King George VI: Difference between revisions

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'''George VI''' (Albert Frederick Arthur George Windsor) became King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions on December 11, 1936 after his older brother, Edward VIII abdicated the throne.  His Majesty George VI reigned as king through WWII, and is known for boosting national moral by refusing to leave London for safer lodging.  In the years after WWII his health began to deteriorate, perhaps due to a combination of stress and excessive smoking.   
'''George VI''' (Albert Frederick Arthur George Windsor) became King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions on December 11, 1936 after his older brother, Edward VIII abdicated the throne.  His Majesty George VI reigned as king through WWII, and is known for boosting national moral by refusing to leave London for safer lodging.  In the years after WWII his health began to deteriorate, perhaps due to a combination of stress and excessive smoking.   


William Branham stated that he met and prayed for King George VI, although there appears to be no public record of this.  William Branham also stated that the King was healed from multiple sclerosis after he was prayed for.  There also appears to be no evidence for any healing having taken place.  The King was seen publicly in May 1950 which was shortly have William Branham indicated that he prayed for the King.  However, the King's health was reported to have deteriorated significantly after that and he died in early 1952.
William Branham stated that he met and prayed for King George VI in 1950, although there appears to be no public record of this.  William Branham also stated that the King was healed from ''multiple sclerosis''' at that time.  There is no record that King George VI had this disease, although he did have '''arteriosclerosis'''.   
 
The King was seen publicly in May 1950 which was shortly have William Branham visited England.  However, the King's health was reported to have deteriorated significantly after that and he died February 6, 1952.


The life of George VI has been the subject of much public scrutiny, most recently in ''The King's Speech'', a 2010 film that won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
The life of George VI has been the subject of much public scrutiny, most recently in ''The King's Speech'', a 2010 film that won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
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Feeling it was not the Lord's will to travel to England at that time, William Branham replied that he would not be able to come, but would pray for the King from America, which he did.   
Feeling it was not the Lord's will to travel to England at that time, William Branham replied that he would not be able to come, but would pray for the King from America, which he did.   
   
   
A while later, a second cablegram arrived from King George VI, again requesting William Branham to come and pray for him.  In early April 1950, while en-route to a campaign in Finland, William Branham stated that he was able to finally meet and pray for King George VI in person and that the King was healed.   
A while later, a second cablegram arrived from King George VI, again requesting William Branham to come and pray for him.  In early April 1950, while en-route to a campaign in Finland, William Branham stated that he was able to finally meet and pray for King George VI in person and that the King was restored to health at that time.   


==The Health of King George VI==
==The Health of King George VI==
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In retelling how he prayed for King George VI, William Branham stated numerous times that King George VI contacted him because he was also afflicted with multiple sclerosis.<ref name="At Thy Word"/>  
In retelling how he prayed for King George VI, William Branham stated numerous times that King George VI contacted him because he was also afflicted with multiple sclerosis.<ref name="At Thy Word"/>  
The only public evidence of King George VI having multiple sclerosis was his deteriorating health, and reports that during his 1947 trip to South Africa he looked sickly and slurred his words (although King George VI stuttered as a young man).<ref name="Slurred">[http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/s2.cfm?id=143512002 The Scotsman: Wed Feb 6, 2002]</ref>  The slurring of words was attributed (and likely properly so) to his heavy drinking.


In 1948 the public was advised that King George VI had a form of arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) called Buerger's Disease, after which the King severely reduced his public appearances.  Certain nerves to his legs were also severed in order to free him of some pain in standing.<ref name="Time">[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,822145,00.html?promoid=googlep Time Magazine: Hardening Arteries (King George VI)]</ref>   
In 1948 the public was advised that King George VI had a form of arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) called Buerger's Disease, after which the King severely reduced his public appearances.  Certain nerves to his legs were also severed in order to free him of some pain in standing.<ref name="Time">[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,822145,00.html?promoid=googlep Time Magazine: Hardening Arteries (King George VI)]</ref>   


In 1949, the King suffered an arterial blockage in his right leg, which was operated on in March 1949.   
In 1949, the King suffered an arterial blockage in his right leg, which was operated on in March of that year.   


The king opened the Festival of Britain from the steps of St Paul's on May 3 1950, but at subsequent public events that month, it was clear that he was not well. His condition deteriorated and on September 16, 1951, an exploratory operation showed he had cancer of the lung. He was not told of this conclusion, and believed the operation performed by Mr Price Thomas on September 23, 1951 was to remove his lung to free his bronchial tube. This series of operations occasioned intense public interest.  <ref name="Oxford Dictionary of National Biography"> http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/printable/33370 </ref>
The king opened the Festival of Britain from the steps of St Paul's on May 3 1950, but at subsequent public events that month, it was clear that he was not well. His condition deteriorated and on September 16, 1951, an exploratory operation showed he had cancer of the lung. He was not told of this conclusion, and believed the operation performed by Mr Price Thomas on September 23, 1951 was to remove his lung to free his bronchial tube. This series of operations occasioned intense public interest.  <ref name="Oxford Dictionary of National Biography"> http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/printable/33370 </ref>
   
   
King George VI slowly began to regain his strength, then quietly passed away in his sleep on February 8, 1952 as the result of a coronary thrombosis.
King George VI slowly began to regain his strength, then quietly passed away in his sleep on February 8, 1952 as the result of coronary thrombosis.


==Concerns with William Branham's story==
==Concerns with William Branham's story==


It is unlikely that, if it had occurred, the public would have been aware the King George VI met with a faith healer.  There are certainly no public records of any such visit.
===Lack of evidence===
 
*There are certainly no public records that William Branham visited King George VI.
William Branham's indicates that his personal records contained a letter of thanks from King George VI for his prayers.<ref name="Faith">Faith is the substance, Los Angeles, California, May 8, 1951</ref>  It is surprising that, given the amount of questions that have arisen on this website and others about the credibility of William Branham, the Branham family has not come forward with evidence such as this letter.
*William Branham's indicates that his personal records contained a letter of thanks from King George VI for his prayers.<ref name="Faith">Faith is the substance, Los Angeles, California, May 8, 1951</ref>  It is surprising that, given the amount of questions that have arisen on this website and others about the credibility of William Branham, the Branham family has not come forward with this letter as evidence as support.
 
The lack of any evidence does raise significant question as to whether there was a visit.
 
While the public was informed of the King's health problems, there was '''never''' been any indication from any source that the King suffered from multiple sclerosis.  '''Did William Branham confuse the public reports that the King had arteriosclerosis with multiple sclerosis?'''


Depending on which sources are given the most credibility, different people may arrive at different conclusions as to which disease William Branham actually prayed for.  However, in the end that issue has little relevance.
===Wrong disease===
*While the public was informed of the King's health problems, there was '''never''' been any indication from any source that the King suffered from multiple sclerosis.  Perhaps William Branham mixed up arteriosclerosis with multiple sclerosis.  However, William Branham's followers claim that his discernment was exact.  
*'''Why would William Branham pray for him for multiple sclerosis when he had been diagnosed in 1948 with severe heart disease and it was this disease which resulted in his death in 1952?'''


What is striking is that William Branham pronounced the king healed after his visit in April 1950, but the King's health was seen to have noticeably deteriorated immediately after a public appearance he made in early May 1950.
===Like [[Donny Morton]], the King died shortly thereafter==
*What is striking is that William Branham pronounced the king healed, yet the King's health continued to deteriorate.  This was most noticeable just after William Branham prayed for him, from one of his last public appearances that he made in early May 1950.
*Why would William Branham pronounce him healed, when King George VI died in early 1952?


'''Why would William Branham pray for him for multiple sclerosis when he had been diagnosed in 1948 with severe heart disease and it was this disease which resulted in his death in 1952?'''


==Quotes==
==Quotes==