<TITLE>12. Par 19-21</TITLE>L-19 Now, notice this, that this Angel was Gabriel. Now, these minor Angels come; but when you see or hear of Gabriel coming, you get ready for something major fixing to happen. Gabriel was the One Who announced the first coming of Jesus Christ. Is that right? And we're taught in the Bible that Gabriel will announce the second coming. He'll sound the trumpet of God (Is that right?), the coming of the Lord, the Angel of God, Gabriel, Who stands at the, God's right hand.
Now, this great Gabriel come down in here, with the priest swinging his incense here, burning it, while the people was out praying. He was standing at the altar. And he looked over on the al--the side of the altar, and there stood the great Archangel. It frightened the priest. And He told him all about his life, and things, and what he was going to do. Said, "After days of your ministration here, go home to Elisabeth, your wife. And she's going to bear a child, and you'll call his name John."
Why, look. That priest now, said, "How can these things be? She's old." See?

L-20 There's righteous people walking in all the Light of the Lord; that's the kind of a home that God can get into. Now, if you're serving all kinds of--of parties, and beer, and everything in your house, God will never visit you there. That's right. But if you've got a home that's cleaned up and living for God, with prayer and the Bible open, and a few tear stains on it, God can visit you. That's right. 'Cause you've opened up a channel that He can come to. And there is where it was.
Now, when God had answered the prayer of Zacharias and Elisabeth, it liked to scared him to death, of course. He didn't think that it could happen. But He said, "I'm Gabriel, Who stands in the Presence of God, and My words shall be fulfilled in their season." And then he came back out, and the people... He was stricken dumb. And he was going to be dumb until the day the baby was born.
And then out come Zacharias, and the people... He beckoned to the people. They seen that he had seen a vision or something. So he went home, and Elisabeth conceived and hid herself six months. And she was to be a mother.

L-21 Then watch, just down in Nazareth, the meanest city in the country, worse than Chicago, probably. Then, pretty near as bad as Jeffersonville, where I come from. Then the first thing you know, well, there, a little virgin one day, engaged to a man about forty-five years old, widower with about four children.
Why, she was coming home, in the oriental type. Probably it was on a Monday. She was packing her wash water on top of her head, maybe, in a jar as they do it, walking along. And all at once, before her flashed a big Light. She... Frightened the little virgin. She looked. And there was Gabriel standing by her side. Said, "Hail Mary." Or "Stop." Said, "Blessed art thou among women." Said, told her how that her cousin Elisabeth had conceived in her old age, and was going to bear a child. And said the--that she was going to have a Child, knowing no man.
Now, look at the difference between Zacharias, that minister, who had studied the Scriptures over and over, and over and over, and over and over again, had plenty of examples: There was Sarah, and Hannah, and so forth, back in the Old Testament, plenty examples. He--he doubted it to be so. But this little girl didn't doubt. She said, "Behold the handsmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to Thy Word." What a difference.


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