Ewald Frank

preached on 18. 05. 1986, 19:30, Krefeld, Germany

Topic: "On 7 May 1946, the Angel of the LORD spoke to Brother Branham" and "‘The LORD’S Supper and Foot Washing!"

broadcast on 03. 10. 2026

We want to be richly blessed today, don’t we? We are here with great anticipation, and God will not disappoint us. We have also understood very well what was read to us:

“Take heed therefore how ye hear.” [Luke 8:18]

And then there is the scripture from Matthew 13, Matthew 13 from verse 51, Matthew 13 verse 51 where the Lord asks:

[51] Have ye understood all these things?

In the first scripture the emphasis is on hearing. In the second he asks: “Have ye understood all these things? They replied to him: Yes.”

How marvelous it is to understand the Lord when he speaks.

And I wonder what our attitude would be if the Lord could speak to us quite personally in such a way that we could see him. But that is precisely how he speaks to us, even when we cannot see him. For his Word remains his Word, and what he said then still applies today.

[51] Have ye understood all these things? They replied, Yes.

[52] Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

A truly marvelous saying! Here we hear of a school of the kingdom of heaven, not of scribes sitting at the feet of a Gamaliel, but of people who have been taught by God. As Holy Scripture says: “No one will teach another, but they will all be taught by God.” [Isa 31:34; Joh 6:45]

The Holy Spirit takes us into God’s school and reveals God’s Word to us.

Perhaps I may be permitted to make the following observation in this context. As long as the message was proclaimed in conjunction with translations into all languages, there was absolutely no confusion, everything was uniform, in step, and everywhere there was blessing and sheer joy. It is only since the time when brothers sought to distinguish themselves and also sought to impose their own opinions on others to some extent that many hardships have come up. But one thing we may say here with absolute certainty and without presumption, all interpretations will pass away, but God’s Word remains forever, and we believe in God’s original word and reject all interpretations; however good they may be, they are still wrong.

And then what was read to us will be fulfilled, there will be people from whom even that which they thought they possessed in pious delusion will be taken away. [Lk 8:18] But just as surely there are people who have been led step by step from clarity to clarity, from knowledge to knowledge, and more is continually added to them. Is that right?

I believe we can all look back on our spiritual growth and see how the Lord has simply revealed and made known his Word and his mysteries to us step by step. From this we recognize that we have received something from God, for it has been added to us. Something divine has been added to the divine. And as you know, it is written: Add to virtue, add, add, until the perfect man is reached, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. [Eph 4:13; 2Pet 1:5] And so we say with Paul: “Though I have not yet attained it, I press on towards it, because I have been apprehended by Christ.” [Phi 3:12]

We have not merely heard or believed just anything. We have heard God’s Word and believed God’s Word. When we sing “According to our firm faith it shall come to pass”, we must emphasize that our faith does not float somewhere in the cosmos, but is firmly anchored in God’s promises. And because our faith is anchored in these promises, we have not only the right, but the privilege to know what God has promised will come to pass. For Scripture cannot be broken. [Joh 10:35] Just as certainly as everything written concerning Jesus Christ was fulfilled in him, so certainly will everything that has been promised to us be fulfilled in the body of the Lord, in the redeemed.

Having said that, I cannot help but think of Brother Branham and of May the 7th, 1946. When the angel of the Lord came into his room, he saw the light at around 11 pm, and he saw a figure emerge from that light, he saw footsteps on the floor, and he saw the angel speaking to him. You are of course familiar with his life story. And then the angel said: “You will be given two signs, just as the prophet Moses was given two signs. [Exo 4:1-9] First, you will receive a sign, namely, on your hand.” You know that Moses was to put his hand into his bosom and was covered with leprosy, and the people saw it. He was to put it back in, and the leprosy had disappeared. [Exo 4:6-7]

That was the first sign. And the angel said: “You will be given two signs. The first is that you will place the hand of the patient for whom you are praying into your own hand, and that the patient will be able to see their own illness on your hand.” And Brother Branham simply took the patient’s hand, and they were not to close their eyes, but simply to look, whether cancer, a tumor, or a growth, any sickness caused by some sort of—we call it a germ, but essentially a demon, for anything that has life in it is not in fact a sickness, but has been brought into being by a demon. Brother Branham also stated this very clearly, but to stick to the subject at hand.

During the years 1946, 47, and 48, Brother Branham operated this gift exclusively, hundreds of thousands of people witnessed and experienced it firsthand. And then from 1949 onwards, the second gift was added, that the thoughts of people’s hearts and all the details concerning those for whom he prayed were revealed to him. And from that time onwards, he also suffered, because he was constantly seeing visions, but as long as he was ministering solely through the first sign, he would pray for hundreds of people until two or three o’clock in the morning without getting weak. It was only when the visions began, he says that one vision drained more strength from his body than one hour preaching. That is supernatural, and this body cannot yet fully bear the supernatural.

But I just wanted to emphasize the point, God has added to it, and the angel said to him at the time: “If they do not believe the first sign, then they will have to believe the second sign.”

Can you believe that the angel literally quoted the Gospel of John chapter 1 to Brother Branham, that he literally quoted John 4 to him and explained to him the very same sign that Christ had back then, the sign of the Messiah, that he was able to tell Nathanael: “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree”? And Nathanael was surprised and asked: “How long have you known me?” [Joh 1:48] You know the story of course. And he fell on his face and said: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God, you are the King of Israel.” [Joh 1:49-50] When Andrew brought Simon to him, the Lord was able to say: “Truly, here is an Israelite in whom there is no guile.” [Joh 1:48] And as you know, he was able to say to Simon: “Your name is Simon and your father’s name is Jonah.” [Joh 1:42] That was it for Peter.

The angel explained all these examples to Brother Branham on the 7th of May 1946, including that of the woman at the well, and said: “This sign took place amongst the Jews and the Samaritans back then.” But now is our time, namely the end for the church from the nations. Thus, it was the final sign for the church that the secrets of the heart and also of the Word, that the whole counsel of God had to be proclaimed. We are grateful to the Lord for this. This too was revealed to him concerning Abraham and Sarah.

We wonder why Brother Branham repeatedly emphasized the same scriptures and the same events at every healing service. Check it in the sermons, listen to it on the cassettes. He did this because the angel had pointed it out to him. Back then, when Christ performed this sign, the Pharisees said: “He has Beelzebub. He is of the devil.” [Mat 12:24; Mar 3:22; Luk 11:15] And the Lord said: “Every sin will be forgiven people, but not the sin against the Holy Spirit.” [Mat 12:31-32; Mar 3:28-29; Luk 12:10]

In these days, in our generation, the same God has been at work in the same way, and people have sinned. But there are also those who have heeded and accepted, and we may be among them.

We have heard wonderful words, and if we summarize it all, we must say, God is faithful. He wishes to have his way with us and in us and through us, and we would be glad if this were to happen soon. We do not merely pray, “Thy will be done.” [Mat 6:10] We also wish for it to be so.

We have heard about the spirit, the soul, and the body. One scripture caught my attention, and then a second. In Ezekiel 18, verse 4, the last part, it says: “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” [Eze 18:4]

There is a sin of the soul, and that is unbelief towards God and his Word. A person reasons with their mind, but believes in the very depths of their being. A person who does not believe God makes him a liar. [1Joh 5:10] They sin against God himself. And we must ensure that we can believe from the heart what God has said.

The second scripture is from the book of Acts, Acts chapter 3, the promise concerning our beloved Lord, about whom it was also prophesied as a prophet in Deuteronomy 18:15-19. Here it says in Acts chapter 3, verse 23:

[23] And it shall come to pass, that every soul which will not hear that prophet shall be destroyed from among the people.

This is not just about the body being buried, this is about the soul. We must believe the Lord, not people, but the Lord. And God speaks to us through his Word.

I would now like to quickly read the scriptures that we should take with us on our journey, namely Romans chapter 8, verse 15: Romans chapter 8, verse 15:

[15] For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

[16] The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God;

[17] And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

I shall read 2 Timothy chapter 1, verse 7, 2 Timothy chapter 1, verse 7, perhaps verses 6 and 7:

[6] Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

[7] For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. …not a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

I shall read another scripture from 1 John 4, 1 John 4, verse 18, 1 John 4, verse 18:

[18] There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

[19] We love him, because he first loved us.

We could not have loved him, had he not loved us first. But here it says, “there is no fear in love“ and the love of God is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. [Rom 5:5]

May God grant us the grace to become aware of the position we hold in Christ, to become aware of our state of grace. We are not strangers, but citizens of God and members of his household. [Eph 2:19] We belong to the kingdom of God. Everything that belongs to the kingdom of God belongs to us. How shall God, not with him, also freely give us all things? [Rom 8:32] He has given us everything. We need only accept it by faith and thank him for it from the bottom of our hearts.

Let me now read two scriptures concerning the Lord’s Supper from Matthew chapter 26, Matthew 26, verse 26. It says here:

[26] And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

[27] And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

[28] For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.h

The next verse is also important:

[29] But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

You all know, the great debate has been, is it the blood, or does it symbolize the blood? It is very simple for people who are able to believe. The holy blood was still in our Lord’s veins when he took the cup of wine, blessed it, and then handed it out. He did not pour out the cup to redeem us. He shed his holy blood on the cross of Calvary to pay the price for our redemption. But we take the bread, we take the cup as a remembrance that our Lord allowed his body to be beaten and bruised and shed his blood for many for the forgiveness of sins. [Mat 26:28] It is simple when we also use the relevant passages of scripture together.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 10, 1 Corinthians chapter 10, there is a truly wonderful passage in verse 16:

[16] The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

[17] For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

Just as there is one loaf, so there is one church. And just as the bread is blessed and broken, resulting in many individual pieces, so we, as many individual members, form the one body of the Lord, the church of the living God.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 11, from verse 23, you are actually familiar with these words. One hardly needs to read them again. Nevertheless, perhaps we should read verses 23 to 27:

[23] For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

[24] And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you:

I am grateful for these two words, “for you.” It does not end with “this is my body”, but “this is my body for you.”

[24] …this do in remembrance of me.

[25] After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

[26] For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.

[27] Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

[28] But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

Up to here this Word concerning the Lord’s Supper. It is one of the most beautiful moments we are privileged to experience together with God. The fellowship, the intimate fellowship of the redeemed, which even here on earth brings us the most precious moments we have on earth. And all of us who love God’s Word and believe and trust him know this very well. The most beautiful days and moments are when we can come together to hear the Word of God, right?

The whole week may be hectic, but when the time comes and we gather in the name of the Lord, in the presence of God, it is simply so soothing, so refreshing. The Lord quenches our thirst, he nourishes us, he shares fellowship with us.

As we will be having the washing of feet immediately after the Lord’s Supper and whilst this may be new to some, though it is biblical, but please let us emphasize this: Something that is new to someone is still correct if it is written in the Bible. It simply means that we may not have known it before, may not have heard of it, and may not have practiced it. But here we are commanded to do it, and we have no right to set aside even the slightest of the Lord’s commandments, let alone tell people that they do not need to do it.

I am reading here from the Gospel of John, chapter 13, from verse 4:

[4] He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments, and took a towel, and girded himself.

[5] After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with a towel, wherewith he was girded.

[6] Then cometh he to Simon Peter, and Peter says unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

[7] Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter.

[8] Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

[9] Simon Peter says unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

[10] Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit.

Up to here this Word; I shall read on in a moment. Here we are told what the Lord did. In the second part, which I shall now read, we are told what we are to do. John 13, from verse 12:

[12] So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

[13] Ye call me Master and Lord, and ye say well, for so I am.

To this we say Amen. He is our Lord. He is our Master. He commands, we do as he has said: “For so I am.” [Joh 13:13] Yes, Lord, it is you. You are my Lord. You are my Master. Tell me what I must do.

It goes on here:

[14] If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

Please understand this correctly. Peter had realized what was happening or would happen when the Lord said to him, “Unless I wash you, you have no part in me.” Then Peter was startled and said: “Then, please, Lord, not just the feet, but the head and the hands and everything else as well.” [Joh 13:8-9]

Bear in mind, we do not need to wash one another’s heads. Yes, we do not need to wash one another’s heads, only the feet, and to do that we must bend down nicely. Then we have no time to exalt ourselves above another. There we have the opportunity to regard our brother as more important than ourselves, and to perform a humble act of love for one another from the heart.

During Brother Branham’s lifetime, I took part in both the Lord’s Supper and the washing of feet. In his congregation, he taught and practiced it, and I too became aware of it, and so we do as we have been commanded.

It goes on to say here in verse 15:

[15] For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

[16] Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord, neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

[17] If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

It is not those who hear the word, but those who do it who will be blessed. [Jam 1:22] One must not ask why it must be so. Then one might ask why must one be baptized, why must this be done, and why must that be done. We do not ask why. We simply say: “Lord, you have said it and we are here to do thy will, to do as you have commanded us.” We do not do it out of obligation nor under compulsion. We do it with a joyful heart, because we love God and regard his Word as true and binding in every respect for us.

It is not permissible to treat the Bible as the priest treats Sunday, taking what one likes and doing as one pleases; no, we must respect the Word of God from A to Z and do what the Lord has said, praise be to his name.

“If you know this, blessed are you if you act upon it.” [Joh 13:17]

“I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you.” [Joh 13:15]

And now let us do both. Let us celebrate the Lord’s Supper with the Lord and with one another and then also carry out the second part that goes with it. May God bless us all. Amen.