We have all heard the phrases used time and time again, "Are you in the Message? Are you a follower of the Message? Have you accepted the Message? Are you a believer of the Message?" There are many more phrases used, but this is just a few to give you the idea of what is being said.

Once these people ask you these series of questions then they began to eye your outward appearance from head to toe. They search for the most unnoticeable flaw to try and see what place in the message you fit. Is he serpent seed? Is he a Deity believer? Is he a Millennium or Return Ministry man? Is he a Legalist? Is he a Grace man? Is he a Anointed One of the end time? Is he a Pentecost? Is he this, is he that? Never able to look at the man and see Christ, but always finding flaws and faults. Why is this Pharisee spirit so prevalent in the churches today? Why is there so many split relationships under this banner we call the message? Is it because of that evil twin ‘Cain’ within our mist, or could it be a misconception or false understanding on what is the Message ?

We have heard so many quotes repeated time and time again from "spoken word books", behind pulpits, until we don't even have a need to quote the Holy scriptures from the Word of God any more. We have heard experience after experience concerning Bro. Branham and his life until we can't even begin to relate a simple Bible story any more. We research and re-research doctrines that the prophet taught, only to confuse the simple teachings by not researching those doctrines through the Word of God. Once these practices are set, we began to take upon us the spirit of the Pharisees. We then denominate our concept of the message upon our private revelations, and build walls to protect that false concept. That is when we began to ask the most popular question of all times, "Are you in the Message" and or, "Is he in the Message?" I now ask you, "What Message are you speaking of?" The Message of the Bible, or the Message you mustered up out of your years of misconceptions?

Why was Bro. Branham so serious every time he said, "GET BACK TO THE WORD"? Could it be he realize that the Word of God, is the building block for every one that say they believed. He even said, that building block we are speaking of, became a "New Book" once he began to receive the revelation that it taught.

It doesn't amaze me to see the many different concepts of the message. What amazes me is to see how blind so-called believers can be, regarding what the Message is. The Message isn't William M. Branham. The Message isn't the fact that he is the End-Time Prophet. The Message isn't the Spoken Word Books. The Message isn't wearing long dresses and acting as if that is your righteousness. The Message isn’t your affiliation with other so called believers. The Message isn’t being able to quote quotes. The Message isn’t judging our brother or our sister by what we think we know.

Apostle Paul said of the Galatian church, " I marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel; which is not another, but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ."(Gal.1:6-7). Satan has crept in and diluted (perverted) the Gospel in this last age just as he did in the first church age, and it has produced these misconceptions of this glorious message, and the laity in most cases will accept these false concepts under the guidelines of their own confusion of what the message is.

Those that hold the "truth in unrighteousness" are under the wrath of God. Romans 1: 18-25 says, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power, and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own bodies between themselves; Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever." Amen.

By teaching another gospel and by holding the truth in unrighteousness, the foundation of what the message is has been perverted and diluted with false teachings. It has corrupted the minds of the laity with doubt and confusion to the point that they will condemn truth and cast false judgments upon those that believe, saying, "they have not the Holy Ghost, or they are not in the message, or they are foolish virgins!" Through these false misconceptions the laity has been taught that the Gifts are no longer in operation. That ended at the close of Bro. Branham’s ministry, or they are to be put in the back room and judged by two or three witnesses. These people can’t accept that Bro. Branham had a purpose for bringing order within his own church, so therefore they bring the gifts to a halt. Many ministers refuse the operation of the gifts for the fact that God might reveal something hidden in their own lives. The laity is also being taught that the rapture took place at Sunset Mountain in 1963, we are now basking in the millennium. They teach that the Seals are not open and we are waiting for the prophet to ride this trail again to finish what he started. They teach that Christ will not have a literal return. They teach that Bro. Branham’s blood had to be spilled on the highways of Texas in order for them to be saved. They teach that God will not work and operate any gifts through anyone outside this umbrella called the message. (This is denying the sovereignty of God). They teach that Bro. Branham will return and begin a tent ministry that will span the globe and fulfill the seventh messengers message.

Then we have those that refuse to believe Eph. 4: 11-13. They believe that Bro. Branham is their pastor. If they can’t accept correction from the Word of God, the Bible, (and I must declare what book I’m referring to since there are those that believe we no longer need the Bible since we have spoken word books) what makes them think they will receive correction from God’s mouth piece, the prophet? This group of people disobey the Bible and the principals proclaimed therein by sending tithes and offerings to those whose ministry is conducted in the fashion of a business, and they (businessmen) become prosperous in their own ways.

I could go on and on with teachings of ANOTHER GOSPEL, WHICH IS NOT ANOTHER but there be some that will trouble you, and would pervert the GOSPEL of CHRIST! I must now declare unto you today my friend, none of these things previously mentioned are the Message. These things are nothing more than perverted confusion in the Church! Therefore, if none of these things are related to the Message, , then what is? Bro. Branham taught that this last church age would pattern after the first church age. So we can go all the way back to the first church age and find out what the message is, and find that it runs all the way through to the last church age. It hasn’t changed and it never will.

Apostle Paul in the first book of Corinthians declares what the message is. I. Cor. 1: 17-31, "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel; not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom; (What do you require? What do you seek?) but we preach CHRIST CRUCIFIED! Unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser then men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and base things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are; that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption; that according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. Amen!

Chapter two, " And I brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, (or some far out inconceivable doctrine) declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified . And I was with you in weakness and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." Amen!

Here we find Apostle Paul the first church age Messenger, the one that stated, "If any man preach any other gospel unto you then that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Gal.1:9) The one that also declare, "Be strong in the LORD and in the power of His might." (Eph. 6:10) and also said , "Be not deceived, GOD is not mocked." (Gal. 6-7). Here he is in the first chapter of I. Corinthians giving us a clear cut view of what the Message is. He doesn’t began to say this message is about himself, he doesn’t began to say that this message is his private revelation, he doesn’t began to say that this message is a reflection of his own personal experiences, but he does say the Message is "Christ and Him Crucified" Why would Apostle Paul expound on such a profound message? The same reason Bro. Branham did, and that reason is, "that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the Power of God." That faith (or information) you consume is found in Christ Jesus and His Word! He (Christ) professed, "I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life" (St. John 14:6), "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Word shall never pass away" (St. Luke 21:33) and, "It is the spirit that quickened; the flesh profited nothing, the Words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life" (St. John 6:63).

Many people during the days of Jesus had an opinion of who He was, but many did not know who He was. Jesus Himself came to His disciples saying, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, some say that thou art John the Baptist, some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it". (Matt. 16: 13-18).

Upon what "rock" is Christ speaking of? Is it upon having a intellectual knowledge of Him (or the Message of the hour)? Is it upon someone’s private revelation that was mustered up out of a few quotes, and therefore becomes the bedding ground upon what they preach? Is it denying the gifts in the church and the five fold ministry? I say not . This "Rock" that Christ is speaking of is, "Having a Revelation of who He (Christ) is." Until you receive that revelation you can’t know what the Message is. Christ was declaring that day to His disciples what the Message is, and said, " Upon this Rock (the revelation of Who I Am) I will build "My Church". Anything out side of this is not identified as His Church!

Who is the ministry lifting up in this last day? Who and what are many ministers preaching in this last day? Bro. Branham’s ministry brought us into a greater light of this "One" we are to be lifting up. His ministry brought us into a greater understanding of those hidden doctrines that were to cause the church to grow and be conformed into the image of Christ. His ministry was to be a example of what we are to be as members of the Bride of Christ. His ministry was not accursed for it lined up with that of Apostle Paul’s. What was his ministry? There are many opinions of what it was, but according to the gospel it was, "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever"! What He was in Paul’s day, He is the same in our day. That is why Bro. Branham boldly declared, "GET BACK TO THE WORD" for its only in the word you will find what the Message is, and your position in this Message (which is Christ!)

The ministry can go on preaching the doctrines of law which consist of, sisters let your hair grow and wear dresses that drag the floor, be silent and submissive. Quit smoking, drinking, cussing, and throw your televisions out the door. But, until you began to teach Christ and Him crucified these doctrines will only get the outward appearance under subjection. You will have no victory in your life. You will continually judge one another by your own superior appearance within the flesh. You will deny the simplicity of the gospel by trying to add and take from it. You will not accept sound doctrine and therefore refuse the gifts that God Himself has placed in the church. Your church attendance will be based upon the fact that it is Sunday and you have to go or the preacher will nag you. Your spirit will not enter into the worship service, for you find yourself under so many man made rules and regulations that fear begins to set in. Is this what the message is to become? Is this the message the prophet projected during his ministry? I say not!

Apostle Paul says in I. Cor. 3:10, "I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereon. For other foundation can no man lay then that is laid, which is, Jesus Christ!" Knowing this I can in no wise agree with many false concepts of what the message is. I am reluctant many times to answer the one that ask, "are you in the message?" At that point, I begin to wonder under what examination are they placing me. I, like Apostle Paul, want to be identified as, "Being In Christ." For He is the Message!

This in no way takes anything from Bro. Branham and his ministry, But, it vindicates it as being the absolute. For he not only preached Christ and Him Crucified, but he manifested it in his every day walk. Now is the time and day my friend to do as the scripture bids, "Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates? (II. Cor. 13:5) May God bless you!