Smyrna: Difference between revisions

*Mongol, Tamerlane in 1402 AD

*Ottomans, Murad II in 1425 AD (assisted by the Knights Templar in return for a castle)  

William Branham claimed that God gave him the exact dates and timelines of the Seven Church Ages by divine revelation. He also said that the messenger ALWAYS came at the end of the age. He assigned the '''Smyrnaean Church Age''' to the period between '''AD 170 and AD 312''', and chose '''Irenaeus of Lyons''' as its messenger.

* '''The Source of the Error:''' This "revelation" was actually a direct copy. Branham plagiarized these dates verbatim from page 21 of Clarence Larkin's 1919 book, ''The Book of Revelation''. By copying Larkin's arbitrary dispensational chart, Branham trapped himself in a historical anachronism, completely unaware of the timeline clash.

Branham argued that the True Church and its messengers must be "unorganized," bitterly opposing any form of episcopal hierarchy, centralized church government, or human authority. He claimed that church organization is "of the devil" and represents the "deeds of the Nicolaitanes".

* '''The Audit:''' This is a classic '''Self-Defeating Argument'''. Historically, '''Irenaeus of Lyons is famous precisely for being one of the premier defenders of church organization, episcopal hierarchy, and the preeminent authority of the Church of Rome'''! In his masterpiece ''Against Heresies'' (Book III, Chapter 3, paragraph 2), Irenaeus argued that the absolute test of truth against heretics was to look at the '''organized succession of bishops''' ordained by the apostles, stating: ''"For it is a matter of necessity that every Church should agree with this Church [Rome], on account of its pre-eminent authority..."''. If Branham is right that church organization is a satanic heresy, then his chosen "messenger" of the Smyrnaean Age was the chief of the heretics.

In his church age sermons, Branham related a highly dramatic story of Polycarp visiting Bishop Anicetus in Rome. He claimed Polycarp found the church in Rome "worshipping images," "burning incense on the altar," and "celebrating Easter" as a pagan sun god ritual, prompting Polycarp to storm out, declaring, ''"Ephraim is married to his idols, let him alone"''.

* '''The Source of the Error:''' Branham plagiarized this dramatic "confrontation" almost verbatim from Rachel C. Hazeltine's 1958 book, ''How Did It Happen!''. Hazeltine openly admitted in her subtitle that her book was written "by deduction"—meaning she made up historical events to fit her theological ideas. '''William Branham presented a modern work of fiction as a direct, divine revelation from God.'''

To support his anti-denominational polemic, Branham interpreted "them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan" (Revelation 2:9) as representing the organized, false Christian denominations of the nominal church.

* '''The Audit:''' This is a severe '''Category Error'''. In the historical context of second-century Smyrna, "them which say they are Jews, and are not" referred to the '''literal, ethnic Jewish population''' of the city. Historically, the local Jewish community in Smyrna was highly hostile to the Christian church. In the famous historical account of the martyrdom of Polycarp, it was the local Jews who eagerly gathered wood on a great Sabbath to burn Polycarp at the stake. They were "Jews by blood" but not "true Jews" spiritually because they rejected their Messiah. Redefining this historical conflict as a twentieth-century battle against Christian denominations is a complete distortion of scripture to serve a personal agenda.

When we take away the emotional delivery, the roaring voice, and the absolute certainty of the pulpit, the logic collapses. A prophet's message cannot be built on plagiarized charts, historical fabrications, and deep logical contradictions. Loving God with your mind is not a sin; it is a direct command from Jesus Christ Himself.