Prophecy of the Cloud
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The Cloud: Just the Facts • Intro • Prophesied? • Location? • Cause? • Timing?
On December 22, 1962 in Jeffersonville, Indiana, just before 10:00 in the morning, William Branham said he saw a vision of Angels coming from the west in a pyramid-constellation. Shortly after this vision (and a year after the death of his mother), William Branham moved his family to Tuscon, Arizona, where he said the vision was fulfilled, commissioning a series of sermons on the Seven Seals.
Was this the prophecy that foretold the appearance of the sign of the Cloud in the heavens?
The Vision
The following quotes are taken from the sermon entitled "Reproach for the cause of the Word" December 23, 1962 spoken in Jeffersonville, Indiana:
Talking to his Son
- Now, I have had many things to happen in my life, but I never had anything like that. I went into a trance. I don't know the interpretation. I've never had anything like it in my life. But before me, it seemingly that I realized that it was a vision, and I was in the vision. But I was talking to my son, Joseph which he was not in the room at the time. But somehow, just as it struck me, I was talking to Joseph.
Little Birds
- And I--I looked up, and kind of in the shape of a pyramid, standing before me, was little small birds, something like a half-inch long. And they were up at the top on the limbs, they was a--may say three or four, and the next--next limb had maybe eight or ten, and down at the bottom had fifteen or twenty. They were little warriors, because their feathers was beaten; and looked like they were trying to talk to me, saying something.
Near Tucson
- 'And I was in the west, seemingly around Tucson, Arizona.
Larger Birds
- Then all of a sudden, one bird begin to take the other one's place--jumping like that--and they, the little birds, swiftly left, flying eastward. And when they did, from that came a larger bird, more like doves, with the pointed wings; and--and--and they come in a swarm and swiftly--more swift than what the little birds was--flew eastward.
A Blast
- But here they come. And they were so terrifically fast, till I thought when it lifted up... I heard that explosion like, or like a blast that went out, like a sound barrier; and when it did, I thought, "Well, this must mean that I'm fixing to be killed (See?) in a blast of some sort." And--and I--and while I thought on those things, I thought, "No, it wouldn't be that, because if it was a blast, it would've got Joseph too, because there he is still talking, thinking that I'm there. I can hear him. It wasn't that."
Five Angels
- And no more than the second group of birds come by, I looked to the west; and it looked like in a form of a pyramid, like two on each side with one in the top, came five of the mightiest Angels I ever seen in my life. Such a terrific speed I never seen...
- They were around me. I couldn't see them, but I'd been brought into this constellation of a pyramid of them, inside this constellation of--of Angels, of five. And I thought, "Now, a death angel would be one, five would be grace."
- It just seem to just shakes me, that blasting, and that swift coming of those Angels, like that, five of them together in a constellation of them, like--kind of like a... Like I had that pyramid drawn here.
The Cloud was not prophesied
There is no mention in the vision of a cloud or any other sign in the heavens that would be seen by the general public.
The Vision Changes?
One week later, William Branham spoke a sermon entitled "Sirs, what is the time?" December 30, 1962 also spoken in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The remaining quotes are all taken from that sermon.
Five or Seven Angels?
- And way off into eternity I saw a constellation of something coming. It looked like that it might've been little dots. There could've been no less than five, and not more than seven. But they were in the shape of a pyramid, like these messengers coming.
No, It's Definitely Seven
- Knowing nothing about it, a blast come forth and here come seven angels from eternity.
- Is these seven angels in this constellation that came to me... When I meet you at the day of the resurrection, you'll see that I lie not: God my Judge.
- Could it be that? The mighty thunder, or the seventh angel in the seven constellation, seventh period constellation, the pyramid made in a form, three on a side, and one on top, and they dropped from eternity. Could it be? Is this the mystery of the thunders that will bring back the Headstone?
Why Did the Number of Angels Change?
The question must be asked: Why did the number of angels change over the period of a week?
In his book, "The Twentieth Century Prophet", Lee Vayle writes that he met with William Branham on December 26, 1962 and speculated whether the vision could relate to an unveiling of the seven thunders of Revelation 10.
Did William Brsnahm's discussion with Lee Vayle impact William Branham's recollection of the vision? Why did the number of angels change from clearly being five to being seven?
It is also possible that William Branham changed the number of angels in his vision to tie in more closely with the upcoming series of meetings on the Seven Seals
- “By the help of God, I'll be here when this thing is finished and preach the Seven Seals;”
- 'I'm asking you the question. It blasted with thunder when this voice rung out. Did you notice that when the seven seals, that followed the seven church ages; when the first seal was opened, that there was a thunder? The first seals in the Book was opened, there was a thunder.
- Could it be that? The mighty thunder, or the seventh angel in the seven constellation, seventh period constellation, the pyramid made in a form, three on a side, and one on top, and they dropped from eternity. Could it be? Is this the mystery of the thunders that will bring back the Headstone?...
Other Questions about the Vision
1. His son, Joseph appears in the vision, yet has no part in its apparent fulfillment.
2. The Cloud figures very prominently as a sign that that accompanied the visitation of the seven angels. Why is it never mentioned in the vision if it is so important?
3. Why did the visitation of the angels center around Tucson while the cloud appeared over Flagstaff (over 200 miles away)?
Video Script
William Branham said that he saw a vision on December 22, 1962 in Jeffersonville, Indiana, just before 10:00 in the morning. He told about it in a sermon the very next day…
THE REPROACH FOR THE CAUSE OF THE WORD (62-1223)
- But before me, it seemingly that I realized that it was a vision, and I was in the vision. But I was talking to my son, Joseph which he was not in the room at the time. But somehow, just as it struck me, I was talking to Joseph…
- I looked to the west; and it looked like in a form of a pyramid, like two on each side with one in the top, came five of the mightiest Angels I ever seen in my life.
- They were around me. I couldn't see them, but I'd been brought into this constellation of a pyramid of them, inside this constellation of--of Angels, of five… And I thought, "Now, a death angel would be one, five would be grace."
- It just seem to just shakes me, that blasting, and that swift coming of those Angels, like that, five of them together in a constellation of them…
- And they were in a--in a--coming from this way. And they were looked like one, two, three, four, and then one right at the top, making five.
He is very clear from his testimony that he saw 5 angels, because he repeats this five times in this sermon.
In Chapter 3 of the book, "The Twentieth Century Prophet", Lee Vayle states that he met with William Branham on December 26, 1962 and discussed this vision. He wrote that they speculated whether the vision could relate to the unveiling of the seven thunders of Revelation 10.
When William Branham retells the same vision on December 30, 1962, seven days after his first retelling, the number of angels begins to change from 5 to 7.
IS THIS THE SIGN OF THE END SIR? (62-1230E)
- And way off into eternity I saw a constellation of something coming. It looked like that it might've been little dots. There could've been no less than five, and not more than seven. But they were in the shape of a pyramid, like these messengers coming.
In this sermon, Brother Branham also tells of another important set of meetings coming up…
IS THIS THE SIGN OF THE END SIR? (62-1230E)
- You know, the next thing up, as far as we know, is those Seven Seals…
So on December 23 he is very clear that there were 5 angels in his vision, but on December 30th, he seems unsure as to whether there were 5 angels or 7 angels.
What caused the change?
Numbers were very important to Bro. Branham. In his sermon on December 23, he mentions the number 5 ten times, and the number 7 only five times. Then in his sermon on December 30, he mentions the number 5 seven times, and the number seven 64 times. But these sermons are about the same vision!
IS THIS THE SIGN OF THE END SIR? (62-1230E)
- This year coming up is 1970. Seven years out of date...
- And these Seven Seals, as you know, is just the manifestation of the seven angels of the Seven churches; but, there are Seven other Seals that's on the backside of the Book, It's outside the Bible.
- ...The Seven Golden Candlesticks, the Seven church ages...
- ...then is the time for the Seven voices of Revelations 10 to be revealed...
- Seriously think. If it is, then the pyramid is capped by the Seven Thunders....
- The people are present now, the six people that had those dreams. Isn't it strange there wasn't Seven? Isn't it very strange?
William Branham obviously paid very close attention to his discussion with Lee Vayle. Then, after he had introduced some doubt into the minds of the people as to how many angels he saw, he now lands decisively on the number seven.
IS THIS THE SIGN OF THE END SIR? (62-1230E)
- And those blasting the other morning that shook me plumb till I raised up in the air as high as this building, and that constellation of angels, seven angels, in the form of a pyramid... Is that them thunders that's coming forth?...
- Knowing nothing about it, a blast come forth and here come seven angels from eternity…
- See? "Get west and come back." Or is it this? Is these seven angels in this constellation that came to me...
- Could it be that? The mighty thunder, or the seventh angel in the seven constellation, seventh period constellation, the pyramid made in a form, three on a side, and one on top, and they dropped from eternity. Could it be? Is this the mystery of the thunders that will bring back the Headstone?
Is that why William Branham changed the vision from 5 to 7 angels? Did he change the vision because he knew he was going to be preaching the seven seals and wanted the vision to tie into that?
You may also be wondering why the cloud is not mentioned in this vision, if it was so important? But that is a topic for another video.
Thanks for watching...