Voľba nevesty
Tá stará smilnica a jej dcéry zo zjavenia 17, dávajúca biednym, slepým, mizerným ľuďom svoje teologické doktríny, nezhodné so Slovom Božím. A boli nájdené v nej duše otrokov i mužov i žien zovšadiaľ. Namiesto toho aby viedli ľudí ... Kristus potvrdzuje Svoje Slovo, ktoré priťahuje ľudí. On nepriťahuje tých cirkevníkov, ktorí sú pritiahnutí veľkými denomináciami a veľkými predsavzatiami a veľkými dielami a fantastickými vecami, ale Slovo Božie priťahuje Nevestu Kristovu.
Všimnite si teraz, je to zaujímavé všimnúť si, ako sa tá cirkev snaží upútať pozornosť ľudí peknými oblečeniami a s ustrojenými speváckymi zbormi, ženami s ostríhanými vlasmi a namaľovanými tvárami a oni si myslia, že môžu spievať ako anjel - klamať ako diabol, flákať sa celé noci po tancoch ako ... a nič si z toho nerobia. A myslia si o tom, že je to všetko v poriadku. Je to nádherné. Ale vidíte, to je falošné! To nie je Slovo Božie. Zatiaľ čo opravdová Nevesta upútava Božiu pozornosť zachovávaním Jeho Slova.
1... Je mnoho nemocných ľudí a nemôžem sa ku ním všetkým naraz dostať.
2Som skutočne rád, že som dnes večer znovu tu, v tejto krásnej posluchárni a medzi touto znamenitou skupinou ľudí. A keď sme sem vchádzali pred pár minútami - ľudia stáli vonku na ulici a hovorili, že sa sem nemôžu dostať. Povedal som im, "Nuž, možno sa mi podarí zohnať vám nejaké miesto," ale nedovolili im vojsť dovnútra. Tak, je mi to ľúto, že nemáme pre nich dostatok miesta. Hovorili, že suterén je tak isto plný a tak je nám to ľúto. Ale sme radi, že tu môžeme byť, a že môžeme vidieť túto milú skupinu kazateľov, tu týchto obchodníkov a všetky delegácie z rôznych strán krajiny.
3Mám veľké privilégium, že môžem hovoriť dnes ráno pri raňajkách, čo si samozrejme cením, mať tú česť a hovoriť pred tak vzácnymi ľuďmi. Hovoril som na tému, Pleva nebude dediť s Pšenicou. Nedostal som sa ku tomu, aby som to zakončil, ale to nebola vina toho brata. On sa to snažil vybaviť, aby nás tu nechali trochu dlhšie, ale sa mu to nepodarilo. A ja si to samozrejme cením. Skutočne si to cením, brat Demos. Bolo to veľmi, veľmi milé. Skutočne vám ďakujem za vašu láskavosť, osobne každému. Ale oni nám to jednako nedovolili a tak sme museli zakončiť. Vezmem to niekedy inokedy, aby som to zakončil. Pleva nebude dediť s Pšenicou. Rozumeli ste tomu - ktorí ste tam boli? Myslím, že to vystačilo, aby sa tomu dalo porozumieť.
4Nuž, viem že dnes večer prebieha tiež beseda a tak vás tu nechcem držať príliš dlho, aby vám to neutieklo, pretože si myslím, že to bolo skutočne plus, pre Letničných veriacich - ten program, ktorý mohli vidieť minulý večer. Taká dobrá skupina ľudí a také fajn priame odpovede. Cítil som sa skutočne dobre, keď som to pozeral a verím, že Pán to požehná dnes večer, i každého kto to pozerá, nech by uverili. To by bolo mojou úprimnou modlitbou.
5A tak mnoho správ prichádza dnes z ... poštou, i skrze telefón, o tom ako veľa ich bolo uzdravených v tomto zhromaždení. Bol som z toho tak potešený. Vidieť chorých ľudí ... To je charakter mojej služby. Prišiel sol sem aby som kázal (viete, ja som nie kazateľ) s týmto, s mojou Kentuckou gramatikou - his, hain't a všetkými tými slovami a tak nemôžem povedať, že by som sa mohol rátať ku tým moderným kazateľom, ako to dnes nazývame. Nemôžem zaujať také miesto, pretože nemám žiadne vzdelanie. Ale mám to rád, keď môžem povedať iným to, čo o tom viem, alebo to čo cítim, že o tom viem - tak ako som sa to naučil, hovoriť ím, čím On pre mňa je. On je všetkým v mojom živote, všetko čo by som kedy mohol očakávať že budem a ešte o veľa viac ako som si kedy mohol myslieť ... že by som kedy mal priateľa, sotva, na zemi, keď som bol malým chlapcom. Ale som skutočne vďačný za tých veľkých priateľov, ktorých dnes mám.
8Prepáčte. Stojím tu niekde, tak trochu pomimo dosah mikrofónu.
9A teraz, aby sme sa dostali rovno do Slova, obráťme sa do Písma, aby sme si niečo prečítali. Vždy rád čítam Bibliu, pretože je To Slovo Božie. Verím tomu a verím, že je To neomylné Božie Slovo. A teraz, mám tu poznačených niekoľko miest Písma a nejaké poznámky, na ktoré by som sa rád opieral za tých niekoľko minút - možno za štyridsať päť minút a potom vyjdeme odtiaľto načas, aby sme znovu dnes večer mohli pozerať ten skvelý program. A dúfam, že vám Boh bude v tom naďalej žehnať. Viem čo musíte robiť a ja predpokladám, že ešte dnes večer sa budem vracať do Tucsonu. Tak si to môžete predstaviť. Je to desať hodín jazdy. A odchádzam za more, musím byť ešte zaštepený proti žltej zimnici v štátnom stredisku, a tak sa tam musím dostaviť. Musel som to už raz odložiť na iný deň, a tak oni by to neprijali, keby som to znovu chcel teraz odkladať. A ešte raz mám byť zaštepený proti tetanu a týfusu.
12A tak, som tak vďačný za túto príležitosť a za toto výborné zhromaždenie, ktoré sme mali pred konferenciou, ktoré tak rozohrialo moje srdce. Ste milou skupinou ľudí a dúfam, že Boh vás bude žehnať. A keď tá veľká hodina ... To veľké monštrum, ktoré tam leží, sa pred pár dňami otriaslo na Aljašku, dnes ráno znovu švihlo svojím chvostom, až niekde dole okolo štátu Washington. On veľmi ľahko môže doraziť až sem. A ak mi Duch Svätý niekedy jasne povie ...
14Niektorí z vás sa ma pýtali: "Stane sa to tu, brat Branham?" Nuž, ja to neviem. Ja proste neviem a dovtedy, kým nebudem vedieť ... Je to pravda. Vždy som chcel byť ku vám úprimný. Nebudem si niečo len domýšľať, mať nejaké predstavy, alebo nejaké ... niečo čo ja verím, lebo niečo také. Keď vám poviem, to sa stane ... Nuž, On mi to prv musel povedať, a potom vám to ja poviem. Viem, že celý svet je v roztrasenom stave; sme v čase konca. Ale jednu vec som sa snažil, aby som bol ...
16Brat Šakarián hovoril dnes ráno, ako zvykol prechádzať cez tie modlitebné rady a načahoval sa a bral tie lístky, prv ako tí ľudia prišli hore a díval sa na ne a dával pozor či ím poviem to, čo tam napísali. Oni písali na svoje karty všetky možné potreby, veď viete a on dával pozor či to súhlasí. Povedal, že z tých stoviek kárt, ktoré skontroloval, nebolo ani raz, že by to nesedelo. Nikdy v tom nebude ani jedna chyba, vidíte, pretože to ... pokiaľ je to Boh. Kedykoľvek, keby som vniesol do toho samého seba, v tej chvíli by to bolo falošné, hneď od začiatku.
17Jedno malé dievča, ktorého otec tu teraz sedí a počúva ma, prišla pred nedávnom ku mne. Mala sen. Spýtala sa, "brat Branham, čo znamená ten sen?"
18Povedal som, "Neviem, sestra. Budem to musieť zistiť, ak mi to Pán povie." A tak som išiel a snažil som sa prosiť Pána o to a On mi to vôbec nepovedal. A tak to malé dievča prišlo znovu; spýtala sa, "Nuž a teraz, aký je výklad toho môjho snu?"
20Povedal som, "Poď sem, moja drahá a sadni si." Povedal som, "Tvoj otec i matka sú moji veľmi dobrí priatelia, veď vieš, oni prešli celú cestu z Kanady, odišli a prebývali tu so mnou. Oni veria tomu, čo sa ja snažím povedať a nikdy v živote som nepovedal úmyselne nikomu nič, čo by nebola pravda. Ak ja ... Myslím, že viem čo znamená ten sen, ale až kým ja sám nebudem vidieť ten sen, a potom, kým mi On nepovie čo to znamená, nemôžem ti to povedať. Vidíte, keby som len ja sám zostavil z toho niečo, môže prísť taký čas, že ma budete potrebovať medzi životom a smrťou, a potom by ste nevedeli, či mi máte veriť alebo nie.
21Ak vám poviem niečo v Mene Pánovom, je to skutočne ... to je On, ktorý mi to povedal. A až doteraz, po všetky tie roky po svete i okolo sveta, ani raz to nebolo falošné, pretože ... Vy viete, že človek nemôže byť tak neomylný. To dokáže len Duch Boží.
22A teraz mám Posolstvo, za ktoré som zodpovedný. A mnohokrát som bol považovaný medzi ľuďmi, (nuž, možno medzi takými, ktorí si ani len na chvíľu nesadli a nezastavili sa nad tým), že som ... och, hroznou osobou, že nemám rád ľudí, že stále do nich rýpem. A to nie je tak. Nie je to tak. Milujem ľudí. Ale viete, láska napráva.
23Keby váš malý chlapec sedel tam vonku na ulici a vy by ste mu povedali, "Chlapče drahý, nechcem aby si tam sedával, ale ..." a autá by frčali okolo neho a vy by ste ho vzali dovnútra a on by znovu vybehol von. Nuž, potrestali by ste ho. Ak ho milujete, potrestáte ho. Ak budete musieť ...
24Ak by ste videli niekoho, ako sa plaví dole riekou smerom ku vodopádom, v malom člnku a vedeli by ste, že ten člnok sa potopí, keď narazí na tie vodopády, či by ste mu povedali len, "Jano, možno by si sa mal na chvíľu zamyslieť. Možno že to nezvládneš." Keď viem, že to nezvládne, budem ho takmer ťahať von z toho člnku, ak budem môcť, pretože to je láska, ktorá to tak robí.
25A teraz v týchto posolstvách, ktoré kážem, nesnažím sa nikdy prinášať žiadnu náuku, či niečo také. To robím vo svojom vlastnom zbore. Ale tu vonku, medzi mužmi i ženami, ktorí sú z rôznych denominácií a majú rôzne názory, snažím sa to jemne vziať a vysvetliť, ale dostatočne na porozumenie, ak ste zrodení z Ducha Božieho, verím že budete rozumieť čo mám na mysli, medzi kresťanmi - metodistami, baptistami, presbyteriánmi i inými.
26Dnes večer sa chcem obrátiť do prvej knihy Mojžišovej, do 24. kapitoly a chcem čítať od 12. verša, 24. kapitoly knihy Genesis.
A riekol; Hospodine, Bože môjho pána Abraháma, prosím, daj, žeby sa mi dnes pošťastilo a učiň milosť s mojím pánom Abrahámom.
Hľa, stojím tu pri studni vody a dcéry mužov mesta vyjdú sem von brať vodu.
Nech stane sa tak, aby deva, ktorej poviem: Nachýľ prosím svoje vedro, aby som sa napil! A povie: Napi sa a napojím aj tvojich veľblúdov, aby to bola tá, prosím, ktorú si prisúdil svojmu služobníkovi Izákovi, a potom poznám, že si učinil milosť s mojím pánom.
27A potom v knihe Zjavenia ... To je prvá kniha Biblii - Genesis. A teraz v poslednej knihy Biblii, chcem čítať z 21. kapitoly Zjavenia, 9. verš. Vieme, čo toto Písmo z Genesis tu ... Prečítajte si celú kapitolu, ak chcete. To je ako Boh posiela Eliezéra ... či vlastne Abrahám posiela Eliezéra (prepáčte), aby vybral nevestu pre Izáka. A prišla tam krásna Rebeka a bola dokonalou odpoveďou na tú modlitbu, ktorú sa Eliezér, ten sluha Abrahámov, práve pomodlil. A teraz 9. verš, z 21. kapitoly Zjavenia:
A prišiel ku mne jeden zo siedmich anjelov, ktorí to mali tých sedem čiaš, plných sedem posledných rán a prehovoril so mnou a povedal mi: Poď, ukážem ti nevestu, manželku Baránkovu.
29Chcem to zobrať ako text ku dnešnej téme: Voľba Nevesty. A toto je ... Ak môj brat, ktorý to tu nahráva, bude ... Toto je názov tej pásky, ktorú si budete môcť objednať, aby vám bola poslaná.
30A teraz pri tomto, to neznamená, že hovorím len tu do tohoto zhromaždenia, ktoré je tu prítomné, ale tieto pásky idú okolo sveta. Sú prekladané prakticky - och, do veľkého množstva jazykov, dostávajú sa dokonca aj do pohanských zemí. Posielame ich zdarma do nejakého zboru, kde sú prekladané. Rozchádzajú sa po všetkých Afrických džungliach a do Indii, a po celom svete.
Teda, Voľba Nevesty.
31V živote, v mnohých veciach máme možnosť, robiť určitú voľbu, rozhodnutie. Samotný spôsob života je určitou voľbou. Máme právo zvoliť si svoju vlastnú cestu, zvoliť si svoj vlastný spôsob, akým chceme žiť. Vzdelanie je určitou voľbou. Môžeme si vybrať či budeme vzdelaní, alebo či nebudeme vzdelaní. To je voľba, ktorú máme. Dobro i zlo je určitou voľbou. Každý muž, každá žena, chlapec i dievča si musí vybrať, či sa bude snažiť žiť správne alebo nie. Je to určitá voľba. Voľba, to je veľká vec.
34Vaše večné miesto určenia je určitou voľbou a možno dnes večer niektorí z vás, učinia tú voľbu, kde budete tráviť večnosť - prv ako skončí dnes večer toto zhromaždenie. Raz sa stane, že ... Ak odsúvaš nabok Boha, mnoho krát, raz sa stane, že Ho odsunieš nabok posledný raz. Je hranica medzi milosťou a súdom a je to nebezpečné pre muža i ženu, chlapca či dievča, prekročiť túto hranicu, pretože neexistuje žiadny návrat, keď prekročíte cez tú smrteľnú hranicu. A tak dnes večer, môže to byť čas, že mnohý urobia svoje rozhodnutie, kde budú tráviť tú nekonečnú večnosť.
35Existuje ďalšia voľba, ktorú máme v živote. To je životný partner. Mladý muž alebo mladá žena, vstupujúci do života majú ... je im daná možnosť vybrať si. Mladý muž si vyberá, mladá žena má právo to prijať alebo odmietnuť, ale stále je to voľba na oboch stranách; obaja, muž i žena, majú právo sa rozhodnúť.
36Tak isto máte možnosť vybrať si ako kresťan. Môžete si vybrať cirkev tu v Amerike, (zatiaľ), do ktorej budete môcť chodiť. To je vaše vlastné americké privilégium, vybrať si ktorúkoľvek cirkev, do ktorej chcete patriť. To je určitá voľba. Nemusíte chodiť do žiadnej z nich, ak nechcete, ale ak chceš prejsť z metodistov ku baptistom, alebo od katolíkov ku protestantom, i tak ďalej, nikto ti nič nemôže povedať, ani ťa nútiť, aby si chodil do nejakej predpísanej cirkvi. To je naša sloboda. V tom spočíva naša demokracia. Každý človek si môže vybrať pre seba - náboženská sloboda a to je veľká vec. Bože pomôž nám zachovať si to, tak dlho ako len budeme môcť.
37Tak isto si môžete vybrať či ... Keď si vyberiete túto cirkev, môžete si vybrať či, v tejto cirkvi ... Či si vyberiete cirkev, ktorá vás bude viesť do vášho večného miesta určenia. Môžete si vybrať cirkev, ktorá má určité vyznanie - môžete si myslieť, že to vyznanie, to je práve to čo potrebujete; alebo inú cirkev, ktorá má svoje vyznanie. A potom je Slovo Božie, pre ktoré sa môžete rozhodnúť. Musíte urobiť svoje rozhodnutie. Medzi nami existuje určitý nepísaný zákon rozhodovania sa.
39Verím, že to bol Eliáš, raz na vrchu Karmel po tom odhalení (kto z koho), v tej veľkej krízovej hodine, do ktorej i my práve teraz vchádzame. A možno, že dnes večer toto môže byť pre teba, alebo pre mňa, tá hodina, že urobíme také rozhodnutie, ako pri tom prežití na vrchu Karmel. Úprimne, myslím si, že to teraz ide po celom svete.
40Ale zanedlho nadíde čas, kde sa budete musieť rozhodnúť; a vy ľudia, ktorí ste tu zo svojich denominačných cirkví, verte tomuto, že tá hodina je práve pred vami, keď urobíte svoje rozhodnutie. Buď pôjdete do Svetovej Rady, alebo viac nebudete denomináciou. Budete sa musieť rozhodnúť a to rozhodnutie zanedlho príde. A tiež je nebezpečné čakať, až na tú poslednú hodinu, pretože môžete zobrať na seba niečo, čoho sa nebudete môcť striasť. Viete, je čas, v ktorom môžete byť varovaní, ale potom, keď prekročíte za tú varujúcu hranicu, potom ste už poznačení na tej druhej strane - máte vypálený znak.
42Pamätajte, keď prišiel ten Jubilejný rok a kňaz išiel so svojou trúbou a trúbil, že každý otrok môže ísť na slobodu, ale ak oni odmietli prijať svoju slobodu, potom on musel byť privedený do chrámu ku stĺpu a šidlom mu prepichli ucho a potom naveky slúžil svojmu pánovi. Ten znak vykonaný na uchu bol daný ako symbol počutia. Viera prichádza z počutia. On počul tú trúbu, ale on to nechcel počúvať.
43A mnohokrát, muži i ženy počujú Božiu Pravdu, a vidia To potvrdené a dokázané, že je to Pravda, ale jednako To nechcú počúvať. Z nejakej inej príčiny. Vybrali si niečo iné, než ako postaviť sa tvárou k Pravde a faktom. A preto ich uši môžu byť zavreté na Evanjelium. Oni to už nikdy viac nebudú počuť. Radím ti, keď Boh hovorí do tvojho srdca, konaj v tej chvíli.
44Eliáš im dal možnosť, aby si vybrali, "Dnes si vyberte komu budete slúžiť. Ak je Boh Bohom, slúžte Jemu; ale ak je Bohom Bál, slúžte jemu."
45Nuž ako vidíme, všetky tieto prirodzené veci sú určitým typom tých Duchovných vecí, čo sme rozoberali v našej raňajšej lekcii, na príklade slnka a jeho povahy.
To bola moja prvá Biblia. Prv ako som ešte prečítal nejakú stránku v Biblii, poznal som Boha. Pretože Biblia je napísaná všade v prírode a to presne súhlasí so Slovom Božím: ako smrť, pohreb a vzkriesenie tejto prírody a východ slnka, jeho púť po oblohe, zapadanie, zhasnutie a znovu svitanie - proste tak mnoho vecí v prírode odzrkadľuje Boha, že kvôli tomuto posolstvu nemôžem o nich všetkých hovoriť.
46Nuž, ak to Duchovné ... či vlastne to prirodzené, je určitým typom toho Duchovného, potom tá prirodzená voľba nevesty je určitým typom voľby Nevesty v tej Duchovnej oblasti.
47Nuž, je to vážna vec, keď si ideme vybrať ženu, nejaký muž ... pretože v tých sľuboch tu stojí, že až kým nás smrť nerozdelí. To je to, ako to máme zachovávať. A vy beriete ten sľub pred Bohom, že jedine smrť vás rozdelí. A ja myslím, že by sme ... muž, ktorý si podľa svojho zdravého rozumu plánuje budúcnosť, by mal byť veľmi opatrný pri vyberaní ženy; buďte opatrní v tom čo robíte. A žena, ktorá si vyberá muža, alebo prijíma muža, ktorý si ju chce zobrať, by mala byť skutočne opatrná, v tom čo robí a zvlášť v týchto dňoch. Muž by sa mal dobre zamyslieť a modliť sa, predtým ako si vyberie ženu.
48Myslím, že dnes, to čo spôsobilo teraz tak mnoho rozvodov, že držíme prvé miesto vo svete, v Amerike, v rozvodoch; prevyšujeme v tom všetky ostatné krajiny. Je tu viacej rozvodov, v tomto národe, ako kdekoľvek inde na svete a to by mal byť kresťanský národ, tak si myslím. Čo za hanba - naše rozvody. Ja si myslím, že to je kvôli tomu, že muži odišli preč od Boha, i ženy odišli preč od Boha.
49Pozorujeme, že ak by sa nejaký muž modlil i žena, keby sa modlila, ohľadne tej veci - nepozerali by len na pekné oči, alebo na silné ramená, alebo na niečo také, alebo na nejaké iné svetské záľuby, ale v prvom rade by sa pozerali na Boha a pýtali sa, "Bože, je toto Tvoj plán?"
50Myslím, že dnes je tak mnoho podvádzania, práve tak ako v škole. Keď tie deti pôjdu ráno okolo - mnoho tých detí od susedov (moji priatelia) pôjdu okolo a povedia, "brat Branham, budeš sa za nás modliť? Máme dnes písomku. Učil som sa celú noc, ale sa necítim na to. Modli sa za mňa." Myslím, že každé decko, ktoré chodí do školy, keby ste ... a rodičia ráno pri stole, keby ste povedali, "Mama, Ján píše dnes písomku; modlime sa teraz za neho." myslím si, že by to bolo ... všetko, čo ste kedy urobili nejako inak, či odpisovali od niekoho iného a podvádzali. Myslím, že keby ste len prišli a modlili sa za to ...
51A keby sme si mohli preštudovať, čo sme robili, keď sme sa išli ženiť, keď sme si vyberali ženu, alebo muža, keby sme si to preštudovali ... Človek by sa mal horlivo modliť, pretože by mohol zruinovať celý svoj život. Pamätajte ten sľub zneje, "Až dokiaľ nás smrť nerozdelí." A on tým, že urobí nesprávnu voľbu, môže zruinovať svoj život. Ale ak on vie čo ... ak robí nesprávnu voľbu a berie si za ženu takú, ktorá ku nemu nepasuje a on si ju jednako berie, potom je to jeho chyba. Ak si žena berie muža a vie že on sa nehodí, aby bol tvojím mužom, potom je to tvoja vlastná chyba, potom čo vieš čo je dobré a čo zlé. A tak, ty by si to nemal robiť až kým sa skutočne nepremodlíš.
52To platí tak isto pri voľbe cirkvi. Musíte sa modliť za cirkev v ktorej máte obecenstvo. Pamätajte, CIRKVI MAJÚ DUCHOV. Nechcem byť kritický, ale si uvedomujem, že som starým mužom a jedného dňa budem musieť z tadiaľto odísť. Budem sa musieť zodpovedať v deň súdu z toho, čo dnes večer hovorím, alebo čo som kedykoľvek povedal a ... a preto musím byť smrteľne vážny a skutočne presvedčený.
53Ale choďte do nejakého zboru a keď budete pozorovať ako sa správa ten zbor - pozorujte len chvíľu pastora a obvykle spozorujte, že zbor sa zachováva tak ako pastor.
Niekedy premýšľam či my len neprijímame ducha jeden od druhého, namiesto Ducha Svätého. Ak prídete niekde, kde je pastor skutočne dôkladný a neústupný, zistíte, že zhromaždenie sa správa tak isto. Privediem vás do nejakého zboru, kde som videl pastora, ako sa postavil - kývajú hlavami dopredu a dozadu. Pozorujte to zhromaždenie; oni robia to isté. Vezmite pastora, ktorý bude robiť všetko vo švungu, obyčajne ten zbor bude robiť tak isto. A tak, keby som si vyberal cirkev, vybral by som si skutočnú, fundamentálnu, Biblickú cirkev plného Evanjelia - keby som vyberal nejakú, do ktorej by som mal priviesť svoju rodinu.
55Voľba ... Díval som sa ... Tí chlapci jedného dňa (syn brata Šakariána a jeho švagor) volali ma sem, aby som sa modlil za jedného mladého muža, nejakého speváka, fešného chlapca, ktorý ... práve som prichádzal domov - nazýval sa Fred Barker - práve som sa vracal z cesty a oni mi telefonovali, že Fred zomiera a potom, prv ako som mohol vojsť dovnútra, prišla druhá správa: "On je už možno mŕtvy." Povedali, že krvácal do mozgu, dostal porážku a zomieral; a jeho žena chcela, aby som sa za neho modlil.
56Pomyslel som si, "Ak sa tam budem snažiť zaletieť, on by mohol zomrieť skôr, ako sa tam dostanem a možno, že už teraz nežije." A tak som rýchle zatelefonoval a zodvihla to tá pani a priložili sme sluchátko Fredovi ku uchu. On nemohol prežierať. Oni mu dali prístroj na umelé prežieranie. A keď sme sa za neho modlili, on povedal ... naznačil im, aby mu to vybrali z hrdla! On mohol prežierať. Doktori tomu neverili a vybrali mu to a on mohol prežierať. A na druhý deň sa posadil.
Zbor - voľba zboru.
57Dnes ráno som mal práve telefonický rozhovor. Jedna členka môjho zboru, ktorá je v skutočnosti baptistkou z Louisville, zomrela dnes zavčasu ráno. A môj zbor doma, skutočná skupina posvätených ľudí, zhromaždili sa spolu a zašli tam prv, ako by ju pohrebná služba mohla zabalzamovať, postavili sa okolo nej a modlili sa, až kým sa znovu do nej nevrátil život a ona dnes žije - starší môjho zboru. Prečo? Oni boli učení, aby verili, že všetko je možné. Pristupujú ku Bohu úprimne. A tak si musíte správne vybrať.
58Tak isto, ten druh ženy, ktorú si muž vybral, bude odzrkadľovať ambície jeho charakteru. Ak si nejaký muž vybral zlú ženu, to odzrkadľuje jeho charakter. A to s čím sa zaväzuje, ukazuje čo v skutočnosti v ňom je. Žena odzrkadľuje to, čo je v tom mužovi, keď si ju on vybral za ženu. To ukazuje čo je v ňom. Nezáleží na tom čo on navonok hovorí, hľaď na to s kým sa oženil.
59Idem do kancelárie nejakého muža a on hovorí o sebe, že je kresťan - všade po stene samé nahé ženy a hrá mu tam nejaké buggie-woogie; nestarám sa o to čo hovorí; Neverím jeho svedectvu, pretože jeho duch sa kŕmi vecami toho sveta. Čo povedať, ak sa on ožení s nejakou kabaretnou tanečnicou, alebo čo ak sa ožení s nejakou kráľovnou sexu, alebo len s nejakou ozaj modernou Rikitou? To odzrkadľuje; to ukazuje čo má vo svojej mysli, aký bude jeho budúci domov, pretože on si ju vzal, aby vychovávala jeho deti a taká ako je ona, tak bude vychovávať aj tie deti. A tak to odzrkadľuje čo je v tom mužovi. Muž, ktorý si vezme nejakú takúto ženu, dáva najavo, ako si predstavuje budúcnosť. Mohli by ste si predstaviť nejakého kresťana, ktorý by robil niečo také? Nie veru, ja nie. Skutočný kresťan si nebude hľadať takéto kráľovné krásy, kabaretné tanečnice a kráľovné sexu. On bude hľadať kresťanský charakter.
61Nemôžete mať všetko. Môže byť nejaké dievča, ktoré je skutočne pekné a druhé, možno že je ... môže mať lepšiu postavu ako tam tá. A vy sa musíte vzdať jednej kvôli tej druhej. Ale ak sa ona nespráva ako dáma, ako žena, ... Nestarám sa o to či je pekná alebo nie, mali by ste sa radšej dívať na jej charakter, či je pekná alebo nie.
62Nuž ... preto sa patrí, ak by si kresťan mal vybrať ženu, má si vybrať ozajstnú znovuzrodenú. Bez ohľadu na to ako vyzerá, to je to, čo ju robí tým čím je. A potom znovu, to odzrkadľuje jeho vlastný bohabojný charakter a odzrkadľuje to, čo je v jeho mysli a aká bude budúcnosť jeho rodiny - ktorá bude vychovávaná takou ženou - jeho budúce plány pre jeho domov. Ak by sa oženil s jednou s týchto moderných Rikít, s kráľovnou sexu, čo by mohol očakávať? Čo za domácnosť by taký muž mohol očakávať, že bude mať? Ak by sa oženil s nejakým dievčaťom, ktorá nebude mať dostatok morálky, aby bola doma a starala sa o svoj dom, ale by chcela pracovať u niekoho v úrade, čo by to bola za hospodyňu? Budete musieť najímať opatrovateľku ku deťom a všetko možné. Je to tak.
64Nuž je som nie za tými modernými chúťkami ženského zamestnania. Keď vidím tieto ženy v tých uniformách, ako jazdia na motorkách po meste, ako policajtky - je to hanba pre každé mesto, ktoré im to dovolí robiť, zatiaľ čo veľa mužov je bez práce. To dáva najavo moderné myslenie nášho mesta; dáva to najavo degradáciu. Nemusíme dávať ženy do takého zamestnania. Oni tam vôbec nemajú čo hľadať.
65Keď Boh dal mužovi ženu, dal mu tú najlepšiu vec po spasení, ktorú mu mohol dať, ale keď ona ide a snaží sa zastávať mužove miesto, potom je skoro tou najhoršou vecou, akú on môže mať.
Nuž je to tak. A teraz môžeme vidieť tú Duchovnú súvislosť.
66Viem že je to nepríjemné. Myslíte si, že sa to nehodí, ale je to Pravda. Nehľadíme na to, aké je to nepríjemné, musíme sa postaviť pred fakty. To je to čo nás učí Biblia.
67Nuž, tu jasne vidíme ten Duchovný plán Božieho plánovania pre Jeho budúci domov s Jeho budúcou Nevestou - vychádza to teraz najavo. Ak si nejaký muž berie nejakú kráľovnú sexu, môžete vidieť čo hľadá do budúcnosti. Ak si nejaký muž berie ženu, ktorá sa nebude zdržovať doma, môžete vidieť čo hľadá v budúcnosti.
69Ja som raz ... Znie to strašne, no proste cítim aby som to povedal a ... obyčajne, keď cítim, aby som niečo povedal, mám to povedať a obvykle je to Božia cesta.
70S jedným rančerom, s ktorým som pracoval, som zvykol chodiť kupovať dobytok. A všimol som si, že ten chlap sa stále prizeral jalovici rovno do tváre, prv ako ju išiel kúpiť. Potom jej zvrtol hlavu a pozrel si ju spredu dozadu. Pozoroval som ho a on si ju obzeral hore dole. Ak vyzerala dobre urastená, potom sa jej díval rovno do tváre a niekedy potriasol hlavou a išiel preč.
Povedal som, "Jeff chcem sa ťa niečo opýtať."
On povedal, Čo také, Billy."
71A ja som povedal, "Počúvaj, prečo sa stále dívaš tej krave do tváre?" Povedal som, "Veď vyzerá dobre - dobrá vykŕmená krava."
72On povedal, "Chcem ti povedať, chlapče, že sa musíš ešte veľa učiť," uvedomil som si to, potom čo mi to povedal. Riekol, "Nestarám sa o to, aká je urastená; môže mať mäso ešte aj na kopyte, ale ak má v tvári ten divoký výraz, nikdy ju nekupuj."
Povedal som, "Prečo, Jeff?"
73"Nuž," riekol, "Po prvé," riekol, "ona nikdy nebude kľudne stáť." A povedal, "Po druhé, nikdy nebude dobrou matkou pre svoje teľa." A povedal, "Oni ju držali v stajni a preto je taká vykŕmená. Keď ju vypustíš, s tým jej divokým výrazom, ubehá sa k smrti."
74A ja som povedal, "Vieš, že som sa niečo naučil. Verím, že to sa vzťahuje tiež aj na ženy." Ten divoký, vytreštený pohľad nejakej Rikety - radšej sa jej stráň chlapče. Všetko to modré ponad jej oči - nechcel by som to; Nemyslím, že by to kresťanke slušalo. Je mi jedno, koľko o tom televízia alebo noviny hovoria, že je to pekné, je to tá najškaredšia, najohavnejšia vec, ktorú som kedy v živote videl.
76Keď som to prvýkrát videl tu v Cliftonovom bufete, raz ráno pri raňajkách, videl som niektoré z tých mladých paní ako tam prišli. Prišli sme tam s bratom Arganbrightom. On vyšiel von. A ja sa dívam a tu prišlo to dievča. Pomyslel som si, "Čo to môže byť?" Nikdy predtým som to nevidel. Bolo to niečo ako ... Och, vyzeralo to ako keby mala rakovinu. Viete, nejaké smiešne vyzerajúce - nehovorím, že to bolo smiešne. Hovorím, že je to ... Veď viete, videl som malomocenstvo. Som misionár. Videl som všetky možné znetvorenia, viete, od chorôb .... Bol som hotový podísť ku tej panej a povedať jej, "Som misionár; modlím sa za chorých. Chcela by si aby som sa za teba pomodlil?" Nikdy som nevidel ešte niečo také. A potom tam prišli dve alebo tri ďalšie, a tak som sa vrátil a čakal.
77Potom sa vrátil brat Arganbright. Povedal som mu, "Brat Arganbright" (možno že je tu), povedal som, "čo sa to stalo tej žene?"
A on povedal, "To je namaľovaná."
78Riekol som, "No toto!" Myslel som si, že by ju mali dať niekde do ústavu, viete, aby sa to neprenieslo na všetky ďalšie ženy.
79Ale viete, musíte plánovať, dobre sa dívať a modliť sa, keď si vyberáte. Pretože vidíme skrze toto, skrze Slovo zasľúbenia, že ona, nevesta, ktorú by si muž vybral, bude odzrkadľovať jeho charakter. To odzrkadľuje to čo je v ňom. Nuž a mohli by ste si predstaviť nejakého, Duchom Svätým naplneného muža, ktorý by si vzal za ženu nejakú takúto? Ja to proste nechápem, brat. Nuž, možno že som len starý podivín, ale vy viete, ja to proste nemôžem pochopiť. Všimnite si, pretože to bude odzrkadľovať to čo je v ňom. Ona mu bude pomáhať vytvárať jeho budúci domov.
81Nuž potom, keď to obrátime späť do tej Duchovnej strany, a keď vidíte nejakú cirkev, ktorá je vo svete, správa sa ako ten svet, predbieha sa vo svete, zúčastňuje sa na veciach toho sveta, berie Božie prikázania, ako keby ich On nikdy nebol napísal, potom si jednoducho môžete predstaviť, že Kristus si nevezme nevestu, ktorá bude takto vyzerať. Vedeli by ste si predstaviť, že by si vzal za Nevestu tú dnešnú modernú cirkev? - nie môj Pán to neurobí. Sotva by som to dokázal pochopiť. Nie.
Zapamätajte si teraz, muž a jeho žena sú jedno. Či by ste sa pripojili ku takejto osobe? Ak áno, to by skutočne podlomilo moju vieru o vás.
82A potom čo Boh, ako by sa pripojil ku nejakej takejto? - vyloženej denominačnej prostitútky. Či si myslíte, že On by to urobil? "Majúci formu pobožnosti ale zapierajúci jej moc." On by to nikdy neurobil. Ona musí mať v sebe Jeho charakter. Skutočná, ozajstná znovuzrodená Cirkev musí mať ten charakter, ktorý bol v Kristovi, pretože muž a žena sú jedno. A ak Ježiš činil len to, čo sa páčilo Bohu (zachovával Jeho Slovo a manifestoval Ho), Jeho Nevesta bude musieť byť toho istého charakteru.
Ona za žiadnu cenu nemôže byť denomináciou, pretože potom, bez ohľadu na to ako veľmi by ste chceli povedať "Nie", ona je kontrolovaná niekde nejakou radou, ktorá jej hovorí čo môže a čo nemôže robiť a mnohokrát je to vzdialené milión míľ od pravdivého Slova.
83To je príliš zle, že sme odišli od toho skutočného Vodcu, ktorého nám Boh zanechal, aby viedol Cirkev. On nikdy neposlal panstvo presbyterov. On nikdy neposlal nejakého biskupa, kardinála, kňaza, pápežov. On poslal pre Cirkev Ducha Svätého, aby ju viedol. "Keď On, Duch Svätý príde, On vás uvedie do každej Pravdy, zjaví vám tieto veci, ktoré som vám povedal, pripomenie vám ich a zjaví vám veci, ktoré sa majú stať." Duch Svätý bol poslaný na to aby to robil. Nuž a tá moderná cirkev to nenávidí! Oni to nemajú radi. A tak, ako by ona bola Nevestou Kristovou?
Dnešní ľudia, ktorí si vyberajú moderné denominácie, (čo to robí?), to len odzrkadľuje ich úbohé zrozumievanie Slova.
84Nemám v úmysle niekoho uraziť, ale chcem, aby to vošlo dostatočne hlboko, až tak, aby ste sa na to mohli pozrieť.
85Zosobášil som veľa mladých párov, ale vždy ... pripomína mi to Krista a Jeho Nevestu. Jeden z tých sobášov, ktorý som tu vykonal pred nejakým časom, bol úplne výnimočnou vecou v mojom živote. Bolo to pred niekoľkými rokmi, keď som bol ešte len mladým kazateľom.
86Môj brat pracoval na W.P.A. Neviem či si to vôbec ešte niekto pamätá alebo nie - niekto, tak starý ako ja. Bol to nejaký projekt, ktorý mala vláda a môj brat pracoval tam, asi tridsať míľ od domu. Kopali nejaké jazerá - nejaký plán na udržiavanie.
87A pracoval tam s ním jeden chlapec z Indiánopolis, okolo, no, okolo sto míľ za Jeffersonville, kde bývam - či vlastne kde som býval. A bol ... On jedného dňa povedal môjmu bratovi, riekol, "Doc, budem sa ženiť, keď budem mať dosť peňazí, aby som si mohol zaplatiť toho kazateľa." On povedal, "Mám už dosť peňazí, aby som si zaobstaral povolenia, ale" povedal, "Nemám dosť peňazí na zaplatenie toho kazateľa."
88Doc povedal, "Môj brat je kazateľ a on ťa môže zosobášiť." On povedal, "On nikdy neberie poplatok od ľudí za niečo také."
On povedal, "Mohol by si ho poprosiť aby ma zosobášil?"
89Nuž, večer sa ma to môj brat opýtal. A ja som povedal, "Ak nebol predtým nikdy ženatý, ani jeden z nich a ak majú všetko v poriadku."
On povedal ... Dobre, že sa ho to opýta.
A ja som povedal, "Ak je to tak, povedz mu aby prišiel."
90A tak, keď nadišla nedeľa a ten chlapec prišiel ... Bolo to pre mňa veľká udalosť, že na to stále spomínam. Bolo daždivé popoludnie a starý Chevrolet s podrôtovanými reflektormi, zastal pred domom. Bolo to krátko po tom, ako som stratil svoju ženu a býval som v dvoch malých izbách. A Doc tam bol so mnou a čakali sme na nich.
91A ten chlapec vysadol z auta, podľa mňa vôbec nevyzeral na ženícha a myslím, že nikto by to na neho nepovedal. Predsa za dolár a pol som si už mohol kúpiť celkom dobré topánky a on mal staré obnosené. A jeho nohavice boli povydúvané. A mal oblečené, také to staromódne moleskinové sako. Neviem či vy starší sa na ne ešte pamätáte. Vyzeralo to, ako by prešlo cez práčku bez plákania a bolo pásikavé a takto stiahnuté, s povyhýňanými rohami.
92A z druhej strany vystúpila mladá pani, v takých károvaných šatách; Neviem. Pomýlil som sa raz pri názve toho materiálu. Gingham, myslím, že tak sa to nazývalo. A tak to bolo ... Znovu som to povedal zle. Vždy sa pri tom pomýlim. A povedal som ... Vystúpila z auta a prišli po schodoch, a keď vošli dovnútra, ten chudáčik, ona ... Myslím, že ona mala len ... všetko čo mala na sebe bola len šatová sukňa. Nemala obuté žiadne topánky, sotva. Z Indiánopolis prišla autostopom. Jej pekné vlasy viseli dozadu zapletené do dlhých vrkočov - vyzerala veľmi mlado.
Opýtal som sa jej, "Máš dosť rokov na to aby si sa mohla vydať?"
95Ona povedala, "Áno, pane." A povedala, "Mám písomné povolenie od svojho otca i matky." Povedala, "Musela som to ukázať na úrade, aby mi vystavili povolenie."
96Povedal som, "No dobre, Rád by som sa s vami trochu porozprával, prv ako pristúpime ku sobášu." Posadili sa. Ten chlapec sa stále rozhliadal po izbe. Potreboval by sa dať ostrihať. A stále sa rozhliadal po izbe. Nepočúval čo hovorím. Povedal som, "Synu, chcem aby si dával pozor čo hovorím."
Riekol, "Áno, pane."
Opýtal som sa, "Miluješ toto dievča?"
Odpovedal, "Áno, pane, milujem."
Opýtal som sa, "Miluješ ho?"
"Áno, pane, milujem."
97Povedal som, "Nuž a máš miesto kde ju môžeš zobrať, keď sa vezmete?"
Povedal, "Áno, pane."
Povedal som, "No dobre. Teraz sa ťa chcem niečo opýtať. Počul som, že pracuješ tu na WPA."
Opýtal som sa ho, "Myslíš, že ju budeš schopný uživiť?"
Povedal, "Urobím všetko čo budem môcť."
99Povedal som, "Dobre, to je v poriadku." A opýtal som sa jej, "No, a čo keď on stratí svoju robotu, sestra? Čo urobíš? Utečieš naspäť ku mame a otcovi?"
Odpovedala, "Nie, pane, zostanem pri ňom."
100A ja som povedal, "No a čo keď budete mať tri alebo štyri deti a nebudete im mať dať čo jesť a nebudete mať prácu, čo budete robiť? Pošleš ju preč?
101On povedal, "Nie, pane, ďalej budem zápasiť. Nejako to dokážeme."
102Cítil som sa malý a videl som, že on ju skutočne miluje, oni sa navzájom milovali. Zosobášil som ich.
103A potom som bol zvedavý kde si ju odviedol. A po niekoľkých dňoch som sa opýtal môjho brata Doca, "Kde to je?"
Povedal, "Choď do New Albany." (to je neveľké mesto poniže nás).
104A tam dole pri rieke, kde ležal taký kus cínového plechu, kde som každodenne chodieval, keď som pracoval pri elektrickom vedení, a keď tí ostatní spolupracovníci, keď si oni všetci posadali dookola a rozprávali žarty i všetko možné, ja som nasadol do náklaďáku a zašiel dole ku rieke a modlil som sa zatiaľ ... a čítal som si Bibliu pod tým veľkým kusom plechu, kde voľakedy bola stará huta. Tam je odstavených mnoho starých vagónov. A tento chlapík tam zašiel a zbral jeden z týchto vagónov, vypílil v ňom dvere a vzal noviny a pripínačky - koľkí viete čo sú to pripínačky? - tak potom nie ste z Kentucky! Proste vziať kúsok kartónu a prepichnúť ho malým klinčekom a potom sa to pripichuje ... to je pripínačka.
107A tak si to celé obložili papierom. A on zašiel tam do tej starej huty a priniesol odtiaľ nejaké železo a urobil z toho schod. Potom našli niekde nejaké staré krabice, čo im slúžilo za stôl. A raz som si pomyslel, "Zájdem tam a pozriem sa, ako sa majú."
108A asi šesť mesiacov pred tým, som sobášil dcéru E. V. Knightov so synom od E. T. Sliderov. A E.V.Knight je jeden z najbohatších ľudí, ktorý bývajú okolo rieky Ohio. Má pod sebou tie veľké továrne, ktoré vyrábajú tie prefabrikové domy i iné. A Slider, pán E.T. Silder má spoločnosť - štrky a piesky. Deti milionárov a ja som ich sobášil.
109Chodil som tam a cvičil som to okolo dva týždne, vchádzanie do kabínky a kľakanie si na vankúš a všetku tú nádheru a všetko cez čo som kedykoľvek prechádzal, som musel prejsť pri sobášení toho páru. A keď vyšli, boli ... Táto druhá dvojica zastala len tam v malej starej izbe, kde sme mali starý gauč a skladaciu posteľ. Ale oboji boli zosobášení tým istým obradom.
110A potom, jedného dňa som rozmýšľal, že by som tam zašiel a navštívil ten bohatý pár. Oni nemuseli pracovať; ich otcovia boli milionári. Dali im postaviť pekný dom. Skutočne, tento E.V. Knight, čo býva hore na kopci, má kľučky na dverách zo štrnásť karátového zlata, v tom svojom paláci, a tak si viete predstaviť v akom dome oni žili. Nemuseli pracovať. Každý rok im dali pekný Cadillac A len, "jedináčkovia." Mali proste všetko čo chceli.
Išiel som jedného dňa ... Nuž, ako som sa s nimi zoznámil, jeden z ich priateľov bol mojím dobrým priateľom, a tak sme sa skamarátili. Zoznámili sme sa vlastne, keď chceli aby som ich zosobášil.
112A tak som ich šiel navštíviť. Vysadol som tam vonku zo svojho starého Forda a kráčal som hore po schodoch. Podišiel som sa až príliš blízko a počul som ich.
Boli skutočne hluční. Žiarlili jeden na druhého. Boli na nejakom tanci. Ona bola veľmi pekné dievča, bola jednou z tých kráľovien krásy. Získala za to mnoho cien. A vyhrala nejaké autá i všetko možné, ako kráľovná krásy. A pozrel som sa na nich a jeden sedel v jednom rohu a druhý v druhom - hádali sa ohľadne nejakého chlapca, s ktorým tancovala, alebo nejakého dievčaťa, či niečoho takého.
113Keď som vyšiel hore, rýchlo vyskočili, pobehli jeden ku druhému, chytili sa za ruky a kráčali spolu smerom ku dverám. Povedali, "Ó, vitaj, brat Branham. Ako sa máš?"
Povedal som, "Dobre. A vy sa ako máte?"
A, "Ó," povedal on, "sme šťastní, však miláčik?"
A ona povedala, "Áno, drahý."
115Vidíte? Nuž vidíte, predvádzate niečo čo nie je pravda. Nuž nemôžete sa zohriať pri namaľovanom ohni. Tak ako niektoré z týchto cirkví sa snažia namaľovať Letnice, alebo niečo čo sa stalo pred tisíc alebo dvetisíc rokmi. Nemôžete sa zohriať pri namaľovanom ohni. Letnice sú dnes tak isto reálne ako boli vtedy, vidíte. Ten oheň stále zostupuje. To nie je namaľovaný oheň; je to skutočný oheň.
Tak to s nimi vyzeralo. Nechcel by som tak žiť.
117"No dobre," pomyslel som si, "tam dole pri tom úbočí nad riekou, tam sa usídlil ten druhý pár." Pomyslel som si raz v sobotu popoludní, že skočím tam a pozriem sa, ako sa majú. Bol som špinavý po tvári a celý zamazaný s pracovným náradím. Rozmýšľal som, že by som tam vkĺzol ku nim a prekĺzol som tam, pri tom ako som kontroloval izolátory, poškodené od bleskov, alebo od niečoho, kráčajúc popri telefónnych drôtoch - popri elektrickom káble, ktorý sa tiahol popri rieke. Vonku bol postavený starý Chevrolet - bolo to asi rok potom ako som ich sobášil - a bol tam ... Dvere boli otvorené a mohol som počuť ako sa rozprávajú. Vyzerá to ako pokrytectvo, no prišiel som až tak blízko, že som mohol počuť čo sa rozprávajú, ako som tam stál, chcel som to vedieť len tak pre seba.
119Rád sa presviedčam, aby som si bol istý, že viem o čom hovorím. Tak vlastne postupujem ohľadne Božieho Slova. Je toto Pravda, alebo je Pravda toto? Dodrží On Svoje Slovo, alebo dodržuje Svoje Slovo? Ak On nedodržuje Svoje Slovo, potom to nie je Boh, vidíte. Ak dodržuje Svoje Slovo, je Boh, vidíte.
120A tak, chcel som sa dozvedieť ako sa im darí a z tej strany som sa tam veľmi ľahko dostal. A počul som jeho ako hovorí, "Miláčik, tak veľmi som ti to chcel kúpiť."
121A ona povedala, "Pozri sa, Srdiečko moje," riekla, "tieto šaty sú ešte dobré." Povedala, "Prečo, sú ešte celkom dobré." Povedala, "Vážim si to, ale vieš ..."
122Podišiel som tak, aby som mohol vidieť dovnútra cez štrbinu, ako boli odchýlené dvere na tom vagóne. On tam sedel vo vnútri a držal ju na kolenách a objímal ju a ona jeho a mal jeden z takých starých klobúkov so sklonenou strechou, ktoré bývali navrchu premačknuté do takej priehlbiny a on vysypal do neho svoju výplatu. Vykladal to na stôl a hovoril, "Toľko na potraviny, toľko na poistenie a toľko na auto," a nemohli s tým prísť ku koncu. Dozvedel som sa, že niekde vo výklade videl nejaké šaty (chodil sa na ne dívať už niekoľko týždňov), stáli niečo vyše dolára. Chcel ich kúpiť. Povedal, "Drahá, vyzerala by si v nich tak pekne."
123A ona povedala, "Ale Miláčik, ja mám šaty. Ja ich skutočne nepotrebujem." Vidíte! A tá malá kráľovná ...
124Poodišiel som odtiaľ a díval som sa naspäť. Mohol som vidieť tú vežičku na tom druhom dome a stál som tam niekoľko minút a díval som sa. Rozmýšľal som, "Kto je skutočne bohatý?" Rozmýšľal som, "Ak ... Billy Branham, keby si si mal vybrať, ktoré z tých miest by si vybral, kde by si išiel?" Čo sa mňa týka, nevybral by som tie pekné veci tam hore na tom kopci, ale by som vybral ten charakter tu dole, ktorý je skutočným tvorcom domova, niekoho, kto by ma miloval a stál pri mne, niekoho kto by sa snažil vytvoriť mi domov, bez toho že by sa vás snažila vyžmýkať kvôli všetkému, kvôli každej paráde, niekoho kto by bol s vami - časťou vás.
125Stále ma to zarážalo, ako to je. Jeden si vyberá pekné dievča; druhý vyberá charakter. Nuž to je ten jediný spôsob ako si môžete vybrať. Prv sa obzeraj po charaktere, a potom ak ju miluješ, tak dobre.
126Všimnite si, Boží prvý Adam nemal vôbec možnosť vybrať si ženu. On si nevyberal. Boh pre neho urobil len jednu ženu, on si nemusel vyberať. A zistili sme, že ona ho odviedla preč od Slova Božieho. On sa nemusel kvôli tomu modliť. On na tom nebol tak ako vy alebo ja. On si nevyberal. A predsa, činiac to, odviedla ho z jeho právnej pozícii syna Božieho a ona to urobila skrze to, že mu ukázala modernejší spôsob života - niečo čo skutočne nemali urobiť, ale jej charakter dával najavo, že nie je v poriadku; jej motívy a ciele boli proste nesprávne - a presvedčila ho svojimi argumentami, že to nové moderné svetlo, ktoré našla, ktoré bolo v rozpore zo Slovom Božím, ukazuje lepší spôsob života.
127A koľko je dnes žien, a tak isto i mužov, ktorí by odtiahli dobrú ženu preč od Boha, alebo dobrého muža preč od Boha, tým že sa mu snažia nahovoriť toto náboženstvo (vy letniční chlapci) ... "To náboženstvo," oni hovoria, "och, to je staromódne; to je dávno za nami. Neverte tomu." Radšej by ste sa mali poriadne modliť, prv ako si vezmete to dievča. Nestarám sa o to aká je pekná - to isté platí o mužoch.
128Ona ho prehováraním dostala pomimo vôli Božej a spôsobila, že urobil niečo, čo nemal urobiť a skrze to priviedla smrť na celú ľudskú rasu. Preto jej Biblia zakazuje učiť, alebo kázať, alebo akýmkoľvek spôsobom narábať s Božím Slovom. Ja viem, sestra, mnohé z vás hovoríte, "Pán ma povolal aby som kázala." Nebudem sa s tebou škriepiť. Ale ti poviem, Slovo hovorí, že to nemáš robiť. "Ona nebude učiť ani si nebude nárokovať do toho žiadnu autoritu, ale má byť ticho."
131"No dobre," ty povieš, "Pán mi povedal aby som to robila." Ani najmenej o tom nepochybujem. Počuli ste moje posolstvo minulý večer o Balámovi? Balám mal prv pevné rozhodnutie Božie, "Nerob to." Ale on sa neprestal obšmietať okolo toho, až mu nakoniec Boh povedal, aby to išiel urobiť. Boh ti mohol dovoliť kázať. Nehovorím, že nie. Ale to nie je podľa Jeho originálneho Slova a plánu, pretože ona má byť poddaná v poslušnosti, čo tiež hovoril zákon. Skutočne. A preto, ona nie je určená na to, aby to robila.
133Všimnite si znovu, ako tá telesná nevesta zobrazuje tú Duchovnú. Slovo hovorí, že ona bola učinená pre muža a nie muž pre ňu. A teraz budem hovoriť o tom prečo ... za niekoľko minút o Neveste Kristovej, ale sa vám snažím ukázať pozadie tej veci.
135Žena bola učinená pre muža a nie muž pre ženu. To je ten dôvod, prečo za starých zákonov bolo to mnohoženstvo legálne.
Pozrite sa na Davida, ktorý mal päťsto žien. A Biblia hovorí, že on bol mužom podľa Božieho srdca, s päťsto ženami a Šalamún ich mal tisíc, ale ani jedna z tých žien nemohla mať druhého muža.
136Vy máte moju pásku "Manželstvo a Rozvod". Tam na štíte tej hory pri Tucsone, nie tak dávno tomu, bol som tam hore a modlil som sa za to. Oni pustili deti zo školy, aby pozorovali ten Ohnivý Stĺp, ktorý krúžil nad tou horou a utvoril taký lievik, ako sa pohyboval tam a späť, hore a dole. Niektorí ľudia, ktorí sú aj teraz tu, vedia o tom - boli tam a videli to. A to ... keď mi On povedal Pravdu ohľadne týchto otázok manželstva a rozvodu. Ak je jedna strana, ktorá ide touto cestou a druhá, ktorá ide tamtou cestou, niekde musí byť Pravda. A po týchto Siedmych Pečatiach, On ukázal ako to v skutočnosti je.
137Všimnite si teraz, ona mohla mať len jedného muža, pretože žena bola učinená pre muža a nie muž pre ženu. Tých všetkých päťsto žien boli proste Dávidovou ženou. To bol predobraz - Keď Kristus zasadne na trón v tisícročnom kráľovstve, Jeho Nevesta nebude jedna osoba, ale ich bude na desať tisíce, oni všetci budú tvoriť tú jednu Nevestu. A David mal jednotlivo mnoho žien, ale len ... oni všetky dokopy boli jeho ženou. Tak ako celé telo veriacich je Nevestou Kristovou. Pretože to je ona, tá žena; On je ten muž.
138Nuž, my sme boli učinení pre Krista; Kristus nebol učinený pre nás. To je to, čo sa snažíme robiť dnes v našich komentároch, snažíme sa ku sebe dopasovať Slovo, ktorým je Kristus, namiesto toho, aby sme sa snažili sami seba dopasovať do Slova. To je rozdiel.
139Keď si nejaký muž vyberá určité dievča z nejakej rodiny, nemôže spoliehať na kráse, pretože krása je klamná a krása (moderná svetská krása) je z diabla. Ó, počujem tam niekoho hovoriť, "Buď tu opatrný, kazateľu!" Hovorím, že tieto veci na tomto svete, to čo nazývajú, že je krásne, je úplne z diabla. Dokážem vám to. A tak v svetle tejto poznámky, skúmajme Sväté Božie Slovo, aby sme videli či je to pravda alebo nie. Ak niektorá z vás žien chce byť tak pekná, hľaďte skade to pochádza.
Na počiatku sme zistili, že Satan bol taký nádherný, až zviedol anjelov a on bol tým najkrajším z pomedzi nich všetkých. To ukazuje, že to leží v diablovi. V prísloviach je povedané ... Šalamún povedal, "Krása je márna." Je to pravda. Hriech je pekný. Skutočne. On je atraktívny.
141Chcem sa vás opýtať a povedať vám tu niečo a chcem aby ste si to všimli za chvíľu. Vo všetkých druhoch na svete (vtákov, zvierat), nachádzame, že v tom zvieracom živote, vo všetkom okrem človeka, je to mužský jedinec, ktorý je pekný a nie ženský. Prečo je to tak? Pozrite sa na jeleňa - ten nádherný veľký jeleň, so svojimi parohmi a malá obyčajná laň. Pozrite sa na sliepku - malá strakatá sliepka a veľký nádherne operený kohút.
143Neexistuje nič, žiadny druh ženského pohlavia, okrem ženy, ktorý by mohol byť nemorálny. Na psa hovoríte suka; na ošípanú hovoríte sviňa, ale morálne, oni majú viacej morálky, ako polovica tam tých filmových hviezd. Oni nemôžu byť nemorálne. Žena je tou jedinou, ktorá sa zvrhla. Je to tak. Vidíte do čoho ju vedie tá krása? Nuž, preto dnes vidíme, že ženy sa stávajú krajšie.
Vezmite si Pearl Bryan. Videli ste ju niekedy na obrázku, ona bola pokladaná za veľkú Americkú krásku. Hocktoré dievča v ktorejkoľvek škole by ju teraz prevýšilo. Vedeli ste, že sa rátalo, že to tak bude? Vedeli ste, že Biblia hovorí, že sa to bude diať takýmto spôsobom?
145Viete, že ten úpadok tam na počiatku prišiel cez ženy? A koniec príde takým istým spôsobom - ženy naberajú autoritu a vládu nad mužmi, a tak ďalej. Vedeli ste, že Písmo o tom hovorí? Vy sa pamätáte ten deň, keď ona začala nosiť mužské oblečenie a strihať si vlasy - a všetky tie veci sú v rozpore s Božím Slovom. Či viete, že ona reprezentuje cirkev? Sledujte to, čo robia ženy a budete vidieť, čo robí cirkev. Je to presne tak. Nuž, nuž to je práve tak pravdivé, ako je pravdivé Božie Slovo.
146Žiadny iný druh ženského pohlavia nie je učinený tak, že by sa mohol znížiť tak ako sa môže znížiť žena. A jednako, skrze to, bola učinená ... Ona nebola v prvotnom stvorení. Všetky ostatné druhy ženského pohlavia sú v prvotnom stvorení - vták, samec i samica; zviera, samec i samica - ale v ľudskom živote, Boh učinil len muža. A On vzal z neho - a žena je ďalším produktom z muža, pretože Boh nemohol zaviesť niečo také. Skúmajte Písmo. Je to presne tak. Boh (nie veru) vo Svojom prvom stvorení, ona tam nebola, ale ak sa ona môže udržať v poriadku, o čo väčšiu odplatu má než muž! Ona je postavená do skúšobného poľa.
Cez ňu prišla smrť. Ona je vinná všetkej smrti. Ale potom to Boh obrátil a použil jednu, aby znovu priniesla naspäť Život - aby skrze ženu priviedol Svojho Syna - skrze tú poslušnú. Ale zlá žena je to najhoršie čo môže byť. Neexistuje nič čo by mohlo upadnúť tak nízko.
149Kain, Satanov syn, si myslel, že Boh prijme krásu. On si to myslí i dnes. Kain bol Satanov syn. "No dobre a teraz ..." hovoríte si. Nebudeme zachádzať do toho, do tých detailov, ale dovoľte, aby som vám to urovnal. Biblia hovorí, že on bol z toho zlého a tým je to urovnané. V poriadku.
150Nuž, on bol Satanov syn a on si myslel, že prinášanie na oltár a robenie ho opravdu pekným ku cteniu Boha, že to je to na čo Boh bude brať ohľad. Oni si myslia ... myslia si dnes to isté. Samozrejme - "Staviame veľký objekt; budeme mať veľké denominácie; postavíme najväčšiu budovu a budeme mať najlepšie oblečených ľudí, najvzdelanejších duchovných." Mnohokrát je Boh na desať miliónov míľ vzdialený od toho. Je to tak.
151Jednako je to cirkev, a tak ak Boh berie ohľad len na uctievanie, úprimnosť, obetovanie, Kain bol tak isto spravodlivý ako Ábel. Ale to bolo skrze zjavenie, že on porozumel, že to neboli jablká, ktoré jedli jeho rodičia.
152Chcem tu povedať niečo, čo na ústach kazateľa neznie dobre, ale jednako to chcem povedať. Počujem tých iných hovoriť také veci, a tak ja ... hovoriť drobné žarty. Nuž, nemám to v úmysle. No predsa to poviem: Ak jedenie jabĺk spôsobilo, že ženy si uvedomili že sú nahé, mali by sme im radšej znovu podávať jablká. Prepáčte mi to. No len tak aby to zmenilo ... Mám vás tu priviazaných a hovorím o ženách i tak ďalej; chcem aby ste sa trochu zrelaxovali, do toho ďalšieho čo má prísť.
A tak si všimnite, to neboli jablká. My to vieme.
153Cirkev sa dostáva v týchto dňoch so svojou vymoženosťou, tak ako so všetkými ďalšími ľudskými vymoženosťami; dostáva sa na vedeckú úroveň. Oni sa snažia urobiť nejakú vedeckú cirkev, s atraktívnymi obrazmi a vysokými vežami. Je to veľmi zle, že letniční sa dostali na túto koľaj. Boli by ste na tom lepšie, keby ste boli preč od toho, niekde na rohu s tamburínou a mali okolo seba Ducha Božieho, ale vy sa snažíte dostať na úroveň tých ostatných, preto že ste zo seba učinili denomináciu. To je tomu príčinou, vidíte. Cirkvi sa snažia postupovať vedecky. A pamätajte, tak ako dosahuje človek pokrok vo vede, tak sám seba každodenne zabíja.
154Keď vynašiel pušný prach, pozrite sa čo to spôsobilo. Keď vynašiel automobil, to zabíja viacej ľudí než pušný prach. A teraz má človek vodíkovú bombu. Zaujímavé, čo bude s ňou robiť? Tak veru.
155A tak je cirkev. Keď sa snaží dosiahnuť niečo skrze vedu, skrze ľudské plány, odvádza vás to ďalej od Boha a viacej do smrti, než ako to bolo prvý krát. Je to tak. Nevyberajte si cirkev, tým istým spôsobom akým ste si vybrali ženu, vidíte. To čo veda pre ňu urobila bol div, ale vy by ste sa radšej mali držať preč od tej cirkvi, podľa toho. On vyrobil, líčidlá, púdri a všetky tieto ďalšie veci. Vyberajte charakter Jeho Slova.
156Nuž porovnajme tú dnešnú prirodzenú nevestu, s tou tak zvanou dnešnou cirkevnou nevestou. Porovnajte nejakú ženu, ktorá sa dnes ide vydávať - nuž, pozrite sa len, čo veda pre ňu vykonala. Ona vychádza prv so svojimi ostrihanými vlasmi - s jedným s účesov Jacqueliny Kennedyovej, vidíte, alebo s niečím takým. A viete čo hovorí Biblia? Biblia v podstate dáva mužovi, ak chce, dáva mu právo rozviesť sa s ňou, ak ona tak postupuje. Ona je hanebná žena, ktorá si bude strihať vlasy. Biblia tak hovorí. Je to tak. Nevedeli ste to, och? Ó jé, kázal som veľmi veľa krát v Kalifornii, aby ste to mohli vedieť. Je to tak. Nie. Ale čo dobrého mi to prinieslo? Oni to aj tak robia. Nemôžete zobrať prasa a zmeniť jeho - urobiť ho baránkom.
158Všimnite si ... Budete ma po tom nenávidieť, ale budete poznať Pravdu. Porovnajme to. Ona tu prichádza celá vymaľovaná - niečo čo nie je - moderná nevesta. Umyte jej tvár a utiekli by ste od nej, možno - vystraší vás na smrť, keď s nej odstránite všetko to pľuhavstvo. A taká je tiež cirkev s tou veľkou vymaľovanou tvárou s kompletným teologickým "Max Faktorom." Obe majú nádhernú falošnú tvár - ľuďmi vyrobenou krásou a nie s krásou od Boha. Neveľa charakteru ani v jednej z nich.
160Všimnite si, práve tak ako Satan - dosť na to aby skrze to zvádzala. Porovnajte teraz tú modernú nevestu s jej ... nosí šortky, maľuje sa, strihá si vlasy, oblieka sa, že vyzerá ako muž a počúva nejakého pastora, ktorý jej hovorí, že to je všetko v poriadku. On je zvoditeľ. On za to bude trpieť v tamtej krajine. Je to tak. Robí to aby zviedla, aby bola niečím čím nie je.
161Takým spôsobom to robí cirkev. Dosahuje veľké tituly doktorov teológii, doktorov filozofii, doktorov práva (D.D., Ph.D., L.L.D.), tak že môžete povedať, "Náš pastor je toto, to alebo tamto," možno nevie nič viacej o Bohu, než ako Hotentot o Egyptskej noci. Je to tak. Prešiel cez nejaký teologický seminár a nevie o Bohu skoro nič.
162Moderná cirkev a ich teologické líčidlá - všetky ich ženy majú oholenú svoju chválu, skrze ich nejakého modernistického, pripojeného pastora, ktorého majú. Ako Jezábeľ, ak kedykoľvek bola - ostrihané vlasy, šortky, maľovanie a všetko to ustavené podľa teologickej chuti. V takom stave stojí cirkev. Je to tak. Ale jej duchovný charakter je ďaleko od toho aby vytvorila taký domov, pre ktorý príde Ježiš Kristus.
163Ak si nejaký kresťan vezme takúto ženu, to ukazuje, že vypadol z milosti. Jeho chuť po Bohu a po domove (o tom ako má domov vyzerať) je ďaleko, keď si vyberá takúto ženu. Nie veru, ona určite neuspokojí chuť ozajstného kresťana. Jej duchovný charakter je na najnižšom stupni - mŕtva v denominačnej kráse a v žiadostiach toho sveta.
164Presne tam stojí dnes cirkev. Predala svoj Slovom daný charakter Satanovi za vedecké, ľuďmi zostrojené náboženstvo, keď mala právo, ako Cirkev Božia stáť so Slovom Božím a mať Ducha Svätého účinkujúceho medzi sebou, spájajúc to telo dokopy so Slovom a láskou Božou. Namiesto toho, ona predala svoje prvorodenstvo, ako Ezav a prijala denomináciu, ktorá jej dovolí robiť všetko čokoľvek chce. Je to tak. Len aby sa stala populárnou ako to urobila jej matka v Nicei - Ríme. Božie Slovo. Ó, ako to vošlo do nášho letničného kráľovstva. Je to príliš zle, ale stalo sa to.
166Pozrite sa len na chvíľu na mníšku v katolíckej cirkvi. Tá žena, aby sa stala mníškou a nastúpila nakoniec do kláštora, ona je absolútne zapredaná svojej cirkvi. Ona je dušou, telom i duchom vlastníctvom tej cirkvi. Ona nemá žiadnej vlastnej mysli. Nemôže mať, keď nadobro nastupuje do kláštora. Žiadnej vlastnej mysli; žiadnej vlastnej vôli.
167Vidíme tu, že Satan si z nich robí falzifikáty, podobné tým ozajstným ... tej ozajstnej Cirkvi Kristovej (Nevesty), ktorá Mu je tak zapredaná a Jeho zasľúbenému Slovu, až tá istá myseľ, ktorá je v Kristovi je vo vás. Čo za rozdiel!
168A zisťujeme dnes, že tá moderná cirkev, tá moderná svetová cirkev ... tá moderná svetová cirkev a tak isto tá Duchovná Cirkev, oboje sú tehotné, aby porodili synov. Jedna z nich, denominačný pôrod, prinesie v jednom z týchto dní, vo Svetovej Cirkevnej Rade, ktorá skrze denomináciu vyprodukuje na svet antikrista. To je skutočná Pravda. Možno, že ja sa nedožijem toho, aby som to uvidel. Verím, že sa dožijem. Ale vy mladí ľudia pamätajte, že ste počuli kazateľa, ktorý hovoril, že sa z toho nakoniec vykľuje, že to je Znamenie šelmy. Keď ona sformuje tú Svetovú Radu Cirkví a porodí svojho syna - antikrista.
170Tá druhá je tehotná Slovom Božím a porodí Telo - to dokončené Telo Ježiša Krista, ktorým je Nevesta. Telo Kristovo nie je ešte dokončené. Koľký z vás to vedia? Muž a žena sú jedno. A Kristus je jedno Telo - Slovo. Nevesta sa musí stať ostatkom toho tela a tí dvaja dokopy utvoria znovu jedno telo, tak ako to bolo s Adamom na počiatku.
A muž a jeho žena sú jedno. A teraz Ona, tá skutočná Nevesta, je Mu tak oddaná, že nepoužíva žiadnej svojej mysli. Jeho mysľou je samozrejme Jeho vôľa a Jeho vôľou je Jeho Slovo.
171A teraz sa pozrite na tú tak zvanú nevestu vybranú skrze muža a porovnajte dnes to Duchovné s tým prirodzeným. Nejaká moderná Jezábeľ očarovaná svojím Achabom, "Max-Factor" nádhera a všetko možné. Pozrite sa na cirkev: je to tak isto, ale prostitútka voči Slovu živého Boha - veľké denominácie, veľké budovy, veľké peniaze, veľké platy, všetko zapredané. Mužovia stojaci za kazateľňou prevolávajú, že je to všetko v poriadku a dovolia ím s tým prejsť. Je to všetko len podvod. Skutočne slepý Laodicejský Cirkevný Vek, presne tak ako to hovorí Biblia.
Je povedané, "Som bohatá, sedím ako kráľovná, nič nepotrebujem; a nevieš, že si biedny, mizerný, slepý, chudobný, nahý a nevieš o tom!" Ak to nie je "TAK HOVORÍ PÁN" zo Zjavenia 3, tak som to potom nikdy nečítal. To je to čím ona je a nevie o tom. Pamätajte na to.
172Ak poviete nejakému mužovi, alebo žene na ulici, že je úplne nahá a poviete im, že sú nahí a oni povedia, "Staraj sa o seba!" tam niekde je duševná vada; s ich rozumom nie je niečo v poriadku.
173A keď môžete čítať Slovo Božie, ako by sa ľudia mali zachovávať, i o krste Duchom Svätým, ktorý dnes máme a ľudia - prečo, dívajú sa na vás ako keby ste neboli normálny. Poviete im, že sa musia znovu narodiť; že musia veriť Biblii a oni povedia, "To boli židovské bájky z pred mnoho rokov. Naša cirkev je tou cestou!" Biedny, mizerní, slepí, nahí a ani o tom nevedia. Čo za … A Biblia hovorí, že to je stav do ktorého sa dostanú. Ako by to ozajstný prorok mohol nevidieť? Neviem.
175Valí sa to všade do všetkých našich cirkví. Len sa na to pozrite. Len v modernom trende.
Tá stará smilnica a jej dcéry zo zjavenia 17, dávajúca biednym, slepým, mizerným ľuďom svoje teologické doktríny, nezhodné so Slovom Božím. A boli nájdené v nej duše otrokov i mužov i žien zovšadiaľ. Namiesto toho aby viedli ľudí ... Kristus potvrdzuje Svoje Slovo, ktoré priťahuje ľudí. On nepriťahuje tých cirkevníkov, ktorí sú pritiahnutí veľkými denomináciami a veľkými predsavzatiami a veľkými dielami a fantastickými vecami, ale Slovo Božie priťahuje Nevestu Kristovu.
177Všimnite si teraz, je to zaujímavé všimnúť si, ako sa tá cirkev snaží upútať pozornosť ľudí peknými oblečeniami a s ustrojenými speváckymi zbormi, ženami s ostrihanými vlasmi a namaľovanými tvárami a oni si myslia, že môžu spievať ako anjel - klamať ako diabol, flákať sa celé noci po tancoch ako ... a nič si z toho nerobia. A myslia si o tom, že je to všetko v poriadku. Je to nádherné. Ale vidíte, to je falošné! To nie je Slovo Božie.
178Zatiaľ čo opravdová Nevesta upútava Božiu pozornosť zachovávaním Jeho Slova.
Všimnite si, pozorujme teraz Krista. Vy hovoríte, "No dobre, počkaj teraz na chvíľu, čo s tou krásou o ktorej hovoríš?"
180Biblia hovorí, v Izaiášovi 53:2, že keď Ježiš prišiel, nebolo na Ňom žiadnej krásy, že by sme boli žiadostiví po Ňom. Je to tak? Nie je tam žiadnej krásy. Ak by On bol mal prísť v tej svetskej kráse, ako je dnes Satan, ľudia by sa boli zbehli okolo Neho a prijali Ho, tak ako prijímajú dnes cirkev. Oni by Mu uverili a prijali Ho, ako prijímajú dnes Satana. Skutočne by to urobili. Ale On neprišiel s takým druhom krásy, ale On prichádza vždy s krásou charakteru. Kristus nebol pekným, veľkým, silným, statným mužom. Boh nevyberá taký druh.
181Pamätám sa, ako išiel raz prorok vziať kráľa, aby učinil kráľom jedného z Jesseho synov, aby nastúpil na kráľove miesto - na Saulove. A tak Jesse ho priviedol a on bol veľký, silný, pekný chlapec a povedal, "Koruna bude dobre sedieť na jeho hlave."
182A prorok išiel, aby ho polial olejom a povedal, "Boh ho odmietol." A On odmietol každého jedného z nich, až kým neprišiel ku tomu malému, ryšavému mládenčekovi s ovisnutými ramenami a vylial na neho olej a povedal, "Boh vybral jeho." Vidíte, my vyberáme podľa toho čo vidíme. Boh vyberá podľa charakteru.
183Charakter - nikdy nebolo takého charakteru ako Ježiš Kristus. To žije v Ňom; manifestuje Ho. Vidíme, že je to pravda. To nie je Jeho svetská krása, ktorá priťahuje Jeho Nevestu; je to Jeho charakter - charakter cirkvi, ktorý Ježiš hľadá; nie či sú to veľké budovy, či veľké denominácie; či je tam veľa členov. On zasľúbil, že kdekoľvek sa zhromaždia dvaja alebo traja, tam príde medzi nich. Skutočne. V tom odpočíva nádej skutočných veriacich, v Slove Božom, ktoré je potvrdené a je Pravdou. Čo to je? Vyberanie skrze Jeho Slovo. Nie nejaká skupina, ktorá miluje svet - oni to nenávidia. Nie divu, že ona je s Ním rozvedená, pretože sa minula Jeho zjavenia a nemá ho. On sa nestará o jej ... o to ako sa zachováva a čo robí a koľko má tých svetských záležitostí.
185On v nej hľadá charakter, ten Kristov charakter. Už len chvíľu teraz; to je to. On si vyberá nevestu, aby odzrkadľovala Jeho charakter, moderné cirkvi sa dnes samozrejme míňajú Jeho programu na milióny míľ, pretože oni zapierajú, že toto je pravda. Tak ako by to mohlo byť? A teraz, On čaká na ten deň, v ktorom tá Nevesta bude sformovaná (Židom 13:8) presne tak ako bolo to - ako bol On. To musí byť to isté Jeho telo, tie isté kosti, ten istý Duch, všetko to isté, tak presne postavené a potom tí dvaja sa stanú jedno. Až kým sa cirkev nestane taká, oni nie sú jedno. Jeho charakter (Slovo na tento vek) musí byť sformovaný; Ona musí byť sformovaná, aby bola ako On.
186A teraz na záver chcem povedať dôvod, prečo som toto všetko hovoril a zakončím.
Jednej noci, okolo tretej hodiny ráno, som sa zobudil. A teraz, pýtam sa každého z vás, aby mi odpovedal: Povedal som vám niekedy niečo v Mene Pánovom čo by nebola pravda? Vždy to bola pravda. A tak mi pomôžte, Boh vie, že je to pravda. Nie je ničoho nikde na svete, z tých tisícok vecí, ktoré boli povedané, z ktorých by On niekedy ominul čo len jedno slovo. Stále sa to dokonale vyplnilo, takže i vtedy, keď som bol jedného dňa vo Phoenixe, bolo to asi pred rokom a povedal som vám to o tom ... to posolstvo na tému, "Aký je čas, pánovia" a povedal som vám, že sa tam stretne tých sedem anjelov a bude otvorenie týchto Pečatí a čo ... A časopis Life tam priniesol o tom ten článok, o tom veľkom plameni, ktorý sa vzniesol hore do vzduchu, 30 míľ vysoko, roztiahnutý na 27 míľ a oni povedali, že nemôžu zistiť čo to bolo - ešte to nevedia. A ľudia, ktorí sedia dnes večer práve tu v tejto budove, stáli práve tam vtedy so mnou, keď sa to stalo, presne tak ako to bolo povedané.
On mi povedal o tých veciach, ktoré sa majú stáť a stalo sa to presne tak; Ako každá z týchto Pečatí bola otvorená a boli povedané tajomstvá, ktoré boli skryté cez všetky tie veky reformátorov a tak ďalej. Tak dokonale.
189Ako som stál na vrcholci toho kopca - mužovia, traja alebo štyria z nich sú tu práve teraz prítomní; áno, i viacerí. Ako sme išli hore na ten kopec, Duch Svätý povedal, "Zodvihni tú skalu." (Boli sme na poľovačke.) On povedal, "Vyhoď ju do vzduchu a povedz, TAK HOVORÍ PÁN." Urobil som to. Prišiel odtiaľ slabý vzdušný vír. A povedal som, "V priebehu 24 hodín uvidíte ruku Božiu."
190Tí ľudia sedia práve teraz tu. Nasledujúceho dňa okolo desiatej hodiny, ako sme tam stáli, povedal som, "Pripravte sa; vojdite tam pod to auto" (nejaký veterán); Povedal som, "niečo sa má stať." Bola jasná obloha. Rovno hore vo veľkom kaňone, zostupoval dole z neba krúžiaci oheň s veľkým rachotom, narazilo to takto na tie skalnaté steny. Stál som rovno pod tým. Zložil som si len klobúk, chytil som si hlavu a prešlo to asi tri alebo štyri stopy ponad mňa a vyrylo to takto ryhu rovno dookola po tej stene a vybuchlo, vznieslo sa to hore do vzduchu a znovu to zakrúžilo dookola a zostúpilo dole, tri krát, na 200 yardov to ešte postínalo aj vrcholce na kríkoch.
Počuli ste tých mužov povedať, "Amen"? Oni tam boli, keď sa to stalo, vidíte. Tri razy to zaburácalo.
191Keď oni vyšli z pod tých áut a zovšadiaľ a prišli naspäť, povedali, "Keby ťa to bolo zasiahlo, nezostal by z teba ani mastný fľak." Povedal som, "To nebolo ... To bol On. On ku mne hovoril." Boh hovorí z víchru, vidíte.
A to bol ten istý Ohnivý Stĺp, ktorý môžete vidieť tam na tých fotografiách. A keď to odišlo hore oni povedali, "Čo to je?"
Povedal som, "Súd naráža na západné pobrežie." Na druhý deň potom sa Aljaška takmer potopila.
194Vidíte, prvý krát to narazilo tam, to prvé zavanutie, keď ten ... Musíte niečo urobiť, aby ste to naznačili. Tak ako nejaký muž vzal soľ do nádoby a vysypal ju do vody a povedal, "TAK HOVORÍ PÁN, nach je tá voda sladká." A iný, Ježiš vzal vodu a nalial do džbánu a urobil z toho víno. Musíte mať niečo, aby ste to naznačili a to je to, čo to bolo, to vyletelo hore do vzduch a spadlo dole. To rozpočalo ten malý vír. V dvadsiatych štyroch hodinách to zatriaslo tým vrchom, až to dookola vyrylo brázdu.
195Pastor Blair, ktorý tu teraz sedí a díva sa rovno na mňa, on bol tam hore a pozbieral nejaké z tých úlomkov. Je tu Terry Sothman a oni, ktorí tam stoja a Billy Paul a brat ... mnohí ďalší, ktorí tu sedia, ktorí boli priamo tam a videli keď sa to stalo, keď to vylamovalo tie skaly. Nie je to výmysel; je to pravda. Nestalo sa to voľakedy dávno v Biblických dňoch; stalo sa to teraz. Ten istý Boh, ktorý mi stále ukazoval tieto veci a oni sa vyplnili presne do písmena. Nikdy nedal, aby to sklamalo čo len raz - a tak sa Ním chválim.
198Pred niekoľkými týždňami som bol vo videní, stál som na vyvýšenom mieste a mal som sa dívať na predvedenie Cirkvi. A všimol som si ako prichádzala z mojej ... Stál som viac akoby týmto smerom, smerom na západ a z tejto strany prichádzala milá skupina žien - opravdu pekne oblečených, dlhé vlasy mali začesané pekne dozadu, rukávy, sukne poniže kolien a všetky vykračovali podľa melódii, "Napred Boží bojovníci, pochodujte vpred, s krížom Ježišovým premáhajúc svet." A ako prechádzali okolo, stál som tam a bolo tam niečo, nejaký Duch - Boh a On povedal, "To je Nevesta." A ja som sa pozeral a moje srdce sa radovalo. A Ona išla takto okolo a prešla dokola poza mňa.
199Po nejakej chvíli, keď takto odišla, On povedal, "A teraz sa príde predviesť moderná cirkev." A tu prichádzala tá Ázijská cirkev. Nikdy som nevidel takú špinavú zberbu! Tu prichádzali ďalšie cirkvi z rôznych národov. Vyzerali strašne!
201Hovorím to preto, že som zaviazaný pred Bohom povedať vám Pravdu. A keď On povedal, "Teraz sa predvedie cirkev Ameriky" ak som niekedy videl bandu démonov, tak to bolo ono. Tie ženy boli povyzliekané donaha, s niečím starým šedivým , malo to farbu ako slonia koža a oni to držali pred sebou, čo však nemalo vôbec vrchnej časti a robili pri tom také pohyby ako pri tých tancoch, čo tancujú tie výrastky tam vonku - ten twist a hrala im pri tom taká hudba. A keď som videl ako prichádza tá Miss Ameriky, skoro som omdlel.
202To je TAK HOVORÍ PÁN. Ak mi veríte, že som Jeho sluha, verte mi teraz. Nepovedal by som to za nič na svete; na celom svete nie je dosť peňazí, žeby ma doviedli do toho, aby som to povedal, keby to nebola pravda. A keď prechádzala okolo, bola to najoplzlejšia vec, akú som kedy videl. Pomyslel som si, "Bože, kazatelia i my bratia, pracovali sme ako sme len vládali, aby sme Ti pripravili Nevestu a toto je to najlepšie čo sme mohli urobiť!" Krútila sa, držala to pred sebou, niečo ako tie hula sukne. [sukňa urobená z dlhých stebiel trávy uviazaných na opasku - tl.] Držala to pred svojou časťou tela, takto pred svojou spodnou časťou, tancovala a točila sa takto ako to robia tie výrastky v tých vulgárnych predstaveniach, ktoré robia - točiac sa. To bola Americká Miss kresťanstva.
204Pomôžte mi, s pomocou Božou, tak to vlastne vyzerá v Jeho očiach. Ja som len ... Mohol som skoro zomdlieť. Myslel som na to všetko úsilie a kázanie a presviedčanie - každá jedna z nich mala ostrihané vlasy, točili sa a tak išli a držali to pred sebou. Prešli okolo, tam kde som stál s tou nadprirodzenou Bytosťou. Nemohol som Ho vidieť. Mohol som Ho počuť ako ku mne hovorí. Bol tesne pri mne. Ale keď sa oni takto obrátili, boli ... stále sa len točili a smiali a tak išli ďalej, takto sa správali, držiac to pred sebou. A teraz ja, stojaci tam v Jeho prítomnosti, Jeho sluha a všetko to úsilie, to bolo to najlepšie čo som mohol urobiť. Rozmýšľal som, "Bože, ku čomu mi to bolo? Na čo to bolo dobré? Všetko to volanie, prosenie a presviedčanie a tie veľké znamenia a divy a zázraky, ktoré si Ty ukázal. A ako som stával tam za kazateľňou a ako som prichádzaval domov a plakal, potom čo som im kázal a po všetkom, a čo mi to prinieslo? A teraz Ti musím predstaviť niečo takéto, ako Tvoju Nevestu."
206A ako som tam stál a díval sa, ona prešla okolo a môžete si predstaviť - zozadu nemala na sebe nič, držala to len pred sebou, ako prechádzala okolo, tancujúc a krútiac sa, rozhadzujúc takto svojimi údmi pri ... Och, bolo to vulgárne, ako sa zachovávala - natriasajúc takto svojím telom!
207Opýtate sa, "Čo to znamená, brat Branham?" Neviem. Hovorím vám iba to čo som videl. A keď ona takto prešla, pozrel som sa na ňu a och, až to so mnou zatriaslo. A odvrátil som sa preč. Pomyslel som si, "Bože, potom som odpísaný. Nemá význam aby som sa snažil ešte niečo ... Môžem s tým všetkým prestať."
209A pani Carl Williams, ak tu niekde sedíš a ten sen, ktorý si mi nedávno rozprávala, čo sa ti jednej noci sníval, ktorý ťa trápil, to je to. Ten volant mi je vzatý z ruky.
210Potom, rozmýšľal som, že môžem na to rovno zabudnúť; Bol som z toho preč. A potom zrazu, počul som ich znovu prichádzať. A z tejto strany prichádzala tá istá Nevesta, ktorá vtedy prechádzala okolo. Znovu tu prichádzali tie milé dámy a každá jedna z nich bola oblečená vo svojom národnom kroji, podľa toho odkiaľ pochádzali - ako zo švajčiarska, Nemecka, a tak ďalej - každá mala oblečený taký kroj, všetky mali dlhé vlasy, presne tak isto, ako tam tá prv. A tu oni prichádzali, kráčajúc - "Napred Boží bojovníci, pochodujte vpred ..." A keď prešli okolo tej tribúny, kde sme stáli, zrazu každé oko sa obrátilo tým smerom, a potom sa otočili a pochodujúc odchádzali. A práve, keď začali kráčať rovno hore do oblakov, tá druhá došla hore až po okraj vrchu a začala takto schádzať dole. Tieto začali mašírovať rovno hore do oblakov. A keď mašírovali, všimol som si zopár dievčeniec zozadu, (podľa výzoru to mohli byť cudzinky, akoby zo švédska, alebo švajčiarska, alebo z niekade,) začali sa rozhliadať dookola a ... Zakričal som, "NEROBTE TO!! Nevychádzajte z kroku!" A ako som takto kričal, to videnie ma opustilo a stál som tam takto so zodvihnutými rukami. Pomyslel som si, "Dobre ..."
214Kvôli tomu som dnes večer hovoril o tom o čom som hovoril. Chcem sa vás niečo opýtať: Je neskoršie než ako si myslíte? Mohla ona už byť vyvolaná a vybraná - zapečatená? V takom prípade, ako viete, by už nezostal nikto, kto by mohol byť do nej dodaný. Bolo by to možné? Ó jéj. Ó jéj. Pamätáte čo som povedal jedného dňa pri raňajkách? Pri oplodňovaní u samca i samičky, tam je vypustené milión zárodkov a milión vajíčok, ale je len jedno z nich, ktoré prežije, hoci sú si všetky podobné - jeden z milióna. Každé jedno to vajíčko je rovnaké a tak isto sú si rovnaké i tie zárodky. Jedno z nich prežije a tie ostatné zahynú. Nikto nedokáže povedať, ktoré je to dozreté vajíčko, alebo niečo o tom. To musí rozhodnúť Boh. Či to bude chlapec alebo dievča, blondínka alebo brunetka, alebo čokoľvek to bude, o tom rozhoduje Boh. Nie tie prvé, ktoré sa stretnú, ale tie prvé o ktorých Boh rozhodol. Možno jedno prichádza z tadiaľto a jedno ... Ak ste to niekedy videli pod mikroskopom, ako sa to deje. Díval som sa na to. To musí rozhodnúť Boh. Oni sú všetky rovnaké - ale skrze vyvolenie. To prirodzené narodenie sa deje skrze vyvolenie. Boh berie jedno z milióna.
217Keď Izrael opustil Egypt, na ceste do zasľúbenej zemi, bolo ich približne dva milióny ľudí. Každý jeden z nich bol pod tým istým obetným baránkom, inak by neboli zostali nažive. Každý jeden z nich počúval Mojžiša, proroka. Každý jeden z nich bol pokrstený v Červenom mori. Každý jeden z nich tancoval - tie ženy s Miriam, plesali, na druhej strane mora, keď Boh zničil toho nepriateľa. Každý jeden z nich stál s Mojžišom a počuli ho spievať v Duchu. Každý jeden jedol mannu vonku na púšti, ktorá padala z neba - každú noc nová manna, čo je predobrazom na Posolstvo. Každý jeden z toho jedol. Ale z tých dvoch miliónov, koľkí došli do cieľu? - dvaja. Jeden z milióna!
218Teraz je na svete približne päťsto miliónov kresťanov, rátajúc katolíkov a všetkých. Päťsto miliónov takzvaných veriacich na svete. Keby Vytrhnutie nastalo dnes večer, to by znamenalo, keby to bol jeden z milióna (ja nehovorím, že to tak bude, ale keby to tak bolo), v ďalších dvadsiatych štyroch hodinách by chýbalo päťsto ľudí. Vôbec by ste sa o tom ani nedozvedeli. Toľko ľudí sa aj tak niekde stratí, že sa to ani nedá postrehnúť.
219Potom by sa mohlo stať ... mohlo by sa nám stať, priatelia, ako sa to stalo keď prišiel Ján Krstiteľ. Dokonca učeníci hovorili, "Prečo učení v Písme hovoria, prečo apoštolovia, či proroci hovorili, prečo je to povedané, že prv musí prísť Eliáš aby napravil všetko?"
On povedal, "Hovorím vám, že Eliáš už prišiel a nezbadali ste to."
Jedného z týchto dní, ako tu sedíme, by sme tu mohli zostať zanechaní. "Čo je s tým Vytrhnutím, ktoré malo nastať pred tým nátlakom?"
"Ono už nastalo a vy ste to nezbadali."
222Celé telo je vpečatené dovnútra - drží krok. Nehovorím, že to tak je; Dúfam, že to tak nie je. Ale priateľu, keď my necháme ... Ak dnes večer cítime vo svojom srdci, že by sme mali dať do poriadku svoje životy, i tie veci čo sme vykonali, dovoľte mi aby som vám poradil ako kazateľ a brat ... A poviem to prvý krát spoza kazateľni. Zašiel som v tom dnes večer trochu ďalej, než ako kedykoľvek pri všetkom inom, pred verejnosťou, pretože som mal veľkú slobodu v týchto zhromaždeniach. Ak mi veríte, že som Boží prorok, počúvajte to, čo som vám povedal.
Ak zneje v tvojom srdci čo len slabý hlas, choď hneď teraz ku Bohu. Urob to!
224Zastavte sa na chvíľu, ľudia. Pozrite sa na svoje vyznania, ktorým slúžite. Pozrite sa do svojich cirkví. Je to presne podľa Božieho Slova? Splnili ste všetky podmienky? Poviete si, "Ja som dobrý človek." Taký bol aj Nikodém, a takí boli i všetci ostatní z nich. Oni boli dobrí ... Vidíte, to s tým nemá nič spoločného.
225A ženy, chcem aby ste sa pozreli do zrkadla a videli to čo Boh vyžaduje od ženy aby robila a videli v Božom zrkadle - nie teraz vo vašom cirkevnom zrkadle, v Božom zrkadle - a videli či by ste mohli kvalifikovať svoj život, ako život Duchovnej Nevesty Ježiša Krista.
226Kazatelia, tiež o tom porozmýšľajte. Či nezavíjate veci do vatičky, aby ste neranili niečie pocity? Robili by ste to, keby to nebolo ... keby vás vylúčili z cirkvi? Ak sa cítiš, že to tak robíš, môj drahý brat, dovoľ mi aby som ťa varoval v Mene Ježiša Krista, uteč od toho hneď teraz.
227A panie, ak nemôžete vyplniť kvalifikácie kresťanky, nie nejakej zapísanej kresťanky, ale vo vašom srdci a vo vašom živote je to vypísané presne tak, ako to tu hovorí Boží sobášny list, že to musí byť.
228A členovia cirkví, ak vaša cirkev nevypĺňa Božie kvalifikácie Jeho Slova, tak z nej vyjdite a vojdite do Krista. To je vážne varovanie. Nevieme kedy. A vy neviete kedy sa toto mesto jedného dňa zrúti z tadeto na dno tohoto oceánu.
230"Ó, Kafarnaum," povedal Ježiš, "ktoré si vyvýšené až do Neba, budeš zvrhnuté až do pekla ... lebo keby sa tie veľké skutky boli diali v Sodome a v Gomore, stáli by až do tohoto dňa." A Sodoma a Gomora leží na dne Mŕtveho mora a Kafarnaum je na dne jazera.
231Ty mesto, ktoré hovoríš o sebe, že si mestom anjelov, ktoré sa vyvyšuješ do Neba a rozširuješ všetky tie špinavé, nečisté veci v móde i vo všetkom, takže prichádzajú dokonca z cudzích krajín a zbierajú našu špinavosť a rozširujú to ďalej, s tvojimi peknými kostolmi a vežičkami, i so všetkým tým ako sa zachovávaš - pamätaj, jedného dňa, budeš ležať na dne tohoto mora! Už teraz je pod tebou veľká dutina. Hnev Boží kypí rovno pod tebou. Ako dlho On ešte bude držať tú pieskovú vrstvu, ktorá nad tým visí, keď ten oceán pod tým na míľu hlboko sa dostane rovno až po jazero Salton. Bude to horšie ako to bolo vo dňoch Pompejí. ČIŇ POKÁNIE LOS ANGELES! ČIŇTE POKÁNIE AJ VY OSTATNÍ A OBRÁŤTE SA K BOHU! HODINA JEHO HNEVU JE NAD ZEMOU. UTEČTE DOKIAĽ MOŽNO UTIECŤ A VOJDITE DO KRISTA."
Modlime sa.
233Drahý Bože, môj duch sa chveje, moje srdce roní slzy varovania, sprav, ó Bože, nech ani muži ani ženy si nemyslia, že to čo som povedal, som povedal ako nejaký žart a členovia cirkví, nech si nemyslia, že to bolo povedané proti nim. Nech by mohli vidieť, Pane, že to bolo z lásky. Ty si mi svedkom, Všemohúci Bože, že som cestoval hore dole po tomto pobreží, rok po roku, zvestujúc Tvoje Slovo. Buď mi svedkom, ó Bože, keby sa to stalo dnes večer, povedal som im Pravdu. Ty vieš, že to videnie o tej Neveste je Pravda. Použil som pri tom Tvoje Meno, Pane a povedal som, že je to TAK HOVORÍ PÁN a cítim, že som si vedomí, Pane, toho čo robím.
235A tak Ťa prosím, Pane, v Mene Ježiša, nech sa spamätajú tí ľudia dnes večer a utečú pred tým hnevom, ktorý nadchádza, pretože Ichabot je napísané na dverách a na tomto národe. Čierna kontrolná značka je vytlačená krížom cez to, Duch Boží je z toho zarmútený a odišiel preč a oni sú zvážení na vážkach a nájdení sú ľahkí. Hostina kráľa Nabuchodonozora sa znovu zopakovala s účastníkmi, ktorí holdujú alkoholu a s polonahými ženami a hovoria si kresťania.
236Ó Nebeský Bože, buď milostivý tomuto hriešnemu svetu a hriešnym ľuďom, Pane, akými sme dnes večer. Bože, snažím sa stáť v trhline a prosiť o Božie milosrdenstvo, aby si Ty prehovoril do tohoto zástupu dnes večer a upozornil Svoju Nevestu, Pane, aby nepochodovala podľa taktu nejakého vyznania, ale podľa zvuku Evanjelia Pána Ježiša Krista. Sprav to, ó Bože. Nech sa stane známym dnes večer, že Ty si Boh, a Tvoje Slovo je pravda. Zatiaľ čo vo vážnosti pred očami týchto ľudí, ich vzývame do toho aby venovali pozornosť Tvojmu Slovu. V Mene Ježiša Krista sa modlím za nich, Pane.
Oni bez najmenšieho tieňa pochybnosti videli ako sa pohybuješ pomedzi nich a hovoríš im to čo je v ich srdciach. A Ty vieš, Pane, čo sa deje práve teraz. Ty vieš, že je to Pravda, ó Bože. A ja Ťa prosím v Mene Ježiša, nech Duch Svätý znovu zasiahne, Pane, a potiahne z tohoto publika, Pane, tých, ktorí sú zapísaní v Baránkovej Knihy Života. Sprav to, ó Bože, prosím to z celého svojho srdca.
238Títo ľudia, skutočne, Pane, by mi dali posledný halier, ktorý by mali aby podopreli toto posolstvo. Oni by urobili všetko čo by mohli, ale ó, Bože, keď sa jedná o zjednotenie sa s tým a vojdenie do toho, modlím sa, Bože, aby toto bol ten večer, kde ich Ty odmeníš a zleješ Svojho Svätého Ducha na toto zhromaždenie. A možno, že tu nebude veselo, ani skákanie dookola, ale nárek a plač a pokánie, držanie sa rohov oltára, pri tom čo dnes večer vidíme, že zo spodku na nás reve súd! Sprav to, Bože. Modlím sa tak úprimne ako len viem, v Mene Ježiša Krista.
239Môj brat, sestra, neviem čo viac ešte povedať. Ak som našiel milosť vo vašich očiach skrze Moc Božiu; ak mi veríte, že som Jeho prorok ... Toto je prvý krát, kedy som to povedal verejne, ale cítim akési divné varovanie. Nie som náchylný do toho, aby som to hovoril . Vy viete, že nie. Nepostupujem tak. Váhal som, keď som mal hovoriť toto Posolstvo a povedať tieto veci. Stránil som sa a robil som všetko možné, aby som sa tomu vyhol, ale je to povedané a v deň súdu to povstane ako svedok, že som povedal Pravdu. To je TAK HOVORÍ PÁN BOH. OCH, LETNIČNÍ, UTEKAJTE, ABY STE ZACHRÁNILI SVOJ ŽIVOT! BEŽTE KU ROHOM OLTÁRA A VOLAJTE KÝM NIE JE PRÍLIš NESKORO, PRETOŽE PRÍDE HODINA, KEĎ BUDETE MÔCŤ KRIČAŤ A NIČ VÁM TO NEPOMÔŽE. PRETOŽE EZAV SA SNAŽIL NÁJSŤ SVOJE PRÁVO PRVORODENSTVA A NEMOHOL HO NÁJSŤ. Porúčam ťa, ó Kalifornia, ó Zhromaždenie Obchodníkov Plného Evanjelia, ktorých milujem, do ktorých som sa priviazal celým svojím srdcom, porúčam vás dnes večer Ježišovi Kristovi. Utečte sa ku Nemu! Nedovoľte nikdy diablovi, aby vás učinil vlažnými voči tomuto. Stojte tesne pri tom, až kým každý jeden nebudete naplnený Duchom Svätým, až tak, že to spôsobí, že prídete do tohoto Slova, spôsobí to, že vy ženy narovnáte svoje cesty, spôsobí to, že vy muži narovnáte svoje cesty. Ak hovoríte, že máte Ducha Svätého a nezhodujete sa so Slovom, to je vo vás iný duch. Boží Duch spočíva na Jeho Slove. Mesiáš - pomazané Slovo. Nevesta musí byť "Mesiáškou" - pomazaným Slovom.
241Povstaňme v Mene Pána Ježiša Krista. Ak by ste už nikdy viac nepočuli môj hlas ... Ak bude vôľa Božia, za niekoľko hodín sa mám plaviť do Afriky; Možno, že sa už nevrátim. Neviem. Ale hovorím vám z celého svojho srdca, že som vám povedal Pravdu. Nevyhýbal som sa, aby som vám oznámil všetko čo mi Boh kázal, aby som povedal a hovoril som to v Mene Pánovom.
242Toto je vážna chvíľa. Neviem ako to povedať. Snažil som sa odísť spoza kazateľni tri alebo štyri krát a nemohol som to urobiť. Toto je vážna hodina. Nikdy na to nezabudnite! Toto je čas v ktorom možno Boh robí Svoje posledné volanie. Ja ne... Jedného dňa on učiní Svoje posledné zavolanie. Kedy? Ja neviem. Ale hovorím vám, podľa toho videnia, to vyzerá tak, že tá Nevesta je už skoro hotová! Hľaďte ako prichádzajú tie jednotlivé cirkvi. Keď spiaca panna ide pre olej, ona si ho zabudla obstarať. Nevesta vošla dovnútra. Nastalo Vytrhnutie. Zatiaľ čo si oni išli kúpiť olej, prišiel Ženích. Či spíte? Prebuďte sa, rýchlo, spamätajte sa a modlime sa každý jeden, ako keby sme v tejto minúte mali zomrieť, v Mene Pánovom. Nech sa každý modlí svojím vlastným spôsobom.
245Všemohúci Bože, buď nám milostivý, Pane. Buď mi milostivý. Buď nám všetkým milostivý. Čo by nám to pomohlo, keby sme robili neviem čo, ak by sme sklamali v týchto veciach. Stojím tu a prosím o zmilovanie, ó Bože, prv ako sa toto veľké mesto zatopí v mori a súdy Božie zmetú toto pobrežie, prosím, Bože, aby si Ty vyvolal Svoju Nevestu. Porúčam ich teraz Tebe v Mene Ježiša Krista. Amen.
1 Lots of sick people. I can't get to all of them at once. But, listen.
2I'm certainly happy to be here again, tonight, in this beautiful auditorium, amongst this wonderful group of people. And we was coming in, out there, a few moments ago, the people standing out on the street said they couldn't get in. And I said, "Well, maybe I can get you some room." And they wouldn't let them come down. So I'm sorry we don't have enough room for them. They said the basement was full, also. And so we are sorry about that. But we're happy to be here, and happy to see all this fine group of ministers, the businessmen here, and all you delegations from different parts of the country.
3 I had the grand privilege of speaking this morning at the breakfast, which I certainly cherish to be an honor to speak before such fine people. I was on a subject of: The Shuck Won't Be Heir With The Wheat. I didn't get to finish it. And it was not the--the brother's fault. He tried to get the management to let us stay a little longer, but he just wouldn't do it. I certainly appreciate that, Brother Demos. That's very, very nice. I certainly thank you for your kindness, each and every one. But they just wouldn't let us do it. So we just had to--had to close off. I'll pick that up, some other time, to finish that up: The Shuck Will Not Be Heir With The Wheat. Did you understand it, you that were here? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] I hope there was enough that it would be understood.
4 Now, I know, tonight, there's a panel, also, so I don't want to keep you here long enough that you'd miss that. Because, I do think that was certainly an asset to--to the Pentecostal-believing people, that panel we saw the other night. Such a fine bunch of men, such wonderful answers, straight. It made me feel real good, to see that. I trust that the Lord will bless it, tonight. And ever who that looks, may they believe. That would be my sincere prayer.
5 And so many reports coming in, today, from in the mail and by calls, of so many being healed in this meeting. I was so glad of that. That, that's, to see people sick, that's kind of my ministry.
6I--I get up here to preach. I, you know, I'm not a preacher. But I, with this, my Kentucky grammar, "his, hain't" and--and all those words, so I--I can't say as what we call a modern preacher of today. I--I couldn't take that place, because I--I have no education.
7But I do like to express what I know about It, to others, or what I feel that I know about It, to others, how I've learned It, how He is to me. He's all my life, all that I could ever expect to be, and so much more than I ever thought, that I'd ever have a friend, hardly, on the earth, when I was a little boy. But I certainly am thankful for great friends today.
8[A brother says, "Having a little trouble hearing back there, Brother Branham. Get in closer."--Ed.] Oh, I'm sorry. I--I'm kind of out of focus here, somewhere, he said.
9 Now, to get right straight into the service, let's turn for some Scripture readings. I--I always like to read the Bible, because It's the Word of God. I believe that. And I believe It to be God's infallible Word. And now I have a few Scriptures written down here, and some notes that I'd like to refer to, for a few moments, maybe for forty-five minutes.
10And then we'll get out in time to go see this wonderful panel again tonight. And I trust that God will continue to bless you right on through. And I know what you got to do. And I'm supposed to drive to Tucson, yet, tonight, see, so you can imagine. That's ten-hours drive.
11And I'm leaving for overseas, and I've got to get a yellow fever shot on test in the morning at the government. So I--I got to get over there. I had the postponement, the other day, and they're not going to take no "no" for an answer again now. And I got one more tetanus and typhus to take, and my boosters.
12 So, I so thankful for this opportunity, and--and this fine meeting we had prior the convention. It certainly did thrill my heart. You're a fine bunch of people. I trust that God will bless you.
13When the great hour ever... That great monster laying up yonder, that flipped hisself over in Alaska, a few days ago, threw its tail up again this morning, along about, down around in Washington. He could head this way, mighty easy. And if the Holy Spirit ever tells me definitely...
14Someone has been answer... asking me that, "Is it going to happen here, Brother Branham?" No, I don't know that. I just don't know, until I do know. That's the truth.
15I always want to be honest with you. I just not going to presume, take any ideas, or some, what I believe, or something like that. When I tell you, it's going to be. Well, He's got to tell me, first, and then I'll tell you. I--I know the whole world is in a shaking condition. We're at the end time. But one thing I've tried to be...
16 Brother Shakarian was saying this morning, how he used to go through the prayer lines, and reach down there and get those cards before the people would come up, and look at them, and see whether--whether I told them what they had wrote out there. They write all kinds of stuff on their prayer cards, you know, and he just wanted to see if it was right. He said, out of the hundreds that he had checked, there had never been one wrong. [Brother Shakarian says, "Never one wrong."--Ed.] There never will be one wrong, see, because, as--as long as it's God. If I ever project myself into it, then it's wrong right there to begin with.
17Little girl whose father is setting, listening at me now, come to me, not long ago. She had a dream. She said, "Brother Branham, what does this dream mean?"
18I said, "I don't know, sister. I'll have to find out, if the Lord will tell me." So I went on and tried to ask the Lord, and He never did tell me.
19The little girl come back again. She said, "Well, now where is the interpretation of my dream?"
20I said, "Come here, honey, sit down." I said, "Your father and mother are very good friends of mine. See? And they've come all the way from Canada, retired, and sojourned here with me. They believe this, what I'm trying to say. And I've never said anything wrong to anybody, willfully, in my life. If I... I think I know what the dream means. But until I see that dream myself, and then He tells me what it means, I can't tell you. See, if I just make up something, there might be a time where you needed me between life and death, and then you wouldn't know whether to believe me or not."
21 If I tell you anything in the Name of the Lord, it's truly that. That's Who told me that. And so far, of all these years, throughout the world, and around the world, It's never been wrong one time. Cause... And, now, you know a human being can't be that infallible. It takes the Spirit of God to do that.
22And now I have a Message that I'm responsible for. And many times I've been considered, amongst the people, well, maybe someone who just didn't sit down and think a minute, that I was a--a, oh, an awful person, I didn't like people, and I was always cutting them. And that's not so. That isn't so. I love people. But, you know, love is corrective.
23 If your little boy was sitting in the street out there, and you said, "Junior, dear, I don't want you out there, but..." And cars buzzing by him, and you brought him in. He run back out again. Why, you should correct him. If you love him, you will. You have to.
24If you seen a man floating down a river, towards a falls, in a little boat, that you knowed that boat was going to sink when he hit the falls, would you say, "John, you, maybe you ought to think a while, maybe you might not make it"? If I know he's not going to make it, I'm going to almost jerk him out of the boat, if I can, because it's love that does that.
25 And now, in these Messages that I speak, I never try to bring in any doctrine, or so forth. I--I do that in my own church. But out here amongst men and women who are different denominations with different ideas, I just try to take in a mild form, explain; but enough to where if you're born of the Spirit of God, I believe you'll understand what I mean, among Christian men, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, whatmore.
26 Now, tonight, I want to turn to Genesis, the 24th chapter. I want to read the... beginning with the 12th verse of the 24th chapter of Genesis.
And he said, O LORD God... my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down the pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou has appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou has showed me kindness to... unto my master.
27 And then in the Book of Revelation. That's the first of the Bible, Genesis. Now, in the last of the Bible, I want to read in the 21st chapter of Revelation, and the 9th verse.
28We know what this Scripture of Genesis here... You read the whole chapter, if you wish to. It's God sending out Eliezer. Or, Abraham sending out Eliezer, pardon me, to select a bride for Isaac. And the beautiful Rebekah came out, and in perfect answer to the prayer that--that Eliezer, the servant of Abraham, had just prayed.
Now in the 9th verse of the 21st chapter of Revelations.
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, and I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
29 Now I want to take for a subject, tonight, for that: The Choosing Of A Bride. And this is, if my brother that records here will, this is the tape that you can go ahead and let out.
30Now, in this, it doesn't exactly mean that I'm speaking this to this congregation present, but these tapes go around the world. They're translated in, practically, oh, a great deal of the languages, even into the heathen lands around the world. We send them tapes, free, on a society of the church. And they're translated. And all out through the jungles of Africa, and to India, and around the world, goes these tapes.
Now, choosing a Bride!
31 In many things of life we are given a choice. The way of life, itself, is a choice. We have a right to make our own way, choose our own way that we want to live.
32Education is a choice. We can choose whether we're going to be educated, or whether we are not going to be educated. That's a choice that we have.
33Right and wrong is a choice. Every man, every woman, boy and girl, has to choose whether they are going to try to live right or not live right. It's a choice.
Choice is a great thing.
34Your Eternal destination is a choice. And maybe, tonight, some of you will make that--that choice, of where you'll spend Eternity, before this service ends tonight. There'll be one time, that, if you turned God down many time, there'll be one time you'll turn Him down the last time. There is a line between mercy and judgment. And it's a dangerous thing for a man or a woman, boy or girl, to step across that line, for there's no return when you step across that deadline. So, tonight, it might be the time that many will make their--their decision, where they will spend the endless Eternity.
35 There's another choice that we have in life, that's, a life's companion. A young man or young woman, stepping out on life, has--has been given a right to make a choice. The young man chooses. The young woman has a right to accept or reject it. But it's still a choice, on both sides. Both man and woman, they have a right to choice.
Also, you have a choice, as a Christian.
36You have a choice of the church, here in America, so far, that you can go to. That's your own American privilege, to choose any church that you want to belong to. That's a choice. You don't have to go to any of them, if you don't want to. But if you want to change from the Methodist to the Baptist, or the Catholic to a Protestant, or so forth, there's nobody can tell you or make you come to any certain church. That's our--that's our freedom. That's what our democracy is. Every man can choose for himself. Freedom of religion, and that's a--a great thing. God help us to keep it as long as we can.
37 You have also a choice. Whether... When you choose this church, you can choose whether you, in this church, whether you will choose a church that will guide you to your Eternal destination. You can choose a church that has a certain creed, that you might think that creed is just what you want. Or, the other church has their creed.
38And then there is the Word of God, you have choice of. You have to make the choice.
There's an unwritten law among us, of choosing.
39I believe it was Elijah, one time, up on Mount Carmel, after the showdown, in a great hour of the crisis that we're just about to come to right now. Perhaps, it may be to you or I, tonight, that we make this choice, like the Mount Carmel experience. Frankly, I think it's going on, worldwide, now. But there will soon be a time where that you'll have to make a choice.
40 And you men here, of your denominational churches, just believe this, that the hour is right on you, when you're going to make a choice. You're either going to go into the World Council, or you're not going to be a denomination anymore. You're going to have to do that, and that choice is coming soon.
41And it's a dangerous thing to wait till that last hour, too, because you might take on something that you could never shake out of it. You know, there is a time when you can be warned, then, if you step across that line of warning, then you're already marked on the other side, branded.
42 Remember, when the jubilee year come, and the--the priest rode with his trumpet sounding, that every slave could go free. But if they refused to accept their freedom, then he had to be taken to the temple, to a post, and an awl bore him through the ear, and then he served his master alway. It was put on his ear as a type, of hearing. "Faith cometh by hearing." He heard that trumpet, but he didn't want to listen to it.
43And many time, men and women hear God's Truth, and see It vindicated and proven, Truth, but yet they don't want to hear It. There's some other reason. There's some other choosing that they have, than to face up to Truth and fact, therefore their ears can be closed to the Gospel. They'll never hear It again. My advice to you, when God speaks to your heart, you act right then.
44Elijah gave them a choice which they should. "Choose you this day whom you shall serve. If God be God, serve Him. But if Baal be God, serve him."
45 Now, as we see that all of the natural thing is a type of the spiritual things, as we went through in our lesson this morning, as the sun and his nature. That was my first Bible. Before I ever read a page in the Bible, I knew God. Because, the Bible is written everywhere in nature, and it just corresponds with the Word of God: how the death, burial, resurrection of the nature; and the sun rising, crossing, setting, dying, rising again. There's so many things that we could type, God in nature, that we have to bypass, for this Message.
46 Now, if the spiritual or... The natural is a type of the spiritual. Then, the choosing of a bride, in the natural, is a type of choosing a Bride, the Bride, in the spiritual.
47Now, it's a serious thing when we go to choose a wife, a man, for the vows here is until death do we part. That's how we should keep it. And you take that vow before God, that only death will separate you. And I think we should. A man in his right mind, that's planning a future, that he should choose that wife very careful. Be careful what you're doing. And a woman choosing a husband, or accepting the choice of a husband, should be real careful what she's doing, and especially in these days. A man should think and pray before he chooses a wife.
48 I think, today, what's got so many divorce cases now, that we lead the world in America, in divorce cases. We lead the rest of the world. There's more divorces here than anywhere else, this nation, and supposed to be, and thought of, a Christian nation. What a reproach, our divorce court! I think, the reason of it, is because that men has got away from God, and women has got away from God.
49And we find, that, if a man prayed and a woman prayed over the matter; not just look at a pretty set of eyes, or big strong shoulders, or such as that, or some other worldly affection; but would look first to God, and say, "God, is this Your plan?"
50 I think, today, there's so much cheating, just like in school. When--when the kids come by, of a morning, many of the kids in the neighborhood, that--that friends of mine, will come by and say, "Brother Branham, will you pray for us? We're having a--a test today. I--I worked all night, and I don't seem I can--can get it settled. Pray for me." I think that any school kid, if you would, if... And the parents at the table of a morning, you could. Say, "Mother, John has got a test today. Let's pray for him now." I think it would beat all that you could ever do in any other way, or looking over on somebody else's paper and cheating. I think if you just come out and pray over the matter.
51 And if we would study what we're doing when we're going to get married, when we choose our wife, our husband, if we'd study it over! A man should pray earnestly, for he could ruin his entire life. Remember, the vow is "until death do we part," and he could ruin his life by making the wrong choice. But if he knows what, he making the wrong choice and is marrying a woman that isn't fit to be his wife, and he does it anyhow, then it's his fault. If the woman takes a husband and knows that he's not fit to be a husband to you, then that's your own fault, after you know what's right and wrong. So, you shouldn't do it until you thoroughly pray through.
52 The same applies by choosing a church. Now, you must pray over the church that you are fellowshiping in. Remember, churches carry a spirit.
53Now, I don't want to be critical. But I realize that I'm an old man, and I got to leave here, one of these days. I've got to answer at the Day of the Judgment for what I say tonight or any other time. And I, therefore, I got to be dead earnest and truly convicted.
54But, you go into a church, and if you'll watch the behavior of that church, you just watch the pastor awhile, and you'll usually find that the church acts like the pastor. Sometime, I wonder if we just don't get one another's spirit in the stead of the Holy Spirit. You get to a place where a pastor is real radical and carrying on, you'll find out the congregation is the same way. I'll bring you to a church where I see the pastor stand, jerk their heads back and forth. You watch the congregation, they do the same thing. You take a pastor, just gulp down anything, usually the church will do the same thing. So, if I was choosing a church, I'd choose a genuine, fundamental, Full Gospel, Bible church, I was choosing one to put my family in. Choose. I looked...
55 The boys, the other day, Brother Shakarian's son and his son-in-law, taken me up here to pray for a young fellow, singer, dandy boy. Just come back... Fred Barker, that was his name, just come back from a trip. And they called me, that, "Fred was dying." And then, 'fore I could get in the house, another message come, "He may be dead right now." And he said he had had a--a hemorrhage in the brain, and he was paralyzed, and--and he was dying, and his wife wanted me to pray for him.
56And I thought, "Oh, if I try to fly, he'd be dead 'fore I get there, and may be dead now." So, I called quickly and got the little lady on the phone. And--and we got the phone hooked up, and to Fred's ear. He couldn't swallow. They was giving him artificial swallowing. And when we prayed for him, he said, motioned, take it out of his throat. He could swallow. The doctors didn't believe it. They took it out, and he could swallow. He was setting up, the other day.
A church; choosing a church.
57 Phone call just come in, a while ago. This morning, a member of my church, which is really a Baptist woman out of Louisville, she died early this morning. And my church at home, a real group of consecrated men, assembled themselves together and went down, before the undertaker embalmed her, stood over her, prayed until life come back in her. And she is living, tonight. The elders of my church, why, they been taught to believe that all things are possible, come to God sincerely.
So, you must make the right choice.
58 Again, the kind of woman that a man would choose, will reflect his ambition and his character. If a man chooses the wrong woman, it reflects his character. And what he ties himself to, shows truly what's in him. A woman reflects what's in the man when he chooses her for wife. It shows what's down in him. No matter what he says outside, watch what he married.
59I go to a man's office, and he says he's a Christian; pin-ups all around on the walls, that old boogie-woogie music going on. I don't care what he says. I don't believe his testimony, because his spirit is feeding on them things of the world. What, say, if he would marry a chorus girl, or what if he would marry a sex queen, or just a pretty, modern ricketta? It reflects. It shows what he has in his mind, of what his future home is going to be, because he's took her to raise his children by. And whatever she is, that's the way she'll raise those children. So, it reflects what's in the man. A man that takes a woman like that, shows just what he's thinking of the future.
60Could you imagine a Christian doing a thing like that? No, sir. I could not. A true Christian will not look for such beauty queens, and chorus girls, and sex queens. He'll look for Christian character.
61 Now, you can't have all things. There might be one girl that's real pretty. And the other girl, maybe she's a... her stature looks better than this one. And you might have to sacrifice one for the other, but, if she's not the stature of a lady, of a woman. And, she, I didn't care whether she's pretty or not. You better look at her character, whether she's pretty or not pretty.
62Now, for, it is becoming, if a Christian would choose a wife, he ought to choose a genuine, born-again woman, regardless of what she looks like. It's what she is, what makes her. And then, again, that reflects his own godly character, and reflects what's in his mind and what's going to be in the future, for his family will be raised by such a woman, for the future plans for his home.
63If he marries one of these little modern rickettas, sex queens, what could he expect? What kind of a home could a man expect to have? If he marries a girl that ain't got enough moral about her to stay home and take care of a house, and wants to work out in somebody's office, what kind of a housekeeper will she be? You'll have baby-sitters and everything else. True.
64 Now, I'm not much of this modernistic taste, of women working. When I seen these women with these uniforms on, riding around in this city, on motorcycles, as police, it's a disgrace to any city that will let a woman do that. See? See? As many men that's without work, it shows the modern thinking of our city. It shows the degrading. We don't have to have them women out there like that. They ain't got no business out there like that.
65When God gave a man a wife, He gave him the best thing He could give him, outside of salvation. But when one goes to trying to take a man's place, then she's about the worse thing that he could get a hold of. Now, that's right. See?
Now we can see the spiritual application.
66I--I know that's bad, you think it's bad, but it's the Truth. We don't care how bad it is, we got to face up to the fact. That's what the Bible teaches. See?
67 Now, we here see plainly the spiritual plan, of God's planning for His future Home with His future Bride, comes into view now.
68If a man marries a sex queen, you see what he's looking for for the future. If a man marries a woman that won't stay home, you see what he's looking for in the future. And I one time...
69This sounds awful. I just feel to say it. And I--I, usually, if I feel to say the thing, I ought to say it. And it's usually God's way.
70I--I used to go with a rancher that I worked with, to buy cattle. And I noticed the old fellow always looking right in the face of a heifer before he went to bidding. Then he turned her head, and looked back and forth. I followed him along, watched him. And he looked her up and down, if she looked all right, the stature. Then he turned and looked her in the face, and sometime he'd shake his head and walk away.
I said, "Jeff, I want to ask you something."
He said, "Say on, Bill."
71And I said, "Why you always look that cow in the face?" I said, "She looks all right, a good--good heavy cow."
72Said, "I want to tell you, boy, you got a lot to learn." And I--I realized it after he told me. Said, "I don't care how she's made up. She might be beef, plumb to the hoof. But if she's got that wild stare in her face, don't you never buy her."
Said, "Why so, Jeff?"
73"Well," said, "the first thing is," said, "she'll never stay put." And he said, "The next thing is, she'll never be a mammy to her calf." And said, "They put her in a pen now, the reason she's fat. You turn her loose, with that wild stare, she'd run herself to death."
74I said, "You know, I kind of learned something. I believe that applies to women, too." Right. Right.
75That wild, starey, ricketta look, better stay away from her, boy, all that there blue stuff over top her eyes. And I didn't... I wouldn't want that. I don't think that's becoming to a Christian. I don't care how much the television and paper says it's pretty. It's the most horrible-looking, hideous sight that I ever seen in my life.
76 When I first seen that, here at Clifton's Cafeteria, one morning, at a breakfast. I seen some, them young ladies come up. Brother Arganbright had just come in, and I. And he had went downstairs. I looked, and that girl come in. I thought, "Well, I--I--I--I don't know." I never seen it before. It was some kind. Oh, it looked like she was cankered, you know, just kind of funny-looking. I'm not saying that to be funny. I'm--I'm saying it. You know, I've seen leprosy. I'm a missionary. I seen all kinds of freaks, you know, of how diseases. And I was going to walk up to the young lady and tell her, "I--I--I'm a minister. I--I pray for the sick. Would--would you like for me to pray for you?" And I had never seen anything like that. And then, here come two or three more, in. I kind of stepped back then and waited.
77And Brother Arganbright come by, so I said, "Brother Arganbright?" He may be here. I said, "What's the matter with that woman?" See?
And he said, "That, that's paint."
78I said, "Well, my, my!" See? I thought they ought to have her in a pesthouse somewhere, you know, keep it from breaking out all over other women.
79 But, you know, you have to plan, look, pray, when you're choosing. For, we see, by this, the Word of promise. She, the bride that a man would choose, is going to reflect his character. It reflects what's in him.
80Now, could you imagine a man, filled with the Holy Ghost, take something like that to be a wife? [Congregation says, "No."--Ed.] I--I--I just don't see it, brother. Now, maybe I'm just an old crank. But, you know, I--I just can't understand that, see, notice, for it's going to reflect what's in him. She is going to help him make his future home.
81Now, then, when we change back now for a moment, to the spiritual side. And when you see a church that's in the world, acts like the world, anticipating in the world, partaking of the world, counting God's Commandments as if He never had wrote Them, then you--you can just imagine Christ ain't going to take a Bride like that. Could you imagine taking the modern church today for a Bride? Not my Lord. I don't... I could hardly see that. No. Remember, now, a man and his wife are one. Would you join yourself to a person like that? If you would, it would certainly kind of disappoint my faith in you.
82 And, then, how about God joining Himself to something like that, a regular denominational prostitute? You think He would do it, "Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof"? He would never do it. She must have His character in her. The real, true born-again Church must have the--the character that was in Christ, because the husband and wife are one. And if Jesus did only that which pleased God, kept His Word and manifested His Word, His Bride will have to be of the same kind of character. She could not, by no means, be a denomination. Because, then, no matter how much you want to say, "no," she is controlled by a board somewhere, that tells her what to do and what she can't do, and, many times, a million miles off of the true Word.
83 It's too bad that we ever got away from the real Leader that God left us to lead the Church. He never sent state presbyters. He never sent a bishops, cardinals, priests, popes. He sent the Holy Ghost for the Church, to lead the Church. "When He the Holy Ghost is come, He will lead you into all Truth, reveal these things to you, that I have told you, bring them to your remembrance, and will show you things that is to come." The Holy Spirit was to do that. Now, the modern church hates That. They don't like It, so how could she be the Bride of Christ? The people of today is choosing a modern denomination. What it does, it only reflects their poor understanding of the Word.
84I don't mean to hurt, but I mean to let it go deep enough till you'll look at it.
85 I've married many couples, but it always reminds me of Christ and His Bride. One of the weddings that I performed here, some time ago, it--it was quite an outstanding thing in my life. It's been several years ago, when I was just a young minister.
86My brother was working on the--the P.W.A. I don't know whether anybody ever remembers that, yet, or not, anybody as old as me. And that was a--a project that the government had. And my brother worked up, about thirty miles. They were digging out some lakes, a project for the conservation.
87And there was a boy worked up there, with him, from Indianapolis, about, oh, about a hundred miles above Jeffersonville where I--I live, or lived. And there was a... He said to my brother, one day. He said, "Doc," he said, "I--I want... I'm going to get married, if I just had enough money to pay the preacher." He said, "I--I got enough money to get my license, but," said, "I haven't got enough money to pay the preacher."
88Doc said, "Well, my brother is a preacher, and--and he--he may marry you." He said, "He never charges people for things like that."
He said, "Will you ask him if he'll marry me?"
89 Well, that night my brother asked me. I said, "If he's never been married before, either one of them, and their everything is all right." He said, "Well, yeah, I'll ask him." And I said, "If it is, tell him, come on down."
90So, when Saturday come along and the boy came down. Been a great thing for me, to always look back upon this. I'd... Rainy afternoon, and an old Chevrolet car, with the headlights wired on with a baling wire, that drove up, out front. Just a while after I had lost my wife, and I was bach'ing, two little rooms. And--and Doc was up there with me, waiting for them.
91And--and a boy got out of the car, and he certainly didn't look like a groom, to me, or would to anybody, I guess. Yeah. I could bare... buy a pretty good pair of shoes, for a dollar and a half. And he had on a pair, was run over. And his trousers was real baggy. And he had on one of these old moleskin jackets. I don't guess some of you older people would remember. It looked like it had run through a washing machine without being rinsed, and it was streaked, tied up like this, and the corner up.
92 And a--a little lady got out on the side, with a little, oh, some of them little checkered-look dress.
93I don't know. I made a mistake on calling that kind of goods, one time. Gingham, I believed it's called. And so it was a... I said it wrong again. I--I'm always doing it. And I said...
94She got out of the car, and they come up the steps. And--and when they walked in, the poor little thing, she... I guess, she, just about all she had on was a skirt. And she didn't have no shoes, hardly, on. She had hitchhiked from Indianapolis, down. Had a little hair hanging down, back, in long, kind of a plaits down her back. Looked very young.
And I said to her, "Are you old enough to get married?"
95She said, "Yes, sir." And she said, "I have my written permission from my father and mother." She said, "I had to show it to--to the court here, to get my license."
96I said, "All right." I said, "I'd like to talk to you a little bit before we perform this wedding." They set down. The boy kept looking around the room; needed a haircut real bad. And he kept looking around the room. He wasn't listening to me. I said, "Son, I want you to listen to what I'm saying."
Said, "Yes, sir."
And I said, "You love this girl?"
He said, "Yes, sir. I do."
I said, "You love him?"
"Yes, sir. I do."
97I said, "Now, have you got a place to take her after you marry?"
Said, "Yes, sir."
98I said, "All right. Now," I said, "I want to ask you something. I understand, you're working up here on this P.W.A."
And he said, "Yes, sir." That's about twelve dollars a week.
I said, "You think you can make a living for her?"
He said, "I'll do all I can do."
99And I said, "Well, that's all right." And I said, "Now, what if he gets out of... What if he loses this job, sister? What are you going to do, going to run back up home, to mama, papa?"
She said, "No, sir. I'm going to stay with him."
100And I said, "What, sir, if you have three or four children, nothing to feed them, and you haven't got any work. What are you going to do, send her away?"
101Said, "No, sir. I'll struggle right on. We'll make it, some way."
102I felt little. And I seen that he really loved her, and they loved one another. I married them.
103 Then I wondered where he taken her. A few days, I asked my brother, Doc, where it is. He said, "Go down to New Albany," a little city below us.
104And down on the river, where I had some tin laying up, where I went every day when I--I was a lineman. So when the rest the fellows, they all sit around, told jokes and things, I'd get in the truck and run down on the river and pray during that!...?... And read my Bible, under a big piece of tin where an old iron works used to be. There's a bunch of old boxcars setting down there.
105And this fellow had went down there and got one of them boxcars and sawed him a door in it. And had taken a newspaper and tacky buttons.
106How many knows what a tacky button is? There's no Kentuckians here, then. It's, take a piece of cardboard, put a thumbtack in it, a little sprig. And then push it in the... That's a tacky button.
107 So, they had put it all over. And he had went up there to iron works and got him some stuff, and made a step, to come up. And got some old boxes, and had him a table. And I thought, one day, "I'll go down and see how they're getting along."
108About six months before that, I married E. V. Knight's daughter to E. T. Slider's son. E. V. Knight, one of the richest men there is on the Ohio River, and, oh, runs the great factories through there, making these prefab houses, and so forth. And--and Slider, E. T. Slider, is the sand and gravel company, millionaires' children. And I had married them.
109And I went back in a place, practiced it for about two weeks, and going back in a booth and kneeling on a pillow. And all the pomp and everything I ever went through, nearly, had to go through, to marry that couple! And when they come out, why, they was... This other little couple just stood there in a little old room where we had a little couch and a folded bed, but they both was married by the same ceremony.
110 And then, one day, I thought I'd go down and visit this rich couple. They didn't have to work, their fathers were millionaires, had built them a nice home. Frankly, this E. V. Knight, up, here on the hill, his doorknobs are fourteen karat on his big palace, so you can imagine what kind of home they live in. They didn't have to work. They had a nice Cadillac give to them every year. And just, only children, and they had just everything they wanted. When I walked up one day...
111Now, how I got acquainted with them, one of their friends was a good friend of mine. We all kind of chummed together. And that's how I got acquainted, when they wanted me to marry them.
112 So I went up to visit them. I got outside my old Ford, outside, and walked up the steps. And--and I got up, a little bit too close, and I heard them. And they were really fussing. They were jealous of one another. They had been to a dance. She was a very pretty girl. And she was kind of one of these beauty queens. She took many prizes around there, and won some cars and things, for being beauty queen. And I looked at them, and one was setting in one corner and one the other, fussing about some boy she had danced with, or some girl, something.
113When I come up, they jumped up real quick and grabbed one another across, floor, and their--their hands, across the floor, come walking over towards the door. Said, "Why, hello there, Brother Branham! How you getting along?"
Said, "All right. How you all getting along?"
114And, "Oh," he said, "I--I... We're very happy. Aren't we, honey?"
And she said, "Yes, dear." See?
115 Now, you see, you're putting on something that isn't real. Now, you can't get warm by a painted fire, like some of these churches trying to paint pentecost, of something that happened a thousand years ago or two thousand years ago. You can't get warm by a painted fire. Pentecost is just as real today as it was then. See? Yeah. The Fire is still falling. It ain't a painted fire. It's a real Fire.
116So, they, just there they was. See? I--I wouldn't want to live like that.
117 "Oh," I thought, "you know, just down over the cliff there and over on the river, there's where this other couple wound up." I thought, "One Saturday afternoon I'd slip down there and see how they was getting along."
118So I, dirty on the face, and dirty overalls on, my tools on. I thought, "I'll slip up on them." I slipped on, like I was watching for insulators being cracked by the lightning or something, and as I walked alongside the telephone wire, the electric cables along the river. And there's the old Chevrolet, was setting out front. About a year later, after I had married them. And there was a--a... The door was open, and I could hear them talking. So this sounds like a hypocrite, but I walked up close enough till I could listen, see what they was saying. Stood there. And I just want to know, for myself.
119I like to find out and be sure I know what I'm talking about. That's the way I do about God's Word. Is It the Truth, or isn't It the Truth? Will He keep His Word, or doesn't He keep His Word? He doesn't keep His Word, then He's not God. See? He does keep His Word, He's God. See?
120 And so I want to see how they was getting along. And I slipped along the side, real easy. I heard him say, "Oh, honey, I wanted to get that for you, so bad."
121She said, "Now, look, sweetheart." She said, "This dress is all right." She said, "Why, this is just fine." Said, "I appreciate that. But you see..."
122I slipped around, so I could look in through the crack, where the door been shoved open there in the boxcar. And there he was, setting in there, and her on his lap; and his arm around her, and her arm around him. And he had one of these old slouch hats, and had put a little hole, mashed it down, the top, and pulled out his pay check, in that. He--he was laying it out on the table. Said, "So much for groceries. So much for insurance. And so much on the car." And they couldn't make their ends meet. Come to find out, he had seen a little dress up there in a window, been looking at it for a couple weeks, that cost a dollar and something. He wanted to get it. Said, "Well, honey, you'd look so pretty in it." And he said...
123She said, "But, honey, I--I got a dress. I--I don't really need it." See? And that little queen...
124 I backed off, and looked up. I could see the--the steeple on top of the other house. I stood there and looked, a few minutes. I thought, "Who is the rich man?" I thought, "If, Bill Branham, if you want to take which place, where would you go?" For me, I'd take not that pretty thing up on top the hill. I'd take this character down here, as a real homemaker, somebody that loved me and stayed with me, somebody tried to make a home; and not bleeding you for everything, for fineries; and somebody that was with you, part of you.
125 That's always stuck with me, of how that was. One chose a beautiful girl, the other one chose character. Now, that's the only way you could choose. First, look for character and, then, if you love her. Fine.
126Notice, God's first Adam didn't have any choice, for his wife. He didn't get a choice. God just made him one, and he didn't get to choose her. So we find out that she led him astray from God's Word. He didn't get to pray over the matter. He--he--he isn't like you and I. He didn't get a choice. And again, by doing that, she led him from his rightly position as being a son of God. And she did it by showing him a more modern way of living, something that they really shouldn't have done. But the character of her showed that she was wrong. Her motives and objectives were simply wrong. And persuaded him, by her reasoning, that the modern new light that she had found, which was contrary to God's Word, was a better way to live.
127 And how many women today, and vice versa, men, that could pull a good woman away from God, or pull a good man away from God, by trying to tell him, "This religion, you pentecostal boy! That religion," they say, "oh, That's old-fashion. It's old fogy. Don't you believe That." You better pray hard before you marry that girl. I don't care how pretty she is. Same thing to a man.
128She persuaded him out of the will of God and caused him to do something that he should not have done, and, by it, caused death to the whole human race. That's why the Bible forbids her to teach, or to preach, or to handle God's Word, in any manner.
129I know, sister, many of you say, "The Lord called me to preach."
130I'm not going to argue with you. But I'm going to tell you, the Word says you not to do it. "She shall not teach, or usurp any authority, but to be in silence."
"Well," you say, "the Lord told me to do it."
131I don't doubt that one bit. Did you hear my Message the other night about Balaam? Balaam got the first, straight-cut decision of God, "Don't do it." But he kept on fooling around till finally God told him to go do it.
132God might permit you to preach. I don't say He didn't. But it's not according to His original Word and plan. "For she is to be under obedience, as also saith the law." It's true. Therefore, she's not supposed to do it.
133 Now, notice again how the natural bride types the spiritual. The Word says, that, "She was made for man, and not man made for her."
134Now I'm going to speak, and why, in a few minutes, on the Bride of Christ, but I'm trying to show you the background of it.
135"Woman was made for man, and not man for woman." That's the reason, under the old laws, that polygamy was legal. Look at David setting down there with five hundred wives, and the Bible said, "He was a man after God's own heart." With five hundred wives, and Solomon with a thousand, but not one of them women could have another husband.
136 You get my tape on Marriage And Divorce. That, up on top the mountain at Tucson, here not long ago, I was up there praying about it. They dismissed the schools, to watch that Pillar of Fire circle the mountain and go in a funnel, back and forth, up and down. People around here knows it, there and saw It; and it when He told me the Truth of this marriage and divorce, questioned. If there's one side going this way, and one going that way, there's got to be a Truth somewhere. After those Seven Seals, He showed what was the Truth of it.
137 Notice, now, she could not have but one husband, because, "Woman was made for man, and not man for woman." That whole five hundred women was just David's wife, and it was a type. When Christ sets on the Throne in the Millennium, His Bride will be not one person, but it'll be tens of thousands, the Bride, all in One. And David had many wives, as individuals, but only all of them together was his wife. Like the whole Body of believers is the Bride of Christ, 'cause It's She, the woman. He was the Man. Now, we were made for Christ. Christ wasn't made for us.
138That's what we try to do today in our textbooks, is try to make the Word (which is Christ) suit us, instead of us trying to make ourself to suit the Word. That's the different.
139 When a man chooses a certain girl out of a family, he must not rely upon beauty, for beauty is deceiving. And beauty, modern worldly beauty, is of the Devil.
"Oh," I hear someone say out there, "be careful here, preacher!"
140I say that these things on this earth, that's called beautiful, is absolutely of the Devil. I'll prove it to you. Then, in the light of this remark, let's search God's holy Word, to see if it's right or not. And some of you women wants to be so pretty! See where it comes from. In the beginning, we find that Satan was so beautiful till he deceived Angels. And he was the most beautiful Angel of all of them. Showed, it lays in the Devil. Proverbs said, Solomon said, "Beauty is vain." That's right. Sin is beautiful. Certainly, it is. It's attractive.
141 I want to ask you, and say something here to you. I want you to notice, a few minutes. Of all of the species in the world, birds, animals, we find that on the animal life, all besides human, it's the male that's pretty, and not the female. Why that? Look at the... Look at the deer, the--the beautiful big buck with his horns, and the little muley doe. Look at the--the hen, the little, speckled hen, and the big beautiful-feathered rooster. Look at the male bird and the female bird. Look at the mallard duck and the female. See? And there isn't one specie in the world, that's made, that can deceive and stoop as low as a woman.
142Now, sister, don't get up and go out. Just wait till we hear the end of This. See? See?
143There is nothing, no female besides a woman, could be immoral. You call a dog "a slut," you call a hog "a--a sow," but, morally, they got more morals than half the movie stars there is out here. They cannot be nothing else but moral.
144 And the woman was the one that was changed over, for the perversion. That's right. See where the beauty takes her to? Now, that's why that, today, we find that women is on the increase of beauty. You take Pearl Bryan, you ever see her picture? Supposed to be American's great beauty. There isn't a school kid out of any school but what would have her in a--a back row. Did you know it's supposed to be that way? Did you know the Bible speaks that that's the way it's going to be?
145Do you know the fall came by women at the beginning? And fall... The end is going to wind up the same way, women coming into authority and ruling over men, and so forth. You know the Scripture says that? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] You know, the day that she puts on man's clothes, and bobbed her hair, all those things are contrary to God's Word. And you know she represents the church? ["Yes."] When you watch what women are doing, you'll see what the church is doing. That's exactly right. Now, now, that's just as true as the Word of God is true.
146 No other female is made that can stoop like a woman can. And yet, through that, being made an off-...
147She was not in the original creation. All other females is in the original creation: bird, male and female; animals, male and female. But, in human life, God only made a man, and He took from him. And a woman is the by-product of a man, because God did not institute such a thing. Search the Scriptures. Exactly right. God, no, sir, in His original creation. She was put out there.
148But if she can hold herself right, what a greater reward she has than man. She's put on a testing ground. Through her come death. She's guilty of all death. But then God turned around and used one to bring Life back again; brought His Son through the woman, an obedient one. But a bad one is the--the worst there is; there's nothing can be as low.
149 Cain, Satan's son, thought that God accepted beauty. He does today. Cain was Satan's son. "Oh, now!" you say. We won't go into details on that, but just let me settle it for you. The Bible said that he "was of that evil one." So, that settles it. All right. Now, he was Satan's son. And he thought that, bringing in an altar and making it real pretty for worship, that's what God would respect.
150They think, think the same thing today. Certainly. This, "We build a great building. We'll have great denominations. We'll make the biggest building and the finest-dressed people, the most cultured clergymen." Sometimes God is ten million miles from it. That's right. Yet, it's a church.
151 So, if God just respects worship, sincerity, sacrifice, Cain was just as just as Abel. But it was by revelation, that he understood that it was not apples that his parents eat.
152I'm going to say something here that don't sound good for a minister, but I'm going to say it, anyhow. I hear these other ones saying things, so saying little jokes. I don't mean it. I said this, though, "If eating apples caused the women to realize they were naked, we had better pass the apples again." See? See? Uh-huh. Forgive me for that, but just so that it'll change. I've got you tied up here, and talking about the women, and so forth. I--I--I want to relax you a minute, for what next is to come. Now, notice, you. It was not apples. We know that.
153 The church has become in these days, with its achievement, like all other man-made achievement, is becoming scientific. They're trying to make a scientific church, by the attraction of pictures and great steeples. And it's too bad that the Pentecostal got into that rut. You'd be better off with a tambourine, down on the corner, and the Spirit of God around you. But you're trying to compare with the rest of them, because you denominated. That's what did it. See? Churches is trying to be scientifically.
154And remember, as man achieves progress by science, he's killing hisself every day. When he invented gun powder, look what it done. When he invented an automobile, it kills more than the gun powder does. Now he's got hisself a hydrogen bomb. Wonder what he's going to do with that? Right.
155 And so is the church, as it tries to achieve by science, by man-made scheme, it's taking you farther away from God, and into death, more than it was at the first place. That's right. Don't choose your church the same way you did your wife. See? What science did for her was a marvel, but you better keep away from your church on that; he made paints, powders, and all these other things. Choose by character of His Word.
156Now let us compare the natural bride of today with the so-called church bride of today. Compare a woman, going to get married today.
157Now, just look what science has done for her. She comes out, first, with her hair chopped off, with one of these Jacqueline Kennedy hairdos, see, or something like that. And you know what the Bible said? The Bible actually gives a man, if he wants to, the right to put her away in divorcement, if she does that. "She's a dishonorable woman, that'll cut her hair." The Bible said so. Right. Didn't know that? Huh? Oh, yeah! I preach too much in California for you not to know that. That's right. Oh, yeah! What good does it do me? They do it, anyhow. You can't take the pig and change his name, make him a lamb. Notice.
158 You're going to hate me after this, but you're going to know the Truth. See?
159Look. Let's compare it. Here she comes up with a whole lot of paint, something that she's not, a modern bride. Wash her face, he'd run from her, maybe. Scare you to death, take all that stuff off of her. And so is the church with a big, painted front, a complete theological Max Factor. Uh-huh. Both has a--a beautiful, false face on them, man-made beauty and not God-made beauty. Not much character in either one.
160Notice, just like Satan, enough to deceive by, compare the modern bride now with her: wears shorts, wears paints, cuts off her hair, wears clothes that look like men, and listen to a pastor that told her that was all right. He's a deceiver. He'll suffer for it in the regions beyond. That's right. Doing that to deceive, to be something that she's not.
161 That's the way the church does, gets big DD., Ph.D., LL.D. So you say, "Our pastor is this, that, and the other," maybe know no more about God than a Hottentot knows about Egyptian night. That's right. Right. Some theological seminary experience out there, and knows no more about God than nothing.
162Modern church and their theological paint, have their women all with their glory shaved off, by their some ricky and a pastor that they got, like a Jezebel if there ever was one. Bobbed hair, shorts, paints, all fixed up in a theological taste, that's the way the church stand. Right. But her spiritual character is far from that being the homemaker that Jesus Christ is coming to receive.
163 If any Christian would marry a woman like that, it shows he's fallen from grace. His taste of God and his taste of a home, what a home ought to be, is far, when he choose a woman like that. No, sir. She sure wouldn't fit a Christian's taste. Her spiritual character is the lowest ebb, dead, in denominational beauty and lust of the world.
164That's exactly where the church stands today, sold her Word-given character to Satan, for a scientific man-made religion. When, she had the right, as a church of God, to stay with the Word of God and have the Holy Spirit working among, welding the Body together with the Word and love of God. Instead of that, she sold out her birthrights, like Esau, and took a denomination, let her do it, anything she wanted to, right, just to be popular like her mother did at Nicaea Rome. God's Word!
165Oh, how it's entered into our Pentecostal realm! It's too bad, but it did it.
166 Notice, just a minute, a nun in a Catholic church. That woman, to become a nun, and takes that last veil, she is absolutely sold out to that church. She is (soul, body, and spirit) property of that church. She has no mind of her own. She can't have, when she takes that last veil, no mind of her own, no will of her own. See out here, that Satan makes them his bogus, like the true.
167The true Church of Christ, the Bride, is so sold out to Him and His promised Word, till the very mind that's in Christ is in you. What a different!
168And we find today, that, the modern church, a modern world church. The modern world church and also that the spiritual Church are both pregnated, to give birth to sons.
169One of them, a denominational birth, is going to be give, one day to these days, at the World Council of Churches, which will produce to the world the antichrist, through a denomination. That's exactly the Truth. I may not live to see it. I believe I will. But, you young people, remember that you heard a minister say that. That'll finally wind up. And that is the mark of the beast, when she forms that World Council of Churches. And she'll give birth to her son, the antichrist.
170 The other is pregnated by the Word of God and will bring forth the Body, the finished Body of Jesus Christ, which is the Bride. The Body of Christ isn't finished yet. How many knows that? A man and woman is one. And Christ is one Body, the Word. The Bride will have to be the rest of that Body. And the two, together, makes the one Body again. Like Adam was at the beginning: man, his wife, are one. Now, She, the true Bride, so sold out to Him, that She use no mind of Her own. His mind, of course, is His will, and His will is His Word.
171 Now look at the so-called bride chosen by man, and compare the spiritual to the natural of today, a modern Jezebel bewitched by her Ahab, Max Factor beauties, everything. Look at the church, the same way, but a prostitute to the Word of the living God; big denominations, big buildings, big money, big salary, all sold out. Men standing in the pulpit endorsing that that's all right, and let them get by with it. Just deceit, that's all. Truly a blind Laodicea Church Age, just exactly what the Bible said would be. "Said, 'I am rich. I set as a queen. I have need of nothing.' And knowest thou not that you're poor, miserable, blind, wretched, naked: and don't know it." If that isn't THUS SAITH THE LORD, Revelations 3, I've never read It. That's what she is, and don't know it! Think of it.
172 If you'd tell a man or a woman, on the street, that was stark naked, and tell them they were naked, and they say, "Tend to your own business," why, there's a mental deficiency there somewhere. There is something went wrong with their mind.
173And when you can read the Word of God, how that people should do, and this baptism of the Holy Ghost that we have today, and, people, why, they look at you as if you were crazy. You tell them, "You've got... They got to be born again. They got to believe the Bible."
174 They say, "That was a Jewish fable, for years ago. Our church has the way." Wretched, miserable, blind, naked, and don't even know it. What a... And the Bible said that that's the condition they get into.
How could a true prophet ever miss seeing it? I don't know.
175Drifting right into all of our churches, everywhere. Just look at it, just in the modern trend. "The old whore and daughters," of Revelations 17, giving to the "poor, blind, miserable" people her doctrine of theology contrary to the Word of God. "And they found in her the souls of slaves, and men and women of--of everywhere." Instead of attracting the people...
176Christ does vindicates His Word, which attracts the people. He don't attract the people at churches that are attracted by big denominations and big doings, and great big carry-on's and fancy things. But the Word of God attracts the Bride of Christ.
177 Now notice. It's interesting to--to notice how that--that the church tries to attract the attention of the people by fine robes and dressed choirs, and bobbed-haired women and painted faces. And they think... And it sang like an Angel. Lie like a devil, run around all night to a dance like, think nothing about it. And that's what they think, "It's all right. That's beautiful." But, you see, that's false-made. That's not the Word of God.
178 While, the true Bride attracts the attention of God, by keeping His Word. Now notice. Now let us notice Christ.
179You say, "Well, now, wait a minute, what about this beauty you're talking about?"
180The Bible said, in Isaiah 53:2, that, when Jesus come, "There was no beauty of Him, that we should desire Him." That right? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] There's no beauty. If He would have come in the worldly beauty, as Satan is today, the people would have run around Him and accept Him the way they do the church today. They would have believed Him, received Him, as they do Satan today. Certainly, they would. But He didn't come in that kind of a beauty, but He always comes in the beauty of character. There, Christ wasn't a beautiful, great, strong, stout Man. God doesn't choose that kind.
181 I remember one time a prophet went up to--to take a king, to make a king out of Jesse's son, to take another king's place, Saul. And so Jesse brought him out, his great, big, fine boy. He said, "The crown will look right, on his head."
182The prophet went to pour the oil on him. He said, "God has refused him." And He refused every one of them, till he come to a little, old stoop-shouldered, ruddy-looking fellow. And he poured the oil upon him, and he said, "God chose him." See? We choose by sight. God choose by character.
183Character, there never was a character like Jesus Christ. It lives in you and manifests Him. We see it's true. It's not worldly beauty of Him that attracts His Bride. It is His character, the character of the Church, that Jesus looks for; not where it's big buildings, where it's great denominations, where it's big membership. He promised to meet with wherever two or three are gathered together. Truly. That's where the true believer rests his hopes, is upon that Word of God being vindicated in Truth, what is. Choose by His Word, not a worldly-loving group. They hate that.
184No wonder she is divorced from Him, because she's missed His revelation, and she don't have it. He cares not for her, the way she acts and does, and how much of this worldly stuff she has.
185 He's looking for her character, the character of Christ. Now, just a moment now. That's it. He chooses a Bride to reflect His character, to which the modern churches of today certainly misses His--His program here, a million miles, 'cause they deny This to be the Truth. So how could it be? Now, He's looking for the day for that Bride to be formed, Hebrews 13:8, just exactly like It was, like He was. It's got to be His same flesh, same bones, same Spirit, same everything, just exactly built up, and them two then become one. Until the church becomes that, they're not one. The character of Him, the Word, for this age, must be molded. She must be molded like He is.
186 Now, in closing, I want to say the reason that I said these things, and I'll--I'll close. The other night, about three o'clock in the morning, I was awakened up.
187I take any of you to answer this. Have I ever told you anything in the Name of the Lord but what it was right? It's always been right. [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] So help me, God knows that's true. There is no one, nowhere in the world, of the thousands of things that's been told, that He has ever missed one word of it. Always been perfectly come to pass.
188Even to when I was at Phoenix, the other day, or about a year ago it was, and told you about that Message on--on What Time Is It, Sirs? And told you, "Seven Angels would meet out there," and be the opening of these Seals, and what. And there the--the Life magazine packed the article of it, this great Flame going up in the air, thirty miles high, twenty-seven miles across. They said they couldn't make out what it was; don't know yet. And men setting right here in this building tonight, was standing right there with me when it happened, just exactly what It said. He told me the things was coming to pass, and happened just exactly. How each of those Seals opened, and told the mysteries that had been hid down through them ages of the reformers and so forth, just perfectly.
189 How, standing up on top the hill, men, three or four of them standing right here present now, yes, more than that. Going up the hill, the Holy Spirit said, "Pick up that rock." We were hunting. He said, "Throw it up in the air, and say, 'THUS SAITH THE LORD.'" I did. Down from there come a little funnel of wind. I said, "Within twenty-four hours, you'll see the hand of God." Men setting right here present now.
190The next day, about ten o'clock, standing there, I said, "Get ready. Get under the car there," a veteran. I said, "Something is fixing to happen." It was a clear sky, right up in a big canyon. Down come a whirling Fire from Heaven, just as hard as It could scream, hit the walls like that. I--I was standing right under It. I took off my hat, held my head. It come about three feet or four feet above me, and cut a ditch plumb around that wall like that, and blasted. And went back up in the air, and whirled around again, and come down, three times, even had cut the tops of mesquite bushes out, for two hundred yards. Hear them fellows saying, "Amen"? They were there when it happened, see, and made three blasts.
191 When they got out from under the cars and everything, come back over, said, "That would hit you, there wouldn't been a greasy spot."
192I said, "It was--It was Him. He was talking to me." God speaks by a whirlwind. See? And there was that same Pillar of Fire that you see on the picture, standing there.
And when It went up, they said, "What is it?"
I said, "Judgment is striking the West Coast."
193Second day from there, Alaska like to sunk. See? It struck once, there, the first blow.
194Where, you have to do something, to symbolize it. Like a man put some salt in a cruse, and throwed it in the water, and said, "THUS SAITH THE LORD, let there be sweet water." And another one, Jesus picked up water and poured it into a jug, and--and made wine out of it.
195You have to have something, to symbolize. That's what that was, that went up in the air and come down. That started that little whirlwind. Within twenty-four hours, It had shook that mountain till it cut a ridge around it.
196 Rev. Mr. Blair sitting here, I'm looking right at him now, he was up there and picked up some of the pieces of it, and so forth. Here is Terry Sothmann, them, and standing here, and Billy Paul. And brothers, some of many of these others setting in here, that was right there to see it happen when It tore it out.
197That's not fiction. That's the truth. That wasn't back in the Bible days. That's now. See? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] That same God that's always showed me these things, and they've come to pass, exactly to the letter. Never have they failed one time. Now I'm bragging on Him.
198 A few weeks ago, I was in a vision. And I was standing up on a--a high place, and I was to see the preview of the Church. And I noticed, coming from my... I was standing more like this way, facing the West. And coming this way was the lovely bunch of women, real nice dress, long hair fixed nice in the back, sleeves, and skirts down neatly. And they were all in a marching tune, like, "Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before." And as they passed by, I stood, and there was Something there, some Spirit, was God, and said, "There is the Bride." And I looked, and my heart was happy. And She went around this way, and passed around behind me.
199After while, when she come back this way, It said, "Now the modern church will come into preview." And here come the Asian church up. I never seen such a filthy bunch.
200Here come the other churches up, of the different nation. They looked horrible.
201 And I--I say this because I'm duty bound to tell the truth, before God. And when He said, "Here comes the church of America now, to be previewed." If I ever seen a bunch of devils, it was that. Them women were stripped naked, with an old gray-looking thing, like a color of an elephant's hide. And they was holding it in front of them, with no upper part on it at all. And they were doing this kind of stuff, that, these--these dances that these kids do out here, that twist and stuff, and that kind of music going on. And when I seen Miss U.S.A. come up, I almost fainted.
202Now, this is THUS SAITH THE LORD. You believe me to be His servant. You believe me now. I wouldn't say that for nothing in the world. There's not enough money in all the world to get me to say that if it wasn't true.
203And when she come by, that was the filthiest-looking thing I ever seen. I thought, "God, as hard as preachers and we brethren have labored to get You a Bride, and that's the best we could do." She was twisting, holding this in front of her, like one of these hula skirts of a thing, holding it in front of her parts, her lower part, like this, dancing and twisting like these kids do out here on the... on these vulgar shows that they have, twisting. That was Miss Christianity of America.
204 So help me, by the help of God, that's what it looks like in His face. I--I just... I start... I could have fainted. I thought, "All the trying, and the preaching, and the persuading?" Every one of them with bobbed hair, and they were twisting and carrying on, holding this in front. They come around, where I was standing there with this supernatural Being. I couldn't see Him. I'd hear Him talking to me; was right around me. But when they turned this way, they hold this. And just twisting and laughing and going on, carrying on like that, holding this in front of them.
205Now, me standing in His Presence there, and His servant. "And of all I tried, that's the best I could do?" I thought, "God, what good did it do me? What good did it do? All the crying, and begging, and persuading, and the great signs and wonders and miracles that You showed. And how I stood there, and go home and cry after preaching to them and things, and what good did it do me? And then I have to present something like that for You, for a Bride?"
206 And as I stood there, looking, she passed on by. And you can imagine the back part of her, with nothing on, holding this in front of her as she went shimmying by, like that, to this twist, throwing her limbs out like that. And, her, oh, it was vulgar, how she was carrying on, her body shaking around like that. Now I...
207You say, "What does it mean, Brother Branham?" I don't know. I'm just telling you what I seen.
208And when she passed by like that, I looked at her. Oh, I just got real faint. I just turned around. I thought, "God, I'm condemned. There--there's no need of me trying any now. Just might as well quit."
209Mrs. Carl Williams, if you're setting here, and that dream that you told me about, a while ago, that you had the other night, that's been bothering you, there it is. The steering wheel is taken from my hand.
210 Then, I just thought, "I--I just might as well forget it." I was gone.
211Then, all at once, I heard It coming again. And coming up on this side come the same Bride that went around this a way. Here come them little ladies again, and each one of them was dressed in their national garb from where they come from, like Switzerland, Germany, and so forth, each one wearing that kind of garb, all long hair, just exactly like the one at the first. And here they was coming, walking. "Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war." And when they passed by the preview stand where we were standing, just all at once, every eye went that way. And then they turned back, and on they went, marching.
212And just as they started to going right up into the skies, this other one went up to a brink of a hill and went down, like that.
213These started marching right up into the sky. And when they went to marching, I noticed a couple of little girls in the back, looked like they might be of some foreign girl, like Sweden or Switzerland, or somewhere. They started to look around, and got... I said, "Don't do that! Don't get out of that step!" And as I screamed like that, I come to, in the vision, standing there with my hand out like that. I thought, "Well..."
214 That's the reason I said what I have, tonight. I want to ask you a question. Is it later that we think? Could She already be called and chosen, sealed away? There won't be one extra one, you know. Could it be possible? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
215Remember what I said, other day at the breakfast. In the pollen of breeding male and female, there's a million germs goes forth, million eggs goes forth. But there's only one of them live, and, yet, they're every one just alike: one out of a million. Every one of them, the same egg and the same kind of germ. One of them lives. The rest of them die.
216No one can tell which is the one that's a ripe egg, and, oh, what about it. God has to decide that, whether it's going to be a boy or girl, blond or brunette, or whatever it's going to be. God decides that. Not the first one meets, but the first one God has decide. Maybe one come up here, and one... If you ever noticed, in the test tube, to see them come together. I've watched it. God has to decide that. One, every one of them, just alike, but by election. The natural birth is by election. God takes one out of the million.
217 When Israel left Egypt, on their road to the promised land, they were approximately two million people. Every one of them was under the same sacrificial lamb, or they wouldn't have lived. Every one of them listened to Moses, the prophet. Every one of them was baptized to him, in the Red Sea. Every one of them danced, the women with Miriam, up-and-down the side of (when) the seashore, when God destroyed the enemy. Every one of them stood with Moses, and heard him sing in the Spirit. They, every one, eat manna out of the wilderness, that dropped down from Heaven. New manna, every night, which is a type of the Message, every one of them eat from it. But, out of the two million, how many made it? Two. One out of a million.
218There's approximately five hundred million Christians in the world tonight, counting Catholic and all. Five hundred million so-called believers in the world. If the Rapture come tonight, that would mean... if one out of a million was the count. I don't say it is. But if it was, five hundred people, in the next twenty-four hours, would be missing. You'd never even hear of it. There'll be that many missing, anyhow, can't even be counted for.
219 Then it could be, happen to us, friend, like it did when John the Baptist came. Even the disciples said, "Why did the Scriptures say, why do the--the apostles or the prophets say, why does it say that Elias must first come and restore all things?"
220He said, "I say unto you that Elias has already come, and you didn't know it."
221One of these days we could be left setting here, "What about the Rapture before the tribulation sets in?"
"It's already come and you didn't know it."
222 All the Body, sealed in, just keeping It in step. I ain't saying it's that way. I hope it isn't that way. But, friend, when it lets...
223If we got a feel in our heart, tonight, that we should straighten up our lives, and the things that we have done, let me advise you, as a minister brother. I'm going to say this for my first time, over the pulpit. I've stretched out farther tonight, on This, than I have on anything else, any time, anyhow, before the public, because I've had a great freedom in these meetings. If you believe me to be God's prophet, you listen to what I've told you. If there's one little tinkle of feeling in your heart, you go to God right now. You do it.
224 Stop just a minute, men. Look at your--your creeds that you serve. Look in your churches. Is it just exactly with the Word of God? Have you met every qualification? Say, "I'm a good man." So was Nicodemus, and so was all the rest. They--they were fine. See? That don't have nothing to do with It.
225And, women, I want you to look in the mirror, and look what God requires a woman to do. And see in God's mirror, not in your church mirror now, in God's mirror; and see if you could qualify, in your life, the spiritual Bride of Jesus Christ.
226Ministers, think the same. Do you cut corners here, to save somebody's feelings over yonder? Would you do this if it wasn't... and they'll put you out of the church? If you are feeling that way, my dear brother, let me warn you, in the Name of Jesus Christ, flee from that right now.
227And, lady, if you can't measure up to the qualification of a Christian, not as a nominal Christian; but in your heart, and your life is patterned exactly like God's marriage certificate here says it has to be.
228And, church member, if your church isn't like that, can measure up to God's qualification of His Word, get out of it and get into Christ.
229 That is solemn warning. We don't know what time, and you don't know what time, that this city one day is going to be laying out here in the bottom of this ocean.
230"Oh, Capernaum," said Jesus, "thou who exalted into heaven, will be brought down into hell. For, if the mighty works had been done in Sodom and Gomorrah, it'd have been standing to this day." And Sodom, Gomorrah lays in the bottom of the Dead Sea. And Capernaum is in the bottom of the sea.
231Thou city, who claims to be the city of the Angels, who has exalted yourself into heaven, and sent all the dirty, filthy things of fashions and things, till even the foreign countries come here to pick up our filth and send it away, to your fine churches and steeples, and so forth, the way you do. Remember, one day you'll be laying in the bottom of the sea, your great honeycomb under you right now. The wrath of God is belching right beneath you. How much longer He will hold this sandbar hanging out over that? When, that ocean out yonder, a mile deep, will slide in there, plumb back to the Salton Sea. It'll be worse than the last day of Pompeii. Repent, Los Angeles.
232Repent, the rest of you, and turn to God. The hour of His wrath is upon the earth. Flee while there's time to flee, and come into Christ.
Let us pray.
233 Dear God, when, in my spirit, is shaking, my heart is dropping teardrops of warning. Grant, O God, that men and women will not think of what I've said as a joke, and the church people will not think of it as something that was prejudice or against them. May they see, Lord, it's in love.
234Thou barest me record, Almighty God, that up-and-down this coast I've went, year after year, proclaiming Your Word. Bear me record, O God, if it would happen tonight, I've told the Truth. Thou knowest this vision of the Bride is the Truth. I've took Your Name by it, Lord, and said it was THUS SAITH THE LORD. And I feel that I'm conscious, Lord, of what I'm doing.
235So I pray Thee, Lord, in Jesus' Name, let people shake themselves, tonight, and flee from the wrath that is to come, for Ichabod is wrote over the doors and over the nations. A black check mark has come across it. The Spirit of God is grieved away from it, and they're weighed in the balances and found wanting. The feast of King Nebuchadnezzar has repeated again, with drunken parties and half-dressed women, calling themselves Christians.
236 O God of Heaven, have mercy upon a sinful world and a sinful people, Lord, as we are tonight. God, I'm trying to stand in the breach and ask for Divine mercy, that You'll speak into this crowd tonight and call Your Bride to attention, Lord, to march not by the sign of any creed, but by the sound of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Grant it, O God. Let it be known, this night, that Thou art God, and Thy Word is Truth. While, solemnly, in the face of this people, we call them to attention of Thy Word.
237In the Name of Jesus Christ, I pray for them, Lord. They have seen You, beyond any shadow of doubt, move across their crowds and tell them what's in their heart. And Thou knowest, Lord, that, right now, what's going on. Thou knowest that to be Truth, O God. And I pray Thee, in Jesus' Name, let the Holy Spirit intercede again, Lord, and pull from this audience, Lord, those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Grant it, O God. I pray with all my heart.
238These people, naturally, Lord, would give me the last penny they had, to support the Message. They'd do anything that they could. But, O God, when it comes to coping with It, and coming into It, I pray, God, that this will be the night that You'll reward them and pour down Your Holy Spirit upon this convention. And may there not be a frolic or jumping around, but a weeping and a crying, and a repenting, holding onto the horns of the altar, while we see judgments roaring beneath us, tonight. Grant it, God. I pray as sincerely as I know how, in the Name of Jesus Christ.
239 My brother, sister, I--I don't know what more to say, if I found grace in your sight, by the power of God, if you believe me to be His prophet. This is the first time in public I've ever said that. But I feel a strange warning of some sort. I'm not prone to this. You know I'm not. I don't act like this. I hesitated to speak that Message and say those things. I run sideways and everything else, to keep from doing it. But It's been said, and It'll stand at the Day of the Judgment, as a witness that I've told the Truth. That's THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD!...?...
240Oh, Pentecost, run for your life. Flee to the horns of the altar and cry out, before it's too late, for an hour will come when you can cry and it'll do no good. For Esau sought to find a place, of his birthright, and couldn't find it. I commit you, oh, California. Oh, convention of the Full Gospel Business Men, who I love, who I've left and strung to, with all my heart, I commit you to Jesus Christ, tonight. Flee to Him! Don't let the Devil ever cool you off from This. Stay right with It until you're, every one, filled with the Holy Ghost, insomuch, that will make you come to this Word, that will make you women straighten up, that will make you men straighten up. If you'd say you've got the Holy Ghost, and won't cope with the Word, it's another spirit in you. God's Spirit is on His Word, the Messianic, the anointed Word. The Bride must be a Messiah-ette, the anointed Word.
241 Let us stand to our feet, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you never hear my voice again... But, God willing, I'm setting to Africa, in a few hours. I may never return. I don't know. But I tell you, with all my heart, I've told you the Truth. I haven't shunned to declare to you everything that God has told me to say. And I've said It in the Name of the Lord.
242It's a solemn moment. I don't know how to express it. I've tried to leave the pulpit three or four times, and I can't do it. This is a solemn hour. Don't you never forget it. This is the time that, maybe, God may be making His last call. I don't know. He'll make His last call, someday. When? I don't know. But I'm telling you, according to that vision, it looks like that that Bride is about finished.
243Look at the nominal churches coming in. When the sleeping virgin come for Oil, she failed to get It. The Bride went in. The Rapture went up. "While they went to buy Oil, the Bridegroom come."
244Are you asleep? Wake up, quickly, and come to yourself. And let us pray, each one, like we were dying at this minute, in the Name of the Lord. Let's, each one, pray in your own way.
245 God Almighty, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy on me. Have mercy upon us all. What good does it do, no matter what we do, if we fail in these things? I stand and ask for mercy, O God, before this great city sinks beneath the sea and judgments of God sweep this coast. I pray, God, that You'll call Your Bride. I commit them to You now, in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
1... Je mnoho nemocných ľudí a nemôžem sa ku ním všetkým naraz dostať.
2Som skutočne rád, že som dnes večer znovu tu, v tejto krásnej posluchárni a medzi touto znamenitou skupinou ľudí. A keď sme sem vchádzali pred pár minútami - ľudia stáli vonku na ulici a hovorili, že sa sem nemôžu dostať. Povedal som im, "Nuž, možno sa mi podarí zohnať vám nejaké miesto," ale nedovolili im vojsť dovnútra. Tak, je mi to ľúto, že nemáme pre nich dostatok miesta. Hovorili, že suterén je tak isto plný a tak je nám to ľúto. Ale sme radi, že tu môžeme byť, a že môžeme vidieť túto milú skupinu kazateľov, tu týchto obchodníkov a všetky delegácie z rôznych strán krajiny.
3Mám veľké privilégium, že môžem hovoriť dnes ráno pri raňajkách, čo si samozrejme cením, mať tú česť a hovoriť pred tak vzácnymi ľuďmi. Hovoril som na tému, Pleva nebude dediť s Pšenicou. Nedostal som sa ku tomu, aby som to zakončil, ale to nebola vina toho brata. On sa to snažil vybaviť, aby nás tu nechali trochu dlhšie, ale sa mu to nepodarilo. A ja si to samozrejme cením. Skutočne si to cením, brat Demos. Bolo to veľmi, veľmi milé. Skutočne vám ďakujem za vašu láskavosť, osobne každému. Ale oni nám to jednako nedovolili a tak sme museli zakončiť. Vezmem to niekedy inokedy, aby som to zakončil. Pleva nebude dediť s Pšenicou. Rozumeli ste tomu - ktorí ste tam boli? Myslím, že to vystačilo, aby sa tomu dalo porozumieť.
4Nuž, viem že dnes večer prebieha tiež beseda a tak vás tu nechcem držať príliš dlho, aby vám to neutieklo, pretože si myslím, že to bolo skutočne plus, pre Letničných veriacich - ten program, ktorý mohli vidieť minulý večer. Taká dobrá skupina ľudí a také fajn priame odpovede. Cítil som sa skutočne dobre, keď som to pozeral a verím, že Pán to požehná dnes večer, i každého kto to pozerá, nech by uverili. To by bolo mojou úprimnou modlitbou.
5A tak mnoho správ prichádza dnes z ... poštou, i skrze telefón, o tom ako veľa ich bolo uzdravených v tomto zhromaždení. Bol som z toho tak potešený. Vidieť chorých ľudí ... To je charakter mojej služby. Prišiel sol sem aby som kázal (viete, ja som nie kazateľ) s týmto, s mojou Kentuckou gramatikou - his, hain't a všetkými tými slovami a tak nemôžem povedať, že by som sa mohol rátať ku tým moderným kazateľom, ako to dnes nazývame. Nemôžem zaujať také miesto, pretože nemám žiadne vzdelanie. Ale mám to rád, keď môžem povedať iným to, čo o tom viem, alebo to čo cítim, že o tom viem - tak ako som sa to naučil, hovoriť ím, čím On pre mňa je. On je všetkým v mojom živote, všetko čo by som kedy mohol očakávať že budem a ešte o veľa viac ako som si kedy mohol myslieť ... že by som kedy mal priateľa, sotva, na zemi, keď som bol malým chlapcom. Ale som skutočne vďačný za tých veľkých priateľov, ktorých dnes mám.
8Prepáčte. Stojím tu niekde, tak trochu pomimo dosah mikrofónu.
9A teraz, aby sme sa dostali rovno do Slova, obráťme sa do Písma, aby sme si niečo prečítali. Vždy rád čítam Bibliu, pretože je To Slovo Božie. Verím tomu a verím, že je To neomylné Božie Slovo. A teraz, mám tu poznačených niekoľko miest Písma a nejaké poznámky, na ktoré by som sa rád opieral za tých niekoľko minút - možno za štyridsať päť minút a potom vyjdeme odtiaľto načas, aby sme znovu dnes večer mohli pozerať ten skvelý program. A dúfam, že vám Boh bude v tom naďalej žehnať. Viem čo musíte robiť a ja predpokladám, že ešte dnes večer sa budem vracať do Tucsonu. Tak si to môžete predstaviť. Je to desať hodín jazdy. A odchádzam za more, musím byť ešte zaštepený proti žltej zimnici v štátnom stredisku, a tak sa tam musím dostaviť. Musel som to už raz odložiť na iný deň, a tak oni by to neprijali, keby som to znovu chcel teraz odkladať. A ešte raz mám byť zaštepený proti tetanu a týfusu.
12A tak, som tak vďačný za túto príležitosť a za toto výborné zhromaždenie, ktoré sme mali pred konferenciou, ktoré tak rozohrialo moje srdce. Ste milou skupinou ľudí a dúfam, že Boh vás bude žehnať. A keď tá veľká hodina ... To veľké monštrum, ktoré tam leží, sa pred pár dňami otriaslo na Aljašku, dnes ráno znovu švihlo svojím chvostom, až niekde dole okolo štátu Washington. On veľmi ľahko môže doraziť až sem. A ak mi Duch Svätý niekedy jasne povie ...
14Niektorí z vás sa ma pýtali: "Stane sa to tu, brat Branham?" Nuž, ja to neviem. Ja proste neviem a dovtedy, kým nebudem vedieť ... Je to pravda. Vždy som chcel byť ku vám úprimný. Nebudem si niečo len domýšľať, mať nejaké predstavy, alebo nejaké ... niečo čo ja verím, lebo niečo také. Keď vám poviem, to sa stane ... Nuž, On mi to prv musel povedať, a potom vám to ja poviem. Viem, že celý svet je v roztrasenom stave; sme v čase konca. Ale jednu vec som sa snažil, aby som bol ...
16Brat Šakarián hovoril dnes ráno, ako zvykol prechádzať cez tie modlitebné rady a načahoval sa a bral tie lístky, prv ako tí ľudia prišli hore a díval sa na ne a dával pozor či ím poviem to, čo tam napísali. Oni písali na svoje karty všetky možné potreby, veď viete a on dával pozor či to súhlasí. Povedal, že z tých stoviek kárt, ktoré skontroloval, nebolo ani raz, že by to nesedelo. Nikdy v tom nebude ani jedna chyba, vidíte, pretože to ... pokiaľ je to Boh. Kedykoľvek, keby som vniesol do toho samého seba, v tej chvíli by to bolo falošné, hneď od začiatku.
17Jedno malé dievča, ktorého otec tu teraz sedí a počúva ma, prišla pred nedávnom ku mne. Mala sen. Spýtala sa, "brat Branham, čo znamená ten sen?"
18Povedal som, "Neviem, sestra. Budem to musieť zistiť, ak mi to Pán povie." A tak som išiel a snažil som sa prosiť Pána o to a On mi to vôbec nepovedal. A tak to malé dievča prišlo znovu; spýtala sa, "Nuž a teraz, aký je výklad toho môjho snu?"
20Povedal som, "Poď sem, moja drahá a sadni si." Povedal som, "Tvoj otec i matka sú moji veľmi dobrí priatelia, veď vieš, oni prešli celú cestu z Kanady, odišli a prebývali tu so mnou. Oni veria tomu, čo sa ja snažím povedať a nikdy v živote som nepovedal úmyselne nikomu nič, čo by nebola pravda. Ak ja ... Myslím, že viem čo znamená ten sen, ale až kým ja sám nebudem vidieť ten sen, a potom, kým mi On nepovie čo to znamená, nemôžem ti to povedať. Vidíte, keby som len ja sám zostavil z toho niečo, môže prísť taký čas, že ma budete potrebovať medzi životom a smrťou, a potom by ste nevedeli, či mi máte veriť alebo nie.
21Ak vám poviem niečo v Mene Pánovom, je to skutočne ... to je On, ktorý mi to povedal. A až doteraz, po všetky tie roky po svete i okolo sveta, ani raz to nebolo falošné, pretože ... Vy viete, že človek nemôže byť tak neomylný. To dokáže len Duch Boží.
22A teraz mám Posolstvo, za ktoré som zodpovedný. A mnohokrát som bol považovaný medzi ľuďmi, (nuž, možno medzi takými, ktorí si ani len na chvíľu nesadli a nezastavili sa nad tým), že som ... och, hroznou osobou, že nemám rád ľudí, že stále do nich rýpem. A to nie je tak. Nie je to tak. Milujem ľudí. Ale viete, láska napráva.
23Keby váš malý chlapec sedel tam vonku na ulici a vy by ste mu povedali, "Chlapče drahý, nechcem aby si tam sedával, ale ..." a autá by frčali okolo neho a vy by ste ho vzali dovnútra a on by znovu vybehol von. Nuž, potrestali by ste ho. Ak ho milujete, potrestáte ho. Ak budete musieť ...
24Ak by ste videli niekoho, ako sa plaví dole riekou smerom ku vodopádom, v malom člnku a vedeli by ste, že ten člnok sa potopí, keď narazí na tie vodopády, či by ste mu povedali len, "Jano, možno by si sa mal na chvíľu zamyslieť. Možno že to nezvládneš." Keď viem, že to nezvládne, budem ho takmer ťahať von z toho člnku, ak budem môcť, pretože to je láska, ktorá to tak robí.
25A teraz v týchto posolstvách, ktoré kážem, nesnažím sa nikdy prinášať žiadnu náuku, či niečo také. To robím vo svojom vlastnom zbore. Ale tu vonku, medzi mužmi i ženami, ktorí sú z rôznych denominácií a majú rôzne názory, snažím sa to jemne vziať a vysvetliť, ale dostatočne na porozumenie, ak ste zrodení z Ducha Božieho, verím že budete rozumieť čo mám na mysli, medzi kresťanmi - metodistami, baptistami, presbyteriánmi i inými.
26Dnes večer sa chcem obrátiť do prvej knihy Mojžišovej, do 24. kapitoly a chcem čítať od 12. verša, 24. kapitoly knihy Genesis.
A riekol; Hospodine, Bože môjho pána Abraháma, prosím, daj, žeby sa mi dnes pošťastilo a učiň milosť s mojím pánom Abrahámom.
Hľa, stojím tu pri studni vody a dcéry mužov mesta vyjdú sem von brať vodu.
Nech stane sa tak, aby deva, ktorej poviem: Nachýľ prosím svoje vedro, aby som sa napil! A povie: Napi sa a napojím aj tvojich veľblúdov, aby to bola tá, prosím, ktorú si prisúdil svojmu služobníkovi Izákovi, a potom poznám, že si učinil milosť s mojím pánom.
27A potom v knihe Zjavenia ... To je prvá kniha Biblii - Genesis. A teraz v poslednej knihy Biblii, chcem čítať z 21. kapitoly Zjavenia, 9. verš. Vieme, čo toto Písmo z Genesis tu ... Prečítajte si celú kapitolu, ak chcete. To je ako Boh posiela Eliezéra ... či vlastne Abrahám posiela Eliezéra (prepáčte), aby vybral nevestu pre Izáka. A prišla tam krásna Rebeka a bola dokonalou odpoveďou na tú modlitbu, ktorú sa Eliezér, ten sluha Abrahámov, práve pomodlil. A teraz 9. verš, z 21. kapitoly Zjavenia:
A prišiel ku mne jeden zo siedmich anjelov, ktorí to mali tých sedem čiaš, plných sedem posledných rán a prehovoril so mnou a povedal mi: Poď, ukážem ti nevestu, manželku Baránkovu.
29Chcem to zobrať ako text ku dnešnej téme: Voľba Nevesty. A toto je ... Ak môj brat, ktorý to tu nahráva, bude ... Toto je názov tej pásky, ktorú si budete môcť objednať, aby vám bola poslaná.
30A teraz pri tomto, to neznamená, že hovorím len tu do tohoto zhromaždenia, ktoré je tu prítomné, ale tieto pásky idú okolo sveta. Sú prekladané prakticky - och, do veľkého množstva jazykov, dostávajú sa dokonca aj do pohanských zemí. Posielame ich zdarma do nejakého zboru, kde sú prekladané. Rozchádzajú sa po všetkých Afrických džungliach a do Indii, a po celom svete.
Teda, Voľba Nevesty.
31V živote, v mnohých veciach máme možnosť, robiť určitú voľbu, rozhodnutie. Samotný spôsob života je určitou voľbou. Máme právo zvoliť si svoju vlastnú cestu, zvoliť si svoj vlastný spôsob, akým chceme žiť. Vzdelanie je určitou voľbou. Môžeme si vybrať či budeme vzdelaní, alebo či nebudeme vzdelaní. To je voľba, ktorú máme. Dobro i zlo je určitou voľbou. Každý muž, každá žena, chlapec i dievča si musí vybrať, či sa bude snažiť žiť správne alebo nie. Je to určitá voľba. Voľba, to je veľká vec.
34Vaše večné miesto určenia je určitou voľbou a možno dnes večer niektorí z vás, učinia tú voľbu, kde budete tráviť večnosť - prv ako skončí dnes večer toto zhromaždenie. Raz sa stane, že ... Ak odsúvaš nabok Boha, mnoho krát, raz sa stane, že Ho odsunieš nabok posledný raz. Je hranica medzi milosťou a súdom a je to nebezpečné pre muža i ženu, chlapca či dievča, prekročiť túto hranicu, pretože neexistuje žiadny návrat, keď prekročíte cez tú smrteľnú hranicu. A tak dnes večer, môže to byť čas, že mnohý urobia svoje rozhodnutie, kde budú tráviť tú nekonečnú večnosť.
35Existuje ďalšia voľba, ktorú máme v živote. To je životný partner. Mladý muž alebo mladá žena, vstupujúci do života majú ... je im daná možnosť vybrať si. Mladý muž si vyberá, mladá žena má právo to prijať alebo odmietnuť, ale stále je to voľba na oboch stranách; obaja, muž i žena, majú právo sa rozhodnúť.
36Tak isto máte možnosť vybrať si ako kresťan. Môžete si vybrať cirkev tu v Amerike, (zatiaľ), do ktorej budete môcť chodiť. To je vaše vlastné americké privilégium, vybrať si ktorúkoľvek cirkev, do ktorej chcete patriť. To je určitá voľba. Nemusíte chodiť do žiadnej z nich, ak nechcete, ale ak chceš prejsť z metodistov ku baptistom, alebo od katolíkov ku protestantom, i tak ďalej, nikto ti nič nemôže povedať, ani ťa nútiť, aby si chodil do nejakej predpísanej cirkvi. To je naša sloboda. V tom spočíva naša demokracia. Každý človek si môže vybrať pre seba - náboženská sloboda a to je veľká vec. Bože pomôž nám zachovať si to, tak dlho ako len budeme môcť.
37Tak isto si môžete vybrať či ... Keď si vyberiete túto cirkev, môžete si vybrať či, v tejto cirkvi ... Či si vyberiete cirkev, ktorá vás bude viesť do vášho večného miesta určenia. Môžete si vybrať cirkev, ktorá má určité vyznanie - môžete si myslieť, že to vyznanie, to je práve to čo potrebujete; alebo inú cirkev, ktorá má svoje vyznanie. A potom je Slovo Božie, pre ktoré sa môžete rozhodnúť. Musíte urobiť svoje rozhodnutie. Medzi nami existuje určitý nepísaný zákon rozhodovania sa.
39Verím, že to bol Eliáš, raz na vrchu Karmel po tom odhalení (kto z koho), v tej veľkej krízovej hodine, do ktorej i my práve teraz vchádzame. A možno, že dnes večer toto môže byť pre teba, alebo pre mňa, tá hodina, že urobíme také rozhodnutie, ako pri tom prežití na vrchu Karmel. Úprimne, myslím si, že to teraz ide po celom svete.
40Ale zanedlho nadíde čas, kde sa budete musieť rozhodnúť; a vy ľudia, ktorí ste tu zo svojich denominačných cirkví, verte tomuto, že tá hodina je práve pred vami, keď urobíte svoje rozhodnutie. Buď pôjdete do Svetovej Rady, alebo viac nebudete denomináciou. Budete sa musieť rozhodnúť a to rozhodnutie zanedlho príde. A tiež je nebezpečné čakať, až na tú poslednú hodinu, pretože môžete zobrať na seba niečo, čoho sa nebudete môcť striasť. Viete, je čas, v ktorom môžete byť varovaní, ale potom, keď prekročíte za tú varujúcu hranicu, potom ste už poznačení na tej druhej strane - máte vypálený znak.
42Pamätajte, keď prišiel ten Jubilejný rok a kňaz išiel so svojou trúbou a trúbil, že každý otrok môže ísť na slobodu, ale ak oni odmietli prijať svoju slobodu, potom on musel byť privedený do chrámu ku stĺpu a šidlom mu prepichli ucho a potom naveky slúžil svojmu pánovi. Ten znak vykonaný na uchu bol daný ako symbol počutia. Viera prichádza z počutia. On počul tú trúbu, ale on to nechcel počúvať.
43A mnohokrát, muži i ženy počujú Božiu Pravdu, a vidia To potvrdené a dokázané, že je to Pravda, ale jednako To nechcú počúvať. Z nejakej inej príčiny. Vybrali si niečo iné, než ako postaviť sa tvárou k Pravde a faktom. A preto ich uši môžu byť zavreté na Evanjelium. Oni to už nikdy viac nebudú počuť. Radím ti, keď Boh hovorí do tvojho srdca, konaj v tej chvíli.
44Eliáš im dal možnosť, aby si vybrali, "Dnes si vyberte komu budete slúžiť. Ak je Boh Bohom, slúžte Jemu; ale ak je Bohom Bál, slúžte jemu."
45Nuž ako vidíme, všetky tieto prirodzené veci sú určitým typom tých Duchovných vecí, čo sme rozoberali v našej raňajšej lekcii, na príklade slnka a jeho povahy.
To bola moja prvá Biblia. Prv ako som ešte prečítal nejakú stránku v Biblii, poznal som Boha. Pretože Biblia je napísaná všade v prírode a to presne súhlasí so Slovom Božím: ako smrť, pohreb a vzkriesenie tejto prírody a východ slnka, jeho púť po oblohe, zapadanie, zhasnutie a znovu svitanie - proste tak mnoho vecí v prírode odzrkadľuje Boha, že kvôli tomuto posolstvu nemôžem o nich všetkých hovoriť.
46Nuž, ak to Duchovné ... či vlastne to prirodzené, je určitým typom toho Duchovného, potom tá prirodzená voľba nevesty je určitým typom voľby Nevesty v tej Duchovnej oblasti.
47Nuž, je to vážna vec, keď si ideme vybrať ženu, nejaký muž ... pretože v tých sľuboch tu stojí, že až kým nás smrť nerozdelí. To je to, ako to máme zachovávať. A vy beriete ten sľub pred Bohom, že jedine smrť vás rozdelí. A ja myslím, že by sme ... muž, ktorý si podľa svojho zdravého rozumu plánuje budúcnosť, by mal byť veľmi opatrný pri vyberaní ženy; buďte opatrní v tom čo robíte. A žena, ktorá si vyberá muža, alebo prijíma muža, ktorý si ju chce zobrať, by mala byť skutočne opatrná, v tom čo robí a zvlášť v týchto dňoch. Muž by sa mal dobre zamyslieť a modliť sa, predtým ako si vyberie ženu.
48Myslím, že dnes, to čo spôsobilo teraz tak mnoho rozvodov, že držíme prvé miesto vo svete, v Amerike, v rozvodoch; prevyšujeme v tom všetky ostatné krajiny. Je tu viacej rozvodov, v tomto národe, ako kdekoľvek inde na svete a to by mal byť kresťanský národ, tak si myslím. Čo za hanba - naše rozvody. Ja si myslím, že to je kvôli tomu, že muži odišli preč od Boha, i ženy odišli preč od Boha.
49Pozorujeme, že ak by sa nejaký muž modlil i žena, keby sa modlila, ohľadne tej veci - nepozerali by len na pekné oči, alebo na silné ramená, alebo na niečo také, alebo na nejaké iné svetské záľuby, ale v prvom rade by sa pozerali na Boha a pýtali sa, "Bože, je toto Tvoj plán?"
50Myslím, že dnes je tak mnoho podvádzania, práve tak ako v škole. Keď tie deti pôjdu ráno okolo - mnoho tých detí od susedov (moji priatelia) pôjdu okolo a povedia, "brat Branham, budeš sa za nás modliť? Máme dnes písomku. Učil som sa celú noc, ale sa necítim na to. Modli sa za mňa." Myslím, že každé decko, ktoré chodí do školy, keby ste ... a rodičia ráno pri stole, keby ste povedali, "Mama, Ján píše dnes písomku; modlime sa teraz za neho." myslím si, že by to bolo ... všetko, čo ste kedy urobili nejako inak, či odpisovali od niekoho iného a podvádzali. Myslím, že keby ste len prišli a modlili sa za to ...
51A keby sme si mohli preštudovať, čo sme robili, keď sme sa išli ženiť, keď sme si vyberali ženu, alebo muža, keby sme si to preštudovali ... Človek by sa mal horlivo modliť, pretože by mohol zruinovať celý svoj život. Pamätajte ten sľub zneje, "Až dokiaľ nás smrť nerozdelí." A on tým, že urobí nesprávnu voľbu, môže zruinovať svoj život. Ale ak on vie čo ... ak robí nesprávnu voľbu a berie si za ženu takú, ktorá ku nemu nepasuje a on si ju jednako berie, potom je to jeho chyba. Ak si žena berie muža a vie že on sa nehodí, aby bol tvojím mužom, potom je to tvoja vlastná chyba, potom čo vieš čo je dobré a čo zlé. A tak, ty by si to nemal robiť až kým sa skutočne nepremodlíš.
52To platí tak isto pri voľbe cirkvi. Musíte sa modliť za cirkev v ktorej máte obecenstvo. Pamätajte, CIRKVI MAJÚ DUCHOV. Nechcem byť kritický, ale si uvedomujem, že som starým mužom a jedného dňa budem musieť z tadiaľto odísť. Budem sa musieť zodpovedať v deň súdu z toho, čo dnes večer hovorím, alebo čo som kedykoľvek povedal a ... a preto musím byť smrteľne vážny a skutočne presvedčený.
53Ale choďte do nejakého zboru a keď budete pozorovať ako sa správa ten zbor - pozorujte len chvíľu pastora a obvykle spozorujte, že zbor sa zachováva tak ako pastor.
Niekedy premýšľam či my len neprijímame ducha jeden od druhého, namiesto Ducha Svätého. Ak prídete niekde, kde je pastor skutočne dôkladný a neústupný, zistíte, že zhromaždenie sa správa tak isto. Privediem vás do nejakého zboru, kde som videl pastora, ako sa postavil - kývajú hlavami dopredu a dozadu. Pozorujte to zhromaždenie; oni robia to isté. Vezmite pastora, ktorý bude robiť všetko vo švungu, obyčajne ten zbor bude robiť tak isto. A tak, keby som si vyberal cirkev, vybral by som si skutočnú, fundamentálnu, Biblickú cirkev plného Evanjelia - keby som vyberal nejakú, do ktorej by som mal priviesť svoju rodinu.
55Voľba ... Díval som sa ... Tí chlapci jedného dňa (syn brata Šakariána a jeho švagor) volali ma sem, aby som sa modlil za jedného mladého muža, nejakého speváka, fešného chlapca, ktorý ... práve som prichádzal domov - nazýval sa Fred Barker - práve som sa vracal z cesty a oni mi telefonovali, že Fred zomiera a potom, prv ako som mohol vojsť dovnútra, prišla druhá správa: "On je už možno mŕtvy." Povedali, že krvácal do mozgu, dostal porážku a zomieral; a jeho žena chcela, aby som sa za neho modlil.
56Pomyslel som si, "Ak sa tam budem snažiť zaletieť, on by mohol zomrieť skôr, ako sa tam dostanem a možno, že už teraz nežije." A tak som rýchle zatelefonoval a zodvihla to tá pani a priložili sme sluchátko Fredovi ku uchu. On nemohol prežierať. Oni mu dali prístroj na umelé prežieranie. A keď sme sa za neho modlili, on povedal ... naznačil im, aby mu to vybrali z hrdla! On mohol prežierať. Doktori tomu neverili a vybrali mu to a on mohol prežierať. A na druhý deň sa posadil.
Zbor - voľba zboru.
57Dnes ráno som mal práve telefonický rozhovor. Jedna členka môjho zboru, ktorá je v skutočnosti baptistkou z Louisville, zomrela dnes zavčasu ráno. A môj zbor doma, skutočná skupina posvätených ľudí, zhromaždili sa spolu a zašli tam prv, ako by ju pohrebná služba mohla zabalzamovať, postavili sa okolo nej a modlili sa, až kým sa znovu do nej nevrátil život a ona dnes žije - starší môjho zboru. Prečo? Oni boli učení, aby verili, že všetko je možné. Pristupujú ku Bohu úprimne. A tak si musíte správne vybrať.
58Tak isto, ten druh ženy, ktorú si muž vybral, bude odzrkadľovať ambície jeho charakteru. Ak si nejaký muž vybral zlú ženu, to odzrkadľuje jeho charakter. A to s čím sa zaväzuje, ukazuje čo v skutočnosti v ňom je. Žena odzrkadľuje to, čo je v tom mužovi, keď si ju on vybral za ženu. To ukazuje čo je v ňom. Nezáleží na tom čo on navonok hovorí, hľaď na to s kým sa oženil.
59Idem do kancelárie nejakého muža a on hovorí o sebe, že je kresťan - všade po stene samé nahé ženy a hrá mu tam nejaké buggie-woogie; nestarám sa o to čo hovorí; Neverím jeho svedectvu, pretože jeho duch sa kŕmi vecami toho sveta. Čo povedať, ak sa on ožení s nejakou kabaretnou tanečnicou, alebo čo ak sa ožení s nejakou kráľovnou sexu, alebo len s nejakou ozaj modernou Rikitou? To odzrkadľuje; to ukazuje čo má vo svojej mysli, aký bude jeho budúci domov, pretože on si ju vzal, aby vychovávala jeho deti a taká ako je ona, tak bude vychovávať aj tie deti. A tak to odzrkadľuje čo je v tom mužovi. Muž, ktorý si vezme nejakú takúto ženu, dáva najavo, ako si predstavuje budúcnosť. Mohli by ste si predstaviť nejakého kresťana, ktorý by robil niečo také? Nie veru, ja nie. Skutočný kresťan si nebude hľadať takéto kráľovné krásy, kabaretné tanečnice a kráľovné sexu. On bude hľadať kresťanský charakter.
61Nemôžete mať všetko. Môže byť nejaké dievča, ktoré je skutočne pekné a druhé, možno že je ... môže mať lepšiu postavu ako tam tá. A vy sa musíte vzdať jednej kvôli tej druhej. Ale ak sa ona nespráva ako dáma, ako žena, ... Nestarám sa o to či je pekná alebo nie, mali by ste sa radšej dívať na jej charakter, či je pekná alebo nie.
62Nuž ... preto sa patrí, ak by si kresťan mal vybrať ženu, má si vybrať ozajstnú znovuzrodenú. Bez ohľadu na to ako vyzerá, to je to, čo ju robí tým čím je. A potom znovu, to odzrkadľuje jeho vlastný bohabojný charakter a odzrkadľuje to, čo je v jeho mysli a aká bude budúcnosť jeho rodiny - ktorá bude vychovávaná takou ženou - jeho budúce plány pre jeho domov. Ak by sa oženil s jednou s týchto moderných Rikít, s kráľovnou sexu, čo by mohol očakávať? Čo za domácnosť by taký muž mohol očakávať, že bude mať? Ak by sa oženil s nejakým dievčaťom, ktorá nebude mať dostatok morálky, aby bola doma a starala sa o svoj dom, ale by chcela pracovať u niekoho v úrade, čo by to bola za hospodyňu? Budete musieť najímať opatrovateľku ku deťom a všetko možné. Je to tak.
64Nuž je som nie za tými modernými chúťkami ženského zamestnania. Keď vidím tieto ženy v tých uniformách, ako jazdia na motorkách po meste, ako policajtky - je to hanba pre každé mesto, ktoré im to dovolí robiť, zatiaľ čo veľa mužov je bez práce. To dáva najavo moderné myslenie nášho mesta; dáva to najavo degradáciu. Nemusíme dávať ženy do takého zamestnania. Oni tam vôbec nemajú čo hľadať.
65Keď Boh dal mužovi ženu, dal mu tú najlepšiu vec po spasení, ktorú mu mohol dať, ale keď ona ide a snaží sa zastávať mužove miesto, potom je skoro tou najhoršou vecou, akú on môže mať.
Nuž je to tak. A teraz môžeme vidieť tú Duchovnú súvislosť.
66Viem že je to nepríjemné. Myslíte si, že sa to nehodí, ale je to Pravda. Nehľadíme na to, aké je to nepríjemné, musíme sa postaviť pred fakty. To je to čo nás učí Biblia.
67Nuž, tu jasne vidíme ten Duchovný plán Božieho plánovania pre Jeho budúci domov s Jeho budúcou Nevestou - vychádza to teraz najavo. Ak si nejaký muž berie nejakú kráľovnú sexu, môžete vidieť čo hľadá do budúcnosti. Ak si nejaký muž berie ženu, ktorá sa nebude zdržovať doma, môžete vidieť čo hľadá v budúcnosti.
69Ja som raz ... Znie to strašne, no proste cítim aby som to povedal a ... obyčajne, keď cítim, aby som niečo povedal, mám to povedať a obvykle je to Božia cesta.
70S jedným rančerom, s ktorým som pracoval, som zvykol chodiť kupovať dobytok. A všimol som si, že ten chlap sa stále prizeral jalovici rovno do tváre, prv ako ju išiel kúpiť. Potom jej zvrtol hlavu a pozrel si ju spredu dozadu. Pozoroval som ho a on si ju obzeral hore dole. Ak vyzerala dobre urastená, potom sa jej díval rovno do tváre a niekedy potriasol hlavou a išiel preč.
Povedal som, "Jeff chcem sa ťa niečo opýtať."
On povedal, Čo také, Billy."
71A ja som povedal, "Počúvaj, prečo sa stále dívaš tej krave do tváre?" Povedal som, "Veď vyzerá dobre - dobrá vykŕmená krava."
72On povedal, "Chcem ti povedať, chlapče, že sa musíš ešte veľa učiť," uvedomil som si to, potom čo mi to povedal. Riekol, "Nestarám sa o to, aká je urastená; môže mať mäso ešte aj na kopyte, ale ak má v tvári ten divoký výraz, nikdy ju nekupuj."
Povedal som, "Prečo, Jeff?"
73"Nuž," riekol, "Po prvé," riekol, "ona nikdy nebude kľudne stáť." A povedal, "Po druhé, nikdy nebude dobrou matkou pre svoje teľa." A povedal, "Oni ju držali v stajni a preto je taká vykŕmená. Keď ju vypustíš, s tým jej divokým výrazom, ubehá sa k smrti."
74A ja som povedal, "Vieš, že som sa niečo naučil. Verím, že to sa vzťahuje tiež aj na ženy." Ten divoký, vytreštený pohľad nejakej Rikety - radšej sa jej stráň chlapče. Všetko to modré ponad jej oči - nechcel by som to; Nemyslím, že by to kresťanke slušalo. Je mi jedno, koľko o tom televízia alebo noviny hovoria, že je to pekné, je to tá najškaredšia, najohavnejšia vec, ktorú som kedy v živote videl.
76Keď som to prvýkrát videl tu v Cliftonovom bufete, raz ráno pri raňajkách, videl som niektoré z tých mladých paní ako tam prišli. Prišli sme tam s bratom Arganbrightom. On vyšiel von. A ja sa dívam a tu prišlo to dievča. Pomyslel som si, "Čo to môže byť?" Nikdy predtým som to nevidel. Bolo to niečo ako ... Och, vyzeralo to ako keby mala rakovinu. Viete, nejaké smiešne vyzerajúce - nehovorím, že to bolo smiešne. Hovorím, že je to ... Veď viete, videl som malomocenstvo. Som misionár. Videl som všetky možné znetvorenia, viete, od chorôb .... Bol som hotový podísť ku tej panej a povedať jej, "Som misionár; modlím sa za chorých. Chcela by si aby som sa za teba pomodlil?" Nikdy som nevidel ešte niečo také. A potom tam prišli dve alebo tri ďalšie, a tak som sa vrátil a čakal.
77Potom sa vrátil brat Arganbright. Povedal som mu, "Brat Arganbright" (možno že je tu), povedal som, "čo sa to stalo tej žene?"
A on povedal, "To je namaľovaná."
78Riekol som, "No toto!" Myslel som si, že by ju mali dať niekde do ústavu, viete, aby sa to neprenieslo na všetky ďalšie ženy.
79Ale viete, musíte plánovať, dobre sa dívať a modliť sa, keď si vyberáte. Pretože vidíme skrze toto, skrze Slovo zasľúbenia, že ona, nevesta, ktorú by si muž vybral, bude odzrkadľovať jeho charakter. To odzrkadľuje to čo je v ňom. Nuž a mohli by ste si predstaviť nejakého, Duchom Svätým naplneného muža, ktorý by si vzal za ženu nejakú takúto? Ja to proste nechápem, brat. Nuž, možno že som len starý podivín, ale vy viete, ja to proste nemôžem pochopiť. Všimnite si, pretože to bude odzrkadľovať to čo je v ňom. Ona mu bude pomáhať vytvárať jeho budúci domov.
81Nuž potom, keď to obrátime späť do tej Duchovnej strany, a keď vidíte nejakú cirkev, ktorá je vo svete, správa sa ako ten svet, predbieha sa vo svete, zúčastňuje sa na veciach toho sveta, berie Božie prikázania, ako keby ich On nikdy nebol napísal, potom si jednoducho môžete predstaviť, že Kristus si nevezme nevestu, ktorá bude takto vyzerať. Vedeli by ste si predstaviť, že by si vzal za Nevestu tú dnešnú modernú cirkev? - nie môj Pán to neurobí. Sotva by som to dokázal pochopiť. Nie.
Zapamätajte si teraz, muž a jeho žena sú jedno. Či by ste sa pripojili ku takejto osobe? Ak áno, to by skutočne podlomilo moju vieru o vás.
82A potom čo Boh, ako by sa pripojil ku nejakej takejto? - vyloženej denominačnej prostitútky. Či si myslíte, že On by to urobil? "Majúci formu pobožnosti ale zapierajúci jej moc." On by to nikdy neurobil. Ona musí mať v sebe Jeho charakter. Skutočná, ozajstná znovuzrodená Cirkev musí mať ten charakter, ktorý bol v Kristovi, pretože muž a žena sú jedno. A ak Ježiš činil len to, čo sa páčilo Bohu (zachovával Jeho Slovo a manifestoval Ho), Jeho Nevesta bude musieť byť toho istého charakteru.
Ona za žiadnu cenu nemôže byť denomináciou, pretože potom, bez ohľadu na to ako veľmi by ste chceli povedať "Nie", ona je kontrolovaná niekde nejakou radou, ktorá jej hovorí čo môže a čo nemôže robiť a mnohokrát je to vzdialené milión míľ od pravdivého Slova.
83To je príliš zle, že sme odišli od toho skutočného Vodcu, ktorého nám Boh zanechal, aby viedol Cirkev. On nikdy neposlal panstvo presbyterov. On nikdy neposlal nejakého biskupa, kardinála, kňaza, pápežov. On poslal pre Cirkev Ducha Svätého, aby ju viedol. "Keď On, Duch Svätý príde, On vás uvedie do každej Pravdy, zjaví vám tieto veci, ktoré som vám povedal, pripomenie vám ich a zjaví vám veci, ktoré sa majú stať." Duch Svätý bol poslaný na to aby to robil. Nuž a tá moderná cirkev to nenávidí! Oni to nemajú radi. A tak, ako by ona bola Nevestou Kristovou?
Dnešní ľudia, ktorí si vyberajú moderné denominácie, (čo to robí?), to len odzrkadľuje ich úbohé zrozumievanie Slova.
84Nemám v úmysle niekoho uraziť, ale chcem, aby to vošlo dostatočne hlboko, až tak, aby ste sa na to mohli pozrieť.
85Zosobášil som veľa mladých párov, ale vždy ... pripomína mi to Krista a Jeho Nevestu. Jeden z tých sobášov, ktorý som tu vykonal pred nejakým časom, bol úplne výnimočnou vecou v mojom živote. Bolo to pred niekoľkými rokmi, keď som bol ešte len mladým kazateľom.
86Môj brat pracoval na W.P.A. Neviem či si to vôbec ešte niekto pamätá alebo nie - niekto, tak starý ako ja. Bol to nejaký projekt, ktorý mala vláda a môj brat pracoval tam, asi tridsať míľ od domu. Kopali nejaké jazerá - nejaký plán na udržiavanie.
87A pracoval tam s ním jeden chlapec z Indiánopolis, okolo, no, okolo sto míľ za Jeffersonville, kde bývam - či vlastne kde som býval. A bol ... On jedného dňa povedal môjmu bratovi, riekol, "Doc, budem sa ženiť, keď budem mať dosť peňazí, aby som si mohol zaplatiť toho kazateľa." On povedal, "Mám už dosť peňazí, aby som si zaobstaral povolenia, ale" povedal, "Nemám dosť peňazí na zaplatenie toho kazateľa."
88Doc povedal, "Môj brat je kazateľ a on ťa môže zosobášiť." On povedal, "On nikdy neberie poplatok od ľudí za niečo také."
On povedal, "Mohol by si ho poprosiť aby ma zosobášil?"
89Nuž, večer sa ma to môj brat opýtal. A ja som povedal, "Ak nebol predtým nikdy ženatý, ani jeden z nich a ak majú všetko v poriadku."
On povedal ... Dobre, že sa ho to opýta.
A ja som povedal, "Ak je to tak, povedz mu aby prišiel."
90A tak, keď nadišla nedeľa a ten chlapec prišiel ... Bolo to pre mňa veľká udalosť, že na to stále spomínam. Bolo daždivé popoludnie a starý Chevrolet s podrôtovanými reflektormi, zastal pred domom. Bolo to krátko po tom, ako som stratil svoju ženu a býval som v dvoch malých izbách. A Doc tam bol so mnou a čakali sme na nich.
91A ten chlapec vysadol z auta, podľa mňa vôbec nevyzeral na ženícha a myslím, že nikto by to na neho nepovedal. Predsa za dolár a pol som si už mohol kúpiť celkom dobré topánky a on mal staré obnosené. A jeho nohavice boli povydúvané. A mal oblečené, také to staromódne moleskinové sako. Neviem či vy starší sa na ne ešte pamätáte. Vyzeralo to, ako by prešlo cez práčku bez plákania a bolo pásikavé a takto stiahnuté, s povyhýňanými rohami.
92A z druhej strany vystúpila mladá pani, v takých károvaných šatách; Neviem. Pomýlil som sa raz pri názve toho materiálu. Gingham, myslím, že tak sa to nazývalo. A tak to bolo ... Znovu som to povedal zle. Vždy sa pri tom pomýlim. A povedal som ... Vystúpila z auta a prišli po schodoch, a keď vošli dovnútra, ten chudáčik, ona ... Myslím, že ona mala len ... všetko čo mala na sebe bola len šatová sukňa. Nemala obuté žiadne topánky, sotva. Z Indiánopolis prišla autostopom. Jej pekné vlasy viseli dozadu zapletené do dlhých vrkočov - vyzerala veľmi mlado.
Opýtal som sa jej, "Máš dosť rokov na to aby si sa mohla vydať?"
95Ona povedala, "Áno, pane." A povedala, "Mám písomné povolenie od svojho otca i matky." Povedala, "Musela som to ukázať na úrade, aby mi vystavili povolenie."
96Povedal som, "No dobre, Rád by som sa s vami trochu porozprával, prv ako pristúpime ku sobášu." Posadili sa. Ten chlapec sa stále rozhliadal po izbe. Potreboval by sa dať ostrihať. A stále sa rozhliadal po izbe. Nepočúval čo hovorím. Povedal som, "Synu, chcem aby si dával pozor čo hovorím."
Riekol, "Áno, pane."
Opýtal som sa, "Miluješ toto dievča?"
Odpovedal, "Áno, pane, milujem."
Opýtal som sa, "Miluješ ho?"
"Áno, pane, milujem."
97Povedal som, "Nuž a máš miesto kde ju môžeš zobrať, keď sa vezmete?"
Povedal, "Áno, pane."
Povedal som, "No dobre. Teraz sa ťa chcem niečo opýtať. Počul som, že pracuješ tu na WPA."
Opýtal som sa ho, "Myslíš, že ju budeš schopný uživiť?"
Povedal, "Urobím všetko čo budem môcť."
99Povedal som, "Dobre, to je v poriadku." A opýtal som sa jej, "No, a čo keď on stratí svoju robotu, sestra? Čo urobíš? Utečieš naspäť ku mame a otcovi?"
Odpovedala, "Nie, pane, zostanem pri ňom."
100A ja som povedal, "No a čo keď budete mať tri alebo štyri deti a nebudete im mať dať čo jesť a nebudete mať prácu, čo budete robiť? Pošleš ju preč?
101On povedal, "Nie, pane, ďalej budem zápasiť. Nejako to dokážeme."
102Cítil som sa malý a videl som, že on ju skutočne miluje, oni sa navzájom milovali. Zosobášil som ich.
103A potom som bol zvedavý kde si ju odviedol. A po niekoľkých dňoch som sa opýtal môjho brata Doca, "Kde to je?"
Povedal, "Choď do New Albany." (to je neveľké mesto poniže nás).
104A tam dole pri rieke, kde ležal taký kus cínového plechu, kde som každodenne chodieval, keď som pracoval pri elektrickom vedení, a keď tí ostatní spolupracovníci, keď si oni všetci posadali dookola a rozprávali žarty i všetko možné, ja som nasadol do náklaďáku a zašiel dole ku rieke a modlil som sa zatiaľ ... a čítal som si Bibliu pod tým veľkým kusom plechu, kde voľakedy bola stará huta. Tam je odstavených mnoho starých vagónov. A tento chlapík tam zašiel a zbral jeden z týchto vagónov, vypílil v ňom dvere a vzal noviny a pripínačky - koľkí viete čo sú to pripínačky? - tak potom nie ste z Kentucky! Proste vziať kúsok kartónu a prepichnúť ho malým klinčekom a potom sa to pripichuje ... to je pripínačka.
107A tak si to celé obložili papierom. A on zašiel tam do tej starej huty a priniesol odtiaľ nejaké železo a urobil z toho schod. Potom našli niekde nejaké staré krabice, čo im slúžilo za stôl. A raz som si pomyslel, "Zájdem tam a pozriem sa, ako sa majú."
108A asi šesť mesiacov pred tým, som sobášil dcéru E. V. Knightov so synom od E. T. Sliderov. A E.V.Knight je jeden z najbohatších ľudí, ktorý bývajú okolo rieky Ohio. Má pod sebou tie veľké továrne, ktoré vyrábajú tie prefabrikové domy i iné. A Slider, pán E.T. Silder má spoločnosť - štrky a piesky. Deti milionárov a ja som ich sobášil.
109Chodil som tam a cvičil som to okolo dva týždne, vchádzanie do kabínky a kľakanie si na vankúš a všetku tú nádheru a všetko cez čo som kedykoľvek prechádzal, som musel prejsť pri sobášení toho páru. A keď vyšli, boli ... Táto druhá dvojica zastala len tam v malej starej izbe, kde sme mali starý gauč a skladaciu posteľ. Ale oboji boli zosobášení tým istým obradom.
110A potom, jedného dňa som rozmýšľal, že by som tam zašiel a navštívil ten bohatý pár. Oni nemuseli pracovať; ich otcovia boli milionári. Dali im postaviť pekný dom. Skutočne, tento E.V. Knight, čo býva hore na kopci, má kľučky na dverách zo štrnásť karátového zlata, v tom svojom paláci, a tak si viete predstaviť v akom dome oni žili. Nemuseli pracovať. Každý rok im dali pekný Cadillac A len, "jedináčkovia." Mali proste všetko čo chceli.
Išiel som jedného dňa ... Nuž, ako som sa s nimi zoznámil, jeden z ich priateľov bol mojím dobrým priateľom, a tak sme sa skamarátili. Zoznámili sme sa vlastne, keď chceli aby som ich zosobášil.
112A tak som ich šiel navštíviť. Vysadol som tam vonku zo svojho starého Forda a kráčal som hore po schodoch. Podišiel som sa až príliš blízko a počul som ich.
Boli skutočne hluční. Žiarlili jeden na druhého. Boli na nejakom tanci. Ona bola veľmi pekné dievča, bola jednou z tých kráľovien krásy. Získala za to mnoho cien. A vyhrala nejaké autá i všetko možné, ako kráľovná krásy. A pozrel som sa na nich a jeden sedel v jednom rohu a druhý v druhom - hádali sa ohľadne nejakého chlapca, s ktorým tancovala, alebo nejakého dievčaťa, či niečoho takého.
113Keď som vyšiel hore, rýchlo vyskočili, pobehli jeden ku druhému, chytili sa za ruky a kráčali spolu smerom ku dverám. Povedali, "Ó, vitaj, brat Branham. Ako sa máš?"
Povedal som, "Dobre. A vy sa ako máte?"
A, "Ó," povedal on, "sme šťastní, však miláčik?"
A ona povedala, "Áno, drahý."
115Vidíte? Nuž vidíte, predvádzate niečo čo nie je pravda. Nuž nemôžete sa zohriať pri namaľovanom ohni. Tak ako niektoré z týchto cirkví sa snažia namaľovať Letnice, alebo niečo čo sa stalo pred tisíc alebo dvetisíc rokmi. Nemôžete sa zohriať pri namaľovanom ohni. Letnice sú dnes tak isto reálne ako boli vtedy, vidíte. Ten oheň stále zostupuje. To nie je namaľovaný oheň; je to skutočný oheň.
Tak to s nimi vyzeralo. Nechcel by som tak žiť.
117"No dobre," pomyslel som si, "tam dole pri tom úbočí nad riekou, tam sa usídlil ten druhý pár." Pomyslel som si raz v sobotu popoludní, že skočím tam a pozriem sa, ako sa majú. Bol som špinavý po tvári a celý zamazaný s pracovným náradím. Rozmýšľal som, že by som tam vkĺzol ku nim a prekĺzol som tam, pri tom ako som kontroloval izolátory, poškodené od bleskov, alebo od niečoho, kráčajúc popri telefónnych drôtoch - popri elektrickom káble, ktorý sa tiahol popri rieke. Vonku bol postavený starý Chevrolet - bolo to asi rok potom ako som ich sobášil - a bol tam ... Dvere boli otvorené a mohol som počuť ako sa rozprávajú. Vyzerá to ako pokrytectvo, no prišiel som až tak blízko, že som mohol počuť čo sa rozprávajú, ako som tam stál, chcel som to vedieť len tak pre seba.
119Rád sa presviedčam, aby som si bol istý, že viem o čom hovorím. Tak vlastne postupujem ohľadne Božieho Slova. Je toto Pravda, alebo je Pravda toto? Dodrží On Svoje Slovo, alebo dodržuje Svoje Slovo? Ak On nedodržuje Svoje Slovo, potom to nie je Boh, vidíte. Ak dodržuje Svoje Slovo, je Boh, vidíte.
120A tak, chcel som sa dozvedieť ako sa im darí a z tej strany som sa tam veľmi ľahko dostal. A počul som jeho ako hovorí, "Miláčik, tak veľmi som ti to chcel kúpiť."
121A ona povedala, "Pozri sa, Srdiečko moje," riekla, "tieto šaty sú ešte dobré." Povedala, "Prečo, sú ešte celkom dobré." Povedala, "Vážim si to, ale vieš ..."
122Podišiel som tak, aby som mohol vidieť dovnútra cez štrbinu, ako boli odchýlené dvere na tom vagóne. On tam sedel vo vnútri a držal ju na kolenách a objímal ju a ona jeho a mal jeden z takých starých klobúkov so sklonenou strechou, ktoré bývali navrchu premačknuté do takej priehlbiny a on vysypal do neho svoju výplatu. Vykladal to na stôl a hovoril, "Toľko na potraviny, toľko na poistenie a toľko na auto," a nemohli s tým prísť ku koncu. Dozvedel som sa, že niekde vo výklade videl nejaké šaty (chodil sa na ne dívať už niekoľko týždňov), stáli niečo vyše dolára. Chcel ich kúpiť. Povedal, "Drahá, vyzerala by si v nich tak pekne."
123A ona povedala, "Ale Miláčik, ja mám šaty. Ja ich skutočne nepotrebujem." Vidíte! A tá malá kráľovná ...
124Poodišiel som odtiaľ a díval som sa naspäť. Mohol som vidieť tú vežičku na tom druhom dome a stál som tam niekoľko minút a díval som sa. Rozmýšľal som, "Kto je skutočne bohatý?" Rozmýšľal som, "Ak ... Billy Branham, keby si si mal vybrať, ktoré z tých miest by si vybral, kde by si išiel?" Čo sa mňa týka, nevybral by som tie pekné veci tam hore na tom kopci, ale by som vybral ten charakter tu dole, ktorý je skutočným tvorcom domova, niekoho, kto by ma miloval a stál pri mne, niekoho kto by sa snažil vytvoriť mi domov, bez toho že by sa vás snažila vyžmýkať kvôli všetkému, kvôli každej paráde, niekoho kto by bol s vami - časťou vás.
125Stále ma to zarážalo, ako to je. Jeden si vyberá pekné dievča; druhý vyberá charakter. Nuž to je ten jediný spôsob ako si môžete vybrať. Prv sa obzeraj po charaktere, a potom ak ju miluješ, tak dobre.
126Všimnite si, Boží prvý Adam nemal vôbec možnosť vybrať si ženu. On si nevyberal. Boh pre neho urobil len jednu ženu, on si nemusel vyberať. A zistili sme, že ona ho odviedla preč od Slova Božieho. On sa nemusel kvôli tomu modliť. On na tom nebol tak ako vy alebo ja. On si nevyberal. A predsa, činiac to, odviedla ho z jeho právnej pozícii syna Božieho a ona to urobila skrze to, že mu ukázala modernejší spôsob života - niečo čo skutočne nemali urobiť, ale jej charakter dával najavo, že nie je v poriadku; jej motívy a ciele boli proste nesprávne - a presvedčila ho svojimi argumentami, že to nové moderné svetlo, ktoré našla, ktoré bolo v rozpore zo Slovom Božím, ukazuje lepší spôsob života.
127A koľko je dnes žien, a tak isto i mužov, ktorí by odtiahli dobrú ženu preč od Boha, alebo dobrého muža preč od Boha, tým že sa mu snažia nahovoriť toto náboženstvo (vy letniční chlapci) ... "To náboženstvo," oni hovoria, "och, to je staromódne; to je dávno za nami. Neverte tomu." Radšej by ste sa mali poriadne modliť, prv ako si vezmete to dievča. Nestarám sa o to aká je pekná - to isté platí o mužoch.
128Ona ho prehováraním dostala pomimo vôli Božej a spôsobila, že urobil niečo, čo nemal urobiť a skrze to priviedla smrť na celú ľudskú rasu. Preto jej Biblia zakazuje učiť, alebo kázať, alebo akýmkoľvek spôsobom narábať s Božím Slovom. Ja viem, sestra, mnohé z vás hovoríte, "Pán ma povolal aby som kázala." Nebudem sa s tebou škriepiť. Ale ti poviem, Slovo hovorí, že to nemáš robiť. "Ona nebude učiť ani si nebude nárokovať do toho žiadnu autoritu, ale má byť ticho."
131"No dobre," ty povieš, "Pán mi povedal aby som to robila." Ani najmenej o tom nepochybujem. Počuli ste moje posolstvo minulý večer o Balámovi? Balám mal prv pevné rozhodnutie Božie, "Nerob to." Ale on sa neprestal obšmietať okolo toho, až mu nakoniec Boh povedal, aby to išiel urobiť. Boh ti mohol dovoliť kázať. Nehovorím, že nie. Ale to nie je podľa Jeho originálneho Slova a plánu, pretože ona má byť poddaná v poslušnosti, čo tiež hovoril zákon. Skutočne. A preto, ona nie je určená na to, aby to robila.
133Všimnite si znovu, ako tá telesná nevesta zobrazuje tú Duchovnú. Slovo hovorí, že ona bola učinená pre muža a nie muž pre ňu. A teraz budem hovoriť o tom prečo ... za niekoľko minút o Neveste Kristovej, ale sa vám snažím ukázať pozadie tej veci.
135Žena bola učinená pre muža a nie muž pre ženu. To je ten dôvod, prečo za starých zákonov bolo to mnohoženstvo legálne.
Pozrite sa na Davida, ktorý mal päťsto žien. A Biblia hovorí, že on bol mužom podľa Božieho srdca, s päťsto ženami a Šalamún ich mal tisíc, ale ani jedna z tých žien nemohla mať druhého muža.
136Vy máte moju pásku "Manželstvo a Rozvod". Tam na štíte tej hory pri Tucsone, nie tak dávno tomu, bol som tam hore a modlil som sa za to. Oni pustili deti zo školy, aby pozorovali ten Ohnivý Stĺp, ktorý krúžil nad tou horou a utvoril taký lievik, ako sa pohyboval tam a späť, hore a dole. Niektorí ľudia, ktorí sú aj teraz tu, vedia o tom - boli tam a videli to. A to ... keď mi On povedal Pravdu ohľadne týchto otázok manželstva a rozvodu. Ak je jedna strana, ktorá ide touto cestou a druhá, ktorá ide tamtou cestou, niekde musí byť Pravda. A po týchto Siedmych Pečatiach, On ukázal ako to v skutočnosti je.
137Všimnite si teraz, ona mohla mať len jedného muža, pretože žena bola učinená pre muža a nie muž pre ženu. Tých všetkých päťsto žien boli proste Dávidovou ženou. To bol predobraz - Keď Kristus zasadne na trón v tisícročnom kráľovstve, Jeho Nevesta nebude jedna osoba, ale ich bude na desať tisíce, oni všetci budú tvoriť tú jednu Nevestu. A David mal jednotlivo mnoho žien, ale len ... oni všetky dokopy boli jeho ženou. Tak ako celé telo veriacich je Nevestou Kristovou. Pretože to je ona, tá žena; On je ten muž.
138Nuž, my sme boli učinení pre Krista; Kristus nebol učinený pre nás. To je to, čo sa snažíme robiť dnes v našich komentároch, snažíme sa ku sebe dopasovať Slovo, ktorým je Kristus, namiesto toho, aby sme sa snažili sami seba dopasovať do Slova. To je rozdiel.
139Keď si nejaký muž vyberá určité dievča z nejakej rodiny, nemôže spoliehať na kráse, pretože krása je klamná a krása (moderná svetská krása) je z diabla. Ó, počujem tam niekoho hovoriť, "Buď tu opatrný, kazateľu!" Hovorím, že tieto veci na tomto svete, to čo nazývajú, že je krásne, je úplne z diabla. Dokážem vám to. A tak v svetle tejto poznámky, skúmajme Sväté Božie Slovo, aby sme videli či je to pravda alebo nie. Ak niektorá z vás žien chce byť tak pekná, hľaďte skade to pochádza.
Na počiatku sme zistili, že Satan bol taký nádherný, až zviedol anjelov a on bol tým najkrajším z pomedzi nich všetkých. To ukazuje, že to leží v diablovi. V prísloviach je povedané ... Šalamún povedal, "Krása je márna." Je to pravda. Hriech je pekný. Skutočne. On je atraktívny.
141Chcem sa vás opýtať a povedať vám tu niečo a chcem aby ste si to všimli za chvíľu. Vo všetkých druhoch na svete (vtákov, zvierat), nachádzame, že v tom zvieracom živote, vo všetkom okrem človeka, je to mužský jedinec, ktorý je pekný a nie ženský. Prečo je to tak? Pozrite sa na jeleňa - ten nádherný veľký jeleň, so svojimi parohmi a malá obyčajná laň. Pozrite sa na sliepku - malá strakatá sliepka a veľký nádherne operený kohút.
143Neexistuje nič, žiadny druh ženského pohlavia, okrem ženy, ktorý by mohol byť nemorálny. Na psa hovoríte suka; na ošípanú hovoríte sviňa, ale morálne, oni majú viacej morálky, ako polovica tam tých filmových hviezd. Oni nemôžu byť nemorálne. Žena je tou jedinou, ktorá sa zvrhla. Je to tak. Vidíte do čoho ju vedie tá krása? Nuž, preto dnes vidíme, že ženy sa stávajú krajšie.
Vezmite si Pearl Bryan. Videli ste ju niekedy na obrázku, ona bola pokladaná za veľkú Americkú krásku. Hocktoré dievča v ktorejkoľvek škole by ju teraz prevýšilo. Vedeli ste, že sa rátalo, že to tak bude? Vedeli ste, že Biblia hovorí, že sa to bude diať takýmto spôsobom?
145Viete, že ten úpadok tam na počiatku prišiel cez ženy? A koniec príde takým istým spôsobom - ženy naberajú autoritu a vládu nad mužmi, a tak ďalej. Vedeli ste, že Písmo o tom hovorí? Vy sa pamätáte ten deň, keď ona začala nosiť mužské oblečenie a strihať si vlasy - a všetky tie veci sú v rozpore s Božím Slovom. Či viete, že ona reprezentuje cirkev? Sledujte to, čo robia ženy a budete vidieť, čo robí cirkev. Je to presne tak. Nuž, nuž to je práve tak pravdivé, ako je pravdivé Božie Slovo.
146Žiadny iný druh ženského pohlavia nie je učinený tak, že by sa mohol znížiť tak ako sa môže znížiť žena. A jednako, skrze to, bola učinená ... Ona nebola v prvotnom stvorení. Všetky ostatné druhy ženského pohlavia sú v prvotnom stvorení - vták, samec i samica; zviera, samec i samica - ale v ľudskom živote, Boh učinil len muža. A On vzal z neho - a žena je ďalším produktom z muža, pretože Boh nemohol zaviesť niečo také. Skúmajte Písmo. Je to presne tak. Boh (nie veru) vo Svojom prvom stvorení, ona tam nebola, ale ak sa ona môže udržať v poriadku, o čo väčšiu odplatu má než muž! Ona je postavená do skúšobného poľa.
Cez ňu prišla smrť. Ona je vinná všetkej smrti. Ale potom to Boh obrátil a použil jednu, aby znovu priniesla naspäť Život - aby skrze ženu priviedol Svojho Syna - skrze tú poslušnú. Ale zlá žena je to najhoršie čo môže byť. Neexistuje nič čo by mohlo upadnúť tak nízko.
149Kain, Satanov syn, si myslel, že Boh prijme krásu. On si to myslí i dnes. Kain bol Satanov syn. "No dobre a teraz ..." hovoríte si. Nebudeme zachádzať do toho, do tých detailov, ale dovoľte, aby som vám to urovnal. Biblia hovorí, že on bol z toho zlého a tým je to urovnané. V poriadku.
150Nuž, on bol Satanov syn a on si myslel, že prinášanie na oltár a robenie ho opravdu pekným ku cteniu Boha, že to je to na čo Boh bude brať ohľad. Oni si myslia ... myslia si dnes to isté. Samozrejme - "Staviame veľký objekt; budeme mať veľké denominácie; postavíme najväčšiu budovu a budeme mať najlepšie oblečených ľudí, najvzdelanejších duchovných." Mnohokrát je Boh na desať miliónov míľ vzdialený od toho. Je to tak.
151Jednako je to cirkev, a tak ak Boh berie ohľad len na uctievanie, úprimnosť, obetovanie, Kain bol tak isto spravodlivý ako Ábel. Ale to bolo skrze zjavenie, že on porozumel, že to neboli jablká, ktoré jedli jeho rodičia.
152Chcem tu povedať niečo, čo na ústach kazateľa neznie dobre, ale jednako to chcem povedať. Počujem tých iných hovoriť také veci, a tak ja ... hovoriť drobné žarty. Nuž, nemám to v úmysle. No predsa to poviem: Ak jedenie jabĺk spôsobilo, že ženy si uvedomili že sú nahé, mali by sme im radšej znovu podávať jablká. Prepáčte mi to. No len tak aby to zmenilo ... Mám vás tu priviazaných a hovorím o ženách i tak ďalej; chcem aby ste sa trochu zrelaxovali, do toho ďalšieho čo má prísť.
A tak si všimnite, to neboli jablká. My to vieme.
153Cirkev sa dostáva v týchto dňoch so svojou vymoženosťou, tak ako so všetkými ďalšími ľudskými vymoženosťami; dostáva sa na vedeckú úroveň. Oni sa snažia urobiť nejakú vedeckú cirkev, s atraktívnymi obrazmi a vysokými vežami. Je to veľmi zle, že letniční sa dostali na túto koľaj. Boli by ste na tom lepšie, keby ste boli preč od toho, niekde na rohu s tamburínou a mali okolo seba Ducha Božieho, ale vy sa snažíte dostať na úroveň tých ostatných, preto že ste zo seba učinili denomináciu. To je tomu príčinou, vidíte. Cirkvi sa snažia postupovať vedecky. A pamätajte, tak ako dosahuje človek pokrok vo vede, tak sám seba každodenne zabíja.
154Keď vynašiel pušný prach, pozrite sa čo to spôsobilo. Keď vynašiel automobil, to zabíja viacej ľudí než pušný prach. A teraz má človek vodíkovú bombu. Zaujímavé, čo bude s ňou robiť? Tak veru.
155A tak je cirkev. Keď sa snaží dosiahnuť niečo skrze vedu, skrze ľudské plány, odvádza vás to ďalej od Boha a viacej do smrti, než ako to bolo prvý krát. Je to tak. Nevyberajte si cirkev, tým istým spôsobom akým ste si vybrali ženu, vidíte. To čo veda pre ňu urobila bol div, ale vy by ste sa radšej mali držať preč od tej cirkvi, podľa toho. On vyrobil, líčidlá, púdri a všetky tieto ďalšie veci. Vyberajte charakter Jeho Slova.
156Nuž porovnajme tú dnešnú prirodzenú nevestu, s tou tak zvanou dnešnou cirkevnou nevestou. Porovnajte nejakú ženu, ktorá sa dnes ide vydávať - nuž, pozrite sa len, čo veda pre ňu vykonala. Ona vychádza prv so svojimi ostrihanými vlasmi - s jedným s účesov Jacqueliny Kennedyovej, vidíte, alebo s niečím takým. A viete čo hovorí Biblia? Biblia v podstate dáva mužovi, ak chce, dáva mu právo rozviesť sa s ňou, ak ona tak postupuje. Ona je hanebná žena, ktorá si bude strihať vlasy. Biblia tak hovorí. Je to tak. Nevedeli ste to, och? Ó jé, kázal som veľmi veľa krát v Kalifornii, aby ste to mohli vedieť. Je to tak. Nie. Ale čo dobrého mi to prinieslo? Oni to aj tak robia. Nemôžete zobrať prasa a zmeniť jeho - urobiť ho baránkom.
158Všimnite si ... Budete ma po tom nenávidieť, ale budete poznať Pravdu. Porovnajme to. Ona tu prichádza celá vymaľovaná - niečo čo nie je - moderná nevesta. Umyte jej tvár a utiekli by ste od nej, možno - vystraší vás na smrť, keď s nej odstránite všetko to pľuhavstvo. A taká je tiež cirkev s tou veľkou vymaľovanou tvárou s kompletným teologickým "Max Faktorom." Obe majú nádhernú falošnú tvár - ľuďmi vyrobenou krásou a nie s krásou od Boha. Neveľa charakteru ani v jednej z nich.
160Všimnite si, práve tak ako Satan - dosť na to aby skrze to zvádzala. Porovnajte teraz tú modernú nevestu s jej ... nosí šortky, maľuje sa, strihá si vlasy, oblieka sa, že vyzerá ako muž a počúva nejakého pastora, ktorý jej hovorí, že to je všetko v poriadku. On je zvoditeľ. On za to bude trpieť v tamtej krajine. Je to tak. Robí to aby zviedla, aby bola niečím čím nie je.
161Takým spôsobom to robí cirkev. Dosahuje veľké tituly doktorov teológii, doktorov filozofii, doktorov práva (D.D., Ph.D., L.L.D.), tak že môžete povedať, "Náš pastor je toto, to alebo tamto," možno nevie nič viacej o Bohu, než ako Hotentot o Egyptskej noci. Je to tak. Prešiel cez nejaký teologický seminár a nevie o Bohu skoro nič.
162Moderná cirkev a ich teologické líčidlá - všetky ich ženy majú oholenú svoju chválu, skrze ich nejakého modernistického, pripojeného pastora, ktorého majú. Ako Jezábeľ, ak kedykoľvek bola - ostrihané vlasy, šortky, maľovanie a všetko to ustavené podľa teologickej chuti. V takom stave stojí cirkev. Je to tak. Ale jej duchovný charakter je ďaleko od toho aby vytvorila taký domov, pre ktorý príde Ježiš Kristus.
163Ak si nejaký kresťan vezme takúto ženu, to ukazuje, že vypadol z milosti. Jeho chuť po Bohu a po domove (o tom ako má domov vyzerať) je ďaleko, keď si vyberá takúto ženu. Nie veru, ona určite neuspokojí chuť ozajstného kresťana. Jej duchovný charakter je na najnižšom stupni - mŕtva v denominačnej kráse a v žiadostiach toho sveta.
164Presne tam stojí dnes cirkev. Predala svoj Slovom daný charakter Satanovi za vedecké, ľuďmi zostrojené náboženstvo, keď mala právo, ako Cirkev Božia stáť so Slovom Božím a mať Ducha Svätého účinkujúceho medzi sebou, spájajúc to telo dokopy so Slovom a láskou Božou. Namiesto toho, ona predala svoje prvorodenstvo, ako Ezav a prijala denomináciu, ktorá jej dovolí robiť všetko čokoľvek chce. Je to tak. Len aby sa stala populárnou ako to urobila jej matka v Nicei - Ríme. Božie Slovo. Ó, ako to vošlo do nášho letničného kráľovstva. Je to príliš zle, ale stalo sa to.
166Pozrite sa len na chvíľu na mníšku v katolíckej cirkvi. Tá žena, aby sa stala mníškou a nastúpila nakoniec do kláštora, ona je absolútne zapredaná svojej cirkvi. Ona je dušou, telom i duchom vlastníctvom tej cirkvi. Ona nemá žiadnej vlastnej mysli. Nemôže mať, keď nadobro nastupuje do kláštora. Žiadnej vlastnej mysli; žiadnej vlastnej vôli.
167Vidíme tu, že Satan si z nich robí falzifikáty, podobné tým ozajstným ... tej ozajstnej Cirkvi Kristovej (Nevesty), ktorá Mu je tak zapredaná a Jeho zasľúbenému Slovu, až tá istá myseľ, ktorá je v Kristovi je vo vás. Čo za rozdiel!
168A zisťujeme dnes, že tá moderná cirkev, tá moderná svetová cirkev ... tá moderná svetová cirkev a tak isto tá Duchovná Cirkev, oboje sú tehotné, aby porodili synov. Jedna z nich, denominačný pôrod, prinesie v jednom z týchto dní, vo Svetovej Cirkevnej Rade, ktorá skrze denomináciu vyprodukuje na svet antikrista. To je skutočná Pravda. Možno, že ja sa nedožijem toho, aby som to uvidel. Verím, že sa dožijem. Ale vy mladí ľudia pamätajte, že ste počuli kazateľa, ktorý hovoril, že sa z toho nakoniec vykľuje, že to je Znamenie šelmy. Keď ona sformuje tú Svetovú Radu Cirkví a porodí svojho syna - antikrista.
170Tá druhá je tehotná Slovom Božím a porodí Telo - to dokončené Telo Ježiša Krista, ktorým je Nevesta. Telo Kristovo nie je ešte dokončené. Koľký z vás to vedia? Muž a žena sú jedno. A Kristus je jedno Telo - Slovo. Nevesta sa musí stať ostatkom toho tela a tí dvaja dokopy utvoria znovu jedno telo, tak ako to bolo s Adamom na počiatku.
A muž a jeho žena sú jedno. A teraz Ona, tá skutočná Nevesta, je Mu tak oddaná, že nepoužíva žiadnej svojej mysli. Jeho mysľou je samozrejme Jeho vôľa a Jeho vôľou je Jeho Slovo.
171A teraz sa pozrite na tú tak zvanú nevestu vybranú skrze muža a porovnajte dnes to Duchovné s tým prirodzeným. Nejaká moderná Jezábeľ očarovaná svojím Achabom, "Max-Factor" nádhera a všetko možné. Pozrite sa na cirkev: je to tak isto, ale prostitútka voči Slovu živého Boha - veľké denominácie, veľké budovy, veľké peniaze, veľké platy, všetko zapredané. Mužovia stojaci za kazateľňou prevolávajú, že je to všetko v poriadku a dovolia ím s tým prejsť. Je to všetko len podvod. Skutočne slepý Laodicejský Cirkevný Vek, presne tak ako to hovorí Biblia.
Je povedané, "Som bohatá, sedím ako kráľovná, nič nepotrebujem; a nevieš, že si biedny, mizerný, slepý, chudobný, nahý a nevieš o tom!" Ak to nie je "TAK HOVORÍ PÁN" zo Zjavenia 3, tak som to potom nikdy nečítal. To je to čím ona je a nevie o tom. Pamätajte na to.
172Ak poviete nejakému mužovi, alebo žene na ulici, že je úplne nahá a poviete im, že sú nahí a oni povedia, "Staraj sa o seba!" tam niekde je duševná vada; s ich rozumom nie je niečo v poriadku.
173A keď môžete čítať Slovo Božie, ako by sa ľudia mali zachovávať, i o krste Duchom Svätým, ktorý dnes máme a ľudia - prečo, dívajú sa na vás ako keby ste neboli normálny. Poviete im, že sa musia znovu narodiť; že musia veriť Biblii a oni povedia, "To boli židovské bájky z pred mnoho rokov. Naša cirkev je tou cestou!" Biedny, mizerní, slepí, nahí a ani o tom nevedia. Čo za … A Biblia hovorí, že to je stav do ktorého sa dostanú. Ako by to ozajstný prorok mohol nevidieť? Neviem.
175Valí sa to všade do všetkých našich cirkví. Len sa na to pozrite. Len v modernom trende.
Tá stará smilnica a jej dcéry zo zjavenia 17, dávajúca biednym, slepým, mizerným ľuďom svoje teologické doktríny, nezhodné so Slovom Božím. A boli nájdené v nej duše otrokov i mužov i žien zovšadiaľ. Namiesto toho aby viedli ľudí ... Kristus potvrdzuje Svoje Slovo, ktoré priťahuje ľudí. On nepriťahuje tých cirkevníkov, ktorí sú pritiahnutí veľkými denomináciami a veľkými predsavzatiami a veľkými dielami a fantastickými vecami, ale Slovo Božie priťahuje Nevestu Kristovu.
177Všimnite si teraz, je to zaujímavé všimnúť si, ako sa tá cirkev snaží upútať pozornosť ľudí peknými oblečeniami a s ustrojenými speváckymi zbormi, ženami s ostrihanými vlasmi a namaľovanými tvárami a oni si myslia, že môžu spievať ako anjel - klamať ako diabol, flákať sa celé noci po tancoch ako ... a nič si z toho nerobia. A myslia si o tom, že je to všetko v poriadku. Je to nádherné. Ale vidíte, to je falošné! To nie je Slovo Božie.
178Zatiaľ čo opravdová Nevesta upútava Božiu pozornosť zachovávaním Jeho Slova.
Všimnite si, pozorujme teraz Krista. Vy hovoríte, "No dobre, počkaj teraz na chvíľu, čo s tou krásou o ktorej hovoríš?"
180Biblia hovorí, v Izaiášovi 53:2, že keď Ježiš prišiel, nebolo na Ňom žiadnej krásy, že by sme boli žiadostiví po Ňom. Je to tak? Nie je tam žiadnej krásy. Ak by On bol mal prísť v tej svetskej kráse, ako je dnes Satan, ľudia by sa boli zbehli okolo Neho a prijali Ho, tak ako prijímajú dnes cirkev. Oni by Mu uverili a prijali Ho, ako prijímajú dnes Satana. Skutočne by to urobili. Ale On neprišiel s takým druhom krásy, ale On prichádza vždy s krásou charakteru. Kristus nebol pekným, veľkým, silným, statným mužom. Boh nevyberá taký druh.
181Pamätám sa, ako išiel raz prorok vziať kráľa, aby učinil kráľom jedného z Jesseho synov, aby nastúpil na kráľove miesto - na Saulove. A tak Jesse ho priviedol a on bol veľký, silný, pekný chlapec a povedal, "Koruna bude dobre sedieť na jeho hlave."
182A prorok išiel, aby ho polial olejom a povedal, "Boh ho odmietol." A On odmietol každého jedného z nich, až kým neprišiel ku tomu malému, ryšavému mládenčekovi s ovisnutými ramenami a vylial na neho olej a povedal, "Boh vybral jeho." Vidíte, my vyberáme podľa toho čo vidíme. Boh vyberá podľa charakteru.
183Charakter - nikdy nebolo takého charakteru ako Ježiš Kristus. To žije v Ňom; manifestuje Ho. Vidíme, že je to pravda. To nie je Jeho svetská krása, ktorá priťahuje Jeho Nevestu; je to Jeho charakter - charakter cirkvi, ktorý Ježiš hľadá; nie či sú to veľké budovy, či veľké denominácie; či je tam veľa členov. On zasľúbil, že kdekoľvek sa zhromaždia dvaja alebo traja, tam príde medzi nich. Skutočne. V tom odpočíva nádej skutočných veriacich, v Slove Božom, ktoré je potvrdené a je Pravdou. Čo to je? Vyberanie skrze Jeho Slovo. Nie nejaká skupina, ktorá miluje svet - oni to nenávidia. Nie divu, že ona je s Ním rozvedená, pretože sa minula Jeho zjavenia a nemá ho. On sa nestará o jej ... o to ako sa zachováva a čo robí a koľko má tých svetských záležitostí.
185On v nej hľadá charakter, ten Kristov charakter. Už len chvíľu teraz; to je to. On si vyberá nevestu, aby odzrkadľovala Jeho charakter, moderné cirkvi sa dnes samozrejme míňajú Jeho programu na milióny míľ, pretože oni zapierajú, že toto je pravda. Tak ako by to mohlo byť? A teraz, On čaká na ten deň, v ktorom tá Nevesta bude sformovaná (Židom 13:8) presne tak ako bolo to - ako bol On. To musí byť to isté Jeho telo, tie isté kosti, ten istý Duch, všetko to isté, tak presne postavené a potom tí dvaja sa stanú jedno. Až kým sa cirkev nestane taká, oni nie sú jedno. Jeho charakter (Slovo na tento vek) musí byť sformovaný; Ona musí byť sformovaná, aby bola ako On.
186A teraz na záver chcem povedať dôvod, prečo som toto všetko hovoril a zakončím.
Jednej noci, okolo tretej hodiny ráno, som sa zobudil. A teraz, pýtam sa každého z vás, aby mi odpovedal: Povedal som vám niekedy niečo v Mene Pánovom čo by nebola pravda? Vždy to bola pravda. A tak mi pomôžte, Boh vie, že je to pravda. Nie je ničoho nikde na svete, z tých tisícok vecí, ktoré boli povedané, z ktorých by On niekedy ominul čo len jedno slovo. Stále sa to dokonale vyplnilo, takže i vtedy, keď som bol jedného dňa vo Phoenixe, bolo to asi pred rokom a povedal som vám to o tom ... to posolstvo na tému, "Aký je čas, pánovia" a povedal som vám, že sa tam stretne tých sedem anjelov a bude otvorenie týchto Pečatí a čo ... A časopis Life tam priniesol o tom ten článok, o tom veľkom plameni, ktorý sa vzniesol hore do vzduchu, 30 míľ vysoko, roztiahnutý na 27 míľ a oni povedali, že nemôžu zistiť čo to bolo - ešte to nevedia. A ľudia, ktorí sedia dnes večer práve tu v tejto budove, stáli práve tam vtedy so mnou, keď sa to stalo, presne tak ako to bolo povedané.
On mi povedal o tých veciach, ktoré sa majú stáť a stalo sa to presne tak; Ako každá z týchto Pečatí bola otvorená a boli povedané tajomstvá, ktoré boli skryté cez všetky tie veky reformátorov a tak ďalej. Tak dokonale.
189Ako som stál na vrcholci toho kopca - mužovia, traja alebo štyria z nich sú tu práve teraz prítomní; áno, i viacerí. Ako sme išli hore na ten kopec, Duch Svätý povedal, "Zodvihni tú skalu." (Boli sme na poľovačke.) On povedal, "Vyhoď ju do vzduchu a povedz, TAK HOVORÍ PÁN." Urobil som to. Prišiel odtiaľ slabý vzdušný vír. A povedal som, "V priebehu 24 hodín uvidíte ruku Božiu."
190Tí ľudia sedia práve teraz tu. Nasledujúceho dňa okolo desiatej hodiny, ako sme tam stáli, povedal som, "Pripravte sa; vojdite tam pod to auto" (nejaký veterán); Povedal som, "niečo sa má stať." Bola jasná obloha. Rovno hore vo veľkom kaňone, zostupoval dole z neba krúžiaci oheň s veľkým rachotom, narazilo to takto na tie skalnaté steny. Stál som rovno pod tým. Zložil som si len klobúk, chytil som si hlavu a prešlo to asi tri alebo štyri stopy ponad mňa a vyrylo to takto ryhu rovno dookola po tej stene a vybuchlo, vznieslo sa to hore do vzduchu a znovu to zakrúžilo dookola a zostúpilo dole, tri krát, na 200 yardov to ešte postínalo aj vrcholce na kríkoch.
Počuli ste tých mužov povedať, "Amen"? Oni tam boli, keď sa to stalo, vidíte. Tri razy to zaburácalo.
191Keď oni vyšli z pod tých áut a zovšadiaľ a prišli naspäť, povedali, "Keby ťa to bolo zasiahlo, nezostal by z teba ani mastný fľak." Povedal som, "To nebolo ... To bol On. On ku mne hovoril." Boh hovorí z víchru, vidíte.
A to bol ten istý Ohnivý Stĺp, ktorý môžete vidieť tam na tých fotografiách. A keď to odišlo hore oni povedali, "Čo to je?"
Povedal som, "Súd naráža na západné pobrežie." Na druhý deň potom sa Aljaška takmer potopila.
194Vidíte, prvý krát to narazilo tam, to prvé zavanutie, keď ten ... Musíte niečo urobiť, aby ste to naznačili. Tak ako nejaký muž vzal soľ do nádoby a vysypal ju do vody a povedal, "TAK HOVORÍ PÁN, nach je tá voda sladká." A iný, Ježiš vzal vodu a nalial do džbánu a urobil z toho víno. Musíte mať niečo, aby ste to naznačili a to je to, čo to bolo, to vyletelo hore do vzduch a spadlo dole. To rozpočalo ten malý vír. V dvadsiatych štyroch hodinách to zatriaslo tým vrchom, až to dookola vyrylo brázdu.
195Pastor Blair, ktorý tu teraz sedí a díva sa rovno na mňa, on bol tam hore a pozbieral nejaké z tých úlomkov. Je tu Terry Sothman a oni, ktorí tam stoja a Billy Paul a brat ... mnohí ďalší, ktorí tu sedia, ktorí boli priamo tam a videli keď sa to stalo, keď to vylamovalo tie skaly. Nie je to výmysel; je to pravda. Nestalo sa to voľakedy dávno v Biblických dňoch; stalo sa to teraz. Ten istý Boh, ktorý mi stále ukazoval tieto veci a oni sa vyplnili presne do písmena. Nikdy nedal, aby to sklamalo čo len raz - a tak sa Ním chválim.
198Pred niekoľkými týždňami som bol vo videní, stál som na vyvýšenom mieste a mal som sa dívať na predvedenie Cirkvi. A všimol som si ako prichádzala z mojej ... Stál som viac akoby týmto smerom, smerom na západ a z tejto strany prichádzala milá skupina žien - opravdu pekne oblečených, dlhé vlasy mali začesané pekne dozadu, rukávy, sukne poniže kolien a všetky vykračovali podľa melódii, "Napred Boží bojovníci, pochodujte vpred, s krížom Ježišovým premáhajúc svet." A ako prechádzali okolo, stál som tam a bolo tam niečo, nejaký Duch - Boh a On povedal, "To je Nevesta." A ja som sa pozeral a moje srdce sa radovalo. A Ona išla takto okolo a prešla dokola poza mňa.
199Po nejakej chvíli, keď takto odišla, On povedal, "A teraz sa príde predviesť moderná cirkev." A tu prichádzala tá Ázijská cirkev. Nikdy som nevidel takú špinavú zberbu! Tu prichádzali ďalšie cirkvi z rôznych národov. Vyzerali strašne!
201Hovorím to preto, že som zaviazaný pred Bohom povedať vám Pravdu. A keď On povedal, "Teraz sa predvedie cirkev Ameriky" ak som niekedy videl bandu démonov, tak to bolo ono. Tie ženy boli povyzliekané donaha, s niečím starým šedivým , malo to farbu ako slonia koža a oni to držali pred sebou, čo však nemalo vôbec vrchnej časti a robili pri tom také pohyby ako pri tých tancoch, čo tancujú tie výrastky tam vonku - ten twist a hrala im pri tom taká hudba. A keď som videl ako prichádza tá Miss Ameriky, skoro som omdlel.
202To je TAK HOVORÍ PÁN. Ak mi veríte, že som Jeho sluha, verte mi teraz. Nepovedal by som to za nič na svete; na celom svete nie je dosť peňazí, žeby ma doviedli do toho, aby som to povedal, keby to nebola pravda. A keď prechádzala okolo, bola to najoplzlejšia vec, akú som kedy videl. Pomyslel som si, "Bože, kazatelia i my bratia, pracovali sme ako sme len vládali, aby sme Ti pripravili Nevestu a toto je to najlepšie čo sme mohli urobiť!" Krútila sa, držala to pred sebou, niečo ako tie hula sukne. [sukňa urobená z dlhých stebiel trávy uviazaných na opasku - tl.] Držala to pred svojou časťou tela, takto pred svojou spodnou časťou, tancovala a točila sa takto ako to robia tie výrastky v tých vulgárnych predstaveniach, ktoré robia - točiac sa. To bola Americká Miss kresťanstva.
204Pomôžte mi, s pomocou Božou, tak to vlastne vyzerá v Jeho očiach. Ja som len ... Mohol som skoro zomdlieť. Myslel som na to všetko úsilie a kázanie a presviedčanie - každá jedna z nich mala ostrihané vlasy, točili sa a tak išli a držali to pred sebou. Prešli okolo, tam kde som stál s tou nadprirodzenou Bytosťou. Nemohol som Ho vidieť. Mohol som Ho počuť ako ku mne hovorí. Bol tesne pri mne. Ale keď sa oni takto obrátili, boli ... stále sa len točili a smiali a tak išli ďalej, takto sa správali, držiac to pred sebou. A teraz ja, stojaci tam v Jeho prítomnosti, Jeho sluha a všetko to úsilie, to bolo to najlepšie čo som mohol urobiť. Rozmýšľal som, "Bože, ku čomu mi to bolo? Na čo to bolo dobré? Všetko to volanie, prosenie a presviedčanie a tie veľké znamenia a divy a zázraky, ktoré si Ty ukázal. A ako som stával tam za kazateľňou a ako som prichádzaval domov a plakal, potom čo som im kázal a po všetkom, a čo mi to prinieslo? A teraz Ti musím predstaviť niečo takéto, ako Tvoju Nevestu."
206A ako som tam stál a díval sa, ona prešla okolo a môžete si predstaviť - zozadu nemala na sebe nič, držala to len pred sebou, ako prechádzala okolo, tancujúc a krútiac sa, rozhadzujúc takto svojimi údmi pri ... Och, bolo to vulgárne, ako sa zachovávala - natriasajúc takto svojím telom!
207Opýtate sa, "Čo to znamená, brat Branham?" Neviem. Hovorím vám iba to čo som videl. A keď ona takto prešla, pozrel som sa na ňu a och, až to so mnou zatriaslo. A odvrátil som sa preč. Pomyslel som si, "Bože, potom som odpísaný. Nemá význam aby som sa snažil ešte niečo ... Môžem s tým všetkým prestať."
209A pani Carl Williams, ak tu niekde sedíš a ten sen, ktorý si mi nedávno rozprávala, čo sa ti jednej noci sníval, ktorý ťa trápil, to je to. Ten volant mi je vzatý z ruky.
210Potom, rozmýšľal som, že môžem na to rovno zabudnúť; Bol som z toho preč. A potom zrazu, počul som ich znovu prichádzať. A z tejto strany prichádzala tá istá Nevesta, ktorá vtedy prechádzala okolo. Znovu tu prichádzali tie milé dámy a každá jedna z nich bola oblečená vo svojom národnom kroji, podľa toho odkiaľ pochádzali - ako zo švajčiarska, Nemecka, a tak ďalej - každá mala oblečený taký kroj, všetky mali dlhé vlasy, presne tak isto, ako tam tá prv. A tu oni prichádzali, kráčajúc - "Napred Boží bojovníci, pochodujte vpred ..." A keď prešli okolo tej tribúny, kde sme stáli, zrazu každé oko sa obrátilo tým smerom, a potom sa otočili a pochodujúc odchádzali. A práve, keď začali kráčať rovno hore do oblakov, tá druhá došla hore až po okraj vrchu a začala takto schádzať dole. Tieto začali mašírovať rovno hore do oblakov. A keď mašírovali, všimol som si zopár dievčeniec zozadu, (podľa výzoru to mohli byť cudzinky, akoby zo švédska, alebo švajčiarska, alebo z niekade,) začali sa rozhliadať dookola a ... Zakričal som, "NEROBTE TO!! Nevychádzajte z kroku!" A ako som takto kričal, to videnie ma opustilo a stál som tam takto so zodvihnutými rukami. Pomyslel som si, "Dobre ..."
214Kvôli tomu som dnes večer hovoril o tom o čom som hovoril. Chcem sa vás niečo opýtať: Je neskoršie než ako si myslíte? Mohla ona už byť vyvolaná a vybraná - zapečatená? V takom prípade, ako viete, by už nezostal nikto, kto by mohol byť do nej dodaný. Bolo by to možné? Ó jéj. Ó jéj. Pamätáte čo som povedal jedného dňa pri raňajkách? Pri oplodňovaní u samca i samičky, tam je vypustené milión zárodkov a milión vajíčok, ale je len jedno z nich, ktoré prežije, hoci sú si všetky podobné - jeden z milióna. Každé jedno to vajíčko je rovnaké a tak isto sú si rovnaké i tie zárodky. Jedno z nich prežije a tie ostatné zahynú. Nikto nedokáže povedať, ktoré je to dozreté vajíčko, alebo niečo o tom. To musí rozhodnúť Boh. Či to bude chlapec alebo dievča, blondínka alebo brunetka, alebo čokoľvek to bude, o tom rozhoduje Boh. Nie tie prvé, ktoré sa stretnú, ale tie prvé o ktorých Boh rozhodol. Možno jedno prichádza z tadiaľto a jedno ... Ak ste to niekedy videli pod mikroskopom, ako sa to deje. Díval som sa na to. To musí rozhodnúť Boh. Oni sú všetky rovnaké - ale skrze vyvolenie. To prirodzené narodenie sa deje skrze vyvolenie. Boh berie jedno z milióna.
217Keď Izrael opustil Egypt, na ceste do zasľúbenej zemi, bolo ich približne dva milióny ľudí. Každý jeden z nich bol pod tým istým obetným baránkom, inak by neboli zostali nažive. Každý jeden z nich počúval Mojžiša, proroka. Každý jeden z nich bol pokrstený v Červenom mori. Každý jeden z nich tancoval - tie ženy s Miriam, plesali, na druhej strane mora, keď Boh zničil toho nepriateľa. Každý jeden z nich stál s Mojžišom a počuli ho spievať v Duchu. Každý jeden jedol mannu vonku na púšti, ktorá padala z neba - každú noc nová manna, čo je predobrazom na Posolstvo. Každý jeden z toho jedol. Ale z tých dvoch miliónov, koľkí došli do cieľu? - dvaja. Jeden z milióna!
218Teraz je na svete približne päťsto miliónov kresťanov, rátajúc katolíkov a všetkých. Päťsto miliónov takzvaných veriacich na svete. Keby Vytrhnutie nastalo dnes večer, to by znamenalo, keby to bol jeden z milióna (ja nehovorím, že to tak bude, ale keby to tak bolo), v ďalších dvadsiatych štyroch hodinách by chýbalo päťsto ľudí. Vôbec by ste sa o tom ani nedozvedeli. Toľko ľudí sa aj tak niekde stratí, že sa to ani nedá postrehnúť.
219Potom by sa mohlo stať ... mohlo by sa nám stať, priatelia, ako sa to stalo keď prišiel Ján Krstiteľ. Dokonca učeníci hovorili, "Prečo učení v Písme hovoria, prečo apoštolovia, či proroci hovorili, prečo je to povedané, že prv musí prísť Eliáš aby napravil všetko?"
On povedal, "Hovorím vám, že Eliáš už prišiel a nezbadali ste to."
Jedného z týchto dní, ako tu sedíme, by sme tu mohli zostať zanechaní. "Čo je s tým Vytrhnutím, ktoré malo nastať pred tým nátlakom?"
"Ono už nastalo a vy ste to nezbadali."
222Celé telo je vpečatené dovnútra - drží krok. Nehovorím, že to tak je; Dúfam, že to tak nie je. Ale priateľu, keď my necháme ... Ak dnes večer cítime vo svojom srdci, že by sme mali dať do poriadku svoje životy, i tie veci čo sme vykonali, dovoľte mi aby som vám poradil ako kazateľ a brat ... A poviem to prvý krát spoza kazateľni. Zašiel som v tom dnes večer trochu ďalej, než ako kedykoľvek pri všetkom inom, pred verejnosťou, pretože som mal veľkú slobodu v týchto zhromaždeniach. Ak mi veríte, že som Boží prorok, počúvajte to, čo som vám povedal.
Ak zneje v tvojom srdci čo len slabý hlas, choď hneď teraz ku Bohu. Urob to!
224Zastavte sa na chvíľu, ľudia. Pozrite sa na svoje vyznania, ktorým slúžite. Pozrite sa do svojich cirkví. Je to presne podľa Božieho Slova? Splnili ste všetky podmienky? Poviete si, "Ja som dobrý človek." Taký bol aj Nikodém, a takí boli i všetci ostatní z nich. Oni boli dobrí ... Vidíte, to s tým nemá nič spoločného.
225A ženy, chcem aby ste sa pozreli do zrkadla a videli to čo Boh vyžaduje od ženy aby robila a videli v Božom zrkadle - nie teraz vo vašom cirkevnom zrkadle, v Božom zrkadle - a videli či by ste mohli kvalifikovať svoj život, ako život Duchovnej Nevesty Ježiša Krista.
226Kazatelia, tiež o tom porozmýšľajte. Či nezavíjate veci do vatičky, aby ste neranili niečie pocity? Robili by ste to, keby to nebolo ... keby vás vylúčili z cirkvi? Ak sa cítiš, že to tak robíš, môj drahý brat, dovoľ mi aby som ťa varoval v Mene Ježiša Krista, uteč od toho hneď teraz.
227A panie, ak nemôžete vyplniť kvalifikácie kresťanky, nie nejakej zapísanej kresťanky, ale vo vašom srdci a vo vašom živote je to vypísané presne tak, ako to tu hovorí Boží sobášny list, že to musí byť.
228A členovia cirkví, ak vaša cirkev nevypĺňa Božie kvalifikácie Jeho Slova, tak z nej vyjdite a vojdite do Krista. To je vážne varovanie. Nevieme kedy. A vy neviete kedy sa toto mesto jedného dňa zrúti z tadeto na dno tohoto oceánu.
230"Ó, Kafarnaum," povedal Ježiš, "ktoré si vyvýšené až do Neba, budeš zvrhnuté až do pekla ... lebo keby sa tie veľké skutky boli diali v Sodome a v Gomore, stáli by až do tohoto dňa." A Sodoma a Gomora leží na dne Mŕtveho mora a Kafarnaum je na dne jazera.
231Ty mesto, ktoré hovoríš o sebe, že si mestom anjelov, ktoré sa vyvyšuješ do Neba a rozširuješ všetky tie špinavé, nečisté veci v móde i vo všetkom, takže prichádzajú dokonca z cudzích krajín a zbierajú našu špinavosť a rozširujú to ďalej, s tvojimi peknými kostolmi a vežičkami, i so všetkým tým ako sa zachovávaš - pamätaj, jedného dňa, budeš ležať na dne tohoto mora! Už teraz je pod tebou veľká dutina. Hnev Boží kypí rovno pod tebou. Ako dlho On ešte bude držať tú pieskovú vrstvu, ktorá nad tým visí, keď ten oceán pod tým na míľu hlboko sa dostane rovno až po jazero Salton. Bude to horšie ako to bolo vo dňoch Pompejí. ČIŇ POKÁNIE LOS ANGELES! ČIŇTE POKÁNIE AJ VY OSTATNÍ A OBRÁŤTE SA K BOHU! HODINA JEHO HNEVU JE NAD ZEMOU. UTEČTE DOKIAĽ MOŽNO UTIECŤ A VOJDITE DO KRISTA."
Modlime sa.
233Drahý Bože, môj duch sa chveje, moje srdce roní slzy varovania, sprav, ó Bože, nech ani muži ani ženy si nemyslia, že to čo som povedal, som povedal ako nejaký žart a členovia cirkví, nech si nemyslia, že to bolo povedané proti nim. Nech by mohli vidieť, Pane, že to bolo z lásky. Ty si mi svedkom, Všemohúci Bože, že som cestoval hore dole po tomto pobreží, rok po roku, zvestujúc Tvoje Slovo. Buď mi svedkom, ó Bože, keby sa to stalo dnes večer, povedal som im Pravdu. Ty vieš, že to videnie o tej Neveste je Pravda. Použil som pri tom Tvoje Meno, Pane a povedal som, že je to TAK HOVORÍ PÁN a cítim, že som si vedomí, Pane, toho čo robím.
235A tak Ťa prosím, Pane, v Mene Ježiša, nech sa spamätajú tí ľudia dnes večer a utečú pred tým hnevom, ktorý nadchádza, pretože Ichabot je napísané na dverách a na tomto národe. Čierna kontrolná značka je vytlačená krížom cez to, Duch Boží je z toho zarmútený a odišiel preč a oni sú zvážení na vážkach a nájdení sú ľahkí. Hostina kráľa Nabuchodonozora sa znovu zopakovala s účastníkmi, ktorí holdujú alkoholu a s polonahými ženami a hovoria si kresťania.
236Ó Nebeský Bože, buď milostivý tomuto hriešnemu svetu a hriešnym ľuďom, Pane, akými sme dnes večer. Bože, snažím sa stáť v trhline a prosiť o Božie milosrdenstvo, aby si Ty prehovoril do tohoto zástupu dnes večer a upozornil Svoju Nevestu, Pane, aby nepochodovala podľa taktu nejakého vyznania, ale podľa zvuku Evanjelia Pána Ježiša Krista. Sprav to, ó Bože. Nech sa stane známym dnes večer, že Ty si Boh, a Tvoje Slovo je pravda. Zatiaľ čo vo vážnosti pred očami týchto ľudí, ich vzývame do toho aby venovali pozornosť Tvojmu Slovu. V Mene Ježiša Krista sa modlím za nich, Pane.
Oni bez najmenšieho tieňa pochybnosti videli ako sa pohybuješ pomedzi nich a hovoríš im to čo je v ich srdciach. A Ty vieš, Pane, čo sa deje práve teraz. Ty vieš, že je to Pravda, ó Bože. A ja Ťa prosím v Mene Ježiša, nech Duch Svätý znovu zasiahne, Pane, a potiahne z tohoto publika, Pane, tých, ktorí sú zapísaní v Baránkovej Knihy Života. Sprav to, ó Bože, prosím to z celého svojho srdca.
238Títo ľudia, skutočne, Pane, by mi dali posledný halier, ktorý by mali aby podopreli toto posolstvo. Oni by urobili všetko čo by mohli, ale ó, Bože, keď sa jedná o zjednotenie sa s tým a vojdenie do toho, modlím sa, Bože, aby toto bol ten večer, kde ich Ty odmeníš a zleješ Svojho Svätého Ducha na toto zhromaždenie. A možno, že tu nebude veselo, ani skákanie dookola, ale nárek a plač a pokánie, držanie sa rohov oltára, pri tom čo dnes večer vidíme, že zo spodku na nás reve súd! Sprav to, Bože. Modlím sa tak úprimne ako len viem, v Mene Ježiša Krista.
239Môj brat, sestra, neviem čo viac ešte povedať. Ak som našiel milosť vo vašich očiach skrze Moc Božiu; ak mi veríte, že som Jeho prorok ... Toto je prvý krát, kedy som to povedal verejne, ale cítim akési divné varovanie. Nie som náchylný do toho, aby som to hovoril . Vy viete, že nie. Nepostupujem tak. Váhal som, keď som mal hovoriť toto Posolstvo a povedať tieto veci. Stránil som sa a robil som všetko možné, aby som sa tomu vyhol, ale je to povedané a v deň súdu to povstane ako svedok, že som povedal Pravdu. To je TAK HOVORÍ PÁN BOH. OCH, LETNIČNÍ, UTEKAJTE, ABY STE ZACHRÁNILI SVOJ ŽIVOT! BEŽTE KU ROHOM OLTÁRA A VOLAJTE KÝM NIE JE PRÍLIš NESKORO, PRETOŽE PRÍDE HODINA, KEĎ BUDETE MÔCŤ KRIČAŤ A NIČ VÁM TO NEPOMÔŽE. PRETOŽE EZAV SA SNAŽIL NÁJSŤ SVOJE PRÁVO PRVORODENSTVA A NEMOHOL HO NÁJSŤ. Porúčam ťa, ó Kalifornia, ó Zhromaždenie Obchodníkov Plného Evanjelia, ktorých milujem, do ktorých som sa priviazal celým svojím srdcom, porúčam vás dnes večer Ježišovi Kristovi. Utečte sa ku Nemu! Nedovoľte nikdy diablovi, aby vás učinil vlažnými voči tomuto. Stojte tesne pri tom, až kým každý jeden nebudete naplnený Duchom Svätým, až tak, že to spôsobí, že prídete do tohoto Slova, spôsobí to, že vy ženy narovnáte svoje cesty, spôsobí to, že vy muži narovnáte svoje cesty. Ak hovoríte, že máte Ducha Svätého a nezhodujete sa so Slovom, to je vo vás iný duch. Boží Duch spočíva na Jeho Slove. Mesiáš - pomazané Slovo. Nevesta musí byť "Mesiáškou" - pomazaným Slovom.
241Povstaňme v Mene Pána Ježiša Krista. Ak by ste už nikdy viac nepočuli môj hlas ... Ak bude vôľa Božia, za niekoľko hodín sa mám plaviť do Afriky; Možno, že sa už nevrátim. Neviem. Ale hovorím vám z celého svojho srdca, že som vám povedal Pravdu. Nevyhýbal som sa, aby som vám oznámil všetko čo mi Boh kázal, aby som povedal a hovoril som to v Mene Pánovom.
242Toto je vážna chvíľa. Neviem ako to povedať. Snažil som sa odísť spoza kazateľni tri alebo štyri krát a nemohol som to urobiť. Toto je vážna hodina. Nikdy na to nezabudnite! Toto je čas v ktorom možno Boh robí Svoje posledné volanie. Ja ne... Jedného dňa on učiní Svoje posledné zavolanie. Kedy? Ja neviem. Ale hovorím vám, podľa toho videnia, to vyzerá tak, že tá Nevesta je už skoro hotová! Hľaďte ako prichádzajú tie jednotlivé cirkvi. Keď spiaca panna ide pre olej, ona si ho zabudla obstarať. Nevesta vošla dovnútra. Nastalo Vytrhnutie. Zatiaľ čo si oni išli kúpiť olej, prišiel Ženích. Či spíte? Prebuďte sa, rýchlo, spamätajte sa a modlime sa každý jeden, ako keby sme v tejto minúte mali zomrieť, v Mene Pánovom. Nech sa každý modlí svojím vlastným spôsobom.
245Všemohúci Bože, buď nám milostivý, Pane. Buď mi milostivý. Buď nám všetkým milostivý. Čo by nám to pomohlo, keby sme robili neviem čo, ak by sme sklamali v týchto veciach. Stojím tu a prosím o zmilovanie, ó Bože, prv ako sa toto veľké mesto zatopí v mori a súdy Božie zmetú toto pobrežie, prosím, Bože, aby si Ty vyvolal Svoju Nevestu. Porúčam ich teraz Tebe v Mene Ježiša Krista. Amen.
1 Lots of sick people. I can't get to all of them at once. But, listen.
2I'm certainly happy to be here again, tonight, in this beautiful auditorium, amongst this wonderful group of people. And we was coming in, out there, a few moments ago, the people standing out on the street said they couldn't get in. And I said, "Well, maybe I can get you some room." And they wouldn't let them come down. So I'm sorry we don't have enough room for them. They said the basement was full, also. And so we are sorry about that. But we're happy to be here, and happy to see all this fine group of ministers, the businessmen here, and all you delegations from different parts of the country.
3 I had the grand privilege of speaking this morning at the breakfast, which I certainly cherish to be an honor to speak before such fine people. I was on a subject of: The Shuck Won't Be Heir With The Wheat. I didn't get to finish it. And it was not the--the brother's fault. He tried to get the management to let us stay a little longer, but he just wouldn't do it. I certainly appreciate that, Brother Demos. That's very, very nice. I certainly thank you for your kindness, each and every one. But they just wouldn't let us do it. So we just had to--had to close off. I'll pick that up, some other time, to finish that up: The Shuck Will Not Be Heir With The Wheat. Did you understand it, you that were here? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] I hope there was enough that it would be understood.
4 Now, I know, tonight, there's a panel, also, so I don't want to keep you here long enough that you'd miss that. Because, I do think that was certainly an asset to--to the Pentecostal-believing people, that panel we saw the other night. Such a fine bunch of men, such wonderful answers, straight. It made me feel real good, to see that. I trust that the Lord will bless it, tonight. And ever who that looks, may they believe. That would be my sincere prayer.
5 And so many reports coming in, today, from in the mail and by calls, of so many being healed in this meeting. I was so glad of that. That, that's, to see people sick, that's kind of my ministry.
6I--I get up here to preach. I, you know, I'm not a preacher. But I, with this, my Kentucky grammar, "his, hain't" and--and all those words, so I--I can't say as what we call a modern preacher of today. I--I couldn't take that place, because I--I have no education.
7But I do like to express what I know about It, to others, or what I feel that I know about It, to others, how I've learned It, how He is to me. He's all my life, all that I could ever expect to be, and so much more than I ever thought, that I'd ever have a friend, hardly, on the earth, when I was a little boy. But I certainly am thankful for great friends today.
8[A brother says, "Having a little trouble hearing back there, Brother Branham. Get in closer."--Ed.] Oh, I'm sorry. I--I'm kind of out of focus here, somewhere, he said.
9 Now, to get right straight into the service, let's turn for some Scripture readings. I--I always like to read the Bible, because It's the Word of God. I believe that. And I believe It to be God's infallible Word. And now I have a few Scriptures written down here, and some notes that I'd like to refer to, for a few moments, maybe for forty-five minutes.
10And then we'll get out in time to go see this wonderful panel again tonight. And I trust that God will continue to bless you right on through. And I know what you got to do. And I'm supposed to drive to Tucson, yet, tonight, see, so you can imagine. That's ten-hours drive.
11And I'm leaving for overseas, and I've got to get a yellow fever shot on test in the morning at the government. So I--I got to get over there. I had the postponement, the other day, and they're not going to take no "no" for an answer again now. And I got one more tetanus and typhus to take, and my boosters.
12 So, I so thankful for this opportunity, and--and this fine meeting we had prior the convention. It certainly did thrill my heart. You're a fine bunch of people. I trust that God will bless you.
13When the great hour ever... That great monster laying up yonder, that flipped hisself over in Alaska, a few days ago, threw its tail up again this morning, along about, down around in Washington. He could head this way, mighty easy. And if the Holy Spirit ever tells me definitely...
14Someone has been answer... asking me that, "Is it going to happen here, Brother Branham?" No, I don't know that. I just don't know, until I do know. That's the truth.
15I always want to be honest with you. I just not going to presume, take any ideas, or some, what I believe, or something like that. When I tell you, it's going to be. Well, He's got to tell me, first, and then I'll tell you. I--I know the whole world is in a shaking condition. We're at the end time. But one thing I've tried to be...
16 Brother Shakarian was saying this morning, how he used to go through the prayer lines, and reach down there and get those cards before the people would come up, and look at them, and see whether--whether I told them what they had wrote out there. They write all kinds of stuff on their prayer cards, you know, and he just wanted to see if it was right. He said, out of the hundreds that he had checked, there had never been one wrong. [Brother Shakarian says, "Never one wrong."--Ed.] There never will be one wrong, see, because, as--as long as it's God. If I ever project myself into it, then it's wrong right there to begin with.
17Little girl whose father is setting, listening at me now, come to me, not long ago. She had a dream. She said, "Brother Branham, what does this dream mean?"
18I said, "I don't know, sister. I'll have to find out, if the Lord will tell me." So I went on and tried to ask the Lord, and He never did tell me.
19The little girl come back again. She said, "Well, now where is the interpretation of my dream?"
20I said, "Come here, honey, sit down." I said, "Your father and mother are very good friends of mine. See? And they've come all the way from Canada, retired, and sojourned here with me. They believe this, what I'm trying to say. And I've never said anything wrong to anybody, willfully, in my life. If I... I think I know what the dream means. But until I see that dream myself, and then He tells me what it means, I can't tell you. See, if I just make up something, there might be a time where you needed me between life and death, and then you wouldn't know whether to believe me or not."
21 If I tell you anything in the Name of the Lord, it's truly that. That's Who told me that. And so far, of all these years, throughout the world, and around the world, It's never been wrong one time. Cause... And, now, you know a human being can't be that infallible. It takes the Spirit of God to do that.
22And now I have a Message that I'm responsible for. And many times I've been considered, amongst the people, well, maybe someone who just didn't sit down and think a minute, that I was a--a, oh, an awful person, I didn't like people, and I was always cutting them. And that's not so. That isn't so. I love people. But, you know, love is corrective.
23 If your little boy was sitting in the street out there, and you said, "Junior, dear, I don't want you out there, but..." And cars buzzing by him, and you brought him in. He run back out again. Why, you should correct him. If you love him, you will. You have to.
24If you seen a man floating down a river, towards a falls, in a little boat, that you knowed that boat was going to sink when he hit the falls, would you say, "John, you, maybe you ought to think a while, maybe you might not make it"? If I know he's not going to make it, I'm going to almost jerk him out of the boat, if I can, because it's love that does that.
25 And now, in these Messages that I speak, I never try to bring in any doctrine, or so forth. I--I do that in my own church. But out here amongst men and women who are different denominations with different ideas, I just try to take in a mild form, explain; but enough to where if you're born of the Spirit of God, I believe you'll understand what I mean, among Christian men, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, whatmore.
26 Now, tonight, I want to turn to Genesis, the 24th chapter. I want to read the... beginning with the 12th verse of the 24th chapter of Genesis.
And he said, O LORD God... my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down the pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou has appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou has showed me kindness to... unto my master.
27 And then in the Book of Revelation. That's the first of the Bible, Genesis. Now, in the last of the Bible, I want to read in the 21st chapter of Revelation, and the 9th verse.
28We know what this Scripture of Genesis here... You read the whole chapter, if you wish to. It's God sending out Eliezer. Or, Abraham sending out Eliezer, pardon me, to select a bride for Isaac. And the beautiful Rebekah came out, and in perfect answer to the prayer that--that Eliezer, the servant of Abraham, had just prayed.
Now in the 9th verse of the 21st chapter of Revelations.
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, and I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
29 Now I want to take for a subject, tonight, for that: The Choosing Of A Bride. And this is, if my brother that records here will, this is the tape that you can go ahead and let out.
30Now, in this, it doesn't exactly mean that I'm speaking this to this congregation present, but these tapes go around the world. They're translated in, practically, oh, a great deal of the languages, even into the heathen lands around the world. We send them tapes, free, on a society of the church. And they're translated. And all out through the jungles of Africa, and to India, and around the world, goes these tapes.
Now, choosing a Bride!
31 In many things of life we are given a choice. The way of life, itself, is a choice. We have a right to make our own way, choose our own way that we want to live.
32Education is a choice. We can choose whether we're going to be educated, or whether we are not going to be educated. That's a choice that we have.
33Right and wrong is a choice. Every man, every woman, boy and girl, has to choose whether they are going to try to live right or not live right. It's a choice.
Choice is a great thing.
34Your Eternal destination is a choice. And maybe, tonight, some of you will make that--that choice, of where you'll spend Eternity, before this service ends tonight. There'll be one time, that, if you turned God down many time, there'll be one time you'll turn Him down the last time. There is a line between mercy and judgment. And it's a dangerous thing for a man or a woman, boy or girl, to step across that line, for there's no return when you step across that deadline. So, tonight, it might be the time that many will make their--their decision, where they will spend the endless Eternity.
35 There's another choice that we have in life, that's, a life's companion. A young man or young woman, stepping out on life, has--has been given a right to make a choice. The young man chooses. The young woman has a right to accept or reject it. But it's still a choice, on both sides. Both man and woman, they have a right to choice.
Also, you have a choice, as a Christian.
36You have a choice of the church, here in America, so far, that you can go to. That's your own American privilege, to choose any church that you want to belong to. That's a choice. You don't have to go to any of them, if you don't want to. But if you want to change from the Methodist to the Baptist, or the Catholic to a Protestant, or so forth, there's nobody can tell you or make you come to any certain church. That's our--that's our freedom. That's what our democracy is. Every man can choose for himself. Freedom of religion, and that's a--a great thing. God help us to keep it as long as we can.
37 You have also a choice. Whether... When you choose this church, you can choose whether you, in this church, whether you will choose a church that will guide you to your Eternal destination. You can choose a church that has a certain creed, that you might think that creed is just what you want. Or, the other church has their creed.
38And then there is the Word of God, you have choice of. You have to make the choice.
There's an unwritten law among us, of choosing.
39I believe it was Elijah, one time, up on Mount Carmel, after the showdown, in a great hour of the crisis that we're just about to come to right now. Perhaps, it may be to you or I, tonight, that we make this choice, like the Mount Carmel experience. Frankly, I think it's going on, worldwide, now. But there will soon be a time where that you'll have to make a choice.
40 And you men here, of your denominational churches, just believe this, that the hour is right on you, when you're going to make a choice. You're either going to go into the World Council, or you're not going to be a denomination anymore. You're going to have to do that, and that choice is coming soon.
41And it's a dangerous thing to wait till that last hour, too, because you might take on something that you could never shake out of it. You know, there is a time when you can be warned, then, if you step across that line of warning, then you're already marked on the other side, branded.
42 Remember, when the jubilee year come, and the--the priest rode with his trumpet sounding, that every slave could go free. But if they refused to accept their freedom, then he had to be taken to the temple, to a post, and an awl bore him through the ear, and then he served his master alway. It was put on his ear as a type, of hearing. "Faith cometh by hearing." He heard that trumpet, but he didn't want to listen to it.
43And many time, men and women hear God's Truth, and see It vindicated and proven, Truth, but yet they don't want to hear It. There's some other reason. There's some other choosing that they have, than to face up to Truth and fact, therefore their ears can be closed to the Gospel. They'll never hear It again. My advice to you, when God speaks to your heart, you act right then.
44Elijah gave them a choice which they should. "Choose you this day whom you shall serve. If God be God, serve Him. But if Baal be God, serve him."
45 Now, as we see that all of the natural thing is a type of the spiritual things, as we went through in our lesson this morning, as the sun and his nature. That was my first Bible. Before I ever read a page in the Bible, I knew God. Because, the Bible is written everywhere in nature, and it just corresponds with the Word of God: how the death, burial, resurrection of the nature; and the sun rising, crossing, setting, dying, rising again. There's so many things that we could type, God in nature, that we have to bypass, for this Message.
46 Now, if the spiritual or... The natural is a type of the spiritual. Then, the choosing of a bride, in the natural, is a type of choosing a Bride, the Bride, in the spiritual.
47Now, it's a serious thing when we go to choose a wife, a man, for the vows here is until death do we part. That's how we should keep it. And you take that vow before God, that only death will separate you. And I think we should. A man in his right mind, that's planning a future, that he should choose that wife very careful. Be careful what you're doing. And a woman choosing a husband, or accepting the choice of a husband, should be real careful what she's doing, and especially in these days. A man should think and pray before he chooses a wife.
48 I think, today, what's got so many divorce cases now, that we lead the world in America, in divorce cases. We lead the rest of the world. There's more divorces here than anywhere else, this nation, and supposed to be, and thought of, a Christian nation. What a reproach, our divorce court! I think, the reason of it, is because that men has got away from God, and women has got away from God.
49And we find, that, if a man prayed and a woman prayed over the matter; not just look at a pretty set of eyes, or big strong shoulders, or such as that, or some other worldly affection; but would look first to God, and say, "God, is this Your plan?"
50 I think, today, there's so much cheating, just like in school. When--when the kids come by, of a morning, many of the kids in the neighborhood, that--that friends of mine, will come by and say, "Brother Branham, will you pray for us? We're having a--a test today. I--I worked all night, and I don't seem I can--can get it settled. Pray for me." I think that any school kid, if you would, if... And the parents at the table of a morning, you could. Say, "Mother, John has got a test today. Let's pray for him now." I think it would beat all that you could ever do in any other way, or looking over on somebody else's paper and cheating. I think if you just come out and pray over the matter.
51 And if we would study what we're doing when we're going to get married, when we choose our wife, our husband, if we'd study it over! A man should pray earnestly, for he could ruin his entire life. Remember, the vow is "until death do we part," and he could ruin his life by making the wrong choice. But if he knows what, he making the wrong choice and is marrying a woman that isn't fit to be his wife, and he does it anyhow, then it's his fault. If the woman takes a husband and knows that he's not fit to be a husband to you, then that's your own fault, after you know what's right and wrong. So, you shouldn't do it until you thoroughly pray through.
52 The same applies by choosing a church. Now, you must pray over the church that you are fellowshiping in. Remember, churches carry a spirit.
53Now, I don't want to be critical. But I realize that I'm an old man, and I got to leave here, one of these days. I've got to answer at the Day of the Judgment for what I say tonight or any other time. And I, therefore, I got to be dead earnest and truly convicted.
54But, you go into a church, and if you'll watch the behavior of that church, you just watch the pastor awhile, and you'll usually find that the church acts like the pastor. Sometime, I wonder if we just don't get one another's spirit in the stead of the Holy Spirit. You get to a place where a pastor is real radical and carrying on, you'll find out the congregation is the same way. I'll bring you to a church where I see the pastor stand, jerk their heads back and forth. You watch the congregation, they do the same thing. You take a pastor, just gulp down anything, usually the church will do the same thing. So, if I was choosing a church, I'd choose a genuine, fundamental, Full Gospel, Bible church, I was choosing one to put my family in. Choose. I looked...
55 The boys, the other day, Brother Shakarian's son and his son-in-law, taken me up here to pray for a young fellow, singer, dandy boy. Just come back... Fred Barker, that was his name, just come back from a trip. And they called me, that, "Fred was dying." And then, 'fore I could get in the house, another message come, "He may be dead right now." And he said he had had a--a hemorrhage in the brain, and he was paralyzed, and--and he was dying, and his wife wanted me to pray for him.
56And I thought, "Oh, if I try to fly, he'd be dead 'fore I get there, and may be dead now." So, I called quickly and got the little lady on the phone. And--and we got the phone hooked up, and to Fred's ear. He couldn't swallow. They was giving him artificial swallowing. And when we prayed for him, he said, motioned, take it out of his throat. He could swallow. The doctors didn't believe it. They took it out, and he could swallow. He was setting up, the other day.
A church; choosing a church.
57 Phone call just come in, a while ago. This morning, a member of my church, which is really a Baptist woman out of Louisville, she died early this morning. And my church at home, a real group of consecrated men, assembled themselves together and went down, before the undertaker embalmed her, stood over her, prayed until life come back in her. And she is living, tonight. The elders of my church, why, they been taught to believe that all things are possible, come to God sincerely.
So, you must make the right choice.
58 Again, the kind of woman that a man would choose, will reflect his ambition and his character. If a man chooses the wrong woman, it reflects his character. And what he ties himself to, shows truly what's in him. A woman reflects what's in the man when he chooses her for wife. It shows what's down in him. No matter what he says outside, watch what he married.
59I go to a man's office, and he says he's a Christian; pin-ups all around on the walls, that old boogie-woogie music going on. I don't care what he says. I don't believe his testimony, because his spirit is feeding on them things of the world. What, say, if he would marry a chorus girl, or what if he would marry a sex queen, or just a pretty, modern ricketta? It reflects. It shows what he has in his mind, of what his future home is going to be, because he's took her to raise his children by. And whatever she is, that's the way she'll raise those children. So, it reflects what's in the man. A man that takes a woman like that, shows just what he's thinking of the future.
60Could you imagine a Christian doing a thing like that? No, sir. I could not. A true Christian will not look for such beauty queens, and chorus girls, and sex queens. He'll look for Christian character.
61 Now, you can't have all things. There might be one girl that's real pretty. And the other girl, maybe she's a... her stature looks better than this one. And you might have to sacrifice one for the other, but, if she's not the stature of a lady, of a woman. And, she, I didn't care whether she's pretty or not. You better look at her character, whether she's pretty or not pretty.
62Now, for, it is becoming, if a Christian would choose a wife, he ought to choose a genuine, born-again woman, regardless of what she looks like. It's what she is, what makes her. And then, again, that reflects his own godly character, and reflects what's in his mind and what's going to be in the future, for his family will be raised by such a woman, for the future plans for his home.
63If he marries one of these little modern rickettas, sex queens, what could he expect? What kind of a home could a man expect to have? If he marries a girl that ain't got enough moral about her to stay home and take care of a house, and wants to work out in somebody's office, what kind of a housekeeper will she be? You'll have baby-sitters and everything else. True.
64 Now, I'm not much of this modernistic taste, of women working. When I seen these women with these uniforms on, riding around in this city, on motorcycles, as police, it's a disgrace to any city that will let a woman do that. See? See? As many men that's without work, it shows the modern thinking of our city. It shows the degrading. We don't have to have them women out there like that. They ain't got no business out there like that.
65When God gave a man a wife, He gave him the best thing He could give him, outside of salvation. But when one goes to trying to take a man's place, then she's about the worse thing that he could get a hold of. Now, that's right. See?
Now we can see the spiritual application.
66I--I know that's bad, you think it's bad, but it's the Truth. We don't care how bad it is, we got to face up to the fact. That's what the Bible teaches. See?
67 Now, we here see plainly the spiritual plan, of God's planning for His future Home with His future Bride, comes into view now.
68If a man marries a sex queen, you see what he's looking for for the future. If a man marries a woman that won't stay home, you see what he's looking for in the future. And I one time...
69This sounds awful. I just feel to say it. And I--I, usually, if I feel to say the thing, I ought to say it. And it's usually God's way.
70I--I used to go with a rancher that I worked with, to buy cattle. And I noticed the old fellow always looking right in the face of a heifer before he went to bidding. Then he turned her head, and looked back and forth. I followed him along, watched him. And he looked her up and down, if she looked all right, the stature. Then he turned and looked her in the face, and sometime he'd shake his head and walk away.
I said, "Jeff, I want to ask you something."
He said, "Say on, Bill."
71And I said, "Why you always look that cow in the face?" I said, "She looks all right, a good--good heavy cow."
72Said, "I want to tell you, boy, you got a lot to learn." And I--I realized it after he told me. Said, "I don't care how she's made up. She might be beef, plumb to the hoof. But if she's got that wild stare in her face, don't you never buy her."
Said, "Why so, Jeff?"
73"Well," said, "the first thing is," said, "she'll never stay put." And he said, "The next thing is, she'll never be a mammy to her calf." And said, "They put her in a pen now, the reason she's fat. You turn her loose, with that wild stare, she'd run herself to death."
74I said, "You know, I kind of learned something. I believe that applies to women, too." Right. Right.
75That wild, starey, ricketta look, better stay away from her, boy, all that there blue stuff over top her eyes. And I didn't... I wouldn't want that. I don't think that's becoming to a Christian. I don't care how much the television and paper says it's pretty. It's the most horrible-looking, hideous sight that I ever seen in my life.
76 When I first seen that, here at Clifton's Cafeteria, one morning, at a breakfast. I seen some, them young ladies come up. Brother Arganbright had just come in, and I. And he had went downstairs. I looked, and that girl come in. I thought, "Well, I--I--I--I don't know." I never seen it before. It was some kind. Oh, it looked like she was cankered, you know, just kind of funny-looking. I'm not saying that to be funny. I'm--I'm saying it. You know, I've seen leprosy. I'm a missionary. I seen all kinds of freaks, you know, of how diseases. And I was going to walk up to the young lady and tell her, "I--I--I'm a minister. I--I pray for the sick. Would--would you like for me to pray for you?" And I had never seen anything like that. And then, here come two or three more, in. I kind of stepped back then and waited.
77And Brother Arganbright come by, so I said, "Brother Arganbright?" He may be here. I said, "What's the matter with that woman?" See?
And he said, "That, that's paint."
78I said, "Well, my, my!" See? I thought they ought to have her in a pesthouse somewhere, you know, keep it from breaking out all over other women.
79 But, you know, you have to plan, look, pray, when you're choosing. For, we see, by this, the Word of promise. She, the bride that a man would choose, is going to reflect his character. It reflects what's in him.
80Now, could you imagine a man, filled with the Holy Ghost, take something like that to be a wife? [Congregation says, "No."--Ed.] I--I--I just don't see it, brother. Now, maybe I'm just an old crank. But, you know, I--I just can't understand that, see, notice, for it's going to reflect what's in him. She is going to help him make his future home.
81Now, then, when we change back now for a moment, to the spiritual side. And when you see a church that's in the world, acts like the world, anticipating in the world, partaking of the world, counting God's Commandments as if He never had wrote Them, then you--you can just imagine Christ ain't going to take a Bride like that. Could you imagine taking the modern church today for a Bride? Not my Lord. I don't... I could hardly see that. No. Remember, now, a man and his wife are one. Would you join yourself to a person like that? If you would, it would certainly kind of disappoint my faith in you.
82 And, then, how about God joining Himself to something like that, a regular denominational prostitute? You think He would do it, "Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof"? He would never do it. She must have His character in her. The real, true born-again Church must have the--the character that was in Christ, because the husband and wife are one. And if Jesus did only that which pleased God, kept His Word and manifested His Word, His Bride will have to be of the same kind of character. She could not, by no means, be a denomination. Because, then, no matter how much you want to say, "no," she is controlled by a board somewhere, that tells her what to do and what she can't do, and, many times, a million miles off of the true Word.
83 It's too bad that we ever got away from the real Leader that God left us to lead the Church. He never sent state presbyters. He never sent a bishops, cardinals, priests, popes. He sent the Holy Ghost for the Church, to lead the Church. "When He the Holy Ghost is come, He will lead you into all Truth, reveal these things to you, that I have told you, bring them to your remembrance, and will show you things that is to come." The Holy Spirit was to do that. Now, the modern church hates That. They don't like It, so how could she be the Bride of Christ? The people of today is choosing a modern denomination. What it does, it only reflects their poor understanding of the Word.
84I don't mean to hurt, but I mean to let it go deep enough till you'll look at it.
85 I've married many couples, but it always reminds me of Christ and His Bride. One of the weddings that I performed here, some time ago, it--it was quite an outstanding thing in my life. It's been several years ago, when I was just a young minister.
86My brother was working on the--the P.W.A. I don't know whether anybody ever remembers that, yet, or not, anybody as old as me. And that was a--a project that the government had. And my brother worked up, about thirty miles. They were digging out some lakes, a project for the conservation.
87And there was a boy worked up there, with him, from Indianapolis, about, oh, about a hundred miles above Jeffersonville where I--I live, or lived. And there was a... He said to my brother, one day. He said, "Doc," he said, "I--I want... I'm going to get married, if I just had enough money to pay the preacher." He said, "I--I got enough money to get my license, but," said, "I haven't got enough money to pay the preacher."
88Doc said, "Well, my brother is a preacher, and--and he--he may marry you." He said, "He never charges people for things like that."
He said, "Will you ask him if he'll marry me?"
89 Well, that night my brother asked me. I said, "If he's never been married before, either one of them, and their everything is all right." He said, "Well, yeah, I'll ask him." And I said, "If it is, tell him, come on down."
90So, when Saturday come along and the boy came down. Been a great thing for me, to always look back upon this. I'd... Rainy afternoon, and an old Chevrolet car, with the headlights wired on with a baling wire, that drove up, out front. Just a while after I had lost my wife, and I was bach'ing, two little rooms. And--and Doc was up there with me, waiting for them.
91And--and a boy got out of the car, and he certainly didn't look like a groom, to me, or would to anybody, I guess. Yeah. I could bare... buy a pretty good pair of shoes, for a dollar and a half. And he had on a pair, was run over. And his trousers was real baggy. And he had on one of these old moleskin jackets. I don't guess some of you older people would remember. It looked like it had run through a washing machine without being rinsed, and it was streaked, tied up like this, and the corner up.
92 And a--a little lady got out on the side, with a little, oh, some of them little checkered-look dress.
93I don't know. I made a mistake on calling that kind of goods, one time. Gingham, I believed it's called. And so it was a... I said it wrong again. I--I'm always doing it. And I said...
94She got out of the car, and they come up the steps. And--and when they walked in, the poor little thing, she... I guess, she, just about all she had on was a skirt. And she didn't have no shoes, hardly, on. She had hitchhiked from Indianapolis, down. Had a little hair hanging down, back, in long, kind of a plaits down her back. Looked very young.
And I said to her, "Are you old enough to get married?"
95She said, "Yes, sir." And she said, "I have my written permission from my father and mother." She said, "I had to show it to--to the court here, to get my license."
96I said, "All right." I said, "I'd like to talk to you a little bit before we perform this wedding." They set down. The boy kept looking around the room; needed a haircut real bad. And he kept looking around the room. He wasn't listening to me. I said, "Son, I want you to listen to what I'm saying."
Said, "Yes, sir."
And I said, "You love this girl?"
He said, "Yes, sir. I do."
I said, "You love him?"
"Yes, sir. I do."
97I said, "Now, have you got a place to take her after you marry?"
Said, "Yes, sir."
98I said, "All right. Now," I said, "I want to ask you something. I understand, you're working up here on this P.W.A."
And he said, "Yes, sir." That's about twelve dollars a week.
I said, "You think you can make a living for her?"
He said, "I'll do all I can do."
99And I said, "Well, that's all right." And I said, "Now, what if he gets out of... What if he loses this job, sister? What are you going to do, going to run back up home, to mama, papa?"
She said, "No, sir. I'm going to stay with him."
100And I said, "What, sir, if you have three or four children, nothing to feed them, and you haven't got any work. What are you going to do, send her away?"
101Said, "No, sir. I'll struggle right on. We'll make it, some way."
102I felt little. And I seen that he really loved her, and they loved one another. I married them.
103 Then I wondered where he taken her. A few days, I asked my brother, Doc, where it is. He said, "Go down to New Albany," a little city below us.
104And down on the river, where I had some tin laying up, where I went every day when I--I was a lineman. So when the rest the fellows, they all sit around, told jokes and things, I'd get in the truck and run down on the river and pray during that!...?... And read my Bible, under a big piece of tin where an old iron works used to be. There's a bunch of old boxcars setting down there.
105And this fellow had went down there and got one of them boxcars and sawed him a door in it. And had taken a newspaper and tacky buttons.
106How many knows what a tacky button is? There's no Kentuckians here, then. It's, take a piece of cardboard, put a thumbtack in it, a little sprig. And then push it in the... That's a tacky button.
107 So, they had put it all over. And he had went up there to iron works and got him some stuff, and made a step, to come up. And got some old boxes, and had him a table. And I thought, one day, "I'll go down and see how they're getting along."
108About six months before that, I married E. V. Knight's daughter to E. T. Slider's son. E. V. Knight, one of the richest men there is on the Ohio River, and, oh, runs the great factories through there, making these prefab houses, and so forth. And--and Slider, E. T. Slider, is the sand and gravel company, millionaires' children. And I had married them.
109And I went back in a place, practiced it for about two weeks, and going back in a booth and kneeling on a pillow. And all the pomp and everything I ever went through, nearly, had to go through, to marry that couple! And when they come out, why, they was... This other little couple just stood there in a little old room where we had a little couch and a folded bed, but they both was married by the same ceremony.
110 And then, one day, I thought I'd go down and visit this rich couple. They didn't have to work, their fathers were millionaires, had built them a nice home. Frankly, this E. V. Knight, up, here on the hill, his doorknobs are fourteen karat on his big palace, so you can imagine what kind of home they live in. They didn't have to work. They had a nice Cadillac give to them every year. And just, only children, and they had just everything they wanted. When I walked up one day...
111Now, how I got acquainted with them, one of their friends was a good friend of mine. We all kind of chummed together. And that's how I got acquainted, when they wanted me to marry them.
112 So I went up to visit them. I got outside my old Ford, outside, and walked up the steps. And--and I got up, a little bit too close, and I heard them. And they were really fussing. They were jealous of one another. They had been to a dance. She was a very pretty girl. And she was kind of one of these beauty queens. She took many prizes around there, and won some cars and things, for being beauty queen. And I looked at them, and one was setting in one corner and one the other, fussing about some boy she had danced with, or some girl, something.
113When I come up, they jumped up real quick and grabbed one another across, floor, and their--their hands, across the floor, come walking over towards the door. Said, "Why, hello there, Brother Branham! How you getting along?"
Said, "All right. How you all getting along?"
114And, "Oh," he said, "I--I... We're very happy. Aren't we, honey?"
And she said, "Yes, dear." See?
115 Now, you see, you're putting on something that isn't real. Now, you can't get warm by a painted fire, like some of these churches trying to paint pentecost, of something that happened a thousand years ago or two thousand years ago. You can't get warm by a painted fire. Pentecost is just as real today as it was then. See? Yeah. The Fire is still falling. It ain't a painted fire. It's a real Fire.
116So, they, just there they was. See? I--I wouldn't want to live like that.
117 "Oh," I thought, "you know, just down over the cliff there and over on the river, there's where this other couple wound up." I thought, "One Saturday afternoon I'd slip down there and see how they was getting along."
118So I, dirty on the face, and dirty overalls on, my tools on. I thought, "I'll slip up on them." I slipped on, like I was watching for insulators being cracked by the lightning or something, and as I walked alongside the telephone wire, the electric cables along the river. And there's the old Chevrolet, was setting out front. About a year later, after I had married them. And there was a--a... The door was open, and I could hear them talking. So this sounds like a hypocrite, but I walked up close enough till I could listen, see what they was saying. Stood there. And I just want to know, for myself.
119I like to find out and be sure I know what I'm talking about. That's the way I do about God's Word. Is It the Truth, or isn't It the Truth? Will He keep His Word, or doesn't He keep His Word? He doesn't keep His Word, then He's not God. See? He does keep His Word, He's God. See?
120 And so I want to see how they was getting along. And I slipped along the side, real easy. I heard him say, "Oh, honey, I wanted to get that for you, so bad."
121She said, "Now, look, sweetheart." She said, "This dress is all right." She said, "Why, this is just fine." Said, "I appreciate that. But you see..."
122I slipped around, so I could look in through the crack, where the door been shoved open there in the boxcar. And there he was, setting in there, and her on his lap; and his arm around her, and her arm around him. And he had one of these old slouch hats, and had put a little hole, mashed it down, the top, and pulled out his pay check, in that. He--he was laying it out on the table. Said, "So much for groceries. So much for insurance. And so much on the car." And they couldn't make their ends meet. Come to find out, he had seen a little dress up there in a window, been looking at it for a couple weeks, that cost a dollar and something. He wanted to get it. Said, "Well, honey, you'd look so pretty in it." And he said...
123She said, "But, honey, I--I got a dress. I--I don't really need it." See? And that little queen...
124 I backed off, and looked up. I could see the--the steeple on top of the other house. I stood there and looked, a few minutes. I thought, "Who is the rich man?" I thought, "If, Bill Branham, if you want to take which place, where would you go?" For me, I'd take not that pretty thing up on top the hill. I'd take this character down here, as a real homemaker, somebody that loved me and stayed with me, somebody tried to make a home; and not bleeding you for everything, for fineries; and somebody that was with you, part of you.
125 That's always stuck with me, of how that was. One chose a beautiful girl, the other one chose character. Now, that's the only way you could choose. First, look for character and, then, if you love her. Fine.
126Notice, God's first Adam didn't have any choice, for his wife. He didn't get a choice. God just made him one, and he didn't get to choose her. So we find out that she led him astray from God's Word. He didn't get to pray over the matter. He--he--he isn't like you and I. He didn't get a choice. And again, by doing that, she led him from his rightly position as being a son of God. And she did it by showing him a more modern way of living, something that they really shouldn't have done. But the character of her showed that she was wrong. Her motives and objectives were simply wrong. And persuaded him, by her reasoning, that the modern new light that she had found, which was contrary to God's Word, was a better way to live.
127 And how many women today, and vice versa, men, that could pull a good woman away from God, or pull a good man away from God, by trying to tell him, "This religion, you pentecostal boy! That religion," they say, "oh, That's old-fashion. It's old fogy. Don't you believe That." You better pray hard before you marry that girl. I don't care how pretty she is. Same thing to a man.
128She persuaded him out of the will of God and caused him to do something that he should not have done, and, by it, caused death to the whole human race. That's why the Bible forbids her to teach, or to preach, or to handle God's Word, in any manner.
129I know, sister, many of you say, "The Lord called me to preach."
130I'm not going to argue with you. But I'm going to tell you, the Word says you not to do it. "She shall not teach, or usurp any authority, but to be in silence."
"Well," you say, "the Lord told me to do it."
131I don't doubt that one bit. Did you hear my Message the other night about Balaam? Balaam got the first, straight-cut decision of God, "Don't do it." But he kept on fooling around till finally God told him to go do it.
132God might permit you to preach. I don't say He didn't. But it's not according to His original Word and plan. "For she is to be under obedience, as also saith the law." It's true. Therefore, she's not supposed to do it.
133 Now, notice again how the natural bride types the spiritual. The Word says, that, "She was made for man, and not man made for her."
134Now I'm going to speak, and why, in a few minutes, on the Bride of Christ, but I'm trying to show you the background of it.
135"Woman was made for man, and not man for woman." That's the reason, under the old laws, that polygamy was legal. Look at David setting down there with five hundred wives, and the Bible said, "He was a man after God's own heart." With five hundred wives, and Solomon with a thousand, but not one of them women could have another husband.
136 You get my tape on Marriage And Divorce. That, up on top the mountain at Tucson, here not long ago, I was up there praying about it. They dismissed the schools, to watch that Pillar of Fire circle the mountain and go in a funnel, back and forth, up and down. People around here knows it, there and saw It; and it when He told me the Truth of this marriage and divorce, questioned. If there's one side going this way, and one going that way, there's got to be a Truth somewhere. After those Seven Seals, He showed what was the Truth of it.
137 Notice, now, she could not have but one husband, because, "Woman was made for man, and not man for woman." That whole five hundred women was just David's wife, and it was a type. When Christ sets on the Throne in the Millennium, His Bride will be not one person, but it'll be tens of thousands, the Bride, all in One. And David had many wives, as individuals, but only all of them together was his wife. Like the whole Body of believers is the Bride of Christ, 'cause It's She, the woman. He was the Man. Now, we were made for Christ. Christ wasn't made for us.
138That's what we try to do today in our textbooks, is try to make the Word (which is Christ) suit us, instead of us trying to make ourself to suit the Word. That's the different.
139 When a man chooses a certain girl out of a family, he must not rely upon beauty, for beauty is deceiving. And beauty, modern worldly beauty, is of the Devil.
"Oh," I hear someone say out there, "be careful here, preacher!"
140I say that these things on this earth, that's called beautiful, is absolutely of the Devil. I'll prove it to you. Then, in the light of this remark, let's search God's holy Word, to see if it's right or not. And some of you women wants to be so pretty! See where it comes from. In the beginning, we find that Satan was so beautiful till he deceived Angels. And he was the most beautiful Angel of all of them. Showed, it lays in the Devil. Proverbs said, Solomon said, "Beauty is vain." That's right. Sin is beautiful. Certainly, it is. It's attractive.
141 I want to ask you, and say something here to you. I want you to notice, a few minutes. Of all of the species in the world, birds, animals, we find that on the animal life, all besides human, it's the male that's pretty, and not the female. Why that? Look at the... Look at the deer, the--the beautiful big buck with his horns, and the little muley doe. Look at the--the hen, the little, speckled hen, and the big beautiful-feathered rooster. Look at the male bird and the female bird. Look at the mallard duck and the female. See? And there isn't one specie in the world, that's made, that can deceive and stoop as low as a woman.
142Now, sister, don't get up and go out. Just wait till we hear the end of This. See? See?
143There is nothing, no female besides a woman, could be immoral. You call a dog "a slut," you call a hog "a--a sow," but, morally, they got more morals than half the movie stars there is out here. They cannot be nothing else but moral.
144 And the woman was the one that was changed over, for the perversion. That's right. See where the beauty takes her to? Now, that's why that, today, we find that women is on the increase of beauty. You take Pearl Bryan, you ever see her picture? Supposed to be American's great beauty. There isn't a school kid out of any school but what would have her in a--a back row. Did you know it's supposed to be that way? Did you know the Bible speaks that that's the way it's going to be?
145Do you know the fall came by women at the beginning? And fall... The end is going to wind up the same way, women coming into authority and ruling over men, and so forth. You know the Scripture says that? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] You know, the day that she puts on man's clothes, and bobbed her hair, all those things are contrary to God's Word. And you know she represents the church? ["Yes."] When you watch what women are doing, you'll see what the church is doing. That's exactly right. Now, now, that's just as true as the Word of God is true.
146 No other female is made that can stoop like a woman can. And yet, through that, being made an off-...
147She was not in the original creation. All other females is in the original creation: bird, male and female; animals, male and female. But, in human life, God only made a man, and He took from him. And a woman is the by-product of a man, because God did not institute such a thing. Search the Scriptures. Exactly right. God, no, sir, in His original creation. She was put out there.
148But if she can hold herself right, what a greater reward she has than man. She's put on a testing ground. Through her come death. She's guilty of all death. But then God turned around and used one to bring Life back again; brought His Son through the woman, an obedient one. But a bad one is the--the worst there is; there's nothing can be as low.
149 Cain, Satan's son, thought that God accepted beauty. He does today. Cain was Satan's son. "Oh, now!" you say. We won't go into details on that, but just let me settle it for you. The Bible said that he "was of that evil one." So, that settles it. All right. Now, he was Satan's son. And he thought that, bringing in an altar and making it real pretty for worship, that's what God would respect.
150They think, think the same thing today. Certainly. This, "We build a great building. We'll have great denominations. We'll make the biggest building and the finest-dressed people, the most cultured clergymen." Sometimes God is ten million miles from it. That's right. Yet, it's a church.
151 So, if God just respects worship, sincerity, sacrifice, Cain was just as just as Abel. But it was by revelation, that he understood that it was not apples that his parents eat.
152I'm going to say something here that don't sound good for a minister, but I'm going to say it, anyhow. I hear these other ones saying things, so saying little jokes. I don't mean it. I said this, though, "If eating apples caused the women to realize they were naked, we had better pass the apples again." See? See? Uh-huh. Forgive me for that, but just so that it'll change. I've got you tied up here, and talking about the women, and so forth. I--I--I want to relax you a minute, for what next is to come. Now, notice, you. It was not apples. We know that.
153 The church has become in these days, with its achievement, like all other man-made achievement, is becoming scientific. They're trying to make a scientific church, by the attraction of pictures and great steeples. And it's too bad that the Pentecostal got into that rut. You'd be better off with a tambourine, down on the corner, and the Spirit of God around you. But you're trying to compare with the rest of them, because you denominated. That's what did it. See? Churches is trying to be scientifically.
154And remember, as man achieves progress by science, he's killing hisself every day. When he invented gun powder, look what it done. When he invented an automobile, it kills more than the gun powder does. Now he's got hisself a hydrogen bomb. Wonder what he's going to do with that? Right.
155 And so is the church, as it tries to achieve by science, by man-made scheme, it's taking you farther away from God, and into death, more than it was at the first place. That's right. Don't choose your church the same way you did your wife. See? What science did for her was a marvel, but you better keep away from your church on that; he made paints, powders, and all these other things. Choose by character of His Word.
156Now let us compare the natural bride of today with the so-called church bride of today. Compare a woman, going to get married today.
157Now, just look what science has done for her. She comes out, first, with her hair chopped off, with one of these Jacqueline Kennedy hairdos, see, or something like that. And you know what the Bible said? The Bible actually gives a man, if he wants to, the right to put her away in divorcement, if she does that. "She's a dishonorable woman, that'll cut her hair." The Bible said so. Right. Didn't know that? Huh? Oh, yeah! I preach too much in California for you not to know that. That's right. Oh, yeah! What good does it do me? They do it, anyhow. You can't take the pig and change his name, make him a lamb. Notice.
158 You're going to hate me after this, but you're going to know the Truth. See?
159Look. Let's compare it. Here she comes up with a whole lot of paint, something that she's not, a modern bride. Wash her face, he'd run from her, maybe. Scare you to death, take all that stuff off of her. And so is the church with a big, painted front, a complete theological Max Factor. Uh-huh. Both has a--a beautiful, false face on them, man-made beauty and not God-made beauty. Not much character in either one.
160Notice, just like Satan, enough to deceive by, compare the modern bride now with her: wears shorts, wears paints, cuts off her hair, wears clothes that look like men, and listen to a pastor that told her that was all right. He's a deceiver. He'll suffer for it in the regions beyond. That's right. Doing that to deceive, to be something that she's not.
161 That's the way the church does, gets big DD., Ph.D., LL.D. So you say, "Our pastor is this, that, and the other," maybe know no more about God than a Hottentot knows about Egyptian night. That's right. Right. Some theological seminary experience out there, and knows no more about God than nothing.
162Modern church and their theological paint, have their women all with their glory shaved off, by their some ricky and a pastor that they got, like a Jezebel if there ever was one. Bobbed hair, shorts, paints, all fixed up in a theological taste, that's the way the church stand. Right. But her spiritual character is far from that being the homemaker that Jesus Christ is coming to receive.
163 If any Christian would marry a woman like that, it shows he's fallen from grace. His taste of God and his taste of a home, what a home ought to be, is far, when he choose a woman like that. No, sir. She sure wouldn't fit a Christian's taste. Her spiritual character is the lowest ebb, dead, in denominational beauty and lust of the world.
164That's exactly where the church stands today, sold her Word-given character to Satan, for a scientific man-made religion. When, she had the right, as a church of God, to stay with the Word of God and have the Holy Spirit working among, welding the Body together with the Word and love of God. Instead of that, she sold out her birthrights, like Esau, and took a denomination, let her do it, anything she wanted to, right, just to be popular like her mother did at Nicaea Rome. God's Word!
165Oh, how it's entered into our Pentecostal realm! It's too bad, but it did it.
166 Notice, just a minute, a nun in a Catholic church. That woman, to become a nun, and takes that last veil, she is absolutely sold out to that church. She is (soul, body, and spirit) property of that church. She has no mind of her own. She can't have, when she takes that last veil, no mind of her own, no will of her own. See out here, that Satan makes them his bogus, like the true.
167The true Church of Christ, the Bride, is so sold out to Him and His promised Word, till the very mind that's in Christ is in you. What a different!
168And we find today, that, the modern church, a modern world church. The modern world church and also that the spiritual Church are both pregnated, to give birth to sons.
169One of them, a denominational birth, is going to be give, one day to these days, at the World Council of Churches, which will produce to the world the antichrist, through a denomination. That's exactly the Truth. I may not live to see it. I believe I will. But, you young people, remember that you heard a minister say that. That'll finally wind up. And that is the mark of the beast, when she forms that World Council of Churches. And she'll give birth to her son, the antichrist.
170 The other is pregnated by the Word of God and will bring forth the Body, the finished Body of Jesus Christ, which is the Bride. The Body of Christ isn't finished yet. How many knows that? A man and woman is one. And Christ is one Body, the Word. The Bride will have to be the rest of that Body. And the two, together, makes the one Body again. Like Adam was at the beginning: man, his wife, are one. Now, She, the true Bride, so sold out to Him, that She use no mind of Her own. His mind, of course, is His will, and His will is His Word.
171 Now look at the so-called bride chosen by man, and compare the spiritual to the natural of today, a modern Jezebel bewitched by her Ahab, Max Factor beauties, everything. Look at the church, the same way, but a prostitute to the Word of the living God; big denominations, big buildings, big money, big salary, all sold out. Men standing in the pulpit endorsing that that's all right, and let them get by with it. Just deceit, that's all. Truly a blind Laodicea Church Age, just exactly what the Bible said would be. "Said, 'I am rich. I set as a queen. I have need of nothing.' And knowest thou not that you're poor, miserable, blind, wretched, naked: and don't know it." If that isn't THUS SAITH THE LORD, Revelations 3, I've never read It. That's what she is, and don't know it! Think of it.
172 If you'd tell a man or a woman, on the street, that was stark naked, and tell them they were naked, and they say, "Tend to your own business," why, there's a mental deficiency there somewhere. There is something went wrong with their mind.
173And when you can read the Word of God, how that people should do, and this baptism of the Holy Ghost that we have today, and, people, why, they look at you as if you were crazy. You tell them, "You've got... They got to be born again. They got to believe the Bible."
174 They say, "That was a Jewish fable, for years ago. Our church has the way." Wretched, miserable, blind, naked, and don't even know it. What a... And the Bible said that that's the condition they get into.
How could a true prophet ever miss seeing it? I don't know.
175Drifting right into all of our churches, everywhere. Just look at it, just in the modern trend. "The old whore and daughters," of Revelations 17, giving to the "poor, blind, miserable" people her doctrine of theology contrary to the Word of God. "And they found in her the souls of slaves, and men and women of--of everywhere." Instead of attracting the people...
176Christ does vindicates His Word, which attracts the people. He don't attract the people at churches that are attracted by big denominations and big doings, and great big carry-on's and fancy things. But the Word of God attracts the Bride of Christ.
177 Now notice. It's interesting to--to notice how that--that the church tries to attract the attention of the people by fine robes and dressed choirs, and bobbed-haired women and painted faces. And they think... And it sang like an Angel. Lie like a devil, run around all night to a dance like, think nothing about it. And that's what they think, "It's all right. That's beautiful." But, you see, that's false-made. That's not the Word of God.
178 While, the true Bride attracts the attention of God, by keeping His Word. Now notice. Now let us notice Christ.
179You say, "Well, now, wait a minute, what about this beauty you're talking about?"
180The Bible said, in Isaiah 53:2, that, when Jesus come, "There was no beauty of Him, that we should desire Him." That right? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] There's no beauty. If He would have come in the worldly beauty, as Satan is today, the people would have run around Him and accept Him the way they do the church today. They would have believed Him, received Him, as they do Satan today. Certainly, they would. But He didn't come in that kind of a beauty, but He always comes in the beauty of character. There, Christ wasn't a beautiful, great, strong, stout Man. God doesn't choose that kind.
181 I remember one time a prophet went up to--to take a king, to make a king out of Jesse's son, to take another king's place, Saul. And so Jesse brought him out, his great, big, fine boy. He said, "The crown will look right, on his head."
182The prophet went to pour the oil on him. He said, "God has refused him." And He refused every one of them, till he come to a little, old stoop-shouldered, ruddy-looking fellow. And he poured the oil upon him, and he said, "God chose him." See? We choose by sight. God choose by character.
183Character, there never was a character like Jesus Christ. It lives in you and manifests Him. We see it's true. It's not worldly beauty of Him that attracts His Bride. It is His character, the character of the Church, that Jesus looks for; not where it's big buildings, where it's great denominations, where it's big membership. He promised to meet with wherever two or three are gathered together. Truly. That's where the true believer rests his hopes, is upon that Word of God being vindicated in Truth, what is. Choose by His Word, not a worldly-loving group. They hate that.
184No wonder she is divorced from Him, because she's missed His revelation, and she don't have it. He cares not for her, the way she acts and does, and how much of this worldly stuff she has.
185 He's looking for her character, the character of Christ. Now, just a moment now. That's it. He chooses a Bride to reflect His character, to which the modern churches of today certainly misses His--His program here, a million miles, 'cause they deny This to be the Truth. So how could it be? Now, He's looking for the day for that Bride to be formed, Hebrews 13:8, just exactly like It was, like He was. It's got to be His same flesh, same bones, same Spirit, same everything, just exactly built up, and them two then become one. Until the church becomes that, they're not one. The character of Him, the Word, for this age, must be molded. She must be molded like He is.
186 Now, in closing, I want to say the reason that I said these things, and I'll--I'll close. The other night, about three o'clock in the morning, I was awakened up.
187I take any of you to answer this. Have I ever told you anything in the Name of the Lord but what it was right? It's always been right. [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] So help me, God knows that's true. There is no one, nowhere in the world, of the thousands of things that's been told, that He has ever missed one word of it. Always been perfectly come to pass.
188Even to when I was at Phoenix, the other day, or about a year ago it was, and told you about that Message on--on What Time Is It, Sirs? And told you, "Seven Angels would meet out there," and be the opening of these Seals, and what. And there the--the Life magazine packed the article of it, this great Flame going up in the air, thirty miles high, twenty-seven miles across. They said they couldn't make out what it was; don't know yet. And men setting right here in this building tonight, was standing right there with me when it happened, just exactly what It said. He told me the things was coming to pass, and happened just exactly. How each of those Seals opened, and told the mysteries that had been hid down through them ages of the reformers and so forth, just perfectly.
189 How, standing up on top the hill, men, three or four of them standing right here present now, yes, more than that. Going up the hill, the Holy Spirit said, "Pick up that rock." We were hunting. He said, "Throw it up in the air, and say, 'THUS SAITH THE LORD.'" I did. Down from there come a little funnel of wind. I said, "Within twenty-four hours, you'll see the hand of God." Men setting right here present now.
190The next day, about ten o'clock, standing there, I said, "Get ready. Get under the car there," a veteran. I said, "Something is fixing to happen." It was a clear sky, right up in a big canyon. Down come a whirling Fire from Heaven, just as hard as It could scream, hit the walls like that. I--I was standing right under It. I took off my hat, held my head. It come about three feet or four feet above me, and cut a ditch plumb around that wall like that, and blasted. And went back up in the air, and whirled around again, and come down, three times, even had cut the tops of mesquite bushes out, for two hundred yards. Hear them fellows saying, "Amen"? They were there when it happened, see, and made three blasts.
191 When they got out from under the cars and everything, come back over, said, "That would hit you, there wouldn't been a greasy spot."
192I said, "It was--It was Him. He was talking to me." God speaks by a whirlwind. See? And there was that same Pillar of Fire that you see on the picture, standing there.
And when It went up, they said, "What is it?"
I said, "Judgment is striking the West Coast."
193Second day from there, Alaska like to sunk. See? It struck once, there, the first blow.
194Where, you have to do something, to symbolize it. Like a man put some salt in a cruse, and throwed it in the water, and said, "THUS SAITH THE LORD, let there be sweet water." And another one, Jesus picked up water and poured it into a jug, and--and made wine out of it.
195You have to have something, to symbolize. That's what that was, that went up in the air and come down. That started that little whirlwind. Within twenty-four hours, It had shook that mountain till it cut a ridge around it.
196 Rev. Mr. Blair sitting here, I'm looking right at him now, he was up there and picked up some of the pieces of it, and so forth. Here is Terry Sothmann, them, and standing here, and Billy Paul. And brothers, some of many of these others setting in here, that was right there to see it happen when It tore it out.
197That's not fiction. That's the truth. That wasn't back in the Bible days. That's now. See? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] That same God that's always showed me these things, and they've come to pass, exactly to the letter. Never have they failed one time. Now I'm bragging on Him.
198 A few weeks ago, I was in a vision. And I was standing up on a--a high place, and I was to see the preview of the Church. And I noticed, coming from my... I was standing more like this way, facing the West. And coming this way was the lovely bunch of women, real nice dress, long hair fixed nice in the back, sleeves, and skirts down neatly. And they were all in a marching tune, like, "Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before." And as they passed by, I stood, and there was Something there, some Spirit, was God, and said, "There is the Bride." And I looked, and my heart was happy. And She went around this way, and passed around behind me.
199After while, when she come back this way, It said, "Now the modern church will come into preview." And here come the Asian church up. I never seen such a filthy bunch.
200Here come the other churches up, of the different nation. They looked horrible.
201 And I--I say this because I'm duty bound to tell the truth, before God. And when He said, "Here comes the church of America now, to be previewed." If I ever seen a bunch of devils, it was that. Them women were stripped naked, with an old gray-looking thing, like a color of an elephant's hide. And they was holding it in front of them, with no upper part on it at all. And they were doing this kind of stuff, that, these--these dances that these kids do out here, that twist and stuff, and that kind of music going on. And when I seen Miss U.S.A. come up, I almost fainted.
202Now, this is THUS SAITH THE LORD. You believe me to be His servant. You believe me now. I wouldn't say that for nothing in the world. There's not enough money in all the world to get me to say that if it wasn't true.
203And when she come by, that was the filthiest-looking thing I ever seen. I thought, "God, as hard as preachers and we brethren have labored to get You a Bride, and that's the best we could do." She was twisting, holding this in front of her, like one of these hula skirts of a thing, holding it in front of her parts, her lower part, like this, dancing and twisting like these kids do out here on the... on these vulgar shows that they have, twisting. That was Miss Christianity of America.
204 So help me, by the help of God, that's what it looks like in His face. I--I just... I start... I could have fainted. I thought, "All the trying, and the preaching, and the persuading?" Every one of them with bobbed hair, and they were twisting and carrying on, holding this in front. They come around, where I was standing there with this supernatural Being. I couldn't see Him. I'd hear Him talking to me; was right around me. But when they turned this way, they hold this. And just twisting and laughing and going on, carrying on like that, holding this in front of them.
205Now, me standing in His Presence there, and His servant. "And of all I tried, that's the best I could do?" I thought, "God, what good did it do me? What good did it do? All the crying, and begging, and persuading, and the great signs and wonders and miracles that You showed. And how I stood there, and go home and cry after preaching to them and things, and what good did it do me? And then I have to present something like that for You, for a Bride?"
206 And as I stood there, looking, she passed on by. And you can imagine the back part of her, with nothing on, holding this in front of her as she went shimmying by, like that, to this twist, throwing her limbs out like that. And, her, oh, it was vulgar, how she was carrying on, her body shaking around like that. Now I...
207You say, "What does it mean, Brother Branham?" I don't know. I'm just telling you what I seen.
208And when she passed by like that, I looked at her. Oh, I just got real faint. I just turned around. I thought, "God, I'm condemned. There--there's no need of me trying any now. Just might as well quit."
209Mrs. Carl Williams, if you're setting here, and that dream that you told me about, a while ago, that you had the other night, that's been bothering you, there it is. The steering wheel is taken from my hand.
210 Then, I just thought, "I--I just might as well forget it." I was gone.
211Then, all at once, I heard It coming again. And coming up on this side come the same Bride that went around this a way. Here come them little ladies again, and each one of them was dressed in their national garb from where they come from, like Switzerland, Germany, and so forth, each one wearing that kind of garb, all long hair, just exactly like the one at the first. And here they was coming, walking. "Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war." And when they passed by the preview stand where we were standing, just all at once, every eye went that way. And then they turned back, and on they went, marching.
212And just as they started to going right up into the skies, this other one went up to a brink of a hill and went down, like that.
213These started marching right up into the sky. And when they went to marching, I noticed a couple of little girls in the back, looked like they might be of some foreign girl, like Sweden or Switzerland, or somewhere. They started to look around, and got... I said, "Don't do that! Don't get out of that step!" And as I screamed like that, I come to, in the vision, standing there with my hand out like that. I thought, "Well..."
214 That's the reason I said what I have, tonight. I want to ask you a question. Is it later that we think? Could She already be called and chosen, sealed away? There won't be one extra one, you know. Could it be possible? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
215Remember what I said, other day at the breakfast. In the pollen of breeding male and female, there's a million germs goes forth, million eggs goes forth. But there's only one of them live, and, yet, they're every one just alike: one out of a million. Every one of them, the same egg and the same kind of germ. One of them lives. The rest of them die.
216No one can tell which is the one that's a ripe egg, and, oh, what about it. God has to decide that, whether it's going to be a boy or girl, blond or brunette, or whatever it's going to be. God decides that. Not the first one meets, but the first one God has decide. Maybe one come up here, and one... If you ever noticed, in the test tube, to see them come together. I've watched it. God has to decide that. One, every one of them, just alike, but by election. The natural birth is by election. God takes one out of the million.
217 When Israel left Egypt, on their road to the promised land, they were approximately two million people. Every one of them was under the same sacrificial lamb, or they wouldn't have lived. Every one of them listened to Moses, the prophet. Every one of them was baptized to him, in the Red Sea. Every one of them danced, the women with Miriam, up-and-down the side of (when) the seashore, when God destroyed the enemy. Every one of them stood with Moses, and heard him sing in the Spirit. They, every one, eat manna out of the wilderness, that dropped down from Heaven. New manna, every night, which is a type of the Message, every one of them eat from it. But, out of the two million, how many made it? Two. One out of a million.
218There's approximately five hundred million Christians in the world tonight, counting Catholic and all. Five hundred million so-called believers in the world. If the Rapture come tonight, that would mean... if one out of a million was the count. I don't say it is. But if it was, five hundred people, in the next twenty-four hours, would be missing. You'd never even hear of it. There'll be that many missing, anyhow, can't even be counted for.
219 Then it could be, happen to us, friend, like it did when John the Baptist came. Even the disciples said, "Why did the Scriptures say, why do the--the apostles or the prophets say, why does it say that Elias must first come and restore all things?"
220He said, "I say unto you that Elias has already come, and you didn't know it."
221One of these days we could be left setting here, "What about the Rapture before the tribulation sets in?"
"It's already come and you didn't know it."
222 All the Body, sealed in, just keeping It in step. I ain't saying it's that way. I hope it isn't that way. But, friend, when it lets...
223If we got a feel in our heart, tonight, that we should straighten up our lives, and the things that we have done, let me advise you, as a minister brother. I'm going to say this for my first time, over the pulpit. I've stretched out farther tonight, on This, than I have on anything else, any time, anyhow, before the public, because I've had a great freedom in these meetings. If you believe me to be God's prophet, you listen to what I've told you. If there's one little tinkle of feeling in your heart, you go to God right now. You do it.
224 Stop just a minute, men. Look at your--your creeds that you serve. Look in your churches. Is it just exactly with the Word of God? Have you met every qualification? Say, "I'm a good man." So was Nicodemus, and so was all the rest. They--they were fine. See? That don't have nothing to do with It.
225And, women, I want you to look in the mirror, and look what God requires a woman to do. And see in God's mirror, not in your church mirror now, in God's mirror; and see if you could qualify, in your life, the spiritual Bride of Jesus Christ.
226Ministers, think the same. Do you cut corners here, to save somebody's feelings over yonder? Would you do this if it wasn't... and they'll put you out of the church? If you are feeling that way, my dear brother, let me warn you, in the Name of Jesus Christ, flee from that right now.
227And, lady, if you can't measure up to the qualification of a Christian, not as a nominal Christian; but in your heart, and your life is patterned exactly like God's marriage certificate here says it has to be.
228And, church member, if your church isn't like that, can measure up to God's qualification of His Word, get out of it and get into Christ.
229 That is solemn warning. We don't know what time, and you don't know what time, that this city one day is going to be laying out here in the bottom of this ocean.
230"Oh, Capernaum," said Jesus, "thou who exalted into heaven, will be brought down into hell. For, if the mighty works had been done in Sodom and Gomorrah, it'd have been standing to this day." And Sodom, Gomorrah lays in the bottom of the Dead Sea. And Capernaum is in the bottom of the sea.
231Thou city, who claims to be the city of the Angels, who has exalted yourself into heaven, and sent all the dirty, filthy things of fashions and things, till even the foreign countries come here to pick up our filth and send it away, to your fine churches and steeples, and so forth, the way you do. Remember, one day you'll be laying in the bottom of the sea, your great honeycomb under you right now. The wrath of God is belching right beneath you. How much longer He will hold this sandbar hanging out over that? When, that ocean out yonder, a mile deep, will slide in there, plumb back to the Salton Sea. It'll be worse than the last day of Pompeii. Repent, Los Angeles.
232Repent, the rest of you, and turn to God. The hour of His wrath is upon the earth. Flee while there's time to flee, and come into Christ.
Let us pray.
233 Dear God, when, in my spirit, is shaking, my heart is dropping teardrops of warning. Grant, O God, that men and women will not think of what I've said as a joke, and the church people will not think of it as something that was prejudice or against them. May they see, Lord, it's in love.
234Thou barest me record, Almighty God, that up-and-down this coast I've went, year after year, proclaiming Your Word. Bear me record, O God, if it would happen tonight, I've told the Truth. Thou knowest this vision of the Bride is the Truth. I've took Your Name by it, Lord, and said it was THUS SAITH THE LORD. And I feel that I'm conscious, Lord, of what I'm doing.
235So I pray Thee, Lord, in Jesus' Name, let people shake themselves, tonight, and flee from the wrath that is to come, for Ichabod is wrote over the doors and over the nations. A black check mark has come across it. The Spirit of God is grieved away from it, and they're weighed in the balances and found wanting. The feast of King Nebuchadnezzar has repeated again, with drunken parties and half-dressed women, calling themselves Christians.
236 O God of Heaven, have mercy upon a sinful world and a sinful people, Lord, as we are tonight. God, I'm trying to stand in the breach and ask for Divine mercy, that You'll speak into this crowd tonight and call Your Bride to attention, Lord, to march not by the sign of any creed, but by the sound of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Grant it, O God. Let it be known, this night, that Thou art God, and Thy Word is Truth. While, solemnly, in the face of this people, we call them to attention of Thy Word.
237In the Name of Jesus Christ, I pray for them, Lord. They have seen You, beyond any shadow of doubt, move across their crowds and tell them what's in their heart. And Thou knowest, Lord, that, right now, what's going on. Thou knowest that to be Truth, O God. And I pray Thee, in Jesus' Name, let the Holy Spirit intercede again, Lord, and pull from this audience, Lord, those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Grant it, O God. I pray with all my heart.
238These people, naturally, Lord, would give me the last penny they had, to support the Message. They'd do anything that they could. But, O God, when it comes to coping with It, and coming into It, I pray, God, that this will be the night that You'll reward them and pour down Your Holy Spirit upon this convention. And may there not be a frolic or jumping around, but a weeping and a crying, and a repenting, holding onto the horns of the altar, while we see judgments roaring beneath us, tonight. Grant it, God. I pray as sincerely as I know how, in the Name of Jesus Christ.
239 My brother, sister, I--I don't know what more to say, if I found grace in your sight, by the power of God, if you believe me to be His prophet. This is the first time in public I've ever said that. But I feel a strange warning of some sort. I'm not prone to this. You know I'm not. I don't act like this. I hesitated to speak that Message and say those things. I run sideways and everything else, to keep from doing it. But It's been said, and It'll stand at the Day of the Judgment, as a witness that I've told the Truth. That's THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD!...?...
240Oh, Pentecost, run for your life. Flee to the horns of the altar and cry out, before it's too late, for an hour will come when you can cry and it'll do no good. For Esau sought to find a place, of his birthright, and couldn't find it. I commit you, oh, California. Oh, convention of the Full Gospel Business Men, who I love, who I've left and strung to, with all my heart, I commit you to Jesus Christ, tonight. Flee to Him! Don't let the Devil ever cool you off from This. Stay right with It until you're, every one, filled with the Holy Ghost, insomuch, that will make you come to this Word, that will make you women straighten up, that will make you men straighten up. If you'd say you've got the Holy Ghost, and won't cope with the Word, it's another spirit in you. God's Spirit is on His Word, the Messianic, the anointed Word. The Bride must be a Messiah-ette, the anointed Word.
241 Let us stand to our feet, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you never hear my voice again... But, God willing, I'm setting to Africa, in a few hours. I may never return. I don't know. But I tell you, with all my heart, I've told you the Truth. I haven't shunned to declare to you everything that God has told me to say. And I've said It in the Name of the Lord.
242It's a solemn moment. I don't know how to express it. I've tried to leave the pulpit three or four times, and I can't do it. This is a solemn hour. Don't you never forget it. This is the time that, maybe, God may be making His last call. I don't know. He'll make His last call, someday. When? I don't know. But I'm telling you, according to that vision, it looks like that that Bride is about finished.
243Look at the nominal churches coming in. When the sleeping virgin come for Oil, she failed to get It. The Bride went in. The Rapture went up. "While they went to buy Oil, the Bridegroom come."
244Are you asleep? Wake up, quickly, and come to yourself. And let us pray, each one, like we were dying at this minute, in the Name of the Lord. Let's, each one, pray in your own way.
245 God Almighty, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy on me. Have mercy upon us all. What good does it do, no matter what we do, if we fail in these things? I stand and ask for mercy, O God, before this great city sinks beneath the sea and judgments of God sweep this coast. I pray, God, that You'll call Your Bride. I commit them to You now, in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
- 62-0422 Prinavrátenie stromu Nevesty (The Restoration Of The Bride Tree)
- 61-0316 The Church Choosing Law For Grace
- 58-0520 The Sign Of The Time
- 57-0417 Druhý Príchod Pánov (The Second Coming Of The Lord) | príchod pánov
- 55-1116 The Calling Of Abraham
- 55-0302 The Curtain Of Time
- 47-1123 The Children Of Israel