I stood at Cairo, Egypt, with the ticket in my hand, and fifteen or twenty minutes of calling time. They was fixing to make the call...and something said to me:So I thought, "That was just me thinking that." And I went on. Something said, "This is not the hour." I went out behind the hangar; I raised up my head to God; I said, "God, was that You speaking to me?" He said, "This is not the hour. Stay out of Palestine. This is not the time." Then I took my ticket, and changed it, and went from there up through Rome, and come back to Lisbon in Portugal, and from there back to the United States.
The hour was not yet. The iniquity of the Gentiles hasn't filled up yet - just to the end of the cup, but someday that'll be. And God will send somebody there that's a prophet, and will prove to them... I trust that God will raise him up right away, whoever he may be, that'll raise him quickly. I believe it has to come. That's what we're studying this for - that we're so close...
In another place Brother Branham expressed it this way...
And Something struck me and said, "Do not go now, for the hour is not yet." See, the Gentile's isn't fulfilled yet - day isn't finished.
"Oh," I thought, "that was just me."
So I started again, and it got so bad till I just couldn't stand it. And I went out behind a hangar, and I bowed my head; I said, "Father, is that You speaking to me?" He said, "Do not go to Israel now; the hour is not yet." I just went in, changed my ticket, went the other way (See?), because the hour is not yet.
But one of these days the message will go to Israel, and God will send unto them Moses and Elijah of Revelations 11, and they'll do signs and wonders, and Jehovah's sign; while the Gentiles is finished, the day of grace will leave the Gentile church...;
...And the Seal of God is the Holy Spirit. Now, we're down to begin where we ended off last night on Ezekiel the 9th chapter. There's where the prophet foresaw Pentecost and told what would take place. He seen six men come from the higher gate. And they had slaughtering weapons. Remember, did you notice it was designated only to Jerusalem, just to Jerusalem, 'cause there's where the Jews [are]... God deals with Gentiles as individuals. But Israel is a nation, God's nation.
Anyhow, some of the brethren from out at the Tabernacle, a Jewish brother, been trying to get into Israel all along, trying to do something for the Jews, to say, he wanted to win them to the Lord. And he come to the Tabernacle the other morning, he raised up when the anointing was on, he said, "Brother Branham, like to ask you a question. "How will I ever get into Jerusalem? I've tried every way." I said, "I wouldn't know what to tell you." About that time the Holy Spirit moved and said, "It's not so, because Israel will be born in one day."
The prophet Isaiah thus spoke...
According to God's plan in the regathering of the people, back to the land, the political nation of Israel put forth it's buds in 1948 and was recognized by the United Nations as "a nation" among other nations. But once God recognizes Israel as a nation then Israel will soon afterwards become "The" Nation and reign over the world for a thousand years. Many would-be-conquerors have tried to establish an everlasting kingdom but all failed. Hitler boasted of a Thousand year Reich for the German people but it backfired and almost destroyed Germany.
Concerning Hitler and his brutal, savage attempt to destroy the natural seed of Abraham during WWII Brother Branham said:
The prophet Ezekiel thus spoke...
As promised, God will make an "Everlasting" Covenant of Peace with the whole house of Israel. During the promised 1000 year reign of peace in Revelation 20:1-7 Israel will be "The" Nation with Jesus Christ, the Royal Son of David, reigning on the Throne of David with His Gentile Bride. Note that this Covenant is not an "Eternal" Covenant - it is "Everlasting"; because, eventually, when ALL prophecy is fulfilled, all "time" blends into "eternity".
Among many Bible Teachers there is much controversy surrounding the people whom we generally refer to as "The Jews". But because of their sin and disobedience God dispersed them among the Nations, causing the mention of them to become a hissing [shreqah], a reproach [cherpah] and a by-word [shniynah] among many peoples. (Jeremiah 29:18; Deut. 28:37) Some (especially anti-semitics) feel that they hold no special place in the plan of God. Others feel that when the Jews rejected Jesus Christ that God was finished with them forever. Still others believe that "according to the Word of God" a remnant of the Natural Seed of Abraham will be saved; and when the "Times" and "Fullness" of the Gentiles is finished God will once again turn to the Jews. (Luke 21:24; Romans 11:25).
God's own life is bound with Israel. Her people are known as a Chosen People - Divinely choosen. Since the establishment of the first Jewish Kubutz in the early 1900's, in the land known then as Palestine, the people and the land has been moving swiftly to the "hub" of the wheel of prophecy. At the hub things are moving swiftly to complete fulfillment.
No other nation on earth has been destroyed, scattered to the four corners of the globe, and then regathered as the focus of world attention. No other nation on earth has been choosen by God to be so shamed for her sins before a watching world. No other nation has been lifted so high or dragged so low. It is no wonder that the God of Abraham cried out through the prophet Isaiah, saying, "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins. (Isaiah 40:1-2). All Praise be to Him who keeps Israel - even the Holy One of Israel.
Israel - the land and it's people, is the land and people of the Bible, a Book that was produced by Divinely Anointed Jewish prophets, yet, a Book which repeatedly criticizes the Jewish people for failing to be the servant nation she was chosen to be. Again, the Book speaks of the regathering and redemption of the land and the people.
Israel is the land of contrasts - small in size but immeasurable in significance. Eternally chosen by God, but temporarily rejected by Him before all the nations of the earth. Her religious capitol has a name that means "City of Peace," yet it has been one of the most continuous sources of conflict the world has ever known. Jerusalem, built on the mountains of Israel, is one of the oldest and lowest spots on earth.
No other Nation tells us more about God, more about ourselves, or more about one another. No other Nation declares by it's re-emergence in time that there is a God who deserves to be feared and loved and obeyed. No other Nation exists as a declaration to the world that in the records of her history we find our roots and in the predictions of her prophets we find our future. Those who visit this land, read it's history, or look at pictures of it's mountains and valleys have before them a tangible evidence of the greatest story ever told, something more provocative and compelling than breaking network news.
In a multicultural world we find in Israel the story of a creator who refuses to give His glory to the idols of human likeness. Here we find real places of real people who in their time became witnesses to a God who revealed Himself to one nation for the sake of all. Here we find the homes, the battlefields, and the graves of a people who have given the world a boundless treasure of history and philosophy and faith - especially faith. Here in the stones and rocks of Israel we find the sheep and goats, the mountains and valleys, Zions and Gehennas of our lives. here we touch with our hands relics of a story that people of all nations can accept and embrace to their own eternal Salvation.
Here is a Land chosen by God to tell all the world that He alone deserves to be worshiped, that He alone is the One we sin against, that He alone has offered a Sacrifice adequate to pay for the worst of our sins, that He alone is willing to forgive as a gift, in exchange for the simple offer of our surrender and trust. What a Land! What a People! But even greater is the God of the Land and the People.
But, rest assuredly, as Israel - the Land and the people testify to the existance of the Living God, even so the presence of anti-semitics, Neo-Nazis, anti-Israel governments and politicians, all testify to the existance of the enemy of God - the Devil. It is true that one day soon all nations of the earth will (under the Devil's influence) turn against one small state. The Lord spoke through Zechariah saying, "And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it." (Zechariah 12:3). As this present Age comes to a close, the Bible says the whole world will be united by their shared hatred of the nation of Israel.
Still, in spite of this Israel will indeed have it's reign of Glory because the Lord also said, "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD [is] near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD [will be] the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. So shall ye know that I [am] the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more." (Joel 3:14-17).
Brother Branham said:
Jeremiah said: "Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:" (Jeremiah 3:14).
Listen to this - "Turn, O backslidden children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you:..." ("Their eyes were blinded, because I [God] give the Gentiles a chance, but you return for I am married unto you.") "...and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family,..." (Not all that calls themself Jews will go in, but that elected group will go in, that little Benjamin that come up down there before Joseph, that group from out of every nation, one out of a city, and out of a family.) "...and I will bring you to Zion:" And I will give you a pastor according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
The Apostle Paul said.......
Still, over the centuries, the faith of the Jews in the promise has been sorely tried and tested. There is hardly a nation or people who have not at one time or another persecuted the "Jews", even unto death. To our shame, even some Christians, blinded to the whole plan of Jehovah, have persecuted the Jews. But to this very day the faith of Abraham keeps the Israelites. They are in their own land today, not because of their own righteousness but because of the faith of Abraham, which faith was imputed unto him for righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) Yes, the land is theirs by Divine right (Genesis 13:14-17).
The modern day "Palestinians" have no right to the land. It is finally in the hands of it's rightful owners. It's amazing that they [the Palestinians] are so determined to possessed what is not theirs. Off course one reason they want it is because the Jews have (with God's help) made the desert blossom as a rose. The Arabs existed in the land for centuries and let it lay waste. What is more amazing is that the Palestinians and surrounding Arab countries would be so determined to force Israel to give the Palestinians a portion of the few square miles which make up the Land of Israel to form a Palestinian state, when the Arab countries have thousands of square miles of un-developed land. This in itself is an indication that more than a political battle for land is taking place in the Middle East, there is also a great spiritual battle in progress.
Satan, knowing the Word spoken for this Age, concerning Israel, is determined to turn the whole world against Israel. Using spiritually back-slidden Muslim leaders, spiritually back-slidden so-called Christian leaders and the news media, the Devil will succeed in his task. In that hour Israel's only ally will be the "God of Abraham". And when all nations gather together in the Valley of Migeddo, against Israel, Jehovah Himself (as He has done so often in the past) He will come on the scene again - for the last time to deliver Israel and usher in their reign of glory.
Jesus, also in His address to His people, He said, "Learn a parable of the fig tree. When it is tender and begins to put forth leaves, you say summer is nigh. And when you see these things begin to come to pass, know that the time is at hand." The fig tree has always been the Jewish nation. He said not only "the fig tree," but "the other trees" - "When you see the fig tree and all the other trees putting forth their buds..." He spoke not only of the fig tree, but the other trees.
...Now, notice, He [Jesus] prophesied here, and said, "The walls of Jerusalem will be trod down by the Gentiles until the Gentile dispensation would be finished." The Mohammedans have took it over. We realize that. And I want you to look at the crisis tonight, how Ishmael and Isaac are still at each other's neck right at Jerusalem where it's predicted they would be. And a few years ago there was hardly any Jews at all in Jerusalem.
...Now, the Jews has been scattered to all the world, great numbers, millions in Germany, and in Italy, and in the United States, and all over the world. And God, as He did in the early days, hardened Pharaoh's heart, He hardened Mussolini's heart on the Jews, and the Jews was ousted from Italy. He hardened Hitler's heart, and they were ousted from Germany. He hardened Stalin's heart, and they were ousted from Russia. And have you been noticing the paper, that we, the United States, are taking sides with the Arabs? Oh, brother, the handwriting's on the wall [for America]. God said, "Whoever blesses Israel will be blessed, who curses Israel shall be cursed."
The prophet prophesied, twenty-eight or thirty hundred years ago, and said, "When they come out of that captivity, God will bring them forth on the wings of eagles." The prophet saw the plane coming, he saw them setting down, and picking them up and taking them back to the homeland. He didn't know what to call it - Looked like an eagle to him, so he said, "They'd be brought back on the wings of eagles." And when they got out of the airship, and the young was helping the old, they were interviewed. And they said, "Have you come back to the homelands to die?" They said, "No. We've come back to see the Messiah!"
...Great steamships from around the world, in the last few years have steamed into Jerusalem with aged Jews, young and old, dressed in their garbs, coming from the east, from the west. And hanging over the capital of Jerusalem is that old six-point star of David, the oldest flag in the world, that hasn't flown for twenty-five hundred years, is declared a nation tonight. The Fig tree is putting forth her buds. Jerusalem is growing, the Lord is restoring, The signs that the prophets foretold; The Gentile days numbered, with horrors encumbered; Return, oh dispersed, to your own.
It's later than we think. We don't come to church to occupy a pew; we do not come to church to hear a good sermon, or come to church to hear good music. They all got their place, but what we better come to church to do is check up with God and our souls salvation, for the day of redemption is near.
God had to harden Pharaoh's heart to drive them out the first time (out of Egypt). And He done the same thing this time. He hardened Hitler's heart against the Jews; that's what started the war. Remember, God said, "Ever who curses Israel, I'll curse them. Who blesses Israel, I'll bless him." And it was scattered all over the world. And then He hardened Hitler's heart, hardened Mussolini's heart, hardened Stalin's heart. All the different hearts of the nation, He hardened them and finally opened up the way, and Israel is returning and already in her homeland.
If you want to see what day of the month it is, look on the calendar. If you want to see what day in the season it is of the coming of the Lord, watch where Israel's setting. That's God's timepiece. There she is, setting in her homeland. The oldest flag in the world, the six point star of David, the oldest flag in the world flies again for the first time for twenty-five hundred years - the ensign that was to be lifted up.
They are now a nation recognized [by the UN - Editor]. Is that right? But they have not their temple worship yet. And when they establish the temple worship, the Church will be gone.God will be dealing with the Jews as a nation.
God never blesses Israel till she gets to her homeland.
There was a time when Adolf Hitler was Germany's absolute. When he said, "Jump," they jumped; when he said, "Kill," they killed - Millions of Jews - he nodded his head. You see what happened to that kind of an absolute? It looked like power, but it was contrary to the Word. "How do you know it was contrary to the Word?" God said when Balaam tried to look down upon Israel to curse it, he said, "I see him as a unicorn. How righteous are thy tents. Whoever curses you will be cursed; whoever blesses you will be blessed." Look like Hitler could have saw that. Look like them German Christians could have saw that. See? Absolutely contrary to that Word.
How are you going to ever blind out Israel? You can't do it. No! One time they thought God would forget. When the prophet seen that dark thing coming for the Jews; that man standing there and the Word of God pouring to him, he said, "Oh, Lord, are You going to forsake Your people?"
The Lord said, "What's that laying there by you?"
He said, "A measuring stick."
Again, the Lord said, "How high is it to heaven? Measure it. How deep is the sea?"
He said, "I can't do it."
The Lord said, "Neither can I ever forget Israel." No, sir. He ain't going to forget her. He had to blind His own child. Now, think of that: blind His own child to give us a chance, and we turn it down. Now, don't that make you feel about so little that you could crawl under a concrete block with a ten gallon hat on and never touch it. That's pretty small, you know.
Next thing they [the disciples] seen was Moses and Elijah who appeared by the side of Him [Jesus on Mt Of Transfiguration]. That'll be to preach to the remnant of the Jews after the church has been raptured. And the next thing they saw was Jesus only, which was Him coming again to reign with us through the millennium. And what a beautiful picture,...
We know all the prophecies of Israel. It's in its homeland. If you want to know nationally where we are standing, watch Israel.
When God was dealing with the Jews, there wasn't any Gentile prophets come. When God's dealing with the Gentiles, there's no Jewish prophets. When God turns back to the Jews, there'll be no Gentile prophets.
I am not doubting the sincerity of the Evangelical Christians who are trying to convert the Jews to Christianity, but they are sincerely wrong in what they're doing. A few Jews will no doubt embrace Christianity, but as we have already stated, God deals with the Gentiles as a people and with Israel as a Nation. Moses and Elijah or two men anointed with similiar ministries will go to the Jews and call out the Elected, Predestinated Jewish Seed (Revelation 11).
Respecting the "faith" of our spiritual father, Abraham I encourage Evangelical Christians to continue their labor of love for the Israelis - helping them with their physical needs, etc. because they are the "natural" seed of Abraham. But make sure you have the leadership of the Holy Spirit before placing the claims of Christianity before them - wait on the Lord, Wait I say on the Lord (Psalms 27:14) Wait for God's time to "turn again Israel's spiritual captivity".
|