During a convention here in Europe in May 1975, while a brother was reciting one quotation after another from the sermons of Bro. Branham, the Spirit of God dealt with me in a very unusual way. While sitting on the platform, something began to speak within my heart, “The scribes have set themselves in the seat of Moses!” It became stronger and repeated. I didn’t know where this would lead to or what the application was to be. As it began to speak even more forcefully within in me, I just had to say: Lord, what does it mean? Just then I realised that the situation today can be paralleled to the days of Jesus.

Moses was the special prophet for Israel; the one who was privileged to see the pillar of fire. He had a direct commission from the Lord and received the Word for Israel. The scribes always referred to him and preached, “Moses said! Moses said! The prophet said! The prophet said!,” but they themselves had completely misunderstood what Moses, the prophet, had said. They had set themselves in Moses’ seat, but failed. They gained authority before the people by identifying themselves with his ministry by quoting God’s prophet. Thus they had a stronghold upon the people and misled them, although by it they had established their own ministry. They referred to the prophet of God, but they themselves did not enter into the kingdom and kept the people, who desired so, from going in. They were not placed into that position by a divine call, but had assumed the authority themselves. What did Jesus have to say about the scribes and the Pharisees in Matthew 23?

Sad to say, some go from place to place to speak about their experiences with the prophet, or relate the experiences the prophet had with the Lord, but cannot refer to a single experience they themselves had with God.

The Apostles and Prophets have spoken under the direction and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The things recorded in God’s holy Word are infallible because God Himself spoke through them. But to merely identify oneself with these men of God does not mean a thing. The Roman Catholic Church identifies herself with Peter because he received the keys to the kingdom. They openly attribute the same office to the pope, claiming him to be his successor and the vicar of Jesus Christ. If we draw a comparison between the ministry of Peter and their teachings, we can clearly see that no such claim is justified.

Peter could say: “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” Can the pope say the same with all his silver and gold and the inestimable treasure of the Vatican?

The protestant churches often refer to Paul, the great teacher of the New Testament, but a mere identification with a man of God does not qualify anyone to assume a position in the Kingdom of God. All denominations and organisations have their founders etc., but there is no promise of a successor to Peter, Paul or even Bro. Branham. Anyone with a carnal and selfish motive can identify himself with such a man and claim additional revelations and thereby bring reproach upon Christ and His servants. Through carnality, believers of the end-time message have caused others to be cautious and almost afraid, lest they be accused of worshipping a man. The blame goes to those who preach a prophet instead of Christ. Quotations are misunderstood, misplaced and taken out of context without going back to the word. It has even gone so far that some have tried to conform the Word of God to their one-sided information.

When the Lord Jesus Christ expounded the Scripture to the disciples on their way to Emmaus and also the eleven after the resurrection, He placed great emphasis on the whole Word of God. He referred to Moses and also to all the prophets and the Psalms (Luke 24: 27, 44). When the enemy came to Jesus with the Word, He overcame him by saying, “It is also written!”

I believe the message cannot be separated from the Word of God. Micaiah compared his vision with Elijah’s prophecy. Daniel was enlightened while reading what Jeremiah had said. So must also we go back to the written Word and to what all the prophets and apostles have said. If the message would not be the Word, I would not have a thing to do with it.

It has been made so easy for many to set themselves in the seat of William Branham. They recite the quotes of their choice and try to impress those that may not know as much. How can every utterance Bro. Branham made be taken as a doctrine? Why are some trying to make the people believe that every statement he made was “Thus Saith the Lord!?” Was he not entitled to give his personal conviction as Paul did when he said, “This I say not the Lord!?” (1 Cor. 7:12). He didn’t receive all revelations at once, but I’m not willing to throw the cherry pie away, just because I find a seed in it. Let me give you an example: If Bro. Branham said, “Enoch walked with God for five hundred years,” I am at liberty to say, “Enoch only lived 365 years” (Gen. 5: 22–24).

Others have taken his statement about the racial uprise in the USA to be “Thus Saith the Lord!”, but what was his reaction when he asked, “Did you prophesy that there would be a million Negros killed or did you just announce that this would be happening?” His reply is very enlightening:

“Now see, I have always asked you to be careful what you are listening to. There is so much of it that is just the human side, but always if there is something that goes forth, I will speak it, its thus saith the Lord! Even to visions or anything…see, you have to watch…” (HE CARES, DO YOU? 63-0721)

How easily this statement can be overlooked by those who are fanatic! And therein lies the whole problem. Those who take everything he said literally may even feel embarrassed at his own retort. Here in Europe it was preached that millions would be killed in a civil war in the USA because the prophet said so.

It was Bro. Branham’s impression that Martin Luther King would lead his people to the slaughter in the Civil Rights movement and freedom marches, yet King himself walked into a death trap and was assassinated.

He was also of the opinion that the democracy of the USA would not outlive the period of 200 years, but that was no prophecy; that was not “Thus Saith the Lord!” There is no need for anyone to allow a lying spirit to creep in and declare that the USA is not a democracy any longer because the President and the Vice President were appointed during the last term. Is this not considered to be as much a part of the constitution and political set up of a democracy as a general election?

Can you see where confusion is brought about? All is well if the plain Truth of God’s holy Word is preached, but the trouble begins with the unlawful private interpretations and the emphasis upon certain statements. Millions have witnessed the infallible ministry by the gift of discernment, but was Bro. Branham not entitled to voice his own opinion just like any other man? Of course he was God’s prophet and when he spoke in the Name of the Lord, it was “Thus Saith the Lord!” The danger lies therein that precious children of God have not been able to discern between his opinion and the things he said under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. If these precious people had taken God’s holy Word as their criterion, they would not have gone off on a tangent and waste their time with things that have absolutely no value at all.

One of the most difficult tasks for me is to write the following few pages, because someone could misunderstand it and think that I’m trying to criticise the prophet. I loved this humble man of God with all my heart and have fully taken my stand for the message he brought. But these lines must be written with a sober approach against the confusion that has been brought about by carnally-minded people. Jesus said: “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)

Throughout my travels I have heard the following phrases over and over again, “The prophet said! Malachi 4 said! Bro. Branham said so!” This is the reason I must give an example in order to illustrate something. I would like to ask you to give me the scriptural answer on who the great multitude of Revelation 7 from verse 9 is.

In his sermon, PHILADELPHIAN CHURCH AGE, Bro. Branham said:

“They were also the Bride, that was in the temple. Now let’s go to Revelation 7. See, if they were the Bride … There is the Bride! ... how beautiful, the Bride! ... The Bride standing there with the Bridegroom.”

In THE SEVENTH SEAL, he speaks about Revelation 7 from vs. 9 again:

“Now watch, after this now, here comes another group. Now the Bride is gone, we know that. But watch this group come up… First we start now with Israel and then we see the purged church, not the Bride. The purged church by tribulation, coming up here. Great number of real sincere hearts, that come up out of the great tribulation. Not the Church, it’s gone on – the Bride! There is the church.”

In August 1964 he said:

“Revelation 7 is where he saw the 144 000 sealed and after that he saw coming up, coming back was that great number, which no man could number, which is the Bride.”

Some go by what was said after the opening up of the Seals. In the HEBREW Questions, he also speaks of the great multitude:

“… there is your Gentile Bride coming up. All right, these stood before the Lamb. There is their Saviour! The Lamb. Note! The Lamb. Grace… And God shall wipe all the tears from their eyes. There she is! There is your Bride!”

To go by the statement so commonly used, “Say what the prophet said!”, does not solve the problem. I am now asking you, what did he say regarding this subject? I am just trying to show you that nothing is being accomplished by using quotes. The time is at hand to place the Word correctly and put line upon line, precept upon precept, until the subject is satisfactorily answered. It is irrelevant to know where the Bride is spoken of, but it is most important to strive to be part of her.

Paul was the messenger to the first church age, who had the Word for the hour, but there were also teachers and the other offices. He could say: “But I certify you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Gal. 1,11–12)

Paul knew he had received the Word of the Lord, yet the churches were established with all the different ministries. These did not discredit his special commission. No, all worked together in harmony as one recognised the necessity of the other. God uses one man as a vessel to make His Word and His will known, then it is channelled through the teaching ministry to enlighten the understanding of the believers.

During a convention here in Europe in May 1975, while a brother was reciting one quotation after another from the sermons of Bro. Branham, the Spirit of God dealt with me in a very unusual way. While sitting on the platform, something began to speak within my heart, “The scribes have set themselves in the seat of Moses!” It became stronger and repeated. I didn’t know where this would lead to or what the application was to be. As it began to speak even more forcefully within in me, I just had to say: Lord, what does it mean? Just then I realised that the situation today can be paralleled to the days of Jesus.

Moses was the special prophet for Israel; the one who was privileged to see the pillar of fire. He had a direct commission from the Lord and received the Word for Israel. The scribes always referred to him and preached, “Moses said! Moses said! The prophet said! The prophet said!,” but they themselves had completely misunderstood what Moses, the prophet, had said. They had set themselves in Moses’ seat, but failed. They gained authority before the people by identifying themselves with his ministry by quoting God’s prophet. Thus they had a stronghold upon the people and misled them, although by it they had established their own ministry. They referred to the prophet of God, but they themselves did not enter into the kingdom and kept the people, who desired so, from going in. They were not placed into that position by a divine call, but had assumed the authority themselves. What did Jesus have to say about the scribes and the Pharisees in Matthew 23?

Sad to say, some go from place to place to speak about their experiences with the prophet, or relate the experiences the prophet had with the Lord, but cannot refer to a single experience they themselves had with God.

The Apostles and Prophets have spoken under the direction and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The things recorded in God’s holy Word are infallible because God Himself spoke through them. But to merely identify oneself with these men of God does not mean a thing. The Roman Catholic Church identifies herself with Peter because he received the keys to the kingdom. They openly attribute the same office to the pope, claiming him to be his successor and the vicar of Jesus Christ. If we draw a comparison between the ministry of Peter and their teachings, we can clearly see that no such claim is justified.

Peter could say: “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” Can the pope say the same with all his silver and gold and the inestimable treasure of the Vatican?

The protestant churches often refer to Paul, the great teacher of the New Testament, but a mere identification with a man of God does not qualify anyone to assume a position in the Kingdom of God. All denominations and organisations have their founders etc., but there is no promise of a successor to Peter, Paul or even Bro. Branham. Anyone with a carnal and selfish motive can identify himself with such a man and claim additional revelations and thereby bring reproach upon Christ and His servants. Through carnality, believers of the end-time message have caused others to be cautious and almost afraid, lest they be accused of worshipping a man. The blame goes to those who preach a prophet instead of Christ. Quotations are misunderstood, misplaced and taken out of context without going back to the word. It has even gone so far that some have tried to conform the Word of God to their one-sided information. 

When the Lord Jesus Christ expounded the Scripture to the disciples on their way to Emmaus and also the eleven after the resurrection, He placed great emphasis on the whole Word of God. He referred to Moses and also to all the prophets and the Psalms (Luke 24: 27, 44). When the enemy came to Jesus with the Word, He overcame him by saying, “It is also written!”

I believe the message cannot be separated from the Word of God. Micaiah compared his vision with Elijah’s prophecy. Daniel was enlightened while reading what Jeremiah had said. So must also we go back to the written Word and to what all the prophets and apostles have said. If the message would not be the Word, I would not have a thing to do with it.

It has been made so easy for many to set themselves in the seat of William Branham. They recite the quotes of their choice and try to impress those that may not know as much. How can every utterance Bro. Branham made be taken as a doctrine? Why are some trying to make the people believe that every statement he made was “Thus Saith the Lord!?” Was he not entitled to give his personal conviction as Paul did when he said, “This I say not the Lord!?” (1 Cor. 7:12). He didn’t receive all revelations at once, but I’m not willing to throw the cherry pie away, just because I find a seed in it. Let me give you an example: If Bro. Branham said, “Enoch walked with God for five hundred years,” I am at liberty to say, “Enoch only lived 365 years” (Gen. 5: 22–24).

Others have taken his statement about the racial uprise in the USA to be “Thus Saith the Lord!”, but what was his reaction when he asked, “Did you prophesy that there would be a million Negros killed or did you just announce that this would be happening?” His reply is very enlightening:

“Now see, I have always asked you to be careful what you are listening to. There is so much of it that is just the human side, but always if there is something that goes forth, I will speak it, its thus saith the Lord! Even to visions or anything…see, you have to watch…” (HE CARES, DO YOU? 63-0721)

How easily this statement can be overlooked by those who are fanatic! And therein lies the whole problem. Those who take everything he said literally may even feel embarrassed at his own retort. Here in Europe it was preached that millions would be killed in a civil war in the USA because the prophet said so.

It was Bro. Branham’s impression that Martin Luther King would lead his people to the slaughter in the Civil Rights movement and freedom marches, yet King himself walked into a death trap and was assassinated.

He was also of the opinion that the democracy of the USA would not outlive the period of 200 years, but that was no prophecy; that was not “Thus Saith the Lord!” There is no need for anyone to allow a lying spirit to creep in and declare that the USA is not a democracy any longer because the President and the Vice President were appointed during the last term. Is this not considered to be as much a part of the constitution and political set up of a democracy as a general election?

Can you see where confusion is brought about? All is well if the plain Truth of God’s holy Word is preached, but the trouble begins with the unlawful private interpretations and the emphasis upon certain statements. Millions have witnessed the infallible ministry by the gift of discernment, but was Bro. Branham not entitled to voice his own opinion just like any other man? Of course he was God’s prophet and when he spoke in the Name of the Lord, it was “Thus Saith the Lord!” The danger lies therein that precious children of God have not been able to discern between his opinion and the things he said under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. If these precious people had taken God’s holy Word as their criterion, they would not have gone off on a tangent and waste their time with things that have absolutely no value at all.

One of the most difficult tasks for me is to write the following few pages, because someone could misunderstand it and think that I’m trying to criticise the prophet. I loved this humble man of God with all my heart and have fully taken my stand for the message he brought. But these lines must be written with a sober approach against the confusion that has been brought about by carnally-minded people. Jesus said: “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)

Throughout my travels I have heard the following phrases over and over again, “The prophet said! Malachi 4 said! Bro. Branham said so!” This is the reason I must give an example in order to illustrate something. I would like to ask you to give me the scriptural answer on who the great multitude of Revelation 7 from verse 9 is. 

In his sermon, PHILADELPHIAN CHURCH AGE, Bro. Branham said:

“They were also the Bride, that was in the temple. Now let’s go to Revelation 7. See, if they were the Bride … There is the Bride! ... how beautiful, the Bride! ... The Bride standing there with the Bridegroom.”

In THE SEVENTH SEAL, he speaks about Revelation 7 from vs. 9 again:

“Now watch, after this now, here comes another group. Now the Bride is gone, we know that. But watch this group come up… First we start now with Israel and then we see the purged church, not the Bride. The purged church by tribulation, coming up here. Great number of real sincere hearts, that come up out of the great tribulation. Not the Church, it’s gone on – the Bride! There is the church.”

In August 1964 he said:

“Revelation 7 is where he saw the 144 000 sealed and after that he saw coming up, coming back was that great number, which no man could number, which is the Bride.”

Some go by what was said after the opening up of the Seals. In the HEBREW Questions, he also speaks of the great multitude:

“… there is your Gentile Bride coming up. All right, these stood before the Lamb. There is their Saviour! The Lamb. Note! The Lamb. Grace… And God shall wipe all the tears from their eyes. There she is! There is your Bride!”

To go by the statement so commonly used, “Say what the prophet said!”, does not solve the problem. I am now asking you, what did he say regarding this subject? I am just trying to show you that nothing is being accomplished by using quotes. The time is at hand to place the Word correctly and put line upon line, precept upon precept, until the subject is satisfactorily answered. It is irrelevant to know where the Bride is spoken of, but it is most important to strive to be part of her.

Paul was the messenger to the first church age, who had the Word for the hour, but there were also teachers and the other offices. He could say: “But I certify you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Gal. 1,11–12) 

Paul knew he had received the Word of the Lord, yet the churches were established with all the different ministries. These did not discredit his special commission. No, all worked together in harmony as one recognised the necessity of the other. God uses one man as a vessel to make His Word and His will known, then it is channelled through the teaching ministry to enlighten the understanding of the believers.