Tracing Spiritual Perversion

Tracing Spiritual Perversion

'Efficiency'

Bro. Lee Vayle - June 11, 1970

We do not say what You have said, as Peter taught, if any man speaks let him speak as the oracles of the Word of God. There, Lord, I have no foundation. And if the people believe it they have no foundation, and you're not going to back it up at all, because it is not your Word. For, You have never said You'll stand over my word to perform it. But, You'll stand over Your Word to perform it.

And so tonight, Lord, we're very prayerful and careful, asking You to give us the exact Word, even if they're stammering and halting it doesn't matter. Just let it be Your Word, O God. Let it be Your thoughts, let it be Your revelation, and let it be by Your understanding in the Holy Ghost in both the giving and the receiving tonight. That the people might be edified and there might now be a clarity, O God. Such clarity that this takes place will be absolutely part of that rapturing faith, we ask this, Lord, for Your honor and glory, because we're believing tonight we're no longer church, but we're Bride in Jesus' Name. Amen.

1. Now, if you want to take your Bibles, we have much Scripture to read just to begin this subject. We will go back to Acts 20: wherein Paul called the elders, the elders from Ephesus to Miletus. In verse 17, the one verse says:

(17) And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

And verses 28-31

(28) Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, (of God) over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he (God) hath purchased with (God's) own blood.

(29) For (this I know), that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Now, where do wolves like to go? Right to the sheep pen.

(30) Also of your own selves...

"Also of you own selves..." How do you think Paul felt when he said that looking those men in the eye. Not reading from the Bible the way I'm reading, but looking right at them.

(30) (And) of your own selves, (you elders) men shall arise, speaking perverse things...

Speaking perverted things. (See?)

2. Now, notice up here he said in verse 26

(26) Wherefore I take you to record... (put it on a record, record it, and) I am pure from the blood of all men.

(27) For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

All of God's wisdom and counsel for those people had been declared by Paul, and nothing has been left out. Now, he turns and says here: "You people are going to pervert what I have delivered to you." (See?) What for?

(30) ...to draw away disciples after them.

As Bro. Ruddle said this morning, to be somebody. And you can't be somebody unless you've got a retinue, because there's no king without subjects. That's just self adoration. (See?) You've got to have the other.

(31) Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

How did he do it? By the Word of Almighty God.

3. Now, over here in 2 Corinthians 11: continuing the very same thought, repeating a bit of Scripture from last night,

(2) For I am jealous over you with (the) godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, ...

Oh, who’s going to get it, Father, Son, or Holy Ghost? That's quite a thought isn't. One husband. Well, I thought Jesus went to get him for the Father, and the Holy Spirit made him sure they got there. What kind of a kinship is this where the father takes over the son's bride, or something? Why, you can see the Trinitarian doctrine’s a million miles from reality. Fables, fables. (See?)

(2) ...for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

(3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

4. With this, the Book of Jude, a couple of little verses 3-4.

(3) Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that (you) should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto saints.

Now, how can you contend for faith? The only way that you can content for faith is the fact that, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." [Rom 10:17] Not the perverted word of God, but by the Word of God. You contend for the unadulterated Word of God. (See?)

(4) For there (notice the same thing, there) are certain men crept in unawares, ...

See, they insinuate themselves in. They come and get your confidence before they destroy you.

(4) ...who were before of old ordained (now notice, they were ordained) to this condemnation, ... (See?)

Now, as God warns us that's fair isn't? (See?) Just like the road sign says, dangerous curve ahead. All right, slow down. Now, God says, "You're in danger because these men were ordained. They're absolutely set up as strong as election is set up. (See?)

(4) ...turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

5. In 2 Timothy now, back here Paul to 2 Timothy 4:3-4

(3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound (teaching); ...

Now what's sound teaching? There's only one sound teaching and that's God's Word. They won't endure what God has to say. They just won't endure it. (See?) That means there's something in there that'll cause a pressure, the people will turn it down. (See?) Enduring. That means, 'some- thing continuing under pressure'. They won't endure sound doctrine.

(3) ...but after their own lusts...

Now, that word's too strong. it should be 'pleasures'. (See?) Can't be bothered with something stringent. Everybody's got to have pleasure. No discipline. (See?)

(3) ...after their own lusts (they) shall heap to themselves teachers, ... (the teachers don't have itchy ears. It's the people got itchy ears. Teachers have itchy mouths.)

(4) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, (see?) and shall be turned unto fables, (See?)

What's a fable, like Aesop's fable? It's a nice saying with a moral to it, that's all. Make it sound good. But it's a fable and nothing to it. (See?) Now, that's what the Bible says is happening at the end time.

6. With this, Matthew 24:

(24) For there shall arise false Christs, (even lying) prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

(25) Behold, I have told you before.

Where'd He tell them? Matthew 7: He said He told them before, bless God let's find the record.

(15) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

That's the same thing that Paul said:

(16) (You) shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

(17) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

(18) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit... (and so on, we'll read the rest later on.)

7. Now, 2 Thessalonians (that seems just like that's a very important part of our studies isn't these days? Going to read It the second time today now. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

(1) Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

Now remember, this gathering together unto the Lord is not the Second Coming where you're gathered together in the atmosphere or in a dimension. The gathering is not done there. The gathering is always done by the prophet and whomsoever God sends. And if you doubt it, I don't remember the name of the book, but you'll find this in volume 2, booklet number 15, page 29, that Bro. Branham specifically states, that the gathering together is by prophet of the end time. And if you don't know that truth, just let me check and diverge one moment in Luke 13:34

(34) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them (which) are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen gather(s) her brood under her wings, (but you) would not!

God gathers His people by people. God sends people. Sure! Because, He says, "Often." How often is often? According to ordinary people's thinking, God gathers His people twice. Which is once the Old Testament Saints got gathered, then the New Testament. But that's not often, that's just two times, often is often. Often, is many times. So, the often gathering is in every generation God gave out His Elect. And He does it by the messenger of these days, and then the messenger's message in the mouths of faithful witnesses, until it dies down completely and God sends another one. Because in every age the Message gets so perverted, rotten, until God's got to start again. But in the end time it ain't so. No, it's not so in the end time, they don't have time to mess it up, because the Lord catches His Word Bride away.

8. Now, still reading. He says unto them: [2 Thessalonians 2:]

(2) ...be not soon shaken in mind, or troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

And Bro. Don explained it thoroughly:

(3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

(4) Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Forgiving sins see? That's what they said about Jesus, "Why, you make yourself God, because you forgive sins." This man will do the same thing.

(5) Remember (you) not, that I was yet with you, I told you...

Now listen, if you think that this is strange, how this is going to come about brother/sister, where this man will be actually granting the remission of sins to people all over the world. Just think of the pope and his birth control. Sure, he said, "You can't do it, except by the rhythmic method."

And they said, "We're going to do it anyway. But because you say we can't, it bothers our conscience. Now you see, you better tell us we can do it, because we're going to do it. We don't want our conscience bothered."

You got it right here, so he's going to do it. He'll say, "You do what you like, do this do that."

Sure, you've got a perfect set up. See, he hasn't relented yet. Something is fixing to happen brother/ sister, because this is very serious

(5) Remember (you) not, that, when I was yet with you, (when) I told you these things.

(6) And now (you) know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

(7) For the mystery of iniquity...

10. Now, iniquity comes from two words in the Greek which I wish I brought them with me and written them down, but it means, 'to withhold the food from the sheep'. (See?) What's iniquity? Oh, that's some terrible thing that is going to be terrible, and all ramifications of filth, and this and that. Uh uh! Not his word 'iniquity'. It may mean it someplace else, but not here. This fellow here, this mystery of withholding sheep food, is going to bring on the antichrist the beast. It's what the Bible says. Sure, that's perversion, because he gives something else.

(7) ...doth already work: ...

Sure, it was working. Why? Because Paul said, "Men are come in already, and they're going to pervert this thing. What? The sheep food! Death, in the pot.

(7) ...only he (that hindereth, or let will let) will be taken out of the way.

(8) ... then shall that Wicked be revealed, (See? Come into open manifestation) whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, ...

What's that? The Word of God is going to come against that very thing that's purported to be the Word of God, destroying those that got a hold on It, as their hope ...?.... (See?)

(8) ...the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

That's the manifestation, that glory of His Presence.

(9) Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan...

Now, you know what that word, 'working’ is in the Greek? It's 'efficiency'. Yeah, efficiency. You ever know one thing about most of your preaching? Say, "Our preacher is the most inefficient bum in the country." You should praise God for him. You've got one of these efficient college bred boy from the seminary who know just exactly how to do it. And he does it just exactly right, and pretty soon your church is all full. Oh, you're happy. Why you poor deluded diluted ignoramus.

11. I challenge you, you find me one great man of God that ever was efficient, ain't no such animal. Even God Himself in the presence of Jesus Christ was absolutely inadequate and pitifully inefficient when it came down to doing to what he could have done. Because with one Word, He could heal them all. With one Word He could have blasted the devil. With one Word, He could have restored the Jews to great world force. With one Word, He could have gotten ridden or the Romans. But, he just stood back and said, "What I see my Father do, I do. What I hear Him say, I say."

And his own brother said, "Listen, you’re too inefficient, you'll do anything, that we want, you've got something on the ball. Now look it, no man can make himself known, you just go declare yourself. Get away, boy. He went out in the desert, where the foxes have holes. And the birds there had a nest, but he had nowhere to lay his head, he lay in the sand. Inefficient.

The devil came and said, “Look, (he said) I'll give you all my efficiency. Look what I built up, of all the ages you can have it, come on worship me."

So, the efficient boys come running to worship. And the preachers’ sons can't wait to go to college and become little preachers. They can efficiently go to dad. Follow his footsteps. And fill great big churches. Oh, you poor, deluded, unspiritual thing you. If you don't understand what I'm talking about, get this straight: Why that you men, why you men today operate the way you do with their programs? Because it's of the devil.

12. I've got a dear brother in Corpus Christi, I think he's one of the sweetest men I ever met in my life. And he said, "Bro. Vayle, I looked in our town for a man with a program for a long time, because I had two thousand dollars to get him. And I could not get a man with the program. So, I said I gave the Assemblies of God churches, and they built a steeple. That's about the highest they'll get. [laughter] He was looking for a man with a program.

One of my dearest friends in Connecticut, followed the man with the OR University. [Oral Roberts] Because, William Branham didn't have a program. Everybody's tried to organized him. And organization’s efficiency. And the Full Gospel Businessmen have dedicated themselves to hell on this very principle. Because they've got to take their efficiency and make it work in the realm of God. Efficiency. The efficiency of Satan. Boy, is he efficient. He's got people around the world believing there's going to be a worldwide revival. There is too, oh it's coming. They'll take them right to antichrist. They'll believe they're worshipping God, and they'll go to the lake of fire for it.

13. Efficient, I'll say he's efficient. He's so efficient we take a program here in America, and give away Asia to the Communists, and then give Europe to the Roman Catholic's. And now we go back to Asia to exhaust ourselves trying to take a little bit back that we gave away. Efficient. You've never saw such efficiency.

And you know what the Bible said that we're not aware of the wile's. You view that word 'wile', because that means method. Every hear of the Methodist church? Efficient. Come on, you efficient people. [laughter] You ...?.... I hired women who come back from Bible school. They say, "It's just too bad people didn’t take Stalin in." Because you know, we could have saved a lot of trouble if we've have prayed and God would have saved him.

I can image Moses, that great efficient man from Egypt who knew all the efficiency, and he said, "Boy, that God, I've had my efficiency, and I've got God's too, and we're going to get you out of Egypt."

"How Moses, how?"

"We're going to pray Pharaoh right into the kingdom, hallelujah." [laughter]

Efficiency. If you want efficiency, honey you get yourself a two room and a bath and live in it. [laughter] That's what they call efficient. [more laughter]

14. Doesn't this make me see where we stand today? How they're deceived with the efficiency of Satan and he's efficient, you better believe it. Ever hear what Bro. Branham said? He said, "The Baptist want the Methodist, and the Methodist wants the Nazarenes, and the Pentecostal's want them all." Who is efficient in the kingdom? It didn't say whose kingdom. If you're a good guesser, there's only two guesses.

[2 Thessalonians 2:]

(9) ...after the (efficiency) of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, (lying wonders.)

(10) And with all... (deceit)

Who deceived Eve? The devil. With what? The very Word of God. By, how? Perverting It.

(10) ...(and) of unrighteousness (their very character) ...

And when God called your character rotten, I don't care how sweet and how nice you are with your fables, fangled, you're still rotten.

(10) ...in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

The word 'receive' means to accept, or receive 'to take'. Not as the thing seen, but to accept as a thing offered. They get something offered in this ...?.... (See?)

(10) ...because they received not the love of the truth, ...

They were offered it, and they turned it down. Now, this is at the end time. They have a chance to get the truth… "As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit (hmm) was sweet to my taste." [Song 2:3] Could you bite easier? How stupid can people get. That old answer, “Well that’s something I didn't taste.”

15. Did you ever hear about the harlot? She commits her adultery then wipes her mouth, like a woman who ate a piece of bread. Song of Solomon tells you what it is. That's why the ignorant, foolish rams of the Song of Solomon as a fertility rite. Ain't no fertility rite. Just a bunch of sensual, lustful nincompoops.

What is this? What happened here? Eve went to...Eve had God's Word interpreted to her by one who is not the source of that Word. (See?) That's the trouble somebody who wasn’t the source of that Word interpreted It. (See?) Who was the original prophet back there, because the prophet gets the Word and interprets It, it was God. Then, who at the end time is going to present the truth that people turned down then God will force them to believe the lie? God's His Own Prophet. He interprets the Word at the end time for us. God alone interprets His Word.

16. You say, "How do you know?" Because the Holy Ghost gave It, and Eve processed, believe, revealed It according to 1 Corinthians 2:4-16, (so, let's read It) I want to make sure I'm on Bible grounds.

(4) And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words...

Word, word, word, word, word. "By your words you're justified, and by your words you're condemned." [Mt 12:37] (See?)

(4) ...not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

(5) That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

What's the power of God? Christ is the power of God, Christ the Word.

(6) Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to (nothing):

(7) But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, ...

That always fools you, because there's a funny thing about a mystery. You'll understand it by revelation, but not all the way. There's always some little bit there. But you know, that you know.

I've seen Bro. Branham many times and I'd ask a question try to ferret the thing out, ferret it out, and he couldn’t explain it, but he knew It was there. And yet he'd tried, get a funny little look on his face. And I knew that he was telling me, "Look, don’t you believe me?" There's no man that could explain this all the way down. It comes by a revelation, and even then, it can't break a hundred percent, because man can never comprehend the infinite. He'd never be able to do it. (See?) How can a little piece of God encompass the whole of God? You've got a little touch of the Holy Ghost, how will that shake you all? It'll get you there. (See?)

17. Now,

(7) ...even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained... (God made it this way. This is the way it's got to be unto our glory) before the world unto our glory:

(8) Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

It said the princes, the leaders. The tycoons at it were, the men with repute. The ones that are running things. They didn't know that He was the Lord of glory. And they went and crucified him, because they didn't know. Same at the end time, they don't know what the Word is.

(9) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

(10) But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit (searches) all things, yea, the deep things of God. (The very depths of God, it shows us what the Spirit of God revealed to us.)

(11) For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

(12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

(13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom (teaches), (of) which the Holy Ghost (teaches); comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

(14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

(15) But he that is spiritual (judges) all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

That right, we can be Bride and absolutely judge these things and know they're true, and anybody else try to judge it, they can just call you a fool, but you can go marching on.

(16) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we (said Paul) have the mind of Christ. (See?)

God alone interprets His Own Word. But Eve took somebody else's interpretation. When Eve accepted the perverted word... (now listen) ...when Eve accepted the perverted Word, she made void the effects of the Word of God which was the Tree of Life, and she died! The minute she accepted the perverted Word, that did it. (See?) And you can't deny what starts in the Book of Genesis, go all the way to the very end, and death is perversion. (See?) Everybody thinks black is black, and white's white, but it's not. Grey is what it is. (See?) Perversion.

18. Let's prove it. The Book of Mark 7:13

(13) Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which (you) have delivered: and many such like things (you) do.

The Word of God was voided. The Tree of Life was voided. That's right, she died. (See?) Because she took that which was perverted.

19. Now, notice the second time that the Word of God was perverted, because Satan perverted It by the beast. Back in Genesis 4:3-8

(3) And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

(4) And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

(5) But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, his countenance fell.

(6) And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

(7) If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin (offering) lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire,

and thou shalt rule over him. (A life for a life, see?)

(8) And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Death occurred again, because a man perverted the Word of God. The Word of God says, "Blood."

He says, "Fruit."

"Blood!"

"Fruit.” Killed him.

It brought death, it killed the righteous. (See?) See what perversion does? People worshipping God will always turn on the true member of the body of Christ to seek and to destroy him. Why? Because that's the record in Genesis.

You say, "But, how could anybody be so mean to rise up on the grounds or religion when both are worshipping God and kill that man?" The Bible says, "It'll even kill you. all through these years and think they're doing God a favor." Like Paul jumping up and down screaming, "Hallelujah, glory to God, got rid of them heretics, go now to Damascus, bless God, got more right there, I'm going to get the whole rotten bunch."

20. Now, if you think brother/sister, that the people you know at this end time wouldn't do the same thing to you if they've got the chance, you've got another thought coming, because they're going to do it. They're going to do it. But, they won't get the chance, I trust, because we'll be gone. And from here on, we find that only those to whom God is revealed Himself by the Word stood righteous. Nobody else.

Notice Abraham, he believed God, because the Word of the Lord came to him and he stood righteous. Jacob believed God, the Word of the Lord came to him and he stood righteous. Joseph believed God, because the Word of the Lord came to him and he stood righteous. Then notice Moses the great Word giver who wrote the first five Books of the Bible, how the Word of the Lord came to him. And from here on we can see how perversion really spread very, very rapidly, and how it progressed until we'll see it at the very end time.

21. Now, let's get to a real study on the heart of our subject, because we've got to take this perversion right to our modern day and trace it out. And we go to Numbers16:

(1) Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:

(2) (Now) they rose up before Moses, ... (See?)

Now, who were they sons of? Reuben, some of Levi, some of Reuben and so on. (See?)

(2) And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:

Now, you know that Israel didn’t have kings, but these are princes means they're men of authority, they have made their mark, they're great ones just like business men right today. Exactly, exactly every church does the same stupid things. God warns by Paul, if you want a job done in the church get the least efficient man to do it. Get some poor little guy that doesn't know jack all, as Jack Bells says, "Split beans from buttermilk." I like that saying. I don’t know what it means, but it sounds good. [laughter] Get a little humble guy in there and put him in a spot. But you say, "No, let's get that smart guy, because anybody that’s so efficient can run a business, he can sure do it for God." Yet, he'll run it right into hell, and you with it. Sure, they're doing it. Sure, they're doing it.

22. These princess, tycoons:

(3) And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, (You) take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift (you) up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

Now, this is most illuminating, because Israel represents the church in the wilderness. (See?) God's people progressing on. He is our example. Now, see what happened here, how that these people, elders, self-appointed, wanting an office, came up against the deliverer of the Word of God, the man that got it. (See?) They came against Moses, and then later on you saw in number seventeen, they came against the men that Moses gave the Word to. Against Aaron. (See?) God's constituted authority. And God's constituted authority is Word, Word, Word, Word. And these men here went outside of that Word.

23. Now, let's go to the Book of Psalms 68:18 and let's see what It says here:

(18) Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

Now, do you know that chapter 4 of Ephesians is taken from this verse, that goes back to Numbers 16?

24. Let's go to Ephesians 4:8,11, Paul speaking:

(8) Wherefore he (God) saith, When (God) ascended up on high, (Lord Jesus Christ) he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Verse 11,

(11) And (these gifts) he gave some, apostles; some, prophets; some evangelists; and some, pastors and (some) teachers;

And Paul enumerates them as well as Bro. Branham in order of: apostles, prophet, teachers, evangelists, pastors. (See?)

Now, this as we have mentioned has was taken from Psalms 68: which was taken from Numbers 16: which refers to men who are put in the body of the Lord Jesus Christ for miniseries, which are to bring the Saints of God to perfection. The work of the ministry, the perfecting of the Saints, the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all, (everyone of us) come into the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, the measure of the stature of the fullness on Christ, and so on." [Eph 4:12-13] Established in, and absolutely strong in God, which means till it's all over, until the Bride's gone home. God has established this here, see?

25. Now, this is what God says is ours. Now, but notice over here in [Psalms] 68:18 again.

(18) Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; ...

What men? The Bride of Christ, the people of the household of God of the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. Call it what you will, God gave them gifted men. (See?) But notice the rest of the verse:

(18) ... yea, for the rebellious also, (He gave gifts to the rebellious also) that the LORD…might dwell among them. (See?)

He gave this. Now, what's a rebellious man? A rebellious man is one who is against constituted authority and defies it. Now, there's only one law, and that's the law of God which is the Word. Then who are these men? These are men who defy the Word of God. Now, how do you defy a Word of God? By perverting It, because they’re religious. Now, the Bible says that they have been given gifts also. See, they have been given gifts.

26. Now, the Word of God emphatically states here, that God is amongst the people with signs and wonders, because these men in Numbers 16: had signs and wonders; they prophesied and did all the rest. And because they had the manifested gifts of the Holy Ghost among them, they said, "Listen Moses, "We've got something too, called power, and you better step down. Because if you think you're the one with that Word, and that can't be changed, let me tell you something, we've got the words of ours too." And they came against Moses. (See?)

But notice, the signs and wonders were amongst the people. A rebellious people, reprobate using actual gifts of the Holy Ghost. Now, this is hard for you to understand, because you see they don't want to believe that.

Now notice, the Bible said this only indicates God is amongst them. Didn't say that God was in them, said God is amongst them, they're rebellious. Those against the Word. Now, what is antichrist? That which is against the Word. That which ends up incarnate in a man deceiving the whole world and everybody going to hell that worship him. And he said right here you can be in that position and operate in the Holy Ghost. That's what It says.

Now, I know that it can be very, very tough to understand. But folk, I've got news for you, ain't nothing to it. Ain't nothing to it. Because there's nothing in this world that God didn't make, or God doesn't have, and the devil cannot create, (because he's a created being) and all he can do is use what God let him use, and he perverts it. And I'll show you something in a little while, just give me time, (give me my four hours) we'll get there. [laughter]

27. In the Book of Matthew 24: which I read, and I'm going to read It again now, because here we're building our case up strong. It says here:

(24) For there shall (in the last days) arise false Christs, ...

Now remember, Christ cannot be false. The anointing is not false, because Christ is the Anointing. He can't be false, no sir! It's the man that's got the anointing is a phony. It tells you here in that second phrase:

(24) ...(even) lying prophets, ...

What's a lying prophet? A man that brings the Word which is according it's supposed to be God's Word, but it's not God's Word. It's a lie, (see?) perverted.

(24) ...and shall shew great signs and wonders; ...

Gifts to the rebellious, and they can say, "Hallelujah, the Lord's in our midst." And if you've ever heard Pentecostal people ever use this phrase more? It said, "Where two or three are gathered together, there am I in the midst." You can be a bunch of bank robbers, three of you, and pray to the Lord and He’d be right in your midst. You can be three hypocrites, dyed in the wool scavengers having to crawl out of bed with a harlot and He'd be right in your midst, and you can talk in tongues. Picked off the street in a gutter, and talk in tongues, genuine real tongues. Be found in Los Angles with your face in the gutter addicted to drugs, and alcohol, and women, and get up in a little while and in Jesus' Name you'll discern people left and right and have them healed. All, that's right.

28. You want to challenge me? Because honey, I've got names and addresses... you don't bluff old Lee Vayle. I know what I'm talking about. (Uh?) You don't have a man live in your house to make a pass at your wife. And she embarrassingly puts him off, so cover up. I can bring that man here, and you see something brother/sister, only God can do. From a licentious, lecherous, whore monger. And don’t tell me the devil can heal, because you don't know your Bible. Only God can heal. Rebellious, He said so.

And those wonders and signs will be so great, that there's only one group of people who will not be deceived, and that the Elect, and in the Greek that is ‘ekos, and ‘logos’, which means, 'those who are called outside the Word.’ Because they’ve been warned. Their eyes are opened. They've eaten the Tree of Life. It's no longer a perverted tree they're chomping on. The unadulterated Word's come back. "Behold, I have told you before."

29. Now, let's just find out a little more about this. Let's go to the Book of Acts 2:16, and I love It, because I know this is something God told me, had to show It to me, because I never ever preached it the other way.

[Acts] 2:16-19

(16) (And) this is that which was spoken (of) by the prophet Joel;

What is it? The blessed Holy Ghost outpoured according to Joel. He said, "It's right on time, it's right on dot, and It's the real thing and It's falling here

(17) And it shall come to pass in the last days, (bless) God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all (a-double l) flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

(18) And on my (and on my men) servants and on my (women servants) I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

(19) And I will shew (signs and) wonders in heaven above, ...

This is just before the great tribulation that takes place at the end of the age. God says, "I'm going to pour out My flesh, on anybody and everybody." I don't care, let the prostitute come, she can have it too. That's right, did you hear what I said?

30. I can give you a book right now called, 'The Miracle Worker', by Otto and Eleanor Hudson. She sees her mother in visions, and talks in tongues, which were genuine. And he is a great artist for the devil himself, and they pray for the sick in the Name of the Lord and get miracles that doctors even come to them. I got the books. We can go there, anybody want to make a trip? I think they'd love to have us. That's right, we're not fooling, this is what it says.

30. Every Pentecostal theologian reading this says, "It is the last days, and they make the last days from the first days to last. How in the name of common sense can the first days be that last days? Two thousand years of last days, oh brother, what is the last days?

That's like Bro. Don, E-I -E-I-O, farmer MacDonald. I like that. He's my kind of a preacher. I always liked to forfeit this morning, man I could have kissed him. [laughter] I knew he wouldn't like that though. [Bro. Vayle chuckles] Not trying to embarrass him, no siree, I pay a sincere compliment. Fantastic message.

31. Listen, Peter said, "What you see is the genuine outpoured Holy Ghost, at the end of the day is going to come upon anybody and everybody." On God's Elect and the rest. But notice, where the majority of the signs and the wonders fall on your crowd. Prophecy, visions, dreams, this, that. "I have a vision," said the man to Bro. Branham, when Bro. Branham said, "Son, you ought not be running around and taking that married woman, (divorced woman) with you around the country. You're a preacher, I don't think anything bad of you and her, but I think it doesn't look good."

"Well, (he said) I appreciate that sir, but you see, it's this way, I had a dream about the whole thing." He said, "In my dream from my vision, (he said) I seen my wife had left me and was running around committing adultery on me with many men. And she came back to me and said, “I'm sorry'. "

Now, he said this: "I interpret my dream this way." He said, "You see, when she said I was sorry, and I love her so much I took her right back. Now, (he said) I know what that means Bro. Branham. It means that the Lord loves her so much, she can get married many times."

And Bro. Branham said, "Now, that's sure real sweet, but that ain't the Word." (See?)

32. See, I have a vision. I've been called to do this or that. Do you want something? I'm glad you do. Listen to 2 Peter 1:15-21

(15) Moreover, I will endeavour that (you) may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

(16) For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, (Aesop's fables, little stories with morals) when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye- witnesses of his majesty.

(17) For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

When did that happen? Over John the Baptist in the river. And listen, verse 18

(18) And this voice (that said It to John) which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the…mount (of Transfiguration.)

Notice:

(19) We have also a more sure word of prophecy; (see?) (wherefore, you) do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that (shines) in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

(20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

(21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Peter said, "Listen we know for a fact that this Son of God had a Voice out of Heaven speak saying. "This is my beloved Son, and we were there and heard the same voice." He said, "But listen, that doesn't mean a thing in relation to the Word of God." Now where do you stand with your tongues as evidence, your miracles, this and that?

33. The Word of God says in the end time there's going to be this thing. You say, "How is it going to happen?" Because God says He's going to pour out His Spirit indiscriminately upon flesh. Didn't say it gets down in the soul, said poured upon flesh, (a-double-l). He said, "Your gang and my gang, in the last day." (See?) And that's exactly would happen. Exactly what happened.

Now, who are these people? See, who are these people that come in, sneak in, pervert the Word of God? Because you see, the people of themselves don't do it. Oh, they get itchy ears at the end of the time, but where does this thing start? How does it do? It is those who take authority over the people apart from the true Word of God. Once a prophet brings the vindicated Word, the Scripture says, "There'll arise those who take authority over the people, but are not ordained, or elected to do so." (See?) Now remember, this started under Moses in the Old Testament. We traced history a bit. John mentions it, Jude mentions it. (See?) And Peter mentions it. And Jesus said it would happen.

34. Now, let's go back to the Book of Matthew 7:15 where it is, I want to show you the truth here.

(15) Beware of false prophets, (the false prophets now) which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

The very same thing that Paul said. They come in to destroy the sheep...at the end time is a perverted sheep food. He's going to spread poison here to kill them. Now notice, It says,

(16) (You) shall know them by their fruits. ...

Now, please watch this. This is a wolf, but he's got on sheep clothing. It's what Paul says concerning Satan who is an angel if light, so therefore it's not surprising that his ministers also are angels of light. This in no man coming along as a bank robber. Nobody coming along that's such a terrible person. There are some of those, but these are lying prophets. (See?) And the ravenous devouring of the sheep will have to be the perverted word being given them. Because they're lying prophets, false prophets.

(16) (You) shall know them by their fruits. (See?)

35. Right away, the average mind, and some of Bro. Branham previous tapes you’ll believe that this has to do with the gifts of the Spirit. As a fruit of the Spirit. Like love, and temperance, and goodness, all those things. (See?) The nine fruits. But that's not it, because these men can be gentle and loving and kind, and absolutely beautiful as well as the man I name is a natural rotter. An absolute rotter.

Now, watch this. Now please watch the language. He's talking about wolves in sheep's clothing, devouring the sheep. Then he turns right around that says, "You'll know them by their fruit." Where in the name of common sense is there fruit on a wolf? He's mixed his metaphors. Or has He? God's not stupid, beloved. He's going to show you what you look for. He's already given the key, it's a phony prophet. It's a perverted word, because He said to men, "You'll know them by fruit."

(16) ...Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

(17) Even so every good tree (brings) forth good fruit; (and) a corrupt tree (brings) forth evil fruit.

Now, what's a corrupt tree? It's a perverted tree. It's a rotten tree. It wasn't rotten in the first place. It was a good tree, but it done got crooked and rotten. So, what's he doing? He's taking you right back to the Garden of Eden where it all started.

36. People coming in and perverting the Word. As Bro. Branham says on another tape, denominational as when this man Sherrill, grafted in lemon branches and orange branches, and other branches on a grapefruit tree. See, there they were bearing their denominational fruit, (perverted word) taking their life from a true source. But he said, "If that tree ever puts forth a grapefruit branch again, it'll be grapefruits."

And in the mean time at the end of the Ages until the truth comes, there is absolutely not a limb on the tree that is a true limb. There's nothing but perversion. That's why the Book of Revelation says the Laodicean Age has got to repent, Because the whole lock, stock and barrel is, "wretched, miserable, naked and blind, and doesn't even know." [Rev 3:17b] (See?)

37. Now,

(18) A good tree (He says here) cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

(19) Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

(20) Wherefore by their (works, you) shall know them.

Now, let's go and look at it: [Matthew 7:]

(21) Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (See?)

(22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works.

(23) And then will I profess unto them, I never (ever) knew you: depart from me, (you) that work iniquity.

Now, look at this thing here. The Bible distinctly says, "We are to cast out devils. We are to raise the dead. We are to heal the sick. And now It turns right around and condemns these men for doing it. What is it? They're the branches, the false branches on a tree. It's the vine again of John 15: where It says, "I am the true vine, my Father is the husbandman. And every branch that bears not fruit of me, He takes and cuts off and throws away. Men, gather and burn." (See?) You've got the same picture here again. The very thing again. These trees. What is it? It's a man with the perverted word.

You say, "Bro. Vayle, how in the world does a Word get perverted, and God Almighty Himself did cast out devils, heal the sick, and cause the blind to see, cleanse the leprous and so on? Now, He turns around and says, "You men work iniquity." Because the Word also says, also says 1 Corinthians 11: "If an man does not discern the body of the Lord Jesus Christ, he becomes sick and weak and even die." You get these men out here, what are they doing? They are using the authority of the power of God apart from the Word.

38. Let me go a little deeper. What do these men have today? They got gifts, right? Now, what is the gift of the Holy Ghost? A gift of the Holy Ghost is...well, let's put it this way, you've got electricity, comes in a current. You got light up there. The electricity picks up my voice here and puts it on tape. The electricity picks up the voice and amplifies it. (See?) Runs fans, gives you heat. Takes away heat and gives you refrigeration. It's the same electricity, but every one of those is a manifestation of that electricity.

So therefore, a gift of healing is the repetitive manifestation of the Holy Ghost. A gift of tongues is a repetitive manifestation of the Holy Ghost. A gift of miracles, is a repetitive manifestation of the Holy Ghost. But Who's the Holy Ghost? He's God.

Now then, who heals, the sick? God! Who raises the dead? God! Who cleanses lepers? God! Who raises the dead and all these? God! But whose hand is God in? He said, "Anybody’s hand." Anybody. Doesn't matter who you are. Doesn't matter. You can go here, you can go up here to a...Notre Dame. Sure. There you'll find a group of people praying. And there's been a tragic accident. Two boys get hit by a speeder. One has been killed. One has had his legs broken. The boy all crushed, getting cold. The boy with broken legs screaming, and cursing God.

They come out of their chapel and lay hands on him. The boy is raised from the dead, literally, without a sign of injury. The other boy is rebuked for his cursing. They raise him up in Jesus' Name. Just like my glasses, like a stiff piece of wood, up like this. He walks off. Then they go back in their sanctuary, and they say, "Hail Mary," for two hours and worship the host for an hour.

39. Is that the Word? It is not iniquity for a man to literally have God in his possession, as it were, and use God against His Own Word? See, there you are. And He said it's going to be done. And it is being done. And this is exactly what Matthew 24: is talking about. This is what Jesus said, "I told you before, that at the end time, there is going to be false Christs, men that are false. (See?) They are anointed false to the Word, but they're anointed correctly to the power. (See?)

And what do they do? They deceive the many. They deceive multitudes. They come along and they say, "Well look, God's amongst us, we're doing it. You know that God does this?" And you've got it all over America. You can take any man’s life you want, and people look back and they say, "Well, I know that guy's life, he's a complete phony, but look at his miracles. And the miracles are of God, so the man has got to have God. Not so! Because what? God is amongst them. (See?) That's what Jesus said. When the Pharisees said, "When is the Kingdom of God going to come?"

He said, "It'll come, you won't even see It, you'll miss It. It's amongst you right now." Sure, It's amongst us right now. We've got the power of God amongst us, anyplace anywhere. (See?) But, they're doing it contrary to the Word of God.

40. Now, Paul explains this in Acts 20: as I showed you over here. This is that little white horse rider coming up. (See?) Because remember, white horse rider becomes antichrist, right? Becomes the beast, (see?) antichrist, false prophet, beast. Right? Exactly the way, it's a trinity. See, it comes up here in chapter 20. And Paul said to the elders, "Now listen, remember an elder is not in the original elected ministry. There's only five of them. That's great, put in six that's man. Man putting into office he wasn't called to. (See?)

Now, listen to me, remember, remember now in the original creation, woman was not there. No sir, she wasn't there. Therefore, not being in the original creation, she caused the fall. (See?) Man is the authority, not woman. (See?) Now, in the original New Testament church, elders are not in the original creation. No sir, they're not. But you see the woman could qualify for a certain thing. She didn't. The elders the Bible said, have a standard to meet. And remember, It says, "They, they desire." Didn’t say God desired them, It said, "They desired to take an office in the church."

41. Now, they can't be pastor, they cannot be the evangelist, nor the teacher, nor the prophet, nor the apostle. They can't be that, they're elders. (See?) And a standard is laid down for those people. They're not in the original, so therefore the fall comes through the elders.

Now, what must an elder do? He must be first of all really apt to teach. Now, he's got to have a good character, see so he'll be accepted. Why? Creates a wolf in sheep clothing. You can have somebody in you know is roustabout that knocks a policeman on the head, and kicks in windows and gets mad beating his wife up and everything else, runs around like a miserable miscreant. No siree, he's got to be a well thought of man. He's got to be years in the gospel. He's got to have a lot of good qualities. That's why he's a wolf in sheep's clothing. (See?) And he comes in and he does not take the true Word, and he takes people away from It.

42. Now, this is what Paul said happened in 2 Corinthians. This is what Jude said occurs. (See?) And this is what has happened in the church all through the Ages, that the Word of God has been perverted and is now bringing us to the very end time, where the Word of God is absolutely so perverted, that Christ is rejected and He's outside the church. Absolutely rejected and outside of that church. (See?) And it's at this time that the actual ministry of Christ returns to the earth. Bible says so. We read It to you over here the other day in the Book of Luke 17:26

(26) And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

See, that's it. It's got to come back, the ministry of Christ must return. And here in the twenty-four and elders, Bro. Branham said, “And Jeffersonville”, meaning Nazareth, in fact goes right on. He couldn't say Bethlehem, because that would make him Jesus Christ, which he wasn't. But Nazareth is where he lived, is where his ministry was where he went back and forth to. The literal ministry of Christ in 'The Seventieth Week of Daniel' [61-08-06] he mentions three times in a row the literal ministry of Christ returns to earth.

43. This is what the Bible said would happen. This is what Dr. Bosworth prayed for, and this is what came to that man the ministry of Christ. The literal ministry of Christ. The signs and wonders that had a voice, the very Word of God, the revealed God for the day. The very guarantee that Christ gave as Eternal Life has now been brought to us by the Word that we don't have to worry anymore on the sure foundation, the Rapturing faith. Which is, "Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little," [Isa 28:10] until the whole world staggers and doubles back and the Bride goes on. (See?) The Son of man being revealed.

Now listen, when the Son of man is revealed, what is the condition of the church? Now, there is something very peculiar about this. Because you've got to go right back to the beginning again of the New Testament church. Just like I took you to Peter.

44. Now, let's go back here to the Book of Matthew, (I can find It in several places, but I want to find It in Matthew here, I believe that would be my best bet.) In the Book of Matthew chapter 3: John the Baptist speaking:

[Matthew 3:]

(11) I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and fire:

(12) Whose fan is in his hand, (it wasn't in his hand) he will thoroughly purge his floor, (he didn't purge his floor) and gather his wheat (in) the garner; (he didn't gather his wheat in the garner, and) burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (He didn't do it.)

Just like Peter, he pointed to what Christ was going to do at the end time. Which was to pour forth the Holy Ghost. And when He did it, the chaff and the wheat would separate. It was a Holy Ghost downpour at the end time by Christ Himself was going to cause the wheat to come out of the chaff. Now listen, how close can you get to being wheat chaff? Chaff. Now listen to me, It says the chaff He will burn up with fire unquenchable. That's the Lake of Fire.

45. All right, who is this chaff? I know people think it's backslidden this, and backslidden that, I've got news for you. We're going to go to the Book of Mark, (and I sure hope I got this right)

Mark 4: 26-29

(26) And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; (which he did.)

(27) And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

(28) For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

(29) (And) when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

Wrong translation. You want the right one? Alright listen, first:

"For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself. First the blade, then a covering for the grain, then the fully developed grain in its covering."

The covering never was a part of the grain. It never was a part of the truth. It's a complete phony and a deceiver. It always was a shuck. Never can be heir with the wheat. Didn't have a thing in common with it. That is concerning reality, the real reality.

46. And He said, "I'm going to take that chaff which is reprobate. And I'm going to burn it, because it is reprobate. What is this looks like the real thing? It is a sign and wonder ministry amongst everybody, reprobate and Elect, just before the Great Tribulation when God comes on the scene with a fan in His hand, offering the truth. Offering the truth, and let's see who loves it.

You say, "Bro. Vayle, I just love those miracles, those gifts. I couldn't do without tongues in our church and all the interpretations." You couldn't, and then, that’s what you are. You say, "Bro. Vayle, you're judging me." Then you better book number two on 'Question and Answers', page 104, and don't stop there, go on to page 123, because Bro. Branham dusts it, and comes back when your mind's foggy.

And he tells you when the gift ministry came up in the church, "Bro. Neville, (he said) Neville, they're using you, cut it out!"...cut it out. Now, he said, "We're going to wait, just don't do a thing and we'll wait, and when I put the pressure on and instruct them, we'll see if it's a bastard child."

47. What's a bastard child? Over here in the Book of Hebrews 12:5, It says:

(5) ...have (you) forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise thou not the (training) of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked (to) him:

(6) For whom the Lord loveth he (chastens), and (scourges) every son (that) he receiveth.

(7) If (you) endure chastening, God (deals) with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father (does not) (chasten)?

(8) But if (you) be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are (you) bastards, and not sons.

..."Bro. Branham didn't have any Scripture to stand on when he took the gifts out of the church, the assembly, and put them in a private room." I wish the man had read his Bible before he said that. Because I've got news for you. It's says, [1 Corinthians 14:]

(23) If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say (you're) mad?

48. This is the place where the unlearned even can't come, and the unbeliever is not to come. It doesn't say you can keep them out with a club, but the evidently don't belong there.

(24) But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all.

There again It says, "if this should happen." But evidently it doesn't happen. This is not 'since' now, the word 'if ' meaning, 'since', it's got an 'if ' here. Then verse 26,

(26) How is it then, brethren? when (you) come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, ...

Where do find that Paul ever had this in any of his meetings when he preached? Never did have it. You know the Book of Acts, you're not blind, you’re intelligent people, you know that. You cannot place this anyplace in the Book of Acts. This is where they all come together for specific ministries, that all have, and everybody in the church is not a teacher. They do not have the authority to take authority in the church. There's only the apostles, the prophets, the teachers, the evangelists, the pastors. But, everybody else has got something to say here and something to do."

(26) ...Let all things be done to edify.

(27) If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two...(and) three, (let it be) interpret (and so on.)

[Verse 28 not read]

(29) Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

How could you judge a prophet, a Word prophet in the house of God? How could you stand up and judge a teacher, a pastor that's elected of Almighty God? He said,

(30) If (one) thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

This is a special meeting that's called. A special meeting that Bro. Branham said, "You can have when you want it, call it specially, and there put it on record what It says, and what is done. And bring it before the congregation. But they wouldn't do it, would they?

49. Now, what does Paul say in 1 Corinthians 13:[8] over here? He says over here speaking in tongues and all, "Charity never fails, but whether there be prophecies they shall fail. Whether there be tongues they shall cease!"

A man asked me, "Should tongues cease?" He said, "What about tongues and edification, have they ceased?" Or does it say cease, or does in not say cease?

[1Corinthians 13:]

(8) ...whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

(9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

(10) But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

(11) When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, ...

Tongues, interpretations all these things can't keep you infantile and on the breast. (See?)

(11) ... when I became a man, ...

Became a man? What brings you to manhood? "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man." [Eph 4:12-13]

Tongues don't do it, prophecy doesn't do it. Only one thing does it, that the Word. And what Word? Not the perverted word brother/sister. No, the Book of Ephesians could only happen in the first Church Age, and will never repeat till the last Age, when once more we have a prophet with the truth.

(11) ... put away (your) childish (thoughts.)

50. "Bless God, I've got some authority too, (you know) because I don't have to take everything that Bro. Branham said, because you see, he said that was just for his church."

He said in his audit, "You are my church." The whole world was his church. Just as Elijah was Ahab's and Jezebel's pastor. "You call yourselves Bride, (he said) God has sent me to call out a Bride."

I'm not here fussing about gifts, I'm just telling you what the Word of God said. God Himself said at the last day that He would call you a worker of iniquity if you literally take the Holy Ghost, and operate against God's Word. Then He said in the time it's going to stop. What perfect, what perfect, comes the Word of God? Right away you say, "Well, Bro. Vayle won't people be healed?" Sure, you can be healed. Sure, definitely. Did Christ operate gifts? No sir. Used the Word.

They came to Bro. Branham said, "Bro. Branham, you've got the authority why don't you use it?"

He said, "Because God never gave me the command."

You see, Jesus said, "Only what I see my Father do, that I do." He said, "I can bring twelve legions of angels right now, (but he said) my Father didn't tell to do it, so I can't bring that twelve legions."

51. Thousands at the pool there, but God said, "Just one of them is going to get healed, go on go on down heal him."

Now, listen brother/sister, if you believe that prophet that you say you do, if 'Spoken Word is the Original Seed' [62-03-18] he said, "The Bride becomes the Word Bride in order to approach unto Him, in order to be united to Him, (this is uniting time by the Word, see, it's uniting time) then the mighty works will be found in her, which were found in Christ." See, that's what I'm going to turn the world upside down. Oh no, you've got to listen to the rest of it now, go on down the road. "When the Bride becomes the Word Bride, she'll have the Word, and she'll know what to do with It." And when she does, she'll have ''Thus Saith the Lord', because it won't be she speaking anymore, it'll be God."

52. You want to put away the childish, and want to come into a full stature brother/sister, then get that desire out of your heart then to have something that God said take your hands off in the last day. You see, are you going to be rebellious?

See, what was it that trapped those elders? Gifts, back in Moses' day. What was it trapping them now? Gifts. Now the leadership, (you see) of these men, these elders, now let me show you something here, because we're on pretty tricky ground. You believe the prophet?

Now listen, what did he say when Luther brought justification? It went to seed, is that right? Just as under justification, they were absolutely born of the Spirit of God as part of that Bride. But when the just shall live by faith, died out. You see, because remember I said the other day, "He that believeth that Jesus is the Christ us born of God."

I say, any man that treats the cause of Christian, "Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ?"

They said, "Sure."

"Is he born of God?"

"Ah, no."

But they say, "What they say then?"

They say, "Look, he died for all of us. So, we're all fine, come and join the church and be a better man." (See?)

It's dead, it's finished. But the people go on practicing a dogma and do not get reality, but they keep saying the same thing. And what do they get? They get that thing called 'justification'. What is it? It isn't anymore justification. They go to the altar, their sins are forgiven, they believe, which no doubt they are, and they stop there. Maybe even go to water, then it is all over. But they still haven't got life, because they haven't got the Holy Ghost. So, what is it? They built on a dogma that was once a living reality. (See?) Why? Because the elders.

53. Now, God raised up Mr. Wesley, what did he do? Power of God fell, they were baptized with the Holy Ghost. They said, “Look folk, don’t give us that stuff.” There's got to be a reality there. Those men talk about justification, but you see, they don't have the clean life anymore now. We got to go on. They've got sanctification. It was real, they really were on fire for God, and really holy, because they had the Holy Ghost.

Then you see, that became a dead dogma. And the next thing then went to the altar, they got justified, forgiven sins, they went on, they got sanctified to better lives. But now, they don't have reality, it's a dead dogma. (See?) But they're getting that very same thing outwardly manifested, but not reality. They've cleaned up and they’re good, fine people, you can't put a finger on. That's right, you can't do it.

54. Along came Pentecost. The gifts of the Spirit were restored. They thought it was the real thing. But it wasn't. The Holy Ghost really fell, they were baptized in the Holy Ghost. They did speak with tongues, it was genuine. And then they said, "Look, you get the Holy Ghost by speaking in tongues." That ain't so. No siree.

Now listen, you're on critical ground now. Because remember, it'll reproduce itself without life. What were their signs? Tongues, power, so it'll reproduce's its sign, without life. They don’t have the Holy Ghost baptism, anymore than those dead Lutheran's, and those dead Wesleyans. The dead Pentecostals don't have it either. But, because brother/sister they went to manifestation of power, where those only went to justification, sanctification, now we’ve got it all. Justification, sanctification, and even a power of the Holy Ghost, but they don't have the life of God, but they're manifested from what they planted. You follow me? It's exactly what the prophet taught you.

And what follows today? There follows today the destruction that'll come from Heaven. And at the end of this day, because people are deluded by the very fact of what is going on now, it's all over the world. They are going to be brought to the very feet of the antichrist, and there they are going to worship him. And when they find out, it is too late. Why? Because they're chaff. And the chaff never was wheat. It never was. It was a covering for the grain. The wheat had to come through it. It had to come through Pentecost.

54. Now listen, it is the end time anointing upon the false ones. Now, it came as it is seen in Ezekiel 28: Now, let's go back to the beginning of the beginning's. In Ezekiel 28:11-15, this is the devil himself typed out by the king of Tyrus.

(11) Moreover, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

(12) Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. (Now, that's no king.)

(13) Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, diamond, beryl, onyx, jasper, sapphire, emerald, the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was (perfect) in thee in the day that thou wast created.

An original creation of God, that was in Eden, there he is. Notice, who is he?

(14) Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; ...

Satan, an original cherub anointed. What with? The Spirit of God. You say, "Bro. Vayle, I can't take that." Then you can't read. And you can't read. You see, you're foggy. You're still back there guessing and wondering. You're still Laodicea, still want your own way. You won't believe God if He hit you with a brick. If he made a lump of gold come here and shine in your midst tonight, you'd still boggle at Him, say, "Well, that can't be."

55. Did you hear what I read? But let me read It again.

(13) ...the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

(14) Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; (he didn’t only want to be a part, he wanted to be above it.) thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. (The wheels of the cherubim whirling and burning).

(15) Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, ... (until you got perverted.)

The original cherub that guarded God and covered the holy sacred Word was the devil with the anointing of God upon him. And he got too big for God, he decided to take over. Decided to take authority. And so, with the anointing he deceived the angels and they fell with him. And now, he has always done what he's always done, which was take reality and pervert it. He took the Holy Ghost and perverted it to his own end, while he was given the actual government of protecting, guarding God the Holy Word. And he came right down to Eden and perverted the Word. And he came right down through Moses, his cohorts of Korah and Dathan and perverted the Word. And he came down to Paul and perverted that Word.

And he's come down right today and It’s perverted again, until you've got the very same thing it started with, the devil. The devil got the people so tricked, that the very chaff has got an anointing of the Holy Ghost upon it. And everybody but the Elect are deceived. Because all the rest say, "Well, how in the world can anybody get anything of the Holy Ghost whatsoever?"

56. Let's find out if we can't be done. Paul the apostle warned us in Hebrews 6:4, let's go and see It.

(4) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

(5) And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

(6) If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of (man) afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Now, right away they all stop and boggle down. Don't stop and bog down, read the rest, It explains what Paul was talking about.

(7) For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, (receives) blessing from God:

Why? Because it's an herb.

(8) But that which beareth thorns and briers ...

You say why? Because it's a thorn and a brier. Why? It's a weed.

(8) ...and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

(9) But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

Well, what accompanies salvation if this doesn't? (Uh?) They fell away. From what? The Word, they got perverted. (See?)

57. Let anybody be perverted, that's the thing. Now notice: the rain, the soil, the sun, the fertility, everything is alike, but, the one thing, the seed. That's the whole thing. It's the seed. And what was that seed? The original Seed was Word, because we were in the mind of God in that thought, the Logos of God. (See?)

And that was placed in a human receptacle called Adam. And the Bible says, "That God breathed in Adam the breath of life." Wrong translation! He breathed into him the breath of lives, plural. In the plural it is male, and in singular it's female. And when God took out of Adam, Eve, He took out one life and left every other life in there. And as in Adam everyone of those lives died. Even so in Christ, everyone is made alive again." [1 Cor 15:22] Or was it? Stay with that original thought. And with that original thought came forth in Adam, in him was the original Word, to bring forth every other Word child of God through the Ages. But, It got perverted. (See?) Because the woman took the serpent.

58. Now remember, she's got one life in her, Adam's got billions of lives almost, in him. A male sperm my brother, my sister, is only...takes a hundred and twenty thousand to go across the cross section of one fine hair. And yet in the male ejaculate in a life time, there's enough to go twelve million miles in space.

Now, when you consider the genes that are in there, and there's thousands of combinations in the genes according to figures, you've got one chance in three trillion to being identical to one of your parents. Everyone was in Adam. One life came out of Eve. The serpent got to her. And all the lives within him was put through him into Cain. Then Cain began propagating and the human race became all mixed up until one lump. And God by divine sovereign elective grace followed those genes all the way down, mating which to which, until He brought forth His Elect, and time has run out, because the oath that God swore to Abraham in election is finished, because He said, "It's all over." He swore the end time has run out. (See?)

And at the end of this time, only the Elect would not be deceived just before the tribulation. And brother/sister here's your showdown, they go all the way but to the Word. They say, "Yes sir, I'll go to that altar and get saved." Now, where do you find an altar in the Bible? That's the most perverted thing you've ever heard of. Peter never said come, to the altar, he said, come to the water. Now, where do you get justified and you have an altar call, it's a water call? Sure, it is, you're all messed up.

59. Before Bro. Branham left the scene he always gave a water call. You watch it, the pool`s at the tabernacle, it was, "here's a pool, so what hinders you?" He never gave an altar call. It was a pool call. "Come to the pool." See, where you get for perversion? Then what happened? After that the Methodist said, "There no baptism, forget it." Sure, right, everything's perverted at the end time. Giving altar calls. Getting up, they're happy. They must be real, glory to God. Go on ...?.... glory to God. Talk in tongues, glory to God. Missed the whole thing, they turned down the Word.

And the Bible said, "To the rebellious, He gives the gifts, but to the Bride He gives the authoritative Word."

Where do you stand tonight? I'm not talking, trying to take any brother/sister. I'm not here to preach Lee Vayle, or anything else, nor even a prophet. I'm here to preach the Word of God. And I've done it tonight. And you can see where perversion came from, and where it is going. No wonder He says, "Depart from me, you that work iniquity." [Mt 7:23b] What a tragic thing at this Age that the multitudes are fooled, but the Elects are not.

This is the Word of the Lord as I see it. And I trust it's been a blessing to your heart. And I trust above all else, although I did not elaborate as much as I could upon this...the thought of the gifts in the church and where they stand. But I believe I've said enough to let you know, you read again what the prophet said. You study again and see where it is.

60. This is that great deception brother/sister. Because It says, "God Himself will send a strong delusion, because they turned down the truth." They turned down the love of it. Where do you stand, like do you love the Word tonight, or do you love these other things? Do you love the Word, or do you love the emotion?

Remember brother/sister, former rain is mowreh, [Greek] which is the teaching rain, or the teacher. Did you get it? The teaching and the teacher is the same thing. The Message and the messenger are one. Turn down the man, you turn down the Word. You turn down the Word, you turn down the man. If you turn down that, you turn down God.

Now, the latter rain is one thing, said Bro. Branham. Now, there's various interpretations what he said, because he said different things. But the one I like is this, he said, "What is the latter rain except the harvest of the former rain." And the former rain is the teaching. So therefore, God's Spirit falling upon that Word will bring forth a Word manifested Bride, which is a manifested Christ upon this earth. And she's got that Word and knows what to do with It. And she doesn't worry about worry about gifts and emotions. She doesn't work anything up. Nothing to work up, and nothing to work down. She has it, because she's It. And she goes down that street, suddenly she might have a vision, I know, she might have a voice, I don't know what is. I don't know, because that's God's business. But, she'll know and she'll have the authority, and when she speaks, even the creative Word of God will be in her.

61. Do you want to be in the gift ministry brother/sister, that God said it's finished. Because Bro. Branham said, "If you are operating in the gift ministry, it is evidently you are still in the Laodicean Age, when for the Bride the move is on for the Bride." It's uniting time brother/sister. You have been divorced from your dead denominations and creeds.

The Holy Spirit has been loosed for the first time in two thousand years. It's now to return to being that virgin of the Word. Now remember, a virgin of the Word brother/sister is a virgin who comes to her husband bearing no seed of any man. It's got to be the seed of God.

So, let's understand tonight where we're at. If anything has saved my life and I mean this truthfully. If anything its helped me and done anything to establish me. Give me any calmness, give me any rest. It is this one, wonderful fact that they understand perversion. I know where it came from. I know where it's going. I know what it's done, and I'm not worried anymore, because God said that He was going to watch over His Word to prosper It.

And this Word will not return void. The same God that said, "Let there be light, and light came, was the same God that said let there be a voice crying in the wilderness. And he came, the same God that said, In the days of the Voice of the Seventh Messenger was there. The same God said there's going to be a Bride standing on earth. That's right. And brother/sister, that's going to happen, because God said so. I want to identify with every single thing that's in that Word, and make me to lie, and be a member of that Bride. The Lord bless you. Let's rise and be dismissed. Let's pray...

Gracious Heavenly Father, we praise and thank You again for the opportunity we had of being assembled here in Your Presence, Lord. To know, O God, for austerity, the truth by a man that was absolutely vindicated. For, Lord, tonight we know that absolutely without this man having come just the way that You did with the mighty signs and wonders which no man could do in the Name of the Lord with ''Thus Saith the Lord'. We would not have stopped to listen. But, O God, those two signs of the mighty wonders and miracles that You gave him. First, the sign to the hand, the sign of the hand, then the discerning of the hearts. Stopped us in our tracks, and we knew there had to be something come forth from God in this wicked age.

And, Lord, You brought forth the most startling thing of all, perversion, that only the Elect would not be deceived. O God, tonight I thank You. Lord God of glory tonight if I were to be cast away from thy Presence, tonight I would still have to praise You, and glorify Thy Name, or whatever time that was accorded me, thank You, Lord, for having shown the truth. Glory to God. It would be worth it all, that now we can stand up and know the truth, and the truth has set us free.

Blessed be Thy wonderful Name. Let all Your people, Lord, who heard this great man of God, Your prophet. Who have heard Thee, Lord, through the prophet, for we head You. For, Lord, we receive Him, the one that You sent. And in receiving him that You sent, we know that we've received You. We know, Lord God, we have heard Thee Yourself, and we put to You'll seal, that You`re true. And we praise You, Lord, even with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Let therefore, O God, the confidence, and the assurance, even the depths of faith that passes from even faith to hope, which is earnest expectation, and earnest expectation right down to reality. Let it all come, O God, because we know It shall come, because of this Message. In the Name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. Lord bless you.