MINISTERSÕ MEETING

(QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS)

AFRICAÕS QUESTIONS

 

CHAPTER TWELVE

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Question # 735: ÒIs it right for a pastor who believes E.O.D.H. to hide his identity from his former thunders preachers like a Minister of Zimbabwe?Ó

 

E.O.D.H. Contribution: I am Kenneth Bynoe. The first question I would like to ask is why should this minister hide the fact that he is following E.O.D.H.? There may be an element of shame and fear. The Lord Jesus Christ said,

Mark 8:38 <Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.>

Whatever is written in E.O.D.H. is the Word of God. If we were under error and we have come to the truth, we should not be afraid to stand for the truth. We have the example of Brother Branham who stood against the whole religious world for the truth. We have the example of Brother Bob Lambert, and we have another example in our midst, Brother Bruce, who has stood against all the followers of Malachi 4: 5-6 for the prophetÕs message. So this brother should have enough courage, faith and love for the message of E.O.D.H. to make a public confession that he believes what we are contending for in those books.

 

Phillip Ramkumar: He should do like our brethren from Africa: come out and identify himself with the truth, because this is the truth of William BranhamÕs message. E.O.D.H. is bringing out the revelation that is hidden in that message. In so doing, he would show those other preachers who are under heresies and who are heretics, that he has escaped and he is believing the truth of Brother BranhamÕs message.

 

Sookdeo Ramnarine: Maybe this brother needs to be more convinced that E.O.D.H. is the message of Brother Branham, and not someone elseÕs opinion.          Also, some people are not militant. They have a compromising nature, so they are not willing to come out and make a clear stand, and E.O.D.H. is calling for militancy against all heresies.

Peter, James, John and the rest of the apostles were disciples of Jesus, and everybody knew it. They were publicly known as disciples.

Joseph of Arimethea was also a disciple of Jesus Christ but the Scripture states that he was a secret disciple. In other words, he did not make his identity known for fear of the Jews. (John 19:38-39).

Nicodemus, another disciple, who at first went to Jesus at night, kept his identity secret from the other Pharisees of his class then, when he went to Jesus.

              Christians declare their identity publicly in a time and in a land of peace where hostility against Christians is not known. It becomes necessary at times to keep their identity and faith secret or unpublicized because of persecutions, death-threats and unfair treatments, etc. For example, in the land of Uzbekistan; Christians are persecuted and they are denied their rights and privileges. In a place like this, if one is converted to Christianity it will be better to remain a secret disciple.

If a pastor who now believes E.O.D.H., wants to keep his identity secret under hostile conditions, we cannot judge him. However, it will be questionable if favorable conditions exist, and he will do so. For the present time let us categorize this pastorÕs silence as one who is yet proving our work before declaring himself publicly.

             

 

Question # 736: ÒWhat should the pastor do to make his identity known to Òthe thunders are revealedÓ heretics if he believes E.O.D.H.?Ó

 

              E.O.D.H. Contribution: I am Frank Deo. If this pastor is confronted and he has to make his stand on E.O.D.H., he should have no compromise at all and come out openly and say, ÒI am standing for E.O.D.H. because it is the message of the prophet, William Branham, and it is also supported by the Word of God.Ó Brother Branham said to put a backbone in your back and stand up for the Word of God and not a wishbone. If he is compromising he would not be able to make his stand.

 

Sookdeo Ramnarine: Jesus said it is either that you are for Me or against Me. E.O.D.H. is the Word of God, and these thunders heresies are against E.O.D.H., so he has to decide whose side he is on, and then we will know exactly who he is.

If a believing E.O.D.H. supporting pastor wishes to make himself known publicly he should declare what the prophet taught about the 7th seal, from seals pages 567-578, that it was not revealed. He should go to his congregation and confess the errors and wrong doctrines he had believed before and repent for such. He should declare himself a believer in what the prophet taught. He can also write letters to his former associates declaring his beliefs and support for E.O.D.H. and his separation from the heresies he had believed before coming to the truth.

 

 

Question # 737: ÒCan that pastor be part of the outpouring of the Holy Ghost if he continues to hide his identity with E.O.D.H.?Ó

             

E.O.D.H. Contribution: Let us hope so, as some men are cowards but yet children of God. Others hide their identities because of unbelief (Hebrews 4): the children of Israel entered not the Promised Land because of unbelief. Peter hid his identity because of fear. He later repented for his evil and got the Token, outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

 

              Rogers Richardson: If that pastor believes in Brother BranhamÕs message, and E.O.D.H. is the heart of that message, and he is trying to hide from it, then he donÕt believe the truth, so he has no part in that if he is hiding from the truth.

 

              Anthony Trotman: Until he has identified himself with E.O.D.H. in the open, he cannot make it up to Pentecost. Because we all openly identified with the Word of God and suffer the persecution, and he cannot hide in the background and think he will make it up to Pentecost.

 

              Sookdeo Ramnarine: They entered not in because of unbelief, and the outpouring only comes to that faith.

 

              Kenneth Bynoe: Mark 8:38 ÒWhosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.Ó

The glory of the father is the outpouring of the Holy Ghost. He is coming to be glorified in His saints (II Thessalonians 1:10). According to Mark 8: 38, a person who does not identify himself publicly with E.O.D.H. cannot receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

 

 

              Question # 738: ÒShould the pastor allow Òthe thunders are revealedÓ heretics to preach in his church?Ó

             

              E.O.D.H. Contribution: I am Sookdeo Ramnarine. The answer is ÒNoÓ, because all they will produce is conflicts, divisions and confusion, because heresies bring divisions.

             By ÔThunders are revealed pastorsÕ, I will assume that you refer to the pastors and preachers who preach the thunders heresies that were exposed by E.O.D.H. Publication. By Ôthe PastorÕ, I believe that you mean an E.O.D.H. believing pastor.

              Will a heretical preacher believe the truth in E.O.D.H.? Will he preach the truths that are published in the books? An EODH believer will definitely want truth preached to his congregation and not heresies. My pulpit will be open to truth, life, God and not to falsehood, death, darkness and Satan. I will not open my pulpit to any heretical preachers who deny the teaching of the prophet. However, I may do so to be hospitable if such a one is ignorant of the prophetÕs teaching on the subject and I am trying to convert him from the error of his way.

 

YOU WOULD BE A VERY POOR COWBOY TO LET YOUR HORSE EAT LOCOWEED

 

Quote W.M.B.: 31 Therefore, it's the duty of we as pastors to see that this flock is fed and fed right, because God Almighty will require your blood at our hands. At the day of the judgment we'll answer for youÉ

And there's known in the western countries a weed that an animal can eat; it's called locoweedÉAnd you must keep your stock away from that weedÉ why, you would be a very poor cowboy to let your horse eat a weed, locoweed. It shows that you don't care. And a real pastor, a real servant of Christ will be a poor example of Christ to see the sheep eat something that's going to drive him away, or make him a outlaw before God, a breaker of His Word, a breaker of His commandments. You shouldn't do that. You should watch that very closely. (You Must Be Born Again 61-1231m).

 

 

Question # 739: ÒCan a pastor who was ordained by thunders cult preachers, ordain ministers who have been brought up by E.O.D.H.?Ó

             

              E.O.D.H. Contribution: I am Phillip Ramkumar. I donÕt think that he should ordain any E.O.D.H. minister to preach.

The ordination of E.O.D.H. believing preachers by Thunders Cult preachers is not proper. By the term ÔThunders CultsÕ, I will take it to mean that you are referring to the heretical thunders articles that are exposed by E.O.D.H. publications. These publications are the truth of the message of Malachi 4:5&6. They are light to the soul. It is of God. It is life.

              Heresies are falsehood. They are darkness and death. It is of the Devil. What agreement has darkness with light? How can darkness ordain light? They are contrary one to the other.

Ordain means to appoint, to lay a foundation, prepare and establish. A heretical preacher cannot appoint a preacher of truth nor can he prepare a preacher of truth.

In no way can a heretic preacher ordain a preacher of truth. It is an insult to God and his Word of truth. It is a rebuke to the ministry of Christ. Satan cannot ordain GodÕs servants. My admonition is to keep out of the way of all heretics.

 

 

Question # 740: ÒIs it true that God could only use a man at the age of forty-five, who has a wife, and not a brother who is young and unmarried?Ó

 

E.O.D.H. Contribution: I am Brother Roy Barrow. There is absolutely no foundation for such a claim. There is absolutely no scripture for that. Jesus began to preach the gospel at the age of thirty. So this heresy is unfounded. It is not supported by scripture, neither is it supported by the message of Brother Branham. Brother Branham started to preach at a much earlier age than forty-five. So it is way off. This is madness as far as I am concerned. It is heresy to the very core and we denounce it, in the name of the Lord Jesus, for our big brother the Lord Jesus began to preach at the age of thirty, and John the Baptist, he would have been disqualified likewise because he was just a few months older than the Lord Jesus Christ, so I donÕt know where these guys got this heresy from.

              God can use a man at any age, young or old, married or unmarried and not only at age 45 and after. Look at Jesus from birth to his crucifixion. He never reached 45 years and he was unmarried yet God used him so mightily that the Scripture was written.

              God used the mighty apostle Paul and Barnabas his fellow worker who were unmarried men. Peter was a married man mightily used of the Lord. So old men were used as well as young men like Timothy and Silas and married men were used as well as unmarried men.

              Saying that God uses only married men, ages 45 and over, is an error. Some base these teaching on 1 Timothy 3 that a bishop must be the husband of one wife. A bishop is not limited to a pastorÕs office but other ministers. If this doctrine is correct, then Paul condemned himself when he wrote 1 Timothy 3, since he was unmarried.

 

 

Question # 741: ÒIn Africa there is a traditional custom for women to make a joyful noise when they hear and see something good like there is a traditional dance and parties, weddings and beer drinking places. Is it proper to allow this joyful noise from women when a pastor is preaching in church?Ó

 

E.O.D.H. Contribution: I am Brother Aldwyn Chandler. I believe that this joyful noise in Africa, there is an article of the world. And the Bible tells us: 

I John 2:15 <Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.> 

So that when the sisters or whoever it is, would want to bring in that spirit into the House of God, it should not be allowed, because itÕs a worldly spirit. Its origin and source from whence it came is not the Holy Ghost so it is a worldly spirit.

              Psalms 100: 1-5  <Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.>

              This is a nice question. In it you have mentioned your national custom for women to make a joyful noise at national festivals, weddings, dances, parties etc. This is alright as far as your national customs are observed. Sometimes, when such women are converted to Christianity they tend to bring in their national customs into the church as the women in the Corinthian Church did. These Corinthian women were worshippers of Diana, the popular woman goddess of the day and when they were converted they wanted to bring in their customs into the church. Brother Paul had to put this into its rightful place. No national customs should be brought into the church.

              Now, if a sister in church is stimulated or excited by the preaching of the Word she could shout, she could praise the Lord, she could say Amen, she can dance. These all have their proper place. It must be done orderly and not be disturbing. These manifestations, ordered by the Holy Spirit in church is all right.

 

 

Question # 742: ÒWe have a problem in Zambia between married and unmarried Pastors. Unmarried ministers are told that they cannot be Pastors before they marry but they can only be ministers?Ó

 

E.O.D.H. Contribution: I am Brother Bruce. This is a misrepresentation of scriptures. Jesus, Paul, Peter and Barnabas were ministers of the Gospel. Jesus, Paul and Barnabas were unmarried but Peter was a married man. Here we see that married men and unmarried men were ministers. These same ministers, married and unmarried, pastored churches. They were pastors also.

              If it was that only married men should pastor the church, then Jesus, Paul and Barnabas did wrong when they pastored churches.

Acts 18:9-11 <Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:

For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.>

So, an unmarried man cannot only be a minister, he can also be appointed as a pastor over churches. Before we establish a doctrine we must have a scripture for it, and whoever is saying that must be able to prove it in the Word of God. And there isnÕt any scripture that excludes an unmarried man from being a pastor. Then it is an opinion, and I think that this opinion is based upon 1 Timothy 3, which states that the bishop must be the husband of one wife, and I think there is a little misunderstanding between the word bishop and pastor. This is how doctrines are made: just a little misunderstanding of one word that Òthe bishop must be the husband of one wifeÓ, and Òif a man cannot rule his house, how can he rule the church of God?Ó

         To bring out the correct answer, we must first understand what is a bishop? A bishop in simple terms covers any minister. It does not make him a head over ministers, but it is simply translated from the word ÔelderÕ. So I think the misunderstanding is that they misinterpreted the word bishop to be a pastor. That is not right; a bishop covers the ministries of different men.

Since it covers different ministries we cite our Lord Jesus as an unmarried man. Jesus had all five gifts in him of apostle, prophet, teacher, evangelist and pastor. Brother Branham said that in Church Order. He said He was also a deacon cleaning up the House of God, when He took the rope and plaited it together and beat them out.

            Now, Brother Paul had these offices in him: he was an evangelist, a prophet, an apostle and pastor. He pastored in the Ephesians church, and the Lord appeared to him one night and said, ÒI have much people in this city.Ó And he tarried there for one year and an half pastoring. He was sent as a missionary and evangelist on three missionary journeys. So he pastored at certain intervals.

            Brother Branham pastored a church before marriage, at an early tender age.

 

WHEN I LAID THE CORNERSTONE, I WASNÕT EVEN MARRIED YET

 

  Quote W.M.B.: 15 When I laid the cornerstoneÉI wasn't even married yet, just a young man. (Seventy Weeks of Daniel 61-0806).

 

  Quote: E-16 That cornerstone on that morning when we laid the cornerstoneÉin 1933É It was long before I was ever married. I was single at home. (God Keeps His Word 57-0407M).

 

How many agree with that? [Everyone says, ÒAmen!Ó] An unmarried man could be a pastor. Yes. I will ordain any man to be pastor.

 

 

Question # 743: ÒHow should Pastors behave when they are visiting the saintsÕ homes? Should they be begging for food and money?Ó

 

E.O.D.H. Contribution: I am Brother Aldwyn Chandler. I believe we should take for an example the prophet. Brother Branham never went begging around the saints or in any church for money or for food. He did not have a greedy spirit. He was contented. The Bible says,

I Timothy 6:6 <Égodliness with contentment is great gain.>

We also have a pastor, Brother Bruce, that we do not find anything like that with him. I believe if the Holy Spirit is leading any pastor and the pastor is submissive to the Holy Spirit, he would not be going around and begging and looking for food from anyone.

 

Brother Bruce: May I put a little contribution? Here in my country we have the custom of a free kitchen to our visiting guests. This means that whatever is prepared to be partaken of is willingly shared with visitors.

               We have got to divide the lines right. We cannot only think for Trinidad. We have got to think for the Philippines, Africa and India where people are poverty stricken, and we have got to be thinking of the group of people that are destitute in some way. Some pastors are poor, they love the Lord, and they are honest and sincere. Such people need our assistance especially if we are blessed with the worldÕs goods. We who have should not be selfish and shut up our bowels of compassion from them. In such cases we should extend a helping hand and make life more comfortable for them, before they even ask.

         Now it is not the right policy. That is standard. We have the examples and I believe that when we use the words, ÒÉbegging for food and moneyÓ, we have to define that. We just canÕt put it in the category of just a swindler. There are different types of request, and we might categorize this to a place where a fellow is just going as a swindler and says, ÒGive me this and give me that.Ó

         In certain cases, ministers might have reasons for asking and making a request. Conditions that exist may force him to do that. It could be that in a church that nobody is working, which I am encountering now from letters throughout Africa, that I will purposely ask the brethren, ÒBrother how many people work in your church?Ó One will tell me, ÒNone.Ó Another will say, ÒBrother, some of them are working but their incomes are so small, therefore the tithing and the offering are so small that we cannot build a church and saints walk for miles upon miles to come to church.Ó So we have to think of the outskirts like right here in South America where they are poverty stricken.

           The answer is no, but with a clause that I would say, if it is done by the Spirit in the proper way. I believe it could be done if a minister is in need and he feels that his family might be starving, and he figures that he needs something and he has the confidence in a brother and the brother trust him as a minister that loves him. He knows that brother could afford that, and he may go over and say, ÒBrother can you give me some rice to cook, my family is not well off; can you give me one or two chickens?Ó I believe that is excusable under such condition because this pastor is not like you and I that hold jobs and the church partly support some of us. We are talking about destitute people.

            There are certain places that donÕt have water. There is four years of famine, so he might beg for some water, he might beg for a chicken because of certain conditions, and then there are many scriptures that tell us that if you give a cup of cold water to one of these disciples or to a prophet, you shall receive a prophetÕs reward. If you donÕt have these conditions sometimes, you cannot receive the blessing. And this brother may go out, and I believe the reason he will ask that is because he is in need and another reason it could be that the bowels of mercy and compassion is shut up towards that man that they did not see the manÕs need. Whereas I think we should be looking out for these things that we do not give that brother the chance to even ask.

            On the other hand, sometimes there are rascal pastors who live so wickedly as ministers who just want to fleece their congregations and others of everything that they have. They just take advantage of good nature. They will preach money from the pulpit and they will go to their homes and pick up everything that they could get. That kind of operation and that kind of attitude are condemned.

This sort is a hireling. There was a minister of a prominent church who received an ample amount of money from the church every month, but will not leave a believerÕs home when he visits until he received something in his bag. He was a habitual beggar. Something was definitely wrong with this pastor. He should not have indulged in this kind of practice.

But on the other hand, I believe that such love and fellowship should exist between congregation and pastor that the congregation sees the need of the pastor, and the pastor should be at liberty that if he is really in need, he is not a man that fleeces peopleÕs money, but he goes over in decency and respect and he would know who he has confidence in, and who would not reproach him and run around the church, and spread it around the country. There are needs that arises and instead of this pastor going and steal or preach from the pulpit, in such a way to frighten the people to bring in money to him, I believe that is more honorable. Lazarus was a beggar.

            I believe that we would rather ask in good faith than to try to scheme the people in some way, or to preach them down in such a way that causes them to bring out their money.

             So there is one minister that we should assist and another to eschew. The situation will warrant your decision. And we must have the right dividing line that we donÕt let the hireling come in and fleece the sheep, and you have to divide this from a genuine servant of God that is trying with all his heart to feed the sheep but things are bad.

 

 

Question # 744: ÒIs it right for a Pastor when shaving his hair to leave much more hair on top of his head than the sides: so called ÔTable CutÕ in the US?Ó

             

E.O.D.H. Contribution: I am Brother Bruce. Now weÕre talking about men trimming their hair in different styles. Here we call that hairstyle, ÒGal-ah-rush-meÓ, which simply means girls are rushing after you. So, I was preaching one time and I said, ÔItÕs not gal-ah-rush me, it is the devil rushing you

Brother Branham had to contend with a lot of hairstyles, which they call waterhead haircuts etc. The Prophet of God explained that it is the spirit of the world that he is concerned about, and not how you cut your hair but what makes you do that. The Bible said,

1Corinthians 11:7 <For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.>

1Corinthians 11:14 <Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?>

 

Quote W.M.B.: I believe as a Christian person you'd know about how to do that. I don't think God cuts any certain lengths or whatever it is. As long as you're decent and look honorable and clean. (Questions And Answers COD 64-0823E  P:14).

 

Quote: And--and I know I've said a whole lot about it: "And you, Rickys, with that flattop haircut," and all like that, and things like that, but I just say that. See?I don't think God cares how a man cuts his hair, as long as he cuts it, because his head is God. (Questions And Answers COD 64-0823E P:84).

 

According to Scriptures a man is supposed to keep his hair short, trimmed, neat, decent and clean. If a man has long hair it is a shame unto him. In keeping our hair short as men we are admonished not to be conformed to the styles and patterns of the world. Every style is a spirit and what we are trying to get away from is the spirit of the world.

A style might come out in the world and they take off all the hair in the head, but then somebody wants to be a Christian and be in the world at the same time, so they take off just a little. Now, itÕs a spirit that is motivating that fellow. You are serving God and mammon, and you cannot serve God and mammon. YouÕve got to be sold out to Jesus Christ.

What we live and the styles we adopt manifest what is in our hearts. If the styles you have mentioned are worldly and we adopt them, then our nature is worldly. And if the love of the world is in us then the love of God is lacking in us.  Let us not be conformed to the world. If there is any worldly thing in us let us purge it out.

              The emphasis in the prophetÕs teaching is to avoid the styles of the world. Christians should not imitate Hollywood haircuts and so-called stars of the world. Worldly styles are motivated by spirits and influenced from Hell.

 

 

Question # 745: ÒIs Jerusalem natural or spiritual?Ó

 

E.O.D.H. Contribution: I am Brother Roy Barrow. Based on Revelation 21, I cannot see how people will spiritualize that New Jerusalem. I think they need to listen to the messages that we have just listened to on the future home of the heavenly Bridegroom and the earthly Bride.

I see it as natural, and hear what John said,

Revelation 21:1-2  <And I saw a new heaven and a new earthÉ>

I wonder if that is natural or spiritual?

for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.>

Is that spiritual, beloved? [Ed. Everyone says, ÒNo!Ó] That is absolutely natural.

Revelation 21:3 <And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. >

Beloved, based on Revelation 21 with all the other things that go with the New Jerusalem, we here believe and are taught here that New Jerusalem is natural. That is Brother BranhamÕs teaching and thatÕs the Bible. So, it is not spiritual, it is natural. Of course there is a spiritual element, but it is the natural that we are speaking about.

 

FUTURE HOME OF THE BRIDE – WHERE WE ARE GOING TO LIVE

 

             Quote W.M.B.: 4-3 Now, I'm speaking this morning on the "Future Home of the Heavenly Bridegroom and the Earthly Bride": where they're going to live. (Future Home 64-0802).

 

CHRIST IS IN HEAVEN TODAY PREPARING THE NEW JERUSALEM

 

 Quote: 42-3 And in the new earth, there is a new CitÉ Jesus said in John 14É I'm going to prepare a place for you. In My Father's house is many mansions. In My Father's Kingdom is many palaces." Christ is there under the construction of this New Jerusalem nowÉChrist is in heaven today preparing the New JerusalemÉAnd Christ is gone and is preparing a place (that's been on its construction for many, many thousands of years), preparing a place. "And if I go and prepare a place, I will come again, and receive you, that wherever I am, there you may be also." Notice, the Redeemer and the redeemed. (Future Home 64-0802).

 

THE DIVINE ARCHITECT WILL LIVE WITH HIS BRIDE IN THAT CITY

 

Quote: 43-4 Now, the Divine Architect has designed a new City where He will live with His Bride, just to Her touch. (Future Home 64-0802).

 

THIS IS THE CITY THAT ABRAHAM WAS LOOKING FOR

 

Quote: 58-1 Truly, this is the City that Abraham was looking for. See? Being a prophet he knowed that City was somewhere; the Bible said so. And he forsook the city he lived, and he went over--and look where he went. Exactly where it will be. See? He was looking for a City whose Builder and Maker was God, (see?) being a prophetÉ John saw it coming down, but Abraham thought it must be on earth right then. Why? He met Melchizedek, the King of ItÉ and they took communion (Amen.) right on the literal spot where the City will be raised up, the holy mountain of the Lord where the redeemed'll live ... There will be streets of transparent gold, avenues, and houses, and parks. (Future Home 64-0802).

 

THE BRIDE LOOKS AT HER FUTURE HOME

 

Quote: 68-3 The future home of the Groom and Bride, He's coming back... [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.]... me to the wedding supper, it's going to be three and a half days. Then return again in the millennium on our honeymoon, and then He's going to bring the City into view, like the Bridegroom taking the Bride to Her surprise. How the little Bride stands there in awe as She looks at Her future home. And by faith today, Lord, we see it yonder. It'll be right here on this earth. (Future Home 64-0802).

 

IN THIS CITY WILL DWELL THE REDEEM

 

Quote: 56-4 The City, it's not just a flat cube like this (See?), but it leans up so it can be seen. And upon this holy mountain of the Lord, the Lord shall descend upon top of His mountain. Here He is. That's the reason the Capstone wasn't put on by Enoch. See? That's the reason the Capstone has to come now. And the mountain will be pushed up and it'll be the mount of the Lord and in here will dwell the redeemed.

These avenues, and big freeways, as it was, parks, and the River of Life will flow, run right through it. And every house will be made of transparent gold, and the streets will be made of gold, and the Trees of Life will be there and will bear twelve manners of fruit. (Future Home 64-0802).

 

 

Question # 746:  ÒPlease explain Revelation 20:13: Ôthe sea gave up the dead etc.Ó

 

E.O.D.H. Contribution: I am Brother Bruce.

Revelation 20:13 <And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.>

So the question that is involved here, is: what kind of people did the sea give up, also which people did death deliver up? ThatÕs very simple. Now, this has to do, my precious brother, with the second resurrection.

Revelation 20:6 <Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power.>

Only the Bride comes up in the first resurrection. The first resurrection is on this side of the Millennium, which is the thousand year reign, and the second resurrection is on that side of the Millennium reign.

Now, in Revelation 20, it states there about the sea giving up the dead. In the White Throne judgment the goats and the sheep are separated, and death and hell delivered up the dead. The goats went to hell for their sins. So there is a mixture of people that are coming up in the second resurrection. Coming up from the sea are all those who drowned, and those who were cremated and they threw their ashes in the sea. There were some sheep that went down there, and goats that went down there. A man was drowning and he said, ÒLord Jesus forgive me!Ó ÒThis day thou shall be with me in paradise.Ó He went into a certain waiting place. Then, there is another man who cursed God until he died and said, ÒThere is not anything like a hell.Ó When his eyes opened up, he said, ÒThere is really a hell.Ó

So now, these classes of people are in the sea, and there is another class that went to hell,

and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in themÉ>

Those are people who were actually lost: lost souls. Now they come up in the second resurrection and stand at the White Throne Judgment. All humanity is going to meet for the first time on earth. The living Bride will be the judges with Christ and then all: every human being that was ever born upon the face of the earth is going to be resurrected.

Matthew 25:32 says, <Éhe shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:>

That is where the foolish virgins come up too, and that is where the righteous and the unrighteous come up.

That is where people who did good for the people who were Christians will be rewarded.

Matthew 25:31-41 <When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.>

They did not have eternal life but they were granted eternal life at the White Throne Judgement. So my brother, to be simple: both the sheep and the goats came up from the sea, and came up from wherever they were, and there is going to be multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision. Great multitudes, and the White Throne Judgment is going to take place, and some will be granted eternal life but that is not the Bride at all. The Bride is already resurrected, she is saved and she is going to be the judges at the White Throne Judgment.

Brother Aaron will close the meeting for us after he speaks. Come, my brother, God bless your heart. We appreciate you.

 

Brother Aaron Muzambalika: I believe we are so grateful to hear all the answers from these questionsÉ I believe today they are answered, and we had even a few problems on New Jerusalem and I believe itÕs answered today, because the confusion was where John was told: ÒCome, I want to show you the BrideÓ, and when he went he saw the holy city. And then again where the prophet said in the book called ÒFellowship by the BloodÓ: ÒImmortal beings stay in immortal habitationsÓÉ so there are questions among our members of the church saying after this world is over are we going to be mortals and what kind of habitation? So there are so many things that came up which now today it has been answeredÉ We are not asking questions for argument. We are asking to understand.

We are so grateful to this church; great ministers of God that had been trained over the years and have been able to bring out the answers, helping everyone in our part of the world. We are going to take these answers back and we will make sure we go through them so that everyone will be clear. When we arrive we shall call for a meeting again and we shall call as many as we can and explain our joys. It has been so wonderful for us.

We always tell your pastor to stand firmÉ because the truth is not always supported by the majority. And even in Zambia we are not so many, but we are not ashamed, we stand for the truth. And we shall remain faithful. We are not believing for money. We are believing because itÕs the truth.

ÉWe really appreciate how God just helped us to connect to this church, because there are so many false things aroundÉ So we are grateful for you and to God for what he has put hereÉ you have a man of God near you here. Sometimes you might take it lightly, but we are blessed because we came from a far country and just when we read the books they do something to us. We see something in that.

We are so grateful for all these answers. So with these few words I believe we can close, and God bless you so much. I was just listening how each one was answering so militant and hard. ThatÕs how you destroy the enemy. You donÕt speak to the devil in a compromising way. He wonÕt go. The Bible says to cast out devils. It doesnÕt say compromiseÉ so I love the attitude. I love the way it is done. ThatÕs how I also believe and do.

              ÉWe thank you Lord for your love. We thank you for this great meeting. We appreciate Lord, your great presence. To see your children standing for what is right. To see heavenly Father, every question answered. We just see one thingÉ the hand of God resting upon us. Father bless every minister, every brother, the pastor of this church, the elders. Bless us FatherÉ Give us heavenly Father, understanding that we may more and more be together and spread this truth to the dying worldÉ Lord as we disperse, I pray that you disperse us with your holy blessingsÉ in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

 

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