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1933 Ohio River Experience: Difference between revisions
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Did this event ever take place? Watch the video and read the details below to make up your own mind. | 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> | <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]] | [[Image:Image-rs-038 - Br Br baptizing in Ohio River.jpg|thumb|right|250px|William Branham baptising on the Ohio River]] | ||
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===Some things stay the same, and some things change=== | ===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 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: | 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: | ||
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:''"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> | :''"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.''' | |||
Gordon Lindsay's book, ''A Man Sent From God'', and Julius Stadsklev's book, ''A Prophet Visits South Africa'' | |||
:''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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | ||
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. | |||
==William Branham initially said he didn't know what it meant!== | ==William Branham initially said he didn't know what it meant!== | ||
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==What was reported in the newspapers== | ==What was reported in the newspapers== | ||
[[ | [[File:19330506Davis.jpg|right|thumb|300px| Jeffersonville Evening News, June 2, 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). | |||
Here is '''what William Branham said''' about the event: | |||
*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> | |||
[[Image:14Converted.jpg|left|thumb|300px| Jeffersonville Evening News, May 6, 1933]] | |||
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. | |||
It is also interesting to note that the article says absolutely nothing about people being baptized. | |||
We must reasonably conclude that the story of the light appearing on the Ohio River was never reported in any newspaper. | 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?== | ||