How many people were healed in Branham's meetings?: Difference between revisions

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Pohl stated that he saw several people pronounced well by William Branham who died shortly there after.  He relates one case of a friend whose wife had been prayed for:
Pohl stated that he saw several people pronounced well by William Branham who died shortly there after.  He relates one case of a friend whose wife had been prayed for:


:''...his question still hit me very hard. "Brother Pohl," he said, "you were there beside my wife's bed the night Mr. Branham prayed for her and pronounced her healed?" "Yes," I replied, " I was right there." He went on, "Can you tell me why it is that my wife who was healed just a few days ago is now in the grave?" My friends, I believe that was one of the hardest questions that I was ever called upon to answer! My heart went out to this dear brother. I felt with him. But how could I answer him?
:''...his question still hit me very hard. "Brother Pohl," he said, "you were there beside my wife's bed the night Mr. Branham prayed for her and pronounced her healed?" "Yes," I replied, " I was right there." He went on, "Can you tell me why it is that my wife who was healed just a few days ago is now in the grave?" My friends, I believe that was one of the hardest questions that I was ever called upon to answer! My heart went out to this dear brother. I felt with him. But how could I answer him?<ref>Alfred Pohl's entire testimony has been published by the [[Berean Research Institute]]</ref>


In another case, a minister flew to Saskatoon for the meetings to have his wife prayed for:
In another case, a minister flew to Saskatoon for the meetings to have his wife prayed for:
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:''My friends, what kind of a testimony is this to the world? To them it "does not add up." And there is something wrong! Did this pastor's faith fail?
:''My friends, what kind of a testimony is this to the world? To them it "does not add up." And there is something wrong! Did this pastor's faith fail?


:''Let me ask, did this sort of thing happen to those who were healed by the Lord Jesus or by His apostles? Where, then, is it recorded? As Christians we sometimes think that we're "charitable" if we overlook these things, but is this real "charity" or love? Is it loving to permit this type of thing to be carried on in our churches, to the needless suffering, agony, disappointment, and expense of the sick? And more importantly, is it scriptural not to deal with the false, the counterfeit? (see Titus 1:7-14).
:''Let me ask, did this sort of thing happen to those who were healed by the Lord Jesus or by His apostles? Where, then, is it recorded? As Christians we sometimes think that we're "charitable" if we overlook these things, but is this real "charity" or love? Is it loving to permit this type of thing to be carried on in our churches, to the needless suffering, agony, disappointment, and expense of the sick? And more importantly, is it scriptural not to deal with the false, the counterfeit? (see Titus 1:7-14).<ref>Alfred Pohl's entire testimony is available from the [[Berean Research Institute]]</ref>


A year later, W.J. Taylor, a district superintendent with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, raised the same concern.  He and his executive asked for a thorough investigation, presenting evidence that claims of the number of people healed were vastly overestimated.  While he expressed warm regard for Branham as a person, he stated, "I firmly believe that there is a possibility that this whole business is wrong".<ref>Kydd, Ronald A. N. (1998). Healing through the Centuries: Models for Understanding. Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. ISBN 0-913573-60-4.</ref>
A year later, W.J. Taylor, a district superintendent with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, raised the same concern.  He and his executive asked for a thorough investigation, presenting evidence that claims of the number of people healed were vastly overestimated.  While he expressed warm regard for Branham as a person, he stated, "I firmly believe that there is a possibility that this whole business is wrong".<ref>Kydd, Ronald A. N. (1998). Healing through the Centuries: Models for Understanding. Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. ISBN 0-913573-60-4.</ref>