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King George VI: Difference between revisions

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A while later, a second cablegram arrived from King George VI, again requesting William Branham to come and pray for him.  In early April 1950, while en-route to a campaign in Finland, William Branham was able to finally meet and pray for King George VI in person.   
A while later, a second cablegram arrived from King George VI, again requesting William Branham to come and pray for him.  In early April 1950, while en-route to a campaign in Finland, William Branham was able to finally meet and pray for King George VI in person.   


<div style="border-bottom:1px #B87333 solid; text-align:center; font-size:140%; padding:1px; margin:1px;">The Illness</div>
==The Health of King George VI==
 
The King had suffered from a duodenal ulcer, for which he had an operation in November 1917.


In retelling how he prayed for King George VI, William Branham stated numerous times that King George VI contacted him because he was also afflicted with multiple sclerosis.<ref name="At Thy Word"/>  
In retelling how he prayed for King George VI, William Branham stated numerous times that King George VI contacted him because he was also afflicted with multiple sclerosis.<ref name="At Thy Word"/>  


While the medical records of King George VI have not been made public (and likely never will), the only public evidence of King George VI having multiple sclerosis was his deteriorating health, and reports that during his 1947 trip to South Africa he looked sickly and slurred his words (although King George VI stuttered as a young man).<ref name="Slurred">[http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/s2.cfm?id=143512002 The Scotsman: Wed Feb 6, 2002]</ref>   
The only public evidence of King George VI having multiple sclerosis was his deteriorating health, and reports that during his 1947 trip to South Africa he looked sickly and slurred his words (although King George VI stuttered as a young man).<ref name="Slurred">[http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/s2.cfm?id=143512002 The Scotsman: Wed Feb 6, 2002]</ref>  The slurring of words was attributed (and likely properly so) to his heavy drinking.


In 1948 the public was advised that King George VI had a form of arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) called Buerger's Disease, after which the King severely reduced his public appearances.  Certain nerves to his legs were also severed in order to free him of some pain in standing.<ref name="Time">[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,822145,00.html?promoid=googlep Time Magazine: Hardening Arteries (King George VI)]</ref>   
In 1948 the public was advised that King George VI had a form of arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) called Buerger's Disease, after which the King severely reduced his public appearances.  Certain nerves to his legs were also severed in order to free him of some pain in standing.<ref name="Time">[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,822145,00.html?promoid=googlep Time Magazine: Hardening Arteries (King George VI)]</ref>   
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In 1949, the King suffered an arterial blockage in his right leg, which was operated on in March 1949.   
In 1949, the King suffered an arterial blockage in his right leg, which was operated on in March 1949.   


Shortly thereafter, King George contracted lung cancer in 1951.<ref name="Images">There are few accessible records of King George VI's public appearances in 1950. 
The king opened the Festival of Britain from the steps of St Paul's on May 3 1950, but at subsequent public events that month, it was clear that he was not well. His condition deteriorated and on September 16, 1951, an exploratory operation showed he had cancer of the lung. He was not told of this conclusion, and believed the operation performed by Mr Price Thomas on September 23, 1051 was to remove his lung to free his bronchial tube. This series of operations was far more public than George V's somewhat similar illness in 1928–9, and occasioned intense public interest. <ref name="Oxford Dictionary of National Biography"> http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/printable/33370 </ref>
King George VI slowly regained his strength, then quietly passed away in his sleep on February 8, 1952 as the result of a coronary thrombosis.
 
==Concerns with William Branham's story==


It is unlikely that, if it had occurred, the public would have been aware the King George VI met with a faith healer.  There are certainly no public records of any such visit.


Using images from [http://editorial.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?mlt=3351644#2 Getty Images] as a reference, it appears that most of King George's public appearances in 1950 began in May, after William Branham's April visit. In fact, Getty Images displays no images of King George VI from November 19, 1948 to May 1, 1950The May and June photos from 1950 include:
William Branham's indicates that his personal records contained a letter of thanks from King George VI for his prayers.<ref name="Faith">Faith is the substance, Los Angeles, California, May 8, 1951</ref>  It is surprising that, given the amount of questions that have arisen on this website and others about the credibility of William Branham, the Branham family has not come forward with evidence such as this letter.
*2nd May 1950: Touring various construction sites for a "Festival of Britain" exhibit.
 
*23rd May, 1950: Attend the Chelsea Flower Show in London.
The lack of any evidence does raise significant question as to whether there was a visit.
*6th June 1950: Attend the first showing of the film 'Odette' in London.  
 
*8th June 1950: Attends the ceremony the Trooping of the Colour.
While the public was informed of the King's health problems, there has '''never''' been any indication from any source that the King suffered from multiple sclerosis.
*14th June 1950: Attend the Ascot Race track.
 
*15th June 1950: Open and attend Gold Cup day at the Ascot Race track.</ref>
Depending on which sources are given the most credibility, different people may arrive at different conclusions as to which disease William Branham actually prayed for.  However, in the end that issue has little relevance. 
   
 
In William Branham's personal records is a letter of thanks from King George VI for his prayers.<ref name="Faith">Faith is the substance, Los Angeles, California, May 8, 1951</ref> 
What is striking is that William Branham pronounced the king
 
==Quotes==
 
THE.CHURCH.OF.THE.LIVING.GOD ERIE.PA  51-0727
:''And then King George of England, you all know of him cablegraming me twice to come pray for him. When a man over here at Ft. Wayne was healed with multiple sclerosis, was a friend to his private secretary--'''been a bed patient ten years'''. I couldn't go at that time, but I know I'd be in England soon, so I just had prayer for the King.
 
THE.PRINCIPLES.OF.DIVINE.HEALING  JEFF.IN 51-0923
:''And I was called to King George of England, to pray for him with those multiple sclerosis. I understand by the radio today, that '''he's got some kind of a lung trouble now.'''
 
TESTIMONY  WEST.PALM.BEACH.FL  53-1129E
:''And he was a friend to the king's private secretary, and through there King George of England sent word to me. I have his statements and have his letters of his fields and every... To come pray for him of multiple sclerosis, and so I couldn't go up that time. So I just wired back and told the king that I would pray for him here, that God would hear here just the same as he would over there. And so, then another telegram come through and wanted me to come on over immediately.
Later when I went to England, over there, to see him, and '''the Lord healed him.''' He was--couldn't even stand up over five minutes at a time, and he... I believe the second day he played eighteen holes of golf, and '''never was bothered with it no more until the very day he died.'''
 
LAW  CHICAGO.IL 55-0115
:''And it was through this healing of this man out of the wheelchair, that I was called to pray for King George of England, which he was a--a friend to his private secretary that sent for, pray for him. A'''nd the king was healed''' with multiple sclerosis. And he could only, I believe stand up so long at a time, or something. '''I don't remember.''' I've got it in writing at home with his seal on it.


In 1951, a malignant tumor was found on one lung, and both the tumor and the lung were removed on September 21 1951.  King George VI slowly regained his strength, then quietly passed away in his sleep on February 8, 1952 as the result of a coronary thrombosis.  
THE.GOOD.SHEPHERD.OF.THE.SHEEP PHOENIX.AZ  57-0308
:''King George had stomach trouble, and he had multiple sclerosis. That's the one that sent for me to pray for him. '''And the Lord healed him of it.'''


However,  
JESUS.OF.NAZARETH.PASSETH.BY  CONCORD.NH  58-0524
:''King George of England with multiple sclerosis, when I went over and prayed for him. Couldn't even set but just a few minutes at a time. Next day, played twenty-eight holes of golf.


WHY  BLOOMINGTON.IL  61-0413
:''And as you know that when I went there and prayed for King George when he had multiple sclerosis and he was healed instantly; the next day he played eighteen holes of golf, and he couldn't even set up for just a few minutes at a time.


Depending on which sources are given the most credibility, different people may arrive at different conclusions as to which disease William Branham actually prayed for.  However, in the end that issue has little relevance. What is the most important is the following facts:
A.DOOR.IN.A.DOOR  TUCSON.AZ  63-0223
:''Some time ago the King George that I had the privilege of praying for, as you know, that had the multiple sclerosis. The Lord healed him.  


#A friend of the King's secretary witnessed a man healed of Multiple Sclerosis,
A.PARADOX  TAMPA.FL  64-0418B
#King George VI personally invited William Branham to pray for him, twice.
:''King George, who I had the privilege of praying for, you know, when '''he was healed''' with the multiple sclerosis.  
#William Branham met and prayed for King George VI in London in April, 1950.
#King George began to make more public appearances after William Branham's prayer, indicating an improvement in his deteriorating health.
#King George VI acknowledged William Branham's prayers with a letter of thanks.
#King George VI continued to smoke heavily (leading to the loss of his lung, and contributing to his ultimate death).


DOORS.IN.DOOR FLAGSTAFF.AZ  65-0206
:''Thinking about how little and insignificant, seeing that many of my Canadian friends sitting here. I remember I was in Canada when the King George... The one I had the privilege of going praying for, '''when he was healed, with that multiple sclerosis; he was suffering that day, from the sclerosis, and also he had a stomach trouble, an ulcer;''' as many of you Canadians know, and Americans, also.


===Footnotes===
==Footnotes==
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