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from Babylon to Babylon
“And
he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and
some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting (Eph.4:11-12)
Whereas the ministry of Malachi 4 called people out of the Babylonian confusion, the ministry of Ephesians 4 takes her into the promised land of the Word of God. It has been a long awaited desire of believers to see the completion of this work which will culminate into the unity of the true Church of Christ. However, human carnality has always been present to try to help God fulfil His seemingly delaying promises and thereby cause confusion - Abraham went in with Hagar when the promise of Isaac ‘delayed’; King Saul took it upon himself to offer the burn offering when the prophet Samuel seemed to be ‘late’ for the ceremony, and today in the Endtime Message, men of all sort have risen each claiming (directly or through innuendos) to be a special vessel God will use to bring about Unity when all believers recognise him to be the light-bearer which has succeeded the ministry of William Branham. Most believers do not discern the insincerity of such men but often get carried away by their charismatic and oratorical influence.
Unity in the true Church of Christ, no matter how it may
seem to delay, can only come God’s way and not the Babylon way:
The ancient city of Babylon was founded by Nimrod the Great, known to
have been the first human to be revered as God. It so happened in the
process of time that people said,
“Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose
top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be
scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth”
(Gen.11:4). The basic motive for building this tower of
unity was for the people to make themselves a name. But God
confounded their language so that they could not understand each other.
Confusion halted the building work and hence the name Babylon, meaning
‘Confusion’. Even so, Prophetic Studies have revealed that the spirit of
Babylon still lives as “MYSTERY, BABYLON the Great, the mother of
harlots and abominations of the earth” (Rev.17:5) – this is the one
church today whose leader is also revered as God; “The pope is of so
great dignity, and so exalted, that he is not a mere man, but as it were
God, and the VICAR OF GOD. The pope is as it were, God on earth, chief
king of kings, having plenitude of power” (Catholic Dictionary
[Lucias Ferraris, Prompta Bibliotheca Canonica Juridicia Moralis
Theologica, Vol.VI, Read Pages 25-29,438,422]).Much as this claim sounds
too bizarre to be Biblical, it is actually based on scriptures -
overstretched and twisted in order to satisfy man’s ego for recognition
and power.
The origin of this Catholic fallacy is in a doctrine that holds that The Church Universal can only be in unity when all Christians submit to an infallible head who should be revered as the visible representative of the invisible Jesus Christ. This idea came up when the Roman Church used to experience disagreements on important matters of doctrine. This confusion led to the Council of Nicaea (and other ecumenical councils which followed) at which “the idea of an infallible episcopate giving authoritative and permanent utterance to apostolic and therefore divine truth, found clear expression, and has been handed down as a part of the faith of the Catholic Church” (ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA, 1962, Pg.679), and, I should add, also as part of the faith of a people that were supposedly delivered from this corrupt system through the revelation of the Seven Seals which unmasked the nicolaitine spirit behind the doctrine! Notice; “meanwhile the Roman episcopate developed into the papacy, which claimed supremacy over the entire Christian Church” (ibid). This move was further given strength by a renowned and influential man, Augustine, through a famous writing he published. And “upon this doctrine was built, not by Augustine himself but by others who came after him, the structure of the papacy, the bishop of Rome being finally recognised as the head under Christ…and so the supreme organ of divine authority on earth”(ibid).
With time, there arose a devout and pious Catholic who sought to achieve Catholic Unity even by means of force against those who could not agree with certain traditions of The church – ‘heretics’ or ‘infidels’, as they were commonly known. The man was Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit Order in 1540. According to this order, Unity “can be assured only through an effective submission to Christ's vicar” and “The Jesuit must see in his superior not a fallible man, but Christ Himself” (JESUIT ROUQUETTE [The Secret History of Jesuits, pg.25-26]).The irony for having Christ’s vicar, as afore mentioned, is to have a visible head (or representative) of the invisible Christ.
Is it not surprising that Endtime Message believers,
despite having been warned of the nicolaitine influence of
Mystery Babylon and her daughters, have also come under the spell of the
same spirit as more men rise in the movement each desiring recognition
and attention as the ONLY ONE to whom all other believers should
hearken. The title of “pope” may not be the one used (no more than the
pope would use “antichrist” for his designation), but the title has
surely manifested in different guises of Elisha, Chief Apostle,
Son of Man, and more recently, Lead Apostle. There is one
in Latin America who claims to be the successor of William Branham’s
ministry and will take the gospel to the Jews in fulfilment of
Revelation 11. Another one, an Indian, was so great and had
unprecedented supernatural signs and miracles that created such a
world-wide following. The man ended up believing he was the Christ. He
died and is no more. Germany also produced one and is believed to be the
true one succeeding William Branham, having received an audible
voice commission from God. The list would be endless to describe all the
‘Messengers’ in the Endtime Message movement who each claim to
be the true successor of the Elijah Ministry. But a little space should
suffice here to look at a new case on the scene. His teachings and
claims are quite unique and too egoistic.
The man, Amos Omoboriowo, believes that unity in the Bride of Christ can only materialise when people recognise one man as the standard bearer. This is what he stated in his book WHEN GOD LIFTS UP A STANDARD; “headship comes before unity. That is why you cannot even talk of true unity, if we do not understand headship…The fivefold ministry cannot speak with one indivisible voice unless and until they recognize and totally accept revelatory headship…They must see the one bearing Scriptural revelatory authority! True unity starts here! It takes away arguments! They all recognize and accept the authority of Jesus Christ invested in the leader…I would have to ask: How are we to be rallied together if we have no particular head?” [Pgs.13-14].
Amos went further to claim that he had an “infallible revelation” concerning Raymond Jackson being the one that was to come after William Branham and published this in another book titled, HE THAT IS TO COME. He further declared: “Jesus Christ was the complete embodiment of the fivefold ministry, for all these ministries were in him… This is the office that characterizes and exemplifies the revelatory headship of Jesus Christ. This is the ministry Brother Branham introduced! He introduced Christ in his apostolic body ministry, thereby forerunning Christ in his mystical second coming, not his physical. ...IT IS CHRIST IN HIS APOSTLE!! YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE CHIEF APOSTLE!!! ...Yes sir! His name is Raymond Jackson! Glory to God! And on the full authority of the scriptures, I can infallibly say, ‘Greater than Solomon is here’ today.” (HE THAT IS TO COME, pgs.88-89) This is a blunder of major proportions! Was he alluding that Jackson was Jesus Christ Himself? However, in all this, the grim delusion of Amos became quite explicit when he predicted (with confirmations of dreams) that Jackson will not die but live to the rapture: “I am aware there are people wishing Bro. Jackson were dead. I am aware there are those, supposedly following his ministry, who have been prophesying his death, for them to take over. So they wish! Let me tell you now: The sent one; He that is to come, is here till the rapture. This is one ministry you would have to contend with till the rapture. We shall see” [ibid, pg.99, see also page 59].
All concerned and sincere believers who read his books, became worried about the issue and its development. It became clear that it was a matter of time Jackson’s ministry would come into a terrible shame, since he had specially stood for many years to present the correct picture of what William Branham’s ministry was all about. Despite all the fanaticism that flourished in the End Time Message movement, Jackson was one man that stood sober and detached from cultic behaviour. Raymond Jackson died in December of 2004 and the ministers of Faith Assembly Church, being aware of the impending embarrassment by Amos’ book (seeing that they are the ones who projected him to the world, as stated in their letter) called on Amos to retract the book. Here is an excerpt of their letter to Amos: ----------
December 29, 2004
In Christian love.....Bro. James Allen & Bro. Bud Thompson -----------
This apparently was a letter out of brotherly love and
sincerity. Anyone may expect that Amos would have unreservedly retracted
his book, looking at its conspicuous errors and blunders. But against
all odds he gave a rebuttal in which he stated: “I say this with
respect, and in love, because I expect that you would be the ones to
watch my back, having stood together for truth, and fed under the
same ministry of the Chief Apostle to this age, Bro. Jackson”.
However, it turned out Amos knew actually what to say, and Pastor James
Allen and Bud Thompson were simply throwing mud at Amos, mud which they
were a part of. You may agree more after reading a four-part series
Contender titled THE BODY OF CHRIST in which Raymond Jackson
preached what he believed about Unity. Let us look at the facts.
Following the death of Raymond Jackson, different factions have emerged; among these factions some still maintain Jackson was that “HE THAT IS TO COME”, others believe Amos Omoboriowo is the successor and current chief. There is one other faction, which in an effort to save face due to the damage done by the ‘Chief Apostle’ fallacy and Amosite doctrines have caused, teach that Jackson never said he was the Chief Apostle. The inconvenient truth is, Amos' doctrines find their roots in the following statements of Raymond Jackson. Read, examine (especially the text I have highlighted in bold) and compare with the earlier quoted statements of Amos, and draw your conclusions.
Quotes from the contender:
“I say these things to help us see this one thing, that on the face of this earth, unity will be brought about by a key spokesman. Oh you just want to make yourself somebody special. You who say that, are the kind of people I have been pointing out. That is the first thing some people think, You just want to be something special.” (THE BODY OF CHRIST, Part 2, May 2007)
“If there is ever going to be unity among the true bride saints, there has got to be the voice of one man, who all the other men will get in line with. I realise that sounds odd to some people, because they have thought, well that is not the way I thought it was going to be…Brothers and sisters: I say to you this morning, It is not a case of big I and little you, because God positions whom He will, to take the lead in holding true to His Word.” (THE BODY OF CHRIST, Part 3, July 2007)
“I have done my best to uplift this truth, to give
people a chance to hear the real truth, instead of what others are
presenting as truth. I believe God has honoured what I have done. I
am thankful for it and I believe the hour has come that there is going
to be unity among God’s true Bride people.”
“If God calls somebody to be a spokesman, like He did Peter on the day of Pentecost, then there will come a time in the plan of God, when whoever that person is, the opportunity will be laid open, and God will require that person to speak according to His leading…I am thankful for what God has put in my heart to preach. I am willing to base my life on it. Therefore, no matter whether it is Richard Gan or anyone else around this world, I have seen the things they have preached and put in print; and none of them present a clear picture.” (THE BODY OF CHRIST, Part 3, July 2007)
“The time has come when there has got to be unity among the true Church…We cannot set together and have some say, Well, I see most of everything, but there are little points here and there that I do not agree with. I have heard many people say, I don’t think we have to see eye to eye on everything. You know saints, when people talk like that, they do not know their Bible.” (THE BODY OF CHRIST, Part 3, July 2007)
“In the book of Acts, it [unity] started with the head, and it was Peter, to whom Jesus gave the keys to the kingdom of heaven; and on that certain day of Pentecost he used those keys. Notice Matthew 16:19, ‘And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven’. Did he not use those keys when the multitude questioned the unusual event of all those who were filled with the Holy Spirit came into the streets speaking in tongues? When you read several chapters, it was all built around Peter. Was it not? You see other men coming into the picture, but for a long course, Peter was the main and outstanding spokesman. I do not say that to glorify the flesh of the man, but common sense is common sense.” (THE BODY OF CHRIST, Part 4, August 2007)
“We have to realize, that in the Ephesian letter it says, Christ is the head of the Church: and He is the savior of the body. Does it not say that? In what way then, is He the head of a tangible nucleus of people like this? Can we see that head somewhere? How do we have to understand that part about the head? Where does it make itself visible? There is only one way it can make itself visible and that is through the beginning of a ministry… My point is this, When there comes a time that that invisible head which we cannot see, knows it is time for the body collectively, (still down here) to start clicking and coming together, then we have to expect that the invisible head is going to start making Himself known through the substance that will be the visible head.” (THE BODY OF CHRIST, Part 4, August 2007)
Letter to Richard Gan:
The following words about Christian Unity are in a letter of Raymond Jackson he wrote to Richard Gan. This letter was written as a result of a disagreement the former had with the latter concerning who was the last pure adamic seed (Enoch or Noah?):
Christian greetings to you in the great and wonderful name of Jesus Christ our Lord. I pray that all is well with you and your family and all the saints there in Singapore…
Bro.Gan some of the things that you have taught and explained that have created these differences among some brethren I had already put to print before you ever came into contact with me. However, as of now you seem to be very sure that you are right on these points that we disagree on. All of this has brought us to a point in time. One of us has to be wrong on some of these things or else we both are wrong on a lot of things. But it is impossible for us both to be right and walking with God. In Isaiah 52:8, it says the watchmen shall lift up the voice with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Mount Zion. Bro.Gan you know that this is a prophecy to be fulfilled in our day, and if you and I are going to be some of these watchmen then it means that we have to learn how to be in tune or harmony one with another.
Bro.Gan I have done committed myself to God in this matter, there is a key to all of this if men that are to be a part of it will be willing to learn. I have done closed my pulpit to any man that is not in agreement with me. Now you can say, well Bro. Jackson that is the spirit of organisation and I will have to say then my bro you go right on and do what you think you need to do, I will not build where you build. So, in closing I think that unless you can begin to see what I am looking at it would be better that you spend your money going elsewhere. But if you are ready to see eye to eye with me then come ahead there is room at the cross for both of us and room for you at Faith Assembly. God bless you is my sincere prayer.
Christian Love Bro. Raymond M. Jackson --------------
Jackson’s words about the controversial book, HE THAT IS TO COME.
Jackson said these words during a convention at Faith Assembly on 24th April, 2004.
Quote:
“I want to speak just this moment on behalf of Brother Amos. I never expected anybody in this world to ever rise up, and write any report about me, or anything. I never looked for it. But after he had come here, I don’t know, a few times, he goes back home. He writes his first book; he sent me a copy: I appreciated it. Then he comes here, he goes back, and writes another one. I’ll say this, Bro. Amos, the world might look at you as nothing, but there is a people around this world, that’s going to see this book [HE THAT IS TO COME], not because its about me, its about him.”
Testimony of the Editor of The Contender
In The Contender, WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES SAY [October, 2003] there is a heading that reads “Paul – the Chief Apostle” to the Gentiles. In this edition is a testimony of the editor in which he testified of his belief in Jackson being the Chief Apostle.
Quote:
“My wife and I want the world to know, that it did not take us very long to know in our hearts that Bro. Jackson has an apostolic ministry. At first we just looked at him as one of many apostles in the Bride Church, but as the years passed; and as we witnessed how God always enabled him to correct error, we became convinced that God had called him to be more than just one of a number: He holds the line on truth, like a chief apostle would be responsible to do. He has stood and held for a true revelation against many of those he had much respect for in prior years.”
I believe Raymond Jackson was a prominent apostle whose ministry was outstanding and reached out to many people. He lived to fulfil his ministry until he went to be with the Lord in December 2004. But it is my observation that with time people began to exalt him above measure. Through carnality, it seems the designation of apostle was no longer enough; a new term - Chief Apostle - had to be coined. It could be that Jackson at first never believed in this nicolaitine influence. This could explain why in his earlier messages he never presented a ONE-MAN MINISTRY version of Unity. But with time, his messages took a turn with much emphasis on the need for all ministries to align themselves under ONE MAN – the Chief Apostle. I believe it is this doctrine that has caused all the trouble and divisions in the Jackson movement.
Besides the editor of The Contender, other prominent and close associates of Jackson firmly proclaimed and still proclaim him as the Chief Apostle. In the Contender series titled THE SEALS, a caption of tribute for the late Raymond Jackson stated ‘THE STAR APOSTLE TO THE LAODICEAN CHURCH AGE’; whatever that means, only Faith Assembly knows.
To those who try to save face from the damage the “ONE-MAN” fallacy caused, by mudslinging Amos Omoboriowo, it is not a sincere thing to do; the above facts ring out loud and clear that one can never attack Amos’ doctrine of a One Man Ministry or Chief Apostleship without attacking Raymond Jackson’s. Amos is simply proclaiming out loud and in clear terms what Jackson inferred in his sermons. Moreover, it is too weak an argument to state that Jackson never stated it himself that he was the Chief Apostle; otherwise one might as well stop denouncing the pope as an antichrist as he has never said that he is one. This fact may sound unpalatable to anti-Amosites, but it is still the reality on the ground.
Dearly beloved, it is important to note that the main
underlying concept behind the message of Unity, as presented by brothers
Jackson and Amos Omoboriowo, is that once the principal one-man is
identified and all believers rally behind him, all arguments will cease.
However, this theory has proved faulty because after Jackson’s death,
new doctrines and claims have emerged that have led to many factions in
the Jackson movement, with some people calling each other very
unpleasant names. One would ask, what happened to the tower of unity
they were trying to erect? Didn’t they identify the ‘head’, the
‘principal spokesperson’ – Raymond Jackson? Could they not learn from
the Branhamites who pursued the same agenda of erecting a tower with the
name Branham at the pinnacle but the movement today spells nothing but
Babylon (‘confusion’)? (However, in the case of Bro. Branham, he was
wise and humble enough to openly condemn and denounce the spirit).
Followers of Bro. Jackson had started well and laboured for many years,
but it took few years to destroy the work as their agenda changed along
the way (unwittingly I suppose) from building the tower of the Lord to a
tower with a man’s name on it. The tower is now in a state of confusion
as many of them now speak different languages of doctrine. The shout
sounded; they took heed to the command to come out, but alas,
only to turn around and end up in another Babylon (‘confusion’).Let us
heed James’ admonition -
where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every
evil thing are there.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality
and hypocrisy”
(James 3:1-2,13-17, NKJV).
The deceit in Lucifer’s heart was not sudden but began with a thought process; he contemplated to himself:
I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (Isa.14:12-13)
Let us beware of the temptation of the above five I ’s:
The first “I” stimulates a desire to go beyond the position or capacity God has given you. Like Lucifer who was given the earth for his habitation but began to harbour ambitions to also rule in the heavens, this desire will often lead a person into doing things that God has never called him to, and through pride will begin to motivate him to seek other places besides the God-given abode. Paul admonishes –“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith: For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” (Rom.12:3-5, cf. Jude 6). The second “I” makes one to see himself as being more prominent, more special and more important than other “stars” (‘servants’ or ‘children’) of God: Lucifer, began to see himself as a more superior “star” than other “stars” (angels) of God. It is such self-perception that often lead men to begin to seek for more imposing (and even non scriptural) titles of archbishop, chief apostle or pope. The simple scriptural titles seem to no longer impress enough as a person begins to look for titles, roles or even clothing that distinguishes him from the rest of other children of God. What William Branham said concerning this, a nicolaitine spirit, can never be plainer: “Men wanted pre-eminence, so they took over control, and bishops became archbishops, and with imposing titles they by-passed the Word of God and taught their own doctrines” (CHURCH AGES, Pg.94). Dearly beloved in Christ, as children of God, we should never entertain ambitious thoughts of being more special than other servants of God, but instead always endeavour to “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” (Phil.2:3-4).Whatever we are in the kingdom of God is never a product of our hard work, intelligence or our own righteousness (which is as filthy rags) but the grace of God. The third “I” takes over when the thought of being more important than others matures into a craving for action. Action often manifests through talk, preaching or behaviour that presents a person as being more superior. This may wittingly or unwittingly be done to draw attention and recognition in a congregation of saints. Little by little, a person continues to climb higher and higher the pedestal (“mountain”) of recognition, and thus catching the attention of the “congregation” of saints. At this point, much of a person’s messages, testimonies or preaching egg on why people should listen to him and accept him as a special one sent by God; very little time is spent on feeding the flock of God with the bread of the Word as testimonies seem to take more priority. On a pedestal a person’s mission is to create and draw disciples after himself; it is important, however, to note that there is often a guise of humility in proud men that often portrays itself through seemingly humble sentiments such as “I have never claimed that” or “it is people saying it that way”. Truth be said; if followers of a man put him on a pedestal and present him as the superior one, and yet when the man is asked of how he ended up there, he reluctantly claims that it’s the people doing it and not himself, but yet can not come out EXPLICITLY to denounce the propagated false beliefs, then he believes what the people proclaim him to be. The man is simply not sincere! A sincere servant of God will never be ‘economical’ with words when denouncing poisonous beliefs especially those supposedly being propagated in his name. When people called John the Baptist “Christ”, he gave a categorical (absolute and explicit) “NO!”; when the men of Lystra saw Paul perform a miracle, they raised their voices and proclaimed, “The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men” (Acts 14:9-15). But Paul (and Barnabas) “rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein” (Acts 14:14-15). And likewise, William Branham, that humble servant of God almost quit the ministry as he wept on the pulpit in condemning the spirit that began to influence some people to start worshiping him. As Owen Jorgensen has correctly accounted; “This incident upset him so much that he trembled for days. He kept thinking how tragic it would be if, after spending all of his adult life working for the honour and glory of Jesus Christ, he ended up being remembered as antichrist. He couldn’t stand the thought of such a horrible possibility…for a week he trembled nervously and cried in such agony of spirit that he wondered if he was losing his mind” (THE SUPERNATURAL, Book VI, Pg.27). He openly and in no uncertain terms condemned the wrong spirit that was motivating people to lift him above measure. These were words of Bro. William Branham in a message titled REVELATION CHAPTER FIVE:
It was this sincerity and humbleness in William Branham that makes many of his supposed to be successors fall short of their claims. They can never even make a quarter of his sincerity and integrity in upholding and glorifying The Word of God. Many of them are out there to glorify themselves.
With regards to the third “I” let us pay attention to this admonishment - “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:29-30). Despite this warning, when a man manages to climb onto the “mount of the congregation”, there will always certainly be people with itching and undiscerning ears that will fall for the scratching euphoria. The fourth “I” leads a man into more accomplishments and exploits inspired by pride and gives rise to an empire of devout followers. Among these followers are those who are moderate, some pious and others fanatics. With this much support, a person becomes visionary, more ambitious and accomplishes more. Like the “ram” in Daniel’s vision a person under this egoistic spell pushes westward, northward, and southward so that no one should challenge him (Daniel 8:4). With this zeal he presents himself as the ultimate and absolute; anyone outside the circles of his beliefs becomes a heretic and an outcast. But alas “through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper…and exalt himself in his heart” (Dan.8:25, NKJV). At this stage testimonies (of dreams, visions, inspiration, miracles, pillar of fire and financial offerings to support the prominent man) seem to suggest a vindication of the ministry. This encourages the person to press on and, as an eagle, sour and ascend higher into the clouds. This is clearly not only the most dangerous state but the most deceptive as all a person can see around him are “clouds” of glory and “winds” of praises from devout and pious followers. The “winds” of charismaticism and euphoria that come with such ministries can be so convincing to simple minds as their clouds come with a lot of promise of rain of this dream and that prophecy. But at the end of it all disappointment strikes as no rain pours out. The faith of many shatters as confusion reigns and winds disperse, and the wise look on and recall that “whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain” (Prov.25:14). But, no matter how this always repeats itself through time, carnal man is always too stupid to learn. Having flown up so high into the clouds of man-made glory, a person completely loses touch with reality on the ground! More bold and bizarre revelations flourish from his mouth, but, behold – “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov.14:12, Isa.2:11-12).This fourth “I” is often a prelude to the worst and most destructive form of pride… The fifth “I” - “I will be like the Most High God”. This is the ultimate form of deception that overtakes a person as he begins to see himself as infallible, divine or even Christ. One does not have to speak out that he is infallible or divine; his actions does the speaking (especially when either he is confronted or when a different view of something threatens his view and followers of that view). This form of pride spells “STRONG DELUSION”. Nine times out of ten, trying to admonish a person in this state is often a futile attempt. This fifth manifestation of pride puts on miscellaneous guises and titles – chief apostle, Joshua, eighth messenger, son of man, etcetera. But whatever form it manifests, it ultimately gives man the place which is suppose to be God’s. These five I’s got a hold of Lucifer, and the once holy cherub fell for ambition. If an angel who walked and stood in the presence of God could be so deceived, how much more then for mortal creatures like you and I? And what more, some angels decided, not only to believe and take sides with Lucifer but, to rage war against the other obedient angels, whom they once used to fellowship with - “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven” (Rev.12:7-8)? Just the thought of this makes me shudder and ask God to help me be humble. The question is: why and how could a third of angels fall for Lucifer’s deception? And the simple answer is: Lucifer appeared too sacred and perhaps too humble to be deceived; He was a worshiper of God and by his usual worship and glorifying God he always looked humble and sincere before God. But He “which searcheth the reins and hearts” discerned what some angels could not see with their eyes.
After
his fall from heaven, Satan has continued to persuade man into pride.
Every child of God should be warned and know that deception knows no
boundaries and as long as one is careless about it, he shall fall prey
to it!
The opposites of Lucifer’s five I’s make prerequisites for true unity:
Firstly, true unity can only be built around the Name of the Lord God and not of a man. It can never come the Babylon way! This was the objective of the building of the tower of Babylon: “ Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth” (Gen.11:4). Remember Lucifer’s ambition was also to ascend into heaven and make a name for himself (Isa.14:12). This Babylonian concept of unity wound up in confusion as “the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.” (v.8).
True spiritual unity can never come through a people or movement who are out there to promote a man’s name. Such movements often begin with revivals and euphoria but which always end in confusion. If you are in a church or movement that proclaims a man, be informed that you have no true security as that tower will definitely fall and wind up in confusion, regardless of how presently it may experience some euphoria. The wise know that ONLY “the name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Prov.18:10). Secondly, true unity will only manifest as people become sincere with themselves and never think of themselves more than what they are. Whatever light flows through them is God-given and the same in other “stars” of God – “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Rom.12:3). Take note of any fellowship with this attitude and you will see a people with true unity. Thirdly, true unity does not come by seeing through the eyes of a certain one man on a pedestal in the congregation of the saints (no matter how extra-gifted that individual may be). The truth is, in the congregation of saints, the Lord God rules through the absolute authority of His Word. Unity will come about as all saints submit unto and look through the eyes of the Lord – “Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion” (Isa.52:8); “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day” (Isa.2:11). When a question arises on something, it is not prudent to sieve through teachings of one man through another man’s teaching. That would amount to doing things in the name or eyes of that man. Instead, everything must be scrutinised in the light of the Holy Word of God, for even God himself has magnified His Word above his own name (Psalm 138:2), and, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim.3:16). Fourthly, all that one or a congregation of believers desire to do or achieve should be done in a spirit of humility and awareness of the will of God being the absolute (cf. James 4:13-17), and nothing should be done for the glory of his/their name but of the Lord. Every child of God should ask himself: what is the motive behind this work am doing – is it to make a name, money or fame? Doing the work of God with wrong motives is gathering up false clouds (not God-given). Those clouds will surely look glorious but are false and will scatter when winds blow. But true clouds of God abide and come with a true promise of rain. Lastly, true unity will come when each one of us realise that we are only flesh and blood and are bound to make mistakes and offend other people. No one is divine and the absolute. God’s Word is. The moment a person feels divine and become an absolute to himself he never receives correction and fails to live in harmony with other children of God. It is for this reason that apostle James admonished the saints to “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed” (James 5:16). But where each person feels he can never err, and despises others unity becomes impossibility!
Examine the following statements Bro. Branham made and answer this question: who was Bro. Branham referring to each time he stated that someone will come after him?
“But let me say this, that there will come a Message, and there will come a messenger. I believe that if it’s to be man it’ll be somebody after me…But this message that I’m preaching is the true message of this day, and it’s the last Message.” (COD Part 2, Pg.573, Para.391).
“It may be the hour now, that this great person that we’re expecting to rise on the scene may rise on the scene. May be this ministry that I have tried to take people back to the Word has laid a foundation; and if it has, I’ll be leaving you for good. There won’t be two of us here at the same time. See? If it is, he will increase, I'll decrease. I don't know.” (THE REVELATION OF SEVEN SEALS, pg.567).
“And now, in this time, whatever the Lord has. . . If this isn’t the thing that He prophesied of, of Malachi 4 and also of Luke 17, and many other Scriptures that’s to happen in this last day--may I say this in closing--it’s laid the foundation for the man when he will come. So, I am very thankful that God Almighty, if it be that way, has let me do a little something in my uneducated condition to show my appreciation of His love to me, my love to Him, and our love to the people.” (MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE, 1965, Pg.8, Para.49).
“But under modern conditions, as God’s servant—I won’t call myself His prophet, but I believe that if I wouldn’t be sent for that, I’m laying a ground for him when he does come.” (MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE, 1965 ,Pg 45, Para.314)
If your answer is a name of any person other than William Branham himself then I would ask, DO YOU HAVE EARS TO REALLY HEAR? Here is wisdom: “He that is to come” was none other than William Branham himself, and the successor to his ministry is the five-fold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Among these ministries, others are more prominent than others and some have greater portions of responsibilities. Due respect must be given to ministers of the Word even as they should respect each other, even esteeming others better than themselves (Phil.2:3). Humility should govern the work of ministry as everyone should be aware that there is ONLY one head and ONLY one “Chief Apostle”. Who is he? The scriptures speak plainly: “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Pet.5:4). “which is the head, even Christ : from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Eph.4:11-16).
The Chief and Head of all
ministries is the Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN. * * * * * * * |