My Understanding of “Press Play”

Greetings, Beloved Brethren 

Grace and peace to you all. I would like to clarify a misunderstanding that seems to exist regarding the instruction given by Prophet Joseph Branham to “Press Play.”. I am writing as a response to a post shared on WhatsApp that said, “Sunday is for attending Church. No press and play. We must sacrifice to attend church.” 

While I have no problem with the above statement, there seems to be a misunderstanding of the exact words “Press Play”. Some believers have interpreted this to mean a request to believers not to attend church on Sundays or other days, or worship together with other believers. 

That, brethren, is a wrong impression. Let me clarify a few points, my understanding of what we mean by “Press Play”. 

The term “Press Play” — in the context of the Message believers — means: 

🎧 To play and listen to the recorded sermons (tapes) of the Prophet William Marrion Branham. 

It’s a call or instruction given by the Prophet himself and amplified by Brother Joseph Branham, encouraging believers to “press play” — literally, to listen to the tapes so they can hear “the Voice of God to this generation” directly from the prophet’s own mouth. 

The Prophet spoke on many occasions about the tape ministry — how these tapes would reach God’s elect wherever they are. He emphasized to both preachers and believers to “say only what the tape says.” Therefore, Press Play is not a new concept, nor is it a doctrine or a departure from what we have always believed. It is simply the continuation of that same instruction: say only what the tape says, emphasized more as a move to counter spiritual distortions in the message from private interpretations. 

Press Play to me has a deeper meaning: 

● Spiritually: “Press Play” means feeding directly on the revealed Word as spoken through the prophet, without personal interpretation or alteration, whether it is preached (quoted directly) by the preachers or listened to directly to the Voice on the tapes. 

● Practically: It’s an act of daily devotion — playing the recorded messages at home, in church, or anywhere believers gather to listen and be spiritually nourished by the Spoken Word. 

● Symbolically: It emphasizes that faith and revelation come by hearing — echoing Romans 10:17: 

“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” How do we get faith without listening to the tapes, brethren? 

Important Clarification 

“Press Play” does not mean believers should stop attending church or ignore pastors and teachers. It means that the tape ministry — the direct voice of the prophet — remains the ultimate authority and spiritual food for the Bride in this end time. 

Sunday remains the day of worship for believers. We are encouraged to gather — whether in person or online — to worship the Lord together in unity and faith. 

Brethren, let us remember that the physical building we attend is not the Church of Jesus Christ. Some members within it may indeed be part of that Body, but the true Church is the mystical Body of Christ, made up of Holy Ghost-filled believers from all over the world who have been born into His Word and Spirit. 

When the Prophet was asked, “Where does the Church gather in the last days?” he answered, 

“In the Word — in the spiritual union of the Bride and the Groom.” 

That is where the true Bride gathers today — in Christ, the revealed Word for our age. I am gathered in this Church every day, every hour of my life, listening to the Tapes, praying, and doing my devotions. 

We have been strictly instructed by the Prophet himself to pray about the church that “you will take your family to and that which you will support with your prayers, tithes and offerings”. I did pray, sincerely, and the Lord directed me to where I worship every day. 

I am always deeply blessed when we listen to the tapes together with other believers from around the world, all at the same time — one heart, one faith, one Voice speaking to the Bride. 

That is where the true Bride gathers today — in Christ, the revealed Word for our age. I am part of that gathering every day, every hour of my life. Each time I open the Lifeline App, or Table App, and “press play”, and listen to a sermon, I am in fellowship with believers from all around the world. Hundreds and many times thousands of them, individual believers, families, churches, all gathering together in God’s word, as the Prophet said. 

We are gathered not in a building, but in God’s Word, hearing God Himself speak to us through His vindicated Prophet. What a blessing — to be united in the same Spirit, under the same Voice, as one Bride of Christ. 

There are believers who, due to various life circumstances, are unable to attend a local church. Some have been disfellowshipped, others live in remote areas, and some face family, health, or personal challenges that make regular fellowship difficult. In some cases—especially within our Kenyan context—when a believer is excommunicated, whether justly or unjustly, they often find themselves unwelcome in other congregations as well. 

The question then arises: where do such believers turn to when the very doors of fellowship seem closed to them? 

Furthermore, there are places in the world where there are no local churches, like many regions in Northern Kenya, among the Turkana, Borana, and Somali tribes. The tapes are their only source of worship and fellowship. 

Do we blame and condemn them for pressing play to listen to the Voice on Sunday or any day? Does God care for such people? 

Yes, He does! 

They are God’s children — called and loved by Him. And if they choose to “press play” on Sunday and listen to the Prophet’s voice, would you say that they are sinning and outside the will of God? I don’t think so. They are still worshipping in Spirit and in Truth, and they are part of the Bride. 

When this question came before the prophet, he said: 

353. “Let’s see. If you don’t have a church to go to, should you just listen to the tapes? 

Yes! That’s…I’d—I…That would be fine”.64-0830M – Questions And Answers #3 

106 So, now, listen to every Word. Catch It. And—and if you’re taking It on tapes, or anything, then you stay right with that tape Teaching. Don’t say nothing but what that tape says. Just say just exactly what the tape says. See? Now, because, some of those things, we’re going to understand a whole lot about this now, why It’s misunderstood. See? And you be sure, just say just what the tape says. Don’t say nothing else. See? Cause, I don’t say That of my own. It’s Him that says It, you see. And so many times, confusion, people raise up and say, “Well, So-and-so said It meant so-and-so.” Just—just leave It the way It is. 63-0317M – God Hiding Himself In Simplicity, Then Revealing Himself In The Same 

He also said in another place: 

110 I hope the spiritual mind can catch it. I’m sure you do. [Brother Branham claps his hands—Ed.], it’s gone, takes Life. Like the little woman at the well, But I wonder, out there. Anyhow, you can’t visit every nation. You can send tapes to it. God will have some way to catch that mind out there where that seed is sowed. Right. And as soon as the Light strikes it she said, “There It is.” She caught It. 63-0630M – The Third Exodus 

On the tape Ministry, He said: 

520 …. See, I realize I’m talking to thousands, on tape, you know, and we got a tape ministry around the world. … 63-0728 – Christ Is The Mystery Of God Revealed 

That should settle the question of whether “Press Play” is right or wrong. He is talking to thousands, which means thousands are listening to the tapes. They are pressing play, in other words. 

Time and again, Brother Joseph has emphasized the importance of “getting it on the tapes” — hearing it exactly as it was spoken, straight from the source. 

On believers playing tapes in their homes, the Prophet said: 

99 There must have been some of them tape boys, or somebody, slipped into the place down there and played some tapes to them, or something another, and found the predestinated. She took all of her house, and used it for a church, and received the messengers. 64-0208 – The Token 

So, brethren, how can such a noble instruction—ordained by God Himself—be contrary to His will? It cannot be, unless we are drawing our arguments from somewhere other than what is spoken on the tapes. 

Let us therefore stay with the Word, stay with the Voice, and stay with what the Prophet said—for in that Voice lies the perfect will of God for this age. Press Play is perfectly in line with God’s Word and instructions for our day. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when churches around the world were closed, believers everywhere continued to “Press Play”—hearing God’s voice directly through His prophet. If it was not wrong then, it cannot be wrong now. “Press Play” remains God’s perfect will for our day. 

I remember that before the pandemic struck, Brother Joseph had instructed the church to fast — and we did. Later, we realized that God had been preparing His people for the storm that was about to come. 

Looking back, I believe the continued emphasis on “Press Play” carries a divine purpose. We must press play every day to keep the anointing flowing and remain in step with what God is doing in this hour. 

In the spring of 2018, God met Brother Joseph Branham in Arizona and gave him a clear and unmistakable instruction: 

“Keep playing the tapes. You are in my perfect will” 

(You can listen to his testimony here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUkjnayozMI) 

Since that divine encounter, Brother Joseph has faithfully encouraged pastors to play the tapes to their congregations and families to play them in their homes. This was not a human idea or personal initiative — it was God’s instruction to His people for this hour. 

Brother Joseph has never said that believers should not attend church or that pastors should stop preaching. Rather, he has reminded us of the importance of staying connected to the original voice of God’s message. 

We may not fully understand what lies ahead or why the Lord instructed His prophet to say, “Press Play”, but our calling is simple—trust, obey, and do as He says. 

Let us, therefore, be very careful not to criticize, distort, or downplay what the Lord Himself has ordained. To do so would be to question both God’s instruction to the fivefold ministry and the prophetic office that God promised and vindicated for this generation. 

The prophet’s greatest emphasis has always been this: “Say only what the tape says.” Do not add to it, do not take away from it. Even the fivefold ministry is instructed to speak only what the tapes say — for that is the revealed Word for our day. 

But how can one truly say what the tape says unless they first Press Play and hear it for themselves? Unless, of course, one claims to have a revelation higher than what has already been spoken and vindicated by God through His prophet, which would be an error. 

The instruction to Press Play is, therefore, not optional or trivial. It is a divine call to return to the pure, undiluted Word — exactly as it was spoken. 

When we Press Play, we sit under one Voice — the Voice of God to this generation. It brings unity, not division; Clarity, not confusion. Every believer, every pastor, every family hears the same message, the same interpretation, the same Spirit. This is how the Bride is made one — not through debate or personal opinion, but through the Word made alive by the same Voice that called us out. 

Pressing Play strengthens faith, renews revelation, and keeps us anchored to the original message. It unites the global body of believers under one headship — Christ Himself speaking through His prophet. 

Playing the tapes has transformed countless homes and lives — I am a living witness to this truth. When you Press Play, you are not merely listening; you are encountering the Angel of the Lord sent in our day — the very manifestation of the Revelation of the Son of Man. 

Through the anointed Voice on the tapes, believers: 

● Receive faith, for “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” 

● Experience healing, deliverance, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost. 

● Witness the manifestation of signs, wonders, and the power of the spoken Word. 

● Are strengthened, revived, and anchored more deeply in their walk with God. 

I have personally been healed and delivered through this tape ministry, and many members of my family have also experienced miraculous transformations. It is the Vindicated Voice, carrying the original anointing for our age. 

When we listen together in faith, the promise of Malachi 4:6 is fulfilled — “to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers.” But where many voices and private interpretations arise, confusion takes root, and we lose the unity and perfection the Bride is called to. Only by Pressing Play and staying with the Original Message can we be formed into the stature of a perfect man. 

We must, however, offer a word of caution. We cannot uphold one Word of God by breaking another. Indeed, the truly called and anointed fivefold ministry is present among us, and we must continue to listen to them, for God has appointed them in the Body for our edification, instruction, and spiritual growth. It is through this divinely ordained ministry — faithfully speaking only what the Tape says — that the Bride is nourished, strengthened, and perfected in the unity of the faith. 

Brother Joseph has never forbidden believers from listening to this God-ordained ministry. On the contrary, he has continually emphasized that every believer should prayerfully discern where they are being spiritually fed. 

At the same time, he reminds us that the Tape Ministry remains the most direct channel through which God Himself speaks to His people in this day. On those tapes, we hear “Thus Saith the Lord” — the unfailing Voice of the Message, the fresh manna for our time. 

The five-fold ministry’s true calling, therefore, is to echo and amplify what has already been spoken through the prophet — not to add, not to take away, but to faithfully point the people back to the Original Voice by reverently and faithfully PRESSING PLAY. 

Beloved, let us not divide or judge one another over this instruction. A brother who goes to church and a brother who listens from home are both children of God — dearly loved, chosen, and called. 

We are one body, the called-out Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in this end time, not because we go to one church, but because we have received and believed the Message and the Messenger that God sent in our day and continuously “pressing play” to listen to the original voice. That is the reason these tapes were recorded and have been painstakingly preserved in their original form. 

Let us therefore walk in love, press play daily, and remain united in faith and purpose. 

“One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” — Ephesians 4:5–6 

Bro. Sammy Keter 

Sammy Keter: My Understanding of “Press Play” Page 7