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1933 Ohio River Experience: Difference between revisions

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In the Tract, [[Life Story Tract|''"Jesus Christ the Same, Yesterday, Today and Forever"'']], William Branham first tells of a light appearing on the Ohio River in 1933:
In the Tract, [[Life Story Tract|''"Jesus Christ the Same, Yesterday, Today and Forever"'']], William Branham first tells of a light appearing on the Ohio River in 1933:


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==Concerns with the experience==
==Concerns with the experience==


William Branham retells this story many times. Each time he tells the story, a light always appears when the 17th person is being baptised, and a voice says "Look up".  However, there are some differences in each retelling.  Originally, 130 people came to be baptized in August 1933 while 3,000 people watched.  In later retellings, 500 people came to be baptized in June 1933 while 10,000 people watched. A light appears while he he is baptizing and a voice says "As John the Baptist was the forerunner of the first coming of Christ, so your message is the forerunner of the second coming of Christ."
===Some things stay the same, and some things change===
William Branham retells this story many times. Each time he tells the story, a light always appears when the 17th person is being baptised, and a voice says "Look up".  However, there are some differences in each retelling.  Originally, 130 people came to be baptized in August 1933 while 3,000 people watched.  In later retellings, 500 people came to be baptized in June 1933 while 10,000 people watched. William Branham first tells of the voice which says "As John the Baptist was the forerunner of the first coming of Christ, so your message is the forerunner of the second coming of Christ." in August 1952.


Based on William Branham's retelling of the story (see quotes below) and the story as related by Lee Vayle, a number of questions present themselves"
===John the Baptist===
Gordon Lindsay's book, ''A Man Sent From God'', and Julius Stadsklev's book, ''A Prophet Visits South Africa'' both record the light appearing during the baptism, but omit the voice.  Gordon Lindsay's book does include the following similar prophecy, however:


1. Why did the early stories make no reference to the voice speaking?  Wasn't this the most important part of the story?  Why is there mention only of a light appearing but no voice speaking in Gordon Lindsay's book, ''A Man Sent From God'', and in Julius Stadsklev's book, ''A Prophet Visits South Africa''?
:''The next incident was a stirring message given in the Spirit and interpreted, almost identical to two others which were to be given in other Branham meetings in different places, a sure testimony of the authenticity of this anointed ministry. It was uttered with such rousing force that it almost seemed unearthly, and this was the gist of the message… that as John the Baptist was sent as a forerunner of the Lord’s first coming, so was He sending forth this evangelist and others like him to move the people and prepare them for His second coming. Months later we heard this same message interpreted amidst a large crowd of people attending the Branham meeting in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Sister Anna Schrader whom we later learned to appreciate deeply. Truly, these words penetrated our hearts.” (Gordon Lindsay, A Man Sent From God)


2. The third time he relates the story (1951) he says that a voice spoke and that “many asked me what it meant. And I said, "I do not know.”  If Bro. Branham did not know what it meant in 1951, why then does he know exactly what it means in 1952?  (see quotes below).
This provides witnesses to the prophecy of Jesus' return. However, the prophecy as retold by Gordon Lindsay refers to "this evangelist and others like him", while the prophecy as retold by William Branham only refers to himself.  


3. Which story do we believe? Which story is most likely to be trueOne would generally assume that the first time the story is told is the most accurate.
===I Do Not Know===
The third time William Branham relates this story, (1951) he says that a voice spoke and that ''“many asked me what it meant. And I said, "I do not know.”'' If Bro. Branham did not know what it meant in 1951, why then does he know exactly what it means in August 1952(see quotes below).


:a. That no voice spoke (as in the first stories)?


:b. That a voice spoke only to William Branham but he did not know what it meant (as in 1951)?
===Story in the paper===
William Branham said that the story was carried by a paper (1950), the "Courier Journal" (1951), the "Sunday Visitor" (1954), the "Louisville Herald", and the "Associated Press" (1961). However, we have not seen a single copy of this article.  If you have a copy, please let us know. 


:c. That he was just inaccurate in the early stories but the later stories are the accurate ones?
===Who is Edward Colvin?===
 
Willliam Branham mentions that Edward Colvin was being baptized when the light came down.  If anyone would be a great witness to this event, Edward would be.   
4. Why has no one, when asked, been able to produce a single copy of a newspaper clipping relating to this story when the article was supposedly printed in newspapers “all the way into Canada, got on the Canada press”?  We have searched numerous newspaper online archives and have been unable to find any such newspaper article.  If we can't find any such articles and no one can produce one for us, don't we have to assume that there never were any newspaper stories reporting this event?
 
5. If only William Branham heard the voice and there are no newspaper articles that can be produced, then is there no independent evidence that this event happened? How do we know, other than from William Branham himself that he is [[The Fulfillment of Malachi 4:5|the fulfillment of Malachi 4:5]?
 
6. Is this another event that only serves to create a greater question regarding William Branham's credibility?


==Quotes==
==Quotes==
The following are a few of the quotes of William Branham relating to his experience:
The following are a few of the quotes of William Branham relating to his experience: