"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." (Heb. 13:8)

CIRCULAR LETTER February 1989

Heartfelt greetings to all in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ with the words from Zephaniah 3:12-13:

"I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid."

The same thing that is promised to the elect of Israel in this scripture is also experienced by the people of God from the nations. We believe that the "church of the firstborn" will now reach the same state at the end as it had at the beginning. After we have been brought back to the original Word, we will experience the original work of the Spirit and return to the first love.

Thus saith the Lord: "For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent." (Zephaniah 3:9). The Lord desires that all who confess His name do so with one mind, with a pure heart and with clean lips. He creates new hearts, gives new life, and uses clean lips that proclaim His mighty deeds.

Now is the time for God to glorify Himself. Now is the time for His Word to be confirmed and His promises to be fulfilled. The time has come to arise from sleep and put on the full armour of God. Now is the time for us to take the place God has appointed for us and to judge everything from a divine perspective. Now is the time for judgment to begin at the house of God, and we are the house of God. Now is the time to make a total decision.

Whoever truly loves God should do so not with their mouths, but with deeds, observing the four necessary requirements. The Lord Himself has told us how we should love Him: "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God 1) with all thy heart, and 2) with all thy soul, and 3) with all thy mind, and 4) with all thy strength!" (Mark 12:30). Who can say they truly love the Lord so comprehensively? How can we even love God with our whole being? Surely only if our thoughts and actions are completely and entirely within the limits of His Word. God still thinks today as He thought 6,000, 4,000, or 2,000 years ago. His entire Word is truth. HE gave the commandments, He gave the law, He announced grace and grants it to all who come to Him as condemned. HE judges everything according to His eternally valid law.

Many, however, still have religious traditions about the Word in their minds. Some even live in a pious dream world and are full of themselves. There are also those who are extremely careful not to violate one or another of the Ten Commandments, but who completely ignore the eleventh, which actually belongs to the first and includes all the others. Thus says the Lord: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another" (John 13:34).

We must see our neighbour, our brother and sister, from a divine perspective through Golgotha. Amen. Our thinking should be found in God's saving thoughts, which are only thoughts of love and peace, in accordance with the mighty, accomplished work of redemption. Out of love, God reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and gave us His peace and eternal life. Whoever truly loves the Lord God, whom he hath not seen, will also love his neighbour, whom he hath seen (1 John 4:20). Then even the "Thou shalt" becomes a blessed "Thou mayest love thy neighbour as thyself." (Mark 12:31)

Paul writes of this love: "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another." (Romans 12:9-10) Everyone can examine themselves to see whether they live out the Word or not. This can be recognized, among other things, by whether someone builds up or destroys; whether they gather or scatter; whether they speak good or evil, and so on. Anyone who still looks down on others with contempt and, like the Pharisee in the temple, thinks to themselves or even says aloud: "God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are" (Luke 18:11) has not yet experienced God.

Before the Lord can reveal Himself in all His power and glory, the true children of God must resist every evil influence so they are not defiled. There can be no deceitful tongue or wickedness among those who will be raptured. Ephesians 4:25-27 admonishes us: "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour…Neither give place to the devil!" David already asked: "Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?" The answer is: "He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart." The next verse also applies: "He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour" (Psalm 15).

Half-measures, hypocrisy, double-talk, and deliberate slander are an abomination to God. Superficial lip service is no longer required, but rather a complete, practical devotion that involves the whole person. Envy and jealousy must not be found in a true child of God. Anyone who is controlled by them and, out of impure motives, even bears false witness about their neighbour must ask themselves what manner of spirit ye are. Joseph was chosen by God to distribute food during the great famine. Out of envy, his own brothers threw their future saviour into the pit. Not only that: they also spread lies and deceit about him and acted as if they had done nothing wrong. True children of God do not dig pits; they do not set traps; they do not act with deceit – but they are thrown into the pit here and there, not by enemies, but by "brothers," however only by false ones. Yet the old Bible saying, "Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein" (Proverbs 26:27), still holds true. In the final reckoning, the pit diggers will fall into the deep pit.

All those ever commissioned by God have always been Satan's special target, who not only attacked them from outside but often used people from within their own ranks. Hebrews 11 and many other scriptures tell of the fate of the prophets, apostles, and all those "Of whom the world was not worthy." (Hebrews 11:38) Had they not been bearers of the Word, the devil would have left them alone. For the same reason, Satan, the god of this world, still inspires people today who bear false witness, even under the most pious guise of the end-time message, claiming, "God spoke to me. God revealed it to me. God showed it to me. God told me." If something is directed against someone to harm them, then you do not need to ask for long, it is obvious that it is a lie from Satan, who has been a liar from the beginning. The time has come to shut the mouths of such people and show them the door.

Those who spread slander about others when they are not present and thereby bear false witness against their neighbour are also complicit. They, too, are guilty of character assassination and soul murder and will have to answer for it. Our Lord says: "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit" (Matthew 7:17).

If a brother or sister has sinned, one should go to him or her and not proclaim it to the whole world (Matthew 18:15-17). If the person about whom an allegation is made is not present to make a statement, then that is biblically completely wrong and vile as well. The Holy Scriptures, in both the Old and New Testaments, state quite clearly that every matter must be based on two or three witnesses. The words of the Ninth Commandment carry just as much weight as those in the others.

The hour has come when we must speak the absolute truth before God. Only when it becomes a reality that we love one another deeply with the same love will we experience a foretaste of heaven here on earth. Then 1 Corinthians 13 will become reality in all who belong to the Bride church, and then what our Lord said in John 13:35 will also be fulfilled: "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." We have received a high calling and, as Brother Branham once so beautifully put it, must prove ourselves to be "children of the King" even here. "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1).

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever."(Heb. 13:8)

CIRCULAR LETTER February 1989

Heartfelt greetings to all in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ with the words from Zephaniah 3:12-13:

"I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid."

The same thing that is promised to the elect of Israel in this scripture is also experienced by the people of God from the nations. We believe that the "church of the firstborn" will now reach the same state at the end as it had at the beginning. After we have been brought back to the original Word, we will experience the original work of the Spirit and return to the first love.

Thus saith the Lord: "For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent." (Zephaniah 3:9). The Lord desires that all who confess His name do so with one mind, with a pure heart and with clean lips. He creates new hearts, gives new life, and uses clean lips that proclaim His mighty deeds.

Now is the time for God to glorify Himself. Now is the time for His Word to be confirmed and His promises to be fulfilled. The time has come to arise from sleep and put on the full armour of God. Now is the time for us to take the place God has appointed for us and to judge everything from a divine perspective. Now is the time for judgment to begin at the house of God, and we are the house of God. Now is the time to make a total decision.

Whoever truly loves God should do so not with their mouths, but with deeds, observing the four necessary requirements. The Lord Himself has told us how we should love Him: "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God 1) with all thy heart, and 2) with all thy soul, and 3) with all thy mind, and 4) with all thy strength!" (Mark 12:30). Who can say they truly love the Lord so comprehensively? How can we even love God with our whole being? Surely only if our thoughts and actions are completely and entirely within the limits of His Word. God still thinks today as He thought 6,000, 4,000, or 2,000 years ago. His entire Word is truth. HE gave the commandments, He gave the law, He announced grace and grants it to all who come to Him as condemned. HE judges everything according to His eternally valid law.

Many, however, still have religious traditions about the Word in their minds. Some even live in a pious dream world and are full of themselves. There are also those who are extremely careful not to violate one or another of the Ten Commandments, but who completely ignore the eleventh, which actually belongs to the first and includes all the others. Thus says the Lord: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another" (John 13:34).

We must see our neighbour, our brother and sister, from a divine perspective through Golgotha. Amen. Our thinking should be found in God's saving thoughts, which are only thoughts of love and peace, in accordance with the mighty, accomplished work of redemption. Out of love, God reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and gave us His peace and eternal life. Whoever truly loves the Lord God, whom he hath not seen, will also love his neighbour, whom he hath seen (1 John 4:20). Then even the "Thou shalt" becomes a blessed "Thou mayest love thy neighbour as thyself." (Mark 12:31)

Paul writes of this love: "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another." (Romans 12:9-10) Everyone can examine themselves to see whether they live out the Word or not. This can be recognized, among other things, by whether someone builds up or destroys; whether they gather or scatter; whether they speak good or evil, and so on. Anyone who still looks down on others with contempt and, like the Pharisee in the temple, thinks to themselves or even says aloud: "God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are" (Luke 18:11) has not yet experienced God.

Before the Lord can reveal Himself in all His power and glory, the true children of God must resist every evil influence so they are not defiled. There can be no deceitful tongue or wickedness among those who will be raptured. Ephesians 4:25-27 admonishes us: "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour…Neither give place to the devil!" David already asked: "Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?" The answer is: "He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart." The next verse also applies: "He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour" (Psalm 15).

Half-measures, hypocrisy, double-talk, and deliberate slander are an abomination to God. Superficial lip service is no longer required, but rather a complete, practical devotion that involves the whole person. Envy and jealousy must not be found in a true child of God. Anyone who is controlled by them and, out of impure motives, even bears false witness about their neighbour must ask themselves what manner of spirit ye are. Joseph was chosen by God to distribute food during the great famine. Out of envy, his own brothers threw their future saviour into the pit. Not only that: they also spread lies and deceit about him and acted as if they had done nothing wrong. True children of God do not dig pits; they do not set traps; they do not act with deceit – but they are thrown into the pit here and there, not by enemies, but by "brothers," however only by false ones. Yet the old Bible saying, "Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein" (Proverbs 26:27), still holds true. In the final reckoning, the pit diggers will fall into the deep pit.

All those ever commissioned by God have always been Satan's special target, who not only attacked them from outside but often used people from within their own ranks. Hebrews 11 and many other scriptures tell of the fate of the prophets, apostles, and all those "Of whom the world was not worthy." (Hebrews 11:38) Had they not been bearers of the Word, the devil would have left them alone. For the same reason, Satan, the god of this world, still inspires people today who bear false witness, even under the most pious guise of the end-time message, claiming, "God spoke to me. God revealed it to me. God showed it to me. God told me." If something is directed against someone to harm them, then you do not need to ask for long, it is obvious that it is a lie from Satan, who has been a liar from the beginning. The time has come to shut the mouths of such people and show them the door.

Those who spread slander about others when they are not present and thereby bear false witness against their neighbour are also complicit. They, too, are guilty of character assassination and soul murder and will have to answer for it. Our Lord says: "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit" (Matthew 7:17).

If a brother or sister has sinned, one should go to him or her and not proclaim it to the whole world (Matthew 18:15-17). If the person about whom an allegation is made is not present to make a statement, then that is biblically completely wrong and vile as well. The Holy Scriptures, in both the Old and New Testaments, state quite clearly that every matter must be based on two or three witnesses. The words of the Ninth Commandment carry just as much weight as those in the others.

The hour has come when we must speak the absolute truth before God. Only when it becomes a reality that we love one another deeply with the same love will we experience a foretaste of heaven here on earth. Then 1 Corinthians 13 will become reality in all who belong to the Bride church, and then what our Lord said in John 13:35 will also be fulfilled: "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." We have received a high calling and, as Brother Branham once so beautifully put it, must prove ourselves to be "children of the King" even here. "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1).