1933 Ohio River Experience - Revision history

Admin: /* Was there a voice that spoke? */

2025-12-15T17:28:02Z

Was there a voice that spoke?

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:28, 15 December 2025
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	In the Tract, [[Life Story Tract\|''"Jesus Christ the Same, Yesterday, Today and Forever"'']], William Branham first tells of a light appearing on the Ohio River in 1933:		In the Tract, [[Life Story Tract\|''"Jesus Christ the Same, Yesterday, Today and Forever"'']], William Branham first tells of a light appearing on the Ohio River in 1933:

	:''One day at the foot of Spring Street, Jeffersonville, Indiana, after a two week's revival, I was baptizing 130 people. It was a hot August day and there were about three thousand people present. I was about to baptize the 17th person when all of a sudden I heard that still, little voice again and it said, "Look up." The sky was like brass on that hot August day. We had not had any rain for about three weeks. I heard the voice again, and then again the third time it said, "Look up."		:''One day at the foot of Spring Street, Jeffersonville, Indiana, after a two week's revival, I was baptizing 130 people. It was a hot August day and there were about three thousand people present. I was about to baptize the 17th person when all of a sudden I heard that still, little voice again and it said, "Look up." The sky was like brass on that hot August day. We had not had any rain for about three weeks. I heard the voice again, and then again the third time it said, "Look up." ''I looked up and there came from the sky a big bright star which I had seen many times before but that I had not told you about...After a few seconds had passed, I screamed and many people looked up and saw the star just over me. Some fainted while others shouted and others ran away. Then the star returned back into the sky, and the place where it had left was about fifteen feet square, and this place kept moving and churning about or as though waves were rolling. There had formed in this place a little white cloud and the star was recieved up in this little cloud. ''

	:''I looked up and there came from the sky a big bright star which I had seen many times before but that I had not told you about...After a few seconds had passed, I screamed and many people looked up and saw the star just over me. Some fainted while others shouted and others ran away. Then the star returned back into the sky, and the place where it had left was about fifteen feet square, and this place kept moving and churning about or as though waves were rolling. There had formed in this place a little white cloud and the star was recieved up in this little cloud.

	In his book, Twentieth Century Prophet, Lee Vayle writes:		In his book, Twentieth Century Prophet, Lee Vayle writes:

	:''It was during June of 1933 that as he was baptizing the converts in the Ohio River that a most amazing and '''well documented''' phenomenon occurred. As he was baptizing the seventeenth person before a crowd estimated at about 4000 there appeared a blazing whirling star out of heaven with the sound of rushing wind audible to all, and it came and hovered over him. As many ran in fear, and others knelt in prayer, a voice spoke out of the pillar of fire to him and said...''		:''It was during June of 1933 that as he was baptizing the converts in the Ohio River that a most amazing and '''well documented''' phenomenon occurred. As he was baptizing the seventeenth person before a crowd estimated at about 4000 there appeared a blazing whirling star out of heaven with the sound of rushing wind audible to all, and it came and hovered over him. As many ran in fear, and others knelt in prayer, a voice spoke out of the pillar of fire to him and said...'' ''"As John the Baptist was the forerunner of the first coming of Christ, so your message is the forerunner of the second coming of Christ.'' '''''Of course he alone heard the words''' though others heard the sound. This is exactly as it was when Paul was blinded by God and heard His voice. Others heard a sound but not the actual voice or the words of the voice. ''

	::''"As John the Baptist was the forerunner of the first coming of Christ, so your message is the forerunner of the second coming of Christ."''

	:'''''Of course he alone heard the words''' though others heard the sound. This is exactly as it was when Paul was blinded by God and heard His voice. Others heard a sound but not the actual voice or the words of the voice. ''

	=Concerns with the experience=		=Concerns with the experience=
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	==Was there a voice that spoke?==		==Was there a voice that spoke?==

	~~And the critical "prophecy" that all message followers focus on was not told by William Branham until August 1952, which was after Gordon Lindsay published his book.~~ William Branham~~, in his~~ first ~~telling of~~ the voice ~~which spoke, says that it said the following:~~		When William Branham first tells the story in 1950 and 1951, he never mentions a voice speaking.

	~~:''"As John the Baptist was sent to warn the people of the first coming of Christ, so is this Message to warn the people of the second coming."<ref>52-0817E - Do You Now Believe?</ref>~~		Both Gordon Lindsay's book, ''''A Man Sent From God'''', and Julius Stadsklev's book, ''''A Prophet Visits South Africa'''' record the light appearing during the baptism, but omit the voice. '''It is obvious that they both received this information directly from William Branham without any checking of the facts. It is important to note that there is NO MENTION of a voice.'''

	Both Gordon Lindsay's book, ''''A Man Sent From God'''', and Julius Stadsklev's book, ''''A Prophet Visits South Africa'''' record the light appearing during the baptism, but omit the voice. '''It is obvious that they both received this information directly from William Branham without any checking of the facts.'''

	However, Gordon Lindsay's book does include the following similar prophecy:		However, Gordon Lindsay's book does include the following similar prophecy:
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	:''The next incident was a stirring message given in the Spirit and interpreted, almost identical to two others which were to be given in other Branham meetings in different places, a sure testimony of the authenticity of this anointed ministry. It was uttered with such rousing force that it almost seemed unearthly, and this was the gist of the message… that '''as John the Baptist was sent as a forerunner of the Lord’s first coming''', so was He sending forth '''this evangelist and others like him''' to move the people and prepare them for His second coming. Months later we heard this same message interpreted amidst a large crowd of people attending the Branham meeting in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by '''Sister Anna Schrader''' whom we later learned to appreciate deeply. Truly, these words penetrated our hearts.” (Gordon Lindsay, A Man Sent From God)		:''The next incident was a stirring message given in the Spirit and interpreted, almost identical to two others which were to be given in other Branham meetings in different places, a sure testimony of the authenticity of this anointed ministry. It was uttered with such rousing force that it almost seemed unearthly, and this was the gist of the message… that '''as John the Baptist was sent as a forerunner of the Lord’s first coming''', so was He sending forth '''this evangelist and others like him''' to move the people and prepare them for His second coming. Months later we heard this same message interpreted amidst a large crowd of people attending the Branham meeting in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by '''Sister Anna Schrader''' whom we later learned to appreciate deeply. Truly, these words penetrated our hearts.” (Gordon Lindsay, A Man Sent From God)

	This provides witnesses to the prophecy of Jesus' return. However, the prophecy ~~as retold by Gordon Lindsay~~ refers to "this evangelist and others like him", ~~while the prophecy as retold by~~ William Branham ~~only refers to himself~~.		This provides witnesses to the prophecy of Jesus' return. However, the prophecy refers to "this evangelist and others like him", and not solely to William Branham.

	It is also interesting to note that the person that gave the prophecy, [[Hagin Prophecy#Kenneth Hagin's Account of Anna Schrader's Prophecies\|Anna Schrader, also prophesied William Branham's death]] in 1965.		It is also interesting to note that the person that gave the prophecy, [[Hagin Prophecy#Kenneth Hagin's Account of Anna Schrader's Prophecies\|Anna Schrader, also prophesied William Branham's death]] in 1965. William Branham referred to her as a prophetess.

	One must conclude that since the voice was not mentioned in William Branham's own early retelling of the story that it never occurred and that he simply used the language from the Lindsay book.		'''The critical "prophecy" that all message followers focus on was not told by William Branham until August 1952,''' which was after Gordon Lindsay published his book. William Branham, in his first telling of the voice which spoke, says that it said the following:

			:''"As John the Baptist was sent to warn the people of the first coming of Christ, so is this Message to warn the people of the second coming."<ref>52-0817E - Do You Now Believe?</ref>''

			One must conclude that since the voice was not mentioned in William Branham's own early retelling of the story that it never occurred and that he simply used the language from the Lindsay book. '''There was no voice and no prophecy at the Ohio River in 1933.'''

	==William Branham initially said he didn't know what it meant!==		==William Branham initially said he didn't know what it meant!==
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	*There are no references to William Branham in 1933 other than an article from the Jeffersonville Evening News on June 2, 1933 (see photograph on the left) which stated:		*There are no references to William Branham in 1933 other than an article from the Jeffersonville Evening News on June 2, 1933 (see photograph on the left) which stated:

	::FOURTEEN CONVERTED		::FOURTEEN CONVERTED Fourteen conversions are reported in a tent meeting conducted at Eighth and Pratt streets by the Rev. William Branham.

	::Fourteen conversions are reported in a tent meeting conducted at Eighth and Pratt streets by the Rev. William Branham.

	*It should be noted that the June 2, 1933 article does not mention a light or the Ohio River and casts serious doubt on the number of people that William Branham claims to have baptized. The article says absolutely nothing about people being baptized.		*It should be noted that the June 2, 1933 article does not mention a light or the Ohio River and casts serious doubt on the number of people that William Branham claims to have baptized. The article says absolutely nothing about people being baptized.
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	[[Category:Honesty and Credibility]]		[[index.php?title=Category:Honesty and Credibility]]
	[[Category:Supernatural vindication]]		[[index.php?title=Category:Supernatural vindication]]

Admin: /* What was reported in the newspapers */

2023-11-01T21:44:48Z

What was reported in the newspapers

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:44, 1 November 2023
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	[[Image:14Converted.jpg\|left\|thumb\|300px\| Jeffersonville Evening News, June 2, 1933]]		[[Image:14Converted.jpg\|left\|thumb\|300px\| Jeffersonville Evening News, June 2, 1933]]
	Here is '''what we know''' about the event from conducted numerous searches in online newspaper archives and from microfiche sources in Indiana:		Here is '''what we know''' about the event from conducted numerous searches in online newspaper archives and from microfiche sources in Indiana:
	*There is an advertisement which appeared in the Jeffersonville Evening News on May 6, 1933 for a series of meetings (see photograph on the ~~left~~).		*There is an advertisement which appeared in the Jeffersonville Evening News on May 6, 1933 for a series of meetings (see photograph on the right).
	*There was a similar advertisement which appeared in the Jeffersonville Evening News on May 27, 1933 (not reproduced).		*There was a similar advertisement which appeared in the Jeffersonville Evening News on May 27, 1933 (not reproduced).
	*There are no references to William Branham in 1933 other than an article from the Jeffersonville Evening News on June 2, 1933 which stated:		*There are no references to William Branham in 1933 other than an article from the Jeffersonville Evening News on June 2, 1933 (see photograph on the left) which stated:

	::FOURTEEN CONVERTED		::FOURTEEN CONVERTED

Admin: /* What was reported in the newspapers */

2023-11-01T21:44:00Z

What was reported in the newspapers

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:44, 1 November 2023
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	*There is an advertisement which appeared in the Jeffersonville Evening News on May 6, 1933 for a series of meetings (see photograph on the left).		*There is an advertisement which appeared in the Jeffersonville Evening News on May 6, 1933 for a series of meetings (see photograph on the left).
	*There was a similar advertisement which appeared in the Jeffersonville Evening News on May 27, 1933 (not reproduced).		*There was a similar advertisement which appeared in the Jeffersonville Evening News on May 27, 1933 (not reproduced).
	*There are no references to William Branham in 1933 other than an article from the Jeffersonville Evening News on June 2, 1933~~. It should be noted that this article does not mention a light or the Ohio River and casts serious doubt on the number of people that William Branham claims to have baptized.~~		*There are no references to William Branham in 1933 other than an article from the Jeffersonville Evening News on June 2, 1933 which stated:

	It ~~is also interesting to note~~ that the article says absolutely nothing about people being baptized.		::FOURTEEN CONVERTED

			::Fourteen conversions are reported in a tent meeting conducted at Eighth and Pratt streets by the Rev. William Branham.

			*It should be noted that the June 2, 1933 article does not mention a light or the Ohio River and casts serious doubt on the number of people that William Branham claims to have baptized. The article says absolutely nothing about people being baptized.
			*There are no other newspaper reports in any other newspapers, either in the Jeffersonville area or internationally which talk about this event.

	We must reasonably conclude that the story of the light appearing on the Ohio River was never reported in any newspaper. We must also conclude that William Branham estimates of numbers were wildly exaggerated.		We must reasonably conclude that the story of the light appearing on the Ohio River was never reported in any newspaper. We must also conclude that William Branham estimates of numbers were wildly exaggerated.

Admin: /* What was reported in the newspapers */

2023-11-01T21:27:35Z

What was reported in the newspapers

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:27, 1 November 2023
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	==What was reported in the newspapers==		==What was reported in the newspapers==
	[[File:19330506Davis.jpg\|right\|thumb\|300px\| Jeffersonville Evening News, ~~June 2~~, 1933]]		[[File:19330506Davis.jpg\|right\|thumb\|300px\| Jeffersonville Evening News, May 6, 1933]]

	Here is '''what William Branham said''' about the event:		Here is '''what William Branham said''' about the event:
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	*William Branham said that the story was carried by a paper (1950), the "Courier Journal" (1951), the "Sunday Visitor" (1954), the "Louisville Herald", and the "Associated Press" (1961). <br>		*William Branham said that the story was carried by a paper (1950), the "Courier Journal" (1951), the "Sunday Visitor" (1954), the "Louisville Herald", and the "Associated Press" (1961). <br>

	[[Image:14Converted.jpg\|left\|thumb\|300px\| Jeffersonville Evening News, ~~May 6~~, 1933]]		[[Image:14Converted.jpg\|left\|thumb\|300px\| Jeffersonville Evening News, June 2, 1933]]
	Here is '''what we know''' about the event from conducted numerous searches in online newspaper archives and from microfiche sources in Indiana:		Here is '''what we know''' about the event from conducted numerous searches in online newspaper archives and from microfiche sources in Indiana:
	*There is an advertisement which appeared in the Jeffersonville Evening News on May 6, 1933 for a series of meetings (see photograph on the left).		*There is an advertisement which appeared in the Jeffersonville Evening News on May 6, 1933 for a series of meetings (see photograph on the left).

Admin: /* Concerns with the experience */

2022-02-10T01:55:35Z

Concerns with the experience

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 =Concerns with the experience=
-===Some things stay the same, and some things change===
+==The testimony of eyewitnesses==
 William Branham retells this story many times. Each time he tells the story, a light always appears when the 17th person is being baptised, and a voice says "Look up".  However, there are some differences in each retelling.
 ==How many people attended the baptism?==

Admin: /* Concerns with the experience */

2022-02-03T03:13:41Z

Concerns with the experience

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:13, 3 February 2022
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	We must reasonably conclude that the story of the light appearing on the Ohio River was never reported in any newspaper. We must also conclude that William Branham estimates of numbers were wildly exaggerated.		We must reasonably conclude that the story of the light appearing on the Ohio River was never reported in any newspaper. We must also conclude that William Branham estimates of numbers were wildly exaggerated.

	==~~Who is Edward Colvin~~?==		==How long would it take to baptize 500 people?==
	~~Willliam~~ Branham ~~mentions that Edward Colvin was~~ being baptized ~~when the light came down.~~ ~~If anyone would be a great witness to this event, Edward would be.~~
			Assuming a very short period of time per baptism, say 1 minute per person, it would have taken 500 minutes or '''over 8 hours''' to baptize 500 people. Of course, it is almost impossible to baptize one person every 60 seconds if you are going to say even a very simple prayer before they were baptized.

			Was William Branham exaggerating the number of people being baptized? What else did he exaggerate?

	{\| style="width:200px; border:1px solid #E8B399;background-color:#F0DCC8;vertical-align:top; float:right; text-align:center; padding: 0.3em;margin-left:15px"		{\| style="width:200px; border:1px solid #E8B399;background-color:#F0DCC8;vertical-align:top; float:right; text-align:center; padding: 0.3em;margin-left:15px"

Admin at 00:51, 27 September 2020

2020-09-27T00:51:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:51, 27 September 2020
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			{{Top of Page}}
	Did this event ever take place? Watch the video and read the details below to make up your own mind.		Did this event ever take place? Watch the video and read the details below to make up your own mind.
	<div style="border-bottom:2px #B87333 solid; text-align:left; padding:1px; margin:1px;"><font color='#800000' size='+1'>'''The Voice on the Ohio River'''.</font> </div>		<div style="border-bottom:2px #B87333 solid; text-align:left; padding:1px; margin:1px;"><font color='#800000' size='+1'>'''The Voice on the Ohio River'''.</font> </div>

Admin: /* How many people attended the baptism? */

2020-08-12T19:16:17Z

How many people attended the baptism?

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:16, 12 August 2020
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	Originally, in the first retelling, 130 people came to be baptized in August 1933 while 3,000 people watched. In later retellings, 500 people came to be baptized in June 1933 while 10,000 people watched.		Originally, in the first retelling, 130 people came to be baptized in August 1933 while 3,000 people watched. In later retellings, 500 people came to be baptized in June 1933 while 10,000 people watched.

	According to the video of Bruce Hall, Graham Snelling and others stated that there were less than 100 people present. We also understand from the report in the local newspaper that only 14 people came forward for salvation in the tent meetings. Presumably, some or all of these were the ones who were baptized.		According to the video of Bruce Hall, Graham Snelling and others stated that there were less than 100 people present. We also understand from the report in the local newspaper that only 14 people came forward for salvation in the tent meetings which were held in May 1933. Presumably, some or all of these were the ones who were baptized.

	==Was there a voice that spoke?==		==Was there a voice that spoke?==

Admin: /* How many people attended the baptism? */

2020-08-12T19:15:46Z

How many people attended the baptism?

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:15, 12 August 2020
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	Originally, in the first retelling, 130 people came to be baptized in August 1933 while 3,000 people watched. In later retellings, 500 people came to be baptized in June 1933 while 10,000 people watched.		Originally, in the first retelling, 130 people came to be baptized in August 1933 while 3,000 people watched. In later retellings, 500 people came to be baptized in June 1933 while 10,000 people watched.

	According to the video of Bruce Hall, Graham Snelling and others stated that there were less than 100 people present. We also understand from the report in the local newspaper that only 14 people came forward for salvation in the meetings. Presumably, some or all of these were the ones who were baptized.		According to the video of Bruce Hall, Graham Snelling and others stated that there were less than 100 people present. We also understand from the report in the local newspaper that only 14 people came forward for salvation in the tent meetings. Presumably, some or all of these were the ones who were baptized.

	==Was there a voice that spoke?==		==Was there a voice that spoke?==

Admin: /* How many people attended the baptism? */

2020-08-12T19:15:21Z

How many people attended the baptism?

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:15, 12 August 2020
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	Originally, in the first retelling, 130 people came to be baptized in August 1933 while 3,000 people watched. In later retellings, 500 people came to be baptized in June 1933 while 10,000 people watched.		Originally, in the first retelling, 130 people came to be baptized in August 1933 while 3,000 people watched. In later retellings, 500 people came to be baptized in June 1933 while 10,000 people watched.

	According to the video of Bruce Hall, Graham Snelling and others stated that there were less than 100 people present. We also understand from the report in the local newspaper that only 14 people were baptized.		According to the video of Bruce Hall, Graham Snelling and others stated that there were less than 100 people present. We also understand from the report in the local newspaper that only 14 people came forward for salvation in the meetings. Presumably, some or all of these were the ones who were baptized.

	==Was there a voice that spoke?==		==Was there a voice that spoke?==