The Return of Christ remains our main subject. In direct connection thereto are the calling-out and the preparation of the Bride-Church to meet the heavenly Bridegroom. The prerequisite is being in perfect harmony with God and His Word under the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit. At the very end, all true believers must and will be of one heart and of one soul, just as they were in the beginning (Acts 4:32), for there cannot be any strange teachings or false brethren within the true Bride-Church.

Although it has been said many times, it must be repeated once more: Every teaching and practice within the Church of Jesus Christ must be in agreement with the Word of God. The last baptism will take place in the Name of the LORD Jesus Christ, in accordance with the very first one that was ordained on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38-41). The original Church of apostolic times remains the only valid example, in doctrine and in practice.

It is generally known that all churches refer to the Bible and yet have their own teachings and religious traditions. The unification of religions under the ecumenical umbrella is actually the unification with Rome. The only legitimate Gospel for the Church of Jesus Christ is the one that came forth from Jerusalem, the one that the Holy Scripture testifies about.

In regard to the Return of our LORD, the Redeemer will first come as the Bridegroom for His Bride, as it is written in Mat. 25, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh …” and as He Himself promised, “I go to prepare a place for you … I will come again and receive you unto myself …” (Jn. 14:1-3). In this case He is not talking about a message, a doctrine, or a revelation, but rather about Himself, the Bridegroom of our souls, Who shall return in the way it is written in 1. Thess. 4:13-17 and Acts 1:11. Then the wise virgins will be ready to go with Him to the marriage (Mt. 25:1-10; Rev. 19:6-10). That will be an absolute reality.

In reference to the timing we are told in the Holy Scripture, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man …” (Mt. 24:36). It is, therefore, not a time period of years; instead we are very clearly told about “the day” and “the hour.” According to 1. Cor. 15:52, it will happen in one moment, in a twinkling of an eye.

“Then shall two be in the field … two shall be grinding at the mill … two in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.” (Mt. 24:37-41; Lk. 17:34-37).

The apostle repeatedly reminded the believers to remain steadfast unto “the Day of our LORD Jesus Christ” (1. Cor. 1:7; 2. Cor. 1:14; Phil. 1:6; Phil. 2:16). He also urgently admonished his co-worker, Timothy, with these words, “That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing/parousia* of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1. Tim. 6:13-14).

According to Mt. 24, our LORD sat down on the Mount of Olives to answer the questions of His disciples: “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming/parousia, and of the end of the world?” Our LORD even warned us not to fall for any deception, when He said, “Take heed that no man deceive you. … many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many … Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not … For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming/parousia* of the Son of man be.” Amen! Amen!

The Apostle Paul dealt with this topic more than once in his epistles to the churches. In 1. Thess. 4 he addressed it in detail under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. At first he emphasised that the beloved brethren should not worry about those who had died in Christ. Therefore he wrote, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” (vv. 13-14).

Mt. 27:45-54 reports how the Old Testament saints came forth from their graves at the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and appeared to many in the holy city. That is how it shall be at the Return of Christ. The believers who died in faith will be resurrected, and those of us still living in faith will be changed, and together we shall be taken up in the clouds to meet the LORD in the air (1. Thess. 4:17). That will be a reality as well!

In verse 15 the Apostle Paul made sure it was clearly understood that he was not passing on his own opinion, by emphasising the THUS SAITH THE LORD: “For this we say unto you by the word of the LORD, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming/parousia of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.” It could have not been said more plainly. Then comes the main statement, “For the LORD Himself (not a message, not a revelation, but the LORD Himself – Who said, “I will come again, and receive you unto myself …”) shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” That will be a reality. Whoever believes and teaches that Jesus Christ has already come is apparently deceived by a lying spirit and is also deceiving others, for he misinterprets the clear statements of the Holy Scripture, the way Satan has done since the very beginning.

Enoch, the seventh descendent from Adam, is an example unto us in regard to the Rapture: “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” (Heb. 11:5). That was faith in form of a revelation, which merged into reality. With Enoch everything was a reality: his faith, God’s pleasure upon him, and his rapture. We likewise have to remain in the faith and in the revealed Will of God, thereby allowing God’s pleasure to rest upon us, before we can participate in the Rapture.

It is recorded in the gospels that the Son of God prayed, “Not my will, but thine, be done.” At His baptism the Spirit of God descended upon Him and the Voice of God spoke, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Mt. 3:16-17). In the very beginning, God looked upon Abel with pleasure because of the sacrifice he offered unto Him (Gen. 4:4). The sole purpose of the various sacrifices offered throughout the Old Testament was that God’s pleasure might rest upon His people (Lev. 1:3; Lev. 19:5; Lev. 22:2; a. o.). In spite of all the blessings bestowed upon the people of Israel during the forty years they wandered in the desert, in spite of all the sacrifices they offered, the sad verdict pronounced upon Israel was, “… with many of them God was not well pleased.” (1. Cor. 10:5).

Through the Prophet Samuel God lets us know the importance of obedience, “Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” (1. Sam. 15:22).

On the Mount of Transfiguration the Voice of God was heard again from the supernatural cloud, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” (Mt. 17:5). All sons and daughters of God who heed what He says will get baptised in water and receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit; they walk in the Will of God and God is pleased with them, as they are foreordained according to the good pleasure of His Will (Eph. 1:5). Enoch walked with God and had God’s pleasure. He was taken up to Glory and was no longer found on earth. This will be the case with all those who will take part in the first resurrection and Rapture. Those who died in Christ will rise first, and those who are still living in Christ will be changed, and together we shall be taken up in the clouds to meet the LORD in the air (1. Thess. 4:13-18). That is how it is written, that is how we believe it, and that is how it will happen.

Before Elijah was taken up, he said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee …” (2. Ki. 2:9-10). Whether it was Enoch or Elijah, whoever was taken up to Glory was no longer to be found on earth.

In Lk. 24:50-53 we read, “And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” Jesus Christ, our LORD and Saviour, was bodily taken to heaven while blessing His disciples. A corruptible body was laid into the sepulchre but an incorruptible one was raised again. After His resurrection our LORD said, “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” (Lk. 24:39).

HE revealed Himself to His Own in bodily shape, ate and drank with His disciples like He did before the crucifixion (Jn. 21; Acts 10:42-43). We shall have such a resurrection body and so will the saints from the Old and the New Testament, when we all participate in the marriage supper of the Lamb together. The bodily rapture of Enoch was a reality. The bodily rapture of Elijah was a reality. The bodily ascension of our LORD and Saviour was a reality. HIS bodily Return and the bodily resurrection of those who died in Christ and our bodily change and the Rapture will be an absolute reality. Whoever spiritualises the Return of Christ must be prepared to hear the following verdict, FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD, “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” (2. Jn. 7).

The Apostle Paul informed us of this well ahead of time, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1. Cor. 15:39-58).

Whoever teaches that Jesus Christ supposedly already left the mercy seat and has been in the process of descending ever since the opening of the Seals in 1963 is gravely mistaken. Certain statements of Brother Bran ham are being misinterpreted and incorrectly placed, whereby the true teaching of the Holy Scripture is being contemptuously stepped upon. The Bible does not testify of any “seven-thunder-revelation”; it does not report of a nonphysical “parousia/coming.” Whoever does not believe and does not teach that Jesus Christ shall appear in bodily form when He returns is both a deceiver and an antichrist according to the judgement of the Holy Scripture. If the mercy seat would have already changed into the judgement seat in 1963, then it would be for ever too late, there would be no more forgiveness, no more reconciliation. Where would that leave the ones who were born or came to believe after 1963? Christ is still our Advocate with the Father (1. Jn. 2:1-2), and the Blood of the Lamb, which Christ as the High Priest took with Him when He entered into the heavenly sanctuary, is still on the mercy seat (Heb. 9:11-14). HE is still the Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 9:15-22). Now is the time when the heavenly Bridegroom reveals the deepest mysteries to His earthly Bride. Amen.

Brother Branham said, “As long as Blood is on the mercy seat, showed that Something died to hold judgment back. But when the Church is raptured, the mercy seat becomes a judgment seat.” (January 8th, 1961, Jeffersonville). Amen!

He also stated, “… Then intercession is over. He’s off the throne. There’s no more Blood on the mercy seat, and then what is it? Judgment seat.” (March 21st, 1963, Jeffersonville).

It must be said very clearly once again: Whosoever does not teach the way it is written in the Bible and therein founded on at least two or more Scriptures is subsequently teaching incorrectly. The same applies to Brother Branham’s statements when they are taken out of context and then even presented in opposition to the testimony of the Holy Scripture. The Apostle Peter already told us back then that there are things in the Holy Scriptures and specifically in the epistles of the Apostle Paul which are difficult to understand, things people distort unto their own destruction (2. Pet. 3:14-18). This has been happening since the beginning, a different gospel gets formulated that is inevitably under a curse (Gal. 1). The Apostle Paul further warned us that men would rise and proclaim another gospel, preach another Jesus, for they are under the influence of another spirit (2. Cor. 11). The guidebook for the correctness of any teaching always was, and still is, solely the Holy Scripture.

In our time, no one has emphasised the significance of God’s Word more than Brother Branham. And no one else has preached and taught it as clear and true as he did. The following statement which Brother Branham made on March 6th, 1947, in Phoenix, AZ, was repeated by him in similar form in many of his sermons. It should make us realise the seriousness of the matter, and we should take it to heart.

“Every doctrine and everything else of the Bible, that we have in the Church, must be based upon the Word of God, must come from the Word. Not just one place, but from Genesis to Revelation it must say the same thing, ‘cause we cannot base our thoughts upon one little Scripture. For the Bible said, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses, let every word be established.” (March 6th, 1957, Phoenix, AZ).

One can refer to a single statement a hundred times and even emphasise, “Jesus said …” – like, for example, the great commission for water baptism in Mt. 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations …” – but if one does not verify how this commission was actually carried out by the apostles and does not consult at least two ore more witnesses (like Acts 2:38; Acts 8:16; Acts 10:48; Acts 19:5; and others), then one inevitably remains in the interpretation, which has become a “Christian,” but definitely not biblical, Trinitarian tradition.

Since the Garden of Eden, Satan has deceived not only Eve but also all of humanity with his interpretations of the Word of God. He used individual Scriptures even in the temptation of our LORD (Mt. 4; Lk. 4) and each time applied them incorrectly. However, Jesus withstood him in the only right manner by answering, “It is also written!”

The same process of verification applies to Rev. 10. Here the LORD does not come as the Bridegroom (Mt. 25:1-10), not as the Son of man (Mt. 25:31-46), not with all His saints (1. Thess. 3:13), here He comes alone as the Angel of the Covenant, sets one foot on land and the other upon the sea and cries with a loud voice likened to the roar of a lion. Only thereafter do the seven thunders utter their voices. So no one could ever give a wrong interpretation, John was commanded not to write what the thunders had uttered. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Rom. 11:33).

We find the right connection in the following Scriptures, where the LORD roars.

In Hos. 11:10 we read, “They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.” In Joel 3 we also find the keyword “roar”: “The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem – not from Arizona – and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” Amen.

“And He said – not an interpretation, but He said! –, The LORD will roar from Zion – not from New York or somewhere else –, and utter His voice from Jerusalem …” (Amos 1:2).

These Scriptures belong to the same subject and irrefutably show the city of Jerusalem, Mount Zion, and the people of Israel. They further reveal when and in which context Rev. 10 will actually be fulfilled. What man on earth would dare to deny the testimony of the multiple witnesses in the Scriptures?

On February 28th, 1963, the LORD appeared to Brother Branham on Sunset Mountain in Arizona in a supernatural cloud which hung 35 km above the earth. At that time, seven mighty thunderclaps sounded and the entire area shook. Then Brother Branham looked up and saw the cloud. That was his testimony; he even knocked on the pulpit seven times with his fist when he described this great experience to the congregation. There Brother Branham was told about the impending opening of the seven seals.

In Rev. 10 we also read about the oath, “… and sware by Him that liveth for ever and ever …” Dan. 12:6-7 also reliably shows us the right context for Rev. 10. Here we find the same words, “… and sware by Him that liveth for ever – then we are told about the allotted time – that it shall be for a time, times, and an half …” From the moment of this oath, which happens in the middle of the seventieth week, only 31⁄2 years remain until the commencement of the reign of Christ, which is announced in Rev. 11:15 with the seventh trumpet: “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”

In the first 31⁄2 years of the last week of Daniel, which begins right after the Rapture, the two prophets have their ministry in Jerusalem (Rev. 11). In the last 31⁄2 years the antichrist has his reign and launches a brutal persecution (Rev. 13:5-7). The Prophet Daniel told us this, “… and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time … And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” (Dan. 7:25-27). The perfect harmony between the Old and the New Testament is overwhelming!

Then the mystery of God will be finished (Rev. 10:7), just as He revealed it to His servants, the prophets. This mystery was revealed to the Church right at the beginning (1. Tim. 3:16), but at that particular time it will be made known to Israel. “… to acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Col. 2:3). Under the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit we could show forth every doctrine and subject up for discussion and each time refer to two or more witnesses, namely Scriptures.

The Return of Christ remains our main subject. In direct connection thereto are the calling-out and the preparation of the Bride-Church to meet the heavenly Bridegroom. The prerequisite is being in perfect harmony with God and His Word under the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit. At the very end, all true believers must and will be of one heart and of one soul, just as they were in the beginning (Acts 4:32), for there cannot be any strange teachings or false brethren within the true Bride-Church. 

Although it has been said many times, it must be repeated once more: Every teaching and practice within the Church of Jesus Christ must be in agreement with the Word of God. The last baptism will take place in the Name of the LORD Jesus Christ, in accordance with the very first one that was ordained on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38-41). The original Church of apostolic times remains the only valid example, in doctrine and in practice. 

It is generally known that all churches refer to the Bible and yet have their own teachings and religious traditions. The unification of religions under the ecumenical umbrella is actually the unification with Rome. The only legitimate Gospel for the Church of Jesus Christ is the one that came forth from Jerusalem, the one that the Holy Scripture testifies about. 

In regard to the Return of our LORD, the Redeemer will first come as the Bridegroom for His Bride, as it is written in Mat. 25, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh …” and as He Himself promised, “I go to prepare a place for you … I will come again and receive you unto myself …” (Jn. 14:1-3). In this case He is not talking about a message, a doctrine, or a revelation, but rather about Himself, the Bridegroom of our souls, Who shall return in the way it is written in 1. Thess. 4:13-17 and Acts 1:11. Then the wise virgins will be ready to go with Him to the marriage (Mt. 25:1-10; Rev. 19:6-10). That will be an absolute reality. 

In reference to the timing we are told in the Holy Scripture, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man …” (Mt. 24:36). It is, therefore, not a time period of years; instead we are very clearly told about “the day” and “the hour.” According to 1. Cor. 15:52, it will happen in one moment, in a twinkling of an eye. 

“Then shall two be in the field … two shall be grinding at the mill … two in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.” (Mt. 24:37-41; Lk. 17:34-37). 

The apostle repeatedly reminded the believers to remain steadfast unto “the Day of our LORD Jesus Christ” (1. Cor. 1:7; 2. Cor. 1:14; Phil. 1:6; Phil. 2:16). He also urgently admonished his co-worker, Timothy, with these words, “That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing/parousia* of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1. Tim. 6:13-14). 

According to Mt. 24, our LORD sat down on the Mount of Olives to answer the questions of His disciples: “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming/parousia, and of the end of the world?” Our LORD even warned us not to fall for any deception, when He said, “Take heed that no man deceive you. … many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many … Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not … For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming/parousia* of the Son of man be.” Amen! Amen! 

The Apostle Paul dealt with this topic more than once in his epistles to the churches. In 1. Thess. 4 he addressed it in detail under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. At first he emphasised that the beloved brethren should not worry about those who had died in Christ. Therefore he wrote, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” (vv. 13-14). 

Mt. 27:45-54 reports how the Old Testament saints came forth from their graves at the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and appeared to many in the holy city. That is how it shall be at the Return of Christ. The believers who died in faith will be resurrected, and those of us still living in faith will be changed, and together we shall be taken up in the clouds to meet the LORD in the air (1. Thess. 4:17). That will be a reality as well! 

In verse 15 the Apostle Paul made sure it was clearly understood that he was not passing on his own opinion, by emphasising the THUS SAITH THE LORD: “For this we say unto you by the word of the LORD, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming/parousia of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.” It could have not been said more plainly. Then comes the main statement, “For the LORD Himself (not a message, not a revelation, but the LORD Himself – Who said, “I will come again, and receive you unto myself …”) shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” That will be a reality. Whoever believes and teaches that Jesus Christ has already come is apparently deceived by a lying spirit and is also deceiving others, for he misinterprets the clear statements of the Holy Scripture, the way Satan has done since the very beginning. 

Enoch, the seventh descendent from Adam, is an example unto us in regard to the Rapture: “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” (Heb. 11:5). That was faith in form of a revelation, which merged into reality. With Enoch everything was a reality: his faith, God’s pleasure upon him, and his rapture. We likewise have to remain in the faith and in the revealed Will of God, thereby allowing God’s pleasure to rest upon us, before we can participate in the Rapture. 

It is recorded in the gospels that the Son of God prayed, “Not my will, but thine, be done.” At His baptism the Spirit of God descended upon Him and the Voice of God spoke, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Mt. 3:16-17). In the very beginning, God looked upon Abel with pleasure because of the sacrifice he offered unto Him (Gen. 4:4). The sole purpose of the various sacrifices offered throughout the Old Testament was that God’s pleasure might rest upon His people (Lev. 1:3; Lev. 19:5; Lev. 22:2; a. o.). In spite of all the blessings bestowed upon the people of Israel during the forty years they wandered in the desert, in spite of all the sacrifices they offered, the sad verdict pronounced upon Israel was, “… with many of them God was not well pleased.” (1. Cor. 10:5). 

Through the Prophet Samuel God lets us know the importance of obedience, “Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” (1. Sam. 15:22). 

On the Mount of Transfiguration the Voice of God was heard again from the supernatural cloud, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” (Mt. 17:5). All sons and daughters of God who heed what He says will get baptised in water and receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit; they walk in the Will of God and God is pleased with them, as they are foreordained according to the good pleasure of His Will (Eph. 1:5). Enoch walked with God and had God’s pleasure. He was taken up to Glory and was no longer found on earth. This will be the case with all those who will take part in the first resurrection and Rapture. Those who died in Christ will rise first, and those who are still living in Christ will be changed, and together we shall be taken up in the clouds to meet the LORD in the air (1. Thess. 4:13-18). That is how it is written, that is how we believe it, and that is how it will happen. 

Before Elijah was taken up, he said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee …” (2. Ki. 2:9-10). Whether it was Enoch or Elijah, whoever was taken up to Glory was no longer to be found on earth. 

In Lk. 24:50-53 we read, “And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” Jesus Christ, our LORD and Saviour, was bodily taken to heaven while blessing His disciples. A corruptible body was laid into the sepulchre but an incorruptible one was raised again. After His resurrection our LORD said, “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” (Lk. 24:39). 

HE revealed Himself to His Own in bodily shape, ate and drank with His disciples like He did before the crucifixion (Jn. 21; Acts 10:42-43). We shall have such a resurrection body and so will the saints from the Old and the New Testament, when we all participate in the marriage supper of the Lamb together. The bodily rapture of Enoch was a reality. The bodily rapture of Elijah was a reality. The bodily ascension of our LORD and Saviour was a reality. HIS bodily Return and the bodily resurrection of those who died in Christ and our bodily change and the Rapture will be an absolute reality. Whoever spiritualises the Return of Christ must be prepared to hear the following verdict, FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD, “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” (2. Jn. 7). 

The Apostle Paul informed us of this well ahead of time, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1. Cor. 15:39-58). 

Whoever teaches that Jesus Christ supposedly already left the mercy seat and has been in the process of descending ever since the opening of the Seals in 1963 is gravely mistaken. Certain statements of Brother Bran ham are being misinterpreted and incorrectly placed, whereby the true teaching of the Holy Scripture is being contemptuously stepped upon. The Bible does not testify of any “seven-thunder-revelation”; it does not report of a nonphysical “parousia/coming.” Whoever does not believe and does not teach that Jesus Christ shall appear in bodily form when He returns is both a deceiver and an antichrist according to the judgement of the Holy Scripture. If the mercy seat would have already changed into the judgement seat in 1963, then it would be for ever too late, there would be no more forgiveness, no more reconciliation. Where would that leave the ones who were born or came to believe after 1963? Christ is still our Advocate with the Father (1. Jn. 2:1-2), and the Blood of the Lamb, which Christ as the High Priest took with Him when He entered into the heavenly sanctuary, is still on the mercy seat (Heb. 9:11-14). HE is still the Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 9:15-22). Now is the time when the heavenly Bridegroom reveals the deepest mysteries to His earthly Bride. Amen. 

Brother Branham said, “As long as Blood is on the mercy seat, showed that Something died to hold judgment back. But when the Church is raptured, the mercy seat becomes a judgment seat.” (January 8th, 1961, Jeffersonville). Amen! 

He also stated, “… Then intercession is over. He’s off the throne. There’s no more Blood on the mercy seat, and then what is it? Judgment seat.” (March 21st, 1963, Jeffersonville). 

It must be said very clearly once again: Whosoever does not teach the way it is written in the Bible and therein founded on at least two or more Scriptures is subsequently teaching incorrectly. The same applies to Brother Branham’s statements when they are taken out of context and then even presented in opposition to the testimony of the Holy Scripture. The Apostle Peter already told us back then that there are things in the Holy Scriptures and specifically in the epistles of the Apostle Paul which are difficult to understand, things people distort unto their own destruction (2. Pet. 3:14-18). This has been happening since the beginning, a different gospel gets formulated that is inevitably under a curse (Gal. 1). The Apostle Paul further warned us that men would rise and proclaim another gospel, preach another Jesus, for they are under the influence of another spirit (2. Cor. 11). The guidebook for the correctness of any teaching always was, and still is, solely the Holy Scripture. 

In our time, no one has emphasised the significance of God’s Word more than Brother Branham. And no one else has preached and taught it as clear and true as he did. The following statement which Brother Branham made on March 6th, 1947, in Phoenix, AZ, was repeated by him in similar form in many of his sermons. It should make us realise the seriousness of the matter, and we should take it to heart. 

“Every doctrine and everything else of the Bible, that we have in the Church, must be based upon the Word of God, must come from the Word. Not just one place, but from Genesis to Revelation it must say the same thing, ‘cause we cannot base our thoughts upon one little Scripture. For the Bible said, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses, let every word be established.” (March 6th, 1957, Phoenix, AZ). 

One can refer to a single statement a hundred times and even emphasise, “Jesus said …” – like, for example, the great commission for water baptism in Mt. 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations …” – but if one does not verify how this commission was actually carried out by the apostles and does not consult at least two ore more witnesses (like Acts 2:38; Acts 8:16; Acts 10:48; Acts 19:5; and others), then one inevitably remains in the interpretation, which has become a “Christian,” but definitely not biblical, Trinitarian tradition. 

Since the Garden of Eden, Satan has deceived not only Eve but also all of humanity with his interpretations of the Word of God. He used individual Scriptures even in the temptation of our LORD (Mt. 4; Lk. 4) and each time applied them incorrectly. However, Jesus withstood him in the only right manner by answering, “It is also written!”

The same process of verification applies to Rev. 10. Here the LORD does not come as the Bridegroom (Mt. 25:1-10), not as the Son of man (Mt. 25:31-46), not with all His saints (1. Thess. 3:13), here He comes alone as the Angel of the Covenant, sets one foot on land and the other upon the sea and cries with a loud voice likened to the roar of a lion. Only thereafter do the seven thunders utter their voices. So no one could ever give a wrong interpretation, John was commanded not to write what the thunders had uttered. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Rom. 11:33). 

We find the right connection in the following Scriptures, where the LORD roars. 

In Hos. 11:10 we read, “They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.” In Joel 3 we also find the keyword “roar”: “The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem – not from Arizona – and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” Amen. 

“And He said – not an interpretation, but He said! –, The LORD will roar from Zion – not from New York or somewhere else –, and utter His voice from Jerusalem …” (Amos 1:2). 

These Scriptures belong to the same subject and irrefutably show the city of Jerusalem, Mount Zion, and the people of Israel. They further reveal when and in which context Rev. 10 will actually be fulfilled. What man on earth would dare to deny the testimony of the multiple witnesses in the Scriptures? 

On February 28th, 1963, the LORD appeared to Brother Branham on Sunset Mountain in Arizona in a supernatural cloud which hung 35 km above the earth. At that time, seven mighty thunderclaps sounded and the entire area shook. Then Brother Branham looked up and saw the cloud. That was his testimony; he even knocked on the pulpit seven times with his fist when he described this great experience to the congregation. There Brother Branham was told about the impending opening of the seven seals. 

In Rev. 10 we also read about the oath, “… and sware by Him that liveth for ever and ever …” Dan. 12:6-7 also reliably shows us the right context for Rev. 10. Here we find the same words, “… and sware by Him that liveth for ever – then we are told about the allotted time – that it shall be for a time, times, and an half …” From the moment of this oath, which happens in the middle of the seventieth week, only 31⁄2 years remain until the commencement of the reign of Christ, which is announced in Rev. 11:15 with the seventh trumpet: “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”

In the first 31⁄2 years of the last week of Daniel, which begins right after the Rapture, the two prophets have their ministry in Jerusalem (Rev. 11). In the last 31⁄2 years the antichrist has his reign and launches a brutal persecution (Rev. 13:5-7). The Prophet Daniel told us this, “… and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time … And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” (Dan. 7:25-27). The perfect harmony between the Old and the New Testament is overwhelming! 

Then the mystery of God will be finished (Rev. 10:7), just as He revealed it to His servants, the prophets. This mystery was revealed to the Church right at the beginning (1. Tim. 3:16), but at that particular time it will be made known to Israel. “… to acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Col. 2:3). Under the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit we could show forth every doctrine and subject up for discussion and each time refer to two or more witnesses, namely Scriptures.