 Page 112 of the May 1963 edition of Life Magazine On December 22, 1962 in Jeffersonville, Indiana, just before 10:00 in the morning, William Branham saw a vision of Angels coming from the west in a pyramid-constellation. Shortly after this vision, William Branham moved his family to Tuscon, Arizona, where the vision was fulfilled, commissioning the final stage of his ministry.
The Vision
The following quotes are taken from the sermon entitled "Reproach for the cause of the Word" December 23, 1962 spoken in Jeffersonville, Indiana:
Talking to his Son
- Now, I have had many things to happen in my life, but I never had anything like that. I went into a trance. I don't know the interpretation. I've never had anything like it in my life. But before me, it seemingly that I realized that it was a vision, and I was in the vision. But I was talking to my son, Joseph which he was not in the room at the time. But somehow, just as it struck me, I was talking to Joseph.
Little Birds
- And I--I looked up, and kind of in the shape of a pyramid, standing before me, was little small birds, something like a half-inch long. And they were up at the top on the limbs, they was a--may say three or four, and the next--next limb had maybe eight or ten, and down at the bottom had fifteen or twenty. They were little warriors, because their feathers was beaten; and looked like they were trying to talk to me, saying something.
Near Tucson
- 'And I was in the west, seemingly around Tucson, Arizona.'
Larger Birds
- Then all of a sudden, one bird begin to take the other one's place--jumping like that--and they, the little birds, swiftly left, flying eastward. And when they did, from that came a larger bird, more like doves, with the pointed wings; and--and--and they come in a swarm and swiftly--more swift than what the little birds was--flew eastward.
A Blast
- But here they come. And they were so terrifically fast, till I thought when it lifted up... I heard that explosion like, or like a blast that went out, like a sound barrier; and when it did, I thought, "Well, this must mean that I'm fixing to be killed (See?) in a blast of some sort." And--and I--and while I thought on those things, I thought, "No, it wouldn't be that, because if it was a blast, it would've got Joseph too, because there he is still talking, thinking that I'm there. I can hear him. It wasn't that."
Five Angels
- And no more than the second group of birds come by, I looked to the west; and it looked like in a form of a pyramid, like two on each side with one in the top, came five of the mightiest Angels I ever seen in my life. Such a terrific speed I never seen...
- They were around me. I couldn't see them, but I'd been brought into this constellation of a pyramid of them, inside this constellation of--of Angels, of five. And I thought, "Now, a death angel would be one, five would be grace."
- It just seem to just shakes me, that blasting, and that swift coming of those Angels, like that, five of them together in a constellation of them, like--kind of like a... Like I had that pyramid drawn here.
The Vision Changes?
One week later, William Branham spoke a sermon entitled "Sirs, what is the time?" December 30, 1962 also spoken in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The remaining quotes are all taken from that sermon.
The question must be asked: Why did the number of angels change over the period of a week?
Five or Seven Angels?
- And way off into eternity I saw a constellation of something coming. It looked like that it might've been little dots. There could've been no less than five, and not more than seven. But they were in the shape of a pyramid, like these messengers coming.
No, It's Definitely Seven
- Knowing nothing about it, a blast come forth and here come seven angels from eternity.
- Is these seven angels in this constellation that came to me... When I meet you at the day of the resurrection, you'll see that I lie not: God my Judge.
- Could it be that? The mighty thunder, or the seventh angel in the seven constellation, seventh period constellation, the pyramid made in a form, three on a side, and one on top, and they dropped from eternity. Could it be? Is this the mystery of the thunders that will bring back the Headstone?
Why Did the Number of Angels Change?
In his book, "The Twentieth Century Prophet", Lee Vayle states that he met with William Branham on December 26, 1962 and discussed the vision. He stated that they speculated whether the vision could relate to an unveiling of the seven thunders of Revelation 10.
Did William Brsnahm's discussion with Lee Vayle impact William Branham's recollection of the vision? Why did the number of angels change from clearly being five to being seven?
It is also possible that William Branham changed the number of angels in his vision to tie in more closely with the upcoming series of meetings on the Seven Seals
- “By the help of God, I'll be here when this thing is finished and preach the Seven Seals;”
- 'I'm asking you the question. It blasted with thunder when this voice rung out. Did you notice that when the seven seals, that followed the seven church ages; when the first seal was opened, that there was a thunder? The first seals in the Book was opened, there was a thunder.
- Could it be that? The mighty thunder, or the seventh angel in the seven constellation, seventh period constellation, the pyramid made in a form, three on a side, and one on top, and they dropped from eternity. Could it be? Is this the mystery of the thunders that will bring back the Headstone?...
Other Questions about the Vision
1. His son, Joseph appears in the vision, yet has no part in its apparent fulfillment.
2. The Cloud figures very prominently as a sign that that accompanied the visitation of the seven angels. Why is it never mentioned in the vision if it is so important?
3. Why did the visitation of the angels center around Tucson while the cloud appeared over Flagstaff (over 200 miles away)?
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