Heavenly Vision
The following vision is taken from the tract I Was Not Disobedient To The Heavenly Vision, which was written and distributed by William Branham during his early campaign years.
The Vision
It was in the month of March, 1945, one morning about 3:00 A.M. that our Lord Jesus Christ gave me a vision. This He has done many times and I most humbly praise Him for it.
At the beginning of this vision, seemingly, I was walking northeast on a road when the Spirit turned me and pointed me toward the west. I was facing a great mountain. It seemed to be the mountain of the Lord! It had a towering, high church steeple on the top of it. I was then asked to go west toward the mountain.
'I entered the mountain through a door and on the inside I was met by a woman who had on a garment that might have been snow white at one time. Now the garment was very soiled. She asked me if I was Bro. Billy Branham and I replied, "I am." She then introduced herself as Mrs. Methodist.
I asked her why the spots on that lovely white garment. She replied, "I have been so busy." I then said to her, "That's right; you Methodists have so many organizations and societies in your church, you haven't had much time for the Lord." Then she said, "I was told that you were being sent to me. Maybe I should awaken my husband!" Then she disappeared.
Looking to my left, I saw a small heap of smooth-baked bread. There were white fowls standing near it, but they would not eat much of it. Then the Lord said to me, "Do you know them?" I said, "No."
Then He said, "That is your Tabernacle and they won't eat the bread of life anymore. I am sending you this way." Then I journeyed on westward.
I was then brought to a plain where a platform was erected. Seemingly, it was under a large tent or auditorium. There were curtains drawn in back of the platform. The Lord then told me to pull back the curtains and when I did I saw a great mountain of the bread of life. He then said, "Feed these," and turning around I saw white-robed people coming from everywhere, making up a large audience.
The following night, after the vision was over, I explained it to my church just as the Lord had given it to me.
Copy of the Entire Tract
The fulfillment of the vision can be found in the story of William Branham's first evangelistic campaign to St. Louis, MO in June 1945. Click here for the full tract.
Problems with this vision
This vision almost disappears
William Branham preached a sermon called “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (July 18, 1949) in which he does not mention this vision. Rather, he says during this sermon, “That truly a supernatural Being came to me and made these statements, and I have not been disobedient to the heavenly vision.” His sermon called “Angel of God” (November 11, 1947) was the first sermon in which he tells of the Angels’ commission. Later, when Gordon Lindsay wrote "A Man Sent From God", only the Angelic visitation is included, and the heavenly vision is forgotten.
In the vision, God told him that a "double portion of the Power to heal would be given me". Was this his commission to go and use his gift of healing?
In his recorded sermons, Brother Branham mentions the vision in the tract 6 times, all very short, as follows:
- "The Heavenly Vision"... How many has read it in--in the audience, let's see, "Heavenly Vision"? You see, something on that order.” (Faith is the substance, (1947-04-12))
- The first case that was my going to St. Louis, my call to there, went there for my first revival, begin with Betty's testimony in St. Louis, Missouri. How many ever read her--that little book called "Heavenly Vision," then? You may remember the testimony of the Daugherty family? That's the little lady setting right there now...?... same one. (Blind Bartimaeus (1954-04-02))
- (as You showed me many years ago when I left this church) the Bread of Life to the peoples of the world. When I saw that great mountain of Bread, and white-robed Saints coming from all over the earth to eat this Bread of Life. (Revelation Chapter 4, #1, (1960-12-31))
- I wasn't disobedient to the Heavenly vision that happened down there on the river. (Present Stage of my Ministry (1962-09-08))
- And I've done all I know how to do, Lord, to feed them on the Bread of Life. As in that vision, many years ago, where that big curtain laid in the West, and a mountain of the Bread of Life; the little book, "I Was Not Disobedient To The Heavenly Vision." And here it all comes to pass, revealed right in our face. (Is This The Sign Of The End, Sir? (1962-12-30))
- Oh, what a joy it is then to see the children eating the Bread that's been sent to them! You realize that was a vision years ago, right here at this Tabernacle? That's right, "The Bread of Life." Brother Neville, you remember it, might. Mighty time! (Spiritual Food in Due Season (1965-07-18))
Why was this never mentioned in detail again? Was it because the second story about the angel's commission sounded better?
Timing of the vision: 1945 or 1946
Another issue is with the actual timing of the vision. In the tract the vision came in 1945, while it came in 1946 in Gordon Linday's book. The impact this has on the Message is that William Branham's commission does not coincide with the inauguration of Israel.
Story 1, from A Man Sent From God, by Gordon Lindsay
- I shall never forget the time, May 7, 1946…along in the night, at about the eleventh hour, I had quit praying and was sitting up when I noticed a light flickering in the room… Now, coming through the light, I saw the feet of a man coming toward me… the "special signs" which he had received during the visitation of the angel, he told his congregation of this only a few days before he left us to go to St. Louis….…It was on Memorial Sunday night in the year 1946, speaking in the tabernacle, that he told of his meeting with the angel…On the 14th day of June, 1946, Brother Branham, his family, and two sisters from his church left Jeffersonville for St. Louis where he was to begin his first healing campaign.” ....Testimony Of The Father - Rev. Robert Daugherty: … I will be glad to write to anyone in question of her healing, or any of the healings that took place during the revival which Brother Branham held there in St. Louis in 1946."
Story 2, from the tract "I Was Not Disobedient To The Heavenly Vision", by William Branham
- It was in the month of March, 1945, one morning about 3:00 A.M. that our Lord Jesus Christ gave me a vision….The following night, after the vision was over, I explained it to my church just as the Lord had given it to me…About three weeks from the time of the vision, I received a telegram from a minister in St. Louis, Mo., by the name of Robert Daugherty…[tells of healing of Betty Daugherty, return to Jeffersonville, and request of people to return to St. Louis]…Many wanted to go with me, but as gas was rationed, we took only one car. Two Sisters from the church, my wife and nine-year-old son, Billy Jr., and I went…We left Jeffersonville in a car, on…June 14, 1945 and drove to New Albany…,then started for St. Louis, Mo.
Story 3, from the tract "Jesus Christ the Same Yesterday and Forever", by William Branham
- Testimony Of The Father - Rev. Robert Daugherty: … “I will be glad to write to anyone in question of her [Betty’s – PMD] healing, or any of the healings that took place during the revival which Bro. Branham held here in St. Louis in 1945.
As gas rationing ended in 1945 and as Rebekah Branham was born on March 31, 1946, the tract called "I was not disobedient to the Heavenly vision" appears to be the most accurage version of the story, and not the version as published in "A Man sent from God".