Circular Letter December 2016

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Heb 13:8)

I would like to send heartfelt greetings to all brothers and sisters worldwide in the precious and holy Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, with the Scripture from 1 Cor 4:1-2:

“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” That is how Paul introduced himself and the true servants of Christ.

What a privilege to have been put into the ministry by the Lord Himself (1 Tim 1:12)! What a privilege to administer the mysteries of God that were proclaimed through the ministry of the apostles back then and in our time by the ministry of Brother Branham and have been revealed unto us by the Holy Spirit! What a privilege to be allowed to carry the last message literally to the entire world – to some for the calling-out, to others as a witness!

The most important message before the Return of Christ is: “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” (Mat 25:1-13). The Apostle John, who received the final revelation, wrote: “… And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” (Rev
19:7-9). Amen.

The following parable applies one hundred percent to our time: “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.” (Mat 25:1).

In this parable, it is foretold by the Lord Himself that only five of the ten virgins, that is half of those who hear the last call of the Bridegroom, will be ready and go in to the Marriage Supper.

At the time when the Bridegroom takes home His Own, the following shall come to fulfillment: “Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” (Mat 24:40-41). One will be taken up and the other one left behind.

Ten virgins go out to meet the Bridegroom: Five are ready and go in to the Marriage Supper; five are left standing before the closed door. And again the urgent admonition: “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” (Mat 24:42); and once more: “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Mat 24:44).

According to what the Lord Himself said, only half will truly remain faithful until the end and go in to the Marriage Supper. In the promise that God gave to Abraham (Gen 15:5-6; Gen 22:15-18), the redeemed of all times since Adam shall be an innumerable multitude, like the stars of the heaven (Rom 4:18).

In Mat 24 we find a record of what will take place before the Return of Christ. There it speaks of natural disasters, wars, earthquakes, and famines as well as of false Christs and false prophets. In regard to the Gospel, it states: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Mat 24:14).

The sign for our time, which is visible to everyone, is the return of Israel in the parable of the fig tree (Mat 24:32). After all, God promised them already in Eze 11:17: “Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.”

Therefore, our Lord said in Mat 24:33: “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it – the Return of Christ – is near, even at the doors.”

The condition of the world, however, will be the way it was at the time of Sodom and Gomorrah and in the days of Noah (Mat 24; Mk 13). The rapidly progressing climate change, global warming and the resulting severe weather conditions frighten people, as it is written: “… and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring …” (Lk 21:25b).

Mat 24:45-47 applies to the spiritual realm. The spiritual food is given out in due time and is directly connected with the biblical doctrine. “… nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.” (1 Tim 4:6). A man sent from God knows the day and hour of his commission and does exactly what he has been commanded. An evil servant (vv. 48-51) appoints himself, has no commission, and cannot report of any calling. A mix-up or commingling does not exist. A true servant has never turned into a false one, and an evil servant has never transformed into a faithful one. Moses never became the likes of Balaam, and Abel never adopted the ways of Cain.

This is directly followed by the parable of the ten virgins in Mat
25:1-13. What is written there is being fulfilled now, until right before the second coming of Christ. The wise virgins have burning lamps and the vessels of oil. The lamps of the foolish go out due to the lack of oil – the fullness of the Spirit, and they are told: “Go rather to the shopkeepers, who also speak of the Spirit in their charismatic meetings.” The wise virgins are not enticed by anything; they will go in to the Marriage Supper as a pure bride, and the door shall then be closed. The following is fulfilled with them: “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Rom 5:5).

The foolish, who likewise wait for the Return of Christ and for the Rapture, will call out in disappointment: “Lord, Lord, open to us.” “But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” (Mat 25:12).

With God there is no comingling, neither in heaven nor on earth. Every seed brings forth after its own kind. Only the pure of heart will see God; only the ones who are filled with the Spirit of promise (Acts 2:38) and are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Eph 1:13) will enter into glory. “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Rev 21:27).

As was the case already in apostolic times, so also in our time both of these go forth: first the Word and then the interpretations. “Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” (Acts 20:30). The foolish virgins will also believe interpretations, while the wise virgins hear only the original Word, believe it, and abide by it.

One thing is certain: No false teacher will be raptured – “… but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be” (Gal 5:10b) – and neither will the ones who let themselves be deceived because they also “… have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray …” (2 Pt 2:15).

In the Book of Revelation, we read right at the beginning: “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” (Rev 1:3). Whatever is not written in the Word falls under interpretations, which we as the Word-Bride cannot believe, let alone keep.

We also find the same admonition along with the beatification in the last chapter: “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” (Rev 22:7).

The Bride says only what the Spirit has revealed from the Word: “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (v. 17).

Then comes the irrevocable warning: “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book …” (v. 18).

All of the doctrines that are being called special revelations but are not found anywhere in the Bible are false teachings and have been added to the sealed testimony of God. Whatever is not contained in the testimony of the Bible is unbiblical; what is not written in the divine Testament is not of God. Even Paul already had to write in Gal 1:8: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

Whoever adds anything to the Word of God is beguiled, preaches another Jesus and another gospel, and is deceived (2 Cor 11:3). The Lord could never say to the false teachers, “Come unto me, ye blessed!” That is absolutely impossible because God is true; He has separated light from darkness. As certain as the Lord has sent His servant and prophet William M. Branham with a scriptural message, we were indeed brought back to God and His Word, which was in the beginning. The pure Word-message was proclaimed unto us, which, in turn, brings forth the pure Word-Bride. All who believe as and what the Scripture says are part of the wise virgins. The elect cannot be deceived by any interpretation. They are in the Word and the Word is in them. Blessed is the preacher who can truthfully say, “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord …” (1 Ths 4:15a)! The following applies to such preachers: “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” (1 Jn 4:6). Amen. Amen.