The Sin in the Wilderness
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William Branham believed that the children of Israel that died in the wilderness and did not enter the promised land were eternally lost. But is this what the Bible teaches?
What the Bible says
Moses asked God to forgive the sins of his people and God did:
- Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.”
- Then the LORD said, “I have pardoned, according to your word. But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD, none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers.[1]
So while God would not permit them to go into the promised land, He did forgive them.
And Paul wrote:
- By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned... And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.[2]
So did the people of Israel have faith? Did they earn a good reputation? Does God have perfection in mind for them? The answer is clearly "YES!" if you read Paul's words but "NO!" if you read William Branham's words.
What William Branham said
God said to Moses, "I have pardoned", but William Branham said it was an "unpardonable sin":
- God never did forgive Israel that. Every one of them perished in the wilderness, except the three that God brought out.
- Jesus said, "They're, every one, dead," that's Eternally separated. They're all gone; never was forgiven. It's a unpardonable sin; never forgiven them. Oh, my! Flee it, children of the evening Lights![3]
- So was every one of Israel, they lived right in the wilderness, and raised children, crops, and blessed, and everything, but every one of them Eternally separated from God.[4]