Where Is He, King Of The Jews?

1 And I certainly appreciate that. That is my first Christmas present, so I'm very grateful. And, well, if I can just preach now without trying to open it... I'm just like a child with that Christmas anticipations of waiting for something, you know; you just feel that there is a little surprise and you just got to get into it. And, you know, when--even when we get old, I don't think we lose all of our childhood. Do you think so? [Congregation says, "No."--Ed.] We're just grown up children; that's about it.

2 Well, the Lord be praised. We're happy to be out here again on this fine yule morning, looking forward to the blessings of the Lord to continue with us as we go on in the meeting, as I'm sure He has.

And I think, on this morning they'll have some presents for the children, or--or it's... [Brother Neville says, "It's already taken care of."--Ed.]... already taken, the children's presents. Well, that's very fine.

4 Now, I would just like to give a little brief report on our last meeting, if it's all right and at--at this time. [Brother Neville says, "Amen."--Ed.] You people are the one who prays and holds onto God for me to go out into these services. And I'd just like to give just a little summary of--of just the last meeting.

One of the outstanding events of the last meeting, was happened in Shawano, Wisconsin. It was at the high school auditorium, the new high school auditorium, when we were just about ready to pray for the sick. I'd just made the altar call, and many had raised their hands to accept Christ as their personal Saviour. And then it was that I noticed something taken place, which was right out in the audience, a little piece from me. And it was a man of about seventy or seventy-five years old. He fell dead and died with a heart attack. The froth poured from his mouth, and the water broke over his clothes. And--and his wife real frantically rubbed his face.

And--and I knew that was the trick of the enemy. He does those things just to get the people upset (See?), and then when he does that, it goes to a frantic. It's happened many times in the meeting. Just recently in New England, it happened like that again, just before that call.

7 And so to keep the people from being excited, I... In those kind of times you must keep your wits to see what the Holy Spirit will say. Because we're taught in the Scriptures that all things work together for good to them that love God.

And there was many of God's children, lovers of Him. And I kept looking at the man, and seeing he'd done got frothy in the mouth. And--and as anyone knows, when death strikes a person, usually water breaks. You see? And they--and his wife so rubbing his face, and she was just going like that. Now, to keep the people from noticing her, I said, "Your husband, would you want someone to get him a drink of water?" and get her attention.

And she said, "Brother Branham, I just leave it all up to you." And she was a--a Lutheran by denomination.

10 And then I thought I'd call the prayer line, and get the people up to pray for them. But instead of doing that, the Holy Spirit begin to move out into the meeting, over the people, just to calling them. And It passed over the old fellow about twice. And then all of a sudden I said, "We'll just pray."

And when I started to pray, I--I heard myself praying, which said to this death, "Turn him loose." And no more than it was said that, till the man came back to life again, and raised to his feet. And the whole city went like frantically about it, what the Lord had did.

And then, 'course, there was the other meetings. And one little case I would just like to quote, not to take too much of your time, but it was at Los Angeles just recently. I was staying with Brother Arganbright.

13 And many of you know how it is at the places, the people calling. They're people who are needy. We do not condemn people for calling and wanting prayer. That's our duty, is to pray for those people. And it was just terrible there, because we'd had many great things that the Lord God had did. And one, there was a paralyzed man, had been paralyzed twenty-something years, and laying on his cot, and the Lord God healed the man, and he came walking from the meeting. And that started a little stir among the churches.

14 And then one morning, I heard the--the phone ringing. And Brother Arganbright, to whom I was staying with, wasn't just in at that time to pick up the phone. And I picked up the phone and answered it, and it was a--a little Mexican missionary. And he said, "I didn't know that--that you were in town, Brother Branham." He said, "I--I--I know that you're going to have a meeting tonight, down somewhere towards the Cow Palace. And he said, "I've got a little boy that's not yet five months." And said, "He's dying with cancer. And said, "I know it's not customary to do this." but said, "Could there be mercy found, that you would come and pray for the little lad?" Imagine, what if that was your baby?

And I--I said, "I'll have Mr. Arganbright come to the phone, and you just tell me, let--direct him to where the hospital, because I don't know the city that well." Four hundred square miles of city, I'd never find the hospital.

Mr. Arganbright came; he said, "Brother Branham, I--you..."

I said, "I feel definitely led that this is of the Holy Spirit."

16 So we went down to the city, and there to the hospital. And a Mexican brother, though he wasn't dark, no darker than I am, and a man somewhat of my age, and his wife was a Finnish woman, a little blond, very lovely lady. And he was a gentleman. And we went into the hospital.

And, oh, I see lots of sights, we all do, that disturb us and bring our emotions, but that was one of the worst I ever seen. They had to bring the little lad to the--near the nurse room, with a special nurse. And when I looked, the cancer had spread his little jaws out so far, they had to put a rag around its head, to keep from bursting its head open. And in its little jaws, where the doctor had tried to cut away the cancer, and made great ditches, back and forth, like this, all the way around its little throat. And it just aggravated the cancer, that I'd call it that word, which scattered it, the right word would be. And it went into its little tongue, and a little baby mouth, not over that wide, the little tongue had swollen and run out about that far, and turned black, and which it shut off the air where it breathed down from its nostrils.

18 And that daddy walked around in the side of this little baby, and said, "Hello, Ricky," said, "daddy's little boy. Daddy brought Brother Branham to pray for you, Ricky." And the little baby recognized its father.

And--and it did not have any breathing up here, so they had to cut a hole in its throat. There was a little, it just looked like a little round whistle that we used to have years ago, was in its little throat. And it was catching its breath through that whistle. And a nurse had to stay there all the time because the cancer, draining, would let--clog up this little hole. And she'd have to pull it out like that, the cancer drainage from the cancer. And its little arms was in splints, so he couldn't catch this with its hands to pull it out when it was strangling. And a nurse there all the time, when it started strangling, she'd reach down to take things and pull the cancer stuff out of its little whistle there where it come through its throat.

20 And its little hands like this, reaching for its daddy, its little head back. And its little... Well, we're brothers and sisters. His little diaper, it wasn't... The little baby, altogether, wasn't that long. Not yet five months old, and that little thing recognized its daddy. And he said, "Ricky, daddy's little boy..." Oh, how it'd just melt the heart of a iron man. And he was trying to play with it or pat it like this.

21 And I standing there, I thought, "Lord Jesus, if Thou art the Fountain of all sympathy, and all mercy lays within You, would You get joy out of seeing this little darling lay here, dying like that? I just can't believe, and never will believe that that's the--that that's the will of Almighty God to see such as that." I thought, "You are the Fountain of mercy. And if You be the Fountain of mercy, then how would You, could You be a merciful God and enjoy seeing something like that?" I thought, "What would You do if You were standing here?"

22 Well, I hope that my own little group here knows me well enough to know that if I am a fanatic I don't know it. If anything I want to be, is honest. When I meet God, I want to meet Him with an honest heart. And I've done the best that I know how to do.

But Something spoke to me when I said, "Lord, what would You do if You were standing here?"

Something spoke back, said, "I'm waiting to see what you'll do."

And as I looked at that little thing, I took its little baby hand, not that wide, and put it in my fingers, like this, and held it. And I said, "By faith in God, I place between this cancer and the baby, the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ," and just turned around and walked out. The father came on with me. I just couldn't say no more.

25 And I got to the car, and he said, "Brother Branham, here is a little tithings I've been saving for you."

I said, "Oh, merciful brother, don't do that." I said, "No, I don't take money."

Said, "But this is tithings that goes to the ministry." Said, "I saved it up, thought I'd see you someday."

I said, "Put it on Ricky's little bill in there." I said, "He--he'll need that." And so I went on up to the house.

And within two hours from that time the little jaws had gone back normal; the tongue come back down in his mouth. The loving mercy of a kind loving Father had seen fit to heal the baby. The next morning, the baby was going to be sent home, for a well baby.

30 And as I was just getting ready to leave... 'Course, that spread the West Coast. And here some famous doctor had sent his grandchild way back over behind Pasadena, and put up a roadblock there to pray for that child; where he'd give it a shot of penicillin, caused a cancer to come into its side, a little bitty baby about two.

And so this little Mexican missionary called, and he said, "I--I got to see Brother Branham before he leave." And wife and I was already in the car.

And I had caught a fish, a couple years ago, down the River of No Return, with the Christian Business Men. And Walt Disney, that group out there, had had it taxidermist, 'cause it's a world's record of rainbow trout. And I was fixing it in the car.

33 And there was a--a little station wagon drove up behind, and out jumped this little Mexican father. And the tears running down his cheeks, as he run up and jerked off his hat; and his little Finnish wife. And he said, "Brother Branham, here is that tithings that the Lord sent to you."

"Oh," I said, "brother..."

Said, "You know, Ricky's going home today."

And I said, "I'm grateful for that." He said... I said, "But I told you to take the--the tithings and--and put them on Ricky's bill."

He said, "That's just what I had to tell you about, Brother Branham." He said, "When I went to pay the doctor this morning, I put these--this money over to him. I said, 'Doctor, I want to pay you some on the bill.' He said, 'Mister, don't even mention it to me. You don't owe me nothing.' He said, 'That's the greatest thing I've ever seen done in all my life.' He said, 'That's the phenomena of phenomena.' Said, 'You don't owe me a penny.'" It just goes to show that the living God still lives.

And now before we open His... Oh, there's many more things happened. I wish I had time to tell you, but time won't permit it.

37 And now, right after the first of the year, I--January, I'm leaving for overseas again, for the... I'll be in Kingston, Jamaica, at the--at the racetracks for--in January, and from there to Puerto Rico and so forth.

So let us bow our heads just a moment in prayer to our great, loving Christ.

39 O Lord, Thou has been our Refuge in every generation. Thou art a very present Help in the time of trouble. And to know that Thy loving Presence never does fail, It goes before us and we're taught that the Angels of God are encamped about those who fear Him.

Bring upon us today, Lord, that godly fear, that we might know that we are the subjects of Thy hand, and will stand someday in Thy Divine judgment. And there's only one remedy that we know of, and that Your Word teaches of; that's the Blood of Thy Son Jesus, that makes intercessions for us this morning in the Presence of the Almighty, bringing us into reconciliation to Him through His merits. And then it is given to us, unmerited grace, and we love Him for this. And as we...

41 In our mind lays hundreds of great things that You have done. And the greatest of all we can think of, is when You saved us from a life of death, where in us dwelt death because of sin and trespasses. But by accepting His pardon, according to His Word... For it is written, "He that heareth My Words and believeth on Him that sent Me, has Immortal Life." And we believe It and have accepted It, and witness the Presence of the Holy Spirit.

And now in this last evil, last hours of this world's history, we are grateful to Thee, O God, to know that when there is so much confusion of mind and people running to and fro, as You have said through the holy prophets, that in this day there'd come a time that men would go from the east, from the west, and north, and the south, seeking to hear the true Word of God. And we live to see that time.

43 And You predicted that there'd be a time from Your crucifixion until Your coming, a day that would not be night nor day, it would be a dismal, gloomy time, just enough Light to see how to get around. But You said, "In the evening time, it shall be Light." the same Son, the same Christ, that rose on the scene in the east... And geographically the sun crossing the horizontal part of the earth, and now setting in the west, but it's the same sun that raised in the east. So is the same Son of God sending forth His Spirit in these last days to show that His Scriptures cannot be broken; every One must be fulfilled.

44 On the eve of this great Christmas, when, little do we know but this may be the last one of these we'll ever set together in. And we would ask that the Son of the living God would dwell in our midst this morning, and speak to us His kindness and His mercy, and give unto us pardoning of our sins.

And we would not to forget, Lord, those who are afflicted and needy of Thy healing touch; the same God Who let little Ricky to live, brought back the dead as Thou has promised that You would do in the last days... And Your Words are true. We believe that You're here this morning, omnipresent, and is more than willing to do the exceeding abundantly, above all that we could ask or think. We wait on Thee, Father, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Thy Son. Amen.

46 Now, tonight, if the Lord is willing, I wish to have an evangelistic service. Just don't know exactly yet where my message will be, as our most gracious and beloved pastor has asked me to have the two services today. And I will try that by God's grace. And I want to speak on the coming Messiah, or something of that matter for tonight, or that order.

This morning, being that it was the Chri--the Sunday just before Christmas, I would like to speak on something that I believe the little ones, who's just been dismissed and taken their positions in the church, would be able to understand, of a little, what we would call a Christmas text.

48 And you who desire to turn in the sacred Scriptures, would turn with me to St. Matthew's Gospel the 2nd chapter, as we read His Word.

And don't forget, the services will begin at seven-thirty at... That's right, isn't it, brother? [Brother Neville says, "That's right. Yes."--Ed.] Seven-thirty, exactly, tonight and will be about a hour's service, of preaching service.

50 And now, you that has your Bibles open, I'd just like to read a verse or two out of this for a--a text, and pray that God will give us the context.

Now, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the king's... in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.

Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

51 They must've been awfully tired. You see, the--the order was urgent. And it was the king's order; therefore, it's got to be carried out. And it would seem strange at such a great scene as we are looking at, the first Christmas, that such an order would be issued at that time. But, you know, the God of heaven has predestinated all things through Jesus Christ, and that everything has to work just according to His great will. And as they stood there, just on the west side of Bethlehem...

52 As you come up from down into Judaea, you raise over a mountain and a rocky, desert, desolate country. And leading out from one of the main streets of Bethlehem, there's a little--a path that goes up over the mountain, which is called the road, and it's no more than just a little trail like we'd find here, where animals had trod. Because it was a donkeys' trail, where donkeys and camels pass, going down into Judaea out of Bethlehem.

53 And as you top, coming from Judaea, up into Bethlehem, and break over the top of the hill, there's a great rock laying there, somewhat one-third the size of this building. And it must've been along about there where they had stopped after climbing the hill to give the little mule a rest. And Joseph was very tired because he'd been pushed hard that day to get to Bethlehem. Because, there had been a decree went out from Herod and Caesar Augustus, that every person must come back to the place where they were born to pay taxes. And taxes has always been the ruin of all nations. Every nation that ever fell, fell by its taxes. And they had been taxed.

And, oh, it would take an iron-hearted man to cause a woman in her condition to have to be taken out of the house and away from home in her condition, because you see that she was to be mother at any time. And she was merely a girl, approximately believed to be in her eighteen, nineteen years old. And she was setting on the little donkey.

56 And as the little donkey sighed when they stopped for just a moment's rest, and Joseph walks over to the edge, from where they were standing, and looks down into Bethlehem, little did the world know that that night would be sang upon the lips of people through the ages that was to come. And Joseph, as he looked and viewed the city and the brawling of the people, some against the--having to pay their taxes, and I can hear him say something like this, "Dear, you know, I doubt whether we'll find a place at the hotel tonight for you. I can see the people sleeping in the streets and anywhere they can find to sleep. The city is crowded. And all the regions around about has come in for this taxation."

But strange, as he turns in amazement to look, his little wife seemed not to be able to answer. And as he turns his head to see what had happened to her, he noticed there was a light in her face, like he'd never saw before. And under her lovely brow, her eyes seemed to be setting upward, looking towards the sky, like there was a heavenly glow in her face. And he turns and touches her by the hand.

58 And finally she looks at him and says, "Joseph, have you noticed that Star hanging yonder? It seems to be the prettiest star that I have ever seen in all my life. It seems to light up all the village of Bethlehem." And I can hear her say, "Since the sun went down I've noticed that star, and It seems to have followed us."

Joseph, I can hear him say something like this, "Yes, dear, I--I do see something peculiar, for it seems to be the brightest star in all the heavens." And truly that is right. He is the Lily of the Valley, the Morning Star (as the poet placed it), the fairest of ten thousands to my soul.

60 And as he takes his hands in tenderness around the limbs and the waist of his little sweetheart, and wife, he lifted her from the donkey, packs her over and sets her down on the rock, so the little beast of burden could rest.

And as she placed her arms tenderly around his shoulders, I can hear her say something like this, "Joseph, we are both aware that all this is mysterious. We just can't understand it. But both of us being believers, we know that Jehovah has something in store, and that He has chosen us; and has chosen me above the women of the world today to have this Message concealed in my heart." You see, the world thought that was a illegitimate child to be born, but Mary knew what was Truth.

And today many people think the same thing, that people who has received this Christ, they think that they are some kind of a lunatic or a person of ill famed. But they who have cradled that Spirit and that faith in their heart, they know where they are; nothing disturbs that.

63 A good friend of mine called me a few days ago, and was talking to a person who studies psychology and--and the--the mind. And this person had read my book, and they said, "If he is a spiritual man, do you know that there is just one little thread between deep spiritual people and insanity?" And the person was rather alarmed.

I said, "Don't think that strange. Our Lord was called crazy; all of His disciples were called crazy; and all that worshipped Him was called crazy. 'In the way that's called heresy,' said the great Paul, 'so worship I the God of my fathers.'" They are not crazy. But the world, the preaching of the Gospel is foolishness to those that perish; but it pleased God through this foolishness to save those who would believe.

65 And as they, this little couple set there and looked out across those valley, and seen this great Star shining in the east, way, hundreds of miles beyond that, back down across the mountains and the seas over in India, there was Magis watching also.

Now, these wise men that we are speaking of were called... They're really Magis, which are astronomers who watch the stars; they were called then wise men. And they still exist today. I've talked with them many times. And they always go in three's, because the three has to agree. And three is a confirmation. And in India, recently, I'd see them setting in the streets, huddled down together, dressed just exactly like these first Magis. They don't change.

67 And they are worshippers of one true God. They are children of Abraham, through another wife. And they believe that there is one true God. How many times have I seen the Mohammedan priests hit the big bong like that and scream, "There is one true and living God, and Mohammed is His prophet."

We say, "There is one true and living God, and Jesus is His Son.

And they say, "Far be it from God having a Son."

I was privileged to see nearly a hundred thousand come to Christ at one time because of His Presence and what He did in India.

70 Now, the Indians, which we call the wise men, were first (in the Bible) represented as the Medes-o-Persians. You'll find it in the 2nd chapter of Daniel. That--that's the reason that the missionary says, "It's so hard to turn a Mohammedan from his belief to Christianity," because they are from the old Medes-o-Persians, whose laws does not alter or break. Many of you Bible readers know that, the Medes-o-Persians, that they did not alter their laws. When something, a proclamation was made, it lasted eternal. Therefore when a Mohammedan makes his break to Christianity, everything is dead to him, because he's broken their rules.

71 And these man, they waited on one true God, and they worship Him in the light of a sacred fire. And they would get around these fires and wait on the Lord. And many of them would--had--had observatories, something like we have today, and they would go to these places way up high in the mountains and they would watch every move of the stars. They claim that before God does anything on earth, He always shows it in heaven first. And they're right.

Always, God shows it by heavenly signs first. Since when did He ever do anything that He didn't show a heavenly sign first? Think of it in every age that you wish to, and God always does show signs in the heaven first, before He does anything on earth. It comes from the supernatural, drops into the natural and is made manifest: every age, every time.

73 And so this time was no different. And the Magis was watching those heavenly bodies that were visible, stars, moons, and everything that they could see with their eyes. And they knowed every position, just where every star sits. They knowed that astronomer calendar as well as we know the Scriptures. And if one little thing is out of shape, they know it, for it's a sign. And they were watching those signs closely, every hour of the night they watched it. No wonder a stranger appearing in the skies would make them all bothered. No wonder the visitor shook them up a bit. Because they knowed every one of those stars, and they studied them scientifically and from every move.

And they'd gather around this fire. And they lit it by sacred oils, and it burned, and they'd watch in there, because they believed that God was a consuming Fire. And He is.

75 You see, in Acts the 10th chapter and the 35th verse, the Scripture says that God is no respect of person, but He receives any people that will fear Him and will honor Him, no matter what they are. That's you Methodists, and Baptists, and Presbyterian, Lutheran, or--or Catholics, or whatever you might be. If you're sincere in your heart, God will give you a chance to bring you into the Divine Light of His mercy. He's God, and He's obligated to His promise. Then it's up to you, what you do after you receive it; then you can stand judgment. But until then, you're not responsible; you're walking in all you know.

76 So these Magis, and they would go up, after the worshipping around the sacred shrine of the fire, as it burned, and watching into its sacred blazes, and wondering if inspiration of that God Who was a consuming Fire... In His Presence the earth will perish. When he looked into that, then he would get his inspiration. Then he would walk up into the tower, and he would look around to see if anything had moved. And they did this, year after year, day after day, hour after hour, millennium after millennium. They watched the stars, the body. And they'd bring out the scrolls and they would read them.

77 And it must've been on this certain night, that they had been discussing about the--the falling of empire and the collapse of kingdoms, and how that the world had raised up into places and collapsed again, and so forth, that there was a scroll brought out. And it must've been the Book of Daniel. And they were discussing something there that Daniel said, "There would be a Stone cut out of the mountain, without hands."

78 And it must've been while they were thinking on this, and the sacred fires a-burning, that they happened to notice that there was a stranger among them, something that they could not account for. None of their scrolls told of it. None of their writings said anything about it, but there it was. They couldn't deny it. They watched the heavenly bodies, and they knowed that something supernatural had took place.

79 Oh, He is so good. He will catch the attention of every person that He's ordained to Life, maybe in their own ways of worship. But He's God, and He knows the hearts of men, and He watches them, and He protects them, and He brings them to a place. When the deep calleth to the Deep, there has got to be a Deep to respond to that call. If a man is thirsting for something, it shows that there's something out there to respond to quench that thirst.

As I've often said, before there could be a fin on a fish's back, there was a water first for him to swim in, or he'd have had no fin to swim with. Before there could be a tree to grow in the earth, there must be an earth first or there'd be no tree.

81 Some years ago while studying it, I noticed in a piece in the newspaper, where a little boy eat the erasers off of the pencils in school. And one day his mama found him out on the back porch, eating the pedal off of his bicycle. And she wondered what was the matter with the little lad. She took him to the clinic for an examination. While checking his little body, the doctors found that he needed sulfur. And sulfur is in rubber. Therefore, before there could ever be a crave in his system for sulfur, there had to be a sulfur to respond to that crave, or he'd have never had the crave.

And before there can be a creation, there has to be a Creator to make that creation.

83 What man or woman in here today, boy or girl, who doesn't long for life? Tell me the mortal today that doesn't long for life, to live forever, and I'll show you an insane person that doesn't know, for there's nothing no greater than life.

What would you give today if you owned the world and all of its goods, you'd proudly give it to live forever and be a pauper. Life... How many of you old people would give everything that you own to go back to the young man or woman again? Every man seeks for it. Why? It's somewhere or you would never crave for it. Why are you sick people in here for today, if you are, what are you seeking for? What makes you come for prayer? Because there's something in you. No matter what church you belong to, what brand that you're branded with, that has nothing to do with it. You're a human being. You're a creature of God's. And there's something in you that pulls you to somewhere. And as sure as there is a pull in your heart, after the doctor maybe has given you up, that there's still hopes, there's got to be a fountain of God's riches of His healing power open somewhere, or you'd never crave it: got to be somewhere.

85 If you long to see that Jesus, if something makes you long to see Jehovah, He's somewhere or you'd never have that longing. And God's just as good to you as He is to the wise men or to anyone. If you long for Him, "Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be brought to that Fountain where they can drink the satisfying portion."

86 There may be people dying here. You don't want to die; you feel there's something left for you. That's why you're here. There may be neurotics where you can't even get your mind together; but something down in you is telling you, "There's something that can restore me back right again." There may be prostitutes who's walked the street in shame; there may be women who's lived unrighteous to their husbands and broke their marriage vows; there may be men who's drunken sots, that's done everything there is on the calendar of sin; but something tells you that there's a Fountain somewhere.

You might be Catholic, you might Jew, you might be whatever you are, but you're a human being that was made in the image of God. And He's pulling to you, calling you, and you're led just as those wise men were led.

88 And as they studied, and looked yonder, and seen that Light, they couldn't make out what It was. And let's think that they... The next day they laid down to go to sleep. They were bothered and kept watching It. And one of them must've had a dream, Bildad, we'd say he had a dream. And he dreamed that there was a prophecy that said, "There'll be a Star of Jacob rise. And somewhere across among the Jews, there's a baby King that's to be born. And that Light that you see now will bring you to the perfect Light that'll light every man that seeks for Light, that comes into the world."

See, no matter what religion there was, if they really fear God, God's obligated to bring them to this Light. He brings them in their own way.

90 Sometime He brings them by afflictions. Sometime He brings them... You know, in this last days He prophesied that they would come by afflictions. He made the supper, and then when no one come, and then He said, "Go into the highways and the byways and get the lame, halt, blind, and afflicted, for My table shall be filled."

He's seeking them from every walk and every corner of life everywhere, moving in the Spirit in this last days, bringing them together. All denominations and all who--who long for life has a right to receive it to walk in His Presence of His glorious Being, for He is the Son of the living God, still the Morning Star shining among us, as He always shined.

92 That same Light that struck Paul down, on his road to Damascus... Sincere in his heart, trying to persecute a bunch of people who were too loud, shouting, making too much noise; he went down to strike them down, and he thought he was right. And there stood that Pillar of Fire in his way, that struck him to the ground, and cried, "Saul, why persecutest thou Me?"

He said, "Who are You, Lord?"

Said, "I'm Jesus," the Jehovah that he was zealous of.

He was zealous of Jehovah. He knowed nothing about Jesus, only that He was a--a malefactor. But God sent him, and then he become the greatest missionary that the world's ever seen. Why? He was sincere; he believed, and God led him by the Light.

94 What do you think that makes us feel today as Christians to see even the picture of Him? And I have one now that outstands that by hundreds of times. But that same Jehovah God has sent His Light, before the coming of His Son the second time to lead us, to comfort us, and to bring us into that Fountain, that we may wash from our sins and be clean in the righteousness of His Son the Lord Jesus, and become sons and daughters of God, borned anew by the Spirit of God, which changes.

A birth means we have been changed from our thinking, changed from our attitudes, changed by something that took place inside. There's not a religion in the world; there's not enough water; there's not enough ceremonies or sermons that could change you. It takes the Blood of God's Son, Jesus Christ. You could no more clean yourself by joining church, than a leopard could lick his spots off of him. The more he licks, the brighter they get. He only shows them up. By joining churches and trying to do merits of your own, you just show your lack of hunger on the inside, something that hasn't been filled yet. Quit trying; just receive Him, He leads you to the Light.

96 And as these people with this dream, that they must worship this Baby; they must go. And they were rich men. And they gathered up their riches and put them in treasures of such as frankincense, gold, and myrrh. Three went for a witness. And they saddled up their camels and they took out, following the Star. They must've went up over the mountain, come down and crossed the Tigris River at the ford, and down into the valley of Shinar. And the Star was leading them to Jerusalem. For Jerusalem has always been the religious seat of the world, for the great King lived there.

It was in that same city where there was a King Who met Abraham coming from the slaughter of the kings, and His Name was Melchisedec. He had neither father nor mother, no beginning of days, or ending of life. Even the patriarch, Abraham, paid a tenth, the tithings to Him. No father, no mother; no time He ever started, or no time that He'll ever end, it's the Great King come from Salem, which was Jerusalem.

98 And the Star led these wise men right to the religious seat of the world, but the sad thing was, when they got there they knowed nothing about it. And these wise men went up-and-down the streets. The Star, as soon as they got to Bethlehem--as soon as they got to Jerusalem, It went out, so It didn't guide them no more. What was God doing? Just showing the--how that people can get.

Yet in all of our theology, and our great churches, and--and so forth today, when the great Light of God has begin to shine, the church knows nothing about It. What does the Vatican know about these things? What does the church organizations know? Nothing. We're on another Christmas.

100 These men knowed that they had seen something. They knowed that there was something that had took place. For they studied the heavenly bodies, and here was a stranger, and they'd been strangely led by Him. And now in the city they go up-and-down every little street, crying, "Where is He that is born King of the Jews? We have seen his star in the east."

Now, they were in the east; they saw His Star in the west. But said, "When we were in the east..." hundreds of miles. See, it taken them two years to make the journey.

102 I know that floors some of your teachings, but it's the truth. It taken them two years to make the journey. They never come like these so-called Christians today, have their little baby in a manger laying there, and the wise men coming. That's Christian nonsense. They never come to no babe in the manger. There's no Scripture says they did. They come to a young Child, two years old. He wasn't in no manger. He was in a house. Read the rest of that Scripture. But Christian traditions, oh, they've got the whole world scrupled up with their teachings.

103 Why did Herod kill the children two years old then, if He was just an infant? The Scripture said they came to a young Child, not an infant, a young Child two years old. And Herod went to killing the children at two years old to try to get Him; been infants he wouldn't have had to take to two years old, just the infants.

Never found Him in a manger; they found Him in the house. "And when they come to the house, they found the Child and Mary." But you see how they twist It around.

105 No wonder. A few nights ago I was preaching what Jesus said to those Pharisees, "You took your traditions and made the Commandments of God of none effect."

Then they cry, "Where is God?" How can you believe God when you won't believe His Word; then say, "Where is that God of the Bible?" Get back to Him the way He is; that's the only way you'll ever know Him. Here's the way.

107 They went up-and-down the streets, crying, "Where is He? Where is He that's born King of the Jews? For we seen His Star when we were in the east, and we've come to worship Him."

Oh, I can see some of the priests saying, "Say, sirs, you must've listened to a bunch of fanatics somewhere. You must be listening to somebody's petty theology."

Them men could say, "No, sir. We saw it in operation. We know that it's real. And it's led us this far. But we can't find it no more, and this is the city of the king."

110 Isn't it strange? The biggest church in the world, the most people, yet they didn't know nothing about it. And if that isn't the same condition of the people on earth at this Christmas: same condition. No one had the answer. They couldn't find the answer.

And finally it got so bad... These was rich men, you could tell the way their camels was dressed. And they never left out one street; every alley, they went screaming, "Where is He? Where is He? Where is He?"

112 And today with the atomic bombs hanging yonder in the hangars, today when the world's on the edge of complete annihilation, and this generation of people to be perished in a second, with the split of one pull, most any little nation can sink the earth.

In a meeting of scientists the other day they said there was a gloom. Why, the atomic bomb is a cap pistol to what they have now. And other nations has got it. If the Pentagon would ever let loose what they've got, there would be no Christmas spirit left; people would be panicky running into the streets, screaming and crying. And you couldn't hide. There's no way of hiding.

114 The end is now. We're at the end, signs and wonders appearing, the Messiah manifesting Himself in the Spirit, that Spirit, coming down through the age, making Hisself more and more, and finally was born in that perfect Man.

Now through the ages of Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, and down to the end, and now here It is manifested just before He returns in a physical body, that perfect One; pulling His Church together, bringing them out of every denomination, everything, bringing them to Him, for He'll soon appear. And the churches don't have the answer.

117 So the Sanhedrin Court was called in, by Herod the tetrarch, and the courts come together. They brought the priests and the rabbis. They said, "Read the Scriptures. Where is this Messiah to be born?" said the king.

And the strange thing, you know where they found Him? In Micah's prophecy. "Thou, Bethlehem of Judaea, aren't you the littlest among all the princes of Judah? Aren't you the holy-roller? Aren't you the--the--the smallest of all of them? But out of thee shall come the Governor of My people." That's where they found it.

119 And so the wise men, when they heard that, they struck out the gate. And as soon as they left that old, cold, backslidden, formal place, there hung the Star again. The Star was there. And the Bible said, "They rejoiced with exceeding great joy." Oh, I might say they shouted a little when they found out that that blessed supernatural that they had seen; when they got out of them old, cold, formal ways, it appeared again.

There it was. And it led them to Bethlehem, where they found that One, where He Who was Emmanuel, being raised up in a carpenter's shop, poor. And they unloaded everything they had and laid it at His feet. And they worship Him because they know the Light had come, and the Saviour of the world was--being born. They gave--they gave everything they had, because God had give.

121 "God so loved the world (Friend, that's you and I.), that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever (Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, infidel, whatever you are.), whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish but have Eternal Life (What you're seeking for.), have Life."

And in the hours that we are now living, and the close coming of His Being again to the earth...

123 If you notice the Scriptures, look who Joseph was; look at the Spirit of Christ in Joseph: hated of his brethren because he was spiritual; he saw visions, but loved of his father. Wasn't that Jesus? Sold for about thirty pieces of silver by his brethren, like Jesus was; betrayed, like Jesus was; throwed into a ditch to be dead, like Jesus was; raised up and become the right hand of Pharaoh; no man could come to Pharaoh except through Joseph. And when Joseph went forth from--forth from the right hand of Pharaoh, they screamed, "Bow the knee, for Joseph is coming!"

The Bible said that when He comes, like the lightning shineth from the east unto the west, that every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess He is the Son of God. All nations shall mourn and tremble at that time.

125 What was it? It manifested closer; it come out into David the king. 'Cause He was both Prophet, Priest, and King; and when David was dethroned and rejected in Jerusalem like Jesus was, David set upon the mountain, a rejected king by his own people and wept over Jerusalem. And the Son of David came, set on the same mountain, the rejected King in His Own city, and wept over Jerusalem, saying, "How oft would I have hovered you as a hen does her chicks, but you would not."

What did they call Him? Beelzebub, a fortuneteller, a evil spirit.

127 When His ministry started, there was an old fisherman brought to Him, who couldn't even sign his own name. And looked at that old fisherman, and He told him what his name was. And He told him what his father's name was. That old fisherman believed Him with all of his heart.

And another standing there, got converted, by the name of Philip. And he went around the mountain, thirty miles, and found one by the name of Nathanael, under a tree, praying, said, "Come, see Who we found. I know you're a great believer in Jehovah. I know you are. But Jehovah promises a Messiah, and we found Him. He's just an ordinary Man, nothing big about Him. There's nothing swell and educated about Him. He's a Carpenter." He was--He was a Carpenter, both of material and a man's soul.

And Nathanael looked at him, said, "Now, wait a minute, could there be anything good come out of Nazareth?" See, they was looking for it out of Jerusalem.

130 That's where many of you are looking today. Don't look there. The devil always uses a man's head and his eyes. God uses his heart. You look and say, "Oh, it just can't be. It's just unreasonable. See, I can tell; I can look at it." That's where the devil lays. The devil uses a man's eyes. He did that to Eve, in the beginning, and he's did it ever since.

But God tells a man He lives in his heart, and your heart makes you believe things that you cannot see. Because faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence you don't see.

132 Surely this great church with all its great people, all its millions around the world, controls the world's powers, it should be great. Don't look at that. It's the Spirit, the Spirit.

Nathanael said, "Could anything good come?"

He said, "You come and see."

And when He saw him coming, Jesus looked at him, and He was going to perform His Messianic sign on him. He said, "Behold an Israelite, in whom there's no guile."

He said, "When did You know me, Rabbi?" That astonished him, "When did You know me?"

He said, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the tree, I saw you." How could He see him thirty miles around the mountain the day before?

On who the miracle was performed on, he looked up and said, "Rabbi, You're the Son of God. You're the King of Israel."

Jesus said, "Because I have did this before you, and you believe it, you'll see greater than this; for there will be a time coming when you will see the Angels of heaven descending."

138 There stood those by, though, that were smart. They belonged to the big church; they--they couldn't undo themselves. They said, "This man is a fortuneteller. He's Beelzebub. He's crazy. He's a Samaritan that's got an evil spirit on Him. He's gone mad," declared Him insane publicly.

And Jesus said, "Because you say that to Me, I'll forgive you for it. But there'll come a time when the Holy Ghost will be on earth, and will do the same thing that I'm doing, and one word against It will be never forgiven in this world or the world to come." Think of that. One word against It is all, seals you forever.

140 Where do we live? We're at Christmas again. I wonder if our religion has brought us close enough to God, that we can be led as much as the Magis could be led?

Now, remember, there's only three peoples on the earth anyhow: Ham, Shem, and Japheth's people; that's the Jew, Gentile, and Samaritan.

Now, both Jew and Samaritan was looking for Him coming, not we Gentiles. We were heathens, carried away with dumb idols in them days, stick on our back, a club, killing and eating what we could: Gentiles, dumb dogs.

But they were looking for a Messiah, and failed to see because they didn't recognize His sign. That's the reason Jerusalem didn't have the answer. That's the reason today they haven't got the answer. God has the answer alone.

145 Look at these just a moment. As they were... There was another class of people looking for Him, that's in St. John 4; that's the Samaritans. They believed there was a coming Messiah.

So remember, He never done that sign one time before the Gentiles, just the Samaritans and to the--and to the Jews to who were looking for Him to come. And they didn't believe Him by it; some of them did; some didn't.

And when He come to Samaria, He sent the people away, His disciples, into the city. He waited. Because He told them, "Go get something to eat." It was around this time of day, I guess.

148 While they were gone, a--a lovely woman come out to the--the well to get some water. Oh, we call her a prostitute. Maybe she was. See? But let's say she was a--a lovely-looking woman. She came out to this well to get some water. And she heard a voice, said, "Woman, bring Me a drink."

And she looked around, and there set a Jew. Now, there was segregation then; they didn't have any dealing. And she said to Him; she said, "Why are You, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman? We have no dealings with one another. It's not right for you to ask me that."

He said, "But, woman, if you knew Who you were talking to, you'd ask Me for Water."

She said, "Where's the... Where could You get any water," said, "You have nothing to draw with, and so forth."

152 And He went ahead with the conversation, as the--the course went on. Finally He--He said to her; He caught what her trouble was, He said, "Woman, go get your husband and come here."

She said, "I don't have any husband."

Said, "That's right. You've been married five times, and the one you're living with now is not your husband."

Watch what she said. They were looking for a Messiah, you know. She said, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet." Uh-huh. There you are. "I perceive that You are a prophet. We know when the Messiah cometh, He'll tell us these things. The sign of the Messiah, we know that the Messiah will do this when He comes. But You're just a--got callouses in your hand. You're a Carpenter, and a Jew. But you must be a prophet, or you wouldn't be able to do this. But when the Messiah cometh... We're looking for Him here. When He comes, He'll do this."

Jesus said, "I'm He that speaks to you." Oh, my.

She dropped that water-pot. Into the city she went, and said, "Come, see a Man Who's told me the things that I've done. Isn't this the Messiah?" And the entire city went out and believed on Him, yes, because that sign was done. The churches had not the answer, but the humble in heart look to God.

156 Today I wonder if our religion has brought us to that intelligence to realize it's not in a man-made perfumed theology that we're trying to teach, but it's in the power and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit in the land today. Brother, sister, in this last hour, as it's coming to the end of the time, search out your souls, find out how you're standing with God.

157 It's Christmas. All the tinsel up-and-down the street of Santa Claus, a German fiction, a Catholic dogma... There's not one ounce of it true. And it takes the place of Jesus Christ, in the hearts of too many Americans. Christmas don't mean Santa Claus. Christmas means Christ. It's not some man with a pipe in his mouth, and coming down a chimney. Teaching your children such as that, what do you expect them to grow up to be? Tell them the Truth, not on some fiction--fictitious story. Tell them there's a God of Heaven Who sent His Son, and that's what Christmas means. And He's near coming again.

And as the pressure begins to come to the earth, the devil has put out his things, by eyes, what you can see, the tinsel, and so forth. God's put out His, which is Spirit, that you can't see, but you believe.

159 Jerusalem had not the answers. Jeffersonville doesn't have the answers; Louisville doesn't; America doesn't; nor the world doesn't. God has the answers, and He's promised that He would manifest them. And I declare to you that that same Jesus, Who was born nineteen hundred years ago lives today, through the resurrection, and is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

161 Let us bow our heads. Do you solemnly believe this with all your heart? If you do believe it... And maybe you have never accepted it before, but before He does one thing to manifest Himself, would you raise your hands? By raising your hands, while everybody with their heads bowed, would raise your hands and say, "Brother Branham, pray for me. I believe that that's the truth. And I believe that somehow another, mysteriously, I been led to this little old place here on the corner this morning. And I believe that the Spirit of the living God is here now. I want to worship Him. I'll raise my hand." God bless you. That's good. Oh, my, twenty or thirty people over the building.

162 Dear God, You see those hands, and You know each of them. And they are in need. And they never would've raised their hand unless Something was by them, Who was greater than they are; they'd have went on in their own ways. But they have believed it by hearing the Word. Our Scriptures tell us, Lord, Your holy Writ, that faith cometh by hearing, and hearing the Word of God. And in this rugged, yet simple way, the--the only way we have to present it to the people, they have believed it. And many, many hands has went up. I know none of them. Thou knowest them all. But I know that inside of them, they are governed and controlled by a spirit, and that spirit that's in them has said, "You are wrong."

And there is another Spirit standing by them, saying, "Accept Me;I'm your Saviour." And they broke all the scientific laws by raising their hands. Because there's a God in there, Who made the scientific laws, and their hands went up, that they wanted to reach up by faith to take a hold of the Saviour, and accept Him as their Saviour. They've did that this morning, Lord.

And receive them into Thy Kingdom, just now. They are the trophies of the Message. I pray that You'll receive them into Thy Presence, into Thy Kingdom. And may they live happy lives here, looking for the coming of the Lord Jesus at any time, as they see the day approaching, and signs and wonders, because He's getting closer, closer. He's on His way.

165 As Rebekah got up--up astraddle of the camel, and rode away to meet her lover, Isaac... And Isaac had already left the--the camp and was out in the fields at the evening time, when he saw her coming. It was love at the first sight. She jumped off the camel and run to meet him. She was taken into Abraham's tent, and there become an heir, and inherited all things.

God, we realize it's evening time now. You said it would be Light, that the Holy Spirit would be here on earth and would be manifesting Himself into a little flock that You've chosen by Your grace. I pray now that You--You'll manifest Yourself greatly to each one. And may they be saved from their sins.

And may they come somewhere to a--a fountain, a earthly fountain, after they've come to the heavenly, and be baptized in the Name of Thy beloved Son, the Lord Jesus; and washing away their sins, calling on the Name of the Lord. May they receive the Holy Spirit and be put into the position to play out their part of this great drama that's fixing to take place.

168 We believe our gathering this morning, Father, was in Thy wise providence. There is nothing foolish to You. Everything, everything that You provide is perfect. Men and women came from different parts of the country's setting in here. You brought them by Your Spirit in a mysterious way. They've believed You. Receive them now. In Jesus Christ's Name, I present them to Thee.

Now, Lord, let Thy Holy Spirit come to heal the sick, that these new converts to Thee, might realize that we're not just speaking of a Bible that has been a history. It's a living, present tense, just now. He's the same Lord Jesus.

Now, let Him come, Lord, and take over our flesh, our bodies, as we open our hearts. Take out all doubt and all the world, and just let the Holy Spirit move through us; that You might work Your will among us as clean vessels; not because we are clean by our own righteousness, but because we have believed on Him Who has cleaned us, the Lord Jesus; and has performed and do the--the things that You did when You were here on earth, that these new converts might see that You're still the Lord Jesus. You're not dead. But You rose again, nineteen hundred years ago, and are alive today, fulfilling every promise that You made. Amen.

171 I know it's not a Christmas song, but it is a song of our hearts, that we love; now if the message is over, kind of cutting, and so forth, is the only way.

What our pulpits need today is not this here perfume religion; it needs the Truth. The Truth, preach It from the Bible. Don't make any different interpretations, just say It, what the Bible says. God is obligated to His Word. If He doesn't back His Word up, then He is not God, or It's not His Word, one. But He will take care of His Word.

173 Now, just before we pray for the sick, let's sing this good old song, all of you peoples together, all of you.

I will praise Him, I will praise Him,

Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;

Give Him glory, all ye people,

For His Blood has washed away each stain.

Will you give us the chord, sister? Everyone together now, all, everybody.

I will praise Him, I will praise Him,

Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;

Give Him glory, all ye people,

For His Blood has washed away each stain.

175 I wonder. This isn't sacrilegious. This is just expressing. Children, we are children. When you get to think you are grown up in God, that shows you haven't got anywhere. Always be a child, He can lead you. But when you know more than Him, you try to lead Him. See? Let Him lead. Let's just close our eyes and raise up our hands, and bow our heads, and sing that once more.

I will praise Him, I will praise Him,

Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;

Give Him glory, all ye people,

For His Blood has washed away each stain.

From Bethlehem's manger came forth a Stranger,

On earth I long to be like Him;

All through life's journey from earth to Glory

I only ask to be like Him.

Just to be like Jesus, just to be like Jesus,

On earth I long to be like Him;

All through life's journey from earth to Glory

I only ask to be like Him.

177 "The things that I do shall you also." Wouldn't you have loved to be standing there when He said to the woman with the blood issue... She come twisting through the crowd; she touched His garment, "For she said within herself, 'That's the Son of God, and if I can just touch His garment...'" Now, the Palestinian garment hung loose; it had an underneath garment. She... He never felt that touch, for He proved it. She touched His garment, and she rushed back out into the audience.

Jesus stopped and said, "Who has touched Me? Who touched Me?"

Peter rebuked Him, said, "Lord, everybody's touching You, shaking Your hands, patting You, and everything. Everybody touched You, and why do You say such a thing as that?"

He said, "But I've gotten weak. Virtue has gone from Me. Somebody touched Me." And He looked around, over the audience, and He found her. And He told her that she'd had a blood issue then, and her faith had made her well. Wouldn't you love to be like that? Couldn't think of anything greater.

184 A man walked up to Him. He said, "Your name is Simon. Your father's name is Jonas." Oh...

I only ask to be like Him.

Is it possible? He said, "These things that I do... And yet a little while, and the world..." (Now, the world there in the Greek word is 'kosmos,' which means 'the world order,' not the earth, 'the world order.') "A little while, and the world won't see Me no more; yet ye shall see Me (That's the believer.), for I (And 'I' is a personal pronoun.), I will be with you, even in you to the end of the world. The works that I do shall you also. More than this shall you do, for I go unto My Father." Blessed, sacred promises cannot be broken. Jesus said, "No Scripture can be broken."

So to be like Jesus, (Is He here?) Jesus, (Just in a attitude of worship now.)

On earth I long to be like Him;

All through life's journey from earth to Glory

I only ask to be like Him.

185 Could you imagine Him walking in Galilee? There those Pharisees said in their heart, "He's Beelzebub." They never said that out loud, but He perceived their thoughts. The Scripture say that? He perceived their thoughts.

He said, "You speak that against Me, and I'll forgive you. But there'll come a time when the Holy Spirit will do these same things. Don't speak against That."

Just to be like Jesus. How many in this little audience this morning believes that He is risen from the dead, He lives today, and He is the same to keep every promise? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] Thank you. That brings His Presence.

188 Many of you know the picture of the Angel of the Lord, there above where I'm standing. We got them from Germany, Switzerland, everywhere they take them. They taken one the other day, and it's the most outstanding thing I ever seen. I'll get it to the church the next time I come back. It's in the--the national authorities now to examine for double exposure, and how put under an ultra-ray light, and so forth to see. The Angel of... The greatest consolation I've had since He met me, know that we're at the end time.

I'm a man, and there's no good thing in a man. But if a man can open his heart and let God cleanse him, then it isn't... God only has hands; they're your hands and my hands; His eyes is my eyes and your eyes, 'cause He's Spirit. But He can work through us to manifest and to do His will.

190 I was going to call you up here in a prayer line. I've changed my mind. I believe that the Presence of the Lord God is here. And I believe that He can do just the same that He did when He was here before, or He isn't God. How many people...

There's many faces here I do not know. I'm not here; even many of you might come to the church here; I don't know you. But how many in here that's needy and you know that I do not know you, raise up your hands, all is in the building knows... Mainly here in front, pretty near everybody here in front, totally strangers.

192 Then if Jesus lives, and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and if you have a--a need of any thing, the Scripture says... Now, not the Old Testament, the New Testament... The New Testament, the Book of Hebrews said, "Jesus Christ is a High Priest right now." Anyone knows what a high priest is? "A High Priest that can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities." A high priest is to make intercessions in the Presence of God. Jesus stands as a High Priest to make intercessions, and He can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. Now, if He's the same yesterday, today, and forever; and if a woman touched Him back there, and He turned around, and told her; and blind Bartimaeus standing at the gate, three hundred yards from where He was at, screaming, "Have mercy on me..."

193 And the people making fun of Him as He went by, Him with His head towards Calvary, going up to Jerusalem to be offered up. And them priests saying, "Say, you that raised the dead, we got a graveyard full of them up here, come out and raise them. We'll believe you." Same group that said, "Come off the cross, if you're the Son of God, and we'll believe you."

See them critics? They've always had them. Don't class, cast your lot with that kind. God forbid. Get God in your heart so you can see Him and know Him.

But this poor, old blind beggar standing there, said, "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." And his faith stopped Jesus. Jesus turned around and looked till He found him, told him he'd receive his sight.

That same Jesus lives. If... What good is a God of history, if He--if He isn't the same God today?

197 What good does it, try to get a man warm by pointing him to a painted fire? A painted fire won't. That's a historical fire. You say, "It isn't a painted fire, Brother Branham; it's a picture of a fire that actually happened." You can't get warm by the picture. That's something that was. What about now?

He's the same yesterday, or He--and today, or is He--He isn't the same God. Don't you believe that?

199 Now, every one of you just be real reverent. And if it should be that I would speak, I have no way of knowing you. God knows my heart. But if Jesus will come and take over my flesh, and take over... No matter how much He would take over mine, if He doesn't take over you too... You have to believe it. For, remember, it's only as you believe. If the Lord Jesus will come and will do that, and you will touch His garment, saying, "Lord, I'm in need, let me touch You, Lord."...

Then if you touch Him, and He is the same High Priest, He'll act the same way He did when He was here on earth. Is that right? If It acts any other way, then It's the wrong thing, you touched the wrong thing. It has to be the same, has to act the same way. Then if you can touch His garment, like the woman did that touched His garment, wouldn't He do the same thing?

201 If it happens to be that I... If some of you people that come to this church, so that you'd know, I--I won't say nothing to you if it would have to be your faith, because this is--this is... I'm--I want strangers. I'll get to after while, if the Lord willing. I want... I'll bring you up here to the platform, pray for you.

I want strangers that's come from out of town. And you out-of-town people, you're here in hotels and motels, and things, waiting. Sure, come from over the world, that way. They love the Lord. They believe Him. And they--they read in the Bible that He's supposed to do this in the last days.

203 "And no man can come to Me except My Father draws him," said Jesus. You can't come; there is no need of trying to do anything 'less God draws you. When God draws you, then you'll come. "And he that comes to Me, I will in no wise cast out."

Now, you just have faith and believe now. And be real reverent, sit still just a moment. Give God your attention. Pray, saying, "Lord God, let me touch Your garment. I'm sick. I'm needy. I have need. Brother Branham doesn't know me; this is the first time I ever seen the man. But I want to prove to myself that You're still Jehovah, that You're still Jesus that he speaks about. And I believe this mysterious Light that the world's a-talking about today; I believe it's You. And You're the same One that led me here. Now, what will I find? Let me find Him, Lord, the same Jesus that they found. Let me find Him." Now, just watch and look.

205 I have no way at all of knowing till God will reveal it. And when God does reveal it, then it's God that does it then, not me. How many will believe if He will do it? I'm waiting on Him. Raise your hands, and say, "I'll believe it. Yes, sir. I'll believe it with all my heart." All right.

Now, raise your heads, as you look and pray. Now, real softly, this song; here's the old piano I first heard it.

Only believe...

Jesus come down from the mountain, His disciples was trying to cure an epileptic case. They couldn't do it, though they had the power. They brought it to Jesus. He said, "I can if you believe, for all things are possible. Only believe."

208 And everyone just as reverent as you can be. Just look this way, as Peter and John said, "Look on us," not to look to them for something, but to give attention. Said, "Silver and gold have I none."

May the God of heaven grant it. See, His Word's at stake, not mine. I'm just responsible for preaching It.

It's hard; this is my own hometown. You know, Jesus was told, when He went to His own hometown, He could not do many mighty works. All of you know that. And Jesus stood then and said, "A prophet will not be without reward, unless it's in his own hometown, amongst His people." That's still good today.

But there's many here that's not of the hometown. [Brother Branham pauses--Ed.]

212 Right at the end of the row there, sir, looking at me with glasses, I suppose we're strangers to one another. God knows us both. But you're aware that there's some mysterious something going on. If you could see what I see, right above you is that Light. If God will reveal to me... Now, you're in contact with Him. He'll have to use my voice and my eyes. But you're in need of something. I don't know you. You know I don't know nothing about you. If that's right, raise up your hand, sir.

But you realize you got like a feeling on you, real sweet, humble-like feeling (Isn't that right?) right now. That's the Angel of the Lord. It's right above you. If God will reveal to me what your trouble is, just like He did through His Son, the Lord Jesus... And He came to sanctify my heart, that He might live here to speak back to you; would you believe it's the same High Priest that you've touched? You're in contact with Something. That's Him.

Your trouble is in your lungs. If that's right, raise up your hand. It's so bad you can't work. If that's right, raise up your hand. I do not know you.

215 How many believes now? Look here. You think I guessed that. The Spirit's still over the man.

You believe the God of heaven knows you? You serve Him? I say you serve Him. Yes, sir, you are a Christian. You come here for the purpose of being healed. You're going home well. Your name is Mr. Raney. That's exactly right. Raise up your hand if that's true. You can return home. You're healed, sir. Your faith's made you well. God bless you.

I've never seen the man in my life; here's my hands, perhaps our first time. It's God. Now, set still; everyone be in prayer. You know that there's Something here doing that.

Now, the Pharisees said, "He's the devil." Then they got his reward.

Philip said, "It's the Son of God." He got His reward. Whatever you think about It, that's up to you.

219 You that's weeping there, you was aware that Something struck you, wasn't you? If that's right, raise up your hand. The man that's weeping, setting right here, we're strangers to one another. That's right. I do not know you. But God does know you. If God will reveal to me what's your trouble, will you believe with all your heart? If you will, wave your hand back and forth. All right.

You suffer with stomach trouble. That's right. You believe God will heal you? All right, you do? You believe God knows who you are? If He'll tell me who you are, will it strengthen you? Keep your hand up if you do; wave it back and forth. All right, it'll strengthen you? Mr. Fred Moore. That's exactly right. Go home, mister, that ulcer in the duodenal of the stomach has left you. It's caused a nervous condition that did it, but Jesus Christ healed you when He touched you there.

221 The lady setting next to you there, oh, I know who that is. I know that woman, which her name is... I'm not mistaken; I believe it's a Mrs. Greene, isn't it? I can't call you, Sister Greene, because I know you. But here, wait a minute. No, it's not for you. You're praying for somebody else. That's right. And that person is in a great country away from here, where there's a lot of snowing going on. It's Nebraska. It's a lady with cancer that you're praying for. If that's right, raise up your hand. It's a person with cancer, that you're praying for in Nebraska. All right. God bless you.

Have faith. Believe. The lady setting there, wiping the tears from her eyes, she's a stranger to me. I do not know the lady. That's her husband setting next to her, the big man. Being strangers...

You believe that God hears prayer? You believe that this is the Spirit of God, lady? You're shadowed with death, aren't you? It's a cancer. We're strangers. If that's right, wave your hand back. That's right. I never seen you in my life. You're not from this city; you're from across the river somewhere. That's right. Mrs. Sanders is the name. That's right. Hilda's the first name. That's exactly right. Stand up on your feet, lady, and accept your healing from Jesus Christ. God bless you. You see?

224 Have faith in God, don't doubt. Some of you all over in these rows here, believe on the Lord Jesus and you'll be made well.

Now, it's Him. Do you believe that it's Him? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] See, I don't know you. "If thou canst believe..." It's up to you.

You seem to be praying, setting right here, sir. You believe me to be His prophet? You believe that it would be Him? I'm a stranger to you; you're a stranger to me; this is our meeting time. But God knows both of us. You believe that? If those things is true, raise up your hand. You believe that you're going home without your back trouble, God's going to make you well? You do? Going back to Ohio, Hamilton. That's right. Your name is Mr. Burkhart. That's true. Jesus Christ has healed you now, and you can go home, be well. Amen. Someone else believe.

227 Oh, are you aware of His Presence? Do you realize that Something has to do that. That's exactly what the Bible said He did first, and promised... He did it before the Jew, before the Samaritan, and promised to do it before the Gentile. This is the hour. Not some historical God, but a God Who keeps His promise, that's living right now, the Lord Jesus, the same One Who heals the sick, the same way He did it, the same method, and promised it in the last days. This is Christmas again, His guiding Light. "What are you watching, Brother Branham?" I'm watching Him. It's another world; it's another dimension, if you want to call it that. It's in the spirit world.

228 I see a man, real heavy-hearted, but I know him. Brother Funk, I didn't know it till just now; you're in trouble: real dark shadow over your mother. And you know I don't know that; I just come in. But your mother's had an operation, with malignancy, cancer. And you are worried about her, and you're praying. The God Who restored your daddy to his right mind, give him back his health, can restore your mother. Do not fear. "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to them that believe."

There He is over another person, but I know her. But she's praying for somebody else. Mrs. Arganbright, if you'll believe that that cancer will be healed... It's for some other person. You believe.

230 What about you? You believe, lady, that me be His prophet, His servant? You're suffering with the same thing the woman did: a blood issue. That's correct. You're not from this city. You're from Ohio also. And you just been healed in one of my meetings of something yourself. You had cancer; you was shadowed by death, and it's gone now. That's right. That you might know that I be His servant, the issue of blood is from your age. But you also have a rheumatism, or like an arthritis, it is, when you're getting up. You're stiff of a morning. You have trouble with your throat also. You believe me to be His servant?

You got someone else on your heart you're praying for. It's your daughter-in-law. She's got varicose veins. She's a mother of a big bunch of children, isn't she? That's exactly right. Your name is Mrs. Alice Thompson. That's exactly right. Return, receive what you've asked for. So shall she be healed, because you have believed on the Lord Jesus. Now, if we're strangers to one another, wave--wave your hand back and forth like this. I don't know you, know nothing about you.

232 I challenge your faith. I challenge any person in here, in the Name of Jesus Christ, to believe in His Presence is here. I don't care what's wrong with you, if you'll believe It...

Remember, this is the last thing that He'll do before His coming. You remember what He said, "As it was in the days of Sodom and in Gomorrah, so will it be in the coming of the Son of man." What was the message?

There was three Angels went down. Two of them, a Billy Graham and a Jack Shuler went down into Sodom and preached just the message of Gospel deliver--deliverance to the people. But one Angel stayed behind with the elected, Abraham and his group.

235 And the Angel had His back turned to the tent. And Sarah laughed inside the tent. And the Angel said, "Why did Sarah laugh?" How did He know she laughed in the tent behind Him? That was the last message that Sodom had before the destruction. And here's the last signs that God will show before annihilation. Receive it; believe it, and be saved. Let's bow our heads just a moment.

237 Are you aware of His Presence? Do you want Him now, after He, after you've... I have preached the Gospel to you, and you have heard His Message. Then you see Him come down and speak, Himself. A man can say anything; but unless God speaks and confirms that, it is no good. But when He comes, God, and makes the Message real, and living again, then it's God. Do you want to accept Him now in full surrenderance of your life? Will you raise your hands just a moment, say, "I raise my hands; I now surrender my all, my all to Him"? God bless you. God bless you.

All that's needy for prayer, for healing, I believe that every one of you will be healed. Let us pray for the sick.

239 Lord, that none might be left out, that all might receive... We are aware, Lord, as I'm stand here weak and trembling, You are here. It's beyond any shadow of doubt. The people become stricken with the aweness of God's holy Presence, another Christmas, the same supernatural Light shining. It's led many from different walks of life. They have heard Your Word read and preached, and now see You come and confirm the Word.

The Bible said, "The disciples returned and preached the Word everywhere, the Lord working with them, confirming the Word with signs following," the last things that was written in the Scriptures, outside The Revelation. Now, we see it again. It's near the coming, Lord. Be merciful. Heal all the sick that's here this morning. Thy Spirit is right; It's powerful, and It's here.

241 And there is many here, Lord, who are people of the Tabernacle, who come here. Thou has been merciful to them to call them.

And yet, Lord, It's over the whole audience just now. The great Shekinah Glory, the great power of the resurrected Christ, the Rainbow of many colors, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Morning Star, the Rose of Sharon is present. Heal, Lord. We pronounce them to be well through Thy grace. Give them faith to believe it, Lord, and accept it just now, for the glory of God. May every sick person be healed.

And every person that's wrong, lived unwrong to their companion, may they be forgiven. Every person that smokes or drinks, may they be forgiven. May their sins be under the Blood, by the omnipresent God Who's here now, probably the closest they ever was to Him, in all their life. Grant now that this will be received.

244 Hear us, Lord, O God, our great King, as we call on Thy Name in this yuletide season, not a Santa Claus, but a Jesus that has raised from the dead and is a-living, showing Himself among His people. O Lord, Thou art God and God alone, and there's no other but Thee. And we thank Thee that we have the privilege of setting in His Presence, in this little, humble place. He humbled Himself and come among us. We are so happy for this. Blessed be His holy Name. We give Him praise from morning until night, and all through the night seasons our hearts sing the songs and the praises of Jehovah. Thanks be to Him forever and ever.

Take these, Thy children, Lord, under Thy wings, hover them as a hen does its brood. Lead them into deeper Life, and to happier life, and to more fuller life, give them the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Regenerate their souls, Lord, into new creatures in Christ, that You might live, and dwell in them, and work through them, as Your disciples. Grant it, Lord. For, we are believing that soon the sky shall break and our Lord shall come and we shall see Him Who we love. We thank Thee for this, through Jesus our Lord.

Now, with our heads bowed, I turn the service to the pastor.