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Amos 3:7: Difference between revisions
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William Branham often used Amos 3:7 to state that God would not do anything today without revealing it to a prophet. | William Branham often used Amos 3:7 to state that God would not do anything today without revealing it to a prophet. Was this simply another case of William Branham trying to convince people that the Bible was referring to him? Are you aware that the Mormon church uses the same passage to prove they are correct? | ||
Amos 3 states: | Amos 3 states: | ||
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But is William Branham's interpretation correct? Is the Mormon interpretation of this passage, which is similar to William Branham's, also correct? | But is William Branham's interpretation correct? Is the Mormon interpretation of this passage, which is similar to William Branham's, also correct? | ||
=What William Branham taught= | |||
William Branham believed he was a prophet and believed that God had to speak through him: | |||
:''Now, anyone knows that Amos 3:7 said that God promised that He would never do nothing until first He revealed it to His prophet. Through the church ages we’ve had reformers; but promised by Malachi 4 that there would be a prophet in the land in the last days (because it has to fit that pattern, see) before the end time come.<ref>William Branham, 65-1127B - Trying To Do God A Service Without It Being God's Will, para. 210</ref> | |||
This passage does establish that, prior to the New Covenant, when Yahweh is the author of disaster, he tells his prophets. The focus is upon legitimate prophetic authority, not upon prophetic autonomy. What prophets say comes from Yahweh; it is God's “counsel” and is therefore absolutely true. It is not that Yahweh cannot act without the help of prophets or that he is obliged to share his knowledge with them. Rather, consistent with other prophetical (Jer 7:25; 23:18, 22; 26:5; 35:15; 44:4) and historical (2 Kgs 17:13, 23; 21:10; 24:2) discussions on God’s “servants the prophets,” this verse states simply that the prophets carry a message that is not their own. God does explain his own actions and does use the prophets as his spokespersons. But he is hardly dependent on them. | :''If God sends anything, He says and promised in the Bible that '''He would do nothing upon the earth until first He revealed it to His servants the prophets.''' That’s Amos 3:7. He…and God cannot lie. He reveals It, that’s been His way of doing it all down through the ages. He’s never failed to do it.<ref>William Branham, 65-1206 - Modern Events Are Made Clear By Prophecy, para. 52</ref> | ||
But is this true in the New Testament? Has this held true for the last 2,000 years? | |||
=What the Bible says= | |||
Amos 3:7 is under the old covenant. We understand from Hebrews 8:13 that the old covenant is obsolete: | |||
:''In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Heb 8:13.</ref> | |||
The old covenant, which includes Amos 3:7, has expired and is outdated. It is no longer of relevance. Why would anyone want to go back to an obsolete covenant? | |||
There is nothing in the New Testament that states any similar principle. This was a case of William Branham pointing to himself, again. | |||
==Comparing William Branham's teaching with the Bible== | |||
This verse should not be interpreted to mean that God will always have a prophet on earth. In Amos 3:7 we find God about to bring judgment against the Israelites because of their disobedience. This passage affirms that God had previously warned the Israelites that judgment would follow disobedience, but they had ignored the prophets (Amos 2:12). In context, then, Amos 3:7 simply points to God’s chosen pattern of not engaging in a major action '''with the Israelites''' (such as judgment) without first revealing it to the prophets. | |||
Relevant to this discussion is the fact that in Old Testament times the biblical test for a prophet was 100-percent accuracy (Deut. 18:20–22). [[List of Issues with the Message#Was William Branham really a prophet?|William Branham did not measure up]]. Mormon prophets do not measure up. Mormon prophet (and founder) Joseph Smith, for example, once prophesied that the New Jerusalem would be built in Missouri in his generation.<Ref>Smith, 1835, 84:3–5</ref><ref>Norman L. Geisler and Ron Rhodes, When Cultists Ask: A Popular Handbook on Cultic Misinterpretations (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1997), 87.</ref> | |||
William Branham's prophecies failed similar to those of Mormon prophets. In fact, we are unaware of [[Proof of the Prophetic|a single unambiguous prophecy made by William Branham that was recorded publicly (i.e. we can verify on a tape) and that was later fulfilled in a clear manner]]. | |||
This passage does establish that, '''prior to the New Covenant''', when Yahweh is the author of disaster, he tells his prophets. The focus is upon legitimate prophetic authority, not upon prophetic autonomy. What prophets say comes from Yahweh; it is God's “counsel” and is therefore absolutely true. It is not that Yahweh cannot act without the help of prophets or that he is obliged to share his knowledge with them. Rather, consistent with other prophetical (Jer 7:25; 23:18, 22; 26:5; 35:15; 44:4) and historical (2 Kgs 17:13, 23; 21:10; 24:2) discussions on God’s “servants the prophets,” this verse states simply that the prophets carry a message that is not their own. God does explain his own actions and does use the prophets as his spokespersons. But he is hardly dependent on them. | |||
The true prophet cannot ignore Yahweh’s voice any more than sensible people can ignore the roar of a lion. If Yahweh has spoken to someone, can that person be expected not to prophesy (לא ינבא)? To be chosen is to be obliged, as Jonah, for example, learned the hard way. | The true prophet cannot ignore Yahweh’s voice any more than sensible people can ignore the roar of a lion. If Yahweh has spoken to someone, can that person be expected not to prophesy (לא ינבא)? To be chosen is to be obliged, as Jonah, for example, learned the hard way. | ||
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:''You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.<ref>Deuteronomy 4:2</ref> | :''You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.<ref>Deuteronomy 4:2</ref> | ||
: | :''Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.<ref>Deuteronomy 12:32</ref> | ||
:''Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.<ref>Proverbs 30:6</ref> | :''Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.<ref>Proverbs 30:6</ref> | ||
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:''Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith...<ref>Romans 16:25-26 (ESV)</ref> | :''Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith...<ref>Romans 16:25-26 (ESV)</ref> | ||
William Branham was simply pointing to himself. Amos 3:7 is not a promise to the New Testament church. We have the Holy Spirit today. | |||
=Quotes of William Branham= | =Quotes of William Branham= | ||
''First of all, that messenger is going to be a prophet. He will have the office of a prophet. He will have the prophetic ministry. It will be based solidly on the Word because when he prophesies or has a vision, it will always be "Word oriented" and it will ALWAYS come to pass. He will be vindicated as a prophet because of his accuracy. | ''First of all, that messenger is going to be a prophet. He will have the office of a prophet. He will have the prophetic ministry. It will be based solidly on the Word because when he prophesies or has a vision, it will always be "Word oriented" and '''it will ALWAYS come to pass'''. He will be vindicated as a prophet because of his accuracy. | ||
The proof that he is a prophet is found in [[Revelation 10:7]]: | The proof that he is a prophet is found in [[Revelation 10:7]]: | ||
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''Amos 3:6-7, | ''Amos 3:6-7, | ||
:''"Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it? | :''"'''Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it? | ||
Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secrets unto His servants, the prophets."<ref> 323-3 LAODICEAN.CHURCH.AGE - CHURCH.AGE.BOOK CPT.9</ref> | Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secrets unto His servants, the prophets'''."<ref> 323-3 LAODICEAN.CHURCH.AGE - CHURCH.AGE.BOOK CPT.9</ref> | ||
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[[Category:The Message]] | [[Category:The Message]] | ||
[[Category:Mormon doctrines in the message]] | [[Category:Mormon doctrines in the message]] | ||
[[Category:William Branham pointing to himself]] | |||
[[Category:Unfinished articles]] | [[Category:Unfinished articles]] | ||