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Congressman Upshaw: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:pa92upsh.jpg|right|250px]] | |||
'''William David Upshaw''' was born on October 15, 1866, near Atlanta, Georgia and died on November 21, 1952. He served in Congress during the late 1910's and throughout the 1920's, and ran for the office of the President for the Prohibition Party in 1932. | '''William David Upshaw''' was born on October 15, 1866, near Atlanta, Georgia and died on November 21, 1952. He served in Congress during the late 1910's and throughout the 1920's, and ran for the office of the President for the Prohibition Party in 1932. | ||
Followers of the message have been repeatedly told how, at the age of 84, 66 years after becoming physically handicapped, William Branham said that he saw a vision of Congressman Upshaw walking. Branham prayed for Upshaw, who was instantly healed, and had full use of his legs for the remainder of his life. | Followers of the message have been repeatedly told how, at the age of 84, 66 years after becoming physically handicapped, William Branham said that he saw a vision of Congressman Upshaw walking. Branham prayed for Upshaw, who was instantly healed, and had full use of his legs for the remainder of his life. | ||
'''But is this what really happened?''' | '''But is this what really happened?''' | ||
Read the facts for yourself as outlined below. | |||
='''Discrepancies''' between Upshaw and Branham= | ='''Discrepancies''' between Upshaw and Branham= | ||
There is a significant concern with the huge changes in the story over time as it was told by William Branham. When do you move from exaggeration to an outright lie? | |||
In Congressman Upshaw's testimony, William Branham never speaks to him or even acknowledges him. The message that he is healed is delivered by Brother Leroy Kopp. | |||
William Branham's initial testimony (1951 - see below) is initially in basic agreement with that of the Congressman. However, by 1954 it had changed to the point that there is a vision of a brown suit and a wired microphone is run back to the Congressman to allow him to have a conversation with William Branham from the pulpit. Leroy Kopp's part in the miracle is completely eliminated as William Branham himself told the Congressman over the pulpit - "''THUS SAITH THE LORD, you're healed.''" | |||
Why did a real miracle from God require embellishment? If it really was a miracle, why did William Branham have to lie about it? | |||
The picture of William Upshaw that has been painted into the minds of William Branham's followers is that of a frail, old man who was destined to a crippled life in a wheelchair. William Branham often mentions how the Congressman was so bad off that he had to be wheeled around, carried on beds, and practically unable to function. | |||
But in the newspapers, we find Upshaw travelling around in convoys of automobiles, '''walking around freely using his crutches''', and speaking to multiple audiences per day -- both for policical speeches and evangelistic sermons. | |||
So it appears that Congressman Upshaw's healing may not have been quite as miraculous as it was described by William Branham. | |||
=The tract written by Congressman Upshaw= | =The tract written by Congressman Upshaw= | ||
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The following are excerpts from the tract written by Congressman William D. Upshaw: | The following are excerpts from the tract written by Congressman William D. Upshaw: | ||
:''I walked into that Branham-Baxter meeting in Calvary Temple, Los Angeles, loving God and His blessed Word, leaning on my crutches that had been my “buddies”-my helpful comrades for 59 of my 66 years as a cripple-7 of those years spend on bed; I walked out that night of February 8th, leaving my crutches on the platform – the song of deliverance ringing in my heart in happy consonance with the | :''I walked into that Branham-Baxter meeting in Calvary Temple, Los Angeles, loving God and His blessed Word, leaning on my crutches that had been my “buddies”-my helpful comrades for 59 of my 66 years as a cripple-7 of those years spend on bed; I walked out that night of February 8th, leaving my crutches on the platform – the song of deliverance ringing in my heart in happy consonance with the shouts of victory from those who thronged about me – their tears of rejoicing crystal with the light of the skies’ chief among them was my blessed wife whose dear face, glowing amid her joyous exclamations: “Praise the Lord” and “Glory to God,” was beaming like a patch of Heaven. | ||
:''…Then came God’s humble Bible Prophet, William Branham – and that “Boanerges Son of Thunger” (who can out-“Hollywood” Hollywood, and never get away from Calvary) Ern Baxter – making one of the greatest evangelistic Bible teams that has ever blessed the world since Paul and Barnabas laid the pillars of God’s Kingdom on the shores of Tiberius and the Mediterranean. We had looked forward to hearing “Billy” Branham – knowing that his ministry to be mightily blessed of the Lord-; but we were not prepared for Baxter – that indescribable combustion of wit and wisdom, and enriching Bible interpretation, who is an imperative John the Baptist, preparing the way for Branham. I sat entranced, still praying for “appropriating faith,” but holden, somehow, of that contact – and that contract with the Lord sixty odd years ago. Others were being healed all around me. Then Brother Branham lifted his hands saying: “Everyone lay your hands on your loved one as we pray.” A great volume of prayer ascended throughout the audience of more than three thousand. Angels were hovering near! I knew my blessed wife and her “prayer warriors” were wrapping me in prayer. I remembered how she said, “When you are trying to lead a sinner to accept Christ you say; “Accept – confess Christ and step out – He will do the rest and bring the joy of answered prayer’.” It was the touchstone. Just hen Brother Branham, exhausted, was carried from the platform. Brother LeRoy Kopp, Calvary Temple’s golden-hearted pastor, came back to the pulpit and said: “Brother Branham says ‘The Congressman is healed’.” My heart leaped. I stepped out and accepted the Lord as my Healer. I laid aside my crutches and started toward the startled Pastor and my happy, shouting wife – and the bottom of Heaven fell out! | :''…Then came God’s humble Bible Prophet, William Branham – and that “Boanerges Son of Thunger” (who can out-“Hollywood” Hollywood, and never get away from Calvary) Ern Baxter – making one of the greatest evangelistic Bible teams that has ever blessed the world since Paul and Barnabas laid the pillars of God’s Kingdom on the shores of Tiberius and the Mediterranean. We had looked forward to hearing “Billy” Branham – knowing that his ministry to be mightily blessed of the Lord-; but we were not prepared for Baxter – that indescribable combustion of wit and wisdom, and enriching Bible interpretation, who is an imperative John the Baptist, preparing the way for Branham. I sat entranced, still praying for “appropriating faith,” but holden, somehow, of that contact – and that contract with the Lord sixty odd years ago. Others were being healed all around me. Then Brother Branham lifted his hands saying: “Everyone lay your hands on your loved one as we pray.” A great volume of prayer ascended throughout the audience of more than three thousand. Angels were hovering near! I knew my blessed wife and her “prayer warriors” were wrapping me in prayer. I remembered how she said, “When you are trying to lead a sinner to accept Christ you say; “Accept – confess Christ and step out – He will do the rest and bring the joy of answered prayer’.” It was the touchstone. Just hen Brother Branham, exhausted, was carried from the platform. Brother LeRoy Kopp, Calvary Temple’s golden-hearted pastor, came back to the pulpit and said: “Brother Branham says ‘The Congressman is healed’.” My heart leaped. I stepped out and accepted the Lord as my Healer. I laid aside my crutches and started toward the startled Pastor and my happy, shouting wife – and the bottom of Heaven fell out! | ||
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:''A few days after my wonderful deliverance, dear Brother Branham said to me: “Brother Upshaw, I feel like the best part of your life is before you – fortified and stimulated by this new evangel of your Divine healing, and I hope you will cover the nation.” | :''A few days after my wonderful deliverance, dear Brother Branham said to me: “Brother Upshaw, I feel like the best part of your life is before you – fortified and stimulated by this new evangel of your Divine healing, and I hope you will cover the nation.” | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
William Upshaw was “healed” on Feb. 8, 1951 and died less than two years later on November 21, 1952. | |||
=Audio Recording of Congressman Upshaw sharing his testimony= | =Audio Recording of Congressman Upshaw sharing his testimony= | ||
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William Branham retold the story of Congressman Upshaw's healing many times. However, over time the story changed considerably so that by 1954 it included a vision of a brown suit, and a "Thus Saith The Lord" statement spoken by Brother Branham to William Upshaw directly over the pulpit, and not as communicated by Brother LeRoy Kopp. | William Branham retold the story of Congressman Upshaw's healing many times. However, over time the story changed considerably so that by 1954 it included a vision of a brown suit, and a "Thus Saith The Lord" statement spoken by Brother Branham to William Upshaw directly over the pulpit, and not as communicated by Brother LeRoy Kopp. | ||
==The First Version== | |||
'''Initially the story that William Branham tells is very close to the testimony of Congressman Upshaw.''' | '''Initially the story that William Branham tells is very close to the testimony of Congressman Upshaw.''' | ||
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:''And as I started, Mr. Kopp here, the... Brother Kopp, the pastor run up there. And I said, "Go tell the congressman that God has healed him. I seen him, going walking away."''<ref>MY.COMMISSION_ LA.CA SATURDAY_ 51-0505</ref> | :''And as I started, Mr. Kopp here, the... Brother Kopp, the pastor run up there. And I said, "Go tell the congressman that God has healed him. I seen him, going walking away."''<ref>MY.COMMISSION_ LA.CA SATURDAY_ 51-0505</ref> | ||
==Is This Lying? - The Story Three Years Later== | |||
'''But three years later, it had | '''But three years later, it had changed to something that could only be called a lie.''' | ||
:''And I looked. And coming in, they just got off of an airplane. And here come a wheelchair. They'd just got inside the building and it begin come... It was moving on down to get it with the rest of wheelchairs. I said, "That's the old gentleman now." It was about twice the distance of this building. I said, "That's the old man now."'' | :''And I looked. And coming in, they just got off of an airplane. And here come a wheelchair. They'd just got inside the building and it begin come... It was moving on down to get it with the rest of wheelchairs. I said, "That's the old gentleman now." It was about twice the distance of this building. I said, "That's the old man now."'' | ||
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:''And I said, "Right now, Congressman." And up he jumped from that chair, threw aside... He had big crutches that went up over his shoulders, when they'd stand him up; it was like Mister Roosevelt, I... like that, in his back.<ref>JESUS ON THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD WOOD RIVER, IL 54-0217</ref> | :''And I said, "Right now, Congressman." And up he jumped from that chair, threw aside... He had big crutches that went up over his shoulders, when they'd stand him up; it was like Mister Roosevelt, I... like that, in his back.<ref>JESUS ON THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD WOOD RIVER, IL 54-0217</ref> | ||
'''Here again is the wildly embellished story in 1958:''' | '''Here again is the wildly embellished story in 1958:''' | ||