APPEARING & COMING

This Word study is made up of several quotes from Brother Branham which are put together to answer a question which has plagued the End-Time followers of Brother Branham's Message. Some have taught incorrectly that the Appearing is the Coming, but this is error. Brother Branham is very clear in pointing out the difference between the Appearing and the Coming, and let's us know that these are two separate events. He also let's us know that the Appearing is NOW and it's purpose is to get us ready for the Coming. Thus the Parousia-Presence of Christ is the Appearing, which is the Presence of God among His elect in the form of the Holy Ghost, and is not the Coming, (which is represented in the glorified Body of the Son of God) whom we shall go to meet in the air.

Where error presents itself, is that many aspects of the 2^nd Coming have been ascribed by well meaning theologians down through the ages, but these events should have been ascribed to the Appearing

instead.

The church then, by having been taught wrong, have missed the Appearing which is a totally different event altogether. As brother Branham would say, "just because you say it is so, doesn't make it so."

God interprets His Word by bringing it to pass. Therefore, based upon a vindicated ministry, and message, and having seen these events of the Appearing transpire, as brother Branham preached them in the "Rapture Message", we can unabashedly declare that the Appearing has already taken place and they knew it not.

Therefore, it behooves us to examine the difference between the Appearing of Christ and the Coming of Christ because they are two different events altogether, the one leading into the other.

We are taught that we must correctly divide the word and to misplace it will bring about a wrong understanding or interpretation. Brother Branham taught us to correctly divide the Word and thus we shall. Just because it does not happen the way we think it ought to happen, does not mean it didn't happen the way God said it would happen.

That is how they missed Christ at His first Coming. If we are honest in our hearts, we will consider the things brought to us by God's vindicated Prophet and we will re-examine our own thinking to line up with his thinking, because after all the Messenger does not speak his own words, but the words of another. And the Message no more belongs to the messenger than it belongs to you and me who hear that message. The Messenger is not the author, but simply the person chosen who will best relay it without adding his own thoughts which could cause misunderstanding.

Therefore in viewing these quotes, all I ask is that you allow Brother Branham to say what he is saying without your preconceived idea being added to it. He said, just say what the tapes say, and so we shall.

CONVINCED AND THEN CONCERNED 62-0521 E-31 031 Now, John was so sure that he was going to see the Messiah, till he said, "He's in our midst now." Now, watch. Notice. There's a great big difference in the sign of Jesus appearing, and then Jesus coming. There's two different words, means two different things: the appearing of the Lord, and the coming of the Lord. Now, the appearing of the Lord is now, when He's appearing in His people, His Spirit working among them, proving that it's Him with them, getting them ready for the rapture, for the coming of the Lord to catch away His--the Bride (See?): the appearing and the coming. All right. Now.

Brother Branham said the Appearing is now, in His People, but he clarified how He is Appearing in His people, he said, "His Spirit is working among them, proving" which is vindication, and for the purpose of getting them ready for the rapture, for the coming of the Lord to catch away His Bride.

END TIME EVANGELISM 62-0603 50 030 Same thing today, when you see His work. Now, we have already seen and are witnessing the appearing of the Lord. Now remember, appearing and coming is two different words: to appear and then to come. Now is the appearing; He's already appeared in these last days, right here with us in the last few years. Now, it's a sign of His coming. He's appearing in His Church in the form of the Holy Spirit, showing that it's Him, 'cause people cannot do these things that you see the Holy Spirit doing; so that's the appearing of the Lord. Now, you remember, it spoke both places, "appearing" and "coming."

Again if we look at these statements, we see and hear brother Branham saying that we have already witnessed the Appearing, and it's a sign of His Coming. He's Appearing to the Church in the form of the Holy Ghost. This is not the body of Jesus he is speaking of here, but the Presence of God in the form of the Holy Ghost which is in Spirit form. Then he goes to vindication by saying, people can't do these things that you are witnessing. It has to be God.

LETTING OFF THE PRESSURE 62-0609E E-58 058 But if you can beat all that away from you, say, "Lord God, I believe just exactly what Your Word says, and I believe (as we preached last night), that the appearing of the Lord comes before the coming of the Lord," for it's just two different words altogether. See? Now's the appearing, as He promised in the last days that He'd be with us.

Now, here we see brother Branham make the case that the Appearing is the Presence of the Holy Spirit among us in the last days as He (God) promised He would be. For more information on this presence see the books, Presence 1 and Presence 2.

IT IS I BE NOT AFRAID 62-0611 E-81 081 You know, there's a difference between the appearing of Christ and the coming of Christ. That's two different words altogether. He's appearing now in His church. We see Him; we know it's Him. It's the Holy Spirit. See? We know it is.

Again brother Branham tells us that there is a difference between the Appearing and the Coming and the Appearing is now, the presence of the Holy Spirit in and among His Church. He said, "we see Him, and we know it's Him." And how is that? By what he did among us, for no man could do the things that only God can do. Once again we see then the Appearing has to do with Presence and Vindication.

BE NOT AFRAID 62-0620 E-66 066 There's a different word used. The appearing of Christ and the Coming of Christ (See?) it's two different words altogether. See? Now, Christ is appearing in these last days in His church, bringing His church together in unity, and faith, and power in the Word, all together; that when He returns He will find the same church.

Here we begin to see several other points that are very important in understanding the importance of the Appearing. Notice brother Branham tells us that it is to gather together His church into a unity, and faith which we know that faith is a revelation, something that is revealed.

Therefore this Appearing is to be an event which is to gather together the elect to and by a revelation of God, bringing us together, as Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 1: 10 at the Apokolupsis or revealing of Christ. Peter mentions the same thing in 1 Peter 1:13. Notice again brother Branham's pointing out the power in the Word which illustrates to us there must be a show of power that demonstrates Who it is in our midst, and this demonstration of power in the Word points out again vindication. God is here to vindicate this Faith and by this unveiling or revealing backed by vindication will gather together His Elect.

WE WOULD SEE JESUS 62-0627 E-76 076 Civilization has traveled with the sun. The sun rose in the east, and the same sun, s-u-n, that rises in the east is the same s-u-n that sets in the west. We've had a dismal day, as the Bible said, neither called day nor night--enough to join church, and to do good, and so forth. But it shall be light about the evening time. And the same S-o-n, Son of God, that rose yonder in the east on the eastern people, and showed His blessings and power... It's been a dismal day, but now on the west coast... If we go any farther, we go back to China again to the east, and back to the eastern country. Now, we're at the west coast, and the S-o-n is appearing before His coming. Remember, appearing and coming is two different words. See? He's appearing now in the church, showing Himself alive after two thousand years. "Sirs, we would see Jesus."

In this quotation we hear brother Branham illustrate the Alpha and Omega principle that what he did at His first coming, must be repeated in His Second Coming. And He tells us that He will have to do the same things now that He did back then. And it is in Spirit form, letting you know that it is not the second Coming.

FROM THAT TIME 62-0713 E-102 102 How many knows there's a difference between the appearing of Christ and the coming of Christ? It's two different words. Now's the appearing, the coming will soon be. He's appearing in the midst of us, doing the works that He once did, in His church. Now, you're a part of that church, and by grace you believe. I am a member of that church.

Notice once again, brother Branham makes it plain that what Christ did at His First Coming, He is here now doing at His Appearing. But I want you to also know that He said He is in the midst of the people as He was back then. In Luke 17, the Pharisees asked Jesus when His kingdom would come, and He said "My kingdom is within you." He was not telling those Christ rejecting Pharisees that His kingdom was in them, but that word is "entos" which means in your very midst.

GOD HAS A PROVIDED WAY 62-0728 E-81 Now, remember these two words before I leave you: the appearing of Christ and the coming of Christ is two different things. Christ is now appearing in the fullness of His power. His coming will be afterwards: His appearing before His coming.

Again we see the emphasis on the power which is vindication and the strategic timing in which he says the Appearing is before the Coming. Letting us know that we are now witnessing the Appearing and it is just before the Coming.