THERE IS NO ELISHA!

Richard l. s. Gan

 

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the FAITH,…” – 1 Timothy 4:1

The “gates of hell” have never exerted a more powerful force than the present time in trying to prevail against THE REVELATION OF THE CHRIST. However, the devil has certainly been deceiving many people regarding the need for a thorough understanding of the complete Word of God.

I am not referring to the people of the pagan world or those of the denomination church world. To begin with, the majority of all these people are either spiritually dead or blind to the simple Truth of God. Many of the Believers of the “Endtime Message” are just as dead or blind spiritually.

There is no doubt that many followers of the “Endtime Message” do recognize the Message of the 7th Church Age Messenger of the 7th Church Age Messenger but only so far as the message tapes and 'Spoken Word' books are concerned. Only if they -- in claiming to understand -– could recognize the truth of that message, would they look beyond those tapes and books to see this very Present Day, its Ministry and its Message. Then, surely they would stop “wandering around” in that “I am in the Message” wilderness. (Do you recognize that Message of Bro. Branham?) And for those who perpetually persist in holding to the words of William Marrion Branham without any undersatnding but reciting them religiously as some sort of a Creed (that is, blindly quoting statements of William Branham without lining them up with the Word of God), which makes them part and parcel of this 'kosmos' system, shall find themselves having to go through the impending dark period of the Great Tribulation.

AFTER WILLIAM M. BRANHAM…WHO?

Since 1965, after our precious brother, the late William Marrion Branham, the Messenger to the Laodicean Church Age, was called home to glory, certain ministers in and around the “Endtime Message” have been trying to assert themselves as the only ones who have the Truth. Those ministers would take advantage of the simple faith of many of the believers and exert their charismatic influence over them, insomuch that they would subconsciously believe every word uttered by the ministers without regard for its truth scripturally.

Some of those “charismatic” ministers have been propagating that there is an “Elisha” ministry after the “Elijah” ministry. “Elijah”, of course, was none other than William Branham. And according to their revelations and their studies of typology, if there was an “Elijah”, there has got to be an “Elisha” after him. (Notice how such revelation would distort the numeric values of the Bible if the “spirit of Elijah” appears 6 times instead of 5 times.) One statement commonly quoted in support of their revelation is that spoken by Bro. Branham — that God only takes His man and never his spirit. Of course, on the pinnacle of such teaching, the propagator is obviously projecting himself as none other than the “Elisha”. He may not make a direct claim that he himself is “Elisha” but he would vomit out enough statements and hints that he possesses that “Elisha” scent.

Although not all such preachers would use the name “Elisha”, nonetheless some would not hesitate to let you know that they are some great “messenger” or great “apostle” who now bear the mantle of “Elijah”. This is true because I have personally received several letters and literature that the preachers have been using to propagate their claims as the “Elisha”. One of them from Africa wrote me stating plainly that he was the 8th Church Age Messenger. (If such a messenger is mentioned in the Book of Revelation, would we have missed him?) There is one in the U.S.A., one in Central America and another in South America who are propagating that they are “the one” now fulfilling Bro. Branham's “Tent Vision”. There is yet another in U.S.A who claims to be the “David” and the “Shepherd of the Bride” in fulfillment of some statements made by Bro. Branham. He even dare to apply the prophecy of Ezekiel 34:23 to himself. Then in New Zealand, the disciples of a certain pastor strongly believe that the mantle of “Elijah” had fallen upon their leader. Last but not least, right in the midst of one of the most populated nations in the world, India, there was one man who even dared to claim that he was “Jesus of Nazareth”, and there is yet another who claims that he is the true 7th Church Age Messenger while William Branham was the Lord Christ Branham.

“Elisha” certainly has a large following. Some of his disciples have even gone to great lengths to propagate him. It is immaterial whether these disciples have been indoctrinated or are convinced by their own “revelation”, or that they are subconsciously drawn to accept him for what he claims himself to be, the same way the Roman Catholics worship their “Holy Father” Pope. Most of them have made up their minds about their own “revelations”. And you can't change them.

Here in Malaysia and Singapore, there is a certain good sized “Endtime Message” church which follows the leadership of a minister in the U.S.A. It is not my concern whatever this minister had presented of himself to the fellowship, or whatever “charismatic” influence he had exerted upon them. He might have introduced himself as a very close pal of the late William M. Branham, or that, being one of the last persons to receive the communion cup from the hands of the late Prophet-Messenger, he was the “Elisha” or a great apostle. The spirit which motivated the leader was obviously with his disciples. Like their leader, they also went about throwing their “righteous” influence upon another church which consisted of a small group of believers who were led to the Truth by another minister. This was done just because the minister was not of their fold. What they had done to this little group was indeed abhorring. In their self-righteousness, they took away a large quantity of Christian literature from them and deceived the young believers into believing that the literature contained false teachings for no other reason than that the author of the literature was another minister. Just to lift up their own great preacher-leader, they were condemning every other minister who did not agree with their leader. They were as “Jesuit” as Jesuit priests could be. They had the irresistible impulse to “exorcise” everything that they considered to be evil in their own self-righteousness and holiness. And like the Jesuits, they have not repented of this evil deed because they feel that they had not done anything wrong. [This church is now broken up into several groups with different ideas concerning the “Endtime Message”.

LEADERSHIP

I believe in the influence that one man has over his disciples or followers. Good or bad, the influence of a leader over his followers is real. The followers tend to accept unquestioningly their leader's “better” judgment even if it sometimes proves contrary to common sense. See how they had died as they followed Jim Jones; see how they are defiled as they follow the “Moon” (Sun Myung Moon); and see how idolatrous they are as they follow the Pope. Surely one should seriously heed the Word of God. For that reason, Jesus Christ had warned about how the blind would lead the blind and both would fall into the ditch. (Read Matthew 15:14.)

This does not happen only in the worldly religious system, but also in the “Bride Movement”. It is the saddest thing that believers of the “Endtime Message” of William Branham are also ensnared in the deception of the devil. But it is not because all these people are so blind as a religious bat, they just simply refuse to see. And there is none so blind as he who would not see!

Being the believers of God's Word, what sort of leadership should we follow? Do we have the Spirit and Wisdom of Christ to discern the right kind of leadership? Do we look to men of charisma who possess great ability and gifts of God? The answer is no. Yet, we see believers following men who possess charismatic and 'sale talk' personalities; those who are gifted in singing; those who possess some spiritual gifts; and, of course, especially those who could provide some sort of regular financial assistance.

Saints, we must look beyond the man and recognize the true gift and leadership of the Almighty One in the man and follow God's leading.

Man will fail. The Holy One will not. God does not contradict His Own Written Word. All He has promised, He will fulfill. None of His Word will return unto Him void (Isa.55:11).

This is the hour that we must clearly recognize the Leadership of the Ministry which God has given to His Bride. To do this we shall study the Sacred Scriptures for any substantiation of an “Elisha” ministry which many believers claim that it exists and are following it. If an “Elisha” ministry for the Bride is established in God's Word, we shall have no difficulty in recognizing it as we do of the Message of the 7th Church Age Messenger. We have to identify and follow the truly God-given ministry and leadership which God has given for the perfection of His Bride.

A STUDY IN TYPOLOGY

We know that Bro. Branham was a type of Elijah with an “Elijah ministry”. We shall, therefore, look into the Bible to find if there is a type of an Elisha and his ministry. The natural always foreshadows the spiritual. However, 'typology' only shows the shadow of the real object. The clearer the shadow, the easier it is for us to visualize the object. When the shadow is furthest from the LIGHT, we can no longer recognize the object.

ELIJAH

We shall now compare the life of Elijah the Tishbite with the life of William Branham.

In studying the Books of the Kings, we learned that Elijah was a man of the wilderness. (Read 2 Kings 1:8.) He was poor but had no desire for money or fame. He preached openly against the apostate condition which existed in the kingdom of Israel. He rebuked the Jezebel spirit and the religious leaders who worshipped Baal. He even had a showdown with them at Mount Carmel (1 Kg.17-19,21). His prophetic ministry and miraculous works vindicated him as God's prophet and provided a witness that Jehovah was the Living and Unchanging God. Last but not least, he was a forerunner of a king (1 Kg.18:41-46; cf. Mal.4:5-6).

In real life Bro. Branham was like Elijah. He loved the wilderness. He liked hunting and enjoyed being alone with nature. Though he was poor, he did not strive for wealth or fame. Like Elijah, he hated the apostate condition which existed in the Kingdom of God, the Church. And fearlessly, he upbraided the religious leaders for their sins. The “Jezebel” spirit was very much behind the religious leaders in the Church as it was in the world. There was even a “Mount Carmel” showdown between William Branham and the educated theologians over the Word of God. But God was with Bro. Branham all the way. Bro. Branham's gift of discerning the secrets of men's hearts and a prophetic ministry of Word and miracles vindicated him as the Star-Messenger to the Laodicean Church Age. He also demonstrated the power of the Almighty God and provided a witness that the God of the Bible is the only True, Living and Unchanging God. Finally, even as John the Baptist, who had the spirit of Elijah, was sent to forerun the First Advent of Christ to save His people from their sins, Bro. Branham was sent to forerun the Second Advent of Christ, the King of kings.

ELISHA

Now let us look at Elisha and his calling. If there is an “Elisha ministry” the “Elisha” (whoever he is) must have certain similarities to Elisha and his calling in order to fulfill the type.

Elisha was a farmer. (Well, there is no difficulty for many ministers who are farmers in the big countries to claim that they are like Elisha.)) But God called him to the ministry by a direct command given to Elijah the Tishbite — “...and Elisha...shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room” (1 Kg.19:16b). “So he departed thence, and found Elisha...and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him” (1 Kg.19:19). Therefore, whoever that “Elisha” is must have had received a “direct anointing” from the 7th Church Age Messenger to replace him. Is there such a minister who had truly received a “direct anointing” from William M. Branham?

It is recorded in 2 Kings chapter 2 that when the Lord was about to take Elijah home, both Elijah and Elisha knew about it. Before that, Elisha had asked Elijah for a double portion of Elijah's spirit to be upon him.

“And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him...” – 2 Kg.2:11-13a

Therefore, the true “Elisha” minister should not only have known beforehand the impending departure of William Branham (who was a type of “Elijah”), he also should have been around to witness his departure.

However, Bro. Branham, died physically whereas Elijah was translated. It is here that the shadow of the true type ceases. There is certainly no “Elisha” ministry. “Elijah” had to be translated in order that “Elisha” could receive a double portion of his spirit or his mantle to carry on his ministry against apostasy which existed among God's chosen people. Because “Elijah” died, his ministry ceased with him and was not passed on. A totally new ministry has been provided by the Lord. (We shall see later how that 'Prophetic Spirit' which was upon William Branham that led him to do a work was passed on to “another” to continue the work.)

Elisha received a double portion of the spirit of Elijah. With that his miraculous ministry was an extensive expansion of Elijah's ministry of the same nature. Has there been a single greater ministry after Bro. Branham?

Some may say that John the Baptist did not perform any miracle. That's true, but he did not claim that he was “Elisha” who had taken over an “Elijah” ministry. The angel told his father that “he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people for the Lord” (Lk.1:17). He was called to prepare a people for the Lord, not to carry on Elijah's ministry. He was the voice of one crying in the wilderness (Isa.40:3). So, please get your typology right!

One undeniable fact that we should not overlook is that Elijah was sent to minister to God's chosen people when they were in their own homeland. They were in apostasy under the monarchical government and the corrupt religious system, but not in bondage.

MOSES

As we have seen from the Bible that there cannot be an “Elisha” type ministry to carry on the work of “Elijah”, we shall look for another type which would fit the shadow cast by the Light of God's Word. We shall examine Moses and his ministry.

From the Books of Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, we have learned that Moses was a great leader of Israel. He was a deliverer and a judge. He was sent to the children of Israel who were in bondage under the Egyptian rule in Egypt. (Read Exodus 1.)

After the children of Israel were freed from the Egyptian bondage, they were immediately given God's Word and instructions through Moses. (Read Exodus chapter 13 onwards.) And God came and tabernacled with them in a special way.

Moses was faithful in his calling and had great love for the children of Israel. He stood in the gap between them and the wrath of God when they sinned against the Lord. (Read Exodus 32.) And lastly, Moses believed that God had appointed Joshua to succeed him in leading the children of Israel into the promised land to complete their pilgrimage. (Read Numbers 27; Joshua 1.)

Like Moses, William Branham was a great leader to the children of God. He was also a judge when he indicted the church system for putting God's children in bondage. He was a deliverer when he brought the Word of God to the elect to set them free.

And after the elect had come out of the Harlot system, they received more Divine Word and instructions concerning God's True Church and His preparation of a Bride for His Son. The Spirit (the Word) is now tabernacled in the Church in a very special way as never before. As the Pillar of Fire and the Pillar of Cloud were present with the children of Israel, so were they with God's spiritual children in this generation.

Bro. Branham was faithful and had great love for God's people. Like Moses, he also stood in the gap between God and His people that they might not be judged along with those that had played the harlot. Bro. Branham also believed that the Bride would have a “revival” under the 5-Fold Ministry (Eph.4:11-16) before the Rapture. Yes, the Bride of Christ will be perfected by the Word of God through the 5-Fold Ministry. She will have her complete spiritual “rest” in the Word.

JOSHUA

“Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.” – Joshua 1:2,7

After the death of Moses, the Lord commissioned Joshua to lead the people of Israel over the Jordan and into the Promised Land. Joshua, as we know, believed Moses' words and recognized his leadership.

In brief, the 5-Fold (Ascension Gifts) Ministry is likened unto Joshua in type. The ministry recognizes Bro. Branham's words and his leadership. Just as Joshua was told to stay with Moses' words, so is the 5-Fold Ministry to stay with the revelation of the Truth that Bro. Branham had brought. And under the leading of God Joshua led the children of Israel forward to enter into their rest in the promised land (Josh.1), so is the 5-Fold Ministry leading the Bride of Christ forward into their Rest in the Promised Word.

The Scriptures reveal that for the True Church of Christ to be perfected she has to be in the Full Word. But the Church, which was born some time after Christ's ascension, began to be corrupted by false doctrines brought about by the tares that crept in among the believers. And since that time, the Church got farther and farther away from the Full Word. Therefore, the ministry of Ephesians 4:11-16 could only come to its proper fulfillment when the Church is restored to the Full Word. And for her to be restored to the Full Word, a messenger must be sent to turn the hearts of God's children back to the faith of the Apostolic Fathers just as the prophet Malachi had prophesied (Mal.4:6b).

Once the 7th Church Age Messenger had fulfilled his ministry and was called home, the 5-Fold Ministry would immediately come into operation. Therefore, Joshua was the type of the 5-Fold Ministry. He was not the type of any one single man's ministry whatsoever.

MORE COMPARISON

The 7th Church Age Messenger came at a time not only when the children of God were in religious bondage but also when the Church was in the state of apostasy. Now, whereas Moses was sent as a deliverer and a judge with a message to set God's children free from bondage, Elijah was sent as the Justice of God with a message of judgment against apostasy. The Moses Ministry with the Law and Commandments of God (which are the Word of God) pointed to sin and bondage, and the Deliverer. The Elijah Ministry, however, pointed to the One True and Living God, and His Unchangeable and Infallible Word. And Bro. Branham fulfilled both these prophetic ministries.

In Bible Typology, we must discard the blurred shadow and look for the distinct one which shows the type completely from the beginning to the end. The type of Moses and Joshua shows the true pattern and picture of the shadow more accurately than that of Elijah and Elisha. Elijah and Elisha were sent to a “church” – natural Israel – in an apostate condition; Elisha was merely an extension of Elijah's ministry. But Moses was sent to a “church” in bondage. Joshua's ministry was not the same as that of Moses', though he had the same spirit which was upon Moses. Joshua's anointed ministry was “amened” by Caleb who stood boldly with him. Caleb represented the elect in his faithfulness to the ministry. Joshua was to bring the “church” over the other side of Jordan that they might have their rest after they had obeyed Moses' message of deliverance. (Read Joshua 1:13,15.)

NAMES

The names of these prophets were identified with their ministries. The ministry of the Endtime prophet and the 5-Fold Ministry of Ephesians 4:11 do not show any continuity as a type of the ministries of Elijah and Elisha. The names, Elijah and Elisha, simply mean “God is Jehovah” and “God of supplication or riches” respectively.

The name of Moses in Hebrew is “Mosheh” which means “drawing out of the water”, that is, being rescued. The root word is “Mashah” meaning “to pull out (draw out)”. The children of Israel were being bounded by the water (the people) of Egypt in slavery to the very traditions and ways of the Egyptian leaders. Moses, who was drawn out of the water by the Pharaoh's daughter, was sent to rescue and pull them out. Bro. Branham, who was a type of Moses, did the very same thing in this Church Age.

The name of Joshua has many meanings. The common ones are “Jehovah is Salvation” or “Jehovah is Saviour”. “Safety”, “Freedom” and “Victory” are connotations of that name. Joshua's work was to lead the “pulled out” children of Israel victoriously into the Promised Land. Not only were they saved, but they also dwelt in safety and in liberty in the land which God had promised them. Joshua was the captain of the Lord's people, Israel, even as he had seen the Captain of the Lord's host (Josh.1:1-18; 5:14,15), and his leadership pointed to the leadership of the Holy Spirit of Christ Jesus in His “Ascension Gifts” ministry (Eph.4:11) in the last days. The name Joshua (Hebrew) is equivalent to the Greek name of Jesus. This is another fact which points to the leadership of Christ Jesus in His Ascension Gifts to the Church and His leading of the Church. Caleb, who believed the Word of God through Moses, represented the Bride. His name means “forcible”, “attack”, and “bold”. And these are some of the characteristics of the Bride of God as she stands upon the True Revelation of the Word of God.

CLOSE PARALLEL

Our examination of the Bible has clearly shown us that there will not be any “Elisha” or “Elisha ministry” to take over the “Elijah ministry” of Bro. William Branham. Because few ministers have ever tried to type Bro. Branham's ministry with that of Moses, many believers do not realize that there is a “Joshua ministry” to take over, and follow up on, Bro. Branham's ministry to lead the chosen children of God over the spiritual Jordan and into the Promised Word.

[One minister told me that Bro. Branham never called himself Moses but always Elijah. That is true. However, we are not saying that he was Moses but that he was a type of Moses. He was also a type of Elijah the Tishbite but he was the “Elijah” of Malachi 4:6b. So get the thought right. Another minister quoted Bro. Branham as saying that Joshua was a type of the Holy Ghost in action in the Church. It appears to me that this minister believes that the Holy Ghost is a separate Person from the Almighty God Himself. The anointing that was upon God's messenger came from the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Christ are one. God is one.]

The ministries of Moses and Joshua type the Endtime ministries. And if we examine the shadows more closely, we would be able to see a whole lot more Truth.

Both Moses and William Branham were Prophet-Messengers. They were Deliverers. They came at the evening time.

The Passover Lamb, the strength and joy of God, was provided for the redemption of the children of Israel from their bondage in Egypt. The Exodus took place at a time of darkness. (Read Exodus 12.) Christendom was also in darkness in this 20th Century. But the Revelation of God's Word, the joy of the Lord, was given to His chosen Ones. It led them out of the man-made denominational systems which hold believers in spiritual darkness. (Read Zechariah 14:6-7; Revelation 3:18-22; 18:4.)

When the Passover was instituted in Egypt that night, it was the beginning of months, the first month of the year to Israel (Ex.12:2). The Passover Lamb was taken on the tenth day and kept until the fourteenth day before it was slaughtered and eaten (Ex.12:3-11). Being the beginning of months, the fourteenth day (the second seven-day cycle) should have been a Sabbath. But it wasn't. The Sabbath (Rest) was on the following day, the fifteenth day, a new day. (Read Exodus 12:15-16; Leviticus 23:1-8.) What did this foreshadow?  The Rest, of course!

It should be clear by now that Bro. Branham's message was for the deliverance of the Bride. It was not for the perfecting of the Bride, as certain believers have claimed it was. The EXODUS was a moving out and not a rest. And it took place in the evening of the seventh day. Likewise the deliverance of the Bride came towards the close (evening time) of the Seventh Church Age. And the REST (Sabbath) is to come on the eighth and new day (not Eighth Church Age). [The Eighth Day is a New Day. It represents a New Life or the Resurrection which is the Lord Jesus Christ — the Resurrection and the Life. Christ is the Sabbath (Rest). Notice that it is a spiritual application.] It was Joshua who led the children of Israel into their “Rest” in the Promised Land (Josh.1:13-15). He was a type of the Lord Jesus Who, through His “Gifts” Ministry (Eph.4:11-16), is perfecting His Bride and giving her the REST in the PROMISED WORD. Christ Himself is the Word of God. And whoever has entered into His Word, has entered into His Rest. (Read Hebrews 4:1-11.)

As the children of Israel journeyed out of Egypt, “a mixed multitude went up also with them” (Ex.12:38). Is it not the same with the True Bride of Christ in this Endtime?

Whenever there is something sensational, it always attracts a mixed multitude of people. And a majority of these people will only believe in what they can see with their natural eyes. They will be so excited about it that they will jump and shout. But when you show them some spiritual truths about the glorious future, they will just stare blankly at you.

Of the multitude that followed Moses, except for Joshua and Caleb, all those who were twenty years old and above perished in unbelief (Num.14:29; cf. Heb.3:12-4:11). They professed that they believed in all that Moses had said. However, when the test came for them to stand up for the Word of the Lord, they spurned It, disbelieving that God would back up His Own Word. If they had truly believed Moses, they would have accepted the leadership of Joshua. But they didn't. And because they disbelieved the Word, they could not enter into the Rest.

Likewise, a majority of those who profess that they believe in the message of Bro. William M. Branham do not dare to stand up for the Word of the Lord in any showdown. Apparently, they have not really recognized the 7th Church Age Messenger for who he was, neither have they clearly understood his message. How can they possibly stand up for the Truth when they do not even recognize the Leadership of the Person of Jesus Christ who is now working through His “Ascension Gifts” ministry? Only the True Bride, like Caleb, is able to recognize her “Joshua” and enter into her Rest (in the Lord).

SOLDIERS

Because the children of Israel had been in Egypt for some 250 years, more than half of which time was spent in slavery, none of them was a real soldier. They did not even have the strength to stand up on their own two feet. And with all the miracles that God had performed before their eyes they did not even have a will to take a stand against the army of Pharaoh when it pursued them while they were on their journey to the Promised Land. For their murmurings and unbelief, they died in the wilderness. However, under the leadership of Joshua, the new generation Israelites became soldiers, men of valor and of faith. They had faith to take the Promised Land despite the many giants who stood in their way.

What does it show us?  Having been in bondage in the denominational systems, the Christians are no soldiers at all. But the message of the 7th Church Age Messenger has delivered them from the bondage. Yet the majority of them will likewise perish because they do not truly believe the message; they do not dare to take the Promised Word as instructed — “Back to the Original! Back to the Apostolic Fathers Faith!”. Only a minority will accept the leadership of “Joshua” and be real warriors. As mature warriors, they will be able to wield the “Sword” (the Word of the Lord) skillfully.

Yes, the elect will no longer be like babes sucking milk and unable to stand upright. They will be mature Christian soldiers marching steadily forward into battles. That is what the “Joshua” ministry is for: “the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:...” (Eph.4:12-15).

EXODUS

The Paschal Lamb was provided for each believing family before the exodus took place at midnight. It was partaken by every member of the family of Israel. But there was death in every unbelieving household that had not applied the token of the blood on the posts of their door. In fact, death was present throughout the whole land of Egypt. It was indeed a time of gloom. God had passed His judgment upon all the hearers in Egypt for failing to take heed to His Word, and the exodus took place that very same night.

Yes, we can look back and say, “What a time that must have been!” However, let us not forget that history tends to repeat itself. As natural Israel types spiritual Israel, we see it happening in the Church in this 20th Century.

We are living in a time of spiritual gloominess. There is darkness throughout the religious world. Nicolaity is present everywhere in every religious system. The Christians are perishing for lack of knowledge of the Truth. It's a dismay sight (cf. Zech.14:6-7). The Grace (Church) Age is coming to a close. It is now the evening time. But the Revelation of the Word of God is provided to all who would believe, and the token of His Spirit is then applied upon the believer. It's Food for the soul. The present day exodus is taking place. At the same time, death is in every “church system” as the “Christian people” reject the Word of God which was delivered to them through the 7th Church Age Messenger. Judgement has been passed after the indictment (Rev.3:14-22) — “Come out of her, my people...!” Get away from Roman Catholicism! Don't even stay with any of her daughters! Get away from denominationalism! They are all harlots! (Read Revelation 17:5; 18:4-5.)

CROSSING OVER

The land of Canaan presented no problem to all those who had turned the corner from the leadership of Moses to follow the leadership of Joshua. From the walking out of Egypt to the crossing over into Canaan, the Lord was there to strengthen them. The Ark of the Covenant was right there in their midst (Josh.3:6). Notice that the crossing over was done in the morning (Josh.3) and almost all the battles with the inhabitants of that land were also fought in the morning or in daylight. (Read Joshua 6:12,15; 7:14,16; 8:10; 10:12-13.) Again, what does this show us?

Let's read what the Scriptures say.

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” – 2 Peter 1:19

“But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.” – Malachi 4:2

Yes, we have a more sure word of prophecy — the Absoluteness of God's Written Word! This is the light that shines in darkness to lead the children of God out. We must take heed to It until the day breaks through the gloom and the Day Star shines in our hearts! And this is the Dawning of the Day — the Sabbath, the Rest in Christ the Word. It is like living in a “new day”, the “8th day”, so to speak! (We, who have got out of the denominational darkness by the Light, are not in the Evening Time when we are already out in the Light!) We are in the realm of a New Day!...the Sabbath!...the Rest! For we are no longer struggling in the fetters of spiritual bondage! The Promised Word is here! The Ark of the Covenant, the Word Promised of God, is right in our midst! Yes, God has not only prepared a table of Spiritual Manna before us in the presence of our enemies (Psm.23:5), but has also restored us to where the “old corn of the land” is — the Original Word! The very same Ark of the Covenant which led the children of Israel into Canaan (Josh.3:6), is now leading us into the Word of His Promise (Josh.5:10-12). Amen!

Christ is that Ark of the Covenant ! Let's fear Him! And He, the Sun of Righteousness, shall arise with healing in His Wings and we shall gambol as we are restored unto His Word, His Life, His Everything!

Let us, therefore, grow up as “Joshua” leads us to mature us in His Word through His “Ascension” Gifts (Eph.4:11-16). Amen!

A PROPHET-MESSENGER — AN ARMY CAPTAIN

Both Moses and William Branham were messengers of the Lord with a message to the whole world in general. Moses prophesied unto the whole world in Egypt. He upbraided the priesthood of their religious cults, and was a defender of God's children. They witnessed his two signs and his miracles. However, his message was specially to deliver the children of Israel from their bondage into God's Promised Land. The same was true of William Branham. He, too, prophesied unto the whole world via the mass media. He was a defender of the Truth for the true Church of God. He was fearless in the face of his adversaries, the educated unbelieving theologians of some 1200-odd denominational cults. Multitudes of the religious world witnessed his two signs and his miracles for which he praised the Lord. But when it came to the Message of Truth, only the elect could recognize It clearly enough to be led out of those denominational holds into the Full Promised Word of God.

Since the death of the 7th Church Age Messenger, there has not arisen a prophet like him (and like Moses) whom the Lord God knew face to face (Deut.34:10-12). A Warrior, and not a prophet-messenger, shall lead the children of God into the Promised Word. It shall be the Leadership of a strong, spiritual and wise Captain of the Lord's host — “Joshua”! He has the instructions. And through His able-bodied “gifted” 5-Fold Ministry He will line up every soldier in the Bride company according to His Word to lead them into the “Promised Land” (Judg.2:6-7).

Yes, it's “marching” time for the Bride company! (Josh.3,6,8.) The Old and New Testaments are the two silver trumpets of God which shall be blown in the Camp of Christ (Num.10:2-10). And there is no uncertain sound to those who would hear. The Voice of God through the sound of His Two Silver Trumpets is certain and distinct (1 Cor.14:8). Amen. The Scriptures contain the Word and Work details for the whole Camp to be joined fitly together and grow up, even unto the edifying of itself in love. Yes, it's time to get ourselves lined up with the Word and the Work details! (Jhn.6:28-29.) Amen!

CALEB

Not everyone in the mixed multitude that got out of “Egypt” under the “delivering order” of the 7th Church Age Messenger will line up with the Word; only the “Calebs” will. As the majority of this mixed multitudes do not have the ears to hear the Voice of the Spirit, Who directs them to the Word, they will fall on the words and the natural voice of the prophet. They are like the religious Jews who claimed Abraham as their father and yet were not able to recognize the Word of God that was given to Abraham. If they did, they would have recognized the Word in their midst. As a matter of fact, the majority are harping on about the prophet and his words (Grk: rhema) more than they do on the Lord and His Word (Grk: Logos), just like the religious Jews did about Abraham, Moses and their prophets more than the Truth? (It's a sad state but a fact that the majority are talking more about the prophet, as if he was their saviour, than they do about the Lord Jesus Christ. They are literally building an image of a man unto the Beast System.)

SHOUT — VOICE — TRUMP

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

The religious world is lost and undone. Everyone in it is dead as Satan has blinded their eyes to believe a lie that God is standing with their creeds and dogmas. But the hour is here, in these latter days, when the elect shall hear the certain sound of the resurrection being bugled. And they shall come forth to Life spiritual. Yes, God has ordained a way to attract the attention of His Endtime Bride and prepare her for her home-going.

As Christ (the Anointed Word) descended from Heaven, He gave a commanding Shout. That was the Message which He had given through the 7th Church Age Messenger. It was a “deliverance” message which had been preached to every denominational camp to wake up every spiritual virgin who was slumbering with the spiritual dead. It was a call to every member of the Bride, the true Body of Christ. “Come out of the harlot system! Come out of that unclean thing, and I'll receive you!”

Then as Christ descended further, He said (with the Voice of an Archangel) to every individual virgin, “Behold, I stand at your door, and knock: if you truly love Me and keep my Word, let Me in and we will sup together! Then shall you know that I am in the Father, the Father in Me, and I in you and you in Me! And I shall reveal unto you all that the Father has shown Me. I am the Resurrection and the Life! I am the Word of Life!”

Yes, did you hear the Voice after you have heard the Shout? It's the Voice of Joshua (Jesus — Jehovah is Salvation) telling you to line up with His Word! Yes, line up with the Word and stay on the Firing Line! Get in line with the rest of the Bride! Don't you ever deviate from that Line to either the left or the right! No creed, no dogma, no quote or whatever will ever do! Back to the original! Back to the Absolute! Back to the Faith of the Apostolic Fathers! Did He not send His forerunner to point you back to His WORD! And is He not the WORD?! If he is The Word, then there's no life outside Joshua (Jesus) Who is The Word of God Himself! Therefore LISTEN to the VOICE of the Lord!

The Shout Message did not perfect the believers. It was just a Shout calling your attention to the Voice. But the Lord Himself will perfect His Bride through His Voice ministry as she hearkens and lines up with the Word under Joshua's Gifts of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers. Amen! It's the Ministry of the hour.

Only when the Voice ministry has accomplished its work in lining up the Bride with the Word will “we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the Truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplied, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Eph.4:14-16). Then the final phase of preparation for the Bride's home-going shall come. The Capstone of Divine Love shall usher in the last Trump to fully reveal the “silence” of the 7th Seal (in which the things uttered by the voices of the 7 Thunders of Revelation 10:1-4 were sealed until that precise moment) just before the coming of Christ for the Rapture of His saints.

The voices of the 7 Thunders will unfold the final great revelation to the Bride at that time to cause a change in her body and catch her up to be with the Lord. And if you are watching and waiting but insists on staying with the message tapes and quotes of the prophet-messenger instead of the Word and Its revelation, you will not be able to recognize the voices of the 7 Thunders in the hour when they shall sound.

Saints of God, we are living in a great hour in God's calendar. This is the generation in which every elect is waiting for the change of the body to meet the Saviour in the air. And as much as we earnestly desire to be caught up in that Rapture, it will not come until every elected one is perfected by the Word, and according to the Written Word, which is the Absolute. Let us, therefore, “be established in the present truth” (2 Pet.1:12) of Christ and live by It.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

HEAR!  HEAR!  HEAR!

“Elijah” said:

“The Prophets were a portion of THE WORD, and HE was THE WORD in Its FULLNESS.”

(What is the Attraction on the Mountain.)

“When JESUS came, HE was THE WORD IN ITS FULLNESS, because the whole plan of Redemption lay in Him. The whole plan of redemption did not lay in Moses, nor in Joseph, nor in Elijah. THEY WERE ONLY PART OF THE WORD, pointing to IT. Now keep your thought; here it comes: THE WHOLE PLAN WASN'T IN THEM, THEY WERE ONLY POINTING TO IT. Therefore after JESUS, THE FULLNESS, We CANNOT POINT TO something else, for it points back to Him, The WORD. THIS IS THE COMPLETE REVELATION. Nothing can be added or taken away from IT.”

(Unveiling of God.)

“This is the last time, because I'm leaving the country. THERE'LL NEVER BE ANOTHER ON THE FIELD WHEN I'M GONE,” Thus Saith The Lord. There has not been and will not be.”

(Uncertain Sound.)

“Our Joshua...is the HOLY SPIRIT. Joshua means Jesus Saviour. Joshua meaning THE HOLY SPIRIT REPRESENTING IT IN THE SPIRITUAL AS IT WAS IN THE NATURAL. That He is Our Great Warrior He's our Leader. As God was with Joshua, so is He in the Holy Spirit moving us about. And when sin comes in the camp, the Holy Spirit demands a halt.”

(Ephesians Parallels Joshua.)

! ! ! ! ! ! !

The LORD JESUS CHRIST said:

Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.

Ministers, check yourselves:
Are you a modern day “snake-in-the-grass”?

BEWARE!

The APOSTLE PAUL said:

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanks- giving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.