Mocný Boh odhalený pred nami
1Mám tu zapísaných niekoľko miest Písma, z ktorých by som vám rád hovoril, a verím, že Boh požehná naše chabé úsilie.
2No, mnoho ľudí sa divilo, prečo sme takí divní a takí hluční. Viete, toto je trochu iný typ zhromaždenia, než na aké sú ľudia zvyknutí. A zvyčajne je všetko v takej dopredu naplánovanej forme. Ale keď prichádzame na tieto zhromaždenia, čo bolo mojou výsadou už niekoľko rokov od ich prvého založenia, a my sotva vieme, čo budeme robiť. My len prichádzame a odovzdávame sa. To je jediná vec, ktorú vieme robiť. A Boh urobí to ostatné. Tak to z nás robí veľmi zvláštne konajúcich ľudí.
3Jedného dňa niekto povedal, „Viete, vy ľudia ste skutočne čudáci.“
Povedal som, „No, to je možné.“
4Pamätám si na jedno z takých zhromaždení, brat Troy mi raz hovoril o jednom malom Nemcovi, ktorý povedal, že prijal krst Duchom Svätým. A na druhý deň, v obchode, kde pracoval, zodvihol ruky a chválil Pána a hovoril v jazykoch a takto sa správal. A nakoniec prišiel šéf a povedal, „Heini, čo sa s tebou deje?“
5Povedal, „Ó, zostal som spasený.“ Povedal, „Moje srdce jednoducho prekypuje radosťou.“
6On povedal, „No, musel si byť tam dole s tou bandou bláznov.“ [V angličtine slovo 'nut' znamená 'cvok, fanatik, blázon,' ale aj 'matica' na uťahovanie na skrutke. - pozn.prekl.]
7Povedal, „Áno, sláva Bohu!“ Povedal, „Vďaka Pánovi za cvokov.“ Povedal, „Vezmi si nejaký automobil, ktorý ide dole po ceste.“ Povedal, „Ak z neho vymontuješ všetky cvoky [matice], nezostane ti nič iné, len kopa šrotu.“ A to je práve... Je to tak, viete.
8Jedného dňa som v Kalifornii išiel dolu ulicami Los Angeles a videl som muža, ktorý mal na hrudi nejakú tabuľku. A tam bolo napísané, „Som blázon pre Krista.“ A každý sa na neho díval. A všimol som si, že potom, ako prešiel okolo, oni sa otáčali a dívali sa.
A pomyslel som si, že pôjdem za ostatnými a pozriem sa. Na chrbte mal napísané, „Pre koho si bláznom ty?“ Áno. Myslím, že sme všetci trochu divní, jeden pre druhého, viete.
9Ale viete, svet sa dostáva až do takých vyjazdených koľají, že ak je niečo odlišné, potom to je také divné, až si ľudia myslia, že to je niečo, čo nie je v poriadku. A zvyčajne Boh musí urobiť niečo tak neobvyklé, aby vrátil ľudí naspäť k Biblii.
10Viem si predstaviť, že Noe bol tak trochu bláznom pre ten vedecký vek, v ktorom žil, pretože oni mohli dokázať, že na oblohe nie je žiadna voda. Ale Boh povedal, že tam nejaká bude. A tak, Noe, keď to kázal a veril, on sa stal bláznom.
11A viem si predstaviť, že keď Mojžiš prišiel dolu do Egypta, bol pre faraóna akýmsi bláznom. Ale pamätajte, faraón bol zase bláznom pre neho. Tak oni... Uvedomujeme si to.
12Dokonca Ježiš bol považovaný za kacíra. To je pravda. Martin Luther bol pre katolícku cirkev bláznom. A John Wesley bol pre anglikánov cvokom. A tak, viete, je čas na ďalšieho blázna. Nemyslíte? [Zhromaždenie hovorí, „Amen.“ - pozn.prekl.] Ale predtým, ako by mohla byť nejaká skrutka, viete, musí tam najprv byť nejaká matica, ktorá bude mať rovnaký závit.
13A tak, viete, Noe, keďže bol skrutkou, on... Tá matica je potrebná, ona uťahuje tú skrutku, spája niečo dokopy a drží niečo spolu. A tak, Noe, tým, že bol cvokom, bol schopný vytiahnuť zo súdov do archy všetko, čo uverilo.
14Zistili sme, že Mojžiš vytiahol cirkev z Egypta tým, že bol cvokom. To je pravda.
15Myslím, že teraz potrebujeme ďalšieho cvoka, aby sme vytiahli Nevestu z cirkvi. Potrebujeme teraz niečo, nejakého ďalšieho, takže sme veľmi zvláštni ľudia. A premýšľal som nad tým, že ak bude Pán dnes večer chcieť, pokúsil by som sa prečítať niektoré miesta Písma, ktoré sa toho týkajú, a na chvíľu ku vám prehovoriť a pokúsim sa vám ukázať, prečo sme takí divní ľudia.
16Obráťme sa teraz do Písma, do Filipanom, 2. kapitola 1.-8. verš; a 2. Korinťanom 3:6. A čítajme, keď veríme Božiemu Slovu.
17A teraz, predtým, ako budeme čítať, skloňme len svoje hlavy k modlitbe.
18Milostivý nebeský Otče, dnes večer sme skutočne privilegovaným ľudom, keď žijeme v tomto veku a sledujeme veci, ktoré vidíme, že sa dejú, a keď vieme, že je blízko čas, keď Ježiš príde pre Svoju Cirkev... Ó, to rozochvieva naše srdcia, Pane! A zatiaľ čo dnes večer prevraciame tie stránky, modlíme sa, aby si nám udelil kontext z tohto textu. A nech Duch Svätý zjaví nášmu srdcu veci, ktoré budú dobré a milé Bohu. Lebo to prosíme v Ježišovom Mene. Amen.
19Viete, myslím, že vás požiadam, aby ste niečo urobili. Ja zvyčajne žiadam niektoré divné veci a dúfam, že nežiadam niečo príliš divné. Ale keď sľubujeme vernosť vlajke, všetci stojíme. A keď okolo prechádza tá vlajka, my vtedy stojíme; pričom, to by sme mali. A my tam stojíme, aby sme vzdali poctu. Ak chcete, postavme sa, zatiaľ čo budeme čítať Slovo, 2. Korinťanom 3:6.
Ktorý nás aj učinil dostatočných za služobníkov novej smluvy, nie litery, ale Ducha, lebo litera zabíja, ale Duch oživuje.
A jestli služba smrti, v literách, vyrytá na kameňoch, bola slávna, takže nemohli synovia Izraelovi hľadieť do tvári Mojžišovej pre slávu jeho tvári, pominuteľnú,
jako by potom nemala byť služba Ducha slávna!
Lebo ak bola služba odsúdenia slávna, služba spravedlivosti je o mnoho slávnejšia!
Ba zrovna ani nebolo oslávené, čo bolo oslávené, v tej čiastke, v službe odsúdenia, pre svrchovanú slávu nasledujúcej služby Ducha.
Lebo ak to pominuteľné skrze slávu, tým viac to, čo trvá, v sláve.
Majúc tedy takú nádej používame veľkú smelosť,
a nie ako Mojžiš, ktorý kládol zásteru na svoju tvár, aby nehľadeli synovia Izraelovi na koniec toho, čo išlo pominúť.
Ale ich mysle sa zatvrdili, lebo až do dnešného dňa zostáva tá istá zástera pri čítaní starej smluvy neodostretá, lebo sa Kristom odstraňuje.
Ale až do dnes, kedykoľvek sa číta Mojžiš, leží zástera na ich srdci;
ale hneď, ako by sa obrátilo k Pánovi, vôkol sa odníma zástera.
A Pán je Duch, a kde je Duch Pánov, tam je sloboda.
No, my všetci odostretou tvárou vzhliadajúc sa v sláve Pánovej sťa v zrkadle meníme sa na ten istý obraz, od slávy v slávu, jako od Ducha Pánovho.
20A vo Filipanom 2, čítame toto, začneme od 1. až do 8. verša.
Ak je tedy nejaké potešenie v Kristovi, ak nejaké povzbudenie lásky, ak nejaké účastenstvo Ducha, ak nejaká srdečná sústrasť a zľutovanie, to robte
a tak naplňte moju radosť, aby ste jedno a to isté mysleli, jednu a tú istú lásku mali a boli sťa jedna duša, aby ste jedno mysleli
nerobiac ničoho zo sváru ani z márnej chvály, ale v pokore majte jedni druhých za vyšších od seba
nehľadiac každý len na svoje, ale každý aj na to, čo je iných.
Lebo nech je také zmýšľanie vo vás, aké bolo aj v Kristu Ježišovi,
ktorý súc v podobe Boha nepovažoval toho za lúpež byť rovný Bohu,
ale sám seba zmaril prijmúc podobu sluhu a stal sa podobný ľuďom
a súc v spôsobe najdený jako človek ponížil sa stanúc sa poslušným až po smrť, a to po smrť kríža.
21Modlime sa.
22Nebeský Otče, toto veľké Slovo, ktoré bolo dnes večer prečítané z Tvojho Svätého Písma, urob To tak skutočným pre naše srdcia, že odtiaľto pôjdeme ako tí, ktorí išli z Emauz, a povieme, „Či v nás nehoreli naše srdcia, zatiaľ čo s nami hovoril na ceste?“ Lebo to prosíme v Ježišovom Mene. Amen.
Môžete si sadnúť.
23No, toto je veľmi zvláštny text, ale myslím, že je to veľmi vhodné pre túto príležitosť. Chcel by som hovoriť na tému: Mocný Boh odhalený pred nami.
24No, odkedy existuje človek, v ľudskom srdci bol určitý hlad po tom, aby zistil: odkiaľ prišiel; a aký je jeho dôvod, že tu je; a kam ide. Je len jeden, ktorý môže na to odpovedať, to je Ten, ktorý ho sem priviedol. A človek vždy chcel vidieť Boha.
25Vzadu v Starom Zákone zisťujeme, že Boh sa zahaľoval pred neveriacimi. Boh má veľmi zvláštny spôsob konania s ľuďmi. Skrýva sa pred neveriacim a zjavuje sa veriacemu. Boh to robí. Ježiš ďakoval Otcovi, že „On skryl tieto veci pred múdrymi a rozumnými a zjavil To nemluvňatám, ktoré sa budú učiť.“ Tak nachádzame, že Boh sa vo Svojej prirodzenosti nikdy nemení a On Svoje dielo robí stále rovnako. Nachádzame v Malachiášovi 3, že On povedal, „Ja som Boh a nemením sa.“ Tak On po celý čas pracuje na rovnakom princípe.
26Vezmime si jednu z najstarších kníh Biblie. Keď Jób, jeden z najspravodlivejších mužov svojej doby, dokonalý muž v zákonoch Božích, sluha, ušľachtilý, ctený sluha, až tak, že Boh povedal, „Nikto na zemi nie je ako on.“ Ale raz mal túžbu vidieť Boha. On vedel, že existuje Boh, a cítil, že by Ho chcel vidieť, alebo inak povedané, ísť ku Jeho domu a zaklopať na dvere a povedať, „Rád by som s Tebou hovoril.“ Sadnúť si a rozprávať sa s Ním, ako by sme to robili aj my medzi sebou.
27Máme porozumenie. Preto sme na týchto zhromaždeniach, kde sa schádzame a vyjadrujeme svoje myšlienky. A keď sa spolu rozprávame o veciach, potom si lepšie navzájom rozumieme. A kazatelia to robia. Ľudia všetkých spoločenských vrstiev to robia, hovoria o veciach.
28A Jób, Boh bol pre neho tak skutočný, že chcel zistiť, či by nemohol ísť, zaklopať na Jeho dvere a mať s Ním rozhovor.
29Ale zisťujeme, že Boh k nemu hovoril, ale bol zahalený. Bol zahalený vo forme víchrice. A povedal Jóbovi, aby si prepásal bedrá; išiel ku nemu prehovoriť ako s mužom. A On zostúpil dole vo víchrici a hovoril s Jóbom. A dal sa Jóbovi poznať skrze víchricu, a predsa Ho úplne nevidel. Mohol len počuť, ako fúka a otáča sa vietor na stromoch. A ten Hlas vyšiel z víchrice, ale v tej víchrici bol zaclonený Boh.
30Zistili sme, že tam dole v Afrike, v Južnej Afrike, oni používajú slovo 'amoyah', čo znamená 'neviditeľná sila.'
31A táto neviditeľná Sila vo víchrici mala počuteľný Hlas. To prehovorilo k Jóbovi, napriek tomu vôbec nevidel Jeho podobu. Ale On pred ním bol zaclonený skrze víchricu.
32Nachádzame jedného z veľkých prorokov Biblie, Mojžiša zo Starého Zákona, jedného z Božích vyvolených, vybraných, predurčených služobníkov, on Ho tiež túžil vidieť. On bol tak blízko Neho a videl toľko vecí z Jeho veľkej tajomnej ruky, ktorá išla pred ním a robila veci, ktoré mohol robiť jedine Boh. Jedného dňa Ho túžil vidieť a Boh mu povedal, „Choď, postav sa na skalu.“
33A zatiaľ čo stál na tej skale, Mojžiš Ho uvidel prechádzať. Videl Jeho chrbát. A povedal, „Vyzeralo to ako človek, mužský chrbát.“ Napriek tomu nevidel Boha. Videl len Božiu oponu.
34Biblia povedala, „Boha nikto nikdy nevidel, ale Ten jednorodený od Otca Ho objasnil.“ Tak Mojžiš Ho videl zahaleného ako Človeka. Zistili sme, že Jehova Starého Zákona bol jednoducho Ježišom Nového Zákona.
35A Dr. Scofield tu (v poznámkach) uvádza, zisťujeme, že to jeho slovo - to je: meniť sa z 'formy.' V gréčtine nachádzame slovo 'en morphe,' čo znamená: 'neviditeľné sa stalo viditeľným.' Niečo, čo nemôže... Vieme, že to tam je. Môže to byť... nedá sa to vidieť, ale my jednako vieme, že to tam je. A keď zmenil Svoju podobu en morphe, čo znamená, že On sa zmenil z nadprirodzeného na prirodzeného.
36Inak povedané, On len zmenil Svoju masku. Je to vlastne ako dráma. On niečo odohrával. A v gréčtine, keď menili svoju masku, možno v jednej tej hre, a jeden herec mohol hrať v niekoľkých rôznych častiach.
37A moja dcéra, ktorá je tu, oni práve mali na strednej škole drámu. A ten jeden chlapec, ktorého poznám, hral asi štyri časti, ale on išiel poza pódium a zmenil si masku, a vyšiel, aby sa vydával za inú postavu.
38No, ak vezmete starozákonné proroctvá o tom, čím mal byť Mesiáš, môžete to porovnať so životom Ježiša a dostanete presne to, čím bol Ježiš. Nebol to len obyčajný človek. On bol Bohom, en morphe. On sa premenil z toho nadprirodzeného do prirodzenej podoby Človeka. A predsa, On bol Boh, zamanifestovaný v tele, zahalený ľudskou telesnou oponou.
A sledujte Starý Zákon.
39Viem, že dnes večer hovorím k zmiešanému publiku z rôznych častí sveta. A sme tu, aby sme to zistili. Čo robíme? Čo sme? Kam sa dostávame? Čo sa deje? Čo to všetko znamená?
40A teraz tu nachádzame, že ak by židovskí muži a ženy a rabíni v chráme, ak by v tých minulých dňoch namiesto tradícií sledovali Bibliu, proroctvá, oni by rozpoznali, kým Ježiš je. Nikdy by Ho nenazvali Belzebubom. Nikdy by Ho neukrižovali. Ale všetko sa to muselo takto odohrať. To je časť tej drámy. A oni boli v tomto prípade zaslepení.
41Je to ako pri mnohých z vás mužov a žien, ktorí ste tu dnes večer, môžete byť v mojom veku alebo o niečo starší. Pamätáte sa, ako sa pred rokmi tu v Amerike... Číňania... Môj brat, ktorý to tu práve uvádzal, keď som sa s ním rozprával, prišlo mi to na myseľ. Ako to zvykli... Oni nevedeli hovoriť po anglicky a prali bielizeň. A idete do jeho práčovne, aby ste si dali vyprať prádlo. Tí čínski práči vzali nejaký papierik a určitým spôsobom ho roztrhli. Vy ste si vzali jednu časť toho papierika; on si vzal tú druhú časť. Ale keď ste sa vrátili, aby ste si vzali svoje veci, tie dva kúsky papiera museli do seba zapadnúť. A ak do seba presne nezapadali... Nemohli ste to nijako napodobniť, pretože on mal jeden kus a vy ten druhý. A ak to napodobňovali... Potom ste mali právo nárokovať si to, čo je vaše. A potom máte to, čo vám patrí, keď vlastníte tú druhú časť zmluvy.
42Tak isto je to dnes večer, keď sme dostali druhú časť tej zmluvy. Keď Boh roztrhol Svojho Syna na dve časti na Golgote, to telo vzal hore ako Obeť a poslal nám dolu Ducha, ktorý kedysi žil v Človeku, Ježišovi. Ten istý Boh je dnes večer zahalený vo forme Ducha Svätého. Tie dve veci sa musia spojiť, potom si súčasťou zmluvy. Keď sa stal Človekom, Boh to urobil kvôli tomu, aby Ho človek lepšie spoznal.
43Pred pár rokmi som čítal jeden príbeh. A v tomto príbehu, bolo tam hovorené o veľkom, ušľachtilom kráľovi… Zabudol som teraz jeho meno. Nepremýšľal som nad tým, že porozprávam ten príbeh. Pravdepodobne je to vymyslené, ale privádza nás to do bodu, kde nám to dáva pozadie ku tomu, čo chceme povedať. Tento kráľ, bol to tak ušľachtilý kráľ a tak veľmi miloval svojich poddaných, že až jedného dňa pred svojím strážcom a šľachtou povedal, „Dnes ma vidíte poslednýkrát na veľmi mnoho rokov.“
44A jeho strážca a šľachtici mu povedali, „Dobrý kráľu, prečo to hovoríš? Ideš niekam do neznámej krajiny a staneš sa cudzincom?“
45Povedal, „Nie. Zostávam rovno tu. No,“ povedal, „idem von medzi mojich poddaných. Stanem sa sedliakom. Budem rúbať drevo s drevorubačom. Budem obrábať pôdu s roľníkom. Budem orezávať vinič s tými, ktorí orezávajú vinič. Budem jedným z nich, aby som sa viacej oboznámil s tým, čo robia. A milujem ich. A chcem sa o nich dozvedieť viac, osobne. Nespoznajú ma. Ale jednako, chcem sa s nimi takýmto spôsobom oboznámiť.“
46A na ďalšie ráno, keď ho videli jeho delegáti, všetci jeho ľudia, alebo tí, ktorí boli v paláci, on si zložil korunu a položil ju na sedadlo, trón; a vyzliekol si svoje rúcho a obliekol sa do sedliackych šiat, vyšiel von medzi obyčajných ľudí.
No, v tom krátkom príbehu nachádzame niečo o Bohu.
47Oni povedali kráľovi, hovorili, „Kráľu, chceme ťa. Milujeme ťa. Chceme, aby si zostal kráľom.“ Ale on sa chcel stať jedným z nich, aby ich lepšie spoznal, aby oni mohli lepšie spoznať jeho, čím skutočne bol. To by im ukázalo, aký skutočne je.
48A to je to, čo urobil Boh. On sa zmenil z Jehovu Boha, aby sa stal jedným z nás, aby mohol trpieť, aby mohol zakúsiť smrť, aby mohol vedieť, čím bol osteň smrti, a aby na Seba vzal trest smrti. Odložil nabok Svoju korunu a Svoje rúcho a stal sa jedným z nás. Umýval si nohy s tými najnižšími. Prebýval v stanoch s chudobnými. Spával v lesoch a na uliciach s tými, ktorí boli odvrhnutí. Stal sa jedným z nás, aby nás mohol lepšie rozumieť, a aby sme my mohli lepšie rozumieť Jeho.
49No, myslím, že v tom premenení nachádzame niečo, čo On Sám urobil. Ak si všimnete, On prišiel v mene troch synov. Prišiel v mene Syna človeka a ako Syn Boží a Syn Dávidov. Prišiel ako Syn človeka.
50No, v Ezechielovi 2:3, Sám Jehova nazval Ezechiela, proroka, 'synom človeka.'
51Syn človeka znamená 'prorok.' On musel takto prísť, aby vyplnil Deuteronómium 18:15, kde Mojžiš povedal, „Pán, váš Boh, medzi vami vzbudí proroka podobného mne.“ On nikdy Samého Seba nenazýval Synom Božím. Poukazoval na Seba ako na 'Syna človeka,' pretože musel prísť podľa Písma. Vidíte? Musel spojiť tie dva kúsky roztrhnutého papiera, proroctvo zo Starého Zákona a Jeho vlastný charakter, aby to bolo úplne rovnaké. A tak prišiel, Syn človeka, prišiel v takej forme.
52Potom nachádzame, že po Jeho smrti, pohrebe a zmŕtvychvstaní, On prišiel na deň Letníc ako Syn Boží; Boh, Duch, v takej forme, Duch Svätý. Čo On robil? On premieňal Samého Seba, dával sa poznať Svojim ľuďom v inej forme. Ako Duch Svätý, a to je Boh, On prišiel, aby cez cirkevné veky konal ako Syn Boží, Duch Svätý.
53Ale v miléniu prichádza ako Syn Dávidov, aby zasadol na trón Dávida - Kráľ. On mal zaujať trón Dávidov. Teraz je na Otcovom tróne. A potom povedal, „Ten, kto víťazí, bude so Mnou sedieť na Mojom tróne, ako som i Ja zvíťazil a sedím na tróne Môjho Otca.“ Tak On bude v miléniu Syn Dávidov. Čo je to? To je po celý čas ten istý Boh, len menil Svoju masku.
Pre moju manželku som manželom.
54Všimli ste si to? Tá Sýrofeničanka povedala, „Synu Dávidov, zmiluj sa.“ to s Ním vôbec nič nespravilo. Nemala žiadne právo Ho tak nazývať. Nemala na Neho nárok ako na Syna Dávidovho. On je Synom Dávida pre Židov. A teraz On prišiel... Ale keď Ho nazvala, „Pane,“ On bol jej Pánom, potom dostala to, o čo prosila.
No, ako On premieňa Samého Seba.
55No, v mojom dome som tromi rôznymi ľuďmi. V mojom dome na mňa má moja manželka nárok ako na manžela. Moja dcéra, ktorá je tam, ona na mňa nemá žiaden nárok ako na manžela; ja som jej otec. A môj malý vnuk, ja som pre neho starým otcom, takže on nemá právo volať ma otcom. Nie som jeho otec. Môj syn je jeho otec. Ja som jeho starý otec. Ale ja som stále ten istý človek.
56A Boh, to, čo On robí, On len premieňa Samého Seba, aby sa stal pre tú generáciu, aby sa tým ľuďom dal poznať. A to je to, kvôli čomu tu dnes večer sme, aby sme to zistili. Akým spôsobom sa má Boh v tomto čase dať poznať týmto ľuďom? On mení Svoju masku, mení Svoju rolu, ale nemení Svoju povahu. On nemení Svoju prirodzenosť. On len mení Svoju masku z jednej na druhú. Robí to, aby sa zjavil ľuďom jasnejšie, aby mohli vedieť, kto On je a čím je.
57V Židom 1 čítame, „Boh v rozličných časoch a rôznymi spôsobmi hovoril otcom skrze prorokov, ale v týchto posledných dňoch skrze Svojho Syna, Ježiša.“
58No, „Proroci,“ povedal Ježiš, keď bol tu na zemi, „oni boli bohovia. Vy nazývate 'bohmi' tých, ku ktorým prišlo Slovo Božie. A Písma nemôžu byť zrušené,“ povedal. Povedal, „Ako potom môžete odsudzovať Jeho, keď On je Syn Boží?“ Rozumiete?
59Slovo Božie je vymerané pre každý vek, to, čím to má byť. A Ježiš bol naplnením všetkých proroctiev. „V Ňom prebývala plnosť Božstva telesne.“ Bolo To v Ňom. On bol Ten, ktorý bol v Jozefovi. On bol Ten, ktorý bol v Eliášovi. On bol Ten, ktorý bol v Mojžišovi. On bol Ten, ktorý bol v Dávidovi, v tom odmietnutom kráľovi.
60Jeho vlastný ľud ho odmietol ako kráľa. A keď vyšiel z nádvoria, bol tam malý postihnutý človek, ktorý sa plazil okolo, nemal rád jeho vládu, jeho systém a pľul na neho. A ten strážca vytiahol meč a povedal, „Či tomu psovi neodseknem hlavu, keď pľuje na môjho kráľa?“
61A Dávid si možno neuvedomoval, čo vtedy robil, ale bol pomazaný. A on povedal, „Nechaj ho tak, Boh mu povedal, aby to robil.“ A vystúpil hore na vrch a plakal nad Jeruzalemom, odmietnutý kráľ.
62Všimli ste si? O niekoľko sto rokov neskôr bol opľutý na uliciach Syn Dávidov a bol na vrchu tej istej hory, díval sa dolu na Jeruzalem, odmietnutý Kráľ. A zvolal, „Jeruzalem, ako často som ťa chcel zhromaždiť, tak ako sliepka svoje mláďatá, ale nechceli ste!“
63On nikdy nezmenil Svoju prirodzenosť, pretože v Židom 13:8 je povedané, „On je Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky.“ Boh bol učinený telom, aby zomrel, aby nás vykúpil z hriechu. To je dôvod, prečo sa On premenil na Človeka.
64Vidíme, že vo Svätom Jánovi 12:20 o Ňom počuli Gréci. No, nie je nikto, kto by o Ňom mohol počuť, a nehorelo by mu srdce po tom, aby Ho videl. Ako Jób a proroci za dávnych čias, oni všetci Ho chceli vidieť. A tak, títo Gréci prišli, aby Ho videli. Prišli k Filipovi, ktorý bol z Betsaidy, a povedali, „Pane, chceme vidieť Ježiša.“
65Tí Gréci Ho chceli vidieť, ale neboli Ho schopní vidieť, pretože bol v chráme Svojej ľudskosti. „Boh bol v Kristovi a mieril so Sebou svet.“ Teraz tu zisťujeme, že títo Gréci Ho nemohli vidieť.
66A všimnime si práve tie Slová, ktoré im potom Ježiš vyjadril. Povedal, „Ak pšeničné zrno nepadne do zeme a nezomrie, ono zostane samotné.“ Inými slovami, nikdy by Ho neboli schopní vidieť v tej premene, v tej maske, v ktorej vtedy bol, pretože On bol zahalený v ľudskom tele. Ale keď toto pšeničné Zrno padlo do zeme, potom to priviedlo všetky rasy. On bol v tom čase samozrejme poslaný k Židom. Ale toto pšeničné Zrno musí padnúť; zahalený Boh v ľudskom tele, skrytý pred neveriacimi, ale zjavený veriacim.
67V Jánovi 1, „Na počiatku bolo Slovo a to Slovo bolo u Boha a to Slovo bol Boh. A to Slovo sa stalo telom a prebývalo medzi nami a my sme Ho videli, jednorodeného od Otca, plného milosti.“ No, na počiatku bolo Slovo. Slovo je vyjadrená myšlienka.
68Na počiatku On nebol ani Bohom. No, naše anglické slovo dnes, Boh, to znamená 'objekt uctievania.' Aké mätúce je to pre myseľ. Môžete z niekoho urobiť boha. Môžete urobiť boha z čohokoľvek.
69Ale v Starom Zákone, v Genezis 1, „Na počiatku, Boh,“ tam je použité slovo Elohim. Elohim znamená 'Ten samo-existujúci.' Čo za rozdiel je medzi slovom Elohim a naším slovom Boh. Elohim znamená 'Ten samo-existujúci.'
70My nemôžeme byť samo-existujúci. Nemôžeme byť všemohúci, všemocní, všadeprítomní, vševediaci. To 'Elohim' vyjadruje to všetko. Nemôžeme tým byť. Strom, z ktorého urobíte boha, alebo nejaká budova, to nie je samo-existujúce.
71A tak, Boh bol na počiatku Životom, Tým Večným. V Ňom boli atribúty a tie atribúty sa stali Slovami a Slovo sa stalo telom. Ježiš bol Vykupiteľ. A vykúpiť znamená 'priviesť naspäť.' Ak to On musí priviesť späť, tak to muselo byť niekde, kam to treba priviesť naspäť. Tak, vidíte, všetci ľudia to nikdy nebudú môcť vidieť, pretože všetci ľudia neboli na počiatku v Božích myšlienkach. Rozumiete?
72Pozrite sa na tých kňazov. Keď Ho videli, ako presne vyjadruje Samého Seba Slovom, to, čím bol, povedali, „To je Belzebúb.“ To ukázalo, kde bola ich prirodzenosť. Bolo to v modernom myslení toho dňa.
73Ale keď tam bola tá prostitútka, ktorú stretol pri bráne a povedal jej, vyjadril Svoj znak Mesiáša tým, že jej povedal, čo urobila. „No,“ povedala, „Pane, vidím, že si prorok. Vieme, že Mesiáš, keď On príde, povie nám všetky tieto veci.“ Ona Ho rozpoznala ako Mesiáša, Toho Pomazaného, pretože On splnil kvalifikácie Písma. Či nevidíte? [Zhromaždenie hovorí, „Amen.“ - pozn.prekl.] Tie dva kúsky papiera sa spájali dokopy. Ona, „Vieme, že keď príde Mesiáš...“
74Nuž, Boh by možno musel zmiešať toto a tamto, aby z toho zvona získal určitý tón, ako odlievač. Ale keď sa Ježiš obrátil, povedal, „Ja som On, ktorý hovorím s tebou,“ tam nebol taký výraz ako „Belzebúb.“ Ona pustila to vedro s vodou, bežala do mesta a hovorila, „Poďte, vidzte Človeka, ktorý mi povedal veci, ktoré som urobila. Či to nie je samotný Mesiáš?“ Rozumiete?
75No, čo to urobilo? Keď to starodávne Písmo umiestnila do toho prežitia, ktoré jej dával Ježiš, čo to urobilo? To utvorilo Mesiáša. A všimli ste si to? Jej hriechy boli rýchlo odpustené, pretože tam na začiatku, ona bola vykupiteľná, pretože na počiatku bola v Božom myslení. A tak, to ju vykúpilo alebo priviedlo naspäť, keď videla, ako sa zamanifestovalo vyjadrené Písmo Jehovu, to, čím bol, čím On je.
76Nuž, keď prišiel Ježiš, ak by prišiel s Noeho posolstvom, to by nefungovalo. Postaviť koráb a odplávať preč, to by nefungovalo. Ale ten Noe bol časťou Boha. Konal zvláštnym spôsobom, pretože bol zvláštny, a jeho posolstvo bolo zvláštne, pretože to bolo Slovo, ktoré sa manifestovalo.
77Nemohol prísť s Mojžišovým posolstvom, pretože to by nefungovalo. Mojžiš bol zamanifestovaným Bohom, v čiastke. On bol Slovom vyjadreným pre tú hodinu, ale Ježiš nemohol prísť s niečím takým. Biblia nikdy nepovedala, že On takto príde.
78Ale keď prišiel, On bol vyjadrený presne tak, ako povedal Zákon, že tak bude vyjadrený; potom všetci tí, ktorí boli vykupiteľní, oni Tomu uverili, pretože boli myšlienkami Božími. Jeho atribúty, ktoré boli tam na počiatku, boli učinené telom a boli vykupiteľnými a boli privedené naspäť k Bohu. „Všetci, ktorí Ho prijali, tým dal moc stať sa synmi Božími,“ pretože boli vykupiteľní, boli od počiatku v tom vyjadrení.
79Ak by sme sa tu mohli na chvíľu zastaviť, ak by to bolo možné, a pomyslieť dnes večer o Posolstve tejto hodiny, o vyjadrených myšlienkach Jehovu. „Pred založením sveta,“ je nám povedané, že „naše mená boli vložené do Baránkovej Knihy Života.“ Potom môžeme vidieť obe tie strany, ako som hovoril na začiatku, prečo je jedna vec čudnou pre tú druhú. Musí to tak byť. Vždy to tak bolo. Vždy to tak bolo a vždy to tak bude. „On bol Slovom. A to Slovo sa stalo telom a prebývalo medzi nami.“
80Nuž, Boh, vo dňoch Starého Zákona, zisťujeme, že potom, ako sa zjavil Svojmu ľudu v rôznych podobách, zahalil Samého Seba za staré jazvečie kože. Boh, ktorý sa skrýval za jazvečími kožami na Svojom tróne milosti. ['Trón milosti' v Roháčkovom preklade nazvaný: 'zľutovnica' - pokrývka na truhle zmluvy. - pozn.prekl.] Nachádzame to, ako ten Šalamún, keď zasvätil Pánov chrám a viseli tam tieto jazvečie kože, tá opona, ako tam On vošiel ako Ohnivý Stĺp a ako Oblak a vošiel tam dolu poza to a zaclonil sa pred vonkajším svetom. Ale Izrael skrze vieru vedel, že On tam vzadu bol. Oni vedeli, že On tam je, bez ohľadu na to, čo by mohol povedať ktokoľvek z pohanského sveta. Bol ukrytý pred neveriacim. Ale veriaci skrze vieru vedel, že On tam vzadu je. Mali milosrdenstvo. A On bol na Svojom tróne milosti, čo bolo veľké tajomstvo.
81Viete, v Starom Zákone, vojsť za tú kožu znamenalo smrť. A teraz, zostať vonku znamená smrť. Vtedy to bolo tak, že vstúpiť do Jeho slávy znamenalo smrť. A teraz, zostať pomimo od Jeho slávy znamená smrť. To sa, samozrejme, stalo pri roztrhnutí opony na Golgote, keď sa tá opona roztrhla, tá stará opona. A teraz, zostať pomimo od Jeho prítomnosti znamená smrť. Vtedy to bolo tak, že vstúpiť do Jeho prítomnosti znamenalo smrť. Rozumiete? Mení sa to naopak a vy musíte nájsť Písmo, aby ste videli, v ktorom dni žijeme.
82Nuž, keď sa na Golgote roztrhla opona, trón milosti zostal jasne viditeľný. (Ale čo sa stalo? Visel na Golgote a kvapkala tam Krv.) Ako oni rok čo rok brali krv pri očisťovaní svätyne a pri pokropovaní trónu milosti, a tam bol Boh s Jeho veľkým mocným úderom moci blesku, roztrhol tú starú jazvečiu oponu zhora nadol a trón milosti zostal jasne viditeľný.
83Skutočný, pravý Baránok Boží visel jasne viditeľný na Golgote, skutočný Trón Milosti, keď Boh Sám zaplatil cenu; a stal sa jedným z nás a zamanifestoval sa ako Človek, aby sa s nami oboznámil a aby sme sa my oboznámili s Ním. V ten deň zmierenia bol Trón Milosti jasne viditeľný pre celý Izrael.
84Ale, žiaľ, tradície cirkevných otcov, ktoré mali v tom dni, oni skrze svoje tradície zakryli pred ľuďmi ten skutočný Trón Milosti. Keby boli poznali Písmo, každý kúsok by zapasoval ako pri tom čínskom papieriku. Starozákonné proroctvo by sa vyplnilo a ono sa vyplnilo. A ak by boli vyučovaní Písmu, uvideli by ten Trón Milosti. „Ako Mojžiš,“ tu je povedané, „dodnes sú zahalení. Stále to leží na ich srdciach.“ Oni To nevidia.
85Ale On bol Bohom; utrpenie a Zmierenie. On bol skutočným Trónom Milosti, ktorý zostal jasne viditeľný. Ako sme spievali tú pieseň:
Hľa, vidz Ho jasne viditeľného.
Tam On je, Ten mocný Premožiteľ,
Keďže On roztrhol tú oponu na dvoje.
86Vidíte, On prišiel, Trón Milosti, visel tam jasne viditeľný pred tým zhromaždením. Ale oni, keďže boli pod tým populárnym názorom...
87Nuž, muži a ženy a delegáti tohto zhromaždenia, chcem to povedať bez hľadenia na osobu. Ale z pohľadu dneška, s ohľadom na to, kvôli čomu tu dnes sme, obávam sa, že tradície otcov, cirkevných otcov, To pred príliš mnohými ľuďmi zakryli. Odkedy Duch Svätý prišiel v týchto posledných dňoch, ako to bolo prorokované, a opona zostala roztrhnutá, príliš mnoho ľudí sa snaží držať svojich tradícií otcov. A preto nemôžu vidieť túto extrémnu radosť a pokoj a tie veci, ktoré má dnes Cirkev. Napriek tomu je To jasne viditeľné pre tých, ktorí veria.
On skryl Slovo, zasľúbené Slovo tohto dňa.
88No, tradície urobili záclonu. Hovoria, že dni zázrakov pominuli. Hovoril so mnou jeden muž, milý kultivovaný gentleman v Tucsone v Arizone, kde bývam. Mal som stretnutie v Ramade. A my sme hovorili na zhromaždení obchodníkov, kde Pán Ježiš prišiel a urobil veľké veci. A tento kresťanský gentleman prišiel ku mne a povedal... a je to kazateľ z určitej cirkvi, milý človek, a on povedal, „Brat Branham, ty sa snažíš ľuďom predstaviť apoštolský vek,“ povedal, „a apoštolský vek pritom pominul. “
89A povedal som, „Prosím ťa, môj brat, ukáž mi v Písme, kedy sa zakončil apoštolský vek.“ Povedal som, „Apoštolský vek začal na deň Letníc a má... Peter povedal, na deň Letníc, 'To Zasľúbenie je pre vás a pre vaše deti a pre tých, ktorí sú ďaleko, pre koľkýchkoľvek si povolá Pán, náš Boh.' Kedy to skončilo? Ak Boh stále povoláva, potom apoštolský vek stále trvá.“
90A tak, to je to, kde sa ľudia snažia zviazať toľkých ľudí svojimi tradíciami starších, ako to bolo aj vtedy. A vy potom nedokážete vidieť, prečo sú tí ľudia tak povznesení a tak nadšení. A tieto zhromaždenia sú pre ostatných ľudí také divné, také zvláštne, pretože oni vidia, že oni sa prelomili cez tie bariéry. Preborili sa cez tie opony do prítomnosti Božej, kde vidia zamanifestované zasľúbenie tejto hodiny prejavené pred ľuďmi. Oni vidia, čo Boh zasľúbil.
91V Joelovi 2:28 On zasľúbil, že, „V týchto posledných dňoch bude na ľudí vyliaty pozdný dážď v tých posledných dňoch.“ Myslím, že to grécke slovo tam je kenos, čo znamená, že On sa 'vyprázdnil.' Nie takým spôsobom, ako by sme povedali, akoby niečo bolo vo vnútri niekoho, čo On vyprázdnil. Ale On vylial Samého Seba.
92On sa zmenil; Jeho en morphe. On sa zmenil z toho, čím bol, do toho, čím je. On nikdy nemení Svoju povahu. Ale v deň Letníc, On premenil Samého Seba zo Syna človeka na Syna Božieho. On prišiel - nie s ľuďmi. On prišiel v ľuďoch, vidíte, Ten istý Boh, aby ďalej konal Svoju službu v tomto veľkom veku.
93V Biblii prorokoval, že, „Príde deň, ktorý nebude dňom ani nocou, ale v čase večera bude Svetlo.“ No, slnko vychádza geograficky na východe a zapadá na západe. Je to stále to isté slnko, po celý čas. No, keď ten Syn, S-y-n, zjavil Izraelu, tým východným ľuďom, Samého Seba v manifestácii zasľúbeného Slova.
94Mali sme deň pochmúrnosti. Pri reformátoroch, a tak ďalej, sme mali dostatok svetla na to, aby sme vytvorili cirkvi a denominácie, pripojili sa k nim a vošli do nich; a bozkávali nemluvňatá a sobášili starých a pochovávali mŕtvych, a tak ďalej; a žili v nejakej cirkvi.
95Ale v čase večera, „Bude Svetlo,“ povedal, „v čase večera.“ A žiadne Písmo nemôže byť zrušené. A ten istý S-y-n, ktorý vylial Samého Seba, kenos, na deň Letníc, zasľúbil, že urobí to isté vo večernom čase. Rozumiete? Je to podľa zasľúbenia.
96Spojenie toho papierika. Pozrite sa, čo sa deje, a pozrite, čo On zasľúbil, potom uvidíte, kde sme. Spojenie tej veci. Môžete vidieť odhalenie tohto Veľkého a Mocného. Tradície znovu zaslepili ľudí pred týmito veľkými vecami, ktoré boli prorokované.
97Mojžiš, keď zišiel z toho vrchu, ktorý horel, čo za nádherné znázornenie!
98Mojžiš zišiel dole do Egypta a povedal tým cirkevným otcom, že ho Pán Boh navštívil v Mene 'JA SOM.' To Meno je prítomný čas; nie 'Bol som; budem.' Ale, 'JA SOM,' stále Ten istý, Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky. On je v prítomnom čase. On... To pasuje so Židom 13:8, „Ježiš Kristus, Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky.“
99Stále je to prorokované Slovo. A zhromaždenie, ktoré má presne pasovať s tým Slovom, prežitím tohoto dňa. Reformátori to mali, ó, ale toto je iný deň. Vidíte, v ktorom dni žijeme? Tak, ako On nemohol prísť v tých dňoch, keď prišiel na zem, takým spôsobom, akým prišiel Mojžiš alebo ktorýkoľvek z prorokov; to nebolo prorokované. A v týchto posledných dňoch je prorokované, že to príde takto. Nemôže to prísť vo forme Lutherovho prebudenia. Nemôže to prísť vo forme Wesleyho prebudenia. Je tu hodina prinavrátenia. Je to čas, kedy sa to musí navrátiť k originálnemu Svetlu Syna, k originálu.
100Ó, ako by sme do toho mohli umiestniť Písma! A vy, teológovia, z ktorejkoľvek časti sveta ste, viete, že to je pravda. Je to zasľúbenie. To je to, čo robí ľudí tak divnými. To je to, čo vytvára tých čudákov, ako ich nazývate. Je to preto, že oni... to je... Opona zostala otvorená od tradícií a oni To vidia. On je Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky. Rozumiete? To je to zasľúbenie Božie a my proti tomu nemôžeme ísť, pretože Písma nemôžu byť porušené. Áno. Zisťujeme, že On to zasľúbil. On sa vyprázdnil do Svojho ľudu. A On je Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky.
101Mojžiš potom, ako zišiel dolu do Egypta a vyhlásil to, potom Otec potvrdil jeho posolstvo tým, že prišiel na horu Sinaj v tom istom Ohnivom Stĺpe a zapálil ten vrch Ohňom. Všimli sme si to? Ten, ktorému dal zasľúbenie, On ho poslal vpred so Slovom. On mal prikázania. A aby mal toto prikázanie, on mal... Prikázania boli Slovo. Slovo ešte nikdy neprišlo k ľuďom. Tak Slovo vždy prichádza k prorokovi a on bol prorokom na tú hodinu.
102Ako Ježiš, ktorý bol Slovom. Ján bol prorok. A Ježiš prišiel k nemu do vody, pretože Slovo vždy prichádza k prorokovi, bez toho, aby to zlyhalo. Rozumiete? Slovo prichádza k tomu.
103Tak, Mojžiš, prišlo k nemu Slovo; prikázania. A on ich mal. No, prečo? Predtým, ako bolo to Slovo vydané a zamanifestované, Mojžiš musel zakryť svoju tvár, lebo Slovo nebolo kompletne zamanifestované. Oni vedeli, že sa niečo stalo, ale nevedeli, čo to bolo, to burácanie a hrmenie. Až nakoniec povedali, „Nech hovorí Mojžiš, a nie Boh.“
104A Boh povedal, „No, urobím to. Odteraz sa už nebudem takto zjavovať. Pošlem im proroka. Tak on... Ja budem hovoriť skrze Svojho proroka.“
105No, ak Mojžiš s tým prirodzeným zákonom (ako nám to tu zjavil Pavol v 2. liste Korinťanom) musel zakryť svoju tvár s tou prirodzenou vecou, o čo viac bude slávne a zahalené to duchovné pre toho neveriaceho skôr, ako to pre neho bude zamanifestované! O čo viac budú nazývať... Mojžiš bol čudák. O čo viac tak budú nazývať teba, ktorý si sa prelomil cez tú oponu a vošiel si do toho Ohnivého Stĺpa a vyšiel von s Požehnaním! A teraz si zahalený. Ľudia to nemôžu vidieť. Nedokážu to porozumieť.
106„Ak je to prirodzené slávne, o koľko viac bude to nadprirodzené! Ak to prirodzené, ktoré malo skončiť, malo byť slávne, o koľko viac bude slávne Toto, ktoré nemá žiaden koniec.“
107Ale stále je To zaclonené. Pre veriaceho To nie je zaclonené, ale pre neveriaceho áno. On To nemôže vidieť. Boh sa vždy zakrýva pred neveriacim. Tradície To zakrývajú. Ako to urobili vtedy, robia to aj dnes.
108Tam, kde bola tá prirodzená opona, tam je teraz duchovná opona, ktorú tu teraz máme. Oni sú potvrdení prorokom s napísaným Slovom; prorokom, tým, ktorý prichádza s napísaným Slovom, aby To bolo jasné.
109Oni vedeli, že tam bolo Slovo, ale nevedeli, čo To znamenalo. A Mojžiš To objasnil. On povedal, „Prikázanie hovorí Toto a toto je ten dôvod prečo.“ Objasnil to. A predtým, ako To bolo objasnené, bolo To zahalené.
110A tak je to aj dnes, zahalené pred ľuďmi, až kým To nie je zjavené a objasnené ľuďom. Boh, mocný Boh, zahalený v ľudskom tele, Slovo. Všimnite si. Teraz zisťujeme, že to bolo ukryté pred neveriacim, ale zjavené veriacemu.
111Všimnite si, Mojžiš musel vstúpiť sám do tohoto Ohnivého Stĺpa. Nikto s ním nemohol ísť. To nebolo... Čo to ku nám hovorí? To, že do Tohto nevchádzate skrze pripojenie sa k nejakej letničnej skupine. Rozumiete? On To nikdy nezjavil skupine. On To zjavil jednotlivcovi. A tak je to aj dnes. Poviete, „Ja patrím do zboru. Ja patrím do tohoto.“ Ale to nebude fungovať. Rozumiete?
112A pre každého, kto sa pokúsil nasledovať Mojžiša, aby to napodobnil, to bola smrť. A tak je to aj dnes, duchovná smrť - snažiť sa napodobniť. To je to, čo...
113Dnes večer do toho vchádzame, medzi skupinami povstáva telesné porovnávanie; niekto sa takto snaží správať a žiť odlišným druhom života; môžu piť, môžu fajčiť, ženy môžu žiť takmer akýmkoľvek spôsobom chcú a majú radi svet, zostávajú doma a sledujú televíziu a svetské veci a naďalej sa nazývajú letničnými. Snažia sa napodobňovať to skutočné. Nikdy im to nebolo zjavené. Keď je To zjavené, a keď tam vstúpite, potom je to slávne a niečo to od vás berie preč. Stanete sa oponou. To je... To jednoducho nebude fungovať. A napodobňovať To znamenalo smrť.
114Mojžišova opona; on bol živým Slovom pre ľudí. A ľudia, ktorí sú dnes zahalení, oni sú tou istou vecou. „Oni sú písanými epištolami, ktoré sú čítané od všetkých ľudí.“ Nie nejaká nová epištola; ale Epištola, ktorá bola napísaná, ktorá sa zamanifestovala. To sú tí, ktorí veria Slovu a zasľúbeniu tohoto dňa, že Boh vylieva Svojho Ducha na každé telo, a to sú napísané epištoly. A keď sa to človek snaží telesne napodobniť, to má spätný zápal [opačný účinok]. Tvoj život ukazuje, čím si.
115Raz bol jeden chlapec, ktorý sa dostal do nejakých problémov. Bol to dobrý chlapec, ale on išiel pred súd. A sudca povedal, „Považujem ťa za vinného. Musím ťa potrestať na doživotie.“
116On povedal, „Chcem obhájiť svoj prípad.“ Povedal, „Chcem sa odvolať na môj záznam.“
117Povedal, „Nemáš žiaden záznam. Tvoj záznam je to, čo ťa odsúdilo.“
118A tak je to dnes, to je ten dôvod, prečo cirkev nenapreduje tak, ako by mala. Ide o ten záznam. Ide o život. Musíme byť viac oddaní. Musíme veriť každému Božiemu Slovu. Musíme hľadať, až kým sa nám to Slovo nestane skutočným. Vidíte? Rozumiete? Ten záznam je tým, čo nám bráni vstúpiť dovnútra.
119Ale raz (aby som vás vyviedol z tohto kruhu), na tom istom súde nejaký chlapec nemal peniaze. On to nedokázal zaplatiť. Tá pokuta bola v čiastke niekoľkých tisícov dolárov. Ale on mal staršieho brata, ktorý prišiel a zaplatil to za neho.
120No, my máme staršieho Brata, Ježiša, Syna Božieho. A On prišiel, aby to za nás zaplatil, ak tomu len budeme veriť a budeme schopní vojsť s Ním cez tú oponu. A On je náš Mojžiš. Ježiš je naším Mojžišom dneška. Mojžiš, tá opona, bol pre ľudí živým Slovom. Dnes je Ježiš zakrytý, to je živé Slovo pre ľudí, to je Ježiš v Cirkvi. Duch Svätý, Syn Boží v ľuďoch, zjavujúci Slovo skrze zasľúbenie tohoto dňa, robí To úplne presné. Teraz je to rovnaké.
121A pamätajte, Mojžiš to urobil a nezamanifestoval to celému svetu, ale ľuďom toho exodu, len tej jednej triede ľudí, to boli tí, ktorí vyšli z exo-... v exode.
122A dnes, Svätý Duch, tvárou v tvár ľuďom, ktorí hovoria, „Božské uzdravenie nie je pravda.“ Keď som sa rozprával...
123Jedného dňa mi zavolal určitý lekár od jednej pani, ó, bolo tam štyri alebo päť prípadov, keď tam ležali na pokraji smrti, dávali im už len zopár hodín a Duch Svätý ich uzdravil. Ten lekár to spochybňoval. On povedal, „Ako to môže byť? No,“ povedal, „ja... to je moja pacientka.“
124Povedal som, „Bola. Ale teraz je Božia. Ona je teraz Jeho poddanou.“ Rozumiete?
125A tak vidíte tú vec, že Boh vyvoláva exodus, aby vyšli spoza telesnej opony, ktorá sa snaží napodobňovať, ktorá sa snaží pripojiť k cirkvi; nie metodisti, baptisti, presbyteriáni, ale letničné cirkvi. To je individuálna záležitosť. To si ty a Boh. Ty musíš vojsť, nie tvoja skupina, nie tvoja cirkev, nie tvoj pastor, ale to si ty, kto musí vstúpiť.
126Chcem, aby ste si všimli ďalšiu Mojžišovu charakteristiku, keď vyšiel. A predsa, aj keď bol prorokom, bol takým veľkým človekom, keď vyšiel so Slovom, ľudia videli, že bol zmenený. Niečo sa mu stalo. Keď vyšiel s potvrdeným Slovom tej hodiny, s tými prikázaniami, on bol zmenenou osobou.
127A tak isto budeš aj ty, keď vyjdeš spoza tej ľudskej opony, ktorá by sa takémuto zhromaždeniu vysmiala; ten človek, ktorý by sa potkol na Božskom uzdravení a povedal by, že dni zázrakov pominuli. Vypadol si spoza tej ľudskej opony, tej tradičnej opony, a každý bude vedieť, že sa ti niečo stalo.
128Ako náš ctený brat Jim Brown. Predstavujem si, že väčšina presbyteriánov vie, že sa mu niečo stalo, pretože on vyšiel spoza tej tradičnej opony. Uvidel v tých ľuďoch niečo, čo ho priťahovalo, a vyšiel spoza tej opony.
129No, keď vyjdeš spoza tej opony, potom budeš pre ľudí jasne viditeľný, aby mohli vidieť, že sa ti niečo stalo. Zahalené Slovo pre neveriaceho, ale jasne viditeľné pre veriaceho. Ježiš Kristus, Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky.
130Potom to bol Boh. V tých dňoch to bol Boh v Človeku, Jeho Syn, Ježiš Kristus. Veríme tomu. Nielen prorok, nielen obyčajný muž, obyčajný človek. To bol Boh v Kristovi; Boh v Človeku; plnosť Božstva telesne v Človeku. Boh v Človeku!
131A teraz to je Boh v ľuďoch, plnosť Božia v Božstve, telesne v celej Jeho Cirkvi, manifestuje Samého Seba, vypĺňa Svoje Slovo.
132No, zisťujeme, že Boh mal cez všetky veky kožu. On, Boh bol skrytý za oponou.
133To mi práve pripomína jeden malý príbeh, ktorý sa stal dole na juhu. A tak, tam bol jeden kresťanský domov. A potom, v tomto kresťanskom domove verili v Boha a mysleli si, že Boh ich chráni od všetkých problémov. Pričom, On to robí. A mali tam malého Juniora, malého chlapca, ktorý mal asi sedem alebo osem rokov a chodieval do nedeľnej školy a bol to veľmi dobrý malý chlapec. Ale bál sa búrky, zvlášť, keď sa blýskalo.
134A minule som toto rozprával jednému človeku, keď vyšiel tento článok o tomto mužovi, ktorý bol uzdravený. Tento kazateľ povedal, „Robia z teba boha, brat Branham.“
135No, on bol kritik, tak som myslel, že to trochu prelomím, len trochu. Nie preto, aby som zranil, viete, ale len trochu… Povedal som, „Či je to veľmi vzdialené od Písma, aby to tak bolo?“ Vidíte? Povedal som, „Nie, nie je,“ povedal som, „lebo Ježiš nazval prorokov 'bohmi.'“ Vidíte? Je to tak, 'Boh.'
136A oni hovoria, „No, vy, ľudia, sa snažíte zaujať miesto Boha.“ To nie je tak ďaleko. To je presne to, čo to je. Je to presne tak. Boh zamanifestovaný v tele, práve tak, ako to On zasľúbil.
137Zisťujeme, že táto malá rodina… Rozprával som mu tento malý príbeh, ktorý mi práve teraz prišiel na myseľ. A tak, jednej noci prišla búrka a tá matka povedala Juniorovi, riekla, „No, choď na poschodie, synku, a choď do postele.“
Povedal, „Mama, bojím sa,“ povedal.
„Nič ti neublíži. Choď hore a bež do postele.“
138Malý Junior si tam ľahol a za oknami sa blýskalo. A ten malý chlapec bol tak nervózny, skryl si hlavu pod paplón a stále mohol počuť to hromobitie alebo vidieť cez okno, ako sa tam blýska, a počul, ako zahrmel hrom. A tak skríkol, „Mami!“
A ona povedala, „Čo je, Junior?“
Povedal, „Poď sem hore a spi vedľa mňa.“
139A tak vyšla hore po schodoch, ako by to urobila každá dobrá verná matka. A ona vyšla hore a vzala malého Juniora na ruky. A povedala, „Junior, mamička sa chce s tebou trochu porozprávať.“
Povedal, „Dobre, mami.“
140Povedala, „Teraz si musíš zapamätať toto: Chodievame pravidelne do zboru. Čítame si Bibliu. Modlíme sa. Sme kresťanskou rodinou. Veríme v Boha.“ A povedala, „Veríme, že pri búrkach a pri čomkoľvek, čo sa deje, Boh je našou ochranou.“
141Povedal, „Mami, všetko to tak verím. Ale,“ povedal, „keď sú tie blesky tak blízko,“ povedal, „chcem Boha, ktorý má kožu.“
142Tak, myslím, že nielen Junior, ale každý z nás to tak cíti. Keď sa zídeme spolu, keď sa modlíme jeden za druhého, Boh, ktorý má kožu.
143A nachádzame tu, že Boh mal vždy na Sebe kožu. Keď Ho videl Mojžiš, On mal na Sebe kožu, vyzeral ako Človek. Keď bol Boh poza oponami, mal na Sebe kožu. A Boh je dnes večer vo Svojej Cirkvi zaclonený, je vo Svojej Cirkvi, má na Sebe kožu. On je dnes večer stále tým istým Bohom.
144Ale teraz, ako vždy, tá záclona kože je to, čo zaráža tradície. Oni jednoducho nedokážu uveriť, že to je Boh, ktorý spôsobuje, že tí ľudia takto konajú. Rozumiete? To je preto, že Boh je zahalený vo Svojej Cirkvi, v kožiach, je na Tom koža. To je pravda. On je skrytý pred neveriacim a je zjavený veriacemu. Tak veru.
145No, keď je ich tradičná opona - tradícií tých starších - prelomená a Slovo sa dostáva dnu cez to (samozrejme, dnes), potom prichádza na jasný pohľad, vidíme Ho: Božstvo znovu zahalené v ľudskom tele. Je to tak povedané v Židom 1.
146A takisto v Genezis 18. Pamätáte, že Boh bol Človekom, ktorý tam stál, jedol a rozprával sa s Abrahámom a povedal, čo robila Sára v stane za Ním.
147A Ježiš povedal, „Ako bolo vo dňoch Sodomy, tak bude pri príchode Syna človeka,“ Božstvo znovu zahalené v ľudskom tele. No, pamätajte, Ježiš nepovedal, „Keď bude zjavený Syn Boží.“ Myslím, že to je v Lukášovi v 17. kapitole, niekde okolo verša 20 alebo 21, niekde tam On povedal, „A keď sa zjaví Syn človeka,“ Syn človeka znovu naspäť v Cirkvi, zjavený v ľudských bytostiach; nie Syn Boží, ale znovu Syn človeka, späť vo Svojej Cirkvi v tých posledných dňoch. Zisťujeme, že On to zasľúbil v Božích zasľúbeniach.
148Všímame si ešte jednu vec, v Starom Zákone. Mám tu Písmo, v Knihe Exodus. K čomu slúžili tie staré jazvečie kože? Oni prikrývali slávu Božiu pred ľuďmi; jazvečie kože. Ľudia ju nedokázali vidieť, pretože ju zakrývali kože. Za tými kožami bola sláva Božia.
149A v dnešnej dobe je sláva Božia za tvojou kožou. Je to tak. A tradície to nevidia. Je to vo vnútri za tou oponou, kde bolo Jeho Slovo.
150Čo bolo vo vnútri tých koží, za tými starými jazvečími kožami?
151Pričom, „Nebolo na Tom krásy, po ktorej by sme túžili? A keď sa To stalo telom a prebývalo medzi nami, stále na Tom nebolo krásy, po ktorej by sme túžili.“
152A teraz – tak isto je tomu dnes. Na tom mužovi alebo žene nie je nič, čo by bolo žiadúce, ale ide o to, čo je v ich vnútri. O to práve ide. „Nuž,“ hovoríte, „ten človek, pokiaľ viem, býval kedysi opilcom. Zvykol to robiť.“ Nezáleží na tom, čo kedysi robil. Čo je ukryté za tou kožou? Počíta sa to, čo je za ňou. Ľudia sú zaslepení; koža ich zaslepuje. Rozumiete? Oni hovoria, „Spomínam si, ako tá žena kedysi…“ Ja viem, čo ona kedysi robila, ale čo robí teraz? Rozumiete?
153Sú to tie kože, ktoré boli kedysi na jazvecovi, ale teraz ukrývajú slávu Božiu – ona prebýva za nimi. Bolo to na zvierati, ale teraz ukrývajú slávu Božiu.
154A tak tvoja koža môže byť dnes večer premenená, aby sa stala miestom prebývania Boha; Boh bývajúci v ľuďoch.
155Pozrite. Zisťujeme, že tie staré jazvečie kože, že za nimi bolo... Tam vo vnútri bolo Slovo. A Slovo, tam bol tiež chlieb predloženia. Archa bola pokropená. A čo to bolo? Tam vo vnútri bola Sláva Shekinah.
156No, Slovo je Semeno a Ono nemôže zrodiť, dokiaľ ho nezasiahne Syn. Na tom Semene musí byť Syn, aby zrodilo, aby to vyprodukovalo. A to je ten jediný spôsob. Ty berieš Slovo, vidíš, berieš Slovo Božie do svojho srdca a kráčaš do Slávy Shekinah. A keď to robíš, to prinesie chleby predloženia, Mannu, to je dané len tomu oddelenému ľudu. Tí jediní, ktorí to môžu jesť, tí, ktorým je dovolené, aby to jedli, to sú ľudia, ktorí to majú dovolené a poznajú to. Pavol tu povedal, „Meníme sa od Slávy do Slávy.“ Vidíte, nakoniec to prichádza do toho, až sa to navráti do svojej pôvodnej Slávy.
157Je to ako semeno kvetu povojnice [po anglicky doslovne „ranná sláva“ - pozn.prekl]. Semeno kvetu, ono padá do zeme. Semeno kukurice padá do zeme. Čo je tá prvá vec? Vyrastie a je z neho malý výhonok. Potom to ide do klasu. Potom z klasu naspäť do originálneho zrna.
158No, to je presne to, čo urobila Cirkev. Prišlo to od Luthera, Wesleya a teraz naspäť do toho originálneho Zrna, naspäť do svojej originálnej Slávy, naspäť do Slávy, v ktorej to bolo na počiatku. Syn, ktorý povstal na východe, to je ten istý Syn, ktorý manifestuje to isté na západe, premieňanie od Slávy do Slávy. Zmenilo sa to z pohanov ku Lutherovi; a od Luthera ďalej k Wesleymu; z Wesleya ku letničným; a tak ďalej a ďalej, premieňanie od Slávy k Sláve, produkuje to tú skrytú Mannu.
159A teraz je to zrelé, aby Ho to priviedlo naspäť presne Takého, ako bol na počiatku, Jeho rovnakú službu; ten istý Ježiš, tá istá moc, ten istý Duch Svätý. Ten istý, ktorý zostúpil na deň Letníc, to je ten istý Duch Svätý, ktorý sa dnes zjavil, od Slávy k Sláve, do Slávy. A je naspäť pri Svojom originálnom Semene s krstom Duchom Svätým; s tými istými znameniami, tými istými divmi, tým istým krstom; ten istý druh ľudí, ktorí konajú rovnakým spôsobom, s rovnakou mocou, rovnakou senzáciou. Je to od Slávy k Sláve. A to ďalšie bude, „Premenení z tejto Slávy do tela, ktoré je ako Jeho vlastné slávne telo, kde Ho uvidíme.“ Abrahám videl to isté.
160Všimnite si teraz. Vidíme, ako sa to zmenilo. Od Golgoty sme pozvaní, aby sme zdieľali Jeho Slávu. No, v 1. Korinťanom 12, „Sme pokrstení do Jeho Tela. Všetci sme pokrstení jedným Duchom.“ Nie jednou 'vodou.' „Jeden Duch, všetci sme pokrstení.“ To je pravda, no, a potom sa stávame Jeho časťou.
161Dúfam, že vás príliš dlho nezdržujem. [Zhromaždenie hovorí, „Nie.“ - pozn.prekl.] Rozumiete? Dúfam, že nie.
162Ale je to ako veľká symfónia, ktorá je hraná, alebo ako odohrávanie drámy.
163Neviem príliš mnoho o symfóniách alebo drámach. Ale sledoval som toto predstavenie... Hovoril som o Carmen, keď tam bola moja dcéra a tí ostatní. A oni hrali v tejto symfónii, v Carmen. Odohrávali to. Tá hudba odohrávala to isté.
164Tak to je, keď si pokrstený Duchom Svätým do Krista.
165Nuž, vidíte, mnohí z vás ste čítali alebo počuli príbeh veľkého ruského skladateľa, ktorý skomponoval príbeh 'Peter a vlk.' A ako on, oni to odohrávajú pomocou symbolov a všetkého takého. A ktokoľvek, kto pozná ten príbeh, číta to z nejakého papiera a môže počuť tú symfóniu, ako to hrá, tú drámu, ktorá sa odohráva, no, oni poznajú každú zmenu. Môžu sa tu na to dívať a vidieť tú zmenu.
166Ale teraz, čo sa stane, ak skladateľ niečo napíše a my zistíme, že to nie je odohrané správne? Potom zisťujeme, že sa niečo deje. Niečo tam chýba, keď ich vidíme. Ten, kto to zložil, vytvoril a napísal, a potom to tá symfónia odohráva a trafí nesprávnu notu. Niečo nie je v poriadku. Dirigent nesprávne zamával. Rozumiete?
167A to je to, čo sa deje dnes, moji luteránski bratia, moji bratia baptisti, moji letniční bratia. Všetci moji bratia zo všetkých rôznych denominácií, to je to, čo to je. Rozumiete? Snažíte sa udať notu, ktorá hrala vzadu vo dňoch Luthera, Wesleyho, a podobne, keď ten List s notami v skutočnosti ukazuje, že je iný deň. Rozumiete? Vidíte? Rozumiete? Nemôžeme žiť vo svetle Luthera; on bol reformátor. Vážime si jeho úlohu, ale my sme to už odohrali. Teraz sme tu na konci Knihy. Rozumiete? Nemôžeme to takto hrať.
168No, moji bratia, jediný spôsob, ako to budete môcť urobiť, je toto. A bratia zo sveta, z rôznych častí sveta, mohol by som povedať, že pre toho dirigenta existuje iba jeden spôsob, ako to urobiť. On musí vojsť do toho istého Ducha, v ktorom bol Skladateľ, potom to má. A keď je Cirkev, tá samotná Symfónia, kde svet sleduje tieto znamenia a zázraky; keď sa Cirkev a Skladateľ a dirigent dostanú všetci do Ducha toho Skladateľa.
169Potom, keď hovoria, „Dni zázrakov pominuli,“ netrafilo to správnu notu.
170Ale keď sa to dostane do toho správneho výkyvu a správneho Ducha tej veci; ako to dokážeš urobiť, kým nezostúpi dole Duch toho Skladateľa? Amen. Potom, keď poviete, „Dni zázrakov nikdy nepominuli.“ Tá symfónia volá, „Amen.“ Keď urobíme ten úder, povieme, „Ježiš Kristus, Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky.“ Tá symfónia volá, „Amen.“ „Potom, keď na teba zostúpi Duch Svätý, prijmeš moc.“ Tá symfónia volá, „Amen. Ja to mám.“ Potom už o tom nie je viac dohadov. Celá symfónia je v súlade so Slovom. To ide... [Brat Branham trikrát tleskne rukami. - pozn.prekl.] To je to. Ó! Je to veľkolepá vec. Dirigent a Skladateľ musia byť v jednom Duchu. A tak musia byť aj hudobníci v tom istom Duchu, aby to všetko odohrali. A svet sa diví, čo sa to deje.
171Ten komunizmus, o ktorom hovoria, to spôsobuje, že mi je z toho zle, a celá táto integrácia a všetko ostatné a segregácia. Ó, milosrdenstvo! Všetok tento nezmysel, keď príchod Pánov je tak blízko, niečo nerobí správny úder. Obávam sa, že ten dirigent dostal... Tí dirigenti sa dostali preč od Ducha Skladateľa.
172Keď dostaneme toho Ducha Skladateľa, tú originálnu moc Božiu, o ktorej Biblia hovorí, „Mužovia dávneho veku boli vedení Duchom Svätým, aby napísali túto Bibliu,“ potom uvidíte, ako sa tie dva čínske kúsky papiera spoja dokopy, presne tak, ako sa spojí dokopy Božia Biblia a veriaci, pretože sú obaja v jednom Duchu. Obaja sú to isté. Oni spolu zapadajú rovno do seba. To, čo dnes potrebujeme, sú dirigenti, to je pravda, naspäť do Slova, naspäť a veriť tomu tak, ako je to povedané. Potom vidíte samotného Boha. To je to odhalenie. Dráma sa stala skutočnou.
173Dnes hovoria, „No, On je historickým Bohom. Vieme, že prekročil Červené more. On toto všetko urobil. A On bol v ohnivej peci s hebrejskými deťmi.“ Na čo je dobrý Boh histórie, ak nie je ten istý dnes? Človek stále oslavuje Boha za to, čo urobil, myslí na to, čo urobí, a ignoruje to, čo On robí. To je jednoducho v človeku, že to takto robí. A dnes to je to isté, moji bratia. Je to úplne to isté. Ó!
174Navráťme sa a hrajme tú symfóniu správne, kde to môžu vidieť aj oni zo sveta. Ježiš povedal, „Ak budem vyzdvihnutý z tejto zeme, pritiahnem ku Sebe všetkých ľudí.“ A „On je Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky.“
175Nech sa tí dirigenti dostanú do správneho Ducha, s hudobníkmi a so Skladateľom, potom bude všetko v poriadku. Potom o tom nemáme žiadne dohady, potom sme s Ním zidentifikovaní. Židom 13:8 hovorí, „On je Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky.“
176Sme s Ním stotožnení v Skutkoch 2. Sme s nimi stotožnení, s tým istým krstom, s rovnakou vecou. Všetko, čím bol vtedy, a všetko, čím On je, všetko, čím On bol, a všetko, čím On je, my sme. Presne tak.
177Práve tak, ako keby som chcel byť skutočným Američanom, musím byť stotožnený so všetkým, čím [Amerika] bola, so všetkým, čím ona je. Ak som skutočný Američan, potom s tým musím byť stotožnený.
178Ak som skutočný Američan, potom som pristál na Plymouth Rock. Amen. Ak som Američan, potom som to urobil. Tak isto aj ty; pristál si na Plymouth Rock s pútnickými otcami. Na Plymouth Rock, keď tam pristáli, bol som s nimi; tak ste boli aj vy všetci.
179Išiel som s Paulom Revereom, rovno dole na ceste, aby som varoval o každom nebezpečenstve. To je presne tak.
180Rovno tu dolu vo Valley Forge som prešiel cez ľadový Delaware s hromadou vojakov, z ktorých polovica nemala na sebe topánky. Celú noc som sa modlil s Georgom Washingtonom. Prešiel som cez Delaware s videním vo svojom srdci. Sme Američania. Tak veru. Vo Valley Forge, isteže som tam bol.
181Vzdával som vďaku s tými pôvodnými otcami vďakyvzdania. Vzdával som vďaku Bohu. Ak som skutočný Američan, bol som identifikovaný tam pri tom stole.
182Ak som skutočný Američan, bol som identifikovaný, keď som tam stál so Stonewallom Jacksonom.
183Ak som skutočný Američan, bol som identifikovaný na Bostonskom čajovom večierku, tak veru, keď sme odmietli mať cez oči natiahnuté tie veci. ['Bostonský čajový večierok' - určitý protest z roku 1773. - pozn.prekl.] No, ja som taký ako skutočná Amerika. Bol som tam s tým stotožnený. Tak veru. Ó!
184Dňa 4. júla v roku 1776 som zazvonil na ten zvon slobody. Zazvonil som tu na zvon slobody a vyhlásil, že sme nezávislí. Aby som bol skutočným Američanom - tak som to musel urobiť.
185Bol som zidentifikovaný s jej hanbou v tej revolúcii, keď proti sebe bojovali bratia. Musím niesť jej hanbu, tak isto, ako musím niesť jej slávu. Ak som Američan, potom taký musím byť. Bol som s ňou zidentifikovaný. Tak veru.
186Bol som identifikovaný tam dolu v Gettysburgu, keď Lincoln predniesol svoju reč. Tak veru.
187Stál som na ostrove Wake nad krvavým telom tých vojakov. Stál som na ostrove Wake.
Na Guame som pomohol vyvesiť tú vlajku.
188Som skutočný Američan. Amen. Som všetkým, čím je Ona, a som na to hrdý. Áno, skutočne. Všetko, čím bola Amerika, všetko, čím je, ak som Američan, tak stále tým som. Všetko, čím Ona bola, musím tým byť, pretože som s ňou stotožnený.
189Keď je niekto skutočným Kresťanom, to je tá istá vec, musíš s tým byť stotožnený.
190Kázal som s Mojžišom a var-... alebo s Noem a varoval som ľudí pred prichádzajúcim súdom; ak som skutočným Kresťanom.
191Bol som s Mojžišom pri horiacom kríku. Videl som ten Ohnivý Stĺp. Videl som Jeho Slávu. Bol som s Mojžišom tam na púšti, ak som Kresťanom. Aby som bol Kresťanom, tak musím byť stotožnený so všetkým, čím bol Boh. Videl som Jeho Slávu. Počul som Jeho Hlas. Nesnažte sa mi to teraz nejakým vysvetľovaním vyhovoriť, lebo ja som tam bol. Viem, o čom hovorím. Videl som, čo sa stalo. Tak veru.
192Bol som pri Červenom mori, keď som videl Ducha Božieho, ako zostúpil dolu a oddelil vodu na jednu stranu; nebolo to cez hromadu trstiny, ako sa to dnes snažia povedať, ale cez okolo 90 stôp mora. Videl som Ducha Božieho. Kráčal som s Mojžišom cez tú vysušenú zem, cez Červené more.
193Stál som pri hore Sinaj a videl som padať hromy a blesky. Jedol som tam s nimi mannu. Pil som z tej Skaly. Dnes večer to stále robím. Bol som stotožnený s tými, ktorí jedli mannu. Bol som stotožnený s tými, ktorí pili z tej Skaly.
194Bol som tiež identifikovaný, keď Jozue zatrúbil na trúbu a spadli múry Jericha.
Bol som s Danielom v jame levov.
Bol som s tými hebrejskými mládencami v ohnivej peci.
Bol som na hore... s Eliášom na hore Karmel.
195Bol som s Jánom Krstiteľom a pred tými kritikmi. Videl som zostupovať Ducha Božieho. Počul som Hlas Boží, ako povedal, „Toto je Môj milovaný Syn, v ktorom sa Mi zaľúbilo prebývať.“ Tak veru. Istotne som s ním zostal zidentifikovaný. To je presne tak.
196Bol som tam zidentifikovaný pri hrobe Lazára, keď On vzkriesil Lazára. Bol som tam zidentifikovaný, pri tej žene pri studni, keď jej On povedal jej hriechy. Tak veru.
197Istotne som bol stotožnený s Ním v Jeho smrti. A bol som zidentifikovaný na prvú Veľkú noc. Vstal som s Ním zo smrti. Stotožnil som sa s Ním v Jeho smrti.
198Bol som s tými stodvadsiatimi v hornej dvorane. Bol som tam s nimi zidentifikovaný. Áno! Cítim sa nábožne. Ó! Bol som tam zidentifikovaný. Ja som jeden z nich. Bol som stotožnený. Mám rovnaké prežitie, ako mali oni. Aby som bol skutočným Kresťanom, tak som tam bol, keď sa to stalo. Bol som svedkom príchodu mocného rútiaceho sa Vetra. Bol som toho svedkom. Cítil som moc Božiu, ako sa to otriaslo. Bol som s tými, ktorí hovorili v jazykoch. Cítil som, ako tam vchádza Pomazanie. Bol som s nimi. Bol som s nimi stotožnený, keď Duch Svätý začal pri nich hovoriť v jazykoch.
199Bol som s Petrom pred kritikmi v Skutkoch 2, keď kázal to veľké kázanie, ktoré tam mal. Bol som s ním stotožnený. Tak veru.
200V Skutkoch 4, keď sa zhromaždili spolu, bol som tam s nimi, keď sa otriasla tá budova. Po tom modlitebnom zhromaždení sa zatriasla tá budova, v ktorej sedeli. Bol som tam s nimi identifikovaný.
Kázal som s Pavlom na Marsovom vrchu. Tak veru.
201Bol som s Jánom na ostrove Patmos a videl som Jeho druhý príchod.
Bol som s Lutherom pri reformácii.
202Bol som s Wesleym, tým drevom, ktoré bolo vychvátené z plameňov; bol vytrhnutý z ohňa, keď tam nastala tá veľká vzbura proti anglikánskej cirkvi. Bol som tam s ním.
203A dnes večer v roku 1964 som tu vo Filadelfii v Pensylvánii, som stotožnený s rovnakým druhom skupiny, s rovnakým druhom prežitia. Aby som bol Kresťanom, tak musím taký byť. Musím zostať zidentifikovaný tam, kde sa manifestuje Slovo Božie. Som stotožnený so skupinou, ktorá cíti Ducha Božieho.
204Som stotožnený so skupinou, ktorá vie, že On je odhalený; ktorá vie, že On je Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky; ktorá vie, že Toto nie je fanatizmus. „Je to Ježiš Kristus, Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky.“ Som dnes večer stotožnený s tou skupinou. A jednako sú nazývaní bandou heretikov, bandou fanatizmu kvôli Slovu Božiemu. Ale, „Nehanbím sa za Evanjelium Ježiša Krista, lebo ono je mocou Božou ku spaseniu,“ a to som ja. Som s tými živými Epištolami, o ktorých som hovoril, ktoré sú potvrdené, Boh zaclonený v ľudskej forme, v mužoch a ženách. Ó!
205Boh je znovu vo Svojom en morphe, odhalil Samého Seba a dal sa poznať Svojmu ľudu. Ten veľký Kráľ, ktorý odložil nabok Svoju Slávu. „Ešte malú chvíľu a svet Ma viac neuvidí. Budem pred nimi zaclonený. Ale vy Ma jednako uvidíte, lebo budem s vami, dokonca vo vás, až do konca; premieňanie od Luthera ku Wesleymu, ďalej a ďalej, od Slávy do Slávy. Ja som stále Ten istý Boh, ktorý žil, a vraciam sa do tej originálnej Slávy.“ Haleluja!
206On zlámal každú denominačnú oponu, každú zvukovú bariéru. Ten zvuk, ktorý hovorí, „Ó, to je fanatizmus,“ On sa rovno cez to prelomil. Ten zvuk, ktorý odtiaľ vyšiel a povedal, „Ó, tí ľudia sú blázniví,“ On sa prelomil rovno cez tú oponu. Áno, On to urobil. „Ó, vy to nedokážete. Nie ste nič iné ako banda fanatikov.“ On sa cez to prelomil. „Nie je nič také ako Božské uzdravenie.“ On sa cez to prelomil, ó, lebo Jeho Slovo povedalo, že to urobí. Nemôžete premôcť Slovo Božie.
207A dnes večer tam stojí ten mocný Premožiteľ, pretože zlámal každú metodistickú, baptistickú, presbyteriánsku a každú inú oponu. On dnes večer stále stojí medzi Svojím ľudom a nie je premožený tradíciami. Nech si ľudia hovoria, čo chcú, robia si, čo chcú, čokoľvek chcú. Boh prichádza, preráža rovno cez tú zvukovú bariéru.
208A pamätajte, oni mi povedali, že keď lietadlo skutočne prekoná tú zvukovú bariéru, jeho rýchlosť potom nie je nijako obmedzená.
209Hovorím vám, keď prelomíte tú tradičnú bariéru, že „Ježiš je tam v minulosti a teraz tu nie je,“ keď zistíte, že On je ten istý včera, dnes i naveky, potom neexistuje žiadne obmedzenie v tom, čo Boh môže urobiť rovno tu na tomto zhromaždení, a ukáže tomuto svetu to, čo potrebujú: nie svetovú výstavu, ale svetové prebudenie, ktoré bude naplnené a pokrstené prítomnosťou živého Boha, en morphe, ktorý zahalí Samého Seba v ľudskom tele. Haleluja! Verím tomu.
210Zlomil každú bariéru, každú oponu, každú oponu! Nič nemohlo ukryť Jeho prítomnosť. Keď ľudia vyhladnú v srdci, je tam opona, ktorá je pripravená, aby zostala zlomená. Môžete sa na to jednoducho spoľahnúť. Roztrhni každú oponu skrze Jeho veľkého Ducha Svätého!
211A tu dnes večer stojí ten mocný Premožiteľ, Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky; uzdravuje chorých, krstí veriacich, tak, ako to vždy robil. On je mocný Premožiteľ. Odsúdení diabli sú na úteku. Tak veru. Keď je On nablízku, oni sú vždy na úteku.
212Na záver by som mohol povedať toto. Bol tam... Pred mnohými rokmi som čítal taký príbeh o jednom starom huslistovi. On mal nejaké staré husle, ktoré išli predať. Mnohokrát ste počuli ten príbeh. A oni to chceli predať za určitú cenu. A ten dražobník povedal, „Kto mi dá toľko-a-toľko?“ Myslím, že mu bolo ponúknutých zopár mincí, možno päťdesiat centov alebo tak nejako. „Po prvé, po druhé,...“
213Hneď na to sa tam vzadu postavil jeden muž. On povedal, „Len chvíľu.“ A prišiel tam hore a zobral ich. Predstavme si, že zahral toto:
Tam je Prameň naplnený Krvou,
ktorá vytiekla zo žíl Emanuela;
Keď sa hriešnici ponorili pod ten prúd,
stratili všetky škvrny svojich vín.
214Potom, keď ich položil, na tom mieste nebolo suchého oka. Potom povedal, „Kto ponúkne?“
215Jeden povedal, „Päťtisíc. Desaťtisíc.“ Bolo to na nezaplatenie. Prečo? Ten starý majster huslista zjavil ich skutočnú kvalitu.
216Ó, brat, sestra, teraz nech Majster tohoto Slova, ktorý To napísal, ten veľký Duch Svätý, nech natrie Svoj sláčik láskou a potiahne ním cez tvoje srdce.
Tam je Prameň naplnený Krvou,
ktorá vytiekla zo žíl Emanuela;
217Uvidíš plnú hodnotu a uvidíš toho odhaleného Boha, ako je jasne viditeľný; že, On je práve taký istý, aký bol, keď padol na ľudí v deň Letníc, keď 'kenósoval' Samého Seba, vyprázdnil rovno do toho. To je pravda.
218Poviete, „Brat Branham, snažil som sa. Snažil som sa. Urobil som toto a tamto.“
219Jedného dňa som mal zhromaždenie v Carlsbad v Novom Mexiku. A išli sme dolu do toho veľkého brlohu netopierov. A vyzeralo to trochu strašidelne a dostali sme sa tam dolu. A ten muž, keď sa dostal dolu na to miesto, on vypol svetlá. Ó, viete si predstaviť, aká tam bola tma. Je to len... Taká tma, že ste ju mohli nahmatať.
220A v týchto časoch sa to dostáva rovno do toho, keď vidíme cirkev, ktorá nedokáže rozpoznať Božie Slovo; keď vidíte naše dcéry Siona robiť to, čo robia; keď vidíte našich bratov, ktorí fajčia a pijú a hovoria špinavé vtipy a také veci a stále sa snažia držať svoje vyznanie v Kristovi. Ó, je tma. Je hlboká tma.
221Vidíme znamenie Jeho príchodu. Tam bude... Tesne pred svitaním, vtedy je vždy najtemnejšie. Potom vyjde Ranná Hviezda, aby privítala deň, predzvestovala ho a ukázala, že to prichádza. Všimnite si.
222Tam vo vnútri, keď to vypli, bolo tam malé dievčatko, ktoré vykríklo tak hlasno, ako len mohlo. Tam pri sprievodcovi stál jeden malý chlapec a videl toho sprievodcu, keď takto zhasol tie svetlá. A tá malá sestra skoro dostala záchvat. Kričala, skákala hore a dolu. „Ó! Čo sa teraz stane? Čo sa deje? Čo sa deje?“
223Vieš, čo zakričal? Povedal, „Neboj sa, sestrička. Je tu muž, ktorý môže rozsvietiť svetlá.“
224Počúvaj, malá sestra, môžeš si myslieť, že sme malí a v menšine. Ale neboj sa. Je tu Muž, ktorý môže rozsvietiť Svetlá. To je Duch Svätý. Veríš tomu? [Zhromaždenie hovorí, „Amen.“ - pozn.prekl.]
225Skloňme na chvíľu svoje hlavy. Je mi ľúto, že som vás toľko zdržal.
226Ó, veľký Bože neba, ktorý odhaľuješ Samého Seba, odkrývaš sa, dávaš sa poznať, ten veľký Kráľ slávy, vezmi dnes večer tieto malé ilustrácie a nech padnú dolu na srdcia ľudí. A nech vidíme Toho odhaleného, Toho, ktorý zostúpil a roztrhol chrámovú oponu; a potom vyšiel rovno z tej opony; na deň Letníc znovu zostúpil rovno do ľudských opôn; vždy to bolo to isté, premieňalo sa to od Slávy do Slávy.
227A teraz sme rovno naspäť, ako to odohráva celá príroda, rovno naspäť do originálneho Semena, rovno z jedného cirkevného veku do druhého. A tu v tomto poslednom veku, tu sme my, rovno naspäť k tej originálnej Veci, ktorá padla na deň Letníc, aby sme vyplnili každé Písmo, „Svetlo vo večernom čase,“ a, „Skutky, ktoré Ja činím, vy tiež budete činiť,“ a toľko mnoho vecí, ktoré si zasľúbil vo Svojom Slove.
228Otče, ak je tu niekto, kto ešte neprenikol cez tú oponu, alebo ak je tu niekto, kto len napodobňoval niekoho, kto prešiel cez tú oponu, daj im dnes večer milosť, Otče. Nech vidia toho mocného Víťaza, ktorý tu stojí, plný milosti a moci, aby odpustil. Udeľ to, Otče.
229A keď sú naše hlavy sklonené, boli by tu nejakí ľudia? Koľko ich je, povedal by som, ktorí by povedali, „Brat Branham, dvíham svoju ruku. Modli sa za mňa“? Len majte sklonenú hlavu a zodvihnite ruku, „Chcem sa prelomiť cez každú oponu, až kým skutočne neuvidím Premožiteľa.“ Nech vás Boh žehná. Ó, ruky! Hore na balkónoch, tam napravo? Nech vás Boh žehná. Tam vzadu na balkónoch? Zodvihnite... Nech vás Boh žehná. Buďte skutočne úprimní. Naľavo? Zodvihnite ruku a povedzte, „Brat Branham, mohol som byť kresťanom už roky, ale v skutočnosti som nikdy neprešiel cez tú oponu. Skutočne som to nikdy neurobil. Nemám to, čo mali vtedy oni.“ Dnes máme... „Ja som rastlina z pareniska.“
230Vezmite kvet, ktorý je pestovaný na parenisku, musíte ho hýčkať, čičíkať, postrekovať, polievať. Ale tá originálna rastlina, ktorá vyrastá tam na púšti, ten istý druh kvetu, vyzerá ako on; nedostáva ani trochu vody, ale nedostanú sa naň žiadne chrobáky. On je drsný; je skutočný.
231Mohli by ste porovnať dnešné kresťanstvo s Kresťanstvom, ktoré bolo vtedy? Viete si predstaviť, že táto skupina, ktorú dnes po celom svete nazývame kresťanmi, je taká, aká bola po Letniciach; hýčkaní a čičíkaní z jedného zboru do druhého, a keď je povedané niečo, čo sa vám nepáči, vstanete a odídete preč? Ó, viete si to predstaviť? Nie. Čo sa deje? Je to reprodukcia.
232Michelangelo, ktorý vytvoril pomník Mojžiša, môžete si veľmi lacno zaobstarať jeho reprodukciu. Ale ten originál?
233Ten, kto namaľoval večeru Pánovu, myslím, že tá originálna maľba by vyšla na milióny dolárov, ak by ste si ju vôbec mohli kúpiť. Ja ani neviem, kde to je. Ale môžete si kúpiť jej lacnú kópiu za asi dolár a 98 centov. Môžete.
234A tak je to dnes. Lacný kresťan, nejaká kópia, len niekto, kto sa pripojí do zboru, môžete si ich kúpiť za cigaretu alebo za nejaký obyčajný drink. Alebo, čo sa týka žien s ostrihanými vlasmi alebo namaľovanými perami, môžete si ju kúpiť za čokoľvek z tejto svetskej módy. Ale to sa nedá porovnať s tým pravým.
235Vidím Ho jasne viditeľného, Toho istého včera, dnes i naveky.
236Ó, kresťan, nechceš byť skutočným Kresťanom? Ak niekto nezodvihol ruku, urobíš to? No, idem sa modliť. Nech ťa Boh žehná. Nech ťa Boh žehná. Ó, to je v poriadku. Len sa na to pozrite.
237Náš Nebeský Otče, Tvoje Slovo sa k Tebe nenavráti prázdne. Ty si bol Ten, ktorý dal zasľúbenie. Som zodpovedný len za to, že som povedal, že Ty si to povedal. Len opakujem Tvoje Slová. Povedal si, „Ten, kto počúva Moje Slovo a verí v Toho, ktorý Ma poslal, má Večný Život.“ Zasľúbil si to.
238A, Pane, vieme, že dnes máme tie kópie, mnohí, ktorí hovoria, že veria, a pritom neveria. To sa ukazuje. Ale, Pane, existuje aj to pravé.
239Modlím sa, aby si tu dnes večer dal, aby každý muž a žena, chlapec alebo dievča, bez ohľadu na to, z akého sú národa, akej sú farby, do akej cirkvi patria, ó, Bože, naplň ich. Nech vidia ten skutočný prejav toho istého Ježiša dnes, rovno medzi nami, ako bol na deň Letníc, keď sa zjavil pre tento vek ako Duch Svätý. Udeľ to, keď vidíme, ako sa Slová napĺňajú, proroctvá sa plnili!
240Porovnávame dnes to, čo sa nazýva cirkev sveta, svetová rada cirkví, a porovnať to so zasľúbením na Letnice? Neexistuje vôbec žiadne porovnanie. Nemôžeme za ten lístok obdržať naše vyprané špinavé oblečenie.
241Ale, Pane Bože, ak sa vrátime k tomu Prameňu, tam je očistný proces, potom naše prežitie a Božie Slovo budú spolu pasovať. Potom si môžeme nárokovať svoj majetok. Udeľ to, Pane, dnes večer, keď zverujem týchto ľudí do Tvojich rúk. Daj každému to, čo potrebujeme, Otče. Prosíme v Ježišovom Mene. Amen.
242Nech vás Boh žehná. Ďakujem vám veľmi pekne, že ste stáli a dlho vydržali. A je mi ľúto, že som vás držal do 22:10. Nech je Boh s vami, kým vás ráno neuvidím. Odovzdávam teraz službu, predpokladám, vedúcemu slávnosti.
1 Have a few Scriptures written down, that I'd like to speak to you from, and I trust that God will bless our feeble efforts.
2Now, many people has wondered why we are so odd and so noisy. You know, this is kind of a different type of--of a convention than what people are--are used to seeing. And, usually, everything is kind of a cut-and-dried form. But when we come to these conventions, which has been my privilege now for several years since they were first started, and we don't hardly know what we're going to do. We just come and surrender ourselves. That's the only thing that we know to do. And God does the rest of it. So that makes us a very peculiar-acting people.
3Other day, someone said, "You know, you people are really an oddball."
I said, "Well, I--I suppose we are."
4 And I remember of one of the conventions. Brother Troy was telling me one time of a little German that said he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And the next day, in the shop where he was working, he would raise his hands and praise the Lord, and speak in tongues and just carry on, awful. And finally, the boss came by and said, "Heini, what's the matter with you?"
5He said, "Oh, I got saved." He said, "My heart is just overflowing with joy."
6He said, "Well, you must have been down with that bunch of nuts down there."
7He said, "Yes. Glory to God!" Said, "Thank the Lord for the nuts." He said--he said, "You take the automobile, come down the road." Said, "You take all the nuts out of it, you haven't got nothing but a bunch of 'yunk.'" And that's just... It's just about right, you know.
8 One day, in California, I was going down the streets of Los Angeles, and I seen a man had a sign on his breast, and here. And he said, "I am a fool for Christ." And everybody was looking at him. And I noticed them turning around and looking, after he passed by. And I thought I would follow with the rest of them. And on the... his back, he said, "Whose fool are you?" Yeah. I suppose we're all kind of odd, one to the other, you know.
9But, you know, the world gets in such a rut, till something different makes it so odd, till the people does think that it's some something is wrong. And usually God has to do something so unusual, to get the people back to the Bible again.
10 I can imagine that Noah was kind of a--a nut, to that scientific age that he lived in, because they could prove there was no water in the skies. But God said there would be some there. So, Noah, preaching and believing that, he become a nut.
11And I'd imagine that when Moses went down in Egypt, he was kind of a--a nut, to Pharaoh. But remember, Pharaoh was a nut, to him, too. So they... We realize that.
12 Even Jesus was considered a heretic. That's right. Martin Luther was a nut, to the Catholic church. And John Wesley was a nut, to the Anglican. So, you know, it's--it's about time for another nut. Don't you think so? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] But, before there could be a nut, you know, there has to be a bolt, first, to thread to it.
13So, you know, Noah, being a nut, he... Takes the nut, it pulls the bolt, pulls something together, and holds something together. So, Noah was able to pull all that would believe, into the ark, out of the judgments, by being a nut.
14We find out, that, Moses pulled the church out of Egypt, by being a nut. That's right.
15 I think we need a nut now, to pull the Bride out of the church. We need something now, another one, so we are a very odd sort of people. And I thought, tonight, if the Lord was willing, I would try to read some Scriptures pertaining to this, and would speak to you just a few moments, and try to show you why we are such an odd people.
16Let us turn in the Scriptures now, to Philippians the 2nd chapter, 1-8, and Second Corinthians 3:6. And let us read, as we believe God's Word.
17And now, just before we read, let us bow our heads for prayer.
18 Gracious Heavenly Father, we are indeed a privileged people, tonight, to be living in this age, and to see the things that we see going on, and to know that the time is close at hand, when Jesus will come for His Church. Oh, that thrills our hearts, Lord! And as we pull back the pages, tonight, we pray that You'll give us a context out of this text. And may the Holy Spirit reveal to our hearts the things that would be good and pleasing to God. For we ask it in Jesus' Name. Amen.
19 You know, believe I'll ask you to do something. I--I usually ask some strange things, and I hope I'm not asking anything too strange. But when we pledge allegiance to the flag, we all stand. And--and the flag passes by, we stand; which, we should. And we stand, to salute. Let's just stand to our feet while we read the Word, if you will, Second Corinthians 3:6.
Who... has made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
But if--but if the ministration of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, such more does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reasons of the glory that excelleth.
For if that which is done away was glorious, how... or much more that which remaineth is glorious.
Seeing then that we have such a hope, we use great plainness of speech.
And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which was abolished:
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
Nevertheless when it shall be turned to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Not...
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
But we all, with open faces behold as in a glass the glory of the Lord, the changing unto the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
20 And in Philippians 2, we read this, beginning with the 1st, and reading to the 8th verse.
If--if there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love,... any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels of mercy,
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being in one accord, and one mind.
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on... things of others.
Let this mind be in you, which also was in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made of himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.
21 Let us pray.
22Heavenly Father, this great Word that has been read, tonight, from Thy Holy Writ, make It so real to our hearts, that we will go from here like those going from Emmaus, saying, "Did not our hearts burn within us as He talked to us along the road?" For we ask it in Jesus' Name. Amen.
You may be seated.
23 Now, this is a very odd text, but I think it's very suiting for the occasion. I wanted to speak on the subject of: The Mighty God Unveiled Before Us.
24Now, since there has been man, there has been a hunger in man's heart, to find out: where he came from; and what's his reason of being here; and where he's going. There's only One can answer that, that's the One Who brought him here. And man has always wanted to see God.
25 Back in the Old Testament, we find out that God veiled Himself from unbelievers. God has a very odd way of dealing with people. He hides Himself from the unbeliever and reveals Himself to the believer. God does that. Jesus thanked the Father, that, "He had hid these things from the wise and prudent, and would reveal It to babes such as would learn." So, we find that God never changes, in His nature, and He's always doing His work the same. We find out, in Malachi 3, that He said, "I am God, and I change not." So, He works in the same principle, all the time.
26 Now we take one of the oldest books of the Bible. When Job, one of the most righteous men of his day, a perfect man in the laws of God, a servant, noble, honorable servant, even till God said, "There is none like him, in the earth." But... his desire, one time, to see God. He knowed that there was a God, and he felt that he would like to see Him, or, otherwise, go to His house and knock on the door, and say, "I'd like to speak with You." Set down, talk with Him, like we would with each other.
27We have an understanding. That's why we're in these conventions, where we come together and--and express our thoughts. And--and we understand one another, better, when we talk things over with each other. And ministers do that. People of all walks of life do it, talk things over.
28 And, Job, God was so real to him, he wanted to find out if he couldn't go, knock at His door, and--and have an--an interview with Him.
29But we find out that God did speak to him, but He was veiled. He was veiled in a form of a whirlwind. And He told Job to gird up his loins; He was going to speak to him, like a man. And He came down in a whirlwind and--and spoke to Job. And He was made known to Job through the whirlwind, yet he did not exactly see Him. He could just hear the wind blowing and turning around, in the trees. And the Voice came out of the whirlwind, but God was veiled in the whirlwind.
30 We find, down in Africa, South Africa, they use the word amoyah, which means, "an unseen force."
31And this unseen Force, in the whirlwind, had an audible Voice. It spoke out to Job, yet he never seen His form. But He was veiled, to him, by the whirlwind.
32We find one of the great prophets of the Bible, Moses, of the Old Testament, one of God's chosen, selected, predestined servants, he also desired to see Him. He had been so close to Him, and had seen so many things of His great mystic hand going before him and doing things that only God could do. He desired to see Him one day, and God told him, "Go, stand on the rock."
33And while standing on the rock, Moses seen Him pass. He saw the back of Him. And he said, "It looked like a man, a man's back." Yet, he did not see God. He only seen the veil of God.
34 The Bible said, "No man has seen God at any time, but the only Begotten of the Father has declared Him." So, Moses saw Him, veiled, as a Man. We find that Jehovah of the Old Testament was just Jesus of the New Testament.
35And--and Dr. Scofield here, we find that, his word, changing from "form." We find the word en morphe, in Greek, which means "the unseen was made visible." Something that cannot... We know it's there. It can be... cannot be seen, but yet we know that it's there. And when He changed His form, of the en morphe, which mean that He changed from supernatural to natural.
36And He just changed His mask, in otherwise. It's like a drama. He was acting. And in the Greek, when they would change their mask, maybe one play, one player might have acted in several different parts.
37And my daughter, present here, they just had at the high school, a--a drama. And the one boy that I know, played about four parts, but he would go behind the stage and change his--his mask, in order to come out, to impersonate another character.
38 Now, if you will take the Old Testament prophesies concerning what the Messiah was to be, you can compare it with the life of Jesus, and you've got it exactly who Jesus was. He was not just an ordinary man. He was God, en morphe. He was changed from--from the supernatural into the natural form of a Man. Yet, He was God, manifested in the flesh, veiled by a human, fleshly veil.
And you watch the Old Testament.
39I--I--I know that I'm speaking to a mixed-up audience, tonight, from different parts of the world. And we are here to find out. What are we--what are we doing? What--what are we? Where we getting to? What's happening? What does all this mean?
40 And now we find, in here, that, if you Jewish men and women, and the rabbis in--in--in the temple, in the days gone by, if they had watched the Bible, the prophecies, instead of the traditions, they would have recognized who Jesus was. They would have never called Him Beelzebub. They would have never crucified Him. But, it all had to act out. That's part of the drama. And they were blinded, on this case.
41 It's like many you men, women, here tonight, may be my age or little older. You remember, here in America, years ago, before... The Chinese... My brother, that just introduced here, that come on my mind when I was talking to him. How that they used to... They couldn't speak English, and they--they run the laundry. And you go to his laundry, to get your laundry done. The--the Chinese laundry men would take a tag, and would tear it in a certain way. You take one part of the tag; he'd take the other part. But when you come back to claim your belongings, those two pieces of paper had to dovetail. And if they didn't dovetail just exactly right... You couldn't impersonate it in any way, 'cause he had one piece and you had the other. And if it impersonated... Then you had a right to claim what was yours. And then you've got what belonged to you, when you possess the other part of the contract.
42So is it, tonight, when we got the other part of the contract. When, God tore His Son in two, at Calvary, taking the body up for a Sacrifice, and sent the Spirit down to us, that once lived in a Man, Jesus. That same God is in veil tonight, in the form of the Holy Ghost. Those two pieces has to come together, then you're part of the contract. God did this, to be better known to man, when He made Hisself Man.
43 I was reading a story, some years ago. And in this story, it said a great, noble king... I forget the name of him, just now. I wasn't thinking about speaking of the story. It, perhaps fiction, but it leads us to a point that gives us a background on what we want to say. This king, he was such a noble king, and such a great lover of his subjects, till, one day, before his--his guard and his royalty, he said, "Today, you see me for your last time, for many years."
44And his guard and his nobles said to him, "Good king, why do you say that? Are you going to a foreign country, somewhere, and become an alien?"
45He said, "No. I'm staying right here. Well," said, "I'm going out amongst my subjects. I'm going to become a peasant. I'm going to cut wood with the wood chopper. I'm going to--to till the ground with the toiler. I am going to prune the vines with those who prune the vines. I'm going to be one of them, in order to get a better acquainted with what they are doing. And I love them. And I want to be more acquainted with them, personally. They won't know me. But, yet, I want to be acquainted with them, in that way."
46 And the next morning, when his delegates, all of his people seen him, or the ones was in the palace, take off his crown and lay it down upon the seat, the throne; and take his robe off, and put on peasant's clothes, walk out amongst common people.
Now, in that little story, we find out then about God.
47They said to the king, said, "King, we want you. We love you. We--we want you to remain king." But he wanted become one of them, to know them better, that they would know him better, really what he was. It would display to them what he really was.
48 And that's what God did. He--He changed Himself, from being Jehovah God, to become one of us, that He might suffer, He might taste death, He might know what the sting of death was, and take the penalty of death upon Himself. He laid aside His--His crown and His robe, and became one of us. He washed feet with the--with the--the lowly. He dwelt in the tents, with the poor. He slept in the--the woods and in the streets, with those who were underprivileged. He become one of us, that He might understand us better, and that we might understand Him better.
49 Now, I think, in that, we find out, the changing, Himself, what He did. If you'll notice, He came in the name of three sons. He came in the name of the Son of man, and in the Son of God, and the Son of David. He came as Son of man.
50Now, in Ezekiel 2:3, Jehovah, Himself, called Ezekiel, the prophet, "the son of man."
51Son of man means "a prophet." He had to come that way, to fulfill Deuteronomy 18:15, which Moses said, "The Lord your God shall raise up among you a prophet likened unto me." He never called Himself the Son of God. He referred to Himself, "the Son of man," because He had to come according to the Scripture. See? He had to make those two pieces of torn paper, the Old Testament prophecy and His Own character, to be exactly the same. So, He come, the Son of man, come in that form.
52 Then we find, after His death, burial, and resurrection, He came on the Day of Pentecost, as Son of God; God, the Spirit, in the form, Holy Ghost. What was He doing? He was changing Himself, making Himself known to His people in a different form. Like, the Holy Spirit, which is God, He came to deal through the church ages, as Son of God, the Holy Spirit.
53But, in the Millennium, He comes as Son of David, to set on the throne of David, King. He was to take the throne of David. He is on the Father's throne now. And then He said, "He that overcometh shall set with Me on My throne, as I've overcome and set on My Father's throne." So, He, in the Millennium, He'll be Son of David. What is it? The same God, all the time, just changing His--His mask.
I am, to my wife, a husband.
54 Did you notice? The Syrophenician woman said, "Thou Son of David, have mercy." He, never even bothered Him, at all. She had no rights to call Him that. She had no claims on Him as Son of David. He--He is the Son of David, to the Jew. And now He come... But when she called Him, "Lord," He was her Lord, then she got what she asked for.
Now, as, He is just changing Himself.
55 Now, in my home, I'm three different people. In my home, my wife has claims on me as husband. My daughter out there, she doesn't have any claims on me as husband; I am her father. And my little grandson there, I'm grandfather to him, so he has no right to call me father. I'm not his father. My son is his father. I am his grandfather. But I'm still the same man.
56And God, what He does, He just changes Himself, to become to that generation, to make known Himself to that people. And that's what we're here to find out, tonight. In what way is God supposed to make Hisself known to this people and in this time? He changes His mask, He changes His act, but He doesn't change His disposition. He doesn't change His--His nature. He just changes His mask, from one to another. He does it, to reveal Himself more plain to the people, that they might know who He is, and what He is.
57 In Hebrews 1, we read, "God, in sundry times and divers manners spake to the fathers, through the prophets, but in this last days through His Son, Jesus."
58Now, "The prophets," Jesus said, when He was here on earth, "they were gods. You call those 'gods,' who the Word of God came to. And the Scriptures cannot be broken," He said. Said, "How you can condemn Him then, when He's the Son of God?" See?
59 The Word of God is lotted to each age, what It's to be. And Jesus was the fulfillment of all the prophecies. "In Him dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily." It was in Him. He was the One that was in Joseph. He was the One Who was in Elijah. He was the One Who was in Moses. He was the One Who was in David, a rejected king.
60His own people had rejected him, as king. And as he went out of the--of the courtyard, a little, afflicted fellow crawling around, did not like his--his government, his system, and he spit upon him. And the guard pulled his sword, said, "Will I leave that dog's head on him, spitting on my king?"
61And David, maybe not realizing what he was doing at the time, but he was anointed. And he said, "Let him alone. God has told him to do this." And he climbed up on the hill and wept over Jerusalem, a rejected king.
62Did you notice? A few hundred years from then, the Son of David being spit upon, in the streets, and was on the hill, same mountain, looking down over Jerusalem, a rejected King. And cried, "Jerusalem, how oft would I have hovered you as a hen did her brood, but you would not?"
63 He never changed His nature, 'cause Hebrews 13:8 said, "He's the same yesterday, today, and forever." God was made flesh, in order to die, to redeem us from sin. That's why He changed Himself, to be a--a Man.
64We see, in Saint John 12:20, the Greeks had heard of Him. Now, there's no man can ever hear of Him except their heart burns to see Him. Like Job and the prophets of old, they all wanted to see Him. So, this Greek came to see Him. They came to Philip, which was of Bethsaida, said, "Sir, we would see Jesus."
65 The Greeks wanted to see Him, but they were unable to see Him because He was in the temple of His humanity. "God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself." Now we find that, in this, these Greeks could not see Him.
66And notice the very words that Jesus expressed to them, afterwards. He said, "Except a corn of wheat falls into the ground, dies, it abides alone." In other words, they would never be able to see Him in the change, in the mask that He was in then, because He was veiled in human flesh. But when this corn of Wheat fell into the ground, then It would bring forth all races. He was sent to the Jews, of course, at that time. But this corn of Wheat must fall; veiled God, in human's flesh, hidden from unbelievers, but being revealed to believers.
67 In John 1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld Him, the only Begotten of the Father, full of grace." Now, in the beginning was the Word. A Word is a thought expressed.
68In the beginning, He wasn't even God. Now, our English word today, God, means "an object of worship." How confusing it is to the mind. You can make somebody a god. You can make anything a god.
69But in the Old Testament, in Genesis 1, "In the beginning God," the word is used, Elohim. Elohim means "the self-existing One." What a difference the word Elohim is, to our word God. Elohim means "the self-existing One."
70We cannot be self-existing. We cannot be almighty, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient. That Elohim expresses all of that. We cannot be that. The tree that you make a god out of, or the--or the building, it's not self-existing.
71 So, God, in the beginning, was Life, the Eternal One. In Him was attributes, and those attributes became Words, and the Word became flesh. Jesus was the Redeemer. And to redeem, means, "to bring back." If He has to bring it back, it had to be somewhere to be brought back to. So, you see, all people will never be able to see it, because all people wasn't in the beginning in God's thoughts. See?
72 Look at the priests. When they see Him express Hisself exactly with the Word, what He was, they said, "It's Beelzebub." That showed where their nature was. It was in the modern thought of the day.
73But when the little prostitute, that He met at the gate, and told her, expressed His messianic sign, by telling her what she had done. "Why," she said, "Sir, I perceive that You are a Prophet. We know, the Messiah, when He comes, He will tell us all these things." She was recognizing Him as the Messiah, the anointed One, because He met the Scripture qualifications. Don't you see? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] The two pieces of paper were coming together. She, "We know that, when the Messiah cometh."
74 Now, God might have had to interbred this and that, to get this certain ting of the bell, like the molder. But when Jesus turned, said, "I am He that speaks with you," there was no such an expression as "Beelzebub." She left her water pot, ran into the city, and said, "Come, see a Man Who told me the things that I have done. Isn't This the very Messiah?" See?
75Now, what did this? Putting the old Scripture with the experience that--that Jesus was giving to her, what did it do? It made the Messiah. And did you notice? Quickly, her sins were forgiven, because, at the beginning, she was redeemable, because she was in God's thinking at the beginning. So, it redeemed her, or brought her back, when she seen the expressed Scripture manifested, of Jehovah, what He was, what He is.
76 Now, when Jesus come, if He'd have come with Noah's message, it wouldn't have worked. To build an ark, and float out, it wouldn't have worked. But that Noah was a portion of God. He acted a peculiar way because he was peculiar, and his message was peculiar because it was the Word being made manifest.
77He could not have come with Moses' message, because it wouldn't have worked. Moses was God, in a portion, made manifest. He was the word expressed for that hour, but Jesus could not come in that. The Bible never said He would come in that way.
78But when He come, expressed exactly like the--the Testament had said He would be expressed, then all those who was redeemable believed It, because they were the thoughts of God. The attributes of Him at the beginning was made flesh, and redeemable, and was brought back to God. "As many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become sons of God," because they were redeemable. They were from the beginning, in the expression.
79 If we could stop here a moment, if it would be possible, and think of that, tonight, of the Message of the hour, the expressed thoughts of Jehovah. "Before the foundation of the world," we are told, "our names were put on the Lamb's Book of Life." Then we can see the two sides, as I first said, why one is odd to the other. It must be that way. It was always. It always has been that way, and it always will be that way. "He was the Word. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us."
80 Now, God, in... back in the days of the Old Testament, we find that after He had appeared to His people, in different forms, He veiled Himself behind old badger skins. God hiding behind badger skins, at His mercy seat. We find that, how that Solomon, when he dedicated the temple of the Lord, and these badger skins was hanging there, the veil, how that He came in as the Pillar of Fire and as a Cloud, and went down behind there, and veiled Himself, to the outside world. But, by faith, Israel knew that He was back there. They knew He was there, regardless of what any of the heathen worlds had to say. He was hid from the unbeliever. But the believer, by faith, knew He was back there. They had mercy. And He was at His mercy seat, which was a great secret.
81 You know, in the Old Testament, to enter behind that skin was death. Now to stay from behind it is death. Then to enter into His Glory was death. Now to stay away from His Glory is death. That happened, of course, at the renting of the veil at Calvary, when the veil was rent, the old veil. Now to stay out of His Presence is death. Then to enter His Presence was death. See? It changes back and forth, and you must find the Scripture to see what day we're living in.
82 Now, when the veil was rent at Calvary, the mercy seat came into plain view. (But what happened? It was hanging on Calvary, dripping in Blood.) As they had took blood, year after year, at the cleansing of the sanctuary and the sprinkling of the mercy seat, there, God, with His great mighty stroke of lightning power, split the old badger veil from top to bottom, and the mercy seat came into plain view.
83The real, genuine Lamb of God was hanging in plain view on Calvary, the real Mercy Seat, when God had paid the price, Himself; and become one of us, and had manifested Himself as a Man, to get acquainted with us, and we to be acquainted with Him. The Mercy Seat was in plain view of all Israel on that day of the Atonement.
84 But, alas, the traditions of the church fathers in that day had, by their traditions, had veiled the true Mercy Seat from the people. If they would have knowed the Scripture, each piece would have come like the Chinese tag. The Old Testament prophecy would have been fulfilled, and it was. And if they had been taught the Scripture, they would have seen the Mercy Seat. "As Moses," said here, that, "to this day they're veiled. It's still over their hearts." They don't see It.
85 But, He was God, the suffering and the Atonement. He was the genuine Mercy Seat standing in full view. As we sang the hymn:
Lo, behold Him in plain view.
There He is, the mighty Conqueror,
Since He rent the veil in two.
86See, He came, the Mercy Seat, hanging in clear view of the congregation. But them, being under the popular opinion...
87Now, men and women, and delegates of this convention, I want to say this without respect of person. But, in the view of today, in view of what we're here for today, I'm afraid that the traditions of the fathers, the church fathers, has hid This from too many people. Since the Holy Ghost has come in this last days, as prophesied, and the veil has been rent, too many people try to hang to their traditions of the fathers. And that's why they can't see this extreme joy, and peace, and things that the Church has today. Yet, It's in plain view of those who believe.
He hid the Word, the promised Word of this day.
88 Now, the traditions has made a veil. They say that the days of miracles is passed. A man spoke to me, a fine, cultured gentleman in Tucson, Arizona, where I live. I had a meeting at the Ramada. And we been speaking at the Business Men's Convention where the Lord Jesus had come present and done great things. And this Christian gentleman came to me, and he said... A minister of the church, fine man, and he said, "Brother Branham, you are trying to project to the people an apostolic age," he said, "and when the apostolic age has ceased."
89And I said, "I pray thee, my brother, show me when the apostolic age ceased, in the Scripture." I said, "The apostolic age began on the Day of Pentecost, and it has... Peter said, on the Day of Pentecost, 'The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to them that are far off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.' When did it cease? If God is still calling, then the apostolic age still is in session."
90 And so that is where the people try to blindfold so many people, by their traditions of the elders, as it was then. And you fail to see why that the people are so elated and so enthused. And--and these conventions are such an oddball, such a strange thing, to other people, is because that they see they broke through those barriers. They broke through those veils, into the Presence of God, where they see the manifested promise of this hour made manifest before the people. They see what God promised.
91 In Joel 2:28, He promised, that, "In this last days there would be a latter rain poured out upon the people, in the last days." I think the Greek word there is kenos, which means that He "emptied" Hisself out. Not in the way that we would say, like something was inside of somebody, that He emptied out. But, He poured Himself out.
92He changed; His en morphe. He--He changed, from what He was, to what He is. He never changes His nature. But on the Day of Pentecost, He changed Himself from being the Son of man, to the Son of God. He came, not with the people. He came in the people, see, the same God, to carry His ministry on through, in this great age.
93 He prophesied in the Bible, that, "There would come a day that would not be neither day or night, but in the evening time it should be Light." Now, the sun, geographically, rises in the east and sets in the west. It's the same sun, all the time. Now, when, the Son, S-o-n, revealed Himself in the manifestation of the promised Word, to Israel, the Eastern people.
94We've had a day of gloom. We've had enough light in the reformers, and so forth, to make churches and denominations, and join them and come in; and kiss the babies, and marry the old, and bury the dead, and so forth; and live in the church.
95But, in the evening time, "It shall be Light," He said, "in the evening time." And no Scripture can be broken. And the same S-o-n that poured out Himself, kenos, on the Day of Pentecost, promised to do the same thing in the evening time. See? It's according to the promise.
96Get the tag together. Look what's happening, and look what He promised, then you'll see where we are at. Get the thing together. You can see the unveiling of this great and mighty One. Traditions has blinded the people, again, to these great things that's been prophesied.
97 Moses, when he came forth from the mountain, which was on Fire, how beautiful the illustration!
98Moses had went down to Egypt and told the church fathers that the Lord God had visit him in the Name of "I AM." That Name is present tense; not "I was; will be." But, "I AM," ever the same, the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is present tense. He... That compares with Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever."
99 It's still the prophesied Word. And, the congregation, that was to dovetail with that Word, the experience of this day. The reformers had it, oh, but this is another day. See what day we're living in. Just as He couldn't come, in the days that He came on earth, in the--in the way that Moses came, or any of the prophets came; it wasn't prophesied. And in this last days, it's prophesied to come this way. It can't come in the form of Luther's revival. It can't come in the form of Wesley revival. It's a restoration hour. It's a time that it must come back to the original Son Light, the original.
100Oh, how we could lay the Scriptures in, on that! And you theologians, what part of the world you're from, you know that That's true. It's a promise. That's what makes the people so odd. That's what makes the oddballs, that you call them. It's because that they... it's... The veil has been opened, from the traditions, and they see It. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. See? It's the--it's the promise of God, and we cannot go against that, 'cause the Scriptures cannot be broken. Yes. We find that He promised that. He had emptied Himself into His people. And He's the same yesterday, today, and forever.
101 Moses, after he had went down into Egypt and declared this, then the Father vindicated his message, by coming on Mount Sinai, in the same Pillar of Fire, and set the mountain on Fire. Did we notice? The one He had give the promise to, He brought him forth with the Word. He had the commandments. And to have this commandment, he had... The commandments was the Word. The Word had never come to the people yet. So, the Word always comes to the prophet, and He was the prophet for that hour.
102Like, Jesus was the Word. John was a prophet. And Jesus came to him, in the water, because the Word always comes to the prophet, without failing. See? The Word comes to it.
103 So, Moses, the Word came to him; the commandments. And he had them. Now, why? Before the Word was given out and made manifest, Moses had to veil his face, for the Word wasn't completely made manifest. They knowed something had happened, but they didn't know what it was, the roaring and thundering. Till, they said, "Let Moses speak, and not God."
104And God said, "Well, I will do that. From this forth, I'll not appear like this no more. I'll send them a prophet. So he'll... I'll speak through My prophet."
105 Now, if Moses, with the natural law, (as Paul, in Second Corinthians here, has revealed to us), had to veil his face with the natural, how much more will the Spiritual be glorious and veiled to the unbeliever before it's made manifest to him! How much more would they call... Moses was an oddball. How much more will they call you, who has broke through the veil, has went into the Pillar of Fire, has come out with the Blessing! And now you are veiled. The people can't see it. They can't understand It.
106"If the natural be glorious, how much more will the supernatural! If the natural, which had an end to it, was to be glorious, how much more This which has no end to it, will be glorious!"
107 But, still, It's veiled. It's veiled not to the believer, but to the unbeliever. He cannot see It. God always veils Himself from the unbeliever. Traditions hide It. Like they did then, they do it today.
108That was a spiritual veil that we have now, where the natural veil was. They are vindicated by the prophet with the written Word, a prophesier, one who comes with the written Word, to make It plain.
109They knowed the Word was there, but they didn't know what It meant. And Moses made It plain. He said, "The commandment says This, and this is why." He made it plain. And before It was made plain, It was veiled.
110 And so is it, today, veiled to the people, until It's revealed and made plain to the people. God, the mighty God, veiled in human flesh, the Word. Notice. Now we find out that it was hid to the unbeliever, but revealed to the believer.
111Notice, Moses had to enter this Pillar of Fire, alone. No one could go with him. It was not... it... What does that speak to us? That you don't come into This by joining a Pentecostal group. See? He never revealed It to a group. He revealed It to an individual. And that's the way it is today. You say, "I belong to a--a church. I--I belong to this." But that won't work. See?
112And for anyone to try to follow Moses, to impersonate it, was death. And so is it today, spiritual death, to try to impersonate. That's what's the...
113 Tonight, we're getting into, there is raising up amongst the groups, carnal comparisons; somebody try to act like It, and live a different life; can drink, can smoke, women can live (any) most any way they want to, and like the world, and stay home and watch television, and the things of the world, and still call themselves Pentecostals. They are trying to impersonate a genuine. It's never been revealed to them, yet. When It is revealed, it's glorious, and something takes that out of you when you walk in There. You become a veil. It's... It just won't work. And to impersonate It was death.
114 Moses' veil; he was the living Word to the people. And today, the people that are veiled are the same thing. "They are written epistles, read of all men." Not a new epistle; but the Epistle that's been written, made manifest. It's--it's those who believe the Word and the promise of this day, that God is pouring out His Spirit, upon all flesh, and that is written epistles. And when a person tries to carnally impersonate that, it backfires. Your life shows what you are.
115 One time there was a boy, he had got in some trouble. He was a good boy, but he--he went to court. And the judge said, "I find you guilty. I must punish you to life in prison."
116He said, "I want to try my own case." He said, "I want to go in upon my record."
117He said, "You have no record. Your record is what's condemned you."
118And that's the way it is today, the reason the church is not advanced like it should. It's the record. It's the lie. We must become more dedicated. We must believe every Word of God. We must seek until that Word is made real to us. See? See? The record is what keeps us from entering in.
119 But, one time, (to let you get out of this loop), in this same court, the boy had no money. He could not pay it off. The fine was way in the thousands of dollars. But he had a big brother that came and paid it off for him.
120Now, we've got a big Brother, Jesus, the Son of God. And He come to pay it off for us, if we'll just believe it and be able to enter into the veil with Him. Like, He is our Moses. Jesus is our Moses of today. Moses, veil, was the living Word to the people. Today, Jesus, veiled, is the living Word to the people, that, Jesus in the Church. The Holy Ghost, the Son of God in the people, revealing the Word by the promise of this day, makes It just exactly. Same now.
121And remember, Moses did this, and manifested this, not to all the world, but to the exodus people, just one class of people, that was those who come out of the exo-... in the exodus.
122And today, the Holy Spirit, in the face of people who says, "Divine healing is not right." When I was consulting...
123 A doctor called me, other day, of a little lady, oh, there's been four or five cases there, laying just at the point of death, giving hours, and the Holy Spirit healed them. The doctor was questioning it. He said, "How can this be? Why," he said, "I--I... That's my patient."
124I said, "It was. But now it was God's. It--it, it's His subject now." See?
125And so you see the thing it is, that God is calling an exodus, to come from behind the fleshly curtain who tries to impersonate, who tries to join church; not Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, altogether, but Pentecostal churches. It is an individual affair. It's you and God. You have to go in, not your group, not your church, not your pastor, but it's you who has to go in.
126 I want you to notice another characteristic of Moses, when he come out. Yet, being a prophet, being a great man that he was, when he come out with the Word, the people saw that he was changed. Something had happened to him. When he come out with the vindicated Word of that hour, the commandments, he was a changed person.
127And so will you be, when you come from behind that human veil that would laugh at a meeting like this; that man who would stumble at Divine healing, and say the days of miracles is passed. You've dropped from behind that human veil there, the traditional veil, and everybody will know something happened to you.
128 Like our honorable brother, Jim Brown. I imagine most Presbyterians knows that something happened to him, because he--he come from behind a traditional veil. He saw something in the people, that attracted him, and he came out from behind the veil.
129Well, you, when you come out from behind the veil, you'll be in full view of the people then, that they can see that something has happened to you. The veiled Word, to the unbeliever, but in full view of the believer. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever."
130 Then, it was God. In them days, it was God in a Man, His Son, Jesus Christ. We believe that. Not just a prophet, not just an ordinary man, ordinary human. It was God in Christ; God in a Man; the fullness of the Godhead, bodily in a Man. God in a Man!
131Now it's God in men, the fullness of God in the Godhead, bodily in His entire Church, manifesting Himself, fulfilling His Word.
132 Now we find, God, all ages, has had skin on It. He, God, has been hid behind the veil.
133It just reminds me of a--a little story that happened down in the South. And so there was a Christian home. And then in this Christian home they believed God, and they--they thought that--that God protected them from all troubles. And, which, He does. And they had a little junior, a little boy about seven or eight years old. And--and he went to Sunday school and was a very fine little lad. But he was scared in a storm, especially when lightning was flashing.
134 And I told this to a man, the other day, when this piece had come out about this man being healed. This same minister said, "They make a god out of you, Brother Branham."
135Well, he was a critic, so I thought I'd just kind of break it off, just a little bit. Not to hurt, you know, but just kind... I said, "Is that too far from the Scripture, to be that?" See? I said, "No, it isn't," I said, "because Jesus called prophets 'gods.' See? That's right, 'God.'"
136And they say, "Well, you people try to take the place of God." That's not too far out. That's exactly what it is. That's exactly. God manifested in flesh, just as He promised.
137 This little family, we find. I told him this little story, which come to my mind just now. That, one night it come up a storm, and mother said to Junior, said, "Now, you go on upstairs, son, and go to bed."
Said, "Mama, I'm scared," he said.
"Ain't nothing going to hurt you. Go on up and go to bed."
138Little junior laid up there, and the lightning flashing around the windows. And the little fellow got so nervous, he'd stick his head under the cover, and he could still hear the--the lightning, or see the lightning flash on the windows, and--and hear the thunder roar. So he said, "Mama!"
And she said, "What do you want, junior?"
Said, "Come up here and sleep with me."
139So she come up the steps, like any good, loyal mother would. And she came up, and she took little junior in her arms. And she said, "Junior, mother wishes to speak to you just a moment."
Said, "All right, mama."
140Said, "Now you must bear this in mind. We go to church, constantly. We read the Bible. We pray. We are a Christian family. We believe in God." And said, "We believe that, in storms and whatever goes on, God is our protection."
141He said, "Mama, I believe every bit of that. But," said, "when that lightning is so close," he said, "I--I want a God with skin on It."
142So, I--I think, not only junior, but all of us feel that way. When we get together, when we pray one for the other, God with skin on It.
143 And we find out here that God has always had skin on Him. When Moses seen Him, He had skin on Him, look like a Man. When God was behind the curtains, He had skin on Him. And God, tonight, in His Church, is veiled in His Church with skin on It. He is still the same God, tonight. We find that.
144But now, as ever, the skin veil is what catches the traditions. They just can't believe that that is God making them people act like that. See? It's because God is veiled in His Church, in skin, skin on It. That's right. He is hid from the unbeliever, and revealed to the believer. Yes, sir.
145 Now, when their tradition veil, of traditions of the elders and the Word, is broke through, oh, of course, today, then comes in plain view, we see Him, Deity again veiled in human flesh. Hebrews 1 said so.
146And also Genesis 18. Remember, God was a Man standing there, eating, and talking with Abraham, and told what Sarah was doing in the tent behind It.
147And Jesus said, "As it was in the days of Sodom, so shall it be at the Coming of the Son of man." Deity veiled again in human flesh! Now, remember, Jesus didn't say, "When the Son of God is being revealed." In Luke the 17th chapter, I believe, and about the 20th, 21st verse, somewhere along there, He said, "And when the Son of man is being revealed." The Son of man, back in--in--in the Church again, revealed in human beings; not Son of God, but the Son of man again, back in His Church again, in the last days. We find that He promised that in God's promises.
148 We notice another thing, in the Old Testament. I have the Scripture here, in Exodus. That, the old badger skins, what did it do? It hid the Glory of God from the people. The badger skins; even people couldn't see It, because it was a skin that held It. The skin was... The Glory of God was behind the skin.
149And now the Glory of God is behind your skin. That's right. And the traditions don't see It. It's inside the veil, where His Word was.
150 What was on the inside of that skin back there, the old badger skins?
151Which, "There was no beauty we should desire It. And when It was made flesh and dwelt among us, It was still no beauty we should desire It."
152And now the same thing is today. There's nothing in a man or a woman, that can be desired. It's what's in behind there. That's what it is. "Well," you say, "that fellow, I know he used to be a drunkard. He used to do this." I don't care what he used to do. What's hid behind that skin? What is behind there, that's what counts. That's what, the people is blinded. The skin blinds the people. See? They say, "I remember when that woman used to." I know what she used to, but what about now? See?
153Them skins, that was once on the badger, but now it's hiding the Glory of God, got It housed behind it. It was on an animal, but now it's housing the Glory of God.
154And so can your skin be changed, tonight, to be made a housing place for God, God dwelling in humanity.
155 Look. The old badger skins, we find out, behind it was... Inside of there was the Word. And, the Word, there also was the shewbread. The ark was sprinkled. And what was it? The Shekinah Glory was in there.
156Now, the Word is a Seed, and It cannot bring forth until the--the Son strikes It. The Son has got to be upon the Seed, to make It bear, to make It come forth. And that's the only way. You take the Word, see, take the Word of God in your heart, and walk into the Shekinah Glory. And when you do, It'll bring shewbread, Manna, that's only give for a separated people. The only thing that can eat it, that's permitted to eat it, is just the people who are permitted and knows It. Paul said here, "Changing from Glory to Glory." You see, finally, It comes till It's back to Its original Glory.
157 It's just like a seed of a morning glory. The seed of a flower, it falls into the ground. The seed of corn falls in the ground. What's the first thing? It comes up, and it's a little sprout. Then it goes to a tassel. Then, from a tassel, back to its original grain.
158Well, that's exactly what the Church has done. It come from Luther, Wesley, and now back to the original Grain, back to Its original Glory, back to the Glory It was at the beginning. The Son that rose in the East, it's the same Son that's manifesting the same thing in the West, changing from Glory to Glory. It changed from the pagan, down into Luther; and from Luther, down into Wesley; from Wesley, out into Pentecost; and on and on, changing from Glory to Glory, producing the hidden Manna.
159And now It's ripe, to bring Him back exactly like He was at the beginning, His same ministry; the same Jesus, the same power, the same Holy Ghost. The same One that come down on the Day of Pentecost, is the same Holy Ghost that's manifested today, from Glory unto Glory, to Glory. And is back to Its original Seed, with the baptism of the Holy Ghost; with the same signs, same wonders, same baptism; same kind of people, acting the same way, with the same power, the same sensation. It's from Glory unto Glory. And the next will be, "Changed from this Glory, into a body like His Own glorious body, where we shall see Him." Abraham saw the same.
160 Now notice. We see how it was changed. Since Calvary, we are invited to share His Glory. Now, in First Corinthians 12, "We are baptized into His Body. By one Spirit we are all baptized." Not by one "water." "One Spirit, we're all baptized." That's right, now, and then we become part of Him.
161I hope I'm not keeping you too long. [Congregation says, "No."--Ed.] See? I hope I'm not.
162But, it's just like a great symphony that's playing out, or acting out a drama.
163I don't know too much about symphonies or drama. But I was watching this play... I was talking about Carmen, when my daughter and them was in it. And they--and they were playing in this symphony, in Carmen. They was acting out. The music was--was--was acting out the same thing.
164That's the way it is when you're baptized by the Holy Spirit, into Christ.
165 Now, see, many of you has read or heard the story of the great Russian composer who composed Peter And The Wolf. And how he, they act that out on symbols and everything. And anyone who knows the story, that's reading it off of a paper, and can hear that symphony, how it's acting that out, the drama, playing it out, why, they know every change. They can look at it here, and see the change.
166But, now, what happens if the--if the composer writes something, and we find out that it isn't just acted out right? We find out then that there is something that happens. There is something lacking, when we see them. He who composed it has made it up and wrote it out, and then the symphony is a playing it, hits a wrong note. There is something wrong. The director gave the wrong motion. See?
167 And that's what's the matter today, my Lutheran brethren, my Baptist brethren, my Pentecostal brethren. All my brethren from all different denominations, that's what it is. See? You're trying to give a note that hit back in the days of Luther, Wesley, like that, when, actually, the music Sheet here shows that it's another day. See? See? See? We can't live in the light of Luther; he was a reformer. We appreciate his--his part, but we played that out. We're way over here at the back of the Book now. See? We can't--we can't play It out like that.
168 Now, the only way that you're ever going to be able to do it, my brethren, is this. And brethren of the world, of the different parts of the world, I might say, there's only one way for that--for that director to do. He has to get in the same Spirit that the composer was in, then he's got It. And when the Church, the symphony Itself, where the world is a watching for these signs and wonders; when the Church, and the Composer, and the director, all get in the Spirit of the Composer.
169 Then when they say, "The days of miracles is past," it don't hit the right note.
170But when it gets in the right swing of It, and the right Spirit of It; how you going to do it until the Spirit comes down, of the Composer? Amen. Then when you say, "The days of miracles never passed." The symphony cries out, "Amen." When we hit, say, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever." The symphony cries out, "Amen." "You shall receive power after this the Holy Ghost is come upon you." The symphony cries, "Amen. I got It." There's no more guesswork about it then. The whole symphony is right in harmony with the Word. It's going... [Brother Branham claps his hands together three times--Ed.] That's it. Oh! It's a magnificent thing. The director and the Composer must be in the same Spirit. And so must the musicians be in the same Spirit, to act It all out. And the world is wondering what's going on.
171The communism they talk about, and made me sick with it, and all this integration and everything else, and segregation. Oh, mercy! Such, all this nonsense, when the Coming of the Lord is at hand, there is something hitting wrong. I'm afraid that the director got... The directors got out of the Spirit of the Composer.
172 When we get that Composer's Spirit, that original power of God that the Bible said, "Men of old was moved by the Holy Ghost to write this Bible," you'll see them two Chinese pieces of paper will come together, just like God's Bible and a believer will come together, because they're both in the same Spirit. They're both the same thing. They dovetail right straight together. What we need today is directors, that's right, back to the Word, back and believe It just as It's said. Then you see the God, Himself. That's the unveiling. The drama is made real.
173 Today, they say, "Well, He's a historical God. We know He crossed the Red Sea. He did all this. And He was in the--the fiery furnace, with the Hebrew children." What good is a God of history, isn't, if He isn't the same today? Man is ever glorifying God for what He did do, thinking of what He will do, and ignoring what He's doing. That's just in man to do that. And it's the same thing today, my brethren. It's the very same thing. Oh, my!
174Let's get back and get the symphony playing right, where they of the world can see. Jesus said, "If I be lifted up from this earth, I'll draw all men unto Me." And, "He's the same yesterday, today, and forever."
175Let the directors get in the right Spirit, with the musicians and with the Composer, everything will be all right. Then we're, no guesswork about it, we are identified with Him then. Hebrews 13:8 said, "He's the same yesterday, today, and forever."
176 We're identified with Him in Acts 2. We're identified with them, with the same baptism, same thing. All He was then and all He is, all He was and all He is, we are. Exactly it.
177Just like if I want to be a true American, I've got to be identified with everything she was, everything she is. I've got to be identified with it, if I am a true American.
178If I am a true American, then I landed on Plymouth Rock. Amen. I did, if I'm an American. So did you; you landed on Plymouth Rock with the pilgrim fathers. On Plymouth Rock, when they landed out there, I was with them; so was you, everybody.
179 I rode with Paul Revere, right down the road, to warn every danger. That's exactly right.
180Right down here at Valley Forge, I crossed the icy Delaware, with a bunch of soldiers who, half of them, didn't have shoes on. I prayed all night with George Washington, beforehands. I crossed the Delaware with a vision in my heart. We are American. Yes, sir. At Valley Forge, I certainly did.
181I returned thanks with the original Thanksgiving fathers. I returned thanks to God. If I'm a real American, I was identified there at that table.
182If I'm a real American, I was identified when I stood with Stonewall Jackson.
183If I'm a real American, I was identified at the Boston Tea Party, yes, sir, when we refused to have things pulled over our eyes. Well, I'm as real America. I was identified there with that. Yes, sir. Oh, my!
184 I rang the Liberty Bell, the first 4th of July, in 1776. I rang the Liberty Bell here and declared that we are independent. To be a real American, I had to.
185I was identified with her shame in the Revolutionary, when brother fought against. I've got to bear her shame, the same as I have to bear her glory. If I'm an American, I have to be. I was identified with her. Yes, sir.
186I was identified at Gettysburg down there, when Lincoln made his speech. Yes, sir.
187I was on Wake Island, over them bloody soldiers' body. I rose on Wake Island.
On Guam, I helped hoist that flag.
188I'm a real American. Amen. All She is, I am, and proud of it. Yes, indeed. All America has been, all She is, I'm still that, to be American. Everything She was, I have to be, because I'm identified with her.
189 Same thing, by being a true Christian, you have to be identified with it.
190I preached with Moses, and war-... or with Noah, and warned the people of the oncoming judgment; to be a real Christian.
191I was with Moses at the burning bush. I saw the Pillar of Fire. I saw His Glory. I was with Moses up there in the wilderness, to be a Christian. I have to be identified with everything God was, to be a Christian. I seen His glory. I heard His Voice. Don't try to explain away from me now, 'cause I was there. I know what I'm talking about. I seen what happened. Yes, sir.
192 I was at the Red Sea, when I seen the Spirit of God move down and part the water from one side; not through a bunch of reeds, that they're trying to say today, but through about a ninety-foot sea. I seen the Spirit of God. I walked with Moses through that dry ground, across that Red Sea.
193I stood by Mount Sinai and seen the thunder and lightning falling. I ate Manna with them out there. I drank from that Rock. I'm still doing it tonight. I was identified with the Manna-eaters. I was identified with them that drunk from the Rock.
194I was also identified when Joshua blew a trumpet, and the walls of Jericho fell down.
I was in the lions' den with Daniel.
I was in the fiery furnace with the Hebrew children.
I was in Mount... with Elijah on Mount Carmel.
195 I was with John the Baptist, and before them critics. I seen the Spirit of God descending. I heard the Voice of God say, "This is My beloved Son in Whom I'm pleased to dwell in." Yes, sir. I sure was identified with him. That's exactly right.
196I was identified there at the grave of Lazarus, when He raised up Lazarus. I was identified, the woman at the well, when He told her her sins. Yes, sir.
197I surely was identified with Him in His death. And I was identified on the first Easter. I raised with Him from death. I identified with Him in His death.
198I was with the hundred and twenty, in the upper room. I was identified up there with them. Hey! I--I feel religious. Oh, my! I was identified there. I'm one of them. I was identified. I got the same experience they had. I was there when it happened, to be a true Christian. I witnessed the mighty rushing Wind coming. I witnessed that. I felt the power of God as It shook. I was with them that spoke in tongues. I felt the anointing come in there. I was with them. I was identified with them when the Holy Ghost begin to speak through tongues, with them.
199I was with Peter, before the critics in Acts 2, when he preached the great sermon that he did. I was identified with him. Yes, sir.
200 In Acts 4, when they assembled together, I was with them when the building shook. After prayer meeting, the building shook where they were setting. I was identified there with them.
I preached with Paul on Mars Hill. Yes, sir.
201I was with John on the Isle of Patmos, and seen His second Coming.
I was with Luther in the reformation.
202I was with Wesley, that firebrand; snatched from the fires, when the great revolt against the Anglican church. I was there with him.
203And here I am tonight, 1964, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, identified with the same kind of group, with the same kind of an experience. I must be, to be a Christian. I must stay identified where the Word of God is being manifested. I'm identified with a group that feels the Spirit of God.
204 I'm identified with a group that knows He's unveiled, that knows He's the same yesterday, today, and forever, that knows that This is not a fanaticism. "It's Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever." I'm identified with that group here, tonight. Yet, they're called a bunch of heretics, yet a bunch of fanaticism, on account of the Word of God. But, "I'm not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for It's the power of God unto salvation," and I'm one. I'm with them living epistles I spoke of, vindicated, God veiled in human form, in men and women. Oh!
205 God in His en morphe again, unveiled Himself and make Hisself known to His people. The great King Who laid aside His Glory. "Yet a little while and the world won't see Me no more. I'll be veiled to them. But ye shall see Me, for I'll be with you, even in you, all the way to the consummation, changing from Luther to Wesley, to on and on, from Glory unto Glory. I'm still the same God that lived, and going back to the original Glory." Hallelujah!
206 He has broken every denominational veil, every sound barrier. That sound that says, "Oh, that's fanaticism," He broke right through that. The sound that come out of there, said, "Oh, them people are crazy," He broke right through that veil. Yes, He did. "Oh, you can't do it. You're nothing but a bunch of fanatics." He broke right through that. "No such a thing as Divine healing." He broke right through that, oh, my, for His Word said He would. You can't conquer the Word of God.
207And there He stands, yet, tonight, the mighty Conqueror, since He broke every Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, every other kind of a veil. He still stands among His people, tonight, unconquered by traditions. Let people say what they want to, do what they want to, anything they want to. God comes, breaking right through that sound barrier.
208 And remember, they tell me, when a plane really breaks that sound barrier, there's no limit to its speed.
209I'm telling you, when you break that traditional barrier, that "Jesus is way back, and He isn't now," when you find He's the same yesterday, today and forever, there's no limit to what God could do right here in this convention, and show this world what they need: not a world's fair, but a world revival that'll be filled and baptized with the Presence of the living God, en morphe inveiling Himself into human flesh. Hallelujah! I believe it.
210Broken every barrier, every veil, every veil! Nothing could hide His Presence. When people gets hungry in their heart, there's a veil ready to be broke. You can just depend on that. Rent every veil, by His great Holy Spirit!
211And here He stands, tonight, the mighty Conqueror, same yesterday, today and forever; healing the sick, baptizing the believers, just as He always did. He's the mighty Conqueror. Doomed devils are on the run. Yes, sir. They always are, when He's around.
212 Closing, I might say this. There was a... Read a story, many years ago, about an old violinist. He had an old violin they was going to sell. You've heard the story, many times. And they wanted to sell it for a certain thing. And the auctioneer said, "Who will give me so-and-so?" I believe he was offered a few coins, maybe fifty cents, or something. "Going once, going twice,..."
213Directly, a man raised up in the back. He said, "Just a minute." And he walked up and got it. Let's think that he played this:
There is a Fountain filled with Blood,
Drawn from Immanuel's veins;
When sinners plunged beneath the flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.
214Then when he laid it down, there wasn't a dry eye in the place. Then he said, "Who will offer?"
215One said, "Five thousand. Ten thousand." It was priceless. Why? The--the old master of the violin had revealed its true quality.
216Oh, brother, sister, now let the Master of this Word, Who wrote It, the great Holy Spirit, rosin up His bow with love, and pull it across your heart.
There is a Fountain filled with Blood,
Drawn from Immanuel's vein.
217You'll see the full value, and see the unveiled God come right in view. That, He's just the same as He was when He fell on the Day of Pentecost, upon the people, when He kenos'ed Hisself, "emptied" right into It. That's right.
218You say, "Brother Branham, I've tried. I've tried. I've done this, that, the other."
219 One day I was having a meeting at Carlsbad, New Mexico. And we went down in this big old bat den down there. And it was kind of spooky-looking, and we got down there. And the--the man, when he got down there in this place, he--he snapped the lights off. And, oh, my, you can imagine how dark it was. It's just... It's so dark you could feel it.
220And that's just about the way the times are getting, when we see the church that fails to recognize God's Word; when you see our daughters of Zion doing the way they're doing; when you see our brothers that smokes and drinks, and--and tells dirty jokes and things, and still trying to hold their confession in Christ. Oh, my, it's dark. It's pitch dark.
221We see the sign of His Coming. There'll be... It's always darkest just before day. Then the Morning Star comes out to hail the day, and to herald it, and show that it's coming. Notice.
222 In there, when they turn that off, there's a little girl just screamed to the top her voice. There was a little boy standing by the guide, and he seen that guide when he switched the lights off like that. And that little sister was just about to have a fit. She was screaming, jumping up-and-down. "Oh! What's going to happen next? What's the matter? What's the matter?"
223You know what he screamed? He said, "Don't fear, little sister. There's a man here who can turn on the lights."
224Listen, little sister, you might think we're small and in minority. But, don't fear. There's a Man here Who can turn on the Lights. That's the Holy Spirit. You believe it? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.]
225 Let us bow our heads just a moment. I'm sorry to have kept you.
226O great God of Heaven, unveiling Yourself, unfolding Yourself, making Yourself known, the great King of Glory, take these little illustrations, tonight, and let them fall down at the hearts of the people. And may we see that unveiled One, that One Who came down and rent the veil of the temple; and then went right out of that veil, come right down into human veils again, on the Day of Pentecost; has ever been the same, changing from Glory to Glory.
227And now we're right back like all nature, acting, right back to the original Seed, right from one church age to another. And in this last age here, here we are, right back to the original Thing that fell on the Day of Pentecost, to fulfill every Scripture, "The Light in the evening time," and, "The works that I do shall you also," and so many things that You promised in Your Word.
228Father, if there be one here who has never broke through that veil yet, or if there be one here who just impersonated someone who has went through the veil, give grace tonight, Father. May they see that mighty Conqueror standing here, full of grace and power, to forgive. Grant it, Father.
229 And while our heads are bowed, would there be some in here? How many, might I say, that would say, "Brother Branham, I'm lifting my hand. Pray for me"? Just keep your head bowed, and raise your hand, "I want to break through every veil, till I can really see the Conqueror." God bless you. My, at the hands! Up in the balconies, to the right? God bless you. Balconies to the back? Raise... God bless you. Be real honest. To the left? Raise your hand, say, "Brother Branham, I might have been a Christian for years, but, really, I've never come through that veil. I've really never done it. I haven't got That what they had then." Today, we got... "I'm a hotbedded plant."
230Take a flower that's raised in a hotbed, you have to baby it, pet it, spray it, water it. But that original plant that grows out there on the desert, same kind of a flower, looks like it; it don't get a bit of water, but no bugs get on it. It's rugged. It's a real.
231 Could you compare Christianity with Christianity today, with what it was then? Could you imagine this group, what we call Christians today, across the world, being like those was after Pentecost; babied and patted, and from one church to another, and, say something you don't like, get up and walk out? And, oh, could you imagine that? No. What is the matter? It's a reproduction.
232Michelangelo, that created the monument of Moses, you can get a reproduction of that, very cheap. But, the original?
233The one who painted the Lord's Supper, I guess that original painting would run into millions of dollars, if you could even buy it. I don't even know where it's at. But you can buy a cheap reproduction of it for about a dollar ninety-eight cents. You can.
234 And that's the way it is today. A cheap Christian, a reproduction, just a church-joiner, you can buy them out for a cigarette or a--or a common drink. Or, for a women with cut hair or painted lips, you can buy her for anything in the fashions of the world. But you can't touch that genuine.
235I see Him in full view, the same yesterday, today, and forever.
236Oh, Christian, don't you want to be a real Christian? If there's any didn't raise your hands, will you do it? Well, I'm just going to pray. God bless you. God bless you. Oh, that's just fine. Just look at that.
237 Our Heavenly Father, "Thy Word shall not return to Thee void." You was the One made the promise. I'm only responsible for saying that You said It. I'm just repeating Your Words. You said, "He that heareth My Word and believeth on Him that sent Me has Eternal Life." You promised it.
238And, Lord, we know we have them reproductions today, many that say they believe, when, they don't. It shows up. But, Lord, there is some genuine, too.
239I pray that You'll just grant, in here, tonight, that every man and woman, boy or girl, no matter what nation they are, what color they are, what church they belong to, O God, fill them. May they see the real manifestation of that same Jesus today, right among us, as He was at the Day of Pentecost, when He revealed Hisself for this age, being the Holy Ghost. Grant it, seeing the Words fulfill, the prophecies come to pass!
240 We compare, today, what's called the church of the world, the World Council of Churches, and compare that with a promise on Pentecost? There is no comparison, at all. We cannot get our dirty clothes washed on that ticket.
241But, Lord God, if we'll come back to that Fountain, there's a cleansing process, then our experience and God's Word will match one another. Then, we can claim our possession. Grant it, Lord, tonight, as I commit these people in Your hands. Give to each one what we have need of, Father. We ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.
242 God bless you. Thank you, a lot, for standing, waiting a long time. And I'm sorry I kept you till ten minutes after ten. God be with you till I see you in the morning. I turn the service now to, I suppose, to the master of ceremony.
1Mám tu zapísaných niekoľko miest Písma, z ktorých by som vám rád hovoril, a verím, že Boh požehná naše chabé úsilie.
2No, mnoho ľudí sa divilo, prečo sme takí divní a takí hluční. Viete, toto je trochu iný typ zhromaždenia, než na aké sú ľudia zvyknutí. A zvyčajne je všetko v takej dopredu naplánovanej forme. Ale keď prichádzame na tieto zhromaždenia, čo bolo mojou výsadou už niekoľko rokov od ich prvého založenia, a my sotva vieme, čo budeme robiť. My len prichádzame a odovzdávame sa. To je jediná vec, ktorú vieme robiť. A Boh urobí to ostatné. Tak to z nás robí veľmi zvláštne konajúcich ľudí.
3Jedného dňa niekto povedal, „Viete, vy ľudia ste skutočne čudáci.“
Povedal som, „No, to je možné.“
4Pamätám si na jedno z takých zhromaždení, brat Troy mi raz hovoril o jednom malom Nemcovi, ktorý povedal, že prijal krst Duchom Svätým. A na druhý deň, v obchode, kde pracoval, zodvihol ruky a chválil Pána a hovoril v jazykoch a takto sa správal. A nakoniec prišiel šéf a povedal, „Heini, čo sa s tebou deje?“
5Povedal, „Ó, zostal som spasený.“ Povedal, „Moje srdce jednoducho prekypuje radosťou.“
6On povedal, „No, musel si byť tam dole s tou bandou bláznov.“ [V angličtine slovo 'nut' znamená 'cvok, fanatik, blázon,' ale aj 'matica' na uťahovanie na skrutke. - pozn.prekl.]
7Povedal, „Áno, sláva Bohu!“ Povedal, „Vďaka Pánovi za cvokov.“ Povedal, „Vezmi si nejaký automobil, ktorý ide dole po ceste.“ Povedal, „Ak z neho vymontuješ všetky cvoky [matice], nezostane ti nič iné, len kopa šrotu.“ A to je práve... Je to tak, viete.
8Jedného dňa som v Kalifornii išiel dolu ulicami Los Angeles a videl som muža, ktorý mal na hrudi nejakú tabuľku. A tam bolo napísané, „Som blázon pre Krista.“ A každý sa na neho díval. A všimol som si, že potom, ako prešiel okolo, oni sa otáčali a dívali sa.
A pomyslel som si, že pôjdem za ostatnými a pozriem sa. Na chrbte mal napísané, „Pre koho si bláznom ty?“ Áno. Myslím, že sme všetci trochu divní, jeden pre druhého, viete.
9Ale viete, svet sa dostáva až do takých vyjazdených koľají, že ak je niečo odlišné, potom to je také divné, až si ľudia myslia, že to je niečo, čo nie je v poriadku. A zvyčajne Boh musí urobiť niečo tak neobvyklé, aby vrátil ľudí naspäť k Biblii.
10Viem si predstaviť, že Noe bol tak trochu bláznom pre ten vedecký vek, v ktorom žil, pretože oni mohli dokázať, že na oblohe nie je žiadna voda. Ale Boh povedal, že tam nejaká bude. A tak, Noe, keď to kázal a veril, on sa stal bláznom.
11A viem si predstaviť, že keď Mojžiš prišiel dolu do Egypta, bol pre faraóna akýmsi bláznom. Ale pamätajte, faraón bol zase bláznom pre neho. Tak oni... Uvedomujeme si to.
12Dokonca Ježiš bol považovaný za kacíra. To je pravda. Martin Luther bol pre katolícku cirkev bláznom. A John Wesley bol pre anglikánov cvokom. A tak, viete, je čas na ďalšieho blázna. Nemyslíte? [Zhromaždenie hovorí, „Amen.“ - pozn.prekl.] Ale predtým, ako by mohla byť nejaká skrutka, viete, musí tam najprv byť nejaká matica, ktorá bude mať rovnaký závit.
13A tak, viete, Noe, keďže bol skrutkou, on... Tá matica je potrebná, ona uťahuje tú skrutku, spája niečo dokopy a drží niečo spolu. A tak, Noe, tým, že bol cvokom, bol schopný vytiahnuť zo súdov do archy všetko, čo uverilo.
14Zistili sme, že Mojžiš vytiahol cirkev z Egypta tým, že bol cvokom. To je pravda.
15Myslím, že teraz potrebujeme ďalšieho cvoka, aby sme vytiahli Nevestu z cirkvi. Potrebujeme teraz niečo, nejakého ďalšieho, takže sme veľmi zvláštni ľudia. A premýšľal som nad tým, že ak bude Pán dnes večer chcieť, pokúsil by som sa prečítať niektoré miesta Písma, ktoré sa toho týkajú, a na chvíľu ku vám prehovoriť a pokúsim sa vám ukázať, prečo sme takí divní ľudia.
16Obráťme sa teraz do Písma, do Filipanom, 2. kapitola 1.-8. verš; a 2. Korinťanom 3:6. A čítajme, keď veríme Božiemu Slovu.
17A teraz, predtým, ako budeme čítať, skloňme len svoje hlavy k modlitbe.
18Milostivý nebeský Otče, dnes večer sme skutočne privilegovaným ľudom, keď žijeme v tomto veku a sledujeme veci, ktoré vidíme, že sa dejú, a keď vieme, že je blízko čas, keď Ježiš príde pre Svoju Cirkev... Ó, to rozochvieva naše srdcia, Pane! A zatiaľ čo dnes večer prevraciame tie stránky, modlíme sa, aby si nám udelil kontext z tohto textu. A nech Duch Svätý zjaví nášmu srdcu veci, ktoré budú dobré a milé Bohu. Lebo to prosíme v Ježišovom Mene. Amen.
19Viete, myslím, že vás požiadam, aby ste niečo urobili. Ja zvyčajne žiadam niektoré divné veci a dúfam, že nežiadam niečo príliš divné. Ale keď sľubujeme vernosť vlajke, všetci stojíme. A keď okolo prechádza tá vlajka, my vtedy stojíme; pričom, to by sme mali. A my tam stojíme, aby sme vzdali poctu. Ak chcete, postavme sa, zatiaľ čo budeme čítať Slovo, 2. Korinťanom 3:6.
Ktorý nás aj učinil dostatočných za služobníkov novej smluvy, nie litery, ale Ducha, lebo litera zabíja, ale Duch oživuje.
A jestli služba smrti, v literách, vyrytá na kameňoch, bola slávna, takže nemohli synovia Izraelovi hľadieť do tvári Mojžišovej pre slávu jeho tvári, pominuteľnú,
jako by potom nemala byť služba Ducha slávna!
Lebo ak bola služba odsúdenia slávna, služba spravedlivosti je o mnoho slávnejšia!
Ba zrovna ani nebolo oslávené, čo bolo oslávené, v tej čiastke, v službe odsúdenia, pre svrchovanú slávu nasledujúcej služby Ducha.
Lebo ak to pominuteľné skrze slávu, tým viac to, čo trvá, v sláve.
Majúc tedy takú nádej používame veľkú smelosť,
a nie ako Mojžiš, ktorý kládol zásteru na svoju tvár, aby nehľadeli synovia Izraelovi na koniec toho, čo išlo pominúť.
Ale ich mysle sa zatvrdili, lebo až do dnešného dňa zostáva tá istá zástera pri čítaní starej smluvy neodostretá, lebo sa Kristom odstraňuje.
Ale až do dnes, kedykoľvek sa číta Mojžiš, leží zástera na ich srdci;
ale hneď, ako by sa obrátilo k Pánovi, vôkol sa odníma zástera.
A Pán je Duch, a kde je Duch Pánov, tam je sloboda.
No, my všetci odostretou tvárou vzhliadajúc sa v sláve Pánovej sťa v zrkadle meníme sa na ten istý obraz, od slávy v slávu, jako od Ducha Pánovho.
20A vo Filipanom 2, čítame toto, začneme od 1. až do 8. verša.
Ak je tedy nejaké potešenie v Kristovi, ak nejaké povzbudenie lásky, ak nejaké účastenstvo Ducha, ak nejaká srdečná sústrasť a zľutovanie, to robte
a tak naplňte moju radosť, aby ste jedno a to isté mysleli, jednu a tú istú lásku mali a boli sťa jedna duša, aby ste jedno mysleli
nerobiac ničoho zo sváru ani z márnej chvály, ale v pokore majte jedni druhých za vyšších od seba
nehľadiac každý len na svoje, ale každý aj na to, čo je iných.
Lebo nech je také zmýšľanie vo vás, aké bolo aj v Kristu Ježišovi,
ktorý súc v podobe Boha nepovažoval toho za lúpež byť rovný Bohu,
ale sám seba zmaril prijmúc podobu sluhu a stal sa podobný ľuďom
a súc v spôsobe najdený jako človek ponížil sa stanúc sa poslušným až po smrť, a to po smrť kríža.
21Modlime sa.
22Nebeský Otče, toto veľké Slovo, ktoré bolo dnes večer prečítané z Tvojho Svätého Písma, urob To tak skutočným pre naše srdcia, že odtiaľto pôjdeme ako tí, ktorí išli z Emauz, a povieme, „Či v nás nehoreli naše srdcia, zatiaľ čo s nami hovoril na ceste?“ Lebo to prosíme v Ježišovom Mene. Amen.
Môžete si sadnúť.
23No, toto je veľmi zvláštny text, ale myslím, že je to veľmi vhodné pre túto príležitosť. Chcel by som hovoriť na tému: Mocný Boh odhalený pred nami.
24No, odkedy existuje človek, v ľudskom srdci bol určitý hlad po tom, aby zistil: odkiaľ prišiel; a aký je jeho dôvod, že tu je; a kam ide. Je len jeden, ktorý môže na to odpovedať, to je Ten, ktorý ho sem priviedol. A človek vždy chcel vidieť Boha.
25Vzadu v Starom Zákone zisťujeme, že Boh sa zahaľoval pred neveriacimi. Boh má veľmi zvláštny spôsob konania s ľuďmi. Skrýva sa pred neveriacim a zjavuje sa veriacemu. Boh to robí. Ježiš ďakoval Otcovi, že „On skryl tieto veci pred múdrymi a rozumnými a zjavil To nemluvňatám, ktoré sa budú učiť.“ Tak nachádzame, že Boh sa vo Svojej prirodzenosti nikdy nemení a On Svoje dielo robí stále rovnako. Nachádzame v Malachiášovi 3, že On povedal, „Ja som Boh a nemením sa.“ Tak On po celý čas pracuje na rovnakom princípe.
26Vezmime si jednu z najstarších kníh Biblie. Keď Jób, jeden z najspravodlivejších mužov svojej doby, dokonalý muž v zákonoch Božích, sluha, ušľachtilý, ctený sluha, až tak, že Boh povedal, „Nikto na zemi nie je ako on.“ Ale raz mal túžbu vidieť Boha. On vedel, že existuje Boh, a cítil, že by Ho chcel vidieť, alebo inak povedané, ísť ku Jeho domu a zaklopať na dvere a povedať, „Rád by som s Tebou hovoril.“ Sadnúť si a rozprávať sa s Ním, ako by sme to robili aj my medzi sebou.
27Máme porozumenie. Preto sme na týchto zhromaždeniach, kde sa schádzame a vyjadrujeme svoje myšlienky. A keď sa spolu rozprávame o veciach, potom si lepšie navzájom rozumieme. A kazatelia to robia. Ľudia všetkých spoločenských vrstiev to robia, hovoria o veciach.
28A Jób, Boh bol pre neho tak skutočný, že chcel zistiť, či by nemohol ísť, zaklopať na Jeho dvere a mať s Ním rozhovor.
29Ale zisťujeme, že Boh k nemu hovoril, ale bol zahalený. Bol zahalený vo forme víchrice. A povedal Jóbovi, aby si prepásal bedrá; išiel ku nemu prehovoriť ako s mužom. A On zostúpil dole vo víchrici a hovoril s Jóbom. A dal sa Jóbovi poznať skrze víchricu, a predsa Ho úplne nevidel. Mohol len počuť, ako fúka a otáča sa vietor na stromoch. A ten Hlas vyšiel z víchrice, ale v tej víchrici bol zaclonený Boh.
30Zistili sme, že tam dole v Afrike, v Južnej Afrike, oni používajú slovo 'amoyah', čo znamená 'neviditeľná sila.'
31A táto neviditeľná Sila vo víchrici mala počuteľný Hlas. To prehovorilo k Jóbovi, napriek tomu vôbec nevidel Jeho podobu. Ale On pred ním bol zaclonený skrze víchricu.
32Nachádzame jedného z veľkých prorokov Biblie, Mojžiša zo Starého Zákona, jedného z Božích vyvolených, vybraných, predurčených služobníkov, on Ho tiež túžil vidieť. On bol tak blízko Neho a videl toľko vecí z Jeho veľkej tajomnej ruky, ktorá išla pred ním a robila veci, ktoré mohol robiť jedine Boh. Jedného dňa Ho túžil vidieť a Boh mu povedal, „Choď, postav sa na skalu.“
33A zatiaľ čo stál na tej skale, Mojžiš Ho uvidel prechádzať. Videl Jeho chrbát. A povedal, „Vyzeralo to ako človek, mužský chrbát.“ Napriek tomu nevidel Boha. Videl len Božiu oponu.
34Biblia povedala, „Boha nikto nikdy nevidel, ale Ten jednorodený od Otca Ho objasnil.“ Tak Mojžiš Ho videl zahaleného ako Človeka. Zistili sme, že Jehova Starého Zákona bol jednoducho Ježišom Nového Zákona.
35A Dr. Scofield tu (v poznámkach) uvádza, zisťujeme, že to jeho slovo - to je: meniť sa z 'formy.' V gréčtine nachádzame slovo 'en morphe,' čo znamená: 'neviditeľné sa stalo viditeľným.' Niečo, čo nemôže... Vieme, že to tam je. Môže to byť... nedá sa to vidieť, ale my jednako vieme, že to tam je. A keď zmenil Svoju podobu en morphe, čo znamená, že On sa zmenil z nadprirodzeného na prirodzeného.
36Inak povedané, On len zmenil Svoju masku. Je to vlastne ako dráma. On niečo odohrával. A v gréčtine, keď menili svoju masku, možno v jednej tej hre, a jeden herec mohol hrať v niekoľkých rôznych častiach.
37A moja dcéra, ktorá je tu, oni práve mali na strednej škole drámu. A ten jeden chlapec, ktorého poznám, hral asi štyri časti, ale on išiel poza pódium a zmenil si masku, a vyšiel, aby sa vydával za inú postavu.
38No, ak vezmete starozákonné proroctvá o tom, čím mal byť Mesiáš, môžete to porovnať so životom Ježiša a dostanete presne to, čím bol Ježiš. Nebol to len obyčajný človek. On bol Bohom, en morphe. On sa premenil z toho nadprirodzeného do prirodzenej podoby Človeka. A predsa, On bol Boh, zamanifestovaný v tele, zahalený ľudskou telesnou oponou.
A sledujte Starý Zákon.
39Viem, že dnes večer hovorím k zmiešanému publiku z rôznych častí sveta. A sme tu, aby sme to zistili. Čo robíme? Čo sme? Kam sa dostávame? Čo sa deje? Čo to všetko znamená?
40A teraz tu nachádzame, že ak by židovskí muži a ženy a rabíni v chráme, ak by v tých minulých dňoch namiesto tradícií sledovali Bibliu, proroctvá, oni by rozpoznali, kým Ježiš je. Nikdy by Ho nenazvali Belzebubom. Nikdy by Ho neukrižovali. Ale všetko sa to muselo takto odohrať. To je časť tej drámy. A oni boli v tomto prípade zaslepení.
41Je to ako pri mnohých z vás mužov a žien, ktorí ste tu dnes večer, môžete byť v mojom veku alebo o niečo starší. Pamätáte sa, ako sa pred rokmi tu v Amerike... Číňania... Môj brat, ktorý to tu práve uvádzal, keď som sa s ním rozprával, prišlo mi to na myseľ. Ako to zvykli... Oni nevedeli hovoriť po anglicky a prali bielizeň. A idete do jeho práčovne, aby ste si dali vyprať prádlo. Tí čínski práči vzali nejaký papierik a určitým spôsobom ho roztrhli. Vy ste si vzali jednu časť toho papierika; on si vzal tú druhú časť. Ale keď ste sa vrátili, aby ste si vzali svoje veci, tie dva kúsky papiera museli do seba zapadnúť. A ak do seba presne nezapadali... Nemohli ste to nijako napodobniť, pretože on mal jeden kus a vy ten druhý. A ak to napodobňovali... Potom ste mali právo nárokovať si to, čo je vaše. A potom máte to, čo vám patrí, keď vlastníte tú druhú časť zmluvy.
42Tak isto je to dnes večer, keď sme dostali druhú časť tej zmluvy. Keď Boh roztrhol Svojho Syna na dve časti na Golgote, to telo vzal hore ako Obeť a poslal nám dolu Ducha, ktorý kedysi žil v Človeku, Ježišovi. Ten istý Boh je dnes večer zahalený vo forme Ducha Svätého. Tie dve veci sa musia spojiť, potom si súčasťou zmluvy. Keď sa stal Človekom, Boh to urobil kvôli tomu, aby Ho človek lepšie spoznal.
43Pred pár rokmi som čítal jeden príbeh. A v tomto príbehu, bolo tam hovorené o veľkom, ušľachtilom kráľovi… Zabudol som teraz jeho meno. Nepremýšľal som nad tým, že porozprávam ten príbeh. Pravdepodobne je to vymyslené, ale privádza nás to do bodu, kde nám to dáva pozadie ku tomu, čo chceme povedať. Tento kráľ, bol to tak ušľachtilý kráľ a tak veľmi miloval svojich poddaných, že až jedného dňa pred svojím strážcom a šľachtou povedal, „Dnes ma vidíte poslednýkrát na veľmi mnoho rokov.“
44A jeho strážca a šľachtici mu povedali, „Dobrý kráľu, prečo to hovoríš? Ideš niekam do neznámej krajiny a staneš sa cudzincom?“
45Povedal, „Nie. Zostávam rovno tu. No,“ povedal, „idem von medzi mojich poddaných. Stanem sa sedliakom. Budem rúbať drevo s drevorubačom. Budem obrábať pôdu s roľníkom. Budem orezávať vinič s tými, ktorí orezávajú vinič. Budem jedným z nich, aby som sa viacej oboznámil s tým, čo robia. A milujem ich. A chcem sa o nich dozvedieť viac, osobne. Nespoznajú ma. Ale jednako, chcem sa s nimi takýmto spôsobom oboznámiť.“
46A na ďalšie ráno, keď ho videli jeho delegáti, všetci jeho ľudia, alebo tí, ktorí boli v paláci, on si zložil korunu a položil ju na sedadlo, trón; a vyzliekol si svoje rúcho a obliekol sa do sedliackych šiat, vyšiel von medzi obyčajných ľudí.
No, v tom krátkom príbehu nachádzame niečo o Bohu.
47Oni povedali kráľovi, hovorili, „Kráľu, chceme ťa. Milujeme ťa. Chceme, aby si zostal kráľom.“ Ale on sa chcel stať jedným z nich, aby ich lepšie spoznal, aby oni mohli lepšie spoznať jeho, čím skutočne bol. To by im ukázalo, aký skutočne je.
48A to je to, čo urobil Boh. On sa zmenil z Jehovu Boha, aby sa stal jedným z nás, aby mohol trpieť, aby mohol zakúsiť smrť, aby mohol vedieť, čím bol osteň smrti, a aby na Seba vzal trest smrti. Odložil nabok Svoju korunu a Svoje rúcho a stal sa jedným z nás. Umýval si nohy s tými najnižšími. Prebýval v stanoch s chudobnými. Spával v lesoch a na uliciach s tými, ktorí boli odvrhnutí. Stal sa jedným z nás, aby nás mohol lepšie rozumieť, a aby sme my mohli lepšie rozumieť Jeho.
49No, myslím, že v tom premenení nachádzame niečo, čo On Sám urobil. Ak si všimnete, On prišiel v mene troch synov. Prišiel v mene Syna človeka a ako Syn Boží a Syn Dávidov. Prišiel ako Syn človeka.
50No, v Ezechielovi 2:3, Sám Jehova nazval Ezechiela, proroka, 'synom človeka.'
51Syn človeka znamená 'prorok.' On musel takto prísť, aby vyplnil Deuteronómium 18:15, kde Mojžiš povedal, „Pán, váš Boh, medzi vami vzbudí proroka podobného mne.“ On nikdy Samého Seba nenazýval Synom Božím. Poukazoval na Seba ako na 'Syna človeka,' pretože musel prísť podľa Písma. Vidíte? Musel spojiť tie dva kúsky roztrhnutého papiera, proroctvo zo Starého Zákona a Jeho vlastný charakter, aby to bolo úplne rovnaké. A tak prišiel, Syn človeka, prišiel v takej forme.
52Potom nachádzame, že po Jeho smrti, pohrebe a zmŕtvychvstaní, On prišiel na deň Letníc ako Syn Boží; Boh, Duch, v takej forme, Duch Svätý. Čo On robil? On premieňal Samého Seba, dával sa poznať Svojim ľuďom v inej forme. Ako Duch Svätý, a to je Boh, On prišiel, aby cez cirkevné veky konal ako Syn Boží, Duch Svätý.
53Ale v miléniu prichádza ako Syn Dávidov, aby zasadol na trón Dávida - Kráľ. On mal zaujať trón Dávidov. Teraz je na Otcovom tróne. A potom povedal, „Ten, kto víťazí, bude so Mnou sedieť na Mojom tróne, ako som i Ja zvíťazil a sedím na tróne Môjho Otca.“ Tak On bude v miléniu Syn Dávidov. Čo je to? To je po celý čas ten istý Boh, len menil Svoju masku.
Pre moju manželku som manželom.
54Všimli ste si to? Tá Sýrofeničanka povedala, „Synu Dávidov, zmiluj sa.“ to s Ním vôbec nič nespravilo. Nemala žiadne právo Ho tak nazývať. Nemala na Neho nárok ako na Syna Dávidovho. On je Synom Dávida pre Židov. A teraz On prišiel... Ale keď Ho nazvala, „Pane,“ On bol jej Pánom, potom dostala to, o čo prosila.
No, ako On premieňa Samého Seba.
55No, v mojom dome som tromi rôznymi ľuďmi. V mojom dome na mňa má moja manželka nárok ako na manžela. Moja dcéra, ktorá je tam, ona na mňa nemá žiaden nárok ako na manžela; ja som jej otec. A môj malý vnuk, ja som pre neho starým otcom, takže on nemá právo volať ma otcom. Nie som jeho otec. Môj syn je jeho otec. Ja som jeho starý otec. Ale ja som stále ten istý človek.
56A Boh, to, čo On robí, On len premieňa Samého Seba, aby sa stal pre tú generáciu, aby sa tým ľuďom dal poznať. A to je to, kvôli čomu tu dnes večer sme, aby sme to zistili. Akým spôsobom sa má Boh v tomto čase dať poznať týmto ľuďom? On mení Svoju masku, mení Svoju rolu, ale nemení Svoju povahu. On nemení Svoju prirodzenosť. On len mení Svoju masku z jednej na druhú. Robí to, aby sa zjavil ľuďom jasnejšie, aby mohli vedieť, kto On je a čím je.
57V Židom 1 čítame, „Boh v rozličných časoch a rôznymi spôsobmi hovoril otcom skrze prorokov, ale v týchto posledných dňoch skrze Svojho Syna, Ježiša.“
58No, „Proroci,“ povedal Ježiš, keď bol tu na zemi, „oni boli bohovia. Vy nazývate 'bohmi' tých, ku ktorým prišlo Slovo Božie. A Písma nemôžu byť zrušené,“ povedal. Povedal, „Ako potom môžete odsudzovať Jeho, keď On je Syn Boží?“ Rozumiete?
59Slovo Božie je vymerané pre každý vek, to, čím to má byť. A Ježiš bol naplnením všetkých proroctiev. „V Ňom prebývala plnosť Božstva telesne.“ Bolo To v Ňom. On bol Ten, ktorý bol v Jozefovi. On bol Ten, ktorý bol v Eliášovi. On bol Ten, ktorý bol v Mojžišovi. On bol Ten, ktorý bol v Dávidovi, v tom odmietnutom kráľovi.
60Jeho vlastný ľud ho odmietol ako kráľa. A keď vyšiel z nádvoria, bol tam malý postihnutý človek, ktorý sa plazil okolo, nemal rád jeho vládu, jeho systém a pľul na neho. A ten strážca vytiahol meč a povedal, „Či tomu psovi neodseknem hlavu, keď pľuje na môjho kráľa?“
61A Dávid si možno neuvedomoval, čo vtedy robil, ale bol pomazaný. A on povedal, „Nechaj ho tak, Boh mu povedal, aby to robil.“ A vystúpil hore na vrch a plakal nad Jeruzalemom, odmietnutý kráľ.
62Všimli ste si? O niekoľko sto rokov neskôr bol opľutý na uliciach Syn Dávidov a bol na vrchu tej istej hory, díval sa dolu na Jeruzalem, odmietnutý Kráľ. A zvolal, „Jeruzalem, ako často som ťa chcel zhromaždiť, tak ako sliepka svoje mláďatá, ale nechceli ste!“
63On nikdy nezmenil Svoju prirodzenosť, pretože v Židom 13:8 je povedané, „On je Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky.“ Boh bol učinený telom, aby zomrel, aby nás vykúpil z hriechu. To je dôvod, prečo sa On premenil na Človeka.
64Vidíme, že vo Svätom Jánovi 12:20 o Ňom počuli Gréci. No, nie je nikto, kto by o Ňom mohol počuť, a nehorelo by mu srdce po tom, aby Ho videl. Ako Jób a proroci za dávnych čias, oni všetci Ho chceli vidieť. A tak, títo Gréci prišli, aby Ho videli. Prišli k Filipovi, ktorý bol z Betsaidy, a povedali, „Pane, chceme vidieť Ježiša.“
65Tí Gréci Ho chceli vidieť, ale neboli Ho schopní vidieť, pretože bol v chráme Svojej ľudskosti. „Boh bol v Kristovi a mieril so Sebou svet.“ Teraz tu zisťujeme, že títo Gréci Ho nemohli vidieť.
66A všimnime si práve tie Slová, ktoré im potom Ježiš vyjadril. Povedal, „Ak pšeničné zrno nepadne do zeme a nezomrie, ono zostane samotné.“ Inými slovami, nikdy by Ho neboli schopní vidieť v tej premene, v tej maske, v ktorej vtedy bol, pretože On bol zahalený v ľudskom tele. Ale keď toto pšeničné Zrno padlo do zeme, potom to priviedlo všetky rasy. On bol v tom čase samozrejme poslaný k Židom. Ale toto pšeničné Zrno musí padnúť; zahalený Boh v ľudskom tele, skrytý pred neveriacimi, ale zjavený veriacim.
67V Jánovi 1, „Na počiatku bolo Slovo a to Slovo bolo u Boha a to Slovo bol Boh. A to Slovo sa stalo telom a prebývalo medzi nami a my sme Ho videli, jednorodeného od Otca, plného milosti.“ No, na počiatku bolo Slovo. Slovo je vyjadrená myšlienka.
68Na počiatku On nebol ani Bohom. No, naše anglické slovo dnes, Boh, to znamená 'objekt uctievania.' Aké mätúce je to pre myseľ. Môžete z niekoho urobiť boha. Môžete urobiť boha z čohokoľvek.
69Ale v Starom Zákone, v Genezis 1, „Na počiatku, Boh,“ tam je použité slovo Elohim. Elohim znamená 'Ten samo-existujúci.' Čo za rozdiel je medzi slovom Elohim a naším slovom Boh. Elohim znamená 'Ten samo-existujúci.'
70My nemôžeme byť samo-existujúci. Nemôžeme byť všemohúci, všemocní, všadeprítomní, vševediaci. To 'Elohim' vyjadruje to všetko. Nemôžeme tým byť. Strom, z ktorého urobíte boha, alebo nejaká budova, to nie je samo-existujúce.
71A tak, Boh bol na počiatku Životom, Tým Večným. V Ňom boli atribúty a tie atribúty sa stali Slovami a Slovo sa stalo telom. Ježiš bol Vykupiteľ. A vykúpiť znamená 'priviesť naspäť.' Ak to On musí priviesť späť, tak to muselo byť niekde, kam to treba priviesť naspäť. Tak, vidíte, všetci ľudia to nikdy nebudú môcť vidieť, pretože všetci ľudia neboli na počiatku v Božích myšlienkach. Rozumiete?
72Pozrite sa na tých kňazov. Keď Ho videli, ako presne vyjadruje Samého Seba Slovom, to, čím bol, povedali, „To je Belzebúb.“ To ukázalo, kde bola ich prirodzenosť. Bolo to v modernom myslení toho dňa.
73Ale keď tam bola tá prostitútka, ktorú stretol pri bráne a povedal jej, vyjadril Svoj znak Mesiáša tým, že jej povedal, čo urobila. „No,“ povedala, „Pane, vidím, že si prorok. Vieme, že Mesiáš, keď On príde, povie nám všetky tieto veci.“ Ona Ho rozpoznala ako Mesiáša, Toho Pomazaného, pretože On splnil kvalifikácie Písma. Či nevidíte? [Zhromaždenie hovorí, „Amen.“ - pozn.prekl.] Tie dva kúsky papiera sa spájali dokopy. Ona, „Vieme, že keď príde Mesiáš...“
74Nuž, Boh by možno musel zmiešať toto a tamto, aby z toho zvona získal určitý tón, ako odlievač. Ale keď sa Ježiš obrátil, povedal, „Ja som On, ktorý hovorím s tebou,“ tam nebol taký výraz ako „Belzebúb.“ Ona pustila to vedro s vodou, bežala do mesta a hovorila, „Poďte, vidzte Človeka, ktorý mi povedal veci, ktoré som urobila. Či to nie je samotný Mesiáš?“ Rozumiete?
75No, čo to urobilo? Keď to starodávne Písmo umiestnila do toho prežitia, ktoré jej dával Ježiš, čo to urobilo? To utvorilo Mesiáša. A všimli ste si to? Jej hriechy boli rýchlo odpustené, pretože tam na začiatku, ona bola vykupiteľná, pretože na počiatku bola v Božom myslení. A tak, to ju vykúpilo alebo priviedlo naspäť, keď videla, ako sa zamanifestovalo vyjadrené Písmo Jehovu, to, čím bol, čím On je.
76Nuž, keď prišiel Ježiš, ak by prišiel s Noeho posolstvom, to by nefungovalo. Postaviť koráb a odplávať preč, to by nefungovalo. Ale ten Noe bol časťou Boha. Konal zvláštnym spôsobom, pretože bol zvláštny, a jeho posolstvo bolo zvláštne, pretože to bolo Slovo, ktoré sa manifestovalo.
77Nemohol prísť s Mojžišovým posolstvom, pretože to by nefungovalo. Mojžiš bol zamanifestovaným Bohom, v čiastke. On bol Slovom vyjadreným pre tú hodinu, ale Ježiš nemohol prísť s niečím takým. Biblia nikdy nepovedala, že On takto príde.
78Ale keď prišiel, On bol vyjadrený presne tak, ako povedal Zákon, že tak bude vyjadrený; potom všetci tí, ktorí boli vykupiteľní, oni Tomu uverili, pretože boli myšlienkami Božími. Jeho atribúty, ktoré boli tam na počiatku, boli učinené telom a boli vykupiteľnými a boli privedené naspäť k Bohu. „Všetci, ktorí Ho prijali, tým dal moc stať sa synmi Božími,“ pretože boli vykupiteľní, boli od počiatku v tom vyjadrení.
79Ak by sme sa tu mohli na chvíľu zastaviť, ak by to bolo možné, a pomyslieť dnes večer o Posolstve tejto hodiny, o vyjadrených myšlienkach Jehovu. „Pred založením sveta,“ je nám povedané, že „naše mená boli vložené do Baránkovej Knihy Života.“ Potom môžeme vidieť obe tie strany, ako som hovoril na začiatku, prečo je jedna vec čudnou pre tú druhú. Musí to tak byť. Vždy to tak bolo. Vždy to tak bolo a vždy to tak bude. „On bol Slovom. A to Slovo sa stalo telom a prebývalo medzi nami.“
80Nuž, Boh, vo dňoch Starého Zákona, zisťujeme, že potom, ako sa zjavil Svojmu ľudu v rôznych podobách, zahalil Samého Seba za staré jazvečie kože. Boh, ktorý sa skrýval za jazvečími kožami na Svojom tróne milosti. ['Trón milosti' v Roháčkovom preklade nazvaný: 'zľutovnica' - pokrývka na truhle zmluvy. - pozn.prekl.] Nachádzame to, ako ten Šalamún, keď zasvätil Pánov chrám a viseli tam tieto jazvečie kože, tá opona, ako tam On vošiel ako Ohnivý Stĺp a ako Oblak a vošiel tam dolu poza to a zaclonil sa pred vonkajším svetom. Ale Izrael skrze vieru vedel, že On tam vzadu bol. Oni vedeli, že On tam je, bez ohľadu na to, čo by mohol povedať ktokoľvek z pohanského sveta. Bol ukrytý pred neveriacim. Ale veriaci skrze vieru vedel, že On tam vzadu je. Mali milosrdenstvo. A On bol na Svojom tróne milosti, čo bolo veľké tajomstvo.
81Viete, v Starom Zákone, vojsť za tú kožu znamenalo smrť. A teraz, zostať vonku znamená smrť. Vtedy to bolo tak, že vstúpiť do Jeho slávy znamenalo smrť. A teraz, zostať pomimo od Jeho slávy znamená smrť. To sa, samozrejme, stalo pri roztrhnutí opony na Golgote, keď sa tá opona roztrhla, tá stará opona. A teraz, zostať pomimo od Jeho prítomnosti znamená smrť. Vtedy to bolo tak, že vstúpiť do Jeho prítomnosti znamenalo smrť. Rozumiete? Mení sa to naopak a vy musíte nájsť Písmo, aby ste videli, v ktorom dni žijeme.
82Nuž, keď sa na Golgote roztrhla opona, trón milosti zostal jasne viditeľný. (Ale čo sa stalo? Visel na Golgote a kvapkala tam Krv.) Ako oni rok čo rok brali krv pri očisťovaní svätyne a pri pokropovaní trónu milosti, a tam bol Boh s Jeho veľkým mocným úderom moci blesku, roztrhol tú starú jazvečiu oponu zhora nadol a trón milosti zostal jasne viditeľný.
83Skutočný, pravý Baránok Boží visel jasne viditeľný na Golgote, skutočný Trón Milosti, keď Boh Sám zaplatil cenu; a stal sa jedným z nás a zamanifestoval sa ako Človek, aby sa s nami oboznámil a aby sme sa my oboznámili s Ním. V ten deň zmierenia bol Trón Milosti jasne viditeľný pre celý Izrael.
84Ale, žiaľ, tradície cirkevných otcov, ktoré mali v tom dni, oni skrze svoje tradície zakryli pred ľuďmi ten skutočný Trón Milosti. Keby boli poznali Písmo, každý kúsok by zapasoval ako pri tom čínskom papieriku. Starozákonné proroctvo by sa vyplnilo a ono sa vyplnilo. A ak by boli vyučovaní Písmu, uvideli by ten Trón Milosti. „Ako Mojžiš,“ tu je povedané, „dodnes sú zahalení. Stále to leží na ich srdciach.“ Oni To nevidia.
85Ale On bol Bohom; utrpenie a Zmierenie. On bol skutočným Trónom Milosti, ktorý zostal jasne viditeľný. Ako sme spievali tú pieseň:
Hľa, vidz Ho jasne viditeľného.
Tam On je, Ten mocný Premožiteľ,
Keďže On roztrhol tú oponu na dvoje.
86Vidíte, On prišiel, Trón Milosti, visel tam jasne viditeľný pred tým zhromaždením. Ale oni, keďže boli pod tým populárnym názorom...
87Nuž, muži a ženy a delegáti tohto zhromaždenia, chcem to povedať bez hľadenia na osobu. Ale z pohľadu dneška, s ohľadom na to, kvôli čomu tu dnes sme, obávam sa, že tradície otcov, cirkevných otcov, To pred príliš mnohými ľuďmi zakryli. Odkedy Duch Svätý prišiel v týchto posledných dňoch, ako to bolo prorokované, a opona zostala roztrhnutá, príliš mnoho ľudí sa snaží držať svojich tradícií otcov. A preto nemôžu vidieť túto extrémnu radosť a pokoj a tie veci, ktoré má dnes Cirkev. Napriek tomu je To jasne viditeľné pre tých, ktorí veria.
On skryl Slovo, zasľúbené Slovo tohto dňa.
88No, tradície urobili záclonu. Hovoria, že dni zázrakov pominuli. Hovoril so mnou jeden muž, milý kultivovaný gentleman v Tucsone v Arizone, kde bývam. Mal som stretnutie v Ramade. A my sme hovorili na zhromaždení obchodníkov, kde Pán Ježiš prišiel a urobil veľké veci. A tento kresťanský gentleman prišiel ku mne a povedal... a je to kazateľ z určitej cirkvi, milý človek, a on povedal, „Brat Branham, ty sa snažíš ľuďom predstaviť apoštolský vek,“ povedal, „a apoštolský vek pritom pominul. “
89A povedal som, „Prosím ťa, môj brat, ukáž mi v Písme, kedy sa zakončil apoštolský vek.“ Povedal som, „Apoštolský vek začal na deň Letníc a má... Peter povedal, na deň Letníc, 'To Zasľúbenie je pre vás a pre vaše deti a pre tých, ktorí sú ďaleko, pre koľkýchkoľvek si povolá Pán, náš Boh.' Kedy to skončilo? Ak Boh stále povoláva, potom apoštolský vek stále trvá.“
90A tak, to je to, kde sa ľudia snažia zviazať toľkých ľudí svojimi tradíciami starších, ako to bolo aj vtedy. A vy potom nedokážete vidieť, prečo sú tí ľudia tak povznesení a tak nadšení. A tieto zhromaždenia sú pre ostatných ľudí také divné, také zvláštne, pretože oni vidia, že oni sa prelomili cez tie bariéry. Preborili sa cez tie opony do prítomnosti Božej, kde vidia zamanifestované zasľúbenie tejto hodiny prejavené pred ľuďmi. Oni vidia, čo Boh zasľúbil.
91V Joelovi 2:28 On zasľúbil, že, „V týchto posledných dňoch bude na ľudí vyliaty pozdný dážď v tých posledných dňoch.“ Myslím, že to grécke slovo tam je kenos, čo znamená, že On sa 'vyprázdnil.' Nie takým spôsobom, ako by sme povedali, akoby niečo bolo vo vnútri niekoho, čo On vyprázdnil. Ale On vylial Samého Seba.
92On sa zmenil; Jeho en morphe. On sa zmenil z toho, čím bol, do toho, čím je. On nikdy nemení Svoju povahu. Ale v deň Letníc, On premenil Samého Seba zo Syna človeka na Syna Božieho. On prišiel - nie s ľuďmi. On prišiel v ľuďoch, vidíte, Ten istý Boh, aby ďalej konal Svoju službu v tomto veľkom veku.
93V Biblii prorokoval, že, „Príde deň, ktorý nebude dňom ani nocou, ale v čase večera bude Svetlo.“ No, slnko vychádza geograficky na východe a zapadá na západe. Je to stále to isté slnko, po celý čas. No, keď ten Syn, S-y-n, zjavil Izraelu, tým východným ľuďom, Samého Seba v manifestácii zasľúbeného Slova.
94Mali sme deň pochmúrnosti. Pri reformátoroch, a tak ďalej, sme mali dostatok svetla na to, aby sme vytvorili cirkvi a denominácie, pripojili sa k nim a vošli do nich; a bozkávali nemluvňatá a sobášili starých a pochovávali mŕtvych, a tak ďalej; a žili v nejakej cirkvi.
95Ale v čase večera, „Bude Svetlo,“ povedal, „v čase večera.“ A žiadne Písmo nemôže byť zrušené. A ten istý S-y-n, ktorý vylial Samého Seba, kenos, na deň Letníc, zasľúbil, že urobí to isté vo večernom čase. Rozumiete? Je to podľa zasľúbenia.
96Spojenie toho papierika. Pozrite sa, čo sa deje, a pozrite, čo On zasľúbil, potom uvidíte, kde sme. Spojenie tej veci. Môžete vidieť odhalenie tohto Veľkého a Mocného. Tradície znovu zaslepili ľudí pred týmito veľkými vecami, ktoré boli prorokované.
97Mojžiš, keď zišiel z toho vrchu, ktorý horel, čo za nádherné znázornenie!
98Mojžiš zišiel dole do Egypta a povedal tým cirkevným otcom, že ho Pán Boh navštívil v Mene 'JA SOM.' To Meno je prítomný čas; nie 'Bol som; budem.' Ale, 'JA SOM,' stále Ten istý, Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky. On je v prítomnom čase. On... To pasuje so Židom 13:8, „Ježiš Kristus, Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky.“
99Stále je to prorokované Slovo. A zhromaždenie, ktoré má presne pasovať s tým Slovom, prežitím tohoto dňa. Reformátori to mali, ó, ale toto je iný deň. Vidíte, v ktorom dni žijeme? Tak, ako On nemohol prísť v tých dňoch, keď prišiel na zem, takým spôsobom, akým prišiel Mojžiš alebo ktorýkoľvek z prorokov; to nebolo prorokované. A v týchto posledných dňoch je prorokované, že to príde takto. Nemôže to prísť vo forme Lutherovho prebudenia. Nemôže to prísť vo forme Wesleyho prebudenia. Je tu hodina prinavrátenia. Je to čas, kedy sa to musí navrátiť k originálnemu Svetlu Syna, k originálu.
100Ó, ako by sme do toho mohli umiestniť Písma! A vy, teológovia, z ktorejkoľvek časti sveta ste, viete, že to je pravda. Je to zasľúbenie. To je to, čo robí ľudí tak divnými. To je to, čo vytvára tých čudákov, ako ich nazývate. Je to preto, že oni... to je... Opona zostala otvorená od tradícií a oni To vidia. On je Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky. Rozumiete? To je to zasľúbenie Božie a my proti tomu nemôžeme ísť, pretože Písma nemôžu byť porušené. Áno. Zisťujeme, že On to zasľúbil. On sa vyprázdnil do Svojho ľudu. A On je Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky.
101Mojžiš potom, ako zišiel dolu do Egypta a vyhlásil to, potom Otec potvrdil jeho posolstvo tým, že prišiel na horu Sinaj v tom istom Ohnivom Stĺpe a zapálil ten vrch Ohňom. Všimli sme si to? Ten, ktorému dal zasľúbenie, On ho poslal vpred so Slovom. On mal prikázania. A aby mal toto prikázanie, on mal... Prikázania boli Slovo. Slovo ešte nikdy neprišlo k ľuďom. Tak Slovo vždy prichádza k prorokovi a on bol prorokom na tú hodinu.
102Ako Ježiš, ktorý bol Slovom. Ján bol prorok. A Ježiš prišiel k nemu do vody, pretože Slovo vždy prichádza k prorokovi, bez toho, aby to zlyhalo. Rozumiete? Slovo prichádza k tomu.
103Tak, Mojžiš, prišlo k nemu Slovo; prikázania. A on ich mal. No, prečo? Predtým, ako bolo to Slovo vydané a zamanifestované, Mojžiš musel zakryť svoju tvár, lebo Slovo nebolo kompletne zamanifestované. Oni vedeli, že sa niečo stalo, ale nevedeli, čo to bolo, to burácanie a hrmenie. Až nakoniec povedali, „Nech hovorí Mojžiš, a nie Boh.“
104A Boh povedal, „No, urobím to. Odteraz sa už nebudem takto zjavovať. Pošlem im proroka. Tak on... Ja budem hovoriť skrze Svojho proroka.“
105No, ak Mojžiš s tým prirodzeným zákonom (ako nám to tu zjavil Pavol v 2. liste Korinťanom) musel zakryť svoju tvár s tou prirodzenou vecou, o čo viac bude slávne a zahalené to duchovné pre toho neveriaceho skôr, ako to pre neho bude zamanifestované! O čo viac budú nazývať... Mojžiš bol čudák. O čo viac tak budú nazývať teba, ktorý si sa prelomil cez tú oponu a vošiel si do toho Ohnivého Stĺpa a vyšiel von s Požehnaním! A teraz si zahalený. Ľudia to nemôžu vidieť. Nedokážu to porozumieť.
106„Ak je to prirodzené slávne, o koľko viac bude to nadprirodzené! Ak to prirodzené, ktoré malo skončiť, malo byť slávne, o koľko viac bude slávne Toto, ktoré nemá žiaden koniec.“
107Ale stále je To zaclonené. Pre veriaceho To nie je zaclonené, ale pre neveriaceho áno. On To nemôže vidieť. Boh sa vždy zakrýva pred neveriacim. Tradície To zakrývajú. Ako to urobili vtedy, robia to aj dnes.
108Tam, kde bola tá prirodzená opona, tam je teraz duchovná opona, ktorú tu teraz máme. Oni sú potvrdení prorokom s napísaným Slovom; prorokom, tým, ktorý prichádza s napísaným Slovom, aby To bolo jasné.
109Oni vedeli, že tam bolo Slovo, ale nevedeli, čo To znamenalo. A Mojžiš To objasnil. On povedal, „Prikázanie hovorí Toto a toto je ten dôvod prečo.“ Objasnil to. A predtým, ako To bolo objasnené, bolo To zahalené.
110A tak je to aj dnes, zahalené pred ľuďmi, až kým To nie je zjavené a objasnené ľuďom. Boh, mocný Boh, zahalený v ľudskom tele, Slovo. Všimnite si. Teraz zisťujeme, že to bolo ukryté pred neveriacim, ale zjavené veriacemu.
111Všimnite si, Mojžiš musel vstúpiť sám do tohoto Ohnivého Stĺpa. Nikto s ním nemohol ísť. To nebolo... Čo to ku nám hovorí? To, že do Tohto nevchádzate skrze pripojenie sa k nejakej letničnej skupine. Rozumiete? On To nikdy nezjavil skupine. On To zjavil jednotlivcovi. A tak je to aj dnes. Poviete, „Ja patrím do zboru. Ja patrím do tohoto.“ Ale to nebude fungovať. Rozumiete?
112A pre každého, kto sa pokúsil nasledovať Mojžiša, aby to napodobnil, to bola smrť. A tak je to aj dnes, duchovná smrť - snažiť sa napodobniť. To je to, čo...
113Dnes večer do toho vchádzame, medzi skupinami povstáva telesné porovnávanie; niekto sa takto snaží správať a žiť odlišným druhom života; môžu piť, môžu fajčiť, ženy môžu žiť takmer akýmkoľvek spôsobom chcú a majú radi svet, zostávajú doma a sledujú televíziu a svetské veci a naďalej sa nazývajú letničnými. Snažia sa napodobňovať to skutočné. Nikdy im to nebolo zjavené. Keď je To zjavené, a keď tam vstúpite, potom je to slávne a niečo to od vás berie preč. Stanete sa oponou. To je... To jednoducho nebude fungovať. A napodobňovať To znamenalo smrť.
114Mojžišova opona; on bol živým Slovom pre ľudí. A ľudia, ktorí sú dnes zahalení, oni sú tou istou vecou. „Oni sú písanými epištolami, ktoré sú čítané od všetkých ľudí.“ Nie nejaká nová epištola; ale Epištola, ktorá bola napísaná, ktorá sa zamanifestovala. To sú tí, ktorí veria Slovu a zasľúbeniu tohoto dňa, že Boh vylieva Svojho Ducha na každé telo, a to sú napísané epištoly. A keď sa to človek snaží telesne napodobniť, to má spätný zápal [opačný účinok]. Tvoj život ukazuje, čím si.
115Raz bol jeden chlapec, ktorý sa dostal do nejakých problémov. Bol to dobrý chlapec, ale on išiel pred súd. A sudca povedal, „Považujem ťa za vinného. Musím ťa potrestať na doživotie.“
116On povedal, „Chcem obhájiť svoj prípad.“ Povedal, „Chcem sa odvolať na môj záznam.“
117Povedal, „Nemáš žiaden záznam. Tvoj záznam je to, čo ťa odsúdilo.“
118A tak je to dnes, to je ten dôvod, prečo cirkev nenapreduje tak, ako by mala. Ide o ten záznam. Ide o život. Musíme byť viac oddaní. Musíme veriť každému Božiemu Slovu. Musíme hľadať, až kým sa nám to Slovo nestane skutočným. Vidíte? Rozumiete? Ten záznam je tým, čo nám bráni vstúpiť dovnútra.
119Ale raz (aby som vás vyviedol z tohto kruhu), na tom istom súde nejaký chlapec nemal peniaze. On to nedokázal zaplatiť. Tá pokuta bola v čiastke niekoľkých tisícov dolárov. Ale on mal staršieho brata, ktorý prišiel a zaplatil to za neho.
120No, my máme staršieho Brata, Ježiša, Syna Božieho. A On prišiel, aby to za nás zaplatil, ak tomu len budeme veriť a budeme schopní vojsť s Ním cez tú oponu. A On je náš Mojžiš. Ježiš je naším Mojžišom dneška. Mojžiš, tá opona, bol pre ľudí živým Slovom. Dnes je Ježiš zakrytý, to je živé Slovo pre ľudí, to je Ježiš v Cirkvi. Duch Svätý, Syn Boží v ľuďoch, zjavujúci Slovo skrze zasľúbenie tohoto dňa, robí To úplne presné. Teraz je to rovnaké.
121A pamätajte, Mojžiš to urobil a nezamanifestoval to celému svetu, ale ľuďom toho exodu, len tej jednej triede ľudí, to boli tí, ktorí vyšli z exo-... v exode.
122A dnes, Svätý Duch, tvárou v tvár ľuďom, ktorí hovoria, „Božské uzdravenie nie je pravda.“ Keď som sa rozprával...
123Jedného dňa mi zavolal určitý lekár od jednej pani, ó, bolo tam štyri alebo päť prípadov, keď tam ležali na pokraji smrti, dávali im už len zopár hodín a Duch Svätý ich uzdravil. Ten lekár to spochybňoval. On povedal, „Ako to môže byť? No,“ povedal, „ja... to je moja pacientka.“
124Povedal som, „Bola. Ale teraz je Božia. Ona je teraz Jeho poddanou.“ Rozumiete?
125A tak vidíte tú vec, že Boh vyvoláva exodus, aby vyšli spoza telesnej opony, ktorá sa snaží napodobňovať, ktorá sa snaží pripojiť k cirkvi; nie metodisti, baptisti, presbyteriáni, ale letničné cirkvi. To je individuálna záležitosť. To si ty a Boh. Ty musíš vojsť, nie tvoja skupina, nie tvoja cirkev, nie tvoj pastor, ale to si ty, kto musí vstúpiť.
126Chcem, aby ste si všimli ďalšiu Mojžišovu charakteristiku, keď vyšiel. A predsa, aj keď bol prorokom, bol takým veľkým človekom, keď vyšiel so Slovom, ľudia videli, že bol zmenený. Niečo sa mu stalo. Keď vyšiel s potvrdeným Slovom tej hodiny, s tými prikázaniami, on bol zmenenou osobou.
127A tak isto budeš aj ty, keď vyjdeš spoza tej ľudskej opony, ktorá by sa takémuto zhromaždeniu vysmiala; ten človek, ktorý by sa potkol na Božskom uzdravení a povedal by, že dni zázrakov pominuli. Vypadol si spoza tej ľudskej opony, tej tradičnej opony, a každý bude vedieť, že sa ti niečo stalo.
128Ako náš ctený brat Jim Brown. Predstavujem si, že väčšina presbyteriánov vie, že sa mu niečo stalo, pretože on vyšiel spoza tej tradičnej opony. Uvidel v tých ľuďoch niečo, čo ho priťahovalo, a vyšiel spoza tej opony.
129No, keď vyjdeš spoza tej opony, potom budeš pre ľudí jasne viditeľný, aby mohli vidieť, že sa ti niečo stalo. Zahalené Slovo pre neveriaceho, ale jasne viditeľné pre veriaceho. Ježiš Kristus, Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky.
130Potom to bol Boh. V tých dňoch to bol Boh v Človeku, Jeho Syn, Ježiš Kristus. Veríme tomu. Nielen prorok, nielen obyčajný muž, obyčajný človek. To bol Boh v Kristovi; Boh v Človeku; plnosť Božstva telesne v Človeku. Boh v Človeku!
131A teraz to je Boh v ľuďoch, plnosť Božia v Božstve, telesne v celej Jeho Cirkvi, manifestuje Samého Seba, vypĺňa Svoje Slovo.
132No, zisťujeme, že Boh mal cez všetky veky kožu. On, Boh bol skrytý za oponou.
133To mi práve pripomína jeden malý príbeh, ktorý sa stal dole na juhu. A tak, tam bol jeden kresťanský domov. A potom, v tomto kresťanskom domove verili v Boha a mysleli si, že Boh ich chráni od všetkých problémov. Pričom, On to robí. A mali tam malého Juniora, malého chlapca, ktorý mal asi sedem alebo osem rokov a chodieval do nedeľnej školy a bol to veľmi dobrý malý chlapec. Ale bál sa búrky, zvlášť, keď sa blýskalo.
134A minule som toto rozprával jednému človeku, keď vyšiel tento článok o tomto mužovi, ktorý bol uzdravený. Tento kazateľ povedal, „Robia z teba boha, brat Branham.“
135No, on bol kritik, tak som myslel, že to trochu prelomím, len trochu. Nie preto, aby som zranil, viete, ale len trochu… Povedal som, „Či je to veľmi vzdialené od Písma, aby to tak bolo?“ Vidíte? Povedal som, „Nie, nie je,“ povedal som, „lebo Ježiš nazval prorokov 'bohmi.'“ Vidíte? Je to tak, 'Boh.'
136A oni hovoria, „No, vy, ľudia, sa snažíte zaujať miesto Boha.“ To nie je tak ďaleko. To je presne to, čo to je. Je to presne tak. Boh zamanifestovaný v tele, práve tak, ako to On zasľúbil.
137Zisťujeme, že táto malá rodina… Rozprával som mu tento malý príbeh, ktorý mi práve teraz prišiel na myseľ. A tak, jednej noci prišla búrka a tá matka povedala Juniorovi, riekla, „No, choď na poschodie, synku, a choď do postele.“
Povedal, „Mama, bojím sa,“ povedal.
„Nič ti neublíži. Choď hore a bež do postele.“
138Malý Junior si tam ľahol a za oknami sa blýskalo. A ten malý chlapec bol tak nervózny, skryl si hlavu pod paplón a stále mohol počuť to hromobitie alebo vidieť cez okno, ako sa tam blýska, a počul, ako zahrmel hrom. A tak skríkol, „Mami!“
A ona povedala, „Čo je, Junior?“
Povedal, „Poď sem hore a spi vedľa mňa.“
139A tak vyšla hore po schodoch, ako by to urobila každá dobrá verná matka. A ona vyšla hore a vzala malého Juniora na ruky. A povedala, „Junior, mamička sa chce s tebou trochu porozprávať.“
Povedal, „Dobre, mami.“
140Povedala, „Teraz si musíš zapamätať toto: Chodievame pravidelne do zboru. Čítame si Bibliu. Modlíme sa. Sme kresťanskou rodinou. Veríme v Boha.“ A povedala, „Veríme, že pri búrkach a pri čomkoľvek, čo sa deje, Boh je našou ochranou.“
141Povedal, „Mami, všetko to tak verím. Ale,“ povedal, „keď sú tie blesky tak blízko,“ povedal, „chcem Boha, ktorý má kožu.“
142Tak, myslím, že nielen Junior, ale každý z nás to tak cíti. Keď sa zídeme spolu, keď sa modlíme jeden za druhého, Boh, ktorý má kožu.
143A nachádzame tu, že Boh mal vždy na Sebe kožu. Keď Ho videl Mojžiš, On mal na Sebe kožu, vyzeral ako Človek. Keď bol Boh poza oponami, mal na Sebe kožu. A Boh je dnes večer vo Svojej Cirkvi zaclonený, je vo Svojej Cirkvi, má na Sebe kožu. On je dnes večer stále tým istým Bohom.
144Ale teraz, ako vždy, tá záclona kože je to, čo zaráža tradície. Oni jednoducho nedokážu uveriť, že to je Boh, ktorý spôsobuje, že tí ľudia takto konajú. Rozumiete? To je preto, že Boh je zahalený vo Svojej Cirkvi, v kožiach, je na Tom koža. To je pravda. On je skrytý pred neveriacim a je zjavený veriacemu. Tak veru.
145No, keď je ich tradičná opona - tradícií tých starších - prelomená a Slovo sa dostáva dnu cez to (samozrejme, dnes), potom prichádza na jasný pohľad, vidíme Ho: Božstvo znovu zahalené v ľudskom tele. Je to tak povedané v Židom 1.
146A takisto v Genezis 18. Pamätáte, že Boh bol Človekom, ktorý tam stál, jedol a rozprával sa s Abrahámom a povedal, čo robila Sára v stane za Ním.
147A Ježiš povedal, „Ako bolo vo dňoch Sodomy, tak bude pri príchode Syna človeka,“ Božstvo znovu zahalené v ľudskom tele. No, pamätajte, Ježiš nepovedal, „Keď bude zjavený Syn Boží.“ Myslím, že to je v Lukášovi v 17. kapitole, niekde okolo verša 20 alebo 21, niekde tam On povedal, „A keď sa zjaví Syn človeka,“ Syn človeka znovu naspäť v Cirkvi, zjavený v ľudských bytostiach; nie Syn Boží, ale znovu Syn človeka, späť vo Svojej Cirkvi v tých posledných dňoch. Zisťujeme, že On to zasľúbil v Božích zasľúbeniach.
148Všímame si ešte jednu vec, v Starom Zákone. Mám tu Písmo, v Knihe Exodus. K čomu slúžili tie staré jazvečie kože? Oni prikrývali slávu Božiu pred ľuďmi; jazvečie kože. Ľudia ju nedokázali vidieť, pretože ju zakrývali kože. Za tými kožami bola sláva Božia.
149A v dnešnej dobe je sláva Božia za tvojou kožou. Je to tak. A tradície to nevidia. Je to vo vnútri za tou oponou, kde bolo Jeho Slovo.
150Čo bolo vo vnútri tých koží, za tými starými jazvečími kožami?
151Pričom, „Nebolo na Tom krásy, po ktorej by sme túžili? A keď sa To stalo telom a prebývalo medzi nami, stále na Tom nebolo krásy, po ktorej by sme túžili.“
152A teraz – tak isto je tomu dnes. Na tom mužovi alebo žene nie je nič, čo by bolo žiadúce, ale ide o to, čo je v ich vnútri. O to práve ide. „Nuž,“ hovoríte, „ten človek, pokiaľ viem, býval kedysi opilcom. Zvykol to robiť.“ Nezáleží na tom, čo kedysi robil. Čo je ukryté za tou kožou? Počíta sa to, čo je za ňou. Ľudia sú zaslepení; koža ich zaslepuje. Rozumiete? Oni hovoria, „Spomínam si, ako tá žena kedysi…“ Ja viem, čo ona kedysi robila, ale čo robí teraz? Rozumiete?
153Sú to tie kože, ktoré boli kedysi na jazvecovi, ale teraz ukrývajú slávu Božiu – ona prebýva za nimi. Bolo to na zvierati, ale teraz ukrývajú slávu Božiu.
154A tak tvoja koža môže byť dnes večer premenená, aby sa stala miestom prebývania Boha; Boh bývajúci v ľuďoch.
155Pozrite. Zisťujeme, že tie staré jazvečie kože, že za nimi bolo... Tam vo vnútri bolo Slovo. A Slovo, tam bol tiež chlieb predloženia. Archa bola pokropená. A čo to bolo? Tam vo vnútri bola Sláva Shekinah.
156No, Slovo je Semeno a Ono nemôže zrodiť, dokiaľ ho nezasiahne Syn. Na tom Semene musí byť Syn, aby zrodilo, aby to vyprodukovalo. A to je ten jediný spôsob. Ty berieš Slovo, vidíš, berieš Slovo Božie do svojho srdca a kráčaš do Slávy Shekinah. A keď to robíš, to prinesie chleby predloženia, Mannu, to je dané len tomu oddelenému ľudu. Tí jediní, ktorí to môžu jesť, tí, ktorým je dovolené, aby to jedli, to sú ľudia, ktorí to majú dovolené a poznajú to. Pavol tu povedal, „Meníme sa od Slávy do Slávy.“ Vidíte, nakoniec to prichádza do toho, až sa to navráti do svojej pôvodnej Slávy.
157Je to ako semeno kvetu povojnice [po anglicky doslovne „ranná sláva“ - pozn.prekl]. Semeno kvetu, ono padá do zeme. Semeno kukurice padá do zeme. Čo je tá prvá vec? Vyrastie a je z neho malý výhonok. Potom to ide do klasu. Potom z klasu naspäť do originálneho zrna.
158No, to je presne to, čo urobila Cirkev. Prišlo to od Luthera, Wesleya a teraz naspäť do toho originálneho Zrna, naspäť do svojej originálnej Slávy, naspäť do Slávy, v ktorej to bolo na počiatku. Syn, ktorý povstal na východe, to je ten istý Syn, ktorý manifestuje to isté na západe, premieňanie od Slávy do Slávy. Zmenilo sa to z pohanov ku Lutherovi; a od Luthera ďalej k Wesleymu; z Wesleya ku letničným; a tak ďalej a ďalej, premieňanie od Slávy k Sláve, produkuje to tú skrytú Mannu.
159A teraz je to zrelé, aby Ho to priviedlo naspäť presne Takého, ako bol na počiatku, Jeho rovnakú službu; ten istý Ježiš, tá istá moc, ten istý Duch Svätý. Ten istý, ktorý zostúpil na deň Letníc, to je ten istý Duch Svätý, ktorý sa dnes zjavil, od Slávy k Sláve, do Slávy. A je naspäť pri Svojom originálnom Semene s krstom Duchom Svätým; s tými istými znameniami, tými istými divmi, tým istým krstom; ten istý druh ľudí, ktorí konajú rovnakým spôsobom, s rovnakou mocou, rovnakou senzáciou. Je to od Slávy k Sláve. A to ďalšie bude, „Premenení z tejto Slávy do tela, ktoré je ako Jeho vlastné slávne telo, kde Ho uvidíme.“ Abrahám videl to isté.
160Všimnite si teraz. Vidíme, ako sa to zmenilo. Od Golgoty sme pozvaní, aby sme zdieľali Jeho Slávu. No, v 1. Korinťanom 12, „Sme pokrstení do Jeho Tela. Všetci sme pokrstení jedným Duchom.“ Nie jednou 'vodou.' „Jeden Duch, všetci sme pokrstení.“ To je pravda, no, a potom sa stávame Jeho časťou.
161Dúfam, že vás príliš dlho nezdržujem. [Zhromaždenie hovorí, „Nie.“ - pozn.prekl.] Rozumiete? Dúfam, že nie.
162Ale je to ako veľká symfónia, ktorá je hraná, alebo ako odohrávanie drámy.
163Neviem príliš mnoho o symfóniách alebo drámach. Ale sledoval som toto predstavenie... Hovoril som o Carmen, keď tam bola moja dcéra a tí ostatní. A oni hrali v tejto symfónii, v Carmen. Odohrávali to. Tá hudba odohrávala to isté.
164Tak to je, keď si pokrstený Duchom Svätým do Krista.
165Nuž, vidíte, mnohí z vás ste čítali alebo počuli príbeh veľkého ruského skladateľa, ktorý skomponoval príbeh 'Peter a vlk.' A ako on, oni to odohrávajú pomocou symbolov a všetkého takého. A ktokoľvek, kto pozná ten príbeh, číta to z nejakého papiera a môže počuť tú symfóniu, ako to hrá, tú drámu, ktorá sa odohráva, no, oni poznajú každú zmenu. Môžu sa tu na to dívať a vidieť tú zmenu.
166Ale teraz, čo sa stane, ak skladateľ niečo napíše a my zistíme, že to nie je odohrané správne? Potom zisťujeme, že sa niečo deje. Niečo tam chýba, keď ich vidíme. Ten, kto to zložil, vytvoril a napísal, a potom to tá symfónia odohráva a trafí nesprávnu notu. Niečo nie je v poriadku. Dirigent nesprávne zamával. Rozumiete?
167A to je to, čo sa deje dnes, moji luteránski bratia, moji bratia baptisti, moji letniční bratia. Všetci moji bratia zo všetkých rôznych denominácií, to je to, čo to je. Rozumiete? Snažíte sa udať notu, ktorá hrala vzadu vo dňoch Luthera, Wesleyho, a podobne, keď ten List s notami v skutočnosti ukazuje, že je iný deň. Rozumiete? Vidíte? Rozumiete? Nemôžeme žiť vo svetle Luthera; on bol reformátor. Vážime si jeho úlohu, ale my sme to už odohrali. Teraz sme tu na konci Knihy. Rozumiete? Nemôžeme to takto hrať.
168No, moji bratia, jediný spôsob, ako to budete môcť urobiť, je toto. A bratia zo sveta, z rôznych častí sveta, mohol by som povedať, že pre toho dirigenta existuje iba jeden spôsob, ako to urobiť. On musí vojsť do toho istého Ducha, v ktorom bol Skladateľ, potom to má. A keď je Cirkev, tá samotná Symfónia, kde svet sleduje tieto znamenia a zázraky; keď sa Cirkev a Skladateľ a dirigent dostanú všetci do Ducha toho Skladateľa.
169Potom, keď hovoria, „Dni zázrakov pominuli,“ netrafilo to správnu notu.
170Ale keď sa to dostane do toho správneho výkyvu a správneho Ducha tej veci; ako to dokážeš urobiť, kým nezostúpi dole Duch toho Skladateľa? Amen. Potom, keď poviete, „Dni zázrakov nikdy nepominuli.“ Tá symfónia volá, „Amen.“ Keď urobíme ten úder, povieme, „Ježiš Kristus, Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky.“ Tá symfónia volá, „Amen.“ „Potom, keď na teba zostúpi Duch Svätý, prijmeš moc.“ Tá symfónia volá, „Amen. Ja to mám.“ Potom už o tom nie je viac dohadov. Celá symfónia je v súlade so Slovom. To ide... [Brat Branham trikrát tleskne rukami. - pozn.prekl.] To je to. Ó! Je to veľkolepá vec. Dirigent a Skladateľ musia byť v jednom Duchu. A tak musia byť aj hudobníci v tom istom Duchu, aby to všetko odohrali. A svet sa diví, čo sa to deje.
171Ten komunizmus, o ktorom hovoria, to spôsobuje, že mi je z toho zle, a celá táto integrácia a všetko ostatné a segregácia. Ó, milosrdenstvo! Všetok tento nezmysel, keď príchod Pánov je tak blízko, niečo nerobí správny úder. Obávam sa, že ten dirigent dostal... Tí dirigenti sa dostali preč od Ducha Skladateľa.
172Keď dostaneme toho Ducha Skladateľa, tú originálnu moc Božiu, o ktorej Biblia hovorí, „Mužovia dávneho veku boli vedení Duchom Svätým, aby napísali túto Bibliu,“ potom uvidíte, ako sa tie dva čínske kúsky papiera spoja dokopy, presne tak, ako sa spojí dokopy Božia Biblia a veriaci, pretože sú obaja v jednom Duchu. Obaja sú to isté. Oni spolu zapadajú rovno do seba. To, čo dnes potrebujeme, sú dirigenti, to je pravda, naspäť do Slova, naspäť a veriť tomu tak, ako je to povedané. Potom vidíte samotného Boha. To je to odhalenie. Dráma sa stala skutočnou.
173Dnes hovoria, „No, On je historickým Bohom. Vieme, že prekročil Červené more. On toto všetko urobil. A On bol v ohnivej peci s hebrejskými deťmi.“ Na čo je dobrý Boh histórie, ak nie je ten istý dnes? Človek stále oslavuje Boha za to, čo urobil, myslí na to, čo urobí, a ignoruje to, čo On robí. To je jednoducho v človeku, že to takto robí. A dnes to je to isté, moji bratia. Je to úplne to isté. Ó!
174Navráťme sa a hrajme tú symfóniu správne, kde to môžu vidieť aj oni zo sveta. Ježiš povedal, „Ak budem vyzdvihnutý z tejto zeme, pritiahnem ku Sebe všetkých ľudí.“ A „On je Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky.“
175Nech sa tí dirigenti dostanú do správneho Ducha, s hudobníkmi a so Skladateľom, potom bude všetko v poriadku. Potom o tom nemáme žiadne dohady, potom sme s Ním zidentifikovaní. Židom 13:8 hovorí, „On je Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky.“
176Sme s Ním stotožnení v Skutkoch 2. Sme s nimi stotožnení, s tým istým krstom, s rovnakou vecou. Všetko, čím bol vtedy, a všetko, čím On je, všetko, čím On bol, a všetko, čím On je, my sme. Presne tak.
177Práve tak, ako keby som chcel byť skutočným Američanom, musím byť stotožnený so všetkým, čím [Amerika] bola, so všetkým, čím ona je. Ak som skutočný Američan, potom s tým musím byť stotožnený.
178Ak som skutočný Američan, potom som pristál na Plymouth Rock. Amen. Ak som Američan, potom som to urobil. Tak isto aj ty; pristál si na Plymouth Rock s pútnickými otcami. Na Plymouth Rock, keď tam pristáli, bol som s nimi; tak ste boli aj vy všetci.
179Išiel som s Paulom Revereom, rovno dole na ceste, aby som varoval o každom nebezpečenstve. To je presne tak.
180Rovno tu dolu vo Valley Forge som prešiel cez ľadový Delaware s hromadou vojakov, z ktorých polovica nemala na sebe topánky. Celú noc som sa modlil s Georgom Washingtonom. Prešiel som cez Delaware s videním vo svojom srdci. Sme Američania. Tak veru. Vo Valley Forge, isteže som tam bol.
181Vzdával som vďaku s tými pôvodnými otcami vďakyvzdania. Vzdával som vďaku Bohu. Ak som skutočný Američan, bol som identifikovaný tam pri tom stole.
182Ak som skutočný Američan, bol som identifikovaný, keď som tam stál so Stonewallom Jacksonom.
183Ak som skutočný Američan, bol som identifikovaný na Bostonskom čajovom večierku, tak veru, keď sme odmietli mať cez oči natiahnuté tie veci. ['Bostonský čajový večierok' - určitý protest z roku 1773. - pozn.prekl.] No, ja som taký ako skutočná Amerika. Bol som tam s tým stotožnený. Tak veru. Ó!
184Dňa 4. júla v roku 1776 som zazvonil na ten zvon slobody. Zazvonil som tu na zvon slobody a vyhlásil, že sme nezávislí. Aby som bol skutočným Američanom - tak som to musel urobiť.
185Bol som zidentifikovaný s jej hanbou v tej revolúcii, keď proti sebe bojovali bratia. Musím niesť jej hanbu, tak isto, ako musím niesť jej slávu. Ak som Američan, potom taký musím byť. Bol som s ňou zidentifikovaný. Tak veru.
186Bol som identifikovaný tam dolu v Gettysburgu, keď Lincoln predniesol svoju reč. Tak veru.
187Stál som na ostrove Wake nad krvavým telom tých vojakov. Stál som na ostrove Wake.
Na Guame som pomohol vyvesiť tú vlajku.
188Som skutočný Američan. Amen. Som všetkým, čím je Ona, a som na to hrdý. Áno, skutočne. Všetko, čím bola Amerika, všetko, čím je, ak som Američan, tak stále tým som. Všetko, čím Ona bola, musím tým byť, pretože som s ňou stotožnený.
189Keď je niekto skutočným Kresťanom, to je tá istá vec, musíš s tým byť stotožnený.
190Kázal som s Mojžišom a var-... alebo s Noem a varoval som ľudí pred prichádzajúcim súdom; ak som skutočným Kresťanom.
191Bol som s Mojžišom pri horiacom kríku. Videl som ten Ohnivý Stĺp. Videl som Jeho Slávu. Bol som s Mojžišom tam na púšti, ak som Kresťanom. Aby som bol Kresťanom, tak musím byť stotožnený so všetkým, čím bol Boh. Videl som Jeho Slávu. Počul som Jeho Hlas. Nesnažte sa mi to teraz nejakým vysvetľovaním vyhovoriť, lebo ja som tam bol. Viem, o čom hovorím. Videl som, čo sa stalo. Tak veru.
192Bol som pri Červenom mori, keď som videl Ducha Božieho, ako zostúpil dolu a oddelil vodu na jednu stranu; nebolo to cez hromadu trstiny, ako sa to dnes snažia povedať, ale cez okolo 90 stôp mora. Videl som Ducha Božieho. Kráčal som s Mojžišom cez tú vysušenú zem, cez Červené more.
193Stál som pri hore Sinaj a videl som padať hromy a blesky. Jedol som tam s nimi mannu. Pil som z tej Skaly. Dnes večer to stále robím. Bol som stotožnený s tými, ktorí jedli mannu. Bol som stotožnený s tými, ktorí pili z tej Skaly.
194Bol som tiež identifikovaný, keď Jozue zatrúbil na trúbu a spadli múry Jericha.
Bol som s Danielom v jame levov.
Bol som s tými hebrejskými mládencami v ohnivej peci.
Bol som na hore... s Eliášom na hore Karmel.
195Bol som s Jánom Krstiteľom a pred tými kritikmi. Videl som zostupovať Ducha Božieho. Počul som Hlas Boží, ako povedal, „Toto je Môj milovaný Syn, v ktorom sa Mi zaľúbilo prebývať.“ Tak veru. Istotne som s ním zostal zidentifikovaný. To je presne tak.
196Bol som tam zidentifikovaný pri hrobe Lazára, keď On vzkriesil Lazára. Bol som tam zidentifikovaný, pri tej žene pri studni, keď jej On povedal jej hriechy. Tak veru.
197Istotne som bol stotožnený s Ním v Jeho smrti. A bol som zidentifikovaný na prvú Veľkú noc. Vstal som s Ním zo smrti. Stotožnil som sa s Ním v Jeho smrti.
198Bol som s tými stodvadsiatimi v hornej dvorane. Bol som tam s nimi zidentifikovaný. Áno! Cítim sa nábožne. Ó! Bol som tam zidentifikovaný. Ja som jeden z nich. Bol som stotožnený. Mám rovnaké prežitie, ako mali oni. Aby som bol skutočným Kresťanom, tak som tam bol, keď sa to stalo. Bol som svedkom príchodu mocného rútiaceho sa Vetra. Bol som toho svedkom. Cítil som moc Božiu, ako sa to otriaslo. Bol som s tými, ktorí hovorili v jazykoch. Cítil som, ako tam vchádza Pomazanie. Bol som s nimi. Bol som s nimi stotožnený, keď Duch Svätý začal pri nich hovoriť v jazykoch.
199Bol som s Petrom pred kritikmi v Skutkoch 2, keď kázal to veľké kázanie, ktoré tam mal. Bol som s ním stotožnený. Tak veru.
200V Skutkoch 4, keď sa zhromaždili spolu, bol som tam s nimi, keď sa otriasla tá budova. Po tom modlitebnom zhromaždení sa zatriasla tá budova, v ktorej sedeli. Bol som tam s nimi identifikovaný.
Kázal som s Pavlom na Marsovom vrchu. Tak veru.
201Bol som s Jánom na ostrove Patmos a videl som Jeho druhý príchod.
Bol som s Lutherom pri reformácii.
202Bol som s Wesleym, tým drevom, ktoré bolo vychvátené z plameňov; bol vytrhnutý z ohňa, keď tam nastala tá veľká vzbura proti anglikánskej cirkvi. Bol som tam s ním.
203A dnes večer v roku 1964 som tu vo Filadelfii v Pensylvánii, som stotožnený s rovnakým druhom skupiny, s rovnakým druhom prežitia. Aby som bol Kresťanom, tak musím taký byť. Musím zostať zidentifikovaný tam, kde sa manifestuje Slovo Božie. Som stotožnený so skupinou, ktorá cíti Ducha Božieho.
204Som stotožnený so skupinou, ktorá vie, že On je odhalený; ktorá vie, že On je Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky; ktorá vie, že Toto nie je fanatizmus. „Je to Ježiš Kristus, Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky.“ Som dnes večer stotožnený s tou skupinou. A jednako sú nazývaní bandou heretikov, bandou fanatizmu kvôli Slovu Božiemu. Ale, „Nehanbím sa za Evanjelium Ježiša Krista, lebo ono je mocou Božou ku spaseniu,“ a to som ja. Som s tými živými Epištolami, o ktorých som hovoril, ktoré sú potvrdené, Boh zaclonený v ľudskej forme, v mužoch a ženách. Ó!
205Boh je znovu vo Svojom en morphe, odhalil Samého Seba a dal sa poznať Svojmu ľudu. Ten veľký Kráľ, ktorý odložil nabok Svoju Slávu. „Ešte malú chvíľu a svet Ma viac neuvidí. Budem pred nimi zaclonený. Ale vy Ma jednako uvidíte, lebo budem s vami, dokonca vo vás, až do konca; premieňanie od Luthera ku Wesleymu, ďalej a ďalej, od Slávy do Slávy. Ja som stále Ten istý Boh, ktorý žil, a vraciam sa do tej originálnej Slávy.“ Haleluja!
206On zlámal každú denominačnú oponu, každú zvukovú bariéru. Ten zvuk, ktorý hovorí, „Ó, to je fanatizmus,“ On sa rovno cez to prelomil. Ten zvuk, ktorý odtiaľ vyšiel a povedal, „Ó, tí ľudia sú blázniví,“ On sa prelomil rovno cez tú oponu. Áno, On to urobil. „Ó, vy to nedokážete. Nie ste nič iné ako banda fanatikov.“ On sa cez to prelomil. „Nie je nič také ako Božské uzdravenie.“ On sa cez to prelomil, ó, lebo Jeho Slovo povedalo, že to urobí. Nemôžete premôcť Slovo Božie.
207A dnes večer tam stojí ten mocný Premožiteľ, pretože zlámal každú metodistickú, baptistickú, presbyteriánsku a každú inú oponu. On dnes večer stále stojí medzi Svojím ľudom a nie je premožený tradíciami. Nech si ľudia hovoria, čo chcú, robia si, čo chcú, čokoľvek chcú. Boh prichádza, preráža rovno cez tú zvukovú bariéru.
208A pamätajte, oni mi povedali, že keď lietadlo skutočne prekoná tú zvukovú bariéru, jeho rýchlosť potom nie je nijako obmedzená.
209Hovorím vám, keď prelomíte tú tradičnú bariéru, že „Ježiš je tam v minulosti a teraz tu nie je,“ keď zistíte, že On je ten istý včera, dnes i naveky, potom neexistuje žiadne obmedzenie v tom, čo Boh môže urobiť rovno tu na tomto zhromaždení, a ukáže tomuto svetu to, čo potrebujú: nie svetovú výstavu, ale svetové prebudenie, ktoré bude naplnené a pokrstené prítomnosťou živého Boha, en morphe, ktorý zahalí Samého Seba v ľudskom tele. Haleluja! Verím tomu.
210Zlomil každú bariéru, každú oponu, každú oponu! Nič nemohlo ukryť Jeho prítomnosť. Keď ľudia vyhladnú v srdci, je tam opona, ktorá je pripravená, aby zostala zlomená. Môžete sa na to jednoducho spoľahnúť. Roztrhni každú oponu skrze Jeho veľkého Ducha Svätého!
211A tu dnes večer stojí ten mocný Premožiteľ, Ten istý včera, dnes i naveky; uzdravuje chorých, krstí veriacich, tak, ako to vždy robil. On je mocný Premožiteľ. Odsúdení diabli sú na úteku. Tak veru. Keď je On nablízku, oni sú vždy na úteku.
212Na záver by som mohol povedať toto. Bol tam... Pred mnohými rokmi som čítal taký príbeh o jednom starom huslistovi. On mal nejaké staré husle, ktoré išli predať. Mnohokrát ste počuli ten príbeh. A oni to chceli predať za určitú cenu. A ten dražobník povedal, „Kto mi dá toľko-a-toľko?“ Myslím, že mu bolo ponúknutých zopár mincí, možno päťdesiat centov alebo tak nejako. „Po prvé, po druhé,...“
213Hneď na to sa tam vzadu postavil jeden muž. On povedal, „Len chvíľu.“ A prišiel tam hore a zobral ich. Predstavme si, že zahral toto:
Tam je Prameň naplnený Krvou,
ktorá vytiekla zo žíl Emanuela;
Keď sa hriešnici ponorili pod ten prúd,
stratili všetky škvrny svojich vín.
214Potom, keď ich položil, na tom mieste nebolo suchého oka. Potom povedal, „Kto ponúkne?“
215Jeden povedal, „Päťtisíc. Desaťtisíc.“ Bolo to na nezaplatenie. Prečo? Ten starý majster huslista zjavil ich skutočnú kvalitu.
216Ó, brat, sestra, teraz nech Majster tohoto Slova, ktorý To napísal, ten veľký Duch Svätý, nech natrie Svoj sláčik láskou a potiahne ním cez tvoje srdce.
Tam je Prameň naplnený Krvou,
ktorá vytiekla zo žíl Emanuela;
217Uvidíš plnú hodnotu a uvidíš toho odhaleného Boha, ako je jasne viditeľný; že, On je práve taký istý, aký bol, keď padol na ľudí v deň Letníc, keď 'kenósoval' Samého Seba, vyprázdnil rovno do toho. To je pravda.
218Poviete, „Brat Branham, snažil som sa. Snažil som sa. Urobil som toto a tamto.“
219Jedného dňa som mal zhromaždenie v Carlsbad v Novom Mexiku. A išli sme dolu do toho veľkého brlohu netopierov. A vyzeralo to trochu strašidelne a dostali sme sa tam dolu. A ten muž, keď sa dostal dolu na to miesto, on vypol svetlá. Ó, viete si predstaviť, aká tam bola tma. Je to len... Taká tma, že ste ju mohli nahmatať.
220A v týchto časoch sa to dostáva rovno do toho, keď vidíme cirkev, ktorá nedokáže rozpoznať Božie Slovo; keď vidíte naše dcéry Siona robiť to, čo robia; keď vidíte našich bratov, ktorí fajčia a pijú a hovoria špinavé vtipy a také veci a stále sa snažia držať svoje vyznanie v Kristovi. Ó, je tma. Je hlboká tma.
221Vidíme znamenie Jeho príchodu. Tam bude... Tesne pred svitaním, vtedy je vždy najtemnejšie. Potom vyjde Ranná Hviezda, aby privítala deň, predzvestovala ho a ukázala, že to prichádza. Všimnite si.
222Tam vo vnútri, keď to vypli, bolo tam malé dievčatko, ktoré vykríklo tak hlasno, ako len mohlo. Tam pri sprievodcovi stál jeden malý chlapec a videl toho sprievodcu, keď takto zhasol tie svetlá. A tá malá sestra skoro dostala záchvat. Kričala, skákala hore a dolu. „Ó! Čo sa teraz stane? Čo sa deje? Čo sa deje?“
223Vieš, čo zakričal? Povedal, „Neboj sa, sestrička. Je tu muž, ktorý môže rozsvietiť svetlá.“
224Počúvaj, malá sestra, môžeš si myslieť, že sme malí a v menšine. Ale neboj sa. Je tu Muž, ktorý môže rozsvietiť Svetlá. To je Duch Svätý. Veríš tomu? [Zhromaždenie hovorí, „Amen.“ - pozn.prekl.]
225Skloňme na chvíľu svoje hlavy. Je mi ľúto, že som vás toľko zdržal.
226Ó, veľký Bože neba, ktorý odhaľuješ Samého Seba, odkrývaš sa, dávaš sa poznať, ten veľký Kráľ slávy, vezmi dnes večer tieto malé ilustrácie a nech padnú dolu na srdcia ľudí. A nech vidíme Toho odhaleného, Toho, ktorý zostúpil a roztrhol chrámovú oponu; a potom vyšiel rovno z tej opony; na deň Letníc znovu zostúpil rovno do ľudských opôn; vždy to bolo to isté, premieňalo sa to od Slávy do Slávy.
227A teraz sme rovno naspäť, ako to odohráva celá príroda, rovno naspäť do originálneho Semena, rovno z jedného cirkevného veku do druhého. A tu v tomto poslednom veku, tu sme my, rovno naspäť k tej originálnej Veci, ktorá padla na deň Letníc, aby sme vyplnili každé Písmo, „Svetlo vo večernom čase,“ a, „Skutky, ktoré Ja činím, vy tiež budete činiť,“ a toľko mnoho vecí, ktoré si zasľúbil vo Svojom Slove.
228Otče, ak je tu niekto, kto ešte neprenikol cez tú oponu, alebo ak je tu niekto, kto len napodobňoval niekoho, kto prešiel cez tú oponu, daj im dnes večer milosť, Otče. Nech vidia toho mocného Víťaza, ktorý tu stojí, plný milosti a moci, aby odpustil. Udeľ to, Otče.
229A keď sú naše hlavy sklonené, boli by tu nejakí ľudia? Koľko ich je, povedal by som, ktorí by povedali, „Brat Branham, dvíham svoju ruku. Modli sa za mňa“? Len majte sklonenú hlavu a zodvihnite ruku, „Chcem sa prelomiť cez každú oponu, až kým skutočne neuvidím Premožiteľa.“ Nech vás Boh žehná. Ó, ruky! Hore na balkónoch, tam napravo? Nech vás Boh žehná. Tam vzadu na balkónoch? Zodvihnite... Nech vás Boh žehná. Buďte skutočne úprimní. Naľavo? Zodvihnite ruku a povedzte, „Brat Branham, mohol som byť kresťanom už roky, ale v skutočnosti som nikdy neprešiel cez tú oponu. Skutočne som to nikdy neurobil. Nemám to, čo mali vtedy oni.“ Dnes máme... „Ja som rastlina z pareniska.“
230Vezmite kvet, ktorý je pestovaný na parenisku, musíte ho hýčkať, čičíkať, postrekovať, polievať. Ale tá originálna rastlina, ktorá vyrastá tam na púšti, ten istý druh kvetu, vyzerá ako on; nedostáva ani trochu vody, ale nedostanú sa naň žiadne chrobáky. On je drsný; je skutočný.
231Mohli by ste porovnať dnešné kresťanstvo s Kresťanstvom, ktoré bolo vtedy? Viete si predstaviť, že táto skupina, ktorú dnes po celom svete nazývame kresťanmi, je taká, aká bola po Letniciach; hýčkaní a čičíkaní z jedného zboru do druhého, a keď je povedané niečo, čo sa vám nepáči, vstanete a odídete preč? Ó, viete si to predstaviť? Nie. Čo sa deje? Je to reprodukcia.
232Michelangelo, ktorý vytvoril pomník Mojžiša, môžete si veľmi lacno zaobstarať jeho reprodukciu. Ale ten originál?
233Ten, kto namaľoval večeru Pánovu, myslím, že tá originálna maľba by vyšla na milióny dolárov, ak by ste si ju vôbec mohli kúpiť. Ja ani neviem, kde to je. Ale môžete si kúpiť jej lacnú kópiu za asi dolár a 98 centov. Môžete.
234A tak je to dnes. Lacný kresťan, nejaká kópia, len niekto, kto sa pripojí do zboru, môžete si ich kúpiť za cigaretu alebo za nejaký obyčajný drink. Alebo, čo sa týka žien s ostrihanými vlasmi alebo namaľovanými perami, môžete si ju kúpiť za čokoľvek z tejto svetskej módy. Ale to sa nedá porovnať s tým pravým.
235Vidím Ho jasne viditeľného, Toho istého včera, dnes i naveky.
236Ó, kresťan, nechceš byť skutočným Kresťanom? Ak niekto nezodvihol ruku, urobíš to? No, idem sa modliť. Nech ťa Boh žehná. Nech ťa Boh žehná. Ó, to je v poriadku. Len sa na to pozrite.
237Náš Nebeský Otče, Tvoje Slovo sa k Tebe nenavráti prázdne. Ty si bol Ten, ktorý dal zasľúbenie. Som zodpovedný len za to, že som povedal, že Ty si to povedal. Len opakujem Tvoje Slová. Povedal si, „Ten, kto počúva Moje Slovo a verí v Toho, ktorý Ma poslal, má Večný Život.“ Zasľúbil si to.
238A, Pane, vieme, že dnes máme tie kópie, mnohí, ktorí hovoria, že veria, a pritom neveria. To sa ukazuje. Ale, Pane, existuje aj to pravé.
239Modlím sa, aby si tu dnes večer dal, aby každý muž a žena, chlapec alebo dievča, bez ohľadu na to, z akého sú národa, akej sú farby, do akej cirkvi patria, ó, Bože, naplň ich. Nech vidia ten skutočný prejav toho istého Ježiša dnes, rovno medzi nami, ako bol na deň Letníc, keď sa zjavil pre tento vek ako Duch Svätý. Udeľ to, keď vidíme, ako sa Slová napĺňajú, proroctvá sa plnili!
240Porovnávame dnes to, čo sa nazýva cirkev sveta, svetová rada cirkví, a porovnať to so zasľúbením na Letnice? Neexistuje vôbec žiadne porovnanie. Nemôžeme za ten lístok obdržať naše vyprané špinavé oblečenie.
241Ale, Pane Bože, ak sa vrátime k tomu Prameňu, tam je očistný proces, potom naše prežitie a Božie Slovo budú spolu pasovať. Potom si môžeme nárokovať svoj majetok. Udeľ to, Pane, dnes večer, keď zverujem týchto ľudí do Tvojich rúk. Daj každému to, čo potrebujeme, Otče. Prosíme v Ježišovom Mene. Amen.
242Nech vás Boh žehná. Ďakujem vám veľmi pekne, že ste stáli a dlho vydržali. A je mi ľúto, že som vás držal do 22:10. Nech je Boh s vami, kým vás ráno neuvidím. Odovzdávam teraz službu, predpokladám, vedúcemu slávnosti.
1 Have a few Scriptures written down, that I'd like to speak to you from, and I trust that God will bless our feeble efforts.
2Now, many people has wondered why we are so odd and so noisy. You know, this is kind of a different type of--of a convention than what people are--are used to seeing. And, usually, everything is kind of a cut-and-dried form. But when we come to these conventions, which has been my privilege now for several years since they were first started, and we don't hardly know what we're going to do. We just come and surrender ourselves. That's the only thing that we know to do. And God does the rest of it. So that makes us a very peculiar-acting people.
3Other day, someone said, "You know, you people are really an oddball."
I said, "Well, I--I suppose we are."
4 And I remember of one of the conventions. Brother Troy was telling me one time of a little German that said he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And the next day, in the shop where he was working, he would raise his hands and praise the Lord, and speak in tongues and just carry on, awful. And finally, the boss came by and said, "Heini, what's the matter with you?"
5He said, "Oh, I got saved." He said, "My heart is just overflowing with joy."
6He said, "Well, you must have been down with that bunch of nuts down there."
7He said, "Yes. Glory to God!" Said, "Thank the Lord for the nuts." He said--he said, "You take the automobile, come down the road." Said, "You take all the nuts out of it, you haven't got nothing but a bunch of 'yunk.'" And that's just... It's just about right, you know.
8 One day, in California, I was going down the streets of Los Angeles, and I seen a man had a sign on his breast, and here. And he said, "I am a fool for Christ." And everybody was looking at him. And I noticed them turning around and looking, after he passed by. And I thought I would follow with the rest of them. And on the... his back, he said, "Whose fool are you?" Yeah. I suppose we're all kind of odd, one to the other, you know.
9But, you know, the world gets in such a rut, till something different makes it so odd, till the people does think that it's some something is wrong. And usually God has to do something so unusual, to get the people back to the Bible again.
10 I can imagine that Noah was kind of a--a nut, to that scientific age that he lived in, because they could prove there was no water in the skies. But God said there would be some there. So, Noah, preaching and believing that, he become a nut.
11And I'd imagine that when Moses went down in Egypt, he was kind of a--a nut, to Pharaoh. But remember, Pharaoh was a nut, to him, too. So they... We realize that.
12 Even Jesus was considered a heretic. That's right. Martin Luther was a nut, to the Catholic church. And John Wesley was a nut, to the Anglican. So, you know, it's--it's about time for another nut. Don't you think so? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] But, before there could be a nut, you know, there has to be a bolt, first, to thread to it.
13So, you know, Noah, being a nut, he... Takes the nut, it pulls the bolt, pulls something together, and holds something together. So, Noah was able to pull all that would believe, into the ark, out of the judgments, by being a nut.
14We find out, that, Moses pulled the church out of Egypt, by being a nut. That's right.
15 I think we need a nut now, to pull the Bride out of the church. We need something now, another one, so we are a very odd sort of people. And I thought, tonight, if the Lord was willing, I would try to read some Scriptures pertaining to this, and would speak to you just a few moments, and try to show you why we are such an odd people.
16Let us turn in the Scriptures now, to Philippians the 2nd chapter, 1-8, and Second Corinthians 3:6. And let us read, as we believe God's Word.
17And now, just before we read, let us bow our heads for prayer.
18 Gracious Heavenly Father, we are indeed a privileged people, tonight, to be living in this age, and to see the things that we see going on, and to know that the time is close at hand, when Jesus will come for His Church. Oh, that thrills our hearts, Lord! And as we pull back the pages, tonight, we pray that You'll give us a context out of this text. And may the Holy Spirit reveal to our hearts the things that would be good and pleasing to God. For we ask it in Jesus' Name. Amen.
19 You know, believe I'll ask you to do something. I--I usually ask some strange things, and I hope I'm not asking anything too strange. But when we pledge allegiance to the flag, we all stand. And--and the flag passes by, we stand; which, we should. And we stand, to salute. Let's just stand to our feet while we read the Word, if you will, Second Corinthians 3:6.
Who... has made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
But if--but if the ministration of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, such more does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reasons of the glory that excelleth.
For if that which is done away was glorious, how... or much more that which remaineth is glorious.
Seeing then that we have such a hope, we use great plainness of speech.
And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which was abolished:
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
Nevertheless when it shall be turned to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Not...
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
But we all, with open faces behold as in a glass the glory of the Lord, the changing unto the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
20 And in Philippians 2, we read this, beginning with the 1st, and reading to the 8th verse.
If--if there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love,... any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels of mercy,
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being in one accord, and one mind.
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on... things of others.
Let this mind be in you, which also was in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made of himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.
21 Let us pray.
22Heavenly Father, this great Word that has been read, tonight, from Thy Holy Writ, make It so real to our hearts, that we will go from here like those going from Emmaus, saying, "Did not our hearts burn within us as He talked to us along the road?" For we ask it in Jesus' Name. Amen.
You may be seated.
23 Now, this is a very odd text, but I think it's very suiting for the occasion. I wanted to speak on the subject of: The Mighty God Unveiled Before Us.
24Now, since there has been man, there has been a hunger in man's heart, to find out: where he came from; and what's his reason of being here; and where he's going. There's only One can answer that, that's the One Who brought him here. And man has always wanted to see God.
25 Back in the Old Testament, we find out that God veiled Himself from unbelievers. God has a very odd way of dealing with people. He hides Himself from the unbeliever and reveals Himself to the believer. God does that. Jesus thanked the Father, that, "He had hid these things from the wise and prudent, and would reveal It to babes such as would learn." So, we find that God never changes, in His nature, and He's always doing His work the same. We find out, in Malachi 3, that He said, "I am God, and I change not." So, He works in the same principle, all the time.
26 Now we take one of the oldest books of the Bible. When Job, one of the most righteous men of his day, a perfect man in the laws of God, a servant, noble, honorable servant, even till God said, "There is none like him, in the earth." But... his desire, one time, to see God. He knowed that there was a God, and he felt that he would like to see Him, or, otherwise, go to His house and knock on the door, and say, "I'd like to speak with You." Set down, talk with Him, like we would with each other.
27We have an understanding. That's why we're in these conventions, where we come together and--and express our thoughts. And--and we understand one another, better, when we talk things over with each other. And ministers do that. People of all walks of life do it, talk things over.
28 And, Job, God was so real to him, he wanted to find out if he couldn't go, knock at His door, and--and have an--an interview with Him.
29But we find out that God did speak to him, but He was veiled. He was veiled in a form of a whirlwind. And He told Job to gird up his loins; He was going to speak to him, like a man. And He came down in a whirlwind and--and spoke to Job. And He was made known to Job through the whirlwind, yet he did not exactly see Him. He could just hear the wind blowing and turning around, in the trees. And the Voice came out of the whirlwind, but God was veiled in the whirlwind.
30 We find, down in Africa, South Africa, they use the word amoyah, which means, "an unseen force."
31And this unseen Force, in the whirlwind, had an audible Voice. It spoke out to Job, yet he never seen His form. But He was veiled, to him, by the whirlwind.
32We find one of the great prophets of the Bible, Moses, of the Old Testament, one of God's chosen, selected, predestined servants, he also desired to see Him. He had been so close to Him, and had seen so many things of His great mystic hand going before him and doing things that only God could do. He desired to see Him one day, and God told him, "Go, stand on the rock."
33And while standing on the rock, Moses seen Him pass. He saw the back of Him. And he said, "It looked like a man, a man's back." Yet, he did not see God. He only seen the veil of God.
34 The Bible said, "No man has seen God at any time, but the only Begotten of the Father has declared Him." So, Moses saw Him, veiled, as a Man. We find that Jehovah of the Old Testament was just Jesus of the New Testament.
35And--and Dr. Scofield here, we find that, his word, changing from "form." We find the word en morphe, in Greek, which means "the unseen was made visible." Something that cannot... We know it's there. It can be... cannot be seen, but yet we know that it's there. And when He changed His form, of the en morphe, which mean that He changed from supernatural to natural.
36And He just changed His mask, in otherwise. It's like a drama. He was acting. And in the Greek, when they would change their mask, maybe one play, one player might have acted in several different parts.
37And my daughter, present here, they just had at the high school, a--a drama. And the one boy that I know, played about four parts, but he would go behind the stage and change his--his mask, in order to come out, to impersonate another character.
38 Now, if you will take the Old Testament prophesies concerning what the Messiah was to be, you can compare it with the life of Jesus, and you've got it exactly who Jesus was. He was not just an ordinary man. He was God, en morphe. He was changed from--from the supernatural into the natural form of a Man. Yet, He was God, manifested in the flesh, veiled by a human, fleshly veil.
And you watch the Old Testament.
39I--I--I know that I'm speaking to a mixed-up audience, tonight, from different parts of the world. And we are here to find out. What are we--what are we doing? What--what are we? Where we getting to? What's happening? What does all this mean?
40 And now we find, in here, that, if you Jewish men and women, and the rabbis in--in--in the temple, in the days gone by, if they had watched the Bible, the prophecies, instead of the traditions, they would have recognized who Jesus was. They would have never called Him Beelzebub. They would have never crucified Him. But, it all had to act out. That's part of the drama. And they were blinded, on this case.
41 It's like many you men, women, here tonight, may be my age or little older. You remember, here in America, years ago, before... The Chinese... My brother, that just introduced here, that come on my mind when I was talking to him. How that they used to... They couldn't speak English, and they--they run the laundry. And you go to his laundry, to get your laundry done. The--the Chinese laundry men would take a tag, and would tear it in a certain way. You take one part of the tag; he'd take the other part. But when you come back to claim your belongings, those two pieces of paper had to dovetail. And if they didn't dovetail just exactly right... You couldn't impersonate it in any way, 'cause he had one piece and you had the other. And if it impersonated... Then you had a right to claim what was yours. And then you've got what belonged to you, when you possess the other part of the contract.
42So is it, tonight, when we got the other part of the contract. When, God tore His Son in two, at Calvary, taking the body up for a Sacrifice, and sent the Spirit down to us, that once lived in a Man, Jesus. That same God is in veil tonight, in the form of the Holy Ghost. Those two pieces has to come together, then you're part of the contract. God did this, to be better known to man, when He made Hisself Man.
43 I was reading a story, some years ago. And in this story, it said a great, noble king... I forget the name of him, just now. I wasn't thinking about speaking of the story. It, perhaps fiction, but it leads us to a point that gives us a background on what we want to say. This king, he was such a noble king, and such a great lover of his subjects, till, one day, before his--his guard and his royalty, he said, "Today, you see me for your last time, for many years."
44And his guard and his nobles said to him, "Good king, why do you say that? Are you going to a foreign country, somewhere, and become an alien?"
45He said, "No. I'm staying right here. Well," said, "I'm going out amongst my subjects. I'm going to become a peasant. I'm going to cut wood with the wood chopper. I'm going to--to till the ground with the toiler. I am going to prune the vines with those who prune the vines. I'm going to be one of them, in order to get a better acquainted with what they are doing. And I love them. And I want to be more acquainted with them, personally. They won't know me. But, yet, I want to be acquainted with them, in that way."
46 And the next morning, when his delegates, all of his people seen him, or the ones was in the palace, take off his crown and lay it down upon the seat, the throne; and take his robe off, and put on peasant's clothes, walk out amongst common people.
Now, in that little story, we find out then about God.
47They said to the king, said, "King, we want you. We love you. We--we want you to remain king." But he wanted become one of them, to know them better, that they would know him better, really what he was. It would display to them what he really was.
48 And that's what God did. He--He changed Himself, from being Jehovah God, to become one of us, that He might suffer, He might taste death, He might know what the sting of death was, and take the penalty of death upon Himself. He laid aside His--His crown and His robe, and became one of us. He washed feet with the--with the--the lowly. He dwelt in the tents, with the poor. He slept in the--the woods and in the streets, with those who were underprivileged. He become one of us, that He might understand us better, and that we might understand Him better.
49 Now, I think, in that, we find out, the changing, Himself, what He did. If you'll notice, He came in the name of three sons. He came in the name of the Son of man, and in the Son of God, and the Son of David. He came as Son of man.
50Now, in Ezekiel 2:3, Jehovah, Himself, called Ezekiel, the prophet, "the son of man."
51Son of man means "a prophet." He had to come that way, to fulfill Deuteronomy 18:15, which Moses said, "The Lord your God shall raise up among you a prophet likened unto me." He never called Himself the Son of God. He referred to Himself, "the Son of man," because He had to come according to the Scripture. See? He had to make those two pieces of torn paper, the Old Testament prophecy and His Own character, to be exactly the same. So, He come, the Son of man, come in that form.
52 Then we find, after His death, burial, and resurrection, He came on the Day of Pentecost, as Son of God; God, the Spirit, in the form, Holy Ghost. What was He doing? He was changing Himself, making Himself known to His people in a different form. Like, the Holy Spirit, which is God, He came to deal through the church ages, as Son of God, the Holy Spirit.
53But, in the Millennium, He comes as Son of David, to set on the throne of David, King. He was to take the throne of David. He is on the Father's throne now. And then He said, "He that overcometh shall set with Me on My throne, as I've overcome and set on My Father's throne." So, He, in the Millennium, He'll be Son of David. What is it? The same God, all the time, just changing His--His mask.
I am, to my wife, a husband.
54 Did you notice? The Syrophenician woman said, "Thou Son of David, have mercy." He, never even bothered Him, at all. She had no rights to call Him that. She had no claims on Him as Son of David. He--He is the Son of David, to the Jew. And now He come... But when she called Him, "Lord," He was her Lord, then she got what she asked for.
Now, as, He is just changing Himself.
55 Now, in my home, I'm three different people. In my home, my wife has claims on me as husband. My daughter out there, she doesn't have any claims on me as husband; I am her father. And my little grandson there, I'm grandfather to him, so he has no right to call me father. I'm not his father. My son is his father. I am his grandfather. But I'm still the same man.
56And God, what He does, He just changes Himself, to become to that generation, to make known Himself to that people. And that's what we're here to find out, tonight. In what way is God supposed to make Hisself known to this people and in this time? He changes His mask, He changes His act, but He doesn't change His disposition. He doesn't change His--His nature. He just changes His mask, from one to another. He does it, to reveal Himself more plain to the people, that they might know who He is, and what He is.
57 In Hebrews 1, we read, "God, in sundry times and divers manners spake to the fathers, through the prophets, but in this last days through His Son, Jesus."
58Now, "The prophets," Jesus said, when He was here on earth, "they were gods. You call those 'gods,' who the Word of God came to. And the Scriptures cannot be broken," He said. Said, "How you can condemn Him then, when He's the Son of God?" See?
59 The Word of God is lotted to each age, what It's to be. And Jesus was the fulfillment of all the prophecies. "In Him dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily." It was in Him. He was the One that was in Joseph. He was the One Who was in Elijah. He was the One Who was in Moses. He was the One Who was in David, a rejected king.
60His own people had rejected him, as king. And as he went out of the--of the courtyard, a little, afflicted fellow crawling around, did not like his--his government, his system, and he spit upon him. And the guard pulled his sword, said, "Will I leave that dog's head on him, spitting on my king?"
61And David, maybe not realizing what he was doing at the time, but he was anointed. And he said, "Let him alone. God has told him to do this." And he climbed up on the hill and wept over Jerusalem, a rejected king.
62Did you notice? A few hundred years from then, the Son of David being spit upon, in the streets, and was on the hill, same mountain, looking down over Jerusalem, a rejected King. And cried, "Jerusalem, how oft would I have hovered you as a hen did her brood, but you would not?"
63 He never changed His nature, 'cause Hebrews 13:8 said, "He's the same yesterday, today, and forever." God was made flesh, in order to die, to redeem us from sin. That's why He changed Himself, to be a--a Man.
64We see, in Saint John 12:20, the Greeks had heard of Him. Now, there's no man can ever hear of Him except their heart burns to see Him. Like Job and the prophets of old, they all wanted to see Him. So, this Greek came to see Him. They came to Philip, which was of Bethsaida, said, "Sir, we would see Jesus."
65 The Greeks wanted to see Him, but they were unable to see Him because He was in the temple of His humanity. "God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself." Now we find that, in this, these Greeks could not see Him.
66And notice the very words that Jesus expressed to them, afterwards. He said, "Except a corn of wheat falls into the ground, dies, it abides alone." In other words, they would never be able to see Him in the change, in the mask that He was in then, because He was veiled in human flesh. But when this corn of Wheat fell into the ground, then It would bring forth all races. He was sent to the Jews, of course, at that time. But this corn of Wheat must fall; veiled God, in human's flesh, hidden from unbelievers, but being revealed to believers.
67 In John 1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld Him, the only Begotten of the Father, full of grace." Now, in the beginning was the Word. A Word is a thought expressed.
68In the beginning, He wasn't even God. Now, our English word today, God, means "an object of worship." How confusing it is to the mind. You can make somebody a god. You can make anything a god.
69But in the Old Testament, in Genesis 1, "In the beginning God," the word is used, Elohim. Elohim means "the self-existing One." What a difference the word Elohim is, to our word God. Elohim means "the self-existing One."
70We cannot be self-existing. We cannot be almighty, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient. That Elohim expresses all of that. We cannot be that. The tree that you make a god out of, or the--or the building, it's not self-existing.
71 So, God, in the beginning, was Life, the Eternal One. In Him was attributes, and those attributes became Words, and the Word became flesh. Jesus was the Redeemer. And to redeem, means, "to bring back." If He has to bring it back, it had to be somewhere to be brought back to. So, you see, all people will never be able to see it, because all people wasn't in the beginning in God's thoughts. See?
72 Look at the priests. When they see Him express Hisself exactly with the Word, what He was, they said, "It's Beelzebub." That showed where their nature was. It was in the modern thought of the day.
73But when the little prostitute, that He met at the gate, and told her, expressed His messianic sign, by telling her what she had done. "Why," she said, "Sir, I perceive that You are a Prophet. We know, the Messiah, when He comes, He will tell us all these things." She was recognizing Him as the Messiah, the anointed One, because He met the Scripture qualifications. Don't you see? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] The two pieces of paper were coming together. She, "We know that, when the Messiah cometh."
74 Now, God might have had to interbred this and that, to get this certain ting of the bell, like the molder. But when Jesus turned, said, "I am He that speaks with you," there was no such an expression as "Beelzebub." She left her water pot, ran into the city, and said, "Come, see a Man Who told me the things that I have done. Isn't This the very Messiah?" See?
75Now, what did this? Putting the old Scripture with the experience that--that Jesus was giving to her, what did it do? It made the Messiah. And did you notice? Quickly, her sins were forgiven, because, at the beginning, she was redeemable, because she was in God's thinking at the beginning. So, it redeemed her, or brought her back, when she seen the expressed Scripture manifested, of Jehovah, what He was, what He is.
76 Now, when Jesus come, if He'd have come with Noah's message, it wouldn't have worked. To build an ark, and float out, it wouldn't have worked. But that Noah was a portion of God. He acted a peculiar way because he was peculiar, and his message was peculiar because it was the Word being made manifest.
77He could not have come with Moses' message, because it wouldn't have worked. Moses was God, in a portion, made manifest. He was the word expressed for that hour, but Jesus could not come in that. The Bible never said He would come in that way.
78But when He come, expressed exactly like the--the Testament had said He would be expressed, then all those who was redeemable believed It, because they were the thoughts of God. The attributes of Him at the beginning was made flesh, and redeemable, and was brought back to God. "As many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become sons of God," because they were redeemable. They were from the beginning, in the expression.
79 If we could stop here a moment, if it would be possible, and think of that, tonight, of the Message of the hour, the expressed thoughts of Jehovah. "Before the foundation of the world," we are told, "our names were put on the Lamb's Book of Life." Then we can see the two sides, as I first said, why one is odd to the other. It must be that way. It was always. It always has been that way, and it always will be that way. "He was the Word. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us."
80 Now, God, in... back in the days of the Old Testament, we find that after He had appeared to His people, in different forms, He veiled Himself behind old badger skins. God hiding behind badger skins, at His mercy seat. We find that, how that Solomon, when he dedicated the temple of the Lord, and these badger skins was hanging there, the veil, how that He came in as the Pillar of Fire and as a Cloud, and went down behind there, and veiled Himself, to the outside world. But, by faith, Israel knew that He was back there. They knew He was there, regardless of what any of the heathen worlds had to say. He was hid from the unbeliever. But the believer, by faith, knew He was back there. They had mercy. And He was at His mercy seat, which was a great secret.
81 You know, in the Old Testament, to enter behind that skin was death. Now to stay from behind it is death. Then to enter into His Glory was death. Now to stay away from His Glory is death. That happened, of course, at the renting of the veil at Calvary, when the veil was rent, the old veil. Now to stay out of His Presence is death. Then to enter His Presence was death. See? It changes back and forth, and you must find the Scripture to see what day we're living in.
82 Now, when the veil was rent at Calvary, the mercy seat came into plain view. (But what happened? It was hanging on Calvary, dripping in Blood.) As they had took blood, year after year, at the cleansing of the sanctuary and the sprinkling of the mercy seat, there, God, with His great mighty stroke of lightning power, split the old badger veil from top to bottom, and the mercy seat came into plain view.
83The real, genuine Lamb of God was hanging in plain view on Calvary, the real Mercy Seat, when God had paid the price, Himself; and become one of us, and had manifested Himself as a Man, to get acquainted with us, and we to be acquainted with Him. The Mercy Seat was in plain view of all Israel on that day of the Atonement.
84 But, alas, the traditions of the church fathers in that day had, by their traditions, had veiled the true Mercy Seat from the people. If they would have knowed the Scripture, each piece would have come like the Chinese tag. The Old Testament prophecy would have been fulfilled, and it was. And if they had been taught the Scripture, they would have seen the Mercy Seat. "As Moses," said here, that, "to this day they're veiled. It's still over their hearts." They don't see It.
85 But, He was God, the suffering and the Atonement. He was the genuine Mercy Seat standing in full view. As we sang the hymn:
Lo, behold Him in plain view.
There He is, the mighty Conqueror,
Since He rent the veil in two.
86See, He came, the Mercy Seat, hanging in clear view of the congregation. But them, being under the popular opinion...
87Now, men and women, and delegates of this convention, I want to say this without respect of person. But, in the view of today, in view of what we're here for today, I'm afraid that the traditions of the fathers, the church fathers, has hid This from too many people. Since the Holy Ghost has come in this last days, as prophesied, and the veil has been rent, too many people try to hang to their traditions of the fathers. And that's why they can't see this extreme joy, and peace, and things that the Church has today. Yet, It's in plain view of those who believe.
He hid the Word, the promised Word of this day.
88 Now, the traditions has made a veil. They say that the days of miracles is passed. A man spoke to me, a fine, cultured gentleman in Tucson, Arizona, where I live. I had a meeting at the Ramada. And we been speaking at the Business Men's Convention where the Lord Jesus had come present and done great things. And this Christian gentleman came to me, and he said... A minister of the church, fine man, and he said, "Brother Branham, you are trying to project to the people an apostolic age," he said, "and when the apostolic age has ceased."
89And I said, "I pray thee, my brother, show me when the apostolic age ceased, in the Scripture." I said, "The apostolic age began on the Day of Pentecost, and it has... Peter said, on the Day of Pentecost, 'The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to them that are far off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.' When did it cease? If God is still calling, then the apostolic age still is in session."
90 And so that is where the people try to blindfold so many people, by their traditions of the elders, as it was then. And you fail to see why that the people are so elated and so enthused. And--and these conventions are such an oddball, such a strange thing, to other people, is because that they see they broke through those barriers. They broke through those veils, into the Presence of God, where they see the manifested promise of this hour made manifest before the people. They see what God promised.
91 In Joel 2:28, He promised, that, "In this last days there would be a latter rain poured out upon the people, in the last days." I think the Greek word there is kenos, which means that He "emptied" Hisself out. Not in the way that we would say, like something was inside of somebody, that He emptied out. But, He poured Himself out.
92He changed; His en morphe. He--He changed, from what He was, to what He is. He never changes His nature. But on the Day of Pentecost, He changed Himself from being the Son of man, to the Son of God. He came, not with the people. He came in the people, see, the same God, to carry His ministry on through, in this great age.
93 He prophesied in the Bible, that, "There would come a day that would not be neither day or night, but in the evening time it should be Light." Now, the sun, geographically, rises in the east and sets in the west. It's the same sun, all the time. Now, when, the Son, S-o-n, revealed Himself in the manifestation of the promised Word, to Israel, the Eastern people.
94We've had a day of gloom. We've had enough light in the reformers, and so forth, to make churches and denominations, and join them and come in; and kiss the babies, and marry the old, and bury the dead, and so forth; and live in the church.
95But, in the evening time, "It shall be Light," He said, "in the evening time." And no Scripture can be broken. And the same S-o-n that poured out Himself, kenos, on the Day of Pentecost, promised to do the same thing in the evening time. See? It's according to the promise.
96Get the tag together. Look what's happening, and look what He promised, then you'll see where we are at. Get the thing together. You can see the unveiling of this great and mighty One. Traditions has blinded the people, again, to these great things that's been prophesied.
97 Moses, when he came forth from the mountain, which was on Fire, how beautiful the illustration!
98Moses had went down to Egypt and told the church fathers that the Lord God had visit him in the Name of "I AM." That Name is present tense; not "I was; will be." But, "I AM," ever the same, the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is present tense. He... That compares with Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever."
99 It's still the prophesied Word. And, the congregation, that was to dovetail with that Word, the experience of this day. The reformers had it, oh, but this is another day. See what day we're living in. Just as He couldn't come, in the days that He came on earth, in the--in the way that Moses came, or any of the prophets came; it wasn't prophesied. And in this last days, it's prophesied to come this way. It can't come in the form of Luther's revival. It can't come in the form of Wesley revival. It's a restoration hour. It's a time that it must come back to the original Son Light, the original.
100Oh, how we could lay the Scriptures in, on that! And you theologians, what part of the world you're from, you know that That's true. It's a promise. That's what makes the people so odd. That's what makes the oddballs, that you call them. It's because that they... it's... The veil has been opened, from the traditions, and they see It. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. See? It's the--it's the promise of God, and we cannot go against that, 'cause the Scriptures cannot be broken. Yes. We find that He promised that. He had emptied Himself into His people. And He's the same yesterday, today, and forever.
101 Moses, after he had went down into Egypt and declared this, then the Father vindicated his message, by coming on Mount Sinai, in the same Pillar of Fire, and set the mountain on Fire. Did we notice? The one He had give the promise to, He brought him forth with the Word. He had the commandments. And to have this commandment, he had... The commandments was the Word. The Word had never come to the people yet. So, the Word always comes to the prophet, and He was the prophet for that hour.
102Like, Jesus was the Word. John was a prophet. And Jesus came to him, in the water, because the Word always comes to the prophet, without failing. See? The Word comes to it.
103 So, Moses, the Word came to him; the commandments. And he had them. Now, why? Before the Word was given out and made manifest, Moses had to veil his face, for the Word wasn't completely made manifest. They knowed something had happened, but they didn't know what it was, the roaring and thundering. Till, they said, "Let Moses speak, and not God."
104And God said, "Well, I will do that. From this forth, I'll not appear like this no more. I'll send them a prophet. So he'll... I'll speak through My prophet."
105 Now, if Moses, with the natural law, (as Paul, in Second Corinthians here, has revealed to us), had to veil his face with the natural, how much more will the Spiritual be glorious and veiled to the unbeliever before it's made manifest to him! How much more would they call... Moses was an oddball. How much more will they call you, who has broke through the veil, has went into the Pillar of Fire, has come out with the Blessing! And now you are veiled. The people can't see it. They can't understand It.
106"If the natural be glorious, how much more will the supernatural! If the natural, which had an end to it, was to be glorious, how much more This which has no end to it, will be glorious!"
107 But, still, It's veiled. It's veiled not to the believer, but to the unbeliever. He cannot see It. God always veils Himself from the unbeliever. Traditions hide It. Like they did then, they do it today.
108That was a spiritual veil that we have now, where the natural veil was. They are vindicated by the prophet with the written Word, a prophesier, one who comes with the written Word, to make It plain.
109They knowed the Word was there, but they didn't know what It meant. And Moses made It plain. He said, "The commandment says This, and this is why." He made it plain. And before It was made plain, It was veiled.
110 And so is it, today, veiled to the people, until It's revealed and made plain to the people. God, the mighty God, veiled in human flesh, the Word. Notice. Now we find out that it was hid to the unbeliever, but revealed to the believer.
111Notice, Moses had to enter this Pillar of Fire, alone. No one could go with him. It was not... it... What does that speak to us? That you don't come into This by joining a Pentecostal group. See? He never revealed It to a group. He revealed It to an individual. And that's the way it is today. You say, "I belong to a--a church. I--I belong to this." But that won't work. See?
112And for anyone to try to follow Moses, to impersonate it, was death. And so is it today, spiritual death, to try to impersonate. That's what's the...
113 Tonight, we're getting into, there is raising up amongst the groups, carnal comparisons; somebody try to act like It, and live a different life; can drink, can smoke, women can live (any) most any way they want to, and like the world, and stay home and watch television, and the things of the world, and still call themselves Pentecostals. They are trying to impersonate a genuine. It's never been revealed to them, yet. When It is revealed, it's glorious, and something takes that out of you when you walk in There. You become a veil. It's... It just won't work. And to impersonate It was death.
114 Moses' veil; he was the living Word to the people. And today, the people that are veiled are the same thing. "They are written epistles, read of all men." Not a new epistle; but the Epistle that's been written, made manifest. It's--it's those who believe the Word and the promise of this day, that God is pouring out His Spirit, upon all flesh, and that is written epistles. And when a person tries to carnally impersonate that, it backfires. Your life shows what you are.
115 One time there was a boy, he had got in some trouble. He was a good boy, but he--he went to court. And the judge said, "I find you guilty. I must punish you to life in prison."
116He said, "I want to try my own case." He said, "I want to go in upon my record."
117He said, "You have no record. Your record is what's condemned you."
118And that's the way it is today, the reason the church is not advanced like it should. It's the record. It's the lie. We must become more dedicated. We must believe every Word of God. We must seek until that Word is made real to us. See? See? The record is what keeps us from entering in.
119 But, one time, (to let you get out of this loop), in this same court, the boy had no money. He could not pay it off. The fine was way in the thousands of dollars. But he had a big brother that came and paid it off for him.
120Now, we've got a big Brother, Jesus, the Son of God. And He come to pay it off for us, if we'll just believe it and be able to enter into the veil with Him. Like, He is our Moses. Jesus is our Moses of today. Moses, veil, was the living Word to the people. Today, Jesus, veiled, is the living Word to the people, that, Jesus in the Church. The Holy Ghost, the Son of God in the people, revealing the Word by the promise of this day, makes It just exactly. Same now.
121And remember, Moses did this, and manifested this, not to all the world, but to the exodus people, just one class of people, that was those who come out of the exo-... in the exodus.
122And today, the Holy Spirit, in the face of people who says, "Divine healing is not right." When I was consulting...
123 A doctor called me, other day, of a little lady, oh, there's been four or five cases there, laying just at the point of death, giving hours, and the Holy Spirit healed them. The doctor was questioning it. He said, "How can this be? Why," he said, "I--I... That's my patient."
124I said, "It was. But now it was God's. It--it, it's His subject now." See?
125And so you see the thing it is, that God is calling an exodus, to come from behind the fleshly curtain who tries to impersonate, who tries to join church; not Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, altogether, but Pentecostal churches. It is an individual affair. It's you and God. You have to go in, not your group, not your church, not your pastor, but it's you who has to go in.
126 I want you to notice another characteristic of Moses, when he come out. Yet, being a prophet, being a great man that he was, when he come out with the Word, the people saw that he was changed. Something had happened to him. When he come out with the vindicated Word of that hour, the commandments, he was a changed person.
127And so will you be, when you come from behind that human veil that would laugh at a meeting like this; that man who would stumble at Divine healing, and say the days of miracles is passed. You've dropped from behind that human veil there, the traditional veil, and everybody will know something happened to you.
128 Like our honorable brother, Jim Brown. I imagine most Presbyterians knows that something happened to him, because he--he come from behind a traditional veil. He saw something in the people, that attracted him, and he came out from behind the veil.
129Well, you, when you come out from behind the veil, you'll be in full view of the people then, that they can see that something has happened to you. The veiled Word, to the unbeliever, but in full view of the believer. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever."
130 Then, it was God. In them days, it was God in a Man, His Son, Jesus Christ. We believe that. Not just a prophet, not just an ordinary man, ordinary human. It was God in Christ; God in a Man; the fullness of the Godhead, bodily in a Man. God in a Man!
131Now it's God in men, the fullness of God in the Godhead, bodily in His entire Church, manifesting Himself, fulfilling His Word.
132 Now we find, God, all ages, has had skin on It. He, God, has been hid behind the veil.
133It just reminds me of a--a little story that happened down in the South. And so there was a Christian home. And then in this Christian home they believed God, and they--they thought that--that God protected them from all troubles. And, which, He does. And they had a little junior, a little boy about seven or eight years old. And--and he went to Sunday school and was a very fine little lad. But he was scared in a storm, especially when lightning was flashing.
134 And I told this to a man, the other day, when this piece had come out about this man being healed. This same minister said, "They make a god out of you, Brother Branham."
135Well, he was a critic, so I thought I'd just kind of break it off, just a little bit. Not to hurt, you know, but just kind... I said, "Is that too far from the Scripture, to be that?" See? I said, "No, it isn't," I said, "because Jesus called prophets 'gods.' See? That's right, 'God.'"
136And they say, "Well, you people try to take the place of God." That's not too far out. That's exactly what it is. That's exactly. God manifested in flesh, just as He promised.
137 This little family, we find. I told him this little story, which come to my mind just now. That, one night it come up a storm, and mother said to Junior, said, "Now, you go on upstairs, son, and go to bed."
Said, "Mama, I'm scared," he said.
"Ain't nothing going to hurt you. Go on up and go to bed."
138Little junior laid up there, and the lightning flashing around the windows. And the little fellow got so nervous, he'd stick his head under the cover, and he could still hear the--the lightning, or see the lightning flash on the windows, and--and hear the thunder roar. So he said, "Mama!"
And she said, "What do you want, junior?"
Said, "Come up here and sleep with me."
139So she come up the steps, like any good, loyal mother would. And she came up, and she took little junior in her arms. And she said, "Junior, mother wishes to speak to you just a moment."
Said, "All right, mama."
140Said, "Now you must bear this in mind. We go to church, constantly. We read the Bible. We pray. We are a Christian family. We believe in God." And said, "We believe that, in storms and whatever goes on, God is our protection."
141He said, "Mama, I believe every bit of that. But," said, "when that lightning is so close," he said, "I--I want a God with skin on It."
142So, I--I think, not only junior, but all of us feel that way. When we get together, when we pray one for the other, God with skin on It.
143 And we find out here that God has always had skin on Him. When Moses seen Him, He had skin on Him, look like a Man. When God was behind the curtains, He had skin on Him. And God, tonight, in His Church, is veiled in His Church with skin on It. He is still the same God, tonight. We find that.
144But now, as ever, the skin veil is what catches the traditions. They just can't believe that that is God making them people act like that. See? It's because God is veiled in His Church, in skin, skin on It. That's right. He is hid from the unbeliever, and revealed to the believer. Yes, sir.
145 Now, when their tradition veil, of traditions of the elders and the Word, is broke through, oh, of course, today, then comes in plain view, we see Him, Deity again veiled in human flesh. Hebrews 1 said so.
146And also Genesis 18. Remember, God was a Man standing there, eating, and talking with Abraham, and told what Sarah was doing in the tent behind It.
147And Jesus said, "As it was in the days of Sodom, so shall it be at the Coming of the Son of man." Deity veiled again in human flesh! Now, remember, Jesus didn't say, "When the Son of God is being revealed." In Luke the 17th chapter, I believe, and about the 20th, 21st verse, somewhere along there, He said, "And when the Son of man is being revealed." The Son of man, back in--in--in the Church again, revealed in human beings; not Son of God, but the Son of man again, back in His Church again, in the last days. We find that He promised that in God's promises.
148 We notice another thing, in the Old Testament. I have the Scripture here, in Exodus. That, the old badger skins, what did it do? It hid the Glory of God from the people. The badger skins; even people couldn't see It, because it was a skin that held It. The skin was... The Glory of God was behind the skin.
149And now the Glory of God is behind your skin. That's right. And the traditions don't see It. It's inside the veil, where His Word was.
150 What was on the inside of that skin back there, the old badger skins?
151Which, "There was no beauty we should desire It. And when It was made flesh and dwelt among us, It was still no beauty we should desire It."
152And now the same thing is today. There's nothing in a man or a woman, that can be desired. It's what's in behind there. That's what it is. "Well," you say, "that fellow, I know he used to be a drunkard. He used to do this." I don't care what he used to do. What's hid behind that skin? What is behind there, that's what counts. That's what, the people is blinded. The skin blinds the people. See? They say, "I remember when that woman used to." I know what she used to, but what about now? See?
153Them skins, that was once on the badger, but now it's hiding the Glory of God, got It housed behind it. It was on an animal, but now it's housing the Glory of God.
154And so can your skin be changed, tonight, to be made a housing place for God, God dwelling in humanity.
155 Look. The old badger skins, we find out, behind it was... Inside of there was the Word. And, the Word, there also was the shewbread. The ark was sprinkled. And what was it? The Shekinah Glory was in there.
156Now, the Word is a Seed, and It cannot bring forth until the--the Son strikes It. The Son has got to be upon the Seed, to make It bear, to make It come forth. And that's the only way. You take the Word, see, take the Word of God in your heart, and walk into the Shekinah Glory. And when you do, It'll bring shewbread, Manna, that's only give for a separated people. The only thing that can eat it, that's permitted to eat it, is just the people who are permitted and knows It. Paul said here, "Changing from Glory to Glory." You see, finally, It comes till It's back to Its original Glory.
157 It's just like a seed of a morning glory. The seed of a flower, it falls into the ground. The seed of corn falls in the ground. What's the first thing? It comes up, and it's a little sprout. Then it goes to a tassel. Then, from a tassel, back to its original grain.
158Well, that's exactly what the Church has done. It come from Luther, Wesley, and now back to the original Grain, back to Its original Glory, back to the Glory It was at the beginning. The Son that rose in the East, it's the same Son that's manifesting the same thing in the West, changing from Glory to Glory. It changed from the pagan, down into Luther; and from Luther, down into Wesley; from Wesley, out into Pentecost; and on and on, changing from Glory to Glory, producing the hidden Manna.
159And now It's ripe, to bring Him back exactly like He was at the beginning, His same ministry; the same Jesus, the same power, the same Holy Ghost. The same One that come down on the Day of Pentecost, is the same Holy Ghost that's manifested today, from Glory unto Glory, to Glory. And is back to Its original Seed, with the baptism of the Holy Ghost; with the same signs, same wonders, same baptism; same kind of people, acting the same way, with the same power, the same sensation. It's from Glory unto Glory. And the next will be, "Changed from this Glory, into a body like His Own glorious body, where we shall see Him." Abraham saw the same.
160 Now notice. We see how it was changed. Since Calvary, we are invited to share His Glory. Now, in First Corinthians 12, "We are baptized into His Body. By one Spirit we are all baptized." Not by one "water." "One Spirit, we're all baptized." That's right, now, and then we become part of Him.
161I hope I'm not keeping you too long. [Congregation says, "No."--Ed.] See? I hope I'm not.
162But, it's just like a great symphony that's playing out, or acting out a drama.
163I don't know too much about symphonies or drama. But I was watching this play... I was talking about Carmen, when my daughter and them was in it. And they--and they were playing in this symphony, in Carmen. They was acting out. The music was--was--was acting out the same thing.
164That's the way it is when you're baptized by the Holy Spirit, into Christ.
165 Now, see, many of you has read or heard the story of the great Russian composer who composed Peter And The Wolf. And how he, they act that out on symbols and everything. And anyone who knows the story, that's reading it off of a paper, and can hear that symphony, how it's acting that out, the drama, playing it out, why, they know every change. They can look at it here, and see the change.
166But, now, what happens if the--if the composer writes something, and we find out that it isn't just acted out right? We find out then that there is something that happens. There is something lacking, when we see them. He who composed it has made it up and wrote it out, and then the symphony is a playing it, hits a wrong note. There is something wrong. The director gave the wrong motion. See?
167 And that's what's the matter today, my Lutheran brethren, my Baptist brethren, my Pentecostal brethren. All my brethren from all different denominations, that's what it is. See? You're trying to give a note that hit back in the days of Luther, Wesley, like that, when, actually, the music Sheet here shows that it's another day. See? See? See? We can't live in the light of Luther; he was a reformer. We appreciate his--his part, but we played that out. We're way over here at the back of the Book now. See? We can't--we can't play It out like that.
168 Now, the only way that you're ever going to be able to do it, my brethren, is this. And brethren of the world, of the different parts of the world, I might say, there's only one way for that--for that director to do. He has to get in the same Spirit that the composer was in, then he's got It. And when the Church, the symphony Itself, where the world is a watching for these signs and wonders; when the Church, and the Composer, and the director, all get in the Spirit of the Composer.
169 Then when they say, "The days of miracles is past," it don't hit the right note.
170But when it gets in the right swing of It, and the right Spirit of It; how you going to do it until the Spirit comes down, of the Composer? Amen. Then when you say, "The days of miracles never passed." The symphony cries out, "Amen." When we hit, say, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever." The symphony cries out, "Amen." "You shall receive power after this the Holy Ghost is come upon you." The symphony cries, "Amen. I got It." There's no more guesswork about it then. The whole symphony is right in harmony with the Word. It's going... [Brother Branham claps his hands together three times--Ed.] That's it. Oh! It's a magnificent thing. The director and the Composer must be in the same Spirit. And so must the musicians be in the same Spirit, to act It all out. And the world is wondering what's going on.
171The communism they talk about, and made me sick with it, and all this integration and everything else, and segregation. Oh, mercy! Such, all this nonsense, when the Coming of the Lord is at hand, there is something hitting wrong. I'm afraid that the director got... The directors got out of the Spirit of the Composer.
172 When we get that Composer's Spirit, that original power of God that the Bible said, "Men of old was moved by the Holy Ghost to write this Bible," you'll see them two Chinese pieces of paper will come together, just like God's Bible and a believer will come together, because they're both in the same Spirit. They're both the same thing. They dovetail right straight together. What we need today is directors, that's right, back to the Word, back and believe It just as It's said. Then you see the God, Himself. That's the unveiling. The drama is made real.
173 Today, they say, "Well, He's a historical God. We know He crossed the Red Sea. He did all this. And He was in the--the fiery furnace, with the Hebrew children." What good is a God of history, isn't, if He isn't the same today? Man is ever glorifying God for what He did do, thinking of what He will do, and ignoring what He's doing. That's just in man to do that. And it's the same thing today, my brethren. It's the very same thing. Oh, my!
174Let's get back and get the symphony playing right, where they of the world can see. Jesus said, "If I be lifted up from this earth, I'll draw all men unto Me." And, "He's the same yesterday, today, and forever."
175Let the directors get in the right Spirit, with the musicians and with the Composer, everything will be all right. Then we're, no guesswork about it, we are identified with Him then. Hebrews 13:8 said, "He's the same yesterday, today, and forever."
176 We're identified with Him in Acts 2. We're identified with them, with the same baptism, same thing. All He was then and all He is, all He was and all He is, we are. Exactly it.
177Just like if I want to be a true American, I've got to be identified with everything she was, everything she is. I've got to be identified with it, if I am a true American.
178If I am a true American, then I landed on Plymouth Rock. Amen. I did, if I'm an American. So did you; you landed on Plymouth Rock with the pilgrim fathers. On Plymouth Rock, when they landed out there, I was with them; so was you, everybody.
179 I rode with Paul Revere, right down the road, to warn every danger. That's exactly right.
180Right down here at Valley Forge, I crossed the icy Delaware, with a bunch of soldiers who, half of them, didn't have shoes on. I prayed all night with George Washington, beforehands. I crossed the Delaware with a vision in my heart. We are American. Yes, sir. At Valley Forge, I certainly did.
181I returned thanks with the original Thanksgiving fathers. I returned thanks to God. If I'm a real American, I was identified there at that table.
182If I'm a real American, I was identified when I stood with Stonewall Jackson.
183If I'm a real American, I was identified at the Boston Tea Party, yes, sir, when we refused to have things pulled over our eyes. Well, I'm as real America. I was identified there with that. Yes, sir. Oh, my!
184 I rang the Liberty Bell, the first 4th of July, in 1776. I rang the Liberty Bell here and declared that we are independent. To be a real American, I had to.
185I was identified with her shame in the Revolutionary, when brother fought against. I've got to bear her shame, the same as I have to bear her glory. If I'm an American, I have to be. I was identified with her. Yes, sir.
186I was identified at Gettysburg down there, when Lincoln made his speech. Yes, sir.
187I was on Wake Island, over them bloody soldiers' body. I rose on Wake Island.
On Guam, I helped hoist that flag.
188I'm a real American. Amen. All She is, I am, and proud of it. Yes, indeed. All America has been, all She is, I'm still that, to be American. Everything She was, I have to be, because I'm identified with her.
189 Same thing, by being a true Christian, you have to be identified with it.
190I preached with Moses, and war-... or with Noah, and warned the people of the oncoming judgment; to be a real Christian.
191I was with Moses at the burning bush. I saw the Pillar of Fire. I saw His Glory. I was with Moses up there in the wilderness, to be a Christian. I have to be identified with everything God was, to be a Christian. I seen His glory. I heard His Voice. Don't try to explain away from me now, 'cause I was there. I know what I'm talking about. I seen what happened. Yes, sir.
192 I was at the Red Sea, when I seen the Spirit of God move down and part the water from one side; not through a bunch of reeds, that they're trying to say today, but through about a ninety-foot sea. I seen the Spirit of God. I walked with Moses through that dry ground, across that Red Sea.
193I stood by Mount Sinai and seen the thunder and lightning falling. I ate Manna with them out there. I drank from that Rock. I'm still doing it tonight. I was identified with the Manna-eaters. I was identified with them that drunk from the Rock.
194I was also identified when Joshua blew a trumpet, and the walls of Jericho fell down.
I was in the lions' den with Daniel.
I was in the fiery furnace with the Hebrew children.
I was in Mount... with Elijah on Mount Carmel.
195 I was with John the Baptist, and before them critics. I seen the Spirit of God descending. I heard the Voice of God say, "This is My beloved Son in Whom I'm pleased to dwell in." Yes, sir. I sure was identified with him. That's exactly right.
196I was identified there at the grave of Lazarus, when He raised up Lazarus. I was identified, the woman at the well, when He told her her sins. Yes, sir.
197I surely was identified with Him in His death. And I was identified on the first Easter. I raised with Him from death. I identified with Him in His death.
198I was with the hundred and twenty, in the upper room. I was identified up there with them. Hey! I--I feel religious. Oh, my! I was identified there. I'm one of them. I was identified. I got the same experience they had. I was there when it happened, to be a true Christian. I witnessed the mighty rushing Wind coming. I witnessed that. I felt the power of God as It shook. I was with them that spoke in tongues. I felt the anointing come in there. I was with them. I was identified with them when the Holy Ghost begin to speak through tongues, with them.
199I was with Peter, before the critics in Acts 2, when he preached the great sermon that he did. I was identified with him. Yes, sir.
200 In Acts 4, when they assembled together, I was with them when the building shook. After prayer meeting, the building shook where they were setting. I was identified there with them.
I preached with Paul on Mars Hill. Yes, sir.
201I was with John on the Isle of Patmos, and seen His second Coming.
I was with Luther in the reformation.
202I was with Wesley, that firebrand; snatched from the fires, when the great revolt against the Anglican church. I was there with him.
203And here I am tonight, 1964, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, identified with the same kind of group, with the same kind of an experience. I must be, to be a Christian. I must stay identified where the Word of God is being manifested. I'm identified with a group that feels the Spirit of God.
204 I'm identified with a group that knows He's unveiled, that knows He's the same yesterday, today, and forever, that knows that This is not a fanaticism. "It's Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever." I'm identified with that group here, tonight. Yet, they're called a bunch of heretics, yet a bunch of fanaticism, on account of the Word of God. But, "I'm not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for It's the power of God unto salvation," and I'm one. I'm with them living epistles I spoke of, vindicated, God veiled in human form, in men and women. Oh!
205 God in His en morphe again, unveiled Himself and make Hisself known to His people. The great King Who laid aside His Glory. "Yet a little while and the world won't see Me no more. I'll be veiled to them. But ye shall see Me, for I'll be with you, even in you, all the way to the consummation, changing from Luther to Wesley, to on and on, from Glory unto Glory. I'm still the same God that lived, and going back to the original Glory." Hallelujah!
206 He has broken every denominational veil, every sound barrier. That sound that says, "Oh, that's fanaticism," He broke right through that. The sound that come out of there, said, "Oh, them people are crazy," He broke right through that veil. Yes, He did. "Oh, you can't do it. You're nothing but a bunch of fanatics." He broke right through that. "No such a thing as Divine healing." He broke right through that, oh, my, for His Word said He would. You can't conquer the Word of God.
207And there He stands, yet, tonight, the mighty Conqueror, since He broke every Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, every other kind of a veil. He still stands among His people, tonight, unconquered by traditions. Let people say what they want to, do what they want to, anything they want to. God comes, breaking right through that sound barrier.
208 And remember, they tell me, when a plane really breaks that sound barrier, there's no limit to its speed.
209I'm telling you, when you break that traditional barrier, that "Jesus is way back, and He isn't now," when you find He's the same yesterday, today and forever, there's no limit to what God could do right here in this convention, and show this world what they need: not a world's fair, but a world revival that'll be filled and baptized with the Presence of the living God, en morphe inveiling Himself into human flesh. Hallelujah! I believe it.
210Broken every barrier, every veil, every veil! Nothing could hide His Presence. When people gets hungry in their heart, there's a veil ready to be broke. You can just depend on that. Rent every veil, by His great Holy Spirit!
211And here He stands, tonight, the mighty Conqueror, same yesterday, today and forever; healing the sick, baptizing the believers, just as He always did. He's the mighty Conqueror. Doomed devils are on the run. Yes, sir. They always are, when He's around.
212 Closing, I might say this. There was a... Read a story, many years ago, about an old violinist. He had an old violin they was going to sell. You've heard the story, many times. And they wanted to sell it for a certain thing. And the auctioneer said, "Who will give me so-and-so?" I believe he was offered a few coins, maybe fifty cents, or something. "Going once, going twice,..."
213Directly, a man raised up in the back. He said, "Just a minute." And he walked up and got it. Let's think that he played this:
There is a Fountain filled with Blood,
Drawn from Immanuel's veins;
When sinners plunged beneath the flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.
214Then when he laid it down, there wasn't a dry eye in the place. Then he said, "Who will offer?"
215One said, "Five thousand. Ten thousand." It was priceless. Why? The--the old master of the violin had revealed its true quality.
216Oh, brother, sister, now let the Master of this Word, Who wrote It, the great Holy Spirit, rosin up His bow with love, and pull it across your heart.
There is a Fountain filled with Blood,
Drawn from Immanuel's vein.
217You'll see the full value, and see the unveiled God come right in view. That, He's just the same as He was when He fell on the Day of Pentecost, upon the people, when He kenos'ed Hisself, "emptied" right into It. That's right.
218You say, "Brother Branham, I've tried. I've tried. I've done this, that, the other."
219 One day I was having a meeting at Carlsbad, New Mexico. And we went down in this big old bat den down there. And it was kind of spooky-looking, and we got down there. And the--the man, when he got down there in this place, he--he snapped the lights off. And, oh, my, you can imagine how dark it was. It's just... It's so dark you could feel it.
220And that's just about the way the times are getting, when we see the church that fails to recognize God's Word; when you see our daughters of Zion doing the way they're doing; when you see our brothers that smokes and drinks, and--and tells dirty jokes and things, and still trying to hold their confession in Christ. Oh, my, it's dark. It's pitch dark.
221We see the sign of His Coming. There'll be... It's always darkest just before day. Then the Morning Star comes out to hail the day, and to herald it, and show that it's coming. Notice.
222 In there, when they turn that off, there's a little girl just screamed to the top her voice. There was a little boy standing by the guide, and he seen that guide when he switched the lights off like that. And that little sister was just about to have a fit. She was screaming, jumping up-and-down. "Oh! What's going to happen next? What's the matter? What's the matter?"
223You know what he screamed? He said, "Don't fear, little sister. There's a man here who can turn on the lights."
224Listen, little sister, you might think we're small and in minority. But, don't fear. There's a Man here Who can turn on the Lights. That's the Holy Spirit. You believe it? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.]
225 Let us bow our heads just a moment. I'm sorry to have kept you.
226O great God of Heaven, unveiling Yourself, unfolding Yourself, making Yourself known, the great King of Glory, take these little illustrations, tonight, and let them fall down at the hearts of the people. And may we see that unveiled One, that One Who came down and rent the veil of the temple; and then went right out of that veil, come right down into human veils again, on the Day of Pentecost; has ever been the same, changing from Glory to Glory.
227And now we're right back like all nature, acting, right back to the original Seed, right from one church age to another. And in this last age here, here we are, right back to the original Thing that fell on the Day of Pentecost, to fulfill every Scripture, "The Light in the evening time," and, "The works that I do shall you also," and so many things that You promised in Your Word.
228Father, if there be one here who has never broke through that veil yet, or if there be one here who just impersonated someone who has went through the veil, give grace tonight, Father. May they see that mighty Conqueror standing here, full of grace and power, to forgive. Grant it, Father.
229 And while our heads are bowed, would there be some in here? How many, might I say, that would say, "Brother Branham, I'm lifting my hand. Pray for me"? Just keep your head bowed, and raise your hand, "I want to break through every veil, till I can really see the Conqueror." God bless you. My, at the hands! Up in the balconies, to the right? God bless you. Balconies to the back? Raise... God bless you. Be real honest. To the left? Raise your hand, say, "Brother Branham, I might have been a Christian for years, but, really, I've never come through that veil. I've really never done it. I haven't got That what they had then." Today, we got... "I'm a hotbedded plant."
230Take a flower that's raised in a hotbed, you have to baby it, pet it, spray it, water it. But that original plant that grows out there on the desert, same kind of a flower, looks like it; it don't get a bit of water, but no bugs get on it. It's rugged. It's a real.
231 Could you compare Christianity with Christianity today, with what it was then? Could you imagine this group, what we call Christians today, across the world, being like those was after Pentecost; babied and patted, and from one church to another, and, say something you don't like, get up and walk out? And, oh, could you imagine that? No. What is the matter? It's a reproduction.
232Michelangelo, that created the monument of Moses, you can get a reproduction of that, very cheap. But, the original?
233The one who painted the Lord's Supper, I guess that original painting would run into millions of dollars, if you could even buy it. I don't even know where it's at. But you can buy a cheap reproduction of it for about a dollar ninety-eight cents. You can.
234 And that's the way it is today. A cheap Christian, a reproduction, just a church-joiner, you can buy them out for a cigarette or a--or a common drink. Or, for a women with cut hair or painted lips, you can buy her for anything in the fashions of the world. But you can't touch that genuine.
235I see Him in full view, the same yesterday, today, and forever.
236Oh, Christian, don't you want to be a real Christian? If there's any didn't raise your hands, will you do it? Well, I'm just going to pray. God bless you. God bless you. Oh, that's just fine. Just look at that.
237 Our Heavenly Father, "Thy Word shall not return to Thee void." You was the One made the promise. I'm only responsible for saying that You said It. I'm just repeating Your Words. You said, "He that heareth My Word and believeth on Him that sent Me has Eternal Life." You promised it.
238And, Lord, we know we have them reproductions today, many that say they believe, when, they don't. It shows up. But, Lord, there is some genuine, too.
239I pray that You'll just grant, in here, tonight, that every man and woman, boy or girl, no matter what nation they are, what color they are, what church they belong to, O God, fill them. May they see the real manifestation of that same Jesus today, right among us, as He was at the Day of Pentecost, when He revealed Hisself for this age, being the Holy Ghost. Grant it, seeing the Words fulfill, the prophecies come to pass!
240 We compare, today, what's called the church of the world, the World Council of Churches, and compare that with a promise on Pentecost? There is no comparison, at all. We cannot get our dirty clothes washed on that ticket.
241But, Lord God, if we'll come back to that Fountain, there's a cleansing process, then our experience and God's Word will match one another. Then, we can claim our possession. Grant it, Lord, tonight, as I commit these people in Your hands. Give to each one what we have need of, Father. We ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.
242 God bless you. Thank you, a lot, for standing, waiting a long time. And I'm sorry I kept you till ten minutes after ten. God be with you till I see you in the morning. I turn the service now to, I suppose, to the master of ceremony.