Witnesses

1 Good evening, friends. It's very happy to be here tonight, serve the Lord. This has been a glorious week for us the last two weeks. Brother Neville just taken me back in the room and was talking to me, and said that there'd been some over a hundred conversions, had come to the Lord, and almost fifty baptisms, was baptized in water. That's worthwhile, isn't it? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] We're so happy for that.

Happy to have strangers in our gates tonight, and pray that God will bless you the exceedingly abundantly. And we want to thank everyone who's put an effort in this meeting to do something for God's glory.

We want to thank our Brother Thom.

3 And--and Brother Tom Merrideth and Sister Merrideth, and little Merrideth here, both, and all of them, for their singing, music; and we certainly welcome back to the Branham Tabernacle at any time. All that feels that, say "amen." [Congregation says, "Amen."-Ed.] Brother Merrideth, you know how we feel. I just met Brother Merrideth, recently, and he's become a very close friend.

Brother Neville for his, and Brother Merrideth, both, for their gallant preaching, and standing by, and all that they done.

5 Brother Neville, we're happy to have you as our pastor here of this church. We want you to know that our deepest of love is for you. And I've got confidence in Brother Neville; chased his life back. And you know the old saying, "Live me a sermon is better than preaching me one," a lot of truth to that. And so I--I am very happy that Brother Neville is here with us to take over the pastoral work of these sheep that's just been brought into the fold. The Lord Jesus bless our brother.

And for the deacons and the--everyone, we just appreciate it.

7 We had Brother Kidd, I believe it is, and many of the other different ministers, and Brother Hoover. I don't know whether Brother Hoover's here tonight or not, but he's been with us and was baptized this morning.

Brother Beeler, our old pal and chum along in the Gospel (if you'll excuse me for saying that way), we're glad to have him and his cooperation. He's taking down the--the records of the meetings and so forth. And he will be living it all over and over for a long time, I guess.

So we're very happy for everyone, for the... you that sang the specials and everything. The Lord Jesus bless you is my prayer.

10 Just a bit tired tonight. I haven't had much rest. Last night was a double sermon and got in about, to bed, about one o'clock. And up again this morning, real early, and sunrise service, and then Sunday school. Then stayed in the water almost two hours, baptizing.

That water is cold, isn't it, friends? [Congregation says "Amen."--Ed.] Oh, that's the coldest water I ever seen, ever felt, rather. My, I never... I was so numb, till I just... I didn't know whether I was stepping up or down, getting out of there.

So I didn't even get thawed out when I got home, and the wife said, "Dinner's ready." And I just jumped in a big bathtub of hot water, and kinda warmed up a little, and put on my clothes, and went to a funeral service. And we had the funeral service.

13 Just as I got back home, there was an emergency call from the hospital, so I had to turn and go back to the hospital.

Didn't get any dinner, so I just... Brother McSpaddin, a bunch of us, was over and had a little dinner, just awhile ago.

And come back now for the evening service, and the closing of the revival. We are sure happy for this privilege. Just a little bit hoarse, so you will bear with me.

16 I said, this morning, "I'm going to speak tonight on, 'The signs following the believer.'"

I didn't know when I got in this morning, why, or this--this evening, rather, till one of the trustees here at the church, said, "Brother Bill, you remember, tonight's communion night."

I thought, "Oh, my, here we are again now." So I went back down, I thought, "Lord, now what am I going to talk about?"

I had a whole line of Scriptures here, wrote out, and I was going to refer to a whole lot of them on, "Signs following the believer," so I had to alter that a little bit. So now, maybe, so we'd have communion service, and we hope that you are with us in this great feast. What a beautiful time to take communion right after the resurrection. And a beautiful time for the Holy Spirit to fall too, right along in the same seasons now that the Holy Spirit's to fall.

20 So tonight, I hope now I didn't lose that ticket. Billy Graham evangelistic film is in Louisville and will be showing the "Oil Tower of the U.S.A.," April the twentieth, at the Memorial Auditorium. I... They asked me tonight, if I would announce that, one of Billy Graham's associates, would announce it in our--my church. He give me his card. So I'm... I'd like, if you could, to see that, if it isn't inconvenient for you. And I believe it will be nice. He had this film recently, "Mr. Texas," and many of you seen that, a very fine film, indeed. And I've never seen either one of them, but I've heard so many comments on them. That's April the twentieth, at the Memorial Auditorium in Louisville.

21 And now, also, I believe there's going to be a revival going on this week over at the--at the auditorium also. Some young evangelist was over there preaching. And if you're around about and can, I know they'd appreciate. I know how... I tell you, I wished I didn't have nothing to do, just from one revival to another. That's, I like to get along in the fires and warm up. Don't you? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] That's good.

Brother Merrideth, had you announced to the people where your broadcast come in and everything? [Brother Merrideth says, "No, Brother Branham."--Ed.] Well, would you come here and do that right now? Brother Merrideth will announce his...

[Brother Tom Merrideth announces the times of his daily radio program on WTCO AM 1150.]

Thank you, Brother Tom.

And is there anyone else got a revival that wants to announce it, or any special, any of the ministers? And we're always happy to recognize our brethren and their services. The Lord bless you now.

24 And now, don't forget to stay with us if you can, immediately after this service, the speaking service, for the--for the communion and foot-washing. How many ever heard of foot-washing? Well, that... You're just at home here as a pocket is in a shirt. Now, we believe it because the Bible, we think, teaches it. So we--we wish you could stay over and be with us.

Remember the old fashion Baptists down in Kentucky, how we used to have dinner on the ground? And the old folks would get up and sing that like we did down at the forks of the creek (you remember?), "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound." The brethren all get back under the shade trees there, and they'd go to washing feet and shouting. That was real Baptists. We didn't shake one another's hands, like you Baptists do today. We beat one another on the back till he come through. They really had something. Ought to have some more of those Baptists, oughtn't we? That's right.

And so I--we still observe it here, feet-washing, and we'd like for you to be with us, if possible, tonight. So I'll try to quit, just speaking, 'cause I'm just a little hoarse. So pray for me now.

27 And now, I want to read some in the New Testament, in the 1st chapter of The Acts Of The Apostles. I think this should be called The Acts Of The Holy Spirit In The Apostles. It was the way the Holy Spirit made the apostles act after He came. Now, in the 8th verse, we read this.

But you shall receive power, after... the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses... both in Jerusalem,... Judaea,... Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.

And now, just for a few moments, I want to use the subject of: "Witnesses."

29 And now, shall we bow our heads, just next, for a moment of prayer, if you will.

I wonder if our sister could give us a little chord of "Abide With Me," something on that order, sister, if you will.

Now, every person in here has a need now. Would you just let it be known to God by your uplifted hand? Just signify to God, "I--I have a need, Lord." I have mine up too. May He bless each one of you and give to you the desire of your heart. While every person, in his own way now, just the way you pray in church, that's the way I want you to pray.

32 Our heavenly Father, we come to You at the close of another day. Beautiful sun that was rising this morning is now done set and has gone down, and dark clouds has covered the sky. We thank Thee for the day and for the memories that we had of that great memorial day when Jesus, the Lord, arose from the dead.

Truly, as nature is, so will it be soon, the sunset of time is going down. Won't be long till it'll all be dark. Many will be left here to go through that period of time, how the hunger and thirst for an old fashion revival just like has closed.

God, I pray for that young woman out there in the hospital just now, was in that accident, done bursted one of her lungs, and tore her husband up; mashed, crushed, her heart knocked over on the other side, totally impossible with the doctors. Won't You be merciful just now?

Remember, Lord, that Mr. Pritchard lying there, gasping, dying. Through the gasps of breath, while reaching through the oxygen tent, he received Christ as his personal Saviour.

36 Down in the funeral home today, while kneeling there in the room, that poor old woman, eighty something years old, said she'd never accepted Christ as personal Saviour. And there in the funeral home, at her granddaughter's funeral, accepted Christ as her personal Saviour. May God be with her.

Bless all those here at the Tabernacle, Lord, this two weeks, that's come to You. Be with them. Bless those who were baptized this morning. May they grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord, until they become in the full stature of Jesus Christ, then someday be caught up together with Him in the cloud to meet Him in the air and forever be with the Lord.

Bless all that's here tonight, Lord. And if there be any in here that has not as yet accepted Thee as their Saviour, may this be the hour of their decision. May they come lovely, humbly, and accept Him as their personal Saviour. Grant it, Lord.

39 And now, as Thy poor, unworthy, unprofitable servant, it seems to fall my lot to break the Bread of Life to the people again tonight. Lord, I pray that You'll help tonight. May the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity, come, take the Word of God, and place It into every heart, just as it has need of. Then may It be watered with faith and bring forth abundance of fruit. Grant it, Lord.

We love You, and we believe You and serve Thee. Now, receive our thanksgiving, for we ask it in the Name of the Lord Jesus, Thy beloved Son. Amen.

41 We're beginning tonight in this little short study of the Word of God. And while I do desire every believer to be in prayer, deep prayer, for me now... There's no man can open this Word of God. We can pull back the pages, but to open It takes the Holy Spirit. Man cannot do that. That's not our ability. John saw the Bible laying in heaven and said, "There was no man in heaven, nor on the earth, or beneath the earth, worthy to even take the Book, to open It, or to loose the Seals." And then he seen a Lamb, as It had been slain from the foundation of the world; He came and taken the Book out of the right hand of Him that set upon a Throne, opened the Seals, and loosed the Book, and opened It up to the people. And may He come tonight, and do likewise.

42 Jesus here was appointing His apostles for a qualification of the Holy Spirit before they were to go be witnesses. And my subject tonight is, "A Witness."

Now, in courts, a witness has to know something. Just anybody can't come in and be a witness. It's got to be somebody who knows something. And that's the way it is when we're witnessing for the Lord. It takes somebody who knows something.

So Jesus thought--said this, that before they could become His witnesses, they had to wait in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high, then they would be the witnesses all over the world: in Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.

45 In the courts there's two kind of witnesses that'll stand, that's eye or ear. Now, if you're setting in a room and look through a glass, and see an accident, your witness, your word's no good, because you were looking through a glass. You have to be right there close, to really know what you're talking about, before you can be a witness. You have to hear it, or you have to see it, before you can be a witness on a severe case in the courts.

You can't say, "Miss So-and-so told me, or Mr. So-and-so or Rev. So-and-so told me." He's a witness, but you're not.

So therefore, no man can exactly witness to the resurrection of Christ, only by the Holy Spirit. You have to be a personal witness yourself: being there, knowing something about it, knowing what you're talking about.

48 And God help us to see the day that when men will be just what they are. You know, I'm... I say this now with all respects. It isn't our city full of bootleg joints that's a hurting us. Here's what's a hurting us, more than ever, is people who are professing to be Christians and not living like it. That's the thing. See? They're not a correct witness.

They can't witness until they have an experience. And when they have an experience, then they become a witness automatically, because they're born again. And all of the things of the world, old things, have passed away, and all things have become new. Then you become a witness unto Jesus.

50 Jesus knew, before these apostles could ever go out and be a correct witness, that they had to experience what they were witnessing about. Wouldn't that be nice today, if every seminary did the same thing, if every Christian did the same thing? Would just come to church and say, "Now, I'm accepting Jesus as my personal Saviour. I'm going to stay right here till I get the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and then I'm going out to be a witness." See? Things would be different, don't you think so? We wouldn't have that loose, scattered testimonies.

People testify and say they're a Christian, and go out and live other lives. And the unbeliever comes in and sees that, he say, "Well, look at there. Is that the way they..." And the devil will always point them out too. You can just depend on that. He's a businessman. And don't underestimate his ability in his business realms, because he knows what it's all about.

52 Now, before you can be a witness, as I said, you have to know something. You really have to be a witness.

God had a witness in the Old Testament. One of the... One of His first witnesses was Noah. Noah was a witness, because that he had heard the voice of God in warning, that, telling him that there was coming a flood, and that he must build an ark. And preparation of this ark was to get ready at once, and he was to prepare a place for the saving of the people. All who would come in, could come in. And he was God's witness.

Now, the only thing that he knew, that God had told him, that it was going to rain. Though it had never rained on the earth, but God said it was going to rain. So if God said it was going to rain, then that meant it was going to rain. So he was a witness of the Word of God. And so he was called, and he went out, and prepared an ark, and got things ready, for the rain, before the rain ever started to fall. Then there's another witness of God.

55 There was some people one time, the Jews, from the tribe of Judah, where they got their name. Because they wouldn't walk after the ordinances of God, wouldn't keep His commandments, God called King Nebuchadnezzar to come in and to take them captive, down into the land of Babylon. Many of us remember the famous old story of how they hung their harps on the weeping willow tree, and they could not sing the songs of Zion. All their victory was lost, not because that God wanted to take it away from them, but because of their sin separated them from God.

That's the reason tonight, that many of the Christians hasn't got the victory, is because their sins has separated them from the blessing: cut off, out in a desert place alone. And our hearts are hanging on the weeping willow tree, because we can't enjoy the songs of the church.

57 I remember long ago when we used to come in here. They'd be playing "Down At The Cross," on a piano, when the bell was being tolled, and come in, there'd hardly be a dry eye in the church, everybody weeping, slowly, the mellow. I just like the old fashion way: mellow, sweet, power of the Holy Spirit, broke up. Before we can ever make any headway, we got to get broke up first. You know, like the potter, the prophet was going down to the Potter's house, to be broke up to be made over again. And you know, if there's no breaking up, there's no making over again. You have to first be broke up.

And how that, just like the ground, if you're going to have a crop, Brother Wright, you have to break your ground up first, tear it all to pieces, and then plant your seed, and it'll come forth. Depends on what kind of seed you plant then, while it's broke up. So then while the crops is... ground's all broke up, it's time to plant the seed.

59 Then these brethren who was gone away from the promised land, down into Babylon, carried away, because their sins had separated them from God...

And I'm just old fashion enough to believe tonight, this, that when the church or any individual begins to play and flirt with the world, you're going to have the same experience; getting away from God, getting away from the Truth. And I believe it. I--I know that it's truth.

I've been in the ministry now, twenty years, and I've seen all different sorts and kinds around the world. But I tell you, friends, you may be looked down upon, but I like an old fashion, broke-up meeting.

62 Someone come by one day, and said, while I was preaching here, said, "Did that woman... Billy, how could you preach, and that woman setting back there snubbing, crying, hollering 'Amen'?"

I said, "Maybe that was a whole lot the reason I was preaching. Right. Yeah." I said, "If she..."

Said, "Well, that would just almost kill me, if--if I was trying to talk, and somebody carrying on like that."

I said, "It didn't hurt me, brother. It was encouraging me."

He--he said, "Was she a horrible sinner or something?"

I said, "No. She was a Christian, filled with the Holy Spirit."

"And weeping?"

I said, "Yes. The Bible said, 'He that goeth forth, weeping, shall doubtless return again, bringing with him precious sheaves.'"

Amen. That's right. "He that goeth forth, sowing (see), and--and re... sowing tears, will doubtless return again, bringing with him precious sheaves, rejoicing as he comes back." Put the first things first, breaking up, making over, and then come rejoicing. Amen. All right.

67 These children of Israel got down there, was under another king. Not... Their own king had been carried away with them. They come under another king, a cruel king, King Nebuchadnezzar. So one day, he said, that, "If any peoples..." When he made, erected a great image out in the fields, and said, that, "Every person that would not bow down to that image, must be thrown in the fiery furnace and be burned." What a--a agree was made, that these boys should be burnt up, every one.

And there was three down there that had had previous answer to prayer, named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They turned their backs to the image. And they said, "Be it known to thee, O king..."

I want you to notice this. God wants His witnesses to be stern; not a witness today and wishy-washy tomorrow.

70 I was preaching a funeral service today, and cutting it strong; someone asked me to, said, "I think most of the people were sinners, hadn't accepted Christ." I thought maybe I'd cut it a little too strong.

And when I was going out in the--the undertaker's car, he reached over and patted me on the shoulder, said, "Preacher, I want to comment you."

I thought, "Oh-oh."

He said, "That's the way I think that it should be preached." He said, "I don't like wishy-washy religion."

I thought, "Boy, there's hopes for you." That's right. That's right, where you really put it where it belongs. That's exactly right.

74 Then these children of Israel, these, Shadrach and Meshach and Abednego, God's witnesses...

God's never been without a witness. He's always... Now, here I want you to get this real close. God has never, at any time, been without a witness on earth. He's always had at least one man He could put His hands on, say, "That's My witness." It's come down to one man, one time; and Job was His only witness, and Abraham in the--in the land; but God had a witness. Somebody's going to witness for God somewhere.

Now, after while, we want to find out what a witness really is, of this day. All right. Notice.

These men, as they went down there, they refused to eat the king's meat, drink his wine, and they refused to bow to his image. They were a genuine true witness of God.

78 Then there's sometimes a penalty goes with a witness. Sometimes when you witness for God, you have to suffer a little bit.

You remember when mother told you that you couldn't stay around home, as long as you read the Bible and carried on? Or, some of the neighbors said, or the children said, at school you was a fanatic, or something, because you was a true witness? Remember, on the job, how all the men laughed at you because you was a real witness? See? How on the streets you were made fun of, when you give a testimony? But that's a genuine sign of a real, true witness. God wants witnesses.

Now, some people say, "I testify in church." That's good.

But, brother, let your Light shine in the dark places, where it's really needed, out in the hedges and the highways, in the barrooms, out, down on the street. Everywhere you're at, let your Light shine as a witness. Amen.

Notice, then the fiery trial come on. And every man that'll witness for God will have to go through fiery trials. Isn't it strange how God leads His people? Very strange...

82 Just as soon as Jesus was baptized, He went into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Just as soon as Israel come out, under the blood, circumcised, the Holy Spirit leading them in a form of a--a Light, right straight up to the Red Sea, and there, cornered: mountains on one side, desert on the other; Pharaoh's army coming, and the Red Sea cutting them off. God led them right up to that place. Why? To get glory. Then Moses prayed; and God told him to step right on down towards the Red Sea, holding his stick out in front of him. And as he walked, the Red Sea moved from one side to the other, right across the Red Sea. Why? God's path led through.

As soon as they come out of there, right into the wilderness of sin: strange. God's path led right through that great temptation there, when they murmured against God. They went from there on, from one murmur to another, from one trial to another.

As the old song says:

Some through the waters,

Some through the flood,

Some through deep trials,

But all through the Blood.

That's God's way of leading, leading His testimonies, His witnesses.

86 Now, when it come time, the test, of the fire, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, said, "Our God is able to deliver us from the fiery furnace; but nevertheless, if He doesn't, we're not bowing down." "We're going to bow to Your witness."

I like that. I like that old courage. Like old Buddy Robinson, he said, "Lord, give me the backbone like a saw log." That's the kind of witness to be. Courage, God likes us to be courageous.

88 He told Joshua, before he crossed over, He said, "Be thou very courageous, for the Lord thy God is with thee wheresoever thou goest."

You say, "Well, if God would tell me like He did Joshua, I'd have some courage too."

He's told every believer the same thing. "I'll be with you, always, even to the end of the world. I'll never leave thee nor forsake thee." Courageous, let's go take the promise then. God gave us the promise. Let's be a real witness.

91 So they het the furnace, seven times hotter than it ever was het before.

That's the way the devil does it. And, brother, he don't half way do nothing. He pushes everything he's got right into you. But thanks be to God, God got some pushing back at He does Hisself. That's right. All right. Look at Him. So he said...

Now, notice. I can see King Nebuchadnezzar set hisself by the side of the big furnace, and the smoke, the skies were red.

94 I imagine, all night long there was a prayer meeting going on You know, if you're coming to a test...

Here it is. That's the trouble with the church today; you rely upon your own senses and ability, instead of taking it to the Lord in prayer. That's right. Today we start to send somebody somewhere, well, you say, we get down and have a little counsel, and meet and say, "We should do this, or go here, or do that."

But the Bible, in the days before they sent out the apostles, they met together and fasted and prayed. And the Holy Spirit said, "Separate Me, Paul and Barnabas." The Holy Spirit... You notice, not man's opinion, but the Holy Spirit leading, guiding... Amen.

Now, prayer meeting all night, so they had to show what they were made out of. And, brother, every man that professes to be a Christian, sometime or other you got to show what you're made out of. The devil's going to call your hand.

98 When little Tommy Osborn, many of you know him, come over, I was sitting on the porch. He said, "Brother Branham," he said, "I was in the meeting. I seen that maniac fall across your feet." Said, "What can I do?"

I said, "Now, Tommy, don't profess anything that you can't back up. The devil's going to call your hand on it. Yes, he will, and he will do it right away." I said, "Then if you can't back it up, you know what's a coming. It'll be a reproach. So be sure that you're right before you make your statement."

100 And that's right, too, Christian. Be sure that down in your heart God has separated you from the things of the world and made you a new creature, then go tell people you're a Christian. Until that's happened, stay right at the altar and die till you're just as dead as you can be. All right. Die till you're so dead till you can't even... Well, that's right, dead.

You know, I think, today, we bury too many live people. You bury people after they're dead. Is that right? Yes, sir. Listen, brother, a dead man won't argue with you. You can say anything to him you want to, call him all kinds of names, he won't say a word. Why? He's dead.

And a man that's dead in Christ, you can offer him a drink, you can give him this, that, or the other, but he's dead. And he's hid in Christ, through God, sealed by the Holy Spirit. Amen. That's it. Now, then he can't do those things, because he--he just can't do it. It's against his nature. He becomes a new creature.

103 You take an old hog, and wash him up, and scrub him up, and manicure his toe nails, and give it lipstick, and put it on all the nylons you want to; turn it loose, it'll go right to a wallow and wallow. The scrubbing don't do no good. It's still got the nature of a hog.

And then you take a lamb and put him in a mud hole, he will squeal till you get him out. Why? He's the nature of a lamb.

Now, the only way to keep the hog out of the mud is change his nature. That's right.

That's the only way to make a Christian: Let his nature be changed, from a sinner to a saint. See? And there's only one remedy, that's the Holy Spirit. Then you're a witness. Amen.

107 Now, notice. I want you to get this, close. King Nebuchadnezzar made the--the proclamation that these people should be burned. And that morning they come, bound their hands. There went a plank walking up there, a road up to the top of the furnace, the big furnace, open. They were going down into the furnace. And they started a death march. He said, "Now look, you've got a chance now. If you want to take down, all right."

They said, "Our God's able to deliver us, but we're not taking back." They were real, true witnesses to the end.

They started walking up the pathway, going up, the soldiers marched them. The intense heat got so bad until it just about choked out the soldiers. And then when he got ready to push them into the fiery furnace, I can hear Shadrach say, "Say, you sure you prayed up?"

"Yes. I believe it's all all right now." All right.

And then even the soldiers were slain, the ones who brought them in. And they pushed them. Just a few steps, and they would've pushed them into the fiery furnace.

111 Now, all the time there's something going on on earth, there's something going on in heaven too. Got an awful picture here under consideration now, of a believer going to his death. But let's turn our camera tonight, towards heaven. And while things are going on down here, there's something going on up there. I can see God, the Son of God sitting on the right hand, looking down.

I can hear an angel come and say, "Lord, I am Gabriel," with his great sword in his hand, saying, "now, I, ever since the day that You created me, I've stood by Your right side. I've done just what You told me to do. Have You looked down at them witnesses, this morning? They are fixing to burn up three witnesses."

I can hear Him say, "I've watched them all night long."

"Let me go down." He said, "I'll get rid... I'll change the picture." I believe he could have done it.

But He said, "Gabriel, just put your sword back into its sheath. I can't let you go."

115 Then I look coming here, to His left, here comes a great, mighty angel by the name of Wormwood. He has controls of the water. And he falls before Him, prostrate, and says, "Lord, have You looked down at them witnesses? Why, they're fixing to burn them up this morning, because they are witnessing to God."

Say, "Yes, I've watched them."

"Let me go down. I'll wash Babylon off of the face of the earth." I believe he could've done it. He said, "You gave me the keys. And during the time of the evolu--or the antediluvian world, and I flooded the whole thing and washed it off for You. I'll do the same thing, this morning, if You'll just...?..."

I can hear Him say, "Yes, Wormwood, that's right, you can do it. I--I know you can do it, but I can't let you go."

"Why, Lord?"

118 "Stand over here on My left side, 'cause I can't let you go. I'm going Myself. I've watched them all night. I watch My witnesses. I watch over My Word too, to perform It. I just can't let you go, because I'm going Myself."

They're just about one step now, to go down into the fiery furnace.

Isn't it strange? God let's you come right to the last step of the road. Seems like He doesn't care; He just sat. But He's watching you. I think of when He was looking down into Babylon. "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me." He watches you. Notice.

121 Then I can see Him as He raises off of His great Throne, His priestly garments drop around Him. And He looked out there, and a great big thunderhead was setting back in the north side. I can hear Him say, "Come here, east wind, west wind, north, and south. I want to drive you this morning." They got under that thunderhead and rolled up beside of the--of the Throne. And He stepped off onto this big thunderhead, reached up and got a hold of zigzag lightning, and cracked it through the skies, like that.

And about the first time they made that final step to go in there, He come down by the Tree of Life, or Stream of Life, and picked off a big palm for a fan. And when they hit that fiery furnace, there was One like the Son of God standing in the midst of them, fanning away all the fiery breezes away from them, and as they're burning a long time. Real, true witnesses.

God will stand by a real witness. That's right.

123 Then notice, when all the heat was on, and the fire was burning, that king's heart become troubled. He said, "Go, open up the furnace, maybe, and see if there's any ashes left." And when they jerked open the door, he jumped up, said "How many did you put in there?"

Said, "Three."

He said, "I see four. And the other One looks like the Son of God." Standing by His witness, God always will stand by His witness. Amen. You know that's the truth. God will make a difference, and will stand by those who witness for Him.

126 One time there was a little fellow by the name of David. He went out to take some raisins out to his brothers, one time, that was in war. And his father, Jesse, sent him out. Saul was the king. The Philistines was on one side and the Israelites on the other side, a ditch between them, with a stream of water flowing.

And as the devil always does, when he thinks he's got the upper hand, brother, he really pushes it.

So he had a great big fellow there, about seven-foot or eight-foot tall, maybe a little more, maybe ten feet; great big shoulders like a barn door; big spear and armor. And he stood out there. He said, "Now, I tell you what let's do. I'm the witness over here for the Philistines. Let us have a witness from over there. And let the armies not fight, but let us come out and fight. And if I kill him, then you all serve us; if he kills me, then we'll serve you."

See how the devil does? When he thinks he's got the upper hand, he boasts, brags, and carries on.

130 Saul, seven-foot himself, was afraid to go meet him. And the armies of Israel was defeated, standing back on the hillsides, looking across.

After while, here come a little old boy up, walking along there, little old ruddy-looking fellow, not very big: little, scrawny, spindly-looking fellow. But there was something beating under that little old sheepskin jacket that the rest of them didn't have. He walked up there and give his brothers some raisins and was talking to them about the war.

After while, this big giant come out and made his boast just at the wrong time, said, "Who will come over and fight us?"

And David said, "Who's this fellow?" Said, "Do you mean to tell me, you'll let that uncircumcised Philistine stand out there and defy the armies of the living God? May we have somebody to stand there and witness for the powers of God." All of them was scared. He said, "I'll go." I like that courage. "I'll go. Let me fight him."

134 Why, he walked up. They took him up to Saul, and Saul said, "Well, that man is a warrior from his... Why, he's been a warrior from his youth, and you ain't nothing but a youth."

"Look." Hallelujah. I love this right here. David said, "Look, thy servant..." to Saul. "The Lord let me kill a bear with this slingshot. He let me take a kid out of a lion's mouth and slay him. I grabbed him by the whiskers and took it away from him. I'm a witness." Hallelujah. He had been somewhere. He had seen something. He'd put the power of God to a test, and he was a witness.

That's what we need today, is some more courage. That's right. Yes, sir. He said, "I'm a witness of what I'm talking about." Hallelujah. That's what the Church of the living God needs today, is a witness who's been places, seen something, and knows what they're talking about.

137 He said, "I am a witness of the power of God. A bear went up to grab a kid, and I killed him." He said, "And a lion run up and grabbed the bear. I caught him by the whiskers and slayed him." He said, "And the God that helped me to kill the bear and the lion, won't He much more give this uncircumcised Philistine into my hands?" Hallelujah.

In the days when they say, "The days of miracles has passed," when they say, "Old-time religion won't take any more; that was something for grandpa and grandma," brother, I'm glad tonight, that there's some witnesses of the old fashion Holy Ghost, sky-blue, sin-killing religion, that kills out the very nature and the Adamic powers of the devil, and your heart can be clean. Hallelujah. Oh, a witness. So, oh, my.

Say, "The people are too noisy."

Why, they got something to be noisy about. Sure. Listen, I'll prove to you that the Bible religion has always been noisy. Yes. God told Job, said, "Where was you when..." Job thought he was a great man. "Where was you when I laid the foundation of the world?"

140 Someone said, the other day, said, "Brother Billy, are you still preaching some of that new kind of religion you got?"

I said, "No, sir. I'm preaching the oldest religion there ever was, and the only one there really is, and got salvation in it."

"Some of that new kind," said, "we didn't have that here a few years ago."

I said, "Let me tell you, brother, it's older than the world is."

That's right. Job said... "Where was you when I laid the foundations of the world, when the morning stars sang together and the sons of God shouted for joy?" millions of years before the foundation of the world. Amen. Whew. That's right. Witness.

144 Why, when Aaron, the great priest, when he went into the holiest of holies, packing the blood, they had to dress him a certain way, and he had to walk a certain way. He had to be a witness for God. And he took the blood and he went forward. And on the hems of his garments, at the bottom, was a bell and a pomegranate; a bell and a pomegranate. And he had to walk so that played, "Holy, holy, holy, unto the Lord." Talk about holiness, and the reason that bell rang against the pomegranate, was the only way that they knowed that God hadn't slayed him. The only way that he knowed he was alive, when he was back there, they could listen and hear the bell, hear the noise.

Brother, I tell you, we need some pomegranates and bells beating together tonight, like that, with a joyful noise unto the Lord, as a witness. God still lives and reigns. Amen. Right. What kind of a witness? Them witness like climbed up that upper room, up there, and got the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They'd made a pomegranate and the bell get together. They staggered like drunk men under the impact of the Holy Spirit. God's still got witnesses of the same thing. "You'll be My witnesses of this power, in Jerusalem, Judaea, and Samaria, and Jeffersonville, Indiana." Amen. Hallelujah. Notice.

146 David said, "You mean to tell me that uncircumcised Philistine," otherwise, "unchristianized, that man who don't..."

What is circumcision? That man out there with the Holy Ghost.

"With all of his D.D.'s, can stand and defy the living God?" Oh, my. "How can he do it?" Said, "He's uncircumcised."

Now, we're circumcised by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Ghost is our circumcision. And you mean to tell me that you let these Doctors of Divinity, and Ph.D., and D.L.D., and double D's, stand out there and tell us the old-time religion's not right, when, the baptism of the Holy Ghost proves that It's right? Say, "People won't come." Yes, they will. Amen.

150 Old John the Baptist, when he begin to preach, he was the greatest preacher of all the age. He was a very simple man. He went into the wilderness at the age of nine years old. He didn't get a Ph.D. But what did he do? He didn't come out with his collar turned around, or--or know the Doxology, or the Apostles' Creed. But he was God's witness. When he come out of the wilderness of Judaea, he preached such a Gospel, with an old sheepskin draped around him, like this. Oh, my. But he stirred all the regions around about Jerusalem, and Judaea, and around Jordan. Why? He preached Christ not in a historical affair, but in a present event, present time fact. Hallelujah.

Today we preach history all over the world, and the resurrection of Christ. But what about you as an individual in your heart, has he risen in a new Life? Has the old life died?

152 David said, "You going to let that uncircumcised Philistine stand out there and say such things? Why," he said, "I'll go fight him."

So the first thing you know, Saul said, "Well, if you're determined to go, I'll give you my--my armor. I'll give you my shield, my helmet and my sword." Oh, my.

Listen. When little David got that great big thing... Imagine, little shoulders about like that; and them shoulders on that shield, about like that, of that breastplate. They got it on, the poor little fellow couldn't walk.

155 Listen. We found out that an ecclesiastical shield won't fit a man of God. That's right. All your theology won't fit the power of God. You don't need theology. You don't need education. What you need is a surrendered heart to the Word of God, to be a genuine witness.

It wouldn't fit a man of God. He said, "Take this thing off of me. I don't need your Ph.D." Amen. Said, "I'm a witness." Of what? Said, "I never tried this kind of stuff. I don't know nothing about your theology. Let me go the way the Lord delivered me from the lion and the bear."

That's what I say today, brother. "Don't let me go with some psychology, but let me go with the old fashion baptism of the Holy Ghost that took me out of the mouth of Baptist and delivered me. Let me go like that."

158 "Oh," he said, "I can't go with all this; I've never tried, don't know nothing about it. How will I know how to stand and repeat all these creeds and everything like that? I don't know nothing about it." Said, "Take the thing off of me."

So they took it off. He felt pretty good. Reached back and picked up his little slingshot. He felt like running. You know how you feel when you get your sling in your hand. He looked over there.

And Goliath said, "What you going to do about it?"

David said, "I'm coming." Amen. He pats his little slingshot, run down across the creek and picked him up five rocks. Put one of them in there, wound it up in his hands.

161 And Goliath said, "Do you mean to tell me that that little holy-roller, or, you know, that little fellow without an educ... or whatever he is, coming there to meet me?" He said, "Me, with all my degrees and all, why, I can't even spend my time with him. Talking about Divine healing, talking about the power of God, talking about salvation, can't even spend my time with him." But he was a witness of what he was talking about.

If ever a man or woman is a witness of what they're talking about, don't you worry, they'll have to spend time, 'cause hog-killing time will be on, brother, the scraping boards will be out. That's right. Yes, sir. All right.

163 He put that little old rock down in that slingshot. Here he went, across the branch and up over the hill, running to meet this.

164 "Why," he said, "look." He said, "You meet me as a..."

He said, "Well, you, I'll pick you up on the end of my spear," probably thirty or forty feet long. Said, "I'll pick you up on there, and I'll give your flesh to the birds to eat today."

Look at David, a witness now. He knowed what he was talking about. The opposition was against him. Sure, it was against him. But he knowed he had... He was a witness. He knowed what he was talking about. So he said, "You meet me as a Philistine, in the name of a Philistine, with an armor and with a spear. But I'll meet you in the Name of the Lord God of Israel." Amen. That's the difference. That's what made the difference. And said today he'd slay.

Why, the giant laughed at him, and went to kill him.

167 Little David started. When he gets about in the sling throw, he had... Watch, he had five stones, J-e-s-u-s, wrapped up in five fingers: f-a-i-t-h. Brother, he got the thing to working right, around and around and around.

And when you get faith in Jesus Christ, working in a perpetual motion in your soul, something's going to take place. Sin and sickness will get away from you; devils will scatter like roaches on a floor in the summertime, when the light's turned on.

Here he come, f-a-i-t-h in Jesus. Here he come, "I meet you in the Name of the Lord God of Israel." And he begin to swing that slingshot around; the Holy Ghost shot that rock right up to that Philistine and killed him. David took his own sword and cut off his head, held it up, said, "Come on, boys." Said, "Here it is. I told you God would do it." Hallelujah.

He was a witness. He knowed what he was talking about. He'd tried it. He'd proved it. He didn't know nothing about the armor and the spear, but he knew what he had in his hand. God had been with him.

I don't know. We don't know, about all your great big ideas and things like that. But we do know what the Holy Ghost is, and we know what It does for us, so we want to be a witness. Now, you have to go get It first before you can be a witness.

172 There was a fellow, one time, by the name of Elijah. God was with him. He'd seen God in great trials; he'd seen God do things. So he seen sin come upon the nation, so he said, "Now, just a minute."

He went up there and prayed, and God give him a witness. He said, "Now, you go down and tell the king that not even dew is going to fall 'less I... 'less you call for it."

He goes down and tells the king that. Went up there, and set down. He... and there...

And could you imagine? I can hear some of the people say, "That old man's cracked in his head. See? Why, he says there ain't going to be no rain till he calls for it."

But he was God's witness. He knowed what he was talking about. He knew what God would do, 'cause God always keeps His Word. And Elijah knew that. So he knew God had told him it wasn't going to rain, so he went and told it wasn't going to rain.

177 If God said, if you can receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost, then go get It. When God says healing's for you, then go get it. If you're a witness, go on, witness for Him. God promised it; He can't lie. No matter what they say, "The days of miracles is passed," that, just let that go. It's God's Word we're taking, not somebody else's.

178 I can see, the first thing you know, here comes old Elijah, went up there.

And he said, "Look at that old crank now. He's gone up, the top of the hill there, and sit down by that brook, Cherith. What a pitiful looking sight, that old man up there, long, gray whiskers. And he's about seventy years old, and a stick in his hand, a little cruse of oil. Why, he will starve to death up there."

But, after while, the drought come and begin to move on. And you know, them people down there, that thought that he was crazy, they happened to notice that up there he was eating three meals a day, having a good time. Yes. He was better off than a lot of people in here tonight. He had some porters. That's right. The porters come by, crows come by every day, and brought him sandwiches, give it to him for his breakfast.

181 Some fellow said, not long ago, said, "Preacher, do you mean you believe that?"

I said, "Yes, sir."

He said, "You mean to tell me that you believe that he ate?"

I said, "Yes, he did it."

"How do you... Where'd he get the fish at?"

I said, "I don't know."

"Where'd he get the bread?"

I said, "I don't know."

Said, "You think he went to a bakery?"

I said, "I can't tell you. But the only thing I know, the crows brought it. He eat it, was thankful for it, and done what God told him to do."

183 That's the same way with the baptism of the Holy Ghost. You say, "What makes them people shout?" I don't know. "What do you mean?" It's Manna coming from God, out of heaven. "Do you mean you actually feel something? I don't believe it." Well, you don't have to. The Holy Ghost brings It. I just eat It, and satisfied, and shout, and have a good time. Let the world go and believe what they want to. The Holy Spirit... "But where does He get It at? Where does the Manna come from? Where does anything come out of the air, that you can't see?" I don't know, but It gets here. Amen.

Are you a witness of It? Have you tasted the Lord is good? Do you know what you're talking about? That baptism of the Holy Spirit is just as real tonight as your life is: power of God unto salvation. Sure, It's good.

185 He set there and eat. When he got ready to drink, he just stepped over the side of the brook and drank; that was all. And they thought he was crazy. No, he was God's witness. That's right.

And the first thing you know, when the brook dried up, He said, "Now, I've prepared a widow to take care of you." My, what a place for a preacher to go: to a widow's house. But God said, "I--I prepared it." So he goes down there. He was to be a witness down there. So this widow...

So he goes down there, and he was walking along down the street. According to the vision, he was supposed to see a woman in the yard, I suppose. He seen a woman in the yard; he said, "That's her, so I'll just walk by."

He said, "Go, bring me a little drink of water, and a--a morsel of meal, or--or a cake," rather, "in your hand."

She said, "As the Lord lives, and your soul never dies," said, "I have only enough meal in the barrel and enough oil in the cruse to make one little cake. And I'm out here baking... getting two sticks." And said, "And I'm going to make the cake for me and my son. And as soon as we eat that, we die."

He said, "Go, fetch me a cake first." Amen.

190 "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God." Have you ever witnessed that to be the truth? Put God first. Pay your tithes first. Pay everything first. Pay God. Pray first at morning. Pray all through the day. Give God the first place in everything. You'll be a witness.

She runs right in. She had two sticks. In the old oriental way, they use two sticks. It was two sticks crossed, like this, and the fire was in the middle. The Indians still use it, and they move the logs up as they burn. That was the cross, Christ, where the fire was in the middle.

They took a little of the meal offering, put that ground meal, all ground just the same: "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever," poured in the oil, which was the Holy Spirit, and mixed It together, the Holy Spirit and Christ; going to make some kind of a hoecake now, brother. Amen. Oh, don't think I'm crazy. I'm just religious tonight. All right.

Notice, "Make me a little cake, first."

193 So he took the meal offering, Christ, poured the Holy Spirit in it, and mixed it up, and put it on the cross and cooked it. Oh, brother, talk about a cake, that was one of them.

Come out, and brought the little hoecake, and the last drop of water she had. And the prophet stood there and eat it and drank the water. Said, "Now, go back and make one for you and your son. For, THUS SAITH THE LORD, the barrel will not go empty, neither will the cruse go dry, until the day God sends rain upon the earth."

What? A witness. That's right. That widow was a witness in the land.

196 After that great prophet was taken, and Elijah taken; his place, Elisha took Elijah's place.

Oh, I can imagine this type of a witness. One day he started off, and he seen Elijah. And he threw his mantle over him, and blessed him, and he killed the ox and made a sacrifice, showing that all the things of the world was dead behind him.

That's the way to come to God. Kill everything behind you. Burn all the bridges. Don't lay that bottle up so you'll find it tomorrow. And don't lay this other thing up so you'll find it tomorrow. Get rid of the thing; burn it up. Amen. Be a real witness. Come out, brother, bare-footed. That's the way. Excuse those expressions, but that's the only way I know how to say it. All right. Said, "Now, you--you... Things are going to happen around here." All right. Notice.

199 Then he started from Gilgal, and he went on to the school of the prophets. And I want you to notice, when he got up there at the school of the prophets, he said, "The Lord's leading me to Jordan."

Three stages that Elisha followed Elijah, and Elijah was a type of Christ; Elijah. Elisha, the type of the Church. "I go up to Gilgal," first, justification by faith. And then he said, "Now, you stay here," to the Church. Elijah, Elisha... to Elijah... The young and the old prophet, a type of Christ and the Church.

He said, "As your soul lives, I'll not stay here, but I'm going with you."

202 And he went up to Gilgal. And when he got up there, he said, "Now, you stay here. The Lord's calling me up to the school of the prophets."

So he said, "As the Lord lives, and your soul never dies I'm going with you. I'll not leave you."

That's the Church. See? Keep your eyes on Jesus. Wherever He moves, go. If He goes out of the Methodist church go right on with Him. If He goes out of the Baptist church, go right on with Him. He goes out of the Branham Tabernacle go right on with Him. "I'll not leave you. No matter where mama belonged, where papa belonged, where this happened or not; I'll go with You. I'll not leave You." Hallelujah. "I am Your witness. I can't go; You're a part of me."

"Come on, and I'll follow." And he goes to the school of the prophets.

And he said, "You stay here."

206 And some of the prophets said to Elisha; he said, "Do you know your master will be taken from you?"

He said, "I know it. But hold your peace." Amen. I like that. "I'm going to stay right with him, no matter what the rest of them say."

And Elijah turned around and said, "Now, you tarry here, for God's sending me to Jordan."

Three places: Justification, Gilgal; sanctification, the school of the prophet; and to the baptism of the Holy Ghost, at Jordan, where Jordan represents death. Notice. Martin Luther; John Wesley; Pentecost, down to the Jordan, dying-out time.

210 So, Elijah, walked right on down to the river, with Elisha. And when they got down to Jordan, death, last stage of the journey, old prophet reached over and pulled off his mantle, struck the waters; and the waters divided hither and thither, and the two walked across as on dry land. The preachers stood off and looked at them go across. Amen.

When they got on the other side... Now, after... Oh, I hope this soaks into the Branham Tabernacle, plumb down to the marrow of the bone. Not when he was at Gilgal; not when he was at the school of the prophet; neither when he was on this side of Jordan; but after he'd crossed Jordan, followed him every step of the way...

You're willing; you say, "I accept Jesus as my personal Saviour. I'll quit my bad habits." But come down to Jordan, where you have to die out, where all the things of the world, all your friends and everything, has forsaken you. Keep your eye on Him alone.

213 Then what? He said, "I'm going to go with you, right on through Jordan." Amen. I like that. Why? "I'm going to be a witness of this," and he passed through Jordan.

Notice. Here it is. I want you to get it. After he crossed Jordan, then he said, "What will you that I do for you?" That's what Christ wants to know of the church tonight. "After you're separated from the things of the world, after you become a new creature in Christ Jesus, after you're born again, filled with the Holy Ghost, crossed over Jordan, all the things of the world dead, behind you, now ask what I can do for you." I like this.

215 He said, "That a double portion of your Spirit come upon me." That preacher knowed what he was talking about. "A double portion, 'cause I want to witness that much more."

He said, "You've asked a hard thing. But if you will see me when I go away, it shall be. What you asked you shall have." Now, brother, you talk about a preacher watching the other one; he was really watching him.

That's what the Church ought to be doing tonight for a double portion of the Spirit, is watching Christ, watching the Holy Ghost, the way It moves. Notice.

218 He said, "You've asked a hard thing." But he couldn't keep one eye on the world and one eye on Elijah. He had to put both eyes right straight on Elijah and follow him. Right.

The trouble of it is tonight, we got too many Christian people, professing Christians, got one eye on the world and the other one on the cross. You'll fall, as sure as the world. Let your eyes be single; let your heart be single; let your thoughts be single. Amen. Brother that rubs in, but that hurts, but it's good.

220 We, as little kids, we used to have to take castor oil all the time. Mama, back there, she used to give me castor oil, and I'd hold my nose and gag. She'd say, "Honey, if it..."

I'd say, "That stuff makes me so sick."

She'd said, "If it don't make you sick, it don't do you any good."

So maybe, there it is. Maybe, the Gospel, can It be applied the same way? If It don't stir you all up, It won't do you any good.

Keep your eyes on Christ. Keep moving on. Don't care what the world says. Keep moving on. "They that are sons of God are led by the Spirit of God." Is that right? "There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, that walk not after the flesh (or the things of the world), but after the Spirit." No condemnation, walking on. Now notice.

224 And when he was being taken up, after while a chariot of Fire come down, picked up Elijah, and he stepped on it. And as he went up, he pulled off his robe like this, and threw it back, and it dropped on the ground, when the horses of... and chariot of Fire packed him away.

Oh, I want you to get this now. What a beautiful type. Elisha the young prophet then, the one that was his witness of all the power that he had did. All the things that Elijah done, Elisha was his witness. Then he picked up the same mantle, throwed it on his own shoulders, started walking down towards Jordan; a perfect, beautiful type. Walked down to the Jordan, pulled off the mantle, held it in his hands, and struck the water, said, "Where is the God of Elijah?" And the water divided, from one side to the other: a type of the Church following Jesus, seeing His power, seeing His miracles.

226 And He, one day, was asked. Some said, let... One woman said, "Let my son set on the right hand, and one on the left."

He said, "Can you drink the cup that I drink?"

Said, "Yes."

"Can you be baptized with the baptism that I'm baptized with?"

Said, "Yes."

Said, "Truly, you will; but the right hand and left hand, is not for Me..." In other words, "The same baptism that I have, you'll have too."

228 And when the Church watched Him, when He went to Pentecost... He went to the upper room and He had the supper, went out to Calvary, was crucified. And then when the Church, called out, watched Him, when He went on His ascension, going up, He said, "Now, I'm going to send you into all parts of the world to be a witness unto me. But before you go, wait up yonder at the city of Jerusalem; 'cause, this same Holy Ghost mantle that's upon me, is going to come down on you. I'm going to send It back."

And they went up to the city of Jerusalem (Hallelujah.), and there was baptized with the same Holy Ghost that was upon Jesus Christ. Hallelujah. "Then you are witnesses of Me, as Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever."

230 And the same Holy Spirit was upon the prophet Elisha, Elijah, was upon Elisha in a double portion. And we tonight, as a church of God, brother, sister, who will claimed to kissed the rims of the blessed cup of His blessing, with the baptism of the Holy Ghost falling upon us and enshrouding us, baptized us into His Spirit, and going out as His witnesses, how can we hold our peace in a day like this, when corruption and stuff is on every side. Let us stand and bear record of the truth. Amen. Wonderful. Oh, my.

I got to quit. I feel like I could start right now and preach, I believe. I--I just getting feeling good.

232 The mantle, a double portion... Jesus said, "The things that I do shall you also, and greater," more of it, a double portion. "You're My witnesses after you receive the double portion." Let's watch Him. Keep your eyes on Him. The mantle is down. The mantle is here tonight. That same Holy Spirit that was upon Jesus Christ is in this church tonight, to robe any believer that's in here, with power from on high. Then you'll be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, South Africa, Asia, wherever you go. "The same yesterday, today, and forever..."

"Tarry ye." No wonder Philip could go down and preach.

No wonder, when they stoned the little fellow, Stephen, and he looked up into heaven, the clods hitting him on both sides of the head, mashing his little brains out onto the ground. He looked up and said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God." He was a witness.

234 No wonder, Paul, Saul on his way down there, his eyes was blinded when a Light fell before him. And he said, "Who is it, Lord, that I--that I persecute?"

He said, "Jesus." And He said, "Go down to the street called Straight."

And He had a preacher down there, that saw visions, so he... by the name of Ananias. And Ananias saw a vision of Paul. And he went in and laid hands on him, and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus Who met you in the way, has sent me that I might lay my hands upon you, that you'll receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost, for He showed me that you must be a great witness to Him." A witness...

First, what? "Receive your sight and receive the Holy Ghost." The scales fell off his eyes. He rose and went down to the Damascus River and was baptized. I imagine they had a time down there, don't you?

238 There was Saul on the road, going down, with orders in his pocket to arrest all that bunch of holy-rollers (That's right.), breathing out threatenings. God knocked him off his high horse. He made him a witness of what those people had. Oh, my.

I wonder if people tonight, ain't riding this same high horse tonight, should be knocked off, and be a witness.

240 I've watched of a morning, when the dew would fall from the heavens. You watch it when the sun comes up, that little dew, watch it how it sparkles just like a little star. What is it? It's a witness. It knows, as soon as that sun rises to a certain place, like this, when it rises to a certain place, it's going up again. That moisture will go right up. Why? It's been up there once, and it just fell down. It's going up again. It's a witness of this sunlight to pull it up. It's been somewhere. It knows what it's all about.

And every man or woman that's borned of the Spirit of God is a witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. How God needs some witnesses tonight. "Go ye into all the world and witness Me, in every generation, to all the people. I'll be with you always, even to the end of the world." May the Holy Spirit soak these few words deep down into your soul. "You shall receive power after this, the Holy Spirit is come upon you, and then you shall be a witness of me in Jerusalem, Judaea, and to the uttermost parts of the world."

242 While we bow our head; sister, would you come to the organ? Let us bow our heads just a moment, everywhere, in prayer. Everyone just as reverent as you can be now. Be in prayer while the altar call is being made. The Holy Spirit's here each night, giving Divine unction, a witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Wonder tonight, if you're here and would like to become a witness of the Lord's resurrected power, you've never stayed until you was endued with power? Would you like to be remembered in a word of prayer? God bless you. God bless you. Hands up, everywhere, over the building. Oh, my. That's wonderful.

"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness' sake, for they shall be filled."

245 Is there anyone in the building tonight, that's never accepted Christ as personal Saviour, would say, "Brother Branham, by my uplifted hand... The altar's piled full of people here now, but I'm going to lift up my hand, say, 'Pray for me. I'm a sinner. And I--I here want to now let God see my hand, that I want to accept Him as my Saviour?'" God bless you, lady. God bless you, sir. God bless you, lady. God bless you. Someone over on my right? God bless you, sir. God bless you up there. That's fine. Some, here's another one right here. God bless you. That's just wonderful.

"I want to become His witness." Another one would raise your hand, say, "Brother Branham, pray for me. I want to be remembered in a word of prayer"? God bless you. I see you, lady there with your hand up too. I see you, young man over there on the end. I see you with your hand up.

Hands are going up, everywhere in this little audience tonight, the closing of the revival. How do we know... Here's another lady with her hands up. God bless you, sister. How do you know but what this will be the last revival that the little Branham Tabernacle will ever have?

248 I stood, today, there over the cold, icy form of a young woman in her twenties. Took her out to the grave and buried her. Her little boys was setting there by the father. The little fellows walked up to the casket. Father said, "Come on, tell mommy, 'Good-bye.'" They walked up there and waved their little hands to their died, dead mother laying there, "Good-bye, mommy." Their little brown eyes covered with tears, and they hid their little faces in their hands.

Oh, wouldn't it be sad if that mother was gone forever? But by God's grace she was converted here at the Tabernacle. That night that she made that decision and walked forward, is the only thing that counts now. Last week she was running around over town here, healthy and strong, intending to come to the meeting: took sick, and died, just in a little bit.

250 Two friends of mine, both of them worked for the Public Service Company, were stricken yesterday in an accident, laying here in the hospital, dying right now, the girl is. I worked with her for seventeen years; heart knocked plumb to the other side of her. One of the substation operators laying there, a pal of mine; I sat on a log, in the woods, a many a day, and talked to him about the Lord Jesus. I want to see him in a little bit now, talk to him again, just before going out of life, see if the Lord will tell us anything for him.

251 I wonder, those who--who raised their hand, as being sinners, and wanted to be remembered in a word of prayer, you've accepted Christ; I wonder if you believe now that you accept Jesus Christ? Be in prayer; every hair--every head bowed. If you'll accept Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, and believe that He saved you from sin, and right now would you stand up to your feet as a witness. Any person that raised their hand, would say, "Lord, I knowed You promised me that 'Whosoever believeth shall not be condemned.' I now believe and accept You as my Saviour."

Would you stand? We're pressed a little bit for time and for space here. God bless you, brother. God bless you. Just remain standing. If you will, stand. Will somebody else stand? Somebody else stand right now? Just remain standing, if you will. Everyone with your heads bowed now. Everywhere in the building, be in prayer.

253 Lord, help now. O God, forgive sinners. You said, "He that comes to Me, I will in no wise cast out," these who have now stood...

God bless you, brother. Just remain standing. Someone else? Some of you that raised your hand, say, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner, and save me for Christ's sake." He will do it right there, right there. Philip said...

"Here's water. What hinders us from being baptized?"

Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may."

Will you want to accept Him right now as your personal Saviour? And if you'll stand up and witness Him before men, He will witness you before your Father and the holy angels. He's looking at you. You want to be a witness? Stand to your feet then, if you're a sinner. God bless you, lady. Someone there, a man and wife, slipped... with their arms around each other, accepting Christ now as personal Saviour. Someone else? Would you stand to your feet, quickly now, while the Holy Spirit is dealing here in the building. Say, "I want to now accept Christ as my Saviour. I want you to pray for me."

256 That's what I'm going to do, as they're standing, with tears rolling down their cheeks here in the building. Will you stand? Watch, everyone reverent, no one moving around. If you'd please be in prayer.

Listen, the Holy Spirit's now dealing with the people. What made you raise your hand? You could not raise your hand 'less God made you do that. Jesus said, "No man can come to Me, except the Father draws him."

If you only knew, sinner friend, that the people I've talked to, that says, "I don't believe in God. I have no time for it. I once tried It. I... There's no... I never did even desire It."

And God has give you the desire tonight to become a Christian. Don't turn Him away.

260 Pianist, organist, "Don't Turn Him Away," if you will. All right, while you're making your decision.

Don't turn Him away,

Don't turn Him away,

He has come back to your heart again,

Although you've gone astray;

[Brother Branham quietly prays--Ed.]... on that Eternal Day.

Don't turn the Saviour away from your heart;

Don't turn Him away.

Oh, how you'll need Him to say, "Well done." Won't you stand now and say, "I accept Christ"?

What about it, sister, do you believe He forgives your sin, standing there? Everyone with your heads bowed. We will close in a minute.

Accept Him now, Jesus Christ knocking at your heart. Won't you stand and say, "I now accept Christ as my personal Saviour?" Won't you stand for a word of prayer? What about it, young fellow out there? God bless you. God bless you. What about you back there in the back that raised your hand, young lady? Won't you rise up now?

Need Him to plead your cause on that Eternal Day.

Don't turn the Saviour away from your heart;

Don't turn Him away.

264 While we sing that chorus again. I wonder, if those who are standing, would walk right down here, let me shake your hand and pray with you, right down here at the altar. Would you come? Won't the rest of you come? What about you that raised your hand back there, won't you come here? Just come down here. God bless you, husband and wife, come down here just a minute. Walk up here. I want to shake your hand, brother, and you, sister.

Back to your heart... (come with her, brother)

Although you've gone away;

Oh, how you will need Him to plead your cause on that... (Won't you come?)

Don't turn the Saviour away from your heart;

Don't turn Him away.

Now, friend, think of it. Before morning, your soul may be tore from your body like a tooth being extracted; out through space yonder into an endless eternity, it will go. At that great, dreadful day of the Lord, who will plead your cause then? Won't you come? The least you could do on this resurrection day is to come, say, "Lord Jesus, I believe You."

266 [Brother Branham continues to pray with those at the altar. Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.]... preach, and hear these other men preaching. God is here in confirmation, saying, "I put My seal of approval on It, that It's the Truth." It's His Gospel. You believe now with all your heart?

I wonder, while we're making the call, if there's a backslider in here, would say, "Brother Branham, remember me right now. Remember me. I'm raising up my hand. Remember me in prayer?" Look, one of these days, you're going to fast--face Jesus Christ. God bless you...