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| [[ William Branham]] believed that the world would end in 1977. | | [[ William Branham]] believed that the world would end in 1977. |
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| =Prediction vs. Prophecy== | | =Prediction vs. [[Prophecy]]== |
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| William Branham said "I predict (I do not prophesy)". | | William Branham said "I predict (I do not prophesy)". |
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| William Branham said ‘[[Thus saith the Lord]]” many times during his ministry. It is interesting that he actually realized he could completely destroy his legacy with a prophecy that was incorrect as to exact timing. As a result, he waffled on the date. | | William Branham said ‘[[Thus Saith The Lord]]” almost 1600 times during his ministry. It is interesting that he actually realized he could completely destroy his legacy with a prophecy that was incorrect as to exact timing. As a result, he waffled on the date. |
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| ==Were his seven visions true prophecy?==
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| William Branham's prediction was about the timing of the series of seven visions given to him in 1933. While the timing of the fulfillment was a prediction, the underlying visions were prophecy which have been and are being fulfilled.
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| William Branham knew that destruction would come to the United States as fortold in the 7th vision. However, like the Prophet David fortelling the death of Saul, he could only guess as to when this would happen, but knew for sure that it would happen.
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| :''David said furthermore, [As] the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.'' (I SAMUEL 26:10)
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| | He was nevertheless extremely irresponsible in quoting a date, given that he was aware of all of the people that revered him as a prophet (at his insistance). Prior to 1977, William Branham's followers were all fixated on 1977 as it approached. The ensuing failure of William Branham's prediction resulted in a number of his followers leaving [[The Message|the message]]. |
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| =What is the 'Ushering in the the Millenium'?== | | =What is the 'Ushering in the the Millenium'?== |
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| :''We must not forget that the “SEVENTH SEAL” includes all that happens during the sounding of the “Trumpets,” and the pouring out of the “Vials,” and so extends down to the '''ushering in of the Millennium'''. To illustrate, a rocket fired into the air may burst into “seven stars,” and one of these stars into “seven other stars,” and one of the second group of stars into a third group of “seven stars.” So the “Seventh” Seal includes the “Seven Trumpets,” and the “Seventh” Trumpet includes the “Seven Vials.”<ref>Clarence Larkin, The Book of Revelation: A Study of the Last Prophetic Book of Holy Scripture, 68 (Philadelphia, PA: Rev. Clarence Larkin Estate, 1919).</ref> | | :''We must not forget that the “SEVENTH SEAL” includes all that happens during the sounding of the “Trumpets,” and the pouring out of the “Vials,” and so extends down to the '''ushering in of the Millennium'''. To illustrate, a rocket fired into the air may burst into “seven stars,” and one of these stars into “seven other stars,” and one of the second group of stars into a third group of “seven stars.” So the “Seventh” Seal includes the “Seven Trumpets,” and the “Seventh” Trumpet includes the “Seven Vials.”<ref>Clarence Larkin, The Book of Revelation: A Study of the Last Prophetic Book of Holy Scripture, 68 (Philadelphia, PA: Rev. Clarence Larkin Estate, 1919).</ref> |
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| ==Intentional stumbling block==
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| Jesus said ''Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.'' (John 6:53) The Bible then records that ''From that [time] many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.'' (John 6:66) probably on the basis that they could not accept cannibalism as a doctrine.
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| Jesus was not wrong in his teaching, but intentionally said hard words so that the people could not receive or understand. Jesus specifically said that his teaching was such that some would turn away: ''And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.'' (Luke 8:10)
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| Even after saying these hard teachings, Jesus still required the people to believe and obey. However, he never asked that they understand, but just believe. ''Say ye...Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father [is] in me, and I in him.'' (John 10:36 - 38)
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| Regarding 1977, this may have been an intentional stumblingblock that William Branham was allowed to speak to let the people fall away. God has never asked for understanding, only faith: ''For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;'' (I Cor 1:22, 23)
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| Secondly, if William Branham was so wrong in stating the importance of 1977, the angel would have informed him of his error, and caused him to reorder his words, just as he did numerous other times. One such example is when he was answering questions on the Seven Seals, and accidentally interpreted one of the questions wrong; however, before anyone could tell him of his error, he felt moved by the Holy Spirit of the error he had made. His words are as follows:
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| QA.ON.THE.SEALS_ JEFF.IN SUNDAY_ 63-0324M
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| :''There's something wrong. There's something wrong. Now, that's just all there is to it. There's--there's something's happened. See? There's something that went wrong somewhere. Everybody feeling all right? There's no--there's no sickness or nothing? [A man in the congregation requests that Brother Branham read Revelation 5:9 again--Ed.] Let's see, Revelations, where was it, brother? 5... The... Oh, the question. Oh, the question I was answering. Now, let's see... Oh,... See, I only read the first part of that verse...and I was trying to get through, looking at that clock. But you see Him stop me on that? Glory. I never read the other part of that.''
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| Another example is when he was studying for his message on the seven seals.
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| SEVENTH.SEAL.THE_ JEFF.IN SUNDAY_ 63-0324E
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| :''Now, I say this...Looking over old notes that I preached on many years ago, I was just coming in and saying what I thought was right and going on. It was away off of the line. And now, all four of them Seals, I had it in about twenty minute sermon...But my, when the Word really was opened up, it was a hundred miles away from it. So it behooves us to watch and wait...There may be many things that's been said that might be disagreeable with other people, but I believe when the great windup time comes and we meet our Lord, you'll find out that it was right. It really is.''
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| ==9)1977 as the start of the 'Bride Age'==
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| Another alternative is that there is more truth to what William Branham said than has been revealed, and time will prove him correct. One interpretation of what this means is as follows:
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| During his teaching on the seven church ages, William Branham drew a picture of the moon to illustrate the church’s battle between light and darkness in each of the seven church ages. This picture is as follows, with each circle representing a different church age:
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| [[Image:Seven_Church_Ages_sml.gif|left|500px|Seven Churches Ages]]
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| [[Image:Seven Church Age moons.jpg|right|250px|Seven Churches Age Moons]]
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| <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>
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| ==10)Conclusion==
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| From this discussion, we can see that 1977 is irrelevant from the standpoint of a catastrophic or noticeable event. However, 1977 could possibly be
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| a) The date when the iniquity of the United States was full,
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| b) The date when the iniquity of the World was full,
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| c) The date after which the bride of Christ realizes who she is.
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| Point c) can be linked to Joshua leading the people of Israel into the promised land (the fullness of their inheritance) a few years after Moses had died. Again, claiming the promised land (making herself ready) is a process, not an instant event.
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| William Branham is not the only prophet to have controversy surrounding dates. Examples of similar controversies include both Samuel and Jesus.
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| I SAMUEL 13:8
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| :''And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel [had appointed]: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.''
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| JOHN 21:22 – 23
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| :''Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee?''
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| The ministry of William Branham was much like the ministry of Moses in that the people, upon listening to his ministry, inquired “hath he not spoken also by us?”
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| NUMBERS 12:1-2. 6-9
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| :''And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard [it]. And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, [I] the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, [and] will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses [is] not so, who [is] faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.''
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| Moses was not allowed to lead the people into the promised land, but died in the wilderness. Joshua, who was a type of the Holy Spirit, led the people into the Promised Land. In much the same way John the Baptist and William Branham were taken off the scene once they had fulfilled their ministry, as the Lord once again would come and lead the people Himself.
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| William Branham taught that the second part of Malachi 4:6 “And he shall turn…the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth
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| with a curse” relates to the Lord’s promise to restore the Christian faith at the end of days to what it was when the Holy Spirit first fell at Pentecost (children to fathers).
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| ACTS 2:1
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| :''And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.''
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| All William Branham’s ministry was trying to accomplish was to bring the Christian church back to the place were it was in one accord and in one place, so that the Holy Spirit would feel welcome once again to have compete control in the church.
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| When William Branham prophesied in the name of the Lord, that prophecy was 100% correct. A "seer" in the Old Testament means, "one that the Word is revealed to." Based on this interpretation, William Branham’s ministry as a seer (a prophet) was more than to heal the sick – it was to teach the Word of God. Therefore, for the things he said which you do not understand, consider the possibility that the error lies in your understanding rather than in his words. Your duty therefore is to pray for revelation, and hope to be present when the truth of those prophecies is finally revealed. Do not call Elijah “old baldhead”, or even disregard one aspect of his ministry. Judgement is reserved for the Lord, not man. The scripture says that:
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| MATTHEW 10:41
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| :''He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.''
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| Therefore, please receive William Branham in the name of a prophet, have respect for the message he spoke, and when rewards are given in heaven you will not be disappointed.
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| =Quotes= | | =Quotes= |