1933 Ohio River Experience: Difference between revisions

1933 Ohio River Experience (view source)

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+{{Top of Page}}
-{| style="width:800px"
+Did this event ever take place?  Watch the video and read the details below to make up your own mind.
-|
+<div style="border-bottom:2px #B87333 solid; text-align:left; padding:1px; margin:1px;"><font color='#800000' size='+1'>'''The Voice on the Ohio River'''.</font>  </div>
+<youtube>http://youtu.be/Zcx7KVwizew</youtube>
 [[Image:Image-rs-038 - Br Br baptizing in Ohio River.jpg|thumb|right|250px|William Branham baptising on the Ohio River]]
+=What William Branham and his followers believe=
 In the Tract, [[Life Story Tract|''"Jesus Christ the Same, Yesterday, Today and Forever"'']], William Branham first tells of a light appearing on the Ohio River in 1933:
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 In his book, Twentieth Century Prophet, Lee Vayle writes:
-:''It was during June of 1933 that as he was baptizing the converts in the Ohio River that a most amazing and well documented phenomenon occurred. As he was baptizing the seventeenth person before a crowd estimated at about 4000 there appeared a blazing whirling star out of heaven with the sound of rushing wind audible to all, and it came and hovered over him. As many ran in fear, and others knelt in prayer, a voice spoke out of the pillar of fire to him and said...''
+:''It was during June of 1933 that as he was baptizing the converts in the Ohio River that a most amazing and '''well documented''' phenomenon occurred. As he was baptizing the seventeenth person before a crowd estimated at about 4000 there appeared a blazing whirling star out of heaven with the sound of rushing wind audible to all, and it came and hovered over him. As many ran in fear, and others knelt in prayer, a voice spoke out of the pillar of fire to him and said...''
 ::''"As John the Baptist was the forerunner of the first coming of Christ, so your message is the forerunner of the second coming of Christ."''
-:''Of course he alone heard the words though others heard the sound. This is exactly as it was when Paul was blinded by God and heard His voice. Others heard a sound but not the actual voice or the words of the voice. ''
+:'''''Of course he alone heard the words''' though others heard the sound. This is exactly as it was when Paul was blinded by God and heard His voice. Others heard a sound but not the actual voice or the words of the voice. ''
-==Concerns with the experience==
+=Concerns with the experience=
 ===Some things stay the same, and some things change===
-William Branham retells this story many times. Each time he tells the story, a light always appears when the 17th person is being baptised, and a voice says "Look up".  However, there are some differences in each retelling.  Originally, 130 people came to be baptized in August 1933 while 3,000 people watched.  In later retellings, 500 people came to be baptized in June 1933 while 10,000 people watched. William Branham first tells of the voice which says "As John the Baptist was the forerunner of the first coming of Christ, so your message is the forerunner of the second coming of Christ." in August 1952.
+William Branham retells this story many times. Each time he tells the story, a light always appears when the 17th person is being baptised, and a voice says "Look up".  However, there are some differences in each retelling.
+==How many people attended the baptism?==
+Originally, in the first retelling, 130 people came to be baptized in August 1933 while 3,000 people watched.  In later retellings, 500 people came to be baptized in June 1933 while 10,000 people watched.
+According to the video of Bruce Hall, Graham Snelling and others stated that there were less than 100 people present.  We also understand from the report in the local newspaper that only 14 people came forward for salvation in the tent meetings which were held in May 1933.  Presumably, some or all of these were the ones who were baptized.
+==Was there a voice that spoke?==
+And the critical "prophecy" that all message followers focus on was not told by William Branham until August 1952, which was after Gordon Lindsay published his book.  William Branham, in his first telling of the voice which spoke, says that it said the following:
+:''"As John the Baptist was sent to warn the people of the first coming of Christ, so is this Message to warn the people of the second coming."<ref>52-0817E - Do You Now Believe?</ref>
+Both Gordon Lindsay's book, ''''A Man Sent From God'''', and Julius Stadsklev's book, ''''A Prophet Visits South Africa'''' record the light appearing during the baptism, but omit the voice.  '''It is obvious that they both received this information directly from William Branham without any checking of the facts.'''
+However, Gordon Lindsay's book does include the following similar prophecy:
+:''The next incident was a stirring message given in the Spirit and interpreted, almost identical to two others which were to be given in other Branham meetings in different places, a sure testimony of the authenticity of this anointed ministry. It was uttered with such rousing force that it almost seemed unearthly, and this was the gist of the message… that '''as John the Baptist was sent as a forerunner of the Lord’s first coming''', so was He sending forth '''this evangelist and others like him''' to move the people and prepare them for His second coming. Months later we heard this same message interpreted amidst a large crowd of people attending the Branham meeting in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by '''Sister Anna Schrader''' whom we later learned to appreciate deeply. Truly, these words penetrated our hearts.” (Gordon Lindsay, A Man Sent From God)
+This provides witnesses to the prophecy of Jesus' return.  However, the prophecy as retold by Gordon Lindsay refers to "this evangelist and others like him", while the prophecy as retold by William Branham only refers to himself.
+It is also interesting to note that the person that gave the prophecy, [[Hagin Prophecy#Kenneth Hagin's Account of Anna Schrader's Prophecies|Anna Schrader, also prophesied William Branham's death]] in 1965.
-===John the Baptist===
+One must conclude that since the voice was not mentioned in William Branham's own early retelling of the story that it never occurred and that he simply used the language from the Lindsay book.
-Gordon Lindsay's book, ''A Man Sent From God'', and Julius Stadsklev's book, ''A Prophet Visits South Africa'' both record the light appearing during the baptism, but omit the voice.  Gordon Lindsay's book does include the following similar prophecy, however:
-:''The next incident was a stirring message given in the Spirit and interpreted, almost identical to two others which were to be given in other Branham meetings in different places, a sure testimony of the authenticity of this anointed ministry. It was uttered with such rousing force that it almost seemed unearthly, and this was the gist of the message… that as John the Baptist was sent as a forerunner of the Lord’s first coming, so was He sending forth this evangelist and others like him to move the people and prepare them for His second coming. Months later we heard this same message interpreted amidst a large crowd of people attending the Branham meeting in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Sister Anna Schrader whom we later learned to appreciate deeply. Truly, these words penetrated our hearts.” (Gordon Lindsay, A Man Sent From God)
+==William Branham initially said he didn't know what it meant!==
+The third time William Branham relates this story, (1951) he says that a voice spoke and that '''''“many asked me what it meant. And I said, "I do not know.”'''''  If Bro. Branham did not know what it meant in 1951, why then does he know exactly what it means in August 1952?  (see quotes below).
-This provides witnesses to the prophecy of Jesus' return.  However, the prophecy as retold by Gordon Lindsay refers to "this evangelist and others like him", while the prophecy as retold by William Branham only refers to himself.
+==What was reported in the newspapers==
+[[File:19330506Davis.jpg|right|thumb|300px| Jeffersonville Evening News, June 2, 1933]]
-===I Do Not Know===
+Here is '''what William Branham said''' about the event:
-The third time William Branham relates this story, (1951) he says that a voice spoke and that ''“many asked me what it meant. And I said, "I do not know.”''  If Bro. Branham did not know what it meant in 1951, why then does he know exactly what it means in August 1952?  (see quotes below).
+*The event occurred in 1933 when Brother Branham was baptizing converts in the Ohio river at the foot of Spring Street.
+*Different dates are given for the event, but he most consistently states this occurred sometime in June, 1933.
+*The event occurred before Brother Branham and Hope were married in June, 1934.
+*This was his first revival, or first group of converts.
+*Roy Davis was still his pastor when this revival was held. He had just recently been ordained as a Baptist minister.
+*There were a lot of people in attendance; between several hundred to thousands. Brother Branham baptized around 500 people.
+*As he was baptizing, he heard a voice tell him to “look up”.
+*A light appeared and a voice spoke something to the effect of “As John the Baptist was sent forth to forerun the first coming of Christ, you have the Message that’ll now forerun the second Coming of Christ.”
+*All the local papers packed the article of it. The Louisville Herald, or Herald Post ran a front page story with a headline similar to “A mystery Light hangs over a local Baptist minister while baptizing at the foot of Spring Street in Jeffersonville, Indiana.”
+*The associated press picked up the story and it was carried in papers around the US and Canada.
+*William Branham said that the story was carried by a paper (1950), the "Courier Journal" (1951), the "Sunday Visitor" (1954), the "Louisville Herald", and the "Associated Press" (1961). <br>
-===Story in the paper===
+[[Image:14Converted.jpg|left|thumb|300px| Jeffersonville Evening News, May 6, 1933]]
-William Branham said that the story was carried by a paper (1950), the "Courier Journal" (1951), the "Sunday Visitor" (1954), the "Louisville Herald", and the "Associated Press" (1961). However, since no one has been able to produce a single copy of any newspaper articles, it does not appear that it ever was reported in any newspaper.
+Here is '''what we know''' about the event from conducted numerous searches in online newspaper archives and from microfiche sources in Indiana:
+*There is an advertisement which appeared in the Jeffersonville Evening News on May 6, 1933 for a series of meetings (see photograph on the left).
+*There was a similar advertisement which appeared in the Jeffersonville Evening News on May 27, 1933 (not reproduced).
+*There are no references to William Branham in 1933 other than an article from the Jeffersonville Evening News on June 2, 1933.  It should be noted that this article does not mention a light or the Ohio River and casts serious doubt on the number of people that William Branham claims to have baptized.
-We have also conducted searches in various newspaper archives but have been unable to find any references to William Branham in 1933.
+It is also interesting to note that the article says absolutely nothing about people being baptized.
-If you have a copy of any such article, please let us know.
+We must reasonably conclude that the story of the light appearing on the Ohio River was never reported in any newspaper.  We must also conclude that William Branham estimates of numbers were wildly exaggerated.
-===Who is Edward Colvin?===
+==Who is Edward Colvin?==
 Willliam Branham mentions that Edward Colvin was being baptized when the light came down.  If anyone would be a great witness to this event, Edward would be.
-==Quotes==
+{| style="width:200px; border:1px solid #E8B399;background-color:#F0DCC8;vertical-align:top; float:right; text-align:center; padding: 0.3em;margin-left:15px"
+|'''[[Italian]]''' <br> CI FU UNA VOCE NEL FIUME OHIO NEL 1933?
+|-
+|}
+=Quotes=
 The following are a few of the quotes of William Branham relating to his experience:
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 '''
+==Video Transcript==
+Followers of the message believe that Bro. Branham was anointed with the spirit of Elijah as prophesied in Malachi 4, verse 5.
+But where does this belief come from?
+Believers will most often point to a light that appeared on the Ohio River in August 1933 and a voice that spoke from this light saying "As John the Baptist was sent to forerun the first coming of Christ, your Message will forerun the second Coming."
+Let’s look at the progression of this testimony over the years from William Branham’s own words to see how this mystery unfolded.
+The story was first told in three published documents.
+In a tract that was written and distributed by William Branham entitled “''Jesus Christ the Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever''”,
+In Julius Stadsklev’s book, “''A Prophet Visits South Africa''”
+And in Gordon Lindsay’s book “''A Man Sent From God''”.
+None of these reports mention a voice speaking as we just mentioned.
+In 1951, Bro. Branham told the story of what happened:
+:''About twelve years ago, I was baptizing my first group after my--one of my revivals at Jeffersonville, Indiana, where I lived at this time--my home is, rather. And standing on the banks of the Ohio River where [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.] had gathered out. And while I was baptizing... It was two o'clock in the evening, on June. And the seventeenth candidate, I was baptizing in water at the Ohio River at the foot of Spring Street. And I heard Something speak, and I felt Something take a hold of me. And I looked up. And when I did, coming down from glory came this whirl coming down where I was at.
+"Courier Journal Newspaper" packed an article of it, said, "A mystic star appears over a local Baptist pastor while baptizing in the river." They couldn't make out. Oh, up to probably ten thousand people saw It as It moved down where I was at, and went back up in the skies. Come right where I was and went back up into the sky. Well I... Many asked me what It meant. And I said, "I do not know."''  MY COMMISSION Los Angeles, CA 51-0505
+So in 1951, Bro. Branham said that he didn’t know what the event meant.  But by1952 he said that he knew exactly what it meant…
+:''Recently when I was baptizing on the river at Jeffersonville, when all the local newspapers packed It, two o'clock in the afternoon when I was praying, here It come right down out of the heavens, right at two o'clock in the evening, June, or in the afternoon, rather, in June, about the middle of June, hung right over where I was, and a Voice from It, saying, "As John the Baptist was sent to warn the people of the first coming of Christ, so is this Message to warn the people of the second coming."'' DO YOU NOW BELIEVE  BATTLE CREEK, MI 52-0817E
+Lee Vayle states in his book “''Twentieth Century Prophet''” that William Branham was the only one that heard the words that were spoken.  And while William Branham indicates that Lee Vayle read of the event in a newspaper, Lee Vayle makes no mention of this in his book.
+We have also been unable to locate any newspaper stories that relate to this event.
+In the Book “''A Man Sent from God''”, Gordon Lindsay mentions a message interpreted in a service by Anna Schrader.  He wrote that the gist of this message was “''that as John the Baptist was sent as a forerunner of the Lord’s first coming, so was He sending forth this evangelist and others like him to move the people and prepare them for His second coming''.”
+In 1962, William Branham welcomed Sister Schrader over the pulpit, and recalled her interpretation… albeit slightly differently:
+:“''...you gave the interpretation, and said the very same thing that the Light did, when it come down over me down there, when I first was a Baptist preacher. Said, “As John the Baptist was sent forth to forerun the first coming of Christ, you’re sent forth, and your message will forerun the second coming.''” The Way Back, November 23, 1962, Par. 203
+So what can we conclude from this?
+First, William Branham never mentioned a voice referring to “John the Baptist” until 1952, and neither Gordon Lindsay nor Julius Stadsklev refers to the voice in their books.
-{{Portal Navigation}}
+Second, William Branham was the only one who heard the voice.
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+Third, Gordon Lindsay recorded a different interpretation given by Anna Schrader than the one that William Branham remembered years later. It is interesting that Anna Schrader’s interpretation is the first reference to a message like that of John the Baptist’s, but it covers not only William Branham but also the other evangelists associated with the healing revival.
+Is this the voice that William Branham actually heard?
+Another problem is that there do not appear to be any newspaper stories in existence that reported on the story told by William Branham.
+These changes to the story over time are very significant, and don’t agree with the earliest records of the story.  Isn’t that a little suspect?
+{{Bottom of Page}}
+[[Category:Honesty and Credibility]]
+[[Category:Supernatural vindication]]