<TITLE>08. Par 50-57</TITLE>L-50 Now, if you notice, the light of Pentecost, way it started, gradually smothered out. These men, Irenaeus, Polycarp, all the rest of them sealed their testimony with their blood, until it finally squeezed Christianity into the darkest of days.
Now, look, the first age the other side of that great hump, come over was a little bit of Light, more Light, and more Light. See how it begins to shine again, coming unto that day. And now at the end of this age, it's predicted here that it'd come to a Laodicean, a lukewarm. Now, here it is. Why, if this thing here brought them to this, why would we want that down here in Pentecost?
And you know the Bible said there'd be a beast. And we know that's the Roman papacy. That's exactly right. And then they would form an image to that beast. What is an image? Something made like it. And that's the confederation of churches, and Pentecost is in it. It'll come a time where you'll either belong to an organization or you can't keep your door open. Now, you see if that isn't true. That's the reason we pound it to death. Yes, sir. You... They even go lower than that; they'll try to stick you so bad, till they try to--won't let you buy or sell 'less you've got that organization mark on you. It brings it right in.

L-53 Just exactly like that day, they burned them, they... I stood there in that arena, wept like a baby when I'd look up there where the gladiators would set in that old arena there. And--and see them things, and know that many of my Christian brethren was eaten by lions, and--and tore to pieces on the ground there, and women and little children and things. I think, if they all went down in faith, would I let them down now? No, sir, brother. God, let me stand for the faith that was once delivered to the saints, that same thing, no matter how unpopular.

L-54 Somebody's always wanting to say, "Well..." Someone said not long ago... Oh, how many great ministers on the field has called me and said, "Brother Branham, if you don't stop that, every organization will be against you."
"Why," I said, "there's One that won't be, that's the One that's in heaven. That's the One I'm looking for." See? Now, I love people in every organization. Sure. But have I ever told you anything that the Lord--in the Name of the Lord, didn't come to pass? See? Has everything been said and been done right? Have I ever begged you for money? Then stay out of the organizations. You stay free in Christ; let the Holy Spirit always move in and out the church.

L-56 The only thing the matter, get all these little differences away from you. Little isms, and little funny feelings around you for brethren, and things like that, shake it away. Don't let no root of bitterness ever get into your soul. If you do, it'll canker you. Right. Keep love. I don't care how much people hate you; you love them anyhow. If you can't do that, you need--you didn't--you--you ain't sealed; you got a loose place yet. So come on back and get that sealed up right good with the Blood of Christ. It'll cleanse you from all roots of bitterness. Yes.

L-57 Now, see, but we're trying again. The Pentecostal blessing fell about 1906, somewhere in there. There's a minister setting with us tonight, a missionary from Tibet, one of... I don't say it because it's his Presence. I hope he didn't go home. I think he's still here, was going to speak for us a little 'fore I come down. And that man remembers the first of Pentecost. There wasn't any organization; everybody had things in common. Oh, how easy it is to take the wrong step right there, and how good it looks to the intellectual.


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