We greet you in the wonderful Name of our Lord Jesus Christ and appreciate your fellowship. This newsletter serves those of like precious faith and whosoever will receive the truth is welcome to feed their soul from the waters of the River of Life. Everything presented should be confirmed personally in your own Bible.
One subscriber wrote, "As the Prophet said, we can't go to this place or that; the only way we can go is UP, seeing Him, armed with the KNOWLEDGE and REVELATION that His Word is our only defence."
One subscriber shared some e-mail from a researcher who wrote: "I could not understand how so many VERY BRIGHT and LOGICAL minded design analysts and programmers could overlook the very LOGICAL REALITY that the year 2000 would come whether they liked it or not. Overlooking a future date just does not make sense for these ultra-IQ qualified programmers. How could they succumb to such stupidity?"
Good question. A thousand years ago, when computers were driven by steam, I took an IBM aptitude test for computer programmers. My IQ and logic were so under-rated, IBM were amazed that I could lace-up my own shoes. These guys can put funny-shaped blocks in the right holes in super-quick time, pass the ink blot test and chew gum.
This led me to contact the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) who produce the Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS). NIST wrote, "The original DRAFT FIPS 4 proposed by NBS contained only a 4-digit year format.
Upon review by all agencies and the public, the proposed FIPS was modified to provide for a 1-digit, 2-digit, and 4-digit year options . . . these decisions were based on the best information available at the time, and the costs versus benefits of using various date formats.
Contrary to popular belief, NBS, and now NIST, has never been a regulatory agency, and therefore has never had power to enforce the use of standards. Additionally, Congress has taken the view that NBS/NIST should adopt standards that are based on consensus of the industries and organisations most affected by the actions of the standards adopted. NBS/NIST has acted in that capacity with date standards by providing for consensus input and agreement, and adopting industry-defined consensus-based standards." [emphasis ours]
To confirm: http://www.nist.gov/y2k/y2kstds.htm or http://www.itl.nist.gov/div897/pubs/index.htm
FIPS PUB 4, 1968 November 1 and FIPS PUB 4-1, 1988 January 27 (which became effective July 30, 1988) permitted four-digit or two-digit year time elements but FIPS PUB 4-1 encouraged optional two-digit year time elements should not be used for the purposes of any data interchange among U.S. Government agencies.
FIPS PUB 4-2, November 15, 1998, is the updated version. It wasn't until March 25, 1996 that the Standards agency notified the public of the US Federal Government's commitment to the use of four-digit year elements (e.g., 1999, 2000, etc.) in its technology systems to facilitate interchange of data among information systems.
It seems to excessively "democratic" to design and apply industry "standards" by "consensus". Its as well locomotive engineers don't design and obey railway signals by "consensus". The Standards people have provided a loophole big enough for the miscreants from the Council on Foreign Relations, Trilateral Commission, Bilderbergers and like-minded One Worlders inclined to create a situation that will severely cripple the present world system and provide them with a plausible excuse to introduce martial law.
The Year 2000 Computer Problem was recognised at the outset. Warnings sent out by industry experts like Jerome T. and Marilyn J. Murray in their 1984 "Computers in Crisis - How to Avert the Coming Computer Systems Collapse" (ISBN 089433-223-6) were ignored. Was this accident or design.
I trust all subscribers to this Newsletter have made adequate provisions for themselves and their loved ones and will have their necessaries purchased and correctly stored in the very near future.
John 1:47-49, "Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him and said, 'Behold an Israelite in heart as well as flesh, in whom is no deceit!'
(By discerning the thoughts and intents of Nathanael's heart Jesus manifested the Messianic sign of Hebrews 4:12, by which those who were Spiritual would know the He was their Messiah. He prophesied the character of this man He had never met before, stating that Nathanael was not ashamed to openly declare his revelation. Watch Nathanael vindicate Jesus).
Nathanael replied, 'How do you know what I'm like?'
Jesus replied, 'Before Philip called you, I saw a vision of you under the fig tree.'
(Without shame Nathanael publicly declares his revelation) 'Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You're the King of Israel'."
Rabbi, meaning "Master" or "my honorable sir", was a title used by the Jews to address or refer to their teachers. Son of God was a rare designation of Messiah with reference to the Divine nature evident in Jesus when He discerned the character of Nathanael before they'd met. King of Israel is another designation of Messiah.
Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
We can only know God as we recognize His Word by faith. Nathanael proved his election in that He recognized the Word manifested in the virgin-born flesh of Jesus Christ, openly professing his faith and following that Word unto death.
Now God is no respecter of persons. What He did at the end of the Hebrew dispensation when their denominations were in apostasy He has promised to repeat at the end of the Gentile dispensation when our denominations are in apostasy. The unchanging God is the same yesterday and today and forever. So once again He must vail the fullness of the Spirit behind the flesh of a man, revealing Jesus Christ, as Son of Man by the Messianic sign.
This is the last sign Jesus promised God would declare before the close of the Gentile dispensation. Where are the Nathanael's who have studied to show themselves approved of God by rightly dividing His Word so they can recognize their day and its Message? How many reading this Newsletter know all about Y2K, depopulation, the coming NWO and other natural signs, but know nothing about the God of heaven revealing Himself on earth, veiled behind the flesh of a M_A_N once again?
Luke 17:28-33, "As it was in the days of Lot the people went about their daily business; they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they farmed, they built -- until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even so it will be 'business as usual' in the day when the Son of man is revealed."
That's the way it was so in our day, as it was in the days of Lot, and also in Jesus' day. In the days of Lot, God veiled Himself behind the flesh of a created Man, and proved He was the Word by discerning the thoughts and intents of Abraham and Sarah's hearts. Read all about this in Genesis 18.
God vindicated Jesus as the Word by this sign, telling Peter his name and the name of his father (John 1:42). Later he informed the woman at the well of her moral problems (John 4:16-26).
Today, the world is in a Sodom condition. This natural sign has been noticed by everyone, even in Texans are expecting same-sex marriages will be legalized in April or June at the latest (Baker v. Vermont, Vermont Supreme Court). As it was in the days of Lot, life carries on like there was no morals problem. Today God veiled Himself behind the flesh of another M_A_N, a sinner saved by grace, revealing Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever, by the Messianic Spiritual sign: discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart, "as it was in the days of Lot." God manifested this sign through His Prophet, William Branham, tens of thousands of times around the world; raising the dead, restoring sight and revealing the mystery of the Seven Seals of Revelation, yet life goes on as if nothing had happened.
Though the Son of Man HAS been revealed, its "business as usual." They say, "Where is the promise of Christ's parousia? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (II Peter 3:4).
But Jesus warned, "In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he who is in the field, let him likewise not return. Remember Lot's wife (who desired the things of this world more than obedience to the Word of God)? Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it."
We must die to worldly things and thoughts until we "lose our life" and become alive in Christ. Like Nathanael, we must be unashamed to have the Token Life of Christ on display at all times, and let our yes be "yes", and our no, "no". Speaking the Word in season and out of season, rebuking and reproving, with all longsuffering and sound doctrine.
In recent months we have spoken at some considerable length of the things prophesied which are now manifesting in the world what will shortly come to pass. Jesus said that the evidence of the baptism with the Holy Spirit or new birth is that He would guide us into all the Truth revealed for our day, and show us what will come to pass in our day (John 16:13). If we can't see these things coming to pass we should question whether or not we have the Spirit.
On the other hand, if we can see these things and the nature and attributes of Christ aren't displayed in our lives, automatically, we should question whether we "understand all the mysteries and all knowledge and have sufficient faith so we can move mountains, but without charity" which is God's own love and the new birth" (I Corinthians 13:2).
As Jesus Christ was the firstfruits of those which slept, Brother Branham was the firstfruits of those who are Christ's at His parousia (I Corinthians 15:21). As Brother Branham explained, his gift was humility: being able to die to self, and get himself out of the way so the people could see beyond the vail of his flesh and personality and recognize Christ. He was able to yield himself to such a degree they weren't conscious of his presence on the platform, and were able to discern Christ in the authority of His power.
How can people see Christ in us if our personality and presence is so loud and powerful it's competing with Him? That's not worship! That's not submission to sovereignty, it's competing with Deity, and God won't share His glory with another.
We must die to self, hear that still small voice Samuel heard, and seek God in simplicity. Paul suffered a physical condition that kept him from exerting himself further in the ministry. And God said to him, I don't need YOUR strength and abilities, which would become a tool by which Satan would seek to entrap you and diminish your effectiveness. "My grace is sufficient for You: for My strength is made perfect in weakness." When Paul caught this revelation he rejoiced in his infirmities, because they forced him to remain small that God might be magnified in him.
"So I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong" (II Corinthians 12:9-10).
Sinners say, "God helps those who help themselves." The truth is God CAN'T help those who help themselves. Even when they need It, they're not seeking His help. So God helps those who CAN'T help themselves and look to Him in faith to supply their needs. When we recognize our insufficiency and weaknesses, we're in a position to surrender our human desires, reasoning and abilities and yield to God; then Christ can display His Token Life in us.
If we're struggling to accomplish things in our own strength, we are witnessing our own lives to the world. Let us die to ourselves that men may see Christ in us as the hope of our glory, and aspire to the same Life and hope. Look at Nathanael, he wasn't conscious of the crowd and cared not what they thought of his testimony. His revelation was that Jesus Christ was the vindicated Messiah.
In Matthew 2 we read of Herod the Great, the first sovereign of the Idumean or Edomite race who ruled Judea under Rome from 40-4BC and commanded all the children in Bethlehem and environs, two years of age and younger, should be killed. Therefore we know Jesus must have been born around 5-6BC, and that the time is five or six years later than we think. As the physical serpent's seed were ruling in Judea at the time of Christ's first Coming, they're ruling over our nations today.
According to historians, there was a common expectation among the inhabitants of all Old Testament lands that Judea was to receive a Messiah at this time who would judge and rule the entire world. He was promised by Abraham, Moses, Balaam, Isaiah, Daniel and all of Israel's prophets. The Ten Tribes who were transported to Assyria and Persia would have disseminated the prophecies throughout the near East. This is borne-out by the wise men or Magi from the East who followed the Star prophesied by Balaam (Numbers 24:17).
Brother Branham said those Magi were Jews. And according to Isaiah 12:11, the remnant of the Ten Tribes will be gathered back to Israel from these countries, not from New York, London, Warsaw or Berlin. Today they are Moslems.
It wasn't the strange star that determined the Magi to undertake the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem, but their belief in the prophecy of the Messiah promised to Israel with which they were familiar. They knew from the prophecies of Abraham, Samuel, David and Isaiah, that Messiah would be of the Tribe of Judah and of the House of David, so the obvious place for them to seek Him was in Jerusalem, the capital of Judea, and where the Temple was.
The first thing they found was a worldly-minded Edomite on the throne at Jerusalem. But Messiah wasn't to be serpent's seed lineage, for God had foretold how He would "bruise the head of the serpent". Secondly, they found the young king was not at Jerusalem. Thirdly, when King Herod had gathered together the Sanhedrin, the heads of the twenty-four courses of ministry and Scribes (or lawyer- theologians), to inquire where Messiah should be born, they found the representatives of the Temple and the holy city indifferent and unbelieving.
And that's what the investigating judgment angels have found among denominational leaders of our wicked and adulterous generation. The cry today is, "Come out of Babylon and be filled with the Spirit" (Matthew 25:6; Revelation 18:4). Fourthly, they were directed to the poor village of Bethlehem which, because of their unbelief, the hierarchy deemed unworthy of investigation.
We have a prophecy for this day which says, "It shall be Light in the evening time. And as the Lightning comes out of the East and shines so far as the West; that's how the "parousia" Coming of the Son of Man will be" (Zechariah 14:7; Matthew 24:27). This aligns with Joel 2:25, Malachi 4:5-6, Matthew 17:11 and Acts 3:21 which promised that the faith once delivered to the apostolic fathers in the East would be restored to their children in the West.
The Gospel Light has traveled from Jerusalem in the East, around the world to America in the New World, and like the sun, Its Light is setting in the West. Before It is completely extinguished at the close of our dispensation, God sent us a prophet to restore the original Life, the original seed, the original Word: that's what I believe!
The Bible says that Herod "was troubled", because here potentially was a new claimant to the throne of the rightful lineage, "and all Jerusalem with him." Their minds were agitated so that they had no peace.
This has repeated today. There is a new claimant to the throne of many nations, it is the rightful heir called Truth, Patriotism and Constitutional government. Yet around the world it is rebuked by the Old Order who hold power. In Australia the One Nation Party is ridiculed and slandered. Our foreign-controlled two party system of sham democracy united against them showing they don't represent the Australian public. And policies rejected by the majority are legislated.
In once Great Britain, these ungodly foreign thugs from the City of London sold that nation to a revived Roman empire and tied her currency to their international banking system under the EU. In America, as in Britain and Australia, the Constitution and Common Law have been scuttled by Presidential Decrees and Statute Law of an elected dictatorship.
When a tyrant is alarmed, his whole capital must be alarmed as heads may roll. They're rolling in Iraq and Serbia right now as a warning to the whole world, "Who is like the beast? who is able to make war with him?"
In the natural, the United States of America is like the beast. Like Rome, America has two horns of church and state power. Like Rome, they will soon be united, and right now, America is speaking like the dragon before him. Heads are rolling in Iraq and Serbia as a threat to American citizens, a threat to British citizens and as a threat to Australians and others, showing that we must submit to the demands of the beast, or we too shall die.
Herod's fear was political whilst Jerusalem may have been in moral dread of the judgment said to come upon the world with the advent of a Messiah who should judge both the Nation and the world. Like the Gentile denominations today, the Judeans were anticipating the wrong Coming.
Micah had foretold Christ should be born in Bethlehem (which means the house of God's bread). It was too small to be included among the towns where the heads of Israel's civil defense of thousands resided. According to travelers, in the middle of last century it had only 100 buildings, no inn, and only about 600 inhabitants.
Herod shared the understanding of the Magi that the birth of the child coincided with the appearance of the star. Asking the date of its appearance, he sent them on their way, encouraging them to keep him posted so that he too may pay homage.
They followed the same Star Brother Branham followed which was "the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord", or Shekinah. Jerusalem must have been as Spiritually dark as Laodicea, for they didn't see the Star until they departed. They traveled Westward to meet the Word as Brother Branham traveled Westward to meet the Word.
When found the little family, they were not in the stable where Jesus was born, but renting a house in Bethlehem. By faith these men had followed this star for two years. As they were probably a large caravan, and I expect they traveled slowly, practicing and expounding their astrology among the communities they passed through and receiving hospitality on the way. Jesus was no longer a baby, but an infant of about two.
They presented their gifts of gold, signifying Christ's Deity, and frankincense signifying His service to God as an acceptable offering, and Myrrh, indicating His sacrificial death for Adam's race. Then being warned by God in a dream of Herod's wicked design they returned into their own country by some other route.
When they had departed, Joseph received the same warning with instructions to flee for refuge to a protected Hebrew community in Egypt near the southern frontier of Judea. Their return would is fulfill the type of Israel who was called out of Egypt in the first Exodus (Hosea 11:1).
As we approach the time of the year when the Magi found the Living Word, may we who have apprehended the Word lay aside our life that His Light may be seen in us. nl066.htm
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Brother Anthony Grigor-Scott is a non-denominational minister. He
has ministered full-time since 1981, primarily to other ministers
and their congregations in various countries. He pastors Bible
Believers' tiny congregation, and is available to minister in
your church.