapture and in the marriage supper, but they are bypassing what God is presently doing. Neither John nor Paul (Acts 26:13-18) nor Brother Branham had a hand in it that they were commissioned and that their ministry was of great significance within the plan of Salvation. Likewise, I did not choose what the LORD commanded me and that He always addressed me with the words “My servant”: “My servant, your time for this city will soon be over … My servant, do not establish any local church … My servant, I have ordained you according to Mat. 24:45-47 to give out the food … My servant, get up and read 2. Tim. 4!” As far as I am concerned, everything that He told me and what is written in Mat. 24:45-47 and in other Scriptures is THUS SAITH THE LORD.

Right afterwards we read in chap. 25 about the parable of the ten virgins: “Then – namely when all that was announced in chap. 24 is taking place – shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins …” Then, when the food is given out, the midnight cry goes forth: Behold, the bridegroom cometh! Then all this comes to fulfilment, and it is happening now, in our time. This is the most important time period of the entire plan of Salvation, and blessed is he who does not miss the connection.

Twenty days before his passing, Brother Branham spoke in his sermon “The Rapture” about the shout: “It’s a Message to get the people together. A Message comes forth first. Now, ‘Lamp trimming time. Rise and trim your lamps.’ … Behold the Bridegroom cometh. Rise and trim your lamps.” (December 4, 1965).

In the sermon “The invisible union of the Bride of Christ” from November 25, 1965, Brother Branham said this one month before his departure: “Notice. But watch when, the spiritual Bride, when She begins to have a revival, when She begins to come back and line Herself up with the Word of God. Watch then again (You see?), how that the Scriptures, … At that time there’ll be a message sweep out to catch that Bride, catch that woman, elect.”

In the sermon about the seventh Seal, he said: “It may be time. It may be the hour now, that this great person that we’re expecting to rise on the scene may rise on the scene. Maybe this ministry that I have tried to take people back to the Word has laid a foundation; and if it has, I’ll be leaving you for good. There won’t be two of us here the same time. See? If it is, he will increase, I’ll decrease. I don’t know. But I have been privileged by God to look and see what it was (See, see?), unfold to that much. Now, that is the truth.” (March 24, 1963).

At the end of this sermon, Brother Branham prayed: “Then, LORD, I pray that You’ll help me. I’m beginning to fade away, LORD. I know my days can’t be too many more, and I pray that You’ll help me. Let me be true, LORD, and honest and sincere that I might be able to bear the message as far as it’s ordained for me to bear. And when it comes to the time that I must lay down, when I get down to the river, and the waves begin to come in, O God, may I be able to hand this old Sword over to somebody else that’ll be honest with It, LORD, and will pack the truth.” God has taken the messenger unto Himself, but the message is left to us and it is being carried into the entire world. The sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:10-20) has also been entrusted to me.

“These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges …” (Rev. 2:12).

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12).

On August 23, 1964, Brother Branham gave this admonition: “The only thing you can put your trust in is THUS SAITH THE LORD from the Bible. Now, Church, that is exactly where I have tried to keep you, my children. And if something happens to me and God takes me out of this earth, don’t you never fail. Remember this with all your heart: stay with that Word. Don’t you leave that Word. Anything contrary to It, leave it alone, no matter what it is. Then you know It’s right.”

The wise virgins believe every Word of God and every promise. They are led from clarity to clarity and have a direct part in what God is currently doing. They not only have the lamps, the illumination, they have the connection to the fullness of the Spirit, which leads into all truth. Their vessels are filled with oil, and thus they will go and partake of the marriage supper according to the words of our LORD. But before that, in the time of calling out and preparation, they recognize the teaching ministry, which is now taking place, just as they previously recognised the prophetic ministry. After all, God did not come to a halt in the past, but He is a God of the present.

Where does it belong, where should it be placed within the order of the plan of Salvation when the LORD says, “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins …” (Mat. 25:1)? In Mat. 24 the LORD foretold the order of events in the last time period. As a special sign, He announced in the parable of the fig tree the return of the people of Israel into the land of their fathers, into the land of promise. He wanted to thereby draw our attention to what is now being fulfilled before our very eyes, according to His promise: “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” (Mat. 24:33). Then our LORD spoke of the Return of the Son of Man, compared this time to the days of Noah, and emphasized a second time: “… so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” At the Return, which we are longingly awaiting, one shall be taken and the other left (vv. 40-41). This happens at the Rapture. Therefore the admonishing words: “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (v. 44).

All the things that our LORD mentioned – wars, rumours of wars, famines and earthquakes, and all of the birth pains which shall come upon the entire earth – are certainly coming true before our very eyes: “… and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring …” (Lk. 21:25). Likewise coming to pass in our time is what the LORD said directly afterwards in Mat. 24:45-47: “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?” That is equally THUS SAITH THE LORD, and it concerns the Church. God not only sent a prophet to store in the food, as Brother Branham pointed out eight times in the span from March 11, 1962, to June 28, 1963, but He also ensured that this food is distributed to the entire household. Through this ministry, the collective household as designated by the LORD can give out the same Word, the same spiritual food. That is how the revealed Word has become the spiritual food for all of us.

All those who believe that with the ministry of Brother Branham everything came to an end consequently deny what the LORD called out to Brother Branham on June 11, 1933, while he was baptizing believers in the Ohio River, when the heaven opened and the supernatural light descended, visible to all who were present, namely: “As John the Baptist foreran the first coming of Christ so you are sent with a message that will forerun the second coming of Christ.” They believe the invented, falsified version in which it no longer says anything about “message”: “As John the Baptist foreran the first coming of Christ so you are sent to forerun the second coming of Christ.” Therefore, they reject the one who now carries the message and what God is presently doing. They continue to live in the past and go from one error and from one interpretation to another. But what are they to do with the words from the very lips of Brother Branham: “Not that I would be a forerunner, but the message was the forerunning”?

Whoever denies what the LORD said and what was left unto us from the lips of Brother Branham has fallen prey to the same beguiling as Eve. Paul, who according to 2. Cor. 11 wanted to present a chaste virgin unto Christ – which Brother Branham strived for as well and is now finally going to take place, clearly said wherein the beguiling is manifested: Another Jesus is preached; another spirit is at work; another gospel is proclaimed. By the virtue of his divine commission, Paul placed such people under the curse (Gal. 1:6-10). Remarkably, only this one particular statement of Brother Branham is being denied. Apart from that, one constantly hears the claim: “The prophet said! The prophet said!” The respective statements are taken out of context and definitely not placed where they belong within the divine order of the Holy Scripture. As a result, the prophet is made the substance of their proclamation and another gospel comes into existence. The wise take all things and place them into the correct context according to the Scripture. They believe the Word which was at the beginning and remains forever. They comprise the Bride who is redeemed by the blood, sanctified in the Word, and joined with Christ in the Spirit.

Nevertheless, the foolish virgins also count on the Return of the LORD and are even convinced that they will have a part in the Rapture and in the marriage supper, but they are bypassing what God is presently doing. Neither John nor Paul (Acts 26:13-18) nor Brother Branham had a hand in it that they were commissioned and that their ministry was of great significance within the plan of Salvation. Likewise, I did not choose what the LORD commanded me and that He always addressed me with the words “My servant”: “My servant, your time for this city will soon be over … My servant, do not establish any local church … My servant, I have ordained you according to Mat. 24:45-47 to give out the food … My servant, get up and read 2. Tim. 4!” As far as I am concerned, everything that He told me and what is written in Mat. 24:45-47 and in other Scriptures is THUS SAITH THE LORD.

Right afterwards we read in chap. 25 about the parable of the ten virgins: “Then – namely when all that was announced in chap. 24 is taking place – shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins …” Then, when the food is given out, the midnight cry goes forth: Behold, the bridegroom cometh! Then all this comes to fulfilment, and it is happening now, in our time. This is the most important time period of the entire plan of Salvation, and blessed is he who does not miss the connection.

Twenty days before his passing, Brother Branham spoke in his sermon “The Rapture” about the shout: “It’s a Message to get the people together. A Message comes forth first. Now, ‘Lamp trimming time. Rise and trim your lamps.’ … Behold the Bridegroom cometh. Rise and trim your lamps.” (December 4, 1965).

In the sermon “The invisible union of the Bride of Christ” from November 25, 1965, Brother Branham said this one month before his departure: “Notice. But watch when, the spiritual Bride, when She begins to have a revival, when She begins to come back and line Herself up with the Word of God. Watch then again (You see?), how that the Scriptures, … At that time there’ll be a message sweep out to catch that Bride, catch that woman, elect.”

In the sermon about the seventh Seal, he said: “It may be time. It may be the hour now, that this great person that we’re expecting to rise on the scene may rise on the scene. Maybe this ministry that I have tried to take people back to the Word has laid a foundation; and if it has, I’ll be leaving you for good. There won’t be two of us here the same time. See? If it is, he will increase, I’ll decrease. I don’t know. But I have been privileged by God to look and see what it was (See, see?), unfold to that much. Now, that is the truth.” (March 24, 1963).

At the end of this sermon, Brother Branham prayed: “Then, LORD, I pray that You’ll help me. I’m beginning to fade away, LORD. I know my days can’t be too many more, and I pray that You’ll help me. Let me be true, LORD, and honest and sincere that I might be able to bear the message as far as it’s ordained for me to bear. And when it comes to the time that I must lay down, when I get down to the river, and the waves begin to come in, O God, may I be able to hand this old Sword over to somebody else that’ll be honest with It, LORD, and will pack the truth.” God has taken the messenger unto Himself, but the message is left to us and it is being carried into the entire world. The sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:10-20) has also been entrusted to me.

“These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges …” (Rev. 2:12).

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12).

On August 23, 1964, Brother Branham gave this admonition: “The only thing you can put your trust in is THUS SAITH THE LORD from the Bible. Now, Church, that is exactly where I have tried to keep you, my children. And if something happens to me and God takes me out of this earth, don’t you never fail. Remember this with all your heart: stay with that Word. Don’t you leave that Word. Anything contrary to It, leave it alone, no matter what it is. Then you know It’s right.”

The wise virgins believe every Word of God and every promise. They are led from clarity to clarity and have a direct part in what God is currently doing. They not only have the lamps, the illumination, they have the connection to the fullness of the Spirit, which leads into all truth. Their vessels are filled with oil, and thus they will go and partake of the marriage supper according to the words of our LORD. But before that, in the time of calling out and preparation, they recognize the teaching ministry, which is now taking place, just as they previously recognised the prophetic ministry. After all, God did not come to a halt in the past, but He is a God of the present.