JUDGMENT IS SET AND THE BOOKS ARE OPENED - 1

          Bro. Charles Holmes

          10-22-86

Let us bow our heads.   Blessed Lord, we are so thankful for another privilege to come together with these people, Lord, around the Word of God again, to be in the presence, Lord, of the revealed Word.   We know, Lord, that You have set forth a table before us.   Even in the presence of our enemies, we're able to eat of the manna that they know nothing of.

We're so thankful, Lord, that You have made it possible in this day that we could have this privilege to know where we stand, to see the great things, Lord, that are unfolding.   Knowing, Father, that many of the prophets of old would love to have looked into those things.   But somehow You have reserved it to this day and reserved a people, Lord, to manifest it.   I trust, Father, that You would grant to us now that there might be a total surrender of all things, Lord, that we might claim to be our own.   Let us hold nothing, Lord, except You before the people.

I pray, Lord, that You would be with everyone tonight out across the land.   Those across the world, Lord, tonight over in India, Lord Jesus, we pray that You will be with those precious people. Lord, wherever the people are that desires to hear the Word, I pray that You would make a way for It to get there.   Grant it now, Lord.

And take the few words, Lord, tonight that You would like to speak, speak them in the way, Father, that the people could under­ stand.   Lord, I pray that the understanding would be opened up. May we not speak in riddles, Lord; but may somehow the people under­ stand, Father.   I guess the one problem we have is the rambling around so many times.   I know, Lord, that You can direct the thoughts right to their hearts.   Grant it, Father, and we'll give You the praise.   We ask it in Jesus' Name, the Son of Man.   Amen.   (You may be seated.)

I'd like for you to turn with us tonight to Daniel, Chapter 7, Verse 9.

I BEHELD TILL THE THRONES WERE CAST DOWN, AND THE ANCIENT OF DAYS DID SIT, WHOSE GARMENT WAS WHITE AS SNOW, AND THE HAIR OF HIS HEAD LIKE THE PURE WOOL: HIS THRONE WAS LIKE THE FIERY FLAME, AND HIS WHEELS AS BURNING FIRE.

A FIERY STREAM ISSUED AND CAME FORTH FROM BEFORE HIM: THOUSAND THOUSANDS MINISTERED UNTO HIM, AND TEN THOUSAND TIMES TEN THOUSAND STOOD BEFORE HIM: THE JUDGMENT WAS SET, AND THE BOOKS WERE OPENED.

That's 9 and 10. I think that's enough. "The judgment was set and the books were opened." Now tonight I've got some quotes that I want to look at. But for a little topic, a little message title

tonight, "Judgment is Set and the Books (plural) Are Opened." "Judgment is   Set and the Books Opened."   You say, "But Brother Holmes, that was way back over there in Daniel."   That's right. Daniel wrote the first revelation.

On Page 132 of the red book, this is "The First Seal."   Now just because I said that I wasn't continuing the thought or the same title, that doesn't mean that this message tonight is not so important. Sometimes people think, "Well, maybe we can just relax now."   But they are all important, all of them, because something is said on one that's not said on another, and so forth, that might give you a key to use for another message.   So we don't want to ignore any of it.   Down below the middle of the page slightly, I want to read and you'll pick it up.

"SEE, IT ISN'T GOD, AS WE THINK, JUST GOING TO HUNT HIM OUT A FEW THOUSAND PEOPLE OF THIS AGE AND TAKE THEM. IT'S THE VERY ELECTED OUT OF EVERY AGE!..."

Now in the beginning of the lesson tonight, I want to place emphasis on that statement. "It's the very Elected of every age." That's what we don't want to forget.   The very Elected of every age.

"...AND THAT'S THE REASON CHRIST HAS TO STAY ON THE MEDIATORIAL SEAT BACK THERE AS AN INTERCESSOR UNTIL THAT LAST ONE COMES IN AT THE LAST AGE.   (See?)   AND THESE REVELATIONS THEN OF WHAT IT HAS BEEN BREAKS FORTH UPON THE PEOPLE, AND THEY SEE WHAT'S HAPPENED. DO YOU GET IT NOW?"

In other words, he said at the end of the age when it's all over and the mediatorial and intercessory work is finished, then the revelation breaks forth of what it has been, see, back there in the previous ages. Alright now, the last paragraph on that page.

"DANIEL SAW IT AND SAID:   'TEN THOUSAND TIMES TEN THOUSANDS MINISTERED TO HIM.'   NOW IF YOU'LL WATCH THE SCRIPTURE THERE IN DANIEL.   JUDGMENT WAS SET, AND THE BOOKS WERE OPENED."

Now if you'll watch the Scripture in Daniel, "Judgment was set and the books were opened."   Top of Page 133.

"NOW REMEMBER, WHEN HE CAME, HE CAME WITH HIS BRIDE.   THE WIFE MINISTERS TO HER HUSBAND..."

How many of you believe that?   Let me see your hand.   Don't you fail to raise your hand.   If you do, I'll see you after church. Let's see it again.   Do you believe that?   Let me see your hand. "The wife ministers to her husband."

"...AND THEN THOUSANDS TIME TEN THOUSANDS OF THOUSANDS MINISTERED TO HIM.   JUDGMENT WAS SET, AND THE BOOKS WERE OPENED, AND ANOTHER BOOK WAS OPENED WHICH WAS THE BOOK OF LIFE.   NOT THE BRIDE AT ALL!..."

See?   There was no books that was opened there at the judgment that concerned the Bride.   "Not the Bride at all," see?

"... SHE HAS DONE GONE UP AND COME BACK AND STANDING THERE IN JUDGMENT OF THOSE GENERATIONS THAT REFUSED THE GOSPEL MESSAGE."

Now, this could be confusing if we didn't know what day we're living; but knowing what day we are living, it shouldn't be confusing. It should be clear because when you look at the throne...   And you'll find as we go on into this lesson tonight that Brother Branham took Daniel 7 right on into Revelation 4.   You say, "He took it to Reve­ lation 4."   But he also took it to Revelation 4. Where were the elders seen?   Sitting around the throne?   Then we need to know what those elders were sitting there for and who they were.   If we know who they were, we know by what the Lord Jesus said what they are sitting there   for.   See?

"DIDN'T JESUS SAY THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH SHALL RISE WITH THIS GENERATION IN HER DAYS OF THE JUDGMENT AND WILL CONDEMN THIS GENERATION, FOR SHE CAME FROM THE UTMOST PARTS OF THE WORLD TO HEAR THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON; AND A GREATER THAN SOLOMON IS HERE!"

"THERE STOOD THE JUDGMENT, THE QUEEN OF SHEBA OF THE

SOUTH STOOD THERE IN THE JUDGMENT, AND HER OWN TESTIMONY..."

Are you listening, now?   Her own testimony put down the Jews. Her own testimony.

"...NOT EVEN A JEW CAME UP WITH THAT GENERATION... (Now, he said it; I'm just reading it.)   NOT EVEN A JEW CAME UP WITH THAT GENERATION THAT WERE JEWS, AND THEY WERE BLIND AND MISSED HIM, BECAUSE THEY WERE LOOKING FOR HIM; BUT HE CAME SO SIMPLY..."

He always does it.   He's not going to change it today.   The people that refused Jesus Christ in every age died believing that they had accepted Him because they could not see Him coming in the way that He came.   It's always been that way.   It's not going to change in our age.   It won't change now.

"...HE CAME SO SIMPLY THAT THEY WENT PLUMB OVER THE TOP OF IT, LIKE THAT.   AND THERE THAT GREAT QUEEN HUMBLED HERSELF, AND COME AND ACCEPTED THE MESSAGE.   (What about that?) 'AND SHE'LL STAND IN THE JUDGMENT,' HE SAID, 'AND CONDEMN THAT GENERATION.'"

Now, these are things for us to think on so that you'll know that eveybody that says, "I believe the Message," they don't believe the Message.   On Page 134, the second paragraph.

"NOW, NOTICE THE REST OF THE DEAD (THE CHURCH MEMBERS — DEAD CHURCH MEMBERS) LIVED NOT AGAIN UNTIL THE THOUSAND YEARS, AND THEN AT THE THOUSAND YEARS, THEY WERE GATHERED — ANOTHER RESURRECTION CAME, WHICH IS THE SECOND RESURRECTION —

AND THEY WERE GATHERED AND CHRIST AND THE CHURCH, THE BRIDE, (NOT THE CHURCH, THE BRIDE)..."

See him correct that?   He first said Christ and the church. Then he said, "The Bride, not the church,"   the Bride.    Christ and the Bride.

"...CHRIST AND THE QUEEN, (NOT THE CHURCH). CHRIST AND THE BRIDE STOOD THERE, AND THEY WERE SEPARATED LIKE THE SHEEP FROM THE GOATS.   THAT'S RIGHT!   THERE'S THE CHURCH MEMBERS COME UP.   AND IF THEY HEARD THE TRUTH AND REJECTED THE TRUTH..."

Now you say, "But Brother Holmes, what do they have to do to reject the truth?"   (Congregation replies, "Be one word off.") How many?   One word.   If they come up and they rejected the truth... Now you know, the Scripture says that it was...   Asked Jesus one time, "What can I do to do the works of the Father?"   Now what did Jesus tell them to do?   Huh?   Did everybody hear that? "Believe on Him Whom the Father has sent."

That's the hard thing.   That's the problem — everybody has got a word.   If you've never took a stroll across the state of Florida and talked to different people, you can see a conglomeration of ideas. And they don't want you to come against those ideas.   If you do, you're an arrogant-type person incriminating somebody.   And it's getting that way, sometimes, around here.

People get intimidated sometimes when the truth comes and puts a fire under your bottom.   You say, "I don't like that statement. I resent it."   Well that's alright, but I'm telling you the truth. God still builds fires under people, and they don't like it.   They get to the place to where they know too much.   They don't want nobody to tell them what they've got to do, and they'll tell you they're not going to have that.   Rejecting the King.   "We know more.   We know better."   See?

So that's the trend of the spirit of today.   And the only way we're going to be overcomers is to slay that spirit.   Amen.   Slay that spirit.   Look and see what God has brought us from and brought us to and be thankful.   Amen.   Be thankful that He's spared us (Amen) and brought us to the truth.

"...AND IF THEY HEARD THE TRUTH AND REJECTED THE TRUTH, THEN WHAT'S GOING TO BE SAID WHEN THE BIG THING IS SPREAD ACROSS THE CANVAS WHEN EVEN YOUR OWN THOUGHTS WILL BE THERE?..."

Now let me comment just briefly.   Suppose someone comes in here from another assembly somewhere and they sit here and hear the Word of God — strange things being taught and emphasis being placed upon it.   And they sit here more than one time and fail to take that back to their people.   Then the blood is upon their hands!   You search the Scripture and see what the people did that came face to face with Jesus Christ.   Either they believed Him and became witnesses to Him, or they called Him some kind of a devil.   And it's the same today.   Amen.

"... — WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT IT.   (It's what you thought about the truth.)   HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ESCAPE (the truth), AND IT RIGHT THERE ON THE CANVAS OF THE SKIES; AND GOD'S GREAT TELEVISION AND THERE'S YOUR OWN THOUGHTS REBELLING — YOUR OWN THOUGHTS WILL SPEAK AGAINST YOU IN THAT HOUR!"

The thoughts that you have while the Message is burning down through the hearts of the people.   And someone have a negative thought, that will sail across the canvas one day and you'll be condemned on that thing.

"SO IF YOU SPEAK ONE THING AND THINK ANOTHER, YOU HAD BETTER STOP THAT.   GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON GOD..."

See?   People can come here and say, "I love God, I serve God," and go away from here and act like the devil; or live a negative-type life and not show forth an example that should be shown forth; or not put the manifestation behind it, and we're going to face God as an unbeliever or a make-believer.   It must be an absolute to us.

As I told a brother Saturday night, I said, "Somewhere, someway, we've got to have an absolute."   While people gather together in these conventions in these different gatherings with the brothers' meetings and the ministers and so forth.   They have no leader. Everybody speaks their own peace.   And I said, "How do you go away, brethren?"   And they admitted that they go away more confused than when they came.   But yet they continue to go.

And I said, "Brother, somewhere you are going to have to face the issue that there's got to be an absolute Voice that says, 'This is what it is.'   And then the people that wants to come to that, they can find peace."   The ones that don't want it, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them and let them go to hell! They're going, anyway!   They wasn't predestinated to go nowhere else.

You say, "Brother Holmes, we know when you get here, because you don't do nothing but fuss!"   You call it fussing if you want to, but I'm telling you it's an ungodly situation across the world. And the spirit can get on you if you're not careful.   That's what I'm talking about.   You must not side with unbelievers.   Negative thoughts about the Message, no!   We are a positive-thinking people, Christians, borned again by the Word of the Age!   Amen!   Well, do we want to go on?   Alright.

"SO IF YOU SPEAK ONE THING AND THINK ANOTHER, YOU HAD BETTER STOP THAT.   GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON GOD.   KEEP THEM PURE AND STAY RIGHT THERE WITH IT, AND SPEAK THE SAME THING ALL THE TIME..."

Satan has a field day with the negative thoughts and statements of people.   And they come into the house of God and the Anointing moves out and they feel like they could run through troops and jump over a wall.   And then tomorrow Satan jumps upon their shoulder. And then the first thing you know by the time the husband comes home, by the time the Family gets together or is supposed to get together, there is so much negative thoughts until they don't know whether

they are borned again or not!   How am I going to know I have passed from death unto Life?   The Scripture says, "Faith cometh by hearing the Word."

There's people that can quote the prophet and turn right around and say, "I know I'm not borned again."   What does it take to get you borned again?   An old-fashioned Pentecostal hoedown?   A jumping up and down, screaming and beating you on the back?   Will that do it?   What will it take to get the new birth for you?   God, help us to be a positive people!   Our thoughts positive.   Amen!

"...KEEP THEM PURE AND STAY RIGHT THERE WITH IT, AND SPEAK THE SAME THING ALL THE TIME.   DON'T SAY, 'WELL, I'LL SAY I BELIEVE IT; BUT I'LL GO AND FIND OUT.'   YOU BELIEVE IT! AMEN!"

And a believer acts...   Wouldn't it be a strange thing for me to believe this Chrysler out here...   Even though it's got 65,000 miles on it and I've never pulled the oil stick out to check the oil.   I've had confidence in that car.   I've never raised the hood and looked at the oil.   But I've never failed, Brother Kenneth, when I wanted to go somewhere, to get in and turn the ignition and start the engine and drive off.

Now wouldn't it be something if I had that car sitting out there and I had the keys in my pocket, and for some reason I just couldn't believe that if I put the key in there and turned it, it was going to do what it's supposed to do?   Yet it's mine, but I can't trust it?   It don't make sense, does it?   It don't make sense.

So Paul said, "When you come together, some of you have tongues and some of you have this, some of you have that." He said, "That's not what we come together for."   We come together because we have God in our life.   And if He is that that He says He is, He's capable of doing what He said He would do.   Amen.

Now remember, this is taped.   If I thought somewhere out yonder across the world there was a better people than this right here, Brother Kenneth, I'd go.   I don't believe that there's a people on the face of this earth that will take the Word of God for face value as much as it happens right here.   Amen.   But yet in moments of test and trial, sometimes we fail to be positive in our thinking.   Amen. It's the moments of the downward-like spirit when maybe Satan has got you in a wringer, fleshly speaking, and the five senses is giving you a battle.   Reach out somehow and find that sixth sense and stand on it and say, "Lord God, I don't belong to this world, but I belong to another country, another Kingdom!"   Amen!   Say our thoughts, and let them be positive.

"NOTICE, THESE TYPE — THE REASON THEY DIE OUT, THEY GO THROUGH THE PURGING OF TRIAL OF THE TRIBULATION..."

Now, we don't have to elaborate on that because we know what the tribulation is; we know what those things are.

"...BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY UNDER THE BLOOD..."

Now who would it be that would be under the blood of bulls and goats and think they are under the blood? It wouldn't be a Gentile. They think, see...

"...THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY UNDER THE BLOOD!   THEY CLAIM THEY ARE, BUT THEY'RE NOT.   HOW CAN THEY GO THROUGH A TRIAL TO PURIFY THEM WHEN THE BLEACH BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST TAKES EVERY SYMPTOM OF SIN AND STUFF AWAY FROM YOU.   AND YOU ARE ALREADY DEAD, AND YOUR LIFE IS HID IN HIM THROUGH GOD AND SEALED IN THERE BY THE HOLY GHOST, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE JUDGED FOR?..."

How are you going to stand in a judgment when there is nothing that can condemn you?   Are you going to allow the five senses to condemn you?

"...WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GET YOUR PURIFICATION?   WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO BE PURIFIED FROM WHEN YOU ARE PERFECTLY IN CHRIST? — (What would He do?   When He bowed His head on the cross and said it was finished, it was finished.)

"...SINLESS!   WHAT IS THE JUDGMENT FOR?   BUT IT IS THE SLEEPING BUNCH THAT THOSE PEOPLE CAN'T MAKE OUT."

See?   "It's the sleeping bunch that those people can't make out."

"NOW, THEY HAVEN'T DONE IT FOR YEARS, SEE, BUT THIS IS THE HOUR OF REVELATION BEING REVEALED, JUST AT THE COMING OF THE BRIDE...THE LAST WINDING UP, THE LAST THINGS ARE COMING...IT'S COMING TO AN END, FRIENDS, I BELIEVE. WHEN?   I DON'T KNOW.   I CAN'T TELL YOU, BUT ANYTHING... I WANT TO LIVE TONIGHT LIKE IF IT WAS TONIGHT, I'D BE READY..."

I wouldn't want to go to bed tonight with condemnation, would you?   Because what if the light went out on this side tonight and you went over into another dimension?   See?   If you are condemned in this life here, you would be condemned over there.   He said, "If it come tonight, I'd be ready."

"...HE MIGHT COME TONIGHT; YET HE MIGHT NOT COME FOR TWENTY YEARS.   I DON'T KNOW WHEN HE 'LL COME, BUT WHENEVER IT IS...AND MY LIFE MIGHT BE OVER TONIGHT. THEN WHATEVER I HAVE DONE HERE IS FINISHED AT THAT HOUR..."

See?   "Whatever I've done, if He comes for me tonight, it's finished at that hour.   It's done.   I've done it.   That's all I could do.   I can't do no more," see?

"...I HAVE GOT TO MEET HIM IN THE JUDGMENT THE WAY I WENT DOWN HERE..."

See?   If I go down here doubting whether I'm a Christian or not, doubting whether I'm borned again or not, doubting whether that preacher in preaching the truth or not, doubting whether this is right or not, I'11 wake up on the other side the same way.   Serious, ain't it?   It's not a playful time.   You see what I'm saying?   Alright, It would be a disaster for any minister to stand here and tell you, "Well, I'll tell you, you know, kind of what I see.   Now don't take it, you know, as doctrine because, you know, I could be wrong." Now who's going to believe that man?   Oh, but they do.   They do! By the millions, they do.   They stand up and openly profess that they are not sure about it.   But, "We want to give you this little sample here.   You look at it."

You know what it does?   It takes the pressure off their back. God didn't call that kind of a preacher.   God called a man to stand and say, "Bring forth fruits meet for repentance.   God's able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham." He's still God today. How would it be if we walked out across the nation today and screamed and said, "You generation of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?   Where'd you find the prophet's message?"   And then turn around and flatly deny it!   It's being done.   Amen!   It's being done.   Just one word, and you might as well go out and have a ball because you are condemned already.   Amen.   Well, it's the truth anyway.   Amen.   He said:

"REMEMBER, WHEN THEY WENT TO BUY OIL, THEY...'OH,' YOU SAY, 'NOW, WAIT A MINUTE, BROTHER BRANHAM.   I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.'   WHEN THEY WENT TO BUY OIL, WHEN THEY COME BACK, THE BRIDE WAS DONE GONE; AND THE DOOR WAS SHUT: AND THEY KNOCKED AND SAID, 'LET US IN, LET US IN,'..."

Where are they going to do that?   On this earth. '...LET US IN,' BUT THEY WERE OUT IN OUTER DARKNESS."

"NOW, IF YOU WANT A TYPE OF THAT, NOW LOOK:   'IN THE TIME OF NOAH,'..."

Listen close.   You'll find out that this is no such thing as Brother Branham typing the foolish virgins — not with Noah.   No.

"...JESUS SAID (REFERRED TO IT).   NOW IN NOAH'S TIME, THEY WENT INTO THE ARK, BUT THEY WERE CARRIED OVER DURING THE TIME OF THE JUDGMENT.   BUT THAT DIDN'T TYPE CHRIST'S BRIDE;   ENOCH TYPED THE BRIDE."

"ENOCH...NOAH WENT OVER THROUGH THE BRIDE — WENT OVER THROUGH THE TRIBULATION PERIOD, SUFFERED, AND BECOME A DRUNK, AND DIED.   BUT ENOCH WALKED BEFORE GOD FOR 500 YEARS AND HAD A TESTIMONY; HE PLEASED GOD WITH RAPTURING FAITH AND JUST STARTED WALKING RIGHT OUT AND WENT UP THROUGH THE SKIES AND WENT HOME WITHOUT EVEN TASTING DEATH..."

That's the age that's supposed to take us.   And we won't make it with a negative thought.   We won't make it with negative actions. That's what I'm telling you.   We will have positive thinking, positive God, positive Word, positive actions, manifestations.

"...HE NEVER DIED AT ALL!"

"THAT IS A TYPE OF 'WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN SHALL NOT PREVENT OR HINDER THOSE SAME TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ASLEEP..."

See, the same type of people that's sleeping in the grave. We that are alive and waiting for the change, we are not hindering those.

"... THAT FELL ASLEEP ON ACCOUNT OF THE HUMAN AGE AND THE STATE OF HUMAN AGE.   THEY DIED BACK THERE, BUT THEY ARE NOT DEAD.   THEY ARE SLEEPING!   AMEN!   THEY ARE ASLEEP — NOT DEAD!   AND THE ONLYTHING IT NEEDS IS THE BRIDEGROOM TO AWAKE THEM.   AND WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN SHALL NOT HINDER THOSE THAT'S ALREADY FELL ASLEEP, FOR THE TRUMPET OF GOD SHALL SOUND AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST; THEN WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN SHALL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM AND WILL MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR.   AND THE REST OF THE DEAD LIVED NOT FOR A THOUSAND YEARS.   THERE YOU ARE!..."

Now on a message, on "Questions and Answers," Conduct, Order, and Doctrine book.   You say, "Brother Holmes, you don't go there much."   But I'm there tonight, so let's look at this one.   On Page 1122,

"...NOW, LET ME GET ONE MORE LITTLE THING IN HERE FOR THIS DEAR PERSON."

"NOW NOTICE, THE BIBLE SAID WHEN DANIEL SAW...HE — HE WROTE THE FIRST BOOK OF REVELATIONS, DANIEL..."

Sound better?   I didn't get any "Amen's" a while ago, but he did say it.   Sometimes, you know...   That's alright.

"...AND WE NOTICE, IN THE VISION HE SAW HIM COME TO THE ANCIENT OF TIME WHOSE HAIR WAS AS WHITE AS WOOL.   HOW MANY REMEMBER READING THAT?   AND DID NOT NOTICE, JOHN IN REVELATIONS CAME TO THE SAME THING.   REVELATIONS L?   AND HE STOOD THERE;   HIS HAIR WAS AS WHITE AS WOOL, HIS FEET AND THE WAY IT LOOKED — ANCIENT OF TIME.   ANCIENT OF TIME, THAT IS, IT HAD NO TIME, IT WAS THE ETERNAL ONE. AND HE CAME...NOW WATCH!   AND THE SAINTS COME TO THE EARTH AND THE BOOKS WERE OPENED, AND ANOTHER BOOK WAS OPENED, WHICH WAS THE BOOK OF LIFE, ONE BOOK.   THEY CAME TO THE JUDGMENT, AND THE...HE CAME, AND WITH HIM CAME TEN THOUSANDS TIMES TEN THOUSANDS.   IS THAT RIGHT? MINISTERED TO HIM, THE BRIDE, THE QUEEN AND KING..."

Now this is where I want you to get your real spiritual think­ ing cap on.   And if you don't like nothing that I've said, you hear this.   Hear it.   And you make your decision whether it's in another dispensation or in another dimension or whether it's here.   One brother I know in particular believes that these messages, this spoken Word will be canonized in the Millennium.   He don't believe It now.   Of course, he's open with it.

"WHO IS YOUR LITTLE QUEEN IN THE HOME?..."

As I sat and talked with a sister yesterday...   And sometimes, you know, the husband don't want, maybe, what you want to eat.   Maybe my wife wants a mess of cabbage but she don't want to cook but one time, see?   Now there is something wrong with her because she is refusing to minister to me.   I don't care how much profession she has, there is something wrong with her spiritually.   So if she knows I don't eat cabbage, what is she going to do, Brother T. B.?    She'll fix her cabbage; I don't say nothing about it.   But you come over sometime when she's got cabbage and see what I've got — and there wasn't one complaint.

But sometimes the women think that they are being run over if they have to minister to their husband!   So what if he wants hamburgers, if he wants hot dogs?   Fix him hamburgers and hot dogs!   If he wants you to wash his back, wash his back.   Brother Branham said you serve God by serving your husband.   Now you say, "I don't have to do that!" That's true.   You'll wind up over there with it written all over the sky, "I don't have to do that!"   That's what Brother Branham said, "It'll be written on the canvas of heaven."

"I don't have to do it." That's true.   We are living in an age when you don't have to do it.   But to be a Christian, you have to.   See?   To be a Christian.   I've never had no problems with that at all in my house.   My wife fixes what she knows I like.   And whatever she likes...   She likes pizza, I don't.   If she wants one...   I don't even like to smell them cook, but if she wants one, I don't open my mouth; I don't say nothing.   But she don't put it before me. But you can depend on it, when she is sitting there eating that, I've got something to eat that I'm enjoying, and there wasn't any fuss about it.   See?   You see that?

It's so easy to have peace in the home if you want it.   And if you don't want it, you can't have it.   That's right, see?   You say, "Well, what's that got to do with the Message?" You have to manifest what you are, see?   You have to manifest.   Now, watch.

"WHO IS YOUR LITTLE QUEEN IN THE HOME?..."

Huh?   The wife.   That's the little queen in the home.   Is that right?   Alright. "She ministers food to you." She don't complain about it; she ministers food to you. She don't say, "Well, if you want something to eat, we'll go out to the restaurant." When time comes to go the restaurant, he'll say, "Well, honey, let's go out to the restaurant tonight and take that off of you."   She don't say, "I don't want to cook tonight, so if you want something, we'll just go eat at the restaurant." Now, they try to make out like that's not demanding; but that's the same as saying, "I'm not fixing you nothing.   So if you're hungry, go somewhere else."   See?   But Brother Branham said the queen, she ministers food to you.

"...IS THAT RIGHT? (WHAT YOU'RE LATE ONE NOW.) BUT WHEN SHE — WHEN SHE MINISTERS TO YOU, THAT'S WHAT...THE BRIDE MINISTERS TO CHRIST, THE WORD..."

This is what I want you to understand real good.   Not that you don't understand what I just said.   I've said that a thousand times here, I'm sure, and I know you heard that.   Maybe I haven't emphasized on this because Brother Branham said, "You get this."

"...'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT EVERY WORD.' SEE?   (Every Word.   Alright.)   SHE MINISTERS THE WORD TO THE KING, MANIFESTING HIS PROMISE WORD IN THE AGE THAT SHE'S A-LIVING IN..."

Don't tell me that ain't a positive statement!   Manifesting. Not acting like she's got sore thumbs all the time, or like it just kills you to do it!   "I'll go to church, but I know I'm going to endure it."   I'd look up and praise God if it killed the devil! Let me show you something — something that I hate.   [Brother Holmes sits down and imitates an inattentive listener, looking all around.)   I'd rather you'd stay at home!   If you don't want to hear this, you don't have to.   But if you're a child of God, you'll endure some of it and enjoy some of it.   Certainly, you don't endure all   of it!   Certainly there is something somewhere that's hit you right, that you love.   Huh?   Is it true?   [Microphone makes a loud noise.]   This thing's a-popping just like I am!

But I'm going to tell you something, I don't like that.   I want people to respect the Word of God, not me.   And if it continues, I will pray that God will move it and I will believe that He will. If there is a crow to pick, pick it!   We are moving with God.   Amen! I'm trying to get around to everybody to give them a chance to tell me things that they disagree with — things that they don't want, or they don't agree with me on, or something like that.   I'm making haste doing everything I can to do it and getting maybe four or five families a week, the best I can.

But if you've got a problem and you want to see me tomorrow, let me know, or tonight let me know.   But don't be bothered and don't grieve God's Spirit.   That's the thing I'm trying to tell you. Don't grieve...   You know I'm going to scream it out one day   and call your name if you don't get out of it!   You know I'll do it! Now let's move on.

I hate to have to say something over and over to get somebody's attention.   You say, "Well, I don't have to look at you all the time." Respect calls for that.   If there's something wrong with your eyes, then that's different.   But why would you want to look away and look like   you are thinking about something a hundred miles off when the Word of God is coming?   If it was one time, it would be different, but five times is too much.   It's too much!   Amen!   Now let's move on.

Now listen, I am not playing.   I have never played when I stood in this pulpit; I have never stood here trying to please people with preaching.   If I stand here and try to please you people with my ministry, I am a hypocrite to begin with.   I'm standing here to try to please God and only God.   Amen.   You say, "Well, God don't talk like that."   Well, they heard Him scream one time, and said, "Moses, ask Him not to speak again!   You speak."   Regardless of how hard and how stern I can thunder with this little voice, it's nothing compared to one thunder in the presence of God — without the human veil.   Amen.   But one day He'll do it.   That's right, because Elohim is going to sit on the throne.

Alright now, let us move on and look at this.   I want your attention, children.   I want your attention, all of you.   Not just 99% of you.   I want all of your attention.   Amen.

"...SHE MINISTERS FOOD TO YOU.   IS THAT RIGHT?   (WHAT

YOU'RE LATE ON NOW.)   BUT WHEN SHE — WHEN SHE MINISTERS

TO YOU, THAT'S WHAT...THE BRIDE MINISTERS TO CHRIST, THE

WORD.   'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT EVERY

WORD.'   SEE?   SHE MINISTERS THE WORD TO THE KING, MANIFESTING

HIS PROMISE WORD IN THE AGE THAT SHE'S A-LIVING IN..."

"In the age that we're living in."   What is the manifestation of the Word today?   The seven thunder mysteries.   And what is that supposed to bring?   What did the prophet say that would bring, Brother?   It won't make you a dead-head.   It will quicken you to Life. [Interruption because of the microphone.] (I guess I pulled on it too much, or something.   Alright.)   The manifestation.   You know, to manifest something means to put it on display.   If I believe that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, how am I going to prove that?   By my actions.   Manifesting it.   Manifesting it.   Amen.   If I believe that the same Spirit that raised up Jesus Christ from the grave is to quicken my mortal body, I'm looking for it.   I'm expecting it all the time, see?

Quicken.   Quicken.   That means bring to life.   Amen!   And I believe that I'm alive.   I believe that I've passed from death unto Life.   I believe that this mortal body has been quickened by the power of a resurrected Christ of today.   Amen.   He's alive.   Paul preached along one night, a boy got sleepy and fell out the third story window, and it killed him.   It didn't even stop the service. Paul just said, "Keep your position.   I'll be back.   I've got a little job to do." He just walked down and called the boy's spirit back into him and said, "Now come on and let's finish the sermon."   The boy didn't miss a word!   Amen!

Now is Jesus Christ the same?   Amen.   If He can quicken a dead fetus, He can quicken anything.   He can put a seed in a womb as He's done before.   Amen.   While doubters walk around and say, "Well, it's hard for me to believe, no, no, no,"   I said, "Honey, have you got your wardrobe started?"   She said, "I'm making the baby clothes." I said, "Continue to make them with faith in God."   The skeptics will be absent on that day.   If this congregation could join together on something without a doubt, God would move in every situation.   Amen.

I am the Wife,   He's my Provider.   I will feed Him with every­ thing that He'll pour into me — I'll feed It back to Him by actions, by manifestations.   I'll stand on the promise.   Amen.   The faith Seed of Abraham.   Amen.   It's judgment time, the books are open.

"NOTICE!   OH, MY!   THAT WAS A GOOD ONE.   SEE?   MINISTERING IN THE AGE, THE WORD.   NOW NOTICE!   AND SHE CAME — HE CAME, AND THEN THOUSANDS TIMES TEN THOUSANDS CAME TO HIM; AND JUDGMENT WAS SET, AND THE BOOKS WERE OPENED; AND ANOTHER BOOK WAS OPENED WHICH IS THE BOOK OF LIFE; AND THEY WERE JUDGED THUS.   WHO WAS THIS THAT COME?   THE BRIDE WHICH DID NOT HAVE TO COME TO JUDGMENT, SHE'S FREE FROM JUDGMENT."

"Free from judgment."

"THE SLEEPING VIRGIN WILL STAND RIGHT THERE UNDER THE SAME — SAME THINGS.   NOTICE..."

Now he did not say "the foolish virgins."   He said "the sleep­ ing virgin" will stand under the same thing.

"...NOTICE, JESUS SAID IN ST. JOHN 5:24, 'HE THAT HEARETH MY WORD ( THAT'S HE THAT CAN RECEIVE IT, NOT HE THAT JUST HEARS IT PREACHED AND GO ON SAYING, 'NONSENSE,'   SEE?), HE THAT RECEIVETH MY WORD — HE THAT HEARTH MY WORD AND BELIEVETH (NOT MAKE-BELIEVETH, BUT TRULY BELIEVE) ON HIM THAT SENT ME (WHICH WAS THE WORD) HATH EVERLASTING LIFE AND SHALL NOT COME TO THE JUDGMENT; BUT HATH (PAST TNESE) PASSED FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE.'   SEE?   THAT'S IT."

"SO JUDAS HAD HIS NAME THERE ON THE BOOK OF LIFE (THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT), BUT HE WAS CONDEMNED, BECAUSE WHAT DID HE DO?   HE SOLD OUT HIS BIRTHRIGHTS."

When Judas first started with Jesus, apparently he believed just about all of it.   But as it come on a little closer and a little closer, he began to manifest what he was as Jesus began to manifest what He was.   See?   Because there was two separate vines, so the manifestation goes both ways, see?

In the age where the Word is manifest for that age, then the deceitfulness is manifest for the same age and there's the people that is always ready to deny It and disbelieve It.   Say, "Oh, you know, I just can't accept that.   Oh, mercy, no!" And then some of them, they'll say, "You know, I can see part of it, but I can't see this."

That was Judas.   He saw part of it because he had some kind of faith — I don't know what it was.   But he certainly went out there and healed the sick, Brother Branham said, and raised the dead. And he was the devil!   Hard, ain't it?   But it was the Name that was honored, it wasn't Judas.   He wasn't doing it in the name of Luther.   He was using the Name, Brother Walter.   That's the difference. He said you must   know these things.

Like one little fellow said, "I just don't like that closing the prayer with 'Son of Man.'   I like the use the name Jesus." Well, I imagine that little Syrophenician woman, she had saw great things happen using "thou Son of David," but it just wouldn't work for her, would it?   Wouldn't work.   See?   He didn't even give her attention at all.   None of it, see?

That's the thing we've got to learn somewhere         — that God, if

you're going to get His attention, you're going to act right.   You're

not going to act like you want to, you're going to act right and think right in the presence of God if you get His attention.   Amen. See?   It's believing the Word.   And Judas, see...

"...HE SOLD OUT HIS BIRTHRIGHTS."

"ESAU WAS BORN IN A FAMILY WITH THE PROMISE OF GOD. THE OLDEST SON HAD THE BIRTHRIGHT..."

"Had the birthright."   No doubt about it.   No doubt about it. Jesus Christ went to the Jews first — no doubt about it.   They sold out.   They said, "Give us Barabbas.   Let His blood be upon us and upon our children."   And it was.   They asked for it, see.

"...HOW MANY KNOWS THAT?   BY A PROMISE OF GOD, ESAU'S NAME WAS ON THE BOOK FOR THE BIRTHRIGHT (IS THAT RIGHT?), BUT HE SWAPPED IT FOR A MESS OF WILD GOURDS — OR PEAS. HUNGRY TO FILL HIS BELLY, HIS MEAL TICKET, HE SWAPPED HIS BIRTHRIGHTS FOR A MEAL TICKET AND COULD FIND NO PLACE TO REPENT."

Wouldn't it be something today if God called me to carry the Message somewhere and I would have a fear in my heart that I was going to starve to death or my family was going to go wanting — when God said go?   And when I stand there on that day and say, "But Lord, I had to take care of my family," is He going to accept that?

I can't find...I can see excuse after excuse, and He turned and denied every one of them as legitimate.   Some of them had some good ones.   "We've got to go to a wedding." "Oh, my papa's dead. I've got to go bury him."   He found no excuse.   "Let the dead bury their dead!" As I've said, some people want to serve God as long as the water is warm.   But when it gets like an iceberg and you've got to cut through with everything you've got, they don't want that. And when you have to pray...

And many of you people setting out here today, I said many of you don't know what it is to look in the face of a night without food for tomorrow.   That's right.   But some has seen that.   That's when the prayer comes easy.   That's when the Holy Spirit can cry in the behalf if the spirit is right.   When you know that your children are not going to have no bread tomorrow if something don't happen, then you can talk to God because you've got a need then.   Not a want, a need.   Then if my Bible that I read, Brother Ben, is correct, He will dispatch every Angel from glory to bring that promise.   He said that he had never seen the righteous forsaken, nor His Seed begging bread.   It's a promise.

The judgment was set and the books were opened.   When we see Him seated on the throne, what is our attitude?   Is it a frolicky spirit like, or is it a sacredness before God and say, "Lord, let me act in Your presence as would be pleasing to You."   Amen.   I don't want to be in the judgment.

I got word that some people had been sick this week.   Now, Brother Glenn called me and told us about the baby.   Sometimes you're sick and you don't call.   It's alright to call me or have somebody call and say, "Brother Holmes, I wonder if you have just a few minutes to join with me in prayer that I'll be able to bear this thing until the Lord moves it.   I know I'm healed, but if you'll just pray that the Lord will help me to bear it."

You know, I believe that if two agree — agree.   If you believe the Word and I believe the Word and we come together, we've got a promise.   Amen.   We've got a promise.   And that is that He will hear. Not only hear, but He'll do it.   He'll do it.

I used to read those old testimonies, Brother Ben, of those old Pentecostal people.   How that they would build brush arbors and they'd go down and pick blackberries and they would eat the blackberries for dinner.   They would go down to the branch and get them a drink of branch water.   I have read testimonies where they would step out there in that brush arbor and challenge the devil, and healing after healing!   And people would fall in that old sawdust...   You say, "We don't live in that day now."   That's right, but some of us don't even know what they paid to get us where we are today!   Amen!

Yes, the Dark Ages had to come.   They had to go down in the grave and then come back up fighting with everything that they had to bring us where we are today.   We go to the table, plenty of food. We go to the wardrobe, we don't know which suit to take out, we've got so many.   So many shirts, we...   Many have fifteen, twenty pairs of shoes in the closet.   I'm not saying that's wrong, but I'm saying this:   where is the stopping place?

I said to my wife today, "Can you just think with your mind, now, what fifty dollars will do for the gospel in India?"   I said, "Can you think?"   It will put a man out where he can witness and take this Message for a whole month and keep his wife and children from starving.   I'm getting to the place to where I guess I feel guilty of going overboard with something.   Did you ever get to the place...

As I told Brother Kenneth not too long ago, we was sitting talking, fellowshipping.   I said, "Brother Kenneth, when it gets to the place when you go to bed at night and you see those little dark fellows and you hear them and you walk with them," I said, "it's time to do something."   I don't want the throne to be set and the Ancient of Days to be there (which we know that's happened) and leave me with a cold and indifferent attitude towards somebody that needs the truth.

And I don't want people to think that I'm running off from here to get away from a duty.   Neither do I want you to ever think that I'm isolated to these four walls because when you do that, then you're getting in trouble with God.   You show it to me in the Bible anywhere where a man is isolated to four walls.   I want to see it.   Amen. So some of our thoughts will be written in the sky one day, our atti­ tude.   Amen.   So whatever we do, children, let's let our thoughts and our actions...

...That it is the same Jesus Christ, the same Elohim.   Present day truth.   Not something that was over there in the five-fold ministry back there during the time of the church ages.   I'm talking about the present day truth, talking about things we are confronted with now.

Children, do you love one another?   Do we really love one another?   Then if there's a Seed out there somewhere, we want to find it, don't we?   We want to hurry up and search.   If there's three in a place, I'm persuaded to believe that they can stir up the devil. More than one.   You believe that, Brother Ben?   We find in the Scrip­ture where they went out three sometime, they went out two.   Very seldom did one go out by himself.   Very seldom, see?

So I know one thing, people are not going to pat you on the back when you come with this Message, not around here.   And when I say "around here," I'm not talking about here — I mean around the U. S.   They have already made up their mind what truth is.   That's right.   It's so hard, it's so hard to break the ice!   But you know, just as sure as I'm standing here tonight (in closing, now), as those 24 elders sit around and the 4 beasts, something is taking place. Something is taking place.   Amen.   John saw them there, is that right? And you know the things that I wanted to get into tonight, I never even got to touch it.   On over, we'll pick it up again by the help and grace of God on Sunday morning.   But tonight, just a little thought for all of us.

Me, many times, many times I lay in my bed at night and I think, "Lord, what did I do for You today?   Did I really please You?   Or was I in any way in opposition to anything?   Or did You have to drag me or pull me or force me?   Was I willing, Lord?   Let my thoughts be my actions, and let my actions be my thoughts.   Let me, Lord, present to the people the gospel — living, not just in words. Living." (Alright, Sister.)

Let's everybody stand, bow your head.   Lord Jesus, these words tonight that we have read from the Message of the hour, we believe that they are the truth.   And I am trembling myself to think how easy it is to be on a negative side, how easy it is to put off something until tomorrow.   Lord, I am thinking how many times... And back when we were in the denominations, we can remember the time, Lord, when You would wake us out of a sleep and impress us to go to a certain place and there would be somebody waiting there for prayer.   You're the same God tonight.

Somewhere, Lord, someway the people, we the people, Lord, we've got soft.   Lord, we can lay down at night many times and sleep it away.   But it's not going to go away if it's You.   And I trust, Father, that You'd take from the pulpit, from the pastor, the evangelist, the associate, the leadership, all the way through — the deacons, trustees, and all the laity, take us all, Lord, and strip us down of our own ideas and let us look face to face in the mirror of God's Word.   Lord, let us rededicate and consecrate into the depths, not just skimming the surface, but the depths of that Word that's come forth, Lord, in the past four or five years.

I ask You, Lord, that this little Queen across the country, the little Queen, the part that's represented here, let us feed You, Lord, with the full manifestation of the Word of this age.   Lord, forgive us of our mistakes.   Forgive us of our negative thoughts. Forgive us, Lord, of our slothfulness.   I pray, Father, that You'd come and make us aware of these things that You've spoken to us, Lord.   And help us, Father, in this day that we would not be thinking about how we are going to get out of something, but Lord, let us rest the case at Your feet.

I pray for the little sisters, Lord.   And I know, Father, that sometimes it seems like they don't have much to look forward to as far as the natural life is concerned.   Maybe many of them carrying a baby in one arm and one in their stomach; and it's over and over, Lord.   But it was a sin that was committed back yonder in the garden and, Lord, there's no way we can get away from it.   But You'll lift it one day, You'll take the veil off, You'll relieve their burdens, Father.   The husbands work hard, Lord, and they come in here and hear the cutting Word and we go home feeling ashamed of ourselves. Lord Jesus, why can't it be so we can just be like other people, maybe — just walk out like Enoch.   Just keep walking by faith, Lord, and walk on into that great beyond.

Father, I pray for the little children tonight.   Lord, we realize that they don't have it easy in every way.    There's a lot expected of them even in the assembly here, Lord.   We expect many things of them that many adults won't even listen to.   They obey the laws of the little assembly, so many times, so much better than sometimes the adults are willing to do.   I pray that You'd bless them, Lord. Bless every effort that's being put forth.

And, Lord, as the people bring their tithes and their offerings into this place, I trust that there will never be one moment that we'll fail, Lord, to thank You and to ask You, Lord to supply their needs.   Father, we pray as we look many times and we take those little envelopes — Lord, just from our heart tonight I want to thank You in the presence of these people.   And I see many of the little sisters, the little allowance their husband has given them, Lord, before they spend a penny of it, they take that little 10% and give it back to You.   The husband's already paid on it, but they do it again.   Lord God, grant to them...You know every one of them.

And the little children, we see the little dimes and the little quarters that come into those envelopes and, Lord, we cry when we open them up.   And we know that those children are not doing that just to be seen, but they've been taught that that belongs to You, Lord.   If we could do that with our money, can't we do it, Lord, with our life?   Lord Jesus, let us not just give 10%, but 100%.

Holy Spirit, shake this place.   I trust, Lord, that You would shake it from the pulpit down, Lord God.   Let us with spiritual eyes look across the horizon and see that the sun has gone down and, Lord, it is the end, and judgment is set and the books are open.   Father, let there be peace in the valley tonight.   Let these children find that that their hearts are desiring to see.   When the pressure comes on the husband and the wife and there's only one thing, Lord, many times that they know to do and that's explode one to another, Lord Jesus, forgive them; strengthen them, Lord, I pray, to take another step.

Father, I ask You that You take these things from us.   Lord, let us be a people that believe that we're not only human beings here, but we're representatives of the Kingdom of God.   Lord God, heal the sick that's among us tonight.   Don't let a one walk out that door, Father, without receiving.

Lord, those that are not sure that their soul is resting in Shalom tonight, I trust, Father God, that the sweetness of Your Spirit will stir and anchor that thought, "I'm one of them." Grant it, Lord.   We love You, Lord, with all our heart, our soul, our mind, and our strength.   Lord Jesus, we know that we could never prove it with the weakness of the flesh and the different things, but You didn't ask us to prove it, Lord, but You promised to prove Yourself in us and that's our desire.   Prove Yourself, Lord.   Prove Yourself among us tonight.

Let us walk out of here, Father, believing that there is not one thing that is not conquered.   The Son of Man has come to claim it all, and we are thankful and we're resting every hope in that. Thank You, Lord, for these people.   May You bring us back, Father, at the appointed time and pour in the Oil.   May the Balm of Gilead spring forth, Lord, with abundance.   Lord, keep us right close around the table until we meet again.   In Jesus' Name, the Son of Man, we ask it.   Amen.