Semeno znamenia času konca
Prebieha prebudenie. Čo je to? Siatie. Nepočujete už viac veľmi o Billy Grahamovi, že? Čo o Oralovi? Čo o ostatných z nich? Vy viete, že ten oheň veľkého prebudenia už nehorí. Čo je to? To je znamenie Semena času konca. Slová boli zasiate. Čo je to? Denominácia bude žať denomináciu. To urobí, že oni sa spolu spoja do konfederácie.
Ale tiež bolo zasiate Slovo Božie. A keď Duch Boží začína padať, Božie Slovo ožije v ľuďoch. A tá falošná nevesta, ktorá tam vonku páchala cudzoložstvo a priviedla sa do vyznaní a zapredala svoje prvorodenstvá, čo ona zožne? Konfederáciu cirkvi. A to bude zviazané a spálené ako tŕnie a bodľač. Ale tam, kde bolo zasiate Slovo Božie do sŕdc ľudí, to zožne nevestu Kristovu s takou istotou, akože ja stojím tu: znamenia času konca.
1Ďakujem ti, pane. Dobrý večer, priatelia. Je to privilégium byť tu dnes večer v Tiftone. Toto je pre mňa také veľké prekvapenie. Povedal som nášmu dobrému priateľovi, bratovi Welch Evansovi, pred nejakým časom, keď som sa stával dosť unaveným, povedal som, „Pôjdem dolu cez Tifton na rybačku.“ Povedal som, „Keď prídem, stretnem ťa tam niekde a budeme mať (pomyslel som si) také chatové modlitebné zhromaždenie.“ A tak našiel som sa tu dnes večer v auditóriu školy. A som trochu zachrípnutý od mnohého hovorenia. Včera som mal krátku kázeň, bolo to dlhé asi len šesť hodín, to je tak dlho, ako som kázal. Tak... No, ja vás nestraším. Dnes večer nebudem tak dlho kázať. To som si istý. Ale tým, že som trochu zachrípnutý a prechádzam...
2 Ale je to privilégium tu byť a stretnúť sa s týmto milým pastorom, ktorý mal taký dobrý, vznešený úvod. A vždy sme šťastní stretnúť sa s ľuďmi.
A to, čo práve vyjadril ten brat, je absolútna pravda. Môžeme na to povedať, „Amen,“ pretože diabol je v týchto posledných dňoch ako revúci lev a chodí okolo a hľadá, čokoľvek by mohol zožrať, pretože on vie, že jeho čas je krátky. On už nemá príliš veľa času na to, aby to robil, tak on to musí robiť, zatiaľ čo na to má čas.
Páči sa mi to tu v tomto malom auditóriu. Sme veľmi vďační školskému výboru, správcovi a tým, ktorí boli ku nám takí milí a dovolili nám to mať; pre vás ľudí, ktorí ste tu a spolupracujete v tomto malom pamätnom zhromaždení. A ktokoľvek tam položil ten malý privítací koberček tam na ulici, ako som si to všimol, no, to bolo veľmi pekné. Myslím, že brat Willie, ktorý je tam, bol ten, ktorý to urobil. Cením si to.
3Možno by som rád, ak by niekedy Pán chcel, kedy by sme mohli prísť na sériu zhromaždení a byť spolu s týmto milým pastorom a ostatnými tu a urobiť zhromaždenia na štyri alebo päť večerov, kde by sme to mohli dostatočne poohlasovať a zhromaždiť spolu cirkvi, pretože, viete, my teraz potrebujeme jeden druhého viac ako kedykoľvek v celej histórii sveta, to je práve teraz: skutoční kráľovskí veriaci. My potrebujeme jeden druhého. A tak som... Je to vždy požehnanie, kdekoľvek idete a stretnete Božích ľudí. Je to všade požehnanie.
4 Vidím, že tu máme mladých, pred pár minútami som pozoroval jedného malého chlapca a dievča, ako tu sedia na predných sedadlách, sú tak veľmi milí, maličkí a tak pekne tu sedia. Páči sa mi to. Deti... Niečo na deťoch je, že sú tak nevinné a milé. Páči sa mi to. A teraz, veľmi pekne vám ďakujem, že ste dnes večer prišli. No, pomyslel som si, že by to bolo dnes večer pekné, ak by sme sa len neponáhľali a zasiali nejaké semeno Slova Pánovho.
A včera som kázal týchto šesť hodín na tému, „Originálne semeno Slova.“ A prešli sme to od Genesis po Zjavenie, tam a späť, je to šesťhodinová páska: čím bol Boží program, čím on je, a to, ako to vypovedané Slovo Božie je semenom Božím. A Biblia hovorí (tam v Lukášovi), že Slovo Božie je semenom, ktoré vyšiel rozsievač rozsievať.
5 A teraz vieme, že akékoľvek Slovo, ktoré je zasiate, ono musí byť poliate predtým, ako vyženie a vydá úrodu. Ale ak tá voda padá na zem bez ohľadu na to, aké semeno je v tej zemi, to prinesie svoj druh, pretože Boh povedal v Genesis 1:11, „Nech každé semeno prinesie svoj druh.“ Aby každá vec... A keď tá voda padá (Židom 6. kapitola), zisťujeme, že dážď často padá na zem, aby ju zavlažil, odial, aby vydala ovocie. Ale kúkoľ a bodliaky a tie veci, ktoré sú v zemi, vychádzajú pomocou tej istej vody. Ale poznáte ich podľa ich ovocia.
Tak isto Kresťania sú poznaní podľa ovocia Ducha Svätého. To, čo dominuje v živote Kresťana, dokazuje, čím on je. A ovocím Ducha je láska, radosť, pokoj, viera, dlhozhovievavosť, dobrota, miernosť, trpezlivosť v Duchu Svätom. Toto ovocie sa samo prejavuje cez Kresťanov.
6Včera sme zistili, že v tom, že semeno bolo zasiate, to semeno rôznic, to bolo... Satan zasial rôznice, keď povedal Eve klamstvo. A zistili sme, že neveriť jednému Božiemu vypovedanému Slovu spôsobilo každú smrť, ktorá kedy bola, každú chorobu a všetky tieto problémy: to bolo len neveriť jednému Slovu. To nebolo tak, že ona tomu vôbec neverila. Ona sa to snažila s niečím zmiešať, ale nič sa nezmieša s Božím Slovom. To musí byť, čím to je, pretože to je originálne semeno.
Boh je večný a Boh je Slovom. „Na počiatku bolo Slovo a to Slovo bolo u Boha a to Slovo bol Boh. A to Slovo sa stalo telom medzi nami.“
7Tak Boh a Jeho Slovo sú tou istou bytosťou. Pomyslite na to. Verím, že Boh bude jedného dňa súdiť svet, nie skrze nejaký kongres, nie skrze nejakú cirkev, ale skrze Svoje Slovo bude súdiť svet. Ak by sme mali vziať cirkevnú organizáciu, cirkev, ktorá z nich má pravdu? Oni sa tak veľmi líšia jedna od druhej. Katolíci sa líšia od protestantov, protestanti sa líšia od ortodoxných. Ortodoxní... No, každý jeden sa líši. Tak, ktorí z nich budú mať pravdu? Mali by sme v mysli ustavične zamiešanie. Človek by nevedel, čo má robiť. A spravodlivý Boh, sudca celej zeme, nám istotne dáva niečo, skrze čo máme byť súdení.
8Tak prečítal som v Biblii, že, „Nebesia a zem pominú, ale Božie Slovo nikdy nepominie.“ Prečítal som v Biblii, že ktokoľvek niečo z toho vezme alebo niečo k tomu pridá, jeho časť bude vzatá z Knihy Života, a to tam presne tak stojí. Mnohí sa snažia povedať, že to bolo pozmenené, bolo to upravené takto či onak. Ja tomu neverím. Verím, že musí byť nejaký druh štandardu, skrze ktorý bude Boh súdiť cirkev alebo svet. Musí byť nejaký štandard. Nemôže to byť cirkevná organizácia, pretože oni sa líšia. Kto by vedel, čo má robiť? Ale existuje štandard, a to je Jeho Slovo. Verím, že Boh bdie nad Svojím Slovom. Verím, že to Slovo je spečatené presne tak, ako to Boh chce, Biblia. To je Božie Slovo ľuďom. To je ten dôvod, prečo verím v to Slovo. A verím, že Slovo je semeno, a ak je to semeno zasiate do správnej zeme a zavlažené Svätým Duchom, to vydá svoj druh. Akékoľvek zasľúbenie, ktoré Boh urobil, Boh to aj urobí.
9Keď vidíme, ako Boh uzdravuje človeka... Tu pred pár dňami v našej cirkvi, išiel som kázať v nedeľu (minulú nedeľu, teraz je to pred týždňom, týždeň pred touto nedeľou). Priviedli tam jedno malé dievča na nosidlách. A oni mi v noci po ceste zavolali a povedali, „To dievča nemôže žiť.“ S tou rakovinou to bolo tak zlé. Asi sedemnásťročné dievča... „Nevie sa tam ani dostať. Zomrie pred tým, ako sa tam dostane.“ Bol to žalostný prípad. Také veľmi milé dieťa, sedemnásťročné.
Aby som niečo svojej cirkvi dokázal, vôbec som sa toho dieťaťa ani nedotkol. Nikdy som sa toho dieťaťa ani nedotkol. Vstúpil som dnu, ona ležala na nosidlách... Samozrejme, tam boli aj iní chorí ľudia, ale mňa zaujímalo toto dieťa, aby som zachytil jej ducha, keď som k nej hovoril. A vyzeralo to, že ona je veľmi milé dievča. Nevidel som žiaden dôvod, prečo by to dieťa malo naplniť predčasný hrob. A tak to musel byť diabol, ktorý sa jej snažil vziať život. A tak som sa toho dieťaťa vôbec ani nedotkol, išiel som rovno za kazateľňu so Slovom a zostával som rovno so Slovom. A to Slovo ju ihneď uzdravilo, až ona vstala a odišla a je teraz v poriadku, žije tak ako ktokoľvek iný, nevedia nájsť po tom nikde ani stopu. Vôbec som sa jej ani nedotkol.
Vidíte, Slovo vyšlo a ona uverila tomu Slovu a Slovo je Boží život a Božia moc. A Slovo je to, čo to robí. Slovo uzdravuje chorých.
10Potom poviete, „No, Ježiš uzdravoval chorých.“ On je Slovom. On je Slovom. Keď prijímaš Slovo, prijímaš Ježiša, lebo On je Slovo. „Slovo bolo učinené telom a prebývalo medzi nami.“ Veríme tomu, že? Každý kúsok. Veríme, že Kristus je Božie Slovo, ktoré je prejavené, a veríme, že Jeho nevesta musí byť tým istým. Veríme, že ona musí veriť každý kúsok zo Slova, a mať to Slovo v sebe, pretože ona je častou toho tela. Ona je telom a On je hlavou.
A keď On zomrel a vstal z mŕtvych a bol vzkriesený a posadil sa na výsostiach majestátu Božieho na Jeho tróne, po pravici majestátu, potom... a my sme Jeho vyslancami. A my sa považujeme za mŕtvych a pochovaných v krste a vzkriesení s Ním a teraz posadení spolu s Ním v nebeských miestach v Kristu Ježišovi. To by malo spôsobiť, že budeme všetci vykrikovať, že? Pomyslite na to. My sme, nie, že budeme, my sme teraz. Teraz sme synovia Boží. Teraz sme dcéry Božie. Nie, že budeme posadení. Teraz sme posadení. Nemôže...
11Ježiš povedal, že Písma sa musia naplniť. Každé Slovo sa musí vyplniť. Dnes sme sa dostali tak ďaleko od toho. Miešali sme sa s vyznaniami, a tak ďalej, až sme vyšli do divokého vystrájania práve tak, ako Biblia hovorí, že budeme. Presne tak.
A Adam tam predtým, ako sa dostal ku svojej žene, ona bola tehotná so zlým semenom. Ona prijala diablove klamstvo a snažila sa to zmiešať s Božím Slovom, a to zapríčinilo smrť. Prvé dieťa, ktoré sa z nej narodilo, malo smrť. Odvtedy malo každé dieťa smrť. Manželka Jehovu, keď ju On vyviedol z Egypta a posvätil ju a začal s ňou na tej ceste, čo ona urobila? Urobila tú istú vec. Jehova vzal svoju manželku do zasľúbenej zeme. A tam na ceste počúvla falošného proroka menom Balám, a čo urobila? „No, nie je medzi nami žiaden rozdiel. Poďme a zjednoťme sa spolu a buďme jednou rodinou.“
12To je to, čo urobila nevesta so svetom. Zjednotila sa so svetom a svojimi vyznaniami a vecami a zaprela Božie Slovo hovoriac, „Dni zázrakov pominuli. Neexistuje niečo také, ako je krst Duchom Svätým.“ A kde je teraz? Rozvedená. Práve... Ježišova nevesta urobila to isté, čo urobila nevesta Jehovu, a to isté, čo urobila Adamova nevesta. Áno, presne tak. Biblia hovorí, že na ústach troch svedkov nech je postavené každé Slovo. Existujú tri cirkvi, tri nevesty. Všetky urobili to isté.
13 Ale napriek tomu všetkému existuje skutočná Nevesta, ktorú Boh privádza a má každý kúsok z každej... Zakaždým, ako tam bola reformácia, bolo tam určité množstvo slova, ktoré bolo rozšírené. A každá generácia dostáva svoj čas. Všimli ste si to niekedy? Bude nejaký muž Boží, ktorý príde a zasiahne s ohňom Božím, a bude veľké prebudenie, ktoré sa preženie krajinou. A čo sa deje? Hneď potom, ako oni uchopia ideu toho človeka a urobia z toho denomináciu a urobia tam vyznania a zmiešajú to s tým, a ona tam zomiera a už nikdy viac nepovstáva (To je pravda). Vždy to tak bolo. Vždy, zakaždým.
14Ale každá generácia, čo ona dostáva? Svoju príležitosť pri čerstvom Božom Slove zakaždým, tak ako Luther pod ospravedlnením, tak ako Wesley pod posväteným, letničné hnutie pod krstom Svätého Ducha. Rozumiete? Každý jeden dostáva svoju šancu. Čo potom robia tí ľudia, ktorí nasledujú tých veľkých reformátorov? Robia z toho denomináciu, organizujú to, miešajú to s vyznaniami, trošku tu a trošku tam. Prichádza nová skupina vyškolených učencov s kopou psychológie, presne tak, ako sa Eva snažila nájsť nejaké nové svetlo a zmiešať to so Slovom Božím: smrť. A tam odišla organizácia a duchovne zomrela. To je presne tak. To je to, ako to vždy bolo.
15Dobre. Verte alebo nie... Možno si to nemyslíte, ale idem dnes večer hovoriť (Ak bude Pán chcieť), na tému, „Znamenie semena času konca.“ Aký druh znamenia bude mať znamenie semena v čase konca? Predtým, ako prečítame Slovo, skloňme svoje hlavy a prehovorme k Autorovi toho.
Som dnes večer zvedavý, keď máme sklonené svoje hlavy, keď si uvedomujem, že žijeme v tieňoch príchodu Syna Božieho... Som zvedavý, či sú tu dnes večer nejaké žiadosti, niečo, čo by ste chceli dať Bohu vedieť, že ste úprimní a že máte niečo na svojom srdci, čo by ste chceli, aby pre vás Boh urobil? Len zodvihnite svoje ruky k Nemu a povedzte, „Toto som ja, Bože. Chcem toto a toto.“ Ďakujem.
16Náš nebeský Otče, pristupujeme ku Tvojmu trónu milosti, nikdy ku Tvojmu trónu súdu. Bože, my netúžime po súde, pretože by sme pri takom tróne nemohli obstáť. Ale sme tak radi, že bol niekto, kto sa tam postavil za nás, Tvoj Syn, Pán Ježiš. On sa tam postavil za nás a obstál pri súdoch, aby sme tak my mohli mať právo ku trónu milosti. A my dnes pristupujeme v Jeho Mene.
A On Sám povedal (A každé Sovo, ktoré prichádza od Neho, bolo Písmom, no, ono musí byť vyplnené). On povedal, „Ak budete prosiť čokoľvek Môjho Otca v Mojom mene, Ja to urobím.“ Tak, že my vieme, že to Slovo je pravdivé, a my prichádzame v Ježišovom Mene, aby sme prosili nášho nebeského Otca, aby nám udelil tú odpúšťajúcu milosť zo Svojho milujúceho trónu milosti.
17My Ho dnes večer prosíme, aby nám urobil Svoje Slovo jasným a známym, a aby nám zjavil tú hodinu, ku ktorej sa približujeme, pretože my sa nechceme potknúť ako niekto, kto nevie, kam ide. Človek, ktorý nevie, kam ide, sa potkne. A Ty si povedal, že sme deťmi Svetla a mali by sme vedieť, kam ideme, krok za krokom, ako nesieme svetlo. To neukazuje celú cestu až do cieľa, ale tak, ako robíme kroky. Modlím sa, Otče, ako robíme dnes večer tento krok smerom k tomuto zhromaždeniu, aby sme videli, čo je Božím zámerom pre nás, že sme tu. A modlím sa k Tebe, ó, Pane, aby každá ruka, ktorá bola dnes večer v tomto zhromaždení zodvihnutá, aby ten zámer tej prosby, ktorá je za tou rukou, bol zodpovedaný. Ak je to kvôli spaseniu, Bože, udeľ to dnes večer, aby to prijali. Ak sú to problémy v domácnosti, narovnaj domy, Pane, daruj pokoj. Ak je to kvôli niekomu, kto je rozrušený, udeľ Tvoju milosť, Otče. Ak je to pre niekoho, kto je chorý, nech tie uzdravujúce Slová Božie padnú dnes večer dolu hlboko do ich sŕdc, až to prinesie žatvu dobrého Božského zdravia do zajtrajška. Udeľ to, Pane. Vypočuj nás.
18 Predkladáme ti dnes večer toto Slovo s nami samými a s týmito textami, aby si Ty z toho mohol vyviesť kontext a zjavil nám tie veci, ktoré by sme mali poznať. Požehnaj týchto ľudí. Požehnaj túto školu. V tomto dni, keď by niekto povedal, že zhromaždenie usporiada medzidenominačná skupina, oni to chladne odmietnu. Ale tento správca nám otvoril dvere. Modlíme sa, Bože, aby si ho požehnal a dal mu poznať, že to je napísané v Písmach, „Nakoľko ste to urobili jednému z mojich najmenších, Mne ste to urobili.“
„Kedy si bol v potrebe a my sme Ti poslúžili?“ A Ty si povedal, „Ja poviem, že tak, ako ste to urobili týmto, Mne ste to urobili.“
Modlím sa, nebeský Otče, aby z tejto školy vyšli mocní, pomazaní kazatelia pre ten deň pred nami.
Modlím sa za každú osobu, ktorá je tu, za ich pastorov, požehnaj ich cirkvi, Pane, nech sa prelomí v ich komunite a tu medzi ľuďmi veľké prebudenie a nech spôsobí, že mnohí budú spasení. Uzdrav chorých a postihnutých. Príjmi slávu, prosíme to v Ježišovom Mene. Amen.
19Mám také veľmi zvláštne malé miesto Písma... Keď prídete domov, chcel by som, aby ste si prečítali celú tú kapitolu. Je to Ámos, 3. kapitola a 7. verš. Veľmi zvláštny text. Ale viete, Boh koná veci tak trochu zvláštne a divne, koná v predivných spôsoboch, tajomnými cestami, ako vykonáva svoje divy. Ámos 3:7.
Lebo Pán Hospodin nečiní ničoho, krome keď zjavil svoju tajnú radu svojim služobníkom prorokom.
Tak ten text, ktorý by som chcel ku tomuto použiť, je toto: „Semeno znamenia času konca.“ A ako som vám už povedal, včera som kázal tak veľa o semene, lebo to je Slovo... Všetky veci začínajú v Genesis, pretože Genesis znamená počiatok, alebo je to kapitola semena v Biblii. Všetko, čo dnes máme na zemi, pôvod toho započal v Genesis.
20 No, dnes máme veci, ktoré sa nerozpočali v Genesis, pretože sú skrížené. Čokoľvek skrížené je podfuk. Nie je to na nič dobré. Nedokáže sa to samo zreprodukovať. Čokoľvek, čo je skrížené, je človekom vytvorené a nemôže sa to znovu prinavrátiť.
Ako som už mnohokrát povedal, vezmime napríklad kríženie dobytka. Keď napríklad vezmete osla a kobylu a oni zrodia mula, ale ten mul sa nedokáže sám zreprodukovať. On nevie, kto je jeho otec a kto matka. On je zmiešaný.
21Vezmime dnes pšenicu. Je to hybrid. Oni hovoria, že je to omnoho krajšie, má to väčší klas, ale nie je to na nič. Videli ste, čo, „Reader Digest práve o tom napísal? Ak budú ďalej ženy jesť kuratá a hovädzinu a veci, ktoré sú skrížené, za dvadsať rokov od teraz prestane ľudská rasa existovať: ženy už viac nebudú môcť mať deti. To je pravda. Kríženie, nie je to na nič dobré.
Vezmite kukuricu, skrížte ju, budete mať veľký klas. Ale čo to robí? V poriadku, ak to chcete jesť a mať veľký klas. Ale čo sa tomu deje? Zasaďte to znovu, to sa nedokáže samo znovu zreprodukovať. Nie je to na nič dobré. Je to mŕtve. Preto čokoľvek, čo nebolo na počiatku Bohom vypovedané, je hybrid.
22A to je spôsob, ako sa ľudia dostávajú preč od Slova Božieho. Stáva sa to hybridnou záležitosťou. Musí to zomrieť. Nedokáže to zrodiť znovu svoj druh do života. Cirkev, ktorá odmietne veriť Božiemu Slovu, je hybridná cirkev s dogmami, vyznaniami, náukami, ktoré nie sú podľa Písma. Taká cirkev nedokáže zrodiť Duchom naplnené dieťa, pretože to je hybrid. Nie je to na nič dobré. Môže byť väčšia, môže mať veľké steny, krásne lavice, veľké zvony, plyšové sedadlá, ale to neznamená vôbec nič. Duchovne je mŕtva. To je pravda. Nedokáže zrodiť Duchom naplnené deti, pretože ona sama je mŕtva.
23Hovoril som teda na tú tému šesť hodín a dnes večer sa idem znovu vrátiť ku tomu istému znameniu semena času konca... No, všetci múdri ľudia, ak je človek vo svojej hlave v poriadku, on sa vždy snaží nájsť niečo, čo je pred ním. Všetci z nás to chcú vedieť. „Čo je ďalší krok, ktorý mám urobiť? Kam idem odtiaľto?“ To je ako človek, ktorý prechádza prúd vody. On vstúpi na skalu, potom sa obzerá, aby videl, kam urobí ten ďalší krok, lebo on ne... On nemôže len hocikde skočiť. Ak to urobí, utopí sa. Musí pozorovať, kam ide. „Potom, ako prekročím toto, potom kam?“ S nami všetkými je to tak. To bol ten krik ľudskej rasy počas všetkých vekov, „Kam odtiaľto?“
24Kráľ Anglicka... jednej noci, keď ho na druhé ráno pokrstil jeden svätý, sedeli pri ohni na veľkom akoby námestí. A bola tam taká veľká pec s ohňom a s roštom (ako by sme to nazvali), akurát to bolo veľké, obrovské miesto, kde ležali veľké kláty. Ten svätý sa snažil kráľovi hovoriť o Bohu a jeden malý vrabček zakončil jeho kázeň. Ten vtáčik sa objavil z tmy a vletel do toho svetla, a potom sa vrátil späť zo svetla zase do tmy. Ten svätý sa postavil a povedal kráľovi, „Odkiaľ prišiel a kam odišiel?“
To je to, čo chceme vedieť. Odkiaľ sme prišli a čo tu robíme a kam potom odtiaľto ideme? Tak, oni... Všetka veda, ktorú máme, bez ohľadu na to, koľko kostí sme vykopali, bez ohľadu na to, koľko kníh sme napísali, pri tom všetkom neexistuje ani jedna kniha, ktorá ti dokáže povedať, odkiaľ pochádzaš, čím si a kam ideš: len jedna Kniha, a to je Biblia. Ona ti hovorí, odkiaľ prichádzaš, kvôli čomu si tu a kam ideš. A tak, ak chceme vedieť, kam máme odtiaľto ísť, vezmi tú jedinú knihu, ktorá nám to dokáže povedať.
25Vykopávajú staré kosti a vykopávky, a tak ďalej, a nemôžu dokázať nič. Božie Slovo má odpoveď. Ono má odpoveď na všetko, čo sa pýtame. Je to v Božej Knihe. Ľudia sa často divili. Niekedy ideme k Písmam a čítame ich a divíme sa nad nimi. Ale nemáme sa diviť. Nedokážete ich vysvetliť, vy im musíte veriť.
Žiaden človek nemôže vedecky dokázať Boha. Ak by ste mohli Boha dokázať vedecky, potom by to už viac nebolo z viery. My máme Bohu veriť a viera nie je vedecká.
Čo ak by Mojžiš odtrhol z toho stromu niektoré listy a povedal by, „Myslím, že to vezmem do laboratória, aby som zistil, aká je v tom chemikália, že to nezhorí.“ Vidíte, Boh by k nemu nikdy neprehovoril. On to nevedel. Jediná vec, ktorú urobil, bolo, že si vyzul obuv, bol tam v úctivosti a Boh k nemu hovoril späť.
My nedokážeme tieto zasľúbenia Božie dokázať vedecky, ale my sa dívame späť a zisťujeme, kedy sa v akom období každé jedno stalo presne tak, ako Boh povedal, že sa stane. Tak dnes večer v úcte a v rešpekte k Jeho Slovu, len sa na chvíľu posaďme a pozrime sa na to a vidzme, kam ideme, čo je tým účelom. Kvôli čomu sme tu. O čom to všetko je.
26Prednedávnom som bol tu na západe a bol som v dome jedného muža, ktorý ma pozval na večeru. A on povedal, „Pán Branham, vidím, že obdivuješ tú sochu, ten obraz,“ alebo nie obraz, ale to bolo také vyrezávané drevo, taká plaketa nad krbom.
Povedal som, „Áno, pane, obdivujem.“ A bol to taký starý volský voz alebo taký zakrytý voz, príves s volmi a vpredu bol človek, malý chlapec, ktorý tam sedel na sedadle so svojou mamou, a oni cestovali.
On povedal, „To bol môj otec a matka a ten malý chlapec, ktorý tam sedel, to som ja.“ Povedal, „Prišli sme sem na tomto volskom voze.“ Povedal, „Ale odvtedy sa nám tak darilo.“ On povedal, „Chcem, aby si išiel sem na dvor.“ Povedal... Zabudol som už, koľko tisíc árov tam mal na tom ranči vo vlastníctve. Povedal, „Kúpil som to, keď som bol mladý.“ A on povedal, „Potom, po všetkom tom som rozširoval ten ranč na západ, kde som mal vlastníctvo, a rozširoval som ho na juh, kde som mal vlastníctvo.“ Povedal, „Vidíš tam ten dym?“
„Vidím.“
Povedal, „To je mesto.“ Zabudol som, koľko majetku tam mal.
Povedal, „Som prezidentom v banke, ktorá tam je.“ A hovoril mi o všetkom, čo mal.
27Chvíľu som ho počúval a povedal som mu. „Rád by som sa ťa opýtal jednu otázku. Ukázal si mi na východ a na západ a ukázal si mi tie ranče a mesto, ale chcel by som, aby si sa pozrel hore týmto smerom a povedal mi, koľko toho vlastníš tam hore.“ To je tá hlavná vec, pretože jedného dňa opustíš všetko to, čo vlastníš tu dolu. A potom, kam pôjdeš odtiaľto? To je tá hlavná vec.
Toto je tu veľmi krátky pobyt, ale tam to je večný pobyt. Tak myslím si, že by sme mali zvážiť, kde strávime večnosť. Ak dokážeme zabezpečiť a usporiadať naše rodiny, a tak ďalej, tu na zemi, dať im domy, domovy a pohodlie a vzdelanie, to sú veci, ktoré by sme mali robiť. Ale tá hlavná vec, ktorú by sme mali urobiť, nechávame ju nedorobenou, až sa dostávame na koniec cesty a potápame sa potom vo večnosti nevediac nič o Bohu, o Jeho pláne spasenia a vykupujúcej milosti Ježiša Krista. To je žalostná vec urobiť to, ale robíme to.
28 Múdri ľudia, keď zistia, že sú stvoreniami času, oni sa zamýšľajú, čo je potom, ako čas pominie? O chvíľu budem hovoriť o mužovi, ktorý sa volá Jób. To je tá najstaršia kniha v Biblii. Rozumieme, že Jób bol vo svojom dni jedným z najmúdrejších mužov na svete. On hovorí, že keď išiel na trhy, tak mladé kniežatá sa pred ním skláňali kvôli jeho múdrosti. On bol veľkým človekom.
Ale ten človek si začína uvedomovať, že všetka jeho veľkosť, on sa zamýšľal, čo bude potom, ako sa toto všetko skončí, čo to bude potom. On sa divil, čo sa stane potom.
Tak on potom hovorí a začína pozorovať Božie stvorenie. On vedel, že všetky veci boli stvorené Slovom Božím. A tiež si všimol, povedal, „Ak strom zomrie, má nádej, bude znovu žiť.“
29Ak si všimnete prírodu, Boh má veľkolepý spôsob, ako vyjadruje Svoje pocity ľuďom, aby si oni boli istí, či už majú Bibliu alebo niečo iné, že sa im On Sám vyjadruje v prírode.
Pozorujte na chvíľu slnko, keď ráno vychádza. Čo sa tomu slnku deje? Je to malé dieťa narodené na východe a asi o desiatej hodine je tínedžerom. Na poludnie je vo svojej sile. Popoludní je vo svojom strednom veku. A večer zachádza a je hotovo. Či je to koniec slnka? Nie. Boh má pre slnko zámer, tak to slnko sa vracia a na ďalšie ráno povstáva znovu. O čom to hovorí? Narodenie, život, smrť, zmŕtvychvstanie.
30Pozrite sa na svoje kvety. Všimol som si dnes, ako som sem prichádzal, kvety, aké sú krásne. Oni sú tu za určitým účelom. Oni sú vypovedanými Božími slovami. Boh ich vypovedal do existencie. A keď to urobil, pozrite, čo sa deje. Oni sú krásne, ako tam stoja na vašom dvore.
Po chvíli na nich udrie mráz. Mladé, staré, v strednom veku, akonáhle ich ten mráz udrie, je to smrť. Oni skláňajú svoju hlávku a čo sa deje? To malé čierne semienko toho druhu, tam z nich vypadáva. Verte alebo nie, Boh má pre nich pohrebný sprievod. Padá dážď, to sú slzy, takpovediac, padá to z oblohy a pochováva to semeno.
Prichádza zima. Tie piestiky sú preč. Stonka je preč. Cibuľka je preč, semeno zamŕza, puká, vychádza dužina. Či je to koniec toho semena? Nie veru. Nech len zasvieti to teplé slnko, ktoré prináša zmŕtvychvstanie všetkému botanickému životu. Akonáhle začne slnko svietiť na zem a zohrievať, tam niekde v tom semene je zárodok života a ono znovu ožíva. Prečo? Ono slúžilo účelu Božiemu a Boh má pre neho spôsob, aby znovu ožilo.
My sme tu pre nejaký účel, ale my musíme slúžiť tomu účelu: vybrať si smrť alebo život. Tak my sme tu za určitým účelom, ale my musíme tomu účelu slúžiť. To je slúženie Bohu, pretože my sme synmi a dcérami Božími.
31Takže Jób pozoroval stvorenie. On videl, že keď prišla smrť, to nebol koniec toho. On videl, že po smrti prichádza znovu život. Život... Akonáhle prišlo slnko do správnej pozície, znovu tam bol život. „No,“ povedal, „ak je to semeno vypovedaným semenom alebo vypovedaným Slovom Božím, a ono slúži svojmu účelu a zomiera... ale,“ povedal, „človek,“ dívam sa teraz na niektoré Písma tu v Jóbovi 14, „ale človek si líha a vydáva ducha a pomíňa sa. Jeho synovia prichádzajú smútiť, on o tom nevie. Kde On je? Ó, keby si ma len ukryl v hrobe a zachoval ma v tajnom mieste, kým neprejde Tvoj hnev.“
Jób povedal, „Vidím, ako zomiera kvet. Slúži svojmu účelu a povstáva. Vidím strom, ako zomiera. Na jeseň v tom roku púšťa svoje listy.“
32Všimli ste si niekedy strom? On vydá svoj list, a potom slúži svoj čas cez leto. Prichádza jeseň a predtým, ako príde mráz, ten list sa začína sfarbovať na žlto, červeno, hnedo. Po nejakom čase padá zo stromu, odpadáva. Je to jeho koniec? Nie. Čo sa deje? Ten život, ktorý bol v tom liste, ide späť do koreňa stromu, odkiaľ pochádza. Čo to potom robí? Jar v roku s tým prináša vo zmŕtvychvstaní nový list toho istého života, ktorý sa navracia späť v tom novom liste.
A Kresťania visia na strome života. A keď život opúšťa toto staré hriešne telo, vracia sa to späť ku Bohu, ktorý ho dal, aby to prišlo znovu v novom, pretože to slúžilo svojmu účelu.
33Tu prednedávnom, bol som dolu v štáte Kentucky... Mal som ísť vlastne smerom, kam som mal nasmerované na sever, hore do štátu Kentucky. Poľoval som ja a pán Wood, jeden z dôverníkov, ktorý je tu dnes večer s nami, mal som mať zhromaždenie v malom meste, ktoré sa volá Acton, na metodistickej pôde.
V jeden večer sme tam hovorili a Pán robil veľké veci a mali sme zhromaždenie s uzdravovaním a modlili sa za chorých. Vy všetci ste boli na tom ďalšom zhromaždení a viete, čo sa dialo.
A ja nedokážem uzdraviť, žiaden človek to nedokáže. Boh to už urobil. Vy tomu musíte len veriť. Tak On má spôsob, že On zasľúbil v tých posledných dňoch dar, ktorý bude rozpoznávať duchov, a tak ďalej, dar, ktorý funguje. Vieme to na sto percent, pretože to je Božie Slovo, ktoré manifestuje Jeho zasľúbenie na tento posledný deň.
34A bola tam nejaká žena. V tej krajine som nikdy pred ým nebol. A bola tam jedna žena a sedela v publiku a Duch Svätý prišiel medzi ľudí a začal vyvolávať jedného človeka, druhého, a hovoriť k ľuďom. Bol to náš Pán Ježiš, Jeho Slovo, ktoré bolo prejavené v tele Jeho cirkvi. A potom, keď začal hovoriť, Ježiš stál na tej pôde, poznal myšlienky ich sŕdc, hovoril k nim, povedal ľuďom o rôznych veciach, ako vy, čitatelia Biblie, viete: zasľúbil tú istú vec, že sa znovu v posledných dňoch zopakuje, bolo to zasľúbené skrze Jeho Písma, že sa tak stane.
35 Tak chcem, aby ste si všimli. Keď sa to dialo, tam ďaleko vzadu niekde na tej pôde toho stanového zhromaždenia plakala nejaká pani. Sedelo tam stovky a stovky ľudí a jedna pani plakala. Všimnite si, Duch Svätý išiel k tej pani a povedal jej, „Ty plačeš ohľadne svojej sestry. Volá sa tak a tak. Žije na určitom mieste. Máš vo svojej kabelke vreckovku, ktorú si si tam dala predtým, ako si odišla z domu. Je to takéto a takéto, vreckovka. Vezmi tú vreckovku a polož ju na svoju sestru. Ona zomiera na rakovinu a „Tak hovorí Pán“, ona bude žiť.“
Tá žena odišla a položila tú vreckovku v ten večer na tú pani. Na druhý deň ráno bola uzdravená.
36Takže, bol som... Bola veľmi horúca sezóna. Poľovanie na veveričky... Ako viete, vy, moji kolegovia, poľovníci na veveričky, praskanie listov vyplaší veveričky a my... Bolo tak sucho a my sme museli ísť na miesto, kde boli nejaké bútľaviny, a museli sme tade prejsť cez také jamy, aby sme prešli cez tie lesy. Meno môjho priateľa je pán Wood. Sedí tu po mojej pravej ruke.
A on povedal, „Poznám jedného človeka, ktorý má pôdu o rozlohe mnoho árov.“ Ale povedal, „S ním je to veľmi, veľmi ťažké.“ Povedal, „On je neveriaci.“ A povedal, „On neverí v Boha.“ A povedal, „Robí si z toho žarty.“ A povedal, „Ale on ma pozná a pozná môjho otca.“ A povedal, „Ak by som tam išiel a opýtal sa ho, či by sme mohli na jeho pozemku poľovať...“
Povedal som, „Poďme.“
37Doviezli sme sa až tam do tej časti krajiny, išli sme na kraj cesty a videli sme, že tam pod tieňom jablone sedia dvaja starí muži. On povedal, „Tam je. To je ten napravo.“
Povedal som, „Pretože som kazateľ, radšej zostanem v aute.“
Tak on vyšiel von a povedal, „Dobrý deň.“
Ten muž povedal, „Poď sem, sadni si.“
Povedal, „Volám sa Wood.“ Povedal, „Chcel by som len vedieť, či by vám vadilo, keby sme na chvíľu poľovali na vašom pozemku.“
On povedal, „Ktorý Wood si ty?“
On povedal, „Som syn Jima Wooda.“ On povedal, „Jim Wood je môj priateľ a hociktoré z jeho detí môžu poľovať, kdekoľvek chcú.“
On povedal, „Ďakujem.“
On povedal, „Len sa zamýšľam,“ povedal, „ktorý z nich si ty?“
On povedal, „Ja som Banks.“ Chvíľu s ním hovoril a pán Wood povedal, „Chcel by som vedieť, či by to bolo v poriadku, keby som so sebou vzal svojho pastora.“
On povedal, „Snáď mi nechceš povedať, že si klesol tak nízko, až si musíš so sebou voziť kazateľa, kamkoľvek ideš.“
On povedal, „Môj pastor je tam.“
38Pomyslel som si, že bude lepšie, keď vyjdem z auta. A tak som vyšiel z auta a prišiel som k nim a povedal, „Dobrý deň.“
On povedal, „Dobrý deň. Ty si kazateľ?“
Povedal som, „Áno, pane.“
A on povedal, „No, dobre.“ On povedal, „Ja som vraj neveriaci.“
Povedal som, „No, nie je sa čím chváliť. Že?“
On povedal, „Hádam nie.“ Povedal, „Ale to, čo mám proti vám, že hovoríte o niečom a neviete, o čom.“
„Ó.“ Povedal som. „Je to tak?“
On povedal, „Veru áno. Počujem ich, ako kričia o tomto a o Bohu a o všetkom možnom.“ Povedal, „Neexistuje niečo také.“
Povedal som, „Aha.“ Povedal som, „No, dobre. Samozrejme, viete, ako to je, pane,“ povedal som, „každý má svoj názor.“ A rozmýšľal som vo svojom srdci takto, „Teraz, Pane, daj mi niečo, aby som pomohol tomuto človeku. On je nepochybne úprimný.“
A on povedal, „Počul som len jedného kazateľa v celom svojom živote, ktorého by som rád počul... Počul som o ňom.“
A povedal som, „Kto to je, pane?“ On povedal, „Tu asi pred dvomi rokmi bol jeden kazateľ dolu v meste, ktoré sa volá Acton.“ On povedal, „A jedna pani, volala sa tak a tak, ktorá bývala tu na kopci, ležala tam asi dva roky s rakovinou. Ja a moja žena... Nevedeli ju už viac položiť na posteľnú misu, museli používať plachtovú podložku.“ A povedal, „Boli sme tam vtedy ráno.“ A povedal, „Lekár deň pred tým povedal, že ona to nevydrží do druhého rána.“
39„Mala rakovinu v žalúdku. Bola úplne zožraná. Nedokázala už piť ani jačmennú vodu a nepila, nepila ju už týždne. Dávali jej glukózu cez žily, až jej žily zlyhávali, a povedali, že jej už niet pomoci.“
A povedal, „Jej sestra bola počúvať toho kazateľa kázať a ten kazateľ tu nikoho nepoznal, nikdy tu nebol a povedal jej, čo jej je a čo je jej sestre, a povedal o vreckovke, ktorú mala, aby ju položila na tú ženu.“ A povedal, „Ten večer som si pomyslel, že tam mali Armádu spásy, niekde tam, lebo tak veľmi vykrikovali.“ A povedal, „Na ďalšie ráno sme sa tam išli pozrieť, či je mŕtva.“ A povedal, „Keď sme tam prišli, ona bola hore, piekla jablkové koláče a jedla ich.“ A povedal, „Dokonca urobila aj prácu susedom.“ On povedal, „Teraz...“
Povedal som, „Čo je na tom také divné?“
40On povedal, „No, tu je to, čo by som chcel vedieť. Ak kedy raz uvidím toho kazateľa, opýtam sa ho, čo mu povedalo ohľadne tej ženy a že bude uzdravená.“
„Ó.“ Povedal som, „Veru tak.“ Mal som na sebe krv od veveričiek a špinavé bokombrady asi takéto dlhé, viete, a povedal som, „Nevyzerám teraz veľmi ako kazateľ.“
On povedal, „No, vyzeráš ľudskejšie.“ A povedal som, „Áno, pane.“ A tak som povedal, „Môžem si dať jedno z týchto jabĺk?“ Všade na nich boli malé sršne.
A on povedal, „Áno.“ Jedno som zodvihol a odhryzol si. A on povedal, „Poslúž si. Sršne ich požierajú.“
A povedal som, „Ďakujem.“ A odhryzol som si. Povedal som, „To je chutné jablko.“
On povedal, „Áno.“ Povedal, „Tento starý strom ich pre mňa už veľa vyprodukoval.“
A povedal som, „Rozumiem.“ A povedal som, „Aký starý je ten strom?“
Povedal, „Má asi štyridsať rokov.“ Povedal, „Zasadil som ho, bola to výmena.“
41A ja som povedal, „Ááá.“ Povedal som, „Všimol som si, že všetky jablká z toho odpadávajú a listy tiež opadávajú. On povedal, „Áno, tak to chodí.“
A povedal som, „Chcem sa vás niečo opýtať.“ On povedal, „Dobre, pýtaj sa.“ Povedal.
Povedal som, „Čo spôsobuje... No, nemali sme ešte žiaden mráz.“ Povedal som, „Je len polovica augusta. Nebudeme mať mráz asi do októbra alebo novembra.“ Povedal som, „Ale tu uprostred augusta tie listy opadávajú z toho stromu.“ Povedal som, „Čo spôsobuje, že tie listy opadávajú?“
„No,“ povedal. „Miazga ich opúšťa.“
Povedal som, „Čo ak ich tam miazga neopustí?“ On povedal, „No, to by počas zimy ten strom zabilo. Ten zárodok života je v tej miazge.“ Povedal, „Ak by to... To by ten strom zabilo, zomrel by.“
Povedal som „Veru tak.“ Povedal som, „Preto ide tá miazga dolu do koreňov, kde je teplo a zostáva tam počas zimy, potom sa v lete vracia a prináša viac listov a viac jabĺk.“
Povedal, „Tak to je.“
42Povedal som, „Chcem sa vás niečo opýtať.“ Povedal som, „Aká inteligencia... No, strom nemá žiadnu. Aká inteligencia hovorí tomu stromu, 'Prichádza čas zimy. Choď dolu do koreňov a zostaň tam, až kým nepríde jar?'“ Povedal som, „Nalejte vodu do vedra a postavte to na stĺp a vidzte, či pôjde dolu, keď príde čas jesene. Nepôjde.“ Povedal som, „Musíte pripustiť, že je tam nejaký druh inteligencie, ktorý spôsobuje, že tá miazga ten strom opúšťa a ide dolu do koreňov. Ak to neurobí, zomrie. Ona sa ukrýva, aby ochránila jeho život. No, strom nemá žiadnu inteligenciu. Tam je Boží zákon, ktorý to robí.“
A on povedal, „Nuž, nikdy som o tom takto nerozmýšľal.“
Povedal som „Pane, tá istá inteligencia, ktorá hovorí tomu stromu, tej miazge v tom strome, aby išla dolu do koreňov, je tá istá inteligencia, ktorá mi povedala, kto je tá žena, a ktorá mi povedala, čo jej mám povedať, že sa stane.“
On povedal, „Ty nie si ten kazateľ.“
Povedal som, „Veru som.“ A tam bol privedený ku Kristovi a o rok neskôr zomrel ako Kresťan majúc asi osemdesiatpäť rokov.
43Vidíte, Boh je všade okolo nás. Boh je všade. A ak sa budeme dívať na prírodu, nájdeme Ho tam. Tak potom, ako Ho Jób našiel vo smrti, pohrebe a zmŕtvychvstaní prírody, v tom, ako sa všetko podľa svojho druhu znovu reprodukuje, potom on nedokázal porozumieť, čo sa deje človeku... „Ak človek,“ on hovorí, „si líha a vydáva ducha, kde on je?“ No, pozrite. Strom nikdy nezhrešil. Príroda nikdy nezhrešila. Človek zhrešil. Tak on nemohol... Tým, že bol prorokom...
Tak Biblia, môj text hovorí, „Že On dáva na známosť svoje tajnosti svojim prorokom.“ Slovo Pánovo prichádza ku prorokovi. A tým, že je prorokom, poznáme príbeh Jóba. Boh to nakoniec Jóbovi vysvetlil, že semeno človeka bolo nedokonalé, pretože matka človeka nedokázala poslúchnuť Božie Slovo. Ona sa to snažila zmiešať s niečím iným a Božie Slovo sa neskríži s ničím. To je pravda.
44Ježiš, keď bol tu, povedal, „Ak by ste mali vieru ako horčičné zrno, povedali by ste tejto hore...“ Prečo sa odvolával na horčičné zrno? Horčičné zrno sa neskríži. To je originálne horčičné zrno. Ono sa s ničím neskríži. On povedal, inými slovami, „Ak by ste mali toľko viery v Božie Slovo, to sa neskríži s neverou alebo nebude to spochybňovať...“ Ó, cítim sa ohromne. Vy to nebudete spochybňovať...
Bez ohľadu na okolnosti, alebo čokoľvek sa deje, vy nespochybníte Božie Slovo, vy tomu veríte. Máte tomu veriť. Ak by to len Eva bola verila, nebola by prijala... A ona by zrodila správne deti. Ale predtým, ako sa k nej dostal jej manžel, ona... Už bola nájdená poškvrnená, ako sa to stalo Jehovovi, a tak, ako sa to stalo Ježišovi. Bolo tam poškvrnenie v lone jej myslenia. Ona prijala semeno nevery proti Božiemu Slovu, pretože to vyprodukovalo pre ňu niečo jasnejšie, a ona chcela mať viac poznania.
45To je to, čo sa deje dnes. Stojím tu v škole. Boli by sme len banda nevzdelancov, ak by nebolo vzdelania, a vzdelanie je súčasťou našej civilizácie. Ale civilizácia, vzdelanie prišlo len skrze Kresťanstvo. Civilizácia je koreňom... vlastne Kresťanstvo je koreňmi civilizácie. Absolútne. Civilizácia prichádza skrze Krista. Istotne.
Takže neveriť Božiemu Slovu alebo zmiešať to s niečím, aby ste mali viac svetla... Nemôžete to zmiešať. To sa nezmieša. Musíte to veriť presne tak, ako to Boh zapísal, a tak, ako to On vypovedal. Nemá sa k tomu pridávať, ani z toho odoberať, ani nič, vy tomu len verte presne tak, ako to je.
46Tak, a keď Jób, tým, že bol prorokom, nakoniec uvidel videnie, ktoré sa prelomilo. A potom, keď uvidel, ako ide Boh urobiť cestu pre človeka, aby znovu žil, pretože tam bude ďalšie vypovedané Slovo, že panna prijme... To bola na začiatku Eva, ktorá pochybovala. Keď Slovo prišlo k Márii, ona v to nikdy nepochybovala. Ona povedala, „Hľa, som služobnica Pánova. Nech sa mi stane podľa Tvojho Slova.“ Vidíte, ona nikdy... ona nikdy nepovedala, „No, počkaj, kým budem cítiť život, a potom budem svedčiť. Počkaj, kým si budem toho istá.“
To je to, ako to my, kresťania (takzvaní), robíme dnes. „Počkaj, kým si budem istý. Počkaj, kým mi začne byť lepšie.“ A, „Počkaj... Vidím, že niečo sa deje, a potom to urobím.“ Nie veru. O to vôbec nejde. Najprv to musíš veriť.
47Čo povedal Eliáš tej žene, ku ktorej išiel? Ktorá nemala nič, len za hrsť múky? On povedal, „Najprv urob koláč mne, a potom začni...“ Zázrak sa začne diať potom, ako najprv vezmeš Božie Slovo. Začínaš veriť Božiemu Slovu, a potom sa začína diať zázrak podľa Slova, pretože Slovo je semenom, ktoré rodí zázrak. Musíš vziať najprv Slovo. Duch Svätý mu dáva život, tak ako voda, ktorá padá z nebies.
Vieme, čo Duch Svätý reprezentuje... Voda reprezentuje Svätého Ducha, ako... Tak, ako Mojžiš vyvýšil medeného hada na púšti, tak musí byť vyvýšený Syn človeka. Čo? Boli to hynúci ľudia, a keď pozdvihli toho medeného hada, to zachránilo tým hynúcim ľuďom život. Keď udrel skalu... Kristus je tou skalou, ktorá bola udretá, a z Neho vyšli vody života pre hynúcich ľudí. Musíte tomu veriť a konať podľa toho. Dobre.
48Pamätajme na toto. Keď potom Jób videl tohto Spravodlivého, ako prichádza, Toho, ktorý sa môže postaviť do medzery medzi hriešnika a Boha, a preklenúť cestu, to dokonalé semeno... „Tieto semená,“ on hovorí, „sa porušia. Vidím, že idú do zeme.“ Jeho synovia prichádzajú a trúchlia nad ním a on o tom nevie. Leží tam, nepovstáva. Len tam leží, hnije, a to je všetko. Vôbec nepovstáva, pretože je nedokonalým semenom.
Ale On povedal... Keď zistil, že existuje Ten, ktorý prichádza, ktorý znovu privedie späť dokonalosť do Božieho Slova, ktorý urobí cestu, premostí tú cestu, potom sa ten prorok dostal do Ducha a vykríkol, „Ja viem, že môj Vykupiteľ žije. A v posledných dňoch sa postaví nad zemou, a hoci potom, ako kožné červy zničia toto telo, jednako v mojom tele uvidím Boha. On videl Toho dokonalého, ako prichádza. Čo sa stalo? Jób, tým že bol prorokom, a tajomstvá Božie sú dané na známosť prorokom. On vypovedal slovo. A keď vypovedal Slovo, ktoré mu Boh ukázal, ono sa zmaterializovalo a bolo to vypovedaným Slovom. A vo svojej sezóne sa to stalo presne tak.
Narodil sa Kristus, Vykupiteľ, ktorý sa mohol postaviť medzi živých a mŕtvych a premostiť cestu a priniesť zmŕtvychvstanie. Presne tak. Prečo? To bolo Slovo Božie. Tak, On vypovedal Slovo a Slovo bolo semenom a ono dozrelo vo svojej sezóne. Každé semeno Božie, ktoré je správne umiestnené, dozreje.
49Na čo by Boh poslal Svoje posolstvo skrze anjela ku Márii a povedal by, „Buď pozdravená Mária, požehnaná si medzi ženami. Budeš mať dieťa nepoznajúc žiadneho muža.“ A ona by povedala, „No, počkaj tu chvíľu. Dovoľ mi, nech ťa vezmem do laboratória, a ty mi povieš... Nech mi lekár dokáže, ako sa toto pri mne stane, a potom ti uverím.“ To by sa nikdy nebolo stalo. Ale ku čomu ona prišla? Lono jej srdca, lono, že jej duch bol v... Tvoje lono tvojho ducha je tvoja myseľ. Tvoja myseľ je kanálom.
Máš päť zmyslov, ktoré riadia telo. Máš päť zmyslov, ktoré riadia dušu: vedomie, a tak ďalej... No, tvoje telo, tam je zrak, hmat, chuť, čuch a sluch. Ale existuje len jediný kanál do vnútra tvojej duše, ktorý ukazuje, že si tým semenom. Ty si duša, duch a telo, a potom ten jeden kanál, tá jedna cesta, jedna cesta do toho, ty si postavený na základe slobodnej morálnej voľby. To znamená, že môžeš prijať alebo odmietnuť, urobíš čokoľvek chceš.
50Preto Eva bola postavená na tom istom základe. Ona mohla vziať Božie Slovo a povedať, „Boh povedal, aby sme to nerobili, a tak odtiaľto vypadni.“ To by bolo v poriadku. Ale namiesto toho sa ona snažila skrížiť to so satanovým klamstvom a prinieslo jej to smrť. Ale keď to prišlo ku Márii, to bolo niečo iné. „Hľa, služobnica Pánova.“ „Ako sa to stane?“ Nezáleží na tom, ako sa to stane. „Ty si to vypovedal, je to Božie Slovo. Ja to prijímam. Hľa, som služobnica Pánova. Nech sa mi stane podľa Tvojho Slova.“ Tam to je. Tým to bolo vybavené. A ona bola potom v poriadku.
Vidíte, ona zrodila ten zárodok života, ktorý bol Božím Slovom zamanifestovaným vo forme človeka. A skrze smrť toho Spravodlivého, zaplatenie smrti za... dlhu každého jedného z nás, ktorí sme nespravodliví. A skrze prijatie toho Slova, to potom prináša život a privádza Krista naspäť do nás, pretože Kristus je Slovom, vypovedaným Slovom. A ono dozreje, keď to prijmete. Vy, ktorí ste chorí, prijmite to. Verte tomu. To musí dozrieť, to vypučí vo svojej sezóne. Musí.
51Dobre. My všetci veríme, že sme v čase konca. Každý človek, ktorý má inteligenciu, verím, že ak by sa mohol len poobzerať, uvidel by, že všetko ukazuje, že toto už nemôže ísť veľmi ďaleko. Chcel by som teraz zabrať ešte asi pätnásť minút, aby som vám ukázal, čo mám na mysli. Každý vie, že niečo sa musí stať. Celé Písma na to poukazujú.
Sme učení, že svet bol stvorený v šesťtisíc rokoch, s tým, že tisíc rokov je ako jeden deň, jeden deň ako rok u Boha, a tak ďalej: šesťtisíc rokov v stvorení. V poriadku. Je povedané, že to bolo šesť dní, a Biblia hovorí, že jeden deň je tisíc rokov alebo tisíc rokov je jeden deň u Boha.
52Tak prvých dvetisíc rokov ten svet, kozmos (poriadok sveta), prichádza ku svojmu koncu a Boh musel niečo poslať, súdy z neba a súdiť zem v súde a zachrániť spravodlivého Noeho a jeho rodinu.
Tých druhých dvetisíc rokov, znovu sa odohrala tá istá vec. Kozmos, ten svetový poriadok, dokonca cirkev bola poškvrnená. V dňoch Noeho, oni sa vysmievali a robili si z neho žarty a on kázal stodvadsať rokov vo dverách archy. A behom dvetisíc rokov cirkev išla do otroctva, páchala cudzoložstvo so svetom a nestala sa ničím iným, len kopou formy a vyznaní. A Boh poslal na zem súd, keď poslal Svojho Syna. Prišlo to ku koncu svojich mocí.
53Tak, toto je rok 1962, a čo hovorí Biblia? Biblia hovorí, že v posledných dňoch to dielo bude musieť byť skrátené (Písma nemôžu klamať), kvôli vyvoleným, kvôli vyvoleným, inak by nebolo zachránené žiadne telo. Potom vidíme, že sme v čase konca.
Ten siedmy je sabat, čo je milénium. To je to... To sa odohrá počas toho času, vlády milénia. Dobre. Ale tých šesť dní je naplnených. Človek má teraz vo svojej ruke zbraň, ktorou sa dokáže zničiť. Dokáže zničiť svet, mohol by svet vyhodiť do vzduchu, v jednej sekunde. Dokáže vystreliť človeka na obežnú dráhu a zvrtnúť to na túto krajinu a povedať, „Vzdajte sa, inak to spustíme.“ To je všetko. Čo by urobil, no každý, kto má rozum, by sa vzdal. Čo potom?
A tak to malé... Zvyklo to byť, že veľké národy dominovali nad malými národmi, ale už viac nie, oni majú to isté. Vidíte? Tak to prišlo do času, kedy vidíme a veríme, že sme v čase konca.
54Mohli by sme v tomto pokračovať ďalšie hodiny, ale pozrime sa len na niektoré miesta Písma na chvíľu, ktoré ukazujú tie semená, ktoré boli zasiate pre čas konca. V tom semene... Jób vypovedal slovo, Izaiáš o tom hovoril, každý muž Boží, každý Boží prorok, ktorému On dal na známosť Jeho tajnosti (Dokonca Dávid, Izaiáš, Jeremiáš, všetci ostatní z nich), hovorili o tom prichádzajúcom Semene. A keď prišla tá sezóna, to bolo presne tak. Vždy je to tak. Nemôže to sklamať. Je to Božie Slovo. Je to večné. Nemôže to zlyhať. A my všetci vieme, že Ježiš bol Slovom.
55Dobre. Vezmime potom Jeho Slovo. Židom 1 hovorí, „Boh zadávna a rozličnými spôsobmi hovoril ku prorokom, ale v týchto posledných dňoch skrze Svojho Syna, Krista Ježiša.“ Tak on bol Bohom prorokom. On bol prorokom, istotne. Mojžiš povedal, „Pán, váš Boh vám vzbudí proroka.“ Ale toto bol viac ako prorok. On bol Bohom prejaveným v tele. Tak tento Boh, prorok nám dáva dve alebo tri znamenia, na ktoré sa tu chceme pozrieť, veľké znamenia, na ktoré chceme pamätať. V Matúšovi 24, keď sa Ho opýtali, „Kedy sa stanú tieto veci. Čo bude príchodom konca sveta? Kedy sa toto všetko stane?“ On im ukázal tak mnoho vecí, ktoré sa udejú: národ povstane proti národu, kráľovstvo proti kráľovstvu, a tak ďalej. A ďalej a ďalej a ďalej. Ale povedal, „Naučte sa podobenstvo figového stromu, kedy... A tých ostatných stromov.“
56Koľkí sú tu Kresťania? Zodvihnite svoje ruky. V poriadku. Ďakujem vám. Myslím, že sto percent. V poriadku. Dávajte teraz dobrý pozor, keď ukážeme toto znamenie semena času konca. Ježiš povedal, „Naučte sa z podobenstva figového stromu. Tak, keď vidíš figový strom. No, naučiť sa podobenstvo čoho? Figového stromu. Každý vie, každý, kto číta Bibliu, že figový strom vždy znamenal židovskú rasu ľudí.
Joel povedal, „To, čo zanechala húsenica, zjedol chrúst.“ A tak ďalej. To bola stonka, tie vyznania a veci, ktoré zožrali tú cirkev až po spodok. Ale povedal, „Ja prinavrátim, hovorí Pán.“
Tak Židia boli odrezaní, Pavol nám to hovorí, a pohania boli znovu vštepení do kráľovstva. Ale všimnite si. Ježiš povedal, „Naučte sa podobenstvu figového stromu.“ No, ten strom, tak, ako to videl Jób, ak on zomrie, či znovu ožije?
Istotne. On povedal, „Tak, keď vidíte figový strom a všetky iné stromy...“ Stromy... stromy čoho? Existuje Strom Života, existuje strom vyznaní (denominácia), existuje strom národov, „Keď uvidíte figový strom a všetky tie iné stromy, ako vyháňajú svoje puky (malé puky pripravujú príchod listu), poviete, že leto je blízko. Všimnite si, dáva to podobenstvo o národoch.
57Tak, Boh koná s pohanmi kvôli Neveste tak, že to je jeden tu, jeden tam. Ale On koná so Židmi ako s národom, nie ako s jednotlivcom, ako s národom. On vždy... To bol vždy Boží vybraný národ. Boh ich vybral ako národ. Misionári, ktorí išli do Jeruzalema, a rôzni... Keď bude Izrael spasený, On bude národom. Biblia hovorí, že sa narodí za jeden deň. To je pravda. Tak, Izrael prijme Krista v jednom... Len ako národ, nie ako jednotlivci.
Ale všimnite si teraz to, čo On povedal, vezmime to. Dobre to pozorujte. „Keď uvidíte figový strom, ako znovu začína pučať, a všetky iné stromy začínajú vyháňať svoje puky...“
58Tak všetko má teraz prebudenie alebo práve malo prebudenie. Židia sú späť vo svojej domovine ako národ, vlaje tam ich vlastná vlajka, majú svoju vlastnú vládu, svoje vlastné peniaze. Sú národom po prvýkrát od času asi... Zdá sa mi, že asi po tisíc osemsto rokoch. Ó, možno viac ako to, možno dvetisíc dvesto rokov, asi dvetisíc dvesto rokov. Izrael je znovu národom. Najstaršia vlajka na svete, tá šesťcipá hviezda Dávidova znovu vlaje, a je to po prvýkrát po dvetisíc dvesto rokoch. A Ježiš povedal, „Keď ona začne vyháňať svoj puk, čas je na blízku.“ Izrael, On hovorí o Židoch.
59Teraz pozorujte. On povedal, že keď všetky tieto ostatné stromy začnú vyháňať... Rímskokatolícka cirkev mala svoj najväčší ťah, aký kedy mala. Protestantská cirkev mala svoje najväčšie prebudenie, aké kedy mala. Billy Graham a Jack Shuller, letniční mali najväčšie prebudenie, aké kedy mali. Oral Roberts, Tommy Hicks a tí ostatní veľkí muži, prebudenie.
Všimnite si. Tie moci mali prebudenia, národné moci. Prebieha teraz jedno prebudenie o tom, kto bude mať tú najväčšiu moc. Komunizmus. Každý, koho počujete, kazateľ stojí za kazateľňou a hovorí, „Ó, bojme sa komunizmu.“ Nezmysel. Ukážte mi v Písme, kedy bude komunizmus vládnuť nad svetom. Romanizmus bude vládnuť nad svetom, nie komunizmus. Pozrite sa na videnie kráľa Nabuchodonozora, na Slovo Pánovo, tam je hlava zo zlata, meď až dolu k tým rímskym nohám, ktoré boli železom, a nikdy sa to nezmenilo. Prišiel kameň, zatiaľ čo to bolo stále v železe a udrel to. Pamätajte, že na konci to bolo zmiešané s hlinou. Slabosť. Bola to spolu hlina a železo.
60Toto veľké zhromaždenie, ktoré práve mali medzi Chruščov a Eisenhower... Viete, čo znamená Chruščov v ich vlastnom národnom jazyku? Chruščov znamená blato, hlina. Viete, čo znamená Eisenhower v angličtine? Železo. A aby to bolo ľuďom ešte jasnejšie, Chruščov vzal svoju topánku a udieral na pult. Oni nebudú súhlasiť. Čo bude panovať? Rím bude panovať. Konfederácia cirkvi, katolicizmus to zviaže dokopy a rovno tam to máte. To je tá panujúca moc. Biblia to hovorí. To je to Semeno, ktoré nemôže zlyhať.
61Pozrite sa na to dnes. Či nepozýva tento nový pápež do vnútra všetky protestantské cirkvi? Či nejdu? Čo vy, letniční? Je to to isté. Federácia cirkví. Tu to máte. To semeno sa musí vyplniť. Toto sa musí stať. Musí to dozrieť. Je čas, aby to dozrelo. Čo urobia ľudia? Zorganizujú sa, budú ďalej stavať veľké budovy a veľké organizácie, veľké denominácie. A čo všetko sa stalo? Tá istá vec, presne to, čo Biblia hovorí, že urobia.
To je to, čo Boh, prorok, Ježiš Kristus povedal, že sa stane. Židia budú prinavrátení a bude veľké prebudenie medzi nimi ako národ, prídu spolu ako národ. Bude prebudenie medzi metodistami, baptistami, presbyteriánmi, a tak ďalej. Prebudenie medzi letničnými a tu to máte. A národ bude bojovať proti národu, dozrieva semeno. Izrael sa stal národom po dvetisíc dvesto rokoch. Čo sa stalo? Cirkvi sa všetky zhromaždili, aby mali prebudenie. V poriadku.
62 A iné veľké semeno bolo zasiate. On povedal, že v posledných dňoch, 2. Timotea v 3. kapitole, že tam medzi cirkvou príde odpadnutie od biblickej viery. To je pravda. Je to semeno? Je to zasľúbenie? Pozrite sa na nich dnes. Pozrite sa na naše cirkvi. Čo robia? Oni sa spolu organizujú, spolupracujú spolu, zväzujú sa spolu, odpadávajú, neveria v Bibliu, neveria v to skutočné, pravdivé Slovo Božie.
Poviete, „Biblia hovorí toto.“
„Tie veci pominuli. Neexistuje niečo také. Nie je žiadna taká vec. Dni zázrakov pominuli už dávno. Nie je nič také, ako je krst Duchom Svätým. Bola tam hŕstka ľudí, boli tam vtedy dvanásti apoštolovia.“ Vidíte? Čo je tým semenom? Ono dozrieva. To je semeno znamenia času konca.
Čo povedal Ježiš, „Keď uvidíte, ako sa tieto veci dejú, zodvihnite svoje hlavy. Vaše vykúpenie sa približuje.“ To je pre cirkev. Uvideli sme, že ona odpadne. V poriadku. Zisťujeme to. Dobre.
63Tak povedali sme, že v posledných dňoch, ako nám to povedal Joel (Tá ďalšia časť Písma. Počúvajte teraz pozorne.), že bude včasný a pozdný dážď v tom istom období. Koľkí Kresťania to vedia? Povedzte, „Amen.“ Istotne.
No, jedného dňa na moje prekvapenie, keď som sa pozrel... včasný a pozdný dážď príde v tom istom období, sezóne. To slovo „Včasný,“ v hebrejčine to slovo (Vezmite si v hebrejský lexikón a zistite si to), to hebrejské slovo pre „Včasný“ znamená „Moureh.“ „Moureh“ znamená „Vyučovanie.“ Príde vyučujúci dážď. Čo je to? Kladenie semena do zeme. To je to, čo bolo.
Čo prešlo, no, nachádzame, že prebiehal vyučujúci dážď. Baptistickí ľudia povedali, „O milión viac v 1944.“ To bol ich cieľ, členovia cirkvi. Prebudenia Billy Grahama, nášho veľkého evanjelistu, pozrite sa, čo urobil. Pozrite sa na Orala Robertsa a na letničných. Vystúpil vyučujúci dážď.
Prebehol národný vyučovací dážď, komunizmus zasial medzi ľudí, každý národ.
Prebehlo rímske prebudenie. Viete, čo sa deje? Ak dajú tú západnú časť, vlastne tú východnú časť Berlína späť, to umiestni komunizmus presne, vlastne mám na mysli to rímske impérium rovno presne do toho starého kruhu, ako to bolo v čase Ježiša. To istotne urobí dokonale.
64Prebieha prebudenie. Čo je to? Siatie. Nepočujete už viac veľmi o Billy Grahamovi, že? Čo o Oralovi? Čo o ostatných z nich? Vy viete, že ten oheň veľkého prebudenia už nehorí. Čo je to? To je znamenie Semena času konca. Slová boli zasiate. Čo je to? Denominácia bude žať denomináciu. To urobí, že oni sa spolu spoja do konfederácie.
Ale tiež bolo zasiate Slovo Božie. A keď Duch Boží začína padať, Božie Slovo ožije v ľuďoch. A tá falošná nevesta, ktorá tam vonku páchala cudzoložstvo a priviedla sa do vyznaní a zapredala svoje prvorodenstvá, čo ona zožne? Konfederáciu cirkvi. A to bude zviazané a spálené ako tŕnie a bodľač. Ale tam, kde bolo zasiate Slovo Božie do sŕdc ľudí, to zožne nevestu Kristovu s takou istotou, akože ja stojím tu: znamenia času konca.
65Čo sa deje, cirkev Božia? Čo sa s nami deje? Čo je s vami, baptisti, presbyteriáni, zbory Božie, jednotári a vy všetci ostatní. Čo sa s nami deje? Nedokážete to vidieť? Semeno... či vy nevidíte... buďte opatrní, aký druh semena beriete do lona svojho srdca. Neberte vyznania, vezmite Slovo.
Ľudia toľko hovorili o pozdnom daždi. Neodvrhujem vás, bratia pozdného dažďa, ale to nie je pozdný dážď. Ak by tu bol pozdný dážď, to by moc Božia tak zasiahla tú vec a ona by zmietla svet. Ten pozdný dážď sa chystá prísť. Čo sa deje? Cirkev vytvára niečo sama práve tak, ako sa to snažila urobiť Eva. Ona sa snažila mať viac svetla, aby niečo vytvorila.
Urobili sme to isté, snažili sme sa urobiť niečo sami sebe. Drž od toho ruky preč. Nech to urobí Boh. Vezmi Jeho Slovo a ver Mu. Drž Ho vo svojom srdci. A keď začne padať dážď, tak život sa uchytí a Slovo sa Samo zamanifestuje.
66Hádam si myslíte, že som blázon, ale nie som. A ak som, tak ma nechajte tak. Som takto šťastný. Tak ja verím Božiemu Slovu. Čo sa deje s cirkvou? Jej lono, jej otvorená myseľ prijala všetky možné druhy vyznaní a dogiem a nie Slovo Božie. Keď prišiel Kristus, našiel tú istú vec, ako našiel Adam, tú istú vec, ako našiel Jehova. A tu sú tieto znamenia a čas konca sa zjavuje a cirkev nemá odpoveď. To je pravda. Je ten čas.
Vyšiel jarný dážď. To je ten dôvod, prečo Billy nerobí mnoho. Pamätajte, bolo tam...
67 Ježiš povedal, „Ako bolo vo dňoch Sodomy, tak to bude pri príchode Syna človeka. Boli tam dvaja anjeli, ktorí išli dolu k Sodomitom. Pamätajte, Lot raz kráčal s Abrahámom. Cirkev raz kráčala v obecenstve s Kristom so Slovom. Ale oni zapredali svoje práva prvorodenstva denominácii. A teraz, ona predáva celú tú vec a organizuje sa do jednej veľkej konfederácie cirkvi.
To je presne to, čo sa stalo Lotovi. Išiel tam dolu. Dvaja anjeli (Oral Roberts a Billy Graham, ako by to bolo v tomto dni), išli tam dolu a podali im Evanjelium. Čo sa stalo? Bolo to dokonca na hanbu.
68Ale Abrahám... Jeden stál vzadu s ním. Bol tam ten, ktorý sa nazýval Bohom. A to znamenie, ktoré On pred nimi ukázal, čo to urobilo? To dokázalo, kým On je. Abrahám bol ten vyvolený, pretože on bol... Abrahám mal zasľúbenie. A pozrite teraz, toto je Abrahámovo semeno. To zasľúbenie nebolo dané len Abrahámovi, ale jeho semenu. Nie jeho semenu Izákovi. To zlyhalo. Dokázalo to, že zlyhalo. Ale semenu, tej viere, ktorú on mal. Nezáleží na tom, aké boli okolnosti, ako to bolo proti prírode, koľko lekár povedal, že to tak nie je... Abrahám, potom, ako mu bolo dané zasľúbenie, keď to bolo nemožné...
69 On sa oženil so svojou sestrou, ktorá mala asi sedemnásť rokov, so svojou polovičnou sestrou. Nemali žiadne deti. A keď mala ona šesťdesiatpäť a on mal sedemdesiatpäť, Boh sa mu zjavil a povedal, „Budeš s ňou mať dieťa.“ No, ona vzala... On vzal Jeho Slovo. On sa na to pripravil. Dvadsaťpäť rokov po tom sa stále nič nestalo. A teraz má sto rokov a ona deväťdesiat. To ho vôbec nezastavilo. „On sa nezapotácal na zasľúbení Božom skrze neveru.“
To je viera. To je kráľovské semeno Abraháma. To je ten druh semena, ktorý berie Božie Slovo. To je tá vec, ktorá privedie Nevestu. To je tá vec, ktorá stretne Krista. On je Slovom.
70 Ak je cirkev zasiata niečím iným pomimo Slova, nemôže sa s Ním ísť stretnúť. On nemá nejaké chatrné telo s nejakou plesňou. On má dokonalé telo a On je dokonalým Slovom. A cirkev bude zasiata a bude veriť dokonalému Slovu. A to dokonalé Slovo a dokonalé Slovo sa spolu zjednotia ako jedno telo. Ako manžel a manželka. Amen. (Ja „neamenujem“ samému sebe, ale „Amen“ znamená „Nech sa tak stane.“) Jednako tomu verím. Tak veru.
Vyšiel jarný dážď. Ten dážď sa chystá padnúť. Čo má priniesť? Pozorujte to.
71 Ešte jedno znamenie. Hlúpa panna. Ó... Ježiš povedal, že tesne pred príchodom Ženícha bude múdra panna s olejom vo svojej lampe a hlúpa. A tá hlúpa panna sa jedného dňa prebudí a zistí, že nemá vo svojej lampe žiaden olej, keď to prichádza ku tomu miestu, „Hľa, Ženích prichádza.“ To je to, čím je teraz ten krik. „Kristus prichádza.“ A ona sa prebudila a zistila, že nemá žiaden olej.
Olej znamená „Duch.“ Duch je to, čo privádza Slovo do života. Ten Duch je vodou, ktorá privádza Slovo do života. Hoďte ho na... Poviete, „Dobre, a čo s týmito cirkvami?“ Ak zasiali denominačné semená, to privedie do života. Duch Boží to privedie do života.
72Biblia hovorí, „Dážď padá na spravodlivých a nespravodlivých.“ Židom 4.kapitola... 3. kapitola a.... 6. kapitola hovorí, že dážď prichádza často, aby zaodial ovocie, ktoré je v zemi. Ale tŕnie a bodľač, ktoré sa radujú tak isto a ktoré žili práve na tom istom daždi... „Ale podľa ich ovocia ich budete poznať.“ To je presne tak. Tu to máte. Tak, keď to oni uvideli... Pozrite, ovocie má byť zhromaždené, dážď je pripravený padnúť. Denominácia vyliahne denomináciu. To je všetko. Ale to slovo vyliahne Krista, nevestu. Istotne. Zasejte semeno Slova. Tak, keď tá múdra panna...
73Všimli ste si Hlas Obchodníkov Evanjelia? Hovorím pre nich na medzinárodnom poli. Nemôžem si pri nich dávať servítku na ústa. Toto je Slovo. Pozrite. A čo s... Pozrite sa sem na presbyteriánov, episkopálov: stovky z nich sa všade snažia nájsť Ducha Svätého. Hrajú veľkú vec.
Jeden vzácny kazateľ, môj priateľ z Afriky, veľmi fajn človek, zbožný muž, opýtal som sa ho, „Vieš, čo to je, brat? Čo je tvojou službou?“
On povedal, „Ja mám priviesť do vnútra tých z Babylonu.“
Pomyslel som si, „Či nevidíš, že zakaždým, ako tá bláznivá panna chce nejaký olej, aby aj jej semená rástli, to je ten čas, kedy prichádza Kristus a ona je zanechaná?“ Veľký kazateľ Billy Graham práve povedal, že potrebujeme Letnice, potrebujeme naspäť ľudí. Episkopáli napísali jeden veľký článok, asi takýto dlhý, a povedali, „Potrebujeme takých, ktorí hovoria v jazykoch. Potrebujeme v cirkvi Božských uzdravovateľov, aby mali zhromaždenia uzdravovania a ľudí, aby sa vonku modlili za chorých.“ Čo sa snažia robiť? Dostať olej do svojich lámp. Presne tak. To je znamenie semena času konca. Amen. Zatiaľ čo sa to ona snaží urobiť, prichádza Ženích a Nevesta vchádza dovnútra a ona je vymknutá. Ó, čo za nádherný deň, v akom žijeme.
74Chcem ešte povedať túto jednu vec: nepokoj medzi národmi. Ó. Predivné úkazy na nebesiach. Veríte, že je tomu tak? Pozrite, my vezmeme len pár z nich... Máte ešte pár minút, aby sme to dotiahli do deväť-tridsať? Nechcem poslucháčstvo zdržovať. My... Je to milosť, že títo ľudia nám to dovolili mať.
Počúvajte. Koľkí... A každý jeden z vás, vy ste videli... Národ bol prednedávnom zatrasený ohľadne znamení. Videli ste, čo tento človek na obežnej dráhe toho dňa... On tam hore našiel veci, ktoré nikdy... Veda dokonca ani nevie, čo to je. Keď prešiel poza zem... A pritom sa oni pozerali a pozerali a pozerali, ale nevideli to. On si myslel, že jeho obežná dráha sa rozletí. Ale nebolo to tak. Jeho obežná dráha bola v poriadku. Svetlá...
75Pozrite sa, čo sa práve stalo... Počuli ste to v rádiu, videli ste to v televízii, bolo to v novinách: lietajúce taniere, všade. A Pentagon to jedného dňa potvrdil (asi pred šiestimi týždňami), že to nebola žiadna fikcia. Dokonca to ukázali aj v televízii, ako zachytili tieto taniere, ktoré museli mať inteligenciu... Svetlá, ktoré prichádzali dolu a takto viseli nad Pentagonom, nad celým Washington, DC. A oni to zachytili radarom a poslali tam pilotov. Oni tam prišli rovno okolo nich, obkolesili ich a potom sa to pohlo rýchlosťou svetla. Inteligencia. Čo to je?
Ježiš povedal, že budú hrozné znamenia, úkazy na nebesiach, ľudské srdcia budú zlyhávať, bude strach a nepokojné časy, napätia medzi národmi. Či nevidíte, že ten čas semena je teraz, čas žatvy, tie veci, o ktorých Biblia povedala, že sa stanú? To semeno, ktoré bolo zasiate, či nevidíte, že ono uchopilo život a žije? To je to, čo sa deje.
76No, ešte jednu vec. Počúvajte. Pred tým... Teraz počúvajte pozorne. Nezmeškajte toto. Pred prvým príchodom Ježiša, astronómovia v Indii, tí mágovia... Bol som misionárom v Indii a hovoril som o tomto s mágmi. A oni pozorovali. Oni boli astronómovia, oni pozorovali nebeské telesá. A oni hovoria, že Boh to vyhlasuje v nebeských telesách predtým, ako to robí na zemi. Predtým, ako niečo robí.
A oni povedali, „No, keď tento... Tí traja múdri muži išli uctiť toho kráľa, ktorý mal panovať na zemi, to kráľovské dieťa, a oni nasledovali hviezdu, vaše Písmo tak hovorí.“ On povedal, „Ale úprimne povedané, tam boli tri hviezdy, ktoré sa dali dokopy a tvorili túto jednu hviezdu.“ A oni hovoria, že... Jeden kresťanský astronóm, s ktorým som hovoril, alebo mág, on povedal, „To znamená, že tam boli tri rasy ľudí, za ktoré tento muž zomrel. Jediné tri rasy ľudí, ktoré sú, sú ľudia Chama, Sema, Jafeta. A keď bude kázané Jeho Evanjelium Chamovi, Semovi a Jafetovi, tým ľuďom, oni sa navrátia do Jeho Evanjelia, potom bude ten návrat.“ To je v poriadku, ak to on chce veriť. Tri je číslo dokonalosti. Ale čo ja verím, že bolo tými tromi? Čomu my veríme? To bolo tri v dokonalosti ukazujúc tú trojicu Božiu (Otec, Syn a Duch Svätý), že bola prejavená v mužovi, Ježišovi Kristovi, v tom jednom dokonalom mužovi. Všetci ostatní ľudia zlyhali. Všetko ostatné zomrelo. Ale tu prišiel človek, ktorý nemohol zomrieť: dokonalosť, že ani smrť ho nemohla zabiť. On znovu povstal.
77Tri je číslo dokonalosti. Všetci to vieme. Tri je Božie číslo v Jeho numerológii. Boh je poznaný skrze svoje čísla. Trojka je dokonalosť a sedem je uctievanie, dvadsaťštyri je uctievanie, štyridsať je pokušenie, päťdesiat sú Letnice, jubileum (Vidíte?), a tak ďalej. Všetky Jeho čísla, tie Božie čísla sú dokonalé, sú dokonalosti. Tak tri je číslo dokonalosti. Tesne pred tým, ako... (Počúvajte teraz pozorne) Keď sa to malé dieťa, Kristus, narodilo, tak sa tri hviezdy dali dokopy a vytvorili jednu rannú hviezdu, ktorá odrážala príchod nemluvňaťa Krista, Toho dokonalého.
78Tak, čo sa stalo? Počujeme v novinách hlasy o tom po celých národoch, televízii, kedy sa päť hviezd dalo rovno do jednej línie so svetom. Čo je päťka? Číslo milosti. Zakaždým, ako tieto hviezdy prichádzajú, potom sa niečo deje na zemi. Čo sa deje? Päť hviezd sa dalo do línie. Čo to bolo? Čo to predstavovalo? (Uvádzalo?)
Všimnite si, čo sa odvtedy už stalo. Nemecko bolo takmer vymazané z mapy. Niektorí z tých mágov povedali, že svet sa rozpukne ako melón. Všetky možné hrozné veci boli nimi prorokované pre tie posledné dni. Sledujte, čo sa stalo. Jedného dňa malo Anglicko takú búrku, že to odfúklo sedemdesiat tisíc domov za jeden deň. Všade sú pohromy... Kalifornia, Los Angeles sa takmer odplavilo do oceánu. Čo je to? Počiatok bolestí. Všade povstávajú zemetrasenia. Prečo to je? Päť hviezd sa dalo do línie: milosť. Božia milosť.
Čo sa stalo? Cirkev nemluvňa (Haleluja), Nevesta nemluvňa, že moc Božia na ňu začala padať a ona naberá formu ako Nevesta pre tohoto Ženícha. Tie tri hviezdy znamenali Jeho dokonalosť, nebeského Otca, tej trojice, ktorá sa stáva jedno na zemi medzi nami, Božie úrady sa stavajú jedným úradom. Čo sa teraz stalo? To je cirkev živého Boha, ktorá prichádza spolu pod Božím Slovom a astronomické nebesia oznamujú jej príchod. Amen. Možno to neveríte, ale jednako je to Slovo. Tak veru.
79Čo sa deje? (Zakončujem) Mohol by som povedať toto: priatelia, cirkev vystupuje. Boh bude mať cirkev bez vrásky a poškvrny. A ona je predurčená. Boh tak povedal, že ju bude mať. Tým je to vyjasnené. Kto je jej členom? Ja neviem. Dôverujem, že ja som. Spolieham, že ty si členom. Ale On bude mať telo bez vrásky a poškvrny.
A ja verím, že tieto znamenia týchto posledných dní a veci, ktoré sa dejú, každá jedna z nich spolu potvrdzuje a ukazuje to, že Kristus je pripravený prísť pre túto Nevestu. Tak, ako sa Boh vo Svojom Slove prejavil v človeku, v dokonalom človeku, tak Boh a Jeho Slovo prichádzajú znovu a On sa manifestuje v Neveste. Ona neurobí to, čo urobila Eva, ktorá to skrížila s niečím iným, ale to nescudzoložené Slovo Božie bude zrodené v tej cirkvi a ona bude stáť, ako stál Ježiš Kristus z pomazaním Jeho Duchom v Jeho Slove. Amen. Verím, že toto je teraz oznamované.
80Prorok povedal, „Príde deň, ktorý nebude nazvaný ani dňom ani nocou, ale v čase večera bude svetlo.“ Vy všetci, ktorí čítate Bibliu, to viete. Čo sa stalo? Civilizácia putuje od východu na západ. Čína je najstaršia civilizácia, ktorú máme. Civilizácia začala na východe. Ona išla so slnkom, putovala na západ. Kde je teraz? Na západnom pobreží. Ak pôjde ešte ďalej, tak je znovu naspäť na východe. Rozumiete, čo mám na mysli?
To isté slnko, ktoré povstáva na východe, je to isté slnko, ktoré zapadá na západe, to isté S-L-N-K-O. A ten istý S-Y-N, Syn Boží, ktorý prichádza na zem vziať si svoju Nevestu, východných ľudí... A tá nevesta sa poškvrnila tak ako Eva, tak ako i Jehovova nevesta. Ten istý Syn, ktorý tam svieti, ktorý tam svietil s tou istou mocou na Letnice, aby dal dozrieť tomu semenu, ktoré zasadil, ten istý Syn teraz svieti na západnej pologuli. Aby urobil čo? Aby dal dozretie semenu, ktoré bolo zasadené, aby splodilo Nevestu. Večerné svetlo Evanjelia zrodí Nevestu (Amen), pre Pána Ježiša. Existujú niektoré znamenia večerného semena. Stovky.
81Máme päť minút pred tým, ako zakončíme. Si jedným z nich? Či veríš, že si jedno z tých semien? Či veríš, že tvoje srdce je zasiate s nescudzoloženým Evanjeliom, a že neexistuje na svete nič, čo by mohlo vziať Slovo Božie z tvojho srdca? Či tomu veríš? Ak nie, môj priateľu, možno ťa už nikdy znovu neuvidím na tvári tejto zeme, ale pamätaj na Slovo Pánovo a na tú tajnosť, ktorú Pán dáva poznávať Svojim prorokom. Jeho proroci to vypovedali. Je to rovno teraz tu. Vidíme, ako sa to deje. Ja opakujem to, čo vám oni povedali, ako varovanie.
Ak nemáš tie semená a ak nie si Kresťanom a si tu dnes večer, ty... Možno patríš do cirkvi. Neber to len tak náhodile, brat. Nepočúvaj tie veci. To je skrížená záležitosť. Slovo Božie v tebe musí zvrchovane žiť tak, ako žilo v Ježišovi Kristovi, pretože On je Hlavou. Nemôže byť Jeho telo jednou vecou a Jeho Hlava druhou. To musí byť to isté Slovo. Ak ti tvoja cirkev poskytuje len vyznania a dogmy, ktoré nie sú podľa Písma, never tomu. Nemôžeš sa do cirkvi pripojiť, ty si zrodený do tela skrze Slovo živého Boha. A ak to nemáš, neber to naľahko.
82Ak by si išiel sem dolu a chcel by si si kúpiť misku polievky a bol by v nej pavúk, tak by si tú reštauráciu zažaloval. No, nejedol by si to za nič na svete. Pretože sa bojíš, že zničíš svoje telo. Brat, neboj sa toho, čo môže zničiť telo, ale toho, ktorý môže zničiť dušu aj telo v pekle. Ak si vyberáš jedlo a nejedol by si nič nečisté, z čoho by bolo tvoje telo choré alebo by ti z toho bolo na zvracanie, a potom prehĺtaš kadejaký druh vyznania pre tvoju dušu, ktorá je večná, pričom toto telo musí zahynúť? Nedovoľ diablovi, aby ti tie veci nacpal do krku.
Stávaš sa znovuzrodeným z Ducha Božieho a tvoj duch ponesie svedectvo s každým Slovom Božím, ktoré je tu napísané, a každé zasľúbenie, ktoré On dal, sa v tebe zamanifestuje. Duch Boží príde a bude v tebe žiť. Si telo Kristovo, reprezentácia Jeho Samého tu na zemi. Ak to nemáš a ak to nemôžeš veriť pre Božské uzdravenie...
83Ak si tu a si chorý a veríš, že Boh ti udelí Božské uzdravenie, len tam umiestni toto Slovo, „Ja som Pán, ktorý uzdravuje všetky tvoje nemoci.“ Pane, verím tomu.“ Pozoruj, čo sa deje. Povieš, „Pane, verím tomu. Otváram každý kanál a tu som.“ Sleduj, čo sa deje. To isté, čo sa udialo jedného dňa pri tom malom zomierajúcom dievčati a tisícoch ďalších po celom svete.
84 Stál som tam a videl som... Videl som... V Južnej Afrike som sa pomodlil jednu modlitbu nad skupinou ľudí a oni odhadovali, že tam vzali sedem veľkých kamiónov naplnených... Ó, vy v Georgii nemáte taký náklaďák, ako mali oni tam, to malo na jednej strane asi šesť alebo osem kolies.
A na ďalšie ráno, ako som tam sedel so starostom mesta, on prišiel k oknu a povedal, „Brat Branham, poď sem a pozri.“ A dolu po ulici tam išlo sedem plných náklaďákov, plných barlí, invalidných vozíkov a všetkého, čo ľudia... Nedotkol som sa ani jedného, len som priniesol Slovo, povedal som im, aby verili, a oni verili. A tí ľudia, ktorí boli s týmito vecami deň predtým, oni išli dolu ulicou so svojimi rukami na svojich srdciach a vo svojom domorodom jazyku spievali, „Všetko je možné, len ver.“
„On poslal Slovo.“ To je všetko, čo musíš urobiť, poslať Slovo a cirkev to prijíma. Ten, ktorý je narodený z Boha, prijíma Boha. Verí Bohu. Veríte Mu? Skloňme svoje hlavy. Pomodlím sa za tieto vreckovky.
85So svojimi sklonenými hlavami, každé oko je zavreté, rád by som sa vás opýtal túto vážnu otázku. Ak nie si v poriadku s Bohom, ak je tam v tebe niečo, čo ti nedovolí veriť tejto Biblii, že je to inšpirované Slovo Božie, že si nemohol veriť, že môžeš žiť podľa týchto pravidiel, urobil by si aspoň toľko, že zodvihneš svoje ruky a povieš, „Bože, buď milostivý. Chcem, aby si sa za mňa modlil, brat Branham, aby som bol takým druhom Kresťana.“? Si tu? Zodvihnite svoje ruky. Ja... Ďakujem ti, mladá pani. Ďakujem. Nech ťa Boh žehná. V poriadku. Je tu jedna osoba v tejto budove, ktorá si to myslí. Dve osoby si to myslia.
Ja nie som jeden z tých ľudí, ktorí presviedčajú. Ak tým Slovo nedokáže pohnúť... Môžete tomu veriť, len ak ste predurčení, aby ste tomu verili. Pamätajte, že hoci Ježiš urobil tak mnoho zázrakov, farizeji Mu nedokázali veriť. Oni to nedokázali dostať do svojej hlavy, pretože oni sa takými nechceli stať. A ak je tvoje srdce tak tvrdé, že ty vieš, že rovno tam sa to Božie Slovo nedokáže cez teba prepracovať, a ty potom nezodvihneš svoje ruky, aby si poprosil Boha o milosrdenstvo, čo potom urobíš v deň súdu? V poriadku.
86Je tu niekto, kto je chorý a chcel by byť spomenutý? Zdvihnite svoju ruku. Traja alebo štyria, piati, šiesti, siedmi, ôsmi, je ich asi desať.
V poriadku. Skloňme svoje hlavy. Nepochybujte. Ty, moja malá sestra tam vzadu, ktorá si zodvihla svoju ruku, „Pamätaj na mňa.“ Nech ťa Boh žehná, sestra. Nech je požehnané tvoje jemné srdce. A nech sa Slovo Božie dnes večer zakorení v tvojom malom srdci, a ty sa staneš vyslancom Krista.
Tento muž, ktorý zodvihol svoje ruky trošku neskôr: brat, tvoje vlasy sú šedivé. Ale pamätaj, Abrahám mal sedemdesiatpäť rokov, predtým, ako ku nemu Boh prehovoril. Nech Boh zasadí dnes večer Svoje korene Slova v tvojom srdci. A keď padá ten veľký dážď, nech neprinesie vyznania, ale nech to zrodí Krista, ktorý bude v tebe zamanifestovaný.
87Každý jeden z vás, ktorí ste zodvihli svoju ruku za uzdravenie, Biblia hovorí, „Modlitba viery zachráni chorého a Pán ho pozdvihne.“ Ak to semeno leží v tvojom srdci, budem sa modliť, aby ho Duch Svätý zalial vodou, aby to semeno práve teraz zalial vodou. Niečo sa stane.
Boh nehľadí na osobu. Ak On zachráni jedného, On zachráni toho druhého, ktorý tomu bude veriť. Ak uzdraví jedného, uzdraví aj toho druhého. Ale ty tomu musíš veriť. Ak tomu veríš, budem sa teraz za teba modliť.
88Náš nebeský Otče, mám svoje ruky nad týmito vreckovkami, ktoré tu ležia. Niekto tu pravdepodobne má niekoho milovaného, ktorý je chorý a postihnutý, niečo s ním nie je v poriadku, možno nejaká matka, ktorá má niekde malé choré dieťa. Možno starý slepý ocko, ktorý sedí v nejakej malej búde, niekde v Georgii, a možno niekto, kto je niekde v nemocnici. Ty vieš o všetkých týchto veciach. Pane, my vieme túto jednu vec, že Ty si Kristus, ktorý si už kúpil ich uzdravenie. Ja posielam Tvoje Slovo cez modlitbu, Pane. Ty si poslal Svoje Slovo.
Jedna žena k tebe prišla a povedala, „Pane, buď mi milostivý, Ty, Synu Dávidov.“ A Ty si pre ňu nebol Syn Dávidov, ona bola pohanka. Ty si povedal, „Nepatrí sa vziať chlieb deťom a hodiť ho psom.“
Ona povedala, „To je pravda, Pane. Ale psi si vezmú omrvinky, ktoré sú pod stolom ich pána.“
Ty si povedal, „Pre toto slovo, tvoja dcéra bude žiť.“ A my zisťujeme, že keď si prišiel domov... vlastne, keď ona prišla domov, Tvoje Slovo sa tam už dostalo a to dievča uzdravilo.
89 Raz jeden otec kvôli svojmu dieťaťu, on sa opýtal, v ktorom čase sa to stalo. Bolo mu povedané, že horúčka ho opustila o jedenástej hodine. Ty si poslal Svoje Slovo. Pane, ja vysielam Tvoje Slovo s modlitbou viery. Posielam Ho k tomu malému dievčaťu tam, ktoré zodvihlo svoju ruku. Posielam ho k tomu mužovi, ktorý zodvihol svoju ruku. A nech sa to dnes večer uchytí na spasenie. Udeľ to, Pane.
Ty si povedal, „Ten, kto verí... Ktorý čuje moje Slová a verí tomu ktorý ma poslal, má večný život.“ Tak, Pane, to je Tvoje Slovo. Ty si tak povedal.
Podľa vedy, to porušilo každé pravidlo. Veda hovorí, že nemôžete zdvihnúť svoju ruku, gravitácia ju drží dolu. Ale v človeku je duch. On môže urobiť rozhodnutie a zodvihnúť svoju ruku, pretože tam je určitý duch, ktorý nad ním vládne, ktorý poruší zákony vedy. Tak Boh prehovoril a oni zodvihli svoje ruky ku svojmu Stvoriteľovi. Nebeský Otče, nech Tvoje Slovo padne do ich sŕdc práve teraz, do lona ich srdca, a nech to cez nich zrodí nevestu Kristovu. Udeľ to, Otče.
90Pre týchto, ktorí zodvihli svoju ruku, ktorí sú tu po celej budove a sú chorí, oni zodvihli svoje ruky, pretože sú v potrebe. Oni Ti veria, že si Uzdravovateľ. Modlím sa túto modlitbu viery. Vysielam to, Pane. V Mene Ježiša Krista, nech tá viera padne do každého srdca práve teraz. Nech je tam Slovo Božie tak dôrazné, až to zrodí uzdravenie pre každého jedného z nich. Udeľ to, Otče.
Tak, teraz znovu, hovorím to kvôli týmto vreckovkám, ktoré tu ležia, v Biblii bolo povedané, že z tela Pavla brali vreckovky a zástery a nečisté duchy vychádzali z ľudí a nemoci odchádzali. My nie sme svätým Pavlom, ale to nebol on, ktorý to urobil, ale pretože v ňom bolo Slovo. Ty si stále tým istým Slovom.
91Teraz, Otče, raz bol Izrael odrezaný od zasľúbenej zeme. Bola to tvoja nevesta. Ty si ju mal na ceste do zasľúbenej zeme. Ty si pre ňu urobil cestu. Nepriateľ sa dostal do tej cesty. Ty si sa pozrel dolu cez ten Ohnivý Stĺp s rozhnevanými očami. More sa vystrašilo, odstúpilo z cesty. Izrael prešiel.
Teraz, Bože, nedívame sa cez Ohnivý Stĺp, ale dívame sa cez Krv Tvojho vlastného Syna, ktorý zomrel pre tento účel. A ja posielam Tvoje Slovo. Nech sa diabol vystraší. Nech odstúpi a nech títo ľudia prídu ku tomu zasľúbeniu Božiemu tak ako Izrael, bez jediného zlyhania. Nech prídu k tomu veľkému zasľúbeniu, „Ponad všetky veci, chcem, aby sa ti darilo v zdraví.“ Udeľ to, Pane. Nech toto urobí tú prácu, kde to posielame. A hovoríme, že Tvoje Slovo sa nevráti späť ku Tebe prázdne. Ono vykoná to, na čo je určené. A ja sa modlím túto modlitbu viery za týchto ľudí v Mene Ježiša Krista.
92A zatiaľ, čo máme svoje hlavy sklonené, koľkí z vás príjmu teraz to, čo bolo povedané, a budú veriť, že Slovo Božie prišlo ku vám a vy ho prijímate? Každý jeden, ktorý zodvihol svoju ruku bez ohľadu na to, kvôli čomu to bolo, zodvihol si svoju ruku a hovoríš, „Verím. Práve teraz to prijímam. Verím, že mám to, o čo som prosil.“ Nech vás Boh žehná. To je ohromné. To je pekné. Nech vás Boh žehná. Dúfam, že Slovo Božie sa vo vás zakorení.
93Tak, máte... Zatiaľ čo máte svoje hlavy sklonené, máte tu pastora, je to milý brat, prišiel sem a pred chvíľou tu niečo zacitoval. Evanjelisti nemôžu robiť na zhromaždeniach všetko. Musíte svojho pastora poznať. Tohoto zbožného muža. Som tak rád, že som sa mohol ku týmto ľuďom dostať, ktorí zodvihli svoje ruky za tieto veci, a že im mohol byť daný tento milý pastor. Nech vás on teraz vedie do hlbších prežití s Bohom za vaše uzdravenie a vaše spasenie. Nech ťa Boh žehná, brat pastor. Čokoľvek chceš povedať, potom, ako sa pomodlíš...
1 Thank you sir. Good evening, friends. It's a privilege to be here tonight again in--in Tifton. This is kind of a grand surprise to me. I told our good friend Brother Welch Evans some time ago when I was getting a little tired; I said, "I'm coming down through Tifton to go fishing." I said, "When I come, I'll meet with you over there somewhere, and we'll have (I thought), a cottage prayer meeting." And here he--I find myself over here in a school auditorium tonight.
And a little bit hoarse from--from over-speaking. I had a short sermon yesterday, only six hours long is all, as long--as long as I preached. So... Now, I'm not scaring you. I won't be that long tonight. I--I'm positive of that. But being a little hoarse and--and coming by...
2 But it's a privilege to be here and to get to meet this fine pastor that just give such a fine, royal introduction. And we're happy to always meet the people.
And the expression the brother has just made is absolutely the truth. We can say "Amen" to it, because the devil in these last days are like a roaring lion, going around devouring whatever he can find to devour, for he knows his time is short. He hasn't got very much longer to do it, so he must do it while he's got time to do it.
I like the situation of this little auditorium. Very thankful to the school board, the principal, and those who has been so nice to let us have it; for you fine people who are here in cooperation for this little momentarily setup meeting. And ever who laid the little welcome mat out here in the street I noticed, well, that was very fine. I think a Brother Willie over here was the one did that; I appreciate it.
3 I'd like maybe, if the Lord being willing sometime, where we could come by for a season of services, get with this fine pastor and others here, and get a meeting set up for four or five nights, where we could sufficiently advertise it, get all the churches in together; because, you know, we need one another right now more than we ever did in all the history of the world is right now: real royal believers, we need each other. And so I'm... It's always a blessing wherever you go and meet God's people. It's a blessing everywhere.
4 I see we've got some youngsters out here. I was watching a little boy and girl setting here a few moments ago on the front seat, the cutest little fellows, little bitty things, setting up there just as nice. I like that. Children... There's something about children that's innocent and sweet. I--I like that.
And now, thank you very much for coming out tonight. Now, I thought that it would be nice tonight if we just took our time, and sowed some seed that--of the Word of the Lord.
And yesterday I preached this six hours upon a subject "The Original Seed of the Word." And we brought it from Genesis to Revelations, back and forth on a six-hour tape: that what God's program was, what He is, and how that the spoken Word of God is the Seed of God. And the Bible said that (over in Luke), that the Word of God is a Seed that the sower sowed.
5 And now, we know that any word sowed has to be watered before it'll bring forth its crop. But if the water falls on the ground, no matter what kind of seed is in that ground, it'll bring forth of its kind, 'cause God said in Genesis 1:11, "Let every seed bring forth of its kind." That each thing... And when the water falls (Hebrews, 6th chapter) we find out that the--the rains come oft upon the earth to water it, to dress it, to bring forth the fruit. But the weeds and briers, and--and things that's in the earth comes forth by the same water. But by their fruits you're known.
So Christians are known by the fruits of the Holy Spirit. That's what dominates a Christian's life, proves what he is. And the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, faith, long-suffering, goodness, gentleness...?... patience in the Holy Spirit. Those fruits manifest themselves through Christians.
6 Now, we found yesterday that in there that the seed that was sowed, the discord seed, that was... Satan sowed the discord when he told Eve a lie. And we find out to disbelieve one word of God spoken caused every death that ever was, every sickness, and all this trouble: just believing--misbelieving one word. She didn't exactly believe it. She tried to mix something with it, and nothing will mix with the Word of God. It's got to be that, because it's the original Seed.
God is eternal, and God is the Word. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh among us."
7 Now, God and His Word is the selfsame Being. Think of it. I believe that God will judge the world someday, not by the act of Congress, not by the act of a church, but by His Word He will judge the world. If we had to take church--organization church--which one of them is right? They differen so much one from another. The Catholic differens from the Protestant, the Protestant differens from the orthodox, the ortho... Why, we different every one. So which one of them would be right? We would have a confusion in our mind constantly. A person wouldn't know what to do. And a just God, the judge of all the earth, will surely give us something to be judged by.
8 Now, I read in the Bible that "Heavens and earth will pass away, but God's Word shall not pass away." I read in the Bible that whosoever shall take anything out of It or add anything to it, his part will be taken out of the Book of Life, that it stands just the way it is. Many try to say, It's been tampered with, it's been done this a-way or that way. I do not believe that. I believe there's got to be some kind of a standard that God will judge the--the church by, or the world. There's got to be some standard. It cannot be in church organization, because they different. Who would know what to do? But there is a standard, and that's His Word. I believe that God watches over His Word. I believe that that Word is punctuated exactly the way God wants It: the Bible. It's God's Word to the people. There's where reason I believe in that Word. And I believe the Word is a Seed, and if that Seed is sowed in the right ground and watered by the Holy Spirit, It'll bring forth of Its kind. Any promise that God made, God will do it.
9 When we see God heal a man... Here a few days ago in our church, I'd give out I was going to preach there on a Sunday (last Sunday, a week it is now, a week from last Sunday). They brought a little girl in there on a stretcher. And they'd called me in the nighttime on the road and said, "The girl cannot live," the cancer was so bad. About seventeen years old... "She can't even get there. She's going to die before she gets there." It was a pitiful case, a lovely little child of seventeen years old.
To prove something to my church, I never touched the child at all. I never as much as touched her. I walked in. Laying on a stretcher... 'Course there was other sick people, but I was concerned about the child, to catch her spirit when I spoke to her. And she seemed like a very fine little girl. I see no reason why that child should fill a premature grave; and that has to be the devil trying to take her life. So I never touched the child at all, went right to the pulpit with the Word, and stayed right with the Word. And the Word healed her so instantly until she got up and walked away, is all right now, living like anybody else: can't find a trace of it anywhere. Never even touched the Word--or touched her.
See, the Word went forth, and she believed the Word, and the Word is God's life and God's power. And the Word is what does it. The Word heals the sick.
10 Then you say, "Well, Jesus healed the sick."
He is the Word. He is the Word. When you receive the Word, you receive Jesus, for He is the Word. "The Word was made flesh and dwelled among us." We believe that, don't we, every bit? We believe that Christ is God's Word made manifest; and we believe that His Bride must be the same thing. We believe that she must believe every bit of the Word and have that Word in her, because she is part of the body. She is the body where He is the head.
And when He died, and rose from the dead, and resurrected, and set on high on the--by the majesty of God on His throne, right hand of Majesty, then--and we are His delegates. And we reckon ourself dead, and buried by baptism, raised with Him, and now seated together with Him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. That'd get us all shouting, wouldn't it? Think of that. We are, not will be; we are now. Now, we are sons of God; now we are daughters of God. Not we will be seated; now we are seated. Can't... The...
11 Jesus said the Scriptures has to be fulfilled. Every word has to come to pass. Today we've gotten so far away from it. We've just mixed ourselves up with creeds and so forth, until we're just gone out on a--a wild tantrum, just as the Bible said we would do. Exactly.
Adam, before he got to his wife, she was pregnated with evil seed. She took the devil's lie and tried to mix it with God's word, and it caused death. The first child was born from her had death. Every child since has had death.
Jehovah's wife when He brought her up out of Egypt and sanctified her, and started her on the road, what did she do? She done the same thing. Jehovah taken His wife over to the promised land. On the road up there she heard a false prophet by the name of Balaam, and what did she do? "Why, there's no difference in us. Let's all unite together, and be one family."
12 That's what the bride has done with the world: united with the world with her creeds and things, and denied the Word of God, saying, "Days of miracles is past. There's no such a thing as the baptism of the Holy Spirit." And where's she at now? Divorced. Just... Jesus' bride had done the same thing that Jehovah's bride did, and the same thing that--that Adam's bride did. Yes, just exactly. The Bible said at the mouth of three witnesses let every word be established." There's three churches, three brides. All of them done the same thing.
13 But in the face of all that, there is a real Bride that God's bringing forth, and has a little bit out of each... Each time there's been a reformation, there's been so much of the Word spread forth. And each generation gets its time. Did you ever notice? There'll be a man of God come along that'll strike fire with God, and there'll be a great revival sweep the land. And what happens? Immediately after that they take that man's idea, and denominate it, and bring in creeds, and mix with it. There she dies and never rises again (That's right.), always has been, always will be, every time.
14 But each generation, what does it get? Its opportunity at the fresh Word of God each time, like Luther under justification; like Wesley under sanctification; the Pentecostal move under the baptism of the Holy Spirit. See? Each one gets its chance. Then what does the men do that follows those great reformers? Denominate it, organize it, mix in creeds with it, a little bit here and a little bit there. A new bunch of school scholars comes along with a bunch of psychology, just the same as Eve was trying to find some new light, mix it up with the Word of God: Death. Away went the organization, and died spiritually. That's exactly right. That's the way it's always been.
15 Now. Believe it or not... You might not think so, but I'm going to speak tonight (if the Lord willing) upon a subject of the "End-Time Seed Sign." What kind of a sign will the seed sign be at the end time? Before we read the Word, let's bow our heads and speak to the Author of It.
I wonder tonight, with our heads bowed, realizing that we're living in the shadows of the coming of the Son of God... I wonder if there'd be requests tonight, would like to let God know that you're sincere, and you have a--something on your heart that you'd want God to do for you? Just raise your hands to Him, say, "This is me, God. I want this and this." Thank you.
16 Our heavenly Father, we are approaching Thy throne of grace--never thy throne of judgment. God, we don't desire the judgment, because we could not stand at that throne. But we're so glad that there was One stood there for us, Thy Son, the Lord Jesus. He stood there for us, and stood the judgments, that we might have the right to the throne of grace. And we are approaching tonight in His Name.
And He said Himself (and every word that come from Him was the Scripture, and they must be fulfilled), He said, "If you ask My Father anything in My Name, I'll do it." Now, we know that that Word is true, and we're approaching in Jesus' Name to ask our heavenly Father to grant unto us pardoning grace from His loving throne of grace.
17 We're asking Him tonight for Him to make His Word plain and known to us, and reveal to us the hour that we are approaching, for we do not want to stumble as one not knowing where we are going. The man who knows not where he goes, stumbles. And you said we were children of the light, and we should know where we are going, step by step, as packing a light. It shows not all the way down, but as we take the steps. I pray, Father, as we take this step tonight towards this meeting, that we will see what the purpose of God is for us being here. And I pray to Thee, O Lord, that every hand that went up at this meeting tonight will be--the purpose of that request behind the hand be answered. If it's for salvation, God, grant tonight that they will receive it. If it's domestic trouble, straighten up the home, Lord, give peace. If it's for someone who is distressed, give Thy mercy, Father. If it's for someone sick, let the healing words of God be sank down deep in their heart tonight, that'll bring forth a crop of good, Divine health tomorrow. Grant it, Lord. Hear us.
18 We present the Word to you tonight with ourselves and these texts, that You might bring from it a context, and reveal to us the things that we should know. Bless this people. Bless this school. In this day that when someone would say they're going to hold a meeting, a interdenominational group, they coldly would have turned it down. But this principal opened the door. We pray, God, that You'll bless him, and let him know that it's written in the Scripture, "Insomuch as you have done unto the least of these, you have done it unto Me."
"When were You needy, and we did not minister?"
And You said, "I will say, as you did to these, you have done to Me."
I pray, heavenly Father, that from this school will go forth mighty anointed preachers for the day ahead.
I pray for every person that's here, their pastors. Bless their churches, Lord. May that a great revival break out in the community here among the peoples, and cause many to be saved. Heal the sick and afflicted. Get glory unto Thyself. We ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.
19 A very odd little Scripture reading... When you go home, I'd like for you to read the chapter: Amos, the 3rd chapter, and the 7th verse: odd, strange setting for the text. But you know, God does things kind of strange and odd; works in peculiar ways, mysterious ways, His wonders to perform. Amos 3:7:
Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Now, the text that I would like to use is this: The "End-Time Sign Seed." And as I've just told you yesterday, preaching so much on the seed, for it's the Word... All things begin in Genesis, 'cause Genesis means beginning, or seed chapter of the Bible. Everything we have on earth today, the origination of it started in Genesis.
20 Now, we have things today that did not begin in Genesis, because it's been hybrid. Anything hybrid is a phony. It's no good. It cannot reproduce itself. Anything that's hybrid is man-made, and cannot bring itself back again.
As I've said many times, we take the breeding of stock. Like, you take the--the donkey and the mare, and they bring forth a mule, but the mule cannot breed hisself back. He don't know what's father or mother. He's mixed up.
21 We take corn today. It's hybrid. They say it's more beautiful, bigger ear; but it's no good. You see what "Reader's Digest" just wrote of it? If women continue to eat chicken, and beef, and stuff that's hybrid, in twenty years from now the human race will cease to exist: women can no more have babies. That's right. Hybreeding, it's no good.
Take corn, hybreed it, make a great big ear. What does it do? All right if you want to eat it on the big ear. But what happens to it? Plant it back; it can't reproduce itself again. It's no good; it's dead. Therefore, anything that wasn't spoke by God in the beginning is a hybrid.
22 And that's the way that people gets away from the Word of God. It becomes a hybrid affair. It must die. It cannot bring forth of its kind to life again. The church that will refuse to--to believe the Word of God is a hybrid church with dogmas, creeds, doctrines that's not Scriptural. That church cannot bring forth a Spirit-filled child, 'cause it's hybrid. It's no good. It might be bigger, great big walls, fine pews, big bells, plush seats. But that doesn't mean one thing. It's spiritually dead. That's right. It cannot bring forth Spirit-filled children, because it's dead itself.
23 Now, speaking six hours on that subject, and tonight going back again to this same end-time seed sign... Now, all wise people, if he's all right in his head, he's always trying to find what's ahead of him. All of us wants to know that. "What's the next move shall I make? Where do I go from here?" It's like a man crossing a stream. He steps on one rock, then he looks around to see where his next step shall be, for he doesn't... He can't just jump anywhere. If he does he will drowned himself. He must watch where he's going. "After I cross this, then where?" All of us are that way. That's been the cry of the human race down through the ages: "Where from here?"
24 The King of England... One night, when a saint baptized him the next morning, they were setting by a fire, a great big, like a piazza. And there was a great furnace of fire, or--or grate we would call it, only a large, mammoth, big place where logs was laying. The saint was trying to tell the king about God, and a little sparrow finished his sermon. The little sparrow in the nighttime flew into the dark, into the light, went back out of the light, into the dark. And the saint raised up, and said to the king, "Where did he come from and where did he go?"
That's what we want to know. Where did we come from, and what are we doing here, and where do we go from here? Now, they... All the science that we got, as many bones as we've dug up, as many books as we've wrote, there's not one book that can tell you where you come from, what you are, and where you're going: only one Book, and that's the Bible. It tells you where you come from, what you are here, and where you are going. So therefore, if we want to know where from here, let's take the only Book that can tell us.
25 Ancient bones they're digging up, and--and staglites, and so forth, can prove nothing. God's Word's got the answer. It's got the answer to everything that we ask. It's in God's Book. Man has often wondered. We go down sometimes, and read the Scriptures, and wonder over them. But we're not supposed to wonder. You can't explain Them; you've got to believe Them.
No man can--can scientifically prove God. If you could prove God scientifically, then it's no more of faith. We're supposed to believe God, and faith is not scientific.
What if Moses would've pulled some of the leaves off the trees and said, "I believe I'll take it to the laboratory to find out what chemical is on them that won't let them burn." See, God would've never talked to him. He did not know that. The only thing he done was take off his shoes and set down in reverence, and God talked back to him.
We cannot scientifically prove these promises of God, but we look back and find out where in season every one of them happened just as God said they would. So in reverence and respects to His Word tonight let's just set down for a while and look at it, and see where we're going, what's the purpose. What are we here for? What's it all about?
26 Here some time ago I was out west, and I was standing in a man's house that invited me out for--for dinner. And he said, "Mr. Branham, I see you admiring that sculpture, painting, or not painting, but it was kind of carved out of wood--plaque-like, over the fireplace.
I said, "Yes, sir. I am." And it was an old ox cart, or covered wagon with oxes: a man in front, a little boy setting on the seat with his mother, and they were traveling.
And he said, "That was my father and mother, and the little boy on the seat was myself." He said, "We come here in this ox cart." He said, "But since then, we have so prospered." He said, "I want you to step out here in the yard." He said... I forget how many thousands of acres that he owned there of a ranch. He said, "I bought that in my young days."
And he said, "Then after that, the adjoining ranch to the west I own; the adjoining ranch to the south I own." Said, "You see the smoke over there?"
"Yes, sir."
Said, "That's a city." I forget how much property he owned there.
He said, "I'm the president in that bank there," and telling me what all he had.
27 I listened for a little while, and I said, "I would like to ask you one question, sir. You have pointed to the east, and to the west, showing the ranches, and to the city. I would like to have you look up this a-way, and see--and tell me how much you own up there." That's the main thing, because someday you're going to leave every bit of this down here. And then, where do you go from there? That's the main thing.
This is a short stay here, but that's an eternal stay there. So I think we ought to consider where we are going for eternity. If we can so supply, and fix our families, and so forth here on earth with homes, houses, and comfort, education, that's the things we should do. But the--one of the main things we should do we leave undone till we get to the end of the road, and drown ourselves in an eternity, knowing nothing about God, about His plan of salvation, and redeeming grace of Jesus Christ. It's pitiful that we do it, but we do.
28 The wise people, when they find out that they're a creature of time, they wonder what it is after time ceases. I'm going to speak of a man by the name of Job for a few moments. That's the oldest book in the Bible. We understand that Job was one of the wisest men in the world of his day. Why, he said when he'd go to the markets the young princes would bow before him for wisdom. He was a great man.
But that man begin to realize, of all of his greatness, he wondered what... After this is all over, then what's it going to be? He wondered what would take place.
So he speaks then, and begins to watch about God's creation. He knew that all things was created by a Word from God. And we--he noticed also of--he said, "There's hope if a tree dies, it'll live again."
29 If you notice nature, God--in His great way to express His feelings to the people that they'll be sure, whether they got a Bible or anything else He expresses Hisself in nature to you.
Watch the sun when it comes up of a morning. What happens to the sun? It's a little baby borned in the east. And about ten o'clock, it's in its teen-age. At noontime it's in its strength. In the afternoon it's in its middle age. And at evening it's gone, it sets, it's finished. Is that all of the sun? No. God's got a purpose for the sun, so the sun comes back and rises again the next morning. What does it speak of? Birth, life, death, resurrection.
30 Look at your flowers. I was noticing today, coming down, the flowers, how pretty they are. They're here for a purpose. They're spoken words of God. God spoke them into existence. And when He did, look what happens. They're pretty standing in your yard.
After while, frost hits them. Young ones, old ones, middle age, as soon as frost hits them; it's death. They bow their little head, and what happens? A little black seed of some sort drops out of them. Believe it or not, God has a funeral procession for them. The fall rains come, and tears, as it was, drops from the skies and buries the seed.
The winter comes on. The petal's gone, the stalk's gone, the bulb's gone; the seed freezes, bursts open, the pulp runs out. Is that the end of the seed? No, sir. Let that warm sun shine, which brings forth resurrection of all botany life. As soon as that sun begins to light the earth and get warm, there's a germ of life somewhere in that seed, and it lives again. Why? It served a purpose of God, and God makes a way for it to live again.
Now, we were put here for a purpose, but we must serve that purpose: choose either death or life. So we're put here for a purpose, but we must serve that purpose. That's serving God, because we're sons and daughters of God.
31 Now, Job watched the creation. He saw that after death it wasn't the end of it. He saw that after death there was life again. Life... As soon as the sun got right, it was life again. "Well," he said, "if that seed is a spoken Seed, or a spoken Word of God, and it serves its purpose and dies... But" he said, "a man," I'm looking at some Scripture here from Job now, Job 14, "but a man layeth down; he giveth up the ghost; he wastes away. His sons come to mourn; he perceive it not. Where is he? Oh, that thou would hide me in the grave and keep me in the secret place till Thy wrath be past."
Job said, "I see a flower die. It serves its purpose, and it rises up. I see a tree die, fall of the year puts forth its leaves."
32 Did you ever notice a tree? It will put forth its leaf, and then it serves its time through the summer. Autumn comes. Way before the frost falls, that leaf begins to turn yellow, red, brown. After while it drops off the tree, falls down. Is that the end of it? No. What happens? The life that was in that leaf goes back to the root of the tree where it comes from. What does it do then? Spring of the year it brings forth with it, in a resurrection, a new leaf same life returning back with a new leaf.
And Christians are hanging on the Tree of Life. And when the life leaves this old sinful body, it goes back to the God that gives it, to come forth again with a new one, because it's serving a purpose.
33 Here some time ago I was down in the state of Kentucky--or I suppose from here directionally I'd have to point north, up in the state of Kentucky. I was hunting, me and Mr. Wood, one of the trustees here with us tonight. I'd had a meeting over in a little city called Acton at the Methodist campground.
In there had been one night we were speaking, and the Lord was doing great things, and we was having a healing service, praying for the sick. You all were here at the other meeting; you know what takes place.
And I cannot heal, no other man. God's already done it. You just have to believe it. So He has a way that He promised in the last days, a gift that would discern the--the spirits, and so forth, that works. We know that, a hundred percent, 'cause it's God's Word making manifest His promise for this last day.
34 And in there, there was a woman. I'd never been in the country before. And there was a woman setting back in the audience, and the Holy Spirit got among the people and begin to call this one, that one, telling them. It was our Lord Jesus, His Word made manifest in the body of His church. And then when He begin to speak, Jesus stood on the grounds, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, spoke to them, told the people about different things, as you all Bible readers know: promised the same thing again to repeat in the last days, promised it by His Scripture that it would do so.
35 Now, I want you to notice. Now, when that was taking place, way back in the back a lady was weeping somewhere on the big campground. Many, many hundreds and hundreds of people were seated, and there was a lady crying. Notice, the Holy Spirit went to the lady and said, "You're crying about your sister. Her name is such-and-such. She lives at a certain place. You have a handkerchief in your pocketbook that you put in there before leaving home. It's this and this a-way, a handkerchief. You take this handkerchief and go lay it on your sister. She's dying with cancer. And THUS SAITH THE LORD, she shall live."
The woman took from the building, went and laid her handkerchief on the lady that night. And the next morning she was well.
36 Now. So I was... The season was very hot. Squirrel hunting... As many of my fellow squirrel hunters know, they're--they--the cracking of the leaves scares the squirrels, and we... It was so dry, we had to go to a place where there was some hollows that we could get into--little ditches, to walk through the woods. My friend's name was Mr. Wood. He's setting over here to my right.
And he said, "I know a man that's got a ground of many acres." But said, "He's so hard to deal with." Said, "He's a infidel," and said, "he don't believe in God." And he said, "He makes fun of it." And he said, "But he knows me, he knows my father." And he said, "If I go ask him if we can hunt on his place..."
I said, "Let's go."
37 We drove way back in the country, way back on a side road, and two old men were setting under the shade of an apple tree. He said, "There he is, the one to the right."
I said, "Being a minister, I better set in the car."
So he goes out, and he said, "How do you do?"
And the man said, "Come up, set down."
He said, "My name is Wood." He said, "I wonder if you would care if we hunted awhile on your place."
He said, "What Wood are you?"
He said, "I'm Jim Wood's son."
He said, "Jim Wood is a friend of mine, and any one of his children can hunt anywhere they want to."
He said, "Thank you."
He said, "I wonder now," he said, "which one are you?"
He said, "I'm Banks." He talked to him a few moments, and Mr. Wood said, "I wonder if it'd be all right for me to take my pastor with us."
He said, "You don't mean you got so low down till you have to carry a preacher with you wherever you go?"
He said, "My pastor's out there."
38 I thought I'd better get out of the car. And I got out of the car, and walked over there, and I said, "How do you do?"
He said, "How do you do? So you're a preacher."
I said, "Yes, sir."
And he said, "Well," he said, "I'm supposed to be an infidel."
I said, "Well, not much to brag about, is it?"
He said, "I guess it isn't." He said, "But what I've got against you people, you're talking about something you don't know about."
"Oh," I said, "is that so?"
He said, "Yes, sir. I hear them always blowing off about this, about a God, and everything." Said, "There is no such a thing."
I said, "Uh-huh." I said, "Well, 'course you know how it is, sir," I said, "Everyone to his own thought." I was thinking in my heart, "Now, Lord, You give me something to help that man, no doubt sincere."
And he said, "I only seen one preacher in all my life I--I'd like to hear--heard of him."
And I said, "Who was that, sir?"
He said, "Here about two years ago, there was a preacher over here at a town called Acton." He said, "And old lady So-and-so up here on the hill had been laying there for two years with cancer." Said, "Me and my wife... They couldn't put her on the bedpan no more. They had to use a draw sheet." And said, "We was up there that morning," and said, "the doctor had said the day before that she wouldn't make it through the night."
39 "She had cancer in her stomach. She was eat up. She couldn't even drink barley water, and hadn't for weeks. They'd fed her glucose through her veins, until her veins was collapsed, and said there was nothing could be done for her."
And said, "Her sister was setting over listening to that preacher preach, and that preacher didn't know anybody here, had never been here, and told her who she was, and what her sister was, and thought about a handkerchief she had, and said put it on that woman." And said, "That night I thought they had the Salvation Army up there somewhere, of all the screaming." And said, "The next morning we went over to see if she was dead." And said, "When we got over there, she was up, cooking fried apple pies and eating them." And said, "She even does the neighbor's work." He said, "Now..."
I said, "What's so strange about that?"
40 He said, "Well, here's what I want to know. If I ever see that preacher, I'm going to ask him, what was it told him about that woman, and whether she'd be healed."
"Oh," I said, "yes, sir." Squirrel blood all over me, and dirty whiskers about that long, you know. And I said, "Don't look very much like a preacher now."
He said, "Well, looks more human."
And I said, "Yes, sir." So I said, "Can I have one of those apples?" Little yellow jackets was all over them.
And he said, "Yes." I picked up one, and I bit it. And he said, "Help yourself. The yellow jackets are eating them up."
And I said, "Thank you." I took a bite of it. I said, "That's a fine apple."
He said, "Yep." He said, "That old tree's produced a lot of them for me."
And I said, "Yes, sir." I said, "How old is the tree?"
He said, "About forty years old." Said, "I planted it there, just a switch."
41 And I said, "Uh-huh." I said, "I notice all the apples are dropping off of it, and the leaves are leaving."
He said, "Yep. That's the way she does."
And I said, "I want to ask you a question."
He said, "Yes, sir. Go ahead and ask." He said.
I said, "What causes... Now, we haven't had no frost," I said. "It's only the middle of August. We won't have no frost till about October or November." I said, "But here in the middle of August them leaves are falling off the tree." I said, "What's making them leaves fall?"
"Why," he said, "the sap's leaving it."
I said, "What if the sap doesn't leave it?"
He said, "Why, it would--the tree would get killed in the wintertime. The germ of life's in the sap." Said, "If it would... It would it would kill the tree. It would die."
I said, "Yes, sir." I said, "Therefore, the sap goes back down into the roots where it's warm, stays there through the winter, then comes back in the summer, bringing more leaves and more apples."
Said, "That's it."
42 I said, "I want to ask you something." I said, "What intelligence... Now, the tree has none. What intelligence says to that tree, 'It's coming wintertime. Get down into the root and stay there until spring of the year.'?" I said, "Put water in a bucket, and set it on a post, and see if it'll go down when fall of the year comes. It won't do it." I said, "You have to admit there's some kind of an Intelligence that makes that sap leave the tree and go down into the roots. If it doesn't, it dies. It hides it away to protect its life. Now, the tree has no intelligence. There's a law of God that does that."
And he said, "Well, I never thought of it just like that."
I said, "Mister, the same Intelligence that tells that tree up there--the sap in that tree to go to the roots, that same Intelligence is what told me who that woman was, and tell her what was going to happen."
He said, "You're not that preacher?"
I said, "Yes, sir." And there he was led to Christ, and died a Christian a year later about eighty-five years old.
43 See, God's all around us. God's everywhere. And if we'll look at nature, we will find Him there. Now, after Job had found Him in the death, burial, and resurrection of nature, reproduced itself again of its kind, then he couldn't understand about what a man happened... "If a man," he says, "lays down, he giveth up the ghost. Where is he?" Now, see, the tree never sinned. Nature never sinned. Man sinned. So he couldn't... Then being a prophet...
Now, the Bible, my text said, "He makes His secrets known to His prophets." The Word of the Lord comes to the prophet. And being a prophet, we know the story of Job. God finally explained it to Job, that the seed of man was imperfect because the mother of man had failed to obey God's Word. She tried to mix it with something else and God's Word won't hybreed to nothing. That's right.
44 Jesus said when He was here, "If you have faith like a mustard seed, would say to this mountain..." Why did He refer to mustard seed? Mustard seed won't hybreed. It's genuine mustard seed. It will not take breeding with nothing. And He said, otherwise, "If you have that much faith, God's Word, that won't hybreed to unbelief, or question it... Oh, I feel religious. That you won't question it...
No matter what circumstances, and anything else, you don't question God's Word; you believe It. You're supposed to believe It. If Eve would've only believed it, she would've received... and she'd have brought forth children right. But before she--her husband got to her she... found her already defiled, like Jehovah did, and like Jesus had. There was a defilement in the womb of her thinking. She had accepted a seed of unbelief against God's Word, because it produced something to her more brighter, and she wanted more knowledge.
45 That's what's the matter today. I'm standing in a school. We'd be a bunch of ignorants if it wasn't for education, and education is a part of our civilization. But civilization, education, only come by Christianity. Civilization is the grass roots of Chri--of... Or Christianity is the grass roots of civilization. Absolutely. Civilization come by Christ. Certainly.
Now, to disbelieve God's Word, or mix It with something to have more light... You can't mix It. It won't mix. You've got to believe it just the way God wrote it, and the way He spoke it. It's not to be added to, or taken away from, or anything, you believe it that way.
46 Now, and when Job being a prophet, finally the vision broke through. And then when he seen how that God was going to make a way for a man to live again, because there would be another spoken Word that a virgin would receive...
That was Eve first that doubted it. When the Word come to Mary, she never doubted it. She said, "Behold the handsmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me according to Thy Word." See, she never--she never said, "Now, you wait till I feel life, and then I'll go testify. You wait till I'm positive of it."
That's the way we Christians, so-called, today do. "Wait till I'm positive. Wait till I begin to get better." And "Wait... I see something happen, and then I'll do it." No, sir. That's not the question. You believe it first.
47 What did Elijah tell the--the woman that he went to, with nothing but a handful of meal? He said, "Make me a cake first, then go start... The miracle will happen after you take God's Word first. You begin to believe God's Word, and then the miracle takes place on the Word, because the Word is the Seed that brings forth the miracle. Got to take the Word first. The Holy Spirit gives It life, like water falling from heaven.
We know that the Holy Spirit represents... The water represents the Holy Spirit, like... As Moses lifted up the brass serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up. What? A perishing people. And when they lifted up the brass serpent, it saved the life of the perishing people. When he smote the rock... Christ is that rock that was smitten, and out of Him come the waters of Life for a perishing people. You must believe it; act upon it. Now.
48 Remember now. Then when Job seen this coming just One, the One that could stand in the breach between the sinner and God, and bridge the way--that perfect Seed... "These seeds," he says, "corrupt; I see them go into the ground." His sons come to mourn him, over him, he perceive it not. He lays there; he never raises. He just lays there, rots away, and that's all of it. He never does raise up again, because he's an imperfect seed.
But he said... When he found out that there was coming One Who would bring back perfection to the Word of God again, that would make a way, would bridge the way, then the prophet got in the Spirit and cried out, "I know my Redeemer liveth. And in the last days He will stand upon the earth. Though after the skin worms has destroyed this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God." He seen that perfect One coming. What happened? Job being a prophet, the secrets of God is known to the prophets. He spoke the word. And when he spoke the Word that God showed him, it become material, for it was a spoken Word. And in its season it happened just exactly that way.
Christ was born, the Redeemer One could stand between the living and the dead and bridge the way, and brought the resurrection. Exactly. Why? It was the Word of God. Now, He spoke the Word, and the Word was a Seed, and it matured in its season. Every seed of God correctly placed will mature.
49 Now, what if God would send His message by an Angel to Mary, and said, "Hail, Mary, blessed art thou amongst women. You're going to have a baby knowing no man," she'd said, "Now, wait a minute here. Let me take you down to the laboratory, and you tell me... Let--let the doctor prove to me just how I'm going to do this (See?) then I'll believe you." It would've never happened. But what did she come to? The womb of her heart, the womb that her spirit was in... Your womb of your spirit is your mind. Your--your mind is a channel.
You've got five senses that controls the body. You've got five senses that controls the soul: conscience, and so forth. Now, your body, there's see, taste, feel, smell, and hear. But there's only one channel to the inside of that soul, show that you are a seed. You're soul, body, and spirit, and then the one channel, avenue, one way into that, your own free moral agency. That is, you can receive or reject, you do whatever you want to.
50 Therefore, Eve was on the same basis. She could take God's Word and said, "God said not to do it, and get away from here." That would've been all right. But instead of that she tried to hybrid it with Satan's lie, and brought death to her. But when it come to Mary, it was different. "Behold the handsmaid of the Lord." "How's it going to be?" That doesn't matter how it's going to be. "You have spoke it; it's the Word of God; I receive it. Behold the handsmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me even as Thy Word." There it was. That settled it. And she--she was all right then.
See, she brought forth that germ of life which was the Word of God made manifest in a form of a man. And through the death of that just One, paid the death for--the debt of every one of us that's unjust. And by accepting then His Word, brings Life and brings Christ back in us, because Christ is the Word, the Spoken Word. And It will mature if you can receive It. You that's sick, accept It. Believe It. It's got to mature, will come forth in Its season: It's got to.
51 Now. All of us believe that we're in the end time. Any man that's--that's intelligent, I believe, if he would look around and see, it shows this thing can't go on much longer. I want about fifteen minutes now to show you what I mean. Anyone knows that something's got to happen. All Scriptures point to it.
We are taught that the world was created in six thousand years, being a thousand a day, one day as a year with God, and so forth: six thousand years in the creation. All right. Six days it's called, and the Bible says one day is a thousand years, or a thousand years is one day with God.
52 Now, the first two thousand years the world kosmos (order of world) come to its end, and God had to send something, the judgments from heaven, and judge the earth in judgment, and save the righteous Noah and his family.
The second two thousand years, the same thing taken place again. kosmos, world order, even the church was polluted. The days of Noah, they mocked and made fun of him, and he preached a hundred and twenty years in the door of the ark. And in the second thousand years the church went into captivity, committed whoredom with the world, and become nothing but a bunch of forms and creeds. And God sent judgment to the earth by sending His Son. Come to the end of its powers...
53 Now, this is 1962, and what does the Bible say? The Bible said in the last days that the work would have to be cut short (The Scriptures cannot lie.) for the elected's sake, for the elected's sake, or there'd be no flesh saved. Then we see we're at the end-time.
The seventh is the sabbath, which is the Millennium. That's the--that will take place during that time, the Millennium reign. Now. But the six days is fulfilled. Man has got in his hand right now a weapon that he can destroy himself. He can destroy the world, could blow the world into bits in one second. He can shoot a man into orbit, and swing it around over the country here, and say, "Surrender, or I'll let her loose." That's all. What would he do? Why, anybody that's sensible, they'd surrender. Then what?
And now, the little... Used to be the big nations dominated the big--the little nations; and no more, they got the same thing. See? So it's become a time that we see and believe that we're at the end time.
54 Now, we could go on with this for hours, but let's just look at some of the Scriptures here just a minute, that looks to the seed that's been planted for the end time.
If that seed of... Job's spoken word, Isaiah spoke of it, every man of God, every prophet of God that He made His secrets known to (even David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, all the rest of them), spoke of that coming Seed. And when the season come, it was exactly that way. It always does. It can't fail. It's God's Word. It's eternal. It can't fail. And all of us know that Jesus was the Word.
55 Now. Let's take His Word then. Hebrews 1 said, "God in sundry times and divers manners spoke to the prophets, but in this last days through his Son, Christ Jesus." Now, He was a God-prophet. He was a prophet, sure. Moses said, "The Lord your God will raise up a prophet." But this was more than a prophet; He was God, manifested in flesh.
Now, this God-prophet give us two or three signs that we want to look at here, great signs that we want to remember. In Matthew 24 when it was asked Him "When shall these things be? What will be the coming of the end of the world? When will all this take place?" He gave so many different things that would take place: nation shall rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom, and so forth, and on and on and on. But said, "Learn a parable of the fig tree when--and all the other trees."
56 How many in here is Christians? Now, raise your hands. All right, thank you. I guess a hundred percent. All right. Watch, close now, when we bring this end-time seed sign. Jesus said, "Learn a parable of the fig tree." Now, when you see the fig.
Now, learn a parable of what? The fig tree. Now, anyone knows, that reads the Bible, that the fig tree has always been the Jewish race of people.
Joel said, "What the palmerworm left the caterpillar eaten," and so forth. That was the stump, that the creeds and things eat the church down. But said, "I will restore, saith the Lord."
Now, the Jews was cut off, Paul tells us, and the Gentiles grafted in again into the Kingdom. But notice. Jesus said, "Learn a parable of the fig tree." Now, that tree, like Job saw, if it dies, will it live again?
Sure. He said, "Now, when you see the fig tree, and all the other trees..." Trees--trees of what? There's a Tree of Life, there's a tree of creed (denomination), there's a creed of nations. "When you see the fig tree, and all the other trees putting forth buds (broughs, fixing to leaf out) you say summer is nigh." Notice, making a parable out of the nations.
57 Now, God deals with the Gentiles for a Bride, one here, and one there. But He deals with the Jews as a nation, not as a individual, as a nation. He's always... that's been God's chosen nation. God chose them as a nation. Missionaries going into Jerusalem, and things--when Israel is saved, she'll be a nation. The Bible says will be born in a day. That's right. So Israel will accept Christ at one... just... as a nation; not just as individuals.
But notice now, what He said, let's take it. Watch it clear. "When you see the fig tree begin to bud again, and all the other trees putting forth its buds..."
58 Now, everything is having a revival or just had a revival. The Jews are back in their homeland as a nation, flying their own flag, their own government, their own money. They are a nation for the first time for about... I guess, about Eighteen hundred years. Oh, more than that--about twenty-two hundred years, about twenty-two hundred years. Israel is a nation again. The oldest flag in the world, the six-point star of David, flies again, and for the first time for twenty-two hundred years. And Jesus said, "When she begins to put forth her bud, the time is at the door." Israel, talking to the Jews.
59 Now, watch. He said when all the other trees begin to put forth... The Roman Catholic church has had the greatest sweep it's ever had. The Protestant church has had the greatest revival it's had. Billy Graham, and Jack Shuler, the Pentecostals has had the greatest revival they had. Oral Roberts, Tommy Hicks and the rest of them, great men--a revival.
Notice. The powers has had a revival, the national powers. There's a revival on now, who's going to be the greatest power? Communism? Everybody you hear, preacher stand in the pulpit talking, "Oh, let us fear communism." Nonsense. Show me the Scripture where communism will rule the world. Romanism will rule the world, not communism. Look at King Nebuchadnezzar's vision, the word of the Lord, the head of gold, brass on down into the Roman feet which was iron, and never changed. The stone came while it was still in the iron and smote it. Remember at the end it was mixed with clay, the weakness, clay and iron together.
60 This great meeting they've just had up here between Khrushchev and Eisenhower... You know what Khrushchev means in his own nation, national tongue? Khrushchev means mud, clay. You know what Eisenhower means in English? Iron. And to even make it so plain to the people, Khrushchev took off his shoe and beat the desk. They will not agree. What's going to rule? Rome will rule. A confederation of churches, with--Catholicism will bind it together, and right there you are, the ruling power. The Bible says that. That's the seed that can't fail.
61 Now, look today. Isn't this new pope inviting all the Protestant churches in? Aren't they going? What about your Pentecostals? Same thing; the federation of churches. There you are. That seed's got to come to pass. This has got to happen. It's got to mature. It's time for it to mature. The people, what'd they do? Organize and kept building greater buildings, and bigger organizations, greater denominations. And what all happened? The same thing, exactly what the Bible said they'd do.
That's what the God-prophet, Jesus Christ, said would take place. The Jews would be restored, and there would be a great revival amongst them as a nation, coming together as a nation. There'd be a revival amongst the Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterian, and so forth, a revival amongst the Pentecostals, and there you are. And nation will be striving against nation, the seed matured. Israel become a nation after twenty-two hundred years. What's happened? The churches all got together having a revival. All right, sir.
62 Now, another great seed was planted. He said in the last days, in II Timothy, the 3rd chapter, there would come amongst the church a falling away from Bible faith. That's right. Is that a seed? Is that a promise? Look at them today. Look at our churches. What are they doing? They're organizing themselves together; they're cooperating together, binding themselves together, failing, don't believe in the Bible, don't believe in the--in the real true Word of God.
You say, "The Bible says this."
"Them things are past. There is no such a thing. Oh, there--there is no such a thing. Days of miracles is past a long time ago. There is no such a thing as the baptism of the Holy Ghost. That was for a handful of people: twelve back there, the apostles." See? What is that seed? It's maturing. It's the end time sign seed.
What did Jesus say? "When you see these things happening, lift up your head. Your redemption's drawing nigh," to the church. We seen she would fall away. All right. We find that. All right.
63 Now, we said in the last days Joel told us (the other part of the Scriptures. Listen close now.) that there would be a former and latter rain in the same season. How many Christians know that? Say, "Amen." Sure. What.
Now, the other day, to my surprise, when I looked... Former and latter rain would come in the same season. Now, the word "former" in the Hebrew word (get your Hebrew lexicon and find out), the Hebrew word for "former" means "moureh." "Moureh" means "teaching." There will come a teaching rain. What is it? Putting the seeds into the earth. What's had.
What's gone on? Well, we find out that there's been a teaching rain going on. The Baptist people, "A million more in '44," was their goal, members of the church. Billy Graham's great revivals, our great evangelist, look what he done. Look at Oral Roberts and the Pentecostals. There's been a teaching rain gone forth.
There's been a national teaching rain, communism sowed amongst the people, every nation.
There's been a Roman revival. Do you know what happens? If they give the western part, or the eastern part of Berlin back, that puts communism just, or I mean the Roman empire, just exactly in the old circle it was in the time of Jesus. Certainly it does, perfectly.
64 There's a revival going on. What is it? A sowing. You don't hear very much of Billy Graham no more, do you? What about Oral? What about the rest of them? You know the great revival fire's not burning. What is it? It's the end time seed sign. The words has been sown. What is it? Denomination will reap denomination. That makes them confederate themselves together.
But the Word of God has been sowed also. And when the Spirit of God begins to fall, the Word of God will live in the people. And that false bride that's committed adultery out there, and brought herself into creeds, and sold out her birthrights will reap what? A confederation of church, that's to be bound and burned like the thorns and thistles. But where the Word of God's been sowed into the people's heart, it will reap a Bride for Christ as certain as I'm standing here: End time signs.
65 What's the matter, Church of God? What's the matter with us? What's the matter with you Baptists, you Presbyterians, Assemblies of God, Jesus Only, all the rest of you? What's the matter with us? Can't you see? The seed... Don't you... Be careful what kind of a seed you're taking in your womb of your heart. Don't you take creeds; take the Word.
They've been talking so much about latter rain. Not discarding you latter rain brethren, but that's not latter rain. If the latter rain would've been here, the power of God would've struck that thing, and she'd have swept the world. The latter rain's fixing to come. What's the matter? The church is manufacturing herself something just like Eve tried to do. She tried to have more light to manufacture something.
We've done the same thing, trying to make something in ourselves. Keep your hand off of it. Let God do it. Take His Word and believe It. Hold It in your heart. And when the rain begins to fall life will take hold, and the Word will manifest itself.
66 I guess you think I'm crazy, but I'm not. If I am, leave me alone; I'm happy this way. So I believe God's Word. What's the matter with the church? Her womb, her--her open mind, has received all kinds of creeds and dogmas, and not the Word of God. When Christ come He found the same thing that Adam found, same thing Jehovah found. And here's these signs, and the end time appearing, and the church hasn't got the answer. That's right. It's time.
The former rain's went forth. That's the reason Billy's not doing much. Remember, there was the...
67 Jesus said, "As it was in the days of Sodom, so shall it be in the coming of the Son of man." There was two Angels went down to the Sodomites. Remember, Lot once walked with Abraham. The church once walked in fellowship with Christ with the Word. But they sold out their birthrights for denomination. Now, she's selling the whole thing and organizing into one big confederation of church.
That's exactly what happened to Lot. He went down there. Two Angels (Oral Roberts, and a Billy Graham, as it would be in this day) went down there, and placed the Gospel to them. What happened? A disgrace even come out of it.
68 But Abraham... One stood back with him. There's One that he called God. And the sign that He performed there before them, what did it do? It proved what He was. Abraham was the elected, because he was... Abraham had the promise. And now look, this is Abraham's seed. The promise was not only made to Abraham, but his seed. Not his seed Isaac, it failed; it proved it did. But the seed, the faith that he had: no matter what the circumstances was, how against the nature it was, how much the doctor said it wasn't so... Abraham, after he had the promise given to him, when it was impossible...
69 He married his sister about seventeen years old, his half sister. They had no children. And when she was sixty-five and he was seventy-five God appeared to him and said, "You're going to have a baby by her." Why, she took--he took His Word. He made ready for it. Twenty-five years after that nothing had happened. Now, he's a hundred years old, and she's ninety. That didn't stop him a bit. "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief."
That's the faith. That's the royal seed of Abraham. That's the kind of seed that takes God's Word. That's the thing that'll bring the Bride. That's the thing that'll meet Christ. He is the Word.
70 And if the church is sowed with something else besides the Word, it can't go to meet Him. He hasn't got a freak body with fungus on it. He's got a perfect body, and He's the perfect Word. And the church will be sowed and believed in the perfect Word. And the perfect Word and perfect Word will unite together as one flesh and one body, as a husband and wife is. Amen. (I'm not "amening" myself, but "Amen" means "So be it.") I believe it, anyhow. Yes, sir.
The former rain's went forth. The rain's fixing to fall. What's it going to bring forth? You just watch.
71 One more sign: the unwise virgin. Oh... Jesus said, just before the coming of the Bridegroom there would be a wise virgin with oil in her lamp, and one unwise. And the unwise virgin would wake up one day and find out that she didn't have any oil in her lamp, when it become to the place, "Behold the Bridegroom cometh." That's what the shout is now. "Christ is coming." And she woke up and found out she didn't have any oil.
Oil means "Spirit." Spirit is what brings the--the Word to life. The Spirit is the water that brings the Word to life. Throw it out... You say, "Well, what about these churches?" If they sow denominational seeds it'll bring that to life. The Spirit of God will bring that to life.
72 The Bible said, "The rain falls on just and unjust." Hebrews the 4th chap--3rd--6th chapter says that the rain cometh oft to dress the fruits that's of the earth. But the thorns and thistles which rejoiced just as much and lived just as much by the rain as they can... "But by their fruits you shall know them." It's exactly right. There you are. Now, when they seen that... See, the fruits are to be gathered; the rain's fixing to fall. Denomination will hatch denomination; that's all. But the Word will hatch Christ, the Bride. Certainly. Sow the Word of Seed. Now, when the wise virgin...
73 Have you noticed the Christian Business Men's Voice? I speak for them internationally. I can't pull no punches for them. This is the Word. Look. What about in the... Looky here at the Presbyterians, Episcopalians: hundreds of them everywhere trying to seek the Holy Ghost. They're playing up a great big thing.
A precious minister friend of mine from Africa, fine man, godly man, I've asked him, "Don't you know what it is, brother? What's your ministry?"
He said, "I'm supposed to bring Babylon in."
I thought, "Can't you see, the very time that the unwise virgin wants some oil to make her seeds to grow also, that's the time that Christ comes and she's left out?" The great preacher Billy Graham has just said that we need a Pentecost, we need people back. Episcopalians wrote a great article, a folder that long, said, "We need speakers with tongues. We need Divine healers in the church having healing services, people out praying for the sick." What are they trying to do? Get oil in their lamp. Exactly. That's a end time seed sign. Amen. While she was trying to do that, the Bridegroom come and the Bride went in, and she was locked out. Oh, what a wonderful day we're living in.
74 Just want to say one thing more: distress between the nations. Oh, my. Fearless sights in the heavens, do you believe that's so? Look, we just take a couple of them... Have we got a couple more minutes, to make it at nine-thirty? I don't want to hold the auditorium. We--it's grace, these people let us have it.
Listen. How many... And every one of you, you've seen... The nation's been shook up just recently about signs. Did you see what this man in the orbit the other day...? He found things up there he never... Science don't even know what they are. When he passed around the earth... Yet they've looked and looked and looked, but they didn't see them. He thought his orbit was coming to pieces. It wasn't so. His orbit was all right. Lights...
75 Look what's just been over the... You've seen it in the radio, you saw it on television; it's been in the newspaper: flying saucers everywhere. And the Pentagon let it out the other day (about six weeks ago) it wasn't fictitious. They even showed it on television how they caught these saucers, with intelligence--lights that come down, hanging over the Pentagon like that, all over Washington, DC. And they caught it on radar, and had pilots up there. They'd come right in around them, surround around them, then move away with lightning speed. An intelligence, what is it?
Jesus said there'd be fearful signs, sights in the heavens, man's hearts failing, fear, perplexity of times, distress between nations. Don't you see that seed time is here now, the harvest time, the things the Bible said would come to pass? That seed that's been planted, don't you see it's taken life and living? That's what's the matter.
76 Now, just one thing more. Listen. Before... Now, listen close. Don't fail to find this now. Before the first coming of Jesus, the astronomers of India, magis... I've missionaried in India, and talked with magis about this. And they were watching. They were astronomers; they were watching the heavenly bodies. And they say God always declares Hisself in the heavenly body before He does in the earth, before He does anything.
And they said, "Why, when this... The three wise men went to worship this king that was to rule the earth, a baby king, that they followed a star, your Scripture says." He said, "But frankly, there was three stars came together and made this one star." And they say that... The Christian astronomer that I was talking to, or magi, he said, "That means that there were three races of people that this Man died for. The only three races there is is Ham, Shem, and Japheth's people. And when His Gospel has been preached to Ham, Shem, and Japheth's people, they come together in His Gospel, then the return will be."
That's all right if he wants to believe that. Three is the number of perfection. But what do I believe that three was? What do we believe? It was a three of perfection showing that the trinity of God (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost) was made manifest in a Man, Jesus Christ, the one perfect Man. All other men had failed. Everything else had died. But here come a Man that couldn't die: perfection, that even death couldn't kill Him. Rose up again.
77 Three is the number of perfection. We all know that. Three is God's number in His numerology. God is known by His numbers. Three is perfection, and seven is worship; twenty-four is worship; forty is temptation; fifty is Pentecost, jubilee (See?), so forth. All of His numbers, His numerals of God is perfected, is in perfection. Now, three is the number of perfection. Just before when the--(listen now close) when the little baby Christ was born, three stars went together and made the one morning star, that reflected the coming of a infant Christ, a perfect One.
78 Now, what's happened? We see a roar in the paper, across the television out across the nations, where five stars just fell in line with the world. What's five? A number of grace. Every time those stars come, then something happens on earth. What taken place? Five stars fell in. What was it, a--a introducing of what?
Since then just look what's taken place. Germany almost washed off the map. Some of the magi said that the world would burst like a watermelon. Every distressful things prophesied by them for the last days. Look what's taken place. England, the other day, had a storm that blowed away seventy thousand houses one day. Disasters everywhere... California, Los Angeles liked to washed into the ocean. What is it? Beginning of sorrows. Earthquakes has picked up everywhere. Why is it? Five stars come in line: Grace, God's grace.
What's happened? An infant church (Hallelujah.), a Bride, infancy, that the power of God has begin to fall on her. She's taking form: a Bride for this Bridegroom. That three stars meant His perfection of the heavenly Father, of the trinity becoming One on earth among us, God's offices becoming one office. What happened now? It's the church of the living God coming together under the Word of God, and the astronomic heaven is announcing her approach. Amen. Might not believe that, but it's the Word just the same. Yes, sir.
79 What's happening? (I'm closing.) I might say this: friends, the church is coming forth. God's going to have a church without spot or wrinkle. And she's predestinated. God said so, He would have it. That makes it right. Who's a member? I don't know. I'm trusting to be myself; I'm trusting you are a member. But He's going to have a body without spot or wrinkle.
And I believe that these latter-day signs and things that's happening, every one of them is peeling together to show that Christ is ready to come for this Bride. As God in His Word made manifest in a man, a perfect man; so is God and His Word coming again, and making Himself manifested in a Bride. Not will do like Eve did, hybreed it to something else, but the unadulterated Word of God will be borned into that church, and she'll stand like Jesus Christ did, with His Spirit anointing in His Word. Amen. I believe it's the announcement now.
80 The prophet said, "There'll come a day that won't be called day or night, but in the evening time it shall be Light." All you Bible readers know that. What happened? Civilization travels from the east to the west. China is the oldest civilization we have. Civilization begin in the east. It's went with the sun, traveling west. Where's it at now? The West Coast. If it goes any farther it's back east again. See what I mean?
The same sun that rises in the east is the same sun that sets in the west, the same s-u-n. And the same S-o-n, Son of God that come to the earth to take a bride on the eastern people... And that bride polluted herself like Eve did, like Jehovah's bride did. That same Son that shines there, that shined there with His same power upon Pentecost, to ripen the seed that He had planted, that same Son is shining now in the western hemisphere. To what? To ripen the seed that's been planted to bring forth a Bride. The evening Light of the Gospel will bring forth a Bride (Amen.) for the Lord Jesus. There's some of the evening seed signs, hundreds of them.
81 We have five minutes before closing. Are you one of those? Do you believe you're one of those seeds? Do you believe that your heart is sowed with the unadulterated Gospel, there's nothing in the world can take the Word of God out of your heart? Do you believe that? If it's not, my friend, I may never see you again on the face of this earth, but remember the Word of the Lord and the secret of the Lord is made known to His prophets. His prophets spoke of it. Here it is right here now. We're seeing it come to pass. I'm repeating what they said in a warning to you.
If you do not have those seeds, and if you're here tonight and you're not a Christian, you... Maybe you belong to church. Don't you take that chance, brother. Don't you listen to those things. That's a hybrid affair. The Word of God's got to live in you supremely like it did in Jesus Christ, for He's the Head. His Body can't be one thing, and His Head another. It's got to be the same Word. If your church only provides for you creeds and dogmas that's not Scriptural, don't you believe it. You can't be joined into a church; you're borned into a body by the Word of the living God. If you haven't got that, don't you take a chance.
82 If you went down here to buy a bowl of soup, and it had a spider in it, you'd sue the restaurant. Why, you wouldn't eat it for nothing, because you're afraid you're going to destroy this body. Brother, don't fear what can destroy the body, but Who can destroy the--both soul and body in hell. If you're particular about your food, you wouldn't eat anything dirty to make this body sick or gaggy, and then swallow any kind of a creed for your soul that's eternal, when this body has got to perish? Don't you let the devil poke that stuff in your throat.
You become borned again of the Spirit of God, and your spirit will bear record with every Word God's written here, and every promise that He's give will make itself manifested in you. The Spirit of God will come and live in you. You are Christ's body, the representation of Himself here on earth. If you haven't got that, if you can't believe for Divine healing...
83 If you're here and sick, and you believe that God will grant you Divine healing, you just place that Word, "'I'm the Lord that healeth all thy diseases.' Lord, I believe it." Watch what takes place. Say, "Lord, I believe it. Open up every channel. And here I am." Watch what takes place, the same as did to that little dying girl the other day, thousands of more around the world.
84 Stood and seen them by the... I seen... In South Africa made one prayer over a bunch of people, and they estimated and took seven big truck loads... My, you haven't got a truck in Georgia like one of them almost six or eight wheels across here.
And the next morning with the mayor of the city setting there, come to the window and said, "Brother Branham, come down and look here." Coming down the street, there they come down the street with seven van loads of crutches, and wheelchairs, and--and everything the people... Never touched a one of them, just brought the Word, told them to believe it; and they did. And the people that was in these things the day before, here they was walking down the street with their hands over their heart, in their own native language singing, "All Things are Possible, Only Believe."
"He sent His Word." That's all you do is send the Word and the church receives it. He that's borned of God receives God, believes God. Do you believe Him? Let us bow our heads. I'll pray for these handkerchiefs.
85 With your heads bowed and every eye closed, I'd like to ask you a serious question. If you're not right with God, if there's something in you won't let you believe this Bible to be the inspired Word of God, you could not believe that you could live according to Its rules, would you do so much as raise your hands, and say, "God, be merciful. I want you to pray for me, Brother Branham, that I will be that kind of a Christian." Are you here? Raise your hands. I... Thank you, young lady. Thank you. God bless you. All right. There's one person in the building that thinks that, two of them that thinks that.
I--I'm not one of these persons to persuade, if the Word can't move it. You can only do it as you're predestinated to believe it. You remember, although Jesus done so many miracles, the Pharisees couldn't believe it. They couldn't get it in their head, because they wasn't to be that way. And if your heart is so hard that you know right there that that Word of God's not working itself through you, and then you won't raise your hands to God to ask for mercy, what are you going to do on the day of judgment? All right.
86 Would there be somebody sick that would like to be remembered? Raise your hand. Three or four, five, six, seven, eight, about ten of them.
All right. Let's bow our heads. Don't you doubt. You, my little sister back there that raised your hand, "Remember me," God bless you, sister, bless your tender heart. And may the Word of God take roots in your little heart tonight, and you become a missionary to Christ.
This man that raised his hands a little later here: Brother, your hair is gray. But remember Abraham was seventy-five years old before God ever spoke to him. May God plant His roots of Word in your heart tonight. And when the great rain is falling, may it not bring forth just a creed; may it bring forth Christ manifested in you.
87 Each one of you that raised your hand for healing, the Bible said, "The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and God shall raise them up." If the seed is laying in your heart, I'm going to pray that the Holy Spirit will water that seed right now. Something will happen.
God is no respect of person. If He will save one, He will save the other one that'll believe it. If He'll heal one, He'll heal the other one. But you've got to believe it. If you believe it, I'm going to pray for you now.
88 Our heavenly Father, I'm holding my hand over some handkerchiefs laying here. Somebody's perhaps got a loved one somewhere that's sick and afflicted, something wrong with them, maybe a mother somewhere with a little sick baby; maybe an old blind daddy, setting back in some little cabin out here somewhere in Georgia; maybe a one in a hospital somewhere. Thou knowest all about these things. Lord, we know this one thing, that Thou art the Christ Who has already purchased their healing. I'm sending Your Word in a way of prayer, Lord. You sent Your Word.
The woman come to You, said, "Lord, be merciful to me, Thou Son of David." And You were no Son of David to her; she was a Gentile.
You said, "It's not meet for me to take the children's bread and give it to your dogs."
She said, "That's truth, Lord. But the dogs will take the scraps under the master's table."
You said, "For this saying your daughter will live." And we find out that when You got home--or, when she got home, Your Word had already got there, healed the girl.
89 A father once, for his child, he inquired what time it was. Said about the eleventh hour the fever left him. You sent Your Word. Lord, I'm sending Your Word with a prayer of faith. I'm sending it to that little girl there that held up her hand. I'm sending it to that man that raised his hand. And may it take hold tonight for salvation. Grant it, Lord.
Now, You said, "He that believeth... heareth My Words and believeth on Him that sent Me has Everlasting Life." Now, Lord, that's Your Word. You said so.
According to science, they broke every rule. Science says you can't raise your hand; gravitation holds it down. But there's a spirit in man. He can make a decision and raise his hand, because there's a spirit that governs him, that breaks the rules of science. Now, God spoke, and they raised their hand toward their Creator. Heavenly Father, may Your Word fall in their hearts right now, into the womb of their heart, and bring forth out by them the Bride of Christ. Grant it, Father.
90 To these who raised their hand that's sick across this building here, they raised their hands because they're needy. They believe You to be a Healer. Now, I pray this prayer of faith. I'm sending it, Lord. In the Name of Jesus Christ, may that faith fall in every heart just now. May the Word of God be there just so emphatically till It'll bring forth healing for every one of them. Grant it, Father.
Now, again, I say for these handkerchiefs that's laying here, in the Bible it said they took from the body of Paul handkerchiefs and aprons, and unclean spirits went out of the people, diseases departed. Now, we're not St. Paul. But it wasn't him that did it, because in him was the Word. You're still the same Word.
91 Now, Father, one time Israel was cut off from the promised land. It was your bride. You had her on the road to the promised land. You was making a way for her. The enemy got in the way. You looked down through that Pillar of Fire with angry eyes. The sea got scared; it moved back. Israel went on.
Now, God, not looking through the Pillar of Fire, but look through the Blood of Your own Son, Who died for this purpose. And I send Your Word. May the devil be scared; may he get away, and may these people come to that promise of God like Israel did, without any failure. May they come to that great promise, "Above all things I would that you prosper in health." Grant it, Lord. May this do the work where we send it, saying that Your Word will not return to You void. It'll accomplish that which It was purposed for. And I pray this prayer of faith for these people in the Name of Jesus Christ.
92 And while we have our heads bowed, how many of you now will accept what's been said, and believe that the Word of God has come to you, and you're accepting It? Every one that raised your hand, no matter what it was for, you'll raise your hand, say, "I believe. I accept it right now. I believe I have what I asked for." God bless you. That's wonderful. That's fine. God bless you. I hope that the Word of God takes Its root in you.
93 Now, you've got... While you have your head bowed, you got a pastor here, a lovely brother, to come here and make a--a quotation like he did a few moments ago. Evangelists mustn't have all to do in the meeting. You must know your pastor, this godly man. I'm so glad to get to this people who raised their hands for these things, and give to them this lovely pastor. Let him lead you now to the deeper experiences of God for your healing and for your salvation. God bless you, brother pastor. Whatever you wish to after you pray...?...
1Ďakujem ti, pane. Dobrý večer, priatelia. Je to privilégium byť tu dnes večer v Tiftone. Toto je pre mňa také veľké prekvapenie. Povedal som nášmu dobrému priateľovi, bratovi Welch Evansovi, pred nejakým časom, keď som sa stával dosť unaveným, povedal som, „Pôjdem dolu cez Tifton na rybačku.“ Povedal som, „Keď prídem, stretnem ťa tam niekde a budeme mať (pomyslel som si) také chatové modlitebné zhromaždenie.“ A tak našiel som sa tu dnes večer v auditóriu školy. A som trochu zachrípnutý od mnohého hovorenia. Včera som mal krátku kázeň, bolo to dlhé asi len šesť hodín, to je tak dlho, ako som kázal. Tak... No, ja vás nestraším. Dnes večer nebudem tak dlho kázať. To som si istý. Ale tým, že som trochu zachrípnutý a prechádzam...
2 Ale je to privilégium tu byť a stretnúť sa s týmto milým pastorom, ktorý mal taký dobrý, vznešený úvod. A vždy sme šťastní stretnúť sa s ľuďmi.
A to, čo práve vyjadril ten brat, je absolútna pravda. Môžeme na to povedať, „Amen,“ pretože diabol je v týchto posledných dňoch ako revúci lev a chodí okolo a hľadá, čokoľvek by mohol zožrať, pretože on vie, že jeho čas je krátky. On už nemá príliš veľa času na to, aby to robil, tak on to musí robiť, zatiaľ čo na to má čas.
Páči sa mi to tu v tomto malom auditóriu. Sme veľmi vďační školskému výboru, správcovi a tým, ktorí boli ku nám takí milí a dovolili nám to mať; pre vás ľudí, ktorí ste tu a spolupracujete v tomto malom pamätnom zhromaždení. A ktokoľvek tam položil ten malý privítací koberček tam na ulici, ako som si to všimol, no, to bolo veľmi pekné. Myslím, že brat Willie, ktorý je tam, bol ten, ktorý to urobil. Cením si to.
3Možno by som rád, ak by niekedy Pán chcel, kedy by sme mohli prísť na sériu zhromaždení a byť spolu s týmto milým pastorom a ostatnými tu a urobiť zhromaždenia na štyri alebo päť večerov, kde by sme to mohli dostatočne poohlasovať a zhromaždiť spolu cirkvi, pretože, viete, my teraz potrebujeme jeden druhého viac ako kedykoľvek v celej histórii sveta, to je práve teraz: skutoční kráľovskí veriaci. My potrebujeme jeden druhého. A tak som... Je to vždy požehnanie, kdekoľvek idete a stretnete Božích ľudí. Je to všade požehnanie.
4 Vidím, že tu máme mladých, pred pár minútami som pozoroval jedného malého chlapca a dievča, ako tu sedia na predných sedadlách, sú tak veľmi milí, maličkí a tak pekne tu sedia. Páči sa mi to. Deti... Niečo na deťoch je, že sú tak nevinné a milé. Páči sa mi to. A teraz, veľmi pekne vám ďakujem, že ste dnes večer prišli. No, pomyslel som si, že by to bolo dnes večer pekné, ak by sme sa len neponáhľali a zasiali nejaké semeno Slova Pánovho.
A včera som kázal týchto šesť hodín na tému, „Originálne semeno Slova.“ A prešli sme to od Genesis po Zjavenie, tam a späť, je to šesťhodinová páska: čím bol Boží program, čím on je, a to, ako to vypovedané Slovo Božie je semenom Božím. A Biblia hovorí (tam v Lukášovi), že Slovo Božie je semenom, ktoré vyšiel rozsievač rozsievať.
5 A teraz vieme, že akékoľvek Slovo, ktoré je zasiate, ono musí byť poliate predtým, ako vyženie a vydá úrodu. Ale ak tá voda padá na zem bez ohľadu na to, aké semeno je v tej zemi, to prinesie svoj druh, pretože Boh povedal v Genesis 1:11, „Nech každé semeno prinesie svoj druh.“ Aby každá vec... A keď tá voda padá (Židom 6. kapitola), zisťujeme, že dážď často padá na zem, aby ju zavlažil, odial, aby vydala ovocie. Ale kúkoľ a bodliaky a tie veci, ktoré sú v zemi, vychádzajú pomocou tej istej vody. Ale poznáte ich podľa ich ovocia.
Tak isto Kresťania sú poznaní podľa ovocia Ducha Svätého. To, čo dominuje v živote Kresťana, dokazuje, čím on je. A ovocím Ducha je láska, radosť, pokoj, viera, dlhozhovievavosť, dobrota, miernosť, trpezlivosť v Duchu Svätom. Toto ovocie sa samo prejavuje cez Kresťanov.
6Včera sme zistili, že v tom, že semeno bolo zasiate, to semeno rôznic, to bolo... Satan zasial rôznice, keď povedal Eve klamstvo. A zistili sme, že neveriť jednému Božiemu vypovedanému Slovu spôsobilo každú smrť, ktorá kedy bola, každú chorobu a všetky tieto problémy: to bolo len neveriť jednému Slovu. To nebolo tak, že ona tomu vôbec neverila. Ona sa to snažila s niečím zmiešať, ale nič sa nezmieša s Božím Slovom. To musí byť, čím to je, pretože to je originálne semeno.
Boh je večný a Boh je Slovom. „Na počiatku bolo Slovo a to Slovo bolo u Boha a to Slovo bol Boh. A to Slovo sa stalo telom medzi nami.“
7Tak Boh a Jeho Slovo sú tou istou bytosťou. Pomyslite na to. Verím, že Boh bude jedného dňa súdiť svet, nie skrze nejaký kongres, nie skrze nejakú cirkev, ale skrze Svoje Slovo bude súdiť svet. Ak by sme mali vziať cirkevnú organizáciu, cirkev, ktorá z nich má pravdu? Oni sa tak veľmi líšia jedna od druhej. Katolíci sa líšia od protestantov, protestanti sa líšia od ortodoxných. Ortodoxní... No, každý jeden sa líši. Tak, ktorí z nich budú mať pravdu? Mali by sme v mysli ustavične zamiešanie. Človek by nevedel, čo má robiť. A spravodlivý Boh, sudca celej zeme, nám istotne dáva niečo, skrze čo máme byť súdení.
8Tak prečítal som v Biblii, že, „Nebesia a zem pominú, ale Božie Slovo nikdy nepominie.“ Prečítal som v Biblii, že ktokoľvek niečo z toho vezme alebo niečo k tomu pridá, jeho časť bude vzatá z Knihy Života, a to tam presne tak stojí. Mnohí sa snažia povedať, že to bolo pozmenené, bolo to upravené takto či onak. Ja tomu neverím. Verím, že musí byť nejaký druh štandardu, skrze ktorý bude Boh súdiť cirkev alebo svet. Musí byť nejaký štandard. Nemôže to byť cirkevná organizácia, pretože oni sa líšia. Kto by vedel, čo má robiť? Ale existuje štandard, a to je Jeho Slovo. Verím, že Boh bdie nad Svojím Slovom. Verím, že to Slovo je spečatené presne tak, ako to Boh chce, Biblia. To je Božie Slovo ľuďom. To je ten dôvod, prečo verím v to Slovo. A verím, že Slovo je semeno, a ak je to semeno zasiate do správnej zeme a zavlažené Svätým Duchom, to vydá svoj druh. Akékoľvek zasľúbenie, ktoré Boh urobil, Boh to aj urobí.
9Keď vidíme, ako Boh uzdravuje človeka... Tu pred pár dňami v našej cirkvi, išiel som kázať v nedeľu (minulú nedeľu, teraz je to pred týždňom, týždeň pred touto nedeľou). Priviedli tam jedno malé dievča na nosidlách. A oni mi v noci po ceste zavolali a povedali, „To dievča nemôže žiť.“ S tou rakovinou to bolo tak zlé. Asi sedemnásťročné dievča... „Nevie sa tam ani dostať. Zomrie pred tým, ako sa tam dostane.“ Bol to žalostný prípad. Také veľmi milé dieťa, sedemnásťročné.
Aby som niečo svojej cirkvi dokázal, vôbec som sa toho dieťaťa ani nedotkol. Nikdy som sa toho dieťaťa ani nedotkol. Vstúpil som dnu, ona ležala na nosidlách... Samozrejme, tam boli aj iní chorí ľudia, ale mňa zaujímalo toto dieťa, aby som zachytil jej ducha, keď som k nej hovoril. A vyzeralo to, že ona je veľmi milé dievča. Nevidel som žiaden dôvod, prečo by to dieťa malo naplniť predčasný hrob. A tak to musel byť diabol, ktorý sa jej snažil vziať život. A tak som sa toho dieťaťa vôbec ani nedotkol, išiel som rovno za kazateľňu so Slovom a zostával som rovno so Slovom. A to Slovo ju ihneď uzdravilo, až ona vstala a odišla a je teraz v poriadku, žije tak ako ktokoľvek iný, nevedia nájsť po tom nikde ani stopu. Vôbec som sa jej ani nedotkol.
Vidíte, Slovo vyšlo a ona uverila tomu Slovu a Slovo je Boží život a Božia moc. A Slovo je to, čo to robí. Slovo uzdravuje chorých.
10Potom poviete, „No, Ježiš uzdravoval chorých.“ On je Slovom. On je Slovom. Keď prijímaš Slovo, prijímaš Ježiša, lebo On je Slovo. „Slovo bolo učinené telom a prebývalo medzi nami.“ Veríme tomu, že? Každý kúsok. Veríme, že Kristus je Božie Slovo, ktoré je prejavené, a veríme, že Jeho nevesta musí byť tým istým. Veríme, že ona musí veriť každý kúsok zo Slova, a mať to Slovo v sebe, pretože ona je častou toho tela. Ona je telom a On je hlavou.
A keď On zomrel a vstal z mŕtvych a bol vzkriesený a posadil sa na výsostiach majestátu Božieho na Jeho tróne, po pravici majestátu, potom... a my sme Jeho vyslancami. A my sa považujeme za mŕtvych a pochovaných v krste a vzkriesení s Ním a teraz posadení spolu s Ním v nebeských miestach v Kristu Ježišovi. To by malo spôsobiť, že budeme všetci vykrikovať, že? Pomyslite na to. My sme, nie, že budeme, my sme teraz. Teraz sme synovia Boží. Teraz sme dcéry Božie. Nie, že budeme posadení. Teraz sme posadení. Nemôže...
11Ježiš povedal, že Písma sa musia naplniť. Každé Slovo sa musí vyplniť. Dnes sme sa dostali tak ďaleko od toho. Miešali sme sa s vyznaniami, a tak ďalej, až sme vyšli do divokého vystrájania práve tak, ako Biblia hovorí, že budeme. Presne tak.
A Adam tam predtým, ako sa dostal ku svojej žene, ona bola tehotná so zlým semenom. Ona prijala diablove klamstvo a snažila sa to zmiešať s Božím Slovom, a to zapríčinilo smrť. Prvé dieťa, ktoré sa z nej narodilo, malo smrť. Odvtedy malo každé dieťa smrť. Manželka Jehovu, keď ju On vyviedol z Egypta a posvätil ju a začal s ňou na tej ceste, čo ona urobila? Urobila tú istú vec. Jehova vzal svoju manželku do zasľúbenej zeme. A tam na ceste počúvla falošného proroka menom Balám, a čo urobila? „No, nie je medzi nami žiaden rozdiel. Poďme a zjednoťme sa spolu a buďme jednou rodinou.“
12To je to, čo urobila nevesta so svetom. Zjednotila sa so svetom a svojimi vyznaniami a vecami a zaprela Božie Slovo hovoriac, „Dni zázrakov pominuli. Neexistuje niečo také, ako je krst Duchom Svätým.“ A kde je teraz? Rozvedená. Práve... Ježišova nevesta urobila to isté, čo urobila nevesta Jehovu, a to isté, čo urobila Adamova nevesta. Áno, presne tak. Biblia hovorí, že na ústach troch svedkov nech je postavené každé Slovo. Existujú tri cirkvi, tri nevesty. Všetky urobili to isté.
13 Ale napriek tomu všetkému existuje skutočná Nevesta, ktorú Boh privádza a má každý kúsok z každej... Zakaždým, ako tam bola reformácia, bolo tam určité množstvo slova, ktoré bolo rozšírené. A každá generácia dostáva svoj čas. Všimli ste si to niekedy? Bude nejaký muž Boží, ktorý príde a zasiahne s ohňom Božím, a bude veľké prebudenie, ktoré sa preženie krajinou. A čo sa deje? Hneď potom, ako oni uchopia ideu toho človeka a urobia z toho denomináciu a urobia tam vyznania a zmiešajú to s tým, a ona tam zomiera a už nikdy viac nepovstáva (To je pravda). Vždy to tak bolo. Vždy, zakaždým.
14Ale každá generácia, čo ona dostáva? Svoju príležitosť pri čerstvom Božom Slove zakaždým, tak ako Luther pod ospravedlnením, tak ako Wesley pod posväteným, letničné hnutie pod krstom Svätého Ducha. Rozumiete? Každý jeden dostáva svoju šancu. Čo potom robia tí ľudia, ktorí nasledujú tých veľkých reformátorov? Robia z toho denomináciu, organizujú to, miešajú to s vyznaniami, trošku tu a trošku tam. Prichádza nová skupina vyškolených učencov s kopou psychológie, presne tak, ako sa Eva snažila nájsť nejaké nové svetlo a zmiešať to so Slovom Božím: smrť. A tam odišla organizácia a duchovne zomrela. To je presne tak. To je to, ako to vždy bolo.
15Dobre. Verte alebo nie... Možno si to nemyslíte, ale idem dnes večer hovoriť (Ak bude Pán chcieť), na tému, „Znamenie semena času konca.“ Aký druh znamenia bude mať znamenie semena v čase konca? Predtým, ako prečítame Slovo, skloňme svoje hlavy a prehovorme k Autorovi toho.
Som dnes večer zvedavý, keď máme sklonené svoje hlavy, keď si uvedomujem, že žijeme v tieňoch príchodu Syna Božieho... Som zvedavý, či sú tu dnes večer nejaké žiadosti, niečo, čo by ste chceli dať Bohu vedieť, že ste úprimní a že máte niečo na svojom srdci, čo by ste chceli, aby pre vás Boh urobil? Len zodvihnite svoje ruky k Nemu a povedzte, „Toto som ja, Bože. Chcem toto a toto.“ Ďakujem.
16Náš nebeský Otče, pristupujeme ku Tvojmu trónu milosti, nikdy ku Tvojmu trónu súdu. Bože, my netúžime po súde, pretože by sme pri takom tróne nemohli obstáť. Ale sme tak radi, že bol niekto, kto sa tam postavil za nás, Tvoj Syn, Pán Ježiš. On sa tam postavil za nás a obstál pri súdoch, aby sme tak my mohli mať právo ku trónu milosti. A my dnes pristupujeme v Jeho Mene.
A On Sám povedal (A každé Sovo, ktoré prichádza od Neho, bolo Písmom, no, ono musí byť vyplnené). On povedal, „Ak budete prosiť čokoľvek Môjho Otca v Mojom mene, Ja to urobím.“ Tak, že my vieme, že to Slovo je pravdivé, a my prichádzame v Ježišovom Mene, aby sme prosili nášho nebeského Otca, aby nám udelil tú odpúšťajúcu milosť zo Svojho milujúceho trónu milosti.
17My Ho dnes večer prosíme, aby nám urobil Svoje Slovo jasným a známym, a aby nám zjavil tú hodinu, ku ktorej sa približujeme, pretože my sa nechceme potknúť ako niekto, kto nevie, kam ide. Človek, ktorý nevie, kam ide, sa potkne. A Ty si povedal, že sme deťmi Svetla a mali by sme vedieť, kam ideme, krok za krokom, ako nesieme svetlo. To neukazuje celú cestu až do cieľa, ale tak, ako robíme kroky. Modlím sa, Otče, ako robíme dnes večer tento krok smerom k tomuto zhromaždeniu, aby sme videli, čo je Božím zámerom pre nás, že sme tu. A modlím sa k Tebe, ó, Pane, aby každá ruka, ktorá bola dnes večer v tomto zhromaždení zodvihnutá, aby ten zámer tej prosby, ktorá je za tou rukou, bol zodpovedaný. Ak je to kvôli spaseniu, Bože, udeľ to dnes večer, aby to prijali. Ak sú to problémy v domácnosti, narovnaj domy, Pane, daruj pokoj. Ak je to kvôli niekomu, kto je rozrušený, udeľ Tvoju milosť, Otče. Ak je to pre niekoho, kto je chorý, nech tie uzdravujúce Slová Božie padnú dnes večer dolu hlboko do ich sŕdc, až to prinesie žatvu dobrého Božského zdravia do zajtrajška. Udeľ to, Pane. Vypočuj nás.
18 Predkladáme ti dnes večer toto Slovo s nami samými a s týmito textami, aby si Ty z toho mohol vyviesť kontext a zjavil nám tie veci, ktoré by sme mali poznať. Požehnaj týchto ľudí. Požehnaj túto školu. V tomto dni, keď by niekto povedal, že zhromaždenie usporiada medzidenominačná skupina, oni to chladne odmietnu. Ale tento správca nám otvoril dvere. Modlíme sa, Bože, aby si ho požehnal a dal mu poznať, že to je napísané v Písmach, „Nakoľko ste to urobili jednému z mojich najmenších, Mne ste to urobili.“
„Kedy si bol v potrebe a my sme Ti poslúžili?“ A Ty si povedal, „Ja poviem, že tak, ako ste to urobili týmto, Mne ste to urobili.“
Modlím sa, nebeský Otče, aby z tejto školy vyšli mocní, pomazaní kazatelia pre ten deň pred nami.
Modlím sa za každú osobu, ktorá je tu, za ich pastorov, požehnaj ich cirkvi, Pane, nech sa prelomí v ich komunite a tu medzi ľuďmi veľké prebudenie a nech spôsobí, že mnohí budú spasení. Uzdrav chorých a postihnutých. Príjmi slávu, prosíme to v Ježišovom Mene. Amen.
19Mám také veľmi zvláštne malé miesto Písma... Keď prídete domov, chcel by som, aby ste si prečítali celú tú kapitolu. Je to Ámos, 3. kapitola a 7. verš. Veľmi zvláštny text. Ale viete, Boh koná veci tak trochu zvláštne a divne, koná v predivných spôsoboch, tajomnými cestami, ako vykonáva svoje divy. Ámos 3:7.
Lebo Pán Hospodin nečiní ničoho, krome keď zjavil svoju tajnú radu svojim služobníkom prorokom.
Tak ten text, ktorý by som chcel ku tomuto použiť, je toto: „Semeno znamenia času konca.“ A ako som vám už povedal, včera som kázal tak veľa o semene, lebo to je Slovo... Všetky veci začínajú v Genesis, pretože Genesis znamená počiatok, alebo je to kapitola semena v Biblii. Všetko, čo dnes máme na zemi, pôvod toho započal v Genesis.
20 No, dnes máme veci, ktoré sa nerozpočali v Genesis, pretože sú skrížené. Čokoľvek skrížené je podfuk. Nie je to na nič dobré. Nedokáže sa to samo zreprodukovať. Čokoľvek, čo je skrížené, je človekom vytvorené a nemôže sa to znovu prinavrátiť.
Ako som už mnohokrát povedal, vezmime napríklad kríženie dobytka. Keď napríklad vezmete osla a kobylu a oni zrodia mula, ale ten mul sa nedokáže sám zreprodukovať. On nevie, kto je jeho otec a kto matka. On je zmiešaný.
21Vezmime dnes pšenicu. Je to hybrid. Oni hovoria, že je to omnoho krajšie, má to väčší klas, ale nie je to na nič. Videli ste, čo, „Reader Digest práve o tom napísal? Ak budú ďalej ženy jesť kuratá a hovädzinu a veci, ktoré sú skrížené, za dvadsať rokov od teraz prestane ľudská rasa existovať: ženy už viac nebudú môcť mať deti. To je pravda. Kríženie, nie je to na nič dobré.
Vezmite kukuricu, skrížte ju, budete mať veľký klas. Ale čo to robí? V poriadku, ak to chcete jesť a mať veľký klas. Ale čo sa tomu deje? Zasaďte to znovu, to sa nedokáže samo znovu zreprodukovať. Nie je to na nič dobré. Je to mŕtve. Preto čokoľvek, čo nebolo na počiatku Bohom vypovedané, je hybrid.
22A to je spôsob, ako sa ľudia dostávajú preč od Slova Božieho. Stáva sa to hybridnou záležitosťou. Musí to zomrieť. Nedokáže to zrodiť znovu svoj druh do života. Cirkev, ktorá odmietne veriť Božiemu Slovu, je hybridná cirkev s dogmami, vyznaniami, náukami, ktoré nie sú podľa Písma. Taká cirkev nedokáže zrodiť Duchom naplnené dieťa, pretože to je hybrid. Nie je to na nič dobré. Môže byť väčšia, môže mať veľké steny, krásne lavice, veľké zvony, plyšové sedadlá, ale to neznamená vôbec nič. Duchovne je mŕtva. To je pravda. Nedokáže zrodiť Duchom naplnené deti, pretože ona sama je mŕtva.
23Hovoril som teda na tú tému šesť hodín a dnes večer sa idem znovu vrátiť ku tomu istému znameniu semena času konca... No, všetci múdri ľudia, ak je človek vo svojej hlave v poriadku, on sa vždy snaží nájsť niečo, čo je pred ním. Všetci z nás to chcú vedieť. „Čo je ďalší krok, ktorý mám urobiť? Kam idem odtiaľto?“ To je ako človek, ktorý prechádza prúd vody. On vstúpi na skalu, potom sa obzerá, aby videl, kam urobí ten ďalší krok, lebo on ne... On nemôže len hocikde skočiť. Ak to urobí, utopí sa. Musí pozorovať, kam ide. „Potom, ako prekročím toto, potom kam?“ S nami všetkými je to tak. To bol ten krik ľudskej rasy počas všetkých vekov, „Kam odtiaľto?“
24Kráľ Anglicka... jednej noci, keď ho na druhé ráno pokrstil jeden svätý, sedeli pri ohni na veľkom akoby námestí. A bola tam taká veľká pec s ohňom a s roštom (ako by sme to nazvali), akurát to bolo veľké, obrovské miesto, kde ležali veľké kláty. Ten svätý sa snažil kráľovi hovoriť o Bohu a jeden malý vrabček zakončil jeho kázeň. Ten vtáčik sa objavil z tmy a vletel do toho svetla, a potom sa vrátil späť zo svetla zase do tmy. Ten svätý sa postavil a povedal kráľovi, „Odkiaľ prišiel a kam odišiel?“
To je to, čo chceme vedieť. Odkiaľ sme prišli a čo tu robíme a kam potom odtiaľto ideme? Tak, oni... Všetka veda, ktorú máme, bez ohľadu na to, koľko kostí sme vykopali, bez ohľadu na to, koľko kníh sme napísali, pri tom všetkom neexistuje ani jedna kniha, ktorá ti dokáže povedať, odkiaľ pochádzaš, čím si a kam ideš: len jedna Kniha, a to je Biblia. Ona ti hovorí, odkiaľ prichádzaš, kvôli čomu si tu a kam ideš. A tak, ak chceme vedieť, kam máme odtiaľto ísť, vezmi tú jedinú knihu, ktorá nám to dokáže povedať.
25Vykopávajú staré kosti a vykopávky, a tak ďalej, a nemôžu dokázať nič. Božie Slovo má odpoveď. Ono má odpoveď na všetko, čo sa pýtame. Je to v Božej Knihe. Ľudia sa často divili. Niekedy ideme k Písmam a čítame ich a divíme sa nad nimi. Ale nemáme sa diviť. Nedokážete ich vysvetliť, vy im musíte veriť.
Žiaden človek nemôže vedecky dokázať Boha. Ak by ste mohli Boha dokázať vedecky, potom by to už viac nebolo z viery. My máme Bohu veriť a viera nie je vedecká.
Čo ak by Mojžiš odtrhol z toho stromu niektoré listy a povedal by, „Myslím, že to vezmem do laboratória, aby som zistil, aká je v tom chemikália, že to nezhorí.“ Vidíte, Boh by k nemu nikdy neprehovoril. On to nevedel. Jediná vec, ktorú urobil, bolo, že si vyzul obuv, bol tam v úctivosti a Boh k nemu hovoril späť.
My nedokážeme tieto zasľúbenia Božie dokázať vedecky, ale my sa dívame späť a zisťujeme, kedy sa v akom období každé jedno stalo presne tak, ako Boh povedal, že sa stane. Tak dnes večer v úcte a v rešpekte k Jeho Slovu, len sa na chvíľu posaďme a pozrime sa na to a vidzme, kam ideme, čo je tým účelom. Kvôli čomu sme tu. O čom to všetko je.
26Prednedávnom som bol tu na západe a bol som v dome jedného muža, ktorý ma pozval na večeru. A on povedal, „Pán Branham, vidím, že obdivuješ tú sochu, ten obraz,“ alebo nie obraz, ale to bolo také vyrezávané drevo, taká plaketa nad krbom.
Povedal som, „Áno, pane, obdivujem.“ A bol to taký starý volský voz alebo taký zakrytý voz, príves s volmi a vpredu bol človek, malý chlapec, ktorý tam sedel na sedadle so svojou mamou, a oni cestovali.
On povedal, „To bol môj otec a matka a ten malý chlapec, ktorý tam sedel, to som ja.“ Povedal, „Prišli sme sem na tomto volskom voze.“ Povedal, „Ale odvtedy sa nám tak darilo.“ On povedal, „Chcem, aby si išiel sem na dvor.“ Povedal... Zabudol som už, koľko tisíc árov tam mal na tom ranči vo vlastníctve. Povedal, „Kúpil som to, keď som bol mladý.“ A on povedal, „Potom, po všetkom tom som rozširoval ten ranč na západ, kde som mal vlastníctvo, a rozširoval som ho na juh, kde som mal vlastníctvo.“ Povedal, „Vidíš tam ten dym?“
„Vidím.“
Povedal, „To je mesto.“ Zabudol som, koľko majetku tam mal.
Povedal, „Som prezidentom v banke, ktorá tam je.“ A hovoril mi o všetkom, čo mal.
27Chvíľu som ho počúval a povedal som mu. „Rád by som sa ťa opýtal jednu otázku. Ukázal si mi na východ a na západ a ukázal si mi tie ranče a mesto, ale chcel by som, aby si sa pozrel hore týmto smerom a povedal mi, koľko toho vlastníš tam hore.“ To je tá hlavná vec, pretože jedného dňa opustíš všetko to, čo vlastníš tu dolu. A potom, kam pôjdeš odtiaľto? To je tá hlavná vec.
Toto je tu veľmi krátky pobyt, ale tam to je večný pobyt. Tak myslím si, že by sme mali zvážiť, kde strávime večnosť. Ak dokážeme zabezpečiť a usporiadať naše rodiny, a tak ďalej, tu na zemi, dať im domy, domovy a pohodlie a vzdelanie, to sú veci, ktoré by sme mali robiť. Ale tá hlavná vec, ktorú by sme mali urobiť, nechávame ju nedorobenou, až sa dostávame na koniec cesty a potápame sa potom vo večnosti nevediac nič o Bohu, o Jeho pláne spasenia a vykupujúcej milosti Ježiša Krista. To je žalostná vec urobiť to, ale robíme to.
28 Múdri ľudia, keď zistia, že sú stvoreniami času, oni sa zamýšľajú, čo je potom, ako čas pominie? O chvíľu budem hovoriť o mužovi, ktorý sa volá Jób. To je tá najstaršia kniha v Biblii. Rozumieme, že Jób bol vo svojom dni jedným z najmúdrejších mužov na svete. On hovorí, že keď išiel na trhy, tak mladé kniežatá sa pred ním skláňali kvôli jeho múdrosti. On bol veľkým človekom.
Ale ten človek si začína uvedomovať, že všetka jeho veľkosť, on sa zamýšľal, čo bude potom, ako sa toto všetko skončí, čo to bude potom. On sa divil, čo sa stane potom.
Tak on potom hovorí a začína pozorovať Božie stvorenie. On vedel, že všetky veci boli stvorené Slovom Božím. A tiež si všimol, povedal, „Ak strom zomrie, má nádej, bude znovu žiť.“
29Ak si všimnete prírodu, Boh má veľkolepý spôsob, ako vyjadruje Svoje pocity ľuďom, aby si oni boli istí, či už majú Bibliu alebo niečo iné, že sa im On Sám vyjadruje v prírode.
Pozorujte na chvíľu slnko, keď ráno vychádza. Čo sa tomu slnku deje? Je to malé dieťa narodené na východe a asi o desiatej hodine je tínedžerom. Na poludnie je vo svojej sile. Popoludní je vo svojom strednom veku. A večer zachádza a je hotovo. Či je to koniec slnka? Nie. Boh má pre slnko zámer, tak to slnko sa vracia a na ďalšie ráno povstáva znovu. O čom to hovorí? Narodenie, život, smrť, zmŕtvychvstanie.
30Pozrite sa na svoje kvety. Všimol som si dnes, ako som sem prichádzal, kvety, aké sú krásne. Oni sú tu za určitým účelom. Oni sú vypovedanými Božími slovami. Boh ich vypovedal do existencie. A keď to urobil, pozrite, čo sa deje. Oni sú krásne, ako tam stoja na vašom dvore.
Po chvíli na nich udrie mráz. Mladé, staré, v strednom veku, akonáhle ich ten mráz udrie, je to smrť. Oni skláňajú svoju hlávku a čo sa deje? To malé čierne semienko toho druhu, tam z nich vypadáva. Verte alebo nie, Boh má pre nich pohrebný sprievod. Padá dážď, to sú slzy, takpovediac, padá to z oblohy a pochováva to semeno.
Prichádza zima. Tie piestiky sú preč. Stonka je preč. Cibuľka je preč, semeno zamŕza, puká, vychádza dužina. Či je to koniec toho semena? Nie veru. Nech len zasvieti to teplé slnko, ktoré prináša zmŕtvychvstanie všetkému botanickému životu. Akonáhle začne slnko svietiť na zem a zohrievať, tam niekde v tom semene je zárodok života a ono znovu ožíva. Prečo? Ono slúžilo účelu Božiemu a Boh má pre neho spôsob, aby znovu ožilo.
My sme tu pre nejaký účel, ale my musíme slúžiť tomu účelu: vybrať si smrť alebo život. Tak my sme tu za určitým účelom, ale my musíme tomu účelu slúžiť. To je slúženie Bohu, pretože my sme synmi a dcérami Božími.
31Takže Jób pozoroval stvorenie. On videl, že keď prišla smrť, to nebol koniec toho. On videl, že po smrti prichádza znovu život. Život... Akonáhle prišlo slnko do správnej pozície, znovu tam bol život. „No,“ povedal, „ak je to semeno vypovedaným semenom alebo vypovedaným Slovom Božím, a ono slúži svojmu účelu a zomiera... ale,“ povedal, „človek,“ dívam sa teraz na niektoré Písma tu v Jóbovi 14, „ale človek si líha a vydáva ducha a pomíňa sa. Jeho synovia prichádzajú smútiť, on o tom nevie. Kde On je? Ó, keby si ma len ukryl v hrobe a zachoval ma v tajnom mieste, kým neprejde Tvoj hnev.“
Jób povedal, „Vidím, ako zomiera kvet. Slúži svojmu účelu a povstáva. Vidím strom, ako zomiera. Na jeseň v tom roku púšťa svoje listy.“
32Všimli ste si niekedy strom? On vydá svoj list, a potom slúži svoj čas cez leto. Prichádza jeseň a predtým, ako príde mráz, ten list sa začína sfarbovať na žlto, červeno, hnedo. Po nejakom čase padá zo stromu, odpadáva. Je to jeho koniec? Nie. Čo sa deje? Ten život, ktorý bol v tom liste, ide späť do koreňa stromu, odkiaľ pochádza. Čo to potom robí? Jar v roku s tým prináša vo zmŕtvychvstaní nový list toho istého života, ktorý sa navracia späť v tom novom liste.
A Kresťania visia na strome života. A keď život opúšťa toto staré hriešne telo, vracia sa to späť ku Bohu, ktorý ho dal, aby to prišlo znovu v novom, pretože to slúžilo svojmu účelu.
33Tu prednedávnom, bol som dolu v štáte Kentucky... Mal som ísť vlastne smerom, kam som mal nasmerované na sever, hore do štátu Kentucky. Poľoval som ja a pán Wood, jeden z dôverníkov, ktorý je tu dnes večer s nami, mal som mať zhromaždenie v malom meste, ktoré sa volá Acton, na metodistickej pôde.
V jeden večer sme tam hovorili a Pán robil veľké veci a mali sme zhromaždenie s uzdravovaním a modlili sa za chorých. Vy všetci ste boli na tom ďalšom zhromaždení a viete, čo sa dialo.
A ja nedokážem uzdraviť, žiaden človek to nedokáže. Boh to už urobil. Vy tomu musíte len veriť. Tak On má spôsob, že On zasľúbil v tých posledných dňoch dar, ktorý bude rozpoznávať duchov, a tak ďalej, dar, ktorý funguje. Vieme to na sto percent, pretože to je Božie Slovo, ktoré manifestuje Jeho zasľúbenie na tento posledný deň.
34A bola tam nejaká žena. V tej krajine som nikdy pred ým nebol. A bola tam jedna žena a sedela v publiku a Duch Svätý prišiel medzi ľudí a začal vyvolávať jedného človeka, druhého, a hovoriť k ľuďom. Bol to náš Pán Ježiš, Jeho Slovo, ktoré bolo prejavené v tele Jeho cirkvi. A potom, keď začal hovoriť, Ježiš stál na tej pôde, poznal myšlienky ich sŕdc, hovoril k nim, povedal ľuďom o rôznych veciach, ako vy, čitatelia Biblie, viete: zasľúbil tú istú vec, že sa znovu v posledných dňoch zopakuje, bolo to zasľúbené skrze Jeho Písma, že sa tak stane.
35 Tak chcem, aby ste si všimli. Keď sa to dialo, tam ďaleko vzadu niekde na tej pôde toho stanového zhromaždenia plakala nejaká pani. Sedelo tam stovky a stovky ľudí a jedna pani plakala. Všimnite si, Duch Svätý išiel k tej pani a povedal jej, „Ty plačeš ohľadne svojej sestry. Volá sa tak a tak. Žije na určitom mieste. Máš vo svojej kabelke vreckovku, ktorú si si tam dala predtým, ako si odišla z domu. Je to takéto a takéto, vreckovka. Vezmi tú vreckovku a polož ju na svoju sestru. Ona zomiera na rakovinu a „Tak hovorí Pán“, ona bude žiť.“
Tá žena odišla a položila tú vreckovku v ten večer na tú pani. Na druhý deň ráno bola uzdravená.
36Takže, bol som... Bola veľmi horúca sezóna. Poľovanie na veveričky... Ako viete, vy, moji kolegovia, poľovníci na veveričky, praskanie listov vyplaší veveričky a my... Bolo tak sucho a my sme museli ísť na miesto, kde boli nejaké bútľaviny, a museli sme tade prejsť cez také jamy, aby sme prešli cez tie lesy. Meno môjho priateľa je pán Wood. Sedí tu po mojej pravej ruke.
A on povedal, „Poznám jedného človeka, ktorý má pôdu o rozlohe mnoho árov.“ Ale povedal, „S ním je to veľmi, veľmi ťažké.“ Povedal, „On je neveriaci.“ A povedal, „On neverí v Boha.“ A povedal, „Robí si z toho žarty.“ A povedal, „Ale on ma pozná a pozná môjho otca.“ A povedal, „Ak by som tam išiel a opýtal sa ho, či by sme mohli na jeho pozemku poľovať...“
Povedal som, „Poďme.“
37Doviezli sme sa až tam do tej časti krajiny, išli sme na kraj cesty a videli sme, že tam pod tieňom jablone sedia dvaja starí muži. On povedal, „Tam je. To je ten napravo.“
Povedal som, „Pretože som kazateľ, radšej zostanem v aute.“
Tak on vyšiel von a povedal, „Dobrý deň.“
Ten muž povedal, „Poď sem, sadni si.“
Povedal, „Volám sa Wood.“ Povedal, „Chcel by som len vedieť, či by vám vadilo, keby sme na chvíľu poľovali na vašom pozemku.“
On povedal, „Ktorý Wood si ty?“
On povedal, „Som syn Jima Wooda.“ On povedal, „Jim Wood je môj priateľ a hociktoré z jeho detí môžu poľovať, kdekoľvek chcú.“
On povedal, „Ďakujem.“
On povedal, „Len sa zamýšľam,“ povedal, „ktorý z nich si ty?“
On povedal, „Ja som Banks.“ Chvíľu s ním hovoril a pán Wood povedal, „Chcel by som vedieť, či by to bolo v poriadku, keby som so sebou vzal svojho pastora.“
On povedal, „Snáď mi nechceš povedať, že si klesol tak nízko, až si musíš so sebou voziť kazateľa, kamkoľvek ideš.“
On povedal, „Môj pastor je tam.“
38Pomyslel som si, že bude lepšie, keď vyjdem z auta. A tak som vyšiel z auta a prišiel som k nim a povedal, „Dobrý deň.“
On povedal, „Dobrý deň. Ty si kazateľ?“
Povedal som, „Áno, pane.“
A on povedal, „No, dobre.“ On povedal, „Ja som vraj neveriaci.“
Povedal som, „No, nie je sa čím chváliť. Že?“
On povedal, „Hádam nie.“ Povedal, „Ale to, čo mám proti vám, že hovoríte o niečom a neviete, o čom.“
„Ó.“ Povedal som. „Je to tak?“
On povedal, „Veru áno. Počujem ich, ako kričia o tomto a o Bohu a o všetkom možnom.“ Povedal, „Neexistuje niečo také.“
Povedal som, „Aha.“ Povedal som, „No, dobre. Samozrejme, viete, ako to je, pane,“ povedal som, „každý má svoj názor.“ A rozmýšľal som vo svojom srdci takto, „Teraz, Pane, daj mi niečo, aby som pomohol tomuto človeku. On je nepochybne úprimný.“
A on povedal, „Počul som len jedného kazateľa v celom svojom živote, ktorého by som rád počul... Počul som o ňom.“
A povedal som, „Kto to je, pane?“ On povedal, „Tu asi pred dvomi rokmi bol jeden kazateľ dolu v meste, ktoré sa volá Acton.“ On povedal, „A jedna pani, volala sa tak a tak, ktorá bývala tu na kopci, ležala tam asi dva roky s rakovinou. Ja a moja žena... Nevedeli ju už viac položiť na posteľnú misu, museli používať plachtovú podložku.“ A povedal, „Boli sme tam vtedy ráno.“ A povedal, „Lekár deň pred tým povedal, že ona to nevydrží do druhého rána.“
39„Mala rakovinu v žalúdku. Bola úplne zožraná. Nedokázala už piť ani jačmennú vodu a nepila, nepila ju už týždne. Dávali jej glukózu cez žily, až jej žily zlyhávali, a povedali, že jej už niet pomoci.“
A povedal, „Jej sestra bola počúvať toho kazateľa kázať a ten kazateľ tu nikoho nepoznal, nikdy tu nebol a povedal jej, čo jej je a čo je jej sestre, a povedal o vreckovke, ktorú mala, aby ju položila na tú ženu.“ A povedal, „Ten večer som si pomyslel, že tam mali Armádu spásy, niekde tam, lebo tak veľmi vykrikovali.“ A povedal, „Na ďalšie ráno sme sa tam išli pozrieť, či je mŕtva.“ A povedal, „Keď sme tam prišli, ona bola hore, piekla jablkové koláče a jedla ich.“ A povedal, „Dokonca urobila aj prácu susedom.“ On povedal, „Teraz...“
Povedal som, „Čo je na tom také divné?“
40On povedal, „No, tu je to, čo by som chcel vedieť. Ak kedy raz uvidím toho kazateľa, opýtam sa ho, čo mu povedalo ohľadne tej ženy a že bude uzdravená.“
„Ó.“ Povedal som, „Veru tak.“ Mal som na sebe krv od veveričiek a špinavé bokombrady asi takéto dlhé, viete, a povedal som, „Nevyzerám teraz veľmi ako kazateľ.“
On povedal, „No, vyzeráš ľudskejšie.“ A povedal som, „Áno, pane.“ A tak som povedal, „Môžem si dať jedno z týchto jabĺk?“ Všade na nich boli malé sršne.
A on povedal, „Áno.“ Jedno som zodvihol a odhryzol si. A on povedal, „Poslúž si. Sršne ich požierajú.“
A povedal som, „Ďakujem.“ A odhryzol som si. Povedal som, „To je chutné jablko.“
On povedal, „Áno.“ Povedal, „Tento starý strom ich pre mňa už veľa vyprodukoval.“
A povedal som, „Rozumiem.“ A povedal som, „Aký starý je ten strom?“
Povedal, „Má asi štyridsať rokov.“ Povedal, „Zasadil som ho, bola to výmena.“
41A ja som povedal, „Ááá.“ Povedal som, „Všimol som si, že všetky jablká z toho odpadávajú a listy tiež opadávajú. On povedal, „Áno, tak to chodí.“
A povedal som, „Chcem sa vás niečo opýtať.“ On povedal, „Dobre, pýtaj sa.“ Povedal.
Povedal som, „Čo spôsobuje... No, nemali sme ešte žiaden mráz.“ Povedal som, „Je len polovica augusta. Nebudeme mať mráz asi do októbra alebo novembra.“ Povedal som, „Ale tu uprostred augusta tie listy opadávajú z toho stromu.“ Povedal som, „Čo spôsobuje, že tie listy opadávajú?“
„No,“ povedal. „Miazga ich opúšťa.“
Povedal som, „Čo ak ich tam miazga neopustí?“ On povedal, „No, to by počas zimy ten strom zabilo. Ten zárodok života je v tej miazge.“ Povedal, „Ak by to... To by ten strom zabilo, zomrel by.“
Povedal som „Veru tak.“ Povedal som, „Preto ide tá miazga dolu do koreňov, kde je teplo a zostáva tam počas zimy, potom sa v lete vracia a prináša viac listov a viac jabĺk.“
Povedal, „Tak to je.“
42Povedal som, „Chcem sa vás niečo opýtať.“ Povedal som, „Aká inteligencia... No, strom nemá žiadnu. Aká inteligencia hovorí tomu stromu, 'Prichádza čas zimy. Choď dolu do koreňov a zostaň tam, až kým nepríde jar?'“ Povedal som, „Nalejte vodu do vedra a postavte to na stĺp a vidzte, či pôjde dolu, keď príde čas jesene. Nepôjde.“ Povedal som, „Musíte pripustiť, že je tam nejaký druh inteligencie, ktorý spôsobuje, že tá miazga ten strom opúšťa a ide dolu do koreňov. Ak to neurobí, zomrie. Ona sa ukrýva, aby ochránila jeho život. No, strom nemá žiadnu inteligenciu. Tam je Boží zákon, ktorý to robí.“
A on povedal, „Nuž, nikdy som o tom takto nerozmýšľal.“
Povedal som „Pane, tá istá inteligencia, ktorá hovorí tomu stromu, tej miazge v tom strome, aby išla dolu do koreňov, je tá istá inteligencia, ktorá mi povedala, kto je tá žena, a ktorá mi povedala, čo jej mám povedať, že sa stane.“
On povedal, „Ty nie si ten kazateľ.“
Povedal som, „Veru som.“ A tam bol privedený ku Kristovi a o rok neskôr zomrel ako Kresťan majúc asi osemdesiatpäť rokov.
43Vidíte, Boh je všade okolo nás. Boh je všade. A ak sa budeme dívať na prírodu, nájdeme Ho tam. Tak potom, ako Ho Jób našiel vo smrti, pohrebe a zmŕtvychvstaní prírody, v tom, ako sa všetko podľa svojho druhu znovu reprodukuje, potom on nedokázal porozumieť, čo sa deje človeku... „Ak človek,“ on hovorí, „si líha a vydáva ducha, kde on je?“ No, pozrite. Strom nikdy nezhrešil. Príroda nikdy nezhrešila. Človek zhrešil. Tak on nemohol... Tým, že bol prorokom...
Tak Biblia, môj text hovorí, „Že On dáva na známosť svoje tajnosti svojim prorokom.“ Slovo Pánovo prichádza ku prorokovi. A tým, že je prorokom, poznáme príbeh Jóba. Boh to nakoniec Jóbovi vysvetlil, že semeno človeka bolo nedokonalé, pretože matka človeka nedokázala poslúchnuť Božie Slovo. Ona sa to snažila zmiešať s niečím iným a Božie Slovo sa neskríži s ničím. To je pravda.
44Ježiš, keď bol tu, povedal, „Ak by ste mali vieru ako horčičné zrno, povedali by ste tejto hore...“ Prečo sa odvolával na horčičné zrno? Horčičné zrno sa neskríži. To je originálne horčičné zrno. Ono sa s ničím neskríži. On povedal, inými slovami, „Ak by ste mali toľko viery v Božie Slovo, to sa neskríži s neverou alebo nebude to spochybňovať...“ Ó, cítim sa ohromne. Vy to nebudete spochybňovať...
Bez ohľadu na okolnosti, alebo čokoľvek sa deje, vy nespochybníte Božie Slovo, vy tomu veríte. Máte tomu veriť. Ak by to len Eva bola verila, nebola by prijala... A ona by zrodila správne deti. Ale predtým, ako sa k nej dostal jej manžel, ona... Už bola nájdená poškvrnená, ako sa to stalo Jehovovi, a tak, ako sa to stalo Ježišovi. Bolo tam poškvrnenie v lone jej myslenia. Ona prijala semeno nevery proti Božiemu Slovu, pretože to vyprodukovalo pre ňu niečo jasnejšie, a ona chcela mať viac poznania.
45To je to, čo sa deje dnes. Stojím tu v škole. Boli by sme len banda nevzdelancov, ak by nebolo vzdelania, a vzdelanie je súčasťou našej civilizácie. Ale civilizácia, vzdelanie prišlo len skrze Kresťanstvo. Civilizácia je koreňom... vlastne Kresťanstvo je koreňmi civilizácie. Absolútne. Civilizácia prichádza skrze Krista. Istotne.
Takže neveriť Božiemu Slovu alebo zmiešať to s niečím, aby ste mali viac svetla... Nemôžete to zmiešať. To sa nezmieša. Musíte to veriť presne tak, ako to Boh zapísal, a tak, ako to On vypovedal. Nemá sa k tomu pridávať, ani z toho odoberať, ani nič, vy tomu len verte presne tak, ako to je.
46Tak, a keď Jób, tým, že bol prorokom, nakoniec uvidel videnie, ktoré sa prelomilo. A potom, keď uvidel, ako ide Boh urobiť cestu pre človeka, aby znovu žil, pretože tam bude ďalšie vypovedané Slovo, že panna prijme... To bola na začiatku Eva, ktorá pochybovala. Keď Slovo prišlo k Márii, ona v to nikdy nepochybovala. Ona povedala, „Hľa, som služobnica Pánova. Nech sa mi stane podľa Tvojho Slova.“ Vidíte, ona nikdy... ona nikdy nepovedala, „No, počkaj, kým budem cítiť život, a potom budem svedčiť. Počkaj, kým si budem toho istá.“
To je to, ako to my, kresťania (takzvaní), robíme dnes. „Počkaj, kým si budem istý. Počkaj, kým mi začne byť lepšie.“ A, „Počkaj... Vidím, že niečo sa deje, a potom to urobím.“ Nie veru. O to vôbec nejde. Najprv to musíš veriť.
47Čo povedal Eliáš tej žene, ku ktorej išiel? Ktorá nemala nič, len za hrsť múky? On povedal, „Najprv urob koláč mne, a potom začni...“ Zázrak sa začne diať potom, ako najprv vezmeš Božie Slovo. Začínaš veriť Božiemu Slovu, a potom sa začína diať zázrak podľa Slova, pretože Slovo je semenom, ktoré rodí zázrak. Musíš vziať najprv Slovo. Duch Svätý mu dáva život, tak ako voda, ktorá padá z nebies.
Vieme, čo Duch Svätý reprezentuje... Voda reprezentuje Svätého Ducha, ako... Tak, ako Mojžiš vyvýšil medeného hada na púšti, tak musí byť vyvýšený Syn človeka. Čo? Boli to hynúci ľudia, a keď pozdvihli toho medeného hada, to zachránilo tým hynúcim ľuďom život. Keď udrel skalu... Kristus je tou skalou, ktorá bola udretá, a z Neho vyšli vody života pre hynúcich ľudí. Musíte tomu veriť a konať podľa toho. Dobre.
48Pamätajme na toto. Keď potom Jób videl tohto Spravodlivého, ako prichádza, Toho, ktorý sa môže postaviť do medzery medzi hriešnika a Boha, a preklenúť cestu, to dokonalé semeno... „Tieto semená,“ on hovorí, „sa porušia. Vidím, že idú do zeme.“ Jeho synovia prichádzajú a trúchlia nad ním a on o tom nevie. Leží tam, nepovstáva. Len tam leží, hnije, a to je všetko. Vôbec nepovstáva, pretože je nedokonalým semenom.
Ale On povedal... Keď zistil, že existuje Ten, ktorý prichádza, ktorý znovu privedie späť dokonalosť do Božieho Slova, ktorý urobí cestu, premostí tú cestu, potom sa ten prorok dostal do Ducha a vykríkol, „Ja viem, že môj Vykupiteľ žije. A v posledných dňoch sa postaví nad zemou, a hoci potom, ako kožné červy zničia toto telo, jednako v mojom tele uvidím Boha. On videl Toho dokonalého, ako prichádza. Čo sa stalo? Jób, tým že bol prorokom, a tajomstvá Božie sú dané na známosť prorokom. On vypovedal slovo. A keď vypovedal Slovo, ktoré mu Boh ukázal, ono sa zmaterializovalo a bolo to vypovedaným Slovom. A vo svojej sezóne sa to stalo presne tak.
Narodil sa Kristus, Vykupiteľ, ktorý sa mohol postaviť medzi živých a mŕtvych a premostiť cestu a priniesť zmŕtvychvstanie. Presne tak. Prečo? To bolo Slovo Božie. Tak, On vypovedal Slovo a Slovo bolo semenom a ono dozrelo vo svojej sezóne. Každé semeno Božie, ktoré je správne umiestnené, dozreje.
49Na čo by Boh poslal Svoje posolstvo skrze anjela ku Márii a povedal by, „Buď pozdravená Mária, požehnaná si medzi ženami. Budeš mať dieťa nepoznajúc žiadneho muža.“ A ona by povedala, „No, počkaj tu chvíľu. Dovoľ mi, nech ťa vezmem do laboratória, a ty mi povieš... Nech mi lekár dokáže, ako sa toto pri mne stane, a potom ti uverím.“ To by sa nikdy nebolo stalo. Ale ku čomu ona prišla? Lono jej srdca, lono, že jej duch bol v... Tvoje lono tvojho ducha je tvoja myseľ. Tvoja myseľ je kanálom.
Máš päť zmyslov, ktoré riadia telo. Máš päť zmyslov, ktoré riadia dušu: vedomie, a tak ďalej... No, tvoje telo, tam je zrak, hmat, chuť, čuch a sluch. Ale existuje len jediný kanál do vnútra tvojej duše, ktorý ukazuje, že si tým semenom. Ty si duša, duch a telo, a potom ten jeden kanál, tá jedna cesta, jedna cesta do toho, ty si postavený na základe slobodnej morálnej voľby. To znamená, že môžeš prijať alebo odmietnuť, urobíš čokoľvek chceš.
50Preto Eva bola postavená na tom istom základe. Ona mohla vziať Božie Slovo a povedať, „Boh povedal, aby sme to nerobili, a tak odtiaľto vypadni.“ To by bolo v poriadku. Ale namiesto toho sa ona snažila skrížiť to so satanovým klamstvom a prinieslo jej to smrť. Ale keď to prišlo ku Márii, to bolo niečo iné. „Hľa, služobnica Pánova.“ „Ako sa to stane?“ Nezáleží na tom, ako sa to stane. „Ty si to vypovedal, je to Božie Slovo. Ja to prijímam. Hľa, som služobnica Pánova. Nech sa mi stane podľa Tvojho Slova.“ Tam to je. Tým to bolo vybavené. A ona bola potom v poriadku.
Vidíte, ona zrodila ten zárodok života, ktorý bol Božím Slovom zamanifestovaným vo forme človeka. A skrze smrť toho Spravodlivého, zaplatenie smrti za... dlhu každého jedného z nás, ktorí sme nespravodliví. A skrze prijatie toho Slova, to potom prináša život a privádza Krista naspäť do nás, pretože Kristus je Slovom, vypovedaným Slovom. A ono dozreje, keď to prijmete. Vy, ktorí ste chorí, prijmite to. Verte tomu. To musí dozrieť, to vypučí vo svojej sezóne. Musí.
51Dobre. My všetci veríme, že sme v čase konca. Každý človek, ktorý má inteligenciu, verím, že ak by sa mohol len poobzerať, uvidel by, že všetko ukazuje, že toto už nemôže ísť veľmi ďaleko. Chcel by som teraz zabrať ešte asi pätnásť minút, aby som vám ukázal, čo mám na mysli. Každý vie, že niečo sa musí stať. Celé Písma na to poukazujú.
Sme učení, že svet bol stvorený v šesťtisíc rokoch, s tým, že tisíc rokov je ako jeden deň, jeden deň ako rok u Boha, a tak ďalej: šesťtisíc rokov v stvorení. V poriadku. Je povedané, že to bolo šesť dní, a Biblia hovorí, že jeden deň je tisíc rokov alebo tisíc rokov je jeden deň u Boha.
52Tak prvých dvetisíc rokov ten svet, kozmos (poriadok sveta), prichádza ku svojmu koncu a Boh musel niečo poslať, súdy z neba a súdiť zem v súde a zachrániť spravodlivého Noeho a jeho rodinu.
Tých druhých dvetisíc rokov, znovu sa odohrala tá istá vec. Kozmos, ten svetový poriadok, dokonca cirkev bola poškvrnená. V dňoch Noeho, oni sa vysmievali a robili si z neho žarty a on kázal stodvadsať rokov vo dverách archy. A behom dvetisíc rokov cirkev išla do otroctva, páchala cudzoložstvo so svetom a nestala sa ničím iným, len kopou formy a vyznaní. A Boh poslal na zem súd, keď poslal Svojho Syna. Prišlo to ku koncu svojich mocí.
53Tak, toto je rok 1962, a čo hovorí Biblia? Biblia hovorí, že v posledných dňoch to dielo bude musieť byť skrátené (Písma nemôžu klamať), kvôli vyvoleným, kvôli vyvoleným, inak by nebolo zachránené žiadne telo. Potom vidíme, že sme v čase konca.
Ten siedmy je sabat, čo je milénium. To je to... To sa odohrá počas toho času, vlády milénia. Dobre. Ale tých šesť dní je naplnených. Človek má teraz vo svojej ruke zbraň, ktorou sa dokáže zničiť. Dokáže zničiť svet, mohol by svet vyhodiť do vzduchu, v jednej sekunde. Dokáže vystreliť človeka na obežnú dráhu a zvrtnúť to na túto krajinu a povedať, „Vzdajte sa, inak to spustíme.“ To je všetko. Čo by urobil, no každý, kto má rozum, by sa vzdal. Čo potom?
A tak to malé... Zvyklo to byť, že veľké národy dominovali nad malými národmi, ale už viac nie, oni majú to isté. Vidíte? Tak to prišlo do času, kedy vidíme a veríme, že sme v čase konca.
54Mohli by sme v tomto pokračovať ďalšie hodiny, ale pozrime sa len na niektoré miesta Písma na chvíľu, ktoré ukazujú tie semená, ktoré boli zasiate pre čas konca. V tom semene... Jób vypovedal slovo, Izaiáš o tom hovoril, každý muž Boží, každý Boží prorok, ktorému On dal na známosť Jeho tajnosti (Dokonca Dávid, Izaiáš, Jeremiáš, všetci ostatní z nich), hovorili o tom prichádzajúcom Semene. A keď prišla tá sezóna, to bolo presne tak. Vždy je to tak. Nemôže to sklamať. Je to Božie Slovo. Je to večné. Nemôže to zlyhať. A my všetci vieme, že Ježiš bol Slovom.
55Dobre. Vezmime potom Jeho Slovo. Židom 1 hovorí, „Boh zadávna a rozličnými spôsobmi hovoril ku prorokom, ale v týchto posledných dňoch skrze Svojho Syna, Krista Ježiša.“ Tak on bol Bohom prorokom. On bol prorokom, istotne. Mojžiš povedal, „Pán, váš Boh vám vzbudí proroka.“ Ale toto bol viac ako prorok. On bol Bohom prejaveným v tele. Tak tento Boh, prorok nám dáva dve alebo tri znamenia, na ktoré sa tu chceme pozrieť, veľké znamenia, na ktoré chceme pamätať. V Matúšovi 24, keď sa Ho opýtali, „Kedy sa stanú tieto veci. Čo bude príchodom konca sveta? Kedy sa toto všetko stane?“ On im ukázal tak mnoho vecí, ktoré sa udejú: národ povstane proti národu, kráľovstvo proti kráľovstvu, a tak ďalej. A ďalej a ďalej a ďalej. Ale povedal, „Naučte sa podobenstvo figového stromu, kedy... A tých ostatných stromov.“
56Koľkí sú tu Kresťania? Zodvihnite svoje ruky. V poriadku. Ďakujem vám. Myslím, že sto percent. V poriadku. Dávajte teraz dobrý pozor, keď ukážeme toto znamenie semena času konca. Ježiš povedal, „Naučte sa z podobenstva figového stromu. Tak, keď vidíš figový strom. No, naučiť sa podobenstvo čoho? Figového stromu. Každý vie, každý, kto číta Bibliu, že figový strom vždy znamenal židovskú rasu ľudí.
Joel povedal, „To, čo zanechala húsenica, zjedol chrúst.“ A tak ďalej. To bola stonka, tie vyznania a veci, ktoré zožrali tú cirkev až po spodok. Ale povedal, „Ja prinavrátim, hovorí Pán.“
Tak Židia boli odrezaní, Pavol nám to hovorí, a pohania boli znovu vštepení do kráľovstva. Ale všimnite si. Ježiš povedal, „Naučte sa podobenstvu figového stromu.“ No, ten strom, tak, ako to videl Jób, ak on zomrie, či znovu ožije?
Istotne. On povedal, „Tak, keď vidíte figový strom a všetky iné stromy...“ Stromy... stromy čoho? Existuje Strom Života, existuje strom vyznaní (denominácia), existuje strom národov, „Keď uvidíte figový strom a všetky tie iné stromy, ako vyháňajú svoje puky (malé puky pripravujú príchod listu), poviete, že leto je blízko. Všimnite si, dáva to podobenstvo o národoch.
57Tak, Boh koná s pohanmi kvôli Neveste tak, že to je jeden tu, jeden tam. Ale On koná so Židmi ako s národom, nie ako s jednotlivcom, ako s národom. On vždy... To bol vždy Boží vybraný národ. Boh ich vybral ako národ. Misionári, ktorí išli do Jeruzalema, a rôzni... Keď bude Izrael spasený, On bude národom. Biblia hovorí, že sa narodí za jeden deň. To je pravda. Tak, Izrael prijme Krista v jednom... Len ako národ, nie ako jednotlivci.
Ale všimnite si teraz to, čo On povedal, vezmime to. Dobre to pozorujte. „Keď uvidíte figový strom, ako znovu začína pučať, a všetky iné stromy začínajú vyháňať svoje puky...“
58Tak všetko má teraz prebudenie alebo práve malo prebudenie. Židia sú späť vo svojej domovine ako národ, vlaje tam ich vlastná vlajka, majú svoju vlastnú vládu, svoje vlastné peniaze. Sú národom po prvýkrát od času asi... Zdá sa mi, že asi po tisíc osemsto rokoch. Ó, možno viac ako to, možno dvetisíc dvesto rokov, asi dvetisíc dvesto rokov. Izrael je znovu národom. Najstaršia vlajka na svete, tá šesťcipá hviezda Dávidova znovu vlaje, a je to po prvýkrát po dvetisíc dvesto rokoch. A Ježiš povedal, „Keď ona začne vyháňať svoj puk, čas je na blízku.“ Izrael, On hovorí o Židoch.
59Teraz pozorujte. On povedal, že keď všetky tieto ostatné stromy začnú vyháňať... Rímskokatolícka cirkev mala svoj najväčší ťah, aký kedy mala. Protestantská cirkev mala svoje najväčšie prebudenie, aké kedy mala. Billy Graham a Jack Shuller, letniční mali najväčšie prebudenie, aké kedy mali. Oral Roberts, Tommy Hicks a tí ostatní veľkí muži, prebudenie.
Všimnite si. Tie moci mali prebudenia, národné moci. Prebieha teraz jedno prebudenie o tom, kto bude mať tú najväčšiu moc. Komunizmus. Každý, koho počujete, kazateľ stojí za kazateľňou a hovorí, „Ó, bojme sa komunizmu.“ Nezmysel. Ukážte mi v Písme, kedy bude komunizmus vládnuť nad svetom. Romanizmus bude vládnuť nad svetom, nie komunizmus. Pozrite sa na videnie kráľa Nabuchodonozora, na Slovo Pánovo, tam je hlava zo zlata, meď až dolu k tým rímskym nohám, ktoré boli železom, a nikdy sa to nezmenilo. Prišiel kameň, zatiaľ čo to bolo stále v železe a udrel to. Pamätajte, že na konci to bolo zmiešané s hlinou. Slabosť. Bola to spolu hlina a železo.
60Toto veľké zhromaždenie, ktoré práve mali medzi Chruščov a Eisenhower... Viete, čo znamená Chruščov v ich vlastnom národnom jazyku? Chruščov znamená blato, hlina. Viete, čo znamená Eisenhower v angličtine? Železo. A aby to bolo ľuďom ešte jasnejšie, Chruščov vzal svoju topánku a udieral na pult. Oni nebudú súhlasiť. Čo bude panovať? Rím bude panovať. Konfederácia cirkvi, katolicizmus to zviaže dokopy a rovno tam to máte. To je tá panujúca moc. Biblia to hovorí. To je to Semeno, ktoré nemôže zlyhať.
61Pozrite sa na to dnes. Či nepozýva tento nový pápež do vnútra všetky protestantské cirkvi? Či nejdu? Čo vy, letniční? Je to to isté. Federácia cirkví. Tu to máte. To semeno sa musí vyplniť. Toto sa musí stať. Musí to dozrieť. Je čas, aby to dozrelo. Čo urobia ľudia? Zorganizujú sa, budú ďalej stavať veľké budovy a veľké organizácie, veľké denominácie. A čo všetko sa stalo? Tá istá vec, presne to, čo Biblia hovorí, že urobia.
To je to, čo Boh, prorok, Ježiš Kristus povedal, že sa stane. Židia budú prinavrátení a bude veľké prebudenie medzi nimi ako národ, prídu spolu ako národ. Bude prebudenie medzi metodistami, baptistami, presbyteriánmi, a tak ďalej. Prebudenie medzi letničnými a tu to máte. A národ bude bojovať proti národu, dozrieva semeno. Izrael sa stal národom po dvetisíc dvesto rokoch. Čo sa stalo? Cirkvi sa všetky zhromaždili, aby mali prebudenie. V poriadku.
62 A iné veľké semeno bolo zasiate. On povedal, že v posledných dňoch, 2. Timotea v 3. kapitole, že tam medzi cirkvou príde odpadnutie od biblickej viery. To je pravda. Je to semeno? Je to zasľúbenie? Pozrite sa na nich dnes. Pozrite sa na naše cirkvi. Čo robia? Oni sa spolu organizujú, spolupracujú spolu, zväzujú sa spolu, odpadávajú, neveria v Bibliu, neveria v to skutočné, pravdivé Slovo Božie.
Poviete, „Biblia hovorí toto.“
„Tie veci pominuli. Neexistuje niečo také. Nie je žiadna taká vec. Dni zázrakov pominuli už dávno. Nie je nič také, ako je krst Duchom Svätým. Bola tam hŕstka ľudí, boli tam vtedy dvanásti apoštolovia.“ Vidíte? Čo je tým semenom? Ono dozrieva. To je semeno znamenia času konca.
Čo povedal Ježiš, „Keď uvidíte, ako sa tieto veci dejú, zodvihnite svoje hlavy. Vaše vykúpenie sa približuje.“ To je pre cirkev. Uvideli sme, že ona odpadne. V poriadku. Zisťujeme to. Dobre.
63Tak povedali sme, že v posledných dňoch, ako nám to povedal Joel (Tá ďalšia časť Písma. Počúvajte teraz pozorne.), že bude včasný a pozdný dážď v tom istom období. Koľkí Kresťania to vedia? Povedzte, „Amen.“ Istotne.
No, jedného dňa na moje prekvapenie, keď som sa pozrel... včasný a pozdný dážď príde v tom istom období, sezóne. To slovo „Včasný,“ v hebrejčine to slovo (Vezmite si v hebrejský lexikón a zistite si to), to hebrejské slovo pre „Včasný“ znamená „Moureh.“ „Moureh“ znamená „Vyučovanie.“ Príde vyučujúci dážď. Čo je to? Kladenie semena do zeme. To je to, čo bolo.
Čo prešlo, no, nachádzame, že prebiehal vyučujúci dážď. Baptistickí ľudia povedali, „O milión viac v 1944.“ To bol ich cieľ, členovia cirkvi. Prebudenia Billy Grahama, nášho veľkého evanjelistu, pozrite sa, čo urobil. Pozrite sa na Orala Robertsa a na letničných. Vystúpil vyučujúci dážď.
Prebehol národný vyučovací dážď, komunizmus zasial medzi ľudí, každý národ.
Prebehlo rímske prebudenie. Viete, čo sa deje? Ak dajú tú západnú časť, vlastne tú východnú časť Berlína späť, to umiestni komunizmus presne, vlastne mám na mysli to rímske impérium rovno presne do toho starého kruhu, ako to bolo v čase Ježiša. To istotne urobí dokonale.
64Prebieha prebudenie. Čo je to? Siatie. Nepočujete už viac veľmi o Billy Grahamovi, že? Čo o Oralovi? Čo o ostatných z nich? Vy viete, že ten oheň veľkého prebudenia už nehorí. Čo je to? To je znamenie Semena času konca. Slová boli zasiate. Čo je to? Denominácia bude žať denomináciu. To urobí, že oni sa spolu spoja do konfederácie.
Ale tiež bolo zasiate Slovo Božie. A keď Duch Boží začína padať, Božie Slovo ožije v ľuďoch. A tá falošná nevesta, ktorá tam vonku páchala cudzoložstvo a priviedla sa do vyznaní a zapredala svoje prvorodenstvá, čo ona zožne? Konfederáciu cirkvi. A to bude zviazané a spálené ako tŕnie a bodľač. Ale tam, kde bolo zasiate Slovo Božie do sŕdc ľudí, to zožne nevestu Kristovu s takou istotou, akože ja stojím tu: znamenia času konca.
65Čo sa deje, cirkev Božia? Čo sa s nami deje? Čo je s vami, baptisti, presbyteriáni, zbory Božie, jednotári a vy všetci ostatní. Čo sa s nami deje? Nedokážete to vidieť? Semeno... či vy nevidíte... buďte opatrní, aký druh semena beriete do lona svojho srdca. Neberte vyznania, vezmite Slovo.
Ľudia toľko hovorili o pozdnom daždi. Neodvrhujem vás, bratia pozdného dažďa, ale to nie je pozdný dážď. Ak by tu bol pozdný dážď, to by moc Božia tak zasiahla tú vec a ona by zmietla svet. Ten pozdný dážď sa chystá prísť. Čo sa deje? Cirkev vytvára niečo sama práve tak, ako sa to snažila urobiť Eva. Ona sa snažila mať viac svetla, aby niečo vytvorila.
Urobili sme to isté, snažili sme sa urobiť niečo sami sebe. Drž od toho ruky preč. Nech to urobí Boh. Vezmi Jeho Slovo a ver Mu. Drž Ho vo svojom srdci. A keď začne padať dážď, tak život sa uchytí a Slovo sa Samo zamanifestuje.
66Hádam si myslíte, že som blázon, ale nie som. A ak som, tak ma nechajte tak. Som takto šťastný. Tak ja verím Božiemu Slovu. Čo sa deje s cirkvou? Jej lono, jej otvorená myseľ prijala všetky možné druhy vyznaní a dogiem a nie Slovo Božie. Keď prišiel Kristus, našiel tú istú vec, ako našiel Adam, tú istú vec, ako našiel Jehova. A tu sú tieto znamenia a čas konca sa zjavuje a cirkev nemá odpoveď. To je pravda. Je ten čas.
Vyšiel jarný dážď. To je ten dôvod, prečo Billy nerobí mnoho. Pamätajte, bolo tam...
67 Ježiš povedal, „Ako bolo vo dňoch Sodomy, tak to bude pri príchode Syna človeka. Boli tam dvaja anjeli, ktorí išli dolu k Sodomitom. Pamätajte, Lot raz kráčal s Abrahámom. Cirkev raz kráčala v obecenstve s Kristom so Slovom. Ale oni zapredali svoje práva prvorodenstva denominácii. A teraz, ona predáva celú tú vec a organizuje sa do jednej veľkej konfederácie cirkvi.
To je presne to, čo sa stalo Lotovi. Išiel tam dolu. Dvaja anjeli (Oral Roberts a Billy Graham, ako by to bolo v tomto dni), išli tam dolu a podali im Evanjelium. Čo sa stalo? Bolo to dokonca na hanbu.
68Ale Abrahám... Jeden stál vzadu s ním. Bol tam ten, ktorý sa nazýval Bohom. A to znamenie, ktoré On pred nimi ukázal, čo to urobilo? To dokázalo, kým On je. Abrahám bol ten vyvolený, pretože on bol... Abrahám mal zasľúbenie. A pozrite teraz, toto je Abrahámovo semeno. To zasľúbenie nebolo dané len Abrahámovi, ale jeho semenu. Nie jeho semenu Izákovi. To zlyhalo. Dokázalo to, že zlyhalo. Ale semenu, tej viere, ktorú on mal. Nezáleží na tom, aké boli okolnosti, ako to bolo proti prírode, koľko lekár povedal, že to tak nie je... Abrahám, potom, ako mu bolo dané zasľúbenie, keď to bolo nemožné...
69 On sa oženil so svojou sestrou, ktorá mala asi sedemnásť rokov, so svojou polovičnou sestrou. Nemali žiadne deti. A keď mala ona šesťdesiatpäť a on mal sedemdesiatpäť, Boh sa mu zjavil a povedal, „Budeš s ňou mať dieťa.“ No, ona vzala... On vzal Jeho Slovo. On sa na to pripravil. Dvadsaťpäť rokov po tom sa stále nič nestalo. A teraz má sto rokov a ona deväťdesiat. To ho vôbec nezastavilo. „On sa nezapotácal na zasľúbení Božom skrze neveru.“
To je viera. To je kráľovské semeno Abraháma. To je ten druh semena, ktorý berie Božie Slovo. To je tá vec, ktorá privedie Nevestu. To je tá vec, ktorá stretne Krista. On je Slovom.
70 Ak je cirkev zasiata niečím iným pomimo Slova, nemôže sa s Ním ísť stretnúť. On nemá nejaké chatrné telo s nejakou plesňou. On má dokonalé telo a On je dokonalým Slovom. A cirkev bude zasiata a bude veriť dokonalému Slovu. A to dokonalé Slovo a dokonalé Slovo sa spolu zjednotia ako jedno telo. Ako manžel a manželka. Amen. (Ja „neamenujem“ samému sebe, ale „Amen“ znamená „Nech sa tak stane.“) Jednako tomu verím. Tak veru.
Vyšiel jarný dážď. Ten dážď sa chystá padnúť. Čo má priniesť? Pozorujte to.
71 Ešte jedno znamenie. Hlúpa panna. Ó... Ježiš povedal, že tesne pred príchodom Ženícha bude múdra panna s olejom vo svojej lampe a hlúpa. A tá hlúpa panna sa jedného dňa prebudí a zistí, že nemá vo svojej lampe žiaden olej, keď to prichádza ku tomu miestu, „Hľa, Ženích prichádza.“ To je to, čím je teraz ten krik. „Kristus prichádza.“ A ona sa prebudila a zistila, že nemá žiaden olej.
Olej znamená „Duch.“ Duch je to, čo privádza Slovo do života. Ten Duch je vodou, ktorá privádza Slovo do života. Hoďte ho na... Poviete, „Dobre, a čo s týmito cirkvami?“ Ak zasiali denominačné semená, to privedie do života. Duch Boží to privedie do života.
72Biblia hovorí, „Dážď padá na spravodlivých a nespravodlivých.“ Židom 4.kapitola... 3. kapitola a.... 6. kapitola hovorí, že dážď prichádza často, aby zaodial ovocie, ktoré je v zemi. Ale tŕnie a bodľač, ktoré sa radujú tak isto a ktoré žili práve na tom istom daždi... „Ale podľa ich ovocia ich budete poznať.“ To je presne tak. Tu to máte. Tak, keď to oni uvideli... Pozrite, ovocie má byť zhromaždené, dážď je pripravený padnúť. Denominácia vyliahne denomináciu. To je všetko. Ale to slovo vyliahne Krista, nevestu. Istotne. Zasejte semeno Slova. Tak, keď tá múdra panna...
73Všimli ste si Hlas Obchodníkov Evanjelia? Hovorím pre nich na medzinárodnom poli. Nemôžem si pri nich dávať servítku na ústa. Toto je Slovo. Pozrite. A čo s... Pozrite sa sem na presbyteriánov, episkopálov: stovky z nich sa všade snažia nájsť Ducha Svätého. Hrajú veľkú vec.
Jeden vzácny kazateľ, môj priateľ z Afriky, veľmi fajn človek, zbožný muž, opýtal som sa ho, „Vieš, čo to je, brat? Čo je tvojou službou?“
On povedal, „Ja mám priviesť do vnútra tých z Babylonu.“
Pomyslel som si, „Či nevidíš, že zakaždým, ako tá bláznivá panna chce nejaký olej, aby aj jej semená rástli, to je ten čas, kedy prichádza Kristus a ona je zanechaná?“ Veľký kazateľ Billy Graham práve povedal, že potrebujeme Letnice, potrebujeme naspäť ľudí. Episkopáli napísali jeden veľký článok, asi takýto dlhý, a povedali, „Potrebujeme takých, ktorí hovoria v jazykoch. Potrebujeme v cirkvi Božských uzdravovateľov, aby mali zhromaždenia uzdravovania a ľudí, aby sa vonku modlili za chorých.“ Čo sa snažia robiť? Dostať olej do svojich lámp. Presne tak. To je znamenie semena času konca. Amen. Zatiaľ čo sa to ona snaží urobiť, prichádza Ženích a Nevesta vchádza dovnútra a ona je vymknutá. Ó, čo za nádherný deň, v akom žijeme.
74Chcem ešte povedať túto jednu vec: nepokoj medzi národmi. Ó. Predivné úkazy na nebesiach. Veríte, že je tomu tak? Pozrite, my vezmeme len pár z nich... Máte ešte pár minút, aby sme to dotiahli do deväť-tridsať? Nechcem poslucháčstvo zdržovať. My... Je to milosť, že títo ľudia nám to dovolili mať.
Počúvajte. Koľkí... A každý jeden z vás, vy ste videli... Národ bol prednedávnom zatrasený ohľadne znamení. Videli ste, čo tento človek na obežnej dráhe toho dňa... On tam hore našiel veci, ktoré nikdy... Veda dokonca ani nevie, čo to je. Keď prešiel poza zem... A pritom sa oni pozerali a pozerali a pozerali, ale nevideli to. On si myslel, že jeho obežná dráha sa rozletí. Ale nebolo to tak. Jeho obežná dráha bola v poriadku. Svetlá...
75Pozrite sa, čo sa práve stalo... Počuli ste to v rádiu, videli ste to v televízii, bolo to v novinách: lietajúce taniere, všade. A Pentagon to jedného dňa potvrdil (asi pred šiestimi týždňami), že to nebola žiadna fikcia. Dokonca to ukázali aj v televízii, ako zachytili tieto taniere, ktoré museli mať inteligenciu... Svetlá, ktoré prichádzali dolu a takto viseli nad Pentagonom, nad celým Washington, DC. A oni to zachytili radarom a poslali tam pilotov. Oni tam prišli rovno okolo nich, obkolesili ich a potom sa to pohlo rýchlosťou svetla. Inteligencia. Čo to je?
Ježiš povedal, že budú hrozné znamenia, úkazy na nebesiach, ľudské srdcia budú zlyhávať, bude strach a nepokojné časy, napätia medzi národmi. Či nevidíte, že ten čas semena je teraz, čas žatvy, tie veci, o ktorých Biblia povedala, že sa stanú? To semeno, ktoré bolo zasiate, či nevidíte, že ono uchopilo život a žije? To je to, čo sa deje.
76No, ešte jednu vec. Počúvajte. Pred tým... Teraz počúvajte pozorne. Nezmeškajte toto. Pred prvým príchodom Ježiša, astronómovia v Indii, tí mágovia... Bol som misionárom v Indii a hovoril som o tomto s mágmi. A oni pozorovali. Oni boli astronómovia, oni pozorovali nebeské telesá. A oni hovoria, že Boh to vyhlasuje v nebeských telesách predtým, ako to robí na zemi. Predtým, ako niečo robí.
A oni povedali, „No, keď tento... Tí traja múdri muži išli uctiť toho kráľa, ktorý mal panovať na zemi, to kráľovské dieťa, a oni nasledovali hviezdu, vaše Písmo tak hovorí.“ On povedal, „Ale úprimne povedané, tam boli tri hviezdy, ktoré sa dali dokopy a tvorili túto jednu hviezdu.“ A oni hovoria, že... Jeden kresťanský astronóm, s ktorým som hovoril, alebo mág, on povedal, „To znamená, že tam boli tri rasy ľudí, za ktoré tento muž zomrel. Jediné tri rasy ľudí, ktoré sú, sú ľudia Chama, Sema, Jafeta. A keď bude kázané Jeho Evanjelium Chamovi, Semovi a Jafetovi, tým ľuďom, oni sa navrátia do Jeho Evanjelia, potom bude ten návrat.“ To je v poriadku, ak to on chce veriť. Tri je číslo dokonalosti. Ale čo ja verím, že bolo tými tromi? Čomu my veríme? To bolo tri v dokonalosti ukazujúc tú trojicu Božiu (Otec, Syn a Duch Svätý), že bola prejavená v mužovi, Ježišovi Kristovi, v tom jednom dokonalom mužovi. Všetci ostatní ľudia zlyhali. Všetko ostatné zomrelo. Ale tu prišiel človek, ktorý nemohol zomrieť: dokonalosť, že ani smrť ho nemohla zabiť. On znovu povstal.
77Tri je číslo dokonalosti. Všetci to vieme. Tri je Božie číslo v Jeho numerológii. Boh je poznaný skrze svoje čísla. Trojka je dokonalosť a sedem je uctievanie, dvadsaťštyri je uctievanie, štyridsať je pokušenie, päťdesiat sú Letnice, jubileum (Vidíte?), a tak ďalej. Všetky Jeho čísla, tie Božie čísla sú dokonalé, sú dokonalosti. Tak tri je číslo dokonalosti. Tesne pred tým, ako... (Počúvajte teraz pozorne) Keď sa to malé dieťa, Kristus, narodilo, tak sa tri hviezdy dali dokopy a vytvorili jednu rannú hviezdu, ktorá odrážala príchod nemluvňaťa Krista, Toho dokonalého.
78Tak, čo sa stalo? Počujeme v novinách hlasy o tom po celých národoch, televízii, kedy sa päť hviezd dalo rovno do jednej línie so svetom. Čo je päťka? Číslo milosti. Zakaždým, ako tieto hviezdy prichádzajú, potom sa niečo deje na zemi. Čo sa deje? Päť hviezd sa dalo do línie. Čo to bolo? Čo to predstavovalo? (Uvádzalo?)
Všimnite si, čo sa odvtedy už stalo. Nemecko bolo takmer vymazané z mapy. Niektorí z tých mágov povedali, že svet sa rozpukne ako melón. Všetky možné hrozné veci boli nimi prorokované pre tie posledné dni. Sledujte, čo sa stalo. Jedného dňa malo Anglicko takú búrku, že to odfúklo sedemdesiat tisíc domov za jeden deň. Všade sú pohromy... Kalifornia, Los Angeles sa takmer odplavilo do oceánu. Čo je to? Počiatok bolestí. Všade povstávajú zemetrasenia. Prečo to je? Päť hviezd sa dalo do línie: milosť. Božia milosť.
Čo sa stalo? Cirkev nemluvňa (Haleluja), Nevesta nemluvňa, že moc Božia na ňu začala padať a ona naberá formu ako Nevesta pre tohoto Ženícha. Tie tri hviezdy znamenali Jeho dokonalosť, nebeského Otca, tej trojice, ktorá sa stáva jedno na zemi medzi nami, Božie úrady sa stavajú jedným úradom. Čo sa teraz stalo? To je cirkev živého Boha, ktorá prichádza spolu pod Božím Slovom a astronomické nebesia oznamujú jej príchod. Amen. Možno to neveríte, ale jednako je to Slovo. Tak veru.
79Čo sa deje? (Zakončujem) Mohol by som povedať toto: priatelia, cirkev vystupuje. Boh bude mať cirkev bez vrásky a poškvrny. A ona je predurčená. Boh tak povedal, že ju bude mať. Tým je to vyjasnené. Kto je jej členom? Ja neviem. Dôverujem, že ja som. Spolieham, že ty si členom. Ale On bude mať telo bez vrásky a poškvrny.
A ja verím, že tieto znamenia týchto posledných dní a veci, ktoré sa dejú, každá jedna z nich spolu potvrdzuje a ukazuje to, že Kristus je pripravený prísť pre túto Nevestu. Tak, ako sa Boh vo Svojom Slove prejavil v človeku, v dokonalom človeku, tak Boh a Jeho Slovo prichádzajú znovu a On sa manifestuje v Neveste. Ona neurobí to, čo urobila Eva, ktorá to skrížila s niečím iným, ale to nescudzoložené Slovo Božie bude zrodené v tej cirkvi a ona bude stáť, ako stál Ježiš Kristus z pomazaním Jeho Duchom v Jeho Slove. Amen. Verím, že toto je teraz oznamované.
80Prorok povedal, „Príde deň, ktorý nebude nazvaný ani dňom ani nocou, ale v čase večera bude svetlo.“ Vy všetci, ktorí čítate Bibliu, to viete. Čo sa stalo? Civilizácia putuje od východu na západ. Čína je najstaršia civilizácia, ktorú máme. Civilizácia začala na východe. Ona išla so slnkom, putovala na západ. Kde je teraz? Na západnom pobreží. Ak pôjde ešte ďalej, tak je znovu naspäť na východe. Rozumiete, čo mám na mysli?
To isté slnko, ktoré povstáva na východe, je to isté slnko, ktoré zapadá na západe, to isté S-L-N-K-O. A ten istý S-Y-N, Syn Boží, ktorý prichádza na zem vziať si svoju Nevestu, východných ľudí... A tá nevesta sa poškvrnila tak ako Eva, tak ako i Jehovova nevesta. Ten istý Syn, ktorý tam svieti, ktorý tam svietil s tou istou mocou na Letnice, aby dal dozrieť tomu semenu, ktoré zasadil, ten istý Syn teraz svieti na západnej pologuli. Aby urobil čo? Aby dal dozretie semenu, ktoré bolo zasadené, aby splodilo Nevestu. Večerné svetlo Evanjelia zrodí Nevestu (Amen), pre Pána Ježiša. Existujú niektoré znamenia večerného semena. Stovky.
81Máme päť minút pred tým, ako zakončíme. Si jedným z nich? Či veríš, že si jedno z tých semien? Či veríš, že tvoje srdce je zasiate s nescudzoloženým Evanjeliom, a že neexistuje na svete nič, čo by mohlo vziať Slovo Božie z tvojho srdca? Či tomu veríš? Ak nie, môj priateľu, možno ťa už nikdy znovu neuvidím na tvári tejto zeme, ale pamätaj na Slovo Pánovo a na tú tajnosť, ktorú Pán dáva poznávať Svojim prorokom. Jeho proroci to vypovedali. Je to rovno teraz tu. Vidíme, ako sa to deje. Ja opakujem to, čo vám oni povedali, ako varovanie.
Ak nemáš tie semená a ak nie si Kresťanom a si tu dnes večer, ty... Možno patríš do cirkvi. Neber to len tak náhodile, brat. Nepočúvaj tie veci. To je skrížená záležitosť. Slovo Božie v tebe musí zvrchovane žiť tak, ako žilo v Ježišovi Kristovi, pretože On je Hlavou. Nemôže byť Jeho telo jednou vecou a Jeho Hlava druhou. To musí byť to isté Slovo. Ak ti tvoja cirkev poskytuje len vyznania a dogmy, ktoré nie sú podľa Písma, never tomu. Nemôžeš sa do cirkvi pripojiť, ty si zrodený do tela skrze Slovo živého Boha. A ak to nemáš, neber to naľahko.
82Ak by si išiel sem dolu a chcel by si si kúpiť misku polievky a bol by v nej pavúk, tak by si tú reštauráciu zažaloval. No, nejedol by si to za nič na svete. Pretože sa bojíš, že zničíš svoje telo. Brat, neboj sa toho, čo môže zničiť telo, ale toho, ktorý môže zničiť dušu aj telo v pekle. Ak si vyberáš jedlo a nejedol by si nič nečisté, z čoho by bolo tvoje telo choré alebo by ti z toho bolo na zvracanie, a potom prehĺtaš kadejaký druh vyznania pre tvoju dušu, ktorá je večná, pričom toto telo musí zahynúť? Nedovoľ diablovi, aby ti tie veci nacpal do krku.
Stávaš sa znovuzrodeným z Ducha Božieho a tvoj duch ponesie svedectvo s každým Slovom Božím, ktoré je tu napísané, a každé zasľúbenie, ktoré On dal, sa v tebe zamanifestuje. Duch Boží príde a bude v tebe žiť. Si telo Kristovo, reprezentácia Jeho Samého tu na zemi. Ak to nemáš a ak to nemôžeš veriť pre Božské uzdravenie...
83Ak si tu a si chorý a veríš, že Boh ti udelí Božské uzdravenie, len tam umiestni toto Slovo, „Ja som Pán, ktorý uzdravuje všetky tvoje nemoci.“ Pane, verím tomu.“ Pozoruj, čo sa deje. Povieš, „Pane, verím tomu. Otváram každý kanál a tu som.“ Sleduj, čo sa deje. To isté, čo sa udialo jedného dňa pri tom malom zomierajúcom dievčati a tisícoch ďalších po celom svete.
84 Stál som tam a videl som... Videl som... V Južnej Afrike som sa pomodlil jednu modlitbu nad skupinou ľudí a oni odhadovali, že tam vzali sedem veľkých kamiónov naplnených... Ó, vy v Georgii nemáte taký náklaďák, ako mali oni tam, to malo na jednej strane asi šesť alebo osem kolies.
A na ďalšie ráno, ako som tam sedel so starostom mesta, on prišiel k oknu a povedal, „Brat Branham, poď sem a pozri.“ A dolu po ulici tam išlo sedem plných náklaďákov, plných barlí, invalidných vozíkov a všetkého, čo ľudia... Nedotkol som sa ani jedného, len som priniesol Slovo, povedal som im, aby verili, a oni verili. A tí ľudia, ktorí boli s týmito vecami deň predtým, oni išli dolu ulicou so svojimi rukami na svojich srdciach a vo svojom domorodom jazyku spievali, „Všetko je možné, len ver.“
„On poslal Slovo.“ To je všetko, čo musíš urobiť, poslať Slovo a cirkev to prijíma. Ten, ktorý je narodený z Boha, prijíma Boha. Verí Bohu. Veríte Mu? Skloňme svoje hlavy. Pomodlím sa za tieto vreckovky.
85So svojimi sklonenými hlavami, každé oko je zavreté, rád by som sa vás opýtal túto vážnu otázku. Ak nie si v poriadku s Bohom, ak je tam v tebe niečo, čo ti nedovolí veriť tejto Biblii, že je to inšpirované Slovo Božie, že si nemohol veriť, že môžeš žiť podľa týchto pravidiel, urobil by si aspoň toľko, že zodvihneš svoje ruky a povieš, „Bože, buď milostivý. Chcem, aby si sa za mňa modlil, brat Branham, aby som bol takým druhom Kresťana.“? Si tu? Zodvihnite svoje ruky. Ja... Ďakujem ti, mladá pani. Ďakujem. Nech ťa Boh žehná. V poriadku. Je tu jedna osoba v tejto budove, ktorá si to myslí. Dve osoby si to myslia.
Ja nie som jeden z tých ľudí, ktorí presviedčajú. Ak tým Slovo nedokáže pohnúť... Môžete tomu veriť, len ak ste predurčení, aby ste tomu verili. Pamätajte, že hoci Ježiš urobil tak mnoho zázrakov, farizeji Mu nedokázali veriť. Oni to nedokázali dostať do svojej hlavy, pretože oni sa takými nechceli stať. A ak je tvoje srdce tak tvrdé, že ty vieš, že rovno tam sa to Božie Slovo nedokáže cez teba prepracovať, a ty potom nezodvihneš svoje ruky, aby si poprosil Boha o milosrdenstvo, čo potom urobíš v deň súdu? V poriadku.
86Je tu niekto, kto je chorý a chcel by byť spomenutý? Zdvihnite svoju ruku. Traja alebo štyria, piati, šiesti, siedmi, ôsmi, je ich asi desať.
V poriadku. Skloňme svoje hlavy. Nepochybujte. Ty, moja malá sestra tam vzadu, ktorá si zodvihla svoju ruku, „Pamätaj na mňa.“ Nech ťa Boh žehná, sestra. Nech je požehnané tvoje jemné srdce. A nech sa Slovo Božie dnes večer zakorení v tvojom malom srdci, a ty sa staneš vyslancom Krista.
Tento muž, ktorý zodvihol svoje ruky trošku neskôr: brat, tvoje vlasy sú šedivé. Ale pamätaj, Abrahám mal sedemdesiatpäť rokov, predtým, ako ku nemu Boh prehovoril. Nech Boh zasadí dnes večer Svoje korene Slova v tvojom srdci. A keď padá ten veľký dážď, nech neprinesie vyznania, ale nech to zrodí Krista, ktorý bude v tebe zamanifestovaný.
87Každý jeden z vás, ktorí ste zodvihli svoju ruku za uzdravenie, Biblia hovorí, „Modlitba viery zachráni chorého a Pán ho pozdvihne.“ Ak to semeno leží v tvojom srdci, budem sa modliť, aby ho Duch Svätý zalial vodou, aby to semeno práve teraz zalial vodou. Niečo sa stane.
Boh nehľadí na osobu. Ak On zachráni jedného, On zachráni toho druhého, ktorý tomu bude veriť. Ak uzdraví jedného, uzdraví aj toho druhého. Ale ty tomu musíš veriť. Ak tomu veríš, budem sa teraz za teba modliť.
88Náš nebeský Otče, mám svoje ruky nad týmito vreckovkami, ktoré tu ležia. Niekto tu pravdepodobne má niekoho milovaného, ktorý je chorý a postihnutý, niečo s ním nie je v poriadku, možno nejaká matka, ktorá má niekde malé choré dieťa. Možno starý slepý ocko, ktorý sedí v nejakej malej búde, niekde v Georgii, a možno niekto, kto je niekde v nemocnici. Ty vieš o všetkých týchto veciach. Pane, my vieme túto jednu vec, že Ty si Kristus, ktorý si už kúpil ich uzdravenie. Ja posielam Tvoje Slovo cez modlitbu, Pane. Ty si poslal Svoje Slovo.
Jedna žena k tebe prišla a povedala, „Pane, buď mi milostivý, Ty, Synu Dávidov.“ A Ty si pre ňu nebol Syn Dávidov, ona bola pohanka. Ty si povedal, „Nepatrí sa vziať chlieb deťom a hodiť ho psom.“
Ona povedala, „To je pravda, Pane. Ale psi si vezmú omrvinky, ktoré sú pod stolom ich pána.“
Ty si povedal, „Pre toto slovo, tvoja dcéra bude žiť.“ A my zisťujeme, že keď si prišiel domov... vlastne, keď ona prišla domov, Tvoje Slovo sa tam už dostalo a to dievča uzdravilo.
89 Raz jeden otec kvôli svojmu dieťaťu, on sa opýtal, v ktorom čase sa to stalo. Bolo mu povedané, že horúčka ho opustila o jedenástej hodine. Ty si poslal Svoje Slovo. Pane, ja vysielam Tvoje Slovo s modlitbou viery. Posielam Ho k tomu malému dievčaťu tam, ktoré zodvihlo svoju ruku. Posielam ho k tomu mužovi, ktorý zodvihol svoju ruku. A nech sa to dnes večer uchytí na spasenie. Udeľ to, Pane.
Ty si povedal, „Ten, kto verí... Ktorý čuje moje Slová a verí tomu ktorý ma poslal, má večný život.“ Tak, Pane, to je Tvoje Slovo. Ty si tak povedal.
Podľa vedy, to porušilo každé pravidlo. Veda hovorí, že nemôžete zdvihnúť svoju ruku, gravitácia ju drží dolu. Ale v človeku je duch. On môže urobiť rozhodnutie a zodvihnúť svoju ruku, pretože tam je určitý duch, ktorý nad ním vládne, ktorý poruší zákony vedy. Tak Boh prehovoril a oni zodvihli svoje ruky ku svojmu Stvoriteľovi. Nebeský Otče, nech Tvoje Slovo padne do ich sŕdc práve teraz, do lona ich srdca, a nech to cez nich zrodí nevestu Kristovu. Udeľ to, Otče.
90Pre týchto, ktorí zodvihli svoju ruku, ktorí sú tu po celej budove a sú chorí, oni zodvihli svoje ruky, pretože sú v potrebe. Oni Ti veria, že si Uzdravovateľ. Modlím sa túto modlitbu viery. Vysielam to, Pane. V Mene Ježiša Krista, nech tá viera padne do každého srdca práve teraz. Nech je tam Slovo Božie tak dôrazné, až to zrodí uzdravenie pre každého jedného z nich. Udeľ to, Otče.
Tak, teraz znovu, hovorím to kvôli týmto vreckovkám, ktoré tu ležia, v Biblii bolo povedané, že z tela Pavla brali vreckovky a zástery a nečisté duchy vychádzali z ľudí a nemoci odchádzali. My nie sme svätým Pavlom, ale to nebol on, ktorý to urobil, ale pretože v ňom bolo Slovo. Ty si stále tým istým Slovom.
91Teraz, Otče, raz bol Izrael odrezaný od zasľúbenej zeme. Bola to tvoja nevesta. Ty si ju mal na ceste do zasľúbenej zeme. Ty si pre ňu urobil cestu. Nepriateľ sa dostal do tej cesty. Ty si sa pozrel dolu cez ten Ohnivý Stĺp s rozhnevanými očami. More sa vystrašilo, odstúpilo z cesty. Izrael prešiel.
Teraz, Bože, nedívame sa cez Ohnivý Stĺp, ale dívame sa cez Krv Tvojho vlastného Syna, ktorý zomrel pre tento účel. A ja posielam Tvoje Slovo. Nech sa diabol vystraší. Nech odstúpi a nech títo ľudia prídu ku tomu zasľúbeniu Božiemu tak ako Izrael, bez jediného zlyhania. Nech prídu k tomu veľkému zasľúbeniu, „Ponad všetky veci, chcem, aby sa ti darilo v zdraví.“ Udeľ to, Pane. Nech toto urobí tú prácu, kde to posielame. A hovoríme, že Tvoje Slovo sa nevráti späť ku Tebe prázdne. Ono vykoná to, na čo je určené. A ja sa modlím túto modlitbu viery za týchto ľudí v Mene Ježiša Krista.
92A zatiaľ, čo máme svoje hlavy sklonené, koľkí z vás príjmu teraz to, čo bolo povedané, a budú veriť, že Slovo Božie prišlo ku vám a vy ho prijímate? Každý jeden, ktorý zodvihol svoju ruku bez ohľadu na to, kvôli čomu to bolo, zodvihol si svoju ruku a hovoríš, „Verím. Práve teraz to prijímam. Verím, že mám to, o čo som prosil.“ Nech vás Boh žehná. To je ohromné. To je pekné. Nech vás Boh žehná. Dúfam, že Slovo Božie sa vo vás zakorení.
93Tak, máte... Zatiaľ čo máte svoje hlavy sklonené, máte tu pastora, je to milý brat, prišiel sem a pred chvíľou tu niečo zacitoval. Evanjelisti nemôžu robiť na zhromaždeniach všetko. Musíte svojho pastora poznať. Tohoto zbožného muža. Som tak rád, že som sa mohol ku týmto ľuďom dostať, ktorí zodvihli svoje ruky za tieto veci, a že im mohol byť daný tento milý pastor. Nech vás on teraz vedie do hlbších prežití s Bohom za vaše uzdravenie a vaše spasenie. Nech ťa Boh žehná, brat pastor. Čokoľvek chceš povedať, potom, ako sa pomodlíš...
1 Thank you sir. Good evening, friends. It's a privilege to be here tonight again in--in Tifton. This is kind of a grand surprise to me. I told our good friend Brother Welch Evans some time ago when I was getting a little tired; I said, "I'm coming down through Tifton to go fishing." I said, "When I come, I'll meet with you over there somewhere, and we'll have (I thought), a cottage prayer meeting." And here he--I find myself over here in a school auditorium tonight.
And a little bit hoarse from--from over-speaking. I had a short sermon yesterday, only six hours long is all, as long--as long as I preached. So... Now, I'm not scaring you. I won't be that long tonight. I--I'm positive of that. But being a little hoarse and--and coming by...
2 But it's a privilege to be here and to get to meet this fine pastor that just give such a fine, royal introduction. And we're happy to always meet the people.
And the expression the brother has just made is absolutely the truth. We can say "Amen" to it, because the devil in these last days are like a roaring lion, going around devouring whatever he can find to devour, for he knows his time is short. He hasn't got very much longer to do it, so he must do it while he's got time to do it.
I like the situation of this little auditorium. Very thankful to the school board, the principal, and those who has been so nice to let us have it; for you fine people who are here in cooperation for this little momentarily setup meeting. And ever who laid the little welcome mat out here in the street I noticed, well, that was very fine. I think a Brother Willie over here was the one did that; I appreciate it.
3 I'd like maybe, if the Lord being willing sometime, where we could come by for a season of services, get with this fine pastor and others here, and get a meeting set up for four or five nights, where we could sufficiently advertise it, get all the churches in together; because, you know, we need one another right now more than we ever did in all the history of the world is right now: real royal believers, we need each other. And so I'm... It's always a blessing wherever you go and meet God's people. It's a blessing everywhere.
4 I see we've got some youngsters out here. I was watching a little boy and girl setting here a few moments ago on the front seat, the cutest little fellows, little bitty things, setting up there just as nice. I like that. Children... There's something about children that's innocent and sweet. I--I like that.
And now, thank you very much for coming out tonight. Now, I thought that it would be nice tonight if we just took our time, and sowed some seed that--of the Word of the Lord.
And yesterday I preached this six hours upon a subject "The Original Seed of the Word." And we brought it from Genesis to Revelations, back and forth on a six-hour tape: that what God's program was, what He is, and how that the spoken Word of God is the Seed of God. And the Bible said that (over in Luke), that the Word of God is a Seed that the sower sowed.
5 And now, we know that any word sowed has to be watered before it'll bring forth its crop. But if the water falls on the ground, no matter what kind of seed is in that ground, it'll bring forth of its kind, 'cause God said in Genesis 1:11, "Let every seed bring forth of its kind." That each thing... And when the water falls (Hebrews, 6th chapter) we find out that the--the rains come oft upon the earth to water it, to dress it, to bring forth the fruit. But the weeds and briers, and--and things that's in the earth comes forth by the same water. But by their fruits you're known.
So Christians are known by the fruits of the Holy Spirit. That's what dominates a Christian's life, proves what he is. And the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, faith, long-suffering, goodness, gentleness...?... patience in the Holy Spirit. Those fruits manifest themselves through Christians.
6 Now, we found yesterday that in there that the seed that was sowed, the discord seed, that was... Satan sowed the discord when he told Eve a lie. And we find out to disbelieve one word of God spoken caused every death that ever was, every sickness, and all this trouble: just believing--misbelieving one word. She didn't exactly believe it. She tried to mix something with it, and nothing will mix with the Word of God. It's got to be that, because it's the original Seed.
God is eternal, and God is the Word. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh among us."
7 Now, God and His Word is the selfsame Being. Think of it. I believe that God will judge the world someday, not by the act of Congress, not by the act of a church, but by His Word He will judge the world. If we had to take church--organization church--which one of them is right? They differen so much one from another. The Catholic differens from the Protestant, the Protestant differens from the orthodox, the ortho... Why, we different every one. So which one of them would be right? We would have a confusion in our mind constantly. A person wouldn't know what to do. And a just God, the judge of all the earth, will surely give us something to be judged by.
8 Now, I read in the Bible that "Heavens and earth will pass away, but God's Word shall not pass away." I read in the Bible that whosoever shall take anything out of It or add anything to it, his part will be taken out of the Book of Life, that it stands just the way it is. Many try to say, It's been tampered with, it's been done this a-way or that way. I do not believe that. I believe there's got to be some kind of a standard that God will judge the--the church by, or the world. There's got to be some standard. It cannot be in church organization, because they different. Who would know what to do? But there is a standard, and that's His Word. I believe that God watches over His Word. I believe that that Word is punctuated exactly the way God wants It: the Bible. It's God's Word to the people. There's where reason I believe in that Word. And I believe the Word is a Seed, and if that Seed is sowed in the right ground and watered by the Holy Spirit, It'll bring forth of Its kind. Any promise that God made, God will do it.
9 When we see God heal a man... Here a few days ago in our church, I'd give out I was going to preach there on a Sunday (last Sunday, a week it is now, a week from last Sunday). They brought a little girl in there on a stretcher. And they'd called me in the nighttime on the road and said, "The girl cannot live," the cancer was so bad. About seventeen years old... "She can't even get there. She's going to die before she gets there." It was a pitiful case, a lovely little child of seventeen years old.
To prove something to my church, I never touched the child at all. I never as much as touched her. I walked in. Laying on a stretcher... 'Course there was other sick people, but I was concerned about the child, to catch her spirit when I spoke to her. And she seemed like a very fine little girl. I see no reason why that child should fill a premature grave; and that has to be the devil trying to take her life. So I never touched the child at all, went right to the pulpit with the Word, and stayed right with the Word. And the Word healed her so instantly until she got up and walked away, is all right now, living like anybody else: can't find a trace of it anywhere. Never even touched the Word--or touched her.
See, the Word went forth, and she believed the Word, and the Word is God's life and God's power. And the Word is what does it. The Word heals the sick.
10 Then you say, "Well, Jesus healed the sick."
He is the Word. He is the Word. When you receive the Word, you receive Jesus, for He is the Word. "The Word was made flesh and dwelled among us." We believe that, don't we, every bit? We believe that Christ is God's Word made manifest; and we believe that His Bride must be the same thing. We believe that she must believe every bit of the Word and have that Word in her, because she is part of the body. She is the body where He is the head.
And when He died, and rose from the dead, and resurrected, and set on high on the--by the majesty of God on His throne, right hand of Majesty, then--and we are His delegates. And we reckon ourself dead, and buried by baptism, raised with Him, and now seated together with Him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. That'd get us all shouting, wouldn't it? Think of that. We are, not will be; we are now. Now, we are sons of God; now we are daughters of God. Not we will be seated; now we are seated. Can't... The...
11 Jesus said the Scriptures has to be fulfilled. Every word has to come to pass. Today we've gotten so far away from it. We've just mixed ourselves up with creeds and so forth, until we're just gone out on a--a wild tantrum, just as the Bible said we would do. Exactly.
Adam, before he got to his wife, she was pregnated with evil seed. She took the devil's lie and tried to mix it with God's word, and it caused death. The first child was born from her had death. Every child since has had death.
Jehovah's wife when He brought her up out of Egypt and sanctified her, and started her on the road, what did she do? She done the same thing. Jehovah taken His wife over to the promised land. On the road up there she heard a false prophet by the name of Balaam, and what did she do? "Why, there's no difference in us. Let's all unite together, and be one family."
12 That's what the bride has done with the world: united with the world with her creeds and things, and denied the Word of God, saying, "Days of miracles is past. There's no such a thing as the baptism of the Holy Spirit." And where's she at now? Divorced. Just... Jesus' bride had done the same thing that Jehovah's bride did, and the same thing that--that Adam's bride did. Yes, just exactly. The Bible said at the mouth of three witnesses let every word be established." There's three churches, three brides. All of them done the same thing.
13 But in the face of all that, there is a real Bride that God's bringing forth, and has a little bit out of each... Each time there's been a reformation, there's been so much of the Word spread forth. And each generation gets its time. Did you ever notice? There'll be a man of God come along that'll strike fire with God, and there'll be a great revival sweep the land. And what happens? Immediately after that they take that man's idea, and denominate it, and bring in creeds, and mix with it. There she dies and never rises again (That's right.), always has been, always will be, every time.
14 But each generation, what does it get? Its opportunity at the fresh Word of God each time, like Luther under justification; like Wesley under sanctification; the Pentecostal move under the baptism of the Holy Spirit. See? Each one gets its chance. Then what does the men do that follows those great reformers? Denominate it, organize it, mix in creeds with it, a little bit here and a little bit there. A new bunch of school scholars comes along with a bunch of psychology, just the same as Eve was trying to find some new light, mix it up with the Word of God: Death. Away went the organization, and died spiritually. That's exactly right. That's the way it's always been.
15 Now. Believe it or not... You might not think so, but I'm going to speak tonight (if the Lord willing) upon a subject of the "End-Time Seed Sign." What kind of a sign will the seed sign be at the end time? Before we read the Word, let's bow our heads and speak to the Author of It.
I wonder tonight, with our heads bowed, realizing that we're living in the shadows of the coming of the Son of God... I wonder if there'd be requests tonight, would like to let God know that you're sincere, and you have a--something on your heart that you'd want God to do for you? Just raise your hands to Him, say, "This is me, God. I want this and this." Thank you.
16 Our heavenly Father, we are approaching Thy throne of grace--never thy throne of judgment. God, we don't desire the judgment, because we could not stand at that throne. But we're so glad that there was One stood there for us, Thy Son, the Lord Jesus. He stood there for us, and stood the judgments, that we might have the right to the throne of grace. And we are approaching tonight in His Name.
And He said Himself (and every word that come from Him was the Scripture, and they must be fulfilled), He said, "If you ask My Father anything in My Name, I'll do it." Now, we know that that Word is true, and we're approaching in Jesus' Name to ask our heavenly Father to grant unto us pardoning grace from His loving throne of grace.
17 We're asking Him tonight for Him to make His Word plain and known to us, and reveal to us the hour that we are approaching, for we do not want to stumble as one not knowing where we are going. The man who knows not where he goes, stumbles. And you said we were children of the light, and we should know where we are going, step by step, as packing a light. It shows not all the way down, but as we take the steps. I pray, Father, as we take this step tonight towards this meeting, that we will see what the purpose of God is for us being here. And I pray to Thee, O Lord, that every hand that went up at this meeting tonight will be--the purpose of that request behind the hand be answered. If it's for salvation, God, grant tonight that they will receive it. If it's domestic trouble, straighten up the home, Lord, give peace. If it's for someone who is distressed, give Thy mercy, Father. If it's for someone sick, let the healing words of God be sank down deep in their heart tonight, that'll bring forth a crop of good, Divine health tomorrow. Grant it, Lord. Hear us.
18 We present the Word to you tonight with ourselves and these texts, that You might bring from it a context, and reveal to us the things that we should know. Bless this people. Bless this school. In this day that when someone would say they're going to hold a meeting, a interdenominational group, they coldly would have turned it down. But this principal opened the door. We pray, God, that You'll bless him, and let him know that it's written in the Scripture, "Insomuch as you have done unto the least of these, you have done it unto Me."
"When were You needy, and we did not minister?"
And You said, "I will say, as you did to these, you have done to Me."
I pray, heavenly Father, that from this school will go forth mighty anointed preachers for the day ahead.
I pray for every person that's here, their pastors. Bless their churches, Lord. May that a great revival break out in the community here among the peoples, and cause many to be saved. Heal the sick and afflicted. Get glory unto Thyself. We ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.
19 A very odd little Scripture reading... When you go home, I'd like for you to read the chapter: Amos, the 3rd chapter, and the 7th verse: odd, strange setting for the text. But you know, God does things kind of strange and odd; works in peculiar ways, mysterious ways, His wonders to perform. Amos 3:7:
Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Now, the text that I would like to use is this: The "End-Time Sign Seed." And as I've just told you yesterday, preaching so much on the seed, for it's the Word... All things begin in Genesis, 'cause Genesis means beginning, or seed chapter of the Bible. Everything we have on earth today, the origination of it started in Genesis.
20 Now, we have things today that did not begin in Genesis, because it's been hybrid. Anything hybrid is a phony. It's no good. It cannot reproduce itself. Anything that's hybrid is man-made, and cannot bring itself back again.
As I've said many times, we take the breeding of stock. Like, you take the--the donkey and the mare, and they bring forth a mule, but the mule cannot breed hisself back. He don't know what's father or mother. He's mixed up.
21 We take corn today. It's hybrid. They say it's more beautiful, bigger ear; but it's no good. You see what "Reader's Digest" just wrote of it? If women continue to eat chicken, and beef, and stuff that's hybrid, in twenty years from now the human race will cease to exist: women can no more have babies. That's right. Hybreeding, it's no good.
Take corn, hybreed it, make a great big ear. What does it do? All right if you want to eat it on the big ear. But what happens to it? Plant it back; it can't reproduce itself again. It's no good; it's dead. Therefore, anything that wasn't spoke by God in the beginning is a hybrid.
22 And that's the way that people gets away from the Word of God. It becomes a hybrid affair. It must die. It cannot bring forth of its kind to life again. The church that will refuse to--to believe the Word of God is a hybrid church with dogmas, creeds, doctrines that's not Scriptural. That church cannot bring forth a Spirit-filled child, 'cause it's hybrid. It's no good. It might be bigger, great big walls, fine pews, big bells, plush seats. But that doesn't mean one thing. It's spiritually dead. That's right. It cannot bring forth Spirit-filled children, because it's dead itself.
23 Now, speaking six hours on that subject, and tonight going back again to this same end-time seed sign... Now, all wise people, if he's all right in his head, he's always trying to find what's ahead of him. All of us wants to know that. "What's the next move shall I make? Where do I go from here?" It's like a man crossing a stream. He steps on one rock, then he looks around to see where his next step shall be, for he doesn't... He can't just jump anywhere. If he does he will drowned himself. He must watch where he's going. "After I cross this, then where?" All of us are that way. That's been the cry of the human race down through the ages: "Where from here?"
24 The King of England... One night, when a saint baptized him the next morning, they were setting by a fire, a great big, like a piazza. And there was a great furnace of fire, or--or grate we would call it, only a large, mammoth, big place where logs was laying. The saint was trying to tell the king about God, and a little sparrow finished his sermon. The little sparrow in the nighttime flew into the dark, into the light, went back out of the light, into the dark. And the saint raised up, and said to the king, "Where did he come from and where did he go?"
That's what we want to know. Where did we come from, and what are we doing here, and where do we go from here? Now, they... All the science that we got, as many bones as we've dug up, as many books as we've wrote, there's not one book that can tell you where you come from, what you are, and where you're going: only one Book, and that's the Bible. It tells you where you come from, what you are here, and where you are going. So therefore, if we want to know where from here, let's take the only Book that can tell us.
25 Ancient bones they're digging up, and--and staglites, and so forth, can prove nothing. God's Word's got the answer. It's got the answer to everything that we ask. It's in God's Book. Man has often wondered. We go down sometimes, and read the Scriptures, and wonder over them. But we're not supposed to wonder. You can't explain Them; you've got to believe Them.
No man can--can scientifically prove God. If you could prove God scientifically, then it's no more of faith. We're supposed to believe God, and faith is not scientific.
What if Moses would've pulled some of the leaves off the trees and said, "I believe I'll take it to the laboratory to find out what chemical is on them that won't let them burn." See, God would've never talked to him. He did not know that. The only thing he done was take off his shoes and set down in reverence, and God talked back to him.
We cannot scientifically prove these promises of God, but we look back and find out where in season every one of them happened just as God said they would. So in reverence and respects to His Word tonight let's just set down for a while and look at it, and see where we're going, what's the purpose. What are we here for? What's it all about?
26 Here some time ago I was out west, and I was standing in a man's house that invited me out for--for dinner. And he said, "Mr. Branham, I see you admiring that sculpture, painting, or not painting, but it was kind of carved out of wood--plaque-like, over the fireplace.
I said, "Yes, sir. I am." And it was an old ox cart, or covered wagon with oxes: a man in front, a little boy setting on the seat with his mother, and they were traveling.
And he said, "That was my father and mother, and the little boy on the seat was myself." He said, "We come here in this ox cart." He said, "But since then, we have so prospered." He said, "I want you to step out here in the yard." He said... I forget how many thousands of acres that he owned there of a ranch. He said, "I bought that in my young days."
And he said, "Then after that, the adjoining ranch to the west I own; the adjoining ranch to the south I own." Said, "You see the smoke over there?"
"Yes, sir."
Said, "That's a city." I forget how much property he owned there.
He said, "I'm the president in that bank there," and telling me what all he had.
27 I listened for a little while, and I said, "I would like to ask you one question, sir. You have pointed to the east, and to the west, showing the ranches, and to the city. I would like to have you look up this a-way, and see--and tell me how much you own up there." That's the main thing, because someday you're going to leave every bit of this down here. And then, where do you go from there? That's the main thing.
This is a short stay here, but that's an eternal stay there. So I think we ought to consider where we are going for eternity. If we can so supply, and fix our families, and so forth here on earth with homes, houses, and comfort, education, that's the things we should do. But the--one of the main things we should do we leave undone till we get to the end of the road, and drown ourselves in an eternity, knowing nothing about God, about His plan of salvation, and redeeming grace of Jesus Christ. It's pitiful that we do it, but we do.
28 The wise people, when they find out that they're a creature of time, they wonder what it is after time ceases. I'm going to speak of a man by the name of Job for a few moments. That's the oldest book in the Bible. We understand that Job was one of the wisest men in the world of his day. Why, he said when he'd go to the markets the young princes would bow before him for wisdom. He was a great man.
But that man begin to realize, of all of his greatness, he wondered what... After this is all over, then what's it going to be? He wondered what would take place.
So he speaks then, and begins to watch about God's creation. He knew that all things was created by a Word from God. And we--he noticed also of--he said, "There's hope if a tree dies, it'll live again."
29 If you notice nature, God--in His great way to express His feelings to the people that they'll be sure, whether they got a Bible or anything else He expresses Hisself in nature to you.
Watch the sun when it comes up of a morning. What happens to the sun? It's a little baby borned in the east. And about ten o'clock, it's in its teen-age. At noontime it's in its strength. In the afternoon it's in its middle age. And at evening it's gone, it sets, it's finished. Is that all of the sun? No. God's got a purpose for the sun, so the sun comes back and rises again the next morning. What does it speak of? Birth, life, death, resurrection.
30 Look at your flowers. I was noticing today, coming down, the flowers, how pretty they are. They're here for a purpose. They're spoken words of God. God spoke them into existence. And when He did, look what happens. They're pretty standing in your yard.
After while, frost hits them. Young ones, old ones, middle age, as soon as frost hits them; it's death. They bow their little head, and what happens? A little black seed of some sort drops out of them. Believe it or not, God has a funeral procession for them. The fall rains come, and tears, as it was, drops from the skies and buries the seed.
The winter comes on. The petal's gone, the stalk's gone, the bulb's gone; the seed freezes, bursts open, the pulp runs out. Is that the end of the seed? No, sir. Let that warm sun shine, which brings forth resurrection of all botany life. As soon as that sun begins to light the earth and get warm, there's a germ of life somewhere in that seed, and it lives again. Why? It served a purpose of God, and God makes a way for it to live again.
Now, we were put here for a purpose, but we must serve that purpose: choose either death or life. So we're put here for a purpose, but we must serve that purpose. That's serving God, because we're sons and daughters of God.
31 Now, Job watched the creation. He saw that after death it wasn't the end of it. He saw that after death there was life again. Life... As soon as the sun got right, it was life again. "Well," he said, "if that seed is a spoken Seed, or a spoken Word of God, and it serves its purpose and dies... But" he said, "a man," I'm looking at some Scripture here from Job now, Job 14, "but a man layeth down; he giveth up the ghost; he wastes away. His sons come to mourn; he perceive it not. Where is he? Oh, that thou would hide me in the grave and keep me in the secret place till Thy wrath be past."
Job said, "I see a flower die. It serves its purpose, and it rises up. I see a tree die, fall of the year puts forth its leaves."
32 Did you ever notice a tree? It will put forth its leaf, and then it serves its time through the summer. Autumn comes. Way before the frost falls, that leaf begins to turn yellow, red, brown. After while it drops off the tree, falls down. Is that the end of it? No. What happens? The life that was in that leaf goes back to the root of the tree where it comes from. What does it do then? Spring of the year it brings forth with it, in a resurrection, a new leaf same life returning back with a new leaf.
And Christians are hanging on the Tree of Life. And when the life leaves this old sinful body, it goes back to the God that gives it, to come forth again with a new one, because it's serving a purpose.
33 Here some time ago I was down in the state of Kentucky--or I suppose from here directionally I'd have to point north, up in the state of Kentucky. I was hunting, me and Mr. Wood, one of the trustees here with us tonight. I'd had a meeting over in a little city called Acton at the Methodist campground.
In there had been one night we were speaking, and the Lord was doing great things, and we was having a healing service, praying for the sick. You all were here at the other meeting; you know what takes place.
And I cannot heal, no other man. God's already done it. You just have to believe it. So He has a way that He promised in the last days, a gift that would discern the--the spirits, and so forth, that works. We know that, a hundred percent, 'cause it's God's Word making manifest His promise for this last day.
34 And in there, there was a woman. I'd never been in the country before. And there was a woman setting back in the audience, and the Holy Spirit got among the people and begin to call this one, that one, telling them. It was our Lord Jesus, His Word made manifest in the body of His church. And then when He begin to speak, Jesus stood on the grounds, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, spoke to them, told the people about different things, as you all Bible readers know: promised the same thing again to repeat in the last days, promised it by His Scripture that it would do so.
35 Now, I want you to notice. Now, when that was taking place, way back in the back a lady was weeping somewhere on the big campground. Many, many hundreds and hundreds of people were seated, and there was a lady crying. Notice, the Holy Spirit went to the lady and said, "You're crying about your sister. Her name is such-and-such. She lives at a certain place. You have a handkerchief in your pocketbook that you put in there before leaving home. It's this and this a-way, a handkerchief. You take this handkerchief and go lay it on your sister. She's dying with cancer. And THUS SAITH THE LORD, she shall live."
The woman took from the building, went and laid her handkerchief on the lady that night. And the next morning she was well.
36 Now. So I was... The season was very hot. Squirrel hunting... As many of my fellow squirrel hunters know, they're--they--the cracking of the leaves scares the squirrels, and we... It was so dry, we had to go to a place where there was some hollows that we could get into--little ditches, to walk through the woods. My friend's name was Mr. Wood. He's setting over here to my right.
And he said, "I know a man that's got a ground of many acres." But said, "He's so hard to deal with." Said, "He's a infidel," and said, "he don't believe in God." And he said, "He makes fun of it." And he said, "But he knows me, he knows my father." And he said, "If I go ask him if we can hunt on his place..."
I said, "Let's go."
37 We drove way back in the country, way back on a side road, and two old men were setting under the shade of an apple tree. He said, "There he is, the one to the right."
I said, "Being a minister, I better set in the car."
So he goes out, and he said, "How do you do?"
And the man said, "Come up, set down."
He said, "My name is Wood." He said, "I wonder if you would care if we hunted awhile on your place."
He said, "What Wood are you?"
He said, "I'm Jim Wood's son."
He said, "Jim Wood is a friend of mine, and any one of his children can hunt anywhere they want to."
He said, "Thank you."
He said, "I wonder now," he said, "which one are you?"
He said, "I'm Banks." He talked to him a few moments, and Mr. Wood said, "I wonder if it'd be all right for me to take my pastor with us."
He said, "You don't mean you got so low down till you have to carry a preacher with you wherever you go?"
He said, "My pastor's out there."
38 I thought I'd better get out of the car. And I got out of the car, and walked over there, and I said, "How do you do?"
He said, "How do you do? So you're a preacher."
I said, "Yes, sir."
And he said, "Well," he said, "I'm supposed to be an infidel."
I said, "Well, not much to brag about, is it?"
He said, "I guess it isn't." He said, "But what I've got against you people, you're talking about something you don't know about."
"Oh," I said, "is that so?"
He said, "Yes, sir. I hear them always blowing off about this, about a God, and everything." Said, "There is no such a thing."
I said, "Uh-huh." I said, "Well, 'course you know how it is, sir," I said, "Everyone to his own thought." I was thinking in my heart, "Now, Lord, You give me something to help that man, no doubt sincere."
And he said, "I only seen one preacher in all my life I--I'd like to hear--heard of him."
And I said, "Who was that, sir?"
He said, "Here about two years ago, there was a preacher over here at a town called Acton." He said, "And old lady So-and-so up here on the hill had been laying there for two years with cancer." Said, "Me and my wife... They couldn't put her on the bedpan no more. They had to use a draw sheet." And said, "We was up there that morning," and said, "the doctor had said the day before that she wouldn't make it through the night."
39 "She had cancer in her stomach. She was eat up. She couldn't even drink barley water, and hadn't for weeks. They'd fed her glucose through her veins, until her veins was collapsed, and said there was nothing could be done for her."
And said, "Her sister was setting over listening to that preacher preach, and that preacher didn't know anybody here, had never been here, and told her who she was, and what her sister was, and thought about a handkerchief she had, and said put it on that woman." And said, "That night I thought they had the Salvation Army up there somewhere, of all the screaming." And said, "The next morning we went over to see if she was dead." And said, "When we got over there, she was up, cooking fried apple pies and eating them." And said, "She even does the neighbor's work." He said, "Now..."
I said, "What's so strange about that?"
40 He said, "Well, here's what I want to know. If I ever see that preacher, I'm going to ask him, what was it told him about that woman, and whether she'd be healed."
"Oh," I said, "yes, sir." Squirrel blood all over me, and dirty whiskers about that long, you know. And I said, "Don't look very much like a preacher now."
He said, "Well, looks more human."
And I said, "Yes, sir." So I said, "Can I have one of those apples?" Little yellow jackets was all over them.
And he said, "Yes." I picked up one, and I bit it. And he said, "Help yourself. The yellow jackets are eating them up."
And I said, "Thank you." I took a bite of it. I said, "That's a fine apple."
He said, "Yep." He said, "That old tree's produced a lot of them for me."
And I said, "Yes, sir." I said, "How old is the tree?"
He said, "About forty years old." Said, "I planted it there, just a switch."
41 And I said, "Uh-huh." I said, "I notice all the apples are dropping off of it, and the leaves are leaving."
He said, "Yep. That's the way she does."
And I said, "I want to ask you a question."
He said, "Yes, sir. Go ahead and ask." He said.
I said, "What causes... Now, we haven't had no frost," I said. "It's only the middle of August. We won't have no frost till about October or November." I said, "But here in the middle of August them leaves are falling off the tree." I said, "What's making them leaves fall?"
"Why," he said, "the sap's leaving it."
I said, "What if the sap doesn't leave it?"
He said, "Why, it would--the tree would get killed in the wintertime. The germ of life's in the sap." Said, "If it would... It would it would kill the tree. It would die."
I said, "Yes, sir." I said, "Therefore, the sap goes back down into the roots where it's warm, stays there through the winter, then comes back in the summer, bringing more leaves and more apples."
Said, "That's it."
42 I said, "I want to ask you something." I said, "What intelligence... Now, the tree has none. What intelligence says to that tree, 'It's coming wintertime. Get down into the root and stay there until spring of the year.'?" I said, "Put water in a bucket, and set it on a post, and see if it'll go down when fall of the year comes. It won't do it." I said, "You have to admit there's some kind of an Intelligence that makes that sap leave the tree and go down into the roots. If it doesn't, it dies. It hides it away to protect its life. Now, the tree has no intelligence. There's a law of God that does that."
And he said, "Well, I never thought of it just like that."
I said, "Mister, the same Intelligence that tells that tree up there--the sap in that tree to go to the roots, that same Intelligence is what told me who that woman was, and tell her what was going to happen."
He said, "You're not that preacher?"
I said, "Yes, sir." And there he was led to Christ, and died a Christian a year later about eighty-five years old.
43 See, God's all around us. God's everywhere. And if we'll look at nature, we will find Him there. Now, after Job had found Him in the death, burial, and resurrection of nature, reproduced itself again of its kind, then he couldn't understand about what a man happened... "If a man," he says, "lays down, he giveth up the ghost. Where is he?" Now, see, the tree never sinned. Nature never sinned. Man sinned. So he couldn't... Then being a prophet...
Now, the Bible, my text said, "He makes His secrets known to His prophets." The Word of the Lord comes to the prophet. And being a prophet, we know the story of Job. God finally explained it to Job, that the seed of man was imperfect because the mother of man had failed to obey God's Word. She tried to mix it with something else and God's Word won't hybreed to nothing. That's right.
44 Jesus said when He was here, "If you have faith like a mustard seed, would say to this mountain..." Why did He refer to mustard seed? Mustard seed won't hybreed. It's genuine mustard seed. It will not take breeding with nothing. And He said, otherwise, "If you have that much faith, God's Word, that won't hybreed to unbelief, or question it... Oh, I feel religious. That you won't question it...
No matter what circumstances, and anything else, you don't question God's Word; you believe It. You're supposed to believe It. If Eve would've only believed it, she would've received... and she'd have brought forth children right. But before she--her husband got to her she... found her already defiled, like Jehovah did, and like Jesus had. There was a defilement in the womb of her thinking. She had accepted a seed of unbelief against God's Word, because it produced something to her more brighter, and she wanted more knowledge.
45 That's what's the matter today. I'm standing in a school. We'd be a bunch of ignorants if it wasn't for education, and education is a part of our civilization. But civilization, education, only come by Christianity. Civilization is the grass roots of Chri--of... Or Christianity is the grass roots of civilization. Absolutely. Civilization come by Christ. Certainly.
Now, to disbelieve God's Word, or mix It with something to have more light... You can't mix It. It won't mix. You've got to believe it just the way God wrote it, and the way He spoke it. It's not to be added to, or taken away from, or anything, you believe it that way.
46 Now, and when Job being a prophet, finally the vision broke through. And then when he seen how that God was going to make a way for a man to live again, because there would be another spoken Word that a virgin would receive...
That was Eve first that doubted it. When the Word come to Mary, she never doubted it. She said, "Behold the handsmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me according to Thy Word." See, she never--she never said, "Now, you wait till I feel life, and then I'll go testify. You wait till I'm positive of it."
That's the way we Christians, so-called, today do. "Wait till I'm positive. Wait till I begin to get better." And "Wait... I see something happen, and then I'll do it." No, sir. That's not the question. You believe it first.
47 What did Elijah tell the--the woman that he went to, with nothing but a handful of meal? He said, "Make me a cake first, then go start... The miracle will happen after you take God's Word first. You begin to believe God's Word, and then the miracle takes place on the Word, because the Word is the Seed that brings forth the miracle. Got to take the Word first. The Holy Spirit gives It life, like water falling from heaven.
We know that the Holy Spirit represents... The water represents the Holy Spirit, like... As Moses lifted up the brass serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up. What? A perishing people. And when they lifted up the brass serpent, it saved the life of the perishing people. When he smote the rock... Christ is that rock that was smitten, and out of Him come the waters of Life for a perishing people. You must believe it; act upon it. Now.
48 Remember now. Then when Job seen this coming just One, the One that could stand in the breach between the sinner and God, and bridge the way--that perfect Seed... "These seeds," he says, "corrupt; I see them go into the ground." His sons come to mourn him, over him, he perceive it not. He lays there; he never raises. He just lays there, rots away, and that's all of it. He never does raise up again, because he's an imperfect seed.
But he said... When he found out that there was coming One Who would bring back perfection to the Word of God again, that would make a way, would bridge the way, then the prophet got in the Spirit and cried out, "I know my Redeemer liveth. And in the last days He will stand upon the earth. Though after the skin worms has destroyed this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God." He seen that perfect One coming. What happened? Job being a prophet, the secrets of God is known to the prophets. He spoke the word. And when he spoke the Word that God showed him, it become material, for it was a spoken Word. And in its season it happened just exactly that way.
Christ was born, the Redeemer One could stand between the living and the dead and bridge the way, and brought the resurrection. Exactly. Why? It was the Word of God. Now, He spoke the Word, and the Word was a Seed, and it matured in its season. Every seed of God correctly placed will mature.
49 Now, what if God would send His message by an Angel to Mary, and said, "Hail, Mary, blessed art thou amongst women. You're going to have a baby knowing no man," she'd said, "Now, wait a minute here. Let me take you down to the laboratory, and you tell me... Let--let the doctor prove to me just how I'm going to do this (See?) then I'll believe you." It would've never happened. But what did she come to? The womb of her heart, the womb that her spirit was in... Your womb of your spirit is your mind. Your--your mind is a channel.
You've got five senses that controls the body. You've got five senses that controls the soul: conscience, and so forth. Now, your body, there's see, taste, feel, smell, and hear. But there's only one channel to the inside of that soul, show that you are a seed. You're soul, body, and spirit, and then the one channel, avenue, one way into that, your own free moral agency. That is, you can receive or reject, you do whatever you want to.
50 Therefore, Eve was on the same basis. She could take God's Word and said, "God said not to do it, and get away from here." That would've been all right. But instead of that she tried to hybrid it with Satan's lie, and brought death to her. But when it come to Mary, it was different. "Behold the handsmaid of the Lord." "How's it going to be?" That doesn't matter how it's going to be. "You have spoke it; it's the Word of God; I receive it. Behold the handsmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me even as Thy Word." There it was. That settled it. And she--she was all right then.
See, she brought forth that germ of life which was the Word of God made manifest in a form of a man. And through the death of that just One, paid the death for--the debt of every one of us that's unjust. And by accepting then His Word, brings Life and brings Christ back in us, because Christ is the Word, the Spoken Word. And It will mature if you can receive It. You that's sick, accept It. Believe It. It's got to mature, will come forth in Its season: It's got to.
51 Now. All of us believe that we're in the end time. Any man that's--that's intelligent, I believe, if he would look around and see, it shows this thing can't go on much longer. I want about fifteen minutes now to show you what I mean. Anyone knows that something's got to happen. All Scriptures point to it.
We are taught that the world was created in six thousand years, being a thousand a day, one day as a year with God, and so forth: six thousand years in the creation. All right. Six days it's called, and the Bible says one day is a thousand years, or a thousand years is one day with God.
52 Now, the first two thousand years the world kosmos (order of world) come to its end, and God had to send something, the judgments from heaven, and judge the earth in judgment, and save the righteous Noah and his family.
The second two thousand years, the same thing taken place again. kosmos, world order, even the church was polluted. The days of Noah, they mocked and made fun of him, and he preached a hundred and twenty years in the door of the ark. And in the second thousand years the church went into captivity, committed whoredom with the world, and become nothing but a bunch of forms and creeds. And God sent judgment to the earth by sending His Son. Come to the end of its powers...
53 Now, this is 1962, and what does the Bible say? The Bible said in the last days that the work would have to be cut short (The Scriptures cannot lie.) for the elected's sake, for the elected's sake, or there'd be no flesh saved. Then we see we're at the end-time.
The seventh is the sabbath, which is the Millennium. That's the--that will take place during that time, the Millennium reign. Now. But the six days is fulfilled. Man has got in his hand right now a weapon that he can destroy himself. He can destroy the world, could blow the world into bits in one second. He can shoot a man into orbit, and swing it around over the country here, and say, "Surrender, or I'll let her loose." That's all. What would he do? Why, anybody that's sensible, they'd surrender. Then what?
And now, the little... Used to be the big nations dominated the big--the little nations; and no more, they got the same thing. See? So it's become a time that we see and believe that we're at the end time.
54 Now, we could go on with this for hours, but let's just look at some of the Scriptures here just a minute, that looks to the seed that's been planted for the end time.
If that seed of... Job's spoken word, Isaiah spoke of it, every man of God, every prophet of God that He made His secrets known to (even David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, all the rest of them), spoke of that coming Seed. And when the season come, it was exactly that way. It always does. It can't fail. It's God's Word. It's eternal. It can't fail. And all of us know that Jesus was the Word.
55 Now. Let's take His Word then. Hebrews 1 said, "God in sundry times and divers manners spoke to the prophets, but in this last days through his Son, Christ Jesus." Now, He was a God-prophet. He was a prophet, sure. Moses said, "The Lord your God will raise up a prophet." But this was more than a prophet; He was God, manifested in flesh.
Now, this God-prophet give us two or three signs that we want to look at here, great signs that we want to remember. In Matthew 24 when it was asked Him "When shall these things be? What will be the coming of the end of the world? When will all this take place?" He gave so many different things that would take place: nation shall rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom, and so forth, and on and on and on. But said, "Learn a parable of the fig tree when--and all the other trees."
56 How many in here is Christians? Now, raise your hands. All right, thank you. I guess a hundred percent. All right. Watch, close now, when we bring this end-time seed sign. Jesus said, "Learn a parable of the fig tree." Now, when you see the fig.
Now, learn a parable of what? The fig tree. Now, anyone knows, that reads the Bible, that the fig tree has always been the Jewish race of people.
Joel said, "What the palmerworm left the caterpillar eaten," and so forth. That was the stump, that the creeds and things eat the church down. But said, "I will restore, saith the Lord."
Now, the Jews was cut off, Paul tells us, and the Gentiles grafted in again into the Kingdom. But notice. Jesus said, "Learn a parable of the fig tree." Now, that tree, like Job saw, if it dies, will it live again?
Sure. He said, "Now, when you see the fig tree, and all the other trees..." Trees--trees of what? There's a Tree of Life, there's a tree of creed (denomination), there's a creed of nations. "When you see the fig tree, and all the other trees putting forth buds (broughs, fixing to leaf out) you say summer is nigh." Notice, making a parable out of the nations.
57 Now, God deals with the Gentiles for a Bride, one here, and one there. But He deals with the Jews as a nation, not as a individual, as a nation. He's always... that's been God's chosen nation. God chose them as a nation. Missionaries going into Jerusalem, and things--when Israel is saved, she'll be a nation. The Bible says will be born in a day. That's right. So Israel will accept Christ at one... just... as a nation; not just as individuals.
But notice now, what He said, let's take it. Watch it clear. "When you see the fig tree begin to bud again, and all the other trees putting forth its buds..."
58 Now, everything is having a revival or just had a revival. The Jews are back in their homeland as a nation, flying their own flag, their own government, their own money. They are a nation for the first time for about... I guess, about Eighteen hundred years. Oh, more than that--about twenty-two hundred years, about twenty-two hundred years. Israel is a nation again. The oldest flag in the world, the six-point star of David, flies again, and for the first time for twenty-two hundred years. And Jesus said, "When she begins to put forth her bud, the time is at the door." Israel, talking to the Jews.
59 Now, watch. He said when all the other trees begin to put forth... The Roman Catholic church has had the greatest sweep it's ever had. The Protestant church has had the greatest revival it's had. Billy Graham, and Jack Shuler, the Pentecostals has had the greatest revival they had. Oral Roberts, Tommy Hicks and the rest of them, great men--a revival.
Notice. The powers has had a revival, the national powers. There's a revival on now, who's going to be the greatest power? Communism? Everybody you hear, preacher stand in the pulpit talking, "Oh, let us fear communism." Nonsense. Show me the Scripture where communism will rule the world. Romanism will rule the world, not communism. Look at King Nebuchadnezzar's vision, the word of the Lord, the head of gold, brass on down into the Roman feet which was iron, and never changed. The stone came while it was still in the iron and smote it. Remember at the end it was mixed with clay, the weakness, clay and iron together.
60 This great meeting they've just had up here between Khrushchev and Eisenhower... You know what Khrushchev means in his own nation, national tongue? Khrushchev means mud, clay. You know what Eisenhower means in English? Iron. And to even make it so plain to the people, Khrushchev took off his shoe and beat the desk. They will not agree. What's going to rule? Rome will rule. A confederation of churches, with--Catholicism will bind it together, and right there you are, the ruling power. The Bible says that. That's the seed that can't fail.
61 Now, look today. Isn't this new pope inviting all the Protestant churches in? Aren't they going? What about your Pentecostals? Same thing; the federation of churches. There you are. That seed's got to come to pass. This has got to happen. It's got to mature. It's time for it to mature. The people, what'd they do? Organize and kept building greater buildings, and bigger organizations, greater denominations. And what all happened? The same thing, exactly what the Bible said they'd do.
That's what the God-prophet, Jesus Christ, said would take place. The Jews would be restored, and there would be a great revival amongst them as a nation, coming together as a nation. There'd be a revival amongst the Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterian, and so forth, a revival amongst the Pentecostals, and there you are. And nation will be striving against nation, the seed matured. Israel become a nation after twenty-two hundred years. What's happened? The churches all got together having a revival. All right, sir.
62 Now, another great seed was planted. He said in the last days, in II Timothy, the 3rd chapter, there would come amongst the church a falling away from Bible faith. That's right. Is that a seed? Is that a promise? Look at them today. Look at our churches. What are they doing? They're organizing themselves together; they're cooperating together, binding themselves together, failing, don't believe in the Bible, don't believe in the--in the real true Word of God.
You say, "The Bible says this."
"Them things are past. There is no such a thing. Oh, there--there is no such a thing. Days of miracles is past a long time ago. There is no such a thing as the baptism of the Holy Ghost. That was for a handful of people: twelve back there, the apostles." See? What is that seed? It's maturing. It's the end time sign seed.
What did Jesus say? "When you see these things happening, lift up your head. Your redemption's drawing nigh," to the church. We seen she would fall away. All right. We find that. All right.
63 Now, we said in the last days Joel told us (the other part of the Scriptures. Listen close now.) that there would be a former and latter rain in the same season. How many Christians know that? Say, "Amen." Sure. What.
Now, the other day, to my surprise, when I looked... Former and latter rain would come in the same season. Now, the word "former" in the Hebrew word (get your Hebrew lexicon and find out), the Hebrew word for "former" means "moureh." "Moureh" means "teaching." There will come a teaching rain. What is it? Putting the seeds into the earth. What's had.
What's gone on? Well, we find out that there's been a teaching rain going on. The Baptist people, "A million more in '44," was their goal, members of the church. Billy Graham's great revivals, our great evangelist, look what he done. Look at Oral Roberts and the Pentecostals. There's been a teaching rain gone forth.
There's been a national teaching rain, communism sowed amongst the people, every nation.
There's been a Roman revival. Do you know what happens? If they give the western part, or the eastern part of Berlin back, that puts communism just, or I mean the Roman empire, just exactly in the old circle it was in the time of Jesus. Certainly it does, perfectly.
64 There's a revival going on. What is it? A sowing. You don't hear very much of Billy Graham no more, do you? What about Oral? What about the rest of them? You know the great revival fire's not burning. What is it? It's the end time seed sign. The words has been sown. What is it? Denomination will reap denomination. That makes them confederate themselves together.
But the Word of God has been sowed also. And when the Spirit of God begins to fall, the Word of God will live in the people. And that false bride that's committed adultery out there, and brought herself into creeds, and sold out her birthrights will reap what? A confederation of church, that's to be bound and burned like the thorns and thistles. But where the Word of God's been sowed into the people's heart, it will reap a Bride for Christ as certain as I'm standing here: End time signs.
65 What's the matter, Church of God? What's the matter with us? What's the matter with you Baptists, you Presbyterians, Assemblies of God, Jesus Only, all the rest of you? What's the matter with us? Can't you see? The seed... Don't you... Be careful what kind of a seed you're taking in your womb of your heart. Don't you take creeds; take the Word.
They've been talking so much about latter rain. Not discarding you latter rain brethren, but that's not latter rain. If the latter rain would've been here, the power of God would've struck that thing, and she'd have swept the world. The latter rain's fixing to come. What's the matter? The church is manufacturing herself something just like Eve tried to do. She tried to have more light to manufacture something.
We've done the same thing, trying to make something in ourselves. Keep your hand off of it. Let God do it. Take His Word and believe It. Hold It in your heart. And when the rain begins to fall life will take hold, and the Word will manifest itself.
66 I guess you think I'm crazy, but I'm not. If I am, leave me alone; I'm happy this way. So I believe God's Word. What's the matter with the church? Her womb, her--her open mind, has received all kinds of creeds and dogmas, and not the Word of God. When Christ come He found the same thing that Adam found, same thing Jehovah found. And here's these signs, and the end time appearing, and the church hasn't got the answer. That's right. It's time.
The former rain's went forth. That's the reason Billy's not doing much. Remember, there was the...
67 Jesus said, "As it was in the days of Sodom, so shall it be in the coming of the Son of man." There was two Angels went down to the Sodomites. Remember, Lot once walked with Abraham. The church once walked in fellowship with Christ with the Word. But they sold out their birthrights for denomination. Now, she's selling the whole thing and organizing into one big confederation of church.
That's exactly what happened to Lot. He went down there. Two Angels (Oral Roberts, and a Billy Graham, as it would be in this day) went down there, and placed the Gospel to them. What happened? A disgrace even come out of it.
68 But Abraham... One stood back with him. There's One that he called God. And the sign that He performed there before them, what did it do? It proved what He was. Abraham was the elected, because he was... Abraham had the promise. And now look, this is Abraham's seed. The promise was not only made to Abraham, but his seed. Not his seed Isaac, it failed; it proved it did. But the seed, the faith that he had: no matter what the circumstances was, how against the nature it was, how much the doctor said it wasn't so... Abraham, after he had the promise given to him, when it was impossible...
69 He married his sister about seventeen years old, his half sister. They had no children. And when she was sixty-five and he was seventy-five God appeared to him and said, "You're going to have a baby by her." Why, she took--he took His Word. He made ready for it. Twenty-five years after that nothing had happened. Now, he's a hundred years old, and she's ninety. That didn't stop him a bit. "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief."
That's the faith. That's the royal seed of Abraham. That's the kind of seed that takes God's Word. That's the thing that'll bring the Bride. That's the thing that'll meet Christ. He is the Word.
70 And if the church is sowed with something else besides the Word, it can't go to meet Him. He hasn't got a freak body with fungus on it. He's got a perfect body, and He's the perfect Word. And the church will be sowed and believed in the perfect Word. And the perfect Word and perfect Word will unite together as one flesh and one body, as a husband and wife is. Amen. (I'm not "amening" myself, but "Amen" means "So be it.") I believe it, anyhow. Yes, sir.
The former rain's went forth. The rain's fixing to fall. What's it going to bring forth? You just watch.
71 One more sign: the unwise virgin. Oh... Jesus said, just before the coming of the Bridegroom there would be a wise virgin with oil in her lamp, and one unwise. And the unwise virgin would wake up one day and find out that she didn't have any oil in her lamp, when it become to the place, "Behold the Bridegroom cometh." That's what the shout is now. "Christ is coming." And she woke up and found out she didn't have any oil.
Oil means "Spirit." Spirit is what brings the--the Word to life. The Spirit is the water that brings the Word to life. Throw it out... You say, "Well, what about these churches?" If they sow denominational seeds it'll bring that to life. The Spirit of God will bring that to life.
72 The Bible said, "The rain falls on just and unjust." Hebrews the 4th chap--3rd--6th chapter says that the rain cometh oft to dress the fruits that's of the earth. But the thorns and thistles which rejoiced just as much and lived just as much by the rain as they can... "But by their fruits you shall know them." It's exactly right. There you are. Now, when they seen that... See, the fruits are to be gathered; the rain's fixing to fall. Denomination will hatch denomination; that's all. But the Word will hatch Christ, the Bride. Certainly. Sow the Word of Seed. Now, when the wise virgin...
73 Have you noticed the Christian Business Men's Voice? I speak for them internationally. I can't pull no punches for them. This is the Word. Look. What about in the... Looky here at the Presbyterians, Episcopalians: hundreds of them everywhere trying to seek the Holy Ghost. They're playing up a great big thing.
A precious minister friend of mine from Africa, fine man, godly man, I've asked him, "Don't you know what it is, brother? What's your ministry?"
He said, "I'm supposed to bring Babylon in."
I thought, "Can't you see, the very time that the unwise virgin wants some oil to make her seeds to grow also, that's the time that Christ comes and she's left out?" The great preacher Billy Graham has just said that we need a Pentecost, we need people back. Episcopalians wrote a great article, a folder that long, said, "We need speakers with tongues. We need Divine healers in the church having healing services, people out praying for the sick." What are they trying to do? Get oil in their lamp. Exactly. That's a end time seed sign. Amen. While she was trying to do that, the Bridegroom come and the Bride went in, and she was locked out. Oh, what a wonderful day we're living in.
74 Just want to say one thing more: distress between the nations. Oh, my. Fearless sights in the heavens, do you believe that's so? Look, we just take a couple of them... Have we got a couple more minutes, to make it at nine-thirty? I don't want to hold the auditorium. We--it's grace, these people let us have it.
Listen. How many... And every one of you, you've seen... The nation's been shook up just recently about signs. Did you see what this man in the orbit the other day...? He found things up there he never... Science don't even know what they are. When he passed around the earth... Yet they've looked and looked and looked, but they didn't see them. He thought his orbit was coming to pieces. It wasn't so. His orbit was all right. Lights...
75 Look what's just been over the... You've seen it in the radio, you saw it on television; it's been in the newspaper: flying saucers everywhere. And the Pentagon let it out the other day (about six weeks ago) it wasn't fictitious. They even showed it on television how they caught these saucers, with intelligence--lights that come down, hanging over the Pentagon like that, all over Washington, DC. And they caught it on radar, and had pilots up there. They'd come right in around them, surround around them, then move away with lightning speed. An intelligence, what is it?
Jesus said there'd be fearful signs, sights in the heavens, man's hearts failing, fear, perplexity of times, distress between nations. Don't you see that seed time is here now, the harvest time, the things the Bible said would come to pass? That seed that's been planted, don't you see it's taken life and living? That's what's the matter.
76 Now, just one thing more. Listen. Before... Now, listen close. Don't fail to find this now. Before the first coming of Jesus, the astronomers of India, magis... I've missionaried in India, and talked with magis about this. And they were watching. They were astronomers; they were watching the heavenly bodies. And they say God always declares Hisself in the heavenly body before He does in the earth, before He does anything.
And they said, "Why, when this... The three wise men went to worship this king that was to rule the earth, a baby king, that they followed a star, your Scripture says." He said, "But frankly, there was three stars came together and made this one star." And they say that... The Christian astronomer that I was talking to, or magi, he said, "That means that there were three races of people that this Man died for. The only three races there is is Ham, Shem, and Japheth's people. And when His Gospel has been preached to Ham, Shem, and Japheth's people, they come together in His Gospel, then the return will be."
That's all right if he wants to believe that. Three is the number of perfection. But what do I believe that three was? What do we believe? It was a three of perfection showing that the trinity of God (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost) was made manifest in a Man, Jesus Christ, the one perfect Man. All other men had failed. Everything else had died. But here come a Man that couldn't die: perfection, that even death couldn't kill Him. Rose up again.
77 Three is the number of perfection. We all know that. Three is God's number in His numerology. God is known by His numbers. Three is perfection, and seven is worship; twenty-four is worship; forty is temptation; fifty is Pentecost, jubilee (See?), so forth. All of His numbers, His numerals of God is perfected, is in perfection. Now, three is the number of perfection. Just before when the--(listen now close) when the little baby Christ was born, three stars went together and made the one morning star, that reflected the coming of a infant Christ, a perfect One.
78 Now, what's happened? We see a roar in the paper, across the television out across the nations, where five stars just fell in line with the world. What's five? A number of grace. Every time those stars come, then something happens on earth. What taken place? Five stars fell in. What was it, a--a introducing of what?
Since then just look what's taken place. Germany almost washed off the map. Some of the magi said that the world would burst like a watermelon. Every distressful things prophesied by them for the last days. Look what's taken place. England, the other day, had a storm that blowed away seventy thousand houses one day. Disasters everywhere... California, Los Angeles liked to washed into the ocean. What is it? Beginning of sorrows. Earthquakes has picked up everywhere. Why is it? Five stars come in line: Grace, God's grace.
What's happened? An infant church (Hallelujah.), a Bride, infancy, that the power of God has begin to fall on her. She's taking form: a Bride for this Bridegroom. That three stars meant His perfection of the heavenly Father, of the trinity becoming One on earth among us, God's offices becoming one office. What happened now? It's the church of the living God coming together under the Word of God, and the astronomic heaven is announcing her approach. Amen. Might not believe that, but it's the Word just the same. Yes, sir.
79 What's happening? (I'm closing.) I might say this: friends, the church is coming forth. God's going to have a church without spot or wrinkle. And she's predestinated. God said so, He would have it. That makes it right. Who's a member? I don't know. I'm trusting to be myself; I'm trusting you are a member. But He's going to have a body without spot or wrinkle.
And I believe that these latter-day signs and things that's happening, every one of them is peeling together to show that Christ is ready to come for this Bride. As God in His Word made manifest in a man, a perfect man; so is God and His Word coming again, and making Himself manifested in a Bride. Not will do like Eve did, hybreed it to something else, but the unadulterated Word of God will be borned into that church, and she'll stand like Jesus Christ did, with His Spirit anointing in His Word. Amen. I believe it's the announcement now.
80 The prophet said, "There'll come a day that won't be called day or night, but in the evening time it shall be Light." All you Bible readers know that. What happened? Civilization travels from the east to the west. China is the oldest civilization we have. Civilization begin in the east. It's went with the sun, traveling west. Where's it at now? The West Coast. If it goes any farther it's back east again. See what I mean?
The same sun that rises in the east is the same sun that sets in the west, the same s-u-n. And the same S-o-n, Son of God that come to the earth to take a bride on the eastern people... And that bride polluted herself like Eve did, like Jehovah's bride did. That same Son that shines there, that shined there with His same power upon Pentecost, to ripen the seed that He had planted, that same Son is shining now in the western hemisphere. To what? To ripen the seed that's been planted to bring forth a Bride. The evening Light of the Gospel will bring forth a Bride (Amen.) for the Lord Jesus. There's some of the evening seed signs, hundreds of them.
81 We have five minutes before closing. Are you one of those? Do you believe you're one of those seeds? Do you believe that your heart is sowed with the unadulterated Gospel, there's nothing in the world can take the Word of God out of your heart? Do you believe that? If it's not, my friend, I may never see you again on the face of this earth, but remember the Word of the Lord and the secret of the Lord is made known to His prophets. His prophets spoke of it. Here it is right here now. We're seeing it come to pass. I'm repeating what they said in a warning to you.
If you do not have those seeds, and if you're here tonight and you're not a Christian, you... Maybe you belong to church. Don't you take that chance, brother. Don't you listen to those things. That's a hybrid affair. The Word of God's got to live in you supremely like it did in Jesus Christ, for He's the Head. His Body can't be one thing, and His Head another. It's got to be the same Word. If your church only provides for you creeds and dogmas that's not Scriptural, don't you believe it. You can't be joined into a church; you're borned into a body by the Word of the living God. If you haven't got that, don't you take a chance.
82 If you went down here to buy a bowl of soup, and it had a spider in it, you'd sue the restaurant. Why, you wouldn't eat it for nothing, because you're afraid you're going to destroy this body. Brother, don't fear what can destroy the body, but Who can destroy the--both soul and body in hell. If you're particular about your food, you wouldn't eat anything dirty to make this body sick or gaggy, and then swallow any kind of a creed for your soul that's eternal, when this body has got to perish? Don't you let the devil poke that stuff in your throat.
You become borned again of the Spirit of God, and your spirit will bear record with every Word God's written here, and every promise that He's give will make itself manifested in you. The Spirit of God will come and live in you. You are Christ's body, the representation of Himself here on earth. If you haven't got that, if you can't believe for Divine healing...
83 If you're here and sick, and you believe that God will grant you Divine healing, you just place that Word, "'I'm the Lord that healeth all thy diseases.' Lord, I believe it." Watch what takes place. Say, "Lord, I believe it. Open up every channel. And here I am." Watch what takes place, the same as did to that little dying girl the other day, thousands of more around the world.
84 Stood and seen them by the... I seen... In South Africa made one prayer over a bunch of people, and they estimated and took seven big truck loads... My, you haven't got a truck in Georgia like one of them almost six or eight wheels across here.
And the next morning with the mayor of the city setting there, come to the window and said, "Brother Branham, come down and look here." Coming down the street, there they come down the street with seven van loads of crutches, and wheelchairs, and--and everything the people... Never touched a one of them, just brought the Word, told them to believe it; and they did. And the people that was in these things the day before, here they was walking down the street with their hands over their heart, in their own native language singing, "All Things are Possible, Only Believe."
"He sent His Word." That's all you do is send the Word and the church receives it. He that's borned of God receives God, believes God. Do you believe Him? Let us bow our heads. I'll pray for these handkerchiefs.
85 With your heads bowed and every eye closed, I'd like to ask you a serious question. If you're not right with God, if there's something in you won't let you believe this Bible to be the inspired Word of God, you could not believe that you could live according to Its rules, would you do so much as raise your hands, and say, "God, be merciful. I want you to pray for me, Brother Branham, that I will be that kind of a Christian." Are you here? Raise your hands. I... Thank you, young lady. Thank you. God bless you. All right. There's one person in the building that thinks that, two of them that thinks that.
I--I'm not one of these persons to persuade, if the Word can't move it. You can only do it as you're predestinated to believe it. You remember, although Jesus done so many miracles, the Pharisees couldn't believe it. They couldn't get it in their head, because they wasn't to be that way. And if your heart is so hard that you know right there that that Word of God's not working itself through you, and then you won't raise your hands to God to ask for mercy, what are you going to do on the day of judgment? All right.
86 Would there be somebody sick that would like to be remembered? Raise your hand. Three or four, five, six, seven, eight, about ten of them.
All right. Let's bow our heads. Don't you doubt. You, my little sister back there that raised your hand, "Remember me," God bless you, sister, bless your tender heart. And may the Word of God take roots in your little heart tonight, and you become a missionary to Christ.
This man that raised his hands a little later here: Brother, your hair is gray. But remember Abraham was seventy-five years old before God ever spoke to him. May God plant His roots of Word in your heart tonight. And when the great rain is falling, may it not bring forth just a creed; may it bring forth Christ manifested in you.
87 Each one of you that raised your hand for healing, the Bible said, "The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and God shall raise them up." If the seed is laying in your heart, I'm going to pray that the Holy Spirit will water that seed right now. Something will happen.
God is no respect of person. If He will save one, He will save the other one that'll believe it. If He'll heal one, He'll heal the other one. But you've got to believe it. If you believe it, I'm going to pray for you now.
88 Our heavenly Father, I'm holding my hand over some handkerchiefs laying here. Somebody's perhaps got a loved one somewhere that's sick and afflicted, something wrong with them, maybe a mother somewhere with a little sick baby; maybe an old blind daddy, setting back in some little cabin out here somewhere in Georgia; maybe a one in a hospital somewhere. Thou knowest all about these things. Lord, we know this one thing, that Thou art the Christ Who has already purchased their healing. I'm sending Your Word in a way of prayer, Lord. You sent Your Word.
The woman come to You, said, "Lord, be merciful to me, Thou Son of David." And You were no Son of David to her; she was a Gentile.
You said, "It's not meet for me to take the children's bread and give it to your dogs."
She said, "That's truth, Lord. But the dogs will take the scraps under the master's table."
You said, "For this saying your daughter will live." And we find out that when You got home--or, when she got home, Your Word had already got there, healed the girl.
89 A father once, for his child, he inquired what time it was. Said about the eleventh hour the fever left him. You sent Your Word. Lord, I'm sending Your Word with a prayer of faith. I'm sending it to that little girl there that held up her hand. I'm sending it to that man that raised his hand. And may it take hold tonight for salvation. Grant it, Lord.
Now, You said, "He that believeth... heareth My Words and believeth on Him that sent Me has Everlasting Life." Now, Lord, that's Your Word. You said so.
According to science, they broke every rule. Science says you can't raise your hand; gravitation holds it down. But there's a spirit in man. He can make a decision and raise his hand, because there's a spirit that governs him, that breaks the rules of science. Now, God spoke, and they raised their hand toward their Creator. Heavenly Father, may Your Word fall in their hearts right now, into the womb of their heart, and bring forth out by them the Bride of Christ. Grant it, Father.
90 To these who raised their hand that's sick across this building here, they raised their hands because they're needy. They believe You to be a Healer. Now, I pray this prayer of faith. I'm sending it, Lord. In the Name of Jesus Christ, may that faith fall in every heart just now. May the Word of God be there just so emphatically till It'll bring forth healing for every one of them. Grant it, Father.
Now, again, I say for these handkerchiefs that's laying here, in the Bible it said they took from the body of Paul handkerchiefs and aprons, and unclean spirits went out of the people, diseases departed. Now, we're not St. Paul. But it wasn't him that did it, because in him was the Word. You're still the same Word.
91 Now, Father, one time Israel was cut off from the promised land. It was your bride. You had her on the road to the promised land. You was making a way for her. The enemy got in the way. You looked down through that Pillar of Fire with angry eyes. The sea got scared; it moved back. Israel went on.
Now, God, not looking through the Pillar of Fire, but look through the Blood of Your own Son, Who died for this purpose. And I send Your Word. May the devil be scared; may he get away, and may these people come to that promise of God like Israel did, without any failure. May they come to that great promise, "Above all things I would that you prosper in health." Grant it, Lord. May this do the work where we send it, saying that Your Word will not return to You void. It'll accomplish that which It was purposed for. And I pray this prayer of faith for these people in the Name of Jesus Christ.
92 And while we have our heads bowed, how many of you now will accept what's been said, and believe that the Word of God has come to you, and you're accepting It? Every one that raised your hand, no matter what it was for, you'll raise your hand, say, "I believe. I accept it right now. I believe I have what I asked for." God bless you. That's wonderful. That's fine. God bless you. I hope that the Word of God takes Its root in you.
93 Now, you've got... While you have your head bowed, you got a pastor here, a lovely brother, to come here and make a--a quotation like he did a few moments ago. Evangelists mustn't have all to do in the meeting. You must know your pastor, this godly man. I'm so glad to get to this people who raised their hands for these things, and give to them this lovely pastor. Let him lead you now to the deeper experiences of God for your healing and for your salvation. God bless you, brother pastor. Whatever you wish to after you pray...?...