The Beatitudes in Revelation

John 20:29, "Jesus said to Thomas, You have believed because you have seen Me: blessed are those who have received My unseen 'parousia,' and yet believe".

That speaks of us. Like Paul, we have met Jesus but not in the flesh. We believe not because we see Him with our natural eyes like Thomas, but because we see Him in His Word, others see the evidence of His Life living in us we are "blessed," for His creative Word is real (II Corinthians 3:2).

Romans 4:7-8, "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin".

That's us. While we tarry one for another before the Lord's Supper and foot-washing tonight, we'll be confessing our failings to God, who'll be scratching His head as it were, and saying, "I have no remembrance of those matters. What is the Brother talking about, what is this Sister trying to say"? We right wrongs: things we did knowing they were wrong are confessed and forgiven; where possible we make restitution and God places our mistakes in the sea of His forgetfulness.

In Christ we are blessed, because sin and iniquity are not imputed. I John 3:9, "Whoever is born of God does not commit sin; for His seed remains in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God." Luke 8:11, "God's seed is His revealed Word." It is the mind of God in you by faith!

"Beatitude" means "blessedness" but it is not a scriptural word. The beatitudes in the Bible begin with "Blessed is," or "joyous is," after which they refer to a Christian virtue worthy of praise in the righteous whose lives reflect the character of God. As II Peter 1:1-8 explains, the virtues of Christ identify the Token of the Life of Christ in the saints of successive Church Ages, and as the Body grows it matures into the fullness of the stature of the perfect Man for the manifestation of the Sons of God and the translation of His end-time Bride.

There is no intrinsic good in man whereof he can boast but Christ in Him, the hope of Glory, willing and doing His own good pleasure. We are happy or blessed when we yield to His Word and allow His way in our lives. Paul said, henceforth I know no man after the flesh. We are blessed when the Token or evidence of the Life of Christ is living through us. God gathers glory when we are dead to the world and the things of the world and alive to His Word. When our motives and our objectives are both His perfect will and way, those virtues will be praised as God in us.

Psalm 1:1-3, "Blessed is the man that walks not after the advice of the wicked, nor hangs around with sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law he ponders day and night. He is like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that yields its fruit in its season [seven living streams flowing from one perennial Fountain of the Spirit—as in the Garden of Eden—produced a different baptism distinguished by a different virtue in each of the seven Church Ages; in this the fullness will manifest in the Sons of God following the Seventh Trump]; his leaf also shall not wither [signifying enduring faith]; and whatsoever he does shall prosper".

By the grace of God, these are Christ's Elect! The elect are blessed—full of the joy of the Lord—for we cannot be deceived on the revealed Word, and will not follow a stranger with his false doctrine. Oh, the blessedness of God's elect. Matthew 5:3-12:–

BLESSED are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
BLESSED are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
BLESSED are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
BLESSED are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
BLESSED are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
BLESSED are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
BLESSED are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
BLESSED are they who are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
BLESSED are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you".

The beatitudes in the New Testament stress the joy of having overcome and entered into Christ and the realization we are secure in Him—sealed to the day of our redemption—already resurrected and participating in the Kingdom privileges and authority now. Unafraid!

Colossians 1:24, "I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His Body, which is the Church, filling up that which is lacking in Christ's afflictions".

I am blessed. I am already redeemed. "In all things we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us." Paul was persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor any creature, nor height, nor depth can separate us from the love of God in Christ. The joy of the Lord is our strength. We rejoice because we are blessed in Him. Our confidence is the revelation He has given us of this reality. "Heaven and earth will change but the revelation of God's Word can never change".

Character is a victory and the proof of God's elective love is His communion with us by faith, and faith overcoming in us. Oh, it may seem slow and we may take one step forward and two back, but keep applying the Token. It will work. It will succeed. So if at first you don't succeed, stand patiently. It will work. Eventually the Token will remain on display, my Brother or Sister. Do not be discouraged, try again, and again, and again because it is not you but Christ in you and He will not fail you. We fail Him; but He cannot and will not fail us.

We have something in which to rejoice. Treasures that will not perish and can never be stolen from us. In Philippians 3, Paul said, "Rejoice in the Lord . . . and have no confidence in the flesh. I count all things as loss in comparison with the supreme value of knowing Christ. For His sake I have incurred the loss of all things that I may be found in Christ not having a righteousness of my own, based on Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, becoming like Him in his death," because I am dead to the desires of my flesh and mortal spirit which are of the world, and must perish with the world.

The Token is not displayed by human works, but by the righteousness which is of the faith of Jesus Christ alone.

Paul went on to say, "If by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead," which is the first resurrection out from among the dead, for both just and unjust will rise in the general resurrection. Paul was not doubting his new birth, he was "making his calling and election sure." Far from being complacent he was "keeping his garments clean," making doubly sure he was in the Light of "the present truth" [as I made doubly sure of my natural "security" before abseiling 34 floors down the Renaissance Hotel].

Taking no chances with eternity, Paul was working out his own salvation with fear and trembling. "Not as though I had already attained to this or am already perfect: but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own." Paul was not content with Pentecostal joy but resolved to "make his calling and election sure," whereas some in the circle of this Message justify complacency by confidence more than revelation.

"Brethren, I do not imply that I have made it my own, but this one thing I do—forgetting what is behind and reaching out to what lies ahead, I press on to the goal for the prize of God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus".

Paul knew he made mistakes and was conscious he fell short of the glory of God, and so long as we are trapped in these vessels of sin we will have failings. Paul did not allow Satan to bring him under condemnation for his failings. Paul did not sin. "He who is born of God does not commit sin." Paul fell short of the high calling of God's Word when Satan caused him to stumble; but he picked himself up, acknowledged his mistake, and received God's grace through Jesus Christ who experienced these frailties of the flesh and doubtless fell short Himself (but without sin). Accepting his infirmity and the provision of an understanding high priest, Paul put his mistakes behind him and pressed on to the prize of a glorified body (Romans 7:5-25; Hebrews 4:14-16).

Like Jesus, Paul was an example for us. "Let those of us, who are mature, [having the revelation "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin"]; have this in mind, and if your views differ in any respect God will also make this clear to you. But we must hold to the revelation we have already attained: let us walk by the same rule and let us mind the same thing".

Praise God! Christ is a high priest who understands our infirmities. We do not permit Satan to convince us we are not saints. We are saints free from sin. We just need to raise our eyes above self and circumstance and look to God's unfailing promise, and to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. He chose us, He lifted us out of the mire, He has begun a good work in us and He is able to finish it. He will never forsake us.

Being born in sin we could not start the good work and we cannot finish it! Paul said, "I want to be found in Him, not having my own righteousness based on the Law." Paul asked the Galatians "Are you so foolish that you would now come to perfection with the flesh having begun with the Spirit?"

Yes we will fall short! Again and again and again we will fail. We'll repeat the same mistakes for there is no good in a man. But Christ is in us! Hallelujah! The battle and the victory are His. He that overcame in His body can overcome in you for we are His Body, His workmanship, so rejoice Brother Seed.

The Old Testament beatitudes, on the other hand, are sociologically oriented and more concerned with the rewards in this earthly life—many children, bountiful harvests, deliverance from enemies.

Note the contrast between natural and Spiritual Israel. In the New Testament, the element of paradox becomes prominent. Men who in no way appear to be fortunate in the present like the martyrs who suffered death, being sawn asunder, boiled in oil, stoned, or fed to lions, are described in Hebrews 11 as the poor, the distressed, the barren, and as the blessed. So today "as it was in the days of Noah" Jesus said of those whose priority is material well being—"You say, you are rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; I say that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked and know it not" (Matthew 24:37-39; Revelation 3:17).

Luke 23:29, "Behold, the days are coming when they will say: Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bear and the breasts which never nursed. Then they will beg the mountains, fall on us; and to the hills cover us." Matthew 24:19-21, "And woe to those who are pregnant and those who are nursing children in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in the winter [because of the snow], or on the sabbath day [when the city gates are shut]: for then will be great tribulation as has never been experienced from the world's beginning until now, nor ever will be." Jesus was speaking of the days when Titus would starve the Christ-rejecters in Jerusalem. But He warned the Christians, and they escaped because they were blessed.

Those declared "BLESSED" are God's elect who escape condemnation because they have prepared themselves by watching for the Word promised to their hour (II Peter 1:12; I John 1:7).

Luke 12:36-38, "Be like men who wait for their own master when He returns from the wedding [in the Latter Rain after the Seventh Trumpet to raise the sleeping saints, manifest the Sons of God and translate us to the Wedding Supper in the air]; so that when he arrives and knocks, they may instantly open the door" (Revelation 3:20). This has been in fulfillment since the "shout" of I Thessalonians 4:16 brought Christ back to earth in W_O_R_D form by the revelation Seven Seals after the close of the Laodicean Church Age. This was when the Pentecostals and world church system shut Him out and are mistakenly looking for His physical return, not realizing that this will follow the consummation—Malachi 4:1-3).

"Blessed are those servants whom the Master finds alert when He comes back from the wedding: verily I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself, and make them to sit down to feast [on the revelation of the Seven Thunders (Hebrews 5:14)], and will come forth and serve them (Revelation 10:1-7; I Corinthians 13:10). And if He shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants." Indeed He came in the Seventh watch.

BLESSED! Because they were prepared by a ready willingness to receive the Word of God and correction without feeling offended (Matthew 11:6)! "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten." Praise God for that! The "blessed" see the signs of His Coming with the eyes of faith.

Matthew 16:1-4, "The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesus asked Him to show them a sign from heaven; but He replied, at eventide you say it will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, it will be stormy: for the sky is red and overcast. You hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky; but not the signs of the times." Jesus condemned them for their carnality. They could see natural things with the eyes in their head but could not discern Spiritual signs to recognize their day and it's Message. They even asked Jesus for a sign to identify the sign. "A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah. And He left them, and departed".

Luke 17:28-30, "As it was in the days of Lot, they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even so shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."

This was the last sign Jesus promised us Gentiles before the end of our Dispensation. Soon He will depart with His Bride of all Ages (Matthew 25:10-13; I Thessalonians 5:3). Oh, they see and applaud the homosexual epidemic, but they do not see that Jesus promised to send three messengers. In Genesis 18 God veiled Himself behind the flesh of a created Man who proved He was the Word by "discerning the thoughts and intents of Abraham and Sarah's hearts" (Hebrews 4:12), and they received new bodies in order to conceive their promised son. In the days of the gospel He veiled Himself behind virgin-born flesh and identified himself by the same Sign, and in these last days He has veiled Himself behind the flesh of a born-again sinner saved by grace and revealed "Jesus Christ the same yesterday today and forever, discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart" (John 1:42-51; 4:6-29). And the two messengers have visited the non-elect group of the churches in spiritual Sodom who will be tried and martyred in the tribulation.

Today's wicked and adulterous church seeks after a natural sign it can see, hear or touch. A physical something: huge revivals, healing or speaking with tongues! As Isaiah said, "they have eyes and see not, ears and hear not." They are not spiritual.

Revelation 1:7 is explaining a theophany. Many are expecting the glorified Jesus to physically descend from heaven when He stated emphatically, "Do not look for the Man" (Matthew 24:22-28)? Scriptures such as Isaiah 13:9, Malachi 4:1-3, Matthew 3:12 and Revelation 20:5 confirm the Man from Galilee will not return until after the consummation of life. Revelation 1:7 and Acts 1:9-11 are not declaring a natural, physical phenomenon but speak of the terrible theophany described in Revelation 19:11-18 which "every eye" will witness prior to Armageddon, after which our glorified Lord will return to step out on the nuclear ashes of the saints of all Ages.

Neither the glorified Jesus nor any man can physically appear in the skies universally, but if this were to happen there would be no call for two Hebrew prophets to reconfirm the New Covenant to Israel over three and a half years and vindicate it by signs and wonders, because overnight the world would know that Jesus is Messiah. People entertain such unscriptural interpretations which have become standard doctrine in most churches because few prove all things to gain an understanding of what they have read.

Revelation 1:7, "Behold, He comes with clouds [of glory—the Shekinah that led Israel to the Promised Land and transfigured our Lord in Matthew 17]; and every eye shall see Him, and they also who pierced Him: [Zechariah 13:6, "And one shall ask Him, "What are these wounds in Your hands"? Then He will reply, "Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends." Then, in a time of trouble such as the world has not experienced since man was on earth (Matthew 24:21; Revelation 16:18-19) the elect Israelites will "see" Jesus by faith and the nation will be born in one day, all 144,000 of them] ". . . and all kindred's of the earth shall wail because of Him."

Three and a half years before opens Israel's eyes the Church will have been translated to meet the Lord in the Air. The foolish virgin and other groups of the "saved" will preach their false salvation messages into the Tribulation and be martyred by the world church system and preserve their names in the Book of Life, or be cast into the Lake of Fire (Daniel 6:24; Matthew 3:12; Romans 11:32; Revelation 2:21-24; 14:9-13; 19:20, etc).

BLESSED are your eyes for they see . . . we are a BLESSED people, living far below our calling because we still have not fully realized who we are. By His grace we are not "hearers only but doers," expressing faith in action. Brother Branham said, "The ministry of the Bride will be so humble".

James 1:12, "Blessed is the man who endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of Life, which the Lord has promised to them who love Him." The Greek word "endure" is related to the word "patience," so the blessing of a glorified body is to those who take the hard way of the Lord's despised few and are doers rather than hearers only, patiently enduring unto the end, looking to the overcomer's crown.

"Deuteronomy" means "two laws." Overcoming by obedience unto Life, or failing through disobedience unto death. This is demonstrated in Luke 6:20-26 which matches each blessing with a woe. "And He lifted up His eyes on His disciples, and said,

BLESSED are you poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
WOE to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
BLESSED are you who hunger now: for you shall be filled. Blessed are you that weep now: for you shall laugh.
WOE to you who are full, for you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
BLESSED are you, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice therefore in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers to the prophets.

WOE to you, when all men shall speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets".

True words as I've discovered. When one is despised and rejected by so-called Christians for the Son of man's sake, God has a blessing for him. And when men plan to deceitfully use you, they will praise you. All who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall [not might] suffer persecution. Quite a paradox, but God's ways are not our ways and all things work together for good to them that love God, who are the called according to His purpose.

Now before we change the order of service for the Communion let's look at the beatitudes or blessings in the Book of Revelation.

1) Jesus said the "sign of the end of the ages" would be the restoration of the state of Israel in Palestine before the opening of the Sixth Seal (Revelation 6:12-14; Matthew 24:1-3, 29-31). The time for this event was not revealed even to Jesus in the days of His flesh. Matthew 24:36, "But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only." After His ascension, God revealed all things to Jesus, and following the opening of the Seven Seals in 1963, Jesus revealed them to the seventh angel, Brother Branham, who preached them to His Bride (Revelation 10:1-7).

Jesus signified these mysteries to John over two years on the Isle of Patmos through a series of visions wherein he saw and heard Brother Branham preach. He recorded all he had seen and heard in symbols as he was forbidden to write the revelation unveiled by the prophet (Revelation 8:1; 10:4).

Revelation 1:1-3, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel [William Branham] to His servant John: who bore record of the Word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw".

Here is the first beatitude: "BLESSED is he who reads [the rhema or letter], and they that hear [or understand] the Words [logos or concept] of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand".

According to Daniel 12:4 and 9 and Revelation 10:4 the Book was sealed until the time of the end; men could read the rhema of the Book but could not understand the logos of its prophecy. "But in the days of the Voice of the angel to the Laodicean Church Age, the mystery of God should be finished." Two thousand years passed before Christ opened the Seven Seals and revealed them through His prophet William Branham (Revelation 4, 5, 6:1, and 10:1-7).

Now the time is at hand for Jesus Christ to raise those born of "that which was in part" and His mediation for ignorance of the fullness, quicken His end-time Bride to speak the Word as Sons or Daughters; "then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord".

Who are the blessed? All who became written epistles or logos of the Word revealed to the angel to their day; our Messenger is the Archangel Jesus Christ.

2) I Thessalonians 4:13-5:13, "I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him".

"For this we say by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain unto the Coming of the Lord shall not hinder those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout"—[the Message of the angel to the Laodicean Church Age "restores the apostolic faith" (Malachi 4:5, 6b), "finishes the mystery of God" (Revelation 10:7), "and calls His elect out from all manmade systems into oneness with the fullness of the Word for the manifestation of the sons of God and the translation" (Matthew 25:6; Revelation 18:4; Ephesians 4:13; Romans 8:19; I Corinthians 13:10)]. "With the Voice of the Archangel—[Christ in His Bride placing the Message from Genesis to Revelation bringing her to maturity in the unity of the faith"—God will do what she speaks after the close of the Gentile Dispensation (John 5:19)]. Then "the [Seventh] Trump of God [will call Israel to the Atonement and the Bride to manifest the Sons of God before the Wedding Supper in the sky]; the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these Words."

"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you ["but in the days of the Voice of the seventh angel" these Ages will be revealed and placed in the context of past history]. For you know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night [a time of spiritual darkness, when the churches are apostate "and know it not"—(Romans 11:32; Revelation 3:17-20)]. For when they say, "Peace and safety;" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." God will send them strong delusion that they should believe the lie, and after the sinking of Los Angeles by earthquake and the invasion of the USA they will set Rome's Pope over all—(II Thessalonians 2:11; Revelation 13:8-18; 17:11-15; Daniel 2:40-43). This will be the NWO or Kingdom of Lucifer.

"But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. You are all the children of Light (Matthew 5:14), and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness." True, He has been gathering us into the restored Light since 1963 (Matthew 24:22-28, 40-44).

"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that are drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love [new birth]; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also you do".

"And we beseech you, brethren, to know those who labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake, [we need your prayers]. And be at peace among yourselves".

It is useful to rehearse some of the things that have been revealed to us already. But the word on which I wish to speak in this passage by Paul is "thief." God wants His people to be expectant so they are prepared at all times and watchful, looking for the promised signs that confirm "the things which are to be" in our day. The dispensation change will come as a thief upon the unprepared who will be trapped and suffer loss. The Bride prepared by faith, and vigilant in its application, will not be caught unawares.

Revelation 3:3, "Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you".

Revelation 16:15-16, "Behold, I come as a thief. BLESSED is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon".

Revelation 3:4, "You have a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy".

So the BLESSING is upon those that watch expectantly, preserving themselves in the Presence or Shekinah which scatters darkness and sin—a state of constant sanctification beyond the reproach of the Word. Like Samuel the boy prophet, when the Lord calls we respond, "Here am I" (I John 1:7).

Our garment is Light—our righteous acts. When Jesus took Peter, James and John upon Mount Transfiguration His garment was Light. And God is Light. Jesus was covered in the Glory of God that shone from within Him. And today God is clothing His elect in "fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of saints" . . . "the true sayings of God" clothe us by the Token of the Life of Christ on display. His Message is dressing Christ's Word Bride for the Marriage Supper (Revelation 19:8-9).

The glory of God is Christ, and the glory of Christ is His Bride. Each reflects the Light of the other so we are all clothed in the same Light (II Corinthians 3:18). John 12:28, Jesus said, "Father, glorify Your Name." Then came a voice from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it [in You], and will glorify it again" [in Your Bride]." All God was He poured into Christ, and all Christ is He poured into His Church, which reflects the glory of her husband.

John 17:5-6, 22, 26, "And now, O Father, glorify Me with Your own glory which I had in Your Presence before the world existed. I have manifested Your Name to those whom You gave Me from the world: they were Yours and You gave them to Me; and they have kept Your Word. I have given them the glory which You gave Me, that they may be one as We are one . . . And I have declared to them Your Name, and will declare it so that the love wherewith You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them".

Praise the Lord. The BLESSING is by keeping ourselves ready and prepared for His service by the sanctifying stream of the blood of the revealed Word—Light.

3) The first two beatitudes of Revelation apply to the Bride. The third has to do with the 144,000 elect Israelites:

Revelation 13:8-15, "All dwellers upon earth whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world will worship the incarnate Pope. If any man has an ear, let him hear." All but the very elect 144,000 tribulation saints will be deceived by the Pope and vicariously worship Satan because they are deceived.

"He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience [or endurance] and the faith of the [144,000 Israelite Tribulation] saints. And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth [the USA]; and he had two horns like a lamb [civil and ecclesiastical powers], and he spoke as a dragon. And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, who's deadly wound was healed [in AD325 when Imperial Rome became Papal Rome at the First Nicaea Council]. And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men [the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki], and deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast [uniting the Protestants in a confederation under Rome]; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he [Rome] had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed".

Revelation 6:9-11, "And when he had opened the Fifth Seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held":

These were martyred in the Mosaic faith between Pentecost and the end of the Pentecostal Feast or Christian dispensation. Their eyes were blinded that we might come in.

"And they cried with a loud voice, saying, how long, O Lord, holy and true, do You not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth"? Were they Christians they would have said, "Forgive them, Lord, for they know not what they do".

"And white robes were [potentially] given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, [the two witnesses of Revelation 11 and the 144,000 elect Israelites] that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled [during the Great Tribulation]." White robes signifying eternal Life will be granted to the Fifth Seal Israelites at the Great White Throne".

Revelation 14:12-13, "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, "BLESSED are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: Yes, said the Spirit that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." This blessing is to the 144,000 who die in the Lord during Great Tribulation.

4) Revelation 19:7-10, "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb has come to pass, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

And he said to me, "Write, BLESSED are they who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said, "These are the true sayings of God." And I fell at Brother Branham's feet to worship him. And he said, "See you do it not: I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus: worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy".

Here is a blessing pronounced upon the Bride, in particular the end-time Bride clothed in the THUS SAITH THE LORD of the Message, the true sayings of God. When we heard our name called from the Lamb's Book of Life, we recognized the Message for our day and God baptized us into our position in the Word.

Many are claiming to be baptized into the Anglican, Methodist, Baptist or Pentecostal parts of the Body, unaware that these members of the Body were made-up from 60 to 273 years ago. There is no possibility for anyone to be baptized or born-again into those parts of the Body in this day. Those making the attempt are impersonating the Word for an Age gone by.

5) Revelation 20:1-6, "And I saw an Angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in His hand. And He laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, who is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season."

"And I saw thrones, and they that sat on them [the twenty-four elders] and judgment was given to them: and I saw the souls of those who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and who had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands [the Bride of all ages] and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection".

BLESSED and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years".

Daniel 7:9, 22, 27, "I beheld till the [empty] thrones were cast down, [when Daniel saw the vision the twelve New Testament saints who sit with the Old Testament Patriarchs had not been placed] and the Ancient of days sat, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool: His throne was like the fiery flame, and its wheels as burning fire . . . Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom . . . And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is eternal, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him".

The BLESSING here is to those who share in the first resurrection.

6) Here we have a preview of the millennium.

Revelation 22:1-7, "He showed me a pure river of water of Life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was the Tree of Life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded its fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."

"And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: And they shall see His face; and His Name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them Light: and they shall reign forever and ever."

"And he said unto me, "These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel (Brother Branham, the Messenger to the Seventh Church Age) to show unto His servants the things which must shortly be done."

Behold, I come quickly: "BLESSED is he that keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this Book".

Jesus will be revealing the Word throughout eternity. Here the BLESSING is to those who keep the Message or "the sayings of the prophecy of the Book of Revelation" revealed through Brother Branham, as contrasted with the written Word we've had for 2,000 years (Acts 3:23).

7) Revelation 22:8-15, "And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of [Brother Branham], the angel who showed me these things. Then he said, "See you do it not: for I am your fellowservant, and of your brethren the prophets, [I am the angel to the Laodicean Church Age] and of them which keep the sayings of this Book: worship God".

And he said to me, "Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this Book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he who is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still."

And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. BLESSED are they that wash their robes that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie".

The Bride wash their robes by keeping His commandments which are "the sayings of the prophecy of this Book"—this Message (Revelation 10:7).

Matthew 22:1-14, "Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, who made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they [Israel] would not come. [The Wedding is on earth, it is the baptism with the Holy Ghost or new birth]."

"Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell those who are bidden, [Israel], Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come to the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant [Israel] took his servants [the early Church], and entreated them spitefully, and slew them."

"When the King heard thereof, He was wroth: and sent forth His armies [under General Titus in AD70], and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then He said to His servants, the wedding is ready, but those who were bidden were not worthy [". . . It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing you put It from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal Life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles" (Acts 13:46). Go therefore into the highways, and as many as you shall find, bid to the marriage."

"So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, He saw a man without a wedding garment [or baptism with the Holy Ghost]: and said, "Friend, how did you enter not having a wedding garment"? And he was speechless." [He tried to come into Christ by learning the rhema of Message without the logos and baptism with the Holy Ghost].

"Then said the King to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness [torment]; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen".

All the BLESSINGS are to the overcomers. We overcome by faith which brought us into Him who has already overcome. Not by learning. Now are we the Sons of God.

Soon the mother of harlots will gather her brood to form an image unto the beast; they will turn upon people such as us and God will pour out the latter rain and every seed will manifest precisely what it is. "Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom." He who endures to the end will be BLESSED and not one hair of his head will be harmed. Just keep pressing the battle, looking to the promises and He Who guarantees them. When we suffer a temporary retreat, lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, press on in His strength, knowing we are already seated in heavenly places.

God bless each of you Bible believers in cyber-space. When you have caught the revelation of this simple little Message we've rehearsed this-evening, be sure to pass it on to others, for the hour is late. bb941217.htm

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