Deuteronomy 18:20-22: Difference between revisions
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Deuteronomy 18:20-22 | William Branham held himself to the standard of Deuteronomy 18:20-22 | ||
:'' | :''I can only be responsible for what I know is truth. Then when the services is finished, this next week, Sunday week, if the Lord permits us to stay... If these things that I have said come to pass, then you believe God. '''If they do not come to pass, then I—I am a false prophet then.''' And now, that's fair to any congregation, isn't it? And you just let God... You judge according...<ref>50-0713_Obey The Voice Of The Angel_Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA #6</ref> | ||
:''Now I'm going to ask the tapes to.... Well, go ahead, tape it. But look, I'm just going to say this to the Tabernacle people, you that's been here. '''I charge any of you in the name of the Lord Jesus to ever ... to put your finger on one thing of the hundreds of things that has been told before they come to pass, and say they did not come to pass. Tell me one time that on the platform, out there wherever it was, that He ever spoke anything that wasn't perfectly just exactly that way.''' How could a human mind be that way? Certainly not.<ref>63-0319_The Second Seal_Jeffersonville, Indiana, USA #36</ref> | |||
It should be possible for us to examine William Branham's ministry and determine whether he met the test of Deut. 18:20-22. That is the purpose of the passage - to provide the standard by which a prophet is to be judged. | |||
=Summary: The "One Mistake" rule= | |||
Deuteronomy 18:20-22 states: | Deuteronomy 18:20-22 states: | ||
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:''But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, '''that same prophet shall die'''. And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’ — when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, '''if the word does not come to pass or come true''', that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. '''You need not be afraid of him.'''<ref>Deuteronomy 18:20-22</ref> | :''But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, '''that same prophet shall die'''. And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’ — when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, '''if the word does not come to pass or come true''', that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. '''You need not be afraid of him.'''<ref>Deuteronomy 18:20-22</ref> | ||
The true Prophet of the Lord predicts that which does come to pass. If the Prophet's predictions fail, they are exposed as NOT of God. Jeremiah 28:9 tells us: | A true Prophet must be 100% accurate. There is absolutely no margin for error. The true Prophet of the Lord predicts that which does come to pass. If the Prophet's predictions fail, they are exposed as NOT of God. Jeremiah 28:9 tells us: | ||
:''The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.<ref>Jeremiah 28:9</ref> | :''The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.<ref>Jeremiah 28:9</ref> | ||
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:''As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and '''everything Samuel said proved to be reliable'''. And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord<ref>1 Samuel 3:19-20</ref> | :''As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and '''everything Samuel said proved to be reliable'''. And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord<ref>1 Samuel 3:19-20</ref> | ||
In the Old Testament, prophets prophesied within three time frames: their own time, for the 1st coming and the 2nd coming | In the Old Testament, prophets prophesied within three time frames: | ||
#their own time, | |||
#for the 1st coming and | |||
#for the 2nd coming. | |||
The test of a prophet was the prophecies which would be fulfilled in his own lifetime. Obviously, if it was beyond his lifetime, he wouldn't be around to have to answer for it. Prophecy was very specific in the Old and the New Testament. They would foretell God's revelation to the people and if one looks back at the Biblical record to study a prophet's calling, it was God who picked them and they are often found running away from the position. | |||
==Second test== | |||
Another test used of a prophet is found in Deuteronomy 13:1. In addition to whether their predictions came true, the additional test is whether they used signs and wonders to draw people to other gods or to a different representation of God (such as Jannes and Jambres in 2 Timothy 3:8). Here, God is testing the people to see if they love only Him. This is probably the most overlooked scripture for examining the claims of those who profess supernatural powers from God. | |||
==William Branham applied the Deuteronomy 18:20-22 test to himself | If they were to contradict the teaching that had already been revealed, which had provided knowledge of the one true God, then they were seen as false prophets. God did not, and still does not tolerate false prophesying. If they were wrong once, they were false; they were to be stoned. If this occurred today, many, if not all, who lay claim to this position would have a quick end to their so-called anointing! | ||
Remember: just because one performs miracles, even inside a church, does not mean God is working. We should be more on guard inside the church than we would like to think. In 1 Corinthians 4:6, we are told not to go beyond what in written. If one contradicts the apostolic writings and teachings, then they are false (2 Cor.11:14). | |||
Those who go beyond the word, having God speak to them directly with new revelation, become puffed up with self-deception. There is something called humility that is practiced when one adheres to the same standard that everyone else does. Isaiah 8:16, 20 says: | |||
:''Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. ...to the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.<ref>David Norton, ed., The New Cambridge Paragraph Bible with the Apocrypha: King James Version, Revised edition (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2011), Is 8:16,20.</ref> | |||
This standard distinguishes a believer from an unbeliever. The test of the prophet was his conformity to the word of God, he condemns sin, he comforts the brethren, and he speaks of things both in the near future (his lifetime) and later than his life. A prophet, like an apostle, not only functioned as a gift, but as an office. A prophet would declare God's will for his generation, addressing idolatry or lukewarmness. We see this personified in John the Baptist who warned and rebuked the people preparing the for the Messiah. | |||
==Methodology== | |||
In all things, we follow the instruction of Isaiah: | |||
Isaiah 28:10 (KJV) | |||
:''For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; Line upon line, line upon line; Here a little, and there a little | |||
This informs us that we need to make sure as we study that Scripture is supported throughout the Bible. And we will show the specific references. | |||
As we look at the Book of Deuteronomy, we see that God is defining His laws and regulations for the Nation of Israel. | |||
God is clear in his COVENANT RELATIONSHIP with the Nation of Israel (the OLD COVENANT RELATIONSHIP) that there are ONLY two ways in which God shall interact with the Jews: | |||
The High Priest in the Holy of Holies to sacrifice in atonement for sins; | |||
Through specific commissions directly to God’s true prophets. | |||
This COVENANT RELATIONSHIP replaces the One-on-One communion which Adam and Eve shared with God in the Garden of Eden prior to the Fall of Man (see [[https://www.perfectingofthesaints.com/adam-before-and-after-the-fall/]]. The reference provides several specific Scriptural references to substantiate that precept. | |||
Chapter 18 of the Book of Deuteronomy discusses how the Nation of Israel shall evaluate those who claim to be God’s prophets in addition to the relationship the High Priests will have with the people. This is important to make sure the Nation of Israel does not follow a false prophet, a false teacher. | |||
Before we look at the specific verses in Chapter 18, let’s take a look at what we know about the attributes of how God used His prophets. | |||
GOD HOLDS HIS PROPHET RESPONSIBLE FOR CARRYING OUT THE SPECIFIC COMMISSIONS WHICH HE GIVES TO THEM. | |||
The Book of Jonah is particularly instructive for the purposes of illustrating this precept. | |||
Jonah 1:1-4 (KJV) | |||
:''1 Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, | |||
:''2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. | |||
:''3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. | |||
:''4 But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. | |||
Throughout the Book of Jonah, we see that God gave Jonah a commission, and when Jonah attempted to disregard God’s commission, God caused Jonah to go where God had originally instructed him to travel, and to deliver God’s message to the king of Nineveh. | |||
The next precept we have to examine is WHAT DOES GOD DEMAND OF HIS PROPHETS OTHER THAN TO DELIVER HIS COMMISSION? | |||
The answer is: NOTHING! But we know that God DEMANDS his commissions to be carried out. | |||
DOES GOD EXPECT THE RESULTS OF A PROPHET’S MISSION TO BE FIXED IN STONE PRIOR TO THE DELIVERY OF THE COMMISSION? | |||
The answer is: NO! | |||
The Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 18, speaks to this very issue: | |||
Jeremiah 18:7-10 (KJV) | |||
:''7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; | |||
:''8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. | |||
:''9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; | |||
:''10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them. | |||
And so, we see that God ONLY HOLDS A PROPHET ACCOUNTABLE FOR DELIVERING HIS COMMISSION! The prophet IS NOT responsible for the outcome. We can again look at the Book of Jonah for instruction: | |||
Jonah3:3-10 (KJV) | |||
:''3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey. | |||
:''4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. | |||
:''5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. | |||
:''6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. | |||
:''7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: | |||
:''8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. | |||
:''9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? 10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. | |||
We see here that God MAY RELENT, and DID RELENT in the case of Jonah’s message of judgement against the Ninevites. | |||
This demonstrates that what happens AFTER the prophet executes God’s commission is UP TO GOD, and NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROPHET. The ONLY responsibility of God’s prophet is to deliver faithfully God’s message, his specific commission. | |||
This now raises the question: WHAT IF THE PROPHET DOES NOT “FAITHFULLY” EXECUTE GOD’S COMMISSION? | |||
Let’s look at God’s commitment to the prophet and to God’s people. We look at the 1st Book of Samuel for instruction: | |||
1 Samuel 3:19-20 (KJV) | |||
:''19 And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. | |||
:''20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord. | |||
Who knew Samuel was a prophet of the Lord? ALL ISRAEL… | |||
And how did they know? NONE OF HIS WORDS WERE ALLOWED TO FALL TO THE GROUND! | |||
That means that EVEN IF the prophet DOES NOT execute his commission faithfully, God will provide what was intended in His commission through the prophet. | |||
We can look at the example of Moses for this precept: | |||
Numbers 20:7-12 (KJV) | |||
:''7 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, | |||
:''8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. | |||
:''9 And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him. | |||
:''10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? | |||
:''11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. | |||
:''12 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. | |||
Here we see that Moses WAS NOT FAITHFUL in his execution of the specific commission which God gave him. Moses was told by God to SPEAK to the rock, and Moses STRUCK the rock. | |||
But because, as we see in 1 Samuel, God WILL NOT ALLOW A TRUE PROPHET’S WORDS TO FALL TO THE GROUND, God delivered the blessing to the people and water came forth from the rock. | |||
What was the price which Moses paid for NOT EXECUTING THE COMMISSION FAITHFULLY? He was not permitted to accompany the Nation of Israel into the land the Lord had given them. | |||
Even though Moses was not faithful, GOD WAS FAITHFUL because His commission to His prophet WILL ALWAYS COME TO PASS (even when in Jonah’s case, the prophet tries everything in his power to avoid the commission). | |||
Now, let’s refer this back to the Book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 18. We will start a little earlier than the 20th verse to make sure we have the proper context: | |||
Deuteronomy 18:18-22 (KJV) | |||
:''18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. | |||
:''19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. | |||
:''20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. | |||
:''21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? | |||
:''22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. | |||
Verse 18 is where God illuminates His intention to raise up prophets from among the Nation of Israel. Verse 19 clearly speaks to the consequences of the people in the Nation of Israel for ignoring God’s prophet. And then we get into the relevant passage, verses 20-22. | |||
Deuteronomy 18:20 (KJV) | |||
:''20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. | |||
Here we see that God is clear that men will presume to speak on God’s behalf who clearly do not have the authority of God when they speak. The consequences for this behavior is dire. | |||
God then clarifies for His people what the correct question is to ask of such a person who claims to speak in the Name of the Lord: | |||
Deuteronomy 18:21 (KJV) | |||
:''21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? | |||
God here instructs the Israelites HOW they will know whether a prophet is FROM GOD, or is a FALSE PROPHET: | |||
Deuteronomy 18:22 (KJV) | |||
:''22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. | |||
God is VERY CLEAR… Just as he affirms in 1 Samuel chapter 3, God tells us that a prophet’s words MUST NEVER FALL TO THE GROUND… MUST ALWAYS COME TO PASS JUST AS GOD GAVE THE COMMISSION! If this is not the case, then the prophet is a FALSE PROPHET, and the consequences according to Verse 20, “THAT PROPHET MUST DIE.” | |||
Notice that this is a ONE-AND-DONE examination. Find ONE SINGLE EXAMPLE of failure according to this Scripture, and the person proclaiming themselves a prophet, as William Branham did over 400 times in his 1,205 sermons, must pass this examination EACH AND EVERY TIME!! One failure, and THEY ARE A FALSE PROPHET. And God provided an awfully dire consequence. | |||
Let us remember Isaiah 28: | |||
Isaiah 28:10 (KJV) | |||
:''For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; Line upon line, line upon line; Here a little, and there a little | |||
Where is another example of where God realizes FALSE PROPHETS will arise? | |||
The 13th chapter of the same Book of Deuteronomy is instructive: | |||
Deuteronomy 13:1-5 (KJV) | |||
:''If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, | |||
:''2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; | |||
:''3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. | |||
:''4 Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. | |||
:''5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee. | |||
Again, a dire consequence. I will address more of this when I provide the quotes where Branham minimizes the Ministries of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. But I digress… | |||
Isaiah also tells us we need to look FORWARD in Scripture to where we can examine these precepts. Let’s take a look first at the 1st Letter of John the Evangelist, Chapter 4. Remember now, John the wrote this letter AFTER JESUS CHRIST USHERED IN A NEW COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD! I will similarly address this issue of a NEW COVENANT RELATIONSHIP when I provide the quotes where Branham minimizes the Ministries of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. And again, I digress… | |||
1 John 4:1 (KJV) | |||
:''1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. | |||
John confirms that THERE WILL BE FALSE PROPHETS… his instruction is to TRY THE SPIRITS, to examine them against the Scriptural examination that we just described culminating in the Book of Deuteronomy. | |||
When the Apostle Paul and Silas travelled to Berea, the Bereans took this examination very seriously as well: | |||
Acts 17:10-11 (KJV) | |||
:''10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. | |||
:''11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. | |||
Notice that the Bereans did not “ONLY BELIEVE” Paul and Silas,” they did what God had instructed and examined what they said against SCRIPTURE… they examined what was said. This was THE APOSTLE PAUL! How much more today should we examine those who come forward and tell us that they are God’s prophet?? | |||
Let’s also look at what Jesus Christ Himself tells us about FALSE PROPHETS. | |||
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is instructing His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus tells us this: | |||
Matthew 7:15-23 (KJV) | |||
:''15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. | |||
:''16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? | |||
:''17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. | |||
:''18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. | |||
:''19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. | |||
:''20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. | |||
:''21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. | |||
:''22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? | |||
:''23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. | |||
Jesus considers this SO IMPORTANT that he repeats that we will recognize a FALSE PROPHET by his fruits. An interesting moment, but for another time. | |||
What we CAN see here concerning Branham and other false prophets is that they can USE THE NAME OF GOD to perform “SIGNS AND WONDERS,” even if they claim a position for themselves which is not true. | |||
We KNOW that the NAME OF GOD is sufficient for all sorts of “SIGNS AND WONDERS” as we see here: | |||
Acts 3:4-8 (KJV) | |||
:''4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. | |||
:''5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. | |||
:''6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. | |||
:''7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength. | |||
:''8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. | |||
Philippians 2:8-11 (KJV) | |||
:''8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. | |||
:''9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: | |||
:''10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; | |||
:''11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. | |||
Proverbs 18:10 (KJV) | |||
:''10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: The righteous runneth into it, and is safe. | |||
And there are plenty more examples… | |||
When the FALSE PROPHETS in Matthew, Chapter 7, are described by Jesus Himself even though they used the Name of Jesus to perform all manner of “SIGNS AND WONDERS,” Jesus declared that HE NEVER KNEW THEM! | |||
Matthew 7:22-23 (KJV) | |||
:''22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? | |||
:''23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. | |||
WE know, therefore, that “SIGNS AND WONDERS” are not used to vindicate anyone let alone God’s prophets. And in fact, SATAN CAN PERFORM SIGNS AND WONDERS: | |||
Matthew 4:5-6 (KJV) | |||
:''5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, | |||
:''6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. | |||
Satan took Jesus UP INTO THE HOLY CITY AND SETTETH HIM ON A PINNACLE OF THE TEMPLE! | |||
Satan and his legions are also able to do GREAT HARM through their “SIGNS AND WONDERS.” | |||
Matthew 8:28-34 (KJV) | |||
:''28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. | |||
:''29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? | |||
:''30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. | |||
:''31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. | |||
:''32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. | |||
:''33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. | |||
:''34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts. | |||
“SIGNS AND WONDERS” are not an examination to prove someone is a TRUE PROPHET OF GOD, only those examinations outlined as discussed. | |||
Now we finally come to the issue concerning William Branham and whether he can pass the examination of being a TRUE PROPHET OF GOD. | |||
We need to remember what God Himself expects of His prophets. | |||
They will carry out faithfully the specific commissions they receive from God; | |||
Their WORDS WILL NEVER FALL TO THE GROUND; They are NOT to be held accountable for what God chooses to do AFTER the commission is complete. | |||
Remembering that the Scriptural examination of a prophet according to Deuteronomy, Chapter 18 is a ONE-AND-DONE examination, let me show JUST ONE example (there are LOTS OF THESE, but we’ll take a look at one which is plenty) of where William Branham’s WORDS FELL TO THE GROUND, FAILED TO COME TO PASS… in other words, where William Branham DID NOT FULFILL GOD’S SPECIFIC COMMISSION which Branham spoke using one of his 1,616 uses of “THUS SAITH THE LORD.” | |||
William Branham spoke about visiting Durban, South Africa to hold a tent revival 30 times, many times using his “THUS SAITH THE LORD.” Here is a couple of examples: | |||
:''And I said, "Oh, are they all black people?" Then He turned my face here in front of me, to Durban again, and there was beautiful white men and women, standing with their hands up in the air, praising God. Then He turned me back again, and the great Light started going way back over the hills and showing. Then the Angel drew near. And I heard Him scream with a Voice, that shook me from the vision. Said, "There'll be three hundred thousand of them in that meeting. THUS SAITH THE LORD mark it in your book."'' EARLY.SPIRITUAL.EXPERIENCES_ HAMMOND.IN SUNDAY_ 52-0713A | |||
:''And this Angel, above me, turned on a great big operating light, and begin to show back, like that. And just as far as I could see, was nothing but people. And it was up over hills and valleys. And they looked like Indians. And then when this Angel above me spoke to the Angel that's always with me, up side the big fellow, kind of dark complected, hair down to His shoulders, folded His arms, He was standing here by my side. I heard Him tell this One standing by me, and the Voice was so strong that it broke me out of the vision, said, "There's three hundred thousand of those in that meeting." Mark that down, for it's THUS SAITH THE LORD. His Word comes to pass.<ref>DO.YOU.NOW.BELIEVE PHOENIX.AZ 54-0307E</ref> | |||
:''And I’m trusting, and know that in India this time, will be the greatest meeting that the Lord has ever let me minister in all my life, for this time. And I have the vision wrote out here; I believe, which most of the people has it wrote in your own Bibles. And you can see whether it will be that way or not after it’s over. And if it’s not that way, then you can say I didn’t speak to the Lord, or He didn’t speak to me, rather. But if it does, then you remember that—that He talked with me.<ref>To See Jesus - 54-0718E</ref> | |||
The 31st time William Branham spoke about this event, William Branham admits that HE DID NOT PERFORM THE SPECIFIC COMMISSION WHICH GOD GAVE HIM concerning the meetings in South Africa, which he asserted 30 previous instances, many using his “THUS SAITH THE LORD” as I have shown: | |||
:''I had planned on, so hard, coming back; burdened in the heart. I just returned from Africa, as you all know. And when I got over there, I had a restricted visa, and wouldn't let me, wouldn't let me preach because it gathers too many together. They're expecting an uprise there at any time, and--and they--they wouldn't let me preach because of that gathering too many people together. The only way I could, would to have some organization that's represented by the government, in the government, to invite me over, then that would automatically let the government send out a militia for protection. See, they're just... There is just going to be an uprise, and that's all there is to it. It's just right in hand, see. That government man said, "The last time he was here, he had about a quarter of a million people together." And he said, "Then, you see, that would just be the very thing that communism is looking for, for an uprise." So, I couldn't preach. And so I, when I started to go over, I'm telling you, I never had so much trouble in all my life, of trying to get there. And then at the very last minute, very last minute to go, here was wrote across my visa, "Cannot anticipate in any kind of religious service; can only come hunting." Well, then, it was rank. | |||
:''But I said, "I don't care what the Devil does, I--I can't... I can't voucher for what Brother Jackson said about yellow-mane lion, and this, that, or the other. I--I can't vouch it. But I do know God told me to 'see Sidney Jackson, and go hunting.'"And I said, "I'm going." And sometime... And I had one of the greatest trips. | |||
:''I found out what the trouble was. Now I think, about October, the Lord willing, I can go back and have a meeting and everything, full cooperation, everything else, see, in Africa now. I got to the bottom of it and found out where it was at, what caused it. Up here, writing, this one has got this to say, and something's got something to say, and this one there. The best thing to do, is go find out, yourself. And I know where the trouble was, and what the reason of it was; it was because of so many people gathering together, the government wouldn't let me have it.”<ref>ASHAMED JEFF.IN 65-0711</ref> | |||
We can look back on the Book of Jonah as instructive here. We can ask these questions: | |||
*Had GOD HIMSELF given William Branham a SPECIFIC COMMISSION to visit Durban, South Africa during his lifetime, would there be ANY CIRCUMSTANCES which would have stood in the way of William Branham having held meetings? | |||
*Remembering that William Branham spoke about this event in 30 sermons prior to 1965 when he spoke the sermon ASHAMED, and remembering that William Branham told us several times that GOD HAD SPOKEN IT, THUS SAITH THE LORD, is there a power on earth that would have held William Branham back from being able to preach those meetings? | |||
*Is there a GOVERNMENT ON EARTH that is not subject to the Will of God, if God in fact intends His TRUE prophet to hold meetings? | |||
*Did William Branham FAITHFULLY EXECUTE the specific commission that he himself told us GOD gave him? | |||
Since William Branham’s words were permitted to “FALL TO THE GROUND” can we assume that this was a message which God did not instruct William Branham to speak? | |||
*And finally, CAN WE NOW USE THIS AS AN EXAMPLE WHERE WHAT WILLIAM BRANHAM SPOKE USING HIS “THUS SAITH THE LORD” ACTUALLY FAILED TO COME TO PASS? | |||
Ministers and believers of Branham’s End Time Message give us many excuses and justifications for this “prophecy” to have failed. But none of the excuses or justifications align with Scripture. | |||
One of the examples is the “400 YEARS” which Abraham spoke concerning the Jews and their captivity. You can read about it in our article on "[[Red Herring Arguments]]." | |||
[[The Vision of the Meetings in South Africa]] is but one of the failed visions and prophecies which Branham spoke using his “THUS SAITH THE LORD” which failed to come to pass. Others, including the Brown Bear Vision, Los Angeles in the Pacific Ocean while Billy Paul was a “young man” although Billy Paul recently died, the world ending in [[1977]], etc, etc, etc, and on and on… (see the list below). | |||
There is a group of message believers who believe that William Branham will rise from the dead and ALL OF HIS HERETOFORE PROPHECIES WILL COME TO PASS prior to the return of Jesus Christ. Known colloquially as the “RETURNED MINISTRY” denomination of the message, at least this group understands that his prophecies FAILED TO COME TO PASS. | |||
I will close this by stating Scripture has an explicit examination of how a prophet of God is vindicated. SCRIPTURE IS CLEAR THAT A TRUE PROPHET OF GOD WILL NEVER BE ALLOWED TO FAIL, ESPECIALLY WHEN HE ATTRIBUTES GOD’S NAME AND GOD’S PROMISE TO A “PROPHECY” OR VISION.” | |||
Can you see why many are saying with complete confidence that William Branham was a false prophet? | |||
==Where William Branham's visions and prophecies failed== | |||
{{Prophetic Questions}} | |||
=William Branham applied the Deuteronomy 18:20-22 test to himself= | |||
It is clear that William Branham considered himself to be an Old Testament prophet and that as a result he was not subject to the judgment of the church. He also stated the test in Deuteronomy 18:20-22 applied to him: | It is clear that William Branham considered himself to be an Old Testament prophet and that as a result he was not subject to the judgment of the church. He also stated the test in Deuteronomy 18:20-22 applied to him: | ||
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:''The Bible said, “'''If there be one, and what he says comes to pass, then you hear him; but, if it doesn’t, don’t believe him, don’t fear him''', but My…if—if My Word is not in him. But if it does come to pass, then My Word is in him.” That’s his identification. That’s the characteristic of a prophet.<ref>William Branham, 64-0320 - God Identifying Himself By His Characteristics, para. 85</ref> | :''The Bible said, “'''If there be one, and what he says comes to pass, then you hear him; but, if it doesn’t, don’t believe him, don’t fear him''', but My…if—if My Word is not in him. But if it does come to pass, then My Word is in him.” That’s his identification. That’s the characteristic of a prophet.<ref>William Branham, 64-0320 - God Identifying Himself By His Characteristics, para. 85</ref> | ||
:''Now, prophets. There’s such a thing as “gift of prophecy” in the Church; but a prophet is predestinated and foreordained for the hour. See? Yes, sir. Now, if a prophecy goes forth, two or three has to set and judge whether that’s right or not, ’fore the church can receive it. '''But nobody set before a prophet, ’cause he was—he was absolutely the Word of God. He was that Word in his day. You seen God reflect. Now, God has promised to send us that again in the last days''', to bring the Bride out of that ecclesiastical mess, in the only way it can be done. ref>William Branham, 65-1204 - The Rapture, para. 136</ref> | :''Now, prophets. There’s such a thing as “gift of prophecy” in the Church; but a prophet is predestinated and foreordained for the hour. See? Yes, sir. Now, if a prophecy goes forth, two or three has to set and judge whether that’s right or not, ’fore the church can receive it. '''But nobody set before a prophet, ’cause he was—he was absolutely the Word of God. He was that Word in his day. You seen God reflect. Now, God has promised to send us that again in the last days''', to bring the Bride out of that ecclesiastical mess, in the only way it can be done.<ref>William Branham, 65-1204 - The Rapture, para. 136</ref> | ||
=Quotes of William Branham= | =Quotes of William Branham= | ||
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:''...As a prophet, every revelation will be vindicated, for every revelation will come to pass. Wonderful acts of power will be performed at his commands in faith. | :''...As a prophet, every revelation will be vindicated, for every revelation will come to pass. Wonderful acts of power will be performed at his commands in faith. | ||
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[[Category: | [[Category:Supernatural vindication]] | ||
[[Category:Pointing to himself]] | |||
[[Category:Prophecies and Visions]] | |||