The Message on Trial - Part 2: Difference between revisions
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{{Allistair Francis}} | {{Allistair Francis}} | ||
=PART 2: THE COUNTERATTACK= | =PART 2: THE COUNTERATTACK= | ||
This article is a responses to Allistair Francis' video - ''"Discouraged by the Message and the Prophet — The Message on Trial P2"''<ref>This document references the timestamped transcript of Allistair Francis's video "Discouraged by the Message and the Prophet — The Message on Trial P2," available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe7L-xxVGcg . All timestamps refer to the video's runtime. Direct quotes are transcribed from the video audio.</ref> | |||
=VIDEO SUMMARY= | =VIDEO SUMMARY= | ||
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====The Revealing Admission.==== | ====The Revealing Admission.==== | ||
Francis says critics "end up saying things that the prophet taught" when answering his questions. He frames this as a gotcha — but it actually demolishes his own narrative. If people who have left the Message still find theological value in some of Branham's teachings, that proves they are nuanced thinkers, not blind haters. It is entirely possible — indeed, it is intellectually honest — to acknowledge that someone taught some true things while also acknowledging they made demonstrably false claims. A broken clock is right twice a day. Acknowledging that Branham occasionally quoted Scripture correctly does not vindicate his failed prophecies, his fabricated stories, or his "Thus Saith the Lord" statements that never came to pass. Francis knows this. He is counting on his audience not to notice. | Francis says critics "end up saying things that the prophet taught" when answering his questions. He frames this as a gotcha — but it actually demolishes his own narrative. If people who have left the Message still find theological value in some of Branham's teachings, that proves they are nuanced thinkers, not blind haters. It is entirely possible — indeed, it is intellectually honest — to acknowledge that someone taught some true things while also acknowledging they made demonstrably false claims. A broken clock is right twice a day. Acknowledging that Branham occasionally quoted Scripture correctly does not vindicate his failed prophecies, his fabricated stories, or his "Thus Saith the Lord" statements that never came to pass. Francis knows this. He is counting on his audience not to notice. | ||
Additionally, as you can see from [[List of Issues with the Message|the vast amount of articles on this website]], we do not use the rational that Branham used. We apply logic and reason, things that God gifted humans with and things he expects us to use responsibly, We also shun from personal (ad hominem) attacks. If you can find any, please let us know and we will remove them immediately. | |||
====Allistair rejects the scriptural pattern==== | ====Allistair rejects the scriptural pattern==== | ||
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Paul the apostle, by his own conduct, refutes Allistair's argument: | Paul the apostle, by his own conduct, refutes Allistair's argument: | ||
:Acts 9:22 - Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. | :Acts 9:22 - Saul grew more and more powerful and '''baffled''' the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. | ||
:Acts 9:28-29 - Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, | :Acts 9:28-29 - Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He talked and '''debated with the Hellenistic Jews,''' but they tried to kill him. | ||
:Acts 17:17–18 - So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. | :Acts 17:17–18 - So he '''reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks''', as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to '''debate''' with him. | ||
:Acts 18:28 - For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah. | :Acts 18:28 - For he vigorously '''refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate,''' proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah. | ||
We have issued Allistar Francis a public invitation to have a discussion of all of these issues on our podcast, [[List of Off The Shelf podcast episodes|Off The Shelf]]. | We have issued Allistar Francis a public invitation to have a discussion of all of these issues on our podcast, [[List of Off The Shelf podcast episodes|Off The Shelf]]. | ||
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The young prophet in 1 Kings 13 was killed by God precisely because he listened to a prophet who lied to him. The moral of the story is not "ignore what prophets do and focus on the word." The moral is: God holds people accountable for following a lying prophet, even when the lie comes from a legitimate prophetic figure. If anything, this story is a warning to Message believers to test prophetic claims rigorously — because God does not excuse those who follow prophets uncritically. | The young prophet in 1 Kings 13 was killed by God precisely because he listened to a prophet who lied to him. The moral of the story is not "ignore what prophets do and focus on the word." The moral is: God holds people accountable for following a lying prophet, even when the lie comes from a legitimate prophetic figure. If anything, this story is a warning to Message believers to test prophetic claims rigorously — because God does not excuse those who follow prophets uncritically. | ||
====The Critical Distinction Francis Ignores.==== The old prophet's lie was about a personal instruction (come eat with me). The young prophet's actual prophecy about Israel remained true. This story distinguishes between a prophet's personal behavior and the content of tested, fulfilled prophecy. The criticism of William Branham is not merely about personal behavior — it is about the content of his prophetic claims themselves. When Branham declared "Thus Saith the Lord" about the brown bear, or "Thus Saith the Lord" about Donny Morton's healing, or "Thus Saith the Lord" about the India crusade — and these prophecies did not come to pass — the problem is not his character but the prophecies themselves. When his stories about historical events change across tellings, the problem is the content of those stories. This is the opposite of the 1 Kings 13 scenario. | ====The Critical Distinction Francis Ignores.==== | ||
The old prophet's lie was about a personal instruction (come eat with me). The young prophet's actual prophecy about Israel remained true. This story distinguishes between a prophet's personal behavior and the content of tested, fulfilled prophecy. The criticism of William Branham is not merely about personal behavior — it is about the content of his prophetic claims themselves. When Branham declared "Thus Saith the Lord" about the brown bear, or "Thus Saith the Lord" about Donny Morton's healing, or "Thus Saith the Lord" about the India crusade — and these prophecies did not come to pass — the problem is not his character but the prophecies themselves. When his stories about historical events change across tellings, the problem is the content of those stories. This is the opposite of the 1 Kings 13 scenario. | |||
====The Question Francis Should Be Asking.==== | ====The Question Francis Should Be Asking.==== | ||