Nikita Khrushchev
William Branham taught that "Khrushchev" meant 'clay' in Russian and that Eisenhower in English meant 'iron'. He believed that the meeting of Nikita Khrushchev and Dwuight Eisenhower was the fulfillment of the prophecy contained in Daniel chapter 2. It wasn't.
Actual meaning
Kruschev means "one who clears land" or "pear orchard". It doesn't mean clay. Eisenhower means "iron hewer": the person who works with iron, not the iron itself.[1]
But 1960 was not the end. Neither was 1977. Kruschev, Eisenhower and Branham have all died, and life continues.
It was not a sign of the end. If you want to know a sign of the end, Jesus said,
- And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. ...And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.[2]
Scripture
The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.[3]
Quotes of William Branham
And I'll give you a little thing on that, that iron and clay. Did you notice, or have I ever quote it to you, in that last great conference they had up here where Khrushchev took off his shoe and beat the table with it? There was five eastern nations gathered there, there were five western nations. Khrushchev headed the eastern nations; Eisenhower headed the western nations; there's the two main leaders, the two big toes. "Khrushchev," in Russia, means "clay." "Eisenhower," in Ameri--in English, means "iron." We're at the end. And they worshipped the dragon which gave the power to the beast: and... (That's our next message here at the Tabernacle, you understand.)... and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? and who is able to make war with him?
In other words, look here. Eisenhower has got a big name here in this United States, but in Rome he ain't nothing, in Russia he's nothing. Khrushchev's big in Russia, but in the United States he's nothing. But there's one man that's big everywhere; that's that pope (That's right.), "Let us organize ourself together and come together."[4]
Now, here they had another conference I'd like to speak of just a moment: the last conference they had at the U.N. building, where the East and the West met together, where Khrushchev took off his shoe and beat the desk with it. Eisenhower and Khrushchev met, Eisenhower representing the five free world and Khrushchev the Eastern Communist world. And that went right over the head of many people, not praying concerning it.
But if you happened to notice that was a direct answer and a direct prophecy fulfilled at that time. It was direct prophecy. The East and the West had fulfilled exactly what Daniel said, that ten kingdoms, there would be... wouldn't mix, like iron and clay would not mix together. And the word "Khrushchev" in Russian means "clay"; the word "Eisenhower" in English means "iron"; and iron and clay could not get together.[5]
Notice, quickly now, these supernatural demons. Then, under the--under the auspices of a United Nation, united groups together, Eastern and Western.
Just like the right and left foot of the image that Daniel saw, how they wouldn't agree and mix with one another. And the word Eisenhower, during that time... Eisenhower means "iron." Khrushchev means "clay." And he pulled off his shoe and beat it [Brother Branham knocks on the pulpit--Ed.] on the desk at the... when the League of Nations, or the U... at the UN. Khrushchev did, dusting off the... Oh, my! The hour that we're living! The church and its condition!
But, thank God, the little Bride has made Herself ready. It ain't long. Just hold on. It won't be long. I don't know how long, don't know when; nobody knows that. But we know it's close now, real.[6]