Jehovah-Jireh

Let's remain standing just a moment while we meet God in prayer. How many has a request today? Would you just let it be known by the uplifted hand? Let's believe Him now as we pray.

Our heavenly Father, we thank Thee for what our eyes have seen and our ears have heard—the revelation of Jesus Christ to his people—and have the privilege of living in this day. All the patriarchs and prophets, apostles, and great men in years gone by has longed to see this day. If they could only rise on the scene, those ancient prophets, and see the very thing that they saw in them years, now being done. What evangelistic services there would be—perhaps locked in jails—call them crazy people.

We live in the day to see all of this that they saw by faith.

God, let us take the opportunity while it's presented to us. They are depending on us. They left their word, the Word of God that was shown to them. And they're depending on us to carry it out.

Jesus came to confirm it, and to send the Holy Spirit to continue the work, and give us power to work by till these things be all finished, and then the great ransomed church of the living God be caught up to meet Him. If there is some here today, Father, who does not have this blessed, restful hope in their soul, may this be the day that they will receive it.

There may be those here who have grown weary in the way. Let them know, Lord, that we never come to a picnic, but to a battleground, a fight every inch of the way. Give them courage, strengthen them.

There are some here that's been wounded, Lord. The enemy has shot darts of sickness into their body in afflictions. They are warriors, laying here on the battlefield, that would be up and going if they could. But they must be taken to the inn where the caretaker is to take care of them. Father, may the ambulance of God carry them to a real genuine faith this afternoon. Grant it, Lord. We pray that they'll be healed.

There was some raised their hands, Lord, that I don't know what their troubles was, or what their desire is. Whatever it is, I pray for them, Father, that You'll grant their desire to them. Get glory out of the services as we present ourselves, and our gospel that you left us to preach, to Thee for further work in confirmation. In Jesus' name. Amen. You may be seated.

I truly say that I'm sorry that this is the closing service of this little revival, or just (we haven't had time for revival) our little get-together. But I come at the invitation of this fine group of men—ministers of the city and around about—because I felt led to come. There's places waiting. I don't say this just to say it. I say it because it's true. There's places waiting that's got tens of thousands of people together. All ... overseas, hundreds of places overseas, major cities in America, around. But I usually lay the things out, the invitations, and pray over them. No matter where it's at, wherever the Lord says “Go,” I go.

Here some time ago I read an invitation ... wife and I were getting the invitations at the house. One man said, “Brother Branham, if you will come, we'll guarantee such-and-such of money,” you know, “and so much, if you will just come.”

The next letter said, “Brother Branham, I haven't got a thing I can promise you; not even a place to lay your head.” Said, “I'm a married man and I have seven daughters, and five of them are grown. We're all here in a little three-room house.” Said, “I'm preaching under two pine trees.” Said, “God knows I need you.”

You know where I went? Down there. That's right. And there out of that meeting they built a great tabernacle. And that man, as far as I know, is still pastoring it. That was down in Arkansas. See, it's always best to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

I never preached to a nicer congregation than I have these five nights, five days, here. I appreciate you all. You have been very loyal. I appreciate this fine bunch of ministers back here. I'm so glad that this group of people has shepherds to watch over them like this.

Really, pastor comes from the word of “shepherd,” a feeder of the flock. And they are pastors, shepherds. And this gospel that I preach, they believe it. That's the reason they sponsor it. That's the reason they're sitting up here on the platform, to say that “we represent this meeting.” And the converts, the people who's offered their lives to Christ in their future service, I trust that by all means you'll see some of these ministers and let them baptize you in Christian faith; and God give you the Holy Spirit, and you be a member of their church. Now, we don't represent any organization or certain.... We just ... Jesus Christ, all of us.

I want to thank them for inviting me, for standing with me, and helping me. Brethren, I sure appreciate you. And I pray that some day, if it be the will of God, I can be back for an extended meeting, where we can get in somewhere and have more time.

And to the officials, the trustees of this building that let us have this building, we appreciate that; the courtesy of the custodians and so forth, and what all they've done. One of the boys that's standing out there just now kept us a parking place. Real nice, a fine type of a gentleman standing there, a colored boy. I wish him the very best of God's blessing. And all, I appreciate it.

And for the congregation, how you responded and believed the Word that's been preached.... And they tell me that all the debts was paid off and that they took up a love offering. You didn't have to do that. I appreciate it, though. And I assure you that there'll not be any of it spent for whiskey, cigarettes. It'll go right into the kingdom of God. What I do with it, it goes right straight to the....

You know what happens to it? It goes to foreign missions. I don't take a penny of it. It goes to support the missions where I go overseas. When they get enough built up, then I go overseas and preach to people that don't even know which is right and left hand. They don't know what a decent meal is. They don't even wear clothes.

So I have to answer for that money. And then I know if I'm a good steward, I'll spend it in the kingdom of God. My church gives me a salary of a hundred dollars a week. That's what I live on, with my children.

By the way, someone sent me two dollars—I appreciate that—by my son. And there was two five-dollar checks that come in this week. And someone awhile ago sent us a box of canned blackberries. My wife doesn't know it yet. Honey, wherever you are, we're headed for a gastronomical jubilee. I really like blackberries.

Some of you, maybe, wrote me letters. I answered the best I could. Now to the questions you asked me in doctrine, I just referred you back to your pastor, you see, because I don't do that. See, it's nice. I appreciate you putting that much confidence, but, you see, all of us wouldn't agree just.... On basics we agree the same thing, but each man, maybe two or three sitting there, wouldn't.... That's the reason I said ask your pastor, see, because sometimes it causes a little friction in the church. And we don't want that. We want you to be in harmony and one accord.

I think of your pastor.... Like the song “Amazing Grace”—it was grace that brought me safe thus far. Grace will take me on.

If the pastor has preached the gospel, and you are converted and filled with the Holy Ghost, trust him on. He'll take care of the rest of it. Just go right on.

So I don't answer doctrinal questions. I just believe in the great fundamental evangelical doctrine of the Bible. And what I say here, even if your pastor disagrees with it, we'll know this one thing: basically we both believe the same thing.

You know, even my wife and I don't agree upon everything. That's right. When she eats pie she likes berry pie; and I like cherry pie. I like to take cherry.... I like berry pie, too, understand. But I take cherry pie, put that juice over the top of it, and then pour butter on top of that, then molasses on top of that. It's just right for eating then. That's right. It's really good. Now, I'll tell you, she likes the same thing, but she's afraid of the calories, that's what. But I'm telling you, Sweetheart, wherever you're at in here, when we cook this blackberry cobbler, I'll pick all the calories out for you. We'll just have a great time.

God bless you. Thank you so much, everything you've done. You've supported the meetings and that's all that's necessary. I'm going to ask you one more favor, if you will. Perhaps this summer and on, I hope to see you again this side of the Jordan. If I don't, I'll meet you on the other side. And this same gospel that I've been preaching, I'll stand to be judged by it on the ... side.

Now I would like to say this, that if there's any time I can do you a favor, I'd be glad to do it. I used to say, “Nights never get too dark, rain never falls too hard, but I'd crawl to get to you.” Now, with a whole worldwide ministry, or personal contact with about ten million people, I couldn't do that, because we had....

One phone, we counted once the calls coming in on this one phone, and they was averaging, I believe it was, around twenty or thirty long distance calls per hour, see. So, you see, you just couldn't answer it all, and get to it.

But I say one thing—I do everything I can.

They write those requests down, and many as I can call back, I do; and pray over every one of them, and everything I can do. And we pray for little cloths and send them out. If you want one, everything we have is free. So just send, get it. Now, we're not wanting your address. As I said, I have a hard time getting help to even answer letters. Now you'll get a slip that's made up, a mimeographed slip, on what to do, how to go to your pastor, when you get this little cloth. How many believes in that? Handkerchiefs and aprons, Acts 19, and.... That's the greatest part of my ministry, is that.

And I always refer to this, it seemed so strange. There was a little woman in Germany got one here about a year or two ago. She had to translate it on the back, the translator did, in English so I could read it. She had been crippled in a wheelchair for about fifteen years. And she got this, and she read how she must call the pastor and if there was no pastor, call some Christians; then confess everything that she'd ever done wrong and make it right with God; then lay that up over her heart, pin it on her underneath garment; then have faith.

So when she got all this done (her pastor was there) and she put it on her heart. She said, “Now, old man devil, you've had me long enough. Get away.” Up she got, and went walking on. That's just how simple it was. Perfectly healed, normal. It's just your simple faith, in believing.

People try to make faith too complicated. It's not complicated. It's just simple, childlike faith. You know the blood in the Old Testament was applied by hyssop. You've heard that many times. You know what hyssop is? Just common weeds. You find it anywhere. Down in Egypt, and so forth, it grows out of the adobe cracks in the building where the wind has packed the seed. They get that. It's kind of a little diamond-shaped leaf, has a flower on it. Just hyssop, common.

What does it mean? You don't have to have any super faith to apply the blood of Jesus Christ; just common faith. Believe it. That's all. And remember, the Word of God will defeat Satan anywhere, anytime, on any ground. That's right. The Word of God will defeat Satan.

Now the question, the thing I want to ask you. I face many hard difficulties on foreign fields, challenged by every kind of a devil doctrine that could be thought of. When the winds are blowing real hard and hot, missionaries standing, wanting to see what's fixing to happen, all the witch doctors around, can I remember at Richmond, Virginia, you're praying for me? Can I remember that? That's what I depend on. God bless you. I'll be depending on that. I'll always remember Richmond, this fine little group.

Now next week, we're up here in Middletown, Ohio. And then, all your invitations.... This brother, some one of the brothers, was here somewhere. I just picked it up. I seen awhile ago, when my field secretary gave it to me, of coming back up above here at Washington, DC, again. Now we may be able to catch that pretty soon. I felt a little touching on that, at Washington, DC, maybe, before going overseas. So we may be able to get that.

And to the brother.... I don't guess he's here. Was in the meeting yesterday, from down in Carolina. I've got to go to Florida to the Christian Businessmen's convention. I'm to speak in that in July—I believe the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th at Miami. And then perhaps going down I may be able to catch that ... one of them there in Carolina as we go down, because we come over on Highway 1 to go down.

The Lord bless you. I could just talk to you all afternoon. But you've got to go to church tonight, and.... I hope you do, and have a great, great meeting. Now let us once more bow our heads to God.

Father, we're fixing to turn back the pages of this book. And we read in the Bible where we seen this book in the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne. And there was nobody that was able to take the book, or to loose the seals, or even to look upon it. But there came a Lamb that had been slain since the foundation of the world, and He took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne; and He opened the book and the seals.

We would pray today, Father.... We know any man that's physically able to raise his hand could turn the pages of this book; but there's no one can open it but that same Lamb. We pray that He'll grant it this afternoon, that He'll come and open this gospel to us. And when we leave this afternoon, the services is closed, may we say like those coming from Emmaus that day, “Did not our hearts burn within us as He spoke to us along the way?” For we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

The Lord bless you.

And now you that keep the Scripture records of where we speak of, if you would turn to the 22nd chapter of Genesis, and the 14th verse:

And Abraham called the name of the place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said unto this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.

Jehovah-jireh. God has seven compound redemptive names, and Jehovah-jireh is his first—“The Lord will provide a sacrifice.” Jehovah-rapha, “The Lord that healeth all thy diseases”; and Jehovah, “thy banner”; and “thy shield,” and so forth. He's got seven compound redemptive names, and those names are inseparable.

The night when that picture was taken you have here now—that became world famous around the world—of that pillar of fire that was standing where I was at.... And they've taken it many, many times, but we wouldn't let it be published until it was authentic. Like a testimony of some healing. You notice in the Christian Businessmen (the little book that was given out to you here, the Christian Businessmen's “Voice”) about the dead being raised, we cannot say that unless there's signed certificate by the doctor. And that has to be proven before you can put it in print, anything like that, because it's unlawful to do so. So these things are authentic.

And now that pillar of fire that's in the picture, the night that it was taken was at Houston at the Sam Houston Coliseum. We'd been having about eight thousand at the music hall, and went over there that night with about 32,000. But they had asked me, for a Baptist minister, to hold a debate with him on divine healing.

I don't debate with people. I don't believe in fussing with people. The gospel wasn't made to fuss about. Oh, when I was first ordained in the Baptist church, I thought I was the defender of the faith. So I found out “No man can come to me except my Father draws him, and all the Father has given me will come.” So, see, you argue with people. They're set in their ways, or they wouldn't be arguing. So then you just don't make them any better.

So he wanted me to take one night to debating. And the Houston Chronicle, I believe, was the name of the paper. They wrote it up. And he put a paid ad in there, said showed what we was made out of, we was afraid to face the gospel by the Word of God. So Dr. F. F. Bosworth (he was then about eighty years old), he came up there. And reporters were waiting. Said, what I was going to say about it?

And I said, “I do not argue. I just got so many nights to be here, and I've got two more nights left, and there's tens of thousands of people here to be prayed for. Why would I waste a night just on some critic? Let him go ahead. Jesus said, 'Let them alone. The blind leads the blind, won't they fall in the ditch?' ” I said, “Here's thousands that does believe it. Why fool with one that don't believe it, see, and waste all that time?”

Brother Bosworth ... I'll never forget the.... He's in glory today. Eighty years old; and Dr. Best of the Baptist Tabernacle there was just out of school, about thirty years old, with all of his degrees, and so forth. And Brother Bosworth said, “Well, Brother Branham, if you don't want to do it, let me do it.”

I thought of old Caleb: “Let me take this mountain.”

I said, “If you promise you won't argue.”

He said, “I promise,” and away he went. And here the next day.... Of course you know how the papers can play it up. “Ecclesiastical Fur is Going to Fly.” So, then, that drawed out a great group.

That's one time, brethren, where I found out that all the Pentecostals will be one accord some day. I don't care how many humpbacked camels they were riding—one, two, three, four—they were all there, because one thing in common (divine healing) was at stake, and they all believed that. Yes, sir. And here they all were.

And that night when Dr. Best got up, he wanted Brother Bosworth to come first. And Brother Bosworth said, “I have six hundred questions wrote out here on paper, Dr. Best, that these questions prove that Christ's attitude today towards the sick is just like it was when He was here on earth. If you can take one of these questions and disprove it by the Bible, then I'll go over and sit down, and we'll call the debate yours.” That's a pretty broad statement.

That boy knowed not to fool with that fellow.

He said, “I'll take care of that when I get up there. I'll take care of that when I get there.”

He said, “Then, Mr. Best,” (that's the moderator) said, “I'll ask you one question. You answer it 'Yes,' or 'No.' And I'll sit down if you'll just say 'Yes,' or 'No.' And the moderator, he said he would.

He said, “Was the seven compound redemptive names of Jehovah applied to Jesus? Yes, or no.”

Oh, my! Now, I was not supposed to be there, but I was sitting up in about the tenth balcony up there somewhere, with my coat up; two policemen standing up above me, like that, and my brother and wife, and my little daughter sitting there. I tell you, I felt shivers run.... I never thought of that before in my life.

He couldn't answer that one, see.

If the compound redemptive names of Jehovah wasn't applied to Jesus, He wasn't Jehovah-jireh, the Lord's provided sacrifice, He wasn't the Saviour. No, sir. And if it was applied to Him, then He's Jehovah-rapha just the same as He's Jehovah-jireh, because the names is inseparable. Jehovah the healer, the same as He is the Saviour. That settled it.

Oh, then he got up and said, “I'll take care....” He wouldn't answer him “yes” or “no.” So he couldn't answer him. So I thought the gallant ... of that old man standing there.

So then he got up there, and then he preached a real good Campbellite sermon. I was rocked in a Baptist cradle. I know what they believe. So he never preached the Baptist doctrine. He preached divine healing in the millennium. How would you need divine healing in the millennium when they got a glorified body? How people will try to scruple up the Scriptures just because they don't know them, or won't let the Holy Spirit lead them to it. That's right.

So then when he got through, he said.... He had some photographers of the W. Studios. He said, I want you to take six pictures of me.“ He said, ”I'm going to skin that old man Bosworth, and hang his hide on my study door for a memorial to divine healing.“ That attitude showed that there's something lacking down here to a Christian brother. But the Lord is our defense. And he took his fist like this, and he said, ”Now take it like this.“ And they took it. They took six pictures.

Now when I come to the platform, if you notice.... If they ever start taking.... They won't let them take pictures on account the light that I watch, it's a light too.

So after awhile he said.... Mr. Best (they had a puddle lens), so then he said, “Nobody believes in divine healing but a bunch of holy rollers.” And said, “Nobody would believe such stuff as that.”

Mr. Bosworth said, “Mr. Best, I beg your pardon. All the churches believe in divine healing if they believe the Bible.”

And he said, “Well,” he said, “a good Baptist wouldn't believe such stuff as that.”

He said, “Just a moment, Mr. Best.” He said to the moderator, “Can I have the mike a minute?” Said he could. Said, “All people in this auditorium [about 22,000 people],” he said, “all you people in here that belongs to these Baptist churches with these Baptist ministers sitting here, that's members of these Baptist churches, could show by certificate that you've been healed by divine healing since Brother Branham's been here, stand on your feet.” And three hundred and something stood up. “What about that?”

He sat there. Then he said, “Bring forth that healer. Let me see him perform. Bring.... Let me see him. He can't hypnotize me like that.” He started off the platform. Said, “Let me see him perform.”

Said, “Shame on you, Mr. Best. You shouldn't say that.”

So he started off the platform. And he said, “Now, I know Brother Branham is here.” Said, “If he wants to dismiss the audience, all right.” Said, “If you want to....”

He knowed where I was at. He'd seen me. So I said.... And I just sat still.

And so he said, “Brother Branham, I know you're listening at me. If you want to come [and everybody was looking around],” said, “if you want to come,” said, “you can come and dismiss the audience.”

I just sat still, and after awhile my brother, sitting there, said, “Sit still.”

I said, “I am sitting still.”

So then, just about that time, I heard something. I looked up, and there was that light hanging above me. I raised up to go down. My wife, sitting back there ... Howard, my brother, said, “Don't say ... there it is.”

So about five hundred ushers put their hands together, and people, little babies, trying to touch you. You know how it is. So, it's pitiful. And as we went down to the platform....

I said, “Now, if it's divisions in question, my commission from God,” I said, “Mr. Best said I was a healer.”

And then he run up on the platform, said, “As a man I admire you. But as in doctrine, it's rotten.”

I said, “I can pass the same compliment.”

And so then we just went on, and so we.... He sat down. I said, “Don't anyone think evil of the man now. He's an American. He has a right.” The Korean war was going on then. I said, “That's what our boys are fighting for, freedom of religion.” I said, “We just disagree upon scriptures, but maybe....”

I said, “I thought he was sincere until he tried to rob those people there that's got.... He said he felt sorry for them laying there on those cots. And now he's trying to take away from them the only hope that they've got left. The doctors has give them up. And there's hundreds sitting there has been healed in the last two weeks here. And here these people trying to rob them from the only hope that they have, to make some kind of a scrupled-up, uncouth doctrine to be right.” I said, “I don't think he's sincere. He couldn't be in doing that.”

So then I said, “But I speak, I'm just a man. But the commission, God'll vindicate that.” And no more than I said that, here it come, circling down, like that. People began fainting, screaming, and everything. They've taken the picture of it.

Mr. Iris, the one that taken it, was a Catholic. Seems strange, but he was working with a man, Jew, by the name of Kipperman. And when they seen it, he took one over there, and put the acids in, and tested, brought out the negatives. And every one of them pictures with Mr. Best shaking his fist under that saintly old man's nose, every one of them was blank. Didn't take at all. God would not permit them to be taken.

But when they shot the picture, there was the angel of the Lord standing there.

They took it before ... to send it here to Washington, D.C., and copyrighted it. Brought it back, and called George J. Lacy, the head of the FBI on fingerprinting documents. And they took it and examined it for about five days. And we met in the Houston Shell Building there. And so they said, “Whose name's Branham?”

And I told him, “Mine.” Stood up.

Said, “You're going to pass out of life like all men.”

I said, “I know that.”

But said, “As long as there's a Christian civilization, this picture will never die.” He said, “It's been said by the old hypocrite [he meant the unbeliever],” he said, “that a supernatural could never be scientifically proven.” He said, “Mr. Branham, I've said it was psychology, that you was reading people's minds.” He said, “But, Mr. Branham, the mechanical eye of that camera won't take psychology. The light struck the lens.” That's right. And so it's been done many, many times since then.

What's the nature of it? It's Jesus. Look, how many believes that Jesus Christ was the angel of the covenant, that pillar of fire that led the children of Israel? If you believe the Bible, He said, “I AM the I AM”. So that.... He was the I AM. Now, watch.

He was on earth. He said “I came from God, and I return to God.” Is that right? “I come from God; I go to God.” After his death, burial, and resurrection.... Now watch what that light did when it was in Jesus—the sign: how He looked out and perceived their thoughts, and told them who they were, and so forth, proving He was the Messiah. Now when that .... After his death, burial, and resurrection, He returned back to God the Father.

And Paul, on his road down to Damascus, a great big light flashed out and blinded him. Is that right? And He said, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?”

He said, “Who are you, Lord?”

He said, “I am Jesus.” Is that right? He went to God ... come from God and went to God.

Peter in the prison that night, that light came in the prison, opened the doors before him—the angel of the Lord. And that's always Jesus Christ, the angel of the covenant, of course.

And now, today if ... it's returned back. For the first time in all of the history of photography, it was taken. Germany asked if they could take it.

I said, “Perhaps so.” And you all perhaps have seen that come across, where in Germany they took the big camera and took the picture: it coming down when it was anointing what it was telling us all (I was talking to them), and then when it went back away. They took it in California here a few weeks ago, the most outstanding one you ever seen.

What is it? It proves that that same God is with his church today, dwelling among us, bringing forth.... The same life that was in Christ is in the church. Amen. (I could get off my sermon now, don't I?)

Jehovah-jireh. Let's take this. This was given to Abraham. And I'll kind of hit the high spots of it so we can be out of here by four o'clock, if possible, now. And now I want you to listen close. Give me your undivided attention.

Jehovah-jireh—the Lord will provide for Himself a sacrifice.

Let's go back and get a little of Abraham. Abraham was the one that the promise was made to, and we can only be saved as we become Abraham's seed, because Abraham and his seed was the one the promise was given to. Is that right, brethren? Abraham and his seed after him. Now let's go back to Genesis 12. I see somebody's marking it down.

Genesis 12, we meet up with Abraham for the first time, and God called Abraham. He was just an ordinary man. Come down from the tower of Babel with his father, and dwelt in the city of the Chaldeans—the land of the Chaldeans in the city of Ur, in the plains. Perhaps lived an ordinary life.

And he was a man sixty-five years old before God ... or, seventy-five years old before God ever spoke to him. Now that gives us old people a little courage, doesn't it? Seventy-five. And Sarah was his half sister, and he had married her when she was about eighteen years old.

And they had no children. She was barren, he was sterile. So they had no children. And she was sixty-five years old, and he was seventy-five. Now at sixty-five she'd be about fifteen years past menopause. So, she was barren, and he was also unfertile. Then there was no way for to them have children.

But God met him and told him ... and blessed him and gave him the covenant, and told him that he was going to have a child by Sarah; and through that child would bless all nations through his seed.

Now, if you notice.... I have to get on a little bit of teaching here, now, but I don't mean for controversy. But if you'll notice that the covenant was given to Abraham and his seed.... Now, not seeds, but seed of Abraham. The seed of Abraham. And the Scripture says we that are in Christ are Abraham's seed, and are heirs with him according to the promise.

Now how do you become Abraham's seed? When you take on Christ by the Holy Spirit baptism. That's the only way you can be Abraham's seed, because that plants in you the faith that Abraham had.

Now Abraham many people think was a Jew. He was not. He was a Gentile. But now ... but Abraham and.... Let's say it together:

Abraham and his seed. The covenant was made with them—Abraham and his seed. So let's say we are Abraham's seed. How many's in Christ? Raise your hands. Then according to this blessed book you're Abraham's seed, and you're joint heirs, and you're heir with Abraham of all the possessions that God give to the people. You are Abraham's seed. Then you must have Abraham's faith in order to be Abraham's seed. Do you get it? Oh, I hope so.

Notice, now the covenant was made to Abraham unconditionally. Now, he made a covenant with Adam: “If you'll do a certain thing, I'll do a certain thing.” And man always breaks his promise to God, his covenant. Always. But this covenant (Do you see it?), it was to Abraham and his seed unconditionally. Not, “if you will....” “I have.” Notice it? To Abraham's seed. Not to the outside world now. To Abraham and his seed the covenant was unconditionally. Not, “If you will, I will”; but, “I have already, for you.”

Therefore, prove it, this afternoon. God don't have to come down and perform another operation to get you healed. He's already healed you. “He was wounded for our transgressions, with his stripes we were healed.” You're already healed. The only thing you have to do is just receive it. If you just don't reach up and get it.... If you're Abraham's seed then you believe it, and it's already there. So there is no doubting of it. It's already there. It's yours.

Oh, my! I wish I could strike fire. It's just like pouring ... throwing a match on gunpowder. Look, you see what I mean?

It's already yours. It belongs to you, for you're Abraham's seed if you've received the Holy Ghost. You're sealed. You're dead, and your life is hid in Christ through God, sealed by the Holy Ghost. How long? Until the next revival? Until the day of your redemption. Ephesians 4:30: “Grieve not the Holy Spirit whereby you're sealed until the day of your redemption.”

Before a car can be sealed, a boxcar, everything's got to be fit in there good and tight. That's the reason so many don't get the Holy Ghost. Too loose.

Like the eagle taking its little ones up. She fans all the loose feathers out of it before she gets him up there. He'll break his neck, see. Now a crow would never fly with an eagle. God likens his prophets to eagles. He's an eagle Himself. A crow could never fly or follow an eagle. Oh, if a hawk would try, he'd disintegrate in the air. Why, sure. An eagle is a special-made bird. So he has to have special feathers, and special eyes, to climb up, way up, way above anything else.

That's the way God's people does, God's eaglets. They climb way in there. They're Abraham's seed. Believe anything, no matter what the circumstances. They're away from the earth. They're way up high in the atmosphere.

Oh, lift me up above the shadows, give me fellowship with Thee. That's right. Plant my feet on higher ground. Take me up, Lord. Let me stand by faith on heaven's tableland. A higher plane than I have found, Lord, lift my feet to higher ground. Way up.

Abraham and his seed after him—the covenant was absolutely unconditionally to both Abraham and his seed after him. Now that's wonderful.

Now what did Abraham do? Abraham believed God.

Now, how's he going to do it, and him a.... Now he's seventy-five years old. And how's he going to have this baby by his ... and his wife is now sixty-five years old? And could you imagine an old couple like that going down to the doctor, and saying, “Doctor, I want you to make room at the hospital. My wife's going to have a baby.”

“How old are you, sir?”

“I'm seventy-five.”

“How old is she?”

“Sixty-five.”

“Poor old fellow.” See?

Well, any man that ever takes God by his Word, they'll say the same thing about you. “For all that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,” Jesus said. Now you're misunderstood, because these are Americans, Germans, Switzerland; but you're from heaven. You've been born from up there. Therefore you believe what God says.

Now notice this. Could you imagine that old couple, as I repeat again, and saying.... Abraham said, “Sarah [after the first twenty-eight days, you know], how you feeling, dear?”

“Honey, there's not a bit of difference.”

“Glory to God, we're going to have it anyhow. That's right. Get the little booties ready, get the Birdseye and the pins, and get everything ready. We're going to have it.”

“How do you know? Abraham, what do you mean by that?”

“God said so. That's enough. That's all I need to know. God said so.”

Well, a year passed. “Honey, anything different?”

“Not a bit.”

“Glory to God, it's a bigger miracle now. It's a year later.”

After awhile twenty-five years elapsed. The Bible said he got stronger and stronger.

And we say we're Abraham's seed. We're prayed for, and the next day, “How are you feeling?”

“I guess I didn't get it. I don't feel any better.”

Abraham's seed! Oh, my! See what I mean? Abraham's seed is scarce.

Abraham's seed ... now, let's not profess something unless we really possess it, you see. Abraham's seed, when Abraham's seed. Takes a hold of a promise of God, it's there to stay, no matter what happens. There's nothing will ever move them. And if it lingers it gets stronger.

And he kept giving God more praise all the time. After twenty-five years, now he's a hundred years old and she's ninety.

“How you feeling, dear?”

“No different.”

“But, glory to God, we'll have it anyhow. Just keep the dust off the booties and things, and everything. It's coming.”

“How do you know?”

“God said so. That settles it. God told me so. That's all of it.”

Now that's the way Abraham's seed is. If you're heirs with Abraham, you have that kind of faith. Are you Abraham's seed? Let's say, “Amen.” Sure we are Abraham's seed. Certainly we are. God help our unbelief. That's right.

Now, everything ready, making ready for it, now that was in the 12th chapter of Genesis. Now in the 15th chapter of Genesis God confirmed this covenant with him. Now he's about ... many years later. So one day God was talking to Abraham, and He said, “Abraham, I'm going to confirm this. I'm going to give you a sign.” God always gives signs. “These signs shall follow them that believe.”

“They shall shake hands with the pastor, and put their name on the book.” That might be in the Almanac, but not in the Bible, see. That's right. Yeah.

“These signs shall follow them that believe. In my name they shall cast out devils. They shall speak with new tongues. If they should take up a serpent, or drink a deadly thing, it would not harm them. If they lay their hands on the sick, they shall recover.” These signs shall follow believers. Hands laid on that believer, that believer says, “Amen. I'm Abraham's seed. I believe it.” Then it works all right, comes to pass.

Now, these signs.... And Abraham said to God, “How will I know this?”

He said, “Abraham, go get me a she-goat, and a heifer, and a ram. Make a sacrifice.” And Abraham cut them apart, killed them, put them apart; took a turtle dove and a young pigeon, and throwed it in, and made a sacrifice unto the Lord. And when he did, he waited there and kept the birds off the food until the sun was going down.

And when the sun was going down, there came a great, deep sleep upon Abraham. That sleep is that eternal sleep—spoke of it. All men must die. And a horrible horror of darkness before him, where smoking furnace, where.... Every man that's born in this world comes to the world shaped in iniquity, come to the world speaking lies; a liar, an ungodly, a reprobate, as soon as he's born.

So we're born.... We don't even have a chance but ... outside the blood of Jesus Christ. And then that hell, we deserve it, every one of us.

But beyond that went a little white light, that went in between these divided pieces of sacrifice. Now if we had time I'd like to tell you what each one of those represented—the she-goat, and the ram, and the heifer. And did you notice they didn't separate the two turtle doves? They represent divine healing, see. So he never separated them, never cut them apart. But as this little light went between them two, He was confirming the covenant to Abraham; what He would do with him and his seed, and how the seed would come; and how He'd keep his promise. It was a contract being signed.

Now, what did He mean?

Now we take here in America.... If I was going to say that brother here, one of these brothers and I were going to make a contract, or an agreement.... A covenant is an agreement. If we were going to make a covenant with each other, we'd sit down and talk it over with each other, maybe write out our contract, whatever it was, have a bite to eat together, and we'd shake one another's hand, say, “Put it here. We'll agree to do this.” That's a covenant in America.

Now if we was in Japan, a covenant in Japan, they make an agreement and then they get some salt and throw salt on one another. That's the custom in Japan, making a covenant.

But in the days of Abraham, in the Orient, how they made a covenant, they killed an animal and cut it apart; and then they wrote up their agreement on this parchment (their lambskin), and then they stand in there and take an oath by this dead beast sacrifice. If one ever breaks it, may their body be as that broken beast's body.

And then they tear this apart. One man takes one piece, and one the other. And where that writing was, it could never be dovetailed unless this same piece comes back to put it together again, because when it tears, it rips back and forth, and so forth, as it tears across that lambskin where the writing is.

Then they keep that. And then the only way that this covenant is kept, is when ... brought to pass, is when they come back, each piece of this parchment must meet together, dovetail perfectly to make the agreement just exactly the same.

Now you say, “What was God doing there then, Brother Branham?”

Here's what He was showing to Abraham's seed. Abraham said, “I go childless [15th chapter of Genesis] and I don't have an heir; and that's this Eleazar of Damascus.”

He said, “It will not be him, but the covenant. The one that I'll make the covenant with comes out of your own bowels. It'll be ... by you and Sarah [in other words] is the one that I'll make it.” Now, remember, he's a real old man.

Now what was He showing? That through Abraham come the promised one, Isaac. And through Isaac come Jesus; and through Jesus.... Isaac, he was only a father of Israel. But through Jesus he's the father of every nation, all the seed of Abraham.

And how did He confirm it? Showing what He would do by the sacrifice. Now Jesus became that sacrifice, and He went to Calvary. And God tore Him apart on Calvary. Tore his soul and Spirit from his body, and raised up his body on the third day and set it on his own right hand; and sent back the same Spirit was upon Him, to work in his church to call Abraham's seed. Can't you see it? It's the baptism of the Holy Ghost. That's the confirmation—confirming it.

Now the church that professes to be a Christian church will have to have that same Spirit that was in Jesus Christ, for at the resurrection of the church, Christ and his bride will come together and dovetail. The writings and promises of God will be made fulfilled there. So it cannot come together, unless the same Spirit was in Christ is in you and me. And then if that same Spirit is in there, it will do the same works, and live the same kind of a separated life, and do the works that He did. The Bible said so. All the way to Genesis confirms it. Genesis is the seed chapter. Genesis means “beginning.” Here it is, confirming.

Would not that make us all happy? Would not that make a sinner...? It ought to be striking! It ought to make a church member come to Christ, and stay until he's filled with the Holy Ghost. It's the only promise of the rapture, the only way that the church and Christ can come together, the very Spirit.

When God made his first man in the garden of Eden, did you notice He made him both male and female? He was a man, made in God's image, a spirit. He put him in flesh, Genesis the next chapter, after He already made him male and female. And there still was no man to till the soil, so then He created man out of the dust of the earth, not in his image.

But then God came down in the form of man by Jesus Christ to redeem the man that's fallen in the image of the earthly. He was made in the image of the earth. O God, can't you see what gospel means? When God became man, so man became God. We're sons and daughters of God.

Now this first man, Adam—look at him. In spirit he was both feminish and masculine. And then he was made flesh, and he had no helpmate. Then God.... A woman is not in the original creation of God. She's a by-product of the man. So to make them one (to show what He did), He opened up the side of Adam and took a part of Adam's flesh so that they wouldn't be separated, they'd be one; and took part of Adam's spirit, part of Adam's flesh, took the feminish spirit off of Adam and made a Eve.

And when you see a woman, the way some of our modern women—hair cuts like men, smoke like men, cuss like men.... You see a woman that wants to be masculine, there's a perversion there somewhere. And when you see a man, sissified, with a ... look like a duck sitting on the back of his head, and so forth like that, and wants to wear women's clothes all the time, there's something perverted there somewhere. God made men to be men, and women to be women. The Bible said....

One day I was speaking against women wearing shorts, and a woman said to me, “I don't wear them.”

I said, “What's that you got on?” She said.... What is them things? Pedal pushers, or ever what it was, like that. I said.... No, dungarees. I said, “That's worse than ever. The Bible said it's an abomination for a woman to put on a garment that pertains to a man.” Right.

Up in Klamath Falls recently a lady wrote me a big long letter. She said, “What about a woman, then, out riding horses in a mosquito infested area out there, riding, rounding up the cattle? What do you think about her wearing a dress out there? Or when she's in the garden, when she has to stoop over and pull up things from the garden?”

I said, “My mother and my wife both wear dresses and they have no trouble with it. They wear them long enough. When they stoop down, that's all of it.

Then I said, “Another thing, out there on a horse, riding a horse, a woman ain't got no business out there. That's what's the ruin of our nation today is women trying to take men's jobs. She's trying to be a man, and a man's wanting to be a woman. God made them different. Right. She's got no business being like that. She's out of her category, and a man's out of his category.”Oh, my. Stop, clock. Notice, God made them different. And he made a covenant with Adam. He made a covenant with Eve. But you see He made them one. They are no longer twain, but one.

Now so is the church and Christ. God never said just go make an organization called the So-and-so, or go educate them this.... He took his own Son and from his heart.... Three elements came from his body.

Excuse me, sisters, I want to make a point. In a natural birth, what is the first thing happens in a normal birth? Water. Next, blood. What's next? Life. That's the same thing that constitutes the new birth. What was the thing came out of Jesus' side? Water, blood, and “Into thy hands I commend my spirit.”

I John 5:7 said there are three that bear record in heaven: the Father, the Word (which is the Son), and the Holy Ghost; these three are one. You can't have the Father without having the Son. You can't have the Son without having the Holy Ghost. These three are one.

And there's three that bear record in earth: the water, the blood, and the Spirit. They are not one, but they agree in one. You can be justified without being sanctified. You can be sanctified without receiving the Holy Ghost. See what I mean? Luther preached justification; Wesley had sanctification; Pentecost, the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Just like the seed planted, stalk, tassel, ear. Everything in the world types right to it. That's right.

Now, God tore Christ apart, sent down his Spirit, called the Holy Spirit. “A little while and the world seeth me no more. Yet you'll see me for I [I is a personal pronoun] will be with you, even in you, to the end of the world.” Not just down for a certain age, but to the end of the world. “Go ye into all the world....” How long is these signs to follow? All the world.

Mark 16: “Go ye into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature.” It has never happened yet. How long will these signs follow? Until it's over. “Go into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature. These signs shall follow them [creatures] that believe.” Get it?

Now, notice that was the fifteenth chapter. Now, let's go to the seventeenth chapter. Now God appeared to Abraham in another name. Seventeenth chapter, He appeared to him in the name of El Shaddai, the Hebrew word, God Almighty. El Shaddai. Now Shad means “breast,” like the mother, woman. Shaddai is in the plural—breasted.

Now what was He doing with Abraham here? Now He had given him the covenant in Genesis 12 unconditionally. Genesis 15, He confirmed it to him what He was going to do, and how He was going to do it. Now in Genesis 17 Abraham now is ninety and nine years old, about at a hundred, and that makes Sarah eighty-nine. Now the Bible said that his body was as good as dead. Sarah's womb was dead. But He appeared to him in the name of El Shaddai, the breasted one, insomuch as to say, “Abraham, I am the breasted God.”

Not breast—breasted. Two of them. He was wounded for our transgressions, with his stripes we are healed. New and Old Testament. In other words when a little baby is fretting and sick, the mother picks up the little fellow and puts it up to her breast, and the little baby draws its strength from the mother.

And “Abraham, you're old. You're a hundred years old and your strength is gone. But I am the one that made the promise. I am your breast. Just lean right on my promise and keep nursing.”

And another thing, the baby is satisfied as long as it's nursing from the mother. The little fellow's not fretting anymore. As soon as he goes to nursing his mother, he's satisfied. And He is the satisfier, the strong one, the nurturer, the strength giver. The little baby lays upon its mother's breast, satisfied, nursing itself back to strength and health.

Now that's to Abraham and to his seed.

Now if you're sick today, and the doctor says, “Sister, I hate to tell you. You got heart trouble. Your heart's very bad.”

“Brother, you've got cancer. There ain't nothing in my medical science shows that.... We can't.... It's advanced. There's nothing we can do.”

And you're Abraham's seed, and something keeps telling you, “I've got more life to live.” What is it?

It's God trying to say, “Come up to me. You're the seed of Abraham. I'm your strength-giver, I'm your satisfier.”

How long will it take?

What if that baby leaves its mother's breast and won't nurse anymore? It'll die. And when we take God as our healer, and then say, “Oh, well, maybe I was wrong.”—no, Abraham's children doesn't do that. They hold right on to that promise and nurse from it. If it's salvation, the Holy Ghost: “He was wounded for our transgressions.” If it's healing for the body: “By his stripes we were healed.” He's the breasted God. What was He doing? He was getting Abraham in condition to receive the miracle that was fixing to happen.

Now turn over another page to Genesis 18. Now, we find in Genesis 18 there was a great sign given him. Now, remember, God told Abraham in Genesis 12 also to separate himself from all of his people, all of his kindred, and to sojourn with Him as a stranger in a strange land.

Now, God wants separators.

Now the people wants mixers. Oh, my. Today they got to have a little Hollywood guy, you know, and all this. There's got to be a lot of flowers, and color up. They don't want the old-fashioned preacher that lays it right on the hewing line. They won't have it. He's a fanatic. He's a holy roller.

That's what they want. They want mixers—somebody that'll go swimming with them, and somebody will play bunco with them, and somebody will go to dances, and.... Not fanatics, see. They don't want that.

But God wants separators. Separate yourself. The very word church means “separated, called out.” “Come out from among them,” saith God, “and I'll receive you. Touch not their unclean things.” Separators. Oh, Christians, separate yourself from everything of the world, brother, sister. Get away from the things of the world. Separate.

Now Abraham had.... Until he fully obeyed that, God never did bless him. He took his father with him. He took Lot, his nephew. And what did it do? The old man was a fly in the ointment as long as he was along. Finally he died. And then Lot was fussing and fighting, scrambling over herding grounds, and so forth, until Lot separated himself and went down into Sodom. He took the way down, the easy way, a few extra dollars. And see what it cost him? He wanted to be popular. He became the mayor of the city. So he was down there. He wanted to have a big name. There's so many people that wants big names, big things.

It takes a monkey to jump after shiny things and things like that. Yes, sir. Did you ever notice a monkey? Anything that shines, he'll jump at it, see.

Now, you notice Lot. He thought, “Maybe if I go down there in Sodom I'll become a great man. My name will be known.” Sure. Look at it today, what it's known as. And Mrs. Lot, she kept up all the styles and fashions, and so forth. Look at her today, standing there in the field as a pillar of salt. Yeah.

But Sarah took her way with her own husband, the way with the Lord's despised few, to walk in fellowship with God. Had the hard places.

Then one day when Abraham was sitting out.... The land was barren. Sometimes we think that those things are curses. No. If you know your heart's right with God, no matter what happens, stay right with it. Abraham and Sarah, probably hot weather, and cattle was all thin and everything. And then one day Abraham was sitting under the oak tree about noon time—in the sixteenth chapter, or the eighteenth chapter, rather, of Genesis.

And God had got enough of that Sodom and Gomorrah—just like He's got enough of this world today—enough of their foolishness. So He's going to come down to destroy it.

So he was going to give them a sign that that was going to be destroyed.

So Abraham was sitting there under the oak, and he looked and he seen three men coming, and they come up to where he was. He ran to meet them, and he said, “My Lord.” Now somebody was trying to tell me that was Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, see. That's a lie. He never said, “My lords.” He said, “My Lord.”

Lot later called them two preachers that went down there (not capital L; little l), “My lords, have you come to me?” The backslidden Lot, he said, “My lords.”

But when Abraham met the three, he said, “My Lord,” capital L-o-r-d. Elohim, Lord. Three of them was standing there, but he said, “My Lord.”

Now, when they come up, he said, “Come by and sit down, and let me fetch a little water and wash your feet. And refresh yourself, and take a morsel of bread. And then you can go on; for you've stopped by to see your servant.” All right.

When they come up, said, “So do it.” So they walked over and sat down. And Abraham ran into the tent, the master tent, the big tent where he lived. Probably servants all camped around, a village of them. So he ran back to the big main tent, and he said, “Sarah, knead three measures of meal right quick, and bake them up on the hearth.” And he ran out into the herd and got a real fat calf, and he give it to his servant to dress. He said, “Make it ready right quick.”

And they made it ready, and he come out and he fed these three men. What was it? Veal (the calf), fed them milk, and bread and butter, and they all sat and eat, all of them. And yet, one of them was Jehovah God. That's right.

Abraham talked to Him. You wouldn't doubt the Scriptures, would you? He said He was Elohim. That's right—God. Mentions about it six or seven times right along in a row. Elohim, that's who He was.

Someone said to me one time, said, “You don't believe that was God.”

I said, “Sure, I believe it was God. Abraham said it was, the Bible said it was, and my faith is built on God's Word.”

Said, “How could God be made flesh?”

I said, “The same as He was when He was in Jesus Christ. He was made flesh. Certainly was. When He was in Melchizedek He was made flesh. Certainly He was. King of peace, King of Salem, without father, without mother, no beginning of days or ending of years. Well, certainly. Ending of life, rather. Sure He was.

Now here He is among his church today, made flesh in his church. Certainly—Elohim.

Now, oh, if you could only realize that. You men, you were made to be a amateur God. You're a son of God. You're an heir of God, and you have a domain. Genesis 1:26, He give him dominion over everything in the earth. He made him a god over the earth. That's right. He gave him a domain. He's a king, god. And where he got his fall.... He could speak to the trees, “Be changed, be plucked up, and set over here.” To the winds and waves, “Be still,” and it stopped. He was god, an amateur god, a son of God, like you're a son of your father.

And all the world is groaning, waiting for the manifestations of the sons of God, waiting for the church to get back in its place again—sons of God to be made manifest—waiting for that hour. Hope that don't hurt, but just had to say it, see. The church is so far away from its place. It needs to be back to be sons of God again, rulers, governors of the earth, under the spiritual reign. It will be some day, when the chief one comes—Jesus Christ. The great Millennium, nature's groaning for that day.

Now we find here that this man, as soon as they talked to Abraham.... I want you to notice, two of them went down into Sodom to see if they could find as many as ten righteous people in that entire nation of people. And they couldn't do it. But one stayed behind (now, don't miss this), one stayed behind and talked to Abraham. The one that stayed behind give Abraham a sign. And Jesus referred to that sign, and said it would be the same in the Gentile days.

Now we've been taking it all through the week, what Jesus was, showing his Messiahic sign to the people. But He never one time did that before Gentiles. [Blank spot on tape.] ... had 2,000 years of training, just as they had 4,000 years. But now, we are the ones that's looking for a coming Messiah. Now He's got to do the same thing.

Now watch what this one done, the one that stayed behind with Abraham. He gave him a sign, and watch what the sign was.

Now Jesus said, “As it was in the days of Sodom....” Now spiritual minds, be real reverent here—you on the floor, first balcony, and second balcony, remember. He said, “As it was in the days of Sodom, so shall it be at the coming of the Son of man.” How many says “Amen” to that? All right, now let's just see what happened, for the days....

Now remember, the days of Sodom was just before the world was destroyed, or the wickedness was destroyed by fire. Now do you believe the world will be destroyed by fire at his coming? The Bible said so. The whole heavens and earth will be on fire. Men will do it to themselves, because God destroys nothing. Man destroys himself by his knowledge, his shrewdness, his education. Always has done it. Created gunpowder, created atomic bombs, automobiles —that's what kills him, see. Now notice, he'll destroy the whole world by his own knowledge. That tree in the garden that he left the tree of life to eat off, that tree of knowledge, science—he's been climbing it ever since.

Notice, now, we find that Abraham, when he come to this spot in his life to where he had to see this great sign to take place, Jesus referring to it—as it was in that day, so will it be at the coming of the Son of man. Now watch. There's always three classes of people. That's believers, make believers, and unbelievers. Always. Sin, and professed Christians, and real Christians. And they're always separated one from the other.

Now, look. Sodom was sinners. They were perverted, just like the world is today. Great portions of this nation is completely gone. And, as I said, we're just being honeycombed with communism and everything, every ism. Many of you....

If you'd put a righteous president in every county in the whole United States, it's still gone. She'll never rise again. Thus saith the Lord. In 1956 she made her fatal move. Now, and she took well on her way about three months ago. Now she's gone. Write it in your Bibles. See if it's right.

1933, one morning, going to the Baptist Tabernacle I went into a trance, saw a vision. I saw President Roosevelt was going to help lead the world to a world war. Told it that morning. They was going to lock me up for it. And I said, “They'll go to war with Germany.” Eleven years before the Maginot line was built, I said, “There in that same vision I saw Germany fortified in concrete and America took a terrible beating there.” Many of you boys know what happened, was there.

Notice. I said, “Mussolini is standing up as a dictator. He'll make his first invasion to Ethiopia, but.... He'll take Ethiopia, but he'll come to a disgraceful end, him and that woman both.” And they hung them up with their feet up, and her clothes hanging over her head, in the street, and spit on them.

I said, “Science will improve.” I said, “Another thing, the nation has permitted women to vote, one of the most horrible disgraces they've done.” And I said, “In voting, they'll elect the wrong man.” I'm neither Democrat nor Republican. I'm a Christian. Both sides is rotten. But they made their fatal mistake the other day. Women done the work. And how you colored people could sell your birthright to such a thing as that, when the blood of Abraham Lincoln stains up yonder on that dress! God have mercy. Help me, Lord. Oh, my.

Maybe I shouldn't have said it, but I've done said it.

Remember. Oh, how can it be? My days as evangelist is soon done. I can't be prophetic and evangelist too. I will leave the field. That's in the Spirit, now. Soon He'll be calling me. I'll leave the field of evangelism. Then He'll use me as his seer. What's the matter with me, anyhow? Where was I at?

Yes, Genesis 18. (Did you get that, Gene?) Genesis 18, I believe I was speaking on. Then, no, I was on what He told me would happen. Then He said, “Science will be increased until it comes to a place until they will perfect an automobile that looks like an egg, before the end time.” Then I seen it, and I said, “They will control it with some kind of a steering outfit, that they don't have to touch it theirselves.” I seen an American family going down a great big broad way, playing cards, with a glass-topped car; looked like an egg. They've got it right now. You seen it on television here not long ago. They've got it.

And I said, “Then I seen some great powerful woman rise in United States,” because this is a woman's nation. Woman's picture on the money, everything's woman here. That's right. She's a goddess. Not you Christian women. I'm talking about a little flapper coming down the street here, with all these shorts and things. She can do more harm to the church of the living God among men than all the bootleg joints there is to the nation. That's right.

America is a woman's nation. Got her picture .... Her number's thirteen: thirteen colonies, thirteen stripes, thirteen stars, thirteen everything; thirteen, thirteen, thirteen, and a woman, see. And I seen a great woman rise up, beautiful to look at; but a cruel, wicked heart. And that'll be a church, and she's on her road now.

Then I seen the end-time, when the United States looked like a big bunch of bursted-up stones, and things like that, just blowed out, smoldering everywhere.

Five of them has happened, two of them is on the road. That's been twenty-one years ago, see, when it was predicted. The five of them has perfectly hit. The other two's got to. I see them coming on the road now. Oh, repent and flee from the wrath that is to come, church of the living God! Get back to the real gospel, friends. You Methodists, you Baptists, you Pentecostals, the rest of you, turn to God with all your heart, for your hours are short.

Genesis 18, just before the fire fell, that angel said.... That man in human flesh, a human man eating and drinking like an ordinary man, but yet was God. He was Jehovah God. Look at the Bible and see if it isn't, Jehovah God in human flesh. What did it represent according to Jesus' own words? God would be represented in human flesh at the end-time before the fire fell, the Holy Spirit coming back into the church. It's been moving in for forty years or more, controlling the church. Watch the last thing taking place.

Now, remember, just a few days before that Abram's name had been changed to Abraham, and Sarai to Sarah. And watch Him, what He calls (“Abraham, where is your wife, Sarah?”), a stranger, dust on his clothes, eating flesh, drinking milk.

He said, “Why, she's in the tent behind you.” Watch the sign.

He said, “Abraham, I [Oh, my! You see who it was?] I made you the promise. I'm going to visit you according to my promise. I made the promise. I was the one done it.” It was God that made the promise. “I'm going to visit you.” In other words just twenty-eight more days and things are going to be different with Sarah. “I made the promise to you, so I'm going to visit you according to the time of life. You're going to have this baby.”

And Sarah in the tent behind him, she said, “Me, an old woman.” Forgive me, sisters. I'm making this point. “As husband and wife, me, an old woman, would still have pleasure with...? And my husband out there, an old man too, a hundred years old. And here I am, ninety [little great-great-great-grandmother, little shawl and cane]. Me, be like a young woman, and my husband like a young man, to have children? Why,” said, “it couldn't be.”

And that angel—not an angel, God in human flesh—with his back turned to the tent [the Bible distinctly says He had his back to the tent behind Him], said, “Why did Sarah laugh within herself, saying, 'Surely these things can't come to pass.'?” How did He know she was in the tent, or how did He know whether her name was Sarah? How did He know that she laughed, and how did He know the thoughts that was in her mind, when she thought in her mind? It was that same Spirit that was on Jesus, that perceived their thoughts, see.

And He said, “As it was in the days of Sodom, so shall it be in the coming of the Son of man.” Is that right? The last sign they ever got before the fire fell. It fell right away. That was the last sign they got. And look, how did He say that, and why did He distinctly call Sodom?

Here it is. Open up now and receive it. That was Abraham, and this is Abraham's seed. He has to give the seed the same thing He give Abraham, for the promise was to both Abraham and seed after him.

O God! Do you see what I mean? You see what the Bible says?

That's the reason these great big, high, orthodox, they never get it. Now, look, you say, “Will they get a... ?” Sure. There was Lot, the orthodox. And a modern Billy Graham, and somebody else, went down there to preach to them. Never done any miracles; just blinded them. Preaching the gospel blinds the unbeliever. That's right. They were unbelievers, was blinded. It was a shadow. Now they say.... Billy Graham, the great evangelist today that goes to the (Baptist evangelist, they say) ... all them sinners and unbelievers, say, “Aw, it's nothing but a bunch of nonsense.”

It's not. Billy Graham's a man of God. Sure is. And Oral Roberts and them fellows, great servants of God, ordained of God. Don't condemn Billy Graham because he's not Pentecost. He can't be Pentecost.

Watch, when God.... Here's something. I hope it don't choke you, but look. When God.... Before He made Abraham the father of nations, he changed his name from Abram to Abraham. Is that right? Put h-a-m on the end of it. H-a-m, because what? He was going to bring through him the father of nations. He took part of his own name, Elohim, and made him Abraham. Now, if you want to know whether Billy Graham ... look at the end of his name. G-r-a-h-a-m. You understand? All right.

Now, you see, everything has to be perfect, and it is perfect. The ones that don't see it is blinded. Abraham. That was the name given. That name never rose on till just at the end-time. So has it. Watch that name ending, h-a-m. Abraham, Elohim, see. Graham.

Notice, now, just at the end-time. Oh, we could break it down a little farther than that, but that's far enough for you to know.

Notice, now, as we look at the end-time coming in. Now He promised that that would be what? Just before the fire fell. Now, oh, to you people, here is a great promise. Look, when He give him that sign, what was He doing? He was preparing now. Immediately after that, what did He do? He prepared Abraham and Sarah to receive the oncoming son that was promised. What did He do? He changed Sarah and Abraham from an old man and old woman back to a young man and young woman.

You say, “Brother Branham, that's not so.”

All right. We'll just see if it's so or not.

You can't read the Bible like a newspaper. It's a love letter. My little wife back there, when I start overseas, now, what if I went to her... ? That's where you have to get away from so much of this, “I can't do this, because I'm professing this. I can't do this.” If you want to do it, you might as well do it. Certainly. Let that get out of your heart. It's love, grace that does it. What if I start overseas and Mrs. Branham there said ... walked up to me and said, “Listen here.”

I say, “Listen, Mrs. Branham, thou shalt not have any other husbands. I'm your husband. Thou shall not.... If I hear you being with any more husbands, I'll divorce you when I come back.”

She'd say, “Wait a minute, my dear man. Thou shall not have any more wives, too, because if you have any more wives, I'll divorce you when you come back.”

Now, wouldn't that be a home? That's the way the church tries to be to God. “I am Presbyterian.”

“I am Pentecostal.” Nothing. Nothing, is right.

Look. What do we do? I love her, she loves me. We just get down and pray, and I ask God to help her, and she asks God to help me. I kiss her good-bye and go overseas. That settles it. She don't have to worry about me. I love her too much. I don't worry about her; she loves me too much. As long as we love one another that way, we'll be all right. And you've got to love God.

She'll write me a letter, and she'll say, “Dear Billy, I have just put the children to bed. And Sarah today did so-and-so, and Rebekah....” And all like this, see. She's saying that on the paper, but I love her so much I can read between the lines. I know what she's talking about, see. I love her.

That's the way you've got be with God. You've got to love God, then you can read between the lines and see what He means. He's hid it from the eyes of the smart seminary students, and revealed it to babes, such as will learn. That's what He said. Jesus thanked God for doing it. Now, doesn't take education; it takes a surrendered life. Now we've got to hurry. I'm way past, but I've just got to make this point, if the Lord willing.

Notice, now, love. Look, now let's just take.... You say, “Now, Brother Branham, just a minute. He didn't do that.” All right.

Immediately after this sign was given to Abraham himself, and will be given to his seed, and we see all that happening....

Now what's the next thing for the church then? If that was the last sign He gave Abraham before the fire fell and destroyed the wickedness, then what will it be to his seed? Same thing. He did the same thing. What did He do? Called him, give him the covenant.

Who called you? Some people said, “I just sought God, and sought God.” You never did. No one else ever did. It's God seeking man; not man seeking God. No man seeks God. God seeks man. Proved that in the garden of Eden. Instead of confessing, he was hiding. God was seeking him.

Another thing, did you notice God never sent an angel down to hunt up his lost child? He came Himself. That's the reason that Jesus was made God flesh among us. God came Himself to redeem his child. It was a man-size job. Nobody could do it but Him, so He came to redeem his own child. That's the reason Jehovah was made flesh in his own Son to die, the sin that was placed upon Him, to redeem the sinner.

Now closely, let's follow Him a minute. Here's Abraham. You might disagree with this. That's all right, but I just want to tell you my own thoughts. Just ... the next thing had to take place, to receive this son that was promised, he had to do something to Abraham.

Now we know that He had to make Sarah fertile. Is that right? Well, in them days women didn't smoke cigarettes. They had to raise their baby on the breast; they couldn't raise them on cow's milk. They didn't have the health and hygiene bottles in them days. So the mother had to raise their baby. Well, now, in order to do that.... The milk veins in the woman's breast was dried up at a hundred years old.

And then another thing (Excuse me. Mixed audience, you'd listen to a doctor. I'm your brother),

listen, another thing: How could a woman a hundred years old go in labor? It'd kill her. He'd have to make her over. Well, God don't.... And look at Abraham—as good as dead, a man a hundred years old, infertile.

No, He changed them back to a young man and woman. You say, “Can you prove it?”

Yes, sir. They'd taken a trip from there and went plumb down to the Philistine country to Gerar, three hundred miles. That's quite a trip for great-granny and grandpa, with his shoulders all bent over and whiskers hanging down like this, a hundred years old.

Oh, you say, “They just lived longer.”

Wait a minute here. I'm looking right at the Scripture, and they were both well stricken in age. That's right.

And when they got down there, you know what? Abimelech, the king of Gerar, he was looking for a sweetheart. And all them beautiful Philistine women around there, but when he seen great-great-great-grandma, with her little shawl in her lap, he fell in love with her. “That's the one I've been waiting for.” See how ridiculous it seems? It is ridiculous.

And Abraham said, “I pray thee, say you're my sister, because you are fair to look upon.” What did he do? He turned them back to a young man and woman. What's He going to do to the...? Why did He have to do that? So they could receive the promised son.

And that's the next thing in order for the church. We which are alive and remain to the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep, for we shall be changed in a moment to receive the promised Son. Where's He going to come? Down here on earth? No, up in the air. We don't meet Him here on earth, and we couldn't meet Him in these kind of bodies. We've got to be changed and meet Him in the air. Oh, I really feel religious, see. The body will be changed in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, and we shall be caught up together to meet the Lord—the next thing to the seed of Abraham.

They're getting their last sign. A discernment, just like it was Jesus said. That's the last sign to the church.

Remember, write it down. I may be gone. See if it's right or not—the last Biblical sign.

Now we find out that that was just before that was to take place, and then what? We find out immediately after that (I haven't got time to go much farther), little Isaac was born. Now I'm closing. What about... ?

When he was about twelve years old, God said to Abraham, so much as this, “There'll be a meeting some time over in Richmond, Virginia, in the United States. I want to make them people know that I am absolutely positive what I'm doing. I want you to take that son, your only son you got, take him up there on the mountain and kill him.”

Abraham said, “Yes, Lord,” for he received him as one from the dead. He was fully persuaded he was able to rise him up, raise him up rather, from the dead. So what did he do to make it confirm to his church through all ages that He keeps his promise? And Abraham's seed, regardless of the condition that they're in, they still believe that God keeps his promise.

Then what did he do? Took little Isaac. They went three days' journey. Now most any man, a young man like Abraham was then—turned back to a man about twenty-five, thirty, years old, him and Sarah. He could walk.... I can walk thirty miles. I used to patrol, a game warden. I'd walk thirty miles any day. And we've got gasoline feet in this day beside of what they had. All the transportation they had was either ride a little mule or walk.

And they went three days' journey, and then lifted up his eyes and saw the mountain, where the vision had showed him, far off. And he got to the mountain. When he got there, he said to the servants, “You stay here. [Listen to this, Genesis 22] You wait here while the boy and I goes yonder to worship, and we shall return.” Oh, that just does something to me.

“Abraham, do you know what you've said? You're going up there to kill him. How are you going to return, you and he?”

“The lad and I will return.” Now watch, he put the wood upon Isaac's shoulder, a type of the true seed. Jesus, to make us Abraham's seed, took the wood for the sacrifice to lay on upon his own shoulders when he climbed up Golgotha.

Got up to the top of the mountain, and there they laid the wood out, and put the fire on, and everything.

Little Isaac got suspicious. He said, “Father.”

Said, “Here I am, my son.”

He said, “Here is the wood, and here is the fire, and here is the altar; but where is the lamb for the offering?”

What do you think that old daddy thought? He said, “My son, God will provide a lamb.” Amen. That's why he called Him Jehovah-jireh—the Lord will provide Himself a lamb for this sacrifice. And little Isaac.... He said, “Turn around, Isaac.” Isaac knew then what ... submitting himself to death, just like Jesus did, the true seed. Pulled him around, tied his hands and his feet, laid him upon the altar, pushed back his little black hair, and his little brown eyes shining.

What's mother going to say? You can't think of that. You got to do what God says. Mother says, “Don't you go down amongst them holy rollers.” Don't you believe it. Do what God says.

Doctor says, “You can't get well.” Don't you believe that. Believe what God says.

Brushed back his hair, took the knife, pulled it out of its sheath, raised it up, and just started to stab his own little boy to death; and when he raised his hand in full obedience, the Holy Spirit caught his hand, said, “Abraham, stay your hand. I know that you love me, for you wouldn't even spare your own son.”

And about that time behind him, where he picked up the rocks, a ram bleated, caught by its horns in the wilderness in the vine. I want to ask you something. Where did that ram come from? Now he's at least seventy-five miles from civilization, and all kinds of animals. And sheep is meat for anything—lions, jackals, and everything else in the desert. And where did that ram come from? And another thing, it was way up on top of the mountain where there's no water. What was it? God spoke it into existence. He had need of it.

See, it wasn't a vision now. He picked up the ram and brought it over and cut its throat. A vision don't bleed. The blood ran out. It took Isaac's place. It was Jesus in type. See what I mean?

And Abraham said, “This place shall be called Jehovah-jireh—the Lord will provide for Himself a sacrifice.” And it is said, even into the mount of the Lord to this day, Jehovah-jireh has already provided Himself a sacrifice.

And brother, sister, you say, “Brother Branham, I was at the doctor. He told me I can't live.” Well, no doubt but what that precious man is telling you everything that he knows to be truth. Certainly. But he only knows as a man. They told me thirty-two years ago I had less than three minutes to live. My heart was only beating seventeen times to the minute. All right. But Jehovah-jireh, He provided a sacrifice, and I accepted it.

That same Jehovah-jireh has a sacrifice provided for you today. Will you accept it? “He was wounded for our transgressions, with his stripes we were healed.”

Oh, seed of Abraham, won't you receive Jehovah's sacrifice that was tore apart at Calvary? Part of it lays up there at the throne of God, at the right hand, a high priest making intercession on your confession. The Holy Spirit's here to keep his Word going among his church. Believe it and receive it, will you? Let's bow our heads.

While we're in prayer just for the next moment or two, would there be any in this building—in the first balcony, or second balcony, or on the main floor—would raise your hands to God? Not to me. (Every eye closed, please. Everybody just quiet as can be.)

There has to be a decision made. There's something standing by you. He's either telling you, “Child, aren't you happy that you received my provided sacrifice?” Or it's either telling you, “You need me as your Saviour. I provided you a sacrifice. Will you receive it?”

If you haven't yet, will you raise up your hands and just show to God, “I want to receive Him.”

God bless you, you, you, you, you. Yes. Second balcony, God bless you, you, you, God bless you. Good. All right. That's fine. “O Jehovah-jireh, provide for me now. You've already provided and I freely accept it. Jesus was your sacrifice provided for me, a Lamb for my eyes, a Lamb for my body, a Lamb for my soul.” And, oh, to you that are sick and afflicted, in your heart say, “Jehovah, give me faith just now, to receive the sacrifice that's been provided for me. For my sacrifice was wounded for my transgressions, which I have received, and by his stripes I was healed. I now come to receive it right now.”

Heavenly Father, time is closing in. It won't be long till the ministers here, my precious brethren, will be in their pulpits. They'll be giving great messages tonight. I pray that sick and the afflicted will be healed, and sinners will be saved, and people filled with the Holy Spirit. May the results of your presence remain throughout until Jesus comes.

Now in this little simple way, Lord.... I have such a poor way to express anything and if I've offended anywhere, You forgive me, Lord. You know my objective and the motive, and I pray that You'll help it, and these few seeds, may they drop down into the heart of the people. May it bring forth a great revival here, Lord.

Bless these people who raised their hands, as that beautiful song, “Thou art the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me, Lord, after Thy way, while I'm yielded, waiting, still.” Grant it, Father. Those who raised their hands, want to be remembered in prayer, they want that sacrifice, faith to reach up and receive it, may they do it just now, Father. May they be saved.

I may never see them on this earth. Think of it, Father. We separate now in a few minutes, maybe to never meet again, until that day there at the gate.

O God, I'll just stand around by the pillar there, and say, “See, isn't it wonderful now?” Just like the vision You showed, that the book's out, written now. Grant it, Lord. I present them to You as trophies of the gospel that has been preached, and the Holy Spirit here drawing them to Jesus. You said, “All the Father has given me will come; and he that comes I will in no wise cast out.” So that's it, Father. Those who are sick, I pray You heal. Grant it in Jesus' name.

Now, you that believe, want Jesus to make you a real child of His, just raise your hands. With your heads bowed, raise your hands.

Have Thine own way, Lord!

Have Thine own way.

Thou art the potter;

I am the clay.

Mold me and make me

After thy will,

While I am waiting,

Yielded and still.

God bless you. May God's rich, great, immortal blessings rest upon each of you, as we wait humbly, sweetly.

Now, there's a few prayer cards give out here in the building. We want to pray for them. Before we call prayer cards, while we're sitting here in the meeting under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, its sweet presence around us, how many out there is sick? Here, up in the balcony, wherever you are, saying, “I'm sick, Brother Branham. God knows I'm sick, and I want his great Holy Spirit to come heal me.” Just raise up your hands, say, “I'm wanting the great Holy Spirit to come heal me.” God bless you.

The angel that I talked about all this week.... Is there any newcomers here? Raise your hands. Just a very few. All right. All this week you've seen the.... Would you believe on Him now if He would do the same thing? There's not a person in here that I know. My wife's sitting way back at the back, and my buddy sitting here, Brother Goad, that's the only persons that I know that I see, except these two men sitting right here. I believe they was on private interviews yesterday, these two men. How many knows that I'm a stranger to you? Have faith. Don't doubt.

Now if the Holy Spirit will confirm this, to come here and let you reach up....

The Bible says that He's a high priest right now. When that sacrifice was tore apart, do you believe that was Jesus Christ for you? Do you believe He's sitting at the right hand of God now, making intercessions on your confession? Do you believe He's the high priest that can be touched by the feeling of your infirmities? Then you pray and ask Him, and touch Him, and tell Him, say, “Lord, Brother Branham just told us that You're here in us, and I'm part of You, too. Brother Branham's part of You. Brother Branham is your servant, and now You just speak through him like You did your Son, Jesus. He's your adopted son, I'm your adopted daughter, your adopted son. But You sent him to us to be a sign to us at the end-time.” He spoke it.

Up in the balconies, wherever you are, I don't ... wherever you are, it doesn't matter. Just believe. If He will do that, will you have a lot of faith and believe? Raise up your hand, so I can just see how you're going to believe it. All right, God bless you.

Now, here's the time, brethren. Now, if anybody ever questions, tell them to come. Now, here's the time when you don't have to worry. When God says anything He keeps his Word. That's right.

Now you have faith. Don't doubt, but believe with all your heart. Just say, “Lord, let me touch You.” Anywhere in here. Then if He does, how would He act? Just like He did when the woman touched His garment. Turned around and say, “You had a blood issue, but your faith has saved you.” See, same thing. Now, will you believe?

Isn't this a great thing? What a challenge. Oh, my. Say, “Will it happen?” Certainly. He doesn't fail.

Where is the gods of Balaam? Where is your critics, says the Holy Spirit's not right? Come forth, do the same thing. You say. “Well, Jesus said, 'Greater than this.' ” You come do the works He done first then we'll talk about the greater, and I'll tell you what it is. Jesus could not preach the baptism of the Holy Ghost. It hadn't come yet. That's the greater works we're doing. But do the same works He did. He said you would.

What do you think about that neck trouble, lady? Do you think the Lord will heal it and make it well? He has. I never seen her in my life. She's a perfect stranger to me. Is that right, lady? Raise up your hand. But you was sitting there praying, wasn't you? That's right. “Lord, let it be me.” How can I tell her what she's praying about? There's her hand up, her right hand to God, it's truth. What is it? Me? No, it's Him.

That wasn't a man sitting there at Abraham's, eating the flesh and stuff like that. It was God in that man. It wasn't Jesus. He said, “It's my Father that dwelleth in me.”

There's a heavy-set lady sitting right behind her, looking right at me, that's been praying there ever since I started ... said that, praying for that heart trouble. That's right. If that's right, raise up your hand. Now do you believe? All right. Your heart trouble's finished. Have faith, don't doubt.

Say, “What are you looking like that?” I was watching the light. It's over this lady right here. She's not praying for herself, but she's praying for her sister. She has heart trouble. She's in the hospital, isn't she? If that's right, raise up your hand. You was praying for her. If that's right, wave your hand like this so the people will see. How can I tell you what you're praying about? God who hears prayer has answered prayer. Do you believe she's coming out and being all right now? You touched for him.

You're praying for your eyes, though you got glasses on, sitting there, lady right here on the end, with this light-looking coat on. You were sitting there praying for your eyes, wasn't you? That you might know, the lady next to you is praying for varicose veins. If that's right, raise up your hand. Lady sitting next to her, she's praying for a nervous condition she's had for some time. If that's right, raise up your hand. Do you believe?

You say, “Brother Branham, the angel had his back turned. Will he act the same way? You're looking us in the face. You might be reading our minds.” All right, I'll turn my back then. See if it's the same angel. Now, I'm not him; it's his Spirit. Now if you're looking at me, look standing here. See that light?

Now there's a woman ... see her, she's sitting ... she'd be this way behind me. She's suffering with a growth in her throat. And she's got a boy with her, and he's got sinus trouble. Her name is Miss Mitchell. Stand up, Miss Mitchell. Believe with all your heart. Lady, I do not know you. If that's right raise your hand back and forth this way. Was that what you was praying about, what He told you? All right. Receive it now. Go home and be well. Jesus Christ makes you well. Do you believe?

There's a man sitting right behind her. Be looking this way. I see it right now. He's got a back trouble too. He was operated on for back trouble. He's got sinus. That's what made him believe. He's got a sinus trouble. That's right. Mr. Bush, why don't you stand up and accept your healing too. Do you believe? If I do not know you, sir. Wave your hands back and forth, if we don't know one another. Was that what you was praying about? Wave your hands back and forth this way if it was what you was praying. All right, God bless you. Go home and receive your healing.

He's a wonderful Saviour, isn't He?

There's a man sitting up there in the balcony. He's suffering with bronchial trouble. Mr. Brown, stand up. There you are. I don't know you, do I, sir? If that's right, raise up your hands. You're healed. Jesus Christ makes you well. Sitting right over there's a lady praying for her brother with cancer. Have faith. He'll get healed if you believe it. Do you believe it with all your heart? All right, you can have it.

Heart trouble, nervous, right on the end. Arthritis sitting right behind her. Do you believe with all your heart?

Now, is He here? Do you believe He's here? It's went all over the entire building, showing you that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Now to all of you, looks like now it's....

How many know that visions just nearly kill you. Jesus said, “I perceive that virtue's gone from me.” That's Him. I don't know you. I've never seen you in my life, but it shows that that same angel, the same promise.... The next thing is destruction in this nation; not only this nation, but every nation. The end-time's here. The change is waiting for the people.

How many of you have got prayer cards? Raise up your hands. I want you in this row here to get up. Come right down here. Just start getting up, row by row. Come right down here. I'll tell you something. I want to prove something to you. I'm not the only one to pray for sick people. My brother here has just as much right as I do to pray for sick people, and I want to prove it to you. Brethren, come.... You can't come this way, sirs. You have to go out and come around the other way, over that way. With prayer cards, just with prayer cards. Go out and come around that way. Just with prayer cards now.

I want my brethren to stand here. Come here, brethren. I want you to form a line on both sides of me here. That these people might know you don't have to wait for somebody like Oral Roberts or Tommy Hicks or somebody come by, these men are ordained of God to pray for the sick. They got just as much right to pray for the sick as I have or anybody else. You can see it just now in a few minutes if these truly are seeds of Abraham.

Any in here got prayer cards now? If you have, move right out in the aisles here and go right around and form that line. Go right out through the back, move right around and form the line.

Now, if you don't profess your faith in Christ, don't come, because it'll be worse on you. “Go ye and sin no more.” What is sin? Unbelief. Transgression of the laws is right, unbelief. He that believeth not is what? Condemned already. Is that right?

This ministers? All right, yes. Where're you at, Brother Hall? This Brother Hall here has a ministry, he prays for the sick too—has nationwide services. Brother Hall. Why don't you come around here, Brother Hall?

You all form a double line here. All in this section now with prayer cards, come right out in the aisle, go right up and go 'round to the back. And you in the balcony that's got prayer cards, if there's any up there, come right down and take your place in the aisles. Right down here behind the place. You with prayer cards, come in line.

Now, if you do not believe, and you're not Abraham's seed, and not ready right now to say it's all settled, it's all over.... Now the same God that's here to perform these things....

The Bible said, “These signs shall follow them that believe.” How many believe that it is the Holy Spirit? Raise up your hands. Now you know, you could take another attitude and say it was something else, and that'll be between you and God. See. You'll never be forgiven for it. That's right. Jesus said so. But if you'll believe with all your heart....

Now, you in the prayer line, you that's in the prayer line, we can't come through discernment. We know that. Perhaps these brothers here don't have it, but they don't have to have it. You know what you've done and what's your trouble. If you've sinned, ask God to forgive you. If you do not believe, ask God to be merciful to you and make you believe.

But how many now of you people in the prayer line that's standing there, you that's got the prayer cards, standing in the line, will raise your hand to God that you have accepted Him as your healer? Raise up your hands. The rest of you, if there's some out here that's not in the prayer line that wants to accept Him as your healer, raise your hand. God bless you.

Now, the Bible said, “These signs shall follow them that believe. If they lay hands on the sick, they shall recover.” Is that what He said? Well, then, there's some kind of a Spirit here, there's some power that knows who you are, knows all about you. Isn't that right? He knows everything. If He promised to do that, He keeps that promise, He'll keep every promise.

Now, if you do not believe, remember don't come in the prayer line.

Now, brethren, I wish about half of you on one side here come down this way. That's right. Same way here. That's right. Every other one, just make a double line. That's fine. You two ministers? All right, you're helping them off the platform, somebody down there to help them off. Now, before you start the prayer line, Billy, wait just a minute. Let's pray.

Listen, friends, I want to ask you, brethren. I've got perfect confidence in you as my brethren. I know you're men of God, called of God. I'm trying to let this audience know that they don't have to wait for somebody to come by with some special gift. Gifts don't heal. Gifts only declare God. You all are ministers who know the Word, a lot better than I do. So you're gifted to do that and that's the original way—believe his Word. “He sent his word and healed them.” That's the way it's supposed to be. But then God's so good and makes such promises. If they can't believe the Word, then He shows them a sign that it's Him. That's what it's for. That's the reason I have you here.

And now just think, what if my mother was standing in that line, or what if your mother was standing in that line? What if my wife was in that line, or your wife was in that line? What if my child was standing in that line, and your child was standing in that line? Audience, what if you were my mother or my father, my brother, my sister, my wife, or child? And what if this other was yours? Now, the power of the church is to come together and pray.

Now we can pray, and then lay hands on the sick. You remember Peter went over and prayed for Dorcas in the corner, then got up from his prayer, went and laid hands on her, and she come to life after being dead. We offer prayer, and then go through the ritual of laying hands on the sick. Just like ministering baptism or anything that you brothers do—the same thing. Do you all solemnly believe that? Say “Amen.” Now let's bow our heads. Now, brethren, pray, everybody.

Our heavenly Father, this is the climax. We have preached your Word which you ordained us to do. We have seen sinners raise their hands and become Christians. We've seen lukewarm raise their hands and unite again with You in fellowship. We heard the saints crying and shouting. We seen the Holy Spirit moving among us and confirm the Word; and to prove according to the Word that I've preached that He made it do just exactly what He promised it would do.

Lord, these people want to be healed and I'm trying to tell them just as sure as You make your Word firm and confirm it, You've already healed them. They are healed. And if You keep your promises on one thing, You keep your promises on all things. Now, You cannot heal them now because they're already healed. But we got one more ritual to go through. That's to lay hands on the sick—your last commission You give to the church and this is the last meeting in this revival. We're taking the last commission: “These signs shall follow them that believe: if they lay their hands on the sick they shall recover.”

God, I pray that each of these ministers here will be so anointed with the Holy Ghost that they'll never forget this evening when these people are passing through here. They're praying, Lord, their hearts are burning. They want to do something for You. There's others out there in the audience that's not standing in the prayer line. They're praying. Let the Holy Spirit who's present and fills this building now with his presence—up in the balconies down on the floor, everywhere—He's here. Let Him come forth now, Lord, and anoint us.

And let these people be so anointed, the pastor here, no sooner than they hit the line, may they realize that they're not coming unto men, but they're coming unto God. May they walk beneath here like they were going beneath the cross, go off this platform rejoicing as seed of Abraham, being strong, giving praise to God, go down the aisles praising God and be healed.

May these brothers see their churches grow in power and strength by their testimonies, and others come in, and great things be done. Father, grant it. We commit them to You now, and ourselves that You'll anoint us, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Now to all, everybody believe. Raise your hands, “I believe. I believe, Lord, I believe.” Now if the anointing gets so great I don't get to say good-bye to you, the Lord bless you. Everybody in prayer now. We've already prayed. Now let's sing now as we do, “Only believe, only believe,” as we bow our heads, reverently praying for one another now as we lay hands on these people.

[Brother Branham and ministers pray for the sick] ... sure as everything else has left. It's your attitude approaching God, that's what it is. Oh, seed of Abraham, come believing. [Brother Branham continues to pray for the sick.] All that believe on Him now as your healer, will you accept Him now, as Abraham's seed? You will believe on the Lord Jesus with all your heart? Do you now want to accept Him for anything? Salvation, for healing, for the baptism of the Spirit, or any more, will you believe Him with all your heart? Stand up on your feet then. Stand up. As the seed of Abraham, as Christian believers, we now believe Jesus Christ.

Put your hands over on one another. Now, don't pray for yourself. Pray for that one by you,

and we brethren, we'll unite ourselves together. As one Christian unit—Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Pentecostals, Catholic, whatever you are—we unite ourselves and our efforts together before Jehovah God, our Saviour, who is present now to show Himself alive after nineteen hundred years. He's here in Richmond, Virginia, this afternoon in the form of the Holy Ghost, proving Himself alive. He now heals you, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. May every devil power be broken and every person healed to the glory of God.