Message Urban Legends: Difference between revisions

no edit summary
No edit summary
 
Line 23: Line 23:
Given William Branham's view that the Pope was the anti-Christ, message believers are constantly making up stories about how the Pope is "out to get them" because they are the only real threat to the Pope (yeah, right...)
Given William Branham's view that the Pope was the anti-Christ, message believers are constantly making up stories about how the Pope is "out to get them" because they are the only real threat to the Pope (yeah, right...)


==The conspiracy of Pope Francis and President Obama==
===The conspiracy of Pope Francis and President Obama===


This story was circulating in some message churches at the time of Pope Francis' visit to the US.
This story was circulating in some message churches at the time of Pope Francis' visit to the US.
Line 29: Line 29:
:''Pope Francis' visit to the US in September 2015 coincides with with the [[Blood Moons|Blood Moon]].  What people aren't aware of is that the reason for the visit is that President Obama and Pope Francis are conspiring together to eliminate every message believer.  There is a bill which President Obama has now signed which has the purpose to eliminate all [[Is the Message a Cult?|message believers]] through the use of lethal force (i.e. they are going to kill all message believers).  
:''Pope Francis' visit to the US in September 2015 coincides with with the [[Blood Moons|Blood Moon]].  What people aren't aware of is that the reason for the visit is that President Obama and Pope Francis are conspiring together to eliminate every message believer.  There is a bill which President Obama has now signed which has the purpose to eliminate all [[Is the Message a Cult?|message believers]] through the use of lethal force (i.e. they are going to kill all message believers).  


==The Pope and the Message Book==
===The Pope and the Message Book===


The story goes something like this (fill in the blanks):
The story goes something like this (fill in the blanks):
Line 35: Line 35:
:''Some years back, Pope __________ (insert name of pope) came to __________ (insert name of country).  He held a Spoken Word book in his hand and said "This is our number one enemy".
:''Some years back, Pope __________ (insert name of pope) came to __________ (insert name of country).  He held a Spoken Word book in his hand and said "This is our number one enemy".


==The Head of the FBI and the Message Book==
===The Head of the FBI and the Message Book===


This is the American version of the Pope and the message book story:
This is the American version of the Pope and the message book story:
Line 45: Line 45:
There are a variety of stories circulating which attempt to prove that Joseph Branham is a prophet.
There are a variety of stories circulating which attempt to prove that Joseph Branham is a prophet.


==Power to stop a tornado==
===Power to stop a tornado===


A tornado was headed for the Still Waters camp facility a few years ago.  Everyone in the camp were warned to leave by the local government but Joseph Branham  refused to leave.  He simply said a prayer and the tornado changed direction away from the camp.
A tornado was headed for the Still Waters camp facility a few years ago.  Everyone in the camp were warned to leave by the local government but Joseph Branham  refused to leave.  He simply said a prayer and the tornado changed direction away from the camp.
Line 53: Line 53:
We have asked Voice of God to confirm that this actually took place.  To date, we have received no response.
We have asked Voice of God to confirm that this actually took place.  To date, we have received no response.


==Power to raise the dead==
===Power to raise the dead===


A person in the message recently posted the following on Facebook:
A person in the message recently posted the following on Facebook:
Line 67: Line 67:
There are a number of stories which are circulating among message churches which seek to prove that message believers are divinely protected by God.  God also protects message believers' property from damage.  This is supposed to serve as proof that the message is backed up by God.
There are a number of stories which are circulating among message churches which seek to prove that message believers are divinely protected by God.  God also protects message believers' property from damage.  This is supposed to serve as proof that the message is backed up by God.


==Immune to Sexually Transmitted Diseases?==
===Immune to Sexually Transmitted Diseases?===


Here is a story that appeared in a message forum on Facebook:
Here is a story that appeared in a message forum on Facebook:
Line 75: Line 75:
I'm not sure that they understand that STD's are only contracted when someone is sexually active.  This story seems to say that they should have had STD's but didn't because of the message.
I'm not sure that they understand that STD's are only contracted when someone is sexually active.  This story seems to say that they should have had STD's but didn't because of the message.


==What happens when scissors get dull==
===What happens when scissors get dull===


It was reported during the '90's that some message believers were experiencing persecution from the Catholic church in Madagascar.  Some Catholic nuns tried to cut the hair of some girls in the message but the scissors didn't work.  When they tried to cut the hair of a non-message believer, they worked fine.  
It was reported during the '90's that some message believers were experiencing persecution from the Catholic church in Madagascar.  Some Catholic nuns tried to cut the hair of some girls in the message but the scissors didn't work.  When they tried to cut the hair of a non-message believer, they worked fine.  
Line 87: Line 87:
An interesting question to ask is - why didn't God simply get rid of the lice???  Then all of the girls would have avoided a hair cut.  Is God OK with non-Christians having short hair???
An interesting question to ask is - why didn't God simply get rid of the lice???  Then all of the girls would have avoided a hair cut.  Is God OK with non-Christians having short hair???


==Watch out for strangers coming into your church to take pictures==
===Watch out for strangers coming into your church to take pictures===


A stranger walked into a message church and started to take pictures of everybody who is sitting there.  It turned out that the photographer was a Jesuit...
A stranger walked into a message church and started to take pictures of everybody who is sitting there.  It turned out that the photographer was a Jesuit...


==Don't yell at message believers==
===Don't yell at message believers===


This was posted by a follower of William Branham
This was posted by a follower of William Branham
Line 107: Line 107:
TOUCH NOT MY ANOINTED. That one was just a follower of the message so what about the prophet?
TOUCH NOT MY ANOINTED. That one was just a follower of the message so what about the prophet?


==You are protected while listening to WMB sermons==
===You are protected while listening to message sermons===


There is a story from Africa about a witch doctor being hired to curse a message believer. Demons of death (or something equivalent) were summoned to attack the believer.  But he was sleeping on the couch while playing a tape so the demons were repulsed and instead attacked the guy who hired the witch doctor.
There is a story from Africa about a witch doctor being hired to curse a message believer. Demons of death (or something equivalent) were summoned to attack the believer.  But he was sleeping on the couch while playing a tape so the demons were repulsed and instead attacked the guy who hired the witch doctor.


==Tidal Wave in the Philippines==
===Tidal Wave in the Philippines===


In the Philippines, there was a tidal wave that was approximately 100 feet high that was headed for a message church.  Everyone in the church prayed and the massive wave went around both sides of the church.
In the Philippines, there was a tidal wave that was approximately 100 feet high that was headed for a message church.  Everyone in the church prayed and the massive wave went around both sides of the church.


==Raised from the dead on the third day==
===Raised from the dead on the third day===


The following is an email that was circulating among message believers.  Please notice that this story is told in the third person and that no name is given for the student.  '''The real question is "''Who concocted this story?''"''' as it is obviously fictional:
The following is an email that was circulating among message believers.  Please notice that this story is told in the third person and that no name is given for the student.  '''The real question is "''Who concocted this story?''"''' as it is obviously fictional:
Line 133: Line 133:
:''On the Third day, The ANGEL came back and He was told to LOOK and he said there was a BIG EAGLE HOVERING OVER HIM WITH HUGE SHARP CLAWS AND FLAMING RED EYES and that very day the ANGEL TOLD THAT HE WAS ABOUT TO GET OUT. The car stopped and he heard dogs barking, and the police had caught the thieves. How did they catch them? The thing is before he went out of their room at the University a STRONG VOICE told him to leave his phone. So he left it: now the robbers where withdrawing money the phone would record, so the police with the help from the friend, would see which bank they took out the money, place e.t.c and the surveillance cameras did what they are known best. And tracked them down until the third day when they caught them."
:''On the Third day, The ANGEL came back and He was told to LOOK and he said there was a BIG EAGLE HOVERING OVER HIM WITH HUGE SHARP CLAWS AND FLAMING RED EYES and that very day the ANGEL TOLD THAT HE WAS ABOUT TO GET OUT. The car stopped and he heard dogs barking, and the police had caught the thieves. How did they catch them? The thing is before he went out of their room at the University a STRONG VOICE told him to leave his phone. So he left it: now the robbers where withdrawing money the phone would record, so the police with the help from the friend, would see which bank they took out the money, place e.t.c and the surveillance cameras did what they are known best. And tracked them down until the third day when they caught them."


===Similar stories are floating around===
====Similar stories are floating around====


Another story claims that ''the muggers approached him on the church grounds late at night, and fired their gun in his chest.  The gun wouldn't fire, and so they ran from the "hallowed ground" of the church.''
Another story claims that ''the muggers approached him on the church grounds late at night, and fired their gun in his chest.  The gun wouldn't fire, and so they ran from the "hallowed ground" of the church.''


==Died the same day==
===Died the same day===


This strange story was received in an email from someone that obviously does not have English as their mother tongue.  However, that doesn't stop them from spreading another message fairy tale:
This strange story was received in an email from someone that obviously does not have English as their mother tongue.  However, that doesn't stop them from spreading another message fairy tale:
Line 165: Line 165:
=The pillar of fire appearing in a church=
=The pillar of fire appearing in a church=


==The Story==
===The Story===


Ron Spencer conducted a funeral in April 2015 at Full Gospel Lighthouse in Elkton, Virginia.  During the funeral the pillar of fire came down so that believers and unbelievers could see it.  Also, some of the flowers were unopened and when the pillar of fire passed over the flowers, they opened up into full bloom.
Ron Spencer conducted a funeral in April 2015 at Full Gospel Lighthouse in Elkton, Virginia.  During the funeral the pillar of fire came down so that believers and unbelievers could see it.  Also, some of the flowers were unopened and when the pillar of fire passed over the flowers, they opened up into full bloom.


==The Facts==
===The Facts===


Upon hearing this story, an ex-message believer that used to attend the church called one of the members of the Full Gospel Lighthouse church, who was at the funeral, to tactfully gather information on what actually happened.
Upon hearing this story, an ex-message believer that used to attend the church called one of the members of the Full Gospel Lighthouse church, who was at the funeral, to tactfully gather information on what actually happened.