Jesus Christ is God

From: An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages

Now that is the revelation: Jesus Christ is God. The Jehovah of the Old Testament is the Jesus of the New. No matter how hard you try, you can’t prove there are THREE Gods. But it also takes a revelation by the Holy Spirit to make you understand the truth that He is One. It takes a revelation to see that the Jehovah of the Old Testament is the Jesus of the New. Satan crept into the church and blinded the people to this truth. And when they were blinded to it, it wasn’t long until the Church of Rome stopped baptizing in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I admit that it takes a real revelation from the Holy Ghost to see the truth about the Godhead these days when we are in the midst of the perverting of so much Scripture. But the prevailing, overcoming church is built on revelation so we can expect God to reveal His truth to us. However, you actually don’t need a revelation on water baptism. It is right there staring you in the face. Would it be possible for one minute for the apostles to be led astray from a direct command of the Lord to baptize in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost and then find them in willful disobedience? They knew what the Name was, and there is not one place in Scripture where they baptized any other way than in the Name of Lord Jesus Christ. Common sense would tell you that the Book of Acts is the church in action, and if they baptized that way, then that is the way to baptize. Now if you think that is strong, what do you think of this? Anyone who was not baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus had to be baptized over again.

Acts 19:1-6, "And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him Which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues and prophesied." There it is. These good people at Ephesus had heard about the coming Messiah. John had preached Him. They were baptized unto repentance of sins, looking FORWARD to believing on Jesus. But now it was time to look BACK to Jesus and be baptized unto REMISSION of sins. It was time to receive the Holy Ghost. And when they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul laid his hands on them and the Holy Ghost came upon them.

Oh, those dear folks at Ephesus were fine people; and if any one had a right to feel secure, they did. Notice how far they had come. They had come all the way up to accepting the coming Messiah. They were ready for Him. But don’t you see that in spite of that they had missed Him? He had come and gone. They needed to be baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. They needed to be filled with the Holy Ghos ed in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, God will fill you with His Spirit. That is the Word. Acts 19:6 which we read was the fulfilling of Acts 2:38, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." See, Paul, by the Holy Ghost, said exactly what Peter said by the Holy Ghost. And what was said CANNOT be changed. It has to be the same from Pentecost until the very last elected one has been baptized. Galatians 1:8, "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."

Now some of you Oneness people baptize wrong. You baptize for regeneration as though being immersed in water saved you. Regeneration does not come by water; it is a work of the Spirit. The man who by the Holy Ghost gave the command, "Repent and be baptized every one in the Name of the Lord Jesus," did not say that water regenerated. He said it was only an evidence of a "good conscience toward God." That was all. I Peter 3:21, "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." I believe it.

If anyone has any false ideas that history can prove water baptism in any other way than in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I would advise you to read the histories and find out for yourself. The following is a true record of a Baptism which took place in Rome A.D. 100 and was reproduced in TIME magazine, December 5, 1955. "The deacon raised his hand, and Publius Decius stepped through the baptistry door. Standing waist-deep in the pool was Marcus Vasca the woodseller. He was smiling as Publius waded into the pool beside him. ‘Credis?’ he asked. ‘Credo,’ responded Publius. ‘I believe that my salvation comes from Jesus the Christ, Who was crucified under Pontius Pilate. With Him I died that with Him I may have Eternal Life.’ Then he felt strong arms supporting him as he let himself fall backward into the pool, and heard Marcus’ voice in his ear ---- ‘I baptize you in the Name of the Lord Jesus’ ---- as the cold water closed over him."

Right up until the truth was lost (and did not return until this last age ---- this is from Nicaea till the turn of this century) they baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. But it has come back. Satan can’t keep the revelation down when the Spirit wants to give it.

Yes, if there were three Gods, you might very well baptize for a Father, and a Son, and a Holy Ghost. But the REVELATION GIVEN TO JOHN was that there is ONE GOD and His Name is LORD JESUS CHRIST, and you baptize for ONE God and only one. That is why Peter baptized the way he did at Pentecost. He had to be true to the revelation which was, "Let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that SAME JESUS, Whom ye have crucified, BOTH LORD AND CHRIST." There He is, "The LORD JESUS CHRIST."

If Jesus is "BOTH" Lord and Christ, then He (Jesus) is, and cannot be else but "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost" in ONE Person manifested in the flesh. It is NOT "God in three persons, blessed trinity," but ONE GOD, ONE PERSON with three major titles, with three offices manifesting those titles. Hear it once more. This same Jesus is "BOTH Lord and Christ." Lord (Father) and Christ (Holy Spirit) are Jesus, for He (Jesus) is BOTH of them (Lord and Christ).

If that doesn’t show us the true revelation of the Godhead, nothing will. Lord is NOT another one; Christ is NOT another one. This Jesus is the Lord Jesus Christ --- ONE GOD.

Philip one day said to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father and it will suffice us." Jesus said unto him, "Have I been so long with you and you don’t know Me? He that has seen Me has seen the Father, so why do you say, Show us the Father? I and My Father are One." I quoted that once and a lady said, "Just a minute, Mr. Branham, you and your wife are one."

I said, "Not that kind."

She said, "I beg your pardon?"

So I said to her, "Do you see me?"

She said, "Yes."

I said, "Do you see my wife?"

She said, "No."

I said, "Then that oneness is a different kind, for He said, ‘When you see Me, you see the Father.’"

The prophet said that it would be light at the evening time. In the hymn it is written:

It’ll be Light in the evening time, The path to Glory you will surely find, In the water way, that’s the Light today, Buried in the precious Name of Jesus. Young and old, repent of all your sin, The Holy Ghost will surely enter in. The evening Light has come --- It is a fact that God and Christ are one. Not too long ago I was talking to a Jewish Rabbi. He said to me, "You Gentiles can’t cut God in three pieces and give Him to a Jew. We know better than that."

I said to him, "That’s just it, Rabbi, we don’t cut God in three pieces. You believe the prophets, don’t you?"

He said, "Certainly I do."

"Do you believe Isaiah 9:6?" "Yes."

"Who was the prophet speaking of?"

"Messiah."

I said, "What relation will Messiah be to God?"

He said, "He will be God."

I said, "That’s right." Amen.

You can’t put God into three persons or three parts. You can’t tell a Jew that there is a Father, and a Son, and a Holy Ghost. He will tell you right quick where that idea came from. The Jews know this creed was established at the Nicene Council. No wonder they scorn us as heathen.

We talk about a God that does not change. The Jews believe that too. But the church changed its unchanging God from ONE to THREE. But the light is returning at eventide. How striking it is that this truth has come at the time when the Jews are returning to Palestine. God and Christ are ONE. This Jesus is BOTH LORD AND CHRIST.

John had the revelation, and JESUS was the Revelation, and He produced Himself right here in the Scripture ---- "I AM He That Was, Which Is and Shall Come, the Almighty. Amen."

If revelation is beyond you, look up and seek God for it. That is the only way you are ever going to get it. A revelation has to come from God. It never comes by human, natural endowments, but by Spiritual enduement. You can even memorize the Scripture, and though that is wonderful, that won’t do it. It has to be a revelation from God. It says in the Word that no man can say that Jesus is the Christ except by the Holy Ghost. You have to receive the Holy Ghost and then, and only then, can the Spirit give you the revelation that Jesus is the Christ: God, the Anointed One.

From: Quest And Answers On The Seals.

Brother Branham, would you please answer this one for me about baptism: Matthew 28:19 teaches the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and Peter in Acts 2:38, in the Name of the Lord Jesus. When was this change come about in Acts of the Apostles? Now, I believe in the Lord Jesus.

Well, brother or sister, ever who wrote it, there--there was no change come about. See? But Peter done exactly what Jesus said do. Now, if somebody come and say, "Use the titles of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost"; they did what Peter said not do, but what God said not do. See? Now, Jesus said that it... We'll just--just take a little bit here. I want to just to show you something here. Notice.

Now notice, if you're here (the person)... I'm going to put three pieces of material here. Now look, this is the Father, this is the Son, this is the Holy Ghost as trinitarian people believe them--believe that they are three separate individuals. They believe that. See?

Well then, now let me... And then in Matthew 28:19, Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He..." (No, I beg your pardon; I'm quoting Acts now, or and Acts 2, I believe--no, Luke 24:49 I'm quoting.) He said... Let me read it, then I've got it (See?) and then... 'Cause the other day I said that when it didn't, I want to be sure I get this right. I--I know the title of what you're saying there, but I want to get just what He said. Let's begin at the 16th verse of the 29th.

Then as the eleven set at meat... or the... Then the eleven... went away into the Galilee, into the mount where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power in heavens and in earth is given unto... All powers is given unto me in heavens and in earth.

Now, where's the power of God? Where's God at? If all the power out of heaven and all the powers in earth has been given, now where's God at? There He is. See, that's what's talking to you. See? All right.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Now, the trinitarian sphere of that. "I baptize you in the Name of the Father, in the Name of the Son, and in the Name of the Holy Ghost." That's not even in holy Writ. See? He said, "Baptize them in the Name of the Father and of the Son, and of... Not in the... They put a Name before each one--one Name. (Watch here.) Didn't say, "Baptize them in the names; N-a-m-e, one name: in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. See?

Now, I want to ask you. Is Father a name? [Congregation answers "No."--Ed.] Is Son a name? [Congregation answers "No."--Ed.] How many fathers is here? Which one of you's named "Father"? How many sons are here? How many humans are here? See? Well, which one of you is named "Father, Son, or human?" See?

Like a woman said one time, she said, "Brother Branham, the Holy Ghost is a name; It's a person."

I said, "Yes, sir. I am a person, but my name's not Person." I am a person. See? My name's William Branham, but I am a person. The Holy Ghost is a Person; that's what it is. It's not a name; it's a title of the Person of God. See? It's a title to the personality of God, what He is.

Now, now, if He said: "Go ye therefore, teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, of the Holy Ghost," not in the name of the Father, name of the Son, name of the Holy Ghost, or, not in the names of the Father, and of the Son, the Holy Ghost; but in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

And if Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is no name, then what about it? Say, if "Its name." Which one of... You want to call one of them a name, which name is it? If you want to call the title a name, then which name, which title is it you want to baptize--the Father or the Son? It's singular. See it?

Now, we turn over here in... And that's the last book of Matthew. Like if I always explained it... If you read a love story, and said, "John and Mary lived happy ever after." See, it's because you never--you don't know who John and Mary is? Go back to the first of your story. Find out who John and Mary is. See?

Now, that's what you're doing here in Matthew. You're only reading the last part of it. Go back to the first of Matthew and read what the story is--that's the last chapter of Matthew and the last verses. Like you picked up a book and say, "John and Mary lived happy ever after. That was John Jones and--and Mary So-and-so. That was... No, that was--that was John Henry and that was So-and-so. This is John Somebody and--and So-and-so." Now, you don't know yet. You see? The only thing to do to be sure is go back in the book and read it. See? You can't pick up a piece here. You got to put the whole thing together to make the picture.

Now, go back to Matthew the 1st chapter, and it goes and gives the genealogies, coming down, 1st chapter; then it gets down to the 18th verse that says:

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise:... (Is that right?) Now, I want to ask you something. Now, listen again; you--you call it. Who's this? God the [Congregation replies, "Father"--Ed.], God the [Congregation replies, "Son"--Ed.], God the [Congregation replies, "Holy Ghost"--Ed.] Now which one is this? [Congregation replies, "Father"--Ed.] Which one is this? [Congregation replies, "Holy Ghost"--Ed.] Which one is this? [Congregation replies "Son"--Ed.] All right. Now, we got it. Now what did you say this was? God the Who? [Congregation replies, "Holy Ghost"--Ed.] Holy Ghost, all right. Now, all right.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When... his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with a child of the... [Congregation replies, "Holy Ghost."--Ed.]

Now, I thought you said God was His Father. Now, there's something wrong here. He can't have two fathers. You know that, you know. See? Now, there's something wrong. Now, which one of these men, if they're three persons, which one of them is His Father? The Bible says here plainly, "She was found with a child of the Holy Ghost." God, the Father, had nothing to do with it. And Jesus said God was His Father, and we know God was His Father, then He had two fathers. And then He's illegitimate sure enough. Now, see where you got yourself? Now...

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man,... not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things,...

Remember he was a good man now, and the hand of the Lord is at hand right now. Them who are predestinated will catch it. See?

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream,... (Are you following me in your Bible? All right.)... saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of... (God the Father. Did I misread that? Sure did.) That which is conceived in her has nothing to do with God the Father; it's the Holy Ghost. And now, we know that God was His Father. Is that right? So what is it? The Holy Ghost is God's Spirit, of course. Now, you've got it. See?

God the Father and the Holy Ghost is the same Person or He had two daddy's; and then what--what kind of person you worship? What kind of God you got now? See, see? God the Holy Ghost and God the Father is the self-same Spirit.

And she shall bring forth a son,... (this Fellow here)... and thou shalt call his name... (What? His Name. Now remember, His Name.) JESUS: for he shall save his people for--from their sins.

Now this was all done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet,... (to who the Word comes to)... saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they... called his name Emmanuel, which is being interpreted, God with us.

What is the Name of God? What is the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? The Bible said Jesus was His Name. Then the fellow here trying to debate it once here in the Tabernacle, said, "Brother Branham has wiggled out of all of them; he won't this one." Said, "here it shows three different persons exactly, perfectly." Said, "Matthew, 3rd chapter, here was John standing, preaching. Here come the Son walking up to be baptized. He went into the water, and was baptized by John, went back up out of the water, and 'Lo,' he said, 'the heavens was opened unto Him,' and he said, 'down from heaven came the Holy Ghost like a dove descending, and a voice from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in Whom...'" Three distinct persons right at one time." Oh, my.

You know, It just goes to show that people without the baptism, and not called to the office of--of a--a minister has no business to be in the pulpit. That's right. I--I--I could take that person, now, by the help of God and tie them in such a knot it'd make their head swim. Look, I don't care what... (Now, I don't mean... Now, that don't sound right. Forgive me. I didn't mean that, Lord; I didn't now... I--I felt Him check me on that. See? So I didn't mean to say it that way. I'm--I'm sorry.) I believe that the Holy Spirit could reveal to that person some secret; that sounds better. See?

Just like tuning an instrument, when you do something wrong, you can tell it as a Christian. You said something wrong; He didn't like that. See, that was putting me in there. See? I ain't in the picture at all. I'm just--don't even want to be myself or nothing; it's Him. Let Him do the work. He does the sounding; the trumpet's a mute. The voice behind it, one that gives it the sound.

Now, looky here. The man misinterpreted the Word. See? Remember, it's hid from the eyes of wise and prudent, revealed to babes. Now, here is that one Person, Jesus Christ, standing on earth. Now heaven, 'course, is atmospheres above.

Now watch. And John bear record... Now that man's got, say here's God the Father, and here's God the Holy Ghost, like a dove, and here's God the Son, making three persons. It's wrong. John, standing back here, knowed this was the Lamb.

John said, "I bear record seeing the Spirit of God like a Lamb." There's God the Spirit... Like a dove, I mean. (Now, there's the same thing I said the other night. You see?, instead of seven hundred, seven... See?) The Spirit of God--this was the Lamb here. And the Spirit of God--the Dove was God. The Spirit of God descending from heaven, and a voice from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son in Whom I am pleased to dwell in." "All powers in heaven and earth is given unto My hand." See? That's Him. Now what was His Name? [Congregation answers, "Jesus"--Ed.] Certainly. See?

So, as far as the trinitarian's theory of being three different gods, that's heathenism. That never was taught in the Bible. It never was taught in the Lion message, but it was adopted in the next, which was antichrist. Ask anybody you want to, any theologian. That never did come only through the doctrine of the Nicolaitane.

There is why it come out with Martin Luther. That's why it continued on with John Wesley and poured on down into the Pentecostals. In the day that the Pentecostal come out, they got the Jesus Only group. Now, that's wrong again. How can Jesus be His own Father? See? So it knocks that out.

But there's supposed to be an Eagle time come. See? That's the time it's to straighten all those mysteries out. See? Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is titles of the Lord Jesus Christ

(Watch), all three of them. Matthew said, "Father, Son, Holy Ghost..."

Peter said, "Lord Jesus Christ..." Who is the Father? "The Lord said unto my Lord, 'Set thou on My right hand.'" Is that right? Father, Son--Jesus, Holy Ghost--the Logos that went out of God. Father, Son, Holy Ghost is absolutely three titles of the Person of God manifested in--in--in three different ways or three attributes of Himself. And to make it plain to someone who wouldn't understand, it's like three offices of the same God. Actually, it's three attributes of the same God, God acting in three different... Under the Fatherhood, under the Sonship, under the Holy Ghost dispensation... God is perfect in three.

You remember the antichrist number, four? See? God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is absolutely Lord Jesus Christ. When you baptize in the Name of Jesus only, that's wrong, just baptize you in the Name of Jesus, that's absolutely wrong.

I'm acquainted with many Jesuses. Why, the Latin countries are full of them: Jesuses. But this is the Lord Jesus Christ. It tells exactly Who He is.

There's many Branhams, if you want to talk about me personally. But I'm--I'm the one William Marrion Branham. That's--that's me. But there's many other William Branhams and so forth around. But this is distinctly calling one person, the Lord Jesus Christ (See?), the anointed One. There's only one of them.

Now that's right. So if there's any farther on that, write a letter or something, or--or sometime when I'm on other questions... I want to try to get this so I can see if we can get to some of these sick people that's suffering, prayed for.