What Is A Vision?

Shall we pray. Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for all Your goodness to us. God, we just feel unworthy and to look upon this audience today and see this birthday cake laying here. I'm sorry, Father; You forgive me. I just can't talk; but I pray, God, that somehow, somehow, that this stream of divine love will help everyone. Bless these people who have done this great thing, Father, and I just ask that Your blessings will be with us so great today, until the whole building will be flooded with Your glory. And think of the very time looking at those deaf and dumb people passing by, going to the other side. Oh, I pray, God, somehow, do something in a great way for us today. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

May God's blessings rest upon Buchman. I just pray that God will bless you, my dear friends. That's the prettiest thing I guess....

Have you shown it to the public? Have you? Isn't that beautiful? I want to take this time to thank you. There's no way in the world that I could ever repay any of you for your kind blessings. I notice the presents that were given to me, and then the little gifts in the envelopes, and the cards, and things. Marvelous! It just makes me feel like I want to make an appointment to come back next year for my birthday. Thank you kindly. My, that is wonderful. I looked around, I didn't know what that was, and it sure is pretty, and all your gifts.

There's only one thing I can say, and this is not exactly what to say; was a prayer: “God bless you.” If I never be able, and God never lets me do it in this life, to show my appreciation for all these gifts from everyone.... Even a little girl had a little envelope in there, and it was her tithing of about eight cents, I think it was. She sent it to me for a birthday present, her tithings. From that to these great presents, here. Oh, God richly repay you, my dear brothers and sisters. I just.... I didn't think you really thought that much of me. I do appreciate it.

Today we've taken it for the heart to heart talk, I believe today. Just instead of preaching, was just to talk and maybe explain some of the things that may seem so mysterious to you in the meetings. (Kind of out of breath—I wasn't expecting another birthday, today.)

Just coming in the door, I met my good friend here, Art Wilson. I guess the Christian Businessmen all know him. Your home is in Oregon, isn't it? Reno, Nevada. Brother Art Wilson, to my right; the next man is Mr. Wood, Mr. Banks Wood, is my friend and neighbor.

Mr. Wood has been going with me, and many of you people know him by selling books in the meetings. The man has been a very successful contractor.

One day, while I was in Louisville, Kentucky, having a meeting—himself being a Jehovah Witness; his wife being a Methodist—they had heard of the meetings, so they just drove down to find out how true it was.

On that night there was a girl that was “petrifying”: had been lying for several months, not able to even move any joint from her hips down—a young lady of about ... oh, a misses of about fifteen years old—got right up out of her stretcher as she was brought to the platform, walked all over the place. The next day.... Just went ahead, returned back to school in a few days—normally well yet. And many things the Lord did.

So, Mr. Wood, having something to do, (a house to finish, or something he was on—he had to hurry and get it done), went to Houston, Texas, to my next meeting. There, he was standing in the room that night when the Angel of the Lord appeared. And the cameras caught the picture of the Angel, and, which is the picture that you've seen yourself, here.

One of his great alternatives.... He had a crippled boy, and his leg was drawed up under him. And then, Mr. Woods.... When I came back (I went overseas, and over in Sweden and come back), then they put the tent over in, I believe it was Cleveland, Ohio.

And Mr. Wood yet, of course, in the crowd just following along like many of you yet today—but determined to stay until it was over. That's the way; that's the way to do it. And he laid aside his work and brought the boy up to Cleveland.

After a few nights that was in the meeting (Of course, I don't remember, only just by the tape,) he was sitting back in the tent, way back, he and his wife, and the Holy Spirit came down and said, “The lady sitting back there with her husband, a contractor,” said, “she herself has a tumor, and her boy is crippled, but 'Thus saith the Lord'—healed.” Got the little fellow up; he's a fine young straight leg from that very hour on—just as normal as any boy could be.

Mr. Wood quit contracting and is loafing with me. So, his boy and my boy are great chums together, and he's just as normal and well as any boy. (Expecting to go in the army right away.) So, the Lord is good, isn't He? And full of mercy. And how many great things that He has did in our midst!

Now, today.... Now, tonight, I think, being that we're going to start a little early.... (I've got to be in Louisville, Kentucky, by an appointment in the morning at eight o'clock and got to drive all the way down tonight, which is around eight or ten hours' drive, so, we'll get there just about in time to get to the appointment. We'll leave right straight from here to Louisville by car.) Then we are aiming to start the services just a little early tonight, and we appreciate your coming out just a little early, if you will.

They told me I could be on the platform.... “The cards will be given at six o'clock,” Brother Joseph said. We were just.... The army may get Billy pretty soon, so Mr. Wood is giving out prayer cards, and Billy is breaking him in.

I said, “How are you getting along, Mr. Wood?”

He said, “Say,” he said, “fine,” but said, “I got down to two cards and had six people who wanted them.” He said, “What do you do in that case?”

I said, “Just what you did.” I said, “Well....”

Last night he was so happy (he said) to see the people that he had give cards to, standing on the platform and God healing them and making them well. He was so happy about that.

Now, tonight they are to be given out at six, because I think I'm supposed to be on the platform at quarter of eight, (I believe that's right) so we can dismiss a little early on account of the long tiresome drive tonight.

So, thank you for coming out this afternoon, on this windy, cold afternoon, and yet you came out. It shows you never came out to be seen. You came out for what good you could get out of the meeting from God, and I pray that He will bless you abundantly. Now mainly, it doesn't mean the people have to be here at six o'clock; just you who want prayer cards.

Now, may the Lord add His blessings to all of our gathering together. I hope that some day, the Lord willing, soon to be back in Chicago again and to serve the Lord.

The Bible said, here, “If there be one who is spiritual or a prophet among you, I the Lord will make Myself known unto him in visions.” May the Lord add His blessings to His Word.

Now, just as a heart-to-heart talk, I'm going to.... Joseph don't know this, but I'm just going to ask him if he will just.... Anytime he wants to interrupt me talking and say anything....

We had an interview something like this, this morning on the radio. Did you all hear the program? So then today, I thought maybe ... just to kind of get the feeling of the people so that you can see the operation of the supernatural and just give a heart-to-heart talk to one another. Lets you in on the inside of this just as far as I can go. I've never.... Many of these things that I've got on my heart to say, I've never said to an audience before in my life, so may He add His blessings to what we say.

The first thing we want to speak of is: What Is A Vision? What would it be? So many people ... (I'm not saying it as our Brother Billy Graham said....) answering my critics.... I'm so thankful I have so few critics. Nearly everyone.... Some of them who have never been to the meetings, they might say, “Oh, well, there's nothing to that”; but once in the meeting it pretty near always settles it, when Jesus gets hold of their heart, and they see, then, that it's true.

A vision is just.... Many people ask me, “Brother Branham, is it material that you look at, or is it just impressed on the mind, or what is it?” No, it's material. It's just as real as I'm looking right now. Now, how that happened—it's done by the sovereign grace of God. When just a baby, when I was first born, my mother tells me that this light came in and hung over the little bed that I was born in; and then since I can remember, those things have taken place before me.

It just opens up. It just seems like, (There's no way I could really explain it, but just to get the best that I could) just yielding to the Holy Spirit, and it just starts, and there it is before you. You're conscious that you're standing here, and yet you're forty years back in somebody's life, watching what they are doing. Then, only thing that I say is just what I'm looking at; and then when I kind of come to myself, I realize I've said something, but many times I don't know what I said. The way I get it is these boys (them sitting down here with tape recorders), they play it back over for me. That's how I pick it up. So, it isn't in myself at all. Then, that is given for one purpose.

Now, I think—and I say this from my heart—that the greatest and highest form that there is for God to get His message to His people is for the people to believe His Word. That's right. That's the highest form: preaching the Gospel is the highest form. Then, if you notice, the Bible places it that way. First, apostles; secondarily, prophets; and so forth. Then, on down, on down then into the nine spiritual gifts operating in every local body.

Now, my services in America haven't been too good—as they should have been, in America. My services are more forceful for the Lord overseas. They rally to it better. Now, I don't know why. Now, I'm not speaking of you people. No, I'm speaking of the general public, all around—like Chicago, in whole, we'd say, or Durban, South Africa, in whole, see. Something like that; or Mexico City, in whole. Well, they will respond to it eighty percent more than they will in America.

Now, what the Americans respond best in the healing services, in my opinion, is well, Brother Oral Roberts. Now, Brother Oral Roberts is a forceful speaker, a real preacher, and a good God-fearing brother (Brother Oral Roberts), and a bosom friend of mine—a lovely brother. I have a great deep respect for Brother Roberts. The Lord is with him and blessing him tremendously, and his meetings here in America.

See, we both might go into a city, and he'd set his meeting and I'd set my meeting. His audiences would snow mine over by many times, just with a little advertising, because his ministry has a greater impact here in America, because he's such an influential speaker. He's got a way. He's smart, educated, and knows the Bible, and he can present it in such a way that the educated people listen to that, because that's on the level that they're living.

But take us, when we went to Africa—well, there was no comparison at all, see. The people that's uneducated and so forth look for the supernatural, because they don't have the education and been taught scholarly like these people here. So then, it's a thing that the Lord has given to win the people.

Now, I don't mean to say that many educated, smart, shrewd.... Some of the highest, even the kings, potentates, monarchs—certainly, they believe it and receive it; but in the general run, our American churches, it's been a long time since we've had a revival, from way back in the Wesley age.

The old generations died out, when Wesley people used to be kicked out and called “holy rollers” and “jerkers” because they jerked their head and laid on the platform and all around in the aisles. They poured water on them and fanned them when the Holy Ghost was on them. Now, that day has died out a long time ago. We've all settled down to, oh, so orthodox. But that's the reason they can't.... The people today are taught—well, a speaker who can present it in a master way. Well, that's just all right. That's just fine and dandy, as long as you receive Christ. That's the main thing: just as long as you receive Christ.

Now, we notice our Brother Roberts. You heard his program this morning, perhaps.

I read the articles in the paper and got it first handed how that, down in Australia (what a horrible thing) them jeering and calling him fake and everything and run him out like that—where perhaps this type of ministry would have shook that thing up right now, see. It would have been different.

But Brother Roberts.... Yet, God has given him a way to work with people that I couldn't touch, and maybe I work with people that he can't touch. But together we're brothers, trying to do what we can for the kingdom of God, see.

Visions is just a part of the Gospel that's preached. Now, you see, if I'd have had an education and probably had a good voice and so forth, and could have presented the Gospel like.... I would have probably have been a preacher of that type. But God, knowing that I wasn't going to be educated, He had to give me something else to work with, you see. That's how He did it, is the only thing that I know.

Now, you might wonder what takes place on the platform when a patient ... or, I wouldn't say it that way, that's too much a medical term. May I say, when a friend is standing before me, wanting help, here's what takes place.

Now, I have nothing to do with that—not one thing. It's that patient itself, operating that divine gift. I have nothing to do with it at all. I just keep yielding, yielding, until their spirit and the Spirit that is on me, that I'm yielding to—till the Holy Spirit.... (I will call it this ... make it this way rather, so that you'll understand.) Here's the Holy Spirit, up here, and then I just keep yielding myself to Him till I know that He's there. And I'm speaking to the person till I can get their attention. Until then, I know nothing else; and the Holy Spirit, by my spirit being yielded, shows me their life. And when that takes place, that builds the faith of the patient up to a place like this; and many times, then I start to say something else; and it'll stop me and say, “Thus saith the Lord.” Now, watch that. That's perfect each time; it never fails.

He will tell them just what's fixing to happen, and it will be that way. Mark it down and see if it isn't that way. Now, the patient is doing that.

Now, I might give this just in a little amateur form so that you'd understand. Say, there's a great big.... We are all little boys and girls, and we're down at the ... back in boyhood time. There's just a great big fence here, and there's a carnival on the inside. And I just happened to be a little taller than you. Maybe you're stronger than I am, but I'm taller. See, God makes people different ways for different works. Well, then, way up here, just about where I can look through, there's a hole in the wall. Well, now, I can get a hold of the top, because I reach a little higher, and can pull up on my fingers, and look through this hole; I can come back and tell you what I saw. Do you get the idea? Now, you follow me?

Now, maybe the next man, he's stronger, but he can't see that tall. So, he says, “Brother Branham, what do you see?”

I say, “Just a moment,” and I leap up real high, catch my fingers over the end, pull myself up real heavy, and I say, “I see an elephant,” and I come down, see. It's strenuous, because I'm lifting up. I'm saying this like in a parable so you'll be sure to understand.

Now, when I come back down, “What did you see?”

“An elephant,” see.

All right, now that's like the person standing on the platform using the divine gift. It's a strain, because the person himself is operating that gift. They're not conscious of it, but they're operating it themselves.

Now, I was told last night that there was a man standing on the platform. Brother Joseph told me after he met me that the man was.... First when he come up, I thought he was deaf and dumb. I said, “How do you do, sir?” something on that order. (I may not quote it back right. I'm taking what they told me. I've never heard the tape yet.) And said, the man just stood there, and I said, “Well, maybe he's deaf and dumb.”

Now watch sovereign grace, see. That's like the maniac at the platform. That's like the witchdoctor in Africa standing there with bones in his fingers to give you a challenge, you see. Grace takes a hold, then. You don't have to worry; there's not a worry about it. Grace takes a hold.

God takes a hold where you can't take hold. And then when the man was standing there before.... I said, “Well, perhaps he's deaf and dumb,” and all of a sudden, there appeared a vision before me. [An alarm bell rings.]

Excuse that watch alarm, that was to come over here and get started. I knowed that you would pick it up on this. They give me a watch over there that alarmed, so that isn't stopping time yet, I hope. I'll hear of this.

So then, the man standing there ... the vision.... I quickly, perhaps saw Finland, or something. I don't remember, but whatever it was, they said I told him that he was a Finn. And he [unclear word] something or other, made that he was a Finn. Well, Joseph, here, said that was outstanding to him, how it would know what nationality the man was. God in His grace showed that.

[Brother Mattsson-Boze says to Brother Branham: “It was this, that you didn't say a word to the man.”] Yes, sir. [“So, then you said, ”I thought you were deaf and dumb,“ you said. But you said, ”No, you're not deaf and dumb. You just don't understand English.“] That was it. That was it. [”That was it.“] That was it. [”And I couldn't figure out how you could understand that.“] I can't either, and I didn't. But then it told him that he had, I believe, it was trouble with his liver or something.... [”Heart trouble.“] Heart trouble. [”You told him he was Finnish, he was a preacher, and he had heart trouble.“]

I wonder if it would be by chance that that man would be in the building today, and if somebody's sitting near him that would just kind of.... If they could speak Finnish, would see.... If that's right, would you raise up your hand. If the man is in the building today—the Finnish man that was here last night that we're speaking of, that was on the platform. I just wanted to.... [“I knew the man.”] Oh, you know the man. [“Yeah, I know the man, so I know it was correct.”] I thought maybe he came all the way from Finland just to be prayed for or something. [“He has been here a year or two, but he was not young when he came, so he has never learned English.”] Oh, is that it? [“He had Finnish meetings up in Waukegan, Illinois.”] Well, I guess, he went back maybe to his home.

Now, when Jesus was here on earth, He was God's anointed mouthpiece. Do you believe that? He was the only begotten Son of God, and God was in Christ—reconciling the world to Himself without measure. You believe that Bible? He was the Emmanuel. There's none of us will ever come to that place. No, no. He was God's holy virgin-born Son, and never will we be. Never will we be able to do the things like that, because He was that. But now, He promised that the things that He did we would do also, because we would become adopted children to God through Him. Is that right? Now, that's for everyone of us. Every believer becomes sons and daughters of God. Is that right?

Now, when the woman with the blood issue touched His garment, that was just like peeping through the hole, see. He felt virtue went from Him. He got weak, but He didn't know what happened. Somebody had touched Him by a faith. He asked who it was, and everybody denied it. So then, what taken place after He did that: why, He looked around until He found.... Now, how did He know her? That's the question I want to get to you. How did He know her?

Now, let me try as a brother to explain this (how He knew her), because when anyone has done that—I can say from the meetings here, from the operation of the Holy Spirit—when anyone has been blessed, it just seems like it's just something pulling you like that (see), and you get to the person. Then, just above the person, you see them, and what's happened to them, and what's wrong with them. And then you look, and you see it's the same person. It's just like an avenue or a channel that's working between you and the person. That's how I think ... (He never explained it), that's how I think that He knew it, because the Holy Spirit, working in a similar way.... That's the way that's understood.

Say like, sometimes you say, “The lady sitting there that's got a green hat on,” or something like that. “You have been suffering with so-and-so. You come from a certain place.” You're listening to that, see. You're right in the vision, watching what is taking place. And then maybe you see her spring back, and it's light around her and everything. Then you say, “Why, she's healed. It's 'Thus saith the Lord,'” see. The Lord, who is showing the vision, is just.... Your faith in Him is using me as a mouthpiece to say to you what you desire Him to tell you. See what I mean?

Now, but when it's the other.... Now, that is just the permissive way of God working. I say this reverently: the hour is close at hand—when I tell you what the vision of the Lord showed me—that this will finally move back, giving place to something far beyond it. And that's what I want to get to this afternoon.

Now, the person doing that, if they'll believe it, they'll be blessed and they'll get well. Now, not if they were healed, but their faith touched God and accepted their healing that's already been appropriated for them nineteen hundred years ago, see. It's not, that had anything to do with their healing; it was just a mouthpiece to speak.

Any place in the Bible.... I'm not comparing myself with a prophet. No, sir; no, I'm just a poor sinner saved by grace, but the gift that the Lord gave the prophets and made them prophets.... They were God's mouthpiece. They had the Word of the Lord, and no prophet ever did do anything just upon his own desire. He did it first, after God had told him. That's right. That's the way the Son of God, when He came, which was a God of the prophets. He said, “I only do as the Father shows Me to do.” That's right. It only has to come through divine powers to reveal through flesh, and Christ was God's mouthpiece on earth. Everybody understand that?

Now, for instance, sometimes I'll be at home. (Gene, Leo, and them, I was talking about last night, sitting down here; Brother Beeler and many of the rest of them, and the ones who know me.) At home I'll be walking through the house not thinking of anything; maybe sit down in the room, and there will come a vision. And maybe it will sit perfectly still for quite a little while. And It will say, “Now, you are going to have a call in a few moments from the phone, and you're going into this city. And when you go to this city, you will go to a certain place. It'll be this way. And you'll go into the room, and you'll lay your hat down, or the lady will lay your hat on the bed; but it isn't supposed to lay there. It's supposed to be laying over on the table, and another lady will come in this way.”

You'll see it all acted out just exactly the way it's supposed to be done; and if I fail in one of those things, it won't happen. It has to be just exactly to the moment and the time and everything positionally the same, for it's a vision. It has to be perfectly materialized. And then when it does, it's got to happen. It has never failed.

Now, that's when God is using His gift. That doesn't weaken me. That doesn't bother me. Now, when Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave, it was far more of a miracle than what the woman was that touched His garment and was healed of the blood issue. You admit that? He never said one word about getting weak and virtue going out of Him, because God was using His gift, see. That's them kind of visions. That is that type of vision. But when people use the gift of God ... and what makes me weaken so at the platform, it's you, yourself. That's what's doing it. You, yourself is doing the work of operating. That's the reason it's pulling through. It's either you using God's gift or God using His gift.

Now, in comparison, I would say ... if you ask me, “What is in there?”

“Well, it's a giraffe.”

“What else did you see?”

Getting tired, see. It's something else, you see.

Well, now, when God wants you to know what's to take place, He just picks you up and raises you up above the whole thing, and says, “Here is the whole circus. This is the whole picture. You're going to do this, and do this, and do this, and that,” sets you back down. He's got you lifted up with his everlasting arms and wings, and there's nothing in the world.... You come back down, you feel like shouting the victory, but that's it.

Now, most people, they think that someone who sees visions ought to be divine. No, sir. Not by no means. No, sir. There's no one divine but God. That's all, and there is no one ... there's no difference in none of us. We're all sinners saved by grace. One is not above the other one. Just one's given something, and he'll have to answer for what he done with that talent was given him. That's right. Every person has to answer for that.

Now, I might tell you a vision that's just recently happened. Brother Joseph asked me to do this, so that the people that's here in the building that couldn't get the issue of this magazine, would understand it.

When I first became a servant of the Lord to pray for His sick children.... (You know the story how He told me that I was born to pray for sick people.) Now, you say, “Oh, I've heard that many times, different people.” That's all right. I can't answer for someone else. I have to answer for my own, and you have to answer for yours.

Now, that is true. And then, when He told me that, I knew that in this ministry there would have to be a lot of things under consideration—money for one thing. Well, I made a promise to God that I wouldn't take the people's money, and I'd ask Him.... I didn't want people's money, but I knowed in that there'd be a lot of money given to me, and I'd have to refuse it. So, I told Him, as long as He prospered my ways, so I wouldn't have to beg for money, I would stay on the field as long as He prospered me. But when He got so He failed me till where we'd have to beg or take hours or whatever they do to take up offering (as I've seen it many times in my own denominational church that I belonged to then), then I said I would come in off the field.

He blessed me for about nine years, but in California my ministry looked like ... began to drop down, somehow. Mail fell off. Looked like that people wasn't interested. Well, I thought, “God, that's all in Your hands.” Where I used to get around a thousand letters a day or something like that, it would be down there. It would drop down to 600, then 500, then down to 400, 300, 175 (somewhere down about like that), and would be 75 letters a day, maybe.

I thought, “Well, I wonder what has happened? I don't know as I've done anything. If I have, for the people, why I'm sorry. Of course,” I thought, “well, I haven't got.... I don't sell things; and the only thing people write to me for is to get prayer clothes, and we don't sell them. We give them to them; so well, Lord, maybe You're fixing to change things.”

I went to California, and I went about $15,000 in debt in the meeting. And that night when I left, I asked Billy to tell me. And the dear people who were sponsoring it, they underwrote it and was very, very fine. But that wasn't the promise. I promised God what I'd do. And when a dear brother taken me home that night out to a little cabin where I was staying, I went out upon the mountain, to myself, about two o'clock in the morning (and we were to leave around four-thirty). And I prayed—and the moon shining down bright. I can just see it. It was last fall.

I said, “Heavenly Father, now, I leave the field. I go home. And whatever You want me to do from henceforth, You just reveal to me.”

And so, I couldn't tell Billy and them; I didn't want to tell them. Didn't want to tell my wife, but, oh, I said, “I'll tell them when I get to Arizona.” Well, then I said, “I'll wait until I get to the grand old state of Texas, where my mother came from.” I said I'd tell them there, and then I got there.... I told them as they came into Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Well, Billy, he said, “Daddy, better be careful what you're doing. Don't the Bible say, 'Woe unto me if I preach not the gospel?'”

I said, “I never said anything about preaching the Gospel, I mean the evangelistic services.” And I said, “Look, Billy,” I said, “God's got men on the field everywhere. He don't need me out there. I can go back and get my job again, go to pastoring, and pastor the tabernacle or something. I may go down and rent the old theater down there and have a Sunday afternoon international gathering and a broadcast or something.” I said, “I can't stop all at once now, because my expenses run about $100 a day at home, so I can't with my office and things.” I said, “I just can't shut right down, because I can't do it.”

And so my wife said, “Billy, I hope you know what you're talking about.”

I said, “Well, I know one thing.”

When I came here one time in a convention ... for a convention.... And you know the story. Because I'd promised this dear little Swede friend of mine here, Brother Boze, that I would come and preach two days for him in the Philadelphia Church after that convention was over; and I was told if I did do that, I couldn't be a speaker. I could take my choice. I said, “I'll stay with my word.” And I went to Brother Joseph's—exactly, because I'd do it again.

A man that won't keep his word isn't very good. That's the way I take God. He give the Word, and I believe every word of it, and if He wouldn't keep it, it wouldn't be God to me. He has to keep His Word, I believe. And He will do it, and I know He will.

Now then, that night I went to bed when we got home; oh, and my wife was crying. She said, “Billy, I'm afraid you are making a mistake.” She said, “You know I want you to be home with the kiddies and I, but,” said, “Bill, look what it has done? It has started a worldwide revival, and I can't see where God would bring you in off the field.”

I said, “Well, I promised Him.”

She said, “But He never told you.”

“But,” I said, “I promised Him, see. That's it. I promised Him, and I'm going to keep my word to Him. If I keep it to my brethren, I surely would keep it to my Saviour.”

So, I went in and slept very well through the night. The next morning about six o'clock we woke up, and I was just getting out of the bed; she was on the other side. I was just rubbing my face like this, I said, “Well, I'm going to call the Public Service Company today and ask if I can have my old job back again.” I said, “If they don't give me my job, Mr. Wood is a contractor; I'll just go with him, and he and I will go out and wreck some buildings or something. I got to work because I've got to go to work. This money has got to be met, and I'm $15,000 in debt.” I said, “Then what can I do? I have got to pay that back. No matter how much they underwrote it, I'm going to pay that back. That's right.”

She said, “So, you're going to call Mr. Barr this morning?”

I said, “Yep, I'm going to call him and ask him if I can have my job back, and if that job—someone's got it now, and they can't give him a better job,” I said, “then I'll go with Brother Woods, and we'll go to building buildings or something another. I'll help him. And so,” I said, “if I come off of the field, of course, that is going to bring him off too, and he can go back to contracting, and we can go to work.”

So, then, she said, “Well, I sure hope you know what you're speaking of, Bill.”

I said, “Well, I....” and I looked, coming, moving down from the ceiling.... Oh, I just, maybe I couldn't expect you to understand it, but that's something that's.... When we meet face to face with Jesus, maybe He'll make it known.

Here came something moving. I seen two little dark faced children come moving down, pulling a little wagon, and I said, “Sweetheart, look coming here.” I was done gone then.

She said, “What are you talking about?”

I could hear her, but I couldn't answer her; and these little children were walking towards me—little, kind of long hair and black, dark eyes, brown faced, coming, walking to me. I seen then.... I started moving on beyond the children, and I seen Mr. Arganbright, my brother, who went overseas with me many times ... seen him standing there looking at me. I moved on to him. Now, I could still hear my wife walking around in the room. I'll say it this way so that you'll understand it. It might not be the right words, but so you'll understand. That one dimension I was in—I'd moved out then into another. I couldn't hear her walking no more. It was gone.

I seen Mr. Arganbright—his peculiar little way, the way he holds his head and kind of smiles as he looks at me. And he said, “Brother Branham,” he said, “we put out cards everywhere, we got a way for you to get in and out, and everything is ready.”

I said, “All right, Brother Arganbright, which way shall I go?”

He said, “Just keep on.”

I walked on, and I passed some ministers. Then, I walked a little farther, and I came into a great panoramic affair: all kinds of ... looked like seating for thousands of people. Just then, I heard someone say “The meeting is dismissed.”

“Well,” I said, “Who dismissed it? How did it come to be dismissed?” I was disgusted, and I said, “Why is it dismissed? What's happened?”

It was sprinkling rain, and something said to me, “By this you'll know.”

Then, I said, “Well, I don't....” And then, I went in farther into the vision; and when it did, I was standing with a little baby's shoe of about a year old. You know the little bitty eyelet. It's not a booty, but a shoe. And I had a string in my hand, trying to lace this little eighth of an inch hole in this eyelet with about a half-inch string: just working fervently trying to push that string through that ... half-inch string, through an eighth of an inch eyelet. And I was breaking the threads all over the string trying to push it through like that, and it just wouldn't do it. The string was being all broke up on the end.

So, just then I heard someone say behind me, “Don't you understand that you can't teach babies supernatural things?” I looked around, and it was behind me. I recognized that voice. He said, “You're using the wrong end of the string.” And I looked down at the end of the string, laying on the floor—a great pile of string—and it was laced down to a nice eighth of an inch, so it would go through the hole. I said, “I understand.” And as I reached to pick up the string, I was taken again.

Now, you mark this down. Watch it come to pass, see. And as I started to reach down, I was gone again. Then when I come to, I was standing by the side of a beautiful lake—something like your lake out here in the summertime, when it's real pretty and green. There were fishermen all around the lake, and they were fishing, but they were catching small fishes.

I looked out into the lake, (and those great beautiful Rainbow trout out there) and I said, “I know this is a vision, but I can't understand those trout.” But I said, “You know, I believe right down in my heart, I can catch those.” So I picked up the string, but instead of it being a string, it was a fishing pole; and just then, the one behind me said, “Now, I will teach you to fish, (how to catch those).”

So He took.... He said, “Tie on the lure,” and I snapped the lure on. He said, “Now, throw way out.” (Now, listen close.) “Way out into the deep.” He said, “When you do, now, let the lure sink down first.” And then said, “Pull it slow.” Now, that's really fishermen's technique.

“So,” I said, “then when you do, now you will feel some nibbles at it, but don't tell nobody what you're doing. Keep it to yourself. Then when you feel it nibble again,” said, “pull it just a little bit, but not too hard.”

He said, “And then it will pull away from the little fish, and when they scatter, that will attract the attention of the big fish, and they'll grab it.” He said, “That's the way you'll catch it.” Said, “Then when they bite on the third time, set your hook for the catch.

I said, “I understand.”

He said, “But keep still. Don't tell nobody. Keep still.”

I said, “All right.”

I had the lure in my hand, and all these fishermen turned out to be ministers, and they all came around saying, “Brother Branham, I know you can catch fish.”

Oh, of course, that made me feel real good, and I said, “Oh, yes, I'm a fisherman—I can catch fish.” He said.... I said, “Now, here is the way you do it.” I said, “You throw it way out,” and I went way out into the deep water. And I said, “Now, those little fish are fine, brethren, but we want the big ones, too.” I said, “You see, when it sinks down.... Now, see, there it is; just about where it should be. Now, see, there them's little fish.” I said, “Now when it's stretched again....” And I give it a great big jerk. And when I did, I pulled the whole lure out of the water. And when I did, I caught a fish, but I wondered how he ever got the lure in his mouth because it looked like the skin was stretched over the lure—about the same size as the lure. I thought, “Oh, my.”

Just then, this One who had been talking behind me, stepped around in front of me. It was Him: the Angel of the Lord. He had His hands folded. He looked at me. He said, “Just what I told you not to do.”

I said, “Yes, that's right.”

He said, “You see, that first pull was when you used to put your hands on the people and tell them what was their trouble.” He said, “The second pull was when you would know the secrets of the heart like I told you.” He said, “Instead of you keeping that to yourself, you tried to explain all about it and tell people, and when you did,” He said, “you didn't know nothing about it yourself. And how could you explain it? You've caused a big bunch of carnal impersonations to rise up, and you see what you've done.”

I said, “Lord, I'm sorry.” And I said, “Oh, I'm so sorry, I don't know what to do.”

I was pulling the line like this, and I was trying to straighten my line out; and He looked at me, said, “Now don't get your line tangled up in these kind of times.”

I thought, “Maybe He's going to give me another try.” And I said, “I will sure be careful,” and was winding my line in, and saw it was taken up all right; and then when He said that, just then I felt myself go higher, way up. When I was set down, then I was beneath and standing up above a great tent: I never seen such a tent! I'd just made an altar call seeming like, down at the altar; and when I was down there, I looked, and there was hundreds of people standing around the altar weeping because they had accepted the Lord Jesus. They were just weeping out loud. I said, “Oh, that's more like it, like that.”

And a real kind gentleman walked out to the platform, said, “While Brother Branham is resting just a few moments,” he said, “we'll call the prayer line.” And said, “Everyone with prayer cards beginning with” a certain number, “stand over on to the right.”

Well, I noticed the prayer line: Seemed like it went all around the tent and out and down the street—such a prayer line!

I looked over, (which was then to my left, and there it would be to my right if I was standing on the platform, it would be that way). There was a piece of canvas stretched there, and in behind this canvas was a little square building about twelve foot across and twenty foot long—something like that. Well, I stood and looked at that.

I seen them bringing a lady up on a stretcher, and there was a lady there taking her name and things on a paper. And so, there was someone came and got her and pushed her through, and the next man came through was with crutches. I seen them go through that little building, and on the outside the lady, came out screaming to the top of her voice, pushing this stretcher. Then there was another lady on the other side—looked like kind of a dark-haired woman—and she said, “What happened?”

She said, “I just don't know. She said, ”I couldn't tell you what happened.“ She said, ”I've been paralyzed for twenty years, and look. I feel like I never was sick.“

Just then out come the man, leaping and jumping, with his crutches in his hand. And I looked at that.

Just then.... Now here's something. Notice close. There's a difference between the Angel of the Lord and that light, because I heard something moving, as it does when it comes here at the platform at night. Kind of like a “Whew-whew-whew,” and like a fire whipping around—a licking blaze. It left me, and it went right down over the top of that audience, and went and stood over the top of that little building, and then settled down on top of it. And then when it did, this One that was standing by me ... behind me—the same voice, the Angel's voice—He said, “I will meet you in there, and this is the third pull, but nobody will know nothing about it.”

I said, “Well, I don't understand why in there. Why there?”

He said, “It will not be a public show this time.”

I said, “I don't understand going into that closet, like that.”

He said, “Is not it written by our Lord, when thou prayest, be not like the hypocrites who like to be heard before men, but enter into the secret closet and pray to the Father who seeth in secret, and He who seeth in secret shall reward thee openly?” It's perfectly to the Scripture; every time it is.

I said, “I understand.”

Then He took me to this place, and set me down in this room where I was at, and then He told me what to do for the third time.

Now, Christian friends, when I leave this world, that will still be in my bosom. But you mark my word what's going to take place.

That was five months ago, (six months, now) and we had no idea we'd ever go down here at Mexico. But I thought I was going to Phoenix. And our dear friend and brother who was praying for the sick, Mr. Allen, he went in there, and he said, “No, I'm going to stay here, so I'm not going to leave for that part of my....”

Well, I wouldn't go in then with my brother in there. I just wouldn't do that. So, I don't know Brother Allen, but yet he's out there in the work of the Lord. They said, “No, he was going to stay.”

I said, “Well, the Brethren called me, the association there, the ministerial group,” which I was supposed to take Brother Roberts' place while he was gone to Australia. I said, “Well, that's all right if they've got someone there, Brother Allen praying for the sick.” I wouldn't go. That wouldn't be brotherly. So, I said, “All right.”

Then Brother Arganbright called me a few days later and said, “Brother Branham, I've talked to Brother Moore. Why not go down in Mexico?”

I said, “Oh, Baron Von Blumburg and all of them have tried to take me to Mexico. I don't care about going down. Let's just have an American meeting somewhere.” And I said I wanted to set that tent there for the first time.

He said, “Well, why not go into Mexico?”

I said, “Well, all right, you think about it.”

So, there was another man down there, and he called back, said, “The meetings are all set for them same dates.” He said, “They've got it on the inside of a great big auditorium down there.”

That night I was down at Mr. Wood's and I thought, “You know that's right. Little dark-faced children, looked like Indians. That's what the vision is.” And then I said, “But the strange thing: it was supposed to have been a panoramic, and something about the dismissing.”

So, then when we ... two days later, Mr. Arganbright called up and said, “Brother Branham, we've got the big bullring and the Mexican government is bringing you in, for the first time in the history of Mexico that a non-Catholic was ever brought in by the government.”

So, I said, “That's wonderful.” So, I said, “Now, something is fixing to happen.” I said, “We got trouble coming.”

You know, when we went down in Mexico and got ready and went out to the bullring, somebody.... It rained on the road going out there, and somebody had dismissed those meetings, and they don't know who done it yet! That's right. That's exactly right!

Then I came back home ... flew back the second day. Brother Moore said, “Brother Branham, I'll find out.” And we couldn't even get a minister on it nowhere. Nobody knew nothing about it, and Brother Moore said, “Brother Branham, as much as I have followed you, if I had never believed you to this time, I sure would now.”

I said, “That's right.”

So, we came back up, and then I heard Mr. Arganbright was on his road up to see me, and I went out to pray at my cave and ask the Lord what.... He showed me another vision. He said, “Dead fish was laying,” and He told me what it was. Said, “Go back, but this is really not the time, but I'll bless it.”

I went back down there and somewhere around forty or fifty thousand people came to Christ. A dead baby was raised from the dead, and great things taken place.

Now, I'm waiting for the hour. You can imagine how minor this seems to be now, that these things are taking place ... these great things that have already took place.

The other night, not knowing.... How many was at the Philadelphia church when they heard me say at a certain person, “Cursed be the person that raises their eyes while I'm praying for this blind woman!” That's what I was doing, see.

The Lord is fixing to visit His people in a great, marvelous something, friends. I was.... It has to be a secret in my own heart, but as you know me, and you believe me, and love me, and respect me as God's servant—just remember I'm telling you, a blessing is on the road. That's right, it's coming. And it will not be weakening, it will never weaken me no more, and it will be far beyond anything that's ever happened here or anytime else. It's just something the Lord has given. And I want.... That would make me a believer in grace after I have done ... and the things that I have done, and the way that I had acted, and condemned before God, and yet when God speaks anything and makes a.... He's going to do it, anyhow. Amen.

Moses killed a man one time, but God was determined. He kept him back there on the backside of the desert for forty years, but he took Israel to the promised land. Isn't He wonderful?

He is the same God today that He was then. And, friends, I say this to you—every one of you Christian believers, regardless of what church you go to.... Down in the studios the other day there was a man I was speaking to him, a very fine man and his wife, (where Brother Boze and I were making some recordings for a broadcast) and he was shaking my hand and talking, and I said.... He loved Brother Joseph so much. I said, “Do you go to his church?”

And he said, “No, I'm a Methodist.”

I said, “Well, you can be forgiven for that”, and so, just kidding him like that. And I said, “I was just going on to you.” I said, “Look Brother, I used to do a bit of riding, and my father was a rider.” And I said, “Up on the Arapaho Forest, where we raised the cattle,” I said, “there's nothing that can come on that range but a thoroughbred Hereford, absolutely. The ranger stands at the drift fence and won't let nothing pass unless it's a registered thoroughbred Hereford. And I said, ”Some of them comes in there with the Lazy J's, some come with a Bar W, some with a Circle R, some with a Tripod; they're branded different brands, but they're all thoroughbred Herefords.

That's the way it is. We may be Methodist, Baptist, this, or that, or the other, but as long as you're a thoroughbred Christian by the power of the Holy Ghost—that's the only thing can come into the pasture, into the fold. Because by one Spirit we're all baptized into one body, and we become one people, one church, with one idea and one motive: to glorify Jesus Christ while we're here on earth. One heaven. Is that right? We're so thankful for that.

Now, I'm past my time of speaking with you, because we've got to hurry back just in a little bit. But how many love a heart-to-heart talk? You seem that you understand it. We could talk hours after hours, and now you say, “Brother Branham, could you explain this to me?”

I can't, I wish I could, but I can't. It's impossible. You can't explain supernatural things. And when you try to do it, it's just as He told me: You cause carnal comparisons to rise. See, you do it. Actually it'll do that, and it's a hindrance to the body of Christ. Do you know what I mean? It causes conflict.

Now, the thing to do is to be true in your heart, love the Lord with all your heart, and just be thankful that God is marching on with us—the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.

I say this and make this prediction.... I'm not saying it in the name of the Lord, now. I'm saying it as your brother. I predict this, (and listen close) I predict that America this year, the United States this year, will either receive Christ, or she will start falling from this year.

This is America's time to repent, and if it doesn't.... I predicted that, I think, about January the 15th or 16th of this year, just feeling led to say it, and I have stuck with it, and I look at the wheels turning up.

I notice the great famous evangelist, Billy Graham. He came back from overseas, and he staged his meetings in New York and these great places to hit the very nerve centers and so forth. And I see that Brother Roberts was excommunicated out of the foreign country.

Mr. Arganbright wants me after June (and them) to go into Germany and back down into South Africa and through there, but something's holding me to America. And all the others seems to be the same way, and I believe that America is going to get her last call this year. That's right. I'd be daresn't.... Look here, at the tapes down here. They might be played twenty years from today, see.

You have to watch what you're talking about—watch what you're saying. But I believe that. Now, the Lord hasn't told me that, but I believe that: that America is either going to receive Christ or is going to turn Him down flatly this year, and I predict that they will turn Him down. I do.

Look what they're doing down in Florida to Jack Coe. Look what they're doing all the way. How could they ever.... That's even unconstitutional to oust a man out of the state. We've got freedom of speech; certainly we have. But first thing you know, they'll try to stop all of this. They'll try to quit praying for the sick and put a ban on it. Just remember that when persecution rises, the church comes to its very height then. It's always the best. Yes sir, and God's working it all together. [Several people began speaking in tongues.]

Praise be to God who gives us the victory. [A message in tongues is given from the audience.] Here, tonight, is an interpretation to follow this. Now, everybody real reverent. The lady that spoke, ever who it was ... listen real close, and let them who know now.... [Interpretation cannot be heard on tape.]

Now, with your head bowed; you've heard that interpretation. How many here want to receive Christ as personal Saviour, to be remembered in prayer. Would you raise your hands real high just now. Way high so we can see who you are—way up.

We get a little chord on the organ, if you will for a few moments?

While you bow your head now, and believe with all your heart; while the voice that said that this was the truth, if you're ever coming in—come now.

Our Heavenly Father, we pray that in Jesus Christ's name, that as Your Spirit is moving over this building now, and the voice has went forth and said that this was the time—this is the hour.

And I pray, Heavenly Father, that seeing all those hands who raised up, (some, maybe thirty hands or more went up in the air, just now, to receive Christ as their personal Saviour) hearing the message, knowing that we're at the end time. These revival fires on every hill.... God promised in the last days that He'd raise up these things to prove that He was God and in our midst and doing that which was right, and showing great signs and wonders among the people: that the blind would see, the deaf would hear, and there would be great supernatural ministries going on. And today, Lord, we live to see it; and I pray, Heavenly Father, that every one of these poor, dear children that raised up their hands just now that they wanted to receive You as personal Saviour, that You will save them from sin. Grant it, Lord.

I pray, also, that while we are in this great move just now that the Holy Ghost will fill every heart anew. Kindle new fire, Lord, in their souls. May they go out with a zeal after hearing, as soon as that word was spoke, that our beloved nation would turn down the offer.

Oh, God, great kingdoms have to fall. Every mortal thing has to give away to immortality. Oh, God, as we see this, we stand yonder on the ancient ruins of Rome, see where that great monarch country one day stood as a blooming place of the world, the brightest spot in all the world. And today you dig twenty feet under the ground to find the ruins of the great empire. Yonder in where the temple once stood, the Mosque of Omar stands. Many of the great kings, the great nations, the great Alexander the Great, and Greece, and many other places: how the kingdoms have fallen.

God, we see the foundation of our nation crumbling because of the rejecting of the Gospel. While great men have swept this nation, combed through every place, the Gospel message has gone forth. A spirit like John the Baptist—not doing miracles or saying anything about miracles, but swept the nation over; then the miracle-working power of Jesus followed it as it did John. And still our nation—whiskey, tobacco, nightclubs, sin heaping on every side—our great civilization is falling, falling. Everything must give way. All these kingdoms must fall, that the kingdom of God might be issued in in its brightness, and the great Millennium come into place.

Seeing an old tree where once a few years ago, as a boy, I sat while great kingly branches—how I thought that tree would be there for hundreds of years—and today it's a snag. Knowing that all mortal things must give way.

I, too, Lord, once a young man, seeing myself give way, now. Reaching across the top of the line yonder to see the setting of the sun. Today many gray heads are bowed in this building, where once were strong, handsome young men. Many women with their faces bowed—wrinkle—and now, the tears cutting down the pathway of the wrinkle in her face, which was once lovely and beautiful as young women.

Oh, God, all flesh is like grass: the end close. Oh Christ of God, receive these poor people into Your kingdom. Someday I must stand yonder at the throne of God and give an account for my ministry, give an account for these things that You've permitted me to do, Lord: in the midst of the people to declare the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. God, I must answer for that. Oh, God, burn zeal down into my heart more and more, and wisdom that I might know how to lead the people to the Lord Jesus.

Today, Father, Thou hast promised in Thy holy Word, “He that heareth My words, and believeth on Him that sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall never come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.”

Many hands across here went up, Lord. Many poor lost people—many of them backslidden and out of the way. God grant that just this minute that the Holy Spirit, giving witness that these things are true: that we're at the end time, and they realize that some day they got to pass. May they receive Christ, just now.

While we have our heads bowed, is there someone in here, now, that never raised their hands at the first calling? Would you raise your hand now and say, “I want to receive Christ at this time as my Saviour.” Would you do it? Someone else that never.... Did you notice how the fire struck the building when that Word went forth? I believe.... And God bless you, my young friend—young man with your hand up. God grant, my brother, you have eternal life by believing on the Lord Jesus. I wonder if in the balcony somewhere.... If we see that God promised these things.... We are here to see them come to pass. We know that God promised it, and anything that God promises, God's obligated to do it.

Would there be another? God bless you, lady; I see your hand. Would someone else raise their hand?. God bless you, lady; I see your hand. God bless you, young lady; I see your hand. Someone else? God bless you, lady; I see your hand.

Someone in the balcony? I'd like to see someone up in the balcony that's not a Christian, would like to say.... God bless you. I just knew you were up there. Some ... just somebody. Cause the Holy Spirit seemed to be leading me to the balcony. I don't know why.

I'm not a fanatic. If I am I don't mean to be. But it just seemed like there was someone in the balcony. God bless you, son. May you, and if that's your wife by you, may you serve the Lord Jesus with all your heart. May it change your life, your home. It will. May you become His servant.

Is there someone else, just before closing now, before I turn the service to Brother Boze? Boys will have to come in in a few minutes and start giving prayer cards. Would you just, one more, raise your hand, somewhere in the building? Brother Joseph.... If you'll just raise your hand just a moment, I want to pray with you.

Yes. Yes, God bless you. I see you down there. Thank you, kind sir. God bless you, over there, young man. That's very fine.

Now, this may seem a little strange to some of you; how that one word would break something like that, and the fire would scatter. See, it's because it's truth and (the key note to the message, you see?) that we're at the end time. God bless you, sir. I see your hand. God bless you, God bless you. Now, I tell you, friends. There's many sitting here, I believe, that will stand a horrible persecution for their faith before it is sealed away.

God bless you. Someone else raise their hand? God bless you way back in the back. I see your hand, sir. Someone else? Now, someone else raise your hand right quick while we're waiting for the dismissing prayer, if you'll raise your hand. God bless you, son. God bless you, son. God bless you, God bless you; I see your hand over the man up there. Yes, God bless you, brother.

See, that's wonderful. Just accepting Christ. When you raise your hand, God writes it down in the book of life. The very minute you believe, you pass from death to life, when you raise your hand. How did you raise your hand? “No man can come to Me except My Father draws him first.” That's it. God is here drawing. You're raising your hand. Angel is writing your name on the book of life; that settles it. Now, you'll receive the Holy Spirit, if you'll just only believe. Now, with our heads bowed again.

Our Heavenly Father, send Your blessings, and I thank You, Father for this great host of people just receiving Christ. I thank You for vindicating back Your message, Lord, and giving it, and to do the things that You have done for us today. These people will be happy all the days of their life. Thou has given them everlasting life just now, because they have believed on the Lord Jesus.

And Father, when that altar call is made in just a moment, to come up here and personally stand around the altar or in the aisle and pray to You and give thanks for their salvation, I pray that every hand that went up will stand in the aisle, somewhere, and pray to You and give thanks for receiving them into Your kingdom. Grant it, Lord. May Your eternal blessing rest upon them. With our heads bowed, Brother Joseph will continue on the prayer.