The Queen of Sheba
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HERE is another classic example of William Branham misrepresenting Scripture in order to point to himself. He tried to compare "discerning" people's thoughts (which he claimed to be able to do) with King Solomon:
- And the queen of the south, from—queen of Sheba came all the way up across the Sahara Desert (taken her three months) just to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And when she saw that Solomon could discern spirits, and made known to her the secrets in her heart, she said, "All I heard about you was right, and more besides." She was convinced that that was God." 61-0319
- "She said, "Now, I'm going to see; I've heard that he could discern the thoughts of the mind, a great power of discernment." 58-0625
BUT, DOES THE BIBLE SAY SOLOMON DISCERNED HER THOUGHTS?
- When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the Lord, she came to test Solomon with hard questions. Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan—with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—SHE CAME TO SOLOMON AND TALKED WITH HIM ABOUT ALL THAT SHE HAD ON HER MIND. SOLOMON ANSWERED ALL HER QUESTIONS; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her." (1Ki 10:1-3 NIV)
William Branham totally twisted this passage and pointed to himself:
- "Now, that's what was in Solomon, (the Word, God) reason he could discern their thought. That was in Jesus, see. That's what's here now, same Thing." 64-0306
- I don't say your pastor or anybody would be taking the gift of discernment. They don't have to do that; that's not their calling. That's not their calling, to do that. That's to be ONE in an age." 64-0621
THE BIBLE SAYS the queen came to Solomon with hard questions, shared all that she had on her mind, and he answered all her questions. Then she praised his wisdom and prosperity:
- And she said to the king, "The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard." (1KI 10:6-7 ESV)