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The Cause of the Cloud: Difference between revisions

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The cloud was very unusual and puzzled scientists at the time, who could not find a conclusive explanation for the cloud.  The height of the cloud was initially estimated by James E. McDonald from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the University of Arizona, Tucson, as being approximately 35 kilometers but was later revised by him to be at approximately 43 kilometers (141,000 feet).  
The cloud was very unusual and puzzled scientists at the time, who could not find a conclusive explanation for the cloud.  The height of the cloud was initially estimated by James E. McDonald from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the University of Arizona, Tucson, as being approximately 35 kilometers but was later revised by him to be at approximately 43 kilometers (141,000 feet).  
=Was the Cloud important?=


Believers of William Branham's message view the cloud as part of the fulfillment of a vision that William Branham had in December 1962 that Seven Angels would meet him outside of Tuscon, Arizona (see [[Prophecy of the Cloud]]).  They see it as a supernatural sign the preceded William Branham's opening of the [[Seven Seals]].
Believers of William Branham's message view the cloud as part of the fulfillment of a vision that William Branham had in December 1962 that Seven Angels would meet him outside of Tuscon, Arizona (see [[Prophecy of the Cloud]]).  They see it as a supernatural sign the preceded William Branham's opening of the [[Seven Seals]].
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On February 28, 1963, a thrust assisted Thor rocket was launched from pad 75-3-5 at Vandenburg Air Force base in California carrying a Keyhole 4 military surveillance satellite.<ref>http://www.astronautix.com/thisday/febary28.htm</ref>  The rocket started to veer off course and was intentionally destroyed<ref>http://www.friends-partners.org/partners/mwade/lvs/tatgenad.htm</ref> at an altitude of 44 kilometers (144,000 feet) at 1:52pm.<ref>McDonald, Dr. James E, Cloud-Ring in the Upper Stratosphere, ''Weatherwise'', June 1963, Page 100</ref>
On February 28, 1963, a thrust assisted Thor rocket was launched from pad 75-3-5 at Vandenburg Air Force base in California carrying a Keyhole 4 military surveillance satellite.<ref>http://www.astronautix.com/thisday/febary28.htm</ref>  The rocket started to veer off course and was intentionally destroyed<ref>http://www.friends-partners.org/partners/mwade/lvs/tatgenad.htm</ref> at an altitude of 44 kilometers (144,000 feet) at 1:52pm.<ref>McDonald, Dr. James E, Cloud-Ring in the Upper Stratosphere, ''Weatherwise'', June 1963, Page 100</ref>


The cloud was investigated by by Dr. James F. MacDonald in a number of published scientific reports.  Dr. MacDonald is most famous for his investigations of UFO's.  McDonald was senior physicist at the Institute for Atmospheric Physics and professor in the Department of Meteorology, University of Arizona, Tucson.
The cloud was investigated by Dr. James F. MacDonald in a number of published scientific reports.  Dr. MacDonald is most famous for his investigations of UFO's.  McDonald was senior physicist at the Institute for Atmospheric Physics and professor in the Department of Meteorology, University of Arizona, Tucson.


Dr. MacDonald never published a final report on the cloud. Why?  It is likely that he lost interest in the cloud as he arrived at a likely explanation of the cloud that was not particularly interesting, i.e. the explosion of the rocket.  As an individual who criticized the scientific community for ignoring phenomena that defied interpretation by conventional science, it is extremely unlikely that he would have failed to publish a final report on the cloud simply because he could not explain it.
Dr. MacDonald never published a final report on the cloud. Why?  It is likely that he lost interest in the cloud as he arrived at a likely explanation of the cloud that was not particularly interesting, i.e. the explosion of the rocket.  As an individual who criticized the scientific community for ignoring phenomena that defied interpretation by conventional science, it is extremely unlikely that he would have failed to publish a final report on the cloud simply because he could not explain it.
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In March 2012, NASA launched five rockets off the east coast of the USA to create some of these clouds. These clouds formed rings that look like the May 1963 Life magazine photo. <ref>http://www.gizmag.com/nasa-tracer-rockets-form-ringed-clouds-at-the-edge-of-space/21972/pictures#12</ref>
In March 2012, NASA launched five rockets off the east coast of the USA to create some of these clouds. These clouds formed rings that look like the May 1963 Life magazine photo. <ref>http://www.gizmag.com/nasa-tracer-rockets-form-ringed-clouds-at-the-edge-of-space/21972/pictures#12</ref>
Questions have also been raised about a second cloud accompanying the cloud.  While this does present an issue for the Thor rocket explanation (although not insurmountable), it also presents a problem for those vying for a supernatural explanation.  Were there 2 sets of angels?  Why didn't William Branham mention the second cloud if he was standing right underneath it?


==The Supernatural Explanation==
==The Supernatural Explanation==
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#In the book of Daniel, the Angel Gabriel was caught for 21 days fighting with the Prince of Persia before he appeared to Daniel.  Perhaps these angels were caught for a few days between Flagstaff and Sunset.  
#In the book of Daniel, the Angel Gabriel was caught for 21 days fighting with the Prince of Persia before he appeared to Daniel.  Perhaps these angels were caught for a few days between Flagstaff and Sunset.  
#In 1955, William Branham said that based on his personal vision of Jesus Christ, that Hofmann’s head of “Christ at thirty-three” was the most accurate painting of Jesus that he had ever seen. <ref> In the sermon “How the Angel Came to Me” (January 17, 1955)</ref>  Nelson Rockerfeller, the son of the man who had purchased this painting of Jesus from Hofmann, appears on the front cover of the May 1963 Life Magazine. #William Branham discovered that the inverse of this picture fits into the circle of the cloud <ref>“Rising of the Sun” (April 18, 1965)</ref> like white wig over a judge.  Behind the picture of the cloud in the May issue of Life Magazine was a picture of a moon rainbow.  When held to the light, it is reminiscent of Revelation 10:1 which says, And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head”   
#In 1955, William Branham said that based on his personal vision of Jesus Christ, that Hofmann’s head of “Christ at thirty-three” was the most accurate painting of Jesus that he had ever seen. <ref> In the sermon “How the Angel Came to Me” (January 17, 1955)</ref>  Nelson Rockerfeller, the son of the man who had purchased this painting of Jesus from Hofmann, appears on the front cover of the May 1963 Life Magazine. #William Branham discovered that the inverse of this picture fits into the circle of the cloud <ref>“Rising of the Sun” (April 18, 1965)</ref> like white wig over a judge.  Behind the picture of the cloud in the May issue of Life Magazine was a picture of a moon rainbow.  When held to the light, it is reminiscent of Revelation 10:1 which says, And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head”   
==The Second Cloud==
Questions have also been raised about a second cloud accompanying the cloud.  While this does present an issue for the Thor rocket explanation (although not insurmountable), it also presents a serious problem for those arguing for a supernatural explanation.  Were there 2 sets of angels?  Why didn't William Branham mention the second cloud if he was standing right underneath it?


==Problems with the Spiritual Interpretation==
==Problems with the Spiritual Interpretation==