Engaging the Revelatory Realm

July 2003

When we engage the revelatory realm of Heaven, it carries us into a supernatural dimension of faith in which miracles, signs and wonders result. The healing expression of the 1940s and ’50s introduced a more pronounced Kingdom ministry from the revelatory realm that opened the heavens for a season of healing and miracles unprecedented in church history. During that time, many souls came into the Kingdom and Truth was restored.

On May 7, 1946 a dear man by the name of William Branham went to a secret place of prayer, deep in the woods of Indiana . This man of God had been experiencing supernatural encounters for which neither he nor his fellow ministers had a grid or base of understanding to compare. Finally, in desperation, he retreated to the secluded place, determined to discover from the Lord what these things were and their significance.

According to his testimony, something supernatural occurred well into the night and deep into his heartfelt time of prayer— A Heavenly Light entered the room in which he was praying. The supernatural light appeared as a pillar of fire and projected illumination in much the same way that a spotlight would. At that moment he heard footsteps walking toward him and eventually standing under the beam of light. One can only imagine the frightful reaction of someone alone, deep in a wooded area without electricity encountering a supernatural being walking into the room in a real and tangible way.

The angelic messenger’s audible salutation was similar to those we discover in the Scriptures. He said, “fear not, for I am sent from the Presence of Almighty God.” As soon as Brother Branham heard this voice, he recognized it as the one who had spoken to him many times throughout his life. The messenger continued by saying that he was sent to impart a commission of divine healing to that generation.

However, there was an additional and unique aspect of the commission that introduced a fresh dimension of the revelatory realm of Heaven that accompanied the tremendous healing ministry. A supernatural gift was imparted to allow this man to detect by revelation the specific illnesses, demonic oppressions and deadly diseases that oppressed the people. He was further instructed that if he walked humbly in this gift, he would, at some point, be allowed to discern the very thoughts and intents of the heart.

This commissioning introduced an amplified expression of the omniscient attributes of the Lord. When the supernatural revelation was released, it carried the faith of the people above the realm of doubt and unbelief, into the realm of faith where miracles are accessed.

On June 14, 1946 the first public healing meeting under this commissioning took place in St. Louis , MO. The impact and responses were immediate. The miracles began to occur on a mass scale that many writers of that day determined were unprecedented in modern church history.

When the second phase of the commission was executed, the minister would stand before the people and communicate by revelation their name, illness, resident address, past events, private prayers and many other detailed secrets that no one knew except them and the Lord. Witnesses testify that this produced such tangible faith in the corporate meetings that the feeling prevailed that anything was possible in such an atmosphere of the anointing.

The Implications For Our Day

With something of that magnitude occurring in just the prior generation, we are compelled to ask the question— What is the significance of this type ministry for our generation? It is our devoted belief that this form of ministry was a pioneering work of the Spirit to introduce to our generation the fashion in which the revelatory realm of Heaven can be accessed to release supernatural faith. His was a forerunner ministry.

The things that occurred between 1946 and 1956 were much more than just a revival. It was the beginning of the end-time ministry that initiated the fulfillment of prophetic Scriptures pointing to this generation. Like Moses, these signs were given so that the people would believe.

And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. Exodus 4:8

According to the commission given to Moses, these supernatural signs have a “voice.” There is a message that accompanies the signs. The message is one of restoration of the covenant people of God to a place of spiritual prominence and submission to the lordship of Jesus Christ. It was much more than a gift of the Spirit. It was the manifestation of the Person of the Word discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart. According to Hebrews 4:12-13,

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Heb 4:12-13

The Living Word discerns and peers directly into the secret corridors of our lives. All things are open and laid bare before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. When the Spirit of the Lord manifests in a tangible way, it brings forth revelation, not merely as a “word of knowledge,” but the “Spirit of knowledge and revelation” flowing to the benefit of God’s people. It carries the reassuring virtue that God not only knows about us individually, but cares and is willing to give expression to the understanding of His heart.

The Spirit of The Lord is Upon Me

The commission to be imparted to this generation is discovered in Luke 4:18. The Spirit of the Lord coming upon a consecrated and prepared body of people to release— counsel & might; wisdom & revelation; knowledge & the reverential fear of God.

THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD. Luke 4:18-19

That is the Kingdom reality that rested upon the Lord and the one that was restored in 1946. It is far more than just a ministry or the exercise of spiritual gifts. It is His Divine Presence— The Spirit of the Lord coming upon His body to do the same works that He did while on the earth in human form. The greatest gift is to be able to step aside so that He can step in and do through us the same things that He did. That is what was introduced to us through the prior generation and the incredible demonstration of Kingdom power and authority witnessed in that day. There were a few who touched that realm as spiritual spies who introduced it to the present generation of destiny.

Many of the ministers of the prior generation, who flowed in realms of power as healing evangelists, were devoted and sincere saints of God. They approached the Lord in simplicity and humility and obtained from Him the anointing needed to carry the gospel of salvation and power to an entire generation. Even so, the prior generation did not enter into the fullness of the mandate nor sustain the unveiling of the Kingdom message. If such a tragedy can happen to them, how much more to us in this day! We need the great grace of God to access and sustain the open heaven needed to fulfill the harvest generation.

Like the commission given to Joshua,

Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel .

No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Josh 1:2&5

Although Joshua was anointed with the same Spirit that rested upon Moses, his ministry to the people had little similarity in its application. There was no need for Joshua to write the law. Moses already accomplished that. The Spirit that rested upon Moses and was imparted to Joshua, unveiled an additional aspect of the Lord as the Warrior who displaced the giants usurping a place in the land promised to God’s covenant people.

The scribe of the Kingdom brings forth from his treasure both things old and new. While we examine the prior expression of His manifested Presence, we must also remain open to the unprecedented demonstrations of the Spirit. Eye has not seen and ear has not heard nor has it yet entered into the heart of man all that will be revealed through the mind of Christ in this day. We only know that it will be tremendous and require “eyes & ears” opened to the revelatory realm of Heaven and a wholly submitted spirit, soul and body.