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The Sign of the Messiah: Difference between revisions
→Did Jesus have the gift of discernment?
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William Branham taught that discernment (the revealing of people's hearts) was the "Sign of the Messiah". He used the example of Jesus talking to the woman at the well, and then showed how he (William Branham) also possessed this sign as proof that he was a prophet. | William Branham taught that discernment (the revealing of people's hearts) was the "Sign of the Messiah". He used the example of Jesus talking to the woman at the well, and then showed how he (William Branham) also possessed this sign as proof that he was a prophet. | ||
[[Image:Prayer Card Front and Back.jpg| | [[Image:Prayer Card Front and Back.jpg|right|250px|A prayer card from the Branham Campaigns, with all the information that William Branham would share in the discernment lines. In contrast, Jesus did not use prayer cards with the information that he would later discern.]] | ||
==Did Jesus use prayer cards?== | |||
William Branham used prayer cards. On them was printed the card number and space for four questions: | |||
#What is your name? | |||
#Are you a Christian? | |||
#What is your address? and | |||
#What is your ailment? | |||
When you listen to the tapes of discernment, these are the only questions that William Branham is discerning. In other words, he is publicly discerning information that these individuals had shared with the Branham Campaigns in private before they came up to the platform. | |||
==Who looks for a sign?== | ==Who looks for a sign?== | ||
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:''An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign;'' (Matthew 12:39) | :''An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign;'' (Matthew 12:39) | ||
:''This is an evil generation: they seek a sign;'' (Luke 11:29 | :''This is an evil generation: they seek a sign;'' (Luke 11:29) | ||
:''A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign'' (Matthew 16: | :''A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign'' (Matthew 16:4) | ||
:''And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign?'' (Mark 8: | :''And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign?'' (Mark 8:12) | ||
The Samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well ran into town yelling "Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" (John 4:29). While this woman was actively looking for a sign that the Messiah had come, she was part of an adulterous generation. | |||
==What sign did Jesus promise?== | ==What sign did Jesus promise?== | ||
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:''Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.'' (John 2:18-19) | :''Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.'' (John 2:18-19) | ||
:''there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.'' (Matthew 12: | :''there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.'' (Matthew 12:39b-40) | ||
:''and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.'' (Luke 11: | :''and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.'' (Luke 11:29b-30) | ||
:''and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.'' (Matthew 16: | :''and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.'' (Matthew 16:4) | ||
:''There shall no sign be given unto this generation.'' (Mark 8: | :''There shall no sign be given unto this generation.'' (Mark 8:12b) | ||
Perhaps William Branham did have the gift of discernment, but he certainly did not have the gift of resurrection. No matter how long they delayed his funeral and memorial service, he did not resurrect. The truth is that Jesus himself pointed only to the coming resurrection as the sign that Messiah had come. | Perhaps William Branham did have the gift of discernment, but he certainly did not have the gift of resurrection. No matter how long they delayed his funeral and memorial service, he did not resurrect. The truth is that Jesus himself pointed only to the coming resurrection as the sign that Messiah had come. | ||
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:''The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”'' (John 4) | :''The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”'' (John 4) | ||
So at best, William Branham knew in part. At worst, he made stuff up and passed it off as truth. One example of a significant lack of discernment in William Branham's life is his choice of disciples. In fact, many of the ministers and associates he chose ended up displaying significant lack of morals. While Jesus' disciples gave their life for the Good News (apart from Judas - who only hurt Jesus), people such as Jim Jones, Paulaseer | So at best, William Branham knew in part. At worst, he made stuff up and passed it off as truth. One example of a significant lack of discernment in William Branham's life is his choice of disciples. In fact, many of the ministers and associates he chose ended up displaying significant lack of morals. While Jesus' disciples gave their life for the Good News (apart from Judas - who only hurt Jesus), people such as [[Jim Jones]], [[Paulaseer Lowrie]], [[Roger Rudin]], Paul Cain, Gene Goad, [[Leo Mercer]] and [[Fred Sothmann]] spread fear, lies, perversion, and idolatry throughout the world. | ||
==The troubling doctrine of Christ Branham== | ==The troubling doctrine of Christ Branham== | ||
William Branham claimed that he had the gift of discernment, and that discernment was the "Sign of the Messiah". Some claim this made him a prophet, but | William Branham claimed that he had the gift of discernment, and that discernment was the "Sign of the Messiah". Some claim this made him a prophet, but others logically conclude that this doctrine makes William Branham the Messiah. In claiming that discernment was the ‘sign of the Messiah’, William Branham taught that he alone possessed this sign for the Gentiles — the first and only person besides Jesus Christ! He became the messiah to the Gentiles in his own mind and the mind of his followers (if he had not come, the world would be cursed, right?). This is why Pastors like Donny Reagan preach that leaving the Message is the unpardonable sin, even if the person that leaves the Message remains a Christian. They deny the power of salvation through Jesus Christ in exchange for salvation through William Branham. | ||
If you believe that discernment is the sign of the Messiah | If you believe that discernment is the sign of the Messiah, you can only believe one of two things with regards to William Branham: | ||
#Either William Branham | #Either William Branham was the true Messiah, or | ||
#William Branham was | #William Branham was a false Messiah. | ||
:''For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.''<ref>Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Mt 24:24.</ref> | :''For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.''<ref>Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Mt 24:24.</ref> | ||
=Quotes of William Branham= | ==Quotes of William Branham== | ||
Notice. She said, "Well, I perceive that Thou art a Prophet." She said... Now, watch close. She said, "We know that Messiah cometh, and when He comes, these signs will be with Him. But being that You're a Prophet, You must be a Prophet to have these '''Messiahic signs'''." | Notice. She said, "Well, I perceive that Thou art a Prophet." She said... Now, watch close. She said, "We know that Messiah cometh, and when He comes, these signs will be with Him. But being that You're a Prophet, You must be a Prophet to have these '''Messiahic signs'''." | ||
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And being that I've told you all these nights, and tonight, that He is not dead; He is here, and promised to do the same thing. And promised that '''there would come a time in the last days, according to Malachi 4 and according to Saint Luke, that He would appear again in human form among His people''' and do the same things, and reveal the same thing, the '''same Messianic sign'''. How many knows that, you Bible readers, knows that's the Truth? Say, "Amen." [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] Must all be Bible readers.<ref>WHO.IS.THIS.MELCHISEDEC_ JEFF.IN 65-0221E</ref> | And being that I've told you all these nights, and tonight, that He is not dead; He is here, and promised to do the same thing. And promised that '''there would come a time in the last days, according to Malachi 4 and according to Saint Luke, that He would appear again in human form among His people''' and do the same things, and reveal the same thing, the '''same Messianic sign'''. How many knows that, you Bible readers, knows that's the Truth? Say, "Amen." [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] Must all be Bible readers.<ref>WHO.IS.THIS.MELCHISEDEC_ JEFF.IN 65-0221E</ref> | ||
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[[Category:Doctrines]] | |||
[[Category:William Branham pointing to himself]] | |||
[[Category:Supernatural vindication]] | |||
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