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Humble Pie: Difference between revisions
→Where do we stand now?
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'''This article is a formal apology for publishing and distributing false doctrine.''' <br> | '''This article is a formal apology for publishing and distributing false doctrine.''' <br> | ||
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|''But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.'' ~ John 3:21 | |''But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.'' ~ John 3:21 | ||
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[[Image:PieOK.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Humble Pie '''''"If you find that the evidence on this site has misled you in the past, we apologize."''''']] | |||
=A message to our readers= | |||
Dear Reader, | Dear Reader, | ||
From the start, the purpose of Believethesign.com has been to provide evidence to support truth. Having grown up in a Message Church, the truth being supported was naturally that William Branham was Elijah the Prophet in fulfillment of Malachi 4:5 and Revelation 10:7. In the fall of 2011, we changed the main scripture reference of the website to ''“Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever”'' (Hebrews 13:8) in order shift the focus of the site clearly onto Jesus Christ. | |||
The driving force behind this change is that we uncovered a number of significant issues with the evidence supporting William Branham’s prophetic ministry, as he proclaimed it. Since that time, we have also uncovered issues with his honesty, his healing ministry, and his word of knowledge. | The driving force behind this change is that we uncovered a number of significant issues with the evidence supporting William Branham’s prophetic ministry, as he proclaimed it. Since that time, we have also uncovered issues with his honesty, his healing ministry, and his word of knowledge. | ||
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:''We're in the last days. We're standing near the judgment. Why? '''They're trying to eat old manna that fell back yonder fifty years ago''', the Pentecostal church. …They're trying to eat old manna. Oh, brother, that stuff is stagnated. It's contaminated. It's got…wiggle-tails in it, maggots. It'll kill you, to eat it.'' (Trying to do God a service, Jeffersonville, Indiana, July 18, 1965) | :''We're in the last days. We're standing near the judgment. Why? '''They're trying to eat old manna that fell back yonder fifty years ago''', the Pentecostal church. …They're trying to eat old manna. Oh, brother, that stuff is stagnated. It's contaminated. It's got…wiggle-tails in it, maggots. It'll kill you, to eat it.'' (Trying to do God a service, Jeffersonville, Indiana, July 18, 1965) | ||
This quote was made over 50 years ago. As a result, the question must be asked: '''Is it time to move on?''' | |||
While our responsibility is simply to present the truth in love, our concern is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been replaced with a bowl full of rotten manna in Message Churches. Some of our major concerns are are described in the pages that are linked from this page (just click on the colored headings to go to the detail pages). Why it took so long for these things to surface is not clear. | While our responsibility is simply to present the truth in love, our concern is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been replaced with a bowl full of rotten manna in Message Churches. Some of our major concerns are are described in the pages that are linked from this page (just click on the colored headings to go to the detail pages). Why it took so long for these things to surface is not clear. | ||
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Thankfully, humble pie is always fresh. | Thankfully, humble pie is always fresh. | ||
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|''Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.'' ~ Hebrews 13:18 | |''Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.'' ~ Hebrews 13:18 | ||
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=Problems With Prophecies= | =Problems With Prophecies= | ||
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|''Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail.'' ~ I Corinthians 13:8a | |''Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail.'' ~ I Corinthians 13:8a | ||
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:But on this final trip the vision again failed to materialized. William Branham's visa was restricted in a way that prohibited him from holding any meetings. He died just prior to the end of 1965 with the vision remaining unfulfilled. | :But on this final trip the vision again failed to materialized. William Branham's visa was restricted in a way that prohibited him from holding any meetings. He died just prior to the end of 1965 with the vision remaining unfulfilled. | ||
[[Image:USSArizona.jpg|right|thumb| | [[Image:USSArizona.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Photo: The USS Arizona sinks in Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941. In 1960 William Branham said, ''I speak this in the Name of the Lord. The president which now is, President Franklin D. Roosevelt... will cause the whole world to go to war... took America to England's tea party. That's right. Germany never picked on us; we picked on them, throwed the whole world into a war, to cause a world war.'']] | ||
'''[[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]''' | '''[[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]''' | ||
:Part of William Branham’s 1933 prophecy was that FDR would pick on the Germans, lead the world to war, and run for four terms. While Roosevelt was inaugurated four times, he did not pick on the Germans and followed the world to war after provocation by the Japanese. William Branham called Franklin D. Roosevelt a “rascal” in 1960, which indicates that he just did not like him. | :Part of William Branham’s 1933 prophecy was that FDR would pick on the Germans, lead the world to war, and run for four terms. While Roosevelt was inaugurated four times, he did not pick on the Germans and followed the world to war after provocation by the Japanese. William Branham called Franklin D. Roosevelt a “rascal” in 1960, which indicates that he just did not like him. | ||
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If William Branham was not accurate with even one of his prophecies, then this calls into question his authority as an infallible prophet. While some of these prophecies may still come to pass, other have definitely missed the mark. In the end his prophetic scorecard appears to be “you hit some, you miss some”, and not something you can trust. | If William Branham was not accurate with even one of his prophecies, then this calls into question his authority as an infallible prophet. While some of these prophecies may still come to pass, other have definitely missed the mark. In the end his prophetic scorecard appears to be “you hit some, you miss some”, and not something you can trust. | ||
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|''And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.'' ~ Deuteronomy 18:21-22 | |''And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.'' ~ Deuteronomy 18:21-22 | ||
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=General Credibility= | =General Credibility= | ||
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|''We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.'' ~ 2 Corinthians 4:2 (NLT) | |''We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.'' ~ 2 Corinthians 4:2 (NLT) | ||
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|''Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.'' ~ Ephesians 4:25 | |''Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.'' ~ Ephesians 4:25 | ||
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=Doctrinal Issues= | =Doctrinal Issues= | ||
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|''These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?'' ~ John 10:21 | |''These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?'' ~ John 10:21 | ||
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For more on this topic, please read our article on [[Doctrines]]. | For more on this topic, please read our article on [[Doctrines]]. | ||
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|''But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.'' ~ Hebrews 5:14 | |''But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.'' ~ Hebrews 5:14 | ||
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=Problems with Eyewitness Testimonies= | =Problems with Eyewitness Testimonies= | ||
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|''Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.'' ~ 1 TImothy 5:19-20 | |''Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.'' ~ 1 TImothy 5:19-20 | ||
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'''[[Pearry Green]]''' | '''[[Pearry Green]]''' | ||
:While an eyewitness to the prophet, he was also accused of swindling a number of Message Believers out of their money in a letter written by Sarah Branham, William Branham's daughter. Pearry Green also wrote that Los Angeles would sink before Billy Paul was an old man (he was born in 1935). | :While an eyewitness to the prophet, he was also accused of swindling a number of Message Believers out of their money in a letter written by Sarah Branham, William Branham's daughter. Pearry Green also wrote that Los Angeles would sink before Billy Paul was an old man (he was born in 1935). | ||
'''[[Jim Jones]]''' | '''[[Jim Jones]]''' | ||
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:''I think there can be a lesson in this. Branham, as a miracle worker, had a real place. Branham as a teacher was outside of his calling. The fruits of his teaching ministry are not good.'' | :''I think there can be a lesson in this. Branham, as a miracle worker, had a real place. Branham as a teacher was outside of his calling. The fruits of his teaching ministry are not good.'' | ||
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|''Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,'' ~ Matthew 19:18 | |''Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,'' ~ Matthew 19:18 | ||
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=Prophecy of his passing= | =Prophecy of his passing= | ||
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|''And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.'' ~ Hebrews 12:27 | |''And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.'' ~ Hebrews 12:27 | ||
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If you have evidence that you are willing to share that can answer any of the following questions, we would love to move any of these items from “serious problems” to “good evidence”, or update our summary of specific prophecies. | If you have evidence that you are willing to share that can answer any of the following questions, we would love to move any of these items from “serious problems” to “good evidence”, or update our summary of specific prophecies. | ||
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|''And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.'' ~ Ezekiel 14:9 | |''And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.'' ~ Ezekiel 14:9 | ||
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=Where do we stand now?= | =Where do we stand now?= | ||
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{{col-break}} | {{col-break}} | ||
*Was William Branham a Christian? | *Was William Branham a Christian? | ||
*Are Message Believers Christians? | *[[Are Message Believers Christians?]] | ||
*Did William Branham have the gift of healing? | *Did William Branham have the gift of healing? | ||
*Did William Branham have the gift of knowledge? | *Did William Branham have the gift of knowledge? | ||
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*Was William Branham the fulfillment of Malachi 4:5? | *Was William Branham the fulfillment of Malachi 4:5? | ||
{{col-break}} | {{col-break}} | ||
*He sure lied a lot for a Christian. | *He sure [[Credibility|lied a lot]] for a Christian. | ||
*[[The Status of Message Believers|Some are.]] | *[[The Status of Message Believers|Some are.]] | ||
* | *A few were healed, [[How many people were healed in Branham's meetings?|most weren't, and some died.]] | ||
*There is some evidence | *There is [[William Branham speaks in tongues|some evidence that the discernment was faked]]. | ||
*[[Proof of the Prophetic|There is '''no evidence''' of any "before the fact" prophecies]]. | *[[Proof of the Prophetic|There is '''no evidence''' of any "before the fact" prophecies]]. | ||
*No. | *No. | ||
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Jeremy Bergen, Editor <br> | Jeremy Bergen, Editor <br> | ||
www.believethesign.com | www.believethesign.com | ||
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|Read the article called '''[[Here we stand, corrected]]''' for more information on those who have left the Message to pursue Jesus Christ. | |Read the article called '''[[Here we stand, corrected]]''' for more information on those who have left the Message to pursue Jesus Christ. | ||
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[[Category:Doctrines]] | |||
[[Category:The Seven Church Ages]] | |||
[[Category:The Seven Seals]] | |||
[[Category:Legalism]] | |||
[[Category:William Branham pointing to himself]] | |||
[[Category:Critical analysis of William Branham]] | |||
[[Category:The Message]] | |||
[[Category:Prophecies]] | |||
[[Category:Supernatural vindication]] | |||
[[Category:Honesty and Credibility]] | |||
[[Category:Menu pages]] | |||
[[Category:Prophecies about William Branham]] | |||
[[Category:Leaving the message]] | |||