The Tent Vision: Difference between revisions

Jeffersonville, Ind.<br>  

Box 325<br>

June 30, 1958<br>

Rev. C. Parker Thomas <br>

Box 685<br>

Southern Pines, N.C.<br>

Brother Thomas, your meeting in Southern Pines was unique in that I feel it was the last of this particular kind which I have held for several years. I have been led of God through two phases of a threefold ministry. As I look to the future, I am confident the third phase is upon me. Now, if you do not mind and would even go so far as to publish this letter in your paper, I would like to acquaint you and your friends with certain information that should give you a clearer knowledge and understanding of the ministry which the Lord has given me.

This angel did not only tell me that I was to take a Gift of Healing to the world, but he told me (when I complained as did Moses) that God would grant me signs to convince the world that the claims I would make were legitimate and of God.

He told me that I would have a sign in my hand appear as I took the sick one's right hand in my left hand. The sign would be various, angry swellings and colouring in my hand, depending on the type of disease. This came to pass exactly as God said it would. He appeared again and told me that if I would be faithful and humble a second sign would appear. That sign was that I could tell the thoughts and intents of people's hearts, and nothing should be hidden as well as tell the diseases.

This was to come to pass by trance and vision. You know that this also came to pass. It was during this time of the first sign that crowds came to such very proportions that little towns of a few thousand population would overflow in a few days to many, many thousands. During this time of the first sign, my prayer lines were city blocks long and some nights there was no one person who did not get healed. They would carry me from the platform physically exhausted. During this time there was every kind of miracle conceivable. And then one day in Canada the second sign which was to be greater than the first came into being. I suddenly was in a trance, and I spoke out of vision everything concerning the man who appeared before me. I knew who he was, where he was from and all about his life. Nothing was hidden.

People responded in a tremendous way. They were startled but edified. Nothing like this was known since the time of Christ. But a peculiar thing happened. After a few visions I was so weak that I could not pray but for a few. This was hard to understand for if the second sign was greater than the first then the results should have been greater – greater crowds, and more healings. But as so few were personally ministered to each night the crowds fell off. People could not understand why I was weak and so few were touched. I must admit this puzzled me too until God showed me in His Word the truth of the second sign.

Then too, I want to give you a clear idea why I get weak when I minister in the spirit. Contrary to popular opinion that man is strong in the spirit and very mighty, he gets weak. Samson slew a thousand and then became so weak that he felt he would die over a bit of thirst. Daniel, after one vision, was sick many days. Elijah, after the Mt. Carmel experience, crept away and tried to die.<ref>Branham’s assertions are incorrect. Judges 15:15-19 tells of Samson killing a thousand men.  One can imagine that killing that many men with the jawbone of an ass would be a bit of a workout, so it is not surprising that Samson was quite thirsty when he was finished. Daniel 10:2-19 explains that Daniel had mourned and fasted for three weeks as a result of the vision. The passage tells us that he was filled with terror and anguish as a result of the contents of the vision. Finally, 1 Kings 18:46 states that after the experience on Mt. Carmel, “the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel,” a distance of approximately 50 kilometres.  The reason for his running away is explained in 1 Kings 19:3 - he was afraid and ran for his life.</ref>   

Mortal man is not sufficient for a prolonged overwhelming experience in the spirit, even though saved and Spirit filled. Visions weaken me. I won't try to make you understand. You just must accept it, I know. There is nothing I can do about it. Even as Jesus felt power leave Him when one little lady came for help, even so when hundreds pull on me and by their faith they operate the gift in me, they break me down-I lose strength. I grow weak. But God has promised to change that.

Recently God gave me a vision. In it, I saw a vast tent holding up to twenty thousand people. There were city blocks of people coming for prayer. In this huge tent, there was a small cubicle where God told me He would meet me. There from under prying eyes I would minister. The cripples would come in one door and leave by the other - whole. The miracle would be so terrible in power that when questioned the newly healed person would have no other comment to make than that, whereas I had once been sick now he was whole. It would defy description, for there would be no feeling that one could tell. It would be God, and His doing. No tongue could utter it.

I am not ready for that ministry. I feel that if I but reached out I could grasp it. I simply wait for Him to tell me to step out. I am anxious for that day. When it comes, I hope that I may come back to you and minister in your city and share fellowship in Christ our Lord.

May God bless you and every effort you make. May your labour be all in the Lord.

Your humble servant and Brother,

William Branham<ref>The contents of the letter were obtained from Bible Tabernacle Books, P.O. Box 1010, Eppindust 7460, Cape Town, Republic of South Africa</ref>