Issues Of Faith

• Letter on: Signs Have To Follow Them

Dear Pastor,

"He (i.e. Satan) knows that since God is immutable (i.e. unchangeable) in His nature, then He is just as immutable (unchangeable) in His ways. Thus Satan knows ASSUREDLY that the Original Church at Pentecost WITH THE POWER OF GOD (Mark Sixteen in action) IS THE TRUE CHURCH THAT JESUS CLAIMS AS HIS OWN, ALL ELSE IS F-A-L-S-E, IT HAS TO BE.

Now remember this. Christ in the True Church is a continuation of the Book of Acts. But the Book of Revelation shows how that the antichrist spirit would come into the church and defile it, MAKING IT LUKEWARM, FORMAL AND POWERLESS He (i.e. Satan) knows that if the people get the TRUE REVELATION of the TRUE CHURCH and what she is, what she stands for, and that SHE CAN DO THE GREATER WORKS, she will be an invincible army."
(The Seven Church Ages, pg. 15, last two paragraphs).

"UNTIL HE (CHRIST) STOPS CALLING, THE PENTECOSTAL MESSAGE AND POWER WILL N-O-T CEASE. WHAT THE CHURCH HAD AT PENTECOST IS HER INALIENABLE RIGHT. ORIGINALLY, SHE HAD THE P-U-R-E WORD OF GOD. SHE HAD THE P-O-W-E-R OF THE S-P-I-R-I-T MANIFESTING IN DIVERS SIGNS A-N-D WONDERS A-N-D GIFTS OF THE HOLY GHOST. Heb. 2: 1-4, "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time, we should let them slip "
(The Seven Church Ages, Pg. 67, Para 2-3, by William Branham).

I must confess, the situation is very pathetic, and grieving, and makes one to fear for the effect it would have on the faith of the innocent many, seeing that it is just three minutes to midnight. In fact, discussions with a good number of the brethren, pathetically show that they have imbibed these teachings. They echo your own very words: "It is not important " "John the Baptist did no sign or wonder ", to quote just a few. But I am settled on what I believe. I believe what I believe, for I know what I believe - IT IS WHAT IS STATED IN THE BIBLE IN BLACK AND WHITE. But what about the innocent many?

WORD OF APPEAL:

Dear Pastor, don't you acknowledge mistakes, seeing that we are all mortals, and are subject to mistakes? Why use the pulpit for repressing and intimidating dissenting voices that try in sincerity and love to point you to Truth? Why use the pulpit to score points? Do you have to settle scores from the pulpit? As pastor over a large flock, don't you think you ought to be more accommodating of opposing views? Particularly when they are views that point you back to the Bible, and the voice of the Seventh Angel? I believe Nobody is infallible. And you definitely don't know all. And you have your weak sides too. It takes grace, sheer grace of God. Shouldn't you exercise some restraint as head over a large flock?

DENIAL OF THE WORD:

Brother, I believe you have read the message of the Prophet titled "INFLUENCE". And you realize the whole flock look up to the Pastor for food. WHAT IF A PASTOR WOULD GIVE HIS FLOCK WHAT IS NOT REALLY RIGHT? Whether knowingly or unknowingly? Aren't we aware that this is the Age of Restoration, Total Restoration - THE Ministry of Elijah of Mal.4? And what does it mean? Jude 3! The Blue- print of Pentecost! I will please like us to take a critical look at some Scriptures, perhaps it would make a difference to your stand. On Pentecost as our Blue-print, it is written:

"We are built upon the foundation of the Apostles AND the prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Corner Stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together growth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Eph. 2: 20 -22).

Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the issue of Gifts, Signs and wonders, emphatically declares in Joel 2: 28 -32; Mark 16: 15-20; and JN. 14: 11-13 thusly:

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters S-H-A-L-L PROPHESY, your old men S-H-A-L-L dream dreams, your young men S-H-A-L-L see visions:
"And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit.
And I W-I-L-L shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, (when?) before the great and the terrible day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call."
(Joel 2: 28 -32).

"And He said unto them, Go ye into all the World, and preach the Gospel to every Creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
And THESE SIGNS S-H-A-L-L FOLLOW THEM THAT B-E-L-I-E-V-E; In my name SHALL they cast out devils;: they SHALL Speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it SHALL not hurt them; they SHALL lay hands (not "pour oil") on the sick, and they SHALL recover And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word (how?) with signs following. Amen."
(Mk. 16: 15-20).

"Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: Or else BELIEVE ME FOR THE VERY WORKS' SAKE. Verily (truly), verily (truly), I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these SHALL he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
(John 14: 11-13).

"John knew of them also, for he said in 1st John 4: 1" many false prophets are (already) gone out into the world". That antichrist spirit was already Infiltrating the church, and it was doing it by going against the Word. Why here is where it all started. Right here in the first church age. Already, they were denying the Word and setting up their own creeds and philosophies instead of the Word. That is antichrist, for Jesus is the Word. To be anti-word is to be antichrist, because the Spirit and the Word are ONE. IF YOU ARE ANTI-WORD, YOU WILL HAVE TO BE ANTI-CHRIST. AND IF STARTED IN THE FIRST CHURCH IT WILL HAVE TO GROW UNTIL THE END WHEN IT TAKES OVER ...
Now it is easy to get a wrong impression of what we are talking about because I am making this so strong. It could sound to you as though this anti-word, antichrist spirit, is a complete repudiation of the Word, a denial of the Bible culminating in its rejection. No sir. It is not that. What it is, is Rev. 22:18-19. "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. And if any man shall take away from the Words of the Book of this Prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the Book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this Book". IT IS THE CHANGING OF EVEN JUST ONE WORD BY TAKING AWAY OR ADDING TO IT. It is the original trick of Satan in the Garden of Eden. He just added ONE LITTLE Word to what God had said. That did it. It brought death and destruction. And in Ephesus, it was just the same. Just a Word added, just a Word taken away, and the anti-word, antichrist spirit began to flourish.
Did you get it now? There are those twins again. There are those two trees again, growing side by side in the same earth, partaking of the same nourishment, drinking in the same rain, and benefiting by the same sun. But they come from DIFFERENT seeds. One tree is FOR the Word of God, EXACTLY AS GOD GAVE IT, and loves and obeys it. The other tree is from the seed that is anti the Word of God and changes it where it wants to. It substitutes its own creeds and dogmas for the living true Word exactly as did Cain, who ended up killing Abel. But fear not little flock, STAY WITH THE WORD, KEEP THAT WORD BETWEEN YOU AND THE DEVIL. Eve did not do that and she failed. AND WHEN THE CHURCH LETS DOWN ON THE WORD SHE GOES INTO THE DEPTHS OF THE DARKNESS OF SATAN."
(The Seven Church Ages, Pg. 84,85).

Despite the clearly stated promises of the manifestation of God's power in signs and wonders, with the powerful way you deliver Sermons (a gift for which we give thanks to God), you vehemently but cleverly explain away the miracles of the Apostles and the disciples in the book of Acts; explain away even the miracles of Jesus Christ; explain away 1st Cor. 12, by using the issue of love to knock it out and render it of non-effect; render the Gospel powerless by playing on the fact that the thousands who were fed, by the miracles of Christ, with bread and fish were not there at Pentecost; render 1st Cor. 4: 20, 1st Cor. 1: 17, 1 Cor. 2: 1-5 of non-effect; render Mk. 16 and Jn. 14: 12 of non-effect, by erroneously using the rebuke of Christ to the sign seeking, wicked and adulterous generation of Pharisees in Matt. 16: 1-4, to nullify the signs of the believers, and by so doing, divert the attention of the flock away from Mk. 16 and Jn. 14: 12, and also to make them think they are guilty of unbelief by daring to question your stand on the issue of signs and wonders as declared in the Scriptures, particularly when you play on the rebuke of Jesus thusly: "I know you won't believe until you see miracles." This is a subtle denial of the Word, as it being mis-applied!

Is Matt.16: 1-4 a rebuke to the believers? Had Jesus not, and was He not performing many miracles and signs even right before their very eyes every day? What other sign did they want? It showed that they did not believe the Messianic sign he was doing right before them! He therefore gave them the sign that blinded them - Jonah's sign. See? But believers have the Messianic sign - "The works that I do, shall you do also"; "These signs follow them that believe". Halleluyah! Jesus Christ did not give Jonah's sign to the woman at the well of Jacob in Jn.4, nor did he give Nathaniel or Peter. See? They are believers.

When you explain this away, explain that away; render this of non-effect, and that of non-effect, what do you have left? A shell. The life (the power) is gone. Dear brother, can't you see that? Can't you?

"And today, man can stand in the pulpit with such intellectual and speech-making, and education, until they can explain the power of the Holy Spirit away from the Bible, they can explain Divine healing away, they can explain speaking in tongues and interpretation But a man that's elected of God, a man " My sheep know my voice." If you've got that election of God upon you, it'll never stumble you."
(Hearing, Recognizing, Acting on the Word of God Pg, 8, para 50-51, by William Branham).
"OH, HOW CAN WE BE MISTAKEN, THEN, when Jesus said "These signs shall follow them that believe. In my name, they shall cast out devils, and speak with new tongues; take up serpents or drink deadly things, will not harm them; and they shall lay their hands on the sick, they shall recover."
AND MAN OF THIS DAY ARE FINDING THAT THEY ARE DENYING THAT POWER. "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power of the Holy Spirit." Sure, its brought open till we can see it.
We are COMFORTED, BECAUSE GOD'S WORD SPOKE IT, AND TOLD US, "THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE."
HE SAID THERE WOULD BE CRITICS RISE, THEY WOULD SAY THESE THINGS, SO IT OUGHT TO COMFORT US MORE FOR THAT "
"THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE." WE HAVE THE PROMISE, GOD'S WORD. IT'S A COMFORT TO US, TO STAY WITH THE WORD."
(The Comforter, Pg. 19, para. 135-138, Pg 20, para.149, by Brother Branham).

"As Jesus went away, He told His disciples to tarry until Pentecost at which time the very same Spirit that was upon Him would come back and fall upon them and fill them. Then that 'called out' body (the church) would be in His stead upon the earth, taking His place. And because that same Spirit that was in Him would be in them, they would do the very same works. And any people that is truly the body of Jesus Christ (the true church) WILL MANIFEST the same works as did Jesus and the Pentecostal church, BECAUSE the same Spirit will be in them. ANY OTHER CHURCH THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT A-N-D T-H-E M-A-N-I-F-E-S-T-A-T-I-O-N-S IS GOING TO HAVE TO ACCOUNT TO GOD."
(The Seven Church Ages, Pg. 250, para 3).

"For the kingdom of God is not in Word, but in P-O-W-E-R"!

I am not throwing stones: No matter how powerful and beautiful the sermons are; no matter how craftily and eloquently one can put Scriptures together; no matter how much the church shout and clap and say Amen and carry on, once the power is denied, it's all emotion - it's dead! Brother, can't you see that? Don't you care? And care is not just in words. Are'nt we, as your flock, precious in your sight? Brother, I believe you are sincere, but does it make unbelieve right? Cain was sincere with his offering. But his best did not meet the standard of the Word. David was sincere, bringing back the Ark. King Uzziah was sincere offering incense to God. King Saul was sincere offering sacrifice to God. Saul of Tarsus was zealously sincere resisting the Gospel of Christ. AND WHAT IS THE GOSPEL??? Please Brother, think again. Before it is too late. There is a line we can cross.

"And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with Excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, BUT IN DEMONSTRATION OF THE SPIRIT AND OF POWER: THAT YOUR FAITH SHOULD NOT STAND IN THE WISDOM OF MEN, BUT IN THE P-O-W-E-R OF GOD."(1 COR. 2: 1, 4, 5).

"FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT IN WORD, BUT IN P-O-W-E-R."

What is the Holy Spirit saying here through Apostle Paul the first Prophet - messenger? What does it mean? THESE WORDS MEAN JUST WHAT IT SAYS. Amen.

IDENTIFICATION OF GOD:

I did not need to see a sign or a miracle to believe the Gospel of Salvation. I gave my life to Christ and accepted Him as my Lord and Saviour without it. That's how it was ordained for me. Nor did I need to see one to believe the message of Elijah of Mal. 4. His message, placed on the Urim Thummim - the Word, clearly identifies him. But we cannot deny that the woman at the well of Jacob and Nathaniel believed because of the prophetic utterances, a sign, given by the Lord Jesus Christ, the sign which was the identification of the "Son of man" - the Messiah, the Prophet. Nor can we deny the fact that Jesus Christ by discerning, called Simon Peter's name in Jn.1:42-51, or deny the fact that Peter fell down under the conviction of sin, when he realized the supernatural Christ standing before him, at the time he drew forth an exceeding great catch of fish by the spoken word of command by our Lord Jesus Christ! Peter realized Christ was more than a man - He is God! (Luke 5:1-8).

But AFTER THAT WE BELIEVE, whether with the aid of signs or not (Jn. 10: 37-38), particularly when we come to the knowledge of Mk. 16 that "these signs shall follow them that believe " and also of Jn. 14:12 that "the works that I do shall he do also; and greater (more) works shall he do", one is bound to question or wonder why those signs don't follow us, if we are truly a group of believers, preaching the true (and not perverted) Gospel of Christ. It clearly shows that we are not getting the Holy Ghost. Where are the signs? Particularly when ninety-five percent of the congregation claim to have the HOLY GHOST! I wonder why we are terribly different from Pentecost if we truly have the same experience. Or has Jesus Christ changed in this hour nevertheless of Heb. 13:8? God forbid! Why are we then so powerless? I find the following indictment of the Pentecostal church so pathetically true of our Local Assembly: