The Future Home Of The Heavenly Bridegroom And The Earthly Bride

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In the sermon, The Future Home Of The Heavenly Bridegroom And The Earthly Bride, William Branham states:

Now, way I always find my Messages is by prayer. I’ll be sitting in prayer and something reveals to me. And I wait on it a few minutes and see if it’s right, then I feel it closer. And then sometimes I keep waiting till it breaks into a vision. But when it begins to come, and I’m satisfied it comes from God, then I go to the Scripture. See, That is, ought to be the confirmation of every spiritual thing that’s done, because the Bible is the complete revelation of Jesus Christ; see, It is His Body.

And now, in that, maybe I find a place in the Scripture that doesn’t sound just right, and I’ll wonder. I go back again to prayer. It comes again. Then I—then I begin to—to examine my Scripture.

...Then, you see, from that inspiration… This pulpit this morning, I say, not one time has it ever been nothing but straight, the Scripture. That’s how Serpent’s Seed and all these other things come.

A few months later, William Branham stated:

How many got the—the—The Future Home Of The Bride And Groom, on the tape? See, I brought it out in there. The Lord gave it to me. I give it on to you as He gives it to me.

But is this true? Did this sermon come directly from God? Or was it stolen from Clarence Larkin?

Evidence of a Theft

The following are a few of the things that were plagiarized in the sermon, The Future Home Of The Heavenly Bridegroom And The Earthly Bride, but there are more if you want to do your own research.

What William Branham Said	What Clarence Larkin Said
Now, many of you that want to put down this word, the Greek word, “pass away.” It comes from the word…I had to find it. I thought, “How is this world going to pass away, and yet we’re going to live on it?” But if you’ll notice, some of you people that wants to put it down, I’ll spell it for you. I couldn’t pronounce it, p-a-r-e-r-e-c-h-o-m-i-a. I don’t know how to pronounce it. Now, that way, as I said, when I get…The inspiration strikes me for something, then I go back to find out the word. Now, here, I can’t spell the word, or I can’t—I can’t pronounce it. But, in that, the Lord has still give me a way. I go and find out what that word means, then I got it. See? Then I got it, again. See? Heavens and earth will pass away, now, this word means, “passing from one form to another.” It does not mean “annihilation,” as the English word would mean, pass away, it’s annihilated. But the Hebrew word, or the Greek word here, does not mean pass away; it means, “from passing from one thing to another.” Look, but, “to pass from one condition,” it says, “to another.” Now notice, Paul used it, if you want to read it now. Put it down, you can read it later. In Titus 3:5, Paul is using this same word, means regeneration of man, that man has passed from a sinner to a saint, not completely annihilated. When a man is changed, he isn’t annihilated, but he’s a changed person. He has been changed from what he was to what he is, not annihilated. Jesus used the same word in Matthew 19:28; now, not 28:19. Now, 19:28, He said to them, “You’ll set with Me in My Father’s Kingdom, regenerated,” you see, “changed,” when you’re changed. He used the same word.	The Greek work “Parerchomai,” translated “pass away,” does not mean “termination of existence” or “annihilation,” but means to pass from “one condition of existence to another.” The Apostle Paul in his letter to Titus, (Titus 3:5), speaking of the “Regeneration” of men, uses the same word that Jesus used when, in Matt. 19:28, He promised His Disciples that in the “Regeneration,” that is in the “New Earth,” they should sit on “Twelve Thrones” judging the “Twelve Tribes” of Israel. Now no one supposes that the Regeneration of a man is his Annihilation.”
Here is a deep revelation from God. Here, I’ll just stop here. None of these other... I’ll bring the rest of this up, the Lord willing. Notice now the earth is... Well, you turn over into the Book of Revelation, you can see how he measured it by the cubits and by the furlongs. Twenty-three hundred…So now we find out that the—the City is measured, “fifteen hundred miles” square. You know how far that would reach? I measured it off, this week. It would reach from Maine to Florida, and from the eastern seaboard to six hundred miles apast, west of the Mississippi. In other words, half of the United States, just for the City. You say, “There ain’t no room.” When the sea is gone there will be, ’cause pretty near four fifths of it’s in water. That right? The explosion dries up the sea, erupts the earth. Oh, my! Remember, fifteen hundred miles square, what a City! And, but, remember, the sea is gone. “And the breadth and the height are the same.” That would make it fifteen hundred miles this way, fifteen hundred miles that way; fifteen hundred miles; the length by the breadth by the height. Fifteen hundred miles, think of it, transparent gold. And the City had a wall around it. Now, now, that doesn’t necessary mean, by being equal…It said, “And the walls and the foundation were equal,” that doesn’t necessary mean that it’s a cube or square. There is another geographical measure, that the dimensions are the same, that is, a pyramid. Foursquare, “lieth foursquare,” and the walls were the same.	It will take up its abode on the New Earth, and we see in this why this present Earth will have to be renovated by fire, and why there shall be “no more sea,” for the New City is 12,000 furlongs, or 1500 miles square, and would reach from Maine to Florida, and from the Atlantic Seaboard 600 miles to the west of the Mississippi River. In other words would occupy more than one-half of the United States. We are told that the length and breadth and the height of it are equal. This does not necessarily imply that it is a Cube, for there is another geometrical figure that has equal dimensions, and that is a — Pyramid. This is its probable form, for a wall 144 cubits, or 216 feet thick, could not support a wall 1500 miles high, and a wall that high would hide the pyramidal part of the City from view. The 144 cubits (Rev. 21:17) then must refer to the “height” of the wall. In this wall are 12 gates, 3 on each side, each gate of one Pearl, and these gates are never closed.
Did you ever think now, Bride, what it will look like? It is prepared and designed by the Divine Architect. What will that City look like? Now, we’re going to talk about it for a few minutes. The Divine Architect has prepared it, designed it. And, look, He has designed it with tender hands, for His beloved Bride. What’s it going to look like? ...Now, the Divine Architect has designed the New City, where He will live with His Bride, just to Her touch. No wonder the apostle said, “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, or neither has ever entered the heart of man.” Let’s see if we can probe into it just for a moment, see what it’s going to look like. The Divine Architect has designed this for His Beloved. See? Oh, what a place it must be, when, Divine Nature, a Divine Architect has designed it for a Divine attribute that’s been Divinely predestinated by a Divine God Who—Who is the Author of Divine Life! What will that City look like! Think of it. Remember, it’s not Heaven. John say, “I saw it coming down out of Heaven.” It’s to be on earth. See?	But there is not only to be a New Heaven and a New Earth, there is to be a New City. This City is the place Jesus said He was going back to Heaven to prepare for His Bride the Church. John 14:2–4. It is just such a place as we would expect the Divine Architect to design and build. The description of it is surpassingly grand. It is of Celestial origin. It is not Heaven itself, for it comes down “out of Heaven.”

More evidence

William Branham claimed to have had been revealed details concerning the "Future Home of the Heavenly Bridegroom" by God, and preached a sermon with the same title. Both structurally and chronologically, Branham's sermons were point-for-point aligned with Chapter 25 from Clarence Larkins' publication "Dispensational Truth".

Larkin: Immediately after the destruction of Satan and his armies, John says, "I saw a 'Great White Throne' and Him that sat on it, from whose face the Earth and the Heaven (atmosphere of the earth) fled away; and there was no place for them." Rev. 20:11.

Branham: “Or, after time has been fulfilled, all sin is gone, taken away, at the Millennium, at the great White Throne Judgment. (A type, by the Holy Ghost.) After the world is on fire and baptized, its baptism of holy Fire from Heaven; all sin is gone, all germs is gone, all devils is gone, all temptations is gone, all evil is gone.”

Larkin: John then describes the Judgment of the "Great White Throne," and then adds- "I saw a New Heaven; and a New Earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea."Rev. 21:1.

Branham: “Now, John explains the change and the com-... how it comes about... He doesn't explain it, rather, but Peter does. John just said, "I saw New Heavens and New Earth; first heavens and first earth was passed away. There was no more sea.”

Larkin: Of such a change in this earth we are not ignorant, but John does not tell us how it is to come to pass. But the Apostle Peter does.

Branham: “He doesn't explain it, rather, but Peter does.”

Larkin: "But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, RESERVED UNTO FIRE against the Day of judgment and Perdition of Ungodly Men. (The Great White Throne judgment)- The 'Day of the Lord' will come as a thief in the night; in the which the Heavens Shall Pass Away With a Great Noise, and the Elements Shall Melt With Fervent Heat, the Earth Also and the Works That Are Therein Shall be Burned Up.

Branham: “But the heavens and the earth, which now are, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and the perdition of ungodly men.”

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in... which the heavens and the earth, with a great noise... shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth also and the works that are therein shall burn up.

Larkin: "Nevertheless we, according to His Promise, (Isa. 65:17; Isa. 66:22) look for a New Heavens and a New Earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2Pet. 3:7-9.

Branham: “ Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

Larkin: It is clear that Peter is referring to the same event as John, for he says it is to be at the "Day of judgment and Perdition of Ungodly Men, " and that is the "Great White Throne judgment" of the Wicked Dead.

Branham: “Now, we understand here that these two Scriptures... The reason I read Second Peter the 3rd chapter, and compared it with Revelations 21, they both here are speaking the same subject, but John never--never wrote it out like Peter did. See?”

Larkin: A surface reading of the above passage would lead one to believe that the earth as a planet, and the sidereal heavens, are to be destroyed by fire and pass away. But a careful study of the Scriptures will show us that this is not so, that what is to happen is, that this present earth, and the atmosphere surrounding it, is to be Renovated by Fire, so that its exterior surface shall be completely changed, and all that sin has brought into existence, such as thorns and thistles, disease germs, insect pests, etc., shall be destroyed, and the atmosphere purified and forever freed from evil spirits and destructive agencies.

Branham: Now, so the old world framework was not destroyed by the water. The world was only washed off. That got its baptism. It was baptized. So will the framework remain, though it be burnt by Fire. It don't destroy the earth, see, it just destroys the sin that's on it.

Larkin: "By the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water; whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, PERISHED."

Branham: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

Larkin: The world that the Apostle is referring to here, was not the "Antediluvian World" that was changed by the "Flood, " but to the "Primeval World, " mentioned in Gen. 1:1, and which was made waste and void by a Flood that completely submerged it.Gen. 1:2. See the Chapter on "Rightly Dividing the Word."

The Apostle Peter divides the history of the earth into three periods. The period before the earth was made "formless and void, " or the "Primeval Earth, " which he calls "the world that Then Was; " the present period which he calls "the heavens and the earth which "Are Now, " and in which there has been no great change since the restoration of the earth, described in Gen. 1:3-2:1; and the New Heaven and Earth which is yet future. 2Pet. 3:5-7, 2Pet. 3:13.

Branham: Here, the apostle, in Second Peter here, the 2nd chapter, and the 5th and the... and the 5th and 6th verse. Yes, I've got it. He refers to three stages of the earth. See, he--he gets three stages of it. Notice how he brings them. "The old world stood out of the water," now, that was the antediluvian world. Now, the one that is, the present world we live in now, called it a "world." "The old world that stood out of water," Genesis 1:1. Now and the "world" that is now present. And then, again, he refers to another one, "the world that is to come," the New World. Three worlds; three stages of the world.

Larkin: Now as the Framework of the "Primeval Earth" was not destroyed by its "Watery Bath, " so the Framework of the "Present Earth" is not to be destroyed by its "Baptism of Fire."

This is confirmed by the Apostle's use of the Greek word "Cosmos, " which Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: Here, the apostle, in Second Peter here, the 2nd chapter, and the 5th and the... and the 5th and 6th verse. Yes, I've got it. He refers to three stages of the earth. See, he--he gets three stages of it. Notice how he brings them. "The old world stood out of the water," now, that was the antediluvian world. Now, the one that is, the present world we live in now, called it a "world." "The old world that stood out of water," Genesis 1:1. Now and the "world" that is now present. And then, again, he refers to another one, "the world that is to come," the New World. Three worlds; three stages of the world. He baptized it in water, after the antediluvian destruction. Shed His Blood upon it, to sanctify it and claim it. It's His. Satan tried to say, "I'll give it to You." He said, "No, sir, I'll buy it." Let it be a witness. He was lifted up, for an ensign, that He bought it. He purchased it. But now it has to go through a baptism of means the "land surface, the inhabitableness of the earth, and not the earth as a planet. It is the exterior surface of the earth then that is to "Melt With Fervent Heat" and the "Works Therein Burnt Up." The intense heat will cause the gases in the atmosphere to explode, which the Apostle describes as the "heavens (the atmosphere) passing away with a great noise." The result will be the destruction of all animal and vegetable life, and the alteration of the earth's surface.

Branham: He baptized it in water, after the antediluvian destruction. Shed His Blood upon it, to sanctify it and claim it. It's His. Satan tried to say, "I'll give it to You." He said, "No, sir, I'll buy it." Let it be a witness. He was lifted up, for an ensign, that He bought it. He purchased it. But now it has to go through a baptism of Fire, holy Fire from God, which cleanses the earth and the heavens around it. Then, it's purchased so that the redeemed can live on it, live in it in peace. Notice, the baptism of Fire is to cleanse it from sin, from sickness, from disease germs, from sinners, from the devil and all of his group.

It is only the atmospheres around it, and the sin that's upon the earth, that will be destroyed. See? Now, we realize that the heavens means the "atmospheres above." See?

Larkin: The Greek work "Parerchomai, " translated "pass away, " does not mean "termination of existence" or "annihilation, " but means to pass from "one condition of existence to another." The Apostle Paul in his letter to Titus, (Titus 3:, Titus 3:5), speaking of the "Regeneration" of men, uses the same word that Jesus used when, in Matt. 19:28, He promised His Disciples that in the "Regeneration, " that is in the "New Earth, " they should sit on "Twelve Thrones" judging the "Twelve Tribes" of Israel. Now no one supposes that the Regeneration of a man is his Annihilation." It is simply a Renewing Process by which he is brought back to the condition of man spiritually as before the Fall. The word "Restitution" in Acts 3:21, means the same thing. The"Dissolving" of which Peter speaks, (2Pet. 3:11), is the same word Jesus used when He said of the colt-"Loose him and let him go." The teaching of the Scriptures is, that "Creation" is at present in a "State of Captivity, " waiting to be Loosed from the Bondage that sin has caused. Rom. 8:19-21.

Branham: Now, many of you that want to put down this word, the Greek word, "pass away." It comes from the word... I had to find it. I thought, "How is this world going to pass away, and yet we're going to live on it?" But if you'll notice, some of you people that wants to put it down, I'll spell it for you. I couldn't pronounce it, p-a-r-e-r-e-c-h-o-m-i-a. I don't know how to pronouce it. Now, that way, as I said, when I get... The inspiration strikes me for something, then I go back to find out the word. Now, here, I can't spell the word, or I can't--I can't pronounce it. But, in that, the Lord has still give me a way. I go and find out what that word means, then I got it. See? Then I got it, again. See? 175 Heavens and earth will pass away, now, this word means, "passing from one form to another." It does not mean "annihilation," as the English word would mean, pass away, it's annihilated. But the Hebrew word, or the Greek here, does not mean pass away; it means, "from passing from one thing to another." Look, but, "to pass from one condition," it says, "to another."

Larkin: As to the "Departing as a Scroll" of the heavens, and the "Flying Away" of the earth and heavens, of which John speaks, (Rev. 6:14; Rev. 20:11), a total disappearance of all the material worlds is not at all the idea, for he tells us that afterwards he saw-the New Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven, and nations living and walking in the Light of it on the earth, and the Kings of the Earth bringing their Glory and Honor Into It." Rev. 21:2, Rev. 21:24.

Branham: We read in John, read John in Revelation 6:14, see, "it departed as a scroll." The Bible said the... that it... John said, "I saw the heaven and earth depart as a scroll." John, Revelation 6:14. Jesus said, "Heavens and earth shall pass away," or, other words, "heavens and earth shall be changed." See, used that same word right there again. No, not annihilated. For, later, in Revelations 21:2 to 24, he seen the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven, and sitting upon this earth. It doesn't mean it'll be annihilated. The systems will be changed.

Larkin: The Holy Spirit by Solomon said, "One generation passeth away and another generation cometh, but the Earth Abideth Forever."Eccl. 1:4. It is specifically promised that "the Meek shall Inherit the Earth, " (Matt. 5:5), and that the Children of Israel shall dwell in it forever, (Isa. 60:21 ; 66:22), and if God's people are to inhabit it forever, it must EXIST FOREVER. It is clear then that this earth as a planet is not to be annihilated, but that it is to be Cleaned and Purified by Fire and made fit for the home of those peoples and nations that are to occupy it after its renovation.

Branham: Solomon was the throne inherit of David, on earth, but showed that kingdom had to pass away. It was a type of Christ in love with the Bride. See?

Larkin: This earth that has been consecrated We read in John, read John in Revelation 6:14, see, "it departed as a scroll." The Bible said the... that it... John said, "I saw the heaven and earth depart as a scroll." John, Revelation 6:14. 185 Jesus said, "Heavens and earth shall pass away," or, other words, "heavens and earth shall be changed." See, used that same word right there again. 186 No, not annihilated. For, later, in Revelations 21:2 to 24, he seen the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven, and sitting upon this earth. It doesn't mean it'll be annihilated. The systems will be changed. Solomon was the throne inherit of David, on earth, but showed that kingdom had to pass away. It was a type of Christ in love with the Bride. See? by the Presence of the Son of God, where the costliest sacrifice that the Universe could furnish was offered up on Calvary to redeem a race, for which God has a great future, is too sacred a place to ever be blotted out or cease to exist, for it is the most cherished orb in the mind of God of all His great creation.

Branham: Its water baptism wasn't sufficient to cleanse it; neither is theirs. Sanctification, of the Blood, brought it back, claimed it. But the baptism of the Fire cleansed it; like it did His Bride. Like justification, sanctification, baptism of the Holy Ghost. Never promised to raise up a new race, as I have said, but He promised to redeem the fallen. Them that was the--the predestinated, inherit it as He has promised. And He is the unchangeable God; we know that.

Larkin: With the "Renovation of the Earth by Fire, " Time does not end and Eternity begin, for we read in the New Testament of a "Perfect Kingdom" that Christ shall surrender to the Father, so that God may be "All in All." 1Cor. 15:24-26. A Kingdom in which- "At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in Heaven, and things in Earth, and things Under the Earth, and that every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ IS LORD." Phil. 2:9- 1 Phil. 2:1. This describes a Kingdom in which all things Celestial, Terrestrial and Infernal are to be subject to the SON OF MAN.

Branham: City with the Throne in top. Revelation 21:23, "And they need no light, for the Lamb and the Lord God is the Light thereof." See? The Lord God is that Pillar of Fire that followed the children of Israel through the wilderness. And He is ascended up on the Throne, in that perfect Kingdom's... when time... "the Kingdom that Jesus is to surrender to the Father, that God might be all, and in all." Jesus sets upon His Throne here, as our Joseph. And the King is that Light that will be on top of Mount Zion, and His holy Light will flood the entire City. Hallelujah!

Larkin: Now this "Perfect Kingdom" cannot be the "Millennial Kingdom, " for that, as we have seen, ends in Apostasy and Rebellion. It must therefore mean another Kingdom on the Other Side of the Millennial Kingdom, " and as there is to be no other Kingdom between the "Millennial Kingdom" and the "Renovation of the Earth by Fire, " it must mean a Kingdom that is to follow the "Renovation of the Earth by Fire, " and that Kingdom is the Kingdom of the "New Heaven and the New Earth, " which we call on the "Rightly Dividing the Word" Chart, the "Perfect Kingdom."

Branham: There you are, there is the paradises of God, the Light of the world, that perfect Kingdom. Not the seventh day; the Eternal one! See? Not the Millennium; the New Earth! See? While it's going through the Millennium, it's going through its sanctifying process, but still must be burned. See? Which, the Blood redeemed the people, it shows this memorial that it's... the price is paid, that thousand years. But then it has to be cleansed by Fire; just like you were, His delegates of this City, the delegation. So if you die or if you live, what difference does it make? If He comes today, or He comes a hundred years, or a thousand years, I'll only rest till my change comes.

Larkin: If, as some hold, the "Seventh Day" of the "Creative Week" corresponds to the Millennium, then we have a prophecy of the Dispensation that follows the "Renovation of the Earth" in the "Morrow After the Sabbath." Lev. 23:36.

Branham: And notice, not the perfect world, this Millennium, it's a type of the seventh day. Then comes the White Throne Judgment. See, we still have judgment. We're still in time, in the Millennium. It's a day, one thousand years. It's a time element. Not, don't get that mixed up with the New Earth, now, 'cause it's not.

Larkin: The Seventh day of Genesis had to do with the "Old Creation, " which was imperfect, but the "Eighth Day" has to do with the "New Creation, " which is perfect, for it was on the "Eighth Day, " or the "First Day of the week, " that our Lord arose from the dead, and 50 days later, on the "Eighth Day, " that the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost. The "Eighth Day" cannot point to the Millennium, for that is represented by the "Seventh Day, " neither can it point to Eternity, for a day is a Period of Time, while Eternity is Timeless. The "Eighth Day" must then point to a "period of time" between the "Renovation of the Earth" and Eternity, or what we are pleased to call the "Perfect Age."

Branham: Notice, seven days, only has to do with the old creation, world time. Seven days, that's the Millennium, the rest day. As God labored six days, rested the seventh; the Church labors six days, and rests the seventh, but you're still in time element. I ain't speaking of the Eternal.

Larkin: But, you see, there is no such a thing as eight days; you go back to the first day again, see, the first day. It is also a Dispensation, called in Eph. 1:10 - "The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times."

That is, a "Full-Time Dispensation." The intimation is, that all the previous Dispensations were not "Full-Time" Dispensations, that God had to cut them short on account of sin.

As to the duration of this Dispensation of the "Fulness of Times" we are not in the dark. Israel is to have a large place in that Dispensation.

Branham: Now, in Ephesians 1:10, it's called... Now, if you're putting it down, Ephesians 1:10, is called, not a dispensation, not the seventh day. It's called, "The fullness of time." And when "the fullness of time" has come, that's when time has been fulfilled. When there is no more time, then you go into Eternity, after the seventh church age is over, and it is; Luther's age is over, Methodist age is over, Pentecostal age is over. And now you go into (what?) Eternity; no more seven's, no more three's, no more other. They're in Eternity, where there is no such time as numbers, and times, and things. Amen! Oh, my! You see it now?

Larkin: "For as the New Heavens and the New Earth, which I will make shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your (Israel's) Seed and your Name REMAIN." Isa. 66:22. And as the duration of God's Covenant with Israel was extended in Deut. 7:9 to a "Thousand Generations" or 33, 000 years, we have an intimation that the "Dispensation of the Fulness of Times" will last for at least that length of time. Let us look at some of the characteristics of that Age or Dispensation.

Branham: Now, Isaiah, the Prophet, was one of the prophets that wrote exactly the entire Bible in his prophecy. He starts out with the creation; in the middle of his Book, about the 40th chapter, comes around John the Baptist, the New Testament; and winds up here, in his Book, in the Revelations, in the Millennium. There is sixty-six books in the Bible, and there is sixty-six chapters in Isaiah. He wrote a complete commentary

Larkin: All the powers of Evil will have been expelled from the earth and imprisoned in the "Lake of Fire" forever.

Branham: In the New Earth and New Heavens, will never be blackened again, when this New Earth is to come. The devil will be bound... Satan, he is still loose now; he is accuser. But in the New Earth, he will be bound and cast into the Lake of Fire, in this holy Fire.

Larkin: The atmosphere of the New Earth will afford no lurking place for disease germs, for there shall be no more sickness or death, and health will be preserved by the use of the leaves of the "Tree of Life." The heavens shall not robe themselves in angry tempests and sombre blackness, nor flash with the thunderbolts of Divine wrath, nor cast plagues of hail on the earth, nor cause devouring floods of water or destructive wind storms. It may be that in that day, "a Mist shall go up from the earth and water the whole face of the ground" as in Eden, for we read that there shall be-"No More Sea, " not that there shall not be large bodies of water, for the river that flows through the street of the New City must have an outlet, but that there shall be no great oceans.

Branham: Right here is where we live. Now notice, thistles, germs, all sicknesses and things, will be completely taken away. All this, its existence that's in the earth now, man-made systems, politics, sin, all kinds of evil spirits that the world is contaminated with, and all the heavens above us in here, is contaminated with evil spirit. Now we're going to go deep and long, in this, see.

Larkin: The earth shall also put on its Edenic beauty and glory. There shall no longer be thorns and thistles, no parasites or destructive insects, and labor shall be a delight. No serpents shall hiss among its flowers, nor savage beasts lie in ambush to destroy and devour. Its sod shall not be heaped over newly made graves, nor its soil moistened with tears of sorrow and shame, or saturated with human blood in fratricidal strife. The meek shall inherit the earth, and from north to south, and from east to west, it shall blossom like the rose and be clothed with the verdure of Paradise Restored.

Branham: Heavens and earth have met; God and man is reconciled. A restored Eden has begun; see, all the curse is gone. 275 Just like, all the curse of sin is gone when the Holy Ghost accepts you. See, you don't accept It; It accepts you, see, 'cause It's God's attribute. See, if It's the Holy Ghost, means, God's Spirit; and it's the attribute, the thought of God, has accepted you because that you were ordained for that purpose. See? Yet, you was born in sin; but God had that attribute, and here you expressed yourself here on earth, and He comes down and gets you. See, you're back here; here is where you belong. See? See, sin has lost its power. That's right. The desire of sin has done gone from your heart, when the Holy Spirit comes in. You are a restored person.

Larkin: But there is not only to be a New Heaven and a New Earth, there is to be a New City. This City is the place Jesus said He was going back to Heaven to prepare for His Bride the Church. John 14:2-4. It is just such a place as we would expect the Divine Architect to design and build. The description of it is surpassingly grand. It is of Celestial origin. It is not Heaven itself, for it comes down "out of Heaven." No mortal hands are employed in its construction. It will take up its abode on the New Earth, and we see in this why this present Earth will have to be renovated by fire, and why there shall be "no more sea, " for the New City is 12, 000 furlongs, or 1500 miles square, and would reach from Maine to Florida, and from the Atlantic Seaboard 600 miles to the west of the Mississippi River. In other words would occupy more than one-half of the United States.

Branham: Now, the Divine Architect has designed the New City, where He will live with His Bride, just to Her touch. No wonder the apostle said, "Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, or neither has ever entered the heart of man." Let's see if we can probe into it just for a moment, see what it's going to look like. The Divine Architect has designed this for His Beloved. See? Oh, what a place it must be, when, Divine Nature, a Divine Architect has designed it for a Divine attribute that's been Divinely predestinated by a Divine God Who-- Who is the author of Divine Life! What will that City look like! Think of it.

Larkin: We are told that the length and breadth and the height of it are equal. This does not necessarily imply that it is a Cube, for there is another geometrical figure that has equal dimensions, and that is a Pyramid. This is its probable form, for a wall 144 cubits, or 216 feet thick, could not support a wall 1500 miles high, and a wall that high would hide the pyramidal part of the City from view. Branham:

Now, now, that doesn't necessary mean, by being equal... It said, "And the walls and the foundation were equal," that doesn't necessary mean that it's a cube or square. There is another geographical measure, that the dimensions are the same, that is, a Pyramid. Foursquare, "lieth foursquare," and the walls were the same.

Larkin: The 144 cubits (Rev. 21:17) then must refer to the "height" of the wall. In this wall are 12 gates, 3 on each side, each gate of one Pearl, and these gates are never closed.

The wall itself is of jasper, and the foundations are garnished with all manner of precious stones. The foundations contain the names of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb, and over the gates are the names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. What a magnificent spectacle such a city must present from a distance with its pyramidal top surmounted by the light of the "Glory of God."

Branham: And, in the gates, they had four gates set just exactly like the temple in the wilderness, like the tent was in the wilderness. Notice each one, had--had the apostles, three on each side, twelve apostles. Each... And it was one hundred and forty-four cubits high. One hundred and forty-four cubits is exactly two hundred and sixteen feet, making each one of those big stones almost twentyfoot tall, the breastplate in that gate, making up that wall that was around the City.

Larkin: "For the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it, for the 'Glory of God did lighten it, and THE LAMB is The LIGHT THEREOF." Rev. 21:23.

"And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day, for there shall be No Night There." Rev. 21:25.

This refers to the City only, and not to the outlying parts of the New Earth, for there will be day and night wherever the light of the City does not reach.

Branham: But this One doesn't have any. The Bible said, "And there was no temple there. But the Lord God and the Lamb is the Temple of it." The Lamb is the Light. The Lamb is the Temple. The Lamb is the Throne. The Lamb is the Life. He is that Temple. See, all these temples have a object they're worshiping; but, in this City, He is the object. He is with His people. His Spirit Light floods the Pyramid Cit y. Larkin: The Pyramidal part of the City will doubtless be in the centre of the City, and probably not occupy over one-half of the surface area, leaving the remainder to be divided up into boulevards and broad avenues, with numerous parks and residential sections. We are told that the City itself is of Pure Gold, Like Unto Clear Glass. Rev. 21:18. If this refers to the houses and homes of the inhabitants, then the redeemed are to live in palaces of Transparent Gold, and the streets are to be of the same material.Rev. 21:18, Rev. 21:21. We cannot imagine a city with such dwellings and streets to be unclean or lack beauty.

Branham: And all up-and-down here, will be the Redeemed. There will be the houses of pure gold. There will be avenues, and parks, and gardens. And the River of Life coming, trickling out from the Throne, and running down through little chasms and, oh, over the terraces. And the Tree of Life will be blooming in every yard; and bear Its fruits, twelve times a year, a changed fruit every month.

Larkin: The streets are to be lined with trees, as are also the banks of a wonderful river. These trees are not mere shade trees, but beautiful Fruit Trees, called the "TREE OF LIFE." that bear Twelve Kind of Fruit, a different kind each month. The fruit of these trees is for Overcomers Only. "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the 'Tree of Life' which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." Rev. 2:7.

Branham: "Overcomers only, that overcome the beast, overcome his mark," that's Catholicism, Protestantism, denominationalism, "who overcome the beast, his mark, the letter of his name." "He'll have a right to the Tree of Life, to enter into the gates where nothing that defiles can ever go in." See? Think of it. Now, just a minute now, as we go just a little bit farther. Tree of Life will be for the overcomers only

Larkin: The leaves of the trees are for the Healing of the Nations that shall occupy the New Earth. Not that there will be any sickness, but to preserve them in health, as Adam would have been preserved in health if he had eaten of the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. Gen. 3:22-24. The wonderful river is called the River of the "Water of Life, " because of its "life giving" properties. Earthly streams have their source in some mountain spring, but the "River of Life" has its source in the Throne of God. Rev. 22:1.

Branham: The leaves will be for the healing of the nations. That is, the kings that live in there, bringing their honor in, when they bring their honor in and lay it before the Throne of God. Just like the outside, the ten... the eleven tribes brought in, every one of them, a tenth to Levi, see. When they bring their honor into the... from the blessed land, in that, they'll reach from the Tree of Life, break off a holly leaf... or a Tree of Life leaf, and they'll walk out together. There is no more war. Everything is at peace. The leaves are a memorial, for the healings of the nation.

Larkin: Somewhere on that "Pyramidal Mountain" in the centre of the City, probably on its summit, will rest "The Throne of God," from under the seat of which shall flow down in cascades, from terrace to terrace, the crystal stream that shall feed that wonderful "River of Life' "

Branham: But look where this One comes from. From the Throne, there is where it gets its Life-giving resources. Comes from under the Throne of God, where God sits.

Larkin: Whoever heard of an earthly city without some place of worship, be it heathen or Christian, but the wonderful thing about the New Jerusalem is, that it has no Temple. Why need a Temple when the object of worship is present, for "The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb Are the Temple of It." In fact the whole City itself will be a Temple.

Branham: All of it, all of this earth, this earth here we live in now; every one, whether it be Christian or pagan, has temples. Did you ever think of that? Churches, all of them. 438 But this One doesn't have any. The Bible said, "And there was no temple there. But the Lord God and the Lamb is the Temple of it." The Lamb is the Light. The Lamb is the Temple. The Lamb is the Throne. The Lamb is the Life. He is that Temple. See, all these temples have a object they're worshiping; but, in this City, He is the object. He is with His people. His Spirit Light floods the Pyramid City.

Larkin: "Then the 'Tabernacle of God' shall be with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His People, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the FORMER THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY." Rev. 21:3, Rev. 21:4.

Branham: In Revelation 21:3 and 4, "The tabernacle of God is with man." God has tabernacled in man, by redeeming him, by these three processes. Now God is going to redeem the earth and tabernacle in the earth, with His subjects of the earth, which He brought forth from the earth. And through sin it fell, but the... He had to let it go on. But now He sent Jesus to redeem that fallen earth, which we are part of. "There not one hair of your head will perish." Jesus said so. He said, "I'll raise it up again at the last day." See? Why? You're a part of the earth.

Larkin: This means that Heaven shall have come down to Earth, and that this earth will become the RESIDENCE OF GOD.

Branham: Notice, "The tabernacle of God will be with man." Notice, "The former things has passed away." This, this thing, has passed away. This means that Heaven has come down to resident with man. See? Heaven and earth are embraced.

Larkin: Outside the walls of this beautiful City, spread over the surface of the "New Earth, " nations shall dwell, whose kings shall bring their glory and honor into it, but nothing that will defile or work abomination shall ever enter in through those "Gates of Pearl, " for there will be no sin on that New Earth. Rev. 21:24-26.

Branham: And the streets will be made of gold. And the trees of Life will be there, and will bear twelve manners of fruit. And the kings and the honored man of the earth shall bring their honor and glory into the gates. And the gates shall not be shut by night, because there is no night there.

Larkin: Where did the people who inhabited the earth after the Flood come from? They were the lineal descendants of Noah, how did they escape the Flood? They were saved in an Ark which God Provided. Gen. 6:13-15. Shall not God then during the "Renovation of the Earth by Fire, " in some manner, not as yet revealed, take off righteous representatives of the Millennial nations that He purposes to save, and when the earth is again fit to be the abode of men, place them back on the New Earth, that they may increase and multiply and replenish it, as Adam (Gen. 1:27, Gen. 1:28), and Noah (Gen. 9:1), were told to multiply and replenish the present earth.

If God could take off Elijah for the purpose of sending him back again to herald the Second Coming of the Lord, surely God can take off representative men from the nations and put them back again on the New Earth to repopulate it. If this is not God's plan then we have one type in the Scriptures that has no antitype, for Noah's Ark, which is a type, has no antitype unless it be this.

Branham: After Noah came out of the ark, notice what was said to Noah after he come out of the flood, just like it was with Adam before. After he come out, upon the new earth; said, "Multiply and replenish the earth," after the flood. Notice, "was to be fruitful, replenish the earth," as Adam at the first. Now you can see exactly here. Now listen real close. Adam was to "multiply and replenish the earth." That right? Noah was, after the new, (world was destroyed), was to "multiply and replenish the earth." Get it? Now can't you see what the serpent's "seed" is? What replenished the earth? You get it? All right. You see how Satan got to Eve now. That's why death has reigned on earth ever since. And heavens, earth, beast, atmosphere, is all cursed of God because of it. That's the curse, because Satan got to this first. 468 Jesus came to redeem it back to the Father. In order to do this, He became part of it; as I've just went through. And from that very dust (the part Jesus was, Himself) being redeemed, through Him all of the attributes of God are redeemed with the earth.

Larkin: It is clear from the Scriptures that God does not purpose to create a new race for the New Earth, His promise as to Israel is that the descendants of Abraham shall inherit this earth for a "thousand generations, " or 33, 000 years; now this is not possible unless they are transplanted to the New Earth. And this is just what God has promised.

Branham: The one who goes in with Jesus now. How do you get into Him? By one Spirit; and He is the Word. You become part of Him. What part of Him are you? The Word that's living of this hour, recognizing. You'll walk out with Him in the Millennium. That's when you walk out. Notice, not a new generation. A transplanting! You say, "Oh, Brother Branham!" Oh! 465 Notice, if God could raise up Elijah and take him up, twenty-five hundred years ago, to transplant him back into the earth again, to be a prophet for the Jews, how much more can He do the Bride!

Larkin: "For as the New Heavens and the New Earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me, saith the Lord, so shall Your 'Seed' and Your 'Name' REMAIN." Isa. 66:22.

Branham: For, God, in the New World that is to come, is to dwell in the earth. Cause, you say, "God, He dwells in the human heart." But, He and the Bride becomes One, and they go to their Home in the New World. And the same plan of redemption is used to redeem, both, world and the persons that live in it.

Larkin: It seems clear from the presence of the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden, that God intended the human race to populate the Earth, and when it became too thickly populated, to use the surplus population to colonize other spheres. Our "Solar System" is only in its infancy. The Earth is the only one of its planets as yet habitable. Where are the inhabitants for the other planets to come from? Think you that the planets of our Solar System, and the planets of other solar systems, of which the stars are the suns, were made simply to adorn the heavens for our little earth? God does not plan things on a Small Scale, and it magnifies His power and wisdom to believe that He created man in His own likeness, a created being higher than the angels, and gifted with the power of Procreation, that He might by means of him populate the Universe. This magnifies the Scheme of Redemption. Think you that God gave His Son to die on Calvary just to redeem a few millions of the human race? Why He could have blotted them out, as He probably did the Preadamite race, and created a new race, and Satan would have laughed because he had the second time blocked God's plan for the peopling of this earth.

No, God will not permit Satan to block His plan for peopling this earth with a Sinless Human Race. The death of Christ was not merely to redeem a few millions of the human race, but to redeem the Earth, and the Race Itself from the curse of sin, and the dominion of Satan. The Apostle James tells us that we are only the "First Fruits" of His Creatures." James 1:18. What then must the HARVEST BE? The Universe is young yet. We are only in the beginning of things, for "Of the increase of His government and peace THERE SHALL BE NO END." Isa. 9:7.

When this Earth shall have gone through its "Baptism of Fire, " and shall be again fit for the occupancy of man, the representatives of the "Saved Nations" (Rev. 21:24) will be men and Women in whom no taint of sin will remain, and who cannot therefore impart it to their offspring, who will be like the offspring of Adam and Eve would have been if they had not sinned. This magnifies the whole scheme of redemption, and justifies God in the creation of the human race. The "Millennial Age" and the "Perfect Age, " between which the Earth is Renovated by Fire, make up the "Age of Ages, " which period is called the KINGDOM OF THE SON OF MAN.

At the close of the "Age of Ages" when Christ "shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He hath put all enemies under his feet, " then Christ as the Son of Man, shall surrender the Kinjgdom to God, that God may be ALL IN ALL. 1Cor. 15:24-26. This is known as The Great Abdication. There have been many abdications of thrones in the world's history, but none like this. Thrones have been abdicated for various reasons. Some have been forced, others voluntary. Some on account of physical infirmity, or to secure some particular successor. But Christ will not abdicate for any of these reasons. He will abdicate because He has Finished the Work That Was Given Him to Do as the Son of Man. He will not surrender His Human Nature, but His title "Son of Man" will merge back into that of "Son of God" so that the Divine Godhead shall thereafter act in its Unity, and God shall be "ALL IN ALL." This will end what we understand by Time. Then Eternity will begin, which will be divided up into the Ages of the Ages. Of its end there is no hint.

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