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How many people were healed in Branham's meetings?: Difference between revisions
How many people were healed in Branham's meetings? (view source)
Revision as of 16:56, 13 May 2017
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'''But is this true?''' | '''But is this true?''' | ||
==What independent observers said | =The biblical pattern= | ||
Followers of the message believe William Branham to be the greatest prophet since Paul and one of the greatest prophets that ever lived. If this is the case then one would expect that his healing ministry would be similar to that of Jesus or the apostels. | |||
It is clear that in Jesus ministry, everyone was healed that Jesus prayed for. We read this in a number of passages in the Gospels: | |||
Matthew4:23-24: | |||
:''And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing '''every disease and every affliction''' among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him '''all the sick''', those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and '''he healed them'''.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Mt 4:23–24.</ref> | |||
Matthew 8:16: | |||
:''That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and '''healed all who were sick'''.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Mt 8:16.</ref> | |||
Mark 6:56: | |||
:''And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. '''And as many as touched it were made well'''. <ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Mk 6:56.</ref> | |||
Luke 6:17-19: | |||
:''And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and '''healed them all'''. <ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Lk 6:17–19.</ref> | |||
Acts 10:38: | |||
:''God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and '''healing all''' who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Ac 10:38.</ref> | |||
It is also clear that everyone that the apostles prayed for were healed as well: | |||
Acts 5:16 | |||
:''The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and '''they were all healed'''.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Ac 5:16.</ref> | |||
Acts 28:9: | |||
:''And when this had taken place, '''the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured'''.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Ac 28:9.</ref> | |||
=What independent observers said about William Branham= | |||
Controversy surrounded Branham right from the start of his public ministry. '''In 1947''', a minister in Saskatchewan, '''Rev. Alfred Pohl''', stated that many who Branham pronounced as healed later died.<ref>Carl Dyck, ''William Branham: The Man and His Message'', Saskatoon, 1984, ISBC 0-919847-00-5</ref> | Controversy surrounded Branham right from the start of his public ministry. '''In 1947''', a minister in Saskatchewan, '''Rev. Alfred Pohl''', stated that many who Branham pronounced as healed later died.<ref>Carl Dyck, ''William Branham: The Man and His Message'', Saskatoon, 1984, ISBC 0-919847-00-5</ref> | ||
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:''...it must be admitted that his sermons were not merely simple, but often naive as well, and that by contrast to what he claimed, '''only a small percentage of those that sought healing were actually healed'''." | :''...it must be admitted that his sermons were not merely simple, but often naive as well, and that by contrast to what he claimed, '''only a small percentage of those that sought healing were actually healed'''." | ||
=What William Branham said= | |||
''There was, we was having day service. And '''there was just hundreds of people coming in the line, being healed.''' | ''There was, we was having day service. And '''there was just hundreds of people coming in the line, being healed.''' | ||
''Now, it's brought to pass. I hate to say this. God have mercy. Look, friends, down through the rest of the country, over in Phoenix, over in Houston, over in San Antonio, down in Arkansas, down across the country, '''thousands are being healed, coming through there,''' of all kinds of sickness and diseases. Oakland, know your day.<ref>FAITH.IS.THE.SUBSTANCE_ OAKLAND.CA SATURDAY_ 47-0412</ref> | ''Now, it's brought to pass. I hate to say this. God have mercy. Look, friends, down through the rest of the country, over in Phoenix, over in Houston, over in San Antonio, down in Arkansas, down across the country, '''thousands are being healed, coming through there,''' of all kinds of sickness and diseases. Oakland, know your day.<ref>FAITH.IS.THE.SUBSTANCE_ OAKLAND.CA SATURDAY_ 47-0412</ref> | ||
''Well, I'd say '''twenty-five or thirty-five thousand people, prayed for, maybe more than that. And there's been at least ten thousand of them healed.''' Would you think of that? Such as cancers that are laying at their last moment, are well people since the last meeting. I guess, in the--in the--the provinces of Canada alone, there was at least two hundred and fifty, or maybe more than that, cases of cross-eyed people with their eyes straightened. And mutes, it's innumerable to count them, for there was multiplied scores of them that came, that were some deaf, dumb, some hard of hearing and everything that were made perfectly whole. Now, that's only done through the visitation of the Angel. | ''Well, I'd say '''twenty-five or thirty-five thousand people, prayed for, maybe more than that. And there's been at least ten thousand of them healed.''' Would you think of that? Such as cancers that are laying at their last moment, are well people since the last meeting. I guess, in the--in the--the provinces of Canada alone, there was at least two hundred and fifty, or maybe more than that, cases of cross-eyed people with their eyes straightened. And mutes, it's innumerable to count them, for there was multiplied scores of them that came, that were some deaf, dumb, some hard of hearing and everything that were made perfectly whole. Now, that's only done through the visitation of the Angel. | ||
''...'''You're healed, sir'''. God bless you.<ref>THE.ANGEL.OF.GOD_ PHOENIX.AZ SUNDAY_ 47-1102</ref> | ''...'''You're healed, sir'''. God bless you.<ref>THE.ANGEL.OF.GOD_ PHOENIX.AZ SUNDAY_ 47-1102</ref> | ||
'' Well, you should go home now, rejoicing, sister, ''''cause you're healed'''. God bless you. Let's say, "Praise the Lord," everyone. That's mighty fine.<ref>EXPERIENCES_ PHOENIX.AZ SUNDAY_ 47-1207</ref> | '' Well, you should go home now, rejoicing, sister, ''''cause you're healed'''. God bless you. Let's say, "Praise the Lord," everyone. That's mighty fine.<ref>EXPERIENCES_ PHOENIX.AZ SUNDAY_ 47-1207</ref> | ||
''All right, '''you're healed. Your other disease cured, you're well.''' Go home and rejoice. Let's say, "Praise the Lord," everybody. | ''All right, '''you're healed. Your other disease cured, you're well.''' Go home and rejoice. Let's say, "Praise the Lord," everybody. | ||
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''...the deaf and dumb spirit has gone from us, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ...?... '''You're healed'''. God bless my sister...?... in Jesus Name.<ref>PRAYER.LINE_ 48-0000</ref> | ''...the deaf and dumb spirit has gone from us, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ...?... '''You're healed'''. God bless my sister...?... in Jesus Name.<ref>PRAYER.LINE_ 48-0000</ref> | ||
''Young lady, '''you was healed when you walked to this line.''' Friends, I want you to open your eyes. I... This is the... I--I've said it was a poorest place for faith, but I believe it's greatest this afternoon. This girl was healed before I took hold of her hand. Just... I felt something move, and the girl was healed. A strange feeling come to you, didn't it? You're healed, young lady. All right. You mark my word and see if that isn't right. Glorify the Lord.<ref>EXPERIENCES_ PHOENIX.AZ TUESDAY_ 48-0302</ref> | ''Young lady, '''you was healed when you walked to this line.''' Friends, I want you to open your eyes. I... This is the... I--I've said it was a poorest place for faith, but I believe it's greatest this afternoon. This girl was healed before I took hold of her hand. Just... I felt something move, and the girl was healed. A strange feeling come to you, didn't it? You're healed, young lady. All right. You mark my word and see if that isn't right. Glorify the Lord.<ref>EXPERIENCES_ PHOENIX.AZ TUESDAY_ 48-0302</ref> | ||
''Everybody that truly believes gets well. '''Thousands have been healed.''' | ''Everybody that truly believes gets well. '''Thousands have been healed.''' | ||
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''...Then you would ask me, "Does everybody get well, Brother Branham?" '''Everybody that truly believes gets well.''' Thousands have been healed.<ref>THE.ANGEL.OF.GOD_ PHOENIX.AZ THURSDAY_ 48-0304</ref> | ''...Then you would ask me, "Does everybody get well, Brother Branham?" '''Everybody that truly believes gets well.''' Thousands have been healed.<ref>THE.ANGEL.OF.GOD_ PHOENIX.AZ THURSDAY_ 48-0304</ref> | ||
''And, friends, look. It's just not Tallahassee; this has went around the world. See? Everywhere, '''literally tens of thousands and thousands and thousand times thousands of people healed''' and saved and filled with the Holy Spirit and...?... See? It's not nothing. It's been tried under every fiery trial, I believe it can be put before, and all. Here's my manager? Is that right, Brother Baxter? Through everything. And always, God is triumphed, never failed one time and can't fail 'cause it's God.<ref>ALL.THINGS.ARE.POSSIBLE.TO.THEM.THAT.BELIEVE_ TALLAHASSEE.FL WEDNESDAY_ 53-0218</ref> | |||
''...'''twenty-five thousand healings, one prayer.'''<ref>THE.ANGEL.OF.THE.COVENANT_ PHOENIX.AZ MONDAY_ 54-0301</ref> | |||
''I seen about, oh, I guess '''thirty or forty thousand healed with one prayer.''' That's right.<ref>THE.LAMB.AND.THE.DOVE_ OAKLAND.CA MONDAY_ 57-0325</ref> | |||
=Conclusion= | |||
Was everyone healed that William Branham prayed for? Based on the testimony of independent observers, the answer is a clear "no". | |||
Were as many healed as William Branham claimed? Again, based on the testimony of independent observers, the answer is also an emphatic "no". | |||
William Branham made the excuse for himself for the vast majority of those who were not healed that they simply did not have faith. And those whom he proclaimed to be healed could [[Can you lose your healing?|lose their healing]] if their faith faltered. | |||
It is also clear that this is not the biblical pattern. | |||
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[[Category:Testimonies]] | [[Category:Testimonies]] | ||
[[Category:William Branham pointing to himself]] | [[Category:William Branham pointing to himself]] | ||