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 Original 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
There are several problems with the original vision that must be addressed.
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".
1946 article from Bible Hour Bulletin
The following article was published in the Bible Hour Bulletin, 70 years ago in December, 1946.
Rev. Wm. Branham to Attend Watch Service
The Eighth Annual Watch Service of the Blessed Old Bible Hour will begin at 7:30 p.m. on December 31 and continue until after midnight. These have proved to be great services in the past and will be much greater this year. Bro. Wm. Branham and family are planning to be with us, and perhaps will bring some of their workers from Jeffersonville, Indiana. Of course we will be expecting many of the ministers and workers of this section to be with us for that night.
The program will be broadcast over KBTM, Jonesboro, from 10:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. - two full hours of broadcasting. Come be with us in this great service. We have almost been willing to give a prize the past seven watch services to anyone who would get sleepy during that time.
Tell your friends and make your plans now to attend the Eighth Annual Watch Service of the Blessed Old Bible Hour. Bring along your sick and suffering that night as Bro. Branham will also be praying for the sick in that service.
SCHEDULE OF BRO. BRANHAM'S HEALING SERVICES
December 17-19: Moark Pentecostal Church, Noel Jones, Pastor, Moark, Arkansas December 20: Pentecostal Church on Randall St., L.D. Seagraves, Pastor, Kennett, Missouri December 20: Pentecostal Church, A.J. Johnson, Pastor, Cape Girardeau, Missouri December 22-24: Milltown Baptist Church, Milltown, Indiana December 26-29: Branham Tabernacle, Jeffersonville, Indiana December 31: Bible Hour Tabernacle, Jonesboro, Arkansas
Indiana Railroad Man Writes
To Whom It May Concern:
I had T.B. for a number of years caused from an accident which occurred while I was employed by a railroad company. I had been a patient in the Rockville, Indiana Sanitorium, but still I was bothered very much with the disease.
I was visiting in Kentucky with some of my kindred when I began to have several hemorrhages.
About 4:00 a.m. one morning they called in my kindred for I was dying. The wife of a Methodist minister came in and many other neighbors, and had prayer for me. Finally I began to feel I was dying and could breathe no longer. In the meantime someone went to get Rev. Branham , who did not know that I was home at the time. I can just remember him coming in. Then it seemed I was going through air and I saw my mother who had been dead for about a year. I was just about to meet her when I heard the voice of Bro. Branham. In a few moments I was up and out on the floor, shouting and praising God. I have had no more hemorrhages since.
Friends told me that my pastor and Bro. Branham prayed earnestly for me before I passed away. My wife had been taken into another room and neighbors and my pastor were trying to console her. Bro. Branham was in the room with a Methodist minister's wife and another sister. He, too, turned to leave the room when suddenly some strange feeling came over him. Something seemed to impress him, "Don't you preach Divine Healing?" He turned to look at me again, and the Spirit of God came over him. He ran to the bed and threw himself across me, calling over me in the Name of Jesus Christ. It was then that I heard his voice and came back to life again.
All praises and glory to God be given.
New Albany, Ind.