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Sermon Texts Beginning With E
Events Made Clear By Prophecy (65-0801E)
| Events Made Clear By Prophecy (65-0801E) |
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1 Let us bow our heads now for prayer. Our Lord God, great Creator of heavens and earth, Who brought again Jesus from the dead, and alive with us for these two thousand years, ever living to confirm His Word and make It true, each generation. We are so thankful for His Divine Presence just now, knowing this, that we have this great assurance, that after this life is over, we have Life Eternal in the world that is to come. Thank You for this, Lord. And that hope I anchor to the soul, that's steadfast and sure in time of storm... And when the storms come, the great waves are rolling, we feel that by faith in Him we can crest every wave. 3 We certainly deem this a grand privilege to be here tonight again to--to speak to the people and pray for the sick. We want to greet all those who are out in the land of the--the telephone connections across the nation again tonight. And so we pray that God will bless each one of you, trusting that all that accepted Christ this morning will be filled with the Holy Ghost and ever live faithful and true to Him until life is over here on earth, this mortal life. And then they, by doing that, they have Eternal Life. They will never die in the age that is to come, to the great age that we all look forward to.
4 Now, we're going to say, while I'm thinking of it, not to interrupt. Brother Vayle is here, and I might not get to see him. I'll... Can I send that manuscript on to you when I get back to Tucson? I'm looking it over; I haven't got it all read yet, and I'll send it back to you as soon as I get to Tucson. 6 We also want to thank Brother Orman Neville, Brother Mann for this wonderful time of fellowship with them. How I'm very grateful to have, be associated with such men as Brother Neville, Brother Mann, and all these other ministers around here. I suppose they've been recognized. If you haven't, by our board and our church here, I'm sure that God recognizes you here as His servants. May the Lord ever bless you. 7 Now, I was asked a little something here, on a little note was given me to... They had a trustee meeting the other night here on the board of trustees and deacons, and I think the minutes were read this morning before the church. Which, that's custom for us to do that. In the decisions that was made by the board of trustees and deacons here in the church, of course, they can't please everyone. We cannot do that. I have not one thing to do with the trustee board or the deacon board. I have not even a vote unless there's a tie, and I have to be here to do it then; Brother Orman Neville takes that second vote. Then we have to sign these, because we're part of the church. But what the trustee board and them board's decision they make, we certainly stand behind them one hundred percent, 'cause that's what they're here for. And their decisions is between them and God. I cannot, cannot and would not, by any means, contrary that decision. And another thing, I am forbidden by the United States Government to make any decision concerning that, so please don't ask me to correct their decisions. I cannot do it, and I will not hear nothing about it. See? So don't ask me to correct their decisions. You see the board; that's the one that made the decisions. All right.
8 Now, in the event of a coming meeting, it is possible, if the Lord willing, I'll be coming back here in about four to six weeks, or something like that, for maybe another Sunday's meeting. And I announced this morning I wanted to speak on "God Manifested In His Word," and I just won't have time tonight, and, frankly, I haven't hardly got enough voice to do it. And then the crowd, there's almost as many on the outside as there is on the inside, and, perhaps more, counting those buses and trucks and things that's setting out there with the people. Turned on, the little broadcast has stepped up a little, we can hear it. This little wave, short wave from the Tabernacle, we can pick that up a city block away. And some of the cars are several city blocks away, the lines of car, up and down, and around and through the streets, around the Tabernacle tonight. I don't believe at anytime, visibly, we've ever had more people jammed in and around the church than we have tonight. So we are... And many, many, many are just driving up and driving away. 10 Now, I want, before reading the Bible, and will you pray for me now. I--I'm going to try to bring a little message, the Lord willing, on the appropriation of Divine healing. For, this morning we talked on salvation. And tonight we're going to speak a few minutes on Divine healing, and then call the prayer line and pray for the people. While we're doing this, out on the hookups, wherever you are, even out in the buses and cars around within a block or two of the Tabernacle, when it comes time to pray for the sick, if you can't get into the building... Which, you cannot, I'm sure now, 'cause doorways everywhere is jammed tight, past, and no room nowhere, so you pray and lay your hands on one another out there. And let each minister who's hooked in tonight, also pray for his congregation while the healing services are going on. We believe that God is omnipresent, everywhere. Now, before we read...
11 Or, before we--we pray, we want to read some of God's Word. And I changed my--my Scriptures awhile ago, because wanting to change the type of meeting that I had set in my mind for tonight, so I have changed it a little bit; and so I had to change my Scriptures, not change them, but set them in another order, of Divine healing, so that--that people would understand. Let's turn to St. Luke the 24th chapter. And we will begin at the 12th verse of the 24th chapter, and read down to about 34. It's on the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
Then Peter, arose Peter, and ran to the sepulchre; and stooping down, and he beheld the linen clothes... wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.And, behold, two of them went the same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. (Now, it takes ten furlongs to make a--to make a mile, so it was about six miles.)And as they talked together of... these things which had happened.
... it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as you walk, and are sad?
And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered saying unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and has not thou known these things which are come to pass... in these days?
11a And he said unto them, What things?... (Now, remember, this is Jesus Himself, risen, talking.)... And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and in word before God and all the people:
... how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to the... to be--to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.But we trusted that He had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and besides all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said... he was alive.
And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. (Listen now.)
11b
Jesus, then said He unto them, O fools,... slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to entered into his glory?
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them all, in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
And they drew nigh unto the village, where they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is towards evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
And it came to pass, as he set at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and give it to them.
And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sights.
And they said one to the other, Did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures?
And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and when they were with them,
Saying. The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared unto Simon.
And they told what things were done in the way, and how that he was known to them by breaking of bread.
12 Now, let us pray. Dear gracious Father, we thank Thee for Thy Word, for Thy Word is Truth; Thy Word is Life. And Thou, O Lord, and Thy Word are One. So we pray tonight, Lord, that You will come among us in the power of Your resurrection and will show forth to us tonight, like those that came from Emmaus, that we too would return to our homes, saying, "Did not our hearts burn within us?" Grant it, Lord, it's towards evening time again. For we ask it in Jesus' Name. Amen.
13 Now, I want to speak concerning this Bible. And my subject tonight, for the topic is "Events Made Clear By Prophecy," "Events Made Clear By Prophecy." 15 Now, all other books, sacred books, is only a code of ethics, a code of morals, or a code of theology, something that... How many ever read the Koran, the Mohammedan Bible, and--and the book of on Buddhists, and so forth? It's just a code of ethics, what people should live, how they should live, but it doesn't prophesy, doesn't say anything about these things or about any special gifts being given to anybody, anything to take place. Just like joining a lodge or something. Therefore, when churches come to the place that they make their church just a lodge to join, then they're plumb off the Word of God.
16 For the Bible is a living, foretold witness of Jesus Christ. And as the earth has growed into its fulness and also vines grow into their fulness, the day grows into its fulness, the Bible was manifested in Its fulness in the Person of Jesus Christ. He was the Word of God revealed, the whole complete book of redemption. The Bible is God's Word, foretelling the future events. Its believers is commanded by Its Author to read and believe every Word of It, not just part of It. One Word, to disbelieve It, you might as well quit trying until you believe that Word. Every Word is absolutely a part of Almighty God, God made manifest, wound into His Word to show forth Who He is.
18 Now, look in the days of the coming of the Lord Jesus. Why didn't those people recognize John, when the Bible plainly said by Isaiah, "There will be a voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord'"? Their last prophet they had, which was Malachi 3, said, "Behold, I send My messenger before My face to prepare the way." Why didn't they see it? Because they was looking upon something that had been done, basing their thoughts upon some message that had went forth beforehand, and failed to see the present manifestation of God in the day they were living.
20 The Pharisees looked back to see what Moses said, and they said, "We have Moses. We don't know whence Thou comest."
22 Look just a moment, to some of you people, and especially I speak to you Catholic people. Do you realize, have you ever read the actual history, the history of the Roman Catholic church? How that on your martyrology, since Saint Augustine of Hippo, how many million innocent people that the church put to death? I forget, can't call the exact number, but it's up in the millions, since Saint Hippo of--Saint Augustine of Hip--of Hippo, Africa, made it a declaration that it was absolutely the will of God to put anybody to death that protests the Roman Catholic church. Do you realize that in that, that Saint Patrick was never recognized till after his death, as a Roman Catholic? He protested the pope and all of his doings, and the Catholic church itself killed tens of thousands of his children. Did you know that the Catholic church burnt Joan of Arc, that little sainted woman, to the stake, for be--said she was a witch. Two hundred years later, dug up the bodies of the priests, when they found out that it was wrong, and cast them into the sea, without burying them in the sacred ground, to do penance.
23 How them priests, would like tonight to come forth, that condemned Jesus. The only thing, they never seen the prediction of that hour. If they... Jesus said, "Search the Scriptures, for in Them you think (or rather) claim that you have Eternal Life, and the Scriptures is what tell you Who I am," for that hour.
25 Now, there's one chance out of a thousand that a man might make a prediction that something another is going to happen, and it would happen. But then if he places where it's going to happen, that cuts him down to maybe one chance out of ten thousand. If he says the day it's going to happen, that cuts it down, one chance out of about a million. And who it's going to happen to, that brings it down to billions of chances.
29 It foretells the Author's doings before He does it. Therefore, telling that, then that puts every man and woman at the judgment bar without any excuse. If you take what the Methodists say about It, what the Baptists say about It, what the Catholic says, what the Pentecostal says, or any other church, you might find some disappointments at the judgment. But if you'll just watch what the Bible says is going to happen, and when it happens, then you'll recognize what happens.
31 Notice these people from Emmaus, He said their--their understanding of Him was withheld. They talked to Him and didn't even know Who it was all day long. God can do that, for He's God. 33 The same thing I was trying to say this morning about the adultery of women, dressing the way they do now. They are adulterers. In God's Book they are guilty of adultery every time they put on sexy-looking clothes. Their soul, not knowing it... I believe them women, many of them, thousands of them are innocent, and would by no means commit adultery. And the poor women, with somebody who will let them get by with it, without exposing it and tell the truth, commit adultery. Which the Bible said the whore that set upon many waters, that all the kings of the earth and the peoples of the earth, the churches and so forth, committed spiritual fornications with her, and she was the mother of harlots": denominations...
34 We watch the Bible, for God doesn't leave us in darkness. He sent the Bible to foretell us the events before they happen, and the very nature and time they would come.
36 And when you see the church getting worldly, like it was in the days of Sodom, see the church world all going into the worship the god of this evil age, and seeing that; then seeing a little minority group gathered out under the inspiration of God, producing again the Life of Jesus Christ, by the Scriptures that's supposed to happen, you know what hour you're living in. 38 We know that the day that we're living in, but as it has been in every age, people let men put their own interpretation to this Word, and causes them to be blinded to the event that's happened. Same thing it done with the Pharisees and Sadducees. Even when Paul stood there and tried to quote the Scripture, and one man smote him in the face because he called the high priest a whited wall... And then they missed seeing God confirm His prophesied Word.
39 See, the Bible doesn't contradict Itself, the Bible is God. There's no contradiction in God; He's perfect. 42 Notice, then that's the reason that these people fail to get it, because they listen to what somebody else says about It, instead of reading the Word like Jesus told them to do, "And They are They that testify of Me. Search the Scriptures, in Them you think you have Eternal Life, and They are They that testify of Me." In other words, listen, "What? Read the Scriptures and see what the Messiah was supposed to do. See what time the Messiah was supposed to come. Look who was going to forerun the Messiah. Look at the hour. There's to be a voice of one crying in the wilderness: John. And you done to him exactly what you listed. Look what I was supposed to do when I come. And now what have you done? Have I failed to meet This?" (See?), Jesus speaking, "Have I failed to meet this?"
43 Notice, as we come on down through the Scriptures this afternoon, how that everything that was prophesied of Him happened just exactly the way it was supposed to. They should've knowed this event. "This fanatic, young fellow raised up, about thirty-three years old and--or thirty years old, and went down there and claimed all kinds of lights, and doves ascending. And, why, it was just a--a disgrace." They said, "He was born with illegitimate parents, claimed he was born of a virgin birth."
46 Therefore by listening to man's interpretation, they see the confirmation of God's Word fulfilled; they fail to see It. Because it's going on all the time, but because they listen... And Jesus said they're blind leaders. And if the blind leads the blind, what happens to them? Now, remember, the Bible predicted this ecclesiastical age of this Laodicean age was blind. They had Him outside the church. There's not another age, another church age that Jesus was on the outside. But the Laodicea church age, He was on the outside, trying to get back in, "I stand at the door and knock." He's supposed to be inside. But He said, "Because you say 'I'm rich, increased in goods, have need of nothing,' and don't know, don't know that you're blind, leading the blind, poor in spirit, wretched, miserable, naked, and don't know it." 48 Now, seeing God... Now, what if those Pharisees would said, "Wait a minute. That Man's give us quite a challenge; He said, 'Search the Scriptures, for in Them you think you have Eternal Life. They testify of Me.' It's better that I look back in the Scriptures and find out what He's supposed to do, Who He is, what's supposed to take place. I should look back and find out"? Instead of that, they went to the priest and asked him, "What about It?" See the difference? They should have been reading the Word. 49 In Hebrews 1:1, the Bible said, "God, in sundry times (that's old times) and in divers manners wrote the Bible by the prophets." Now, notice. He wrote the Bible by His own chosen way. See? Now, He didn't have to write It that way; neither did He have to save man by Blood. He didn't have to preach the Gospel by man; He could let the sun or the moon or the stars preach the Gospel; He could let the winds hum the Gospel. But He chose man. And He chose the way His Word came, and that was by His prophets which were predestinated and foreordained, being a part of God's Word, declaring the revelation of His Word to that age and that time. "For the Word of God came to the prophets only." Never does It come to a theologian. Show me the Scripture. It comes only to prophets. God cannot lie. So God wrote the Bible by His chosen method, and His Own chosen prophets; not the prophets man had chose, but the prophets God had chose.
50 Then its believers watch for the fulfillment of what their prophet said, and that's identification that they are God's prophets. Because first, they're inspired. Next, they say exactly with the Word of the hour. Then that's his credentials. See, we went through that last Sunday. Many false prophets will rise. And we give the illustrations of how that Balaam and Moses, both of them anointed with the same Spirit, one of them said, "We're all one. Let's come join, put our girls and all together. We got pretty girls over here, and you boys come over here and take you a nice wife. That's all right; we're all one people anyhow, the same race." God never did forgive them for it. They listened to that. See?
52 Notice now, the believers wait for that Word to be confirmed. See, It was not wrote by men, but by the Lord God; therefore, It's not a book of men.
55 God does His Own choosing by predestination, chose the prophets for every age. Notice it. He fixes the nature of that prophet to fit that age. See? He fits his style, whatever he does. He fits him whether he's educated or not educated. He fits the gifts, the manner that he'll preach in, the gifts he'll have. And the message for that certain age, God's predestinated that certain thing to happen and there's not another thing can take its place. Don't care what it is, how many manmade achievements; nothing can take its place. He predestinated the man maybe an ignorant man; He might've predestinated Him another kind of a man. Whatever he is, He gives him his class, his--his gifts, give him his nature, his style, and whatever it is, how he expresses himself, and whatever he does. He makes the man of the hour to catch the people of the hour. Right. He does it. 57 Now, you see, God wrote the Bible, Himself. Now, God can speak. Moses said He spoke to him. Jeremiah said, "He put Words in my mouth." And God can write. He wrote the Ten Commandments with His own finger. He wrote on the walls of Babylon. And remember, of the Old Testament alone, two thousand times the prophet said THUS SAITH THE LORD. God can speak; God can write. Certainly. Almost ninety percent of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, is the very Words of God Himself, Jesus Christ speaking. So if God can write, if God can read, if God can talk, can't He cause others to do the same? Did not He say to Moses, "Who makes man dumb or who gives him speech?" God wrote the Bible by the prophets, His way of doing it.
58 Now, every time that the church gets mixed up, and God foreknew they would, for He foreknew all things; therefore, He has His certain prophet ready for that age, to call His electing by His a-vindicated Word of signs and wonders, and confirmation of His Word: confirming the Word with signs following, as He promised. He gives the true interpretation after the prophet himself has been vindicated.
60 Look at the age of Noah at the climax before judgment. What happened? Noah, it was only his own family that believed the man. The rest of them criticized him. And He destroyed the whole world.
66 John the Baptist, "He was a wild man down there, some screaming maniac." All but--but those disciples that he presented to Jesus Christ as a church, "There it is."... John made ready a people. How many did he have? You could count them on both fingers--both hands, your fingers, how many that John presented to Jesus when He come. Now, what about His second coming? Think of it. 68 Others just can't see It, they're blinded. Now, you say, "They can't see It." Now, like Balaam, why couldn't Balaam see That, he was a prophet, anointed? Why couldn't Pharaoh see It? When he seen the hand of God come down and perform miracles, and It only hardened his heart. Is that right? Why couldn't Dathan see It, a Jew himself? Right out there, had come through the Dead Sea, and eat the manna every night, that fell fresh, and still couldn't see It. Why didn't Korah see It? Why didn't Caiaphas see It? He was the head religious man of the world at that time. Why didn't he see that was the Messiah? Why didn't Judas see It? Judas was right with them, walking with them, performing miracles with them. But the Word had to be fulfilled. The Bible says they was raised up to take that place. They was raised for that purpose. That's true. Romans 8 says that. 69 Now, the believers can see the Word is made flesh in their generation: God speaking. Now, them real true believers, them seven thousand, or was it seven hundred in the days of Elijah? Seven thousand's right. In the days of Elijah, there was seven thousand men out of about two or three million, that saw that that was right. Not even a hundredth of the people, hardly. But they saw It was right. They saw God manifested. That old widow that Elijah was sent to, she went to get those sticks, to make a cake, and just enough to make a cake for her and her son, and then die. But watch Elijah; he said, "Make me one first. For THUS SAITH THE LORD, the barrel will not fail and neither will the cruse run dry until the day the Lord God sends rain upon the earth." No question, she took right off to make the cake and give it to him. Said, "Make mine first, and then go make one for you and your son." For she heard that man and looked at him, she was a predestinated seed.
70 Many of them say, "There's that old crank again. God's cursing us because of him." 73 Now, watch the rest of it. Don't watch signs. If you watch signs, you'll be fooled as sure as the world. False prophets will rise and show signs and wonders that'll deceive the elected if it was possible. Watch the Word. Look at these priests, these prophets, Hebrew prophet standing there. Zedekiah with two great big horns, and saying, "I am a ordained of God prophet." That's true. "I have three hundred and ninety-nine right here with me, and the Holy Spirit upon us, confirming and saying that land belongs to us. Let's go up and take it. And by these horns, Ahab, you'll push the enemy off of our ground, for God gave us the ground."
74 Watch that religious man, good man, Jehoshaphat said, "Haven't you got one more?" 82 He smote--took his hand and smacked him in the mouth. The prophet smacked the prophet in the mouth. Now, both those anointed prophets standing there prophesying, four hundred against one, that looked pretty strong. Now, in the multitude of counsel it's not always safety. Depends on where they're--what they're counseling about, what their counsel is. There wasn't safety there for the king, and he took that multitude for their counseling to be right. But if he'd just stopped and turned back the scroll and look what Elijah had just said... Ha.
83 Then, Micaiah couldn't say anything, he didn't know but maybe God forgave him for it. But first, being a prophet, he went to God to find out what God said. And he found out what God said. He said, "I saw God setting upon a throne, and He said--had all of His counselors of heaven gathered around Him, said, 'Who can We get to go down and cause Ahab to come out here so we can otherwise fulfill the prophecy that's made about him?'" See, prophecy...
86 Now, God knew that them men was so puffed up and so full of theology that they thought they had everything right. They had never noticed the Word for the hour. See? So God said, "You will succeed; go on down." And when Micaiah said that, that made them prophesying under a evil spirit. They'd have jerked the plug out of the telephone, or turned off the radio, or done anything, they heard that coming against them, got up and walked out. But look what happened. Now, Micaiah had to check his vision with the written Word; therefore, he knowed.
90 Now, let's get to our text, 'cause I see I'm going to get away; I want to emphasize on that prayer line a lot. Let's get back to the text now we got under consideration here for a minute. Well, it'll happen again like it always did, as usual.
95 The church did not believe him, because he was not known of them. They had no record of his ordination on their books; so therefore, they refused him. See, they didn't believe God's vindicated Word, plainly, letter by letter. See? Malachi 3, two Scriptures to a-vindicate him: Malachi 3 and Isaiah 40 and 3. See, both those Scriptures spoke of a man coming, preparing the way of the Lord. He met every specification of it.
99 Notice, they laughed at him, calling him some "screaming, wild unlearned fanatic with no schooling, hit, hain't, tote, carry, fetch, so forth." As usual they judge him by his education. They judge him by his grammar, by the way he dressed. He had a piece of sheepskin around him, and a camel skin belt on; he was all hairy. Walking out in the waters, no church, no pew, no cooperation, they couldn't accept that. They was worshipping the god of the world. See?
101 Then John's prophecy was vindicated in God's own order. Watch how perfect. The Bible said the Word of the Lord comes to the prophet. And Jesus was the Word. And John was prophesying of the coming of the Word for fulfillment, and Jesus the Word came to the prophet in the water. Oh, how beautiful. How unfailing is the... See? The Word was a scarce thing in that day. Here come the prophet, saying, "I am the voice of the Word." 103 When Moses come down there in Egypt, and said, "I was in the wilderness yonder, and I seen a tree on fire, and it didn't consume. I went up to the tree, and when I did, there was a great Pillar of Fire hanging in there. And a Voice said, 'I AM THAT I AM.' And He told me to take this stick and come down here and perform these miracles, and God will vindicate His Word." He stretched out his stick, there come fleas and flies, and darkness and so forth. And then to vindicate that prophet, He brought those believers right back to the mount, and God came down in the same Pillar of Fire, right on the same mountain, and proved that that was right. 104 Now, look what He's done in this day. Exactly. Now, the Word come to the prophet and vindicated him to be the true person, the very person that the Scriptures said that he would be. Quickly now. But again, Jesus came in a different form from their manmade interpretation of the prophecy. Man had interpreted what it would be. Certainly. The Presbyterians thinks that it ought to be them. Watch when God does anything; watch every other organization rise up with one. Yeah, always been that way. They got a Jannes and Jambres everywhere. Notice, they said part of the Word, but according to the prophet's Word, every Letter.
105 They missed it again, as usual, called Him a fortuneteller, a devil, Beelzebub, and said He made Himself God, when they ought to have knowed by their very Bible that He was God. Notice, He was prophesied by Isaiah; Isaiah 9:6 said, "His Name shall be called the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father." There ain't going to be no more fathers after that, 'cause He was the first Father in the beginning; He's the only Father. Said, "Don't you call any man of this earth father, either, after that." He's the--the Mighty God, and the Everlasting Father, the Counselor, the Prince of Peace. Certainly. 107 Notice now, quickly now. Don't miss this now. Here's the text: how Jesus made Himself known to these two disciples that He was their Messiah. Now, all eyes this way. And out in the land, don't miss this now. We've tried to tell you that the Bible is the Word of God, wrote by God Himself, through the lips and instrumentality of men. God can write Himself. God can speak Himself. God can do what He wants to, but He chose man to do it because the man that wrote It is part of God. So God wrote the Bible. The men didn't even know what they were writing in their own human thinking. They might disagree with it, but they wrote It. They couldn't. The Bible said, "Men of old, as they was moved by the Holy Ghost..." God moved their hands, moved their eyes in the visions. They could say nothing but what they were looking at. They could speak nothing, 'cause He had full control of tongue, finger; every organ of the body was in full sway with God. No wonder the Bible said they were gods; they were a part of God. He was the Fullness of God.
108 Notice how Jesus, the Word, made these two heartbroke disciples know He was their Messiah, the Messiah, the promised Word. Notice what He done; He appealed to prophecy. Notice, "Fools, slow to believe all that the prophets wrote..." Now, He never said, "Well, what--what does the church say about it?"
114 Notice how He approached the subject. He never come right out and said, "I am your Messiah." He could've done it, for He was. But notice; He identified Himself in the Word, then they would know. If He'd have said it, He could've said that and it wouldn't have been so; but when He went and begin to speak on all the prophets said about Him, and they seen it, then they could tell themselves, if they were God's children. But called their attention to what the prophets had foretold and said to look for in the time that the Messiah, His age would be manifested. He, as John, let the Word, the Bible identify their message. Any true prophet would do it. Sure. He didn't come out and say, "I am He. I'm..." That's not a true prophet of God. See? But He said, "Go back in the Scriptures." See, He never fails His way of doing it. See?
116 Here He never changes His way of doing it, never has changed. He never can change, because He's the unchanging God. See? Notice, He went right back to these two disciples, Cleopas and his friend, on the road to Emmaus, and said, appealed to the Scriptures to them, said, "Why are you so foolish to not to believe that every Word the prophets wrote concerning the Messiah would have to be fulfilled?" Oh, what a day.
119 Notice, He begin with Moses' prophecy, the Bible said, "He, beginning with Moses and all of the prophets," but He started with Moses. "A Prophet," said Moses, "the Lord your God shall raise up among you people, among the people. The Lord God shall raise up a Prophet." 121 Let's just go back a few minutes, and now let's listen to the Words quoted from Himself. Watch here, the Word Itself quoting the Word of Himself, the Word Itself quoting the Word of Himself, not telling that He was that, but just let the Word speak for Itself, then they know Who He was. The letter of the Word, quoting the Word in... The Word in flesh, quoting the Word of the letter being fully identified with Himself... Look here, now let's listen to Him quote. How... Now, we know that they were all briefed of the late happenings; that is, of the crucifixion and of the story of the resurrection, the tomb, as we just read. Now, He goes straight to the Word of prophecy about Himself. Now, let's just think that He said this; He said a lot more than this. But watch. 122 Let's say, hear Him say, "Turn over to Zechariah 11:12. And wasn't the Messiah to be sold, according to the prophet, for thirty pieces of silver? You just said that this Man was sold for thirty pieces of silver. Turn over..." You getting them Scriptures? Zechariah 11:12. And then He said, "Did you notice what David said in the Psalms, Psalm 41:9? He would be betrayed by His friends. And then again, in Zechariah 13:7, He was forsaken by His disciples. And in Psalms 35:11, accused by false witnesses, you just said He was. Isaiah 53:7, He was dumb before His accusers. Isaiah 50 and 6, they scourged Him, the prophet said. Psalms 22, He was to cry on the cross, 'My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?'" Did He do that, day before yesterday afternoon? Psalms 22 again, 18, His garments was parted among them. Did they do that? And Psalms 22:7 to 8, mocked by His enemies, the church. Psalms 22 again, there was not a bone in His body to be broke, but 'they pierced My hands and My feet,'" He said, holding His hands behind Him no doubt at the time. "Isaiah 53:12 said He would die between malefactors. Isaiah 53:9 said He was buried with the rich. Psalms 16:10 said, 'I will not leave His soul in hell, neither will I suffer My Holy One to see corruption.' And was not Malachi 3 the forerunner of this Man?"
123 Oh, I'd like to have heard Him quote that. Look at the prophecies. Notice, then all the types He might've went through, about Isaac, in Genesis 22, how God foreshadowed Isaac, how father Abraham took his own son, packing the wood up the hill, and offered up his own son. 124 "Then that messengers down at the tomb this morning was right. He is risen from the dead. He is alive. He is that Messiah." Why? Don't fail it. "His action, His ministry, and everything He's done has been vindicated exactly the Words that the prophet said would take place for this day. That's done it." Then they knowed that it was Him, their crucified Friend, Jesus, that had done it. No wonder their hearts burned within them as He talked to them. Now, they had walked six miles, and it seemed like a short time. 125 And here's another thing they'd done; you know, they'd heard a six-hour sermon on prophecy being vindicated. That's what He talked to them along the road. Just as soon as they started down the road, He stepped out, for He was right there at Jerusalem. Six hours latey--later, sixty furlongs, they was right down the road six miles to Emmaus. That's what it is. And He had preached, confirmed prophecy for six hours. Don't condemn me on my three then. See, see? But notice, they had preached... He. They had heard a six-hour sermon on prophecy being confirmed, vindicated.
126 Now, it was getting along towards evening time. You know, He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. It was then that He opened their eyes to know that Hebrews 13:8, He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. At the evening time, events are made clear by the prophecies. What's taking place in the modern hour can be easily identified if you'll just believe the prophecy of the hour. 128 And notice when those disciples invited Him into their fellowship around the table, it was then that He done something just like He did before His crucifixion, and their eyes come open. They knowed His manner, His style. They knowed what He done, and He did it then just like He did before. And they said, "That's Him." And quickly they raised up to scream it out, and He vanished. And where they took six hours to listen to this sermon, maybe twenty minutes they were light-footed back to tell the rest of them, "He's risen indeed. He is really alive." 129 Friends, this is the fulfillment of Malachi 4, St. Luke 17, St. John 15, oh, so many, Revelations 10, so many prophecies that can be pinned exactly to this day. And also in the Book of Mark and in Matthew, where He said these great signs and wonders would appear in the sky, and people call them saucers, flying saucers, can--can vanish with the power and quickness of a thought, intelligence that can move in. He can write and speak; He can do whatever He wants to. The great Pillar of Fire, the same yesterday, today, and forever... And sights coming upon the earth, pyramids, the smoke rising into the air, way above where there cannot be no humidity nor nothing, thirty miles high, predicted a year and a half before it happened, that it would be that way. Then turn the picture and see Who it is looking down. Not one word has ever failed that's been told, and here's God's written Word, confirming it's the truth. And it's evening time again. I wonder if He would return by grace tonight and do something now like He done back there? Let's pray and ask Him. Events made clear by vindicated prophecy. 130 God Almighty, help us. Help us, dear God, to understand, to understand the things that we should know, understand Thy Word. And now, Lord, we have heard sermons now for nearly two thousand years, writings of books. And in this last days here it's slipped right back again, and now, it's towards evening time. The Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, and many of them down through the age has talked with You, and maybe just along the way of this great day that hasn't been either night or day, as the prophet said, but in the evening time it'll be Light... Jesus rose from the tomb and appeared to Simon and to the women, and showed them that He was alive. That was the morning. And then in evening He come back again. But He did walk to them through the day, rebuking them for their blindness, but then He made Hisself known to them in the evening time.
131 God, come into our fellowship tonight that we have around the Word. God, it's so scarcely believed today amongst the people, but I'm thankful that there is some that You have called and ordained them to Eternal Life, and You said, "All that the Father has given Me will come." And now, while the evening Lights are shining, while You have permitted, Lord, that not one prophecy (out of the hundreds that's went forth) has ever failed one time. Then truly if that identifies, it has to be You, 'cause no person could be that accurate. Just like the Bible, no man could write, no one in the space of sixteen hundred years by forty different writers could write, and not one error be in it. 132 Now, while you have your heads bowed and your eyes closed, I'm going to ask you something. You believe that God is here? You believe that the things It's doing today is prophecy fulfilled? You believe that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever? You believe when He was here and manifested in the flesh for that day, and the works that He done there was to be repeated again in this day? The prophet said so. The Bible said so. All Scripture must be fulfilled; It cannot fail. How did He identify Himself? By being that Prophet that Moses spoke of, knowed the secrets of the hearts of the people. The woman touched His garment; He turned and said, "Thy faith has saved Thee." When Simon Peter come up to Him, He knowed His Name, told Him who he was, who his father was. That same lovely Jesus is not dead; He's alive forevermore. Praise be to God. And I believe in this evening time now, He's called us together again.
133 O Lord Jesus, come among us. Don't pass us by. Come, stay all night with us till this night is over, then let us go with You tomorrow, that we might know You in the power of Your resurrection, that Your love and grace and mercy might be with us. O eternal God, grant these things. We know that only God alone can grant them.
135 We believe that Thy Word is Truth, Lord. Let us just see before we start this prayer line, Lord, and make Yourself known to us. And as You said, as it was in the days of Lot. When Abraham, that called-out group waiting for a promised son, Lot was down there hearing a modern Billy Graham and an Oral Roberts to that denominational setup down there as a nation. But Abraham was a sojourner without any organization, just his little group wandering about through the land that he was to heir. "And the meek shall inherit the earth."
136 God, how that prophet's heart must've jumped. He knowed Who You was right then. No wonder he washed Your feet, brought out all the food that he had, and the very best, and laid it before You. He knew that was God there. Then He said, "Where is Sarah?" as if He didn't know. And You...
140 I am now ready to--to pray for the sick. But it's a strange thing how that when we stand here, and here I stand here now making a challenge to the public, and hooked up across the nation, that God still is God. He cannot fail. And what He promises, that He'll do. He'll never fail to do it, for He promised to do it. Therefore, I can place solemn confidence in what He said. Therefore, I look for His coming; I look for Him to appear at any time, because He said, "In a hour that you think not," the world thinks not, then He'll appear.
142 Now, I want to have a prayer line, and I want to pray for the sick as much as I can. Now, we can either have a line, to call the people and bring them up here, a prayer line and pray for everybody here that's sick, I suppose, have my minister brothers to come here with us, and lay hands upon you. We can sure do that. Or either we can ask our Father, Who is the only One that could do anything for you, 'cause my hands is just a man like you men. But the thing of it is, it isn't the human hand that does it; it's the Word of God. Faith in that Word is what does it. No scientific thing about it, it's altogether unscientific.
144 Would you believe, if God would manifest Himself and show that He is here alive, doing the same things that He did at the beginning, after this message, would you accept it as your healing? May God grant it.
146 You believe it? A lady setting here before me, looking at me, tears in her eyes, sincerely. I don't know who she is, never seen her. I'm a stranger to you. Do you think God knows the secret of your heart, your desires, or your sin, or whatever it is? You think He knows? You think He could reveal to me what your sin is, what you've done, what you ought not have done, or your desire, whatever it is? If He would do it, would it make you believe Him, know that it has to be Him? Would you accept it as Him? It's not your sin that's bothering you; you've confessed that. But you're wanting the baptism of His Holy Spirit. You shall receive It. I seen It move down across her.
148 See this man setting here with his head down, setting right there, with his collar misfitting him, and so forth. You suffer with a bladder trouble. You believe that God will make you well? Raise up your hand if you'll accept It. All right. God grant you your request.
152 You see, He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. Ask those people; see if I know them. I don't, but He does. Amen.
154 "It shall be Light just about the evening time." Don't you see, He's here tonight. He's the great I AM. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do you believe it? Are you satisfied and convinced that this is Jesus Christ making Hisself known, identifying Himself in prophecy? 157 Listen; hear me. Have I ever told you anything in the Name of the Lord but what come to pass? Is that right? Everything has always been right. I've never asked you for one penny of money in my life, have I? Not one time. Never took an offering in my life. I'm not here for money. I'm not here to deceive you. I'm here to manifest God's Word of the hour. I've told you the Truth, and God has testified that it is the Truth. Now, I tell you, THUS SAITH THE SCRIPTURES, that if the believer lays his hands upon the sick, Jesus said, "They shall recover." Do you believe that? Then in the Presence of God don't you believe He'll do it right now?
158 Now, put your hands on one another, and just hold it there for a minute. Now, don't--don't pray, just put your hands on one another; out there in the land. And me myself, I'm laying myself over these handkerchiefs. Now, I want you to look at me just a minute. What has God left undone? Look how He's, what the Word that we have read, the prophecies that we have told, that Jesus identified Himself by the prophecy. Now, look at the hour, and these last three weeks where we have placed the hour that we're living. Look at what we have read, how about the false prophets and almost signs that would deceive the elected. How the Word has been manifested, how the god of this age has blinded the lie, hearts of the people. And how that God Himself has said through His prophecies that these things would take place in this Laodicea age. There's nothing left undone. God is here just the same God that talked to those people on Emmaus, that identified Himself by the prophecies that was foretold of Him, He's here tonight identifying His Presence by the prophecies foretold for this age. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. Can you believe it? 159 And now if you could see what I'm looking at. And you know I wouldn't lie to you, standing here. If you could see, and your faith could draw that great Holy Spirit that sailed yonder in the air--air, that science has took pictures of, and see It moving through this building just trying to find a place to--to land, trying to find a anchor place. Only believe It, my brother. He's identified it by Scripture and so forth, that it's right. Now, pray with sincerity for that person you got your hands on; they are praying for you.
160 Dear Jesus of Nazareth, while we are conscious, Lord, by the Word that You're here, by the promise that You are here, "Wherever two or three are gathered in My Name, there I am in the midst of them. And these signs will follow them that believe; if they lay their hands on the sick, they shall recover." Out over the waves of this telephone, may the great Holy Spirit go into every congregation. May the same holy Light that we look at right here in the church, may It fall upon each and every one, and may they be healed at this time. We rebuke the enemy, the Devil; in the Presence of Christ we say to the enemy, that he is defeated by the--the vicarious suffering, the death of the Lord Jesus and the triumph resurrection on the third day. And He's proven evident, that He's here among us tonight, alive after nineteen hundred years. Let the Spirit of the living God fill every heart with faith and power, and healing virtue from the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Who is identified now by this great Light circling the church in His Presence. In the Name of Jesus Christ, grant it for the glory of God.
162 Now, from your hearts, I don't care what was wrong with you, can you from your heart believe with all your heart that the Word of God has granted you your request? I believe that every hand, as I could see, went up. If you believe it. Now, remember, it is finished. 164 And did not our hearts burn within us, and does not it burn now, to know that we are now in the Presence of the resurrected Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory and praise forevermore; Who is in the express image of the Almighty Jehovah; Who sailed down in a form of a Pillar of Fire in a burning bush to attract the attention of a prophet; Who has descended upon the mountain, and anyone that even touched it was to be killed, besides Moses and Joshua. How it was that He led the children of Israel through the wilderness in their journey as a type of the called-out people today. Here He is by scientific research, even identified Himself before science. And by His very actions and by His very prophecy, the things that's prophesied of Him to do in this day to make Him the same yesterday, today, and forever, has been perfectly a-vindicated. Isn't it enough to make our hearts burn within us? God bless you.
165 Now, with one accord, let's stand and say, I now accept Jesus Christ as Saviour and Healer. [Congregation says, "I now accept Jesus Christ as Saviour and Healer."--Ed.] And by His grace ["And by His grace,"], from this hour henceforth ["from this hour henceforth,"], O God ["O God,"], let no unbelief ["let no unbelief"] ever enter my heart ["ever enter my heart,"], for I have seen ["for I have seen"] the prophecy ["the prophecy"] of this day ["of this day"] fulfilled ["fulfilled."]. I believe ["I believe"] that Jesus Christ ["that Jesus Christ"] is alive ["is alive"] and here now ["and here now"], confirming His Word ["confirming His Word"] of this hour ["of this hour."]. The prophecies ["The prophecies"] that was written of Him ["that was written of Him"] has now been fulfilled in our midst ["has now been fulfilled in our midst."]. He is my Saviour ["He is my Saviour,"], my God ["my God,"], my King ["my King,"], my All-in-all ["my All-in-all."].
167 Oh, what a moment, what a time.
... only believe;
Only believe, just only believe,
All things are possible, only believe.
May we sing it like this:
Now I believe, oh, now I believe,
All things are possible, now I believe;
Now I believe, oh, now I believe,
All things are possible, now I believe.
Is that your testimony? Now, as we bow our heads:
Till we meet! till we meet!
Till we meet at Jesus' feet;
Till we meet! till we meet!
God be with you till we meet again!
[Brother Branham hums "Till We Meet"--Ed.] play...?...
... at Jesus feet;
Till we meet! till we meet!
God be with you till we meet again!
167 With our heads bowed, Brother Vayle is standing here to dismiss in prayer. Brother Lee Vayle, he's a writer for the Tabernacle here, of the literature and books, and so forth. Very precious brother, he's been with me in many campaigns. Wished I had a chance to let every minister, to get him up here and talk to him. You understand, I'm sure. Every minister, we're glad to have you here. All the laity, the people of different churches, whatmore, we're glad to have you here. And it's truly our prayer to one another: God be with you till we meet again. With our heads bowed and our hands raised, let's sing it again real sweetly to God.
Till we meet! till we meet!
Till we meet at Jesus' feet!
Till we meet! till we meet!
God be with you till we meet again!
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