Démonológia, 2.časť, Náboženská sféra
No, ten istý Duch Svätý môže požehnať pokrytca. To niektorých z vás Arminiánov vyradí, ale to je pravda. To je pravda. Potom hovoríte, že ide o svätosť, pričom tiež verím vo svätosť. Ale ten istý Duch, dážď, padá na spravodlivých aj nespravodlivých, ale podľa ich ovocia ich poznáte. Ak sa pozriem sem a pôjdem zobrať pšenicu, vezmem pšenicu, ale burina je celá zviazaná a ona žije v tom istom daždi, ktorý padol na pšenicu. A ten dážď nebol poslaný pre burinu; bol poslaný pre pšenicu. Ale dážď, ktorý bol na poli, pšenica, ktorá bola - burina, ktorá bola na pšeničnom poli, mala z dažďa práve toľko úžitku, ako mali tí ostatní. A ten istý dážď, ktorý spôsobil, že pšenica žila, spôsobil tiež to, že žila burina.
Všetky veci v tom prirodzenom znázorňujú tie duchovné, ako to učíme. Tu to je, démonológia, démoni, ktorí napodobňujú Kresťanstvo, a pritom s požehnaním. To nie je odstredené mlieko, bratia, ak to môžete prijať. Vidíte, vidíte? No, to je pravda.
A tak, ja dnes nie som spasený kvôli tomu, že môžem vykrikovať. Nie som spasený preto, že by som sa cítil, že som spasený. Som spasený, pretože som splnil Božie podmienky tejto Biblie. Ježiš povedal, „Ten, kto počúva Moje Slová a verí v Toho, ktorý Ma poslal, má večný Život a nepríde do odsúdenia, ale prešiel zo smrti do Života.“ Verím tomu. To je pravda. A na základe tých podmienok som spasený, pretože Boh tak povedal.
1Zaujímalo by ma, koľkí poznajú túto malú pieseň, zatiaľ čo vás dnes pozdravujem v najsrdečnejšom kresťanskom obecenstve a láske Kristovej, koľkí poznajú túto malú pieseň 'On sa o teba stará'? Poznáte to? V poriadku, pozrime sa, či to dokážeme zaspievať. Poznáš to, sestra? Poznáš?
(Nuž) On sa o teba stará,
On sa o teba stará;
Cez slnečné svetlo alebo tieň,
On sa o teba stará.
Ó, to je v poriadku, skúsme to teraz znovu.
On sa o teba stará,
On sa o teba stará;
Cez slnečné svetlo alebo tieň,
On sa o teba stará.
2Náš nebeský Otče, ďakujeme Ti, že sa o nás staráš a prejavil si nám Svoju lásku, natoľko, že si poslal Svojho milovaného Syna, nevinného Syna Božieho, aby zaujal miesto vinných hriešnikov. Ako Ti ďakujeme, že si sa o nás postaral a pamätal na nás, aby si to urobil. A sme tak vďační, Pane. Sme radi, že sa tu dnes popoludní zhromažďujeme pod klenbami nebies a prosíme o Tvoje požehnanie pre toto zhromaždenie. Udeľ to, Pane, aby každý muž, žena, chlapec alebo dievča, ktorí sú tu, aby teraz hlboko študovali v Písme. Čelíme svetu, ktorý je ovládaný satanom. A, Otče, modlíme sa, keď študujeme moc démonov a to, čo robia ľuďom, aby si nám dal veľkú vieru a nech budú učinené mnohé veľké znamenia a divy. Lebo to prosíme v Kristovom Mene a na Božiu slávu. Amen.
3Dnes popoludní študujeme, rýchlo to rozoberieme a myslím, že asi o pätnásť minút skôr, to je stále na tému 'Démonológia.'
A teraz, práve pred chvíľou som dostal posolstvo od mojich priateľov, brat Beeler, a v polovici júla začínam v Afrike. Takže tým je to vybavené; teraz to máme naplánované. A brat Baxter v tom čase nemôže ísť, tak budem musieť ísť do Afriky sám. Tak ísť tam s... nech sa... Musíte sa za mňa teraz modliť, aby mi Pán pomohol, pretože to tam teraz skutočne budem potrebovať medzi... Očakávam na tom zhromaždení aspoň dvestotisíc ľudí.
5A mám tu napísané videnie. Chcem, aby ste z neho mali úžitok. Stalo sa to v decembri. Raz ráno som bol v izbe, keď tam vošiel Anjel Pánov. Ja... Vidíte, keď som tam bol, neposlúchol som Boha a chytil som amébu. Vie niekto, čo je to améba? Je to parazit, ktorý vás dostane, takmer vás zabije. A pretože som urobil niečo, čo mi Boh povedal, aby som nerobil. Koľkí počuli ten príbeh? Myslím, že niektorí z vás sú tu. Viem, že ľudia okolo modlitebne počuli príbeh o tom, čo sa stalo. Boh mi povedal, aby som išiel na určité miesto a aby som sa držal ďalej od tohto miesta a potom sa vrátil naspäť na iné miesto. A ja som nechal kazateľov, aby ma od toho odhovorili.
No, kazatelia sú úžasní a sú to moji bratia, ale hľaďte na to, čo vám hovorí Boh. To je pravda. Vidíte, máte jedno poverenie.
6Koľkí si pamätajú, že v Biblii tam raz boli dvaja proroci? A jeden z nich, Pán mu povedal, riekol, „Choď na určité miesto a nechoď do... Vrátiš sa inou cestou,“ a tak ďalej. A povedal, „Zatiaľ čo tam budeš, tak nejedz ani nepi.“
A stretol ho ďalší pravý prorok a povedal, „Pán ma stretol potom, ako stretol teba. A povedal, 'Poď ku mne domov.'“ A prorok počúvol na to, čo povedal ten druhý, a prišiel tým o život. Rozumiete? Robte to, čo vám hovorí Boh, bez ohľadu na to, čo hovorí ktokoľvek iný.
8No, my sme v tomto videní, On... Prebudilo ma to, trinásteho septembra alebo decembra. A ako som tak sedel na kraji postele, premýšľal som, aká bude moja budúcnosť. Keď som sa sem vrátil, boli pripravení hodiť ma na infekčné oddelenie; tie parazity ma skoro dostali. Keď som dorazil do tejto krajiny, oni ma skúmali. A z Božej milosti ma jednoducho nechali ísť domov, pretože to bolo veľmi roztrúsené.
A modlil som sa a išiel som k tým kazateľom a povedal som, „Pán mi povedal, aby som nešiel touto cestou.“
Povedal, „Ó, Boh hovorí aj s niekým iným okrem teba.“
Povedal som, „Kórach mal raz takú myšlienku.“ A tak... Ale ja som išiel, zobral som nejaké listy a položil som im to na nohy a povedal som, „Pamätajte, v Mene Pánovom, ak sa tam vydáme, bude to zlyhanie a všetci za to zaplatíme.“ A iste sme za to zaplatili. Ó. Všetci sme skoro zomreli. Tak potom, keď som sa vracal...
10V tých cudzích krajinách máte tak mnoho toho, s čím zápasiť. Keby vás napríklad uhryzla malá blcha, to by spôsobilo, že budete mať kliešťovú horúčku. A tá maličká vec, keď vás to uhryzne, ak cítite, že vás to svrbí, nemôžete to poškriabať. Pozrite, ak je to taká malá čierna vec, nevyťahujte to. Má malú hlavu, zavŕta sa do kože, takto sa točí a zakliesni sa. Ak by ste ho vytiahli, odtrhli by ste mu hlavu; je v tom vírus a to by vás paralyzovalo. A tak, neškriabte to, ani ho neodtŕhajte. Len vezmite trochu loja a on dýcha cez chrbát, kvapnete naňho loj a on vychádza.
Potom je tam taký malý komár, ktorý ani nevydáva zvuk; prelieta okolo a len sa vás dotkne. To je všetko; a už máte maláriu.
12A potom je tam niečo, čomu hovoria had mamba. Ak vás uhryzne, potom, ako vás uhryzne, žijete už asi len dve minúty.
A je tam žltá kobra; po jej uhryznutí žijete asi pätnásť minút. A jedna z nich bola tak blízko môjho syna, že až jej mohol položiť ruku na hlavu, bola takto pripravená uhryznúť predtým, ako sme vystrelili.
A je tam čierna kobra. Ó, tam je jednoducho všetko možné. A potom nebezpečenstvá od divokých zvierat, samozrejme, levy, tigre alebo leopardy a všetko ostatné, s čím sa treba v džungli popasovať. A potom tie choroby, sú tam jednoducho všetky druhy chorôb.
A keď tam pôjdete, musíte čeliť tomu všetkému. Okrem toho, je tam čarodejnícky lekár, ktorý vás vyzve v každej príležitosti. A majú tam všetky svoje povery a také veci. Ale aká úžasná vec je vidieť nášho Pána, ako to takto zo strany na stranu odveje preč a potom idete ďalej.
A v ten deň si pamätám, ako som tam stál, ako dobre, čo sa tam stalo. Poviem vám to niekedy na inom zhromaždení, pretože sa dnes popoludní chcem venovať mojej téme 'Démonológia.'
16Ale teraz, a toto je to, nad čím som premýšľal, keď som tam sedel, aký bude koniec? A keď som sa vrátil spoza mora, viem, že sme tam mali okolo stotisíc obrátení, keď sme tam boli. A prišiel ku mne starý brat Bosworth. Povedal... povedal som, „No, brat Bosworth?“
Povedal, „Som na teba tak hrdý, brat Branham.“ Povedal, „Si na začiatku života,“ a povedal.
Povedal som, „No, myslím, že už je po všetkom.“ Povedal som, „Mám už viac ako štyridsať a myslím, že som bojoval dobrý boj a dokončil beh.“
Povedal, „Máš viac ako štyridsať?“ Povedal, „Toľko som mal predtým, ako som sa obrátil.“ Povedal, „A stále mi to ešte ide.“ Bol už blízko osemdesiatky a práve...
Pomyslel som si, „No, asi je to tak.“
Tak on povedal, „Nie, ty si teraz úplne nový Branham; vieš, ako lepšie viesť svoje zhromaždenia a všetko také.“ Povedal, „Ak by si len niekedy zasiahol Ameriku tým správnym spôsobom, tým správnym zhromaždením, kde by si mohol zostať šesť alebo osem týždňov na nejakom mieste, a nechať to tam poriadne umiestniť a urobiť na okolí reklamu,“ povedal, „urobil by si niečo pre nášho Pána.“ Tak sme len takto ďalej pokračovali, tak to bolo veľmi pekné.
21Potom som po chvíli videl určité videnie, keď som bol v Amerike, a prišlo to ku mne a vrátilo ma to späť do Afriky a ukázalo sa mi to isté zhromaždenie, ktoré bolo tam pred Durbanom. A to prvé zhromaždenie odišlo do histórie, išlo to smerom na západ. Povstalo tam druhé zhromaždenie, a keď sa to stalo, bolo to stále väčšie ako to prvé zhromaždenie. A On... Počul som výkrik a z neba prichádzal Anjel, mal veľké Svetlo.
A Anjel Pánov, ktorý tu vedľa nás stojí, stál (vždy stojí po mojej pravici, tu na tejto strane) a to tam stálo a krúžilo to dookola a videl som, ako vedľa mňa stojí tento muž. On nie je... No, keď ho vidíte, to nie sú videnia. Je to tak skutočné, ako keď sa pozeráte na mňa. No, môžete ho počuť kráčať a hovoriť s vami. A keď on... Čokoľvek, on je tak skutočný ako čokoľvek... To nie je videnie, ten muž tam stojí práve tak ako vy. A jeho hlas je práve taký istý, aký by bol môj alebo váš. Ale videnie, niečo, čo sa pred vami otvorí a vy to takto vidíte... Ale tento muž len prišiel a stál tam.
23Tak mi povedal o tom, čo sa bude diať. A povedal to. Tento Anjel zostúpil a povedal mi, aby som sa otočil a pozrel sa týmto smerom. A teraz to vyzeralo, že to je smerom k Indii. A nehovorím, že to je v Indii, ale je to blízko. Ale boli to Indovia, pretože Afričania sú veľkí urastení ťažkí ľudia. Niektorí z nich sú vysokí takmer sedem stôp a vážia, ó, dvestoosemdesiat alebo tristo libier, statní: Zulus, no, Šanghaj a Bashotu, ó, existuje mnoho rôznych kmeňov. V ten deň, keď som tam hovoril, sedelo tam pätnásť rôznych kmeňov.
25Povedal som jedno slovo, ako napríklad „Ježiš Kristus, Syn Boží.“ Predtým, ako to prešlo cez všetkých tých tlmočníkov, mohol som sa ísť napiť vody. Jeden by povedal... A všetky tie zvuky... Keď som počul letničných ľudí hovoriť v jazykoch, myslel som si, že možno jeden hovorí jedným druhom zvuku a druhý hovorí druhým, ako by to vôbec bolo možné? Ale verím, že Biblia má pravdu, a viem, že má, keď povedala, „Žiaden zvuk nie je bez významu.“ To je pravda. Niektorí z nich povedali, jeden z nich, „Blrr blrr blrr blrr,“ a to znamenalo, „Ježiš Kristus, Syn Boží.“ Ďalší povedal, „Klak klak klak klak,“ a to bolo „Ježiš Kristus, Syn Boží,“ v jeho jazyku. Takže bez ohľadu na to, o aký druh zvuku ide, niekde to má nejaký význam. To je pravda. Bez ohľadu na to, aký je to hluk, pre niekoho to niečo znamená. A keď bol... Oni to rozdali.
26A všimol som si to po mojej ľavej strane, keď zostúpil ten Anjel a uvidel som tam niečo ako zástup. A boli to muži, ktorí okolo seba mali niečo, čo vyzeralo ako nejaká plachta, a bolo to omotané a zviazané, podobne ako okolo malého bábätka, plienka. A tam to bolo. A tak ďaleko, ako som len dovidel; nebolo to nič iné ako ľudia. A potom tento Anjel zapálil veľké kmitajúce svetlo a začalo sa to takto kývať tam a späť. A nikdy v živote som nevidel toľko ľudí.
A potom sa tento druhý Anjel ku mne skutočne priblížil a povedal, „Na tom zhromaždení je ich tristo tisíc.“ A mám to tu zapísané. A napíšte si to na nejaký kúsok papiera, ako som to hovoril o tom malom chlapcovi, ktorý bol vzkriesený vo Fínsku. Zapíšte si to na list Biblie alebo niekde, že na tomto zhromaždení bude zhromaždenie, že... A budete to počuť z nejakého zdroja, tristo tisíc ľudí sa zúčastní na tom zhromaždení. No, uvidíme, či to tak nie je. To bude trojnásobok toho minulého. Rozumiete? Tristo tisíc ľudí, ktorí sa zúčastnia toho zhromaždenia. A som tak šťastný, že sa tam dostanem, neviem, čo mám robiť, lebo rád získavam duše pre nášho Pána.
A bolo tam vidieť naraz tridsaťtisíc jednoduchých pohanov, ktorí prišli k Ježišovi Kristovi pri jednom zavolaní ku oltáru, tridsaťtisíc jednoduchých pohanov...
29No, poďme rýchlo k našej téme. Včera sme študovali techniku démonov. Dnes som rozmýšľal, ako koná Boh. Neviete, aká je to sloboda dostať to von. No, ja nie som učiteľ; som ďaleko od toho, aby som bol vykladačom Biblie. A ja som... Moje vzdelanie je obmedzené na siedmu triedu, tak to je... A tak, vyšiel som zo školy asi pred dvadsiatimi piatimi rokmi, takže je to dlhá doba. A ja nemám veľké vzdelanie, ale všetko, čo viem, je to, čo dostávam skrze inšpiráciu.
A ak tá inšpirácia nepasuje s Bibliou, potom je to nesprávne. Rozumiete? Musí to byť Biblia. Nezáleží na tom, aká to je inšpirácia, ona musí prísť... Tu je Boží základ. Nie je položený žiaden iný základ, iba tento. A tak, čím je toto... ak by to, čo by som povedal, bolo v protiklade s Týmto, nech sú moje slová klamstvom, pretože Toto je Pravda. Vidíte, vidíte? A ak by vám aj anjel povedal niečo, čo by bolo iné ako Toto, Pavol povedal, „Nech je pre vás prekliaty.“ Dokonca aj anjel svetla... No, existuje mnoho veľkých vecí. Ja len... Jediný... Vybral som si dva dni, aby som túto tému dostal medzi ľudí, to bolo včera a dnes popoludní.
30No, dôvod, prečo som to urobil, je ten, že som sa trochu pokúsil zistiť, či mi Boh pomôže. Mám niečo na srdci. A to je to, že po tomto veľkom posolstve a po tom, ako Sám Boh potvrdí to, čo som povedal ako pravdu v Jeho Slove. Najprv skrze Jeho Slovo, a potom skrze znamenia a zázraky. No, myslím, že s pravdou Evanjelia pre Cirkev, som zaviazaný pred Bohom, aby som toto priniesol pre Cirkev. To je pravda. Ľudia sú tak rozídení v toľkých rôznych organizáciách a ich sektárskych častiach, až je to zlé. Všetci sme Božie deti, keď sme znovuzrodení. To... Vidíte? A pravda v tej veci je, že Boh chce, aby sme vedeli, že sme Jeho deti.
31No, pamätajte, Šalamúnov chrám bol prinesený z celého sveta. Tu prichádza jedna skala vyformovaná týmto spôsobom a jedna skala vyformovaná tamtým spôsobom a jedna osekaná týmto spôsobom a jedna osekaná tamtým spôsobom, ale keď sa to spojilo, nebolo počuť ani hluk píly, ani zvuk kladiva; všetko zapasovalo rovno na svoje miesto. Boh bol Inštruktorom tej veci.
A Boh má cirkev, ktorá sa nazýva zhromaždenia, a jedna je cirkev Božia a jedna táto a iná tamtá, ale keď sa všetci zídu spolu, budú jednou veľkou skupinou bratskej lásky a Boh dá - zhromaždí tú cirkev spolu a vezme ju hore do neba.
33Každý slávny obraz, predtým, ako je vôbec zavesený v sieni umenia, musí byť zavesený, musí prejsť najprv sieňou kritikov. Ten muž, ktorý namaľoval ten...?... Alebo, prepáčte, neviem si spomenúť na jeho meno, každopádne, on namaľoval 'Poslednú večeru,' zabralo mu to celý život. Namaľoval ten obraz. Bolo to asi dvadsať alebo desať rokov, myslím, to obdobie medzi maľovaním Krista a Judáša. A uvedomili ste si, že na tom slávnom obraze, že ten istý muž, ktorý pózoval ako Kristus, o desať rokov neskôr pózoval ako Judáš? To je pravda. On to urobil. Desať rokov hriechu, od veľkého operného speváka, ktorý zaujal miesto Krista, prišiel na miesto Judáša. Nemusí vám to trvať desať rokov; môže to trvať desať minút, urobí to s vami to isté. To zmení váš charakter v hriechu. Ale každopádne, ten obraz prešiel cez všetkých tých kritikov.
34A to je to, čo si myslím o Božej Cirkvi, o skupine, ktorá je povolaná... No, nemyslím tým nejaký posmešok. Preplával som sedem morí a som na svojej tretej ceste okolo sveta a ľudia hovoria, „Náboženský fanatik, náboženský fanatik.“ A prehľadal som svet a ešte nikdy som nenašiel náboženského fanatika. To je len meno, ktoré diabol prilepil na ľudí. To je celé. Nie je nič také ako náboženský fanatik. A mám štatistiku všetkých 668 rôznych cirkví, ktoré tam sú a sú zorganizované vo svete, a nie je ani jedna z nich, ktorá by sa volala Náboženský Fanatik. A to je od vlády. Nie je ani jedna cirkev Náboženský Fanatik, o ktorej by som vedel. Tak to je len niečo, čo diabol tak nazval.
Ale teraz, v tom všetkom, vo všetkých týchto veciach, Boh namaľoval určitý obraz. A kedysi to bolo tak, že tieto malé cirkvi zvykli byť tu vonku, niektorí z vás...
35Sledujem týchto šedivých mužov. Môj chlapec, včera som bol v izbe a študoval som; a prišiel nejaký kazateľ a povedal, „Chcem si podať ruku s tvojím otcom.“ Samozrejme, môj chlapec bol vychovaný pri bratovi Baxterovi a pri tých, ktorí len takto rýchlo povedia, „Nie.“ To sa mi nepáči. Rozumiete? Nezáleží na tom, či... Samozrejme, že nemôžem byť sluhom ľudí a aj Boha. Ale myslím, že si so svojimi bratmi rád potrasiem ruky. Rád to robím. Niečo na tom je; rád si potrasiem ruku s kazateľom; nielen s kazateľom, ale s ktorýmkoľvek Božím dieťaťom. Rád to robím.
Nevedel som o tom, až kým mi o tom o niečo neskôr nepovedala moja žena. No, ak by mohol povedať tomu kazateľovi, „Moment; on je vzadu na modlitbe a uvidím, čo povie.“ No, to by bolo lepšie. A tak mu ohľadom toho dávam malú nápravu, aby to nerobil. Rozumiete?
36A tak je to pravda, nemôžete byť stále k dispozícii, ako to pred chvíľou povedal ten brat. Ak to robíte, potom ste v noci vyčerpaný. Rozumiete? Ľudia idú hovoriť a každý má možno nejakú chorobu, a keď o tom idú hovoriť, rýchlo tam je Anjel Pánov, aby o tom povedal.
Je tu niekto, kto sa teraz díva rovno na mňa, vie, že je to pravda, len pred pár minútami alebo asi pred hodinou a pol: jedna pani, ktorá tu sedí, a ktorá nevedela, čo to bolo, keď ku nej jedného večera prehovoril Anjel Pánov a povedal jej niečo a ona tomu nemohla rozumieť. Ale dnes sa to stalo, takže ona teraz vie, čo to znamená, keď ku nej hovoril.
A ja som tam stál a rozprával som sa s ňou, Anjel Pánov vyšiel rovno naspäť a povedal jej, aký bol jej problém a o čom to všetko bolo, a o čom premýšľala, a o jednom z jej milovaných a ako Boh prehovoril a povedal, že to potvrdí, a čo sa bude diať. Tak to je presne tak, ako to bude. Vidíte, Boh to tak povedal.
38No, čo potom párkrát, keď každé... A potom... A každé videnie vás jednoducho viac a viac oslabuje. Rozumiete? A prvá vec, ktorú zistíte, keď prídete večer do zboru, ste tak veľmi vyčerpaní, že len ťažko viete, čo máte robiť. A teraz sa za mňa modlite (Vidíte?), pretože to je z jedného zhromaždenia na druhé, a na ďalšie. Ak by toto bolo jediné zhromaždenie, to by bolo iné, ak by som išiel teraz domov a nemusel by som niekoľko mesiacov nič robiť, išiel by som von a vzal si svoj vlasec a išiel by som na ryby, ale musím ísť z jedného zhromaždenia rovno na ďalšie, z jedného rovno na ďalšie. Rozumiete? To je to, čo to robí.
39A vy sa všetci modlite, vy ľudia, ktorí ste tu vzadu v publiku. Včera večer mi povedali, že som hovoril s určitou osobou, a tá na to volanie nereagovala. No, to je dosť nebezpečné. Rozumiete? Keď to povedali, no, niekedy sú tam svetlá, ktoré nesvietia, a je medzi nimi nejaká temná škvrna.
A pozorujem Anjela Pánovho, keď tu stojí, môžem to cítiť. Potom pocítim, ako sa To odo mňa hýbe, a dívam sa, a opustí ma To a niekde To prejde a trochu To tam bude stáť a môžem To vidieť. A To sa zablyskne a príde videnie. Potom uvidím to videnie. Budem sledovať, ako vyzerá ten človek, ktorý tam je. A nájdem tú osobu a potom hovorím. To je to, čo prebieha. To je to, čo sa deje. Nemusíte to každému hovoriť, ale to je to, čo sa deje. Rozumiete? Všetko je to v duchovnej sfére.
41Potom, ak tá osoba neodpovie, to by bolo podobné, ako čítať tu Bibliu a hovoriť, „Nič na tom nie je,“ a odísť od toho preč. Rozumiete? Takže to je dosť zlé. Tak buďte v strehu, počúvajte, pozorujte. Keď On hovorí, odpovedzte. Rozumiete? A jednoducho buďte pripravení kedykoľvek odpovedať.
A tak moja žena a brat Beeler a mnohí z nich, oni mi o tom dnes ráno hovorili, že to bolo volanie na nejakého muža ohľadom jeho brata, ktorý s ním mal nejaký problém, a tak ďalej, a ten muž neodpovedal na to volanie, tak tomu sa nedá pomôcť. To je medzi Bohom a tým človekom. To videnie ma potom opustilo a už som ho nemohol nájsť, pretože on nereagoval. Tak pozorujte a buďte v strehu.
43No, keď vezmeme túto tému démonológie a hovoríme o démonoch. No, ľudia, keď poviete „démon“, hneď potom si začnú myslieť, „Ó, nejaký fanatizmus alebo niečo také.“ Ale démoni sú tak skutoční ako Anjeli; oni sú práve tak skutoční.
A diabol je práve tak skutočným diablom, ako Ježiš Kristus je Synom Božím. On je diabol. Nebo je rovnako skutočné. A ak nie je niečo také ako peklo, nie je nič také ako nebo. A ak nie je večné požehnanie - alebo lepšie povedané večný trest, potom nie je žiadne večné požehnanie. Ak nie je deň, nie je ani noc. Rozumiete? Ale s takou istotou, ako že je deň, existuje aj noc. Len čo... Tak isto, ako existuje Kresťan, musí byť tiež pokrytec. S takou istotou, ako existuje niekto, kto je pravý od Boha, je tiež niekto, kto to napodobňuje. Rozumiete? Je to presne pre a proti, čierne a biele, stále cez celý život vo všetkom, všade je to pravdivé a falošné. A existuje falošné evanjelium; a existuje pravé Evanjelium. Existuje skutočný krst; existuje falošný krst. Existuje predstieraná viera a existuje tiež skutočná. Existuje skutočný americký dolár; existuje falošný americký dolár. Existuje skutočný Kresťan, existuje skutočný pokrytec (vidíte?), ktorý len napodobňuje. Tak zisťujete, že to všetko ide spolu. No, nemôžeme to oddeliť; Boh necháva padať dážď.
45Nech mi tu On dovolí trochu prehovoriť. Koľko je tu kazateľov? Zodvihnite ruky. Všade naokolo, kazatelia, pozrime sa na vaše ruky. No, nech vás Boh žehná, bratia. No, teraz to neberte ako náuku, ale tesne predtým, ako pristúpime k tejto životne dôležitej téme, poviem vám jednu z... Koľko je tu letničných ľudí, zodvihnite svoje ruky všade naokolo. No, vy všetci ste letniční? V poriadku. Poviem vám, čo som zažil, keď som prvýkrát prišiel do vašich sfér.
Bol som rovno tu v Indiane, na určitom mieste zvanom Mishawaka. Prvá skupina letničných ľudí, ktorú som kedy videl, sa nazýva Letničné zhromaždenia Ježiša Krista, myslím, že tak, alebo niečo také, úžasná skupina ľudí. No, oni sa spolu zorganizovali a nazývajú sa Zjednotení letniční. Rozišli sa s ostatnými kvôli problému vodného krstu. To z nich nerobí žiadneho pokrytca. V ich radoch je mnoho skutočných, naozaj pravdivých Kresťanov znovuzrodených z Ducha Svätého. A Boh im dal Ducha Svätého skrze krst v Ježišovom Mene a On dal ostatným krst Duchom Svätým, keď boli pokrstení v Otca, Syna a Ducha Svätého. Tak Boh dal Ducha Svätého tým, ktorí Ho poslúchajú, tak kto To dostal, kto Ho potom poslúchol? Tu to máte.
46Ak by ste len zabudli... A tí, ktorí chcú byť jednosmerní, nechajte ich takých byť a pokračujte a buďte bratmi. To je celé. Nerobte... To, čo to urobilo, bolo to rozlámanie medzi - rozlámanie (Rozumiete?), rozlámanie, roztrhanie, rozlámanie bratstva, vykročenie a oddelenie sa. Nie veru; nie sme oddelení; sme jedno. To je pravda.
47Ale keď som tam stál, pozoroval som tých ľudí. No, ja, práve som prišiel z nejakého obyčajného malého južného baptistického zboru, no, videl som tých ľudí, išiel som tam a oni tlieskali, kričali, „Jeden z nich, jeden z nich, som rád, že môžem povedať, že som jeden z nich.“
Pomyslel som si, „Ó. Fíha.“ Prvá vec, ktorú zisťujete, niekto sem prichádza, tancovali tak silno, ako len mohli. Pomyslel som si, „Čo za cirkevné spôsoby, nikdy som také veci nepočul.“ Naďalej som ich sledoval naokolo a premýšľal, „No, čo sa s tými ľuďmi deje?“
49No, počuli ste ma rozprávať môj životný príbeh, kde som tam narazil na to zhromaždenie. Ale toto je jedna vec, ktorú som nikdy nepovedal, nikdy som to nepovedal na verejnosti. Tak oni... No, ak si to chcete vymazať z vášho nahrávača, no, môžete tak urobiť. V poriadku. No, takto som to sledoval a teraz som si pomyslel, „No, tí ľudia sú tí najšťastnejší ľudia, akých som kedy v živote videl.“ Nehanbili sa za svoje náboženstvo. My baptisti sa raz za čas trochu hanbíme, viete. Rozumiete? A keď sa idú modliť, viete, postavia sa za ventilátor, viete, ale my... Ale tí ľudia takí neboli; brat, oni mali náboženstvo cele vo vnútri, vonku a všade okolo seba.
50No, pamätám si ten večer, keď som vystúpil na pódium. Povedali, „Nech všetci kazatelia prídu na pódium.“ Bol to určitý zjazd. Museli to mať tu hore na severe kvôli tomu farebnému problému, kvôli zákonu Jima Crowa z juhu. Tak sa tam stretli všetci zovšadiaľ. A tak som tam sedel a on povedal... No, teraz tam je... V priebehu toho dňa a v ten večer som si vypočul všetkých tých kazateľov; povedali, že nejaký starý kazateľ, bol to starý farebný muž, ktorý vyšiel, na hlave mal len zopár vlasov, mal veľký dlhý kazateľský kabát, viete, zamatový golier a bolo horúce počasie. Ten biedny starý chlapík tam takto vyšiel a povedal, „Moje drahé deti.“ Povedal, „Chcem vám povedať,“ začal svedčiť. Bol som asi najmladší, ktorý sedel na pódiu. Tak potom povedal, „Poviem vám.“ Vzal svoj text z Jóba, „Kde si bol, keď som položil základy zeme? Oznám Mi, kde sú upevnené.“
51Všetci títo ostatní kazatelia kázali o Kristovi bežným spôsobom; počúval som ich, páčilo sa mi to, ale nie tento starý chlap. Vrátil sa tam dozadu asi desaťtisíc rokov predtým, ako vôbec započal svet. Išiel hore do nebies a prešiel dolu cez oblohu, čo sa tam dialo. To, o čom oni kázali, to sa dialo cez deň, on kázal o tom, čo sa dialo v nebi. Priviedol Krista naspäť na vodorovnej dúhe, tam niekde vo večnosti. No, on kázal asi päť minút, až tam ten starý človek, niečo ho uchopilo, vyskočil do vzduchu a udrel pätami o seba a vykríkol, „Juchúú!“ Mal tam asi toľko miesta, ako mám ja tu hore. Povedal, „Nemáte pre mňa dosť miesta, aby som kázal,“ a odišiel.
No, pomyslel som si, „Ak to urobí toto človeku, ktorý má okolo osemdesiat rokov, čo by to potom urobilo mne?“ To je to, čo chcem. To je to, čo chcem.
53Ale to, čo ma dostalo, bolo toto. No, teraz hovoríme o démonoch. Čo ma dostalo, sledoval som dvoch mužov. Jeden sedel na jednej strane a ten druhý na druhej. A keď spadol Duch, oni povstali a hovorili v jazykoch, kričali a zbeleli okolo úst a ja som si pomyslel, „Ó, keby som to len mohol mať.“ Vidíte, aké nádherné. Ó, to je, jednoducho to milujem. No, išiel som von do kukuričného poľa. A hovoril som vám môj životný príbeh; čítali ste to v knihe. Spal som celú noc a na ďalšie ráno som sa vrátil. Tak som si povedal, že to jednoducho otestujem. Mám spôsob, ako robiť veci, o ktorých nevie nikto, iba Boh a ja. Tak to je... Beriem podobenstvo a idem sa stretnúť s tým ľudským duchom. Vidíte to rovno tu na pódiu. Rozumiete? A tak som sa dal do reči s jedným z tých mužov. Videl som ich. Sadli si blízko seba a len sa držali za ruky a tancovali a vykrikovali. Pomyslel som si, „Ó, to mi znie skutočne.“
A chytil som ho za jednu ruku a povedal som, „Dobrý deň.“
A povedal, „Dobrý deň.“ Veľmi milý človek, taký džentlmen, povedal... Povedal som, „Ty si kazateľ?“
Povedal, „Nie veru, som len obyčajný člen.“
A musel som s ním viesť krátky rozhovor, aby som zachytil jeho ducha. Rozumiete? On to nevedel; nikto to nevedel. Nikdy som o tom nič nepovedal, to bolo roky predtým, ako som to spomenul. Tak potom... Ale keď som zistil, zaznelo to úplne dokonale, že to bol kresťanský muž; ten človek bol absolútne svätý Boží. Pomyslel som si, „Veľmi dobre, brat.“
57Ale tá zvláštna časť, keď som zachytil toho druhého, to bolo v protiklade. Dokonca žil so ženou, ktorá nebola jeho manželkou. To je pravda. A videl som, ako to ku mne prichádza skrze videnie. Pomyslel som si, „Ó, to nemôže byť.“ A ten človek... Pomyslel som si, „No, takže teraz, tento duch, ktorý je medzi tými ľuďmi, je nesprávny, a hotovo.“
A tak, v ten večer, keď som išiel na zhromaždenie, a požehnania padali, modlil som sa k Bohu a Duch Svätý, Anjel Pánov svedčil, že to bol Duch Svätý. A ten istý Duch, ktorý padal na tohto muža, padal aj na tamtoho muža. A keď Duch padol, obaja vstali a obaja kričali, vykrikovali a chválili Pána a hovorili v jazykoch a tancovali. Povedal som, „Nemôžem to pochopiť, Pane, ja... Oni... Nevidím to v Biblii, kde by to mohlo byť správne.“ No, povedal som, „Možno som zvedený.“ Rozumiete? Povedal som...
No, ja som ohľadne Biblie striktne zásadový. Musí to byť Toto. Rozumiete? A povedal som, „Pane, Ty poznáš môj stav a ja to musím vidieť v Tvojom Slove. A nedokážem pochopiť, kedy Duch Svätý padá na tohto človeka, Duch Svätý padá na tamtoho človeka; a jeden z nich je svätý a ten druhý pokrytec. A viem, že to tak je.“ A viem to bez... Mohol by som toho muža vziať von a dokázať mu to, alebo rovno tam ho zavolať a povedať mu o tom.
59Tak, ako by som to mohol urobiť pri tom mužovi, ktorý tu sedel včera večer, nebol ničím iným ako podvodníkom, ak tam niekedy nejaký sedel. A ja som to mal vyvolať, ale on by vstal a začal by robiť rozruch, tak som to kvôli zhromaždeniu nechal tak. Ale poznal som ho. Tak veru. Je tam jeden, dvaja z nich, ktorí tam minulý večer sedeli, patria do určitej cirkvi priamo tu v meste, skutoční kritici. Videl som ich. Ale ak by ste to urobili, vyvolali by ste len problém. Urobil som to mnohokrát. Nechal som ich len tak. Rozumiete? To je v poriadku. Boh vie; On je Sudca. Nech ma len raz vyzvú, a potom uvidíte, že sa niečo stane, nechajte ho. Ako démon, ja som nikdy nevyzýval nejakého démona. On len prišiel ku mne a vyzval ma. To je to, kedy sa Boh pustil do práce (Vidíte? Je to tak.); a vy ste videli, čo sa stalo. V poriadku. Ale ja som to len nechal tak. On to zhromaždenie sťažoval, pretože ten duch po celý čas do mňa dobiedzal. Rozumiete? A tak som len pokračoval.
60Ale teraz, títo muži, nemohol som tomu rozumieť. A bolo to o dva alebo tri roky neskôr, keď som bol tu hore v Green's Mill v Indiane, pri skautskej rezervácii; bol som späť v starej jaskyni, kde som sa išiel modliť. A tam vzadu som povedal, „Pane, nemôžem pochopiť, čo sa stalo s tou skupinou ľudí. Tí najlepší ľudia, akých som kedy v živote stretol, a nerozumiem, ako to môže byť nesprávny duch, keď to je... Ak potom... Ty poznáš bezúhonnosť môjho srdca. Vieš, ako Ťa milujem a ako som Ti slúžil. A ten istý Duch, ktorý je tu so mnou, bol na tých ľuďoch. A tu To bolo na tom chlapíkovi.“ Tak som to nemohol pochopiť.
61A Pán zostúpil vo Svojom milosrdenstve a ukázal mi to. Tu je to. Najprv to musí byť podľa Písma. On povedal, „Vezmi si svoju Bibliu.“ A vzal som Bibliu. A myslím, že som tú Bibliu držal desať minút, bez toho, aby niekto - aby prišlo nejaké Slovo. Čakal som len pár minút. Počul som Ho, ako znovu povedal, „Obráť sa do Židom 6 a začni čítať.“ A ja som to urobil. A keď to prišlo tam, kde bolo povedané, „Dážď prichádza často na zem, aby ju polial a pripravil, obliekol, pre čo je... ale tŕnie a bodľač, ktoré sú blízko k zavrhnutiu, ktorých koniec má byť spálenie...“ A ja som to zachytil rovno tam.
Pomyslel som si, „Tu to je. Vďaka Bohu. Tu to je.“ Rozumiete?
62No, Ježiš povedal, „Rozsievač vyšiel rozsievať semená,“ či nie? No, všetci ste tu Kresťania. Každý každopádne zodvihol svoje ruky: letniční, znovuzrodení Kresťania. V poriadku, oni... A On povedal, „Rozsievač vyšiel rozsievať semená, a zatiaľ čo zaspal (medzi tým bola jeho smrť), a kým spal, prišiel nepriateľ a zasial na to pšeničné pole kúkoľ.“ Čo je to kúkoľ? Tráva, burina a podobne. Teraz... „A keď hospodár (kazateľ) videl, ako tento kúkoľ rástol, povedal, 'Dovoľ mi, aby som ich vytrhal.' On povedal, 'Nie, nie. Tiež vytrhneš pšenicu. Nech obaja rastú spolu.'“
63Tam vonku je pšeničné pole. Sú tam popínavé rastliny, žihľava, smradľavá burina a všetko ostatné. Je to pravda? Ale teraz, tam je tiež pšenica. No, na zem často prichádza dážď, aby ju polieval. No, na čo je ten dážď? Nie na to, aby polieval žihľavu (No, sledujte to a dávajte pozor), nie na to, aby polieval popínavé rastliny. Dážď je poslaný pre pšenicu, ale žihľava a burina sú práve tak smädné ako pšenica. A ten istý dážď, ktorý padá na pšenicu, padá aj na burinu. A tá mizerná burina bude stáť takto rovno vystretá a bude šťastná a veselá, práve tak, ako malá pšenica povstane a postaví sa. „Ale podľa ich ovocia ich poznáte.“ Tu to máte. Rozumiete?
No, ten istý Duch Svätý môže požehnať pokrytca. To niektorých z vás Arminiánov vyradí, ale to je pravda. To je pravda. Potom hovoríte, že ide o svätosť, pričom tiež verím vo svätosť. Ale ten istý Duch, dážď, padá na spravodlivých aj nespravodlivých, ale podľa ich ovocia ich poznáte.
65Ak sa pozriem sem a pôjdem zobrať pšenicu, vezmem pšenicu, ale burina je celá zviazaná a ona žije v tom istom daždi, ktorý padol na pšenicu. A ten dážď nebol poslaný pre burinu; bol poslaný pre pšenicu. Ale dážď, ktorý bol na poli, pšenica, ktorá bola - burina, ktorá bola na pšeničnom poli, mala z dažďa práve toľko úžitku, ako mali tí ostatní. A ten istý dážď, ktorý spôsobil, že pšenica žila, spôsobil tiež to, že žila burina.
Všetky veci v tom prirodzenom znázorňujú tie duchovné, ako to učíme. Tu to je, démonológia, démoni, ktorí napodobňujú Kresťanstvo, a pritom s požehnaním. To nie je odstredené mlieko, bratia, ak to môžete prijať. Vidíte, vidíte? No, to je pravda.
67A tak, ja dnes nie som spasený kvôli tomu, že môžem vykrikovať. Nie som spasený preto, že by som sa cítil, že som spasený. Som spasený, pretože som splnil Božie podmienky tejto Biblie. Ježiš povedal, „Ten, kto počúva Moje Slová a verí v Toho, ktorý Ma poslal, má večný Život a nepríde do odsúdenia, ale prešiel zo smrti do Života.“ Verím tomu. To je pravda. A na základe tých podmienok som spasený, pretože Boh tak povedal.
Ak by mi povedal, že som spasený, pretože niekto povedal, „Prudký silný vietor mi udrel do tváre,“ to je nádherné, ale chcem vedieť, odkiaľ ten prudký silný vietor prišiel, predtým, ako by ma zasiahol do tváre. Rozumiete? No, aký druh života budeš žiť po tom, čo ťa zasiahol ten mocný silný vietor? Rozumiete? Vidíte, ste poznaní podľa ovocia. A tak, démoni môžu pôsobiť rovno medzi Kresťanmi. Veríte tomu? Pozrite sa na Pavla, Pavol povedal...
69No, tu je to, kde hnutie pozdného dažďa... Ak je tu niekto z vás, odpustite mi, ak niečo hovorím proti vám. Nepovedal by som proti vám o nič viac, ako by som povedal Zhromaždeniam alebo iným, a baptistom alebo komukoľvek inému. Pravda je to, čo je pravda. To miesto, kde ste vybočili, to bolo to, že z tých ľudí robíte prorokov a také veci, pričom to nie sú proroci. Proroci neprichádzajú skrze vzkladanie rúk a vyslanie; proroci sa rodia. Rozumiete? V Biblii je dar proroctva. Tam bola vaša chyba medzi darom proroctva a prorokom. Ten dar...
„Boh v rôznych časoch a rôznymi spôsobmi hovoril k otcom skrze prorokov, v týchto posledných dňoch skrze Svojho Syna Krista Ježiša.“ A Telo Kristovo má v sebe deväť duchovných darov, ktoré pôsobia. A dnes večer to môže byť na tejto žene, proroctvo, a nemusí to na nej byť nikdy po zvyšok jej života. Na ďalší večer to môže byť na tejto žene, nabudúce to môže byť na tomto mužovi, nabudúce to môže byť na tamtej vzadu. To z nej nerobí proroka, nikoho to nerobí prorokom. Je to dar proroctva, ktorý je vo vás.
71A predtým, ako ten človek alebo to proroctvo, môže byť dané cirkvi, musí to byť posúdené pred dvomi alebo tromi duchovnými sudcami. Je to pravda podľa... No, Pavol povedal, „Vy všetci môžete prorokovať jeden po druhom.“ Ak je niečo zjavené tomuto, nech je tamten ticho. No, podľa toho dnešného učenia by to potom z celej tej skupiny urobilo prorokov. Nie, letničná cirkev, všetko máme pokrčené. A to je ten dôvod, prečo Boh nemôže vojsť dovnútra, až kým tú vec nenarovnáme podľa Biblie. To je pravda. Musíte ísť správnou cestou. Ako postavíte dom bez toho, aby ste sa pozreli na plán? Rozumiete? Musíte začať správne.
72No, tam, prorok, nikdy ste nevideli nikoho stáť pred Izaiášom, Mojžišom. Jeden sa jedného dňa postavil, Kórach, a pokúsil sa s ním viesť spor, a Boh povedal, „Oddeľ sa, otvorím zem.“
Prorok sa rodí. Dary a povolania sú bez pokánia. To je predzvedenie Božie už od dieťaťa. Všetko bolo dokonale v poriadku, presne to, čo povedal, bola pravda a potvrdilo sa to a stalo sa to. To je Slovo Božie, ktoré prichádza k prorokovi. Ale dar proroctva je v cirkvi.
73No, povedali ste, „No, proroci sú v Starom Zákone.“ Ó, nie. Nový Zákon mal prorokov.
Agabus bol novozákonný prorok. Pozrite sa na Ducha proroctva, ktorý tam padol a hovoril Pavlovi o... Potom prišiel dolu z Jeruzalema Agabus a našiel Pavla, uviazal si okolo seba jeho pás a obrátil sa a povedal, „TAK HOVORÍ PÁN, ten, kto ho nosil, bude zviazaný reťazami, keď sa dostane do Jeruzalema.“ Agabus, ktorý sa postavil a povedal, predpovedal, čo sa stane, on bol prorok, nie človek s darom proroctva.
A ten dar uzdravenia a všetky tie dary, môj letničný priateľu, ty si to zamiešal. Dary sú v cirkvi, podliehajú akejkoľvek osobe v cirkvi, každému, kto je pokrstený do Tela. „Jedným Duchom sme všetci pokrstení do...“ A Biblia povedala...
„No, ja mám dar uzdravenia.“
No, Biblia hovorí, „Vyznávajte svoje chyby jeden druhému a modlite sa jeden za druhého.“ Nech sa každý človek modlí jeden za druhého. Nie sme rozdelená skupina; sme kolektívna zhromaždená skupina. Rozumiete? No, a to je to, ako niekedy pracujú démoni.
77No, sledujte, čo povedal Pavol, „Ak niekto hovorí v jazykoch a druhý vykladá a čokoľvek povedal, nech je to najprv posúdené, predtým, ako to cirkev môže prijať.“
No, to nebude nejaké citovanie z Písma alebo niečo podobné. Boh sa neopakuje. Ale to bude varovanie pre cirkev. Potom, ak dobrí sudcovia hovoria, „Prijmime to. V poriadku, bolo to od Pána.“ Druhý hovorí, „Prijmime to.“ Nech je každé slovo uznané na ústach dvoch alebo troch svedkov. Potom to cirkev prijme a ide sa na to pripraviť. Ak sa nestane to, čo to povedalo, potom máte medzi sebou zlého ducha. To je pravda. A ak sa to stane, potom ďakujte Bohu, to je Duch Boží medzi vami. Rozumiete? No, to je to, kde musíte dávať pozor a byť opatrní.
Tak sa nesnažte tlačiť. Keď mám modré oči, nemohol by som urobiť, aby som mal hnedé oči. Rozumiete? Musím sa uspokojiť s modrými očami. No, tam je to, kde pracujú démoni v oblasti duchovných ľudí.
79No, máme tu niečo hlboké a dúfam, že to nie je príliš hlboké. No, v 1. Samuelovej 28, chcem tu teraz prečítať nejaké miesto Písma. Chcem, aby ste pozorne počúvali. A chcem ukázať démonov, ukázať vám, ako pôsobia priamo v cirkvi, a ako má satan falzifikát za každú skutočnú vec, čo existuje. No, podľa Biblie môžete vidieť, že démoni prichádzajú medzi Kresťanov a napodobňujú.
A mnohokrát sme vyhlásili ľudí za Kresťanov, keď povedali, „Verím v Ježiša Krista.“ No, diabli veria tomu istému a trasú sa. To neznamená, že ste spasení.
V jednom z týchto večerov sa chcem dostať do vyvolenia, a potom uvidíte, čo znamená spasenie. Rozumiete? To nie je nič, s čím by ste vy mali do činenia na prvom alebo poslednom mieste, alebo nič, čo by ste s tým mohli urobiť. Boh spasí človeka bezpodmienečne. Chlapče, to ide hlboko, či nie? Mohol by som to dostať z vášho systému, keď sme pri tom. V poriadku.
81Abrahám bol počiatkom našej viery. Je to pravda? V poriadku, Abrahám mal zasľúbenie. A predpokladám, že Boh povolal Abraháma kvôli tomu, že bol veľký človek. Nie veru. On prišiel dolu z Babylonu, z krajiny Chaldeov, z mesta Úr, a Boh ho povolal a učinil s ním Svoju zmluvu bezpodmienečne. „Zachránim ťa a nielen teba, Abrahám, ale tvoje semeno,“ bezpodmienečne.
Boh učinil s človekom zmluvu a človek zakaždým porušuje svoju zmluvu. Človek nikdy nedodržal svoju zmluvu s Bohom. Zákon sa nikdy nedodržiaval. Nedokázali dodržať zákon. Kristus musel prísť a Sám zlámal zákon. Pretože milosť už poskytla Spasiteľa, Mojžiš poskytol spôsob úniku, a potom - vlastne únik; a potom ľudia, oni stále chceli niečo robiť. Človek sa vždy snaží urobiť niečo, aby sa zachránil, a pritom to nedokážete. Je to jeho povaha. Hneď, ako zistil, že bol nahý v záhrade Eden, urobil si nejaké zástery z figových listov. Je to pravda? Ale zistil, že nebudú fungovať. Nič, čo človek môže urobiť, vás nemôže spasiť. Boh vás zachraňuje bezpodmienečne, je to tak počas všetkých vekov. A potom, keď ste spasení, ste spasení.
83Pozrite na Abraháma. Tam bol ten človek, išiel tam a Boh mu dal zem Palestíny a povedal mu, aby odtiaľ neodchádzal. Každý Žid, ktorý opustí Palestínu, je odpadnutý. Boh mu povedal, aby tam zostal. Ak ti Boh hovorí, aby si urobil niečo iné, a ty to neurobíš, potom si odpadnutý. Je to pravda? V poriadku, nastalo tam sucho, aby to vyskúšalo Abrahámovu vieru. A namiesto toho, aby tam Abrahám zostal, nie, on tam nemohol zostať, odbehol a vzal Sáru a išiel asi tristo míľ (ak by som mal čas sa k tomu dostať) dolu do inej zeme.
A keď sa dostal tam dolu, potom tam dolu natrafil na tohoto veľkého kráľa, Abimelecha. Bol to mladý človek a hľadal svoju milú, a tak našiel Abrahámovu ženu Sáru a zamiloval sa do nej. A Abrahám povedal, „No, povedz mu, že si moja sestra a ja som tvoj brat.“
A tak, Abimelechovi sa to páčilo, tak povedal, „V poriadku, jednoducho ju vezmeme do hradu.“ A myslím, že tie ženy ju pripravili a on sa s ňou na druhý deň išiel oženiť.
86A Abimelech bol dobrý človek, spravodlivý muž. A tej noci, keď spal, zjavil sa mu Pán a povedal, „Si ako mŕtvy muž.“ On povedal, „Ten muž... Tá žena, ktorú si tam vzal, aby si sa s ňou oženil, ona je ženou iného muža.“ No, sledujte, „Žena iného muža...“
No, on povedal, „Pane, Ty poznáš čestnosť môjho srdca,“ spravodlivý, svätý muž. „Poznáš čestnosť môjho srdca. Ten muž mi povedal, že je to jeho sestra. A či mi ona sama nepovedala, že to je 'môj brat'?“
On povedal, Boh povedal, „Poznal som čestnosť tvojho srdca, a to je ten dôvod, prečo som ťa zadržal, aby si nezhrešil proti Mne. Ale to je Môj prorok.“ Haleluja.
Čím on bol? Odpadnutý a malý klamársky podvodník. Je to pravda? Ó, nie, neexistujú žiadne malé biele klamstvá; sú to buď čierne klamstvá, alebo to vôbec nie sú klamstvá. Ten muž, ktorý tam sedel, hovoril čierne klamstvo a hovoril, že to bola jeho sestra, pričom to bola jeho žena, snažil sa tomu vyhnúť a odpadol.
A tu stál spravodlivý muž pred Bohom a povedal, „Pane, Ty poznáš moje srdce.“
„Ale nevypočujem tvoju modlitbu, Abimelech, ale vezmi ho - vezmi ju späť a nech sa za teba pomodlí on. To je Môj prorok, jeho vypočujem.“ Áno, odpadlík, klamár, „ale to je Môj prorok.“ Je to pravda? To je Biblia.
92No, nechoďte príliš ďaleko tu na kalvinistickú stranu, „raz v milosti, navždy v milosti,“ pretože sa dostanete do hanby. Rozumiete? No, len chvíľu; tento týždeň budeme mať čas, aby sme to priblížili a ukázali, aká je to úroveň. Ale nemyslite si, že len preto, že ste urobili niečo zlé, že ste navždy preč. Si dieťa Božie; si narodený z Ducha Božieho; ste synovia a dcéry Božie a ovocie o sebe vydá svedectvo. Tu to máte.
93No, usádzame sa v tejto zemi. No, chcem tu prečítať šiesty verš.
A keď sa Saul dopytoval Hospodina, Hospodin mu neodpovedal ani skrze sny ani skrze urím ani skrze proroka.
A potom povedal Saul svojim sluhom: Vyhľadajte mi ženu, ktorá má vešteckého ducha vyvolať mŕtvych, a pôjdem k nej a budem hľadať dozvedieť sa skrze ňu.
(No, mohol by som tu niečo položiť, ak by to len...) Vyhľadajte mi ženu, ktorá má vešteckého ducha...
A jeho sluhovia mu povedali: Hľa, žena, ktorá má vešteckého ducha, je v Endore.
Vtedy sa preobliekol Saul, aby ho nepoznali, a obliekol si iné rúcho a išiel on a dvaja mužovia s ním, a prišli k žene vnoci. A povedal: Vešti mi, prosím, vešteckým duchom a vyvolaj mi hore toho, koho ti poviem.
A žena mu riekla: Pozri, ty vieš, čo urobil Saul, že vyplienil veštcov a vedomcov zo zeme! Prečo ty tedy vrháš smečku na moju dušu, aby si ma pripravil o život?
A Saul jej prisahal na Hospodina a povedal: Ako že žije Hospodin, nestihne ťa trest...
Vtedy riekla žena: A kohože ti mám vyvolať? A povedal: Samuela mi vyvolaj hore.
A keď uvidela žena Samuela, skríkla velikým hlasom, a riekla Saulovi: Prečo si ma oklamal, veď si ty Saul!
A kráľ jej povedal: Neboj sa! Ale čo vidíš? A žena odpovedala Saulovi: Bohov vidím vystupovať zo zeme.
A zase jej povedal: Akú má podobu? A riekla: Vystupuje nejaký starý muž a je odiaty plášťom.
A Sam... (To bol ten prorokov plášť, samozrejme, vidíte.)... vtedy poznal, že je to Samuel, a skloniac sa tvárou k zemi poklonil sa.
A Samuel riekol Saulovi: Prečo ma nepokojíš dajúc ma vyvolať hore? Na to povedal Saul: Je mi veľmi úzko, Filištíni bojujú proti mne, a Boh odstúpil odo mňa a neodpovedá mi už ani skrze prorokov ani skrze sny, preto som ťa zavolal, aby si mi oznámil, čo mám robiť.
A Samuel odpovedal: A prečože sa ma ty pýtaš, keď odstúpil od teba Hospodin a stal sa tvojím nepriateľom?
Hospodin si učinil, ako hovoril skrze mňa, lebo Hospodin odtrhol kráľovstvo od teba a vzal ho z tvojej ruky a dal ho Dávidovi...
94Nuž, mnohí z vás sú s týmto oboznámení. No, chceme ísť rovno do toho a ak nám Boh teraz pomôže, aby sme sa na chvíľu do toho dostali. No, sledujte to. Bol tam jeden človek, Saul, ktorý bol kedysi považovaný za proroka, lebo prorokoval s prorokmi. Je to tak, učitelia? No, tu bol ten človek odpadnutý. Je to pravda? Ale pamätajte na miesto, kde Samuel povedal, že bude s ním na ďalší deň, predčasne preč. Rozumiete? V poriadku, ak nebudete brať ohľad na Boha, Boh vás vezme zo zeme.
95Pozrite sa tam v liste Korinťanom, ako dal Pavol tých ľudí do poriadku. Povedal, „Po prvé, ďakujem Bohu za vás, že medzi vami nie sú také veci, a tak ďalej, a to, že vám nechýba žiaden duchovný dar,“ hovoril im o tom, čím boli pozične v Kristovi. Potom na nich začal klepať kladivom a rozprávať im o ich ženách kazateľkách a o tom, ako sa správali a ako jedli pri Pánovom stole. A dokonca jeden muž tam žil so svojou nevlastnou matkou a on povedal tomuto mužovi v Kristovi, „Vydajte ho diablovi na zničenie tela, aby bola spasená duša.“ Vidíte, to je to, vydajte ho. Biblia povedala, „Preto sú medzi vami mnohí chorí a slabí a ľudia spia (odišli predčasne),“ kvôli hriechu. Boh ťa vzal z cesty; to je dobré znamenie, že si bol Kresťanom, ak si bol vzatý.“
96Tak teraz, všimnite si. Tu bol Saul považovaný za jedného z prorokov alebo bol medzi prorokmi, pretože prorokoval. A tak teraz, on odpadol, lebo neposlúchol Boha, a jeho kráľovstvo bolo odtrhnuté z jeho rúk a vložené do rúk Dávida, ktorého Boh pomazal olejom skrze Samuela.
97Všimnite si, potom tam boli tri spôsoby, ktoré mali na to, aby zistili veci od Boha; prvý bol prorok, druhý bol sen a tretí bolo Urím a Thumím. A ani to neodpovedalo. No, viete, čo je prorok, a viete, čo je duchovný sen, a viete, čím bolo to Urím a Thumím. Viete čo, jedného dňa som sa jedného človeka opýtal ohľadom toho Urím, a ten človek mi nedokázal povedať, čím bolo to Urím a Thumím. Samozrejme, to bol Boh, ktorý odpovedal, ale on...
Vidíte, a diabol robí z každej tej veci falzifikát. Čarodejník, falošný prorok a človek, ktorý veští z krištáľu... Vidíte? No, to Urím a Thumím tu viselo na Áronovej hrudi a Urím a Thumím zakrývalo ten kameň. A oni to zavesili do chrámu. A keď si neboli istí, išli pred Boha pre odpoveď a na tom Urím a Thumím sa rozsvietilo svetlo, ktoré - či to bola Božia vôľa alebo nie. No, keď Urím a Thumím neodpovedalo... No, to bola priama odpoveď od Boha. No, Urím a Thumím dneška, veštec vzal krištáľovú guľu, aby to napodobil - falošná vec. Boh je v trojici, Božie sily sú v trojici; a diabol je v trojici a jeho sily sú v trojici. Môžem to dokázať Bibliou. A ten Urím a Thumím bol len krištáľovou guľou, ktorú dnes používa diabol; a ten dnešný falošný prorok, ten, ktorého máme teraz, to bola čarodejnica; alebo tam veštec na diablovej strane zaujal miesto proroka. Rozumiete, čo mám na mysli?
99No, potom to dnešné Urím a Thumím je táto Biblia. Ak niekto vydal proroctvo alebo nejaký sen a to nepasuje, alebo sa to nezhoduje s Božou Bibliou, je to falošné; neverte tomu.
Nedávno za mnou prišiel nejaký človek z Indie, kam sa práve chystám ísť, malý milý kazateľ; a povedal, „Brat Branham, prišiel som sem.“ Povedal, „Jedna žena mala Ducha Svätého,“ a povedal, „ona bola tak veľmi milá a dobrotivá.“ Povedal, „A bola štyrikrát vydatá a žila so svojím štvrtým manželom.“ A ja som povedal, 'No, ako by to mohlo byť, Pane?'“ A povedal ,„Išiel som k Nemu a povedal som, 'Ó, sláva Bohu!' Povedal som, 'Haleluja, chvála Pánovi.'“ Viete, to bol taký druh. Povedal, „Haleluja. Chvála Pánovi.“ Povedal, „Pán ku mne prehovoril. Poviem ti ten sen.“ A povedal, „Snívalo sa mi, že som videl svoju ženu žiť v cudzoložstve. A ona sa ku mne vrátila a povedala, 'Ó, odpustíš mi, Viktor? Odpustíš mi? Ja som ne-...' No, povedal som, 'Iste, odpustím ti a prijmem ťa späť.'“ Povedal, „No, to je to, čo som urobil.“ Povedal, „Vidíš, odpúšťam.“
Povedal som, „Viktor, tvoj sen bol veľmi milý, ale dal ti ho diabol.“
On povedal, „Prečo?“
Povedal som, „To nepasuje s Božím Slovom. Ona žije v cudzoložstve. Absolútne. Nemôže žiť so štyrmi mužmi. To je pravda. Ak ho opustí a vráti sa späť k svojmu prvému, potom je na tom horšie, ako bola na začiatku. Ona musí žiť sama po zvyšok svojho života.“ Povedal som, „Ty to vieš. To nepasuje s Božím Slovom, takže jej - tvoj sen bol falošný.“ A povedal som, „To s Týmto nebude pasovať.“
103A keď mal nejaký prorok proroctvo a oni prehovorili a chceli zistiť, či je to proroctvo pravdivé, umiestnili to pred Urím a Thumím. A ak Hlas Boží rozsvietil svetlá na Urím a Thumím, potom to bol absolút, pravda. A ak človek podáva výklad, dáva sen, dáva niečo z Biblie alebo niečo iné a to sa nezhoduje s Božou Bibliou, potom je to falošné. Tam je to dnešné Urím a Thumím. Božie Slovo hovorí a to je priamy Hlas Boží, ako bol Urím a Thumím predtým, ako bola napísaná Biblia. Amen. Haleluja.
Cítim sa teraz trochu nábožne. A nepovažujte ma za fanatika, ak robíte... Viem, ja viem, kde som. Nie som nadšený. To je pravda.
104Tu je Pravda, Božie Slovo. Je mi jedno, aký si mal sen alebo aké vydávaš proroctvo; ak to nie je Božie Slovo, je to nesprávne, ak sa to nezhoduje s tým Slovom. To je to, v čom je dnes problém: niekto má sen, niekto má videnie; jeden má jazyk; ďalší má zjavenie; je to celé tak zamiešané a všetko také; máte denominácie a všetko ste to rozbili. Mali by ste to priviesť naspäť ku tomu konečnému Základu, a to je Božie Slovo. To je pravda.
Cirkvi budú stavať na jednej veci, povedzme, „Ó, Ježiš prichádza na bielom koni. Viem, videl som Ho vo videní,“ urobia cirkev takého druhu. „Ó, haleluja, On prichádza na oblaku,“ urobia to takýmto spôsobom. Rozdelia sa a oddelia a nazývajú jeden druhého „kanie hniezdo“ a „vší pelech“ a všetko podobné. No, brat, v prvom rade to ukazuje, že tvoje srdce nie je v poriadku s Bohom, keď to robíš. To je pravda. Sme bratia. Musíme držať jeden s druhým. Potrebujeme jeden druhého.
106No, pozrite sa, Saul odpadol a odišiel hore. On... Boh od neho odvrátil Svoju tvár a on odišiel hore a pýtal sa prorokov. Proroci išli a snažili sa prorokovať a Boh to odrezal, nedal mu videnie. Prorok vyšiel a povedal, „Nemôžem, On mi o tebe nepovedal vôbec nič.“
No, potom povedal, „Pane, daj mi sen.“ Noc za nocou neprichádzal žiaden sen.
Potom vošiel ku Urím a Thumím a povedal, „Ó, Bože. Skúšal som prorokov, skúšal som sny, teraz mi pomôž. Urobíš to?“ Odsekol to, nezablysklo sa vôbec žiadne svetlo.
Potom sa uchýlil k čarodejnici, unížený, pokorený, a tak išiel k nej a doplazil sa tam a zamaskoval sa. A táto čarodejnica ide von a vyvoláva ducha Samuela.
No, viem, čo si myslíte, mnohí povedali, „To nebol Samuel.“ Ale Biblia hovorí, že to bol Samuel, a tak to bol Samuel. Zvláštne, ako som to uchopil, že? Ale to bol Samuel; Biblia hovorí, že to bol on.
A tá čarodejnica ho mohla zavolať a ona vyvolala Samuela. A Samuel bol niekde inde, ale bol si vedomý toho, čo sa deje, a stále tam stál oblečený vo svojom prorockom plášti. Tak brat, keď zomrieš, ty nie si mŕtvy; niekde žiješ, niekde inde.
112Dovoľte, aby som sa na chvíľu zastavil, aby som trochu rozobral túto démonológiu. Ona bola démon, ale bola v úzkom kontakte s duchovným svetom. No, aj dnes máme veľa špiritistov, ktorí vedia o duchovnom svete viac ako tí ľudia, ktorí sa prehlasujú za kresťanov, jednako ona je démon. V biblickej dobe to bolo úplne tak isto.
Keď bol Ježiš tu na zemi, boli tu tiež títo profesori, učenci a učitelia, niektorí z tých najlepších vyšli z lepších seminárov, než aké sme dnes schopní vytvoriť. A museli to byť svätí, výreční muži. Ak bol nejaký levita nájdený... Musel byť nájdený bezúhonným a spravodlivým po všetkých stránkach. A predsa taký človek nevedel o Bohu viac než zajac o snežniciach. Keď prišiel Ježiš, on zlyhal a nerozpoznal Ho, nazval Ježiša diablom. Povedal, „On je belzebúb, knieža diablov.“ Je to tak?
114A tu prichádza jeden z najnižších démonov, ktorý držal v putách muža v hroboch, a tak ďalej, a oni kričali, sám ten diabol povedal, „Vieme, kto si. Ty si Syn Boží, ten Svätý.“ Súhlasí to? Čarodejnice a kúzelníci, démoni Ho rozpoznali ako Syna Božieho; zatiaľ čo tí vzdelaní kazatelia z duchovných seminárov Ho mali za belzebúba. Kto mal pravdu, diabol alebo kazateľ? Diabol. A brat, dnes sa na tom takmer nič nezmenilo. Oni nerozpoznali moc Božiu.
115Nezáleží na tom, ako veľa si sa toho naučil, koľko si toho do seba vtĺkol. Boh nie je vo veľkých slovách; Boh je v úprimnom srdci. Môžeš hovoriť alebo spievať veľké slová, ako neviem kto, to ťa iste neprivedie bližšie ku Bohu. Môžeš sa postaviť a nacvičovať, ako zopakovať svoje kázanie a hovoriť tieto veci, ale to ťa neprivedie bližšie ku Bohu. Môžeš sa naučiť slovník, že s ním budeš chodiť spať, a to ťa rovnako neprivedie bližšie ku Bohu. Pokorné, odovzdané srdce v jednoduchosti, to je to, čo ťa k Nemu privedie. To je pravda. Amen. Boh miluje pokorné srdce. No, nezáleží na tom, že nepoznáš abecedu, na tom vôbec nezáleží. Iba pokorné srdce, Boh prebýva v pokornom srdci; nie vo vzdelaní, to nie je v školách, nie v teológii, seminároch, ani na všetkých tých ostatných miestach, ani vo veľkých slovách alebo na znamenitých miestach. Boh prebýva v ľudských srdciach. A čím viac sa ponížiš, čím jednoduchším budeš, tým sa môžeš stať väčším v Božích očiach.
116Dovoľte mi niečo povedať. Vidím tu vaše polia, že sú plné pšenice. Plný klas pšenice sa vždy skláňa. Malá vztýčená stonka, kýva sa ako vševed, tá to nemá v klase. A tak to vyzerá s mnohými ľuďmi, ktorí si myslia, že majú všetko v hlave, ale nemajú nič v srdci. Svätá hlava sa skloní pred mocou, uznáva Ježiša Krista ako Syna Božieho a bude veriť Jeho skutkom. „A On je Ten istý, včera...“
Ó, oni Ho, samozrejme, rozpoznávajú z historického hľadiska. Ale to nie je historická vec. Ľudia sa postavia a povedia, „Ó, verím v Letnice, keď budú mať to veľké vyliatie a podobné veci,“ a maľujú oheň. Mrznúci človek sa nedokáže zohriať pri namaľovanom ohni; namaľovaný oheň nezohreje. To je to, čím oni boli. Čo je to dnes, ak On je ten istý včera, dnes i naveky? To je namaľovaný oheň. Nejaký človek, ktorý zamŕza na smrť, povie, „Pozrite sa na ten veľký oheň, ktorý oni mali.“ No, to ťa nezohreje.
118To, čo urobili na Letnice, to, čo mali v tej ranej Zmluve, to máme aj dnes. A akonáhle Boh dokáže tú vec vyhladiť a Cirkev sa spojí, nastane vytrhnutie. Ale my nedokážeme obdržať ani vieru v Božské uzdravenie, nehovoriac o vytrhnutí, pretože sme celí prekrútení, jeden takto a druhý takto, a „Doktor Taký-a-taký povedal, že to bolo toto. No, môj kazateľ povedal, že On bol toto.“
Pred časom jedna žena povedala, „On je len podvodník.“ Povedala, „Môj kňaz mi to povedal.“ Prial by som si, aby sem jej kňaz raz prišiel; uvideli by sme, kto by bol podvodník. Áno. Uvidíme, kto je podvodník. Príďte to vyskúšať.
120Nedávno sme tu v Harlingene v Texase mali zhromaždenie a oni tam v ten večer mali veľké nápisy na všetkých autách, keď som tam prišiel, hovorili, že tam bola FBI, aby ma odhalili ako podvodníka. A tak, niekde v Texase bolo uzdravené jedno malé dievča; bola tam hore a myslím, že asi tisíc míľ, tam hore pri Panhandle, a toto bolo tam dolu v Harlingene, tam dole na hranici. Prišiel brat Baxter a povedal, „Brat Branham,“ povedal, „nikdy si tam nevidel taký chaos, je tam asi štyri alebo päť tisíc ľudí.“ A povedal, „A potom, všade naokolo, FBI ťa dnes večer chytí na pódiu a odhalia ťa.“
Povedal som, „No, som za to určite rád.“
Povedal, „Poznáš to malé dievča, ktoré bolo minulý večer uzdravené?“
122Vracal som sa domov z... Išiel som do svojej izby a počul som niečo plakať a rozhliadol som sa naokolo. Myslel som si, že to bol možno niekto, kto bol napadnutý. Bolo to dievča. A obzrel som sa; povedal som... A vrátil som sa a povedal som, „Čo sa deje, pani?“
A to boli dve dievčatá, ktoré tam stáli, asi sedemnásť, osemnásťročné, objímali sa, plakali, povedali, „Brat Branham!“ Vtedy som vedel, že ma poznali. Povedala, „My... Priviedla som ju až sem.“ Povedala, „Musí ísť do blázinca.“ A to malé dievča bolo na mojom zhromaždení v Lubbocku v Texase. A povedala, „Vedela som, že ak by som ju sem dostala a pomodlil by si sa za ňu, verím, že Boh by ju uzdravil.“
No, pomyslel som si, „Čo za viera.“ A povedal som, „No, sestra, môžeš ju vziať...“ A hneď potom som povedal, „Prišli ste sem dolu v žltom aute, však?“
Povedala, „Áno.“
A povedal som, „Tvoja matka je postihnutá.“
Povedala, „Je to tak.“
A povedal som, „Ty patríš do metodistickej cirkvi.“
Povedala, „To je úplná pravda.“
A povedal som, „Cestou dolu ste sa takmer prevrátili. Ty a toto dievča ste sa smiali, keď ste išli okolo miesta, kde to bolo napoly betónové a napoly asfaltové, a ty si zatáčala do zákruty.“
Povedala, „Brat Branham, to je pravda.“
Povedal som, „A TAK HOVORÍ PÁN, to dievča je uzdravené.“
Na druhý deň zapálila to mesto, chodila po okolí a všetkým o tom rozprávala. Samozrejme, oni ju tam nepoznali, či vôbec bola v takom stave alebo nie. A potom v ten deň som... Brat Baxter povedal, „Brat Branham,“ povedal, „tie dievčatá sú tam dolu a balia si kufre.“ A toto je jedna vec, o ktorej on nevedel, že o tom viem. Naše financie poklesli. Nikdy som mu nedovolil o tom hovoriť. Ale jedno z tých dievčat v ten predošlý večer vložilo do obetí deväťsto dolárov a položila tie financie na vrch. No, on to dodnes nevedel; ale ja som o tom vedel. Rozumiete? Že ja... Boh mi povedal, že to bude v poriadku.
Brat Baxter povedal, „Brat Branham,“ povedal, „mal by si mi radšej dovoliť urobiť malú výzvu.“ Povedal, „Mali tu niektorých z týchto Božských uzdraviteľov, ktorí to vytiahli od týchto ľudí.“
Povedal som, „Nič. Nie veru, neurobíš to. Brat Baxter, kedykoľvek urobíš takéto potiahnutia o peniaze, to je ten čas, kedy si podáme ruky ako bratia; pôjdem sám.“ Rozumiete? Povedal som, „Nerob to.“ Povedal som, „Boh vlastní dobytok na tisícich pahorkoch a všetko patrí Jemu. Ja patrím Jemu. On sa o mňa postará.“
Povedal, „V poriadku.“
A práve v ten večer povedal, „Brat Branham, pozri sa sem. Niekto... Pozri sa sem. Tu je obálka, na ktorej nie je žiadne meno; je v nej deväťsto dolárových bankoviek, presne to, čo potrebujeme dohnať.“
Povedal som, „Brat Baxter...“
On povedal, „Odpusť mi.“
130Tak potom som vedel, že to bolo to dievča. Tak potom na druhý deň brat Baxter povedal, „Brat Branham, oni sú tam, balia si šaty a plačú.“
Povedal som, „Čo sa deje?“
Povedal, „Radšej by si mal ísť dolu a pozrieť sa na ne.“
A išiel som dolu do izby, kde boli. Povedal som... „V ktorej sú izbe?“ Išiel som tam dolu a zaklopal na dvere. Počul som, ako plačú. Zaklopal som na dvere a to dievča prišlo ku dverám; povedala, „Ó, brat Branham, je mi to tak ľúto.“ Povedala, „Spôsobila som ti všetky tieto problémy.“
Povedal som, „Problémy? Čo sa deje, sestra?“
Povedala, „Ó, kvôli mne ide po tebe FBI.“
A povedal som, „Ó, je to tak?“
Povedala, „Áno.“ Povedala, „Myslím, že som dnes príliš veľa svedčila po meste a všetko také.“
Povedal som, „Nie.“
A ona povedala, „Brat Branham, je tam FBI, sú tam a dnes večer ťa idú odhaliť.“
Povedal som, „No, ak robím niečo zlé, musím byť odhalený.“ Rozumiete? Povedal som, „Iste. Ak je potrebné odhaliť kázanie Evanjelia, urobme to. Rozumiete?“ Povedal som, „Ja žijem podľa tejto Biblie a čo táto Biblia nehovorí... Toto rovno tu je moja Obrana. Vidíte?“ A povedal som, a on...
134Povedala, „No,“ povedala, „je mi ľúto, že som urobila to, čo som urobila.“
Povedal som, „Vôbec nič si neurobila, sestra.“
Povedala, „No, nebojíš sa tam ísť?“
A povedal som, „Nie.“
Povedala, „No, je tam FBI.“
Povedal som, „No, predtým už prišli na moje zhromaždenie a boli spasení.“ Povedal som, „Pán Al Farrar...“
Kapitán Al Farrar, mnohí z vás vedia o jeho obrátení tam hore v Tacoma vo Washingtone, bol spasený priamo na strelnici. Prišiel na zhromaždenie, povedal, „Sledoval som tohto muža dva roky. A počul som o tých financiách, sledoval som to a prešiel som všade.“ A povedal, „To je pravda, dnes večer nepočúvate nejakého fanatika, ale počúvate Pravdu.“ Povedal, „Jeden z mužov policajného zboru, ktorých mám, lekár sa pozrel na jeho dieťa a poslali ho cez modlitebný rad,“ a povedal, „tomu dieťaťu bolo presne povedané, čo s ním je a čo sa stalo. A on povedal, 'Za osem dní bude naspäť v škole, prípad obrny.'“ A povedal, „Na ôsmy deň sa to dieťa vrátilo do školy.“ Povedal, „Sledoval som ho dva roky,“ pred desaťtisíc ľuďmi. Tam je to všetko; je tam fotka z toho zhromaždenia v Seattli vo vašej knihe. Povedal, „Chcem, aby ste všetci vedeli, že nepočúvate nejakého náboženského šarlatána, ale počúvate Pravdu.“ Kapitán Al Farrar. A na druhý deň som ho priviedol k Bohu a on prijal krst Duchom Svätým, tam dolu na strelnici, na tom veľkom mieste.
137Povedal som, „Možno tento človek urobí to isté.“
Tak ona povedala, „Bojíš sa tam ísť?“
Povedal som, „Či sa bojím? No, iste nie. Určite nie. Prečo by som sa mal báť, keď ma Boh poslal, aby som to robil? To je On, ktorý bojuje tú bitku, nie ja.“ Tak som povedal, „No, chcem, aby ste sa všetci držali ďalej.“ A tak som...
Išli sme v ten večer na zhromaždenie; to miesto bolo preplnené. A ten správca tam vyšiel a povedal, „Reverend Branham, najal som desať mexických detí.“ Povedal, „Pozri sa sem, 'Reverend Branham má byť dnes večer odhalený FBI, náboženský fanatik,'“ alebo niečo podobné. A povedal, „Je to tam vonku na každom jednom z tých áut.“ Povedal, „Najal som desať malých mexických detí, aby to všetko strhli dole a dali to sem.“ Povedal, „Ó, cítim, že keby som toho chlapíka dochytil...“
Povedal som, „Netráp sa, pane. Boh ho dochytí.“ Rozumiete? Povedal som, „Nechaj ho tak.“
140Tak som pokračoval. A keď sme tam v ten večer prišli, nikdy na to nezabudnem, vošiel som do tej miestnosti. Brat Baxter spieval „Len ver.“ Povedal, „No, brat Branham hovorí, aby sme dnes večer opustili budovu.“ Povedal, „Idem naspäť dozadu a sadnem si tam.“ Povedal, „Dnes večer sa ho tu na pódiu chystajú odhaliť.“ Povedal, „Videl som ho v mnohých tvrdých bojoch a videl som, ako sa za to Boh postavil.“ Povedal, „Idem naspäť a sadnem si tam.“
Vystúpil som tam a povedal som, „Práve som tu čítal jeden článok, kde sa písalo, že dnes večer mám tu na pódiu byť odhalený.“ Povedal som, „Chcem, aby teraz prišli agenti FBI a aby ma tu hore na pódiu odhalili.“ Povedal som, „Stojím tu na obranu Evanjelia; chcem, aby ste ma prišli odhaliť.“ A čakal som. Povedal som, „Možno tu ešte nie sú.“ Vedel som, kde stojím. On mi už predtým ukázal v mojej izbe, čo sa bude diať, predtým, ako som odišiel. Rozumiete? A povedal som, „Možno ešte trochu počkám. Môžeme zaspievať pieseň?“ A niekto prišiel a zaspieval sólo.
142Povedal som, „Pán agent z FBI, ste vo vnútri alebo vonku? Čakám na odhalenie. Prišli by ste?“ Nikto neprišiel. Stále som bol zvedavý, kde to je. Pán mi povedal, čo to bolo. Boli to dvaja odpadlícki kazatelia a ja som to sledoval. Videl som, ako v rohu visel čierny tieň. Vedel som, kde to je. Pozrel som sa tam a to sa pohlo rovno hore a vyšlo to takto na balkón. Muž v modrom obleku, druhý v šedom.
Povedal som, „Priatelia, to nie je žiadna FBI. Čo má FBI spoločné s kázaním Biblie?“ Povedal som, „Určite nie. Neboli to dvaja agenti FBI, ktorí ma mali odhaliť. Ale tu je to odhalenie; sedia rovno tam hore, tí dvaja kazatelia, ktorí tam sú.“ A oni sa skrčili. Povedal som, „Nekrčte sa takto.“ A dvaja z nich, veľkí Texasania, oni tam išli, aby ich chytili. Povedal som, „Nie, bratia, toto nie je záležitosť tela a krvi, len seďte. Boh sa o to postará.“
144Povedal som, „No, bratia, pozrite, kým ste tam hore, pozrite sa sem.“ Povedal som, „Ak... Povedali ste, že som Šimon, ten čarodejník; že som ľudí očaril pomocou čarodejníctva.“ Povedal som, „Ak som čarodejník Šimon, potom vy ste mužovia Boží. No, poďte dolu na toto pódium a ak som čarodejník Šimon, nech ma Boh usmrtí. A ak som Boží prorok, poďte dolu a nech Boh usmrtí vás. No, uvidíme, kto má pravdu a kto sa mýli. No, príďte dolu. Zaspievame pieseň.“ Odišli preč z tej budovy a odvtedy sme ich už nikdy nevideli. Vidíte? Povedal som, „Poďte, ak som čarodejník Šimon, nech ma Boh usmrtí, a ak som Boží prorok, keď prídete na toto pódium, potom Boh usmrtí vás. Ak som pravdivý pred Bohom, potom Boh dá, že na tomto pódiu zomriete.“ Oni to veľmi dobre vedeli. To je pravda. Veľmi dobre to vedeli. Počuli o tom z iných miest. To je pravda. Tak nikdy si nemyslite, že Boh nie je stále Bohom; On odpovedá.
145No, táto čarodejnica z En-Doru vyvolala ducha Samuela a Saul sa rozprával so Samuelom. No, možno sa divíte, ako by sa to dalo urobiť. To sa dnes nedá urobiť. Nie veru, pretože krv býkov a kozlov bola len očakávaním na čas naplnenia. Keď v tých dňoch nejaký človek zomrel... Kazatelia, podporte ma, ak si myslíte, že je to správne. Keď zomrel nejaký človek, zomrel pod zmierením zvieraťa a jeho duša odišla do raja. A tam zostal až do dňa vykúpenia. A jeho duša tam bola.
146Dovoľte, aby som vám tu načrtol malý obraz. Koľkí z vás čítali môj článok alebo článok, ktorý o mne napísali tu v Reader's Digest, v čísle z októbra alebo novembra? V poriadku. Všimli ste si, ako to bolo? Všimli ste si, ako asi dva alebo tri týždne pred tým, toto veľké známe médium, ktoré bolo už dávno overené, ona, pani Piperová... Rozumiete? Čítali ste to niekedy, článok pani Piperovej v Reader's Digest? Nie je to divné, ako tie dva duchy...
Koľko mám času? Už len trochu. Už je po dvadsiatej, budem sa musieť poponáhľať. Viem, že máte... Pozrite, prepáčte mi na chvíľu.
148Viete, tam je tá falošná vec. Pri všetkom existuje to pravdivé a to falošné. Ak vám dám dolár a poviem, „Je toto dobrý dolár?“ A vy by ste sa na to pozreli; to by muselo vyzerať skoro ako skutočný dolár, inak by ste tomu neverili. Je to pravda? Tak to bude musieť byť skutočne dobrá napodobenina.
A ak Ježiš povedal, že tie dva duchy v posledných dňoch budú tak blízko, že by to zviedlo aj vyvolených, ak by to bolo možné, nábožných ľudí. No, pamätajte. No, tam vonku v tom chladnom a formálnom nie je nič; oni majú len formu pobožnosti. Rozumiete? Ale tieto dva duchy sú skutočnými duchmi; bude to tak blízko, až by to zviedlo aj tých vyvolených, ako to v posledných dňoch pracovalo bok po boku. Povedal to Ježiš? On to povedal.
150No, sledujte, priatelia, nakreslím vám malý obrázok; chcem, aby ste sa tu na chvíľu pozreli. A venujte mi svoju nerušenú pozornosť, pretože vám poviem podobenstvo a potom to uvidíte.
No, v Reader's Digest je to napísané. Stál som tam. Mali sme tam 2700 ľudí, ktorí čakali, kým sa za nich pomodlíme, a stáli tam. Čítali ste ten článok. A prišiel jeden muž z Kanady a mal malého chlapca, ktorý bol na klinike Mayo a u Johna Hopkinsa, vážna choroba mozgu, ktorá mu takto stiahla tie malé ruky a stiahla mu nohy a povedali, „Nedá sa vykonať operácia, ani sa nedá urobiť nič iné. “
152A tak ho vzal späť do Kanady. Povedal, „Ešte nie som porazený.“ Dostanete novembrové číslo Reader's Digest a nazýva sa to „Zázrak Donnyho Mortona.“ A potom povedal, že ten človek, ktorý povedal, „Ešte nie som porazený, pretože poznám liečiteľa viery, ktorý sa volá William Branham, ktorý spôsobil, že dvaja z mojich priateľov, ktorí boli hluchí a nemí, začali rozprávať a počuť.“
A zavolali, aby sa pokúsili zistiť, kde som bol v Amerike. A bol som tam v Costa Mesa v Kalifornii. A ak... Ten článok, keď ho čítate, pripravte sa na plač. To vám jednoducho zlomí srdce, ako s tým dieťaťom prechádzal cez snehové záveje a všetko také. Povedal, „Buď opatrný, Donny.“ Povedal, „No, my nie sme porazení.“ A ten malý chlapec sa ani nemohol usmievať; bol tak postihnutý. Povedal, „Nie sme porazení; ideme prosiť Boha. Pôjdeme k Božiemu prorokovi a budeme ho prosiť.“
154Tak potom prešli cez sneh. A nakoniec tam dorazili a tá matka išla s nimi a oni nemali dosť peňazí, aby mohli ísť lietadlom, tak poslali matku späť a ten chlapec a otec museli prísť v autobuse a ako išli až z Winnipegu v Kanade do Costa Mesa v Kalifornii. A vošli tam, zničení, a ten otec hovorí o tom, že musel prebaľovať tie malé plienky, ten malý chlapec, asi sedem alebo osemročný, úplne bezmocný. A ako na tom bol, nemal šancu ani jesť, ani nič, a povedal, že jeho malý chlapec ho mohol len počuť rozprávať a on mohol podľa toho, ako vyzerali jeho oči, povedať, že sa snažil usmievať, viete, a vedel, že mu rozprával o rôznych výhľadoch, ktoré videl v Amerike.
155A keď prišli tam do Kalifornie, povedali tomu poradcovi pre cestovateľov, na čo sa prišiel pozrieť. Povedal, „Prišli ste vidieť Božského „čo“?“ A veľký otáznik.
Samozrejme, viete si predstaviť, čo o tom povedala Amerika. Rozumiete? Vidíte, to sme my. Rozumiete? „Sme takí múdri. Vieme všetko, viete, a netreba nám nič hovoriť. Všetko to máme zapísané.“ Rozumiete?
Tak potom, tak, „Božského 'čo'? Prišli ste celú cestu až z Winnipegu v Kanade?“ No, oni si mysleli, že to je hrozné.
158Každopádne noviny vybavili auto a poslali ho tam. A povedal, keď sa dostali do toho radu, kde to bolo, povedal, že 2700 ľudí čakalo na to, aby sa za nich modlili. Ale povedali, že keď videli toho malého zdeformovane-vyzerajúceho chlapca a toho úbohého ocka s čiapkou a otrhaným kožuchom, povedali, že každý len odstúpil a dal mu svoje miesto. Keď dorazil na pódium...
Je to v rozpore s pravidlami, aby ste si vymenili modlitebnú kartu. Niekto musí prísť na zhromaždenie a vziať si vlastnú kartu. Ak to niekedy zachytili v rade, že si zamieňali modlitebné karty za niekoho iného, taká modlitebná karta je zamietnutá. Rozumiete? Pretože musíte prísť, vypočuť si pokyny a vedieť, ako ich získať. Je to na vás. Nemôžete to zohnať pre niekoho iného. Musíte prísť, získať to sami, tak to počuť. Nejaká veľká osoba povedala, „Ak, no, ja v túto vec moc neverím, ale možno, ak ma uzdraví, ja...“ Vidíte? A potom to spôsobí na pódiu rozruch, a tak tú vec jednoducho vyradia skôr, ako sa tam dostane.
160Tak, keď ten chlapec vyštartoval, alebo ten otec začal vychádzať na pódium pred ľuďmi, Billy ho požiadal o jeho modlitebnú kartu. On žiadnu nemal. Povedal, „Potom je mi to ľúto, pane.“ Povedal, „Budeš musieť počkať.“
Povedal, „V poriadku.“ Povedal, „Počkám.“ Povedal, „Dostanem sa potom na rad ako ostatní.“ Povedal, „Nevedel som, že toto musím urobiť.“
A tak som sa s niekým rozprával; náhodou som to počul. Videl som toho otca odchádzať a povedal som, „Čo sa stalo?“
Povedal, „Nemal modlitebnú kartu.“
A Niečo mi povedalo, „Priveď ho naspäť.“
Tak som povedal, „Priveď ho sem.“ A ten otec vystúpil a slzy mu stekali po tvári, potreboval sa oholiť a... A on vyšiel hore a tu je Reader's Digest, kde je povedané... Nepýtal som sa žiadne otázky, ale pozrel som sa rovno do tváre toho dieťaťa, povedal som tomu dieťaťu, odkiaľ je; bolo na klinike Mayo; a všetko o tom, čo sa s ním dialo, aké bolo choré a všetko ostatné.
164A povedali, že ten otec začal plakať a začal odchádzať. A povedal, že začal odchádzať z pódia a otočil sa a povedal, „To je pravda, pane.“ Povedal, „Ale bude moje dieťa vôbec žiť?“
Povedal som, „To nemôžem povedať.“ Povedal som, „Len chvíľu.“ Videl som, ako sa zjavilo videnie. Povedal som, „Tomu nebudete chcieť veriť, pretože klinika Mayo a Hopkins, obaja povedali, že operácia na tom mozgu nemohla byť vykonaná, ale poviem vám, čo urobíte. Vy, zajtra choďte s týmto dieťaťom. Počas nasledujúcich troch dní stretnete na ulici čiernovlasú ženu a tá žena sa vás opýta, čo sa deje s tým dieťaťom. A potom vám povie o nejakom malom vidieckom lekárovi, ktorý tu môže vykonať tú operáciu a nebudete tomu chcieť veriť, pretože klinika Mayo to odmietla a povedali, že to nie je možné urobiť. Ale to je jediná šanca, ktorú vaše dieťa má, skrze moc Božiu, milosrdenstvo Božie a tú operáciu. No, ak veríte, že som Jeho prorokom, choďte a urobte, ako vám hovorím. Ako položenie tých fíg na Ezechiáša, a tak ďalej.
On povedal, otočil sa a povedal, „Ďakujem,“ odišiel.
166Prešli dva alebo viac dní a on bol jedného dňa na ulici a prišla tam jedna pani a povedala, „Čo sa deje s tvojím dieťaťom?“
Povedal, „Má chorobu mozgu.“ A on takto pokračoval a rozprával. A, no, oni si mysleli, že to bolo hrozné, viete.
Tak on povedal, že za pár minút sa niečo stalo. Povedala, „Pane, poznám niekoho, kto môže vykonať tú operáciu.“
Povedal, „Pani, pozri, na klinike bratov Mayových sa toho vzdali a povedali, že sa to nedá urobiť.“ Povedal, „Jeden človek sa tu hore za to modlil, volá sa brat Branham.“ Povedal, „On sa pomodlil za to dieťa.“ Povedal, „Počkaj chvíľu. Čiernovlasá v šedom kabáte.“ Povedal, „To je ona.“ Povedal, „Kde je ten lekár?“ A ona mu to povedala. Vzala ho tam hore a ten lekár vykonal operáciu; to dieťa sa uzdravilo.
170No, to prichádza cez Reader's Digest. Rozumiete? A klinika bratov Mayových ma kvôli tomu zavolala na rozhovor. Povedali, „Reverend Branham, čo ste urobili tomu dieťaťu?“
Povedal som, „Nič, vôbec som sa ho nedotkol. Povedal som len to, čo mi Boh povedal, aby som to povedal. Ten človek to poslúchol.“
No, tá zábavná vec ohľadom toho, asi dva týždne po tom, alebo dva týždne pred tým, alebo tri, možno o mesiac skôr, tu v Reader's Digest je článok pani Piperovej. No, ona je skutočná čarodejnica alebo médium. No, tu je niekto skutočný a tam je niekto, kto napodobňuje. Mali tú ženu od roku 1897. Teraz má viac ako sto rokov v New Yorku, obe sú hluché ako stĺp. Reader's Digest... Myslím, že to prišlo asi dva mesiace alebo mesiac pred tým mojím, a môžete si to vyhľadať: začiatok jesene. Pán Baxter to tu minule mal. Ak by som na to myslel, povedal by som mu... Ak by som vedel, že toto poviem, mal by som to so sebou. A môžem to pre vás zohnať. A má to asi dvanásť alebo štrnásť strán. Bola to len obyčajná žena v domácnosti. A jedného dňa, keď bola v utrpení, upadla do tranzu a začala hovoriť k mŕtvym. A oni tú ženu vodili všade po svete. Vzali ju do Anglicka. Dokonca sa mnohokrát prezliekla, aby sa zistilo, či tam nie je nejaký podvod a podobne, a prišli tam a zamaskovali niekoho s maskou na tvári, nejakého Gréka, a pretvaroval sa, akoby bol Angličanom. A ona mu o tom všetko povedala. A on chcel vyvolať jednu zo svojich mŕtvych partneriek.
173No, tá jediná vec, ktorú ona... Po celom svete, a tu je to v Reader's Digest, bolo tam povedané, pred pár dňami alebo pred pár mesiacmi, jedna z tých vecí bola odhalená. Istý muž mal bozkávať duchovný prízrak ruky svojej matky a na ďalší deň bolo na policajnom súde dokázané, že bozkával len kúsok gázového obväzu. Mnoho ľudí, ktorí sa vydávajú za nejaké médium, sú len títo malí podvodníci, ktorí sedávajú na okraji ulice, ktorí od začiatku nie sú žiadnymi médiami. Nie sú ničím iným ako falošnými imitátormi. Ale existuje skutočné médium.
A my, nábožní ľudia, máme veľa napodobovateľov na oboch stranách. No, vydržte chvíľu v kľude.
175No, všimnite si. Tá pani Piper je skutočné médium. A v tom časopise povedali, „Tu je jedna vec, ktorou si môžeme byť istí, že keď nejaký človek zomrie, nie je mŕtvy; on niekde žije, pretože tá žena volá ich ducha naspäť a hovorí ku ľuďom.“
„No, čo ona robí, brat Branham? Veríš tomu?“ Tak veru. Biblia tak hovorí; to je dôvod, prečo tomu verím. A ona je z diabla. Špiritizmus je diablov trik. No, všimnite si, teraz ich oboch sledujte.
A potom ste mali vidieť, ako na mňa prileteli listy, keď za jej článkom nasledoval môj článok. Či to nie je divné, že tesne pred koncom času tieto veci povedal Boh a Reader's Digest to vydal v každom jazyku pod nebom. Rozumiete? Všimnite si, nie je to divné, že jeden nasledoval ten druhý?
178No, tu prichádzajú listy, ktoré hovoria, „Brat Branham, to dokazuje, že nie si nič iné ako médium.“ Povedali, „Týmto sa to dokazuje. Pozri sa sem; povedal si tej žene, kde nájde... Pozri sa na túto ženu?“
Povedal som, „Počkajte chvíľu. Dostal som oficiálny list,“ prepáčte mi, „aby som ho poslal ľuďom.“ Povedal som, „Ako málo vy kazatelia viete.“ Povedal som, „Namiesto krstenia svojho tela potrebujete, aby boli pokrstené vaše mozgy.“ To je pravda. Neprestávate premýšľať o veciach. Nesnažte sa o tom uvažovať.
To je to isté, ako to robili aj v iných dňoch. Videli Ježiša; vedeli, že On môže... že poznal tajomstvá ich srdca. On vedel, čo robia. A oni povedali, „On je náčelník diablov; on je Belzebub, najlepší veštec na svete.“ Nezastavili sa, aby sa to snažili pochopiť, aby videli, že to je Syn Boží. Neboli dostatočne duchovní, aby to vedeli. To je to. Prehliadli to. Iste, Ježiš mal prísť do Jeruzalema jazdiac na mulici, a tak ďalej, ale oni sa na to dívali ako na druhý príchod.
181A takisto je to dnes, oni prehliadajú tú skutočnú vec. Haleluja. To je pravda. Viem, že Boh je tu dnes popoludní a viem, že vám beriem veľa času, ale musíte to vidieť, priatelia. Ak vás už nikdy neuvidím, musíte vedieť, čo sú démoni, a musíte poznať, čo je pravda a blud. A je to tak blízko, musíte tú vec oddeliť.
No, pamätajte, nebude to tam vonku, niečo tam na tejto strane ako farizeji, alebo niečo tam na tej strane. Je to rovno tu vo dverách, rovno pri nich. Sledujte to. No, ak by som vzal...
183Zoberme tie dva prípady. Keby som vzal a podal vám dolár... No, ak vám dám falošný dolár (Použijeme podobenstvo, aby ste to mohli vidieť.), prvá vec, ktorú by ste urobili, ak ste chytrým človekom, ak vezmete dolár a pozriete sa na to, tá prvá vec, ohmatáte ho a uvidíte, z čoho je vyrobený. Je to pravda? Pozriete sa na to, z čoho je to vyrobené. Pozriete sa na jeho hodnotu. Skutočný dolár nie je vyrobený z papiera; je to čiastočne z papiera a z hodvábu. Rozumiete? A prvá vec, budete sa musieť pozrieť na jeho hodnotu. To je prvý náznak.
A teraz, vezmime ju na túto stranu a vezmime Pána, ktorý s nami koná, na tamtú stranu.
185No, pozrite, prvá vec, ktorú si musíte všimnúť, všetko... Sledujte jej článok. Za tých približne päťdesiat rokov jej veštenia a vzývania duchov mŕtvych, ona ani raz nespomenula Boha, Krista, Božské uzdravenie, vyslobodenie, súd, ani nič také. Nie je v tom nič iné, než žarty a bláznovstvo.
Ale na tejto strane je to neustále Boh, súd, príchod Ježiša, Božské uzdravenie, moc Božia, vyslobodenie. Pozrite sa na hodnotu tejto veci. Nevidíte veštcov a čarodejnice, ktoré by tam vonku kázali Evanjelium. Čo sa deje s ľuďmi? Ó. Všimnite si.
187A tá skutočná vec, ktorú musíte urobiť, ak chcete zistiť, či je to skutočný dolár alebo nie, ak to vyzerá tak veľmi podobne, vezmite z neho tie čísla a pošlite to naspäť do mincovne. A ak sú tam čísla, ktoré tomu zodpovedajú, čaká tam strieborný dolár. Je to pravda?
No, potom, brat, vezmi to, čo urobila, a zober to naspäť do Biblie, zistíš, že je to čarodejnica z Endor.
A vezmite to, čo je tu, nájdete to naspäť, je to tu v Knihe, tu v Mincovni: Ježiš Kristus, Ten istý včera, dnes a naveky, iste, Jeho rovnaké dielo. On nechodil a nerobil hlúposti a nezmysly s ľuďmi. Bolo to na niečo dobré, aby to niekomu pomohlo, aby ich priviedol k Bohu. Amen! Nehovorím amen samému sebe, ale 'amen' znamená 'nech je tak.' A ja tomu verím. Viem, že je to pravda.
190No, všimnite si, tu to máte. No, teraz rýchlo, pretože vás už nechcem viac držať.
Ukážme tu malý obraz, malý obraz v mysli. Tu je prameň, ktorý vedie priamo sem, priamo dolu touto cestou, prechádza dolu životom (No, sledujte, ako to tečie. Venujte mi teraz svoju nerušenú pozornosť, aby ste toto neprehliadli.), takto rovno dolu. No, tu v tomto malom kanáli prebývajú smrteľné bytosti, vy a ja. A teraz, pozrime sa, čo to je. Je to hromada hlúposti a všetkého možného, ale raz za čas uvidíte svetlo. Vidíte čiernotu a pruhy; to je veselosť a vyvádzanie, diabli získavajú ľudí. Ó, tí ľudia sú pekne oblečení, ó, a veľmi kultivovaní, ako len môžu byť, vyleštení učenci, ale stále to je diabol. Ale tam je znovuzrodený, ktorý je tam umiestnený.
192No, títo ľudia sú v tomto kanáli ovplyvňovaní z dvoch rôznych strán. No, na tejto strane, ktorá ide touto cestou, tam je trojica. A na tejto strane, ktorá ide tamtou cestou, tam je trojica.
No, pričom, teraz tu na prvom mieste na tejto strane, tam sú duše nespravodlivých. Keď človek zomrie, ide na miesto, kde čaká na súd. Ježiš išiel a kázal ku tým dušiam, ktoré tam boli v žalári. To ďalšie sú démoni. To ďalšie je diabol a peklo. Smerom hore, prvý... No, tam sú duchovia, duchovia mŕtvych ľudí, ktorí nikdy nečinili pokánie. Čakajú na súd. Jediná vec, ktorú vedia, je bláznovstvo a to, čo vykonali.
No, tu hore, títo Kresťania sú ovplyvnení zhora. Toto je podobenstvo. Tu hore je iný Duch, Duch Svätý, Duch Človeka, Krista Ježiša. Duch Svätý, Duch Svätý ovplyvňuje Svoju Cirkev v tejto sfére smrteľníkov.
Diabol týmito duchmi ovplyvňuje ľudí. No, pozrite, to ďalšie sú Anjeli. To ďalšie je Boh. No, každý smrteľník je ovplyvnený jedným z týchto svetov. Vidíte, čo mám na mysli?
196No, to, čo tá žena urobila, ona vnikla do tej sféry a rozpráva sa s tými ľuďmi posadnutými démonmi, ktorí začínali... duchovia tých padlých anjelov, ktorí tam na začiatku nečinili pokánie a dovolili, aby boli nimi ich bytosti posadnuté, a čakajú na súd.
A títo tu sú ovplyvňovaní a znovuzrodení skrze Ducha Božieho. A diabol má svojich prorokov a Boh má Svojich. Rozumiete, čo mám na mysli? Je to vplyv a tam ideme. Prestaňte to oddeľovať. Ježiš, keď bol tu na zemi...
No, On by sa dnes nemohol dostať do tej sféry a dostať von z tej sféry spravodlivých ľudí; nemohol by to urobiť, pretože spravodliví ľudia nie sú tam, kde zvykli byť v raji. Nie veru. Raj bol odstránený, keď to odobrala Krv Ježiša. Pozrite sa sem. Ó!
199Ak by som mohol pomyslieť na to, ako Ježiš, keď zomrel, odišiel a kázal dušiam, ktoré boli v žalári. On zomrel ako hriešnik, nepoznajúc žiaden hriech, a predsa náš hriech bol na Ňom. A Boh Ho za Jeho hriechy poslal do pekla. Biblia hovorí, že On odišiel a kázal dušiam.
Niektorí ľudia hovoria, „Brat Branham, nerozumiem tomu.“ Niekto povedal, „Ježiš vstal tretieho dňa. On zomrel v piatok popoludní a vstal v nedeľu ráno, no, On bol mŕtvy len jeden deň.“
On povedal, „V priebehu toho času.“ Lebo On mal v Biblii jedno Písmo, na ktorom mohol stáť. Lebo Dávid, človek, ktorý neskôr odpadol, ale on bol spasený, ale prorok pod Božou inšpiráciou povedal, „Nezanechám Jeho dušu v pekle, ani nenechám, aby Môj Svätý videl porušenie.“ A On vedel, že to telo sa dostane do porušenia v priebehu troch dní a nocí, a Boh to povedal prorokovi, „On neuvidí porušenie.“ ...?... [Prázdne miesto na páske. - pozn.prekl.]
201Haleluja. On vzal Božie Slovo. On s Tým zakaždým porazil satana. Porazil smrť na základe Slova Božieho. Haleluja. Porazil smrť. A keď Ho zabili a On zomrel ako hriešnik, moje hriechy a tvoje hriechy boli na Ňom; odišiel dolu; vidím Ho, ako tam klope na tie dvere.
A tie stratené duše vyšli a povedali, „No, kto si?“
Povedal, „Prečo ste nepočúvali Enocha? Prečo ste nepočúvali tých ostatných prorokov, ktorí kázali?“ Boli odsúdení. „Ja som Syn Boží, ktorý raz žil. Ja... Moja Krv bola preliata. Prišiel som vám to povedať; vyplnil som to, čo proroci povedali, že urobím.“ Priamo nadol, okolo démonov, rovno do pekla, keď vzal kľúče smrti a pekla preč od diabla, zavesil ich na Svoj bok a vyštartoval naspäť hore. Haleluja.
Začínalo prichádzať ráno. Haleluja. Poďme si tu nakresliť malý obraz. Skoro ráno tu v raji leží iná skupina. Teraz tam nie sú.
204No, vy, dobrí katolícki priatelia, ktorí veríte v prímluvu ku svätým, ak hovoríte so svätým vo vašej cirkvi, ten človek je hriešnik; on je v pekle, alebo tam čaká na svoj súd. A ak bol svätý, je v sláve Božej a nemôže sa vrátiť naspäť. To je pravda. Môžem to dokázať. Krv býkov neodstránila hriech, ale Ježišova Krv urobila rozvod s hriechmi.
205Vidím, ako Ježiš išiel tam hore do raja, tam je starý Abrahám, Izák a Jákob a oni tam, Samuel a všetci ostatní, ktorí tam sú. Môžem Ho počuť zaklopať na dvere. [Brat Branham klope na kazateľňu. - pozn.prekl.] Amen. Ó, toto milujem. To ma dáva do poriadku, cítim sa teraz trochu nábožne.
Môžem Ho vidieť, ako sa tam díva, a počuť, ako hovorí, „Kto je tam vonku? Kto je tam?“ On povedal, „Ja...“ Toto hovorí Abrahám. „Kto to je?“
„Ja som Semeno Abrahámovo.“ Amen. Môžem vidieť Abraháma, ako prichádza ku dverám a otvára dvere. Povedal, „Ja som Semeno Abrahámovo.“
Daniel povedal, „Pozrite sem. Tam je ten Kameň, ktorý som videl odseknutý z hory.“
Môžem počuť, ako ľudia hovoria, „Tam On je. Videl som Ho, ako tam bol prach pod Jeho nohami, oblaky sa pohybovali, keď barani... listy tlieskali rukami a všetci kričali.“ Ó, môžem vidieť tých rôznych ľudí v raji, ako na Neho čakajú.
208Môžem Ho počuť povedať, „Poďte. V Jeruzaleme začína svitať; musíte odtiaľto odísť. Ideme hore, lebo vy ste sa spoliehali na krv býkov a kôz, čakajúc na ten čas, kedy príde Moja Krv. Ale Moja Krv bola preliata tam na Golgote. Ja som stelesnený Syn Boží. Všetky dlhy za hriech sú zaplatené; sme na ceste von.“ Haleluja. Sláva Bohu.
Vidím, ako Abrahám chytil Sáru za rameno a tu oni idú, rovno von. V Matúšovi 27, keď vyšiel, počujem ho, ako sa trochu zastavil v tamojšom Jeruzaleme. A prvá vec, ktorú viete, môžem vidieť, ako starý Kaifáš a oni stoja na ulici a hovorí, „Hovoria mi, že ten chlapík vstal... Počuj, kto je ten chlapík, ktorý tam ide, ten mladý muž, to mladé dievča?“
Už nie je starý; to bol Abrahám a Sára. A zmizli. Pozreli sa, „Niekto nás sleduje.“ Oni mohli zmiznúť práve tak, ako On prešiel cez múr, ten istý druh tela. Haleluja. To je pravda. Tu sú všetci proroci a ostatní, prechádzajú sa a obzerajú si mesto.
A Ježiš ich viedol rovno hore, alebo hore poza hviezdy, mesiac, oblaky a zajal zajatie, dal ľuďom dary. Ježiš dnes sedí po pravici Otca, vyliezol tam hore, posadil sa, až sa všetci Jeho nepriatelia stanú podnožou Jeho nohám.
212A dnes, môj drahý kresťanský priateľ, démoni pracujú na každej strane. A Boží Duch sa posúva na druhej strane, aby proti tomu zakaždým pôsobil. Haleluja. Tu to máte. Vyhlasujú to noviny a časopisy a všetko ostatné. Oni to sledujú, nemôžu vidieť, čo to je. Čo je to? Je to predobraz toho veľkého zúčtovania, ktoré prichádza veľmi skoro medzi Bohom a diablom. Choďte na Božiu stranu a buďte priami v srdci. Amen.
213Nedávno som tu bol na zhromaždení v Toledo v štáte Ohio. Idem zakončiť.
Vidíte, čo mám na mysli ohľadom démonov? Oni pracujú. Sú veľmi nábožní, práve tak nábožní... Ó, chodia do cirkvi každú nedeľu, opakujú apoštolské vyznanie viery a spievajú 'doxológiu', ó, práve tak nábožní, ako len môžu byť. „Brat Branham, chceš tým povedať, že je to pravda?“
To je ten druh ducha, ktorý zavesil Ježiša Krista na kríž. A Ježiš povedal, „Vy ste zo svojho otca, diabla.“
No, niektorí z nich povedali, „Ó, Rusko je antikrist.“ Nikdy. Rusko nie je antikrist. Antikrist bude tak nábožný, že by to oklamalo aj samotných vyvolených, ak by to bolo možné. Pamätajte, Boh berie Svojich ľudí, ale nikdy nie Svojho Ducha; diabol berie svojich ľudí, ale nikdy nie svojho ducha. No, tam oni sú; urobte, ako myslíte; ja som zodpovedný len za pravdu.
217Démoni pracujú... Včera som ich preberal v tej fyzickej sfére; dnes vám ukazujem v duchovnej sfére, kde sú v náboženskej sfére; kde boli tam vonku, nazývaní rakovina, a nazývajú toto, to a tamto. Ale dokázal som vám skrze Bibliu, že sú to diabli. No, dnes sú tu znovu v náboženských sférach, veľmi nábožní, veľmi zbožní.
Ak začneš, brat, a premýšľaj. Kain, hneď na samotnom začiatku, on bol veľmi nábožný človek. Ezav bol veľmi nábožný človek. Judáš bol veľmi nábožný človek. To je náboženstvo. To nie je ten vonkajší svet; je to rovno v tých radoch. Sledujte to: démonológia. Možno o niečo neskôr sa k tomu dostanem trochu viac; už meškáme.
Nikoho neodsudzujte. Milujte všetkých. Ak nemôžete milovať zo srdca, potom s vami nie je Kristus.
220V Tolede v štáte Ohio som vošiel do malej reštaurácie, kde som na určitom mieste jedával, na malom mieste u Dunkardov, na malom peknom mieste. Boli takí milí. V to popoludnie zatvorili, aby išli do nedeľnej školy. A keď to urobili, musel som ísť cez ulicu na malé svetské miesto a vošiel som tam. A viem, že hazardné hry sú v Ohiu nezákonné. A tu stála štátna polícia s rukou okolo dievčaťa, jeho ruka tu visela na jej hrudi a hral automat. Zákon našich štátov a národa, všetko skončilo: žalostné.
Spolieham na Krista, na pevnú Skalu, na ktorej stojím, všetky ostatné miesta sú potápajúcim sa pieskom: nič iné nezostalo. To je pravda.
222Pozrel som sa tam dozadu a bola tam jedna krásna mladá dáma, pravdepodobne tínedžerka, mala devätnásť, osemnásť, devätnásť rokov. A to, čo tam tí chlapci robili za stolom, to bolo strašné. Sadol som si tam. A teraz, na moje prekvapenie, sediac tu, kde prišla tá pani, povedala, „Sadnete si?“
Povedal som, „Ďakujem. Chcel som raňajky.“
A sediac na stoličke, tu sedela jedna staršia pani, stará ako moja matka, päťdesiatpäť, päťdesiatosemročná. Mala na sebe kus sporého bezbožného oblečenia, ktoré teraz nosia.
Tvrdia, že je to populárne. Veda hovorí, „Si blázon.“ Iste, to nie je. Vy len chcete ukázať svoju nahotu. Je to hanba, pohanenie. Dáma si ich neoblečie. Žena áno, ale dáma nie.
225A potom, tak potom oni... Tam ona bola, sedela tam. Jej úbohé telo bolo ochabnuté. Na perách mala takú manikúru, ktorá vyzerala ako orchidea, alebo ako to nazývate, a trochu ostrihaná ako muž a celá sa rozčesala; čo hovorí Biblia, že je hanba. A žena, keď muž...
Biblia tvrdí, že ak si žena strihá vlasy, muž má právo prepustiť ju v rozvode, pretože s ním nie je úprimná. V týchto dňoch musíme ísť dole a kázať Bibliu. Je tam povedané, „Ak si strihá vlasy, zneuctieva svojho manžela.“ Ak je neúctivá, mala by byť prepustená. Nemôžeš sa oženiť s inou, ale môžeš ju dať preč. Fíha. Chlapče, to ide do tuhého; cítim to. Ale to je pravda.
227Ó, bývalo to tak, že sme to mali vo sférach Ducha Svätého, ale spustili sme ohrady. Jeden starý brat zvykol hovoriť, „Spustili sme ohrady, spustili sme ohrady, urobili sme kompromis s hriechom. Spustili sme ohrady; ovce sa dostali von, ale ako sa dovnútra dostali kozly?“ Spustili ste ohrady. To je to, kvôli čomu sa to stalo; spustili ste ohrady, svet a cirkev sa zmiešali. Presne ako Moábovia, a tak ďalej, a Balám, a ako sa medzi nimi oženil, dnes to je presne to isté. A cirkev je celá znečistená a letničný vek je laodicejský vek, ktorý je vlažný a vypľutý z Božích úst. A z celej tej skupiny Boh povoláva Svoj ostatok a berie ju domov (To je úplná pravda. To je presne tak.) skrze vzkriesenie.
228A ona tam sedela a nechala si urobiť manikúru na perách po celej tvári a bolo to takto celé na nej. A na očiach mala tento čierny nezmysel a potila sa; už sa to roztekalo. A tá úbohá stará osôbka mohla mať pravnúčatá. A sedela tam s dvoma starými mužmi a jeden z nich mal okolo krku veľkú šatku a takto tam sedeli, to bolo v júni. A on vstal a trochu pil a ona pila tiež a rozhliadala sa.
Pomyslel som si, „Ó, Bože, prečo len nevymažeš tú vec z mapy? Prečo nie... Musí byť moja malá Sharon, moje malé dieťa, moja malá Sára a moja malá Rebeka vychovávaná v tej generácii, aby čelili takým veciam?“ Pomyslel som si, „Pozri sa tu do týchto parkov a na to, čo sa deje.“ Pomyslel som si, „Ó, Bože. Ó, som rád, že si vzal Sharon, ak to bola Tvoja vôľa. Musí moja malá Rebeka a malá Sára byť vychovávaná pod takýmito vecami?“ Pričom tí ľudia ich nazývajú - spievajú v zbore a všetko. A pomyslel som si, „Nie je to hanba?“ Pomyslel som si, „Bože, ako to Tvoja svätá spravodlivosť dokáže zniesť? Vyzerá to tak, že Tvoja spravodlivá rozhorčenosť by vyletela tam von a vyhodila toto miesto do vzduchu.“
230A počul som Anjela Pánovho, povedal, „Poď nabok.“ Prešiel som tam. A keď to so mnou prešiel, cítil som sa ako iná osoba. „Za čo ju odsudzuješ?“
Povedal som, „Pozri sa na to, aká je.“ A tu je to, čo On...
Videl som videnie. Videl som svet ako tento, okolo, iný svet. Ale tento svet tu mal okolo seba dúhu a to bola Krv Kristova, ktorá chráni pred Božím hnevom. Nemohol by sa na to dívať. On by tú vec rovno teraz zničil, pretože povedal, „V deň, keď z neho budete jesť, v ten deň zomriete.“ Tak On by to urobil.
Potom som rozmýšľal takto. Videl som samého seba. Síce som to neurobil, ale jednako som bol hriešnik. A potom Krv Ježiša Krista pre nás pôsobí ako nárazník. Rozumiete? To znamená, že keď som zhrešil, moje hriechy Ho zasiahli a Jeho drahocenná hlava sa zachvela a mohol som vidieť, ako stekajú slzy a Krv. „Odpusť mu, Otče; on nevie, čo robí.“ A urobil som niečo iné a to zasiahlo. „Odpusť mu, Otče.“
233Ak by to niekedy prešlo vedľa Neho, bol by som zničený. A ak by som nikdy neprijal Jeho milosť a v deň, keď moja duša odpláva ďalej, som už súdený. Odmietol som to. Nezostáva nič iné, len súd. Súdený, už som bol súdený. Boh povedal, „V deň, keď z neho budete jesť, v ten deň zomriete.“ Dnes popoludní ste súdení rovno na súdnej stolici, váš postoj ku Kristovi.
A potom som si pomyslel, „Áno, je to tak.“ A videl som, ako som sa jedného dňa priplazil k Nemu. Videl som tam položenú moju starú knihu, hriešnik, tam bolo všetko zaznamenané. A videl som, že moje hriechy boli tým, čo to spôsobilo, a povedal som, „Pane, či mi odpustíš?“
Vložil ruku do Svojho boku, vytiahol trochu Krvi, napísal to cez vrch a povedal, „Omilostený.“ Hodil to dozadu do mora zabudnutia, aby to už viac nebolo spomenuté. Bolo to navždy preč. Povedal, „Odpúšťam ti, ale ty ju odsudzuješ.“
To zmenilo môj pohľad. Povedal som, „Pane, zmiluj sa.“
236Potom, ako som z toho vyšiel, prišiel som a sadol som si. Povedal som, „Ako sa máš, madam?“
Povedala, „Ó, ahoj.“
A povedal som, „Ak mi prepáčite,“ povedal som, „Som reverend Branham, kazateľ.“
Povedala, „Ó, prepáčte mi, prepáčte mi, reverend Branham.“
Povedal som, „Pani...“ Bol som... Povedal som jej ten príbeh. Povedal som, „Stál som tam a odsudzoval som ťa v mysli, čo za hrozná vec. Možno máš deti.“
Povedala, „Mám.“
Povedal som, „Čo spôsobilo, že sa tá cesta pokazila?“ Začala mi odhaľovať ten príbeh, ktorý by roztopil akékoľvek srdce. Povedal som, „Pýtal som sa Boha, prečo to jednoducho nezmietol zo zeme? Ty si tu s týmito dvoma opitými mužmi a sama si opitá.“ A povedal som, „Jedného dňa, tá Krv, ktorá od teba zadržuje Boží hnev, v jednom z týchto dní zomrieš a potom si... Teraz máš slobodnú morálnu voľbu; môžeš to odmietnuť alebo prijať.“ A povedal som, „Ale jedného dňa tvoja duša odtiaľto odíde na miesto, kde už nezostane žiadna milosť. A ak zomrieš vo svojich hriechoch, potom si už odsúdená a pôjdeš do pekla.“
A viete čo? Tá žena vykĺzla z toho miesta v tej reštaurácii a mali sme modlitebné zhromaždenie, o akom ste nikdy v živote nepočuli, a ona prišla ku Kristovi. Čo to bolo? Neodsudzujte ich; hovorte im Evanjelium. Sú posadnutí démonmi; oni sú smrteľníci v tejto sfére. Sú odtiaľto ovplyvnení. Náš vplyv prichádza zhora. Pozrime sa, čo môžeme urobiť so svojím talentom, aby sme druhých získali pre Krista.
241Náš nebeský Otče, ďakujeme Ti za Tvoju dobrotu a milosrdenstvo. Je mi ľúto, Pane; možno tí ľudia, držal som ich tu tak dlho. Ale keď už sme takto zakončili tieto popoludňajšie zhromaždenia, chcel som im povedať o démonoch. A nasekal som toho príliš veľa na jedno miesto, do jednej kázne, ale možno to tu a tam uchytia a porozumejú, čo som tým myslel. Poznáš zámery môjho srdca, prečo som to priniesol.
Nech dnes popoludní odtiaľto odídu ľudia a muži a ženy, nech sledujú každý pohyb, ktorý urobia, ale nech žijú šťastne a slobodne. Nech vedia, že Boh ich spasil. A nech hľadia na Neho, zabudnú na všetky izmy a veci, ktoré sú okolo nich, a nech žijú pokojne a triezvo a v bázni Božej. A potom, Bože, keď ich chceš na niečo použiť, môžeš k nim priamo hovoriť a poslať ich kamkoľvek chceš, aby išli, alebo čokoľvek chceš, aby robili. Nech sú ľudia pokorní a nachádzajú Krista vo svojom srdci. Odpusť nám, Pane, naše poklesky, každému jednému z nás.
243A my vieme, že satan chodí všade ako revúci lev a hltá, čo môže, oblečený v nábožných plášťoch. Ó, Bože, tieto úbohé malé deti, pozri sa na ne všade. Sú otvorení a vystavení ľuďom. A modlím sa ku Tebe, Bože, aby si im bol milostivý a aby si spasil všetkých stratených, uzdravil chorých. A, Bože, uvedomujeme si, že keď títo starí diabli choroby prichádzajú na Tvoje deti, že Ty máš zmierenie, ktoré tam leží, aby sa o to postaralo. A všetci diabli, ktorí by ich priviedli k hriechu, Ty máš zmierenie, ktoré tam leží a postará sa o to. A modlím sa, aby si to udelil v Ježišovom Mene. Amen. Zaujímalo by ma, či tam je...
1 I wonder how many knows this little song, as I greet you in the warmest of Christian fellowship and love of Christ today, how many knows this little song, "He Careth For Thee"? You know it? All right, let's see if we can get it. You know it, sister? You know?
Now, He careth for you,
He careth for you;
Through sunshine or shadow,
He careth for you.
Oh, that's fine, let's try it again now.
He careth for you,
He careth for you;
Through sunshine or shadow,
He careth for you.
2 Our heavenly Father, we thank Thee that Thou dost care for us and has manifested Thy love towards us, insomuch that You sent Your own beloved Son, the--the innocent Son of God, to take the place of guilty sinners. How we thank Thee that Thou did care for us and was mindful of us, to do this. And we're so appreciative, Lord. We happy to gather here this afternoon under the canopies of the skies, and ask Your blessings upon this service. Grant, Lord, that every man, woman, boy or girl that's here, may study deeply now in the Scriptures. We're facing a world that's controlled by Satan. And, Father, we pray, as we study the power of demons and what they do to people, that You will give us great faith, and may many great signs and wonders be wrought. For, we ask it in Christ's Name and for God's glory. Amen.
3 We're study this afternoon, quickly into it, and I guess about fifteen minutes early, is still on "Demonology."
And now I just got a message awhile ago, Brother Beeler, from my friends, and I start in Africa the middle of July. So that settles it; we got it fixed now. And Brother Baxter can't go at that time, so I'm going to have to go to Africa by myself. So going over there with... may the... You have to pray for me now, that the Lord will help me, 'cause I really going to need it now over there amongst... I'm expecting at least two hundred thousand people in that meeting.
5 And I've got a vision wrote out here. I want you people to get the benefit of it. It happened in December. I was in the room one morning when the Angel of the Lord came in. I... You see, when I was over there I disobeyed God and I picked up ameba. Any man know--know what ameba is? A parasite that gets--nearly kills you. And because I done something God told me not to do. How many's heard the story of it? I guess some of you is here. I know the folks around the Tabernacle heard the story of what happened. God told me to go a place, and to stay away from this place, and then go back over to another place. And I let the preachers talk me out of it.
Now, preachers are wonderful, and they're my brothers, but you mind what God tells you. That's right. See, you got one mission.
6 How many remembers one time there was two prophets in the Bible? And one of them, the Lord told him, said, "You go to a certain place and don't you--don't you come to... You go back another way," and so forth. And--and said, "Don't you eat or drink while you're there."
And another true prophet met him and said, "The Lord met me after He met you. And said, 'Come by my house.'" And the prophet listened to what the other one said and lost his life by it. See? You do what God tells you to do regardless of what anybody else says.
8 Now, we're in this vision He... It woke me up, thirteenth of September, or of December. And--and as I was setting on the side of my bed, I was wondering what would be my future. I... When I come back over here, they was ready to throw me in the pesthouse; parasites had just about taken me. And they give me examination when I struck this land. And by God's grace they just let me go home, because it's very scattered.
And I prayed, and I went to those ministers, I said, "The Lord said for me not to go that way."
Said, "Oh, God talks to somebody besides you."
I said, "Korah had that idea one time." And so... But I went and got some leaves and laid it over their feet, and I said, "Remember, in the Name of the Lord, if we take that trip there, it's going to be a failure, and we'll all pay for it." And we sure did. Oh, my. We all like to died. So then coming back...
10 You have so much to contend with in those foreign countries. For instance, a little flea would bite you, it'd cause you to have tick fever. And that little thing, when it bites you, if you feel yourself itching, you can't scratch it. You look, if it's a little black fellow, don't pull it off. It's got a little head, it bores its way into the skin, turns around like this and fastens itself. If you'd pull it, you'd pull the head off in there; it's got a virus, and it'd paralyze you. So you don't scratch or don't pull him off. Just take some tallow, and he breathes through his back, drop tallow on it and he comes off.
Then there's a little mosquito, he doesn't make a bit of noise; he comes right through the air; he just touch you. That's all; you got malaria.
12 And--and then there's what they call the mamba snake. If he hits you, you live just about two minutes after he hits you.
And there's a yellow cobra; you live about fifteen minutes after his bite. And one of them was close enough to my son, as he could have laid his hand on his head, already up to strike before we got the shot, like that.
And there's the black cobra. Oh, there's just everything. And then the wild perils of the animals, of course, lions, tiger, or leopards, and everything else to contend with in the jungle. And then the diseases, there's just all kinds of diseases in there.
And you have all that to face when you go. Besides that, then here's the witch doctor to challenge you on every hand (See?), and all their superstitions and things. But how--what a marvelous thing to see our Lord just wave it away from side to side like that, then go on.
And that day I remember standing there, how well, what taken place. I'll tell you sometime in another meeting, 'cause I want to get on my subject this afternoon of "Demonology."
16 But now, and this I was thinking about, setting there, what will the end be? And coming back across the sea, I know we had around a hundred thousand conversions while we was in there. And old Brother Bosworth come to me. He said. I said, "Well, Brother Bosworth?"
He said, "I'm so proud of you, Brother Branham." He said, "You're just sure just in the beginning of life," and he said.
I said, "Well, I guess it's all over." I said, "I'm past forty years old; I guess I fought a good fight and finished the course."
He said, "Past forty years old?" Said, "I was that old 'fore I got converted." Said, "I'm still going good." He was pretty near going into his eighty, and just...
I thought, "Well, maybe that's about right."
So he said, "No, you're just a brand new Branham now; you just know how to control your meetings better and everything." Said, "Just, if you ever strike America in its right way, with the right setup meeting where you can stay six or eight weeks in a place, and get it set up and advertised around," said, "you'd do something, but, and for our Lord." So we went ahead just on like that, so it was very--very nice.
21 Then after while I saw a vision when I was in America, and it come to me, and returned me back to Africa, and it showed me that same meeting setting there in front of Durban. And the first meeting faded away into history, going towards the west. The second meeting rose up, and when it did, it was still larger than the first meeting was. And He... I heard a scream, and an Angel was coming out of heaven; He had a great Light.
And the Angel of the Lord which stands by us here, was standing (always stands by my right, over on this side), and It was standing there, and It was--It was milling around, and I seen this man standing near me. He's a--He's not... Now, that's not visions when you see Him. It's just as real as you're looking at me. Why, you can hear Him walk and talk to you. And when He... Anything, He's just as real as any... It's not a vision, the Man's just standing there just same as you are. And His voice is just the same as mine would be or yours would be. But a vision, something that breaks before you and you see it, like that... But this man just walks up and stands there.
23 So He told me that--what was going to take place. And He said that. This Angel came down, and He told me to turn and look this a-way. And it looked towards India now. And I don't say it's in India, but it's near. But they were Indian people,'cause the Africans are big burly, heavy fat-like people. Some of them are nearly seven-foot tall, and weigh, oh, two hundred and eighty, or three hundred pounds, burly: the Zulus, Now, the Shangai and the Basothu, and, oh, there's many different tribes. There's fifteen different tribes setting there that day I was speaking to.
25 I'd say one word, like "Jesus Christ, the Son of God." I'd go get a drink of water 'fore it went through all the interpreters. One would say... And all noises... I used to think when I heard Pentecostal people speaking in tongues, that maybe one speaking in one kind of sound and one speaking another, how in the world could that be? But I believe the Bible's right, and know It is, when It said, "There's not a sound without significance." That's right. Some of them would say, one of them, "Blrr blrr blrr blrr," and that meant "Jesus Christ, the Son of God." Other one would go, "Cluk cluk cluk cluk," and that was "Jesus Christ, the Son of God," in his language. So no matter what kind of sound it is, it's a meaning somewhere. That's right. No matter what kind of a noise it is, it means something to someone somewhere. And when He was... They'd give that out.
26 And I noticed that over to my left, when that Angel come down and I seen a swarm-like there. And they were men with, looked like they'd a--a sheet around them like this, and it wrapped up and tied, like around a small baby, the napkin. And it was. And I could just see as far as I could see; it was nothing but people. And then this Angel turned on a great oscillating light, and it begin to sway back and forth like that. And I never seen so many people in my life.
And then this other Angel came real close to me, and He said, "There's three hundred thousand of them in that meeting." And I've got it written down here. And you write it in some kind of a piece of paper, like I told about the little boy being resurrected in Finland. You write that on the flyleaf of your Bible or somewhere, that in this meeting there's going to be a meeting, that... And you'll hear it through some outlet, of three hundred thousand people attend that meeting. Now, see if that isn't right. That'll be three times the size the other one was. See? Three hundred thousand people to attend the meeting. And I'm just so happy to get to get there, I don't know what to do, for I like to win souls to our Lord.
And there, at one time, seeing--seeing thirty thousand raw heathens come to Jesus Christ in one altar call, thirty thousand raw heathen...
29 Now, let's go to our subject right quick. Yesterday we studied the technique of demons. I've been thinking today, as God dealing. You don't know what a liberty it is to get out. Now, I'm not a teacher; I'm a long ways from being a Bible expositor. And I am... My education is limited to a seventh grade, so that's... And, that, I come out of school about twenty-five years ago, so that's a long time off. And I don't have--had very much of an education, but all that I know is what I receive through inspiration.
And if that inspiration doesn't compare with the Bible, then it's wrong. See? It's got to be the Bible. No matter what inspiration it is, it's got to come... Here is God's Foundation. No other foundation is laid but This. And what This is, if what I would say would be contrary to This, you let my words be a lie, because This is the Truth. See, see? And if an angel would tell you something that'd be different from This, Paul said, "Let him be unto you accursed." Even an angel of light... Now, there's many great things. I only... the only... I chose two days, 'cause to get this subject to the people, that was yesterday and today, of the afternoon meeting.
30 Now, the reason I did this, is to give myself a little try to see if God would help me. There's something on my heart. And this is, that after this great message, and after God Himself confirming what that I have said to be the Truth, in His Word. By His Word first, and then through signs and wonders. Now, I think, with the Gospel truth to the church, I'm under obligation to God to bring this to the church. That's right. They're so broke up in so many different organizations and sectarian parts of it, till that's wrong. We're all God's children when we're born again. That... See? And the truth of the thing is that God wants us to know that, that we're His children.
31 Now, remember, the temple of Solomon was cut out all over the world. And here comes one rock twisted this way, and one rock twisted that way, and one cut up this way, and one cut that way, but when it come together, there wasn't a buzz of a saw nor a sound of a hammer; everything went right to its place. God was the Instructor of that.
And God's got a church called the Assemblies, and one the Church of God, and one the this one, and one the that one, but when they all come together, they'll be one big group of brotherly love, and God will put--assemble that church together and take her on up into the sky.
33 Every famous picture before it's ever hung in a hall of art, it has to be hung, go through the hall of critics first. The man who painted that...?... Or, pardon me, I can't call his name, painted the "Last Supper," anyhow, it cost him his lifetime. He painted that picture. It was about twenty years, or ten years, I believe, between painting Christ and Judas. And did you realize in that famous picture, that the same man posed for Christ, ten years later posed for Judas? That's right. He did. Ten years of sin, from a great opera singer to take the place of Christ, come to the place of Judas. You don't have to take ten years; it takes ten minutes, will do the same thing to you. It'll change your character in sin. But anyhow, that picture went through all the critics.
34 And that's what I think about the--God's church, the group that's called... Well, I don't mean this through any slam. I've sailed the seven seas, and I'm on my third trip around the world, and the people say, "Holy-roller, holy-roller." And I've searched the world, and I've never found a holy-roller yet. That's the name the devil has tacked onto the people. That's all. There's no such a thing as a holy-roller. And I have statistics of every six hundred and sixty-eight different churches that there is, and organized in the world, and there's not one of them called Holy-Roller. And that's from the government. There's not one Holy-Roller church I know of. So it's just something the devil called.
But now in all of this, all these things, God has painted a picture. And one time these little old churches used to be out here, some of you...
35 I watch these gray-headed men. My boy, yesterday, I was in the room studying, and a minister came by and said, "Like to shake hands with your dad." 'Course my boy's been raised up with Brother Baxter and them who just, "No," that's it, quickly. I don't like that. See? No matter if I... 'Course I can't be servant of man and God too. But I think that I like to shake hands with my brethren. I like to do that. There's something about it; I like to shake the hands of a--of a minister; not only a minister, but any child of God. I like to do it.
I didn't know about it until my wife had told me a little later. Well, if he could've told that minister, "Just a minute; he's back there in prayer, and--and I'll see what he can say." Well, that--that would've been better. So I give him a little correction on that, not to do that. See?
36 And so it's true, you can't just be right out as the brother said awhile ago. If you do, then at nighttime I--I'm worn. You see? The people go to talking, and everyone has maybe a sickness, and when they go to speaking about it, quickly there's the Angel of the Lord right there to tell about it.
There's someone setting looking right at me now, knows that to be true from just a few minutes ago, or about a hour and a half ago: a lady setting here, who didn't know what it was, that the Angel of the Lord spoke to her the other night and told her something and she couldn't understand it. But today it happened, so she knows now what it means when He was speaking to her.
And I was standing there talking to her, the Angel of the Lord went right straight back out and told her what her trouble was, and what it was all about, and--and what she was thinking about, and one of her loved ones, and how God had spoke and said He'd confirmed it, and what was going to take place. So that's just exactly the way it'll be. See, God has said so.
38 Well now, what about a few times that every... And then... And each vision just weakens you that much more. See? And the first thing you know, when you get to church at night, you're just so completely wore out till you just don't know hardly what to do. And you pray for me now (See?), because it's out of one meeting to another, to another. This was the only meeting, it would be different, if I was going home now and wasn't going to do nothing for a couple months, go out and get my fishing line and go fishing, but I got to go from one meeting right to another, from one right to another. You see? That's what makes it.
39 And you all pray, you people back here in the audience. They told me last night that I--that I was speaking to a certain person, and the person did not respond to the call. Now, that's pretty dangerous. You see? When they said it, well, sometimes there's lights don't shine, there's a dark spot in between there.
And I watch the Angel of the Lord when He's standing here, I can feel it. Then I'll feel It move from me, and I'll watch, and It'll leave me, and It'll go over somewhere and stand there a little bit, and I can see It. And It'll flash on, and there'll be a vision come. Then I'll see the vision. I'll watch what kind of a looking person it is around there. And I find the person, then I speak. That's what takes place. That's what happens. You don't have to tell everybody that, but that's--that's what takes place. You see? It's all in the spiritual realm.
41 Then if that person don't respond, it'd be like reading the Bible here and saying, "There's nothing to it," walk away from it. See? So that makes it pretty bad. So be on the alert, be listening, be watching. When He speaks, answer. See? And just be ready to answer at any time.
And so my wife, and Brother Beeler, and many of them, this morning, was telling me about it, that it was calling a man about his brother somewhere that had something wrong with him, and so forth, and the man did not respond to the call, so that can't be helped. That's between God and the man. The vision left me then, and I couldn't find it no more, because he didn't answer. So be watching and be on alert.
43 Now, taking this subject of demonology and speaking about demons. Now, people, when you say "demon," right quick they begin to think, "Oh, some fanaticism or something." But demons is just as real as Angels; they're just as real.
And the devil is just as real a devil, as Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He's a devil. Heaven is just as real. And if there is no such a thing as hell, there's no such a thing as heaven. And if there isn't an eternal blessed--eternal punishment, rather, there's no eternal blessed. If there's no day, there's no night. See? But as sure as there's day, there's night. As--as soon... As sure as there's a Christian, there's bound to be a hypocrite. As sure as there's somebody that's genuine from God, there's somebody to impersonate that. See? It's just exactly pro and con, black and white, right on down through life on everything, true and false everywhere. And there is a false Gospel; there's a true Gospel. There's a true Baptism; there's a false baptism. There's a make-belief, and there's a real. There's a true American dollar; there's a false American dollar. There's a genuine Christian, there's a genuine hypocrite (See?), that's just impersonating. So you find that, so it all goes together. Now, we can't separate it; God lets the rain fall.
45 May He let me speak here just a little bit. How many preachers is here? Raise up your hands. All around, preachers, let's see your hands. Well, God bless you, brethren. Now, now, you don't take this for doctrine now, but just before we approach this vital subject I'll tell you one of... How many Pentecostal people is here, raise up your hands, all around everywhere. Why, you're all Pentecostals? All right. I'm going to tell you what I had when I first come into your realms--ranks.
I was right up here in Indiana, at a certain place called Mishawaka. The first group of Pentecostal people I ever seen is called the--the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ, I believe, or something like that, wonderful bunch of people. Now, they organized together and call them United Pentecost. They break up from the rest of them because of an issue of water baptism. That don't make them any hypocrite. There's many a genuine, real genuine Holy Ghost born again Christian in their ranks. And God gave them the Holy Ghost by being baptized in Jesus' Name, and He's give the others the baptism of the Holy Ghost being baptized in Father, Son and Holy Ghost. So God give them the Holy Ghost who obeys Him, so who--who got, who obeyed Him? There you are.
46 If you'd just forget... And them that wants to be one way let them be, and you go ahead and be brothers. That's all. Don't... What done it, was breaking among--breaking away (See?), breaking, tearing up, breaking up brotherhood, setting out and separating yourselves. No, sir; we're not separated; we're one. That's right.
47 But when I was standing there, I was watching those people. Now, me, just come out of a regular little old Southern Baptist church, why, I'd see those people, I went in there and they were clapping their hands, hollering, "One of them, one of them, glad I can say I'm one of them."
I thought, "My. Whew." First thing you know, here come somebody down through there, dancing as hard as they could dance. I thought, "What church manners, I never heard such things as that." I kept watching them around wondering, "Well, what in the world's the matter with those people?"
49 Now, you've heard me tell my life story, where I hit that meeting there. But this is one thing I've never told, never told it before in public. So they... Now, if you want to rub it off of your recorder, why, you can do so. All right. Now, in this I watched, and now I thought, "Well, them people is the happiest people I ever seen in my life." They wasn't ashamed of their religion. We Baptists get just a little bit ashamed once in a while, you know. See? And when they go to pray, you know, get behind the fan, you know, and--and but we... But them people wasn't; brother, they had--they had religion all inside, outside, and all over them.
50 Well, I remember that night when I got on the platform. Said, "All preachers on the platform." It was a convention. They had to have it up here in the north on account of--on account of the colored problem, the Jim Crow law of the south. So they was all met there from everywhere. So I was setting up there and he said... Well, now there's... I heard all preachers through that day and that night, they said some old preacher, he was an old colored man come out, just a little bit of rim of hair around his head like that, big old long frock-tailed preacher coat on, you know, velvet collar, and it hot weather. Poor old fellow come out there like this, and he said, "My dear children." He said, "I want to tell you," got to testifying: I was about the youngest one setting on the platform. So then he said, "I tell you." He took his text from over in Job, "Where was you when I laid the foundations of the world? Declare unto Me where they're fastened."
51 All these other preachers had been preaching about Christ, along the regular run; I listened to them, enjoyed it, but not that old boy. He went back yonder about ten thousand years before the world ever started. He went up into the heavens and come plumb down across the skies, what was taking place. What they was preaching on, going on in the daytime he was preaching on what was taking place in heaven. He brought Christ back on a horizontal rainbow, back yonder somewhere in eternity. Why, he hadn't been preaching about five minutes till that old fellow, something got a hold of him, he jumped up in the air, and clicked his heels together, and hollered, "Whoopee." He had about as much room as I got up here. He said, "You ain't got enough room for me to preach," and away he went.
Well, I thought, "If that'll do that to a man about eighty years old, what would it do to me?" That's what I want. That's what I want.
53 But what got me was this. Now, we're talking on demons now. What got me, I watched two men. One set at one side and one the other. And when the Spirit would fall, them men would raise up and speak in tongues and shout, and turn white around the mouth, and I thought, "Oh, my, if I could only have that." See, how wonderful. Oh, that's, I just love that. Well, I went out in the cornfield. And I told you my life story; you read it in the book. I'd slept all night, and I come back the next morning. So I thought I'd just test out. I have a way of doing things that nobody knows but God and I. So that's... I take up a parable and go to meet a man's spirit. You see it right here on the platform. See? And so then I got to talking to one of those men. I seen them. They set close together, and--and they'd just hold hands and dance and shout. I thought, "Oh, my, that sounds real to me."
And I took a hold of one of his hands and I said, "How do you do, sir?"
And he said, "How do you do." Very nice man, gentlemen-type fellow, he said... I said, "Are you a minister?"
He said, "No, sir, I'm just a lay member."
And I got to carrying a little conversation with him so I could catch his spirit. See? He didn't know that; nobody knowed. I never said nothing about it, years afterwards 'fore I mentioned it. So then... But when I come to find out, it rang true just as perfect a Christian man; that man was absolutely a saint of God. I thought, "Brother, that's fine."
57 But the strange part, when I got a hold of the other man, it was contrary. He was even living with a woman that wasn't his wife. That's right. And I seen it pull up to me in a vision. I thought, "Oh, my, it can't be so." And the man... I thought, "Now, now, this spirit among them people is wrong, and that's all there is to it."
So that night when the--went to the meeting, and the blessings was falling, I would pray to God, and the Holy Spirit, the Angel of the Lord give witness that it was the Holy Ghost. And the same Spirit was falling on this man was falling on that man. And when the Spirit would fall, both of them would get up, and they'd both shout, and scream, and praise the Lord, and speak in tongues, and dance. I said, "I--I--I just can't get it, Lord, I... They... I can't see it in the Bible where that could be right." Now, I said, "Maybe I'm deceived." See? I said...
Now, here, I--I--I'm--I'm strictly fundamental in the Bible. It's got to be This. See? And I said, "Lord, You know my condition, and I--I've got to see it in Your Word. And I--I can't understand when the Holy Spirit's falling on this man, the Holy Spirit's fall on that man, and one of them is a saint and the other one's a hypocrite. And I know it is." And I know it without... I could've took the man out and proved it to him, or called him out right there and told him about it.
59 Like I could that man setting right here last night, was nothing but an impostor, if there ever was one setting there. And I ought to have called it out, but he'd have raised up and started fussing, so I just let it go on, account of the meeting. But I knowed him. Yes, sir. There's one, two of them setting right back there the other night, belongs to a certain church right here in the city, real critics. I seen them. But if you would, you'd just start the trouble. I've done it many times. I just let them alone. See? It's all right. God knows; He's the Judge. Let them call me one time, and then you'll see something take place (You see?), let him. Like the demon, I never called the demon out. He just come to me and challenged me. Then is when God went to work (See? That's right.), and you seen what taken place. All right. But I just let it go. Made the meeting hard, 'cause that spirit was moving right in on me all the time. See? And so I just kept on.
60 But now, these men, I couldn't understand it. And it was two years later, or three, when I was up at Green's Mill, Indiana, here, at the scout reservation; I was back in an old cave where I go to pray. And back there I said, "Lord, I can't understand what become of that group of people. The finest people I ever met in my life, and I--I can't understand how that that could be the wrong spirit, when it's the... If then... You know the integrity of my heart. You know how I love You and how I've served You. And the same Spirit that's here with me was on them people. And here It was on that guy there just the same." So I couldn't understand it.
61 And the Lord come down in His mercy and showed me. Here's where it was. It has to be Scriptural first. He said, "Pick up your Bible." And I picked up my Bible. And I guess I held that Bible for ten minutes without anybody--any more Word coming. I waited just a few minutes. I heard Him say again, "Turn to Hebrews 6 and start reading." And I did. And when it come down there where it said, "The rain cometh oft upon the earth to water it and prepare it, dress it for which it's... but the thorns and thistles, which is nigh unto rejection, whose end is to be burned..." And I caught it right there.
I thought, "There it is. Thanks be to God. There it is." See?
62 Now, Jesus said, "A sower went forth sowing seeds," didn't He? Now, you're all Christians here. Everyone held up their hands, anyhow: Pentecostal, born again Christians. All right, they... And He said, "A sower went forth sowing seeds, and while he slept (his death between, see), and while he slept, an enemy come and sowed tares in that wheat field." What is tares? Weeds, briers and things. Now... "And when the husbandman (the preacher) saw these tares growing, said, 'Let me go pull them up.' He said, 'No, no. You'll pull up the wheat also. Let them both grow together.'"
63 There's a wheat field out here. There's creepers, nettle ball, stink weed, everything else in it. Is that right? But now, in there there's wheat. Now, the rain comes oft upon the earth to water it. Now, what's the rain for? Not to water the nettle ball (Now, watch and pay attention), not to water the creeper. The rain's sent for the wheat, but the nettle ball and the weed is just as thirsty as the wheat is. And the same rain that falls on the wheat falls on the weed. And the little old weed will stand right straight up like that, and happy and rejoicing, just as much as the little wheat will stand up and stand hisself up. "But by their fruits ye shall know them." There you are. See?
Now, the same Holy Spirit can bless a hypocrite. That knocks some of you Arminians out, but that's the truth. That's the truth. Then call it holiness, which I believe in holiness too. But the same Spirit, the rain falls on the just and the unjust, but by their fruits you shall know them.
65 If I look out here and go to get wheat, I get wheat, but the weeds is all bound up, and they live on the same rain that fell for the wheat. And the rain was not sent for the weeds; it was sent for the wheat. But the rain being in the field, the wheat being--weeds being in the wheat field, got just as much benefit out of the rain as the rest of them did. And the same rain that made the wheat live, made the weed live.
All things in the natural types the spiritual as we're teaching. There it is, demonology, demons impersonating Christianity, yet with the blessing. That's not skim milk, brethren, if you can take it. See, see? Now, it's--it's truth.
67 So I'm not saved today because I can shout. I'm saved not because I feel like I'm saved. I'm saved because I met God's conditions of this Bible. Jesus said, "He that heareth My Words and believeth on Him that sent Me, has Everlasting Life, and shall not come into condemnation, but's passed from death to Life." I believe that. That's right. And on them conditions I am saved, because God said so.
If he told me I was saved because somebody said, "A rushing mighty wind hit me in the face," that's wonderful, but I want to know where that rushing mighty wind come from 'fore it hit me in the face. See? Now, what kind of a life are you going to live after that rushing mighty wind's hit you? See? See, it's by your fruit you're known. So demons can work right amongst Christians. You believe that? Look at Paul, Paul said...
69 Now, here's where the Latter Day Rain... If there's any of you here, forgive me if I'm saying anything against you. I wouldn't say no more against you than I would the Assemblies or any, and the Baptists or anybody else. It's truth is what's truth. Where you got off, was this, you're making prophets out of them men and things that's not prophets. Prophets are not laid on the hands and sent out; prophets are borned. See? In the Bible there's a gift of prophecy. There's where your mistake was between the gift of prophecy and a prophet. The gift...
"God, in sundry times and divers manners spoke to the fathers through the prophets, in this last days through His Son Christ Jesus." And the Body of Christ has nine spiritual gifts operating in it. And it might be on this woman tonight, prophecy, may never be the rest of her life. It may be on this woman the next night, may be on this man the next time, may be on that one back there the next time. That doesn't make her a prophet, doesn't make no one a prophet. It's a gift of prophecy in you.
71 And before that man or that prophecy can be given to the church, it has to be judged before two or three spiritual judges. Is that right according... Now, Paul said, "You all may prophesy one by one." If something be revealed to this one, let that one hold his peace. Well, that would make the whole bunch prophets then according to the teaching of today. No, Pentecostal church, we've got things all scrupled up. And that's the reason God can't come in, till we get the thing straightened out and on the Bible. That's right. You got to get the right path. How you going to build a house without looking at the blueprint? See? You got to start right.
72 Now, in there, a prophet, you never seen anybody stand before Isaiah, Moses. One did stand, Korah, one day, and tried to dispute with him, and God said, "Separate yourself, I'm going to open up the earth."
A prophet is born. Gifts and calling without repentance. That's the foreordination of God from the baby up. Everything was perfectly right along, exactly what he said was the truth and vindicated and brought out. It's the Word of God comes to the prophet. But a gift of prophecy is in the church.
73 Now, you said, "Well, the prophets are the Old Testament." Oh, no. The New Testament had prophets.
Agabus was a--was a New Testament prophet. Look at the Spirit of prophecy falling down there and telling Paul about... Then here come Agabus down from Jerusalem, and found Paul, and tied his girdle around him, and turned over, and said, "THUS SAITH THE LORD, the man that wore this will be bound in chains when he gets to Jerusalem." Agabus, who stood up and told, foretold what would take place, he was a prophet, not a man with the gift of prophecy.
And the gift of healing and all those gifts, my Pentecostal friend, you got it mixed up. The gifts are in the church, subject to any person's in the church, anybody that's baptized into the body. "By one Spirit we're all baptized in the..." And the Bible said...
"Well, I got the gift of healing."
Well, the Bible said, "Confess your fault one to another and pray one for the other." Every person pray one for the other. We're not a divided group; we're a collective, gathered group. See? Now, and there's how demons sometimes working.
77 Now, watch what Paul said, "If one speaks with tongues and the other one interpret, and whatever he said, let it be judged first 'fore the church can receive it."
Now, it won't be a quoting of Scripture or something another like that. God don't repeat Himself. But it'll be a warning to the church. Then if good judges says, "Let's receive that. All right, that was of the Lord." The second one says, "Let's receive it." The mouth of two or three witnesses, let every word be established. Then the church receive it and go make ready for it. If that doesn't come to pass, what that said, then you've got a evil spirit among you. That's right. And if it does come to pass, then thank God, the Spirit of God's among you. See? Now, that's where you have to watch and be careful.
So don't try to press. I couldn't make myself have brown eyes when I got blue. See? I have to be satisfied with blue eyes. Now, there's where demons work in the realm of spiritual people.
79 Now, we've got a deep something coming here, and I hope it's not too deep. Now, over in I Samuel 28, I want to read some Scripture here right at this time. I want you to listen closely. And I want to bring demons, show you how they work right in the church, and how Satan has a counterfeit for every real there is. Now, you can see according to the Bible, that demons come among Christians and they impersonate.
And many times we have declared people to be Christians when they said, "I believe in Jesus Christ." Why, the devils believe the same thing and tremble. That's no sign you're saved.
One of these nights I want to get on election, and then you'll see what salvation means. See? It's nothing you had to do with it in the first place or the last place, or nothing you can do about it. God saves a man, unconditionally. Boy that sunk deep, didn't it? I just might as well get that out of your system while we're at it. All right.
81 Abraham was the beginning of our faith. Is that right? All right, Abraham had the promise. And God called Abraham because he was a great man, I guess? No, sir. He come down out of Babylon, in the--in the land of Chaldea, in the city of Ur, and God called him and made His covenant with him, unconditionally. "I'm going to save you, and not only you, Abraham, but your Seed," unconditionally.
God made a covenant with man, and man breaks his covenant every time. Man never did keep his covenant with God. The law was never kept. They couldn't keep the law. Christ was come and broke the law Himself. 'Cause, grace had already provided a Saviour, Moses provided a way of escape, and then--escape, rather; and then the people, after that, they still wanted something to do. Man's always trying to do something to save himself, when you can't do it. It's his nature. As soon as he found out he was naked in the garden of Eden, he made some fig leaf aprons. Is that right? But he found out they wouldn't work. Nothing a man can do can save yourself. God saves you unconditionally, all down through the age. And then when you're saved, you're saved.
83 Look at Abraham. There that fellow was, went over, and God give him the land of Palestine and told him not to leave there. Any Jew that leaves Palestine was backslid. God told him to stay there. If God tells you to do something another, and you don't do it, then you're backslid. Is that right? All right, a drought come on to try Abraham's faith. And instead of Abraham staying there, no, he couldn't stay there, he run off, and took Sarah and went about three hundred miles (wish I had time to get on that) down to another land.
And when he got down there, and then he got this great king down there, Abimelech. He was a young fellow and he was looking for a sweetheart, so he found Abraham's wife, Sarah, and fell in love with her. And Abraham said, "Now, you tell him that you are my sister and I'm your brother."
So that pleased Abimelech, so he said, "All right, we'll just take her over to the castle." And I guess the women fixed her up, and he was going to marry her the next day.
86 And Abimelech was a good man, a righteous man. And that night while he was a sleeping, the Lord appeared to him, and said, "You're as good as a dead man." He said, "The man's... The woman that you got out there to marry, is another man's wife." Now, watch, "Another man's wife..."
Why, he said, "Lord, You know the integrity of my heart," a righteous, holy man. "You know the integrity of my heart. That man told me that was his sister. And didn't she tell me herself that that was 'my brother'?"
He said, God said, "I knowed the integrity of your heart, and that's the reason I kept you from sinning against Me. But that's My prophet." Hallelujah.
What was he? Backslid, and a little, lying shyster. Is that right? Oh, no, there ain't no little white lies; they're either black lies or they're not lies at all. The man setting out there telling a pine-blank lie, saying that was his sister when it was his wife, beating around the bush, and backslid.
And here was a righteous man standing before God, and said, "Lord, You know my heart."
"But I'll not hear your prayer, Abimelech, but take him--take her back and let him pray for you. He's My prophet, I'll hear him." Yes, a backslider, liar, "but that's My prophet." That truth? That's the Bible.
92 Now, don't go plumb too far over here on the Calvinistic side, "once in grace, always in grace," 'cause you'll get in disgrace. See? Now, just a moment; we'll get time this week to bring that up and show you how level it is. But don't think just because you've done something wrong that you're gone forever. You're a child of God; you're born of the Spirit of God; you're sons and daughters of God, and the fruits will bear record of itself. There you are.
93 Now, here we are setting in the land. Now, I want to read here the 6th verse.
And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by the Urim, nor by a prophet.
And then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman with a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her.
(Now, I could lay something to the rod right here if it'd just...) "Seek me a woman with a familiar spirit..."
And his servants said unto him, Behold, there is a woman that has a familiar spirit in En-dor.
And Saul disguised himself, and put on raiment, other raiment, and he went, two... and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and they said, I pray thee, 'vine unto me by thy familiar spirit, and bring me... up, whom I shall name unto thee.
And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest that Saul has done, does know, has cut off all those that have familiar spirits, and... wizards, out of the land: therefore... layest thou a snare for my life, and cause me to die?
And Saul answered and sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall be no punishment happen unto thee...
Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up... thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said I... unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
And he said unto her, What form was he of? And she said An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle.
And Sam... (That was that prophet's mantle, of course, see.)... perceived that it was Samuel, and he stood with his... and with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
And Samuel said unto Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, and bring me up? And Saul answered and said, I am sore distressed; because of the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me, and answers me not, neither by prophet, neither by dream: therefore I... called unto thee, that thou would make known unto me what I should do.
And then said Samuel, Wherefore... does thou ask me, seeing that the LORD has departed from thee, and--and is become thine enemy?
And the LORD has done unto him, as he spake to me: for the LORD has rent his kingdom out of thy hand, and has given it... unto even David:
94 Now, many of you familiar with this. Now, we want to go right in, and God help us now for the--a few moments to get into this. Now, watch. There was a man, Saul, who was once considered a prophet, for he prophesied with the prophets. Is that right, teachers? Now, here the man was backslidden. Is that right? But remember where Samuel said he would be, with him, at the next day: prematurely gone. See? All right, if you won't mind God, God will take you off the earth.
95 Look in the Corinthian letter there, how Paul set those people in order. He said, "First, I thank God for you, that there's no such things among you, and so forth, and how that--that you come short of no spiritual gift," telling them what they was, positionally, in Christ. Then he begin to let the hammer down on them, tell them about their women preachers, and how they were doing, and how they were eating at the Lord's table. And even one man living with his stepmother, and he said to this man in Christ, "Turn him over to the devil, for the destructions of the flesh, that the soul might be saved." See, that's it, turn him over. The Bible said, "For this cause many are sick and weakly among you, and men are asleep (gone on prematurely)," because of sin. God taken you out of the way; a good sign you was a Christian if you was taken."
96 So now, notice. In here Saul was considered one of the prophets or among the prophets, because he prophesied. And now, he had backslid, because he disobeyed God, and his kingdom was rent out of his hands and placed into the hands of David, who God had anointed by Samuel, with the cruse of oil.
97 Notice, then there was three ways that they had of finding out things from God; the first was--was the prophet, the second was a dream, and the third was the Urim Thummim. And they neither would answer. Now, you know what a prophet is, and you know what a spiritual dream is, and you know what the Urim Thummim was. You know what, the other day I asked a--a man what about the Urim, and that man couldn't tell me what it was, the Urim Thummim. 'Course it was God answering, but he...
See and the devil makes a counterfeit of every one of those. The wizard, the false prophet, and the crystal gazer... See, now, the Urim Thummim hung on Aaron's breast here, and the Urim Thummim covered over that stone. And they hung it in the temple. And when they wasn't sure, they'd go before God, in answer, and a light would flash on that Urim Thummim, which--whether it was God's will or not. Now, when the Urim Thummim wouldn't answer... Now, that was the direct answer from God. Now, the Urim Thummim of today, the fortuneteller took a crystal ball to pattern That, a false thing. God's in a trinity, God's powers is in a trinity; and the devil's in a trinity, and his powers is in trinity. I can prove it by the Bible. And that Urim Thummim was only the crystal ball that the devil uses today; and the false prophet back here today, the one that we have now, was the witch; or, the fortuneteller out yonder took the place of the prophet on the devil's side. See what I mean?
99 Now, then the Urim Thummim today is this Bible. If somebody has give a prophecy or a dream, and it don't compare or echo with God's Bible, it's false; don't believe it.
A man come to me not long ago from India, where I'm just fixing to go, a fine little preacher; he said, "Brother Branham, I come over here." Said, "A woman had the Holy Ghost," and said, "she was just a sweetest, nicest woman." He said, "And she had been married four times, and was living with her fourth husband." And I said, 'Well, how could that be, Lord?'" And said, "I went to Him and said, 'Oh, glory to God!' Said, 'Hallelujah, praise the Lord.'" Just one of that type, you know. Said, "Hallelujah. Praise the Lord." Said, "The Lord told me. Here I'm going to give you a dream." And said, "I dreamed that my wife; I seen her living in adultery. And she come back to me and said, 'Oh will you forgive me, Victor? Will you forgive me? I didn't... Why I said, 'Sure, I'll forgive you and take you back.'" He said, "Now, that's what I did." Said, "See, I forgive."
I said, "Victor, your dream was mighty lovely, but the devil give it to you."
He said, "Why?"
I said, "It don't compare with God's Word. She's living in adultery. Absolutely. She can't live with four men. That's right. She leaves that and goes back to her first, she's worse off than she was in the beginning. She has to live single the rest of her life." I said, "You know it. That don't compare with God's Word, so her--your dream was false." And I said, "It won't compare with This."
103 And when a prophet had a--give a prophecy, and they spoke and wanted to see if that prophecy was true, they put it before the Urim Thummim. And if the Voice of God throwed the lights on the Urim Thummim, then it was absolute, the Truth. And if a man gives an interpretation, gives a dream, gives something of the Bible and, or something another, and it don't compare with God's Bible, it's false. There's the Urim Thummim today. God's Word speaks, and that's direct the Voice of God, like the Urim Thummim was before the Bible was written. Amen. Hallelujah.
I feel kind of religious right now. And don't take me a fanatic, if you do... I know, I know where I'm at. I'm not excited. That's right.
104 Here is the Truth, God's Word. I don't care what kind of a dream you had or what kind of a prophecy you give; if it isn't God's Word, it's wrong if it don't compare with that Word. That's what's the trouble today: one has a dream, one has a vision; one has a tongue; one has a revelation; it's got the whole thing so messed up and everything; you got denominations and broke up everything. You ought to bring it back to a final Foundation, and that's God's Word. That's true.
Churches will build upon one, say, "Oh, Jesus is coming on a white horse. I know, I seen Him in a vision," they'll make a church of that kind. "Oh, hallelujah, He's coming on a cloud," they make it in that kind. Break them up, and separate, and call one another "buzzard roost," and "louse hangout," and everything like that. Why, brother, it goes to show, in the first place, your heart's not right with God when you do that. That's right. We are brothers. We must stick by one another. We need one another.
106 Now, look, Saul had backslid, and he goes up. He... God had turned His face from him, and he went up, and he inquired with the prophets. The prophets went and tried to prophesy, and God cut off, wouldn't give a vision. The prophet come out, said, "I can't, now He never told me nothing about you."
Well, then he said, "Lord, give me a dream." Night after night, no dream come.
Then he goes into the Urim Thummim, and he said, "O God. I've tried the prophets; I've tried the dreams, now You help me. Will You do it?" Cut it off, no Light flashed at all.
Then he resorted to a witch, low, degraded, and he went to her and crawled in there and disguised himself. And this witch goes out and calls up the spirit of Samuel.
Now, I know what you're thinking, many said, "That wasn't Samuel." But the Bible said it was Samuel, and it was Samuel. Strange how I catch that, isn't it? But that was Samuel; the Bible said it was.
And that witch could call him up, and she called up Samuel. And Samuel was somewhere else, but was conscious of what was going on, and was still standing with his prophet's mantle on him. So brother, when you die, you're not dead; you're living somewhere, somewhere else.
112 Let me stop just a minute to get this demonology down just a little bit. She was a demon, but she was in close contact with the spirit world. Now, today there's many spiritualists that know really more about the spiritual world than people who profess themselves to be Christians, yet she's a demon. In the Bible times it was the same thing.
When Jesus was here on earth, there was them professors, and scholars, and teachers, some of the best there was out of the better seminaries than we could produce today, and holy, renowned men; they had to be. If a Levite was found... He had to be found blameless, righteous in every way. And yet that man knowed no more about God than a rabbit knowed about snowshoes. When Jesus come, he failed to recognize Him, and he called Jesus a devil. He said, "He's Beelzebub, the prince of the devils." Is that right?
114 And here come the lowest type of a demon that had a man bound out yonder in the tombs, and everything, and they called out, the devil himself said, "We know Who You are. You're the Son of God, the holy One." Is that right? Witches and wizards, devils recognized Him the Son of God; while educated, theological seminary preachers recognized Him to be Beelzebub. Which was right, the devil or the preacher? The devil was. And, brother, it hasn't changed too much today. They don't recognize the power of God.
115 No matter how much teaching you got, you can drum that into you. God's not in big words; God's in a honest heart. You might sing or speak big words, like I don't know what; that doesn't bring you closer to God. You can stand and practice how to repeat your sermon and say these things; that don't get you closer to God. You could learn dictionaries till you sleep with one, and it still wouldn't get you closer to God. A humble, submitted heart, in the simplicity, is what brings you to God. That's true. Amen. A humble heart, God loves. Now, no matter if you don't know your abc's, that don't make any difference. Just a humble heart, God dwells in a humble heart, not in education, it's not in schools, not in theology, seminaries, not in all these other different places, not in big words, or not in classical places. God dwells in human hearts. And the lower you can break yourself down, the more simple, you can become greater in the sight of God.
116 Let me give you something. I see your fields are full of wheat out here. A full head of wheat always bows. A little old sprig sticks up there, and flopping around like it knows everything, it ain't got it in the head. That's the way with a lot of these guys that think they got a whole lot in their head, and nothing in their heart. A holy head will bow to the power, recognize Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and believe His works. "And He's the same, yesterday."
Oh, they recognize Him, sure, in a historical standpoint. But it's not a history thing. People stand up and say, "Oh, I believe Pentecost, when they had the great outpouring and things like that," and paint a fire. A freezing man can't be warmed by a painted fire; painted fire don't warm. That's what they was. What is it today, if He's the same yesterday, today and forever? That's painted fire. Some fellow freezing to death, say, "Look at that big fire they had." Why, that don't get you warm.
118 What they did at Pentecost, what they had in the early Testament, we got today. And as soon as God can get the thing ironed out, and the church set together, the rapture will come. But we can't even get faith for Divine healing let alone the rapture, because we're all twisted up, one this way and one that way, and "Doctor So-and-so said it was this. Well, my preacher said He was This."
Awhile ago a woman said, "He's just a faker." Said, "My priest told me so." I wish her priest would come down here once; we'd see who was the faker. Yeah. We'll see who's a faker. Come, try it.
120 Here not long ago in Harlingen, Texas, we was having a service there, and they had big signs all out over the cars that night when I went over there, said that the FBI was there to expose me as a faker. So a little girl had been healed up in Texas there somewhere; she was way up in, and I guess, around a thousand miles, way up around Panhandle, and this was way down in Harlingen, down on the border. Brother Baxter come, said, "Brother Branham," said, "you never seen such a mess down there, about four or five thousand people." And said, "And then, all around, the FBI is going to catch you on the platform tonight and expose you."
I said, "Well, I'm sure glad of that."
Said, "You know that little girl that was healed the other night?"
122 I was coming home from... Going into my room, and I heard something crying, and I looked around. I thought maybe it was someone who'd been attacked. It was a girl. And I looked back; I said... And I went back, I said, "What's the matter, Madam?"
And it was two little girls standing there, about seventeen, eighteen years old, apiece, their arms around one another, crying, said, "Brother Branham!" I knowed then they knowed me. Said, "We... I brought her all the way down here." Said, "She has to go to the insane institution." And the little girl was in my meeting up at Lubbock, Texas. And said, "I knowed if I'd ever get her down here and you'd have prayer for her, I believe God would heal her."
Well, I thought, "What faith." And I said, "Well now, sister, can you get her..." And just then I said, "You come down here in a yellow roadster, didn't you?"
Said, "Yes."
And I said, "You're mother is an invalid."
She said, "That's right."
And I said, "You belong to the Methodist church."
She said, "That's exactly the truth."
And I said, "On the road down, you almost turned over. You and this girl was laughing when you come around where it was half concrete and half asphalt, and you was turning a bend."
She said, "Brother Branham, that's the truth."
I said, "And THUS SAITH THE LORD, the girl's healed."
126 The next day she was burning the town up, telling everybody, going around about it. 'Course they didn't know her there, whether she was ever in that condition or not. And then that day I... Brother Baxter said, "Brother Branham," said, "them girls are down there packing their suitcase." And this is one thing that he didn't know that I knowed. Our finances had went plumb down. I never let him talk about it. But one of them girls had put nine hundred dollars in that--in that offering the night before that, and put that finance on the top. Now, he didn't--he don't know it to this day; but I knowed it. See? That I... God told me it would be all right.
127 Brother Baxter said, "Brother Branham," said, "you better let me make a little pull." Said, "They've had some of these here Divine healers down here that's just pulled this people."
I said, "Nothing. No, sir, you won't do it. Brother Baxter, whenever you make Pulls for money like that, that's the time you and I just shake one another's hands as brothers; I'll go alone." See? I said, "You don't do that." I said, "God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and everything belongs to Him. I belong to Him. He'll take care of me."
He said, "All right."
And that very night he said, "Brother Branham, look here. Somebody... Look here. Here's an envelope in here, no name on it; it's got nine one hundred dollar bills in it, just exactly what we need to catch up."
I said, "Brother Baxter..."
He said, "Forgive me."
130 So then I knowed it was that girl. So then--then the next day, Brother Baxter said, "Brother Branham, they're down there packing up their clothes, crying."
I said, "What's the matter?"
Said, "You better go down and see them."
And I went down to the room where they was at. I said... "What room they're in?" I went down there and knocked on the door. I heard them crying. I knocked on the door, and the girl come to the door; she said, "Oh, Brother Branham, I'm so sorry." She said, "I've caused you all this trouble."
I said, "Trouble? What's the matter, sister?"
She said, "Oh, I've got the FBI after you."
And I said, "Oh, is that right?"
Said "Yeah." Said, "I guess I testified too much around town today and everything."
I said, "No."
And she said, "Brother Branham, the FBI is over there, is over there, going to expose you tonight."
I said, "Well, if I--if I'm doing anything wrong, I need to be exposed." See? I said, "Sure. If preaching the Gospel needs to be exposed, well, let's do it. See?" I said, "I--I--I live by this Bible, and what this Bible don't say... This is my Defense right here. See?" And I said, and he...
134 She said, "Well," said, "I'm just sorry that I did what I did."
I said, "You never done nothing, sister."
She said, "Well, are--aren't you afraid to go over there?"
And I said, "No."
She said, "Well, the FBI are there."
I said, "Well, I had them come in my meeting before and they got saved." I said, "Mr. Al Farrar..."
Captain Al Farrar, many of you know of his conversion up there in Tacoma, Washington, was saved right down in shooting gallery. Come in the meeting, he said, "I followed this man for two years. And I heard about the finances, and I've watched it, and went through everywhere." And said, "It's the Truth; you're not listening to a fanatic tonight; you're listening to the Truth." Said, "One of the men on the police force, that I had a doctor look at his child and sent him through the prayer line," and said, "the child was told just exactly what was wrong with it, and what had happened to it. And he said, 'In eight days it'll be back to school, a polio case.'" And said, "On the eighth day the baby went back to school." Said, "I've followed him for two years," before ten thousand people. There it's all; there's a picture of it in the Seattle meeting, in--in your book. He said, "I want you all to know that you're not listening to some religious quack, you're listening to the Truth." Captain Al Farrar. And the next day I led him to God, and he received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, in a shooting gallery, down in a big place out there.
137 I said, "Maybe this guy will do the same."
So she said, "Are you afraid to go over there?"
I said, "Afraid? Why, certainly not. Certainly not. Why should I be afraid when God sent me to do it? He's the One to fight the battle, not me." So I said, "Now, I want all of you to stay away." And so I...
We went over to the meeting that night; the place was packed out. And the custodian there come out, said, "Reverend Branham, I hired ten Mexican children." Said, "Look at here, 'Reverend Branham to be exposed tonight by FBI, a fanatic religionist,'" or something another like that. And said, "It's on every one of them cars...?... out" Said, "I hired ten little Mexican children, go to pull them all off and put them over here." Said, "Oh, I feel like if I could get a hold of that guy..."
I said, "Don't worry, sir. God will get a hold of him." See? I said, "Just let him alone."
140 So I come on over. And that night when we come in, I'll never forget it, walked into the room. Brother Baxter sang "Only Believe." He said, "Now, Brother Branham says tonight for us to leave the building." Said, "I'm going back in the back end and set down." He said, "They are fixing to expose him tonight here on the platform." He said, "I've seen him in many hard battles and seen God take his place." Said, "I--I'm just going back to set down."
I walked up, I said, "I was just reading a little article here that where I was to be exposed tonight at the platform here." I said, "I--I want the FBI agents now to come forward and expose me up here on the platform." I said, "I'm standing here in defense of the Gospel; I want you to come and expose me." And I waited. I said, "Maybe they're not here yet." I knowed where I was at. He'd already showed me in my room up yonder, what was going to happen, 'fore I left. You see? And I said--I said, "Maybe I'll wait just a little bit. May we sing a hymn?" And somebody come up and sang a solo.
142 I said, "Mr. FBI agent, are you inside or out? I'm waiting to be exposed. Would you come forward?" Nobody come. I kept wondering where it was at. The Lord told me that--what it was. It was two backslidden preachers, and I--I was watching it. I seen a black shadow hanging in the corner. I knew where it was at. I looked over there, and it moved right up and went up into the gallery like this. A man with a blue suit on, one with a gray.
I said, "Friends, there's no FBI. What's the FBI got to do with preaching the Bible?" I said, "Certainly not. It wasn't two FBI agents to expose me. But here's the exposure; there they set right up there, them two preachers right there." And they got down. I said, "Don't get down like that." And two of them big Texans was going to go up there and grab a hold of them. I said, "No, brethren, this is not a flesh and blood affair, just set still. God will take care of that."
144 I said, "Now, brethren, look, while you're up there, look this a-way." I said, "If... You said that I was Simon the sorcerer; under witchcraft I was bewitching the people." I said, "If I am Simon the sorcerer, then you are the men of God. Now, you come down on this platform, and if I be Simon the sorcerer let God strike me dead. And if I be God's prophet, you come down and let God strike you dead. Now, we'll see who's the right and wrong. Now, you come on down. We'll sing a hymn." Out of that building they went, and we never seen them since. See? I said, "Come on. If I'm Simon the sorcerer, let God strike me dead. And if I'm God's prophet, then God will strike you dead when you come to this platform. If I am truth before God, God will let you die on this platform." They knowed better. That's right. They knowed better. They'd heard from other places. That's right. So don't never think but what God's still God; He answers.
145 Now, this witch of En-dor, she called up the spirit of Samuel, and Saul talked to Samuel. Now, you might wonder how that could be done. It cannot be done today. No, sir, because the blood of bulls and goats was only a-waiting for the time of fulfillment. When a man died in them days... Preachers, back me up if you think it's right. When a man died, he died under the atonement of an animal, and his soul went into paradise. And there he stayed until that to the--to the day of redemption. And his soul was in there.
146 Let me draw you a little picture here. How many read my article, or the article they wrote about me in "Reader's Digest" here, about in October--November's issue? All right. Did you notice how that was? Did you notice about two or three weeks before that, this great famous medium here that's been tried since way long time ago, her, Mrs. Piper... Did you? Has everybody ever read that, Miss Pepper's article in the "Reader's Digest"? Isn't it strange how them two spirits...
How much time have I got? Not but just a little. Twenty after, just I'll have to hurry. I know you got... Look, excuse me for a minute.
148 You know, there's--there's false. There's a true and a false of everything. If I give you a dollar, and I say, "Is this a good dollar?" And you'd look at it; it'd have to look pretty much like a real dollar or you wouldn't believe it. Is that right? So it'll have to be really a good imitation.
And if Jesus said the two spirits in the last days would be so close till it would deceive the very elect if possible, religious people. Now, remember. Now, there ain't nothing out there in them old cold--old cold formal outside; they have just a form of godliness. You see? But these two spirits are real spirits; it'd be so close till it'd deceive the very elect, how it was working side by side in the last days. Did Jesus say that? He did.
150 Now, watch, friends, I'm going to draw you a little picture; I want you to look at here just a minute. And give me your undivided attention, 'cause I'm going to give you a parable, and then you'll see it.
Now, in the "Reader's Digest," it wrote up there. I was standing out there. We had twenty-seven hundred people waiting to get prayed for, standing out there. You read the article. And a man come down from Canada, and he had a little boy that had been to Mayo's and John Hopkins, a serious brain disease that drawed its little hands in like this, and drawed its legs up under it, and they said, "There's not even an operation or nothing can be done."
152 So he took it back to Canada. He said, "I'm not whipped yet." You get November's issue of the "Reader's Digest," and it's called the--the--"The Miracle Of Donny Morton." And--and then said that the--in there, that the--that the man said, "I'm not whipped yet, because I know a faith healer named William Branham that caused two of my friends who was deaf and dumb to speak and hear."
And they called to try to find where I was at in--in America yet. And I was over in Costa Mesa, California. And if... The article when you read it, get ready to cry. It'll just break your heart, how he went through snowdrifts and everything else with that baby. He said, "Be careful, Donny." Said, "Now, we're not defeated." And the little boy couldn't even smile, hardly; he was so afflicted. Said, "We're not defeated; we're going to ask God. We'll go to God's prophet and ask him."
154 So then they come through the snow. And they finally got down there, and the mother was coming with them, and they didn't have money enough to go by airplane, so they sent the mother back, and the boy and daddy had to come on a bus, and how they rode all the way from Winnipeg, Canada, to Costa Mesa, California. And they got in there, broke, and the father tells about had to change the little diapers on it, little boy about seven or eight years old, just perfectly helpless. And how he was, couldn't get a chance to eat nor nothing, and said his little boy could just hear him talk and he could tell the way his eyes looked that he was--he was trying to smile, you know, and know that he'd--he'd tell him different sights he would seeing over in America.
155 And when they got in there to California, they said to the traveler's aid, what he come to see. He said, "Come to see a Divine what?" And a big question mark.
'Course, you could imagine what America said about it. You see? See, that's us. See? "We so smart. We know everything, you know, and there's no need of telling us anything. We got it all wrote down." See?
So then, so, "A Divine what? Come all the way from Winnipeg, Canada?" Why, they thought that was horrible.
158 Anyhow, the newspaper catched a--a car and sent him over there. And he said, when they got to the line, where it was at, said twenty-seven hundred people was waiting to be prayed for. But said, when they seen that deformed, little looking boy, and that poor daddy with his cap on, his ragged coat, said everybody just stepped aside and give him his place. When he hit the platform...
It's against the rules to swap a ca--prayer card. Somebody must come to the meeting and get your own card. If they ever caught in the line, swapping prayer cards on somebody else, the prayer card's dishonored. See? Because you must come, hear the instructions and know how to receive it. It's up to you. You can't get it for someone else. You have to come, get it yourself, so you hear. Some big person said, "If, well, I don't believe much in this thing, but maybe if he'll heal me, I..." See? And then that causes a fuss at the platform, so they just cull that thing out before it gets there.
160 So when the boy started, or the father started on the platform ahead of the people, Billy asked him for his prayer card. He didn't have any. Said, "Then I'm sorry, sir." Said, "You'll have to wait."
He said, "All right." Said, "I'll wait." Said, "I'll just take my turn like the others, then." Said, "I didn't know I had to do this."
And so I was talking to someone; I happened to hear it. I seen that father go away, and I said, "What was the matter?"
He said, "He didn't have a prayer card."
And Something said to me, "Bring him back."
So I said, "Bring him here." And the father come up, and the tears running down his face, needing shaving and... And he--he walked up, and here's the "Reader's Digest" said the... I asked no questions, but looked right straight in the face of the baby, told the baby where it was from; it had been to Mayo's Clinic; and all about what was the matter with it, how sick it had been, and everything.
164 And said the father started crying, and started to leave. And said he started off the platform, and he turned around, he said, "That's right, sir." He said, "But will my baby ever live?"
I said, "That I can't say." I said, "Just a moment." I seen a vision appear. I said, "You won't want to believe this, because Mayo's and Hopkins both said that operation couldn't be performed on that brain, but I tell you what you do. You, tomorrow, you just go ahead with this baby. Within the next three days you're going to meet a black-headed woman on the street, and that woman's going to ask you what's the matter with that baby. And then she's going to tell you of some little country doctor out here that can perform that operation, and you won't want to believe it, because that Mayo's turned it down and said it was impossible to be done. But that's the only chance your baby has, through the power of God, the mercy of God and that operation. Now, if you believe me to be His prophet, go do as I tell you." Like putting the figs on Hezekiah, and so forth.
He said, he turned around and said, "Thank you," walked off.
166 Two days or more had passed, and he was down on the street one day, and a lady walked up, said, "What's the matter with your baby?"
Said, "It's got a--a brain disease." And he was going on talking like that. And, well, they--they thought it was awful bad, you know.
So he said just in a few minutes something taken place. She said, "Sir, I know someone who can do that operation."
He said, "Lady, look, Mayo Brothers give it up and said it can't be done." Said, "A man up here was praying for it, named Brother Branham." Said, "He's made a prayer for the baby." He said, "Wait a minute. Black-headed, wearing a gray coat suit." Said, "That's her." Said, "Where is that doctor?" And he told him. Took him up there and the doctor performed the operation; the baby got well.
170 Now, that come through the "Reader's Digest." You see? And Mayo Brothers called me in on an interview for that. Said, "Reverend Branham, what did you do to the baby?"
I said, "Nothing, I never touched it. I only told what God told me to tell it. The man obeyed it."
Now, the funny thing about it, about two weeks after that, or two weeks before that, or three, in the "Reader's Digest" maybe a month ahead, Miss Pepper's article come through. Now, she's a genuine witch or a medium. Now, there's a real one, and there's somebody impersonating. They've had that woman since 1897. She's over a hundred years old now in New York, both deaf as a post. The "Reader's Digest," get... I think it come along about two months or a month before mine, and you can find it, the early fall. Mr. Baxter had it here the other day. If I'd have thought of it, I'd had him... I knowed I was going to say this, I'd--I'd have had it with it. And I can get it for you. And it give about twelve or fourteen pages. She was just an ordinary housewife. And she fell into a trance one day, while in suffering, and she begin to speak to the dead. And they've had that woman all over the world everywhere. They took her to England. Changed her clothes even, many times, and see if there's slip-ups and things, and got over there and disguised someone with a mask on their face, a Greek, and played out like he was an Englishman. And she told him all about. And he--he--he wanted to call one of his dead partners.
173 Now, the only thing she... All over the world, and here's the "Reader's Digest" said there, here a few nights ago, or a few months ago, one of them things was exposed. A man was supposed to kiss the ghostly hand of his mother, and the next day it was proved in police court that he only kissed a piece of cheesecloth. A lots of people impersonating a medium, they're only these little old readers setting out on the side of the street, which are not mediums in the beginning. They're nothing but bogus impersonators. But there is a real medium.
And we religious people, we've got a lot of impersonators on both sides. Now, hold still for a few minutes.
175 Now, notice. That Mrs. Piper is a real medium. And the magazine said, "Here's one thing that can be assured, that when a man dies he isn't dead; he's living somewhere, because that woman calls their spirit back and talks to the people."
"Now, what does she do, Brother Branham? Do you believe it?" Yes, sir. The Bible says so; that's the reason I believe it. And she is of the devil. Spiritualism is the devil's trick. Now, notice, now watch them two.
And then you ought to have seen the letters fly on to me then when my article followed hers. Isn't it strange that just before the end of time God spoke these things, and the "Reader's Digest" is published in every language under heaven. See? Notice, isn't it strange they followed one another?
178 Now, here come letters in, said, "Brother Branham, that proves you're nothing but a medium." Said, "That proves it. Look at here; you told that woman where she going to find... Look at this woman?"
I said, "Wait a minute. I got an official letter out," pardon me, "to send to the people." I said, "How little you preachers know." I said, "Instead of baptizing your body, you need your brains baptized." That's right. You don't stop to think of things. You don't try to consider it."
That's the same way they did in the other days. They seen Jesus; they knowed He could--He knowed the secrets of their heart. He knowed what they was doing like that. And they said, "He's the chief of the devils; he's a Beelzebub, the best fortuneteller in the world." They didn't stop to try to figure it out to see that was the Son of God. They wasn't spiritual enough to know it. That's it. They read over the thing. Sure, Jesus was supposed to come in Jerusalem riding on a mule, and so forth, but they looked at it as the second coming.
181 And the same thing today, they're looking over the top of the real thing. Hallelujah. That's right. I know that God's here this afternoon, and I know I'm taking a lot of your time, but you got to see this, friends. If I never see you again, you got to know what demons are, and you got to know what truth and error is. And it's so close, you got to separate the thing.
Now, remember, it ain't going to be out there, something way over on this side like the Pharisees, or something way back on that side. It's right up here in the door, right near it. Watch it. Now, if I took...
183 Let's take them two cases. If I took and give you the dollar... Now, if I give you a bogus dollar (We'll use a parable so you can see it.), the first thing that you'd do, if you're a smart man, if you pick up a dollar and looked at it, the first thing, you'll feel it and see what it's made out of. Is that right? You'll look at what it's made out of. You'll look at its worthiness. A real dollar is not made out of paper; it's part paper and silk. You see? And the first thing, you'll have to look at the value of it. That's the first indication.
And now let's take her over on this side, and take the Lord over on this side, that's dealing with us.
185 Now, look, the first thing you have to notice, everything... Watch her article. In the fifty-some odd years of her fortunetelling, and calling up the spirits of the dead, she hasn't one time mentioned God, Christ, Divine healing, deliverance, judgment, or nothing. There's nothing but frolic and folly in it.
But over on this side it's constantly God, judgment, coming of Jesus, Divine healing, power of God, deliverance. Look at the value of it. You don't see fortunetellers and witches out preaching the Gospel. What's the matter with people? My. Notice.
187 And the real thing to do, if you want to find out whether it's a real dollar or not, if it looks so much like it, take the numbers off of it and send it back to the mint. And if there's numbers there that correspond with that, there's a silver dollar waiting for it. Is that right?
Well, then, brother, take what she did and take it back to the Bible, you'll find it's the witch of En-dor's.
And you take what's here, you'll find it back, it's on the Book here in the Mint: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever, certainly, His same work. He didn't go and folly and nonsense with people. It was for some good, to help somebody to lead them to God. Amen! I'm not "amening" myself, but "amen" means "so be it." And I'm--I believe It. I know It's the truth.
190 Now, notice, here you are. Now, quickly now, 'cause I don't want to keep you no longer.
Here, let's give a little picture here, a little mental picture. Here's a stream right through here, right down through this way, coming down through life (Now, watch as it channels. Give me your undivided attention now, so you won't miss this.), right down like this. Now, in this little channel here dwells mortal beings, you and I. And now, in there, let's look what it is. It's a mass of folly and everything else, but once in a while you'll see a light. You see blackness and streaks; that's gaiety and carrying-on, devils getting the people. Oh, they dress fine, my, and highly cultured as they can be, polished scholars, but still the devil. But there's borned again setting in there.
192 Now, these people in this channel is influenced from two different sides. Now, on this side going this a-way there's a trinity. And on this side going this a-way there's a trinity.
Now, when, now the first place, on this side, is souls of the unjust. When a man dies he goes into a place waiting judgment. Jesus went and preached to them souls that were in prison there. The next is demons. The next is the devil and hell. Going up, the first... Now, them in there is ghosts, spirits of dead men that never repented. They're waiting for the judgment. The only thing they know is folly and what they did.
Now, up here, these Christians are influenced from above. This is parable. Up here is another Ghost, the Holy Ghost, the Ghost of a Man, Christ Jesus. The Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost influences His church in this realm of mortal.
The devil, by these spirits, influence men. Now, look, the next is Angels. The next is God. Now, every mortal here is influenced by one of these worlds. You see what I mean?
196 Now, what that woman done, she broke into that realm, and she's speaking to those demon-possessed men who were beginning, the spirits of those fallen angels that repented not back there in the beginning, and allowed their beings to be possessed of them, and they're waiting for judgment.
And these over here are influenced and born again by the Spirit of God. And the devil has his prophets, and God has His. See what I mean? It's influence, and there we go. Stop to separate it. Jesus, when He was here on earth...
Now, today He could not break into that realm and get a righteous man out of that realm; he couldn't do it, 'cause righteous men are not in there where they used to be in paradise. No, sir. Paradise was done away with when the Blood of Jesus took it away. Looky here. My!
199 If I could think of how that Jesus, when He died, He went and preached to the souls that were in prison. He died a sinner, knowing no sin, yet our sin was on Him. And God, for His sins, sent Him to hell. The Bible said He went and preached to the souls.
Some people say, "Brother Branham, I can't understand it." Said, "Jesus rose on the third day. He died Friday afternoon and rose up on Sunday morning, why, He was only dead one day."
He said, "Within them time." For He had one Scripture in the Bible that He could stand on. For David, a man that backslid later, but he was saved, but a prophet under the inspiration of God, said, "I'll not leave His soul in hell, neither will I suffer My holy One to see corruption." And he knowed three days and night that that body would set in corruption, and God had done said to the prophet, "He'll not see corruption." ...?... [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.]
201 Hallelujah. He took God's Word. He defeated Satan every time on It. He defeated death on the Word of God. Hallelujah. He defeated death. And when they killed Him, and He died a sinner, my sins and your sins upon Him. He went down; I can see Him knock at that door there.
And them lost souls come out and said, "Well, who are you?"
He said, "Why didn't you listen to Enoch? Why didn't you listen to those other prophets that preached?" They was condemned. "I'm the Son of God that once lived. I... My Blood's been shed. I come to tell you; I'm fulfilled what the prophets said I'd do." Right on down a past the demons, right into hell, taking the keys of death and hell away from the devil, hung them on His side, started back up. Hallelujah.
Getting early in the morning. Hallelujah. Let's draw a little picture here. Early in the morning, there's another group laying over here in paradise. They're not there now.
204 Now, you good Catholic friends that believe in the intercession of saints, if you're talking to a saint in your church, that man is a sinner; he's in hell, or--or waiting yonder for his judgment. And if he was a saint, he's in the glory of God and can't come back. That's right. I can prove that. The blood of--blood of bulls wouldn't take away sin, but the Blood of Jesus divorced sins.
205 I can see Jesus go up to there where, paradise, there's old Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and them in there, Samuel and all the rest of them in there. I can hear Him knock at the door. [Brother Branham knocks on the pulpit--Ed.] Amen. Oh, I love this. It gets me right, feel kind of religious now.
I can see Him look over there, and hear him say, "Who is out there? Who is it there?" He said, "I... This is Abraham talking. Who is it?"
"I'm the Seed of Abraham." Amen. I can see Abraham come to the door and open up the door. He said, "I'm the Seed of Abraham."
Daniel said, "Looky there. There's the Stone that I saw hewed out of the mountain."
I can hear the people say, "There He is. I've seen Him, like dust under His feet, the clouds a-moving, when the rams--clapped their hands, the leaves, and they all shouted." Oh, I can see the different ones there in Paradise, waiting for Him.
208 I can hear Him say, "Come on. It's breaking daylight over in Jerusalem; you got to go out of here. We're going up, because you trusted in the blood of the bulls and goats, waiting for the time that My Blood. But My Blood's been shed up yonder on Calvary. I am the incarnate Son of God. All sin debts is paid; we're on the road out." Hallelujah. Glory to God.
I can see Abraham grab Sarah by the arm, and here they come, right out. In Matthew 27 when he came out, I can hear him make a little stop around in Jerusalem there. And the first thing you know, I can see old Caiaphas and them standing on the street, saying, "They tell me that guy rose... Say, who is that guy going there, that young fellow, that young girl?"
Not old no more, that was Abraham and Sarah. And they vanished. They looked, "Somebody's watching us." They could've vanished just like He went through the wall, the same kind of a body. Hallelujah. That's right. Here's all the prophets and them walking around, looking around the city.
And Jesus led right on up in, or up over the stars, moon, clouds, and led captive captive, give...?... gifts unto men. Jesus sets today at the right hand of the Father, climbed up there, set down, till all His foes be made His footstool.
212 And today, my dear Christian friend, demons are working on every hand. And God's Spirit's moving right out on the other hand, to counteract it every time. Hallelujah. There you are. Newspapers and digests and everything else is declaring it. They're watching it, they can't see what it is. What is it? It's the foreshadow of the great showdown that's coming pretty soon between God and devil. Get on God's side and be right in your heart. Amen.
213 Here not long ago I was up at Toledo, Ohio, having a meeting. I'm going to close.
You see what I mean about demons? They are working. They're very religious, just as religious... Oh, they go to church every Sunday, repeat the Apostles' Creed, and sing the "Doxology," oh, my, just as religious as they can be. "Brother Branham, you mean that's the truth?"
That's the kind of a spirit that hung Jesus Christ to the cross. And Jesus said, "You're of your father, the devil."
Now, some of them said, "Oh, Russia's the antichrist." Never. Russia's not the antichrist. The antichrist's going to be so religious that it'll fool the very elect if possible. Remember, God takes His men, but never His Spirit; the devil takes his men, but never his spirit. Now, there they are, suit yourself; I'm only responsible for truth.
217 Demons working... Yesterday I had them in a physical realm; today I'm showing you in the spiritual realm, where they are in the religious realm, where they were out yonder, called cancer, and they call this, that, and the other. But I've proved to you by the Bible, they're devils. Now, over here today, here they are again in the religious realms, very religious, very pious.
If you'll begin, brother, and think. Cain, the very beginning of it, was a very religious man. Esau was a very religious man. Judas was a very religious man. It's religion. It ain't the outside world; it's right in the ranks. Watch that: demonology. Maybe a little later on sometime I can get to it a little more; we're getting late.
Condemn no one. Love everybody. If you can't love from your heart, then Christ is not with you.
220 At Toledo, Ohio, I went into a little restaurant I been eating at a place, a little Dunkard place, lovely little place. They were so nice. That afternoon they'd closed up, to go to Sunday school. And when they did, I had to go across the street to a worldly little old place, and I walked in there. And I know it's illegal to gamble in Ohio. And here stood a State Police with his arm around a girl, his hand hanging here on her bosom, playing a slot machine. The law of our states and nation, all gone: pitiful.
I trust on Christ the Solid Rock, I stand, all other grounds is sinking sand: nothing else left. That's right.
222 I looked back there, and there was a beautiful young lady, probably in her teens, nineteen, eighteen, nineteen years old. And what they were doing, them boys back there around the table, it was horrible. I set down there. And now to my surprise, setting right here where a lady come over, said, "Will you have a chair?"
I said, "Thank you. I wanted breakfast."
And setting in a chair, here set an elderly lady, as old as my mother, fifty-five, fifty-eight years old. She had on a little pair of those little ungodly clothes they wear.
They claim it's cool. Science says, "You're crazy." Certainly, it's not. You just want to show your naked self. It's a shame, a disgrace. A lady won't put them on. A woman will, but a lady won't.
225 And then, so then they... There she was, setting there. Her poor flesh was flabby. She had that kind of an orchid-looking manicure, or what you call it, on her lips, and a little bitty haircut like a man, and fuzzed all up; what the Bible said, which is a disgrace. And a woman, that a man...
The Bible claims, if a woman cuts her hair, a man's got a right to put her away in divorcement, because she's not honest with him. We have to get down and preach the Bible here some of these days. Said, "If she bobs her hair, she dishonors her husband." If she's dishonorable, she ought to be put away. You can't marry another one, but you can put her away. Whew. Boy, that--that's going hard; I can feel it. But that's the truth.
227 Oh, it used to be we had it in the Holy Ghost realms, but we let down the bars. Old brother used to say, "We let down the bars, we let down the bars, we compromised with sin. We let down the bars; the sheep got out, but how did the goats get in?" You let down the bars. That's what was the matter; you let down the bars, the world and the church mixed together. Just like the Moabs and the so forth, and Balaam, and how he married among them, that's just exactly the same thing today. And the church is all polluted, and the Pentecostal age is the Laodicean age, which gets lukewarm, and spurted out of God's mouth. And out of the whole group, God calls His remnant and takes her home (That's exactly right. That's exactly.), through the resurrection.
228 And there she was setting there, lip manicure all over her face, and it was all over it like that. And she had this here black stuff over her eyes, and she was sweating; it was running down. And the poor old thing might have had great-grandchildren. And she was setting there with two old men, and one of them with a big old scarf around his neck, and it in June, setting there. And he got up, and was kind of drinking, and she was drinking too, and she was looking around.
I thought, "O God. God, why don't You just wipe the thing off of the map? Why don't... Does my little Sharon, my little baby, my little Sarah and my little Rebekah have to be raised up in that generation to come to face such stuff as that?" I thought, "Look out here in these parks and things and what goes on." I thought, "O God. Oh, I'm glad You took Sharon if it was Your will. Does my little Rebekah and little--little Sarah have to be raised up under such stuff as that?" Which, and them people call them--sing in the choir and everything. And I thought, "Isn't that a shame?" I thought, "God, how can Your holy righteousness stand it? Look like that Your righteous indignation would fly out there and--and blow this place up."
230 And I heard the Angel of the Lord, said, "Come aside." I walked over there. And when He got through with me, I felt like a different person. "What are you condemning her for?"
I said, "Look at that, the way she is." And here's what He...
I saw a vision. I saw a world like this, around, another world. But this world here, it had a rainbow around it, and that was the Blood of Christ that protects God's wrath. He couldn't look upon that. He--He'd destroy the thing right now, because He said, "The day you eat thereof, that day you die." So He'd do it.
Then I thought like this. I seen myself. Although I didn't do that, but I was a sinner anyhow. And then the Blood of Jesus Christ acts to us like a bumper. See? That when I sin, my sins hit Him and jarred His precious head, and I could see the tears and Blood running down. "Forgive him, Father; he don't know what he's doing." And I'd do something else and hit it. "Forgive him, Father."
233 If it ever passed Him, I'd have been destroyed. And if I'd never accept His grace, and the day my soul sails beyond that, I'm already judged. I've rejected. There's nothing left but judgment. Judged, I've already been judged. God said, "The day you eat thereof, that day you die." You're judged right at the judgment seat this afternoon, your attitude towards Christ.
And then I thought, "Yes, that's right." And I seen one day I crawled up to Him. I seen my old book laying there, a sinner, there laid everything on it. And I seen my sins is what was doing it, and I said, "Lord, will You forgive me?"
Took His hand in His side, got some Blood out, wrote it across the top, and said, "Pardoned." Throwed it back in the sea of forgetfulness, to remember it no more. It was gone forever. He said, "I forgive you, but you're condemning her."
That changed my idea. I said, "Lord, have mercy."
236 After I come out of it, I walked over and set down. I said, "How do you do, ma'am?"
She said, "Oh, hello."
And I said, "If you'll pardon me," I said, "I'm Reverend Branham, a minister."
She said, "Oh, excuse me, excuse me, Reverend Branham."
I said, "Lady..." I was... Told her the story. I said, "I was standing there, and I was condemning you in thinking what a horrible thing. Maybe you've got children."
She said, "I have."
I said, "What caused the way to go wrong?" She begin to unfold the story to me that would rend the heart of anything. I said, "I--I was asking God why didn't He just rake such off the earth? Here you here with these two drunken men, and you're drunk yourself." And I said, "Someday that Blood that's holding God's wrath off from you, you're going to die one of these days, and then you're... You're a free moral agent now; you can reject or receive." And I said, "But someday your soul's going beyond there, where there's no mercy left. And if you die in your sins you're already judged, and you're going to hell."
And you know what? That woman slipped out of that seat there in that restaurant, and we had a prayer meeting like you never heard in your life, and she come to Christ. What was it? Don't condemn them; tell them the Gospel. They're demon possessed; they're mortals in this realm. They're influenced from over here. Our influence comes from above. Let's see what we can do with our talents to win others to Christ.
241 Our heavenly Father, thanking Thee for Thy goodness and mercy. I'm sorry, Lord; maybe the people, I kept them here so long. But being the closing of these afternoon meetings like this, I wanted to tell them, "Demons." And I chopped too much of it in one place, in one sermon, but maybe they can pick it out here and there and understand what I meant. You know the intentions of my heart of bringing it.
May people go from here this afternoon, and men and women, watch every move they make, but live happy and free. May they know that God has saved them. And may they look to Him, forget about all the isms and things that's around them, and live peacefully and soberly, and in the fear of God. And then, God, when You want to use them for anything, You can speak directly to them and send them wherever You want them to go or whatever You want them to do. May people be humble and find Christ in their heart. Forgive us, Lord, of our shortcomings, every one of us.
243 And we know that--that Satan's gone about like a roaring lion, everywhere, devouring what he will, wearing religious cloaks. O God, these poor little children, look at them, everywhere. They're open and exposed to the people. And I pray Thee God to be merciful to them, and save all the lost, heal the sick. And, God, we realize that these old devils of sickness coming upon Your children, that You have an atonement laying yonder to take care of that. And all the devils that would cause them to sin, You've got an atonement laying yonder that'll take care of it. And I pray that You'll grant it in Jesus' Name. Amen. I wonder if there's...
1Zaujímalo by ma, koľkí poznajú túto malú pieseň, zatiaľ čo vás dnes pozdravujem v najsrdečnejšom kresťanskom obecenstve a láske Kristovej, koľkí poznajú túto malú pieseň 'On sa o teba stará'? Poznáte to? V poriadku, pozrime sa, či to dokážeme zaspievať. Poznáš to, sestra? Poznáš?
(Nuž) On sa o teba stará,
On sa o teba stará;
Cez slnečné svetlo alebo tieň,
On sa o teba stará.
Ó, to je v poriadku, skúsme to teraz znovu.
On sa o teba stará,
On sa o teba stará;
Cez slnečné svetlo alebo tieň,
On sa o teba stará.
2Náš nebeský Otče, ďakujeme Ti, že sa o nás staráš a prejavil si nám Svoju lásku, natoľko, že si poslal Svojho milovaného Syna, nevinného Syna Božieho, aby zaujal miesto vinných hriešnikov. Ako Ti ďakujeme, že si sa o nás postaral a pamätal na nás, aby si to urobil. A sme tak vďační, Pane. Sme radi, že sa tu dnes popoludní zhromažďujeme pod klenbami nebies a prosíme o Tvoje požehnanie pre toto zhromaždenie. Udeľ to, Pane, aby každý muž, žena, chlapec alebo dievča, ktorí sú tu, aby teraz hlboko študovali v Písme. Čelíme svetu, ktorý je ovládaný satanom. A, Otče, modlíme sa, keď študujeme moc démonov a to, čo robia ľuďom, aby si nám dal veľkú vieru a nech budú učinené mnohé veľké znamenia a divy. Lebo to prosíme v Kristovom Mene a na Božiu slávu. Amen.
3Dnes popoludní študujeme, rýchlo to rozoberieme a myslím, že asi o pätnásť minút skôr, to je stále na tému 'Démonológia.'
A teraz, práve pred chvíľou som dostal posolstvo od mojich priateľov, brat Beeler, a v polovici júla začínam v Afrike. Takže tým je to vybavené; teraz to máme naplánované. A brat Baxter v tom čase nemôže ísť, tak budem musieť ísť do Afriky sám. Tak ísť tam s... nech sa... Musíte sa za mňa teraz modliť, aby mi Pán pomohol, pretože to tam teraz skutočne budem potrebovať medzi... Očakávam na tom zhromaždení aspoň dvestotisíc ľudí.
5A mám tu napísané videnie. Chcem, aby ste z neho mali úžitok. Stalo sa to v decembri. Raz ráno som bol v izbe, keď tam vošiel Anjel Pánov. Ja... Vidíte, keď som tam bol, neposlúchol som Boha a chytil som amébu. Vie niekto, čo je to améba? Je to parazit, ktorý vás dostane, takmer vás zabije. A pretože som urobil niečo, čo mi Boh povedal, aby som nerobil. Koľkí počuli ten príbeh? Myslím, že niektorí z vás sú tu. Viem, že ľudia okolo modlitebne počuli príbeh o tom, čo sa stalo. Boh mi povedal, aby som išiel na určité miesto a aby som sa držal ďalej od tohto miesta a potom sa vrátil naspäť na iné miesto. A ja som nechal kazateľov, aby ma od toho odhovorili.
No, kazatelia sú úžasní a sú to moji bratia, ale hľaďte na to, čo vám hovorí Boh. To je pravda. Vidíte, máte jedno poverenie.
6Koľkí si pamätajú, že v Biblii tam raz boli dvaja proroci? A jeden z nich, Pán mu povedal, riekol, „Choď na určité miesto a nechoď do... Vrátiš sa inou cestou,“ a tak ďalej. A povedal, „Zatiaľ čo tam budeš, tak nejedz ani nepi.“
A stretol ho ďalší pravý prorok a povedal, „Pán ma stretol potom, ako stretol teba. A povedal, 'Poď ku mne domov.'“ A prorok počúvol na to, čo povedal ten druhý, a prišiel tým o život. Rozumiete? Robte to, čo vám hovorí Boh, bez ohľadu na to, čo hovorí ktokoľvek iný.
8No, my sme v tomto videní, On... Prebudilo ma to, trinásteho septembra alebo decembra. A ako som tak sedel na kraji postele, premýšľal som, aká bude moja budúcnosť. Keď som sa sem vrátil, boli pripravení hodiť ma na infekčné oddelenie; tie parazity ma skoro dostali. Keď som dorazil do tejto krajiny, oni ma skúmali. A z Božej milosti ma jednoducho nechali ísť domov, pretože to bolo veľmi roztrúsené.
A modlil som sa a išiel som k tým kazateľom a povedal som, „Pán mi povedal, aby som nešiel touto cestou.“
Povedal, „Ó, Boh hovorí aj s niekým iným okrem teba.“
Povedal som, „Kórach mal raz takú myšlienku.“ A tak... Ale ja som išiel, zobral som nejaké listy a položil som im to na nohy a povedal som, „Pamätajte, v Mene Pánovom, ak sa tam vydáme, bude to zlyhanie a všetci za to zaplatíme.“ A iste sme za to zaplatili. Ó. Všetci sme skoro zomreli. Tak potom, keď som sa vracal...
10V tých cudzích krajinách máte tak mnoho toho, s čím zápasiť. Keby vás napríklad uhryzla malá blcha, to by spôsobilo, že budete mať kliešťovú horúčku. A tá maličká vec, keď vás to uhryzne, ak cítite, že vás to svrbí, nemôžete to poškriabať. Pozrite, ak je to taká malá čierna vec, nevyťahujte to. Má malú hlavu, zavŕta sa do kože, takto sa točí a zakliesni sa. Ak by ste ho vytiahli, odtrhli by ste mu hlavu; je v tom vírus a to by vás paralyzovalo. A tak, neškriabte to, ani ho neodtŕhajte. Len vezmite trochu loja a on dýcha cez chrbát, kvapnete naňho loj a on vychádza.
Potom je tam taký malý komár, ktorý ani nevydáva zvuk; prelieta okolo a len sa vás dotkne. To je všetko; a už máte maláriu.
12A potom je tam niečo, čomu hovoria had mamba. Ak vás uhryzne, potom, ako vás uhryzne, žijete už asi len dve minúty.
A je tam žltá kobra; po jej uhryznutí žijete asi pätnásť minút. A jedna z nich bola tak blízko môjho syna, že až jej mohol položiť ruku na hlavu, bola takto pripravená uhryznúť predtým, ako sme vystrelili.
A je tam čierna kobra. Ó, tam je jednoducho všetko možné. A potom nebezpečenstvá od divokých zvierat, samozrejme, levy, tigre alebo leopardy a všetko ostatné, s čím sa treba v džungli popasovať. A potom tie choroby, sú tam jednoducho všetky druhy chorôb.
A keď tam pôjdete, musíte čeliť tomu všetkému. Okrem toho, je tam čarodejnícky lekár, ktorý vás vyzve v každej príležitosti. A majú tam všetky svoje povery a také veci. Ale aká úžasná vec je vidieť nášho Pána, ako to takto zo strany na stranu odveje preč a potom idete ďalej.
A v ten deň si pamätám, ako som tam stál, ako dobre, čo sa tam stalo. Poviem vám to niekedy na inom zhromaždení, pretože sa dnes popoludní chcem venovať mojej téme 'Démonológia.'
16Ale teraz, a toto je to, nad čím som premýšľal, keď som tam sedel, aký bude koniec? A keď som sa vrátil spoza mora, viem, že sme tam mali okolo stotisíc obrátení, keď sme tam boli. A prišiel ku mne starý brat Bosworth. Povedal... povedal som, „No, brat Bosworth?“
Povedal, „Som na teba tak hrdý, brat Branham.“ Povedal, „Si na začiatku života,“ a povedal.
Povedal som, „No, myslím, že už je po všetkom.“ Povedal som, „Mám už viac ako štyridsať a myslím, že som bojoval dobrý boj a dokončil beh.“
Povedal, „Máš viac ako štyridsať?“ Povedal, „Toľko som mal predtým, ako som sa obrátil.“ Povedal, „A stále mi to ešte ide.“ Bol už blízko osemdesiatky a práve...
Pomyslel som si, „No, asi je to tak.“
Tak on povedal, „Nie, ty si teraz úplne nový Branham; vieš, ako lepšie viesť svoje zhromaždenia a všetko také.“ Povedal, „Ak by si len niekedy zasiahol Ameriku tým správnym spôsobom, tým správnym zhromaždením, kde by si mohol zostať šesť alebo osem týždňov na nejakom mieste, a nechať to tam poriadne umiestniť a urobiť na okolí reklamu,“ povedal, „urobil by si niečo pre nášho Pána.“ Tak sme len takto ďalej pokračovali, tak to bolo veľmi pekné.
21Potom som po chvíli videl určité videnie, keď som bol v Amerike, a prišlo to ku mne a vrátilo ma to späť do Afriky a ukázalo sa mi to isté zhromaždenie, ktoré bolo tam pred Durbanom. A to prvé zhromaždenie odišlo do histórie, išlo to smerom na západ. Povstalo tam druhé zhromaždenie, a keď sa to stalo, bolo to stále väčšie ako to prvé zhromaždenie. A On... Počul som výkrik a z neba prichádzal Anjel, mal veľké Svetlo.
A Anjel Pánov, ktorý tu vedľa nás stojí, stál (vždy stojí po mojej pravici, tu na tejto strane) a to tam stálo a krúžilo to dookola a videl som, ako vedľa mňa stojí tento muž. On nie je... No, keď ho vidíte, to nie sú videnia. Je to tak skutočné, ako keď sa pozeráte na mňa. No, môžete ho počuť kráčať a hovoriť s vami. A keď on... Čokoľvek, on je tak skutočný ako čokoľvek... To nie je videnie, ten muž tam stojí práve tak ako vy. A jeho hlas je práve taký istý, aký by bol môj alebo váš. Ale videnie, niečo, čo sa pred vami otvorí a vy to takto vidíte... Ale tento muž len prišiel a stál tam.
23Tak mi povedal o tom, čo sa bude diať. A povedal to. Tento Anjel zostúpil a povedal mi, aby som sa otočil a pozrel sa týmto smerom. A teraz to vyzeralo, že to je smerom k Indii. A nehovorím, že to je v Indii, ale je to blízko. Ale boli to Indovia, pretože Afričania sú veľkí urastení ťažkí ľudia. Niektorí z nich sú vysokí takmer sedem stôp a vážia, ó, dvestoosemdesiat alebo tristo libier, statní: Zulus, no, Šanghaj a Bashotu, ó, existuje mnoho rôznych kmeňov. V ten deň, keď som tam hovoril, sedelo tam pätnásť rôznych kmeňov.
25Povedal som jedno slovo, ako napríklad „Ježiš Kristus, Syn Boží.“ Predtým, ako to prešlo cez všetkých tých tlmočníkov, mohol som sa ísť napiť vody. Jeden by povedal... A všetky tie zvuky... Keď som počul letničných ľudí hovoriť v jazykoch, myslel som si, že možno jeden hovorí jedným druhom zvuku a druhý hovorí druhým, ako by to vôbec bolo možné? Ale verím, že Biblia má pravdu, a viem, že má, keď povedala, „Žiaden zvuk nie je bez významu.“ To je pravda. Niektorí z nich povedali, jeden z nich, „Blrr blrr blrr blrr,“ a to znamenalo, „Ježiš Kristus, Syn Boží.“ Ďalší povedal, „Klak klak klak klak,“ a to bolo „Ježiš Kristus, Syn Boží,“ v jeho jazyku. Takže bez ohľadu na to, o aký druh zvuku ide, niekde to má nejaký význam. To je pravda. Bez ohľadu na to, aký je to hluk, pre niekoho to niečo znamená. A keď bol... Oni to rozdali.
26A všimol som si to po mojej ľavej strane, keď zostúpil ten Anjel a uvidel som tam niečo ako zástup. A boli to muži, ktorí okolo seba mali niečo, čo vyzeralo ako nejaká plachta, a bolo to omotané a zviazané, podobne ako okolo malého bábätka, plienka. A tam to bolo. A tak ďaleko, ako som len dovidel; nebolo to nič iné ako ľudia. A potom tento Anjel zapálil veľké kmitajúce svetlo a začalo sa to takto kývať tam a späť. A nikdy v živote som nevidel toľko ľudí.
A potom sa tento druhý Anjel ku mne skutočne priblížil a povedal, „Na tom zhromaždení je ich tristo tisíc.“ A mám to tu zapísané. A napíšte si to na nejaký kúsok papiera, ako som to hovoril o tom malom chlapcovi, ktorý bol vzkriesený vo Fínsku. Zapíšte si to na list Biblie alebo niekde, že na tomto zhromaždení bude zhromaždenie, že... A budete to počuť z nejakého zdroja, tristo tisíc ľudí sa zúčastní na tom zhromaždení. No, uvidíme, či to tak nie je. To bude trojnásobok toho minulého. Rozumiete? Tristo tisíc ľudí, ktorí sa zúčastnia toho zhromaždenia. A som tak šťastný, že sa tam dostanem, neviem, čo mám robiť, lebo rád získavam duše pre nášho Pána.
A bolo tam vidieť naraz tridsaťtisíc jednoduchých pohanov, ktorí prišli k Ježišovi Kristovi pri jednom zavolaní ku oltáru, tridsaťtisíc jednoduchých pohanov...
29No, poďme rýchlo k našej téme. Včera sme študovali techniku démonov. Dnes som rozmýšľal, ako koná Boh. Neviete, aká je to sloboda dostať to von. No, ja nie som učiteľ; som ďaleko od toho, aby som bol vykladačom Biblie. A ja som... Moje vzdelanie je obmedzené na siedmu triedu, tak to je... A tak, vyšiel som zo školy asi pred dvadsiatimi piatimi rokmi, takže je to dlhá doba. A ja nemám veľké vzdelanie, ale všetko, čo viem, je to, čo dostávam skrze inšpiráciu.
A ak tá inšpirácia nepasuje s Bibliou, potom je to nesprávne. Rozumiete? Musí to byť Biblia. Nezáleží na tom, aká to je inšpirácia, ona musí prísť... Tu je Boží základ. Nie je položený žiaden iný základ, iba tento. A tak, čím je toto... ak by to, čo by som povedal, bolo v protiklade s Týmto, nech sú moje slová klamstvom, pretože Toto je Pravda. Vidíte, vidíte? A ak by vám aj anjel povedal niečo, čo by bolo iné ako Toto, Pavol povedal, „Nech je pre vás prekliaty.“ Dokonca aj anjel svetla... No, existuje mnoho veľkých vecí. Ja len... Jediný... Vybral som si dva dni, aby som túto tému dostal medzi ľudí, to bolo včera a dnes popoludní.
30No, dôvod, prečo som to urobil, je ten, že som sa trochu pokúsil zistiť, či mi Boh pomôže. Mám niečo na srdci. A to je to, že po tomto veľkom posolstve a po tom, ako Sám Boh potvrdí to, čo som povedal ako pravdu v Jeho Slove. Najprv skrze Jeho Slovo, a potom skrze znamenia a zázraky. No, myslím, že s pravdou Evanjelia pre Cirkev, som zaviazaný pred Bohom, aby som toto priniesol pre Cirkev. To je pravda. Ľudia sú tak rozídení v toľkých rôznych organizáciách a ich sektárskych častiach, až je to zlé. Všetci sme Božie deti, keď sme znovuzrodení. To... Vidíte? A pravda v tej veci je, že Boh chce, aby sme vedeli, že sme Jeho deti.
31No, pamätajte, Šalamúnov chrám bol prinesený z celého sveta. Tu prichádza jedna skala vyformovaná týmto spôsobom a jedna skala vyformovaná tamtým spôsobom a jedna osekaná týmto spôsobom a jedna osekaná tamtým spôsobom, ale keď sa to spojilo, nebolo počuť ani hluk píly, ani zvuk kladiva; všetko zapasovalo rovno na svoje miesto. Boh bol Inštruktorom tej veci.
A Boh má cirkev, ktorá sa nazýva zhromaždenia, a jedna je cirkev Božia a jedna táto a iná tamtá, ale keď sa všetci zídu spolu, budú jednou veľkou skupinou bratskej lásky a Boh dá - zhromaždí tú cirkev spolu a vezme ju hore do neba.
33Každý slávny obraz, predtým, ako je vôbec zavesený v sieni umenia, musí byť zavesený, musí prejsť najprv sieňou kritikov. Ten muž, ktorý namaľoval ten...?... Alebo, prepáčte, neviem si spomenúť na jeho meno, každopádne, on namaľoval 'Poslednú večeru,' zabralo mu to celý život. Namaľoval ten obraz. Bolo to asi dvadsať alebo desať rokov, myslím, to obdobie medzi maľovaním Krista a Judáša. A uvedomili ste si, že na tom slávnom obraze, že ten istý muž, ktorý pózoval ako Kristus, o desať rokov neskôr pózoval ako Judáš? To je pravda. On to urobil. Desať rokov hriechu, od veľkého operného speváka, ktorý zaujal miesto Krista, prišiel na miesto Judáša. Nemusí vám to trvať desať rokov; môže to trvať desať minút, urobí to s vami to isté. To zmení váš charakter v hriechu. Ale každopádne, ten obraz prešiel cez všetkých tých kritikov.
34A to je to, čo si myslím o Božej Cirkvi, o skupine, ktorá je povolaná... No, nemyslím tým nejaký posmešok. Preplával som sedem morí a som na svojej tretej ceste okolo sveta a ľudia hovoria, „Náboženský fanatik, náboženský fanatik.“ A prehľadal som svet a ešte nikdy som nenašiel náboženského fanatika. To je len meno, ktoré diabol prilepil na ľudí. To je celé. Nie je nič také ako náboženský fanatik. A mám štatistiku všetkých 668 rôznych cirkví, ktoré tam sú a sú zorganizované vo svete, a nie je ani jedna z nich, ktorá by sa volala Náboženský Fanatik. A to je od vlády. Nie je ani jedna cirkev Náboženský Fanatik, o ktorej by som vedel. Tak to je len niečo, čo diabol tak nazval.
Ale teraz, v tom všetkom, vo všetkých týchto veciach, Boh namaľoval určitý obraz. A kedysi to bolo tak, že tieto malé cirkvi zvykli byť tu vonku, niektorí z vás...
35Sledujem týchto šedivých mužov. Môj chlapec, včera som bol v izbe a študoval som; a prišiel nejaký kazateľ a povedal, „Chcem si podať ruku s tvojím otcom.“ Samozrejme, môj chlapec bol vychovaný pri bratovi Baxterovi a pri tých, ktorí len takto rýchlo povedia, „Nie.“ To sa mi nepáči. Rozumiete? Nezáleží na tom, či... Samozrejme, že nemôžem byť sluhom ľudí a aj Boha. Ale myslím, že si so svojimi bratmi rád potrasiem ruky. Rád to robím. Niečo na tom je; rád si potrasiem ruku s kazateľom; nielen s kazateľom, ale s ktorýmkoľvek Božím dieťaťom. Rád to robím.
Nevedel som o tom, až kým mi o tom o niečo neskôr nepovedala moja žena. No, ak by mohol povedať tomu kazateľovi, „Moment; on je vzadu na modlitbe a uvidím, čo povie.“ No, to by bolo lepšie. A tak mu ohľadom toho dávam malú nápravu, aby to nerobil. Rozumiete?
36A tak je to pravda, nemôžete byť stále k dispozícii, ako to pred chvíľou povedal ten brat. Ak to robíte, potom ste v noci vyčerpaný. Rozumiete? Ľudia idú hovoriť a každý má možno nejakú chorobu, a keď o tom idú hovoriť, rýchlo tam je Anjel Pánov, aby o tom povedal.
Je tu niekto, kto sa teraz díva rovno na mňa, vie, že je to pravda, len pred pár minútami alebo asi pred hodinou a pol: jedna pani, ktorá tu sedí, a ktorá nevedela, čo to bolo, keď ku nej jedného večera prehovoril Anjel Pánov a povedal jej niečo a ona tomu nemohla rozumieť. Ale dnes sa to stalo, takže ona teraz vie, čo to znamená, keď ku nej hovoril.
A ja som tam stál a rozprával som sa s ňou, Anjel Pánov vyšiel rovno naspäť a povedal jej, aký bol jej problém a o čom to všetko bolo, a o čom premýšľala, a o jednom z jej milovaných a ako Boh prehovoril a povedal, že to potvrdí, a čo sa bude diať. Tak to je presne tak, ako to bude. Vidíte, Boh to tak povedal.
38No, čo potom párkrát, keď každé... A potom... A každé videnie vás jednoducho viac a viac oslabuje. Rozumiete? A prvá vec, ktorú zistíte, keď prídete večer do zboru, ste tak veľmi vyčerpaní, že len ťažko viete, čo máte robiť. A teraz sa za mňa modlite (Vidíte?), pretože to je z jedného zhromaždenia na druhé, a na ďalšie. Ak by toto bolo jediné zhromaždenie, to by bolo iné, ak by som išiel teraz domov a nemusel by som niekoľko mesiacov nič robiť, išiel by som von a vzal si svoj vlasec a išiel by som na ryby, ale musím ísť z jedného zhromaždenia rovno na ďalšie, z jedného rovno na ďalšie. Rozumiete? To je to, čo to robí.
39A vy sa všetci modlite, vy ľudia, ktorí ste tu vzadu v publiku. Včera večer mi povedali, že som hovoril s určitou osobou, a tá na to volanie nereagovala. No, to je dosť nebezpečné. Rozumiete? Keď to povedali, no, niekedy sú tam svetlá, ktoré nesvietia, a je medzi nimi nejaká temná škvrna.
A pozorujem Anjela Pánovho, keď tu stojí, môžem to cítiť. Potom pocítim, ako sa To odo mňa hýbe, a dívam sa, a opustí ma To a niekde To prejde a trochu To tam bude stáť a môžem To vidieť. A To sa zablyskne a príde videnie. Potom uvidím to videnie. Budem sledovať, ako vyzerá ten človek, ktorý tam je. A nájdem tú osobu a potom hovorím. To je to, čo prebieha. To je to, čo sa deje. Nemusíte to každému hovoriť, ale to je to, čo sa deje. Rozumiete? Všetko je to v duchovnej sfére.
41Potom, ak tá osoba neodpovie, to by bolo podobné, ako čítať tu Bibliu a hovoriť, „Nič na tom nie je,“ a odísť od toho preč. Rozumiete? Takže to je dosť zlé. Tak buďte v strehu, počúvajte, pozorujte. Keď On hovorí, odpovedzte. Rozumiete? A jednoducho buďte pripravení kedykoľvek odpovedať.
A tak moja žena a brat Beeler a mnohí z nich, oni mi o tom dnes ráno hovorili, že to bolo volanie na nejakého muža ohľadom jeho brata, ktorý s ním mal nejaký problém, a tak ďalej, a ten muž neodpovedal na to volanie, tak tomu sa nedá pomôcť. To je medzi Bohom a tým človekom. To videnie ma potom opustilo a už som ho nemohol nájsť, pretože on nereagoval. Tak pozorujte a buďte v strehu.
43No, keď vezmeme túto tému démonológie a hovoríme o démonoch. No, ľudia, keď poviete „démon“, hneď potom si začnú myslieť, „Ó, nejaký fanatizmus alebo niečo také.“ Ale démoni sú tak skutoční ako Anjeli; oni sú práve tak skutoční.
A diabol je práve tak skutočným diablom, ako Ježiš Kristus je Synom Božím. On je diabol. Nebo je rovnako skutočné. A ak nie je niečo také ako peklo, nie je nič také ako nebo. A ak nie je večné požehnanie - alebo lepšie povedané večný trest, potom nie je žiadne večné požehnanie. Ak nie je deň, nie je ani noc. Rozumiete? Ale s takou istotou, ako že je deň, existuje aj noc. Len čo... Tak isto, ako existuje Kresťan, musí byť tiež pokrytec. S takou istotou, ako existuje niekto, kto je pravý od Boha, je tiež niekto, kto to napodobňuje. Rozumiete? Je to presne pre a proti, čierne a biele, stále cez celý život vo všetkom, všade je to pravdivé a falošné. A existuje falošné evanjelium; a existuje pravé Evanjelium. Existuje skutočný krst; existuje falošný krst. Existuje predstieraná viera a existuje tiež skutočná. Existuje skutočný americký dolár; existuje falošný americký dolár. Existuje skutočný Kresťan, existuje skutočný pokrytec (vidíte?), ktorý len napodobňuje. Tak zisťujete, že to všetko ide spolu. No, nemôžeme to oddeliť; Boh necháva padať dážď.
45Nech mi tu On dovolí trochu prehovoriť. Koľko je tu kazateľov? Zodvihnite ruky. Všade naokolo, kazatelia, pozrime sa na vaše ruky. No, nech vás Boh žehná, bratia. No, teraz to neberte ako náuku, ale tesne predtým, ako pristúpime k tejto životne dôležitej téme, poviem vám jednu z... Koľko je tu letničných ľudí, zodvihnite svoje ruky všade naokolo. No, vy všetci ste letniční? V poriadku. Poviem vám, čo som zažil, keď som prvýkrát prišiel do vašich sfér.
Bol som rovno tu v Indiane, na určitom mieste zvanom Mishawaka. Prvá skupina letničných ľudí, ktorú som kedy videl, sa nazýva Letničné zhromaždenia Ježiša Krista, myslím, že tak, alebo niečo také, úžasná skupina ľudí. No, oni sa spolu zorganizovali a nazývajú sa Zjednotení letniční. Rozišli sa s ostatnými kvôli problému vodného krstu. To z nich nerobí žiadneho pokrytca. V ich radoch je mnoho skutočných, naozaj pravdivých Kresťanov znovuzrodených z Ducha Svätého. A Boh im dal Ducha Svätého skrze krst v Ježišovom Mene a On dal ostatným krst Duchom Svätým, keď boli pokrstení v Otca, Syna a Ducha Svätého. Tak Boh dal Ducha Svätého tým, ktorí Ho poslúchajú, tak kto To dostal, kto Ho potom poslúchol? Tu to máte.
46Ak by ste len zabudli... A tí, ktorí chcú byť jednosmerní, nechajte ich takých byť a pokračujte a buďte bratmi. To je celé. Nerobte... To, čo to urobilo, bolo to rozlámanie medzi - rozlámanie (Rozumiete?), rozlámanie, roztrhanie, rozlámanie bratstva, vykročenie a oddelenie sa. Nie veru; nie sme oddelení; sme jedno. To je pravda.
47Ale keď som tam stál, pozoroval som tých ľudí. No, ja, práve som prišiel z nejakého obyčajného malého južného baptistického zboru, no, videl som tých ľudí, išiel som tam a oni tlieskali, kričali, „Jeden z nich, jeden z nich, som rád, že môžem povedať, že som jeden z nich.“
Pomyslel som si, „Ó. Fíha.“ Prvá vec, ktorú zisťujete, niekto sem prichádza, tancovali tak silno, ako len mohli. Pomyslel som si, „Čo za cirkevné spôsoby, nikdy som také veci nepočul.“ Naďalej som ich sledoval naokolo a premýšľal, „No, čo sa s tými ľuďmi deje?“
49No, počuli ste ma rozprávať môj životný príbeh, kde som tam narazil na to zhromaždenie. Ale toto je jedna vec, ktorú som nikdy nepovedal, nikdy som to nepovedal na verejnosti. Tak oni... No, ak si to chcete vymazať z vášho nahrávača, no, môžete tak urobiť. V poriadku. No, takto som to sledoval a teraz som si pomyslel, „No, tí ľudia sú tí najšťastnejší ľudia, akých som kedy v živote videl.“ Nehanbili sa za svoje náboženstvo. My baptisti sa raz za čas trochu hanbíme, viete. Rozumiete? A keď sa idú modliť, viete, postavia sa za ventilátor, viete, ale my... Ale tí ľudia takí neboli; brat, oni mali náboženstvo cele vo vnútri, vonku a všade okolo seba.
50No, pamätám si ten večer, keď som vystúpil na pódium. Povedali, „Nech všetci kazatelia prídu na pódium.“ Bol to určitý zjazd. Museli to mať tu hore na severe kvôli tomu farebnému problému, kvôli zákonu Jima Crowa z juhu. Tak sa tam stretli všetci zovšadiaľ. A tak som tam sedel a on povedal... No, teraz tam je... V priebehu toho dňa a v ten večer som si vypočul všetkých tých kazateľov; povedali, že nejaký starý kazateľ, bol to starý farebný muž, ktorý vyšiel, na hlave mal len zopár vlasov, mal veľký dlhý kazateľský kabát, viete, zamatový golier a bolo horúce počasie. Ten biedny starý chlapík tam takto vyšiel a povedal, „Moje drahé deti.“ Povedal, „Chcem vám povedať,“ začal svedčiť. Bol som asi najmladší, ktorý sedel na pódiu. Tak potom povedal, „Poviem vám.“ Vzal svoj text z Jóba, „Kde si bol, keď som položil základy zeme? Oznám Mi, kde sú upevnené.“
51Všetci títo ostatní kazatelia kázali o Kristovi bežným spôsobom; počúval som ich, páčilo sa mi to, ale nie tento starý chlap. Vrátil sa tam dozadu asi desaťtisíc rokov predtým, ako vôbec započal svet. Išiel hore do nebies a prešiel dolu cez oblohu, čo sa tam dialo. To, o čom oni kázali, to sa dialo cez deň, on kázal o tom, čo sa dialo v nebi. Priviedol Krista naspäť na vodorovnej dúhe, tam niekde vo večnosti. No, on kázal asi päť minút, až tam ten starý človek, niečo ho uchopilo, vyskočil do vzduchu a udrel pätami o seba a vykríkol, „Juchúú!“ Mal tam asi toľko miesta, ako mám ja tu hore. Povedal, „Nemáte pre mňa dosť miesta, aby som kázal,“ a odišiel.
No, pomyslel som si, „Ak to urobí toto človeku, ktorý má okolo osemdesiat rokov, čo by to potom urobilo mne?“ To je to, čo chcem. To je to, čo chcem.
53Ale to, čo ma dostalo, bolo toto. No, teraz hovoríme o démonoch. Čo ma dostalo, sledoval som dvoch mužov. Jeden sedel na jednej strane a ten druhý na druhej. A keď spadol Duch, oni povstali a hovorili v jazykoch, kričali a zbeleli okolo úst a ja som si pomyslel, „Ó, keby som to len mohol mať.“ Vidíte, aké nádherné. Ó, to je, jednoducho to milujem. No, išiel som von do kukuričného poľa. A hovoril som vám môj životný príbeh; čítali ste to v knihe. Spal som celú noc a na ďalšie ráno som sa vrátil. Tak som si povedal, že to jednoducho otestujem. Mám spôsob, ako robiť veci, o ktorých nevie nikto, iba Boh a ja. Tak to je... Beriem podobenstvo a idem sa stretnúť s tým ľudským duchom. Vidíte to rovno tu na pódiu. Rozumiete? A tak som sa dal do reči s jedným z tých mužov. Videl som ich. Sadli si blízko seba a len sa držali za ruky a tancovali a vykrikovali. Pomyslel som si, „Ó, to mi znie skutočne.“
A chytil som ho za jednu ruku a povedal som, „Dobrý deň.“
A povedal, „Dobrý deň.“ Veľmi milý človek, taký džentlmen, povedal... Povedal som, „Ty si kazateľ?“
Povedal, „Nie veru, som len obyčajný člen.“
A musel som s ním viesť krátky rozhovor, aby som zachytil jeho ducha. Rozumiete? On to nevedel; nikto to nevedel. Nikdy som o tom nič nepovedal, to bolo roky predtým, ako som to spomenul. Tak potom... Ale keď som zistil, zaznelo to úplne dokonale, že to bol kresťanský muž; ten človek bol absolútne svätý Boží. Pomyslel som si, „Veľmi dobre, brat.“
57Ale tá zvláštna časť, keď som zachytil toho druhého, to bolo v protiklade. Dokonca žil so ženou, ktorá nebola jeho manželkou. To je pravda. A videl som, ako to ku mne prichádza skrze videnie. Pomyslel som si, „Ó, to nemôže byť.“ A ten človek... Pomyslel som si, „No, takže teraz, tento duch, ktorý je medzi tými ľuďmi, je nesprávny, a hotovo.“
A tak, v ten večer, keď som išiel na zhromaždenie, a požehnania padali, modlil som sa k Bohu a Duch Svätý, Anjel Pánov svedčil, že to bol Duch Svätý. A ten istý Duch, ktorý padal na tohto muža, padal aj na tamtoho muža. A keď Duch padol, obaja vstali a obaja kričali, vykrikovali a chválili Pána a hovorili v jazykoch a tancovali. Povedal som, „Nemôžem to pochopiť, Pane, ja... Oni... Nevidím to v Biblii, kde by to mohlo byť správne.“ No, povedal som, „Možno som zvedený.“ Rozumiete? Povedal som...
No, ja som ohľadne Biblie striktne zásadový. Musí to byť Toto. Rozumiete? A povedal som, „Pane, Ty poznáš môj stav a ja to musím vidieť v Tvojom Slove. A nedokážem pochopiť, kedy Duch Svätý padá na tohto človeka, Duch Svätý padá na tamtoho človeka; a jeden z nich je svätý a ten druhý pokrytec. A viem, že to tak je.“ A viem to bez... Mohol by som toho muža vziať von a dokázať mu to, alebo rovno tam ho zavolať a povedať mu o tom.
59Tak, ako by som to mohol urobiť pri tom mužovi, ktorý tu sedel včera večer, nebol ničím iným ako podvodníkom, ak tam niekedy nejaký sedel. A ja som to mal vyvolať, ale on by vstal a začal by robiť rozruch, tak som to kvôli zhromaždeniu nechal tak. Ale poznal som ho. Tak veru. Je tam jeden, dvaja z nich, ktorí tam minulý večer sedeli, patria do určitej cirkvi priamo tu v meste, skutoční kritici. Videl som ich. Ale ak by ste to urobili, vyvolali by ste len problém. Urobil som to mnohokrát. Nechal som ich len tak. Rozumiete? To je v poriadku. Boh vie; On je Sudca. Nech ma len raz vyzvú, a potom uvidíte, že sa niečo stane, nechajte ho. Ako démon, ja som nikdy nevyzýval nejakého démona. On len prišiel ku mne a vyzval ma. To je to, kedy sa Boh pustil do práce (Vidíte? Je to tak.); a vy ste videli, čo sa stalo. V poriadku. Ale ja som to len nechal tak. On to zhromaždenie sťažoval, pretože ten duch po celý čas do mňa dobiedzal. Rozumiete? A tak som len pokračoval.
60Ale teraz, títo muži, nemohol som tomu rozumieť. A bolo to o dva alebo tri roky neskôr, keď som bol tu hore v Green's Mill v Indiane, pri skautskej rezervácii; bol som späť v starej jaskyni, kde som sa išiel modliť. A tam vzadu som povedal, „Pane, nemôžem pochopiť, čo sa stalo s tou skupinou ľudí. Tí najlepší ľudia, akých som kedy v živote stretol, a nerozumiem, ako to môže byť nesprávny duch, keď to je... Ak potom... Ty poznáš bezúhonnosť môjho srdca. Vieš, ako Ťa milujem a ako som Ti slúžil. A ten istý Duch, ktorý je tu so mnou, bol na tých ľuďoch. A tu To bolo na tom chlapíkovi.“ Tak som to nemohol pochopiť.
61A Pán zostúpil vo Svojom milosrdenstve a ukázal mi to. Tu je to. Najprv to musí byť podľa Písma. On povedal, „Vezmi si svoju Bibliu.“ A vzal som Bibliu. A myslím, že som tú Bibliu držal desať minút, bez toho, aby niekto - aby prišlo nejaké Slovo. Čakal som len pár minút. Počul som Ho, ako znovu povedal, „Obráť sa do Židom 6 a začni čítať.“ A ja som to urobil. A keď to prišlo tam, kde bolo povedané, „Dážď prichádza často na zem, aby ju polial a pripravil, obliekol, pre čo je... ale tŕnie a bodľač, ktoré sú blízko k zavrhnutiu, ktorých koniec má byť spálenie...“ A ja som to zachytil rovno tam.
Pomyslel som si, „Tu to je. Vďaka Bohu. Tu to je.“ Rozumiete?
62No, Ježiš povedal, „Rozsievač vyšiel rozsievať semená,“ či nie? No, všetci ste tu Kresťania. Každý každopádne zodvihol svoje ruky: letniční, znovuzrodení Kresťania. V poriadku, oni... A On povedal, „Rozsievač vyšiel rozsievať semená, a zatiaľ čo zaspal (medzi tým bola jeho smrť), a kým spal, prišiel nepriateľ a zasial na to pšeničné pole kúkoľ.“ Čo je to kúkoľ? Tráva, burina a podobne. Teraz... „A keď hospodár (kazateľ) videl, ako tento kúkoľ rástol, povedal, 'Dovoľ mi, aby som ich vytrhal.' On povedal, 'Nie, nie. Tiež vytrhneš pšenicu. Nech obaja rastú spolu.'“
63Tam vonku je pšeničné pole. Sú tam popínavé rastliny, žihľava, smradľavá burina a všetko ostatné. Je to pravda? Ale teraz, tam je tiež pšenica. No, na zem často prichádza dážď, aby ju polieval. No, na čo je ten dážď? Nie na to, aby polieval žihľavu (No, sledujte to a dávajte pozor), nie na to, aby polieval popínavé rastliny. Dážď je poslaný pre pšenicu, ale žihľava a burina sú práve tak smädné ako pšenica. A ten istý dážď, ktorý padá na pšenicu, padá aj na burinu. A tá mizerná burina bude stáť takto rovno vystretá a bude šťastná a veselá, práve tak, ako malá pšenica povstane a postaví sa. „Ale podľa ich ovocia ich poznáte.“ Tu to máte. Rozumiete?
No, ten istý Duch Svätý môže požehnať pokrytca. To niektorých z vás Arminiánov vyradí, ale to je pravda. To je pravda. Potom hovoríte, že ide o svätosť, pričom tiež verím vo svätosť. Ale ten istý Duch, dážď, padá na spravodlivých aj nespravodlivých, ale podľa ich ovocia ich poznáte.
65Ak sa pozriem sem a pôjdem zobrať pšenicu, vezmem pšenicu, ale burina je celá zviazaná a ona žije v tom istom daždi, ktorý padol na pšenicu. A ten dážď nebol poslaný pre burinu; bol poslaný pre pšenicu. Ale dážď, ktorý bol na poli, pšenica, ktorá bola - burina, ktorá bola na pšeničnom poli, mala z dažďa práve toľko úžitku, ako mali tí ostatní. A ten istý dážď, ktorý spôsobil, že pšenica žila, spôsobil tiež to, že žila burina.
Všetky veci v tom prirodzenom znázorňujú tie duchovné, ako to učíme. Tu to je, démonológia, démoni, ktorí napodobňujú Kresťanstvo, a pritom s požehnaním. To nie je odstredené mlieko, bratia, ak to môžete prijať. Vidíte, vidíte? No, to je pravda.
67A tak, ja dnes nie som spasený kvôli tomu, že môžem vykrikovať. Nie som spasený preto, že by som sa cítil, že som spasený. Som spasený, pretože som splnil Božie podmienky tejto Biblie. Ježiš povedal, „Ten, kto počúva Moje Slová a verí v Toho, ktorý Ma poslal, má večný Život a nepríde do odsúdenia, ale prešiel zo smrti do Života.“ Verím tomu. To je pravda. A na základe tých podmienok som spasený, pretože Boh tak povedal.
Ak by mi povedal, že som spasený, pretože niekto povedal, „Prudký silný vietor mi udrel do tváre,“ to je nádherné, ale chcem vedieť, odkiaľ ten prudký silný vietor prišiel, predtým, ako by ma zasiahol do tváre. Rozumiete? No, aký druh života budeš žiť po tom, čo ťa zasiahol ten mocný silný vietor? Rozumiete? Vidíte, ste poznaní podľa ovocia. A tak, démoni môžu pôsobiť rovno medzi Kresťanmi. Veríte tomu? Pozrite sa na Pavla, Pavol povedal...
69No, tu je to, kde hnutie pozdného dažďa... Ak je tu niekto z vás, odpustite mi, ak niečo hovorím proti vám. Nepovedal by som proti vám o nič viac, ako by som povedal Zhromaždeniam alebo iným, a baptistom alebo komukoľvek inému. Pravda je to, čo je pravda. To miesto, kde ste vybočili, to bolo to, že z tých ľudí robíte prorokov a také veci, pričom to nie sú proroci. Proroci neprichádzajú skrze vzkladanie rúk a vyslanie; proroci sa rodia. Rozumiete? V Biblii je dar proroctva. Tam bola vaša chyba medzi darom proroctva a prorokom. Ten dar...
„Boh v rôznych časoch a rôznymi spôsobmi hovoril k otcom skrze prorokov, v týchto posledných dňoch skrze Svojho Syna Krista Ježiša.“ A Telo Kristovo má v sebe deväť duchovných darov, ktoré pôsobia. A dnes večer to môže byť na tejto žene, proroctvo, a nemusí to na nej byť nikdy po zvyšok jej života. Na ďalší večer to môže byť na tejto žene, nabudúce to môže byť na tomto mužovi, nabudúce to môže byť na tamtej vzadu. To z nej nerobí proroka, nikoho to nerobí prorokom. Je to dar proroctva, ktorý je vo vás.
71A predtým, ako ten človek alebo to proroctvo, môže byť dané cirkvi, musí to byť posúdené pred dvomi alebo tromi duchovnými sudcami. Je to pravda podľa... No, Pavol povedal, „Vy všetci môžete prorokovať jeden po druhom.“ Ak je niečo zjavené tomuto, nech je tamten ticho. No, podľa toho dnešného učenia by to potom z celej tej skupiny urobilo prorokov. Nie, letničná cirkev, všetko máme pokrčené. A to je ten dôvod, prečo Boh nemôže vojsť dovnútra, až kým tú vec nenarovnáme podľa Biblie. To je pravda. Musíte ísť správnou cestou. Ako postavíte dom bez toho, aby ste sa pozreli na plán? Rozumiete? Musíte začať správne.
72No, tam, prorok, nikdy ste nevideli nikoho stáť pred Izaiášom, Mojžišom. Jeden sa jedného dňa postavil, Kórach, a pokúsil sa s ním viesť spor, a Boh povedal, „Oddeľ sa, otvorím zem.“
Prorok sa rodí. Dary a povolania sú bez pokánia. To je predzvedenie Božie už od dieťaťa. Všetko bolo dokonale v poriadku, presne to, čo povedal, bola pravda a potvrdilo sa to a stalo sa to. To je Slovo Božie, ktoré prichádza k prorokovi. Ale dar proroctva je v cirkvi.
73No, povedali ste, „No, proroci sú v Starom Zákone.“ Ó, nie. Nový Zákon mal prorokov.
Agabus bol novozákonný prorok. Pozrite sa na Ducha proroctva, ktorý tam padol a hovoril Pavlovi o... Potom prišiel dolu z Jeruzalema Agabus a našiel Pavla, uviazal si okolo seba jeho pás a obrátil sa a povedal, „TAK HOVORÍ PÁN, ten, kto ho nosil, bude zviazaný reťazami, keď sa dostane do Jeruzalema.“ Agabus, ktorý sa postavil a povedal, predpovedal, čo sa stane, on bol prorok, nie človek s darom proroctva.
A ten dar uzdravenia a všetky tie dary, môj letničný priateľu, ty si to zamiešal. Dary sú v cirkvi, podliehajú akejkoľvek osobe v cirkvi, každému, kto je pokrstený do Tela. „Jedným Duchom sme všetci pokrstení do...“ A Biblia povedala...
„No, ja mám dar uzdravenia.“
No, Biblia hovorí, „Vyznávajte svoje chyby jeden druhému a modlite sa jeden za druhého.“ Nech sa každý človek modlí jeden za druhého. Nie sme rozdelená skupina; sme kolektívna zhromaždená skupina. Rozumiete? No, a to je to, ako niekedy pracujú démoni.
77No, sledujte, čo povedal Pavol, „Ak niekto hovorí v jazykoch a druhý vykladá a čokoľvek povedal, nech je to najprv posúdené, predtým, ako to cirkev môže prijať.“
No, to nebude nejaké citovanie z Písma alebo niečo podobné. Boh sa neopakuje. Ale to bude varovanie pre cirkev. Potom, ak dobrí sudcovia hovoria, „Prijmime to. V poriadku, bolo to od Pána.“ Druhý hovorí, „Prijmime to.“ Nech je každé slovo uznané na ústach dvoch alebo troch svedkov. Potom to cirkev prijme a ide sa na to pripraviť. Ak sa nestane to, čo to povedalo, potom máte medzi sebou zlého ducha. To je pravda. A ak sa to stane, potom ďakujte Bohu, to je Duch Boží medzi vami. Rozumiete? No, to je to, kde musíte dávať pozor a byť opatrní.
Tak sa nesnažte tlačiť. Keď mám modré oči, nemohol by som urobiť, aby som mal hnedé oči. Rozumiete? Musím sa uspokojiť s modrými očami. No, tam je to, kde pracujú démoni v oblasti duchovných ľudí.
79No, máme tu niečo hlboké a dúfam, že to nie je príliš hlboké. No, v 1. Samuelovej 28, chcem tu teraz prečítať nejaké miesto Písma. Chcem, aby ste pozorne počúvali. A chcem ukázať démonov, ukázať vám, ako pôsobia priamo v cirkvi, a ako má satan falzifikát za každú skutočnú vec, čo existuje. No, podľa Biblie môžete vidieť, že démoni prichádzajú medzi Kresťanov a napodobňujú.
A mnohokrát sme vyhlásili ľudí za Kresťanov, keď povedali, „Verím v Ježiša Krista.“ No, diabli veria tomu istému a trasú sa. To neznamená, že ste spasení.
V jednom z týchto večerov sa chcem dostať do vyvolenia, a potom uvidíte, čo znamená spasenie. Rozumiete? To nie je nič, s čím by ste vy mali do činenia na prvom alebo poslednom mieste, alebo nič, čo by ste s tým mohli urobiť. Boh spasí človeka bezpodmienečne. Chlapče, to ide hlboko, či nie? Mohol by som to dostať z vášho systému, keď sme pri tom. V poriadku.
81Abrahám bol počiatkom našej viery. Je to pravda? V poriadku, Abrahám mal zasľúbenie. A predpokladám, že Boh povolal Abraháma kvôli tomu, že bol veľký človek. Nie veru. On prišiel dolu z Babylonu, z krajiny Chaldeov, z mesta Úr, a Boh ho povolal a učinil s ním Svoju zmluvu bezpodmienečne. „Zachránim ťa a nielen teba, Abrahám, ale tvoje semeno,“ bezpodmienečne.
Boh učinil s človekom zmluvu a človek zakaždým porušuje svoju zmluvu. Človek nikdy nedodržal svoju zmluvu s Bohom. Zákon sa nikdy nedodržiaval. Nedokázali dodržať zákon. Kristus musel prísť a Sám zlámal zákon. Pretože milosť už poskytla Spasiteľa, Mojžiš poskytol spôsob úniku, a potom - vlastne únik; a potom ľudia, oni stále chceli niečo robiť. Človek sa vždy snaží urobiť niečo, aby sa zachránil, a pritom to nedokážete. Je to jeho povaha. Hneď, ako zistil, že bol nahý v záhrade Eden, urobil si nejaké zástery z figových listov. Je to pravda? Ale zistil, že nebudú fungovať. Nič, čo človek môže urobiť, vás nemôže spasiť. Boh vás zachraňuje bezpodmienečne, je to tak počas všetkých vekov. A potom, keď ste spasení, ste spasení.
83Pozrite na Abraháma. Tam bol ten človek, išiel tam a Boh mu dal zem Palestíny a povedal mu, aby odtiaľ neodchádzal. Každý Žid, ktorý opustí Palestínu, je odpadnutý. Boh mu povedal, aby tam zostal. Ak ti Boh hovorí, aby si urobil niečo iné, a ty to neurobíš, potom si odpadnutý. Je to pravda? V poriadku, nastalo tam sucho, aby to vyskúšalo Abrahámovu vieru. A namiesto toho, aby tam Abrahám zostal, nie, on tam nemohol zostať, odbehol a vzal Sáru a išiel asi tristo míľ (ak by som mal čas sa k tomu dostať) dolu do inej zeme.
A keď sa dostal tam dolu, potom tam dolu natrafil na tohoto veľkého kráľa, Abimelecha. Bol to mladý človek a hľadal svoju milú, a tak našiel Abrahámovu ženu Sáru a zamiloval sa do nej. A Abrahám povedal, „No, povedz mu, že si moja sestra a ja som tvoj brat.“
A tak, Abimelechovi sa to páčilo, tak povedal, „V poriadku, jednoducho ju vezmeme do hradu.“ A myslím, že tie ženy ju pripravili a on sa s ňou na druhý deň išiel oženiť.
86A Abimelech bol dobrý človek, spravodlivý muž. A tej noci, keď spal, zjavil sa mu Pán a povedal, „Si ako mŕtvy muž.“ On povedal, „Ten muž... Tá žena, ktorú si tam vzal, aby si sa s ňou oženil, ona je ženou iného muža.“ No, sledujte, „Žena iného muža...“
No, on povedal, „Pane, Ty poznáš čestnosť môjho srdca,“ spravodlivý, svätý muž. „Poznáš čestnosť môjho srdca. Ten muž mi povedal, že je to jeho sestra. A či mi ona sama nepovedala, že to je 'môj brat'?“
On povedal, Boh povedal, „Poznal som čestnosť tvojho srdca, a to je ten dôvod, prečo som ťa zadržal, aby si nezhrešil proti Mne. Ale to je Môj prorok.“ Haleluja.
Čím on bol? Odpadnutý a malý klamársky podvodník. Je to pravda? Ó, nie, neexistujú žiadne malé biele klamstvá; sú to buď čierne klamstvá, alebo to vôbec nie sú klamstvá. Ten muž, ktorý tam sedel, hovoril čierne klamstvo a hovoril, že to bola jeho sestra, pričom to bola jeho žena, snažil sa tomu vyhnúť a odpadol.
A tu stál spravodlivý muž pred Bohom a povedal, „Pane, Ty poznáš moje srdce.“
„Ale nevypočujem tvoju modlitbu, Abimelech, ale vezmi ho - vezmi ju späť a nech sa za teba pomodlí on. To je Môj prorok, jeho vypočujem.“ Áno, odpadlík, klamár, „ale to je Môj prorok.“ Je to pravda? To je Biblia.
92No, nechoďte príliš ďaleko tu na kalvinistickú stranu, „raz v milosti, navždy v milosti,“ pretože sa dostanete do hanby. Rozumiete? No, len chvíľu; tento týždeň budeme mať čas, aby sme to priblížili a ukázali, aká je to úroveň. Ale nemyslite si, že len preto, že ste urobili niečo zlé, že ste navždy preč. Si dieťa Božie; si narodený z Ducha Božieho; ste synovia a dcéry Božie a ovocie o sebe vydá svedectvo. Tu to máte.
93No, usádzame sa v tejto zemi. No, chcem tu prečítať šiesty verš.
A keď sa Saul dopytoval Hospodina, Hospodin mu neodpovedal ani skrze sny ani skrze urím ani skrze proroka.
A potom povedal Saul svojim sluhom: Vyhľadajte mi ženu, ktorá má vešteckého ducha vyvolať mŕtvych, a pôjdem k nej a budem hľadať dozvedieť sa skrze ňu.
(No, mohol by som tu niečo položiť, ak by to len...) Vyhľadajte mi ženu, ktorá má vešteckého ducha...
A jeho sluhovia mu povedali: Hľa, žena, ktorá má vešteckého ducha, je v Endore.
Vtedy sa preobliekol Saul, aby ho nepoznali, a obliekol si iné rúcho a išiel on a dvaja mužovia s ním, a prišli k žene vnoci. A povedal: Vešti mi, prosím, vešteckým duchom a vyvolaj mi hore toho, koho ti poviem.
A žena mu riekla: Pozri, ty vieš, čo urobil Saul, že vyplienil veštcov a vedomcov zo zeme! Prečo ty tedy vrháš smečku na moju dušu, aby si ma pripravil o život?
A Saul jej prisahal na Hospodina a povedal: Ako že žije Hospodin, nestihne ťa trest...
Vtedy riekla žena: A kohože ti mám vyvolať? A povedal: Samuela mi vyvolaj hore.
A keď uvidela žena Samuela, skríkla velikým hlasom, a riekla Saulovi: Prečo si ma oklamal, veď si ty Saul!
A kráľ jej povedal: Neboj sa! Ale čo vidíš? A žena odpovedala Saulovi: Bohov vidím vystupovať zo zeme.
A zase jej povedal: Akú má podobu? A riekla: Vystupuje nejaký starý muž a je odiaty plášťom.
A Sam... (To bol ten prorokov plášť, samozrejme, vidíte.)... vtedy poznal, že je to Samuel, a skloniac sa tvárou k zemi poklonil sa.
A Samuel riekol Saulovi: Prečo ma nepokojíš dajúc ma vyvolať hore? Na to povedal Saul: Je mi veľmi úzko, Filištíni bojujú proti mne, a Boh odstúpil odo mňa a neodpovedá mi už ani skrze prorokov ani skrze sny, preto som ťa zavolal, aby si mi oznámil, čo mám robiť.
A Samuel odpovedal: A prečože sa ma ty pýtaš, keď odstúpil od teba Hospodin a stal sa tvojím nepriateľom?
Hospodin si učinil, ako hovoril skrze mňa, lebo Hospodin odtrhol kráľovstvo od teba a vzal ho z tvojej ruky a dal ho Dávidovi...
94Nuž, mnohí z vás sú s týmto oboznámení. No, chceme ísť rovno do toho a ak nám Boh teraz pomôže, aby sme sa na chvíľu do toho dostali. No, sledujte to. Bol tam jeden človek, Saul, ktorý bol kedysi považovaný za proroka, lebo prorokoval s prorokmi. Je to tak, učitelia? No, tu bol ten človek odpadnutý. Je to pravda? Ale pamätajte na miesto, kde Samuel povedal, že bude s ním na ďalší deň, predčasne preč. Rozumiete? V poriadku, ak nebudete brať ohľad na Boha, Boh vás vezme zo zeme.
95Pozrite sa tam v liste Korinťanom, ako dal Pavol tých ľudí do poriadku. Povedal, „Po prvé, ďakujem Bohu za vás, že medzi vami nie sú také veci, a tak ďalej, a to, že vám nechýba žiaden duchovný dar,“ hovoril im o tom, čím boli pozične v Kristovi. Potom na nich začal klepať kladivom a rozprávať im o ich ženách kazateľkách a o tom, ako sa správali a ako jedli pri Pánovom stole. A dokonca jeden muž tam žil so svojou nevlastnou matkou a on povedal tomuto mužovi v Kristovi, „Vydajte ho diablovi na zničenie tela, aby bola spasená duša.“ Vidíte, to je to, vydajte ho. Biblia povedala, „Preto sú medzi vami mnohí chorí a slabí a ľudia spia (odišli predčasne),“ kvôli hriechu. Boh ťa vzal z cesty; to je dobré znamenie, že si bol Kresťanom, ak si bol vzatý.“
96Tak teraz, všimnite si. Tu bol Saul považovaný za jedného z prorokov alebo bol medzi prorokmi, pretože prorokoval. A tak teraz, on odpadol, lebo neposlúchol Boha, a jeho kráľovstvo bolo odtrhnuté z jeho rúk a vložené do rúk Dávida, ktorého Boh pomazal olejom skrze Samuela.
97Všimnite si, potom tam boli tri spôsoby, ktoré mali na to, aby zistili veci od Boha; prvý bol prorok, druhý bol sen a tretí bolo Urím a Thumím. A ani to neodpovedalo. No, viete, čo je prorok, a viete, čo je duchovný sen, a viete, čím bolo to Urím a Thumím. Viete čo, jedného dňa som sa jedného človeka opýtal ohľadom toho Urím, a ten človek mi nedokázal povedať, čím bolo to Urím a Thumím. Samozrejme, to bol Boh, ktorý odpovedal, ale on...
Vidíte, a diabol robí z každej tej veci falzifikát. Čarodejník, falošný prorok a človek, ktorý veští z krištáľu... Vidíte? No, to Urím a Thumím tu viselo na Áronovej hrudi a Urím a Thumím zakrývalo ten kameň. A oni to zavesili do chrámu. A keď si neboli istí, išli pred Boha pre odpoveď a na tom Urím a Thumím sa rozsvietilo svetlo, ktoré - či to bola Božia vôľa alebo nie. No, keď Urím a Thumím neodpovedalo... No, to bola priama odpoveď od Boha. No, Urím a Thumím dneška, veštec vzal krištáľovú guľu, aby to napodobil - falošná vec. Boh je v trojici, Božie sily sú v trojici; a diabol je v trojici a jeho sily sú v trojici. Môžem to dokázať Bibliou. A ten Urím a Thumím bol len krištáľovou guľou, ktorú dnes používa diabol; a ten dnešný falošný prorok, ten, ktorého máme teraz, to bola čarodejnica; alebo tam veštec na diablovej strane zaujal miesto proroka. Rozumiete, čo mám na mysli?
99No, potom to dnešné Urím a Thumím je táto Biblia. Ak niekto vydal proroctvo alebo nejaký sen a to nepasuje, alebo sa to nezhoduje s Božou Bibliou, je to falošné; neverte tomu.
Nedávno za mnou prišiel nejaký človek z Indie, kam sa práve chystám ísť, malý milý kazateľ; a povedal, „Brat Branham, prišiel som sem.“ Povedal, „Jedna žena mala Ducha Svätého,“ a povedal, „ona bola tak veľmi milá a dobrotivá.“ Povedal, „A bola štyrikrát vydatá a žila so svojím štvrtým manželom.“ A ja som povedal, 'No, ako by to mohlo byť, Pane?'“ A povedal ,„Išiel som k Nemu a povedal som, 'Ó, sláva Bohu!' Povedal som, 'Haleluja, chvála Pánovi.'“ Viete, to bol taký druh. Povedal, „Haleluja. Chvála Pánovi.“ Povedal, „Pán ku mne prehovoril. Poviem ti ten sen.“ A povedal, „Snívalo sa mi, že som videl svoju ženu žiť v cudzoložstve. A ona sa ku mne vrátila a povedala, 'Ó, odpustíš mi, Viktor? Odpustíš mi? Ja som ne-...' No, povedal som, 'Iste, odpustím ti a prijmem ťa späť.'“ Povedal, „No, to je to, čo som urobil.“ Povedal, „Vidíš, odpúšťam.“
Povedal som, „Viktor, tvoj sen bol veľmi milý, ale dal ti ho diabol.“
On povedal, „Prečo?“
Povedal som, „To nepasuje s Božím Slovom. Ona žije v cudzoložstve. Absolútne. Nemôže žiť so štyrmi mužmi. To je pravda. Ak ho opustí a vráti sa späť k svojmu prvému, potom je na tom horšie, ako bola na začiatku. Ona musí žiť sama po zvyšok svojho života.“ Povedal som, „Ty to vieš. To nepasuje s Božím Slovom, takže jej - tvoj sen bol falošný.“ A povedal som, „To s Týmto nebude pasovať.“
103A keď mal nejaký prorok proroctvo a oni prehovorili a chceli zistiť, či je to proroctvo pravdivé, umiestnili to pred Urím a Thumím. A ak Hlas Boží rozsvietil svetlá na Urím a Thumím, potom to bol absolút, pravda. A ak človek podáva výklad, dáva sen, dáva niečo z Biblie alebo niečo iné a to sa nezhoduje s Božou Bibliou, potom je to falošné. Tam je to dnešné Urím a Thumím. Božie Slovo hovorí a to je priamy Hlas Boží, ako bol Urím a Thumím predtým, ako bola napísaná Biblia. Amen. Haleluja.
Cítim sa teraz trochu nábožne. A nepovažujte ma za fanatika, ak robíte... Viem, ja viem, kde som. Nie som nadšený. To je pravda.
104Tu je Pravda, Božie Slovo. Je mi jedno, aký si mal sen alebo aké vydávaš proroctvo; ak to nie je Božie Slovo, je to nesprávne, ak sa to nezhoduje s tým Slovom. To je to, v čom je dnes problém: niekto má sen, niekto má videnie; jeden má jazyk; ďalší má zjavenie; je to celé tak zamiešané a všetko také; máte denominácie a všetko ste to rozbili. Mali by ste to priviesť naspäť ku tomu konečnému Základu, a to je Božie Slovo. To je pravda.
Cirkvi budú stavať na jednej veci, povedzme, „Ó, Ježiš prichádza na bielom koni. Viem, videl som Ho vo videní,“ urobia cirkev takého druhu. „Ó, haleluja, On prichádza na oblaku,“ urobia to takýmto spôsobom. Rozdelia sa a oddelia a nazývajú jeden druhého „kanie hniezdo“ a „vší pelech“ a všetko podobné. No, brat, v prvom rade to ukazuje, že tvoje srdce nie je v poriadku s Bohom, keď to robíš. To je pravda. Sme bratia. Musíme držať jeden s druhým. Potrebujeme jeden druhého.
106No, pozrite sa, Saul odpadol a odišiel hore. On... Boh od neho odvrátil Svoju tvár a on odišiel hore a pýtal sa prorokov. Proroci išli a snažili sa prorokovať a Boh to odrezal, nedal mu videnie. Prorok vyšiel a povedal, „Nemôžem, On mi o tebe nepovedal vôbec nič.“
No, potom povedal, „Pane, daj mi sen.“ Noc za nocou neprichádzal žiaden sen.
Potom vošiel ku Urím a Thumím a povedal, „Ó, Bože. Skúšal som prorokov, skúšal som sny, teraz mi pomôž. Urobíš to?“ Odsekol to, nezablysklo sa vôbec žiadne svetlo.
Potom sa uchýlil k čarodejnici, unížený, pokorený, a tak išiel k nej a doplazil sa tam a zamaskoval sa. A táto čarodejnica ide von a vyvoláva ducha Samuela.
No, viem, čo si myslíte, mnohí povedali, „To nebol Samuel.“ Ale Biblia hovorí, že to bol Samuel, a tak to bol Samuel. Zvláštne, ako som to uchopil, že? Ale to bol Samuel; Biblia hovorí, že to bol on.
A tá čarodejnica ho mohla zavolať a ona vyvolala Samuela. A Samuel bol niekde inde, ale bol si vedomý toho, čo sa deje, a stále tam stál oblečený vo svojom prorockom plášti. Tak brat, keď zomrieš, ty nie si mŕtvy; niekde žiješ, niekde inde.
112Dovoľte, aby som sa na chvíľu zastavil, aby som trochu rozobral túto démonológiu. Ona bola démon, ale bola v úzkom kontakte s duchovným svetom. No, aj dnes máme veľa špiritistov, ktorí vedia o duchovnom svete viac ako tí ľudia, ktorí sa prehlasujú za kresťanov, jednako ona je démon. V biblickej dobe to bolo úplne tak isto.
Keď bol Ježiš tu na zemi, boli tu tiež títo profesori, učenci a učitelia, niektorí z tých najlepších vyšli z lepších seminárov, než aké sme dnes schopní vytvoriť. A museli to byť svätí, výreční muži. Ak bol nejaký levita nájdený... Musel byť nájdený bezúhonným a spravodlivým po všetkých stránkach. A predsa taký človek nevedel o Bohu viac než zajac o snežniciach. Keď prišiel Ježiš, on zlyhal a nerozpoznal Ho, nazval Ježiša diablom. Povedal, „On je belzebúb, knieža diablov.“ Je to tak?
114A tu prichádza jeden z najnižších démonov, ktorý držal v putách muža v hroboch, a tak ďalej, a oni kričali, sám ten diabol povedal, „Vieme, kto si. Ty si Syn Boží, ten Svätý.“ Súhlasí to? Čarodejnice a kúzelníci, démoni Ho rozpoznali ako Syna Božieho; zatiaľ čo tí vzdelaní kazatelia z duchovných seminárov Ho mali za belzebúba. Kto mal pravdu, diabol alebo kazateľ? Diabol. A brat, dnes sa na tom takmer nič nezmenilo. Oni nerozpoznali moc Božiu.
115Nezáleží na tom, ako veľa si sa toho naučil, koľko si toho do seba vtĺkol. Boh nie je vo veľkých slovách; Boh je v úprimnom srdci. Môžeš hovoriť alebo spievať veľké slová, ako neviem kto, to ťa iste neprivedie bližšie ku Bohu. Môžeš sa postaviť a nacvičovať, ako zopakovať svoje kázanie a hovoriť tieto veci, ale to ťa neprivedie bližšie ku Bohu. Môžeš sa naučiť slovník, že s ním budeš chodiť spať, a to ťa rovnako neprivedie bližšie ku Bohu. Pokorné, odovzdané srdce v jednoduchosti, to je to, čo ťa k Nemu privedie. To je pravda. Amen. Boh miluje pokorné srdce. No, nezáleží na tom, že nepoznáš abecedu, na tom vôbec nezáleží. Iba pokorné srdce, Boh prebýva v pokornom srdci; nie vo vzdelaní, to nie je v školách, nie v teológii, seminároch, ani na všetkých tých ostatných miestach, ani vo veľkých slovách alebo na znamenitých miestach. Boh prebýva v ľudských srdciach. A čím viac sa ponížiš, čím jednoduchším budeš, tým sa môžeš stať väčším v Božích očiach.
116Dovoľte mi niečo povedať. Vidím tu vaše polia, že sú plné pšenice. Plný klas pšenice sa vždy skláňa. Malá vztýčená stonka, kýva sa ako vševed, tá to nemá v klase. A tak to vyzerá s mnohými ľuďmi, ktorí si myslia, že majú všetko v hlave, ale nemajú nič v srdci. Svätá hlava sa skloní pred mocou, uznáva Ježiša Krista ako Syna Božieho a bude veriť Jeho skutkom. „A On je Ten istý, včera...“
Ó, oni Ho, samozrejme, rozpoznávajú z historického hľadiska. Ale to nie je historická vec. Ľudia sa postavia a povedia, „Ó, verím v Letnice, keď budú mať to veľké vyliatie a podobné veci,“ a maľujú oheň. Mrznúci človek sa nedokáže zohriať pri namaľovanom ohni; namaľovaný oheň nezohreje. To je to, čím oni boli. Čo je to dnes, ak On je ten istý včera, dnes i naveky? To je namaľovaný oheň. Nejaký človek, ktorý zamŕza na smrť, povie, „Pozrite sa na ten veľký oheň, ktorý oni mali.“ No, to ťa nezohreje.
118To, čo urobili na Letnice, to, čo mali v tej ranej Zmluve, to máme aj dnes. A akonáhle Boh dokáže tú vec vyhladiť a Cirkev sa spojí, nastane vytrhnutie. Ale my nedokážeme obdržať ani vieru v Božské uzdravenie, nehovoriac o vytrhnutí, pretože sme celí prekrútení, jeden takto a druhý takto, a „Doktor Taký-a-taký povedal, že to bolo toto. No, môj kazateľ povedal, že On bol toto.“
Pred časom jedna žena povedala, „On je len podvodník.“ Povedala, „Môj kňaz mi to povedal.“ Prial by som si, aby sem jej kňaz raz prišiel; uvideli by sme, kto by bol podvodník. Áno. Uvidíme, kto je podvodník. Príďte to vyskúšať.
120Nedávno sme tu v Harlingene v Texase mali zhromaždenie a oni tam v ten večer mali veľké nápisy na všetkých autách, keď som tam prišiel, hovorili, že tam bola FBI, aby ma odhalili ako podvodníka. A tak, niekde v Texase bolo uzdravené jedno malé dievča; bola tam hore a myslím, že asi tisíc míľ, tam hore pri Panhandle, a toto bolo tam dolu v Harlingene, tam dole na hranici. Prišiel brat Baxter a povedal, „Brat Branham,“ povedal, „nikdy si tam nevidel taký chaos, je tam asi štyri alebo päť tisíc ľudí.“ A povedal, „A potom, všade naokolo, FBI ťa dnes večer chytí na pódiu a odhalia ťa.“
Povedal som, „No, som za to určite rád.“
Povedal, „Poznáš to malé dievča, ktoré bolo minulý večer uzdravené?“
122Vracal som sa domov z... Išiel som do svojej izby a počul som niečo plakať a rozhliadol som sa naokolo. Myslel som si, že to bol možno niekto, kto bol napadnutý. Bolo to dievča. A obzrel som sa; povedal som... A vrátil som sa a povedal som, „Čo sa deje, pani?“
A to boli dve dievčatá, ktoré tam stáli, asi sedemnásť, osemnásťročné, objímali sa, plakali, povedali, „Brat Branham!“ Vtedy som vedel, že ma poznali. Povedala, „My... Priviedla som ju až sem.“ Povedala, „Musí ísť do blázinca.“ A to malé dievča bolo na mojom zhromaždení v Lubbocku v Texase. A povedala, „Vedela som, že ak by som ju sem dostala a pomodlil by si sa za ňu, verím, že Boh by ju uzdravil.“
No, pomyslel som si, „Čo za viera.“ A povedal som, „No, sestra, môžeš ju vziať...“ A hneď potom som povedal, „Prišli ste sem dolu v žltom aute, však?“
Povedala, „Áno.“
A povedal som, „Tvoja matka je postihnutá.“
Povedala, „Je to tak.“
A povedal som, „Ty patríš do metodistickej cirkvi.“
Povedala, „To je úplná pravda.“
A povedal som, „Cestou dolu ste sa takmer prevrátili. Ty a toto dievča ste sa smiali, keď ste išli okolo miesta, kde to bolo napoly betónové a napoly asfaltové, a ty si zatáčala do zákruty.“
Povedala, „Brat Branham, to je pravda.“
Povedal som, „A TAK HOVORÍ PÁN, to dievča je uzdravené.“
Na druhý deň zapálila to mesto, chodila po okolí a všetkým o tom rozprávala. Samozrejme, oni ju tam nepoznali, či vôbec bola v takom stave alebo nie. A potom v ten deň som... Brat Baxter povedal, „Brat Branham,“ povedal, „tie dievčatá sú tam dolu a balia si kufre.“ A toto je jedna vec, o ktorej on nevedel, že o tom viem. Naše financie poklesli. Nikdy som mu nedovolil o tom hovoriť. Ale jedno z tých dievčat v ten predošlý večer vložilo do obetí deväťsto dolárov a položila tie financie na vrch. No, on to dodnes nevedel; ale ja som o tom vedel. Rozumiete? Že ja... Boh mi povedal, že to bude v poriadku.
Brat Baxter povedal, „Brat Branham,“ povedal, „mal by si mi radšej dovoliť urobiť malú výzvu.“ Povedal, „Mali tu niektorých z týchto Božských uzdraviteľov, ktorí to vytiahli od týchto ľudí.“
Povedal som, „Nič. Nie veru, neurobíš to. Brat Baxter, kedykoľvek urobíš takéto potiahnutia o peniaze, to je ten čas, kedy si podáme ruky ako bratia; pôjdem sám.“ Rozumiete? Povedal som, „Nerob to.“ Povedal som, „Boh vlastní dobytok na tisícich pahorkoch a všetko patrí Jemu. Ja patrím Jemu. On sa o mňa postará.“
Povedal, „V poriadku.“
A práve v ten večer povedal, „Brat Branham, pozri sa sem. Niekto... Pozri sa sem. Tu je obálka, na ktorej nie je žiadne meno; je v nej deväťsto dolárových bankoviek, presne to, čo potrebujeme dohnať.“
Povedal som, „Brat Baxter...“
On povedal, „Odpusť mi.“
130Tak potom som vedel, že to bolo to dievča. Tak potom na druhý deň brat Baxter povedal, „Brat Branham, oni sú tam, balia si šaty a plačú.“
Povedal som, „Čo sa deje?“
Povedal, „Radšej by si mal ísť dolu a pozrieť sa na ne.“
A išiel som dolu do izby, kde boli. Povedal som... „V ktorej sú izbe?“ Išiel som tam dolu a zaklopal na dvere. Počul som, ako plačú. Zaklopal som na dvere a to dievča prišlo ku dverám; povedala, „Ó, brat Branham, je mi to tak ľúto.“ Povedala, „Spôsobila som ti všetky tieto problémy.“
Povedal som, „Problémy? Čo sa deje, sestra?“
Povedala, „Ó, kvôli mne ide po tebe FBI.“
A povedal som, „Ó, je to tak?“
Povedala, „Áno.“ Povedala, „Myslím, že som dnes príliš veľa svedčila po meste a všetko také.“
Povedal som, „Nie.“
A ona povedala, „Brat Branham, je tam FBI, sú tam a dnes večer ťa idú odhaliť.“
Povedal som, „No, ak robím niečo zlé, musím byť odhalený.“ Rozumiete? Povedal som, „Iste. Ak je potrebné odhaliť kázanie Evanjelia, urobme to. Rozumiete?“ Povedal som, „Ja žijem podľa tejto Biblie a čo táto Biblia nehovorí... Toto rovno tu je moja Obrana. Vidíte?“ A povedal som, a on...
134Povedala, „No,“ povedala, „je mi ľúto, že som urobila to, čo som urobila.“
Povedal som, „Vôbec nič si neurobila, sestra.“
Povedala, „No, nebojíš sa tam ísť?“
A povedal som, „Nie.“
Povedala, „No, je tam FBI.“
Povedal som, „No, predtým už prišli na moje zhromaždenie a boli spasení.“ Povedal som, „Pán Al Farrar...“
Kapitán Al Farrar, mnohí z vás vedia o jeho obrátení tam hore v Tacoma vo Washingtone, bol spasený priamo na strelnici. Prišiel na zhromaždenie, povedal, „Sledoval som tohto muža dva roky. A počul som o tých financiách, sledoval som to a prešiel som všade.“ A povedal, „To je pravda, dnes večer nepočúvate nejakého fanatika, ale počúvate Pravdu.“ Povedal, „Jeden z mužov policajného zboru, ktorých mám, lekár sa pozrel na jeho dieťa a poslali ho cez modlitebný rad,“ a povedal, „tomu dieťaťu bolo presne povedané, čo s ním je a čo sa stalo. A on povedal, 'Za osem dní bude naspäť v škole, prípad obrny.'“ A povedal, „Na ôsmy deň sa to dieťa vrátilo do školy.“ Povedal, „Sledoval som ho dva roky,“ pred desaťtisíc ľuďmi. Tam je to všetko; je tam fotka z toho zhromaždenia v Seattli vo vašej knihe. Povedal, „Chcem, aby ste všetci vedeli, že nepočúvate nejakého náboženského šarlatána, ale počúvate Pravdu.“ Kapitán Al Farrar. A na druhý deň som ho priviedol k Bohu a on prijal krst Duchom Svätým, tam dolu na strelnici, na tom veľkom mieste.
137Povedal som, „Možno tento človek urobí to isté.“
Tak ona povedala, „Bojíš sa tam ísť?“
Povedal som, „Či sa bojím? No, iste nie. Určite nie. Prečo by som sa mal báť, keď ma Boh poslal, aby som to robil? To je On, ktorý bojuje tú bitku, nie ja.“ Tak som povedal, „No, chcem, aby ste sa všetci držali ďalej.“ A tak som...
Išli sme v ten večer na zhromaždenie; to miesto bolo preplnené. A ten správca tam vyšiel a povedal, „Reverend Branham, najal som desať mexických detí.“ Povedal, „Pozri sa sem, 'Reverend Branham má byť dnes večer odhalený FBI, náboženský fanatik,'“ alebo niečo podobné. A povedal, „Je to tam vonku na každom jednom z tých áut.“ Povedal, „Najal som desať malých mexických detí, aby to všetko strhli dole a dali to sem.“ Povedal, „Ó, cítim, že keby som toho chlapíka dochytil...“
Povedal som, „Netráp sa, pane. Boh ho dochytí.“ Rozumiete? Povedal som, „Nechaj ho tak.“
140Tak som pokračoval. A keď sme tam v ten večer prišli, nikdy na to nezabudnem, vošiel som do tej miestnosti. Brat Baxter spieval „Len ver.“ Povedal, „No, brat Branham hovorí, aby sme dnes večer opustili budovu.“ Povedal, „Idem naspäť dozadu a sadnem si tam.“ Povedal, „Dnes večer sa ho tu na pódiu chystajú odhaliť.“ Povedal, „Videl som ho v mnohých tvrdých bojoch a videl som, ako sa za to Boh postavil.“ Povedal, „Idem naspäť a sadnem si tam.“
Vystúpil som tam a povedal som, „Práve som tu čítal jeden článok, kde sa písalo, že dnes večer mám tu na pódiu byť odhalený.“ Povedal som, „Chcem, aby teraz prišli agenti FBI a aby ma tu hore na pódiu odhalili.“ Povedal som, „Stojím tu na obranu Evanjelia; chcem, aby ste ma prišli odhaliť.“ A čakal som. Povedal som, „Možno tu ešte nie sú.“ Vedel som, kde stojím. On mi už predtým ukázal v mojej izbe, čo sa bude diať, predtým, ako som odišiel. Rozumiete? A povedal som, „Možno ešte trochu počkám. Môžeme zaspievať pieseň?“ A niekto prišiel a zaspieval sólo.
142Povedal som, „Pán agent z FBI, ste vo vnútri alebo vonku? Čakám na odhalenie. Prišli by ste?“ Nikto neprišiel. Stále som bol zvedavý, kde to je. Pán mi povedal, čo to bolo. Boli to dvaja odpadlícki kazatelia a ja som to sledoval. Videl som, ako v rohu visel čierny tieň. Vedel som, kde to je. Pozrel som sa tam a to sa pohlo rovno hore a vyšlo to takto na balkón. Muž v modrom obleku, druhý v šedom.
Povedal som, „Priatelia, to nie je žiadna FBI. Čo má FBI spoločné s kázaním Biblie?“ Povedal som, „Určite nie. Neboli to dvaja agenti FBI, ktorí ma mali odhaliť. Ale tu je to odhalenie; sedia rovno tam hore, tí dvaja kazatelia, ktorí tam sú.“ A oni sa skrčili. Povedal som, „Nekrčte sa takto.“ A dvaja z nich, veľkí Texasania, oni tam išli, aby ich chytili. Povedal som, „Nie, bratia, toto nie je záležitosť tela a krvi, len seďte. Boh sa o to postará.“
144Povedal som, „No, bratia, pozrite, kým ste tam hore, pozrite sa sem.“ Povedal som, „Ak... Povedali ste, že som Šimon, ten čarodejník; že som ľudí očaril pomocou čarodejníctva.“ Povedal som, „Ak som čarodejník Šimon, potom vy ste mužovia Boží. No, poďte dolu na toto pódium a ak som čarodejník Šimon, nech ma Boh usmrtí. A ak som Boží prorok, poďte dolu a nech Boh usmrtí vás. No, uvidíme, kto má pravdu a kto sa mýli. No, príďte dolu. Zaspievame pieseň.“ Odišli preč z tej budovy a odvtedy sme ich už nikdy nevideli. Vidíte? Povedal som, „Poďte, ak som čarodejník Šimon, nech ma Boh usmrtí, a ak som Boží prorok, keď prídete na toto pódium, potom Boh usmrtí vás. Ak som pravdivý pred Bohom, potom Boh dá, že na tomto pódiu zomriete.“ Oni to veľmi dobre vedeli. To je pravda. Veľmi dobre to vedeli. Počuli o tom z iných miest. To je pravda. Tak nikdy si nemyslite, že Boh nie je stále Bohom; On odpovedá.
145No, táto čarodejnica z En-Doru vyvolala ducha Samuela a Saul sa rozprával so Samuelom. No, možno sa divíte, ako by sa to dalo urobiť. To sa dnes nedá urobiť. Nie veru, pretože krv býkov a kozlov bola len očakávaním na čas naplnenia. Keď v tých dňoch nejaký človek zomrel... Kazatelia, podporte ma, ak si myslíte, že je to správne. Keď zomrel nejaký človek, zomrel pod zmierením zvieraťa a jeho duša odišla do raja. A tam zostal až do dňa vykúpenia. A jeho duša tam bola.
146Dovoľte, aby som vám tu načrtol malý obraz. Koľkí z vás čítali môj článok alebo článok, ktorý o mne napísali tu v Reader's Digest, v čísle z októbra alebo novembra? V poriadku. Všimli ste si, ako to bolo? Všimli ste si, ako asi dva alebo tri týždne pred tým, toto veľké známe médium, ktoré bolo už dávno overené, ona, pani Piperová... Rozumiete? Čítali ste to niekedy, článok pani Piperovej v Reader's Digest? Nie je to divné, ako tie dva duchy...
Koľko mám času? Už len trochu. Už je po dvadsiatej, budem sa musieť poponáhľať. Viem, že máte... Pozrite, prepáčte mi na chvíľu.
148Viete, tam je tá falošná vec. Pri všetkom existuje to pravdivé a to falošné. Ak vám dám dolár a poviem, „Je toto dobrý dolár?“ A vy by ste sa na to pozreli; to by muselo vyzerať skoro ako skutočný dolár, inak by ste tomu neverili. Je to pravda? Tak to bude musieť byť skutočne dobrá napodobenina.
A ak Ježiš povedal, že tie dva duchy v posledných dňoch budú tak blízko, že by to zviedlo aj vyvolených, ak by to bolo možné, nábožných ľudí. No, pamätajte. No, tam vonku v tom chladnom a formálnom nie je nič; oni majú len formu pobožnosti. Rozumiete? Ale tieto dva duchy sú skutočnými duchmi; bude to tak blízko, až by to zviedlo aj tých vyvolených, ako to v posledných dňoch pracovalo bok po boku. Povedal to Ježiš? On to povedal.
150No, sledujte, priatelia, nakreslím vám malý obrázok; chcem, aby ste sa tu na chvíľu pozreli. A venujte mi svoju nerušenú pozornosť, pretože vám poviem podobenstvo a potom to uvidíte.
No, v Reader's Digest je to napísané. Stál som tam. Mali sme tam 2700 ľudí, ktorí čakali, kým sa za nich pomodlíme, a stáli tam. Čítali ste ten článok. A prišiel jeden muž z Kanady a mal malého chlapca, ktorý bol na klinike Mayo a u Johna Hopkinsa, vážna choroba mozgu, ktorá mu takto stiahla tie malé ruky a stiahla mu nohy a povedali, „Nedá sa vykonať operácia, ani sa nedá urobiť nič iné. “
152A tak ho vzal späť do Kanady. Povedal, „Ešte nie som porazený.“ Dostanete novembrové číslo Reader's Digest a nazýva sa to „Zázrak Donnyho Mortona.“ A potom povedal, že ten človek, ktorý povedal, „Ešte nie som porazený, pretože poznám liečiteľa viery, ktorý sa volá William Branham, ktorý spôsobil, že dvaja z mojich priateľov, ktorí boli hluchí a nemí, začali rozprávať a počuť.“
A zavolali, aby sa pokúsili zistiť, kde som bol v Amerike. A bol som tam v Costa Mesa v Kalifornii. A ak... Ten článok, keď ho čítate, pripravte sa na plač. To vám jednoducho zlomí srdce, ako s tým dieťaťom prechádzal cez snehové záveje a všetko také. Povedal, „Buď opatrný, Donny.“ Povedal, „No, my nie sme porazení.“ A ten malý chlapec sa ani nemohol usmievať; bol tak postihnutý. Povedal, „Nie sme porazení; ideme prosiť Boha. Pôjdeme k Božiemu prorokovi a budeme ho prosiť.“
154Tak potom prešli cez sneh. A nakoniec tam dorazili a tá matka išla s nimi a oni nemali dosť peňazí, aby mohli ísť lietadlom, tak poslali matku späť a ten chlapec a otec museli prísť v autobuse a ako išli až z Winnipegu v Kanade do Costa Mesa v Kalifornii. A vošli tam, zničení, a ten otec hovorí o tom, že musel prebaľovať tie malé plienky, ten malý chlapec, asi sedem alebo osemročný, úplne bezmocný. A ako na tom bol, nemal šancu ani jesť, ani nič, a povedal, že jeho malý chlapec ho mohol len počuť rozprávať a on mohol podľa toho, ako vyzerali jeho oči, povedať, že sa snažil usmievať, viete, a vedel, že mu rozprával o rôznych výhľadoch, ktoré videl v Amerike.
155A keď prišli tam do Kalifornie, povedali tomu poradcovi pre cestovateľov, na čo sa prišiel pozrieť. Povedal, „Prišli ste vidieť Božského „čo“?“ A veľký otáznik.
Samozrejme, viete si predstaviť, čo o tom povedala Amerika. Rozumiete? Vidíte, to sme my. Rozumiete? „Sme takí múdri. Vieme všetko, viete, a netreba nám nič hovoriť. Všetko to máme zapísané.“ Rozumiete?
Tak potom, tak, „Božského 'čo'? Prišli ste celú cestu až z Winnipegu v Kanade?“ No, oni si mysleli, že to je hrozné.
158Každopádne noviny vybavili auto a poslali ho tam. A povedal, keď sa dostali do toho radu, kde to bolo, povedal, že 2700 ľudí čakalo na to, aby sa za nich modlili. Ale povedali, že keď videli toho malého zdeformovane-vyzerajúceho chlapca a toho úbohého ocka s čiapkou a otrhaným kožuchom, povedali, že každý len odstúpil a dal mu svoje miesto. Keď dorazil na pódium...
Je to v rozpore s pravidlami, aby ste si vymenili modlitebnú kartu. Niekto musí prísť na zhromaždenie a vziať si vlastnú kartu. Ak to niekedy zachytili v rade, že si zamieňali modlitebné karty za niekoho iného, taká modlitebná karta je zamietnutá. Rozumiete? Pretože musíte prísť, vypočuť si pokyny a vedieť, ako ich získať. Je to na vás. Nemôžete to zohnať pre niekoho iného. Musíte prísť, získať to sami, tak to počuť. Nejaká veľká osoba povedala, „Ak, no, ja v túto vec moc neverím, ale možno, ak ma uzdraví, ja...“ Vidíte? A potom to spôsobí na pódiu rozruch, a tak tú vec jednoducho vyradia skôr, ako sa tam dostane.
160Tak, keď ten chlapec vyštartoval, alebo ten otec začal vychádzať na pódium pred ľuďmi, Billy ho požiadal o jeho modlitebnú kartu. On žiadnu nemal. Povedal, „Potom je mi to ľúto, pane.“ Povedal, „Budeš musieť počkať.“
Povedal, „V poriadku.“ Povedal, „Počkám.“ Povedal, „Dostanem sa potom na rad ako ostatní.“ Povedal, „Nevedel som, že toto musím urobiť.“
A tak som sa s niekým rozprával; náhodou som to počul. Videl som toho otca odchádzať a povedal som, „Čo sa stalo?“
Povedal, „Nemal modlitebnú kartu.“
A Niečo mi povedalo, „Priveď ho naspäť.“
Tak som povedal, „Priveď ho sem.“ A ten otec vystúpil a slzy mu stekali po tvári, potreboval sa oholiť a... A on vyšiel hore a tu je Reader's Digest, kde je povedané... Nepýtal som sa žiadne otázky, ale pozrel som sa rovno do tváre toho dieťaťa, povedal som tomu dieťaťu, odkiaľ je; bolo na klinike Mayo; a všetko o tom, čo sa s ním dialo, aké bolo choré a všetko ostatné.
164A povedali, že ten otec začal plakať a začal odchádzať. A povedal, že začal odchádzať z pódia a otočil sa a povedal, „To je pravda, pane.“ Povedal, „Ale bude moje dieťa vôbec žiť?“
Povedal som, „To nemôžem povedať.“ Povedal som, „Len chvíľu.“ Videl som, ako sa zjavilo videnie. Povedal som, „Tomu nebudete chcieť veriť, pretože klinika Mayo a Hopkins, obaja povedali, že operácia na tom mozgu nemohla byť vykonaná, ale poviem vám, čo urobíte. Vy, zajtra choďte s týmto dieťaťom. Počas nasledujúcich troch dní stretnete na ulici čiernovlasú ženu a tá žena sa vás opýta, čo sa deje s tým dieťaťom. A potom vám povie o nejakom malom vidieckom lekárovi, ktorý tu môže vykonať tú operáciu a nebudete tomu chcieť veriť, pretože klinika Mayo to odmietla a povedali, že to nie je možné urobiť. Ale to je jediná šanca, ktorú vaše dieťa má, skrze moc Božiu, milosrdenstvo Božie a tú operáciu. No, ak veríte, že som Jeho prorokom, choďte a urobte, ako vám hovorím. Ako položenie tých fíg na Ezechiáša, a tak ďalej.
On povedal, otočil sa a povedal, „Ďakujem,“ odišiel.
166Prešli dva alebo viac dní a on bol jedného dňa na ulici a prišla tam jedna pani a povedala, „Čo sa deje s tvojím dieťaťom?“
Povedal, „Má chorobu mozgu.“ A on takto pokračoval a rozprával. A, no, oni si mysleli, že to bolo hrozné, viete.
Tak on povedal, že za pár minút sa niečo stalo. Povedala, „Pane, poznám niekoho, kto môže vykonať tú operáciu.“
Povedal, „Pani, pozri, na klinike bratov Mayových sa toho vzdali a povedali, že sa to nedá urobiť.“ Povedal, „Jeden človek sa tu hore za to modlil, volá sa brat Branham.“ Povedal, „On sa pomodlil za to dieťa.“ Povedal, „Počkaj chvíľu. Čiernovlasá v šedom kabáte.“ Povedal, „To je ona.“ Povedal, „Kde je ten lekár?“ A ona mu to povedala. Vzala ho tam hore a ten lekár vykonal operáciu; to dieťa sa uzdravilo.
170No, to prichádza cez Reader's Digest. Rozumiete? A klinika bratov Mayových ma kvôli tomu zavolala na rozhovor. Povedali, „Reverend Branham, čo ste urobili tomu dieťaťu?“
Povedal som, „Nič, vôbec som sa ho nedotkol. Povedal som len to, čo mi Boh povedal, aby som to povedal. Ten človek to poslúchol.“
No, tá zábavná vec ohľadom toho, asi dva týždne po tom, alebo dva týždne pred tým, alebo tri, možno o mesiac skôr, tu v Reader's Digest je článok pani Piperovej. No, ona je skutočná čarodejnica alebo médium. No, tu je niekto skutočný a tam je niekto, kto napodobňuje. Mali tú ženu od roku 1897. Teraz má viac ako sto rokov v New Yorku, obe sú hluché ako stĺp. Reader's Digest... Myslím, že to prišlo asi dva mesiace alebo mesiac pred tým mojím, a môžete si to vyhľadať: začiatok jesene. Pán Baxter to tu minule mal. Ak by som na to myslel, povedal by som mu... Ak by som vedel, že toto poviem, mal by som to so sebou. A môžem to pre vás zohnať. A má to asi dvanásť alebo štrnásť strán. Bola to len obyčajná žena v domácnosti. A jedného dňa, keď bola v utrpení, upadla do tranzu a začala hovoriť k mŕtvym. A oni tú ženu vodili všade po svete. Vzali ju do Anglicka. Dokonca sa mnohokrát prezliekla, aby sa zistilo, či tam nie je nejaký podvod a podobne, a prišli tam a zamaskovali niekoho s maskou na tvári, nejakého Gréka, a pretvaroval sa, akoby bol Angličanom. A ona mu o tom všetko povedala. A on chcel vyvolať jednu zo svojich mŕtvych partneriek.
173No, tá jediná vec, ktorú ona... Po celom svete, a tu je to v Reader's Digest, bolo tam povedané, pred pár dňami alebo pred pár mesiacmi, jedna z tých vecí bola odhalená. Istý muž mal bozkávať duchovný prízrak ruky svojej matky a na ďalší deň bolo na policajnom súde dokázané, že bozkával len kúsok gázového obväzu. Mnoho ľudí, ktorí sa vydávajú za nejaké médium, sú len títo malí podvodníci, ktorí sedávajú na okraji ulice, ktorí od začiatku nie sú žiadnymi médiami. Nie sú ničím iným ako falošnými imitátormi. Ale existuje skutočné médium.
A my, nábožní ľudia, máme veľa napodobovateľov na oboch stranách. No, vydržte chvíľu v kľude.
175No, všimnite si. Tá pani Piper je skutočné médium. A v tom časopise povedali, „Tu je jedna vec, ktorou si môžeme byť istí, že keď nejaký človek zomrie, nie je mŕtvy; on niekde žije, pretože tá žena volá ich ducha naspäť a hovorí ku ľuďom.“
„No, čo ona robí, brat Branham? Veríš tomu?“ Tak veru. Biblia tak hovorí; to je dôvod, prečo tomu verím. A ona je z diabla. Špiritizmus je diablov trik. No, všimnite si, teraz ich oboch sledujte.
A potom ste mali vidieť, ako na mňa prileteli listy, keď za jej článkom nasledoval môj článok. Či to nie je divné, že tesne pred koncom času tieto veci povedal Boh a Reader's Digest to vydal v každom jazyku pod nebom. Rozumiete? Všimnite si, nie je to divné, že jeden nasledoval ten druhý?
178No, tu prichádzajú listy, ktoré hovoria, „Brat Branham, to dokazuje, že nie si nič iné ako médium.“ Povedali, „Týmto sa to dokazuje. Pozri sa sem; povedal si tej žene, kde nájde... Pozri sa na túto ženu?“
Povedal som, „Počkajte chvíľu. Dostal som oficiálny list,“ prepáčte mi, „aby som ho poslal ľuďom.“ Povedal som, „Ako málo vy kazatelia viete.“ Povedal som, „Namiesto krstenia svojho tela potrebujete, aby boli pokrstené vaše mozgy.“ To je pravda. Neprestávate premýšľať o veciach. Nesnažte sa o tom uvažovať.
To je to isté, ako to robili aj v iných dňoch. Videli Ježiša; vedeli, že On môže... že poznal tajomstvá ich srdca. On vedel, čo robia. A oni povedali, „On je náčelník diablov; on je Belzebub, najlepší veštec na svete.“ Nezastavili sa, aby sa to snažili pochopiť, aby videli, že to je Syn Boží. Neboli dostatočne duchovní, aby to vedeli. To je to. Prehliadli to. Iste, Ježiš mal prísť do Jeruzalema jazdiac na mulici, a tak ďalej, ale oni sa na to dívali ako na druhý príchod.
181A takisto je to dnes, oni prehliadajú tú skutočnú vec. Haleluja. To je pravda. Viem, že Boh je tu dnes popoludní a viem, že vám beriem veľa času, ale musíte to vidieť, priatelia. Ak vás už nikdy neuvidím, musíte vedieť, čo sú démoni, a musíte poznať, čo je pravda a blud. A je to tak blízko, musíte tú vec oddeliť.
No, pamätajte, nebude to tam vonku, niečo tam na tejto strane ako farizeji, alebo niečo tam na tej strane. Je to rovno tu vo dverách, rovno pri nich. Sledujte to. No, ak by som vzal...
183Zoberme tie dva prípady. Keby som vzal a podal vám dolár... No, ak vám dám falošný dolár (Použijeme podobenstvo, aby ste to mohli vidieť.), prvá vec, ktorú by ste urobili, ak ste chytrým človekom, ak vezmete dolár a pozriete sa na to, tá prvá vec, ohmatáte ho a uvidíte, z čoho je vyrobený. Je to pravda? Pozriete sa na to, z čoho je to vyrobené. Pozriete sa na jeho hodnotu. Skutočný dolár nie je vyrobený z papiera; je to čiastočne z papiera a z hodvábu. Rozumiete? A prvá vec, budete sa musieť pozrieť na jeho hodnotu. To je prvý náznak.
A teraz, vezmime ju na túto stranu a vezmime Pána, ktorý s nami koná, na tamtú stranu.
185No, pozrite, prvá vec, ktorú si musíte všimnúť, všetko... Sledujte jej článok. Za tých približne päťdesiat rokov jej veštenia a vzývania duchov mŕtvych, ona ani raz nespomenula Boha, Krista, Božské uzdravenie, vyslobodenie, súd, ani nič také. Nie je v tom nič iné, než žarty a bláznovstvo.
Ale na tejto strane je to neustále Boh, súd, príchod Ježiša, Božské uzdravenie, moc Božia, vyslobodenie. Pozrite sa na hodnotu tejto veci. Nevidíte veštcov a čarodejnice, ktoré by tam vonku kázali Evanjelium. Čo sa deje s ľuďmi? Ó. Všimnite si.
187A tá skutočná vec, ktorú musíte urobiť, ak chcete zistiť, či je to skutočný dolár alebo nie, ak to vyzerá tak veľmi podobne, vezmite z neho tie čísla a pošlite to naspäť do mincovne. A ak sú tam čísla, ktoré tomu zodpovedajú, čaká tam strieborný dolár. Je to pravda?
No, potom, brat, vezmi to, čo urobila, a zober to naspäť do Biblie, zistíš, že je to čarodejnica z Endor.
A vezmite to, čo je tu, nájdete to naspäť, je to tu v Knihe, tu v Mincovni: Ježiš Kristus, Ten istý včera, dnes a naveky, iste, Jeho rovnaké dielo. On nechodil a nerobil hlúposti a nezmysly s ľuďmi. Bolo to na niečo dobré, aby to niekomu pomohlo, aby ich priviedol k Bohu. Amen! Nehovorím amen samému sebe, ale 'amen' znamená 'nech je tak.' A ja tomu verím. Viem, že je to pravda.
190No, všimnite si, tu to máte. No, teraz rýchlo, pretože vás už nechcem viac držať.
Ukážme tu malý obraz, malý obraz v mysli. Tu je prameň, ktorý vedie priamo sem, priamo dolu touto cestou, prechádza dolu životom (No, sledujte, ako to tečie. Venujte mi teraz svoju nerušenú pozornosť, aby ste toto neprehliadli.), takto rovno dolu. No, tu v tomto malom kanáli prebývajú smrteľné bytosti, vy a ja. A teraz, pozrime sa, čo to je. Je to hromada hlúposti a všetkého možného, ale raz za čas uvidíte svetlo. Vidíte čiernotu a pruhy; to je veselosť a vyvádzanie, diabli získavajú ľudí. Ó, tí ľudia sú pekne oblečení, ó, a veľmi kultivovaní, ako len môžu byť, vyleštení učenci, ale stále to je diabol. Ale tam je znovuzrodený, ktorý je tam umiestnený.
192No, títo ľudia sú v tomto kanáli ovplyvňovaní z dvoch rôznych strán. No, na tejto strane, ktorá ide touto cestou, tam je trojica. A na tejto strane, ktorá ide tamtou cestou, tam je trojica.
No, pričom, teraz tu na prvom mieste na tejto strane, tam sú duše nespravodlivých. Keď človek zomrie, ide na miesto, kde čaká na súd. Ježiš išiel a kázal ku tým dušiam, ktoré tam boli v žalári. To ďalšie sú démoni. To ďalšie je diabol a peklo. Smerom hore, prvý... No, tam sú duchovia, duchovia mŕtvych ľudí, ktorí nikdy nečinili pokánie. Čakajú na súd. Jediná vec, ktorú vedia, je bláznovstvo a to, čo vykonali.
No, tu hore, títo Kresťania sú ovplyvnení zhora. Toto je podobenstvo. Tu hore je iný Duch, Duch Svätý, Duch Človeka, Krista Ježiša. Duch Svätý, Duch Svätý ovplyvňuje Svoju Cirkev v tejto sfére smrteľníkov.
Diabol týmito duchmi ovplyvňuje ľudí. No, pozrite, to ďalšie sú Anjeli. To ďalšie je Boh. No, každý smrteľník je ovplyvnený jedným z týchto svetov. Vidíte, čo mám na mysli?
196No, to, čo tá žena urobila, ona vnikla do tej sféry a rozpráva sa s tými ľuďmi posadnutými démonmi, ktorí začínali... duchovia tých padlých anjelov, ktorí tam na začiatku nečinili pokánie a dovolili, aby boli nimi ich bytosti posadnuté, a čakajú na súd.
A títo tu sú ovplyvňovaní a znovuzrodení skrze Ducha Božieho. A diabol má svojich prorokov a Boh má Svojich. Rozumiete, čo mám na mysli? Je to vplyv a tam ideme. Prestaňte to oddeľovať. Ježiš, keď bol tu na zemi...
No, On by sa dnes nemohol dostať do tej sféry a dostať von z tej sféry spravodlivých ľudí; nemohol by to urobiť, pretože spravodliví ľudia nie sú tam, kde zvykli byť v raji. Nie veru. Raj bol odstránený, keď to odobrala Krv Ježiša. Pozrite sa sem. Ó!
199Ak by som mohol pomyslieť na to, ako Ježiš, keď zomrel, odišiel a kázal dušiam, ktoré boli v žalári. On zomrel ako hriešnik, nepoznajúc žiaden hriech, a predsa náš hriech bol na Ňom. A Boh Ho za Jeho hriechy poslal do pekla. Biblia hovorí, že On odišiel a kázal dušiam.
Niektorí ľudia hovoria, „Brat Branham, nerozumiem tomu.“ Niekto povedal, „Ježiš vstal tretieho dňa. On zomrel v piatok popoludní a vstal v nedeľu ráno, no, On bol mŕtvy len jeden deň.“
On povedal, „V priebehu toho času.“ Lebo On mal v Biblii jedno Písmo, na ktorom mohol stáť. Lebo Dávid, človek, ktorý neskôr odpadol, ale on bol spasený, ale prorok pod Božou inšpiráciou povedal, „Nezanechám Jeho dušu v pekle, ani nenechám, aby Môj Svätý videl porušenie.“ A On vedel, že to telo sa dostane do porušenia v priebehu troch dní a nocí, a Boh to povedal prorokovi, „On neuvidí porušenie.“ ...?... [Prázdne miesto na páske. - pozn.prekl.]
201Haleluja. On vzal Božie Slovo. On s Tým zakaždým porazil satana. Porazil smrť na základe Slova Božieho. Haleluja. Porazil smrť. A keď Ho zabili a On zomrel ako hriešnik, moje hriechy a tvoje hriechy boli na Ňom; odišiel dolu; vidím Ho, ako tam klope na tie dvere.
A tie stratené duše vyšli a povedali, „No, kto si?“
Povedal, „Prečo ste nepočúvali Enocha? Prečo ste nepočúvali tých ostatných prorokov, ktorí kázali?“ Boli odsúdení. „Ja som Syn Boží, ktorý raz žil. Ja... Moja Krv bola preliata. Prišiel som vám to povedať; vyplnil som to, čo proroci povedali, že urobím.“ Priamo nadol, okolo démonov, rovno do pekla, keď vzal kľúče smrti a pekla preč od diabla, zavesil ich na Svoj bok a vyštartoval naspäť hore. Haleluja.
Začínalo prichádzať ráno. Haleluja. Poďme si tu nakresliť malý obraz. Skoro ráno tu v raji leží iná skupina. Teraz tam nie sú.
204No, vy, dobrí katolícki priatelia, ktorí veríte v prímluvu ku svätým, ak hovoríte so svätým vo vašej cirkvi, ten človek je hriešnik; on je v pekle, alebo tam čaká na svoj súd. A ak bol svätý, je v sláve Božej a nemôže sa vrátiť naspäť. To je pravda. Môžem to dokázať. Krv býkov neodstránila hriech, ale Ježišova Krv urobila rozvod s hriechmi.
205Vidím, ako Ježiš išiel tam hore do raja, tam je starý Abrahám, Izák a Jákob a oni tam, Samuel a všetci ostatní, ktorí tam sú. Môžem Ho počuť zaklopať na dvere. [Brat Branham klope na kazateľňu. - pozn.prekl.] Amen. Ó, toto milujem. To ma dáva do poriadku, cítim sa teraz trochu nábožne.
Môžem Ho vidieť, ako sa tam díva, a počuť, ako hovorí, „Kto je tam vonku? Kto je tam?“ On povedal, „Ja...“ Toto hovorí Abrahám. „Kto to je?“
„Ja som Semeno Abrahámovo.“ Amen. Môžem vidieť Abraháma, ako prichádza ku dverám a otvára dvere. Povedal, „Ja som Semeno Abrahámovo.“
Daniel povedal, „Pozrite sem. Tam je ten Kameň, ktorý som videl odseknutý z hory.“
Môžem počuť, ako ľudia hovoria, „Tam On je. Videl som Ho, ako tam bol prach pod Jeho nohami, oblaky sa pohybovali, keď barani... listy tlieskali rukami a všetci kričali.“ Ó, môžem vidieť tých rôznych ľudí v raji, ako na Neho čakajú.
208Môžem Ho počuť povedať, „Poďte. V Jeruzaleme začína svitať; musíte odtiaľto odísť. Ideme hore, lebo vy ste sa spoliehali na krv býkov a kôz, čakajúc na ten čas, kedy príde Moja Krv. Ale Moja Krv bola preliata tam na Golgote. Ja som stelesnený Syn Boží. Všetky dlhy za hriech sú zaplatené; sme na ceste von.“ Haleluja. Sláva Bohu.
Vidím, ako Abrahám chytil Sáru za rameno a tu oni idú, rovno von. V Matúšovi 27, keď vyšiel, počujem ho, ako sa trochu zastavil v tamojšom Jeruzaleme. A prvá vec, ktorú viete, môžem vidieť, ako starý Kaifáš a oni stoja na ulici a hovorí, „Hovoria mi, že ten chlapík vstal... Počuj, kto je ten chlapík, ktorý tam ide, ten mladý muž, to mladé dievča?“
Už nie je starý; to bol Abrahám a Sára. A zmizli. Pozreli sa, „Niekto nás sleduje.“ Oni mohli zmiznúť práve tak, ako On prešiel cez múr, ten istý druh tela. Haleluja. To je pravda. Tu sú všetci proroci a ostatní, prechádzajú sa a obzerajú si mesto.
A Ježiš ich viedol rovno hore, alebo hore poza hviezdy, mesiac, oblaky a zajal zajatie, dal ľuďom dary. Ježiš dnes sedí po pravici Otca, vyliezol tam hore, posadil sa, až sa všetci Jeho nepriatelia stanú podnožou Jeho nohám.
212A dnes, môj drahý kresťanský priateľ, démoni pracujú na každej strane. A Boží Duch sa posúva na druhej strane, aby proti tomu zakaždým pôsobil. Haleluja. Tu to máte. Vyhlasujú to noviny a časopisy a všetko ostatné. Oni to sledujú, nemôžu vidieť, čo to je. Čo je to? Je to predobraz toho veľkého zúčtovania, ktoré prichádza veľmi skoro medzi Bohom a diablom. Choďte na Božiu stranu a buďte priami v srdci. Amen.
213Nedávno som tu bol na zhromaždení v Toledo v štáte Ohio. Idem zakončiť.
Vidíte, čo mám na mysli ohľadom démonov? Oni pracujú. Sú veľmi nábožní, práve tak nábožní... Ó, chodia do cirkvi každú nedeľu, opakujú apoštolské vyznanie viery a spievajú 'doxológiu', ó, práve tak nábožní, ako len môžu byť. „Brat Branham, chceš tým povedať, že je to pravda?“
To je ten druh ducha, ktorý zavesil Ježiša Krista na kríž. A Ježiš povedal, „Vy ste zo svojho otca, diabla.“
No, niektorí z nich povedali, „Ó, Rusko je antikrist.“ Nikdy. Rusko nie je antikrist. Antikrist bude tak nábožný, že by to oklamalo aj samotných vyvolených, ak by to bolo možné. Pamätajte, Boh berie Svojich ľudí, ale nikdy nie Svojho Ducha; diabol berie svojich ľudí, ale nikdy nie svojho ducha. No, tam oni sú; urobte, ako myslíte; ja som zodpovedný len za pravdu.
217Démoni pracujú... Včera som ich preberal v tej fyzickej sfére; dnes vám ukazujem v duchovnej sfére, kde sú v náboženskej sfére; kde boli tam vonku, nazývaní rakovina, a nazývajú toto, to a tamto. Ale dokázal som vám skrze Bibliu, že sú to diabli. No, dnes sú tu znovu v náboženských sférach, veľmi nábožní, veľmi zbožní.
Ak začneš, brat, a premýšľaj. Kain, hneď na samotnom začiatku, on bol veľmi nábožný človek. Ezav bol veľmi nábožný človek. Judáš bol veľmi nábožný človek. To je náboženstvo. To nie je ten vonkajší svet; je to rovno v tých radoch. Sledujte to: démonológia. Možno o niečo neskôr sa k tomu dostanem trochu viac; už meškáme.
Nikoho neodsudzujte. Milujte všetkých. Ak nemôžete milovať zo srdca, potom s vami nie je Kristus.
220V Tolede v štáte Ohio som vošiel do malej reštaurácie, kde som na určitom mieste jedával, na malom mieste u Dunkardov, na malom peknom mieste. Boli takí milí. V to popoludnie zatvorili, aby išli do nedeľnej školy. A keď to urobili, musel som ísť cez ulicu na malé svetské miesto a vošiel som tam. A viem, že hazardné hry sú v Ohiu nezákonné. A tu stála štátna polícia s rukou okolo dievčaťa, jeho ruka tu visela na jej hrudi a hral automat. Zákon našich štátov a národa, všetko skončilo: žalostné.
Spolieham na Krista, na pevnú Skalu, na ktorej stojím, všetky ostatné miesta sú potápajúcim sa pieskom: nič iné nezostalo. To je pravda.
222Pozrel som sa tam dozadu a bola tam jedna krásna mladá dáma, pravdepodobne tínedžerka, mala devätnásť, osemnásť, devätnásť rokov. A to, čo tam tí chlapci robili za stolom, to bolo strašné. Sadol som si tam. A teraz, na moje prekvapenie, sediac tu, kde prišla tá pani, povedala, „Sadnete si?“
Povedal som, „Ďakujem. Chcel som raňajky.“
A sediac na stoličke, tu sedela jedna staršia pani, stará ako moja matka, päťdesiatpäť, päťdesiatosemročná. Mala na sebe kus sporého bezbožného oblečenia, ktoré teraz nosia.
Tvrdia, že je to populárne. Veda hovorí, „Si blázon.“ Iste, to nie je. Vy len chcete ukázať svoju nahotu. Je to hanba, pohanenie. Dáma si ich neoblečie. Žena áno, ale dáma nie.
225A potom, tak potom oni... Tam ona bola, sedela tam. Jej úbohé telo bolo ochabnuté. Na perách mala takú manikúru, ktorá vyzerala ako orchidea, alebo ako to nazývate, a trochu ostrihaná ako muž a celá sa rozčesala; čo hovorí Biblia, že je hanba. A žena, keď muž...
Biblia tvrdí, že ak si žena strihá vlasy, muž má právo prepustiť ju v rozvode, pretože s ním nie je úprimná. V týchto dňoch musíme ísť dole a kázať Bibliu. Je tam povedané, „Ak si strihá vlasy, zneuctieva svojho manžela.“ Ak je neúctivá, mala by byť prepustená. Nemôžeš sa oženiť s inou, ale môžeš ju dať preč. Fíha. Chlapče, to ide do tuhého; cítim to. Ale to je pravda.
227Ó, bývalo to tak, že sme to mali vo sférach Ducha Svätého, ale spustili sme ohrady. Jeden starý brat zvykol hovoriť, „Spustili sme ohrady, spustili sme ohrady, urobili sme kompromis s hriechom. Spustili sme ohrady; ovce sa dostali von, ale ako sa dovnútra dostali kozly?“ Spustili ste ohrady. To je to, kvôli čomu sa to stalo; spustili ste ohrady, svet a cirkev sa zmiešali. Presne ako Moábovia, a tak ďalej, a Balám, a ako sa medzi nimi oženil, dnes to je presne to isté. A cirkev je celá znečistená a letničný vek je laodicejský vek, ktorý je vlažný a vypľutý z Božích úst. A z celej tej skupiny Boh povoláva Svoj ostatok a berie ju domov (To je úplná pravda. To je presne tak.) skrze vzkriesenie.
228A ona tam sedela a nechala si urobiť manikúru na perách po celej tvári a bolo to takto celé na nej. A na očiach mala tento čierny nezmysel a potila sa; už sa to roztekalo. A tá úbohá stará osôbka mohla mať pravnúčatá. A sedela tam s dvoma starými mužmi a jeden z nich mal okolo krku veľkú šatku a takto tam sedeli, to bolo v júni. A on vstal a trochu pil a ona pila tiež a rozhliadala sa.
Pomyslel som si, „Ó, Bože, prečo len nevymažeš tú vec z mapy? Prečo nie... Musí byť moja malá Sharon, moje malé dieťa, moja malá Sára a moja malá Rebeka vychovávaná v tej generácii, aby čelili takým veciam?“ Pomyslel som si, „Pozri sa tu do týchto parkov a na to, čo sa deje.“ Pomyslel som si, „Ó, Bože. Ó, som rád, že si vzal Sharon, ak to bola Tvoja vôľa. Musí moja malá Rebeka a malá Sára byť vychovávaná pod takýmito vecami?“ Pričom tí ľudia ich nazývajú - spievajú v zbore a všetko. A pomyslel som si, „Nie je to hanba?“ Pomyslel som si, „Bože, ako to Tvoja svätá spravodlivosť dokáže zniesť? Vyzerá to tak, že Tvoja spravodlivá rozhorčenosť by vyletela tam von a vyhodila toto miesto do vzduchu.“
230A počul som Anjela Pánovho, povedal, „Poď nabok.“ Prešiel som tam. A keď to so mnou prešiel, cítil som sa ako iná osoba. „Za čo ju odsudzuješ?“
Povedal som, „Pozri sa na to, aká je.“ A tu je to, čo On...
Videl som videnie. Videl som svet ako tento, okolo, iný svet. Ale tento svet tu mal okolo seba dúhu a to bola Krv Kristova, ktorá chráni pred Božím hnevom. Nemohol by sa na to dívať. On by tú vec rovno teraz zničil, pretože povedal, „V deň, keď z neho budete jesť, v ten deň zomriete.“ Tak On by to urobil.
Potom som rozmýšľal takto. Videl som samého seba. Síce som to neurobil, ale jednako som bol hriešnik. A potom Krv Ježiša Krista pre nás pôsobí ako nárazník. Rozumiete? To znamená, že keď som zhrešil, moje hriechy Ho zasiahli a Jeho drahocenná hlava sa zachvela a mohol som vidieť, ako stekajú slzy a Krv. „Odpusť mu, Otče; on nevie, čo robí.“ A urobil som niečo iné a to zasiahlo. „Odpusť mu, Otče.“
233Ak by to niekedy prešlo vedľa Neho, bol by som zničený. A ak by som nikdy neprijal Jeho milosť a v deň, keď moja duša odpláva ďalej, som už súdený. Odmietol som to. Nezostáva nič iné, len súd. Súdený, už som bol súdený. Boh povedal, „V deň, keď z neho budete jesť, v ten deň zomriete.“ Dnes popoludní ste súdení rovno na súdnej stolici, váš postoj ku Kristovi.
A potom som si pomyslel, „Áno, je to tak.“ A videl som, ako som sa jedného dňa priplazil k Nemu. Videl som tam položenú moju starú knihu, hriešnik, tam bolo všetko zaznamenané. A videl som, že moje hriechy boli tým, čo to spôsobilo, a povedal som, „Pane, či mi odpustíš?“
Vložil ruku do Svojho boku, vytiahol trochu Krvi, napísal to cez vrch a povedal, „Omilostený.“ Hodil to dozadu do mora zabudnutia, aby to už viac nebolo spomenuté. Bolo to navždy preč. Povedal, „Odpúšťam ti, ale ty ju odsudzuješ.“
To zmenilo môj pohľad. Povedal som, „Pane, zmiluj sa.“
236Potom, ako som z toho vyšiel, prišiel som a sadol som si. Povedal som, „Ako sa máš, madam?“
Povedala, „Ó, ahoj.“
A povedal som, „Ak mi prepáčite,“ povedal som, „Som reverend Branham, kazateľ.“
Povedala, „Ó, prepáčte mi, prepáčte mi, reverend Branham.“
Povedal som, „Pani...“ Bol som... Povedal som jej ten príbeh. Povedal som, „Stál som tam a odsudzoval som ťa v mysli, čo za hrozná vec. Možno máš deti.“
Povedala, „Mám.“
Povedal som, „Čo spôsobilo, že sa tá cesta pokazila?“ Začala mi odhaľovať ten príbeh, ktorý by roztopil akékoľvek srdce. Povedal som, „Pýtal som sa Boha, prečo to jednoducho nezmietol zo zeme? Ty si tu s týmito dvoma opitými mužmi a sama si opitá.“ A povedal som, „Jedného dňa, tá Krv, ktorá od teba zadržuje Boží hnev, v jednom z týchto dní zomrieš a potom si... Teraz máš slobodnú morálnu voľbu; môžeš to odmietnuť alebo prijať.“ A povedal som, „Ale jedného dňa tvoja duša odtiaľto odíde na miesto, kde už nezostane žiadna milosť. A ak zomrieš vo svojich hriechoch, potom si už odsúdená a pôjdeš do pekla.“
A viete čo? Tá žena vykĺzla z toho miesta v tej reštaurácii a mali sme modlitebné zhromaždenie, o akom ste nikdy v živote nepočuli, a ona prišla ku Kristovi. Čo to bolo? Neodsudzujte ich; hovorte im Evanjelium. Sú posadnutí démonmi; oni sú smrteľníci v tejto sfére. Sú odtiaľto ovplyvnení. Náš vplyv prichádza zhora. Pozrime sa, čo môžeme urobiť so svojím talentom, aby sme druhých získali pre Krista.
241Náš nebeský Otče, ďakujeme Ti za Tvoju dobrotu a milosrdenstvo. Je mi ľúto, Pane; možno tí ľudia, držal som ich tu tak dlho. Ale keď už sme takto zakončili tieto popoludňajšie zhromaždenia, chcel som im povedať o démonoch. A nasekal som toho príliš veľa na jedno miesto, do jednej kázne, ale možno to tu a tam uchytia a porozumejú, čo som tým myslel. Poznáš zámery môjho srdca, prečo som to priniesol.
Nech dnes popoludní odtiaľto odídu ľudia a muži a ženy, nech sledujú každý pohyb, ktorý urobia, ale nech žijú šťastne a slobodne. Nech vedia, že Boh ich spasil. A nech hľadia na Neho, zabudnú na všetky izmy a veci, ktoré sú okolo nich, a nech žijú pokojne a triezvo a v bázni Božej. A potom, Bože, keď ich chceš na niečo použiť, môžeš k nim priamo hovoriť a poslať ich kamkoľvek chceš, aby išli, alebo čokoľvek chceš, aby robili. Nech sú ľudia pokorní a nachádzajú Krista vo svojom srdci. Odpusť nám, Pane, naše poklesky, každému jednému z nás.
243A my vieme, že satan chodí všade ako revúci lev a hltá, čo môže, oblečený v nábožných plášťoch. Ó, Bože, tieto úbohé malé deti, pozri sa na ne všade. Sú otvorení a vystavení ľuďom. A modlím sa ku Tebe, Bože, aby si im bol milostivý a aby si spasil všetkých stratených, uzdravil chorých. A, Bože, uvedomujeme si, že keď títo starí diabli choroby prichádzajú na Tvoje deti, že Ty máš zmierenie, ktoré tam leží, aby sa o to postaralo. A všetci diabli, ktorí by ich priviedli k hriechu, Ty máš zmierenie, ktoré tam leží a postará sa o to. A modlím sa, aby si to udelil v Ježišovom Mene. Amen. Zaujímalo by ma, či tam je...
1 I wonder how many knows this little song, as I greet you in the warmest of Christian fellowship and love of Christ today, how many knows this little song, "He Careth For Thee"? You know it? All right, let's see if we can get it. You know it, sister? You know?
Now, He careth for you,
He careth for you;
Through sunshine or shadow,
He careth for you.
Oh, that's fine, let's try it again now.
He careth for you,
He careth for you;
Through sunshine or shadow,
He careth for you.
2 Our heavenly Father, we thank Thee that Thou dost care for us and has manifested Thy love towards us, insomuch that You sent Your own beloved Son, the--the innocent Son of God, to take the place of guilty sinners. How we thank Thee that Thou did care for us and was mindful of us, to do this. And we're so appreciative, Lord. We happy to gather here this afternoon under the canopies of the skies, and ask Your blessings upon this service. Grant, Lord, that every man, woman, boy or girl that's here, may study deeply now in the Scriptures. We're facing a world that's controlled by Satan. And, Father, we pray, as we study the power of demons and what they do to people, that You will give us great faith, and may many great signs and wonders be wrought. For, we ask it in Christ's Name and for God's glory. Amen.
3 We're study this afternoon, quickly into it, and I guess about fifteen minutes early, is still on "Demonology."
And now I just got a message awhile ago, Brother Beeler, from my friends, and I start in Africa the middle of July. So that settles it; we got it fixed now. And Brother Baxter can't go at that time, so I'm going to have to go to Africa by myself. So going over there with... may the... You have to pray for me now, that the Lord will help me, 'cause I really going to need it now over there amongst... I'm expecting at least two hundred thousand people in that meeting.
5 And I've got a vision wrote out here. I want you people to get the benefit of it. It happened in December. I was in the room one morning when the Angel of the Lord came in. I... You see, when I was over there I disobeyed God and I picked up ameba. Any man know--know what ameba is? A parasite that gets--nearly kills you. And because I done something God told me not to do. How many's heard the story of it? I guess some of you is here. I know the folks around the Tabernacle heard the story of what happened. God told me to go a place, and to stay away from this place, and then go back over to another place. And I let the preachers talk me out of it.
Now, preachers are wonderful, and they're my brothers, but you mind what God tells you. That's right. See, you got one mission.
6 How many remembers one time there was two prophets in the Bible? And one of them, the Lord told him, said, "You go to a certain place and don't you--don't you come to... You go back another way," and so forth. And--and said, "Don't you eat or drink while you're there."
And another true prophet met him and said, "The Lord met me after He met you. And said, 'Come by my house.'" And the prophet listened to what the other one said and lost his life by it. See? You do what God tells you to do regardless of what anybody else says.
8 Now, we're in this vision He... It woke me up, thirteenth of September, or of December. And--and as I was setting on the side of my bed, I was wondering what would be my future. I... When I come back over here, they was ready to throw me in the pesthouse; parasites had just about taken me. And they give me examination when I struck this land. And by God's grace they just let me go home, because it's very scattered.
And I prayed, and I went to those ministers, I said, "The Lord said for me not to go that way."
Said, "Oh, God talks to somebody besides you."
I said, "Korah had that idea one time." And so... But I went and got some leaves and laid it over their feet, and I said, "Remember, in the Name of the Lord, if we take that trip there, it's going to be a failure, and we'll all pay for it." And we sure did. Oh, my. We all like to died. So then coming back...
10 You have so much to contend with in those foreign countries. For instance, a little flea would bite you, it'd cause you to have tick fever. And that little thing, when it bites you, if you feel yourself itching, you can't scratch it. You look, if it's a little black fellow, don't pull it off. It's got a little head, it bores its way into the skin, turns around like this and fastens itself. If you'd pull it, you'd pull the head off in there; it's got a virus, and it'd paralyze you. So you don't scratch or don't pull him off. Just take some tallow, and he breathes through his back, drop tallow on it and he comes off.
Then there's a little mosquito, he doesn't make a bit of noise; he comes right through the air; he just touch you. That's all; you got malaria.
12 And--and then there's what they call the mamba snake. If he hits you, you live just about two minutes after he hits you.
And there's a yellow cobra; you live about fifteen minutes after his bite. And one of them was close enough to my son, as he could have laid his hand on his head, already up to strike before we got the shot, like that.
And there's the black cobra. Oh, there's just everything. And then the wild perils of the animals, of course, lions, tiger, or leopards, and everything else to contend with in the jungle. And then the diseases, there's just all kinds of diseases in there.
And you have all that to face when you go. Besides that, then here's the witch doctor to challenge you on every hand (See?), and all their superstitions and things. But how--what a marvelous thing to see our Lord just wave it away from side to side like that, then go on.
And that day I remember standing there, how well, what taken place. I'll tell you sometime in another meeting, 'cause I want to get on my subject this afternoon of "Demonology."
16 But now, and this I was thinking about, setting there, what will the end be? And coming back across the sea, I know we had around a hundred thousand conversions while we was in there. And old Brother Bosworth come to me. He said. I said, "Well, Brother Bosworth?"
He said, "I'm so proud of you, Brother Branham." He said, "You're just sure just in the beginning of life," and he said.
I said, "Well, I guess it's all over." I said, "I'm past forty years old; I guess I fought a good fight and finished the course."
He said, "Past forty years old?" Said, "I was that old 'fore I got converted." Said, "I'm still going good." He was pretty near going into his eighty, and just...
I thought, "Well, maybe that's about right."
So he said, "No, you're just a brand new Branham now; you just know how to control your meetings better and everything." Said, "Just, if you ever strike America in its right way, with the right setup meeting where you can stay six or eight weeks in a place, and get it set up and advertised around," said, "you'd do something, but, and for our Lord." So we went ahead just on like that, so it was very--very nice.
21 Then after while I saw a vision when I was in America, and it come to me, and returned me back to Africa, and it showed me that same meeting setting there in front of Durban. And the first meeting faded away into history, going towards the west. The second meeting rose up, and when it did, it was still larger than the first meeting was. And He... I heard a scream, and an Angel was coming out of heaven; He had a great Light.
And the Angel of the Lord which stands by us here, was standing (always stands by my right, over on this side), and It was standing there, and It was--It was milling around, and I seen this man standing near me. He's a--He's not... Now, that's not visions when you see Him. It's just as real as you're looking at me. Why, you can hear Him walk and talk to you. And when He... Anything, He's just as real as any... It's not a vision, the Man's just standing there just same as you are. And His voice is just the same as mine would be or yours would be. But a vision, something that breaks before you and you see it, like that... But this man just walks up and stands there.
23 So He told me that--what was going to take place. And He said that. This Angel came down, and He told me to turn and look this a-way. And it looked towards India now. And I don't say it's in India, but it's near. But they were Indian people,'cause the Africans are big burly, heavy fat-like people. Some of them are nearly seven-foot tall, and weigh, oh, two hundred and eighty, or three hundred pounds, burly: the Zulus, Now, the Shangai and the Basothu, and, oh, there's many different tribes. There's fifteen different tribes setting there that day I was speaking to.
25 I'd say one word, like "Jesus Christ, the Son of God." I'd go get a drink of water 'fore it went through all the interpreters. One would say... And all noises... I used to think when I heard Pentecostal people speaking in tongues, that maybe one speaking in one kind of sound and one speaking another, how in the world could that be? But I believe the Bible's right, and know It is, when It said, "There's not a sound without significance." That's right. Some of them would say, one of them, "Blrr blrr blrr blrr," and that meant "Jesus Christ, the Son of God." Other one would go, "Cluk cluk cluk cluk," and that was "Jesus Christ, the Son of God," in his language. So no matter what kind of sound it is, it's a meaning somewhere. That's right. No matter what kind of a noise it is, it means something to someone somewhere. And when He was... They'd give that out.
26 And I noticed that over to my left, when that Angel come down and I seen a swarm-like there. And they were men with, looked like they'd a--a sheet around them like this, and it wrapped up and tied, like around a small baby, the napkin. And it was. And I could just see as far as I could see; it was nothing but people. And then this Angel turned on a great oscillating light, and it begin to sway back and forth like that. And I never seen so many people in my life.
And then this other Angel came real close to me, and He said, "There's three hundred thousand of them in that meeting." And I've got it written down here. And you write it in some kind of a piece of paper, like I told about the little boy being resurrected in Finland. You write that on the flyleaf of your Bible or somewhere, that in this meeting there's going to be a meeting, that... And you'll hear it through some outlet, of three hundred thousand people attend that meeting. Now, see if that isn't right. That'll be three times the size the other one was. See? Three hundred thousand people to attend the meeting. And I'm just so happy to get to get there, I don't know what to do, for I like to win souls to our Lord.
And there, at one time, seeing--seeing thirty thousand raw heathens come to Jesus Christ in one altar call, thirty thousand raw heathen...
29 Now, let's go to our subject right quick. Yesterday we studied the technique of demons. I've been thinking today, as God dealing. You don't know what a liberty it is to get out. Now, I'm not a teacher; I'm a long ways from being a Bible expositor. And I am... My education is limited to a seventh grade, so that's... And, that, I come out of school about twenty-five years ago, so that's a long time off. And I don't have--had very much of an education, but all that I know is what I receive through inspiration.
And if that inspiration doesn't compare with the Bible, then it's wrong. See? It's got to be the Bible. No matter what inspiration it is, it's got to come... Here is God's Foundation. No other foundation is laid but This. And what This is, if what I would say would be contrary to This, you let my words be a lie, because This is the Truth. See, see? And if an angel would tell you something that'd be different from This, Paul said, "Let him be unto you accursed." Even an angel of light... Now, there's many great things. I only... the only... I chose two days, 'cause to get this subject to the people, that was yesterday and today, of the afternoon meeting.
30 Now, the reason I did this, is to give myself a little try to see if God would help me. There's something on my heart. And this is, that after this great message, and after God Himself confirming what that I have said to be the Truth, in His Word. By His Word first, and then through signs and wonders. Now, I think, with the Gospel truth to the church, I'm under obligation to God to bring this to the church. That's right. They're so broke up in so many different organizations and sectarian parts of it, till that's wrong. We're all God's children when we're born again. That... See? And the truth of the thing is that God wants us to know that, that we're His children.
31 Now, remember, the temple of Solomon was cut out all over the world. And here comes one rock twisted this way, and one rock twisted that way, and one cut up this way, and one cut that way, but when it come together, there wasn't a buzz of a saw nor a sound of a hammer; everything went right to its place. God was the Instructor of that.
And God's got a church called the Assemblies, and one the Church of God, and one the this one, and one the that one, but when they all come together, they'll be one big group of brotherly love, and God will put--assemble that church together and take her on up into the sky.
33 Every famous picture before it's ever hung in a hall of art, it has to be hung, go through the hall of critics first. The man who painted that...?... Or, pardon me, I can't call his name, painted the "Last Supper," anyhow, it cost him his lifetime. He painted that picture. It was about twenty years, or ten years, I believe, between painting Christ and Judas. And did you realize in that famous picture, that the same man posed for Christ, ten years later posed for Judas? That's right. He did. Ten years of sin, from a great opera singer to take the place of Christ, come to the place of Judas. You don't have to take ten years; it takes ten minutes, will do the same thing to you. It'll change your character in sin. But anyhow, that picture went through all the critics.
34 And that's what I think about the--God's church, the group that's called... Well, I don't mean this through any slam. I've sailed the seven seas, and I'm on my third trip around the world, and the people say, "Holy-roller, holy-roller." And I've searched the world, and I've never found a holy-roller yet. That's the name the devil has tacked onto the people. That's all. There's no such a thing as a holy-roller. And I have statistics of every six hundred and sixty-eight different churches that there is, and organized in the world, and there's not one of them called Holy-Roller. And that's from the government. There's not one Holy-Roller church I know of. So it's just something the devil called.
But now in all of this, all these things, God has painted a picture. And one time these little old churches used to be out here, some of you...
35 I watch these gray-headed men. My boy, yesterday, I was in the room studying, and a minister came by and said, "Like to shake hands with your dad." 'Course my boy's been raised up with Brother Baxter and them who just, "No," that's it, quickly. I don't like that. See? No matter if I... 'Course I can't be servant of man and God too. But I think that I like to shake hands with my brethren. I like to do that. There's something about it; I like to shake the hands of a--of a minister; not only a minister, but any child of God. I like to do it.
I didn't know about it until my wife had told me a little later. Well, if he could've told that minister, "Just a minute; he's back there in prayer, and--and I'll see what he can say." Well, that--that would've been better. So I give him a little correction on that, not to do that. See?
36 And so it's true, you can't just be right out as the brother said awhile ago. If you do, then at nighttime I--I'm worn. You see? The people go to talking, and everyone has maybe a sickness, and when they go to speaking about it, quickly there's the Angel of the Lord right there to tell about it.
There's someone setting looking right at me now, knows that to be true from just a few minutes ago, or about a hour and a half ago: a lady setting here, who didn't know what it was, that the Angel of the Lord spoke to her the other night and told her something and she couldn't understand it. But today it happened, so she knows now what it means when He was speaking to her.
And I was standing there talking to her, the Angel of the Lord went right straight back out and told her what her trouble was, and what it was all about, and--and what she was thinking about, and one of her loved ones, and how God had spoke and said He'd confirmed it, and what was going to take place. So that's just exactly the way it'll be. See, God has said so.
38 Well now, what about a few times that every... And then... And each vision just weakens you that much more. See? And the first thing you know, when you get to church at night, you're just so completely wore out till you just don't know hardly what to do. And you pray for me now (See?), because it's out of one meeting to another, to another. This was the only meeting, it would be different, if I was going home now and wasn't going to do nothing for a couple months, go out and get my fishing line and go fishing, but I got to go from one meeting right to another, from one right to another. You see? That's what makes it.
39 And you all pray, you people back here in the audience. They told me last night that I--that I was speaking to a certain person, and the person did not respond to the call. Now, that's pretty dangerous. You see? When they said it, well, sometimes there's lights don't shine, there's a dark spot in between there.
And I watch the Angel of the Lord when He's standing here, I can feel it. Then I'll feel It move from me, and I'll watch, and It'll leave me, and It'll go over somewhere and stand there a little bit, and I can see It. And It'll flash on, and there'll be a vision come. Then I'll see the vision. I'll watch what kind of a looking person it is around there. And I find the person, then I speak. That's what takes place. That's what happens. You don't have to tell everybody that, but that's--that's what takes place. You see? It's all in the spiritual realm.
41 Then if that person don't respond, it'd be like reading the Bible here and saying, "There's nothing to it," walk away from it. See? So that makes it pretty bad. So be on the alert, be listening, be watching. When He speaks, answer. See? And just be ready to answer at any time.
And so my wife, and Brother Beeler, and many of them, this morning, was telling me about it, that it was calling a man about his brother somewhere that had something wrong with him, and so forth, and the man did not respond to the call, so that can't be helped. That's between God and the man. The vision left me then, and I couldn't find it no more, because he didn't answer. So be watching and be on alert.
43 Now, taking this subject of demonology and speaking about demons. Now, people, when you say "demon," right quick they begin to think, "Oh, some fanaticism or something." But demons is just as real as Angels; they're just as real.
And the devil is just as real a devil, as Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He's a devil. Heaven is just as real. And if there is no such a thing as hell, there's no such a thing as heaven. And if there isn't an eternal blessed--eternal punishment, rather, there's no eternal blessed. If there's no day, there's no night. See? But as sure as there's day, there's night. As--as soon... As sure as there's a Christian, there's bound to be a hypocrite. As sure as there's somebody that's genuine from God, there's somebody to impersonate that. See? It's just exactly pro and con, black and white, right on down through life on everything, true and false everywhere. And there is a false Gospel; there's a true Gospel. There's a true Baptism; there's a false baptism. There's a make-belief, and there's a real. There's a true American dollar; there's a false American dollar. There's a genuine Christian, there's a genuine hypocrite (See?), that's just impersonating. So you find that, so it all goes together. Now, we can't separate it; God lets the rain fall.
45 May He let me speak here just a little bit. How many preachers is here? Raise up your hands. All around, preachers, let's see your hands. Well, God bless you, brethren. Now, now, you don't take this for doctrine now, but just before we approach this vital subject I'll tell you one of... How many Pentecostal people is here, raise up your hands, all around everywhere. Why, you're all Pentecostals? All right. I'm going to tell you what I had when I first come into your realms--ranks.
I was right up here in Indiana, at a certain place called Mishawaka. The first group of Pentecostal people I ever seen is called the--the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ, I believe, or something like that, wonderful bunch of people. Now, they organized together and call them United Pentecost. They break up from the rest of them because of an issue of water baptism. That don't make them any hypocrite. There's many a genuine, real genuine Holy Ghost born again Christian in their ranks. And God gave them the Holy Ghost by being baptized in Jesus' Name, and He's give the others the baptism of the Holy Ghost being baptized in Father, Son and Holy Ghost. So God give them the Holy Ghost who obeys Him, so who--who got, who obeyed Him? There you are.
46 If you'd just forget... And them that wants to be one way let them be, and you go ahead and be brothers. That's all. Don't... What done it, was breaking among--breaking away (See?), breaking, tearing up, breaking up brotherhood, setting out and separating yourselves. No, sir; we're not separated; we're one. That's right.
47 But when I was standing there, I was watching those people. Now, me, just come out of a regular little old Southern Baptist church, why, I'd see those people, I went in there and they were clapping their hands, hollering, "One of them, one of them, glad I can say I'm one of them."
I thought, "My. Whew." First thing you know, here come somebody down through there, dancing as hard as they could dance. I thought, "What church manners, I never heard such things as that." I kept watching them around wondering, "Well, what in the world's the matter with those people?"
49 Now, you've heard me tell my life story, where I hit that meeting there. But this is one thing I've never told, never told it before in public. So they... Now, if you want to rub it off of your recorder, why, you can do so. All right. Now, in this I watched, and now I thought, "Well, them people is the happiest people I ever seen in my life." They wasn't ashamed of their religion. We Baptists get just a little bit ashamed once in a while, you know. See? And when they go to pray, you know, get behind the fan, you know, and--and but we... But them people wasn't; brother, they had--they had religion all inside, outside, and all over them.
50 Well, I remember that night when I got on the platform. Said, "All preachers on the platform." It was a convention. They had to have it up here in the north on account of--on account of the colored problem, the Jim Crow law of the south. So they was all met there from everywhere. So I was setting up there and he said... Well, now there's... I heard all preachers through that day and that night, they said some old preacher, he was an old colored man come out, just a little bit of rim of hair around his head like that, big old long frock-tailed preacher coat on, you know, velvet collar, and it hot weather. Poor old fellow come out there like this, and he said, "My dear children." He said, "I want to tell you," got to testifying: I was about the youngest one setting on the platform. So then he said, "I tell you." He took his text from over in Job, "Where was you when I laid the foundations of the world? Declare unto Me where they're fastened."
51 All these other preachers had been preaching about Christ, along the regular run; I listened to them, enjoyed it, but not that old boy. He went back yonder about ten thousand years before the world ever started. He went up into the heavens and come plumb down across the skies, what was taking place. What they was preaching on, going on in the daytime he was preaching on what was taking place in heaven. He brought Christ back on a horizontal rainbow, back yonder somewhere in eternity. Why, he hadn't been preaching about five minutes till that old fellow, something got a hold of him, he jumped up in the air, and clicked his heels together, and hollered, "Whoopee." He had about as much room as I got up here. He said, "You ain't got enough room for me to preach," and away he went.
Well, I thought, "If that'll do that to a man about eighty years old, what would it do to me?" That's what I want. That's what I want.
53 But what got me was this. Now, we're talking on demons now. What got me, I watched two men. One set at one side and one the other. And when the Spirit would fall, them men would raise up and speak in tongues and shout, and turn white around the mouth, and I thought, "Oh, my, if I could only have that." See, how wonderful. Oh, that's, I just love that. Well, I went out in the cornfield. And I told you my life story; you read it in the book. I'd slept all night, and I come back the next morning. So I thought I'd just test out. I have a way of doing things that nobody knows but God and I. So that's... I take up a parable and go to meet a man's spirit. You see it right here on the platform. See? And so then I got to talking to one of those men. I seen them. They set close together, and--and they'd just hold hands and dance and shout. I thought, "Oh, my, that sounds real to me."
And I took a hold of one of his hands and I said, "How do you do, sir?"
And he said, "How do you do." Very nice man, gentlemen-type fellow, he said... I said, "Are you a minister?"
He said, "No, sir, I'm just a lay member."
And I got to carrying a little conversation with him so I could catch his spirit. See? He didn't know that; nobody knowed. I never said nothing about it, years afterwards 'fore I mentioned it. So then... But when I come to find out, it rang true just as perfect a Christian man; that man was absolutely a saint of God. I thought, "Brother, that's fine."
57 But the strange part, when I got a hold of the other man, it was contrary. He was even living with a woman that wasn't his wife. That's right. And I seen it pull up to me in a vision. I thought, "Oh, my, it can't be so." And the man... I thought, "Now, now, this spirit among them people is wrong, and that's all there is to it."
So that night when the--went to the meeting, and the blessings was falling, I would pray to God, and the Holy Spirit, the Angel of the Lord give witness that it was the Holy Ghost. And the same Spirit was falling on this man was falling on that man. And when the Spirit would fall, both of them would get up, and they'd both shout, and scream, and praise the Lord, and speak in tongues, and dance. I said, "I--I--I just can't get it, Lord, I... They... I can't see it in the Bible where that could be right." Now, I said, "Maybe I'm deceived." See? I said...
Now, here, I--I--I'm--I'm strictly fundamental in the Bible. It's got to be This. See? And I said, "Lord, You know my condition, and I--I've got to see it in Your Word. And I--I can't understand when the Holy Spirit's falling on this man, the Holy Spirit's fall on that man, and one of them is a saint and the other one's a hypocrite. And I know it is." And I know it without... I could've took the man out and proved it to him, or called him out right there and told him about it.
59 Like I could that man setting right here last night, was nothing but an impostor, if there ever was one setting there. And I ought to have called it out, but he'd have raised up and started fussing, so I just let it go on, account of the meeting. But I knowed him. Yes, sir. There's one, two of them setting right back there the other night, belongs to a certain church right here in the city, real critics. I seen them. But if you would, you'd just start the trouble. I've done it many times. I just let them alone. See? It's all right. God knows; He's the Judge. Let them call me one time, and then you'll see something take place (You see?), let him. Like the demon, I never called the demon out. He just come to me and challenged me. Then is when God went to work (See? That's right.), and you seen what taken place. All right. But I just let it go. Made the meeting hard, 'cause that spirit was moving right in on me all the time. See? And so I just kept on.
60 But now, these men, I couldn't understand it. And it was two years later, or three, when I was up at Green's Mill, Indiana, here, at the scout reservation; I was back in an old cave where I go to pray. And back there I said, "Lord, I can't understand what become of that group of people. The finest people I ever met in my life, and I--I can't understand how that that could be the wrong spirit, when it's the... If then... You know the integrity of my heart. You know how I love You and how I've served You. And the same Spirit that's here with me was on them people. And here It was on that guy there just the same." So I couldn't understand it.
61 And the Lord come down in His mercy and showed me. Here's where it was. It has to be Scriptural first. He said, "Pick up your Bible." And I picked up my Bible. And I guess I held that Bible for ten minutes without anybody--any more Word coming. I waited just a few minutes. I heard Him say again, "Turn to Hebrews 6 and start reading." And I did. And when it come down there where it said, "The rain cometh oft upon the earth to water it and prepare it, dress it for which it's... but the thorns and thistles, which is nigh unto rejection, whose end is to be burned..." And I caught it right there.
I thought, "There it is. Thanks be to God. There it is." See?
62 Now, Jesus said, "A sower went forth sowing seeds," didn't He? Now, you're all Christians here. Everyone held up their hands, anyhow: Pentecostal, born again Christians. All right, they... And He said, "A sower went forth sowing seeds, and while he slept (his death between, see), and while he slept, an enemy come and sowed tares in that wheat field." What is tares? Weeds, briers and things. Now... "And when the husbandman (the preacher) saw these tares growing, said, 'Let me go pull them up.' He said, 'No, no. You'll pull up the wheat also. Let them both grow together.'"
63 There's a wheat field out here. There's creepers, nettle ball, stink weed, everything else in it. Is that right? But now, in there there's wheat. Now, the rain comes oft upon the earth to water it. Now, what's the rain for? Not to water the nettle ball (Now, watch and pay attention), not to water the creeper. The rain's sent for the wheat, but the nettle ball and the weed is just as thirsty as the wheat is. And the same rain that falls on the wheat falls on the weed. And the little old weed will stand right straight up like that, and happy and rejoicing, just as much as the little wheat will stand up and stand hisself up. "But by their fruits ye shall know them." There you are. See?
Now, the same Holy Spirit can bless a hypocrite. That knocks some of you Arminians out, but that's the truth. That's the truth. Then call it holiness, which I believe in holiness too. But the same Spirit, the rain falls on the just and the unjust, but by their fruits you shall know them.
65 If I look out here and go to get wheat, I get wheat, but the weeds is all bound up, and they live on the same rain that fell for the wheat. And the rain was not sent for the weeds; it was sent for the wheat. But the rain being in the field, the wheat being--weeds being in the wheat field, got just as much benefit out of the rain as the rest of them did. And the same rain that made the wheat live, made the weed live.
All things in the natural types the spiritual as we're teaching. There it is, demonology, demons impersonating Christianity, yet with the blessing. That's not skim milk, brethren, if you can take it. See, see? Now, it's--it's truth.
67 So I'm not saved today because I can shout. I'm saved not because I feel like I'm saved. I'm saved because I met God's conditions of this Bible. Jesus said, "He that heareth My Words and believeth on Him that sent Me, has Everlasting Life, and shall not come into condemnation, but's passed from death to Life." I believe that. That's right. And on them conditions I am saved, because God said so.
If he told me I was saved because somebody said, "A rushing mighty wind hit me in the face," that's wonderful, but I want to know where that rushing mighty wind come from 'fore it hit me in the face. See? Now, what kind of a life are you going to live after that rushing mighty wind's hit you? See? See, it's by your fruit you're known. So demons can work right amongst Christians. You believe that? Look at Paul, Paul said...
69 Now, here's where the Latter Day Rain... If there's any of you here, forgive me if I'm saying anything against you. I wouldn't say no more against you than I would the Assemblies or any, and the Baptists or anybody else. It's truth is what's truth. Where you got off, was this, you're making prophets out of them men and things that's not prophets. Prophets are not laid on the hands and sent out; prophets are borned. See? In the Bible there's a gift of prophecy. There's where your mistake was between the gift of prophecy and a prophet. The gift...
"God, in sundry times and divers manners spoke to the fathers through the prophets, in this last days through His Son Christ Jesus." And the Body of Christ has nine spiritual gifts operating in it. And it might be on this woman tonight, prophecy, may never be the rest of her life. It may be on this woman the next night, may be on this man the next time, may be on that one back there the next time. That doesn't make her a prophet, doesn't make no one a prophet. It's a gift of prophecy in you.
71 And before that man or that prophecy can be given to the church, it has to be judged before two or three spiritual judges. Is that right according... Now, Paul said, "You all may prophesy one by one." If something be revealed to this one, let that one hold his peace. Well, that would make the whole bunch prophets then according to the teaching of today. No, Pentecostal church, we've got things all scrupled up. And that's the reason God can't come in, till we get the thing straightened out and on the Bible. That's right. You got to get the right path. How you going to build a house without looking at the blueprint? See? You got to start right.
72 Now, in there, a prophet, you never seen anybody stand before Isaiah, Moses. One did stand, Korah, one day, and tried to dispute with him, and God said, "Separate yourself, I'm going to open up the earth."
A prophet is born. Gifts and calling without repentance. That's the foreordination of God from the baby up. Everything was perfectly right along, exactly what he said was the truth and vindicated and brought out. It's the Word of God comes to the prophet. But a gift of prophecy is in the church.
73 Now, you said, "Well, the prophets are the Old Testament." Oh, no. The New Testament had prophets.
Agabus was a--was a New Testament prophet. Look at the Spirit of prophecy falling down there and telling Paul about... Then here come Agabus down from Jerusalem, and found Paul, and tied his girdle around him, and turned over, and said, "THUS SAITH THE LORD, the man that wore this will be bound in chains when he gets to Jerusalem." Agabus, who stood up and told, foretold what would take place, he was a prophet, not a man with the gift of prophecy.
And the gift of healing and all those gifts, my Pentecostal friend, you got it mixed up. The gifts are in the church, subject to any person's in the church, anybody that's baptized into the body. "By one Spirit we're all baptized in the..." And the Bible said...
"Well, I got the gift of healing."
Well, the Bible said, "Confess your fault one to another and pray one for the other." Every person pray one for the other. We're not a divided group; we're a collective, gathered group. See? Now, and there's how demons sometimes working.
77 Now, watch what Paul said, "If one speaks with tongues and the other one interpret, and whatever he said, let it be judged first 'fore the church can receive it."
Now, it won't be a quoting of Scripture or something another like that. God don't repeat Himself. But it'll be a warning to the church. Then if good judges says, "Let's receive that. All right, that was of the Lord." The second one says, "Let's receive it." The mouth of two or three witnesses, let every word be established. Then the church receive it and go make ready for it. If that doesn't come to pass, what that said, then you've got a evil spirit among you. That's right. And if it does come to pass, then thank God, the Spirit of God's among you. See? Now, that's where you have to watch and be careful.
So don't try to press. I couldn't make myself have brown eyes when I got blue. See? I have to be satisfied with blue eyes. Now, there's where demons work in the realm of spiritual people.
79 Now, we've got a deep something coming here, and I hope it's not too deep. Now, over in I Samuel 28, I want to read some Scripture here right at this time. I want you to listen closely. And I want to bring demons, show you how they work right in the church, and how Satan has a counterfeit for every real there is. Now, you can see according to the Bible, that demons come among Christians and they impersonate.
And many times we have declared people to be Christians when they said, "I believe in Jesus Christ." Why, the devils believe the same thing and tremble. That's no sign you're saved.
One of these nights I want to get on election, and then you'll see what salvation means. See? It's nothing you had to do with it in the first place or the last place, or nothing you can do about it. God saves a man, unconditionally. Boy that sunk deep, didn't it? I just might as well get that out of your system while we're at it. All right.
81 Abraham was the beginning of our faith. Is that right? All right, Abraham had the promise. And God called Abraham because he was a great man, I guess? No, sir. He come down out of Babylon, in the--in the land of Chaldea, in the city of Ur, and God called him and made His covenant with him, unconditionally. "I'm going to save you, and not only you, Abraham, but your Seed," unconditionally.
God made a covenant with man, and man breaks his covenant every time. Man never did keep his covenant with God. The law was never kept. They couldn't keep the law. Christ was come and broke the law Himself. 'Cause, grace had already provided a Saviour, Moses provided a way of escape, and then--escape, rather; and then the people, after that, they still wanted something to do. Man's always trying to do something to save himself, when you can't do it. It's his nature. As soon as he found out he was naked in the garden of Eden, he made some fig leaf aprons. Is that right? But he found out they wouldn't work. Nothing a man can do can save yourself. God saves you unconditionally, all down through the age. And then when you're saved, you're saved.
83 Look at Abraham. There that fellow was, went over, and God give him the land of Palestine and told him not to leave there. Any Jew that leaves Palestine was backslid. God told him to stay there. If God tells you to do something another, and you don't do it, then you're backslid. Is that right? All right, a drought come on to try Abraham's faith. And instead of Abraham staying there, no, he couldn't stay there, he run off, and took Sarah and went about three hundred miles (wish I had time to get on that) down to another land.
And when he got down there, and then he got this great king down there, Abimelech. He was a young fellow and he was looking for a sweetheart, so he found Abraham's wife, Sarah, and fell in love with her. And Abraham said, "Now, you tell him that you are my sister and I'm your brother."
So that pleased Abimelech, so he said, "All right, we'll just take her over to the castle." And I guess the women fixed her up, and he was going to marry her the next day.
86 And Abimelech was a good man, a righteous man. And that night while he was a sleeping, the Lord appeared to him, and said, "You're as good as a dead man." He said, "The man's... The woman that you got out there to marry, is another man's wife." Now, watch, "Another man's wife..."
Why, he said, "Lord, You know the integrity of my heart," a righteous, holy man. "You know the integrity of my heart. That man told me that was his sister. And didn't she tell me herself that that was 'my brother'?"
He said, God said, "I knowed the integrity of your heart, and that's the reason I kept you from sinning against Me. But that's My prophet." Hallelujah.
What was he? Backslid, and a little, lying shyster. Is that right? Oh, no, there ain't no little white lies; they're either black lies or they're not lies at all. The man setting out there telling a pine-blank lie, saying that was his sister when it was his wife, beating around the bush, and backslid.
And here was a righteous man standing before God, and said, "Lord, You know my heart."
"But I'll not hear your prayer, Abimelech, but take him--take her back and let him pray for you. He's My prophet, I'll hear him." Yes, a backslider, liar, "but that's My prophet." That truth? That's the Bible.
92 Now, don't go plumb too far over here on the Calvinistic side, "once in grace, always in grace," 'cause you'll get in disgrace. See? Now, just a moment; we'll get time this week to bring that up and show you how level it is. But don't think just because you've done something wrong that you're gone forever. You're a child of God; you're born of the Spirit of God; you're sons and daughters of God, and the fruits will bear record of itself. There you are.
93 Now, here we are setting in the land. Now, I want to read here the 6th verse.
And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by the Urim, nor by a prophet.
And then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman with a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her.
(Now, I could lay something to the rod right here if it'd just...) "Seek me a woman with a familiar spirit..."
And his servants said unto him, Behold, there is a woman that has a familiar spirit in En-dor.
And Saul disguised himself, and put on raiment, other raiment, and he went, two... and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and they said, I pray thee, 'vine unto me by thy familiar spirit, and bring me... up, whom I shall name unto thee.
And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest that Saul has done, does know, has cut off all those that have familiar spirits, and... wizards, out of the land: therefore... layest thou a snare for my life, and cause me to die?
And Saul answered and sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall be no punishment happen unto thee...
Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up... thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said I... unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
And he said unto her, What form was he of? And she said An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle.
And Sam... (That was that prophet's mantle, of course, see.)... perceived that it was Samuel, and he stood with his... and with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
And Samuel said unto Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, and bring me up? And Saul answered and said, I am sore distressed; because of the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me, and answers me not, neither by prophet, neither by dream: therefore I... called unto thee, that thou would make known unto me what I should do.
And then said Samuel, Wherefore... does thou ask me, seeing that the LORD has departed from thee, and--and is become thine enemy?
And the LORD has done unto him, as he spake to me: for the LORD has rent his kingdom out of thy hand, and has given it... unto even David:
94 Now, many of you familiar with this. Now, we want to go right in, and God help us now for the--a few moments to get into this. Now, watch. There was a man, Saul, who was once considered a prophet, for he prophesied with the prophets. Is that right, teachers? Now, here the man was backslidden. Is that right? But remember where Samuel said he would be, with him, at the next day: prematurely gone. See? All right, if you won't mind God, God will take you off the earth.
95 Look in the Corinthian letter there, how Paul set those people in order. He said, "First, I thank God for you, that there's no such things among you, and so forth, and how that--that you come short of no spiritual gift," telling them what they was, positionally, in Christ. Then he begin to let the hammer down on them, tell them about their women preachers, and how they were doing, and how they were eating at the Lord's table. And even one man living with his stepmother, and he said to this man in Christ, "Turn him over to the devil, for the destructions of the flesh, that the soul might be saved." See, that's it, turn him over. The Bible said, "For this cause many are sick and weakly among you, and men are asleep (gone on prematurely)," because of sin. God taken you out of the way; a good sign you was a Christian if you was taken."
96 So now, notice. In here Saul was considered one of the prophets or among the prophets, because he prophesied. And now, he had backslid, because he disobeyed God, and his kingdom was rent out of his hands and placed into the hands of David, who God had anointed by Samuel, with the cruse of oil.
97 Notice, then there was three ways that they had of finding out things from God; the first was--was the prophet, the second was a dream, and the third was the Urim Thummim. And they neither would answer. Now, you know what a prophet is, and you know what a spiritual dream is, and you know what the Urim Thummim was. You know what, the other day I asked a--a man what about the Urim, and that man couldn't tell me what it was, the Urim Thummim. 'Course it was God answering, but he...
See and the devil makes a counterfeit of every one of those. The wizard, the false prophet, and the crystal gazer... See, now, the Urim Thummim hung on Aaron's breast here, and the Urim Thummim covered over that stone. And they hung it in the temple. And when they wasn't sure, they'd go before God, in answer, and a light would flash on that Urim Thummim, which--whether it was God's will or not. Now, when the Urim Thummim wouldn't answer... Now, that was the direct answer from God. Now, the Urim Thummim of today, the fortuneteller took a crystal ball to pattern That, a false thing. God's in a trinity, God's powers is in a trinity; and the devil's in a trinity, and his powers is in trinity. I can prove it by the Bible. And that Urim Thummim was only the crystal ball that the devil uses today; and the false prophet back here today, the one that we have now, was the witch; or, the fortuneteller out yonder took the place of the prophet on the devil's side. See what I mean?
99 Now, then the Urim Thummim today is this Bible. If somebody has give a prophecy or a dream, and it don't compare or echo with God's Bible, it's false; don't believe it.
A man come to me not long ago from India, where I'm just fixing to go, a fine little preacher; he said, "Brother Branham, I come over here." Said, "A woman had the Holy Ghost," and said, "she was just a sweetest, nicest woman." He said, "And she had been married four times, and was living with her fourth husband." And I said, 'Well, how could that be, Lord?'" And said, "I went to Him and said, 'Oh, glory to God!' Said, 'Hallelujah, praise the Lord.'" Just one of that type, you know. Said, "Hallelujah. Praise the Lord." Said, "The Lord told me. Here I'm going to give you a dream." And said, "I dreamed that my wife; I seen her living in adultery. And she come back to me and said, 'Oh will you forgive me, Victor? Will you forgive me? I didn't... Why I said, 'Sure, I'll forgive you and take you back.'" He said, "Now, that's what I did." Said, "See, I forgive."
I said, "Victor, your dream was mighty lovely, but the devil give it to you."
He said, "Why?"
I said, "It don't compare with God's Word. She's living in adultery. Absolutely. She can't live with four men. That's right. She leaves that and goes back to her first, she's worse off than she was in the beginning. She has to live single the rest of her life." I said, "You know it. That don't compare with God's Word, so her--your dream was false." And I said, "It won't compare with This."
103 And when a prophet had a--give a prophecy, and they spoke and wanted to see if that prophecy was true, they put it before the Urim Thummim. And if the Voice of God throwed the lights on the Urim Thummim, then it was absolute, the Truth. And if a man gives an interpretation, gives a dream, gives something of the Bible and, or something another, and it don't compare with God's Bible, it's false. There's the Urim Thummim today. God's Word speaks, and that's direct the Voice of God, like the Urim Thummim was before the Bible was written. Amen. Hallelujah.
I feel kind of religious right now. And don't take me a fanatic, if you do... I know, I know where I'm at. I'm not excited. That's right.
104 Here is the Truth, God's Word. I don't care what kind of a dream you had or what kind of a prophecy you give; if it isn't God's Word, it's wrong if it don't compare with that Word. That's what's the trouble today: one has a dream, one has a vision; one has a tongue; one has a revelation; it's got the whole thing so messed up and everything; you got denominations and broke up everything. You ought to bring it back to a final Foundation, and that's God's Word. That's true.
Churches will build upon one, say, "Oh, Jesus is coming on a white horse. I know, I seen Him in a vision," they'll make a church of that kind. "Oh, hallelujah, He's coming on a cloud," they make it in that kind. Break them up, and separate, and call one another "buzzard roost," and "louse hangout," and everything like that. Why, brother, it goes to show, in the first place, your heart's not right with God when you do that. That's right. We are brothers. We must stick by one another. We need one another.
106 Now, look, Saul had backslid, and he goes up. He... God had turned His face from him, and he went up, and he inquired with the prophets. The prophets went and tried to prophesy, and God cut off, wouldn't give a vision. The prophet come out, said, "I can't, now He never told me nothing about you."
Well, then he said, "Lord, give me a dream." Night after night, no dream come.
Then he goes into the Urim Thummim, and he said, "O God. I've tried the prophets; I've tried the dreams, now You help me. Will You do it?" Cut it off, no Light flashed at all.
Then he resorted to a witch, low, degraded, and he went to her and crawled in there and disguised himself. And this witch goes out and calls up the spirit of Samuel.
Now, I know what you're thinking, many said, "That wasn't Samuel." But the Bible said it was Samuel, and it was Samuel. Strange how I catch that, isn't it? But that was Samuel; the Bible said it was.
And that witch could call him up, and she called up Samuel. And Samuel was somewhere else, but was conscious of what was going on, and was still standing with his prophet's mantle on him. So brother, when you die, you're not dead; you're living somewhere, somewhere else.
112 Let me stop just a minute to get this demonology down just a little bit. She was a demon, but she was in close contact with the spirit world. Now, today there's many spiritualists that know really more about the spiritual world than people who profess themselves to be Christians, yet she's a demon. In the Bible times it was the same thing.
When Jesus was here on earth, there was them professors, and scholars, and teachers, some of the best there was out of the better seminaries than we could produce today, and holy, renowned men; they had to be. If a Levite was found... He had to be found blameless, righteous in every way. And yet that man knowed no more about God than a rabbit knowed about snowshoes. When Jesus come, he failed to recognize Him, and he called Jesus a devil. He said, "He's Beelzebub, the prince of the devils." Is that right?
114 And here come the lowest type of a demon that had a man bound out yonder in the tombs, and everything, and they called out, the devil himself said, "We know Who You are. You're the Son of God, the holy One." Is that right? Witches and wizards, devils recognized Him the Son of God; while educated, theological seminary preachers recognized Him to be Beelzebub. Which was right, the devil or the preacher? The devil was. And, brother, it hasn't changed too much today. They don't recognize the power of God.
115 No matter how much teaching you got, you can drum that into you. God's not in big words; God's in a honest heart. You might sing or speak big words, like I don't know what; that doesn't bring you closer to God. You can stand and practice how to repeat your sermon and say these things; that don't get you closer to God. You could learn dictionaries till you sleep with one, and it still wouldn't get you closer to God. A humble, submitted heart, in the simplicity, is what brings you to God. That's true. Amen. A humble heart, God loves. Now, no matter if you don't know your abc's, that don't make any difference. Just a humble heart, God dwells in a humble heart, not in education, it's not in schools, not in theology, seminaries, not in all these other different places, not in big words, or not in classical places. God dwells in human hearts. And the lower you can break yourself down, the more simple, you can become greater in the sight of God.
116 Let me give you something. I see your fields are full of wheat out here. A full head of wheat always bows. A little old sprig sticks up there, and flopping around like it knows everything, it ain't got it in the head. That's the way with a lot of these guys that think they got a whole lot in their head, and nothing in their heart. A holy head will bow to the power, recognize Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and believe His works. "And He's the same, yesterday."
Oh, they recognize Him, sure, in a historical standpoint. But it's not a history thing. People stand up and say, "Oh, I believe Pentecost, when they had the great outpouring and things like that," and paint a fire. A freezing man can't be warmed by a painted fire; painted fire don't warm. That's what they was. What is it today, if He's the same yesterday, today and forever? That's painted fire. Some fellow freezing to death, say, "Look at that big fire they had." Why, that don't get you warm.
118 What they did at Pentecost, what they had in the early Testament, we got today. And as soon as God can get the thing ironed out, and the church set together, the rapture will come. But we can't even get faith for Divine healing let alone the rapture, because we're all twisted up, one this way and one that way, and "Doctor So-and-so said it was this. Well, my preacher said He was This."
Awhile ago a woman said, "He's just a faker." Said, "My priest told me so." I wish her priest would come down here once; we'd see who was the faker. Yeah. We'll see who's a faker. Come, try it.
120 Here not long ago in Harlingen, Texas, we was having a service there, and they had big signs all out over the cars that night when I went over there, said that the FBI was there to expose me as a faker. So a little girl had been healed up in Texas there somewhere; she was way up in, and I guess, around a thousand miles, way up around Panhandle, and this was way down in Harlingen, down on the border. Brother Baxter come, said, "Brother Branham," said, "you never seen such a mess down there, about four or five thousand people." And said, "And then, all around, the FBI is going to catch you on the platform tonight and expose you."
I said, "Well, I'm sure glad of that."
Said, "You know that little girl that was healed the other night?"
122 I was coming home from... Going into my room, and I heard something crying, and I looked around. I thought maybe it was someone who'd been attacked. It was a girl. And I looked back; I said... And I went back, I said, "What's the matter, Madam?"
And it was two little girls standing there, about seventeen, eighteen years old, apiece, their arms around one another, crying, said, "Brother Branham!" I knowed then they knowed me. Said, "We... I brought her all the way down here." Said, "She has to go to the insane institution." And the little girl was in my meeting up at Lubbock, Texas. And said, "I knowed if I'd ever get her down here and you'd have prayer for her, I believe God would heal her."
Well, I thought, "What faith." And I said, "Well now, sister, can you get her..." And just then I said, "You come down here in a yellow roadster, didn't you?"
Said, "Yes."
And I said, "You're mother is an invalid."
She said, "That's right."
And I said, "You belong to the Methodist church."
She said, "That's exactly the truth."
And I said, "On the road down, you almost turned over. You and this girl was laughing when you come around where it was half concrete and half asphalt, and you was turning a bend."
She said, "Brother Branham, that's the truth."
I said, "And THUS SAITH THE LORD, the girl's healed."
126 The next day she was burning the town up, telling everybody, going around about it. 'Course they didn't know her there, whether she was ever in that condition or not. And then that day I... Brother Baxter said, "Brother Branham," said, "them girls are down there packing their suitcase." And this is one thing that he didn't know that I knowed. Our finances had went plumb down. I never let him talk about it. But one of them girls had put nine hundred dollars in that--in that offering the night before that, and put that finance on the top. Now, he didn't--he don't know it to this day; but I knowed it. See? That I... God told me it would be all right.
127 Brother Baxter said, "Brother Branham," said, "you better let me make a little pull." Said, "They've had some of these here Divine healers down here that's just pulled this people."
I said, "Nothing. No, sir, you won't do it. Brother Baxter, whenever you make Pulls for money like that, that's the time you and I just shake one another's hands as brothers; I'll go alone." See? I said, "You don't do that." I said, "God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and everything belongs to Him. I belong to Him. He'll take care of me."
He said, "All right."
And that very night he said, "Brother Branham, look here. Somebody... Look here. Here's an envelope in here, no name on it; it's got nine one hundred dollar bills in it, just exactly what we need to catch up."
I said, "Brother Baxter..."
He said, "Forgive me."
130 So then I knowed it was that girl. So then--then the next day, Brother Baxter said, "Brother Branham, they're down there packing up their clothes, crying."
I said, "What's the matter?"
Said, "You better go down and see them."
And I went down to the room where they was at. I said... "What room they're in?" I went down there and knocked on the door. I heard them crying. I knocked on the door, and the girl come to the door; she said, "Oh, Brother Branham, I'm so sorry." She said, "I've caused you all this trouble."
I said, "Trouble? What's the matter, sister?"
She said, "Oh, I've got the FBI after you."
And I said, "Oh, is that right?"
Said "Yeah." Said, "I guess I testified too much around town today and everything."
I said, "No."
And she said, "Brother Branham, the FBI is over there, is over there, going to expose you tonight."
I said, "Well, if I--if I'm doing anything wrong, I need to be exposed." See? I said, "Sure. If preaching the Gospel needs to be exposed, well, let's do it. See?" I said, "I--I--I live by this Bible, and what this Bible don't say... This is my Defense right here. See?" And I said, and he...
134 She said, "Well," said, "I'm just sorry that I did what I did."
I said, "You never done nothing, sister."
She said, "Well, are--aren't you afraid to go over there?"
And I said, "No."
She said, "Well, the FBI are there."
I said, "Well, I had them come in my meeting before and they got saved." I said, "Mr. Al Farrar..."
Captain Al Farrar, many of you know of his conversion up there in Tacoma, Washington, was saved right down in shooting gallery. Come in the meeting, he said, "I followed this man for two years. And I heard about the finances, and I've watched it, and went through everywhere." And said, "It's the Truth; you're not listening to a fanatic tonight; you're listening to the Truth." Said, "One of the men on the police force, that I had a doctor look at his child and sent him through the prayer line," and said, "the child was told just exactly what was wrong with it, and what had happened to it. And he said, 'In eight days it'll be back to school, a polio case.'" And said, "On the eighth day the baby went back to school." Said, "I've followed him for two years," before ten thousand people. There it's all; there's a picture of it in the Seattle meeting, in--in your book. He said, "I want you all to know that you're not listening to some religious quack, you're listening to the Truth." Captain Al Farrar. And the next day I led him to God, and he received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, in a shooting gallery, down in a big place out there.
137 I said, "Maybe this guy will do the same."
So she said, "Are you afraid to go over there?"
I said, "Afraid? Why, certainly not. Certainly not. Why should I be afraid when God sent me to do it? He's the One to fight the battle, not me." So I said, "Now, I want all of you to stay away." And so I...
We went over to the meeting that night; the place was packed out. And the custodian there come out, said, "Reverend Branham, I hired ten Mexican children." Said, "Look at here, 'Reverend Branham to be exposed tonight by FBI, a fanatic religionist,'" or something another like that. And said, "It's on every one of them cars...?... out" Said, "I hired ten little Mexican children, go to pull them all off and put them over here." Said, "Oh, I feel like if I could get a hold of that guy..."
I said, "Don't worry, sir. God will get a hold of him." See? I said, "Just let him alone."
140 So I come on over. And that night when we come in, I'll never forget it, walked into the room. Brother Baxter sang "Only Believe." He said, "Now, Brother Branham says tonight for us to leave the building." Said, "I'm going back in the back end and set down." He said, "They are fixing to expose him tonight here on the platform." He said, "I've seen him in many hard battles and seen God take his place." Said, "I--I'm just going back to set down."
I walked up, I said, "I was just reading a little article here that where I was to be exposed tonight at the platform here." I said, "I--I want the FBI agents now to come forward and expose me up here on the platform." I said, "I'm standing here in defense of the Gospel; I want you to come and expose me." And I waited. I said, "Maybe they're not here yet." I knowed where I was at. He'd already showed me in my room up yonder, what was going to happen, 'fore I left. You see? And I said--I said, "Maybe I'll wait just a little bit. May we sing a hymn?" And somebody come up and sang a solo.
142 I said, "Mr. FBI agent, are you inside or out? I'm waiting to be exposed. Would you come forward?" Nobody come. I kept wondering where it was at. The Lord told me that--what it was. It was two backslidden preachers, and I--I was watching it. I seen a black shadow hanging in the corner. I knew where it was at. I looked over there, and it moved right up and went up into the gallery like this. A man with a blue suit on, one with a gray.
I said, "Friends, there's no FBI. What's the FBI got to do with preaching the Bible?" I said, "Certainly not. It wasn't two FBI agents to expose me. But here's the exposure; there they set right up there, them two preachers right there." And they got down. I said, "Don't get down like that." And two of them big Texans was going to go up there and grab a hold of them. I said, "No, brethren, this is not a flesh and blood affair, just set still. God will take care of that."
144 I said, "Now, brethren, look, while you're up there, look this a-way." I said, "If... You said that I was Simon the sorcerer; under witchcraft I was bewitching the people." I said, "If I am Simon the sorcerer, then you are the men of God. Now, you come down on this platform, and if I be Simon the sorcerer let God strike me dead. And if I be God's prophet, you come down and let God strike you dead. Now, we'll see who's the right and wrong. Now, you come on down. We'll sing a hymn." Out of that building they went, and we never seen them since. See? I said, "Come on. If I'm Simon the sorcerer, let God strike me dead. And if I'm God's prophet, then God will strike you dead when you come to this platform. If I am truth before God, God will let you die on this platform." They knowed better. That's right. They knowed better. They'd heard from other places. That's right. So don't never think but what God's still God; He answers.
145 Now, this witch of En-dor, she called up the spirit of Samuel, and Saul talked to Samuel. Now, you might wonder how that could be done. It cannot be done today. No, sir, because the blood of bulls and goats was only a-waiting for the time of fulfillment. When a man died in them days... Preachers, back me up if you think it's right. When a man died, he died under the atonement of an animal, and his soul went into paradise. And there he stayed until that to the--to the day of redemption. And his soul was in there.
146 Let me draw you a little picture here. How many read my article, or the article they wrote about me in "Reader's Digest" here, about in October--November's issue? All right. Did you notice how that was? Did you notice about two or three weeks before that, this great famous medium here that's been tried since way long time ago, her, Mrs. Piper... Did you? Has everybody ever read that, Miss Pepper's article in the "Reader's Digest"? Isn't it strange how them two spirits...
How much time have I got? Not but just a little. Twenty after, just I'll have to hurry. I know you got... Look, excuse me for a minute.
148 You know, there's--there's false. There's a true and a false of everything. If I give you a dollar, and I say, "Is this a good dollar?" And you'd look at it; it'd have to look pretty much like a real dollar or you wouldn't believe it. Is that right? So it'll have to be really a good imitation.
And if Jesus said the two spirits in the last days would be so close till it would deceive the very elect if possible, religious people. Now, remember. Now, there ain't nothing out there in them old cold--old cold formal outside; they have just a form of godliness. You see? But these two spirits are real spirits; it'd be so close till it'd deceive the very elect, how it was working side by side in the last days. Did Jesus say that? He did.
150 Now, watch, friends, I'm going to draw you a little picture; I want you to look at here just a minute. And give me your undivided attention, 'cause I'm going to give you a parable, and then you'll see it.
Now, in the "Reader's Digest," it wrote up there. I was standing out there. We had twenty-seven hundred people waiting to get prayed for, standing out there. You read the article. And a man come down from Canada, and he had a little boy that had been to Mayo's and John Hopkins, a serious brain disease that drawed its little hands in like this, and drawed its legs up under it, and they said, "There's not even an operation or nothing can be done."
152 So he took it back to Canada. He said, "I'm not whipped yet." You get November's issue of the "Reader's Digest," and it's called the--the--"The Miracle Of Donny Morton." And--and then said that the--in there, that the--that the man said, "I'm not whipped yet, because I know a faith healer named William Branham that caused two of my friends who was deaf and dumb to speak and hear."
And they called to try to find where I was at in--in America yet. And I was over in Costa Mesa, California. And if... The article when you read it, get ready to cry. It'll just break your heart, how he went through snowdrifts and everything else with that baby. He said, "Be careful, Donny." Said, "Now, we're not defeated." And the little boy couldn't even smile, hardly; he was so afflicted. Said, "We're not defeated; we're going to ask God. We'll go to God's prophet and ask him."
154 So then they come through the snow. And they finally got down there, and the mother was coming with them, and they didn't have money enough to go by airplane, so they sent the mother back, and the boy and daddy had to come on a bus, and how they rode all the way from Winnipeg, Canada, to Costa Mesa, California. And they got in there, broke, and the father tells about had to change the little diapers on it, little boy about seven or eight years old, just perfectly helpless. And how he was, couldn't get a chance to eat nor nothing, and said his little boy could just hear him talk and he could tell the way his eyes looked that he was--he was trying to smile, you know, and know that he'd--he'd tell him different sights he would seeing over in America.
155 And when they got in there to California, they said to the traveler's aid, what he come to see. He said, "Come to see a Divine what?" And a big question mark.
'Course, you could imagine what America said about it. You see? See, that's us. See? "We so smart. We know everything, you know, and there's no need of telling us anything. We got it all wrote down." See?
So then, so, "A Divine what? Come all the way from Winnipeg, Canada?" Why, they thought that was horrible.
158 Anyhow, the newspaper catched a--a car and sent him over there. And he said, when they got to the line, where it was at, said twenty-seven hundred people was waiting to be prayed for. But said, when they seen that deformed, little looking boy, and that poor daddy with his cap on, his ragged coat, said everybody just stepped aside and give him his place. When he hit the platform...
It's against the rules to swap a ca--prayer card. Somebody must come to the meeting and get your own card. If they ever caught in the line, swapping prayer cards on somebody else, the prayer card's dishonored. See? Because you must come, hear the instructions and know how to receive it. It's up to you. You can't get it for someone else. You have to come, get it yourself, so you hear. Some big person said, "If, well, I don't believe much in this thing, but maybe if he'll heal me, I..." See? And then that causes a fuss at the platform, so they just cull that thing out before it gets there.
160 So when the boy started, or the father started on the platform ahead of the people, Billy asked him for his prayer card. He didn't have any. Said, "Then I'm sorry, sir." Said, "You'll have to wait."
He said, "All right." Said, "I'll wait." Said, "I'll just take my turn like the others, then." Said, "I didn't know I had to do this."
And so I was talking to someone; I happened to hear it. I seen that father go away, and I said, "What was the matter?"
He said, "He didn't have a prayer card."
And Something said to me, "Bring him back."
So I said, "Bring him here." And the father come up, and the tears running down his face, needing shaving and... And he--he walked up, and here's the "Reader's Digest" said the... I asked no questions, but looked right straight in the face of the baby, told the baby where it was from; it had been to Mayo's Clinic; and all about what was the matter with it, how sick it had been, and everything.
164 And said the father started crying, and started to leave. And said he started off the platform, and he turned around, he said, "That's right, sir." He said, "But will my baby ever live?"
I said, "That I can't say." I said, "Just a moment." I seen a vision appear. I said, "You won't want to believe this, because Mayo's and Hopkins both said that operation couldn't be performed on that brain, but I tell you what you do. You, tomorrow, you just go ahead with this baby. Within the next three days you're going to meet a black-headed woman on the street, and that woman's going to ask you what's the matter with that baby. And then she's going to tell you of some little country doctor out here that can perform that operation, and you won't want to believe it, because that Mayo's turned it down and said it was impossible to be done. But that's the only chance your baby has, through the power of God, the mercy of God and that operation. Now, if you believe me to be His prophet, go do as I tell you." Like putting the figs on Hezekiah, and so forth.
He said, he turned around and said, "Thank you," walked off.
166 Two days or more had passed, and he was down on the street one day, and a lady walked up, said, "What's the matter with your baby?"
Said, "It's got a--a brain disease." And he was going on talking like that. And, well, they--they thought it was awful bad, you know.
So he said just in a few minutes something taken place. She said, "Sir, I know someone who can do that operation."
He said, "Lady, look, Mayo Brothers give it up and said it can't be done." Said, "A man up here was praying for it, named Brother Branham." Said, "He's made a prayer for the baby." He said, "Wait a minute. Black-headed, wearing a gray coat suit." Said, "That's her." Said, "Where is that doctor?" And he told him. Took him up there and the doctor performed the operation; the baby got well.
170 Now, that come through the "Reader's Digest." You see? And Mayo Brothers called me in on an interview for that. Said, "Reverend Branham, what did you do to the baby?"
I said, "Nothing, I never touched it. I only told what God told me to tell it. The man obeyed it."
Now, the funny thing about it, about two weeks after that, or two weeks before that, or three, in the "Reader's Digest" maybe a month ahead, Miss Pepper's article come through. Now, she's a genuine witch or a medium. Now, there's a real one, and there's somebody impersonating. They've had that woman since 1897. She's over a hundred years old now in New York, both deaf as a post. The "Reader's Digest," get... I think it come along about two months or a month before mine, and you can find it, the early fall. Mr. Baxter had it here the other day. If I'd have thought of it, I'd had him... I knowed I was going to say this, I'd--I'd have had it with it. And I can get it for you. And it give about twelve or fourteen pages. She was just an ordinary housewife. And she fell into a trance one day, while in suffering, and she begin to speak to the dead. And they've had that woman all over the world everywhere. They took her to England. Changed her clothes even, many times, and see if there's slip-ups and things, and got over there and disguised someone with a mask on their face, a Greek, and played out like he was an Englishman. And she told him all about. And he--he--he wanted to call one of his dead partners.
173 Now, the only thing she... All over the world, and here's the "Reader's Digest" said there, here a few nights ago, or a few months ago, one of them things was exposed. A man was supposed to kiss the ghostly hand of his mother, and the next day it was proved in police court that he only kissed a piece of cheesecloth. A lots of people impersonating a medium, they're only these little old readers setting out on the side of the street, which are not mediums in the beginning. They're nothing but bogus impersonators. But there is a real medium.
And we religious people, we've got a lot of impersonators on both sides. Now, hold still for a few minutes.
175 Now, notice. That Mrs. Piper is a real medium. And the magazine said, "Here's one thing that can be assured, that when a man dies he isn't dead; he's living somewhere, because that woman calls their spirit back and talks to the people."
"Now, what does she do, Brother Branham? Do you believe it?" Yes, sir. The Bible says so; that's the reason I believe it. And she is of the devil. Spiritualism is the devil's trick. Now, notice, now watch them two.
And then you ought to have seen the letters fly on to me then when my article followed hers. Isn't it strange that just before the end of time God spoke these things, and the "Reader's Digest" is published in every language under heaven. See? Notice, isn't it strange they followed one another?
178 Now, here come letters in, said, "Brother Branham, that proves you're nothing but a medium." Said, "That proves it. Look at here; you told that woman where she going to find... Look at this woman?"
I said, "Wait a minute. I got an official letter out," pardon me, "to send to the people." I said, "How little you preachers know." I said, "Instead of baptizing your body, you need your brains baptized." That's right. You don't stop to think of things. You don't try to consider it."
That's the same way they did in the other days. They seen Jesus; they knowed He could--He knowed the secrets of their heart. He knowed what they was doing like that. And they said, "He's the chief of the devils; he's a Beelzebub, the best fortuneteller in the world." They didn't stop to try to figure it out to see that was the Son of God. They wasn't spiritual enough to know it. That's it. They read over the thing. Sure, Jesus was supposed to come in Jerusalem riding on a mule, and so forth, but they looked at it as the second coming.
181 And the same thing today, they're looking over the top of the real thing. Hallelujah. That's right. I know that God's here this afternoon, and I know I'm taking a lot of your time, but you got to see this, friends. If I never see you again, you got to know what demons are, and you got to know what truth and error is. And it's so close, you got to separate the thing.
Now, remember, it ain't going to be out there, something way over on this side like the Pharisees, or something way back on that side. It's right up here in the door, right near it. Watch it. Now, if I took...
183 Let's take them two cases. If I took and give you the dollar... Now, if I give you a bogus dollar (We'll use a parable so you can see it.), the first thing that you'd do, if you're a smart man, if you pick up a dollar and looked at it, the first thing, you'll feel it and see what it's made out of. Is that right? You'll look at what it's made out of. You'll look at its worthiness. A real dollar is not made out of paper; it's part paper and silk. You see? And the first thing, you'll have to look at the value of it. That's the first indication.
And now let's take her over on this side, and take the Lord over on this side, that's dealing with us.
185 Now, look, the first thing you have to notice, everything... Watch her article. In the fifty-some odd years of her fortunetelling, and calling up the spirits of the dead, she hasn't one time mentioned God, Christ, Divine healing, deliverance, judgment, or nothing. There's nothing but frolic and folly in it.
But over on this side it's constantly God, judgment, coming of Jesus, Divine healing, power of God, deliverance. Look at the value of it. You don't see fortunetellers and witches out preaching the Gospel. What's the matter with people? My. Notice.
187 And the real thing to do, if you want to find out whether it's a real dollar or not, if it looks so much like it, take the numbers off of it and send it back to the mint. And if there's numbers there that correspond with that, there's a silver dollar waiting for it. Is that right?
Well, then, brother, take what she did and take it back to the Bible, you'll find it's the witch of En-dor's.
And you take what's here, you'll find it back, it's on the Book here in the Mint: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever, certainly, His same work. He didn't go and folly and nonsense with people. It was for some good, to help somebody to lead them to God. Amen! I'm not "amening" myself, but "amen" means "so be it." And I'm--I believe It. I know It's the truth.
190 Now, notice, here you are. Now, quickly now, 'cause I don't want to keep you no longer.
Here, let's give a little picture here, a little mental picture. Here's a stream right through here, right down through this way, coming down through life (Now, watch as it channels. Give me your undivided attention now, so you won't miss this.), right down like this. Now, in this little channel here dwells mortal beings, you and I. And now, in there, let's look what it is. It's a mass of folly and everything else, but once in a while you'll see a light. You see blackness and streaks; that's gaiety and carrying-on, devils getting the people. Oh, they dress fine, my, and highly cultured as they can be, polished scholars, but still the devil. But there's borned again setting in there.
192 Now, these people in this channel is influenced from two different sides. Now, on this side going this a-way there's a trinity. And on this side going this a-way there's a trinity.
Now, when, now the first place, on this side, is souls of the unjust. When a man dies he goes into a place waiting judgment. Jesus went and preached to them souls that were in prison there. The next is demons. The next is the devil and hell. Going up, the first... Now, them in there is ghosts, spirits of dead men that never repented. They're waiting for the judgment. The only thing they know is folly and what they did.
Now, up here, these Christians are influenced from above. This is parable. Up here is another Ghost, the Holy Ghost, the Ghost of a Man, Christ Jesus. The Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost influences His church in this realm of mortal.
The devil, by these spirits, influence men. Now, look, the next is Angels. The next is God. Now, every mortal here is influenced by one of these worlds. You see what I mean?
196 Now, what that woman done, she broke into that realm, and she's speaking to those demon-possessed men who were beginning, the spirits of those fallen angels that repented not back there in the beginning, and allowed their beings to be possessed of them, and they're waiting for judgment.
And these over here are influenced and born again by the Spirit of God. And the devil has his prophets, and God has His. See what I mean? It's influence, and there we go. Stop to separate it. Jesus, when He was here on earth...
Now, today He could not break into that realm and get a righteous man out of that realm; he couldn't do it, 'cause righteous men are not in there where they used to be in paradise. No, sir. Paradise was done away with when the Blood of Jesus took it away. Looky here. My!
199 If I could think of how that Jesus, when He died, He went and preached to the souls that were in prison. He died a sinner, knowing no sin, yet our sin was on Him. And God, for His sins, sent Him to hell. The Bible said He went and preached to the souls.
Some people say, "Brother Branham, I can't understand it." Said, "Jesus rose on the third day. He died Friday afternoon and rose up on Sunday morning, why, He was only dead one day."
He said, "Within them time." For He had one Scripture in the Bible that He could stand on. For David, a man that backslid later, but he was saved, but a prophet under the inspiration of God, said, "I'll not leave His soul in hell, neither will I suffer My holy One to see corruption." And he knowed three days and night that that body would set in corruption, and God had done said to the prophet, "He'll not see corruption." ...?... [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.]
201 Hallelujah. He took God's Word. He defeated Satan every time on It. He defeated death on the Word of God. Hallelujah. He defeated death. And when they killed Him, and He died a sinner, my sins and your sins upon Him. He went down; I can see Him knock at that door there.
And them lost souls come out and said, "Well, who are you?"
He said, "Why didn't you listen to Enoch? Why didn't you listen to those other prophets that preached?" They was condemned. "I'm the Son of God that once lived. I... My Blood's been shed. I come to tell you; I'm fulfilled what the prophets said I'd do." Right on down a past the demons, right into hell, taking the keys of death and hell away from the devil, hung them on His side, started back up. Hallelujah.
Getting early in the morning. Hallelujah. Let's draw a little picture here. Early in the morning, there's another group laying over here in paradise. They're not there now.
204 Now, you good Catholic friends that believe in the intercession of saints, if you're talking to a saint in your church, that man is a sinner; he's in hell, or--or waiting yonder for his judgment. And if he was a saint, he's in the glory of God and can't come back. That's right. I can prove that. The blood of--blood of bulls wouldn't take away sin, but the Blood of Jesus divorced sins.
205 I can see Jesus go up to there where, paradise, there's old Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and them in there, Samuel and all the rest of them in there. I can hear Him knock at the door. [Brother Branham knocks on the pulpit--Ed.] Amen. Oh, I love this. It gets me right, feel kind of religious now.
I can see Him look over there, and hear him say, "Who is out there? Who is it there?" He said, "I... This is Abraham talking. Who is it?"
"I'm the Seed of Abraham." Amen. I can see Abraham come to the door and open up the door. He said, "I'm the Seed of Abraham."
Daniel said, "Looky there. There's the Stone that I saw hewed out of the mountain."
I can hear the people say, "There He is. I've seen Him, like dust under His feet, the clouds a-moving, when the rams--clapped their hands, the leaves, and they all shouted." Oh, I can see the different ones there in Paradise, waiting for Him.
208 I can hear Him say, "Come on. It's breaking daylight over in Jerusalem; you got to go out of here. We're going up, because you trusted in the blood of the bulls and goats, waiting for the time that My Blood. But My Blood's been shed up yonder on Calvary. I am the incarnate Son of God. All sin debts is paid; we're on the road out." Hallelujah. Glory to God.
I can see Abraham grab Sarah by the arm, and here they come, right out. In Matthew 27 when he came out, I can hear him make a little stop around in Jerusalem there. And the first thing you know, I can see old Caiaphas and them standing on the street, saying, "They tell me that guy rose... Say, who is that guy going there, that young fellow, that young girl?"
Not old no more, that was Abraham and Sarah. And they vanished. They looked, "Somebody's watching us." They could've vanished just like He went through the wall, the same kind of a body. Hallelujah. That's right. Here's all the prophets and them walking around, looking around the city.
And Jesus led right on up in, or up over the stars, moon, clouds, and led captive captive, give...?... gifts unto men. Jesus sets today at the right hand of the Father, climbed up there, set down, till all His foes be made His footstool.
212 And today, my dear Christian friend, demons are working on every hand. And God's Spirit's moving right out on the other hand, to counteract it every time. Hallelujah. There you are. Newspapers and digests and everything else is declaring it. They're watching it, they can't see what it is. What is it? It's the foreshadow of the great showdown that's coming pretty soon between God and devil. Get on God's side and be right in your heart. Amen.
213 Here not long ago I was up at Toledo, Ohio, having a meeting. I'm going to close.
You see what I mean about demons? They are working. They're very religious, just as religious... Oh, they go to church every Sunday, repeat the Apostles' Creed, and sing the "Doxology," oh, my, just as religious as they can be. "Brother Branham, you mean that's the truth?"
That's the kind of a spirit that hung Jesus Christ to the cross. And Jesus said, "You're of your father, the devil."
Now, some of them said, "Oh, Russia's the antichrist." Never. Russia's not the antichrist. The antichrist's going to be so religious that it'll fool the very elect if possible. Remember, God takes His men, but never His Spirit; the devil takes his men, but never his spirit. Now, there they are, suit yourself; I'm only responsible for truth.
217 Demons working... Yesterday I had them in a physical realm; today I'm showing you in the spiritual realm, where they are in the religious realm, where they were out yonder, called cancer, and they call this, that, and the other. But I've proved to you by the Bible, they're devils. Now, over here today, here they are again in the religious realms, very religious, very pious.
If you'll begin, brother, and think. Cain, the very beginning of it, was a very religious man. Esau was a very religious man. Judas was a very religious man. It's religion. It ain't the outside world; it's right in the ranks. Watch that: demonology. Maybe a little later on sometime I can get to it a little more; we're getting late.
Condemn no one. Love everybody. If you can't love from your heart, then Christ is not with you.
220 At Toledo, Ohio, I went into a little restaurant I been eating at a place, a little Dunkard place, lovely little place. They were so nice. That afternoon they'd closed up, to go to Sunday school. And when they did, I had to go across the street to a worldly little old place, and I walked in there. And I know it's illegal to gamble in Ohio. And here stood a State Police with his arm around a girl, his hand hanging here on her bosom, playing a slot machine. The law of our states and nation, all gone: pitiful.
I trust on Christ the Solid Rock, I stand, all other grounds is sinking sand: nothing else left. That's right.
222 I looked back there, and there was a beautiful young lady, probably in her teens, nineteen, eighteen, nineteen years old. And what they were doing, them boys back there around the table, it was horrible. I set down there. And now to my surprise, setting right here where a lady come over, said, "Will you have a chair?"
I said, "Thank you. I wanted breakfast."
And setting in a chair, here set an elderly lady, as old as my mother, fifty-five, fifty-eight years old. She had on a little pair of those little ungodly clothes they wear.
They claim it's cool. Science says, "You're crazy." Certainly, it's not. You just want to show your naked self. It's a shame, a disgrace. A lady won't put them on. A woman will, but a lady won't.
225 And then, so then they... There she was, setting there. Her poor flesh was flabby. She had that kind of an orchid-looking manicure, or what you call it, on her lips, and a little bitty haircut like a man, and fuzzed all up; what the Bible said, which is a disgrace. And a woman, that a man...
The Bible claims, if a woman cuts her hair, a man's got a right to put her away in divorcement, because she's not honest with him. We have to get down and preach the Bible here some of these days. Said, "If she bobs her hair, she dishonors her husband." If she's dishonorable, she ought to be put away. You can't marry another one, but you can put her away. Whew. Boy, that--that's going hard; I can feel it. But that's the truth.
227 Oh, it used to be we had it in the Holy Ghost realms, but we let down the bars. Old brother used to say, "We let down the bars, we let down the bars, we compromised with sin. We let down the bars; the sheep got out, but how did the goats get in?" You let down the bars. That's what was the matter; you let down the bars, the world and the church mixed together. Just like the Moabs and the so forth, and Balaam, and how he married among them, that's just exactly the same thing today. And the church is all polluted, and the Pentecostal age is the Laodicean age, which gets lukewarm, and spurted out of God's mouth. And out of the whole group, God calls His remnant and takes her home (That's exactly right. That's exactly.), through the resurrection.
228 And there she was setting there, lip manicure all over her face, and it was all over it like that. And she had this here black stuff over her eyes, and she was sweating; it was running down. And the poor old thing might have had great-grandchildren. And she was setting there with two old men, and one of them with a big old scarf around his neck, and it in June, setting there. And he got up, and was kind of drinking, and she was drinking too, and she was looking around.
I thought, "O God. God, why don't You just wipe the thing off of the map? Why don't... Does my little Sharon, my little baby, my little Sarah and my little Rebekah have to be raised up in that generation to come to face such stuff as that?" I thought, "Look out here in these parks and things and what goes on." I thought, "O God. Oh, I'm glad You took Sharon if it was Your will. Does my little Rebekah and little--little Sarah have to be raised up under such stuff as that?" Which, and them people call them--sing in the choir and everything. And I thought, "Isn't that a shame?" I thought, "God, how can Your holy righteousness stand it? Look like that Your righteous indignation would fly out there and--and blow this place up."
230 And I heard the Angel of the Lord, said, "Come aside." I walked over there. And when He got through with me, I felt like a different person. "What are you condemning her for?"
I said, "Look at that, the way she is." And here's what He...
I saw a vision. I saw a world like this, around, another world. But this world here, it had a rainbow around it, and that was the Blood of Christ that protects God's wrath. He couldn't look upon that. He--He'd destroy the thing right now, because He said, "The day you eat thereof, that day you die." So He'd do it.
Then I thought like this. I seen myself. Although I didn't do that, but I was a sinner anyhow. And then the Blood of Jesus Christ acts to us like a bumper. See? That when I sin, my sins hit Him and jarred His precious head, and I could see the tears and Blood running down. "Forgive him, Father; he don't know what he's doing." And I'd do something else and hit it. "Forgive him, Father."
233 If it ever passed Him, I'd have been destroyed. And if I'd never accept His grace, and the day my soul sails beyond that, I'm already judged. I've rejected. There's nothing left but judgment. Judged, I've already been judged. God said, "The day you eat thereof, that day you die." You're judged right at the judgment seat this afternoon, your attitude towards Christ.
And then I thought, "Yes, that's right." And I seen one day I crawled up to Him. I seen my old book laying there, a sinner, there laid everything on it. And I seen my sins is what was doing it, and I said, "Lord, will You forgive me?"
Took His hand in His side, got some Blood out, wrote it across the top, and said, "Pardoned." Throwed it back in the sea of forgetfulness, to remember it no more. It was gone forever. He said, "I forgive you, but you're condemning her."
That changed my idea. I said, "Lord, have mercy."
236 After I come out of it, I walked over and set down. I said, "How do you do, ma'am?"
She said, "Oh, hello."
And I said, "If you'll pardon me," I said, "I'm Reverend Branham, a minister."
She said, "Oh, excuse me, excuse me, Reverend Branham."
I said, "Lady..." I was... Told her the story. I said, "I was standing there, and I was condemning you in thinking what a horrible thing. Maybe you've got children."
She said, "I have."
I said, "What caused the way to go wrong?" She begin to unfold the story to me that would rend the heart of anything. I said, "I--I was asking God why didn't He just rake such off the earth? Here you here with these two drunken men, and you're drunk yourself." And I said, "Someday that Blood that's holding God's wrath off from you, you're going to die one of these days, and then you're... You're a free moral agent now; you can reject or receive." And I said, "But someday your soul's going beyond there, where there's no mercy left. And if you die in your sins you're already judged, and you're going to hell."
And you know what? That woman slipped out of that seat there in that restaurant, and we had a prayer meeting like you never heard in your life, and she come to Christ. What was it? Don't condemn them; tell them the Gospel. They're demon possessed; they're mortals in this realm. They're influenced from over here. Our influence comes from above. Let's see what we can do with our talents to win others to Christ.
241 Our heavenly Father, thanking Thee for Thy goodness and mercy. I'm sorry, Lord; maybe the people, I kept them here so long. But being the closing of these afternoon meetings like this, I wanted to tell them, "Demons." And I chopped too much of it in one place, in one sermon, but maybe they can pick it out here and there and understand what I meant. You know the intentions of my heart of bringing it.
May people go from here this afternoon, and men and women, watch every move they make, but live happy and free. May they know that God has saved them. And may they look to Him, forget about all the isms and things that's around them, and live peacefully and soberly, and in the fear of God. And then, God, when You want to use them for anything, You can speak directly to them and send them wherever You want them to go or whatever You want them to do. May people be humble and find Christ in their heart. Forgive us, Lord, of our shortcomings, every one of us.
243 And we know that--that Satan's gone about like a roaring lion, everywhere, devouring what he will, wearing religious cloaks. O God, these poor little children, look at them, everywhere. They're open and exposed to the people. And I pray Thee God to be merciful to them, and save all the lost, heal the sick. And, God, we realize that these old devils of sickness coming upon Your children, that You have an atonement laying yonder to take care of that. And all the devils that would cause them to sin, You've got an atonement laying yonder that'll take care of it. And I pray that You'll grant it in Jesus' Name. Amen. I wonder if there's...