GOD IS HIS OWN INTERPRETER_Jeffersonville, IN 64-0205
E-14 God is His Own Interpreter. He don't need anybody to interpret for Him. He does His Own interpreting. Who is the man that can interpret God? God is His Own Interpreter.
E-15 ...We find out that in the beginning when God said, "Let there be light," and there was light, that's the interpretation to it. When God said anything and it was manifested, then that's God's interpretation that His Word's right. See? When He said, "Let there be light," that was in His thinking first before there was such a thing as light. When He said, "Let there be light," light sprung into the skies; that's the interpretation. Nobody has to interpret that, for God said so and there it was. When God speaks and it's manifested, that's the interpretation of His Word. Why can't men see that? Why don't people see that?
E-16 And down through these ages the church world has got all these things all mixed up by traditions and so forth, and God always sends on the scene, down through the Old Testament and New, prophets. And the Word of the Lord comes to the prophet. And how does It do it? It manifests the Word of God. God's manifestation, that tells whether it's right or wrong. Nobody has to interpret It; the Word interprets Itself. God promised it and there it happened."
Brother William Branham, was an evangelist who held a prophetic office, he was the leader of the Post WW 2 Healing Revival, which is laregely responsible for today's belief that healing was included in the Atonement. He taught that God was His Own Interpreter, that God said a certain thing would come to pass, and then it did. That is God's interpretation, God performing his Word, and bringing it to pass just as he said he would. This article will compare the teaching, and teaching methods of Brother Branham with the various schools of Eschatology. If you are New to Brother Branham's ministry I recommend you Click Here before proceeding.
Future Home Jeffersonville, In 64-0802
“Now, you're a dispensationalist." Which I am, and I believe that God is too” Wm. Branham
Dispensationalism is a framework for understanding the Bible. Dispensationalism is a theological system based on God’s dealing with different people at different times and in different ways. This can be clearly scene by any observant Bible reader.
In the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve were in an age of “Innocence” where they were veiled from Sin, until the fall. After the fall God required a blood sacrifice of an animal, which was a “shadow” of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Atonement, which would take away sin at a then future event. There was a change that took place in God’s dealing with man from the Garden to the fall. They were no longer “innocent” they were guilty of sin, and a requirement was made to deal with that sin. There was a change that took place. This is the essence of dispensationialism.
Dispensational thought is clearly scriptural in application. Ephesians 1:9,10 says, “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him". Here the scripture speaks of dispensations and times.
In Genesis 6:4 we see that “God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” God told Noah to build an Ark because he was going to destroy the Earth with a flood. That was God’s message to the world, and Noah was God’s messenger with God’s word to that day, that he was going to destroy the world by a flood.
When Moses came however; he did not come with Noah’s message. God spoke to Moses and gave him a set of Laws to the children of Israel. This is known as the “dispensation of Law.” God’s dealing with man was based on his system of Laws, which were given to him through his prophet messenger Moses. When Christ came and redeemed mankind by his sacrifice on Calvary and through his resurrection, fulfilling many prophecies, there was a change that took place in God’s dealing with man. The Bible says in Romans 6:14 “ye are not under the law, but under grace.” So we see again that a change came, we are no longer under the Law but under Grace. Speaking of the change of time the church had entered into Paul said in Ephesians 3:2 says, "If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward". The examples of the “dispensations” of Innocence, Law, and Grace can easily be seen in scripture.
The Bible also speaks of a future Millennial kingdom in which Christ will reign on earth, which shows a future dispensation. The changing of how God deals with man at different times, and in different ways is the simple meaning of dispensational understanding of the Bible, which has been greatly misunderstood by some.
I would like to present a brief overview of the major schools of eschatology and prophetic interpretation before viewing how Brother Branham taught Bible prophecy.
Essential Features of Amillennialism.
Postmillennialism was the dominant evangelical position of the 19th century in both America and England. It was born out of an optimistic view of Christianity's growing impact on society and the legacy of Puritan theology.
Essential Features of Postmillennialism
Historic Premillennialism is the view of the majority of the early church fathers. Its theology is based explicitly upon the teachings of the New Testament. They do not by and large believe in a literal interpretation of the Old Testament concerning prophecy.
Essential Features of Historic Premillennialism.
Dispensational Premillenialism is the belief that God will bring about a literal, earthly kingdom in which Christ will reign over all the world. God deals with Israel in a national sense, apart from the church; which by means of the rapture has been removed from the earthly scene. It maintains a clear, distinct and essential difference between "Israel and the Church." The dispensationalist views a literal fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies given to Israel.
Essential Features of Dispensational Premillennialism
Preterist school believes that all prophecy has been fulfilled. The book of Revelation was written about AD 60, rather than AD 94 as many scholars indicate. Jesus came the second time in AD 70 at the destruction of Jerusalem, which was the "midst" of the 70th week of Daniel 9:24-27. This coming was a spiritual rather than a physical event. In order to allow this interpretation, they maintain that the entire NT after the gospels is to be interpreted spiritually rather than physically.
Futurist: The prophecies are to be interpreted exactly as written, without any transformation from physical Israel to spiritual Israel. They also believe that the seventieth week of Dan 9:24 has not happened, and will be in the future. This includes the restitution of literal Israel, with conversion of Jews, an antichrist who forms a one-world government, peace treaties with the Jews, and a physical battle of Armageddon.
Historicist school believes that prophecy has been in large measure fulfilled, but that the second coming and events surrounding it have not yet happened. The physical promises to physical Israel became spiritual promises to spiritual Israel when the Jews rejected Christ. Rather than declare a priori that all texts should be read physically or that all texts should be read spiritually, historicists believe that the natural reading of texts should have the greatest weight, but that such a reading needs to take into account the linguistic and elements of the day of the writer.
In the days before the first coming of our Lord Jesus various schools of Theology had risen out of the scholarly works of the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians and the council of the Sanhedrin. The Pharisees were the defenders of “Orthodox faith” they believed. The Sadducees didn’t believe in the Resurrection, and the Herodians were supporters of King Herod (that’s how they got there name), they were supporters of the Roman system. They were all sincere in their beliefs but they were all sincerely wrong! Today we have the very same thing. The modern Pharisees think they are defenders of Orthodox Christianity, the Sadducees don’t believe in the Rapture, and the Herodians are the supporters of Roman Catholic dogma. The modern day Sanhedrin is the World Council of Churches. None of the theologians understanding turned out to be right concerning the coming of Messiah. History often repeats itself. Would it be any surprise if all of our modern theologians were wrong just as they were in Jesus day? God will fulfill the scriptures according to his own will just as he did with the first coming of Christ.
The key to understanding Bible Prophecy was taught by Jesus in his Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24. It should be noted that Matthew arranged his narrative more by subjects and places than by chronology. The following is based in part on what Brother Branham demonstrated in a number of messages including The Sixth Seal 0323-63, Flashing Red Light of the Sign of His Coming 63-0623E, A Greater than Solomon is Here 63-0628E, and Questions and Answers 0823-64.
In Matthew 24:3 Jesus was asked three questions. And he answered in three different ways. Let’s review the scripture, Matthew 24: 1-3
“And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down.
And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”
Often Bible commentators put the disciples question as one question, or two questions, but there are three distinct questions here and Jesus answers them separately.
Questions and Answers Jeffersonville, In 64-0823M
“He answers it in three different ways. He tells them when the time will come when there won't be one stone upon another; what will be the sign of His coming; and then, at the end of the world. And many times, if you don't watch closely now how that He answers (See?), you'll get it mixed up and throw it all in one time; and then you're all mixed up.”
Notice Matthew 24:16-21
This scripture and prophecy was localized to the Judea region - it is not worldwide, because those in Judea are told to flee to the mountains in all three parallel accounts (Mat 24:16, Mark 13:14, Luke 21:21). What difference would it make whether it was the wintertime or summertime to the people that lived in a tropic zone? It was just for Israel alone. This is the time that Jesus spoke of there wouldn’t be one stone left upon another when the temple was destroyed. “Woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days”, because a mother that is with child, it would be hard for her to run giving suck to her babies to pack them, 'cause they had to come from Jerusalem out of the city and go up into the mountains of Judea.
Matthew 24 and Luke 21 are both accounts of the same events. Notice Luke 21:20-24
When you see Jerusalem compassed about with an army, then let him that's in the field, don't return back into the city to get his coat, take anything out of his house; don't return back into the city at all, but flee into Judea, for there'll be a time of trouble not since the world began. And that all come to pass in the days when the Roman general, Titus, besieged Jerusalem, burnt the city in A.D 70, and killed the people till the blood flew out of the gates and rolled out onto the streets. He besieged it. And even the people, the women, boiled their own children and eat them, eat the bark off the trees, the grass off the ground. That was for rejecting of the Word. The residents of Jerusalem were led captive into all the world (Luke 21.24) and were to be restored as a Nation in the last age. The regathering of the people of Israel is prophesied in many places Isaiah 11:10-12, Isaiah 35: 1-2, Ezekiel 37 (the Valley of Dry Bones), “will those dry bones live again?” “Prophesy!” This has been fulfilled when Israel was restored as a Nation in 1948 and gained control of Jerusalem in the 6-day war of 1967. God interpreting his own Word. He said it would take place and it did. That was his interpretation.
Matthew 24: 15
This scripture is related to the first question above but is deserving of a separate explanation. There are actually three “abominations of desolation” mentioned in Daniel:
Daniel speaks of three “abominations” that makes desolation. They are not all the same and refer to three separate events. Daniel himself was told that it was sealed until the time of the end when knowledge would increase.
Daniel speaks of the rise and fall of gentile powers until the consummation of the end time. The 11th chapter in particular speaks of the disintegration of the Grecian empire, and the rise of Rome to rule. The abomination that makes desolate in Daniel 11:31 refers to Antiouchus Epiphanes IV, a Syrian King, who laid siege to Jerusalem, and polluted the sanctuary by sacrificing a pig (an unclean animal) on the Holy Alter of sacrifice and proclaimed himself a “god” in 167 B.C. This is the first historic “abomination” of desolation.
The second historic “abomination” of desolation is the one Jesus referred to in Mathew 24:15. Jesus is speaking of Daniel 12: 11. This scripture encompasses three parts:
Titus destroyed the temple in A.D. 70 that is when the daily sacrifice was taken away, for the temple was no more. The abomination that makes desolation was then “set-up” by that event. The abomination spoken of by Jesus here is the Mosque of Omar. It now stands in the Holy Place where the Jewish temple once stood, on the very place where God had accepted the sin offering, the very place where the Holy of Holies once stood. In that place now stands a temple dedicated to a false god (Allah) and a false religion (Islam) started by a false prophet (Mohammed). ‘Look, he is in the desert-- don't go forth!" Matthew 24:26, is a reference to the false prophet Mohammed who devised his religion in the desert of Arabia. It is an abomination to the One True Living God that a pagan temple now sits on God’s Holy Ground! Notice the temple had to first be destroyed by Titus for the abomination to be set up.
Brother Branham clearly taught that one day in Daniel’s prophecy is one year, that a week is a 7-year period (See Daniel Book pg. 90).
In Daniel 12: 6 the prophet asked, “How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?” The end of these wonders also fulfills Luke 21:24, which relates to the first question that was asked Jesus in the Olivet Discourse, “when shall these things be when one stone shall not be left upon another?” the destruction of the temple.
Luke 21:24
Jerusalem fell by the sword, and the temple was destroyed in AD 70, the Jewish nation was then scattered abroad. The abomination was set up by this event, Brother Branham taugh that the Mosque of Omar is the "abomination of desolation" that is spoken of here.
THE SIXTH SEAL Jeffersonville,In 63-0323 418-1 In "Jesus, even speaking of it here, underlined it, said, "When you see the abomination that maketh desolation spoken by the prophet, Daniel, standing in the holy place..." What is that? The Mosque of Omar stood in the place of the temple when they burned it down."
Now in Daniel verses 12: 11,12 the scripture gives us the time. Since we are dealing with gentile dispensations, gentile times a Julian calendar of 365 days is used.
In A.D. 632 the False Prophet Mohammed was believed to have rose to heaven from Mount Moriah. The Mosque of Omar is called the Dome of the Rock. Its dome stands over the rock where the sacrificial altar of the temple stood. The rock contains four deep holes where the blood from the sacrifices once flowed. In Muslim legends these are the hoof prints of Al Boraq (meaning "the lightning") the horse that carried Muhammad to heaven in a vision. The temple was built to commemorate that event. The Muslim Mosque sitting on God's Holy Ground is the abomination. Why was it built? To give honor to Mohammed who founded the Islamic religion, and to worship their false god Allah.
Daniel 12:11 Take the 1290 years and Add 632 A.D –the date the false prophet Mohammed belived to have ascended- and we get 1922, which is the date the Balfour Agreement was ratified, which gave the Jews a legal document to the land of Israel for the first time since the Babylonian captivity of Daniel’s time. Note: The Balfour Agreement was drawn up in 1921 but not ratified and made legal until 1922.
Daniel 12:12 take the 1335 days of prophetic years and subtract the 1290 of verse 11 and one gets 45 years.
Now take the date of 1922 which is the Balfour agreement that gave Israel a legal right to the land of Palestine and add the 45 years to come to the blessing of verse 12 and we get 1967, the day of the 6 day war when Jerusalem was returned to Israel fulfilling Daniel 12:12, and Luke 21:24, which fits perfectly.
The third abomination that makes desolation is the one spoken of in Daniel 9:27 which speaks of a future fulfillment by the person of the antichrist that is yet to come.
Daniels 70 Weeks Jeffersonville 61-0806
And the prince that is to come, which is the antichrist, will make a covenant with the Jews in Daniel 9:27.
Fourth Seal Jeffersonville, In 63-0321 “He’s false prophet now. He will become Beast after awhile when he breaks his covenant there with the Jews.”
We see three literal fulfillments of the 3 abominations of desolation mentioned in Daniel. Two have already been fulfilled and one is yet to be fulfilled. Daniel 12:11 fulfills the prophecy that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24: 2-3a and 15, the destruction of the Temple in A.D 70 and the setting up of the “abomination that makes desolation.” That is the answer to the first question in the Olivet Discourse.
“What shall be the sign of thy coming?”
Flashing Red Light Sign of the Sign of His Coming Jeffersonville, In 63-0623E
E-34 See, they asked three questions, and He answers back three questions. "When will there come a time there won't be one stone left on another? What's the sign of Your coming, and what about the end of the world?" And many, I believe, that we brethren make mistakes by trying to apply it all to His coming. But He's answering three different questions that was asked Him. Why--will there be the time that there won't be one of these stones left on another, when will this thing be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and what will be at the end of the world? See, three different questions...
E-35 Now, we notice here, one of the things that I wish to speak on tonight is the--"The Flashing Red Light of the Sign of His Coming." And we're going to dwell tonight upon the days of Noah: "So shall it be at the coming of the Son of man."
E-36 Our Lord Jesus was asked this question, and He gave them the sign of His coming. And then, immediately He said this: "Heavens and earth will pass away, but My Word shall not pass away." And He said, “Learn a parable of the fig tree.”
The answer to the second question has to do with his coming or “appearing.” The Greek word to the question “sign of thy coming” here is Strong’s number 3952, which is “parousia” which means “being near”, or “presence.” This refers to the Rapture of the Bride Church. To read more about the Rapture Click Here.
Matthew 24: 32-34
“This generation" in Matthew 24:34 is governed by the related phrases "all these things." In other words, Christ is saying that the generation that sees "all these things" occur will not cease to exist until all the events are fulfilled. This shows that Jesus is not talking about first century events here. But the ultimate fulfillment of Bible prophesies in a future time.
The second Question is answered in Matthew 24 verses 36-42. It is in this “last generation” that sees the “sign of the son of man” coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, that sees the restoration of National Israel, fulfillment of Luke 21:24 with Jerusalem and the Blessing of 1967 to the Jews, “all these things” that reaches the translation or rapture “appearing” of verses 36-44.
Characteristics of the Rapture: verse 36 Of that day and hour knoweth no man. Verse 40 Two are in the field one is taken one left, verse 41 two at the mill, one taken, one left. A warning to make oneself ready is given in verse 42. “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his Bride hath made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7)
Qualifications for the Rapture are given in the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 25 in the Parable of the Ten Virgins. The Wise Virgin had Oil, which is the Anointing Oil, which types the Holy Ghost. The Wise had the true Baptism of the Holy Ghost, the Foolish had no Oil in her lamp. The Parable of 10 Virgins beginning right after the previous discussion demonstrates that the Rapture is what is being discussed in Matthew 36-42. The Bible interpreting itself.
“What shall be the end of the world?” This is answered in Matthew 24: 29-34.
SIXTH SEAL THE_ JEFFERSONVILLE.IN SATURDAY_ 63-0323 416-2 {178}
“Now, in the Sixth Seal is the one we're coming to now. Matthew 24: 29 and 30--24, let's get 29 and--and 30. Here we are. Now, now, we're going to get also Revelations 6:12-17. That's exactly what we just read. Now, listen at this. Now, it's what Jesus said in Matthew 24: 29 and 30.”
Revelations 6:12-17
All the Seals are paralleled in Matthew 24.
|
Seal |
Matthew 24 |
| White Horse: Antichrist | vs. 5 False Christs |
| Red Horse: War | vs. 6 Wars, Rumours of Wars |
| Black Horse: Famine | vs. 7 Famines |
| Pale Horse: Death | vs. 7 Nation vs Nation, Pestilences |
| 5th Seal: Martyrs | vs. 9 Deliver you up, kill you |
| 6th Seal: Judgment | vs. 29 Tribulation, powers shaken |
| 7th Seal: Silence |
The Sixth Seal lines up perfectly with Matthew 24: 29. The judgments are opened in the Sixth Seal. The Seventh Seal is Silence in heaven, and Jesus does not speak of it in his discourse. The outpouring of judgments that begins is the answer to the third question on the how the age will end.
The first part of the question-"when therefore will these things be?"-relates to the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70 and the setting up of the “abomination that maketh desolate”, of Matthew 24:15 which relates to Daniel 12:11-12. This explains the first century section in verses 20-24. The second Question relates to his appearing, the Rapture, and the third is an explanation of the “end of the age.” Peter who was present on Mount Olivet (Mark 13: 3) understood well what Jesus was teaching:
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Peter 3: 6-7, 10-13)
The Future Home Jeffersonville, In. 64-0802
E-25-3 So as old world frame… was not destroyed when the first world was destroyed--and the Bible said it was destroyed. But it never destroyed the frame; it just destroyed the sin and sinners that was on it. The framework remained.
E-26-1 The world was only washed off. That got its baptism; it was baptized. So will the framework remain though it be burnt by fire. It don't destroy the earth (See?); it just destroys the sin that's on it.
E-26-3 Notice here, Peter said, "And will melt with fervent heat and the works therein burn up," not the planet, the works therein: the works of man.
E-26-5 And the heavens will pass away and earth with a great noise." Such an explosion will rock it (Oh, my.), 'cause it's got to kill every disease, every thistle, every thorn, everything there is to be done, the fire'll burn it up. And remember, it's not altogether just a literal fire; it's also a holy Fire.
E-37-3 Notice now, how we go. After the world's fire baptism, all germs are gone; makes it a fit place then for heavens to dwell here on earth.
E-35-4 After the world is on fire and baptized, its baptism of holy fire from heaven; all sin is gone; all germs is gone; all devils is gone; all temptations is gone; all evil is gone (type now). Then what does God do? He can set upon the earth (See?), because all sin's gone.
In The Olivet Discourse Jesus was asked 3 separate questions that he answered in three separate ways. If one understands that, then one has a framework for understanding all of Bible prophecy.
Matthew 25 is a continuation of the same teaching on Mount Olivet. The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, which speaks of the Rapture of the Virgin Bride and the fate of the Foolish Virgins who are left for the tribulation period. The last part of the Discourse in Matthew 25 verses 31-46 speaks of the Second Advent, and the Judgment where God will separate the sheep’s from the goats. The Description of the Great White Throne Judgment is given in Matthew 25 in the Olivet Discourse in the parable of the Talents verses 14-30. The two Parables in Matthew 25 are essential to understanding the previous scriptures in Matthew 24. God interpreting his own Word, as Brother Branham said. Jesus was asked, “Why do you teach in Parables?” And he answered, “Because it is given unto you to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom, but to them it is not given" (Matthew 13:10-11).
The Parable of the Ten Virgins shows the Rapture of Matthew 24, the Parousia, his “coming”. The Parable of the Talents shows the judgment in Matthew 25.
The Answers to the 3 Questions are as follows:
If you understand this then you have the keys to understanding all Bible Prophecy as Jesus taught.
While some would try to classify Brother Branham as a Premillennial Dispensationalist and Futurist that would be far off the mark. In fact his teachings on the Seals, show that the Horse Riders have been riding out since the early church age. His teaching on Daniel, that the Mosque of Omar is the “abomination of Desolation”, and his teaching on Roman Catholicism through the church ages shows he is closer to a Historicist in many respects. He also teaches that the Beast whose “deadly wound was healed” was the rise of Rome once again from “pagan to papal”. The 3 unclean frogs proceeding out of the mouth of the Dragon (Rev. 16:13) is the pagan Tri-theist doctrine of 3 Gods, to read Truth on the Trinity and the Godhead Click Here. Yet, unlike many Historicist he believed in the great literal Bible truths concerning the Nation of Israel. With so much false teaching out there is it any wonder that God sent a true Vindicated Prophet on the scene to sort out the mess!